Okay, to anyone who is reading 'Kiss of the Dragon' and been scratching their heads about Shandrey then you can rest in peace now. This is a short story about her and how she came to know Lee and the Titans yada yada yada. The chapters themselves will probably be short becuase it's a short story. Also although this is under the TT category its unlikely they'll appear in this. Oh and also Shandrey isn't called 'Shandrey' until later. Well nothing to do now except sit back and Enjoy!

Chapter One

"My Family"

The sky was dark. It was far too dark for anything of or relating to happiness to be derived from it. Strong gusts of wind blew the trees and their branches back and forth. The bursts of air were short but strong. It wasn't long before drops of rain began to descend upon the earth. They were scattered to begin with then soon grew to a sizable shower. It was strange weather for Shanghai but it came nonetheless. The drops of water raised a layer of mud from the ground. The only thing that seemed out of place was the sight of a young girl sitting outside her house in the soaking wet grass. She sat hunched over and trembling from head to toe. The back of her shirt been ripped open and marks made from a whip adorned her skin. She sat silently weeping. For the first time since she had fallen to the ground an hour ago her hand moved. She moved it up over her shoulder and gently ran her finger of the closest cut. She closed her eyes with a wince and swiftly drew back her hand.

"Shannon…" She remained perfectly still. Another girl covered by an umbrella stepped through the deep puddles toward her. She stopped just over Shannon and lowered her umbrella. She cocked her head toward the sky allowing a few drops fall into her mouth. "Mmm, summer rain…it's so sweet. I don't understand sister why you do this. Why you continue to force father's hand." Shannon said nothing to her sister but merely held her arms from the cold. "Timid little Shannon, one would never guess that you and I are family." Her sister folded up the umbrella allowing the rain to soak her as well. "God knows how if ever you're going to survive in this world, here you can have this." She let the umbrella fall beside Shannon. "You're going to need it." With a bit of mud kicked upon her Shannon was left alone once more.

In case you haven't noticed I don't exactly have the best life. One might brighten the issue by saying that at some point it can only get better. Unfortunately if you did say that you would be very very wrong.

EARLIER THAT MORNING………………..

"Shannon!" Her eyes bulged open as her name was called for the fifth time with a clear hint of irritation. Shannon sat up in her bed and sat over the edge. She could see her sister was already up as well as her two other siblings. She rubbed what left of her fatigue out of her eyes followed by a good stretch of the arms.

Morning, juuuust great, the time of day I seem to regret the most these days. It's nice to be able to go to sleep and forget about what happened before then, to completely drift away from it. It's that thought which has made me wish on several occasions that I could just fall asleep and never wake up again.

Shannon stood up and retrieved her day clothes from her dresser. She stood before a wall mirror as she made herself presentable.

My name is Shannon Chan. Funny name for a Chinese girl I know, but it's alright by me. It's not like I'm going to have to change it or anything.

Shannon walked into the kitchen where she found the rest of her family already well into breakfast. She sat down beside her brother and began eating at the food in front of her. Her mother sat reading a newspaper article about five heroes in America and about thier latest exploits.My older brother Po and sister Lien were around there twenties and cared very little about anyone. They hardly ever spoke to me casually now that I think about it. The onlyone I ever talked to if ever was my twin sister Moira. She would boast about how she was the older of us, yeah by like five minuets.

"Shannon tomorrow you and I are going to find you a new wedding dress," said her mother. Shannon groaned over her plate. "The one we picked out earlier isn't going to work after all." My father and mother were the most tradition crazed people on the face of the earth.They recentlydeiced I was going to be married to some rich guy I'd never met and was thirteen years older me because I wasn't miserable enough.

"He's a pig mother and he's twice my age," said Shannon. "By the time I'm forty his hair will be falling out."

"You will do as you're told." Snipped her father. "He's a respectable business man and you should be proud to be wedding him. I for one enjoy his company very much."

"Then you marry him," back talked Shannon. Moira dropped her head to grin. Her father slammed his hand over the table making everyone flinch.

"Do I need to make myself clear a second time!" He and Shannon stared at each other for a long moment.

"No." It wasn't that stupid look he gave me, thinking it actually scared me. Just the whip that he'd bring out every time I chose to say 'no' to something. Her brother broke the awkward silence by clearing his throat.

"Lien and I are going into town today; we may be gone for the whole afternoon."

"That's fine," said their mother. "Take Shannon and Moira with you though." The two older siblings were about to protest but their mother gave them a look that told them not to do so.

LATER IN THE MARKET…………

Lien and Po wasted no time in separating themselves from Shannon and Moira once they finally arrived. Apparently walking around with your two younger sisters was embarrassing. Shannon blew a bit of hair out of her face and spotted a book store across the street.

"Let's go there," she said already walking. Moira followed with her arms crossed. They entered and were met with a musty and stifling atmosphere.

"It doesn't surprise me in the slightest you'd be the one to bring us here," said Moira curtly. Shannon hardly paid attention though. As soon as she adapted to the smell of the store her mind was taken by the many shelves crammed full of books. "You know you're the biggest book worm I've ever seen," Moira called after her. I've found not paying attention always got her to shut up. Moira shook her head in a futile manner then took to perusing the shelves herself. Shannon found many things she wanted though unable to afford. Moira passed by the end of yet another shelf then slowly backpedaled as something caught her eye. It was a black leather bound book half buried beneath a jumble of old newspapers. She swept the periodicals off the book and gazed upon the cover. It had no title but merely a gold etching of the sun and a crescent moon. The two pictures mingled with each other; they were like opposites coming together. Moira was so distracted by the cover that she barely noticed the strange tingling in her fingers as she held it. She had to have it. Something inside her now told her that she was forbidden to leave that book behind. Even then I'm sure Moira could see something was wrong, but she was no longer in control. Moira quickly darted her gaze about to see if anyone was watching. When the coast was clear she carefully slipped the book into her back and closed it.

Shannon stood in one isle reading a book about Norse mythology. Things of a fantastical and wondrous nature always interested her. Shannon skimmed the page rather quickly and oddly enough remembering almost everything her eyes strayed across. She heard the bell above the door ring as someone else entered. She paid it no heed as it was logical someone else would come in at some point.

"Hey there." She turned as the new customer stood behind her. Shannon closed the book with a thin line for a mouth. He was the man she was being set up to marry very soon.

"What do you want?"

"I don't think I like that tone in your voice," he said coming closer. Who does he think he is? Moira stepped around the isle then moved back to watch the scene unfold.

"Fine, but what are you doing here?"

"I saw you come in and wanted to say hi." Shannon nodded while looking for a way to escape.

"Well that's very thoughtful of you but I need to get going." She moved to step around him but he caught her on the forearm.

"Now wait just a minuet, I'm not done talking to you yet." Shannon pulled for him to let go but his grip only tightened.

"Let go of me," she said frowning up at him. With a strong tug he pulled Shannon into a tight embrace and held her face close to his.

"When you're my wife I expect some things of you and one is not to talk back to me. You will honor me the way a wife is required to honor her husband and I would not venture to guess what would happen if you didn't." Shannon narrowed her eyes, reached up, then slapped him hard across the face. In his momentarily stunned state he lost his balance and fell backwards in a book mark stand. That made me feel better.

"You can marry that little puppy of yours, because it's not going to be ME!" With that Shannon turned on her heel and left him buried beneath a pile of thin pieces of cardboard. Moira grinned as she knew what would be coming later.

BACK HOME………..

Shannon and Moira went home without the company of their brother and sister. They knew the way just fine and Shannon was hardly in any mood to deal with either Po or Lien. Shannon went to her room and shut the door behind her. Like Moira Shannon was well aware that soon the news of what she'd done would somehow reach her father. He usually got home from work in the late afternoon but she expected him a little earlier; certain that he would want to discipline her as quickly as possible. Moira coyly entered their room and set her bag beside her bed.

"You are so going to get it."

"Shut up." Wasn't any of her business anyway. Moira sat cross legged on her bed and lent back on her arms.

"So, what are you going to say when Dad comes home and his face is the color of an overripe beat?" Shannon shrugged at the question. Honestly I didn't want to say anything. I'd made my decision and that was that. Moira stretched her head back.

"He deserved it," Shannon whispered. Moira looked back at her.

"You mean your 'soon to be'?" Shannon nodded. "That hardly matters now don't you think. It doesn't matter how much he deserved anything, the point is your going to pay for it." It was then that they heard the sound of a car puling in. Their family only owned one car so it was evident who it was. Moira raised her eyebrows as if saying 'good luck' then took her leave. Shannon folded her legs up to her chest and held them there. Not long after Moira had left Shannon's door opened again and there stood her father. Just as Moira predicted he looked beyond angry and more in the realm of royally pissed. Shannon's eyes moved down to his right hand and saw a folded length of leather.

"Come," was all he said.

--------

And this is pretty much where we started. I'm out here getting overthe wounds that I got while being punished for having a mind of my own.

The rain began to come down harder and harder. The drops pounded on her back agitated the sensitive cuts. Shannon glanced over at the umbrella Moira left behind. With an angered scowl Shannon picked it up and threw it into the street.

"I don't need it," she breathed. Somehow I was going to get out there. Maybe I would be married off to that pompous jerk and maybe not. One way or another I was not going to stay for long.

I know it may be a little boring to start but trust me its gets much better. Like I said this may only mention the Titans but for the most part they won't be in this. I still hope you'll enjoy it as much. Laters!