Rhya sighed. The gentle flicker of the candle was the only light. The room she rented was small, but it was enough room. Gintsuki, her silver fox, curled up on her lap, and yawned loudly. Rhya smiled and began to pet her head.

"I met a cat today, Gin." Rhya whipsered. "She had enough magic power to create a human form. I didn't even know an animal could have magic power." Gin sneeped in response, flopping his tail to and fro like a cat. Rhya gave a sad smile. Talking to a fox...it was as normal as breathing to her.

Suddenly, a knock rang at the door. Rhya blinked and sat up, startled. Gin shot up and out, running to his secret fort that Rhya had made him. Rhya blinked and stood up, curious. Who could that be, at this time of night? She walked up to the door and opened it slowly, very slowly...

"Oh, hey Shun." Rhya remarked, stunned. Shun smiled nervously as Rhya opened the door.

"Hey," Shun replied. "I was wondering if you'd want to go out and train a bit. You know, us being partners now and all..." Shun shoved his hands in his pockets. "And truthfully, I'm not used to having a tech, so I was thinking, maybe if we trained a bit, it'd be easier to use me when we get into an actual battle, instead of waiting till it happens.." Shun trailed off, and began to look down at his feet, kicking dust. Rhya smiled widely and laughed.

"You don't have to ask me," She said warmly. "You're my weapon now. If you want to train, by all means, let's go train!" Shun blinked and looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Really? That easily? I didn't think you'd want to train with a person you barely know, especially at this time of night.." Shun trailed off again, and Rhya snorted.

"Please. I'm practically nocturnal. Or, at least I wish I could be nocturnal. Besides, if you try anything, I'll beat the shit out of you. Now, let's go!" Rhya commanded, looking over her shoulder. "Gin! I'm leaving. Be good while I'm gone." Gin popped his head out of his secret spot and gave a small bark in reply. Rhya stepped out of the house and closed the door as Shun looked at Rhya curiously.

"You have a fox?" He asked, following her as she walked down the steps of her apartment. Rhya nodded.

"I've had Gin since I was 10. He was a gift to me from one of my teachers." Rhya explained. "She was originally Russian, and she knew the people who had domesticated a few silver foxes. So, she pulled some strings and got me one." Shun nodded, clearly impressed.

"Living at a school like the L.O.A.. that must've been intense." Shun replied, trying to create conversation. Rhya shook her head.

"Not really." Rhya remarked. "Actually, it was the same as Shibusen. Although, I learned today's lesson over 3 years ago. I guess when you have to teach both weapons AND meisters, you get a little behind, right?" Shun nodded slowly.

"Yeah, Shibusen's surprisingly laid back for such a huge school." Shun replied, walking down the sidewalk with Rhya. The night was clear and cool, the laughing moon chuckling as the two walked by. The only thing alive was the street lights that illuminated their path, the shops and apartments dark along with the pitch black of the night. Rhya smiled and held her head high, absorbing the cool night air.

"I don't know why, but I love the night." Rhya murmured. "It must make me seem really emo, but its calming, when most people are asleep, and the only people willing to stay awake this long are automatically awesome." Shun laughed and looked up at the sky.

"Yeah, the night is pretty beast." Shun replied. Rhya laughed as they neared their destination- Death City Park.

"So, what weapon do you transform into anyway?" Rhya asked. "I've been so absorbed about adjusting to this place, I haven't even asked the most fundamental question." Shun looked over at Rhya nervously, and gulped.

"I'm...I'm a bo." Shun stammered, lowering his eyes quickly. Rhya laughed a bit.

"You're a stick?" Rhya teased. Shun glared at her, almost hurt. Rhya's uplifted mood was automatically extinguished.

"I'm sorry, I was just trying to be playful." Rhya murmered, her face turning sad and solemn. Shun sighed.

"Its ok, its just a lot of people have teased me because I'm a bo." Shun explained, still a bit quiet. "People always said I would never be a proper weapon because I had no destructive power. I don't even have a blade." Rhya snorted loud and obnoxiously.

"Are they stupid or something?" Rhya demanded. "We practice with weapons like that all the time at the L.O.A. They actually provide an advantage, because the opponent underestimates you." Rhya smiled evilly. "Besides, if you know how to use one right, a bo can bring someone down to their knees quicker than a gun." Shun smiled, a little embarrassed.

"If you say so," he replied. Rhya looked over at him. His face was much happier and brighter once she gave him some support. She smiled back, grabbing his hand.

"C'mon." Rhya said reassuringly. "I'll show you what I mean." Shun's face turned bright red, almost embarrassed to be holding the hand of a creature with breasts. However, he merely nodded, and in a beam of light, he transformed into his normal, human self into a bo.

Rhya's jaw dropped when she saw his weapon form. It didn't look like much, but Rhya couldn't help but admire it. Instead of wood, it was made from steel, its metal shining in the light of the moon. A stick bo was a dangerous weapon in the hands of a master. A metal bo was a dangerous weapon in anyone's hands.

"Wow." Rhya muttered. Shun's face reflected in the steel, the only thing visable being his eyes.

"What?" Shun asked nervously. Rhya laughed in disbelief.

"This is going to be sweet." Rhya muttered. Without warning she shot at a tree, swinging the bo hard across its bark. In its wake resided a deep gash, as if someone had took a chainsaw to it. Rhya laughed. She wasn't even trying with that. Shun had lots of potential, of that she was sure.

"Wo wo wo!" Shun exclaimed. "How the hell did you do that?" Rhya looked back at Shun.

"That? I just swung you and that's what happened." Rhya replied. Suddenly her eyes lit up. "Hey Shun, I want to try something." Shun looked up at Rhya, almost nervous. "Ok, some techs can emit their soul wavelength as an attack. Franken Stein and Black Star are two famous people who could do that. I've never been good at it, but I have the ability to do it. My idea... could I try channeling my wavelength through you to power charge our strike?" Shun's eyes widened.

"Wouldn't that, you know, kill me?" Shun asked nervously. Rhya shook her head wildly.

"No!" She snapped. "I'm not sure what would happen. Worst case scenario, you get shocked. That's why I'm asking for your permission." Rhya looked around, leaned to the bo, and whispered. "If I shock you, I'll give you all my porn. That's saying a lot, since I can't live without it." Shun's eyes lit up.

"You like pokemon...you're a zombie chick...and you watch porn. You are officially the best tech anyone could ask for." Shun declared. Rhya blushed a bit, a sweat drop appearing over her head.

"Actually, I read hentai. It's still considered porn, but, you know..." Rhya drug on. She quickly shook her head, focusing on the tree.

"K. Lets do this shiz." Rhya ordered. Calmly and carefully, she sent a thread of her soul wavelength to Shun, not enough to break a tree, not enough to severely hurt Shun if this went wrong. Slowly, she could faintly see her wavelength coil around the bow, like electricity. Without warning, she struck at the tree again. In the wake of her swing was a wave of light, and the tree snapped from the pressure, electrostatic coiling around its bark and its limbs. Suddenly, the tree crashed to the ground, shattering the silence of the night. Rhya panted as she widened her eyes and Shun transformed back into a human.

"Holy. Fuck." Shun breathed. Rhya laughed nervously.

"I guess I put a little too much juice into that..." Rhya replied, rubbing her arm nervously. Shun looked over at her.

"I felt that wave. It was nothing compared to your normal wavelength." Shun accused. Rhya blushed and looked away.

"You give me too much credit. I overestimated the amount of power I emitted. That's all." Rhya mumbled. Shun sighed.

"Don't give me that bull. Admit it, that was only a little bit." Shun demanded. Rhya shot him a sharp glance. Suddenly, footsteps broke the night's silence. Shun and Rhya looked down the street, two dark figures outlined in the night. Rhya suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

"Hide." She commanded. Shun looked at her curiously, and she repeated. "Hide. Now!" She broke her stance and dashed into the bushes, disappearing in an instance. Shun, more confused than ever, slowly followed, hiding behind a bush instead of in it.

"Those meetings are such a chore," one voice groaned. The voice was one of elegance, with a clear feminine touch to it. "Why are witches even required to go to them? Honestly, its not like it does us any good." Rhya's eyes widened as the next voice spoke.

"Lady Ravenna, at least you were able to get the support of Mabaa-sama, and officially clear Chrona's name." The next voice reassured. It was much more masculine, throaty. The female, apparently named Ravenna, laughed.

"I only have one chance with that wretched brat." Ravenna hissed. "But, I suppose you're right. With the protection of Mabaa-sama, no one will dare defy her order. And I can't believe they bought into that lie! 'Chrona has amnesia'. I couldn't believe they bought it so easily. I thought I was going to have to use a bit of my magic to persuade them.." The man laughed.

"Oh, Ravenna, your prowess has a larger influence than you think." The man praised. "All we have to do now is awaken Chrona's power once again, and the Mad Hatter-"

"You fool!" Ravenna hissed. "Don't speak about our plans. If anyone overheard our conversation, I can persuade them to think differently. However, if you flat out say what we're trying to do, there's only so much my power can do." The man bowed his head.

"Yes, Ravenna." The man conceded. "Now, where is that block..." The two figures stood a few feet away from the park, in front of a building that said Chupa Cabra's. The man knocked on a couple of stones attached to the building, and finally one rang out, like he had just hit a tuning fork. He smiled evilly.

"Aku aku, hiraku." He chanted softly. Suddenly, the door swung open, pitch blackness emiting from the building. A head popped out of the opening.

"Draco! Lady Ravenna! You're finally here!" A woman chirped silently. "Come now, hurry. I don't know how long I can keep this portal open." The two nodded to the woman and stepped into the doorway, disappearing into the blackness. The door swung shut behind them, as if nothing had happened.

"Finally, I've found their hiding place!" A voice exclaimed. Rhya ducked lower into the bush, nervous about the new voice. Down jumped a man with electric blue hair, pumping his fists in the air.

"I knew I'd find them if I stayed silent long enough!" He exclaimed. "It was hard for a big star like me to pull it off, but I did it! Those witches are going down!" He flipped his head over to the park, looking directly at Rhya. "You can come out now, you know. I know you heard everything too." The first one to stand up was Shun, Rhya following slowly behind, leaves sticking in her hair. The man grinned cockily.

"I saw you wielding him, too." The man smirked. "I have to say, I'm impressed. You still have a long ways to go till you're at my level, but what can I say, you have a lot of potential." Shun gritted his teeth.

"You're Black Star, aren't you?" Shun accused. The man looked at him, crossing his arms.

"What if I am?" he jabbed, glaring at Shun. Shun stepped out from behind the bush, pointing a finger at him.

"You...you're despicable, you know that?" Shun hissed. "Leaving Shibusen without telling anyone. Leaving Tsubaki like that." Black Star narrowed his eyes.

"You would shut your mouth if you knew what was good for you." Black Star growled. "You don't know shit about me. Or what I've done. Now, you better get out of here before the other witches catch wind of you." With that, he disappeared, leaving only an after image of him. Shun cursed under his breath as Rhya slowly walked up to him.

"What was that about..?" She asked quietly. Shun scowled and shook his head.

"Nothing of importance." Shun muttered. "Lets just get home before the other witches come out." Rhya nodded slowly, deciding it was better to stay quiet. Black Star...who was he exactly?

"I'm sorry we didn't get to train more." Shun apologized. Rhya shook her head.

"Its fine. It couldn't be helped." Rhya consoled, leaning against her doorway. Shun gave a sad smile, shoving his hands back into his pockets.

"Well...I'll see you tomorrow." he muttered. Rhya nodded as Shun walked down the steps silently. Rhya sighed and stepped into the house, quiet as ever.

Great, first time I train with my partner and witches planning to destroy the world interuppt us, and a man who can't stay quiet for 5 minutes without excruciating pain put Shun in a bad mood...what a terrible first day.

I wouldn't say that exactly.

Rhya froze in place. She shook wildly, closing her eyes.

I didn't just here that, I didn't just hear that...

Oh really, you didn't? You really are a pathetic little girl.

Rhya squeaked as she heard the voice again. In the background Gin growled, looking ready to dash away from Rhya at a moments notice. Rhya gripped onto her head, her eyes wide now.

What the hell are you doing here? She exlcaimed. I gave up everything...EVERYTHING. Just so I could get rid of you. How-?

You think you can get rid of madness that easily? You pathetic piece of shit. You naive little girl. I am a part of you. She could feel the dark, sticky voice in her head smile a toothy grin. And I will absorb you. You cannot run from the madness forever. One day you shall trip and I will swallow you, swallow you whole, your entire being, your body, your heart, your soul, it will be mine, IT WILL BE MINE-

"SHUT UUUP!" Rhya screamed, tears streaming down her eyes. She collapsed to the floor, sobbing with no chance for breath. Gin came up to her slowly, calm now, gently licking the tears from Rhya's face. Between Rhya's paniced hiccups for breath, the evil laughter of the madness echoed in her mind.

Your soul will be mine, all mine, your pretty little soul will be mine~

And then you'll truly be all alone.