The walk was a short one up the stairs to the true masters dojo and home. X took them slowly reminiscing of his training with the remarkable woman, always she had tried to teach him the path of honor and justice and her words had not fallen wholly on def ears. Truth be told she almost succeeded in gaining a permanent disciple and future successor to the training, he thought about it for many a night fantasizing about the work and a new life. In the end though it was not to pass, he left and started the life he now lived, a happy one though, filled with challenge and constant excitement.

The stairs ascended he looked around his old stomping ground as it was, nothing had changed save a few of the flowers and trees were larger then before. He took a deep breath of the crisp, clean air. Yes this place was as close to a home as he had ever hand. All the more exciting to him was the fact his master knew he was here, it saved him the trouble of sneaking in, he just walked up and knocked on the door.

"Enter my wayward student." Came the call from the old lady.

X did as he was told entered to see her waiting for him sitting at the table with a pot of tea and two cups in front of her. "Haven't changed a bit I see." He said walking the short distance and taking a seat. "Sorry but the mask doesn't allow for drinking."

"I know your face well Mr. X you may remove it if you wish."

X laughed at her attempt and nodded behind her to the wall hanging. "Yes but our friend over there doesn't I assume or he wouldn't hide."

"Always so sure of yourself. Cocky." The Master scolded.

"But none the less right." X shot back with a laugh.

"True, I suppose that is why you have fallen down a dark path, come out please and let my former student see his judge." She called to the hiding boy.

X watched with amusement as Robin stepped from behind the hanging wearing around his neck the very item he had come here to retrieve.

"Hello Red X " Robin said in that usual tone of his.

X looked to the master "What is this all about then?" he asked.

"I know you have come here to steal that necklace, I am willing to let it go if you can find your way through your dark path to retrieve it." she said. Red X just sat there waiting. "I propose a race, if you can take the item before he reaches the bottom of my mountain you can have it, if not it stays." She explained and took a sip of tea. Red X almost fell over laughing.

"Do you know how easy you have made this for me Master?" He asked and when she looked confused he turned to Robin. "You didn't tell her bird boy? Not very honorable of you." He scolded. "You see Master I helped him and his friends out not that long ago and they owe me. I could simply ask him to give me the item and he would be honor bound to hand it over." He explained and as the master looked over to Robin who hung his head in defeat Red X moved in blinding speed over out of the chair and over the table to grab the necklace in one hand , slipping it off the boys neck and kicking him aside. "But what fun would that be? To the bottom then Robin but you chase me!" he said and dashed for the door.

Robin was quick to his feet and out soon after but the fast Red X was already jumping down the stairs and was on the path in three leaps. Robin smiled knowing he would soon make ground and at the thought of X getting knocked flat by the surprises set up by the master.

* * * * *

Meanwhile back in the house a figure X did not see and even Robin had not known was there watching stepped from the shadows as if out of thin air. The master didn't need to turn to know this persons presence or intentions for as soon as he entered her home she felt his power working on her. Her back straightened, muscles reformed, skin tightened and grew soft, her body stretched and hair colored. She stood before him now not as the old master but as a young woman of 18, beautiful with dark eyes and hair to match. "Hello shadow" she said spinning on her visitor. And angry look crossed her beautiful round face.

"Is that any way to treat your lover?" The figure asked and stepped fully from the shadows to show his face, he was human in body but in face he was a fox, he had a tail but wore a fine pinstriped suit and topped it off with a fedora hat set between his pointy ears.

With great force of will the master pushed the spell away and stood looking at Shadow as her old self. "I never asked for your love demon." She said turning away.

Shadow let her have her moment knowing this would be the last time he looked upon his one time love. "I know good heart and I have meddled in your life for three hundred years, I am sorry." H said bowing a tear escaping his golden eye.

The master sighed. "Do be less dramatic Shadow, I have found the one to better suit your needs." She said.

"I saw the one you chose for me. Clever in stealing the necklace, do you think any know its true purpose?" he asked taking a seat across from his love and taking the untouched tea, his face shifted to a human form but he kept the fox ears. The master simply shook her head.

"X will escape with it and you will be bound to another. Then I shall finally be free of you Shadow, free of this demons curse and able to pass from this plane."

"Has it been so horrible being bound to me? Ageless strength and vitality, though you never took advantage of it, with any help you needed to further your chosen path? Was I that undesirable?" he asked looking hurt.

"I never asked for it!" the master yelled and lost her control long enough to shift back to a young woman gaining a smile from Shadow. "I took the necklace without knowing the cost! I was cursed as a freak! I am well rid of you."

Shadow took each verbal slam stoically accepting his loves wrath. "I am sorry, I can not help who I am" he said simply.

The master sighed again and took a moment. "I know and it was fun but I am not for you Shadow please understand."

"And this wayward student of your is?" he asked and she smiled.

"I am hoping to gain two feats with this one act. To instill a sense of love and purpose in my student and to tame the demon I came to care so much for." She said with a sly grin so happy Shadow had to smile back. A frown soon found its way onto his face.

"Do you not fear death?" he asked

She didn't say a word just looked at him contented. "I can not sustain your immortality once the necklace is passed to the other. My love, I don't wish to see you die." His genuine concern was evident in his voice. The master just smiled.

"I know but you will soon forget me." Shadow shook his head frantically at that but she knew better, once the necklace was passed he would know everything of the one who wore it and forget the last owner almost completely, that was his curse to forever be bound in heart to the one who owned the item until his soul found its true self. She had looked long and hard to find one in common with her love and was confident X was that soul. The two would have a fun time of it, if only she could be there to see the X's face when Shadow pronounced his love! Now that would be a joy.

"I can feel it moving away my dear, I must go but before I leave I have one final gift for you." He said and before she could say any word of protest he cast a mighty spell upon her.

She sat there looking up at him now and then ran to a mirror to see the five year old version of herself staring back at her. She did smile a moment in the fact that he had remembered it was her favorite age but started to concentrate to dispel the illusion. When she opened her eyes though nothing had changed. "What is this?" she asked.

Shadow smiled as he rose. "I stole a life and a half from you, now I give it back; the three servants have been changed as well. You shall have a surrogate father, uncle, and brother to watch over you. Enjoy your next hundred or so years little one. It is the least I can do for asking so little in return for giving so much." He said and bowed taking his hat off. "You may live here or anywhere you wish I have seen too it your family is well off." He finished and then was gone in a simple step just gone.

The master didn't know what to say, the brat had done it to her again! Given her something she had not asked for and could never begin to repay! But that was his way, a sweet heart of a demon.

Down the mountain X ran necklace secure in his hand as he passed the monkeys challenge area, he was far ahead of the bird boy when a thunder clap knocked him past the lip of the other cliff. Fast hands was all that saved him from plummeting to his death, grabbing a bamboo pole he hoisted himself up and looked to see thunder himself floating on his cloud and not looking happy.

Red X scowled in his mask as he readied to run on but as he started lighting streaked in and snatched the necklace from his grasp and dropped it from on high to the waiting fingers of Robin.

Off Robin ran now gaining ground on X as the twins blocked the way sending blasts of sound and lightning at him. X dodged every attack and soon deciphered their movements sending out two small yellow balls that struck the pain in the chest and engulfed them in yellow globes of energy. Another trinket gleaned from the brotherhoods members. The two could not break the shields and that left X free to take chase but he was far behind now. Knowing the terrain better though X turned of the path and was able to cut around a bend and in a short climb get a lead on the boy. Down the cliff face he climbed seeming more a spider then man as he found hand and root holds quickly scurrying down fast. as he went though he was suddenly held up as an arrow streaked into his cape. three more streaked in and X didn't even have to turn his head to know who the marksman was as they pinned him to the rock wall.

taking a moment to look at the arrows X saw they came from three different directions about five strides apart and low to the ground, not surprising for speedy to be so fast. No other projectiles came at him so the boy was holding his aim he was sure. So seeing the pattern of hits he could surmise the boy was somewhere to his left if he was not circling as he watched. A simple matter though.

Speedy watches from his hiding spot in the trees an arrow knocked and ready, he watches and X struggles a little but is stuck firm. then he see the shift in movement and is about to fire as the cape waves but holds when he sees it is just the wind. he holds his position and watches then blinks when he realizes there was not wind!

All to late as a shock gauntlet is pressed into his back by the stealthy X. The rogue looks down upon the archer and laughs. "Holograms are a wonderful thing" he says and runs off seeing Robin come into view soon after still ahead from the delay but not as far as he was. X races in and just as he takes the turn to avoid the snakes cave he is bull rushed by wildebeest. knocked aside X rolls on the ground once before gaining a hold and skidding to a stop. the man beast rushes on again his head down as he charges and grunting. X jumps over him slapping his hand on the mans head and leaving behind a glue bomb. the beast is stuck fast as X charges at robin it is now a foot race to the bottom of the hill and the bears gate soon comes into view. Robin smiles knowing he will make it to the gate first as X can not catch him.

"Guess you loose this time" he says and laughs over his shoulder but stops as his foot catches a loose rock and he tumbles to the ground the necklace falling from his grasp.

X tosses a shock bomb and rushes past not even looking at the boys twitching body as he grabs the necklace and runs on past the gate. he turns and puts it around his neck "Not this time or any time" he walks away and the Titans soon gather around Robin, X long gone.

"Did it work?" speedy asks

"Better then we could have hoped" Robin says and wide smiles appear on all their faces.

Disclaimer : I don't own a thing so don't sue, you won't get much.

authors notes: well I am back all sorry for the long wait my life got . . . busy hope you enjoy