Beneath The Ice

by Cap'n Sanji

When a member of the South Team is confronted with his past, the other Titans volunteer their help, leading to a battle in the mountains of Japan with a legendary shinobi clan. Sequel to The Trinity. OCxOC Rated M for violence blood and disturbing imagery

1. Unexpected Guests

-- The greeting will come in a minute, folks. First, I feel I should put some rather important info here at the very start. Now...this story makes much use of the Japanese language. For those of you well-versed in the language, or frequent Anime watchers, there are no problems! Yay! But if you're not, have no fear; the Cap'n is here to explain it. Now, first, ya gotta know how to pronounce things. In Japanese, they got the five vowels just like we do, but the pronunciation is different; "a" equals "ah", "e" equals "eh", "i" equals "e", "o" equals, well, "o" and "u" equals "oo". Man, that's hard to explain when you can't hear me! Anyhow, now some terminology! Sometimes, people will use someone's name and then I will follow with a hyphen and some other word. Here is a list of such words, and their meanings! "san" is simple. It is just a way of ending someone's name to be polite. Bear in mind that if a Japanese person does not use an honorific after someone's name, it means that they are being either very familiar or very impolite. Now, "chan" is a friendly one. It is commonly used to speak to female friends, small children, or someone you are very close to. "kun" is used after boy's name's, primarily, and has about the same function as "chan". "sama" is very polite and is used to refer to a superior. "dono" is like "sama" but a bit less formal. Finally, "sensei" is used to refer to one's teacher. Okay, class dismissed! Now, here's what you really came for! - The Cap'n --

Character Bios

Robin

Team Affiliation: Titans West; Leader

Powers: No powers; Robin is a completely normal human being

Bio: The hard-hitting and cunning (if a little reckless) leader of the West branch of the Teen Titans. Robin is now in a close relationship with Starfire, ever since saving her from the clutches of a blood-drinking lunatic. This has had no effect on his career as a hero other than to make him more protective of Starfire than ever before. At the same time, his list of most hated enemies has added the name of one teenaged dhampir. Thanks to several fights with this new enemy, Robin's martial arts have progressed further, making him even stronger and quicker.

Raven

Team Affiliation: Titans West

Powers: Shadow Sorcery, Levitation, Healing Aura

Bio: Raven remains much the same as she was, still cool and focused. The only noticeable change in her is that her occasional smile is seen a bit more frequently ever since finding romance with her long-distance boyfriend, Photon of the South team. She also spends a bit more time in her room, talking to him over their crystal ball link. Although she does love him, Raven still has yet to allow Photon to win in a game of chess.

Beast Boy

Team Affiliation: Titans West

Powers: Animal Shape-Shifting

Bio: Beast Boy has taken steps since Terra's return to come up with more new jokes every day. This is for the purpose of making Terra laugh, but it also results in mass groans from just about everyone else every single time. Beast Boy is also gaining better control over his powers, learning to keep complete control of his Man Beast form and never again let his mind go primal. When not fighting with the usual collection of bad guys, Beast Boy works together with Cyborg to try defeating Medic in online fighting games; they have yet to succeed.

Starfire

Team Affiliation: Titans West

Powers: Super Strength, Flight, Star Bolts, Optic Blast

Bio: Starfire's new relationship with Robin has only served to make her powers even better. Her joy at being ably to openly express her feelings allows her to fly higher and faster than before, and her anger at anything threatening Robin allows her to pump even more power into her Star Bolts and Optic Blasts. As always, Starfire is the biggest believer in the strength of unity and friendship, never doubting for a minute that when she and her friends all work together, any peril can be overcome.

Cyborg

Team Affiliation: Titans West

Powers: Bionic Eye, Cyber Strength, Sonic Cannon

Bio: Now in a long-distance relationship with Bumblebee, Cyborg no longer feels as inhuman as he used to, taking solace in the fact that there is even a romantic companion for someone who is mostly machine. After combining his weapons with Bumblebee's to win a fight, Cyborg has been experimenting with some of his other weapons, trying to improve them. Of course, taking a break from tinkering to stomp Beast Boy in a video game is never a missed opportunity.

Terra

Team Affiliation: Titans West

Powers: Geo Manipulation

Bio: The returning member of the West Team, freed from her rocky tomb by choice members of the South Team. Terra has resolved to help her friends in any way she can and to continue developing her power so as to protect the city from any and all threats. After betraying the Titans once, she feels she has a lot to make up for. Her relationship with Beast Boy is rock-solid, as she is the only one who ever laughs at his jokes. Although, it is not known if she is actually amused or if she simply laughs to make him happy.

Captain Echo

Team Affiliation: Titans South; Leader

Powers: Sound Manipulation

Bio: Red of hair, wide of grin, and occasionally slow on the uptake; that is Echo, the Southern leader. Echo is an adventurous soul, easily bored if there is ever a slow day of hero duty in Harbor City. This comes from a lifetime of sailing the seas and living as a buccaneer in the most literal sense. Even with his somewhat odd personality and salty pirate speech, the other Titans still regard him as a good friend and a valuable team leader. His skill with a cutlass continues to progress and his power to bend any sound to his will ensures those who oppose him a very painful and mind-warping fight.

Photon a.k.a. Gabriel of Nol

Team Affiliation: Titans South

Powers: Light Magic, Levitation, Super Speed

Bio: Captain Echo's best friend, and the heir to a very powerful clan of magicians. Formerly a woman-hater with an extremely cold personality, Photon's feelings for Raven outweighed his hatred in the end, leading him to cast a spell that obliterated his pent-up bitterness. He now gets along extremely well with everyone, although his sudden switch still leaves a few people feeling a bit unnerved. Although he allows Raven to call him by his real name, Photon himself still refuses to use his name until he is "worthy" of it. Nobody else presses this issue, although they still wonder how Raven was the first to discover his true name.

Medic

Team Affiliation: Titans South

Powers: Instantaneous Healing

Bio: A nearsighted former ninja, and a natural-born expert-level gamer. Medic is currently the top player on almost every online game that there is. Usually having no problems to speak of, Medic is recently beginning to worry his friends with his two irrational phobias; snowy weather and the embrace of a female. Even when asked, he will insist that these fears are his own problem and that nobody else should get involved. Much like Echo and Photon, Medic has a deep-rooted sense of honor and duty, never turning away from anything that he decides is his responsibility.

Gemini

Team Affiliation: Titans South

Powers: Replication

Bio: Echo's shy girlfriend and the true powerhouse of the Southern branch. Gemini has been living her lifelong dream of being a great heroine by being with the Teen Titans. Her close relationship with Echo, after having a secret crush on him for two years, has only served to make that dream better. Gemini's ability to replicate nearly anything makes her virtually unbeatable. Only the most experienced fighters are able to outlast her long enough for her powers to wear her down.

Frost

Team Affiliation: Fubuki Village Kunoichi Corps; Elite Class

Powers: Temperature Control, Ice Breath, Ninjutsu

Bio: A female ninja from a hidden mountaintop village, and childhood friend of Medic's. Frost is the daughter of the village leader, and a formidable fighter in her own right, combining her inborn ability to create extreme cold with ninja techniques and powerful martial arts. The only problem presented with this is the exchange of temperature from overusing her powers that will result in very high fevers. Even with this problem, Frost manages to look after herself on her personal quest which has thus far spanned three years; to find a certain ninja from her village, with whom she is completely enamored.

Lucky Penny

Team Affiliation: Fubuki Village Kunoichi Corps; Honorary Member

Powers: Good Luck

Bio: Frost's best friend, a British girl with a fast temper. After finding the kunoichi passed out on her doorstep, Penny helped her to recover her health, then left her home to join Frost in her search. Lucky Penny's family dates back through a number of great escape artists. This talent for avoiding and escaping danger has finally taken on a more tangible form in Penny's generation, imbuing her with the most incredible good fortune. With this ability automatically protecting her at almost all times, while all the while seeming to be mere coincidence, she can easily evade situations that would leave anyone else inevitably doomed. Added to this, Penny's luck also shifts to those nearby who are in her favor, making her a living good luck charm and a valuable friend.

Snap

Team Affiliation: None

Powers: Teleportation

Bio: Penny's stubborn little brother, just as hot-blooded as his sister. While only twelve years old, Snap firmly believes in his abilities and desperately wishes to become a recognized hero. To this end, he has been following Frost and his sister around in an effort to prove his ability. Snap has likewise inherited a gift that stems from his family's knack for escapes, although his has manifested in the ability to actually transport himself, or anyone he is contacting, from one point in space to another with a snap of his fingers, hence his odd nickname. Although passionate about his wish to be a hero, Snap really is still just a kid, in that he has great difficulty talking to women he doesn't know, often becoming completely flustered and tongue-tied.

Breezy

Team Affiliation: Forces of Nature (Former)

Powers: Hollow Skeleton, Air Manipulation

Bio: Breezy is an endlessly cheerful girl with an enormous appetite and a quirky personality. Once a member of a celebrated team of superheroes, Breezy was forced to leave after a great tragedy disbanded the team. She joins Frost in her travels, eager to once more be of use, and to have friends. Breezy has absolute dominance over the air currents, allowing her to summon intense gusts of wind, create razor-sharp vacuums of air, and even fly owing to her ultra-light bone structure. Although very experienced with her powers and a strong fighter, Breezy is also a bit of a klutz, making her hollow bones a problem since they are very easy to break.

-- And now, the bad guys! These people each share a very interesting power, but an explanation of that is offered in Chapter Three. Maybe you should just wait for that chapter, then come back and read about these guys. If you do read it now, yes, I know that the Chinese Zodiac has a rooster, not a bird, but a rooster is a type of bird, and really, what's threatening about an enemy with the powers of your next meal? Live with it! - The Cap'n --

Nezumi

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Advance Guard, The Rat

Powers: Unbreakable Teeth, Super Dexterity

Bio: The second-youngest of the Zodiac Clan at the age of nineteen, a devious young man with a love of practical jokes, particularly those involving sneaking up on people. His favorite target is the easily excitable Usagi. In his animal form, Nezumi is an excellent spy, able to creep into incredibly small spaces and listen for information completely undetected. When it's time for a fight, Nezumi can cling to nearly any surface with his hands and feet, and his completely indestructible teeth even allow him to bite through inch-thick steel.

Ushima

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Advance Guard, The Ox

Powers: Super Strength

Bio: The classic strong man for the evil side; big, powerful, and stupid. Ushima is not very good at following complex plans, but simple orders such as "attack" are easy enough for him. Although he does have enough power to reduce a city block to rubble and glass in about three minutes, it is this low intelligence that keeps Ushima at such a low ranking in his clan.

Usagi

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Advance Guard, The Rabbit

Powers: Super Speed, Hyperkeen Hearing

Bio: Usagi holds the powers of the former Zodiac Clan Master, able to move at speeds that render her invisible, and to hear things, such as new orders, from up to a mile away. However, as her rank proves, it is not the superpowers that grant true ability. The main reason for her low rank is that, like most rabbits, Usagi is extremely timid, and jumps at the slightest noise. This is not helped at all by Nezumi constantly sneaking up on her to make her jump. Usagi does not like to hurt others, but this moral fiber is outweighed in spades by her great fear of the Zodiac Master.

Hitsuji

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Advance Guard, The Ram

Powers: Inducing Sleep, Shock-Proof Skeleton

Bio: The eldest in the Clan at the age of seventy-two. In her youth, Hitsuji could easily have been an Elite rank, but the pain of old age keeps her restricted to leading the Advance Guard. Hitsuji is a woman who enjoys sleeping so much that she often has others join her, whether they wish to or not. Under the proper circumstances, Hitsuji can place anyone in a deep sleep, leaving them in that state for a full hour, or until she releases her spell; whichever comes first. Thanks to her special bone structure, Hitsuji can also stand up to nearly any impact and quickly absorb the force, leaving her unharmed.

Hebi

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Intermediate Class, The Snake

Powers: Hypnosis, Poison Fangs, Super Flexibility

Bio: A good-natured woman, but rather impatient when it comes to combat. Hebi prefers to end her battles with a single strike, first using her dancing charms to hypnotize the target into holding still, then striking with her fangs. The toxin in her bite is very strong indeed, spreading through the entire body and killing in mere minutes. If the battle must be drawn out, Hebi is able to avoid taking serious damage thanks to her power to bend and contort into nearly any shape imaginable.

Gobuta

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Intermediate Class, The Boar

Powers: Extendable Jaws, Insatiable Appetite

Bio: An enormously fat man with a friendly personality. Gobuta deals with his problems in one of the most efficient ways possible; if something irritates him, he eats it. Gobuta's jaws can extend out to the point that he could fit a minivan in his mouth and close it. Once swallowed, there is no hope for anything. Gobuta's stomach acid has about fifty times the potency of a normal human's, instantly dissolving whatever touches it. Because of this, Gobuta is permanently gripped with a ravenous hunger, one he is all too happy to turn on those he targets as enemies.

Kenji

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Intermediate Class, The Dog

Powers: Fur Armor, Hyperkeen Senses

Bio: A cheerful young woman with a great love for kids. Even though she is trained as a ninja assassin, Kenji has vowed never to attack or hurt a child. She is very firm in her beliefs, even having the courage to uphold them against the will of her Master. Kenji's reasons for aiding Sarujima's plans are known only to the Zodiac Master and herself, although it is known that it entails something that Kenji desperately wants and that Sarujima can provide. In combat, Kenji can harden her fur to make it harder than iron, making projectiles completely useless; hand-to-hand is the only option for anyone wishing to fight her.

Asuma

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Intermediate Class, The Horse

Powers: Super Endurance

Bio: Leader of the Intermediate Class, and one of the more feared members of the Zodiac Clan. Asuma has a mysterious style of fighting that is known by only a handful of others. They will not speak of it, but just thinking of it makes them wince in pain. The style likely stems from the abilities of the Horse that he possesses. Asuma's endurance gives him an impossibly high threshold for pain, as well as a nearly endless supply of energy. He is rumored to be able to stay awake and fight all-out for an entire week before showing even the earliest stages of fatigue. This ability might even add a few extra years to his life if not for his bad habit of smoking constantly.

Toriko

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Elite Class, The Bird

Powers: Sonic Scream, Flight

Bio: The youngest of the Clan at the age of sixteen, and also one of the strongest. Toriko is Hitsuji's granddaughter, gifted with the powers of the Bird. She follows the Clan to uphold family tradition. Her ability to fly at very high altitudes makes her an even better spy than Nezumi, and her airspeed is only less than that of Tatsumaru. To attack, Toriko has her "bird calls"; concussive bursts of sound that she emits by screaming. The sound waves can be spread out to have crushing power, or focused inward for a slicing effect. Although loyal to her Master, Toriko often wonders if his way is right for the clan. Not wanting to betray her family, she hides her doubts inside, and follows orders to the letter.

Torachi

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Elite Class, The Tiger

Powers: Super Strength, Feline Agility, Hyperkeen Senses

Bio: Arguably the cruelest person in the entire Zodiac Clan, as well as its strongest female member. Torachi follows Sarujima's plans for only one reason; it gives her an excuse to do what she loves most, namely, killing. Lacking any compassion or care for the lives of others, Torachi enjoys using her powers to torture people before giving them excruciatingly painful deaths. With enough physical strength in two fingers to reduce stone to a fine powder and the liquid-like agility of a feline, she is an opponent that no one who enjoys breathing should take lightly.

Tatsumaru

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Second-in-Command, The Dragon

Powers: Flame Breath, Sonic Flight, Scale Armor

Bio: Tatsumaru is Sarujima's soft-spoken right-hand man. He never shows any emotion at all and speaks politely to everyone, ally or foe. He boasts a fighting record of a single loss over the entire course of his life, only having been defeated by Sarujima himself. Nobody who has fought with Tatsumaru and lost has ever lived to tell of it. Tatsumaru has complete unyielding loyalty to his master, never even thinking of questioning his orders. With the power of a dragon, he can fly at speeds untraceable by sight or sound, and is always protected by diamond-hard scales. Once his speed has him in position, the enemy can only watch as they are swallowed by a fierce barrage of flame.

Sarujima

Team Affiliation: Zodiac Clan; Master, The Monkey

Powers: Genius Intelligence, Super Dexterity

Bio: The cold and intelligent leader of the Zodiac Clan. At the age of fifty-eight, Sarujima does not look like much at first glance, but just being in his presence is enough to indicate his nearly peerless strength. Sarujima's monkey-derived martial arts are usually enough to allow him to win his battles, but he almost never rises to fight. Instead, he usually defeats his adversaries using an art exclusive to himself, the results of which usually leave the enemy mentally shattered, and in most cases dead. It is this same art which makes the rest of his clan obey him without hesitation, fearing becoming victims of the same treatment.

Beneath The Ice

A Teen Titans Fiction

-- Back again!? Will wonders never cease? This story is necessary to give my avid readers a better look at the origins of everyone's favorite ninja-pirate-doctor-superhero as well as to explore the status of all the romantic match-ups created in the previous story. Plus, I was bored and this is fun. The Teen Titans do not belong to me, but as most of the world does, I don't see that it matters. Captain Echo and his crew, Frost and her friends, Fubuki Village, and the Zodiac Clan are my own creations. Most rights reserved and I know where you live. Fair warning, this story becomes one of my bloodiest works in the later chapters. You may want to have someone else read and give you the highlights if you get squeamish about blood, dismemberment, and the like. Don't say I didn't warn you.This story begins three months after the events in "The Trinity". It is currently January, shortly after New Years. Alright, that's it with the descriptions! I'm already mad enough that I had to re-type the first five chapters after a full-system crash, so just shut up and read, swabbies! Read or I'll eat you! – Cap'n Sanji --

"Ocean deep, mountain high,

And a river of blood flowed down,

Pouring out from a wound that would not heal,

So, always and forever, we'll remember how it feels…"

-Reggabilly Hill

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band

Part 1- Unexpected Guests

(The scene opens on a windy and frigid day in Jump City. The sky is filled with soft gray snow clouds that are rapidly blanketing the city in white flurries. The scene focuses inward on the snow-capped Titans Tower and brings the view to an inside room on one of the middle floors. All is quiet inside, and the only sign of life comes from the sleeping form of Silkie, Starfire's pet mutant moth larvae, who lays curled up in a basket bed. The grub is snoring quietly, and a tiny bubble from his nose expands and contracts with his breathing. Just then, a door slides open, and Beast Boy and Terra step inside, both of them shivering slightly. Cyborg enters next, then Raven, and finally, Robin and Starfire, hand in hand. Everyone seems mildly annoyed about something.)

Robin: Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time…

Beast Boy: It was a great idea! Not your fault that our enemies don't know when to give it a rest! (Pauses, chuckles) "A rest"! Kardiak? Arrest? Come on, that's funny!

(Terra laughs, the others groan at the pun. What had happened was that the Titans had planned a group night out to see the newest horror movie, Wicked Scary 2; The Curse Continues, when Kardiak had attacked the theater, and a true horror took the place of the one onscreen. The Titans fought and overpowered the mechanical menace but, regrettably, all of the theater screens were collateral damage to the fight, not to mention four popcorn machines, a soda dispenser, and the cardboard advertisement for the next big date movie.)

Starfire: Friends, do not despair! Might I suggest we hold our night of the movies here in our home instead?

(At the sound of Starfire's voice, the bubble on Silkie's nose pops and he awakens in a flash, scooting over to rub against Starfire's ankle. He begins making a strange insect gurgle that almost sounds like the purr of a cat. Starfire smiles and pats his head. Robin takes in his girlfriend's smile for a moment, then puts on one of his own.)

Robin: Not a bad idea…whose turn to pick the movie?

(Beast Boy, Terra, and Cyborg all shout "Me!" at the same moment. They then turn to each other and begin arguing the point loudly. A cross-mark pops up on Raven's temple. A second look at her shows that she is not wearing her hood up as she normally would, but instead leaving it down.)

Raven: How about you stop acting like children and just settle this like civilized people?

(Cyborg grins and pulls out a colorful wheel with all of the Titans names written on it; this same wheel usually decides the lucky winner of the last slice of pizza. Cyborg gives it a spin and everyone crowds around it, shouting out their desired result. The wheel slows and finally points to a name; Beast Boy.)

Beast Boy: Woo hoo! Ninja battles, here we come! I just gotta see Evil Shinobi Part 4.7!!

Cyborg: Why do you want to see a movie about ninjas? One of your best friends is one!

Beast Boy: He told me once that he doesn't much count himself as a ninja anymore. Besides, he can't use cool ninja powers like the ones in the movies!

(Terra leans against the back of the sofa with a thoughtful expression.)

Terra: You just don't hear about ninjas these days…you think he's the last one there is?

Beast Boy: Of course you don't hear about them!

(The changeling pulls a flashlight from behind his back and shines it under his face while speaking in a creepy voice.)

Beast Boy: Real ninja's live in the shadows, never showing themselves until it's too late…

(Beast Boy laughs wickedly until the flashlight is shrouded in shadows as Raven tugs it away. Beast Boy gives her a look that plainly says "You're no fun." and continues in a normal voice.)

Beast Boy: Anyway, ninjas don't just go door to door advertising themselves. They're always secretive-

(At that moment the room is filled with a flashing red light and a whining alarm bell. The computer screens flicker on and begin flashing the word "INTRUDER" again and again. All of the Titans look supremely annoyed at the further interruption in their movie night.)

Raven: Any chance we can just ignore this one?

(The question goes unanswered, as is to be expected. The Titans hurry downstairs to their front door and gasp at the sight. The giant steel doors have been forced open from the outside, leaving a huge hole where they were broken through. The snow is swirling in from outside and piling on the floor. In the water just in front of the Tower, a small ice floe bobs up and down in the waves. However, the Titans do not pay much attention to these things as they have now noticed a dark form moving towards them from the shadows of the doors. Robin draws a Throwing Bird and Starfire charges up her fists with thermal energy. Raven's hands are enveloped in shadows, Beast Boy shifts to wolf form, raises his hackles and begins growling threateningly, Terra's eyes fill with yellow light and Cyborg opens his Sonic Cannon, drawing a bead on the intruder. However, as the form draws closer, the sound of labored breathing can be heard. Sensing something is amiss, Robin signals the others to stand down. The stranger steps into the light and is now visible; it is a young girl. She has a thin but athletic-looking build, pale skin that is almost as white as the snow that is filling the air, and pure white hair to her shoulders. Her eyes are angular in shape, indicating an Asian origin, and a shade of grey that is much like the snow clouds outside, misty and soft. She is dressed in a uniform of light blue cloth that changes to fishnet at the neck and from the elbows down at the sleeves. She steps closer, limping slightly, and breathing even more raggedly. Robin moves forward, keeping a wary eye on the intruder for the first hint of an attack.)

Robin: Who are you? What are you doing here?

(The girl opens her mouth and speaks in a soft voice that is filled with exhaustion.)

Frost: (Asian accent) …kira…

Cyborg: Say what?

Frost: A…kira…kun…

(The girl's eyes suddenly roll upward and she falls to the floor in a dead faint, revealing a dagger or short sword sheathed on her back as she falls.)

Terra: Whoa!

(Terra rushes over to the downed stranger and puts out a hand to shake her awake.)

Terra: Hey, are you alr-yeowch!

(The earth-mover jerks her hand back quickly, the skin now red and smoking slightly.)

Terra: Geez…she's burning up!

(Cyborg glances at a panel in his arm and his eyebrows shoot up.)

Cyborg: I'll say! She's running a hundred and five fever!

Robin: Get her up to the hospital quarters, quick!

(Insert Japanese theme song and animation.)

(Cyborg gently lifts the girl up and carries her upstairs. The Titans immediately apply an ice bag to the stranger's head, but the ice melts within seconds. They next try applying a rag soaked in ice water, but it simply dries up almost immediately after contact with the girl's forehead.)

Cyborg: This isn't good…we've gotta find a way to break this fever, or she'll be in serious trouble!

(Beast Boy's face suddenly lights up and a small bulb flashes over his head.)

Beast Boy: I know! Let's call Medic over! If anyone can fix a fever, he can!

Robin: Good idea. Someone needs to contact the South team-

Raven: I'm on it!

(The sorceress turns and sweeps out of the room, the barest hint of a smile on her face. Noting this, Beast Boy rolls his eyes.)

Beast Boy: (thinking) Any excuse to talk to him…Sometimes I don't know where her thoughts are. Anything concerning that guy, and she becomes a totally different person...

Cyborg: Hey, now that I think of it…was it me, or did anyone else hear this girl mention the name "Akira"?

Beast Boy: Akira? That's Medic's name! He uses it all the time when we're gaming online…

Terra: Maybe, but he can't be the only one with that name…what are the odds she's looking for him, specifically?

(Meanwhile, in Raven's room, a crystal ball has been set up in the middle of the floor, while Raven herself is hovering near the top of her shelves. Retrieving what she seeks, she drifts down to the floor and opens her hand, placing on the ground a small, transparent crystal. She then hovers in the air, closes her eyes, and assumes her meditation position. She points both hands at the ball and begins to chant.)

Raven: Azarath Metrion Zinthos…Azarath Metrion Zinthos…

(The small gem begins to glow, then a miniscule beam of light shines out of it and into the crystal ball. Raven opens her eyes and stares deep into the heart of the glittering, translucent sphere.)

Raven: Gabriel, are you there? I need to talk to you.

(At first, there is no response, then the inside of the ball shimmers and a small figure appears inside. It is a handsome young man with indigo blue, dragon-like eyes, and matching colored hair. He is dressed in a black uniform with white boots and a white six-pointed starburst on the chest. He glances up at Raven with a smile, then speaks in a tone of mock surprise.)

Photon: What's this? Some vision of loveliness has appeared to me in my crystal ball! This is an omen of a bright future, to be certain.

(Raven turns slightly pink, and smiles.)

Raven: You always say that…

Photon: And it becomes more truthful with each repetition! (chuckles) Hello, Raven. I was hoping to hear from you soon. What's on your mind? Come for another round of hologram chess?

Raven: Maybe later. At the moment, we're in need of some help.

Photon: Hm? What sort of help?

Raven: Medic's sort. Can you send him over here?

Photon: Well…that raises a problem. Medic has…a bit of an aversion to this weather.

Raven: Meaning…?

Photon: He's terrified of snow. Says it brings back frightening memories. We can't even get him to leave the Tower unless it's an emergency.

Raven: This is an emergency! Can't you put a blindfold on him or something?

Photon: Tried that…Hmmmmm… (snaps fingers) I know! There is a way, and it will even let us reach you faster! Now, for it to work, I will need your assistance. Listen closely…

(Back in the hospital quarters, the girl's temperature has dropped to one-hundred and four, but she does not appear to be improving.)

Cyborg: You know, I've been wondering; how did she get here in the first place? I didn't see any boat, and there's no way she swam here in this weather.

Beast Boy: There was that patch of ice in the water out there.

Cyborg: Yeah, but I don't think-

(At that moment, Raven returns to the room.)

Raven: Alright. Medic is on his way. There was a minor setback, but we've got a way around it. Everyone back to the entrance hall.

(Everyone follows Raven downstairs. She walks over close to the doors, then pulls out a piece of chalk. She quickly draws up a hexagram on the floor, approximately six feet in diameter, then stands back.)

Raven: Here we go…Azarath Metrion Zinthos!!!

(The white chalk drawing lights up with blue light which then extends into a tall pillar of light. The pillar lasts for about ten seconds, then fades. Within the drawn circle, four teenagers have appeared. One is identifiable as Photon, the one from Raven's crystal ball. Beside him is another boy with a thick red hair, and a long black jacket. On his face is a huge grin, and a black patch that covers his left eye. The patch and the back of the jacket bear identical white music note symbols. Behind the red-haired boy, there is another young man wearing a similar jacket, but colored white. The back of his also bears a different symbol; a red cross. His hair is black and his eyes cannot even be seen behind the thick lenses of his glasses. Beside him is a pretty teenage girl with long black hair. A single ribbon of her hair is dyed a bright shade of red. She is dressed in a tight, black uniform that bears the infinity symbol down each arm and leg. A thin belt hangs loosely from her waist, held together by an infinity symbol clasp. Photon points to the floor.)

Photon: Instant Repositioning spell. Takes two people to activate it, at two different points, but it has its uses.

(Raven smiles and embraces Photon, who puts on his own smile and returns the gesture. Seen at his full height, rather than the doll size he was in the crystal ball, Photon is actually fairly tall, standing a full head and shoulders above Raven.)

Photon: Lovelier still in person. I once told you that the hood only served to conceal a pretty face, and it appears we both believe I was right.

(The reason for Raven's lack of a hood is now known. The red-head, Captain Echo, steps forward and his grin stretches wider.)

Echo: (slight Scottish accent) Heh…This is an interestin' twist in the rudder… an' ye always told me I was daft fer havin' a girlfriend.

Photon: Times change…and so do flawed opinions.

(The girl, Gemini, steps out of the circle with a slightly unsettled look at Photon.)

Gemini: Even so…seeing you like this after over two years of hearing nothing but insults and reasons why females are evil…it's kind of unnerving.

Photon: I apologized for all of that months ago, and I've really come to appreciate your friendship as of late, Gemini.

Gemini: (shivers) I know. That's exactly what's scaring me! …Huh? Medic, will you relax, already!?

(The teenaged ninja-doctor is staring at the snow blowing in through the damaged front doors. Every three seconds, he is shifting his gaze from the snow to over his shoulder, as if he expects to be attacked at any moment.)

Medic: (Asian accent) C-Could we possibly s-seal this door up…?

Robin: Relax, we aren't staying down here. We've got a person upstairs who needs your help. We've tried to help her ourselves, but nothing we've done has worked.

(Medic's fear immediately crumbles as his "doctor mode" takes over.)

Medic: Lead the way. What are her symptoms?

Terra: She's got a high fever that won't go down. She was awake when she got here, but she passed out almost immediately.

Medic: Sounds like a severe case of heat exhaustion…very well, this will not take long. I can readily cure her affliction.

Starfire: Always so selfless with the help you offer; friend Medic, you are a most wonderful person!

Echo: Star, lass, don't-!

(The warning comes too late, and Starfire crushes Medic in a giant hug. The fact that the embrace collapses one of his lungs is not the problem as that will heal in moments. The true problem is that upon being hugged, Medic's whole body stiffens, and sweat begins to pour out of him in buckets. After a few seconds, he is then overcome by an unnatural case of the shivers.)

Starfire: My friend, what is wrong!? Please respond!

Terra: This happened the last time I hugged him too…he said that when a girl hugs him, it brings back bad memories…

(Medic seems to recover, and looks slightly embarrassed.)

Medic: My apologies. This is nothing more than an unresolved issue of my own, Starfire. It is no fault of yours.

Echo: Honestly, mate, it's hard to say what's more irrational; this, or yer fear of snow! We couldn't even celebrate yer birthday proper-like cause of yer phobia…

Cyborg: Say what!? Medic's birthday passed, and you didn't tell us!?

Gemini: We thought it would be rude to interrupt your Christmas plans…

Beast Boy: No way!

(He turns to Medic with shock written all over his features.)

Beast Boy: Your birthday is-!?

Medic: December twenty-fifth, yes. It is difficult to fully enjoy it, because of the usual snowy weather…but, in any event, this is my own inner conflict that I must learn to deal with by myself. I will ask you not to trouble yourselves with it further.

Robin: Well, if that's how you feel…

-- For those who haven't kept track, this means that Medic is now sixteen years old, the same age as Echo and Photon. – The Cap'n --

(Robin turns to Echo, raising an eyebrow.)

Robin: By the way, why did you come along?

Echo: (grins) I had a feelin' this might get interestin'…call it a hunch. An' of course I can't just run off someplace an' not bring Colleen along!

Gemini: I would have followed you even if you tried…

(These two smile at each other and continue down the hall, holding hands. It is about at this point that they reach the hospital quarters, and Medic steps inside.)

Medic: Anyway, as you have already given her some of the proper treatment, she should make a swift recovery but, just to be safe, I should-

(Medic stops short as he glances at the girl on the bed. His skin suddenly goes pale, and he starts sweating even harder than before. He begins backing away towards the door.)

Medic: No…impossible! She has found me…how…?

Robin: Medic, what-?

Medic: Quiet, you might wake her!

(At that moment, however, the girl does indeed begin to stir. Her grey eyes slowly blink open, and she raises herself into a sitting position. Medic begins to hyperventilate, still backing away. The girl turns her head and glances at Robin.)

Robin: Welcome back. Now, maybe you could tell us-oomph!

(Robin cuts off with a grunt of pain. Seconds after their eyes met, the girl had jumped off the bed with a martial arts cry and come down on Robin with a flying kick.)

Starfire: Robin!

(Starfire growls angrily and a green glow surrounds her fists as she goes airborne. However, the Titan's suddenly violent guest acts first; she raises her hands, and points them at Starfire. The Tameranean feels the temperature around her rapidly dropping. Within seconds, she falls to the floor, encased in a block of ice. The other Titans recover from their initial shock and prepare to mount an attack, but before anyone can move, the stranger inhales deeply, then expels a cloud of thick, white fog from her mouth. The mist swirls around them, and their motion ceases as they likewise become frosted statues. The girl moves towards the frozen Titans with an unsure expression, then starts as Robin rushes her from behind.)

Robin: Guess this explains why you came here! Hyah!

(Robin swings his staff hard, connecting with the side of the stranger's head. Then, just at the moment of impact, the girl is surrounded by a puff of smoke. When it clears, Robin finds his staff stuck deep in the side of a snowman.)

Robin: What!?

(The Boy Wonder hears a small noise behind him, and turns to face the girl's open palm. A number of small objects fly from the girl's hand and Robin is pinned up to the wall. Glancing down, he sees his clothes tacked to the wall by shuriken stars formed of ice. The stranger steps over to Robin and pulls the short sword from the sheath on her back. She presses the blade to Robin's throat and says something that sounds rather threatening, but Robin is unable to understand her language. Medic, who is still unnoticed, watches this go on and sighs with a defeated look. He takes a deep breath, then shouts in Japanese.)

Medic: "Yukiko-san, stop it right now!"

(The girl's grey eyes snap open wide and she turns to Medic, noticing his presence for the first time. A strange expression crosses her face, then she tears across the room and leaps at him. Medic backs off a few steps, then screams as the girl lands on him, knocking him out into the hallway. Robin pulls hard against the icy shuriken and tears himself free. As he moves forward to help the others, the block encasing Starfire glows green for a moment, then explodes, freeing her. She charges up her eyes and fires an Optic blast at the block containing Echo, who thaws in no time and shakes the last few shards of ice off of himself.)

Echo: Thanks fer that, lass. Now…

(Echo turns to the statues on his right and opens his mouth, emitting a horrible high-pitched screech. The ice surrounding those he is facing shatters. He turns around to free Raven and Photon, who are frozen in one block, but is saved the bother. The block is shrouded in shadow magic and the two phase out of their frozen prison, completely unharmed.)

Robin: She's got Medic! Titans, go!

(Everyone rushes into the hallway, prepared to fight as hard as it will take to save their friend, but all stop short in surprise at the sight that greets them.)

Cyborg: Uh…unless this is some new form of torture where she's from, I think we can relax…

(Medic is lying on the ground, shivering and sweating harder than ever before. His face is covered in lip prints, and the girl is lying on top of him, crushing him in an affectionate embrace, smiling, and sighing happily. She finally releases her hold and looks up, speaking in Japanese.)

Frost: "Akira-kun, I thought I would never see you again!"

(With what looks like tremendous effort, Medic pulls himself together and shoves the girl off of him. He stands and speaks to her in Japanese while pushing his glasses up his nose.)

Medic: "What are you doing here, Yukiko-san? How did you find- Er, I mean, know I was here?"

Frost: "How many times must I ask you to call me Yuki-chan? As to how I found you, after my scouts in Okinawa reported that you had left, I spent the last three years trying to find you myself-"

Medic: ""Scouts!?" You were spying on me even after I left!?"

Frost: "I had to know you were okay! When I arrived in this country, I was told someone matching your description could be found in a tower shaped like the "T" of the Western alphabet."

Medic: "Then, you know English?"

Frost: "A bit. My traveling companions have been teaching me."

Medic: (glancing around) "Companions? Where?"

Frost: "I left them behind when I saw this tower. They will find me. They always do."

Medic: "Very well. One last question; at what time did it seem like a good idea to attack the people who were trying to help you?"

Frost: "What!?"

Medic: Those people you attacked back there were helping you to recover from your fever. What is more, they are my friends."

Frost: "Oh no! I thought-! Oh, I am so sorry!"

Medic: "Tell them, not me."

(The girl turns to the Titans, looking ashamed, and speaks in broken English.)

Frost: I very sorry. I thought I had been capture. In my work, you make many enemy. Please forgive me!

(The stranger throws herself on the ground in a deep bow.)

Robin: Uh…sure, no problem. Now, let's try this again; who are you?

Frost: My name Kosetsu Yukiko. I also call Frost. I am elite kunoichi of Fubuki Village.

Starfire: "Kunoichi"?

Medic: A female ninja. As an elite, Yukiko-san possesses great power and skill.

(Frost blushes at the praise. Beast Boy is thrilled.)

Beast Boy: A real, live ninja, with cool powers like in the movies and everything! Hey, how did you go all Jack Frost in there!?

(Frost looks a bit worried, not understanding a few words. Medic quickly translates.)

Frost: Is hereditary ability from mother side of family. I apologize again for attacking-

Robin: Really, it's no big deal. Nobody got hurt. Now, can you tell us why you're here?

(Frost is about to answer, when the conversation is interrupted by another intruder alert. The Titans are now looking intensely irritated with all the intrusions and interruptions. Everyone heads downstairs to see what is going on this time. In the entrance hall are three more people; two girls and one boy. The first girl is dressed in an all-silver jumpsuit from the neck down. She has coppery-brown hair that is cut in a short bob, ending just above her neck, and big, light brown eyes. The second girl is tall and gangly, dressed in a uniform that is a split-pattern of blue and green with the midriff left bare. Over the right shoulder, there is a tiny embroidery of a whirlwind. She has long, pale blue hair that is worn in a high ponytail, crystal-blue eyes, and a wide smile that seems to show off every tooth in her head. The two girls are examining the hole in the door and the snow on the ground. The boy is leaning against the wall, watching them with a heavy scowl. He has the same hair and eye colors as the first girl, and even seems to resemble her in some ways, excepting the slight rusty red tint to his hair. He is dressed in an outfit that is similar to Beast Boy's, but is colored orange and black instead of black and purple, and with two vertical stripes down the middle instead of one. On his hands are a pair of fingerless black gloves, but as his arms are crossed over his chest, they are difficult to see at the moment. As the Titans and Frost draw closer, the girl in silver looks up with an annoyed expression.)

Penny: (British accent) Frost, you great prat! What were you thinking, running off on your own like that- again!? You know what happens when you overdo it!

(Frost looks at the floor.)

Frost: I most sorry, Penny-chan…

Penny: You ought to be! Had me going out of my mind with worry!

(The boy behind Penny sneers.)

Snap: (British accent) Going out of your mind!? You've been a right loony your whole life!

Penny: For the last time, Alastor, go home!!

Snap: Don't call me that! It's Snap! And furthermore, you're not me Mum!

Penny: No, but as Mum always leaves me in charge, you ought to do like I say and leave! You're too young to be following us around like this!

Snap: Quit treating me like a child!

Penny: Quit acting like one, you whiney git!

(The blue-haired girl steps between them, her height cutting off their lines of sight.)

Breezy: Come on you two, siblings should never fight. You two are family!

Raven: Uh…sorry to interrupt, but…what are you people doing in our house?

Penny: Oh! Oh, please forgive the intrusion! How rude of me…

Snap: Like that's any different from usual…

Penny: Cork it, midget!

(The copper-haired girl turns back to Raven and points to Frost.)

Penny: That girl there is our traveling companion. Thank you for finding her for us, and we apologize for any trouble she may have caused you; can't let her out of our sight for one minute. Ahem Anyway, what was so important, Frost, that you just rushed off like that?

Frost: Penny-chan…I find him! This the one!

Penny: That chap with the specs? He's who you've been dragging us all over to find? Oh well, different tastes and all that…

Raven: So, exactly why did you all come here?

(Before Frost can answer, Medic interrupts.)

Medic: Hold it! I am almost positive I will not like this! I do not wish to be involved!

Frost: Akira-kun, it directly concern you!

Medic: Exactly what I was afraid of! I want no part of it!

Frost: If is so…then I make Shinobi Challenge! If Akira-kun win, I leave and no return. If I win, Akira-kun must listen!

Cyborg: A what?

Medic: A Shinobi Challenge. She is challenging me to a contest, the outcome of which must be honored, no matter what. One decides the terms, while the other chooses the manner of competition. She decided the terms, so the contest I choose is…video games.

Frost: Video game? What is?

(Medic brings Frost to an upstairs room where the online game of Custom Warriors is brought up on the computer screen. The rules are explained to Frost, and she begins creating her fighter and it's special ability.)

-- To see how this game is played, refer to Part 1 of "The Trinity". – The Cap'n --

(Frost locks in her fighter's stats and the match begins. Frost's fighter, a female ninja, (natch) glows blue, indicating the activation of the special ability. Nothing seems to change, and the glow dissipates.)

Beast Boy: (thinking) A special ability right at the start? Pure amateur move. Medic's gonna cream her. Not even Cyborg and me together can beat him at this…

(Medic's fighter moves forward to strike. Frost's fighter dodges and follows with a strike that knocks Medic's avatar into the air, then follows with a truly devastating mid-air combo. Medic's fighter crashes to the ground clinging to just a few life points.)

Medic: (thinking) What!? Impossible! She couldn't know how to-!

(Medic glances over at Frost, who is simply staring in puzzlement at her controller as she clicks the buttons.)

Medic: (thinking) It makes little difference. I will end this now.

(Medic clicks the button to activate his special ability; rapid healing that will put him at top health in moments. Unfortunately, the power refuses to activate.)

Medic: What!? How…?

(He gets no further, as Frost's fighter punches his out in the next moment. The screen lights up with a declaration; WINNER: YUKIKO)

Frost: Sorry to disappoint, Akira-kun, but special ability I create stops all other ability. This is much fun, but next time, please not hold back.

Medic: (still stunned) I never did hold back...Sigh Very well, although I am positive I will not like it, I shall hear you out.

Robin: Will this explanation take long?

Penny: Likely. Why?

Robin: You guys like pizza?

-- Yay! Good long chapter to start us off! Now then, updates can be expected probably a bit less frequently than my last work, as this story is still not finished. With any luck, I will have it all done and posted before the end of the semester. Now, next time, we can look forward to a bit of fun and games at the pizza parlor, personal introductions by each of these newcomers, and a funny little cameo by one of the favorite chracters (as voted by my crew) of the previous fiction. Oh, and for those of you who read my work just for the violent battle scenes, you're out of luck for now; the serious fighting doesn't start till about Chapter Six. Anyway, send me your reviews, and don't be shy with them! If something made you laugh, let me know. If something got you mad, let me know that, too! Flame me if you want, just tell me what you hope to see in this story! Oh, and here's a free spoiler; there's rumors of the final chapter being a combination beach party/Christmas special! Can you say "fanservice"? - The Cap'n --