IN THE DEATH ROOM

Kid: (walking up the few stairs to Death's platform, wincing slightly) What is it that you needed us for?

Death: Good to see you all too! I just need to talk about this witch you say you encountered. (still bubbly and bouncy)

Black*Star: She took control of Raina. Which, of course, I was the first to find out! HAHAHA!

Everyone waits for Maka's book that was sure to smash into Black*Star head, but then they remember what happened. Black*Star just laughs as Tsubaki tries to calm him down as the rest of them talk with Lord Death.

Death: You all had a rough time, huh?

Liz: (mumbling) That's an understatement.

Soul just casts his eyes down and doesn't say anything. He was used to Maka giving reports so he doesn't really know what to do.

Death: Anyways, sources say a soul has been detected again at Taiyo Temple. We think that it would be the witch you encountered.

Patty: Yeah! We should go kill that crazy witch! (Patty then starts laughing randomly)

Kid: (rolling his eyes at his weapon) Father, I want to be there to kill her.

Death: (sounding slightly concerned) Kid, you're in no condition to fight.

Kid: Father, This witch has taken over a student's body, an innocent soul. As a Grim Reaper and a student of this Academy I must help.

Death: I was going to send Stein, Death Scythe and Marie for this. You kids are too injured to help.

Kid: Father, please!

Black*Star: (who had finally stopped laughing) Yeah, let's go kill that witch! I still need a rematch with Raina!

Soul: (thinking about the whole situation, realizing something) Has anyone alerted Anna about this?

Everyone falls silent. Then Marie rushes in with Anna closely on her heels.

Anna: Where's Raina?

Nobody speaks, and Anna assumes the worst that Marie had told her.

Anna: (solemnly) So it's true?

Anna collapses on the floor, and Marie drops down to comfort her. She just hangs her head. Then anger flares up.

Anna: Darn it! When I finally get a meister, something has to happen to ruin it. (she looks up and glares at Black*Star)

Black*Star: (ignoring the glare) So, are we going to kill this witch, or are we just going to stand here! Let's go!

Kid: (holding a hand out to stop Black*Star from running away, wincing slightly) Hold on, Black*Star: My father's right. We aren't strong enough on our own. The witch made sure to handicap all of the meisters. We aren't going to fight her anytime soon.

Anna: (getting up from the ground, her eyes gleaming with anger) We have to. As soon as we can, we are going to get Raina back.

Soul: (solemnly) We may not get her back.

Anna: (losing anger) What?

Soul: (lowering his head) Maka's Genie Hunter might be one of the only chances Raina has. And she's not going to be fit to fight for weeks.

Tsubaki: Maka may not be the only answer.

Soul: (looking over at Tsubaki) What else, then?

Tsubaki: (confident) Well, when Black*Star and I fought Masamune, in order to separate the sword from the boy, Black*Star had to shoot his soul wavelength through him. It's possible that the same technique could work. But, there's no guarantee.

Anna: (looking concerned now) I don't want you to risk your life for something that may not even work.

Soul: (smiling with his shark teeth) That's all we seem to do.

Black*Star: There's no way that stupid witch could kill me! I'm Black*Star! I'm the man who's surpassed god! There's no way...

Black*Star continues off on a tangent while Tsubaki tries to calm him down again. Anna and Soul start talking a little. They don't have a lot in common, but they have been through a lot.

Soul: (nonchalant) You know, I always thought Raina was strange. Ever since I met her.

Anna: (smiling) Well, I guess I do too, but she's very talented and one of the only people who's ever been able to calm my wavelength. I was all over the place before her. I still am, but when we're fighting... I'm able to concentrate better. Her soul is always so calm... It's pretty amazing.

Soul: (shrugging) Well, that's kind of my job. Maka can get really worked up during a fight, and she doesn't listen to me if she goes too deep. But, I guess we have to take what we can get.

Anna: (seriously) Soul, do you think there's any chance of getting Raina back? Please be honest.

Soul: Really, I don't know. Black*Star is strong, but Maka's Genie Hunter has done a lot for us. It would be a good chance, but... the witch had told us it wasn't worth the risk, that Raina's soul would be sliced in the process. If that were true...

Anna: (a tear starts sliding down her cheek) That's what I thought. No matter what, I don't think I'll ever get my old meister back.

Soul: (noticing the tear, he awkwardly reaches out, pats her arm and quickly withdraws his hand. She reacts to his touch but doesn't recoil.) Well, we can do what we can do. We won't try to hurt Raina on purpose, I promise.

Anna: (looking up in surprise when Soul says that, then her face breaks into a smile and she hug-tackles him quickly, releasing him after a second. He looks shocked, then quickly recovers) Thank you Soul. Thank you so much.

Soul: (Anna turns and walks back out of the room, following Kid and his weapons back to the dispensary. He smirks, looking down) That was so not cool. (Then he follows the others out.)