Part 94: The Lost Key

For as long as I could remember, I was the monster inside Neko. Now, I'm loose. I am the Living Gate. I realize that now. I have so much power that I don't know what to do with it.

Heh, that's not true. I do know what to do with it. I can do whatever I want with it. I am a GOD and nobody is going to tell me otherwise!

I feel it coursing through me, empowering me, feeding me. The darkness is so intoxicating that I…that I…that I crave for more!!

But I am only at half strength. I loathe to admit, it but it's because I am only half of my true self. I am not whole. I am incomplete!

My lover Rose and my daughter Cathy have been taken away from me by my weaker half and that pest refuses to cooperate with me. Fine, I'll make her do what I say, even if it kills us.

My weaker half! I hate her as much as I hate Draco, and yet I need her! She's my weakness! If she goes, then I go, and I can't have her out there risking herself and myself for some stupid heroics! Redemption she says. No matter what she does, that blood on our hands will never wash off.

Ugh, it disgusts me! She's just like that naïve Dragon Knight I'd been trying to defeat when we were whole but she kept stopping me! That's right, my weaker half, my good half, my Yang side, stops me from landing the final blow. Sure, sometimes I can get free and yet she pulls me inside.

Damn honor and damn everything else! She will be mine.

And when she is, I will kill Draco and take his powers, like I have done with so many others before.

I am a Gate, but without her, my powers mean nothing. For my full power, I need…I need…

I need a KEY…

Katherine/Zodiac Knight Copycat

Venus screamed as she was sent reeling by a vicious axe slash from Copycat who was laughing as sparks flew from Venus' white swan armor. Venus tumbled along the ground, dropping he rapier. She got back up and tried to reach for it but Copycat kicked it away. Now, Venus was unarmed while Copycat was holding a pair of war axes. One had two edges while the other had a single edge. They were the axes of Kazuo and Tarou, the former Knights of Leo and the Tiger.

Before all this, Eri and Joey had been on a date. They had stopped by at a Burger King and Eri accidentally got some sauce spilt on his shirt. Joey went to the bathroom to clean it up and returned seconds later, smiling at her. They went to the park to take a walk in a secluded area. Joey placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned in for a kiss. Before Eri could kiss back, she realized that something wasn't right with Joey. Her assumption had been correct as Joey started squeezing her neck. She tried to pry his hands away, begging him to stop, but he wouldn't. In self defense, she blasted him backwards. 'Joey', yelled as she did and Eri realized quickly that this was not Joey. Joey was mute outside his armor and could only communicate with sign language and telepathy.

'Joey' got back to his feet and his form changed into…Copycat! Eri, angered that Copycat would do such a thing, transformed and decided to fight with Copycat without even waiting for Joey.

That was what led to this.

Copycat twirled one of her axes around and then she tossed it at Venus. The axe flew straight at her but then it was blocked by a shield.

"Nani?" Copycat questioned as her axe flew back in her hand. "Oh, it's you, Joey," she purred. "Long time no see since you decided to turn your back on your daddy and us." She scowled.

Scizzors held the Cancer Shield protectively in front of himself and Venus. "Eri," he helped the girl back to her feet. "Are you alright?"

"I've been better," Venus confessed. Scizzors nodded.

"Hey, don't ignore me!" Copycat snarled.

"Stay here and let me handle this from here," Scizzors told her before charging at Copycat. Venus gasped.

"Joey, don't!"

Scizzors slid a card into his card reader, "Strike Vent!" His Cancer Claws appeared and equipped themselves to his right arm. He struck at Copycat with those claws but she blocked with the shafts of her axes before pushing him back with a kick. She swung down with the Wild Axe and he caught the blade with his claw. A second later he got slashed in the midsection by the Savage Axe. Scizzors grunted in pain. The axe then came down again on his shoulder, eliciting a scream of pain forcing him to let go of the other axe. Copycat then went into a flurry of axe slashes, hacking away at Scizzors and chopping off pieces of his armor as sparks flew. Copycat laughed manically as she tortured Scizzors.

"If you had stayed with us," Copycat began taunting as she enjoyed the sound of Scizzors screaming. "You could've become stronger! Instead, you turned soft! You became a Titan!" She rested the edge of her axe on his neck. "You turned your back on me, the one who gave you your power!" She pulled her arm back and then swung the axe at Scizzor's neck.

"Joey!" Venus ran and towards them and then fired a beam of light energy which struck Copycat in the chest. Copycat was sent flying and crashing into a trailer, making a dent in it. She was stuck in it.

"Joey!" Venus helped the Cancer Knight back to his feet. "Let me help heal you."

"I'm fine," he insisted, groaning. He wasn't but he didn't want Eri to worry, not like it mattered anyway.

"You're not!" she objected.

Copycat stared at the two and snarled. "Aw…how sweet…" she mocked. She pulled herself out from the trailer. "Let's finish this!" She twirled her two axes around and around before she tossed them at the two.

Scizzors saw the two axes coming and pushed Venus away, "Eri, watch out!" He pushed Venus far and the axe came at him.

"JOEY!!" Eri shouted as one of the axe blades got stuck in his chest and the other sliced his left arm right off.

Scizzors struggled to stand and removed the axe stuck in his chest off. Turning his attention to his dismembered left arm, he concentrated on his Power of Cancer. The arm melted into liquid metal which then flew straight towards Scizzors. It enveloped the stump and generated into a new armored arm.

Copycat had to get that power!

"Is that…all you…got?" Scizzors taunted.

Copycat cracked her neck from side to side and flexed her claws. "No, it isn't. Now it's time to make crab cakes," She marched towards him but then Venus appeared and tackled her. Venus grabbed Copycat by the waist and the Cat Knight roared, "Let go!" She kneed Venus in the stomach several times and even struck the girl's back with her fists. "Let go you stupid bird!" With a snarl, she reached down to Venus' neck and was ready to twist it when…

"NO!!"

Scizzor's body turned intangible as he met eye contact with Copycat. He then swiftly possessed her. Copycat's body froze as her eyepieces turned green. Venus got off Copycat.

"Joey?" she asked.

Inside Copycat's mindscape stood Katherine and Jericho. He was shocked to see Katherine sitting at a throne as demonic Horrors kneeled behind her. She got up and strode towards Jericho.

"You're not Kat," Jericho realized.

"You're about half right," Katherine replied red eyes boring into Jericho's green ones. "But, I'm not the same girl you knew."

"No matter," Jericho huffed. "You're not going to hurt Eri. I won't let you."

"I know, I know," Katherine rolled her eyes, "You're gonna try to control my body, defeat me and get me locked up. I get it."

Jericho went into a fighting stance and charged at Katherine. He threw a fist at her but he caught it in her hand before it could connect. She twisted his arm and pinned it to his back in one swift motion before breathing into his ear. He shivered.

"I kinda liked you when we were on the same side, you know?" she asked, whispering. "You were like a brother to me. I loved Rose and well I just loved to mess with Grant." She chuckled. "A shame it can't be like it used to be. You just had to switch sides."

Jericho growled. "I had to. I finally realized what I was doing was wrong."

"I supposed I have Eri-chan to thank for that," Katherine smirked. "You're happy, she's happy, but I'm the one left unhappy." She sighed. She pushed Jericho in front of her, sending him to the floor. "Pity you had to turn traitor, Joey. A pity."

Jericho picked himself up and glared at Katherine hatefully. "So, you're just going to kill Eri and take her powers?"

"How do you know I won't let her live like I did the others?" Katherine retorted, referring to Ron (Animorph), Tarou (Lion) and Tiger (Kazuo).

"Because I can sense the bloodlust in you," Jericho responded. "You love to kill. It's something you simply enjoy."

Katherine took a moment to ponder and shrugged, "Yeah, you're probably right. I do love to kill. I do love the feeling as I have control over someone's life or death. And, I do love it when I can do what I please. It's freedom at its best." She laughed.

"You won't be free any longer," Jericho growled. "I'm taking you down."

"I doubt you could," Katherine scoffed. "This is my mind." She snapped her fingers and the Horrors stood at attention. "Show him the door."

A door materialized behind Jericho and it opened to show a black and white spiral. The Horrors stalked towards him and Jericho backed away towards the door. Katherine then popped up in front of him.

"Sayonara," Katherine purred before pushing him into the door. He screamed as he fell down the spiral with Katherine looking down. "See you on the outside!" she called.

Suddenly, Copycat screamed as Scizzors was violently ejected from her body. "Joey!" She ran towards Scizzors. "Are you okay?"

"What…are you?" Scizzors asked, gasping and panting as he stared at Copycat. The things in her mind…the things he'd seen falling down that spiral, they were…he couldn't even continue as he felt nauseous.

"So, you caught a glimpse into my mind?" Copycat tapped her helmet-covered noggin. "Not a pretty sight, don't you agree? But it ain't gonna save you." She reached to her deck and drew a card. She then slid it into her card reader. "Final Vent."

Psychorogue appeared and went into its transformation. Once its transformation into a custom bike was complete, Copycat leapt up and then did a flip in the air before landing on the seat. She accelerated and raced towards Venus and Scizzors.

Psychorogue and Copycat got into a spin and started spinning wildly, "PSYCHO SPIRAL!!" the makeshift 'spinning top of death' came dashing towards them.

Scizzors grasped Venus' shoulders and leaned down, whispering into her ear, "I love you."

Venus fell silent and said, "I love you too."

"Good," Scizzors nodded, a smile on his face. "So, this is goodbye."

"Huh?" Venus was confused.

"I'm sorry." He then pushed her aside before drawing his own Final Vent card and sliding it into his card reader. "Final Vent!"

The ground behind Scizzors exploded as Volcancer, his Zodiac Beast, appeared out of it. Scizzors leapt upon Volcancer's claws, using them as springboards and was sent into the air. He tucked in his head and legs to his body before he went into a rolling attack, dropping down towards Copycat and Psychorogue.

"SCISSOR CLAW ATTACK!"

The two Final Vents connected, resulting in an explosion.

Venus' eyes went wide as dinner plated under her visor as her legs trembled. She collapsed onto her knees, shuddering.

Copycat rode out of the flames safely but Scizzors didn't. He was lying in the flames, body unarmored and bleeding all over. His deck had been shattered to pieces with its remains lying by his body. She stopped her bike and said, "One more down." Copycat purred as she absorbed its power.

"Sword Vent!"

"Huh?" Copycat looked up to see Venus charging at her. Venus swung her Swan Glaive at Copycat but the Cat Knight grabbed the blade of the weapon before it could do any damage. She then tossed Venus aside like garbage. "Go take care of him. I don't think he has much time." With those last words, she rode away.

Venus entered the flames and pulled Joey out. She laid him down and pleaded, "Please, please be alright…please." If he was alive, she could still save him. She placed her hands on him and…

There was nothing.

No heartbeat, no breathing, no pulse.

There was nothing.

Venus pulled Joey's body against her and then let out a scream of anguish.

"Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust," the priest finished before the coffin was lowered into the grave. Dressed in black were the founding members of the Teen Titans, their additional members, several close honoraries and the Eastern branch of the team, Titans East. A close friend had died and was now gone.

Eri ran forward and tossed a white rose into the grave. "Goodbye, Joey-kun."

There was the sound of mocking applause and everyone turned their eyes onto someone they hadn't expected to attend or was even welcomed.

There stood Katherine, standing beside a tree. "Ah, this is so beautiful." She wiped an imaginary tear out of her eye. "Sayonara, Joey, and thanks for the powers…" She admired her nails which lengthened into claws.

The Titans looked ready to attack and Eri's face curled into an expression of rage. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her Zodiac Deck but a hand gripped her wrist.

"Don't," spoke Neko. Eri turned to look at her. "Not here, not right now."

"She's right," agreed Rose.

"Oh, not gonna fight me?" Katherine mocked. "Oh, well…" She turned both her arms into liquid metal that soon morphed into a pair of wicked metal blades. "Joey's final gift for me. That crab was decent, I'd give him that."

"Katherine," spoke Warren. The two glared at each other. "I hate fighting in cemeteries. I try to avoid it, being holy ground and all. But right now, it's taking every ounce of self control I have from killing you on the spot." Warren's angel wings unfurled behind him as his left and right hands became engulfed in white and black energy. "So if you value that pathetic stain you call a life; it's best if you leave now."

"Ugh, fine. This party's dead anyway," Katherine snorted before teleporting away.

Eri fell to her knees, sobbing, as tears fell from her eyes.

"You should help her get home," Rose advised Moon who nodded.

As Eri was sobbing, she heard a voice in her mind, "Eri…don't cry…"

Eri was stunned for a second and wondered if this was just someone's idea of a joke. That couldn't be Joey, could it?

"I'm here with you…always…"

Warren turned to see Joey's spirit embracing Eri from behind. He smiled. "Eri…Don't worry. I know for a fact Joey is exactly where he needs to be." Warren then walked away from the group for a moment and pulled out a cell phone, quickly dialing a number. "Urahara, I need a favor. Do you have a blonde male Gigai that I can use? Just a gift for a friend."

Katherine was sitting on her bed, wearing only her tank top and very short shorts which revealed her beautiful legs. Kneeling at her feet was a familiar looking girl with long white hair and wearing absolutely nothing. Katherine was stroking the girl's hair as she rested her head on Katherine's lap.

The door creaked open and Katherine's red eyes looked up from her 'pet'? "You should always knock first, Damien-dono."

Damien entered, "My apologies, Katherine, but I have grown too used to never needing to do that." He wore a tailor-made black suit, had white hair that was pulled back into a ponytail, his pitch black eyes glowed with malice. What was shocking was…he looked exactly like Warren Smith, except he wasn't Warren Smith. In fact, anyone who thought otherwise couldn't be farther from the truth. This was Damien and while he may physically look like Warren Smith, personality wise there were worlds of difference between the two, literally, "And I see you're enjoying my little gift."

Katherine stood before a throne. Sitting in the throne was Damien, and this was his universe. "Hello Damien-dono," spoke Katherine.

"Katherine, a pleasure to see you again. So, what brings you to my universe?" he asked, the air seeming to freeze with his voice. "I take it you are not here for pleasantries."

"I came to see if you would like to reform our alliance," suggested Katherine.

"Alliance? Hm…and what's in it for me? You know my services do not come…cheap," said Damien. He vanished from the throne and appeared behind Katherine. His hand lifted up her hair and he smelled it. "I see that wonderful aroma of yours has not changed."

Katherine turned and slapped Damien's hand away, "Save it, Damien-dono. I've grown immune to that charming trick of yours so it won't work on me. Plus, you're just not my type so don't bother trying to seduce me into bed anymore." Damien's eyes widened slightly, for just a fraction of a second, at Katherine's tone. It seemed he no longer had any power over her.

Katherine continued, warning Damien, "And…I thought I told you never to get fresh with me again, Damien-dono, if you wish to keep your hands and manhood," Katherine added, "As for what I have to offer, what about Warren Smith's head on a platter, and his Raven in your bed?"

Damien smiled. The whole room wavered with dark energy that was released with his smile. "Warren's death and his lover as my own?" Damien tapped his chin as he walked around Katherine. "Fine, you have a deal."

"Then as such I dub you my Lord of Wrath, Damien."

Damien clapped his hands together. "Excellent!" he exclaimed in empty joy. "Now I believe a celebration is in order."

Shadows began to bend and form in front of Katherine, slowly taking the form of her pet, Rosalinda. Katherine's eyes widened slightly.

"Rosalinda," she whispered. "But I thought she'd…" She remembered. Mortuary had been aiming for her when Rosalinda shielded her from the shot. She remembered Rosalinda dying in her arms and smiling at her as the life left her eyes. "How?"

"Death is simply an intermission between their sufferings on this world. This is one of the great things of being a god; you only stay dead if I want you dead."

Katherine beckoned for the silver haired girl to stand and sit in her lap, which she complied. The silver haired girl nuzzled Katherine's neck, which she enjoyed, as the Living Gate looped her left arm around the petite girl's waist. "Yes, I am." The girl was Rosalinda, once a slave girl of Damien's harem. Katherine noted how similar she was to Rose but in appearance only. The girl seemed delicate, docile and very submissive; the fruits of Damien's…training. Maybe that was why Katherine was so fond of her. "I thank you for bringing Rosalinda back to me."

Rosalinda, in truth, did not just look like Rose. Actually, she was Rose, only from an alternate dimension that had been taken over by Damien.

"It wasn't a very difficult task, really," Damien boasted. Katherine ran her fingers up and down Rosalinda's back, causing the girl to moan as pleasant shivers ran through her body. "At least, not for me. Returning the dead to life is child's play for someone with my prowess on the matters of life and death. It was simply a matter of shifting time and space around the body to return the soul to its mortal shell."

"I still thank you," Katherine noted. Among the Lords, only three had earned and deserved Katherine's total respect. Damien was one and Slade was another. The third was well…unique. "So, why did you come to my room at this hour?"

Damien strode forward, a look on his face, "Well, you've changed it seems."

Katherine snorted, "Only because my weaker half has been purged from me."

"True, but your aura seems a little weaker," Damien continued. Katherine glared and Rosalinda shivered when she saw the look in her mistress' eyes.

"Are you implying that I am-" Katherine began, snarling.

"Oh, I didn't mean to offend you, really," Damien said, the closest thing sounding like an apology coming from him. "It's just you still have that evil aura but you're missing something."

"I'm just half a person," Katherine answered. "Even if I never liked my weaker half, I still yearn to be whole once more." She gazed into Rosalinda's eyes. "To be whole…once more."

"You're acting like one of those Nobodies I've heard so much about," Damien rolled his eyes.

Maybe that what Katherine was? A Nobody…

"Get straight to the point, Damien-dono," Katherine hissed.

"Your focus has shifted, it seems," Damien clarified. Katherine quirked an eyebrow. "You seem to have lost your obsession with defeating Draco." Katherine did not consider Draco as her brother, something she had confirmed quite vocally. No one was to mention him as her brother. She was disgusted and ashamed to even be related to him. To her, Draco was just another stain to be wiped out.

"I haven't lost it, really," Katherine said, stroking Rosalinda's hair. True, she still dreamed of defeating Draco. However, the Dragon Knight had defeated her once before so she needed a new plan to get back at him for sealing her powers away.

"Also, your daughter and lover were taken away from you," Damien added. Katherine frowned. Her weaker half had rescued Rose and Cathy. She had a lot of plans for the former and the latter would've benefited from her training. However, both had sided with her weaker half and this enraged her. One way or another, she would have them back, even if it was by force. They would be hers once more, whether they liked it or not. "I assumed you would've done everything in your power to take them back."

She did. She had sent those Horrors. Katherine's eyebrow twitched as she was trying to remain calm. Luckily, Rosalinda helped with that by kissing her cheek. "I just have other more important plans."

"You're focused on something on a much grander scale, I assume?" Damien inquired. Katherine scowled. Damien always knew what was on her mind, which was probably more of an annoyance rather than a convenience. She could never forget how they had first met.

Copycat, in her armor but without her helmet, stood in front of a throne. Sitting on the throne was a young man in his late teens. This was Damien. "So, you are the demonic energy I've been sensing?" His voice was deep and cold, the air itself seemingly froze with each word he spoke.

Copycat could only nod. When she first stepped into the room, she was nearly floored by the immense spiritual pressure he was giving off. She looked behind him and saw a young woman, or at least, what was a young woman. She had been skinned, and the remains were chained to the wall behind his throne. "What…what is that?" she asked.

Damien looked behind himself. "Oh, she is simply the remains of a most unsatisfying victim. Still…You're here to change all that; aren't you?" Copycat was shocked when Damien vanished from the throne. Her entire body stiffened when she felt his hand on her cheek. It felt like scalding heat and freezing cold at the same time. "You are quite lovely, and you reek of blood and the dead. An intoxicating aroma." Copycat was shivering now. She had been face to face with Trigon the Terrible, and yet this man had her completely under his control somehow. Something about him demanded obedience and respect. She mused that this must have been what Slade-sama was like when he had been younger.

Her eyes narrowed as she recomposed herself and slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me!" she hissed angrily. The shadows under her formed eyes which glared angrily at the man who'd dared to touch their beloved mistress.

"Ah, I love a specimen with…energy," said Damien, his voice full of an empty joy.

"Back off, pal," warned Copycat. "I only came here because I detected your power. If I knew you were going to be a jerk then I wouldn't have bothered coming."

"But you have me all wrong" said Damien, apparently offended. "You see, Katherine, you and I are one in the same: beings with unimaginably dark power."

"How did you know my name?" demanded Copycat.

"Telepathy is a wonderful thing is it not. Especially for someone with my…tastes," spoke Damien.

"Stay out of my head!" hissed Copycat as she put on her helmet. "You won't like the consequences!" Her shadow expanded and Horrors began attempting to crawl out to the aid of their mistress. She stomped her foot and sent them back. "Begone! I require no assistance from you!" She unwrapped her cat-o-nine tails from her waist and cracked it against the floor. The blades that tipped her weapon scraped against the floor as she pulled it closer. "I'm not someone to take lightly."

Damien looked at Copycat's display with interest. He let out a small chuckle that sent a chill down her spine. "Please, you are in my domain" he said. He snapped his fingers and Copycat's armor vanished. "My rule here is absolute." Normally, magic from another source had no effect on the Zodiac Armor, less it be used offensively. Copycat was shocked but then her expression turned to rage as she snarled at Damien. "Now please, I invited you here to speak, not fight."

Kat calmed herself down a bit. "Fine. I only stopped here because my HorrorLiner needed to refuel anyway. It thrives on negative energy and human flesh so it stopped her since this world has a lot of negative energy flowing through the air" explained Kat.

"Yes, the living darkness that flows through these lands is my doing."

"Who are you exactly?" asked Kat.

"Oh, I have many names, but you may call me Damien. Now if you would like to accompany me, I am off to find a new…subject" spoke Damien.

Damien took Kat to a room, his harem. In the room were girls of various ethnicities and ages, ranging anywhere from 15 to 25. The girls were all dressed in only their bras and panties, and when Damien walked in, they all had a look of pure terror on their faces. Kat, upon seeing the women, felt desire growing inside of her. It was deep, and dark, and monstrous… but far from unpleasant. To her, anyway. Visions of Rose flowed through her mind but they vanished in a haze of lust. She saw one girl with silver hair, a spitting image of Rose, and approached her. The girl looked at Kat with terrified eyes as Kat hauled her up. "What's your name?" asked Kat.

"R…Rosalinda," answered the girl, trembling.

'Hm…this universe's version of my Rose,' mused Kat. She gently stroked the girl's cheek with one hand and another one ran down her back, causing her to shiver. 'So…soft…'

Kat then realized that this girl had already been broken. And not by her. Rage swelled in Katherine's soul; rage as red as blood and far hungrier for it than one could ever imagine. How dare he? How dare he touch her Rose? Oh, she knew that technically this Rose wasn't hers, that her own Rose was safely in her home dimension, but this was a Rose, a Rose that could have been her Rose under different circumstances.

With a snarl of primal fury, Katherine swung her fist at Damien's face, only for it to be caught before she could feel the satisfying crunch of her knuckles against bone .Once he had a firm grip on her, she could feel the energy radiating from him in waves. She had to admit that it felt frighteningly delicious.

"Trust me, Katherine. Attacking me is not in your best interest. If you so much as lift a finger against me, you'll find yourself as my next subject." He let go of her fist. Damien turned and cast a look at Rosalinda, "Rosalinda, where are your manners? Greet your master's guest properly," said Damien. Rosalinda shuddered again, but this time out of fear. Kat's eyes narrowed.

"I am sorry, Master," Rosalinda apologized. She knelt and bowed before Kat. "It is an honor to meet you mistress, what do you require of me?"

"Damien is there a private chamber for me to use?" asked Kat, not looking at her host.

Damien smiled sinisterly. "Why certainly. Rosalinda, take her to one of the bed chambers. And Katherine, enjoy yourself."

Kat grinned evilly. "I will…" Kat gazed at Rosalinda lovingly. "Fear not, Rosie-chan, I won't hurt you…"

"You know me well, and to do that I need my weaker half again," Katherine answered.

"Is this particularly important, aside from your desire to be whole once more?"

"Oh, it is…" Katherine smirked, "After all, a Gate cannot open without a Key…"

The 'Biggest Rave in the Millennium' it was called and anybody could attend, provided you were hot or cool. For Neko, it was easy since she'd made quite an impression on a few places when she'd been whole. Rose was her date and Kenzaki decided to tag along.

They stood in a line as Neko couldn't wait to get inside. She had Gekiryuken around her neck and was eager. Rose was standing beside her with Kenzaki behind them.

Rose still didn't like Kenzaki that much. It was partly because Kenzaki had tried to kill Neko but now it was mostly because Rose often found Kenzaki hanging around Neko. One time, she caught both of them sitting close on the sofa and laughing while watching a movie. She hadn't liked it.

Once they got inside, they were going to have a talk.

The bouncer allowed a few teens in and sent others to the curb. The ones that were inside were either 'Hot' or 'Cool' while the ones who ended up on the curb were either 'Lame' or 'Losers'. It was an unfair system and biased but for a party like this it just seemed fair.

Soon, Neko's turn came up. She was dressed in a white halter top with a blue miniskirt and mesh stockings with black leather boots. Around her neck was a choker. The bouncer whistled at her in appreciation "OK, you're in, hot stuff."

Neko grinned as she got a devious idea and grabbed Rose, who was dressed in a blue tube top with tight blue jeans and sneakers. She kissed her deeply, giving the crowd a show. The bouncer, and several other boys in line, whistled and howled, cheering, "OK, you're BOTH hot! You're BOTH going in!" the bouncer opened the door for them and Neko pulled Rose inside. As Kenzaki went to follow them, the bouncer closed the door.

"Hey!" Kenzaki exclaimed.

"Sorry, you're not going in," denied the bouncer.

"Hey, I'm with them," Kenzaki said.

"Those two girls?" the bouncer asked in disbelief, "A pair of fine honeys like those and you're with them?" He snorted. "Yeah right. No way, bub."

"And why not?" asked Kenzaki, trying to keep his cool.

"Cause you ain't cool. Now beat it!" threatened the bouncer.

"Not cool huh?" growled Kenzaki. He lifted the bouncer up by the collar of his shirt. "My friends are in there. I suggest, for your own sake, that you let me in."

The bouncer's eyes took on a look of fear. He saw something in Kenzaki's eyes and it wasn't natural. Gulping he said, "OK, you're in!" Kenzaki put him down as the bouncer opened the door and let him in.

Kenzaki smirked. "I knew we'd understand each other." He entered through the door to join the girls in the rave.

Neko shouted as she threw her arms up, dancing with Rose. Both girls were dancing close and attracted a lot of male attention, even those who brought dates. Kenzaki was there only to watch her since she was his lead to Copycat; at least, that's what he claimed.

After half an hour of dancing, both Neko and Rose went towards one of the many couches to relax. Neko smiled, "Oh, Kami! What a rush!" She just loved the loud music and the lights and Rose had to agree.

Kenzaki sat down with them, much to Rose's chagrin. If she wanted to talk to Kenzaki, then Neko had to be gone.

Neko was about to say something when her ears picked up a ringing sound. She stood up and told them, "I gotta go."

"Want me to come along?" Rose offered. Neko shook her head.

"Nah, I can handle it," Neko said, pointing to her medallion, Gekiryuken. "I got Geki-chan here."

"Ojou-sama, could you not call me that?" Gekiryuken asked. "Please?"

"Sorry, Geki-chan!" Neko giggled. "Well, I'm off!" She ran off to find the closest bathroom.

Now Rose and Kenzaki were left alone.

Rose started, "Alright, you've been spending way too much time with Neko and I wanna know why." She crossed her arms and leered at him.

"I have no idea what you mean," Kenzaki attempted to deny.

"Don't insult my intelligence, Tsukuba," Rose added. "You're up to something. Neko told me that when you first saw her you tried to kill her." Kenzaki wondered if girlfriends told each other EVERYTHING. Then again, maybe he didn't want to know. "Cut the crap, Kenzaki. You have feelings got Neko. Admit it," ordered Rose.

Kenzaki finally decided to confess. "Fine! I have feelings for her! At first it was nothing! I just thought she was cute and I tried to crush down those feelings so my job wouldn't get complicated! But those feelings just got bigger and bigger and I can't crush them down anymore!" Kenzaki nearly yelled, but he was keeping his voice down as to not make a scene.

"I know the feeling. She's something special, isn't she?" asked Rose.

"Yeah, she really is," Kenzaki answered in agreement.

Neko waited until the bathroom was empty. Aside from the graffiti on the walls it looked clean to her. She stood in front of the mirror and reached into her pocket for her Zodiac Deck and removed Gekiryuken from her neck. "Yosh! Ikuyo." She was about to transform when all of a sudden an even louder ringing sound invaded her ears. It was hurting her ears and giving her a headache. "Na-nani?"

"Ojou-sama, are you alright?" Gekiryuken asked.

As Neko looked up at the mirror, all of a sudden, two pair of arms shot out of and grabbed her. She struggled but whatever was on the other side was stronger. She was being pulled inside. She kicked and screamed but eventually she was pulled in completely.

Gekiryuken and the Zodiac Deck dropped to the floor and Gekiryuken shouted, "OJOU-SAMA!" He had to tell Rose and Kenzaki.

As Kenzaki and Rose continued their glaring contest, Gekiryuken flew straight towards them. He had tied the chain he was linked to around the Zodiac Deck, carrying it with him.

"Gekiryuken?" Rose questioned. "What's going on?" Gekiryuken was alone. "Where's Neko?"

"She got captured by something in a mirror!" Gekiryuken replied, panicking. Rose gasped, "Rose-sama! Ojou-sama is in danger!"

Kenzaki stood up. "Ikuzo," said Kenzaki, gaining Rose and Gekiryuken's attention. "I have a feeling on who took Neko."

"Who?" asked Rose.

"Who else…?" The answer was pretty much obvious.

Neko woke up groggily and looked around. "What…happened?" She tried to move her arms and realized that she'd been shackled to the wall by her wrists and ankles. "Huh?" Her eyes scanned the place she was in. She saw steel bars in front of her. She was in a cell. The only sources of light were torches on the wall. Neko struggled against her bonds, even trying to use her powers, but with no such luck.

The door to the room opened, letting some more light in. "Don't bother trying to use your powers. Those shackles have been mystically enchanted to nullify superpowers," the person entering purred.

Neko recognized that voice. It was hers, but with an edge. She narrowed her eyes and hissed, "Katherine…"

"Bingo, my weaker half," Katherine said. "I'd shake your hand but since that's impossible…" she bowed before standing back up straight, "Well, now I hope you're feeling welcomed."

"Not really, no."

"Well, get used to it. You're going to be staying as a guest for a long, long time."

"I'm not going to be reabsorbed into you. It has to be done by my own free will," Neko reminded regarding the Tiger Power.

"I know that," Katherine walked over to the bars and gripped them, "But breaking you is going to be so much fun."

"My friends will find me," Neko warned. "They will come to my rescue."

"We shall see, if they can find you," Katherine turned towards the door. "If they even care."

Before Neko could ask what Katherine had meant, she was gone. Neko bowed her head.

'Taskette…'

For as long as I can remember I've been lost. I wasn't sure who I was. All I knew was that I was the first born and yet the honor of Draco went to my otouto-chan. I remember being so angry and jealous of him as we grew up. We were trained together but he got most of the attention for being the heir, the NEW Draco.

I remember my mother telling me to never let my emotions control me but I still grew to resent him. I love my brother, true, but I couldn't help feel a little envious of what he had and what he was going to have.

I was the first born, and yet, he was the SON! It's not fair!

Years went by, we grew up. I started to stir up trouble without anyone knowing.

I've done a lot of things that I regret now. I remember the blood on my hands and the lives I've ruined.

When we were split, I started to have the nightmares. Thank Kami-sama I have Cathy-chan, Rosey-chan, Otouto-chan and Geki-chan helping me.

My other half, my evil half, my Yin side knows I am her weakness. If I die, she dies too, and she doesn't want to die. I can sense her fear even if she denies it. She can't lie to me for we are connected.

Now, I am her prisoner. I hope someone out there cares enough to save me.

Neko/Mimic/Zodiac Knight Ryukendo

To Be Continued…

Thanks to Tanyeera for editing and Shadow Element 13 for letting me use his OC Damien.