Troubles with the Beast Within

Raven and Star-Fire were meditating in the open area of the multi-purpose room while Cyborg was tinkering with something at the kitchen table.

Robin woke first; his masked eyes darting around the room taking in every aspect finding his teammates doing their own thing, and those that had accompanied them to the future, still asleep. His first instinct, which he went with, was to use the necessary. The second was to access the disk that Brainiac 5 gave them just before they saw the future's Dr. Fate.

While they were in the future, and just before their "training" stint, Brainiac had quizzed Robin and Youkai on the technologies of the time. They had no trouble communicating their current level of tech, and even had some samples of it. Their communicators for instance… But it wasn't indicative enough of their current tech status, or level of software compatibility; but that issue had been easily solved.

Why Youkai of all Titans had a compactable-laptop on his person with current tech and software on it startled Robin. (The computer was at first, roughly half the size of their communicators, but with a motion, increased in size to 13" laptop) He knew that he had some of their current tech on him (communicators), but not enough to give the Legionnaire enough to go on. Apparently, you learn something every day….

Robin was pleased to see that once he'd returned to the multi-purpose room that the three that had accompanied him to the future had just finished waking, (Which meant Beast Boy; half of his hair was plastered to his head while the other half was sticking straight out as if he'd stuck his finger in an electric socket…) and Miko and Youkai were making "breakfast" though it was well after 10am. Therefore Cyborg couldn't complain as he wasn't eating it… It soon became apparent that Cyborg could complain about the smell of it, Miko had made a traditional Japanese Breakfast, BB couldn't complain because the bulk of it was vegetarian, and Robin found that he enjoyed Japanese food from when he stayed in Japan with- his Mentor…

It was a sunny day, and the breakfast was… Interesting to say the least, it was chaos to say the most.

But with Robin investigating the data-file that the Legion of Superheroes had sent back with them, it left a very bored couple of cousins… Which was why they were in the training room sparring with Cyborg and Youkai. With Raven and Star-Fire reviewing their stats in the cobbled together control room.

Miko landed on BB's back after a grueling and extremely hard to see battle simulation.

They'd told Cyborg about the battle-sims they fought in, in the future, and he was so intrigued, that he decided, spur of the moment to create one of his own… (Maybe it was even the first battle-sim that would be used as a construct for battle-sims in the future… Who knows?)

The Battle was grueling, as Cyborg had made the program self-adapting, they'd split into teams; Cyborg and Miko, and Youkai and Beast Boy.

BB and Cyborg were on the ground with Miko and Youkai kneeling on them, holding them immobile… On opposite sides of the room, where their battles had landed them.

"I know who's back you're on; but whose side are you on?" Beast Boy asked his cousin.

She smirked; "Maybe next time you'll remember that I've fought more than my fair share of enemies that were bigger and better equipped than I… Time to start using your brain in battle cousin dear- It's better to think something through and find the weak point of the enemy than to charge into battle without having a plan of attack…" She forewarned, coming to a stand and lending him a hand to bring him to his feet.

"Nice- I'm gonna go see how Kagome's doing… I haven't talked to her in a while…" Beast Boy said dusting off his uniform. He threw a smirk Cyborg's way as they viewed their teammates Youkai and Miko walking together out of the training room, speaking quietly. It wasn't often that Cyborg got his butt handed to him, so the smirk was partly teasingly-challenging and 'see-ya-later'.

Cyborg caught the smirk and sent a wry one back to his best friend, and waved to him as BB left the training room to go talk to 'Kagome'. Seeing as it was the norm for BB to get his butt handed to him on a regular basis when the Titans trained together; this time, Cyborg also got his handed to him with a healthy side of humble-pie.

Raven decided that she too would go to see 'Kagome', she had not seen 'Kagome' since Kikyo had healed Robin's 'hearing loss'.

Raven ended up walking in on Beast Boy talking to Kagome, about his feelings about being a member of the team. He was sitting on the bed, Indian-style, but with his arms wrapped around his knees in a semi-comfortable position, Raven assumed.

She quickly slipped back into the hallway leaving the door open into the care center of sick-bay. It seems Beast Boy felt talking to someone or some-'thing', if you wanted to be more accurate, was easier for him than talking about it to his teammates.

"Cyborg treats me like I'm his kid-brother, which most of the time isn't bad, but he's like a steam-roller or a tank, going over everything and not caring… Then there's Star-Fire, I have no idea what she thinks of me, she calls everybody 'friend', but I doubt she thinks of me as an actual guy-friend; and since she's a Princess, I'm probably more like a servant or one of her castle 'pages' like it shows in some of those history books of Kikyo's… Robin- He's too obsessed with being a hero to realize some of the bigger issues, he never admits he's wrong even when he's wrong or doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. He's a take-charge kinda guy, but he's like Cyborg, tearing across everyone to do it his way... Kikyo's willing to go to any length to help, in any way possible, which scares me; I don't want to lose her and if she continues on the path she's on, she'll die… Raven- Man I don't know what she thinks of me, but there's no way she'll ever take me seriously. If I annoy her she'll probably squish me like a bug, I mean she can be really, really scary when she's mad… And Youkai, I'm not sure about either, he treats me like an equal, and seems to value what I tell him, and that terrifies me, because no one's done that for me before…"

Kagome was wheezing lightly and didn't say anything for a moment, before she coughed harshly and tried to catch her breath. "Feel… better?"

Raven heard Beast Boy sigh, and she shared the sentiment. Inadequacy, in emotion and in a physical being, was terrible.

"No," He said grumbling slightly.

"Please don't lie…" Kagome asked, her coughing pausing slightly before she caught her breath and was back to wheezing.

"I'm-!"

Raven heard Kagome's pointed look.

"Okay, yeah I do feel better… How is it that she's not you and you're not each other but you still respond like her?"

"Talent," Kagome replied, coughing slightly. "I have some good creators…"

Raven thought back on what Beast Boy said; he felt like he never measured up. He made light of it frequently, she recalled 'good-looking comic relief guy' being used once or twice. But she never thought he thought less of himself because of the way that he was…

In all honesty- she was glad he was the way he was, it made being on a team like their's bearable. If it hadn't been for Beast Boy, there would have never been a group like the Teen Titans. Cyborg would still be on his own, ashamed of his technology enhanced body, Robin would be a loner much like his mentor, she would have been helping from the shadows but afraid to make contact because what she was professed to become, Star-Fire would have been dragged back to either Tamaran or Gordania. All in all, without Beast Boy, there would not have been any Teen Titans.

"Well- thanks for letting me get this off my chest Kagome, I'll see you later, 'K?" She heard Beast Boy say and heard the medical cot squeak as Beast Boy removed himself from it.

Her eyes widening, she pulled herself into the next room over with her teleportation powers, and when she heard Beast Boy walk past, and down the hall, she opened the doors and looked out after him.

With what Beast Boy had said still maneuvering through her mind, she made the decision to treat her teammate better. She wouldn't have had the friends she had without him, after all!

() * () * () * () * () * ()

'"I think my appendix and my spleen just switched places!"' Beast Boy whined to his teammates just after the fight started with Adonis.

'"You wimps think you can take down Adonis?"' The guy in the red mechanical suit asked as he cracked his suit's knuckles. '"Bring it on."' He said using the 'come-on/bring-it' gesture.

If you asked Miko or Youkai, it was a stupid name for a villain, especially when this one relied purely on his mechanical suit.

The Titan's were in a loose formation, with Miko and near Robin at the front left and Youkai just behind Cyborg at the front right.

"'Dude, it is totally brunged!"' Beast Boy said getting ticked off at this opponent. He paused, '"Branged."' He corrected his error, or tried to…

'"Ooh, bad grammer… That oughtta scare him…"' Raven said sarcastically, drawing a backwards glare from Beast Boy, before Robin cut in.

'"Titans! GO!"'

As a team the raced forward, Robin opened his pole staff and smashed it towards 'Adonis' only to have "his" arm block it. Beast Boy followed through, turning into a wolf and tried to attack Adonis' head only to be thrown off. Cyborg tried blasting him with his sonic cannon followed by Raven's blast of black energy and Raven's Star-bolts as Raven and Star-Fire flew over Adonis' head, trying to get a better angle.

The animals in the cages of the area they were fighting in were going berserk at the noises they were being assaulted with in the middle of the night.

Robin tried a series combo of attacks that Youkai had just started giving him lessons on, but his upward attack was caught by Adonis' hand. The lessons hadn't gotten past the first stage. Robin gritted his teeth, he knew he should have pushed Youkai into furthering the attack sequence, who cared about sleep deprivation! He was the protégé of Batman! Turns out it was a good thing that Robin had his teeth gritted, because Adonis plowed a fist into his upper chest, making him hit the ceiling before he hit the desk below it, crashing it to the floor.

Miko ran to heal him as the others covered for him. Youkai on the other hand, noting the chemical vats in the room, declined to use his acid whip or claws, for a loose drop would dissolve anything or anyone… Strike that, if Miko could survive an acid attack from his father, then she would be able to survive one of his attacks…

Adonis had Robin's pole staff and bent it into an upside-down 'U' shape, before tossing it casually behind him. '"You're just making me more ripped!"' He declared to the Titans but winced as Star-Fire launched a star-bolt at him that exploded on his left shoulder, followed by one to his torso and another to his shoulder. He looked up to see Star-Fire throw a cast iron 3 ton block at him, only to have him catch it on his shoulders and hands. '"Augh! No pain… No… Gain!"' He declared throwing it back at Star-Fire, who 'Eeped!' as it hit her.

Raven raced forward to engage Adonis with Miko quickly following, Robin had urged her to join the battle. Raven quickly encased his 'body' in her black soul magic, and Cyborg quickly leapt forward to aid her, when Adonis flexed his' muscles body-builder style and broke free of her moorings.

Raven fell to the ground and Adonis quickly leapt on her holding her arms out to the side as he crouched over her fallen body. '"Let Me Go!"' Raven demanded, struggling.

Adonis tried a sexy growl/purr, '"Grrr… You're feisty…"' He said grinning at her predatorily.

Youkai who was standing near Beast Boy, shook his head. "Amateur…"

Miko dashed an arrow scouring his armor loosening his hold, but it wasn't needed at Raven phased herself from her position with her soul magic. Adonis was surprised and looked up to see where she went only to have two objects encased in her black magic crash into his body, or try to. He leapt back just in time, but caught a fist to the jaw from Cyborg. Followed by several more as Cyborg kept knocking him backwards.

"'Come on big man! Show me what'cha got!"' Adonis getting tired of getting hit, grabbed Cyborg by his fist and squeezed. '"Well, Okay then…"' Cyborg said an 'oh-shoot' look on his face, before Adonis threw him through a wall into an adjoining room.

'"Nobody out muscles Adonis!"' The "villain" declared, flexing his 'Pecs'.

"They aren't muscles, they're motors!" Miko said as she withdrew her Tessen and aimed for his elbow joint, only for him to catch her in his arms.

"Well- two feisty girls, do you need a real muscle man in your life, to make it complete?"

Miko struggled to loosen herself, only for it to not work, so when Adonis tried to kiss her, she opened the Tessen into his face to block the kiss.

The kiss attempt didn't please Youkai, who darted in and forcibly released her from Adonis' arms.

"Ow…" She muttered, "getting squeezed by metal hurts…." Both Youkai and BB growled in instant hatred.

"Hey you! Muscle man! Keep your hands off my teammates!"

"That's right puny kid- I am a muscle man!"

"Oh yeah- well my muscles may be small and ropey but they're not- I mean…" He didn't get to finish his statement because Adonis using an over the head double-fist slam to where Beast Boy used to be standing trying to correct his faux pas.

BB changed into an ox and charged, only to be caught by the horns, and thrown to the side. He changed into a viscous baboon only to get thrown into a wall and behind a computer station. From there raced a bangle tiger who aimed claws at Adonis' chest only to hit the floor on his side, and into several tanks and large metal stations.

'"What's the matter wuss? Don't you know how to fight like a man?"' Adonis asked flexing his arms.

Youkai winced. "Here we go…" Miko looked up at him in askance. "It's a male animal-type thing… To be called human, even partially is an extreme insult, even from one as stupid as this 'Adonis'…"

'"I'm not a man…."' Miko heard her cousin say, she could practically feel his glare, and she curled closer to Youkai. Her cousin had snapped. '"I'M AN ANIMAL!"' He snarled just before he turned into a green Big-Foot creature, and began attacking Adonis. Adonis tried to dodge backwards only to be helped more-so by a forward charge from a Rhino- BB. Adonis looked up from where he'd hit a pillar only to be hit by a stegosaur's tail. He was thrown several yards away only for Beast Boy to race after him in lion form and gain a swipe to his armor.

Seeing the claws actually hit their mark over the area where Miko's arrow had already scored, Beast Boy changed into a grizzly with a mental dark smile at the thought of getting his prey, and stood up on two legs to swipe further at his opponent.

Miko was led by Youkai to where the rest of the Titans had gathered and upon seeing where they were headed, Star-Fire gasped and Robin called out a warning.

"'Beast Boy Careful! The Chemicals!"' But it was too late, Beast Boy shoved Adonis into the chemical tank, and it's contents went all over a snarling Beast Boy and Adonis.

When the hit against the chemical tank had dazed Adonis somewhat, Beast Boy scored several swipes to Adonis' armor, growling and snarling all the while.

Adonis fell back from the grizzly and his suit had electrical arcs extending from the 'A' on his chest before the chest plate and helmet exploded from their places, exposing a regular teenager like them. 'Adonis' hit the floor with a groan, and Beast Boy looked down on him with disgust.

'"Who's the tough guy now?"' He asked before walking towards and past his teammates.

'"Um…. Good Job."' Robin offered rubbing a hand on the back of his head.

'"Nice… Intensity…"' Cyborg said raising a fist into a thumbs-up move.

'"Yeah- Have any good freak-outs lately?"' Raven asked sarcastically.

Beast Boy froze, and stalked back to her. '"I just got sick of being pushed around."' He said, a snarl still apparent on his face.

Youkai didn't approach, he knew better. And until he knew what was in that chemical mixture, there was no way that he was going to get into it with a territorial member of Miko's family. Approaching an injured member of any predatory-pack would get one or the other killed or further injured. Best that Youkai leave Miko to get her family member back to his normal status. A dominant male was best left to someone close to calm it…

Miko squeezed his clawed hand before dashing off after Beast Boy. As he passed the animal cages, a dog growled, only to whimper as Beast Boy stalked past. She didn't need to say anything, and so clasped his right hand, with no outward sign of dismissal from him, followed to the side and slightly behind him as he made for the door… She just needed to let him know that she was there for him.

Since she was sure that the rest of the Titans would follow later, she allowed Beast Boy to turn into a pterodactyl and fly her back to the Tower. Once there, she made him take a shower, after he was out and had changed into a fresh uniform, they just sat quietly on the roof for a couple hours, just keeping each other company before Beast Boy suddenly stood, pulled Miko up after him and pulled her back inside.

After being trained by Sesshoumaru, she knew all about dominant behavior and allowed him to lead her to her room and open the door. Once he was sure it was clear, he pushed her in and gave her a slight hug and nuzzle before closing the door.

() * () * () * () * () * () *

"'You know Raven, I've been a really nice guy for a really long time. I've put up with your insults and your attitude; and I've had it. So consider this a warning: As of last night, Mr. Nice-guy had left the building."' Beast Boy snarled in Raven's face in the hallway where they'd bumped into one another.

'"Is this the part where I'm supposed to be intimidated?"' Raven asked drolly.

'"No. This is."' Beast Boy said transforming into Big-Foot and having Raven back up as Beast Boy raised his arms above his head and growled.

'"Beast Boy!"' Robin said grabbing his attention. Behind him were Star-Fire and Cyborg in loose formation BB noted. '"Leave her alone!"'

'"What's gotten into you man?"' Cyborg demanded.

'"You are behaving like a royal Zarbnarf!"' Star-Fire yelled.

Beast Boy looked at her questioningly, before turning back into himself.

Miko walked into the hallway and almost looked startled at the situation, but not overall disturbed.

Beast Boy noticed her and glared at Raven as he walked around her and to his friends. '"Look. This is who I am now."' Beast Boy said belligerently. '"You guys don't like it? Tough!"'

'"Fine!"' Robin said, not intimidated at all. '"If this is how you wanna act- Do it somewhere else! None of us are interested!"'

Miko's eyes widened beneath her mask, dominant personalities ran rampant in this team, and most likely due to the chemicals, Beast Boy's had come out as well… And since he transformed into so many different animals he had all those conflicting instincts to deal with as well…

She thought back to the training sessions Beast Boy had put himself through lately. Those animals that he'd turned into had the most predominant possessive/protective/antagonistic instincts of them all, and they were in the forefront of her cousin's mind.

Beast Boy started to get tense and began panting like he was getting ready to fight Robin or something in himself. When he suddenly faked a move to attack, Robin was immediately on the offensive.

'"Heh! That's what I thought!"' Beast Boy snarked, before he stalked past his teammates, and grabbed Miko's arm, pulling her after him.

She gave him no quarrel, which startled the rest of the Titans as they stared off after them.

He dragged her to his room, where he started smashing things and yelling in his frustration. Miko made no move to calm him down, she knew he needed to work it out himself.

When he suddenly clutched his head in agony, she was by his side.

'"Augh! What's… Happening?"' Beast Boy questioned as he hit the floor on his knees but not before he landed in a fetal position and began transforming into something Miko hadn't seen before.

() * () * () * () * () * () *

Raven awoke to a crash and a loud shriek followed by a howl and walked quickly into the hallway. She knew the shriek was Miko and by recent event knew that the snarl was by an antagonistic Beast Boy.

'"Who's there?" She demanded walking to Beast Boy's room, '"Beast Boy?"'

Suddenly the door in front of her had several dents in it from fists, extending at least six inches from the surface before the door was punched into the hallway.

The other Teen Titans woke to a different scream followed by an even more ferocious snarl.

'"Raven!"' Robin yelled, as he rushed down the hallway.

They rushed from their respective bedrooms to the main hallway to see Raven's door open. Cyborg went inside as Star-Fire knocked on Miko's door before entering.

"She's not in her room…" Cyborg said forebodingly.

When the door didn't open showing Miko on the other side, Star-Fire entered, and saw that the bed was still made.

"Miko is not in her room…" She said exiting back into the hallway. '"Beast Boy?"' She questioned, as if that weren't where they were next headed.

They walked into Beast Boy's room with trepidation to see that his room was a wreck. The walls had holes and large slashes through the paint and into the plaster. The furniture was in pieces, and the window was smashed.

'"What happened?"' Robin asked, as he walked to the window to look down. Still hanging in the window frame was a broken piece of glass. On the broken glass from the window was a piece of red garment and a red liquid, they immediately noted was blood.

Outside the window were claw marks.

None of them seemed to notice however, that most of the window's glass was on the inside, on the floor, instead of being entirely on the ground outside the tower.

() * () * () * () * () * () *

With Raven and Miko missing, and assuming the worst of their other male teammate, they left the tower to find their missing comrades.

Eventually they'd followed the trail and locator beacon close to Raven's actual location, only to find a large beast, taller than Beast Boy's Big-Foot, with much different markings.

In his teeth, hanging by the collar of her cape was Raven. In her belt was a bloodied portion of Miko's sleeve.

The sight of their teammate in the teeth of something made the Titan's get into fighting positions. The Beast set Raven gently down to the ground.

The idea that Miko was already gone, made them leap into action against the being that they deemed had committed the crime.

'"Attack!"' Robin yelled.

() * () * () * () * () * () *

Now with the main force of the Teen Titans back at the Tower, Raven was floating inches above the medical cot in a healing trance. While Star-Fire overlooked her medical results and Beast Boy was in a special medical scanning chair.

Cyborg was going over Beast Boy's recent medical data, while Robin stood just alongside his green teammate.

"'What have I done?"' Beast Boy questioned himself, doubt plaguing his every motion and thought.

'"You need to tell me what happened."'

'"I told you; I don't remember. Any of it!… We had that argument, I went my room,"' He looked plaintively at Robin. "Miko went with me…" Beast Boy took a breath and started to babble. '"I was angry and- Nothing! …Claws… A scream… Nothing!"' He groaned, frustrated, clutching at his head in agony with a hand, at the headache he was getting from the impromptu interrogation his team leader was giving him.

'"'Claws', and 'a scream' isn't nothing! What else?"' Robin demanded of his green out-of-sorts teammate. "Miko is Gone Beast Boy! I need to know more!"

Beast Boy got serious, at hearing about his missing or dead cousin. It was like a slap of brutal reality right to the face. '"That's all."'

'"No it isn't. You have to focus!"' Robin declared.

'"I am!"'

'"You have to remember!"'

'"I'm trying!"' Beast Boy ground out, trying to hold back the anger and organize his thoughts. But the idea about his missing cousin, and his injured teammate had all his instincts in the red.

'"Try harder!"' Robin tried to encourage forcibly. '"If you can't tell me what happened, I have to assume the worst! I have to put you in Jail."' Robin stressed to his teammate. Not realizing that he was antagonizing the beast within Beast Boy. '"You need to Remember!"'

'"I CAN'T!"' Beast Boy ground out loudly, sweat forming on his forehead. Suddenly the machine he was connected to starting beeping as Beast Boy started to convulse and groan.

'"Beast Boy!"' Star-Fire called in alarm.

'"No!"' Robin said warning her off.

'"Get away from me!"' Beast Boy growled harshly as his uniform started ripping.

Robin realized too late that he'd pissed off an already agitated animal just as Beast Boy transformed.

When the transformed Beast Boy made for Raven's bedside, they attacked, trying to ward him away from her.

Not one of the attacking Titans seemed to realize that Beast Boy seemed to be ascertaining that Raven herself would be okay in his feral state, and that he wanted vengeance for his pack mate and friend.

() * () * () * () * () * () *

"'Don't. Move."' Robin demanded of the Feral Beast Boy.

Feral Beast Boy tried to explain, but there were no words for a beast, nor vocal chords to make appropriate sounds with.

'"Just Chill Man!"' Cyborg trying to reason with his transformed teammate. "'It doesn't have to go down like this!"'

Robin had three exploding disks ready at the same time as Cyborg readied his cannon, seeing Feral Beast Boy approach them.

'"When I move- hit him with everything that you've got!"' Robin said focusing on a seemingly snarl-talking Beast Boy.

Feral Beast Boy snarled ferociously, just as a dirtied Miko leapt from the darker shadows at what was just behind Cyborg and Robin.

'"Now-"' Robin started to shout before another voice yelled over his:

"Oh, No You Don't!" Miko yelled at the same time as Feral Beast Boy snarled. Miko jammed her elbow into the neck of the beast but was thrown away, only to be caught by Feral Beast Boy as he leapt to avenge his female pack-mates. Half-way through his leap after catching Miko, Beast Boy dropped her in front of his other pack-mates knowing that she could defend herself, but thankful that they would help her.

'"There's two of these things?"' Cyborg demanded in incredulity.

"One's Beast Boy, a Feral Beast Boy, but Beast Boy none the less- the other is Adonis."

"Miko?" Robin demanded looking at his MIA teammate. "We thought you were-"

"I know- I've been tracking this guy, ever since he took Raven and I from the Tower, BB took off after us… But with Raven unconscious there was little I could do until I got backup…"

"Where's your communicator?" Cyborg asked.

Miko but her lip, "Slashed to pieces in the sewer when I tried to call for back-up…" She said, her hair was a wreck and her uniform was slashed revealing her white and red spandex underneath, and the left side of her face was swollen.

"But we saw BB carrying Raven in his teeth…?" Robin questioned.

"I was able to grab Adonis' attention just long enough for Beast Boy to rescue Raven. He didn't want to leave me too, but I told him that she needed medical attention. Raven woke up just as we wrestled Raven from Adonis before falling unconscious again." Miko explained. "And as for the teeth thing- dogs, cats, and such carry their young by the scruff of their neck, it probably made it easier for Feral Beast Boy, since he is over eight feet tall…" Miko said.

She looked questioningly at Robin, "Aren't you supposed to be observant and… I don't know- observe all these things?" Robin flushed but didn't say a thing. Being properly chastised by a teammate was embarrassing.

() * () * () * () * () * () *

Robin and Cyborg followed after Miko as she led them through a part of the sewer system they had never been. The sounds of fighting had just stopped.

'"Beast Boy!"' Robin yelled in concern as they saw a barely supported Beast Boy braced on his knees.

"Nice intensity." Miko said a grin stretching partially across her painfully swollen face.

Beast Boy merely groaned, the transformation and attacks from his teammates and Adonis having worn him out severely.

Noting that Beast Boy was supported by Miko and Cyborg, Robin went to see if it really was Adonis, like Miko said.

He went to the area where the other beast had landed to see that it really was-

'"Adonis!"' He said with disgust. He was really going to have to watch these type of things more, he was starting to miss the signs.

"Will you PLEASE believe me next time, before you end up thinking the worst of your teammates?" Miko called as she limped next to a carried Beast Boy and walking Cyborg. "We'll meet you back at the Tower." She said consternation in her voice.

As they left the sewer, Miko groaned feeling the side of her swollen face. "Uggh- I need a shower and an ice-pack…"

"I think we can manage that…."Cyborg said. "Good to see you back girl…"

"Next time, don't assume I'm gone… I'm one tough cookie, you know."

"I know now…" Cyborg said a wry grin on his face. "Seems like your entire family has the guts to stand up and do the right thing, even when it isn't visible to others…"

"That's us…" Miko said, as she climbed a ladder out of the sewers onto the street above.

() * () * () * () * () * () *

Later that night, Beast Boy was sitting outside the Tower on the rocks looking down into the water. But he heard Raven's approach. '"So… He was the one who hurt you right? Not me?"'

Raven held her right shoulder. '"He broke into the Tower to attack you, and wound up attacking me too…"' Raven said. "He merely considered Kikyo a bonus…"

'"Ugh… I can't believe I ate meat…"' Beast Boy said in disgust trying to change the subject, but not really. '"I acted like a jerk. I'm sorry."'

'"You weren't yourself…"' Raven said, remembering the conversation she'd overheard from the infirmary with Kagome and Beast Boy.

'"Cyborg says the chemicals at the lab messed with my DNA… Unleashed something… Primal…"'

'"And he gave you an antidote… You're better now."'

'"Yeah- But that thing… That Beast, came from inside me. And it's still there… I can feel it."'

'"Good."' Raven said as she walked down to where Beast Boy was sitting. She sat down and looked out across the bay of Jump City. '"If it wasn't for that beast, I might not be here right now…"' She said almost contemplating. '"Having that thing inside doesn't make you an animal… Knowing when to let it out, is what makes you a man…"'

Beast Boy was grateful for her understanding, and tried to lighten the mood as only the comic-relief guy could. '"Hm. Maybe you should call me… Beastman from now on…"' He said with a 'hero-pose', a goofy grin on his face and a teasing tone in his voice.

'"We're having a moment here. Don't ruin it."' Raven discouraged him.

Beast Boy flopped back to the ground and couldn't help himself. '"…Beast…dude?"'

Raven groaned in response.

* () * () * () * () * () * ()

That night, Youkai escorted Miko to his father's penthouse in Vault City. Once she arrived and she received a healing draught to heighten her healing, she told Sesshoumaru her suspicions about the Emerald Empress and possibly "Bum, bum, bum Klarion; The Witch Boy!" from a week before she left Japan for Jump, so she made a request of him and his people to investigate the problems in Kyushu.

Sesshoumaru handed her a folder, "Inside is the information you need. Kagura is investigating a similar matter which is occurring just outside of Happy Harbor, where the Justice League's Headquarters, Mount Justice is situated. She will come with more information…"

Miko thankfully acknowledged his attentiveness, "But that isn't all… there's something is even more 'off', it's situated about six ri south-southwest from Jump…" She tried to explain precisely where if not what the occurrence was.

Sesshoumaru noted it in a book. "This Sesshoumaru shall send Shippo to investigate the occurrence, in the general vicinity of the 'off-ness' that you have felt." He said using her lack of proper adjectives. "Keep in mind Miko: This may need a different perspective than the one that you currently use," Sesshoumaru warned. "This one suggests that you dissolve the shikigami and take its place for a short while…"

"Why?" Kikyo asked, a thought which the real Kikyo echoed in similar sentiment.

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at her. "A frog put into boiling water will jump out, but if placed in cold water and turning the heat up slowly-"

"The frog will allow itself to be boiled to death…" Kikyo said nodding understanding his train of thought. "So- If I get a different perspective of the situation we're in, as a team we'll be better able to defend ourselves- right?"

"Correct Miko. In fact, I will allow Matsurokan to accompany you for this surreptitious mission…"

"I shall do so Father."

"Matsurokan Westlord, Prince of the western Lands of Japan, Heir to the House of the Crescent Moon, is it your intention to continue your suit for the Shikon-no-Miko, Kagome Higurashi, Blood-sister to the House of the Crescent Moon?" Sesshoumaru questioned his son.

"It is this Matsurokan's intention…"

"Hn." Sesshoumaru noted. "Miko- will you accept This Sesshoumaru's son's suit for you hand?"

"Uh- yeah?" Her reply lacked formality, but it was an acceptable reply; especially since Sesshoumaru knew that she was easily surprised

"Then gift her with your familiar." Sesshoumaru said and he dismissed them both.

"Familiar?"

"Yes, something that will protect you in all forms while I am away from you…."

"Miko bit her lip. "Wouldn't it be better to give it to me after I'm finished with my perception change?"

"If it were living, that would be how it would progress, yes." Matsurokan nodded. "However, it is a part of my aura and essence."

"Then how can it be a familiar?"

"Because it is familiar to me and soon it shall be familiar to you." He said raising her left hand and nipping the ring finger before biting his own lip and cajoling his essence to flow from the cut to coalesce with his aura to bind in her system.

"Oh! It feels like a puppy cuddling with me!" She cried out, surprised at the 'fluffy' feelings the mark was evoking.

"Puppy…" he sighed in apparent exasperation, then proceeded to explain how big it was and where the mark would reside. "It forms a small mark, no bigger than the nail of your finger inside the collar of your clavicle." He shook his head as she cooed at the feeling. "Come, I shall escort you back to your Tower…"

Little did Miko know, that the mark and familiar were one and the same, and it was in the appearance of Matsurokan's Inu form resting in the familial crescent moon.

Matsurokan knew that she would soon find out. She was a clever Miko after all…

Especially since she would have a lot of time on her hands as she was taking over the shikigami's position in the sickbay. He made a call to Shippo as they left the building of one portion of his father's empire, he would need to meet Miko tomorrow to start getting the plan of perception change underway.