Disclaimer: I don't own Soul Eater.

Maka and Soul traipsed through the dense underbrush of the jungle. Soul leading the way, used his scythe arm like a machete to clear the path of vegetation. The pair were sweaty and tired, both from the trek from the main road through the rainforest and the intense heat and humidity. Sweat beaded on their bodies, even with the lightweight beige jungle trekking gear they were provided. Wild birds and animals called out their songs all around them, creating a symphony of nature. Numerous insects flitted about them, buzzing around their heads. Every now and then they would trip over a tree root or brush against a thorned plant and scrape themselves. All in all, it was not a pleasant experience. It was almost as if the rainforest itself was trying to impede their progress to their destination.

"How much – further?" Soul asked as he hacked at a thick bundle of vines in their way. Maka held up the tracking device that Franken Stein had provided to them. It was a small machine with a grey casing surrounding a display screen and a few buttons. The screen showed a topographical map of the forest and two blinking dots. The red blip indicated their destination, the Medallion of Pain, hidden somewhere in the dense jungle. The blue one indicated their present location. A dotted line showed their present course and estimated distance.

"Less than a mile ahead." She called out. Soul groaned at her response. The pair had been hiking for the better part of two hours already. The tracking device which registered the madness wavelength of the medallion had indicated it was located in a deeply inaccessible part of the forest. They had been able to take a jeep through the logging roads and into the forest, courtesy of Ernesto the meister for South America's death scythe. It was strange to see a monkey drive a truck, but Soul and Maka were more preoccupied with holding onto each other for dear life as the bumpy roads threatened to eject them from the vehicle. Ernesto had promised to rendezvous with them later.

But with the way their hike had been going, they weren't sure they would reach their destination before nightfall. Maka was optimistic though. If they hurried, they could be able to reach the medallion in less than a half hour. So, she urged Soul onwards through the dense forest, even trying to lead the way for them. However, Soul would have none of that. He insisted that he lead the way so he could protect his partner from 'man-eating plants, man-eating snakes, and man-eating birds'. When Maka pointed out that man-eating birds did not exist, Soul replied that he didn't care.

Their trek had started out easily enough and the pair were delighted by the sights and smells of the forest around them. However, after having delved deeper into the heart of the jungle they quickly began having second thoughts. They had crossed wide rivers with fierce currents, had to climb up steep mountainous hills with uneven footing, and had to edge around unstable precipices. Their bodies ached with soreness and they desperately wanted to rest. But the last time they attempted to stop moving, a swarm of fire ants crawled over them biting their legs and exposed flesh. It was almost as if they were nipping at the pair's heels to keep them moving. So, the pair continued on silently.

At last, after an exhausting two-and-a-half-hour trip the tracker's proximity alarm went off. They had finally arrived. Cutting through one last thicket of ferns and branches, Soul and Maka stumbled out into a partial clearing. The ground was flat and covered with grass. The tree branches formed a partial canopy overhead of them. As they exited the forest, they saw numerous spears sticking out of the ground, ancient and rotten wood holding them upright. At the far end of the clearing sat a tall square pyramid of the Meso-American style, with four levels of brick and stone. The pyramid was only partial and looked to be built into the side of a mountain. The dark cool colored stone of the mountain contrasted with the beige sandstone of the pyramid. As they walked forward they noticed more weapons littering the ground, along with the bones of those who once wielded them.

"Soul…" Maka whispered intently.

"Yeah, I know." He replied, sensing her intentions without even having to resort to their resonance. The pair walked cautiously, wary of any traps and ready to spring into action at any moment. But no such traps appeared.

The duo made their way to the base of the pyramid where a large stone staircase ascended to its top level. Decorating the stones of the pyramid were various images depicting what appeared to be warriors, animals, and plants in a strange block like style.

"The tracker says the medallion's up there." Maka pointed out. They looked at the staircase forebodingly, an ominous feeling overcoming them. "Guess we've got no choice." Soul said. Maka nodded sternly and the duo began their ascent up the stone staircase.

When the two reached the top of the stairs they were greeted by a large bowl sat atop a grey stone pillar at roughly chest height. Beyond that, a square doorway, framed by ornate stone carvings and chipped paint, led into a dark room seemingly within the mountain itself. There was little else atop the pyramid. It was mostly a flat expanse of stone tiles, laced with green ivy and vines. Soul stepped forward to inspect the bowl. Maka turned around to look out at the vast expanse of green that laid before her. From her vantage point she could just see above the canopy of the rainforest surrounding the pyramid.

"It's no wonder the aerial surveys missed this place right Soul?" She asked candidly. But instead of the snarky response that she expected from her partner, she was met with only silence. "Soul?" Maka asked turning around. Soul was frozen in front of the bowl, not a single muscle in his body twitched. Concerned, Maka made her way over to him. "Soul what's wrong?" She asked as she came closer. Soul's face had gone pale and his eyes were wide with shock and disgust. Confused and concerned she followed his line of sight and peered into the bowl.

Inside the basin sat a severed hand. It floated in a pool of blood at least three inches deep.

Maka gasped and covered her mouth in shock. She instinctively grabbed Soul's arm. It was then that Maka noticed the blade that sat on the ground beside the bowl. "Soul look." She pointed. Soul tore his eyes away from the disembodied hand to look upon the knife. It was a dagger, about a foot long with an eight-inch blade. The dagger had a handle wrapped in leather and with several colorful feathers bundled at the pommel. The metal of the blade was stained with a green substance. But most importantly, the tell-tale sheen of red was present on the dagger, clearly marking it as the instrument used for the grisly act above.

"Maka…" Soul began but couldn't find the right words to articulate his thoughts.

"I know…" Maka replied. They had been together for so long that reading one another had come naturally to them.

They both worried about the implications that the scene in front of them suggested. Their first thought, was that the blood and hand were fresh, meaning the act occurred recently. They might have been too late and the medallion could already be gone. The other thought that disturbed them, in particular Soul, was what would have happened had they arrived first. The temple clearly required the sacrifice for a reason. Most likely it was to open the doorway that already stood open in front of them. Would they have been able to gain entry had they gotten there first? Both of them shuddered thinking about the other losing a hand to this. But what most disturbed them was the idea that whoever did this was either cruel enough to cut someone else's hand off, or crazy enough to do it to themselves. Soul was unsure which was more terrifying. The weapon and meister pair turned to each other, considering their next move.

"I think I should go in alone." Soul said seriously.

"What? Don't be crazy!" Maka retorted incredulously, acting as though she'd just been insulted.

"I'm not being crazy, I'm being pragmatic." He said. He pointed to the doorway and the dark passage beyond it. "That hallway is way too narrow for you to effectively swing me around in weapon form." He observed. Maka frowned, reluctant to admit he was right.

"Well that doesn't mean I'm just going to let you go in there alone!" She fought back.

"It's the weapon's duty to protect the meister." Soul uttered sternly.

"We are not going through this again." Maka said pointing a finger in his face. Soul turned away from her and Maka pouted. "Soul…" She warned lowly. But Soul's attention was elsewhere.

"Shh." He commanded.

"Huh?" Maka intoned.

"Shhh!" He told her more insistently this time. "Do you hear that?" He asked pointing to the darkened hallway.

Maka turned her attention to the hallway and listened carefully.

Very faintly, she heard a low whistling. The sound bounced and varied its rhythm. The person whistled a simple melody. The pair went pale as they both realized that the Pantheon member was still here. They froze on the spot, unsure of what their next action should be. Meanwhile the whistling grew louder and louder with every passing second. Its tune was slow and ominous and only added to their apprehension as it projected from the dark hallway. Before they could act, it was too late. The whistling figure exited from the shadows of the pyramid out into the daylight. His eyes were closed as he whistled carelessly. His hands were held in his pockets. He wore a fully black outfit of leather and denim. His hair was disheveled and unkempt. His face, full of piercings and rings.

As Lung stepped into the sunlight and opened his eyes, he was shocked to see Maka and Soul in front of him. Soul and Maka regarded him carefully. Lung's expression quickly turned from one of shock into a manic smile.

"Well it's about fuckin time!" He shouted gleefully. "You two from DWMA?" He asked cheerfully. "I've been waiting for you guys for three fuckin days!" He exclaimed. Soul and Maka glanced at each other uneasily. Pantheon had gotten here way ahead of them, but this guy stuck around to wait for them. Why? Lung pulled out a cigarette and lighter. He lit up a smoke and puffed a few times. "What's your names?" He asked from around the cigarette in his mouth.

"Maka Albarn and Soul Eater." Maka introduced themselves evenly. "Who are you?" She asked. The strange teen in front of them breathed deeply before exhaling a ring of smoke into the air.

"The name's Lung." He said with a sinister grin.

"Ya know, I gotta be honest, you guys have been a bit of a disappointment so far." He said, waving his cigarette around. "I was sitting on my ass around here for three fucking days. It was boring as shit! I haven't been that bored in 300 years!" He said plainly. Soul and Maka's eyes widened at that admission. However, Lung didn't seem to notice, he just kept speaking. "At first I wanted to see how well you guys might have withstood the trial. But I got tired of waiting and just went in to get the damn thing myself." He said pointing a thumb over his shoulder and into the cave. As he did so, the cuff of his jacket fell and the two could see his wrist was covered in dried blood. His hand however, looked perfectly intact.

"Just what are you?" Maka asked confused. Even with her soul perception she couldn't get a read on the man standing in front of her. He had a monster's soul that much she could tell, but nothing more than that. His soul was a large violet aura with jagged spikes and edges to it. Protrusions at the bottom of his soul resembled claws. Edges along the back of his soul resembled a pair of wings. But just as she could make out the shapes they disappeared, twirling and reforming into tentacle like protrusions. Maka watched with a sickened fascination as his soul morphed forms. The purple sphere around him was in a constant state of flux, like a churning ocean in the midst of a storm.

At Maka's question, Lung's faced turned sour. He scowled cruelly at her. Lung tossed his cigarette to the ground and stomped it out with his boot.

"Let me ask you something." He said mockingly as he began to slowly pace back and forth in front of them. "You ever wonder why there are so many different monsters out there?" He asked. "You got your vampires, werewolves, goblins, trolls, I bet you could name a bunch more." He said. "You ever ask yourself why they all have similar souls, but they all seem so different?" He paused for emphasis. Soul and Maka stayed silent, unsure if the question was rhetorical or not. Lung however, seemed to take their lack of response negatively. "No, I bet you haven't. Because to you humans, Monsters are just freaks to be killed. Because they don't have any other purpose but to cause agony to people and spread terror, right?" He said sarcastically.

"But it wasn't always like that!" He exclaimed. "Thousands of years ago the monsters were all one race, my race. We were the original progenitors of all the monsters you see in the world today. And we used to be respected." He said emphatically. "We used to be one of the three great races alongside the humans and witches." He told them. "But the humans turned against us. And instead of the great and powerful Shinigami protecting us and keeping the balance," Lung described the story with a sarcastic vitriol, growing more unhinged as he spoke. "He let his precious humans kill us all off, one by one." He said. "The rest of my people eventually took different forms to hide from those who would hunt us. Until those forms eventually became permanent and they forgot their origins." He explained. "But you're looking at the OG monster, bitch!" He said proudly, jamming a thumb into his c hest.

"I'm terribly sorry about the loss of your people." Maka began. "I'm sure if we explained it to Kid he'd help you in any way he could." She added. Lung scoffed and sneered at her.

"You're a couple centuries too late for that." He said irritably. "So, I tell you what we're gonna do." He spoke. "You beat me, you get this." He told them holding up the medallion. Like the others it was made of a bronze metal and attached to a thread of silk ribbon. The design on it was a simple depiction of a dagger.

"We don't have to fight." Maka warned. Lung laughed maniacally at her. With a sinister smile his body began to change. Maka and Soul watched with horror as his hands began to morph, growing into long sharp claws. The skin of his hands twisted and stretched as the bones underneath elongated and snapped into place. The sickening sound filled the air. Lung's face twitched in pain and he struggled to hold back a grimace. Yet at the same time his eyes reflected a rush of adrenaline. Finally, his transformation subsided, and he held his newfound talons aloft threateningly.

"That's where you're wrong." He said licking his lips. "I want to fight!" He yelled. He lunged at the pair suddenly, swiping at them with his sharp appendages. Soul and Maka jumped backwards to dodge but struggled to find their footing on the staircase. Soul immediately assumed his weapon form and Maka spun him around defensively. Lung leaped from the top of the stairs and crashed onto the spot they stood intending to impale them. But Maka flipped backwards to land on the green grass below. With a grunt of frustration, Lung turned to the pair. "Come on! I wanna see what you bastards can do!" He yelled.

Lung leapt towards Maka, covering the distance between them with incredible speed. Maka blocked his initial strike with a parry from Soul's scythe blade. But she was forced to retreat from Lung's follow up swipes. He followed after her relentlessly, desperately swiping at her. But Maka was able to parry each of his attacks with her weapon. Finally, she saw an opening. With a deft quickness, Maka swung her scythe around to attack from the side. Her attack struck true and she paused in shock. The blade of her scythe impaled Lung in the side of his chest. Blood began seeping from around the wound and Lung coughed up blood in his mouth. He hadn't even tried to dodge the attack, taking it full on. But what had disturbed her most was the look on the monster's face. Instead of anguish or pain, his expression was elated. His eyes were wild with excitement as though the agony was a drug to him.

"That's what I'm talking about!" He yelled around the blood pouring from his mouth. Maka withdrew the blade and disengaged from him. A second later, steam began to rise from his wound. The blood ceased pouring out, and the previously gaping hole in his chest closed up as if it were never there. "Fuck, is this guy immortal like Free?" Soul asked, his face flashing on the blade of the scythe. Maka shook her head. "I don't know." She answered. "Come on Fuckers! Show me what you got!" He screamed beckoning them forward. Maka hesitated and kept her distance, choosing to increase her resonance with Soul.

"Fine, if you won't come to me," He began. Suddenly Lung wrapped his arms around himself. His entire body shook with violent contractions. A moment later eight enormous spider legs erupted from his back. Each was tipped with a deadly looking sharp point. The legs fanned out around him until he resembled an Onigumo. The legs lifted him up off the ground holding him aloft in mid-air. "Then I'll just come to you!" He screamed insanely. He charged at Maka, his spindly limbs quickly carrying him over to her. Lung stabbed at her with his newly grown spider legs. Maka spun her scythe around, deflecting as many of the strikes as she could. Lung hovered just out of reach, taunting her as every time she attacked his body his limbs pushed him out of range. The spider limbs attacked in a fierce flurry. Eventually Maka was unable to keep up with them. She was knocked every which way as the razor-sharp talons of the limbs stabbed into her. In a desperate attack, Maka swung out and severed three of the eight legs. Lung fell to the ground, losing his support. But before Maka could make a follow up attack, Lung slashed at her with his claws.

Maka was sent tumbling several yards. Her recovery was ungraceful, and she had to use Soul's handle to support herself. She put a hand to her side and felt the gash that the attack had left her. Thankfully, the wound wasn't too deep although it was bleeding heavily. Maka decided to go on the offensive this time. She charged at Lung, twirling her scythe blade through the air. Once again, Lung took the hits. He laughed as they cut into his skin and left behind stripes of split flesh. But just as quickly as they appeared, the cuts healed over leaving behind not even a scar. "Haha that's it! Now we're getting into it!" He yelled happily. Lung returned fire, stabbing at her with his remaining spider limbs. Maka ducked and weaved between the strikes. But she was unable to avoid a fierce punch from Lung whose hands had returned to normal. The punch landed square on her jaw and sent her head twisting back. In the stunned moments that followed, Lung stabbed at her multiple times. As Maka regained her footing she was able to deflect the last of the strikes and jump backwards.

"We gotta up our game here." Soul told her. Maka panted with exertion. "Easy for you to say." She responded. "Our attacks don't seem like they're doing much." He observed. Maka rolled her eyes. "Oh really? I hadn't noticed." She replied sarcastically. "Try lopping off one of his limbs. Regenerating that much tissue will have to take him longer. We can use that opening to attack." He suggested. Maka nodded and prepared herself for Lung's attack.

Lung charged at her again, this time he had a new addition, a manticore's tail. It was thick and muscular, with chitin plates, and ended in a spiked ball. Lung jumped in the air, twisting his body around and then slamming the mace into the ground. Maka dodged to the side and swiped at him, aiming to sever his arm. This time, instead of taking the attack, Lung actually twisted to avoid it. Sensing her chance, Maka followed the attack up, aiming her scythes blade to cut off his limbs. Lung continued to dodge Maka's attacks, expertly moving between them and keeping his distance. Maka swung her blade low, aiming to catch him off guard and sever his feet. But Lung gracefully jumped in the air to avoid the sweep. Maka was unprepared as a second later his body twisted around and his tail mace swung into her chest. Maka felt the breath forced from her body as the spiked ball impacted her. She was sent rocketing across the field, Soul's form slipping from her hands. She flew to the other end of the field until she crashed into a tree at the field's edge.

Exhausted and with the wind knocked out of her, it was all Maka could do to lie there and open her eyes. Her head spun and her wounds ached with an intense burning. The pain and dizziness became too much for her and she passed out. Lung breathed heavily, watching her for a moment. When she made no movement to get up he began stalking over to her. As he walked his hand morphed again into the form of a large pincer with jagged edges. He laughed tiredly as he came upon her unconscious form. "You were pretty good." He complimented her. "But not good enough." He added. Lung reached out with his claw, aiming for her neck. Suddenly an intense pain registered as he was sliced across the face. He recovered quickly and glared at his attacker. It was Soul, his arm partially transformed to a blade. He stood protectively in front of Maka and scowled at Lung.

"Stay away from her." He said as threateningly as he could manage. Lung laughed joyously.

"Oh man, you got me good!" He complimented, rubbing the already disappearing scar on his cheek. "Maybe I should have been fighting you this whole time huh?" He suggested jokingly. Soul did not respond, only standing resolutely between him and his unconscious partner. Internally though, Soul was incredibly nervous. Despite him being a death scythe he knew he couldn't take on this beast alone. He had knocked Maka around like she was a rookie. His only hope was to try and protect her to his last breath. Lung seemed to notice his internal conflict and pointed it out to him.

"I recognize that look you know." He said. "The look of somebody who knows they've run out of options but refuses to give up." He spoke. Soul didn't respond, still standing warily with his arm up ready to defend or strike. Lung cleared his throat and then hocked up a mix of spit and blood onto the grass to the side. "I can respect that." He said. Lung backed up a few spaces and held his hands peacefully in the air. Soul watched him with confusion but refused to let his guard down. "So I've got a deal for you. Interested?" He asked with a twitch of his eyebrow.

"What kind of deal?" Soul asked skeptically. Lung smiled and reached inside of his jacket. He retrieved the dagger that was at the top of the pyramid. He held it in a non-threatening manner, allowing Soul to get a look at it. Then he tossed it onto the ground between them. Soul eyed the dagger suspiciously for a second before looking back up at Lung.

"That dagger has been coated with a special poison." He explained. "It's one of the most painful poisons in the world. Certainly, the best I've ever come across." He laughed a little at his own joke. "I want you to cut yourself with that knife." Lung demanded. Soul's eyes went wide with shock. "If you can withstand the pain of the poison, I'll let your little friend here live." He said gesturing to Maka. "If you can't, I'll kill her and you." He finished. Soul looked from him, to the knife, to Maka and then back.

"You're insane!" Soul said. Lung laughed heartily and put his hands on his hips.

"Am I really though?" He asked. "Life is full of pain and suffering. You mortals spend your whole lives trying to avoid that truth. But me, I've embraced it! I enjoy that pain, I live for it! And that makes me unstoppable!" He explained. Soul glared at him hatefully. Lung watched him for several seconds and then threw his hands in the air in a shrug. "You don't have to do it, but we both know you can't take me by yourself." He said. Soul knew he was right of course but he was reluctant to admit it. "If you really want to save your partner this is your only chance." He pressured. Soul dropped his arms, his hand returning to normal. Carefully he stepped forward, keeping one eye on Lung. He gingerly picked up the dagger, examining its ancient blade. He frowned, contemplating his decision.

"How do I know you won't just kill her anyway while I'm struggling with the poison?" Soul asked seriously. "You're just gonna have to trust me." Lung said with an evil smirk. Soul frowned and regarded the knife. He didn't trust this maniac by a long shot. But he definitely couldn't take him on one to one. Faced with little other options and an insane masochist, Soul felt that he had no choice. "Fine, I'll take your deal." He said.

Taking the dagger in one hand, he ran its blade across his opposite palm. He winced as the edge dug into his skin. A line of blood ran down his hand and dripped onto the ground. He tossed the knife away. He squeezed his fist trying to stop the bleeding, but unintentionally caused the poison to spread faster. The wound on his palm burned and stung at him. Soul felt his breathing become slow and sluggish. His palm throbbed with intense pain. Soul looked up at Lung with hazy eyes. Lung smiled as he watched the weapon struggle. Soul could feel the poison work its way through his body. It was as if liquid fire was crawling its way through his veins. His skin itched terribly, and he began to scratch up and down his arms. But he found no relief in the action, only causing large red welts to appear on his skin. Lung laughed heartily at Soul.

Soul tried to swipe at Lung in retaliation, but the action caused him to lose his balance and fall to his knees. "The itching isn't even the worst part man." He said tauntingly. Soul shivered involuntarily, but his body felt hot as if it were on fire. Suddenly he keeled over holding his abdomen. A wave of nausea and pain hit him like a brick. "Ah that's what I was waiting for. It feels like your insides are in a knot, right?" Lung asked crouching down to look at him. He was right, Soul's insides felt like they were trying to turn themselves inside out. Soul's blood pounded in his ears. His head felt light and dizzy. The waves of torturing sensation made him want to scream. He had never felt such incredible pain in his life. Every nerve ending in his body was on fire. It was almost enough to make him pass out, but a single thought held him steady and pushed him through the pain.

He lifted his head to stare defiantly at Lung through half lidded eyes. He had to protect Maka at all costs. If he were to pass out now it would leave her defenseless against this psycho. Lung's image began to twist and shift as Soul's vision became blurry. The poison had spread to his brain and it made thinking hard. Every sound and light made his head throb. It was as if a jackhammer were drilling into his skull. His eyes screwed shut for a moment, but it did nothing to alleviate the sensation. When he opened his eyes again the world was little less than a blur, a grey smokescreen interspersed with flecks of light and color. Distantly he could hear a voice, Lung's he assumed, but he couldn't make out the words. He was too focused on the agonizing feelings taking over his body. Lung had disappeared, only a vague dark silhouette stood in his place.

His eyes tried to focus on the figure trying to find something that could distract him from the pain. But strangely the silhouette grew larger and closer. The person standing in front of him was no longer Lung, this person was too tall. As the figure drew closer Soul swore he could hear the steady rhythm of tribal drumbeats. The drums grew louder and louder, pounding in his head. Soul wondered distantly if it could be the sound of his own heartbeat. The figure continued approaching and Soul could finally begin to make out his features. He wore a mask like that of a serpent or dragon surrounded by a headdress of colorful feathers. The colors swayed and flashed in his eyes like beacons against the dark screen that had enveloped his world. His dark skin was covered in exotic feathers and furs. Colorful banners strapped to his back whipped back and forth in the wind. He had numerous knives and other weapons strapped to his belt. But the most fearsome weapon he carried was a large flat club studded with sharp metal triangles along its edges.

"Who are you?" Soul asked feverishly. The figure stared impassively before his voice spoke up. It seemed to echo around in the mists surrounding them.

"I am Quetzalcoatl. God of Pain." The serpent headed man spoke. "Prepare to face judgement." He intoned.

Soul was helpless as he watched the strange figure raised the mace and slam it into his chest. A throbbing pain bloomed in Soul's torso and he choked for a split second. He finally let out a scream of anguish as he felt his chest tear open from the seams of his scar. He had no warning as the warrior struck him again across the head. The throbbing pain returned to his head again and Soul nearly lost consciousness. But he caught himself at the last second, his hands gripping the grass below him as if it were his only lifeline to reality. Another strike landed on his back and Soul felt hot tears pour from his eyes as the pain shattered him. He gritted his teeth as more blows landed on his back. He felt as though his skin was being torn to ribbons. The strikes stopped after what felt like an eternity. With an immense effort Soul raised his head and stared at the serpentine mask with anger and fury.

"Fuck… You…" He panted out through gritted teeth. The mask was impassive, still shining in bright neon colors, but Soul could tell the warrior was staring at him.

"Impressive effort young one." Said the mysterious voice. The voice echoed in his head and it felt like it came from all around him at once. "You were too late to claim victory however." The voice continued. Quetzalcoatl pointed a finger into Soul's face. "Remember, pain is temporary, as is all things in this world. It is only in the mind." The voice cautioned strangely.

Before Soul had a chance to contemplate the stranger's words, the pain in his head spiked and his vision went dark.

When he woke, he was incredibly disoriented. The pain had mercifully subsided, leaving him only with a dull ache and sense of tiredness. As his awareness slowly returned to him Soul realized that he was laying on a bed. He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the light pouring in through the open window. Looking around himself he noted that he was in a spartan hospital room. The walls were made of white concrete and had wooden floors. A curtain surrounded his bed preventing him from seeing the rest of the room. He looked down at his hand. It had been bandaged and wrapped in white cloth. Memories came flooding back to him and he frantically looked around for his partner.

He let out a sigh of relief as he saw her sitting in a nearby chair, fast asleep and apparently unharmed. Soul sat up from his bed. He gently roused Maka by shaking her leg. Maka awoke slowly. When she saw Soul smiling at her she began to cry and threw her arms around him. Soul smiled and hugged her back. Through half-coherent sobs Maka began to babble to Soul.

"I was so worried." She said through her tears. "When I woke up you were face down on the ground. I thought you were dead!" She cried into his shoulder. "You had this cut on your hand and- and we were out – out in the middle of the jungle…" She continued. Gently pushing her off of him, Soul assured his partner he was fine. "How did we get here?" He asked. "I had to call for an airlift." Maka replied. "You've been out for the last 12 hours." She said.

That had surprised Soul. He felt as though the ordeal with Lung had happened mere moments ago. "The doctors said you had been poisoned." Maka said wiping a last tear from her eye. The two of them glanced at Soul's bandaged hand. "Soul, what happened out there?" She asked. Soul looked back at her. "I should be asking you that. What happened to Lung?" He inquired. Maka shook her head. "He was gone by the time I regained consciousness. Along with the medallion." She said solemnly. Soul sighed and leaned against his pillow. It was hard to believe that any of what had happened was real. His body didn't feel an ounce of pain anymore. In fact he felt as if he had just woken up from a good nap.

"Soul I still don't understand what happened." Maka said insistently. "Why were you poisoned? What happened to Lung? Why didn't he just kill us both while we were unconscious?" She asked desperately. Soul sighed and scratched the back of his head. He debated telling her the truth, knowing it would make her angry. Eventually he decided that she would find out through his official report anyway so he might as well just tell her now. So Soul began to describe the events that occurred immediately after she had lost consciousness. He told her about Lung's deal, the poison, the strange encounter with the warrior Quetzalcoatl, and the terrible pain he felt. At the end of his story, Maka's face fell down cast. She went tense and stiff as a board. Her fists clenched until her knuckles went white. She stood up slowly and walked towards the night stand by Soul's bed.

"Maka?" Soul asked concerned. But the woman didn't answer. Instead, she withdrew a bible from within the night stand. She hugged it close to herself for a second. Then she turned to a still confused Soul.

"MAKA CHOP!" She yelled and slammed the thick book onto Soul's skull. Soul's eyes bugged out and his hands instinctively went to cover his head.

"OWWW!" He yelled in pain. "What the hell was that for?!" He asked upset.

"Never, ever, ever, do that again." Maka told him sternly shoving a finger in his face. Soul scowled at her, still rubbing the sore spot on his head.

"It was my only option! I had to protect you!" He retorted back angrily.

"You should've ran! Distract him and then come back for me later!" Maka yelled back.

"He would have killed me and then gone back for you!" Soul yelled in response. The two glared at each other in heated argument.

Thankfully, their commotion attracted the attention of the hospital staff. A doctor and nurse threw back the curtain. The two of them pouted and turned away from each other as the doctor scolded them. The nurse tended to Soul's care, making sure he was stable. Once Soul was deemed medically fit, they left, with the nurse promising to come back with some breakfast.

Alone again the pair sat in tense silence, neither willing to admit their fault.

After some time with each refusing to acknowledge the other Maka spoke up quietly.

"I love you too much to lose you Soul." She whispered, voice barely audible. Soul felt immensely guilty at her words. Without looking at one another Soul reached his hand out to grab his meister's. He squeezed her hand in his palm, a silent I love you sent through their soul resonance. Maka squeezed back.

We finally finally got to see my masochist monster boy in action! I will admit Lung is probably my favorite of my OC's. Also because I know some one is going to ask "why didn't he just kill them". Lung might be a little bit crazy so his actions are meant to be unpredictable. Also I feel like it should have been pretty obvious that Soul was destined for the medallion of pain. I really wanted to examplify the lengths he will go to protect his meister. And I know that isn't the way poisons work but I needed a way to introduce Quetzalcoatl. Until next time.