Here There be Witches

Untitled Part 10

The bell on the door of Deathbucks cafe jingled as Anara strode through the door, waving to the man behind the counter and going immediately for Hero's table. He had gotten them a nice secluded place in the corner the way Anara liked. Always thinking of other people. You're to good for this world child. He already had sandwiches and coffee for them. Anara tasted the one in front of him and found that it was already full of milk and sugar. He'd been paying attention...that made Anara all warm and fuzzy inside. It was nice to have someone who knows you.

Anara quickly thanked his friend for the food and drinks and they fell right into their usual easy conversation. It hadn't always been this easy, but with people he'd been friends with for a long time like Soul and Maka and especially Hero, social interaction was much nicer. But something seemed off with Hero today.

"Hey, are you ok? Did something happen today?"

Hero scowled for a moment then let it drop into a more neutral expression. "Who was that guy you were with this morning?"

"Oh! Oh my death I can't believe I forgot to introduce you guys, I'm sorry! The boy was Death the Kid, he's a new student here. We met at the pyramids of Anubis I told you about," That seemed to make him more upset, but again he hid it well. "The two girls were his weapons, they work as a pair. The tall one was Liz and the smaller one was her younger sister Patty.They're so sweet and fun to be around, we should all try to get together. I'm sure you'll love them. But you still haven't told me what's wrong."

He struggled to find th words, and even appear to be on the verge of not saying anything. "...Nothing really. I don't know. I guess, you just seemed to make friends so easily...with them. One mission together and you're already besties. It wasn't like that for us..."

Anara grabbed his hands. "Hey, hey, that's not true. We didn't hit it off right away like that, we just got lucky. It was a different situation where it was easier to find out how much we have in common, then we got to spend the whole day together after that. We're still super awkward together despite it--well, except Liz and Patty, but they're pretty extroverted it seems, so it's just easy to get along with them.

"You and I were kind of forced to take the long route; even in our classes together we rarely got time to talk and we didn't get that easy situation that showed we were both into the same stuff. I actually think the fact that we're such good friends now without that is more impressive than what me and the others have," He smiled reassuringly. "But I promise, I'm never gonna spend so much time with them that I forget about you, ok?"

Luckily that lifted Hero's spirits and even made his cheeks go a little pink. "Ok." Anara let go of his hand. "But that sweet promise isn't gonna get you out of paying," He joked.

They both laughed. "I'd never dream of it."

The other boy tooka few bites of his sandwich. "Hey, so did you still wanna learn sign language? Before you got here one of the waitresses was just saying she could teach us."

"Yeah definitely!! Today?"

"No, we'd come back Thursday if that works for you. Then maybe every other week."

"That sounds great! I'm really glad you're doing it with me."

Hero smiled and it brightened the whole room.

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When Anara came home that night he was surprised to find that his dad wasn't back yet. He hadn't seen him at school either. He supposed that wasn't entirely odd, considering he had spent all day giving a tour and hiding in a closet and finally being able to finish the tour for good this time. He hadn't had any time to go to class (although if he had he wouldn't have bothered). But Dad is always home before me, even when I don't hang out with my friends afterward. Where is he?

He ultimately decided not to worry about it. He's a grown man, not to mention one of the most dangerous meisters in Death City, with or without a weapon. He can do what he wants. Anara really didn't want to do homework right now...even though he had two days worth of assignments to catch up on. As he walked into the kitchen to make some tea he noticed his black jean jacket hanging off a chair. He had totally forgotten he was going to bleach paint that!

He didn't have many ideas yet for what he wanted to put on it, except the maybe the death's head moth. Unfortunately, even after using one of his dads (many) biology book pictures for reference he just didn't have the talent to draw it. I wonder if Kid is any good at art? He gave up for the time being and started wandering around the house aimlessly to think.

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By the time Anara was about to head off to school the next morning Stein was still nowhere to be found. At this point he was starting to get worried. He waited at the house as long as he could, but eventually resigned himself to hoping his dad would already be at the academy when he realized he would be late.

Almost immediately after he started walking the halls two familiar students ran past him. The blue haired one was yelling, as always, and taller girl just trying to keep up.

"Good morning!"

Tsubaki noticed him. "Anara!! Quickly!! Soul's been hurt!!"

What!? Without another word he broke into a sprint alongside them. Maybe this was what kept dad away. But was it so serious to need an overnight surgery!? No, this must be only part of it. "What happened!?"

"We don't know, I just heard some of the girls talking about a student that got injured. They said it was Soul!"

"HA! Not to worry! As soon as I get there he'll have to get better! Just being in the presence of a star as big as me will fix him!"

"Blackstar, that's not how it works."

Before the boy could argue they were at the school's hospital room. The other two burst in, not even bothering to open the door, instead blasting it to the other end of the room. Anara hesitated though. His dad and Spirit were talking in low voices a little further down the hall. He couldn't hear what they were saying but their conversation looked somber. On instinct his head whipped around to see Soul's condition through the empty door frame. He had been planning to go see what was bothering the adults, but upon the observation that Blackstar was shaking Soul's body around violently and still yelling at him. Did that kid ever stop yelling!?

Anara and Maka made quick work of the loud child and soon he was in his own hospital bed. Tsubaki apologized for him quietly. Whatever his dad was talking about he clearly hadn't told Maka. She was obviously worried, of course, but still genuinely glad. She told them her partner would be ok. Anara thought it would be better not to mention it. He would still ask Stein what happened though. Later.

The white haired boy's meister was crying. Silently. When Tsubaki called her name she quickly wiped her tears away and smiled, like nothing was wrong. That's what Maka does. She hides her feelings so they don't worry her friends. Anara admired her for being able to just push them aside like that, but it worried him. Maybe he shouldn't talk to Stein. He could keep secrets well, but it he found out something serious he didn't like the idea of hiding something like that from her, even if the truth would hurt. Just watching the her made him feel that empty ache in his heart.

He didn't even hear the footsteps approaching, but he could feel the Bad Feeling stab through the sorrow before the new person even spoke. Anara was suddenly incredibly aware of everything in the room, especially the person almost directly behind him. "Oh my goodness, what happened to the door?" Her voice was pleasant, but it sent needles of panic through him. He could feel his hands start to shake and shoved them into his pockets. The blonde woman walked around next to Blackstar's bed. "From the looks of it things have been lively in here."

"Dr. Medusa. Good afternoon!" The two girls said in unison. Anara should have said it too, but his breath had caught in his throat like there was a noose keeping it from escaping.