"The Crow: Dark Game"

Chapter 2: "Star of Darkness"

Disclaimer: Teen Titans, Yu-Gi-Oh, and The Crow are not mine. They are owned by DC Comics, Kazuki Takahashi, and James O'Barr, respectively.

Author's note: I'm the one writing this fanfic, but Wolf God helps out with plot developments and supplying original characters. One such character will have a large role in this story. Also, for the full story on Yami Yugi and Robin, read Wolf God's "Yu-Gi-Crow" and my "The Crow: Black Robin."

"How can I pretend I don't see

What you hide so carelessly?

I saw her bleed

You heard me breathe

So I froze inside myself

And I turned away

I must be dreaming.

"We all live

We all die

That does not begin to justify you.

"It's not what it seems

Not what you think

No I must be dreaming

It's only in my mind

Not in real life

No I must be dreaming.

"Help you know I've got to tell someone

Tell them what I know you've done

I fear you but spoken fears can come true.

"We all live

We all die

That does not begin to justify you.

"It's not what it seems

Not what you think

No I must only be dreaming

It's only in my mind

Not in real life

No I must be dreaming.

"Not what it seems

Not what you think

I must be dreaming.

"Just in my mind

Not in real life

I must be dreaming."

Evanescence - "I Must Be Dreaming"

Mikanus was not a very happy man. "Mirage. You've failed me."

"I am sorry, sir," Mirage said, bowing humbly.

"Explain just how you failed to eliminate the target," Mikanus ordered.

"I had changed into the image of the target's close friend in order to gain his trust so he would allow me inside," Mirage explained. "After I cut the power, I sensed someone else entering the house. I believed that he would attempt to stop me and I took the form of a girl he loved dearly. However, I did not anticipate that he would see through my disguise. After fighting him, I fled and changed into the image of a beloved girl that I found in the mind of a boy I encountered. The other one showed up and tried to warn the boy about me. While they were distracted, I intended to kill them both and return to the target's home. I did not anticipate that the boy would penetrate my disguise as well."

"Can you describe these two for me?" Mikanus asked.

"The one who thwarted my efforts against the target was a boy," Mirage replied. "He was dressed in a black costume and his face was painted white with black makeup around his eyes and lips. The other boy was in black leather with a golden pendant shaped like a pyramid around his neck. His face was painted in a manner identical to that of the boy who stopped me."

Mikanus considered this very carefully. "So you're telling me that you were stopped by two boys who were painted up like warped mimes?"

"They were not ordinary boys," Mirage said. "When I was near them, I felt . . . death."

Again, Mikanus considered this very carefully. "You may go for now, Mirage. But I will call upon you again another time."

Mirage bowed and departed.

"Kazan," Mikanus said.

"Yes, Mr. Mikanus?" the dark shadow asked.

"Do you know who or what those two boys Mirage spoke of are?" Mikanus asked.

"They are dead, and yet they walk this earth as though they were living," Kazan replied. "They exist between the world of the living and the realm of the dead. As such, they can heal from any wound, they cannot feel pain, and they cannot die. They are attended by guardian crows, who guide their souls through this world."

"Crows, huh?" Mikanus said. He paused. "I think I remember hearing about those. There were two vigilantes, one here and the other in Domino City. Their claim to fame was that they marked the places they had visited with a picture of a crow." He looked at Kazan. "You and the Nightmare Soldiers have a new mission, now. Find these 'Crows' and kill them."

"Yes, Mr. Mikanus," Kazan said before fading into the darkness.

"Those two will be very troublesome to our cause," Thartoc's voice said to Mikanus. "Make sure that your Nightmare Soldiers get rid of them."

"I will, Master Thartoc," Mikanus replied.

[Titans Tower]

Starfire was in an unusually somber mood. This morning, she had dreamt of Robin. In fact, it was not the first dream she had had of him. There had been others, since a few months ago. In each dream, he would return to her and at the end of each dream, the darkness would take him.

The dreams had left her ill at ease and had haunted her in her waking hours. It had gotten to the point where the other Titans had gotten worried about her.

"Starfire, what's wrong?" Superboy asked.

"Nothing is wrong, Superboy," Starfire replied, attempting to resume her cheerful mask.

"Come on," Superboy persisted. "You look as though you haven't slept so good in a while."

"My sleep has been untroubled," Starfire replied, persisting as well.

"Then why did I hear you calling out Robin's name last night?" Wonder Girl asked.

"Huh?" Beast Boy asked. "I just thought she was having one of those dreams."

"It didn't sound like it," Wonder Girl retorted. "It didn't sound like her dream was good."

"Please do not speak as though I am not present," Starfire requested.

"Sorry, Star," Cyborg said. "You been having nightmares about Robin?"

"Yes," Starfire finally admitted.

"What happens in these nightmares?" Raven asked.

"In every dream, he comes back to me," Starfire explained. "Then darkness looms over us, and he says that he has a mission. He turns away from me and walks into the darkness."

[Dream]

"Robin, can it truly be you?" Starfire asked.

"Yes, Starfire, it's me," Robin replied. He held her in his arms and they kissed.

Darkness loomed over them, like an all-consuming shadow.

Robin broke the kiss. "I have to go, Star."

"Why must you leave me again?" Starfire asked, sorrow in her voice.

Robin stroked her hair gently. "I'm sorry, my love. But I have a mission." He kissed her one more time, only to turn away once the kiss ended and walk into the darkness.

"Robin!!" Starfire cried out.

[End Dream]

"That is not all," Starfire continued. "For the past few months I have had those dreams. Also, in those same months, when I have visited Robin's grave, I have felt someone watching me."

"Watching you?" Wonder Girl asked. "Like a stalker?"

"No," Starfire replied. "The feeling I get is a warm, comforting feeling. Like a dearly beloved person is near me."

"You think it's Robin?" Beast Boy asked.

"That's impossible," Superboy interjected. "He's back on the other side. His task --- defeating Slade --- was already accomplished, so he should be resting in peace at last."

"I do not know," Starfire replied. "All I know is that in those moments, I feel warm and comforted."

The door sliding open halted any further discussion. Three figures came through that door.

The first one everyone recognized as . . .

"Robin!" Starfire exclaimed, flying to greet him. Robin caught her in his arms and held her.

"Starfire," Robin said, basking in the warmth of her embrace.

The other two figures were unfamiliar to the Titans. One was a leather-clad teen with wildly spiked red, black, and blond hair and sharp violet eyes. The only two seriously remarkable things about him were the pyramid-shaped golden pendant around his neck and that his face was covered in the same makeup as Robin's. The other one looked like a skeleton dressed like he just came out a Western film.

"Who are you guys?" Cyborg asked.

Superboy took one look at the tri-colored-haired boy and said, "Another one?"

"I have a name," the boy said, his voice deep and smooth.

"What is it?" Beast Boy asked.

"Yugi," the boy replied. His blackened lips curled into a smile. "Robin told me about you on the way here."

"I'm Cyborg."

"Beast Boy."

"Starfire."

"Wonder Girl."

"Superboy."

"Raven." That last one came out in a dark monotone.

"Nice to meet you, Raven," Yugi said.

"Hold on a minute," Cyborg said. "How can there be two of you?"

"Did you think that Robin was the only one to be resurrected by the crow's powers?" the gothic cowboy asked. "There have been others like him and Yugi. Most return to the afterlife once their business is settled, but some stay in this world for their own reasons."

"What's your name?" Superboy asked.

"Skull Cowboy," was the reply.

Beast Boy looked at Robin. "How long have you been back?"

"A few months," Robin replied.

"And it didn't occur to you to drop by to say hi?" Beast Boy asked, irritated.

"I've been hearing reports about a mime boy terrorizing criminals," Superboy said. "Nothing in the news, but you know how criminals love to talk."

"It was you who watched me when I spoke at your grave," Starfire said. "Why did you not come to me?"

"I wish I could," Robin replied. "Every day I watched you, I wished I could be with you." He looked down. "But I can't. Not like this. Not when I'm just a walking corpse."

"So what finally motivated you to come?" Beast Boy asked.

"Danger," Yami Yugi said.

"Of what sort?" Starfire asked.

"There is an evil force seeking to make its way into our world," Yami Yugi explained, "using an earthly emissary to do its dirty work. Robin and I already encountered one of this emissary's minions."

"Who was it?" Raven asked.

"A shape-changer by the name of Mirage," Yami replied. "She's a telepathic/empathic metamorph. In other words, she can become anyone she wants, or anyone you want."

"That is one nasty power," Wonder Girl said.

"Yes," Skull Cowboy concurred. "She can see into your mind and find a person you hold in your heart, a person you love and trust, and become that person's mirror image. You'd never know until it was too late, because in seeing that person in your thoughts, she'd know everything you know about that person and affect enough of that person's characteristics to lull you into a false sense of security."

"Too late," Robin muttered. He shuddered, remembering the emotional impressions he had felt from the scene of Mirage's last job. Mirage had killed the entire family while in the guises of people each member trusted most. She had shifted into the image of each spouse as she killed the other, and used their images as she killed their children.

"Robin? What is wrong?" Starfire asked.

"That's what she did," Robin replied, a tormented expression on his face. "She changed into the people they trusted and loved most, and killed them while wearing their faces. And they all died thinking that the people they loved most had betrayed them."

"That's just evil," Superboy said. "Completely and utterly evil."

"You said it," Cyborg agreed.

"There are others, aren't there?" Wonder Girl surmised.

"You'd be right," Yami confirmed. "Mirage is just one among many. An organization of top assassins, each one possessing a special power or talent."

"How do you know all of this?" Starfire asked.

"I looked into Mirage's mind," Yami replied. "The power isn't all that focused, as all I can see is emotions and surface thoughts, but I saw enough to know what we're up against."

"We?" Raven asked.

"We can't do this alone," Yami Yugi admitted. "It'll take all eight of us working together to stop them."

"We'll do everything we can," Wonder Girl vowed.

"That's a promise," Superboy added. "In the meantime, we've got some extra rooms we're not using. Would you like one, Yugi?"

"That would be nice," Yugi said. "Thank you, Superboy."

"You're very welcome," Superboy said. "Raven, do you mind showing Yugi to his quarters?"

"I'll do it," Raven said. She looked at Yugi. "Come on."

Yugi followed Raven.

"You don't like to talk very much, do you?" Yami surmised.

"Talking is usually pointless," Raven replied.

"I see," Yami said.

"So how'd you come back?" Raven asked.

"My grandfather," Yami replied, sorrow tinting his voice. "After my parents died when I was seven, he took me in, taught me everything about Duel Monsters."

"Duel Monsters?" Raven echoed.

"It's a card game," Yami Yugi explained, "using monsters and magic. The monster cards all have their own attack and defense points, and some of them have magic effects that can be used to the advantage of the user and the detriment of the opponent. Each monster card has a number of stars on it that show its overall strength. With the stronger monsters, you have to offer a tribute of one, two, or sometimes three monsters to summon them.

"There are also spell and trap cards that the player can use to increase their own chances of winning or harm their opponent. Spell cards are generally benevolent or neutral, while trap cards use magic to attack the opponent."

"Sounds like a fun game," Raven said.

"It is," Yami Yugi agreed. "It was a game I enjoyed greatly. My grandfather was an expert and he collected the best cards. He had one card that was most precious to him: the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. It wasn't precious because of its power, or because there were only four in the world, but because it was a memento from a dear friend."

Raven didn't say anything; she just let him continue.

"A young CEO by the name of Seto Kaiba came to visit us one day," Yugi continued. "He wanted the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, but my grandpa refused to give it to him. As revenge for his refusal, Kaiba came back with his thugs and smashed up the store. My grandpa warned me to get away, but Kaiba's thugs killed us both."

Raven listened on, saddened and horrified. Yugi had probably been such a sweet boy in his life, and for a ruthless bastard like Kaiba to murder him and his grandfather just for a card . . .

No wonder sorrow emanates from him so much, Raven thought. Such a beautiful boy . . . so wounded . . .

Yes, she did find him beautiful. His violet eyes shone with fire and pain, pain that she wished she could take away, fire she wished would consume her.

"Here's your room," she finally said.

"Thank you," Yugi replied. "I'll see you tomorrow morning." He entered the room and closed the door.

Yugi lay on the bed, thinking. These Titans were very interesting, he decided. The boys reminded him of two dear friends, Joey Wheeler and Tristan Taylor. Starfire reminded him a lot of Joey's sister Serenity with her sweet innocence. Wonder Girl evoked images of Mai in his mind; she was tough, but there was soft silk beneath the steel. As for Raven, she didn't remind him of anyone he'd known, and perhaps that was a good thing.

Raven, he thought. Her distant manner puzzled him, although he sensed that she'd formed strong bonds with some of the Titans.

She was a mystery, a puzzle. That was all right, he figured. He liked puzzles.

As for Robin, he went to his own room. At least, that's where he would have gone if Starfire hadn't interrupted his path.

"Robin?"

"Yes, Star?" Robin asked, turning to face her.

"What happened to make you stay away from me?" Starfire asked.

"I couldn't bear eternity without you," Robin replied. "It was an empty, lonely place without your light. So I came back, but when I came to the Tower to see you, I lost my nerve. Still, I couldn't bear not to see you at all, so I resorted to watching you from the shadows. In a way, it's fitting. The darkness has no right to touch the light."

"You are wrong, Tim," Starfire said, taking his black-gloved hand in her slim golden one. "The darkness and light exist together, and cannot exist without each other. If there is no darkness, then how will we know light? And if there is no light, how will we know darkness? They need each other, just like we need each other. Can you not see?" She looked into his eyes, bright emerald meeting pale amethyst-sapphire. "You are the darkness to my light. I love you, Tim."

"Kory . . ." Robin said, embracing her. "I love you, too, my light."

Their lips met in a passionate kiss, a kiss of love found once again, of heartache finally eased. When they finally parted, Starfire looked into Robin's eyes.

"Stay with me tonight, dearest Tim," she said. "We have been separate from each other for far too long. Will you not come with me, and ease your loneliness and mine?"

Robin was completely done in. The seductive mixture of pleading and invitation proved irresistible to him.

Silently, he let Starfire guide him to her room. Once the door closed, light and darkness intertwined in a most intimate manner.

"Days will come that make no sense

My present situation makes me think too much, too much

It all revolves around you

This life that I'm living means nothing without you.

"I'd shed my skin for you (I'd shed my skin for you)

What would you want me to do? (What would you want me to do?)

I will always love you, but I can't live like this.

"The problem here is my fault

It's not that I don't care but I'm so lost.

"I'd shed my skin for you (I'd shed my skin for you)

What would you want me to do? (What would you want me to do?)

I will always love you, but I can't live like this.

"Don't fuck with feelings inside,

Who you lying to?

Will I survive?

I like what you put me through

'Cuz I feel almost alive. (almost alive)

"I'd shed my skin for you (I'd shed my skin for you)

What would you want me to do? (What would you want me to do?)

I will always love you, but I can't live like this.

I'd shed my skin for you (I'd shed my skin for you)

What would you want me to do? (What would you want me to do?)

I will always love you, but I can't live like this."

Adema - "Skin"

End Notes: And so another chapter comes to a close. The Nightmare Soldiers are now after Yami and Robin, and they may not be their only targets.