Very little, as it would turn out.

Maka did not seem to be the type to make small talk and honestly Soul wasn't either. Despite the lingering questions hanging between them the better part of the day dragged on without either of them saying a word. When his boredom grew to be too much Soul let out a sigh and asked Maka for his pack. When she returned it to him she watched with slight interest as he rummaged around inside before drawing out a book.

"What is that?" Maka said, leaning forward.

"It's a book."

Maka made a face. "Obviously. I meant what is it about?"

Soul turned the book to show her the cover. "Ancient languages. If you want to be a treasure hunter you need to be able to translate as much as possible."

"You're really a treasure hunter? You don't seem to be a very good one," Maka said, casting her eye up and down his frame. Soul felt his face go hot.

"Obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have come to this god forsaken place."

Maka stared at him, the edge of her mouth turning down slightly.

"What?" Soul said.

"Nothing," Maka sniffed and her face returned to a passive state. "Do you have more books?"

"Why, you like reading?" Soul said.

"Yes." Maka answered without hesitation.

"Huh, didn't peg you for a nerd," Soul sighed and reached into his pack. "I've got these, but they're just archeology books. After this I was planning on traveling to some nearby ruins and meeting up with some other hunters. Figured these might help. Guess that plan is a little messed up now. Thanks for that."

Maka ignored his quip and held out her hand. "Give them to me."

Soul pulled back a bit. "Eh?"

Maka shuffled forward. "Give them to me."

"I can't just give them to you."

"Why?"

"Because these are mine."

The scythe suddenly appeared in Maka's hand. "I can take them."

"That would be stealing," Soul said. "You said you don't steal."

Maka snorted.

"What?" Soul said.

"You're a treasure hunter. Or so you say."

"Aspiring, but yes. So what?"

"Your job is based on stealing things."

Soul faltered for a moment. "W-what? No it isn't. I find things."

"You find things. Things that belong to other people."

"ed. Belong'ed' to other people," Soul said with a shrug. "But they are dead now. Most of them have been dead so long their bones aren't even around anymore."

"So it is okay because they are dead."

"Pretty much," Soul said.

In less time than it took for Soul to let out a curse the Scythe was around his body, the shaft resting on his shoulder and the blade curved wickedly around his neck.

Maka tilted her head. "So if I kill you right now, then I can just take the books and it won't be stealing?"

"Here," Soul grimaced. "Why don't you take the books? Consider them a gift."

Maka rocked back and forth happily as she accepted the 'gift'. "Thank you, Soul."

The sweet way she said his name combined with the obvious threat of violence that still hung in the air made Soul uncertain just exactly how he was supposed to feel in this situation.

"So, what do you do all day?" Soul asked, looking around the room before his eyes fell on the opening, watching the rain continue to crash down.

"I protect the forest," Maka said as she began to flip through the first book at an accelerated pace.

"Doesn't that get boring?"

Maka paused her reading and looked at him, her head tilting to the side. "Not at all. How could it get boring?"

"You're alone." Soul ventured with a shrug.

"I'm not alone."

"Other people live here?"

"No."

"Then….?"

"The animals keep me company."

Soul blinked. "O…kay."

Maka did not further the conversation and continued to read. Soul watched her for a time before the sound of the rain and the warmth of the room got to him and he soon found himself slipping into that special space between sleep and consciousness. It was Maka snapping the book shut that caused him to flinch awake, fully expecting a surprise attack, but instead Maka carefully put the book down and picked up another. Soul was unable to suppress a groan.

"What?" Maka said, a hint of irritation in her voice.

"Bored," Soul said.

Maka stared down at the fresh book for a moment before sighing softly and putting it down. "Very well, shall we do something then?"

"Sure, why don't we start with you telling me how you know my name and how I know yours."

"No," Maka said flatly.

"What a gracious host," Soul said before he gestured outside. "Don't suppose you're planning on going for a walk, then?"

Maka did not answer as she stood. With a small squeak she reached up and stretched her arms high above her head before walking towards him. Soul forced himself to hold his ground as Maka stopped in front of him.

"Yes."

"Yes what?" Soul's eyebrow went up.

"We are going for a walk. Come."

Maka made her way to the opening, parting the vines with a wave of her hand. Soul still wasn't exactly sure where they were actually going to go, but his choice in the matter seemed to have come to an end. He still had questions, more than he could even begin to list, but Maka showed no more intention of talking. A grim line had set in her mouth as she lifted her hand up and towards the forest.

Pressure built inside the room as Maka moved forward, her arm reaching out through the curtain of vines and into the rain. The tree let out a groan and began to rumble. Soul nearly lost his footing as the entire trunk shook. He caught himself and Maka lowered her arm. She turned back to him and pointed to a thick, freshly grown branch that now extended from the trunk of the tree.

"Go," Maka ordered.

Soul stared at Maka. Even though he had to look down at her she still somehow felt more imposing than him. "You're joking?"

"Do I look like I am joking?"

"Not particularly."

"Then go."

"Outside?" Soul said.

"Yes."

"In the rain."

"Yes."

"On that?"

"Yes."

Soul peered past Maka. The branch looked sturdy, but it was only about the width of his torso.

Soul looked back at Maka. "Why?"

"You said you wanted to do something."

"I didn't say I wanted to die. If you're going to push me to my death you might as well just kill me here, at least I'll be dry."

"I am not going to kill you."

"If I slip and fall then I will still die."

"You will not fall."

"I feel like you can't promise that, If I am being completely honest."

"You were not this much of a coward before," Maka said, blinking slowly. "I am not very impressed, treasure hunter."

Soul glanced at the branch. "I did this?"

"You did."

A sudden burst of memory flashed through Soul's mind. The cold rain against his skin. The slick wood beneath his bare feet. A firm hand holding onto his. Slowly, he took a single step towards the branch. He paused as he reached the edge of the opening, tilting his head back to look at Maka.

The rational part of Soul's mind told him that this was a poor idea. Actually, it told him that this was a downright batshit insane idea and that it was probably going to result in his premature death.

But Maka's unwavering gaze was somehow enough to coerce Soul into stepping forward and to the edge of the branch. He gave Maka one last look before leaning his head outside. His hair was instantly soaked and the icy rain chilled him to the bone. Cursing under his breath, he slowly shuffled his way to the center of the branch. In moments he was completely drenched. Even though his new tunic seemed to repel the water, it did nothing to stop the rain from dripping through the collar and down his chest and back. He shivered unhappily as the rain continued to pound against him and the wind threatened to knock him from his precarious perch.

He looked over at Maka. She had stepped out onto the branch, completely protected from the rain by three thick leaves that sprouted out from the tree around her. The forest apparently did not hold Soul in a similar regard, a fact that was made painfully aware as he blinked rainwater from his eyes.

"Alright!" Soul called out. "This was a lot of fun, but maybe we should go back inside now?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Are you afraid?"

"No!" Soul said right as he made the mistake of looking down. The rains had already formed into a thrashing flood below. If he fell, it would sweep him up as though he were nothing more than a leaf, dashing him against tree trunks and rocks alike. His legs trembled and he quickly found himself on his knees, his fingers vainly grasping at the treebark for some kind of handhold.

"Are you sure?" Maka's voice was suddenly very close. With effort soul managed to lift his eyes up to look at her. She showed no aversion to the frigid rain even as it plastered her hair to her head.

"Yes," Soul whispered. A boom of thunder made him jump and he quickly shook his head back and forth. "Fine I'm scared! Alright ,I'm scared. Are you happy?"

"No," Maka's hand was on his shoulder. Her touch was light, but he still felt some of the apprehension in his stomach fade away. "You won't fall."

"How do you know that?" Soul slid closer to her as a gust of wind rushed over his body.

"I would catch you. I've done it before."

Soul ignored the latter part of her statement. "Catching me implies I have to fall first."

"Fine," Maka sighed. "Then take my hand and I promise you won't fall."

Her hand fell from his shoulder and hung outstretched between them. Soul stared at it for a long time before lifting his eyes to hers. Though her words had been firm her eyes were hesitant, rapidly flickering from her hand to his face.

Hesitating only for a moment Soul pried his fingers from the tree branch and gingerly took Maka's hand. Her cool fingers wrapped tightly around his hand and she gently pulled him up.

Soul started to voice an awkward thanks when a sudden gust of wind sent him stumbling off balance and he felt gravity take hold of his body. The shout of surprise and fear was already out of his mouth before he realized he wasn't actually falling. Instead he was standing quite secure with thick vines anchoring both his legs, Maka's arms wrapped securely around his waist and his arms wrapped tightly around her body.

"Soul," Maka's voice was muffled against his chest.

"Uh, yes?"

"Can you let me go now?"

Soul nodded, but his limbs refused to cooperate.

"Soul?"

"Yeah…" Soul was able to release Maka this time, but his hand somehow managed to work its way back to hers. He felt the vines release his legs and Maka took a slight step back. "Thanks."

Maka nodded but said nothing, staring at him. Soul tried to stare right back but in the end her unwavering gaze won out and he looked away.

"Fine, you were right," Soul groaned.

Maka tilted her head.

"You caught me, just like you said you would. You were right."

"Of course."

A bolt of lightning lit up the sky and in that momentary flash Soul was sure he saw her mouth curve into a smile, but as the light faded and Soul wiped his face dry her face was back to the blank slate he was strangely becoming accustomed to.

"Let's go inside," Maka said as she turned on her heel. She did not release Soul's hand until they were back inside.

Almost as soon as he crossed the threshold Soul's legs gave out and he collapsed onto the blessedly solid ground. Water dripped from his drenched body and pooled on floor around him. Maka waited for him to recover, offering her hand to help him up.

"Thanks," Soul said as he unsteadily returned to his feet. Maka nodded before glancing outside as a bolt of lightning cracked across the sky. With her head turned and her hair plastered down by the rain Soul noticed something about her that he hadn't before.

"Hey," Soul blinked slowly and leaned down towards the girl, his eyes narrowing. "Maka?"

She looked up at him. "Yes?"

Soul reached out and pushed her hair away from her ear. Her noticeably pointy ear.

"Are you an elf?" Soul asked delicately. He felt a stirring in his mind.

"Yes," Maka replied without hesitation.

"An elf," Soul repeated.

Maka nodded.

"Well," Soul sighed as his hand moved up to rub his face. "Why not?"

"You are not overly surprised," Maka said. "Yet you still do not remember me, do you?"

"Not entirely, but with all… all this, it's not like I can count anything out,"Soul mumbled. He fell into one of the large leaf-chairs that Maka grew from the floor. Maka sat down with a decidedly more graceful movement. Soul glanced over at her. "So elves aren't extinct?"

"Not completely. Though our numbers are few, we have found it best to avoid contact with humans after certain… incidents." Maka spoke quietly and kept her tone even, but Soul could feel the venom in her voice. "Our people do not breed like humans. As we lost our land holdings, so have we lost our population."

"So there are others?" Soul said.

"There are a handful of small cities remaining, but they are hidden away by powerful magic. The largest of these resides in the mountain. Guarded by stone and magic, it would be nearly impossible for humans to ever find it. If they did, it would not bode well for them." Maka said darkly. "Even before humans began their hostilities, the Elves of the mountain rarely made contact with the humans. They did not trust them and urged the others to do that same. Sadly, few listened."

Soul frowned. "That's why you attack anyone who enters the forest?"

"Humans do not belong here."

"I'm here."

"Your hand, it's bleeding," Maka said suddenly. She took his hand and held it up. There was indeed a small scratch on his palm. He must have cut it on the sharp treebark earlier.

"Oh."

Maka's hand emanated a soft green glow and Soul watched as the skin slowly began to knit itself together.

"Thanks," Soul said softly. He looked down at his hand that was still firmly in Maka's grasp. His fingers twitched and he felt a memory scratch against the surface of his conscious. Someone had held his hand like this before, in this forest. They had been looking down at him with those same green eyes. But it wasn't Maka, it was…

"Maka..." Soul said slowly. She gave him a questioning gaze. "Where is your mother?"

Maka's hand immediately slipped out of his and she stood up.

"We have talked enough. You should rest for now. It has been a long day," Maka said. Her face remained passive as ever, but there was a waver to her voice. Soul didn't press the issue and simply watched her go.