Disclaimer: I do not own SE. This fic is created purely for casual entertainment. Strictly not for sale. XP

Resonation Echoes (by DATsubasa)

Chapter Two: Longing

Soul

The lazy gleams of light from the sun washed over the land.

He used to dislike the intensity of the sunlight. It was rather the exact opposite now. The sunlight somehow reminded him of a certain someone who was far away.

The 25 year old was standing at the balcony of his headquarters' apartment, looking at the huge grassland. He was finally given a long break from the assignment he was given. The mission was going on smoothly, but somehow he did not feel any sense of satisfaction after completing phrases over phrases of the mission. The person who was supposed to rightfully share the joy of mission accomplishment wasn't here anyway. The echoes of that happy and relieved smile resonated within.

When was the last time they went on a mission together? Probably 8 years ago. After being a Death Scythe, that was the last time he saw her laughing happily. And those hugs. Those Meisters he was working with were nowhere near resembling her. Just a solemn "Good work, Soul, take a rest." It just feel downright, empty. Only the sunlight would provide him the somewhat similar kind of warmth he longed for.

Breeze swept over him, and he wished that it would take away all his thoughts. They were clogging up his mind. Probably might lose his cool sooner or later.

5 years he had left Death City. And that apartment where he used to stay. The hazy memories started to flood in and out of him. The apartment he was staying in now was nowhere close to that which he used to stay in. No one to fight with for the couch. No home-made pastries. No being clobbered on the head. No familiar vanilla strawberry smell.

Somehow, through the years he was gone, he developed a liking for reading. He wondered if she discovered the gift he got for her before he left. It was pretty thick, he remembered. Cost a bomb, it was one of the rares, and very well written. She will love it. He currently has a shelf filled with a big collection of books ranging from novels to mangas. He wondered how she would react when if she saw him lying on the couch reading them.

He stepped away from the balcony and plopped onto the couch, faint music coming out from the hi-fi set. Somehow, he started to venture into more variations of music genres that were able to remind him of her. Contemporary when she was peaceful, metal when she decided to be volatile, rock when she was fighting. Jazz as usual, for them being alone together.

Turning to a corner, he wondered why he had bought so many gifts. All were wrapped in pink, red and black wrappings. How many Valentines had passed? How many birthdays had passed? How many…

It had become a habit to buy gifts since he left Death City for every occasion he remembered. Heilnite City did not have such fanciful festivals. Who were all those gifts for anyways?

His thoughts drifted back to her again.

The intense air around him closed up. Whenever he was alone, he could feel mixed emotions rushing through himself. Somehow the mission trip felt like torture. With every minute passing, every month passing, every year passing, the more volatile he became. He always tried his hardest to suppress the roaring explosive temper which blossomed out within from nowhere. Why was he so emotional?

The 6th year was approaching. After 5 more days it would be. Yet, the mission was not completed. The impulse of abandoning the mission and getting out of Heilnite was growing much in his mind. In a good way he did not have to graduate Shibusen with exams, all he had to do was to finish off this tiring mission. Straight away when he got back, he would just get his certificate and that's it. But somehow it wasn't that exciting as having exams though. At least, he was paid for his missions in Heilnite. But when would he be able to go back, that would be another question.

He got up from the couch and went to the kitchen. It was near dinner time. For some unknown reason he expected this figure to be bouncing about in the kitchen, with laughs and occasional snarls of irritation with his attempts of disruption. The anticipation of the aroma of homemade dinner. A voice yelling angrily, "OY! Come get your dinner dammit! It's the 5th time!"echoed through the apartment. Yet, another memory.

Frustrated with himself for losing it, he punched the wall with much force.

Decided that he should just go out to have his dinner instead, and take a breather at the same time, he stomped into his bedroom to change. For the first time of the 5 years he finally caught his reflection on his mirror.

As usual, his hair was messy, he had kept his hair slightly longer than that when he was back at Shibusen before his departure. His tan was still there. He saw that he had built up his body much, compared to the sloppy him as a young teenager. He was standing at a height of 182cm. He grinned to himself at the thought of a confronting certain fool of a red head dad. With his current height, that old fool would be shocked. Probably he would not ever imagine Soul as a full grown adult ever.

Stepping into the parking yard, he automatically reached for a silver-black bike that wasn't there. He was about to facepalm himself for his foolishness when the thought of his old bike came across his mind. He wondered what it had become since he left. It was a replacement for his first bike, that orange-black piece of metal, as both of them had grown taller. He hopped onto his Harley which he bought 3 years ago and sped off.

All his meals in Heilnite were never once savoring. Eating alone and eating with people from his work wasn't cool in any way. Not even one morsel of the food he ate was to his liking. There seemed to be something missing. He just could not figure it out.

He stopped outside a store selling jewelleries. A single necklace happened to catch his eye. Without a second thought, he went in and brought it right away.

Soul did not understand how he had got home with his mind so full of thoughts. They were getting suffocating. He felt caged somehow. He set the red box at the pile of gifts that he wasn't able to send. The postal service in Heilnite was way too far from his workplace despite him having a bike.

Feeling worn out for no reason, he dreamily walked into the bath expecting it to be locked. It wasn't. Stepping in, and with an anticipation of a bad clobbering on the head with a hard cover book out from nowhere. But the dreadful silence engulfed him. He felt a tiny disappointment erupting from within.

He collapsed onto his bed right after the bath. Somehow the scent in this apartment was really differentiating him from his past. He reached over for a pearl colored coat belonging to that of a girl's which was neatly folded and laid on his chair. He had secretly taken it off from her wardrobe before he left their apartment. Soul hugged the coat tightly, engulfing the faint strawberry vanilla scent of his former Meister.

He did not understand why tears were falling.

Author's Notes:

I have to upload this one right after the first. Don't think it can wait. Not for Chapter 3 though, for that, i will take my own sweet time to upload X) Right now, as i was typing and editing this, i am already writing out Chapter 8, nyahahahaha X)

Anyways, after Maka's, this is for Soul. The reason why i uploaded these 2 chapters for this time, its because, looking from both their point of view will make you feel the entire picture of the distance. It will not really be very fair if i just uploaded Maka's, coz' you won't see the whole picture. Not to worry this fic will not be overly soap-drama'ish. Its more of bringing out the individual's thoughts and feelings by descriptive sentences. I am not a fantastic writer but i hoped that along the journey of writing this fic, my writing skills will improve as well.

Anyways, i just noticed something. When i was typing out the stories, editing and re reading them, i happened to have t.A.T.u's 30 minutes playing on WMP. It just, somehow, created the right atmosphere. Especially the lyrics. 30 minutes... I don't know but its just me. The song really kinda, suited the story very well =/ I guess it can become the main theme for this fic. Okay, fine, i am weird.

Since the author's note i edited in chapter one did not show its changes, i decided to tell you guys here as probably the changes will take sometime. What i wanted to say over there is that, for some of you guys have not seen the fanart i drew for Chapter One, just a reminder, for those curious ppl out there who read the first chapter, go to my profile page and the link to the picture will be right at the bottom =) My gift to you all. Hahaa...

Alright, thanks for reading this chapt. Reviews and ideas are welcomed, and have a great day ahead!