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.
Waves of Fate
"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.
"HYOH!"Thunder fired a huge sonic blast, hitting one of the ninja in the stomach. The black clad attacker went flying backwards, but there were others. There were plenty others. And all were armed with blades.
Beast Boy went tiger and swiped a clawed paw at one of the attackers, only to be kicked in the face, and nearly split by an overhand blow of a ninja-to. As it was, he lost some fur to the razor-keen blade. The ninja jumped back, throwing a smoke bomb right in front of Beast Boy. The jade titan coughed and hacked as the white smoke cloud engulfed him. A pair of chains shot through the smoke and tangled up his legs, dropping him heavily to the ground as the ninja pair wielding the kusari-gama pulled on the chains. He shook his head dazedly and went snake, slithering out of the chains. A very timely move as the ninja jumped into the cloud of smoke, sickles flashing in an arc that would have buried their weapons in the tiger form's neck. The green snake slithered out of the cloud and turned into a grizzly. Beast Boy roared and reared up to swipe at the shade-like attackers but found four shiruken lodged in his belly for his trouble. He bellowed in pain and slashed one of the ninja, claws fully extended. The grizzly form's claws ripped straight through black cloth and flesh. Crimson red sprayed out in a fan.
A weight on a chain struck Beast Boy right between the eyes, stunning him. The sickle came around in a killing blow, but Cyborg punched the assassin, sending him flying. "This is goin nowhere fast dawg!"
Beast Boy transformed back to elf, rubbing his pained stomach and looking at the blood coated throwing stars on the ground. "Amen to that, dude!" He looked to Thunder. "We won't make it like this! We've got to get in to the shrine, man!"
"I agree, green one!" Thunder fell back towards the shrine. "From there we can…AGH!" Blood sprayed from Thunder's calf as a sickle of a kusari-gama hooked onto his leg and the ninja holding the other end of the chain pulled. The blade sliced through muscle and tendons, lodging in the bone, rendering Thunder's leg useless. The ninja who struck the blow drew a knife and jumped at Thunder to deliver the final blow, dropping the chain. Thunder yanked the chain to him with one arm while he skeeted the ninja out of the sky with the other. "I cannot move!" He went to work with both arms, keeping the ninja back.
"Dammit!" cursed Cyborg as he laid down cover fire with his laser rifle arms. He had -not- come to Japan loaded for bear, a fact he was cursing right now. He could really use the autocannon right now. His plasma rifles had slow projectile speed and were apt to cause fires, and monkeying around with the sonic cannon? He had no time for that. So he was stuck with laser rifles. His missiles were of no use too. A fire would be a very bad thing. "Beast Boy! Go save Thunder!" Indeed, not even Thunder's sonic blasts and Cyborg's laser fire were truly keeping the ninja back. They were just buying time.
Beast Boy could see this, but the ninja were foes that he was ill-equipped to handle. And not only was Thunder in danger, but a pair on ninja had entered the shrine. Hating himself for it, he turned his back on Cyborg and Thunder and dashed towards the shrine as a cheetah.
"Arigato gozaimasu, Hideyoshi-san." Soothsayer bowed to the Office of Internal Affairs official and turned to Robin and Starfire, permit in hand. "We can remove the spear, naginata, nodachi, and tai chi sword."
Robin and Starfire both gave big grins. "Wonderous! We may now begin our quest for Terra's revival!"
"Yeah, Star, this is awesome! We'll get this all nailed down. Let's go get Lightning and go!"
Starfire giggled as Robin grabbed her by the hand and led her out of the room. Soothsayer bowed her head and scratched it, blushing a bit. "Pardon. You know how it is, correct, sir?"
"Indeed I do. You have something else to ask me about, my young foreign friend?"
"Yes…Would it be possible for the Titans to borrow Ikazuchi-san and Raiden-san? I fear that their help might be necessary when the prophecy comes to a head."
"Certainly, if they wish to. In fact, if your leader thinks it best, they may rejoin America's forces as members of your Titans. They do really seem to need comrades their own age."
"Thank you very much sir. You have been very helpful."
"We aim to keep Japan safe. Japan is part of the world."
Beast Boy blew past the two ninja as he entered the weapons room, thinking frantically back to a conversation he had with Soothsayer in the car. The tai chi sword is destined for me. What kind of sword is it? He struggled to remember as he dodged shiruken in an ever-changing form. Chinese, straight sword, light, flexible, one-handed, probably has a tassel on the pommel. Made for trapping an enemy sword, but can be used to kill. There!
Beast Boy went elf, grabbing the sheathed blade off the wall and drawing the sword. The ninja drew their blades, one with a tanto and the other holding a ninja-to. The jade Titan grabbed the tip of his blade and bent it backwards, then lunged at the tanto-armed shadow warrior, releasing the sword tip as he went.
The flexible blade snapped back like a whip, the sharp tip opening up a deep gash on the ninja's face. Beast Boy brought the tai chi blade around to misdirect the other ninja's thrust, then used the blade's amazing speed to come around and stab the other ninja in the throat. As he spun, he brought the sheath up into the sword-wielding ninja's face, knocking him senseless. Before he could think better of it, Beast Boy finished the man with a slash across the throat. "Whoa." Beast Boy stared at the blade. "I guess I know why Kenkaku went so nuts after he killed that ninja lady." He noticed the green lacquer on the blade. "I've already seen this movie." He was holding Green Destiny.
He shook his head, sheathing the blade and grabbed the nodaichi off the wall for Cyborg. "It was nice to finally be a good fighter for once. Maybe Kenkaku can teach me how to use it non-lethally."
Cyborg cursed Beast Boy at every available moment he had. Which wasn't much. He had his hands full with keeping ninja away from the shrine and himself. Thunder was on his own, and nearly overrun.
"Catch!" Cyborg spun around and turned his arms back into hand mode, catching the nodaichi slung his way.
He watched as Beast Boy plowed into the ninja with Green Destiny flashing. "Beast Boy, what the…"
"Use it!" yelled a preoccupied changeling.
"But…what?"
"There's no time! Use it! YAH!"
That shout jarred Cyborg loose as he drew the nodaichi, dropping the sheath, and swinging it two-handed in a wide arc. Ninja flew back, spurting blood. Cyborg brought the great sword around in an overhand blow that split a shadow warrior in half. Thunder grunted as the ninja stopped assaulting him and rushed to aid the attack on the two Titans. Then he gasped as he saw the sword Cyborg was using. "The sky shall tremble and the ground shall quake before the edge of the mighty Inousin-kai," he breathed, reciting a prophecy about the sword. I was guarding that? He watched as the last of the ninja either fell to the legendary blades or, in one case, ran. He looked up as Beast Boy walked over to him. "Why did you use the blades, green one?"
Beast Boy smiled. "Duty and orders are fine most of the time, but every once in a while, a little well-thought out disobedience is the way to go. Besides, desperate times require desperate measures."
"I see."
"Hey guys! We got permission to take the weapons…HOLY HELL, WHAT HAPPENED HERE?" The shock was readily apparent in Robin's voice.
Beast Boy got an evil smirk on his face. "You know, a funny thing happened on the way to the shrine…"
Kenkaku rose slowly out of bed, feeling very refreshed. He changed clothes and put his swords on his belt, before walking out the door into a new day. He walked around the Tower, trying to find his jacket. Maybe Raven-kun decided to mend it. He walked to her room's door, and knocked on it.
No answer. "Raven-kun? Raven-kun? Are you in there? Can I come in?"
Still no answer. I can't go in there, I might walk in on her changing! Not an entirely unpleasant thought… "Shut up, you." He called again. "Raven-kun? Can I come in? I'm looking for my jacket."
Nothing more. Finally making up his mind, he opened the door a bit and poked his head in. What he saw made him slam the door over and blink-dash over to her side, without a sword in his hand.
Her room looked like a bomb had gone off, and she was right at ground zero, writhing in the grips of a nightmare. "Raven! Raven!" He cradled the girl's petite body in his arms and tried to sooth her. But she was having nothing of it, and wasn't waking up either.
"Ker! Ker! You can't die! You can't go! You can't! Ker! No! Don't leave me! Don't leave me alone! KER! I LOVE YOU!" Raven sat bolt upright in Kenkaku's arms, hyperventilating. It took her a few seconds to realize that she was in his arms.
It took him a few seconds to realize that he was still stroking her hair. He blushed and stopped.
"Wh…what happened?" She took one of his hands on pure instinct.
"I was looking for my jacket and I peeked in here. I got concerned and you were having a nightmare so…" he trailed off. "I'm not dying or leaving. Don't worry."
"Ker really is your name?"
He nodded. "Ker Selais. Though, it's mostly lost to time. I take it you read the fourth poem?"
She hung her head. "Yes. I couldn't help myself. I'm sorry."
"No, you saved me the trouble of battling with my emotions over whether to give it to you or not. Fighting one's emotions only results in imbalance and chaos."
"Then…"
"That really is how I feel."
Raven cried. "But we can never be together. My powers would go out of control and destroy everything." They were already engulfed in a maelstrom of dark energy.She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, tears tracing damp lines down her face as she rested her forehead against Ker's. His eyes were streaming too.
"Then please, at least allow me this." Tears flowing, Kenkaku pressed his lips against Raven's softly. She sighed slightly as she eased into the kiss, parting her lips slightly, inviting more. The inexperienced Ker stroked her hair as his tongue gently entered her mouth, hesitant and unsure. The two half-demons held each other tenderly close, bodies melding against one another as they expressed their love through their lips and tongues. The two prolonged the kiss, neither wanting it to ever end, neither aware of the complete lack of telekinetic storm, and neither aware of the full demon in human form sitting and watching them.
Finally, it had to end. The air in their lungs was only so much. Their eyes took in the lack of devastation as they reluctantly drew away from each other's gaze. "What the…"
"Like your boyfriend said. Battling your emotions creates imbalance and chaos. While truly accepting them creates calm and serenity. You two could have saved yourselves a lot of grief if you'd figured that one out." The demon stood up and drew his rapier. "How's the leg wound, half-sister?"
"You!"
"Oh, don't be so mad. Your little tender moment would have never have happened with out me throwing you out of that helicopter. And I really hate to break this up, but my half-sister must come with me."
"The hell I must!" Raven's eyes glowed white and obsidian energy crackled around her fists.
"You couldn't stop me before, you can't now. And with your boyfriend so hobbled, he can't do a thing either. You're coming with me no matter what. Your choice as to whether you're spitted on my rapier or not."
Kenkaku's eyes flashed a brilliant silver-white, as bright as Kanesada's blade. "Hobbled, am I?" His head turned and he fixed the demon with his gaze. The well-dressed demon in human form stumbled backwards. "What's your name?"
"Junsa got to you, didn't he?" He got a horrified look on his face as Kenkaku slowly nodded. "That bastard!"He calmed. "My name is Duelist. But you will not fight me now."
"Oh, won't I?" said Kenkaku in a deadly tone as he popped Kanesada from its saya and prepared to iaijutsu.
"You may be faster than me, but my attack will still take your girlfriend's life." He smirked. "Don't worry, you can get her back. All you have to do is kill an army of demons and my Lord. Come, dear half-sister."
Kenkaku stood helpless as Duelist led Raven out of the room, rapier point under her chin. "I'm going to carve that smirk right off your face."
"I look forward to it. We are in the desert, at the start of the cave system. You must wait a full 12 hours before approaching or she dies. Then, you are free to do whatever you want."
Kenkaku didn't say anything, just standing there with flaming eyes, his body radiating power, his jaw clenched, and a look of pure hatred on his face. But as Raven was almost out the door, her view of him almost gone, his face changed to cold, lethal determination. His words rang out, strong and hard. She could feel Duelist's blade waver as he heard it. "Challenge accepted."
Blades flashed on the rooftop as Kenkaku counted down the hours till he could go to Raven safely. He drank nothing but a little tea, and accessed the main computer. Bringing up the topographical data, he saw that there was no approach but through a narrow canyon that widened out into an arena-like combat zone. His eyes narrowed as he pondered the best way through. There wasn't much to it but to fight straight through. He leaned back and looked around the room, his eyes falling on a cloak of Raven's that some grateful family had given to her. It was too long for her, even now, and was black. She never wore it, but she did keep it around. Perhaps…
On a gut feeling from Robin, the Titans, as well as Thunder and Lightning, were speeding home on an experimental cargo ship, which, while it had a small cargo hold, was impressively fast. So much so that an ocean crossing took only a convenient 12 hours. Robin stood at the glassed-in prow, unable to shake the ill ease that had come over him. He smiled slightly as he saw Starfire's reflection float up next to him. "Hey Star."
"Hello Robin." She landed next to him and grasped his hand, her thumb tracing patterns on his palm. "What is troubling you?"
"I just can't shake it, Star. I can't help but think something really bad is happening in Jump City."
Kenkaku watched as the last remaining seconds counted down on the watch he brought along. As soon as the second hand hit the twelve, he was up and walking through the canyon.
"Raven!? Kenkaku!?" called Robin as the Titans exited the elevator.
"They are probably 'making the out'."
"Starfire! That's my joke!" The Titans laughed, all except for Cyborg.
"Maybe not guys." He picked up a note with Kanji on the front. "Soothsayer, what do you make of this?"
Soothsayer took the note, and nodded at the cover. "It's from Kenkaku alright." She opened it and started reading, translating as she went. "Titans, a swordsman has taken Raven, to get me to fight someone. I do not know who, nor do I care. I am going to rescue Raven. My attack will begin at precisely 2007. Coordinates are on the computer. If you can, I ask that you help. If not, stay out of my way."
Robin gritted his teeth. "Why'd I have to be right? Cyborg, where is he?"
"I've downloaded the map. We can get most of the way there with the T-car and R-cycle."
"Good. Uh Soothsayer, no offense, but you'd probably best stay here."
"I know. Get going."
Robed cult members carrying nasty looking spears stood at the entrance to the arena. They joked among themselves as they kept watch.
"Think anyone's going to show?"
"They'd be insane to with the army the Lord has put together."
"Hey! Who's that?"
"What the?"
The cult members watched as a traveler walked down the canyon towards them. It was obvious that the drifter had been in the desert for a while. He wore a traveling cloak that was stained through with red clay and desert dust. The cult members tightened their grips on their spears as the man approached. "What are you doing here!?" yelled one.
"I understand there's a watering hole here and I'm quite parched. Be a pal and let me get a drink. Whaddya say pardner?"
"You can't come in here!" yelled the one who had queried him before, bringing his spear to the ready.
"Chikushou."A tape recorder flew out from under the cloak and hit the one prepared guard right between the eyes. "KIAI!!!!!!!!!!!!"The 'traveler's' eyes flamed sliver-white and his cloak blew away from his body, revealing that the cloak was totally pristine black on the inside, and was wrapped around a dark gray clad teen. Kanesada flashed out of its saya, cutting all of the guards in half with one fell swing. Kenkaku's blast of kiaijutsu annihilated the entryway to the arena, blowing the canyon wide open, scouring the arena with rock shrapnel. Blood soaked the canyon floor, and collected in vermillion pools. As the clouds of dust blew over them, strong enough to rip flesh from bone at close range, one thing was revealed to them.
A very pissed looking half-demon carrying Kanesada and Muramasa. "WHO WANTS TO DIE!?"Having delivered that line, he disappeared, and the dying began in earnest.
Japanese Flavor Text:
Ninja-to: Ninja sword, single-edged, straight, and shorter than the katana.
Kusari-gama: Chain and sickle.
Shiruken: Literally "blade able to be held in one's palm". Most common type is the 'throwing star'.
Arigato gozaimasu: "Thank you very much."
Ikazuchi: "Thunder."
Raiden: "Lightning."
Tanto: Knife with katana-style blade and tsuba.
Saya: "Sheath."
Iaijutsu: "Art of the sword draw." Can also mean using the art.
Chikushou: "Beast(s)/Dammit."
Kiaijutsu: "Art of the projected soul."
That's the final part of Alone Time right there. Tune in next time for Endgame, in which the prophecy is fufilled. And please do review. I cherish each one.
