Author Note: Usually I won't update this fast, but since MEAP testing starts tomorrow, I just decided to go with it. After this Maka goes to MIS, because of Spirit and everything. So, here you go!

~Miki

After a week of the whole embarrassing scene with Papa and Soul, I was expecting something to be thrown my way, constant whispers of 'slut' or 'whore' or even a rumor. Nothing. Not even Papa reacted, which was something unexpected.

I was still harping on Soul about the picture thing, but, he wouldn't answer, but would instead would do something mortifying that would make me forget about it for a couple of hours. Last time he had tilted my head up and written on my neck 'I kissed Soul Eater Evans'.

That made me shut up until he sat down on my lap and scrubbed it away with a wash cloth for a consecutive hour.

Of course, I had thought of just looking at the picture, but, it seemed to disappear. But, that's not exactly what I had to focus on tonight.

Tonight, like any other student of the D.W.M.A, I had to go out and collect a soul of kishin, which, was what I was suppose to be doing.

I've been scared of actually going on a mission with Soul since he got practically split in half by Crona, but, I've tried to forget about it. Besides, Crona's our friend now, mentally insane or not, he was.

"Hey, we going?" I can feel Soul put his arms around my waist while I'm in the closet trying to find my coat, which, mysteriously has been missing for the past week.

We feel it's necessary to maintain the fake relationship while Papa is still suspicious, just because I've been feeling evil lately. PMS talking much?

"Yeah," I said, locating the black cloth and sliding it up my arms and buttoning it numbly. Everything started trickling away, especially the time, and before I knew it, I was walking up a dark aisle, side by side with Soul.

"Any souls?" He asked, shoving his hands into his pockets, just because it's 'cool'.

I close my eyes and try to concentrate, little images starting swirling. Quickly, a small layout of the area formed in my head, and I could sense several human souls, rather small, but, there was something off, something that appeared to be creeping up on us fast, but, still, a human soul.

"Nothing," I say, gritting my teeth. I hate it when we get all these fake missions, causing uproar and several redo's if they don't believe you. "But, there's a human soul moving fast towards us, and I have a feeling that it could be trouble if we're not careful."

"How much trouble could one little human do? Rea-"

"Are you here to hurt us again?"

I turn around on my heel to face a girl with bright eyes staring straight at me blankly. It took me a second to realize that she had really spoken and that it wasn't actually some trick of light.

"You really need to stop it. The people here are poor and live simple lives, if you think that you can just come in and steal what little treasure they have, then your wrong."

I continue to stare at her, somethings obviously not right, and I can't place it. Her soul is obviously not kishin, and she doesn't seem to be a Miester or Weapon, though there was something floating there, confused.

Obviously the girl had no idea who she was threatening, and I felt bad for her, like I wanted to give her a cookie and push her on her way. Soul gives me a look from behind.

"Listen, why don't you just go-"

Pain seared all the way through my body just as she moved swiftly and her soul completely shifted, showing instead of a pale blue, a firey red. But, still she wasn't kishin, rather, from what I had gather in that few seconds was that she very unpredictable, and that she changed with her mood, that's why her soul was blue like the normal humans while we were at peaceful agreement and then to red as soon as I stepped over that line.

I can barely see the gray blade to her arm scythe as she pulls it away from me, it completely scarlet, and it shifts back to an arm.

"Ma-"

"Don't move, unless you want to die right here, without your girlfriend."

Soul shifted and didn't move, the girl pointing the blade at him warily. I could see her slightly out of the corner of my eye, and her eyes bugged me. I've seen them before somewhere, but, I can't remember where.

Everything's fuzzy. I can feel the world shifting, lying underneath me uncomfortably. I want to sleep, yes, how nice it would be to sleep, I could warm up-

I shake the thought from my head quickly. But, already, sleep was claiming, as the air fogged black and covered my eyes.

There was two things that I remembered. The first was Soul screaming at me not to give into the sleep, just as felt my body thud painfully against the ground, sending several other jolts through my body as I tried to fight the fire.

Secondly, I remember the girl laughing. I remember her soul, how confused it was. She doesn't know who she is, and obviously, by this, she can't confront her fears and overcome to be brave, she's hiding behind somebody who's not her; a mask.

I lied, there was three. The third thing that I remembered was the small things that clicked together. I've seen her eyes somewhere before, I just couldn't remember where, but, when I caught them just before I laid down in eternal comfort, I saw her eyes narrow with concern, and depth.

I know those eyes anywhere.

XxXxXxXxX

I woke up comfortable and unaware of all of my surroundings. I let out a hiss of pain when I sat up, feeling yet another searing pain go throughout my body. I stifle the cry and look around. There's a poster of a guy yelling at the camera angrily, and words in Japanese surrounding it.

I relax. It's the D.W.M.A's infirmary.

I spot Soul in the corner of the room, sitting in a chair, head drooped over one shoulder, drooling on himself.

I giggle slightly.

He mumbles something incoherent, and I stare at him with wide eyes, trying to decipher the meaning. I look around the rest of the room.

Finally, I decide that I don't want to be trapped in this room and I slid out from under the covers, wondering suddenly why I'm in white shorts and a green tank top. A second later it dawns on me, I'm practically ripped to shreds.

There's bandages wrapped around my legs, ankles, wrists, arms, neck, and all the better, my stomach.

I trace them softly, staring at them with wide eyes.

I never knew it hurt this much every time you protected somebody you loved.

Author Note: Damn, I got to stop posting so late at night, but my schedule is seriously fucked up, so I can't do anything about it.

Acknowledgements to: B.V The Epic, for still being my Beta-Reader.

SoulxMakaLover97: Ha, well glad you liked it, see, I tried really hard and considering my first kiss was a DARE and a background of a sprinkler... yeah.

xXCanaryXx: Thanks for following this! And yes, if you read the last Author Note the mental institute does follow through!

B.V. The Epic: Glad you were happy to help, I'm slightly to mostly mentally insane I think. Anyways, the whole thing about the review, I'm one of those people who can't forget and forever feel bad about it until they receive a little card in the mail with a pop-up smiley face and an apology. Or in person. But, if you forgive me that easily... :\