Chapter 15 - Ravens

"No Téa!" Yugi cried. He, Joey, and Bakura raced over to the side of the tall platform, carefully looking over the side. Yugi sunk to his knees. "This can't be happening." Crimson moaned as she tried to stand up, but quickly dropped down.

"Do you want me to carry you?" offered Kaiba. Crimson gave him the Look.

"Okay, did the Shadow Realm already get to you? Are you insane? First of all, I am not a weakling! I can walk myself! Second, having you carry me would be too...too weird, let's say. And finally, why are you so nice?"

"I was just trying to be a bit more patient with you, considering that our pasts are connected. But if you really feel you don't need my help, then I won't offer it to you."

"Fine!"

"Guys! Stop arguing!" Bakura said. "Didn't you guys notice Téa-,"

"Of course we did! Do you think I'm crazy?" Crimson crawled over to the side of the pillar. "I can't believe that happened! First Tristan, now her! Oh! Raiya is going to pay when I get to her!" Crimson finally attempted to get back up and she succeeded, though she still felt light-headed and really uncoordinated.

"A'leas' dat' freak Royhaun blah-blah-blah is gone!"

"That's true. We won't be seeing much of him...but still..." Crimson trailed off as she looked over the edge. "I can't believe Téa is too. That makes our list up to four. It's just Kaiba, you, Yugi, Bakura, and me now. Five of us against the might of Raiya and her control over the Shadow Realm." Crimson wrapped her arms around her. "I think we are a wee bit out numbered."

"Tell me about it," Yugi said, getting up. "But we better get off this pillar first. Maybe then, we can make a strategy."

"Good idea!" Crimson looked around her. The others looked around as well. They all came to dwell on one question.

"How?" they all asked at once. They each looked at each other. Suddenly, a cracking noise erupted from behind them. One side of the pillar broke and fell down. It landed with a splash into the lava. Their standing area became half of what it used to be.

"Uh..." Crimson gulped as she watched the remaining edges crack. "I don't care how we do it, but we better do it fast!"

"Let's get down the same way we did earlier," Joey said, rushing over to the side he had climbed up. The others hurried to his side.

"Okay, Joey first and Bakura follow. Yugi, you can go next and Kaiba will follow. I go last. Hurry!" Crimson yelped as a portion of rock behind her cracked off. Crimson observed that her pillar wasn't the only think cracking. As far as the eye could see, the ring of rock forming the perimeter was slowly starting to break down. It would be much time before everything sank into lava. And as more rock started to fall into the lava, the more it would rise.

"Guys! Hurry! We have to get to stable higher ground!" The others had already begun to climb down the side. Crimson felt sick to the stomach and light-headed, but she still followed Kaiba down the side. The five of them climbed down as fast as they could. Finally, they were all on the bottom. Bakura pointed to the narrow strip of rocks they had previously conquered. The lava had almost covered most of them.

"Great!" Crimson moaned. "How are we going to get past this?" She was interrupted by a loud crunching noise. She looked on with terror as the surrounding walls shook violently, chunks of rocks falling down into the lava. Soon, the lava on the ground stirred up like a sea of waves before disappearing entirely. All that was left was a sea of brown rock and the five of them standing in the middle of the red-tinged canyon.

"That makes it almost too easy," Kaiba commented. He stepped forward carefully, and then proceeded faster. The others shrugged and followed him. In a matter of minutes, they had reached the wall.

"You know guys, I would have thought there would be a bigger test than just walking across a canyon."

"I agree! Somethin's fishy!"

"I think that's just you, Wheeler."

"Shaddup!" The five of them started up at the wide expanse of red rock they had to climb. As far as they could see, it was smoother than when the 'rescue team' had climbed it. Crimson warily extended her arm and touched the wall. Immediately, a curvy-sloped pathway materialized out of thin air. The gang gasped.

"'Dat... was convenient!"

"No kidding, Wheeler. Let's go!" The five rushed over to the start of the maze-like pathway and started up. No sooner than the moment Crimson first put her foot on the pathway, another violent jarring and crunching noise erupted. The gang fought for balance as the ground shook. Pieces of red rock crumbled to the floor. Kaiba shouted as an unusually large rock cracked and came crashing down right where the five of them stood. Bakura pummeled Yugi and Joey into the wall and the three of them closed their eyes. Kaiba pinned Crimson against the side of the slope pathway.

"I'm sqooshed!" Crimson muttered, trying to speak with her head buried in Kaiba's chest. She found it exceedingly hard to breathe. After the rock finally crashed to the ground several feet away, everyone sighed and backed away from the wall. Crimson took deep breaths.

"Oh! I could have suffocated! Kaiba! Your cologne is intoxicating! Like I wasn't already light-headed...what kind is it? Smelled good." Kaiba smirked at her before motioning to the others. Crimson growled. "Fine! Blow off my question! Ignore me! I could have died for all you care!"

"It's not like I didn't care. I just thought you would have known by the scent. I'll leave you to wonder. Anyway, it wasn't like I was having any fun. You wash your hair with Strawberry Sundae shampoo. It smells too sweet for my taste."

"Oh! Now you notice!" Crimson stopped briefly as she felt a tug on her arm. She brushed it off. "How come you didn't notice when you kissed me?"

"I was too occupied with... other things. After all, how can you kiss someone if you are thinking Strawberry Sundae shampoo?" Crimson's jaw dropped. Joey and Bakura looked at each other and nearly burst out laughing. Crimson felt the tug on her arm again.

"What?" she cried exasperatedly, looking at Yugi. He pointed to the wall on the opposite side that was twice as close as it previously was. And it was still moving.

"Run!" Joey yelled, and the others frantically rushed up the pathway as the wall advanced on them. So much for what they thought was an easy climb. The pathway twisted up in odd angles and it didn't do them any good that they were nervous that they were about to get squished.

"Ah!" The wall moved faster. Large chunks of rocks fell and pieces of the pathway started to break off. The panicked five raced to beat the clock. They managed to race up and fall breathlessly on top of the surface. The narrow gap below closed up fully. Crimson made a quick head count before crumpling to the floor.

"I am officially out of order. Please replace my batteries." Crimson closed her eyes. The surrounding area turned back to the wide sea of black it once was. It didn't offer much comfort to the gang. They were already minus two of their group and the last "test" had left them out of breath. They weren't ready for any new surprises. Unfortunately, one was already on its way.

"Did you guys hear that?" Crimson asked. The others tried to listen to the sound Crimson was observing. Sure enough, they all heard a faint flapping sound.

"Wha' are we gonna do? Der's no place t' hide!" Joey said.

"Shush! Maybe it will pass by without harming us," Yugi suggested. The five gathered together and glanced around, as the flapping grew nearer. Finally, a large black raven came into view, somehow distinctly visible from the surrounding darkness. It flew toward them and landed softly on the invisible ground. It was at least twice as tall as Kaiba, with dark feathers and soft green eyes.

"Good day, young travelers," it said.

"Ah! It speaks!" Joey cried, rushing behind Crimson to hide. Crimson felt more light-headed than she had before and almost fell on top of him.

"Good...day?" she replied hesitantly.

"Do not be frightened. I might seem quite intimidating but on the contrary, I am here to help you."

"It speaks like Bakura," Crimson noted. She nodded to the bird. "Thank you for your offer, but how do we know that you are really out to help us and not hurt us."

"Hurt you! Like eat you up? Why, that would be a sin! I am a vegetarian, I must confess. I desire nothing more than plant delicacies. I love salad."

"What is your name and who do you work for?" Kaiba asked.

"My name is Sash. I supposedly work for Mistress Raiya of the Shadow, but I would rather decline that position. I heard that seven young travelers were on their way to the Dark Castle – even though I notice that only five are present here – and was hoping to aid them. My Mistress is evil in her attentions, and I did not want you to get lost by evil deeds. Of course, I can only help you so much. I am not of such a power as to rescue you from the deepest of muddy situations, but I offer as much help as I can nonetheless."

"Sure... Sash..." Yugi said. "Now, can you help us get to the Dark Castle?"

"I, unfortunately to say, am watched by Raiya very closely. If I help you, she will find out in no time. Instead, I am sending my daughters to help you. They are the White Ravens of Spirit."

"White Ravens? How can 'dat be?"

"Yes, I know many are curious of how they came about, but they are white because they dedicated their lives to the Light. I, most regrettably, was put under Raiya's servitude. But, not to digress... the White Ravens will help you as much as they can. They will fly toward the castle and you will have to follow them. Unfortunately, in order to not get snared by Raiya's wrath, they cannot stop in this Realm. You will have to keep up with their pace. They cannot stop or slow their progress of Raiya will find them."

"But what if-,"

"No questions, Mr. Joseph. Perchance you lose the way; I do not know how to help you. Raiya will do everything in her power to stop you. Follow the White Ravens and succeed on your quest. Good day, and Godspeed." The giant raven took off and flew away.

"I don't think we should listen to it. It could be a trap," Kaiba said.

"I highly doubt it. I have heard of Sash before. He used to be known as Dark Sash. He is one of Raiya's most rebellious followers. Anyway, even if it is a trap, he will be leading us to the castle because Raiya won't be able to resist losing us, the holders of three Millennium Items."

"Good point." Suddenly, a louder flapping of wings approached the five. They looked up to see fifteen White Ravens fly past. They were going relatively slow. They would be easy to follow.

"Let's go!" Crimson said. "We have no other choice." Joey, Yugi, and Bakura turned and hurried after the ravens. However, Kaiba held Crimson back.

"Here, I want you to have this." Crimson turned around and Kaiba handed her a card. She turned it over and gasped.

"You want me to have-,"

"Borrow!"

"You want me to borrow one of your Blue-Eyes?"

"I remember your Duel. It might be wise if you had a powerful card in your Deck." Crimson stared down at the card in disbelief. A Blue Eyes of her own? That was beyond amazing. Crimson couldn't control her excitement... unfortunately.

"Oh, thank you!" she cried. Then – out of instinct, perhaps? – she reached up and kissed his lips. Turning around swiftly, she hurried after the others. Kaiba stood there for a few seconds. When he finally started walking, a smile played around his lips.