Tied by Contract, part three

Kid felt himself starting to shake from anxiety. Visions of him, pulling her closer to a kiss, flooded the poor guy's brain. 'This wasn't supposed to happen.' He thought, suddenly becoming nauseas. He pushed Maka away, running to the toilet to vomit. His nerves reached their breaking point, and he was having a breakdown in a stall of the male's room.

Maka stood quietly, ignoring the glare she got from that girl Engie. Did Kid just push her away and ran off? Did she do something? Or was it that he really didn't like her at all? Sadness filled her. "This is so tiring." she sighed.

"All set, it's time to announce the winner of the first 'miss shibusen tournament'." Lord Death called. The girls all sat in a line, carefully watched by the guests. Maka was aware of her friends looking at her from the crowd, all except Kid. Where was he?

"At third place, Lilac 'Engie' Brood." Maka watched the tall god wrapping the tall girl with a big ribbon. 'If she's third, I must be lower.' Maka thought sadly. "At second place, Jasta filler." A pretty girl, strange to Maka, Looked around proudly while getting wrapped up, just like Engie. "And at first place, no surprise there," Lord Death smiled in his spatial way, holding out the crown. Maka sighed, looking for Soul in between the strangers that came to see the ceremony. Suddenly, she saw him, a split second before her name was called out, and he was kissing Liz.

Tears filled her eyes, feeling of heartbreak and betrayal mixed with worry for kid and confusion. Lord Death walked to her, softly putting the crown over her head. She raised two hands to her face, this was too much 'I won?' her brain screamed. She turned around, running away and tearing the crown off her head. What was the point? She won the crown, but she lost Soul.

"Maka?-" Kid called in surprise when she buzzed near him on her way out, crying. He re-entered the room, noticing all the girls were wrapped up. Kid figured, Maka had lost the competition. The thought pained him in a way he didn't know could be.

"Kiddo! Where were you? You won't believe who won-" Lord Death rushed to the young shinigami. "I don't care." Kid cut him emptily. She didn't win. "They are all the same to me." His eyes dropped to the floor. "I'm going home." He announced, turning around and walking out of the ballroom.

...

Maka sighed, fixing her floral grey dress. Her hair was loose, and her eyelashes had mascara on them. "I can't believe I'm doing this." She whispered. After the most recent heartbreak Soul brought her, Maka didn't even bother to get up from her bed. Soul tried to ask her what was wrong, he cooked her meals, he begged for her forgiveness, but Maka wouldn't budge. At least not until Kami paid a visit.

Needless to say, Maka did not expect her mom to return to death city anytime soon, much less to bring news of that kind with her. As unbelievable as it may sound, Maka was glad it happened- she was getting engaged, to someone new, someone that she didn't know and wouldn't treat her like her friends did. He would take her somewhere far away from Soul, from Kid- opening a new page in her life, or so she thought.

It was definitely unlike her mama to arrange her into marriage. Both of them have felt on their flesh the burning of treachery, unfaithfulness from Spirit Albarn's side. When she left, Kami told Maka it was because she yearns for freedom, had enough of the chains her marriage held her in. So what changed? Who is her exception, the one person her Mama believes in so much that she would lock her own daughter's fate with?

'I trust you, mama. I don't know your motives but I definitely trust you.' Maka thought, filling with hope for the future, and praying for some luck, but from what god?

Maka gasped as Kami appeared on her side, squishing her hand. She was so beautiful, her hair, eyes and strong expression were exactly like Maka's, leaving out her nose, face structure and long feet. Now Maka knew for sure what features of her body she could hate, and which of them were from her mama. 'I wish I was more like you.' She thought with envy. 'But I had to be somewhat like papa too, unfortunately.'

"Maka," Kami suddenly spoke, shocking her daughter. "You must be confused and uncertain, so I feel like I need to explain before we enter and seal the deal. The whole suggestion came as a total surprise to me too, I am not the one who came up with it, but I trust the other side. I have known this man from when I just entered the DWMA, he is a gentleman and well stabilized, so I know his son must be just as well behaved. This deal is going to give you so much freedom, Maka. Money, protection, you won't have to deal with any of the things I have. Especially not that potato husband bullshit. Do you understand?" Maka slowly nodded. "Actually, I think you might know these guys, too." Kami suddenly realized when they stepped into the room.

Maka's hearing blacked out. The apartment was the most stunning place she ever set feet in- was every engagement party like this? Black Roses, Ribbons on the walls, important personas roaming around the place... pearls, gems, her father walking to them furiously... wait what?! "How did he get here?" Maka asked, terrified. "Lord Death invited him." Kami answered. Maka raised an eyebrow. "But it's my engagement party! He can't just invite people because he's the mayor-" Maka was soon cut by her father desperately calling her and Kami's names as her mother continuously chopped him. She sighed and left her mother's side, roaming the place.

Marie Sensei? Maka raised an eyebrow, noticing the blond death weapon walk around just like she did. "Maka! Hey! I'm so happy for you!" Marie called, spotting her. "I wish I got married just like that. You're a lucky girl. And you've got one heck of a groom, as well." Maka's stomach twisted. That's right; Marie was her mother's old friend. But to think she will be here, from all people... focus, she scolded herself. "Where is he?" She asked. "I think he's in the last room to the right. He's a little depressed by the marriage thing so I recommend you speak with Lord Death first and let him come to you after he's calmed down." Marie offered with a smile. "Lord Death is here too?!" Maka called in disbelief. "Oh? The whole crew is here. Stein, Sid and Nigus, too. I think he even got some of your friends, since he knew you didn't invite them. Soul, Tsubaki and Black*Star, the twins, and Kid of course." Marie continued as if it was only normal. "What?! Why did he do that? I kept it a secret for a reason!" Maka broke down in shock. "Hey guys! It's Maka!" A familiar voice called. "Oh my god." She pouted and turned to Black*Star with a fake smile. "I never knew you had it in you! Now that's a way I haven't thought about to make gods vow to me." He grinned. "Black*Star!" Tsubaki called. "Its only marriage, idiot." Maka rolled her eyes. Soul flinched at his side. "You should've told me!" He complained, his voice showing her he was hurt. "Like you told me you and Liz got together." She hummed. He blushed with guilt.

"I still can't believe we weren't told about this. Plus, you don't even look like it's bothering you. Kid has been sulking for weeks!" Liz hurried to change the subject. Maka felt guilt spread in her chest. Kid was hurting? Why the hell did it bother him she was getting married? "Liz! Why didn't you tell me you and Soul are dating?!" Patty called in anger. Oh, so they kept it a secret. "Oops!" Maka covered her mouth. "Soul! Why didn't you tell me?" Black*Star called. "I thought gods already know everything! Aren't you a god?!" Soul replied in fake sock. "Of course gods don't know everything! Look at Kid, he didn't even wanna hear who he got stuck with! I bet if he did know he wasn't so bummed." Black*Star chuckled. Maka frowned. "excuse me? why the hell is he so stressed? I'm the one who's getting hitched here! if any of you guys don't like my fiancée then just leave." She commented. "Whoa there Maka! Chill. We're all just surprised, is all. I thought you guys hated each other, for death's sake! And in case you didn't know, Kid has no idea that it's you since he wouldn't listen. He has every right to be stressed." Maka opened her mouth trying to express her confusion. "Wait, Soul, I don't think she knows either." Tsubaki said suddenly. Soul's eyes widened before he and Black*Star busted out in laughter. "What? What is it?" Maka shouted. They were messing with her nerves the whole evening. Tsubaki tried to explain, overtaken by the idiots. "You know what? I'm done speaking to you guys. I'm gonna find mama." She said, walking away.

"Maka? Good, you're here. Time to meet the boys!" Kami announced with a smile. She grabbed her hand and walked her into a small dining room, where two of the people Maka least wanted to see have been waiting.

"You!" Kid and Maka called in union.

...

Maka was too shocked to speak. Her heart pounded and her eyes blurred, still focused enough to scan Kid's figure. He was wearing a dress suit, sexy as usual, in the colors of black and white. His hair was surprisingly messed, and his face and eyes looked red and venerable, as if he just wiped tears off them. 'He's a little depressed...' 'Kid has been sulking for weeks...' The voices swirled in her head, pushing the shock aside. 'He didn't know either.' She realized. What now?

"Mama," she said softly. "Why didn't you tell me we were dealing with Lord Death's son?" Kami raised an eyebrow. "I did. A couple of times, actually." Maka slowly closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. "Hello, Lord Death." She said quietly while taking the empty seat in front of Kid. "Hello Maka! Wazzap?" Lord Death replied happily before turning to her mother and passing over some last-minute-stuff papers. "It's the competition." Kid said quietly, causing Maka to jump. "He wanted to find me a bride, something about becoming complete and taking over his part. I had no say, and I didn't know it's you." Maka digested the information quietly. "Then you are my prize? That's kinda messed up." She finally came to conclusion. "I guess so." He answered, laying his head on the table.

"Hey Kid?" She asked eventually. He raised his eyes in suspicion. "Is that why you were so stressed the months before the competition?" Her voice was soft, like she finally understood something. "I suppose. I'm glad it was you, though." He answered, causing Maka to look at him with surprise. "I was kinda depressed because I thought you lost. But then again I don't own you, so I don't have the right to be. I guess I kinda have a crush on you or something." He confessed with a hint of blush spread across his cheeks. "Well, I kinda have a crush on you too." His head jerked upwards in surprise. "You do?" His blush deepened. Maka noticed a drop of sweat form on his temple. She couldn't help but smile at the embarrassed reaper.

"Ugh. This is boring." Maka said eventually, truely smiling to her fiancée for the first time in weeks. "Wanna ditch?" he chuckled. Maka only smiled and grabbed his hand, both calmly walking out of the event as if it was all just a faint dream. "Care for a milkshake?" he suggested. "Only if you'll buy me that awsome shake of yours"

Maybe getting hitched was not such a bad idea, after all they were both now tied by a contract, and none of them complained at all. Not now, and never again.

Well, maybe a little. But that's just how love works.

Ugh, that was kind of disappointing. I don't know why...