Hi hi. 8)
I have two papers to do that I'm procrastinating on. Oh well!
Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater.
"So where'd you come from?" Char asked out of curiosity. A small hint of panic filled in my stomach; I didn't think about what I would say if that question ever came up.
"Um, a city farther west," I said, searching my head for a name, "...Reno; a few hours away from Lake Tahoe."
"Oh, that's just a few days trip from here!"
I nodded, relieved I thought of something. It wasn't a complete lie... Reno was the closest city to the headquarters. Besides, I wasn't entirely comfortable with people knowing my past connection with Noah. Could one imagine the rumors that would surface? Just look how Spirit acted.
"Also, not to be rude, but that must've been a nasty cut when you got it." she said, sliding a finger down her face, indicating that she was talking about the scar on my face.
"Oh, yeah. I had a run-in with a pre-Kishin on my way here." Another part-lie.
"Damn. Well, I'm glad you got yourself out of that."
"Soul and Maka saved me." I said, giving credit where credit was due.
"Wow. You know, I really admire them; they're strong and incredibly brave. They make a nice pair, too. I ship them completely, but who knows how they feel about each other."
I smiled, agreeing with her. I had an inkling something was there between them, but I couldn't say for sure. Weapon-Meister pairings can just be very strong.
"Hey, you wanna see my Weapon form? There are target practice areas at the back of the academy."
"Sure!" I nodded, excited, "But I have to warn you… I'm not a particularly good shot."
"Oh, Kuro." I heard over Char's giggle as we passed a large set of doors. I turned to the voice and felt a smile on my face before I even thought about it.
"Death-!" I shook my head, "I mean, Kid!" I smiled and brought Char forward, "Hey, this is Charlotte. She's my new Weapon partner!"
"But you can call me Char." She said, smiling and shrugging.
"So you're enrolled now? That's great." he smiled, and I was glad he didn't bring up when I mentioned I had no place to go. That would've rose questions. "Don't we have a couple of classes together?" Kid asked, turning to Char.
"Yes, sir! Only a few, though."
"Just 'Kid' is fine." He said, "It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
"Where were you heading off to?" I asked, not really wanting him to leave just yet. I enjoyed his company, even though his tantrums were a hassle when triggered.
"Well, home. Liz and Patti are out shopping, so I was just going to read a book." he nodded at the book in his hand, "What about you two? Heading off to your dorm?"
"Nope, we were going to the targets that Char said were here." I said.
"You wanna come and see me in action?" Char asked, "I mean, arrows aren't included, but with me as her guide she won't miss. Unless her aim sucks."
"Which it does..." I muttered, realizing that I had no idea how to aim with a bow. I was used to close quarter combat, but I guessed a bow and arrow could be used in that way. If one had good aim, which I, again, did not have.
"It sounds like your Weapon form is a bow, right? I can help you with that, Kuro, if you want me to."
"I'd like that." I gave him an appreciative smile.
"Well," she turned, walking in the direction we had to go and beckoned us, "Let's go then!"
We walked out into the warm Saturday afternoon, a canopy providing shade over the distance Meisters are supposed to be from the targets. There were eight targets in a row, and they, I estimated, were eight feet apart. When I first came to Death City, I thought DWMA was in the middle surrounded by buildings. However, ahead of us, there was nothing but trees. There were so many trees that it looked as dense and endless as a forest, you'd never guess that there were buildings just on the left or right sides.
"Alright, let's see what yah got!" Char jumped, and in a dark orange light she appeared as a bow. I caught her and held it in front of me, gazing at her color. The bow was black, lightweight metal and the wire was a deep orange color. Tribal markings the same color as the wire covered the black handle of the bow. She was beautiful, but her appearance also made me ache. She was almost the same color scheme as Kaori, only her design was more elaborate. "You like?" she asked, teasing.
I cleared my throat, trying to get rid of the lump, "Yes."
"The symmetry! It's perfect!" Kid gushed, his eyes shiny as he gazed at Char's weapon form. I looked at him and his expression got me to smile. I shook my head.
"Symmetry?" Char whispered to me as I looked around for some ammo.
"Don't ask." I smirked.
There was a barrel of arrows next to a table of practice guns and bows, and I picked a few out before returning a few feet away from the target. I took one out and stabbed the others into the earth. My arm still felt tight and sore, but I ignored the feeling and set the arrow on the wire, trying to get into some type of stance.
"Wow, you really are bad at this."
"What?" I said to the bow, hearing her voice.
"It's not going to hit."
I shot, despite what she said, and Char was right. The arrow dove over the target and deep into the trees. I glanced at Kid, who was watching, and I blushed slightly in embarrassment.
"It's okay." He said, noticing, which didn't help. "Practice makes perfect, Kuro."
"Were you trying to hit a bird?" Char asked sarcastically.
"Shut up." I grumbled, "I'm used to close quarters."
She snickered and I picked up another arrow, aiming again, but taking my time this time.
"So, you're used to close quarters combat?" she asked.
I nodded, already knowing where this was going and cursing myself for letting that piece of information slip.
"Does that mean you had another partner before?"
My concentrated gaze went from the target to the dirt next to it. Of all the things I thought I would fear, I didn't think being judged would be one of them. Would she think of me as a bad partner if I told her that he died? I couldn't keep lying to her. We're partners now; we needed to trust each other. I needed to learn to trust people. Then again, I didn't have to tell her everything.
"Yes." I answered, hoping she would end it there.
But she didn't, "What happened?"
I started getting tense; I didn't know what to do. Should I tell her? Why was she asking so many questions? Why did she insist on prying? Not only that, but this was personal. I didn't like talking about it. Despite myself, my hands started shaking.
"Kuro?"
"That's enough."
My stance faltered and I lowered the bow, looking at Kid who set the book down on the table. I didn't know if he meant the conversation Char and I were having, or my pathetic attempt at archery. Either way, he just saved me, and I don't even think he realizes it.
"Here," he walked forward and put his arms around me, placing his hands where both of mine held the bow and arrow. I was going to question his intentions until he began maneuvering me into, I guessed, the correct stance. "You're holding the arrow wrong, and you have to consider the distance when pulling back the wire and angling the bow. Kind of like throwing a basketball, I guess."
"O-okay." I muttered. I didn't know why I was stuttering, but his proximity was strangely making me nervous.
What the hell is up with me?
"Let go at one." He said and I nodded. He counted down from three and the arrow whistled away from us, hitting the Kishin-shaped target with a bullseye.
"Whoa." Char said, impressed.
"Where did you learn how to do that?" I asked him after I collected myself from my strangely flustered feelings.
"Whenever I'm bored of being at home I walk the grounds to marvel at its symmetry. From time to time, Meisters come out here to practice their marksmanship. I've only seen one or two archers. One of them was fantastic and I kind of learned by watching. However, I'd never make it a hobby of mine; I find the sport to be done too asymmetrically."
I chuckled and grabbed another arrow, "Right. What about the other archer?"
"Oh, that would be you. You're absolutely terrible."
"Hey!"
He chuckled, "Practice makes perfect."
I rolled my eyes and set the arrow on the wire. I remembered how Kid showed me how to stand and did that. The warmth of his hands and arms were gone, but I remembered how they felt.
"Hey Kuro." Char whispered to me like a child wanting to tell someone a secret.
"Yeah?"
"Your palms are getting warmer."
I glanced at the bow and rolled my eyes, ignoring the slight heat that rested on my cheeks, "It's hot out here."
She snickered, "Right."
End of Chapter VIII
... I don't really know what to put here. xD
Well there's some fluff here... hope it was, well, fluffy. I mean it can't be too fluffy yet. It's only like... the eighth chapter. Hang in there! I'm building characters and Kuro is still getting used to this if I could skip the boring stuff I would but then it wouldn't be organized or make sense and yeah. T-T I'm sorry.
- Limiterlys