Heehee...

I know, the last chappie was irritating, but I couldn't control Raven. The draft was nearly completed when I realized, Raven can't do this! It's too OOC and she'd never agree to such an impossibly happy ending. So I scratched out the whole draft and made a new, shorter, sadder one. .

I promise that not all chapters would end up like that. This is, afterall, a RobinxRaven fic. So more love this chapter...or maybe the next one. I'm not entirely sure.

Uhm...by the way, thanks for all the reviewers who supported me, and criticized me as well. I love all of you guys. You can't imagine how much you have urged me on and inspired me to continue a fic that was...nearly in ruins, to tell you the truth. A billion huggles for staying with me.

And also, apologies if things happen so fast. It's hard for me to keep updating with so very few happening in each chapter. So longer ones to come!

Disclaimer: If you think I own Teen Titans, then you're way beyond being LPU.

--Yume

Seeing Beyond The Dark

Chapter Three: Just a few

Robin sighed to himself as he entered the Tower. But his face turned to a smile as he saw his fellow Titans crowded in the couch, watching some new movie, with Beastboy absently eating popcorn and his eyes glued to the TV.

But Raven wasn't there.

'Arghhh...I should've brought her home with me'

She was, afterall, his partner. Even if it didn't turn out so well.

"Man, what happened to ya?" Beast Boy called. They all turned heads towards him. "We left earlier. We couldn't find you anywhere. " And he gestured at the empty seat. "Rave's also missin' "

"We went together."

"Heh? Went where?" Cyborg asked, a smirk now playing on his face.

Starfire gave him a questioning brow. "Where does Raven walk at the moment. All of us were designed to meet at the exit gates an hour passing."

Robin scowled at Cyborg. "Not what you're thinking!" But he just shook his head at Starfire. "Some things just happened and..."

"Oh yeah? Then what was it?"

"Well..." he paused. "Do you remember the you-get-paired-up-love-booth...?"

Cyborg shrugged. "I didn't go there."

Starfire was next to address him, smiling in all politeness. "Yes, I was present...Oh, Raven was also lining up there, if my memory serves me. So was her friend Nairu. I believe she is at the other room at the moment."

As if hearing her name, the door slid open and Nairu's head popped in. "Did I hear my name?" With a casual smile, she made her way across the room, taking a seat beside Starfire. She settled down, and looked at him inquiringly.

Beasboy nodded. "About earlier. You didn't happen to see Rave, did you?"

Nairu now full entered, a concerned look etched against her pale face. "Why? Is she not here?" She then turned to Robin. "I thought she was with you."

Robin almost flinched. She might be Raven's close friend, but he wasn't use that she stayed here. She wasn't a Titan afterall. They just found her one day, cold and starving. And somehow, she and Raven bonded together.

"In fact, I do not recall seeing her after we lined up in the booth." Starfire added.

Cyborg looked at him. "I don't know, but you came home late, mate. So we figured you were with her."

Robin caught their curious looks and bowed down hastily, appearing to be interested in his shoes. "Well...I was"

"...Was?" Nairu repeated.

"...yeah, was. We kinda...got...uhm...paired together—but I'm sure that was a mistake."

"...Mistake? No, my man, the booth does not hold mistakes."

He looked at her oddly.

"I mean," she hastily added. "That fate, is fate. Who knows, you might when love comes?"

Robin gave her a hard look. "Really..."

"...But I'm guessing it didn't turn out that way—"

"Well, she didn't feel good about it. At first, I went along, tried to take the role of a patient partner in a wrong situation. But she just...I knew she hated that time, but she was really rubbing it in. So I got irritated. When the ride finally ended, I-I..."

"You...what?"

"I just left her there. I didn't feel like listening to all her rants anymore. So I figured she can go here on her own. She could fly, can't she? So she has no difficulty in finding the Tower, as it is right in the middle of the lake."

His four friends just looked at him, speechless. It was finally Beastboy who broke the silence. "You just...left her?"

'Didn't I just say that?' he thought, even now more annoyed. It was a long day. For now, he felt too tired to think of Raven. She wasn't daft. She would find her way here. "Yeah...so?"

Nairu shook her head. "So now, it's almost eight pm. Where in the world is she?"

"Actually, I have no idea. I thought she would be here by the time I came."

Beastboy gave him a hard gaze. "I have a feeling she's not coming back here for quite some time."

"Eh? What?" Cyborg said.

Starfire nodded in agreement. "Often times, she thinks she is in need of being alone. Her mind works...very alternatively."

Robin finally looked up. "Don't tell me it's my fault."

"We're not." They all said in unison. They all gazed steadily at him.

'This long day has yet to end.' With a sigh, he sat down the couch. He looked away, and as he did, his eyes feel on the calendar. "Say, it's nearly Christmas, isn't it?"

Blankly, Nairu nodded. In a hardly audible whisper, she spoke, "And almost time for me to leave..."

"Nevar."

Raven strode through the long hallway, ignoring the glares from the people surrounding. At the end of the room, she saw the Master.

A young tall and slender man with long pale-yellow hair tied in a ponytail, falling until his waist. He had eyes of silver that acknowledged her with an unwavering gaze. His skin looked even paler than usual, and his voice held hints of weariness. But for all his strong and symbolic presence, his face was surprisingly angelic, with a genuine smile flashing at her.

Raven bowed her head. "Master. I arrive humbly by your side."

"Ah...Nevar. Long time no see, my dear girl. How've you been?"

"Well and alive," she mumbled. "I see you haven't changed, in the least."

The Master nodded at her with amusement. "Neither have you." But his gaze suddenly turned to one of seriousness, his smile vanished, replaced by a frown. "But things have changed. Now, what was once safe is dangerous, and what was once ignored has risen."

Raven grimaced, noting a hint of panic in his voice. "Something's bothering you." She pointed out.

"You are well trained, Nevar. Yes, something..."

Raven raised a brow, face unreadable.

The Master continued, "Is that we have the power to either save the world—or destroy it."

"Let me guess...someone's trying to steal it?" She drawled. That was the usual case anyways.

"Stop." He ordered. "this isn't something that should be talked about so lightly. Because this time, it's even more dangerous since this weapon...we cannot use it."

"Cannot? Or will not?"

"Cannot." He repeated firmly.

"But why?"

"Because it is a work of evil, with thousands of fallen angels trapped within such a small amulet. It's too negative. If we try to use it, it corrupts us."

"What is this...amulet?"

The Master nodded, unclasping a necklace she only now noticed. The golden chain shone as he took it off, hastily dumping it in her open palms. "You can have it. It's mere presence irritates me. You know what to do?"

"I suppose you want me to lock it away?"

Again, he nodded. "But remember Nevar, evil is best left alone."

Raven sighed as she looked over the foggy window, watching the pouring rain. It was no use. She reached in her pocket and took out the small necklace, gazing at its magnificence. The end of the chain had a diamond-shaped pendant, containing crystals that glowed bright against the dark, and dark when it was bright. Such a curious thing.

Curious but powerful.

She closed her eyes. No, she couldn't keep it. Whatever evil is after it would surely come looking for her. And evil is best left alone, the master said. Evil. Power. Corruption. All linked together.

She wanted to be free of such responsibility as locking it away. She had to let go. Even if she could feel the aura of it pulling at her, lurking at the back of her mind. Thanks to her meditation, she could block it. But not for forever.

There are three sides: good, evil and neutral. It is said that good and evil fight, but neutrals are not affected.

Roughly translated as: she had to give it to someone neutral...but who?

Robin woke up at a fine Christmas morning the next day, immediately finishing his morning routine. It was nearly midday when he marched down stairs, smiling at the mistletoes and the huge Christmas tree that had been put up.

With a sleepy yawn, he greeted his fellow Titans, who were all munching up some pizza by the tabled.

BeastBoy. Starfire. Raven. Cyborg. Nairu. Such a joy to know them.

He almost forgot—Nairu was to leave by the end of the year...only six days left!

"Mornin' " Cyborg was first to greet him, albeit still chewing.

"Merry Christmas!" Beastboy said.

"hmm...Christmas to you all." He finally said, settling to a seat beside him.

After a few hours, by afternoon, the Titans all circled the Christmas tree, with the changeling, hugging a small box—a present.

"Time for gifts!" He shouted eagerly, tearing up the wrap.

With a amused sigh, Robin started opening his too. The first one was from Cyborg, a little silver watch with a background of the Teen Tower. He guessed there must be at least ten other uses except telling time. Perhaps he'd look at that later.

He grabbed at a green basket, curious as it was moving—something alive was inside. He exclaimed as small puppies came out instantly and started licking his face as the wrapper busted open.

"Merry Christmas Rob. 'Joy the pups!" Beastboy called at him from somewhere at the back.

Muttering under his breath, he forced the three down to the floor, and started at his next package. From Starfire this time. It was a little square box and when he shook it, something was moving inside. He carefully unwrapped the present, and a transparent box of cookies met his gaze.

"Wow. Thanks Star!" He called. Robin opened the container and popped a chocolate cookie into his mouth. "Yum."

Nairu's gift was rather...different. It was glasses with no grade and a dark tint—"Shades?!" He murmured in confusion as he tried them on.

"Why not?! You look pretty cool, you know." Nairu replied back.

"O-kay..." He put them down and picked up his last present...from Raven—since when did raven hand presents? He didn't remember being given one last year. At eh best, her present was he good mood and an occasional sharing of her pizza slice or something...But present?

Curiosity ignited, he took the rather small package—a circular box that reached from his pointing finger to his thumb at the extent. It was wrapped carefully in golden paper, tied with a metallic-crimson ribbon with a tag: Protect this with your life. And Merry Christmas—Raven.

Protect with life? "Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" He opened it slowly, and ended up with a velvet box, one that opened, as he soon found out, with a small button at the front. He pushed it and found a...

Necklace?!

"Why you shouting?" Beastboy asked, hopping beside him.

'Oops...Did I say that out loud?'

"uhm..." he turned to the changeling but instead his eyes locked with the goth behind him. Cold eyes glaring at him. Whatever it was, it had something to do with this gift, he thought.

He turned his attention back to Beastboy. "It's...nothing. For a moment, I thought I saw Slade outside the window." He said, pointing to the open window nearby.

"...Oh." Beastboy shrugged and disappeared as quickly as he had come. When he looked, Raven was gone too.

He raised the necklace from its small case and examined it in the faint light. It had a small golden chain and a silverish-blue, diamond-shaped crystal dangling in it. Strangely, it emitted a dark aura at the center of it, illuminating the bright outline with...negative energy? Or perhaps he was just imagining it...

But why would Raven give such a thing that obviously looked...expensive to him?

Just then, he felt Raven's gaze at his back and new she wanted him to keep the necklace a secret.

But why...why him? And the necklace? Why did she give it to him when—he noticed—the others only got the usual non-gift?

He tried not to think about it as he clasped the necklace at his neck, shielding it with the collar of his shirt. But he could feel it—so strong...

Yume: Finally done! I know I didn't update for such a long time, and really sorry! But so much stuff has been happening the past week!—We won the inter-class Cheerdance competition! Yaaaaaaaayyyyy!

I'm not a cheerdancer or anything—the whole batch and every student has to participate in it! But anyways, we won! XD I'm so happy since we worked so hard and all! And thanks also to the leaders for all they did, and for Aunti Glo and Atsi for helping us with small things like the formation and other stuff.

One bad effect: I'm sorry to the people in a certain section. I know you're angry at us, but please, can we forgive? I mean, you got 2nd place! But anyway, I know you boo-ed us, and now not only you, but also the others are starting to hate us. We try not to talk, but please, I think you know it's really bothering us and getting on our skin since barkadas in different sections are sort of...on temporary breaking.

Thanks, however, to all those in that section and it's allies who still remain as our friends—true friends, who put friendship before section! That's the what you call real b-o-n-d-i-n-g!

And, aside from that, it's nearly Christmas! Yay! So this is my advanced Christmas chapter!

Advanced Christmas to y'all! XD

Time for personal replies!!!! Thanks to all of you!!!!!

ArtemisRoseShadow: thanksies! I also love the couple—they look so cute together

half-demon-from-Azarath: I know it's confusing, don't pay any mind to those author notes. Just thanks for reading!

SelenaWheeler: Here's ze update! I know! Raven just...acts on her own no matter that I'm the one typing! And I was pretty annoyed too, but more mush soon!

sk8erchick: the real ending's gonna be romantic, so don't worry XD

Dark Weezing: thanks again, for pointing all those to me. Im really trying to do my best, and I'm awfully glad you're noticing my bad points and telling them to me. Helps a lot

Yellowlightning: thanks for the review, and here's the update!