Chapter 6

School is done, now its time for fun! My plan is to write, write, write and write!

Leave me a message, a review, a comment anything. I would love some prompts for a collection of one shots, suggestions of new shows to watch, a funny joke. I love to hear from all of you!

Hugs'n'shit

Vi

The lights in the basement had been left on, harsh and blaring, illuminating the horrors with in. Soul was chained to a chair, his head drooping to the side, completely unconscious.

Oh Death his head is bleeding! As were his wrists, which were bound with chains to the armrests of the chairs and locked.

With out a second thought Maka rushed to Soul's side, falling to her knees beside him and gently lifting up his head, cradling it gently in her hands.

"Soul," Maka whispered, "Soul, can you hear me? Please, wake up. Oh death, wake up please." For a moment, nothing happened and Maka dipped into her ragged, dwindling reserves of energy and gently prodded him with her soul, finding his heartbeat strong and determined.

"I know you're in there Soul," Maka muttered, closing here eyes and digging deeper. "Now's not the time to be difficult though." Giving Soul a much more forceful poke Maka felt her partner's breath hitch, stutter, then come out in a great whoosh.

"Holy shit, what the fu-" Chains rattled and Soul began to thrash, desperately trying to free himself. "Maka what the hell is going on?! Maka, Maka," Soul's eye's were glassy with pain and fear, looking but not really seeing. It took all of Maka's strength to re-capture his face, drawing his forehead to hers and softly say, "I'm here Soul, breath, open your eyes, I'm right here."

For a second it felt as if time wasn't really moving, like the only thing happening in the world was the inhale and exhale of air from each person, one steady and calm, the other rapid and frightened. And then, like an unstoppable force of nature, their soul's latched on to the other and like a clap of thunder Maka and Soul's heartbeat's synched up.

The Witch's spell was broken.

Slowly, Maka's grip on Soul lessened and the two drew apart, never loosing eye contact. For the first time in months Maka could see the clear red of Soul's eyes. No fog, no magic induced mist, just Soul, present in mind, body and, well, soul.

"You're back," Maka breathed, running tender fingers over the cut on Soul's head. "Finally, you're back," A lone tear tracked down her face and she gave a great sigh of relief.

"What happened?" Soul asked, looking around as if it were the first time he had seen the place he had been held captive. "Maka, I can't remember what happened, everything is a weird blur, the past few months-everything is just colours and sounds." Maka nodded, suddenly down to business and back to the tough-as-nails girl Soul was used to. She was scrounging around, searching for the key to Soul's chain's or at the very least something to pick the lock with.

"I'm not surprised, I read that when you're under a strong spell you don't often have much of a memory of the time that passed." Of course she read that.

"We'll get you caught up once we're out of here and that Witch is behind bars. Speaking of who," Maka turned around with what appeared to be a handful of bent bobby pins. "We should get out of here before she comes back, I don't know why she left, but I have no doubt your girlfriend doesn't intend to stay away for long."

Soul grimaced. Shit, his miester was totally pissed. He had messed up this time. Death he had let his guard down and really messed up. That's what you get for ignoring your feelings for your miester, Evans. He had a lot of explaining to do. And apologizing. And groveling. And then maybe, hopefully, kis-. Soul shook his head, his cheeks heating up in a totally uncool way. Don't jump the gun Evans, she may never forgive you for this. A thought which made Soul's stomach twist and his blood run cold. That was unimaginable and yet, completely possible.

Kneeling down so she was level with the locks, Maka began to work quickly with the bobby pins, having the chains unlocked in record time. Rubbing his raw and sore wrists Soul looked on at his miester in amazement.

"I didn't know you could do that." A smile wiggled at the edges of Maka's mouth before it disappeared behind her usual steely determination and seriousness.

"Of course you didn't, you never listen when I tell you these things. Too busy with girls and basket ball." Maka helped Soul to his feet, putting her self under his right arm as a crutch when he started to waver. She might have been weak and exhausted, but her partner was in worse condition and there was no way he was getting out of there with out help. That's what partners did, they let the other lean on them. Or at least ex-partners. Maka's heart dropped as they took their first steps. Does he remember doing that? Does he know that we aren't partner's any more? It was a miracle her knee's didn't buckle at the thought.

"Girls and basketball huh?" Soul chuckled weakly as they took slow, agonizing steps towards the stairs. "I guess I have been a little pre-occupied lately, haven't I?" Maka nearly dropped him there and she would have enjoyed watching him tumble down the stairs. Is he stupid? What an ass. Note to self, Maka Chop Soul when he's better.

"We are so talking about this when we get home," Maka muttered. "A little preoccupied my ass,"

It was their preoccupation, with each other, with the promise of freedom and in the case of Soul, the dizzying after effects of a spell, that left them completely unaware of the sound of a door slamming and the crazed, malevolent grin of the Witch Jenifer, looking down at them from the top of the basement stairs.

An insane giggle bubbled from her lips and Jenifer's mouth smiled impossibly wide, a little reminiscent of Medusa. Then she whispered words that blared like a fog horn in the horrified silence,

"Gotcha."