OH MY GOD, HELLO? IS ANYONE OUT THERE? DO YOU REMEMBER ME? COUGHCOUGH *swats away cobwebs and dust* I-I'M ALIVEEE. Lets see if I get them all... HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR. WOW. wowwowwow okay wow. It's been SOOOO long, like 2 MONTHS?! HOLY MOLY. I'm so so sorry for my absence, I basically fell off the face of the earth. With all those holidays, visiting family and finals I just had no time! It's been so crazy, I haven't had a shrivel of time for myself lately. And then a new semester started, and I was settling into the new year figuring things out -ugh, I just did not have the time to sit down and finish this! For awhile, I was really scared to post. I lost my muse for this fanfic and I had no motivation to finish it. At the same time, I was looking into other animes and lost my interest in this. I don't know why all of days, today I came on here and I was reading through all the old reviews for this fanfic and I had an epiphany. Soul and Maka are MY OTP. THE OTP FOR ME. There is NO way I would of finished this chapter if it wasn't for those reviews. That's my motivation. I NEED it to push through and strive to make this fanfic awesome. However, I decided if I chugged through this, I might as well challenge myself. SO, I'm working on A NEW FANFIC based off one of my other OTPs, but I want you guys to decide! Which anime should I choose? 1. My Little Monster 2. Toradora or 3. Fairy Tail ? YOU PICK. ANWAYSSSS, about THIS chapter! Wow I really had to break free of all my rust, so this chapter probably seriously sucks. I won't give away spoilers, but I had A MOMENT while finishing this, hence the ending. Hope you all enjoy! I really hope you haven't forgotten my fanfic! PLEASE, LEAVE REVIEWS. I really really need and love them.

Chatper Thirteen . Exposure

- Maka -

The entrance behind both Meister and Weapon offered less and less light as Maka trudged on forward with Soul in hand. In her other hand was a flashlight; tightly secure in her grip and glaring ahead at the ominous darkness. The dirt ground beneath her wafted a strong aroma of earth and wet moss. A musty, ancient smell that made Maka's eyes water and nose wrinkle. The further she went forward, the more her feet sloped in a downward arch, descending deeper into the omnipresent black. Stone walls arched over and around her, remaining secure for so long only because of the vines that snared throughout its cracks. Occasionally, water dribbled from these vines, but Maka paid no attention. She remained tense, regardless of if there was an immediate threat or not. There was Madness in the air, just faint enough to whisper about and leave both Meister and Weapon alert.

Maka stopped suddenly, her lips tightening into a narrow line as she raised her flashlight and appraised the darkness ahead of her.

"Maka?" Soul's metallic voice questioned her from his sharp blade. "Do you see something?"

"No.." Maka murmured carefully, lowering her flashlight and raising Soul instead. "But I hear something."

Soul silenced and true to her word, there was a distant, faint shuffling sound.

Maka lowered herself into a defensive crouch and held Soul with both her hands. The flashlight was beneath her on the ground, shining ahead where the noise was coming from. The shuffling was slow and deliberate, as though something dragging. Maka kept her firm footing, despite the wary perspiration that dappled on her forehead.

The shuffling grew louder and yet, there were no sign of a figure coming close or a soul seen. Gauging by the sound, and its intensity the enemy should be right on top of them, in obvious eyesight. The noise stopped and Maka tightened her grip on Soul. She held her breath and glanced around wildly, a bead of sweat dribbling down from her temple.

"Soul.." She whispered, her heart erratic. Even she could feel his quick pulse humming along his blade and through her fingertips. She glanced around wildly, her throat closing as a lump formed within it. Her anxiety was increasing with the strung out silence and no sign of any attacker. A sudden, low growl rumbled around her; making her bones vibrate. Maka jumped back and a massive weight collapsed on her shoulders, knocking the wind out of her. The pressure was short-lived however, for the ground beneath Meister and weapon crumbled and both fell down, swallowed by darkness.

The slow, throbbing ache pulsating from the side of Maka's head was her confirmation that she was awake. And in serious need of an Advil. She sat up with a groan, wincing as the ache in her head shifted and settled behind her eyes. Her sense of direction was completely distorted as it was nearly impossible to see. Beside her, Soul's stark white hair stood out against the darkness. She was relieved to see his chest falling up and down. She bent forward and nudged him carefully, releasing a sigh when he stirred beneath her touch.

"...Maka are you..alright?" Soul grumbled as he sat up and rubbed his neck. He ran his fingers though his ragged hair, dislodging crumbles of dirt.

"I'm okay. My head hurts though... what was that?" Maka squeaked, her voice coarse and dry.

"I dunno. Better question: where are we?"

"I don't know either." Maka confessed and glanced around uneasily. The ground beneath them was stone, but otherwise there was no identification as to where they were. The longer they sat there, the possibility of running into their attacker twice was. And, it gave Maka the time to become aware of the many new bruises she would have. "Let's get moving though."

The pair staggered to their feet, patting off dust and pebbles which were only shrapnel of what had actually fallen. Although the darkness was suffocating, they found each others hands and made sure to lock their fingers together. They shuffled ahead slowly, Soul leading and Maka in tow, his free arm shifting into a blade and held in front of him defensively. They struggled, tripping and bumping into the chaotic disorder of rocks that had fallen from above them. They didn't know which way they were heading, but when their surroundings ever so slightly began to lighten, the general conscious had become to walk near the light. Which, went against every horror movie ever shown but given their current situation the unknown light was much more appealing than sheer black.

Maka tried her best to stay close behind Soul, but her twisted ankle throbbed sorely as she continued to walk. With each step she took, another spasm of pins and needles jolted through her toes and split all the way around her ankle. The last thing she wanted to do was stop and hang around here more, so she held back complaints and kept her eyes trained on Soul's illuminate white hair.

The tunnel widened, and at the end of it, appeared to open up into some sort of room. Soul had remained surprisingly persistent on leading, but soon his crimson eyes narrowed as he appraised the tunnel's opening with suspicion. Maka confirmed this by the careful squeeze he gave her, and whether consciously or not, nudged Maka so that she was hovering behind his back.

Maka was relieved to see... that well, she could see. It was dim enough to make out their surroundings without stumbling into a scattered chunk of ceiling or vine. The room they entered seemed like an underground ruin. Pillars stood at each corner of the lopsided oval-shaped space. Some of them were crumbled and others badly damaged.

A sigh from Soul pulled Maka away from her inspection. "Oi, if it's light in here that means there must be an exit." He released her hand carefully. "Let's look for it, but don't go too far."

Maka nodded, briefly catching his incandescent serious eyes before wandering off in the opposite direction. She could hear Soul shuffling behind her, wedging a distance between them but she wasn't concerned. Placed in the center of the room were stones slated on top of each other, creating thick stairs. Maka neared it, her curiosity stirring from inside of her. This room must have been some type of shrine or used for meditation. Why else would there be such a convenient platform in the middle of it? Maka stepped up on it and was surprised to see that the top platform was hollow. A violent shudder contorted her entire body as she inspected it further. Not only was she peering inside a tomb, but a tomb with something in it. "S-Soul!" Maka stuttered out, her jade eyes widening.

Her weapon was by her side seconds later, tugging her away from the tomb with piercing maroon eyes. His lip curled back in an instinctive growl as he glimpsed inside suspiciously. He immediately dropped his tense shoulders and released an irritated sigh. "Maka, that's not a dead body." He stated matter-of-factually.

"I-I know that!" Maka hissed defensively, her face reddening. She flung her forearm down, connecting the side of her hand to his cranium with a satisfying, loud crack. "MAKA-CHOP!" She clicked her teeth together and glowered at him with a heated face.

"OW! Give me a damn concussion why don't you, Maka!" Soul spat, rubbing his sore head.

"I know it's not a dead body, BAKA." The prickly Meister reiterated with a scowl. She peered back into the tomb with big, curious olive eyes. "I think it's the Malulem." She whispered, fixating her gaze on the wrapped bundle like it was a jewel.

"Why do you think that?" Soul inquired, unconvinced.

"Because, Papa said it should be covered, which it is. And why would there be a strange bundled little artifact all the way down here?" Maka shot back, leaving Soul no room for a counter attack. "If you don't believe me, then why don't we just look at it?" Maka asked, reaching down to pull the rope that held the blanket around it.

"NO." Soul snapped, slightly panicked, grabbing her hand immediately. "No," He repeated, quieter. "Gramps also said not to look at it." He reminded her, pulling her away from the tomb. "If you really think that it's the Malulem then I'll believe you."

Maka glanced up at him in surprise, appraising his expression. She waited for any signs of humor, or an incoming insult, but his expression remained serious.

Soul shrugged at her uncertainty. "You're my Meister, I trust you."

"O-okay." Maka nodded, flicking her gaze away from his. She was exhausted, and he looked just as beaten down. Neither of them wanted to argue. Maka bent forward and scooped up the Malulem. She was surprised by how light it was. It was impossible to tell its real shape, but by simply handling it she could tell it was thin and sturdy.

"I found an exit while we were searching." Soul explained as he helped Maka off the steps. "The tunnel goes up too."

Maka nodded, and followed after her Partner. She made sure not to jostle the Malulem as she shuffled along. Her body ached; the beginning of what would become the most miserable hike back to their house. Her ankle felt hot as it pulsed against her shoe, screaming against the pressure of walking. It felt swollen. Her clothes were torn, she was covered in scrapes, cuts and all kinds of unpleasant bumps and bruises to come. The still heat hung low in the air, making Maka's clothes cling to her sweat-drenched body. She felt as though a thin layer of dirt and cobwebs covered her, which probably did. Maka flicked her gaze at Soul who was in no better place than she.

The remaining of the tunnel, they remained in silence. Both had nothing much to say, except for how tired, hungry and badly they wanted to leave the stuffy ruins.

At last, both Meister and Weapon emerged from the dark ruins they were trapped within. Each released a simultaneous sigh of relief and swallowed a deep gulp of fresh air. Night had fallen, but the moon was like a light bulb and the stars shrapnel of its glowing remains. Both took a moment to admire the view, grateful to be beneath an open sky.

"We did it." Maka sighed wearily, her legs wobbling beneath her, threatening to cave in. Never had they been on such an exhausting mission.

"We'll never make it back to the village like this, we should set up camp." Came Soul's gruff response. And for once, Maka didn't complain.

"Camp" consisted of a spot beneath a large tree that looked soft enough to sleep on. Despite the roots that stretched out from underneath the ground, the thick moss and patches of grass along them looked inviting. Besides, they had lost all their supplies from falling in the tunnel so this would have to do.

Soul took the Malulem from his Meister and settled it beneath some brush away from eyesight. He collapsed on the ground, settling himself in the crook of two roots covered by moss. As soon as he sprawled out he released a long, tired groan. He appeared comfortable enough, but even in Maka's sleep-deprived state she questioned his sanity, for there was no way that she could ever fit. Comfortably that is.
He must have sensed her doubts because he raised his arms into the air and grumbled, "Come here."

Maka obliged meekly, although she was uncertain of his reasoning. She crouched down above him, arching a skeptical eyebrow. A single crimson eye peeked open from behind his disheveled white hair, and before she could protest his arms snaked around her tiny waist and pulled her down.

A small squeak bubbled from the back of Maka's throat and her eyes widened in surprise. She pressed her hands on his chest and arched away from him, but his arms kept her in his secure grip. "S-S-Soul?" She stammered, silently cursing the blush that rose from her neck.
"Hmm?" He hummed tiredly, eyes closed, seemingly untethered by their arrangement.

Of course they've ended up in this position a few times, but under rational circumstances like the heat of battle. Never before had they been in this position intentionally, which made it all the more suggestive to...to other things. Maka scowled in embarrassment from her perverted thoughts. She was no better than her father! But really, what if someone saw them?! Maka would never be able to live down that kind of mortification. She inwardly groaned, and hung her head. She blinked open her eyes after a long moment and stiffened, her face instinctively reddening when she met Soul's calm crimson eyes no more than a few inches away from her.

"S-Soul... what do you think.. that was? The thing that attacked us?" Maka asked nervously, glancing away. She needed to distract herself, preoccupy her mind. Her heart pounded erratically in her chest, which Soul could probably feel. She cringed.

"I'm not sure.." Soul mumbled after a long moment. His voice was surprisingly soft, taking on more of a husky timbre due to the sleep that clouded him. He was quiet for a long time as he sorted his thoughts. He searched her eyes carefully, his expression stoic. Finally, he spoke up a bit hesitantly. "Are you scared?"

"A bit." Maka shivered, confessing in a quiet voice. She could feel his arms snake around her waist once more. She realized she didn't notice when he took them away before. He gaze her a gentle squeeze, all the while never removing his eyes from her. It was like he was gauging her reaction... awaiting a Maka Chop maybe?

"I'll protect you, Maka." Soul murmured with reassurance, craning his neck to meet her hooded eyes. With his thumb he carefully swiped away her tears.

Above the partners, stars made their last wink; glimmering dimly as a single ember ray of sunlight streaked into the sky. The sunrise came slowly, quietly announcing a brand new day, and all the new possibilities that came with it. It's light illuminated the pair below, gently caught in a single, tender embrace.

Maka took a breath, struggling to swallow the lump that had gathered in her throat. Her chest felt tight, her heart snared up in a constricting pinch. With each pulse it made, her entire body hummed. She fought the urge to cry, as the corners of her eyes stung and watered. She was being irrational, she had no reason to react this way. So why was she? Even as Soul carefully spoke her name and brushed away her bangs to reveal the tears that now did roll down her cheeks, she couldn't suppress any restraint. She was terrified, not only from the unknown attacker who could still be out there, but also that she had made herself vulnerable to the one person she swore not to. "Do you promise?" Her bottom lip quivered, making her words waver.

Maka could feel him lean up, but she never guessed of this. Even now, with Soul's warm lips touching hers, she couldn't believe they were kissing. It was soft, his lips ever so gently pressing on her, whispering like a butterfly's wings. Simply touching, making his presence known. His breath tickled her. He did not sculpt her lips to move with his, just a slight pressure so that Maka could lean away if she wanted to. And then he was gone, their lips apart but breath mingled. Hearts entwined.

"I promise."

.

IT HAPPENED. YES, IT HAPPENED. QUE THE SCREAMING. I know some of you may not have expected their first kiss to turn out that way, trust me I wasn't! But something stirred within me while finishing up this chapter, I could picture these two so vividly in my mind, it was like they were asking me to let them kiss. And even though their journey in the ruins is only the beginning of mayhem, it was traumatic for both of them, physically and emotionally which I tried to hint throughout the chapter. Especially on Soul's part. So as much as everybody loves hot smutty kisses, the only kiss I could ever describe in that moment was something tender and sweet. Review!~ ;)