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Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater.
"You asked for me, Father?"
I stood at the foot of the platform, Liz and Patti by my side. Perhaps more intel was found that I'd have to investigate, though that didn't seem too likely. We addressed all the information we gathered previously, but what looked like a step into finding him ended up being the complete opposite. Most of it was information we already knew about his previous whereabouts; nothing that would be of any use now. At this point we were at a standstill.
"Ah, you're here," he turned away from the large mirror and held his hands behind his back, "Oh, did you happen to see anyone outside of the room?"
My brows furrowed at his question as I thought about it, "I don't think so. Liz, Patti, did you see anyone?"
"Nope! Didn't see anyone!" Patti said as Liz shook her head.
"Hm, they must've left as well."
"Who?" I asked him, not really in the mood for his ambiguity. That's when he smiled, and there was something about it that I wasn't sure I liked.
"Alright, I have a mission for you! Liz, Patti, you two'll stay with me." Liz and Patti looked at me inquisitively, but I was just as confused as they were.
Why would he send me out without my partners? Was this some sort of test? I didn't speak in an effort to let him explain his reasoning, but I already didn't like where this was going. In the end the symmetry wouldn't be corrupted because I'd have neither instead of just one of them, but it'd still be a pain without them with me.
"Your mission is to go to the archery field."
"What?" I blurted. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't this. It had to be some type of test, though I'd have no clue why he was pulling one of these today.
"The archery field, Kiddo. Go to it."
"I-" I didn't get it. What was the point of this? Surely there were other things I could be doing. Was there something I just wasn't sensing? His smile was gone now. When his countenance didn't falter I knew there would be no questioning this. I would have to play along. "Yes, Father."
"Good," he bounced, back to his regularly jolly mood, "Tell me how it goes!"
"Good luck Kiddo-kun!" Patti waved and I gave the siblings a reassuring smile before turning and exiting the room.
For one of the first times, I left my Father with more questions than answers. Did he know I didn't like going to that part of the Academy anymore? He couldn't have. It wasn't until fairly recently that I stopped spending my free time there. A little after Kuro left I started loitering the archery field instead of the library, trying desperately to clear my head. Usually reading provided an escape, but it became a challenge because I could no longer focus. I would read the words in front of me but my mind would be in twenty other places. It was like I wasn't reading at all.
Eventually I realized spending my time there only made me think of moments that were already over and hope for things that would likely never happen. My head didn't clear like I wanted it to; in fact, it did the complete opposite. So I forced myself back into my old habits: going to the library, doing my missions, and spending time with my friends. All of this in an effort to bring some normality back into my life; at least, what normality was before Kuro. Though, seeing her a handful of days ago set me back quite a bit.
I stopped at the door that led outside and concentrated on my surroundings. There was someone out there, but the soul was a human's. Unless they were hiding behind Soul Protection, but I'm sure if it was someone to be concerned about Father would've said so - and would've let me bring Liz and Patti. Still, it was a little odd. There weren't many who hung around the archery field these days.
I pushed open the door to the sound of an arrow whistling through the air. The first thing I noticed was that it hit a bull's-eye, but once I moved my gaze to the person wielding the bow I froze. The door behind me closed shut as she dropped her stance, her eyes still on the pierced target.
"She was always so warm; that was the difference between these bows and hers," she turned away from the target and set her eyes on me. They were still as bright as I remembered them, and her black hair only made them stand out even more, "Char and I were the only ones that would train here most of the time, well, before I awakened. I thought it'd be the best place to talk."
"You're here," I didn't mean to disregard anything she was saying, I was just trying to let this sink in, "You came back."
Kuro smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes, "Did you doubt I was going to?"
"For awhile there, I did," I gave her a once over, there was something different about her, but I couldn't tell what it was, "You're a quick learner, Kuro. I didn't think you would've been gone too long, if you meant to return."
"I guess you're right," she walked to the area that held all the weaponry and put the training bow back. "And you're not wrong, for awhile there I didn't think I was going to come back, either." she paused for a moment, "So much - too much - happened. I guess I was trying to run away."
She sat on a nearby bench and gestured for me to join her. I obliged, sitting beside her and keeping my eyes on the trees in front of us. "Why did you come back, then?"
And for how long?
"Several reasons," she answered, but before I could ask what they were, she continued, "I've been running all of my life, Kid, but for the first time I was running from something good, even if things happened that weren't so good. God awful, in fact. I owe it to my former partners to find Noah and kill him."
That's what it was. What I noticed that was different about her. Her eyes may have been bright, but they edged with regret. A sadness jaded by vengeful determination. Yet, I knew she was still there, under that was the Kuro I once had feelings for.
Or maybe I still did.
"And... You know, I also..." she exhaled, reaching to clutch the ring that hung around her neck, "In running away from my issues, I was running away from you, and I... didn't want to run away from you anymore."
It shocked me how happy it made me to hear that. Hearing her voice in general, seeing her again when I thought that night was going to be the last time I would. I just realized how happy it all made me, and most of all, relieved, "Does this mean you're staying?" I asked before thinking about the consequence of her response.
"Mhm," she nodded, giving me a now genuine smile, "Yes, I'm staying, and I'm sorry."
"What?" I asked, "What for?"
"I left without saying goodbye. I shouldn't have done that to any of our friends, but especially to you. Kid, I'm so sorry."
"Don't be silly," I smiled, leaning back, "I forgave you even before I saw you that night."
I could see that she was still looking at me, but I was staring at the sky just above the trees, "You know," I began, "At first I thought you wanted to leave. That it wasn't just about leaving for our safety. That in some way you were tired of this city, DWMA - me." I could see her start to shake her head, but I continued before she could say anything, "I know that wasn't the case, don't worry. I gradually started to understand. Thinking that way - it wasn't like you. If anything, we're the closest thing you had to a family, right?"
"Right," she uttered.
"I'd understand why you'd want to protect that; your family."
A moment passed before she placed her hand on top of mine. Her touch caused me to take my eyes away from the sky and instead look at her.
"Kuro?" I breathed after some time passed with her and I just gazing at each other.
"I need to get something off my chest," she began, "I lied. I lied about not remembering. I remembered everything about that night. I could've seriously hurt you, yet you came for me anyway, and you - you kissed me."
"I knew you lied," I said, and she seemed surprised, but I kept going, "And I'd do it all again if I had to."
Her face started to turn pink, but before she could try to hide from me, I placed the palm of the hand she had been holding gently on her cheek like I did that night in Reno; only now it was daytime, and I could see clearly for the first time in a long time. I wanted a few moments alone like this, no matter how small they might be. My eyes moved along the gentle features of her face, and my thumb softly stroked the skin of her cheek. I thought I had smothered away my feelings for her, but as I took her in I was starting to think otherwise. I have never wanted someone's company so much, and I've never savored anyone's as much as hers.
"Kid..." she trailed off, but I don't think she meant to say anything. Instead, she leaned forward, her lips stopping softly on top of mine. She was hesitant, I could tell, probably because she didn't know how I'd react. This was a bold move, but I would expect nothing less from her, and besides, it wasn't like I wanted her to stop. I slid my hand slowly from her cheek to the back of her neck, pulling her closer to me, and feeling her uncertainty melt with just a single action. Her body relaxed when she realized I was kissing her back.
From then on, I knew. I never stopped feeling like this for her; not one bit.
Amazing. These emotions never ceased to amaze me. Even after so long it's as if everything was rekindling right before my eyes. No, I don't think anything ever burnt out; I should've known that from the moment I saw her that night. Of course trying to force them away wouldn't have worked, when has that ever worked? What has happened may have set us back a bit, but it wasn't anything that couldn't be fixed. I was willing to try if she was.
When she pulled back, I let her go, but our faces were still close. We were silent for awhile, just gazing at each other, unsure of what to do next. Perhaps I wasn't the only one surprised by that kiss.
Suddenly, she began to giggle.
"What is it?" I couldn't help but smile, though I did start to feel a little self conscious. I wasn't exactly the most experienced at this sort of stuff.
"Well, there's no way I can say I didn't remember this one, huh?"
I chuckled, "I'd hope so..." I replied, before leaning back to get a better look at something I just noticed, "Your hair."
"What?" she blinked, her fingers gently brushing the locks, "Is it messy?"
"No, it's just not parted correctly - symmetrically."
Kuro smiled resignedly, "Oh, jeez."
End of Chapter XXXI
These roman numerals are actually getting pretty long haha. I really hope I kept Kid in character (never ending worry, I'm telling you xD)
If there's any way I can improve my writing, let me know! Thoughts are always welcomed~!
Thank you so much for reading!