Guess what. IDGAF that this is so late.

Yes I do. T.T *Breaks down*

I'm sorry for such a long wait, I bet you were wanting an update for my Kaze No Stigma. I'm sorry, but I plan on switching this to my main one in which I update most. Sorry if it's a little too much fluff, I'm just romantic like that. This is also rated M because I can, and because I want some alone time for Kid and Maka. Speaking of being Rated M, Aika abandoned me on this series because she didn't want to be fixing sex scenes. LOOKS LIKE I'M HAVING ALL THE FUN TO MYSELF! *Cries Secretly*

Expect some language, some seduction, and a few fight scenes. I don't do well with fights. Also, I won't be doing much 'I found out I love you' shit until maybe the third chapter, I just wanted to get the plot in full blast and then have the two fall unexpectedly in love.

((AND FUCK NO, I DON'T OWN SOUL EATER! Kid and Maka would've been together from the beginning. XD))


The Kid I Named Hopeless

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. I sigh, watching the recurring movements Soul was making with his pen, bearing in mind he wasn't even halfway awake. His eyes were drooped, like always, and a placid grin was on his face, inspecting the new teacher. Of course. Our new professor had rather large breast, and quite a few curves, and it was often to see Soul drooling over her.

I turn my attention towards Liz and Patti, Patti being the one sketching a repulsive mutant giraffe. Or maybe that's her miserable fail at drawing just a regular giraffe. I chortle softly, trying not to strain Liz's attention away from her polished red nails she was trying to fix. But something was off, and it was probably the vacant seat beside the two. Kid was off again, doing whatever Reapers do. Why was I so worried? Because there was no missions out for the taking, therefore Kid shouldn't be out and about. Was he fighting Black*Star? No obviously not, because the professor wouldn't be here, and there'd be quite a lot of racket coming from a few stories below. Finally, it dawned on me. I hadn't seen him in three days. Strange, ever sense those dreams started, he's been gone.

Then, before I have time to think any further, everyone is standing is stretching. I do the same, tossing one of my sandy pigtails over my shoulder, and leveling my shirt.

My eyes explored the room for a moment, before a warm hand found it's spot on my shoulder, making me jump rashly.

"Looks like someone is a little edgy today, eh?" I spun around, my skirt following in a slight twirling motion. Those red eyes got on my nerves, how they scrutinized me before he pointed out a few flaws. But he was a fine partner, almost like a brother to me. Instead of replying with a rude comment, I snatched up my bag and smiled kindheartedly. I find a twinge of sympathy in those deep scarlet eyes, and I flinch slightly at the display of kindness.

"You've been down lately. Why?" He was right, I had seemingly became more and more depressed. Death knows why. I roll my eyes, and split my lips to answer with a sensible answer, but instead that backfires and I end up shaking my head quickly.

Lately I have been dealing with terrifying dreams; kinds that would make a Meister jump right of her shoes and make her run like she has no limits.

Instead of answering, I gave him a long pointed look, before crossing my arms and stiffly walking past him. He knew just how much it got on my nerves when someone worried about me. He followed, hands in pockets, like the droopy and admirably cool boy he was. What the hell was I thinking? Guh. I hadn't slept in forever. Maybe I need sleep.

The halls seemed to stretch on forever, passing classmate after classmate, all stopping to wave and say a goodbye. I just couldn't wait to get home and study, and then spend the rest of my time asleep. I honestly didn't care much for the dreams that would creep up and disturb that slumber, I needed all the sleep I could get. Tomorrow was the last day to hear in on what Stein-sensei had to tell us about the witch who actually helped Lord Death create his soul into a basic barrier, but I still have my doubts it was a witch, of all things. Witches. Disgusting.

Finally, after what felt like millions of hours, me and my partner finally reach the outside world, bustling with activity. It was almost always like this when the DWMA students left class, considering almost %50 of the population of Death City consisted of Meisters and their Weapons. Me and Soul were walking in silence, something that bothered me, because he always had something to say. Whether it be about some new hot chick at the school or about problems he's having, it was almost concerning to hear that unbearable stillness.

I had finally had enough around five minutes, so I spoke up.

"So, have you seen Kiddo lately? He's been missing and I was just… wondering. Liz and Patti didn't seem to care, but I have a sneaking suspicion he's getting his nose into things he shouldn't, and I-" After a while of me blabbering on for about another three minutes, Soul let out something that couldn't be a sigh, it was far too long to be just that. I decided after a while that silence was what he needed, therefore I'd have to give it to him.

I was only being apprehensive for a friend, but this friend of mine was an enemy to Soul and Black*Star. Well, maybe not so deeply for them all together, more like frenemies. Yeah! I cross my arms, and let out a huff, obviously offended that Soul didn't want to listen to me.

We both arrived at the apartment, and now Soul was fumbling with the keys he had pulled out moments ago. I let my mind wander off for a bit, Soul was the kind to take half an hour to figure out which key was the right one, out of only two. Idiot. I smile, and giggle at my own inside joke. Soul doesn't seem to care, but then I begin to prod at his soul, trying to find out what was so wrong with him to the point where he wouldn't say anything unless I tortured him with nonstop chatting.

What I found was never expected. It was somewhat like Jealousy, except a deeper color than that, it was like a virus clinging to his soul. What had I done to make him jealous? Finally, after what felt like a century, he yanks the doorknob and the apartment door drifts open, to reveal a fully naked Blair.

"Soul! I was so lonely!" She tackled him to the ground, pawing like a cat at his chest, her giant bare breast pressing up against him. Soul was kicking madly, trying to free himself of the magic cat, and gasping for air. I stood before the scene, the only witness. Slowly, I made my way to the bookshelf, yanking one of the largest books I could find, stomping over to Blair, her ass waving in the air, her tail swiping back and forth in clean cuts. The cat lady caught on quickly, before switching into her cat form and scampering off to take refuge in a cabinet. A screech split the air as my book made contact with its white-headed target.


I dabbed the scarlet color, mixed in with darker shades, from Soul's nose. It took me a while to drag him to the red couch and set his now aching head in my lap, but after a while it was done. He hissed in pain as I patted him on the head, my way of saying 'this is what you get', before urging him into the bathroom. I wanted alone time, all girls needed it at some point.

Now that I had the time, I could look into deeper things. Such as where the hell Kid-kun was. He had been gone for three days time, disappearing right after my dreams began. Though Lord Death didn't display any signs of worry when I had entered the Death Room in search of answers for a project, I had the burning suspicion he was doing something top-secret. Oh great, I'm going to go mad and turn into Sherlock Holmes. I paused my thoughts as the bath water started, which fizzed off into tiny droplets hitting tile, a sign that my weapon had decided he'd take my advice. I brought my legs up to my chest, hauling them over the edge of the couch, and began to rock back and forth. Finally, I took notice of the black telephone, which was at the edge of my vision. Without thought, I yanked it up and began to dial the home phone number of Kid's home, Gallows Mansion, which I had begun to remember by heart once me, Liz, and Patti begun to hang out. It felt like intruding, asking the girls about what they've seen of Kid within the past three days, but I somehow knew they'd know far more than me. Or maybe he'd be home, just sick. I sigh, tapping my sharp nails on the wooden armrest of the couch, getting more and more nervous by the second as time stretches, the ringing only continuing. I let out a short sigh of relief as the phone is answered, and Patti's exited voice hums in the phone.

"Heyya, Maka-chan! Whatcha needin'?" I quickly snap my hand from the wooden armrest, setting my other hand on the phone as well and smiling widely.

"Hi, Patti! I needed to talk to you about something, is that okay?"

"Oh, do you want me to grab Liz? Is this just between me and you or something? We've got speaker, you know!" I rethink the question over and over, before replying simply with yes. I hear a loud holler stretch out over the line, and I find myself giggling at Patti's ferocious way of calling her sister for a phone. After a second of two of crashing, Liz's voice is heard.

"Alrighty, then, get to it! We don't have all night." Hesitant, I begin to think about what I'm going to say.

"I'm concerned for Kid-kun. I haven't seen him in three days... have you two? I mean, you live with him, for death's sake! Do you know where he's been?" Silence. It's even more dangerous than loud noise. I hear muffled speaking, before the voices become more clearer. The girls didn't know, as guessed.

"Uhm... I'm sorry, Maka-chan. Me and Liz are only his weapons, whatever he's doing is Reaper buizz." I huff, and begin to run through the possible things Kid-kun would have to do that would involve leaving the academy for a while, before I reply.

"Do you know if he's okay, or when he'll come back?"

"No." Both girls reply at the same time, and I feel something tighten in my stomach. What if he's hurt? What if he's been kidnapped? He's a shinigami, that wouldn't be. He'd fight back... Running through the long list seemed impossible, marking out each one by one would be even worse.

"Don't worry, Maka-chan! I'm sure he's just fine, probably off with his dad doing some soul reaping. You know, he does it just about every night, and that Tsunami coming through must have made them have to work really hard. He's been gone eight days, before. 'Bout eighty thousand souls, just eight days. You have no idea how happy he was when he realized eighty thousand souls in only eight days. He almost cried in joy, wou-"

"Shut it, Patti. Maka is being serious, she's afraid for him, and we have to comfort her." It's barely heard over the terrible phone, which was humming with static and growing old, but I knew just exactly what was going on. They were hiding something, something extremely important.

"Alright, then. Sorry to intrude. I guess I'll see you two tomorrow?"

"Nope, tomorrow is Saturday!" I almost forgot, how wonderful it was to sleep in. Which would probably be pretty hard. Before I could say much more, only to say goodnight and have an awesome weekend, they hung up. I sat back on the couch, heaving a long wheeze and fixing my pigtails, throwing off my shoes. The running water seized, and the bathroom door opened and scampering could be heard as Soul slid into his room. My eyes began to grow heavy, and soon it became a nuisance to keep them open, so I finally closed my emerald eyes and drifted into sleep.


All was quiet, except for the pitterpatter of water hitting window, and the gentle whisper of wind slithering pass the train. It was day three, and I'd been stuck out here with Ashton, a good friend of mine who I'd recently met. I've grown used to her though, being around me almost twenty-four seven. I had received an important mission not long ago, I was told I needed to gather information. Recently, a clan of witches had bundled together and decided to make almost a gang, and they had been putting prices on souls for two weeks now. Ashton shook her head quietly, and looked up, her dark cyan eyes glowing in the darkened train lights overhead. Her black hair fell in even curls around her face, making her seem more mature than she was. She was only twelve, and she was riding a train with a Grim Reaper, told she was to escort him to the meeting place of the witches. She was a lot like me, she knew eighteen languages, and surprisingly she had witnessed quite a lot of death.

They were on their way home, and they had found out very little. The girl was shaken, but she seemed fine apart from that. The girl curled up with me, setting her head on my shoulder. She treated me as if I was a father, which I was far too young for, because I had saved her life twice within three days. Even without weapons I had managed to kick the asses of two armed citizens in one of the alleys, who had planned to probably rape her. The second time was rather hard to think about, having the girl curl up with me. She was the only witness who had been in the long list of souls in wait to be picked off by one of the witches, and she was the only one who has survived.

"Do Shinigami ever get afraid?" She asks, just as the train began to slowly pull to a stop, emitting loud screeching noises in the process. The train lurched, almost sending Ashton flying into the seat in front of us.

"Yep. It's a common thing. Shinigami aren't heartless, you know." I reply, and she quickly takes notice of my tone, which was just worried as her own. I almost broke out into happy laughter as she chose not to continue the dark chat.

My mind began to leap into thoughts about home, and about my recent chat with Liz and Patti. I lied right to their faces, and they knew it too, but they eventually got it out of me as they threatened to move the paintings. I cringed at the thought of an uneven house. A few minutes passed, then another ten, until it turned into thirty minutes. I was bored, as guessed, and I wanted something to do. Without hesitation, I looked over Ashton, who was sleeping on the opposite side now, her breath coming out in even sighs, her chest rising and falling softly. She was a heavy sleeper, so she wouldn't wake up if I called home, would she? I was home sick, being without the Gallows for three days straight was hard for me. The long hallways, and the giggling of two sisters in the room across from mine.

I quickly dialed the number, and the phone began to ring, followed by a short message about how no one was home to pick up. I scowled, crossing my arms and sitting back. Of course, Patti and Liz were probably too sugar high to give a damn. It was Friday, they would probably be going crazy in the fridge right about now. I wanted to call and apologize, but it seemed now wasn't the time. Face to face would be far better. Ashton shifted on her other side, stretching a leg and sighing.

After a while, I began to grow sleepy, struggling fiercely as sleep began to drag me under it's darkness. I was fatigued, but not that much. Was I? The darkness tugged harder and harder at my eyelids, until I found the cold hand wrap around me.

Bong...

Bong...

Bong...

The clock struck 12.

But what happens after 12? Oh, yes, of course, the monster comes. The thing I like to call Hopeless. It was exactly like me. It was me. It came every day at 12:00 am, with a warning. One that I didn't care much for, considering I've heard it just about fifty times. This time I'm in pitch blackness, my arms strapped down and my legs also on a silver table, which was tilted on it's side so I'd be sitting up, and I begin to tug uselessly on my arms. Usually I met the creature, or me, in an open field, the field called Nothing. Maybe I was in a different dream, tonight? Maybe. I had grown expectant of those yellow eyes and three stripes that appeared in front of me in the fields, a knowing look in it's eyes. It knew my every feelings because it was, infact, my feelings itself. My very own soul. But those stripes and yellow eyes never appeared, instead I stay strapped to the bed, panting as I pulled on the ropes that bind me to the bed.

Then an eerie feeling washes over me. Like something was watching me. Something, or someone? No, I knew those green eyes far to well. They stare at me, burn into me as I struggle to rip myself free. What was she doing in my dreams? She wasn't supposed to be here. But then something seems to tear at me, something horrifying. She wasn't here, no, she wasn't even close to me. This was the very thoughts that occupied my mind. That damn bastard! Oh, so he's gotten my very own hopes and desires and decided it'd shatter them right before me? I should have known.

Finally, those eyes and those stripes appear, arms crossed, beside the empty Maka. She seems to be like a wavering doll, rocking back and forth, her pigtails following the motion.

"You're a truly pitiful thing, are you not? Your fighting yourself, and your not even getting that far either." The words sting more than the fact that an empty shell of her was standing there, watching me, her eyes void of emotions. I writhe harder, and finally come to a stop. I was only fighting myself, throwing a punch at my own emotions.

"You know, love is a tough thing, when you're the very embodiment of Death. The sad thing is, power requires great sacrifice. You get to watch people die right before you, just like your father has for what, 800 years? Yes. 800." Maka says, her voice monotone and dark. I only shift my eyes slightly, to catch the eyes of the girl I've known for only two years. There is no bravery in those eyes anymore.

"Your sick, Hopeless." Hopeless takes in the words, and smiles, almost as if what I said was a compliment. I would have killed him by now, if it wasn't for the fact he was me. I'd die too. I was just as much of a sicko as he was, I craved death. It was one of the many things a reaper claimed to accompany in their vast expansion of characteristics.

I wanted to tear myself to shreds, was that bad? Very bad. I wanted to grab Hopeless by the neck and kill him with my very own hands, as he snatched one of Maka's pigtails and pulled her closer next to him. I snarled, wanting to lash out so badly, but I couldn't, my very own soul had tied me down.

"Too bad a reaper can't love, I'm sure you'd find quite a lot in this pretty face, won't you? She's a fine woman, independent and caring. Stern and willing to die for a friend. But your nothing more than a murderer. One who'd violate this kind of person and steal their free will, if it wasn't for holding yourself back. Just let that madness of yours go, and you'll have all the power in the world. This girl would be yours the moment you even look at her, her life at your fingertips." I had no desire to contain life, I only followed the guidelines set up from past reapers, then why did this part of me want to have Maka to himself so badly? To have human life to himself? I watched in silence as Maka took a step forward, Hopeless releasing her as she stepped closer to me, restrained on a silver slab. The girl I had fallen in love with, but she has yet to notice.

"Kid-kun..." She murmurs softly in my ear, and I jerk momentarily, trying to get free of the girl who had pressed herself against me. What idiot has a nightmare and dreams of being violated by an empty soul?

I was basically snapped awake by Ashton, concern glittering in her cyan eyes as she gleamed into my bright yellow ones.

"You were crying. You sounded like a dying cow." She giggles, brushing strands of black and white hair out of my face. I yawn, noticing how the girl had bent over and was now eye level with me, rather too close for my liking.

"Oh, I'm sorry, but I heard that scream when those men grabbed you, it sounded like a raccoon getting raped more than a girl." I smirk as the young girl rolls her eyes, and grabs her suitcase. Terrible flirting, yes, but it was only in my defense.

"It was nice meeting you, Shinigami, but it's time we part. We're at Death City, and I'm sure you have plenty of people waiting for your arrival. Especially that Maka girl you were moaning about in your sleep, like you were being raped." She twitters, throwing my Suitcase at me, which I caught just before it rammed into my face.

"Maka? Oh... and don't you get off here too?" I looked at her expectantly, and she quickly shakes her head in response.

"I travel around. I have no home." So, she was an orphan? There were many orphans in Death City, but none that only stayed for so long and then the next day just vanished.

"Well, the least I could do for you is tell you my real name. My father is defensive about letting mortals know my name, but I'm Death the Kid, most call me Kid." Father had told me not to tell her, just let her call me Shinigami, but the American girl was too much of a friend now just to let her sit by and call me by a phony name.

"Alrighty, mate. So you're really a Death God?" She asks, giving me a short doubtful look, and I nod quickly.

"Just be sure not to tell anyone, or I'm going for you next." The look on her face, a mimic of terror, seemed too silly to be genuine.

"Fine, fine, I don't feel like waking up with you hanging over me with a scythe, sheesh." A knife of silence sliced between us, and I noticed her worried expression, the space in between her eyebrows drawn together to form an uncertain expression. Before I could even begin to ease her, she knocked the breath out of me by collecting me in her arms to hug me firmly, almost to the point where it could be called a bear hug.

"Imma miss you, Kid."

"I'll miss you too, Ash. You can come by the Gallows any time you want. Maybe if you decide to settle down..." The train's intercoms shattered the goodbye, the voice heard gruff and impatient, asking for everyone to now leave the train, those getting off at Death City.

Ashton was reluctant at first to release me but finally thought better of it, allowing me to breath in shortly before she whined, not wanting to see me go.

"Maybe I will." She frowns, and waves as I turn to leave the secluded area, closed off by curtains. I catch one last glimpse of the girl, a sad look in her vivid cyan gaze, her black hair seemed to almost weep in itself, the way it grew so dull so quickly. She'd fit in well with Liz and Patti. I almost stumble through the train. Finally, I was home. I could have gone through a mirror, but that would open up a portal for the witches if they planned to follow, and get into Death City, but it'd probably only be open for half a second. Chichiue was always so shielding when it came to mirrors linking to witch activities, therefore he always sent me back home on Death Express. I heard gasps of admiration when I entered the train, and it almost stung. Humans treated me like I was something so great, but the truth was I wanted to be just like them, have a normal life. Be able to love, have children, have a wife, and live life like any standard human would.

It's been a total of four days, now, considering it was only 4:00 A.M, Saturday. No school, looks like catching up with friends and making up imprudent excuses, starting with Maka and Soul. Maka would probably be the most pissed, that was just who she was. She was probably worried sick, also, and had checked in plenty of times with the two girls back at home. The train shifted behind me, and slowly increased speed until it was rocketing past me, taking my jacket with it. For all I knew, it'd fly sky-high for about fifteen minutes and land in a completely different world, maybe in India. The train left through a portal, which only opened once a day, to allow the train in and out.

"Damnit!" I quivered, and crossed my arms, puffing. A cloud emitted, and after a while I remembered it was still Winter in the city. Damned cold weather! My hair was messy now, which almost ticked me off, but I was too excited to care much for it now. I grew home sick within the span of four days quickly. What made it bad timing was the fact that the mission had to be assigned right after Asura had been wiped from the face of the world, thanks to a certain beauty I knew.

They had told me about the lines. They still haunted me. It was the reason Hopeless had came in the first place, why he was here and why he was picking at me to change my ways. I stare crossly at the large city, half of which I'd have to go through to get to the center, where Shibusen was, where my mansion was close to.

Where home sweet home was.