Chapter 13: Eating too Much; Will Kai and Black*Star Be Too Fat To Dance?

I began with salad – a girl has to watch her figure, of course – and it spiraled out of control after that. Accompanying the food was good conversation: Maka, Soul, Tsubaki, and Black*Star entertained us with endless stories about defeating the kishin Asura and two witches Arachne and Medusa. I, personally, was interested in hearing about Arachne, her being the 'mother of all weapons' and all. They had a lot of interesting accounts, including one about Liz and Patty nearly being consumed by a mummy kishin while Kid ran home to fix a painting. That one almost killed me, partially for the look on Kid's face as he heard us and figured out what we were talking about.

"So, Black*Star, how'd you get saddled with such a cool weapon?" Soul asked after a while. I had just reached my food limit, but was still eyeing the chocolate pudding. That is, until Black*Star scooped it all onto his plate and shoved some in his mouth. Letting out a slight groan of contempt, I glared across the table at him while patting the slight bulge in the tummy region of my corset.

And I had thought that I couldn't get anything else in there!

"Uh," Black*Star grunted, a mouth still full of pudding, "Only the best for a big star like me, I guess."

Snorting, I nearly fell out of my chair as I was jostled by my own noise. As I tumbled, Nanuk's hand shot out and pulled me back into my seat by my bicep so I didn't hit the floor.

Soul smirked as I sat straight again, blushing slightly. "Kai, how do you feel having this guy as your meister?"

What was the purpose of asking me a question like that? Of course any weapon would be lucky to have Black*Star as their meister – if they could handle his attitude. I was glad that I had been chosen to be his weapon for the year. Then again, I bit my lip, I couldn't exactly say that out loud or it would sound like I was happy or something (though I really was). I didn't want to sound like I liked him or anything. "He was a pest at first." I started, frowning, "and he ate all my food and tried to make me do all the chores, but after he learned how to wash his own laundry and feed himself then… I guess he's cool." I shrugged, looking away and trying to keep my face neutral. That wasn't at all what I thought.

"You guess?" Black*Star echoed, his eyes narrowing. I caught his gaze and saw that this morning was all but forgotten.

"Well," I stared into his starry irises for a moment, nearly biting my tongue to keep from snapping or saying something I would regret, "You hog the shower."

Giggling, Maka grinned at Tsubaki. "But at least he's taking showers! And doing his own laundry, Tsubaki!"

"I didn't think it would ever happen," Tsubaki chuckled, "I thought he was going to keep wearing the same things forever!"

I sighed theatrically, placing my hand over my chest. "It took a whole two and a half months, but eventually even he couldn't stand his own stench."

The table erupted into laughter as Black*Star's face turned bright red, his lower lip sticking out as he pouted. I gave him a bright smile, wanting him to see that we weren't laughing fully at him, and he couldn't contain his grin. We were easily being one of the loudest table, causing us to get some looks from the other ones, but it seemed none of Team Maka really cared much. They were honestly a really fun, interesting group of people. Soul was super laid back, Maka courageous and firm but also super friendly. Tsubaki seemed quiet at first, but opened up slightly as the meal went on. Soon we all chatted like old friends, all but Snow who seemed to be getting more nervous as the night grew older. Something about the way he fidgeted in slight, subtle ways made me slightly nervous myself. I found myself glancing at him every few minutes just to make sure he was still there.

"It has to be nearly time to dance, right?" Brie groaned, patting her stomach. Out of the whole group she and Black*Star had definitely eaten the most, with my coming in at a close third. The assassin didn't even seem fazed by the amount he'd packed away but the French scythe definitely looked like she had reached her limit.

"I don't know if I'll be able to dance!" I sniggered, stifling a moan. The table joined me in my laughter until I thought about it for a moment, "No, I'm serious. I don't even know if I can get up."

"I'm sure Black*Star can just carry you out onto the dance floor!" Nanuk teased, having joined in with the rest of the table who had been mercilessly teasing the two of us all night – with no cause, I might add.

"I can barely carry myself!" Black*Star complained, "How am I supposed to defeat god if we're both fat?" He looked at my food baby pointedly.

"You ate more than I did!" I squealed, hiding my swollen stomach. "Plus, we don't feed ourselves this well at home, ever."

While my meister and I groaned about the fullness of our stomachs, I lazily cast my gaze around the rest of the food hall. One of the large sets of doors – the one we hadn't come in – had opened and I could see the ballroom beyond. There were already a large number of people entertaining themselves there, dancing and laughing, not seeming to be affected by their consumption. I snickered, realizing that we seemed to be the only ones who had eaten a too-large amount. Who would have thought Team Maka were such pigs?

With a huff, I managed to propel myself out of my chair and began rounding the table menacingly, eyes locked on Black*Star. The second he caught sight of me he struggled to flee from his impending doom, finally springing to his feet and all but dragging Tsubaki into the ballroom. Those of us who were left, including me, sniggered at his quick retreat.

"I don't think I've ever seen Black*Star back off that fast before!" Maka giggled. I couldn't help but notice – I am a girl, after all – that she and Soul had been gravitating to each other's sides at every possible moment. I wasn't one of those creepy girls who, like, totally followed and 'shipped' their relationship, but I really hoped they would get that figured out soon. Warren and I used to have sessions with these candles that heighten your emotions, make you talk truthfully and stuff, and they were always really good.

Hell, we beat the crap out of each other most of the time, but it was still fun. Very enlightening for our resonance.

"You must be a god or something, huh?" Patty asked, her eyes wide and innocent and slightly crazy, one arm hooked through Kid's. "Black*Star isn't afraid of much."

I shook my head, chuckling nervously my thoughts jumped to their usual, darker place. "No, not a god. I'm just that scary!"

Our pack weaved through the tables, making its way towards the open ballroom. I could hear the classical music, but then suddenly I could see a small quartet that was playing music on a small raised platform in a corner. The thousands of weapons and meisters that had been eating just a few moments ago were now gliding – or stumbling, in some cases – across the dancefloor to the music. It was obvious that many of them didn't know how to dance very well, as there were only a few that actually did anything besides the basic waltz. A few couples, the really cute ones, didn't even try and instead swayed together near edge.

I quickly spotted Black*Star and Tsubaki, a confusing pang hitting suddenly inside my chest as I saw the meister and weapon dance. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't like I would be caught dead dancing, but… it kind of made me ache, thinking about their close relationship. I couldn't help but be a little jealous.

Beside me, Brie sighed. When I turned to look she was glaring at me with an anger that I hadn't known such a small person could have. "You're just as bad as Maka," she accused, jamming a finger into my arm. "Why aren't you out there, confessing? When are you going to get a better chance?"

My face turned red of its own accord, denial already stumbling out of my mouth: "What! Me? Black*Star? Love? Hell no. He… repulses me. Just look at him! Who has blue hair anyways? It looks stupid!"

Alright, so maybe my best form of denial was bashing.

Brie sighed, shaking her head and nodding towards my meister, "She's been in love with him forever, you know. Not saying that you should run in and steal her man, but maybe if it's taken her this long… it's someone else's turn?" She smiled slightly, glancing at me from the corner of her eye, before turning away and heading toward the punch. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I heard a rumor that somebody spiked the punch and I want a taste!"

Bewildered, I stared after her. For someone so small she seemed quite knowledgeable, though I was sure she wasn't any older than I was. I looked back at Tsubaki and Black*Star, my stomach burning with acid and butterflies all at the same time for no reason. What the hell was there to be nervous for? All I needed to do for the rest of the night was sit my ass in a chair and pretend I was having a good time while Black*Star caught up with his old weapon. It was no big deal, him seeing her. So what, she liked him? It wasn't as if I did too. There was absolutely no competition between us.

I found a seat and slumped in it as best I could with a corset on, a thought occurring. In less than six months it would be me that was the old weapon. I would be back with Warren, which wasn't a bad thing, but it was mundane and didn't seem as exciting anymore. Shocked, I came to a startling realization that left me floored: I would trade anything to be Black*Star's weapon permanently. My want was selfish and wrong, and completely mad, all combined left me feeling worse than I had mere minutes ago. I was a terrible person.

Settling back into the chair, letting my eyes wander around the room without purpose, I almost found myself relaxing. Just a little bit. As much as I could while I was in a dress and alone in a roomful of (mostly) strangers. Warren – damn, it had been ages since I thought of him, how awkward – hadn't found me if he had even bothered looking. Black*Star was off with Tsubaki, each of Team Maka having paired off with their old partners and catching up with each other. Liz was off with the older of the two Australians, though I couldn't quite remember his name. Patty was dancing with Kid and I could hear his cursing every time she stepped on his foot clear across the room. Maka and Soul, dammit, were one of the sickeningly sweet swaying couples, though it seemed as if they were actually talking instead of making out.

Then, I could spot their exchanged partners. Snow was hovering near where his weapon was dancing, looking both unapproachable and sad at the same time, which I considered quite a feat. Nanuk was dancing with another guy and talking quite animatedly with him so I guessed he was probably his previous weapon. Brie was still guzzling punch, now surrounded by guys who all competed for her attention. I couldn't see the younger Australian, though, and Bastian was missing – though Nikolai, like me, had found a chair and planted himself in it with a book. Why hadn't I thought to bring a book? That was so damn smart! I could have gotten a bunch of homework done…

Amidst my thoughts of missing partners and homework I didn't even hear anyone come up behind me, gasping in shock and shooting to my feet to face my adversary as their hand landed on my shoulder. My gray eyes widened in shock as they processed who it was. I didn't even know what to do with myself, so my arms just went slack by my sides, my eyebrows dipping down to show – I didn't even know what they were showing, I could barely keep up and I was inside my head.

The song came to a slow close, the entire crowd clapping and then returning to their respective dances as a new song began. The boy before me clapped slowly with the rest of them, his eyes never once leaving me. First he appraised my dress, a slight blush on his face as he realized where it was from. Then he met my eyes, boldly staring me down like no one else would. I ached for my camera like I always did in his presence, wanting to capture him in a tuxedo at a formal ball, wanting so badly that my hand actually tightened into a ball without consulting me first. He noticed, a grin making its way onto his face as he slowly held out a hand: asking silently for a dance.

I inspected that hand that had so many times gripped mine before we went off and did stupid things together. I couldn't say his name yet, I was still unsure that he wasn't a figment of my imagination, but that hand could have almost been a part of someone else if I pretended it was so. Maybe it could be a certain bluenette assassin's hand, though the fingers were too long and feminine to have ever belonged to him. Still, if I just let myself pretend then I could go back to being his for a few moments, not thinking about Japanese boys who made me think of things someone who was, well, me should be thinking about.

He tugged me out onto the floor wordlessly, reminding me of so many nights at McDonalds after a hard kishin hunt where we had been too exhausted to do anything. Truthfully, most nights like those I was too tired to even eat but I went for the sake of tradition. I averted my gaze from his face as his hand gripped mine, feeling all-too wrong. His other hand rested at the small of my back but I couldn't help but wish it was someone else's. I felt so selfish and sick of myself to be wanting like this but Brie's accustation had cut through the barriers I always kept up. So, maybe it was true. Maybe I actually did feel something for Black*Star, something that was beyond the usual meister/weapon relationship. It was still wrong and stupid.

I shut my eyes against the thoughts, pressing my palm in my partner's to keep me grounded in the here and now. If I wasn't careful my mind was going to run away on me.

Swallowing down a painful lump in my throat, shoving aside thoughts of awakening feelings and the futility of said emotions, I finally looked up into the boy's eyes and met them with my own fire. His, a steady and unwavering brown, smirked back at me while he waited. I felt it: his soul brushing up against mine in a way that felt oh-so-familiar and pleasant and like home.

I cleared my throat, smirking back. "Hey Warren, long time no see."

(Author's Note: Going to start putting these at the end of the chapter because I like being able to talk about what goes on. Super fluffy, I know, but the next chapter will get back to the action-packed, heart-string tugging stuff we're all used to from Kai... or not, whatever you think ducklings! Hope you enjoyed!)