It was a cool night, they had finished their daily chores earlier than expected and Maka had caught more food than expected.

They were all underground with the pot of stew Tsubaki made in the center with the ladle poking out from the sides.

Black Star was finishing his third bowl as Liz barely made it past her first. She sighed happily and a puff of warm air blew past her nose. "Stew's great Tsubaki, can't believe you made that with what little we have."

Tsubaki took a sip of broth and smiled, her spoon dropping with a clink in the bowl. "Thank you, but it's actually Maka's recipe."

"Well, it's actually not my recipe, the old woman I used to live with showed me it." Maka said, she set her bowl down and stretched her arms behind her back.

Soul scraped the sides of his bowl and brought the bowl up to his lips, savoring the last few drops of broth. He sighed happily and placed the bowl near the pot, before falling back with a plop and silly grin on his face. "Man, am I tired." He said between yawns.

"Maka, CHOP!"

"OW!" Soul held his head and sat up, glaring at Maka as she held a worn m in hand. "What was that for!?"

She pouted and leaned back on her hands. "Relax, it's paper back."

"It still hurt!"

Maka sighed and stared at him. "It's been a month, I need to know if I'm harboring a criminal."

Soul continued to rub his head and huffed in false rage. "Wouldn't be fair if you knew mine and I didn't know yours."

Kid raised a brow and spun his spoon in his fingers. "What are you trying to hide something?"

Soul stared at him and nervously clenched the side of his bed. "What would I be hiding?"

"...I don't know, you tell me..."

Black Star shifted his eyes between the two and cracked his knuckles on the ground. He laughed loudly and pat Soul on the back. "HA HA, he's probably chokin' up just thinking about. Don't worry Soul, you'll one day be strong like me!" He turned to Tsubaki and loudly whispered. "But I really doubt it-"

"HEY!"

"DO NOT QUESTION YOUR GOD!"

"It wasn't a question...?"

"What did I just say!?"

"Maka, CHOP!"

Soul and Black Star both held their heads and moaned in pain at the thin dent in there head.

"You're both getting off topic, I need to know if you're dangerous."

He stared down at his hands and picked at his fingernails, refusing to look up and deciding to keep quiet.

Black Star sighed and pat his back. "Man, you're annoying." He laughed loudly and crossed his legs. "Well, let's see... my family's wanted and feared throughout the country, a man kidnapped me when I was seven and brought me here to Death City. Kami found me a took me in as one of her own. After a few years Maka and Kami went out to the market, but they never came back." He shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. "I was still young, so I stayed home at night and looked for you guys during the day. I was searching the forest and found Maka. I've been here for... five years...?" He looked at Maka and she nodded. "Their you go."

Kid crossed his arms and stared at the cold wooden floor below him. "My father believed in souls and thinks they hold a key into the future. A remember her a woman coming in and my father told her she had a special soul, I'm not sure why, but he told her to be careful. He was later taken to trial for his gift and is currently held for insanity. I lived alone for a while, but it's easier living with others and far more enjoyable. I've been here for about two years."

Liz took her and Patty's plate and set them near Kid's. "Well, our's isn't as sad as theirs, but... " she huffed, "Patty and I were the Thompson sisters, I'd lead men into the alley and..." she coughed into her hand and blushed, "offer them...sexual... stuff, but Patty and I would mug them instead. I think we might have mugged Kid before actually... well, anyways, Maka showed up at our usual spot with Kid and we jumped them. She moved out of them way before we did anything, and Kid convinced her into letting us stay with her too, so we kind of owe both of them."

Patty smiled and raised her arms up in the air and laughed. "Ha ha, yup!" She threw herself backward and smiled.

Liz watched as she laughed happily and pat her head. "Yeah... we've been here for about a year."

Tsubaki felt around her bowl and set it down in front of her, the warm liquid swishing around and dripping down the sides. "I guess it's my turn..." she chuckled and played around with her fingers. "My parents died when I was still young, I lived alone with my older brother for a few years. He'd go out during the day and commit petty crimes, then at night we'd buy food or eat whatever he brought home. One day he came home with dark red blotches on his shirt and a sack full of gold coins. I knew what he did, but I didn't say anything as I washed his clothes that night. Guards had come later that week and took me and my brother. He was taken to trial for murder and I for being his accomplice. He was hung in the village square, while I was set free without a guardian. I saw Black Star a few times around town and he later convinced me into joining Maka in the woods rather than on the streets. I've been here for four years." Tsubaki shifted in her seat throughout her story and began picking at her nails after every event.

Maka stayed quiet and turned to Soul expectantly, he avoided her gaze, though nodded just the same.

His mind running possible lies and scenarios, settling for one as close to truth as possible without actually revealing anything. "My parents scammed people for a living, I didn't want any part of it and kept my distance from them. My brother, Wes, was going to pick a bride that night, I left to my get ready and I was suddenly knocked off my feet and kidnapped. I'm not sure why they dropped me off in the woods, or why they wanted me in the first place... like Maka said, I've only been here a month."

It was dead silent between the seven roommates, they all stared down in self pity and worry, constanlty shuffling their feet under the thick blankets they each owned. Maka didn't like feeling, nor did anybody else. She sat up straight and placed her hand on lap, eventually settling for just crossing them over her small chest.

A strong and stubborn gaze as she glares at the pot and takes and heavy breath. "My mother was accused of being a witch. They claimed her movements and stealth was 'other worldly' and quickly shut her out. We left to the farmers market one day and the fruit vendor refused to serve us. My mother reached her boiling point and threatened the man. His table was old and banged up, but when she brought her fist down and hit it, half the town was terrified of the woman who broke a table. They took my mother and tied her to a cross, then they took me and tied my hands behind a pole. A man came with a torch smiled as another poured liquid around my mother. I couldn't stop any of it then and I can't now."

Soul stared at her hard gaze and scratched the back of his head in silence. He let out and huff and slouched. "...How long have you been here?"

She perked her head in his direction and bit her lip to keep from smiling. "Eight years... and all I've learned is how to be loyal."

(A/N)

I'm such a bad person. I know, I know! Stop reminding me!

This chapter really bothered me a lot, so I just HAD to rewrite it. The next one will stay pretty much the same other than some tweaking.

Sorry for such a long Hiatus, inspirations a hard thing to find.

AGES:

Maka: 14
Soul: 15
Black Star: 15
Kid: 16
Liz:17
Patty: 16
Tsubaki: 17

Maka is the youngest but only by a few months. Nothing too drastic

~Your-very-sorry-Ruby