Well, here it is. The finale. It's not very long. But I like it. I hope you do as well.

Tomorrow you get the epilogue! (which will be very short). This has been a blast to write. Thanks for all your encouraging words.

Together

"So, what do you think, should we go after them?" Gracie asked, glancing at Strad whose legs dangled precariously over the ledge of the roof they had perched upon.

He shrugged, tousling his long hair. "Meh."

Her eyes twitched and she resisted the urge to push him off. "Strad…"

"I stabbed the weapon pretty bad. He shouldn't be able to fight again for a while. I think we should just go have some fun. Beating them again is pointless. We gain nothing from it. Might as well just wait and see if they try to find us again. But, it is slightly insulting though, isn't it?" Gracie raised an eyebrow. "I mean, we're not exactly weak. Why did Lord Death put a weaponless miester and an autonomous weapon on this mission against us? They are obviously not going to beat us. I think he's forgotten about us. Might have to cause some mischief."

Gracie rolled her eyes. "Shut up Strad. Just be glad you didn't get hurt worse than that shoulder wound. Really, did you have to mess around like that with him?"

He snorted, "You're one to talk. But really, why did he send them?"

Gracie shrugged. "Well maybe…" She stopped cocking her head to the side.

"Something wrong?" Strad asked, his red eyes coming to rest on his partners face.

Her eyes narrowed and she nodded. "They're back."

He sighed, standing up and popping his back. "Where?"

"Right here!" a female voice cut through the air followed by a hiss of air and a clang of metal on stone. Strad launched himself backwards; narrowly avoid the blade and landing next to his miester, teeth bared. "Well, that's interesting."

xXxXxXxXxXx

"Damn, we missed." Maka growled as she pulled the red and black blade from the rooftop, spinning it around behind her.

'It's alright, we've got this' Soul's voice assured her. 'Just concentrate.' Maka nodded, holding the blade out menacingly.

"Well, that's interesting." Strad bared his teeth at them. Maka made a note that he had fangs. Just what the hell were these two? "Gracie?"

The Redhead nodded, holding out her hand. In a flash of light the elegant rapier was back in her hand. "Ready for round two then, Maka?"

Maka nodded, glancing down at the scythe in her hands. It felt so much better than he last one. It fit her hands perfectly, almost weightless. "Are you ready Soul Eater?"

'Yeah, let's kick their asses already. It took me long enough to transform, I've got a lot of ass kicking to make up for.'

Maka smiled, "Then let's do this." She turned her eyes back to Strad and Gracie. "In the name of Lord Death, you're evil must be purged. Your souls are mine!" Letting out a small battle cry, she charged forward, slashing low forcing Gracie to the air. Spinning Soul around easily, she swiped the scythe through the air, forcing the redheaded girl to spin in the air to avoid the blow. Landing lightly on her feet, she regarded Maka through new eyes. The girl was faster now, much faster. They were going to have to step up the pace.

xXxXxXxXxXx

"They're doing quite well now," Stein observed as he watched the fight continue next to Lord Death. "the high compatibility is clear even form here."

"Yeah yeah yeah!" Lord Death agreed cheerfully, "I told you this was a good plan."

There was an awkward silence as no one in the room (which many teachers had entered to observe the battle) wished to be the first to point out the obvious flaw in the Death God's plans. Finally, Sid stepped forward. "I always spoke my mind. That was the kind of man I was. So Lord Death, with all respect, I must mention this."

"Yes?" Death prompted, turning to look at the zombie.

"Even together, Maka and Soul Eater are no match for Gracie and Strad."

"Hmmmm" Lord Death put one of his giant hands to his head, seemingly deep in thought. Ignoring the battle, all in attendance watched him closely save Spirit and Stein. For a long time, he stayed like this, finally prompting Sid to speak again.

"Uh…Lord Death?"

"Yes?"

"About Maka…and Soul Eater?"

"Oh yes…" There was another long pause. "I'm sorry, what was the question again?"

Sid shook his head, and slowly stepped back into the crowd. Even in death, Lord Death could give him a headache.

xXxXxXxXxXx

Maka reached up and wiped the trickle of blood from her cheek. It was a useless effort though, as the cut continued to openly weep blood.

"You're pretty good kid" Gracie nodded, flourishing his blade back and forth. "But you're out of your league here."

"Shut up!" Maka snapped, charging forward again, swinging Soul high. But Gracie easily blocked the blow, using her off hand to drive her fist into Maka's stomach, before spinning around and kicking her hard, throwing her across the rooftop and onto the cold stone.

'Maka!' Soul yelled, his Soul tightly clinging to his miesters. "Maka, are you okay?"

She let out a pitiful cough, but pushed herself back onto her feet, using him as support. "I'm fine." She rubbed her chest soothingly, Gracie waiting patiently in front of her. "But I don't think I can do this. She's to fast. I can't land a hit before she does. She's to good."

'It doesn't matter. We can't give up. I'm never failed a mission, and I'm not going to let you fail either.' Maka was silent, 'Now look, you turned me into a weapon tonight. Now use me. I know you can do it. You wouldn't give up on me, so don't do it now damnit!'

Maka felt some of her tension slink away, and she gave a curt nod. "Thank you Soul…"

"That really was touching. Listening to you compliment each other, but Strad is growing bored." Gracie interrupted the pair, striding forward, holding the blade lightly in her hand. "I'm afraid it's time to end this." Maka glared at Gracie, adjusting her grip slightly.

'Let's do this' Soul's voice whispered in her ear. Nodding again, she lunched forward. There was a clang as Gracie blocked her blow, but Maka only reversed her grip, coming at her again. Letting out a scream of blood lust, she sped up her movements, trying to force Gracie back. But the older miester held her ground, avoiding Maka's more wild blows with slight movements, and using Strad when necessary. Maka knew she couldn't keep this pace up forever. But what could she do? Gracie was better. But she wouldn't give up!

Leaping into the air, she swung Soul down with all her might. She was going to force Gracie back if it killed her! Instead of dodge, the miester waited holding up Strad defensively. The two blade met, the connection sound of metal on metal loud enough to rattle the windowpanes of the surrounding buildings. Growling, Maka pushed even harder. She would not let Soul down! They could do this. They wouldn't be beaten! If she couldn't only hold on a little bit longer.

"Foyne, double strike." Gracie cried, pushing up hard and breaking the connection between them. Eye's wide, Maka watched from above as Strad glowed red for a moment, before Gracie pulled him back and with inhuman speed thrust forwards twice, stabbing Maka twice though the chest before pulling back and letting her drop painfully to the ground. Eye's closed, she let go of Soul, pain overwhelming her.

'Maka!' There was a flash of light and she felt two warm hands later her. "Maka! Maka. Open your eyes, please!" He let out a sigh of relief as her green eyes finally opened. "Don't scare me like that damnit."

Maka tried to force a smile, but it came out as a grimace. "Sorry."

"Can you sit up?" Soul asked softly. She nodded, and gently he wrapped one arm around her, keeping the other firmly in her hand. Across the roof, Gracie watched them lazily.

"You should run Soul" Maka cough, feeling blood starting to run down her chest. "You can make it back to the DWMA and get help."

"Idiot, I'm your weapon." Soul scoffed, leaning his head against hers, "I'm not leaving you. Ever."

Maka felt tears well up in her eyes. She didn't know if it was from pain, or emotion, but she forced them back regardless. "Guess we failed our first mission then, huh?"

Soul shook his head, "It's not over yet, not even close."

She let out a choked laugh, but the pain caused her to stop prematurely. "What are we going to do Soul?"

'We…we can always try to resonate.' Soul responded softly after a few moment.

Maka gripped his hands tighter in hers. She had been thinking the same thing. But resonating when they were safely at home was one thing, doing it in the middle of a battle against an obviously superior enemy….that was completely different. And she had never done it with Soul in his weapon form, it was too danger, she couldn't risk it. "…I don't think we can Soul…"

He snorted, "You're saying this now? After all the time's you've forced a resonance with me?"

She gave him a small smile, "It was only two times."

He pulled her tighter against him. "We can do this Maka. And besides, if we fail and die…at least we die cool, alright?" He flashed her his shark toothed smile. After a moment, she returned it.

Wobbly, the two stood up, leaning on each other for support. Gracie raised an eyebrow. "Not going to run away this time? I'm sure one of you could make it."

They ignored her, Soul gripping Maka's hand tighter. "We can do this."

Maka nodded, about to order him to transform but stopped. "Soul…there's something I wanted to tell you. About why…about why I came to the DWMA…why I bugged you so much to be my weapon…you know, in case we don't make it…it was because…" she went silent as Soul leaned over and kissed her, silencing her voice.

"Tell me after" he smiled, his arm transforming into a blade.

Eye's shining, Maka nodded. Soul gave her one last fleeting look, before letting his body finish it's transformation. Spinning him around easily in her hands, she cut through the air. "This is it Gracie."

Gracie nodded, holding out Strad in front of her. "Let's see what you've got let then little scythe miester.

"Let's go, SOUL RESOSNACE"

"That's a pretty good one" Strad idly commented as the pair's souls connected and began to expand. "Think it'll cause any problems?"

Gracie spun him around confidently, "No."

"Are you ready?" Maka screamed, feeling the power flow through her body. Her mother had told her about this. Now all she had to do was focus. She could do this. She felt Soul radiate in her hands as his blade expanded, glowing majestically.

'Let's do this Maka!' Soul roared in reply.

"Witch Hunter!" Maka screamed, feeling Soul's blade expand to its limit. Swinging the still extraordinarily blade around she charged across the rooftop, Soul's blade illuminating the night. With another scream, she brought the glowing blade down on Gracie, who once again brought Strad up defensively. The blade collided, and Gracie was pushed backwards from the force. Digging her heels in, she pressed back.

"Haven't seen that one for a long time," She grunted out, pressing even harder, feeling Strad begin to vibrate in her hands. "It's amazing you can control it!" Maka ignored her, trying to force even more power into Soul. "But you're just not…ready!" Gracie yelled, flipping Strad up and shattering the connection.

With a cry, Maka flew back again. Fighting against the pain, she jammed Soul's, now normal, blade into the ground and landed hard on her feet. She felt her legs shake, but she forced herself to stay up. She wouldn't fall again! Not unless she was dead. "Soul, are you okay?"

'Yeah' he gasped out, 'are you?'

She nodded, watching as Gracie started to stride towards them once again. This was it. Gritting her teeth, she lifted Soul as much as she could, and swung him pathetically at Gracie, barley clearing the ground. She deflected the blow with ease, brining up her weapon and resting it against Maka's neck. "Surrender."

"Never." Maka spat, glaring at the miester before her. "How could you do this? Go against everything you were trained for! Betray the trust the DWMA is given? It doesn't matter if you kill us. You won't get away with this. And we will never stop fighting!"

Ignoring the blade at her throat, she tried to lift Soul again, but the exertion was too much. Leg's giving out, she fell to the ground. She felt her grip on Soul loosen, and then he clanked to the stone rooftop. There was a flash of light and he was beside her, arms wrapped protectively around her as he glared up at Gracie.

"She's right." He panted, "We will never give up!"

Gracie stared at him for a few moments, before letting go of Strad. With a flash, he was standing next to her, his arm thrown around her shoulders. "They did a lot better this time, didn't they?"

Gracie smiled, "Yes, they did. Dedicated too. He could have run, but he didn't. I think that deserves a passing grade for the mission, don't you?"

"I believe it does" Strad agreed, leaning over and ruffling Soul's hair. "Good job getting the girl too."

Soul's eye's crossed, "Wha?"

Maka's eye's snapped open, "What?"

Gracie let out a small giggle. "You didn't really think a weapon and miester went rouge, and Lord Death sent a pair of one-star miesters did you?"

"I-I…wha?" Soul asked dumbly.

Maka forced herself up, still leaning into Soul. "But…but we fought you. And there are reports. And…you almost killed us!"

"You were fine!" Strad waved her off, "I never stabbed you anywhere vital. You'll be fine in a couple of days."

Soul shook his head. This had to be a joke. Someone had to be fucking with him! "But…why?"

Gracie's arm snaked around Strad's waist. "Lord Death got it in his mind that if he put you two in a stressful enough situation, that you would work together. Apparently he was right. To be honest, I thought the first time you ran away, we would never see you again."

Strad nodded in agreement, "Yeah. First time around, I didn't even know why Death sent you out here. But after seeing you fight together" he nodded again, "You've got a lot of potential."

"So, it was just to get us together?" Maka cried. "all of this?"

"That's about the long and short" Strad nodded, "Well, a medical team should be around to get you guys shortly. We're going to go catch dinner and a movie. Later!" He tugged on Gracie and the two started to walk away.

"Wait!" Soul yelled out, "are you kidding me?"

Strad laughed, not even turning around. "Just be glad you got the girl Soul. We can talk about all of this another time." And with that, they were gone. Leaving one extremely irritated and confused miester, and one thoughtful weapon.

"I can't believe this" Maka whined, "I-I'm in so much pain."

Soul nodded, still mulling over Strad's words "I know…but…I'm still glad it happened."

Maka shifted in his arms, turning to look at him. "Really?"

Soul nodded, leaning in closer and giving her a small peck on the lips. "Really. I would have gone through so much worse to get a miester as cool as you."

Maka smiled, leaning into his chest and closing her eyes. In seconds she had fallen fast asleep. Soul watched her for a few minutes, before he too gave in to his body's exhaustion. It was like this they had been found on the roof, twined around each other's bodies. Miester and Weapon. Together.

It had taken the entire medical team to hold back Spirit when he arrived, intent on throwing Soul off the roof before he could 'defile' his darling Maka anymore than he already had.

Like I said, epilogue tomorrow. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. Anyways, I'm out to go study for my test tomorrow. Please leave a review.