The next morning I woke up with slight bags under my eyes, since my sleeping habits seemed to worsen. I rolled over to see Soul was a lump in bed and I felt bad for my behavior, but I was tired and hurt, I no longer wanted to be in the same room with him for the rest of the day. I went to take a long shower as I put on a pair of black spandex shorts and a green tank top with a sports bra underneath. I ran down to the kitchen and made some waffles for everyone, Blackstar and Tsubaki quickly ate and went out to get more supplies, but Soul was taking forever to get up and I decided I would just deliver it to him. I set up a trey with some juice and a stack of waffles.

"Soul?"

I knocked on the door and slowly opened it to find him fast asleep in bed.

"Huhh, it never ends."

I walked over and found he was asleep on his chest, I smiled and sat on his rear, causing him to thrash about and turn so he faced me.

"Morning sleepy head."

I laughed as Soul blushed.

"What's all this? I thought you weren't interested?"

He wore a toothy grin across his lips.

"I'm not, it was the only way to get you up."

"Then feel free to wake me up every time like this."

Soul smirked up at me as I leaned down and let my nose touch his.

"Now, breakfast is ready."

I breathed, his lips quivering as I giggled and slid myself off as I moved towards his hips, a small growl emerging from his lips.

"That was rather . . . interesting."

Soul sat up as I put the trey on his lap.

"Ya, well don't get used to it."

I replied with a smart-ass tone.

"Thanks for the meal."

"Ya, just eat up and get some strength, I need to go check inventory. You just catch up on your rest and be a good boy and stay out of the way for the day."

"Hmm I'll try but I don't guarantee anything."

"Good enough for me."

I shrugged and walked off to the next room, but decided I'd go to the end of the hall and turned the news on to see what was happening. They were still talking about how Asura was approaching and that people should prepare for the worst and ought to head for the airport, but of course there was more breaking news about insane accidents on the freeway and people mauling each other for canned food. The world was turning to chaos and I felt uneasy about the whole ordeal. 1 wasn't too surprised that things would get pretty bad, but it was still daunting. How much longer will it take for Asura to find a way past that wall? Surely people weren't so naïve as to think that the wall was indestructible. I sighed and got up, getting the clipboard and going through the supplies, counting the amount, noting it down and checking that the numbers matched up. I was nearly done when I heard the door open.

"Yes?"

I wasn't too irritated but more focused.

"It's me sweet lips. Are you done yet?"

"No, I'm almost done with this room and I'm supposed to do all the supply rooms upstairs before Tsubaki and Blackstar get back, then tomorrow they check in the new supplies while we go out to get some workout type clothes.

"For what?"

"The apocalypse silly, clothes don't grow on trees."
"Ya, but you say it so calmly."
"Ya well, it was bound to happen sooner or later."
I honestly wasn't indifferent, I was just trying not to think about how exceedingly terrified I was. Not only at the fact that this was really happening but also that I was falling for this guy, hard.

"Oh I guess. I honestly think it's really cool of you to be so calm. But if you're just lying about how you really feel, then that's not cool at all. You know you can talk to me Maka, I can be an adult when you, and only you, need me to be."

His voice was honest and filled with the most dangerous poison: the truth. Strangely enough I did want to tell him how I felt, but how could I do it without telling him how I feel, along with crying in front of him.

"I'm done now."

I looked over my work and walked back to the table and put the clipboard down. I looked over at Soul and noticed he looked confused.

"Well? Do you want to go through with this therapy?"

I said as teasingly as possible, causing him to laugh and follow me to our room.

"I heard Blackstar made all the bedrooms soundproof."

Soul elbowed me, making me frown.

"Down lover boy, he had more on his mind that what your dirty teenage mind constantly obsesses over."

"Oh."

Soul chuckled and looked up at me again, his eyes beaming and curious.

"Huhh, it all started when I was five. Papa worked at the asylum and I would hear about the patients and I decided I'd be a doctor to help them. So school it was, I never hated my dad but I wasn't super close to him either. Ever since my mother died . . . it's just been the two of us and I'd keep to myself. Then I started working as a doctor's assistant at the same asylum he worked at and we kind of bonded, I'd been there for a few years and met you and some others. So when the whole mess with Asura was underway, I was scared I'd never see him again. But one night, when stage two had been inspected and just before stage three, we had a talk. He told me he loved me more than anyone in the entire world and he gave me a bear hug and a kiss. I returned the favor and told him that I loved him too. That was the last time I saw him, and then everything unfolded. I was hiding behind my desk as I saw the first victim being consumed in front of me. It was my father, he watched me the entire time, as to distract himself from Asura's feasting on him. I whispered words of love and encouragement, careful not to let sound escape as he mouthed he loved me too and that we'd meet up again."

I was crying, hysterically at that, he was there holding me and letting me cry into his strong chest. I avoided his bandage as he handed me a tissue.

"Thanks Soul."

I wiped my tears away, and lightly blew my nose. I could feel my eyes becoming puffy.

"That's what friends are for."

I looked up at him as he smiled down at me, those razor sharp teeth calling me in. I knew I liked him, from the first moment he opened his smart-ass mouth. I wanted to tell him how I felt it was one sided, he was just too much of a flirt to commit.

"I love you."

I whispered to myself as I muffled the sound in the sheets after I pulled away and rushed to the bathroom. I noticed that the tub was there to the right by the sink, then the toilet on my left and the shower on the back wall. It was a fairly large bathroom and I knew this was the only place I could go to escape. Soul got the hint and I heard him pick up the trey and go downstairs. I couldn't help but feel stupid for acting so childish, but I knew he'd never understand. I washed my face and felt much better after letting that little bit of pressure out, but it was revived after seeing Soul sitting on the bed, his eyes looking up at me and clearly filled with pain.

"What's wrong Soul?"

"I don't get you Albarn. One minute you tease me, you flirt with me, even kiss my back, you save my ass, confess that you feel guilty for your father's death, cry in my arms, look up at me with your Shinigami damned beautiful jade eyes and then you run away from me. You look at me like a meal, treat me sweetly then like shit, you look like you're hiding some dark secret, then scurry whenever I try to get close to you. What the hell!?"

He was clearly furious as he was standing, towering over me. Honestly, I would have rather faced Asura.

"I-I-I."

"You what? Because if one more second goes by and you think I'm playing along with this, then you're wrong damn it!"

He was shaking me now, not that I wasn't already trembling with fear once he started raising his voice the first time.

"Just talk to me Maka, or I'm going to go crazy."

He finally relaxed his grip, moving his hands to mine and cradling them.

"Please."

He begged me as he searched my eyes for an answer. I looked down, too ashamed of my behavior to respond. I felt his hands slip out and heard him walk away. I couldn't take it anymore.

"I love you!"

Hands fisted, voice shrieking, and body trembling. He turned faster than I could say it as I covered my mouth and ran for the bathroom and shut the door, quickly locking it and refusing to see him in such a state. I was hysterically crying again as Soul knocked on the door, clearly getting more and more irritated as I ignored him, I undressed and made a bath, hiding under the water.

"Maka, open up please."

Knock after knock, plea after plea, it was like that all night as I let myself become a prune and practically drowned myself for staying under for so long, until I was forced to come up for air. Suddenly, there was pounding and an angry voice that was trying to stay calm.

"Maka! Damn it! Open the go-"

I went under again as I knew he would either break the door open, hurt his arms, or hopefully give up. I finally drained the water and went to the shower to wash myself off with using only the amount of soap necessary and no more. My hair was cleaned and wrapped in a towel, I knew I'd have to wash clothes tomorrow and maybe make Soul go out for clothes, but I knew I wouldn't be so cruel as to make him go out alone, but I was cruel enough to admit my emotions and then suddenly lock him out before he even had a chance to speak.

"And you call yourself mature. Hu, bull shit, first you confuse the hell out of me and then you pull that love shit and lock me out! What do you want from me woman?"

I knew he must have gone to Blackstar for a screwdriver to take off the doorknob. I sighed and walked passed him to get fresh underwear and a long nightshirt.

"Fix the door please, then we'll talk."

"Fine! But quit walking away from me woman!"

"You call me woman one more time and you won't have to worry about me walking away from you anymore, I'll be gone faster than you can think up a dirty thought. Got it!?"

I had my index finger in his face along with my face rather close to his.

"Fuck now I know what they mean by tough love."

He rolled his eyes and fixed the door as I thanked him and walked passed him to change, until he grabbed my hand.

"Where the hell are you going?"

"I'm going to put clothes on idiot."

I looked at him and noticed his attention was not only drawn to the panties in my hand, but the small and tight towel around my small body.

"Oh, right."

"Perv."

He let me go and I was in and out before he could even sit down on the bed.

"Now, are you going to let me talk?"

I looked up at him and nodded.

"Thank Shinigami."

I nodded at him, signaling for him to speak; he took a deep breath and began his long lecture.

"Now, I'm sick and tired of your hormonal shenanigans, it's got to be black or white with me. Up or down, I don't do this in between shit. Got it? Well, I'm glad you confessed to me, but I'm not sure I want to be in a relationship with a hostile crazy, bipolar bitchy, flat chested twig."

He looked at me, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't totally offended and crushed.

"But, I would be totally interested in that sweet girl that saved my ass the other day. That same girl who tends to be sexy when I least expect it, and puts me in my place when I deserve it, do you think I can meet with her again sometime?"

He looked at me honestly but I wasn't smiling or laughing, I just sat there baffled.

He was like a sharp dagger that cut all the bull shit out and got the truth right out of you, no matter the fact that it may totally destroy what little relationship he has with the person and the fact that it burned like hell after he pulled it right out of your soul. Damn how much I loved him and that stupid look on his face after he knew he was right. Damn that cocky attitude he had whenever he knew I was secretly checking him out. Damn that sexy body of his that's covered by those thin and stupid ass excuse for boxers. Damn that hot and crazy pair of lazy red eyes he has and that mess he claims as his hair. DAMN SOUL EATER EVENS, AND I'LL BE DAMNED IF I DON'T MAKE HIM MINE BY THE END OF THE NIGHT! Now, what I did next I wasn't too proud of, but I was too damn tired to refuse my instincts anymore. I jumped on him, we landed on the bed, and I was straddling him, knees by his hips and pressing, groin to groin. I put pressure on his wrists and green met with red; our eyes were ablaze with fury, irritation, and just plain old sexual tension.

"You know what Soul? I'm tired. I'm tired of your shitty cocky attitude and your fucking hot body. I'm sorry I get crazy, it's just what happens when I'm under stress and when something's dangling in front of me that I can't have, I get a little pissy. Now, we can do this my way or the hard way. Which is it?"

"See, sexy when I least expect it."

Soul chuckled as I took that as, "my way". I sat up and began to unbutton the buttons at the top of my nightshirt as he worked on the bottom ones, since he was the only one in underwear. I let the silk fabric rest on my shoulders before I continued.

"There's one more thing I forgot to mention."

"What's that?"

"I just started birth control not too long ago."

"Not a problem, I have plenty of back up."

Soul smirked as he pulled a condom from some secret back compartment he had hidden in his boxers.

"See! You are a perv!"

"Are we gonna fuck or not?"
"At least say making love you little-"

"Shh, I'm sorry."

"Me too."

We smiled at each other and managed to get along long enough to kiss, first just a little peck, then tongues, saliva, nibbling, biting, and grinding. Bed rocking, hair pulling, cursing, names called, moaning, grunting, growling, rolling, tossing and turning, grinding, banging, thumping, and ecstasy reached. I lay in his arm with his hand resting on my lower back, almost reaching my backend. I was fast asleep as I felt his eyes looking me over and I swear I could feel him smile in conquest of the wild beast known as Maka Albarn.