Part 4: Raiding the Closets
"Ready Draco?" Shadowcobra asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Draco replied.
Both Zodiac Knights were in the dojo section of the training room and clad in identical bodysuits except that Draco's was red and Shadow's was purple. On their arms and legs were matching wrist length gloves and ankle length boots. Around their waists were leather belts with steel buckles. On the left side of their chests were their logos. Draco's was a dragon stylized like a D and Shadow's was a snake stylized like an S. They also wore identical eye masks in their corresponding colors. The suits appeared slightly worn out since, in fact, they were their first costumes.
"Shadow discs!" Shadowcobra raised both his arms and summoned up a pair of sharp discs made of shadows, each in one hand and spinning wildly.
"Flame claws!" Flaming claws appeared out of Draco's fingertips. He flicked the flames lightly.
They both went into their battle positions, daring the other to make a move. Sweat began to fall from Draco's forehead as his eyebrows furrowed. His eyes blinked as he stared his opponent down.
Shadowcobra was already in battle mode. He was a no nonsense fighter that showed no emotion when he fought and in this case was no different. His eyes narrowed as his eyes began to glow blood red.
For a few minutes, neither of them was moving.
And then, IT happened.
"Hey guys!" Takada called them as he entered the training room. Both red and purple Zodiac Knights lost their concentrations and let loose their attacks at the same time, but out of timing. Shadow's shadow energy disc were wizzing straight towards Draco as Draco's fire claws sped towards Shadow in the form of a flaming arch.
Draco ducked, and rolled out of the way, just in time for the discs to zip over his head and slicing through the punching bag. The sand spilled out. The discs then whammed into the wall and dissipated, leaving cracks in the wall.
Shadowcobra formed a large shadow dome over himself just before the fire arch hit him. The flames dissipated but the Snake Knight still felt the impact. The shield only minimized the damage and Shadow could still feel the intense heat and shock from Draco's attack.
"Ichijyo!" Draco shouted, using Shadow's real name, "You okay?"
Shadow shook the cobwebs out of his head as he made his shield disappear, "I've had better days," he groaned. The two Knights glared at their older, but less matured, comrade.
"Am I interrupting something?" Takada asked.
"Not anymore you're not," Draco growled.
"What do you want, Takada?" Shadow asked.
Takada walked in closer to reveal what he was wearing. It was a black sleeveless shirt with a large red dragon decorating the back and front. He also had on a pair of black leather pants and studded belt worn around his waist. On his legs was a pair of buckled black leather boots that went up to his knees, with the straps being purple all the way up. On his hands, up to the wrist, were matching black gloves with purple snakes decorating the back and purple cuffs that also looked like snakes. He also had his mask off. He struck a pose and asked, "What do you guys think?"
"Are those my shirt, pants and belt?" Draco growled as his eyes narrowed.
"And are those my gloves and boots?" Shadowcobra hissed as his eyes also narrowed.
"You don't mind, do you?" Takada asked hopefully, "I raided your closets to find something to wear on my date with Blackfire. You guys surprisingly have very good taste." Takada, as dimwitted as ever, didn't notice that both snake and dragon Knight were glaring daggers at him.
"You could've asked," Shadow gritted his teeth, exposing his fangs.
"Or at least gave us the heads, up," Draco added, eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Well you guys were busy," Takada reminded them, "I didn't want to disturb you guys."
"A little too late for that, isn't it!" Shadow remarked as he pointed to the damage to the wall caused by the misfired attacks.
Takada rubbed his chin, "You guys should be more careful."
Shadow was trying to remain calm. Draco was of course growling, "WE should be careful?" he demanded, "WE?"
Takada checked his watch, "Well, I'm off! See ya guys later!" he left the training room and headed straight for the elevator. Draco was grinding his teeth left and right as his eyes started to flame up.
"He deserves retribution," Shadow informed the fire starter.
"I agree," nodded Draco.
"Remember when the 3 Stooges spied on you and Jinx on your date?"
"Yeah."
"Well, let's fight fire with fire. I assume that Cyborg still has that surveillance equipment in his room," Shadowcobra seemed in thought.
"You wanna spy on his date?" Draco grinned, "Cool!"
"It may seem dishonorable," Shadow told him, "But he crossed the line when he went through our closets and took our clothes," he hissed.
"Let's go."
Blackfire was waiting in the garage like Takada had told her. She had changed from her black and silver outfit with Starfire's purple one and discarded the under body armor. It looked good on her, if she so remembered. She just hoped that Takada liked it.
"I mean, he's just a guy," she told herself. A dreamy guy… she sighed before shaking her head. "Get a grip! This is just a date. It's not like he's confessing his undying love or anything like that!" Though the roses were nice.
The door to the garage opened up and Takada walked in. Blackfire turned to greet him but her jaw dropped. The dog Knight also stopped in his tracks and his jaw was agape.
Woah! He's/she's hot! They both thought at the same time.
"So…um…" Takada began nervously. "Ready for our date?"
"Yeah," Blackfire tried to cover the blush on her face.
"Great!" he went to his Cadillac, dubbed the Blue Hound, and opened the passenger side door for her, "Ladies first?" he smiled suavely.
Blackfire blinked and giggled, "Sure." She floated into the passenger side before Takada closed the door. He then went to the driver's side and leapt over the door. He buckled himself in and so did Blackfire.
"So, this is your vehicle?" Blackfire inquired, her hand feeling over the dashboard.
"Yep!" Takada said proudly, "Mine. Bought it myself with my own money. She's a beauty, ain't she?"
"It looks so strong…and powerful," Blackfire liked powerful things. No wonder Cyborg and Takada were friends. They both liked powerful machines. She then giggled as she leaned against the leather seat. It felt nice and soft. She sighed and threw her arms up before resting them behind her head. "So, where are we headed, Pluto?' she asked.
"Please, call me Takada," he told her.
"First name basis, huh?" she arched an eyebrow and smirked.
"Actually, that's my last name," he admitted.
Blackfire then asked, "So what's your first name?"
He muttered something under his breath. Blackfire was barely able to hear. "What was that?" she asked.
"Yoshiyuki," he let out a defeated sigh, "My first name is Yoshiyuki."
Blackfire remarked, "Cute." Before pinching his cheek, "It fits you."
"Yeah," Takada shrugged, "But I prefer to go by my last name."
"Then you can call me Komand'r," Blackfire told him.
"Er…I don't think I'll be able to say that," he told her.
"Fine," Blackfire then thought before saying, "Karmen…What about Karmen Anders?"
"Karmen," Takada seemed to be tasting the words, "Lovely name," he complimented, making her blush.
"It just came out of the top of my head," she told him, running her hand through her hair shyly.
"It's still nice," he leaned closer.
"Not as nice as Yoshiyuki. Can I call you Yoshi for short?" she leaned closer.
Their faces were coming closer and their lips were in the puckering up mode, They leaned closer, their lips almost touching...Until the engine roared to life, causing the two occupants to jump.
"Woah!" Karmen flushed.
"Yeah," Takada panted, "That was intense."
"Let's just go!"
"Your wish is my command, m'lady!" he told her, before stepping his foot onto the accelerator. The Blue Hound's engine roared louder. The garage door slid open as the bridge that connected Titans' Island to the city rose up. The car then soared into the streets, as fast as a blast.
Neither of them noticed a long black shape in the back seat.
To Be Continued…