Chapter 5

"So…are we going to stand out here all day, or…?" Soul prodded Maka impatiently as the two stood outside Spirit's apartment the next afternoon. Maka swallowed hard, then took half a step forward to knock hard on the door. A few seconds later, Mr. Albarn appeared at the door, his eyes red from obvious crying marathons. Soul rolled his eyes. How pathetic…

"M-Maka?" Spirit sniffed, a shadow of happiness appearing in his expression. Maka extinguished this emotion from his face with a cold, hard glare.

"Papa, I want to talk with you." Maka spoke calmly. Her father side-stepped so she may enter, but she shook her head. "We'll talk out here."

"Oh…alright." He muttered, knowing that his own daughter did not feel comfortable entering his home.

"That day you couldn't answer any of my questions. You were too drunk." Maka began, looking straight into the Death-Scythe's eyes. He shifted his own gaze shamefully to the ground. "Now that you're sober, tell me everything about Mama's death."

"She took on a mission in Europe…" Spirit told her after a moment of thought, "This mission was a special case. All the meisters that had been sent in to chick it out never returned. She didn't either. However, her body was found, along with the witch's she had been hunting down. Although it cost her life, she was able to complete her mission. Y'know…" Spirit smirked, "that just seems so like her…When we were partners, she would always-!"

"I'm not here to listen to your stories of the past, Papa." Maka snapped suddenly. "Continue telling me of what happened after that."

"Right…" Spirit mumbled, "Well, after your mother passed away, I was told by Lord Death that you should be informed. But…" He bit down on his lip, "I begged him to allow you some time to believe she was still out there in this world…"

"Why?"

"Because she's your inspiration, isn't she?" Spirit said, a grin passing over his lips. Maka stood.

"That's all I wanted to know." Maka turned her back to Spirit, who nodded meekly. "Papa. I understand now…why you never were there for me like a father should be."

"Hey, Maka, what are you talking about-?" Soul broke in.

"All this time," Maka continued, "you wanted to make up for everything you were keeping from me every day for two years. It wasn't love that drove you to lie. It was guilt. You broke Mama's heart, and mine with your cheating, and the fact that she was taken from the world would only make you look worse in my eyes." She walked back to her father, and gave a small, sad smile, "You thought I would blame you."

"Maka…please…" Spirit whispered, his eyes brimming with new tears.

"Spirit," Maka used his first name, "I'm going to free you of the burden of a child you never truly wanted." She held him around the middle, hugging him tightly, one last time. "You don't have to be my father anymore." She pulled away, "I'll be ok."

The Death-Scythe dropped to his knees, disgraced and disgusted with himself. He leaned forward, nose on the ground in the most sincerest form of apology there was.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" Spirit sputtered over and over. He continued to sob on the ground until his daughter and her bewildered partner had long left the scene,

"Spirit, darling, what's wrong? Who was at the door?" A light, musical voice called from inside. A woman Spirit had met the night before, appeared at the door, her hair tousled and messy. Wrapped in a blanket, she looked down at the dishonored man, confused at his behavior.

"N-Nothing…nothing…" Spirit wiped at his face, before standing up and putting his arm around the woman, who blushed.

"Are you sure?" She placed a dainty, alluring hand on the man's chest. He nodded, leading the woman back to his bedroom….

It was as if she was a balloon that had just burst. As soon as Soul and Maka had crossed the threshold of their apartment and had shut the door behind them, she had burst into torrential tears that flooded furiously down her face. She dropped to the floor, leaning against the door and sobbing hysterically into her hands. Soul tried comforting the distressed girl, but she was completely inconsolable. Instead, he sat beside her, holding her hand, until she fall to the side, her head now resting on his shoulder. Soul sighed heavily.

"The things I do for this girl…" Soul thought silently, before maneuvering her into his arms so he could pick her up and move her to the couch.

As he watched her sleep however, Soul began delving deeply into thought. He had always thought that Spirit loved Maka dearly. He had been envious of the bond, for his father hadn't been the least bit caring or compassionate towards him.

To find Maka's father to be so low and weak, was crushing.

Incomprehensible

Impossible.

Horrible.

To wound such a strong person like Maka, one had to go incredibly far. Spirit had indeed gone the distance to accomplish this. But even so, Maka was the one to end her father's foolish charade of lies.

Soul brushed the hair from Maka's tearstained face, and smiled, leaning forward to touch nose and nose together. He closed his eyes, breathing in her scent.

She certainly was something special.

wow. well that was quite a deep chapter. it was kind of hard 2 write at sum points, but i did it! ^^ i kno sum of u mite be "grr y did u make Spirit like that?" but i just think he's kind of a despicable, 2-faced guy. dont get me started on that though lol. anyway, i luv the end bit with soul and maka. i was fighting with myself cuz i didn't want him 2 just kiss her (its 2 cheezzyyyy!) and i don't want my fanfix 2 just look like everyone elses.

ITS NOT THE END YET! maybe...2 more chapters? not sure. but we'll c how it turns out! i hope u liked it so far!