Disclaimer: Soul Eater does not belong to me. However, I do own a handmade Maka bookmark that I bought from Anime Expo 2009. :)

Author's Note: Hello hello my readers, old and new! I present to you the new SoMa installation that I had mentioned in my earlier story, Complications! Wh00t!! b^^d

[Speaking of Complications, thanks so much to those who reviewed! I really enjoyed reading them, and they always made my day! :) ]

Yes, another university AU, again inspired by the fact that soon I'll be a college freshman. (Ah, my high school days...I miss them already.) This AU is different from the one in Complications, though. Just to let you know.

I hope everyone who reads this enjoys this! Now, on to the story! b^^d

Chapter 1: Recruitment

"And that concludes the performance for the evening."

An immediate wave of applause overtook the auditorium, drowning out the scrape of the pianist's seat as he stood to regard the wealth of onlookers. Rays of bright light reflected off the gilded ceiling and walls, highlighting the piano's smooth shine and the creases of his ink black suit. His mouth was a thin line, with neither a curl nor a whisper at the edges.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our newest talent plucked from the elite of New York itself- our very own Soul Evans!"

If possible, the smattering of applause increased in volume. He bowed- one arm tucked under and the other left stiff at his side- and looked up to find himself being awarded with a standing ovation from center to balcony.

And still he did not smile.

Boredom. Fatigue. Dullness.

Soul fought down an overwhelming urge to- scream or yawn, he honestly didn't know which at this point. For some damn reason, he had gone and gotten himself attending yet another fancy reception. It was at a ritzy hotel located on the more distinguished side of the New York City streets, crystal chandeliers and smooth tiles included. Everything here sparkled, even the guests, and tinkling laughter could be heard here and there as they indulged in the privilege of finery and class.

And it was all making him sick.

"Why, if it isn't Soul Evans himself!" exclaimed a man near his elbow. He was dressed in a sporty blue tuxedo, a glittering woman leaning close on his arm. With a wine flute in one hand and a cigar in the other, he was the very image of the classic- and wealthy- American man. "A marvelous performance you did tonight, my boy. Mixed a bit of Beethoven with Bach, did you?"

The woman on his arm giggled as if at something lewd- though how she could connect Beethoven or Bach with anything lewd, Soul did not know nor cared to know. He shoved his hand into his pockets, resulting in his pose looking more careless than refined. "Yes, that is exactly what I did. I didn't expect anyone to be able to notice something so subtle during my performance."

The man beamed at the praise. Taking another puff from his cigar, he was a bird preening his feathers. "Of course, only someone from the Evans family could have managed something like that with such fluidity. I've never before heard classic and baroque woven together with such exquisite precision. You will most certainly have notable patrons in the future, my boy. And you are only what- sixteen?"

"Seventeen," Soul automatically corrected with a mechanic grin, though on the inside he let out a groan of displeasure. This man was far too loud with his predictions- out of the corner of his eye he could see another woman stopping by their little crowd, swooping in for the kill.

Well, at least it wasn't someone else who could have been here. Someone who would've been really annoying to be around right now.

"So you are the new Evans prodigy, hmm?" the newcomer questioned. She was a tall, thin twig, with a flowing blue dress that sparkled just as much as the wine. Her shoulders and neck were bare and without blemish, and her red lips curved pleasantly as she leaned in close. "What an honor to meet you at last."

This woman looked like she was in her late twenties. A bit too old for him. But the softness of her breasts was enveloping his arm, and her scent was sweet, alluring, ripe with sin. "The pleasure is all mine, madam."

She tittered. For a brief moment they locked eyes, and hers narrowed into something coquettish and sly. He knew what she was after, and his body flared with heat.

"Hey, Soul."

The boy stiffened at the familiar voice. He cringed at the feel of another arm encircling his own as though it was used to being there.

"Sorry, but can I borrow him for a minute? We need to talk. Privately. Isn't that right, Soul?"

"Sure thing," he muttered through gritted teeth. He wouldn't look at her. He refused to look at her. He wouldn't even think about giving her the satisfaction of knowing how good she got him this time.

The woman who had been coming on to him mere seconds before backed away with an indignant huff; the others in their little crowd merely gave them funny looks before stalking off in some random direction. As soon as they met up with some other people who were enjoying the party just as much as they were, he was already being tugged out of the door.

The walk down the hallway was short, but Soul felt like they were making the progress of molasses. Each step they took sounded disjointed and out of tune. She was still hugging his arm, and on the inside he was straining away from her with all he could.

"Ah! Over here," she said, breaking the silence. They had stopped at a door at the end of the hallway, small and invisible to the drunkards sure to start wandering around soon.

She finally let go of his arm- finally- to open the door, and with a start Soul remembered that before this he hadn't even looked at her. Not that there was much to look at in the first place, but-

Wait. What the heck is she wearing?

"What are you standing out there for? In here." She tugged on his arm to lead him into a room of dim lights and checkered flooring, which only served to make his unease grow. All of this was inconspicuous somehow, as if they were going to do more than just have a little meeting-

SLAM.

He jerked out of his thoughts, and was glad for it. Any inclination of him doing that with this annoying, unattractive girl was enough to make him barf on the spot- a totally uncool thing to do in this situation.

"Was that really necessary?" he asked, shrugging his hands into his pockets once more. His brows lowered into their customary frown. "I know you want privacy and all, but the doors didn't need to be abused, you know?"

For the first time that night she turned to face him, her dull green eyes alight with the playful, teasing smile on her face. Her boring hair was loose tonight, he noted distractedly. Too bad the change didn't make up for her horrible choice of clothes.

"I take it you already know why I'm here."

"This is what, the fifth time you're gonna ask me to enroll in your crappy university? I already told you, the answer's no," he spat. His glance dropped to her toes and back up to her face. "And what's with the clothes, Maka? This is a cocktail party, not a business meeting."

She slumped, her smile faltering. Her outfit, consisting of a white dress shirt and black miniskirt, seemed to laugh at her in their simplistic state. "I know," Maka muttered, "but they only told me that the event was formal, not fancy. They should have been more specific. Do I at least look kind of cute in this?" she asked, straightening and pointing at herself.

Her, cute? With that flat-board chest and skinny-as-a-stick figure? "Oi, don't make me laugh. I'm not in the mood."

She frowned and stepped away from her spot near the door, growling, "Do you have a problem with how I look?" Her eyes carried the threat of a slow and painful death if she didn't like what he said.

Soul considered letting her know that Plain Janes like her had no hope of being cute in the first place, then thought better of it. He had already experienced how she was when she snapped, and he didn't desire going through that again. Best change tact. "Look, just go back to wherever you came from and tell your phony Shi-su-ken University-"

"It's Shi-BU-SEN!"

Did he look like he gave a crap? "Anyway, just go back and tell whoever's in charge that they can kiss my ass. 'Cause I ain't going," he finished with a glare.

Maka showed no outward reaction other than putting her hands on her hips. "Why don't you tell them yourself?"

Soul didn't think she could be this slow. He gritted his teeth. "Like I just said, I ain't going."

"Ain't?" she echoed, moving closer. She sounded amused, more amused than Soul would've liked. "Should someone of your background really be using that kind of language?"

He rolled his eyes, his mouth still in its stubborn line. This girl knew nothing, did she? "Spare me."

Now she was right in front of him. "Why won't you attend our university? What's so bad about it that you don't want to go? Is it because-" Her irises widened, as though she had just come to a realization. "Is it because you don't want to leave this life behind?"

Her question hung in the empty air, then faded away. She stayed where she was, awaiting his answer, and all Soul could do was stand there with a funny noise sounding from the back of his throat.

Didn't want to leave this life behind? No, that wasn't it. There was nothing that he would like more than to leave behind this suffocating, pointless life that held for him only one path and one choice. Nothing he would like more than to escape the admiring glances and praises from people who didn't know Beethoven from Mozart, who cared more about themselves than they did for others.

But this university was obviously a hoax. He knew enough to be wary of certain weird girls who appear out of nowhere to invite you to attend a place that couldn't be looked up on Google Earth. Not to mention her annoying persistence…

"Aha. I actually stumped you today." Soul looked down, realizing for the first time that their faces had gotten quite close during his little flashback. Glowering, he took a careful step away from her.

"You can leave now. I'm not attending your stupid university even if you paid me- not that it's necessary anyways."

To his dismay, she closed the space he had put between them, eyes searching his. "So you really won't? You won't enroll in our university of your own free will?"

Ignoring his earlier demand for her to walk herself through those doors, he pushed past her instead. He couldn't believe he was thinking this, but he needed to get back to that party before this girl said anything else that weirded him out. "See ya."

He was at the door when he heard Maka whisper, "I'm so sorry about this, Soul."

Something heavy hit his head, and everything went dark.

A/N: And that ends the first chapter! The appearance of the second chapter will come sooner or later depending on how many people actually like this. So...please review! b^^d