Eating Souls, Act One: The Beginning

8: Leila, don't sell your organs! : Rivin has a normal job?

Seven AM came much too soon for both Rivin and Kid. They had tried to sleep, but neither had been able to. Rivin had insisted on going home with the trio, promising to sleep either with Patti or on the couch. After saying good night to the twin pistols, both the young Grim Reaper and the God Slayer stayed in the living room.

Rivin sat on one side of Kid's couch, with him on the other and her feet in his lap. He rubbed them absently, staring at the large bookshelf on the wall. Rivin stared at him. They were both deep in their own thoughts. They didn't make conversation until the grandfather clock in the entryway told them that it was six thirty, and therefore time to go to class. Liz and Patti refused to get out of bed, so Kid left them at home.

She held Kid's hand all the way to class, her other hand holding the inside of his elbow, and rested her head on his arm. He was certain she would fall asleep on the walk, but he really didn't mind how close she decided to be.

They were among the only students in the school and the first to arrive in class. Kid led Rivin to his customary seat, and she took Liz's usual spot. She refused to let go of him, still laying on his arm. He squeezed her hand gently, and she smiled with a content hum. He couldn't explain the light in his soul, or the strange feeling in his stomach. Even with her horribly asymmetrical haircut, Rivin was quite cute. He watched her fight falling asleep and lose, and absently tucked a long strand of hair behind her ear. He didn't know who the men from Rivin's past were, but he did know that they would not be a part of her future.

As the class began to fill up, Kid trained his eyes on the floor where Stein usually lectured from. He studiously ignored the snickers and giggles from the younger Weapons and Meisters, and the scowls from several of his peers.

Soul glared down at Rivin from the desk above. How dare she look so comfortable after everything she did to Maka? Symmetrical bastard, He grumbled to himself, turning his glare from the back of Rivin's head to Kid's - not that it was much of a shift, seeing as Rivin's head was on Kid's shoulder. He's not cool at all!

Leila walked into class, hoping that Rivin would be there. As far as she knew, Rivin hadn't come home all night. She just hoped that Kid had found her. As she scanned the crowd, she caught sight of Kid. Rivin was fast asleep with her head on Kid's shoulder. She gasped and ran up to them. "Rivin! Kid! You guys!" She grinned at them and clapped her hands together. "YOU'RE SO CUTE!"

Rivin opened one eye, "Leila, shhhhhhhhhh I'm sleeping."

"I know! It's adorable!" Her voice rose to a squeal on the last word.

Kid pretended not to hear the conversation, but his pale cheeks had turned red. "Good morning Leila. How are you?"

Leila let out an incoherent squeak, still grinning. She finally realized that Rivin's hair had been mangled, as though a child had cut it. She probably cut it herself. I wonder why? She always kept it long.

"Neh. Am sleeping..." said Rivin, curling up on the bench and moving her head to Kid's lap. Since Bacchus hadn't shown up yet to be angry, she was probably safe to use Kid as a pillow.

Maka grinned, "Aren't they cute, Soul?"

"That's so uncool, Maka."

"MAKA CHOP!"

"OW!" Soul fell to the floor, holding his head where Maka smashed him with her book, "What was that for?"

She crossed her arms and refused to look at him.

"Hey, answer me!"

Tsubaki laughed lightly, "Oh, you two... Soul, why don't you ever let Maka use you as a pillow?"