Ten months later.
Soul opened his eyes in an almost robotic way. Another nightmare.
He looked at his nightstand, checking the time. Three am. It was too early to get up and ready for school. But Soul, knowing he couldn't get to sleep anymore, got up and dressed.
He half expected/half hoped Maka would come to his room to check on him but she didn't.
She couldn't. There wasn't a Maka anymore.
When the helicopters had come to the battlefield to pick the team up, they immediately took Maka to the hospital. She'd been in surgery for three hours before Soul and the others received the news.
Maka had died of her injuries. The witch had escaped. Everything had been for nought.
They lost their dear friend for nothing.
Soul had been so angry that he almost threw himself at the surgeon, had it not been for Black*Star and Kid. Liz had gone into a state of hysteria, saying that it was impossible. That they made a mistake and that Maka would be waiting for them in one of the hundred hospital rooms. She'd even ran off to look for her.
Patti had gone into a corner, rocking her small body back and forth, whispering, "This is not happening," over and over. And Black*Star, he'd been beyond angry. He wanted to go after the witch that had caused them this pain but Tsubaki had stopped him.
In fact, Tsubaki and Kid were the only ones that seemed to keep it all together. Kid had had an icy calmness on him as he talked with the surgeon and Tsubaki had been busy talking sense into Black*Star.
And then came the mourning process. Shinigami had given the team some time off to cope with the loss. Spirit and Soul had taken the task of her funeral on their shoulders. Not even three weeks after the battle they had set a funeral up. Soul was shell shocked when he saw all the people coming up to attend the service. Nearly half Death City wanted to pay their respects for the loss of the young meister.
Words were said, tears were shed, music was played. Soul felt his heart crack when he heard Maka's favorite song play over the stereo. A sweet piano lullaby.
Even back then he refused to accept that his partner, his friend, his soulmate, was gone. But the realization had hit him like a ton of bricks when he stood by her gravestone, alone. And he'd cried and cursed and slammed his fist on the ground.
Tsubaki was the one who found him, tired and angry and sad.
"Soul," Tsubaki gasped when she found the weapon kneeled down at the fresh grave.
"I can't leave Tsubaki." Soul said back. His voice strained. "I can't leave her here alone."
And instead of trying to convince him to come with her, Tsubaki stood beside him. "I'm so sorry Soul," she whispered. "I – we all loved her so much. And we'll all miss her so much."
Soul shook his head. "I never got to tell her how much she meant to me. That I loved her."
Tsubaki smiled a little at him, though it was a sad smile. "She knew that you loved her, Soul. And she loved you back in equal passion. You never knew but she talked all the time about you. You meant the world to her."
Soul didn't know – and still doesn't know – if the words brought him comfort or dread. He walked the kitchen in and made some breakfast for himself.
Those little things, making food, watching TV, doing the laundry, pained him. For he knew there wouldn't be soft humming when Maka would make food, or playful argument when Soul would watch a game while she wanted to watch some lame documentary, of Soul wouldn't find her laundry between his in the hamper.
Soul felt his appetite leave his body but he forced himself to eat. He had to keep his shit together. Maka would've never forgiven him if he let himself fall into the depression. So he ate his cereals and did the dishes. Then he walked past the living room, to Maka's room. He always did this whenever he woke up from a nightmare. He needed his meister's comfort.
Her room was still as neat as ever. Desk cleared up, books placed neatly on the shelves, papers stored in a folder. Soul walked over to the bookcase and scanned the titles.
Mostly heavy reads about technicians and weapons. Techniques, history, whatever not. But there was also novels. Soul picked one up and flipped through it.
He noticed how there were small pencil written words around the margins. Soul sat down on Maka's bed and started to read. Not the story – he couldn't give shit about the story – but the little notes Maka had written. Small theories, things that stood out for her. It was like Soul had a little peak in what used to go inside his meister's head whenever she was reading.
His thoughts got disrupted when he felt his cellphone buzz in his pocket. To his surprise it was Black*Star. 'Have a lead on the witch. You in or not?'
Soul frowned. Black*Star had started a hunt on the witch who got away. It was almost unhealthy how he determined he was to find her. But Soul wanted revenge just as bad as Black*Star so whenever the ninja found a lead, he notified Soul.
Soul texted him back, saying he'd be at his place in a few minutes before turning back to the book. After giving it one last look he put it back on the shelve and left the room. He grabbed his jacket and left the apartment.
When he reached Black*Star and Tsubaki's apartment the door was already open. Soul found the young ninja sitting on the ground. Papers surrounded him and there was a laptop on his lap.
"How long have you stayed up?" Soul asked.
"Haven't slept."
Soul raised a brow. "Does Tsubaki know?"
Black*Star shook his head. "She went early to bed. Said I wouldn't stay up too long."
"Looks like you kept that promise," Soul said sarcastically.
That caught Black*Star's attention. He looked over at the weapon with a frown. "I heard something about the witch. Wanted to see if it was right."
"What did you hear?"
"They say Maka did more to the witch than just give her a nasty beat up," - Soul flinched a little at his meister's name - "With her last attack she was able to make a crack in the witch's soul. A small part of her Grigori Soul was taken with the blow and is now making its way in the witch. People say she's starting to fall apart."
Soul's eyes were big in disbelieve. She had been able to put a piece of her soul in the witch?
"Those are rumors but still... it's better than nothing." Black*Star mumbled somberly.
"Any idea where she is now?" Soul wanted to know. Unfortunately the ninja shook his head.
"Tried to find her but it's like she's wiped off of the earth." Of course, the witch was hiding out.
She was becoming vulnerable.
"We have to find her!" Soul said, suddenly determined.
"What?"
"She's becoming weak! We can probably kill her if we find her!"
"Soul, even if we find her, we can't be sure that she is weaker. Like I said, they're all rumors." Black*Star protested.
"Guys," Tsubaki's voice stopped Soul from firing back at the blue haired boy. They both turned and found Tsubaki standing in the doorway, a worried frown set between her brows. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing Tsu, go back to bed," Black*Star said. He didn't want his meister to know about the rumor. It could give her false hope. It already did for Soul and he wanted to save the girl from the pain.
"Sure?" Tsubaki asked, still worried.
The boys nodded. "I'll wake you when we have to get ready for school," Black*Star promised.
After a nod from the girl, she left for her bedroom.
"Black*Star, I have to think like the rumors are right. I have to find that witch and kill her. I owe it to Maka." Soul mumbled.
"How will you do that?" Black*Star asked. "You have no meister."
"I'll use the black blood. I'll figure something out. All I know is that I can't let her get away."
Black*Star saw the pain and desperation in his friend's eyes. The loss of Maka had hit the whole team but Soul had it the worst. He lost his meister and closest friend. Black*Star couldn't imagine Tsubaki leaving his side. It would hurt like a bitch. He'd do anything to make things right. So he knew he had to support Soul in this. "I'll help," he promised.