AN- This story is rated M for a reason- and I will not tell you why because I do not want to spoil it yet but it is revealed in this chapter. It's probably a little obvious, but I suppose that's for you to decide.
Yes, cell phones exist in this story.
And yes, in this story, the moon only bleeds when something bad happens (this will make sense later).

I'm not sure how regularly I will be updating this story, but I will try my best not to keep you waiting for long. This is the first fan fiction I'm posting, but not the first I'm writing. Please read and review~

I do not own the characters or anything else, except the plot.

"Never wanted to dance with nobody, but you wouldn't take no for an answer you fucking bitch."
-Never Wanted to Dance by Mindless Self Indulgence

Chapter 1

Tic. Tock. Tic. Tock.

Maka stared at the clock, hugging her knees.

She tried to ignore the weariness tugging her eyes close, determined to stay awake until Soul came back.

He had left earlier, around four or five in the afternoon, saying that he was going to play basketball with Black Star and Kid. He mentioned something about coming back no later than eight before zooming out the door.

She kept herself busy by doing chores and homework as time flew by. The clock's hour hand reached eight and still no Soul. She didn't worry much. Maybe they were still playing. No big deal. Even though there was still school tomorrow, it wasn't that late.

The moon rose higher in the sky, panting like always and drooling blood. Her anxiety rose a little as the clock showed it was nine 'o clock at night. She had called his cell phone, hoping he would answer her. Her fear spiked when the voice mail picked up.

"This is Soul. I didn't answer, so that means I'm too cool to talk to you. You shouldn't expect a call back eith-"

Without listening to the ending of his voice mail, Maka dialed Tsubaki's house, asking if Soul had gone over. To her dismay, he hadn't, but Black Star was already home. She thought that was strange, considering how they had gone out to play together and that the assassin was back before her own partner.

Maka had thanked her friend anyway, insisting that she was fine and she'd call Tsubaki back if she needed any help.

She had waited until ten to call Kid's house, only to have her hopes dashed once again when Liz told her that Soul hadn't gone there either (though, she had suspected that from the beginning, since it didn't seem like Kid and Soul were that close anyway. She just had to make sure).

Around ten-thirty, she had gotten tired of waiting and gone out to look for him. She had called out his name and gone to all of his favorite stores, the ones he liked to visit when he wanted to be out and alone, but no one had seen him.

At eleven-thirty, she went back to the apartment, trying to comfort herself with the thought that maybe he had gotten back while she was out. He would be sitting on the couch of their living room, probably wondering where SHE had gone. Then she would get angry and upset and teach him a good lesson involving a book… to the head! Then he'd hold his busted skull and demand what he deserved that for, which she would yell that he had made her worried sick. They would argue until Soul would feel guilty and apologize which would, in turn, make Maka feel guilty. Then she'd ask what he had been up to, he would tell her, and everything would be resolved.

Her mood brightened up considerably with those thoughts, so you can imagine how disappointed and afraid she was when she opened the door to find an empty apartment.

Having nothing else to do, she was now sitting on their comfortable couch, waiting for Soul to come home, and staring at the clock that read 12:48 am.

She picked up her cell phone mechanically, dialing the number she memorized by heart. She counted the times it rang. Three… four… five… six… seven…eight…

"This is Soul. I didn't answer-"

"Why don't you answer your phone," she growled, ending the call. "Stupid Soul."

Not even a minute after she called him, her phone buzzed. 'New text message,' the screen read.

She lifted an eyebrow and flipped her phone open.

Maka dnt worry bout me. Im fine. Ill b home soon.

As she read the message, she couldn't help it as her anger rose.

U idiot!! Y wont u answer my calls!? Do u know how long ive been waiting 4 u 2 come back home!? Ive been worried sick!! She fumed, getting even more agitated by the need to use "text speak" in order to send the message faster.

She hit the send button and flipped her phone shut, throwing it next to her on the couch. She finally felt relief washing over her, knowing that her partner was at least alive. She was, however, furious that he had refused to answer her calls and hadn't even bothered to call her and tell her that he would be coming home late. He hadn't even given her specifics about where he was.

She frowned, once again staring at the clock. She waited and waited but received no response to her text, which further ignited her anger.

She vaguely wondered if this is how house wives felt when they waited late at night for their husbands to come home.

Shaking her head at the strange comparison, Maka broke out of her thoughts as the door to their apartment opened silently, carefully, fearfully. Soul stepped in, eyes trained on the ground.

Maka, eager to ventilate her anger, jumped from her seat and immediately began drilling him with questions. "Soul! Where have you been?! Do you have any idea what time it is!? It is now 1:10 in the morning! Why didn't you call me!? Do you have any idea how worried I was!? Dammit, I-"

She cut herself off, finally noticing his ruffled appearance. His clothes were crumpled and his hair looked like he just used his fingers as a brush. His general aura seemed gloomy, and he hadn't looked up at her once through out her entire rant. He usually interrupted her before she could even finish her first sentence.

Deducing that Maka wasn't going to finish her lecture, Soul spoke. "Sorry if I worried you. Look, I'm pretty wiped out, so I'm going to take a shower then hit the sack."

Even his voice sounded… off.

Maka had to consciously force her jaw to stop from dropping as his words sunk in. "That's it?! No explanation? No telling me where you were? What happened, Soul!? Talk to me! Look at me!"

Soul ignored her, walking stiffly to their bathroom.

Worry overpowered her anger. "Soul, are you hurt?"

She didn't miss the way his muscles stiffened. "No. Why?"

"You're walking… weird."

The teen-scythe just shrugged. "You're reading too much into my walking, I guess. Freak." He threw a smirk over his shoulder at her, but she could tell his mind wasn't in on it.

He closed the bathroom door gently, and a few moments later she heard the water running. She sighed, collapsing on the couch.

Something was wrong with Soul, and she knew that it had to do with the fact that he came home almost five hours later than he said he would. She just couldn't imagine what could have possibly made Soul so out of loop.

Then, something she noticed earlier came to her mind. Something that seemed really very unimportant and not a very useful in this situation. But the fact wouldn't stop bugging her.

Didn't the moon only bleed when something bad happened?

But that was a stupid thought, because who knew if that was actually true? It could be just a coincidence (a scary one, but a coincidence alright.) And even if it did bleed when something bad occurred, it didn't necessarily mean it happened to SOUL. It could've happened to anyone in Death City… right?

Deciding that it was too late to think about these things, she headed off to bed, promising herself she would talk to him about it tomorrow.

In the shower, Soul put the water at the highest setting. It scalded his skin, making it turn slightly red, but that was okay. It was exactly what he needed. He needed this filth off his skin. He couldn't stand this creepy crawly feeling that lurked in his every thought.

He felt dirty and disgusted, and his body hurt like hell. Bruises flowered all over his skin and cuts were reopened as he scrubbed and scrubbed his body with soap. It felt like the grime was weighing him down, and no matter how hard he washed it wouldn't come off.

It was only until the water ran cold that he decided it was time to get out. Estimating by how long it felt like he had been in there, he presumed it was about twenty minutes to two in the morning. He could feel his eyes drooping as he dried his battered body, but the mere thought of sleep frightened him.

He swiped the mirror with his hand so it wasn't foggy anymore and glanced at himself. He was an utter mess. It was a wonder how Maka hadn't noticed the bruise on his face (not that he'd actually given her a chance to see it in the first place). But there was no escaping it tomorrow.

What excuse would he tell her? He knew very well he couldn't tell her the truth. It was just… disgusting. And dangerous for her. He had warned him very clearly if he ever peeped a word to anyone of what had happened tonight, Maka would be hurt.

He had also made him understand that this was definitely not the last time it would happen. Fuck, Soul really didn't want a replay of this, but he'd rather it happen to him than to Maka. He was simply doing his job as a weapon, a partner, a friend. He was protecting her, just like he said he always would.

And besides, it was just sex… right? Even though he wasn't exactly willing…

Soul sighed, tipping his head, and gripping both sides of the sink with hands tightly. Who was he kidding? It was… rape (he cringed at the thought), no matter how you looked at it.

But he couldn't concentrate on that. He'd drive himself insane. He had to think of the positive side (what positive side? another part of him laughed. There is no positive side! It's just you being raped! Who would've thought? The cool and mighty Soul Eater being used in the worst way possible!)

He shook his head. He lost his virginity. So what? He wasn't a girl; he didn't care. No, he hadn't exactly pictured his first time to be quite so painful or humiliating… but…

Fuck, he thought when he realized he was trembling.

He turned on the faucet, cupping his hands under the water and splashing his face. He had to forget about this… the sooner the better.

He dressed quickly into his sleeping clothes, wincing at the multiple injuries that hurt in places it shouldn't hurt. He gagged at that thought, but forced his mind to not dwell on it.

He exited the bathroom, shivering as the coldness assaulted his skin. After being under the hot water for so long, the freezing air seemed unusually foreign to him.

He quietly made his way to his own bedroom, not wanting to disturb Maka's sleep. Once he was in there, he flipped on the light, locked the door behind him, and leaned against it wearily, releasing a puff of breath. He glanced around his room, eyes roaming through every surface as though he had never been in there before. He felt strangely uncomfortable in there, and he felt like if something were missing or something had changed.

Well… a lot of things had changed that night. But he wasn't going to think about that.

He yawned widely and creeped into his bed, pulling up the covers to his chin. He felt awfully cold, and the blanket not only provided warmth, but a strange sense of comfort too. He felt like it would protect him from the evilness of the world.

What a childish thought.

Laughing at himself, he fell asleep, even though he knew exactly what and who he would be dreaming about.