Chapter 1- Rainy Day

Maka's POV:

I sat on the roof of the apartment, the wind whipping my hair across my face. The air smelled of rain from the recent showers, now evaporating in the desert heat.

I was wearing a thin violet tube-top and some black shorts, with nothing covering my feet. My hair wasn't in its usual pigtails; it just flowed down my back.

Well it does when it's not windy.

I inhaled deeply, and tasted the humid atmosphere. I stared up at the stars and admired how beautifully they shined. They were all so unique and special in their own way; not only did they light up the night, but they also brightened my mood a bit. It didn't help much, but it calmed me down and helped me relax.

I was depressed.

For the past four years, I've been trying so hard to look more attractive. I've tried different styles of clothing, tried exposing a bit of skin here and there. I've even tried using makeup, yet it all made me feel incredibly stupid and petty, like I was desperate or something. I want someone to like me for who I am, not because of my looks; and based on Soul's opinion, that won't happen anytime soon. I hung my head with sadness and shame. Of course, Soul doesn't really know that it was him I was trying to impress all this time.

I felt something warm and wet slide down my cheek, and I wiped it away. Another tear came down, but I didn't bother trying to hold in; I just let it out silently. My body trembled from the quiet sobs, and I thought to myself, I'm the most pathetic person on the planet right now.

Soul's POV:

After hanging out with the guys for a round of basketball, we went to a frozen yogurt shop just outside of Death City, Death Jamz. Death the Kid offered to pay for us tonight, and we placed our order.

Black Star screamed to the cashier, "You god demands for Mint Chocolate! Yahoo!"

Kid tells Black Star to quiet down, then he says to the girl at the cash register, "For me, I would like a chocolate wafer cone, please."

Lastly I order, "Vanilla for me…" I pondered for a moment, then said, "I would also like a Strawberry Sunday, thank you." Kid and Black Star look at me weirdly. "What? I'm getting one for Maka. Is that such a big deal?"

Kid shakes his head, and Black Star teases, "Soul's in looove!"

I smacked Black Star upside the head. "A cool guy like me does not fall in love with a flat-chest like her."

"Then why are you getting her an ice cream? If she wants one, she should've played basketball with us! Or perhaps she's too scared to be beating by her god! Ha-ha-ha!" He earned a fist to his head.

"She said she had to finish her homework for Stein and study for a test." I reply nonchalantly.

I know that's not the only reason she stayed home, though.

For some reason, she's been all gloomy and distant-like whenever she's around me. I feel guilty, like this has to do with me or something, but I've not the slightest idea why it would. Lately, I've been looking at her differently, like my eyes were foggy before. I've started to notice small details, like the spatters of freckles dotted across her face, and her eyes are a shimmering shade of emerald. Her ash blonde hair in those twin pigtails look smooth like silk, and whenever she smiles, there's a hint of dimples near the corners of her mouth.

And her long legs are so fit—

What the hell am I thinking? Not cool dude... I shake my head.

...

...Okay, I'll admit it, I love her.

I always have.

Even though I constantly tease her about her fat ankles, flat chest, and her bookworm personality, I find her the most attractive girl I've seen in my life. She means the whole world to me, and I can't imagine a life without her... although I could go without the constant Maka-Chops. I chuckled quietly so the shinigami and the blue-haired monkey couldn't hear me.

While I was lost in thought, a sudden jab of pain emanated from my chest. I grabbed my chest tightly as I tried to regain my suddenly lost breath. I start to wonder what that sharp pain was when I envision a lonely soul in front of me. It's shivering, like its cold, bouncing around in small bursts, but when I look closer, those are sob shivers.

I recognize this soul... it's Maka's! Something's wrong.

I practically dismantled the seat that I was sitting in when I sharply stood up and bolted to the door.

Kid and Black Star looked at each other, and Kid asked, "What's wrong Soul? Something the matter?" I immediately sprinted out of the yogurt shop, Maka's ice cream in a tight grip, and leaped onto my motorcycle. Kid quickly paid for the ice cream, said thank you to the lady at the cash register, and then along with Black Star, bolted out of the shop. Kid shouted to me as I sped away, but all I could hear was Maka's soul, crying and shouting as though her heart was being ripped out from her chest. I prayed repeatedly inside my head, please be okay, Maka! Please, please, please…