Sparks flew as Mimic and Shadow's weapons clashed with one another, clanging and crashing as the two fought. They circled each other, eyes trained on one another. Mimic gripped her Suzaku Arrow while Shadow had a firm grasp on his Genbu Staff.

Shadow swung his weapon to the side to but she was able to flip back and then aim, firing ice arrows at him. He deflected them with his staff before he charged at her. Changing tactics, she sprayed frost on the floor under him and he began slipping towards her. She winded up her fist and threw it, expecting to get him in the face but then he blocked it with his shield. He swept her off her feet with his leg and she came down tumbling. The tip of his weapon came down on her throat but she retaliated by shooting at his chest, sending him staggering back and ripping off sparks. She flipped back to her feet and then slashed him in the chest repeatedly. He jabbed at her stomach with his staff, knocking the wind out of her before he got up and performed a reverse roundhouse, hitting her in the midsection and sending her stumbling away.

"This is getting tiresome," Shadow said in a bored tone. He drew two cards: Bite Cobra and Poison Scorpion. "I better end this fight now." He swiped both cards through his scanner.

"BITE! POISON! VENOM CRASH!" announced his staff before he leapt up to execute the attack. He came down on Mimic but she was ready for him.

"REFLECT!" A reflective shield erected itself around her, causing him to bounce back from the force of his own attack. He went tumbling over the floor and then was met with a hail of ice and fire arrows. Mimic continued to fire, not giving him a chance to recover.

"Payback's a bitch, ain't it, Kameyarou?" she said as she walked over him. She didn't stop shooting when she came over and stomped her foot on his chest, standing over him victoriously. She grinned under her helmet, "I win."

"This time, maybe," he responded, coughing, "But there's always next time." He began coughing heavily. Mimic reached down and he took her hand as she pulled him up.

"Hey, you okay?" Mimic asked in concern. Sure she hated Shadow's guts but even she couldn't just leave a sick person without helping. Call it a weakness since she began spending time with her brother.

"Just need a little air," he told her, "and my pills." He reached down to snap his belt close when Mimic's head snapped up.

"We're going to be attacked!" she shouted.

"What are you talking about?" Shadow asked but then he became surprised to see rose petals falling down like the rain. "What's going on?"

"I can think of one answer," Mimic replied, gesturing towards a direction with her thumb. "And it's standing right there." Shadow followed where she was pointing and his red eyes narrowed under his blue eyepieces.

Standing there on the guardrail was a slim and slender figure with curves that were obviously female. She was dressed in a long black robe that hid her body from view and black gloves. Over her head was a black hood, hiding her face from view. Her human face at least. Mimic doubt that her true face could be easily hidden like that.

It was one of the Royals.

She rose up a hand to her face and produced a red rose. She brought it to her hidden face and sniffed it. "Ah…the fragrance of roses," she said with a smile in her voice, "So beautiful…but, even beautiful roses have thorns."

"Who are you?" Shadow demanded, pointing directly at the Royal Beast Spirit with his staff. He still hadn't forgotten how they had used him like a puppet.

"Where are my manners?" she said in mock politeness. "You may call me Rose." With that her appearance began to change into her true form and both Mimic and Shadow got ready for battle.

Episode 37: Magic

Rose's true form was befitting of her name. She wore a tight green outfit that accentuated her curves and looked like a one-piece bathing suit but more leafy in appearance. Her legs, up to her thighs, were clad in green boots and green elbow length gloves covered her arms. She also had green thorns on her shoulders as well as on her knees and elbows. Her exposed skin was blood red like a rose and her face looked human but her head looked like a rose. She had a single horn jutting from her forehead. In one hand she held a thorny green whip and she cracked it on the floor as rose petals rained down around her. She was now the Rose Beast Spirit.

"Alright, let's take this leafy dominatrix down!" Mimic said but then Shadow stood in front of her, blocking her. "Hey! What gives?"

"Allow me to fight her," Shadow said to Mimic, "I have some unfinished business with the Royals."

"Aw…didn't you enjoy being our little puppet?" Rose mocked. "You know, I would've loved to play with you, but the others wouldn't let me!"

Desmond grimaced under his helmet in disgust.

"No way!" Mimic objected, "She's mine!" Shadow hit her in the stomach with the bottom of his staff, hard. She doubled over in pain, "Low…blow…"

"Just stand back and watch. If I get into trouble, I'll call you for help," Shadow got into a fighting stance and charged at the Rose Beast Spirit.

'Just where is my otouto-chan?' Mimic questioned as she recovered and stood straight up. 'He should be here by now.'

Leo walked out of the closet but then heard someone whisper sultrily, "Come back if you want some more," from the closet. Grinning sheepishly and flushing red, Leo walked away and fixed himself but then bumped into someone by accident.

"Ah, sumimasen!" Leo apologized, bowing, "I was not paying attention."

"Oh, that is alright," a kind and masculine voice spoke, "Accidents happen." Leo looked up and stepped back. It was Mr. King, their vice-principal. Mr. King was tall and well built, rivaling Barkin in the muscle department, with a moustache and beard, green eyes, tanned skin and neatly combed hair. He was dressed in a blue suit and tie.

"I still wish to apologize, King-sensei," Leo bowed in apology. He then ran off.

"No running in the halls, son," King said to the boy.

"Hai," Leo nodded but then stopped before asking, "Ano, King-sensei, have you seen my onee-chan?"

King was one of the many members of the faculty who could understand Leo's mixed up Japanese/English lingo so he knew that Leo was referring to his big sister. King shook his head, "I do not believe I have."

"Arigato, anyway," Leo said, bowing, before walking away. "Onee-chan, where are you?"

Shadow stepped out of the way as the whip came down on him. Rose appeared to be a long ranged fighter, using the whip to keep her opponents back and to strike at them offensively. He had to find a way to get close to attack her.

Mimic, on the other hand, sat down on the floor, cross-legged, not too far away and watched as the two fought. She propped her head in her hand, bored. She was twitching erratically. She wanted to fight so eagerly but Shadow wouldn't let her.

Shadow was already in range after dodging the last whip lash and jabbed with his staff, catching the Rose Beast Spirit in the stomach by surprise. He then swung his staff overhead and got her in the face.

"You shouldn't strike a lady!" Rose cried.

"You are not a lady," Shadow retorted as he gave her a strong punch in the face and then went and slashed her with the sharp tip of his Genbu Staff before sending her flying with a powerful swing. She tumbled on the ground in pain. She then got up and sent her whip at him again but yet again he dodged. She changed tactics and sent a volley of thorns at him. The Knight of Genbu just spun his staff around, batting them away harmlessly…well, almost harmlessly. They nearly hit Mimic and got stuck in the floor around her.

"Hey! Watch it!" Mimic yelled, angered. She really wanted to fight now as her fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly as she continued to fidget.

Shadow then gave out a yell and gave the Rose Beast Spirit a powerful jab in the chest, sending her tumbling. Now, he was ready to finish her off as he drew two cards; Category 3 of Clubs: Screw Mole and Category 6 of Clubs: Blizzard Polar. He got ready to slash them through his scanner but then he suffered another coughing fit and dropped the cards as he coughed repeatedly. Mimic saw this and got up to help. She ran at the Rose Beast Spirit who took the opportunity to make her escape. She sent a storm of rose petals a Mimic, distracting her and obscuring her vision. When the storm of petals stopped, Mimic looked around to see that the Rose Beast Spirit had vanished.

"Kuso!" Mimic swore. She then watched as Shadow changed back to Desmond and he frowned before walking away. Mimic wanted to go after him but decided against it. He still had his pride after all and having her comfort it would have hurt him more.

The bell then rang. Lunch was over.

Jinx was able to sneak out of the janitor closet and return to the Tower; just in time too when the Titans received an alert. It was 'The Amazing Mumbo' and he was up to his old tricks again. To be more specific, it was magic tricks with a side of crime.

Mumbo was in the bank as he started to use his wand to magically pull all the money bags into his hat. All the people in the bank, the customers, clerks and security guards were all tied up in handkerchiefs that had been tied together.

Mumbo did a bow and said, "You've been a great audience! Ta-ta now!" As he was about to step through the doors, a blue sonic cannon beam came through the other side and knocked him back. The Titans then charged in and stood defiantly.

"You need a new gimmick, Mumbo," Robin said as he crossed his arms while glaring at the blue skinned magician and criminal.

"Just give back the money and come quietly," Cyborg said, cannon still trained on Mumbo.

"Or kicking and screaming," Jinx added with a grin. "Whichever is better."

"Well, now I've got a new audience to captivate!" Mumbo waved his wand. "Or should I say captive! Hocus Pocus!" A large cage came down on the Titans. Cyborg and Beast Boy got trapped in it while the others leapt away.

"Aw, man!" Beast Boy snapped his fingers. He then realized, "Hey, I can get out of this!" He morphed into a fly and tried to go through the bars but was then zapped and forced back into human form, smoking. "Dude…so not righteous."

Cyborg scanned the prison, "Electric cage. That's new."

Jinx was untying the hostages. Well, all she did was snap her fingers and the handkerchiefs just tore apart. She said, "Move! Go!" They didn't need to be told twice as they made their escape.

One grateful woman said to Jinx, "Thank you," and Jinx smiled before the woman looked horrified at something behind the pink haired witch. "Watch out!" Two giant white gloves clapped with Jinx in between and she stumbled in a daze. The woman ran out again, knowing there was nothing she could do. Jinx was then trapped in a glove's hold.

"Ever played 52 Pick Up?" Mumbo joked as he threw the cards at Robin and Raven. They blew up when they hit the ground and Robin had to jump away. "Pick a card, any card!" Mumbo said as he threw a few more cards like shurikens and they imbedded into the walls. Robin's cape got stuck to the wall by a card before he himself was pinned to it when his clothes got caught by the cards.

"This is embarrassing," Robin grumbled.

Mumbo watched as Starfire and Raven flew at him, "Ah, my lovely two assistants! Alakazam!" In a puff of smoke, Starfire was in a box where a hole exposed her face. A saw was sawing away at the box and Starfire screamed in fear. Raven was bound in a straight jacket and hanging over a tank of water. Her mouth was gagged too.

"Well then, exit stage left!" Mumbo laughed as he made his way to the door.

Takada rode by the bank after dropping off some mail and saw a huge crowd and not to mention police. He walked over and asked what was going on. He got his answer when a woman told him that the Titans were fighting a criminal in there, a magic themed super-villain by the name of 'The Amazing Mumbo'.

Hearing the sounds coming from inside, Takada's eyes narrowed. They weren't doing so well. He then got back to his bike and put on his Advent Buckle, allowing the belt to wrap around his waist. He then slid in his Category Ace before putting on his helmet, mounting the bike and then racing straight towards the bank.

"Henshin!" he called and the panel on his buckle flipped over to reveal his Diamond symbol.

"CHANGE BYAKKO!"

The bystanders all heard the announcement and scrambled out of the way, even the police, as the bike came charging through and into the bank just as Mumbo was about to come out.

Mumbo fell back as the bike came charging through and then skidded to a halt as the rider spun around on it and kick on the stand to allow it the bike to stand as he mounted off. He saw all the Titans and said, "Hey, guys, how's it hanging?"

Raven's eye twitched as she took it as a crack aimed at her.

"Who are you!?" Mumbo cried out angrily, "I never heard about an extra show!"

"It's curtains for you, Magic-Man," Pluto jeered as he drew his gun, "Now it's time for some target practice." He shot at Mumbo's feet, causing the magician to jump around, "Dance, blue man, dance!"

Mumbo kept jumping around, avoiding the shots to his feet but then waved a wand, "Abracadabra!" A tiger appeared out of thin air and lunged at Pluto. Pluto then pulled his arm back and struck the tiger hard in the face with his fist. In a poof of smoke, it vanished.

"Hah!" Pluto laughed triumphantly. "Got anymore tricks?" Pluto asked but Mumbo was gone as the end of his cape slipped through the door.

"He just got away!" Robin shouted.

"Damn!" Pluto then got back on his bike, kicked off the stand, and raced after the criminal magician.

The Titans were still trapped and then there was silence.

"Um…maybe we should've told him to get us out first?" Beast Boy asked. Everyone was silent. "Wanna play 'Eye-Spy' while we wait?" Everyone glared at him.

Mumbo was too slippery for the cops since he had gotten away and was running away, laughing out loud at his victory. He had just outsmarted the Titans. Now, he was happy!

"Hold it, buster!" someone yelled and Mumbo turned his head over his shoulder to see Pluto chasing after him on his bike.

"Oh, you again," Mumbo sighed. He then waved his wand at his feet and called, "Mumbo Jumbo!" The spell made him run faster and farther away from Pluto.

Pluto revved his engine and accelerated after the crazed magician. He removed his hands from the handlebars and reached for his gun and drew out a card. He then slashed it through the scanner equipped to his bike.

"RAPID!"

The image of the card appeared above him and absorbed into his vehicle. He grabbed the handlebars as his bike picked up speed and sent him chasing after the criminal magician.

They ended up in an abandoned train stating and Pluto decided to go on foot as Mumbo had gone into hiding. He got off his bike and walked around with his gun ready.

"Where are you…?" Pluto mumbled as he searched around. For the occasion, he'd switched his usual Beast Spirit damaging ammo with non-fatal rubber bullets. They wouldn't kill Mumbo but will still hurt like hell.

"Alakazam!" Mumbo shouted as he jumped out from behind an abandoned engine and threw a spell at Pluto. Pluto rolled out of the way before he got bombarded with billiard balls and drew a card from his gun.

"You like card tricks?" Pluto asked as Mumbo sent another volley of billiard balls at him. Pluto swiped the card through.

"ROCK!"

The billiard balls bounced off his now rock hard armor as he marched over to Mumbo. Mumbo began to fling magic at Pluto. Unfortunately, none of his magic spells worked on Pluto as they just bounced off his armor or were shot away. "Hocus Pocus!" A large rabbit appeared in front of Pluto but was shot between the eyes "Alakazam!" Saws came flying at Pluto but they got shattered when they tried to saw through his armor. "Abracadabra!" Mumbo flung playing cards at Pluto but didn't penetrate his armor.

"Mumbo Jumbo!" He sent a fireball at Pluto but it did no damage. Unfortunately, none of his magic spells worked on Pluto as they just bounced off his armor or were shot away.

"My turn," Pluto said as he drew a card and slashed it through his gun.

"GEMINI!"

A clone of him appeared, making Mumbo's eyes go wide with fear. Mumbo waved his wand but then one of the Plutos raised his gun and shot the want out of his hand. The two Plutos then drew their respective cards and swiped them through their guns.

"UPPER!"

"DROP!"

Pluto-1 gave Mumbo a vicious uppercut that sent him flying high into the air and as soon as he got high enough, Pluto-2 leapt up and did a flip to execute a drop kick that sent Mumbo crashing back down on the ground. He was now unconscious. Pluto then walked over to the wand and studied it before snapping it in half. The blue color drained away from Mumbo's skin as he turned into a normal guy.

"Now to drop you off," Pluto said as he picked up Mumbo, hung him over the back of his bike before getting on and racing away towards the closest jail.

Back at the bank, the Titans were free of their traps, thanks to Pluto.

After a few more hours, the final bell rang and tired students all filed out of the school. Kat and Leo both walked out together and Kat froze in her steps.

"Onee-chan?" Leo asked with concern in his voice, "Daijoubu desu ka?" He then followed her gaze and knew why she had frozen. "Oh."

Craig was talking to Miyuki and the girl giggled before giving Craig a kiss. Leo frowned and narrowed his eyes at this. Craig then walked away but then Miyuki turned and smirked at the twins.

"Oh, hey, Kat!" Miyuki waved in mock sweetness.

"Go away, Yoshinaga!" Kat snapped.

"Oh, I'm so hurt," Miyuki said mockingly. She then smirked evilly, "What's the matter? Are you upset because your boyfriend decided to dump you," Miyuki pointed at Kat, "for me?" she placed a hand to her chest. "Well, it wasn't a contest at all, really. I mean, who would wanna date you with that scar on your face when they can have perfect and pretty me?" She combed her hand through her lovely locks of hair.

Kat's head was lowered and her expression was unreadable as she turned away and stomped over to her motorbike. Leo glared at Miyuki and said bitterly, "Yoshinaga, you are an awful person," before walking over to his sister.

Desmond and Hikaru were not too far away and saw the exchange. "Is that her?" Desmond asked.

"Yes, it's her, Desmond-nii," Hikaru answered, nodding.

"And she can do that?"

"Wouldn't put it past her," Hikaru shrugged.

"I see," Desmond nodded before he gave Hikaru her helmet and he put on his. They then got on the bike and sped towards the gate. As soon as they past by Miyuki, Hikaru and the girl exchanged quick glances before Desmond's bike sped away, kicking up dust. Miyuki smirked evilly as she sniffed a rose and went to cheerleading practice.

Craig was at the back of the gym, reading a note. "This is the place, but where are they?"

"Right here," spoke a voice and two students approached him. One was a girl with pink streaked blonde hair and pigtails that were tied up with ribbons and blue eyes. She was lean and came up to just about the shoulder of the boy next to her. He had spiky and messy hair that was bleached blonde and had ember eyes. He had a scar over the bridge of his nose and two more on his right cheek as well as another one under his left eye. Both wore the standard uniform for boys and girls of Murakami High, except that the boy had no tie and wore his shirt open with a black t-shirt underneath that had a picture of a blood red scorpion. He also wore cut off gloves and a chain necklace. The girl didn't wear a tie but a pink ribbon in its place. The girl was 16 while the boy was 18.

"I'm Liz," the girl introduced herself and her friend, "Tall dark and scary here is Asakura."

"Yo," Asakura said with a grin and his hands in his pockets. He had a wild look in his eyes compared to the serene look of the girl.

"Okay, so why did you call me here?" Craig asked suspiciously.

"Let's just say, you are like us," Asakura began as he took something out of his pocket. Craig tensed up.

"Relax, Craig," Liz said calmly as she reached into her shirt pocked and pulled something out as well. Liz and Asakura both held out the objects at Craig, whose eyes widened.

Kat stopped in front of the café and charged in before storming up the stairs towards her and her brother's shared bedroom before and then slamming the door close. Inside the room, she removed Craig's scythe necklace and threw it at the wall before she fell, facedown, on the bed to cry her eyes out. "How could he…?" she sobbed into her pillow.

Leo peaked into the room and sighed, not knowing what to say or do to help out his sister. He decided the best thing to do was to leave her be, but also keep a watchful eye out so that she didn't decide to do anything crazy.

That night, the Rose Beast Spirit appeared on the tallest building in the city to put her plan into action. She spread out her arms and pollen flew in the breeze.

"Soon, very soon, I will have an army of men that will do my every bidding," she spoke sultrily. "This will be so much fun!"

"Let's hope nobody will spoil it for you," spoke a masculine voice and Rose turned to see who it was.

"Oh, it's you," she said. "What is it?"

The robed figure then told her, "Our numbers have depleted and I am not only counting the traitors that have abandoned us. Kanai and Paradox have both gone off somewhere, so you and I are the only Royals left here."

"Don't you worry, King, I won't get myself sealed. I'm too smart for that."

"Don't say I didn't warn you," King said before he vanished into a dark portal. Rose just rolled her eyes and continued to spread her pollen.

Tomorrow morning, the women of the city will be in for a nasty surprise.

The next day…

Starfire woke up to a beautiful day and went to see if her beloved Robin was awake. She went to his door and it opened. She peaked her head in. "Robin?" she asked. "Robin, are you awake?" she stepped into his room. He wasn't in his bed or his desk. "Maybe he is in the training room." She then skipped out of his room and continued to go look for him.

She didn't find him and she had looked everywhere, even the scary basement. She began to panic and called Robin on her communicator, "Robin? Robin!? Please, respond!"

Raven and Jinx walked into the living room to see a panicked Starfire yelling into her communicator.

"Hey, Star, where's the fire?" Jinx asked jokingly but then saw the fearful look on her face. "Did something happen?"

"I cannot find Robin!" Starfire cried.

Raven sighed, "I'm sure he's fine."

"But I cannot call him!"

"Hey, girls, have you two noticed that its been a bit too quiet this morning?" Jinx asked. "I mean, Beast Boy and Cy would be either arguing over tofu and meat or playing video games but I don't see them."

"Yeah, weird," Raven agreed.

"Did something happen to them?" Starfire asked fearfully.

"Well, we won't know unless we get any news," Jinx said and soon the TV turned on and a female newscaster came on the air.

"We have an emergency news bulletin. It appears that all the men in the city have disappeared!" she reported.

Raven, Jinx and Starfire blinked.

"Well, that's awfully convenient," Raven said.

Kat looked around for her brother. "Otouto-chan! Otouto-chan! Where are you?" she called but got no answer. She then saw the news report on TV and shuddered. "No way…" Karmen ran towards Kat with tears in her eyes.

"I can't find Takada!" Karmen said to her. "Where is he?"

"I don't know," Kat said sadly, "But we're going to find him and we're going to need help!" She pulled out her communicator. "Hello, Titans Tower?"

Tara was watching the news report as well. If it was true then Beast Boy had vanished as well.

Miyuki sat in front of her vanity mirror while she heard the news report on the radio. She had a knowing smile on her face that would be considered absolutely sinister.

A/N: Let see…the Rose Beast Spirit shows up, Kat is upset, Craig meets up with some shifty characters and now all the men are gone. Not good…

Preview to the next chap: The girls are going to be saving the men but what if they end up fighting the men? Also, Mimic/Kat will be enjoying this fight as soon as she finds out the Rose Beast Spirit's secret identity.

Also, info on the upcoming Cerberus Knights:

Cerberus Knight Grave

Weapon/Card Scanner: Sword

Cards

Ace: Change Cerberus
Function: Transforms the user into Cerberus Knight Grave.

Mighty Gravity
Function: His attack card; initiates Gravity Slash, which is the equivalent of Draco's Category 2, Slash Lizard; but has the power of Draco's Lightning Slash.

Cerberus Knight Archer

Weapon/Card Scanner: Crossbow

Cards
Ace: Change Cerberus
Function: Transforms the user into Cerberus Knight Archer.

Mighty Ray
Function: Her attack card, initiates Ray Bullet, which is the equivalent of Pluto's Category 2, Bullet Armadillo; but has the power of Pluto's Burning Shot.

Cerberus Knight Spear

Weapon/Card Scanner: Spear

Cards
Ace: Change Cerberus Function: Transforms the user into Cerberus Knight Spear.

Mighty Impact
Function: His attack card; initiates Impact Stab, which is the equivalent of Shadow's Category 2, Stab Bee, but has the power of Shadow's Blizzard Venom.