CHAPTER 1

                      Chapter 1 Angel of Darkness

             Raven awakes to the sound of a shower running in the bathroom, and she slowly notices that she's on a soft black leather couch. Raven then tries to sit up but stops, and quietly hisses out in pain as her back protested her movement. She then lies back onto the couch and turns her head to see the coffee table by the couch. She sees a framed photograph of a young girl in a sky blue dress with blonde hair, and blue eyes.

          Raven's eyes widened a bit when she sees the red and black amulet on a silver chain around her neck, and she then sees a man wearing a white lab coat, dark pants, and a red mustache. She can see that his eyes are hidden by dark shades. Raven then sees Shadow standing by the young girl, and she gives a small sad smile. Raven then quickly wiped away the tears forming in the corners of her eyes as she composed herself. She then gives a small sigh as she then thinks to herself in Scottish.

                                         Raven (Thinking in Scottish)

                        Maria and Uncle Gerald Aye wish that ye were alive te help ne explain te shadow about...

            Raven's thoughts are interrupted as she then hears the shower being turned off then she hears the door to the bathroom upstairs open then close and she looks over to the stairs to see Shadow coming down. Raven can see that Shadow is wearing a silver vest, black leather pants with a silver belt, and black leather combat hover boots. She can see that his quills are sticking up with silver streaks in them. Raven can see that Shadow's eyes are silver.

           Raven then quickly looks away from Shadow as he reaches the landing, and she shakes her head as she slowly starts to sit up on the couch while gritting her teeth from the pain in her back. Shadow can see that his guest is up as he sees the young woman sit up with a groan. He then walks over to her from the stairs, and sits on a chair on the other side of the couch, and crosses his arms over his chest.

            Shadow can see that his guest is wearing a black leather trenchcoat, a silver vest, black leather pants with a silver belt, and black steel toed combat boots. He can see that his guest has long silver hair that is tied back by a black hair tie. He can see that her hands are cover by black leather fingerless gloves. Shadow then looks into the young woman's eyes, and gives a silent gasp as he can see that her eyes are a crystal blue, and then he lets his eyes drift down wards to the red and black amulet on a silver chain around her neck.

            Raven can see that Shadow's eyes are on her amulet, and she quickly raises a fingerless gloved hand, and clasps the amulet while giving Shadow a glare. She can see that he is about to ask her a question and she raised her other fingerless gloved hand to stop him from asking. Shadow sees his guest raise her hand to stop him from asking her a question, and raises an eyebrow at her in question. Raven sees Shadow raise an eyebrow at her, and she then speaks in Scottish.

                            Raven (Speaking in Scottish)

  Before ye ask me any questions Shadow and Aye know who ye are. Answer me this one question. Can ye speak English? And can ye understand me?

           Shadow looks at his guest for a moment gathering his thoughts, and he can see that the young woman is waiting for his answer. After a few minutes Shadow then nods his head, and answers her in English.

                           Shadow (Speaking in English)

Yes I can understand you, and yes I can speak in English though I prefer to speak in Japanese. Now who are you? And how do you know me?

           Raven nods her head to Shadow, and she sighs inwardly to herself but as she was about to answer Shadow her cell phone starts to ring. Raven then puts her hand into her trenchcoat pocket, and pulls out her cell phone. She then puts up her hand to stop Shadow from asking another question as she flips open her phone, and speaks.

                          Raven (Speaking)

                          Password?

          Raven listens for a moment as the person on the other end then gives the password, and she then groans to herself as she then looks at Shadow for a second then she sighs to herself as she then speaks.

                         Raven (Speaking)

                     Raven speaking. What do ye want Tifa?

        Shadow then raises an eyebrow as he hears his guest's name. He then thinks to himself in Japanese.

                      Shadow (Thinking in Japanese)

               Karasu...Watakushi shiru sore namae! Maria katsute hanasu e watakushi no sore Karasu futte kanojo (no) shinseki. Hmm...

          Shadow sees Raven end the phone call, and puts the phone back into her trenchcoat pocket. He then sees her sigh, and look at him as she is about to answer his questions the front door then opens with a bang, and a voice calls out in japanese.

                    Voice (Calling in Japanese)

                   Shadow! Doko wo anata?

           Raven looks at Shadow and raises an eyebrow at him in question. Shadow sees Raven raise her eyebrow at him in a silent question, and he looks away from her as he then raises his voice calling out to the person who entered his house.

                     Shadow (Calling in Japanese)

                    Amy, Boku wa no naka de sono ima to issho ni hitosu homonsha.

         Shadow and Raven then hear footsteps as they then see a pink hedgehog come into the room. Raven can see that the pink hedgehog is wearing a black leather jacket over a red low cut tank top, black leather pants with a red belt, and red leather combat boots. Raven can see that the pink hedgehog's hands are covered by red leather fingerless gloves. But what makes Raven face palm, and groan inwardly is the sight of a certain legendary sword that is strapped to her back. She then sees the pink hedgehog give Shadow a bone crushing hug, and she can see how uncomfortable he is. She then thinks to herself in Scottish.

                      Raven (Thinking in Scottish)

    Aye cannot fuckin' believe this! Aye know that Tifa told me that she has a cousin but ye got te be fuckin' kiddin' me! She's crushin' the breath out of poor Shadow.

           Raven sees that Shadow has pulled the pink hedgehog off of himself then he looks at her, and he's about to introduce the pink hedgehog to her but he stops when he sees Raven raise her hand, and he lets her speak.

                    Raven (Speaking in Scottish)

                  Lass is yer last name McLeod?  

           The pink hedgehog slowly turns around to see a young female human who is dressed like Shadow except for her long silver hair being tied back, and the red, and black amulet on a silver chain around her neck. Raven can see that the pink hedgehog is coming towards her slowly walking away from Shadow. And Raven then stands up from the couch as the pink hedgehog stops in front of her. Raven can see that the pink hedgehog's eyes are green, and then she hears the pink hedgehog speak in Scottish.

                        Amy (Speaking n Scottish)

Aye that is me last name of me clan. Me first name is Amy, and me middle name's Rose. So me full name is Amy Rose McLeod. Now that ye know me full name, and clan what's yer name and clan?     

           Raven then sighs as she then gathers her thoughts then she answers Amy's question in Scottish.

                        Raven (Answering in Scottish)

Me name is Raven Sparda. Me uncle, and cousin names were Gerald, and Maria Robotnik. Me parents’ names were Dante, and Delia Sparda. Me uncle was me mother's brother.

            After Raven says this she looks at both Shadow, and Amy. She can see Shadow looking at her with an untrusting look, and she can see that Amy is right in her face, and grabbing her trenchcoat as she then snarls at her in Scottish.

                          Amy (Snarling in Scottish)

                          Ye lie!

             Raven then moves quickly by balling up her fist and slamming it into Amy's stomach to make her let go of her trenchcoat, and when Amy does Raven then gives her an upper cut that she then that sends her across the room, and into the wall. Amy then slumps down the wall to the ground. Shadow then looks at Raven with a raised eyebrow. Raven just sighs as she then reaches into her trenchcoat pocket, and pulls out a black flash drive that she then tosses to Shadow. Shadow catches the black flash drive, and Raven can see him look at it then back to her as she then explains to him in Scottish.

                                Raven (Explaining to Shadow)

          Look Shadow Aye din not care if ye believe me or not when Aye say that Gerald and Maria were me uncle and cousin. Ye can believe what ye want te believe. However...that black flash drive is the reason ay’ve been lookin' for ye. Tis also a last request from me Cousin Maria. And...Me cousin wanted me te ask ye if ye would help me fight against the demons.

           Raven then sees Shadow's gaze lower to her amulet then she sees him look into her eyes once again. Raven then shakes her head then she sighs as she then walks past Shadow to the door. Shadow sees Raven shake her head at him, and as she walks past him he reaches out and grabs her arm to stop her from walking out the door. Raven stops as she feels Shadow grab her arm, and slightly turns her head to look at him as he then asks her a question.

                                   Shadow (Asking Raven)

Raven...are you really related to the professor, and to Maria? Please answer me this question.

           Raven looks into Shadow's silver eyes, and nods her head to him. Shadow sees Raven nod her head at him, and after seeing her nod Shadow then lets go of her arm. He feels a strange connection with Raven as he watches her head for the door once again. Shadow then stops Raven once again as he asks her another question.

                                Shadow (Asking Raven)

Raven why did you come looking for me in the first place?

             Raven stops at the door with her hand on the door knob, and turns her head to look at Shadow over her shoulder, and then she gathers her thoughts as she then and she takes a deep breath as she answers his question in Scottish.

                               Raven (Answering Shadow)

Fer two reasons Shadow. one was te give ye that flash drive, and two...well Aye need yer help te stop yer father Black Doom, and te stop me power hungry twin brother Sephiroth from raising Temen-ni-Gru once again.

         Shadow’s eyes widen as Raven mention his father's name along with her brother's name as well. Raven looks at Shadow as she waits a few seconds for his answer. When she feels his hand let go of her arm she sighs, and shakes her head as she then opens the door when once again she's stopped by Shadow's voice.

                              Shadow (Speaking to Raven)

                     I'll help you if you will help me Raven.

           Raven turns her head to look at Shadow over her shoulder, and asks him a question in Scottish.

                              Raven (Asking Shadow)

                      What do ye need my help with Shadow?

           Shadow looks at Raven with a glare as he gathers his thoughts, and takes a deep breath through his nose, and slowly releases it through his mouth, and answers Raven's question.

                             Shadow (Answering Raven)

          I need your help to avenge the professor, Maria, and everyone who was on board the Ark that I cared about.

        Raven looks at Shadow, and nods her head to him in agreement. Shadow sees Raven nodding her head, and he then quickly gathers up his guns, and trenchcoat. He puts his trenchcoat on then he holsters his guns under his trenchcoat. Raven watches Shadow as he does this, and raises a silver eyebrow as he walks towards her. Shadow sees Raven looking at him, and glares at her. Raven sees Shadow glaring at her, and she raises her hands up then she quickly turns away, and opens the door walking out with Shadow following her out of his house.

                               (Fade To Black)