It puzzled everyone. Never once did she break down. She didn't even hide that smile of hers. It was amazing really, and maybe a bit heartless. It even worried Black*Star because, even though he would never admit, he'd even cried when he was alone.
Maka would wake up smiling and even play with Blair a bit with her various kitty toys. She'd make breakfast all well humming the happiest song that came to her mind.
But it hurt. She cursed herself, condemned herself, even to the point of hating herself for agreeing to that damned promise. But she fulfilled it. And she would keep that fucking promise down to the end.
Because even though she was smiling, she wanted to just die because never in her life had she believed more in heaven then she did now. Never before had she prayed so much. Never before had she had to hide this much.
He could see it. If he could, he'd take that promise back. But he couldn't. That was it. He knew her so well that he knew it was killing her quietly. So, instead of trying to make the impossible happen, he stayed by her side.
He'd stayed by her side when she got so mad she punched a hole clean through the wall. He'd stayed by her side when she wanted to give in but, instead, just started laughing like a complete psychopath. He was there when she was so sad all she could was lay down and curl up in a ball.
But she never broke her promise.
The only way she was able to keep going on this way was to tell herself he was ok. He was just gone on some death scythe mission. He was at Stars place. He was anywhere but where he was now. And oh god did it hurt when one of her friends told her it was ok to let it out. She'd just have to laugh it off and tell them how absurd that was, even though it wasn't at all.
Then came the task of visiting him. Her friends wanted to take her to go see him but she just brushed them off.
"I've already gone to see him" was her biggest lie. The truth was that she actually hadn't seen him since the funeral. She couldn't, she wasn't strong enough yet.
Then one day, Blair said something that gave her courage.
"I bet he misses you just like you miss him." Was what the cat said. "You should go visit him.. for him."
The thought of Soul actually still being able to miss her gave her new strength, and so she did. She headed over to the cemetery, marched right up to his grave and gave him a piece of her mind.
"You listen here Soul, why'd you have to go and do that?! I never needed you to block any fucking attacks and now look what you've done!"
Maka was yelling at this point and the other visitors to the graveyard were clearly puzzled, but she didn't care.
"I miss the stupidest shit cause of you! I miss your arrogance and that damned smirk of yours. I miss being able to Maka-Chop you! You know, I tried Maka-Chopping Black*Star and all he said was 'I understand'. Can you believe that?! I even fucking miss you calling me tiny tits!"
Before continuing her rant, she sat down cross legged in front of the marble stone, but now she remained quiet. Minutes past and all there was was silence.
"I've kept my promise, Soul." She finally breathed out. "You told me not to cry over you and I haven't cried once."
Maka leaned forward and laid her forehead against the cold stone.
"When I see you again you're gonna owe me for this one."