As the days flew by and we grew closer to eachother, I took into concideration the amount of genuine moments we've had that made us look like an adorable couple to those who didn't know us. Although there weren't many, I could tell that over the three years he was gone our bond had grown stronger. It's odd to think that that amount of time apart would have made us grow closer, but looking at it from a phycological standpoint it makes total sense, and here's why:
1. Distance tests the strength of any and all realationships 2. It has been proven time and time again that not seeing someone for an extended period of time causes someone to yearn for that person even more.

With as weird as it may sound it's proven itself to be true...so far.

XXX

"Hey, Maka," asked Tsubaki as we walked up to the doors of Death Café. "Is there anything going on between you and Soul?"

"No there isn't. I mean, besides us being best friends there is nothing there," I replied. "Why?"

"Oh, no reason."

I looked at her suspiciously as we sat down at a table and waited to order our food and drinks. She didn't look up from her menu once whenever she spoke to me. Her voice was rather hushed for the time we were in the café even though everybody else was talking at close to their normal volume.

My suspisions of her having a thing for Soul were confirmed when we went to our place and held the door for Tsubaki like a real gentleman would. Her face flushed as red dominated her features and she instantly dropped her gaze to the ground when he smiled. My brain whirled and began to hurt as I took in the scene that played out infront of me. This wasn't the Soul that had come home from his little 'trip' a few months ago. This was a softer more caring version of the one I had met all those years ago. The grim look that always had made a home of his red eyes had almost completely vanished, the edge in his smile no longer dominated his toothy grins he always flashed, and his posture had completely changed.

"So, Tsubaki, how are things going with being Black Stars partner and all?" asked Soul as he mixed a drink in the kitchen.

"Oh, umm, I guess things have been good. We just haven't gotten a single soul yet," she softly said.

"Wow. He really isn't as godly as he claims to be, now huh?"

"Haha, yeah..."

XXXTimeSkipXXX

I sat at the bar as the music punded in my ears. Parties weren't really my kind of thing or my idea of fun. I much rather would be sitting on the couch or in my room reading a book in complete silence.

"Hey Soul," I called. "Is there a slight chance that I could talk to you in private for a bit. I really need to tell you something that I don't want anyone else knowing about."

"Uhh, yeah. Sure. Right now is fine," he replied.

I grabbed his wrist and lead him to one of the guest rooms where I closed and locked the door behind me before beginning to speak. My heart was racing as I franticaly searched for a way to word what I had to say gentlely. It wasn't going to be an easy task to do.

"Umm...how do you feel about Tsubaki? Y'know, the girl that joined us for lunch the other day," I finally whispered.

"Well, she's very nice and rather beautiful. I would never date her, but I kind of have some feelings toward her. Not many but a few," he said after a few seconds.

"What do you mean by 'a few'?"

"Well...there's a little bit of love in there but only in the friend kind of way. A cool guy like me wouldn't date a girl that's almost as tall as him."

"Right.."

"Why you ask? Is there something you're not telling me? Because you know full well that I'd rather date you than her, even if you have tiny tits."

(Soul's POV)

I watched as Maka's eyes frantically searched my face for any little sign of me lying to her. When she finally didn't find anything, she huffed and started for the door, clearly not wanting to be around me any longer than she wanted or needed to be.

"Maka, I thought we had talked about this a few months ago with eachother. And, if I remember correctly, you said that you kinda have feelings for me. What hap-?"

"Soul, I've been wanting to tell you this, but I think that those feelings were only a brief thing that I felt when you returned," she muttered.

I stared at her, confused. After I had returned she wanted nothing to do with other guys. She always wanted me to go with her even if it was only down to the mailbox. My mind had begun swirling as the events replayed in my head of every moment we were together. It wasn't making any sence at all anymore. The girl who had said she had feelings for me was almost no longer around. She had been replaced with someone that I never knew.

"Maka, what are you saying?" I asked.

She sighed, "What I'm saying is that we can't be together. We can still be partners, but I can't gaurentee that our souls will resonate the same way they did in the past. Soul, while you were off trying to forget your feelings for me, I learned how to live without you always being there to protect me."

"Maka-"

"I'm sorry, Soul."

(Maka's POV)

I rushed out the door with tears slipping down my cheeks. It hurt to tell the truth to Soul even though I knew it would lead to me crying and him not knowing what to do. Why does the truth hurt so much? Why does it cause both sides to crash and burn after it's been spoken? I wanted it to go away and for it all to be some dream that has yet to end.

I ran down the hallway to my room, closing and locking the door behind me. I slid down the door as my crying became heavier with each passing second. My heart was pounding in my chest and my breath was stuck in my throat. The shallow sounds of my breathing were drown out by my loud sobs and hiccups.

"Maka?" called a distant voice.

"Go away! J-just leave me alone!" I cried.

"Maka, open the door please. I wanna talk to you."

"About what? What I said to Soul?"

"Just open the door."

I groaned as I reluctantly unlocked the door before flopping down on my bed. My face was tear streaked and my hair was tangled and I felt like crap. Infact, my body ached all over.

The door clicked shut as somebody walked in. I felt the end of my bed sink under the weight of whoever it was. And then the ever so familiar light touch of a hand found it's place on my leg.

Soul.

Why was the bastard in my room? And why would he of all people want to talk to me after I told him that my feelings for him had vanished?

"Get your hand off of my leg Soul," I growled as I yanked my leg away from him.

"Is that anyway to talk to your papa?" came a low pitched pathetic voice.

"Why are you here? To tell me that I should tell Soul that I lied to him about my feelings towad have vanished? That's cute, but I won't do it. No matter what you say you can change my mind." I swallowed. "And besides you're just a player Papa. You never loved Mama! You never did! You just wanted someone who you could lie to about having to go to the office just to get away with cheating! I hate you!"

"Maka. stop do you really wa-" came Soul's voice from a corner of the room.

"URUSAI! I DON'T CARE ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT HOW I TALK TO MY PAPA! YOU DON'T CONTROL WHAT WORDS ARE FORMED ON MY LIPS! Just leave me alone."

"Maka, please. For me."

"Why should I listen to you? You're nothing more than a guy who calls himself cool to keep his self esteam up."

"That really hurt Maka. Thanks for blurting that out. Then I guess this is the last time you'll ever get to talk to me."

I lifted my head in question as two ideas ran through my head: he was leaving again or he was contemplating suicide.

"What do you mean?" I asked half aware that the words had slid off my tongue.

"I mean in a few nights, I won't be here or on a different continent."

"Soul..."