The day was unusually bright. Soul supposed that's the way it was with special occasions, the weather had to be extreme in some sense or else it would seem as though the very earth didn't care about what had happened. Everyone was gathered around her headstone, the cemetery was small and quaint, just on the outskirts of the city. Last year there had been more people, but now it was just a small gathering. Soul hadn't really stopped wearing black since she'd died, but today he was wearing a suit, for whatever reason she'd always liked it when he'd gotten dressed up.
The friends milled about the grave, talking between to themselves and her. Soul was quiet, but no more so than usual. He didn't know if it was the weather, but everything felt very surreal. He couldn't concentrate on anything. His friends were too distraught at that particular moment to notice, but Soul could feel himself losing touch. He couldn't quite deal with it today, couldn't think about her death and not beat himself up. He counted to 100. And then counted back from 100. The sun laughed maniacally above, and Soul stared into it until his eyes welled with tears.
'Breathe Soul Eater' the air tasted sweet, but was suddenly caught in is lungs. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe, he could feel a slight tug on his Soul. A faint pulling in one direction. It had annoyed him at first, but he had come to cherish the connection as it meant he could always find her when she was in danger. He had never expected it to snap so easily
But it was back, though faint and tenuous he could feel her, he didn't know what to think, how to react. Until it hit him, "She's alive."
"Did you say something Soul?" Tsubaki smiled at him politely, turning to look at him.
"She's alive, Maka's alive!" Her friendly look was quickly replaced by shock, and then hurt
"I'm sorry Soul?"
"Maka, I can feel her, she's alive."
"Soul…. Please, not today" Tsubaki quickly turned away, her face crumpling
"Come on man, not cool" BlackStar said comforting his weapon
"No guys, you don't understand, she's really alive, I can feel her." Soul gestured at his chest, his face aching with a smile that was quickly fading as he looked at all the guarded expressions around him.
"Soul…. It's not unusual… I mean, it was only two years ago…" Kid floundered, "I'm sorry Soul, perhaps it wasn't a good idea to take you out on that mission after all."
Soul looked at the people around him, clutching a hand protectively over his chest. His eyes suddenly rested on the false headstone in front of him. Why couldn't they believe him, they were wasting his time! He kicked the stupid thing, causing Tsubaki to cry out, before running off after his motorcycle. He couldn't move fast enough, and even the few seconds it took for him to start his bike were agonizing. He could still feel her, thank god he could still feel her.
Soul could see kid in one of his mirrors, chasing after him on his skateboard. Assuming he didn't get in his way, then the little shinigami could follow him all the way to Maka if he wanted.
He was going to see Maka, Soul felt nothing but joy at this statement, his brain so overwhelmed with shock that it only had one motive. To get to her, to finally save her. Soul was going to be with Maka again.
Maka keeled over, her brain couldn't process it. She heard shouting behind her as all the witches rushed to the fence, a few quickly preparing spells to re capture her, or casting soul protect on themselves so they would be able to start chase. Instinct eventually took over and Maka began to run, the forest providing ample cover for her. She had been locked away for two years, and though she had always been proud of her stamina, it was nothing to boast of now. Maka ran propelled by adrenaline, and then she ran on sheer willpower alone, forest streaked past her in a green blur until the world narrowed to the sound of her breathing and her feet connecting with the ground. She counted out a hundred footsteps, and then she start again, telling herself over and over to just make it to the next one hundred, that if she could do that then she would make it.
She realized later that she was using her Soul as a compass, pointing her towards home. But at the moment she thought nothing until the moment she collapsed. Her heart was pounding in her ears and she hoped absentmindedly that it wouldn't burst. She told herself to be quiet, but all she could feel was pain, her arms burned and her feet throbbed. The world twirled around her. She could feel twin trails being cut across her cheeks as tears leaked out of her eyes, memories mixed with the world around her as she swirled towards oblivion. Some of the prison, some of him.
Soul was alive, and he hadn't come for her.
