Soul and Maka have always looked out for each other. But when Maka is seriously injured protecting Soul and it falls to him to take care of her as she's recovering, they'll both have to admit their feelings to each Other.

"We need to resonate. Now! "

Maka looked up at Soul. His blade was dripping blood. "No, we can't. You'll never survive it."

One of the Mantis's blades came twards her, but instead of countering, Maka ducked away. She was afraid of what would happen if she used Soul to block again.

"I'll be fine. Come on, we need to hurry!"

knowing she had no other choice,Maka gave in. "fine."

"Soul resonance, let's go!"

Mantis was faster than she'd realized. It slashed at her bebefore she could do Witch Hunter, breaking her cconcentration. She barely avoided the attack. And another slash was comcoming. She knew it wouldn't miss this time.

"Maka, use me to block!"

"No." She threw Soul away from her, her body taking the slice of the Mantis's blades. The llast time she had to refused to let him block he had transformed in front of her so that he would be hit. She wouldn't let that happen again.

Soul transformed midair, lunging for Maka. But it was too late, she had already been hit. He transformed his arm into a blade and blocked Mantis frifrom finishing her off.

Blocking hurt like hell, but he wasn't going to let Mantis hurt Maka again. He attacked again and again, but it wasn't strong enough. He wasn't strong enough with out a Meister. He could feelhfeel himself weakening, and he knew he couldn't last much longer.

"If you let me help, you can defeat the Mantis. We both know she'll die if you dont get help for her soon."

Soul grimaced. That damn devil. "No, last time you nearly took over."

"I guess you don't care about her so much, then. Oh,well, I guess she'll die."

He knew the demon was right. "Fine."

The demon grew, filling him with black blood. Soul's power and speed increased immesely, and he gaind the upper hand in his battle with Mantis.

After several more attacks, he was ablrable to destroy Mantis. He left His corrupted soul were it was and ran up to Maka. She was more important.

He gathered her in his arms, trying his best to staunch the blood flowing from her. He could barly feel her heart beat.

"Maka, wake up! Please." He shook her. "Maka!"

The Black Blood was consuming him faster now,but he didn't have the will to push it back. He was too focused on Maka. He couldn't feel her heartbeat anymore, and she wasn't responding.

"Maka, please."

His soul was swallowed by the Black Blood. "Maka..."

Soul felt himself being surrounded by darkness until everything was black. The Black Blood's madness was engulfing his soul, but he wasn't fighting it. Maka was gone. He had fainfailed! He didn't have the strength or will to escape.

"Soul..."

He looked up. The voice was weak, but he could hear it. "Maka?"

"Soul..."

He saw a faint light in the distance, and began to struggle With the blood. He had to get to Maka. He tore free of the grilgrip hholding him there and rose up to meet the light.

Maka was there, above the darkness, her soul flickering faintly. She reached out to him, and he grasped her hand. She pulled him up slowly, collapsing into him as he emerged. She had managed to save hohim, but her zoul was faiding faster now, loslosing it's light.

Free of the Black Blood, Soul pulled off his jacket, wrapping it tightly around her. The blood wasn't coming as fast now, but her wound still needed to be bound. He checked for a palse, and found it, realief flooding through him. He reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out her mirror.

"42-42-564"

loRd Death appered in the mirror. "Hey soul, how you doin?"

"Not needs help. Fast. I dont know how much longer she'll last."

He pointed the mirror towards Maka.

"That looks serious. I'll send Professor Stein immed iately."

"Okay, I'll head towards the academy so that he won't travel as far. She needs attention as soon as possible."

"Good thinking, Soul, I'll see you two later. Good luck!"

Lord Deaths image faded from the mirror, and Soul put it back in Maka's coat.

"Professor Stain is on his way hang in there, okay?"

He pulled Maka onto his back and started to walk as fast as he could towards the academy. He wasn't going to let Maka die now.