This is for SoMa week 2016! I wanted to rise up to the challenge and make all the themes into a short cute story with our favourite pairing. And why not make a "Red string of fate" AU because everybody loves two people who don't like each other stuck together? I promise, the end game is SoMa! This theme is "types of kisses"

Ball and chain and all
The chain and the chained

"Should I just give a peck or go all in with tongue?" Liz philosophized as she and Maka stood in the endless line .

"Are you seriously contemplating going make out with a stranger?" Maka gazed at the large grin on her friend's face.

"It will be our soul mate, our partner for life, so it will be okay to make out at once." A wide grin grew on her face as the queue started to make their way inside of the sports centre that had been transformed into a love cave fit for the upcoming ceremony. Giggles and whispers erupted from the curious girls among them. "Remember, all the couples from last year banged each other within a week! Some even on the first day. You barely even saw any couple with their chains connecting them."

It was true. After the ceremony, it was the talk of the university. The couples that found their soul mate barely wore their chain. It was one couple in particular who ironically went in the same literature class as her that was always lovey dovey and shared quick pecks in class. She only saw the shiny holy silver chain connecting them for one day. They might've as well have gone around with a large neon sign saying "we fucked".

"The fact doesn't change that they'll still be a stranger."

"But very special stranger." A sly grin grew on her face as they were now only a couple of feet from the mouth of the entrance now cladded with every shade of red silk and hearts pinning it to the wall. "I still haven't forgotten how you were ready to shag up with Evans when he asked you out."

She grimaced with disgust at the thought. It was a memory she would be more than happy to forget. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"What're you talking about?" An arm wrapped around her shoulders and she jumped at the husky voice by her ear. Without a shred of doubt of whose arm it was, she slapped it away.

"Beat it, Evans." Maka crossed her arms defensively over her chest.

"What? Are you talking about me?" Soul obnoxiously grinned wide, showing off his sharp teeth in the process. "Hoping you'll get stuck with me, aren't you?"

"Like I would ever." Especially after she saw through his attractive and intriguing exterior and saw he was just a fuck boy. A rich and privileged asshole who thought he was entitled to everyone.

"We're just talking about kisses." Liz pitched in. "Since it will be our soul mate it won't hurt to go in with a kiss."

"I agree." Soul smirked wide as he turned toward Maka. "Definitely use tongue." He spoke to her as if he wished for her to throw her arms around his neck and make the fuck out of him like the many other girls he'd screwed over and left heartbroken.

She hated how every time she looked at his messy hair and wide and sharp facial features her stomach tightened and heated pleasantly. As much as she wanted to deny it; he was attractive.

She was foolish once for thinking he was genuinely interested in her when he asked her out. There was no way she would fall for his charm like all the other girls flailing themselves at the rich fuck boy.

She rolled her eyes. "Aren't you supposed to be in the boy's line?"

"Aren't I?"

He deserved that punch to the chest.

"You didn't have to hit me so hard." He rubbed his sore skull. "And who the hell walks around with books!"

She placed her Pride and Prejudice book back into her backpack. "An English major does." They reached the mouth of the door way saying 'females' and they went through it, leaving Soul behind in the hallway, rubbing his sore head. Maka sighed with relief to finally get rid of the stupid sexy idiot. "Do you think Kid saw―"

"Nope. I didn't see him anywhere in the guy's line." Liz wrapped her arm around Maka's shoulder as they made their way through the low lit sport centre that had been transformed into a love cave. Hearts of red, pink and purple hung low from the ceiling and dark red velvet and silk curtains covered the ugly walls. In the very front was a stage with a long table with silver bracelets on trays.

Maka sighed with relief. "Good." She knew Kid would be here somewhere in the male masses. She knew he'd talked about attending the ceremony to find the person at the end of his string to share his life. "Why gamble on someone who might not be your soul mate when you can easily attend a ceremony to find a guarantee." He'd spoken. She knew he was right. And as a school girl crushing on a guy, she signed up for the ceremony.

He was right. Why was she going to go on failed dates when she could go to the ceremony and prove to herself Kid was her destined partner. They were so similar in every way. He loved literature. He was smart and was majoring in law. He cared about his education and she could talk to him about politics, major society effects and global international happenings. She could talk to him and she knew, she felt it in her heart, he could be her soul mate. She was destined to run into him. He was destined to help her gather her scattered books. He was destined to give her his last name.

"Females walk forward and walk behind the stage to wait for your name to be called. Males you stand on the white crosses scattered throughout the room and wait for bracelets to be handed out." The event coordinator repeatedly spoke into her megaphone. Liz and Maka followed the stream of girls heading behind the curtain. Her gaze moved over the male crowd, searching for the familiar male in a black and white suit but to no avail. Instead her eyes met red eyes and a wide grin of Soul Evans. Cockily he winked at her. She rolled her eyes as their gaze was cut off by the heavy dark fabric behind the stage.

It was beyond her understanding why Soul Evans fuckboy and best friend with the maniac Black*Star was attending a ceremony to find their destined partner in life. Was he so selfish he wanted a guarantee who he could always return to after his and Black*Star's runs through the bar to pick up girls. She sincerely felt sorry for the poor girl who was his soul mate.

Liz and Maka took a seat on one of the plethora of chairs behind the stage beside a girl dressed in a wedding dress. Geez, Bridezilla took the event too seriously. She was for certainly going to be one of the girls who lost the chain the first night.

After a few minutes of being seated behind the curtain, a proud and loud voice of the priest who came up with the technique spoke into the microphone. "Let's find our soul mates today." Liz whispered into Maka's ear.

A sweet smile spread on Maka's lips and she nodded. "Yeah. Let's celebrate with breakfast at Deathbucks tomorrow."

"Sweet."

At the end of the priest's speech, the event coordinator started calling out girls' names. First out was Bridezilla. She swaggered up on the stage in her wedding dress and veil covering her face. She proved to be one of the many firsts to not find their soul mate and with sad steps, she left the stage.

"Miss Maka Albarn." The event coordinator called her name.

"Knock him dead." Liz whispered and flashed a thumb up to her.

With her heart pounding in her chest, she went down the aisle of benches and up the stairs. She exited the curtain and the hundreds of males stood scattered on the floor. A smile grew on her face when she finally saw Kid in the middle of the crowd. Beside Soul. Great. He smiled and gave her an encouraging thumb up.

"Miss Albarn." The priest drowning in a large purple robe offered his hand which she accepted. He led her to the centre of the stage where a woman waited with a tray of bracelets. "Pick a bracelet and place it on the wrist you wish for." She grabbed one of the identical silver bracelets and her movement suddenly halted.

What if she picked the wrong wrist? What if she picked a wrist and it proved to be the wrong one so she couldn't get paired together with Kid? She glanced toward the crowd toward Kid and his suit jacket covered both his wrists, successfully covering the bracelet.

"Don't worry Miss." The lady holding the tray whispered. "Follow your heart and put the bracelet on your desired wrist. The string of fate will bring you and your soul mate together."

Her words soothed her rushing heart and the bracelet clicked repeatedly as she tightened the bracelet on her right wrist. She couldn't help but associate the sound and the appearance with a handcuff.

"Your right hand." The priest mumbled, blue eyes peering at her wrist as if there was something more than the bracelet. "I see you are a strong and independent woman. You don't need a partner's presence to live." He murmured only for her to hear. His golden locks peeked from under his hat. "You're soul mate is someone who supports you. He will be your safety net and a shoulder to cry on when needed. Your soul mate is a supporter and a cheerleader."

Her blood pumped loudly in her ears. Eyes wide as saucers as she stared at the priest's squinted eyes. He was right. She felt the truth to the core of her soul. Kid was all of those things. He was her friend she could talk about hard exams or essays she had to write and he would make her feel better.

Kid was the one.

"Someone to be your friend and sooth your wounds after fighting your own battles." His hand grabbed a hold of hers and his eyes settled on her pinkie finger. A wide smile spread on his face as his gaze moved up to look into her eyes. "And your soul mate is here. In this very room."

The other girls behind the curtain gasped and she heard Liz squeak with joy.

"The first pair of soul mates has been found." The priest announced with power in his voice. "Miss Albarn, close your eyes." She obeyed him and her eyes fluttered shut. The priest slowly raised her hand, extending it forward toward the crowd of males. "Gentlemen, raise your bracelets toward Miss Albarn." Clothes rustled as the males in the crowd raised their arms. "Red string of fate, unite Miss Maka Albarn with her perfect partner. Reunite the souls of these two halves and let them become one."

Instantly the rustle of metal echoed within the sports centre as if it had transformed into a construction site. The bracelet around her wrist tightened and she almost tripped from the force of the tug. The priest grabbed her shoulders and offered her balance and shoes repeatedly sounded and the chain rustled as it reeled her soul mate toward her. The steps hurried up the stairs and both the chain and the steps came to a sudden halt. Her breath was caught in her lungs. Kid stood in front of her. Warm as ever and― wearing a new cologne. One that reminded her of leather and sun rays… one far too similar to―

"Open your eyes and meet your soul mate."

She snapped her eyes open and instantly her heart sunk to her stomach. A wide grin exposed familiar sharp teeth greeted her. "So… how about that tongue kiss?"