A Short introduction before we begin. Please enjoy and tell me if you like it.

Soul Fights the Dragon's Madness

Introduction

Ami fidgeted as Maka stormed away from her and Soul. He sighed raggedly and turned to lean against the wall, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"She's been like this ever since," He finished his earlier thought aloud.

"Yes, well, you know how she is when you get hurt," Ami replied with her soft clear voice. Soul never had a problem hearing her gentle airy words or silent movement from one room to the next. She was like that most of the time; a wisp of air in every way, and yet her demeanor was one of a much more open personality, standing tall with her head high and her mint colored eyes bright, wide, and bold.

"But it's been forever ago…" Soul mumbled, not wanting to mention the time span knowing it had not been that long. His shoulder was still is desperate need of therapy before he could transform it again.

"Don't worry, once you two can practice again she will come back around," Ami said, stepping closer. "In the meantime…"

"Yeah, yeah…" Soul's mood had plummeted now. It did not help that Maka disapproved of his therapy sessions with Ami. Ami was one of the best massage therapists around – if not the only one – and she went to the same classes as Soul and Maka, making it easier for her to help when his arm acted up. She had even begun to help him with his homework while she was working on his shoulder.

This time, Soul and Ami stayed near the school, in the training woods since the day was very favorable.

"It will help the healing process," Ami had said cheerfully, fully aware that Soul could see through the frail excuse. Ami just adored being outside, and the training woods was the only slice of nature she had. Ami kicked off her slippers as Soul sad cross-legged on the ground.

She began gently by running her fingers around the injured shoulder, applying little pressure and following the nerve points. Slowly she moved to the points where Soul had mentioned there was still a good deal of tension, gradually working the muscles under the pressures of her hands. Soul sat with his eyes closed, moving his arm occasionally when Ami told him to. He grunted as Ami increased the pressure of the massage. It hurt, but he wanted to get further this time. She hit a nerve and he flinched. She noticed almost instantly and lightened up.

"I'm good, keep going," he insisted. His arm was tingling a bit so he worked his fingers, gripping a fist and releasing. She hesitated to push him too far, knowing the damage that she could cause.

"Let's move to stretches," she said, running her hand out to his. Honestly, those hurt the worst, and he voiced his pains, but that was the way it had to be. Ami worked his reactions into her motions, and slowly they increased the range. One movement too far could spell disaster for Soul's recovery, making every session a somber ordeal. She finally released and he sat for a moment, allowing the tingling to fade out of Soul's arm. Soul moved his fingers slowly as he waited. Ami returned to a gentle massage until the bell rang.

In class, Soul could barely concentrate on the lesson. The massage session had been a lot longer than usual, and he was feeling the stiffness already. Ami was watching him nervously, but he silently reassured her that it was not her doing. She did not believe him, but turned back to her notes anyway. Maka had not made eye contact with him all class period. When the bell rang, she instantly rose- books in hand- and walked out, giving Soul no chance at conversation.

"Maka!" Soul called to no avail then sighed, storming after her. He caught her in the hallway, turning her with a pull of his hand. "What is up with you!" he burst. She would not return his gaze, even when he bent to catch her eyes. "You've been acting like this for a really long time, and I'm starting to get pissed."

"Well how do you think I feel?" She finally returned loudly. He jolted back. "You throw yourself around like your immortal out there, but your not! You just think you are, Soul…" Her fire faded. "You have done it so many times, but…but this time you almost didn't come back…" Soul was a little taken back.

"But I did come back. Maka, look at me. I'm here, alive!"

"Barely! Look at yourself!" she threw her hand out to his shoulder, implying the terrible stitches underneath his shirt that complimented the older scars from the Medusa incident. "And here I am untouched…" A tear rolled down her cheek but she ignored it, her eyes remaining steely. "I just don't understand how you can be so okay with dying." Before Soul could reply, she had pulled away and disappeared down the stairs.

She had always felt that way. His life was just as important as hers was, but that was not the case. Miester was above the weapon, a fact in Soul's mind. Ami appeared behind him.

"How is she?" She whispered. He breathed.

"Looks like I'll be cooking again tonight…" He answered. She sighed for him.

"I hope she pulls through this… and are you sure I didn't hurt you before?" She touched his shoulder, switching to a subject with just as much grim importance.

"Oh, no you didn't, I just think I'm making some progress. Pain is good here, right?" He flashed a half-hearted, toothy grin.

"Yeah, well…" A smile flickered across her face, "just make sure you tell me when we need to take a break, or I might hurt your recovery time." He nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Alright."

The house was silent when Soul opened the door. Dark, and cooler than usual. He slipped off his shoes and peaked around the wall into the living room.

"Maka?" he called softly. The silence was a deafening buffer to his call. The air seemed moist. He had barely taken another step when the hot breath of a familiar soul fell on his neck. His heart jumped to his throat. Her long fingernails pressed on his chest, and her form, emerging from the darkness, pushing him against the wall. He gasped for breath as the shadows crept up to his neck. "M-M-Maka…" he tried. This had to be a dream, a vivid nightmare. It had to be!

"Ohh now, Scythe-kun…" Her velvet voice shot through him like a bolt of lightning. A witch. The Witch. She was here in his living room! The darkness choked him, and he grasped at it desperately as she began to speak, with her lips barely touching his throat and tracing up to his ear. "I want you, Scythe-kun," her breathy voice made his heart pound. Blood rushed to his ears. "I claimed you the minute I saw you! You are mine!" She hissed. He screamed as her hand punched into his chest, grasping for his very soul. He felt a crack deep within his body.

"Soul!" Maka's shout shook him. Her cold hands were on his sweaty face. His vision was blurry, but her face came into focus in a minute. He babbled disjointedly, his eyes darting desperately to find where he was. "Soul, Soul! What's wrong? What happened?" She was not mad anymore; her only emotions were fear and concern. The house came into his view. He was in the doorway, his shoes neatly by the entrance, but his book bag thrown across the floor. In fact, he was on the floor, leaning partially against the wall. So it was a vision…another touch of Maka's hand. "Snap out of it, please!"

"I…I-I'm alright," He finally put together, a little less confidently than he had hoped for.

"Let me get you some water," she replied, noting the rasp of his dry voice. He still felt weak, but tried to stand, making it to the couch coherently. "What happened, Soul?"

"I'm still not sure. I must have blacked out or something," He could not help but feel her apprehension in the air. The water felt good in his throat, but he could still feel her choking him…

"Well, maybe you should lie down. I'll make supper tonight." Soul couldn't notice her change in attitude; he was too concerned about Her. What did that vision mean? Surely Professor Stein had done away with her that night. That is was Black Star said happened, anyway. But she was still here, somehow still alive after the battle; finally turning up after all of this time. Soul put the glass on the table with a trembling hand.

Ami met Soul at the Nurse's office the next morning. Soul felt better by then, but still mentioned the event to the nurse.

"It is normal to have some residual post traumatic stress after a period of recovery." She said, "Didn't you have some dreams for a while about this witch?"

"Well, yeah, but nothing like this. It felt like she was right there." Ami trembled behind him, whimpering only enough for Soul to hear.

"Alright, we will keep an eye on that, but I'm going to assume it was due to you overworking your arm. Take it slow from now on, and these should help calm your nerves in the evenings, if you cannot get to sleep." She slipped some pills in a packet for him. He took his shirt from Ami when he stood, taking a good look at his scar in the mirror across the room. It looked like he had broken like pottery, splintering in a few long branches down across his newly healed collarbone, twisting grotesquely at the main point of impact the size of his hand. Even that night was extremely vivid in his mind still. After all of this time…