What? WHAT?!

Yeah, it's the end. :3 This has been fun, and getting all your reviews really made writing this a fun experience. There's not as much romance as I first intended, but I like it, and I hope you guys do too!

Maneuvering himself past the constantly moving teenagers and back to his little safe haven, Soul took the same seat he had earlier. One arm rested on the top of the table as he sat sideways in the chair, back resting against the wall. He had a clear view of the door and the dance floor now. His gaze flickered back to the group gathered around his best friend. Black Star was really soaking up the attention by the look of things. Green, blue, and red all arced through the air, leaving colorful trails behind. The glow sticks were swung in interesting patterns and in a way only someone who had experience with wielding a kusarigama could.

Still, eyes rolled. Black Star would take any oppertunity given to him to get the attention of his peers. A few friends who knew the blue haired boy were hanging back, laughing and shaking their heads at the display the ninja was putting on. Soul had to agree. The sight was something everyone should have expected to happen. He shifted on the seat, looking down in confusion when something bumped against his arm.

It was the red glowstick. He had forgotten all about it. Soul lifted it to eye level by the black string around his neck, letting the object twist and turn from the momentum. Taking one end in each hand he snapped it into life, giving the stick a good shake to get the light going. It dropped back to the end of the cord, dangling and giving his clothes a nice red tint to them. At least the light didnt reach his hair. It was bad enough that the black lights made him a walking lightbulb with his white hair.

With a small sigh he slouched farther down into the chair, feeling the irritating rub of shirt fabric against his back. How long was Maka going to be? He was pretty sure he had been sitting here for at least three minutes. Sure, Kid's house was a mansion, but that didn't mean it took five minutes to get to any room in the place. An exasperated sigh left the boy and he ran a hand through his hair. Parties like this, with large groups, had never been his forte, and Maka knew that. Dance floors, mingling with people he only saw in the hall and classroom while acting like he knew them, that wasn't why he had chosen to come to this city. In fact, it was nearly for those reasons that he left the boring and dull life of being a pianist behind him.

A lazy glance was cast at the door. "Come on, Maka," grumbled Soul. The longer she was gone the more he was likely to get dragged into something by someone else. That someone else more than likely going to be his energetic best friend. It didn't comfort Soul any when an applause sounded and the flashing neon colored lights stopped whipping by his peripheral vision. Great. Hopefully Black Star just went back to DJing and left him alone. "Hurry up."

Luck seemed to be on the light-haired male's side. His friend didn't see him at the table, trotting right back over to his spot there the ending notes of a song drifted through the speakers. Soul released a breath he hadn't even realized had been locked inside his lungs. As long as Black Star didn't see Maka or him and start his obnoxious bragging about how he had been right, then the night could end on a wonderful note. If Black Star, by some miracle, was paying attention and caught Maka and him together then there would be no end to the ninja's loud voice. And who knew? Black Star might even take it farther and announce something over the speakers for everyone to hear. His forehead met the table at that thought.

Lifting his head just enough to rest his chin on the flat surface, the scythe took another glance at the man doors. Still nothing. Maybe Liz was giving her a lecture about him. Maybe Tsubaki was asking question after question. Maybe they had gotten lost. After a short pause he couldn't help but wonder if he should try to go find the girls. Maka had told him to stay there, but there wasn't much of anything for him to do here. Parties had never agreed with Soul, and with Black Star running the music and the rest of the usual people he talked to out doing god only knew what. It was the first time the weapon had realized that he hadn't seen Kid since before this entire thing started. With all the white the Shinigami was wearing you would think he would stick out more so than Soul. Either Kid was doing a good job of staying hidden or had retreated to some other part of the mansion in a symmertical emergency.

A sigh mixed with a huff forced his shoulders up and then back down, a few tense muscles along his upper back loosening a tad. Why couldn't things just ever be simple for him? It would have been so much more relaxing and easier if no one had mentioned this 'Partner Appreciation Day' or whatever, if no one had told him that a gift was basically nessicary, if this entire damn day hadn't started. Then again, he would have never been able to admit to himself that, yes, he did indeed like Maka more than a friend, and he would have never found that necklace. Did the pros to today outweigh the cons?

The arrival of a hand on his shoulder snappd Soul out of his thoughts. He glanced up at the familiar face of Tsubaki, blinking in mild surprise. "Maka's waiting outside."

More confusion. "Why is she outside?" Tsubaki didn't say, just smiled her usual smile. A pause, and one thought hit him. "She's not embarrassed, is she?" The taller girl just shrugged, obviously sworn to secretcy. Soul rolled his eyes, not beliving that his meister couldn't just give him what she had to at the table. It wasn't like anyone was paying attention to them. He glanced over at where his friend was, having to keep himself from letting his head hit the surface of the table. Black Star was giving him that annoying smug smirk. Okay, so the loudest mouth in school was paying attention.

With a small groan he stood, shoving his hands in his hoodie pockets. Mumbling a small thanks to Tsubaki, Soul trudged towards the open double doors. Being made to always come to her like a dog, it wasn't cool, but he couldn't really complain either. Seeing Maka embarrassed was always a fun moment of time. She always got all flustered. The boy smirked and shook his head, pausing at the doors to let two others enter the room before slipping out. He spotted Maka not that far from the doors and switched direction to her.

"Well? What did you get me?"

She glanced at him, a blush obvious on her cheeks. "H-here." Maka held out a bag towards him, turning away like she couldn't bear looking at him.

Soul blinked, smiled, and took the bag. Glancing inside, the first thing the scythe spotted was the cover art of a record he had been looking at buying for a while now. He hadn't told anyone that he wanted the record, planning on buying it himself once he could afford it. "Thanks, Maka!" Shifting the open bag caused the record to shift position, revealing something else. "...Sheet music?" he question, looking at Maka with a raised brow.

The girl didn't look at him, but she did shift uncomfortably under his gaze. "Y-yeah, well...."

"Maka-" Soul sighed, running a hand through his spiked hair. He didn't know what to say. She knew that he didn't exactly like to play the piano and he didn't play many full songs on his guitar. She glanced up at him, head bowed, and an almost puppy dog look to her green eyes. Though the sheet music left him feeling a tad bit uncomfortable, Soul sighed once more, another smile crossing his face. "Thanks."

Maka looked a bit better at that, but the blush was still there. "It didn't cost nearly as much as the necklace you got me, but I've seen you looking at that record for a while now." The meister looked tired, tense and half there mentally.

Soul closed the bag, letting it hang from his left wrist. "Let's head home." Maka looked up at him in surprise, opening her mouth to say something only to have him interrupt her. "If we stay here Black Star's only going to make fun of me and you look exhausted." He wouldn't be surprised if she had worn herself down by walking around the mall only to have to come here to set up decorations. He felt fine, but he also had time to relax. Who knew if Maka had even gotten a break.

Surprisingly, she didn't put up a fight, just nodded and asked, "What would Black Star make fun of you for?" There was a questioning look there, and an accusing one as well. He hadn't done anything bad, dangit, but Black Star had been right about his feelings, and the ninja assassin would be sure to rub it in his face that he had been right.

"Nothing important. Let's just go."

Another nod. She started to lead the way through the maze of a masion. "I'll have to get my clothes." Maka didn't wait for Soul to say anything, heading towards what could only be Liz's bedroom. Soul hung back and waited, knowing that him taking a step into the elder girl's room would be like breaking some unspoken law. Kid probably barely got away with going in there.

She was back out in a matter of a few seconds. This time she didn't take the lead, falling into step beside Soul instead. The two made it out of Kid's home, heading down the streets towards their own apartment. Maka was slowly falling behind, staring at the ground a few feet in front of her. Soul had to pause and wait for her every so often, and the pace just kept getting slower and slower. What time was it? Night had fallen, and the moon was high overhead. It had to be late.

He waited for Maka to catch up once more before crouching down in front of her with his back facing the tired girl. "Get on," he intstructed.

His meister blinked. "I can walk on my own just fine, Soul," she huffed, her pride taking over her mind for that moment.

"You can't walk a straight line."

Though she looked like she would have liked to argue, Maka did what she was told and climbed onto Soul's back. She was pouting, that much was sure with the way she huffed. Meanwhile, he hooked his arms around her legs, carrying the girl in a piggyback. It would make getting home a quicker process, and a silent one as well. With her pride wounded, Maka didn't say much throughout the walk, though she did rest her head on his shoulder, exhaustion taking over.

It wasn't until they were almost home that she said something. "You wouldn't... do anything with Blair, right?"

He wasn't as shocked to hear that as he thought he would be, only lifting his head up a bit and looking at her earthened colored hair from the corner of his eye. "Of course not. I don't like Blair that way. Besides, she's a cat. It's illegal."

"...Promise?"

"What's with the promise? You don't trust me?"

"Just promise me you won't."

"Fine. I promise."

"Kay." She snuggled into his shoulder, body relaxing. Soul had no idea what was with that random little question and promise just then, but it didn't matter. Maka wouldn't tell him, anyway, so there was no point in pressing the matter. Besides, she was tired. That was bound to make her more irritable than usual.

So, he just kept on walking, getting to the apartment complex with a little feeling still in his arms and his back aching like never before. Though, the boy paused in front of the door, wondering just how he was going to open it. Maka seemed to have fallen asleep, her breathing light. "How am I...?" Well, this wasn't good. He couldn't open the door without waking up Maka, and definitely didn't want to do that. Maybe Blair was home. Kicking the door seemed like a swell idea.

The door opened just as the 'kicking the door' thought came to him. Blair was standing there, looking surprised and relieved at the same time. "Soul!" She didn't attack him, just stepped aside to let him into the house. Oh thank God Blair had the smarts to not smother him at the moment. "So? Did you and Maka make up?"

"Not now, Blair." In truth, he didn't know himself. She had seemed to be in a better mood when they had left, but there was no knowing until she woke up tomorrow morning. Passing by the cat he made his way into Maka's room, setting the girl on her bed. She didn't seem to want to let go of his neck, keeping her fingers locked together. Soul sighed, letting his forehead press against hers and a small smirk tug at his lips before he lightly brushed them against the girl's forehead. "Idiot girl," he murmered, having to reach up and pull her hands apart. Maka just rolled over, clutching her pillow.

Soul stood, rolling his sore shoulders and turning to leave the room. "Night, Maka."

"Soul, you promised," came the low statement from the girl curled up on the bed.

"Good night, Maka."