They were finally at their new apartment, though none of them were in the living room. Soul and Slash were in Soul's room, messing around, while Rose and Maka talked in their room.

Maka began searching through her box of old dresses from when she was Rose's age. She came upon a little red checkered dress and she showed it to Rose.

"This would look adorable on you!" she said, holding the dress up to Rose. "Why don't you go try it on?"

Rose took the dress and said, "Thanks Maka. I wasn't sure about coming to the academy but now... I know I will have atleast two friends." She walked over to the bathroom, locked the door and changed.

While Rose was changing Maka was sitting there, wondering why these kids were forced to come here. She wasn't saying it was a bad thing, it was just that, sometimes things got violent there and she didn't think it was right to expose them to that. At their age anyways.

Rose came out of the bathroom, ran to back to the room and twirled. "I love it Maka! Thanks!" THe young girl stepped over to Maka and wrapped her arms around her. She looked up at Maka and smiled.

"Its no problem, It doesn't fit me anymore. My papa just wanted me to keep them..." Maka replied, grumbling the last part. She knelt down and hugged her back.

"Can we go show Slash? " asked Rose jumping up. She went over to the door way and reached for the doorknob.

"Sure! " responded Maka opening the door for Rose.

They walked down the hall to Soul's room, and talked.

"So, how long have you and Slash been friends?" asked Maka, looking at Rose.

"Um... as long as I can remember. I think it has been since we were seven or eight years old." Rose continued walking happily, then continued." I had been in the orphanage since I was a year old. Or atleast that is what the older kids told me. Slash had come when I was seven and no one liked him. I was the only one who would talk to him... or pay attention to him. Everyone else would not allow him to make eye contact with them." rose began sniffle quietly. It pained her to remember how everyone had hated him, and Rose had never told anyone this story before.

"Thats terrible! Soul has always been well known here. He almost became a Death Scythe..." answered Maka. "He was so ticked off when he ate one of Blair's souls. So was I... "

"Whats a Death Scythe?" asked Rose confused. She hadn't even known about the academy until yesterday.

"They are Lord death's personal weapons. You have to collect 99 kishin egg souls and 1 witch soul to become one. It is hard... but possible. My... well... 'papa' is a Death Scythe." answered maka.

"Oh! Well I'm going to make Slash a Death Scythe! No matter what it takes! THat way people will respect him... instead of walking all over him..."

They finally reached the room after talking for what seemed llike forever. Maka knocked on the door. The door opened and they saw Soul and Slash standing there.

Rose hid behind Maka. Soul kinda creeped her out, and she also wanted to surprise Slash.

"Hey, Slash! Do you want to see your partner?" asked Maka in a Im-talking-to-a-little-kid voice.

"Of course! She is my only friend other than Soul!" answered Slash, a little more enthusiastic that usual.

Rose came out from behind Maka and said, "Surprise!" She did a twirl and the skirt of the dress spread out.

"Thats so nice looking! Where did you get it?" asked Slash, shocked to see her in a dress. Normally the only thing he saw her in was her silk kimono with a pink butterfly sewn into it.

"Maka gave it to me, silly!" Rose replied. next, she ran to Slash and gave him a big hug.

Maka walked over to Soul and asked, "Hey, who do they remind you of?"

"um... I don't know... " replied Soul, looking at the two 12-year-olds.

Maka stepped closer and said, "They remind me of us. We have been friends for a while and He is all reserved and she really cares about him... like us!" She elbowed him in the side and laughed as Soul started to get a big grin on his face.

"Yeah. But this kid is alot cooler than me. He has been through so much... but he cant seem to remember anything about the scar on his head..." said Soul, staring at the scar on Slash's forehead.

Maka and Soul stood there watching the two do a secret handshake when Rose asked, "Is there a park around here? In our village Slash and I would always hang out at the park."

"Yeah. There is. But it is time for class... and you don't want to be late. " Soul answered quickly. He walked to the front door of the house and opened it.

The four walked out and went to class together... and thats when it all started.