Sorry for such a long hiatus, guys! Life's been keeping me pretty busy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater

Papermoon

Soul's POV

I put on my dark shirt before pulling my leather jacket over it and lifted the hood over my spiky white hair once I had pushed my bangs back with a black headband. As soon as I stepped out of my house, I was greeted by a group of girls, swooning and their eyes shining like stars.

"Oh, Soul-kun, you look amazing in that!"

"Steal me a jewel, okay?"

"Come back safely, my Soul!"

I raised an eyebrow, totally taken off guard. Wes must've told them to tell me these things, because I don't know anyone who calls me 'my Soul', not even my own mother.

Closing an eye, I grinned and gave them a thumbs up, "No palace guard'll take me down. I'll come back 'cause failing to return just ain't cool." I walked over to the entrance where most of my village members stood, including Wes, Patty, and Liz; we all looked at the few citizens who would stay behind. The reason why some stayed back is so if we, the ones out and about, do not return by dawn, the others back in the village would assume our fate and flee before the guards could track them down. They even vowed to set fire to our home if the need arose.

We smiled at our fellow village mates before running off into the shadows of the forest. My brother took the lead—no surprise—while I fell to the back to ensure everyone stayed together; in the center of our pack ran others from our home. We powered onward until we reached the tall walls surrounding the Kingdom. Wes nodded at me and I dipped my head in reply, before leaping into the air and landing on a tree branch over the group's head. My position was at the perfect height for me to scan the city hidden safely behind the gigantic walls. No lights were on: a good sign. I looked down at my pack below, cupped my hands to my mouth, and made a bird call. They nodded their response and began to walk along the wall. I leapt down and stealthily followed suit.

Eventually, the grand door to the Kingdom appeared alongside us, but we did not stop. However, one girl, about my age and a first time thiever, slowed down and began to approach the entryway. Her hand was just about to touch the golden handle when I gently touched her shoulder.

"S-Soul-kun!" She gasped, frightened by my sudden gesture.

"Hey, you can't just stroll into the Kingdom like that." I whispered then smirked at her, revealing my sharp teeth, "We have our own way of getting in."

She just stared back at me with puzzled green eyes before I guided her back to the group.

Everyone walked behind a curtain of trees at the base of the wall. Liz reached into her satchel and took out a grappling hook. The tall, light brunette swung the device a few times, hard and fast, before tossing it up. When it hooked over the wall, she gave it a few tugs to make sure it was secure before each of us climbed up, one by one.

I thought I was last to go and began my ascent, but when I was a good six feet off of the ground, I looked down to see the green-eyed girl staring up at the wall with wide eyes. Giving her a small smile, I offered her my hand. "Don't wanna stay behind. The guards might catch ya."

She shook her head to clear her mind, her long brown hair shifting back and forth as she did so; then, she looked at my hand and took it. I right away hauled her off of the ground, making her let out a surprised squeak as she widened her eyes, and wrapped her arms around my neck while I hooked my arm around her waist.

The group watched us from above and hauled us up along the wall. The girl stared at the night environment around her while I kept my crimson eyes fixated on our team. Finally, we reached the top and I pulled ourselves over the edge of the wall—it was a good four-feet thick, so balance wasn't too much of a challenge.

While maintaining a good posture at the peak is a cinch, the view overlooking the Kingdom is never something I can so easily get over. A few others in our thieving parties feel the same way I do when they make their rounds. Every time I stand on this wall, I take a good five minutes to take it all in again: the countless houses of all shapes and sizes with smoke billowing from a few chimneys, the various little shops scattered about, and the peaceful sound of silence as the Kingdom's town sleeps silently.

"Hey, Soul." I blinked a few times before looking at Liz; she was tucking away her grappling hook and the others were about ready to go.

"Right." I nodded. "Let's go."

With that being said, we leapt off of our perch and began jumping from roof to roof and split into two groups: I leading one, which consisted of Patty, Liz, and the girl, and Wes leading the other team. Stealthily, we scanned the surrounding areas to ensure few citizens were to be seen. When we concluded it was all clear, our two groups dropped into a dark alley to plan our strategy. And as we did so, I looked up to get a glimpse of the bright white moon.

Maka's POV

"So, Maka," Tsubaki smiled, "do you want to go out shopping tomorrow?" She let out a sigh, "We never hang out anymore."

"Probably because he wants you to be my maid who tends to my every need, rather than my friend who I can just kick back and relax with."

Now, in case you're wondering: Tsubaki has always been my best friend, but because of her closeness with me, he figured she would make a good maid for me as we matured over the years. He let us have our fun until all the royal responsibilities came into play—royal pains is more like it, to be honest. . .

With a sigh of defeat as a reply, we bid each other goodnight before preparing for bed. I walked over to my desk and looked outside my window. "Wow, the moon's so white, it's sort of looks like it's made out of paper."

With that observation popping into my mind, I took out a piece of paper from one of my many notebooks stacked in the back corner. Then, I began to fold and cut with my scissors over and over until I set my utensil down and picked up a black pen to draw on my project with. Placing the pen down, I sat back in my seat and held my work up into the silver moonlight cascading into my dark room.

"Hm, a paper moon."

I jumped to my feet with a loud gasp at the sudden voice and dropped my craft to the carpet. "Who's there?!" I snarled with the scissors in my hand and pointed in the direction of the newcomer. The voice had come from a dark corner in my room and I took a step closer. "I said who's there!" I exclaimed as I hurled the scissors.

"Nice shot." The voice said, slightly impressed, behind me.

I gasped and turned around only to stumble backwards. "Kid!" I screamed as I clenched a hand over my pounding heart. "You scared the freaking hell out of me! What did I tell you about stalking me from the shadows?"

He chuckled good-heartedly. "But it's fun!"

Growling, I took a book from my desk's shelf and whacked him on the head. "Take that, you asymmetrical creep." That did it.

He began to sob as he pounded the carpeted floor with his fist. "You're wrong about the creep part, but right about the asymmetrical one! It's true, I'm disgusting! I'm filthy. Unworthy of living!"

I sighed at his current state, then jumped when a static noise came from the mirror at my desk.

"Maka, is everything all right over there?"

Turning around, I began rubbing the back of my head with a weak smile. In the glass, appeared a tall black figure with a white skull mask. "O-oh, of course, sir! Things have been never better!" I broke into nervous laughter while the reaper boy grieved on the floor behind me.

"Eh?" He said tilting his head as he leaned closer. "Sure doesn't sound like it from where I'm standing."

"W-well maybe it's just the reception." I flustered.

"Maka." His voice had an edge to it and I sighed.

"Yes sir. . ." Turning around, I sat on my knees beside Kid and patted him on the back. "I'm sorry for what I said to you, Kid. You're not a creep."

"Ahem."

I flinched slightly at the tone behind me and rolled my eyes. "And you're not horribly asymmetrical."

The young reaper sniffled and lifted his head, his golden eyes flooding. "Y-you really mean it?"

I nodded with a plastered smile, knowing fully well the consequences I'd receive if I didn't make things better. As he sniffed the large snot bubble back up his nose, I grimaced.

"I forgive you."

"Yah, yah! All's well that ends well! Am I right, kids?"

"Yeah, Dad. Sure."

I flinched at Kid's sudden composure then sighed before looking back to the tall Shinigami. "And thanks for not addressing me as the princess, Lord Death."

The figure nodded. "You're welcome."

"Well, I'm going to head to bed now." Kid said from my doorway. "Have a good night's sleep, Maka, Father."

"You too, Kid!"

"Sweet dreams, Kiddo!" Lord Death chirped as he waved an abnormally large white hand, then he turned back to me. "I am sorry things turned out the way they did, Maka, but with you father. . ."

I held up a hand. "I understand, sir."

He nodded. "Alright, then. I'll let you get some sleep now."

"Okay. Night, Lord Death."

He waved me off. "Pleasant dreams, Maka." And the mirror went black.

I exhaled, stirring my ash blond bangs in the process, before picking up the paper moon heading to my bed and crawling underneath the blankets. Placing the small work on my nightstand, I began to drift off with one lingering thought in my mind: I wonder what Kid found so interesting about my paper moon . . .

Hours passed and I was gently woken when I heard the wind whistle as it entered my room. Cracking my sleepy eyes open, I propped myself up onto my elbows to check out my window. The silk curtains were stirring and I groaned when I concluded I had to close it. After much stumbling, I made it to the glass pane and was about to close it when something caught my eye; I groggily blinked my eyes and reality struck me like a powerful blow as my heart rose into my throat, my eyes widened at what I saw.

"Eeeeh!" I cried as I clenched my teeth together to prevent my scream from escaping.

There, on the side of my window gleamed two beady red orbs. Maybe it hasn't noticed me. . . Maybe if I just slowly close my window and go back to my bed, this will all end up being a dream. . . Yeah, that's it. Just go back to bed, Maka.

Too late. The orbs blinked and I lost it. I screamed at the top of my lungs and the wind whistled around me.

Then something else struck me and I stopped screaming to lean forward on the window sill, my emerald eyes wide. Those crimson eyes . . . I looked back up at the figure. A hood shadowed the face, but I was able to distinguish a broad jawline, a typical feature of a male. After making that deduction, he disappeared alongside my window. I tried to reach forward in order to see him better, my heart pounding all the while, but a massive gale blew me backwards making me tumble.

Finally, I rolled to a stop and another gust of wind poured into my room. I crawled to my window and cowered below it, tucking my head into my lap as I screamed in fright. Then, I heard a slam and faintly determined it was a few guards and possibly Papa, as well. Strong arms set themselves upon me and lifted me up before bringing me away from the glass pane. Papa ran over and looked outside. "Thieves!" He shouted, but I could barely hear him, "After them!"

A herd of footsteps thudded its way out of my room, yet the one guard at my side stayed, as did Papa. My window was shut now and it was peaceful in my dark room once again, but I was still trembling with all that happened within the past twenty minutes. A new pair of hands gently lay on the sides of my shoulders and I looked up slowly, with surely a few tears left in my terrified gaze.

"Maka." Papa said softly, his face close to mine and his blue eyes overflowing with concern, "Are you all right?"

Shaking still, I nodded slowly then bowed my head and closed my eyes as the rest of my tears slipped.

"You may go." He calmly ordered the guard, who then left.

I was so overwhelmed with seeing those crimson eyes again, and then nearly being blown away, that I was barely aware of Papa's tight comforting hug enveloping me.

I was unsure as to how much time had passed that the two of us stood in the silence of my room, but when I had finally settled down, Papa had Tsubaki bring a warm cup of milk and remind me to let her know if I needed anything during the rest of the night. When she had left, Papa tucked me in like he use to do when I was small, petted my head, and wished me a well night's rest. He, too, told me to let him or a guard know if I needed anything to make me more comfortable after my experience.

Sighing, I shifted so that I could gaze at the moon outside my window.

Soul's POV

We all ran for the hills. She had seen me. . . That very person I was hoping to, and not to, run into saw me and I saw her. . . And now the guards were at our heels. We had to make it back to our village and, either get off of their trail, or spread the word of the oncoming danger.

Amongst the chaos, I managed to look up at the moon above my head.

Maka and Soul's POV

"I gazed into those eyes . . . under a paper moon."

So glad to have some time to update! Hope you all have a Happy Holiday and very prosperous start to the New Year! :D