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Lost Keys

Chapter 10

"I'm speechless…" Kidd said, standing next to the beast's lifeless body. Maka had called Kidd and Stein as soon as she made sure that the monster was dead. Blood was covered around the body and its lifeless eyes were wide open.

Kidd couldn't believe what he was seeing. The body of the monster he was searching for was in front of him. "This is incredible."

"Thought you said you were speechless – Ow! Careful!" Soul, who was shirtless, couldn't complete his joke when Stein rubbed his wounds with wet cotton.

"It wouldn't hurt if you would just stop moving so much." stein pressed the cotton to his shoulder, which made Soul wince. Stein had already treated some of the claw marks on Maka's side, but not all of them. Some were dangerously deep, and Stein didn't bring anything that might have helped. The cotton he was using was found in Maka and Soul apartment. Soul's injuries weren't serous, so they were easy to treat.

"Alright, I'm done." Stein said and put the cotton away. Soul grabbed a new shirt to wear.

"Is the child also hurt?" Stein asked, looking around the room.

"Don't think so," Soul said, "If you're looking for the brat, he's under the bed." He pointed at the bed, where sniffing and whimpering sounds were coming from. Stein sighed. The child had crawled under Maka's bed, fearing the monster might somehow come back to life and chase after him again.

"I think a found something," Kidd pointed at the dead dog's shoulder, where a tiny red light was shining. When he got a closer look, he found a small devise attached to the body's shoulder, with the number 12 printed on it. It was clearly man-made. "Interesting…"

"Soul," Kidd called," are you positive it was only targeting Max?"

"Yeah, the mutt kept going after him." Soul rubbed his shoulder which still hurt.

"I would like to take the body with me so I can examine it for more information." Stein said.

'Or maybe you just want to cut it open…' Soul thought to himself. "Yeah, sure, take it. It's starting to smell."

"Stein, contact me if you find anything. I'll go report this to my father." Kidd said before leaving

"Stein…" the bathroom door opened. Maka came out with her hand pressed to her side. "I bandaged the wound like you told me to."

"Good. Wait for me outside so I can take you back for proper treatment."

Soul grabbed his jacket, preparing to go with them, "I'll go get my bike." He sighed, not looking forward to driving with his shoulder in pain.

"I'm afraid you're not going anywhere, Soul." Stein pushed his glasses up.

"Why not?"

"Someone has to look after the child, right?"

Soul's eyes widened, "The brat? Can't we just bring him along?" he complained.

"That's too risky. Another one of these dogs might attack him."

Soul's jaw dropped, "You're… going to leave me… with that shrimp?"

"No! I want to go with Ms. Maka!" Max cried. He was holding on to Maka's leg as Soul tried his best to hank him off.

"Don't worry, I'll be back soon." Maka tried to sound as sweet as possible.

Max was in a river of tears, "B-b-but… what i-if… what if a monster c-comes?" he sniffed.

"Then Soul's here to protect you." She said and gently rubbed his cheek. He looked so miserable it broke her heart. His cheeks were wet from his tears, and Maka felt his body shaking.

"B-but I want to b-be with Ms. Maka…"

Soul had a hard time trying to get Max to let go of Maka's leg. Damn, this kid's stronger than he thought… "Would you let go already!"

"Ms. Maka, I'm h-hurt too!"

"Max, are you really hurt, or are you just saying that so you could come with me?" Maka spotted his lie right away. She kneeled down and kissed his wet cheek, which made him slowly let go of her leg. "I'll be back soon. Promise me you'll be good?"

He sniffed and nodded.

She gave him one last hug before leaving with Stein. As soon as the door was closed, Max fell to the ground, crying loudly, hoping it might make Maka come back.

Soul pressed his hands to his ears, trying to block the annoying sound.

It has been an hour since Maka left, and Max wasn't taking it very well. He had ran to Maka's room and sat on her bed. Soul made some macaroni for the both of them, but the child refused to eat.

"Kid, what's wrong with you? Just eat your damn food." Soul got frustrated after he tried so many times to get him to eat. He got the fork close to Max's lips, attempting to feed him.

"Not hungry..." The child said and looked away from Soul.

Soul sighed. At first, this kid was driving him crazy. But after a while, Soul understood why. Things weren't the same when Maka left. Sure, he was safe from getting Maka-chops, but the feeling of loneliness suddenly took over.

He sighed and sat on the bed's edge. "Kid, moping around won't make her come back sooner."

The child turned to look at him with sad eyes.

Soul took a moment to think of something that might help the situation. "You promised her you'd be good. What do you think she would say if I told her you didn't eat anything?"

The child eyes widened.

Soul smirked, "Won't she be disappointed in you? Do you want to let her down, kid?"

Max shook his head.

"Good." Soul placed the plate on Max's knees and gave him the fork, "Now eat."

Max brought the fork to his mouth as slowly as possible. The child started sniffing and whimpering as he chewed his food. It looked like he was trying so hard not to cry. Soul sighed, "What now?"

Max swallowed his food so he could talk, "What i-if another m-monster shows up? W-what do I do? Ms. Maka isn't here to help me…"

"Kid, be cool. You've got me," Soul's eyes widened at realization. Did he actually say that? The child stared at him for a while. Soul, the person who kept bulling him all the time, actually cared about him?

"Mr. Soul?"

"Y-yeah…?"

Max placed his for on the plate, "Will you… protect me i-if another monster comes?" the child seemed nervous while asking.

Soul thought the kid was plotting to trick him using his innocent act again… but something in that thought wasn't right. Max seemed truly frightened and desperate for protection. After all, children are helpless and fragile without an adult to look after them. This child didn't remember much about his own parents and was attacked by an unknown beast. Maybe that was why Max kept clinging on to Maka? He didn't have anyone else.

"B-b-but… what i-if… what if a monster c-comes?"

"Then Soul's here to protect you."

That's right. Maka was counting on him. Max was his responsibility now.

"Yeah, I'll protect you…" Soul finally answered.

Suddenly, the child jumped up and wrapped his arms around Soul's nick. Soul was completely shocked at first, but when he heard the child whimper and felt his arms tighten around him, Soul couldn't help but hug Max back.

Soul sighed, "What is it this time?"

Max's tears stained Soul's shirt, "I th- thought Mr. Soul h-hated me…"

Soul smiled and gently rubbed Max's back as he continued to cry. He didn't know why he suddenly felt responsible for him, but it wasn't a bad feeling…

It was late and Soul needed a goodnight sleep, but Max wasn't making it easy. He would get up from Maka's bed, head over to Soul's room, wake him up, and give him any excuse he could think of.

"Mr. Soul? Mr. Soul, wake up." Max shook Soul's shoulder, waking him up.

"What?" Soul was grumpy from getting disturbed from his rest.

"I'm hungry."

"… The hell? You just eat!"

Max gave him the puppy dog eyes, which made it harder for Soul to say no since Max's eyes were the same color as Maka's.

"Fine…"

After making Max some noodles, Soul came back to his room to continue sleeping, but it wasn't long before Max woke him up again.

"What now?"

"I… I need to go." Max said.

"Go where?"

Max twisted the bottom of his oversized pajamas, "You know… go."

Soul's eyes widened when he finally understood what the child meant, "So go!? The bathroom's not far!"

"But it's too dark and I'm scared! Can Mr. Soul stand next to the door?" Max whined.

Soul slapped himself in the face, "… How did I get stuck with you?"

"Mr. Soul, I'm thirsty!"

"Mr. Soul, there is a noise outside!"

"Mr. Soul, there's a fly in the room.

"Mr. Soul, can I have another blanket? it's cold."

"Mr. Soul, I need to go again…"

"Mr. Sou –"

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?" Soul exploded. He was trying so hard not to get angry, but this kid was driving him crazy. Soul had bags under his eyes and he had trouble keeping his tired eyes open.

"I can't sleep."

"WHY NOT?"

"I…" Max hesitated, "I'm scared…"

Soul's anger suddenly faded. "Scared? From what?"

"The monster. Mr. Soul, what do I do?"

Soul couldn't answer.

"Mr. Soul… can I sleep in your bed?" Max pointed at the other side of the bed.

Soul panicked. The kid wanted to sleep in his bed? "Hell no!"

"Oh," Max turned around to walk away, "okay. Ms. Maka isn't here to keep me safe when I sleep… I thought Mr. Soul would but…" He sounded so sad… so helpless.

Soul sighed, "Fine, fine." He moved over, "Just stay on your side of the bed, got it?"

The child quickly crawled under the blankets and pressed his back to Soul's chest, snuggling himself in Soul's arms. Soul blushed furiously. "That's not your side of the bed!"

Max closed his eyes and smiled, "Thank you Mr. Soul…"

"K-kid?" Soul poked the child's head a few times, but he was fast asleep. Soul sighed. How did Maka deal with this Kid? Soul looked down at Max. He was peacefully sleeping, feeling safe with Soul by his side.

'Good thing Maka isn't here to see this or else I'll lose my reputation…' Soul thought to himself before laying his head on the pillow.

Unfortunately for him, Maka was watching from behind the slightly opened door. She came back earlier and decided to spy on Max and Soul to see how well Soul was handling his job. "Goodnight, boys." She smiled widely and walked back to her room.

"What do you mean one hasn't returned?"

"Lady Blue, all of our hounds came back but number 12 is missing."

"How can that be? These are the finest tracking demons – They can't just go MISSING!"

"Lady Blue, the hound is probably stuck somewhere in the city. Do you want me to send out a ghost spy to find it? If the people in Death City find it first they might suspect something."

"Yes, Lulu, send out a ghost spy and bring back number 12."

"Yes, Lady Blue."

To Be Continued...

Review please :3 Next chapter will be up soon!

If you find any spelling mistakes please tell me so I can fix them :3

Ever had a little sister or brother who wakes you up in the middle of the night because they're scared to go to the toilet on their own? I had a niece who used to do that -_- I feel your pain Soul…

Damn… Maka sure took her time XD