Chapter Two: The New Girl
Two days have past. It's a Monday morning, Raven's first day of school. It's around five in the morning, and Raven is already awake. Preparations have already been made for Raven to go today. Raven has butterflies in her stomach. Worries have been making it hard for her to think straight. Common worries like new friends, grades and so forth, but the biggest problem is that she suffers headaches that occur when over stressed. Eventually she'll black out. That's her biggest problem. She has already suffered that a day ago, but luckily for her, a neighbor called an ambulance to help her out. The doctors she visited the other day gave her a note to give to her teachers about her condition. That's really embarrassing for a teen. They also discovered in Raven's medical records, which was created by Mirage and Luna, that she suffered amnesia a few months ago. Of course, this isn't the real story for Raven.

Raven: (sighs) My first day of school. I'm not sure if I can handle the pressure. What if I black out like I did yesterday? (looks at the clock) It's only 5:48. I'll go take a shower to freshen up. (gets up and heads to the bathroom) (20 minutes later) That's better. (sighs) What to wear today? I'll wear black pant and a red blouse. (changing) Don't want to forget my hat.
Ren: (comes into the room and jumps onto Raven's bed)
Raven: Hey Ren. (pats on her head) You'll be home alone for eight hours. You think you can keep the place clean?
Ren: (licking Raven's hand)
Raven: I guess that's a yes. Now, where's my stuff?
Ren: (jumps off he bed to go to the other room… comes back with Raven's book bag)
Raven: Now that's a good girl. Thank you for getting my stuff Ren. (petting her head) Now… let's see. (goes to the kitchen and fixes a breakfast for her and Ren) Here you go Ren.
Ren: (eating)
Raven: (sits at the small table) I'm just keeping it light. (eats her breakfast) What time is it? (looks at the clock) What?! It's 7:20 already?!!! School starts at 7:30!!! AH! (rushes out of the house with her things) Bye Ren! See you later!!! (locks the door and runs) I'm going to be late!
Raven runs to her school. She doesn't realize that her clock was a few minutes behind. It's actually 7:45. She doesn't even need to worry either because school starts at 8:30, but reckless as she is, she doesn't even notice. "I forgot my lunch!!!" Raven goes back and gets it. Then she continues all over to get to her school. Now it's time when the students in the area come out to head to school. Raven bumps into Kurama, or in this case Shuichi, and falls on her butt and drops her hat.

Raven: Ouch! (rubbing her bottom)
Kurama: Oh… I'm sorry. (picks up her hat and realizes who he bumped into) You should really watch where you're going… Raven.
Raven: Huh? (looks up) Oh… Shuichi! I am so sorry! I was in a rush to get to school that I wasn't paying attention where I was going.
Kurama: I realized that. Here's your hat.
Raven: Oh… gets up thank you. AH! What am I doing?! I have to get to school!
Kurama: What's your hurry?
Raven: I'm going to be late!
Kurama: No you're not.
Raven: Wha…?
Kurama: School starts in 20 minutes or so. We have plenty of time.
Raven: Eh?! Oh man… don't I feel stupid.
Kurama: So this is your first day?
Raven: Yup. Even before school I mess up.
Kurama: It's okay. You want to walk together?
Raven: That would be nice. (walks with Kurama)
15 minutes later

Kurama: Here we are.
Raven: Wow… you're right. It is big.
Kurama: Yeah. Well, I'll see you later. I have to get to class.
Raven: All right. (watches him go and sighs) Now I need to find my class. (gets a piece of paper out of her hat) Okay… where is my class?
Raven goes inside the school and starts to wander around. When she is looking around, the bell rings. "Great," she thought. When she is still looking for the classroom, the principal notices her.

Principal: Shouldn't you be in class, young miss?
Raven: I know I am, but I can't find my classroom.
Principal: Let me see. (takes her paper) Oh, so you're Raven Mikako. Well, your class is on the other side of the building.
Raven: Oh…
Principal: Don't worry. I'll bring you to your class.
Raven: (bows) Thank you sir.
Principal: You're welcome. Now follow me.
Raven: Okay.
While Raven is with the principal, Kurama is in his class. He is sitting behind Kaito. Their teacher is waiting outside the door waiting for Raven to come.

Kaito: Hey Shuichi. Did you hear? We're getting a new person in here.
Kurama: I didn't here about that.
Kaito: Well, we are. I hear that she lives alone. No parents or siblings.
Kurama: How do you know this?
Kaito: I overheard the teacher and principal.
Kurama: Oh… (sweat drop)
Kaito: What?
Kurama: Nothing.
The principal finally gets Raven to her class.

Teacher: Oh, there you are Ms. Raven.
Principal: Raven, this is your new teacher, Mr. Yahmada.
Raven: Hello.
Mr. Yahmada: It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Raven.
Principal: Well, now that you're here, I'll leave you with Mr. Yahmada.
Raven: Okay and thank you very much.
Principal: (leaves to office)
Mr. Yahmada: Let's get you into your class Raven.
They heard noises in the classroom. When Mr. Yahmada opened the door, everything calmed down. When Raven entered the room, some people were whispering. Kurama had his eyes wide open when he saw who the new person was.

Mr. Yahmada: Class, welcome your new classmate. This is Raven Mikako and she just moved here a few days ago.
Raven: (voice very soft) It's very nice to meet you all.
Mr. Yahmada: Okay… where are we going to seat you? (ignoring the boys who were waving so Raven can sit with them) How about across from Shuichi Minamino? Mr. Minamino, would you please raise your hand so Raven can know who you are.
Kurama: Huh? Oh… (raises hand)
Mr. Yahmada: Just sit yourself over there Raven.
Raven: All right. Oh… I was suppose to give you this. (hands her teacher the doctor note)
Mr. Yahmada: What's this? (reads it) Oh… okay. Thank you, Raven. Also, would you please take off your hat? They are not allowed in the classroom.
Raven: All right. (takes off her hat and goes over to her seat)
Kurama: (looks over at Raven and whispers) I didn't expect to see you so soon.
Raven: (smiles and blushes)
Mr. Yahmada: Okay class. Today we are going to start projects.
Class: (moans)
Mr. Yahmada: I know, very exciting. You will need one partner for this. Raven?
Raven: Yes sir?
Mr. Yahmada: Do you mind if you get partnered up with Shuichi?
Raven: Uh… no.
Mr. Yahmada: Shuichi, can you be her partner for this so she can understand this class?
Kurama: I do not mind.
Mr. Yahmada: Good. Now for the rest of you, choose a partner.
Class: (hustles to get partners)
Mr. Yahmada: (waits for them to calm down) Okay, since you have your partners now, I'll tell you what your projects are. This project will take several weeks to complete. You'll be doing a botany project, and you will need to pick your own plant, whether it be a fern, lotus, or daisy. I do not care which kind. The point in this is that you grow it into a beautiful plant. If it somehow dries up, then you still get credit for trying. You and your partner are responsible for buying the seeds. I'll provide the pot and soil. The only way to fail this project is that you don't do it at all. For your presentation, you will need a poster explaining what your plant is, a diagram of its growth rate, and how many days it took for it to grow its blossoms or leaves. Also, you can bring in sketches of its progress or pictures of the different breeds of your plant. Now, for the rest of this class time, you and your partner talk about which plant you would like to grow. If you have any questions, come to me. You can begin.
Kurama: So Raven, what do you wish to do for our project?
Raven: I'm not very familiar with very many flower breeds.
Kurama: Well, you can look through this. (takes out a flower book)
Raven: You carry this around?
Kurama: Yes… I look at it when I am bored. Reading the same book over and over again can get quite boring, though. (laughing)
Raven: Oh… (sweat drop)
Kurama: We don't have to grow a flower. We can choose a fern or bush.
Raven: I kind of prefer flowers. I'm afraid to ask this, but do you have a book about bushes?
Kurama: Afraid so. Anyway, what did Mr. Yahmada mean about you trying to understand this class?
Raven: Oh… that. It turns out that I recovered from amnesia just two weeks ago. I don't remember that much about my past life, and I don't have any relatives that I know of. I don't remember that much about some of these classes either.
Kurama: I'm sorry that I asked. I didn't know.
Raven: It's alright. It's not like it's slowing me down. I still remember how to read and write. My mind isn't completely wiped out. I even remembered my own name when I recovered. (smile)
Kurama: Really?
Raven: Actually… they told me my name. Heh, heh…
Kurama: (sweat drop) Well, at least you are not bothered by that. Did you choose a flower yet?
Raven: Yup! Let's do this one. (points to a white flower)
Kurama: bends over So, you want to do the White Lily?
Raven: Yeah… is it okay?
Kurama: That's fine with me Raven, but which one would you like to plant? There's two kinds.
Raven: Huh? (looks at the book) You're right, there is two kinds. Um… I like this one better. It has more petals.
Kurama: I like that one two. I'll go buy the seeds today so we can start early.
Raven: I guess that's it for now huh?
Kurama: Pretty much. Oh… would you like to keep it at your house?
Raven: Uh… I don't know. Maybe I can if Ren doesn't wreak it up.
Kurama: Ren?
Raven: She's my dog, kind of lazy but reliable. If I tell her to do something, she does it. I guess with that factor, we can keep it at my house.
Kurama: Wonderful. (thinking) That's good because I might enhance its growth rate. The temptation can be so overriding.
Raven: We still have five minutes. You want to just talk until it's time for the next class?
Kurama: Sure. So, what's your next class?
Raven: Uh… looks at her schedule It's choir.
Kurama: You sing?
Raven: (blush) Only a little. I sing to the radio sometimes. (poking her fingers) I don't really like my voice though.
Kurama: There's no shame in that. You'll get better over time.
Raven: You think I'm bad? You haven't even heard me sing! You… are so cruel! (pretends to be hurt)
Kurama: (laughs) It would seem that you have a sense of humor.
Raven: (big smile) Well, I try to be amusing.
Kurama: I'm very surprised that you're not in depression about your memory loss.
Raven: Ah… you have to get over some things. Anyways, I can just make new memories.
Kurama: That's true.
The school bell rings.

Raven: Well, there it is. I'll see you later, right?
Kurama: I guess so. Good-bye. (leaves the classroom)
Raven: (thinking) He's not that bad. He helped me with a lot of stuff… I think I just made my first friend. (smile)
It's the end of school hours and Raven and Kurama are walking home together. They were just talking about random things like school, shops, and movies. Raven hasn't seen that much movies though. Raven was quite clueless with some of the movies Kurama was talking about.

Raven: Oh… Shuichi?
Kurama: Yes?
Raven: I'm not going to be at school tomorrow.
Kurama: Why's that?
Raven: I have a little job at a middle school as a hall monitor.
Kurama: Raising money for your needs, huh?
Raven: Yup! (puts hat on head) I already have two jobs! I have permission from the principal to skip a few days a week and have the after school job. I really need these jobs. (walks a bit faster, but falls on her stomach like last time) Ouch… (looks up and sees Kurama leaning forward and has his hand out)
Kurama: Just like last time, huh? (pulls her up)
Raven: (sweat drop) I can be so clumsy sometimes. (dusts herself off) Now my stomach hurts… moans
Kurama: You okay?
Raven: I'm fine… (sigh) I'd better go home now. Ren must be hungry.
Kurama: I'll see you then, huh?
Raven: Yeah… Oh! (takes something out of her hat) Here Shuichi. (hands it to him) It's a little thing I made in art. I think it's a book mark. Well, I'd better go. (runs towards her apartment)
Kurama: (looks at it and then smiles) She's so silly… she spelled my name wrong. (laughs)