An Escape. (A Soul Eater fanfic)

Mother.

Chapter Twelve: Mother

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Several days passed. Everyone's routines had gone back to normal, but uncertainty hung in the air.

On an unusually cloudy day (after all, it was nearing summer), Soul asked Maka if they could talk.

"Of course," she replied, pausing the absentminded scratching in her notebook.

Professor Stein had taken the day off, and the substitute had set them loose. So naturally, Maka had been one of the few quiet students and decided to simply doodle the time away.

"You know the whole thing that happened at the restaurant a while ago?" He took her tensing as a response. "It's been bugging me lately. I can't help but feel like you knew that guy. Is something going on we don't know about?"

He seemed to grasp that if it was a secret, she didn't want anyone accidentally finding out-so he'd kept his voice low and occasionally glanced around the room to make sure no one was watching.

Maka seemed dumbstruck. "Soul...I appreciate the concern, bu-"

"I knew it. There is. Does it have to do with why that guy was in jail?"

Tentatively, she nodded, afraid of his reaction. Would he laugh? Call her pathetic?

"I see. That's awful. I'm glad you got out of there in one piece," he said, clapping her on the back and side-hugging her, like he did to Black*Star all too often. A 'bro-hug', they'd call it.

"Yeah..."

"So that was why Kidd got so pissy all of a sudden," he mused, "and why you made a mad dash for the ladies room."

"...yes."

He chuckled and ruffled her hair, to which she objected with a smack to his hand.

"You can trust us, Maka. 'Sides, Kidd managed to knock the daylights outta that guy. I don't think he'll be looking for round two for a long while."

Maka smiled, her shoulders relaxing as she was set at ease by Soul's acceptance and reassurance.

"Thanks. It means a lot."

"No prob."

She resumed doodling in her notebook, but the carefree lines seemed to flow together easier and with less effort than before.

Later in the day, as Kidd and Maka sat in the library doing homework, Maka's mind began to drift.

After a few minutes, it wandered to the boy seated across from her.

"Hey, Kidd?" She voiced, setting her pencil down.

"Hm?" He looked up from his work. Although his bruises were beginning to fade away, they were still visible and one could tell from a first glance that he'd been in a fight.

"I just realized...I don't really know that much about you. Like-your family; that kind of stuff. I've been so wrapped up in trying to get away from my dad..."

His eyebrows raised and his mouth formed a small 'o' before his expression darkened, contradicting his next statement. "It's not really that interesting or special."

She cocked her head to the side, pursing her lips. "Still..."

"Why don't we talk about this later? Now's not really appropriate." He quickly returned to his work, and Maka frowned.

"Alright..."

Sooner than later, they both wrapped up their homework and slung their backpacks over their shoulders. It was quiet between the two of them, but not uncomfortable.

On the ride home, neither initiated conversation. It appeared Kidd was deep in thought; Maka thought it best to not disturb him, even though she was curious as to what thoughts were running rampant in his head.

"Do you mind if we make a stop somewhere?" Kidd asked abruptly, slowing the car a bit.

"Of course not. Go ahead," Maka said, adjusting her position.

He took a different turn onto a street that seemed familiar-in the back of her mind, she knew it, but she couldn't pinpoint her connection with it; that is, if she even had one.

"My father is a brilliant man," Kidd spoke, staring at the road intently. "He became an entrepreneur at a very young age and went on to be very successful. I don't get to see him much, but I can hardly complain, as he's given me all I could have ever wanted."

Maka nodded, listening intently.

"He and I were very close when I was a child, but a few years ago he decided to begin working abroad. Occasionally I'll get a postcard or an email, so it's nice to know he hasn't forgotten about u-me."

He pulled over next to a cemetery. The rusted iron gates gave it a gothic appearance, but the absence of bare trees and cobwebs said it was safe to enter.

He turned and removed the key, stepping out of the car. Maka quickly followed suit, jogging around to catch up to him as he entered the cemetery.

"My mother was a wonderful woman."

Realization struck Maka at the word 'was'.

"Five years ago, she died. I always assumed she was sick and never told anyone, because one day I woke up and she didn't."

She, not experienced in this kind of situation, had no idea how to comfort him. After several seconds of contemplation, she laced their hands together and squeezed his hand.

"I was twelve at the time. I was shocked and terrified, and I was so out of it that I forgot how the phone worked, and it took me ten minutes to figure out how to call for help." He laughed bitterly.

He stopped suddenly and turned, leading her down a row of graves. He stopped at the eighth one and knelt down. "But she was long gone. My father was informed and he dropped all the meetings he had that month and flew back here so we could grieve together."

Maka read the grave several times.

Death Seikyo

Mother and wife to a family that loved her

04/*8/19** - 0*/28/20**

Maka supposed that erosion could have begun to eat away at the stone, as some of the numbers were unreadable.

"...When he left again, I felt alone. Even though I had friends, I still felt lonely. For years, I was this pessimistic, downright gloomy person."

"Kidd..."

"And then, one night, after I'd finished visiting her, I almost ran someone over. I suddenly felt experimental and selfish-maybe this person could fill the gap.

"And she did. And I didn't feel lonely anymore. I'd never genuinely cared for another person so much in a long, long time."

"...I guess, in a way, our sad stories led to something nice." Maka leaned against him, nuzzling her head against his shoulder affectionately.

He chuckled softly. "I thought you were against overly affectionate couples?"

"Yeah, yeah...it just feels nice knowing I can relate to you on some things."

He nodded.

They sat there for a long while, occasionally making small talk and chitchat. Only when the sun began to set did they rise to their feet and exit the graveyard.

"Thank you for sharing that with me," Maka voiced as they stepped into the car.

"I should've brought it up sooner. It wasn't fair for me to know your story and you to not know mine."

"...Right." She nodded, clasping her hands together. "Kidd...I have another question..."

"Hm?"

"What are we gonna do if my dad tries to go to court or something to get me back? I don't have any evidence of the...abuse."

"We'll win. Don't worry."