Aaaaaaaaaaaand we're back with the second last chapter. Hope you guys have enjoyed so far! I really appreciate the support, especially considering that this piece really took a while to write. It hit many roadblocks, some of which were writing related but most of which were very heavily life related. It's easy to write up small fics but so much harder to write a chapter for an on going story, especially since I was conscious of the world I'd previously developed as well as the future of the story. Ah well.

Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater

Chapter 7: Nothing Left To Fix, Is There?

There was a saying when Soul was a page that he had heard many times. The man he had learned it from was someone he had been shadowing for months. He had been old and quick with long gray hair and a voice that came out sharply. There had been rumours around the castle that he had killed his wife thinking she was a thief raiding their belongings. However, the longer Soul stayed with him, the more he believed the old knight was incapable of killing anyone. The maids who attended to him had said he was sick in both the mind and the heart, and that it was King Dupre's pity that allowed him to live so long.

A sickness in the heart that ate away at the soul and corrupted any feelings of happiness he could have come to know. Yes, Soul could understand that feeling more now. He understood it far more than he thought possible. The dull ache in his chest hadn't dissipated at all while the one in his arm had left him entirely. Kim deemed him ready to go.

The sun hung low in the sky. The last rays of light illuminated the courtyard like amber torches and the maidens all fluttered around, eager for the party that was to be had. Jacqueline and Soul would be departing for their kingdom the following morning. Their final night would be filled with music and dancing and food to celebrate her return to her kingdom. The girls did mourn, and Kim guessed that they'd all be crying later that night, but they were also excited to move forward. All the girls dreamed of freedom and, as it happened, Jacqueline was not the only girl preparing to go free that week. Another young maiden, a girl named Meme, had been cursed as a child with a case of sleepwalking. She had never been able to break the curse, which stated that she had to stay in bed for a full night. No matter what kind of restrictions she tried to give herself the night before, she would break free and roam the halls of her home unconsciously. The previous night, Meme, alongside Tsugumi and a young, blonde princess named Anya had attempted to hold her down as she slept. Their combined efforts, as well as something else they would not name, had successfully kept Meme in her bed for the entire night. The curse was lifted, and she would soon be able to leave the confines of the labyrinth and return home.

The mix of celebration and sorrow that the group expressed was something Soul could empathize with, but he tried not to. Instead, he worked dutifully to help hang decorations and set up tables for the maidens to eat. He assisted Tsubaki in the kitchen area and worked with Jacqueline in packing rations and spare dresses that had been sewn during her curse. Jacqueline expressed her mixed feelings about leaving and Soul tried to hold himself back from doing the same. After his conversation with Maka, he had vowed not to speak about his feelings to anyone. If he wanted to keep himself calm and level-headed for Jacqueline, he would have to make sure his emotions didn't play as heavy as a role.

If the others noticed his somberness then they didn't mention it. They all worked together, preparing for the feast. Maka worked alongside them, but spared Soul no extra act of kindness. When she'd greeted him, he'd offered her a curt nod and a question as to what needed to be done. It wasn't kind, and was more cold than anything. She'd almost flinched back at the attitude and Soul had been careful not to let on how much just seeing her strengthened the ache in his chest.

A sickness in the soul. Like a disease.

"Soul, could you help me with this?" Soul moved over to where Kim was trying to pull two chairs apart. "They've been stuck for years since we have never needed them."

"Are they special?"

"Um," Kim took one side while Soul took hold of the legs, "they were carved in preparation for feasts like this to celebrate the release of a maiden. It was Maka's idea. To give us something to do, you know?"

He hummed his understanding and tugged hard on the chairs. They separated with a crack, and though nothing was broken, he made sure to check the legs and ensure its stability. When he stood, Kim was looking at him curiously. For half a moment, he thought she could see how upset he was, until she said, "You've definitely gotten most of your strength back. I think that you will be able to protect Jacqueline properly."

"I should hope so."

"So would I," she said. "You are seventeen with a life ahead of you. It would be a shame to waste it without reward money."

"I-"

She waved him off. "Jacqueline told me how you're intending to move to the seaside once you deliver her home. After today's feast, we may not be as coherent as you once you both leave, so I would like to say thank you." Soul was quiet and she continued. "Jacqueline's been wanting to go home for a long time. She never really gave up. But you kept going. You came for her. She'll be able to go home and see her family and live the princess life she's deserved. I tried to see if the tapestry in the meeting room would give us a clue as to what would happen since it not only records what has been but, sometimes, will hint to what will be. I didn't see anything, but I- we'll miss her a lot, no matter what happens."

"Kim, someone may come for you yet," he said with uncharacteristic optimism. "There are more knights than quests in the world. It is not the end for you. You might see her again."

"Even if we were both rescued, we wouldn't remember each other. It would be useless."

"I…" Soul swallowed. "I'm sorry."

"There is nothing you could have done. There's nothing you could do." She shrugged. "This is the nature of the curse, but that doesn't mean we have to give up hope entirely. If you keep your memory, it'd be great if you directed a hoard of knights to my tower," she winked playfully, but he could tell that there was something underlying the joke. They talked a bit as they set up the courtyard. Kim told him what she recalled of her kingdom: its name, beauty and power. She told him about the festivals they used to hold and how her beauty had enchanted many knights. He listened patiently, trying not to think too much of Maka.

When they parted, he made his way over to one of the shady trees and took a seat. The eternal summer of the courtyard was as beautiful as it was the first day he laid eyes on it. Nothing about it had changed, and yet the golden quality of it didn't fill him with quite the same awe. Instead, it was an old, green longing that filled him now, something that he couldn't shut up. Before him, the party came to life in increments. From relieved maidens to young girls who got up to dance, to eating food around the courtyard as the sun began to wane. Some of the girls picked up handmade instruments, horse haired harps and wooden lutes, and set to playing blitheful tunes and enchanting melodies. It was soothing. It was light and fun somehow too.

For some reason, Soul found that he didn't really want to leave.

Jacqueline took a seat next to him in relative silence. She handed him a platter of food and a glass of mead that he took with a murmur of thanks. Together, they sat and watched as the other girls enjoy the feast. Soul could see Maka and Tsugumi hanging up lanterns around the courtyard and had to tear his eyes away for fear of displaying too much attention towards the way the lights made Maka's hair shine and her skin glow like the soft sun above.

"You should eat," she said softly. "This is the best food we'll be getting until we arrive at my father's kingdom."

"I suppose you're right."

"We have enough dried fruit and water to last us," Jacqueline continued, her eyes fixed somewhere in the crowd of maidens. "It'll be a long journey."

"I will try to make it as short as possible, princess."

"Thank you, Soul," she said. "I appreciate it." They slipped back into silence as they ate together. The air grew a fraction chillier, and the moon had been drawn out into the sky before she spoke again. "I know you are unhappy," she said. Soul didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. Jacqueline seemed to know anyway. "I can't imagine that this is easy for you. Leaving the people you love behind is hard. I'm going to forget this place. I know it. Ever since you got here, I've had this feeling in the back of my mind telling me that I'm missing something. Have you ever gotten that feeling?"

Besides the gaping hole where his heart should be? "No, I have not."

"It's a bit frightening," Jacqueline admitted. "I should be excited to go, to return home, but there are people I don't want to forget. I refuse to do so, but I also know that the likelihood of seeing these maidens again is near impossible. It's almost better that I forget, so that even if I lose these precious memories, at least I won't recall enough to feel the pain of losing them." She lowered her plate onto the grass and leaned back against the tree. "Do you think it's selfish for me to want to lose my memory just so I don't have to hurt? Just knowing that I'll be gone, who I'll be leaving," she fisted the front of her dress in a rare show of frustration, "I don't know what to do anymore."

"Lady Jacqueline…"

"You've done so much for me, Soul. When I forget, and if you should remember, these precious memories will be in your hand. Maybe it'll be better to forget them, and maybe it won't. You could always choose to tell me."

Soul frowned. "But would you want me to?"

"I don't know." She let out a shaky sigh and looked away from the girls that had taken to dancing in the center of the courtyard. He downed his mead and sat quietly next to her as she sniffled, swiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. The girls danced the night away. They laughed and cried and cheered and sang songs well into the night. Soul half-thought that Jacqueline had fallen asleep next to him when she tugged on his sleeve. His eyes fell upon her face, a bit puffy but still smooth.

"Are you feeling any better?"

She just stared at him, dark eyes reflecting the light from the lanterns that Maka had hung up. "I know you're in love with her," she said suddenly, and Soul tried not to blush too obviously. "We all knew you were. She does too, I think." Jacqueline watched him carefully. "I also think it scares her."

"She's scared of a lot more things than I would have thought."

"She is human, too," reminded Jacqueline before sobering. "Her apprehension is warranted although not welcome," she admitted, "but it must be said that she is more in love with you than you think."

"In love with me?" he barked out a laugh that only hurt his throat. "Seems a bit unlikely to me, princess."

"On the contrary, Soul, it is more likely than you think. If she didn't care about you half as much as she did, she would not have bothered attempting to distance herself from you."

"You say attempt as if she is not trying to stay away from me."

"It is an attempt if she is still here, if she is still close to you, if she still watches every move you make with regret and wistfulness marked in her very posture." Without meaning to, Soul looked up and was able to find Maka's dress with ease. It was a white, soft and light against her skin. Many of the girls wore white for the celebration, but Maka looked near heavenly in it. Her head was turned away from him, but she was dancing by the outskirts of the group. He watched, amazed, as she danced a bit, and upon a turn her eyes flicked towards his face. She ducked away almost immediately and Soul did not doubt that she was embarrassed at being caught. "She cares for you, Soul. She cares for you in a way she could never care for us. The affection, the attention and the love that she no doubt feels towards you cannot go unrecognized."

Soul sighed. Denial with these maidens rarely went unchecked. "Perhaps I do care for her, and perhaps she feels… fond of me. But she has been clear that she wishes not to pursue me in that way. She doesn't desire what I desire with her."

"What is with you and denial?" she asked, her frown like a fixture on her face. "Maka is in love with you. If you confront her with that knowledge, she can't deny it."

"She's denied it before," he muttered sourly.

"That's because you didn't approach her directly about it," said Lady Jacqueline. "Just try to speak with her. Alone. Just the two of you. The darkness will bring out her honesty and the mead will bring out her courage, just what you need on a night like tonight."

"And you, princess?"

"What of me?"

"Will you be using the night to your advantage?"

"Certainly. Before I leave, there are a few things I need to… discuss with Kim. Now if you will excuse me." He dipped his head down and watched as the flushing princess stood.

"I wish you luck."

"And the same to you," said Jacqueline. "It's our last night here. We ought to make it count."

She disappeared into the crowd of dancing girls and Soul sighed. The smooth swirl of mead in his cup did nothing to calm him and the sweetest on his tongue that lingered left him unsatiated. His princess had recommended that he speak with Maka. Perhaps he was being childish in avoiding her. She had implied that while she did not want them to progress romantically, it did not mean she did not want to maintain his friendship. It was as she said; he was honour bound to respect her wishes. Even if she was not a princess, he would have conceded and left her in order to lick his wounds and move forward.

Only, Soul didn't think that was an option. He had only ever been able to leave past loves behind he'd knowingly done all he could to keep it alive. But there were many things he hadn't told Maka and he feared that perhaps she did not know as much about his feelings as he would like. He was private person, true, but this feeling that had started whenever he so much as thought of her was something that rippled under his skin and wanted to be free. It wanted to be known, be voiced, be understood. It wanted to be acknowledged as true and genuine.

And Soul couldn't do that if he refused to spend his last night alone.

He stood, slowly because he already felt a bit uneasy with the addition of the alcohol, and almost instantly there were a few maidens at his side. "Soul," they cooed, "Knight Soul, it is your last night here. You should spend it with us."

He smiled at their enthusiasm. "I'm afraid I can't. I need to speak with someone."

"But-"

"I must go. Excuse me."

If Jacqueline was right… Soul swallowed thickly. If Lady Jacqueline was correct, and Maka really did care for him, would it be wrong to tell her how he cared for her? If he let the depth of his affection be known, would she push him aside again? If that was what she wanted then he would pull himself away forever, he knew. He would never mention it again to any living soul. But her cowardice and his own haunted his mind and Soul trudged forward. He refused to live with this sickness inside him. Maka had shown him so much courage over the weeks that he had been there. Her first act of fear was nothing compared to the strength she held to keep living. If he had been in her position, he would not be able to have her composure. He might of taken his own life as well.

But she survived. She persevered. And so would he.

He was back in the infirmary when she found him. His sword was attached to his belt for courage although he felt like that was mostly inside of him. It reminded him, moreover, of his mission. He was sent to deliver Jacqueline home. He had no mission other than to his own heart on the very last day of his stay. She held a candle, just as she had weeks ago, and the light made the white of her gown glow. She had her hood on, but her ashy bangs peeked out from beneath the hood and her eyes.

I'm in love with her, he thought in awe and the knowledge plunked down his throat and landed comfortably in his chest to keep him warm. Maka hesitated in the doorway, the shadows crawling up her cheeks until she made a move and entered the infirmary.

"Soul?" she asked. "Is something wrong?"

"Is something wrong?" he repeated softly, before turning towards her. "Why would something be wrong?"

"I don't, um…" Maka stepped into the room carefully and placed her candle next to his. They glowed together in a corner of the infirmary. There was stiffness written into her shoulders and running down her arms. Her fingers worried at her veil. "I'm sorry."

"You regret something?"

Maka looked like she was in pain. "Soul-"

"You were quite certain a few nights ago," Soul counted quietly. She had been right to be certain. It would be better in the long run to distance himself from her; to try and kill the possibility of developing feelings for her.

The only hiccup was that it was far too late for that.

"Soul, I-"

"Why did you look for me?" he asked instead, giving her a reprieve.

She blinked quickly. "What?"

"You're here. You left the party to find me. Why would you do that?"

"I was looking for Jacqueline."

"Lady Jacqueline? Did you find her?"

Soul watched Maka stare at her hands. "I did."

"And?"

"She was… preoccupied." The flush on Maka face was telling.

Soul resisted a grin. He was happy for his princess. Her affection was returned. She would fill her last night with the joy of requited love. The same could not be said for him unless he played his cards right; assuming he had any cards at all. "I see."

"You do not seem… surprised."

"I thought the feelings were quite obvious," he confessed, "but I am glad that they both feel the same way for one another. That kind of experience is a gift."

Maka frowned and sat next to him. She seemed to want to say something, but was unable to get the words out. Soul tried to guess at what she was thinking, but Maka was such a puzzle that he found himself guessing at things that he hoped she was thinking. "I do not," she began, "want you to be angry with me."

"You believe me to be angry at you?"

"I would surprised if you were not. I know that I am upset with myself."

Soul paused, took a breath, and tried to steel his courage. "I am not angry."

"Then what are you? This is more than I- I don't know-"

"Princess," Soul took her hands, heart in his mouth as he said, "I love you."

"You love me?" she choked out, eyes wide and green and, for a moment, afraid.

Soul felt the urge to run take root but he had to beat it down. If Lady Jacqueline could gather her strength and speak her feelings to Lady Kim, than he could do the same for Maka. After all, they only had one night left. If Jacqueline was wrong and Maka had no feelings for him after all then so be it. "I love you. I have felt a very deep affection for you for a long time. I understand that you have no sympathy for knights and that you care deeply about your fellow maidens, but I care for you as well; sometimes in ways I never thought possible."

"Soul…"

"What you said before… I respect it. You did not wish for me to love you as I do now, so you tried to protect me. And for that I am grateful." He squeezed her hands. "However, I cannot fulfill your wish as it is too late for me. The affection is already buried in my heart and I have no intention of fishing it out."

"It would have been better," she began quietly, "if you had never loved me at all."

"Why?"

"This must hurt you so; to have me push you away even when I've encouraged such affection." Thinking of him and blaming herself for their predicament; Maka truly was too self-less.

"My feelings are my own and I am responsible for them. Even if we had not spent as much time together, I feel like I would have been drawn to you regardless." Soul tried to breathe calmly but his heart was racing. "Does knowing this… bother you?"

She laughed quietly. "How could it bother me? You loving me… it's something I tried to keep in my dreams and not in reality. But regardless, here it is." When Maka looked up at him, her eyes were full of tears. "I'm so sorry that you love me."

"Do not be sorry, Princess." Soul scrambled for a way to console her but nothing was coming to mind. It was feeling more and more like rejection the longer it went on. "It is my honour."

"Oh, don't say that."

"Why not?"

"You say that and my heart…" She pulled a hand away. "My heart cannot take it."

"Then I apologize that I have caused you distress." Soul got up to leave but Maka's tugged him back so hard that he fell to his knees on the floor in front of her. He looked up and her hands left his tunic to hold his face instead. He stayed frozen under her, watching as her tears slipped down her face.

"Too good," she said softly. "I never expected you to be so good." Soul was at a loss for words, too mesmerized by the tears of this beautiful woman who cradled his face like he was the most important thing in her world. "Oh, Soul."

"My lady," he began softly but she shook her head. A few tears dribbled down her chin to wet her dress and his thighs as she leaned forward. Her mouth, shaking and smooth, connected with his and he let her kiss him. It would have been sweeter if she hadn't seemed to sad about it. He was unsure what this meant, afraid that it was pity, and feeling his heart break with just that thought.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled against his lips. "I am so sorry."

"I-" he tried to pull away but she followed tightly.

"I'm sorry, Soul," she said again. When she finally moved back her eyes were still glistening with tears but there was something else there too; a kind of happiness. "I love you."

"You love me?"

Maka kissed him again, and Soul found himself thinking, quickly, that if this was a dream, he absolutely did not want to wake up ever. He couldn't be sure if this was genuine or not, but godess, did he want it to be. Soul kissed the princess back softly, afraid that any more intensity would shatter this illusion that could not possibly be his reality. In what world could a princess, practically an angel on Earth, decide he was worthy of her love?

"What?" Soul breathed as he pulled back, his hopes and fears mingling in his throat. His hands itched for her but he kept himself in check, fingers bracing him against cot instead.

"I love you."

"I don't… are you sure?"

She laughed softly, and leaned her forehead against his. "I could not be more sure."

"What you said before, about-"

"We should not talk about it," said Maka. She thumbed his cheek and he felt immense happiness flood through him. "I hoped to spare you some pain. A part of me hoped that whatever feelings you might have could be stopped before they could do you lasting harm. I knew for myself that I cared for you far too much already, but to know that you felt the same way with possibly the same strength?" She smiled. "I could not bear letting you think it was unrequited. I'm far too selfish for that."

"You are not selfish." Soul shut his eyes and tried to still his rapidly beating heart. "You are everything."

She hummed. "And to think, you called me a coward."

He blinked, afraid that she was perhaps still slighted from his words, but instead found her features full of affection and mild amusement. His fingers moved up slowly to wipe her tears away and tried to return the smile. "This is hard to believe."

"Well, it is terrible timing," she said, "but you were right. I was afraid. I'm sorry."

"I don't want any regrets," he said. "Do you?"

"No," she said. Her green eyes seemed to blaze in the candlelit room. "I don't."

His chest felt tight and Soul let his hands settle on her hips. "May I-"

Maka smiled quickly before kissing him again and Soul moved up into it, eager to be close. She drew him up, her hand sweeping across his jaw to lock itself in his hair. Soul squeezed at her, tugging her towards him as she did the same. She balanced herself at the edge of the cot, Soul's body slotted between her legs and his arms encircled her waist. His hands sat splayed at the base of her back, the thin fabric the only thing separating him from bare skin. Maka tugged at his hair, her own falling past her shoulders and tickling the skin at his throat. One of her hands moved to cup his neck and he moaned into her kisses, savouring the taste of her lips and the heat of her body.

He breathed her name as she sighed his and when Soul opened his eyes, Maka's cheeks were flushed a heady red that he could detect with the glow of the candles. Soul's mouth turned itself into a smile and he kissed her cheek. "I love you."

"I know."

"It won't be enough," he said. "I never wanted you to weep over it, but it is certainly validating to know you care."

"I'm sure it is," Maka laughed, "but at least I'm glad you know."

"That's true." She set to kissing him before Maka stopped to smooth his hair back.

"We should talk about this more," she said.

"About what?"

"About us. About what you mean to me. About what will happen."

"Can we not just savour this moment?"

His mouth on her throat seemed to distract her sufficiently until she pulled herself away from him sharply. "We will. In earnest, I assure you," the hand in his hair tightened for emphasis before she let him go, "but perhaps we should take our conversation elsewhere. I would hate to be discovered by one of the other girls. It would be quite embarrassing."

"I could live with that, I suppose." He thumbed the base of her back, his affection giving him enough courage to creep lower as they kissed. "My knees were starting to hurt anyway."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Maka stood up suddenly, and Soul fell back on his ass laughing at her concern.

"I'm fine, my lady, I promise." She stepped over him and gave him a diapproving look. "I would gladly be on my knees for you."

"Not if it causes you pain," Maka said, and stretched out her hand for him to take. "Come. Let us go."

"Where to, exactly?"

"I think my tower has enough privacy," she said lightly, and he felt his gut clench at the look in her eyes. "I would not mind having a knight there once more."

"If that is what you wish, my lady, I would love to accompany you."

"I am sure you would," she said. "Come."

He took her hand, but did not stand. Instead, he adjusted his position into a kneel that mimicked that of the knightly allegiance. He was overcome with the urge to speak, the idea mapped out in his head, and he composed himself.

"What are you-"

"Princess Maka. I, Soul of Elderheim, swear to devote my life to you. I promise to fulfill your commands and seek justice in your name, to do what you would have me do in the name of love and honour." He touched her hand to his lips and grinned up at her. "And now, you have a knight that will be yours till the end of his days."

"So silly," was what she said, but Maka seemed genuinely impressed by the gesture, and when she drew him up, she pressed a searing kiss to his lips, one that set his blood aflame and his heart racing. He barely registered the large rippling portal opening up behind her. "Come with me," she breathed, and Soul, never one to refuse the orders of a beautiful princess, obliged.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Feel free to drop a comment in the box below and I'll see you at the finale!