A/N: Sooo yes I have been moved up a rank to Sergeant Major Asshole for not posting on this in almost half a year. A lot of shit went down since I was on here last time and it's really depressing, so I poured all my emotions and personal problems into this story. I'm really sorry for the delays, so don't expect me to start popping out chapters left and right. Who knows, maybe I will. All I know is that there seems to be this recurring theme of death in my life and it might stop me from being a normal human being in society for a little more.

ANYWAYS enjoy this super long ass chapter. Che-uh. ~ MO.

P.S. REVIEW

*I don't own Soul Eater*

The walk to Dr. Haji's office was a lot nicer than the most recent weather. Summer was finally starting to roll around, putting Maka in a bit of a better mood. She had been going to these therapy sessions for the past 2 months to talk with Haji about... well she wasn't really sure. She had mainly gone because Soul had forced her to. There was no arguing with him.

When she entered his office, she was greeted by his secretary. She was very nice, but always busy with paperwork. Apparently, this Dr. Haji was very popular amongst the wealthier residents of Death City. Maka would almost always see Lord Death himself walk through the double doors and take a seat in the waiting room. They would exchange greetings and he would read a newspaper while she continued with her book. There were other special characters too, like the man with the spiky hair and the metal piercings. He was always angry, and shouting at the secretary who was too deep in her work to even acknowledge him. One time she saw a short little man with a long pointed nose enter and ramble on to Maka about how he had a need for power and blood. She never wanted to ever start a conversation with him, but he would simply walk in and took the seat next to her in the waiting room.

After a few minutes of recollecting the past few visits there, Maka heard the door to Dr. Haji's office open. She looked up to see that spiky-haired man walk out and Dr. Haji followed him. He looked over to Maka and greeted her with a warm smile. The doctor looked back at the man who was walking away and waved.

"Good bye, Giriko. Have a good week. Hello, Maka. Would you like to come in?"

"Mhmm." she stood up and walked towards his door, thinking how pointless it was to ask that question. It's not like she had a choice. They both entered his office and she took a seat in her usual spot. He sat down in his chair and pulled out a notepad, the same one he always used.

"So Maka. How has this past week been for you?"

"It's been alright I guess. I'm starting to get my schoolwork done again, although some girls won't leave me alone. But I got to see Soul three times this week which was nice. Normally it's only twice if I barely have enough time."

"Have you talked to your father lately?"

"No." Maka looked down and clenched her fists together. She was finally starting to remember all the times he had blamed her for her Mama's death. She remembered, but she knew she couldn't tell. So much had happened already.

"Why not?"

"Because I can't talk to him about Mama."

"What happened when you did before?"

"Nothing..." she closed her eyes and tried to wash away all the times he had yelled at her for looking so much like her mother. All the times he would bring his fist down on her delicate, pale face. Those memories were buried so deep, they were never supposed to come out.

"Are you not telling me something, Maka?"

"No I'm telling you everything, ."

"What happened when you did before?"

~The alarm clock rang at it's regular ear-piercing volume. A mop of dirty blonde hair sat up and slammed a hand down on the snooze button, rubbing an eye with the other. 6:30 in the morning was always too early for school, but maybe now Maka would have something to look forward to: Soul.

She quickly got out of bed and hopped in the shower. Putting on makeup was easy enough... but... maybe just a little bit more than usual. 'Shit what do I wear?' seemed to be the more recurring question in Maka's head. Normally, it was just the usual baggy, collared button-down shirt with a high-waisted skirt, normally plaid. That and at least 3 long necklaces. She liked wearing a lot of neck jewelry. Hmm... but now she wanted to show off a little bit. But why?

The thoughts of actually trying to dress up for someone like Soul were quickly removed from her Short Term Memory. Looking good wasn't something she didn't want to worry herself with... but maybe changing it up a bit without too many people noticing would be nice. Maka bolted to her closet and pulled out yet another summer dress (she owns many) and hurriedly threw it over herself. This one was cream colored with prop planes and fighter jets on it. There was a fan pocket on the right side which she slid her phone into. It looked very retro, and very complimentary to her slender girlish figure. She grabbed her black pearl necklace her Mama gave her and ran out the door with her school bag. Today was the beginning of the one week countdown for Summer vacation.

Bells rang right as Maka took her seat in homeroom. She had gotten a lot more attention than she had wanted. Soul's attention was the only attention desired. Ever since they went to see her Mom's grave a few weeks ago, Soul has done everything he could to ease Maka into normal society. He was slowly starting to become the only thing she cared about, and the one "friend" she could actually talk to. The green-eyed beauty was surprised when a few guys in the hall did a double-take when they saw her and bled violently through their noses. There were upperclassmen, mainly girls, staring her down with envy. This was just like when she and Soul had met for the first time, except she was getting all this attention on her own. There might have been a small amount of pride shown on her face.

"Umm excuse me, tramp, but when did I say you were allowed to /try/ and look better than me?" said a snobby voice from behind Maka. She was really hoping Arachne was done bothering her a few weeks ago. Trying her best to ignore the catty remark, Maka continued walking as if she hadn't heard anything at all.

"I said EXCUSE ME. I'm talking to you, stupid girl." she still didn't look back. Nobody was going to ruin the somewhat decent morning she was having so far. As she walked, Maka could hear other people whispering about the scene Arachne was about to create for her. This wasn't going to be good.

"You stupid bitch, how long is it going to take for you to understand when someone is talking to yo-" Arachne screamed at the top of her lungs but was cut off by a third party.

"Shut the fuck up, Arachne. Nobody cares." she whipped her head around to see who would have dared to talk back to her. She was shocked to see Soul standing off to the side with Blackstar and Kid. He walked away from his two best friends and over to Maka, who was frozen in her place. Maka slowly turned around and met with Soul's eyes. 'This public bullshit needs to stop happening with me...' she mentally reprimanded herself for actually getting involved with this guy. While she was yelling at herself for being so stupid, she didn't realize how close Soul was to her now. She also didn't realize the amount of people watching them in the hall and she /definitely/ didn't realize what Soul was doing until he had already grabbed her waist and pulled her close. He leaned in close to her face and loudly whispered, "You look absolutely gorgeous today, Maka Albarn." then he dipped her sideways so her long hair was almost touching the ground, and began to kiss her. Maka had no idea what to do since this had never ever happened to her before. She wasn't planning on Soul Evans trying to publically display his affection for her, affection she wasn't really sure he had. Well, that wasn't true. The night they went out to dinner, he showed her the sweetest side of him, and she was starting to assume that wasn't all she would see.

Once her mental gears began to move, Maka tried to push him away, and he got the message. Soul pulled her up off the ground and let go of her. He walked back to his friends, shut his locker, took his backpack out of Blackstar's hand, and proceeded towards his next class. Kid and Blackstar both gave him a high five for taking everyone by surprise, and he looked back at Maka to give her a wink.

Maka stood there, not knowing what to do. She was so incredibly furious with Soul for doing something like that to her in public, but at the same time, very ecstatic that he was so romantic. A small blush formed on her face when she noticed all the people staring at her. She looked over her shoulder at Arachne who was red in the face with anger. She turned in the opposite direction, about to stomp off - before doing so - she threw Maka the $150 that had been taken a little over a month ago. Erucka and Medusa blindly followed behind when she turned her back. With that, Maka ran down the hallway, away from the scene and right towards Soul.

When she caught up to him, she grabbed his shoulder from behind and jerked him around. "Hey. Soul. What the fuck."

"What the fuck what?" he asked innocently. He was used to her little bursts of confidence, now that she was starting to stand up to him. She had forgotten his two best friends were standing next to him, giving each other confused looks.

"Why did you do that?! In the middle of the hallway, too?! There were tons of people watching us! Now they're going to think we're dating or something!" she said louder than she had wanted to. Maka realized she didn't mean to come off a such a bitch, but there was no going back now. Kid and Blackstar both looked at each other and backed away, afraid of what this antisocial bookworm might do to their white-haired friend. They sure as hell didn't want to witness it.

"I thought we already are dating?" he smirked and stepped closer to Maka. "Remember our date? You're telling me I need to make this official?"

"Soul DON'T." she was really hoping he wasn't going to cause a scene, but it was inevitable at this point. She liked him a lot and everything, but Maka was hoping he wasn't going to make it known to the rest of the world that they had a 'thing'.

"EVERYONE. EVERYONE IN THIS HALL RIGHT HURR." immediately all the girls in the near area stopped right in their tracks and started drooling over Soul. Eventually, everyone in the hall gave their attention to the ivory-haired teenager. "Hello. My name is Soul Evans and I would like to share something with all of you. Does everyone see this girl right here?" at this, he pointed to Maka. She turned bright red and looked down at the ground. 'Oh my god Soul...'

"This is Maka Albarn. She is the most beautiful girl on the planet, and the smartest girl I know, but nobody else can have her. You know why?" he paused for a moment and scanned the confused crowd of people. "Because she's all mine." Maka looked up at him, angrier than before. 'Who the hell does this guy think he is?!' she asked herself as she prepared a book in her hand for a Maka-Chop, but never managed to pull it out of her bag because Soul was standing in front of her once again. He took both of her hands in his and got down on one knee. She looked... well, more like /glared/ down at Soul who was looking back at her with a huge grin.

"Maka, will you be my girlfriend?"

"Are you seriously doing this right now, Soul?"

"Yes."

"I thought you were too cool to do stupid shit like this."

"If you say yes, I promise it'll never happen again." Maka sighed and actually thought for a moment if being his girlfriend was really something to consider. He was clearly interested in her, so what was holding her back so much? 'Screw it...'

"Alright. I'll be yours."

Before she finished her sentence, Soul stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her lightly on the mouth. She pulled away from him and smiled a little. Maybe this would be nice. Something new...

The crowd in the hallway started cheering them on, and a few girls cried since the hottest guy in school was now taken. Maka and Soul said their goodbyes and she watched as his two best friends high fived him for the second time that day. She continued the rest of her day normally, to her surprise. There were a few glares from other girls in the halls every now and then, but she was slowly becoming used to it.

After school was over, Maka started to make her way home as usual. The sun was out and she could feel the warm rays on her shoulders. Beautiful weather always put her in a good mood. As she walked, she thought about all the things that happened that day. People had noticed her, Soul had noticed her, Arachne ate shit, and she was now dating the coolest guy ever. She smiled to herself. For some reason, Maka felt more accomplished than when she found out she was the first in her class.

Maka walked up to her front door and unlocked it with her key. She walked in to find her Papa was already home. That was unusual. Maybe since they never talked, now would be a good time to try. She walked over to where he was standing in the kitchen and opened the fridge.

"Do you want some coffee, Papa?" she asked with her sweetest voice.

"Yes, please." Spirit said in return. He had been looking in the cabinets for something to eat, apparently unsuccessful.

"I could cook as well."

"If you feel like it. I could always just order something." he was being distant and Maka noticed. Why didn't he try to talk to his own daughter? She could have dropped out of school and moved to the streets, for all he knew.

"Maybe Chinese would be nice."

"I'll call them. Pork Egg Foo Young, right?" he walked over to the phone and called the local Chinese Restaurant.

"Yes please." well at least he remembered what she liked to eat. He ordered their food and hung up the phone. Maka sat down on the couch and he followed her. He took a seat on the chair across from her. An awkward silence took over their large living room. Maka's eyes followed the family pictures on the mantelpiece, across the various instruments left out on their stands, and up to the Grand Piano. She sighed, thinking about her mother. It had been just over a year since she passed...

"Do you ever miss her?"

"What?" her Papa looked up at her in confusion.

"Mama. Do you ever miss her?"

"Of course I do, Maka. I miss her everyday."

"How come you never see her with me?"

Spirit looked shocked. "You go see your mother?"

"Why would I not?! She was everything to me! You always act like she never existed. Ever since she died, you changed for the worse. I already lost my Mama, but now I have to lose both parents? It's not fair." she could feel all the emotions stirring inside her chest. Maka didn't want to cry, but her Papa needed to know how horrible she was feeling. An unknown force was pushing her to let everything out all at the same time; to explode. She wanted him to understand her for once.

"She was everything to you?! How can you say that, Maka?! Do you even remember how your mother died?"

Maka was completely thrown off guard. Why would he question something like that? Kami was her mother. Of course she was her everything. How could he say that? Then again... why couldn't she remember that night anymore? The night her Mama passed away? It was some kind of accident, right? She looked down at her hands and held her head. "Why can't I remember?"

"You're the reason she's dead." She looked up, completely shocked her father would even say something like that.

"What? Papa, how could you say that?" the tears began to well up in her eyes, making her vision blurred.

"You don't understand. I was protecting you. This whole time you thought it was some kind of accident? No. She tried to kill you Maka. She was insane. I was the one who protected you and ever since then you never talk to me anymore. You give me this false, cheery persona, as if everything is okay. Well it's not." he stood from his seated position on the chair and moved to the kitchen to get a drink.

"I do it because I figured you needed that. You lost the woman you love, and I lost my mother. I assumed you would try to help me as well, but all you've done is shut me out and drink yourself to sleep with different women every night. How can you say you love someone - love me - when you give all your time to whores and booze…" A hand flew through the air and landed across her pale cheek. Maka fell to the ground, her hair covering her face. She let out a small sigh, trying to hold back her tears.

"Everyone mourns in their own way. Get out of my sight." Spirit spat to his daughter. His logic was a bit construed at times, Maka thinks it's because of all the trauma. There was no way her mother would try to kill her. Never. Their relationship was stronger than Lord Death himself.

However, the young blonde had no choice but to obey her father's command, or else he would start hitting again. She hurriedly went through the things in her room and changed into jeans and a black hoodie. A black backpack sitting in the back of her closet was now on her bed and stuffed with other dark clothing. She was planning on running away, at least for a short amount of time. Maka needed space from her father, and that also meant wearing a bit of different get-up to hide from her father even more. Her goth phase really did pay off. Spirit would never notice her in all this old attire. Just in case, she threw in some normal clothes as well.

Slipping into a tattered pair of Dr. Martens, the hooded teenage girl slowly climbed out the window and leapt to the ground. She began to casually walk down the street, backpack strapped on, and pulling out her phone to dial Soul. All of the adrenaline pumping through her veins distracted her from the previous fight she had with her father even though he was the reason she was doing this. There was something inside of her that had changed. A new part of Maka had formed, one that would be the driving force for all of her actions to follow this current began to crowd her eyes again, but she held back a sob when Soul picked up his phone.

"Hello, love." Soul immediately spoke. She could hear him smirk through the phone.

"Soul? Hey, umm, what are you up to?" Maka asked while sniffling.

"What's wrong?" completely ignoring the question, he sounded very concerned; almost angry.

"Just having a bad day. Do you think you could pick me up?"

"Of course, Maka. Where do you want to meet? I'll leave Kid's right now."

Maka looked around at where she was; still in her neighborhood. There was a diner a few streets over, though. Perfect. "How about Death Diner?"

"I'll be there in 10 minutes. Just wait for me, alright?"

"Okay." she managed to softly say before saying goodbye. She hung up the phone and made her way to the diner.

It only took 5 minutes to get there, but Soul was already there, leaning against his bike and tapping his foot. Maka noticed the skidmarks in the parking lot. He must have been going 90 miles per hour.

"Hey." she said as she walked up to the impatient and concerned looking boy. Right as he spotted her, he ran to her, standing only inches away. He noticed the red hand print on her face and grew angry, but seemed to hide it. 'Anger isn't what she needs right now.' Soul hugged her tightly and held the back of her head with his hand. His brain was rattling from the inside like someone was kicking him; so much emotion was flowing from his pores, and this force was driving him to show it. As of now, she could feel all the emotions bubbling back up in her body and she shuddered as the tears began to flow again. Soul tensed up every time she sobbed, but only held her tighter. The young couple stood in there in the parking lot for 10 minutes, Maka burying her head in his shoulder, and Soul whispering in her ear that everything would be alright. He would protect her.

"Do you want to sit inside and tell me what's going on?" he pulled away and brushed a tear off her cheek. Maka never knew he could be this sweet. At school, he had such a laid-back, but very cold exterior. This was a whole different Soul, and just that made her start to feel better. If he was showing her the real "him", then she was more than happy to return the favor.

"Yeah" *sniffle* "It would be nice to talk with someone." He held her hand and guided his girlfriend into the diner, covering her shoulders with his jacket and buying two hot chocolates.

Maka found herself talking for hours about her mother's death - which he already knew - and her father's temper and tendency to lash out at her. Soul was having a hard time contain his anger towards Maka's father, but never once directed his attention anywhere else.

It was decided that she would come home with Soul. No 'ands', 'ifs', or 'buts'. Maka was definitely happy to go stay with the person she was now closer to than her own father, but still a little hesitant. Then again, she knew her father wouldn't notice her gone for one night. She straddled the back of his bike and held onto Soul's waist for dear life. He smirked to himself and took off towards the wealthier part of Death City. It was a tiring day for Maka and he couldn't wait to go home and pamper his first actual girlfriend. ~

The notepad closed shut and Dr. Haji shifted in his seat. He now understood her reasoning for no longer living with her father, but there was still much more to talk about. He was internally surprised that she had still been agreeing to see him every now and again, although the doctor had never heard or seen Spirit Albarn himself.

"Your father used to hit you?"

"Yes…"

"How long did it go on for?"

"Who knows… but it's never going to happen again, so I just choose to leave it in the back of my mind."

"I see. Well I think that's enough for today. Check in with Saya on your way out the door, and have yourself a nice weekend."

"Thank you. You too." Maka stood from her chair and opened the double doors. Lord Death was sitting in a seat to her left and waved a shy hello. She returned the greeting and walked over to Dr. Haji's secretary, Saya. Maka tapped on the desk and cleared her throat to get her attention. It seemed she had fallen asleep at her desk.

"Oh hello, Maka. Sorry, I've been getting really sleepy lately for some reason. What can I do for you?"

"Dr. Haji told me to come see you before I left."

"Oh yes, it's to schedule your next appointment."

Maka let out a sigh. "Great…"