I do not own Soul Eater or any other character (hahahah get the pun?)

*Slowly hides from you all behind a wall and peeks my head around the corner*

HI GUYS I'M BACK! (I unfortunately squeak then quickly hide around the corner from you're probable glares)

Indeed it has been…3 years since I last updated…sorry…

Well I'm in university now, as opposed to being a sophomore in high school when I started the story. So before I begin just to clear up any misconceptions. No, I did not stop writing because I didn't know how to end it. In fact, I've had the ending since before I typed the first sentence of this story. And also, yes, my writing style has changed. It's been three years, come on! This is either good or bad because some of you might like my more "mature" I suppose writing rather than cringing at mid-post-puberty teenage me writing. But for those of you who liked my previous style, well you and I both wish I could have finished the story three years ago.

So please please please be easy on the reviewing because it has been three years and I may have lost the spark I had when writing the story, but I thought that I should at least finish it for you guys!

Unfortunately I started the story during a time of trying to figure out my major, my university, and then there was a whole entire year of adjusting to college and still trying to figure out my major and minor and studying abroad plans and asdfghjkl they were the most busy three years of my life.

Thank you to anyone reading this who have stuck with this story since the first chapter. I love you all SO MUCH. And to any newcomers stumbling upon this train wreck of a teenager's attempt at authorship (if that's even a word), welcome and I hope you like it!

By the way, there's a lot of mirroring like Soul-Maka description parallels. So yes, I'M REPEATING WORDS ON PURPOSE.

So without further ado, you've all waited long enough.

The sun is setting by the time they all reach the court. Day five is almost over, which means very soon there will only be one day left of the bet. The two partners are aware of that as they arrive to the basketball court, though they're still both separately hung over on what happened the previous day that they can't even think about the future right now. Especially when considering how the incident was one step further than yesterday, at this rate the next time either of them is so bold in order to win the bet, they just might lose it.

All innuendos aside, of course.

They've decided to walk to the court instead of driving on the weapon's handy dandy motorcycle because the two of them can't even think about her arms wrapped around him. She will not dare allow her hands anywhere near the lower front of her weapon's torso and he will not have his meister's chest, though small as it is, pressing against his back.

It's most certainly not because either of them has begun to, Lord Death forbid, fall for the other. No, it was certainly a reasonable reaction to want to avoid close contact with the person you've both kissed and made out with within the span of three days because it was certainly obvious these 'feelings' were the result of pure teenage hormones.

Their friends would have none of it.

The other two pairs of weapons and meisters exchange glances at each other when the talk of Shibusen arrive by foot. There was no way the demon scythe would ever arrive in such an uncool fashion. Especially not with his partner who had somehow managed to read while walking the entire way.

But they let their curiosity slide…for now.

As per usual, they split up into two different teams, Maka sitting on her bench while they played three-on-three. A small baseball cap sits beside her because she is not going to fall for Black Star's trick, again. It's guys against girls, which they were shocked to find out was not as unfair as it seemed because Patty may or may not rival Black Star in the 'vicious athleticness' area.

"Kid! I'm open!" Soul shouts to his friend.

The black haired reaper makes a turn and throws the ball into his teammate's hands. He subsequently dribbles like a pro, dodging, tricking, and turning to avoid getting the ball stolen from the others, and from Black Star trying to take the ball from him so he can shine, before he makes one clean shot and the ball falls into the net with a 'swish.'

Like hell Maka was blushing and hiding her face behind her book because she caught a glimpse of her partner's torso when his shirted lifted ever not so slightly when he made the shot. It's not like she was just running her hands around the area, tugging at his shirt because she wanted the damn thing off and seeing what she could have seen or touched for crying out loud just makes her feel warm. And of course it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact she's suddenly interested in watching his every move, and watching him play so gracefully, so well, with that smirk on his face taunting their friends the entire time. With the occasional growl because Black Star needs to back off his own teammate, but she suddenly realizes she kind of finds it kind of sexy.

No. She did not just put her partner and the word 'sexy' in one coherent thought.

It was a fluke. If any girl saw any guy act like that, of course they would think it's a bit of a turn on.

Female adolescent hormonal anatomy at work, completely normal.

Just to prove it, she angrily digs her nose back into her book because that just so happens to be the topic of the novel she's reading…which she's covered with the title of a different book so no one knows what she's looking into.

Yes, completely normal.

Soul notices, or rather feels it in their link that his partner is very angry. Or is it frustration? He looks over at her in between wiping the sweat away, wondering just what kind of story she's reading that she needs to get that worked up over the plot.

Maybe she truly was a fangirl, in a different context.

He's a little upset at her unfortunate emotion because he really wants to take his shirt off. He's sweaty and worn out and he may or may not subconsciously want to get his meister's attention so she'll look at him instead of her frustration-causing book. He sort of smiles at that, because actually, perhaps her frustration will work out in his favor later.

But the rules are he can't be shirtless around her. Not to mention the book she's reading this time is a particularly thick one.

"The week's almost up."

He turns to see Liz approaching him. Black Star and Patty seem to be battling it out behind her, Kid and Tsubaki trying to calm down their respective partners. He's happy because he can get time to breathe for Shinigami's sake. He doesn't usually acknowledge Black Star or Patty's strength but when both of them are after him, regardless of team sides, one does usually get a workout.

"Yeah, two days." He simply responds, not knowing whether he's ready for his friend's prodding or not.

But of course, she nudges him. "You two have been playing hooky from school." She winks. "What's been going on?"

It takes all of whatever energy he has left to slam the blushing back down from wherever it comes from. No. He shouldn't even be blushing in the first place! Cool guys kiss girls all the time, and get kissed by them! He eyes Liz, not that she needs to know.

But there's only two days left of the bet and it doesn't look like either of them are going to fold. He's sure as hell he can get her to give in before he even thinks about such heresy. His mind shifts into yesterday's event, and maybe she's as dead set on that as well, because no way would an uptight bookworm like her take such bold moves, especially after her first kiss.

"Actually, I've been thinking." He tells Liz. "What happens if neither of us fall for the other?"

Liz winces as if from secondhand pain. "Ouch, that bad huh? Well, then I suppose Kid wins the bet. And whoever also bet on that outcome."

Soul stretches out his muscles. "Great, and then we can both just go back to the way it was before the bet. No winner, no loser."

Liz eyes him suspiciously. "You don't want to win? No, wait…" Her eyes widened and she points at him. "Don't tell me you're backing down because you think you're going to lose!" She grabs his arm. "Patty and I both have good money placed on you!"

Not lose per se, he's just begun to admit that he can't stop considering all the different ways to seduce his meister without him getting worked up as well. The rules are that technically, if he doesn't fall for her then he doesn't lose the bet. So if he stops trying to make her fall for him…

But then that means he's backing down because if he continues his tactics he'll lose and he knows it. How cowardly and uncool.

And completely surprising.

Just when had he realized this?

And what did this mean? Ahem, if it means anything at all?

But no, it doesn't. He's sure of it. Just male adolescent hormonal anatomy at work, completely normal.

"Soul I swear if you make us lose our bet we're going to make you pay us back every penny we put on you! And that's me and Patty so that's double the amount you'll have to pay us back!" Liz was ranting and shaking him.

That's when they all notice a petite green-eyed girl swiftly stand up, and throw the book in the garbage can next to the bench. They all pause because, oh no.

Maka did not toss books, much less aim them at a trash can.

Maka did not blush.

And Maka definitely did not wear the captain's hat, especially not to hide her blush.

"I-I'm feeling kind of sick." She lies through her teeth, despite knowing they can all tell. "I'll be heading back first." And before they could even blink, she's already turned on her heel and striding with as much leg power as she can muster, as far away from them as possible, putting up the hood of her sweater over the cap whose beak was so low on her face it's a wonder she knows where she's walking.

"Now that's what I'm talking about Soul!" Liz exclaims and pushes him off the court. "Now go after her and win us that bet."

"Oh hell no!" Black Star shouts and runs over to Liz, letting Patty take the ball. "That's cheating!"

"All is fair in love and war." Liz sings.

…

Blair is once again at work for her night shift, to Maka's relief. She can't face anyone right now, especially not her lust-driven cat. Not after what she just read.

Let's just say, the book got very mature, very fast.

She did not need to know that she's three years passed the minimum baby-carrying age.

Or that basically if you're ready for pregnancy, you're ready for the deed.

She'd just gotten her first kiss three days ago!

From the very boy walking into her apartment right now. Well, correctively speaking, their apartment.

She'd remind herself to make sure her weapon worked out less because him being able to catch up with her is suddenly not very favorable to her, despite its previous benefits in numerous amounts of fights. She's taken her sweater off from her subsequent warmth and the cap is off in its own world via somewhere on the floor. She knew she should've headed straight to her room, but the couch was there and she needed to sit ASAP.

So naturally, she stands straight up when he closes the apartment door and walks into their 'living room', arms crossed.

She's waiting for his snarky and flirtatious or seductive comment because the blush is still there and it's painfully obvious to both of them. He hadn't given her enough time to calm down by herself! No, she shouldn't have even gotten worked up in the first place. She is Maka Albarn. She is steel. Men, much less the anatomy of men, do not faze her a bit.

Though it's pretty damn hard to praise personal ground standing abilities when there he is again, removing his shirt.

Well, at least it's something to break the awkward tension. "H-Hey! Ground rules no shirtlessness in front of me!"

He doesn't even smirk at her for goodness sake and just tosses his shirt onto the back of a nearby chair. "One, you made me run after you because you just went off, so I'm hot. Two, I'm calling the bet off."

"What." There, she's calmed down; in one sense. "We have two more days you can't just-!"

"To us. To everyone else, it's still on." And there it is, the smirk. "I propose no winner. That'll shake up everyone's side bets."

Anger returns to her, and she finds herself walking right up to him, somehow ignoring his shirtless glory as his arms are once again crossed against his scarred chest. She is Maka Albarn. She does not not win a challenge, a bet at that. She points at him, about to say something, but a different idea gets into her head, and she's grinning mischieviously at him. "Liar! You're just afraid you're going to lose!" And then she gasps. "I'm winning then aren't I? You're falling for me!"

He pushes her pointed finger away from him, and scoffs. "As if. I just think it'd be more interesting if we make it out to be a neutral ending. Besides, we all saw you blushing at the basketball court." He leans in so dangerously close she has to step back. "Maka Albarn you do not blush." He says in a way that sounds sort of possessive, like he knows she is not like that because he knows her like the palm of his hand because she is his.

Or at least, that's the goal.

Ahem, for the bet, of course.

And then he stands straight again, cracking up which she's sort of glad for because he just knocked her speechless. "You're not cute enough or girly enough to blush. Even I know that your lack in romantic experiences means you've never even had a crush before." He taunts.

She really wishes she had that horrendous yet thick book with her now so she can crack his head into two. Her face is turning red, and from the blush returning or from anger she can't tell but all that she can think of right now is that he's right. She's embarrassed in her lack of experience in love, but so what? She's young, she's growing, and he was sure as hell right about her hatred of men.

The way Soul's been seducing her was enough proof. Even though it was all for a bet and not just for fun like a certain red-haired death scythe.

What the hell, a hand blade will do, right?

She lifts an arm up to chop him but he's ready, and catches her wrist. No, he actually wasn't ready, she realizes. He was just paying so much attention to her that he was analyzing her every move, so he saw it coming. His taunting smile is gone, when did it go?

"You don't crush because you hate men. I know you, Maka."

She rips her arm out of his grip. She never realized he'd been paying this much attention to her, and it makes her heart flutter for a second, but she silences it and falls back on her rage. "Then why were you so insistent on claiming you could get me to fall for you like a fangirl?"

"Why did you make that bet with me?" He counters.

Then he understands. Their souls are resonating recklesslyclose right now, and her feelings are not hidden from him. He grins, very pleased with his new findings as he can feel her thinking back to when she proposed the original bet, and why.

She should've expected this, what with this resonance, but she kind of likes these little surprises when he suddenly places his hands on her waists and shoves her back into the wall. He can't remember if he's locked the apartment door or not, but dear Shinigami please let them be alone for at least half an hour.

She doesn't know what to do with her hands, but with the limited amount of space he's giving her because he's pressing their bodies so close, her hands have found their way into being squished between both of their chests, and she feels something new.

Her weapon should not be this toned.

She once again reminds herself to make sure her weapon worked out less. Then she feels his muscles tense under her as he leans his head down towards her. Meh, or maybe not.

"You bet me that I couldn't make you fall for me no matter what I did…" He said in a low, husky voice into her neck. She can feel his breath. "Because you wanted to prove to yourself that you didn't fall in love with me."

His lips just graze her skin when he pulls back so he can look her straight into her green eyes. She's a little shocked, because they aren't his 'seductive' eyes. They aren't his 'bored' or 'joking' eyes. And feeling into the resonance a little bit more, she realizes he's not trying to win the bet right now. His lips quirk up into a meaningful smirk, which she finds surprising because since when can such an expression coming from him be meaningful?

"You fell for me, but the great men-hating Maka Albarn did not fall in love, much less for her weapon, and so you wanted to show yourself that. That no matter what I did to make you like me, it wouldn't work on you because you are you."

She turns away from him. "Nonsense. You think I'm into your whole masochism egotistical 'cool' persona?"

"No, but you fall for it, apparently."

She's staring at the floor to her right. "No, I didn't. You're wrong."

She's stubborn, he'll give her that. It could be that she's just that determined to not lose because his meister is the Queen of perseverance, but he knows her better than that. She knows he knows her better than that, and what is she doing thinking that she can hide herself from him just like that? Hide her soul from him? Especially when they're unconsciously resonating because for some reason in this situation they just can't help it.

"Why are you denying falling for me? It's okay. I'm really flattered, actually." He says through a small grin, turning his head to try and get her eyes' attention but right now the oddly tiled floor is apparently more interesting than him.

"I didn't."

"Yes, you did. I can sense it in your sou-"

"So what?" Well, that was certainly unexpected. And now she's turned her head to face him again, and the tables have turned. She's staring into his red eyes. "Let's assume I am in love with you. Great for you! You win the bet and you've got another fangirl under your belt to ignore."

He cocks an eyebrow at that. She said to assume, but she's cracked under the tension, so no, she can't just figuratively speak at the moment. "Is that what this is about?"

She won't answer. She's too shocked that she gave in. Maka Albarn did not give in. But it's too late now. He understands everything.

She didn't want to ruin their partnership. It was true, he did ignore most of his fangirls, which was one of his traits she frowned upon because it reminded her of her father and the way he treated women. And of course, he should have realized that that would be her biggest fear; him treating her like that.

He would never do that to her.

He thought she was sure of that by now.

But once again, he should've known her better. Actually, scratch that, he does know her better. He just forgot the number one 'ding-ding-alarm' in the book because he just assumed that she knew.

That she knew how much he cared about her.

But of course, he forgot that his need for a 'cool' persona meant ogling about other women's features he'd much rather prefer over silly fangirls or, Shinigami curse him now, over his partner's body type, which he's blatantly stated over and over again.

While she's looking at him, he takes the opportunity to remove his hands from her waist and cup each side of her cheek. The firm grasp his hands have on her face force her to look up at him, which would've been more awkward if he weren't staring back.

She tries to shake her head as much as she can. "Don'tyou dare kiss me." She demands.

"Why not?"

"Because you said you're calling the bet off. There's no need to anymore." She tries to look away, and she feels his hands loosen. They slid down to her neck, only fingertips on her face. "Besides, you won right?" She says bitterly, her voice cracking slightly. "I tried my best to get you to fall for me but I guess I've lost since before the bet started, huh? Congratulations." She barely whispers the last part.

In an effort to try to ignore the humiliation of that version of a twisted confession to the one person she swore not to fall for, she thinks of the future past this awkwardness. What exactly was the prize for winning the bet? Pure satisfaction? No, they were less mature than that. It would have had to been something like an exchange of chore duty.

They never really did clarify the terms of the bet.

He can feel that she's moving her thoughts elsewhere than the current situation, and he's pretty glad she's not trying to force herself away from their current position. Then again, she never was one to run away from anything. But he doesn't want her to stray from the current topic, because the thing was…

…he started the bet for the same reason.

His intention from the beginning was always to make her fall for him, because he's in love with her.

And he agreed with himself to never confess to the one person he swore not to fall for, but of course he had to develop these emotions for the one person who time and time again proclaimed her hatred for men which stemmed from her father. He wonders if this is why the two Death Scythes can never seem to get along.

So it delighted him when she made the bet because he had a chance.

Only now did he realize how she already felt before the bet.

He chuckles slightly at how twisted things have gotten, and that she doesn't know that he hasn't won the bet either.

Or maybe both of them won.

He doesn't care for the logistics of it because she's still pouting and fidgeting at her uncomfortable awkwardness and his hands are moving back to her cheeks, turning her face towards him again and before she can so much as realize what he's done he's already kissing her.

Unlike the other two, this one is pure passion. It's one sided in favor of him for a moment because most of her energy is spent trying to push him off, but he won't let up because he needs to show her something. So he deepens the kiss, pressing her against the wall and nibbling at her lip. Her lack of reaction makes him think he should stop but just as he's about to she's kissing him back. Either from their resonance or just pure 'male/female adolescent hormonal anatomy' at work his arms snake down to her waist and her arms reach up to wrap around his neck at the same, synchronized time.

Her hands are in his hair just as he pries her mouth open with his, and in an attempt to deepen it even more his hands roam to her lower back and pry it from the wall, pushing her lower body into his, while her shoulders and head are still pressed firmly against the wall behind her because that's how hard he's kissing her.

She's trying to match his passion, but she doesn't stand a chance.

Especially not when his super-weapon-human strength lifts both her legs up off the ground so that she's upright only because his pressing force on her is keeping her there. She wraps her legs around him either to keep balance or because that's where both of them want them; she doesn't care for logistics at that moment. More like she can't when their hips are grinding against each other and they're both either moaning into each other's mouths or groaning because sexual frustration in reaction.

Again, logistics. Unimportant.

At times they stop for a few seconds to breath, or rather, he stops to let her breath because he will kiss her until his last dying breath, or lack thereof. And as soon as they've separated he's closed the gap between their lips again while both of their mouths are open so they can just go at it again because he realizes he loves kissing her, lack of experience or not. She's gotten good for her third time, and he smiles into the kiss for a moment because he realizes he's the only person she's ever kissed.

The only person her lips have ever touched this way.

And he will make sure it stays that way until he dies.

Though he feels he could die right now with how elated he is. They're not kissing for a bet anymore. It's not him trying to get her to fall for him or vice versa.

He loves her. She loves him. And they're kissing.

And by the way she's kissing him back, she definitely knows it. Or at least he hopes she does because if it's going to take more than this to get his message across then he doesn't know if he cares whether she's that dense because he doesn't mind it taking more.

Then he once again pulls back just far enough that his lips are planting butterfly kisses from the corner of her mouth, to her jaw, to her neck, and right before he wants to just go at it, he stops. They're both hot, out of breath, slightly disoriented, in love, and the last thing they need is for her to have his mark on her two days before the bet ends.

Right, the bet.

It takes all his effort and what little motivation for restrain he has to set her legs back down, giving them both enough time to slow their heartbeats down. His hands find their way to her waist again and in the most sure, proclaiming tone, says,

"Congratulations."

Before kissing her again.

…

"I…I lost?"

Day eight has arrived in Shibusen. Due to the gloriousness of the number, the young Shinigami was looking forward to good news in his favor, but alas, no such luck was to be found and after barely stuttering the last two words Death the Kid took to the floor in tears.

It's before school in Shibusen, and everyone's gathered around the front entrance above the large staircase to exchange money, the sun laughing down at them during the entire exchange.

"Fork it over Kid." Black Star threatens.

Patty comes around and stands next to Black Star. "Yeah Kid~! We won~!"

"What about Kilik?" Jacqueline asks.

"That's right!" Liz turns around and points at him. "You bet that Soul wouldn't fall for Maka!"

"But I technically didn't bet on who would win!" He defends.

"Doesn't matter, pay up!" Ox demands, putting his hand out with the others.

The couple of the topic sat on the staircase together, looking out into Death City while eating their breakfast together, ignoring the commotion behind them. Needless to say, word got out about a little mark on Maka's neck because apparently someone couldn't restrain themselves as much as they thought, and then one of the underclassmen snitched on witnessing her sneak a kiss onto Soul's cheek the morning of day seven before leaving their apartment complex on his bike (of course their apartment complex just happened to be on the route they took to school, no spying involved honest!)

*Comes out from hiding behind the corner*

Was the ending okay?

Well, I hope you guys realized who won/lost the bet! Tell me your guesses when you review? :)

Again thank you so much for being patient! And if you've just found this it's 5 in the morning I have lecture tomorrow and I just whipped out this entire chapter in one sitting, so you're lucky you got all three because these peeps have been waiting three years.

Again, sorry if the writing style changed or if characters changed or if it went from FUN/FLIRTY to SERIOUS/OMG LOVE.

Please review! Even though there's no incentive because sadly, I have completed this.

THANK YOU LOVE YOU ALL!