Author's Note: Hmm...what shall I do pairing-wise? I always ask myself this question when writing, because most of the time, at least one ship goes sailing. XD

Maka sat next to Tsubaki on the bench at the basketball court she, Liz, and Tsubaki decided to meet up the night before, swinging her legs as she waited. She was trying to keep from getting at all irritated by how long she had been waiting for Liz to show up, even as she reminded herself that she had been early and that Tsubaki was only there because she headed out early with Blackstar since her meister insisted on getting there as early as Soul and Maka were going to. Not that he cared much, the blond was sure, as he and Soul only seemed focused on playing round after round of one-on-one basketball.

"So what do you think is wrong?" Tsubaki questioned after Maka retold the events of the previous evening.

In response, Maka shrugged and dropped her gaze to her lap. It was really bothering her that she had absolutely nothing to use to formulate any kind of hypothesis. "I really don't know... I just hope he'll be okay."

Tsubaki nodded, looking as if the stress and worry that was getting to Maka was beginning to depress her as well. She said nothing, and instead folded her hands in her lap and watched the basketball game between the two girls' partners play out.

Suddenly, a plastic airtight bag with a brownie inside, a rectangular box with a very generic-looking label that read "Laxatives," and a white bottle without a label fell on the bench between the girls. Both Maka and Tsubaki looked up to see Liz standing behind the bench.

"Um, what are these?" Tsubaki asked.

"I was looking around the house and found some things Kidd was trying to hide," Liz explained. "He's been putting laxatives in whatever desserts he makes for himself, and then every trip to the bathroom he makes, he pops one of those pills, too, and I guess they're vomit inducers."

"Why...why would he take things like these...?"

Maka hesitated before she answered. Why would Kidd take things like that? It didn't make sense. It couldn't be any kind of medication he had to take—she couldn't see why he would act out the way he did in the restroom and act so defensive about it if it was something he was prescribed.

Then it hit her.

"I've read about this," she said. "A while ago, I was wondering about nutrition and how people should eat, and in one of the books I checked out, there was a section about eating disorders. One of them was bulimia, and this fits perfectly. He takes something for a process called purging, and he got violent with me because of how it made him feel and he didn't want me or anyone else figuring it out."

"Y-you think Kidd might have an eating disorder?" Tsubaki's eyes widened in shock, and Liz was starting to look slightly panicky herself.

"Why would a grim reaper even have a problem like that? How? I can understand the whole obsessive-compulsive thing, to an extent, but how this?"

"According to the introduction to the chapter," Maka continued, "being pressured to live up to a certain standard can cause several of the things listed."

Tsubaki's eyes fell half-closed and seemed to darken. "And who would have more pressure to live up to a certain standard than the son of someone like Lord Death?"

"Exactly."

Liz shifted her weight and twirled a lock around her index finger—nervousness, if Maka was reading her right. "How did it say to help? I mean, something like that hardly seems safe, and...well, Kidd's my meister, and I don't like being useless if he needs help."

"Let's see..." Maka's fingers curled around the edge of the bench on either side of her knees and she watched her feet appear and disappear as she swung them, trying to recall exactly what the steps were. "It said to talk to a trusted adult first, then see what they think is the best choice. We can't go to Lord Death, since Kidd told me not to, and the book says that's supposed to be respected. I think we should go to Professor Stein. I think he went out somewhere with my dad today, so we can ask him tomorrow after class."

"Um, sorry, I'm afraid I'm not going to make it," Tsubaki apologized. "Blackstar says he wants to try something out and he needs me for it."

"And I think I'm going to stay with Kidd as much of tomorrow as I can," Liz added. "Maybe I could find out something helpful, or at least get the chance to talk to him about it."

The blond meister nodded. "It's okay—I understand. I can talk to the Professor myself. I'm sure he'll be able to help, and I'll make sure to tell you everything he says."

"Help you with what?" An obnoxious inquiry from Blackstar caused Maka to groan inwardly.

"Figuring out where all your mental problems came from," Maka responded coolly. If he wasn't part of the conversation, he had no right butting into it. Why did he decide to come over and bother them, anyway?

This earned a glare from self-proclaimed "Biggest Star Ever," but instead of shooting back a retort, he grabbed the plastic bag and opened it. "Hope you don't mind me taking this, because it's mine now!"

"B-Blackstar, maybe you should—"

"No, we don't mind. You can have it," Maka said, feigning a sweet smile.

"Yeah, Tsubaki, why should he ask before taking it?" Liz asked, playing along with Maka. "I brought it for him, after all." She waved her hand dismissively in the direction of the basketball court. "Now go back to playing. You've had your snack, so stop bothering us."

"Fine, fine!" Blackstar turned and started heading back to where Soul was waiting for him. "Guess I'm just too much for you!"

Maka leaned back against the bench, picking up the box of laxatives and reading the back of it. " 'Effects should occur within ten to twenty minutes of consuming.' "

"I don't think right now is a time for pranks..." Tsubaki murmured, but still kept her voice down enough to where there was no chance of Blackstar hearing.

"Yeah, I guess," Liz replied with a shrug. "But it's better than freaking out when we don't know what to do."

Maka got to her feet. "Maybe I should go to the library and see if I can find a book to do more research. You can come along with me if you want, but you don't have to."

"It's not like there's anything better that I have to do."

"Well..." Tsubaki gave the two girls a slightly nervous, apologetic smile. "I should probably stay behind."

"We'll see you later then!" Maka smiled, genuinely this time, and waved as she walked away, Liz doing the same and walking along beside her.

Author's Note: Hmm...I think I like this.

Please review—it'll make me very happy~ :D