Cardfight Vanguard: The Dark Union

Turn 9: Cassandra and Raven

I stood outside of Card Universe, and by the looks of things it didn't change a single bit. I took in a deep breath before heading inside, the iconic ding of the bell above filled my ears as my heart was beating out of my chest. It has been around seven months since Raven and I had left, and returning here felt so awkward.

I looked around the card shop to find someone recognizable, but no one stood out to me. I slowly walked my way forward, looking past all the customers that were chatting around, trying to find either Edge, Star, or Tora. "Is that you Cass? My have you grown up." Someone said from behind a group of people, "hey Sapphire, can you please handle this while I chat up Cass?"

I walked up to the counter and saw Okami from behind it, but when I saw her I immediately felt my heart drop. I had forgotten she was in a wheel chair because of us. That bolt of lightning striking her head on paralyzed her from the waist down, but luckily it didn't cut her life short. I looked back over to the cash register and saw Sapphire smiling, it looks like she actually grew happier and stopped pushing away joy.

"So, what brings you back after all this time?" Okami said with a smile crossing her face. "Oh nothing much, Raven and I are just back because we're taking time off from our show." I explained as I followed Okami over to our usual spot, the couch. "I'm glad you two came back, but where is Raven?" Okami asked, looking over at me with those soft, hazel eyes of hers.

"Raven said he had something to do, he'll be here later. Anyways, where is everyone?" I collapsed onto the couch and stretched my back out against it as I scanned the shop. I saw only Okami, Sapphire, and the two Naumi siblings (Nicole and Brandon), but no one else. "That's easy, the Neo Generation took a trip down to the beach, and Sophita hasn't came back yet."

I groaned and fell backwards, just staring up at the ceiling. I told Okami it was okay to head back to her work and to just leave me alone for a bit. Okami did just that, and left me to my own devices. It seemed like so much has happened while we were gone. I was wondering how Star and Skye's relationship was going. Both of them were new to that thing when I left and they were both surprisingly awkward with each other.

I pushed that thought out of my head and closed my eyes to try to sleep off the uncomfortable train ride when I felt something pierce into my soul. I immediately rose to my feet, frantically looking around. My eyes eventually landed on a strange looking teenager. He was around the average height of someone his age, which looked around seventeen, with chocolate colored hair that went back into a low hanging ponytail and chocolate brown eyes. His face reminded me of Star so much, his soft skin and calm face, his facial features we're all the same as well, same nose length, cheek depth, eyes. If it wasn't for the chocolate colored hair and eyes I could swear he was Star's twin.

(Raven's Pov)
I walked down the dusty road outside of Starstream city, the road was quiet and empty leaving me to my own thoughts. I pulled the black hood on my back up to block the sun from my face. It seems to have been so long since I've walked down this road, the last time I remember walking down this road was around eight months ago when Cass and I built that grave for Forest.

After a few minutes had past I found myself at a small house that looked worn down and falling apart. I smiled at the small house and reached for the hatch at the gate, slowly pulling up and pushing the gate back. I walked in and gently pushed it closed and knelt down by a patch of roses. Forest always said roses were his favorite, it reminded him of love, which was something he never had. I pushed myself back up and looked down at the bag that was resting in my right hand.

I looked forward and walked over to the door of the house and pushed it open, revealing a small cross that dug into the ground and a row of roses behind it. "Hey Forest, I don't know if you can hear me right now, but I just want to tell you that everything is going fine. No sign of Dark Union and my relationship with Cass has taken off lately." I smiled and pulled a bouquet of roses out and laid it down at the foot of the cross. "Here, you always said roses were the best, and I bought some pie as well." I pulled out the other thing in the bag and stared at the pumpkin pie. "I miss you Forest, but I'm taking your advice at least. Continuing to live on."

My eyes fell to a half lid and I sighed deeply, "I'm talking to myself once more. You aren't even here are you?" My body started trembling and tears started rolling down my face. "Thank you for all the help Forest, goodbye once again." I stood back up and brushed away the tears with my sleeve.

I turned around to leave, but I felt something land on my shoulder. I turned around, and nothing was there. I sighed once more and walked off only to see something bright at the gate.