Babysit

She woke up and found herself being surrounded by her friends. She had been asleep in the coffin and didn't bother asking why it had to be a coffin. She finally understood what it was like to be under Sid-sensei's shoes. He is a zombie after all.

There had been so many things happening during breakfast. People were staring at her while Soul had to force her to eat the bowl of oats and Kidd was arranging the medicine cabinet. It seemed like a romantic thing, for Soul to be feeding her, but she's not a baby anymore. But she had no choice because she's paralyzed and people are expecting her to be fed by Soul, her own partner. And Black Star had to barge in and draw a mustache and a star on her face. She surely hated it. The first thing when she's up and ready to go, she'll definitely "maka-chop" him. Sid-sensei suddenly appeared, calling on Naigus-sensei. Black Star followed. Then one by one, everyone was gone, except for Soul. Maka always felt safe around him. Yet, there were times when she can't conjure a normal conversation for the both of them. She felt that she was being a burden to him.

"Aren't you going to class?" she asked him.

"Nah, I'd rather stay here than sleeping on it." He replied. She glared.

"If you're thinking that I'm ditching class, you're half right." He added, "You're my partner and I'm not leaving you." She sighed.

"It's okay, Soul, really." She assured him, "I'm sure there are other people who can take care of me."

He scoffed, "Naigus-sensei is out with Sid-sensei. Your dad is a pervert, Stein is a lunatic and Marie-sensei is having a class. So, I'm staying here until Naigus- sensei is back."

Maka sighed. She missed her books. She wasn't even done reading the latest book that she bought yesterday. If only she had it with her. She wouldn't be stuck awkwardly with Soul. Books break the tension between a boy and a girl. That's how it goes when nothing really happens during break. She reads, he becomes bored.

A wet towel was dabbed onto her cheek. Her emerald eyes stared into Soul's red ones. Red pooled her cheeks as he scrubbed the cloth onto the traces of the permanent marker. He had never done this before.

"What are you doing?" she stupidly asked.

"Cleaning you." He replied calmly. Why was he so clam, when she feels all nervous inside? And when he was done, she felt clean and unvandalized but she wished he did that again. It felt so nice…

(509—509)

Soul feels insecure. He thought that he can stand on his own like Justin Law or that guy named Giriko, but all he could do is helplessly take care of Maka. He wishes he had the strength enough to help her. He feels depressed.

"Soul, what's wrong?" Maka asked. He sighed.

"Nothing." He lied. He didn't want to worry her. She didn't buy his reply. Using her Soul Perception, Maka could read what his soul is feeling. He needed to do something quick to hide his feelings! Oh yeah! He remembered. Maka must've been missing something. He forgot about that.

"You miss reading, don't you?" he inquired. She looked away.

"A little bit." She replied. 'Liar.' He thought. She really misses reading. And he could see that in the look in her eyes. He gave a soft smile and took out a book from his bag and placed it infront of her. Her eyes widened at the book, then at him.

"You…" she couldn't continue her sentence. She was too shocked at Soul's sincerity, and soft smile. These were the rarest moments he could've done for her. He just noticed that right now, but he doubted she did. She was staring at her favorite novel. She frowned. He wondered what's wrong. Oh, he has forgotten that she couldn't move.

"What page are you?" he asked.

"450." She replied. '450.' He thought. Whoa… she truly is a bookworm. He flipped to the designated page and watched her read the small bits of words.

"Next page, please." His eyes widened. It had just been three minutes and…

"Soul, you do know I'm a fast reader, right?" she read his thoughts, "Next page, please."

(509—509)

It felt so right. Her reading and Soul turning the pages. Now she feels that the awkwardness has gone away between the both of them. She finally reached the climax of the story after she had read 10 chapters this afternoon. It was already 5:30 and she felt her insides churn.

"Soul…" she began.

"You done with page 650?" he asked.

"It's not that…" she muttered.

"What is it?" he asked. She looked down, her cheeks blushing. Soul noticed.

"Are you feeling sick?" he guessed.

"No."

"Hungry?"

"No."

"You need to urinate?"

"No."

"Vomit?"

"Not that."

"Then what is it?" Soul inquired, annoyed already, "Is it a girl problem?"

"No! Um…" Maka replied. Before Soul could say another word, he smelled something awful… like…

"Blood?" he said, "Did you smell blood?" he stared at Maka at first, but then he realized.

"Don't tell you have your-"

"I know damn it!" she cut him off, "I'm wet already, Soul! Find a napkin!"

Find a napkin? Soul knew Tsubaki had gone with Black Star while Patty and Liz have gone out with Kidd. He didn't know who to approach. He stood and went out.

"Hurry, Soul!" Maka pleaded.

"Okay, okay!" he said. He ran out to where his bike was standing and crazily drove towards their apartment. He went in to see Blair in her cat form, drinking milk. She stopped and saw him.

"Soul-kun, you're early!" she exclaimed, "How's Maka?"

"She needs napkins, now!" Soul blurted out before he could explain calmly. Blair giggled and told him to wait so she could get the… whatever they are while Soul rummaged through Maka's closet and snatched some red panties (he thinks it's sexy) and an extra set of clothes. He grabbed another book that Maka bought the last time she went to the book store. She was almost done with that novel she was reading, anyway.

By the time he closed the door of Maka's room, he spotted Blair sitting on the back of the motorcycle, carrying a white plastic full of those things.

"What are you doing there?" he asked, "Get out. I'm going to bring those napkins to Maka." Blair giggled.

"Did you forget that Maka is paralyzed? Or did you forget that she's a girl?" she teased. Soul blushed and said nothing as he sat on the front seat and started the motorcycle. They drove off. They safely made it, but Blair left Soul outside so she could change Maka and the sheets as well. He sighed. He assumed it would take longer, but decided to wait inside of buying drinks for himself. Maka would scold him for that. It didn't take long for Blair, though. Actually, it only took two minutes from the 10 minutes that Soul thought.

"Soul-kun, take care of her, okay?" Blair said, "A girl needs a boy to take care of her. It gives her a sense of comfort." Soul nodded and went inside just to see Maka smiling at relaxation.

"Feeling better?" he asked. She nodded.

"Yeah," she replied, "Can you flip the pages for me again? It's just a few left!"

He sighed. In 30 minutes, she was done. And she felt sleepy. At that time, Black Star came in to give a candy for Maka. She didn't want to finish it, since it tasted salty. In a matter of time after their small talks, it was time for Soul to leave.

"Are you sure you can take care of yourself?" he asked. She gave an assuring smile, not wanting to show him her feeling of loneliness inside her, wishing he would stay a little more, but she hid it with a reply, "Yeah, I sure can." He didn't look like he believe but he bought it and went out.

(509—509)

Soul was relieved. He had taken care of Maka well and is now watching his favorite TV showing while eating chips on the couch. Blair was out for her night duties at the club. And now he's enjoying his time. Alone. He frowned. Why did he feel a little bid sad…? Isn't this what he wanted? A quiet time for him to watch his favorite TV show and then to play his favorite music? What's wrong with him? Maybe, he was not used to not having Maka around… he was used to the bickering, the squabbles and the "Maka-chops", that he had forgotten all about his favorite things. He missed Maka. He wished that she wasn't really fine and said that she really wanted him to stay by her side. Though, Soul didn't admit it in his thoughts, nor did he admit it out loud. Speaking of Maka…

She somehow lied about being okay. Did she feel lonely? What if she urinated in her pants? Who's going to change her napkins and her panties when it's overflowing? Damn… he quickly turned off the lights and went to bed. He'll wake up really early to make sure she needs help.

And so the next morning, he ate an early breakfast and rushed to Shibusen, just to see Maka sleeping peacefully. He gave a relieved sigh. She's okay, that's what matters. Her eyes opened, then they widened.

"Soul…?" she began. He grinned his infamous crooked grin.

"What's up?" he greeted, "Sleeping well?" she grinned back.

"Yeah, and I still can't move. Only my hands though." She replied, waving the hands, "Did you do any homework?" he shook his hea.

"I called up Black Star, but he said there weren't any." She narrowed her eyes, trying to look for a lie, but the truth was all there. She sighed.

"You know, you don't have to visit me and all…" she muttered, "You should've slept in on me." She saw him gave a frown.

"Maka, you're my partner, right? I'm supposed to be there for you."

"But…"

"Even so, you can't Maka-chop me." Soul gave a smirk, "You're paralyzed."

"Yeah, well, I'll chop your head once I'm back on my feet." She sneered, "And you better help me in every homework once I'm okay, got it?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure…" he muttered, "You hungry?"

"Yeah…"

"I'll feed you." He went to her bedside and started feeding her. Maka blushes. She wasn't used to people, or Soul for that matter, feeding her. She had finished her novel, once again, in a day. It was a thrilling one, and she felt she had accomplished something, not to mention the new words she had learnt, and new ways to come up with a dramatic scene. She sighed in satisfaction when Soul closed the book.

"Do you want me to grab another book from home?" he asked. She smiled at his sincerity and shook her head.

"No thanks. I need to refresh my memory." She replied, "You should get going now. It's way past your bedtime." She glanced at the clock, which eleven pm was written on it.

"Nah," he said, "I'm staying here." She widened her eyes.

"But what about your favorite show?"

"I don't like the next episode. It's all gushy romance, not action."

"I've got high scores from the latest one."

"Your basketball practice with Black Star?"

"Maka, do you think 10:30 is the best time to play sports?" he inquired.

"No, but…"

"Quit asking, tiny-tits. Go to sleep already." She narrowed her eyebrows and huffed at him.

"You're lucky that I'm paralyzed right now." He grinned.

"I guess I am. Right now, you should go to sleep. It's getting late." He said as he stood up and turned off the lights, "Goodnight." He sat down and held Maka's hand. She noticed, and felt the sadness in them. She wished she could be there for him, to hold him, but all she did this whole time was depending on him. She didn't want to burden anyone, especially Soul. Unconsciously, she clasped her hand around Soul's tightly, giving a sign that the spell is almost breaking slowly…