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"No" Soul said simply, beginning to turn away when Maka tugged on his hand, a determined line set into her mouth.

"You promised!"

"You tricked me." He gritted out.

"You promised!"

"Well I didn't think you meant that" he gestured to the store before them, arms dropping down to his side as a gaggle of pedestrians stopped to look at him. He bared his teeth. "The hell are you looking at?"

As they quickly scampered away in a fear a smirk flitted to his face only to be replaced by a grimace as a book crashed over the top of his head. Rearing back he glared down at Maka who was glaring right back.

"How?" he shook his head. "How did you still have a book? Damn book worms."

"You. Promised." she repeated, holding her gaze.

Soul ducked his head slightly, running his hand through his hair before finally letting out a sigh and nodding. Instantly the scowl in her face dropped away to be replaced by a smile as she tugged him through the door of the large music store.

Damnit.

Damnit

Damnit

The single word permeated Soul's mind and effectively summed up his feelings as he stared at the many instruments that hummed with each swing of the door as the air brushed across their surfaces. Still being pulled by Maka he reached out and gently rapped on a cymbal, the clang echoing through the store.

"Afternoon!" the owner called from behind his desk, looking up at the sound. "Can I help you with anything?"

"Piano" Maka urged, tugging on Soul's hand excitedly.

"Like hell." He murmured in return, once again gaining her ire.

"Sorry what was that?"

Soul gritted his teeth. "I said…have any Pianos?"

As he waited for the answer a multitude of questions went through his mind.

Maybe they wouldn't have any? Maybe Maka was just going to disappear and he was going to be left standing alone in this store like an idiot? Maybe he was already dead and this was like, his final moments? Damnit. He better have died doing something cool, like riding his motorcycle off a building. Doubtful. He probably got drunk with Black*Star and Kid and fell down some stairs. Ah, maybe that was it, maybe he was in a Coma and this was all just a dream. Maybe…

"Yup, downstairs. If you need any help just holler."

"Thanks." Soul groaned as Maka already started to tug him towards the staircase. "Careful tiny-tits, you're gonna make me fall."

Maka stopped, a book appearing in her hands. "Do you really wanna go for number two Soul Eater Evans?"

He shied away slightly and followed her without any fight. "Sorry."

Reaching the bottom of the stairs Soul felt a tightness form in his chest that only got worse with every step until Maka stopped in front of a black, grand piano. Letting go of his hand she slipped onto the bench before looking up at him expectantly. Tightening his fists he slowly slid next to her, glaring at the instrument before him.

"Will you play for me?" Maka asked softly, green eyes staring up at him with a slightly pleading expression.

He nodded stiffly, but made no move to raise his hands. He simply glared down at the pristine ivory keys, teeth tightening behind closed lips.

"Soul?"

"I can't" he hissed, one hand coming up to shade his eyes. "I haven't played since…" he shook his head.

"I know." Maka sighed, hand coming up to rub his back as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "But I want to hear you play, one more time."

"I don't even remember how." he shook his head again. "I can't ever remember notes…"

He went silent as Maka reached out and gently pressed a single key. His eyes widened as the ivory depressed and a pure G rang out through the empty room. He swallowed hard as his eyes slowly turned to Maka who looked up at him hopefully. "Do you remember?"

He bit the side of his cheek as he felt tears begin to form in the corners of his eyes. Wiping them away hastily he nodded as his arms found life and began to position themselves above the keys. "Yes. I remember Maka."

His eyes closed as his fingers struck out the first few chords. The tone was neither happy nor sad, it simply was. It was the state he lived in. The state he had lived in since she had left. The tempo made a subtle change, gaining strength as he began to pound the keys harder and harder as his breath began to come out in short gasps. It felt like he had been running for hours. But he couldn't stop. He not yet. God everything fucking hurt. His head hurt. His hands hurt. His heart hurt. Like some had ripped it open all over again.

His fingers slammed against the keys again and again as he worked out every ounce of his anger against the poor instrument. Every moment he had spent agonizing over her. Every minute of sleep he had lost blaming himself. Every opportunity he had missed to his grief.

"DAMNIT WHY?" he roared as his fingers crashed into the keys, now lacking any semblance of control. "Why? Why did you have to fucking die? I needed you. I still need you and you're gone."

He stopped playing with cry, hands pressing against the cold keys as his body draped forward, head pressing against the black. He didn't want to look up. He didn't want to see her face. He didn't even want to know if she was still there. Either way it would be the worst. Knowing she was gone forever, or knowing she was going to leave. He just…he just wanted it all to stop. He stiffened as he felt a soft hand rub his back, but didn't raise his head.

"You're not real." He mumbled as he began to shake. "I know you're not real."

"Soul." Maka's voice was soft, but it sounded strange… "Soul, please?"

Damnit. Might as well try to memorize her face before she disappeared again. Letting out a heavy sigh he pushed himself up and almost immediately recoiled away.

"Maka?" he gasped as he stared at the girl…no the woman sitting next to him. He felt his pulse quicken even more as he stared at her. She looked the same to be honest. Same hair up in pigtails, maybe a little bit darker. Same big, green eyes. But her face had thinned out, become more defined. She was now only a few inches shorter than him, and her chest…he noted with a VERY quick glance… had grown slightly.

"Oh" he said dumbly as he continued to gape at her. This was what Maka would have turned into. The woman she had always been destined to be. She was…"Beautiful."

She blushed, looking down shyly as Soul scooted back towards her again. "Soul…I'm so sorry."

"Me too." He sighed, reaching out and taking her hand in his as he suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion hit him. "So…what happens now?"

Maka shook his head. "I don't think I have much longer here."

Soul's hand tightened around hers. "Don't say that."

"Soul," her hand came up to cup his cheek. "I need you to be strong."

"I can't," he shook his head. "I can't be strong without you."

"Yes you can. I know you can" she smiled, leaning forward until her head was pressed again his. "I believe in you. So I need you to do something for me Soul. I need you to keep living."

"I ca…" he went silent as she put a finger to his lips.

"Soul, I promise you will see me again." She smiled gently. "But if you don't start living again, I'm going to Maka Chop you so hard…" he let out a pained chuckle. "So the next time I see you, when I ask what you've been up to, the answer better not be 'nothing', you understand me Soul Eater Evans."

Soul swallowed down the lump that was permanently lodged in his throat. "Yes…"

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Maka bit her lip, her seriousness suddenly slipping away as she blushed again. "Uh...seal it…with a kiss?"

She didn't even have time to hear his answer before his mouth was against hers and his arms moved around her waist, pressing her body against his. His lips moved hungrily against hers as eager tongues met, deepening the kiss until they finally pulled away, both breathing heavily.

"Maka you know." Soul gasped, forehead once again leaning against hers. "You know that…I love you right?"

She smiled. "As long as you know that I love you too?"

Soul nodded, unable to hold back the tears that began to flow as he once again pulled her into a tight embrace. She returned the affection, pulling him into a loving hug as she softly whispered in his ear. "I will see you again."

"I know," he whispered back as he felt the warm in his arms began to falter and finally fade, and he was left alone in the room. "I know."

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Well that's it. Maybe an extra if something comes to me. Hope you enjoyed.