Ideas have been floating around my head for a while about some cool oneshots, so I thought, why not just put them all in a collection? ;) A lot of the first ones will be AUs that reference other animes.

TotalGamer98 Presents to You:

Of Monsters and Demons

Chapter 1: Strength in Numbers

Description: Soul's in charge of his regiment, but is constantly battling his own fears and nightmares. However, when new recruit Albarn shows up, Soul may have just found some comfort. What he can't perceive is how long this comfort will last... (Attack on Titan AU, Soul's POV. Warning: Character Death)

Just a hand.

A hand that Maka held over her heart as she saluted me, a senior officer. It was her first day of training, and her eyes were so full of life and willingness to fight for humanity. By that time, however, my own eyes had dulled. I had seen death at is absolute worst, and if she stuck with the Scout Regiment, Maka would soon see the same. I felt bad for her, really. With her level of cheerfulness, I didn't feel as if she'd last long when she was shoved onto the battlefield. She soon proved me wrong, however.

Just a hand, one that soon proved to me one of the strongest I knew of.

Since I was in charge of our regiment, I observed Maka's training often. She handled her 3D maneuver gear expertly. I teased her about it as we grew more comfortable with each other, saying that her success was just beginner's luck. What I didn't expect was for her to slam my skull with an insanely thick book. I assigned her push-ups for an hour for injuring a senior officer, and then went to find an ice pack.

When I arrived back, she had thrown herself into her push-ups with vigor. I admired her strength, and resolved never to tease her about it again for that reason. I swear it wasn't because I was afraid of her Maka-chops.

Just a hand, one that clutched mine when Maka realized her senior officer got nightmares.

Our rooms weren't far from each other, and I suppose she got to her room later than she normally did, for she woke me from my sleep when she stepped in that night.

"You were crying out in your sleep," She said, in a tone much gentler than what I had heard her use on the training ground. "Are you all right, sir?"

I sighed, sitting up to face her. I was in my bedclothes, and she wore the same type. I ran a hand through my hair. "When you've been in the thick of battle, like I have," I began quietly, "You're lucky if you go three nights without nightmares."

My ash-blonde subordinate watched her feet for a moment. Abruptly, however, she pulled the stool from the other side of the room over to my bed and sat down on it.

"Sir," She murmured, reaching her hand out, "Lay down, and take my hand."

I quirked an eyebrow. "You don't order me around, soldier. And what makes you think that'll work?"

She shrugged. "Strength in numbers, I suppose. It's just an idea," She mumbled, beginning to stand, when I suddenly reached a hand out to grab her palm.

"Wait," I whispered, but I then realized how weak I sounded, and so I tried to adopt a more commanding tone. "Stay, as long as you're sure you can fall asleep like that. You need to rest up for tomorrow."

She smirked a little.

"I've trained myself to fall asleep while standing if needed, so I can be ready to run. I can sleep fine, sitting here."

I smiled a little. "Good," I told her, laying down while clutching her hand. I smirked after a moment, however. "Oh, and don't try anything on me while I sleep, soldier. Even though I know I'm irresistible."

She chopped me for that comment, though I never figured out from where she got the book. It became normal for her to do this whenever I suffered nightmares, and after my hand was safely in hers, I experienced no further nightmares for that night.

Just a hand, one that shook with fear when she was sent into battle for the first time.

"We're ordered to scout the area!" I yelled to my regiment as we approached the gate. "We need to make sure no titans are planning to knock down this wall! Are my commands clear?"

"Sir, yes sir!" Called the troops in reply. I nodded in approval, reining in my horse. I was about to kick its side once to send her forward, but my eye caught the sight of Maka shaking in her saddle. I gave the troops the command to move forward at a walk, then trotted over to Maka.

"Albarn," I said quickly. We had begun calling each other by our last names since she had begun comforting me, rather than simply saying "soldier", or in her case "sir" or "commander". "What's the problem?" I continued.

She looked up to face me, her eyes wide with fright. "This… This is the real thing," She squeaked out. I nodded gravely.

"Yes," I replied, "But I know you're strong. You're the toughest soldier in the regiment, Albarn. I know you can do this."

She only nodded once, her emerald eyes fixed upon the gate before us. I sighed, and much to both of our surprise, I placed my hand on hers.

"Strength in numbers," I smiled a little in reassurance, quoting her. I then turned back around to face the gate, my smile fading as I kicked my horse into a canter. I soon heard her horse behind mine as the gates opened.

Just a hand, with quivering fingers splattered with titans' blood after her first battle.

Maka's face was full of resolve and strength, but her eyes had dulled. Not everyone we set out with had come back alive, and I saw that effect in her gaze. I put a comforting hand on her shoulder as a reined my horse near hers. She looked over at me for a moment, and then nodded one silently. Maka was a soldier now; she had killed her first titan, but not before it did the same to her comrade. It was as if she had obtained a rite of passage.

Just a hand, one that belonged to a girl whom I had to comfort that night.

I traveled to Maka's room when I heard her scream in her sleep. I sighed when I saw her thrash in bed, and quietly pulled up the stool in her room so that it was next to her and sat down upon it, as she had done for me. Still following her previous actions, I then took her hand. Her fits stopped almost instantly, though I couldn't sleep in this position like she could. As a result, I woke up the next morning with my torso resting on her mattress, while the rest of me still sat on the stool. My hand remained holding hers. She stirred at about the same time as I did, and blinked lazily to look at me. She looked confused for a moment, but then she saw our hands. Just as I was about to say something, suddenly Maka jumped up and hugged me.

"Thank you," She whispered. I was surprised for a moment, but then I relaxed and slowly hugged her back.

"You're welcome," I told her.

Just a hand, one whose fingers would always entwine subconsciously with mine as Maka slept.

After one particularly horrifying battle, I didn't even have to go to Maka's room to comfort her. She rushed into mine, jumping in my bed and curling against me.

"Soul," She whimpered, shaking as if she was freezing, "Can I stay here tonight?"

I smiled a little at her. "Of course, Maka. Seems like you're here already, anyway," I murmured, kissing her temple gently as I pulled the bed sheets up and around us. I loved how her face reddened, and I chuckled a little.

"Calm down, Albarn," I joked, relaxing against her. She quickly settled down and did the same, and I soon heard the gentle breathing that signified her sleep. I eventually followed suit, holding her to me. Neither of us experienced any nightmares that night.

Just a hand that she wrapped around me as we fought off nightmares.

Just a hand that held mine as we sat together at meals.

Just a hand that slapped me playfully when I cracked bad jokes, as I did frequently since she brought joy back into my life.

Just a hand that held her horse's reins proudly as we rode past the wall's gates.

Just a hand that raised her weapon high in the air and was the last thing I saw when I became separated from my regiment.

I called out Maka's name when I could no longer see her emerald eyes. I saw a flash of blonde hair and her weapons raised in position to strike, but that was it. The forest was too thick. Too tall. Too loud. I felt as if the trees were closing in. I didn't know what to do without my regiment… Or my Maka. Her words echoed within my mind;

"Strength in numbers."

Where were my numbers? Where was my strength?

"Retreat!" I called out, hoping my troops would hear me over the thundering footsteps that promised destruction. "Forty-second regiment, RETREAT!"

Only half of my troops made it back alive.

I was devastated, my mind plagued with failure. I had led my troops to slaughter. I had let them down, betrayed their trust. I just prayed Maka would forgive me as I searched for her among the injured after our return; only her words mattered to me.

It was then that Black*Star brought me the weapon. The blade was caked in blood, but my attention was drawn to what held the hilt.

Just a hand.

That's all that was left of her.

"I saw her, Commander," Murmured Black*Star, "She fought better than any of us. She killed two of them, but one came from behind, and…" He trailed off as he viewed the utter agony in my eyes. I took her hand from him, prying her lifeless fingers from the hilt of her weapon that they still clutched so dutifully. Blood began to cover my hands, but I didn't notice. I held her hand to my chest, staining my uniform with her crimson blood as well. Her fingers were so tiny, her skin so soft…

A heart-wrenched cry split my throat as I wept for my fallen comrade. No, Maka is more than a comrade. Or was.

Just a hand.

That's all that was left of her.

Sorry for being depressing. But I did good for only having watched five episodes of AoT, right? (Well, I needed a friend's help for a little of it...) Yes, you read that right. AoT creeps me out, and I only managed to watch five episodes, and that was while my friend was telling me when to hide behind my Soul plushie. I need help...

Next chapter: Crona's Monster (AU, reference to the Meg and Dia song)