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Prompt #24: Evans - When the limousine crawled through Death City's streets towards them, Maka saw Soul's face blanch whiter than his hair.

Words: 1,112

There are plenty of uncommon sights in and around Death City, Nevada. Even more so, after the Battle of the Moon. The cackling sun. A training school for humans and weapons to fight evil. Witches walking through the streets as open as the sky.

The sight of a limo, however, was enough of an uncommon normal sight to make quite a few folks do a double-take. Several people tittered and gawked as it made its way through the winding city streets. When the limo came to a halt in front of Shibusen, the students there were just as dumbstruck at its appearance. Weapons and meisters alike gawked at the sleek back car that seemed to reek of old money and high society. Rumors flew like startled pigeons. Everyone had a wild idea about why it was there - a celebrity, visiting royalty, a very important friend of Lord Death - but nothing substantial.

Only one person viewed the limousine's arrival with something other than interest. Soul Eater looked ready to run for the closest safe house as he watched the limo park in front of Shibusen. Maka had never seen him this way, not even when they were facing Asura. Hell, he might've looked less scared then.

"Soul?" she murmured as they watched the driver step out and come around to the rear passenger door. "You okay?"

Her weapon partner was as stiff as a board, his fists clenched so tightly at his sides that his knuckles were white. "Maka, we have to go. Now."

"But we have class - "

"Don't care. We gotta go now." He had already turned away from the car and made his way towards the side steps. Shibusen had more than one exit, and as an old master of cutting class, Soul knew every single one. All he had to do was get as far away as he could before he was -

"Soul!"

Caught. He flinched. Can't run now. Steeling his nerve, he turned on his heel and faced the caller with his most blank expression. "Hello, Wes."

Wes Evans was just how Soul last remembered him - tall and lean, pale hair hanging lank about his angular face, and crimson eyes a few shades darker than Soul's. His mother, however, had changed quite dramatically. Against his will, a note of concern and shock entered his voice. "Mother?"

Imogene Evans gave a wan smile. She had always been beautiful, but Soul noticed the new crow's feet, the frown lines where there had been none before, and a much slimmer frame than could be considered healthy. It was as if his mother had been starving herself. And crying, if the redness and puffy bags under her crystal blue eyes was any indication.

"Won't you introduce your friend, Soul?" asked Wes quietly.

Soul belatedly realized that Maka had moved closer to his side. Her hand brushed his, but did not grasp it. Comfort without contact. Heartened by her presence, he cleared his throat. "This is my brother Wes and my mother. This is Maka Albarn, my meister."

Maka stuck out her hand with a smile. "Nice to meet you."

"A pleasure," replied Wes as he returned the handshake. "I wish it was under better circumstances." Returning his gaze to Soul, the elder Evans brother sighed. "Soul, we wanted to tell you in person. There's been a death in the family."

"Who?"

Now his mother spoke up. "Granny."

Granny? Of all his family, Granny was the only one who still attempted to communicate with him. Every so often Soul would get a letter on very nice parchment and written in shaky, but still beautiful handwriting, telling him about everything and nothing. Rare did his grandmother have something actually important to say, but those simple conversations were treasured all the same.

Granny...is gone.

He felt Maka's fingers pushing through the spaces of his and tangling. "When?" she asked.

"Two nights ago. According to the doctor, she passed on in her sleep." A hiccup popped from his mother's lips and forced her to cover her face with her handkerchief. Deep, heartbroken sobs were stifled by thin white fabric.

Hurt and confused, Soul settled for scowling at his mother. "And you decided to come tell me in person...why?"

Wrapping his arm around their mother, Wes spoke. "Because the will is being read in three days, and one of her final requests is that you are present at the reading." He held out a card. "This is the address, and my number is on the back. I should mention that we legally cannot proceed without you in attendance. Please consider that."

Before Soul could move, Maka's free hand reached out to take the card. "He will," she said as she put it in her pocket. Wes blinked, nodded, and turned Mrs. Evans back towards the limousine. They had barely taken three steps before Maka spoke up again. "I'm very sorry for your loss."

Soul watched his mother break down into unrestrained wailing. He watched as Wes tightened his grip around her shoulders and hustled her quickly into the car. He watched as they drove out of Death City as quickly as they had entered. All he could do was watch. All he could do was stare.

All he could think was, Granny is dead, and I have to go home in three days to hear her will. I have to go home and face them again.

"Soul." He glanced over at his meister. "Let's go," said Maka, tugging his hand in the direction of the staircase. Mutely he followed her, still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened.

"Maka, wait." Soul drew to a stop, his brain kickstarting once he realized where they were heading. Not up towards Shibusen, but down towards the town. "We have class."

"Don't care," was her terse reply. "You're in no state to go to class."

"I'm fine."

"Liar. You were crying." About to retort that he wasn't, Soul rubbed his eye and suddenly noted how sticky his cheek felt. "No way was I going to submit you to public exposure after hearing news like that. We're going home, watching a movie and having dinner. Then once you're calmer, we can start packing."

"We can start packing?" he echoed.

Maka fixed him with a steely green glare. "Of course. I'm coming with you, naturally."

And even with grief blacker than his black blood weighing down his soul, he felt his heart swell in relief. Maka was coming. Maka would be there with him.

He would be okay.

Like Maka would ever let Soul go home without backup.

Review please! Almost to the halfway mark!