I AM SO SORRY! IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO TYPE THIS; WE HAD FINALS THIS WEEK AND MY SISTER BARELY LET ME ON HER COMPUTER! T-T Also, I haven't been able to figure out how to view reviews, but I know there are 6, so thank you unknown readers who cared enough to review. I'll keep trying to figure out how to see your reviews! Anyway, Maka's anxiety attack is based solely on the one my sister had a couple of weeks ago, so it might not be what you expect. And um...I apologize again for taking so long to update this! Hopefully I'll be able to do it sooner this week. And one of my friends who read this said the shifting perspectives got a bit confusing, so I labeled the point of views. Or tried too. I don't know, I'm not really good at anything...

Disclaimer: I'm way too irresponsible to own anything. Including Soul Eater and hermit crabs. But Ash is mine! My twisted sadistic brainpoop!

Maka's POV

"No, no, no, no, no, no! Mommy I don't wanna, don't wanna, wanna…don't make me Mommy! Take me with you! Please, please, please, please…please…Mommy don't leave!"

"Shh. It's going to be okay Maka. I'm only leaving you with him for a year. Then I'll be back for you." Mrs. Albarn wiped her daughters tears away, watching her hiccup with concern. She knew this was an anxiety attack, and as soon as she was gone it would be better. Turning to Spirit, her husband she spoke, her hands still soothing the poor little girl.

"Spirit, take care of her. I need you to be mature for once and think of her instead of yourself. Be responsible and stop chasing after every woman you meet." She turned to go, but Maka flung herself around her ankles, sobbing even harder.

"Mommmmyy! Don't leave, don't leave, don't leave!! I don't wanna daddy! No daddy, please! Please, please, please…please…pleeeaaasseee! I wanna Mommy please!" Maka was screaming now, so Mrs. Albarn knelt down and gave her one last hug.

"You can be strong for a year, can't you girl? I thought Mommy raised you to be strong. I'll see you in a year." She set her only child down and hurried off, ignoring the piercing cries behind her. She knew Spirit could take care of her little girl, she knew he could be responsible if he chose.

That was Maka's first ever anxiety attack. It happened in 2nd grade, when her mother had to go on a business trip she couldn't bring Maka on. So she dumped her daughter on her worthless husband, and 2 years later, said worthless husband got a letter from the company she had worked for. Mrs. Albarn was dead, and they gave their most sincere condolences to the family she had left behind. She had died a year ago, and Spirit immediately started drinking to forget his dead wife.

Maka didn't have alcohol to relieve herself. She could only collapse in sorrow, shutting down, shutting everyone out of her life. Whatever people told her to do, she did, and her only act of rebellion against the cruel world that had taken her mother away was to start dressing like a boy. Her mother had used to always fawn over the cute dresses she found for Maka, and now that she was dead Maka never wanted to see a dress again. Of course this brought up a few problems. It was the beginning of the teasing that would continue for years. It started out very light, a couple insults that could be brushed off.

Through the first three years of her torture, Spirit ignored her. He was steeped in beer every day and when she tried to talk to him he brushed her off. During one of his sober moments, he brought her to the grocery store and then ditched her to meet another woman who batted her eyelashes at him. A 9 year old Maka was left wit no money and a full cart. When she tried to leave a loud alarm sounded; so she ran, leaving the cart behind with tears streaming down her face. From that moment on, she hated her father. At the start of her first year in junior high school, she moved out altogether. He didn't even notice.

Then, in 5th grade, it became physical; hits, punches, kicks, scratches. Every day she would brutally get beat up, and no one noticed. Not even when she came to school with two black eyes. She became a shadow that people stepped on with no second thought. In sixth grade, the final straw came. A boy she absolutely despised broke her left arm.

After that incident, the bullying slacked off. Maka, however, had found her fighting spirit. Every fight she would get in a punch or two, then 3, 4, 5 until she could take down one of the boys in a fight. The girls fought verbal wars with Maka, calling her a "nerd", "tiny tits", and "transvestite." It hurt more than the punches and shoves, and Maka found herself forgetting her mother's face bit by bit. The only way she could remember it was to look in a mirror, but she didn't own one so the memories of her family faded in oblivion.

Finally, when the bullying got extreme, Maka began to contemplate suicide. She had nothing left to live for, no purpose and due to her classmates, no hope. Around this time, Deathe the Kid transferred to their school. At first he didn't talk much, but he began showing up at her bench in the park. They never talked, but somehow they formed a bond anyway. At the end of Maka's second junior high year, he gave her a cell phone, preprogrammed with his number and told her he was there if she needed anything.

Kid was a guiding beacon in Maka's life. Without him, she would most likely be burning in hell. He turned her from the spiral of depression and onto the path of revenge. This was a slight improvement, however it sparked Maka's hatred for everything. Her hair, her small chest, her stupid dad and all the preps in the world (even the "nice" ones.) Somehow these thoughts of hatred calmed Maka down, and her anxiety attack ebbed away.

Eventually, her mind returned to the start of her anxiety attack. It would be nice to sleep in a real bed again, even if it was in an apartment with a pervert. Though he was trying to be nice, and he didn't attack her since 4th hour. Maka kept thinking about it and finally her mind lit on a brilliant reason for her to move in (it's actually an excuse, she just won't admit it.) She would be close to him, able to torture him with pranks and taunts. She would be able to punish him for being so alike to those who had bullied her. Smiling at her wonderful idea Maka stood up, stretching her legs and arms before trying to open the door. It was locked.

"Poor Maka locked in a closet

Crying because she is trapped

Got scolded and yelled at

And knuckles rapped

Because she was late to class"

The voice was faint and one Maka clearly recognized. It was her arch nemesis, Ash. He was the ringleader of the bullies back in the day but he was supposed to be in California. None of this really registered in her mind however, because the moment she heard his voice, she turned primal. Maka flew at the door, clawing, kicking and throwing her body against it in a vain attempt to get out and to the person she so despised. His laughter faded away though, and Maka was left quivering in the dark, hot blood still coursing through her veins. Then she calmed down and sank to the floor, pulling off her sweater to use as a makeshift pillow. She was crying again, and she desperately clung to Soul's address, wishing he would save her…

Soul's POV

Soul was a wreck Wednesday morning. Emotionally that is. Physically he was immaculate as always. His apartment was spotless, his fridge full, but Maka had never shown up yesterday. Filled with dread at seeing her in homeroom, he dragged his feet to school, wishing he could play hooky. But that wouldn't be cool; at least Maka wouldn't think it was cool. So he sat down and stared at the door, watching as the other kids came in and then finally Kid showed up. He glanced around the classroom, and when he didn't find Maka his eyes turned to meet Soul's. They were angry and Soul leaned back a bit in apprehension as Kid approached him and smacked the table with his hands.

"What'd you do with Maka, sicko?" Kid's hands tightened into fists and he looked ready to lash out.

"Nothing. You're her friend, aren't you? Why're you asking me then?" Soul didn't like Kid, especially when he made an uncool scene.

"Like hell I am! But I saw the way you looked at her! Like she was a piece of meat! You did something to her, didn't you?"

"What's the big deal? She's probably just late." Kid looked away, eyes still smoldering with anger, but there was a sad edge to them now.

"She's never missed class. Never. Not even when she broke her arm." Soul's eyes widened and then he was pulling Kid out of the classroom, ignoring his protests.

"You're the principals son right? You can skip class and I don't give a shit so let's look for her." Kid just kept resisting and pointed out some very logical points.

"We don't know where the hell to look. She could be anywhere Soul!"

Soul turned and gold eyes met red. They had a mental struggle, both fighting for dominance and power, but Soul broke away. He didn't have time to glare at Kid, he had to find Maka.

"I'll search anywhere if that's what it takes Kid."

He turned and strode away letting his instinct guide him and checking all the closets he passed. Soul felt as if she was still in school, but he found no trace of her. Panic was interrupting his thought process and he found himself checking the same place twice. He needed to fin her, needed to see her beautiful green eyes sparkling with laughter and snapping with anger again. When the bell to end first hour rang, he walked to 2nd hour hoping she would be there.

She wasn't. Nor was she in 3rd or 4th hour. When he got to lunch, he walked straight up to Maka's table and sat down. He didn't care about the damn stares people were giving him, his mind was a frenzy of where's Maka and the like. Some part of it did observe his tablemates; the infamous Black Star that everyone knew because he ran around yelling about his greatness. Then there was Kid, explaining about Maka's disappearance and finally a brunette with hair that flowed down to her waist and had 2 short locks to frame her face. Her body was nice enough, but Soul only had eyes for Maka. Which brought him back to his current predicament.

"We need to find Maka, dammit!"

"O-of course! I agree!"

"The amazing Black Star will accept any challenge!"

Kid just glowered at Soul and then his eyes dilated with surprise. There was someone behind Soul and when he looked, he felt his eyes enlarge in surprise too. It was Ash, his old pal that moved to California at the end of his last junior high year. He looked just as Soul remembered him, bright gray eyes and very blond hair that was styled perfectly. He was wearing khaki pants and a red shirt and Soul grinned as his mind latched onto a thought. Ash will help me find Maka.

"You!" Soul and Kid spoke simultaneously; one angry, one happy.

"Yes, me! I came back to make sure you didn't get all the babes. Oh hellloo gorgeous. May I inquire how you are called?"

Kid's POV

Kid was utterly flabbergasted. It was Ash. The name that had been given to him infinite times to explain Maka's various cuts and bruises. And he was hitting on Tsuabaki? What the hell was wrong with him? And Soul was friends with him. Kid was so confused but then he made a connection. Ash; back, Maka; vanished. Coincidence? Maybe but Kid lunged across the table anyway to grab Ash's collar and shake him, bellowing into his face.

"What the hell did you do with Maka?!?!"

"Hey if it isn't Deathe the Kid. How've you been?" Ash just smirked at Kid.

" Dammit! You beat her up last year! What's you fucking do with her?"

Kid was yelling incoherently now and continued until Soul tore his hand from Ash and dragged them into the hallway. He was sat against one wall and Ash against the other. Then Soul spoke, his voice flat and menacing.

"Explain."

"Are you fucking joking Soul? Do you know what Ash's done to Maka in the past? Just let me kill him please! Let me wring his damn unsymmetrical neck!"

"What's this about beating Maka up?" Soul's voice was hard now, almost angry and Kid grinned at Ash smugly.

" I'd never harm a fly! Soul, you know me. Would I beat someone up?"

"You filthy liar! You damn little devil! You piece of cow shit! You fucking asshole! You-" Soul slapped Kid and muttered shut up before looking at Ash. Kid was incited further by the slap however, and he found himself vertical before e knew what he was doing. Soul tried to black his path to Ash, but he just punched his gut and left Soul crouched on the ground, winded. Then he dragged Ash off to a classroom, unsure of what he was going to do.

"Have you seen Maka since you moved back?"

"Yes."

"Where and when? And don't try lying to me."

"I saw her in seventh hour yesterday. She looked pretty upset. Do you know why? It's because she doesn't have a place to live. Soul knows though." Kid dropped Ash's arm and stared blankly at him. They were in an empty classroom and Kid was interrogating Ash.

"What?"

"Look I have to get to class. I'll just let you sit here and think, okay?" Ash left leaving Kid alone with his thoughts. They were wild, random, and unpredictable. He was so confused; Soul knew Maka didn't have a home. And why didn't Maka tell him before? Kid sat despondently at the teacher's desk and slowly let his eyes drift shut.

Heheh...Short and sweet. And now you know why Maka is the way she is. Ash is also completely random, spur of the moment creation. I don't know where he came from, but his motives will be explained in due time. Hope you will review this!