Hello, hello, hello!
Riika's back! Earlier than you were expecting? Probably. I wanted to get the next chapter up for you guys as an apology for taking so long on the last one. So I stayed up late and worked on it for a while and everything fell into place.
So here it is, chapter 4!
Disclaimer:: I do not own Soul Eater, though I seriously wish I did.
Also, let me just clarify something: I'm not writing this to get a certain number of reviews or to compete with other writers. I do this for fun and for you guys so that we're all entertained. That's all. Even if I only get one review in a whole 20-something chapter story, it makes me happy. I just like to know my work is appreciated and I'm not wasting my time. Even just seeing the shockingly impressive number of views is enough. It's more than I ever imagined. I know have a lot of work to do before I become a great writer like I someday hope to be, but practice makes perfect! I'm trying hard for you guys. So I hope you continue to support my work if you like it and if not, then I hope there are others that you can appreciate.
Anyways, rant over. On to the story!
Morning light streamed into the room through the open window, the light breeze that accompanied it shifting the curtains from their still position. A tired groan sliced through the silence as the white-haired weapon sat up, rubbing his eyes. He squinted at the light, resisting the urge to shut the window and curtains so it would be dark again. He glanced over at the clock on the wall. It took him a minute to decipher the hands and the roman numerals in his half asleep state. 8:37. It was way too early to be up.
He sighed, falling back onto his make-shift bed on the floor. The single bedroom they were staying in was the only room available when they'd gotten here the previous afternoon, so he'd settled for sleeping on the floor so Kid could have the bed. He didn't really mind. Besides, he figured it'd be easier to deal with Kid if he were well rested.
He stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment longer before rolling to his feet. He stretched out each of his limbs, earning a satisfying crack from several of them, before locking himself in the bathroom to shower.
"Soul?" he muttered, glancing around blurry-eyed. He couldn't see the albino anywhere in the little room. He rolled to see over the edge of the bed. Nothing but messed-up sheets. The black-and-white haired reaper sat up now, suddenly fully aware of the weapon's absence. Where's Soul? he wondered tiredly. It was a moment before he heard the steady rhythm that he now recognized as running water falter and then stop all together. Oh, he was in the shower.
The door to the bathroom clicked unlocked before opening, pouring out steam into the room. "You're up," Soul noted, drying his silvery hair with a towel. Kid tried to ignore the fact that the scythe wasn't wearing a shirt, but he was failing, finding his golden gaze drawn to the long scar that ran along Soul's muscular torso. "Something wrong, Kid?" he asked curiously.
Kid felt his cheeks grow warm as he shook his head. "No, nothing's wrong." He got out of bed and dressed quickly, straightening out his outfit so it was symmetrical. Soul, he noted, had chosen to throw on a red button up with his jeans instead of his usual jacket. It was strange, but he didn't question it. The albino could dress however he wanted to. Even if it was a bit different from normal.
"What do you wanna do today? We're not expected back for a few days yet so we might as well enjoy the city while we're here."
Soul thought for a moment as he laced up his sneakers. "We could go sight-seeing. I heard this place is pretty good for that," the weapon suggested.
He smiled. "Sounds fun," he agreed. He would admit that it did sound like fun. He slipped on his shoes and handed the room key to Soul, who tucked it in his pocket, before leading the way out of their room to find a guide-map of tourist spots they could go see.
"The Arena of Verona was built by the Romans in the 1st century AD, in the Augustan period. The amphitheatre was originally built outside Verona's city walls, primarily for logistical reasons, so that it could be easily reached by people arriving from outside the city. But the external positioning was also due to public order considerations, as such a densely crowded building could become a source of fights and riots. The structure is, however, perfectly in line with the city's road network, as if to emphasise its perfect integration with the town centre. As in all amphitheatres, the famous gladiator fights were held here, as too were the venationes, the hunts of fierce exotic animals," Kid read from the tourist pamphlet he'd gotten.
To be honest, Soul wasn't listening to the history lesson. He was focused on the young reaper, sure, but he didn't hear a word that was said. He was more entertained watching Kid obsess about how "amazing the building must have looked back in its prime" between paragraphs. He found the reaper's obsessive tendencies cute. Not that he'd ever admit it, even to himself. Besides, if he did, he knew his mind would counter with, "he's your friend, what's your problem?" To which he'd argue, "so I think he's cute. I think Maka's cute too. What's wrong with that?" And he'd get the angry reply, "Maka's a girl, she's supposed to be cute. He's not!" And then they'd go into an all out war about the subject which would ultimately end with Soul losing to his consciousness.
"Soul, are you even listening to me?" Kid asked.
Spaced out like he had been, he hadn't noticed Kid stop reading and move to stand in front of him with his hands on his hips. He resisted the urge to move away from the sudden closeness. "Uh, yeah. Sorry," the albino said, flashing the reaper an apologetic half-smile.
Kid sighed but turned back to the building. "I bet it was really pretty," he said, changing the subject.
Soul nodded in agreement. He could see it almost as though he'd gone back in time. It shimmered golden in the midday sun, light reflecting off the metals in the bricks. He could see the high, freshly built archways with people streaming in and out of the building. It was spectacular. And all too soon, it faded.
He turned his attention back to Kid, feigning interest as he listened to the ravenette read from the pamphlet. It wasn't very interesting, but he tried to listen, just to prove that he had been. He caught a few things here and there like earthquake, 30 thousand, and opera. The minimal information he was retaining would work well enough if his friend decided to question him to see if he'd really been paying attention.
Luckily for him, that didn't happen. Instead, Kid took his hand and dragged him off to another place. Soul could feel his heartbeat quicken at the touch. Not cool, he scolded himself silently. He just hoped Kid wouldn't notice. Luck seemed to be on his side today and the reaper remained too excited to notice something simple like that.
When they arrived at the next-and last-stop he felt a mix of relief and sadness wash over him as Kid released his hand to study the guide again. He glanced around with curiosity in his ruby red eyes. They were in a relatively small courtyard enclosed by buildings. One of them had a balcony. On the wall with the balcony, he noticed there were hundreds of pieces of paper and envelopes taped to it.
"Hey Kid, what's with all the notes?" he asked, his curiosity clear as the sky above. He could hear the shuffling of papers as the reaper flipped through the guide-book.
"It says here that William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet was based here in Verona and this house is supposed to be representative of the Capulet house, as it was owner by a family with a similar name. It is said that women from all around the world travel here to write letters to Juliet Capulet in hopes of gaining advice from the young romantic," Kid answered, paraphrasing what the actual paragraph said. He knew Soul didn't really care about the history of the house. "It also says there's a legend that for those in particular distress, Juliet will write a return letter if there's an address. Though, this doesn't seem to have been proven yet."
Soul thought about it, turning back to the wall. So all these letters are written to Juliet, huh? I wonder if she really could be of any help to the depressed and hopeless. That'd be pretty cool. He walked closer, skimming some of the notes that weren't folded in half or sealed in an envelope.
Juliet, he left me. What do I do? I can't stop thinking about him. It hurts.
Juliet, I love him. But I think he loves someone else. What should I do?
Juliet, I don't know what to do. My heart aches for him. No one else makes me feel this way. But he's leaving for war in a week. What will I do if he dies?
Juliet, I just lost my husband. Please send me your grace to help me through.
Juliet, we admire your wish to be with the one you love. You are an inspiration and upon your good name, we swear an eternal vow of love.
That last one was from a couple, he noted. So they're not all just asking for advice. They worship her. One note in particular caught his eye.
Juliet, how do you know if you're in love? He makes me smile and laugh and when he touches me, my heart races. It's mind-numbing. I can't focus on anything anymore. I think about him all the time. Is this love? If it is, I think I like it.
He read it a few times, just to be sure. If that was the definition of being in love then…. Then I'm in love with Death the Kid. The sudden realization crashed upon him like a tidal wave and he pressed a hand against the wall to keep from falling over under it's weight.
The feeling soon subsided and he let out a soft sigh. There was no denying it now. Not himself at least. He glanced over his shoulder to find Kid studying the statue in the corner. That must be Juliet, he guessed. He moved to stand beside the reaper. "Do you have paper and a pen?" he asked.
The ravenette looked up from his careful study of the Capulet. "Yeah," he answered, tearing a relatively blank page from the guide-book and handing it to Soul along with the pen that had been tucked into the book.
"Thanks." Soul moved back to where he'd been before and sat against the wall. He tore away the part of the page that already had writing on it and shoved it into his pocket. He tapped the pen against the ground as he thought about what to write. He could feel curious eyes on him as he scribbled on the page.
Satisfied with his letter, he folded it in half and tucked it into a loose spot in a brick near where he'd found the note that made him realize something so important. He stood, brushing dust from his jeans before returning the pen to Kid. "I'm gonna go for a walk. You take your time looking around. I'll see you back at the hotel," he said before walking off, leaving no time for the reaper to respond.
Kid sighed as he watched Soul walk off. What's with him? He's been acting strange all day. "Did I do something wrong?" he wondered aloud. He turned back to study the statue again, but he wasn't interested anymore.
He cast a glance over at the spot where he knew Soul's note was sticking out of the wall. Should I…? No, that would be an invasion of his privacy. Wrong. But he was fighting with himself. He knew it was wrong, but the chance to find out what was up with Soul today was drawing him to it. I should. I can't help him if I don't know what's wrong, he decided.
He quickly scanned the wall until he found the folded piece of paper that had just been added to the masses. Hesitantly, like it would fall apart if he moved too quickly, he unfolded the heavy paper until he could read the messy black scrawl on the page.
Juliet, it read, I'm in love with Death the Kid. He heard a gasp and, seeing as he was the only one around at the moment, assumed it was his own. But there's a problem with that. He's my best friend. I don't want anything to change between us and I feel that if I tell him, everything will be different. He's an amazing guy and I'm not even sure I'm good enough for him. Should I tell him and risk it all? Or should I let sleeping dogs lie and keep quiet? I gotta know. ~S.E.
He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Soul loved him. Him. Death the Kid. The only question he had to ask himself was: did he love Soul? The answer was so obviously clear to him that he didn't bother to respond to the question he'd asked. He folded the letter again and slid it back into place before plopping on the ground, already pulling out the guide-book and pen from his pocket. He ripped another mostly blank page from it and wrote in short, neat sentences: Juliet, I love Soul Eater Evans. Please let him know for me, since he can't seem to figure it out himself. ~DTK.
He folded the note and tucked it in beside Soul's before taking off from the courtyard at a run. He had to find Soul and tell him. And soon.
One chapter left, nya~
Reviews are loved!
Riika's sick again. Time to go drink some milk and get some rest, nya~