Teen Titans: A Feudal Fairytale
By: Pakkrat
Chapter 4: Fragments to the Darkness
Note: I do not own the titans, nor can I honestly say I own the villains some characters are modeled after. I take credit for Kamikaze, Binetsu, and Aooni, they were my creations. The other thing I own is imagination, which is all I want to take credit to! Either way, it is way past time to get the next chapter.
Raven kept meditation for some time, calming her nerves from everything. However, again and again the questions flowed in unstoppable floods. 'What else is there? Can we defeat a demon, let alone two of them as one? What does this mean for us, the dream of me and…' Raven stopped chanting to look at the others, they had no real worry it seemed of what happened. Raven frowned, she took it all seriously but the others seemed to be so concerned on ignoring the fact this world killed them all. 'Perhaps that is because they do not want to think about dying, perhaps if they ignore it they can be free of it.' Raven mentally cringed; it was her emotion of fear trying to convince her. 'No, I need to focus again.' Raven knew answers, they were still hidden. She had to search, time was of the essence.
Cyborg was with Miroku talking, they walked away from the group as Miroku wished. Miroku looked behind himself and then to Cyborg. "I have a deep rooted concern friend Cyborg." Miroku paused as he wanted to make the point vividly clear. "Do you see perhaps some feeling of care between Inuyasha and Raven?"
Cyborg looked around, and smirked, "I had my inkling that something was going on. Inuyasha has a thing for Raven, huh?"
Miroku nodded, "It would seem so." They continued walking as they talked. "This ordeal worries me for obvious reasons. Inuyasha has feelings for Kagome." Cyborg agreed by nodding and giving his little grin, "Yet he also has feelings for Kikyo and now Raven. He can not differentiate his feelings though between the three. I honestly am at an end trying to make sense on what to do to help him."
Cyborg knew what Miroku meant; he needed a bit of help. "Look, we can't say who needs who and what, so why not let them decide." Miroku wanted to complain but Cyborg slapped him on the back, "Hey, they either like each other or don't. We can't get in the way man. Inuyasha either likes Raven, or Kagome, or Kikyo; let's leave that choice to them."
Miroku nodded, he guessed it was okay. He continued to hear a rustling. They turned to a green lizard that crawled up a tree. The two laughed at how nervous they were from earlier today and went on. The lizard stopped on a branch and shifted to Beast Boy. His ears were dropped and his face sad. He looked down at the ground as a tear began to break his face. "Raven…" Beast Boy then looked up coldly, his fist shook violently. "Inuyasha…"
"Akai! You did it!" Binetsu leapt from foot to foot in joy, brandishing the glove in his hand like a flag in the wind. "We got the glove! We got the G-L-O-V-E!"
Akai kept watching, now shown by the moonlight. His one large hand was inhuman, a deviation from any human traits he had at one time perhaps. It had wrapped in gauze through the palm and slightly around the wrist. The gauze had the ends flap freely in the breeze similar to the strange fashion of blackened cape wrapped around his body, a living shadow cape it seemed. The ends were like the tips of Binetsu's gloves, living rags that floated up and waved like flames, but more so a living entity to the cape itself. The face was odd, a half face mask fashioned like a skull, and it had a red X formation glowing over the right eye. Why it was unclear but when the cape opened his frame was muscular, yet small as if human. His normal hand had human like features, marked with a red X on the back of a gauzed hand. He was a human, or once had been human now engulfed by a shadow. It was obvious he had a link to the demon Kagekuma but what was still unknown.
"I aim to please." Akai spoke looking to the Biteikotsu blade as if knowing what had to be done, how close it was to being done. "Anything else you need?"
Binetsu looked worriedly at his unconscious master. "Well…" This was difficult, he had the utmost faith in his master but the time was perfect. Tomorrow beckoned the ritual to be fulfilled. "Take this with you." Binetsu tossed the glove back to Akai who now looked puzzled. "There is a second glove and that one is also needed. This glove can hone onto the other with you're shadow energy."
Akai looked over the glove, it was similar to the girl Karasu's actually, and it may have been Karasu's glove. "What exactly is this for? I never heard my master mention these before?"
Binetsu paused in a sweat, there was a plan he and Biteikotsu kept secret from the demons. This was a dangerous person though, Akai was not well known to either of them. The meeting occurred soon after awakening the sword, then he came telling of this manner to awaken the demons inside, Trigonamu and Malkage, in hopes of true god youkai status. Binetsu wanted his master to have that power; he was loyal to the end. Much like all squire demons, squires stuck to their lord and master through all matters. Binetsu turned to his master and frowned saying, "It is important Akai, to open a portal to the worlds and then free them. We will use those items to open the worlds and then we can travel inside." Binetsu grinned, his nerve returned as he excitedly smacked his hands together like a young child. "We'll get you're masters out and then escape to concur all of Japan! It will be oodles of fun!"
Akai looked at Binetsu oddly, speculating the sincerity of the story. "Reasonable." Akai turned around mentally noting 'Yet quite suspicious' "I will take the gloves and return them." He put the one on his human like hand, at times like these he wished that he had two human hands, though if it was not for the other one… "Hold on!" Binetsu slapped himself in the head, how dumb was he to forget, "The second glove is guarded by children." He spun his staff quickly; stopping on the red feather he screamed "Konpai!" and created a red mist that formed into an egg like structure. He handed it over smiling, "That will keep the twerps under control. The one I feel you may need to still watch out for is called Raven, the last time Kagekuma called that girl Karasu, whatever that means?"
Akai's X marked eye seemed to pulsate a short charge, the eye slink to a snarl, "Karasu? Still alive?" Akai started to bob his shoulders, pitching his head he let out a large roar of laughter, "Dreams do come true," He vanished slowly adding, "or perhaps nightmares."
Tsuchi ran on Kassha to the laughter, she arrived too late to see Akai, he had vanished. She did find Binetsu and Biteikotsu. "What happened to him?"
Binetsu looked over remembering they had been summoned to assist Kamikaze, perhaps he could use them to his advantage. Kassha startled Binetsu as he began snarling, his gaze constantly on the Biteikotsu blade. "Kassha! Stop that!" Tsuchi demanded. He obeyed with one groan towards the blade; Binetsu kicked the cloak over the blade skillfully hiding it from the girl as the cause of her monsters rage. Tsuchi calmed the familiar and turned to Binetsu, He gave a weak grin saying, "You're pet must have ate some bad sushi or something."
Tsuchi ignored the idiotic statement and asked, "What happened?"
Binetsu explained the events to his "best knowledge." Actually, he said that the kids attacked and killed Kamikaze meaning they failed in their duties. This made Tsuchi nearly kick herself off her pet in disappointment. "Well, I guess we need to get revenge for him."
Binetsu nodded, "Exactly, but in the mean time you can work for me and my master. We will of course pay you the money owed by Kamikaze and a bonus."
Though it was a lie, Tsuchi grinned widely as she imagined the joy she would have with more money. She agreed and went to find the others. Binetsu rubbed his hands together evilly, "Perfectly wicked, this is going to go so well."
Aooni now stumbled through the trees, Binetsu looked up to the behemoth and smiled, "Hey big guy, where you been?"
Aooni frowned, illness evident he buckled onto his knees and fell atop of Binetsu. Binetsu screamed from under the large brute with a muffled voice before stopping to sigh. "On Mof Na…"
Raven sat with her legs crossed and arms perched in meditation. Inuyasha had his eyes on her the whole time, wondering why he felt the way he did for her. Then he spotted Kagome, she was smiling and laughing with Robin and Starfire. Robin was blushing and by the way Starfire made a cat like call, he figured it was that date he had with some evil cat girl demon named kitten. They talked on that event in the bath, though neither actually had an idea why it came up. Inuyasha turned his frown on to Kagome; she was beautiful and intelligent, though a pain she had been close to him. He turned to Raven; she was the opposite of those traits aside from the beautiful one. Raven was nice to look at but not the way of Kagome. Where Kagome was a sweet innocence, Raven was a strong mysticism. Inuyasha shook his head quickly, he then looked off to the distance ignoring all else here.
Raven was deep in meditation, but it went very little way. She was trying to see if she could see the past, a practiced art for her but hardly used. Raven knew if she had an event, or name to concentrate on she may be able to make the connection, get into the point of time she needs. Raven thought, Karasu may have worked but other events like the conception may occur, she would rather not know what Trigonamu of this world looked like compared to her own father. The others played a role, but honestly she had no idea when they began to join Karasu in this world. Raven thought over Kagekuma, but she was still resistant on finding what made him or of being targeted to that beast.
Raven then was struck, 'Karite? I remember that name was of the man that wrote the book…' Raven channeled on that very name, and soon enough an answer, 'Who is there?' came back. Raven was now meditating in a shack with a loosened sand bed in a dipped circle in front of her. Raven looked at the sand, it was white sand, very rare, and had several stones augmenting the surface's calm and dune like surface. She looked at how at the end were five steps small and un walk able by people. They were separating the ground she sat on from the sand pit. The steps came up and around the sand pit leading to another figure across from her and this pit. She noticed his elderly hands on his knees, his torn yet dignified robe of brown, but having a fine golden trim around the hood, cuffs, and bottom. This was the man Karite, and only when meeting him did it hit her who he was. Karite was a demon but not any normal demon but a demon of special purpose. His one hand moved to his chin where he started to caress it in debate obviously recognizing Raven.
"Karasu? I thought you dead." Raven jumped, she was killed? Wait, not her the other her. Raven shook her head saying, "No I'm Raven, and I was summoned here by a book you wrote!"
Karite seemed to stop in his tracks, a sweat broke his brow, "Oh… you must be quite upset with me."
Raven shook her head; she was but now was not the time. "I am really busy; I need to know some things badly."
Karite shrugged, "Fine, what exactly?"
"First, who are you? What kind of demon are you?"
Karite was suddenly floating, "Demon! I am no demon! I am a Youkai, the magical ones. We are not all defined to demons little girl." Karite was still cross legged as he floated off to the walls. The walls had grooves full of books and she bowed her head in apology. "First of all, apologizing is not necessary." He turned with a near laugh in his voice, "You're not exactly one to discriminate the demons from the spirits, a sad thing really. Seeing as you're half demon, I can let it pass for a silly mistake."
Raven nodded, "Thank you. So who are you?"
"I am Karite, a simple every day spirit. I collect the logs of the spirits, their destinations; simple things really." Karite floated up and down, skimming several books with his elderly hands. "Karasu and I were acquaintances from her mother, I taught her the ways of channeling her energy and powers. I never dreamed…" Karite halted; he seemed to lower his head in shame, "That her father would actually use her that way, that monster."
Raven asked, "What is the book for? Why were we brought here?"
"The book was to bring you here to do something." Karite turned about, "I don't really know what the reason was. You'll figure it out later probably."
"You're lying!" Raven jumped up making Karite point his palm. She stopped and slowly sat back down. Angering this being may not be a wise thing. She waited as he continued skimming his books to finally find one. He left out a small moan of pleasure as he floated back with the book in hand.
"This is a record to Karasu, her life basically until her death and reincarnation. Let's see, where to start from…" Raven looked worried; she was not in the mood to take another trip in time again. "I saw Kagekuma, on a mountain or something."
Karite nodded, "I know, I had that dealt with properly." He flipped a page saying, "These are the personal events, important to understanding Trigonamu, he is the worst of the two beasts."
Raven paused; the idea that she would see certain things bothered her. Karite looked at Raven and realized she had resentment for Trigonamu like Karasu. He spoke, "Actually, I can inform you and skip those… pieces."
Raven nodded and smiled, "Thank you."
"Okay, here we go." Karite opened the book, "The story of Trigonamu begins with his reign over the Kagejin. Kagejin were shadow people bore from another realm drifting between this and the realm of spirits. Fighting Trigonamu was thought impossible by that power and seemed indefinable. Than a woman, the mother of Karasu, tried to assassinate Trigonamu. Failure was the outcome, his prize the woman. As he was conceiving Karasu," Raven cringed, "He did not notice the second dagger the woman held. She plunged it deep into his chest and struck the heart. However, he was so in tuned with the world of the Kagejin he separated his spirit inside the child bore, and to his world of the Kagejin."
Raven interrupted with a confused look, "What is this? Kagejin, Shadow People? Trigonamu has some kind of shadow men fighting for him?"
"Well, in a way he does." Karite closed the book. "They are actually parts of him, trapped beyond this realm. Trigonamu is one of the worst demons in this realm, transcending the very fabric of time itself." Karite gingerly laid the book into the sand pit. "I wish I could tell more on Trigonamu but he is beyond even my own comprehension. He had a loyal Kagejin he called Malkage, a dragon shadow he forged from his own sorcery."
Raven knew this, Malkage must be the variation of Malchior, but wasn't he called Kagekuma? "Malkage in a fit of rage tried to destroy the woman that killed his master, but was trapped by the young monk Roreth, which leaves to Karasu. Her birth, and now the events you must see for yourself."
Karite moved his hands across the sand slowly, making it somehow ripple. Raven gasped as the sand slowly dragged her under, "What are you doing?" Karite chuckled, "Showing you the matter that made Karasu different from you." Karite continued as Raven screamed, "Why didn't you tell me about this?" Karite laughed, "You never asked."
Raven was buried and she was somewhat surprised she was awake; she slowly looked around and saw…
Beast Boy returned his nostrils flared the second he heard Inuyasha let out a small remark about human fighters, directed at Robin and Sango who talked about those things. Beast Boy sat down to have Shippo lunge onto his neck laughing, "Welcome back B.B.!"
Beast Boy frowned let a small sigh sneak out. Shippo frowned, "Beast Boy, are you all right?"
Beast Boy grabbed Shippo and said, "I'm just tired, let's play later okay?"
Shippo nodded in understanding but was sad, his friend was sad. Beast Boy looked at Raven as she was levitating in meditation, disconnected from the world he now viewed her by. His stare was then connected to Inuyasha who also was looking; a small glint of jealousy broke from his brow as he let out a growl like some sort of dog.
Inuyasha felt Kagome at his sleeve; he turned and blushed, "Kagome?"
Kagome smiled saying, "Thank you for earlier, when you tried to save me from that thing. It was really heroic you know?"
Inuyasha smirked, "I know, I just did it because…" He thought, why really? He cared for her, loved her perhaps. Kagome looked up intently as he seemed to be contemplating his emotions. She realized his demon blood made it tough, knowing the emotion you have, we feeling, so difficult it was maddening. Kagome remembered her discussion with Starfire and said, "Inuyasha," he looked at her as she laid her head on his shoulder making him blush, "I know, just leave it at that."
Inuyasha looked at the ground, now putting his arm around her. 'What is this? Why is it so hard to understand?'
Starfire pushed the fire with a twig as Sango watched. Robin was working on some energy disks figuring he could use them in the battle to come. Starfire stirred the fire to have Robin say, "Star leave it be. You keep it up you'll make it go out."
Starfire smiled leaving the stick at the fire. Sango sprawled out and watched the two now sit close, yet back to back. "Robin, it is glorious is it not?" Robin looked at her and smiled, "It sure is," he shook his head following her gaze to the sky, "The stars…" he looked at her again, "all the stars are beautiful."
Starfire grinned in the sky, pointing up as she focused with one eye, "That would be Tameran, if this realm has Tameran. I am positive." Robin looked up and smiled, "This night is special Robin, we are here with friends new and old, with a fire, and a clear sky."
Robin smiled, "Yeah I see what you mean." Robin looked at her and said with a bit of pain in his chest, "I would feel terrible if something happened to you."
Starfire looked stunned, "Or Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy." Starfire looked more upset than relaxed. "I'm the leader; I'm supposed to protect you all. If something happened because I could not stop this whole terrible thing, I never could forgive myself."
"Robin, we will succeed, that we will!" Starfire rubbed his shoulder "This will be like challenges before, together we will overcome them."
Robin felt her let go, almost about to reach out and hug her as he turned away and worked on his weapons. "Thanks Star, that means a lot to me."
Starfire smiled, "It means much to me as well. This night should have food, I feel the skinless larvae packs of pork would suffice, or what Cyborg calls, the Franks!"
Robin looked puzzled, then smiled, "Oh, you mean hotdogs."
Starfire turned to accidentally brush her hand with his. Robin looked as she did to their hands, before quickly pulling them away and going to their own activities. Robin worked on weapons, Starfire watched the stars. Starfire turned to Robin and he glimpsed at her making them both look away smiling with embarrassment on their faces. Sango watched and smiled, obvious they had teenage love. She turned to the flames and watched, a vision of Kohaku her brother came to mind. She sighed, remembering the way Miroku helped her in this terrible pain. "Miroku…" she said slowly, she often felt an attraction to him. His actions towards her were perhaps lecherous, but honest in a way. Miroku was raised in a tradition to his father and forefathers. His constant groping was a by product of family heritage really. The thing is, though he did this at first with strange women, only with Sango did he continue this action. He seemed to only do it with her constantly, she was his personal interest. Love was a difficult thing, so perhaps love was in his actions.
Sango then sighed thrusting the stick to make the cinders break for greater flame. "I just… don't know."
Shippo looked at them all; Beast Boy viewed Raven in a weak smile, then Inuyasha in slight rage. Inuyasha was looking at Kagome and Raven in great confusion. Kagome looked at Inuyasha with admiration, as Sango sadly poked the flames. Starfire and Robin, they shared bashful looks as they acted innocently. Shippo turned to Kirara who looked at him laying on all fours, its front paws crossed. "Gee Kirara, these grown-up things grown-ups do are confusing and childish."
Kirara let out a yawned, "Merrw." Before laying its head down. Shippo smiled as he pet her ears, "We're lucky, we just go with the flow." He let out a small laugh as Kirara purred from his affection. "So what do you think about this Kagekuma stuff? Scary huh?"
Kirara kept purring, not acting on the kitsune's question. "I know one thing Kirara; we have to fight really hard to protect our friends this time. I know I'll be counting on you as much as you'll be counting on me!" He grinned widely as the cat creature stretched and rubbed up to him.
Sesshomaru was lying next to Kamikaze healing. Kamikaze stirred slowly, his one eye bandaged over he looked out asking, "What happened?"
Sesshomaru asked, "Was that what I was to ask of you?"
Kamikaze frowned; he remembered slowly his son, gone, the monster Biteikotsu and some other beast. "I see, the shadow monster."
Sesshomaru turned his head slowly, "Excuse me?"
Kamikaze lifted his hand; the black fan began twirling, "Shadow, Dark, Evil? The light fan is profaned as the evil side of Yin and Yang, yet this beast was a shadow, the Yang of the Yin. My philosophy is from my home land, do you know of China?"
Sesshomaru nodded, "China, a land to the west. Traditional, and even covered by oni and Youkai like this land of Japan, it is difficult to see a being from that land here."
Kamikaze smiled, "True, but I am such a being. The girl with the hood, I feel she is in danger."
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, "How so?"
"Well, the monster called her by and odd name, Karasu; I feel that is for his memory of her. She will be targeted by the beast. I can not assist, but perhaps you could."
Sesshomaru growled out from his voice, "What would that accomplish?"
"I am not a fool. My son was killed, I want vengeance. However, revenge is a sickening thing. I will take personal joy in assisting in stopping the monster, if not able to get revenge upon it myself."
Sesshomaru looked at Kamikaze; his stare was constant to the sky. "Wise, yet strange. I admit a demon from this China must be a strange breed."
Kamikaze laughed, letting his head bend back with his neck, "Perhaps, but it is my way not the way of my land. Go, save that girl, or else the monster will win. Besides, you mentioned her in you're sleep."
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, "I know not why." He stood up slowly, "That girl has been in my mind several times. That will be dealt with now." Sesshomaru gave a cold glare to his subjects who were coming at him, "I will find out why she has been on my mind from her own mouth."
Sesshomaru ran full speed. The two subjects watched in glee at his recuperation as they saw him scoop his weapons and flew past them. Rin smiled on as she turned to Kamikaze, he was resting now. "Thank you, Sesshomaru-sama is healed again."
Kamikaze smiled, "My pleasure, time to rest so I may assist later on."
Jaken left out a small pant of relief, "Lord Sesshomaru is safe, how good. Let us now rest as well Rin."
Rin smiled sitting in wait for her lord, "I will rest when Sesshomaru-sama returns."
Raven was in a strange room, books everywhere, she was in Karite's room. Karite was with a man wrapped in cloaks and had a metal shell over his head. "Rorek?" Raven recognized the caring eyes above wrapped lips and nose, as the eyes of Rorek, the magician that trapped Malchior. "No, Roreth, that's this world's variation." She smiled, he still reminded her of the good feelings, the happiness, not the pain of Malchior's lies. He had a robe, his body wrapped in gauze from the chest and the robe loosely hanging from his shoulders. His right arm was not in the robe, allowing his slim physique to show through the one side. His robe was blue, the same blue as the girl at his feet wearing a hooded robe. Raven gasped in recognition, her other self as a child, Karasu. Karasu was meditating in an attempt to control the powers.
This was a simple one, moving the books. She moved them from one shelf to another. Roreth turned his head and said, "Karasu, Karite is coming."
Karasu stopped and sat whistling, Karite floated in with a long beard, falling far down to the floor. "Karasu? What did you do?" the way it dragged on the ground was like a serpent slowly crawling itself across the floor.
Karasu looked around, no emotion on her face really, "Um… nothing."
Karite floated to his one shelf and screamed "Blast you two!"
Karasu and Roreth began laughing, Raven smiled at that scene. Karite started moving book by thought saying, "Accursed magi! I wish I could banish you, but the young one is like a daughter to me."
Karasu smirked, "Oh, so am I old as dirt too?"
Karite stopped, a red vein imagined to pulsate on his head, "Yes, just like a terrible daughter."
The two laughed again as the scene disappeared leaving the room empty. Raven was slightly sad; it was not like her child hood. True there was work, but never much joy like that. She wondered how this care free world of Karasu changed, making the heartless, cold Karasu that turned her back and heart to Yajuu-kun. The room was now darkened except for a small flash at the doors at the far wall. Raven saw young Karasu looking through these doors. Raven realized that in this dream world, or reenactment, she was able to see events by wanting to see them. "I wish Karite told me that sooner…"
Raven watched the young Karasu peeking through a crack in the door; the doors were between two shelves. Raven listened to the words of Karite and Roreth through the door, "Even so, fighting that man now is madness. It is obvious he has given his being to Trigonamu, he is a disciple and that makes him dangerous!"
Roreth nodded, "I know, train Karasu. I am sure if I fight Sure-to now, I can distract him. If I do not return, promise me you will do all in you're power to help her finish the monster."
Karite sighed, "If I must. Be careful Roreth."
Roreth ran off through a strange vortex, Karasu sniffled watching him leave. Time passed again, and the scenes were of Karasu constantly floating by a window in search of someone. The outside world changed from seasons, and the scenes stopped in the point of winter, snow covering the outside. Karite came in floating half unattached. Karite dropped a helmet onto the ground. Karasu beamed as she flew out the doors and looked at the vortex in awe, she was 16, she had grown to look much like Raven, but her hair was long and fell through the hood. Karasu looked on and saw nothing, no one. "Roreth?"
Karite sighed, "No, only his helmet." He held up a necklace with a raven on it, "Also this, it was yours I thought."
Karasu smirked, "I gave it to him before he left." Karasu grabbed it, then screamed, tossing her head and gripping the sides. The rooms shifted to a field of snow. Raven was watching now in Karasu's eyes. Karasu turned to breathing, Roreth stood with a sword drawn and his body cut, bandages now ripped from him and left standing bare from the waist up. "Sure-to! Filthy beast!"
Sure-to turned, his back had been at Roreth as he also had a sword, a sword burning with flames around its blade. Raven recognized that was Slade, though another worldly him. His right eye was replaced by a strange S shaped glow, "Roreth, honestly. To have come all this way in death?"
"I will not let you harm her! I will kill you, and then abolish the shadow of Trigonamu."
"Abolish?" Sure-to turned around, "To abolish that shadow you would need to kill the girl. She is his shadow, she is his vassal." Sure-to pointed the blade out, "To stop that which had begun years ago, you have to kill me."
Roreth launched forward, his blade flashed with Sure-to's as they passed each other in a dashed slice. Roreth stood slightly slouched forward, his sword shaking in front of himself. Sure-to stood with his sword steady. He stood up sheathing his bloody sword, "Roreth, you are pathetic."
Roreth fell forward on his knees, he held his stomach as it poured a crimson tide, "I… can not… lose…"
"Well, you did." Sure-to turned adding, "Miserably I mig-." A sword was flung deep into his right eye. Roreth watched a smile on his lips until Sure-to tore the blade out revealing the S burned brighter with the blood. "No I… I never realized… he was… controlling…" Roreth fell dead, his eyes glazed where Karasu stood. Sure-to walked over and grabbed the necklace and helmet, "Trash, where is the challenge I was promised? I want a true challenge Trigonamu!"
Karasu returned slowly. She fumed, her shadow powers tossed books from the walls, caused torches to flare high. She flew up to a second floor and into her room grabbing several things.
"Karasu, please. The man that killed Roreth is waiting for you."
Karasu stood up flinging a cloak over her body, her hair was long, falling at the sides. Karasu turned saying, "He will soon realize he should have not waited, he should have been hiding."
"Karasu, you are controlling you're emotions well." The doors opened mentally, Karite floated behind slowly, "However, you are also ignoring and isolating them. I feel that is not wise, you're emotions are that which separates you from the beast Trigonamu."
Karasu turned about, making Karite halt. "I don't care. I'm going to get revenge for Roreth."
"Revenge is not the answer! Trust me Karasu!"
Raven watched as Karasu left in the vortex, Karite narrowed his eyes, "I can not allow her to die out there." He turned making the whiskers on his face crawl out and strike a statue, "Ishi, assist her! I give you a second life to help that girl."
The stone titan, Ishi walked out slowly, he smiled saying, "Booya!"
Raven blinked at it, so similar to her life, but different. Roreth was never a major part till Malchior; Cyborg was not a person she met quickly in life. She shook her head; this was not her world, why did she have such difficulty seeing this? Raven watched as Karasu walked the small rural town asking, "Do you know anyone by the name Sure-to?"
People shook their heads no; even if they did they would not act on it. She passed eight men walking as they stopped circling her. Karasu instinctively realized what was happening. "Okay, you all must know Sure-to." She looked about as they all had whicker cone hats, black robes flapping around their bodies in shadow, and purple scarves around their arms. "Tell me where he is."
"Why would we do that?" asked a young male voice. She turned to a ninth figure now appearing. He wore a black robe loosely fitted around his frame. He had spiked black hair, a belt of strange stars etched with X formations from each tip, and a half skull face mask, fixed with a glowing X branding on his right eye. "My master has sent us to kill you Karasu, not assist you."
Karasu frowned, "I should have know, a coward Sure-to is to send a boy for the job of a man."
"This boy is a man wretch!" The man in the mask screamed, "I am Akai, the apprentice to Sure-to himself! Ready to see the fate of those who challenge the might of our youkai lord, Trigonamu!"
Karasu sneered, "Weak men follow weak youkai!"
The eight shrouded men leapt out as Karasu created a black field dome. Raven recognized it as her own dome powers. The dome expanded to toss them all back. Their rags came off showing the tightly laded men like beings, scrawny bodies that swiftly sprawled up putting their arms out rigid and fingers pointed from their palms. They were not human, machines given life by shadow energy, "… Kagejin, just my luck." Karasu let out a moan. Raven realized their similarity to the drones of Slade, mainly fitted with black stitch skin like dolls; their appearances were similar yet with small difference. The stitches were in random places, allowing for two white eyes where their heads were.
The drones ran at Karasu and she used her hand shields to block the stabs and slashes. Karasu used her fields to then crush in one drone skull, making a blackened mist spill out and sizzle in the light. She caused three others to then smash into each other forcefully making them explode. The four left now moved around her slowly, arms still jagged as they seemed to analyze her. She turned to the one behind her not knowing the one in front was striking. She was not able to block but luckily a large rock smashed the drone inches from her face. Rock was not actually correct, a stone man had leapt and slammed into the drone, "Need some help?"
Karasu was stunned, a large stone man looked at her smiling, "Well, guess that's a yes. The name is Ishi by the way."
Ishi grabbed two other drones and crushed their heads together tossing them into the third that dodged before they exploded. The last drone scuttled like a crab, its eyes wide in horror. A chain wrapped its neck causing it to then snap the drone and allow it to falter. Akai walked forward swinging his chain, "I'm starting to like this."
Akai flung the chain catching Ishi; Ishi struggled as Karasu flew over the two channeling her energy to then slam a large tree at Akai. Akai pounced back letting go of the chain and tossing stars at Karasu. Karasu dodged to then have Akai disappear on her. "Where did he go?"
Ishi frowned, "I wish I knew, he just seemed to vanish." Then he felt a kick to his side. Ishi turned around and felt a punch to his jaw, "Yo! He's over here!" he screamed that as a final strike knocked him over. Karasu flung a barrel over hitting something invisible. Akai looked out with the barrel of flour now covering him in the fine powder. "You have got to be kidding me!" Akai fumed as his right hand started to change. It grew three long fingers, having claws of immense size. Karasu gasped in realization he was possessed by a Kagejin. Karasu flew out at him screaming "Azerath Metreon Zinthos!" and blasting a strong beam of energy at the mask making the red X mark slowly blink and then burn out. The mask fell revealing a blind boy slowly stumbling his head shaking from exhaustion. "Wha-what happened to me?"
Raven frowned, "You were possessed by a shadow creature, a Kagejin. You should rest."
Akai smiled, "Oh, uh thanks I guess."
Raven looked stunned, "So Red X was actually a shadow creature?" She frowned, "Trigonamu has some strange helpers."
Karasu grabbed the mask, "I trapped this one, I couldn't kill him. Why? Why can I not kill a pure Kagejin? Wasn't Sure-to's eye glowing? Like this monster?" Karasu gripped her free hand into a fist, causing a strong breeze to blow through, "Trigonamu…"
Raven watched Ishi take Akai to a small hut. Raven followed to see Akai was now being fitted with new clothes by a strange red headed girl with peach skin. "This seems very much you're style!" The chipper girl looked astonishingly like Starfire, but she had human skin? "Do you not believe so?"
Akai narrowed his eyes, "Uh, what color is it?"
"Can you not tell?"
Akai frowned, "No, I'm blind."
"Oh, I apologize." This smile continued as she explained the red kimono robe, red head band, the outfit of Komadori. She even referenced the fact it was called "Akai no Komadori" or "Robin of red." "It will fit you well!"
"Komadori, I like that, call me Komadori." He sat up grabbing her hand, he looked puzzled as she pulled away, then feeling his fingers he was shocked, "Powder?"
"I… I am not a human, a youkai." Sutakasai frowned, sitting next to Komadori. "You are going to run, and fear me for my odd looks."
"Um, first of all I can't see that kind of stuff, literally." He smiled gripping her hands, "Secondly, you sound too beautiful to consider odd. Sure a little off beat perhaps but not odd."
Sutakasai smiled, "Thank you…"
Raven rolled her eyes, "Gee, now I wonder when Yajuu-kun comes in." Raven slapped her hands over her mouth too late as the scene changed to a road where the four were traveling together. They had stopped next to a bank near a stream as a trumpeting sound occurred on the road. They turned to see a green elephant storming down on Kagejin stitch men. The elephant crushed them and tossed them as it stormed. The last few scurried away slowly as the elephant trumpeted again at them. Karasu landed jolting them and made the last few then fall to shambles. The elephant looked at her, turning slightly red at the cheeks. Sutakasai floated over saying tearfully, "Poor creature, what would those ruffians want with one as you?"
Komadori said, "I don't think it can tell us Suta."
The elephant turned causing all to jump as it formed to a human like boy, "Actually, I can."
The group screamed "Goblin!"
The green boy's ears twitched, "Hey! I'm a changeling, not a goblin!"
Karasu sighed, "Well, What did they want with you?"
Yajuu-kun frowned, "Um, I guess I can't tell you after all." He gave a large grin of innocence as the others gave looks. Ishi said, "Let's bring him along, we need all the help we can get."
Yajuu-kun blinked in a dumbfounded look, "Sorry, but I'm looking to help an adventurous hero save the realm from the evil of Sure-to!"
The group looked puzzled as the green boy shifted into a muscular man, wearing a hooded cape, "This hero," he spoke in a deep voice, "is noble and strong, capable of fighting an army of Kagejin stitch men by the dozen! He's a powerful magi! He's a dark avenger! He's a…"
Ishi smirked, "He's a she."
"Oh yeah, he's a…" Yajuu-kun's transformation deflated, making him sputter around the air as Karasu frowned, "I'm the one you're looking for, my name is Karasu."
Yajuu-kun leapt over, eyeing her. "No way, how can that be?" he poked her shoulder, "I mean," he poked her forehead, "I heard the guy," he poked her left thigh, "Was huge and…" he was about to poke her chest when she grabbed his finger and fumed flames from her eyes, "Okay! Try that, I decapitate you!"
Yajuu-kun smirked, turning into a skunk and lifting his tail she dropped him so he turned to normal. "Alright, I'll bite. So I can come along?"
Karasu frowned, "Why not? We could use you're help."
The group started to chat as Raven smiled, "Beast Boy…" He was so like this care-free and playful. Raven asked, "So what happens when they meet Slade?"
The scene changed, the titans of the feudal era were fighting Sure-to, Slade, in a room with a large window and furniture like a palace. Slade leapt about blocking all attacks. His own fire powers he used to fly out of reach and then blast any titan leaving themselves open. Karasu flew after as Slade suddenly stopped grabbing her throat, "Karasu! Why fight me! I am the deliverer of you're heritage, you're homage! Give to that essence, that power, give in to the essence of Trigonamu!"
Karasu screamed, blasting Slade with a large jolt. His S kept glowing brighter each time she let out her rage. Komadori was able to sense the energy, "Karasu! You have to destroy the mark! Like you did with me!"
Karasu looked down; she remembered the battle with Akai. "He's right…" She turned to Slade seeing the body of the man that killed her beloved Roreth. She had a crush on him before he left. "He killed Roreth, he needs to pay!"
She attacked again, "Karasu!" Komadori screamed hearing more fighting. Sutakasai screamed as Kagejin minions started to attack now. Komadori turned screaming, "If you were our friend ever, you have to stop that mark now! He's possessed!"
Karasu dodged a blast as Slade screamed, "Do not listen girl, kill me and forget those silly friends of yours! Who are they? They are merely a distraction." Slade narrowed his eyes, "I'm the one you want, the one who killed you're weak friend Roreth."
Karasu screamed as a hawk flew between them, 'Karasu!' Yajuu-kun spoke mentally to her, 'You need to help us. We are you're friends, you're family! Please, we love you!'
Karasu stopped, the extra eyes that had been starting to open on her fore head suddenly stopped, closing over. Slade slapped the bird away making it caw in pain. "Accursed fowl! Strike me witch!"
Karasu shook her head, she struck out and hit his eyes, Slade screamed as a large amount of energy dispersed from his eye and made a shockwave unweaving the Kagejin. Ishi let out a small pant saying, "Talk about close."
Slade fell to the ground on his knees as the titans circled around him. He looked up, a mad look in his one eye, "Mark my words, though Trigonamu is no longer controlling my actions I still will defeat all of you!" he flung a smoke bomb on the ground disappearing. Karasu rolled her eyes, "Great, so now we have a crazy guy after us, and my crazed dad."
Yajuu-kun smirked wrapping his arm around her neck, "We sure do know how to get them!"
Karasu glared at Yajuu-kun who had a small sweat drop look. Komadori and Sutakasai stood laughing with each other as Ishi slapped Komadori's back in a job well done. Raven blinked, the similarity, it was more than just her and the titans to these titans. Recognition of Miroku as he struck Sango on her back, though his was her bottom and Ishi struck Komadori on his shoulders. Sango's laughing with Kagome much like the laughter of Sutakasai and Komadori. The humorous looks of Shippo and Yajuu-kun to the forceful nature of Karasu and Inuyasha. Raven gasped, their the same!
Raven then was ready for a good question, "Malkage, Kagekuma, how did it happen, the merging of Trigonamu and Malkage to Kagekuma?"
The scene was Karasu alone; she was in a fettle position as a book she never noticed seemed to be sitting in the room she chose to live in. After defeating Slade, they took his pagoda as his own, making it their home where they protected the province from evil youkai and oni. Karasu opened the book and found a picture of Roreth; "Roreth?" there was also a picture of a dragon like monster. It was immense, powerful looking, having the body of a serpent with four fingered claws. Its horns were like limbs branching out in many directions. Its face had long whiskers that fell far behind the head as it was flying through the air with its large lion like head snapping to Roreth. Karasu frowned; it was like any Japanese dragon, only a shadow. "Roreth, what is this?"
"Do you really wish to know?" said the voice of Roreth. Karasu was stunned as the book turned to a picture of her beloved childhood crush, Roreth's eyes. "I secretly hid this book with a part of my self inside, in hopes you, my dearest Karasu would save me from a death from the hands of the wretched Trigonamu."
Karasu seemed to brighten, "I knew you would not leave me! What must I do?"
Roreth seemed to laugh, "Nothing difficult, I will walk you through all the steps."
Karasu nodded, as he listed ingredients for magic. She flew off to begin, not noticing a second set of yellow eyes began glowing above Roreths. "Malkage, Karasu will revive you and that will give me a chance at making a physical body again. I must have a willing body that can not fight my influence. Make sure, that it is Karasu's blood and body I have." The eyes of Roreth turned red, "As you wish my lord, all is in place."
Raven watched in disgust, to see herself being tricked again. She wondered of her friends, the ones in the real world. Were they safe?
"So now we work for Binetsu?" Souansha asked working in his cart. Jinkusu shrugged, looking at all the metal contraptions. "It would seem so." She touched some dangling legs asking, "Why so many of these spider legs?"
Souansha sighed, "Because, toadstools like to smash em in a fight. Manmosu can only do so much so I help when he needs it." He grinned, "That and they make me taller."
Jinkusu snickered, "You are relatively short."
Souansha looked hurt, "Um, yeah."
Jinkusu looked down giving him a smile, "I didn't mean it that way." She nudged him in the back of the head, "You're cute short."
Souansha blushed as he welded something to burn his finger, he screamed and flew into Jinkusu's arms, she blushed as he was whimpering in her arms, "Aw, did you hurt yourself?"
He looked up and started melting to the floor. The blob gurgled saying, "Yeah…"
A knock came form outside, "You two hurry up!" Manmosu was jumping up and down, "I wanna go cause some trouble!"
The two ran outside to see Kurokasai and Manmosu; they smiled to the two blushing partners. "Well," Kurokasai asked, "What were you doing in there?"
Jinkusu whipped her hand, "Nothing concerning you!"
Souansha smiled, "Yeah so buzz off!" he clanked his new legs out and followed with Jinkusu before they looked at each other, blushed, and turned different directions. Manmosu smirked to Kurokasai, "My brother, the lady killer."
Kurokasai laughed, "No, you're a lady killer." She rubbed into him, he smiled, "Sure am baby."
Slade landed near by, he asked, "Where is Tsuchi?"
Manmosu shrugged, "No clue."
Slade turned up to Manmosu, "You're lying."
Manmosu stood up crossing his arms, "So what if I am?"
Slade slunk his eyes back. Slade grabbed Manmosu by the arm and tossed him to the side. Kurokasai watched Manmosu fling through several trees before turning more pale to Slade, "Uh, she's gone ahead to fight those kids. We're getting ready to follow along."
Slade turned to the trees, "I feel… he's in there. That monster is so close."
Slade made a move towards the trees as Kurokasai grabbed him, "Hold on, is she in trouble?"
"Trouble is understating the situation!" He pulled away to storm through the trees. Kurokasai looked stunned, "Guys! We have to get going!"
The heroes were talking, acting normal. They did not notice a shadow slowly slither through the trees like an unattached spirit. It stopped moving to form from a shadow to Akai. Akai looked at the heroes and stopped seeming to gleam his X formation in the direction of the hooded girl in meditation. "Karasu?" Akai seemed to lessen his delight, "No it seems someone slightly different. Trigonamu must have some information." Akai slowly dissipated to his shadow form slithering down the tree and some distance from the hero camp. He turned to normal moving his claw hand emanate a red X that forged to four golden eyes at the tips of the X. "Yes?" Akai looked back at the camp, "Information. This girl looks like her, but very different. She feels very powerful."
The eyes narrowed angrily, "I would not be surprised. She is a liability, kill her."
Akai looked to his master, "Do you not need a vassal still?" Trigonamu scolded his eyes at Akai, "Do I need suggestions by a low beast as you?" Akai flinched lowering his head, "However, yes a vassal is necessary for my plans… force her to the state of shadow, much as we did to Karasu." Akai nodded, letting the X deteriorate, then shaking his claw he said sourly, "Soon as I'm done with him, I'll be free of this duty."
Akai looked back to the heroes, "I need a plan, a way of breaking them into factions." Cyborg and Miroku returned with food, fruits and such, Cyborg brandished a boar. Beast Boy let one last stare at Inuyasha who ran over smiling at the feast, slightly drooling from the mouth. "Talk about convenient, Yajuu-kun."
Beast Boy had been in deep thought to Raven when Cyborg came in screaming, "Look what we got! The greatest bundle of food ever!"
Starfire squealed joyfully, "A Tameranian feast?"
Cyborg frowned, small sweat boiled on his brow with memories of their last visit, "Uh, something like but not totally Star."
Inuyasha ran over drooling, "Wow, I can't believe all this food."
Shippo landed to Inuyasha's shoulder drooling, "Yeah, so much good food."
Beast Boy snarled internally, asking himself in a low whisper "Good? Guess he figures eating an innocent boar is fine and dandy. How can Raven a girl so much more sophisticated even begin to like that guy?"
"I agree." Said Akai behind Beast Boy, "He certainly has the barbaric attitude and unrefined nature undeserving you're dear Raven. You should not allow some dog to have her, but instead destroy him."
Beast Boy blinked, was that his mind? "Uh, destroy? I think that is a little overboard."
"Is it?" Akai watched rasping his voice on Beast Boy's nerves, "He devours that apple, like he would you're woman's heart. Is it not you're duty, nay, honor, to protect her from the pain of such an uncaring creature?" Beast Boy watched as Kagome ate at Inuyasha's side, she had an apple too. Beast Boy felt the breath of Akai on his neck, "Why he even has a second woman, unbelievable the uncaring nature of that beast to you're dear Raven. Take him, make him beg for forgiveness beneath you're strength!"
Beast Boy envisioned Raven hugging him in tears, as Inuyasha told all his "evil" to Raven. "That does it!" Beast Boy leapt up screaming, causing Inuyasha to look up stunned. Beast Boy turned to a bear and swung Inuyasha into a tree. Everyone was gasping and screaming at the sight. Inuyasha screamed out, "Are you crazy!" he grabbed Tetseiga to mentally slap himself, 'Wait a second, Tetseiga uses Youki energy from enemies to fight, so using it on this kid would be pointless!' Inuyasha watched Beast Boy bare his teeth down making a leap into the air to dodge, "Besides, how bad can this kid be?"
Beast Boy turned to normal, "I can bee very bad!" he turned to a giant hornet trying to sting Inuyasha. Inuyasha gave a freaked look as he ran into the forest. Kagome followed quickly behind. Robin was about to go as Miroku and Cyborg stood in the way. "What are you two doing?"
Cyborg frowned, "We knew it would happen, they got some things to settle."
Sango looked worried as Miroku laid his hand on her shoulder, "Please Sango. Believe in what we say, they will be fine I assure you."
Sango looked skeptical, but smiled at his cool smile, "Sure thing, I understand."
Starfire looked at the food, "Perhaps after they have come to terms, we would be best to have a meal to nurture their hungered appetites later on!"
They all agreed. As they prepared the meal Akai slinked behind the tree Raven was in meditation by. He unhinged his claws, flexing them several times to make them limber. He pulled his arm back and snickered, planning to force his claws through the tree and into Raven. "Goodbye…again."
Raven has seen several events while her friends were in the real world. Malkage escaped like in her world through twisting Karasu's love for Roreth until he of course got what he needed. Trigonamu possessed Malkage giving him even more power. Trigonamu still wanted Raven though, he said she was flesh; he needed flesh where as Malkage was only a shadow to their world. Raven watched the final fight again, "Give me the girl; all early transgressions will be forgiven." Ishi stood with his right arm glowing; he fired a stream of blue flame saying, "Over our dead bodies!"
Kagekuma chuckled as the flame only irritated his chest, "Gladly." Kagekuma backhanded the stone man breaking his pieces across the horizon. Karasu stared in shock, "Ishi?" Yajuu-kun grabbed her saying, "Come on, we can't stop now!"
Sutakasai was in the air firing rounds of green flame. Kagekuma's head bobbed on it's cord like structure quickly swirling about to snap at Sutakasai. Sutakasai dodged by roll diving to the ground. Kagekuma swung his one arm striking her to the side. She screamed as she skid across the ground allowing Komadori to run at her side. She looked at him smiling, "My legs, they have been broken."
Komadori felt her legs, "I feel that," He turned his head back feeling a large amount of heat. Kagekuma was charging his flames from his mouth as Komadori grabbed Sutakasai's hands, "I love you Sutakasai."
Sutakasai looked up knowing the immense energy would be fatal and too large to dodge, "And I you, Komadori."
The explosion occurred; the two bodies fell in opposite areas. Karasu felt ill as Yajuu-kun turned to an elephant tossing a large rock at the monster. Kagekuma snarled grabbing the elephant as it trumpeted. Karasu looked in terror, "Kagekuma!"
Kagekuma squeezed crushing the bones of the elephant as he then tossed it to Karasu. Karasu ran over grabbing Yajuu-kun in mid air, "No…"
Raven shook her head, "No, I don't want to see this! Stop it!"
The scene stopped, Karite was now here. "One more thing, then you must leave immediately."
The scenes were replaced with a cold meadow. The wind blew the grass as Karasu was now older, a woman. She was most likely 25, 26; Karasu was with her back to a man, Slade? Slade stood with his hand on a sword, "I told you I would be the one to end you Karasu. This way I may end the suffering you have had for so long."
Karasu kept her back to Slade, "Remember that night Slade? Where I was lost, you were there. We shared our pain together."
Slade narrowed his eyes, "Are you trying to guilt me into not killing you? I may have made love to you, but I had not an inkling of what love was."
Raven gasped with her eyes turning blank, a blue shadow masked her face in terror. "Slade, I only bring this up because," Karasu turned with a small bundle in one of her cloaks wrapped tightly. "this is you're child!"
Raven now shattered like glass, her eyes blinking in greater shock. Slade was stunned to the brink of dropping his sword and steeping back a step. "How? It was only one accursed night!"
Karasu frowned; she floated over handing over the child to a still stunned Slade. He looked down at the girl and saw her blue eyes, she was a sweet child. "How can you expect me to take care of a child? I'm a man of evil girl! I can not be some role model to a child."
Karasu leaned up cupping his chin, he shook as she hugged his neck, "Slade please. If you do not then what else can I do? I know you can train her to be stronger than I was, and more in control than my own training." Karasu let go turning away, "Even in time I am sure you will love her that will be needed in the final battle."
Slade looked to the child, then Karasu, "This is some kind of trick!"
Karasu looked out to the horizon, "I'm going to die today, so go now. Before it comes here, please protect her."
Slade gave an angered look before the child tugged his arm. Slade looked at the small creature, his child, and then sighed saying, "A name?"
Karasu turned to make a small smile of relief, "Tsuchi."
Slade chuckled, "Fine name, I guess this is good bye then?"
"I'll be back, some day, some how." Slade nodded, "I loved you Slade, in a way I did."
Slade turned away saying, "I as well, cared for you deeply." He ran without a moment of hesitation as Raven looked at him in disbelief. He ran by her as she turned to Karasu. "Okay, I officially declare this bizzaro world times 20!"
Karasu stood in a stance, "I knew you would arrive."
A lone shadow was coming from the field, draped in a cape only the red X formation was noticeable from the distance. "Oh? I'm stunned you knew about me at all."
Karasu started circling as he came closer, "I realized Trigonamu would send some lackey to kill me, I did not expect he would use the same Kagejin he forged for Komadori."
"I am one of his more powerful created Kagejin dear Karasu. It is only fitting he gave me a second chance to prove my worth." Akai raised something from his cloak; it was the bone horn of Kagekuma, "Also not to mention the plans for this little toy you left us. My master has devised an amazing plan indeed. We will trick a small time Youkai to serve as a message boy for this fragment, and than we will use his body as part to reforming the master's ancient body."
Karasu raised her right brow, "Kagekuma? Was that his ancient body?"
Akai laughed, putting the bone away he forced his human hand out and tried to cover his chest to stop laughing, "No my dear, Malkage failed, he has been considered unworthy of the master as a vassal. He will be separated from the master as soon as all the shadow power you had is taken back to him again." The claw hand reappeared tightening slightly, "Of course only after I kill you will the shadow energy in you return to my master."
Karasu gave a look behind herself, "I have sad news, my shadow powers have been passed on."
Akai gave a small glare, "What?" he started looking her up and down, "No! You did pass it on! I guess nothing left to do." Akai leapt forward flashing his claws, "Except end you're life!"
The claws dug deep into Karasu's stomach. Akai felt Karasu gag on his shoulder, slouching into the attack and falling to her knees. Akai pulled his claws out allowing Karasu to twirl onto her back holding the wound. Akai began walking away, "Why did you… not kill… me?"
Akai turned back giving a sinister glare, "Since you have no shadow powers why truly kill you? I guess leaving you to die alone in this place is the final torture of Trigonamu." Akai continued leaving Karasu in tears, "Enjoy the final gift from you're father."
Karasu was unable to move, stuck alone as she often forced her life to be. Raven was so sad seeing this girl alone like this. She realized how often she was like this, alone. Raven forced everyone to keep away, even the ones she cared about. "Beast Boy…"
A shadow towered over Karasu, Karasu look up now slightly joyful, "Slade…"
Slade stood; his eye looked lamely at Karasu as he held Tsuchi in one arm, his sword loosely at his side in the other. "He did not even kill you cleanly." Slade gave an angered glare, "Trigonamu will suffer for this I swear!"
Karasu looked up smiling, "Love her… please…"
Slade gripped his sword in his hand, raising it he screamed, "My word Karasu!" he plunged the blade down causing a splutter of red liquid onto his face, "I give the only thing still good about me," Slade took out the blade to toss it to the side, he did not want that sword any longer, "My word."
Raven felt herself coming back now, she heard Karite, "Did you understand? The reason you are here?"
Raven blinked at the sight of Karite in his strange room. "No, but perhaps now I can in time."
Karite nodded, "Time to leave my dear, before Beast Boy and Inuyasha kill each other." Raven jumped up in shock from her meditation. Raven leapt up turning to the area of their camp as a large claw had broke through the tree she had been near. Akai pulled his claw back moaning, "Wretch…" Raven felt Beast Boy and Inuyasha; she flew past the others as they were preparing food.
Starfire waved at Raven, "Good cycle of awareness!"
"Uh," Robin sighed in the odd choice of words, "Never mind." Robin went to preparing some fruit dishes as he noticed the hole in the tree, 'What is that?' Robin walked over holding a bowl which he was mixing the items in as a red ball flew through the hole and exploding. The ball let out a red mist that made each person in the camp to fall over as if drained of power. Akai slowly crept into the camp to look at where Raven was heading, "Time to finish our business." Akai felt a surge of energy at his hip, he looked at the glove he had wrapped on his side was now vibrating. "I actually forgot about the gloves. The one must be near by."
Akai began moving with the gloves movements as Tsuchi slowly came into the camp. She was watching these events with Kassha, "Who is that guy?"
Inuyasha dodged another attack; Beast Boy was now in the form of a lion as he tried to tear into Inuyasha. Inuyasha kept cursing himself mentally for letting himself be in this situation. Beast Boy leapt out fangs dripping as Inuyasha landed a punch to knock Beast Boy to the side. Inuyasha could use Tetseiga, maybe as a simple sword. If he did he may kill the boy. Beast Boy turned to a gorilla and slammed Inuyasha into a tree, 'Actually, killing him does not seem so freaking bad!"
Kagome tried pleading with Beast Boy to stop, he seemed possessed or something as he attack again and again. Raven now appeared; Kagome looked and seemed depressed as Raven stopped the two by covering them in a blackened aura then pulling them to separate spots. The two looked at Raven in glimpses as they then looked to the air or ground. "What were you two doing?"
Kagome came over rubbing her sleeve, "They were fighting each other over… you." Raven jumped, turning to Kagome who was sheepishly looking at Raven. "They seem to like you, and I guess um," Kagome now tensed up a little, "you're worth fighting for."
Inuyasha looked at Kagome in shame, "Kagome, I can't help that I like the girl." Raven dropped both of the men now, "I just seem to like her power, and he attitude."
Kagome sniffled, making a smile as if trying to hide some pain. "It's okay, I know Inuyasha. I feared it for a while and I guess I should have always known."
Beast Boy growled in his beast form before turning to human, "You don't love Raven though!"
Inuyasha looked at Beast Boy, love? Wow, he never realized this, the kid had this rely hurt face, his eyes glossed over in tears and his lips quivered a little, "I love Raven, you just like her because she's strong and mysterious. I liked her like that at first but soon I realized she was more than just an exciting kind of person." Beast Boy stood up now shaking his fist, "You have to see her as she really is. I love Raven because she's smart, she's funny… well some times when she gets me on my jokes she makes a good one or two." Raven smiled at that, making Beast Boy smile at her and make a small walk towards her, "She's got this little way her hair sort of falls slightly out of place, making her so rigid and almost constant look break apart. I mean, she spends so much time trying to be unattached that this one hair." Beast Boy reached into Raven's hood shifting her hair, making Raven turn slightly red, "This hair right here is the one thing you can't make hide from you're real face. I want to see that Raven, I want to see you're real face."
There was a pause; Raven looked at Beast Boy so stunned he noticed something like that, so small but so definitely important. She grinned as she hugged his waist kind of turning him red now. Inuyasha looked on and chuckled, "I have to admit, I don't feel that way about her," Inuyasha looked at Kagome, she looked at him and smiled, "I do feel safe with someone though."
Kagome blushed as she said, "I feel safe with you too Inuyasha."
Inuyasha smiled until a shadow had landed behind Kagome gripping the back of her neck and tearing something from her blouse, "I feel safe now that I have this." Akai laughed as he then dropped Kagome and flew into the shadows. Inuyasha ran over inspecting Kagome, she had not been hurt more startled. "Why that little creep!"
Raven and Beast Boy had now broken apart; they turned to the shadows, seeing sparse movements every which way, "Uh, Raven?"
Raven narrowed her eyes, "Be careful, I have a really bad feeling about this."
"As you should!" screamed Akai bearing down from a tree behind Raven flailing out his claws in attack.
Souansha, Manmosu, Jinkusu, Kurokasai, and Slade had found the camp. Slade looked at Robin and gleamed "Robin, we meet again!" there was no response. Slade ran over fretting his newest challenge was dead, he felt for a pulse which there was, then he went to check the eyes. He stopped inches from the mask, not wanting to dishonor his prey by whatever tradition the mask was for, he turned to the smart child asking, "What happened?"
Souansha looked puzzled, he looked over Miroku, "How in the world did this happen?" he bent Miroku's arm, "It seems he's like tired or something, they need energy." He then grinned, pulling out his drinks he started to pour it into Miroku's mouth. Everyone but Manmosu and Souansha reeled in horror thinking of the acidic properties. Miroku then sprawled straight up, smiling, "I seem to be awake!"
"Of course, these babies will energize anyone! They only have an acidic property if you shake them before they meet the acids in the stomach."
Manmosu snickered, "Yeah, it took us 5 dogs and 2 cats to figure that out."
Starfire was being given the liquid as she jumped up, "Poor fury creatures!"
Everyone was healed soon after, Robin narrowed his eyes to Slade, Slade chuckled as he pulled out a staff, "If you can give me a challenge this time."
Robin gripped his staff as he ran at Slade both now starting to fight in the woods. Starfire and Cyborg looked back at their enemies. Each of them began small fights leading out into the woods. Jinkusu looked at Miroku and Sango; they had prepared for a fight as Jinkusu walked over and started to roast an apple. They looked puzzled as she just continued, Shippo was awake, he smiled as he grabbed an apple and also roasted it. Sango and Miroku turned to each other grinning as they went to finishing the meals they once began."
Slade struck with Robin, forced a topple, and then landed a strong kick to Robin's side. Robin reeled back to then forcefully poke Slade in the stomach, forcing his own weight into his staff Robin topple Slade onto his own back. Robin flung down hard as Slade twirled and shifted his staff between Robin's moving legs, causing Robin to trip over and toss his own staff weapon. Slade jumped up; taking his staff weapon he tossed it saying, "You certainly are being more serious this time."
Robin jumped up, he used combo punches to Slade who blocked the attacks, "You gave me plenty of reason last time!"
Slade grabbed Robin's one fist, not noticing the other fist coming in to contact with his jaw, Slade fell back onto his right leg as the left buckled. Slade was kneeling as Robin kneed him in the jaw causing him to fly back. Slade was sprawled on his back now as Robin used kicks to Slade's head. Slade grabbed Robin's foot and twisted it; a crack sound was heard as Robin fell to his side screaming. Slade turned on his own side laughing, "I must say, when you get angry you certainly remind me of myself." Robin turned bitterly, "Or so the old me, before I fell in love."
Robin took a moment, taking in that sentence. "You love some one?"
"My daughter," Slade stood up cracking his neck, "she is why I find fighting you quite nostalgic. A memory to the way I lived so well." Slade turned into his fighting stance, "Truthfully, I will continue battle until I know she can live a life without Trigonamu."
Robin was in a stance as well, "Then why are you fighting me if you're a good guy."
Slade narrowed his eyes, "I never said I was a good guy." He leapt forward connecting to Robin's left arm in a tie-up. Robin and Slade grabbed each others hand in a push, inches from the others face Robin narrowed his eyes, "You're nothing like the Slade I want. You're too soft."
Slade chuckled, "Am I? Well Komadori had no worries personality like you, he was strictly all business!" The two kept pushing for a moment before returning to the sparse punches and kicks.
Manmosu walked into the forest as Cyborg hid behind a tree. He turned and fired as Manmosu was walking having the beam pass through him? Manmosu popped up behind Cyborg saying, "Whoops!" he grabbed Cyborg and tossed him through several trees making them crack. "Not too god at finding fakes!"
Cyborg looked at Manmosu and his brother Souansha sitting on his shoulders with some strange device making a false image. Cyborg screamed "First you help me then you try to kill me!"
"Duh?" Souansha smirked, "We couldn't beat you down while you were asleep, where would the fun be? Besides, we figured you might like a bit of our elixir!"
Cyborg blinked, grabbing at his stomach he screamed "No! It's eating me from the inside! Ahhhh!"
Souansha looked at Manmosu in disbelief as Cyborg tossed and screamed, "Tin-for-brains! The stuff is not acidic until it's been shaken and before it mixes with stomach acids!"
Cyborg looked up grinning, slightly embarrassed he rubbed his head, "Oh, I knew that." The two brothers snickered saying "Right…"
"So why are you trying to destroy us?" Cyborg got back on track.
"We found out," Manmosu grinned, "You killed our employer Kamikaze."
"But we did not harm you're friend Kamikaze." Starfire told Kurokasai as she stopped her attacks for idle chat. "It was the evil man Biteikotsu as I heard."
Kuro lowered her arms, her flames in her eyes and hands still flaring "You didn't, so why would he kill him?"
"It was in part to a heinous plot from a youkai called Trigonamu." Kurokasai stopped dead, her eyes turned to normal as her face became twisted, "I believe he has some link to the Trigonamu and wishes to assist in a terrible deed."
Kuro grabbed her eyes, "No… I thought that he was…"
Kuro had a flashback; her village was of her demonic people. They often snuck out her and her sister to the human villages in disguises, pretending to be humans was rebellious and fun for them. However her one sister made the mistake of falling for a human, and then making friends with several other outsiders. "What good can come from this?" Kuro asked her sister, a red haired variation of herself, Sutakasai.
Sutakasai smiled innocently, she was always a naïve girl. "I am doing what I feel is right sister. Please do not fear as this is my decision."
"You're acting like a small child! You're innocent nature is clouding what should be you're warrior judgment!" Kuro turned with anger in her eyes. "You are putting yourself in a war sister, a war we are not even waging! Facing some youkai god? What good shall come from it if you are destroyed?"
Sutakasai smiled with some gleam of honest hope, "I will be with my dearest friends' sister. Truly you know of the joy being with ones whom you can trust and love?" Kuro did not answer; she was not too attached to anyone but her own sister. "I see, and then I wish one day you do find such joy!" Sutakasai turned leaving.
Kurokasai spoke through her tears. "I hate you…"
Sutakasai smiled back, a little giggle in her voice, "I love you dearest sister, though we do not agree understand that."
Kurokasai flung her fist into a wall as Suta was gone, "I swear, if you harm my sister Trigonamu!" She looked to the sky in rage, "I will feed you're gizzard to feral hounds!"
Kurokasai returned to see Starfire, she felt ill but in a way she did remind her of her sister. The way she spoke, looked, everything was nearly identical. Kurokasai smiled saying, "I see, so I guess we should not be fighting each other." Starfire gleamed until Kurokasai wrapped an arm around her, "Besides, best to make love not war!" Starfire became rigid as Kurokasai winked at her, "Gee I was just kidding, lighten up!"
Starfire sighed in relief, "Then you are not serious in you're strange actions."
"Nah." Kuro gave a small glare, "Not totally at least."
Starfire took a step away from her as she rolled her eyes. "Ahhh!" They turned to the distance; Kurokasai gasped "Tsuchi!"
Slade pulled from Robin, "No, daughter!" he ran to the distance as Robin glared, following quickly.
Manmosu and Souansha looked at Slade and Robin now running by, "You heard it too?" Cyborg asked.
They did not answer, only continued. The three followed close behind. Jinkusu, Shippo, Miroku, and Sango followed the scream as well. "I hope she's okay." Jinkusu said to herself. She was surprised as Shippo said with Sango and Miroku as they rode on Kirara, "We all sure hope our friends are okay!"
Akai was about to strike Raven in the back as a sword struck him. Akai rolled on the ground before stopping by digging in his claw and sprawling up to a slouch. "Who are you?" he asked in a low hiss of rage.
Sesshomaru stood with Tokijin drawn, "I am lord Sesshomaru, and you are a dishonorable wretch to strike a person in the back. Do you have no honor?"
Akai laughed, "Honor? You people are so simple with honor and pride. I only take the joy to destroy, no more or less is needed in my world."
Raven glared at Akai, it was still fresh in her mind his action to Karasu. "So, did Trigonamu tell you to leave Karasu to die alone, or was that you're idea?"
Akai looked up in thought, it struck him what she meant, "Oh you know of that day? Trigonamu ordered her death; I merely interpreted a proper way of committing it."
Beast Boy looked at this man angrily, "So now you're trying to kill Raven!"
"Well," Akai then shook his head, "Why am I wasting my time talking?" Akai leapt forward making a strike at Raven with his claws. Raven raised her shield, "You don't waste time do you?"
"I have little time to waste! Tomorrow is "kage no dei", we must act then!" Akai leapt off then slapping his face, "Blasted idiocy!" Raven smiled, "So tomorrow is a day of shadow, a solar eclipse. Trigonamu is going to use that time where shadows are unnaturally powerful. I will not allow this being to be given life again in this world!"
Akai lunged out having Beast Boy jump in the way as a yeti, the humanoid ape swung to have Akai grab his fist and bend it back with strength. Beast Boy roared out as Akai opened his cape, now forming his body into legs with skull forged feet. Akai kicked Beast Boy out of the way to then have Sesshomaru holding Tokijin. "You will not pass!" Sesshomaru struck out trying a slash as Akai dodged to knee him in the gullet and chop him in the back of the neck. Akai stomped his foot into Sesshomaru's skull and turned to Raven again. Raven charged her energy to fire a blast but Akai blocked with his claw making the beam to burst into his hand. Akai flew forward having Inuyasha leap in pulling his Tetseiga back, "Kaze no kizu!" Inuyasha flung his blade using his strongest attack on Akai who was able to somehow fly above the attack into the shadows.
Kagome ran to Beast Boy, he was okay. "He's so fast, how can we fight him?"
Inuyasha grit his teeth, "There's a way, it's not like he's invincible."
Sesshomaru stood slowly, he had a small snarl on his lips, "I will not allow this scum to strike at me again."
On cue Akai leapt down hitting Sesshomaru with a dual kick to his head. Akai raised his claw are and formed a strange ball of black energy that he flung to shock both Kagome and Beast Boy. Akai turned to Inuyasha sharing blows with Tetseiga. Akai grabbed the Tetseiga to be jolted by a strong beam, he let go scratching at his claw with his human hand, "That burns!"
Inuyasha flung the Tetseiga down screaming, "Wait till it's lodged in you're skull!"
Akai swung tapping the sword inches from his own skull. Akai slammed his palm into Inuyasha knocking him from the sword. Akai turned to Raven who was floating with her cape open and arms out. "Azerath Metreon Zinthos!" several logs, rocks, and branches started hurtling at Akai. Akai swung breaking the objects with his claw arm as Raven tried to use other objects. Akai flew out from the barrage and wrapped around Raven with his cape. Akai grabbed her hangs with his human hand and forcefully held them, "I have to admit," Akai spoke into the side of her face from behind her, "You certainly are a pain like Karasu." He breathed a small laugh into her neck, "I enjoyed it, leaving Karasu to die alone. A fitting end for her when taking into account her life as a total." Akai looked over to Beast Boy who was laying unconscious, "Tell me, Karasu had deep affection for Yajuu-kun." Akai pointed his claw over Raven's shoulder and charged a ball of energy "Does this simple girl care for the green one as well?"
Raven struggled to move, she tried even using her powers but she couldn't as Akai siphoned her shadow powers each time she went to use them. "Please don't hurt him."
Akai rolled his eyes, "Now I've got to!"
Akai fired the beam and as it came close a wall of stone appeared smashing between the two. Akai screamed "You have to be joking!" a large stone fist smacked into Akai plowing him through some trees. Raven looked up to Kassha and Tsuchi. Tsuchi looked enraged as her body was surrounded by a dark aura; she heard her mother had been killed by the monster. Kassha looked out with blackened eyes as it roared to Akai. Akai leaped out striking Tsuchi making her scream, Kassha swung at Akai who grabbed the large fist with his claw to then push off from the attack. Akai stood looking at Tsuchi seeming to smile from curves in his face, "Well, well, looks like Karasu had a daughter, this is nice to know."
Akai jumped out of the way of a punch while Tsuchi looked in anger. Raven realized the shadow energy surrounding her and she screamed "Hey you!" Tsuchi looked at Raven and was some how stunned at her similarity to her own mother, "You have to keep you're emotions in control, he's a Kagejin and they feed off of shadow energy."
Tsuchi nodded; taking to her training she calmed herself and returned to her golden aura. Kassha also was normal again as he grabbed a large ball of dirt and flung it into the tree. Akai moved to another branch laughing, "Big and slow."
Akai was kicked into the side of the head; he fell to the ground finding Slade where he was. "You monster, I owe you!"
Akai found every other hero now here; he narrowed his eyes saying, "If I had more shadow power, I could take them all. I have to get out of here until tomorrow." Slade stomped his feet down missing Akai who was flying into the sky looking at the group. He dropped several small balls with X's on them that exploded leaving smoke every where. "See you again Sure-to!" When the smoke was gone Akai had disappeared. Slade slammed his fist down leaving out a long scream in the air. Everyone looked shocked as he continued screaming until he ran out of breath now breathing heavily in a slouched position on his knees. Tsuchi sat on her knees next to him smiling, "Father, we will get him for what he did to mother Karasu."
Cyborg blinked, "Dude, wasn't Karasu like Raven?" everyone turned to Raven who had a twitch in her eye, "Okay, gather around for another story." Raven hated being the one that knew everything…
Binetsu watched as the Kagejin Akai returned. Akai landed to see Biteikotsu had awaken; he narrowed his eyes on Akai as Aooni was now meeting him for the first time. Akai laughed, "Aooni? I heard of you before. The Yamaoni lord I heard of."
Aooni smiled, "Yes I am, yet a mutt youkai has caused me great disgrace so I must regain my place as a warrior before returning to the mountains."
Akai turned to Binetsu, Binetsu look up his hands tightly together. Akai raised the gloves, "Here, so you needed them?"
Binetsu nodded, "Of course. The plan is quite simple. These gloves will allow for channeling the shadow energy for the breaking of the boundary."
Akai nodded, "Good. That means everything is set." Biteikotsu was fitting the gloves laughing "Nice, these will assist in tuning the powers of Trigonamu to their full potential."
Akai was now starting to leave. Biteikotsu asked, "What are you going to do?"
Akai laughed, "I have to find out if an old friend of mine kept some of his old toys intact."
Biteikotsu narrowed his eyes, "I do not trust that one, he's very difficult to see his loyalties." Biteikotsu turned to the others, "We have a long way to travel, we must be at the sight of the original casting in order to destroy the barriers."
Binetsu smiled his twisted grin, "Yes my lord, we must move quickly."
Biteikotsu chuckled, "Yes, but now that I have these." His eyes became black as his shape became a large shadow dragon. It's large shape engulfed the other two warriors and flew into the air screaming a long roar.
The story ended with little surprise, except the way Slade looked at Raven. Slade made his way to her afterwards saying, "Thank you for not mentioning that is was my hands that truly ended Karasu."
Raven paused for a moment, "You only did it to free her from the pain."
Slade laid onto a tree, Beast Boy looked over raising a brow, "Dude, don't tell me he is making the moves on Raven too!"
Sesshomaru smiled, "I doubt from you're words earlier he can charm her." Sesshomaru turned to leave for his allies; he knew he would take them with him to this battle. "You have a good heart little one, un like my weak brother."
Inuyasha propped his head up, "Oh who asked you!" Kagome grabbed Inuyasha rubbing up to him, "Let it go already, just relax for once Inuyasha."
Inuyasha sighed, "Alright I guess I'll calm down." Inuyasha looked at Kagome and smiled, 'I guess I really was acting a little stupid,' he shifted his eyes, 'but I won't tell her that.'
Tsuchi watched Slade and Raven; she smiled at how she thought of her mother. She wondered did her mother and father act that way before? "Hey Tsuchi." Manmosu smiled at her as he propped himself on a tree. "We were really worried you might have been hurt."
Tsuchi looked up and grinned, "Oh thanks, I can take care of myself."
Manmosu nodded, he looked at Raven asking, "Is it true she is like you're mom, but from another world or something."
Tsuchi thought for a moment, "Well, she has similar powers. My father said my mother had a great deal of trouble accepting her emotions, this girl has that but not as much as my mother." Tsuchi shrugged. "I really can't say."
Manmosu sighed, "It's kind of weird, everything is so strange. I never would have met you if these kids didn't come." Tsuchi looked up to Manmosu; Manmosu looked down and seemed to stutter, "Er, I mean… I never would have been he-here if not for those kids!"
Tsuchi gave him a furled brow before returning to the two. Manmosu turned to the side and let out a small pant of relief as she did not explore his odd behavior. Kurokasai frowned seeing Manmosu and Tsuchi, 'Figures that they hook up, now I've got nobody to try and hook up with.' Kurokasai noticed Starfire and grinned, 'Oh, time to have some fun!' she gave a sinister grin as she floated over to Starfire.
Starfire was laughing with Robin as Kurokasai wrapped her arm around her neck. Starfire turned pale as Robin watched them, "Star? Why is she holding you?" Kurokasai then kissed Star on the neck. "… why is she kissing you?"
Starfire flew behind Robin hiding under his cape, she started swatting away Kuro saying, "You have had you're fun, please desist in you're strange humor."
Kurokasai smirked, "I love this, she freaks out so easy I swear."
Robin sighed in relief, "Oh, it's some weird joke."
Jinkusu smiled over with Souansha, "You better watch out, she likes both men and women."
Robin turned alarmed, Kurokasai let out a weak laugh as Robin was hissing at her, "Uh, guess I can act a little less playful."
Robin smiled to Starfire as she came out from the cloak, "Gee, you two certainly got along."
"I feel when my sister tried to destroy me that was less unusual than when she was acting so clingy to me."
Jinkusu was looking at the moon with Souansha, "So tomorrow the sun is going to be blacked out by the moon. That is when this youkai god will appear?"
"Of course." Souansha rolled his eyes grinning, "They always have to have some planet moving event thing for these stupid rituals."
Jinkusu laughed, "That is true." She turned to Souansha asking, "Will we die in this battle?"
Souansha paused, he shrugged saying, "Maybe, but I want to try and stop it." He turned saying in Tsuchi's direction, "I worry about her, she's my friend. So are you Jinkusu."
Jinkusu nodded, "I know." She saw Kurokasai who looked at them shocked. "What's wrong Kurokasai?"
Kurokasai looked at them surprised, "A person once said something like that, I did not think of us as friends."
Souansha shrugged, "Well, we're closer than most other people I know."
Shippo and Kirara were on the side, sleeping. Sango and Miroku sat talking about the events so far. "A powerful youkai god, could there be anything worse?" asked Miroku. Sango chuckled saying, "Naraku working with them."
Miroku frowned, "I wonder where Naraku is, he may have passed us now making hunting him more difficult."
Sango looked at Miroku as he seemed to be getting sad, "Miroku, we will find Naraku after this."
Miroku turned, he grabbed Sango's hand making her blush, "I know Sango." Sango felt a small movement on her bottom, she frowned saying, "You know…" she slapped his face hard, "You really have terrible timing."
Cyborg looked at the two and snickered, "Man they are terrible." Cyborg looked to his side where Kassha was looking at him. "So, what are you?"
Kassha shrugged, "Grarrgh."
Cyborg smiled, "Okay, well you seem a lot more dossal than Cinderblock."
Kassha seemed to furl its brow, "Rergh?"
"Oh, Cinderblock was a giant stone guy in our world. He looks a lot like you."
Kassha nodded, "Errh." Cyborg snickered, "I can't believe this, what a crazy world we're in." Cyborg felt Kassha pat his back consolingly, "Hey, worse things have happened to us so guess this is just one of those adventures."
Kassha blinked, now pointing to Cyborg's chest. Cyborg looked down to have the creature flick his nose. Cyborg looked up holding his nose as it laughed, "So what, I should just chill out, stop being all serious about these things?"
Kassha nodded, the two turned to the moon and seemed to just look at it. Slade chuckled, "So you have a feeling for Yajuu-kun, or Beast Boy?" Raven nodded, "Have you told him? Karasu always told me she had always felt worse in not loving him when she first knew."
"Did that ever bother you?" Slade turned to Raven, "The idea of loving her, but she loved him?"
Slade thought for a moment, "A difficult answer, I was not thrilled but accepted it." Slade chuckled, "A strange life I had with Karasu, I would say my love was truly for Tsuchi my daughter."
Raven looked at Tsuchi, Tsuchi scrambled to the trees with Manmosu, "Oh boy, she wants me to like you."
Slade raised a brow, "Honestly, you are too young for me." Slade then seemed to change his attitude, deeply regretful, "Besides, in time that will be impossible."
Raven looked at him, he was now looking at the sky sadly, "What are you going to do?" Slade turned and shook his head, "Trust me, it is best you did not worry. I have my sins, and my blessings. I will atone and honor each one of those things soon."
Robin heard and smirked, "He is really different than Slade." Starfire nodded, "That is a good thing yes?" she asked.
Robin nodded yes, "Still, I wanted a chance to end my fight with Slade, even if it was not our Slade. However since this Slade is not evil, I can't just fight him."
Starfire hugged Robin, "I am happy for you." He was flushed with color, "It is good of you not to harm this Slade, where as you honestly wish to defeat the evil Slade." She broke off finishing, "We will finish this battle then return to our world to defeat our Slade."
Robin gave her a thumb up sign, "Sure thing Star, we'll win this!"
Cyborg cocked his arm up saying, "Booya! This guy is toast!"
Tsuchi jumped onto Kassha saying, "No matter what! This battle will be ours!"
Raven floated into the center of the camp, "Hold on, this is not going to be easy. We still have no idea where he is, or where they are going."
Slade turned to Raven, "Osorezan, that is where Kagekuma was trapped and it makes sense it is where these fiends are going."
Robin smiled to Raven, "Looks like we know where to go." Raven frowned, "Okay everyone lets get ready, we have to try and stop this before it even starts."
Raven thought for a moment, could that be done? Stopping this prophecy thing, tough she thought that before and she never stopped her prophecy. Raven sighed as Beast Boy came over smiling, "Raven, I won't let anything happen to you."
Raven flushed red, "Um, thanks Beast Boy."
Beast Boy gave her his toothy grin and thumbs up, "No problem, we're friends after all."
Beast Boy turned to a cheetah but Raven asked, "Beast Boy?" Beast Boy turned about as a human, "What you said earlier, did you mean that?"
Beast Boy smiled getting a little embarrassed. "Of course I did Raven."
Raven smiled to Beast Boy weakly, "Thank you. I never knew you cared."
"Raven you're my friend; I care about you a lot."
Beast Boy ran off as Raven sighed. The danger was great, but they had to do something. The creature, Trigonamu was the one thing they had to defeat to go home and it helps their friends in this world. Raven looked out through the sky to the moon, it was a powerful night. Raven gave a final glance before deciding to meditate for the battle ahead.
Biteikotsu landed to turn to his human form, letting Aooni and Binetsu go. Akai was waiting for them, "When did you get here?"
Akai shrugged, "Some time ago."
Binetsu looked questioningly, "Did you do what you needed?"
Several strange sounds were heard behind them. The three turned around and saw strange men staggering around like crabs, strafing to their sides as they ran around them in a circle. Their bodies were stitched, and eyes glowing red. "What do you think?"
Aooni smiled, "An army that brings us back to the top." Akai turned to the moon that was soon to set. "My master told me it will be an unnatural eclipse. The shadow energy in me will double, making it so with these Kagejin," Akai turned flexing his claw, "I'm sure we can defeat those blasted children."
Biteikotsu nodded, "If I can perform the ritual you only need to allow Trigonamu passage to this world, leave the kids to his hands."
Sesshomaru returned with Rin and Jaken, however Kamikaze had disappeared, no one knew where he had disappeared to. Ah-un growled at Kirara making some surprise in the group. "Understand little brother," Inuyasha looked at Sesshomaru, "This is only a temporary alliance, I will not be you're ally after the ordeal."
Inuyasha cracked his knuckles, giving a one tooth grin, "I was hoping we would not make a habit of this."
Slade turned to Tsuchi, "I believe our way of transportation is ready."
Tsuchi planted her feet and channeled her energy. The ground started splitting around the group raising the earth to make a strange floating rock. Everyone seemed delighted except for Robin, "She has so much power."
Slade nodded in slight worry, "Her powers often frighten me."
Well, another one down. A sad note for many who like the story, the next chapter is the last. Actually that is not totally a sad thing is it? Hope people like this story so far.
Notes/Translations
Karite- Reaper, the Grim Reaper of their world is a way of thinking what he's like.
Kagejin- Shadow people
Kage no dei- Day of shadow
Osorezan- Fear mountain, it is an actual place in Japan.
Many of the words are found in a game I love, called Way Of The Samurai 2. They were very useful; I meant to say that sooner. A very fun game I often recommend for a person to enjoy. Other words are found on the internet through translation sites as names. I also have several other Teen Titan story ideas so hopefully people will read those as well when I work on them. I like writing these fictions; they help to improve my own skills as a writer. I feel I am ready to write my own stories again yet still able to write these stories to make people happy. Okay, enjoy and review if you can.
