Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. I could use them for protection though.

It's been a long time coming, so I should just get started. I need to get another notch in this story. Hope 'yall can except me being in a slump for the past month, but I'm feeling pretty good now. So let me get started.


Chapitre 5 – Take A Look At Me Now

Beast Boy opened his eyes to the sharp pain in his arm. He woke to see the flight stewardess jabbing him in the arm to wake him for the landing into Jump City. Beast Boy just grumbled a response, which was enough for the stewardess to leave and prepare for landing. Toyoshi was sitting next to him, a smile welcoming Beast Boy to the land of the living.

"Well, about time we got here, isn't it?" he asked his new green friend.

"You're telling me," replied Beast Boy, "18 hours from Japan to New York, it's a good thing they had a discount for superheroes."

Toyoshi chuckled to himself. True, they were in their seats for quite a while, but that gave the two time to talk about their lives. Toyoshi listened with the patience of a scholar as Beast Boy described his friends in detail, and about how Terra got into her situation. Playing cards, sleeping, and watching mediocre movies took up the rest of the time when enough words were said.

After the landing into Jump City International, the two made the long trek to Titan's Tower. They entered to see no one in the lobby. Beast Boy put his bag down, and Toyoshi did the same. Beast Boy lead Toyoshi into the living room of the tower, where it was being occupied by Robin and Cyborg. The two titans were fighting each other in another rival match in Soul Caliber II.

"Hey guys, I'm home!" shouted Beast Boy, getting the attention of his friends, who smiled and turned off the game to greet him.
"Beast Boy, welcome back," said Robin, "that certainly didn't take long."
"My main man, you find anything to help Terra out?" inquired Cyborg.
Beast Boy nodded, "yep," he said. "I have my new friend Toyoshi here to thank for that."

Toyoshi bowed in greeting, "I've heard all about you from Beast Boy."
Robin bowed in return, and Cyborg extended his hand. "I suppose you know how to help Terra then?"
"I brought something that could work, and I've given Beast Boy permission to use it in his endeavor."
Beast Boy examined the room, "speaking of Terra, where are the other girls?"
"Raven was taken by Star to the 'mall of shopping'," said Cyborg, making a quote gesture with his hand.
"Well, I guess I'd better get Toyoshi settled in," said Beast Boy, and led the priest towards the guest rooms.


Meanwhile, back at Terra's monument…

The masked spy made its way towards the center of the site. A lone figure stood there, waiting patiently. The spy kneeled before the figure.

"My master," said the spy, "the priest and the boy have returned to the tower. The holy sword is with them."
"I see," said the figure, "well done, my shadow, you are no longer needed."
"Yes, my master," said the spy, and she dematerialized, and was sucked into a gauntlet worn by the figure.
"Now all I have to do is wait. The boy will bring me what I desire," said the figure.

The figure walked to the statue of Terra, and a white smile could be seen being formed in what could be assumed to be its face.

"The priest however, is an x-factor that I cannot allow to continue."


The Following Day…

Toyoshi and Beast Boy could be seen outside the tower's walls, where they were performing a form of meditation. Toyoshi was calm and controlled in his movements, while Beast Boy, like all beginners of such meditation, seemed stiff and clumsy.

"Beast Boy," said Toyoshi, "if you want to use our temple's sword, then I would recommend some training of the mind. You possess the raw talent necessary, but this practice will shape you well."

"What exactly am I shaping?" asked Beast Boy.
"Ki, Beast Boy. Ki will be your tool in using Zantetzuken to its fullest. Rock is shaped by a tool, and ki is your tool with Zantetzuken."
"A little redundant don't you think?" asked Beast Boy.
Toyoshi chuckled, "that tends to be the way lessons are written."

The day consisted of meditation, and then some basic kempo so Beast Boy could also use the sword as a weapon. They practiced "one-draw" by using various rocks along the tower's rocky shore.

Beast Boy was exhausted at the end of the lessons.

"Man," he said, "didn't know a priest had to be so fit all around. All this using my mind is giving me a migraine."
"You're still getting used to it," said Toyoshi. "Tomorrow, I'll teach you the technique for freeing your friend."
Beast Boy nodded with a smile. 'Terra, I'm almost there. Please, wait just a little longer,' he thought, and then retired to bed.

Toyoshi stayed up rather late, as he was used to being the last in his temple to go to bed. He entered the living room to find Robin there, monitoring the city on the computer.

Robin could sense Toyoshi's presence, "so I caught a glimpse of your training with Beast Boy."
"Really?" said Toyoshi. "What were you able to watch?"
"I saw you tossing rocks at him, and Beast Boy slicing them in half in mid-air. Still can't believe it was really happening."
"You have never seen such martial arts before?"

Robin shook his head, "its not that, believe me. It's just, I was grown up taught that such phenomena have a scientifically possible explanation."
"I see. I've been around long enough to realize that no matter how much we progress, science will never be able to explain some of the wonders of our existence."
"But do you really think Beast Boy can help Terra with that sword?" asked Robin.
"I do, but its not about what I think he can do," said Toyoshi, "it's about what he thinks he can do."

"You sound like you think you know the answer to that," said Robin.
"I think he thinks he can do whatever it takes to help the one he cares for," replied Toyoshi. "If you'll excuse me, I have to prepare for tomorrow."


The Following Day…

Beast Boy met Toyoshi outside the tower the following morning. Toyoshi stood in the distance, and there were several large boulders in the pathway to him.

"Beast Boy," he said, "this will see if you can direct your ki. If you can hit this boulder at my feet without touching the other ones along the path, you should be able to pull off your friend's recovery."

"Are you sure about that?" asked Beast Boy, "it looks like there are at least 9 or 10 of these monsters in my way."
"Beast Boy, this will give you enough control so that Zantetzuken will respond to what it is you wish to cut. The user of Zantetzuken must be able to control how his or her ki responds."

Beast Boy took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. He took a look at the path, and tried to memorize the locations of the boulders. 'You can do this BB, think of it like a maze, or a video game. All you have to do is reach the goal.'

"YAHHHH!" cried Beast Boy, as he swung the blade downward. He focused all his attention to the boulder at Toyoshi's feet. He stared at it for several minutes, sweat dripping down his face. Toyoshi looked at his boulder, and sure enough, it started to show cracks, and then split in two. Toyoshi smiled, and signaled Beast Boy's victory with a thumb up.

Beast Boy beamed with delight. "Yes! Go Beast Boy! Killed the boulder!" he said as he danced to himself. Toyoshi came up to Beast Boy and smiled.

"Good job," he said, "I think you can use our sword now."
"Well, what are we waiting for? I want Terra freed right now!" shouted Beast Boy, and ran to get Zantetzuken.


Later that Evening, at Terra's Monument…

Beast Boy and Toyoshi had made their way to Terra. Zantetzuken was held in Beast Boy's trembling hands. After all he did to make it this far, Beast Boy was filled with fear over whether or not this would work. Beast Boy stopped before Terra, and looked at it with the anxiousness of a little boy.

"Beast Boy, just swing Zantetzuken, and let your ki command it to free your friend," said Toyoshi.

"Or, we could skip that frivolous nonsense and you could just hand it over to me," said a voice.

Upon its hearing, Toyoshi turned around, his eyes wide with disbelief. Beast Boy turned around to, to see a figure in a cloak. The figure had two gauntlets on, they were made of ruby-colored steel, and were adorned with an ocean-blue sapphire.

"I would know those gauntlets and that voice anywhere," said Toyoshi.
"Yeah?" said Beast Boy, "So do you mind filling me in?"

"I'll fill you in boy," said the figure. "In the days of Goemon Ishikawa, there was one demon of exceptional strength. Goemon's prowess led to the defeat of that demon, but not before he lodged a piece of the famed blade into the demon's forehead. That is how the creation of the Zantetzuken came to pass."

"So you've come to take it, seeing it as the only way one could ever send you away to Hell forever," said Toyoshi, "isn't that right Velsper?"

"Correct," said the now identified figure. "But also, I've come to dispose of an annoyance."

A spike impaled Toyoshi from behind. Toyoshi coughed up blood in pain, and then collapsed on the cavern floor. The spike retracted to the murderous shadow behind the two. Velsper's right gauntlet glowed, and the shadow was absorbed back inside it.

Beast Boy, in a moment or rage, charged at Velsper with Zantetzuken. Velsper clasped the blade with the flat sides of his hands, and trapped the blade. Velsper kicked Beast Boy in the gut, which sent him flying back without the sword in his hand.

Velsper took Zantetzuken into his hand, and then materialized away.

Beast Boy ran to Toyoshi, where he tried to find a sign of life, but failed miserably.

Beast Boy shouted in pain, frustration, and despair.


That Night at the Tower…

Robin came to Beast Boy's door, where he entered Beast Boy's room to find him staring out the window at the sea below.

"I've sent word of Toyoshi to the temple, it didn't go well, but they will be waiting to retrieve the body," said Robin.
"He taught me a lot in just two days, and then in two seconds he's murdered," said Beast Boy.
"What now Beast Boy?" said Robin.

"Now, I need to find that bastard. I know he's still around here somewhere. I'll find him, it's a chance I've got to take."


How can I just let you walk away,
just let you leave without a trace
When I stand here taking every breath with you, ohoo
You're the only one who really knew me at all

How can you just walk away from me,
when all I can do is watch you leave
'Cos we've shared the laughter and the pain,
and even shared the tears
You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now,
'cos there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me,
just the memory of your face
Take a look at me now,
'cos there's just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against the odds
and that's what I've got to face

I wish I could just make you turn around,
turn around and see me cry
There's so much I need to say to you,
so many reasons why
You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now,
'cos there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me,
just the memory of your face
Take a look at me now,
'cos there's just an empty space
But to wait for you, is all I can do
and that's what I've got to face

Take a good look at me now,
'cos I'll still be standing here
And you coming back to me is against all odds
Its the chance I've got to take, oh, oho

Just take a look at me now

"Against All Odds" by Phil Collins


"Thank You!" To the Following:

Poopy Penquin
Sorry I made you mad. I had a slump in January. I hope you still continue to read.

SSJEasterBunny
Good to hear from you. :) How's your own story doing? I do try to be original, but from now on and again I'll use a name I like. All those names from "Final Trial" are made up on the spot. Velsper though, is from one of my mangas, after a demon, to be ironic. Chaptire was supposed to be spelled Chapitreso 1) I spelled it wrong and 2) I use it because it's more creative than just using part, chapter, etc. Thanks for the review!

tocole
A former fanfic writter eh? Maybe you could give us all a little advice. Still, its nice to hear from another student who writes to pass the time. You however, hope to make it a career, so good luck! Thanks for the review!

KPAAF and till next time!