Maka knows that something is wrong the moment she senses the unfamiliar soul wavelength.

The party is going well. Tsubaki had insisted on cooking since Maka just got home, and her food is delicious as usual. Kid and the others are excellent guests and make pleasant conversation as they eat. Blackstar is his usual annoying self, but he doesn't break anything this time, so Maka is content to just ignore him. Even Blair, for the most part, seems content to stay out of the way; after briefly interrupting the party, she leaves quickly when Maka shoos her out.

As the sun sets, it casts a red hue over the living room of her and Soul's apartment. She and the others, having devoured all of the available food, are content to sit around the coffee table and chat. Maka's about to smack Soul over the head with a book for complaining about her being a neat freak when she feels it.

The soul wavelength she senses is chaotic and dark, and the evil emanating from it makes her think that it's possibly a witch's soul. There's an almost slimy texture to this particular soul, she notes when she focuses closer on it, although it's hard to get a good reading when there's so many people around. She's never actually sensed a witch's soul before—to her detriment—but the sheer madness radiating off this soul is enough to persuade her that whatever this soul is, it's not human.

She doesn't remember standing up, but she almost knocks over the table when she turns to face the window. "Witch!" she shouts, before turning on her heel and sprinting for the door. Everyone voices their alarm and confusion, so she quickly tosses a "Sorry guys, I have to go!" over her shoulder before letting the door fall shut behind her.

The last thing she sees before she turns to go is Soul's startled face, his hand outstretched and reaching for her.

He's probably going to try to follow her, she thinks grimly as she rushes down the stairs, taking them two at a time. Her heart is already racing and she's still out of shape from being in recovery for so long, but none of that matters right now. She has to go faster. And honestly, Soul worries too much. He's been shooting her worried looks all evening, and it's gotten to the point where Maka wants to smack him and yell at him to knock it off. She's not made of glass,; she can take care of herself.

Fortunately, the soul wavelength she senses isn't too far from the apartment. Before she's even halfway there, Maka is panting, exhausted already, and the wound in her side, although mostly healed, is starting to ache. She grits her teeth and ignores it, but by the time she skids to a halt in the alleyway to find Dr. Medusa and Professor Stein, she's out of breath and ready to collapse. She misses most of their conversation, trying to collect herself.

She pants for a minute, trying to catch her breath, before managing to gasp out: "Was that a witch's soul? I've never sensed one before." Looking around, she sees that Dr. Medusa is gone.

Stein nods in response, and Maka feels her panic spike. A witch in the middle of Death City, where they're supposed to be safe? Thinking of the witch that made the Demon Sword Child, she swallows hard, terror making her blood run cold.

"Do you think that it's the same witch that made the Demon Sword?" Maka asks, trying not to let her fear show. Stein reassures her that it's probably not, and Maka finally feels like she can breathe evenly again. She doesn't know what she'll do if she runs into the Demon Sword again. Part of her is terrified, after what happened last time, of what happened to her. The other part of her is angry, angry that she was trapped and defeated so easily.

Soul interrupts her thoughts as he sprints into the alley, white hair askew and red eyes wide with worry. He stops next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Maka, you shouldn't just run off like that!" he says firmly, checking her over and noting her pale face. "Are you okay?"

Her side is aching, and she's so tired she's surprised that she's till on her feet, but she's not about to admit that. "I'm fine, Soul," she reassures him even as she leans into him for support. He shifts closer and moves his hand from her shoulder to her back, right over her scar. His hands are warm, and his closeness is reassuring. With him around, even if it's silly, Maka feels like nothing can touch her.

He's quiet for a minute, and Maka is content to just stand there with him. The sun has set, and the alley is dark. She thinks they should probably head home, and the thought makes her cringe. She's already dead on her feet, and she knows that she's going to be sore tomorrow.

Soul abruptly turns to face Stein, a serious expression on his face, and Maka silently mourns the loss of warmth. "I know what I'm lacking now, Professor," he says quietly. Maka puzzles over possible meanings for the phrase in her head.

"Very good, Soul," Stein praises, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Then I'll see you two tomorrow morning, for extra training." On that note, the professor walks off, leaving the two of them standing in the alley alone.

"Come on, we should head back," Soul suggests, before she can pepper him with a million questions. She takes a step forwards and Soul shakes his head, gesturing to his back. Normally, she'd protest and refuse his help, but her brain is currently pudding and her limbs feel like lead. She climbs on his back with only a few token complaints, and he turns to head home.

After they've been walking a bit, Maka finally remembers her questions. "So, what was that about? You're willingly going to do extra training? At school? On a Saturday?"

"We're going to do extra training," he corrects her.

Maka blinks, shocked. "Who are you and what have you done with my Soul Eater?" she demands, shifting to get comfortable on Soul's back.

"Nothing's happened to me, I just think it's in our best interests that I get stronger," he replies, and before she can think of a response, they're back at their apartment. She insists on climbing the stairs herself, despite her exhaustion, and once they're inside, he quickly disappears into his room.

She's left standing alone in the middle of the living room. "Welcome home," she murmurs sarcastically. "What's going on with him?" She sighs, and begins to clean up the remnants of the party.

That night, she dreams again of demons and blood.


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