Chapter 2:

Third Month,

Problems Already?

Saturday, June 21st, 08:04 a.m.

The young Shinigami was walking through Death City as people were opening their shops, wind was gently blowing, it was a nice morning but even so, he soon got bored and came home. He didn't fancy holidays and breaks. He had almost nothing to do.

When he came home he noticed that mansion was noticeably quieter than when he left.

"Hm?" He walked into mansion, "Tachi-san?"

There was a note on table saying: "I went to visit a friend, I'll be back 'til 10."

He just shrug shoulders as it was normal for her to wander off at times and went to wake up Liz and Patty.

08:10 a.m.

Tachiko was walking down street, heading to Maka's apartment. She was wearing a white t-shirt with blue kanji writing on it, unbuttoned black vest and shorts. It was a fairly warm day already.

She was walking, spacing out completely, when she bumped into a boy that was running, and they both fell to ground. She rubbed her head, sat up as a rather nervous voice spoke to her:

"Oh! I'm so sorry… Are you alright?"

She got a better look at the stranger. It was boy that looked about her age. He was a brunette with tan skin and deep blue eyes. He put a hand down to her, and pulled her up.

"Geez.. That was quite a fall, eh?"

"No kidding…" she got up and dusted off. "I haven't seen you around here.."

"Don't blame you, I just recently moved here. I'm Yoshiki, Yoshiki Kaziya"

" Tachiko" She replied

"Tachiko, hmmm?" he looked at her in silence "... Such a weird name indeed!"

"E-eh?"

"I didn't mean that as a bad thing, just that it's unusual." He shrugged, looking away.

"… Well, I guess that's okay."

"Hey, Tachiko-san.. I know we just met, but you seem like pretty cool of a person…" he looked back to her and smiled "Care for a drink if ya got time? I'd like to talk to you for a bit more."

She thought for a few seconds, then smiled "Sure!"

Little did they know, they'd be exchanging those smiles almost on a daily basis from that day on.

"So, you're a weapon?" Tachiko asked him once they sat down and ordered drinks

"Yuuuup! A Demon Katana!" he said before taking a long gulp of his Cola. "You?"

"I don't have any weapon powers… Though, I'd like to become a Meister, just like my brother."

"Your brother?"

She nodded and smiled "He's amazing with his twin pistols, or so I hear… Father says he isn't doing bad at school either."

"School? You mean like the Shibusen?"

"Yup! Father's the principal!"

At this point Yoshiki almost spit his drink

"Your father's Lord Death!?"

"Is that a big deal?"

"It's a huge deal!" he continued talking, awestruck "That means your brother is- A-are you going to be his successor!?"

"N-no, it's nothing like that…" She smiled nervously. "I was adopted… I heard rumors that father wanted someone to grow up alongside his son… I was lucky to be picked out…"

"S-still! That's a huge deal!"

"Come on, Yoshiki-san… You're embarrassing me…" Tachiko rubbed back of her head.

"Hey hey! I just got the idea so crazy, it just might work!"

"What is it?" Tachiko said, taking a sip of her frozen Matcha tea

"Let's pair up!"

Monday, September 12th, 01:03 p.m.

It was first day of School, and also Tachiko's and Yoshiki's first day at the academy. They were placed into the Crescent Moon class. It was relatively silent;

Maka was reading a book, Soul was by her lazily looking through the class, half asleep, Black*Star wasn't there yet, he was again discussing something with professor Sidney. Tsubaki was in one of back seats waiting for him. Tachiko was in one of first row seats, with Yoshiki by her while Kidd was in front of Maka, Between Liz and Patty, looking at Yoshiki with a bit suspicious look in his eyes. Liz soon noticed it, stopped polishing her nails and looked at him saying:

"I thought you agreed not to mind his asymmetry… Guy's got uneven bangs that cover his eye completely, so what?"

"It's not just the asymmetry that's bothering me this time…" He mutters "He met Tachiko not even a month ago and they partnered up just like that..."

"Oh please Kidd... He's been taking a good care of her. That's just some brotherly concern you're facing"

"He's probably jealousss!" Patty voiced in her happy tone

Kidd was going to protest, but then professor Sidney and Black*Star walked into the classroom, Black*Star having a blue eye.

"Now class…"

Kidd was suspicious but after giving it some thought let it slide.

Friday, November 8th, 06:10 p.m.

Although it was eighth day in month, and Friday with that along, neither Tachiko nor Kidd seemed too happy about either. Kidd went straight to the mansion while Tachiko decided to study with Maka in library for a bit.

"I don't know what's his problem, it's like he's jealous or something." Tachiko said while putting a book back to shelf

"Who?" replied Maka as she was coming back to one of tables

"And who do you think? Kidd, that's who…" Tachiko said while going down the ladder "I know he means best but really, he could put more trust in Yoshiki…"

"Don't be so sure…" Said Maka sitting by her opening another book "You just met him few months ago and by an accident. You had a small chat and that's it." she glanced over to her "You can't be so sure that's something you can rely on. Take Soul and me as example… It was not an accident, but a visit and we had more time to meet each other better and I'm completely sure I can trust him with my life." She gets a bit sad look on face, again looking down to book "His scar was the proof of that…"

"I guess you're right about that… I don't know that much about him either… Well, it can't be helped" she got up and turned around, taking her bag. "I'm gonna go talk to him."

"H-hey, wait a second! What about studying? We have a test on Wednesday!" Maka said, but Tachiko didn't mind her, she was already out of library. She was thinking about what Maka said. Yes, she had rushed into making partners with Yoshiki but she never thought he could be a bad guy or anything short of at least a good friend. She walked to his dorm and knocked on doors "Hey, Yoshiki, you there?"

No response

After a couple of seconds she knocked again and peeped a bit trough keyhole. "Hmm…" she whispered, "I wonder where he had went…"