I've had the idea of a prequel to the Soul Eater/NOT! series for a while, so here it is! And I've had Marianas Trench on the brain recently, which explains the titles. Enjoy precious baby Soul!

He stares absentmindedly out the window as a voice on the radio drones on about the heatwave hitting Nevada. Knowing full well how different the weather would be compared to his home in Connecticut, he had come prepared with shorts and a tank top. He just wishes his legs didn't stick uncomfortably to the leather seats.

"Still going to give me the silent treatment?" Wes asks, eye fixated on the road. "You've barely spoken a word since we got off the plane. Don't tell me it's nerves getting to you." All remains silent for a moment, save for the sound of tires over the cobblestone streets. The older boy sighs. "They will miss you, you know. Even if they won't come out and say it."

Soul rests his head against the window, not caring that the unevenness of the road is making his forehead slam into the window every few seconds. "Sure have a funny way of showing it…"

"I may not know much about being a 'demon weapon', but I do know that weapons see a lot of action, usually very dangerous action. I'm sure it must be hard for them to say goodbye. I'm sure they think it could be-"

"I don't really want to talk about this anymore." The younger brother knows that he hasn't quite come to terms with his own mortality yet. Classes discussing how to stay alive on the battlefield are sure to come, but for now he doesn't want to think about such grim subjects. Even so, if his parents really did believe that it could be the last time they ever see him, why not say goodbye? Why not offer to come with him to Nevada and help him get adjusted to his new life?

Wes's voice pulls him from his thoughts. "You're very brave, you know."

"What? What's brave about running away?"

Eyes still on the road ahead, he smiles and says, "Not running away. Finding yourself." Soul doesn't have time to respond before they finally see the base of the enormous steps leading to his new home. Shibusen is a monster of a building, and while they had seen its spires for a while, seeing it up close and personal makes the younger boy feel like an ant in comparison. The rental car comes to a halt, and Wes pops the trunk open. "You're sure you don't want me to come with you?" he asks, climbing out of the vehicle to help Soul unload his bags. "It's no trouble at all! There's still time before orientation, right? Maybe we could take a look around?"

Backpack slung across his back and suitcase handle in hand, Soul shakes his head. "I'll be fine. Get going." His brother's eyebrows knit in worry, but he nods anyway and moves to get back into the driver's seat. Just before he closes the door, the younger calls out, "Wes!" The door stays open just a crack. "Th-thanks…" he offers meekly.

A thumbs-up appears out the door then retreats back into the vehicle. The engine once again springs to life, and Wes drives off. He glances up at the rearview mirror a few times until he has to make a turn and Soul disappears. A lump forms in his throat as he hopes that it isn't the last time he will see his little brother.

Finally alone, Soul stares up at the staircase to the academy, lowly whistling. "Couldn't make a ramp or anything, no, that'd be too easy…" he mumbles. His feet are glued to the ground and the butterflies in his stomach he'd been fighting the whole trip here have returned. It'd be so easy to just run. Nevada is a large state, and Wes had been kind enough to leave him with a decent amount of cash. He can find the next bus or train or anything and just… disappear. But his brother's words linger in his mind. "Finding myself, huh?"

Wes was right, there is plenty of time to explore before heading off to orientation and officially starting his life as a weapon at Shibusen. But the task of climbing the stairs to the school is just too daunting. He needs time to mentally prepare for the literal and metaphorical trek, so he opts to take a look around the city first. Hopefully he doesn't look too much like a sucker tourist, lugging around a suitcase behind him.

Death City is a bit more lively than he had anticipated. There's the usual sound of cars going by, sirens going off, people talking, much more noise than the name had led on. He starts to question why the city is named the way it is when he starts noticing the differences between here and New Haven. Most of the shops look like they haven't had time to take down their Halloween decorations, and even those without the odd decor have dark punny names like Deathbucks. As he walks by a park, he overhears a group of children playing a game of Ghost in the Graveyard. "Midnight, starlight, hope to see a ghost tonight!" one of them shrieks before running straight for the tunnel slide to find their friends. Every place has its quirks, he supposes.

"Hey you! Kid!" Soul turns his attention to an old woman behind a stand he had happened to stop at while watching the children play. "Gonna stay there like a lump or do ya plan to buy somethin'?" she asks, hand on her hips. He manages to stammer out an apology, hands raised in defense. "Well, if you don't plan on buyin' then I suggest movin' on. You're blocking business here!"

He glances around him and considers making a comment about the lack of business, but his mother raised him better than to mouth off to an old woman. Instead, he tries to fake interest in her wares, mostly just jewelry and other accessories, until he comes across an obnoxiously bright yellow, paisley headband. His hand reaches hesitantly for it, and the woman catches the movement.

"Caught your eye, did it? Well, go on, try it on! See how you like it!" She moves to fetch a small hand mirror as he gingerly places it on his head. He's fixing his messy hair around the bit of fabric when the woman gasps, startling him. "You remind me of a young man I met once! Cool as a cucumber and smooth like chocolate. Usually had a whole gaggle of girls following him, myself included!" she cackles, shaking the mirror in her hands as she holds it out for him to see.

At first he cringes while he waits for her to stabilize the mirror long enough for him to see his reflection. He doesn't want old women flirting with him. But as he looks in the mirror, he sees the transformation she's talking about. From the anxious, lonesome kid from the east coast to the cool, badass weapon from the desert. He had been hoping that Shibusen would be his new start, so maybe this is that first step. The thought that his mother would be completely disgusted by the headband crosses his mind briefly.

"I'll take it."