Disclaimer: I don't own Soul Eater.

The fourth!

"breathing easy"

He watched her, laying back in the grass, arms folded behind his head.

He could tell that the warmth of the late afternoon sun was luring his partner into slumber. Despite the fact that she knew perfectly well that she was fighting a losing battle, her drooping eyelids came up, then right back down again to the point that her bright green eyes were nearly closed.

How like her to refuse to give up.

Her book - how predictable - was sagging lower and lower in her lap. The tank top and shorts she was currently wearing, in an effort to gain some color, seemed to catch the sun's sleep in them, so the longer she stayed in her current position, the further into the lull of dreams she fell.

Eventually, her head leaned forward, eyes closing at last, having given in, and her straight posture was abandoned when her body drifted backwards to rest on the tree trunk. Soul smirked, twisting the piece of grass in his mouth with his tongue.

She looked like she was five years old.

Soul sat up, turning his body around so he was sitting cross-legged, just like her. His head, like a child's, tilted to one side as he watched her breathe. For some reason, all he wanted to do was sit like this and watch Maka sleep.

It was strange.

He twisted a loose thread on his white T-shirt around his finger absently, mind wandering as his crimson eyes remained fixated on her face. The cool breeze wound its way through the flowering field, ruffling her child-like pigtails, blowing the scent of her hair towards his face. He inhaled the scent of battle, even in this pure place, and it lingered in his senses for a moment or two.

The weapon closed his eyes for a moment, then reopened them, tilting his head to the other side. Spitting out the blade of grass from the corner of his mouth, he entwined his finger around another without looking.

Soul's mind wandered again. If they hadn't been stuck together as, would they have ever met? Would they have ever become as close as they were now? Would they have found each other?

No matter what situation he thought up, Soul could only find one answer.

Yes.

Somehow he knew that they'd always find each other. Just instinct, he guessed.

He plucked the piece of grass from the ground with much more force that what should have been necessary, but it was only when he looked down at it that he realized that it wasn't a blade of grass at all, but a very pretty, pure white flower.

Instead of throwing it behind him like he normally would, he held on to it, because something told him not to toss this one away. Soul glared at the flower, suddenly frustrated. It's just a stupid flower, you idiot. Why would it be of any importance...?

Soul's eyes drifted back up to his sleeping partner, and before he even knew what he was doing, he tucked the snow-white flower behind her ear, careful not to rouse her. As his hand came back slowly from her ear, it brushed across her bangs, skimming the skin of her face gently. She gave a little smile.

As soon as his fingers made contact with her cheek, he jerked his arm back like the softness of her skin burned him. What the hell did he just do?

Immediately, Soul had the impulse to snatch the flower back out of her hair, but he suppressed it, knowing that he was too hyped up now to extract it without her stirring and possibly waking up.

It does look like it belongs there, though...

Shaking his head, Soul scowled again. If Maka woke up and found that flower in her hair...well, he didn't know what he'd do. Run?

Exasperated, he turned his back on his miester and flopped down in the grass again, arms spread wide as he glowered up at the laughing sun.

Shut up.

Unwillingly, Soul tilted his head back far enough that he could see Maka leaning against the tree. She was still fast asleep, and he was silently glad that he hadn't disturbed her rest.

There was still a soft, sweet smile on her face.

When he saw it, all his frustration melted away as quickly as it had come.

Soul smirked, suddenly feeling the sun's warmth wash over him, and within minutes he too was out like a light.

The sun was beginning to set when Maka woke up, starting to disappear beyond the horizon. She sat up straight, yawning and rubbing her eyes as she pawed around in her lap blindly for her book.

As she blinked the sleep from her eyes, she surveyed her surroundings drowsily. Soul was still out of it, snoring loudly and unaware of the drool seeping out of the corner of his mouth. Maka rolled her eyes, leaning forward to poke him awake.

"Come on, Soul," she said, muffling another yawn. Her partner didn't stir. "It's time for-"

She stopped talking, her eyes transfixed on the flawless white flower that had just slipped from behind her ear and fallen to the grass between them. Maka picked it up, twining her fingers around it, wondering who had...

Soul let out a quiet snore. Her eyes fluttered up to look at him, still sleeping, and she smiled.

"It's beautiful, Soul."

She leaned down and brushed her lips on his forehead, his lulled wavelengths still emitting a shock wave through her body. Soul's lips curved into an unconscious smirk and he gave a contented sigh. Maka blushed, hearing her heart pounding away in her chest.

She retucked the flower back behind her ear, leaning back up against her tree, as she was referring to it now. Only a foot or so away from where she sat, Soul's face was peaceful, unbothered...Maka found herself smiling right along with him.

Not tearing her eyes from him, she scratched a heart in the bark behind her with her fingernail.

Because she could wait for hours.

Look, I can too write fluff.

Because I love your thoughts,

-datt