InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Shards Of Hope ❯ Gaining Understanding ( Chapter 12 )

Disclaimer: Since I obviously don't own the copyright to Teen Titans or Inuyasha, I'm taking advantage of the Fair Use Clause of the Copyright laws to write a story with them in it. Who knew the government would protect the little guys? Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

Author's Note: See full note at bottom. Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Gaining Understanding

Kagome fumbled, swallowing unhappily as Robin had turned everything back on her before she had the chance to yell at him…

“Where's Raven?” He repeated, and she couldn't help but wonder if he'd narrowed his eyes at her under his mask.

“I don't know.” He frowned, “It's not her fault.” Kagome continued trying to cover for Raven.

“She let you leave…”

Kagome pressed her fingers together trying to think of a way to explain what happened, “Well… no, she left the room first and then I tried to follow but she disappeared through a wall and…”

Robin's eyes widened, “She left you?”

Kagome winced, she hadn't meant it like that. “Well, it wasn't her fault.”

“She was supposed to be guarding you.” Robin muttered, shaking his head and pulling out his communicator. “Raven, Raven respond.”

Kagome put a hand over the communicator and Robin looked back at her, “No, you don't understand.”

“I understand she left you alone after I specifically asked her to stay with you. I understand that Slade, a dangerous super villain who just kidnapped a woman, is after you. What I don't understand is why Raven would leave you alone.” He pulled the communicator from under her hand.

“Robin, maybe something has happened that has caused Raven to leave?” Starfire offered, but Robin just shook his head.

“I told her to guard this girl and she left her alone. What would have happened if Slade had attacked her again?”

“Did you ever think there might be more to it than that?” Cyborg asked, placing a hand on his Robin's, “Something we don't know about.”

Robin narrowed his eyes, “It doesn't matter.” He replied stiffly, and shrugged from under Cyborg's arm while looking at the communicator.

“Robin, please…” Starfire continued on and Robin paused. Cyborg was watching him hopefully.

“I'm going to go find Raven.” Robin said, and the Titans were left to wince in silence, “I want you to stay with them.”

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`Old habits die hard' Robin thought to himself as he shook his head. Raven wasn't exactly hard to find, she hadn't left the building, instead she was standing on the roof, facing the setting sun. She wasn't meditating, hovering above the ground, or chanting, she was just standing there, her back to him.

“You were supposed to watch the girl, Kagome. Why did you leave?” He asked, walking from the stairwell towards her. Raven didn't reply, or even turn around to look at him. Robin frowned, “You said I could trust you. How can I trust you if you wont follow orders?”

Raven didn't answer, or even acknowledge he was there.

“You were told to protect the girl and you left her behind Raven. There is no excuse for that.” He continued, not caring whether or not she was listening at this point. “What would have happened if Slade had shown up?”

A slight breeze drifted across the rooftop as Robin finally overtook her. She wasn't looking at the sun, but down at her hands. Cupped together they held her chakra jewel, once again red, as if Kagome had never purified it. Raven was looking at it and ignoring all else.

“Raven?” Robin murmured, looking at her. She seemed paler, and the trickle of blood from her forehead hadn't been cleaned.

“It's red…” She spoke, finally breaking her silence.

“Raven… what happened?”

Raven closed her eyes and closed her hands around the jewel, “I'm sorry I left the girl alone, it was inappropriate.”

But by now, Robin's intense glare had shifted into a somewhat worried gaze. Raven was trembling, which could just be because of the temperature, but something inside of him told him that wasn't it.

“Why did you leave her?” He asked calmly.

“It's personal.” She replied, opening her eyes again. And for the first time since he met her, it looked like her eyes were beginning to water.

“What happened to your forehead? Is it because you took off your chakra…”

“It's personal.”

“I'm sorry it's personal, but you disobeyed a direct order and you left that girl defenseless, saying `it's personal' isn't going to be enough Raven.”

Raven fell into a shocked silence for a time while Robin waited patiently. Her shoulders fell, “I don't know how.”

“Try.”

Raven looked at him harshly, “Robin, this isn't easy for me.”

Robin nodded, “Not everything is.”

Raven shook her head turning to where the last rays of the sun fell away from the dark pink sky. “Robin, what would you do if you could have saved your parents?” Robin blinked his mouth falling open, but unable to form coherent words. It felt as if someone had sucker punched him. Raven lowered her head, “I'm sorry, it's the best I can do, please, just listen.”

Robin watched her taking in a deep breath, “Continue.”

“What would you do if you could save your parents?” Raven asked again, and this time waited for him to answer.

It didn't take long, Robin quickly nodded, “I would do it.”

“You would?” Raven asked, looking at him somewhat surprised.

Robin looked just as shocked by her reaction as she had to his answer, “Of course, Raven, they were my parents and…”

“And if they hadn't died you never would have become what you are now.”

Robin stopped that thought striking him lightning. He had never thought of the consequences of his actions… He began trying to figure out what would have happened, in the life he lost, but Raven stopped his brief revelry. “You might still be at Haley's Circus. It's likely you never would have been driven into fighting crime and you would never have been around to help form the Titans. You wouldn't know Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, or me. Would you still go back and save your parents Robin?”

“I… don't know…” Robin murmured and his head dipped forward in defeat, “Why… why did you ask me this?” Robin asked, looking back up at her, anger, fear, surprise, and sorrow fighting for control.

“It was the best comparison I could make.” Raven replied.

He cupped his brow for a moment, and then looked back at her, “Raven… what happened?”

Raven's gaze became distant and she stared past Robin into the darkened sky, “The Sacred Jewel… the girl Kagome asked me how I got a piece of it when we were questioning her.”

Robin nodded, “You said they were looking for it in feudal Japan.”

“I do have a shard. It was, is, my chakra jewel.”

Robin perked an eyebrow, “And that means?”

“Robin, I told you had great power, but I didn't tell you what that power was… It can transform a half-demon into a full demon.” Robin looked dour, but said nothing, Raven simply closed her eyes and continued, “Or it can be used to make a half-demon into a full human.”

Robin blinked, his mouth hanging open slightly, “You mean… that your chakra jewel can make you fully human?”

“No, it's only a fragment of the Sacred Jewel.”

“The rest of which are in feudal Japan…” he frowned, but then his eyes widened, pointing to her open hand, “but since you have a shard, that means they failed, right?”

“No. When the Jewel shattered it released a massive amount of magical energy. They already found a shard here, in the current, and they brought it back to the past with them. It's likely that one of them was somehow sent to Azarath and is just waiting to go back.”

“But… how on earth does that work?” Robin asked in disbelief.

Raven looked down at the deep crimson shard she held in her hand, “The Sacred Jewel is a magical artifact Robin. Even I can't judge what happened with something that powerful.”

Robin grimaced, “Does it matter? If it's sent to the future doesn't that mean it should be used here?”

“Didn't you learn anything from what I asked you earlier Robin? What if the half-demon Inuyasha or some other half-demon is supposed to use it in feudal Japan? There's no telling what affect it would have on the timeline.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder, “But what if it is meant to be used here?”

Raven's shoulders fell, “Robin, I am asking you to stop now…”

“But…”

Raven's hand curled around the jewel, shaking, “Robin, don't tempt me. It isn't fair.” She took a step back, pulling away from him.

“Raven…” Robin started reaching out for her. But darkness wrapped around her and she was gone...

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Author's Note: Ok, I know this was a shorter chapter, and was late to boot, and for that I am sorry, BUT, I have good reason this time. The 5th was my birthday, and, I think I deserve a little leeway on that. Thanks go to EvilAnimeNerd, Gypsi Misaki, and Darkbusterrancher for editing this chapter, I couldn't have done it without them and they deserve a lot of credit. And heck, why not try to guess how old I am? Could be fun... or surprising... have a great week and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!