Part 77: What the Future May Bring.

All my life I've been fighting against the darkness. My father fought against it, and so did my father's father and his father and his father before him. It was something that ran in the family.

I am a Makai Knight. I am the Savior in the Dark.

My name is REDDO and my enemies are the Horrors.

-Saeji Takuma/Crimson Fanged Makai Knight REDDO.

JUMP CITY…

The Horror, which had taken the form of a large winged snake with claws and fangs that dripped with poison, swooped down at Saeji. The red coated Makai Knight ducked under a vicious claw slash before standing straight up, gripping his sword tightly. The Horror shrieked in rage before flying at him again. It slashed with its claws but Saeji's swordsmanship was more than a match for its berserker fighting style.

This Horror had been killing children, eating them up. It possessed a man who sold candy in a shop. When a child came in to but candy, alone, he would trap them. He would coat them in hot melted sugar before eating them. Children were a sweet delicacy for it.

No more. Not after tonight. The parents of those children would be avenged.

Saeji landed a vicious cut to its neck, spilling black blood. The Horror screeched in pain and anger. Saeji decided it was time to finish it.

Raising his sword above his head, Saeji cut a circle of light in the air. The circle shone down on him and then armor pieces came down and attached themselves to his body. The armor was wolfish in appearance and was blood red. In place of a red coated young man was REDDO, the Crimson Fanged Makai Knight. His sword also changed, becoming the powerful ReddoKen. With a howl, he rushed at the Horror and as it came down to strike at him, he swung his sword down in a vertical arch. The sword sliced the Horror in the head, straight down the middle, before he began to slice through its body. The Horror perished in an instant as it body disintegrated. Saeji banished his armor and sheathed his sword, sighing in satisfaction.

Saeji spun around as soon as he heard clapping. Standing before him was a man who, despite looking human, was not human but was not Horror either. Saeji smirked as the young man came under the light of the lamppost.

It all started when my little brother died. I took his place and became the Knight of Pisces. I fought the monsters in his name. It was a while after that before I met with Ryuki. I adopted him as my new little brother because he reminded me so much of my own late brother. They looked the same and even acted the same. I acted as his big brother since he saw me as such.

I died protecting him but then my ghost turned into something called a Hollow. I craved for revenge since my memories were all a jumble. I believed that Ryuki had left me to die. It wasn't long after I became an Arrancar that I went to have my revenge.

However, my memories returned. Ryuki did not leave me to die. In fact he'd protected me. My Hollow side decided to take control of me but Ryuki once again reached out to me. I thank him for that. For an Arrancar like me, the only true end would be death…well, another death.

I then met with a strange man wearing a hat and clogs. He gave me this Gigai/faux body so I could walk about like a normal human. I would be able to get my life back.

When Ryuki wasn't able to kill Asakura, as I know he couldn't, I did so instead. It was my revenge, not his.

Now, I am returned to the life I had left behind and all thanks to Ryuki.

-Tazuka Mizuki/El Pasenderos Aguarius.

"Oh, it's you, Tazuka," Saeji greeted.

"Fighting Horrors again, I see," said Tazuka.

"As usual," Saeji shrugged casually. "It's routine, really."

"Well, someone has to do it and with the Titans away I'm guessing that's you." Tazuka then swiftly spun around, firing a Bala blast from his left hand and obliterating a Horror that had entered the living realm. "And handle the Hollows around here too."

"I thought that was a Shinigami's job," Saeji commented.

"Yes, but I'm partly a Shinigami."

"You're an Arrancar."

"Details, details," Tazuka waved it off. "Only a technicality. I still have the skills and sword if you want to test me."

"I did, remember?"

"And it ended in a draw."

Both abnormal young men looked to the sky. The stars were shining. Tazuka wore a serious expression.

"Another vision?" Saeji asked.

"And it's not a good one," Tazuka sighed. "I believe that a door to the darkness will open soon."

"The Living Gate," Saeji growled. "I knew it should've been killed that day."

"True, but it was innocent."

"Innocent or not, it will bring only death," Saeji said, unforgiving.

"Ryuki-kun will stop it. He's done it before," Tazuka informed.

"Yes, but I think that this time he's going to need help for this one," Saeji narrowed his eyes.

"I agree," Tazuka nodded. "So, I was just about to head out for some dinner. Mind joining me, Makai Knight?"

"Well, I am hungry. Lead the way, Arrancar-san."

Though not by blood, I considered myself Ryuki-kun's older brother. He just reminded me so much of my own late little brother that he grew on me. We shared a bond and with that learnt from one another. He always had a positive outlook on life that brightened my spirits and I enjoyed teaching him a few new things about music that I knew, like an older brother should.

I learnt so much about him. I learnt about his fears, his past, his likes, and his dislikes. I also gave him valuable advice, some which would affect the future. What puzzled me the most was that he was an anomaly. I could never clearly predict his future and it would always branch out into several directions. For example, one possible future was that he would one day turn into the most evil of villains the world has ever known. I could never believe that it could happen but it still worried me.

Despite or because of all these possible futures, I still cared for him as a brother. I would very well risk my life for him, which I did.

I had another vision and it involved my otouto, Ryuki-kun. He's going to have to make a difficult choice. I don't know what his decision will be, but let's just hope it's the right one.

-Tazuka.

The young girl who was their waitress for this evening served them their food and drinks. Tazuka had ordered two club sandwiches and a glass of ice tea. Saeji on the other hand had ordered a plate of spaghetti with a side of salad and a tall glass of soda.

"Thank you," Tazuka said, giving the girl a wink. She blushed and giggled before walking off.

(Saeji and Tazuka's conversation is in italics, thus they are speaking Japanese.)

"And thank you for treating me to this meal," Saeji spoke in Japanese as he dug in.

"I'm not treating you. You're gonna pay for your own meal," Tazuka spoke sternly.

"I knew there was a catch," Saeji sighed.

"Never trust an Arrancar."

Saeji rolled his eyes. "So, tell me, have you had any interesting visions lately? I thought you lost that gift after you lost your Zodiac Power."

"My Zodiac Power just made my visions more vivid, clearer. I still get them but they are often vague and not as accurate as before," Tazuka admitted, taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"Still you get a lot of business," Saeji pointed out.

"Only from women," Tazuka chuckled in amusement. "Although I feel they are more interested in seeing me than listening to their fortunes."

"They must enjoy the feeling of you holding their hands," teased Saeji. "So, seriously, anything new on the mystic radar?"

Tazuka sighed, "A few, really…mostly involving Ryuki-kun."

"As always," Saeji replied. "You worry like an older brother should."

"Like you don't?" Tazuka spoke teasingly. "You act as much as a brother to him as I."

Ryuki-kun has always been my favorite cousin. His sister, Neko, on the other hand just unnerved me a bit. It wasn't until I finished my Makai Knight training that I knew why.

She was the Living Gate. She had the ability to summon Horrors at will. At first I asked my father, who was also my master, why she wasn't killed. His only response was that her mother and father would not allow it. As much as he respected the two, they could be so naïve about the nature of horrors.

As Ryuki reached his late teen years, I would talk to him. I taught him about the nature of Horrors.

Horrors were the vilest and most evil of demons. I hated them so much. They preyed on humans and fed on them to fill their endless hunger. My job was to cut them down. Ryuki-kun understood but he first believed those possessed by Horrors could be saved. I never told him about his sister since he wouldn't believe me so I brought him along one of my hunts.

He learnt very quickly that I was right about Horrors.

-Saeji.

"Yes," Saeji agreed, "While you were the one to teach him about music, I was the one to teach him about Horrors."

"Yes," Tazuka nodded, "Those things even make Hollows look tame."

"At least Hollows used to be humans," Saeji responded. "Horrors are just the manifestation of all that is evil and dark in the world. The true and physical manifestation of Yin. As part of the Yang, I must defeat them." He slurped some more of his spaghetti. "It's my life and my duty to send them back to their realm."

"True, Horrors cannot be saved. Hollows can…sort of," Tazuka agreed. "Ryuki-kun saved me too."

"He's such a little hero, isn't he?"

Ryuki-kun had this hero complex about him. No matter how bad a person was, if they were targeted by a Mirror Monster, he would still save them. He must take his job rather seriously if he was going to do that. I think that Ryuki is just too good for this world, to be honest. The only truly decent human being.

Pause.

OK, he's not exactly human anymore but his heart still is. Even if he is an Orphenoch, I still feel he's better than some members of the human race. Take the FOH for example who persecute mutants or those Puritans who use religion to justify themselves when it comes to killing mutants. The Huntsclan too who kill magical creatures indiscriminately. So many hate groups yet Ryuki would not turn into a killer.

I could see it in his eyes that he'd killed and he hadn't enjoyed it. He didn't want to have to kill me. It takes a strong heart for that so no wonder the Keyblade chose him.

-Tazuka.

Tazuka laughed, "Yes, he is. He dreams of becoming a Kamen Rider and he got his wish."

"He did say he would one day meet the original Kamen Rider," Saeji said, recalling a boast from his cousin. "How's that going?"

"He hasn't met him, but he says it would one day happen. He says that he will meet all of his seniors one day."

"He never loses hope, does he?" Saeji asked.

Tazuka frowned, "I think something is changing inside of him."

"You mean the new hairstyle or something more?"

"Internal more than external," Tazuka spoke cryptically.

"He's growing up."

"But into what? That's what worries me."

Saeji spoke calmly, "Just let him be, Tazuka. He'll find his own way. He's not that naïve little 15 year old kid you first met. He's nearly a grown man."

"Yes, young Ryuki has grown to be a powerful youth," agreed Kurenai, Saeji's sentient madouga ring. He spoke softly as not to attract unwanted attention. Talking rings weren't the weirdest thing in this city called Jump, but still weird.

"So there's nothing to worry about," Saeji said nonchalantly. "He's a big kid now."

"Just because I shouldn't worry, doesn't mean I can't," Tazuka protested, taking another huge bite of his sandwich. As he chewed, he thought, 'After all, I've already lost one brother.'

As if I don't worry either. He's my cousin! He's family! Of course I worry too. To me, even with the new hairdo, he will always be that little kid I would watch practicing martial arts. He outgrew the name Ryu-chan rather quickly though I would laugh when his mother would call him that.

He's not a little dragon anymore. He's found his wings, claws and fangs. He was a full blooded warrior, one who would make a fine Makai Knight if I do say so myself. He already has the weapon, a Keyblade, which could slay Horrors much like my own blade.

Still, I get worried…he's my cousin and kinda like the little brother I never had.

Great, I'm 23, and I already feel like my old man worrying like this.

-Saeji.

"Well, of course I worry too but we can't hold his hand forever," Saeji spoke. "I mean, just look at him. I bet even he can give me a run for my money."

Tazuka smiled proudly, "I have been training him as of late."

"As have I," Saeji pointed to himself. "I've been teaching me some of my own moves as well."

Tazuka chuckled. The two swordsmen finished their meal and the Arrancar called the waitress for the bill. She came with it and as the two paid for their meals; Tazuka took the girl's hand and stared at her palm. She blushed a bit as he traced his finger over the lines. She shivered a bit as he was giving her a palm reading. It was not an unpleasant shiver, though.

"I don't think you should be going home alone, tonight," advised Tazuka. "How about we both walk you home?"

"Sure, handsome," she winked and ran back inside with the money. Saeji chuckled.

"Wow, you picked up a girl," Saeji complimented with a grin. "Nice."

"I just saw that she was going to be attacked by Horrors," Tazuka said seriously. Saeji's expression turned to a grim one. "Just keep your eyes open, Makai Knight."

"You too, Arrancar-san."

I was afraid that I was turning to be like Bruce. I mean, I know we had to keep our identities secret but did I really have to keep it a secret from my own team. I trusted them. Heck, some of Bruce's closest friends in the Justice League knew who he was.

I just couldn't believe it took me almost 3 years before I told the other Titans my real name.

Trust, for me, has always been an issue. I guess that's what you get if you were raised by the Batman. I ended up becoming obsessive and paranoid and sometimes I jumped to the wrong conclusion.

I was wary of new people. Since Terra's betrayal I kept my eyes open for possible future betrayals. I knew it felt wrong but I was ready to do anything to keep my friends safe.

When Draco came along, I was suspicious of him and I was suspicious of his friends too…

-Timothy "Robin" Drake.

Flashback…

"You don't trust me," said Shadowcobra simply.

Robin turned to regard his new teammate. "Pardon?"

"You don't trust me that much, do you?" repeated Shadowcobra. Both Titans, well one Titan and one Knight, were standing on a rooftop. There had been a series of robberies going around this area and the two were conducting a stakeout. Robin had wanted to go alone but Shadowcobra volunteered himself since his abilities could be of assistance. After some insistence from the others, Robin agreed.

Robin turned his attention back to his binoculars as he looked around. "Well, it's hard to trust someone that keeps secrets."

"Said the pot to the kettle," quipped Shadowcobra. Robin whirled around to look at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Robin questioned, offended.

"I'm just saying how ironic it is that you reprimand someone for having secrets while you have secrets yourself," Shadowcobra shrugged. "But that's just my own observation."

Robin frowned, "Well, I have my reasons for keeping secrets."

"As do the rest of us," Shadowcobra retorted. "I mean trust is a two-way street and to be honest I don't trust you either."

Robin looked back into his binoculars, choosing not to reply. Shadowcobra fell silent as well as he too looked through his own binoculars. The Knights had joined the Titans a few days ago and while they were welcomed, Robin didn't fully trust them. Then again, Shadowcobra was the same as he too didn't fully trust them either. In his line of work trust wasn't something you could give so easily. In his experience trust could be easily broken in an instant while it needed time to build.

"I'm just worried about my friends," Robin finally spoke after a few minutes of silence.

"Oh?" Shadowcobra quirked an eyebrow.

"Well, you said it yourself that there are a lot of you Knights around, some good and some evil, like Copycat. If that's the case well…"

"You're not sure where I stand," Shadowcobra finished. "Well, that makes sense."

"I mean, when Draco first came along, I thought he was up to something. Then, he just gives Jinx a chance and well…"

"He's far too trusting for his own good," Shadowcobra finished again, earning an annoyed look.

"Stop finishing my sentences for me," Robin ordered.

"Well, it was fairly obvious. I was just voicing them out."

"You didn't read my mind, did you?" Robin didn't like it if someone were to do that.

Shadowcobra shrugged, guiltless, "Like I said; it was fairly obvious. I didn't need to read your mind to know what you were going to say."

Robin paused. He then said, "So…Draco trusts people easily?"

"He gives people a chance," Shadowcobra clarified. "He has surprisingly good judgment when it comes to a person's character and he can easily trust others when he senses they are trustworthy. I'm not sure if he's an empath or just foolish but I believe it's a bit of both."

"You don't know for sure?" Robin questioned.

"Well, to me Draco is a strange one. He trusted me when he had no reason to. The same could be said for Pluto. I just thought he was an idiot for putting his trust in us but still…"

"And yet you're all on the same team," Robin finished this time.

"I just…trust him," Shadowcobra sighed. "It's such a strange feeling to trust someone like that."

"I know the feeling." Robin was thinking about his own friends, the other Titans. He could just trust them so easily, unlike his former mentor. He then detected movement in the corner of his eye and looked through his binoculars. There was a triumphant smirk gracing his lips, "Jackpot."

Shadowcobra eyes narrowed as he raised up his collar, "The robbers?"

"Oh, yeah. Let's go."

…End Flashback.

TAMARAN…Present time.

Robin remembered how the last visit to Tamaran had gone. Starfire was about to be married to an alien resembling a large green…thing! It was Blackfire's fault and he'd been angry with her for that. Coming back here brought back some unpleasant memories but the most unpleasant memory of all was how close he was to losing Starfire.

Now they were back here, under better circumstances thankfully. Starfire would not be marrying anyone for some time, yet…

She did look beautiful in that dress. Of course she looked beautiful in anything she wore, like that prom dress she'd worn to Kitten's prom. That night had been mostly unpleasant for the Boy Wonder but dancing with Starfire made up for it. It was…sorta magical.

If Beast Boy and Cyborg knew he was thinking like that, they'd never live it down.

He was in one of the guest rooms within the palace. Nothing much had happened. Tomorrow, a ceremony would be held to annul Blackfire's banishment. It was not going to be easy, though. Galfore needed approval from the Royal Council who looked over the rules, laws, traditions and customs of the Tamaranean race. Banishment was easy since it was the ruler's wish, but to annul such a punishment would require quite some time. Banishment was a severe punishment for those who'd broken Tamaran's most sacred laws.

Robin just wanted to get home as soon as all was said and done. The city needed them.

"Robin?" he heard a voice and the Boy Wonder turned to see Starfire at the door. "May I enter?"

"It's your house, Star. I'm just a guest," said Robin. Starfire came in and closed the door behind her. "So, what's up? How did it go?"

"The council has adjourned for tonight to decide on the verdict tomorrow. Both I and Galfore had made our arguments but even though we are royalty, we must abide by the council's decision. They create the laws for our society and even the ruler is not above the law," Starfire reported.

"Oh, well, we better hope for the best then," Robin smiled. Starfire looked downcast. "Is something wrong, Star?"

Star went over to the bed and sat down. She patted the spot beside her and Robin walked over, sitting down next to her. "We need to do the talking, Timothy."

Robin blanched. It was obviously pretty serious if she was calling him by his real name. He removed his mask and looked at her. "What about?"

"When I was about to be…married…you came to stop it. When you heard about my betrothal, you started to act strange. May I ask why?"

"You know why, Star."

"But I wish to hear it! Please?"

Tim rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm not so good with my feelings Starfire. I mean, it took me a long time before I could even tell you what I've been feeling."

"I've had the feelings for you since we met," Starfire confessed, "And I didn't have trouble showing you."

"Yes, but, well…I'm only human."

"Not an excuse," Starfire said, crossing her arms. "I have waited patiently and even though we are now a couple you seem as distant as you were before."

"Well, I've been busy," Tim spoke in defense.

"But can you not take the time off to relax?" she asked.

"Kori, you know why I can't."

"Timothy, please…don't be afraid to trust me with your heart," Starfire said, placing a hand to her chest and the other to his. "I have trusted you with mine."

Tim sighed and he smiled sadly, "I was scared, really? Back home with Bruce I was just the ward of Bruce Wayne. None of the girls really liked me for me, just for my money."

"I am not like that," Starfire protested.

"I know, but had to pretend to be nice to them, for reputations sake," Tim explained further.

"Yes, because of your double-life, correct?" she asked, nodding. "We all hide a way a part of ourselves."

"Yeah, I mean…look at you," Tim pointed. "I mean, the first time we met you were all snarling, growling, breaking and blasting things."

Starfire blushed in embarrassment, "Yes, I was, wasn't I?"

"You were really hot back then."

Starfire looked at him, eyes wide. "I was attractive to you?"

"More than that," Robin confessed. "It was kind of a turn on to see you like that."

"And the lip contact?" Starfire asked further.

"Well…for a first kiss it was kinda rough," Tim admitted. "You took me by surprise."

He then found himself lying on the bed with the girl on top of him, kissing him deeply. Once again, she'd taken him by surprise.

"How was that, then?" Starfire asked, rubbing her hands up and down his chest.

"OK, that was better," Tim spoke, flushed.

"Timothy," Starfire spoke, laying her head on his chest. He ran his hand through her red hair.

"Yes, Star."

"If we were to be wed, how would you want it to be?"

Timothy blinked and looked down at her with shock. "Huh?"

"I wish to marry someone I love and I believe that it is you," Starfire explained.

"I guess I'd want it in a church. I would wear a tuxedo and you would wear a white gown," Tim answered, honestly.

"Oh, I have seen such dresses," Starfire squealed, "They are lovely."

"How about you?" Timothy asked.

"Well…in most ceremonies, the groom would be shirtless."

"Shirtless!?" Tim exclaimed. Starfire giggled.

"It was to show that the male was strong and could pass on the strength to his children."

"Yeah, but shirtless?"

"It is my culture. Do not mock it," Starfire scolded playfully.

"Sorry." Tim then thought mischievously. "You know, if I have to marry you shirtless, why don't you wear that skimpy little thing you showed me?"

Starfire blushed a little. There was one piece of Tamaranean attire she had modeled for Robin and it was rather skimpy for Earth standards. It was comprised of two long and thin vertical strips that connected the bikini-like bottoms to a collar. The strips would only cover the nipples, leaving most of the breasts exposed. Such attire would be inappropriate on Earth but Tim had told her about some places that allowed women to dress on the beach in much less. There were even nude beaches, which Starfire wanted to visit with Tim.

"Oh, it is not appropriate for a wedding!" Starfire blushed.

"How about during the wedding night?" Robin suggested. Starfire blinked and smiled seductively.

"Well, beloved, that is another thing entirely."

I love him. That is the only way I can explain my feelings. He was the first person who showed me any kindness when I came to his world known as Earth. At first we were opponents but then he released my shackles. I then absorbed his language through lip contact. It would be much later when I discovered what this strange custom known as 'kissing' really meant.

I have felt something for him since that day when he helped me fight the Gordanians. He would not give up on helping me despite my words. In my language, the closest thing to the term 'nice' was 'rutha' which translated to 'weak'. It was a weakness to show any kindness to our enemies and I still considered him somewhat of an enemy.

But then we fought together and a bond was created. He became my best friend and still is but now he is something more.

One day we confronted each other with our feelings. I told him how I felt and despite his reluctance he too confessed his feelings for me. I was…elated! I flew with him into the air to celebrate this joyous occasion. I just couldn't stop flying because of my happiness.

Eventually, we had to stop and return to the Tower…there we had our first real kiss.

I know that he is the one that I wish to marry. We are young, but I have made my decision. I just hope that Galfore would allow it since Timothy is human and not royalty…but even if they say no…I DO NOT CARE!

I LOVE HIM! I LOVE HIM! I LOVE HIM! I LOVE HIM! And even if it hurts that he acts so indifferent I WILL ALWAYS LOVE HIM!

-Koriand'r/Starfire/Kori Anders.

To Be Continued…