AN: I do not own Teen Titans. This is an idea that I have had bouncing in my head for a long time so please Read and Review, especially the latter.

Trial by Fire

The man sat in the dark world as he waited for what were to be the next series of visions. Finally after staring at the ancient wheel the visions came, showing him that he was to play the role of the invincible assassin Shinku. Drawing the midnight black katana he opened the dimensional pathways and headed for the lair of his employer.

The lair was like a factory with many gears, platforms, pipes that gave it a spooky aspect to it. As he walked, his left hand holding the sheathe that held the katana did he enter the stream of light in front of the throne that his employer sat on.

"I am pleased that you responded to my request so quickly." The masked man said.

"Your request intrigued me Slade. I am most curious about the job you have offered me." Shinku smirked as he let Slade get a good look at him. He wore black pants and tank-top that exposed his well toned arms, black boots with steel under coating to add to the protection and the offensive capabilities and black leather gloves that covered his hands. His face was oval shaped with a small nose and piercing ebony eyes. His hair was a dark lavender color that was kept short and spiked.

"It is a simple request. I want you to fight Jump Cities heroes the Teen Titans, and evaluate the skills of their leader, the one called Robin." Slade answered as a butler came forward and handed him the file that contained the details of each of the young heroes.

'Let's see here. Robin used to be the side kick to Batman, and despite being a normal human has exceptional abilities. Cyborg is relatively unheard of except the report that marks his creation. Beast Boy is a former member of the Doom Patrol so he should not be taken lightly. Starfire is a Tamoranian who has not yet undergone the transformation so she should be relatively weak. Finally Raven, a sorceress with some talent, though that gem… She could be her.' Shinku thought as he went each profile "I accept. Have the money in my account within 24 hours, or I will be coming for you next." Using his katana he opened the dimensional pathway and set up his position so that he could attack the Teen Titans when they would be prepared for a fight.

After waiting a day to get familiar with the city did he finally choose his arena for combating the youths. He then sent the call and had the simpleminded Cinderblock lure them there, Once they arrived did he show himself.

"Welcome Titans." He said bowing slightly.

"Who are you?" Robin asked, clearly on edge from this new threat.

"Shinku. Call me Shinku." He grinned.

"You're in our way, so move it." Raven ordered.

"That will not be happening. I hired Cinderblock to lure you five here so that I could fight you. I must say that three of you intrigue me. So now that you know who I am then let us commence this match." Shinku grinned as he placed his right hand on the hilt of the sword.

"Titan's GO!" Robin exclaimed as the five attacked. Beast Boy struck first in his lion form which Shinku used the sheathe to strike his neck in three places so that he wouldn't be getting up anytime soon. Then Cyborg and Starfire started attacking from afar, which Shinku reacted to by simply dodging until he used the sheathe to redirect the sonic cannon and sent it flying into Starfire. Then moving at a speed that Most could not believe was possible, and sliced off the arm with the cannon. Raven Hurled several large items in the nearby area, including some cars, but with his unsheathed blade he stopped everything from even getting close. He then moved quickly into her zone and used the nonbladed side of the katana to knock her out.

"And that takes care of the small fries. On to the main event." Shinku grinned. Then Robin struck with his metal staff spinning, trying to stop Shinku from doing anything else. Using his blade and sheathe he blocked all of Robins strikes until he grew bored and started to fight back. With short swift slashes he pushed the Boy Wonder back until he took out a short metal staff from his utility belt and hit some unseen button causing the staff to expand to a full length bo staff. Swinging the staff he became more of a threat and it was much harder to block his spinning weapon. After several minutes of being pushed back Robin smashed his right hand forcing him to let go of the katana, and before it hit the ground he kicked it into the air and used the staff to send it flying out of his reach.

"Impressive. No wonder Slade has his eye on you." Shinku grinned as he spun the sheathe, treating it like a staff "But you are not out of the woods yet Boy Wonder." He then struck with spinning attacks that were an even match for Robin's. Using the shortness of the sheathe to his advantage he would slip under Robin's guard and deliver punishing kicks or rapid punches. Once he had knocked the wind out of Robin did the others attack to protect their leader. Cyborg tried to punch him while Beast Boy attacked in gorilla form with ham sized fists. Raven and Starfire were attacking him from a distance, forcing him to move away from Robin.

'Enough of the games.' He thought as he prepared to use the power of the wheel to defeat them. Focusing his mind he saw each strike coming before they made it. First he rolled to the left of Cyborg's attack and swung his leg, knocking him off of his feet and used the sheathe to smash his windpipe, forcing him to stay down if he wanted to live. Next Beast Boy attacked with his ginat fists, but Shinku leapt onto his arms and unleashed a vicious corkscrew kick into his face, feeling bones trying not to give out. Next he leapt from object to object that Raven was throwing at him so that he could attack the aerial heroes. Once he was close enough he threw the sheathe into Starfire, catching her off guard which left him the opening for him to leap onto a barrel nearby and unleash several lightning fast kicks that sent her flying into a nearby building. He then focused on Raven and managed to force her to the ground where the match wouldn't be so stacked against him. Using only his martial arts skills against her he found that she was an even match for him, possibly better in some areas.

'I suppose if she is his daughter then I shouldn't hold back.' He thought as he took a different stance "You should feel honored. Not many get to see this pwer that I have. Blaze." As he uttered the last word black flames appeared around his wrists and ankles "Behold Kage To Hi Ryu." With that he moved at a speed that Raven thought only belonged to the demons. In the blink of an eye he had crossed the distance between tham and was now behind her with is palm against her back.

"I could kill you right now. But I would regret killing such a beautiful young woman." He grinned. He then moved on front of her as she turned around. With a light chop to her neck she went out cold "Do not worry; no one will die here today." He then turned to Robin who had risen and was waiting for him to fight.

"You sense of honor will be the death of you Robin. Harden your heart or you will not survive the challenges to come." Shinku said.

"Who are you to say that?" he growled as he struck. Robin was an even better martial artist than Raven which made him glad that he had decided to use Kage To Hi Ryu. After blocking another attack from Robin he decided to end the battle. Channeling the flames into his right hand he struck with a powerful blast, sending Robin flying.

"Dragons Roar." Shinku said as Robin tried to stand "Do not bother. You are not yet strong enough to even dream of opposing Kage To Hi Ryu. However I will say that you did impress me. Slade will be pleased with my analysis of your abilities."

"You are working for Slade?!" he yelled.

"Yes. He payed my fee and I did his job, that is all. Normally I would not accept a job like this but the Wheel of Fate seems to have you at its center" Shinku said. He then walked over to his sheathe and said "Return to me Magus Sword." Then the blade returned to the sheathe.

"You Titans are strong, but you are still young with much room to grow, and how I look forward to that growth." Shinku said as he opened the portal.

"Wait!" Raven yelled.

"Yes?"

"Who are you? You do not seem the villain part so why would you work for Slade?"

"I work for him today because it gave me the chance to meet you Titans and see what you were capable of. As for whom I am. That is a secret that will have to wait." Shinku smiled gently as he turned to leave.

"Did we just get our butts kicked by some crazy mystic mumbo jumbo guy?" Beast Boy asked.

"He is no ordinary man. He spoke of the Wheel of Fate. It sounds familiar…" Raven muttered as she used her powers to teleport them home.

Inside the tower Robin had pulled up Shinku on the criminal data base.

"Shinku, a S class assassin. He has worked for petty criminals to heads of counties. There is no arrest warrant for him because he has worked for the U.S. as well. According to this, he is a master swordsman, who is said to have never lost a straight swords duel, and has mastered staff, spear, and practically every martial art known to man. There is no mention of him using magic Raven, but those flames around his wrists were not natural." Robin sighed.

"I've been looking up what he let us know. The easiest is his sword. The Magus Sword was forged by a demoness who lived long before this world had any concept of life. She was a powerful warrior who had placed much of her demon magic into the forging. However she and two other demonesses that she worked with were sealed away and that sword was lost from sight. However there are records of its appearance and what we saw was either an amazing look alike or the real deal." She explained.

"What about those crazy flames that he managed to create?" Cyborg asked.

"Those were harder to find, and it's connected to the Wheel of Fate he mentioned. This an old legend but it says that somewhere in a dimension of utter darkness sits a wheel that is intricately carved with two dragons, one white and one black, each trying to devour the others tail. It is said that this represents the balance of good and evil. This wheel is also said to employ warriors to help shape destinies away from the evil that it fears will cause the darkness to gain greater power."

"So it a good wheel?" Starfire asked.

"In a sense yes. It never meddles directly however it does often try to push things to a more favorable outcome for the universe. Which leads us to that fighting style that he was using. He said it was called Kage To Hi Ryu, and the wheel created this style for its warriors who were skilled with magic and martial arts skills. It's pretty vague on what this style is and how they fight but all it says for sure that the flames around the wrists and ankles enhance the bodies speed and strength and that they can manipulate them to use different attacks, like that Dragons Roar he used on you Robin." Raven explained.

"So what does all this mean?" Beast Boy asked, clearly lost.

"It means that some guy that works for some interdimensional wheel had sent him to fight us. Now the question is was it too help us or hurt us?" Robin sighed "It's been a long night, everyone go get some rest." Nodding, they all headed for their own rooms. Raven laid awake thinking about the how Shinku had moved at them and his words to her before he had knocked her out.

"Ugh. Stupid jerk." She muttered as she rolled over on her bed.

Shinku stood before Slade as he told him what he had thought.

"Excellent. Now I can prepare to move on with my plans." Slade said clearly pleased. Shinku resisted the urge to attack him, wanting to end the man that could and possibly would end the lives of many innocent people. Without another word he opened the portal back to the wheel and waited for whatever his next job would be, praying that he would be the sorceresses ally next time they met, so he would not have to see those beautiful purple eyes staring at him with hate.