Claire

Now That I Know I'll Live

Kira's POV

The next morning, Nygus, Sid, Ms. Marie, and Justin all escorted me back to my home. I smiled and thanked them, feeling more alive than I ever had.

I opened the door, and wasn't surprised to see everyone sleeping in the living room. I walked inside and shut the door behind me quietly.

Death was in the armchair, Soul was sprawled in the floor next to Black Star, Maka was curled up in the love seat, Tsubaki was laying peacefully on the couch, Crona was asleep next to the t.v, Liz and Patty were asleep on either side of the arm chair, and Ryuu was curled up under the glass coffee table. The sight of them where they were made me smile.

I silently made my way upstairs and jumped in the shower. I felt filthy and gross, and the shower helped me feel better. Cleaner, definitely.

By the time I got back downstairs and was dressed, the others were waking up.

"Good morning, lovelies." I said happily. Ryuu grunted. "Mornin', Kira." Everyone blinked, processing what Ryuu just said.

Death shot straight up. "Kira!" He cried, and ran straight into my arms. I gasped, then laughed. "Hey! I was only gone a day, guys! Geez." I hugged him back, though, and smiled. "I missed you." I whispered. He chuckled. He missed me, too.

When Death backed off of me, everyone got a hug. Even Liz and Patty.

"You've got some serious explaining to do." Ryuu said, and I sighed. "Over breakfast? I bet poor Maka's been making breakfast and dinner for you guys. I'll make up for it. Sit down."

I quickly stirred up pancakes, omelets, and bacon. I shuffled all the plates to the hungry people at my table, hiding my soreness easily. Once everyone had their breakfast, including me, we all began to eat, and I explained.

"Well, yesterday, when Nygus pulled me and Sid out of class, it was so Nygus, Sid, Ms. Marie, Justin, and I could all go meet this guy who could tell me how to stop my death sentence. So we got all the information, I completed it overnight with Lord Death, Nygus, Sid, Ms. Marie, and Justin, and voila! I don't have a death date anymore." My explanation was very short and to the point. I didn't want to exaggerate it; I'd rather say it how it is. But if I'd told them we went to see Giriko from Arachnophobia, they'd all have a fit.

Tsubaki swallowed the food she was eating. "How'd you stop it?" She asked.

I swallowed nervously. "I had to go into my mind and kill my father."

A tense silence fell over the room. Soul dropped his fork, and Black star choked. Ryuu almost spit out his milk, and Death gaped at me. The girls all looked sympathetic. "How'd you... Kill him?" Soul asked slowly.

With a moment of thought, I replied, "Ah. Yeah. Well, I used Crona's Bloody Needles move, and then sliced his throat open." I said it very casually, although it hurt even me. "He's not really dead, guys. I promise." I tried to help them relax, but it was obvious that wasn't what they were worried about.

They were worried about me.

"I'm not going to go insane with guilt. He was a hologram. I wouldn't have been able to kill him if I knew that was the real him. I'm fine." They heard me out, then they all smiled at me. "Right! Of course." Tsubaki said.

Always the level-headed one.

We ate breakfast in a comfortable silence, but I could practically feel the worry coming off the boys.

***

I told everyone after breakfast that I would go for a walk to relax some nerves. They understood, and said they'd do some cleaning while I was gone.