Life and Death 15

The mirror could've been a portal for all I knew – a magical portal that led to a parallel universe in which I looked….girly. Not just girly, but beautiful. The other girls were completely silent as I walked closer to the mirror and warily touched the glass. The girl in the reflection mirrored my actions. I hesitated, then ran a hand through my hair; it felt just as silky smooth as it looked on the girl in the mirror. I raised an eyebrow, finally accepting that this girl had to be me, and paused to really take in what the girls had done to me.

My hair, which was normally down and in my face in practically uncontrollable waves was now straight and smooth with half of it pulled up and tied in the back of my head with a pretty black ribbon. The fiery orange locks spilled over my shoulders and shined against the inky fabric of my dress which was now even more flattering than it had been in the store. My face now looked less childish and more defined and mature with my eyelashes lengthened significantly with mascara and my upper eyelids decorated with dark eye-shadow. The darkness around my eyes highlighted my silver irises and made them seem to sparkle in the right lighting while my lips were adorned with dark lipstick. The dark make-up contrasted with my pale skin perfectly, making me look like a porcelain doll especially when combined with the gorgeous dress I was wearing. I noticed that all the marks on my skin from the Kishin venom had healed and disappeared until now they were nonexistant. Finally, to top it all off, a simple silver neckalace hung around my neck which matched the silver hoops hanging from my ears.

I stared at myself for a few moments longer, then smirked and watched the porcelain doll in the mirror return to looking like me again. Huh, at least I could be vaguely recognizable at times. I turned around to face the girls who returned my gaze with expectant eyes, waiting for feedback on their hard work. I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest. "Well, you've done it. I look like a girl."

Liz blinked, then smiled broadly. "Hell yeah, you do! The boys will be drooling over you tonight!"

Tsubaki elbowed Liz jokingly and glanced at me with kind eyes. "Too bad that she's taken, though. Kid is one lucky guy."

"Yeah, I'm sure he'll be getting plenty of jealous looks tonight!" Maka added with a giggle.

I blushed lightly while thinking about Kid; I might actually be able to pull tonight off as long as I didn't do anything stupid. But, knowing me, anything was possible.

Suddenly, a loud knock sounded at the door and Patty poked her head in and looked at me. "Wow, what did you guys do when I was gone? Rai, you look hot!"

I laughed at her bluntness, then curtsied sarcastically. "Why thank you, my dear Patty."

Patty laughed, then opened the door fully and pointed outside, giving me questioning stare with her innocent blue eyes. "There was a visitor at the door who says she knows you, Rai. I let her in and she's waiting outside."

I raised an eyebrow and glanced at the other girls who shrugged, also looking confused. Without a word, I strode towards the bedroom door and peeked around the door frame to look into the hallway. Waiting for me just outside the door was a beautiful woman with soft features, flowing orange hair, and lovely blue eyes. She stood there with her arms crossed behind her back in a flattering white dress and sent me a warm smile as I peeked my head around the corner and opened her arms for me expectantly.

I gasped and ran forward without hesitation and practically lept into her arms. "Mother!" I cried as I buried my face into her soft shoulder and inhaled her familiar scent.

I felt her hand reach up to stroke my hair, being careful not ruin Liz's handiwork and I heard her tinkling voice greet me warmly. "Hello sweetheart." She placed her hands on my shoulders and pulled me back so that she could look at me fully. Her eyes raked over me and another beautiful smile lit up her face. "My, my. Just look at you! My little girl looks so grown up!"

I grinned proudly up at her and pulled her into another hug before taking her hand and leading her back to the bedroom. "Well you can thank my friends for that," I said while gesturing to the girls who eyed the new guest with curiousity. "I'd like you to meet Maka, Tsubaki, Liz, and Patty. Guys, this is my mother."

Each of the girls glanced at my mother with wide eyes, not quite sure how to react. After all, how do you greet the very person who created your soul? My mother broke some of the awkwardness and smiled warmly at them. "It is very nice to finally meet you girls in person. You have treated my daughter well and I am very grateful."

Maka spoke up first while the other girls relaxed slightly as the tension was broken. "It was no trouble. That's what friends are for!"

Tsubaki then whispered to Liz who nodded and gestured for the girls to gather their dresses. "We're going to go get ready in the other room across the hall. Call us if you need anything," she said as she glanced again at my mother and herded the other girls out into the hallway and closed the door behind her to give me and my mother some privacy.

As soon as the door shut, I sighed and led my mother over to the bed so that we could sit down. I flopped down on it with little regard for manners. "Mom, you would not believe what has happened to me these past few weeks!" I said as dramatically while my mother sat down gracefully and crossed her legs at the ankle while watching me with amusement.

She laughed lightly with a voice like tinkling bells. "Oh, I think I can. I've been watching you, dear. Did you think I would just forget about my Little Goddess?"

I pulled myself more onto the bed and rolled over on my stomach while tracing patterns on the bedspread. "Well, no. But I thought we agreed that once I left for the DWMA you would stop spying on me."

My mother smirked while waving a hand through the air nonchalantly. "Oh, you know a mother can't promise that. I couldn't help but just peek in every now and then."

I knew that I should've been offended or even angry with her, but I wasn't. Not at all. In fact, I was even happy that she cared about me so much to chance the wrath of spying on me without my permission. "Well, I've been doing my best. I killed a high ranking Kishin….before….it….." I trailed off, not wanting to relive the memories.

"I know you did sweetheart," my mother said while putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. "And you've done wonderfully. That was just an unfortunate accident that could not have been prevented. And as for Damien Archer, he was obviously unstable and he would've hurt countless others if you and your friends hadn't interfered."

I looked down at the bedspread with an ashamed expression and lowered my head so that it rested on my arms. "I didn't do anything, though. I was just a stupid damsel in distress."

My mother lifted my chin up so I would look at her and smiled. "Honey, when will you understand that you're not indestructable? You put expectations so high for yourself, but you don't realize how extraordinary you truly are. I am very proud of you, my dear."

I blinked up at her kind face with a confused expression. "You mean, you aren't disappointed that I chose to do this instead of my training?"

"Of course not, Rai. I've always known that you are a girl who grows at her own pace and follows her own rhythm. I may be your mother, but I cannot control what your heart wants." She looked over my fancy dress and grinned again. "And speaking of your heart, it seems that someone has swooped in and stolen it."

I blushed and swatted her hand off my shoulder playfully. "Oh don't act so coy!"

"Oh I'm not, dear!" my mother reassured me. "In fact, I was expecting this all along. I am actually quite happy for you," she said as she began stroking my hair again. "Death the Kid is quite a charming boy, isn't he? I knew that something would develop between you two eventually."

I pouted childishly at first, then sighed and looked down at my dress. "I suppose. But I don't know what to do around him. I just don't know about all the girly stuff," I mumbled as I played with my hands.

"Sweetheart, you've grown up with Death the Kid ever since you two were three years old. I think by now he knows exactly the type of girl you are. You don't have to change the way you've always been just because your bond has become stronger." Without warning, she leaned over and kissed me on the forehead and smiled. "Just be yourself."

Her smile was contagious and I felt my own growing on my face at the advice. She was right after all. All those years, Kid had not changed one little bit from when we were kids. So why should I? He obviously was well aware of what he was getting himself in to – he knew me well enough to like me just for me. "How do you know always know what to say?" I asked.

My mother put a finger to her lips and whispered. "It's a secret," before looking over her shoulder. "I'm afraid I have to leave now, dear. I've been quite busy lately."

I frowned before raising an eyebrow. "Then why did you take the time to come here?"

"Oh, I just had a feeling you needed it," she said before shrugging her delicate shoulders.

She was right, though. This was exactly what I needed especially on a day like this. Needless to say, my nerves were a little frayed, but my mother could always find the words to bring me back. I got myself back into a sitting position on the bed and hugged her again. "Thank you, mother."

She patted my back comfortingly while leaning her cheek on my head. "You know, I am always here if you need me. I may be a busy woman, but I can always make time for you, my Little Goddess."

"I know."

Before long, I felt her arms start to release me and I looked up as her bright eyes shone with familiar mischief. "But for right now, you don't need your mother sticking round. You have such good friends to take care you. And a handsome young man waiting for you downstairs," she added with a wink.

I smirked before hauling myself off of the bed and leading her to the door. "I'll show you to the-"

"No thank you," my mother said as she raised a hand up to stop me. "The party has almost started down there and we wouldn't want certain people to see you before the right time comes. I can let myself out."

I grinned, now seeing why so many people saw myself in this woman. I nodded and rushed forward to hug her again. "Goodbye mother."

"Goodbye my darling. And good luck!" she said as she let me go and walked down the hallway with her white dress flowing behind her until she started to glow a faint white color. Within a few steps, the glow became brighter and brighter before it flashed blindingly and my mother was gone. I stared after her for a few minutes, then smiled and walked across the hall to knock on the door the other girls were changing in. It wasn't long before the door flew open and Liz yanked me inside and the showered me with questions.

"Was that really your mother? She was so pretty! What did she come here for? What did she say? We're not in trouble or anything are we?"

"Woah woah woah! Liz, chill out! Nothing is wrong!" I assured her. "She just came to tell me….exactly what I needed to hear."