Two more chapters and this story will be finished! :D
Regular story line
Flashback
Stein enters the room to see Spirit's groggy eyes looking at Maka. He turns towards to Stein and gives him a weak smile. Stein walks closer to Maka, no improvement. She may be alive on the monitor but she's been dead the moment upon impact. However, he keeps that hidden thought to himself and hopes he's wrong.
"The kids left?" Spirit ask groggily as he sits up on the bed.
"They wouldn't have if I allowed them to stay but too many people here can be a hazard." Stein answers as he turns his attention to Spirit. Spirit's eyes are staring back at Stein and for once he feels a chill down his spine.
"What's her prognosis?" Spirit questions
"Undetermined" Stein replies quickly as he turns his attention to Maka fearing her heart monitor would flat line.
"Is that your answer or what you told them?" Spirit questions as Stein's body tenses when he watches Maka's heart monitor beeping slowly. He slowly turns to Spirit and feels a lump in his throat. Could he have caught on to it already?
"How long?" Spirit sighs.
The lump in Stein's throat is making it hard for him to breathe and swallow but he can't show any sign of discomfort. Stein is itching to grab a cigarette but smoking inside her with a patient on the verge of dying isn't wise.
"2 days to a week." Stein mutters. The lump in his throat is getting bigger as he watches a sorrowful look on Spirit's face.
"At least I get to spend some time with her, right?" Spirit confesses sadly.
"I'm sorry, but we did the best we can do but the damage was too severe. Even if she were to wake up she will only go back to sleep. As of now, she's in constant pain so we're giving her medication to soothe the pain." Stein adds as Spirit feels like he got punched in the chest.
"It would be selfish of me wanting her to stay with me given the state she's in. She's my little girl, after all. She comes first right?" Spirit cries as his eyes begin to become watery.
He lets his head drop then covers his eyes with his hands then lets out a soft wail. Stein cautiously walks towards Spirit feeling a sense of guilt for not trying hard enough. A parent outliving a child is something he wouldn't wish for anyone to experience.
"You know she was the best thing that came out of my marriage. It was a privilege to watch her grow up and smile like her mother. I may have failed as a parental figure but the fact she turned out so well makes me a happy man." Spirit confesses as Stein place his hand on Spirit's shoulder.
"I'll leave you alone with her, alright?" Stein whispers as Spirit shudders.
"I'm sorry." Spirit apologizes. Stein looks at him quizzically then feels a calming aura emitting from Spirit.
"For what?" Stein questions
"I haven't considered how you must be feeling right now. She loved your class and Miss. Marie very much. Thank you for everything you have done." Spirit says sincerely as he gets up from the bed then gives Stein a hug.
The contact has Stein in a daze then he slowly raises his hands to Spirit's back and returns the gesture. Stein gives Spirit two short pats as Spirit lets go of Stein.
"She's one of my students and one that will make an impact one day." Stein comments as he looks at Spirit. Spirit gives him a soft smile then looks back at his daughter.
"I'll leave you two alone now." Stein states as he leaves Spirit with Maka.
Regular story line
10
Soul's lungs are burning up as he races to find the music shop he used to go to a lot when he came to Death City. It was the one where he played for Maka the first time before they became partners. He sees a faint blue sign then runs faster to the store. Soul places his hand on the cold glass door as he starts to pant. He opens the door as a rush of cold air hits his face. An array of instruments glisten beautifully inside the shop as Soul marvels at a keyboard next to him.
"Soul? You've changed, my boy!" A loud voice shouts as Soul smiles a bit.
"Glad to know you're still here, Jerry." Soul says reassuringly as a bald old man wearing a simple dress shirt and black slacks emerges from the back of the store with a wide smile on his wrinkled face.
His gray bushy beard is still the same as ever. He's still a pudgy man but a warm presence is something Soul needs. The old man walks closer to Soul and gives him a strong handshake. His hands are calloused from years of playing and old man would always say that it adds character.
"Nothing or no one will make me leave this shop." Jerry says with a soft laugh. Soul looks deep into the old man's brown eyes and sees that same sparkle he had when they first meet.
"I need to borrow your piano room for an hour at most." Soul demands as Jerry gives him a wide grin.
"Thought you never ask my boy." Jerry replies as he guides Soul to a wooden door.
"Oh, do you have a tape recorder?" Soul ask
"Yes. What's the occasion?" Jerry ask as Soul looks at the ground to avoid his gaze. Jerry places his hand on Soul's head and looks into his eyes.
"You were always the secretive one but if you don't want to discuss it then fine by me." Jerry whispers as he opens the door for Soul.
The room has pristine white walls with painted musical notes on the side. Two large windows let in the afternoon sun in the room as Soul walks in to feel the same warm feeling he had since the first time he walked in here. Soul walks toward to a grandiose sleek black piano. He places his hand on the keys then plays a soft tune and feels a sense of nostalgia flood inside his body.
"I'll leave you two alone while I get the tape recorder." Jerry jokes as he closes the door for a moment. Soul looks at the piano then feels a soft hand on his shoulder. He turns around to see Maka staring at him with a nervous smile.
"Are you Soul Eater Evans?" Maka asks timidly as Soul begins to look back to the piano to see his past-self wearing his suit.
"Yeah, what I'm going to play is a song that describe who I am and if it doesn't bother you then we can be partners." A younger Soul states as Soul turns back to where Maka was to see she was gone.
"I remember the first time she came into this store and she was such a nervous little thing." Jerry announces as Soul looks at Jerry
"She still is." Soul laughes. Jerry walks into the room and places the tape recorder gently in Soul's hand.
"Is something wrong, Soul?" Jerry ask as he watches the Soul lets out a sigh.
"You were always observant." Soul acknowledges as he looks at Jerry with sad eyes.
"We… we had an accident in our last job and Maka got severely wounded. She's at the school's dispensary and I wanted to play her something. Only time I ever played for her is when we fight." Soul answers as Soul feels a warm touch on his shoulder again. He looks up to see Jerry giving his a faint smile.
"Take as long as you need, my boy." Jerry says as he gives Soul's shoulder a soft squeeze then leaves. The old man's footsteps resonate loudly inside the small room and as the door closes, more memories begin to flood the room.
Soul sits down on the bench and pivots his body towards the piano and stares at the piano with a blank expression. Soul turns to see his past-self playing an eerie but soothing tune while Maka stares at him. Her green eyes are sparkling and her head is swaying to the melody.
"You listened to my song." Soul mutters dejectedly as he watches the past with a frown. When he finished playing she walked towards him then nodded her head.
"If I could be with you tonight, I would sing you to sleep." Soul whispers as he watches the past disappear in front of him.
He hangs his head low and clutches to the tape recorder tightly. All of his pent up emotions are slowly crumbling like an old building. He wants to be strong and promised not to cry but watching her sleep on the hospital bed sets a trigger in his body.
"I heard nothing from you so I had to come in to see if you were alright" Jerry mentions as Soul looks at him blankly. Jerry walks into the room then looks at the piano. He gives a faint smile then stares back at Soul.
"This piano holds many memories. I met my wife because of this piano and she looked stunning. The way her fingers swiftly play the key and how focused she looked. She was a piano instructor so I learned to play because of her" Jerry remembers as Soul looks at him worriedly.
"Is she?" Soul questions fearing what his answer would be, but Jerry let out a sift chuckles.
"Oh, no, she stepped out for a moment." Jerry corrects as Soul lets out a sigh. Jerry leans towards Soul then stares into his red eyes.
"My boy, don't bottle it up. I tried that and it wasn't worth it. I almost didn't get my happy ending because I kept myself recluse." Jerry lectures as Soul wraps his arms around him. Hs head is flooding with thoughts of Maka from her smile to her laugh all he wants to do is hold her and seeing her smile again.
"How do you know if it's love?" Soul asks as Jerry lets go of Soul then stares at Soul's red eyes.
"When just seeing them makes a bad day a bit better. When the moment they speak, the world stops. Love can take many forms and if you ignore those signs what will you do?" Jerry whispers as he leaves Soul in the room again. He stands by the doorway then looks back at Soul.
"She'll love whatever you write for her because I have a feeling that she just want to see you again." Jerry says as he leaves the room then closes the door. Soul turns to his right to see the past Maka staring at him then gives him a warm smile.
"Songs are cool, so let's try it out." Soul mutters as he cracks his fingers then presses the record button.
9
Found an interesting prompt that says to use a countdown so stay tuned to see what happens.