Wah! TwT I'm so terribly sorry for being so terrible my little souls! Alas, here's the next installment of When Worlds Collide! Just so sorry it took so long, but I hope you enjoy!

It was cold; a terribly cool breeze sweeping around my body, the only thing sheltering me was a warm tree. But, trees don't breath… Snapping my eyes open quickly, I recalled the events of what was only a couple of hours. I tumbled forward when I noticed the red and black scythe was no longer present, no longer bounding me to… Soul. I scrambled on my hands and knees to put a few feet between me and the weapon before turning to look at him.

He looked dead; though, he clearly wasn't. Dark crimson eyes gazed at me dully, hooded under his blood stained hair. Most of the blood on him seemed to have dried, his wounds mostly clotted to prevent any more blood lost. Yet, he seemed paler out here and shivered visibly, a cold breath panting through his parted lips. He finally seemed to notice me as I stared at him in awe and fear; in awe that he survived everything from the town and in fear that he was seeking revenge, and a perfectly good target sat before him.

"Kill… me…" he wheezed out, closing his eyes as he leaned back into the rough wood of a tree, grimacing at the pressure.

"W-wha… What" I questioned, astonished at his sudden defeat.

"You're one of them… I'm too weak to go anywhere… Too weak to kill you… So you might as well finish me off…" My fingers twitched and I shivered, my mind and heart racing with adrenaline still. This weapon who was ready to survive, to live, is now begging to be killed? By me of all people?

"Your goddamn town is only a couple miles away…" He weakly waved his hand in the direction, and I looked surprised at it's closeness as I could make out the castle-like school building high above the tree line.

"I… I can't kill you…" He chortled and peered at me, looking almost amused if it weren't for the pain that was reflected with it.

"Of course you can… Isn't that what you were raised to do…? Isn't that why you attend that school or whatever?"

"H-How do you know I go to Death's Academy" I squealed in shock, sliding back till I stood up against a tree. He barely made a laugh before he choked on what I could only think to be blood, him spitting out the crimson liquid confirming it.

"God… I thought your people were suppose to be smart…" He allowed his eyes to slip closed again, pointing to his shirt to gesture to mine. Looking down, I felt my cheeks redden with embarrassment as I noticed the shirt I grabbed having the schools emblem dead center.

"I-I see..." I snapped my head up as he coughed harshly, slumping more against the tree till he slid down the rough bark. He gasped for what air he could get, shaking from the cold and unmeasureable pain I guessed. I felt the urge to help him though, despite his kind. Looking past the fact that his arm, or any limb really, could change into a scythe, he looked normal. He was a little different anyway, obviously having albinism in his blood and something else, because I think his teeth are naturally that sharp…

"Soul" I whispered, blushing at how easy the name rolled off my tongue. He ceased his coughing after a bit and slowly looked up at me, looking even frailer by the minute.

"You know my name…" he mumbled, blood trickling from the corner of his lip.

"Y-Yes…" He barely nodded with recognition.

"Mm… I want… to know yours." I chewed my lip, glancing away briefly. Would it be safe to share my name, my identity to him? I mean, here he is dying, but what if somehow they looked for me. Looking for revenge of another lost one, for the blood of someone who came from the other side of the wall. Yet, I looked back into his eyes, saddened as if he was pulling some kind of sick puppy dog face that twisted my stomach with guilt. I inhaled the crisp air, letting it out quickly with two syllables and a small puff of air.

"Maka…" He blinked once, and then twice before he smiled softly.

"Maka…" he breathed out with some effort, his chest rising and falling with each shuddering breath. "Do you hate me?" I was taken aback, not fully understanding his question, but I answered quickly and honestly for time sake.

"You know… I don't think I do." I stepped towards him cautiously, eyes flicking across his body to make sure nothing was going to morph suddenly and finish me.

"Ha… Well, I think you'd be the first…" He laughed soundlessly, but the look of relief washing over his features relaxed me. I frowned and kneeled beside him, pulling off my trench coat and draping it over his body carefully, still cautious about him, but one last time, I decided to reach out my soul to him. I prodded at his soul, this time not pushed away in the slightest, whether he noticed or not I'm not sure. But I felt it all; the fear, the open warmth that welcomed the touch of another person, the sadness of leaving the world so young, and other mixed feelings that were too much to read.

"Don't' say that. You… You must have a family, or friends, that love and care for-"

"I'm alone." I gulped down a painful lump in my throat, not knowing what to say. I don't exactly have a family myself, but friends I've always had and counted them as my family. I've always had cared ones around that honestly care and love me, despite tendencies I may have. But this boy, he couldn't really be… "I've always been alone… So, I'm sure no one would care if I left this world."

"Don't say that!" A look of surprised flashed danced across his features, especially as I took his cold hand in my own, suddenly realizing how warm I was compared to him. "Someone, somewhere, cares about you, I'm sure! You just don't know…" He looked at me silently before smiling slightly, his eyes closing once more.

"Mm… I'd like to meet that person…" Slowly, I felt his soul grow smaller and frantically, I ushered his name. I touched his cheek lightly, trying to wake him up with no avail. Even tapping his cheek with a bit of force, he didn't wake. His breathing seemed labored and even though my coat was draped over him, it didn't seem enough as his skin grew icy. I sat back and looked at him, realizing something; why do I care? This weapon, a being I knew to be evil and disgusting, who pulled me away from my home that even threatened to kill me. Yet, I wanted to save him? To trust in him and for him to trust in me felt like what I wanted. I've dreamed about being outside our wall, about seeing a weapon, but to be this close…

A heavy cough snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked down at Soul, worried as he still seemed to struggle. Without any kind of attention, it was obvious he wouldn't make it. I couldn't possibly bring him back into town; he'd be killed and dissected, especially by our own school doctor Stein (whom I don't think is a certified doctor entirely…) There are absolutely no other towns nearby that I'm aware of, plus I don't think I would be able to get him to another one in time to help. I mean, just where were we?!

I stood up quickly and my eyes darted around, taking in our surroundings. We were in the forest outside of Shibusen, what looked to be on the east side of town. Currently, we were on a flat patch of land, but looking further east, the land seemed to slope downwards. From what I can recall from lessons, the sea touched the land southeast of Shibusen. Out west was a small patch of trees that was considered a forest before it gradually becomes more and more barren; the land a hot desert by day. Drawing blank, I couldn't remember what was up North, but that would just have to stay unknown for now. Soul needed the attention now.

Mustering up my strength, I gently lifted and pulled Soul onto my back, his arms dangling limply from my shoulders in front of me. His breaths still felt hot as they puffed against my cheek, but I knew that was his body trying to keep his core as warm as possible. I decided to continue East, moving as quickly as possible. The slope wasn't steep, but the land started to change. Rocks of all sizes appeared more frequently and a thin fog ghosted through the air, but still enough to see and make out objects.

Only after a few minutes did I walk my way up to the bottom of a cliffside, the rocky wall reaching up high into the denser fog above. I sighed and shivered, the cold getting to me more and more as I licked my chapped lips in effort to moisten them. Knowing I'd reach the sea if I headed south along the Cliffside, I instead decided to head north beside it. Ignoring the protest from my body, I came across a cavern in the side of the rocks, only about 10 feet deep and 3 feet wide I guessed.

"Time to put my wits to test" I thought, walking in the dark and setting Soul down, checking his pulse and breathing. I shook my head, the sound and feel not getting any better. Heading back out only a few feet away, I gathered grass, sticks, and stones. Returning back inside, I quickly pulled together a pit and ignited the small sticks that laid inside. I blew on the small ember, hoping it would grow bigger soon. The collected grass I nestled beneath Soul's head, my trench coat upon him again. I huddled close to him, staring at the pit as I waited for the fire to blossom. Once the large flame was crackling and snapping at me, I fed it a few more sticks, relishing in the warmth it provided in the small cave, the nipping cold unable to reach us.

"Ma…Ka…" I looked down at Soul, his lips moving lightly with incoherent words. He looked, well, better? I mean, he was looking less pale, but I couldn't tell if it was because of the orange flicker of the flames that casted a reflection and shadow across his face. He seemed to pant less though too, the rise and fall of his chest shuddering less with each breath it seemed. Scooting over closer to him, I reached out to his soul once more, feeling a sense of relief as it seemed to have calmed down considerably; a sense of fear no longer in its presence.

Yet, reaching into my soul, it was evident that I still had that sense. I mean, I was treating a weapon. In the books, that was forbidden; against the law, a rule breaker. Treating, let alone helping, a weapon would result in a crime; and with every crime, there's a punishment. There's never been a record of someone helping in any type of way before, not that I have ever heard or read. Would I be the first? Would I be the first traitor to my people, to my teachers, to my friends?

Speaking of friends, do they know? Kid was there in the room before I was magically teleported with this albino, so he must know that I was "captured." But, there was Black Star too, and whether or not he knows or will know, I'm not sure. Will they come to find me if they do? Did Stein or Death send out an angry mob out to find me, or did they presume that I was dead right off the bat as soon as I vanished out of the room?

Soul grumbled something low, his eyebrows scrunching up slightly in concern and to my surprise, I felt something warm brush past my soul. Immediately, I finally noticed that my frantic thoughts mirrored in my soul, and it seemed that Soul's soul had brushed past my own in an attempt to soothe my own. Warmth spread out from my soul through my body, sending chills to dance across my skin. It was oddly relaxing, his soul brushing against mine in gentle waves that eased my own.

His expression seemed to fade away into peacefulness, slumber taking over his exhausted body and soul; thus, the waves smoothed out and the chills hid away. I marveled for a moment as I tossed a few more twigs into the hungry flames, staring into the flickering light as I thought to myself. He opened his soul up to me? A weapon to a meister opened something usually so guarded? I certainly thought now he must've done it unintentionally, a soul usually unguarded when in slumber or if passed out. It makes it easier to pass their mental barrier and peer into their soul, as meisters were taught; only a strong soul would be able to put up some form of a barrier from wandering eyes.

I yawned, my adrenalin gone and exhaustion replacing it. My eye lids drooped I noticed time to time, the warmth of the fire calming me. I occasionally glanced over at Soul, but he didn't even budge since earlier. I relaxed back, sliding against the rocks till I found a comfortable position for my back and head. Crossing my arms over my chest, I stared at the fire till orange was replaced with black, sleep consuming me for the night.

Chirp, chirp, chirp…

"Mmm..." I hummed, aware of the softest sounds around me.

Chirp, chirp, chirp…

I slowly slide my eyelids open, squinting at the casted sunlight from the entrance of the cave. My body felt sore and tired, my mouth slapping dry as I let out a noisy yawn. Tears prickled at my eyes and I rubbed them, sitting up more and away from the rocky pillow I slept against. I slowly looked around the cave, aware that the fire had burnt out during the night probably and that…

"Soul" I questioned frantically while looking down at the empty nest beside me. Standing up quickly, I called his name again and tried to ignore the anxiety that crept into my soul. Not in that he left me out in the wilderness (although just thinking about that now is kinda making it worse too), but that he could be waiting to kill me. Hearing no answer, I looked at the entrance with my eyes at the ground, looking for any type of shadow. I listened silently, only the chirping of birds calling to one another. Summoning up the courage I had, I dashed out of the cave and glanced back over my shoulder, not seeing him waiting. I continued to run, looking around me agitated as I imagined him popping out of the bushes and slicing me into little Maka bits.

I didn't run for long before I couldn't run any longer, my route leading me to a wide river. Sliding to a stop, I heaved breaths and looked upriver; only to see nothing. However, when I turned my head down river, I saw him. He was hutched over, furiously washing something in the river as he stared it down in concentration. So much concentration, I don't think he noticed me rushing out… I could escape? Not that he was necessarily holding me hostage or anything, but he was a weapon. I could walk away quietly and get back to the guarded wall of my home, with my friends once more. In my cozy apartment with all my books, my bed, my food; everything I worked for.

Yet, my body seemed to move on its own again; one foot in front of the other as they lead towards the white-haired boy. He didn't look up, not even when I was a mere five feet from him. Clearing my dry throat, I then called his name softly. He jumped, startled as he fell back from his crouch onto his butt. His eyes went wide, looking up at me in surprise. I blushed, the expression so innocent despite the red pigment; somehow what I found to be quite alluring.

"M-Morning" he stuttered, licking his lips as if to moisten them; I hope…

"Morning…" I replied slowly, not knowing what to say or how to respond in the slightest! He seemed to catch wind and set his eyes downcast to what I then realized was my coat. I opened my mouth to reply, but he cut me off unintentionally.

"I'm washing your jacket… May not be able to see it, but I got my blood all over it." He set to scrubbing it again, red particles seeping into the river water. I frowned, my eyes glancing over his overall appearance. His back was covered in a crackling crimson with patches of dirt, his tattered pants in no better condition. His hair was stained slightly pink in some parts and was a cloudy gray. Scrapes and scratches covered his body here and there, the dried blood clotted up.

"How are you feeling" I asked, worried slightly. The side of his lip curled up into a smirk as he continued.

"I'm fine… I'm surprised you're so concerned about a weapon."

"I'm surprised you are a weapon." That caught his attention as he looked up at me confused, tilting his head off to one side.

"Surprised? Really?" I nodded and he scoffed heartily, pulling out my jacket and ringing it out in a tight coil above the water. "God, look at me Maka. Do I look like a normal boy to you?" I bit my lip and looked him over once again as I thought about it. Ivory hair and crimson eyes, such unnatural colors combined with tanned skin and a set of sharp pearly whites that just scream out "I'm going to eat you!"

"I suppose not..." He nodded in approval and stood, shaking out my jacket. Only now did I notice he must've been around 5'9, my own height being 5'5.

"Exactly." He handed me back my clothing, smirking slightly, but something behind it just being off. I gently took it from him, careful not to touch his hand. He must've noticed as he quickly let go once I had hold, a wounded look showing through his eyes. He then looked away and stuffed his hands into his pants pockets (or whatever was left of them.)

"Sorry they're wet now" he started off, still not looking at me. "But I just didn't want to you going home with a bloody jacket…"

"Home" I thought to myself, the word sounding so appealing. Home is what I wanted, what I felt that I wanted at that instance. Yet, looking down at this weapon, Soul, I felt another pull. That same feeling I had when an unread book is settled down on my coffee table, begging me to hold it in my hands and revel in it's contents.

"You better head back now. Daylight will set in a couple hours and I'm sure it'll take you about an hour just to reach the wall." He turned from me, his wounded back facing me as he slowly started to move away, a slight stagger in his frame. I watched him only for a moment before I called his name again and he stopped, looking back at me. I held the wet coat to my chest, frowning at his disheveled appearance and his drained expression as he peered at me curiously.

"You're a weapon, right" I stammered out, Soul looking a little hurt at the title.

"Yes, I am. Why do you ask" he wondered, turning partially to face me again, but with more distance between us than before.

"You didn't hurt me; didn't kill me" I rushed out, walking up to him. He stepped back out of caution, but his hands remained in his worn pockets. "You know, I'm a meister." Well, that caught his attention. His eyes widened to saucers as he quickly shuffled back, drawing his hands up protectively. His expression soon turned sour, menacing with the baring of his teeth and the small growl he seemed to slip out.

"You're a meister… I should've known better" he snapped out, looking over my body, his stare making me self-conscious of my looks. "You've been waiting for me to be up so you can just drag me back to that hell-hole of yours. Well, sorry to break it to ya sweetheart, but there's no way in hell that you'll be taking me back." I stood silent; astonished. He thought I was going to take him out and back to Death City with me. While in my own mind, I thought he was going to do the same to me!

"Why would I do that" I asked softly, careful to not let my own temper arise. He seemed to find the question amusing, as he laughed low, giving a shit-eating grin.

"Stop playing dumb; I know your kind. We've been taught how you meisters work, tampering and torturing with souls to get inside our minds. I hate to break it took ya, but in this mind, you can't break my walls." He pointed to his cranium, a cocky smirk covering any kind of fear.

"Well, I hate to break it to you too, but we don't go 'tampering and torturing' with souls. And we know your kind too! Morphing into partial weapons and slaying anything that moves just to… to consume its soul" I spat back, no longer holding back. His expression turned fiercer, stepping towards me in a dominant manner, but I didn't back down; instead, stepping up literally to meet the challenge.

"Don't lie to me you flat-chested girl! You meisters slay us left and right-"

"Why the hell are you bringing my boobs into this!? Why did you even notice, you perverted idiot!"

"Perverted?! I'm just noticing the obvious facts-"

"Do you even hear yourself? Or are you just that old?!"

"My hair is naturally white, thank you very much! And I don't need styling tips from the four year old!"

"F-Four year old?!"

"Yeah! Only four year olds wear pigtails!" He gently tugged up my pigtail for emphasis, but oh no- He was not going to get away with this.

"I don't wanna hear about it old man shark! Did you glue in your dentures permanently with teeth like this?!" I hooked my finger into his cheek, pulling on it to expose the gnarly teeth, it vibrating as he growled in frustration.

"It's awl damm nwatuwal" he snarled out, jerking his face away to unhook my finger. I then smacked his hand off my pigtail, satisfied only in the slightest as he yelped in pain. He rubbed the back of his hand to soothe it, glaring at me from the side irritably. I glowered at him before realization struck me that I touched the weapon; well, shoved my finger in his mouth more or less, but beside the point! He also seemed to realize that he had touched me too, a nervous look crossing his face. We were silent again, unsure of what to say. I bit my lip nervously, unable to bare the silence and just had to break it.

"So… the hair, the eyes, the teeth…?" Soul quickly caught on and slid his hands back into his pockets.

"It's… natural; all in the genes and shit" he said, kicking a rock into the river.

"Albinism" I questioned, Soul replying with a shrug.

"Don't know. I just assume so."

"What about asking your family?" Suddenly, a thick atmosphere swallowed us, Soul's stance ridged for just an instance, but what felt like an eternity for me.

"I'd rather not talk about my personal life; especially with you." I felt pain in my soul, hurt that he wouldn't want to talk to me. Yet, I just met this boy; this weapon of all things! A weapon, who feared me as much as I feared him; something was wrong. Both of us couldn't be right, but neither of us were wrong, right?

"Sorry" he breathed out, sighing with his eyes closed.

"It's fine, I understand." He then looked over at me, then to the sky.

"You better get going; you've only got just the hour till the sun sets. Some scary shit out here at night." And he was right. Roaming for food were wild animals, beasts of folklore, and kishins; deadly, soul-sucking kishins. "I'll just say this once, but thanks. What you did for me last night probably saved me. I don't remember much, but only woke with your jacket on me with you by my side." A warm feeling spread through my core at his words and I tried my best to hide the heat the radiated through my body.

"It's no problem, really… I couldn't just let you die…"

"But you very well could've." We both looked at each other, a deep understanding passing through us. "You knew I was a weapon, yet you saved my life; and for that, I owe you mine."

"Soul, I… I can't go home; not yet." He looked surprised again, as well as confused.

"What do you mean you can't go home yet?" He stepped back again in caution, but I waved my hands reassuridly.

"It's nothing like killing you, it's…" I trailed off, racking my brain for the right words, the right phrase. Soul just stood there quietly, looking inquisitively at me. After a moment, I think I found the right words…

"I want to stay with you."

So I super duper promise that I'll be updating more frequently (I hope...) Real life had just gripped me and pulled me away from my darling laptop! (How dare it; the cruelty!) I hope you enjoyed this chapter and review! Thanks so much my little souls!

~soulfullySoulful

P.S. Love to hear story prompts, if you have any ideas. Ow^ Just shoot me a message!