A/N: This is when Kokoa was 5 years old. For those who aren't farmiliar with The Soul That Binds Us, you might be a little lost. I suggest reading it.

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For the past five years, Maka had managed to avoid that one question. But it was inevitable. What with her friends' kids always playing with Kokoa, the girl was going to ask.
It's just, Maka didn't know when to expect it. Or how she'd respond.

While making dinner, Kokoa sitting in the living room, it happened.

"Mama?" Kokoa asked.

Maka didn't look away from the carrot she was chopping. "Hm?"

"When is Daddy gonna come home? Why is he never here?" her daughter asked.

The knife dropped from Maka's hand, falling to the floor. This was the question that she dreaded.

"Mama?"

Maka sighed, bending down to pick up the sharp utensil. "He's not coming home." she said. "Why not? Doesn't he love us?" Kokoa asked.
Now this was just breaking Maka's heart.

"Of course he does. He's just far away." she replied. But in honesty, she didn't know how Kokoa's father would react to her.

Kokoa got up and walked into the kitchen. Her wavy, white hair bouncing with each step. "How far away?" she asked, looking at Maka with big blue eyes.
"Very." Maka said.

Realization spread across the five-year-old's face. "He's gone. Isn't he, Mama? He went to heaven?" she asked.

"No, he's not." Maka said quickly. Letting Kokoa think that her father was dead was the last thing she wanted to do.

"Okay." Kokoa said. The girl then turned and went back into the living room. Maka could literally feel the sadness and confusion that surrounded her daughter.

She sighed. I wish I could tell her, she thought.

Anger suddenly began to flow into her veins. It's his fault, she told herself. If he hadn't left, her daughter wouldn't be so sad right now.

She hated him. Hated his shit-eating smirk. Hated his white hair that he cursed her daughter with. Hated his eyes, how they had always forced her to gaze into them.
Hated everything that was him.

"I hate you, Soul Eater." she whispered, chopping a carrot in half with one quick 'WACK'.