Over in the woods, Raina is trying to meditate, but instead she's being distracted by a voice in her head.
Voice: (smoothly talks, never stumbles, acts calm) Come now, Raina, why do you aspire to become stronger, and yet you refuse my help? I could help you become the most powerful being in existence.
Raina: (eyes closed, looks slightly troubled but still trying to meditate) Ha! Don't make me laugh. If I do accept your help, I won't be human anymore, will I?
Voice: You're already not completely human. Accepting me will only strengthen you. Why are you fighting me? You try to strengthen your soul, yet you're tiring out your mind by fighting me.
Raina: I can't stop now. I'm going to become the best meister at the Academy, and expel you from me once and for all. Now go away! I'm trying to meditate.
Voice: (starting to get angry) You think I don't know that? That's exactly why I approached you at this time. You're alone and... well... vulnerable.
Raina: (smiling) You don't know me at all, do you? Even when I'm not with anyone, I'm never alone. I'm not vulnerable because I've learned that if I show weakness, then you come in and take over. I've let you in enough on my first day alone. Why can't you just go away? (pleading a little)
Voice: I was placed here by someone. I can't leave my host body until you die, or my soul is cut out. Most likely the former, though. My soul is so intertwined with yours it's impossible to tear it out without cutting yours. Even with a move like Genie Hunter. I'll go away now, though, Raina. It's obvious that I can't get through to you today.
Raina: (thinks to herself, 'Good, maybe now I can actually try to meditate' but instead her thoughts are clouded with images. Some of them are hers, ones of her newfound friends, the temple, her apartment, and so on. But some of them weren't hers. She saw an image of leaving her family, but they didn't seem to care about her. Huddling inside Taiyo Temple, trying to get stronger. Where were this things coming from? These memories weren't hers!
Raina shook her head and stood up on shaky legs. It seemed like talking to that voice in her head used up more strength than she would think. Cautiously, she took a few steps. Then she started walking normally, trying to dispel those foreign images by thinking about her new partner. She had been given a picture of her, and Raina thought that she looks extremely energetic. 'If she's anything like Black*Star..' Raina thinks.
The weekend goes quickly, and on Monday, Raina is standing outside of the school. A girl walks up to the top of the stairs, then looks around. She doesn't look scared at all, just in awe. Raina recognizes her from the picture and walks over to her.
Raina: Hey, are you Andromeda?
Anna: Yeah! But, please call me Anna. I hate my real name.
Raina: Alright. I'm Raina. (calmly sticks her hand out) I was told to show you around school today.
Anna: (taking Raina's hand) Thanks a lot! (looks around) Hey, other kids go here, right?
Raina: (about to agree with her when she gets interrupted by a yell. 'I am the ALL MIGHTLY BLACK*STAR, TSUBAKI! Of course I'm going to!' Raina rolls her eyes and looks annoyed.) Yep. You're about to meet one of them.
Black*Star: (coming up the final step and still yelling.) I'm going to surpass GOD! I think I can handle... (he trails off when he sees Raina standing near him. Its obvious to Raina that he was talking about challenging her to a fight. After giving him a glare, she looks back at Anna)
Raina: Well, now that you've met Black*Star... Hey, by the way, I forgot to ask. You're a weapon right?
Anna: Yeah, I am! What me to show you what I can transform into?
Raina: (smiling, since this is exactly what she wanted) Go ahead.
Anna: Remember to catch me when I come down. (with that she starts glowing pink and she jumps in the air. Then she fully transforms and Raina is stunned. She reaches out a hand and catches the pink sword, which breaks to reveal a shining blade very similar to her own blades. Anna interpreted the look Raina gives the weapon.) I know, it's awesome right? But it gets better! Check out my handle!
Raina looks down at the handle, holding her breath and not believing her luck. On the handle was an easy accessible switch. Raina flicked it, and something shifted on the sword. When one of her hands pulled away, the sword fell apart, kind of. She heard Anna gasp a little, but it wasn't so much pain as it was relief, like stretching your legs after an 8 hour car ride. Raina gasped for a different reason. Resting in her palms were two dual ninja swords, perfectly symmetrical and even more beautiful than her other ones. Raina moves the handles around in her palms, closing her grip, and it seems like the handles molded to her hands to fit her grip. She gives a few practice swings. Perfectly balanced in her hands.
Suddenly, Raina feels a slight shock go through her weapon and hit her hands. It's a sharp pinch, but then it's gone.
Raina: Ahh... (slight gasp of small pain(she's not that much of a wimp))
Anna: Oh, sorry, did the handle shock you?
Raina: Yeah, it's alright.
Anna: I think that means our soul wavelengths aren't completely synced. It happened all the time to my brother when he practiced with me.
Raina: (getting a look like she decided something) Alright, Anna, can you change back? I gotta ask you something.
Anna: Sure! (Anna transforms back into herself, and Raina looks at her.)
It then does to a wide shot of the two standing there, and Black*Star starts talking.
Black*Star: (somewhat serious for once) Looks like Raina found herself a partner. (he says that as Anna hug-tackles Raina, obviously excited about what Raina said. Then Black*Star walks up to them and challenges Raina) Alright Raina, I came here to challenge you to a fight! A FIGHT WITH THE GREAT BLACK*STAR!
Raina: (wincing in annoyance, because Black*Star's mouth was right next to her ear. She looks over at Anna, her newfound partner. Anna nods excitedly, accepting his challenge.) Alright Black*Star, give me a day to get to know Anna, alright? We can have the fight after school.
Black*Star: Just don't think about it too much, you might get too scared to come. AHAHAHAHA!
Raina: (just rolling her eyes) We can leave, if you want, Anna.
Anna: Take the lead!(giggles a little and follows Raina as she walks away from Black*Star) Heh, he's cute, isn't he? (obviously joking)
Raina: (not bothering to turn around) Don't make me regret asking you to be my partner, Anna.
Anna just laughs in return to that. Raina thinks to herself, 'This girl, from what I can tell, she's very much like Black*Star. Energetic and bright. Though, maybe a little quieter. I hope so.'
Raina: So what's your story, Anna? I mean, I know that you're parents are strict, but...
Anna: (dampening her spirits a bit) Well, the thing is, as much as I hate to admit it, they do have a valid reason for being protective. See, I used to have an older brother.
Raina: (turning around to look at her, surprised) But I thought Lord Death said you were an only child?
Anna: Now I am. During that big battle with Arachnophobia, my brother was fighting in some group. They were surrounded... not one of them survived.
Raina: (giving her a moment, then going back to her) I'm sorry, Anna.
Anna: (ignoring the tear on her cheek) Anyways, after that, my parents closed up. They wouldn't let me go anywhere. I had to push just to go to my old school. It was only a block away! (now brushes away the tear) Anyways, that never stopped me. Instead, I got out even more because of it.
Raina: How? When my parents protected me, they didn't let me get out for anything.
Anna: Mine aren't very good at it. I have a trapdoor to my attic in my closet, and there's a completely broken window up there. I have a little contraption to let a rope down and I can easily get up and down.
Raina thinks to herself, 'This girl is smarter than I thought,' smiling. 'I made a good choice,'
Raina: (hearing a bell go off inside the school) We should probably get going. You're in my class, right?
Anna: (suddenly all perky again) Yeah I am! This is going to be so AWESOME!
Raina: (Smiling, wincing a little when Anna yells, and leads her inside just as Maka, Soul, Kid, Liz and Patty make it to the top of the stairs)
Maka: (looking around and seeing Black*Star depressed, kind of) Well, looks like his plan didn't turn out so well. (walks over to Black*Star) What happened?
Black*Star: She needed to wait. To 'get to know her partner' (he laughs) Puh-leaze! She's only scared of the almightly Black*Star!
Soul: (rolling his eyes) Whatever, Black*Star.
Kid: (looking confused) Wait. But I thought that her partner was just detained?
Maka: (looks back at Kid, a little guilty, and a little scared. Then glancing at Black*Star, who just put the pieces together.) Well... uhh... I think you should ask Raina about that. Come on Soul. (says it quickly, pulling at Soul's arm. He sighs and goes with his meister.)
Liz: What was that all about?
Patty: Yeah! It's like she's hiding something from us! (she laughs, obviously not caring that her friend was keeping secrets)
Black*Star: (a little angry) That girl... she's got a lot of explaining to do. (Then they all walk into the school)