Raven felt her blood run cold. She cried out and ran over to her injured friend. Odin was bleeding, lying on the ground. The GF. Her GF. Xeno. "Oh my God." she curaga-ed him frantically. "I thought you wanted me out of your life." Odin. no, Xeno. Xeno said softly. Raven felt the blood rise in her face. "No no no no. I did NOT mean that, and you know it! Xeno!" Odin laid his head down on the pavement. "Raven." "Don't you dare die on me!" Raven's eyes filled with tears. "What did they do to you?" "They have shot me. You know how badly injured I am, Raven." "Well, ya gotta pull through! Ya did last time! Odin, listen to me!" Raven got down on her hands and knees and looked him in the eye fiercely. "NO!" "You think life should be simple, fair. But it is not. You will never truly be without me, because I will always be in your heart. Isn't that right?" "Yes. I'm not ready to be all alone again. I took you for granted as Xeno. You WERE Xeno, right?" "Yes. I thought you would never figure it out." Odin chuckled softly to himself. "KILL THAT BEAST!" roared a Galbadian Soldier behind them. "NO!" she screamed back. "It is your duty Raven. Kill me and be done with it. There is no other option. Just make it fast and painless." The look in Odin's eyes sent tears streaming down her face. "How could you say that? You know very well you're my best friend, I could and would never do anything to hurt you!" she burst out. An idea struck her. "Get inside my crystal!" "I'm sorry, Raven." "You were the most head-headed GF I'd ever seen! Don't give up on me! You'd've never given up before! Odin, SNAP OUT OF IT! I won't let you get hurt!" "Raven! What's going on? Are you okay?" Rage sprinted over towards her and knelt beside her, concern totally obvious. "I'm fine. But he's not. Don't you recognize him? It's Odin! Xeno!" "Ha ha. Funny, sis. Seriously. Let's just get this over with." "I AM serious! I won't let you kill him." Raven blocked Odin from any line of fire. "Raven. that's why there was no record of Xeno." Rage helped Raven heal Odin. "Oh my." Star gasped. She stood behind them. Yuri did not speak, but he put a strong, comforting hand on Raven's shoulder. That said plenty. "Don't you die on me Odin." Raven whispered. A glimmer of hope shown on the brink of this nightmarish darkness. Silver sparks flew around Odin and he slowly faded away. Raven held her GF pendant close. "Hang on, Odin." Rage helped her up; she was surprised to find out how weak she had become. "Come on. Let's go back to Balamb." Raven fell to her knees. She struggled to her feet. "Don't." Yuri put her in a fireman's carry on his back. "You did good, Raven; I'm proud of the way you handled this." Raven smiled slightly. She was so tired. she was slipping in and out.
darkness.