Well, it's been around a month. I meant to have this written and posted soon than it was but life got in the way and DNC took over as top priority, especially since I got stuck partway through Maka and Tsubaki's conversation.

So, I snickered at everyone's reviews. I am a terrible, terrible person, I know. BUT I did it for the sake of drama. I think people will be happier by the end of this chapter. I have only one chapter left for this story and then I'm done. Until I finish the short sequel. ;D Yeah, I've had that planned for a while.

Sorry that I frightened so many of you, but it was all intentional. Swear.

Anyway, enjoy!

FINDING HOME

By iOc

CHAPTER X

Maka was numb she had been since Black Star received the phone call from Wes.

Soul was in the hospital. His car had been hit on the rear driver's side. He had hit his head on the window and he undoubtedly had whiplash, amongst other injuries. She hadn't heard any other details but she knew it was bad. Already a week had pass and he still lied unconscious in the bed.

Tsubaki, Black Star, Wes, Maggie, Liz, Patti, Kid, and herself hadn't once left the building. Shine brought her a change of clothes everyday, but he returned to the hotel every night. At first he pleaded for her to return with him, but he eventually accepted the fact that she wouldn't leave until Soul woke up.

The nurses had begun to feel sympathetic towards the group and offered them an empty bed or two every night. They also brought clean scrubs with them for the rest of Maka's friends. She thought it was kind of them, but she knew none of them really felt like sleeping that much.

Maka and Tsubaki occupied one of the empty beds that night, seeking comfort in their friendship and solace in the silence between them. It was Maka who broke the quiet.

"I feel horrible." she said, breaking the silence. "It's all my fault. He was coming for me."

"He wants you to be happy, that's why he was coming." Tsubaki assured her. "He likes seeing you smile."

"He loves me doesn't he?"

Tsubaki hesitated to answer. Maka continued her thoughts, keeping her friend from replying.

"He didn't want to be greedy and hog me to himself. He was afraid I'd be unhappy with him. He's an idiot."

"All men are idiots when they are in love." There was a hint of humor in the taller girl's voice.

"Why didn't he say anything?"

"He was going to. At the rehearsal. Before he..."

"Idiot."

In spite of herself, Maka laughed. Tsubaki joined her. It felt good to laugh again.

They slipped into silence when Maka felt her throat tighten and her eyes burn with tears.

She pleaded with her body not to cry but traitorous tears fell and the dam broke. Tsubaki held her as she cried, whispering soothing words and humming.

When Maka calmed down, the dark-haired woman asked:

"Where did your sudden revelation come from?"

"I... I was thinking." Maka hiccuped. "Soul has always done so much for me, despite the fact that I'm engaged. He looks at me the same way Shin does. It honestly wasn't that hard to figure out."

"And you love him?"

"I'd have to be an idiot not to."

"Well you are."

"I am?"

"You left us, remember?"

"I had to."

"Why?"

"Soul." Maka said. "He pushed me out the door to go with my mom. All because of a stupid vision in that stupid room."

"Room? What room?"

"The room below the cafe. Where that little demon put me five years ago."

Tsubaki frowned at her, clearly recalling that day and the room.

"There's a lot of bad memories in that place." she said. "Maka, promise me you'll never go in there again."

"Trust me, I promised myself the minute I was out of there that I wouldn't." the blonde said. More quietly, she continued, "I did, though, not too long ago. I was with Shin and Soul. Shin wanted a sample of the wall to test it."

"Did you ever get the results back?"

"No. Shin was still working on them. He was supposed to give them to Soul at the rehearsal."

"I wonder how he would have reacted if he knew what Soul had planned."

"He wouldn't be happy. Mama's not happy that we pushed back the wedding date. We'll have to reapply for a marriage license."

"You and Shin are still getting married?" Tsubaki asked. "What about Soul?"

"I... I'm not sure. I want to talk to Shin but he's been fairly distant lately. I think I should tell him I don't want to marry him anymore."

"Why were you getting married to him in the first place?"

"He was there for me when Soul wasn't." Maka said simply. "He put up with me. And it's what Mama wanted."

"...Do you think you were only getting married because it's what your mother wanted?"

"Do you?"

"Yes." Tsubaki said.

"Then, yes."

Her friend gaped at her. Maka turned to look up at the ceiling. Slowly, her eyes dropped from the heavy weights that tugged on them and then, slowly, they closed. Her breathing evened out and she was soon asleep.

Tsubaki looked at her with a wrinkled brow. Just what was going on in little Maka Albarn's mind?

She picked up Maka's cellphone and browsed through her contacts. Copying the number she wanted, she began to text the recipient.

Maka and Tsubaki joined the men for breakfast in the hospital cafeteria the next morning. The silence between all of them was tense but the hunger pains were too great for them to put off eating any more. They nibbled on dry, whole wheat toast and bagels, none of them savoring the first thing they ate in the past couple of days. A few nurses looked on them with frowns, silently pleading for them to eat something with a bit more sustenance.

Shin arrived midway through their meal, carrying a bag with Maka's fresh clothes. She took the offered bag and set it in her lap, polishing up the bland meal. When she finished, she dusted herself off and excused herself from the group.

Shin accompanied her to the restroom. He held the door open for her and then closed it when she was inside. He waited patiently for her to change outside, guarding the door. There weren't many visitors at this time, so they really didn't need to worry about anyone walking in on her but he did it out of his gentlemanly duties.

Maka looked down at the outfit in the bag. It was what she had been wearing on her first night back in Death City. Smiling, she slipped into it. She scrubbed her teeth using her finger and then pulled her hair back from her face. She'll be wanting a shower very badly when Soul finally woke up.

She left the restroom and saw Shin leaning against the wall like he had done everyday since Soul was brought to this hospital. Maka started back towards the cafeteria, but Shin stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"We need to talk." he said. He lead her down a more abandoned hallway.

Maka gulped. Those were four words no one in any sort of relationship wanted to hear.

"Okay," she replied. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Us."

"Oh. What about us?"

He sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Maka, do you still want to marry me?"

"I'm not sure what you're asking."

"Do you see the two of us being together in the future?"

She bit her lip. She truly didn't. Seeming to sense her hesitation, Shin continued on.

"I don't." he said. "I see you with someone else."

"Is this way of telling me we're calling off the entire wedding?" she asked quietly.

"Our entire relationship."

"Oh."

"I will always care for you, Maka, but I don't make you happy any more. Promise me something?"

"What?""That you and Soul will be very happy together in years to come."

"I..."

"Please, Maka."

"I promise."

He held out his hand, meeting her eyes. His gaze was overwhelming and unemotional.

"Your ring." Shin said.

Maka looked down at her hands. She had been fiddling with it. Slowly, she slid it off, revealing a pale sliver of skin that remained untanned from the time she'd worn it. She sighed and dropped the trinket into his hand.

"I will let our families know." he said.

"I should tell them too —"

"Don't. It is my duty. I broke it all off, not you."

"But —"

"Please, Miss Albarn."

She winced. He hadn't called her that since they first met. It made the two of them sound so formal with one another and the two intimate people they had been.

Maka watched as he turned his back on her and started to walk away. He stopped and twisted back to her. He walked back to her and held out an envelope. She took it from him, curious of its contents.

"It's the results." he said. "I wanted to give them to you sooner, but I could never find the right moment. Give them to Soul when he wakes up."

He nodded and left her standing there, watching his retreating back and then the spot he once was when he disappeared.

Liz found her standing there an hour later. She tapped Maka on the shoulder, startling the petite blonde.

"Hey." she said.

"Hi."

"Got some news."

Maka arched her brow.

"Soul's awake."

Huzzah! Soul woke up, Shin is out of the picture, and Maka has admitted her love for Soul. Whew, I wrote the majority of this in under and hour because I was just inspired by a few comments.

I'll be participating in Camp NaNoWriMo this April and July. Join now! It's oodles of fun.

I don't have much else to say except that I'm tired. It's after 1:30 a.m. here and I'm posting this from my netbook (something I haven't done since actually writing this fic).

Well, hopefully, I can get the last chapter up in under a month.

Thank you to RaiiderBaybe93, Maddielove95, and Banana998 for adding this story to your favorite stories list.

Thank you to EmoMusicMetalLuvr16, RaiiderBaybe93, virgothemuse, queen valiant, DesertSoulLynx, ResuscitatedHope, and Universe of the Soul Seeker for adding my other stories to your favorite stories list.

Thank you to Maddielove95 for adding me to your favorite authors list.

Thank you to LoveMeLikeCrazy and Maddielove95 for adding this story to your story alerts list.

Thank you to EmoMusicMetalLuvr16, TrepidationChance, lovelygirl4everlife, and ResucitatedHope for adding my other stories to your story alerts list.

Thank you to Maddielove95 and DesertSoulLynx for adding me to your author alerts list.

Robastar34: Do you feel a little better now? Are things going your way?

FanficForUs: Can I claim it was done for the drama and not because I'm a sadist?

amypop: No, Soul doesn't die. I won't let that happen. I ship SoMa so hard it's not even funny.

darkangel1565: Here's some smelling salts.

SymmetricalGirl8DeathTheKid: Do you know why I'm grinning now? I had this all planned out, right from the beginning!

Katsumara: The plan went well.

Thunderbreeze: I have mastered cliffhangers!

GigiandMad: Good guess about the stones. We shall see about them in the last chapter. (I really hadn't mean to put that subplot off too long, it just worked that way.) Okay, I take back what I said about doing this for the drama. I'm a sadist. Please do feel free to check out my other works.

lovelygirl4everlife: And now, to conclude this story…

SoulxMakaxForever: Of course, Soul and Maka belong together. I shall add a little bit of fluff in the next chapter, just for you.

Maddielove95: Did you really predict that? Wow, I totally wanted to blindside everyone with that twist. Guess I didn't. The last chapter or two went fast because I had to move the story along. I don't like it when things drag, as I felt the story started to a little bit. I guess I sped it up too fast.