A pillow hits Soul square in the face. He shoots up out of sleep and looks around with wide eyes. "What the hell?!"
Maka sits on her bed already dressed in shorts, knee high, laced boots with socks peeking of the tops, a blouse and a bustier, and is rolling up her cuffs. "Get up. We're going to eat."
He gets up, his white hair disheveled and his pants wrinkled, and throws his shirt back on.
"Hurry. You're wasting daylight."
He grunts but follows her out, keeping a close pace behind her.
They walk down the hallway, past the ladder leading to the deck and to the other end. The hall opens up into a large dining room with rows of tables and benches.
Maka spots Tsubaki and Black Star and quickly makes her way over to them, taking a seat beside them at one of the long tables. Soul sits right beside her.
Food is in bowls in the centers of the tables, along with stacks of plates. Maka takes a plate and starts to fill it, Soul following suit and filling up his own.
They eat is silence; Soul not quite awake despite the early morning battering while Maka's mind is already reeling with thoughts.
When Tsubaki and Black Star finish they get up to leave.
"Tsu."
Tsubaki looks to Maka, her eyes holding question. A silent conversation passes between them as they speak one out loud.
"Meet us later?"
"On deck?"
"Yes." Maka frowns, sadness filling her eyes.
Tsubaki tries to give Maka a reassuring smile but it comes out sad as well. Tsubaki finally turns and leaves with Black Star following close behind her.
"What's she meeting us for?"
"You don't even know what we're doing before she meets us. Shouldn't you be worrying about that?"
"So, what are we doing?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Soul gives Maka an annoyed look but she ignores it and finishes up her breakfast.
She rises from her seat and Soul stands too. They leave the dining room and walk back down the hall, climbing the ladder to the main deck one after the other.
Maka comes up first and looks around until she finds what she needs. "Ox. Sword."
"Yes Sir."
He throws a sword to Maka; her expertly catching its handle. She flips it so she is holding the blade and gives it to Soul who just comes over the top of the ladder.
He tests out its weight in his hand before gripping the handle firmly. "Are you sure you trust me with this?"
"You wouldn't be able to do anything if you tired. Now, get ready." Maka draws her own sword and points it towards Soul.
Several crew members have gathered to watch the occurrence.
"Ox. Tie my hand."
Ox walks over, loops a rope around Maka's waist and ties her arm behind her back. The gathered crew members laugh.
"Hey, Captain! Don't go too hard on the new guy."
"You know that's no fun Harvar. I didn't go easy on any of you."
She gives a knowing grin and makes her first strike. Soul blocks and tries to counter to Maka's weak side. She ducks and uses her sword to deflect his sword over her head. She kicks Soul's feet out and is quickly on him; one foot pinning his sword, her other knee on his chest and the tip of her sword poking into his neck.
He lies still and she sits, panting.
"How- the hell- did you just- do that?"
Maka gets up, sheaths her sword and offers Soul her hand. He takes it and she helps pull him up.
"Let's go again."
"Shit," he breathes out.
She doesn't let him rest and she quickly redraws her sword and attacks.
They strike and counter in a smooth dance, Maka simply toying with him until she decides to take him down. She swings hard, causing Soul to duck. She takes the opportunity to roll over his back, quickly turning when she lands and pulling him back towards her by drawing in his neck with her blades edge.
She whispers huskily into his ear, "You're too slow."
Soul's breath hitches in reaction to Maka's voice and the feeling of her full body up against his. "God damn woman."
"Alright, let's go."
They continue to fight, not stopping until mid-day. Soul manages to get in a few good strikes, nailing Maka in the gut and in the side, but Maka still takes him down; using her lithe body to dodge and manoeuvre around him.
After one final duel, Maka lands straddling Soul's waist, their sweaty bodies pressed together and their faces almost as close.
"Can I cut in?"
Maka turns her face from Soul's to see Tsubaki holding a sword delicately in her palm with Black Star at her side.
"Aw, but I'm having so much fun kicking the new kids ass."
"That must mean he's good if you're having fun. And…I think he's older. You might not be able to get away with calling him a kid."
Maka looks back down and studies Soul's face for a moment. "Hm. How old?"
"25."
"Damn it."
"How old are you?"
"24."
Finally Maka climbs off Soul, putting her sword away, and helps him up. She pulls him up a little too quickly and they bump chests and noses, Soul's hands going to Maka's waist as he tries to catch his balance.
Soul lets out a breathy, "sorry," and pulls away quickly.
It takes Maka a second before continuing as normal but Tsubaki notices the pause and sighs.
"Alright. Someone untie me, I'm going to need my arm for this."
The knowing grin returns as Ox unties the knots and the rope falls to the deck.
Ox has barely stepped away when Tsubaki makes the first strike. Maka blocks and the dance begins. Their movements are beautiful; metal glinting and blades sliding against each other. Maka strikes and Tusbaki blocks easily. However, Maka makes a low punch as Tsubaki blocks the strike; hitting her hard in the gut. Tsubaki heaves over and Maka slips to her side, pulling the sword up against her neck.
"That's- a new one."
Maka steps back and lets Tsubaki catch her breath. "Yeah, I thought I'd try something out."
"Well, it worked, I wasn't expecting that."
"Ready to go?"
"Yeah, let's."
"Come on, Soul, Black Star."
The four go down the ladder, then down two more, finally arriving at the bottom of the ship; a large open space filled with boilers and contraptions.
"Kid! Blair!"
A purple head of hair pops out from behind a boiler.
"Hey, Blair, any problems?"
"We had a leak this morning, it sprung last night when we took off before letting it cool and rest."
Kid comes out from under a control board. "Yeah, we're all fixed up though and everything is good to go for an attack."
"Awesome, thank you both."
"So, these are the new guys?"
"Yes. Soul," she motions to Soul, "and Black Star," she motions to him.
"Good to meet you both. Though I can't believe you tried to board us and I can't believe Captain let you live."
"Well, there are only two of them."
Kid steps forward and shakes both of their hands. "So, have you had it out with them yet?"
"Soul and I fought all morning."
"Huh, all morning and still walking, you must have taken a liking to him."
"I suppose I have. He's a good swordsman."
"When are you fighting this one?" He motions to Black Star.
"I guess right now." She turns to Black Star. "You okay with that?"
"Yeah, I love a good fight!"
Kid looks to Black Star. "Well, good luck."
Maka nods to Kid and Blair then heads back up to the main deck, the other three following behind her.
As soon as they reach the deck Maka turns on Soul. She draws a small dagger from her boot as she kicks him in the side. She quickly wraps an arm around his neck, pulling him to her, and pushes the tip of the dagger to his gut. "You always have to be ready for an attack."
"I don't think I'll ever be ready for you."
Quickly catching the double meaning she smirks. "I'll be waiting."
Soul's eye's go wide at her words.
Maka pulls back from him and slips the dagger back into her boot. "I want you to be prepared at all times from now on."
"I'll try."
"Good. Now can someone please bring me another sword?"
Someone, unseen by the quickly gathering group, throws a sword at Maka. She catches it and hands it to Black Star. "Get ready." Maka draws her sword and points it to Black Star, holding her other arm behind her back.
"I'm-"
She strikes hard, forcing the tip of his sword down. She kicks him in the ribs, effectively knocking him to his ass.
"Get up."
Maka gives him only a few seconds before striking again. This time Black Star manages to stop the first strike but gets struck down after the second. Maka stands over him; boot on his chest and sword to his throat.
She removes the sword and puts it away.
"You're a little rougher than Soul but you'll both manage not to get killed in a normal fight. Both of you be prepared for attacks at all times from Tsubaki and I." She looks to Tsubaki who nods then to Soul and Black Star who each nod as well.
Maka finally gives Black Star her hand and helps him up, being careful not to pull him too quickly, like with Soul.
Maka spends the rest of the day running Soul through the ship forcing its layout, and the quickest routes between places, on him. She introduces him to everyone, as she began that morning with Kid and Blair. When he doesn't move fast enough she yells at him and eventually he is gripping the outside of the ladder rungs and sliding down just like her. They only time they stop is when Maka attacks him and then finally at dinner time.
They go down to the dining room and sit with Black Star and Tsubaki again.
"So, how's he doing?"
"Good. Black Star will be fine at lunch tomorrow without me in the kitchen."
"Good work, Black Star."
"Thanks." He grins oafishly.
"So, Soul, how are you doing?"
"I think okay, but you'll have to ask the Captain."
Tsubaki looks to Maka expectantly
.
"He's doing well. Anyone else would have tried to give up by now."
"So, you're working him hard then."
"As hard as I can."
Tsubaki laughs sweetly. "I guess that's the only way you know how."
"Well, it's how I was taught."
After dinner Maka and Soul go back to Maka's room. She closes the door behind them and quickly draws her sword to strike at Soul. He gets his sword out just in time to block it.
"Good, you're getting better."
She strikes again and he blocks it and smoothly counters. Maka sidesteps the strike and Soul stumbles slightly. Maka kicks Soul and he falls to his stomach. He rolls to his back, readying to block Maka's next hit, but she is already on top of him.
"Damn. Why do you always have to get on me like this?"
"I'm a girl. I have to use as much of my weight as I can. Does it bother you?"
Their faces are only inches apart and Maka's breasts are pushed up against Soul's chest.
Soul lets go of his pinned sword and moves his hands to Maka's face. He closes the last few inches between them and kisses her. Maka melts into Soul and he takes the chance to flip them over so he is on top.
He deepens the kiss, squeezing her hips tightly and feeling her hand slide up to his back.
Their lips finally break apart and Soul and Maka just rest a stare at each other for a moment.
Soul eventually gets off of Maka and she sits up, leaning back on the palms of her hands.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking."
"You were thing. Now tell me what it was."
"I was thinking of how much I like your body against mine."
Maka stands and walks over to her bed. She climbs up and sits in the middle of it.
"Did it feel like I was pushing you away? And don't you think I could have stopped you if I wanted to?"
Soul looks to her a little wide-eyed at the statement.
Maka unlaces and takes off both of her boots, enjoying how Soul openly stares at her. She unlaces her bustier and it joins her boots on the floor, leaving her in just her blouse, shorts and socks. "Are you coming or are you just going to let me undress myself?"
Soul quickly comes out of his frozen state and moves to the bed. He kicks off his own boots before climbing onto the bed and pushing Maka onto her back.
He swoops down and locks his mouth to hers. She kisses him back passionately, moving her hands up to entwine her fingers in his hair.
He growls into her mouth and begins to undo the buttons of her blouse. He gets through the last one and pulls her shirt open to reveal the scared skin beneath.
Maka pushes him back by his shoulder to pull his shirt over his head then pulls him back down into the kiss. Soul undoes Maka's shorts and pulls them off of her long legs, leaving the knee-highs on. Maka undoes Soul's pants and tugs on the top of them. He stands from the bed to strip them off and returns to his position above Maka.
When he pushes into her there is passion and pleasure in both their moans. Soul picks up his pace quickly, thrusting into Maka hard as she moves against him. Maka's head falls back and she growls, her grip in Soul's hair tightening as she peaks. Soul drops his head to Maka's collar, biting into the flesh as he buries his seed into her.
Soul stays there for a moment to catch his breath before sliding out of Maka and lying down on his back beside her.
They are both a little surprised. Sex is definitely not something new to them, but they've never had sex like that before. Simply: it was great. Not so simply: Something happened between them besides just their bodies coming together.
"Wow."
They both lie staring at the ceiling, trying to understand what just happened.
"My thought exactly, Soul."
After a long moment Maka rolls to her stomach to look at Soul's face.
"Want to go again?"
Soul looks from the ceiling to Maka and he smiles.
"Hell yeah."
