maka sat in her own room at the tavern, the people in the caravan had accepted her to travel with them but they were still apparently wary of her. she didn't blame them, she was a meister. they were not well liked, nor were wepons. maka vaugly wondered if soul had issues fitting in outside shibusen, "soul" maka looked toward the window, aftert he battle with the kishin and maka had realized she had awakened her blood as a sythe, so when soul had said he wanted to train alone she had jumped at the chance telling him to go ahaead and dowhatever he thought best. it was a chancefor her to train alone too, although she would've never thought he would've left death city.

the next morning maka had awoken to a note ont he table:

~maka i'm sorry i couldn't tell you in person, i'm gonna go away for a bit to trian in the east near the mountains. i knew if i told you face to face you would either get mad or cry, then you'd try to stop me. i wish i hadthe strength to tell you goodbye in person, but sadl im a bit of a coward and can't. just know that i still want to be with you, as partners i mean, well not just partners a bit more than that, but nothing too serious, but not just friends,grrrr screw it you know what i mean okay!...love,like,yours truely, soul~

maka laughed a bit recalling his letter, she reached into herbag and pulled it out reading over words, tracing each curve of the letters,she imagined soul writing thtis just for her, blushing as he wrote he wanted to stay beside her. it brought a small smile to her face.

sojiro felt a tap on his shoulder, he peeked over his back ot see maria with a grin on her face and a tray of food in her hand "you knoww maka's hasn't come down to eat yet, i really don' think she will, would you be a dear and take this to her so the poor girl doesn't starve". sojire senced something wrong in maria's smile but didn't think to far into it, she had a point he hadn't seen maka around in hours not since they had gotten tothe tavern.

(flashback)

maka and sojiro walked in the door to the tavern following behind aria and benjamin "oh better warn donny! his wife came home witha handsome man!," the women teased, donald looked up from his pithcer of beer "i'm toosmexy forher to leaf me..." he slurred a red tint on hisface from being drunk "drunk again donald" maria chastised "at this rate i might just leave you for another man" don stood up staggering toward her "but i looooooooooooooove youuuuuu" he took the more steps toward her before he hit the floor,asleep.

maria sighed stepping over him "at least don't faint in the walkway", three men helped him to his feet "we'll get him to bed to miss maria" she nodded "alright, but don't worry if you drop him, he won't remeber in the morning anyway" she winked. marai stood up calling all the people in the bar to attension, she introduced benjamin and told of what maka, and sojiro had been through, explaing that veryone needed a buddy if they went into town.

maka went toward the rooms in the back, maria lightly grbbed her arm "aren't you hungry?" maka shook her head giving a slight smile "no, not really" at tha she walked off.

(end flashback)

sojiro took the tray of food, "sencond floor third door on your left" maria explained winking at him, "talk to her while you're there, she probly needs it" sojiro hung his head "she's a meister from shibusen, i honestly want nothing to do with her" maraia huffed "well that meister saved your life" she said poking his chest near hisheart "tht's wherethe dagger was aimed and if not for her it would've hit it's mark! put aside your grudge and talk to the poor girl!" maria calmed down "she's not like the rest of them, can't you see that?"

sojiro walked off toward where maka's room was thingking it over. 'maria's right, maka'snot like the rest of the meister, in fact...i've never met anyone like her...she's sweet and hardworking, strong, and caring...she'sperfect...' sojiro stopped in his tracks right outsideher door...'am i falling for her?'