This is a work of fanfiction. I do not own Teen Titans or any DC comics alluded to in this story. Kenkaku and his swords are mine, however.
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Waves of Fate
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"text": spoken English
"text": spoken Japanese (translated or flavor text)
"text": war cry, English
"text": war cry, Japanese.
text: thoughts
-text-: stressed word
text: printed or typed English
text: printed or typed Japanese
'text': sound effect
Japanese flavor text will be in a glossary at the end of the chapter.
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"Green Lantern, Hawkgirl?" asked Robin. "What are you doing here?"
"Saving you, it would seem," said the winged hero.
"We had scheduled a check-up visit months ago," said Green Lantern, crossing his arms. "Had you forgotten?"
The Boy Wonder scratched the back of his head. "Got lost in the clutter. But it is good to see the two of you again."
"Likewise," replied the mace-wielding alien, nodding to each of them in turn. "Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven, …I don't believe we've met."
"My name is Kenkaku, Hawkgirl-san. It is a great honor to meet you and your comrade, Green Lantern." Raven quickly translated this.
The green-eyed ex-marine looked on interest. "You do not speak English?"
"Kitsu."
"Correct," translated Raven.
"Kenkaku is the newest honorary Titan," explained Robin. "Can we talk about this back at the tower with Starfire in the medbay?"
The JLA members nodded and the far from motley group headed off for the tower.
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Robin watched over Starfire as she lay in the medbay, so it fell to Cyborg to explain to the JLA members Kenkaku's situation.
"So after he brought in Raven, we decided to buy him what he had lost saving her. This led to a fight in the mall against a guy named Control Freak, and another guy with a pair of Bowie knives, named Brute. Kenkaku headed off for Japan, but some guy with a claymore named Highlander sunk the ship he was on with a warning to stay in Jump City for the duration of whatever the people are planning. We decided to take Kaku on as a honorary Titan. And that led us to today's events."
"I see," responded Green Lantern. "And your superpowers?"
"High G-tolerance, an accelerated mode, ki control and spotty kiaijutsu, and of course, Kanesada and Muramasa."
"A high G-tolerance, a decent accelerated mode, ki control and the ability to project it on the environment and others, albeit somewhat unpredictably, and a pair of legendary swords," translated Raven.
"What were you doing before you came here?" asked Hawkgirl.
"I'm a ronin. I drift where the current of life takes me. Japan seemed like a good destination."
"He's a wandering superhero, and thought Japan seemed like a good place to settle."
"Registered?"
"Hai." Raven didn't bother to translate.
"Well, it is good to meet you, Kenkaku-san," said Green Lantern. "You have no idea why these people are after you?"
"They seem to want Kanesada and Muramasa. Why, I don't know." He rubbed the tsuba with his thumb. "It's plenty powerful, but according to the bylaws of the enchantments, I'm the only one who can use it safely. And Muramasa is more like a bonus, even if it is very powerful." Raven struggled to keep up.
"A little slower, Kenkaku-kun?"
"Gomen." He shrugged. "I met a metahuman today who seemed to be connected to legends and prophecies. She mentioned something about the bushi being demonic, but these guys have human ki. They aren't oni." He left out the part about the 'soul mate'.
Raven's eyes widened as she translated. Demonic? Perhaps a chat with Father is in order. Even if I will have to deal with Competitive Spirit.
"Interesting. Well, let's get to the little bit of business we have here."
"And that is?" asked Cyborg.
"The rash of stolen military weapons," said the emerald-eyed hero.
"Yeah, what's up with that, dude?"
"And why are you investigating a problem in our jurisdiction?" asked Raven. "The political fallout could be deadly."
"The problem is hardly local. All over the world, these thefts are occurring. But the worst area is around Jump City. It isn't obvious, but it is there. Also, quite a bit of the surplus is being shipped to your little neck of the woods."
"The problem is," picked up Hawkgirl, "We have no information on this other than it is happening. Military-grade weapons are finding their ways into all kinds of peoples' hands. No motive, pattern, or mastermind."
"What about the apparent center on Jump City? That looks like a pattern to me."
"He's right. The center on Jump City is a pattern," said Raven.
"Not a very useful one," said Green Lantern. "We're just here for a friendly visit, but we thought we should tell you about this. Though other superheroes will clean up the scattered incidents, the real problem will be yours. Do you kids feel up for it?"
Cyborg nodded. "Sure thing. If it gets way out of hand, we'll call for help, but I think this is well within our capabilities." The other Titans nodded.
"We got this down," affirmed Beast Boy.
"Sure, woo."
"Enthusiastic, aren't we? Don't bother translating that."
"Like I would in the first place."
The other superpowered beings shrugged, not pressing the two Japanese-speakers for a translation. Hawkgirl grabbed her mace. "Okay, I've waited long enough. We're sparring, samurai boy."
Kenkaku's face blanched. "This is going to be kurushii."
"Not confident?"
"She's JLA."
"True. Well, I'm putting my colors on you."
"Ah! With the favor of the Lady Raven upon my arm, I shall surely triumph!" He paused. "If you translate that, your head leaves its body."
"I dislike the teasing just as much as you do."
"Come on, kid. We'll use the roof."
"Ii ka."
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Hawkgirl checked the electric function on her mace as Kenkaku handed Raven a sheathed Kanesada. "Do not draw Kanesada for anything. Nothing! You hear me?"
"Hai."
"Good. I'd rather not see you dead, Raven-kun." He smiled slightly.
Raven blushed as Kenkaku turned away, taking Muramasa in hand. "Good luck."
"I'm going to need it." The ronin fell into chudan-no-kamae. "My name is Kenkaku, and I am trained in Touki no Fenikkusu-ryu."
Hawkgirl was not nearly so formal. "RAUGH!" Her mace flew at the teen in a powerful overhand blow.
'BOOM!'
The ronin jumped back, the mace creating a small crater where it hit.
What have I gotten myself into? Kenkaku jumped onto the haft of the mace, only to have Hawkgirl pull it back up, him still on it, throwing him across the roof. He flipped in midair, landing on two feet and a hand.
'tp'
Okay, she's definitely stronger than me, but Muramasa might let me hit on something approaching her level. In a weapon lock though, she'd be the winner for sure. She can fly. I've got better speed, and an easier weapon to handle. Nix kiaijutsu. That's far too risky for a sparring match. In this case, I think I'd better play to technique and speed. But only using accelerated mode if things get desperate.
The ronin nodded to himself and assumed a one-handed grip, dashing at the alien warrior. He dodged a swing of the mace and stabbed one-handed into his opponent's gut. "Tsaiah!'
'Whack!'
Hawkgirl folded over on Muramasa and went flying backwards. She looked at him, giving him a short nod. "Not bad."
"Arigatou."
"Now, let's get started." Hawkgirl flapped her wings, propelling her across the roof at Kenkaku. The teen rolled out of the way of the JLA member, spinning around in a slash that forced the other warrior to back off.
Hawkgirl drove in again, swinging the mace in a two-handed flat arc.
'CLACK!'
The teen parried with Muramasa, driving the heavy mace to the side and following up with a lightning-quick slash to his winged opponent's forearms.
'THOOM!'
Hawkgirl was knocked to the ground by the enchanted bokken. Down, but not out. She twisted on the ground, swinging her mace into Kenkaku's exposed flank.
"Ugah!" The ronin went flying. Like most metahumans, especially drifters, he was tougher than average, but he was not made for taking hits. He was almost the living embodiment of the theory that the best defense is a strong offense.
'Thump!'
He hit the roof and skidded, holding his side in pain. He stood up shakily, using Muramasa as a kind of cane. "Chikushou," he groaned. He didn't remember ever getting hit that hard. But he was still able to fight. Muramasa came up to a ready position, his stance shielding his damaged side.
Kenkaku flowed out of the way of another overhand blow and grabbed Hawkgirl's helmet. Getting a good grip, he twisted, getting her off her feet. Before she could bring her wings into play, he threw her to the ground and slashed down at her, connecting with her hip as she tried to roll away.
"Agh!" Muramasa was not a pleasant thing to be hit with. The impact sent the more experienced hero tumbling.
'Wheoooom.'
Kenkaku dashed at the female hero at his rather respectable top speed, getting to her before she had a chance to fully recover. Bokken smashed against mace as Kenkaku tried to overwhelm Hawkgirl's defenses.
Good luck. Hawkgirl had sparred against Flash, who was a -lot- faster. Granted, he didn't hit nearly as hard. She took the offensive and struck overhand. Kenkaku slashed up, neutralizing the swing, then sank to his knees as he tried to keep the mace away from him. He held on to the handle with his right while bracing the blade with his left. He pushed up with his left as hard as he could, flinging the mace off to the right.
The ronin smirked and drew Muramasa across the woman's midsection in a powerful slash. She went flying to his left, using the momentum of his hit to hit him with her mace.
The heavy metal weapon smacked into his head, knocking him out cold. Raven dashed over to him, checking on him. "Perhaps you were a little harsh on him," said Green Lantern, his arms folded over his chest.
"Better with me than with a supervillan."
'pfuh.'
A small glob of blood splattered on the ground
"Not done yet," said Kenkaku as he stood up, a little blood running down his lip. He wiped it off and shifted Muramasa to his left hand, taking Kanesada from Raven. The brother swords shone as he lifted them to the ready position. "I underestimated you."
Hawkgirl looked at the ronin incredulously. "You sure you want to do this?"
"KIAI!" was the ronin's only response. The swordsman immediately stood up straighter, showing no pain.
Hawkgirl took up her mace. "Fine. Let's…" The ronin had disappeared.
'THOOM!'
Hawkgirl went flying backwards as both blades struck her full on. Kenkaku had seemed to blink out of existence, only to reappear as he struck. "Your technique is lacking, though your spirit and self are strong."
The JLA member roared and swung at him. Muramasa intercepted the mace, taking control of it as Kenkaku spun around and pointed Kanesada at Hawkgirl's throat.
The Titan's jaws dropped. The JLA members' eyes went extremely wide. Kenkaku hadn't even gone accelerated outside of the one -blink- attack. "Raven-kun, please tell Hawkgirl-san that her attacks were a little too predictable, and that's how I won. I'd also suggest a faster weapon."
Raven translated this. Hawkgirl nodded. "I see. You are quite skilled and have my respect."
"Domo arigatou." He put Muramasa in its belt loop and took Kanesada's saya from Raven, sheathing the enchanted sword and putting the saya in its fitting. Suddenly he grabbed his side, gritting his teeth. Raven knew exactly what had happened. He had gotten rid of the kiaijutsu technique he had been using. He bowed, then limped off for the elevator.
The other superheroes followed his example, taking different amounts of time. But none of them were on the roof when a sickle came flying up and dug into the concrete.
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Raven walked her mindscape as she normally did, heading for the one place she feared the most. Even caged, Trigon was a powerful force. As she came to the top of the rise that would let her gaze down at the captured demon lord, she gasped.
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Japanese Flavor Text:
-san: Honorific. If you've been reading the story, you should know what it means.
Kitsu: "Correct."
Ki: "Spirit." Can mean a wide variety of things.
Kiaijutsu: "Art of the kiai." A form of martial arts in which one focuses their ki as a force on the environment or people in it.
Ronin: "Wave man." Masterless samurai.
Hai: "Yes."
Gomen: "Pardon/I'm sorry."
Bushi: "Warrior."
Oni: "Demon."
Kurushii: "Painful."
Ii ka: "Fine then."
Touki no Fenikkusu-ryu: "Fighting Spirit of the Phoenix School."
Tsaiah: War cry.
Arigatou: "Thank you."
Chikushou: "Beast(s)/Damn."
Kiai: War cry, connected with kiaijutsu.
-kun: Honorific. You should know what this means from earlier chapters.
Domo arigatou: "Thank you." (Stronger than arigatou.)
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A/N: Wondering what Raven is seeing? Well, you'll find out next time. Please do review. I like to know what people think of my story, good or bad. Till next time, ja na.
