An ending has been decided! That is right, this story has a foreseeable end. It will probably becoming up in the next ten chapters or so. So that's for sticking it out. I don't think ill write another fic for SE for a while but ill still post to carved hearts when the mood hits me. Enjoy. Remember to review.

Also fan art is always enjoyed

"It's lovely to meet you Miss Albarn. I was so sad to hear that you had fallen ill during the festival. I never got a chance to see you." Her voice was like cotton candy; so overly sweet that it almost tasted like plastic.

"I- I am delighted to meet you too." Maka was shocked. Really, the only thing keeping her standing on ceremony was the fact that if she messed up, anyone in the room could destroy her with just a glance. She curtsied clumsily and nearly fell. Kid had reached out to help her regain balance but she had refused his hand. "You'll have to forgive me. We had just returned from a long trip and I am not as resilient as you all are."

"Ah of course. Did you enjoy the territories?" Maka could feel him staring at her but she just couldn't meet his eyes. Something about them felt like betrayal. She wanted to think that if she never saw those eyes again then it somehow wouldn't be a lie.

"Yes, Light's kingdom was beautiful."

"Of course, I am sorry to hear you did not get to visit Shadow's. Or Chaos' for that matter. It has a mystifying factor all its own." Maka flinched at the name and Medusa made a fake apology. "Oh I am sorry. After that last event the two of you would probably prefer to keep distance. He was always such a rowdy boy."

The way she waved it off like it was nothing made Maka seethe. "I wouldn't quite use that terminology."

"Oh Maka my dear. I see you still have that fire in you. How delightful! Well I had called you down to introduce you to the future queen of Death Kingdom. I hope that once she joins this household you can help her become acquainted with the comings and goings of the palace. And perhaps, even offer a friend in this dreadful place." Her smile did not hide the insult but Maka didn't think she was trying to. Instead she just felt the needle in her heart dig deeper and deeper. It was almost like dying all over again… but more painful.

With nothing else on her mind but leaving she turned to the quiet girl. "I am very excited for that day. I would be happy to be your friend Miss Corona. I wish I could show you around this moment but as I had stated, my humanity makes me fragile. I am afraid I must retire."

"Of course darling. I can't believe I was so rude. You go rest up and you girls can start tomorrow." Medusa waved and the girl bowed in her direction. With another curtsy Maka turned to leave. Before the doors had even closed behind her she could feel the wetness on her cheeks.

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"Well I will leave her to you. Be a good girl Corona and remember what mommy told you." She waved with one foot through the portal as she left. Kid was more than fed up with the gall of this woman and just wanted her out of his home. "Make mommy proud."

In another blink she was gone. Lord Death sighed and rubbed his temples trying to rid himself of an ever constant head ache. "Kid, please escort our guest to her room. I must get back to work."

With that he disappeared leaving the two in the room alone. There was a moment of silence before servants gathered to pick up her baggage and carry it away. "Take that to the Summer room in the East Wing."

The servants nodded and rushed off leaving the two of them alone together again.

"The Summer room. That doesn't sound like a place you reside." She giggled coyly from behind her fan. The sound felt so sugary he could feel his teeth rotting. It was nothing at all like when Maka giggled. When she did it, it sounded like the spring winds.

Gods, what am I going to do about Maka. I have to talk to her immediately. Kid took off at a brisk pace trusting the girl to follow. He had wanted to drop her off and get to Maka as soon as Godly possible. "Of course not, we are going to your room. I reside in another part of the castle."

"Oh Prince, are we sharing a room?" She smiled coquettishly but Kidd was only able to see it as irritating.

"There is no need. We have plenty of rooms in the palace. Besides I only have one bed in my room." He didn't mention that he wouldn't be sleeping anyway unless a certain ashen haired ball of energy was next to him.

"Then I suppose we will have to share a bed." She laced her arm through his and he was so shocked by the statement he didn't even think to remove it.

"T-That is improper Princess! Sharing of beds only occur in a partnership or a sexual relationship." He recited the words back to the girl and it briefly flicked across his mind wondering what he and Maka were.

"Well aren't we?" The Prince was stunned. Corona had been visiting for years but never had she been so bold. She was a quiet little thing but always did as her mother commanded.

She leaned up to his ear and whispered in a sultry voice, "Mother says we are at that age. Even Gods have needs."

"I am afraid I have no interest in those particular activities. I must decline your invitation." Kid had never felt so cornered. The only thing on his mind was how to escape the conversation. However, as soon as he had thought any deeper he realized he had felt those feeling before but just hadn't recognized them.

"But I-"

"Ah," Finally. "We have arrived. I will allow you to get settled Princess. I have other things to attend to." With that he was gone in a flash, scanning as much of the area as he could for Maka.

He swung open as set of doors only to see the boy in white peeking under the bed. Whatever it is you have to say I don't want to hear it.

Aw, good to see you too buddy. Now about pinky.

I have no interest and your puerile arguments will not sway me.

Sway you. I think she's as annoying as… what's the word the girl used… oh yes, annoying as fuck. I was personally going to suggest skinning her skull and making the hot one a necklace from it.

I will take that into consideration. And for a moment he honestly did. No will you help me find her or not.

What makes you think I can find her?

She's weak right now. I have no doubt madness is eating at her soul. Look for it.

Aye aye captain. I swear you are just a downer sometimes. He melted into the floor while Kid kept up the search on his own. After giving up hope that the boy in white was actually going to help he appeared next to him in the hallway. Boy that was the hottest, most fucked up crazy chick I have ever seen. I mean the things I would do-

You found her?

Yeah she's in the white room. But you may not-

Before he could finish Kid was off like a shot, trying to make it to the room where his whole life changed.

He burst in out of breath and panting. True to his word the girl lay on the bed, small sobs racking her body.

"Hey you! Get the fuck outta here. She's had enough of your shit for the day." Kid looked for the source of the voice but found nothing. It was only until his own madness appeared with a sigh before passing his hand over his eyes.

A girl wrapped in bandaged with two pony tails sticking out meet his glare with wrapped eyes of her own. "The fuck did you bring him here for?"

"Easy kitty. Your claws may be sharp but my teeth are sharper." He winked at the girl and Kid couldn't help but roll his eyes. He moved to take a step close to her before he found himself body blocked by a floating mummy.

"Are yah deaf or just stupid? I said step off, you ass."

"Get out of my way I need to talk to her." He attempted to brush through her when bandages wrapped around his limbs forcing him to a stop. He could easily break them if he wanted but was far more fascinated by how they were able to hold him there.

"No way. You have done enough damage to my poor soul. She wants nothing to do with you, ass face.

"What a mouth. Why do you even care? You are just a personification of her madness aren't you? Since when do you care?"

"Hey now what you say about her you say about me. Just because we are crazy doesn't mean we're bad. After all, all madness in the word stems from within you know." Kid's shadow pointed out form his spot on the wall. He was glaring at his nails again before looking up. "I swear, our hosts are so rude to us."

"Tell me about it."

"Look I am talking to her wither you like it or not so let go of me before I break these. Along with your hands and feet!"

The boy in white smiled at this and breathed in deep like he had smelled a delicious meal. "Ah that's the stuff. Come on Kitten, why don't I show you the light side of madness."

The girl was suddenly caged in halo like rings and dragged from the room. "Try not to have too much fun. Won't do us any good if we are both too scratched up to move and this one's fiery."

When they left the room was filled with an emptiness Kid was unaccustomed to. He was used to the quiet but never had a room felt so empty. There were words floating all around his head but he just couldn't grasp any of them. It was so hard for him to understand that even though he is seeing the problem he cannot just fix it.

"…Maka?" His voice was so quiet he almost didn't recognize it. It sounded more human than anything he had ever heard from a demon. It scared him.

"Go away." Her's was worse. The two words that were barely audible bounced around the room. He would have preferred anger, her to yell at him in hatred, anything other than what she had said. It wasn't as if just sadness plagued her. It was the sound of someone who had just given up.

"Please?" He walked quietly and sat on the bed nearby where she was curled up. She was still facing away, hoping that she were shut up from the world none of it had to really be true. Kid wished it was.

She didn't protest and somehow that was still worse than anything else she could have done. Kid had dealt with tears, with anger, with violence. But, he wasn't sure if anything could be done now. He must have started a thought multiple times but he just couldn't seem to form the rest of it before it puttered out. In the end she was the first to speak.

"Why?" It was small, not just quiet but small. As if she were nothing more than a mouse standing before a human, wanting to be heard but also in fear of being stepped on. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I-I had not considered it important enough information."

"Kid… You are engaged? How is that not important?" No anger again. Just a flat uncaring tone.

"It is a ploy from her mother, it will never occur. This has 'been in the works' for thousands of years and never once and Medusa followed up on it..." She could sense the apprehension in his voice and he knew it. It had of course started that way, and he had told himself that for years. But the Princesses behavior earlier had him doubting it for the first time.

"I am sorry I did not tell you Maka. It just… I was just… I didn't want to upset you." He placed his hand on her shoulder but for the first time she flinched away. Never had she before. When they had just met, when her world fell apart, not even after he tried to scare her away. And it was that idea itself that drove such a cold spear into his heart.

"Maka please look at me…Maka?

"…mmm" Maka mumbled into her hand. She was taking sharp inhales of breath through her nose. Kid was able to recognize it as crying.

"Please look at me." She turned over but was still wrapped in her protective ball. Her arms were still crossed over her eyes but her lips were finally uncovered.

"Do you love her?" The question was so frank it was if she were simply stating the obvious. He felt as if he said anything she still would believe him.

"Come here Maka…" He pulled her limp body up to lean on his. With only the smallest bit of force he pulled down her arms. Small rivers streamed from her closed eyes. They hung shortly on her lashes before falling to her cheeks. He turned her head to face his. "Open your eyes."

After a moment she did and he almost wish she hadn't. Pictures of betrayal, pain and overwhelming grief shook his soul to its very core. He could almost feel strings snapping and lashing at him for causing the pain.

"I cannot love. We cannot love. But, even if I could only love her for the rest of my time and no other…. I would not do it. Not when you look like this. Not with the pain you are experiencing. I never wanted to cause you harm but I had warned you of pain if you stayed." He had never meant this kind though. Never had he thought that this kind of pain could be built off of what they had. All he wanted was to make the problem go away. But he himself was the problem.

"I am fine with the pain. Life hurts and I know this. Honestly I thought I was going to feel this someday." She pause and let her eyes look somewhere far away. "But I just never thought it would be so soon."

"What do you mean?"

"Kid… I am happy for you. You found someone who is your equal and you can spend the rest of your life with. But in a way, it is also a spiteful happiness too. Because even though I know you may be hers I know she can never really feel what I do about you."

"But Maka I don't-"

"I love you, Kid. I have loved you ever since I stumbled in here. I loved you through the pain and I had loved you through the happiness. I know you can never love me back but it's okay. Because even though I feel the pain it just means I have felt love for you. And that is something that will never die."

He was dumbfounded. More than ever he was at a total loss for words. So many of these new emotions he had gained since her arrival exploded into his brain. Anger at Medusa for taking away his chance at happiness, self-loathing over not being able to give the girl he cared so much for what she wanted, and mostly fear; that after this she would be gone. That she would never see him again, and that he would spend the rest of eternity without her smile by his side.

"Kid…"He looked down on the poor soul he had destroyed. The very fire he had so treasured was barely an ember. "Your eyes are so beautiful when you cry…"

Without warning she rose up and placed her lips against his. It wasn't insistent or demanding and yet it wasn't shy or fearful. It was an invitation to make it whatever he wanted. Without another though he had pushed back. He just wanted anything to get rid of her sadness. She fell back onto the bed and he leaned over her. His black hair drifting into his eyes. Again he close the gap but not before whispering a few more words.

"I will never deserve this." He never even felt when his own tears mixed with hers.

Awww so pretty. So emotional. So… blech. Well there you are. Sorry it's a day late. FF was down Saturday when I went ot post for some reason. Review