Her Past

Chapter Two

They're Here

Soul and Maka relaxed once they got home. Maka pulled out her current reading and picked up where she left off. Soul was in the kitchen cooking since it was his turn tonight. Smiling, Maka took small breaks every couple of minutes to glance at Soul in his cute little apron. She didn't think it was often that a girl got to see a self-proclaimed cool guy wearing a slightly feminine apron. Papa always wore her mama's apron when they were together, but she didn't think that counted seeing as Papa was never the brightest crayon.

Soul was a pretty good cook. Maka had always appreciated that about her roommate. She also enjoyed the fact that she didn't have to cook every night. After eating, Maka head to her room to change.

"Hey Maka-"

"MAKA CHOP!" she yelled grabbing a book from nowhere and slamming it into Soul's head. "Have you ever heard of knocking?!" She said using her night shirt to cover her chest.

"Dammit. I didn't know you were changing. I thought you came in here to study or something." He looked up just before Maka pulled her shirt over her head. The shock took him by surprise and he let out an unexpected gasp.

"What?" Maka asked confused. "Was it a bug?" She looked around frantically on the ground. She was not letting bugs take over.

"What the hell happened to your back? How have I not seen this before? We've been living together for almost a year now."

"Oh."

"Oh? That's all you have to say?"

"I don't know what else to say, Soul. You kind of caught me off guard with this," Maka replied frustrated.

"Just tell me what happened. You're not getting off the hook with this one either. A cool friend like me needs to know about something like that." He sat down on her desk chair and watched her closely.

"I'm not getting off the hook altogether," the girl said sitting down on her bed with a sigh.

"What's that mean?"

"Well, my scars are connected to the nightmare that has been plaguing me."

"Oh." Soul watched her intently. He was extremely curious, but he was also worried. He had never seen scars like that. Plus, he's always figured Maka's skin was flawless. She just seemed so careful to him. "What happened, Maka?"

Maka took a deep breath, closing her eyes in the process. When she opened them again, she looked at Soul. "I was eight when it happened." She gave Soul his props. He didn't make any gestures of shock or pity. "I followed my mom outside on morning to see where she was going. It was really early and she had told me she had the day off. Honestly, I still don't know why I followed her. Most kids just nod and go back to bed. I felt like something was off. Guess my instincts are pretty spot on. But it turned out that something went wrong during one of my mom's missions for Lord Death and she got caught and mixed up with one of the biggest crime gangs. They made her work for them for her freedom or something. Seeing as actually managed to turn Papa into a death scythe, they gathered that she was talented in killing and fighting. But apparently even when she got away she wasn't completely free.

"That morning they were accusing her of outing them to Lord Death. I stood behind a tree the whole time watching her. I was so proud that she was my mother, seeing how calm she was and how she could talk to them without any traces of fear. Some guy found me behind the tree and dragged me by my hair to their main guy. They used me as leverage against my mother. When she still refused to do anything, they took both of us to some building. They tied my mom to a chair and made her watch as they carved me up and beat me."

Soul still kept his expression carefully neutral. "She let all that happen before agreeing?"

Maka nodded. "I'm not mad at her for it. It takes real strength to see that happen and still keep your morals in line. Her job was to protect not kill. She didn't want to kill anymore when she was finally free. I'm still proud of her."

His eyebrows scrunched together slightly. "How did you two get away?"

"They let us go. They won."

"How?"

"Mom gave in when they threatened to kill me."

Soul tried really hard not to expose his opinion, but he couldn't stop his body from tensing. "What happened after that?"

"She did their dirty work, like she agreed. Papa started getting suspicious and furious with her for never being home and always being so vague with them. He's really dense, but he could tell something was off as well. After about a year, he started bringing home other girls and staying out late at Chupa Cabra's. That eventually was the end of their relationship. Now she's gone. No one knows where."

"Shit," was all he said.

Maka looked down pulled the neck her of shirt down and to the right. "He left this to make sure that Mama and I never forget her promise." On her chest was carved the intials CS.

"CS?"

"Charles Starkweather."

Soul ran his hand through his white hair. "Wow. And all this time I thought you were sort of a wimp." He smiled. "Seems to me now that you really are the coolest partner ever." Maka's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "It's not every day that you find someone who's been through something like that and still sane and as strong as you are. That's totally cool in my book.

"Thanks Soul," Maka replied with a soft smile.

"I think that tomorrow calls for coffee at your favorite café. My treat."

The blond girl nodded. "It's a deal."

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Saturday was a bright warm day. A day that Maka really needed. After spilling her guts to Soul, she needed a day to relax. No school, no basketball. Just a day to read and relax. Soul was good to his promise to. He took her to the café and let her order anything she wanted. I was really nice. Soul seemed to be in a pleasant mood, too. She couldn't say that he was completely himself. He was less sarcastic than usual, but she didn't care. He'll be back to normal soon. She didn't even mind when she ran into her Papa. He was as lively as ever. Running to her when he saw her. Hugging her too tightly. He'll never change.

It was just a really nice day. She couldn't say the same thing about Sunday.

She was awoke to Soul calling her name from her doorway. She moaned and looked at the clock. It was seven in the morning. "Soul? What are you doing up so early?"

He shrugged. "Some guys are here to see you."

Maka got up slowly. It was too early to be up on a day off. She shuffled around her room and put on her yellow hoodie and some jeans. Finally, she walked out her door and into the living room. She froze before she made it to the front door. Those men. They're not supposed to be here.