Usual discalimers apply~
Enjoy your read~

SOUL----

It had been two days since Kid left to continue his mission and although he felt bad about it, he was actually glad that he wasn't back yet. It seems as well that his return to Shibusen wasn't exactly known – no one was talking about it. The only newest gossip was about the two new students that arrived only two days ago.

"I think they're called Liz and Patti," informed Soul. "And I think Shinigami-sama said that they were both weapons."

"I wonder if they have meisters," Maka whispered silently, looking up at the ceiling of her apartment, a finger placing itself on her chin in thought.

The two slouched on Maka's couch, Soul, who had the remote control in his custody, wearily flicked through several channels that he didn't even pay attention to. It was a Saturday, and the weapon found himself unable to leave this particular apartment since yesterday's call from Wes. He also found himself unable to leave Maka's side for too long; she might be irritated about it but he couldn't help it. Inwardly shaking his head in embarrassment, he thought that she must've noticed by now – he still needed her. Not as a meister and more than a friend - well, for that part, there was a possibility that she didn't really think about it that way.

She hadn't said anything regarding any of her observations though. Does she quietly accept his actions of affection or says nothing, when in truth she didn't like it? Does she even know what he was trying to do?

What if he brings up their…engagement? He seems to be okay with it now although he would inevitably have to let his family meet her, which was still a problem to him.

The apartment was quiet apart from the comfortable buzz of the TV, the changing channels and of Maka flipping book pages. This pleasant silence was broken though as his attention was brought to the loud closing of her book.

"Hey, Soul…" her tone was anxious, and it caused him to look at her with a confused expression. "What would you say…if I asked you to moved back in?" She was looking down at the closed book's hardcover so she didn't see how the weapon had blinked at her in surprise.

Move back in? He wanted to yell. He wanted to jump around. He didn't want to admit it but he was having a celebration in his mind. He had never been so happy in the last few days than he was now.

"Yeah, sure." He tried to sound emotionless to cover the happiness he was experiencing, but he was sure that he heard his smile somewhere in his tone. Hope she didn't notice. "W-why so suddenly?" Damn, did he just stutter? He still felt giddy so that must've caused it.

"Well, it might just be because I'm being nostalgic," he heard the uncontrolled giggle hidden in the last word, and he looked at her again - she still had her gaze on the book cover. "When I woke up to see you in your old room, I didn't feel so lonely anymore." At the last word, she looked up, realizing that his gaze was boring into her, and gave him a grin.

Soul snickered as he leaned back further into the couch, breaking the short eye contact as he turned his head to look at the TV and closed his eyes. "So its not just me. You felt lonely too, huh?"

Maka's grin shrunk into a gentle smile as she copied Soul, resting her head on the back of the couch, closed eyes facing the dark ceiling.

Their silence lasted so long that he thought he had fallen asleep, when actually, he only had his eyes closed for a few minutes. He was met with the gentle sight of his meister, eyes closed like his own had been a few minutes ago, features relaxed. This image carefully embedded itself into his memory; he liked simply observing her in this state. She was so pretty.

Wes was right. The arrangement we had been - and were - in might be more good than bad, he thought to himself.

"What?" Crimson eyes shot to focus in shock from the suddenly uttered word. When his daze-blurred eyes cleared, he saw the girl's face looking to him, head still resting on the back of the couch. Her little eyebrows were furrowed in question and her green eyes reflected confusion. "What?" She repeated, louder this time.

"What?" He returned her question to her. Wait. He didn't think out loud did he? Did she hear?

"You said something didn't you?" Damn. She sat up straighter, turning on the couch to face him, her expression still one of confusion.

"It was nothing…" he replied with nonchalance as his fingers raked through his hair. Repeating what he had thought - or said - would be kind of embarrassing since she might've heard differently in the first place. Peeking sideways to discreetly look at Maka, she was still there, curiously staring at him with narrowing eyes, head tipped to the side.

The couch shifted, which caused Soul's head to turn and see her standing to head into the kitchen. If he didn't know her that much, he wouldn't be able to tell that her gait was…stubborn, as if angry. Pouting himself, he continued to watch her as she grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water.

Since it was a peaceful evening, Maka had chosen to wear something more comfortable – a loose button up shirt with short sleeves and dark shorts that reached mid-thigh. It covered her pretty well, a bit too large for her making her look tinier than usual. Her hair, fixed by Soul this morning, was still in pigtails. She hadn't grown out of them yet even though they were already both eighteen – although he thought it looked cute, hair down looked so much better on her.

"Hey! Are you angry?" Soul uttered loudly enough for her to hear as he leaned back into the sofa and smiled at her stubborn actions.

"What makes you think th—" As if in slow motion, Soul saw the glass from her hand slip and fall onto the floor, shattering, the crashing sound echoing against the walls of the small room.

"Oi!" In haste, Soul ran to her side, observing that she wasn't wearing any foot wear, his own boots crunching against glass only visible when light hits it. Water pooled around his meister's feet along with the small shards of glass. "What happ—" Quickly raising his head, his statement was cut short when he saw her expression – her eyes.

The green was glazed and dull and he very much remembered why it had become so. There was trouble.

"Soul!" He immediately understood, nodding. Maka made the smallest move to turn yet Soul didn't allow her to shift any further, cutting it short by swiping her off of her feet and carrying her off, princess style. "H-hey! What the!?"

"I'm not going to let you step all over those shards, y'know." He remarked with a grin as he carried her to the door. When he put her down, he immediately commanded her to put on some shoes and warmer clothes.

"There's not enough time, Soul!" she responded as she buckled her boots. Standing, she opened the door, letting the cold breeze enter the apartment and immediately charging into the darkness.

Closing the door behind him, he quickly caught up with her, feeling small humid droplets prickling his skin. It was dark at this time of night. But it made sense that they'd attack at this time.

"Where and what type is it?" he grilled with haste, struggling to make out shapes in the darkness. He was amazed that she hadn't bumped into anything yet.

"A witch soul. Close to the Hook Cemetery." Soul nodded silently. This wasn't your average missionand it was just too sudden. But they'd be able to handle it.

The path Maka chose had too much turns and corners and this seemed to irk Soul. So, carrying her again like he did only a few minutes ago – princess style with Maka shrieking 'where the hell!?' at his hold – he decided to take a faster route. Seeing the pile of boxes that lead up to someone's roof - one that he always used to climb with Black*Star when they decided to goof off on roofs – he hopped onto them and up onto the roof with the squirming girl in his arms.

"Stop squirming or I might drop you," he frantically told her off as he ran across the rooftops, a few tiles sliding beneath his feet, but he manages to get a hold on them. Following his yelled instructions, Maka only partially calmed down as she clutched at Soul's jacket, turning her head to take a peek at where they were going.

In the distance, the moon was chuckling creepily, blood oozing from its clenched teeth, and silhouettes of dead trees and fishing hooks hanging from their branches marking their goal.

"See?" Soul remarked almost smugly, "Isn't this easier than your path?"

The houses started to lessen as they made their way closer to their destination so Soul decided to jump down the building height with a screeching Maka tightly clutching at his shoulders, her head buried in his chest. Smirking to himself, he guessed that she wasn't used to people doing all the moving for her since she wont expect their next moves. Maybe he should do this more often.

As soon as Soul landed safely on the ground, Maka managed to swat away his hold and jump off of him, landing gracefully on her feet, and quickly began to run towards the cemetery once again--

A bright explosion in the distance.

Soul halted in front of Maka to hunch over her, making sure to cover her as bits of rock flew at their direction and also to shield their eyes. Roughly, he raised his head just in time to see something zoom past them, covering them in a cloud of dirt.

"Transform," Maka commanded in a hasty whisper, "I can feel where they are."

Holding her small, cold hand, he transformed.

A/N: a short, action-filled(?) chapter~
theres a second part though that i havent completely edited so i would post it afterwards~

ah~ so~
im off to london tomorrow for a ceremony thingy~
i have no idea what to expect xD
but what i do know is...i will end up shopping one way or the other... =w=

As always~ thanks to all those who reviewed the last chapter~
Dont forget to review~ 8D