"Head to Resembol ahead of us. We'll catch up later. If we aren't there by the next train ride wait in the city two towns over" Ed said. Ling frowned as he looked over the quiet city. They said that two days ago! They did as they were told to and they waited patiently. But they were taking too long. Ling looked up and down the streets hoping to see the golden haired shrimp of his metal brother. But just like before, nothing was close to that. He made an annoyed noise in the back of his throat. They were gonna have to pay for one hell of a meal to make it up to him this time.

"Lan Fan, Fu," his bodyguards turned their heads to him without hesitation, "We're gonna pay a visit to the Rockbell residence."

"Yes young prince." They said in unison and followed him into a horse pulled cab.

Ed sneezed. He wiped his nose wondering if anyone was talking about him. He was getting dressed in his room, with Al by his side. The room was just as he remembered it being. Cozy and quiet. Except for when Winry would rush in to yell at him for something or other. He was almost half expecting her to rush in now actually. He glanced at the door and when nothing happened he shrugged.

"Brother, do you think this mission will be dangerous?" Al asked looking towards him. Ed pulled his gloves up his hands.

"We've seen the way Maka handles her...missions. We'll be fine." He said uncertainly, looking for his boots.

"But what if she's right?" He asked.

"Right about what?"

"Right about the Afreets..?" Ed stopped for a second.

"That won't happen. We've never felt the urge to run away." At Al's stare he added, "From a regular human."

"But these aren't regular people." Al argued, "They're supposed to be evil and rotten souls remember?" Ed shrugged his jacket on.

"That might be true. We'll just have to follow our guts I guess.." He trailed off.

"And if she's wrong?" Al asked more hopeful. Ed rose a brow.

"If she's wrong about them she'll stop killing now. Then go home." He replied trying to lace up his boots.

"What if she just said that? So we stop looking for her afterwords." Al rested his head in his hand.

"I've thought about that, you might be right." He searched around the room and pocketed his watch. "We'll have to keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn't try anything." Al nodded in agreement.

"Hey, Maka." Soul called sitting on the edge of the bed. Maka nodded her head to show she was listening. She was sitting on a chair in front of a desk as she read from her Alchemy book he got her. She was already dressed in her uniform, legs crossed at the ankles.

"Did you mean what you said?" He asked. Maka didn't turn away from her book.

"What're you talking about Soul?" She responded in a slightly annoyed tone.

"Last night, you said that we'd go home if they couldn't sense the madness." He leaned forward on his knees as he saw Maka fidget.

"You of all people know that Afreet madness varies."

No response.

"And that some people are less affected by madness than others."

Still no response. He narrowed his eyes.

"Maka, do you plan to make them feel the madness..?" He was serious now, she could hear it in his voice.

"No Soul, I'm not going to force them to feel it." He grunted.

"Did you mean what you said then?"

She didn't respond again but he caught the downcast look in her eye. He sighed and sat back on the bed.

"Don't worry I got it." He said before laying his back on the sheets. "A good weapon helps their meister though. So be careful."

"Thank you Soul." She said, a small smile pulling at her lips.

Ed tapped his foot against the floor in the living room. What was taking Maka and Soul so long? He looked up the stairs but saw no one. They said they'd be out in five minutes! All they needed was for Winry to give Maka one more examination. So what's the hold up? Out of irritation he stomped upstairs with Al right behind him. When he reached their door he put his ear up to it. Was Maka laughing? He quickly opened the door with an annoyed scowl.

"You should've seen Ed's face-!" Winry stopped and stared at Ed with a grin. Maka kept trying to stifle her laughter as Soul just grinned outright.

"Winry? What're you still doing in here?" Ed asked. Al waved from behind Ed.

"They're my patients Ed, I've gotta make them feel better!" She smiled and turned back to Maka who looked back excitedly. "There was also the time where Ed and Al fought about who would marry me when we were younger-!" Ed slapped a hand over her mouth his cheeks dusted red. Soul gave a look of mock disappointment.

"We were supposed to leave half an hour ago." Ed grumbled ignoring Winry's muffled objections.

"I know, I know!" Maka said still giggling. "But Winry started telling such cute stories!"

"Yeah, you were kinda uncool in them." Soul added chuckling. Ed tried glaring at them but they just laughed harder.

"Winry can I talk to you for a sec?" He said in a hushed tone. She rose a brow before Ed pulled her out of the room and closed the door behind them. Leaving Al in the room with Maka and Soul.

"Winry are you crazy? I thought I said don't get close to them!" Ed scolded. Winry crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

"They aren't dangerous Ed. In fact they're the kindest people I've ever met. Well, maybe Soul is a little creepy but they're still nice." Ed hit his forehead with his hand. That wasn't the problem! The problem was they couldn't trust Maka with someone as important as Winry! He sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"I know they aren't dangerous! But still you can't be too safe with people." Winry huffed but didn't argue back.

"Alright. You guys should get going now. Before you're late." She smiled and walked down the steps. Ed blinked. She didn't argue..? Was she sick? Or did Maka have this naturally calming effect on people? It was more likely that she was sick. He shook his head and walked back into the room.

"Ok, it should be around here." Maka said pulling her cloak out from her trench coat pocket. Ed rose a brow. They had walked to the next town and were in a pretty sketchy area. Soul kept look out as she pulled it down to cover herself completely. Ed looked around the room they were in. Tattered curtains, torn couches, and broken glass made up most of it. But if you looked at a bedroom you could tell someone lived here. It had a foul scent to it as well. He couldn't place his finger on it.

"The target should get here in an hour or two." Soul mumbled as he took his place by Maka's side.

"We have to wait an hour before the guy gets here?" Ed whined.

"Well, I uhh, I wanted to show you something." Maka said nervously, "About my weapon." Ed and Al glanced at each other. Now that he thought about it, Ed hadn't seen her weapon since he placed it against the wall. Where was it? Soul leaned to Maka and whispered something in her ear. She nodded sternly. He sighed and nodded as well.

"Ready Soul?" She asked.

"Ready as I am every other time." She grabbed his hand. Ed watched in confusion until Soul started glowing. There was a flash of light as his body turned to a lighting bolt and settled in her hand as... A scythe. HE TURNED INTO THE FREAKING SCYTHE?! She gave them a worried look, not sure how to respond to their faces. Ed wasn't entirely sure but his jaw might be on the ground. He just kept glancing from Maka to Soul. Her scythe. She looked to the scythe with a glare.

"Soul this isn't funny! They look pale!"

After a few minutes they were back to normal. And by that I mean they started breathing again. Maka placed Soul against the wall and patted Ed's back so he could stop chocking on his words. He couldn't help it, he was freaked out! For lack of a better term, he would say he's shell shocked. He started gulping down breaths and leaned back against the wall.

"Are guys ok?" Maka asked tentatively, backing up a little. They nodded silently, still staring at the weapon.

"Good, because the target is here." She slipped the mask on over her head and grabbed her scythe. She turned to them. "As soon as I leave walk out the door." She instructed.

"W-Wait a minute!" Ed called. "Why aren't you going out with us?" He wanted to ask more than that but his mouth wouldn't open up anymore.

"I'm a wanted criminal. I can't be seen with an officer." She replied jumping out the window and disappearing. In the back of his mind Ed was asking himself what he had gotten in to. He gulped and opened the door. With all this new information his head was pulsing. He walked out with Al behind him and they looked up and down the empty street. He felt a shiver despite the warm air. Footsteps were heading his way. Getting louder and closer with each passing second. He took a relaxing breath and calmed his rapid heart. Only to have it kickstart again when he noticed a figure to his left.

This man seemed like any other. He wore a shirt and pants along with shoes. He didn't look like he was out of place in the broken down scenery. His eyes were tired and nearly shut. He walked just as evenly as Ed. Unlike that other man who looked as though he would fall over. He grinned when he caught sight of Ed. His teeth were crooked and yellow.

"Hey kiddo! What'cha doing out so late? It's dangerous you know." He said the last part in a low tone. Almost like a threat. Ed's foot immediately stepped back. He wanted to run. Just as Maka had said, he wanted to run from this normal man. The man leaned toward him, he reeked of iron.

"Are ya lost little buddy?" He asked. Ed looked into his eyes. He got the same feeling as before, like he was insane. Then he stood straight again. Ed hardened his eyes, not wanting to seem weak.

"Oh, didn't know you had a friend with ya." He said, finally acknowledging Al. The man grinned to him as well making Al shift. Ed gulped. He couldn't will his mouth to move.

"Ya see the moon?" He looked all the way up, making them lose sight of his face. "It's a new one. So the only natural light is out." He started snickering for no reason that Ed could understand. He shot his head back down, smiling. Ed wasn't comfortable with this smile. It was a smile you'd have to cut your face to achieve.

"Perfect night for me to take yer souls." He pulled his arm out of his jacket pocket showing a gun. Ed's eyes widened. His legs wouldn't move. A familiar enough feeling. He was going to die right? A gun pointed right at his head wouldn't miss would it? That shiver down his spine turned into shaking legs. He was going to die without returning to normal. His eyes shut and he took a deep breath.

Clunk.

Ed opened his eyes to see a black figure in front of him and a gun on the floor.

"Do you understand now?" Maka asked without facing him. "Or should I just go home today instead of later?"

Ed released his breath all at once. He felt a calming reassurance flow through him. He was alright, Al was alright too. He looked to Maka in surprise. Where was she? Was she watching from afar? Why'd she take so long to get to them? He gulped again, too relieved to yell at her. Al sighed.

"Yeah, we get understand now." Al said. He looked to his hand, still shaking. He didn't like it. It was the same feeling he got when he first fought Envy and Gluttony. He clenched his hand to a fist, not voicing his worries. Then he noticed Maka was standing where the man was.

"Hey, Maka?" Al called making her snap out of her thoughts. "That mans soul...its behind you right?" He asked. She nodded, looking over her shoulder.

"Can we see it?" Maka gave a look of surprise, then went over the pros and cons in her head.

"What do you think Soul? Should we..?" She whispered. She heard him slurp up drool.

"As long as I still get to eat it after words." He grumbled. She nodded and stepped to the side showing the glowing red orb.

Ed and Al stared at it. It floated in the air bobbing up and down as if it were in water. Ed burned its appearance into his head, not wanting to forget it. These are what make people who they are. This is what made that man who he is. It looked like it was corrupted and burned. It was a rotten soul. And as Maka put it "They don't deserve to be called human". Al walked past him to stand in front of it. It had no temperature, no smell, and looked like it had no physical properties. It was strange. Al reached for it, fully intending to pick it up before Maka stopped him by placing her hand over his own.

"It's too dangerous for you to touch it. I'll take care of it now. You two should head back. I'll be there soon." She gave a small smile and the brothers nodded. Al walked away. Ed took one last look at the soul, then to Maka. She looked upset.

"Well that went well." Soul said through their wavelengths. He watched Ed and Al's retreating backs until they disappeared around the corner. His words fell on deaf ears. Maka was staring at the soul, her face concentrating on something. He noticed easily when he felt her confusion. He looked to the soul then back to his meister.

"What's up?" He asked calmly. Maka sighed and began rubbing her thumb against his handle. She did that when she was thinking of important things. He never minded.

"This soul. He had madness radiating from him."

"Yeah Maka all of them do."

"No Soul. This one was supposed to be low level. Easy to kill and harmless." He gave no response. Waiting for the question he already knew. "How did he get so powerful in such little time..?" She looked to where Ed and Al once stood. "They can feel madness but a little more than the average human. And this Afreet, his bloodlust was so strong I could feel it. He shouldn't have been this strong. Soul, if we hadn't intervened here when we did...they would've died." He detected the tone of guilt. He transformed back into his human form and looked at her. She was staring down with her hood off her head. His eyes softened and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey, they're alive. You did what you needed to. They're safe and so are you. So chin up, regretting things isn't cool." He said, resting his chin on her head. She nodded into his shoulder, grateful her weapon could be considerate. When he let go Maka smiled, reassuring him that she felt better. He grinned back.

"Cool. Now let's go catch up to them. Ed's gonna have some questions." She huffed. Obviously not liking the idea of answering more of his questions. Soul picked up the glowing red orb and swallowed it. She decided they didn't need to know that weapons eat the souls. That'd be a nightmare to explain. He walked with a satisfied grin on his face. She followed her weapon in the direction Ed went.

Wow this chapter is huge! I'm so sorry about that but I hope you'll bear with me. I like how this chapter worked out and I hope you guys do too. Anyhow, WolfGal out.

Question for you:

Any of you have finals? (If so, I wish you luck!)