Rev. Psyche:
OKAY! See if I care! DON'T REVIEW!
DANCE FOR YOUR CITY!
"According to the JLU, No SOS or any Mayday signal has been broadcast." Robin said; a tic forming on his forehead.
"According to them:" Robin continued, propping his hip against the counter as he spoke with his assembled team. " 'There is no way that a teenager would be able to know, ahead of the adults, about JLU members and its affiliations, being in trouble.' but they said they would send some members to check it out…" He was starting to growl.
"Dude! I thought I was the only one who could change into animals!" Beast Boy said trying to lighten the mood.
It worked.
Robin slugged him in the arm. Beast Boy then asked Miko escort him to Sick Bay to get an X-ray to see if his arm was broken.
Robin mock-glared at him. "Keep talking like that and I'll really break your arm…"
"Augh!" Beast Boy squealed in 'fear' and ran and hid behind Cyborg.
"Oooh…No! I am not hiding your green butt this time BB!"
"But- but…!"
"Go ahead Robin, I'd like to see it…" Raven said with an 'evil-grin'.
"Augh! Star! Save Me!" Beast Boy said running for the Tamaranian.
"From what do you need saving from Beast Boy?" Star-Fire asked, clueless.
Beast Boy spluttered, whimpering, fluttering to the ground, flattened.
Miko grinned… "Wow… He reminds me of someone…" She said. "Ever been a flea?" She asked her cousin.
"Why on this green, blue, and brown earth would I want to be a flea?" Beast Boy asked grossed out, popping back into 3-D by blowing into his thumb.
Miko had been gotten a call from Sesshoumaru and was summoned to his place of work.
The rest of the Teen Titans had stayed in the Multi-purpose room doing various things…
Except for Robin; he'd given her a lift on the R-Cycle to Sesshoumaru's place and had dropped her off. She told him not to worry about getting a ride back, someone in his employ would bring her back to the Tower.
An hour later Miko, Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy were in the Multi-purpose room. Miko had just walked in and threw herself into the couch. Interrupting the video game that Robin and Beast Boy had been engaged in. Every now and then, she hit the back of her head against the back of the couch.
"I have to go on a date…" Miko groaned. It was almost like Yuka, Ayumi and Eri setting her up on dates with Hojo. She was seriously questioning herself for agreeing with Sesshoumaru's demand for her to not allow his son, a reclusive teenager, to go stag to his Junior Prom.
"A DATE!" BB squawked; momentarily turning into a parrot, before returning to human form and staring at her. The controller was upside down next to him on the seat having flipped from his hands when he'd morphed.
"Yeah…" She sighed, accepting that she promised to go to this 'prom' with Sesshoumaru's son. But she did have a question. "Yes… I have gone on dates before but there is something bothering me… There are a lot of festivals in Japan… But what is a 'prom'?"
Robin sniggered. She paused in hitting her head against the couch; she was getting a headache, and glared at Robin with such ferocity, that Robin was left with the distinct and foreboding impression: 'What Goes Around, Comes Around'… He stopped sniggering; he hated to jinx himself… Though he was the feeling that it was too late.
"Basically you get dressed up über nicely, almost ballroom formal and dance, spill punch, hold up a wall, and generally have a good time…" Cyborg said cheerfully; leaning over the back of the couch to look at her masked face. "But not necessarily in that order…" He was enjoying her discomfort; Robin was glad that he wasn't at the end of that demand to go out with someone he didn't even know…
"Oh- Then Star-Fire and I need to go shopping…" At this point Raven and Star-Fire walked in the room.
"Why?"
Miko looked up at Cyborg in surprise, and consternation, before biting the corner of her lip; and glancing up at him with a stubborn look.
"C'mere, I'll tell you something… " She said gesturing Cyborg closer, to lean his head down closer to her. "I literally have nothing to wear!" She shouted, making his bells ring. He stood up and after running a diagnostic, yelled at Robin that he had to go repair his audio sensors… Dang Miko was loud when annoyed!
"When is it?" Robin asked, glad it was her and not him.
"Sometime tomorrow night… Ugh… The things I do to save my hide…" Miko groaned forcing her head back against the couch, and wiping her hands down her face.
"Is this kid that bad?" Cyborg asked from around the table he had set has audio sensors to mute and had set his visual sensors to read lips, set that he could see all angles around the room it was hard to repair his audio sensors and watch what everybody was doing and read what they were saying.
"I'm not entirely certain about the son, but the dad is that bad… If the kid's like his dad, then his personality is like Batman's; if he's like his mom, then he's like Zatanna…"
"Ooh…" Robin said grimacing along with Beast Boy, totally getting the references. Raven and Star-Fire were clueless.
"We'll head out now…" Miko said pushing herself up from the couch and stretching, before grabbing Star-Fire by the shoulders and pushing her out of the room.
"Have Fun!" Cyborg called out needing no reply.
Once they got outside the Multi-purpose room, Miko released Star-Fire's shoulders; and walked toward the exit.
"What is it that we are to purchase Miko?" Star-Fire asked as she followed Miko outside.
"Formal wear… But knowing us- something that we can at least move around easily in…"
"How will 'knowing us' allow us to move easily?"
Miko merely laughed as she had Star-Fire fly them further into the city.
~~~~~~SORRY- I DIDN'T MEAN IT… PLEASE REVIEW…~~~~~~
'"Range to target?"' Robin asked as he and the rest of the Teen Titans were speeding down the road.
'"Five Hundred and closing!"' Cyborg answered, following the R-Cycle with the T-Car. '"We should have a visual any-"'
'"There he is!"' Star-Fire interrupted pointing ahead of her and Beast Boy in vulture form.
'"Correction; there it is!"' Raven said from the passenger seat of the T-Car.
"It's a spider…" Miko shivered in dread, disgust, and generalized dismay, especially since after she and her team had defeated Naraku… Miko was perched on the seat behind Robin, arrow out of her quiver and aimed at the man-spider.
And it was, a spider with two bodies, the top was the body of a spider with only four legs which shared a head with a human male body. And it was robbing a jewelry store.
The man-spider shot a bolt of purple energy from an energy gun, causing the Titans to dodge, revving away from the blast.
As the man-spider raced along the outsides of the city buildings, the Teen Titans gave chase. Star-Fire and Beast Boy from the air and the others from the ground.
Stabilizing herself on the back of the cycle, Miko took aim and shot three consecutive arrows at the thief. Robin pressed a button and two energy disk projectors emerged from the steering column and another button press and the energy disks were shot at the thief. Unfortunately, all shots either came close or missed. Miko really did not want to kill; so she was missing on purpose.
Cyborg pulled ahead of the R-Cycle and it's riders as they chased the thief, and from the back of the car a cybernetic rocket fired and would have hit the thief had he not used the spider-body's legs to give him a preternatural edge to his jump, giving him lift over the explosion.
And the chase continued.
Beast Boy was glued to the wall when the man-spider spat a web blast. '"Super Loogie… Bleagh…"'
The man-spider aimed for Star-Fire but she was able to dodge easily.
But the webs didn't cease in fact the man-spider aimed his webs across the main drag, bringing the height well over two and a half stories.
Robin gasped and had Miko leap towards the T-Car. With a wave of her hand and some well adjusted dark energy, Raven teleported Miko into the car; just before she raised the street into a ramp.
The chase continued until a web blast splattered across the windshield.
'"I can't see!"' Cyborg yelled, before he braked the car, more webs splattered on the hood.
Between Raven and Miko they were able to obliterate the webbing and Cyborg was able to track Robin and Star-Fire's signal.
They joined up with them, after freeing Beast Boy, to see Robin falling; grey looking and in an unnatural position. Star-Fire caught him and helped him to the ground where they were waiting.
'"He is… okay?"' Star-Fire asked as she looked to her cybernetic teammate.
'"He will be; the venom's effect is only temporary."' Cyborg said after running a quick analysis.
'"Ugh! Getting away- we have to…Go after him! Agh!… Whoa!"' Robin said still in his unnatural and frozen position, but he began to tilt forward and could not help his sudden tipping.
Cyborg made to catch him, but Star-Fire got to him first and pulled him back onto the tip of his boot.
'"You mean, we have to go after him!"' Raven said clarifying Robin's position.
'"You need to chill until that stuff wears off!"' Cyborg cued in.
'"Dude- we can handle it… The guy's got a spider for a head. Not like he's gonna be hard to find!"' Beast Boy said being serious.
"And I in the mean time need to go get ready; in order to save my hide need to play 'prom date'…" Miko said groaning. She'd much rather be going after the man-spider thief; and she stated as such.
Robin encouraged her to go, letting her drive the R-Cycle back to the Tower. With reluctance, she did so. And departed for her rooms once she got there. Sesshoumaru's son was going to be picking her up in just under an hour.
Matsurokan Westlord, Sesshoumaru's first born son, was waiting for her outside at the exact time Sesshoumaru said he'd be. (See A/N at the end of the chapter.)
"Great… A stickler…" Kikyo muttered under her breath. But at least he's cute looking! Kikyo cheered inside Miko's head. There were times when Kagome questioned Kikyo's sanity; who would have thought that Kikyo, elegant, refined, eloquently emotionally controlled Kikyo would say something like that about a Hanyou?
"Who can still hear better than a human…" Matsurokan stated.
He looked like he was Inuyasha's son; but since Inuyasha had passed years before and he was still a teenager, the same age as she was for that matter…
Matsurokan currently had black hair and muddy-blue eyes, but underneath his human disguise… Put simply: There was a strong family resemblance. His hair was silver, but fine like his father's. His eyes were a burnt amber color; like Inuyasha's and were it not for the fact that Kagura had images of him just after he was born; she would have stated categorically that he WAS Inuyasha's son!
He was still his father's son through and through. However, he acted more like his grandfather: The Great Dog General, much to Kagome and Kagura's relief.
Kikyo was surprised to see Robin pull the R-Cycle to were they were going to board the cruise liner for the 'Junior Prom: Date with Destiny'.
And she excused herself from Matsurokan to talk to him, when she saw Star-Fire appear. She was glad she'd talked Star-Fire into getting the lavender evening dress instead of the green… It suited her much better. And simplicity overruled adornments in the aliens opinion. Miko agreed, but for herself- she had to honor Matsurokan's family house.
"Robin? Star-Fire? Why are you attending this function?" Miko asked confused.
"Miko? This was the prom you were talking about?" Robin asked for clarification. "Wow- you both look- …Wow…"
'"On such an occasions, I believe it is customary to wear a dead plant?"'
Miko was wearing a strapless red dress with white cherry petals seemingly falling from the bough embossed on the bust to a layer at her hem where the fallen petals were also embossed.
"I'm confused too…" Robin said before facing Star-Fire as she placed a boutonniere in Robin's lapel. '"Star- You're supposed to be helping the others track down Killer-Moth!"'
'"Your orders were to investigate the girl. I intend to investigate her thoroughly!"' Star-Fire said semi-flippantly. '"Besides- you may require saving! This 'Kitten' is perhaps some form of ooze monster in disguise! She certainly is ugly like an ooze monster, yes?"' She asked of Miko.
Kikyo wisely nodded her head. A maddened Star-Fire was not something she wanted to witness.
Robin raised a finger to make a point, when a car horn honked, drawing their attention. It was a pink limo; and a blonde haired girl, decked in pink stepped out.
'"Yoo-hoo! Robbie-poo! You're Kitten has arrived! Mee-yow!" She said loudly.
'"Second thought- Maybe I will need saving…"' Robin said as he stepped away from his female teammates.
"Part of the man-spider thing from earlier?" Miko asked Star-Fire
'"Oh! Robin! My Date! Robin! Don't you look handsome?"' She said as she plumped his chin. '"Compliment me on my dress!"'
'"Do It! Or Else!"'
'"Nice dress…"' Robin nearly snarled.
Matsurokan approached Miko. "Is the entire evening going to be like this?"
"I have no idea- This is the first 'prom' I've ever been to…" Miko said shaking her head as he escorted her up the gang plank to the deck of the cruise ship.
'"Oh! Robin! You're such a gentleman! Not at all like my WorthlessEx-BoyfriendFang!"' She seemed to announce to the docks at large. Miko, Robin and Matsurokan all winced trying to protect their ears. '"Now take my arm- Lead me in… And would it kill you to smile?"' 'Kitten' demanded.
A smile almost cracked across his face. '"Maybe."' His smile was so forced that it looked almost evil; then he dragged her into the line leading to the gang plank.
A sudden sound of a crash and metal creaking had she and Matsurokan looking over their shoulders to see Star-Fire with her fist in the hood of the pink Limo.
Miko had coerced Matsurokan into dancing with her, saying that it was much like sword play, when Robin and 'Kitten' suddenly joined them on the dance floor.
"This 'Kitten' is starting to annoy me… Should she continue- I shall show her exactly WHY cats and dogs do not get along!" Matsurokan said gripping Miko's hand harshly.
"Down boy!" Miko said quietly. "Robin's dealing with it… She has something that she is obviously using against the city- Robin's just going along with it until the rest of the team has figured out what she's got!"
Matsurokan let out a slight growl, but nodded. He smirked when 'Kitten' suddenly pulled close to her for a slow dance. He was obviously uncomfortable.
'"From now on, Robbie-poo, this will always be our song!"' Kitten declared as she cuddled against Robin.
Robin, still dancing, freaked out, and opened his communicator begging his team to have found Killer-Moth.
'"Poor guy…"' He muttered. At least Matsurokan was enjoying his forced date… He might even ask his father to be allowed to court Miko.
When Kitten revealed that her father was Killer-Moth, Miko exampled to Star-Fire why they chose the types of dresses that they had, and within a minute, they were back in their hero-attire. Robin made a similar move. Matsurokan merely removed his jacket and handed it to one of the teenagers hiding, removing his human disguise.
Miko and Matsurokan aided Robin and Star-Fire throughout the fight with Fang, the Man-Spider Thief from earlier and Kitten. When it seemed as if Robin, Star-Fire and Matsurokan had it covered, Miko ran to get the teenagers to semi-safety… They were on a boat after all…
The Teen Titans and Matsurokan were standing near the railing of the cruise-ship, watching as Fang, the man-spider, boyfriend of Kitten was escorted into the villain-holding truck.
'"Nobody dumps Kitten! Nobody! You're going to pay for this Robbie-poo! You're Going to PAY!"' She screamed as she was shoved into the villain-holding truck.
'"So, No Second date?"' Cyborg asked Robin needlessly.
'"You know- Now that no one's making them all mutatey, these little guys might actually make good pets!"'
'"Don't even think about it…" Raven said staring down at Beast Boy as he cuddled the Moth-man maggoty creation.
Robin walked over to two teenagers that had been hit with Fang's venom and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment as he apologized for ruining their prom. Matsurokan escorted Miko towards them.
'"Are you kidding? This was the best prom Ever!"' The guy declared.
'"Even if I still can't move my legs!"' The girl concurred. The four of them were surprised. Matsurokan was the first to regain control of his emotions.
"Later Kahn…"
"See you at school Westlord!" Kahn, the frozen male said back. "And I want the full scoop!"
"You can't handle the scoop!" Matsurokan said mockingly.
"And now the moment you've all been waiting for! The King and Queen of this year's prom!"' The four of them got into fighting stances. "Is a Tie!" Spotlights landed on Robin and Star-Fire as well as Miko and Matsurokan. '"Robin and Star-Fire!" A cheer sounded through the crowd. "And Matsurokan Westlord and Miko!"
'"I guess one more dance wouldn't kill me…"' Robin said as he escorted Star-Fire to the dance floor where Miko and Matsurokan were already dancing together.
"Miko… If this is the way that you and your friends spend your time, then I will most appreciate an invitation to join…" Sesshoumaru's son had since shed his human disguise and standing near the railing.
There were several girls looking at him in wonder, either wondering why he was only now revealing himself, or wondering how he had escaped their 'hottie-radar'.
After they had returned from the prom, the Teen Titans got back to investigating why JLU Vault Tower was ignoring the potential threat.
Robin was getting really frustrated. They had contacted the JLU again as per the problem Miko had encountered with the JLU Vault Tower. And they had been assertively told by yet another JLU member there was no way that a teenager would be able to know, ahead of the adults, about JLU members and its affiliations, in trouble.
So they decided to pay a call on the JLU Vault City Tower the next morning…
Robin wasn't the only one getting frustrated either, Beast Boy, Raven, Cyborg and even Miko were noticeably anxious and perturbed Miko was increasingly frustrated with it as well… She had dealt with this type of issue before, with Sesshoumaru; back in the Sengoku Jidai. Star-Fire knew all about politics. She never liked them on Tamaran and she didn't like the: 'Bureaucratic Bull' (as Cyborg put it) that they needed to deal with on Earth.
The Teen Titans entered the Vault Tower ignoring what the JLU had said. That they would take care of it themselves.
"Whoa- someone's cleaned house…" Beast Boy said. As he watched members of the JLU go through different levels of the Vault Tower; seeming as if nothing was out of place or wrong for that matter.
And it was true… there was in no way, shape or form, any evidence of anything that Miko had said, and sampled, to have occurred.
Nothing.
It was a good thing that Miko had taken images and scans of the tower including tests of the blood and samples of all evidence. Also having had recorded all pertinent data, including MRI's of less sensitive sections the building. (Though Robin was unclear about how Miko had actually gotten the MRIs…)
Another thing he was incredibly thankful for; Miko's foresight.
Already, Vault Tower had several members of the JLU there and those members questioned the Teen Titans' appearance.
Robin and Cyborg tried to explain to Mister Terrific what Miko had discovered, but were ignored. Being called children.
Miko and Raven tried convincing other members of the JLU, basically S.T.R.I.P.E., that there was something not right in the tower, mainly power fluctuations; but Miko and Raven were told to: 'Let the grown-ups handle it'.
Miko had to bodily restrain Raven from going demon on the patronizing robot-user.
"You better watch it missy- I'd hate to have to call your parents… What would your father say?" S.T.R.I.P.E. asked.
"He'd tell me to waste you and your pathe-" Miko interrupted Raven's tirade by slapping a hand across her mouth.
"Yeah- Not a good idea to piss someone with dark powers off…" She said grimacing semi-apologetically… She was mad about what he said as well… She'd saved the world Centuries before he was even born!
The robot-user swiveled to look at her. "I'll let it go this time… But don't try to pull anything- I'll be watching you two…."
With that S.T.R.I.P.E. left, leaving Miko and Raven fuming. Didn't these adults understand that something was seriously wrong?
The others had had similar problems.
Beast Boy and Star-Fire had tried to explain to Vigilante, as he was one of the more easier going JLU members available, but had been brushed off as well.
"How come you kids could find som'thin' wrong here if we can't?"
"Perhaps it is because you were unknowing of something tumultuous and erroneous occurring? Are you so unaware and thinking of your superiority that nothing can harm that which you so obviously represent?" Star-Fire asked.
"Darlin' we would'a known if som'thin' like that did happ'n…"
"Dude- something is seriously wrong! Why won't you listen?" Beast Boy demanded.
"Listen kids- I'd love at chat 'bout this idear; but I have a serious date with a 70" plasma screen and a Clint Eastwood marathon…" And with that said; Vigilante brushed Star-Fire and Beast Boy off.
"Why that Klorbag Varglenilk! Does he not know that this is of the utmost importance?" Star-Fire demanded of Beast Boy.
"It's one of those things Star… Grown-ups almost never take teenagers seriously…" Beast Boy said, although he too was annoyed.
They all met in the Lobby of the Vault JLU Tower.
"Any luck?" Robin asked, his cape draped around his shoulders hiding his torso.
All four of Raven's red eyes glared back at the JLU members visible. "Idiotic, moronic-" Miko slapped a hand over Raven's mouth, her hand glowing pink, in an attempt to soothe the beast.
"No luck, lots of patronizing, no luck."
"Same here…" Beast Boy said. "Vigilante literally ignored our warning… Didn't take the indication of a threat seriously at all!"
"Us too… Man! I hope we don't turn out as oblivious as these guys do!" Cyborg complained.
"Come on team- If they're going to ignore us, then we're going to do a little investigating ourselves." Robin declared as he led the Titans out of the JLU Tower.
An hour later, they were back in Titans Tower. They were in the base of the Tower, when Robin revealed what was hidden beneath his cloak.
"What is that?" Miko asked, looking at the device beneath his cloak.
"This is a data bank that I have 'borrowed' from the League…" The look in his team's eyes made him startle. "I needed-"
"Dude- we know… Something's not right with the League… We need to know what is going on; and who is covering up the problems being caused in the League…" Cyborg said.
An alarm sounded startling the Titans. Robin slipped into the all concealing shadows and revealed himself moments later databank-less.
A look at the console on the wall revealed Jason Blood standing in the Lobby of the T-Tower.
Robin glanced at Raven who gritted her teeth, but nodded and encased the her team in her shadows; transporting them on the other side of the Lobby behind the inner doors to the Tower.
Miko placed a hand to the security panel and unlocked the system; the doors opened revealing Jason Blood looking at them in a considering fashion.
"What is it that you've discovered about the Justice League?" Jason Blood asked.
"Waitaminnit- You believe us?" Beast Boy demanded.
"Something is going on… What do you have that gave you the idea that something was incredibly wrong?" Jason Blood asked.
"Miko was the one who noted something being wrong…" Robin said giving credit where credit was due.
"Really? When I encountered S.T.R.I.P.E. and Vigilante, and they told me how enthusiastic you were about such a dilemma-"
"Do you believe us?" Raven demanded.
"Is there a reason I shouldn't?"
"We are merely grateful to be taken earnestly by one of our seniors…" Star-Fire said floating slightly clasping her hands in front of her.
"I have seen many cabals taken down by earnest younglings… I am eager to see what you have discovered…" Jason Blood said.
Cyborg shared a look with Robin and nodded. They shared their findings with Jason Blood who was startled at the information they accrued.
"Have you told any other members of the Justice League about this?"
"We tried earlier today…" Beast Boy said
"Did you notice anything interesting?" Jason Blood asked.
"Besides the still semi-unknown mystical energy still around the JLU Vault tower?" Miko asked for verification.
"Besides the evidence one of our members found, and the mystical energy verified by one of our other members…?" Robin asked.
"Especially because of that information which you have gathered. You've gathered more than most ever think of when they report something out of their norm…" Jason Blood said emphatically. "I felt something oddly familiar… Did you feel something like that as well?"
"I've gone over this databank three times… Nothing's been added; and nothing's missing…" Cyborg said.
"What about energies, or power signatures being… possibly tweaked or skewed? I know it's not likely-"
"Extremely…" Raven said concurring.
"Is there a possibility… That someone could have hacked communications, and cleaned house?"
"An inside man?"
"Someone is imitating what happened with me and my Liege Lord Pendragon…"
"Now the investigation begins." Robin stated.
"Without the JLU senior members knowing about it? Or the inside man?" Miko asked Cyborg.
"Yeah right… how long do you think that'll last?" Beast Boy muttered to Star-Fire, Raven, and their new cohort: Jason Blood.
"Ten'll get you Twenty that Batman and the Question are already on their way…" Jason Blood said to the team.
"Sucker Bet." Robin said. But instructed them to make copies of everything, specifically results of scans and samples, into digital and hard copy, at least two of each in different sections of the Tower for safety.
(A/N: Matsurokan, literally translated means fate strong… I want his name to mean strong fate, to tie into the way Kagome's life has interlinked with Sesshoumaru's house.)
As stated halfway through this chapter Please Review …
Thanks!
JoWashington