Authors Note: I'm back. Are you happy about it? Are you not happy about it? Who cares? I really missed you guys. I had you guys waiting a while but with school, things have to get settled first. Anyway, I am proud to say that from this chapter own things start to get serious. Now that I'm done playing around and introducing characters and such I can get on with the plot and I look forward to writing future chapters. I appreciate all the comments I recieved. Thank you very much. And now with all that said I won't bore you any longer so let's just get on with it. Enjoy. Please excuse possible errors, randomness, ect. :D
Disclaimer:Don't own it. Won't own it. I will never own Soul Eater.
Summary:The bad boy,the bookworm,the conceited nuisance,the social butterfly,the Thompson duo, and the symmetry obsessed freak. Just when you think you have a grip on life, it breaks. You can always get what you want in life, but we try anyway. SxM
.:MAKA:.
"I'm glad you're finally out of the hospital. Now we can spend more time together."
"…Yeah," Crona agreed.
The day seemed quite cloudy, still Maka got up bright and early with her friend and together they went through the city's shopping district and walked in to several stores that caught there eye. Bags dangled in their arms as the continued to walk. They squeezed through massive crowds of people in efforts to make their way back home, though there was a book shop she wanted to go to.
She was just about done with the novel she purchased a while ago, and had hopes to start a new one. This had been the same for Crona. Ever since she was sent to the hospital she began taking up knitting for the first time, and had too wished to go to a store to buy materials for the craft. With different destinations in mind they planned to split up at some point. Though splitting up with friends wasn't something that she favored, the feeling of slight sadness would at disperse when she would step in to the quiet setting of a library or possibly book store. She quickened her pace with excitement.
"Wha—."
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry about that. Are you alright?"
"It's okay. I'm fine. "
"Patty, get 'em!"
The blonde was too fast to make out as she sped past Maka. It was then Maka turned around feeling a rush of air as the blond dashed passed her and on to her target, a very familiar presence. One she hadn't been with in a while. She spotted her introverted companion on the concrete examining her palms for injuries and then raising her head to catch a glance at the raven haired boy.
"Uh, well if you excuse me I think I'll be taking me leave, "Kid said rushing his words as he helped Crona up on to her feet before suddenly sprinting away.
"I'm gonna catch ya!"
"That's it Patty! Go on without me," Said a clearly exhausted Liz who breathed in between her sentences. She brought her hands down to her knees and tried to catch her breath. Maka assumed she had run miles and couldn't help but wonder why.
"Liz what are you doing here and why is Kid running?"
"Hey there Maka. Long time no see. What are you doing here?"
"I was just looking around at shops with my friend, but what about you?"
"Got 'em!" Patty declared in her victory, while dragging Kid by his shirt collar as he sobbed.
"That's great Patty. Shopping, huh? Hey Patty, I feel like I'm forgetting something. How 'bout you?" The older Thompson sister scratched her head as she tried to remember what she had forgotten, but as a result, she got nothing. "Well moving on to Kid, if you want to know I'm sure he'll be happy to tell you."
"Hey Liz, it's eleven-forty three."
"Wait you mean the appointment's over already? We must have wasted so much time chasing Kid around."
"Well, I glad that's settled. Now, we can move on for the day." He freed himself from the girl's grip on his collar and dusted himself off.
"Wait, I still don't understand why he was running?"
"Kid had an appointment with a psychiatrist today, but decided not to stay long."
"Is this true Kid?"
His head turned away and muttered no answer.
"It's true huh?"
"…"
"Thought so." Maka giggled and so did Crona.
"Um excuse me, but weren't you the person who um well...happened to find me that time…?"
Kid turned to her with a surprised expression. "Yes, your Maka's friend, correct?"
"Yes. I just wanted to say thank you since I never really got the chance to did I?"
"Oh, it's nothing! I was just very fortunate enough to stumble upon you. How are you feeling today?"
"Just fine. Thank you for asking."
"Hey Patty, is there something we're forgetting to do?"
"Weren't we supposed to bring Soul a gift for his birthday?"
"That's right! Oh, how great is that I haven't even thought of one yet!" She sighed. "Well I suppose there's always the next year."
"Wait a second!" Everyone thought with sweat drops. This of course did not count Patty.
"I made him a card, see!" Patty pulled out a rather impressive pop-out card that had a cake with candles when she opened it.
"That's really neat Patty. You've really stepped up your game."
"Yeah, and look at when you flip the top." Everyone was at awe having seen a party of animals and balloons appeared. What really stood out was the giraffe that stuck its tongue out teasingly.
"This is terrible! What should I do now?"
Wasn't she over that? Then it hit her. "Wait. Today's Soul's birthday?"
"Yes. I believe it's the one you've begun to hang out with recently, "Kid stated.
"What! Really?"
"Yeah, he goes to your school."
"You know him?"
"Yeah, we met a year or so ago...."
It made sense. She remembered the day before when she met him at his locker. Tons of colorful letters spilled out, bringing them to Maka's attention. Sure he had gotten one or two a day from girls who obviously didn't stand a chance, but that day seemed odd.
"Hey Soul, do you usually get this amount of letters?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Really?"
"I usually have them taken care of before the end of the day, that's all."
"Oh. Okay..."
She recalled a hint of jealously, but immediately brushed it off. Why had she bought it? Why hadn't she realized it then? And another was why hadn't he told her? Was it that he thought her gift wouldn't be good enough for him? Oh, she would get him one alright! But then, just what would it be?
"Hey Maka, I've got an idea."
"Huh? Yes Crona?"
.:SOUL:.
The jazz tune surrounded the room as he sat in the cushioned chair. His current disposition rather annoyed. Oh how he hoped to never again see the porcelain tiled floors, or the divine walls draped with scarlet curtains, masking who knows what. Despite all this he had to admit the place displayed the upmost style and elegance. It seemed to suit him, but of course it did. From what he had learned last time, this was his inner mind, his inner self. His conscience was it?
"It's been awhile."
Still, the room felt unbalanced. Looking to his right he found the goblin-like creature grinning wide as he always had. The creepy aura still seemed to linger around his small existence. His very presence irked him. But what annoyed him even more was that he knew why he was here. He knew all too well. Nevertheless, he acted as if he had been unaware of anything.
The spotlight fell on him.
"No it hasn't. Why don't you do me a favor and come back in five or seven years or so? Or even better, never."
"But Soul that wouldn't solve anything."
"Solve what?" He really wished he hadn't asked.
"Well Soul, I'm sure you are aware that something is bugging you psychologically. Would you like to talk about it?"
"You're kidding right?"
"I'm quite serious. I'm always serious."
"Damn, this is really getting annoying. Why do I get stuck with someone shady like you?"
"You can't always get what you want in life kid. However I believe there is someone in your favor, and lucky for you she's within your reach."
Soul groaned. He knew what this was about.
"Why do you insist on hesitating? You're making this much more difficult than it has to be."
"Are you done?"
"Listen, I'm just here to make you think a little."
Soul raised a brow in response. He watched the demon walk towards the direction of the door. "Enlighten me on how you were able to play that day?"
That did it.
There was a pulse in his chest. Soon enough, there came more. His heart throbbed like crazy and he was too taken in to inhale. He cursed at himself. He didn't want to think about it. I'd be better if he'd just shook it off, right? If only. He couldn't restrain himself. It was like those words were a spell to sent dozens of thoughts through his mind. A spell that forced him to face it all. The questions he'd been trying all this time to avoid. Why had he played for her? Why could he hear her thoughts that time? Why had he taken her picture? Given her a ride? Why had he longed to be around her? Why had he often thought of her? That day, when they had first met and shook hand…The feelings he felt then…
"I was only here to deliver a small message Soul Eater." His voice and the sound of his tracks seemed to fade. "Don't take too much time to sort things out. When you take too long, you miss out on worth wild opportunities."
He dug his hands in his snow white hair frustrated at the questions that kept coming--the fact that his heart wouldn't stop racing. His entire face felt heated. That day…He'd question himself on that moment. He wasn't sure himself until now. Those feelings felt familiar. Being around her felt so casual. This had probably the reason why he'd chosen to distance himself. It all felt so right—too right, that he didn't acknowledge it and he just couldn't understand why.
"It was dark and weird. Different, but…I kind of liked it.
He lifted his head and looked around. The little demon was gone. The place was empty. The only thing that remained was the twisted melody of the record player. Soul threw his head back and looked up at the light that blinded him. He breathed in deeply, and then exhaled. This was all too much for him. He wished he could escape it all, though wouldn't that be cowardly. The spotlight went out. The room fell pitch back. The jazz tune too began to fade away.
Soul woke up.
---
"Come on! Just how long do you sleep in on the weekends?"
"Usually around twelve." He sat up scraping away crust from his eyes."
"Well get up already. I'm just about done making breakfast."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." He walked into the kitchen surprised at the huge variety of breakfast mean on the table. She really cooked up a storm.
"Have as much as you want, Soul." She said with a smile. He sat down and looked at the plate of food the smiled in front of him as well. Well whatever. If she cooked this much food, he might as well enjoy it.
The two ate breakfast together in silence until Sophie decided to start a conversation. It had been a while since she spent time with him. "How was yesterday?"
"Yesterday was fine. It was normal."
"Really how many presents did you get?"
"They all poured out when they fell out of my locker when I opened it. I think some weren't even there when I last checked."
"Well, I counted thirty-three," she said has she turned her head towards the buried couch.
"Yeah, but now I have thirty-four. It's under your chair, am I correct?"
"Oh, you saw?" She said with a lit up face as she pulled the out her neatly wrapped gift. "Open it up." He followed her exact instructions. He found that they were a pair of head phones that had a similar design on each side. The design resembling the soul-like symbol he seemed wear quite often. What really surprised him was that she had got it just right. The eyes were positioned as they should be the creature like smile had been there as well. "Well do you like it?"
"It's cool. Thanks."
"Oh I was hoping you would since I notice it always seem to be on your stuff like how it's on your bag, folder, some of your clothes—why is that anyway?"
"Just something I drew a long time ago. I thought it looked cool so…"
"Well that's very creative of you." Her face was still lit. Though, seconds later that smile faded away. She now wore a face of concern. "Hey Soul, although I'm your landlord, and I look after you, there's not much I really get to know about you. You seem so distant at times."
"What's wrong with that?" He picked up the French toast sticks and crewed on all three of them at once.
"There's nothing wrong with that, it's just that there are times I wish I could be there if you're facing any issues. Any guardian would want the best for you right? "
Soul couldn't understand why she needed to fill the role of his guardian. He was fine on his own. Really, he was. Just because he technically wasn't old enough to live on his own didn't mean anything. It wasn't much time left being what today was.
"We can talk about it if you want."
"What?"
"There's something on your mind, correct?
"It's nothing, I'm just fine."
"You don't seem like it."
"Why's that?"
"Well, for one thing you finished your plate of bacon and eggs, ate two pancakes and an omelet, in which you drowned in syrup. You took and ate just about all the French toast sticks, and now you're making your way on to the cinnamon rolls." Evidently, all that was true and he hadn't noticed even a bit of it. "If there's something on your mind, you know you can just tell me."
He sighed and inwardly cursed at himself. He was hoping he could avoid hearing those words, but it seemed things just weren't going his way. What would he say exactly? It was hard enough to bring the subject to thought. Lucky for him his words weren't necessary. "If it's a girl than you should just tell her."
"What makes you think that that's the problem?" He said rising from his seat to put away his plate.
"It's was just a guess. and if that's not the issue then, what is?"
"…"
"Soul?"
"It's got nothing to do with you, so stay out of it."
"But I can help." He hurried to his room with much haste that he hadn't heard the last part to her sentence. There he'd grabbed some clothes and his jacket. Ignoring Sophie's cries of concern he opened his bed room door watching as she backed away to avoid any collision, and threw his jacket on the living room couch as he made his way to the bathroom across the hall. "Why is it that you never tell me anything?" The door there had also been slammed in her face, but that didn't stop her from trying to reach out to the boy. "You're always keeping secrets from me! How can I help you and be there for you if you never tell me anything."
"Who asked you to be there for me? I'm just fine on my own and why should I tell you anything? I can handle my own issues! Just worry about your own life. Go find a boy to hang around with and leave me alone!" He yelled toward the door pulling of his gray t-shirt. His words came out harsher than he meant them to. He opened his mouth once more opting to apologize, but no words came, nor did any from the other side of the door. The sudden moment of silence seemed to help him become surer of himself. "I'm sorry Soph, I didn't mean for it to—"
"No its okay Soul. If you don't want to share it it's okay. Just come to me when you need to."
He didn't answer. Positioning his ear against the wood, he heard Sophie walk away. A sigh escaped from his mouth as he slid down against the door frame holding head up with his right hand. His other fingers digging into his snow white hair. To himself he reminisced on the past events he'd had with the blonde. The unexplainable sensation he got when they first shook hands. She hadn't runaway when he played for her, and what's more is that she even liked it. The fact that he had once heard her thoughts and found it less difficult for him to get things done with her around... He stood up and pulled out his cell from the pile of clothing on the counter. In it was her picture, the only picture. Oh, how he wished he'd taken another at that time. Perhaps Maka had really been special after all.
A/N: Comment. Also in regards to Sophie, for those who are confused she is Soul's landlord. They've been together for years and she finds the need take care of him, so she checks on him every once in a while, or whenever she wants really. Still she usually just knocks lol. Im writing this to clarify any confusion and also because I am too lazy to go back and edit the story and include this information. Meaning if you want to know you have to read this. Away from that, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. I hope to update soon.
