I dedicate this chapter to my father. I know I've hurt you a lot, dad. I know that I always disrespect you, but I only do that because I'm too scared to tell you how much I love you and mom. I'm really sorry for all the things I've done bad. I hope you know whenever I fight with you, I'll always love you as my father and that I'm arguing with you out of love. I know it's a strange way of expressing it, but that's just who I am.

-Your daughter,

Alyssa

While Maka was in Kid's house, Soul and Soul-kun-AKA Natsu, though his identity wasn't known at that time yet-were just hanging in Soul's room.

"Ugh!" Soul whined as he fell back on his bed. "There's nothing to do!"

Soul-kun was on the floor, tilting his head and looking at Soul blankly.

Knock! Knock!

Soul and Soul-kun turned their heads to the door. Yes! Something to do! Soul thought! He stood up and walked out of his room. Of course, Soul-kun followed. He was face to face with the apartment door. I wonder who it is. He thought.

He slowly opened the door and a man glomped him.

"Oh Maka~! Your daddy has missed you soooo much! How have you been? That dirty Soul Eater didn't violate my little angel did he? Oh I just miss you so much!" the strange man yelled lovingly, squeezing Soul tighter.

Soul just stood there in surprise, not knowing what to do.

The strange man started rubbing his face with Soul's. "I miss my beloved little angel so much!" he teared up.

What the hell Spirit? Get the fuck off of me! Soul tried to push away from Spirit but he was hugging him too tight. Gah! How the hell does Maka get him off so easily?

Spirit stared at Soul, he slowly started to tear up. "OH, MAKA-CHAN! I didn't mean to have a divorce with your mother~! She wanted to!" Spirit squeezed Soul into a tight hug.

Soul tried prying Spirit off of him but no luck, he was too strong. "How the hell does Maka get this old man off of her so easily?"

"Makaaa~!" Spirit cried. "Don't push away! I'm sorry for having a divorce with your mother! It wasn't my idea!"

"If you weren't such a womanizer, this wouldn't have happened now would it?" Soul barked.

Spirit broke their hug and stared at Soul and weeped more. "You're right," he fell down to his knees. "I'M A FAILURE! I'M THE WORST!"

Soul-kun started barking at Spirit, which caught his attention.

"Hm?" he turned to Soul-kun. "I didn't know you bought a dog."

Soul kept quiet and nervously waiting what Spirit was going to do next.

Spirit picked up the adorable puppy and raised him to his level. He started at him. "H-h-he's. . . ADORABLE!" he said gleefully.

He placed Soul-kun on the floor and playfully rubbed his tummy. "Whose a good boy? Whose a good boy? You are, you are~!" Spirit sang. Soul-kun was enjoying himself, sticking his tongue out with a few saliva coming out.

Soul sweat dropped. He's an even bigger idiot than I remember... "Old man! What the hell are you doing here?"

Spirit stopped petting Soul-kun and stood up. "Hehe," he put his hand behind his head and pretended to scratch it. "I actually wanted to invite you out, just now, please."

"Huh?"

Soul sipped on his coke and chomped on his burger. The sequence repeated over and over again.

Arf arf! Soul-kun barked continuously while he was on Spirit's lap. Some of his white fur were shedding down on Spirit's black pants. He sniffed on the burger Spirit was holding, trying to reach up to it so he could take a bite.

The guys were outside a coffee shop. When Spirit said outside, he really meant outside.

Spirit sweat dropped as he stared at who he thought is his little girl, eating like a vicious animal. He was holding his burger with both hands, he was ready to eat it but Soul was attracting all of his attention."M-maka, when was the last time you've eaten?" he asked.

"Thisft morching (this morning)," he said with his mouth full of chewed up burgers and coke, all mixed up in his mouth.

Spirit gasped. "Maka! You should have three meals a day! Here, you can have my burger!" Spirit willingly reached out his hand to give Soul his burger, even though he was really hungry as well.

Soul swallowed and stared at Spirit for a moment. "You," he stopped. He was about to say, "You really do love Maka, don't you?" But he remembered the fact he was Maka at the moment.

"Hm?" Spirit tilted his head little. "What is it Maka?" His hands were still reaching towards Soul, waiting for him to take the burger.

"Uh, nothing," Soul chewed on his burger one more time. "You can keep that, I'm not all that hungry." He looked down on the table and thought for awhile. What's wrong with me, normally I would take these kind of things but I kinda feel bad for him. He looked up at Spirit and saw him taking a graceful bite out of his burger and taking a little piece from it and gave it to Soul-kun. His face seemed lonely and regretful. He's always with women but why is he like this? I just don't get it. He sighed and this time, took a little bite off of his burger.

Spirit swallowed the chewed up burger in his mouth. "Oh, by the way Maka~!" His facial expression changed in a snap. "How are you with that Soul Eater? He's not doing anything to you, is he?" A sudden vein popped on his head.

Ah, crap! How do I answer this? Soul completely panicked. "Uh... um..."

"Have you told him yet?" Spirit questioned, a soft smile slowly forming on his face.

"Huh?"

Spirit chuckled. "You know what I mean."

This felt like one of those hints that girls give when they want something or want to let you know something little by little. Soul hated that. He's never had a girlfriend before but he knows about the hints that girls give off to guys. Seriously Spirit, you've been with so many girls that you're turning into one! He thought.

"Sorry but I really don't know, what is it?"

Spirit continued to smile. "Did you tell Soul you love him yet?"

Soul's eyes grew to maximum size. What did he say?

Ba~dump! Ba~dump!

His heartbeat became louder and louder by the second. His heart was beating a specific tune over and over again, Soul began to think he has a tiny instrument within his body. He felt his face heat up, he knew he looked like a cherry right now. What's wrong with me today? Why is something like this making me act up so much? It's not a big of a deal, I get confessed to every ones and awhile. But now that the dad is telling me this... wait the dad? He thought.

"O-okay, maybe I do, or maybe I don't. I'm the only one that knows that," Soul's face were still steaming red. He felt like a kettle filled with hot water."But why does it seem okay with you? Don't you usually flip out from this?"

Spirit's warm smile wasn't going anywhere. "Well, every time I see you two together, I always feel that you two have this tie, a connection!"

"You mean our wavelengths?"

"No, no," he shook his head. "Something stronger than that. It's been there for a long time."

"Well, it can't be the heart because that's not even possib-" He stared at Spirit, he was nodding and smiling. Another set of blush spread on Soul's face.

"D-DON'T FUCK WITH ME OLD MAN!" Soul angrily stood up, and banged his hands down the table. The people walking by had their attention at Soul. They were probably wondering why he was yelling like a maniac.

Awwu~ Soul-kun pouted. Then Spirit started petting Soul-kun on the head to calm him down. His smile started to fade away slowly. He dropped his head a little and stood up, holding Soul-kun in his arms.

Shit! I over did it. Soul thought as he stepped back a foot.

"Here," Spirit reached out his hands to give Soul Soul-kun back.

Soul stared into Soul-kun's glittering confused eyes.

"Take him, I'm going," Spirit announced.

Soul gently held Soul-kun in his arms. Why was he feeling this way? He's not his father, his father was more mannered and loyal to his wife than Spirit. He always knew he didn't like Spirit starting from the day they met. Was he wrong about those feelings? He has never in his life seem Spirit this serious a depressed. He has seen him depressed many, many times when Maka denied him as a father. But this was entirely different.

Is it because I was the one that yelled at him? Soul thought, still holding onto Soul-kun. No, that can't be it. He doesn't look like he knows it's me.

Spirit was walking away, almost disappearing from Soul's sight. He wanted to say something so badly but nothing was coming out of his mouth.

"Wan~?" Soul-kun looked Soul with confused eyes. He could see that Soul didn't take his eyes off of Spirit. Exactly what was he thinking?

That was it. Soul was thinking about something. Something from his past, something that he just can't let go.

"He he!" a small white haired boy giggled and ran away with a violin in his hands. He was probably between the ages of seven to eight. "You can't catch me! La la la la la! You can't catch me!" he teased, dashing off inside a luxurious mansion. He looks like he has an expensive tuxedo on. But his ties were tied, his buttons were buttoned and his hair was a mess.

"Soul!" another white haired boy whined and ran after his little brother. He was a little taller and older than the other one, he was probably twelve or thirteen. He had a tuxedo on as well, but it was most definitely more organized and proper than that so called "Soul".

"Soul!" The boy shouted again. "Give me back my violin!"

"No way!" Soul laughed and ran even faster.

"Soouuul!" the older boy yelled out, stretching his name. "Where are you going?"

"Follow me and see!" Soul yelled and sped up again. This time, his older brother Wes, sped up as well to catch up with him.

They've already gone out of the mansion and they were still running. Wes was getting a bit tired but Soul was still full of energy.

"Soul, where are we going? If we don't perform within fifteen minutes, mom and dad will kill us!" Wes yelled between breaths.

"Oh, come on bro! You're being too dramatic!" Just keep following me! It's a surprise!"

A few minutes passed and they finally arrived.

"Ha...ha...ha..." Wes fell down to his knees and tried to breath as hard he could. But he remembered that he was still in tux and he was afraid to get it dirty."S-soul.. You're the craziest kid I have ever encountered!"

Soul just chuckled and cupped his hands around his mouth. "You can come out now!"

"Wha-" Wes turned to a certain direction and widened his eyes. He wasn't usually the type that would make unnecessary expressions but this particular one was uncontrollable.

"Hello, Wes," a beautiful young lady stood before him with a dress bright as the sun. No one could compare from her beauty. Her lips were the shade of pink, no one would know if she was wearing lipstick or not.

"H-hi, Sophia. W-w-hat are you doing here?" Did Wes just stutter? This was rather unusual for something like Wes. He was very high class, he was trained to be proper and well-mannered as long as he lived.

His brother, Soul-who is currently standing up in confidence with a huge grin on his face-was the complete opposite. Even though they grew up together and learned together, he would still run around in his carefree way.

The beautiful young lady smiled at Wes with his surprised expression. "Your charming younger brother informed me that today was your birthday and invited me to your luxurious party. I must say, your mansion is rather lavishing."

"I told her everything you told me about her!" Soul smirked at his older brother.

Wes started at his younger brother for a moment then looked back at Sophia. He saw her knowing smile. When Soul said everything, he meant EVERYTHING! Wes blushed endlessly. He felt like he was being heated up in the over against his own will. Soul, I'm going to kill you after today! he thought right at that moment. Who said Wes was well-mannered in the inside?

He didn't notice that he was currently look at the ground until the light he saw was covered up with a puffy shadow.

Sophia was right in front of him, her hand were stretched out, waiting for his hand. "Shall we dance?" an accidental giggle ecaped from her mouth but it seems like only Wes was able to notice it.

They both danced happily, creating their own music in their heads. The way they moved were perfectly synced, it was almost like they could read each others' minds and play the same melody as their pair.

Soul was getting a bit bored just looking at those two dancing for a few minutes. And you know Soul, a minute feels like a year to him! He got so tired of them dancing and began looking at something else. He looked up, but the sun blinded him. He looked to the sides, but all he could see were green grass. He groaned a bit and decided to look down. And as he did he saw that he was still holding on to Wes's-

Oh, no. Soul thought in horror. He didn't want to keep those thoughts in since Wes needs to know as well. "Oh, crap! Wes! We have to go!" he immediately showed his brother his violin to help him remember. But his brother wasn't looking at him, he was more like looking at something above him.

"Come on, Wes! We have to go befo-" As Soul turned around to run, he bumped into a huge man with black tux. Soul looked up at the man in horror.

This. This was the man that Soul respected. This was the man he feared to see every single day. This horrifying man was Soul Eater Evan's father.

"Father." Wes was also in a horrific state. He immediately let go the beautiful lady. She was quiet, speechless, afraid. There are thousands of words that can describe how she is feeling right now, though this story will never end if I go on.

But that state didn't stay for long. "Excuse me, sir. Is everything alright?"

The over-weighted old man stared at her with fierce eyes.

Surprisingly, the girl was no longer afraid and her expression stayed the same. The two boys just stood there, speechless. They didn't have the guts to talk, not even a single peep from their mouths.

Soul and Wes's father began to open his mouth. "This is none of your business, so I suggest you keep your little mouth shut." His words were harsh and cold. The deepness of his voice only made it worse.

Sophia did not talk back. She followed the man's orders and kept quiet.

He slowly approached Sophia and Wes. He looked down at them as if he was ready to stomp on them like they were tiny ants. "Come now, Wes. You have a performance to do." And from that, he left.

Soul just stood straight, not turning his. Not once in his life did he ever felt loved. His mother always told them brothers that their father loved them very much. And the reason why he's like that is because he loves them. Soul didn't get what his mother meant by that so he would always ask what she meant. But the answer would always be, "You'll find out soon enough."

Not once. Soul thought. He was at the verge of crying but he controlled it because he didn't want to bruise his pride. He thought about the piece of memory. It's been years since that happened and yet, he still doesn't know what his mother meant. He has yet to find the answer to that tiny mystery. His mother also said that maybe he should ask his father for the answer but it was obvious that he didn't have the courage to. His father was only person that would be able to destroy his courage in situations.

But enough of that, the reason why Soul thought of that piece of memory had something to do with Maka and her father. Spirit would always be there to sacrifice everything for his lovely daughter. Soul's father was unreadable. They wouldn't know what he would do with them. Sure, they weren't physically abused or verbally abused, but they have never felt love from their father. Maka had all that but she keeps throwing it away. Or was she really?

Soul's brother had once told him that everything comes with a reason. Sometimes it will be a reason that you may or may not understand but it is still a reason. So this got Soul thinking, what happened with Spirit and Maka really? Wait, no, that wasn't it. His thoughts weren't focused on Maka and Spirit anymore. He was more focused on his father's situation. Why was he like that?

Soul's thoughts were going back and forth to Spirit and his father over and over again. But it was quick so it didn't take up much time. He now realized when he yelled at Spirit, he saw that he wasn't needed in his life. But if Maka would have said that, Spirit would see it in her eyes that she needed him. Maka just couldn't see that yet.

Soul knew exactly what to do. That word that Spirit have been longing to here. The one word that can make his turn back around and face Soul.

"P-papa!" Soul hesitated at first. He felt like he's saying this to his own dad. He would always be calling his dad "father" and never "papa" or "dad" or "pops". Just this once, he'll imagine that it's his father that he's calling after. Just because he's always acting cool with everyone, that doesn't mean he doesn't have a soft spot. No matter how tough things get, family is family and Soul would be lying if he said that he didn't love and care about his father.

"PAPA!" Soul yelled out louder for Spirit to hear. Though, he wished the his father could have heard it, too. But it sure caught the attention the strangers just peacefully walking by. But they turned back to whatever they were doing eventually.

Spirit stopped in his paths. He turned around and smiled. It was the exact same smile Sophia had in Soul's memory. The point when she smiled at Wes that let him know that Soul told her that he had a huge crush on her. But this wasn't the case with Soul and Spirit. It was the smile that lets you know that they know the true.

That bastard. Soul laughed at his own insult. He knew all along.

Before Soul knew it, Spirit was already in front of him. "Answer me honestly, Soul. Do you love my daughter?"

Soul looked up at Spirit. He was a lot shorter with Maka's body. This bastard! This time he meant that. He knew all along and now he's asking me these embarrassing questions!

"I do," he replied without knowing it. Spirit and Soul were both surprised at his reply. He swears to shinigami that he didn't mean to say that! But the question is, did his answer mean the truth. Soul was uncertain himself. All he knew was every time he sees Maka, time stops. Everything around him seems to fade away and the only thing he focused on was Maka. He didn't know if there was something wrong with his or he really does lo-

No! No! He shook his head. I'm sure that's not right! That can never be right. . . right? All these deep thinking made him completely forget the fact Spirit was still right there in front of him.

Spirit faked a cough to catch Soul's attention. "Let me tell you a story."

". . . What?"

Spirit smiled and grabbed Soul by the wrist. "Come on Maka~! Let's go somewhere private with your papa!" Spirit purred and began dragging Soul away from the crowded place. Looks like he was back to normal.

Unlike what Soul usually does, he didn't mind being dragged by Spirit, just this once. He actually feels as if he is the father he always wanted. Loving, caring, and joyful. This day created a new bond with the two, they seem to have learned to respect each other more.

But then Soul remember about the white and fuzzy thing he's been holding. He looked down at Soul-kun as he and Spirit ran. He was bouncing up and down but surprisingly, the dog was enjoying it.

Soul then looked at Spirit. He smiled warmly. He's never done that before. He has smiled before but never that way. Usually it would be a cocky grin or a smirk but now it was a warm smile. It looked perfect since he was in Maka's body but ever wonder how that would look with the real Soul? Just picture it, a warm-smiling-shark-teeth teenage boy. Doesn't seem all that pleasant but ever warm smile is beautiful, you just need to search for the speck of light.

He continued to stare at Spirit. Maka, you have an awesome dad. Don't throw that away. He thought.

"Where are we?" Soul asked and placed Soul-kun on the ground. He took a leash from his pocket and buckled it to Soul-kun's collar. It was obvious that he was in an old park but he asked anyways. But somehow, it seemed familiar.

"This, this is a park where Maka and I used to go to when she was younger," Spirit began to say as Soul wrapped the edge of the leash to his hand. "Of course, Kami was there, too."

That last sentence caught all of Soul's attention. He didn't say a word, he just listened to the rest of what Spirit had to say. Soul had always thought that Maka's mother was interesting becuase of the tales she had told him about since they were thirteen.

"Back then, Maka would be on the swings," Spirit started to sniff. "She was only twelve at that time." His tale became a flashback in his head. All those memories, those sad memories.

"Maka~! Look there's an ice cream truck!" Spirit was still gleeful as ever, even back then. "Do you want some?"

"Yeah! Thank you, papa!" Back then, Maka used to call him Papa. Her honest smile began spreading across her face with her pink cheeks.

"Okay, I'll be right back, Maka!~"

Spirit dashed off with his wallet. He was in luck, the line in the ice cream truck decreased quite easily. He was relieved it was his turn, the quicker the purchase, the quicker he'll be able to see his lovely daughter's face again.

"Vanilla please!" He knew exactly what to get for his daughter. It was her favorite! And of course, it was pure and sweet like his beloved daughter.

While the ice cream man was scooping up the ice cream, Spirits eyes wondered off.

His eyes widened as he gasped in horror. He didn't give much of a damn for the ice cream right now. He knows what he's seeing right now. He knows that's his wife. He knows that's another man.

Kami and a strange man were lip-locked. Spirit was at his limit. He was ready to charge at then, he made a single move.

"PAPA! Did you get my ice cream yet?" Maka's voice was going back and forth since she was swaying in the swings.

Spirit stopped and turned his head away.

"The ice cream is ready, sir," said the ice cream man.

"Ah, thank you," Spirit replied and gave his the money.

He tried jogging towards Maka, being careful not to make the ice cream fall off the cone. "Here, you go Maka. Now, papa will be right back, okay?" he smiled.

"Okay, thank you!"

Spirit ran away from his daughter and dashed a few feet away from the ice cream truck. The exact same spot where Kami and the man were. They're not there anymore. Spirit felt like crying his eyeballs out. Why was she kissing him? Did she get tired of him? Was he not good enough? Why would she cheat on his like that?

Tears started balling down his cheeks. He felt so betrayed.

". . . And that's how things started. That day was the worst day of my life. I tried getting over Kami by going out with other women but it just doesn't work. I still love her."He felt like crying but he used all the power he could to resist.

Soul gulped. "Wait, does Maka know this? Shouldn't you tell her?"

"No, and I'd like to keep it that way, so please, Soul. Promise me that you will not tell Maka about this." He was serious. But Soul wondered why.

"But don't you ever get tired about being treated like trash by Maka? Maka still loves you, too! If Kami was really the bad guy then-"

"That's the point, Soul Eater! I don't want Maka to think Kami is the bad guy. For all we know I would have been mistaken about the incident. And plus, knowing that Maka still loves me is good enough for me."

This was really pissing Soul off. "If you weren't sure then why are you moping about it and womanizing?" He finally said it. He took a deep breath to finish it off.

"You just don't get it. Seeing your lover with someone else is just painful to see. Especially since we had a daughter at that time too. I wanted to forget about it but I just couldn't. It was really painful. And it would be more painful if Maka would find out. So please, just leave everything to me."

Soul had nothing else to say. He was right, but- ". . . Did you ever ask Kami about it first?"

Spirit groaned. "Weren't you listening? I told you, it hurts. So if I asked her and it was true, it would really hurt a lot. And for one, Maka pops out of nowhere from time to time, I'm not willing to take the chance for her to know."

That's what got Soul confused. "But if you're not willing to take that chance then why're you telling me this? Maka could be here."

"Don't worry, Maka doesn't come here anymore. She said it brings her painful memories." Spirit said sadly. This was the exact place where they'd always go to and enjoy being in. Who knew she would learn to hate both this park and her father. Spirit sighed. "Come on, you better head home, Maka will be home sooner or later."

Soul didn't say anything but obey Spirit's suggestion. Honestly, he didn't want to go back home. He had so much to ask him ever since he told him about their past. He wanted to know more information. But instead of asking, he just kept quiet all the way home.

"Now, remember about what I told you," Spirit shouted as Soul walked towards the apartment.

"Okay, old man! Just go home already!"

There he goes again, Spirit smiled and disappeared.

Soul went inside the apartment and took off Soul-kun's leash. "There you go, Mini Me!" he said, smiling. He grabbed Soul-kun in his arms and placed the leash inside his pocket.

"Ah! It's good to be back!" he yelled as he got inside the apartment room with Soul-kun.

"Hm..." he said as he sniffed the air. He could smell something that he had never smelled here, but he knew he smelled this aroma before. But where. . .?

Soul gasped and gently placed Soul-kun on the floor. He ran to his bedroom and opened the lights. He saw his bed was all fixed, and he never fixes his bed!

I knew it! He was here! He thought.

Soul-kun jumped on the bed and started sniffing something white that wasn't on Soul's bed before. That made Soul notice it.

"Oh, it's a note," he said. He wasn't joking when he said it was a note. There were actual notes printed along the sides of it and that just made his suspicions grow from who it was from.

The note was written in clean cursive:

Dear Soul,

I came to tell you important news but when I have arrived with your spare key hidden under the mat (that was a rather typical place to hide a spare key), I found that you were no where in your apartment. Seriously, you need to side it somewhere else.

"This bastard!" Soul said and read on.

But that wasn't the reason why I was here. I was here because I was supposed to tell you news about father.

Soul stopped reading for a moment. "Dad?"

Father had told me he wanted to see you, along with mother and I. We will be arriving within a week. Please be at your apartment between the times of 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

Your brother,

Wes Evans

He took the note and folded it. Then he went over a shredder and the shredder began shredding the paper. That's what he always did to the letters his family sent him right after he finished reading them. He didn't want other people to see all of things that they tell him, but will he be able to tell Maka. And what was he going to do when his father is here?

"I wonder if he's still the same," Soul thought.

He stared at Soul-kun who was sleeping. His tiny nose was whistling a bit, Soul could here it. "I guess I should just relax for now."