Soul lead Maka to the dance floor. She tried to calm her heart, which was beating erractically against her ribs. Soul turned to her and placed his hand on her waist. She grabbed his shoulder softly, and their free hands intertwined.

"You lead. You know I can't dance." She said softly. Soul laughed, but it came out as a puff of air. Their movements were awkward and sloppy, but after a moment, they found a rythmn. They avoided each other's eyes until the middle of song.

"Y'know, I really like dancing with you." She admitted. Her eyes were bright in the golden lights from above. "It makes me feel closer to you."

Soul tried not to blush. "I like dancing with you too." She smiled up at him. Her cheeks were pink. He smiled a bit. She really was adorable.

The song ended much too soon. Their hands lingered in the aftermath of the song. Slowly and tenatively, Maka's hand slipped from his shoulder, but she kept her other hand in his own.

They walked to the corner of the room, away from the crowds. Maka leaned against the wall.

"Well, now you can stop pestering me about that dance." Soul teased. Maka gently smacked his arm, and he laughed. She laughed too. They lingered off to the side of the party, enjoying the semi privacy.

"Despite the drama with your mother, this has been a pretty nice trip." She mused. Soul quirked an eyebrow an her. "I got to spend a lot of time with you.

"We live together, Maka. We spend a lot of time together as it is."

"I mean, I got to learn more about you." She elaborated. He shrugged.

"I'm not that interesting."

"Soul. You are interesting." Maka glanced to the side. "Mother alert." She muttered. Soul blinked in confusion, but glanced in the direction Maka had been looking in. Sure enough, his mother marched up to him, the swishy fabric of her eggplant purple dress brushing against her tan legs.

"There you are. Your grandmother wants you to play piano, as your gift to her." Soul opened his mouth to reply, but Maka cut him to the chase.

"Oh, please, Soul? I haven't heard you play in ages!" She pleaded, sticking out her lower lip. Soul sighed.

"Fine. Stand front and center?" He asked with a smirk. She did, standing just below the lip of the stage. Soul sat down at the piano and cracked his knuckles. He glanced out, squinting against the bright lights. He could see the faint outline of his meister, smiling sweetly at him.

Soul played a song he had memorized. It was something he wrote himself, late one night when he couldn't sleep. He wished he could see the look on his mother's face as she heard the inconsistent clanking of the keys, instead of the refined way he had been taught to play.

Once he finished the song, he heard the excited clapping from the front row, and smiled against his will. Soon, tenative clapping followed Maka's loud, enthusiastic applause. He walked off the stage, and right into a tight hug from Maka.

"You were amazing!" She exclaimed. "I'm so proud of you!" He hugged her back. He could feel her smile against his collar. Maka pulled back all too soon, her cheeks flushing with pride.

"A performer is only as good as his audience." He said, earning a giggle from Maka.

She grabbed his hand and pulled her weapon back to their corner. "I don't think your mother liked it all that much though."

"Good. I played it just to spite the bitch." He smirked. Maka rolled her eyes, but smiled.

"It'll be our anniversary the day after we get back." She told him. "Our fifth."

"Really? I forgot all about that." He mused. His partner hip-checked him.

"Just think, though. In two days, we'll have known each other for five years." She sighed.

"We met over a piano." He reminded her.

"I know, dummy." She spoke again after a sigh. "You should play for me. The piece you played the day we met." She looked at him, eyes soft and hopeful.

"I dunno where we'll get a piano in Death City." Maka pouted, but perked up shortly after.

"Isn't there one at your parents? Why don't you give me an early gift?" She smiled at him. Soul shifted.

"It might piss off my mom." He said, Maka wilted. "So let's do it tonight." She giggled and squeezed his hand. Soul felt his heart leap.