Disclaimer: I own no part of the Teen Titans or their associated canon nor, any other already copyrighted material.

(A/N): Okay…that last five chapters were basically lead in. Now I get down to the rest of the story.

Chapter 6

Requiem of Life

Raven hovered a few inched above her bed, sitting cross legged, eyes closed, trying to regain full control of herself. "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos. Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos…" A few small thunderclouds of black energy hovered around the room as if blown by an unfelt breeze. Across her lap lay the rod she had collected after the battle with Arkanus. On the bed in front of her was the book Hunter had thrown her. It was open to the page detailing the Sword of Togawa. What she could read had told her nothing more than she already knew from seeing it in action. The rest of the entry was in a strange script she couldn't make out.

She had been meditating for several hours, slowly, ever so slowly regaining control of her rampaging sorrow. The others had long since found the peace of sleep. Having saved every last child and cleaned up the warehouse they were all exhausted. She knew in the back of her mind that the others felt Hunter's death as well. But they hadn't been nearly as close to him as she had. In the darkness a sudden tapping came from her bedroom door. Stopping her chant an eye cracked open to stare at the clock. It was 6 in the morning. She had been meditating most of the night. "What?"

"Uh…it's Robin…" His voice was far more timid than she had ever heard it. "May I…come…in?" He must been concerned to risk asking her that. She considered ignoring him until he went away, but knowing his stubbornness that would be a long time. A whip of black energy struck the door controls and it slid open. Robin stepped in tentatively and it slid closed.

"What do you want?" Her monotone voice cut through the near total darkness. He could just make out her eyes at the far end of the room.

"I…we…were concerned about you. You disappeared right after we got back. I was wondering if you wanted to…talk?"

"I want to meditate."

"Raven…you've been meditating since we got back. I thought you might want to try something different."

She could feel a tinge of anger rising in her. Calming it she continued. "Fine. What do you want to talk about?" Robin was surprised she had relented this quickly. She was never one to talk.

"Well…you're not the only one feeling down. We all liked him. Well, except Beast Boy maybe… The point is that we can help you get through this. We'll help each other."

"You didn't know him like I did."

"No I didn't. But you didn't know Blackfire like Star did or Terra as closely as Beast Boy, but you still felt Star's loss when her sister betrayed her or Beast Boy's when he lost Terra."

"Terra was a traitor."

"True. But you still felt for him if not her." Silence descended on them for several moments.

"You know who he reminded me of?" Robin shook his head then realized she couldn't see the motion, but before he could speak she continued. "You. So cool, so confident…so helpful. He reminded me of something I hadn't thought of in a long time." She stopped.

After a minute Robin got the nerve to speak. "Raven?"

"When I first met you I used to wonder…if I wasn't a half demon and you weren't…the Boy Wonder…if we had just met randomly in high school…do you think something might have happened between us?" Robin was stunned both by the revelation and by how open she was being. He took several seconds to answer.

"You know I can't answer that."

"I know. Thanks anyway. I…I think I'm going to get some rest now."

"Okay. See you later Raven." He slid out the door as she lay down, asleep before her head hit the pillow.

It was late afternoon before Raven woke again. After showering and changing clothes she had found that three of the others were out for the evening. Robin, Star and Cyborg had headed to town to watch a movie and grab some pizza. Beast Boy surprisingly had stayed behind and was currently playing some random skateboarding game. Raven, unwilling to be alone in the living room with a game playing Beast Boy had headed for the roof. She was currently sitting cross-legged a few inches above the roof ledge, Sword of Togawa across her lap, paging thorough the book Hunter had left behind. Despite her best effort a black energy cloud still drifted around her. Why she had been unable to control that was at the moment beyond her.

The tattered pages were yellowed with age. The text was written in at least four different hands and three languages. The most recent had been added within the last few years and seemed to be additional notes on the entries above. She had spent the better part of an hour paging through the manuscript, carefully going over every word and illustration. It was obviously the collected abilities and knowledge of the school Hunter had trained at in his youth. If she were ever able to translate it she would be able to understand everything they had.

Glancing up noticed the sun beginning to set over the horizon. She turned away from the light and lightly stepped out of the air just as the door opened and Beast Boy stepped through carrying a cup and saucer. He looked up and froze; surprised that she wasn't still facing the other way. She waited several seconds before he spoke.

"Uh…hi Raven."

"Hello… What do you want?"

"Uh…I made you some tea." He weakly lifted the saucer to offer her the cup. She looked at him surprised for several seconds.

"You made me tea?"

"Uh…yeah. You haven't eaten anything today and I thought you might like some…tea." He again held out the cup, waiting for her to take it. After several seconds spent mostly debating whether he was trying to trick her she slid the rod through a ring on her belt, grasped the cup and took a small sip. To her surprise it was perfect. Taking a larger sip she smiled very slightly and looked up at Beast Boy.

"Thank you."

"It's…okay?"

"It just right Beast Boy…thank you. That was very thoughtful." Relief flooded over him that he had gotten it right and she wasn't going to kill him. She took another sip as they stood in silence, neither knowing what to say next. He looked around, trying to find something to talk about. His eyes finally settled on the book she had tucked under her arm to grasp the saucer.

"So…whatcha reading? Poe?" She shot him a glance at the mention of the author but refrained from her usual remarks. Holding the cup and saucer in one hand she showed him the book with the other.

"It's the book Hunter left behind. I've…been leafing through it for a while." At the mention of Hunter he stiffened very slightly but soon relaxed again.

"I figured you were up here meditating."

"You knew I was up here?" He shrugged.

"I'm not totally oblivious you know."

"You certainly seemed it when you were playing."

"Well…I don't need my eyes to see everything." Before she could comment on that particular phrase he moved on. "Your shampoo for instance is fairly unique. I caught a whiff of it when you were making your tea. I had to run back to my room for a guide and I didn't catch anything as I passed your hallway. Only other place you go? Roof." Raven's eyes widened ever so slightly, as she comprehended the admittedly easy string of deductions…but from Beast Boy?

"Quite a sense of smell you have there. Good deductions too. Might give Robin a run for his money…"

"Really?"

"…with another ten years practice or so." His face fell for a split second before he shrugged it off.

"Then I guess it's a good thing I'm not the leader."

"No…you're something far more important." She damn near glided very close to him suddenly so they were almost nose to nose.

"What?" He asked, forcing out a breath he was holding. Her lips revealed the barest twinge of a smile.

"The comic relief." She deadpanned. Then she really did smile as she glided back from him. After a moment he let out the breath as what she said sunk in. Falling back to his relaxed position he gave one of his patented yes-my-pants-are-on-fire-but-it's-cool smiles.

"Hey, I do what I'm good at." He glanced around for a second. "Hey…it's gone."

"What?"

"That cloud of energy that was following you all morning." He eyes shot open and she hurriedly looked around, trying to find the manifestation of sorrow that had been dogging her all day. Unfortunately she turned just a little too fast for the now empty porcelain cup. She saw it as it rolled off the side of the saucer. She nearly let go of the saucer to catch it before realizing this would have made things worse. She tossed the book lightly in the air and the now free hand darted for the cup. It slipped and slid from her grasp twice as she fumbled trying to grab it. This was taking too long. Finally she got a hold of it, set it in the saucer as fast as she could and turned to grab the book that must have nearly hit the floor.

To her surprise it hadn't. Beast Boy had unexpectedly snatched it out of thin air and held it by its binding toward her. Surprised she took it from him as he smiled. "Thanks." He smiled and gestured toward the saucer. After a second she realized what he was doing and handed it over.

"You're welcome. Glad I could help." Searching around again she was still unable to locate the cloud. It was gone. Because of him?

"You really did." He smiled another patented smile and stretched.

"Well…my work here is done. Now…the games await." He turned and headed back toward the door.

"Hey, Beast Boy."

"Yo."

"Why didn't you go to the movie with the others?" He shrugged and looked over his shoulder.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay." Raven was too surprised to reply as he entered the door and made his way back down the stairs. She stared after him for several seconds before she saw what had appeared behind the door when it had been open. A small stack of black energy books was now revealed. Concentrating she was able to make all but one disappear. She picked it up. 'Better than the cloud at least.' She began set it on top of the other one when something caught her eye. A corner of white paper stuck out from Hunter's book. Pulling at it she realized it was a piece of paper folded in half. Stacking the books she carefully unfolded the sheet and glanced over it in the twilight. After a second she figured out it was a note. To her.

Raven,

If you're reading this then I have met the fate I expected I would. But, if it brought an end to Arkanus…it was worth it. Don't weep for me…much. I knew what I was doing…

He had known? He had known and still he went forward unflinching… Would she have been able to do that?

My only regret is that I didn't get to spend more time with you. Teaching you was probably the most fun I've had in…ever. If we had had more time…who knows? I do know these last few days have been some of the best of my life. I hope you continue training. I know you will. You owe it to yourself to overcome that. And I also know you will do just that. You have excellent friends, and at least one green one I suspect was somewhat jealous of the time I spent with you.

Beast Boy? No way.

One more thing. The sword of Togawa. If I don't manage to destroy it then you must.

Her eyes snapped open. Destroy it? Why?

It is extremely dangerous…especially to you until to gain full control of your emotions. The Soul Sword feeds on emotions. Magnifying them, focusing them to give the user enhanced power…at the cost of their soul. It slowly absorbs its handler's essence, eventually turning them into bloodthirsty killing machines. This is what happened to Arkanus. His training kept him sane as far as I know but it was only a matter of time. Your focus will buffer you somewhat…but you must get rid of it as quickly as possible.

She removed the rod from her belt and threw it across the roof. If it was that dangerous there was no way she could keep it.

Take care Raven. If there is a heaven at the end of all this…maybe we will meet again. If not…live a good life. You have a wonderful group of teammates and uncommon inner strength. I don't know what demons you face within…but I know you will face them with the same resolve with which you face the enemies without. Good bye,

Your Friend,

Alex 'Hunter' Keystone

She refolded the paper and slipped it into the book. Turning she took a couple steps towards the door. She stopped when something hit her leg. Looking down she found the Sword hanging form her belt. 'What the…' She had thrown that away…hadn't she? She grabbed it very deliberately dropped it. Or rather, tried to drop it. Her hand refused to release it. Pulling her arm back she tried to throw it. Her hand still wouldn't let it go. She tried again, harder. Nothing. She tried several more times, harder and harder but to no result. She couldn't let the damn thing go.

With a tinge of terror she began to realize what was happening. It was beginning to take control. She had to get rid of the thing NOW. Opening the door she headed for the only person in the Tower who could help her.

(A/N): If you feel it is warranted feel free to review. I welcome any and all opinions.