A/N: This isn't as long as the previous chapter (thank goodness!) but uhm, it's very angst-filled! Thanks for the reviews :3
A New Partner
Maka sighed for the hundredth time. Soul peered at her from his peripheries, hiding his worry for her behind his ruby eyes.
"Maka-chan, I'm sure it'll work out in the end," Tsubaki said encouragingly though Maka didn't feel the optimism at all.
It was her 2nd week after achieving her complete Weapon and yet still no Meister had approached her.
"Hmm," Maka muttered. Damn this, I never thought it'd be this difficult to complete this task!
"Well it can't really be helped can it? Miss Try-To-Be-Perfect is too picky about her partners to actually agree to any of the Meisters that actually requested," Soul droned, his arms behind his head leaning casually backwards on his seat. Maka didn't catch his gaze focussing entirely on her reading material.
Even Patty caught up with Maka's strange behaviour; a Maka Chop would usually be in line waiting by now. Soul rested his head on the back of his seat staring up at the ceiling.
He would never admit it openly but he was secretly happy that Maka was being this uncooperative; it just showed how he was the only one who can partner up with her. But then it's partly his fault too… besides blurring the lines between a relationship and a Meister-Weapon partnership, he smirked as he remembered his last encounter with a creep that asked for Maka.
…
"Soul Eater!" the Weapon turned at the call of his name. An unknown entity came running from behind him.
"Yeah, what's up?" Soul said in his usual monotonous tone. Glancing at the guy's awkward physique, Soul knew that he was a newbie Meister.
"I'm Wright Gordon, a new Meister at Shibusen. I'm looking for a Weapon named Maka Albarn; since you're in the same class as her, do you know where she is?" Soul disliked him immediately from his attitude, Maka is no heartless Weapon you cold faggot. He decided to play with this Gordon boy, this newbie needs to know his place in the world.
"Oh Maka? Yeah I know where she is, I always do. You know right, she's not just a Weapon she's my Meister too; the Meister that made me into a Deathscythe. My point is, Wright, mine and her wavelengths are so fine-tuned that I can even tell what she's planning to do right now," Soul pressed a finger to his temple pretending to read Maka's mind, "ah, looks like she's about to go to Spirit-sensei's office. Ah man, it's that handy when I can just tap into her wavelength like that. Of course she can access mine too, we're that close. Whoa, look at me going off on you like that sorry! But yeah she's in Spirit-sensei's office. If she's gone, just ask him where she is and make sure you specifically tell him that you want to be her partner."
The boy blinked at Soul a few times feeling the hostility radiating from the Deathscythe. Though his face was smiling crookedly it was obvious his eyes were yelling at him 'Maka-is-mine'.
"R-Right, thanks," and the novice Meister ran off. Soul grinned, it hadn't occurred to him that this guy was that dumb to go find Spirit and ask about his precious baby daughter.
…
And that was how Soul treated all the possible 'suitors' for Maka. He laughed inwardly at how he was more protective than her good-for-nothing papa. Soul turned his attention back to Maka as she spoke again.
"Shut up, I only turned down one Meister but that was because he already had a partner but completely forgot! She had the glory to tell me after class…" Maka's mood darkened as she thought of the almost bitch-fight encounter with the Weapon.
"Don't worry about it, Maka there's no way that someone brilliantly minded like you would stay off the market for long!" Liz said earning a small squeak from Maka.
"Y-You're making it sound like I'm trying to get a boyfriend!" she shrieked a small blush flitting across her face but she quickly turned her attention to the book in front of her again as Liz stared.
Soul snorted, "that's right Liz, why would she be on that kind of market anyway when she's already-OW, DAMN IT MAKA!"
"Already what?" Patty and Tsubaki perked up at Maka's sudden jumpy reaction.
"N-Nothing! It's just Soul mouthing-off as usual," she said glaring at Soul who was busy swiping away the stars he saw before his eyes.
…
"Honestly Maka, what's wrong with you? Do you want a Meister-partner that bad?" Soul said unable to bear the silence as they ate at the dinner table. The spoon that was aiming to scoop up more curry stopped in its tracks as Maka looked up.
"Yes," her curt response cut into Soul like knife through butter, "and you better not be the reason why I haven't had any more requests."
"Oi, that's seriously uncool to joke about. Why would I care to interfere?" but she'd hit home. He did care because she'd have to divert her attention from him to practice Soul Resonating with her new partner, practicing with his Maka.
Maka felt unsettled. Her life has been thrown into jeopardy ever since they kissed that evening. She'd been avoiding him during times alone. And then there was the fact that she had no Meister partner, was she that unappealing at Shibusen? Why did so many people (though mainly girls) fight over Soul even before he was made into a Deathscythe? Did people just care about appearances and not the soul's nature these days?
She gritted her teeth. All she could think about these days was her unpopular self and Soul. How had they become such a tight pair? He was selfish, cynical, complete slob, good-looking and casual; she was hard-working, a book-lover, plain-looking and temperate. Complete opposites on a coin, yet they were on that very same coin. But that was the very thing can she physically bond with a new Meister after all she's been through with Soul? He was annoying and a thorn in her side at times but he understands her and has earned her trust so completely. Can her future Meister even live up to that?
Maka frowned a little. In all honesty, it felt wrong to have a new partner even if he/she was a Meister. Having two partners would just be like two-timing, it wouldn't be so bad if her Meister was to be a girl but Shinigami-sama had always stressed how it was better to partner with the opposite sex. But technically it wouldn't be like cheating like her papa did so many times. Just a Weapon-Meister relationship… but how did that end up between her and Soul? Yeah, a kiss.
"Earth to Maka," she looked up, realising that she's been so wrapped up in her confusion that she'd forgotten about Soul completely. Not often that happens these days, she thought ironically to herself.
"Wh-What was that?" Soul sighed and dropped the subject.
He had to admit, as much it felt great at the time, he was half-regretting now. He'd meant it to close the rift between him and her but it only created a bigger distance between them. Cool guys don't regret.
She always wears a guarded expression now whenever their gazes lock. She'd always make sure there was an insinuated space between them as they sat next to each other. She never clung on the way she used to as they rode his bike to Shibusen. She's even hit him less these days with her Maka Chops, like this morning in class. She was avoiding him.
"Never mind, leave your stuff there after you finish I'll do the dishes tonight," he said off-handedly scrapping off the last of his food before sauntering to his room to fetch his iPod.
Maka watched him leave then glanced down at her food, feeling her appetite disappear. Her life was in a mess.
…
It'd been the happiest he's seen her in days, and the reason for her euphoria did not please him.
"That's great Maka, when do you guys start?" Soul said not caring that he didn't sound enthusiastic at all.
Maka smiled brightly wrenching at Soul's heartstrings, "today! He said to meet him at the atrium after school for our first session so I won't be going home with you, sorry about that!"
Damn the kid. He'd been mentally preparing himself for weeks, even forcing himself to accept how his chest constricted with anxiety each day he walked into Shibusen as he anticipated the news of Maka and her new Meister. It never came, until today and the Meister wasn't someone he'd thought would contest.
"Right…" Soul knew he should be happy for her but he just couldn't bring himself registering that she had accepted him to be her partner. But it made sense. They've been friends for years, fighting Arachnaphobia and Asura together, hanging together after school… trusting each other.
"I'm so excited Soul! I can't believe how worried I'd been all these past weeks! It's silly now looking back at it, but I guess the anxiety paid off since it alerted Professor Stein!"
"Yeah."
"He said 'I should have guessed that the new Meisters wouldn't be able to match your experience on the battlefield. How about partnering with someone on a similar level with you?'" Maka sobered her face mimicking Stein's analytical tone, "'but like you're a part-time Weapon, he will be your part-time Meister. Soul-kun will continue being your Weapon.'"
"Ah."
Maka blinked at how unresponsive her Deathscythe was, "is everything alright, Soul?"
"Yeah, congrats Maka. Let's get to class we're going to be late," Maka watched him walk away, her joy subsiding a little as she pondered what's wrong with Soul. It was the first time he seemed eager to get to class. Oh well, it's probably just my imagination!
…
"What's up, Kidd? Can't take how brightly I'm shining as the new God? Tsubaki, Fey Blade mode!" Black Star yelled as the shadow lines crawled up around his face.
- I swear he spams that form of Tsubaki way too much. Maka said unamused as she parried Black Star's attack.
- He'll get weak pretty soon, that mode takes too much toll on his wavelength. Hang in there, Maka!
Wielding Maka's double-ended scythe form, Kidd pushed Black Star back towards the edge of the practice yard.
- Here's our chance! Let's try it!
"SOUL RESONANCE!" Maka and Kidd yelled in unison as their soul wavelengths rose in unison. But Maka sprang out of Kidd's hands as their wavelengths jarred against each other.
"Enough!" Stein yelled as Black Star recovered and lowered his attack stance, "not bad for the first time Maka, Kidd."
Maka glowed as she transformed back into her human form looking apologetically at Kidd.
"Sorry about that."
"It's fine, we were almost there. At least you've stopped rejecting my wavelength now," the young Shinigami replied with a smile, "Professor I think it's time for me to get back. I think I missed out re-arranging Liz's drawer of nail polish symmetrically when I tidied her room, I recall the blue bottle was bigger than the yellow one…"
…
Soul watched from the lecture hall at their progression. He'd refused Kidd's invitation when he was invited to watch them practice out of pride but now he was feeling like a dork that he's hiding out in the lecture hall to spy on his own Meister. He could trust Maka to look after herself in practice bouts but she was in Weapon form taking the hits with her body plus she was up against Black Star who doesn't have the capacity in his brain to understand 'holding back'. He had to be there to witness how many attacks Black Star owed Maka by the end.
Maka and Kidd. Kidd and Maka. So that's how it's turned out. It made sickening sense. He was a Shinigami and she was brilliant at adjusting her wavelength to compromise with others. He can obsessive as she is when it came down to becoming stronger. His demon guns would have been Deathscythes ages ago if it hadn't been for their laziness. But with Maka's over-achieving trait, he'd make her into a Deathscythe in no time. They may not be able to Soul Resonate with each other but that's only a matter of practice.
Soul bared his sharp teeth as the harsh truth hit him. They were a perfect pair.
"I knew you'd be here," Soul spun round sharply at Liz's voice.
"Sis, I think I was the one who pointed it out?" Patty said her eyes naïve with strange intelligence as ever.
"Damn, sneaking up on someone so isn't cool."
"Right back at you, you're not spying on Maka and Kidd are you or rather just Maka?" Liz teased with a cunning smile on her face. Soul stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked away his face laced with annoyance and guilt.
"Spying isn't for cool guys like me," but Liz's smile only widened.
"Yeah, of course not that's why you refused to watch them in the open air when Kidd suggested it and said you were heading off home," the demon gun said sarcastically as her younger sister laughed aloud.
"So what if I change my mind?" Soul snapped at the two sisters.
"Alright alright, calm down Soul. We're just bored since Kidd is down there practicing with Maka. Besides we wanted to ask you something. This morning, what were you going to say before Maka hit you?" Soul casted his lazy red eyes towards them.
"Not a word Soul!" Maka insisted with a blush as Soul lifted his face from hers, wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth.
"As you wish, my Meister," he chuckled mockingly before pulling her into his arms for another round.
"How the hell am I supposed to remember something trivial like that?" he evaded, slumping down in one of the seats waiting for them to go. But he knew the Thompson sisters weren't going to give up the chance of tasting juicy new gossip when they smell one.
"OK, let's jog your memory a little then," Liz and Patty sat down too facing Soul, "is Maka off the dating market?"
"Tsch, how am I supposed to know I'm her Weapon not her emotional support helpline," Soul muttered.
"Don't be a spoil sport Soul…" not getting any further responses, Liz resorted to the old dirty tricks, "it seems like Kidd might actually get a chance then, right Patty?"
"That's right! Rabbits and skunks go sooooo well together!" Soul froze.
"Wow, don't let Kidd hear you call him a skunk…"
"But they're black and white right just like Kidd-kun's hair! Or maybe he's a zebra but aren't they too big for rabbits-?"
"What was that about Kidd?" Liz had hit the jackpot he had played straight into her hands.
"Huh? Oh nothing big."
"Oi, you can't just casually spread rumours like that you know," Soul frowned.
"Come off it Soul, it's not like you're in charge of Maka's love life right? Taking care of her wellbeing as her Weapon during missions is as far as it goes, right?" Liz smirked at Soul's stoic expression.
"You guys can tell Kidd to keep his OCD hands off Maka. She's not interested," he said with finality before making his way for the exit.
"Oh? OH? What was that Soul? So Maka's taken right? Was it by you, Soul-kun?"
"Geez, you guys are as dense as Black Star. I said she's not interested in those kind of things, how did that equal to me-?"
"But you are totally interested in her! Don't deny it, you've been together for years and it's so obvious these days from the way you look at her that you like her!"
"If I don't like her then our pairing would've ended years ago-!"
"SOUL LIKES MAKA!" Patty yelled at the top of her voice before collapsing into spasms of manic laughter. Soul winced as her voice echoed off the walls of Shibusen
"Oi, shut up! My ears are fucking ringing-!"
"So you're not denying it?" fuck this, and Soul spun round ferociously to face the two idiotic sisters.
"LOOK, I DON'T LIKE HER IN THAT WAY ALRIGHT?" an eerie silence settled over the academy has Soul panted angrily.
"Soul?" blank green eyes met his boiling red ones as his heart sunk at the voice.
This is seriously not cool.
I love Patty, her mind is just pure brilliance xD I actually feel guilty for making Soul go through all this pain...
Sorry for the abrupt and cliched ending of this chapter, it's a bit crappy and I know it's not like Soul to go all mushy but I just couldn't resist! Anyways, thanks for reading :D
Shaari
