Maka's POV
I woke to the sound of someone knocking on the hotel room door. Rolling over with a groan, I pulled the blanket over my head. Soul could get it. He was closer, since he was sleeping on the couch. Somehow, we had ended up being the only group that didn't get a room with two separate rooms with their own bed. The knocking continued, louder than before.
'Or not', I thought, pulling back the covers and rolling out of the bed. I walked past a snoring Soul to open the door to see Ren standing there, cheerful as ever. He was followed closely by my father, who was holding two suitcases.
"Morning, Maka," my father greeted me.
"Morning, Papa. Morning, Ren," I responded. Spirit looked at Ren.
"That's your name. Sorry, I had forgotten it already."
"It's no problem. My brother Kazuma didn't recognize me when he got back after being gone for a few years."
"Really?" I asked. Ren nodded. "Wow." I turned to my father. "Where's Professor Stein? I thought Lord Death sent him too."
"He did. Stein's outside smoking a cigarette. Luckily, I thought ahead and got separate rooms for us." He looked down the hall, then back at me. "Where's everyone else?"
I pointed inside the hotel room. "Soul's still asleep on the couch. Kid, Liz, and Patty are in the next room. Then Black*Star and Tsubaki are in the room after Kid's." Turning around, I walked to the couch and started shaking Soul. "Time to wake up. Come on, get up," I said.
He opened one blood-red eye, mumbled, "Five more minutes," and rolled over.
"Fine," I said, poking him in the stomach.
He jumped, falling off the couch and hitting his head in the process.
"Ouch," he said, rubbing his head. I started walking back to my room.
"Well, if you had gotten up when I asked you to, that wouldn't have happened. By the way," I paused and looked back at him, "why'd you jump like that?"
His eyes widened as he looked at me, then looked away muttering, "No reason."
"Really?" I asked, walking back to him. "I don't think it was nothing," I said, poking him in the ribs. He jumped again, but this time I heard a small giggle escape him. "Are you...ticklish?" I asked as I reached out to poke him again.
"No, I am not," he said as he moved to avoid my hand.
"Yes, you are," I said as I chased him around the couch.
"You guys make a cute couple," Ren said as I chased Soul around the room. I jumped. I had forgotten that him and my father were watching. Both Soul and I froze in place as Spirit, Soul and I all gawked at Ren. Then Soul and I both started talking at once, stammering over, "It's not like that," and, "We're just partners,".
"It better not be like that," Spirit said. "The others need to wake up. We've got work to do."
"Morning, Maka, Soul," Professor Stein said as he walked up behind my father and Ren. "How are the two of you?"
"I'm fine," I replied.
"Hungry," Soul said from behind me.
"Kazuma and Ayano are making bacon and eggs for everyone in his room," Ren said, pointing towards his brother's room.
"Great," I replied. "I'll get dressed then wake everyone else up."
"With how fast Kid heals, he should be fine to walk to Kazuma's room." Stein said. Their voices got quieter as I walked back to my room.
After I was dressed, I knocked to the door that led to Kid, Liz, and Patty's room. Liz opened the door.
"Hey, Maka," she said, yawning and stretching. "What's up?"
"Professor Stein and my father just arrived, and Kazuma and Ayano are making eggs and bacon for breakfast in their room for everyone."
"Did someone say bacon?!" Patti popped her head underneath her sister's arm that was holding the door open.
"Yeah, breakfast is in Kazuma's room," I said.
"Yay bacon!" Patti said, jumping up and down.
"Professor Stein said Kid should be healed enough to walk around."
"Kay, we'll be there in a minute," Liz said.
I walked to Black*Star and Tsubaki's door and raised my hand to knock, but Tsubaki opened the door before I could.
"Oh, good morning Maka." Tsubaki's soft, gentle voice greeted me. "Did you need something?"
"I was letting you guys know that Kazuma and Ayano made breakfast and that it's waiting for us in his room.
"Okay, thanks." She turned towards the back of the hotel room. "Hey Black*Star!" She yelled, making me jump. She never yelled.
"Yeah?" The blue-haired ninja's voice echoed back.
"Breakfast is is Kazuma's room. I'll be in there when you get done."
"Kay. I'll meet you there."
She turned back to me and noticed the confused look on my face. "He's in the shower."
"Oh. Well, breakfast is waiting."
Once we were all sitting in Kazuma's room eating, I realized something. I turned to Professor Stein. "Where's Crona? I thought he was coming with you."
He swallowed his mouthful of food. "Lord Death changed his mind since we don't know how Crona would react to the stress. But Marie asked me to tell you that he's making progress. He's more confident, happier, and he seems more confident. Him and Ragnarok seem to have come to an agreement."
"That's good to know," Soul said as he eyed the last piece of bacon. He looked at Black*Star, who was doing the same thing. They looked at each other, then at the bacon, then at each other again. While they were glaring at each other, Ren leaned over and grabbed the bacon. They looked like we had just killed a puppy in front of them-until they saw Ayano come around the corner with a plate piled high with bacon.
Once everyone had eaten their fill, Professor Stein turned to me. "Tell me everything that's happened so far."
When I finished Stein turned to look at Spirit, who was currently leaning against the kitchen island. Spirit motioned with his head toward the for. Stein stood up, then started fumbling in his pocket. "Marie has been getting everyone's mail while they're gone and she came across something when she got your mail. She thought you would want to see it now." He pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to me.
As I opened it, everyone aside from Stein and Papa - who were outside talking - crowded around me.
"What is is?" Soul asked.
I smiled and turned the postcard attached to the letter around so everyone could see.
"It's from my mom."