SORRY GUYS! this isn't even the entire last chapter. It's just the first part of it since I didn't want you to have to wait on me and my horrible slow tying. I'm without a computer at home as of now (laptop and desktop both refuse to work) so I'm stuck to limited time before and after school. I'll try to wrap up the last chapter quickly, there's only a few more things that need to be done to it, but I hope to have it out quick for you guys!
Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater. Sadly. I wish I did, but I don't.
In the few minutes he had to himself, Soul fell into one of the many chairs placed around circular tables outlining the room. He hated the fact that Maka thought he had done something with Blair, and the fact that she wouldn't listen to reasoning. Liz probably wasn't helping much at all when it came down to it. Well, he would give her some space now that he didn't have to be forced into her company, give her some time to cool off and think about this rationally. And if that didn't work Soul vaguely wondered if Black Star would be able to restrain Maka while he forced her to listen. Though, that just might make her even more pissed off at him. Why did she have to be such a hotheaded girl when it came to him and the cat witch?
A slow moment passed, the silence stretching and making time seem to go on forever. Finally, though, his attention was drawn to the entrance and the sudden bounding appearance of Black Star, the ninja decked out in what he would be wearing for the rest of the night. He had ditched his usual shirt for a black tank top with no collar, the end of said shirt bunching around the waist band of the tripp pants he had slipped into. The pants looked a size to big, falling over his shoes. Blue stitching could be seen, adding a simple yet attention-grabbing look to it. And let's not forget the many blue painted chains that hung from them, clinking together every so often from the sudden jerky movements Black Star made. He had ditched his usual gloves for ones that looked like the fingers had been ripped off, a black spike collar around his neck and a studded band around his right wrist. It was a very Black Star look.
Soul didn't move from his spot as the chained meister made his way over to the table, tossing the duffle bag that, if anything, held the clothes he had worn that day onto one of the vacant chairs and plopping himself down in another.
"The girls aren't back yet?" he questioned, taking a glance around the empty room.
"What do you think? Girls take forever to get ready. They have to do their hair, make up, make sure everything's just right," grumbled Soul, slouching down in his seat. He glanced at Black Star, making sure that the other boy got the point of all that, that the girls wouldn't be down for some time.
"So uncool, right?" Black Star teased, getting a smirk from the lighter haired male. "So, are you going to dance with Maka, Soul?" That annoying grin from this morning was back, a sly look visible in the ninja's eyes.
While Soul had never thought Black Star had forgotten about what had happened earlier at the food court, he hadn't been expecting that question of all things to come from the loudmouth. "Are you doing to dance with Tsubaki?" he retorted with a snort.
This was greeted with a bark of a laugh. "I have to DJ, remember? If I'm not there to play the songs, then what will people dance to?"
Soul resisted the urge to mumble a small 'real music'. Having grown up with more classical and jazz music, they had always been his favorites, and having not listened to much of the heavy bass-filled music over the years didn't help much either. So, instead, he settled on a small shrug, turning his eyes to the open doors. The sooner everyone got back, the sooner they could start this, and the sooner it would end. Don't get him wrong, Soul enjoyed hanging out with his friends; it was everything going on with Maka he didn't want to have to deal with.
A moment of silence descended between the two. Soul didn't mind, though it was odd for Black Star to be this silent for this length of time. It was only when girlish giggling echoed from the hallway that the silence was broken. Both boys turned to look at the doors, recognizing the voices. Sure enough, Tsubaki and Maka made their way into the room, chatting to each other about something or other. And while Maka was ignoring him to the best of her ability, which was actually quite well, Soul couldn't help but stare.
She seemed to have taken whatever advice Kim and Jackie had given her at the mall. Maka had decided to wear a tight black T-shirt showing off just the right curves and almost making her seem a bit larger in the chest area, though he was sure it was just his imagination. The shirt ended just above her stomach in a ripped fashion. The same black choker from earlier was there, complimented by a black band over each wrist. And as his eyes traveled down he took notice of the dark blue jeans stretched tight over her legs. His gaze finally traveled back up, ending on her hair, pulled back into one high placed pony. Soul thought he saw faint traces of mascara and eyeliner, but it could have been a trick of the light.
He leaned closer to Black Star, ready to ask his best friend if he saw the same Maka he did, but the other boy wasn't paying any attention to him. In fact, if Soul followed the way Black Star was looking, the ninja was staring at his own partner. Soul smirked at this. If Tsubaki was trying to catch her meister's attention it sure had worked.
The ninja weapon wore something almost similar to what Maka was. A tight black shirt, the sleeves made of pure fishnet, ended just above her stomach, the few inches that were exposed also covered in the dark net. Around her neck was a studded choker similar to Black Star's, a similar band on her left wrist, mirroring the blue haired ninja's own accessory choice. Either Tsubaki had helped Black Star pick out the outfit or he had forced her to wear them. A small leather jacket went over the shirt. And for pants, well Soul didn't exactly want to think much on the matter, but Tsubaki had somehow slipped into leather pants. A chain belt completed the ensemble. She was sure to get a lot of looks tonight.
"You're drooling, Black Star," chuckled the white haired weapon, turning his attention back to Maka.
"You're one to talk. You can't take your eyes off of Maka!"
If he had a retort to that, he would have said it. Soul hated to admit it, but Black Star was right. Seeing Maka dressed like that was, well to put it simply, almost hypnotic. It was so different from the usual Maka, the goody-goody, know-it-all student! The tight shirt, the fishnet, was this really his meister?
She turned and glared at him before sticking her nose in the air and turning her back to him.
Yep. It was the same Maka. At least that shirt hadn't cut off the circulation to her head. He let out a sigh of relief that she was still herself, even in the outfit. Though there was still the issue of her not talking to him to deal with. She had to have picked that out jut to torture him. There was no other explanation. None other than Kim and Jackie had turned her against him. This was definitely going to be a long night.
"Holy hell! Is that Maka?!" yelped Black Star, finally noticing the other meister. "She looks like a girl!"
Soul nearly face palmed for a second time that night. "Smooth, Black Star." The worst part was Maka had heard the other male. At least her anger was directed at someone other than him now.
Glancing at his meister, Soul could tell she was furious. Her eyes went from Black Star to him and back again, as if trying to decide which one of them to hate more. Her fingers were twitching, itching to close themselves around a throat or the thick binding of a book. As long as he wasn't the one getting abused, she could think all the gory thoughts she wanted. Tsubaki rested a hand on her shoulder and his red eyes watched as the taller girl steered Maka away from them. Though that didn't stop Maka from snatching up the nearest thing (which ended up being a red glow stick Patty had taken out of the package and hadn't snapped into life yet) and chucking it at the ninja's head.
It smacked into the star-shape of Black Star's hair, the momentum keeping it traveling forward. The weapon caught it, slipping one finger into the loop of cord and letting the object dangle from there, watching it swing back and fourth. "At least her aim has improved," he mused with a shrug, draping the glow stick around his neck. Black Star didn't look thrilled that he had been used as target practice, glaring at Maka from over his shoulder. "Shouldn't you be DJing?"
"I need to ask Kid something," he mumbled in reply.
"And knowing him he won't be for a while. It's probably where Liz and Patty are." Soul pushed on one of the legs of the chair Black Star was sitting on, trying to get his best friend up and doing his job. Everyone else would start arriving soon and it would help the mood if the music was playing before then. "People will think you even greater if you do."
The chair flew back and Black Star was up on his feet in a heart beat. "Yahooo! Let's get this party started!" He bounded over to where the equipment had been set up, pulling some headphones around his neck. Whether they were for show or not Soul didn't care. The sound of the speakers being turned on, the adjustment of the volume, all this signaled the beginning of loud and bass-filled music.
And then there was sudden sound, just not what anyone was expecting.
I am a superstar with a big, big house and a big, big car
I am a superstar and I don't care who you are
The sound ended abruptly. Soul's eyes widened at his best friend, a small smirk playing across his face. Even the girls stopped their chitchat, turning their attention to the silent and almost embarrassed looking Black Star. An awkward silence had descended. Soul caught Black Star's eyes looking from the girls to him, waiting for some sort of smart comment to come, questioning his taste in music. None came and the meister quickly changed the song, starting up a interesting instrumental to adjust the levels. As the ninja assassin messed with the sound Soul could feel the difference in the bass vibrating through the floor. Before he knew it the weapon was keeping time, fingers tapping against the top of the table.
Kid made an appearance then, whining about something to his two weapons. Liz's reprimanding voice and Patty's laughter echoed around the shinigami's. The girls were dragging Kid into the room. "It's fine, Kid!" Liz stated. "No one's going to think you less of a man just because your pants aren't symmetrical!" You could hear the irritation at what would normally be considered a very idiotic thing. If it wasn't Kid whining about it, that was.
"Yeah, Kid. I already think of you less than me. Can't get much lower than that."
"Black Star!" Tsubaki yelped, her voice taking on a higher pitch than usual. Her hand went to her mouth, shoulder shaking with held in laughs.
Their voices were nearly drowned out by the loud beat of the music. Soul didn't see what the big deal was. Kid was wearing white tripp pants with darker parts that looked as symmetrical as pants could get, a white hooded vest, left open, over a black T-shirt completing the upper half of the outfit. His usual rings were still in position on his fingers, the only accessories that Kid was even wearing. Liz must have picked out his outfit, or had some hand in choosing since he was making such a big fuss over such a small ordeal. Then again, this was Kid.
Patty had the simplest outfit imaginable on. A dark colored band T-shirt completely covered most of her body, large and quite baggy, while a simple pair of baggy dark blue jeans completed the ensemble. No accessories, no make up, just the shirt and pants. Her simple outfit didn't do anything to stop her personality or antics. Patty was just as energetic as ever, listening more to the music than her own sister or meister.
Her sister wore something else completely compared to the other girls. Liz had chosen a grey baby tee, darker hued skulls scattered throughout the fabric. A short red plaid skirt hovered over black leggings. Besides the clothes, Soul could see earrings of some sort dangling from her ears. There was traces of make up on Liz, but nothing Soul cared to pay attention to. It was lucky for Black Star that Liz hadn't been present during that little... music episode. The older sister turned her attention away from trying to talk sense into Kid and onto the two other girls trying to hold in their laughter.
Soul rolled his eyes but that smirk didn't disappear. Black Star was glaring at him, he could tell, but instead of starting something the meister went back to his job, more than likely plotting some sort of revenge. With a shrug he focused in on the beat vibrating through the floor, subconsciously following the heavy beat. Kid and the sisters had slipped off. Probably going to greet the other guests. Oh well. He was perfectly fine keeping the table for the others. The girls were plotting against him which meant no time on the dance floor for lucky him. It was probably the only good thing that came from this misunderstanding between Maka and him.
Only a few minutes passed, the ninja assassin doing well with adjusting the levels to fit new songs and keeping the bass at a relatively good point. It was hard to hear anyone else over the music, but it was obvious when people started coming, the background noise growing ever steadily. Soul opened one lazy red eye, glancing at the groups of friends when they meandered into the large room, decked out in multiple different punk themed outfits. The weapon picked out people he knew from school: Kim and Jackie, Ox and Harvar, Kilik and the Twins, Hiro. There were even some people from the other classes present. Age, class, none of it mattered as the teens mixed and mingled among one another. Though, Soul couldn't help but notice that Kim and her weapon partner had migrated over to Maka and Tsubaki, much to Ox's displeasure.
He slouched down in the chair, only adjusting himself slightly when his lower back popped, slipping into a more comfortable position. Would giving Maka her gift help any? Soul glanced at the group of bags by the buffet table. One of them held the little black bag from the jewelry store. giving it to her might help, and he could explain what really had gone on in the living room. Just because he was in his boxers and had been wet from his shower didn't mean Blair and him had been doing anything! How Maka could even think such a thought was beyond him! It was absurd! He didn't like the cat, he liked her!
Every thought, every little gear in his head came to a screeching halt. He liked... Uh uh, no way, absolutely not! There was no way! All the evidence Black Star kept shoving in his face, the comments people said to him and her, his thoughts, they had to be wrong! Had to be! Maka was just a friend, just a partner, just a roommate! She wasn't cute or adorable when she pouted, she couldn't make him smile at all the stupid little things she did, and he definitely didn't stay by her side no matter what she did.
And there went the hamster and the wheel. Something clicked in his mind right then, something no sane human being should ever have to say:
Black Star had been right.
With a groan he sunk deeper into the seat, not quite sure if he should trust his mind on the matter. So he liked Maka, big deal. It wouldn't change a thing between them. She was still a stubborn bookworm and he was still a cool guy. And cool guys admitted their feelings. Well, he had admitted them to himself, that had to count for something. Maka would probably laugh at him the second she found out. Well that was a comforting thought.
While he was worrying about that thought the night passed slowly. Few people had objections to Black Star's choice in music, the girl's hadn't started a sudden attack on his person, and he had succeeded in giving Maka some breathing room. He searched the room for his meister, finding it hard to pick her out in the mess of dark colors. What wasn't hard to pick out of the crowd was the series of green, red, and yellow glow sticks bouncing up and down with the jumpy movements of a pack of girls. And there was Maka, with her little posse. An inward groan. Great. She would never leave them.
In a wonderful twist of ugly fate, she smiled and voiced something to the others, breaking away from the horde and weaving her way through the crowds. Beads of sweat decorated the skin of her face and neck, the switching neon colors dancing across her- Whoa! Stop there, Soul! Not time to be thinking about stuff like that! The weapon tracked her movement through the many dancing teens, replying to small greetings and giving small waves to people she knew. She moved out of the main room and to a balcony overlooking part of the city.
After a short pause, wondering if it was worth it or not, Soul straightened up, pushing the chair back as he stood with a grunt. It was now or never to make up with her. To the buffet table he went, picking up the little black bag and a glass of water. He could only reason that she went out there to cool off. Soul was doing just fine in his trek to the balcony, until he got to the large set of open French doors and hesitated. She was leaning against the railing, head craned to the side and angled upwards.
She didn't notice he was there, off in her own little world. He sighed, visibly relaxing. Soul walked over next to her, leaning on the barrier. "Stupid girl," he muttered, poking her in the side. "You're leaving yourself wide open."
Maka jumped, a small squeak coming from her before a flush of red covered her cheeks. She looked away from him with a huff, stiffening. "What do you want, Soul?"
It was now or never, Soul. Give her the gift and get it over with. Taking a breath to calm himself, the white haired boy held the bag out to his female friend. "Here." She blinked at the bag then at him, not quite sure what had just happened. "Do you want it or not?"
Just that snapped her out of her daze. Maka took the bag, only barely peering inside of it. "You shouldn't have" A small pause as she pulled the little box from it.. "Was it expensive?" Now she fixed him with a questioning look, pausing in her opening of the little box.
He should have expected something like that. Soul ran a hand through his hair, switching his weight to one leg and looking out at the city. "Don't worry about that. It's fine. Just open it." Never would he be able to tell her he had used an account set up for emergencies by his family. Just buying that was assuring a phone call from his brother. A sideways glance was cast at his meister when she opened the box. A smile appeared when her eyes lit up, one hand going to gently lift the chain and charm from its container. Dangling at the end of the gold chain was a small scythe decorated with stones of different colors.
Her excitement faded once more. "How much?"
"I said don't worry about it."
"How much, Soul?"
There was that demanding tone. He sighed, not able to meet her eye. "Roughly.... 5."
"Thousand?!"
"Hundred."
A pause and she looked back at the gift, mouth opening but no words coming from the light haired girl. This process was repeated a few times before she looked at him like he was insane. "Soul! How could-? We don't have that kind of money!"
What part of 'Don't worry about it' did the girl not understand? "Listen, I didn't use any money that we needed. I..." Crap. He didn't want to tell Maka about the bank account but he didn't want to lie to her either. "I used a family account. It's not much and they won't worry. So just accept the stupid thing." He turned away with a grumble, not expecting what was coming next.
Maka wrapped her arms around him in a big hug, seeming to nuzzle her face into the sleeve of his hoodie. "Thanks. It's beautiful. Now don't ever buy anything this expensive ever again." She released Soul from the hug, their apparent fight from earlier forgotten. The meister undid the clasp, brushing her hair out of the way. She fumbled with getting it around her neck, the little piece of metal holding the clasp open slipping out of her grip before she could get the other end of the chain in.
Soul sighed, smiling a bit at her trouble. "Here. Let me help." He took the two ends in his own hands, stepping behind Maka to see better. The two golden ends slid together and the chain fell onto Maka's skin. He stayed where he was, even as she turned around suddenly. Soul took a sharp breath when he realized that his face was dangerously close to his meister's. A red tint crawled along her cheeks and a smirk drifted across his face. His heart was pounding, beating against his rib cage in a rapid manner, but that didn't mean he couldn't act like it was nothing.
She was the one who looked away, pressing her back against the fancy railing. "Soul... I... got something for you, too."
He had managed to make her flustered. That was a comforting thought. The weapon backed down, lifting a brow at the girl before him. "Oh really? And what would that be?"
"If you'd move, I'd go get it." Maka poked Soul in the chest, huffing a bit. That red blush was still there, even if she tried to act like nothing was wrong, act like they just hadn't been centimeters away from.... Soul's mind stopped there, unable to fully process just what they had been about to do.
The boy took a step back, giving his meister some breathing room, that smirk still there. She was so much fun to tease at times.
"And don't think this gets you out of trouble."
And then there were times when she could get him right back. He sighed, trailing after Maka, hands stuffed back into those pockets. The room was warm from the many bodies moving to the beat of the music. The constantly changing lights didn't help the situation at all. Glancing up at the spot Black Star had been at since the beginning of this party, Soul saw it empty. Where had the little twerp run off to this time? Oh well. The scythe was slightly glad that the other meister wasn't around to witness the new piece of jewelry Maka wore or the fact that they had slightly made up. It would only lead to another string of taunts.
Maka led him through the dance floor, heading towards where a large group of people had stopped to watch something. While she wove her way towards the tall form of Liz, Soul hung back around the outskirts. Streaks of neon colors arced over the top of the crowd, and a smirk pulled across over his features. Well, now he knew where Black Star had gone. Glow Sticking in the middle of his job. Only Black Star could get away with sending the glow sticks so close to people's faces without actually hitting them. Soul shook his head, scanning the crowd for his light haired partner.
There she was, next to Liz, Patty, and Tsubaki. Liz was still shooting him a glare. Whether or not it was for the same reason as before was a mystery to the white-haired boy. Either way, it made no difference, as long as Maka was willing to forgive and forget for the moment. And it seemed she had since, with a embarrassed smile she was asking questions the girls had about the sudden new piece of jewelry.
"Soul did what?!" Liz's voice rang out. Luckily not many people heard, though Tsubaki's head shot up and she turned her gaze to him. Okay, so Maka just told them who had gotten her that little gift. It was hard to stop the smirk that was threatening to show. It wouldn't help him any with Liz if he got her even more riled up. So, he shrugged, finding that to be the most neutral gesture he could think of.
Maka wormed her way back towards him, having to shout over all the noise. "Wait here. I'll be right back. Don't do anything Black Star would do."
Again with treating him like he was some sort of young kid needed to be watched. Soul rolled his eyes, that smirk he had been trying to hide showing now. "Yes, mother," he grumbled playfully.
She gave him a look before turning and walking off to meet the other girls at the doors. And now with Maka gone it was back to boredom. With a small sigh he turned back to the group gathered around what could only be Black Star. Music still went in the background, people who either didn't know about the little show happening or just didn't care dancing to the beat. Soul was considering heading back to the table he had abandoned earlier, wait for Maka to reappear there. It would get him off of the mess of a dance floor. Already he was beginning to feel the heat generated by the many moving bodies, and he hadn't even been standing there for that long!
Kudos if you know what the song stated above is. Oh. I don't own that either. That belongs to Toybox.
And here is the first part. Sorry it's not the entire thing and sorry if any characters sound OOC. Well I'm just apologizing a lot, aren't I? Aaaanyway, yeah. Here ya go. Another chapter closer to the end of Partner Appreciation Day. I'm going to miss this story. *sniff* But I have another one planned! A... rather sappy-ish story...maybe... It could get violent.
ENJOY.