Teen Titans: Old Friends

An adolescent boy runs from a barrage of fireballs launched by Slade. His long black hair was flailing behind him. His black tank top and black jeans were torn and dirtied. His icy-blue eyes, outlined by black eyeliner, were determined and his athletic build kept him going fast. He turns in an ally trapped by Slade and the fire demons. "You know there's nowhere else to run. The end for you is near." Slade said forming a fireball in his hands. "Don't interfere Robin…I've known you've been watching me. You also know that you are no match for me without your friends." Slade said glancing towards Robin on the building. He jumped down and landed in front of the youth. "I told you when we were rescuing Raven that next time we meet we're enemies." Robin said glaring at Slade. Slade launched the fireball and Robin jumped over it. The youth held out his hand and blocked it by deflecting it back towards Slade. With a ferocious yell, Robin charged at Slade with his fist drawn back.

The youth jumped to the side of the wall and jumped of that wall onto the one across from it and repeated the jumps several times until he was in the air. Slade dodged all the punches and kicks Robin threw and then came the counter. Slade grabbed Robin's wrist, bent it back, and threw him into the wall. A storm started to rage suddenly without warning as the youth came flying down surrounded with electricity. He slammed into Slade who was ultimately driven into the ground. The fire demons tried to attack, but with a raise of the youth's hand, rain flooded down on top of them. In amidst of all the smoke and dust, Slade made his escape leaving the youth with the words, "You will do what my master wishes for you to do!"

Robin was still on the ground trying to shake the cobwebs loose in his head. The youth extended his hand to help Robin up. "Hey, is he gone?" Robin asked. The youth nodded and flashed a small smile as he helped Robin up. The youth turned his back and started to walk away. "Thanks." The youth said. "Hey wait!" Robin called to him. The boy stopped and looked over his shoulder at Robin. "We could use someone like you on the team. Why don't you follow me?" Robin offered. "I couldn't, you and your friends would be in danger." The youth said. "I insist." Robin said. A fly on the wall flew down beside Robin and Beast Boy appeared.

"Dude, that was awesome. Come on join us man." Beast boy exclaimed. "Besides, I've seen you out on the road several times. I know you don't have a home." Robin said. The youth turned to them. "You two don't understand. I can't risk putting any of you in danger because…" The youth paused. "I don't know how to control my powers to well." He finished. "That's why we have a training facility." Robin said. "Come on dude, at least stay with us a couple of days and get to know us and see the training." Beast boy said. "Guess I don't have much of a choice." The youth said. "So, it seems you know Beast boy and me, so who are you?" Robin asked. "Kei. Kei Arashi." Kei responded.

"Well, Kei, let's head to the tower." Beast boy spoke. They left the ally at a walk. "If I understand right, Robin, you like challenges." Kei spoke. "Yeah, and so does Beast boy here." Robin responded. Kei smirked. "I know where the tower is, no powers, race. What do you say?" Kei asked. "You're on!" Robin and beast boy said. "It doesn't matter which route you take to get to the tower as long as you have no powers involved and are running. Ready, set, GO!" Kei yelled out racing off with Robin and Beast boy hot on his hills. Kei then took a left to the wonder of Robin and Beast boy. Robin and Beast boy kept their same route. "Dude, I'm like the slowest runner and I hate to lose." Beast boy huffed. "Just have fun. See ya!" Robin said running faster and leaving Beast boy behind.

Kei was on top of the roofs. He jumped clear over one, swung on a flag pole to the other and then jumped from wall to wall in an ally onto another roof and stopped at the edge of the building. He looked down seeing Robin a hundred yards away. He jumped off the roof landed on a car and jumped of it running to the entrance to Titans tower leaving Robin and Beast boy astonished. "Dude, we took the fastest route to get here and you kicked our butts." He said. "You just got lucky." Robin said. Kei smirked. "You sure about that fastest route?" He asked and indicated towards the roofs. "Dude there was no way you could get up there without your powers. You cheated." Beast boy assumed.

"I don't know, he is very agile and from what I saw earlier, he can jump fairly high and he is quick enough. Maybe he was resourceful and used the buildings by jumping from roof to roof." Robin said. "No way dude, there is no way he could do that." Beast boy whined. "Come on Beast boy lighten up. You'll get your chance." Robin said. "Let's go in and introduce you to the rest." Robin said leading them into the tower.

As soon as they entered the Tower, they heard Cyborg raging about losing the remote. Starfire danced happily in the kitchen with the radio on. "Robin! You have returned and you too Beast boy!" She exclaimed hugging them. "Can't breathe…Star." Robin said. "Who is this?" She asked looking to Kei. "This is Kei." Robin said after Starfire finished hugging him. Kei nodded his head towards her. "Are you a knew friend?" She asked. "An acquaintance." Kei responded. "I'm Starfire. Nice to meet you." She said shaking his hand. "Beast boy!" Cyborg yelled walking towards him. He lowered his face down and stared directly in the eyes of Beast boy. "Where did you put the remote?" He asked. "Dud, I didn't touch it!" Beast boy defended. A black object came towards Cyborg and thumped him lightly on the head.

He grabbed it and looked towards where it was flung from. "You have what you're looking for now be quiet where I can meditate." Raven said glaring. Kei looked and studied Raven. 'I've seen her before.' He thought. Raven, Cyborg, I'd like you to meet Kei. He's going to be staying with us a couple of days." Robin said. "Nice to meet you. I hope you don't have a problem with sleeping on the couch, because our guest room is currently a storage room." Cyborg said. Raven's eyes widened when she heard Kei's name. 'I recognize him.' She thought.

"You hungry?" Cyborg asked. "No thanks." Kei said. "Hey Robin, what's today's date?" Beast boy asked somewhat glumly. "It's August 21, why?" Robin questioned. "We have to visit someone. All of us." Beast boy said walking out. The others all watched. "I know what he's talking about." Robin said. "We have to visit Terra." Cyborg spoke. Starfire, Raven and Cyborg followed Beast boy. "Terra?" Kei questioned. "She was a Titan who sacrificed herself to save us." Robin said solemnly. Kei looked on a moment before following him.

They arrived at a place where a statue of a girl was looking at the entrance to the volcano. Kei knew her. "She's wanted my advice on going back to these guys. I told her it would be up to her." He said to himself. "She…died?" He questioned himself. A flash back started to play in his head.

Flashback

"Terra, what's wrong? You're crying." Kei said. "Beast boy lied. He told the Titans about me not being able to control my powers. I made him promise not to tell and he lied." She sobbed. "Hey, it's alright sis, who said they knew about you not controlling your powers?" He asked hugging his sister. "Robin." She sobbed. "Hey, beast boy probably didn't tell. Robin is smart and observant to others. Maybe he saw you mess up." Kei said. "Really?" She asked. "I'm sure of it." He said. "Then…should I go back?" She asked. "Sis, it's up to you if you want to go back. If you do want to, at least practice some more." Kei said. "Thank you." She responded and stood up.

end flashback

Kei went up to her and kneeled down. Everyone was astonished at this. Beast boy had a tear fall from his eye. "Terra." He said quietly. The titans each paid their respects and Beast boy was first to leave. "Poor Beast boy, it hurts him so much." Starfire said. "Death is hard; especially when you are close to the one who died." Raven said. "Beast boy was very happy when she was around. If only there was a way for Beast boy to see her one last time. It may help his pain." Cyborg said. They still watched as Kei was kneeling in front of the girl. "I get the feeling he knew her to." Robin said. Raven walked towards Kei. "You ok?" She asked. "You guys can go…I'll meet you back at the tower in awhile. More importantly, get Beast boy away from here. He is in a lot of pain. I'm afraid he'll try something drastic." Kei said to her. Raven walked back and relayed the message and the Titans left.

Raven entered a stealth mode and went looking for wherever Beast boy was and found him on the edge of a cliff. She walked up to him. "Are you ok." She asked. "Why would you care?" Beast boy asked. "Because I'm your friend." Raven said placing a hand on his shoulder. He shrugged it off. "I was expecting Robin, or Starfire, but not you. Why are you here?" He asked. "As much as you're hurt right now, you can't afford not having a friend with you." She said. "I just still can't believe she's gone. I didn't get to say good-bye." He said. "I know it's hard, but do you think she would want you to sulk around like you're doing. This isn't the Beast boy she knew and fell in love with. You're different than you were." She said. "What would you know about love? All you do is sit around in your room and meditate. Never going out to do anything or have any fun!" Beast boy yelled transforming into a falcon and flying away. Raven was about to follow, but decided against it and talked in her transmitter. "Robin, come in." Raven said. "What is it Raven?" Robin asked. "We need to keep an eye on Beast boy. He's more troubled today than normally when we see Terra. He yelled at me and Beast boy never yells at me or anyone. He actually…never mind. Just keep an eye on where he goes." Raven said. "Will do, go back to where Terra is and see if Kei is still there." Robin said. Raven flew towards where Kei was and found him meditating in front of the stone.

"What are you doing?" Raven asked him. "I'm trying to make contact with her. Beast boy is in trouble and only she can save him." Kei said. A glow started to come from within the statue and a blue light took the shape of Terra. Raven was awestricken. "Terra, it's me Kei." He said. "Hey bro, what's up?" Terra's spirit spoke. "It's Beast boy, he misses you and is in trouble." Kei said. "What do you mean trouble?" Terra asked.