AN: Hello, everyone! Firstly, I'd like to explain what I mean by semi-oneshot. What I mean is that if Atsushi Okubo decided to insert the story of Soul and Maka's past somewhere in the manga, he wouldn't insert their WHOLE past, right? He'd just talk about the important stuff, like how they met and became partners. That's basically the first three chapters of this fanfic. They act almost as a standalone story with it's own plot and climax. The rest of the chapters are just a continuation that talks about all their adventures at DWMA, and if you're too lazy to read this whole fanfic, you can just stop at chapter 3. XD

Another thing: Sorry if you don't like all the Americanisms that I use. Personally, I like Shibusen over DWMA and Shinigami-sama over Lord Death, but that doesn't really fit. They live in Death City, Nevada. Therefore, they speak American, and all the names get Americanized. That's right. American is a language. 'MERICA!

This whole story was inspired by only several lines from the Soul Eater manga. They are as follows:
"What is this? Men are such lowlifes. All you ever do is womanize. Still… after I finally decided to trust one of you… Unbelievable."
Gee, I wonder who says those lines? XD. Anyways, there was just so much meaning behind those simple words that I had to write this. Why would Maka trust Soul? Why was he an exception? This fanfic tells the story of how these two met and became partners.

Disclaimer: Oh guess what? I don't own Soul Eater. XD

Chapter 1: Soul and Maka's Past Part I

So this is Death City, huh? Was his first thought.

His second thought was: Where do I park my cycle?

Soul Eater regarded his surroundings with wonder. It was as if he had walked into a dream. The wonky buildings, the towering apartments, and the massive construct at the heart of the city were all breathtaking sights to behold. Except...

Where is everybody?

Soul looked around. There was no one to be seen. The street was empty. The buildings that crammed either side of it like ranks of masks yielded no signs of life. The place was deserted. Soul cast his eyes around and spotted a metal rack off to one side. It was filled with shabby, worn down bikes. Soul parked his cycle next to the rack with a smile. He was the only one with a cool motorcycle in town.

I guess I can't leave this here, though. Soul thought as he grabbed his suitcase from the back of his bike and placed its wheels on the ground. He turned and regarded the lonely street suspiciously. The masks stared back.

Well, no point in standing around. Soul thought to himself, and ventured down the lifeless street. The masks glared at him as he passed. His suitcase rolled noisily beside him- the only sound to intrude the foreboding silence. Soul looked wearily at the rows of dark houses on either side of him.

Where is everybody? He wondered again. No signs of life. Nothing to accompany him except the desert heat. It followed him, laughing and teasing beads of sweat from his skin. The masks seemed to laugh with it, jeering and taunting silently, so much that Soul felt like he was back at home again, with those horrid looks that people gave him-

Voices. At last! They pierced through the silence and cut the tension like a scythe through weeds. The laughter stopped obediently. Soul realized that he had been gritting his teeth. He relaxed with a sigh.

"What is it, Lord Death?" a soft voice spoke. Soul turned the corner and spotted the source. A girl with her ash-gray hair tied in pigtails was talking to a mirror, except it wasn't a mirror, because two figures were standing in it. Mirrors are supposed to reflect things, aren't they?

"Maka, I love you!" exclaimed the shorter figure. It was a young man with deep red hair, almost the color of blood. The other figure was the masked person Soul had seen on the pamphlet that he had received. What was his name again?

"Well, Lord Death? Why did you ask me to call you?" the girl spoke again, ignoring the red-haired man's remark.

"Well, you see… your father has something to say," the masked figure said, gesturing to the red-haired man.

"Maka, Good luck on your first day of school!" the man said enthusiastically. He puckered his lips and made a face that only babies would appreciate. The girl ignored him.

"If Papa has something to say to me, he can do it in person. This is an abuse of authority, and I'm already late to the opening ceremony," she said. "Is there anything else, sir?"

"Umm… no, but…"

"Very well, then."

The girl waved her hand over the surface and it became a mirror again. She noticed Soul for the first time. She was cute, but her green eyes looked at his reflection calculatingly. Coldly. She turned and they stared at each other for a brief moment.

Who's that?

Soul opened his mouth to speak, but the girl turned briskly and walked away. Soul hesitated for a second, slightly irritated, and then followed her, a couple yards behind. Perhaps she was a student. Perhaps she could tell him where he could put his belongings, and where the heck the Academy was. His suitcase rolled noisily beside him. The girl heard it and quickened her pace. Soul struggled to keep up. Soon, they were both running through alleys and around houses, so deep into the labyrinth that there was no way Soul would find his way out on his own.

"Wait!" Soul called. The girl disappeared behind a house-

He ran after her-

turned the corner-

BAM! Stars flew before Soul's eyes and he felt a sharp pain on the top of his head unlike anything he had ever felt before. Soul fell to the ground, disoriented. The pain remained achingly, and Soul realized that he had been hit.

What the hell!? Soul could only remember one time in his life that he had been hit before, and that was when his mother- never mind that. He had left that life behind. Soul looked up from where he had fallen. The girl was running away.

"Why you little… Wait!" Soul called again as he got up. He wasn't about to let his only source of information get away, especially not when he was this deep in the maze of buildings.

"Wait up!" The girl stopped and turned suddenly.

"What? What do you want?!" she asked ferociously. A textbook hovered in her hands, poised and ready to strike. There was a murderous glint in her eyes. Soul stopped, surprised.

"What do you want from me? Are you someone on Lord Death's list?"

"Who's list? What are you talking about? I'm a student of the Academy!"

"You're a student of the Academy?" the girl's eyes widened. "Oh, I'm so sorry about earlier! I thought you were going to attack me." She tucked her book away.

"O-okay... but I just wanted to ask where the Academy was. I'm new here," Soul said, confused.

"Oh, I'm going to the Academy right now. You can come with me," the girl smiled quickly, but it was a fake smile that held no warmth. Soul knew that smile all too well. It was always painted on the faces of his parents.

"Alright… thanks," Soul said cautiously. The girl headed off, and Soul hastened to catch up.

What's up with her? He thought. First she attacks me and now she's pretending to be friendly with me? The girl led them through the maze of houses and alleyways only barely wide enough to fit them.

"You seem to know this place well. Do you live here?" Soul asked.

"Yes, but this is my first year attending the school," the girl replied shortly. Soul pondered for a moment. Who was this girl? Was everyone else at the Academy like this? And…

"Why is this place so deserted?"Soul asked.

"Most of the people living here are students or teachers. Today is the entrance ceremony for the year, so of course everyone is at the Academy. We're both already late," the girl replied, and then looked at him. "You are a student, aren't you? You should know these things." The book appeared in her hands.

"Of course!" Soul replied hastily. "No need to hit anybody, jeez." They stopped at the foot of a massive staircase leading to the towering building decorated with arches and spikes at the center of the city. It had a multitude of towers and massive candles, so much that it looked like a hulking monster, primitive yet majestic at the same time. Soul stood there, awestruck by the grand scale of the enormous construct.

This was the Death Weapon Meister Academy.

"Are you coming?"

Soul broke out of his trance. The girl was already climbing the stairs.

"Wait!" Soul called, struggling with his suitcase. The girl watched him disapprovingly.

"Don't you have an apartment room to put your things in yet?" she asked disdainfully.

"No, I just got here," Soul replied. The girl looked at him with those cold, calculating eyes.

"Open the suitcase."

"What?!"

"I said open the suitcase."

"Why?!"

"You're suspicious. You show up late with very little info and you don't have a place to put your belongings. Instead, you bring your suitcase to school. That could contain a weapon of some sort. Maybe a bomb."

"What? What kind of person brings a bomb to a school like this?"

"Lord Death has many enemies. You could be working for witches." The book appeared.

"Alright, alright!" Soul sighed. He opened his suitcase for her to see.

"There! Toothbrush, pajamas, spare clothes, and a suit! Are you satisfied?"

The girl regarded him with disbelief, but then her expression hardened.

"Alright, then. One more test. There's only one way someone with planning skills as poor as yours could get into DWMA, and that's if you're a weapon," she said.

"That's right. I'm a weapon," Soul replied. He raised his hand and it became a black and red blade, the steel so clean that it reflected their surroundings like a mirror.

"I'm a scythe. Pretty cool, huh?" Soul smiled. The girl was impressed, obviously taken back by his coolness, but her face suddenly turned sour, as if recalling a bad memory.

"Alright, you pass," she said, then turned briskly and began marching up the stairs. Annoyed, Soul gathered his suitcase and hurried to catch up.

How the heck was she raised? Soul wondered. He frowned and looked away, wiping sweat from his forehead. The heat came back again, burning away at the two of them. Soul wished he hadn't worn his jacket, but then pushed that thought aside. He looked cool in his jacket. They reached the top of the steps and faced a crowd of students milling about on the landing.

"Oh, so we weren't late after all," Soul noted. He turned to see if the girl had heard.

She was gone.

Maka entered the crowd quickly. She did not want to be involved with the white-haired boy any longer. He wasn't going to get her expelled for attacking another student, but he could still get her into some serious trouble. Plus, he was a guy and he looked scary. Those sadistic, crimson eyes, that evil smirk with the sharp teeth- Maka shuddered at the thought of him. She turned her mind back to the subject at hand.

If I'm going to make the world's strongest Death Scythe and beat Papa, I'm going to need someone strong. She thought. This year's freshmen had potential. Jacqueline could turn into a fire lantern and fly. Tsubaki was a shadow weapon of the Nakatsukasa clan- she could change into a variety of weapons. As she searched, Maka noticed a young male watching her with predatory eyes. The boy approached her, but as he got close and observed her from head to toe, his face fell in disappointment. The male turned, spotted a pretty girl with an attractive body, and gleefully headed her way. Maka stood there for a moment, pissed.

It's because I have no sex appeal, isn't it? She thought. Fine. She didn't want a male partner anyways. All they ever did was cheat and fool around. Maka turned to search the crowd again-

"HEEHAW!" Maka looked up. The murmur of the crowd died down.

"Hey you! Be sure to remember! I am the famous Black Star!" Maka sighed inwardly.

"I will be above god someday! In fact, I'm almost there!" It was none other than Black Star perched atop one of the decorative spikes overlooking the platform. Shouting as always.

"Don't be sorry, you mediocre nobody! I'm just too awesome!" The crowd began to move. The doors were opening.

I guess I can't look for Tsubaki or Jackie when the crowd's moving like this. Maka thought. I'll have to search again tomorrow.

"There is nothing more precious in the world than me! You'll see my halo above my head very soon!" The shouting could be heard even as Maka entered the cool shadows of the dark building. The crowd began to disperse in many directions. After fifteen minutes of searching, Maka found the door she was looking for. Beside it was a sign that read: "EAT Class. Freshmen." Maka heard the familiar noise of a rolling suitcase behind her.

"Oh, we're in the same class," said the deep voice.

Not this guy again… Maka thought. Did the white-haired boy really make it into the EAT class? Or did he just get lost with those poor planning skills of his?

"Umm… is this the EAT class?" another voice asked. Maka turned and couldn't believe her eyes.

"Tsubaki-!" she exclaimed.

"Of course it is!" a loud voice interrupted her. "There's no class great enough for me, but the great Black Star will be generous enough to lower his standards to the best this school can offer! Let's go, Tsubaki!"

"Okay!"

Maka watched, dumbfounded, as Tsubaki followed a grinning Black Star into the classroom.

Did she just… Maka was lost for words.

Tsubaki… rest in peace. Maka mourned. She chose a seat next to the doomed girl and her self-centered, newly acquainted male partner. Maka's lamenting, however, was soon forgotten when she heard a soft voice next to her.

"Can I sit here?" Maka turned. It was Jacqueline.

"Of course you can!" Maka exclaimed. "You're Jacqueline, right?" Jacqueline sat down, surprised.

"Why yes," she said, confused.

"I'm Maka!"

"Oh! You're the Death Scythe's daughter!" Jacqueline exclaimed. Before they could continue, however, the bells rang and a man entered the room and spoke.

"Alright, everyone. My name is Sid. I will be your-"

The door burst open and that good for nothing father waltzed in.

"Makaaaaaa!" he exclaimed.

"What are you doing here?" Maka asked, disgusted.

"Didn't Maka say? If Papa wanted to talk to Maka, then he had to do it in person, so here I am!" her father replied. "Maka! I love you! Good luck on your first day of school!"

"Go away, Papa. I'm going to make the world's strongest Death Scythe and shut you up for good!" Maka replied angrily.

"I'll be supporting you!" her father cried enthusiastically. He gave her two thumbs up.

"Umm…" Sid looked between the two.

"Papa will stop bothering you now! A Death Scythe is very busy, after all!" her father said, heading towards the door. "Study hard and become a strong meister, Maka!" He blew her a goodbye kiss, and then left. Maka was fuming. Sid stood in the middle of the room, confused, for a good ten seconds.

"Uh... I guess it is time to introduce the EAT class," he said uncertainly.

The bells finally rang. Soul had had enough of the teacher droning on about their schedule and about partnership. Only one thing occupied his mind.

Death Scythe. He thought it over. World's strongest Death Scythe. Soul grinned.

Sounds cool. He leaned back on his chair and looked up at the girl who had said the words. She sat one row above him. So she was the Death Scythe's daughter. What was her name again? Maka. Soul remembered because it sounded Japanese. Maka was a weird girl, and she was flat-chested too, but…

World's strongest Death Scythe.

Maka was already leaving, engrossed in a conversation with a black-haired girl. Soul followed her quickly.

"Maka! Hey Maka!" Soul called. The girls turned.

"You're a meister, aren't you? I'm Soul Eater, and I'm going to be the world's strongest Death Scythe. Want to partner up?" Soul asked, flashing the coolest smile he could muster. Maka looked at him for a moment, surprised. Then she turned around and said one word.

"No."

"That was kinda mean," Jackie said, after the boy had left.

"I know," Maka said with a hint of guilt. "I just don't have interest in him, or any male partners." Jackie regarded her face for a moment.

"Well, then, see you at lunch," she said, then left. Maka stood for a moment and thought back on what she had said. Should she have been nicer? No. She didn't want to get involved with any men. They were bound to bring trouble. That guy especially. His sharp-toothed smile sent shivers down her back.

"Heh, heh, heh…" someone chuckled. Maka broke out of her train of thought and looked up. In her reminiscing, she had wandered off into the maze of side hallways. Two boys stood in her way.

"Maka Albarn," said the first. He had sandy hair and a snobbish face.

"We have business with you," said the other one. He had a fat face. Ugly and pig-like.

"You see, your father has been flirting with our girlfriends," said the sandy-haired one. "And we don't like that."

Not again. Maka thought angrily.

"So we're going to teach him a lesson," the other one continued. The two boys shared an identical, sadistic grin that stretched as wide as the Cheshire Cat's. Maka's heart sped up. The snobbish boy transformed into a metal club. They were meister and weapon. And they didn't seem friendly.

"We're going to beat you up," the fat one said.

"If the Death Scythe messes with our women, we'll mess with his," the club continued gleefully. Maka's eyes narrowed, and she wielded her book. She was considering escaping, seeing the fat build of the meister, when he swung the club. Maka deflected the blow, but the force of it jarred her whole body. These two really wanted to hurt her. The fat boy swung the club at Maka's face. Maka dodged the attack and brought her book heavily down on the boy's head. He squealed in pain. The club came around again. Maka blocked it, but it knocked her book out of her hand. The fight was over. The fat boy knocked Maka to the ground. She cried out in pain. The club fell heavily on her back, not enough to break but enough to bruise. Maka endured the pain with gritted teeth and covered her head with her arms as the beating continued. She began to lose consciousness.

"This'll teach him good!" one of them said. Maka heard their laughter, although it seemed distant and muffled. On her head, on her back, the blows rained down. Only when the bells rang did they leave her there, miserable and disoriented. But, through all the pain that she felt now, she only thought of one thing.

Papa, I hate you.

Soul poked at his lunch with his fork sullenly. Maka had declined his offer. She didn't even consider it. One look and then one word. Boom. Done. Not cool at all. Soul sighed and looked up at the lunchroom filled with conversing people. There was bound to be someone besides Maka who could make him the world's strongest Death Scythe, right? But the thought kept nagging him. She was the daughter of the current Death Scythe. She had such a confident look in her eye when she said those words.

I'm going to make the world's strongest Death Scythe.

No fear. No backing down. Soul liked that. It was cool.

"Hey, why do you have your suitcase with you?"

Soul looked up. A grinning, blue-haired boy had approached him.

"I just got here. I haven't found a place to put it yet," Soul answered. The blue-haired boy laughed.

"Well, I'll just borrow it for a second!" he said.

"Hey! What are you-"

The blue-haired boy threw the suitcase on the table and leapt on top of it like it was a pedestal.

"Listen up and remember it well, all of you!" he shouted. "My name is Black Star and I'm going to surpass god someday! You just watch and wait! I'm going to become the strongest man in the world!"

"Hey, get off my suitcase!" Soul shouted. The boy leapt down and grinned at him.

"You should be honored that it was used as a pedestal by a god like me," he said, and then walked away, laughing. A timid-looking girl approached Soul quickly.

"I'm really sorry about that," she said shyly. "He's just… a little bit self-centered, that's all."

"Yeah, well tell him not to step on other people's stuff," Soul grumbled.

"A-alright. I'm really sorry," the girl said. She hesitated for a moment, and then quickly ran after the blue-haired boy. Soul watched them go.

World's strongest, huh? he thought, and then smiled. It still sounded cooler when Maka said it.

Okay, yeah, weird dropoff for the end of the first chapter, but whatever. Gotta love it when Soul receives his first Maka Chop ever. I mean, they haven't even MET yet, and they're already starting lifelong habits. XD

Anyways, please R&R, although I'm new here and I don't even know what that stands for. Could someone please tell me? XD