Let me start by thanking everybody: 1rocker-chic, AgataNie, AkitaNeruVocaloid, Angrybird432, AnimeFreakLover54, CheezeMonster, Chucklemaniac, Elli990, Fairy-Tail's-Dragon, Hikari x Takeru, Mermain123, PrincessNeshh, Professor Maka, Six Ribbons, arisaartemis, crimsontouches, hannahgo, kelisanimefreakmitchell, lovelygirl4everlife, pinkfrye, snk1216, spiceypepper, Mallon Dark Dragon, Oreh, Sailordeedlit, argyyle, rdlacaj, miki, KawaiiHat, bee, chloe200999, LeprechaunGreen, and, the very first one to review/follow/favorite, VIVALARAPTURE! Without you guys this story would have never gotten to where it is today :D I am eternally grateful! Please leave a review! Now, please enjoy Chapter 13, Someone To Hold On To
Black Star twirled the rings in between his fingers. Sometimes they would glow faintly, other times they would shine so brightly that he had to put them back into the box. He sighed and flopped onto his bed. Damn Soul and his complicated orders. Black Star closed his eyes against the memory.
"I'm going to split my soul into three parts."
"…What?" Soul sighed.
"Here," Soul placed a ring in Black Star's hands. It was a delicate ring. The band was thin and silver and it had a single small tear drop shaped diamond. "This is the second part of my soul. This first part is in another ring that I've hidden at the tree. You'll know when to get that ring. I'll tell you. Make sure you get there before Maka. She can't know. After you have both rings, guard them with your life. I'm literally putting my life in your hands." Black Star stared at his best friend, trying to comprehend what the hell he was saying. What the hell was going on? Soul, seeing the confusion, simply shook his head.
"I can't tell you now," Soul said softly. "All you need to know is this and that I'm sorry. Tomorrow is the last time you'll see me until I can figure out a way to come back. Don't tell Maka, please? She needs to stay completely out of the loop." Black Star closed his fist around the ring.
"Shouldn't you be trusting Maka with this?"
"No, because if she's taken, they'll question her, and she sucks at lying. It's better if she doesn't know anything." Black Star shook his head. None of this made any sense but he understood the need for secrets. Black Star wasn't one to question about someone's past. Black Star looked at his best friend. Yeah, he would keep this secret. Soul's composed façade broke and his eyes began to water.
"I'm getting rid of the last piece of my soul tonight," he whispered. "I'm scared, Black Star." When Black Star pulled Soul into a hug, Soul fell apart. The young men supported each other one last time. Soul didn't want to leave. He loved his friends; he loved Maka. But things were becoming too dangerous to stay with them anymore. At any moment they could hurt or kill his friends and it would all be his fault. It was one in the morning when Soul left Black Star's room.
That night, the building collapsed, and for the next eight months Black Star pretended that his best friend was dead. But for the past three months, that possibility was more real than ever. When Maka got the letter and explained to them the secret code, Black Star knew that was his cue to go the tree. He went as soon as he dropped off Maka at her dad's house that same night. He dug all around the base of the tree until he found the small tin box.
Inside there was a note addressed to him. It read, "You're my best man." Black Star's eyes had filled with tears as he looked at the wedding rings. He had been able to wear them on a chain around his neck for a while but then they started to glow randomly. Black Star was forced to keep them in the box they came with. He hid Soul's wavelength with his own. Looking at the rings, he sighed and put them away just as he heard a faint knock at his door. He shoved the box into his pocket before saying, "Come in!" Tsubaki poked her head around the door and smiled softly.
"Dinner's ready," she spoke quietly. Black Star nodded but as soon as she left he called out to her. When she didn't return he got up to look for her. He found her in the kitchen, leaning over the sink, shoulders slumped.
"Tsubaki?" She sniffled and wiped at her eyes.
"Do you want cheese on your tacos?" She asked through her tears. Black Star went to stand beside her. He draped his arm around her shoulders and she immediately sunk into his chest. He was thankful for his growth spurt a few years back. He was now able to rest his head on top of hers. He'd be nineteen in a few months and then she would turn twenty one. He sometimes wished that he was older. He and Kid had a joke that they both liked older women. But whatever the age, Tsubaki was the one he was in love with. They had had their moments, but neither of them had confessed to the other yet. And with what was going on, Black Star doubted they would have time for a confession in the near future.
That didn't mean he didn't plan to. He did. He had thought of so many different ways to bring it up but, the timing was always wrong. And now, here was Tsubaki, crying on his chest because she missed her best friend. She was worried and scared. And they had absolutely no leads. Everyone was on edge and frustrated. They couldn't seem to get a break. Black Star felt his own despair build up, and he hugged Tsubaki fiercely as he shed a few tears of his own.
Tsubaki felt that they were having one of their moments. She felt so incredibly safe in his arms. Her heart went out to Maka. Losing that one person who always seemed like a constant variable must've been so horrible. She only hoped that where ever Maka and Soul were, they were together.
x
"Kid! The food's here!" Patty called up the stairs to the future Grimm Reaper. Kid sat in his study, admiring the symmetry of it all. It had been such a long time since the word symmetry had even popped into his head. He faintly heard his name being called, too many thoughts were clouding his head. At the forefront of his thoughts were the Thompson sisters, more importantly, Liz. Yes, Patty meant a great deal to him but she was like his little sister. Liz, on the other hand, was more than that. And unlike Tsubaki and Black Star, he needed to tell her now.
What happened with Soul and Maka could've happened to anyone. In a way, he was relieved that it hadn't been him or Liz that the kishin had caught. He was terribly depressed in losing his friends, but he was terrible happy that Liz had made it out alive. And not just alive, but lived with him. She was with him. He could still talk to her and hold her, if he wanted to. And did he want to hold her. She was the first person he saw when he woke up in the hospital. She was the only person he wanted to see. That had been the first time he had hugged her. He wasn't one for physical contact.
His father had said that things were only going to get more dangerous. He didn't want something to happen to Liz and regret not telling her how he actually felt. For being the future Grimm Reaper, he didn't have the confidence of living that Black Star had. It was why, when Liz opened the door to his study, he blurted out everything that was on his mind.
"I love you, Elizabeth Thompson," he said nonchalantly, sitting in his chair. Liz didn't seem to be fazed by his confession at all. He didn't expect her to, either. Instead, she leaned against the wall.
"I love you, Death the Kid," she said with the same nonchalance. They were both extremely happy. And at the same time, they were both relieved. Kid nodded and stood from his seat. He, like Black Star, was also happy about his growth spurt since their fight with Asura. He was now taller that Liz. He and Black Star had always been a little jealous that Soul had always been taller than Maka when he wasn't slouching.
Kid walked over to Liz and bent to place a soft kiss upon her lips. It was just the slightest bit of pressure but it carried the weight of all their emotions. They went down to the kitchen not bothering to hold hands. Patty had the Chinese take-out all set up on the counters and was busy with serving her own plate. To anyone else, they newly formed couple didn't look any different than they had five minutes earlier. But, Patty could notice the way her older sister seemed to lean toward Kid. She could see the way Kid stood just a millimeter closer to Liz than he had before. They were tiny, subtle differences that only a sister could see. Liz noticed Patty's smile seemed genuine as she piled noodles onto her plate. Liz nudged Patty in the side.
"Shut up," Liz whispered to her sister.
"I didn't say anything," Patty giggled. Kid smiled at their interaction. If there hadn't been such a depressing tone coloring everything they did, this moment would've been nice, perfect, almost. The trio settled into the couch as Kid turned on the TV.
"In other news," the anchor women said as Kid began searching the guide for something to watch. "The terrorists of the Walt Disney Concert Hall have been sighted in Ontario, Canada. Video surveillance cameras caught the duo walking into the international airport and boarding a private jet. The CIA is now questioning the Canadian government and its involvement in the attempted terrorist attack. The Canadian government denies any involvement and is willing to help identify the owner of the private jet and any participating parties helping the terrorist." The trio sat silently watching the screen. Their appetites had fled. Patty was the first to put her food down. Liz followed suit and the sisters both looked at Kid. His hand snapped his chopsticks in half.
"Patty, start packing," Kid began quietly, "Liz, call Black Star. I'll go talk to my father."