It has been a week.
"Happy birthday!" Maka opened her eyes, surprised by the small gang that gathered in her tent. She saddened for a moment as she remembered Crona decided to stay home to avoid conflict. "You guys..." she grinned, snapping out of it. "We thought you'd appreciate us surprising you for a change." Liz smiled, turning over to her sister. Patty, on the other hand, seemed to be fascinated be the giraffe drawn on the side of the tent- probably forgetting the fact that she was the one to put it there a couple of months ago. "Birthday nerd hugs!" Soul wrapped his arms around Maka, causing her to lose breath. "Oh, my." Kid quickly walked around and started brushing her hair into pigtails. "Whoa, what the hell man?" Soul asked angrily. Maka breathed in relief when he loosened his grip. "It's okay, thank you Kid." Soul still looked rather confused, as were the others in the tent- anybody but Liz and Patty, they have seen it all. "What? He's only doing my hair." The two laughed at the cute stares. She leaned back, causing Kid to stop laughing and start complaining. "Well, we have a mission to attend. Who's making breakfast?" The faces of the group all turned pale as Tsubaki casually smiled. "Black*Star is-" Maka swiftly got up, still in her bra and shorts, and ran with the rest to try and save what's left of breakfast. "God damn it Tsubaki!" She yelled, giving both Soul and Kid Maka-Chops for their epic nosebleeds.
"Okay okay stop bugging me, I'll open it." The members of the group shouted in excitement as Maka accepted their presents. The Spartoi group at the time was out to a mission in a grave forest, in order to hunt a dangerous pre-kishin of a wood cutter that terrorized the nearby villages. The problem was, not in fighting the kishin, but in finding him first. Knowing the kishin's strength, they decided not to split up, which made the search much longer. They didn't mind that, actually. It was Maka who insisted on going on a mission to ditch her father on her birthday- therefore, they had no need to rush. But opening presents in a wild forest? What would she do if she lost them? Her worries, however, were not enough to convince her friends to delay the ceremony. It was tradition!
The presents were very simplistic. Cute hair clips from Tsubaki, a signature by Black*Star, a cute knitted giraffe hat from Patty, and a pair of earrings by Liz. ("My ears aren't even pierced!" "Well, they never had a reason to get pierced did they? Now they do.") Eventually came Kid's turn. He handed Maka a big book. "Wh- but I've already read this one before..?" she sounded a bit disappointed, then amazed by the looks of the first page. "Oh my god! it's signed by the author! Where did you get this? And how... you even got my name! And it looks vandalized..? Explain!" he blushed slightly, grinning at her. "I may or may not have written a small story of my own in between the lines, used some of my reaper charm to pass through the mirror in his hotel, and got him to sign Beezlezbub as well as the book. And even if I did, it was you who helped me practice asymmetrical writing so I could shape this the way I wanted." Tears sparkled in her eyes; she hugged him as hard as possible. "You're making me seem like a nerd, getting so excited over a book." he was about to replay when Soul coughed. The reaper and scythe meister blushed, noticing the stares the group has given them. "I'm... I bought you a bunch of stuff." Soul started rambling, passing her the gifts. "Here is... a shirt, 'as sharp as a blade', because... you're smart, and you have blades, so it's funny like that. And then I made you your own headband, like I wear, only with your name, so we can match... and... There's also this new pair of combat boots, and they're really heavy so I'm glad you're taking 'em now." Maka smiled, wondering at heart why did he sound so insecure. He rarely ever dropped the cool guy mask, so why here? Why now? "Awesome, thanks!" She hurried into a hug, thinking of whatever could've upset him.
Maka's point of view
It was my turn to guard the camp while the rest went searching. "Ill catch up in a bit!" Kid shouted to Black*Star, staying near my guarding spot. "Aren't you going, too?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "You didn't really think I was finished, only given you a book?" I laughed slightly, rolling my eyes. "Don't look, close your eyes." I did as he said with slight suspicion. Is this where my life becomes of a book? Is he going... to kiss me? I shuddered when feeling his hand hold mine, sliding cold metal on my ring finger. "Open." As I did so I realized he had given me one of his two symmetrical rings. "But... you won't be symmetrical..." He pulled up his shoulders. "It's... Still there, only seen from a different perspective. If we're together, we will be perfect." He blushed once more. "That is so sweet! Thank you!" I tagged his shirt into a hug. Today everybody were... so huggable.
Soul's point of view
He gave her his fucking ring. I never knew he could survive with only one.
Then again, it was Maka who helped him out of his helpless state. Maka could do anything.
It still bugged me.
I was the one to give her matching headbands, but all she would wear is this stupid ring. Am I supposed to be offended? Or is it simply because it was a headband? No, Maka never wore accessories anyway. I can see her better wearing a headband than I could see her wearing a ring.
A ring? Does it hint to something more than I've thought? Are they... dating? I knew old-school guys had given a ring to their girlfriends, and both of them ARE nerds. He would totally do that. Is that it? I went back to today's morning, Kid brushing Maka's hair, like she would brush mine sometimes. Only... He looked at her differently. I recognize that look.. It was the same look I give her myself.
'No time.' I thought, turning sharply as the woodcutter roared.
Maka's point of view
The woodcutter roared over the sound of the chainsaw. "So loud." Liz complained, transforming into Kid's hand. He then summoned beezlezbub and flew up to better watch and fight the creature. Soul seemed frustrated. "Three days looking for this piece of junk, and at the end it finds us before we do. Let's at least kick his ass right!" I nodded as he morphed into a scythe. Black*Star spun Tsubaki in his hand before speaking up in determination. "I'm about to beat this kishin so hard, He won't even be able to pray to me" A smile spread across my face. Lately Black*Star had been a little bit gloomy compared to himself, but it seemed he was starting to recover. I knew the reason for it was his fight with Crona, more precisely Crona bringing Tsubaki into their mess, so it has been twice as difficult for me. I hope things will return to normal soon... "Maka! You're dreaming! Watch-" I shook my head, dodging the chainsaw. Not quick enough, it appeared, since Soul made it to get ripped out of my hands and on to the other side of the camp. "Gee, thanks." he grunted, getting up from where he was thrown to. "Maka! Human weapon!" Kid called at me. "Right!" I remembered. I practiced for this. I calmed my mind; my nails turned to blades, and at my knees and ankles became as sharp as scythes. I swiftly defended a fierce strike with one of the blades along my back. "Black*Star! He's all yours!" He laughed, stabbing the thing's hand. Kid used the Option to shoot its belly, of not much use. The creature didn't look impressed. I jumped up, clawing its throat with my blades. It screamed in pain, spraying goo out of the wound. "Is that his weak spot?" I asked, rolling over. Soul tried running to me, but was quickly blocked by the creature now concentrating in Black*Star. "Liz! Patty!" Kid ordered calmly as he threw them away. Liz morphed in a glimpse, catching Patty midair and landing gracefully, she proceeded to attack the kishin. One look was enough. I changed into a full scythe and jumped into Kid's hands.
Soul's point of view
Kid jumped off beezlezbub, swinging Maka at the monster. Soul resonance. It ended in an instant.
"Yahooo!" Black*Star looked so happy, unlike me. Kid and Maka seemed so synchronized at the attack, beautifully matching souls like I thought only we could. Since when have they been so close? My thoughts wondered back to the ring. Are the two of them really in love? Thinking about it, I've never seen Maka fight like this before. Was he training her to become a meisterless weapon? But she's got me, doesn't she? No, he couldn't train her, he's a meister. Then, does it mean she trained herself? I couldn't fight like that if I tried.
"I totally wreaked this thing! Have you seen it?" Black*Star quieted down, looking at Tsubaki like a boy seeking the approval of his mother. "Yes. You did. Good job." She answered him, love and pride at her voice. They really are at times like mother and son, and at times like a couple, all I knew is that it opened a whole new level of black jokes, and a whole new way to annoy the dumbass who played my best guy friend.
"I think we should give the soul to Maka. Since yesterday was her birthday and she never ate one." Kid spoke up, trying to get Black*Star's attention. "I think she should have got it even if this weren't the case, she took a big part of the fight, after all." I added. Kid hurried to agree. I clinched my fists. How dare he join my compliment to Maka? She was supposed to blush at me, relay on me, and not on US. I turned my head to face her, surprised to have caught her staring back. "W- What?" I asked her, immediately regretting my rude comment. "Why are you making this face? Do you want the soul instead? I don't mind it..." I looked at her, suddenly feeling some kind of warmth spreading from my tummy onto my chest and neck, making it hard for me to breathe. She cares for me, and wants me to be happy; she doesn't even mind me taking her reward. "No, I'm fine, I guess... I mean, it's not like I have a reason to be upset, so I'm not. Not upset, at least." I sent her a grin to cover up my awkward rambling. My feeling... almost as if... no. Can't be it. She turned her attention to the soul. "Later, maybe." she softly picked it up and held it in her fist. How is it that someone can kickass so hard and stay this gentle? She's just so... complicated, like a puzzle for me to solve. she turned around and entered her tent, leaving me with a sense of loss.
I stretched, stepping out of my tent into the campsite, and there she was- sitting on the opposit edge of the camp, watching the starry night. "Why are you up?" I asked her, wide awake even though I truly was exhausted. "I couldn't sleep." She answered. I sat beside her, analyzing the anxious vibe my heart sent me. "Having problems eating that soul, are we?" She turned to me in shock and embarrassment. "How did you know?" she opened her hand, revealing the red soul within. "I've been there; all you need to do is stop thinking, and eat. Think too much, and you'll get stuck hesitating- eventually questioning yourself, your friends and your mission. Remember, it's not a person, it's a kishin egg. He hurt people." She nodded, looking at me with adoration. Slowly, she put the soul in her mouth and swallowed. The tears came soon after. "Relax Maka... Chill." I comforted her in a hug, not missing the flash of silver. My mood and expression suddenly darkened. "Maka..." My voice sounded so vulnerable, I hated it. "Do you like the headband that I gave you?" She separated from me, once again looking caught off guard. "Of course, you gave it to me." She was obviously lying. "Then why won't ya wear it?" I looked at her with disappointment. "You know what, I get it. Don't answer." I proceeded. She was about to respond when I cut her off again. "Nice ring, by the way."
And just like that, I left.