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Prompt #28: Kami - "So you're the infamous Soul Eater."

Words: 1,428

Soul knew the moment he stepped into the apartment that someone was there. "Who's there? Show yourself."

"Soul Eater, I presume?"

He scanned the gloom as his hand transformed into a scythe blade. "Who's asking?"

The living room lamp switched on, blinding him for a moment. He blinked away the spots and saw - well, the best description would be his meister in almost twenty years. Same eyes, if a shade lighter and with a few more lines in the corners. Same pin-straight ashy blonde hair, but cut in a severe chin-length bob with bangs that covered the left half her forehead. She sat the same way, cocked her head the same way, even narrowed her eyes the same way as she looked him up and down.

He didn't have to ponder her identity for long. "You're Mrs. Albarn, Maka's mother."

"I haven't been Mrs. Albarn for quite some time, young man."

Soul blinked and bowed his head in apology. "Sorry."

"Only say it if you mean it." Her head tilted the other way, still appraising him. "You reek of madness."

He squinted slightly. "I've got a little imp in my mind, but it's nothing I can't handle."

"You're quite fresh, aren't you." She didn't wait for him to respond. "Now, as to the reason for my visit..."

"Oh, there's a point to this? I thought you were just here to sit in the dark and be menacing."

Those eerily familiar eyes cut to his as sharply as his meister's best slice. "Maka never mentioned you were this rude."

A warning buzzed in the back of his brain. Tread carefully. He'd heard all the stories, legends, and rumors of Maka's mother. If half of them were to be believed, she was a woman who possessed zen-like calm, the anti-madness and anti-demon wavelengths, and a great talent for scythe-fighting that even the former Lord Death had appreciated. Not a woman to be trifled with in any way.

"Now, as I was saying..." She cleared her throat and folded her hands in her lap. "The reason I am here is to talk to you about my daughter."

Keeping his gaze steady, Soul said nothing. Something - his imp or his instincts, the two were indistinguishable sometimes - told him to let Maka's mother talk. Luckily he was extremely talented at out-waiting his opponents.

Sure enough, she waited only one minute before continuing. "As you can understand, my daughter's well-being is my highest priority. The only reason I left her in Death City was because I was certain that she could take care of herself, despite being in close proximity to her father." She picked off a piece of imaginary lint from her slacks. "And for the most part, I have found that she was most capable at that. But I believe it is time for a change."

Soul blinked once, slowly, recalling how Blair did when she was waiting for someone to get to the good part. Remarkably, it seemed to work, because Maka's mother seemed to relax and lean back in her chair.

"I have come to take Maka traveling with me. I am confident that a change of scenery will do her some good." She fixed Soul with a commanding stare. "I trust you will have no issue with this."

After a moment of thought, Soul had to agree. "Maka has wanted to go on vacation for a while. She's been blabbing about France, though I kinda wanted to check out New Orleans before we head out of country - "

"Ahem." Maka's mother crossed her arms. "I did not say you would be accompanying us."

Now he fixed her with a glare that held no trace of respect or cool. "Excuse me? I am her weapon partner."

"And she has made you into a Death Scythe. You don't need her anymore." Maka's mother gave him another glare. Unlike Maka's, this one held a coldness that Soul knew his partner wasn't capable of. "Once it is explained to her, she will come with me."

"When what is explained?" He didn't like anything that this woman was saying, and he had a sinking suspicion that her next words would not make it any better.

She stood up and brushed off her slacks. "I do not need to tell you. I am her mother. I have her best interests at heart."

"And I am her partner. I've been there for her a lot longer than you have." Soul's temper was up now, adrenaline thrumming in his blood and making his fingers twitch. "You weren't there when we achieved Soul Resonance. You weren't there when she mastered Witch Hunter, or Djinn Hunter, or Kishin Hunter. You weren't there when we had to learn how to use the Black Blood without going insane. You were off doing who knows what and sending back postcards that just said 'Wish you were here' and broke her heart."

"Don't you dare presume to understand my reasons," warned Maka's mother.

"There's no reason good enough for walking out of your child's life."

"Mother?" They both turned to see Maka standing in the doorway of the apartment, a grocery bag in her arms and astonishment on her face.

"Maka." Her mother turned to face her and smiled. "It's been a while. You look well."

Maka stepped inside to stand beside Soul. She looked at her motionless mother, then to Soul, who was tensed up as if readying himself for battle. She put her bag down and touched her partner's elbow. "Soul? Are you all right?"

"No." He never took his eyes off Maka's mother. He could feel Maka's soothing presence starting to calm his battle-ready body.

As if reading his mind, Maka turned to her mother again. "Mama? Is something wrong?"

"Does something have to be wrong for me to visit?"

"You didn't come back when Asura threatened the sanity of the world, so I guess not." Soul almost couldn't believe his "be respectful to your elders" partner had just sassed her mother. "Does Papa know you're here?"

"No. I've come to speak with you about something." Maka's mother glanced between Maka and Soul. "Privately."

"Soul Eater is my partner and my friend. Whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of him." To drive the point home, Maka laced her fingers through Soul's. His heart rate slowed even more, leaving behind a calm he almost never experienced. It gave him hope, and it made him brave. Brave enough to speak up.

"She wants to take you away." From me, he almost added before biting his tongue again.

"For a little vacation," her mother clarified. "I'd love to show you the world, Maka."

Soul's hand tightened around Maka's subconsciously. Don't go, he begged in his mind. Don't leave. You won't come back. You'll leave with this mean old shrew and she'll convince you to stay with her and you'll never come back and I -

"I can't, Mama." Maka shook her head. "I've accepted a teaching position at Shibusen."

Maka's mother blinked. "But sweetheart - "

"I start Monday, so I have to begin my lesson plans right away. How long will you be in town?"

Her mother was still off-balance. "A-A-A few days..."

"Then we can catch up another time, yes?" Maka went back to the door and opened it wide. "Good night, Mama."

Still stammering, Maka's mother headed back out into the night. Maka shut the door and picked up her groceries. "Well that was nice of her to stop by," she remarked. "But how rude. If she'd written I could have told her that sooner."

Soul looked at his meister, hardly able to believe his ears. "You really don't want to go with her?"

Maka shook her head. "I'm needed here in Death City. Kid needs me to teach at Shibusen." On her way into the kitchen, she reached up and kissed Soul's cheek. "Besides, I wouldn't go anywhere without my partner."

A blush heated his cheeks at how easily she'd seen his insecurity. He coughed and turned to follow her. "I'll help you cook. You suck at curry anyway."

"Okay."

So after lots of research, I've learned that Kami is not Maka's mom's name. In fact, she's never mentioned by name. What a mysterious figure...

Review please!