✓ A Fact سے طرف کی Death the Kid's Wife
A week has passed. Only a week.
And now I only have a دن to prepare. Adrenaline, the sister of fear, courses through my veins as I breathe a shaky sigh, filling my lungs with oxygen as I anticipate the growing hours that will determine my fate here at the Academy, as though I were about to jump off the highest peak of the icy Himilayas with only a parachute to secure my survival.
Kid has taught me well, and I owe him all the credit in the world. If it weren't for him, I would not have this سیکنڈ chance. I have to make the best of the situation; I must seize this magnanimous opportunity...or I will be lost and all my work will be wasted.
I close my eyes and sit back on the dun-colored wall, my sketchbook in one hand and my pencil in the other. I've been drawing مزید pictures than usual lately. Normally, I only draw when I'm inspired, but this raw feeling of unabashed certainty and passion has been bubbling up inside my head for the longest time. Drawing is the easiest avenue I know to let it all out. Just me, my brain, and the gradient lead of the pencil on paper as it shifts like loosened sand caught up from the ساحل between the sheets.
I glance back down at my drawing. It's half-finished. Almost there. Almost done. I throw caution to the winds, as though they'd capture my secret sprawled underneath the gray and blackened pencil and whisper it in the dreaded recipient's ear of which cannot happen; otherwise, I'll lose everything, and this drawing will mean nothing.
Nothing at all.
No one seems to be around, and if he was anywhere nearby, I'd sense the static before he could make an appearance. School isn't out yet. The گھنٹی, بیل hasn't rung; however, he has been known to cut class before, and I can't afford to be caught with his half-finished twin. Closing the sketchbook, I try my best to calm my wracked nerves, as if his honey eyes have already discovered it. Neurotic. Insane. Twitchy. I'm sure any onlooker from afar would سوال my sanity if they could see me now. I can't think straight. This static is really starting to have a drastic effect, and I don't know how much longer I can go on disregarding its presence.
The گھنٹی, بیل rings. And the virgin silence ensues just before the clattering of doors and footsteps and voices echo throughout the hall, a loud cacophony of disarray. Quickly, I toss my sketchbook within my book bag and مہر it tightly shut. Now I feel safe.
His voice... It drifts along the wind, seized up, taken, and finds me. I'm tugged from my world of broken thoughts, shattered glass, and I suddenly come alive, re-animating myself like a چینی مٹی کے برتن puppet, my face lighting up at the sound of his voice.
"Black Star, I'm pretty sure Professor Stein asked آپ to keep the notes, not eat the notes."
"Hunh? Have آپ gotten your ears checked lately? That's totally what he said!"
I turn in the direction of their conversation as Kid and Black سٹار, ستارہ round the bend, accompanied سے طرف کی Soul, Maka, and Tsubaki, although the static was the first thing to greet me. I can still feel it.
He sees me and smiles, his yellow eyes glowing. "Hey, Jordan."
"Hoh! Look who it is!" Black سٹار, ستارہ exclaims. He raises a giant thumbs-up in front of Kid's face. "I knew آپ were waiting for ol' Black سٹار, ستارہ to get out of class! I mean, who doesn't wait for a BIG سٹار, ستارہ like ME?! HAHAHAHAHA! Though I'm usually the one doing all the waiting since everyone is such a SLOW POKE!"
Kid glowers a bit and pulls Black Star's arm down. "Yes, I'm sure she was just waiting for your arrival..."
Tsubaki giggles, her black ٹٹو tail swaying slightly in the wind as she holds up a finger to her lips. "Of course, Black Star."
I laugh a bit and smile. "Hey, guys. How was class?" I am curious about the classes. From what Kid tells me, they're pretty interesting. If only I was a student...
"Boring! AS usual!" Black سٹار, ستارہ جوابات for them, waving a hand dismissively. "Yeah, this دن really SUCKED! But the good news is that Maka here is holding a little get-together at her apartment, and we're all invited!" His eyes light up in two giant yellow stars. "There's going to be food, right, Maka?!"
One of Maka's blonde eyebrows twitches a little as her eyes slowly morph into two giant black dots. "Yeah, as long as آپ promise to leave some for everybody else."
"Yeah, yeah! Whatever! Just lead me to the food!" Black سٹار, ستارہ laughs aloud, rubbing his stomach. "A big guy like me needs ENERGY!"
"Just follow me, Jordan," Maka says, smiling. "It's small, but it's homely!"
"Okay!" I grab my bag with a calm smile written on my face and walk after them, stepping down the stairs one سے طرف کی one self-consciously. The last thing I need is to make a fool of myself in front of my newly-found friends. I flutter down the stairs, and when we reach the bottom, as a group, we diligently traverse through the windy streets of Death City.
This city, my home... Who knew such amazing people lived within? I hadn't a clue. Not one. They're individuals. Like me. Different. Spontaneous. Each of them, unique. Kid with his symmetry quirks. Tsubaki with her gentleness. Maka with her friendly ego. Black سٹار, ستارہ with his bombastic attitude. Soul with his 'too-cool-for-you' facade. Even Liz and Patty, athough they're not here right now. Looking at all of them, I wonder what part I play in this group. Do I play a part at all? یا am I just the faded picture in the first grade window that never gets any attention on Open House night?
I can see Maka just ahead, her pigtails bouncing a little in the sunlight as she walks alongside her weapon partner. It's the way she looked when I first met her, but this only brings back memories. She couldn't stop staring at me, as if I were an undercover alien that had just gotten its facial mask torn off. I still don't know why. I've thought about it, but no apparent جوابات have revealed themselves to me.
What did Kid say to her when he took her outside...? Was it about me? It had to be. She stopped staring so much after Kid spoke with her. Since I know her better now, perhaps I'll take a chance and ask her about it sometime. There's got to be a way to casually bring it up, right? I glower. Well I suppose I've never been one to strike up conversations with people, but it's worth a shot...
We reach the apartment complex and go upstairs using the elevator, but as we approach the door and Maka digs around in her pocket, گلابی tongue sticking out, she gasps slightly and raises her eyebrows in alarm. "Oh, no! I forgot! I gave my key to Blair so she could go shopping." She pouts.
"So we're locked out?" Soul asks. He turns and looks out the window. "Nice one, Maka."
"Hey, it's not my fault!" Maka shouts, clenching her fists.
"What do آپ want to do, Maka?" Tsubaki asks. "Do آپ have a spare?"
"Yeah, but it's downstairs. The guy at the front has it in a drawer. I told him to hold onto it in case something like this happened... I'll go get it!" She rushes toward the stairs.
This may be my chance.
"Um, I'll go with you!" I offer. She turns slightly and smiles, accepting my company, and we hastily go down the stairs together to the lobby. These apartments are set up like hotel rooms, but that only contributes to my excitement.
When I was a child, I used to travel with my family a lot. We'd make a point to stop overnight at hotels, and we'd wake up early in the morning at 6AM, while the sky was still black یا gray, just to tramp down the stairs to the lobby and eat some chocolate muffins and drink hot cocoa. It was a fun experience, but I haven't gone on any vacations for a while. I'd like to. I've always wanted to visit Japan یا Australia.
Maka and I approach the counter, our footsteps clicking, and she dings the گھنٹی, بیل twice.
"Sometimes it takes awhile for him to notice the bell," she says, turning to me. "But I'm always patient... So how is your training going? Has Kid been treating آپ well? I know he can be a bit strict."
"He's been a great coach," I say coolly, a smile playing on my lips. "He seemed a bit intimidating when I first met him, but now I know him better..."
"That's great," she says. "Kid is calm and collected most of the time. We see him as the voice of reason around here. That's probably why آپ got intimidated, but there's no need to be scared of him." She laughs. "The مزید آپ hang out with us, the مزید you'll see just how laidback he can be."
Laidback. Calm. Collected. My thoughts go back to the way he and I were talking over رات کے کھانے, شام کا کھانا at the Italian restaurant. "Yeah... You're right..." I say, smiling. "I still remember how it was meeting all of آپ for the first time. Speaking of which..." My voice trails off.
"Huh?"
"I don't...mean to sound rude, so please don't take it that way," I reassure. "But I remember when I first met you, it seemed like آپ were shocked to see me... I still don't know what to think of it, but...could آپ tell me what had آپ so surprised?"
She appears thoughtful, probably trying to recall how peculiar her behavior was, as if it were difficult to conjure up this memory. "Oh, yeah," she says, speaking calmly. "I don't know... I guess I was a little startled."
"Startled?"
"Mhm." She nods. "Your soul... It's different than the other souls I've seen. I sensed your wavelength even before I met you. آپ have a very strong and unique soul. I've never seen anything like it before, so I'm sorry if I frightened آپ یا made آپ feel uncomfortable. I was just shocked."
A soul she's never seen before? How strange. What's so different about my soul? Perhaps she was just picking up on my anxiety and misread it for something entirely different. "No, it's fine. I'm glad that's all straightened up."
"Kid told me not to say anything." Her eyes appear distant as she stares at the floor, as if her own mind had fallen to her feet. "He کہا that he was just as astonished as me, but he didn't want آپ to feel uncomfortable, so he asked me to stay quiet..." She looks up. "We were both a little taken aback, but that's just because we've never seen anything like آپ before."
"I..." I say. "This is the first time I've ever been told this. I hope nothing's wrong with me."
"I'm sure nothing's wrong with you," Maka reassures. "Don't worry. There's just something special about you. That's all."
If only I knew what that was. If I have a powerful soul like she says, wouldn't I have passed the exam? Wouldn't I have made it into the Academy? Whatever is so different about me can't be positive... There's no way... Already, there are so many things on my mind, and now I have this new piece of information, and I don't know where to place it.
Suddenly the door behind the ڈیسک swings open, and a small old man with a white mustache, beady black eyes, and thick, square glasses shuffles through and gazes up at Maka like an owl woken up from his slumber.
"Hey, Mr. Sanders!" Maka smiles. "I'm here for my spare key? I accidentally lost the other one, and now I can't get in."
"Ohhh," he says, nodding a few times. "Mhm... I'll get it for you, darlin'... Hold on..." He opens a few drawers as if he can't quite remember where he last placed it. It takes him awhile, but patiently, we obtain the key with a grateful thank you, and it only takes us a منٹ یا two to rejoin our دوستوں upstairs.
"Alright, guys!" Maka says, opening the door. "I'll grab the refreshments and the snacks! Just make yourselves at home."
We all take a نشست on the couch, and I gaze around the apartment, admiring its fun and homely atmosphere. It certainly feels like a teenage dorm - posters adorning the walls and the colorful furniture contrasting with the warm مالٹا, نارنگی glow of the sunlight coming through the window. Kid and I sit together, and immediately, my self-consciousness gets the best of my sociable nature as I desperately try my best to appear nonchalantly at ease. He makes it seem only too simple, but I can hardly find a comfortable sitting position without looking like I have ants in my pants.
In order to keep the attention off of my jittery nature, I decide to strike up a conversation.
"Hey, Soul," I say. "Have آپ heard from my sister lately?"
"She کہا she had some personal errands to run," he answers, leaning back with his arms crossed behind his head.
"Personal errands?" Black سٹار, ستارہ asks.
"Yeah," Soul says. "Something about singing lessons یا something... I wish she was here though. Things always seem مزید cool with her around."
I wish she was here too. My sister is like my safety net. Whenever things get awkward, she's always there to loosen the tension یا turn a strange situation into a comfortable one. I wonder what she could be up to right now.
"How's your training coming along, Jordan?" Tsubaki asks, her eyes alight. "Do آپ feel ready for your upcoming exam? It's tomorrow, isn't it?"
I nod once, but even this acknowledgement is difficult for me. To be honest, I don't feel ready at all. I should, but I don't... It's not because Kid has been a bad couch. He hasn't. I just feel scatter-brained, like I can't focus on two things at a time so my mind is deciding to abandon me.
I smile a little. "Uh... Yeah... It's tomorrow. I do feel anxious, but Kid has been a great coach, and I feel مزید equipped for the trials. I wouldn't have this opportunity if it wasn't for him." I look at him and admire his calm and casual smile.
He nods once. "She's much stronger than she was before. I'm مزید than positive she'll do well tomorrow, and I'll be there to encourage her as best as I can."
I'm sure he will. From the start, Kid has been my number one supporter. He holds مزید confidence in me than I do myself... Is it true? Has he really never seen anything like me before?
"I'm sure you're going to do great tomorrow," Tsubaki assures, tilting her head a bit.
Soul smirks, his pointed teeth showing. "And with a cool weapon like your sister, you'll blow all the judges away."
"If I were there, all the judges wouldn't be able to HANDLE me!!! They'd have to use glasses in order to see ME 'cause my greatness would block out the SUN! HAHAHAHA!!!" Black سٹار, ستارہ leans back in his نشست and laughs for all he's worth.
With that, Maka suddenly enters the room with a tray and sits down, setting the tray on the table. "Lemonade anyone? I made it this morning!"
"Thanks, Maka!"
"It's about time آپ got in here."
The others go about their conversations, but I remain quiet. I've never been one to engage in social conversations... I hate talking too much. The only time I strike up a chat with anyone is if I'm in an extremely good mood, and today isn't necessarily one of those days.
No.
There's too much on my mind.
Although... Kid is sitting اگلے to me, and he's just as quiet as I am. He definitely seems مزید calm... If only I knew what he was thinking... It would make things مزید simple, مزید comfortable, مزید natural.
I want to talk to him, but I don't know what to say... What do I bring up? This is always a challenge for me: thinking of topics to talk about. I'm not good with this whole socializing thing... I never have been.
Sighing, I close my eyes and look away, surrendering to the fact that I probably won't talk to him when he surprises me.
"Jordan?" he asks.
I turn to him. "Yes?"
He looks concerned, but I don't know why. "Are آپ okay?"
"Mhm," I say. "I just..." I look at the ground. "I'm just worried I guess..."
"...Let's step outside. I want to talk to you."
I don't know what else to say at this point, but curiosity won't let me decline, so I accept, and standing, we walk outside onto the patio. He closes the door behind us, and we both turn our attention to the sun in the distance.
The sky is a dull orange, and the buildings look like black silhouettes against the horizon. His suit matches the landscape. He looks like he belongs. I place my elbows on the دیوار in front of me and lean my head down.
A thousand emotions are running through my head at once. I don't know when this started یا how. I feel frustrated, angry, and worthless. But why?
I glance to my left at Kid, and he looks just as pained as I do. Is something bothering him?
"Kid?" I ask. "Are آپ all right?"
"I don't know..." he says. "For some reason, I feel this emotion...but I don't know where it's coming from..."
"Emotion?" I raise my eyebrows. "What kind of emotion?"
"Anger... Frustration... Worthlessness... The strange thing is I didn't feel this way until I saw you..." He leans against the patio like me, but he keeps his gaze forward. "I was thinking... Do آپ feel this way too?"
"You took the words right out of my mouth..." I whisper, looking at the سٹریٹ, گلی below. "I feel all of those emotions... I guess it's because I'm thinking about the exam... It was so humiliating, getting dragged out of the arena like some sort of weak puppy..." I say, almost spitting the words with hatred. "I can't believe I allowed myself to fail... I don't want it to happen again..."
"You didn't allow yourself to fail," Kid corrects. "You had no idea they weren't going to admit you. آپ tried your best, and if I had been the proctor, I would have passed آپ in a heartbeat. In fact, I don't understand why he couldn't see just how amazing your skills were to begin with."
"Thank you..." I say. "I just hope I don't screw things up tomorrow..."
"You won't..." he says. "I guarantee you'll blow the audience away...and even if آپ don't pass...you'll always have us. We're not going to leave you, and we're most certainly not going to give up."
Like a mist, my emotions suddenly evaporate at his words, his tone. The isolation, being alone with him out here in the مالٹا, نارنگی dusk... It's like the feelings were never there, and as soon as they seem to disappear, I sense a change in Kid as well...
He smiles at me, the مالٹا, نارنگی sunlight darkening his suit, but dancing along his face, giving him a heavenly quality. "Trust me..." he whispers.
...
A young witch watches the two from afar. Lord Death's son and the girl with the passion wavelength.
They're still so naive, so clueless. They have no idea what part they play in the world they live in.
She glances down at her watch and glowers, pursing her lips a bit. "Way to go, Janay. You're three hours late. The Grand Witch will have your head for this..."
Carefully, she goes down a ladder and makes her way through the winding streets of Death City, talking to herself.
"She's going to kill me. I'm so done with these witches..." She crosses her arms, annoyed. "And this city is too warm. I hate it. Why can't it be nighttime already? Don't I have enough frustrations to deal with?"
Suddenly, and quite out of the blue, the air becomes chilly and pleasantly cool, as if wintertime had heard her ramblings and blessed her with a gift. Janay looks up at the sky, but it's just as مالٹا, نارنگی as it was a few سیکنڈ ago, and there isn't any wind.
"Huh..." she says under her breath. "Well, thank you."
"You're welcome," a voice says.
She stops.
Turning, she's confronted سے طرف کی someone she's seen before, someone familiar. He stands, self-righteous and confident, but it's his smirk that gives him away.
"You..." she says, a little shocked.
Malachi smiles disarmingly. "Janay, right? That's your name?"
She lowers her head a little, trying to decipher what game the childish Immortal is playing at and why he remembers her name. The last time she saw him, he was teasing Belladonna and disrespecting her leader. If she also remembers correctly, he was the cause of a witch's death, the one who had been sent to fetch the Immortals in the first place. A very dangerous boy.
"Yeah..." she answers. "What do آپ want?"
"I couldn't help but notice what آپ were doing out here," he says quickly and cleverly.
That's right. Malachi always has a quick answer for everything.
"What was I doing?"
"You were being a little spy for your witchy witch companions..." He remains perfectly still, not moving backward یا forward, standing still as a smiling statue. "Correct?"
"That's none of your business," she counters. "Besides, aren't آپ supposed to be banished from Death City? What are آپ doing here?"
"Exactly what آپ were doing." His eyes narrow ever so slightly, his straight and pearly white teeth exposing themselves behind the childish grin everyone has come to fear. "I wanted to see the passion wavelength accommodator. As for our banishment, do آپ really think I care?"
"Of course not," she says. "You don't care about anything. I know who آپ are. I've heard Grand Witch Mabaa talk about you..."
He laughs aloud. "Oh, have you? What has she کہا about me? I'm dying to know."
"She کہا آپ can't be trusted..." Janay accuses, narrowing her eyes a little. "She کہا you're even مزید conniving than your brother..."
"That's a little cold," he says, stepping forward. She backs away. "I think آپ witches have a bad habit of misjudging people آپ hardly know anything about..."
She clenches her teeth a bit, thinking this through. If he decides to attack her, she won't have much of a choice but to use her powers to defend herself. However, if she does that, she'll give her position away to the Academy, and she can't afford such a risk.
He notices her anxiety and shakes his head a little, as if to placate her. "Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you... I just want to talk..."
"We've talked enough already," she says. "What مزید do آپ want, Malachi?"
"So آپ do know my name..." he says, almost flattered. "I guess we can save the formalities then... I just want to know what آپ know... If آپ help me out, I'll help you..."
"How could آپ possibly help me?" she asks, demanding.
He pulls on one of his gloves and looks away craftily, as though he already knows he's got her within his grasp. "You کہا you're done with the witches. The way they treat you... It's not right. I'm sure you're tired of being pushed around سے طرف کی now..." He looks back at her, a smiling silhouette. "I can help آپ escape them..."
She looks puzzled, a bit confused. Why would Malachi Perish want to help her escape? It doesn't make sense. What is he seeking through this little bargain? This demigod doesn't do anything for the greater good. Everyone knows that.
"What's in it for you?" she asks.
"That will come later..."
"Come later?"
"When I need a favor of you, I'll ask." He smiles again, but despite his cheerful demeanor, she feels as if she's staring into the eyes of a serpent.
Speechless, she doesn't know what to say to the young, blue-eyed face in front of her. She mentally weighs the pros and cons, and she considers Malachi's cruel reputation. He's reckless. Insane. Sadistic. آپ never know what he's going to do next. They say he's tricked even the greatest minds. A manipulator. He knows exactly what to say in order to get what he wants out of people, and he enjoys making others look like fools. He's so convincing in what he says, in fact, that he can fool anyone into thinking they actually want to help him, even if they were sure they didn't a few سیکنڈ ago.
"I don't know..." she whispers, not so sure anymore.
He approaches her and stands in front of her, bending a little to see her eyes, as innocent as an angel. "Look, I know what it's like to be in your position... To be taken advantage of...pushed around... Yes, I'm doing this for myself مزید than anything. I'll admit that, but at least آپ won't have to be a slave anymore... Working for me isn't all that bad, and once I'm through with you, آپ won't ever have to see me again...or those witches..."
She widens her eyes a bit and سوالات him with a stare of bafflement.
"Just a partnership..." he says, smiling a little. "Nothing more, nothing less... What could آپ possibly lose?"
"I won't get hurt?"
He smirks. "Do آپ really think I'd put your life on the line? No, no... I give آپ my word. I will not cause آپ harm..."
He holds his hand آگے and smiles happily. "Do we have a deal?"
She hesitantly looks at his hand, like it's holding the key to her escape. Nodding once, she shakes his hand. "Yes..."
He giggles a bit. "Excellent..."
...
"Professor Stein?" Hero opens the door to Stein's classroom, and smiles timidly. "Hey, sir! Um... Lord Death needs آپ in the Death Room! Immediately!"
Stein looks up from his paper-covered desk, littered with کتابیں and scientific notes from the class's dissection lab earlier that day, and heaves a heavy sigh. "I'll be right there."
Stein spends most of his time on his chair, so it takes him a few منٹ to part with it, as if he really didn't want to move. Pushing himself up, he stands and walks the distance of the crescent-shaped classroom and traverses the halls of the DWMA until he happens upon two large double doors.
They سوئنگ, جھول open before he can touch them, and a familiar face pokes his head out with pursed lips and twitchy eyes.
"Stein! There آپ are!" Spirit announces, pulling Stein inside the Death Room quickly. "You're not going to believe this! Get in here! Get IN! We need to talk now, now, nooowww!!!" He tries desperately to push Stein down the long hallway towards Lord Death, but Stein doesn't اقدام one step. After a few moments, Stein finally walks forward, and Spirit tumbles to the floor unceremoniously with a thud.
"Lord Death?" Stein asks, approaching him.
"Ah! There آپ are, Stein. It's good to see you. How are things?" Lord Death asks with a bounce and a springy boing.
"Good," he answers, hands in pockets. "What's going on?"
Lord Death bounces around a little and tilts his head, but he doesn't say anything. A few awkward moments pass سے طرف کی before Lord Death holds up a pointed finger. "Care for some tea?"
"You called me in here for a cup of tea?" Stein asks, confused.
"No! No, no, no! Of COURSE not! I'm the headmaster of this school! How silly would it be for me to call in one of my professors just for a little چائے party? Nonsense! I was just being polite. Haven't آپ heard of manners?"
Spirit runs up with a nosebleed. "CAN WE GET TO THE MAIN POINT NOW?!"
A large hand silences Spirit as he's Reaper chopped to the floor.
"Yes, yes! I'm getting to that!" Lord Death exclaims, shaking a hand threateningly.
"Oh... Okay..." Spirit mumbles, dizzy and bloody on the floor in a nauseous heap.
"Anyway," Lord Death continues. "Have آپ talked to my son lately? He hasn't asked آپ anything...peculiar...has he?"
"No, not that I remember." Stein scratches the back of his head. "Why?"
"Because what I'm about to tell آپ cannot leave this room." Lord Death says, his voice suddenly getting a bit مزید serious. "This is very, very important, and I'm afraid we can't afford any slip-ups. If the wrong kind of crowd were to hear about this, who knows what might happen?"
"I promise I won't say anything to anyone else," جوابات Stein.
"Good..." Lord Death says, turning. "Welll... How should I put this?" He turns around again with another boingy bounce. "There is a passion wavelength accomodator in Death City."
A long pause ensues, absolutely silent. Stein pulls out a cigarette, lights it, and takes a few puffs before answering the unexpected piece of news. "The passion wavelength has finally revealed itself, has it? Well, we knew this was going to happen sooner یا later. Who has the passion wavelength?"
"A young girl," Lord Death says. "Do آپ remember the accident that happened earlier? The one at the local Death Mart? The girl who was seriously injured, the one my son rescued... She is the passion wavelength accomodator, Stein, and my son is..."
"Your son is the Guardian," Stein finishes.
"Wait, whaaat?" Spirit asks, freaking out. "Whoa! WHOA! WHOAAA! Slow down! What's a passion wavelength exactly? And what is a Guardian? I'm so confuuused." He grips his hair and moves his body around like a wet noodle.
"Calm down, Spirit," Lord Death assures. "Stein, would آپ care to explain?"
Stein puffs once مزید on his cigarette before going into the history of the long-anticipated era everyone has been waiting for.
"The passion wavelength... The most powerful wavelength on the planet... It is کہا to be so powerful that it can wipe an entire continent off the face of the earth, causing widespread destruction and catastrophe if utilized the wrong way..." He puffs again, speaking as if he were explaining a scientific lecture. "The passion wavelength is کہا to دکھائیں up every thousand years, but it is also known to appear in times of need when something bad is about to happen. No one knows to what extent the powers of the wavelength can go. Some say it has almost magical abilities, and it gives whoever wields it the dexterity to do virutally anything. Its powers have varied throughout history, and سے طرف کی some circumstances, it doesn't stick around for too long because it is hunted سے طرف کی very powerful sorcerers and clans. Anyone who eats the passion wavelength will become مزید powerful than anything we could ever dream physically possible..."
"That's amazing," Spirit says. "Who knew one person could have so much power?"
"That's just the thing," Stein says. "It's too powerful. Sometimes, it's best to believe that the world is a much safer place without it... And because so many people hunt for it, the passion wavelength is scarce, and it can be used as a dangerous weapon if intended for evil purposes... That's why..." His glasses glint a bit in the light as he looks up. "We have Guardians."
"Guardians..." Spirit repeats, as if the word had a secret meaning behind it. "What are the Guardians for? Who are they?"
"They are very special people... People chosen سے طرف کی fate...destiny to protect the passion wavelength with their own lives. The wavelength shares an inseparable bond with a Guardian of its choosing. This is believed to occur even before the two meet. This girl... Her wavelength chose Kid to be its protector. The Guardian receives this responsibility, and it cannot be declined, even if the Guardian doesn't want the job, but this is very rare." He puffs on his cigarette again and blows the smoke upward.
"So... Kid and this girl... They're bonded together? And Kid's job is to protect her? That explains why he was so quick to get her here when she was injured..."
"Yes," Stein says. "They were destined to be connected. I'm sure they've already encountered some of the side effects. Kid's a very curious boy. Very sharp. I'm sure sooner یا later, he's going to ask about what's going on between him and this girl. My guess is آپ want me to keep this information from him, correct?"
Lord Death nods. "We can't afford my son and that girl's lives to be put in danger. Besides, they need time. The bond is only going to grow stronger, and it needs to do so naturally. We cannot interfere. They need to learn to be compatible on their own. There is no other way."
"Right," Spirit says. "I don't get it though... Why does the passion wavelength bond with someone if it's so powerful? Can't it protect itself?"
Stein shakes his head and closes his eyes. "The passion wavelength is quite unpredictable...influenced سے طرف کی emotions... If this girl were to lose her temper یا go into a tantrum, she'd need protection against herself. Guardians are the only ones that can reach into the passion wavelength and calm the person behind it. They're chosen for a reason. The wavelength chooses whoever it thinks can protect it best...and the Guardian usually ends up being a lover, یا even a brotherly یا fatherly figure depending on the situation. It's all according to the relationship. For example, if the passion wavelength accomodator is a small girl, then she might form a bond with someone older - like an older brother, because she'd feel like he could protect her best. The wavelength latches on to someone that it thinks it needs...that it can't survive without... Think of it this way..." He looks at Spirit. "Guardians are the fossil fuels behind the wavelength's power. Without Guardians, the wavelength is nothing..."
"...How will we know when they're completely bonded?" Spirit asks.
"We'll know," Lord Death answers. "When they know, we'll know. But for now, we must wait...and watch..."
...
Malachi enters the تخت room, but it's completely vacant, except for his brother. Only the sound of the drip, drip, drip of the faintest water drops can be heard as they fall from the stalactites and onto the floor in little, dark puddles.
Makoto glances up at his younger brother and narrows his eyes. "Where have آپ been?"
"Out," Malachi جوابات with a smile.
"Yes, I know that." Makoto glares. "But what were آپ doing while آپ were out? آپ haven't revealed yourself to the accomodator, have you?"
"Of course not!" Malachi gives him a look of injured innocence. "That would put our whole plan in jeopardy! Do آپ really think I'd do that, brother? If anything, Kat's the one آپ should be worrying about. Sometimes I think she wants to kill that brat مزید than I do." He sits down in his تخت and makes some ice cream for himself in a conveniently-sized bowl, giving his brother one of his winning smiles and pointing his spoon at him. "You're funny though! I'll give آپ that! A reeeal comedian!"
The آگ کے, آگ god rolls his eyes and glares to the side. "So what were آپ doing then?"
"I was with the accomodator of course." He looks down at his bowl happily and takes a bite of his ice cream.
"I THOUGHT آپ JUST SAID--" Makoto screams.
"SHSHSHSH!" Malachi covers his brother's mouth and pokes his cheek, letting him go. "I didn't introduce myself! Like, 'Hey! I'm Malachi! I'm going to steal your soul and use it to kill everyone آپ looove!' I spied on her!" He laughs. "Idiot!"
Makoto glowers. "You could have just کہا that..."
Malachi shrugs. "It's fun to see آپ freak out. It's...better than ویژن ٹیلی actually." He gives him a cheeky grin, like a child that's just tormented someone but doesn't understand what he did wrong.
"Malachi," Makoto says, speaking with a no-nonsense kind of tone. "You need to be مزید careful. What if she had seen you? What if the Shinigami had seen you? What if someone from the Academy had seen you? You're wearing your Immortal cloak. The Reaper could have identified آپ easily if he had seen آپ wearing it. Did آپ even think about that?"
Malachi laughs aloud and throws his bowl behind him. It hits Vixon in the head as she walks through the door. "AGH! GAWD!" She screams, holding her eye.
"I think everything through," Malachi says, smirking. "And I choose to be reckless, but that doesn't mean I don't take precautions... I was very careful, مزید careful than I had to be... Now please, don't try to insult me with your pathetic questions."
Makoto looks at Vixon angrily. "What are آپ whining about?!"
Vixon rubs her eye. "Nothing, dammit! Obviously, no one gives a damn!"
"Aw, I give a damn! I give twelve damns!" Malachi says, grinning. "Why twelve? I don't know. I just chose a number. Would آپ like twelve damns, Vix?"
"Shut up, Malachi," Vixon mumbles, stumbling to her تخت and collapsing into it.
He giggles childishly and returns his attention back to his brother. "I learned some very valuable information..."
"Valuable information..." Makoto repeats. "Well? Out with it."
"Aren't آپ going to say, 'Pleaaase?'" Malachi asks, turning around in his تخت and sitting upside-down in it.
Makoto glares down at him for the longest time, but Malachi just giggles as if he were being tickled.
"Out with it...please..." Makoto answers.
Malachi sits upright again. "Okay!" He smirks. "The accomodator has a very big دن ahead of her. Tomorrow is her entry exam. If she passes, she will become a student at the DWMA...officially."
Makoto raises an eyebrow. "And how do آپ know this?"
"A little bird told me," he says, smirking knowingly as he remembers the witch he talked to.
Makoto digests this information with considerable thought, staring at the ground. "This could be a problem..."
Having eavesdropped on the conversation, Vixon offers input, "Maybe someone should be there...to keep an eye on the situation, see where she ends up. If she becomes a student, we should be the first to know about it."
A glint of thought shines behind Malachi's bluish gray eyes, but he hides it with skill and narrows them craftily, looking back at his brother. "Vix is right... We should be there..."
Makoto closes his eyes, knowing they're right, but considering his options. After some thought, he nods once and looks at Vixon. "Vixon, I want آپ and Junior to be there when she takes the exam. Study her strengths, her weaknesses. I want a full رپورٹ on the Shinigami's behavior around her as well. Let nothing slip آپ by."
"Hey, what?!" Malachi exclaims. "I want to gooo... That's not fair!" He pouts.
"No...WAY...am I even CONSIDERING letting آپ go, Malachi!" he hollers. "I know only too well what آپ might do..."
"Smart of you, big brother... Very smart..." Malachi pats his shoulder. "Very well... I won't go...but I guess that just means I get to stay here and torment آپ allllll day!" He closes his eyes and smiles, folding his hands beneath his chin.
Makoto's eye twitches for an instant before he growls and looks away. "Dammit..."
Malachi blinks.
Makoto looks over at Vixon with a resignated sigh. "Can I trust آپ to keep an eye on my little brother? Make sure he doesn't get into trouble?"
Malachi does a little dance of happiness while Vixon widens her eyes in shock. "You want me to watch him?! I can barely handle him HERE! What makes آپ think I'd be able to handle him THERE?! Huh, Makoto?!"
Makoto narrows his eyes. "You'll do as I say. Besides, you'll have Junior with you, and that should make things easier...right? If Malachi gets out of hand, have Junior knock him out یا something. I don't really care."
"Well, he can try!" Malachi says, still dancing excitedly.
"Yeah, yeah..." Vixon surrenders. "We'll be there."
...
The گھنٹہ is late, and the sun has gone for the night.
The yellow moon shines brightly in the sky as I walk home, holding my arm against the cold, although I try not to دکھائیں it. Kid offered to walk me home, but I didn't want to cause him any inconvenience, so I played it off, but he insisted. So now, we walk alongside each other in comfortable silence.
Normally, I don't feel comfortable with silence at all, but with Kid, it's different. With him, I don't feel the need to constantly be talking. With him, I feel comfortable just having him سے طرف کی my side, and I know he feels the same way. I can sense it.
He has his hands in his pant pockets and appears nonchalant, perfectly at ease. Ever since we had that talk on the balcony, I've been feeling much better about my exam. He really is quite the compassionate person.
Glancing down at me, he raises his eyebrows a little in curious thought. "Are آپ cold?"
"Uh..." I glance away from him. "A little, but I'm fine." I smile a bit, laughing my nervous laugh as if it couldn't be مزید obvious that I'm lying.
Before I can object, Kid undoes his جیکٹ and wraps it around my shoulders. It's very warm from his body heat, and I can smell a faint hint of his cologne on the fabric. It's lovely, and instictly, I accept it. Giving him a sheepish smile of shy awareness, I blush a little and look at him. "Thank you..." I whisper, snuggling deeper into his jacket.
He nods once with a smile, now wearing a white, long-sleeved dress شرٹ, قمیض and his gray Reaper emblem about his neck, still very concise in his appearance.
We approach the door to my home, and I turn to him, glancing up at his face. The lamp light gives off an aura that you'd see on the cover of The Exorcist, but I don't mind. It's not eerie, not with the purple sky hanging above us, not with Kid here... Just him alone is enough to balance out the polarity of the nighttime atmosphere.
"Kid..." I stare into his yellow eyes, and they stare back. "Look, I just--" I stammer. "I...I just want to say thank you..."
His kind, patient eyes watch me, and he knows I'm going to continue, so he doesn't interrupt.
"You've been a great coach... You've دیا me so much... Friends... An opportunity to become a student at the Academy... My life..." I look back up at him. "Kid, you're... You're my hero... Without you, I'd still be here... I'd still be in my room, doing absolutely nothing... آپ saved me... You've دیا me so much to be thankful for, and I just... I can't thank آپ enough..." I hold my arm tighter, feeling the fabric of his suit on my skin shielding me against the breeze. So much emotion is running through me right now. It's taking every ounce of my strength not to tremble like a chihuahua. He'd probably mistake it for shivers though and insist I go inside, but I don't want to yet. I want him to know how thankful I am.
His eyes widen a bit, his pupils nothing but little round ovals. He wasn't expecting this sentimental confrontation. I can tell...but I need him to know.
"Jordan..." he says.
"It's true." I smile a little. "You are the reason I'm here today... آپ saved my life in that supermarket... آپ saved my academic career in the arena... آپ saved my life... You're my hero, Kid..."
His expression is soft, a little surprised, but soft...
The سٹریٹ, گلی is still dark. The only light surrounding us is emanating from the سٹریٹ, گلی lights, purple sky, and the laughing yellow moon above us. The lavender clouds اقدام along, weaving through the night like thin threads trailing behind a ball of yarn.
"Jordan..." he says again, gentle and kind. "You don't have to thank me..."
"I do," I respond, staring up at him. "I do, because..."
The distance between us is a lot shorter now. It's as if I were the earth, and he was the sun...like gravity was pulling us together...
"Because...I..."
His eyes grow deeper, his eyelids lowering, and something ignites. He and I both feel it. He tilts his head down...and I don't fight it... I don't...want to...
We lean our heads in slowly...and our lips meet... His are soft...gentle... We close our eyes as they touch, and I embrace it even though I don't know what led this on. I'm not complaining.
The static becomes overwhelming, like live electricity was zapping the atmosphere around us. The lamp posts along the سٹریٹ, گلی begin to flicker as if we were experiencing an earthquake, but we don't stop. We don't سوال it. It's as if this was the most natural thing on the planet, like this is where we're supposed to be.
Placing his hands on the small of my back, he lightly pulls me closer until our bodies touch, and I let him. I can feel his دل pumping, feel his emotion...sense his thoughts... They're just as scrambled and excited as mine... I extend my arms steadily and لپیٹ, لفاف کریں them around his neck, enjoying the touch of his black hair against my skin...
The kiss breaks up into tiny...slow kisses...our lips never parting for مزید than a سیکنڈ in between each of the smaller kisses...and I'm filled with unexplainable joy... No amount of words...can describe what I feel...right now...in this moment with him... Gravity shifts...and the only thing holding me down to this world, keeping me anchored...is Kid...
The butterflies in my stomach leap and frolic about, not knowing what to do, but in spite of everything, I'm feeling too elated to acknowledge even my own confusion... His hands radiate heat onto my back, and his lips are soft to the touch as they morph together with mine... His cologne assails me, and his جیکٹ keeps my body warm against the chill...
It's innocent and loving...gentle and kind...warm and compassionate...and together...we carefully ease our lips away and stare deeply into each other's eyes, like they hold the key to locking this memory up tight, never letting it go.
We don't have any words to share. Nothing we could say یا do could explain the amount of absolute emotion he and I feel, so we just stare, our faces only an inch apart. I can read his soul like a book - every detail, every fragment of a thought... It's all racing into my head, almost too much for my mind to bear...because I feel the same way.
I grip his شرٹ, قمیض lightly, staring up at him, and he smiles, a smile that I can identifiy, but the only other time I've seen this smile appear on his face was when he was examining something exquisitely beautiful... A butterfly... Symmetry... He only looks at symmetrical things the way he's staring at me now. What does that mean? I'm not symmetrical. I know that much. I'm not perfect. I'm not perfect like him, despite how much he disagrees.
I'm anything but the dream girl you'd imagine for Kid...but that doesn't seem to make much of a difference to him... Instead, he's staring at me as if I were the most beautiful thing he's ever laid eyes on.
And I blush.
"You can keep the jacket," he says calmly, lovingly, whispering...like the dainty wisp of our kiss is still dancing upon his lips.
I smile and look down at my tiny frame. The جیکٹ looks oversized on me, but I don't mind. Oversized jackets are cute. At least, I think so. I glance back up at him, shy, and lean in one مزید time, kissing him quickly and then stepping back. "I'll...I'll see آپ tomorrow... Promise you'll be safe...okay? I don't want to hear tomorrow morning that آپ never arrived home."
He smiles and puts his hands in his pockets. "I promise."
My blush deepens, and before I leave the scenic view of this nighttime memory, I smile at Kid appreciatively, stopping at the door.
This moment... I freeze this picture in my mind... Him standing just below the stairs, light posts, بنفشی, وایلیٹ sky, moon and all... I don't want to leave...because I know that once I close this door, this picture will no longer be anymore. Instead, it will be nothing but a was. A mental memory of the past that cannot be recreated. That's the thing about living. آپ always have to اقدام آگے eventually, even if آپ don't want to.
I look away, a bittersweet smile still on my face, and step inside, closing the door behind me. I hear his hesitation after I disappear from view...and then the small clicks of his steady footsteps as he walks away, down the sidewalk, faintly fading... And the picture is gone.
A week has passed. Only a week.
And now I only have a دن to prepare. Adrenaline, the sister of fear, courses through my veins as I breathe a shaky sigh, filling my lungs with oxygen as I anticipate the growing hours that will determine my fate here at the Academy, as though I were about to jump off the highest peak of the icy Himilayas with only a parachute to secure my survival.
Kid has taught me well, and I owe him all the credit in the world. If it weren't for him, I would not have this سیکنڈ chance. I have to make the best of the situation; I must seize this magnanimous opportunity...or I will be lost and all my work will be wasted.
I close my eyes and sit back on the dun-colored wall, my sketchbook in one hand and my pencil in the other. I've been drawing مزید pictures than usual lately. Normally, I only draw when I'm inspired, but this raw feeling of unabashed certainty and passion has been bubbling up inside my head for the longest time. Drawing is the easiest avenue I know to let it all out. Just me, my brain, and the gradient lead of the pencil on paper as it shifts like loosened sand caught up from the ساحل between the sheets.
I glance back down at my drawing. It's half-finished. Almost there. Almost done. I throw caution to the winds, as though they'd capture my secret sprawled underneath the gray and blackened pencil and whisper it in the dreaded recipient's ear of which cannot happen; otherwise, I'll lose everything, and this drawing will mean nothing.
Nothing at all.
No one seems to be around, and if he was anywhere nearby, I'd sense the static before he could make an appearance. School isn't out yet. The گھنٹی, بیل hasn't rung; however, he has been known to cut class before, and I can't afford to be caught with his half-finished twin. Closing the sketchbook, I try my best to calm my wracked nerves, as if his honey eyes have already discovered it. Neurotic. Insane. Twitchy. I'm sure any onlooker from afar would سوال my sanity if they could see me now. I can't think straight. This static is really starting to have a drastic effect, and I don't know how much longer I can go on disregarding its presence.
The گھنٹی, بیل rings. And the virgin silence ensues just before the clattering of doors and footsteps and voices echo throughout the hall, a loud cacophony of disarray. Quickly, I toss my sketchbook within my book bag and مہر it tightly shut. Now I feel safe.
His voice... It drifts along the wind, seized up, taken, and finds me. I'm tugged from my world of broken thoughts, shattered glass, and I suddenly come alive, re-animating myself like a چینی مٹی کے برتن puppet, my face lighting up at the sound of his voice.
"Black Star, I'm pretty sure Professor Stein asked آپ to keep the notes, not eat the notes."
"Hunh? Have آپ gotten your ears checked lately? That's totally what he said!"
I turn in the direction of their conversation as Kid and Black سٹار, ستارہ round the bend, accompanied سے طرف کی Soul, Maka, and Tsubaki, although the static was the first thing to greet me. I can still feel it.
He sees me and smiles, his yellow eyes glowing. "Hey, Jordan."
"Hoh! Look who it is!" Black سٹار, ستارہ exclaims. He raises a giant thumbs-up in front of Kid's face. "I knew آپ were waiting for ol' Black سٹار, ستارہ to get out of class! I mean, who doesn't wait for a BIG سٹار, ستارہ like ME?! HAHAHAHAHA! Though I'm usually the one doing all the waiting since everyone is such a SLOW POKE!"
Kid glowers a bit and pulls Black Star's arm down. "Yes, I'm sure she was just waiting for your arrival..."
Tsubaki giggles, her black ٹٹو tail swaying slightly in the wind as she holds up a finger to her lips. "Of course, Black Star."
I laugh a bit and smile. "Hey, guys. How was class?" I am curious about the classes. From what Kid tells me, they're pretty interesting. If only I was a student...
"Boring! AS usual!" Black سٹار, ستارہ جوابات for them, waving a hand dismissively. "Yeah, this دن really SUCKED! But the good news is that Maka here is holding a little get-together at her apartment, and we're all invited!" His eyes light up in two giant yellow stars. "There's going to be food, right, Maka?!"
One of Maka's blonde eyebrows twitches a little as her eyes slowly morph into two giant black dots. "Yeah, as long as آپ promise to leave some for everybody else."
"Yeah, yeah! Whatever! Just lead me to the food!" Black سٹار, ستارہ laughs aloud, rubbing his stomach. "A big guy like me needs ENERGY!"
"Just follow me, Jordan," Maka says, smiling. "It's small, but it's homely!"
"Okay!" I grab my bag with a calm smile written on my face and walk after them, stepping down the stairs one سے طرف کی one self-consciously. The last thing I need is to make a fool of myself in front of my newly-found friends. I flutter down the stairs, and when we reach the bottom, as a group, we diligently traverse through the windy streets of Death City.
This city, my home... Who knew such amazing people lived within? I hadn't a clue. Not one. They're individuals. Like me. Different. Spontaneous. Each of them, unique. Kid with his symmetry quirks. Tsubaki with her gentleness. Maka with her friendly ego. Black سٹار, ستارہ with his bombastic attitude. Soul with his 'too-cool-for-you' facade. Even Liz and Patty, athough they're not here right now. Looking at all of them, I wonder what part I play in this group. Do I play a part at all? یا am I just the faded picture in the first grade window that never gets any attention on Open House night?
I can see Maka just ahead, her pigtails bouncing a little in the sunlight as she walks alongside her weapon partner. It's the way she looked when I first met her, but this only brings back memories. She couldn't stop staring at me, as if I were an undercover alien that had just gotten its facial mask torn off. I still don't know why. I've thought about it, but no apparent جوابات have revealed themselves to me.
What did Kid say to her when he took her outside...? Was it about me? It had to be. She stopped staring so much after Kid spoke with her. Since I know her better now, perhaps I'll take a chance and ask her about it sometime. There's got to be a way to casually bring it up, right? I glower. Well I suppose I've never been one to strike up conversations with people, but it's worth a shot...
We reach the apartment complex and go upstairs using the elevator, but as we approach the door and Maka digs around in her pocket, گلابی tongue sticking out, she gasps slightly and raises her eyebrows in alarm. "Oh, no! I forgot! I gave my key to Blair so she could go shopping." She pouts.
"So we're locked out?" Soul asks. He turns and looks out the window. "Nice one, Maka."
"Hey, it's not my fault!" Maka shouts, clenching her fists.
"What do آپ want to do, Maka?" Tsubaki asks. "Do آپ have a spare?"
"Yeah, but it's downstairs. The guy at the front has it in a drawer. I told him to hold onto it in case something like this happened... I'll go get it!" She rushes toward the stairs.
This may be my chance.
"Um, I'll go with you!" I offer. She turns slightly and smiles, accepting my company, and we hastily go down the stairs together to the lobby. These apartments are set up like hotel rooms, but that only contributes to my excitement.
When I was a child, I used to travel with my family a lot. We'd make a point to stop overnight at hotels, and we'd wake up early in the morning at 6AM, while the sky was still black یا gray, just to tramp down the stairs to the lobby and eat some chocolate muffins and drink hot cocoa. It was a fun experience, but I haven't gone on any vacations for a while. I'd like to. I've always wanted to visit Japan یا Australia.
Maka and I approach the counter, our footsteps clicking, and she dings the گھنٹی, بیل twice.
"Sometimes it takes awhile for him to notice the bell," she says, turning to me. "But I'm always patient... So how is your training going? Has Kid been treating آپ well? I know he can be a bit strict."
"He's been a great coach," I say coolly, a smile playing on my lips. "He seemed a bit intimidating when I first met him, but now I know him better..."
"That's great," she says. "Kid is calm and collected most of the time. We see him as the voice of reason around here. That's probably why آپ got intimidated, but there's no need to be scared of him." She laughs. "The مزید آپ hang out with us, the مزید you'll see just how laidback he can be."
Laidback. Calm. Collected. My thoughts go back to the way he and I were talking over رات کے کھانے, شام کا کھانا at the Italian restaurant. "Yeah... You're right..." I say, smiling. "I still remember how it was meeting all of آپ for the first time. Speaking of which..." My voice trails off.
"Huh?"
"I don't...mean to sound rude, so please don't take it that way," I reassure. "But I remember when I first met you, it seemed like آپ were shocked to see me... I still don't know what to think of it, but...could آپ tell me what had آپ so surprised?"
She appears thoughtful, probably trying to recall how peculiar her behavior was, as if it were difficult to conjure up this memory. "Oh, yeah," she says, speaking calmly. "I don't know... I guess I was a little startled."
"Startled?"
"Mhm." She nods. "Your soul... It's different than the other souls I've seen. I sensed your wavelength even before I met you. آپ have a very strong and unique soul. I've never seen anything like it before, so I'm sorry if I frightened آپ یا made آپ feel uncomfortable. I was just shocked."
A soul she's never seen before? How strange. What's so different about my soul? Perhaps she was just picking up on my anxiety and misread it for something entirely different. "No, it's fine. I'm glad that's all straightened up."
"Kid told me not to say anything." Her eyes appear distant as she stares at the floor, as if her own mind had fallen to her feet. "He کہا that he was just as astonished as me, but he didn't want آپ to feel uncomfortable, so he asked me to stay quiet..." She looks up. "We were both a little taken aback, but that's just because we've never seen anything like آپ before."
"I..." I say. "This is the first time I've ever been told this. I hope nothing's wrong with me."
"I'm sure nothing's wrong with you," Maka reassures. "Don't worry. There's just something special about you. That's all."
If only I knew what that was. If I have a powerful soul like she says, wouldn't I have passed the exam? Wouldn't I have made it into the Academy? Whatever is so different about me can't be positive... There's no way... Already, there are so many things on my mind, and now I have this new piece of information, and I don't know where to place it.
Suddenly the door behind the ڈیسک swings open, and a small old man with a white mustache, beady black eyes, and thick, square glasses shuffles through and gazes up at Maka like an owl woken up from his slumber.
"Hey, Mr. Sanders!" Maka smiles. "I'm here for my spare key? I accidentally lost the other one, and now I can't get in."
"Ohhh," he says, nodding a few times. "Mhm... I'll get it for you, darlin'... Hold on..." He opens a few drawers as if he can't quite remember where he last placed it. It takes him awhile, but patiently, we obtain the key with a grateful thank you, and it only takes us a منٹ یا two to rejoin our دوستوں upstairs.
"Alright, guys!" Maka says, opening the door. "I'll grab the refreshments and the snacks! Just make yourselves at home."
We all take a نشست on the couch, and I gaze around the apartment, admiring its fun and homely atmosphere. It certainly feels like a teenage dorm - posters adorning the walls and the colorful furniture contrasting with the warm مالٹا, نارنگی glow of the sunlight coming through the window. Kid and I sit together, and immediately, my self-consciousness gets the best of my sociable nature as I desperately try my best to appear nonchalantly at ease. He makes it seem only too simple, but I can hardly find a comfortable sitting position without looking like I have ants in my pants.
In order to keep the attention off of my jittery nature, I decide to strike up a conversation.
"Hey, Soul," I say. "Have آپ heard from my sister lately?"
"She کہا she had some personal errands to run," he answers, leaning back with his arms crossed behind his head.
"Personal errands?" Black سٹار, ستارہ asks.
"Yeah," Soul says. "Something about singing lessons یا something... I wish she was here though. Things always seem مزید cool with her around."
I wish she was here too. My sister is like my safety net. Whenever things get awkward, she's always there to loosen the tension یا turn a strange situation into a comfortable one. I wonder what she could be up to right now.
"How's your training coming along, Jordan?" Tsubaki asks, her eyes alight. "Do آپ feel ready for your upcoming exam? It's tomorrow, isn't it?"
I nod once, but even this acknowledgement is difficult for me. To be honest, I don't feel ready at all. I should, but I don't... It's not because Kid has been a bad couch. He hasn't. I just feel scatter-brained, like I can't focus on two things at a time so my mind is deciding to abandon me.
I smile a little. "Uh... Yeah... It's tomorrow. I do feel anxious, but Kid has been a great coach, and I feel مزید equipped for the trials. I wouldn't have this opportunity if it wasn't for him." I look at him and admire his calm and casual smile.
He nods once. "She's much stronger than she was before. I'm مزید than positive she'll do well tomorrow, and I'll be there to encourage her as best as I can."
I'm sure he will. From the start, Kid has been my number one supporter. He holds مزید confidence in me than I do myself... Is it true? Has he really never seen anything like me before?
"I'm sure you're going to do great tomorrow," Tsubaki assures, tilting her head a bit.
Soul smirks, his pointed teeth showing. "And with a cool weapon like your sister, you'll blow all the judges away."
"If I were there, all the judges wouldn't be able to HANDLE me!!! They'd have to use glasses in order to see ME 'cause my greatness would block out the SUN! HAHAHAHA!!!" Black سٹار, ستارہ leans back in his نشست and laughs for all he's worth.
With that, Maka suddenly enters the room with a tray and sits down, setting the tray on the table. "Lemonade anyone? I made it this morning!"
"Thanks, Maka!"
"It's about time آپ got in here."
The others go about their conversations, but I remain quiet. I've never been one to engage in social conversations... I hate talking too much. The only time I strike up a chat with anyone is if I'm in an extremely good mood, and today isn't necessarily one of those days.
No.
There's too much on my mind.
Although... Kid is sitting اگلے to me, and he's just as quiet as I am. He definitely seems مزید calm... If only I knew what he was thinking... It would make things مزید simple, مزید comfortable, مزید natural.
I want to talk to him, but I don't know what to say... What do I bring up? This is always a challenge for me: thinking of topics to talk about. I'm not good with this whole socializing thing... I never have been.
Sighing, I close my eyes and look away, surrendering to the fact that I probably won't talk to him when he surprises me.
"Jordan?" he asks.
I turn to him. "Yes?"
He looks concerned, but I don't know why. "Are آپ okay?"
"Mhm," I say. "I just..." I look at the ground. "I'm just worried I guess..."
"...Let's step outside. I want to talk to you."
I don't know what else to say at this point, but curiosity won't let me decline, so I accept, and standing, we walk outside onto the patio. He closes the door behind us, and we both turn our attention to the sun in the distance.
The sky is a dull orange, and the buildings look like black silhouettes against the horizon. His suit matches the landscape. He looks like he belongs. I place my elbows on the دیوار in front of me and lean my head down.
A thousand emotions are running through my head at once. I don't know when this started یا how. I feel frustrated, angry, and worthless. But why?
I glance to my left at Kid, and he looks just as pained as I do. Is something bothering him?
"Kid?" I ask. "Are آپ all right?"
"I don't know..." he says. "For some reason, I feel this emotion...but I don't know where it's coming from..."
"Emotion?" I raise my eyebrows. "What kind of emotion?"
"Anger... Frustration... Worthlessness... The strange thing is I didn't feel this way until I saw you..." He leans against the patio like me, but he keeps his gaze forward. "I was thinking... Do آپ feel this way too?"
"You took the words right out of my mouth..." I whisper, looking at the سٹریٹ, گلی below. "I feel all of those emotions... I guess it's because I'm thinking about the exam... It was so humiliating, getting dragged out of the arena like some sort of weak puppy..." I say, almost spitting the words with hatred. "I can't believe I allowed myself to fail... I don't want it to happen again..."
"You didn't allow yourself to fail," Kid corrects. "You had no idea they weren't going to admit you. آپ tried your best, and if I had been the proctor, I would have passed آپ in a heartbeat. In fact, I don't understand why he couldn't see just how amazing your skills were to begin with."
"Thank you..." I say. "I just hope I don't screw things up tomorrow..."
"You won't..." he says. "I guarantee you'll blow the audience away...and even if آپ don't pass...you'll always have us. We're not going to leave you, and we're most certainly not going to give up."
Like a mist, my emotions suddenly evaporate at his words, his tone. The isolation, being alone with him out here in the مالٹا, نارنگی dusk... It's like the feelings were never there, and as soon as they seem to disappear, I sense a change in Kid as well...
He smiles at me, the مالٹا, نارنگی sunlight darkening his suit, but dancing along his face, giving him a heavenly quality. "Trust me..." he whispers.
...
A young witch watches the two from afar. Lord Death's son and the girl with the passion wavelength.
They're still so naive, so clueless. They have no idea what part they play in the world they live in.
She glances down at her watch and glowers, pursing her lips a bit. "Way to go, Janay. You're three hours late. The Grand Witch will have your head for this..."
Carefully, she goes down a ladder and makes her way through the winding streets of Death City, talking to herself.
"She's going to kill me. I'm so done with these witches..." She crosses her arms, annoyed. "And this city is too warm. I hate it. Why can't it be nighttime already? Don't I have enough frustrations to deal with?"
Suddenly, and quite out of the blue, the air becomes chilly and pleasantly cool, as if wintertime had heard her ramblings and blessed her with a gift. Janay looks up at the sky, but it's just as مالٹا, نارنگی as it was a few سیکنڈ ago, and there isn't any wind.
"Huh..." she says under her breath. "Well, thank you."
"You're welcome," a voice says.
She stops.
Turning, she's confronted سے طرف کی someone she's seen before, someone familiar. He stands, self-righteous and confident, but it's his smirk that gives him away.
"You..." she says, a little shocked.
Malachi smiles disarmingly. "Janay, right? That's your name?"
She lowers her head a little, trying to decipher what game the childish Immortal is playing at and why he remembers her name. The last time she saw him, he was teasing Belladonna and disrespecting her leader. If she also remembers correctly, he was the cause of a witch's death, the one who had been sent to fetch the Immortals in the first place. A very dangerous boy.
"Yeah..." she answers. "What do آپ want?"
"I couldn't help but notice what آپ were doing out here," he says quickly and cleverly.
That's right. Malachi always has a quick answer for everything.
"What was I doing?"
"You were being a little spy for your witchy witch companions..." He remains perfectly still, not moving backward یا forward, standing still as a smiling statue. "Correct?"
"That's none of your business," she counters. "Besides, aren't آپ supposed to be banished from Death City? What are آپ doing here?"
"Exactly what آپ were doing." His eyes narrow ever so slightly, his straight and pearly white teeth exposing themselves behind the childish grin everyone has come to fear. "I wanted to see the passion wavelength accommodator. As for our banishment, do آپ really think I care?"
"Of course not," she says. "You don't care about anything. I know who آپ are. I've heard Grand Witch Mabaa talk about you..."
He laughs aloud. "Oh, have you? What has she کہا about me? I'm dying to know."
"She کہا آپ can't be trusted..." Janay accuses, narrowing her eyes a little. "She کہا you're even مزید conniving than your brother..."
"That's a little cold," he says, stepping forward. She backs away. "I think آپ witches have a bad habit of misjudging people آپ hardly know anything about..."
She clenches her teeth a bit, thinking this through. If he decides to attack her, she won't have much of a choice but to use her powers to defend herself. However, if she does that, she'll give her position away to the Academy, and she can't afford such a risk.
He notices her anxiety and shakes his head a little, as if to placate her. "Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you... I just want to talk..."
"We've talked enough already," she says. "What مزید do آپ want, Malachi?"
"So آپ do know my name..." he says, almost flattered. "I guess we can save the formalities then... I just want to know what آپ know... If آپ help me out, I'll help you..."
"How could آپ possibly help me?" she asks, demanding.
He pulls on one of his gloves and looks away craftily, as though he already knows he's got her within his grasp. "You کہا you're done with the witches. The way they treat you... It's not right. I'm sure you're tired of being pushed around سے طرف کی now..." He looks back at her, a smiling silhouette. "I can help آپ escape them..."
She looks puzzled, a bit confused. Why would Malachi Perish want to help her escape? It doesn't make sense. What is he seeking through this little bargain? This demigod doesn't do anything for the greater good. Everyone knows that.
"What's in it for you?" she asks.
"That will come later..."
"Come later?"
"When I need a favor of you, I'll ask." He smiles again, but despite his cheerful demeanor, she feels as if she's staring into the eyes of a serpent.
Speechless, she doesn't know what to say to the young, blue-eyed face in front of her. She mentally weighs the pros and cons, and she considers Malachi's cruel reputation. He's reckless. Insane. Sadistic. آپ never know what he's going to do next. They say he's tricked even the greatest minds. A manipulator. He knows exactly what to say in order to get what he wants out of people, and he enjoys making others look like fools. He's so convincing in what he says, in fact, that he can fool anyone into thinking they actually want to help him, even if they were sure they didn't a few سیکنڈ ago.
"I don't know..." she whispers, not so sure anymore.
He approaches her and stands in front of her, bending a little to see her eyes, as innocent as an angel. "Look, I know what it's like to be in your position... To be taken advantage of...pushed around... Yes, I'm doing this for myself مزید than anything. I'll admit that, but at least آپ won't have to be a slave anymore... Working for me isn't all that bad, and once I'm through with you, آپ won't ever have to see me again...or those witches..."
She widens her eyes a bit and سوالات him with a stare of bafflement.
"Just a partnership..." he says, smiling a little. "Nothing more, nothing less... What could آپ possibly lose?"
"I won't get hurt?"
He smirks. "Do آپ really think I'd put your life on the line? No, no... I give آپ my word. I will not cause آپ harm..."
He holds his hand آگے and smiles happily. "Do we have a deal?"
She hesitantly looks at his hand, like it's holding the key to her escape. Nodding once, she shakes his hand. "Yes..."
He giggles a bit. "Excellent..."
...
"Professor Stein?" Hero opens the door to Stein's classroom, and smiles timidly. "Hey, sir! Um... Lord Death needs آپ in the Death Room! Immediately!"
Stein looks up from his paper-covered desk, littered with کتابیں and scientific notes from the class's dissection lab earlier that day, and heaves a heavy sigh. "I'll be right there."
Stein spends most of his time on his chair, so it takes him a few منٹ to part with it, as if he really didn't want to move. Pushing himself up, he stands and walks the distance of the crescent-shaped classroom and traverses the halls of the DWMA until he happens upon two large double doors.
They سوئنگ, جھول open before he can touch them, and a familiar face pokes his head out with pursed lips and twitchy eyes.
"Stein! There آپ are!" Spirit announces, pulling Stein inside the Death Room quickly. "You're not going to believe this! Get in here! Get IN! We need to talk now, now, nooowww!!!" He tries desperately to push Stein down the long hallway towards Lord Death, but Stein doesn't اقدام one step. After a few moments, Stein finally walks forward, and Spirit tumbles to the floor unceremoniously with a thud.
"Lord Death?" Stein asks, approaching him.
"Ah! There آپ are, Stein. It's good to see you. How are things?" Lord Death asks with a bounce and a springy boing.
"Good," he answers, hands in pockets. "What's going on?"
Lord Death bounces around a little and tilts his head, but he doesn't say anything. A few awkward moments pass سے طرف کی before Lord Death holds up a pointed finger. "Care for some tea?"
"You called me in here for a cup of tea?" Stein asks, confused.
"No! No, no, no! Of COURSE not! I'm the headmaster of this school! How silly would it be for me to call in one of my professors just for a little چائے party? Nonsense! I was just being polite. Haven't آپ heard of manners?"
Spirit runs up with a nosebleed. "CAN WE GET TO THE MAIN POINT NOW?!"
A large hand silences Spirit as he's Reaper chopped to the floor.
"Yes, yes! I'm getting to that!" Lord Death exclaims, shaking a hand threateningly.
"Oh... Okay..." Spirit mumbles, dizzy and bloody on the floor in a nauseous heap.
"Anyway," Lord Death continues. "Have آپ talked to my son lately? He hasn't asked آپ anything...peculiar...has he?"
"No, not that I remember." Stein scratches the back of his head. "Why?"
"Because what I'm about to tell آپ cannot leave this room." Lord Death says, his voice suddenly getting a bit مزید serious. "This is very, very important, and I'm afraid we can't afford any slip-ups. If the wrong kind of crowd were to hear about this, who knows what might happen?"
"I promise I won't say anything to anyone else," جوابات Stein.
"Good..." Lord Death says, turning. "Welll... How should I put this?" He turns around again with another boingy bounce. "There is a passion wavelength accomodator in Death City."
A long pause ensues, absolutely silent. Stein pulls out a cigarette, lights it, and takes a few puffs before answering the unexpected piece of news. "The passion wavelength has finally revealed itself, has it? Well, we knew this was going to happen sooner یا later. Who has the passion wavelength?"
"A young girl," Lord Death says. "Do آپ remember the accident that happened earlier? The one at the local Death Mart? The girl who was seriously injured, the one my son rescued... She is the passion wavelength accomodator, Stein, and my son is..."
"Your son is the Guardian," Stein finishes.
"Wait, whaaat?" Spirit asks, freaking out. "Whoa! WHOA! WHOAAA! Slow down! What's a passion wavelength exactly? And what is a Guardian? I'm so confuuused." He grips his hair and moves his body around like a wet noodle.
"Calm down, Spirit," Lord Death assures. "Stein, would آپ care to explain?"
Stein puffs once مزید on his cigarette before going into the history of the long-anticipated era everyone has been waiting for.
"The passion wavelength... The most powerful wavelength on the planet... It is کہا to be so powerful that it can wipe an entire continent off the face of the earth, causing widespread destruction and catastrophe if utilized the wrong way..." He puffs again, speaking as if he were explaining a scientific lecture. "The passion wavelength is کہا to دکھائیں up every thousand years, but it is also known to appear in times of need when something bad is about to happen. No one knows to what extent the powers of the wavelength can go. Some say it has almost magical abilities, and it gives whoever wields it the dexterity to do virutally anything. Its powers have varied throughout history, and سے طرف کی some circumstances, it doesn't stick around for too long because it is hunted سے طرف کی very powerful sorcerers and clans. Anyone who eats the passion wavelength will become مزید powerful than anything we could ever dream physically possible..."
"That's amazing," Spirit says. "Who knew one person could have so much power?"
"That's just the thing," Stein says. "It's too powerful. Sometimes, it's best to believe that the world is a much safer place without it... And because so many people hunt for it, the passion wavelength is scarce, and it can be used as a dangerous weapon if intended for evil purposes... That's why..." His glasses glint a bit in the light as he looks up. "We have Guardians."
"Guardians..." Spirit repeats, as if the word had a secret meaning behind it. "What are the Guardians for? Who are they?"
"They are very special people... People chosen سے طرف کی fate...destiny to protect the passion wavelength with their own lives. The wavelength shares an inseparable bond with a Guardian of its choosing. This is believed to occur even before the two meet. This girl... Her wavelength chose Kid to be its protector. The Guardian receives this responsibility, and it cannot be declined, even if the Guardian doesn't want the job, but this is very rare." He puffs on his cigarette again and blows the smoke upward.
"So... Kid and this girl... They're bonded together? And Kid's job is to protect her? That explains why he was so quick to get her here when she was injured..."
"Yes," Stein says. "They were destined to be connected. I'm sure they've already encountered some of the side effects. Kid's a very curious boy. Very sharp. I'm sure sooner یا later, he's going to ask about what's going on between him and this girl. My guess is آپ want me to keep this information from him, correct?"
Lord Death nods. "We can't afford my son and that girl's lives to be put in danger. Besides, they need time. The bond is only going to grow stronger, and it needs to do so naturally. We cannot interfere. They need to learn to be compatible on their own. There is no other way."
"Right," Spirit says. "I don't get it though... Why does the passion wavelength bond with someone if it's so powerful? Can't it protect itself?"
Stein shakes his head and closes his eyes. "The passion wavelength is quite unpredictable...influenced سے طرف کی emotions... If this girl were to lose her temper یا go into a tantrum, she'd need protection against herself. Guardians are the only ones that can reach into the passion wavelength and calm the person behind it. They're chosen for a reason. The wavelength chooses whoever it thinks can protect it best...and the Guardian usually ends up being a lover, یا even a brotherly یا fatherly figure depending on the situation. It's all according to the relationship. For example, if the passion wavelength accomodator is a small girl, then she might form a bond with someone older - like an older brother, because she'd feel like he could protect her best. The wavelength latches on to someone that it thinks it needs...that it can't survive without... Think of it this way..." He looks at Spirit. "Guardians are the fossil fuels behind the wavelength's power. Without Guardians, the wavelength is nothing..."
"...How will we know when they're completely bonded?" Spirit asks.
"We'll know," Lord Death answers. "When they know, we'll know. But for now, we must wait...and watch..."
...
Malachi enters the تخت room, but it's completely vacant, except for his brother. Only the sound of the drip, drip, drip of the faintest water drops can be heard as they fall from the stalactites and onto the floor in little, dark puddles.
Makoto glances up at his younger brother and narrows his eyes. "Where have آپ been?"
"Out," Malachi جوابات with a smile.
"Yes, I know that." Makoto glares. "But what were آپ doing while آپ were out? آپ haven't revealed yourself to the accomodator, have you?"
"Of course not!" Malachi gives him a look of injured innocence. "That would put our whole plan in jeopardy! Do آپ really think I'd do that, brother? If anything, Kat's the one آپ should be worrying about. Sometimes I think she wants to kill that brat مزید than I do." He sits down in his تخت and makes some ice cream for himself in a conveniently-sized bowl, giving his brother one of his winning smiles and pointing his spoon at him. "You're funny though! I'll give آپ that! A reeeal comedian!"
The آگ کے, آگ god rolls his eyes and glares to the side. "So what were آپ doing then?"
"I was with the accomodator of course." He looks down at his bowl happily and takes a bite of his ice cream.
"I THOUGHT آپ JUST SAID--" Makoto screams.
"SHSHSHSH!" Malachi covers his brother's mouth and pokes his cheek, letting him go. "I didn't introduce myself! Like, 'Hey! I'm Malachi! I'm going to steal your soul and use it to kill everyone آپ looove!' I spied on her!" He laughs. "Idiot!"
Makoto glowers. "You could have just کہا that..."
Malachi shrugs. "It's fun to see آپ freak out. It's...better than ویژن ٹیلی actually." He gives him a cheeky grin, like a child that's just tormented someone but doesn't understand what he did wrong.
"Malachi," Makoto says, speaking with a no-nonsense kind of tone. "You need to be مزید careful. What if she had seen you? What if the Shinigami had seen you? What if someone from the Academy had seen you? You're wearing your Immortal cloak. The Reaper could have identified آپ easily if he had seen آپ wearing it. Did آپ even think about that?"
Malachi laughs aloud and throws his bowl behind him. It hits Vixon in the head as she walks through the door. "AGH! GAWD!" She screams, holding her eye.
"I think everything through," Malachi says, smirking. "And I choose to be reckless, but that doesn't mean I don't take precautions... I was very careful, مزید careful than I had to be... Now please, don't try to insult me with your pathetic questions."
Makoto looks at Vixon angrily. "What are آپ whining about?!"
Vixon rubs her eye. "Nothing, dammit! Obviously, no one gives a damn!"
"Aw, I give a damn! I give twelve damns!" Malachi says, grinning. "Why twelve? I don't know. I just chose a number. Would آپ like twelve damns, Vix?"
"Shut up, Malachi," Vixon mumbles, stumbling to her تخت and collapsing into it.
He giggles childishly and returns his attention back to his brother. "I learned some very valuable information..."
"Valuable information..." Makoto repeats. "Well? Out with it."
"Aren't آپ going to say, 'Pleaaase?'" Malachi asks, turning around in his تخت and sitting upside-down in it.
Makoto glares down at him for the longest time, but Malachi just giggles as if he were being tickled.
"Out with it...please..." Makoto answers.
Malachi sits upright again. "Okay!" He smirks. "The accomodator has a very big دن ahead of her. Tomorrow is her entry exam. If she passes, she will become a student at the DWMA...officially."
Makoto raises an eyebrow. "And how do آپ know this?"
"A little bird told me," he says, smirking knowingly as he remembers the witch he talked to.
Makoto digests this information with considerable thought, staring at the ground. "This could be a problem..."
Having eavesdropped on the conversation, Vixon offers input, "Maybe someone should be there...to keep an eye on the situation, see where she ends up. If she becomes a student, we should be the first to know about it."
A glint of thought shines behind Malachi's bluish gray eyes, but he hides it with skill and narrows them craftily, looking back at his brother. "Vix is right... We should be there..."
Makoto closes his eyes, knowing they're right, but considering his options. After some thought, he nods once and looks at Vixon. "Vixon, I want آپ and Junior to be there when she takes the exam. Study her strengths, her weaknesses. I want a full رپورٹ on the Shinigami's behavior around her as well. Let nothing slip آپ by."
"Hey, what?!" Malachi exclaims. "I want to gooo... That's not fair!" He pouts.
"No...WAY...am I even CONSIDERING letting آپ go, Malachi!" he hollers. "I know only too well what آپ might do..."
"Smart of you, big brother... Very smart..." Malachi pats his shoulder. "Very well... I won't go...but I guess that just means I get to stay here and torment آپ allllll day!" He closes his eyes and smiles, folding his hands beneath his chin.
Makoto's eye twitches for an instant before he growls and looks away. "Dammit..."
Malachi blinks.
Makoto looks over at Vixon with a resignated sigh. "Can I trust آپ to keep an eye on my little brother? Make sure he doesn't get into trouble?"
Malachi does a little dance of happiness while Vixon widens her eyes in shock. "You want me to watch him?! I can barely handle him HERE! What makes آپ think I'd be able to handle him THERE?! Huh, Makoto?!"
Makoto narrows his eyes. "You'll do as I say. Besides, you'll have Junior with you, and that should make things easier...right? If Malachi gets out of hand, have Junior knock him out یا something. I don't really care."
"Well, he can try!" Malachi says, still dancing excitedly.
"Yeah, yeah..." Vixon surrenders. "We'll be there."
...
The گھنٹہ is late, and the sun has gone for the night.
The yellow moon shines brightly in the sky as I walk home, holding my arm against the cold, although I try not to دکھائیں it. Kid offered to walk me home, but I didn't want to cause him any inconvenience, so I played it off, but he insisted. So now, we walk alongside each other in comfortable silence.
Normally, I don't feel comfortable with silence at all, but with Kid, it's different. With him, I don't feel the need to constantly be talking. With him, I feel comfortable just having him سے طرف کی my side, and I know he feels the same way. I can sense it.
He has his hands in his pant pockets and appears nonchalant, perfectly at ease. Ever since we had that talk on the balcony, I've been feeling much better about my exam. He really is quite the compassionate person.
Glancing down at me, he raises his eyebrows a little in curious thought. "Are آپ cold?"
"Uh..." I glance away from him. "A little, but I'm fine." I smile a bit, laughing my nervous laugh as if it couldn't be مزید obvious that I'm lying.
Before I can object, Kid undoes his جیکٹ and wraps it around my shoulders. It's very warm from his body heat, and I can smell a faint hint of his cologne on the fabric. It's lovely, and instictly, I accept it. Giving him a sheepish smile of shy awareness, I blush a little and look at him. "Thank you..." I whisper, snuggling deeper into his jacket.
He nods once with a smile, now wearing a white, long-sleeved dress شرٹ, قمیض and his gray Reaper emblem about his neck, still very concise in his appearance.
We approach the door to my home, and I turn to him, glancing up at his face. The lamp light gives off an aura that you'd see on the cover of The Exorcist, but I don't mind. It's not eerie, not with the purple sky hanging above us, not with Kid here... Just him alone is enough to balance out the polarity of the nighttime atmosphere.
"Kid..." I stare into his yellow eyes, and they stare back. "Look, I just--" I stammer. "I...I just want to say thank you..."
His kind, patient eyes watch me, and he knows I'm going to continue, so he doesn't interrupt.
"You've been a great coach... You've دیا me so much... Friends... An opportunity to become a student at the Academy... My life..." I look back up at him. "Kid, you're... You're my hero... Without you, I'd still be here... I'd still be in my room, doing absolutely nothing... آپ saved me... You've دیا me so much to be thankful for, and I just... I can't thank آپ enough..." I hold my arm tighter, feeling the fabric of his suit on my skin shielding me against the breeze. So much emotion is running through me right now. It's taking every ounce of my strength not to tremble like a chihuahua. He'd probably mistake it for shivers though and insist I go inside, but I don't want to yet. I want him to know how thankful I am.
His eyes widen a bit, his pupils nothing but little round ovals. He wasn't expecting this sentimental confrontation. I can tell...but I need him to know.
"Jordan..." he says.
"It's true." I smile a little. "You are the reason I'm here today... آپ saved my life in that supermarket... آپ saved my academic career in the arena... آپ saved my life... You're my hero, Kid..."
His expression is soft, a little surprised, but soft...
The سٹریٹ, گلی is still dark. The only light surrounding us is emanating from the سٹریٹ, گلی lights, purple sky, and the laughing yellow moon above us. The lavender clouds اقدام along, weaving through the night like thin threads trailing behind a ball of yarn.
"Jordan..." he says again, gentle and kind. "You don't have to thank me..."
"I do," I respond, staring up at him. "I do, because..."
The distance between us is a lot shorter now. It's as if I were the earth, and he was the sun...like gravity was pulling us together...
"Because...I..."
His eyes grow deeper, his eyelids lowering, and something ignites. He and I both feel it. He tilts his head down...and I don't fight it... I don't...want to...
We lean our heads in slowly...and our lips meet... His are soft...gentle... We close our eyes as they touch, and I embrace it even though I don't know what led this on. I'm not complaining.
The static becomes overwhelming, like live electricity was zapping the atmosphere around us. The lamp posts along the سٹریٹ, گلی begin to flicker as if we were experiencing an earthquake, but we don't stop. We don't سوال it. It's as if this was the most natural thing on the planet, like this is where we're supposed to be.
Placing his hands on the small of my back, he lightly pulls me closer until our bodies touch, and I let him. I can feel his دل pumping, feel his emotion...sense his thoughts... They're just as scrambled and excited as mine... I extend my arms steadily and لپیٹ, لفاف کریں them around his neck, enjoying the touch of his black hair against my skin...
The kiss breaks up into tiny...slow kisses...our lips never parting for مزید than a سیکنڈ in between each of the smaller kisses...and I'm filled with unexplainable joy... No amount of words...can describe what I feel...right now...in this moment with him... Gravity shifts...and the only thing holding me down to this world, keeping me anchored...is Kid...
The butterflies in my stomach leap and frolic about, not knowing what to do, but in spite of everything, I'm feeling too elated to acknowledge even my own confusion... His hands radiate heat onto my back, and his lips are soft to the touch as they morph together with mine... His cologne assails me, and his جیکٹ keeps my body warm against the chill...
It's innocent and loving...gentle and kind...warm and compassionate...and together...we carefully ease our lips away and stare deeply into each other's eyes, like they hold the key to locking this memory up tight, never letting it go.
We don't have any words to share. Nothing we could say یا do could explain the amount of absolute emotion he and I feel, so we just stare, our faces only an inch apart. I can read his soul like a book - every detail, every fragment of a thought... It's all racing into my head, almost too much for my mind to bear...because I feel the same way.
I grip his شرٹ, قمیض lightly, staring up at him, and he smiles, a smile that I can identifiy, but the only other time I've seen this smile appear on his face was when he was examining something exquisitely beautiful... A butterfly... Symmetry... He only looks at symmetrical things the way he's staring at me now. What does that mean? I'm not symmetrical. I know that much. I'm not perfect. I'm not perfect like him, despite how much he disagrees.
I'm anything but the dream girl you'd imagine for Kid...but that doesn't seem to make much of a difference to him... Instead, he's staring at me as if I were the most beautiful thing he's ever laid eyes on.
And I blush.
"You can keep the jacket," he says calmly, lovingly, whispering...like the dainty wisp of our kiss is still dancing upon his lips.
I smile and look down at my tiny frame. The جیکٹ looks oversized on me, but I don't mind. Oversized jackets are cute. At least, I think so. I glance back up at him, shy, and lean in one مزید time, kissing him quickly and then stepping back. "I'll...I'll see آپ tomorrow... Promise you'll be safe...okay? I don't want to hear tomorrow morning that آپ never arrived home."
He smiles and puts his hands in his pockets. "I promise."
My blush deepens, and before I leave the scenic view of this nighttime memory, I smile at Kid appreciatively, stopping at the door.
This moment... I freeze this picture in my mind... Him standing just below the stairs, light posts, بنفشی, وایلیٹ sky, moon and all... I don't want to leave...because I know that once I close this door, this picture will no longer be anymore. Instead, it will be nothing but a was. A mental memory of the past that cannot be recreated. That's the thing about living. آپ always have to اقدام آگے eventually, even if آپ don't want to.
I look away, a bittersweet smile still on my face, and step inside, closing the door behind me. I hear his hesitation after I disappear from view...and then the small clicks of his steady footsteps as he walks away, down the sidewalk, faintly fading... And the picture is gone.