"Tch," he plopped his nose to the ground, "where can a guy find a decent meal?" he muttered to himself, still tasting the gamey saltiness of the rabbit soul he had just devoured. He couldn't pick up a single scent.

Standing on his hind legs, he walked to a tree, catching the scent of a girl. He sniffed again. She smelled like pastries. Strawberry pastries. He started to salivate, following his nose to the girl on the forest path.

"Hello," he said in his gravelly voice, looking from the small girl's face to the basket she carried.

"Hello," she greeted, blinking her green eyes at him. She wore a single red cape and a small green dress. The hood of said cape covered most of her head, but as she looked up, the hood fell, revealing dirty blonde hair. Her hair was pulled into two ponytails, one on each side of her head. It was so long that the tips laid on her shoulders, "what's your name?"

"Soul Eater Evans," he answered, finally succumbing the animal part of him, dropping to all fours, sitting on his butt, "you?"

"Maka Albarn," she smiled happily at him. Soul's tail wagged a bit, his stomach growling so loud, he would be surprised if Maka hadn't heard it, "so what are you doing out here?"

"I live here, I am a wolf after all," he shrugged his shoulders.

"You look more human than wolf," she leaned down scrutinizing his features. He was pretty sure she witnessed the ears and tail, his hands were human except for his long claws. But his eyes were red, with slits for pupils. He blinked up at her, how to answer to that? He stood up again on all fours, "you look hungry, want a strawberry crumpet?"

"I dont eat human food," Soul looked up to Maka.

"What do you eat?" Maka asked incredulous, backing up a little.

"Don't worry, I don't eat humans either. I eat souls," he explained, sniffing around again. Before Maka could comment, she got a call. With Soul watching, she flipped open her phone, and a hologram popped out, showing a man in a mask and a black robe.

"Maka, darling, I need those pastries, hurry up and bring them to me," the man said in an annoying voice.

"Sorry Lord Death, I'll be there soon," Maka reported. Before the man disappeared he got a glance of Soul.

"Maka, who's your friend?" he asked, amusement thrown into his already annoying voice.

"Lord Death, this is Soul," Maka said, "he's a wolf that eats-"

"Souls," Death breathed, "Maka," Death snapped back around. Instantly he saw that her spine straightened ever so slightly.

"Yes, Lord Death?" she inquired, waiting intently for her orders.

"Bring him to the city, he is going to be your new partner," Death said, obviously happy with himself. Maka looked as though she had stopped breathing.

"As you wish, Lord Death," she nodded her head as the transmission was cut.

"What if I don't want to come," he challenged still sniffing for lunch.

"There's souls in the city," Maka offered, shrugging and starting off down the forest trail. His mouth started to salivate.

"Deal," he hurried the word out, running on his hind legs to catch up with his 'partner.'

"So, what do souls taste like?" Maka asked, looking up to him.

"Depends on the souls," he shrugged, "rabbits are gamey and salty, real wolves taste like blood, bears taste like fish, pigs taste like...pig," Soul stopped, thinking, what else had he eaten.

"What about humans?" Maka inquired quietly.

"Never had one," he stared calmly down at her small frame. He visibly saw her relax, "so this city, what is it called?"

"Death City," she smiled at him. He recoiled away from her.

"Death City," he breathed, gluing his gaze to the path. He shoved his hands in his pockets-yes he's wearing clothing- and followed Maka to what he thought was his sudden death.

"Soul," Maka called him back to reality, ultimately causing him to stop fantasizing about his death.

"Uh-yes?" he shifted his gaze from the ground to the girl.

"Are you okay?" she stopped right in front of him, "you look pale," she raised her hand to his forehead, she mused, "you don't feel hot."

He tore his head from her fingers, muttering "I'm fine," he perked his ears up, hearing something in the distance. A grumbling, pounding steps. A low growl emanated in his chest.

"Soul?" Maka touched his arm.

He barely got the words out before he took off into the forest, "stay on the path!"

Expertly he dodged the trees, following his nose and his ears. He knew it. A bear, headed straight for the path.

"Stop," he cut off the bear's trail. It growled at him, Soul returned it, baring his teeth. The bear wasn't backing down. He knew it smelled Maka, but he couldn't let the girl get hurt.

His fingers curled and he felt his claws grow. He crouched ready to pounce. The bear made the first move, advancing on him. Soul waited until it was close enough then he yelled, "Soul Collector!"

He took one swipe at the bear, killing it instantly. But the carcass didn't just lay there, it started to disintegrate. In it's place, there's a bright yellow orb. He had to move fast. Quickly, he ran over to the orb, grabbed it in his hand and swallowed it.

"Ah," he breathed, licking his lips. Fishy, yum. He meandered back to the path, Maka still waited for him, "sorry."

"What was that?" she asked, her voice wavering in fear.

"It was a bear," Soul reported. Maka gasped.

"Are you okay?" she fretted, looking at the bare skin of his arms and face.

"Yeah, I even had my lunch," he smiled triumphantly.

"Darn, and I missed it!" Maka seemed truly upset.

"I didn't know you wanted to watch me eat," Soul said, standing comfortably in front of Maka. She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him, "sorry!"

"Thank you," she nodded, making on her way. Soul was confused. He had yet to figure this girl out.

"How long to the city?" he questioned at her side.

"Not long," she answered. He sniffed the air, watching out for danger, "Soul, where are your parents?"

"My mother was taken by scientists and my father was killed by hunters," he said softly.

"I'm sorry," Maka whispered. He looked at her.

"Don't worry, they never really took care of me anyway," he shrugged, catching a scent of something he never smelled before, "what's that?"

"What's what?" Maka blinked at him. Before he could explain it, something crashed through the forest, stopping and growling before them. Maka sighed.

"Black Star! Why are you doing this again?" she yelled into the forest where another presence was approaching. Soul took a defensive stance against the creature.

"Because I'm freaking awesome!" the boy exclaimed, his hair as bright blue as his eyes. While the creature was distracted, the boy sliced off its head with a scythe connected to a chain and another scythe.

The carcass did the same as the bear, it started to disintegrate, leaving a bright red soul in it's place. It looked tasty.

"Tsubaki, you want the soul?" Black Star looked to his scythe.

"No," it answered him in a feminine voice. Black Star started to walk toward them. Maka turned to Soul.

"Hurry and eat it Soul," she pointed to the lone soul. Rapidly, he sprinted to the soul, eating it. Cherries? It tasted like cherries? He felt power surge through him.

"What was that?" he asked.

"Kishin," Maka smiled.

"Kishin? What's a kishin?" Soul questioned as the Black Star kid meandered over to them.

"It's a weapon that surged off the path of humanity. They eat human souls, making them evil and their souls worth collecting," Maka explained, gripping the basket tighter.

"I've never even seen a human soul before. Maka since I'm your new partner I want to be sure you understand that I would never do that," Soul looked back and forth between her eyes. Maka smiled up at him.

"I believe you," she relaxed in front of him. Soul smiled, happy to hear.

"Maka," the Black Star kid stood in front of Soul. He was easily a head shorter than Soul, "who is this guy?"

"Black Star this is Soul," Maka introduced, "he's a wolf that eats souls, I guess he's a weapon. Lord Death wanted me to bring him here."

"Soul," he scrutinized Soul's face. A woman came up from behind Black Star. Her hair was black, thrown into a ponytail, her eyes black as well. But she was sort of like him. She had bunny ears and a bunny tail.

"Hello," he greeted the both of them.

"Hello, Soul," the woman smiled, "my name is Tsubaki."

"Nice to meet you," he nodded his head.

"And I'm Black Star!" the kid laughed. He sounded as if he hasn't hit puberty yet, but he was as jacked as any twenty year old underwear model.

"Pleasure," Soul nodded again as another voice cut in.

"MAKAAAAAA!" a male voice yelled from ahead of them. Maka face palmed. Out of no where a man crashed through the trees, "Makaaaa!"

Maka sighed, her back stayed turned to the man. She gave Soul a Look. He smirked at her, realizing who this man was.

"Maka! I love you I promise! Daddy loves you!" he exclaimed, hugging her from behind. This was the product of an over abundant father who felt his daughter didn't love him. He was openly crying.

"Get off of me, Dad," she pushed him to his butt. But he had stopped crying. He was staring at Soul.

"Who the hell are you?" he demanded, scurrying to his feet. He was the same height as Soul, staring levelly in his eyes.

"My name is Soul Eater Evans," he answered coolly.

"What are you doing with my little Maka?" he demanded. Soul's ears flattened, his tail swished involuntarily.

"Dad, he's my new partner," Maka shoved her way in between them.

"Partner my ass! You make a move on her, I'll freaking kill you," he growled over Maka's head. Soul had to bite his tongue.

"Dad, go home!" Maka pushed him further away. The man left, glaring at Soul until he disappeared.

"So, he's your dad?" Soul followed Maka out of the forest.

"Yeah, he's a death scythe," she rolled her eyes, "his name is Spirit."

"Ah," he nodded, peering at the city before him, "and this is Death City?"

"It is," she said softly, nodding her head once.

"Hm, I think I'm too cool for this," he started to turn when Maka yelled.

"The hell?!" she screamed, "you jerk! Lord Death wants you!"

He sighed, realizing, cool guys don't walk out on women. Turning around, he caught Maka with tears in her eyes.

"Are you crying?" he snickered, bending to her level.

"Shut up," she pouted, swiping at her eyes, "I was remembering the promise you made me," she glared holes through the ground. That's right - "I've never even seen a human soul before. Maka since I'm your new partner I want to be sure you understand that I would never do that."

The promise he had made her completely slipped his mind. He rubbed the back of his head, "sorry."

"Yeah, just follow me, we have to get these pastries and you to Lord Death," she muttered, picking her way through the crowd, up a few streets, then up the steps to a place called Death Weapon Meister Academy or DWMA as Maka had called it.

A knot formed in his stomach, was he nervous? He was too cool to be nervous, "Lord Death, this is Soul."

Maka had waltzed into the room like she owned it. Her father was there, pouting in a corner, "Soul! It's a pleasure!"

"Uhm, pleasure to meet you too, sir," he said softly.

"So you eat souls?" he inquired, placing his giant hands together.

"Yes," he met eyes with the man's mask.

"He consumed his first kishin soul today," Maka jumped in.

"Did he?" Death turned his head to Maka then back to Soul. He nodded.

"Fantastic! That means we can start the transformation now!" Death clapped his hands together. Soul had to refrain from flinching at the sound.

"Transformation?" Soul questioned.

"Yes, you are a weapon, which means you can transform into some sort of weapon then transform back into human," Death explained. Soul nodded.

"So how do I do this?" Soul raised his hands, shrugging.

"Take ahold of Maka's hand. Her soul will awaken the weapon within you," they did as they were told, linking hands. Instantly he felt the thrum of Maka's soul. With his next heartbeat, he felt power surge through him.

"What was that?" he asked, looking at a shocked Maka beside him, "what?"

"You're a scythe," whispered Maka. He looked down at himself. He was naked but he didn't look like a scythe.

"I don't look like a scythe," he took a second look, making sure he wasn't imagining anything.

"You won't be able to see yourself as a scythe, Soul, not unless you transform halfway," Death said, before he could ask another question Death demands, "Maka lay him on the floor."

He heard the faint clang of metal on a hard floor. He was staring up at Maka, she smiled down at him, "what?"

"You're human again," she giggled, pulling gently on his ears.

"Wh-hey!" he swatted her hand away. Maka backed away, still smiling, "so is that what I'm going to have to do? Hold her hand then I'll be a weapon?" he directed his question at Death.

"No, now that your power is awakened, you no longer need Maka's soul to help. Although you will only transform halfway. Reasons? If you turn into a weapon without her, you won't be able to move or defend," Death shrugged. He understood now, what he was. What his parents were.

"My mother was taken by scientists. She looks exactly like me, is she here?" Soul asked, hopeful.

"We don't experiment on your kind, I'm sorry Soul, she's not here," Death said sympathetically.

"It was a long shot anyways," he lowered his ears, "she was taken when I was three."

"I'm sorry, Soul," Maka touched him on the shoulder. He nodded, standing up.

"I'm too cool for tears, so I won't be crying anytime soon," he smirked at Maka. She smiled back at him.

"Lord Death, here are your pastries. I hope they're suited to your liking," she handed over the basket.

"Yes, they look deli-"

"Father," another boy walked into the very large room. The Death Room, Maka had called it.

"Yes, Kid?" he popped a pastry under his mask.

"Father could you give me a mission? Patty, Liz and I are bor-" he cut himself off, staring at the pastry Death was holding. He forced out, "father, how can you eat something that's asymmetrical?"

"Because it is good? Son I think you need to get checked out first," he turned to Soul, whispering, "watch this. Kid?" He stopped the boy halfway down the hallway.

"Yes, father?" Kid ground out, turning back to Death.

"Seven more pastries left, want one," he offered the basket to his son. The boy looked torn. He twitched a little, glaring at his father.

"No," he looked as though he had just eaten something extremely sour, "if you had eight, I would have. Eight is symmetrical."

Soul was confused. This boy was weird. Death snickered, eating another pastry. The boy stomped out of the room, Maka ran after him.

"I think that's your cue, Soul," Death shooed him out of the room. He ran after Maka, she had stopped just around the corner. He could smell her.

"Maka?" he inquired, stopping around the corner where she stood in front of Kid. There were two girls behind him. They were both foxes. And not the hot kind either, they were literally foxes. They had the ears and the tails.

"Kid, he was just messing with you," she said silently. He nodded.

"Yeah, he's always messing with me," he sighed, his golden eyes turning to the ground. For being OCD about symmetry, you would think he would've tried to get rid of those lines in his hair, "so who're you?"

"I'm Soul," his ears were pinned to his head. His tail down.

"I'm Death the Kid, but everyone calls me Kid. This is Liz," he pointed to the taller one, "and Patty," to the smaller one, "they are my weapons."

He nodded to the girls, then shifting his gaze to Kid. Maka touched him on the shoulder. Soul perked his ears up at the buzzing sound in Maka's pocket.

"Maka, I think you're vibrating," he pointed at the pocket. He wasn't trying to be funny, but the girls burst out laughing. He blinked as Maka glared at him, pulling out her phone.

"Yes, Lord Death?" she answered the hologram.

"I have a mission for you. Now that you're protected, you can go on harder ones," he declared. Maka seemed pleased.

"Thank you Lord Death," she smiled, "what mission is it?"

"You must travel to the neighboring town and defeat a kishin, afterwards report straight home," that last part was her father. Soul recognized his voice. Death yelled, "reaper chop!" and in the background he heard a pathetic whimper.

"I promise, Lord Death, we will head out first thing tomorrow morning," she declared, cutting the transmission, turning to Soul, "hear that? We're going on our first mission tomorrow!"

Soul smiled at her. He realized something. He noticed all of the weapons had on a sort of collar. As Maka bid Kid farewell, Soul asked about them, "what are the collars for?"

"Oh, it's just something the meisters use for their weapons," she shrugged, "it's not like we lead you around on leashes or anything. It just looks cute," she smiled up at him. He nodded.

"Am I allowed to refuse it?" he inquired, not meeting her eyes.

"I don't see why you'd want to," she blinked up at him, "the collar I have picked out would fit you perfectly," she clapped her hands.

"Um, alright," he said, following her to his new home.

xxx

"There!" Maka declared. It was a simple black collar but it had silver spikes on it. Like he was badass. He smirked up at his meister.

"Looks awesome," he laughed.

"I told you!" she giggled, pulling out her hair. She moved to a mirror, brushing out the hair she just pulled out.

"So does your dad live here to?" Soul inquired, watching the back of Maka's head.

"No," she answered lightly, looking at him through the mirror, "he lives in the academy."

"Ah, good. I didn't want the whole, 'I'll friggin kill you if you touch my daughter," bit all night," he yawned, "by the way, where am I sleeping?"

"Follow me," she led him to a room right across from her's, "here it is," she smiled at him. He peaked inside. It was small, but he liked small. It seemed really cozy.

"Thank you," he walked with a daze into his room.

"You're welcome," Maka's voice was getting smaller. He got scared.

"U-uh, Maka?" he threw his head out into the hallway.

"Yes Soul?" she spied him from the kitchen. His ears flattened on his head.

"U-uhm," he said softly, "could you stay with me tonight? It's the first day I've slept outside the forest and I'm kind of scared."

Maka blinked, "sure."

At that single word, his ears perked up, his tail-not seen by Maka-started to wag, "thanks," was all he could choke out before he disappeared back into his room.

Minutes later Maka returned with food and a glass of milk, "for you," she offered him the milk.

"Thanks," he said again. He had never tasted anything but the wildlife souls. Tentatively he took a sip of the milk. He loved it! Gulping it down he felt just how thirsty he was. He yawned again.

"Where do you want me to sleep?" Maka inquired, swiveling her head to explore the room with her eyes.

"Anywhere," he shrugged climbing on the edge of the bed, "just please, don't leave," he didn't know why he was so scared. Soul had a feeling it had something to do with the disappearance of his mother that fateful day.

Slowly Maka crawled in next to him, facing away from him. Soul relaxed easily and fell right to sleep.

"Mom?" he awoke at dawn. He always awoke at dawn. That was the time him and Mom could get out and hunt for the best souls. Dad would still be sleeping. But today felt different. His dad was too still next to him, and his mom was nowhere to be seen.

"Mom?" he called a bit louder, but keeping his voice pitched low, so he didn't wake his father. He padded to the forest path, maybe Mom would be basking in the moonlight. He peered around the tree that separated the path and him.

He was right. His mother sat in the moonlight. The silver aurora gave her white hair a metallic tone. Her red eyes were dimmed by the light.

He admired her. He had hoped that one day he could be as beautiful as her. Both their ears perked up at a broken stick. His brown ears her grey ones. Calmly she turned her head to the far end of the forest path. Tears were in here eyes.

"Kūki," the man growled. Her ears flattened against her head.

"Not now," she blinked, tears running down her face, "please, not now."

"I'm sorry Kūki," the man shrugged indifferently, "today's the day."

Soul's ears pressed to his head. He had to get help. Silently he ran through the forest, finding his dad again. Then the memory started to melt away. It started to change into a nightmare.

He was running through the trees, his dad had disappeared. He saw him being dragged through the forest by hunters. He tried to follow, but he lost them in the darkness. He heard his mother scream. He steered around, tearing through the forest to his mother's aid. But he didn't make it on time. He ran into a scientist with his hands empty. No sign of his mother.

"Where's my mother?!" he screamed, pounding on the man. He pointed calmly to his right. He wished he wouldn't have looked. But he did and what he saw made him scream. His mother had a pipe drawn through her chest, pinned to a tree-

He woke up screaming. Maka wasn't next to him. He found a note, it read:

Soul, if you wake up before I get back, I hope you find this. Don't be afraid, I'll be right back.

-Maka

Upon his finishing the note, Maka came crashing back into his room, "Soul are you okay?"

He laid the note down on his lap, as he took a handful of blanket in his hands, "yeah," he answered curtly. He felt Maka crawl in next to him once again. She touched his arm.

"Soul?"

He looked up to her, his vision blurry, "nightmare," he breathed, his eyelids drooping out of exhaustion.

"Want to talk about it?" she tilted her head to the side.

"Nah," he laid back down, placing the note gingerly on the nightstand, "it's just I have a bad memory when I wake up and can't find-" his voiced caught in his throat.

"Shh, and go back to sleep," she murmured, lying back down next to him. His eyes closed and he slept peacefully.