Heat and Soul: A Soul Eater Love Story (xKid)

~Chapter Nine~

To my dismay, I find that I'm in the same classes as Kid for the entire first half of the day. Because of his distracting double-iris eyes, I am unable to focus on getting caught up in classes or my goal for Auntie Io. I finally get a break from my captor at lunch time.

Kid starts with his tour guide voice again, "This is the lunch room, as you might have guessed. It was originally designed as..."

I walk away when he isn't looking. Moron. I sit at an empty table in the corner, hoping he won't follow, and lean against the wall. I'm not even hungry. I close my eyes and sigh. At this rate, I'm going to be stuck here for a long time... A familiar and welcome voice breaks into my thoughts.

"Mind if I sit with you?"

I smile and answer without opening my eyes, "Of course not, Daemon. Has there ever been a time when I've not welcomed your company?"

I open one eye to see that crooked smile sitting across from me.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?"

I shrug, "Nah. I'm not hungry. And besides, if I have to listen to any more school history lessons, I'll throw up."

"School history lessons? Shibusen has those?"

"Not Shibusen exactly, but Death the Kid sure does."

He seems to understand instantly at the mention of Kid, "Ah, that explains it. Yeah, Kid can get kind of overexcited about his father's school. Speaking of which..."

Daemon's tone makes me look up. Great, I've been spotted... Kid's coming this way with that stupid polite smile again. He does look a bit irritated though. Maybe he'll leave me alone if I ditch him enough times...

I groan and cover my eyes with one arm, "Can't you get him to go away?"

Daemon just chuckles and continues his meal. I can feel Kid staring at me.

"No, I'm not eating. Nothing against your precious school, I'm just not hungry."

"I never said anything about that. I came over to meet your friend here. I'd like to commend him for being friendly and polite to our newest student."

I remove my arm from my face and cock an eyebrow at Daemon, who is pretending not to listen. Big help you are...

"Kid, meet Daemon. Daemon, Kid. But you don't need to commend him or whatever. He's been my best friend for a really long time."

Kid blinks at me and Daemon in turn, "You knew each other before? Why didn't you tell me you already had a friend here?"

"Why would I have told you? You're just a tour guide, right?" I pinned him with a challenging stare, "And what would you have done even if I had told you?"

He squirms and hesitates.

"See? You wouldn't have done anything differently."

"Well, if I had known, I would've let him show you around the school instead..."

If I had been eating, I would've choked, "You mean... If I had mentioned that I knew a current student, I wouldn't have had to put up with you this long?!"

I run a hand down my face in exasperation and moan. Daemon is trying his best not to laugh.

"Put up with me...?" Kid looks insulted now, "Fine. Have Daemon show you the rest of the school. I'll leave you two alone."

He turns on his heel and storms away. I watch him, simultaneously admiring the way he looks walking away and well as starting to feel bad.

Daemon finally speaks, getting my attention away from Kid, "That was a bit too much, don't you think?"

I turn to face his disapproving look and run a hand through my hair. Somehow, I feel really bad now. That was rather rude of me. Wait...

"Daemon, just now... The way he said that... It sounded like... Does he think that we're a couple?"

"Now that you mention it, he did seem jealous, the way he said my name there."

"Fine with me. Maybe he'll leave me alone for a while then," I snort.

Daemon stares at me until I squirm.

I groan, "Oh fine! I'll apologize tomorrow, okay?"

He stays quiet, but stops giving me the disapproving stare and finishes his lunch.

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The rest of the day only goes a bit better. I find out that Kid is in all but one of my afternoon classes, but he makes it a point not to look at me during them. It makes me feel bad all over again. Why did I have to be rude? Stupid me...

After school, I'm standing outside with Daemon when he asks.

"Where are you staying? I'll walk you there."

I freeze with my mouth open. I don't actually know... Right on cue, I spot Kid coming out of the school. I swallow hard and call to him.

"Hey, Kid! I have a question... Could you come here a sec?"

He stares at me for a moment, like he's tempted to walk away. In the end, he sighs and walks over to me.

The polite smile is gone, "What?"

"Um... First off, I'm sorry I was so rude at lunch..."

He refuses to meet my eyes. Considering my habit of getting paralyzed by them, that might be a good thing. It still makes me nervous. I squirm.

"Uh... Where am I staying?"

Kid looks taken aback, "I don't know. Why ask me?"

"Well... You had my schedule, so I figured..." I trail off at the look on his face.

"Great," he sighs, "The staff has gone home for the day. There's no one to ask."

"I guess that's what I get for starting school on a Friday... Everyone's eager to leave, so they leave things undone and don't realize it until Monday..."

I glance back at Daemon, who shakes his head, "I've still got a freshman with me. We don't have any spare beds, and..."

I finish the thought myself, "I'd probably scare the shit out of the poor kid anyways... Besides, if he doesn't know I'm coming... Who knows how little he wears to bed...?" I shudder at the awkward thought.

Kid looks slightly disgusted, and I'm not sure whether it's from the idea of someone walking around in just underwear or what he's saying, "Well, I guess there's no choice, then... I have a spare room. You can stay with me for the time being. Just until we can get this sorted out."

I turn to him, surprised, and stutter, "Th-thanks... That would be... very helpful..."

As I follow Kid, I look back to wave to Daemon. He looks concerned, so I mouth 'Don't worry' at him. Even if I don't feel good about this, there's no need to worry him.