DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN TRIGUN CHARACTERS!
REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! If I don't receive reviews, I will give up on the story completely! But it will be very sad too considering how strong the story line is!
In a world where the only 'real monsters' are the ones living under your bed. My very existence should have remained a secret—and it would have too, if I could have just controlled myself and stayed in the shadows. That is after all where I belong. Raven thought to herself.
"You fool" The white-haired man spoke softly as he knelt to his fallen soldier's lifeless body. "You were to make Vash slay the innocent. Not you—although I suppose either way you've succeeded in your task to make him suffer."
Raven stood behind a rock nearby watching the man speak to the corpse as if expecting a response. Suddenly she felt a rush threw her veins, as if she were having an euphoric high. She'd never experienced anything like it before, not even when she became indulged in darkness and allowed the demon within herself to take over and maim everything within its path—within her path.
Raven was devoured by light and it felt as if every bone in her body was breaking, the sounds she was hearing alone were blood curdling and amplified enough but the pain was much more intense. Raven began to scream and cry out, but she could no longer see anything but the bright white light. She had not known what it was to die but she had imagined this is what it felt like—and then there was darkness.
When Raven awoke, a somehow familiar face appeared.
"Who are you" the man questioned, his voice was stern and his porcelain like face was emotionless.
"Raven" She replied without hesitation.
The white-haired man came out from the shadows and spoke quietly.
"Raven? Why is it that you spared Legato's life?" Raven stared at him for a moment in confusion before trying to sit up.
"Me..." Raven began to speak, immediately falling back down and wincing in pain as she glanced at the bindings around her wrists and ankles.
"I recommend you stay still, see the needle that pierces your skin is hooked up to a machine that will shoot acid through your veins every time you move." The man said his icy cold stare practically numbing her body. "You see girl, I only want answers"
"Why should I give you answers? Wouldn't you just be free to kill me afterwards?" Raven questioned boldly. As the one called Legato knelt to her face, his yellowish amber-colored eyes flickered like a flame.
'Why has she brought me back from the depths of hell?'
Raven smirked lightly, as she heard Legato's voice but had not seen his lips move. He was gifted, like her. Her kindred spirit, someone who shared her abilities. Someone who would not consider her a freak of nature. Someone who would accept her as she was. She had been so alone, so lonely, for so long. 'I know not why my powers have chosen to spare you. 'Raven nervously responded telepathically to him as the white-haired man grew frustrated.
"What is she thinking Legato?" He questioned angrily as Legato stood up and turned to face him.
"She isn't. She's speaking."The man's face showed extreme concern momentarily, and was then replaced with a grin.
"So she is a mind manipulator? Like you and I?" He questioned his bright blue eyes showing a speckle of interest.
"It appears that way Master." Legato replied firmly. Raven grew curious, they were both gifted? She thought, it was almost like a miracle.
"If you speak the truth, why is it that I cannot pry into her thoughts?" Knives questioned raising a brow to him.
"I am not sure; I know not the extent of her power. Honestly she herself seems not to know. But I can find out." Legato assured him.
"You have three days Blue-Summers… Or I will kill you." The man said walking over to the side of the bed they had strapped her too. As he proceeded, he ripped the needle from her arm and tossed it to floor leaning in to look her straight in the eyes—she could feel the warmth of his breath against her lips as he spoke once more. "I don't believe I've formally introduced myself. My name is Knives Millions." He then released her from the bonds he'd kept around her hands and feet.
"I am Raven Rip." She replied as she sat up rubbing her wrists trying to get the blood circulating normally again, soothing the slight pain and irritation.
"You speak without hesitation girl, are you not afraid?" Knives asked as Raven turned herself away from him and hopped off the bed onto the floor in front of Legato.
"I have never been afraid of anything in my entire life. I will not be afraid now." Raven replied staring at the peculiar clothing Legato was wearing. Raven had known that was a lie, she had deeply feared a life without any emotional attachment or a life controlled by her inner demon. But she could not show weakness.
"How foolish of you" Knives responded, as he quickly and swiftly made his way to her trying to strike an attack against her. Raven however, scented his movements before he had the chance to make them and averted them quickly, pinning him against the wall by his throat.
"I believe it is you, who is foolish" Raven replied as Legato winced at the sight of his boss being upheld by what seemed to be a female mortal.
"What are you?" Knives managed to choke out as she tightened her grip
"My father is Lucifer, ruler of the underworld and I am an immortal demon—unless you wish to die, I suggest letting me leave before night falls." Raven replied as her eyes began to change from pale purple to blood-red.
"Why would I do that? If you are who you claim to be, I wish to witness what will happen at sun down." Knives replied grabbing Raven's wrist and twisting it just enough for her to loosen her grip.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Trust me; you do not want to witness this." Raven replied, picturing the bloody scenario.
"No? Well then perhaps I shall have Legato view you first. Make sure your muzzled." Knives said letting small breathless laughs escape his lips as he spoke.
"No! I beg of you! Don't do this! It's a suicide mission!" Raven shouted turning away from Knives angrily and bumping lightly into Legato's chest. "Don't tell me you're actually okay with this?!" Raven asked shoving him out of her way and walking towards the lighted exit.
"Stop" Legato's cold hoarse voice spoke and she was instantly halted.
"My apologies Raven, but we will speak of a pact tomorrow morning." Knives said as he stood in front of her flicking her short purple hair and running his other hand gently down her arm, causing her skin to react and get tiny goose bumps along the places where he dragged his thick fingers.
"Please, don't…" Raven begged as he left and sealed off the lighted doorway. "Why do you just stand there so calmly? You are about to die you know." Raven asked first and then assured his death, after about a half hour of silence.
"I have died once before. I welcomed it with a smile. Embraced it." Legato said his face unwavering.
"You? Smile?" Raven asked smirking at him, as he glared over at her coldly; it was the first emotional expression she'd seen on his flawless face. It made her wonder how he would look smiling—and she'd never get to know, because tonight he would die. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just find that extremely hard to believe. For the short time I have known you, you've stood idly by and only moved to bow down to Knives—as though he was your…Master. That's what you called him wasn't it?" Raven asked confused as she sat down right next to where he had stood, and patted her hand on the floor for him to join her.
"That is true" Legato replied glancing down at her hesitantly before following her down to the ground and staring blankly at the wall in front of him. He's not one for much conversation. Raven thought and then asked out of curiosity "Why is it that you serve Knives?"
"He saved me from a miserable fate at the hands of filthy vermin."
"Well, if Knives has that kind of power—obviously more then you. What is he?"
"A plant"
"A plant?!" Raven screeched falling utterly into confusion; as her head began to feel lighter.
"You seem surprised" He said looking over to her. Could he tell I had begun to start my transformation? Raven thought.
"I don't mean to offend you Legato, if you are also a plant. But it seems incredibly ridiculous to me." Raven replied staring him straight in the face, it was the strangest feeling—not her transformation. The way she felt talking to Legato, it's as if she remembered only bits and pieces to who she was and what she was doing there. Almost like Legato and her were meant to be there together but that hadn't mattered now because it was all going to come to an end within the matter of minutes, and that made her feel extreme panic.
"I am not a plant. I am a mortal being. I do not deserve to be placed with higher beings; I should serve them until my death." He replied sincerely.
"Higher beings… Legato, you are sadly mistaken."
"What is it that I am mistaken about?"
"Your status. It is not about what race you are, it is about the power you behold and what you choose to do with it. You can manipulate my mind; my powers had chosen you to save. There must be a reason for all of this, and you're not even the least bit curious to find out what it is?" Raven asked leaning towards him feeling slightly vulnerable.
"No." Just as Legato spoke that word all the scenery behind them began to melt away, Raven looked in every direction. Trying to escape it, but she knew it was impossible. She did not want to kill Legato, there was something about him that drew her to him. Yet, she could already feel the demon within herself craving, and crying out for blood—human blood.
"Get out of here!" Raven shouted.
"I will not leave; Master has ordered that I witness your transformation. Perhaps I will once again, be able to welcome death." Legato replied as the corner of his lips slowly began to upturn.
"NOOOO!" Raven let out a bloodcurdling screamed just as the darkness devoured her completely.
The next morning Raven sat up slowly, her body was aching and she was covered in blood. I had done it. I had killed him. Raven thought to herself stumbling to get to her feet.
"So you've finally woken" Legato's soft smooth monotone voice questioned as Raven turned to face him, he stood well over a foot above her.
"So you lived" Raven remarked in utter amazement
"So it seems" Legato replied
"Then who's..." Raven began to question as he manipulated her movements turning her head to face that of a small human child.
"She has hidden in here for quite sometime now" Legato said releasing Raven from his powers.
"Hm" Raven replied sweetly holding her hand up to her face and tasting the bitter-sweet blood. It wasn't something she had often enjoyed but knowing that she hadn't killed Legato made her feel like bathing in that delicate child's blood, just then Knives had entered.
"So your alive Legato. I'm glad to see she could..." Knives hesitated staring at Raven while she indulged in blood. "She didn't control herself"
"No" Legato responded firmly as Knives had walked over to him and just stared curiously at her for a moment. Knives had always acted very slowly, but he had a sense of using this women as an immediate tormentor. He could tell from the soft sadistic look in her eyes that she was perfect for the job he had sought for her.
"Am I distracting you?" Raven said sexually looking towards to two men pulling her fingers away from her mouth and slowly smearing blood on her face. Whenever she was in doubt, the only way she knew out was to manipulate through sex.
"Not at all" Knives replied calmly walking over to her and violently pushing her against the wall, holding her hands high above her head. 'She is strong' Legato warned Knives. 'Not to worry' Knives responded.
"Umph" Raven grunted lightly feeling a little panic coarse through her body. Had I pissed him off? Raven questioned herself.
"If you want to play rough, all you had to do was ask" Knives smirked at her enjoying her cunning style as he licked the blood from her face. "You are perfect, my dear" Knives stated as Legato felt slightly inclined to look away.
"You have not seen perfect" Raven replied raising a brow to him as Knives tightened his grip on her. The way she was making him feel, the feelings he had rushing through his body were so intense. That was what made her perfect, she hadn't the slightest scent of evil on her and she played the sexual tension card well. Knives knew it would immediately attract Vash.
"You are going to serve under me, or die" Knives said threateningly, the only way he knew how to get what he had wanted was by striking fear into others.
"I serve under no one" Raven replied sternly as Knives brought one of his hands to her throat lifting her into the air, she struggled and gasped for breath.
"You... cannot... kill... me..." Raven managed to choke out before concentrating all her powers into loosening Knives' grip before eventually making him drop her to the ground. 'Search for a weakness' Knives demanded Legato as Legato began to pry through Raven's thoughts.
Death is unknown but never unwelcome. Hatred is strong but not undefeated. Sulking is insufficient if it cannot be changed. Fear controls most people and in instances grants power. Insecurity is never being good enough, caring and letting it show. Weakness is ability to feel compassion, loneliness and fear of self strength. Legato Bluesummers...Who are you... Why does it feel like we are meant to be close... Meant for something... More.
Simultaneously, Knives pried Legato's thoughts and was instantly struck with an idea that was sure to work immediately.
"As you wish" Knives said pulling out his gun, aiming straight for Legato's head and squeezing the trigger tightly.
"Wait!" Raven screamed as Legato was stricken with confusion, why had this girl been so bent on saving his life. Hadn't she realized he was beyond that point now. He would never be saved.
"You wish to keep him alive?" Knives questioned, very well knowing her answer.
"Hm" Raven replied shaking her head and graveling on her knees in submission. "Master"
"Very well" Knives smiled smugly at the sweet sound of her voice calling him Master. She was beautiful beyond compare and he would take acquiring her as an asset to his advantage when possible.
"With what do you want my assistance?" Raven questioned as Knives put his gun back in its holster and moved closer to her before slowly tilting her chin up to him and staring directly into her eyes.
"My brother" Knives replied as Legato became amused, he was not only surprised that Raven had spared him a third time but also that Knives was going to use her in their mission to cause Vash great suffering. He hadn't known where she would come in handy, but knowing Knives he had already found use for her it was just a matter of the attack strategy he had thought out.
"Vash...?" Raven guessed as they both had a puzzled look on their faces.
"How do you know of him?" Knives asked "Non the less that he is my brother"
"I heard you muttering something of him before falling unconscious the day I revived Legato" Raven replied as Legato looked over to Knives. Even after his death, all he cared about was Vash. Legato thought momentarily.
"I see" Knives replied brushing his hand gently across her tinted cheeks "So you've spied on me. Naughty girl"
Knives smacked her face roughly and Raven bit her tongue trying hard to refrain from cursing at him. If he had been this way to Legato, she questioned herself before pushing it aside. No, that was just plain idiotic. He was only treating her this way because she was a women, because she had tried using her sex as an advantage. Great, now he thought she was a dirty whore. Now Legato thought she was a dirty whore. She never really did think much, but she was already in deep now. There was no turning back.
"Perhaps you can punish me, after I've properly served my purpose" Raven said diligently, trying to keep him from taking her right there.
"Of course bitch" Knives said in a degrading tone pulling her chin up rougher to get her to stand to her feet and then shoving her to Legato who had caught her quickly in his arms, his strong built arms. Raven swooned.
"Show her what she is to do Legato" Knives growled slightly lusting after her. He had to remove himself from the equation before he couldn't stop himself.
"Hm" Legato replied as Knives left the room, and Raven had turned slightly in Legatos arms looking deeply into his golden pools feeling her face begin to burn slightly with embarrassment.
"So, what are you going to teach me that I do not already know... Master" Raven said trying to strike something within Legato and from the expression on his face, she had.
"Do not call me that" Legato stated firmly
"Why...Master?" Raven questioned slightly liking the feeling of irritating him.
"I am not your Master" Legato simply responded
"You are my second Master, after all it is you who is training me what to do... Is it not?" Raven replied staring at him intuitively.
"I do not deserve that title. I am only a mortal being" Legato said beginning to feel something deep within himself—not quite sure whether it was a blessing or a curse. To start feeling emotions again, emotions which he had spent years numbing himself to.
"Stop with that mortal being bullshit" Raven stated bluntly as Legato seemed surprised by her short fuse. "I have already explained to you once, it does not matter what you are. Everyone and everything eventually dies"
"You were bluffing?" Legato questioned
"Of course, I thought you would have picked up on that" Raven said getting close to him and rubbing her small delicate hand over his broad chest.
Legato grabbed her by the wrist tightly and twisted her arm around pushing her against the wall. Raven had been slightly excited by this but Legato could not sense any of her current thoughts and began to grow curious.
"Have you blocked me from your thoughts?" Legato questioned curiously his formerly removed emotions began quickly creeping back in to the delicate trappings of his mind and he began to think back.
FLASHBACK
The blows came fast and hard. Legato, was only eight years old and he had already learned through experience that defending himself would only result in a more severe and prolonged beating. If he remained quiet and smiled his father would quickly lose interest. Perhaps thinking that he actually enjoyed experiencing physical pain, would deny him any joy he got out of it. However, he punished him in other ways. Hunger and thirst had been his constant companions for as long as he could remember.
The children who passed by him on the streets all chimed in "Bastard! Bastard!"
All Legato could think about was his father's cruel words. "You're just like your filthy mother, ran to the arms of another man. Trying to blame me! Spouting some nonsense about me not paying enough attention to her. Bah! That whore got her wish in the end, didn't she? I paid her lots of attention. Her and her lover both." He laughed at this point, a laughter tinged with madness. "My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. That way you would never have had the chance to be born, and I wouldn't have to put up with your ugly face every god damned day!"
"Freak!" Another child said chorusing them all in. Legato did what he usually did in such circumstances. Completely ignored them. After putting up with his father's fierce abuses, their enmity was nothing more than an annoyance to him.
END
Legato shook his head and cleared his thoughts. Raven... He thought to himself. She had actually given him purpose. She had not even been around him for more than three days and already she has given his life more worth than anyone else prior. I haven't even felt the slightest urge to kill her, her impertinence towards the Master would have been insufferable coming from anyone else. What does this mean? Is this what love feels like?
Legato began to lose control. He made a concentrated attack on the mental shields blocking him from Raven's mind; striking, searching, probing. The shields were more formidable than he expected but he would not give up. He didn't care what happened to his own mind. He didn't care that he was slowly losing parts of himself to the psychic backlash of forcing himself through her strong shields.
Legato! Raven mind cried out as Legato had fallen to the floor. She began shaking his unresponsive body roughly trying to break his trance. Raven had not known what she was doing, she had not meant to lock Legato from her thoughts. She had not been aware that she was even capable of such things and she had no clue how to stop herself from doing them.
However, it was already too late for Legato. He couldn't withdraw even if he wanted to. He was fully immersed in the mess that was slowly tearing his psyche apart. What he felt now must have been the innate defenses of Raven's subconscious. Just when he thought he would unravel completely, Raven once again opened up to him. Legato's sharp mind automatically memorized the unveiling of her shields, knowing that it would allow him easy access to her mind from then on. He knew that he was taking advantage of her compassion , but he would not let his conscience stop him from doing what was necessary to prevent Raven from abandoning him like everyone else had. He might never catch Raven in such a vulnerable state again.
Legato froze momentarily, realizing what he had done. The boundaries he had crossed. Feelings of self-loathing crashed down upon him in an instant and he quickly retreated from her mind. How could he do that to her?
"I… I'm sorry." His voice was hoarse, partly from disuse and partly from the riot of emotions running through his entire being at that moment. "I'm so sorry. I won't do that again…" When Raven did not reply he began to feel as if he had already lost her.
As his head was bowed reverently, he missed seeing the look of revulsion that momentarily twisted Raven's features. "Legato…" Raven said hesitantly, almost distantly. Was Raven angry with him for his mental intrusion? Who could blame her...
Legato pleaded on. "If what you feel for me is only pity, I don't mind. I know I'm not worthy of anything more…"
"Don't say that..." Raven placing her small hand upon his cheek, forcing his golden pools to the same level as her pale purple ones. "I truly care about you Legato, you... Are my only friend" Raven's voice began to weaken as she nearly fainted in Legato's arms exhausted by the psychic probing she had endured.
Legato had looked down to her and slowly picked her up in his arms, standing to his feet. In searching through her thoughts he had learned many things about her, things he had now wished he would have just took the time to get to know instead of intruding her thoughts and weakening her to such an extent.
FLASHBACK
"Mommy?! MOMMY!?" Raven shouted tears streaming from her face. She had known her mother wasn't going to wake. She knew she was dead. She also had known why... She had killed her, she ripped her throat from her body during the middle of the night. It was never easy for Raven to control all the power she constantly had surging throughout her entire small body. She had known now that nothing was ever going to get better, she would be alone. Forever.
Raven heard the pitter patter of footsteps drawing nearer to her house and she immediately hid. "AHHH!" Her half sister Reese screamed at the horrifying mangled body of her mother placed before her. "Raven!?" Reese called out as Raven remained hidden, blood stained her clothes from top to bottom. It was her fault their mother was dead. She had killed her. She had ripped the flesh from her body and even enjoyed it.
Raven had repressed all of her gifts... No, not gifts. She thought to herself. Curses. She was a freak. A demon. She deserved to be alone, hidden in the darkness. Kept away from all that was light and vibrant. "Mommy..." She whispered teleporting herself a once unfamiliar place...
She had spent the next decade there, her growth stunted, her powers suppressed and her loneliness consuming her. The darkness around her swallowing her whole. She had begged for death, pleaded to the emptiness of the cave she resided in. But no one had answered her, not until that day...
"Legato Bluesummers, a man fascinated by death, only spoke quietly"
END
"Are you okay?" Legato questioned holding that same soothing baritone as Raven curled herself in closer to him. Listening to the sound of his heartbeat, and feeling calmed by the vibrations in his chest as he spoke.
"Fine" Raven responded quietly "I'll be fine" She looked up to him with a small cheeky grin on her face. "Don't tell me you are worried about me, Legato Bluesummers?"
Legato could feel all the conflicting emotions pulsing throughout Raven. It was truly fascinating, not to mention somewhat gratifying, to realize that he the cause of so much feeling.
"I..." Legato hesitated sensing Knives' fast approaching. He quickly took Raven to the bed and laid her down gently just as Knives had reentered.
"Progress Legato?" Knives questioned as Legato began to feel a slight panic. He tried calming himself before Knives had figured out what was going on, or had searched his mind to pry it from him.
Raven sat up weakly in bed and looked over too Knives giving him a devastating look of exhaustion.
"I have already learned so much" Raven said her voice still sounding dulled
"Really?" Knives questioned sensing Legato's panic "Like what?"
Raven rose one of her hands up from the bed towards Knives and pushed him back against the wall. Both Knives and Legato were at a loss for words. Knives had thought Legato was merely toying around with this woman and Legato had no clue how she had done that. Remembering her earlier struggle just to free herself from Knives' grasp.
"Well Legato, I have to hand it to you. You have turned out to be a more useful tool than I expected" Knives said proudly straightening himself up and rising to his feet. Legato had known Knives was severed from all human emotions and simply by calling him his 'tool' and the 'most valuable' made him feel incredible. Although, he hadn't deserved the credit.
'Legato' Raven said 'I think something happened' Legato was confused momentarily but then felt... Safe. 'What do you mean?' He questioned as Knives headed towards Legato.
"It looks like with a little more training she should be ready to go huh Legato?" Knives laughed maniacally.
"It appears so" Legato responded staring over at her worn down body.
"Let's go Legato. Raven will be transforming soon and I cannot have her endangering you, not as the beast she seems to become during the night" Knives said as Legato followed him out of the room, hellbent on getting himself some food. It was strange. Had Knives not heard their mental conversation? Legato thought. 'I feel... Connected' Raven replied. Legato heard her voice strongly and their link only grew stronger the more he had moved away.
'I feel it to' Legato responded 'I don't think Knives can even hear...' Legato hesitated remembering Knives earlier statement... "HOW COME I CANNOT PRY HER THOUGHTS" Raven must have shielded Knives that entire time...
'Do you really know nothing of your powers Raven?' Legato asked curiously 'I have never wished to know, they sicken me' Raven responded distastefully 'Yes, but don't you enjoy a hunt... The blood... To think you could kill every man, woman, and child in the room in the blink of an eye if you wanted to' Legato responded. 'I..." Raven was hesitant 'I do, but that is the problem... I do not wish to feel that way' Raven responded. 'Raven,the power of death is intoxicating... Just sit back and let yourself be succumbed to it' Legato replied.
"Are you speaking to her?" Knives questioned noticing the look on Legato's face. The slight upturn of the corners of his mouth as he talked about death.
"Yes" Legato said earnestly
"What is she saying to you? I seemed to be... Un-included" Knives said grunting a bit
"We are speaking of death, she says she isn't very fond of it. I am trying to show her that it is a natural solution to life. I am trying to teach her to be beneficial to you, Master" Legato responded partially telling the truth.
"Yes, well rest Legato... You will have another busy day tomorrow. Psychologically speaking of course" Knives said as they went there separate ways for the night.
Legato began to feel an immense pain in his temple, his vision began to get blurry and he had a strange new sense of power rippling throughout his body. He stood in the hall for only a moment before walking outside to a small puddle of rainwater. As he gazed down at himself, his eyes were a crimson red and he thirsted for blood. Even more now then he had ever before. It was becoming his hunger.