Venus as a Boy (~a KiMa Soul Eater story~)

A Little Less Superficial

Behind the others, Kid and Maka were talking about shoes.

"I guess we do have similar requirements in footwear." Maka was still trying to see exactly what she and Kid had in common. "Though I'd imagine most meisters would want something practical but still professional."

Kid shrugged. "Some people put fashion ahead of practicality, but I've never seen why the two can't peacefully coexist," he said.

Kid wasn't entirely sure why Maka had started asking him about clothes, but since he hadn't been able to think of a single thing to say to the blonde-haired meister all the way from Shibusen, he wasn't about to complain.

Maka looked cute as always, but very serious, like she was trying to figure out a puzzle that she didn't have all the pieces to yet. She took a breath and muttered, "I guess there must be something a little less superficial."

She turned to Kid. "I see you in the library sometimes," she observed.

Kid tried not to get too excited or distracted. With his luck he'd spot something hideously asymmetrical and lose his concentration. He focused on her words to keep himself in check. This was probably the most personal conversation the two of them had had in three years of knowing each other.

"I see you too, sometimes. Though I don't spend as much time at the library in Shibusen as you. I mean, I have a lot of books at home, and I'm allowed to check more things out since I have higher level borrowing privileges than you."

Kid hoped that didn't sound arrogant. Liz always told him that things he said came out sounding that way, even though he never intended it.

"Yeah," said Maka regretfully, "Ever since Shinigami-sama caught me taking Papa's ID card I've had to read things there like everybody else."

"What sorts of things are you interested in checking out?" asked Kid. "I have copies of a lot of the same texts at home, and I wouldn't mind if you want to take them home with you."

"Really?" asked Maka hopefully. Then she deflated. "I don't think your father would be too pleased to find out he punished me for taking library materials so I snuck them out of his own house instead. But I've been trying to read as much as I can about advanced Soul Perception, and it's not easy to get through all the works during library hours. A lot of things are in other languages too. Latin I can handle, but Ancient Greek still gives me trouble."

"You should come see if I have anything you'd like to read. If you don't want to take it with you, then you could just read it there. My house doesn't have hours, that is, you could stay as long as you want. And I'm pretty good with Ancient Greek. Actually, I came across something in Greek the other day that reminded me of you." Kid blushed, but hurried to clarify, "Well not you specifically-it was about Grigori Souls, but you're the only person I know who has one."

"Really?" asked Maka excitedly. "Can I see it? I might need help with translation, but I'm always trying to find references to Grigori souls. Everyone says it has to do with the shape, but it seems like there must be more meaning to it..."

Kid smiled a tiny bashful smile, pleased that his offer was making Maka happy. He looked around dazedly, and realized that they were already in the part of town where Liz wanted to have lunch. In fact, they were stopped outside a storefront that said "Bandito Burrito" and had a sign with two pistols crossed over a sombrero. No wonder Liz and Patti liked this place.

Liz turned to her gathered friends with her index finger outstretched in classic elder sister scolding position.

"We're finally here. When we get inside, let's not forget to use our inside voices-Patti and Black Star I mean you-and absolutely no embarrassing me! Nakatsukasa, you've already got your marching orders. Try to keep it in your pants," she said with a wink.

Soul, who was standing next to Tsubaki, couldn't help but notice her annoyed expression.

"What was that about, Tsubaki?" he asked, holding the door open as the others rushed inside.

Tsubaki hung back with Soul and growled a little. It was pretty cute and half-hearted, but still a growl. "Liz is being a jerk," huffed Tsubaki. "She's like, fixated on the Book of Eibon today."

"Oh yeah, that's when you were outed as a closet perv," he nodded. "I can't believe Maka and I missed that part."

"She wasn't going to invite me to eat today, because some guy she likes works here. As if I'd just plaster myself all over some random burrito-slinger Liz likes!" Soul had probably never seen Tsubaki so annoyed, but his heart felt like it had sunk into his stomach.

"Some guy, huh?" he said.

"Yeah," Tsubaki sighed. "I'd probably be taller than him anyway. She doesn't have anything to worry about. Not like I've ever had a boyfriend anyway."

"Aw, hey," Soul awkwardly tried to comfort Tsubaki, "Uh, there's no shame in not having found the right person yet."

If Soul thought this platitude would help Tsubaki's mood he was sorely mistaken. She gave a little wail and covered her face with her hands. She pushed past him into the restaurant and rushed straight back to find the rest room. Soul shook his head and caught up with Black Star who was salivating at the counter. Kid and Maka had already ordered and were looking for a table, and Liz was talking to the girl working the cash register. No sign of a Liz-crushworthy guy.

"Hey bro," Black Star greeted. The two fist bumped and turned to stare at the menu. Soul felt his stomach rumble. Not cool. He rubbed it through his favorite white and red hoodie.

"What's up with Tsubaki?" Soul asked. "She was getting all upset about not having a boyfriend, but then when I said she'd find someone someday she freaked out."

Black Star looked up at Soul. "Ah shit, you really stepped in it this time."

"Oh no, what am I totally unaware of now?" groaned Soul.

Black Star, to his credit, glanced around him to make sure no one was looking, and waited for the girl behind the counter to take their orders and get to work before he responded.

"You know that samurai dude whose ass I keep almost kicking?"

"Uh, you mean Mifune-sensei?"

"Yeah, it turns out Tsubaki has been majorly crushing on him this whole time, but when she said something to him he told her student-teacher relationships were not cool. She cried for like a week straight. I offered to kick his ass, but she said no. To be honest I was a little relieved. I mean, I would totally pound that bastard into the ground fo sho, but to do it for not getting all pedophillic with my weapon partner...man, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to think about that."

"Shit," said Soul. That was even more complicated than his situation. "At least she told you. Maka would probably glare at me constantly for not having magically figured it out for myself."

"Well, like I said, the lady was bawling for days. Eventually it became a big enough problem to be dealt with by a guy like me."

"You just let her cry without even asking what was wrong? Dick. That is not cool Black Star."

"Yeah, Black Star is not cool," agreed Patti from Black Star's other side.

A/N: Please remember to vote if you are so inclined!