Disclaimer: I do not own the Soul Eater manga, anime or anything else. This fic is fanmade and purely for enjoyment, just like everything else on this site.

Authors Note: Whoo, an update! Although it certainly took long enough...

Maka laughed, popping another load of pop rocks into her mouth and flinching slightly when a particularly large one burst on her tongue. It sent a small stinging sensation across the muscle that disappeared almost as quickly as she felt it, leaving behind a flavour that the bag described as 'mixed berry'. She opened her mouth slightly, listening to the continuous bursting noises that the candy caused. That was, until one flew out of her mouth, to which she closed it in embarrassment, ignoring Soul's chuckle at her side.

She swallowed, laughing again as Soul dumped an entire bag into his maw, chewing the candy before it even had the chance to explode.

"You're sort of missing the point Soul." Maka chided slightly, her voice carrying a teasing lilt. "Why even buy these if you don't let them pop?"

Soul shrugged non-commitally, opening another bag and dumping even more in. "They still pop, just as their going down. Feels kinda cool in a way."

Maka wrinkled her nose in distaste. "That doesn't sound cool. It sounds gro-"

Maka's voice chocked off, a sinking feeling filling her chest and cutting off her breath for a moment. She froze abruptly, catching Soul's attention immediately. She gasped, clutching the front of her shirt as she broke out in cold sweat, her heartbeat growing erratic as the feeling invaded her, it's force filling her with a sudden panic. Her hands began to quiver, her eyes pinned on the street ahead of her. Soul followed her gaze as he looked down the sidewalk for a threat but as far as he could tell, they were completely alone.

"Maka?" He questioned quietly, trying to remain calm as his meister remained unresponding. "Hey, what is it?"

She didn't reply, closing her eyes and focused on the ominous feeling, attempting to track down the source. It continued to grow, her stomach beginning to churn nervously and she knew it had nothing to do with the exploding candies.

"I... Don't know." She told him quietly. She could almost see it, flickering on the edge of her vision as she tried to pinpoint the cause of her discomfort. Hesitantly, she stepped forward towards the entrance to an alleyway, following the faint flickering light that danced on the edge of her vision. Immediately, the feeling pulsed, flashing through her mind like a bolt of lightening. Certain now, she bolted between the buildings, ignoring the disgusting state of the alley and instead focusing on the dread filling the pit of her stomach. She knew wherever this lead, it wasn't good, but somehow... She felt drawn to it. She had to find where it was coming from.

"Maka!" Soul called out from behind her, running to keep up. His concern raised when she didn't so much as tilt her head to acknowledge him. He quickened his pace to follow.

Somewhere in the depths of her mind, it registered that this was not normal and she should not be heading towards something inspiring such emotion in her, but the keening of that feeling drowned it out. She didn't slow, the call raising in volume as it drew her deeper, appealing to something within her that she never knew was there.

She had to reach it, whatever it was.

Her feet pounded on the cement, her steps echoing around her.

Faster, it seemed to urge her, pulling her forward. Faster!

I'm coming. She replied, the burning in her muscles pushing her on.

She whipped around a corner where her momentum was forced to end when she ran directly into a wall of muscle.

She thudded into the thing hard enough to throw herself backwards from the impact, sending her right off her feet and colliding painfully with the ground on her rear. She winced, rubbing her abused nose and glancing up at the person who had gotten in her way.

"Maka!"

She glanced over her shoulder, as if just realising that Soul was still with her. She blinked slowly, feeling groggy as if she had just woken up. "Soul...? What happened?"

It was then she noticed.

It was gone.

She exhaled in frustration, searching for the feeling and coming up with nothing. It was almost like it had never been there at all.

"Hey!"

She looked up again, her irritation evident, only to be met by the livid face of a man three times her size. He glared down at her, his eyes narrowed dangerously. "Ain't you gonna apologise?"

She frowned, the tone of her voice coming out slightly petulant. "I'm sorry."

He raised in eyebrow, leaning down towards her, his rank breath brushing past her face as she forced herself not to noticeably gag. "I don't like your tone there, chicky. So I'm gonna tell you again. Apologise."

Warning bells began to sound as she jerked back, realising that the man had a number of others behind him, all looking at her with expressions of interest. She did not need her soul perception to tell her that these men had done some bad things and if she wasn't careful, she was next on the list.

"I'm sorry." She replied more sincerely, attempting to stand. She yelped slightly when his large hand grasped her shoulder, shoving her down again.

"I think you should repay me for your lack of respect earlier." He told her coolly, advancing a step forward as she scuttled back, "You're body will do. It's not much to look at, but I'll settle."

Maka felt her teeth bare at the thought. She moved to stand and once again, his hand moved to push her. She twisted to the side, his hand groping at empty air. She stood, watching as the man stumbled slightly and just managed to right himself before he wound up with his chin to the pavement.

"Sorry again." She said coolly, although she knew provoking him further was a foolish move. She felt frustrated and confused with how she even wound up here, she did not feel like dealing with this pig of a man. She would not permit him laying a hand on her again. "I suppose I should have caught you."

His mouth twisted, his cheeks coloring slightly in embarrassment as he tensed. He reached forward although this time, she did not move to avoid him. If he tried it again, he would really regret it. She wasn't helpless and she wouldn't act like she was. She braced herself, her hands clenching as she prepared to move. "You little bitch...!"

It happened quickly. Soul was suddenly in front of her, his hand firmly grasping the other man's in a tight grip, his face blank. His eyes, however, were threatening pain should he decide to continue his advances.

"Hey buddy, how about you back off."

The man jerked his arm from Soul's grasp, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he looked Soul over. "What are you going to do about it pipsqueak? You're girl here don't have no respect. I'm going to teach it to her."

He made to step forward but Soul held his ground, not giving an inch.

Her Papa stood between her and them. She could barely see over his shoulder although Papa couldn't block all the yelling from her. What were they doing now?

"You're not laying a hand on her." Soul said simply, ignoring the way the rest of the group were surrounding them now, keeping his eyes on the biggest potential threat.

He pushed around Papa, grabbing her wrist and yanking her forward. It hurt! What were they doing? Papa!

She heard Soul's breathing picking up the pace, his soul wavelengths frantic. His shoulders were solid, his eyes set straight and daring. He was hiding it well and if she didn't know him the way she did, she would never have known how worried he was.

A flash of steel...

"You're really asking for it punk. Who the hell do you think you are?"

A spurt of scarlet...

Soul tensed, pushing Maka further behind him and against the wall. "It'll be okay, Maka." He whispered, "If we have to, we can fight our way out."

Crying, begging, pleading and then...

"S-Soul?"

"Just stay behind me, Maka."

"But Soul, we can't..."

"Aww, look guys, she scared! Looks like the little bitch finally realised what kind of situation she's in!"

"Back off!"

Guns.

And pain.

She knew what he was going to do almost before he did. The tips of his fingers glistened, a faint glow emitting from his arm as he prepared for the transformation. He was making the same mistake.

And she was going to watch it happen all over again.

No...

Not again.

She didn't want to be alone again.

She would not lose Soul too!

"NO!"

Maka shoved forward, her abrupt movement shocking Soul enough to stop him from finishing and his hands becoming pure flesh once more. She stood before him, arms outstretched and shielding him the best her smaller body could. Her eyes furiously challenged every one of the men before her, daring them to come so much as an inch closer.

Time stood still, all those involved shocked into silence by her bold act.

However, the spell broke moments later, a smile coming to the face of the man before her.

"Oh dear, looks like we've got us a wildcat boys." He sneered, earning a chuckle from his goons. "What should we do now? Obviously all of us can't take you on."

"I'd like to see you try." She snarled, her words far more confident then she felt. "If you think you're man enough, go ahead."

He chuckled, taking a mockingly slow step forward, reaching out to grasp her with a grubby paw.

Soul stepped forward, his wavelengths filled with panic and concern. "Maka!"

Shouts. Laughter. Soul's voice. Her own heartbeat all filling her mind at once. Her mind moved in a frenzy, too fast for her to track and yet, it made perfect sense, her adrenaline taking over what her thoughts could not follow.

She stepped forward, her hands resting on the man's chest. Her feet were steadily planted on the ground as she breathed, trying to remember the instructions as both Black*Star and her books had told her. She could feel it building, the power pulsing through her, steady and strong before shooting to her hands and blasting out from her palms.

The shock to her body was far more then she had anticipated.

She felt her strength wax and wane in the blink of an eye, her vision turning black as she fought to keep herself standing, her mind light and fuzzy. She could hear screams fill the air, the pounding of feet as the herd scattered and Soul's shouts as he caught her.

"-ka!"

Had it worked? She had heard of people using their wavelengths as weapons before but she had never tried... Why did she feel so tired?

"MAKA! Wake up!"

Everything was so... Heavy...

"Did... It work?" She questioned, her voice coming out weaker then she had anticipated.

His voice was hesitant. "If... That's what you meant to happen, I guess it did."

A lopsided smile fought it's way to her face. "I'm glad... You're safe... Soul..."

Then the world went black.