Chapter 2: The Search Continues- Should I Just Give Up?

There was no way she could do this.

Maka sighed as she slumped down against the brick wall of some pub. She let her head fall back against the cool stone.

It was mid-afternoon and hot. By now Maka was convinced that the sun was laughing directly at her. She'd tried at least six more ships after her first blunder. She hadn't been very successful. They'd all said the same things:

'Not a chance.'

'Go away.'

'No women allowed.'

Maka was really starting to hate the sexist qualties of sailors. She was beginning to think she'd never find a crew to take her on.

For a fleeting moment she considered contacting her father for help...

Maka hit herself.

No way was she asking that-that man for help. She hadn't even told him that she'd moved out of the apartment, and didn't plan to, either. It'd be a few months before he came back and Maka planned to be long gone when he did. She almost felt bad for leaving like this (if she ever even got the chance to leave that is) but the man was hardly ever home anyways, so Maka pushed any remorse to the back of her mind- besides, she didn't even know if she could get out of port.

"Stop thinking like that!" Maka scolded herself. She slapped her cheeks and stood up. "Of course you're going to!" All she was doing was sitting here in self pity. She'd never get anywhere with that attitude, "I won't give up!" Maka nodded to herself and had just taken a few steps when a voice called out to her.

"Hey, girly." Maka looked over to see two buff men standing a few paces away. They were large and tanned, with multiple piercings and tattoos.

Maka eyed the two men warily, keeping her distance she asked, "Yes?"

The one on the left, who was the slightly bigger of the two, gave a mostly-toothy smile. "We heard you was lookin' for a ship to stowaway on."

"Well, not 'stowaway' exactly. But, yes." Maka tilted her head slightly, giving the men a scrutinizing stare. What were they getting at? Were they here to laugh at her too?

The men glanced at each other, grinning. The one on the right took a step forward, Maka took a step back. "We was wonderin' if you'd like to," he paused, his smile sending shivers down Maka spine, "'stowaway' on our ship."

At this Maka perked, her defences falling. They were going to help her? She gave them a timid smile. "Well, as I said, I don't want to stowaway, just get a ride around to the other ports."

The men shared another look, then approached. "Yeah, yeah, sure. We can 'elp you." He placed a hand on Maka back, "Just come with us."

Red flags flared up in the back of Maka's head, but she let herself be guided by the large man.

She looked up at the other one, using a hand to shield her eyes from the sun. "Are you sure you can help? Will your Captain be alright with this?"

Another shared glance. "Sure, sure. 'E's fine with it."

Maka pursed her lips. They were being awfully shady about the whole ordeal. "Either way I'd like to speak with him. Let him know what my plan of action is."

Another look. "Course, just be patient, lass."

The small trio walked along for another moment or so before Maka noticed they were walking in the opposite direction of the docks. "Excuse me, sirs. Exactly where are you taking me? The docks are that way." Maka pointed for emphasis.

This look shared annoyance. "Course, course." The larger one said, "We're just taking you to our Cap'n."

The red flags started yelling at her. Her voice went flat, "Why isn't your Captain on his ship?"

The one to her right barked a laugh. "He don't spend all his time on the ship. He's taking care of, of some business right now."

Maka's eyes narrowed, "Well, I wouldn't want to bother him then. I'll speak with him later." She stopped walking and tried to turn around, but a hand on her shoulder and a knife at her back stopped her movement.

"He'll be fine with it, lass. Best keep walking." The one to her right said.

The knife poked deeper into her back. "Move, girly." Maka jolted forward, she moved stiffly as the two guided her on.

"Wh-where are you really taking me?" She kept her gaze forward, not daring to look around.

The bigger one laughed again, "Well, you've gotta pay your entrance fee, now don't you?"

Maka went ridged, "E-entrance fee?"

He grinned down at her, "You didn't think we'd let you stow away for free did you?"

"I-I told you, I don't w-want to stowaway, I j-just need a ride." She couldn't stop herself from stuttering, Maka couldn't remember a time in her life where she had been more afraid.

The men ushered her into a nearby alley. One slammed her against the wall as the other moved the knife to her throat. Maka's eyes widened as a large hand reached for her shirt, she kicked wildly and was satisfied when she hit solid mass and heard one of them shout profanities. The knife moved away but the large hands moved to her hair and yanked her down. Maka screamed as her head hit the cement. The ringing in her head almost drown out the pain. Another hand reached down and pulled her up by a pigtail.

"You try that again missy," The knife sweep through the air, cutting her hair, Maka's head fell back again, "and you'll lose more than a clump of hair."

A hand swept down and yanked her remaining pigtail from its holder, her strands fell lose and a foot stepped down to hold her in place. A hand moved to hold her wrists above her head. One of the men bent down, and for the first time, Maka could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath. "Not one word, girly, hear me? Not one word."

His pudgy hand moved down to fumble with the buttons on her shirt, his hot, foul breath fell down upon her face. Maka's own breath was short and ragged. Tears slipped out as she closed her eyes, planning to try and ignore everything until it was all over.

The man reached the fourth button down. Maka was shaking, trying not to completely break down and hold on to whatever pride she could. He'd just undone the button when the sound of a gun firing filled the musty alley.

The man's hand froze and Maka snapped her eyes open.

Though her vision was slightly blurry she could make out the figure of a teenage boy.

His hair was black, with three white stripes on the right side. He wore a mostly black suit, and a scowled. The most shocking thing, Maka found, was the fact that he had a gun. Correction, he had two guns. The boy held them in an awkward upside down fashion as he frowned down at the scene before him.

"Your lack of balance disgusts me."

Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater; Atsushi Ōkubo does. I only write this due to my lack of a life.

Thanks to Akamaruwolf323 for being my first reviewer! I'm sorry that you found it difficult to read. I tried to make this one with fewer speech impediments. The main cast should all talk normally. I was just doing that for the sailors around the dock, to show how they talk. So, it might come back in play, but I'll try not to make it, quite as dramatic? I think that's the word I'm looking for... Anywho! Thanks for reviewing! (It's the only reason I even wrote another chapter. ,^-^)