Consider this…. A 'thank you for waiting for a ridiculous amount of days for an update' chapter. It's longer than normal. Something tells me you guys will like it.
"Uhg! What is that smell?" Maka said, her fingers rushing up to pinch her nose. Kid shrugged, his face contorted in disgust.
Robin tilted his head slightly. "Smell? I don't smell any… Oh, look! There it is!" The boy grinned, showing the first sign of happiness since being 'captured' by the two teens and pointing up into the trees. Kid had made an agreement with Robin earlier that morning. He agreed he would let Robin free of the restraints if he agreed to stay with them. Of course Kid had already given him that option a few hours before, but that had also been the time where he almost made the poor boy wet his pants. Robin, though slightly reluctant and claiming he could handle his own, agreed, but insisted that they were to get his stuff. The reaper happily accepted on those terms; besides, the boy might have some supplies that would be worth while to the three of them.
Looking up to where Robin had been pointing, Kid stopped dead in his tracks. Maka looked at him in confusion, then followed his line of sight and let out a small gasp. Robin, already in the tree, looked down at the pair with a smug smile, then proceeded his climb up into the branches. "See? Didn't I tell you I could take care of myself? Why did you think there weren't that many Rotters around here?"
Kid's eyes widened as he took in the scene. Several, at least a dozen, severed Rotters' heads had been skewered on the branched of the very Oak Robin had just climbed up into. Maka gawked at the oozing heads, some of which even had their eyes gouged out, or worse, only hanging on by a small piece of grayish brown flesh. "Well that would defiantly explain the smell…" Maka said, putting the obvious two and two together. "And the lack of Rotters… Robin, did you do all of this?" She question, though she was pretty sure she knew the answer. Already reaching the tops of the branches, the black haired boy paused to acknowledge Maka by showing off a proud smile and nodding his head furiously. Maka shivered, not just from the creepiness of it all, but the weather did seem to get considerably colder over the night.
"Yep! Every one of them. See, I think their used to chasing people on the ground; but when something jumps down on them from above, they don't know what to do!" He giggled the last few words. If Kid didn't know any better, he would've thought the boy was actually enjoying the memory. "They just kinda stop." He paused his climbing for emphasis. "Even if there's more than one! They all stop!" He was almost in full out laughter by now. Kid thought on the tactic and almost laughed at the simplicity in it. Was it really that easy? You just jump down on them and you're home free? "I don't think they like seeing the heads either." Robin's squeaky voice brought Kid back from his thoughts. "They don't ever dare come over here!" Kid nodded, of course the heads were what kept away the Rotters; but not exactly for the reason the young boy thought. As they learned before, the Rotters are most sensitive to smell; and this was indeed an offensive one that couldn't be mistaken for something living.
One by one, small bags toppled down from the tree tops. After about the third bag, the rustling of the leaves stopped and Kid though he saw Robin looking around, an alarmed look plastered on his face. "Theif!" The small boy screamed, obviously uncaring if anything heard him. Maka and Kid looked at each other with alarm filled eyes. Theif? Kid's mind raced at all the possibilities. Theives? Out here? Did that mean there were others around? And if there were, and they had truly stolen something, what's to say they wouldn't go further? Or even worse, what if the Rotters' ability to learn had been increasing much faster than the young reaper expected? Could Rotters really have done this? Kid subconsciously wrapped his hands around his backpack straps; it was a good thing they decided to carry their stuff with them.
"Thief! Thief!" The small boy continued to yell as he started back down the tree.
"Robin, Shush! If there really is a thief, do you really think yelling it out is really the best idea?" Kid said, trying to speak loud enough for the boy to hear, but quiet enough not to alert any perpetrators. Maka began scanning the area for anyone who might be lurking in the shadows when something brushed up against her leg. She jumped back and looked down only to see a small black and white kitten staring back up at her with friendly green eyes.
"Thief!" Robin called, this time sounding more relived than urgent. He slide down the rest of the tree in a matter of seconds and ran over to the little ball of fur, but before he could reach it, Kid had already swooped it up and held it in front of his face, examining it. By the time Robin had walked over to Kid with an irritated look on his face, the reaper had a wide eyed expression.
"He's absolutely perfect…" He said in awe, then turned to Maka, astonishment filling his golden gaze. "He's perfectly symmetrical!" He smiled, telling her as if it were the question that haunted her every thought. The blonde meister shook her head smiling to herself. She had to admit, she did find the death god's obsession with symmetry rather… unique. But in a good way.
Robin snatched the squirming kitten from the shinigami's grasp and held him close to his chest. "Don't hold him like that. You'll hurt him." He gently set the now purring cat on the ground and walked over to his stuff, slinging the three backpacks over his shoulder.
"So, Robin, what exactly is missing?" Maka asked, not entirely sure of anything anymore.
"Missing?" He tilted his head in such a way it was almost comical.
"Yeah, you said someone stole something." Kid encouraged.
"No…" He shook his head, black hair slinging back and forth.
"You just yelled thief!"
Robin stated laughing. "No, no, no. Thief is my kitty!
As the day progressed, the weather seemed to take a toll for the worst. It wasn't snowing quite yet, but it had defiantly gotten considerably colder and pale grey clouds threatened from the sky above. Sure the trio had a considerably large fire going, but this didn't seem to help with the bone chilling breeze. Other than the less than uncomfortable weather, the rest of the day had been more or less average, and the two teens were extremely thankful for Robin's sudden eagerness to obey. They, mostly Kid, decided that Robin could keep Thief, but it seem like they really had a choice otherwise since the small ball of fur rarely strayed too far from the blue eyed boy; this seemed to change Robin's attitude towards the meisters, and he seemed to already be getting comfortable around them.
"I'm cold… and hungry." The small boy whined for the umpteenth time since the sun had gone down."
"Too bad." Kid said through his teeth, irked by the child's constant complaints. It was a wonder the kid had even survived on his own, he seemed so needy. They had already given the boy more food than they could spare as well as most of the extra clothing they had in their backpacks. That along with the small sleeping bag he had stowed away in one of his bags apparently wasn't enough to keep the child warm.
Maka looked down at the small cat, batting at the now loose shoelaces of her old worn tennis shoes. "When I was little, I always wanted a cat…" She said somewhat absently, smirking down at the tumbling ball of fur. "But Papa and Mama were rarely ever home, and said it was too much responsibility to have a pet seeing as they had such busy jobs." Maka scratched the tiny animal behind the ear, causing it to lean into every touch. "I guess Papa felt bad for me, so he got me a little stuffed kitten. It's kinda dumb to think a stuffed animal could ever replace the real thing, but I still loved it; and the fact that Papa at least thought about me..." She let her smirk grow to a smile. "It even almost looked like this little guy… I almost brought it with me but I guess I forgot it…" She trailed off, obviously not wanting to continue as her smile faded.
"Is that why you agreed to let Blair live with you?" Kid cocked an eyebrow, looking over at the blonde meister and trying to lighten the mood a little.
"Well, not really… That just sort of… Happened; though she could be nice company when she wanted, in cat form of course." She laughed a little, but her amused expression slowly slipped and her smile turned to a frown. "I wonder what happened to her..." She let her mind wonder off to everyone else she had known; Sid. Stein. Marie. Papa… Anyone that was in Death City could now be walking lifelessly, only carried by instinct. This made her think about the others, Tsubaki, Blackstar… Soul… The partner she felt she betrayed. The partner she left for dead. It was only when she felt something sliding down her face that she registered the fact that she was crying.
Kid looked over to the quiet meister and was only able to tell that she was crying when the light from the fire had hit her face just right, revealing a small shiny trail that led from her eye to her chin. He sighed inwardly; he knew that conversation was going south whenever she had began reminiscing her childhood and her father. He knew that when Maka had said 'her', she really meant 'them'. There was no doubt that she was mourning for her lost friends and family. Kid felt a pit of guilt and sympathy in his stomach. He had no idea what the girl felt, he never exactly connected with anyone in the group like Maka did. Of course he cared for all of their well being, and he would happily put his life in exchange for any of theirs, but he knew there was no way his sorrow could match that of the blonde next to him. He looked over at her again. She was still crying, but her expression was like stone; cold and unreadable. She looked so numb. Only the icy wind was able to make her wince slightly as the wetness on her face chilled. Kid inched closer to her and put an arm around her, half for comfort, half for warmth. She didn't stiffen, nor did she lean into his touch, she simply stayed still; but it wasn't awkward. Kid figured very few things could be awkward to each other anymore.
"You know I can't tell you everything will be ok." Kid said, just above a whisper. "I don't want to give false hope." Maka nodded just barely, but Kid felt it.
"I'm cold…" Robin whispered sincerely, rather than in a whine. Kid nodded his head slightly, careful not to disturb Maka, whose head now lay limply between his shoulder and his chest, signaling for Robin to go over there. Unsure, the boy slowly walked over to the two teens, his sleeping bag dragging behind him. Catching Kids gaze at the bag, the smaller boy unzipped it completely, took a spot next to Maka and draped it over the three of them and Thief, who rested between the scythe meister's shoes. The reaper was just about to check the other two's souls before Maka spoke.
"You stink…" She muttered.
"Do not!" the child retorted louder than necessary. "I washed up today!"
"Not you." She mumbled through an undevoted chuckle.
Kid smiled, "Speak for yourself." It was around that time when Kid had a feeling thing just might be ok.
Thank you guys for being so patient while I was on vacation. I had a great time, I even went to a concert and had an aisle seat, and one of the band members entered the stage by going back in the row behind us and then walking down the aisle. He looked at me o.o I was noticed o.o Anyways, enough with my chatter and fan-girlness.
Replies~!
Checkered Brooke- Won't it be fun indeed. I'm trying to make this kid seem like Hell on legs. Is it working? XD I think I'd be a little afraid of him…
AkiraSaphire- You do? I think I might, but I'm not sure! Please share! Haha I didn't know it seemed like anything was going on XD
Courgae-Earthworm'8- Ooooh, that would be fun. But I think if we push anymore of Kid's buttons he just might pop. Maybe… I got a little something up my sleeve.
Jeager's Paradise- I do hope that little bit of action was satisfying? Hmmm… A maternal Maka? I would think that she's maybe borderline… Like she really does care for the kid, but she's a bit overwhelmed and knows she's ill prepared to take care of such an… eccentric kid.
Evilkatnyah- Yeah, I actually teach a class of 5 year olds on Sundays, and theres this one kid who came up to me and pointed at the Chinese symbol on my necklace and told me it said mouse. He was right, actually, because it symbolized year of the rat. He then continued to sit down and write sheet music and then sing out the notes correctly. Thus, genius Robin was born! As for the advise, I messaged you :D
PyschopathicXangel- Thank you! And I can't reply to the rest of your review; spoilers!
DeathTheKidsDinosaurRawr- Isn't it ironic you talk about a cat and then I post a chapter like this XD See? Fate does have a sense of humor. And my little kitty always sits next to me while I'm writing XD I guess something in my head assures me that if a rotter were to enter my room, she'd go all Kamikaze on it giving me time to escape ._.