Ack! Please Please PLEASE DON'T HURT ME! I had writer's block bad! -hides behind Robin-

Digital. One Piece.: Yeah...I noticed that. Hey, you should. I kinda explored that a bit in Aftereffects, but it would be interesting to see it really happen. -points to opening message- Thanks!

Mystyre: Too true. Hmm...I think you'll be surprised at how it all turns out. -points to opening message-

addmich: Thanks! -points to opening message-

Reggie Tuesday: Thanks. :)

jambey: You know, so am I...and I made up the dude! Eek, that sucks. Hmm...I'll get on that. LOL benign...the perfect word to describe a crowbar. What, pray tell, are you going to use on me? -points to opening message-

The Light of Darkness: -points to opening message- Hmm...interesting. Why thank you. Die? We'll see.

cutter-with-a-cause: You'll see.

YoukaiTenshi: -points to opening message-

Mina: Yes, that is just the sort of thing I would do. Spot on, Watson! Er...-cough cough, hides funky looking detective hat- Robin: Uh yeah there's a name for those you know... Dusty: Oh, pin a rose on your nose! Robin: Whoa...that one is older than Bruce! Dusty: No -blank- Sherlock! Robin: I'll take that as a compliment. Dusty: Good for you. Thanks!

im in a kill people mood: Hmm...death is but the next great adventure! -points to opening message-

NevermoretheRaven: Well it is the climax, so that makes sense. They're cool, very convenient. Yeah...it was scary seeing Robin let someone mess up his hair! So demeaning.

Child of Blood: My ok? Sure, feel free! You could do both of them if you want...only problem is Slade is immortal and Venton can regenerate...and he's immortal. But hey, we can dream, can't we?

an Angel from Hell: Shaman King? I watched it once...not too bad, really. Phew! You are just about the first person that didn't harass me for an update! THANK YOU! -hugs-

alena-chan: Nah, you're not. 4 hours? Not bad, not bad at all. Thanks! -points to opening message-

SaphirePhoenix: Well, if you would have read on, it would have.

AriesFalcon: Wow, thank you so much! Your opinion means a lot to me. -points to opening message-

Ok, so I guess I should write now? Robin: No, I think they want you to perform your stand-up comedy act. Dusty: Where's the "off" button? -screws up Robin's hair while searching for the button- Robin: WHAT THE HECK? GET OFF ME! Dusty: MUAHAHAHAA! SHUT UP AND READ!

Raven fought for air as the mysterious force pressed into her, sharp pain shooting through her chest as ribs began to think about cracking.

"Let's start with the witch, shall we? One last kiss for the road?" Venton smirked confidently as he strode over to her, his taint prickling on her very skin. Glaring fiercely, Raven hissed, "Go to Hell!"

Venton laughed, quietly at first, but growing in volume until it echoed in the emptiness all around them. Without warning, the laughter died and his eyes snapped open, glowing a fierce, devilish red as he smiled crookedly at her. "Ladies first."

"You always were unsuccessful with women. I see you haven't changed in the least."

Venton's eyes widened, then returned to their usual black as he spun on his heel to greet the newcomer. Raven stared, eyes squinted to get a better look...no, it couldn't be! She was tall and slender, dark brown hair falling down below he back and accenting the deep blue of her dress. She was at ease, as though having a pleasant conversation at a mid-winter ball, rather than challenging a demon in a poor soul's tortured mind. Raven would never have recognized her if it wasn't for the eyes...like twin pools of chocolate, though they had lost some of their warmth as Missy glared coldly at Venton.

"Well, if it isn't Miseria Alanora Trinadon. What a pleasure to trade insults with you again. I must say you look stunning; good to see that associating with vermin has not drained your beauty. But I suppose that will come in time."

Missy remained undaunted. "I would have thought Trigon would teach you something a little more creative, but I suppose that will have to do. I didn't come here to listen to your mindless babble, Venton. Release them, or you will sorely regret it."

Raven's eyes were wide, her mind racing. How...Why was Missy...?

"Of course." Venton swept a low bow, and for one blissful second, Raven dared to hope he would back down.

With a smirk on his lips and a glint in his eye, Venton jerked out of the bow and yelled, "Imnar Hezbarath Sae!" A sphere of pulsing red energy flew towards Missy with the speed of a bullet, headed straight for her face... Raven wanted to yell out a warning as the sphere grew ever closer and Missy remained motionless, an almost bored expression on her face. At the last possible second, when Raven was certain her last hope was about to be extinguished, Missy whispered something inaudible, a shimmering blue shield formed a bubble around her, and the red sphere glanced harmlessly off of its transparent surface. "If that was your best, I'm afraid I'm not impressed." Missy flung out her hand, crying, "Kaelin Trinadon Zaria!"

Venton's eyes widened as an invisible force swept his feet out from under him, sending him crashing to the ash-ridden ground. Raven choked and gasped as the pressure on her chest was suddenly released, her legs buckling under her as she went down on hands and knees. For several minutes, she did nothing but breathe, taking in huge lungfuls of stale air as though it was the purest breath of life. She was vaguely aware that Missy and Venton were still fighting, but at the moment it didn't seem all that important.

A quiet, pain-filled sob jolted her from her trance, and she turned to see Robin hanging limply in the ropes, his body jerking every now and then, head hung low and tears streaming from his eyes to fall on the parched black earth.

Raven struggled to her feet and tried once again to phase through the bars, but it seemed Venton wasn't that distracted. They remained completely solid no matter how many times she tried. "Robin?"

She jumped as Missy crashed into the bars, eyes squeezed shut in pain. "Tell him, Raven. You have to tell him. It's the only way."

"What?" Raven blinked in shock.

"Do it!" Missy ducked a second blast from Venton, chanting her mantra and flying toward him without another word.

Do what? What was she supposed to do? Raven bit her lip hard, desperately searching her mind for the answer. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him, so broken...she could only imagine the pain he had experienced at Venton's hands. Raven slammed a fist against the bars, achieving nothing but sore knuckles as the tears escaped and rolled down her pale cheeks. "Robin! Robin please...don't give up! I...I need you." His sobbing stopped, but he did not look up...probably because he didn't have the strength. "Robin...I always thought I was alone, that no one could understand...but I was wrong. There was you." Raven took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. Then the words tumbled out in a rush. "At first I wasn't sure, or maybe I was afraid, but Robin...I understand now. These feelings...I know what they are. Robin, I think I love you." Raven blinked in shock as the words spilled out, but at the same time she knew that they were true. He couldn't die...not now that she finally saw what was in front of her all along.

A tiny spark awoke in the back of his mind as her words penetrated the darkness. "Wh...what?" he whispered, voice hoarse from screaming.

Relief flooded through her as he spoke, but it wasn't enough. She had to know he would be alright. "You can't leave, Robin, not now...I love you! Stay with me!"

Love...Raven loved him. The words echoed through his mind, shouting in the darkest corners, filling him, saving him. Raven loved him, and that was all that mattered. Drawing from some unknown reserve of strength, he lifted his head and locked eyes with her for the first time in eternity. "I will never leave you, Raven."

And then all Hell broke loose.

Venton smiled in triumph, the energy ball crackling in his hand as he drew ever closer to Miseria, flat on her back and fighting for breath. "Not so confident now, I see. That last hit must have hurt, because it looks like you're fresh out of fight. Unfortunately for you, I'm just getting started."

Missy looked up into his shadow eyes, and Venton was shocked to see that there was no fear reflected in her deep brown orbs, no sadness, no shame. They seemed almost...triumphant?

"You fool." A smile crept into her lips, though she shook slightly from pain. His eyes wide, Venton whirled around to hear those fateful words, his downfall...

"I will never leave you, Raven."

"NO!" Venton's eyes burned a fierce red as he flung out his hand, lighting the ropes with liquid fire, pouring all his strength into suppressing Robin at all costs...

He screamed, but it was not so much in pain as blind determination. "RAVEN!" The name reverberated all throughout Robin's mind, ringing with such force that the earth seemed to crack and tremble, demon crows falling out of the black sky and writhing in pain.

"NO! DIE, WORM!" Venton pumped his fury into the symbol, pushed as hard as he could...but ever-growing was that feeling, like running into a brick wall. Robin's protection was slowly returning. The fight was as good as lost.

"RAVEN!" The earth all around them was splitting, fountains of lava and steam surging up through the cracks as thunder and red lightning raged through the sky. Robin yelled until her name was in everything, a force just as tangible as Venton's, if not more so. The demon's eyes went wide as Robin yelled once more, and the cage and fiery ropes vanished into thin air, though the symbol still glowed a faint orange as he crumbled to the ground. A tiny part of Venton's usual confidence returned as he percieved Robin's complete and utter exhaustion...Maybe he could still--

Venton yelled in surprise as a blue ball of energy collided with his lower back, sending him flying forward to skid to a halt mere inches from a steaming pit of lava. He stood up to see Raven and Miseria glaring back at him, eyes and hands glowing threateningly. "Allow me to call to your attention that little deal we made not long ago," Raven hissed mockingly. "You lost."

He looked shocked for a few moments...then a smile evil enough to raise the hairs on the back of Raven's neck spread across his face like oil. "As you wish...my lady."

HA! FINALLY! If only you knew just how painful this chapter was for me...the words came so slow I could hardly stand it. Ok, so now you know about Missy...her name is pronounced Meye-SEAR-e-a AL-a-NOR-a TRIN-a-DON...pretty much how it sounds. Her mantra goes something like this: KEYE-lin TRIN-a-DON ZAIR-e-a. Just some funky words I made up. Yeah, I know it was another cliffhanger, but I give you permission to shoot me if I don't update within a week.

One more thing...If you have a minute, please go read Dark Corners...it's a little different from what I usually write, but I'd really like to get some feedback on it. Thank you if you've already reviewed it. Laters! -Dusty