It wasn't easy for him. Losing someone he cared so much about. Someone he loved as much as he loved her. Soul was never one to find himself with a broken heart, but with what had happened to him, he found himself trapped in a neverending wash of anguish.
Maka placed a hand on Soul's shoulder as he examined old pictures of him and her: her back was toward the camera, but she turned her head enough for Maka to catch the side of her face. Soul's arm was draped around her shoulder as he walked away, completely ignoring the picture Maka was trying to take of them. He smoothed his thumb over her face and sighed.
"We know you miss her, Soul. We all do. But sitting here like this wont bring her back," Maka said in a tender tone. Soul set the photo down on the dining room table and stood up, the epitome of pain residing in his ruby eyes as he looked at Maka. She pulled him into the most comforting hug she could muster.
He stared, droopy eyed at his blonde partner.
"It's time for us to go, Soul," Maka said as she looked up at him. His eyes meating hers in a somber connection. She took his hand in hers and they walked together, out of their apartment. Maka grabbed something, along with her floating lanturn, and slipped it into her pocket on the way.
Stepping out of the apartment, the two met up with Kid, Liz, and Patty, who exchanged small smiles with Maka and greeted soul with their comforting gazes. Soul eyed the lanturns in their hands and closed his eyes for a brief moment before the five of them started down the street, along the way, running into Black*Star and Tusbaki. The black haired weapon made eye contact with Soul, giving him a warming smile.
They found themselves at the roof of an abandoned building, meeting up with Lord Death and Stein, who also held lanturns in their hands. Everyone, silent, look up at the smiling moon, whose mouth oozes blood. The group lift up their lanturns and let them fly away,
It's been a year since Kuro had passed and it's been hard for everyone to accept the fact that she wasn't coming back. Especially Soul.
They watched, heartbroken as the lanturns glow against the darkened night sky. Soul's eyes burn as he watched, letting his mind drift into the thought of the girl he once loved - still loves. Everything they'd been through, every moment they'd had, every joke, every story, every second he was able to spend with her overwhelmed his mind and he had no other choice but to break down and cry. Maka slipped her hand in his as he silently let the cool tears run down his flushed cheeks.
* * *
Everyone made their way back to Soul's house to share memories they had of Kuro. At the end of one of Black*Star's stories, Maka gathers the attention of all of her guests.
"There's something I would like for all of you to see," she said. "This," - she pulled an envelope from her pocket and held it out to Soul - "Is something she wanted me to give you on this day." The envelope had the date of that exact same day written on it.
"Where is this from?" Soul asked, wiping a tear from his gut busting laughter.
"It's from her. She wanted me to give you this. Today," Maka said. Soul's eyes softened as he slipped the note from his partner's hand.
"Are you sure this is from her?" Soul asked, uncertainty stained in his now shaky voice. Maka nodded and gestured for him to open the letter.
"I think. I think I'm gonna wait. To open it," he insisted. His hands shook as he gripped the letter. The familiar handwriting on the paper making his hands quiver slightly.
"I think maybe we should give Soul some time alone," Kid insisted. Everyone else agreed silently and shuffled towards the door, thanking Maka and Soul as they left.
Soul fell onto the couch and stared blankly at the note. Maka took a seat next to him and stared intently.
"She knew it was gonna happen. From the start. She knew she was gonna die. She knew he would try to take over her soul. She knew about it all before it even happened," Soul said seemingly to himself.
"What?" Maka raised a brow, "How could you figure that out from a letter you haven't even opened?" Maka asked, looking into his eyes. Soul ran his fingers across the date.
"Why else would she know to put this date? It's been a year since she's died. A year exactly. What does that tell you?" Soul explained. Maka sighed pushed her bangs back.
"Well, you know what you have to do," she said. Soul let his eyes meet her gaze. "Open it."
