Soul smiled at Maka again. They had been together for such a long time, he didn't think he could live without her. From the smile on her face, he gathered she felt the same. "I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for you. You stuck by me through everything and kept your promise to make me a Death Scythe," he said calmly as she stared at the ring. "I love you, Maka."

She looked at him with those green eyes that made his heart melt. She pulled out a book and hit him on the head gently. "Idiot. You couldn't say this before?"

He laughed as she took off her glove so he could slip the ring on her finger. Then she leaned down to where he knelt and kissed him deeply. He twisted one of her ponytails around his hand, threatening to yank if she tried to pull back. He felt her laugh against his lips.

That night they headed home silently, knowing that their friends would joke about how long it had taken them to get together. That didn't matter now. They were together, and always would be.

Soul rolled over in bed with a smile. He reached out to put an arm around Maka, but found nothing but air. He sat up confused, but soon remembered. That's not how it happened. Maka left when I became a Death Scythe. She went to train her own weapon blood.

Slowly, he got out of bed and went to see Death the Kid, who had replaced his father as the Shinigami on his last birthday. Kid wasn't happy that day because '21' wasn't a symmetrical number. That man had problems, but they had been friends for years, so Soul could forgive him. Besides, Kid told him what Maka was up to, when he could. That wasn't something Soul was willing to let go, even if Kid completely lost it and tried to rearrange the continents to make them symmetrical.

Black-Star was on a morning run, with Tsubaki chasing after him. "Oi, Soul! I'm making the sun rise! Ha ha, what about you? Want to hang with the big me? I bet I could beat you at basketball!" Black-Star jogged in place as Tsubaki smiled and tried to catch his breath.

"I got to report to Kid today, but tomorrow, you're on! One-on-one, to forty points!" Soul challenged, giving the pair a sharp-toothed grin.

"You know what's really odd? It's been five years, as of today, since we last heard from Maka," Black-Star said, stopping his run. "I mean, how rude, not staying in touch with the man that would transcend God. Kindda stupid, too."

Soul looked down at the ground, trying not to appear too tense. You're wrong. Five years as of yesterday. He started walking toward the DWMA with one final wave goodbye. "Maybe Crona will play ball with you."

Behind him he didn't see Black-Star's expression change his expression from playful idiot to evil mastermind.

"Black-Star, that wasn't a good idea. You know what Kid said."

"I just wanted to make sure we were right. From the fact that he looked like he wanted to shoot himself when I said her name, I think we are. He misses her so much."

"It was obvious before. What if he declines the invite now, because he's too sad?"

"Oh, then I'll drag him! No one can resist my powers of persuasion! I promise, my plan won't fail!"

"This wasn't your plan!"

(A/N: Hee hee. I love scheming!)