Chapter 3
Well hello there! It's been forever hasn't it?! This year of College has been kicking my ass and I just haven't had the time or motivation to write. But I never abandon a story or my readers. So let me know what you think of this chapter and what you might like to see in the future or have happen!
Stay safe, stay happy,
vichalmers
Soul began pulling away from social events; gradually he stopped playing basketball with Black Star and Kid. He went to class less and less spending all his free time with his new girlfriend. But even then he made an effort to spend time with Maka, which seemed to drive Jenifer up a wall.
"She's my meister," Soul tried to explain between kisses. "Our bond is important." But the more he said it the less he believed it and Maka found her self-loosing everything she worked for.
"Soul we have a mission in Botswana this weekend." Maka leaned on the door jam to Soul's room, peering into what long ago had been sanctioned a "danger zone", by the pot/pantie situation of 2011. Sure Maka still ventured into the cave known as Soul's room, but only in laundry emergencies or when he had taken one of her books to use as a coaster or prop up his laptop. Otherwise it was simply safer to stand at the door and look in.
Her partner looked up at her with big eyes, as if he was shocked to see her and forgotten they lived together.
"This weekend?" Soul shook his head adamantly. "I can't Jen and I are going away together this weekend. It's our four month anniversary." Maka tried not to roll her eyes. Every week they celebrated some sort of milestone in their relationship and frankly it was driving Maka up a wall. But so far none of it had interfered with Maka and Soul's missions and work, until now.
"Soul this is an important mission. This town is being terrorized by a pre-kision, it's out of hand." Soul shrugged, shrugged, as if he didn't care, and turned back to his phone.
"You can find another partner for the weekend right? This is really important to Jen." Maka gaped at the scythe. Who was this man? Who was this imposter who had replaced her Soul? Because this person was not her best friend and partner. He wasn't the man she fell in love with.
"You can't be serious," Maka said angrily. "Soul this is our job! We protect and defend we-" Soul waved her off, standing up to close his door.
"Maka not now, I'm about to call Jen. I'm sure you can handle this mission with out me." With that, Soul closed his door and Maka heard the telltale click of the lock on his door. Maka swallowed hard, pushing back tears. He had never locked her out before, not even during their worst fights and arguments. There was something seriously wrong with her weapon. Never would he suggest she go into a battle with anyone else but him.
Taking a shaky breath, Maka turned and make her way back to her room. She would get to the bottom of this when she got back from her mission. Until then she would have to hope Soul didn't do anything too stupid.
Maka came home on Sunday night with spectacular black eye, one hell of a split lip and her bangs noticeably singed. She would need to have a serious discussion with Lord Death about who he selects to be her temporary partner in the future.
"I'm home," Maka groaned out, hoping that at least Blair would be home. She hated to admit it but she needed help at least getting out of her boots and frankly she just really needed a hug, who wouldn't after that shit show of a mission?
"Soul? Blair? Anyone home?" Normally Maka would cringe at the hint of disparity in her voice but right then she was too worn out and beat up to give one single fuck.
"Maka?" The meister felt her pulse jump when Soul walked into the kitchen, looking rather… surprised, to see Maka home.
"Hey Soul," Maka tried to smile around her split lip. "How was your weekend away?" And that's when she noticed it, a fog lifted from Soul's eyes and suddenly her best friend and weapon partner was back.
"Death Maka, what the hell happened to you?" He crossed the kitchen in three steps, wrapping a solid arm around her waist and letting Maka lean against him heavily.
This was how it should be, the two of them together, taking care of each other, being there for each other. For whatever reason old Soul was back and Maka was desperately grateful.
"The mission went a little wrong, but we got the pre-kision in the end." Maka felt Soul's grip tighten around her and he gently took her chin in his free hand, tipping her face up towards his. Clear eyes inspected her damaged face in anger.
"The mission went a little wrong?! Death forbid you ever go on a mission where things go really wrong! Shit, I haven't seen you this beat-up since Ashura, how did this happen?"
At that, Maka felt her self harden and pull away from her weapon. Was he serious?!
"Are you kidding Soul? Were you not the one who wouldn't come with me because of your four month anniversary with your girlfriend? This happened because my assigned weapon partner was young, inexperienced and we could barely match our wavelengths!" Death help her, if Maka had a hard covered book right now…
"Maka I-I'm so sorry I-" Maka looked up at Soul to find his face twisted in confusion and hurt. "I don't know what's gotten into me. Something is wrong with Jen. She's just… she's… there's something wrong with-"
"Soul?" Maka and Soul spun around to face Jenifer who looked genuinely surprised to see the two of them together. But like a chameleon changing its colour she slid back into an oily smile and screamed crazy bitch.
"I'm so glad to see you home safe and sound Maka," She purred, sauntering up to the pair of them and sliding between weapon and meister. As soon as Jenifer touched him Soul's eyes fogged over and he stepped away from Maka, his expression turning blank with a slightly goofy smile. Maka wasn't sure what was going on, but there was no way Jenifer was really a meister from the DWMA and she was doing something to Soul.
"Who are you?" Maka growled, painfully taking a fighting stance. Instead of getting defensive Jenifer just laughed, tilting her long, slender neck back as she cackled wickedly.
"Wouldn't you just love to know, naive little Maka? Now," She waved Maka off as the meister growled, itching to take down the other girl. "Isn't there something we wanted to tell our friend Soul?" Mindlessly the white haired weapon nodded.
"We've sent in the paper work to Lord Death and he's approved it. You and I aren't partners anymore."
