Soul opens his eyes, he was in a white room. A T.v hanging on the wall, and a window showing the glow of the day.
"The hospital... great." Soul mutter, leaning up in pain. He looked and saw his ribs were bandaged and a few bandages on his arms and face. "Pretty banged up..." Soul analyzes.
"About time." Exclaims a voice that makes Soul sigh in annoyance.
"So... Stein. Good to see you here." Soul mutters, as he looks over at the aged and smoking professor. "Isn't it against the law to smoke in a hospital?" Soul asks, as Stein puts out the bud.
"Meh... do I look like someone who really cares Mr. Evans?" Stein asks, lifting an eyebrow to Soul nodding it off. "Anyway, I was called here. You went Kishin again didn't you?" Stein asks, standing from his seat.
"For a moment or two... I had no choice. Rein would've beaten me." Soul insists, looking Stein n the eye. "Wait... is he-?"
"From our knowledge, yes. All we found when we went to where the body was was a pool of Black Blood. Lord Death sensed no soul. Don't worry about it." Stein interrupts, to Soul's relief. "But Soul... you're still at risk. Probably more than ever." Stein says, looking over a chart. "You lost some blood in the fight, having to replace the blood resulted in the Black Blood spreading farther through your body. You're a time bomb." Stein sighs. "I'm giving you a week at the most. I'm sorry Soul…" He says, removing his glasses wiping his eyes.
"Don't cry over me Stein." Soul says, grinning.
"I'm not.. something… in… my… there." Stein grunts, pulling out a hair that was in fact in his eye, making Soul squint.
"A week though... guess it was worth taking that bastard out." Soul sighs.
He still felt the pain in his arm from using the Majin hunt himself. Now he felt how Maka did when she...
"Wait, hows Maka? Is she-" Soul asks, making Stein's eyes widen.
"Soul... I'm sorry..." Stein says, this time really beginning to tear.
"What…?" Soul asks, eyes weary, like they were preparing for tears. Stein wipes his eyes, not crying, but tearing slightly. "WHATS HAPPENED TO HER!?" Soul yells, sliding out of the bed.
Stein looks up and places his glasses on.
"Shes alive, but barely. You two have been in a coma for 3 days. You were expected to wake. But according to my research and anylasis… she won't." Stein concludes.
Soul's head dropped, his eyes wide.
"So she's basically a breathing corpse…" Soul grunts, grasping the bed's side, feeling his blood boil. "All because of me…". Stein sighs and places a hand on Soul's shoulder.
"Soul. I heard what happened, and we saw on surveliance the whole ordeal. Maka did what she did because she didn't want you to die. And you wanting to beat yourself up will not bring her out quicker." Stein says, calming Soul but irritating him.
"Shes as dead as me doc… And I can't save her… like she saved me." Soul mutters, looking down then up at Stein.
"The doctor's are allowing people to speak with Maka in her state. I believe I saw Black*Star and Tsubaki visit yesterday. Maybe it will help if you do too…" Stein says, turning for the door. "Well, I am getting lunch. Food sucks, but damn I'm hungry." He says walking out.
Soul sits at the beds edge, still clenching the edge of the bed. The vision of Maka standing in fron of him, the scythe in her chest frozen in his mind. He stands, feeling soreness in his legs. He looks over at his bag, and walks to it. He rumages through the bag, finally taking out his pills.
"No use for these anymore…" He mutters, tossing them into the trash. He continues, taking out the small black box. "Guess they found it in my pocket." He mutters, opening it, making him cringe. "I have to… before It's too late…" He mutters, a tear running down his cheek.
Soul walks down the hospitals halls, seeing some in wheelchairs awaiting the nurses to transport them to wherever they wished. Soul had changed into his back up clothes in his bag, a yellow t-shirt and black jeans. He found the info desk, asked where Maka's room was, and headed for it. Room 303, even Maka's name was on the door, just under the number. Soul took a deep breath as he opened the door, walking in, first sight was a red haired man, his elbows on his knees, sitting next to a girl with multiple tubes and meters around her bed.
"Spirit…" Soul muttered, looking into the room. Spirit turned, his dreary eyes, barely meeting Soul's.
"Evans… so you finally woke up eh?" He croaks. Soul could tell he had been crying, probably just finished. Spirit stands and walks straight to Soul, hugging him. "You little ass… thanks for saving my daughter… I just wish I could've… could've…" Spirit mutters, trying not to cry in front of the young scythe. Soul pats Spirit's back, his eyes locked on Maka.
"It's not your fault sir. Maka… saved me." Soul says, attempting to comfort the broken father. Spirit breaks and wipes his eyes.
"If you want to be alone, go on. I'm going to get… something strong to drink." Spirit mutters, walking out the door. Leaving Soul and the unconscious Maka alone in the room.
Soul looks over to Maka. She looked like she was asleep, peacefully dreaming of her normal weird things. It calmed Soul a bit, but still made him uncomfortable knowing she wasn't asleep, and she probably would never wake up. He walked slowly, taking a seat in the chair Spirit had sat in. He looked around the room, seeing a boquet of flowers, with a signature from Kid, Liz, and Patty. Next to it a balloon saying "Get Well Soon" with a signed picture of Black*Star tied to its bottom. It made Soul chuckle, knowing Maka would be annoyed when she… right. Soul leaned over, close to Maka, eyes locked on her closed ones.
"Hey. Pretty banged up huh?" He says with a grin. "Maka… I don't know if you can hear me… but if you can, thank you." He says, trying hard to smile at the sight of Maka laying in her bed, being kept alive with tubes. Soul wipes his face, breathing hard. Covering his mouth with his hands, he begins to cry. "M-Maka… damn you… damn you for doing that… I WAS ALRIGHT WITH DYING DAMNIT! I WANTED TO!" He moans into his hands, looking at Maka. "I wanted to go saving you… doing one good freaking thing with my life… " He groans, wiping back the tears. "Why… why cant I go one day without hurting someone… its not cool… by any means…" He says, leaning back in his chair. "You… you ha a good life without me coming back. Rein wouldn't have done what he did if I hadn't come back. Could've had a good life without me Maka. I'm sorry. I guess returning was a mistake… just a…" He rambles, before remembering what he came for. "I guess I lied Maka. I didn't come back to see you. I came back… because I needed to know one thing… one thing before I died…" He says, taking out the black box. "I wanted to show you something… something really special." He says, opening the box.
"Well, I'm sure 100% this will be so epic, she'll wake up!" Black*Star exclaims, holding up a calendar of him posing, signed of course.
"You really are a self obsessed bafoon, after all these years." Death the Kid states, in his reaper attire.
"SHUT IT!" Star yells. Liz slaps both men in the back of the head, to Patty's amusement and Tsubaki's blushing.
"You BOTH haven't matured. Nuff said." She says, as the group approaches Maka's room.
"You guys want to check on Soul afterwards? Heard from Stein he's awake." Star says, as Liz begins to open the door, but looks in wide eyed.
"He's more than awake." She says, looking in.
"What is-" Star asks before Liz motions for silence.
"Soul… he's got a black box and he's…" Liz silently observes, as the group listens in.
"Its nothing much. Worthless, actually." Soul mutters, holding the open box in his hands, grinning. "Asked Wes to find something to good to put it in. The death bedded idiot spent all day in the attic looking, and found this. Said this was the box my dad kept the ring he used for my mother…" Soul says, his grin becoming a softer smile. "But, I know you're excited, but it's not that. Its… a little dumber." Soul says, taking the boxes contents out, a piece of folded paper. He holds it up slightly, as if he was showing it to a conscious Maka. "I… wrote it while I was gone… Wes said it was good, told me to make it a song… I didn't finish before he passed. Didn't touch it for 9 years. But it was about a month ago… I found it, still nice and crisp, not a single wrinkle. So… I finished. Edited it heavily, but I just wanted you to hear it… just once." Soul says, to no response. "Ok… hear goes:
"Lost am I,
Wandering in the darkness,
My soul wishing to die.
Hope is ash,
Along with the dreams I have fulfilled.
Nothing matters anymore,
The Light is now darkened.
I miss my days,
Where the heart breathed love,
Instead of being suffocated by pain.
I looked for my answer,
To all the questions that made my heart ache.
I want one answer,
Not a thousand.
One road,
Not a single covered in dirt.
I want that embrace,
Only one that can ease the hurt.
I've looked,
From high to low,
Land to see.
Nothings left,
The soul is wishing to be free.
A face that shines,
Its smile spreading the dark,
Making the light see through.
It was too late,
To see that smile,
Was you."
Soul tears, almost crumpling the paper in his grasp. He looks down, choking on his tears and cries in his hands.
"Maka… I'm so sorry…" He cries, wishing she was awake.
Wishing she was breathing without the need of a machine. He looks up, wiping the tears. She was still in that same state. She probably always would be. He stands, his legs numb, and leans to kiss her forehead tenderly. "I love you Maka." He whispers, taking her limp hand, and plaing the paper in it. "Take care." He says, moving down and kissing her lips.
"I'll miss you." Soul whispers, staring at her sleeping face. He turns and picks up his bag, and heads for the door. He turns back to her at the door, and smiles through his tears.
"Goodbye… I love you." He finishes, walking out the door and closing it behind him.
Soul slams his back into the door, looking up at the ceiling as he slides down to sit. He buries his head into his crossed arms on his knees, wishing the disease would kill him now.
"Soul." Black*Star's voice says. Soul looks up, seeing his friends standing in front of him.
"Shes gone… She'll never wake up." Soul mutters, avoiding the group with his eyes.
"Don't say that man." Black*Star says, squatting and putting his hand on Soul's shoulder. "She'll wake up even-"
"NO SHE WONT!" Soul barks up in Star's face.
Soul breaths deeply, shoving his way up and stomping away. Black*Star stays frozen in his position until Tsubaki motions to him.
"Black*Star… Soul just needs some-" She says softly before Black*Star shoots around and runs after Soul. Liz looks to Kid, who nods and follows.
"God I hope nothing bad happens." Patty moans, to the other twos agreement.
"Well. Lets head in I suppose." Liz shrugs, walking to and opening Maka's door.
Soul makes it to the hospitals lobby. A combination of anger and sadness pumping through his veins. He needed to go, leave and not look back… Never look back.
"Hey! Soul!" A voice comes behind Him. He turns before a single punch hits him square in the jaw, knocking him to his knees. Black*Star jumps on top of him and shakes and punches him repeatedly. "SO THAT'S IT HUH?! JUST GONNA LEAVE WHEN SHE NEEDS YOU MOST?!" Black*Star yells, tearing in anger.
"Black*Star, calm the hell down!" Kid yells, pulling Black*Star off of Soul and throwing him to the ground.
"CALM DOWN? WHEN HES LEAVING AGAIN!?" Star yells, pointing at Soul who rubs his jaw from the punch.
"He's not leaving! Are you Soul?" Kid asks, looking over at Soul who looks away.
"Not much for me here is there?" Soul questions, looking towards the exit. Star cringes, holding up a fist as his face turns red.
"Theres Maka! The least you could do is stay… So she when she wakes up you two can-"
"IM DEAD IN A WEEK! I'LL BE LONG GONE WHEN SHE WAKE UP!" Soul roars, to Black*Star and Kid's widened eyes. "What good will it do. I'm a time bomb waiting to burst… you saw for yourself. I'm a monster in a man's body." Soul mutters, looking out the window. "My times up… atleast I spent some of it with her." He begins to walk again to the door,
"You left for 13 years. A week or not, at least you could spend it with people who care about you. You know… even if it's just for her. Don't leave her again man." Star says calmly, almost snapping again. Soul stops dead in his tracks.
"I'm sorry… but I'm done." Soul says, walking as the electric doors open for him. Star falls to his knees, punching the ground.
"FINE! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! BUT I'M NOT TELLING MAKA YOU CHICKENED OUT ON HER! THE PERSON WHO LOVED HER! YOU FREAKING HEAR ME SOUL?! YOU HEAR ME?!" Black*Star yells as Soul continues out, the door closing behind him, and him disappearing in the lot. "Son of a bitch… he's gone…" Black*Star mutters, Kid helping him up.
"Come on. Maka needs us." Kid says, walking with Black*Star back to Maka's room. They arrive, Star sighing deeply.
"How we gonna tell the others?" Black*Star asks Kid, who sighs and straightens his tie.
"Don't make it to depressing I suppose." Kid states with Black*Star's nod of agreement.
They open the door, seeing the girls standing around Maka's bed, and one girl sitting up in Maka's bed, crying over a piece of paper.