To End It All: Anna's Moment to Shine?
Maka and Soul are standing in the field where they had fought Kaida. Maka walks slowly but surely to the place where Kaida had attacked her.
Soul: Stein said you shouldn't push yourself, Maka. Don't make yourself do this.
Maka: (calmly but firmly) Just once. I need something to distract me from everything that's happened. Just let me do this, once. Ok, Soul?
Soul: (looks at his meister, then shrugs) Alright Maka.
Slowly, Soul takes a step, glowing. He launches himself towards Maka, and she easily twirls him in her hands.
Maka: Good. And besides Soul, (she takes a breath and starts swiping and stabbing at the air) It's been a couple of weeks. I'm healing well, no black blood in Raina's swords.
Soul: Just rub it in, why don't you. You don't get screwed for life.
Maka: (grunting with the effort of twirling Soul) Come on, Soul, that affected me just as much as you. Don't pull that one on me.
Soul: (sighing in defeat) Fine.
For a couple of minutes Maka practices, gaining a look of concentration and losing herself, letting go of the pain in her chest. Then she suddenly stops, and she looks down at her weapon.
Maka: (quietly) Soul, is it true you carried me all the way up to the school? That you wouldn't let anyone else carry me?
Soul: (stays quiet for a minute, but then he answers cockily) Yeah. You got a lot of blood on my shirt that day, Maka.
Maka: (smiling at his response, warming her heart) Just wondering. Kid told me you were really upset about what happened. He told me even Black*Star couldn't turn your head away from me.
Soul just stays silent, a little angry that Kid would tell Maka that. But somewhere inside him, he kind of wanted her to know.
Soul: Whatever, Maka.
Maka, finally done, lets Soul transform back and they walk together back up to the school. When the Academy comes into sight. Maka slowly reached for Soul's hand. Soul acts startled and jumps but he holds her hand. They walk up to the Academy hand in hand, not caring who might see them.
Back at the dispensary, Maka was being laid down on her bed, helped by Soul. They don't speak, but they do lock gazes before Soul leaves. Maka stares out the window. 'Only another week, that's how long I have to stay here,' she tells herself. With the thought that she would be able to help save Raina in that time, she nodded off.
Back at Soul and Maka's apartment, Soul and Kid sit on the couch, talking.
Soul: I'm going to kill that witch.
Kid: Soul... Maka's going to be weak, even if she is healed. And plus, we have to tread carefully. Raina is still there, and we can't kill her. Anna would be heartbroken.
Soul: I know. I promised her we wouldn't hurt Raina on purpose. I think she's coming too. But even if Maka can't fight, I'm going to fight Kaida.
Kid: Soul...
Soul: (ignoring Kid) She hurt Maka, Kid. And if someone messes with Maka, they mess with me. Get it? (growling)
Kid: (raising his hands in defeat) Alright Soul. (looking at his watch) I have to go.
Soul watches as Kid stands up and walks out of his apartment. Soul leans his head back and closes his eyes. 'What's going on with me?' he thinks as he drifts off into a light sleep.
IN A WEEK
Maka is finally able to move around without pain, and she has been training for a couple of days. She regained her strength and after being assessed by Stein, she's permitted to go to the Temple to help them take out the witch.
When they arrive at the temple, everyone has a sense of uneasiness, not just Stein and Maka who can see souls.
Stein: She's here.
A quick flash of light blue goes through the temple, and then it darkens. Everyone readies their stance, tightening their grip on their weapons. Black*Star, Kid, and Maka are all a little farther back, and Anna is right next to the Professor. Marie transforms her hand into a hammer, and Death Scythe is a blade in Stein's hands.
Suddenly, a blue mist rushes up through the back line, and up to Anna, where is drags her out in front of Stein.
Maka: (running forward a couple of steps) Anna!
Stein: (holding his arm out to stop Maka) Maka, don't. Let us handle this.
The mist slowly morphs into the figure of Raina, holding Anna firmly by the neck in a headlock, but not so hard that it would choke her. Anna struggles but she can't escape.
Marie: Let her go, Kaida.
Kaida: (smiling with her dragon teeth) I don't know what you mean.
Maka: (from behind Stein) Let go of Anna!
Kaida: (smirking) I don't think that's what dear Marie meant. Was it, darling?
Marie: (growling) Let go of both of them, Kaida. Or we will kill you.
Kaida: (shaking a finger at Marie, while keeping a grip on Anna) No, you can't. You would kill an innocent human soul along with it, and that's a big no-no.
Stein: She's right Marie. We can't harm Raina's body any more than we have to.
Anna: (whispering) Raina, are you still there?
Kaida: (looking down at Anna) No, your meister is being absorbed by my soul as we speak. You are never going to see her again.
Anna: (shaking her head feebly) I don't think so.
Then Anna transforms her forearms into shorter versions of her blades and makes small cuts at Raina's hips, which makes her let go of Anna.
Kaida: You little... (makes a grab for Anna) You know, darling, I am still your meister. We made a deal, remember? You said you would never leave my side.
Anna: (growling, standing at the ready) I promised Raina that. I didn't promise you.
Kaida: (shaking her head) Why don't you people get it? By absorbing her soul, I am Raina.
Anna: Not to me.
Right then, she rushes forward and slashes again at Kaida. Kaida morphs a part of her soul into twin blades again, and they fight. Stein stays a little bit farther back, watching and waiting to see if she will need help.
Anna: (while fighting, slightly out of breath) You say you are Raina, yet you have none of her calmness and wisdom. You say you're one with her, and yet you fight me! Raina, I know you're still there, and you can fight her! You have to!
Kaida, while still fighting Anna, looks over and locks eyes with Maka. Then they lighten for a second.
Raina: (sounding helpless and resigned to fate) Maka, please...
Maka looks shocked, then Kaida shakes her head and her eyes darken again.
Kaida: (mumbling under her breath) Stay quiet. Your time will be over soon.
Maka then seems to decide something, and she starts Soul Resonance with Soul.
Tsubaki: Wait Maka! Let Black*Star try something first.
Black*Star then rushes forward, hands sparking. Stein takes the same idea and sets down Spirit. Both of them cut off Raina, and Stein lands a hit on her.
Stein: (his voice becomes echoy) Soul Force!
Kaida convulses a little bit, then shakes her head and clears it.
Black*Star: All you, Maka!
Kaida turns in time to see Maka with a glowing scythe charging right at her. She jumps back, dodging the swipes she throws. Then Maka suddenly lands a hit and hits Raina right in the side.
Kaida: (crying out in pain) No! (then her voice becomes weaker as dark blue blood pools on the ground, as she falls) Not... possible. (she looks up at Maka, who's panting with the effort of using Genie Hunter.) Nice job, Maka. You... you killed me. But you also... killed...
Raina's eyes become lighter and Anna runs toward her meister. The blood starts to change to a deep crimson red.
Raina: (completely drained) Anna... Thank you for being my partner... (looks up at her friends) Thank you for giving me a chance, you guys. (her eyelids start to flicker, and her eyes lock on Maka) Maka... thank you...
Then Raina's head falls back a few inches, and Anna lowers it to the ground (she was holding Raina) Anna starts shedding tears and Raina's body slowly fades to black, like her soul is going to be released. But the strange thing is, her body is fully intact underneath the whirling strands of black. Suddenly, a witch's soul is floating above Raina, but her body is still there.
Soul: What...
Stein quickly walks up to Raina's unmoving body and checks her pulse. His head jerks up in surprise, recoiling from her as if he just heard shocking news.
Stein: She's still alive.
Anna: Really? (sounding half excited and half unbelieving, like Stein's was lying to her.) Serious?
Stein: (nodding his head, going to pick Raina up. Black*Star and Kid come forward to help him.) Yes, I'm serious. We need to get back to the Academy. She may not make it long without treatment.
Black*Star moves back, accidentally stepping in the pool of blood in the ground. He doesn't even notice.
Maka: (who was looking back at where Raina had been laying) What about the soul?
Stein: (looking back) Take it for now, we'll talk to Lord Death as soon as we get Raina into a more stable state. For the moment, let's go.
Maka nods and grabs the soul, following Stein who starts running quickly without bouncing Raina around too much. The scene changed, and all of them are sitting in the abandoned classroom, waiting for a report. Maka and Anna look especially sad, Maka because she did it, and Anna because... well, Raina's her partner.
Stein comes into the room a couple of hours later, looking straight-faced. Anna quickly runs up to him with sad eyes, asking the question everyone wants to know.
Anna: Is... is... is she going to be ok?
Stein: (looking sadly at Anna) I don't know, Anna. She lost a lot of blood, she's in a coma right now. Her pulse is normal and her heart is still beating, but...
Anna: (lowering her eyes to the floor) Great...
Stein puts a hand on her shoulder for a second, then walks away. Anna puts her head down on the desk, completely depressed. Even Black*Star can feel how upset she is and he keeps quiet.
Maka: Raina will be ok, Anna.
Maka looks at Anna's soul, and is shocked to see it just calmly sitting there. Usually Anna's soul is bouncing around just like Black*Star's. To see it sitting still scared Maka more than anything for Anna. Her soul told all of her emotions right now. Even though Anna only knew Raina for a week, they clicked right away and were perfect as partners.
Anna: (quickly standing up, startling everyone) I'm going home.