Maka woke up that morning, got dressed and waited on soul's motorcycle. She waited in silence, reading her book and signed. It has been some time since their days were free of worries. Ever since Arachne's death, Soul becoming a death scythe, the realization about Maka's Grigory soul and Noahs defeat, she didn't know how to act around soul. It seems he has grown far from her. No more hugs, kisses, or drying her hair after shower. He seemed detached from her on purpose. When ever she tried to approach him he backed away, as if she was fire.
She wanted to ask him so many times "What happened?" "Did I do something wrong?" "Was it my fault?" But she never got the courage to confront him head on.
Soul went down the stairs where maka waited for him. He got on the bike and she mounted as well, holding his torso tightly.
Soul has gone through a lot the past months: he became a successful, powerful and popular death scythe, he felt twice as powerfull, battled evil in all its forms and grew 3 inchs taller. He was a changed man. But no matter how much things changed his black blood demon remained.
Ordering him to play his piano on the last battle, with Noah's chainsaw friend, the red imp plagued his mind. The black blood awoke to the touch of maka's hands on his belly. But what could he do? It was hard enough to keep the little imp at bay when he resonated with maka, let alone when he saw her stepping out of the shower. He sucked it all in and stayed quit.
His mind raced on about the precious cargo behind him until they got to school.
They sat next to each other during recess, munching on sandwiches maka made.
Maka looked at her meal with a disapproval pouty look.
"Want to trade?" Soul offered, giving her his sandwich.
"Yes, thank you" Maka took it and handed her sandwich to him. "Liz and patty asked if they can study with us to the test. is that ok? She asked.
"Yeah, sure, but it wont help them any. They'll flunk any-"
"Soul?" the nurse Nygus came up to soul.
"mm?"
"Can I talk to you for a second?" she asked politely.
"Sure"
"In private"
Soul looked at Maka with a puzzling look and got up. "Ok" he said, and walked off with the Nygus.
Maka couldn't help but wonder what it was all about.
"Thank for waiting for me" said soul to Maka, as he roared his motorcycle's engine back to life.
"It's ok. So, what did she want from you?"
"Nothing, really. Just checking up on a death scythe"
"Oh, ok" she obviously didn't like his non-sharing policy.
"Are you holding on?" he asked and they drove away. With Maka's hand again on his belly, tiny delicate scarred hands touching him, his mind wondered to his chat with the school nurse.
"So, soul, how are you lately?" Nygus asked.
"Fine thanks"
"This isn't a courtesy talk, I need details. You are our first black blood case and only death scythe with the black blood, I need to know more."
"Like what?"
"Are you feeling any different when you resonate with Maka?" she pointed to his shirt
"could you take it off please?"
Soul did as she asked. "No. Just way more powerful. But I can easily adjust to her"
"Did the nightmares you told me about from before came back?"
"They never left me" said soul in a matter of fact.
"Oh. How come you never said anything?" She looked at him worried while inspecting the long scar on his chest.
"What's the point? I know what is causing it. Sometimes it's worse and sometimes better. I'm handling it"
"Well, is the imp still in the dream?"
"He's like a second person inside my head. He comes and goes.
"When does he come?"
"In times of danger, he orders me to play the piano"
"Any other times?" Nygus gave him a look.
"…"
"Soul?" she asked.
"He also comes when I'm… " Soul started.
"What? I can't hear you"
"He comes when I'm aroused too"
"Oh! Well, that's normal." If he could have see though nygus's bandages he would have seen her smile. "He comes when your instincts kick in. that's good information. Does he try to do anything different? Or does he want you to play that piano at that time too?".
"Not exactly… he tries to get me to act more… aggressive. He wants me to involve violence" Soul said. It felt good to talk about it for a change.
"Aggressive toward yourself, or your partner?"
"Mainly toward Maka"
"What does he say?"
"He says she's his and such. He shows me illusions of me and her. He shows me her dead body, and tells me it was my doing". At this Nygus worried look was clear to all.
"Do you find that arousing too?"
"What the fuck? Do you think I like that? Fuck you!" Soul yelled and snatched his shirt back from the table, getting dressed.
"Wait! Soul, I need to ask this. If you find violence arousing then that's ok, so showing you that is normal. Plenty of fighters confuse sex and death. That's not unusual".
"So how the fuck am I suppose to know the difference?" his face now showed his true distress.
"Do you act any differently because of this?"
"Of course I do! I don't go near Maka at all! I'm afraid the stupid imp will take over and hurt her!"
"Ok then… That's good to know. You don't share his opinion."
"No" he said again. Making sure he was clear.
"But you're letting him control you by acting differently then you would if he wasn't there" she said.
"What *are* my options? No way am I hurting Maka"
"Did you ever loose control over him?" she asked.
"No."
"Then what are you so afraid of? His delusions are only that. Delusions. From research we did on Chrona at the time, the black blood is powerless without his host. so he manipulates it. Yours is just the same"
"How can you be sure?" Soul asked.
"I'm not. But you can try and see what happens. I can guarantee that Maka can hold her own against you anyways"
Soul let a little smile creep into his face "She sure can".
"So, Let me finish checking your body and you'll be free to go." She said as she pointed to his shirt again "Until your check up next week"
"What? Is this gonna' be weekly?"
"Ahhmm" she nodded.
As Nygus finished her check up Soul was let go. The moment he exited her office a red headed man entered.
"Spirit! Don't scare me like that"
"So? Is he dangerous?" Spirit Albarn asked.
"He doesn't seem to be." She answered.
"Give me details Nygus…" he said in a serious tone.
"He doesn't have full control over his black blood, but he cares about Maka more then you or me think" She said.
"That's not what I heard from her… she said he was being horrible to her! Disgusting little boy, I'll show him what's its like to mess with Papa's little girl!" Spirit shouted as flames rose from his eyes.
"Calm down. He was just being nervous. He is a teenager after all, and so is your daughter. It's normal for them to fight"
"I don't care. My Maka is the most important thing in the world. If anything changes you let me know right away."
"Of course. I will look after him" Nygus promised. She could, after all, understand his worries.
Back on the bike soul couldn't help but grin to himself. He finally decided to ignore the imp and continue where he left Maka last time. He was going to kiss her when they got back home.
Maka got out of the shower and walked off to her room in her pink towel.
"Did you remember to open the door or the window so the steam could go out?" asked soul.
"Yeah" He heard her answer from her room. As she came out of her room with a tank top, his old boxers and a towel on her head he asked another question: "do you want me to dry your hair?"
She looked at him, obviously taken by surprise. "S…sure" Maka answered.
She sat on the floor close to him and handed her towel to him. Her heart pounding as she remembered what they the last time he dried her hair. He took it and massaged her damp hair. This went on for some time and if only one could hear each other's thoughts they would go death from all the noise. Soul rubbed her hair gently, letting his hands touch her shoulders every now and then. Her skin was so soul finished his job, he hesitated and continued rubbing the towel on her hair for a little more time then necessary, thinking hard about what he was going to a loss for words he simply rested his head on her shoulder and said quietly:
"I'm sorry".
"What?" Maka asked, now blushing a bit from confusion.
"About being distant from you after… you know"
She was silent for a few minutes. He obviously caught her off guard.
"I was wondering about that" she confessed. "Can I ask why you did that? Did I do something and didn't realize it?"
"What? No! It was me… I was scared, I guess" he answered.
"For months?" she asked. her tone now starting to show her built up anger.
Soul said nothing. Not a good answer.
"What the hell soul! And here I was eating myself up for 3 months thinking you were confused and didn't like me at all, that you regretted that night and everything! And now what, Am I supposed to just kiss you now? Thank you? What?" Maka yelled, now getting up and throwing her towel at him.
"Maka, don't get all heated up. Please. That's not what I meant at all" he said.
"Then what did you mean!" there was no pacifying her now.
"I meant what I said. I was confused and scared of it all. I'm sorry I didn't say anything, that I like you. That's all I CAN say. If you can get pass this then I'm happy. If not, well, I don't know what to say. I didn't plan this conversation thoroughly."
Maka simply looked at him. Her eyes burning and her face red. Her hair was in a big mess. She was definitely not looking her best.
"I'm going to sleep!" She walked to her room and shut the door hard.
"Great… Just great. I had to ruin the one thing good I had…" all soul could do was mumble to himself and go to sleep in his own bed.
Soul could hear laughter echoing through his room. It was a sinister laughter.
"Hahahahha! Look at the fool! She turned him down! We had her *easily* but you had to go and make things difficult for us" the red devil shouted.
"What are you talking about? Shut up" Soul demanded.
"Don't play dumb. Now because of your actions we'll have to play dirty, but I always prefer to save the dirty part to the end. You force me to use it from the start."
"I'm not listening to you, idiot" soul grunted at him.
"Oh yeah, as if you could, I'm inside your HEAD! Stupid, stupid, we'll never get anywhere like this." He yelled and walked to the great big black piano.
"Aren't you going to play?" he snickered.
"I don't feel like it. Thanks" Soul answered.
"Are you sure?" the imp asked and a light appeared now, showering the great piano. Revealing Maka tied up to the top of the musical instrument, naked with single pink towel laid on her eyes. She struggled to get free, her breasts moving as she moved.
The imp moved his small rugged hand from her breasts to her waist and in-between her thighs.
"Who's there?" she asked crying, trying helplessly to move.
"You fucking..." Soul hissed. "Forget about it. Nothing is going to happen."
"Oh really?" the imp got near to Maka and scratched her thigh slowly with his long claw-like fingernail. Maka screamed in pain as blood oozed from the gash on her leg.
"You fucking little shit head!" soul screamed, now furious "I know what you're showing me isn't real! So stop fucking trying! I will do with Maka what I will! Alone! You have no say in the matter!" and with the look of the scowling imp Soul awoke from the dream.
He got up and went to get a drink of water.
At morning soul awoke to the smell of pancakes and strawberries. He walked into the kitchen imagining Maka making a delicious breakfast but refusing to share it, just in spite, to teach him a lesson. Instead he found Maka, happy and cheerful, greeting him.
"Good morning!" she smiled.
Soul sat down at the table, confused.
"I take it you're not mad at me any more? He dared ask.
"Oh no, I am still mad." She flipped a pancake "But I decided to focus on the positive"
"Oh" was all he could say.
"You said that you liked me" she said, Uncertainly in her voice.
"Yeah" he said. A small grin creeping to his lips.
"OK, so we can go on from now with no more problems" she flipped another pancake.
"This isn't math you know." Soul got up and walked to her. He hugged her from behind gently.
"Do you still like me?" He asked softly, his head now close to hers.
"Yes…" Maka started to blush.
"Ok. Then maybe we won't have any problems, after all." He got closer and kissed her on the mouth. It was a small kiss, almost a peck. But it sent shivers though them both.
"Soul, did you… brush your teeth?" Maka asked, her cheeks a silly shade of pink from their kiss.
Soul quickly moved his hand to cover his mouth "sorry".
"It's ok!" she said flustered "its not that bad".
"Oh really?" and he tried to kiss her again but this time she got away.
"Soul! Eeew! Go brush them!" she squalled.
He giggled at her and went to brush his teeth and wash his face. He was happy he listened to the nurse.
When he got back from his daily morning grooming, now in his jeans an black t-shirt, he smiled at Maka, who was just finishing collecting her hair into her signature two ponytails.
"So, can I properly kiss you now miss Albarn?" Soul teased her, grabbing her arm and pulling her close.
Maka only nodded, and waited.
Soul caressed her face, he moved closer and kissed her. This kiss was deep, passionate, devouring. Their tongues intertwining, nibbling and suckling on each other's lips. She moved her arms to his torso, feeling his abs, then up his back and his broad shoulders. She felt weird how bigger he got to be, and how small she felt next to him. He let his hands roam her hack and hips, but no more than that. He had to stay in charge until he got used to this.
A few minutes later the clock on the wall made a sound. Stating it was 8 o'clock and they had to get to school.
Soul took both of their bags as Maka ran to find her glasses, a rather new purchase and she always seemed to lose them at random places.
"I'm waiting downstairs!" soul shouted and exited the apartment.
When Maka finally got down she jumped to the spare space left of the seat he now occupied on his motorcycle. With one leg at each side of him, in her oh-so-short skirt, soul couldn't help but look at her long smooth legs. That is until he saw a long dark line on her upper thigh.
"Maka, what happened?" Soul asked, moving her skirt a bit to take a closer look.
"Oh, this? I can't remember actually. I probably hit my desk or something. With all the cuts and wounds I get in battles, I think I lost the feel in my skin"
She said, unbothered.
Soul inspected the cut, and couldn't turn his gaze from it. He had the sudden urge to through up.
Ahhhh finally posted!
I owe you all, great readers, a huge apology!
I have been gone for so long, even though I had this chapter waiting to be published for 6 months.
I am a horrible human being, I know... Please do not hate me ;(
keep reviewing! And reading! And telling me what you think!
The truth is I have been busy with academic work and thought of stopping this altogether, but I received PM and reviews from so many of you that I decided this story is worth finishing.
The story line has been moved a bit to include the more progressing parts in the manga, I hope it does not cause a confusion. If you find any loop hole please let me know so I will re-write the previous chapters.
This chapter may be kind of fluffy, but the next one will be more lemony and more… troublesome and gory, as the end of this chapter hints to you all~
Again, Sorry and Thank you 3
To all my kind readers and reviewers!