A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply

Chapter Eight: Fights

"It has been far too long," Kitarou snarled. "And now I shall finally repay you for disgracing me before the True Master!"

Robin growled as he went on guard, "You disgraced yourself."

Kitarou answered with a swift jab of his sword. Robin rolled out of the way, pulled his collapsible staff from its compartment, and counter attacked. The larger man deftly parried Robin's strikes, only to have his own reposts knocked harmlessly away.

"Are you working for the gun runners?" Robin demanded.

"It pays the bills."

The eight men looked up and saw the two duelists atop the stack of containers. They all pulled small arms from their coats and scanned the area for trouble. Their hired help could take care of the scouts, but they still had to retrieve the cache. Suddenly loud whistling filled the canyon. One of the men screamed in fear as he became pinned to his car. He looked down to see a bright yellow arrow trapping his arm, piercing the cuff of his jacket only millimeters from his flesh.

"Speedy to all Titans: GO!"

…..

"I never said it was Robin!" Raven exclaimed defensively.

Bee's and Argent's eyes darted from the pale witch to the willowy alien girl. Raven and Starfire faced each other from opposite sides of the room. The room grew icy as the best friends bristled at each other.

Jinx folded her arms against her chest, "I wouldn't know about compassionate, but he certainly is arrogant enough."

"Explain yourself!" Star commanded. Her eyes began to glow hot.

Jinx jumped to her feet and leaned into Starfire's personal space. "Have you ever fought him? Do you know what it's like to listen to those god-awful one-liners he dishes out? God, it just makes you want to stomp him flat, and that's when you realize you've fallen right in to one of his traps." The lilac-eyed sorceress turned away and took a deep breath, "Damn, I hated him."

Starfire powered down, and looked to the floor. She folded her hands in front of her and sighted quietly. "Jinx, Raven, and Donna? I owe you all an apology. I jumped to many conclusions that were simply unfounded. And Jinx, you are right. Robin does have a difficult time expressing his feelings and can be quite arrogant. But I… care for him so much that I fear I am blind to that side of him."

"We both are," Raven said quietly as she remembered his tenderness as he carried her childlike form through the depths of her father's domain.

A pall of silence smothered the room.

Donna sighed, and a sudden mischievous grin spread across her face. She scooped up pillows at heightened speed and launched them at Starfire, Raven, and Jinx. The pillows all flopped harmlessly against their intended targets, but Star's head rocked back in surprise. She looked at the pillow at her feet and a slow rueful grin curled her lips. Raven had already picked up her pillow with her dark powers, her lips turned up in a wicked smile and her eyes glowing white. Jinx picked up her pillow and cocked it back, her eyes glowing purple.

"PILLOW FIGHT!" all six girls exclaimed together.

…..

Beast Boy changed into a humming bird and flitted toward the gunmen. Hidden by the darkness, and by Speedy's barrage of arrows, the elfin Titan soared above them. The gunmen wasted bullets as they careened off the steel containers, not even close to finding the crimson clad archer. Once in position, Beast Boy transformed again and became an elephant. The green Titan landed on one of the cars, squashing it flat, sending broken glass and metal in every direction. He instantly changed into a mouse and scampered for cover.

The seven remaining gunmen ran.

Aqualad summoned a pillar of water and hammered the barge along side the super transport. The wall of water swept anyone on board into the bay where they were surrounded by a ring of stinging jellyfish. Aqualad stood triumphantly on the boat, his arms folded confidently across his chest.

Cyborg joined the chase and quickly captured two of the gunmen. "I got two!" he called in.

Kitarou charged, roaring. Robin narrowed his eyes and quickly dropped to his back. The Teen Wonder slammed his feet into Kitarou's knees, instantly felling the taller man with a sickening snapping noise. The villainous martial artist bellowed as he held his crushed kneecap in place. Robin flipped to his feet and kicked the sword away from Kitarou's reach.

Robin then grabbed the wounded fighter by the lapels of his shirt. "Where is the cache?" he roared.

"They… did not give me that information," Kitarou said through the pain.

"Why should I believe you?" Robin pressed his knee to Kitarou's. The villain's face tightened as pain ripped through his body.

"Because it's true!"

Robin threw down the wounded man and stood over him. He pulled his communicator from his belt.

"Titans, report."

Kitarou snarled. Suddenly his hand sliced out and swept the boy off his feet. With his remaining strength, he kicked Robin with his good leg sending the Teen Wonder tumbling over the side.