Hello, Tanima here. Hope you enjoy my AU as much as I do. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Soul Eater or any of the characters. All rights to their respective owners.

The DWMA stood high on a hill over looking the town. The building was huge and imposing. There were two enormous skulls carved into the wall on either side of the main gate while massive spikes towered into the sky from atop the wall. By all rights is should have been creepy and down right scary to any passer-by, but the people of the town had grown accustomed to it and the members of the DWMA found it comforting.

The DWMA was a huge criminal organization and this was their head quarters. Surprisingly, crime and random violence had plummeted in the area. Although major players in the criminal scene, they didn't like harming innocent civilians and even tried to protect them when possible. Nobody knew what DWMA stood for exactly, though there were rumours. Death, Weapons & Mayhem Academy. Detestable Wrestling Madmen Academy. Delicious Waffle Makers Academy. Some were more likely than others, but there was only one thing that all the names had in common. The A stood for academy. So that is simply what the gang was referred to as.

The members of the Academy were an eclectic group of strange individuals. The bottom of the barrel that society had left behind. But they were a family whose bonds were stronger than societies standards.

The man in charge of the Academy was almost as mysterious as the gang itself. Not much was known about him, but his street name was Lord Death. The few average citizens who claimed to have seen him said he was a huge, imposing man clad all in black with a face that looked like a skull. Depending on the citizen telling the story, his face was either tattooed like a skull, or he was just wearing a mask. Either way, he commanded respect.

His right hand man had joined the gang when he was a teen and had risen through the ranks. His title as second in command was Death's Scythe, but his name was Spirit. He was often viewed as a fool, even childish, but if a situation arose, he handled it swiftly and deftly.

There were many children and teens who, through one way or another, had joined the Academy. Because the children could not afford to go to school, the Academy had decided to teach them itself. They taught them everything they would need to know about being on the streets and life in a gang. From pick-pocketing, to knife fights and hand-to-hand combat in addition to the more traditional book smarts.

There were two men who were responsible for the children's education. They were both powerful members in the hierarchy, but were semi-retired from the working the streets.

The 'teacher' that specialized in any type of combat was an ex-military veteran. He had ended up on the streets after his minimal pension couldn't cover his medical bills. He had lost the lower half of his left leg in a road-side bomb, and now had a high end prosthetic. He was a well built man who was covered head to foot in scars and tattoos. His guilt ridden conscience was eased with every child he helped prepare for the world.

The 'teacher' that specialized in academics used to be an actual professor at a university; but lost his job when it was discovered that he was a drug addict. Although he was clean now, he was still a bit strange and chain smoked like no other. He was a bit obsessed with dissecting things, but he was very knowledgeable and was fair with the kids. He stood quite tall with a shock of grey hair and hard, square eyes behind big round glasses. There was a large scar that marred his face, starting at he bridge of his nose and running across his left cheek to end under his ear.

There were two young teenagers in the yard in front of the imposing DWMA building. They couldn't have been more than 14. A girl with sandy blonde pigtails and army boots stood with a hand on her hip glaring at a boy with bright blue spiky hair. The boy, wearing a black tank top and baggy pants, stood atop a small wall. He stood triumphantly with both hands on his hips. "Why does such a great guy like me have to be paired with such a nobody like you? Can't they see what a star I am? I'm so great I don't even need a partner!" he practically bellowed to the empty courtyard. The girl picked up a stone laying by her feet and threw it at the obnoxious teens head. It flew straight and true but he easily dodged it at the last moment.

"We need partners because we are still in training." screamed the girl furiously. "It's not like I like this arrangement either, jack-ass. If there were anybody else I would pair up in a heart beat." The girl turned on a heel and almost marched straight into a quiet girl standing by the edge of the wall. The second girl was tall and slender with long dark hair that hung loose over one shoulder. She appeared to almost be hiding behind her arms which were placed in front of her, but the placement only accentuated her well endowed bosom.

"Oh, sorry" The tall girls voice was high and girlish, yet some how mature sounding.

The first girl just stood there slightly baffled before recovering and taking a step back.

"No, no that's my fault. Sorry for almost running you over. Can I hel-" She was interrupted by the boy jumping almost between them.

"I'm Black*Star! I bet you are impressed to meet such a star like me so suddenly."

"Black*Star! Watch it! Quit being such a prick." raged the sandy blond girl.

"Oh, and this is Maka." Black*Star waved his hand, indicating the furious girl.

"I'm Tsubaki. I was hoping that I could talk to someone about joining the Academy?" her soft voice was some-what apprehensive. Maka stepped forward with her hand out stretched. " It's a pleasure to meet you. I can introduce you to our leader, Lord Death" They shook hands and Maka lead the way into the building.

There were three more teens in the entrance hall. A tall, well dressed boy with dark hair with three white stripes, and two girls in red crop tops, jeans and blue and white cowboy hats stood together. The younger of the girls was wearing shorts, while the older had full length pants on. The boy was going on about something while the older girl inspected her nails and the younger played with a bug on the ground.

"Hey Kid, Liz and Patty. Kid, have you seen your dad around? Tsubaki here wants to join." Maka asked the dark haired boy. Kid could not answer though. He was staring at Tsubaki, his eye twitching in agitation. "No, no no! It's all wrong." Kid wailed. "Hair on her right shoulder but not on her left! It's disgusting. It's asymmetrical. It should be tied back into one pony tail at the dead centre."

"Oh boy," sighed Liz, the older sister, "here we go again."

Patty, crouched on the ground, just laughed and started clapping "Kid's going crazy." she sang to herself.

Maka and Black*Star, used to this kind of thing, were totally non-phased. Tsubaki however look truly terrified.

"Don't worry Tusbaki. It will be over before too long." assured Maka. "As soon as your hair is "good" he will leave you alone. Why do you think my hair is in twin tails? I grew up with this kid. He's really a good guy underneath all the crazy."

While Maka was talking, Kid had pulled out a comb and hair tie and was gently combing back Tsubaki's hair into a high pony tail making sure to capture each hair. He left a little around her face to frame her features.

When he was done he took a step back and inspected his work – his long slender fingers holding his chin. "Perfection." he said at last. " the beauty of symmetry."

Tsubaki looked quite relieved, the whole process a lot less painful than she imagined.

"So Kid," Maka started again, "Have you seen your dad around?" Kid's father was the leader of the gang, Lord Death himself.

"Yeah, there was another kid who came in earlier this afternoon. He should be in his office."

"Thanks."

Maka lead Black*Star and Tsubaki further into the large building. Black*Star and Maka had grown up here, so they were unimpressed with everything they passed, but Tsubaki was looking around with wonder and peeking though all the open doors they walked by. After a minute, they came to a large door with skulls on it; it was Lord Deaths office. Maka knocked and opened the door. She thought she could hear a faint sound from across the hall that piqued her interest – it sounded like music. She looked to Black*Star.

"Hey, you introduce her, I'll just be a minute."

"Yeah whatever Maka. Such a big guy like me doesn't even need you here, I'll take care of everything." he said as he passed her.

"Jerk" she mumbled under her breath.

She walked across the hall and into the lounge room that Lord Death used for entertaining large groups. The spacious room was empty except for some table and chairs thoughtfully scattered about. The music was definitely louder here. Someone was playing a piano- quite skilfully too. She crossed the room to a door that lead to a smaller, more private room. She slowly and carefully opened the door. Across the room, facing away from her, was a boy playing the grand piano. She studied him carefully. His long fingers gracefully swept across the keys as he played, his posture was not slouched, but also not quite upright. His snowy white hair was long and shaggy. He wore jeans and a two-tone baseball hoodie, a leather jacket sat on the bench beside him. He oozed "cool". She felt her heart ache – she needed him in her life. She didn't know what made her think that ludicrous thing – he was a guy! - but it felt like her soul was reaching out to him. Almost on cue, he stopped playing and turned to face her. His bright red eyes seemed to stare right through her. She crossed the room to stand in front of him, hand out-stretched.

"Hi. I'm Maka. Do you want to be my new partner?"

"Hi Maka." His voice was deep and husky for a young teen. He couldn't have been much older than herself. "I'm Soul. Don't you want to know something about me before asking that?" his head was cocked as if trying, unsuccessfully, to size her up.

"I already know everything I need to from hearing you play."

Well, that is chapter 1. Hope you enjoyed it. I don't know when I'll be able to update, but please stick with it. I promise I will continue.
If you do like it, please follow or review. Everything is welcome.
Until next time~Tanima