Sorry for the late update T T I've had so much stuff to do these past couple days... anyhoos, enjoy ^^

Disclaimer: I don't own Soul Eater. But I own Ayame 8D

Chapter One: Where to?

Where would I go from here?

A dark night. Mist swirled around us. A dark alley, tall buildings on either side of us, blocking our way out. Out of this nightmare.

Footsteps. The sound echoed. I shivered.

He stood in front of me, tall and stiff, nervous.

"Are you ready?"

Although he whispered, the sound seemed to crash onto my ears.

I nodded, numb.

"Let's go." He transformed into a weapon and landed lightly in my outstretched hands.

I clutched the sword and squinted, looking for our opponents. It too dark. Why was it so dark?

I looked up. The sky was a stretch of black velvet. No stars, no moon.

I griped the sword tighter, suddenly afraid.

How was I able to see when there was no light?

It didn't matter, not right now. Because the foot steps got louder every passing second.

"Here they come." The dark blade reflected his face. "Get ready Ayame."

His blue eyes were wide open, he was on guard. Yet his lips were pulled into a smile. A smirk that still haunted me.

Then they came into view. He gasped, then yelled.

"AYAME!"

.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

My own screams woke me up. My eyes flew open, and I looked around wildly, panting. I had broken into a cold sweat, and my damp hair clung to my face.

The street was still dark, and only a few people were out and about at this time of the morning. I took deep breaths, trying to calm myself.

"It was just a dream. A dream." I muttered, leaning against the wall. I shook my head, trying to get those vivid images out of my mind. I could still see his face when I closed me eyes...

"Hey, get out of here!"

I opened my eyes to see a stout man standing in front of me, a set of keys in his hands. He frowned, apparently annoyed at me.

"What?" I drawled back.

"I can't have homeless people sleeping in front of my cafe. Get out!" The man shouted.

Homeless? Me?

"Go on, you heard me!" The man's face was becoming steadily redder.

"I'm not homeless." I replied, smirking. "I have an apartment."

"Go sleep there then!"

The topic was straying to dangerous areas. I switched the subject. "You sell coffee?"

The man was startled. "Yeah. But I'm not giving you any on the house*, if that's what you're asking."

"I don't take charity." I snapped. I stood up and dusted off my jeans, then smiled at the man. "Well?"

"Well what?" The man looked thoroughly confused.

I laughed softly. "Aren't ya going to open up your cafe so you can sell me some coffee?"

------------

"Will that be all?"

The man placed a large mug of coffee on the table.

"You got any cake or donuts? Something sweet?"

"I have some coffee cakes." The man offered.

"Bring me a couple of those then." I replied, picking up the steaming mug.

"Sure." The man waddled away.

Smiling, I took a small sip of the hot coffee. Once I had proved to him I could pay, he had lost his hostility, and served me with a smile. People were so fickle.

"Careful. The coffee's hot."

The man's warning came too late. I winced and put the mug down, having burnt my tongue.

The man chuckled, and put down a plate of coffee cakes. "Anything else?"

I shook my head and he went back to his counter, where he sat down to read the paper.

I broke off a piece of the cake and nibbled at it. I stared out the window at the people passing by, my mind wandering. A few people ambled into the cafe, smiling and laughing.

I had lived on the streets for two weeks. Where would I go from here? Back to LA? Back to the apartment?

No, I wasn't ready for that. I sighed, and broke off another piece of the coffee cake. Back to the clan?

Definitely not. I didn't want to live their way of life. Although I would have to stop avoiding them.

Smiling, I took a cautious sip of the coffee. It wasn't so hot anymore, and it warmed my body.

Then should I just move on?

The thought stuck with me and I contemplated it while I finished my breakfast. After laying a bill on the table, I quickly left the small cafe.

I used a payphone to call a cab, and thought hard while waiting for it to arrive. Did I really want to do this? Was I ready?

When I cab came, I slid into the backseat.

"Where to, miss?"

I paused for only a second, crushing my last doubts.

"Death City, please."

Maybe it was time to pay Shinigami-sama a visit.


*on the house: for free

There it is ;D I hope you enjoyed. Don't forget to review ;)

Yes, I know. It's pretty short. Sorry about that.