Hey guys! I wanted to let you know that there will be two more chapters, including this one, and they might be kinda short. This time it's done for good though :)
Maka ran all the way to the hospital, completely unaware of the stares she was getting from anyone still out on the street at 3 am. She had to get there now. Something was happening to Soul, she could just feel it. What if he was slipping away? What if the doctors were giving up on him, and were going to take him off the IV and let him die? Is that why they made her go home? Would he die if that's what they did?
She ran and ran. She couldn't afford to stop. She didn't even feel the burn of her lungs or the protests of her muscles. Everything in the world around her faded away and she could only focus on her destination, on Soul.
Finally Maka runs into the hospital, and pass the reception desks. She ignores the calls and protests behind her, and sprints to Soul's room. She has the path memorized from the nights she spent by his side. She see's his door, and flings it open, running up to Soul's bedside. Only then did she relax. He looked the same as before, laying on his back with wires hooked up to him. He didn't have anything obscuring his face, just cords into his bloodstream. Feeling the pain from her long sprint, she flopped back into her old seat, just looking at her weapon.
Was it her head spinning from lack of oxygen, or did he just twitch his hand?
There it is again.
Maka sprung up from her seat and grabbed Soul's hand. She felt it move. Once, twice, three times. Maka stood still, shocked. Once she regained her senses, she pressed the button to alert the nurses. In fact, she pressed it repeatedly. The nurses rushed in, and quickly called the doctor in. Maybe it was out of pity, but they allowed Maka to stay in the room as they rushed around, checking monitors and pushing different buttons. For a few moments they paused when Soul let out a low groan. The turned down the majority of the drugs being pumped into him, leaving one's to kill the pain and keep away infection. After maybe twenty minuets, the nurses left and it was just the doctor and Maka Soul saw once he woke up.
"Maka..." Soul groaned, his voice rough from lack of used. Maka's breathe caught in her throat, and she gripped his hand tighter, tears in her eyes.
"Mr. Evens, I would suggest that you don't over do yourself. You just came out of a three day coma due to blood loss, and you have a wound stretching from your left shoulder to your lower right abdomen. Even slightly moving can reopen the stitches. We would like to keep you in bed for another two days, and then in the hospital for another week. By then we should be able to take your stitches out." The doctor told Soul, all in one long stretch of speech. Soul slightly nodded his head, and then looked over to his meister, ignoring the doctor. With a sigh the doctor walked out of the room.
"Soul..." Maka started, a lone tear rolling down her cheek. "Don't you ever do that again!" She whisper shouted, clutching his hand tighter as more tears appeared. She tilted her head down, tears dripping from her chin onto the floor, her bangs covering her face. "I-I was s-so scared." She chocked out in between sobs, squeezing her eyes shut. "You might hav- you coul- I thought you w-were g-gonna-"
"Shhh." Soul cut her off, lifting a shaky hand to brush her bangs away from her eyes. Then he used his thumb to wipe away her tears. Once her face was free of water, he nudged her chin up so she was facing him.
"Look at me." He whispered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Maka, I love you. So much. I would rather die a thousand times than lose you. If I had to live without you... I don't think that I would really be living. No matter what happens, I'll protect you. I won't let you down, I promise." He whispered, his voice low and breathy. At his words Maka picked up his hand again, squeezing it tight.
"Forever and always?" She asked, the smallest hint of a smile on her face.
"Forever and always." He confirmed, his shark-toothed grin appearing on his face.
xXxXxXxXxX
Maka and Soul walked from school, a week after Soul was released from the hospital. His wound was really close to being completely healed, leaving a thick pink scar across his chest. They were quiet as they walked, something very natural for the couple. Soul pulled Maka's hand, pulling her off the sidewalk and into a park.
"Soul!" Maka exclaimed, but there was a hint of humor in her tone. He just grinned and continued pulling her until they were under a large tree. Then, Soul continued to climb up the tree.
"Soul, don't hurt yourself! You know what the doctor said, you have to ease into more physical activity!" Maka called up after him, but he just continued to climb up to a thick, long, curved branch.
"Come on Maka, I know my limits. Come join me, it's awesome up here!" He called down to his worried girlfriend.
"No!" She called back up, putting her hands on her hips and sticking her tongue out at the goofy boy.
"Fine, I'll just stay up here." He said, and settled down onto the branch, getting into a comfortable position.
"Alright." Maka said and turned to walk away.
"Maka!" He called, alarmed. Said girl turned around, a smile on her face.
"Oh Soul, you know I'd never do that." She told him, and began to climb up the tree to join her weapon. He grinned down at her, shaking his head. Once she reached his branch, Soul moved over so she could sit. For a moment they where silent, Maka moving so she was right next to Soul, her head resting on his shoulder and his arm around her waist.
"Do you know where we are?" He whispered. Maka nodded her head.
"This is the tree that we were in to get the jump on our first kishin." She said, a wistful smile on her face.
"Yes, it is. You know, I don't think I'll ever forget that fight." He said, turning his head to nuzzle into Maka's hair.
"Why?" She asked, tuning as well so they were facing each other.
"Because it was our first fight together, and we were both trying to figure out why we felt so different around each other. When you were fighting, you bravado, your agility, it all made me admire you. It was the first time a thought of us... being us ever crossed my mind." He whispered, leaning in so that the two were only inches apart.
"Oh Soul..." She said, her voice trailing off as she stared into his intense crimson eyes.
"Maka, I love you. I love you so much that the very thought of living a life without you hurts. I think this type of love is special, and something to be cherished. I want to spend forever with you Maka." As he spoke he pulled a ring from his pocket. "Now don't freak out, this isn't an engagement ring. It's more of a promise ring, as silly as it sounds. A promise that we will be together, forever and always."He finished, smile on his face but nervousness in his eyes. Even now he's scared that she will reject him.
"Of course Soul. Forever and always." She whispered, and his smile got impossibly wide. He slipped the ring onto her ring finger, and she took the time to get a good look at it. It was a simple silver ring, with each side turning into a swirl on the top. In each swirl was a colored gem, one emerald green and the other crimson red. Gaining the significance of the colors, Maka teared up. She flung her arms around his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss.