Maka Albarn. The name struck up a chord of memories, like her cooking, the first time they met, all the fights they had cooperated in, even all the fights. They left traces of faint anger, pride, but all these were underlying one single feeling, a feeling of warmth.

Soul pulled on his jacket. He sighed heavily and sat down on the bed. "Soul! Hurry up or else we're going to be late!" he heard Maka shout, he also heard the sounds of eggs being cooked.

"Alright, alright. I'm coming." he huffed, as he strode over to the door and walked out and into the kitchen. His first thought was of how cute Maka looked in her apron, although he had never given it much thought until now.

Soul clapped his hands together and said, "Thank you for the good meal."

Blair had hoisted herself up onto the chair near Soul's, she let out a meow for attention to be brought to her. Maybe I could play a trick on him today, she thought to herself.

Although she never did. Maka took off her apron and sat down to eat her meal.

"So, Professor Stein is giving us the test over the Soul Perception material today, did you study?"

"Cool guys like me don't have to worry about stuff like that.

We've got better things to do with our time."

"Well, when you fail that test, don't blame me. You should really study for these things, Soul." she doted on him like that of a mother, it was irritated to Soul, yet he was grateful for her for keeping him in line. She really was the coolest partner.

DWMA loomed over them as they climbed up the steps for another day of school. However, this was the last day of the week, although they planned to complete another job. A killer, by no nickname given by the humans, had begun a mass murder of six people in various alleys, mainly prostitutes and the homeless. That was what was reported in the local newspaper of a small town. This was given in the details of the posted job, deductive reasoning concluded that only more could have died.

Tsubaki leaned forward to tap Soul on the shoulder. "So, have you told her?" she asked in a very gentle whisper.

Soul made a small 'humph' and looked over his shoulder at her. "

No." he said, hoping Maka wouldn't notice and try to scold them on the account of talking during class. However she seemed to be focusing heavily on the lecture.

Tsubaki knew about his feelings for his meister. He had gone over to speak to BlackStar. However, after sharing a drink with Tsubaki, he opened up to her. She was a good listener. He didn't quite understand how she was able to stand her rowdy partner, but after talking to her, he did. Maka may have the school smarts, but he had the street smarts.

All Soul could think about was how emotional he had gotten and how vulnerable he had felt, it wasn't cool at all, he noted. And he remembered how the ice cubes tinkled and clinked together against each other as he lifted the rim of the glass to his lips. "I haven't told anyone this." he stopped, trying to find some way to string all the words together. "I think I'm in love with Maka. But, I've never been so anxious to tell her something."

Soul immediately thought of his small fantasy of when he was lying his head on her lap, while she read a book, and while he watched the TV. It was one of those simple moments that other couples shared.

He loved her so much, that it hurt. And his duty as a weapon made it so that no matter what, he would always protect his meister. However, he wasn't one to voice those feelings outloud. At least, why he was so urgent to protect her.

"Alright class, I hope you've studied. We're going to take the test over everything on Soul Perception." Stein announced as he handed a stack of papers to the first row.

When the tests reached their row, Maka took a test and handed the pile to Soul. He took one and began to peruse the questions and answer the few he actually knew the answer, or could make a good guess. He wished he had studied (not that he'd ever admit that to Maka) but he knew that he would never put in the effort for it.

Marie was waiting at the doorway at the end of the class. Stein rolled himself over to her and they began chatting to themselves. She smiled and laughed at something Stein had said. Everyone knew they had been dating for a while now.

"It really was a matter of time before they got together." Kidd said as all seven of them walked past the teachets.

"They're so in love, it's very cute." Tsubaki said.

"I don't think that Professor Stein has the same habits as Papa does." Maka replied. She did think that about Stein. "Ms. Marie is so nice, she does deserve to be in love."

"Falling in love does sound good, but I don't think we have the time for it." Kidd said to no one in particular. "I think it's a waste of time."

"It's not!" Soul snapped suddenly.

"Woah, calm down there Soul." BlackStar warned.

"What's gotten into him?" Elizabeth whispered to Patti, who was cheerfully deep in thought about other things.

"Well, that's my opinion, Soul. I'm sure we'd all be happy to hear yours if you spoke about it without getting snippy." Kidd said calmly.

Soul stayed silent, but he clicked his tongue. "Well maybe you should just keep your opinion to yourself."

"Soul! Just because you don't agree doesn't mean you should berate Kidd." Maka scolded.

"I don't expect you to get it, Maka." Soul huffed, rather frustrated with all of them. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked another way.

Soul needed times by himself to calm down. He didn't even know why he took so much offense. This isn't cool at all, he said to him. So why am I making so much of a big deal out of this?

Soul arrived home late at night. "Soul! Why'd you take off this aftenoon? You had me all worried."

"Cut it out, Maka. A man's gotta take some time to himself sometimes."

"But Soul-"

"But nothing, Maka."

"Why are you being this way? You've been acting different ever since you came home from BlackStar's last week. I'm your partner, you shouldn't keep things from me."

"Maka, I'm going to bed."

"No, we're going to talk about this."

"I don't want to talk about this."

"Then why did you take so much offense at what Kidd said?"

"Maka."

"Why are you so stressed out all of sudden?"

"Maka."

"I want to know Soul, because I'm very worried about you."

Then something in Soul snapped, and he threw caution to the wind. "Because I'm in love with you! And to be told that it's useless and means nothing hurts!" he shouted.

"Soul." Maka said softly as she sat down on the couch.

Soul sat down next to her, and there were what felt like hours of silence, when really it was just seconds.

Maka tentatively put her hand on his. Their fingers interlaced and interwove and her palm felt like a butterfly in his. She placed her head on his shoulder. "It's not useless or meaningless. You shouldn't listen to things like that. Because I love you too, Soul."