Review Responses:

Preventer Cloud: I love long reviews. I'm really glad you like my story. Our minds are very similar, you know? Won't say too much or I might spoil the surprise…

rikasgirl: Wow, I'm really happy you think so.

They-call-me-Orange: Well, I'm so glad you think I'm getting better! This chappie doesn't have as much BBrae as in the last one (if you considered those hints…well just that, hints) because it's centered on Star, or Kori as I call her. Thank you very much for reviewing!

scathac's warrior: We are all weird at one point or another in our lives. XD Glad you like it!

Rei: NO FUTURE!

To all those who read but didn't review!

SHAME ON YOOUU! takes away cookies Anyways, I'm very glad everyone is liking my fanfiction! It makes me all tingly inside! XD

Notes:

I'm so very sorry for the wait. I'm in the middle of exams and I've been really busy lately. Heh, life happens and I deal with stress very badly…On with the chapter now!

I hope you like!

And I hope you don't find Kori too out of character…

And just in case anyone feels lost…

Garfield Logan BeastBoy

Richard Grayson Robin

Victor Stone Cyborg

Kori Andrews StarFire

Raven Raven

Oh, and before anyone asks, I may love them to death and back, but I barely know heads or tails about motorcycles. Bear with me.

Remember:

"Talking"

Thinking, or in some cases, as noted, flashbacks

For standard disclaimer, check the bottom of my profile.

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Days of Tomorrow

Chapter Five

By Ryuu no Taiyo

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"Yes…I shall be there later today…No worries…A few problems I have to take care of and that cannot possibly wait any longer…Thank you Tina…Yes…You too…Goodbye." She finished in a cheerful voice, pulling the cordless phone from her ear and pressing the red button with the phone crossed out symbol on it. Munching the plastic antenna absentmindedly, she allowed herself to fall back into the comfortable sofa.

She was dressed in her everyday clothes. She had just called the school she worked at to tell them she would be late.

Tina was a kind receptionist. They sometimes went out for sodas after a long day.

Kori sighed. She didn't have many friends, but rather a few good ones that she knew she could trust with her life.

These thoughts slowly brought her to visualize the face of a new friend in her mind and on cue a blush appeared on her cheeks. Rich was a really nice man. She hadn't known him for long and was hoping the image he gave off was true. She'd had her heart broken once (she had long since learned not to trust anyone her sister thought well of) and didn't want a repeat of the experience.

Past experiences didn't actually put her into a defensive, 'man' free, I'm-independent-and-loving-it mode, but more of a situation were she was open to a relationship, but cautious.

She hadn't had many problems since she adopted that strategy…

Her thoughts once against lost themselves around the boy she had taken a rather warm liking to, yet she was brought back down to the planet earth in a rather unpleasant way when her sister Manda entered the kitchen, dressed in a blue bathrobe, her hair in a messy tangle, shadows under her eyes and a visible need for coffee.

"Sister, I wish to speak to you." Kori said, startling her sister.

"After coffee." Was all Manda replied. Her voice was scratchy and tired. Kori felt a pang of guilt for bringing this subject unto her sister when she was in such a miserable state, but enough was enough.

"I will not wait, Komand'r." Kori's voice was much sterner, more in control. It was the complete opposite of her usual tone, which was a subdued, soft one.

Manda visibly winced at the use of her alien name.

"Please don't call me that."

"Komand'r, it has come to my attention that since we have started living in this home, you have not once paid your share of the payment to the lord of the land, you have never cooked, cleaned or in any other way helped the state of this home. Instead, you have participated in making it…worse. Komand'r, you have not a job, and you have not tried to get one since we've lived here. I have asked you multiple times to stop being the slob, and I have asked you and even helped you to get a job."

"Little sister, can't you wait 'till I've had my coffee? I don't want to listen to your-"

The redhead cut her off abruptly, as she was in the middle of a tirade and didn't want to lose her steam.

"I am very tired of living with such an unpleasant person. You may be my sister, but I grow tired of taking care of you as if I were your blorfka."

"Look, if this is about the abortion, I'm sorry; can't we just get on with our lives? It's not the end of-"

"You have to stop acting like an irresponsible teen-ager!" Kori yelled uncharacteristically, cutting her sister off once again, rising from the sofa and walking towards her black-haired sister.

Manda could not help but be a little alarmed.

"Since mother and father passed away, you have hidden behind walls of the venomous alcohol and the horrible effects of drugs! You…You must stop this behaviour! You have to…to accept the fact that our parents are dead and-"

"Koriand'r!" Manda's eyes were as black as ebony, quite literally. "Do not bring our parents into this!"

"Do you not see? This is exactly why! You refuse to acknowledge the truth! They told you to take care of me, the younger one, but it is I that has been taking care of you and-"

"I don't want to talk about this!" Manda yelled once more.

"They did so much for us! They hid from Tamaran, protecting us from the-"

"Koriand'r! Never mention that place again!" Manda looked positively furious. A bright green light filled Kori's eyes.

"They have done so much for me and you! Yet this is how you repay them? By doing what you have done-"

"Koriand'r!" Manda warned.

"-you spit on their memory!" Kori sounded like she was going to break down in tears any minute now, but the glow in her eyes never stopped.

Manda emitted a shriek of pain, disappointment and rage. A violet blast erupted from her eyes and Kori dodged it only by a strand of hair. The blast pierced a hole through the television screen. A few moments later, the smoke dissipated and the TV screen could be seen burnt and broken; you could even see the machine's components inside. A light smoke still came out and sparks flew out of the hole in the screen.

There was a dead calm.

Kori's eyes, which had reverted back to their usual color, gazed at the broken television screen.

"Komand'r…" the redhead said in a low, disappointed and tearful voice.

"I'm…sorry?" Manda offered, but she sounded more like a child who had just apologized for something because it was the only way to get out of a punishment, not because she had seen the wrong in her ways.

"Leave. Take your things and go."

Manda was left in shock. She stood there, in her blue bathrobe, staring at her sister. Kori was standing up straight, tears starting to flow out of her eyes.

"Please…just go…" Kori said, allowing the tears to fall freely as she arched her neck and placed her face in her hands.

Manda looked at her hands, and the glow in her eyes disappeared completely.

What…what have I done? Why…it's not my fault! She can't do this to me! She knows she can't talk about…

Manda's heart was breaking. Manda could not stand a breaking heart. Manda could not stand sadness.

"Kori…"

"M…just…lea…leave!" her voice was still wavering as the sobs were intensifying but in a moment of fury, she had managed to speak out a word clearly and forcefully.

Manda took a step back. She left the kitchen quickly, frowning, and went to her room to go pack her things. She didn't bother looking back at her crying sister who was standing alone in the room she had just left, in fear that she would start crying too.

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It had taken all morning for Kori to clean up the house and successfully rid it of anything that belonged to her sister. She packed anything left that Manda had forgotten in a black box and sealed it, hiding it in the now empty closet of Manda's former room. She then closed the room and resolutely went to the kitchen. Staring at the empty spot the TV once held, she sighed.

"I must acquire a new television set one of these days."

She decided to stay in for lunch and then head out towards the school building she worked at.

I must turn a new page in the great book that is my life. One were Komand'r is gone…

Relief is an odd feeling sometimes. Relief that she didn't need to cook for two. Relief that Manda was not going to bring her foul substances in her home anymore. Relief that Manda would not bring her strange friends over. Relief that Kori would not need to worry about her at three o'clock in the morning and she has still not come home….

She would always worry about her sister. She would always love her sister.

But at the moment, Kori needed to distance herself from her. Manda needed to grow up. She needn't to start assuming her responsibilities.

Kori started berating herself.

I'm her sister…I…I threw her out in the streets! I should have helped her!

Manda was her sister, yet no matter what, Manda never listened to her. Manda never truly respected her.

Kori sighed again, her heart feeling heavy.

Manda didn't want her help, Kori got sick of trying.

Getting up, she decided to go downstairs in the building's garage. She took her purse and filled it with a few things, took the house and extra set of car keys from a hook near the front door, grabbed a sweater and walked outside. She locked the door after her and walked across the hall towards the elevator. The walls in the corridor were in mild, clean colors. The button was bright red, and the elevator door opened.

She got in the small square compartment, pressed the P1 button next to the closing door and felt the swooping sensation one gets on an elevator when it goes down a few flights of stairs rapidly, and sometimes on roller coasters too…But Kori had never been on a roller coaster, so she didn't know that.

She walked out of the elevator and into the gasoline-smelling garage. She realized something amiss.

"Komand'r took the car!"

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Raven woke up and could immediately tell something was amiss. This wasn't her bed and that definitely wasn't her pillow. She opened her eyes slightly, rolling on her back and stared at the foreign ceiling. The events from the day before came crashing down on her and she remembered everything before long. This had been BeastBoy's 'room', who had opted to sleep on the couch with Robin (or in any case, on the floor and Robin got the couch) and let her have the only guest room, which was rather nice of him, she supposed.

She grimaced as she remembered how she had barged in the day before, inviting herself over. If someone had done that to her, she would have thought it extremely rude. She imposed herself on their lives, expecting them to dump everything to help her…

They had done it though. Raven didn't know why, but they had made a few sacrifices to help her.

Raven sighed and looked at herself. She had slept in her clothes, minus the dark violet hooded sweater she had been wearing yesterday. She wrinkled her nose in disgust.

She would have to ask to borrow a T-shirt or something…She could keep the pants, that wasn't a problem, but the shirt was a different story.

She got up and went to a small duffel bag in a corner. It was open and had several clean shirts in it. She supposed it was Garfield's…

Or BeastBoy. She almost grinned. That name suited him. Garfield really was a kid at heart.

BeastBoy…BB as Cyborg calls him…Hehehe…

As for the part where he could turn into any animal…Raven had seen many strange things. She herself could move objects with her mind and teleport herself (although it took up a whole hell of a chuck out of her energy to do so) and she could heal people and animals. She had also seen a half android, half man being last night at the dinner table and had eaten supper with him.

She was ready to believe Garfield.

Yet she'd like proof first. That practical part of her always wanted proof, facts…which were probably the reason she read so much.

She sighed.

She put on one of Garfield's shirts and walked out of the room, mildly attempting to get her bed head to flatten by using her hands.

She walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Garfield was in the next room, playing on the game station. Robin was on his cell phone, leaning against the fridge and Cyborg wasn't there.

"Raven, you up?" asked Garfield from the other room.

"No. I'm sleepwalking." She answered in a monotone.

Cyborg, who had just entered the kitchen from the living room Garfield was stationed in, snickered.

"Hiya, Raven. Sleep well?"

She was quiet for a moment. "Yes, I did. Thank you again for letting me stay."

"No prob, kiddo." Was all he said before he attacked the fridge (literally), almost knocking Robin to the floor.

Raven sighed, but didn't retaliate to the name 'kiddo'.

A thought struck her mind.

What would anyone say if they knew of a young teen living with three adult males?

They would probably think we were a slut!

Shut up all of you. I don't care about that.

"What's for breakfast?" Garfield yelled.

"Bacon and pancakes!" Cyborg answered happily as he turned on the electric stove. Garfield yelled, indignant. "What?" he saved the game and entered the kitchen, ready for another daily battle against Cyborg about meat and vegetables.

Robin turned his cell phone off, flipping it closed.

"I'm off." He said simply, walking towards the door of the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" Raven asked curiously.

"To save a damsel in distress!" He walked out the door in a triumphant and proud manner, but backtracked before anyone could say anything else. "Nice shirt, by the way." He smiled sneakily at Raven before disappearing.

Raven looked down at the black shirt that depicted a smiling cow that was saying: Save the Animals! Garfield had probably gotten it at some convention…

She looked pointedly at Garfield.

"Hey! You're wearing my T-shirt!" he just realized.

She glared at him.

He gulped and looked at the other man. "We are not having bacon! Or pancakes! You need eggs to make pancakes!"

"Dude, that's just no fun!" Cyborg retaliated annoyed as Garfield was trying to take the frying pan away from him.

Raven sighed.

"Can't you just settle this peacefully? Garfield can make his own food and Vic can make his own, that way you don't fight over anything and you spare me the migraine of the century."

If Garfield had noticed that she had used Cyborg's real name's nickname he didn't let it show. Instead he asked:

"What about you? What are you going to eat?"

"Whatever. I don't need too much food."

Garfield and Cyborg exchanged looks.

"Uh…" Garfield started.

"Raven…"

"You gotta eat Rae…" Garfield finished for Cyborg.

"Look, I appreciate your concern, but I don't need to eat as often as you guys!" she snapped, standing up.

"Why not?" Garfield asked again.

There was a silence and Garfield wondered if he had pushed too far.

"It's got something to do with my heritage." She said finally, her voice showing a slight uneasiness about the revelation, breaking the awkward silence, but the atmosphere didn't lighten up.

"B, how 'bout you make you're tofu pancakes and I make my bacon and eggs?" Cyborg changed the subject.

Garfield grinned, turning around to face the half-machine man. "Deal. And tomorrow, it's all tofu!"

"You wish, grass stain."

Raven rolled her eyes yet smiled as the two young men started preparing breakfast.

¤¤¤

"Thank you so much for coming!" Kori said joyfully, hugging her friend Richard.

Rich in turn sweat dropped and smiled sheepishly.

"Um…No worries." He said. They walked outside the door.

"Do you have a car?" she asked curiously, looking around. Richard chuckled.

"Not exactly."

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Kori screamed. It was a high-pitched one, but it was half-muffled out by the noise of the blaring cars and the wind blowing against them. Her thin yet strong arms (as Richard noticed…somewhat painfully) were tightly wrapped around Richard's stomach as he was 'driving' the motorcycle down the motorway. He was steering it through cars, dodging the painful beginning-of-noon-traffic. Her face, covered by Richard's helmet that he had so gallantly given to her, was half buried in his left shoulder, as she couldn't bear to look ahead of him. Richard was rather enjoying this.

His motorcycle was a bright red and it was, needless to say, very fast.

He was wearing a pair of black shades protecting his eyes from the wind, as he had no helmet. He grinned as he turned the handles, veering the bike slightly sideways, but enough to frighten Kori even more so that her grip became dangerously tighter.

Kori had to admit, she was enjoying this. Although at the moment, the fear was clouding her thoughts and she didn't realize quite yet.

The school she taught at was in the suburbs of Jump City. It was called Green Parks Elementary, and was just off Exit 17 on the main highway on your way out of Jump City. It was a regular, public elementary. Kori was one of the only kindergarten teachers. She was also one of the most loved teachers at the school. Of course Kori denied her popularity, but even the kids in first or second grade who had had her the years before always said hi and hugged her in the corridors.

Richard spotted exit 17.

Taking a sharp turn, he got off the main highway and slowed down as he turned around, making his way on the smaller motorway. He spotted a low, large building that he could only guess was Green Park Elementary.

"It is there! Do you see?" Kori yelled as she raised her head, having felt them slow down.

Richard nodded and calm to a gentle stop. Placing on of his feet on the ground, he turned his head around to look at Kori, whose arms where still around his waist, although she was slowly releasing her grip.

"Kori…Kori…You can let go now, Kori…" he said softly to her.

She snapped out of her reverie.

"Oh…yes…sorry friend!" she let go, and Richard could only guess she was blushing under the shaded glass covering her face. She let go of him and got off, a little stiffly as she was still slightly shaky.

Taking off the helmet, she revealed a dazed but exuberant smile.

"That was most exciting, Richard! It was like the rush of the adrenaline!" she said, giving the helmet into Richard's outstretched hand.

Richard gave a wild smile.

"So you wouldn't mind too much if I picked you up after work?" he asked.

Kori blushed.

"I would like that very much. I will call you when I finish, then." She planted a soft kiss on his cheek and rushed towards the front door. "I shall see you later, Richard! Thank you!"

Richard's hand went to his cheek for a brief moment as he registered the words. Then he grinned madly, put the helmet on his head and turned the gas on, speeding away.

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Author's Note: THAT WAS SO HOLLYWOOD I WANNA PUKE. Oh well, moving on now. ;)
Sorry for taking up your time.

I was going to continue, but then I was like…NAH! You suckers need to wait for another chapter! I love being in this position.

Watching batman now. Catch ya later, fellow teen titans fans!

(Just occured to me how short this chapter is...Oh well. )

Ryuu