A/N: Yay! I finally updated! It took me a while mostly because of stupid finals, and I just had so many ideas for how this story could end that I just couldn't choose. ^^' So, instead of having to choose, I think I'll either write alternate endings, or entirely separate oneshots revolving around its ending. Cast your votes now! Lol

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"Ok everybody, let's get down to business." Liz began, feeling very much like an in charge, capable woman, "So what's the plan?"

"Yeah! Plan: Chrona and Kid~ sittin' in a tree~, K-I-S-S-I-N-" Patty chanted, but was pulled out of the way by her sister, telling her that maybe that name for the plan was a little too long. Patty replied by pouting like a child as Maka proceeded to take the floor.

"A-ahem." The blonde coughed, trying to get the female weapons' attention so she could share her ideas, "I'm guessing you all know why I asked you over?"

"Ha~i! You called us because Kid and Chwona have been awll wovey dovey waitly, but just won't admit iwt! Hehehehe!" Patty confirmed in a baby voice.

"Exactly. Meaning, that it's up to us to get them together." Maka declared, the fire of determination burning in her jade green eyes.

"YOSH!!" Patty screamed with a deranged smile, setting on fire as well, the intensity of the both of their fires combining making Tsubaki and Liz sweat nervously in their seats.

"B-but, should we really be interfering like this…?" Tsubaki mumbled while raising her hand feeling like she had to in order to get her friends' attention. "I mean…it really isn't any of our business. …If they like each other, they'll find out eventually for themselves, right? I think it'd be best not to pressure them-"

"But if we don't do something, then nothing will ever happen." Liz interjected rising from her chair, "Those two are like little babies, and if mommy and daddy just step back and leave them be, then nothing will get done."

"…Um, just who do you mean by, 'mommy and daddy'?"

"Hahahahahaha!"

"I agree with Liz. Well, at least on the part about needing to do something." Maka added, trying to refocus the group, "I was talking with Chrona and she said that she really does want to tell Kid how she feels, but she just can't." At this, the girls all hushed and immediately sat leaning on the edge of their seats to listen.

"But, why not?"

"I think it's a simple case of analysis-paralysis."

"…Uh, can you say that in layman's terms, please?"

"Oh, well basically, it means that Chrona is thinking and worrying about it so much that she can't make a decision. …But recently she told me she was going to give up."

"Awww~, but whyyyy~?"

"She had a lot of reasons, which will make it hard to convince her otherwise. Mainly, she didn't want to 'bother' him, she felt he was so 'good' while she was so 'bad', and that she just didn't know how to deal with it." The sword technician air-quoted her friend's words before taking on an air of depression. "She thinks she's not good enough and that he'll reject her. So she does want to tell him, she's just afraid."

"Ooohhh…" the girls sighed in unison.

"Oh! That's right! She also said that she thought Kid was avoiding her and was wondering if he hated her." She quickly added, the glow of fire returning to the meister's eyes, but this time it burned in fury, "That every time she sees him, or tries to talk with him, he'll just turn around and run away!"

"What?!?" the twin pistols yelled together. "How could he do something like that to poor little Chrona-chan! All she ever did was like him!"

"I know! What a jerk!"

"Uh…"

"What an ass!"

"Um, excuse me…"

"What a dunce!"

"Bastard!"

"Excuse me!" Tsubaki finally raised her voice, blushing when all the angry heads snapped in her direction. "S-So, …w-what does Kid-san think of C-Chrona-chan, then?" she stuttered, trying to get the conversation back on track and stop the incessant screaming and swearing.

Tsubaki and Maka looked to the twins for the answer with curious expressions, but received no reply. They both were humming, obviously deep in thought when they both finally answered.

"I dunno…"

"Haven't got a clue! Hehehehe!"

The two girls only sighed in response, when Patty out of nowhere began to run out of the small apartment towards the door, just barely being stopped when her sister grabbed her head.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm gonna go ask Kid-kun if he likes Chrona too."

"Oh, no you're not."

"Eeeeehhhh~?" she whined, "But why nooot?"

"We've gotta have a plan, Patty. We can't just charge into this headfirst not knowing what we're doing. We'll probably screw everything up." To this, everyone nodded in silent agreement.

"Oooohh~. Onee-chan, you're so smart!"

"Yeah, if we're going to do this, we have to go about it tactfully..." the bookworm stated, beginning to go through a series of possibilities and scenarios of what could be done in her mind. "Hmmm… It's hard when we don't know how Kid feels though…" she said when there was a long silence among the girls.

"Even though I don't want to think this… There is a possibility that this could all just be one-sided…" the more mature, raven-haired girl considered sounding very sad. "…I don't think I could stand watching Chrona get her heart broken…Nonetheless, knowing that we were the ones responsible…"

Maka hadn't taken that into consideration yet, the realization that Tsubaki could be right almost making her want to quit everything right then and there. She didn't think she could handle seeing Chrona so sad again.

"Also, it could be that it's just a crush, so-"

"No," Maka interrupted, "You're wrong." All attention was focused on the blonde now. "You don't know how she feels, or what she thinks. You haven't heard her cry…" she drifted off, remembering the times when she would find Chrona in her room lying on her bed, sobbing her eyes out. Her heart ached at the memory; the pain only increasing when she imagined how devastated Chrona would be if Tsubaki spoke the truth. Maybe they should just let this go… She thought over it, but somehow, it just didn't feel right…

"No… She can't give up, because…because…" Maka tried to say her feelings, but just couldn't seem to put them into words, "Well, what if he does like her? If she gives up now, then how will he ever know? He might be scared just like Chrona, and if she doesn't tell him how she feels, then she'll loose him. …And I think that would make her even more sad."

The other girls smiled at their younger friend, she was right after all. They couldn't just sit back and let Chrona get hurt, if there was something that they could do; then they'd do it. Maka raised her head, with newfound motivation.

"Hey," she suddenly prompted, "I think I have an idea."

********

It had been a few days since classes had started again and everything seemed to be returning to normal. Shinigami-sama had dubbed that the guest rooms at Shibusen were now safe enough for Chrona to be able to move back in. Ragnarok had even reappeared. His first words being how he had never felt so friggin' hungry in his life and how somebody better get him some food now or who knows what he'd do. Though he whined it like a child who had just woken up from a long nap. To this, most responded with a mixture of groans and sighs, while Chrona seemed to be the only one happy to see him. Even his usual ranting couldn't wipe the tiny smile from her face.

Death the Kid remembered this incident as he roamed his house. Just when did his house get so big? It never seemed this large before, or this…empty. He glanced over to the side; somehow he had wandered to her old room. He casually stepped inside, but only for a brief moment. He looked around and sighed.

"You've gotta cut it out, Kid." Liz told him, also stepping inside the room, her voice resonating with a mixture of concern and frustration. Kid jumped, not expecting anyone else to be home.

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." He stated flatly, not quite looking his weapon in the eyes.

"Oh, come off it, Kid. We know what's going on." She bit back as Patty also entered the room. Kid honestly didn't know what they were referring to, but strangely enough, he found himself becoming angry and defensive. He felt like he was the star of an intervention, it was all a bit too melodramatic for him.

"I apologize, but I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. Now if you don't mind-"

"You miss her, don't you, Kid-kun?" Patty stated more than asked. Kid's and Liz's eyes darted in her direction, surprised by this uncharacteristically mature and spot-on deduction.

At first, he just stared at them, shocked. Then he looked away, his bangs hiding his expression. His silence served as more than enough of an answer to their question. Both sisters closed their eyes a moment before continuing.

"You like her, don't you, Kid-kun?" Kid jerked his head up.

"…No, …I don't." he tried to deny, but wasn't at all convincing.

"Then why don't you look at us when you say that?" the eldest of the sisters prompted, but received no reply. "I wish you would just listen to us, Kid." He glanced over to them with a stern look on his face, but said nothing.

"It's okay to miss her, ya know." Liz said softly, her sister nodding in agreement.

"…You're wrong." The two girls looked at him in disbelief, "It's not okay."

"Kid…"

"It's not okay…for me to miss her. It's not okay for me to wish that she were back. And it's not okay for me to love her…" he almost whispered, not expecting to say that. Kid stopped as he slowly raised his head, the realization of it all almost overwhelming him.

He loved her, …didn't he?

There was no denying it any longer. He didn't just like her. He loved that girl. He loved her with all his heart, with all his being. He reminisced about the time they spent together; those wonderful, lighthearted months were perhaps the happiest days of his life. And somehow, he had slowly lost his heart to her. After all this time…he only just realized his true feelings, but wasn't ready to accept them.

"Says who?" Patty snapped after Kid was silent for a few moments, "Who says that you're not allowed to like Chrona? Nobody, that's who! You're the one not letting yourself love her Kid! You're the only one who says that it's not okay!"

"You just don't understand…" he sighed, "I'm a shinigami…Even if I were to allow myself to love, …there is just no place for it in my life. I can't love anyone. Ever. It would only end in heartbreak." They were all silent for a second before he continued, "Do you know how old my father is?" they shook their heads, "Well, neither do I. All I know is that he has always been. He could be thousands, millions, even billions of years old, and you could never tell. As shinigami, we are death embodied. Its not to say that we will never die, but its easily said that we will assuredly outlive every other living thing on this earth."

"On one account, my father told me a small amount of his past. He happily described memories with friends and comrades. All up until I asked him where they were now… They had all died. They had slowly aged and died, and all my father could do was just stand back and watch them suffer… I don't want that…ever. Its already bad enough knowing that one day I'll have to witness all of you leave me…I just don't think that I'll be able to handle it if…" he turned around, not wanting his weapons to see him in such a vulnerable state.

He suddenly heard identical footsteps drawing near from behind him, but before he could face them, the twins had wrapped their arms perfectly symmetrically around his neck, pulling him into a gentle hug. They stayed like that for a moment longer, the girls trying to transfer as much comfort and support to their meister as they could. Kid could feel it; words were not needed, for their bond was deep. The connection they all shared was one of his most precious treasures…and one of his greatest regrets. For he knew, that one day all too soon, he would have to see them leave him behind. He felt that not having any relationships with anyone was better than having a relationship for it only to undoubtedly be striped away from him in the end.

"Kid…"

"Kid-kun…"

"No, I'm sorry…but I won't make the same mistake twice." He declared upon loosening himself from their embrace and beginning to leave the room.

"…Is that what you really think?" Kid stopped dead in his tracks.

"Is that how you really feel? …Us meeting, becoming partners…friends even. …Do you really think it was a mistake?"

"Do you really regret it that much?"

"Because we don't." the girls declared in unison, their voices unwavering. He turned around.

"It's better to have love then lost, then never to have loved at all." They quoted as they made their way to his side. And for the first time in his life, he thought he truly understood just what that phrase meant.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Liz questioned with a smile. "Go to her already! …If you don't, you know you'll regret it."

"Yeah! Beat it, you big dummy!"

"L-Liz…Patty…" They only nodded in reply and he understood. They were right. Instead of pushing Chrona away, he should be savoring the time he had with her, no matter how limited it was. He loved her -he knew that now. He wasn't going to run away anymore. He was going to find her and tell her how he felt about her…no matter what the consequences.

********

Chrona squeezed her pillow tightly to her chest as she basked in the emptiness of her guest room. She had always thought that being alone was one of the few things that she did know how to deal with, but now…

She sighed as she stood at her bedside. She seemed to be sighing quite a lot lately. It was the only sound filling the empty air of her guest room, but it quickly twisted into smoke, leaving the room feeling ever more hollow. It felt especially vacant due to the absence of Ragnarok's usual demanding and complaining. Chrona sighed once more at the thought. Even though Ragnarok could come out again, he was still healing, so most of the time he spent sleeping within her, only appearing in the most extreme of situations.

At that moment, the lonely girl heard the merciful sound of a soft knock at her door followed by a familiar voice. She sprung her head up in surprise and excitement.

"Chrona, can I come in?" she recognized the voice, "I have something to tell you." She felt as if the spark of hope that had lit when she heard the knock was blown out. It was Maka. She was disappointed, but why? She put the matter aside for later as she trudged to her door, Mr. Pillow still in her grasp. She took hold of the cold doorknob and opened the door and the bright face her friend wore immediately fell when she saw the state her friend was in.

"Chrona, are you alright?" the blonde asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Ah…" she almost whispered, not quite having heard her, "M-mn…I'm fine."

"Well…that's good to hear." She replied, deciding to drop the subject, "A-Anyway, I have something to tell you." Chrona managed to pull her eyes from the floor to properly face her friend. "Tonight we're going to spend the night at Liz and Patty's house."

"…E-Eeeeeeeh?!" the spacey girl asked, the realization that 'Patty and Liz's house' was also Kid's house finally sinking in. It seemed like so long since she ad been there last and she missed it. But there was no way that she could go there again. Going there would mean…

"See? I brought you a spare suitcase to use." Maka said as she strode into her very panicked friend's room, "Here, I'll help you pack." Chrona could barely believe her bad luck. There was no way that she could possibly face Kid after all this time. She would just have to refuse. There was no other choice.

"A-ano…M-Maka…" she muttered.

"Oh, Chrona, this'll be so much fun! It'll be the first sleepover for us, won't it? I can't wait!" she beamed as she continued to pack Chrona's things. Oh no. She was so nice…and so happy… No, she had to refuse! She had to but… The pinkette glanced at her friend. Catching her gaze, Maka sparkled with an incredibly cute grin and giggle. All hope was lost now. There was no way she could deny her now. Maybe if she was lucky, she would just die before they even got there.

"Chrona…" the scythe technician suddenly said, her voice seeping with a mixture of anger, confusion, and utter shock. "T-these clothes… Where did you get them?" she queried as her face contorted in disgust. Chrona blinked a few times in confusion before noticing that her friend was holding up one of her old working uniforms.

"…These?" she questioned innocently, grasping the maid's, waitresses', and nurse's uniforms.

"Yes…those" Maka confirmed as she stared at the garments with disbelief.

"Death Scythe-sama gave them to me…" Chrona stated as she began to worry about her friend. She looked kind of like a thermometer, her face was snow white, but was slowly turning cherry red.

"What??"

"D-d-death…S-scythe-sama…"

"…I'M GOING TO RIP HIS ARCILLES TENDON OFF AND THEN MAKE HIM EAT IT!!!!" Maka roared with the flames of hell in her eyes as she raced out of Chrona's room and down the hall, leaving smoke and scorch marks in her wake. At this, Chrona was so terrified that she couldn't even move, she just stood there shaking, her eyes as big as dinner plates in both curiosity of why her friend had changed so suddenly and dramatically, and also in pure horror at the sight.

Unfortunately for her, she quickly recovered from her fear, only to feel the emptiness with a vengeance. She slowly returned to facing her bed and continuing her packing. Deciding that at least being at Kid's house with her friends would be better than sitting there alone. Worst-case scenario; she could just avoid him. Not that she really needed to, he probably wouldn't even talk to her.

Plus, after having seen Maka like that, there was no way that she was ever going to do anything to even remotely upset her.

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A/N: I'd like to thank Primativeradiogoddess for her idea of having Maka find out about Spirit's little scheme. I originally wasn't planning on Maka ever finding out, but I liked the idea and asked if I could use it. Hope it turned out well! =D

Only one more chapter left, the big climax. Really hope it doesn't suck. jk. Stay tuned ;)