Author's Note: Hello readers! You're probably a bit surprised to see my FINALLY updating, but I couldn't dare publish a book without taking care of my first fans. Lots of love guys ^-^

Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater

Chapter Two

Caprice

Nature was a strange, strange place, even in the confinements of Death City. It was a nice, but rather hot day outside. Kids played basketball in the courts, couples strolled around the forest, and windows were open to let in fresh air. A cool breeze occasionally wandered through the streets, carrying bits of information to Franken Stein.

He frowned at a slight disturbance.

The souls of Death City were quite innocent and good. There were only a select few souls larger than his, including Lord Death's enormous soul. However, he had picked up on one quite more... malevolent than the usual soul. He frowned and tried to pick up on the trail, but it was too far away to sense. It was unlikely that a weak kishin could sneak into Death City without being noticed in broad daylight. He relaxed and rubbed his tired eyelids with his fingers.

"Stein, I'm concerned about your behavior."

Stein looked down at his paper and waited for Professor Freeman to finish his lecture. Brave professors had confronted Stein about his strange, reclusive behavior before, but never directly like Professor Freeman.

As the last footsteps filed out the classroom, Stein finally looked up from the floor, and into Professor Freeman's kind brown eyes.

"I'm giving you a second assignment." he said slowly.

"Oh?"

"Yes, you will complete your homework outside, in the sun, and around people." On instinct, Stein reached up to touch the screw on the side of his head. He needed a few more turns- a hand stopped him.

"Stein. Outside. It's simple stuff."

Stein nodded, though his emotions had wavered. No one had ever willingly spoken to him like that other than Spirit.

Stein was an unusual character, even taking his profession into account, his behavior was worrisome. Countless stitches across his face already generated concern, but the giant screw going through his head was downright disturbing.

Click. After a few clockwise turns, his thoughts returned back to his paper. Writing outside was actually a nice change from the crowded apartment building he usually resided in.

Plop. The pen crushed into bits and pieces in Stein's death grip. It gushed ink like black blood, and flowed into malicious rivers and streams over the marked white pages.

"Heh..." He grinned sadistically at the ruined paper. Spilled ink writhed into darker shapes that seemed to motion at him.

"Heh..heh..."

Madness unfolded in the professor slowly and deliberately-it did so with more intensity as the days had passed. The kishin's soul suddenly seemed closer, and the shapes started to bubble and rise off the paper. He ground his teeth, trying not to smile like a madman. Something innocent brushed his consciousness, and he snapped out of his daze. It was small but commanding. He looked for the owner of the sobering soul, and located a curious looking young girl of about twelve. Her companion seemed to be of the same age and height, but his soul was much crankier and stubborn.

"Excuse me sir?"

Stein glanced at the girl talking. "Yes what do you need." he asked curtly. The shadows on his paper returned to streaks of black. The young student (what he assumed from her uniform) looked at him a moment longer, then stuck out a gloved hand.

"My name is Maka Albarn. Soul Eater is my weapon." Soul Eater grunted in agreement. "I heard that you were our new teacher."

"Yes I am." It was not an invitation to talk, but she took it as one. Maka smiled genuinely then clasped her hands behind her back. "Are you a meister or a weapon Mr. Stein?"

"Meister." he answered. Black blood retreated into the corners of his mind like an angry animal as Maka spoke.

"And your partner?"

This girl asked too many questions, yet they did not bother him. This had to be some kind of test Lord Death set up for him.

"Spirit Albarn."

Maka's ponytails went rigid, and her shoulders straightened. He looked at her questioningly, puffing out smoke in the shape of skulls.

Ahh, yes, Spirit did mention a daughter... It seemed hard to believe the man had a daughter. Stein recalled the situation he had been in just a few moments ago-Spirit had consumed one too many drinks, and only Lord Death knew who he could be sobbing to now.

"Alright, it was nice to meet you sensei-Stein." Maka finished, straightening her collar. She turned on the heel of her metal boots, and strode away. He twirled the screw in his head for a few more seconds, formulating an idea in his head.

Click.

"Wait." he called out.

Soul looked annoyed, but slowed his steps down. Maka stopped, and looked over her shoulder with wide green eyes.

"Yes sensei?"

He loped over to them slowly, and his shadow hovered over them. Their tiny souls did not waver, despite their fear of him. Stein reached into what seemed to be an endless coat pocket, and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.

"Where might I find this apartment building?"

Their shoulders relaxed comically.

Stein arrived at his apartment building around late noon, and was grateful to find the apartment heavily air-conditioned. His collar made his neck itchy, and he tugged at it to let in air. From what he could tell, there were only a few people in the apartment building. Only one on the second floor. He had never seen a soul with bandages wrapped across its ethereal surface, but then again, most souls did not have stitches on them either. As he noticed the soul, it hummed happily and came closer. Stein passed a young woman covered in bandages, who seemed too absorbed in her own world to even notice him.

He looked at her a moment longer than he should have, and was glad he did. Her foot caught on the blue metal of the staircase, and she wind-milled her arms frantically.

Stein did not even realized he had moved until her warm body was in his hands, and his cigarette was on the floor. Up close he could smell the spices of her perfume, and the feminine scent of woman. Though Stein was an unemotional man, he could not deny the physical attraction he felt to certain people. He took in a deep breath, and tried to control his instincts, even as he looked into her eyes.

Stein being the man he was, monotonously pointed out "You do know there are a flight of stairs below you."

She raised an eyebrow. "Yes, just a little stumble." she replied with a bit of sass in her voice. The bandaged woman regained her footing, and raised her chin to her full height-unimpressive next to him. She was absolutely fascinating, and he was sure he could find a way to dissect her.

"It seems as if I have failed to introduce myself, my name is Stein." He suddenly felt empty without his cigarette, and retrieved another out of his lab coat.

"Nygus." she introduced herself in a clipped tone. He realized how uncomfortable she was, and before he could say anything, she excused herself and made an exit. He did not know how to react to that interaction-she had not even noticed the screw through his head.

When Stein came to his room, he felt the presence of a Kishin hit him with full force. He groaned and doubled over to the ground, barring both arms over his gut. It was not the force of the Kishin, but the sheer madness of it. He gasped for air, for sanity, but could not stop the onslaught of murderous and evil thoughts.

A sick grin spread across his face. He could faintly hear the sounds of struggle, and felt two souls violently conflict.

"Heh... heh."

I should really stop with these cliffhangers! Next chapter is in Sid's point of view.