The snow was letting up by the time Soul reached the town square, and as a result, more and more people began crowding out of the stores and cafés they had taken refuge in. The roads were still slick, and many shoppers chose to continue window shopping and explore the end-of-year sales to wait out the rest of the bad weather.

He didn't know where to even begin looking, but soon found himself running in and out of all the restaurants in the area, searching for the only face he cared to see that night.

In his blind haste in searching for Maka, Soul now sprinted so carelessly he slipped on a patch of ice, and fell back on the cold, damp pavement. A whoosh of air escaped his lungs, and he struggled to stand on his feet again. He pressed his hand against his chest to calm his breathing, feeling the scar imprinted upon his skin through his clothing as he did so. He swallowed hard, and fixed his eyes ahead of him, continuing on through the crowded district.

His breath now came out in miniature, puffy clouds of white, and his exposed hands felt like useless extra pieces of flesh that swung unfeeling at his sides. It was foolish to be outside for this long. He must be the most uncool guy to be out wandering the streets looking for a meister that had more or less fired him as her weapon. Plus, he didn't have a clue to her whereabouts at that moment. Where would she go? What would she be doing? He stopped in his tracks as he looked out over the icy streets toward a street lamp that gleamed feebly on the corner, and he thought of when it had last snowed during that day at DWMA. How Maka had reacted and recovered most of her memory of that fateful Christmas Eve.

"That's it…"

Never once, since Maka was discovered there, barely alive, had he visited the place where this entire mess began. Too many emotions were sure to plague him if he dared to set foot on that road. Too many facts that he did not want to realize. But what if Maka had discovered the place by accident? If she was still anything like the Maka he used to know, she wouldn't hold back from an innocent stop at the bookstore,

He began to run. His eyesight sharpened magnificently from the newfound adrenaline rush he was riding like an ocean wave. He cared not for the people who yelled and shouted profanities after him as he bumped and shoved whoever crossed his path. He ignored the painful throbbing in his chest, a result from the amount of running around he had done earlier that day, and instead of slowing down, he increased his speed, grinding his teeth together from the effort.

Finally, he skidded around another street corner and came to a sudden halt when he recognized the road's name atop a street lamp. This was it. He glanced around, hoping to see his meister approach him from out of the crowd of pedestrians, or sitting at her favorite window seat in the bookstore. When none of these sights registered to his eyes, he sighed heavily, and leaned over, his hands on his knees as he regulated his breathing, completely exhausted.

"Dammit…" He huffed, pushing the hair out of his eyes as he stood up straight again. His whole theory must have been wrong. She probably went home ages ago, why would she be hanging around town alone? She didn't like being alone very much, especially after what happened.

Already half-turned around and ready to leave, he glanced back over his shoulder once more at the street that crawled with shoppers and laughing couples. It was then that he spotted a small, scrawny-legged girl picking herself up off the floor, carrying a brown paper bag. Her dirty-blonde hair was undone, spreading out down her back as she walked forward, away from where Soul stood. He felt his feet move beneath him, as if he were under a spell. He sprinted faster and faster, pushing away everyone and anyone in the way of his meister. He scrambled frantically to get to her, unconsciously reaching out his hand in the process. Only a few meters away from her now and unable to muffle the word he had been mentally calling out all day, he opened his mouth, and yelled.

"MAKA!"

The girl immediately reacted to the strangled cry that reached her, as well as anyone within hearing distance. She turned, just as Soul caught her in his outstretched arms.

"Soul-!" Maka spoke breathlessly, "What are you-!"

"I won't let you!" He heard himself shout, pulling Maka closer to him, "I won't ever let you push me out again! I won't leave you again, whether you like it or not! Do you understand?"

"Soul, get out of here, I'm not your meister anymore!" Maka spoke, her voice muffled in his shoulder.

"I won't!"

"Let go of me!" She pounded furiously on his chest with her fists, and a sob escaped her lungs, "Why do you have to make this so difficult! I was doing fine on my own!" She now sniffled, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I know, but it doesn't have to be!" Soul shouted at her, "What don't you understand? I want to stay with you!"

"Why would you just forget about everything we both worked for all this time!" She questioned, "Why can't you carry on with your dream!"

"Because my dream is impossible without my meister!"

"Then find another one! One that can actually make you into a Death Scythe!"

"It would be meaningless if my meister wasn't you!"

"What do you-!"

"Listen to me! I don't care how long I have to wait. It has to be you."

And out of nowhere, Maka finally crumpled. Soul held her up, crushing her in his arms, as she bawled unashamedly between his shoulder and neck. As she cried, the snow that had swirled half-heartedly down from the sky became lighter and less potent. The two stood, embraced in each other's warmth, until Soul finally made the first move to lead them both through the crowds of people, and away from the street that now held not just dreadful memories, but a single truly wonderful one as well.

"I remembered earlier today that on Christmas Eve I had bought you a present…" Maka spoke later as the two lay under the covers of Soul's bed, "It was a book about famous pianists. Remember, the book you kept looking at when you thought my back was turned."

"Was not…" Soul grumbled, trying to conceal the blush coloring his cheeks.

"Well, in any case, I bought another copy for you. Merry Christmas, Soul."

Soul felt Maka's toes gently graze his foot, and he cleared his throat loudly, before he turned over so he faced away from her. Maka breathed quietly, taking in the familiar scent of him, and slowly beginning to lose herself in the warm and comforting atmosphere, giving in to sleep.

"I-I got you something…as well."

Maka's eyes blinked open, and she stared curiously at Soul's back, which looked rigid and awkward to her. For a moment, she thought he had fallen asleep, and was about to whisper to him when he continued.

"I wasn't planning to or anything and it was kind of last minute, but…"

Beneath the shadowy darkness of the duvet, Soul handed Maka a simply wrapped box that fit perfectly in the palm of her hand. She smirked at him, a tiny giggle flying from her lips.

"I thought you weren't buying anything this year?"

"It's just because it's you. Don't think it's because of anything else."

Inside the box rested a miniature hairpin consisting of elaborate designs of sunflowers and daisies in crystalized form. She closed the lid of the box and clutched it tightly to her chest.

"So how long have you been carrying this around?" She whispered.

"What makes you think I've been carrying it around at all?"

"I dunno, it's just a hunch."

It was quiet for a while, and Maka finally succumbed to her tired eyes, but before she sank too deeply into sleep, she heard Soul whisper a few words aloud. A few words to a question she already knew the answer to. But hearing him say it sent her to sleep with a small smile on her face.

"Since Christmas Eve…"

THE END! wow...agh this made me feel kind of sad... its overrr...but i'm kind of glad. lol i had planned out the climax so elaborately that i had no idea what i was doing after Soul embraced Maka in the street. it was pretty funny. I was like, o crap they have to talk now...WHAT DO I WRITE HERE! but i'm satisfied with the ending and i hope you are too.

see you guys next time! ^_^