Christmas Eve
Raven stood there, watching the world outside her window. It was snowing. Four days ago she had seen her son as Raven Mutoh, not Raven Dublin. But that was over. Yugi's mother was only with him for a day, but it seemed like it was enough for him. She sighed and glanced at the clock. It was almost five. By now, most had gone in for the day. Which meant that the ice rink in the park would be almost deserted. She liked it that way. Raven walked down stairs and opened a closet. She pulled out white ice skates and hung them over her shoulder. 'Maybe . . . maybe I'll be able to have some time to myself for once.'
\Raven? Aren't you crippled? Shouldn't you be using that cane more?/
\\I can go without the cane. I only walk slower and need a break every so often.//
\You've been putting a lot of strain on it, though./
\\Why are you so concerned? I'm not so crippled that I can't go without the cane. It just makes it easier to walk, that's all. It's doesn't mean that I have to use it no matter what.//
\But, you can't run if you put strain on your knee before hand./ Raven sighed and shook her head.
\\I can run, just not for along time. Five to ten minutes. And there isn't a reason that I should run longer.//
\How can you be sure something doesn't bring up the cause for you to run for a longer period?/
\\Why are you so concerned? All that happens is I limp if I start to put too much strain on it.//
\But . . ./
\\But what? It's not like my knee will give out. I'll be in a lot of pain beforehand so I know that I've pushed it too hard. I'll be able to push it pretty far after I start to feel a lot of pain before it gives out.//
\But what if you had to keep pushing it. You could go a lot far after the pain if you use the cane./
\\Why?//
\. . ./
\\Ravonia . . . //
\Listen, I know my sister is here and I know she is planing. She always is. I just don't want to be caught off guard and you end up making your knee worse./ Raven smiled.
"Fine. At home I'll use the cane. That way, we both win."
\Thank you./
Sakura walked down a sidewalk. It passed by the hotel Yugi was staying in. She stopped and stared at the window to his room. She reached down to her belt and was about to take the belt buckle, her item that allowed her to live to this day and age, when she stopped. She turned and looked off in the direction of the park. A smirk graced her lips.
"Perhaps . . . . yes, it is time to pay my dear sister a visit." She turned on her heels and headed for the park.
Yugi turned on the television. It was Christmas eve. He watched the weather channel for a few minutes. It was going to snow for awhile. He thought about his mother. His head reached up and held the locket that he had beside his puzzle. A faint smile graced his lips at that thought of having a mother. Yugi sighed and turned off the television. He went to the room his grandfather was in. He was asleep. Yugi smiled and closed the door. He stared out the window for a minute before the phone rang. Yugi quickly picked it up to make sure it didn't wake his grandfather.
"Hello?"
"Yugi, how's it going?" It was Joey.
"Hey Joey. Things are kinda slow."
"Yeah, hey, I'm gonna be there tomorrow."
"Really, that's great Joey. Tea call yesterday and said that she should be here tomorrow too."
"Really? Did Tristen and Ryou call too?"
"Yeah, they did. They are gonna to be here too." he and Joey continued talking for while. Eventually the two said goodbye and hung up. Yugi glanced at the clock. He had talked for nearly an hour. It was nice to be able to talk to his friend.
Raven skated along the ice, the cold air nipped at her bare face. She had on a gray beanie and a light blue parka. Her long black skirt was little held to the cold, but her black nylon pants underneath helped her legs stay warm. Raven felt herself smile. How long had it been since she really did smile? Too long for her. She picked up her speed and flew along the ice. After awhile she began to skate backwards. She watched over her shoulder to make she didn't his anything. Raven gave a small laugh when she spun around and faced the front again. She felt her spirits soar as she skated. She couldn't remember the last time that she felt this at ease. She always had something weighing her down. Making it impossible for her to enjoy herself for just a few minutes. Nobody else was around. She had the place all to herself and she didn't mind.
Ravonia stood in front of her light's soul room. She was mostly hid in the shadows. She raised her hand, ready to push the slightly open door wide open when she stopped. 'She . . . she needs the rest . . .' She turned and walked back into her soul room. Her dark soul room hid her in the shadows. She stared at the space in between the pillars. Slowly, a mist filled the space. It formed a screen and after a few minutes it showed an old memory.
A woman in Egypt was standing on the front of a boat as it moved down the river that ran through the city. Many people had lined up at the sides of the river. The woman's shoulder and head were hidden in shadows. She wore a long white skirt that rested to the ground. It had a slit up on her right side. Her sliver top was strapless. It was stopped a few inches above her ribs. It was trimmed with gold and had a oval jade in the middle on top. She had a long cape that fell on the ground. She had on an arm band and two gold bracelets on each wrist. Because of the slit her leg could be seen and her shoe was visible. It was a gold sandal that had straps that were wrapped around her leg up to her knee almost. She held a gold scythe. The long blade was encrusted with sapphires and rubies. The bottom had a violet sphere on the bottom. The section that was held was long and sliver. There was some ivory engravings. There was a man, a guard of some sort, that stood behind her.
"Mistress, are you sure of this course of action? With your father being ill and having many enemies, it is not safe for you to be here. You could be attacked at any minute." She moved her head back slightly to look at the guard.
"I will not hide." Her voice was soft and gently, but commanding. "I will show the people that I will face life. I will not hide from them. If a man wishes to kill me, then it is his choice. He knows that his punishment will be great, both in this life, an the afterlife. How can these people have any respect for me when I am busy hiding?" The man considered this.
"Yes, but you know that your sister wishes for what you will gain once your father leaves this life for the next." The woman sighed and looked ahead.
"I know this, but that is merely a rumor that has been spread around the land. Neither I nor my sister know of who he shall name as his heir. And I also know that the gods shall watch over me. And so will you. I have faith in you. Understand why you worry, my sister has yet to learn that though we many have more responsibilities than the people, that does not, in any way, make us better than they. We must live by the same rules as they do. How can one respect us if we do not? How can we respect ourselves?" The man nodded.
"Of course, Mistress. I meant no ill will. But can you be sure that your sister will not hurt you? I worry for you."
"I understand this, but I can not hide. My sister must learn of life, if I am sacrificed for her to learn that she is not an exception then I will gladly die. I want my sister to live a good life, this one and the afterlife." The man nodded once more.
"You are truly wise beyond your years Mistress. Perhaps you are the human Ma'at. For few have ever been so wise, and at such a young age. I only wish that your sister would understand this. Then she would understand why your father chose you over her, even though she is eldest." The woman sighed.
"I do not care if I am chosen or not. All I care for is that the people of this land live well." The man nodded.
"Yes, Mistress. I understand." At that moment there was a commotion. The woman looked over to the street to see what it was. A enclosed sedan chair. The veils that were there instead of windows prevent anyone from seeing inside of it. There was gold engravings on it. A female figure could be seen through the veil. People cleared out of the way. There were several guards that were walking around it. They looked ready to kill in a moment's notice.
"Those guards . . . Addaya." She turned to the man behind her slightly.
"Yes Mistress?"
"Addaya, do you know of them? I have yet to see guards with those symbols." The man, Addaya, looked at them.
"Yes, I believe that they are the ones your sister created just for herself. They are given orders to kill if anyone approaches her carriage. However, that may only be a rumor but that is what I have heard." She stared at the guards for a moment longer.
"But . . . there was nothing wrong with the old guards, was there?" Addaya thought for a moment.
"I have only heard rumors about it nothing solid. But the rumors were that they would not take life without good reason so she had them put to death, or exiled, one of the two."
"I see." She was silent in her thoughts. "It appears that I must talk with her. I do not like these rumors. Even if they only that, it gives ill will towards us, and our father would not like that." Addaya watched her.
"Are you sure that she will listen?"
"My sister will listen to my reason. There is no reason why she should act without care as she is doing now."
"What do you mean?"
"She gives the people the idea that we hate them. By having those guards she tells them that she has no trust and does not care for them." She shook head. "She shall hurt all the work that father has done for Egypt."
"Do you think that she would care? Your sister has been known to be cruel to everyone but your father." She thought for a moment.
"Though my sister may bear ill will towards me because our mother died during my birth, there should be no reason why she would act so carelessly about my thoughts. She should have better judgment than that."
"And if she does not? Will you take it to your father?"
"Our father needs not concern himself with this. His heart is weak. He must not be caught up in the middle of a meaningless squabble between us. Unless it proves to be a danger to our family or if her guards draw blood I will not bring this to him." Addaya watched the guards.
"Do you not think it wise to stop the blood shed before it happens?"
"I cannot predict the future. I cannot judge someone because of the way they look."
"Pardon?"
"They may look like they want blood, but they may only be doing that because they want to scare off offenders. So I can do nothing. Since my Goddess Choker can only seek out the guilty there is nothing I can do at the moment other than talk to her. But I will not allow the people to be hurt by her guards."
Ravonia waved her hand and the mist disappeared. She sighed and sat down on the water floor. Slowly she lied down, ready for sleep to take her when she felt s strong presence. She was on her feet in a matter of minutes. She knew this presence.
Raven stared at young woman wearing a school uniform. Sakura. Sakura was leaning against the side of a tree. The sky had darkened. Sakura seemed older. She had crimson eyes.
"Can I help you Sakura?" Sakura smiled.
"Why yes, you can." Raven forced a smile.
"How can I help you then?" Sakura smirked.
"Why, I need something from you." Raven raised an eyebrow.
"And what would that be?" Sakura slowly started to laugh.
"You know what I mean, Ravonia!" Raven felt the Goddess Choker start to glow, meaning Ravonia was about to take her place. She felt her mind go back into her soul room and Ravonia's come out.