SO SORRY this is late! I probably had the busiest week/weekend of my whole entire life. I'm surprised I didn't drop dead. Not much to say about the chapter. It's short and crummy, I know. Kinda lame for the big chapter ten! :C But, you gotta love fluff- JK, how about some sexual tension? HMM? I'm going to try and squeeze in a extra chapter this week because I owe you guys. Thanks for those who left lovely comments! Please Review! I want feedback! (not "update soon!" I already know that.. D; )

Chapter Ten . The Journey Begins

- Soul -

For the next week, a silent, mutual agreement had settled between the two partners. Classes remained the same, and after school they lightly trained; careful not to damage any of Maka's injuries. Once they came back to the apartment, dinner was made and normal bickering ensued as it usually did. However, once night fell and the two partners dismissed themselves, something shifted. It started as Soul merely coming into Maka's room to check on her. That grew into Soul sitting on the end of her bed, murmuring to each other until Maka fell asleep, until finally, Soul quietly crept in Maka's bed and laid beside her. They didn't sleep like this every night, but when they did both seemed more at ease. At first, both were very chaste about how they slept. Their bodies tingled with mutual nerves that left a painfully awkward space between the two. As the week progressed, their comfort grew with it. Neither seemed untethered if an arm or leg tangled with the other, or, a hand gently brushed against them. Subconsciously or not, both teenagers somehow managed to gravitate closer to each other until their backs pressed firmly together, or their folded arms connected. Nothing was outwardly spoken about this; sparing both the immediate chagrin, but both partners seemed rather content with their new sleeping arrangement.

This Friday morning, much like the other mornings Soul had woken up in Maka's room; the first thing he did was shift his hand into a blade and pierce it through her screeching, blaring alarm clock. He gave a quiet grunt of satisfaction when the annoying noise was immediately stopped short. Soul rubbed his eyes with his same hand, idly becoming aware of his senses as he dislodged the sleep from them. Only now did he realize the consequences of his actions, after brief mulling over. Soul had already gone through two other alarm clocks that met their same fate the previous mornings he had woken up here. Not only did he have to go out a buy a damn new one, but he was literally Maka-chopped to the store.

At this realization, he glanced down at the girl who would be delivering one to him the moment she woke up. Soul shook his head in amusement as he eyed his still unconscious partner beside him. It was beyond himself how she somehow managed to sleep through such a loud disturbance and not even stir. Today was the day they would be leaving for their mission trip, but if Maka's clock was correct (which it probably was, or set earlier) they still had an hour and a half to kill before meeting Spirit at the airport. So Soul decided to let his partner sleep for a bit longer, watching her content face.

Somehow the two had managed to lean toward each other until they were as they are now. Soul, sprawled out on the edge of her bed with Maka neatly curled beside him. The side of her face nuzzled in the crook of his arm that stretched over her pillow and around her head. The groggy Death-Scythe remained still for a while longer, sighing in content at the warmth that radiated from the fragile girl beside him. Soul let out a quiet yawn and stiffly realized that it wasn't the alarm clock that had so disturbingly awoken him to a disoriented, sweaty state. He shifted on her bed, suddenly becoming aware of a very big, demanding issue. He glanced down at the problem in his pants, noting the bulge that protruded from it. He supressed a throaty groan and attempted to disentangle his arm from Maka but without stirring her too much. This wasn't the first time he had woken up in such a predicament, but never had it been so troublesome that he had to get out of bed and jump in a very cold shower. And a shower, Soul decided, is what he would get. But, not without crawling out from Maka's bed without waking her.

Soul stiffened and shut his eyes. He released a slow breath before precariously recoiling his arm away from Maka. Just as it popped free from beneath her head she began to stir. Soul, now panicking, snapped his eyes shut and attempted to calm his breathing so it looked some-what like he was sleeping. He expected her to wake up and grumble irritably, like she usually did, but she merely shifted her weight and tucked herself against his side. What made matters worse, was how her leg rested against his and her entire body pressed against his side. Soul choked back another aroused moan as his member pulsed hungrily when her core gently brushed his leg.

He needed to get away. Now. The soft rising and falling of her chest against him brought no solace to the turned on Death-Scythe. Soul jerked away and scrambled out of her bed, no longer caring if she woke. He just needed to get in the damn shower. He quickly shuffled out of her room, hearing her stir awake as the door closed behind him. He fumbled out of his clothes and jumped in the shower, flicking on the frigid water as he did so. Almost immediately he relieved himself of the coiling tension that had knotted in between his thighs. Soul gazed up into the streaming water and raked his fingers through his disheveled white hair. The cold water dribbled against his fervent body, until his shoulders drooped and his body relaxed. Despite this, he was still agitated. Managing this isn't what bothered him (considering he was almost eighteen), but who stimulated his body this way did. The things he was experiencing and emotions that churned uncertainly in his gut were all wrong. Sure, he had overcome his constant nosebleed and boner whenever Blair happened to stroll about nude, but of all the people who made him this way it should not be his Meister. That went against every unspoken boundary the two of them established. They were Weapon and Meister. Such impulsive, fleeting moments should not endanger their strong partnership.

Soul groaned and rubbed his temples. His dislodged the thoughts from his head and mentally flung them off down the drain. He got out of the shower, shuffled to his room, changed and made his way toward the smell of waffles.

"Eat them quickly, we're running late." Maka's irritated voice broke his drooling fixation. "You have everything packed right? We have to meet my papa in twenty minutes."

Soul shrugged and sauntered into the kitchen, meeting Maka's flustered face. He shoved half a waffle in his mouth with a loud gulp and settled down at the kitchen table. He caught her gaze for a split second before she blinked her jade eyes away. Soul didn't miss the faint blush that dusted her cheeks.

Traffic wasn't bad, in Soul's opinion, but to Spirit, he didn't get here nearly fast enough. Soul couldn't help but scoff at Spirit's glaring face when he pulled up beside him and revved his engine. Soul felt a swat on his back from Maka, but his grin only widened.

"Let me explain your mission before you leave." Spirit grumbled bristly, but his anger immediately vanished when his daughter was in his presence. "Your location is unspecified considering how remote it is and how much you'll be traveling once there. The climate rather temperate, if not a bit warmer. You won't find any Death City's there, just a couple small villages. Most of the terrain is jungle, considering it is an island."

"An island?!" Maka squeaked, her eyes widening in wonder.

"An unnamed one, that is." Spirit frowned, watching her excitement falter. "Shinigama has a hotel suite reserved for a part of your stay. However, at some point you two will have to be camping out. I have everything you need already on your plane if you do. Understand everything so far?"

"Get on with it Gramps!" Soul griped.

"I wasn't asking you! Droopy-eyed brat!" Spirit snapped back, flinging his hands in the air. A sudden glare from his daughter, however, and he calmed down. "Anyway, once there your mission is to find the Malulem."

"Malulem?" Maka inquired, arching an eyebrow.

Spirit nodded. "It's an ancient tool that Shinigami once owned. He spread all of them apart to avoid catastrophe but now its utmost importance to have some returned."

"A tool? Like a Weapon?" Maka asked, her olive eyes glowing with curiosity.

"Not exactly." Spirit's face scrunched in thought. "It should be covered. If not, make sure to cover it or avoid looking at it for too long. But most importantly, make sure you do not break it."

"There's more than one of these tools? What happens if it breaks?" Soul asked, feeling suspicion bristle up the back of his neck.
For once, Spirit didn't snap at him. His lips were in a firm line and he wore a stoic expression. "Just be cautious, It's not like I want my daughter on this mission." He responded dismissively.

Maka rolled her eyes and seemed rather at ease. "Is that all we have to do? Find it and bring it back?"

Spirit nodded slowly. "I wouldn't make it sound that easy, though. You can bet on running into many dangers along the way. If you don't want to go I-"

"That's why I have Soul." Maka cut in with a steady tone. "He'll protect me."

Soul blinked and glanced down at his Meister. He studied her confident expression and the faint blush that warmed her cheeks until she flicked her eyes on him and she gave him a small nod. A wide grin split across Soul's face as he nodded back.

Spirit pursed his lips in a distasteful way before jerking a curt nod. "Well, that's all. You best be on your way." At his words, Spirit's eyes became glassy. "MAKA! I'll miss you!" He lunged forward to give her fierce hug.

"Bye." Maka hummed easily and bounded off; swiftly avoiding his grasp as she made her way for the small private plane.

Soul grinned after his Meister; that was twice now she had dissed Spirit, and Soul was unable to suppress his amusement. He let out a sigh and shoved his hands in his pockets before shuffling after her. He stopped short when he felt a sudden, firm grip on his shoulder. Soul glanced around expectantly and met Spirit's searing gaze.

"Don't make me regret ever trusting you again."

Soul shrugged him off dismissively and nodded. He locked his gaze for a moment and nodded once more before jogging off to meet Maka on the plane. Soul was prepared to protect his Meister; die for her even. Especially now, considering how much of a shitty job he's done so far. Despite his certainty, he still couldn't shake the feeling of unease as he boarded the plane, Death City became a faint speck and the two of the sped closer to the absolute unknown.

.

Sorry again for the quick chapter guys! P.S - I don't know if you noticed, but the word in bold MAY be important! What is it you may ask? Well, I made the word up if that's what your asking. You'll have to find out what it actually is in the future! ;) REVIEW!