Thank you for being patient and liking the story. I hope you're enjoying the story :)
Regular Storyline
Soul leaves the infirmary with a heavy heart as the paper pokes out of his pocket. The paper is heavy on him as the mere thought of it sends him ablaze. Soul notices someone next to Stein as they both look at him quizzically.
"As you are aware that your predicament is quite unfortunate, but we can't afford to lose time. You are aware of the madness spreading and the waging war with Medusa, correct?" Stein lectures as Soul nods his head. The pending fight with Medusa has everyone on edge and he refuses to hinder everyone from moving forward.
"In case your partner…. retires, we have to provide you with a meister because we need all the help we need for the future. Lucio, meet Soul Eater Evans." Stein introduces as a small boy extends his hand towards Soul; they both exchange a brief handshake.
"Um, Stein told me bits and pieces of your situation and I give you my condolences. I hope your partner gets back on their feet, Mr. Evans." Lucio says as Soul watches the boy's mannerisms.
The boy's touch sends a chill down Soul's spine as he gazes at his pale blonde hair and emerald green eyes. Soul closes his eyes and he wonders if Maka ever mentioned having a twin brother. However, this one is smaller and frankly, seems more relaxed.
"Follow me to the gymnasium. Today we're sparring and you two need to start getting your soul wavelength in sync. Like Tsubaki, Lucio has a calming aura, so it shouldn't be too hard to get in sync." Stein instructs as Soul watches the small boy walk in front of him.
"Even their walk is the same." Soul mumbles. Lucio turns his head and gives Soul a soft smile
I can guarantee you that I am an only child, Mr. Evans." Lucio reassures as Soul chuckles
"Just call me Soul, you don't have to be so formal." Soul answers with a soft tone
"Maybe Black Star can learn a few things from him." Stein quips. Soul jogs to catch up to Lucio then looks back at the infirmary door with longing.
"If we finish fast enough, you can go see your partner, Soul." Lucio adds as Soul stops walking
"You're very perceptive." Soul acknowledges as Lucio shakes his head. Soul slowly begins to walk towards Lucio and Stein.
"I had my fair share of tragedy, Soul. I once had my partner in a predicament like yours." Lucio comments as Lucio's eyes show hints of a hidden past.
3
Stein opens the door of the gymnasium as Lucio and Soul walk in to see a class already assembled inside. The mat is gleaming from recently being waxed or it could be sweat from a previous brawl. Soul finds Black Star, Tsubaki, Patty, Liz and Kid deep into the crowd. Soul grabs Lucio's wrist and leads him to his friends.
"Took you long enough, Soul." Black Star whines as Soul sighs.
"Black Star informed me that Maka opened her eyes today. She's making steady progress, Soul. Oh, and who might you be?" Kid ask as he eyes the new addition. Soul is speechless as he thinks of something or anything to say
"I'm currently a substitute for Soul today since his partner is not ready for this exercise. My name is Lucio and it's a pleasure to meet you all." Lucio explains with the same soft smile he gave Soul.
Stein and Sid make their way to the center as the students begin to disperse in groups of two. Sid watches Stein with a worrisome look as Stein calls out the first fighters to begin the match. Lucio carefully sits on the ground next to Soul as he watches the match intensely. Soul can see a spark in his eyes when he watches the weapons clash. Black Star trudges his way to the front of the crowd as Tsubaki follows suit in case he does something irrational.
Kid leaves Liz and Patty as he heads to the restroom to check if his suit is intact before they call his name. Patty rushes to where Black Star is and watches the match with him.
2
"I appreciate what you did back there." Soul acknowledges
"Moments like these shouldn't happen but they occur. Sadness, pain, death, and tragedy follow everyone. However, times like these can test how strong a person can be." Lucio says as he watches the match.
"You're being tested right now and this is one test you can't cheat on, Soul." Lucio warns as Soul stays silent. A whistle breaks their silence as Sid announces the next fighters.
1
Regular Story Line
Kid left the restroom with a smile on his face as he finished making sure that all the toilet paper rolls had a perfect triangle fold. However, it took him longer than it should as he walks down the hall. Something isn't settling well with him when he passes by the infirmary door.
"Don't do this to me." Kid mumbles as his knees begin to feel weak. Her soul, he can always feel it near him but it's becoming faint, why? Kid slowly reaches for the door knob as a warm sensation envelopes his body.
0
Slowly, Kid opens the door to hear not silence but a piercing sound resonate around the room. Serenity is replaced with chaos as Naigus rushes to perform CPR on a limp body. Naigus' eyes meet Kid's frantic eyes as he motions his body out to get Stein.
"Fight back, you always fight back." Kid begs as he dashes to the gymnasium.
He opens the door quickly then dashes straight to Stein. His heart is racing and his eyes are wide from fear. Everyone can see the frantic look in Kid's eyes and it took Stein a millisecond to figure out why. The students stop fighting as they watch one of their instructors bolt out of the room. Sid holds Kid, his body is cold to touch as Sid takes him to Liz and Patty.
"Continue as you were!" Sid shouts as Kid gives a blank expression. Liz touches his pallid face but no reaction.
"Kid, are you okay?" Tsubaki ask
"I felt it. I felt her life leaving and I…and I just stood there." Kid confesses as the weight of his words bring him to his knees.
"Soul!" Sid shouts as Soul races out of the room
Soul P.O.V
My lungs are burning and my legs are aching from running. First Kid bursting through the door like he saw a ghost and Stein followed suit doesn't add up. The halls seem endless when you're racing against the clock but when I made it to the infirmary door, time stopped. A weeping father holding his daughter's cold hand, a melancholy doctor is driven to a corner and a dejected nurse sitting on a stool looking at the ground spells out trouble. Spirit turned his head only to greet me with tear stained eyes as a single word escapes from his mouth.
"Sorry." Spirit mouths as he squeezes his daughter's hand. My body won't cooperate as I try to move forward to no avail. Naigus gets up from her seat to disconnect the heart monitor and suddenly, it became eerily quiet.
"Can I please…?" I beg as I begin to move towards her.
"You….you were supposed to stay with me, Maka." I shout as Stein looks away from me.
"Soul, you should go back to your class." Stein orders
"I'm not leaving! I left her once and she's gone." I shout as I watch to see if she is breathing, she isn't. Spirit lets go and grabs Stein then go outside while Naigus follows suit.
"You're only sleeping, right? Don't say goodbye, not right now, Maka." I beg as I fumble into my pocket to pull out the sheet of paper.
"Look, I even wrote a poem, well it's a song but without a melody." I ramble as I watch her motionless face. My shaky hands hold onto the paper as I begin to read:
I thought it would be easier to be alone and cut the ties that bind me.
Peace always followed me and I never minded, until you walked in.
You listened to my song
It was dark like me but you stayed.
We fought but we made up, eventually.
You're stubborn but so am I.
Little by little, my heart soften.
Little by little, our souls started to merge.
I held you close and I felt your heart beat against my chest.
You care for me and I care for you.
Always protected you except for now.
Seeing your smile fading
Seeing your eyes dimming
Never wanted to get close but you ruined that for me.
Never wanted to hear you say I love you until you spoke it.
Come back and say it again.
I'll be patient.
I'll listen to your song.
I put the paper back into my pocket but nothing has changed. I hoped to see her give me a sly smirk and comment how I wrote a poem. I wanted to hear her speak again, but she's...gone. I will never hear her nagging or hear her laugh. I weakly grab on to something as my body collapse to the floor; my chest is aching from this pain.
"You said I love you and I panicked because I'm not meant to love you. Then I see you smile and something clicks inside me. You were always there for me and the one time I wasn't this happen. Please, please come back." I beg as I feel my face getting wet and I didn't take me long to notice that I was crying. I look at my hand and I'm holding her's, they're so small and cold.
"Please say it one more time for me, please come back to me. I... can't lose you." I confess as I feel a tightness around my hand.
One more chapter! ^^ Title based on The Amity Affliction song I Bring The Weather With Me. I wanted to write a poem based on Soul's feelings for Maka and I always liked the idea of him writing one for her.