Author Note: I'm so so SORRY that it took so long to get the next chapter up!! This chapter is for all you Raven fans!!!! Although I have to admit I luv Raven too, but here is a whole chapter decided to Raven. Now I'll stop wasting your time, I know you guys are going crazy the moment you read the name 'Raven'! Knock yourselves out. ~*~*~*~

"What the hell is with you, Shadow?!" a certain raven haired man with hard, cold purple eyes.

His dark organiod ignored his masters angry shouts, you get used to it after a while and being with Raven for as long as he could remember he got used to it. Shadows was leading Raven through a seemingly endless maze of dark alpine trees, he had interrupted the warriors reading time to investigate something. He knew that if he had left without saying a thing Raven would have his head.

"Damnit, Shadow! I'm not going any further you dumb dinosaur," Raven announced stubbornly, folding his arms across his chest.

Shadow stopped dead in his tracks; no, Raven was not doing this to him! The moment they had come close Mr. 'I-think-I'm-all-that' decides to put the plug on the whole thing, Shadow couldn't believe that Raven was being so difficult! He was acting like the organiod had just interrupted something important, what is it with that boy? Shadow growled.

Raven just arched a dark eyebrow. "What's with me? I think the question is what's with you, dummy. Why are you taking me on a wild goose chase?"

He growled and turned to face Raven then pointed ahead of him, narrowing his dark eyes menacingly, which of course didn't scare him one bit.

"Over there?"

Shadow nodded and grabbed his pant leg, started to pulling him.

"Are you THAT desperate?"

Shadow grunted a reply and forcibly dropped Raven's leg causing him to stumble. Growling slightly, Raven saved himself from an embarrassing fall; he had a feeling that he should be extra careful. Something wasn't quite right, besides the fact that Shadow was acting retarded; the way the wind brushed against the bushes was quite suspicious.

"Shadow, how much longer is this going to take?" Raven asked in total annoyance.

As if an answer to his question, Shadow picked up the pace and jumped through a patch of leaves. In the center of this dark forest was a patch of lush green grass where the light of the two moons shone so brightly it was almost as light as a cloudy day. Raven shot Shadow an inquisitive look.

"Is this what you wanted to show me? A." he started to get angry but stopped in mid-sentence as Shadow roared and a little patch of darkness in the shape of a girl appeared.

".a girl?"

The black organiod ran swiftly to the girl's side, thoroughly confusing the warrior. What the hell? How in the name of everything holy did that dumb piece of crap find her? Shadow growled for Raven to come.

"Dummy! How in the world did you find her?" Raven asked in a high whisper as if he didn't want to wake her.

Raven gave Shadow a dirty look and then becoming increasingly curious looked at the girl; she had long, silvery hair, her skin was the color of pale porcelain. She looked about seventeen years old, her body was perfect in everyway except for the scars and her arms were finely toned, the muscles framed just right. She was dressed in loose black pants, a tight silver tank top, and black boots. One thing that struck Raven as odd was the black barb wire tattoo that graced her right forearm, it looked oddly familiar to him although he was positive he hadn't see anything like it before. Her face looked pained, as if coming into this state was very painful. Now that he thought of it, Raven then noticed scratches and cuts appearing on her skin, and her clothes tore as if she had been in a fierce battle of some kind and was not the victor.

"I could have sworn that her clothes were perfect." Raven mumbled, then a smirk formed on his pale lips. "This is getting interesting."

Shadow hissed at Raven and made a motion for him to get her. Little did they know of a pair of dark hazel eyes watched their every move, daring them to take her.

"Fine, fine el stupido. I'll get her if I feel she's in danger, hn. Maybe that annoying Reese will have more use for her than I will."

A metal tail whipped the warrior's leg sending him hopping around on one foot. Shadow quickly put his hand on his mouth, snickering.

"SHADOW!!!! GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON NOT TO KILL YOU!!!!!" Raven demanded angrily.

Shadow opened his mouth to say something, but noticed the girls body shake. He whirled around to face her, and just the second Raven put his foot back down... WHAM!! Shadows tail had a head on collision his leg, on accident. He didn't even realize what had happened until he looked for Raven and saw him hopping muttering all sorts of curses in almost every language imaginable; Shadow sweat-dropped.

"Do I LOOK like I'm okay?" Raven hissed through clenched teeth, still hopping around.

His shin felt like a beating heart, he was going to get Shadow for this. How dare the stupid piece of tin treat him that way! The nerve.

He vaguely heard the leaves rustle from behind, and braced himself for an attack. They were not alone. But he was not worried. If he and Shadow were to leave quietly he would have to quickly and silently dispose of the intruder who made the wrong decisions to go on a mid-night stroll. If that was the case, which Raven strongly doubted. He smirked; he'd let the intruder think he didn't know he wasn't there, there's nothing wrong with playing with ones prey, and then strike when the enemy least expects it WHAMO! Knock him out cold and maybe if Raven was feeling generous spare his life.nah, scratch that.

Shadow let out a small hiss. And Raven nodded. "I know, what do you think?" he indicated to the body.

Shadow growled in reply, he nodded again.

"Bring her, a little birdy told me that she's just want Hiltz wanted," a female voice said inside of Raven's head.

God how he hated it whenever Reese read his mind! Why couldn't she just amuse herself by reading Van Flyheight's mind or maybe even the Ancient Zodian, Fiona? She could be SO annoying at times.

He let out an aggravated sigh. "Alright then Reese what else did that little birdy say? Anything about tomorrow? Presumably something about Van, like when am I finally going to be able to destroy him!!!!"

Reese giggled. "The little birdie tells me that only tomorrow will tell, hurry up bring the girl and make my life a lot easier, Raven." She replied telepathically.

Raven scowled, one of these days when he was through with Van he'd destroy Reese too. "Grr, shut the hell up already, I'll bring when I bring her!!"

The figure and his tan organiod creeped soundlessly through the bush, he wondered how he was supposed to surprise someone like Raven who was almost impossible to surprise. Key word being 'ALMOST'.

"Good plan, Tiamat, the moment he turns to leave with Xena in hand that's when we'll strike," the dark shadowy figure said in a tone barely audible.

Shadow's cerulean eyes locked with the tan Tiamat's forest green ones; it was an old fashioned stare-down. The tension between those two or ganoids was so thick it was tangible; the figure beside Tiamat could have cut it with his katana, which remained hidden along with the figure... He continued his wait, until it was time to strike..

Raven eyed the unconscious girls form with mild curiosity, it was going to amusing when his stalker finally decided to come out of the shadows and face him. He made a motion with a tilt of his head for Shadow to come, the organiod made no effort to heed his master's wishes.

"Shadow, either you come with me or I disown you on the spot. It's your call."

Sighing, Shadow did as he was told but this wasn't over between him and Tiamat; oh hell no. He looked up at Raven, who had his hand on his hip, and wondered if he knew they were being silently threatened.

"Yes Shadow, I'm well aware of what can happen if it gets out of hand but I'm prepared not to let that happen. Dawn is approaching; as soon as the sun gets into the central position then we have our fun," Raven replied with a smirk.

Off in the distance gunshots were fired several times, a dead give-away of the Imperial Army that was probably looking for him and Reese. The Fools. Raven could just hear that blue-haired freak praising him for a job well done, and then scolding him for taking his sweet time. Women, he'll never understand them. Speaking of the devil..

"Don't do it, Raven," a deep, husky male voice commanded.

Raven had been knelling over to pick up the body, when he heard the sound of the bushes being stepped on and then the voice. Hn, its about time that guy decided to reveal himself not that Raven didn't already know. He made no effort to turn around or anything.

"What if I say 'no'?" Raven smirked.

He picked up the silver-haired girl and slowly turned around, what he saw was actually no big surprise but reminded him strangely of Van. The man had full, black hair, which was neatly combed back and blended into his ponytail, which went to the center of his back. He had a nice built, not to lean but not too WWF muscular either. His most brilliant feature was his dark-hazel eyes that shone brightly in the dim light. The tan organiod appeared at his side.

"Then I'll be forced to take action against you," the man's who's name was Draco answered.

"Really, is that so? The only person who can try to take action against me is Van, but I don't see him," Raven turned to Shadow. "What about you?"

The dark organiod tilted its head thoughtfully before shaking its head 'no'.

"Thought so," Raven said with traces of amusement. "If Van's not here that means no one can rescue you. Too bad; I was hoping to find a worthy opponent too, damn." He added sarcastically.

Draco curled his fist; he remembered someone warning him about Raven's attitude but couldn't remember whom. Ah well, it'll come to him sooner or later. Right now, he had to make sure Reese didn't get her hands on the girl; if she did then all hell would break loose and Draco could not afford for that to happen. Maybe, I can trick Raven into leaving without her.

Tiamat growled and shook his head. "Oh your right, that would never work," Draco agreed quietly so Raven wouldn't hear him.

"Well, how are you going to stop me?"

"What's it to ya?" Draco snapped.

"Oh nothing just curious that's all."

Draco shot the dark man in front of him a strange look. Was this guy for real? Could someone possibly be like that, he wondered, he had never seen anyone quite like that Raven. But there was no time for petty questions, he had to find away to get the girl out of there and quick. The question was, how?

"Say Raven do you know who you have there in your embrace?" Draco asked casually.

Raven shrugged and started to walk ahead. "No and nor do I care, all I know is that I'm doing Hiltz a favor and he owes me big time."

"Do you know why they want her?"

"No, and like I said before I don't give a damn about her. If I had it my way I wouldn't be here right now."

Shadow glared at Tiamat while walking alongside Raven, who was beginning to get irritated with the little interrogation. He decided to calmly walk past him, with the girl securely in his arms, and once they were out sighting range put the body on Shadow. But something kept nagging at him; screaming for him to ask one single question about the girl to satisfy his mounting curiosity, even for just a little bit.

"Just out of curiosity," Raven began smoothly. "why is she so important to you." It was more of demand than a question.

Shadow shook his head and suddenly found it amusing to look at the lush, green ground. While Draco thought his question over, Tiamat amused himself by looking up at the dark blue sky.

"None of your business."

"Really, well it appears that it has just become my business since I am the one who is holding her right, doesn't it?"

Draco glared at the raven-haired boy, but had to admit he had a good point; he was in no position to make demands since Raven held the key and he could destroy her in an instant if he felt like it. Not even the legendary Van Flyheight, who beat the Deathsaurer, had beaten him lately. Van only beat him once! If Draco could somehow trick Flyheight into believing a phony story about Raven and the key maybe he stood a good enough chance at putting her back where she belonged for the rest of eternity so she couldn't destroy Zi and the universe. He'd let Raven win this round, but he'd be back to clam victory.

Tiamat's jaw fell; Draco wanted to give up already?? And the battle hadn't even started yet! This was insane!

"Ah, well I see you won't talk. Oh well, I can do without your useless knowledge at any rate," Raven said with a smirk.

Oh we'll see about that, Raven, we will see about that. With that Draco and Tiamat disappeared just as quickly not to mention mysteriously as they had appeared.

"It's about time. My arm was close to getting tired."

Raven plopped the body onto the organiods back and they started back to the cabin. He'll be damned if when he came back he'd find Reese reading HIS book, but something told him it was gonna happen sooner or later.

*~*~*~*~

Authors Note:

Well? What did you guys think? Was it worth the wait? Oh yeah! I have to thank my pal, Fred, for letting me use his characters. Yup you guessed it, Draco is not mine. Well Ima gonna start on the next chapter soon with Van and Fiona and then we'll go from there. Peace out

~*Mi ChElLe*~