"You needed to speak with me, Soul?" Kid question innocently once they were well outside the cave and out of earshot from their friends. Soul turned to look at the reaper, his eyes sliding over him from head to toe, then back to the curious, not so innocent golden gaze.

"So you and Maka were on your own for some time, weren't you?" He managed to hiss after a pregnant silence. So that was what this was about. Kid internally rolled his eyes; he knew this conversation would have to happen sooner or later despite the zombie apocalypse.

"Well, yes… Actually, we did find Robin shortly after the group had been separated, but it was just the three of us for quite awhile." Kid shrugged, trying to keep a casual tone in his voice, fighting to keep a flush from his cheeks as the memories of his and the blonde's night in the cave tried to infiltrate his thoughts. Soul laughed dryly, not meeting the young shinigami's eyes.

"Just you two and the kid?" He said, shaking his head, eyes suddenly interested in the forest floor. "Must've been nice." Kid's eyes never left the albino. He hadn't been around him in months, and situations like these can turn even the most honest man into something savage over small things. The scythe's soul was radiating nothing but pure anger and hatred; the reaper couldn't help but let his next thought turn into words that flowed fluidly out of his mouth.

"It was rather nice, actually. Despite the constant fear for our lives, we did have our fun." That hit a nerve. In an instant, Kid was pinned to a nearby tree by a black and red blade to the neck.

"What did you do to my meister?" Soul growled, his nose mere inches from Kid's.

"I've done nothing to her."

"Bullshit." Soul hissed, his free hand reaching up to clutch the front of Kid's shirt. "I see how you look at her. How she looks at you. No telling what you've done to her." He spat, his grip getting tighter. "I'm going to ask again. What. Did. You. Do. To. Her?"

Kid sighed, it was really quite sad how easily he could've gotten out of this situation, Soul's anger was completely taking over his body, and he left several openings for a counter attack, but the shinigami knew he had this coming. He always knew in the back of his mind if he truly wanted Maka, he'd have to go through Soul; but after seeing how happy she had been with the albino once he returned, Kid really began to rethink his actions. "I promise you, I have done nothing to harm her." The reaper figured honesty was the best policy in this case. "But, I cannot deny that I harbor feelings for her. That being said, I understand my feelings cannot go any further than an admiration from afar. I was under the false impression that she may feel the same for me, but after seeing how happy she is with you, I would never be able to forgive myself if I were to ruin what the two of you have. She may be the right one for me, but it is blatantly obvious I am not the right one for her while you are in her life. You have no need to fear, I will not stand in you're way to Maka's heart."

Soul furrowed his brows at the raven haired boy, his crimson eyes scrutinizing his face; the silence was unbearable to Kid. He literally jumped as Soul let out a roar of laughter that was surely heard from inside the cave. He tilted his head as the scythe laughed, confusion comically obvious on his face. "Wait a second, wait a second. My way to what? Tiny-tit's heart?" Soul said in between gasps for air. "Oh this is gold…" He shook his head, letting his fist go, but making no move to transform his blade back to his arm. "What do you take me for?"

"I beg your pardon?" Kid stuttered.

"Don't think you can get off that easy, reaper." Soul wiped a tear from his eye before turning his attention back to the befuddled death god. "Just because you made me laugh doesn't mean we still don't have issues here." The scythe went from tears of mirth to cold and deadly in a matter of a few words. "Maka is the most kind hearted, bad ass fighter I've ever seen in my life, and I'll be damned if I sit back and watch some preppy reaper scum break her as if she were an unwanted toy." His stare was eerie, the glow from his naturally colored crimson eyes adding to this effect. He paused for a moment as if her were thinking things over, but when Kid shifted his weight to stand in a more comfortable position; Soul was brought back to reality. "If… If you want to be with Maka, I might be ok with that… You're a cool guy," He half heartedly gave his signature grin; he still seemed to be debating with himself. "But if you hurt her, in any way…" He growled, almost demonically, "mentally or physically… Let's just say there will be one less reaper mixed in with this apocalypse mess." Finally, Soul let arm slide back into its human form.

As if on queue, the blonde meister's voice rang through the trees just loud enough for the two of them to hear. "Hey Kid, Soul! Get your asses in here; I'm done with the tea!" The reaper couldn't help but grin at the feistiness of the blonde, which didn't go unnoticed by Soul. The albino let out a sigh he didn't know he had been holding and started back for the cave.

"Treat her well. She deserves it." He said in a half whisper, though Kid knew it was meant for his ears. He wasn't entirely sure what exactly had just happened, but Kid felt as if a fifty ton weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Was this really what was holding him back from getting closer to Maka? Maybe not, but the fact that Soul was ok with it and there was nothing going on between him and his beautiful meister definitely seemed to lift his spirits.

Kid jumped slightly as the ash blonde meister that had resided in his thoughts seconds before bounded up to him, a small Styrofoam cup in hand and a broad smile on her face. His mind momentarily vacant from her sudden appearance, he took the cup, peered inside then muttered a 'thank you' with a smile before taking a sip. He felt his muscles relax and shoulders slump slightly at the feel of the warm liquid sliding down his throat on such a chilly night. He didn't realize how much he had missed such a creature comfort before it was brought to him. Before he knew it, he had took a seat next to Maka without thinking and watched the tongues of fire dance before his very eyes, nothing occupying his thoughts. One by one, the group poured themselves some of the comforting substance and sat in silence, encircling the camp fire. Kid stiffened as Maka's shoulder brushed up against his when she scooted over to make room for Liz, her warm touch sending shivers down his spine; his thoughts began to go south as he swore he felt the scythe meister lean into his touch…

"Hey Maka?" The sound of the small voice made the two of them jump slightly. Maka turned around to look at the owner of the hesitant speaker who had tugged slightly on her sleeve when he spoke. "Can I… Sit by you?" Stifling a giggle, the girl nodded and began to slide even closer to Kid when Robin plopped down in her lap. Apparently his idea of sitting next to her was to sit in her lap, but she didn't protest as he yawned and leaned back against her, a satisfied smile on his face. This had been what he wanted all along. Sitting next to Maka and Kid, who in turn were sitting next to each other, drinking hot chocolate (rather than tea), his cat lazily making its way towards him, purring all the while and sitting in front of a nice, warm fire. This was far better from anything he had at home.

"What the hell is your problem, Katsuo?" A man in loose trousers and heavily stained shirt growled as he neared a man with fiery hair and cold blue eyes. "They were ambushing us! And look where its gotten us, all of our women are gone and out men are pissed!" Katsuo's gaze was hard as he looked down at the rather short man, sizing him up as if he were an ape looking menacingly at a flea; but this gaze went unnoticed by the angered man, seeing as he continued his rant. "That's what we had the bitters caged for right? In case we were attacked? Why the hell did we just run like idiots while they left scot-free-" The man choked as a large knuckled hand shot out and wrapped itself around his neck, his thumb almost meeting his middle finger.

"I'm sorry, where you saying something, Jared? Let out our bitters you say? For mere pimple-covered brats? Really now, were you that intimidated by them? Of course I'm just as angry as you are, but waste all of what we've been working for? Tsk, tsk." He shook his spiky head, looking thoroughly disappointed in his subordinate. "That doesn't sound like a very good idea to me at all. Don't worry, we'll have our revenge." He let Jared's neck free unceremoniously and continued to speak over his sputtered coughing fits. "But only when the time is right. Think smarter, Jared." Katsuo's hand slipped in his pocket and retrieved a small pistol and engraved a bullet into the man's head with a simple shrug. "Not harder." The men watching over the scene stood in a stony silence, impassive expressions on their faces. They had seen this far too many times to count; a man would believe he was smarter than Katsuo and confront him without fail and end up with a bullet in their head. It was almost comical to watch the same thing replay over and over again, week after week. "Eric." Katsuo's voice broke the silence and the observing man looked over to his leader. "Feed the biters." He kicked Jared's lifeless, now bloody, mass. "You can have his position."

Yes, I'm still alive. Yes, I'm still writing.

Reviews~! (Dear lord there's a lot….)

Giraffe Overlord- I think I messaged you… But I live in Dallas, Tx. But Sam Houston is actually in Huntsville. But I can definitely try to read your stories… No guarantees for any time soon though, I've been uber busy.

BlackStormNomad- Oh yes, KiMa is freaking adorable!

Checkered Brooke- Hmmm… Maybe not particularly the battle you had in mind, but there might be a battle of sorts in the near future! And I think I might've shifted the mood a bit on this one as well.

Mikaela- So so sorry for the late updates! (I think I should just make this a disclaimer, seeing as I always say it…) And I think it was kind of funny how their 'little talk' went. XD

Shell-Kun- I get that a lot, I tend to make people thirst for the green tea. I consider it my greatest super power.

Hawkllama- Oh, Spirit. Creeping on one innocent fan girl at a time…

SecretFantacs- I do apologize :p

DeathTheKidsDinosaurRawr- Awww… Well that's no fun D: I'm curious as to how many you had to print out to get to that point XD

Khfan12- Drama there shall be.

Ringochan- Cookie highs are always the best. Right up there next to chocolate highs. And thank you! I've actually considered being a novelist on the side, but I ultimately enjoy art and animation. And thank you again! I actually took awhile planning out my OC's to make them fit in with the Soul Eater crew. *noms cookie*

Juvieyumi2500- *cue dramatic music* Jealous!Soul! And that is one talented puppy you have there!

Sancrumx- Thanks! And yes, I predict about 10 more chapters or so, but then I will move on to writing a new fic (which is already in the making)

Courage- I hope you came back to life again!

Maka Agius- Oh, I'll finish alright. I've come too far to stop.

- I think Robin is a bigger shipper than us all XD

GarGoyl- I don't know if that is a good thing or bad! XD but wouldn't that be interesting? I think if they were in a pub, it wouldn't be all that surprising… But I will say, I do have plans for what happened to Lord Death and Spirit.

Kiddmakalove- Sorry for the wait. I've been busy writing scholarship and college essays…

And all the rest were telling me to update so… Here ya go!