Chapter 2

Well that's an interesting name.

Soul thought to himself while he looked up at the red neon sign that he had just parked under.

"Death's Burgers"

"Would anyone really want to eat at a place that literally says their burgers are DEATH?" Soul said with an arched eyebrow.

"Well I can uninvite you then dude. If death scares you so much." Black*Star said as he got out of his truck with a smirk.

Black*Star didn't look like the same 17 year old kid that he was when Soul was deployed. He still had his signature blue hair and he was still a muscular guy, but he looked like he could now bench press Soul and not even break a sweat. Black*Star also seemed a bit taller than he had been back then. He's wearing some khaki shorts with a solid black shirt that looked a little bit too snug on him.

Soul rolled his eyes at the blue haired idiot he calls a friend and punched his arms.

"You do realize that you're talking to a Marine guy, right?" Soul said laughing.

"Yeah, but that should've been me instead of you man. I am more qualified for that game." Black*Star said while flexing his arms to show off his muscles.

Tzubaki appeared next to Black*Star with a small smile and waved at Soul.

Tzubaki has her shoulder length hair down. Guess she out grew the high ponytail. She was wearing a knee length purple-pink sun dress. She looks way too mature to be with Black*Star.

"Hi Soul, it's so nice to see you again. How have you been? Wow you've, uhm, grown." Tzubaki said giggling as a blush spread across her face.

Black*Star stopped flexing to cover Tzubaki's eyes and scowled at Soul.

"Dude stop flexing for MY woman." Black*Star whined.

Soul laughed and looked at his arms. He hadn't realized that he had "bulked" up a little over the years compared to how he looked at 18 years old. 24 year old Soul wasn't a skinny little noodle anymore. Soul now had muscles to help fill in his tall frame.

"Whatever dude, hey Tzubaki. It is nice to see you and you look great." Soul said as he hugged Tzubaki with a peeved Black*Star watching him from over her shoulder.

"So," Tzubaki said looking at Soul, "it's been a long time. We've missed you." She gave Soul a tight smile, but it looked as if she was holding herself back from saying anything more.

Soul grimaced. He knows that he had been gone a long time, and that he had also not seen or spoken to anyone from back home. He felt bad that he hadn't kept in touch with anyone, but it had been easier that way, for him he thought, just in case something happened to him during his deployment.

The only one who had been able to get through every few months was Black*Star because he was a hard headed jack ass who wouldn't take no as an answer from Soul or his superiors.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. It was just easier that way I guess."

Even as Soul said it he knew it was a weak argument, and that his friends must hate him. The only person who's opinion matter's is hers. If she hates him then Soul will just pack up and leave to make it easier for them both.

Black*Star clapped Soul on the back of his shoulder and smiled as all three of them walked into the restaurant together.

The restaurant wasn't what Soul was expecting. It didn't scream Death's Burgers. Actually it screamed family fun. It was all bright colors, big booths and it even had a playground. The waiters and waitresses all wore bright green uniforms and they even had funny little caps on their heads with a little propeller that lights up.

Soul was kind of shocked that his friends had picked this restaurant of all places to meet up to eat.

The trio walked to the back to a table that was right outside of the playground area where the rest of the old gang was sitting and talking to each other.

"Sup guys, we picked up a hitchhiker to bring to dinner. Hope that's okay with you guys." Black*Star said with a goofy smile while pointing his thumb at Soul who stood there looking at everyone like a deer in headlights.

At once 3 heads looked up from the table and their conversation to smile at Soul.

Kid, Liz and Patty stood up from their chairs to give Soul hugs and welcome him home and how much they missed him and how he had missed so much in the years that he had been gone.

Soul hugged everyone and smiled back, but it didn't reach his eyes. He knew she was at the table. He had seen her green eyes in the quick glance that she spared him before looking back through the glass into the playground area.

Soul was desperate to get to her and say hi and give her a hug if she allowed him to. He wanted to hear her voice and look into her emerald eyes, but she didn't even get up to greet him so she can't be too happy that he's back.

After a quick chat with Kid, Liz and Patty, Soul was finally able to move over to the other side of the table where she was.

"Hey Maka." Soul said barely above a whisper, but he knows that she heard him.

Finally after what felt like years, she turned her head away from the glass and looked into his eyes.

"Welcome back Soul."

She then proceeded to stand up out of her chair and walk away from the table without another word.

Soul watched her walk off in silence and noticed how no one else uttered a word either.

"Well it could've gone worse right? She could've slapped me." Soul said with a hollow laugh.

"She should have slapped you," said Liz.

"Yeah, she really should have, and you would've deserved it too," said Patty.

Soul looked at the girls with shock written all over his face.

"What the hell. I know my leaving and not talking to everyone sucked, but does that really deserve a slap to the face?" Soul said through gritted teeth.

Tzubaki sighed and looked at Liz and Patty.

"He doesn't know yet."

Soul eyed everyone waiting for their response.

"I don't know what?"