Away From the Sun
by. Poisoned Scarlett

Onze

Tsubaki was more than delighted when Maka told her of Liz. But her own delight had been dampened by the knowledge that Soul would no longer be keeping her company or warding away anymore strange men while they took the subway to their own destinations. He will be taking his motorcycle to and from the studio; he'll be paving his own path to fame without her.

Maka lays on her bed the next day, staring at her ceiling. He wasn't in the subway that morning, as expected. It was just a little depressing, swaying with the train all lonesome. She tries not to think about it. There's music flowing softly from her alarm clock radio, left on by Tsubaki before she left home. The girly songs that come from the speakers annoy her, not mixing well with her bitter mood, so she reaches over to adjust the station.

She just plays around with the stations for a bit, searching for something to better her mood. And then she hears it – that unmistakable drawl of his voice – and she scrambles to find that station again. She finds it, holding her alarm clock on her lap.

It's Soul, Maka thinks, ecstatic. It has to be him - it sounds just like him! He sounds... She feels a smile break on her face the longer the song carries on. He sounds amazing. He sounds like he's been doing this all his life – the way his voice removes the silence from her room, piano and guitar meshing wonderfully. It's a soft, calming, song that warms her as if he's really there beside her; had been there all along. She doesn't know if it's because he has an incredible voice or because of the music itself.

She feels disheartened when the song ends and another takes its place, anyway.

She takes note of the station and turns the radio off, glancing at the clock. Kim is coming to the bakery today. Ox told her to come in later because he needed to take an hour to teach Kim the ropes of working the oven while Jackie manned the register. It makes sense he'd want someone he considered a nuisance – but who did her job well – gone so he could have his own time with the girl he adored. It just annoys Maka that Ox doesn't warn her about these things until the last minute.

She pulls on her gray sweater and fixes her pigtails. Considering she had time to get home and relax for a bit, Maka doesn't have to carry around her book bag like she usually does. She just shuts the door behind her and hooks her keys on the waistband of her skirt, making her way to the subway. The weight in her gut returns as she approaches the station and she makes a mental note to download a few of Soul's tracks, likely the only comfort she'll have for a long time.

Although there are many people who also take the train alone, she feels misplaced. She'd grown so used to having Soul right there, beside her, that now it's just too weird. She'll have get used to being alone again, she decides, as she disembarks and watches the train go down its usual route like it does every day. That'll be something that'll never change, at least.

"Hi, Maka." Jackie greets when she enters the bakery. The girl straightens up, looking more perked up now that she got to go back into the kitchen. "Ox is still in there with Kim. God, I'll have to be there watching Ox and Kim flirt while I make a cake." Jackie groans, Maka giggling.

"You can tell him to get out if he starts to get on your nerves."

"Oh, bet on it." Jackie darkly promises, brightening soon after. "Well, here you go. I'll let you get onto your busy job." She sarcastically says, causing Maka to roll her eyes and head into the back for her apron. It's no surprise she sees Kim smirking as she kneads doe naughtily, Ox staring at her with a slowly slacking jaw and darkening face.

Just like Kim. Maka shakes her head, heading back out to stand behind the register. Jackie gives her a pained look before marching bravely into the kitchen, interrupting their moment with a flat comment that makes Ox shout at her and Kim shout at him to stop yelling at her friend:

"Jackie! Get out!"

"No! My shift at the register is over! I have to start baking that cake or else I'll never finish it!"

"OX! Leave Jackie alone!"

"Argh! Kim, to my office!"

"Don't tell me what to do, Ox!"

"Can you both just go to the office? I really need to get this cake done by today!"

Needless to say, Maka let her thoughts drift idly while the trio warred in the kitchens. There aren't many customers this evening, but there's more than usual. And every time there's a lull, she lets her thoughts drift back to that song she heard on the radio, and it doesn't fail to bring a small smile to her face.

She wonders what compelled him to write it. She wants to ask him but she's depressed to realize it would be a long time - perhaps even weeks - before she would be able to speak to him again...

That's how the roar of a motorcycle catches her: with a little frown that startles away at the sound. She straightens when the bike parks in the parking lot. She knows it has because she heard it turn off nearby, around the corner. She can only hold her breath, unwilling to admit her hopes to herself just yet, but a bright smile graces her face when she sees someone walk toward the entrance, removing their helmet to reveal a head full of unruly silver hair.

She only knows one person with such startling pale hair, and her smile widens when he enters the bakery.

"Hey, Maka." Soul drawls, helmet tucked under his arms. He's dressed in heavier clothes than usual, likely because he had his motorcycle back. His boots thump heavily on the floor as he approaches her. "Miss me?"

"Not really." She says, laughing at his surprise. She loves making him falter in his cool like this, just like he loves riling her up until she's spitting fire. "I can just turn on my radio and hear you all I want!"

"So that's how it's gonna' be, huh? You finally learned what real music sounds like." Soul chuckles, placing his helmet on the counter. "Boss around?"

"He's in the back trying to get the new cooks number, again." Maka rolls her eyes, not at all concerned. Ox will not be coming out of the kitchens for a long time. She still hear him grumbling in there. "He probably hasn't even noticed that I came in today."

"It's a good thing you came in." Soul yawns, cracking his neck as if sore. But she can still spot a ghost of a smile as he says: "'Cause I didn't wanna' go all the way to your house."

"I see how much you care about me," she dryly says, resting her chin in her palm. "What do you want?"

"I actually want a slice of chocolate cake."

She blinks, not expecting that. But she doesn't question it: she just nods and takes his order, placing the slice into a small plastic container and handing it to him. He hands her five dollars absently, devouring the slice of cake in the time it takes her to hand him his change.

"Wha - did you finish it already?"

"I'm hungry." He defends himself. "Give me another one."

"No way! Soul, go eat something!" Maka demands. "You'll spoil your dinner if you keep eating sweets like this!"

"Yes, mother." Soul mocks. "No, seriously, get me another slice."

"I'm being serious, too: go eat something. Look, there's a fast food place around the corner from here. Go buy something there!"

"That nasty place? No, thanks." He wrinkles his nose. "I'd rather eat this than risk eating some nasty burger and praying to the porcelain god all morning tomorrow." He tosses the plastic container she'd placed the slice in back to her and she holds to her chest, frowning at his stubbornness.

"Their burgers aren't nasty. They're really good, actually."

"You, Maka, need to go out more."

"I do not - !"

"Oh, my God! I can't stand it anymore, Maka!" Jackie slams the doors open, storming to her side and successfully cutting off their argument. "I can't concentrate with their stupid flirting-around! Can I hang out here with you?"

"Oh, sure." Maka smiles at her. "I don't mind."

"So, yeah, can you get me a slice of cake?" Soul asks Jackie, who smiles and nods before being stopped by Maka.

"Don't. Soul, I'm serious: go eat something somewhere else. You can't stuff yourself with desserts until you're full!" Maka scolds. He scowls.

"Watch me." He deadpans. He turns back to Jackie. "Cake?"

"SOUL!" Maka snaps, grabbing his helmet and shoving it to his chest. "Go eat something elsewhere. I won't tell you again."

"Neither will I." He growls, shoving his helmet back at her. "Get me another slice of cake."

Jackie looks between them critically. She narrows her eyes and observes their interaction when Maka pinks from rage and yells for him to get the hell out now. It doesn't take Jackie long to note the reluctance in Soul, the unnatural jittery movements from Maka as she shoves his helmet back at him and he shoves it back to her like some game. After a moment of thought, Jackie says: "How about you both go get something to eat?"

"Sounds good to me," Soul agrees instantly.

"Huh? What're you saying, Jackie, it's only this idiot here who needs to eat!" Maka exclaims, furious. "I have to stay here with you!"

"No, you don't. Ox doesn't even know you're in. He doesn't care, really. All he cares about right now is Kim, and if he does makes a big deal out of it, I can always tell Kim and she'll help you out." Jackie grins at Maka's falter, her inability to come up with something good. Soul smirks, tucking his helmet under his arm again. This is all Jackie needs to see to know that the only reason this Soul guy didn't want to eat something elsewhere was because of Maka.

"But..."

"Just go, Maka. I'll take your shift for today. Kim isn't going anywhere anytime soon," she adds, wearily. At Maka's reluctant look, Jackie pleads: "Just for today! I don't think I can stomach another two minutes in there!"

"Oh, okay." Maka sighs, defeated.

"I'll wait for you outside." Soul speaks up, turning heel before Maka could protest. The bells jingle as he leaves, presumably heading to where he last parked his bike, and Maka presses her lips together disapprovingly. She'd really rather him in a car than a bike - can't cars be cool, too? She wonders, Jackie interrupting her thoughts:

"Why can't I find a guy like you two?" She sighs, forlorn.

Maka just gives her a strange look, folding up her apron. "What're you talking about, Jackie? What about Harvar?"

"He's a friend," she mumbles.

"Well... I don't have a guy, either."

"What about that guy?" She gestures out the door Soul had walked out of with a finger.

"Who? Soul? Oh, no! He's just my friend." Maka laughs awkwardly and ducks into the back to store her apron.

Jackie turns back to the front, catching a glimpse of Soul. He's brought the bike up front, his hands going through his hair as if fixing it. This thought is later confirmed when she catches him looking into one of the side mirrors, flicking away a piece of unruly white hair from his eyes and sitting back; taking a breath as if preparing himself for something. Jackie can think of who he needs to prepare for, as Maka comes back from the kitchen and bids her goodbye with a happy smile.

Jackie just shakes her head, exasperated with all these blooming couples around her.