Sorry for the long wait on this chapter. When I had first envisioned this scene it was a lot more graphic. You know, the steamy mind of an idle teenager. But then I got around to writing it and I got stuck. Plus, when you think about it, Maka would never just let Soul have his way with her. She is not her father. I probably would have left writing this off longer had one of the review in my other story not asked me why it was taking so long. Sorry for the delay.

Soul's lips turned up in a smirk. Sharp teeth were made visible behind lips. He leaned forward, hooking his fingers in the metal fence above her head. His shadow made a line across her chest.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing out here? All alone?"

Maka raised an eyebrow in mock of his line. "Heard there was an albino vermin in the school."

The insult rolled off him easily. Ignoring her expression of distaste, Soul crouched. Putting all his weight on the balls of his feet, he was able to be eye level with her. "Well, I heard that Kidd was out of town."

"That doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. You know that, right? Star will kick your ass. Hell, I'll kick your ass."

"Be the only beating I enjoy."

"Can you find some other poor women to terrorize? Or just drop dead."

Soul leaned in closer, "What fun would that be?"

Maka narrowed her eyes, then reached up and pinched his cheek. He jerked back with force. Growling Soul said, "Can't you just relax? Your precious boy toy isn't here right now, you can have a little fun."

Maka's eyes blazed, "Just because my boyfriend isn't within spitting distance does not mean I'm ready and willing to cheat on him. I don't cheat," she spat the words.

Soul stood up, cracking his back but quickly shifting back to a slouching position. "You're right, you're right; cheating isn't cool. I shouldn't have suggested it."

Soul looked again at the stubborn girl. The set of her jaw and the stony look in her eye, it was intriguing. Soul did something he hadn't in a while, he smiled, a real smile warm and sharp. Rubbing the back of his neck, he said, "You sure you're a meister. Look like you got some weapon blood in them."

"Have," she corrected stubbornly. He chuckled at her immediate grammar correction. Somehow, it made her… cuter. How long had it been since he'd really looked at a girl? When was the last time he actually thought a girl was attractive?

Maka looked at Soul, startled. The madness had lifted from his features. His grin, though oddly filled with sharp, dangerous teeth, somehow looked hansom. His red eyes sparked with an intensity they had not shown when the two had first met.

He shifted over, plopping down beside her. She opened her mouth to make a sharp comment but before she could, he said, "I'm not making a move. Trying my hand at being civilized. I promise I wont do anything… shifty."

Maka gave him a warning look but accepted the company. "Do you… do you read?"

He slouched forward to look at the back of her book. "What are you reading? I've never heard it?"

"It's a collection of newspapers from across the world. The story is kinda like a puzzle, you have to read all the details to see where they interject. You wouldn't like it."

He leans back, slouching against the metal fence. "You never know. That does sound a bit more complicated than my taste but if it's interesting I'll check it out."

Maka tried not to think too hard about the smile she was hiding. "So what do you read?"

He propped his hands behind his head like a pillow, "World War Z's my favorite but I usually just read whatever Tsubaki puts in front of me."

Maka giggled, "Yeah, Kidd won't even look at a book if I don't push it in his face. Still, a zombie book? Nothing more… thought provoking caught your fancy?"

"'Caught my fancy'? What time period are you from? World War Z isn't just some zombie book. It's about what would happen. All the different government procedures. How people would react. It always has something to offer, no matter how many times I've read it. Have you even read it?"

Her cheeks took a soft pink that intrigued Soul, "Well, no. I haven't read it. Stephen King's Carrie is all the horror I can do. Besides, I don't really like gore."

He nudged her with his shoulder, "It's not so bad. Sure you get some shivers but the book is really well written. I really do think you should read it."

She gave him a pointed look and he shifted away from her again. With a sigh, she consented, "If you really want me to read it, you'll have to lend it to me."

Soul smirked again and Maka grudgingly realized the face was growing on her. But she wasn't telling him that. As long as he kept his distance there was no reason they couldn't be… friendly acquaintances. Right?

xxxxxxxx

So maybe this truce wasn't such a good idea. Black Star didn't usually regret things, he meant what he said and did what he wanted. Still, Tsubaki was getting under his skin. And not in a bad way. He could deal with annoying. You just ignored them when you seem them and forget them when you don't. The problem was she was too nice.

The next day she had met him at the gym. It hadn't been a big deal. They'd warmed up together, then spared for a bit. After about an hour of working Star branched off to do his own regiment and Tsubaki hers. However, after they'd both spent a little over three hours in the gym working none stop, Tsubaki walked over to Star. With food.

Tsubaki was a good cook. He'd admit that, no question. But wasn't she being too friendly? They were from different gangs after all. Was this some kind of psychological warfare? He didn't do well with over thinking.

But then she leaned forward to wipe a smug of ketchup off the corner of his mouth and he could see her cleavage relatively unhindered and he wasn't thinking at all.

"Black Star? Black Star, are you alright?" Tsubaki was waving a hand in front of his face at this point.

"Why are you so nice to me?" He asks bluntly.

"Uh…"

"I mean, I know I'm the Great Black Star, but we're supposed to be enemies, right? I don't get why you're so nice to me."

Tsubaki thought a moment, "I guess I'm nice to you because I don't want to be enemies. You catch more bees with honey then vinegar, right? Honestly Liz and Patty are more the people who like to start fights, I'm more interested in meeting people."

Star stared at her for a moment. When he finished, "You're too nice, you know that?"

Tsubaki blushed. Trying to change the subject, she said, "Are you finished with your sandwich? Do you want to continue working?"

Black Star stood up with a sweep, dusting off his pants. "Nah, I'm finished for today. If you want to continue, I can see if Sid is upstairs."

"No, it's okay. I should probably check back."

Just before the two stepped out into the street, Black Star turned once more to the beautiful girl. "Did you really mean it when you said you don't want enemies?"

She giggled, "Well, yeah. Who wants to make enemies?"

Star pursed his lips in thought. Someone who didn't want to immediately start a fight. This was new to him.

Not the best, I know. Hopefully the next chapter will be longer. If any of you have read World War Z, you know what I mean when I say it's a work of art. If you haven't, you better get a move on to your local book store and grab it. WWZ is probably my favorite book. DO NOT EVEN MENTION THE MOVIE IN MY PRESENCE, THAT PIECE OF CRAP SHOULD NEVER HAVE EXISTED.