I know, I know... no one ever expected this, but... I felt bad leaving it the way it was especially since I know I hate unfinished stories... So for all of you who have given up I'm sorry, but for all of you who still had hope... well... today's a good day for you...
I'm sorry, here is a novel length chapter and the end to "Since We Were Children"
Please rest easy and enjoy.
I'm Home.
Maka was sobbing as she flipped through the pages of the scrap book. In the photo's she was getting older... she could see it and she knew the book was getting thinner as memories began to flood her mind faster than she ever thought possible. She flipped the page and saw them at the beach. There was a sand castle between the three of them and Maka saw her father in the background, screaming as a crab was latched on to his behind.
Another page and another photo of Kid, Blackstar and her playing in Kid's backyard, soaked to the core and covered in a mix between water balloons and condoms. Her father believed they would be a good substitute once the water balloons ran out and Maka's laughter mixed well with her tears.
There were so many memories and photos. Every moment, from the time Kid won her the giant teddy bear at the fair when they were nine to Halloween when they were 11 and all the balls, birthday's and holidays in between. But that wasn't what Maka focused on... oh no. What she focused on was the change in Kid's face as they grew older. She saw how Kid's gaze went from a child like fondness to something else, something deeper and closer to love. It was the closest thing to love she had ever seen. It warmed her and Maka knew what was coming next as she decided to flip to the last page of the book only to be shocked.
"This photo happened a week ago..." She whispered to herself as she looked at the photo of her and Kid sitting on a picnic blanket at the park under the tree. It was for a team Spartoi BBQ celebrating the one year anniversary of the defeat of Asura. Maka was leaning against Kid as she was nodding off to Kid's soft voice as he told her about a story he just read that he knew she would absolutely adore.
Maka went back a couple of pages and saw that there were photos of them after the break-away.. after Maka's memories were skewed. Why here they were at another Death City ball dancing together, it was the same day Medusa attacked. Why the photos even went all the way back to when they "first meet" at the DWMA the day after Kid decimated Soul and Blackstar, as they sat on the bench and cemented their friendship. Why Blackstar was even there...
Blackstar! Why didn't he tell her? Why didn't he remind her about all of this? Her memories? Her best-friend? Her... fiancè..?
Why didn't he tell her about the trai-
"HA! There you are! There is no escaping now- Maka?" Patty yelled before she saw Maka sitting on Kid's bed, her eyes falling towards the book. "No! Maka you're not allowed to touch that! No one is! Maka? Maka!" Maka grabbed the book and ran out the door. Patty on her tail.
"Maka!" Liz asked shocked as she saw Maka make a left into the wall... or what was supposed to be a wall. "Since when did Maka know about the hidden corridors?!" Liz asked Patty as she began to chase Maka.
But Maka was not paying attention... oh no, Maka was running on auto-pilot to her safe haven as she remembered the last day she saw Death the Kid.
Maka opened the door to her father and her's apartment in confusion. Maka wasn't expecting anyone, no one really came to her house after her mother moved out two years ago. Kami and Spirit told Maka they were getting divorced and that Kami was going to move out and travel the world one night a couple of days after Maka had turned 10 and Kami hasn't been home to visit since. Maka didn't know who she was expecting when she opened the door, but the smile that split her face in two when she saw Kid and Blackstar standing there was breath-taking.
"Kid! Blackstar!" She yelled as she launched herself at the two, hugging them as close as physically possible causing Blackstar to laugh. Kid stayed mute and that's when Maka knew something was wrong. "Kid..?" She asked when she pulled back from her hug going to face him alone.
"I'm..." Kid stopped talking, a pained expression came over his face.
Seeing this Maka quickly invited the two boys into her home. Her father was out and about on a mission so she knew the three of them would not be interrupted. She went to the kitchen and brought out some Oreo's, Kid's favorites, before going to sit down next to him. She grabbed Kid's hands and began to rub the sole skull ring on his finger, the other one mirrored on her left hand. To this day, she had never taken off her "wedding ring" as she so lovingly dubbed it. It still held it's promise to her, even after she had watched the love her parents had for each other fall apart.
Kid seemed to gain some comfort and confidence in Maka as he began to talk again.
"My father is going to send me on my first official mission today." He said simply. Blackstar stopped his incessant cookie eating as he turned to face Kid.
"What the hell does that mean? You're too young... I'M SUPPOSED TO DO MY MISSION FIRST!" He said, a mix between concern and rage lacing his voice.
Kid continued to face Maka as he talked.
"As a shinigami, my father believes I should start learning to master my reaping capabilities earlier than most students do and to do that..."
"You need a weapon." Maka said, her hand tightening around Kid's.
"But you're twelve, I'm not allowed to have a weapon yet, so why do you get one you ASS HAT!" Blackstar yelled.
"Blackstar!" Maka admonished pulling her hands away from Kid to go and throw a book at the blue haired menace. Kid laughed emptily before reaching back for Maka's hand, the hand where his ring still rested.
"It's fine Maka, really... I'm sure I'm going to start to miss him when I leave."
"Of course you will!" Blackstar said the same time Maka asked, "When are you leaving?"
"I'm leaving today... my train in three hours or so. Everything's been packed except for my carry ons and I came here because... I was wondering if you could see me off..?" He said, his sentence turning more and more into a question as Maka's face remained unchanged. After a moment of silence Maka launched herself at Kid.
"Of course I'll see you off you idiot. What kind of fiancé would I be if I didn't see my future husband off!" She said finally causing Kid to laugh with at least some amusement. Blackstar huffed.
"You two are going to be disgusting aren't you?" He asked, but the malice in his voice was missing, replaced with something else.
"Shut up, Blackstar!" Maka huffed as she pulled herself out of the hug to glare at him, before turning her attention back to Kid. "How long will you be gone? I have to know so I can pick you up at the station when you get back!" She said looking at Kid expectantly. Kid smiled and Blackstar saw the sadness in his eyes as he reached out and ran his hand through one of Maka's pigtails... a nervous habit he picked up through the years.
"Not that long." Kid said. He ran his hair through her other pigtail. Blackstar cringed. Kid always did that right before he lied.
Maka didn't seem to notice as she was already bouncing around the couch talking about how excited she would be to meet Kid's future weapon.
"Ohhh! Who are they? They're definitely a gun right? You always loved hand guns! But how will it work? You've always used two guns when we played, how will you be symmetrical?" Maka continued on asking questions trying to figure out who exactly Kid's weapon would be, as Kid watched her fondly, sadness lacing his face. Blackstar watched the whole thing eerily silent.
That's how they spent the next hour, the three of them sitting comfortably, Maka leading the conversation as Kid watched her, fondly running his hand through her pigtails and over his ring and holding her hand when she seemed particularly excited. At the end of the hour she kissed Kid on each cheek before going to her room to get shoes so they could walk with Kid to the train station.
"You're not going to be gone for a week... are you?" Blackstar finally asked the moment Maka left.
"No..." Kid said, gazing down the hallway to Maka's room, his voice monotone.
"Are you even coming back?" Blackstar asked after a moment of silence.
"I don't know." Kid whispered and Blackstar heard just how empty that statement was.
"You damned bas-" He stopped himself when he heard Maka running back down the hallway, pulling on her coat. She grabbed her keys as she went to the door.
"Come on you don't want to miss your train do you?" She asked excitedly looking between Kid and Blackstar. Her face began to fall and her body began to tense as she felt the unsaid rage and tension fill the room.
"Maka-" Blackstar began.
"Yeah, of course we are Ma-chan." Kid said, reverting back to His name for her. A small smile and a bright red blush graced Maka's cheeks and Kid wished he could have that image of her plastered in his mind forever. He wished he could stop time and stay here forever, but Maka turned quickly, hiding her face as she opened the apartment door.
"Come on now, can't keep your mystery weapon waiting." Kid walked to her and grabbed her hand, he ran his thumb over her ring causing the blush to re-appear on her face, distracting her from the way Blackstar radiated rage and sadness.
There it was. Right down the hallway stood The Mirror that lead to her safe place... their safe place. All the memories of tea parties, of flying, of hidden weddings and skeleton men and woman who bowed to her and called her Lady. To Nakase. To her Kingdom.
"Maka! Stop, don't move!" Liz yelled from far away. Maka disregarded her and proceeded to run towards the mirror. "NO! Patty get Kid! Maka!"
Maka turned and saw Liz running towards her. She flashed Liz Kid's book and watch as Liz stuttered in her step looking both confused and scared.
"Maka where'd you get that? Kid's gonna kill you! He doesn't let anyone touch that." Liz said bringing up both her hands as she cautiously walked towards Maka, but she would still be too late, there was a 100 yard dash between them still, and running wasn't Liz's strongest suit.
"Oh I don't think he'll have a problem." Maka said, laughter on her lips and she turned towards the mirror. She put her hand on it and felt it give way to her like it used to all those years ago. "I see you still remember me." She said feeling the mirror shift around her as she walked through the mirror.
"Maka!" Liz yelled she reached the mirror after Maka was already through. It was solid against Liz's hand and Liz froze as she realized exactly what Maka could do... what Maka DID.
"Kid... Kid! KID!" Liz yelled as she ran away from the mirror hoping Patty found Kid... hoping someone found him before it was too late.
"Now I want post cards and gifts and photos- lots of photos!- and I better not see you hanging around other girls alright?!" Maka said as she was patting down Kid's jacket. They were standing outside the station near Kid's carry-on bags as Maka was running her hands over his coat, mothering him as they waited the last 15 minutes before Kid was to get on the train to New York, away from Death City, away from his friends and most importantly away from Maka.
"Of course, of course, you should know I wouldn't look at any other girls when I know that I get to come back home to you." He teased lightly as he grabbed her hands to stop them from their constant brushing of his coat. He kissed both of her hands sweetly, getting a disgusted sound from Blackstar. Maka turned her head to glare at him before Kid goes to bring her face back to his.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's not worth it, come on..." He said, getting her attention back to him. Kid began to brush at her hair, tugging lightly at her pigtails quickly before he continued speaking. "When you come and get me, make sure you still have your pigtails alright? They always make you look so pretty ok? I love playing with them so you can't get rid of them alright?" He asked. He felt Maka tense under him.
"Kid.. Kiddo-kun what are you...?" Maka went to grab his hands.
"And-and remember flying alright? I worked really hard to get you on that board and when I get back you, you need to be just as willing to go flying with me alright?" Kid asked holding onto Maka just a bit too tightly as the train began to accept passengers.
"Kid you're scaring me..." Maka said, shaking her head, tears swelling in the corner of her eyes.
"And you have to keep reading alright? You changed my life with that Giving Tree book and I need you to tell me all the books I should read when I get back ok? I know you're gonna have a lot of good books for me to read when I come back alright?" He asked and he pulled her into a bone crushing hug. He felt her begin to shake as tears began to fill her eyes.
"Kid this sounds like a goodbye..." Maka began to say before Kid pulled back a little, cupping her face once more. He whipped her tears away from her face.
"And remember you are loved alright? No matter what remember you are loved. I love you, Blackstar loves you, your Mom and Dad, even MY Dad loves you ok? Promise me you'll find love while I'm away ok?" Kid asked. He was close to tears as well. The train's horn was blaring in warning.
"No-no I can't do that. I'm not like that- we're not like my Mommy and Daddy. You promised to marry me! You promised and you made me your lady and-and my Papa said that we could get married when we were 40, but my mama said we could... we could." And Maka began to cry.
"I know, I know... When I get back to you... I promise, I promise okay?" Kid asked and Maka was shaking her head no. Blackstar was close to tears as well. The sight they must have made, three 12 year olds all sobbing at the train station, two of which talking about their future wedding and one with bright blue hair glaring at them.
"Do you? Do you really promise?" Maka asked. Hope getting back into her voice.
"Of course."
"You're not coming back in a week are you?" Maka asked. Kid did not answer, he was cut off by the warning bell of the train.
"Maka?" He asked, as he moved his hands quickly over her face to wipe away her remaining tears before he held her face still. The both of them stopped breathing for a second and held each other's stare. "Forget..." He whispered before he kissed her. It was inexperienced, it was wet, and there wasn't really any skill to it at all, but it would still be the memory that Kid would hold onto until he would see her again five years later. When he pulled back her eyes glazed over and Maka fell forward into his waiting embrace.
Kid just removed the skull ring from Maka's finger when Blackstar broke out of his trance and went to collect Maka from Kid's arms.
"What the HELL DID YOU DO?!" He asked as he shook Maka to try and wake her up.
"I removed myself from her." Blackstar froze at the absolute nothingness that graced Kid's tone.
"Why would you do that?" Blackstar asked, all ice in his voice.
"She can't remember me... I can't do that to her, I might never come back Star, I can't have her waiting for me forever if I don't. She deserves to find happiness outside of my immortal curse. She'll find happiness with someone el-"
"She had happiness with you, you jackass! All my life that I've known her... do you know how excited she was when she met you? How much she loved you? How ready she was to be Lady Death? You sick, sick bastard. How dare you take that from her. She'll be crushed, she'll never recover! She'll-"
"She'll forget me! She'll have no memory of ever meeting me. I never should have even meet her...I'm a God, Star! I'm not supposed to care for a mortal, let alone want to marry one. Immortality is my curse to bear and I swear on all things in this life she deserves someone who will not curse her the way I will."
"You keep on talking like this is good bye!" Blackstar yelled enraged.
"Because it is!" Kid huffed in frustration. Blackstar was flushed in rage as he cradled Maka closer to his body. Her tears still ran in her sleep.
"No it's not... you're too selfish to leave her alone... You'll be back and when you come back... I'll defeat you for this and I'd kill you if I could. You know what! I'll learn how to SURPASS you so I CAN kill you for this, unless you plan on erasing my memory too!" He said, tears finally spilling over his eyes. Kids eyes were empty as his mouth crept up into a smile.
"I really don't think you'd want me to kiss you, plus I need someone I can trust to look after her. She's been marked as the Bride of Death, people will look to kill her... I can't get another God to look after her and, well, you're the closest person to a God I know." Kid said with a small, unforgiving laugh. He grabbed his things and went into the door of the train, before turning back to look at Blackstar.
"For what it's worth Star, I hated you at first, but now... now you're like family and I know that you will protect Maka because, well, she's family too."
"When you get back, I'm going to smack the ever loving godly essence out of you." The train jolted to a start.
"I wouldn't want it any other way. Goodbye, brother." Kid said before turning and entering the train.
"That damn bastard..." Blackstar said as he watched the train go.
"Excuse me" Blackstar turned around to see a very young priest with headphones dangling from his ears approach him and Maka. The sound of blasting music was heard coming from a very dangerous looking motorcycle parked a couple of feet away. "I was instructed to take the Young Mistress home from the station after the Young Master departed on his trip. Are you Blackstar? I was told you might be here from my Master Lord Death. I am Justin, proud to be of service to the Death Family." He said with a slight bow before going to reach for Maka. Blackstar held her closer.
"May I?" He asked patiently. Blackstar looked him over once more before sighing and giving Maka over to him. Justin cradled her over to the motorcycle and proceeded to place her comfortably in a side car. Blackstar turned once more to the train.
"See you soon, Brother."
"KID!" The panic in Patty's voice caused everyone in their group to freeze. Kid got up to intercept Patty as she fell over her own two feet in panic.
"Patty? What's wrong? What's going on?" He asked trying to bring her closer to himself only for her to push her away.
"It's Maka!" She said between gasps of breath. Everyone in the group saw the way Kid's body froze in fear before it began to vibrate in rage.
"What happened?" The chill of his rage caused the entire room to drop a couple degrees.
"She had your-"
"KID!" Liz screamed cutting off her sister. Blackstar moved closer to Kids side. "Maka just walked into The Mirror!" She screamed as she ran from down the hall.
Liz expected Kid to run towards The Mirror to pull Maka out, instead he turned to Blackstar, picked him up, and then slammed him into the wall.
"You told her?" He yelled in a rage.
"HOW DARE YOU?! I WOULD NEVER!" Blackstar yelled in response, hurt evident in his features. Everyone in the room stood up and tensed at the sight of the usually calm Kid throwing Blackstar against the wall.
"Then how did she-"
"She's been cracking for years Kid and you know it!" Blackstar hissed out. Kid loosened his grip against Blackstar and he began to slide down the wall.
"But it should have held..." Kid whispered.
"Yeah well, with the way you've been acting around her and that damned book of memories lying around you should have figured she would have found out sooner or later. She's a smart girl." Blackstar said placatingly.
"Maka's still in The Mirror." Liz said, in a desperate whisper. Blackstar and Kid said nothing and only continued to stare each other down. It was Soul who cracked first.
"What's wrong with The Mirror?" Soul asked in slight panic. Seeing as Kid did not look like he was going to answer Liz continued.
"The Mirror leads to a land ruled by Shinigami kind known as The End of All Beginnings. It is a realm between mirrors where everyone is neither living nor dead... it's safe only for those of the Shinigami line." Liz said looking between Kid, Soul and Blackstar. "Anyone who goes in there without a Shinigami as a guide is... punished."
"What's the punishment?" Soul asked panicked as he walked closer and closer to Liz.
"Death. Brutal, never ending death." Liz said in a silent, scared whisper.
"THEN WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DOING HERE?" Soul asked as he looked towards Kid. "SHE'S DYING SHE COULD BE DEAD? WHY ARE YOU SO-"
"They won't do anything to her don't worry." Blackstar brushed off Soul's concern.
"What do you mean 'they won't do anything?' She's mortal she-"
"Will be fine." Blackstar hissed before turning to Kid. "I always new you were a selfish prick. I knew the moment you left you'd come back here for her because you just can't stay away from something that good no matter how hard you try, huh?" Blackstar asked.
"Blackstar I don't know what in Lord Death's name you're thinking but Maka is-"
"Fine, they won't hurt her damn it!" Blackstar yelled in rage cutting Liz off with a sharp look before turning back to Kid. "Right brother?" He asked. The room went absolutely silent as they looked between Kid and Blackstar tension rising. "They wouldn't hurt the Young Mistress, the Lady of the House... right? Lord Death? Right Young Master?" Blackstar asked a teasing edge to his tone.
"Blackstar's right." Kid said.
"What are you talking about-" Liz was cut off by Blackstar.
"Of course I am, now what are you gonna do, huh? What'cha gonna do, brother?" Blackstar asked, a knowing smile appearing on his face.
"I'm going to go greet my fiancé."
"Maka, why are we here?" Blackstar asked as he stood at the train station next to a very ecstatic Maka. She was bouncing up and down as she was on the platform waiting for the incoming train from New York.
"I don't know." She said simply as she continued to bounce around the platform.
"Maka that's not good-"
"Shut it, Star! I just feel like I have to be here." She huffed out before turning her attention to the upcoming train. Hope graced her features as the door opened and people began to pour out. Blackstar stood stoically by her side as he watched Maka look around the people hoping to see a face in the crowd Blackstar knew was not there. When everyone left the platform Maka went back to the bench and sat down, waiting for the next train to come in from New York.
"Maka, I don't know who you're waiting for but-"
"But he promised he would be here..." She said looking off into the distance away from Blackstar. She was fidgeting with an invisible something on her left ring finger, which caused Blackstar to flinch at the sight.
"Fine, I'll wait with you for one more train but if whoever you're looking for isn't on it. We're leaving." Blackstar said sitting next to Maka.
They sat in silence as the next train came in, then the next one, and the next one and the one after that until no trains were left for that day. Blackstar turned to the girl sitting next to him as he watched tears fill her eyes.
"He didn't come..." Maka said, pulling at her ring finger.
"You weren't waiting for anyone to start with." Blackstar said. Maka turned to him, buried her head into his shoulder and cried and cried and cried until there was nothing left in her anymore.
Kid had been gone a week, and Blackstar knew that Kid truly wasn't coming back any time soon.
"Fiancé?" Soul asked.
"They're technically already married. I was witness." Blackstar said walking ahead of the group with Kid to his left.
"Minister Teddy resided over the ceremony." Kid added. Blackstar gave out a small, sharp laugh, shaking his head in disbelief.
"The power of female manipulation."
"Here." Blackstar said throwing a small box at Maka. It was Christmas and Maka was spending it with her father at the DWMA with Lord Death, a surprisingly kind man considering the handful of times they have actually met each other, her father, Blackstar, his adopted guardian Sid and the rest of the DWMA staff. Maka looked at the small, poorly wrapped box before flickering her gaze up to Blackstar before looking at the box once more.
"You didn't have to get me-"
"Just open it." Blackstar said embarrassed. Maka did as he said and in the box she saw the most pristine white gloves she had ever seen. She pulled them out of the box and put them on admiring how they fit on her hand.
"How did you-"
"Well you always said you make the best Death Scythe ever for K-k-cough... um, mhmm, for Lord Death and well those gloves were made specifically to protect your hands from the bitting metal of a scythe and well, you are always fidgeting with your hands and I thought the gloves would help with that as well." Maka's smile took over her whole face.
"Oh Blackstar, that's so thoughtful of you! I love them." She said putting them on her hands, they were a bit big, but she knew she would grow into them. She got up and hugged Blackstar. "Now only if I had a scythe to wield-"
"Oh Miss Maka!" A bouncy voice called out to her causing her to pull away from her hug from Blackstar.
"Why, yes Lord Death-sama?" Maka asked with a small formal bow.
"Now, now child no need for that! You're my good friends daughter, why I consider you quite like the daughter, or well, niece I've never had no need to be so formal!" He said waving Maka off as he bounced forward.
"But sir..." Maka said.
"Death is fine dear." Lord Death cut her off.
"Um... ok, Death? What is it?" She asked testing his name.
"Ah! Yes I have a present for you as well!" He said before pulling a (very familiar looking) scythe out from his coat pocket. It was a practice scythe balanced a little bit on the heavier side and smaller than normal size. It looked like it was meant for a smaller 12 year old girl, or better yet a very tall 8-10 year old boy. Maka's smile spread over her entire face.
"This is beautiful! I can't possibly-" Maka began to say as she held the scythe closer to her body.
"Oh no! I insist, I've been told you plan on making the best Death Scythe possible and I had a feeling you would like to start early. I have a feeling you're going to grow up very strong Lady Maka, and with kishen enemies, I'm sure you're going to want as much practice as you can." He said patting her on the head.
"Of course! Thank you, Death-sama... thank you so much!" She said giving him a big hug before going to Blackstar.
"Damn kid's not even here and he still out gifted me." Blackstar mumbled under his breath.
"What was that?" Maka asked.
"Nothing!" Blackstar said quickly, before he challenged Maka to show him what she could do. The weapon swung eerily familiar in her hand and a small smile graced her face in a way that reminded Blackstar of home.
That was the first Christmas Blackstar can remember that did not involve Kid.
"Hello Miss Nakase." Kid said smiling to a ghostly figured that moved in the halls on the way to the hallway that contained The Mirror.
"My Lord, what a happy day." She said with a small bow before turning towards Blackstar. "It is good to see you in our home once again." She said giving him a nod.
"It is good to see you too, I'm glad you don't have to hide anymore, you alway's did know how to liven up a room." He teased. Miss Nakase smiled at Blackstar before turning to Kid.
"You do know it is still about a year or two too early for your matrimony correct?" She asked Kid.
"Well I mean they are already married." Kid huffed at Blackstar's teasing before Miss Nakase's laughter rung through the halls.
"Then I guess I have kept you long enough from the Once and Future Queen, My Lord, friends." She said with a quick bow before leaving them on their way. Soul snorted out a laughter.
"What is it?" Blackstar asked looking back at Soul.
"It's just hard to imagine someone with the title of Lady Death, The Once and Future Queen, Ruler of all things Living and Dead and the only being to ever install fear in a Shinigami... has pigtails." Soul said.
"I'm assuming that's Kid's fault?" Tsubaki asked.
"Oh you bet so. He's the reason her outfit is nearly 100% symmetrical." Blackstar teased further nudging Kid until a flush appeared on his face.
"I don't understand why you do that to yourself. You're a 15 year old girl, why do you wear your hair in pigtails?" Soul, Maka's new partner (as well as the only scythe-weapon) asked her as he saw her getting ready for class that day.
"Well I-"
"And you dress like a business woman too! I mean the least you could do is make your skirt normal length!" Soul exasperated. "I can't believe I have such an uncool partner." Maka huffed at Soul before looking down at her outfit. It was almost exactly the same to what she wore today; trench coat, boots, gloves, sweater, button up, tie and skirt.
"What's so wrong with my skirt?" Maka asked in a huff.
"Well first of all, it's past your knees? And you have a belt holding it up decorated by reaper skulls? And you wear pigtails which stopped being cool when you were what? 5?" He asked before getting up off the couch before huffing and pulling out her pigtails. Bad move on Soul's part as he was finally introduced to the infamous Maka-chop.
"Don't touch my pigtails!" She huffed before going to put them back into her hair. "I was told they balance my face and that they were fun to play with." She said simply.
"By who?" Soul asked rubbing his head.
"My fiancé." Soul sputtered at the response.
"Seriously?" Soul asked. Maka didn't answer for a moment and Soul started to freak out.
"No... I don't have one, I honestly don't know why I said that? I can't really remember who told me, but I know that person was important to me..." She said as she played with her hair before running her finger over her left hand's ring finger, then proceeded to flatten her outfit.
"I mean it wouldn't really have surprised me..." Soul said slowly.
"Why do you say that?" Maka asked wistfully.
"Well, you've never even looked at another guy... Blackstar has told me someone somehow always falls in love with you every year and every single time you turn them down saying you have someone else... when literally everyone knows that you don't." Soul added as he looked Maka up and down noticing her far away gaze as she pulled the book she held closest to her, to her heart. "Plus you dress like a married woman; absolutely no character."
"Hey!" Maka yelled as she slammed the book she was holding into Soul's head once more. She huffed once more before looking back in the mirror and pulling on her skirt. "You know what? Fine, I'll shorten my skirt, but that's it! I still want to look neat and professional, plus this outfit feels balanced." She said humphing in finality before turning to Soul.
"Alright I can live with that. Loosen you up one inch at a time, make you cooler every day you're with me." He said before looking at the book Maka had just hit him with. "Damn, who knew The Giving Tree could be so violent?"
Maka gave a small laugh as she grabbed it from Soul's clutches going to change into a slightly shorter skirt. "Maybe because it's my favorite?"
Kid stood outside the mirror with the rest of his closest friends with him.
"I can not label you all my future Lady or Lord Death so please, for the love of my father make sure you are at least holding onto a part of me before we go in." Kid asked his friends as he all felt each of them hold onto some part of him except, of course, Blackstar who already had permission to be there.
"So is she why you went to the DWMA finally? Why you freaked out that first day and never did again? Why you went the next day just to say hello?" Liz asked Kid.
"What do you think?" Was his response before he finally entered the mirror.
"Hello." A soft voice said besides Maka and she felt something like a shiver run through her spine, but it was nicer than a cold shiver, it was familiar. Maka looked up and looked directly into warm gold. She felt a smile already appear on her face and a warm calm spread through her body before she even registered that she had never met this boy before in her life.
"Hello." She said and she saw the smile on the boys face widen. Maka scooted over on the bench she was sitting on and without even thinking patting the seat next to her. The boy sat down next to her and Maka found herself putting a bookmark in her book before taking off her gloves. "I'm Maka Albarn." She said sticking out her hand towards the mystery boy.
"I know who you are, I've heard quite a bit about you from my father." He said sticking his hand out to shake hers. Maka felt warm metal against her skin and looked down at the ring that was on his hand, and something in her mind rebelled against it. That shouldn't belong there, she thought before the boy began to speak once more. "I heard you are preparing quite the Death Scythe for me." He said with a small smile. Recognition passed over Maka's face.
"You're Lord Death's Son! Of course you would know me, my father's Spirit Albarn, your father's Death Scythe. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." She said her smile widening even more at the thought.
"I feel the same way, Miss Albarn." Kid said hand still in Maka's.
"Ma-chan is fine." She said before the words that left her mouth registered in her mind. She blushed bright red before proceeding to say, "I mean Maka! Maka is just fine!" Kid laughed at her slightly before giving her a small nod.
"Then you must call me Kid." He said before looking down at his hand Maka was still holding, her finger rubbed against the ring that once sat on her finger all those years ago. Maka seemed to notice where his gaze was going before she pulled her hands away from his, suddenly feeling a weird sense of loss at the lack on contact.
"I'm sorry you must find me so str-"
"Do you like my ring?" He asked cutting her off. She looked up at him and noticed a small blush appear on his cheeks as he pulled the ring off his right hand and gave it to her. "Here." He said placing it in her hand. Maka turned it in her hand and then looked at Kid quizzically. He gave her a slight nod and that was all the encouragement Maka needed before quickly sliding it onto her ring finger and holding it away from her face gazing at it in the sunlight, a small happy smile gracing her face. For as long as Maka could remember her finger had always felt empty, and although the gloves helped her from playing with it, her finger never felt as right and as balanced as it did right now.
"It looks quite nice on you." Kid's voice broke her from her musings as she embarrassingly stopped herself from further examining the ring. She went to go and take it off and before Kid could even think he said, "No keep it, it suits you." Maka stopped her movements for half a second feeling the blush on her face just as prominent as the one on Kid's face. After a moment of silence she burst out laughing then proceeded to hand the ring back.
"I can't do that it would ruin your symmetry and balance now wouldn't it. We just met I can hardly take something away from a stranger now can I?" She asked placing it back in his hand and curling his fingers around it. "Plus I'm sure you have another reason to come and say hi to me, besides the fact to show off your fashionable rings." She said a small smile on her face as she wrung the gloves in her hand, holding the book placed in her lap.
"Well I-I-"
"Some fighting advice?" She teased causing Kid to stop mid-stutter. "I saw you fighting against Soul and Blackstar the other day and it was quite a show, why I haven't seen anyone hold their own against Blackstar so effortlessly since the playground." She said with a small laugh and a smile. Kid stiffened before Maka continued. "Cause I would gladly take that advice. The only thing Blackstar fears from me are my Maka-chops." Maka said waving her book around with a fond smile on her face.
"Well actually I came here to talk about that book of yours." Kid said changing the subject from playgrounds and the almost undefeated Blackstar. Maka paused in her musings.
"Really?" She asked shocked.
"Yes, I'm quite the reader myself and I heard you enjoyed reading as well, and believe it or not according to my father we have the same favorite story-"
"The Giving Tree?" Maka cut him off. Kid gave a small smile.
"Yes, I had a dear friend who used to read it to me all the time. She got me into reading and well, I figured that if that were your favorite book, you would not steer me wrong in you suggestions." Maka gave a small laugh, placing a hand absentmindedly on Kid's shoulder.
"Well then the same goes to you, wouldn't you say?" She said tilting her body towards Kid.
"So Miss Maka, what have you been reading over the years?" He asked leaning in to give her his full attention. Maka began to lean in conspiringly when they were interrupted by another voice.
"Hey Maka! Is that dumb shinigami your fiancé?" Soul yelled over the courtyard Blackstar by his side. Blackstar gave a swift, questioning glare towards Kid while Soul and Tsubaki simply looked amused at the rapidly reddening meister.
"Shut up Soul! Will you please let that go?" She asked covering her face with her ungloved hands getting a curious look from Soul.
"Fiancé?" Well I could see it, she's pretty, symmetrical, book worm, she has green eyes, too! That's Kid's favorite color you know." This time Kid groaned as he heard Liz contribute to the conversation. "And you know what? I bet her laughter even sounds like sunshine! Hey Kid is she mystery girl?" Liz asked seriously.
"She can't be, we all just met you today!" Soul exasperated before proceeding to get into an argument with Liz, Blackstar, Patty and Tsubaki over the likelihood of a secret romance between the meister and shinigami.
"Idiots."/"Morons." Maka and Kid said at the same time before turning to each other in mild shock before Maka proceeded to break down in laughter. She reached out for Kid's shoulder to steady herself and Kid let himself brush her pigtail away from her face as she turned to face him in the midst of her giggles.
"I think we're going to be good friends, Kid."
"I believe so, Maka. I believe so."
Kid entered the mirror and around him the End of All Beginning was decorated like Wonderland with a tea set and forest animals dancing around and singing with the half dead servants of Death all prancing around a figure in the middle of field. She was wearing a crown of flowers and a cloak of crystal silk. The people around her were surrounding her in jewels and her shoes were discarded by the mirror door. She was dancing around the field barefoot as she greeted all of the servants she had missed over the years. She turned and locked eyes with Kid and he saw a familiarity in her eyes he had not seen in a long time. Her smile grew wider and wider as she turned to fully walk towards Kid and the rest of their group.
She stopped a foot away from Kid a smile gracing her face and tears in her eyes.
"Hello, Kiddo-kun." Kid smiled and pulled the ring off of his right finger to slide onto her left.
"Hello Ma-chan, I'm home."
I'm sorry, the End