Beast Boy ran back to the Titans and said, grinning, "I've got a date!"

"Congratulations, Beast Boy!" Starfire said happily.

"Good for you," Raven added.

"We're gonna have dinner at Café La Salle!"

Leo and Kat blinked.

"Well, we'll try out best," Leo promised as he pointed to the sky. It was a habit for him.

"Let's just hope nothing goes wrong," Kat looked to the sky.

Not too far away, a mysterious figure watched before vanishing.

Episode 7: Prelude

The twins got back to Café La Salle just in time. Their cost them a lot of time as it was now 5:45 pm. After detention had ended, they quickly rode on their motorcycles and zoomed baco towards their home and place of business.

Pulling up in front of the Café, Leo pondered worriedly, "Do you think it was a good idea to run that stoplight, onee-chan?"

Kat snorted and said confidently as she pulled off her helmet, "Wasn't like there were any cars around, otouto-chan."

"But still, okaasan always said that we must abide by the rules," Leo replied, quoting his mother.

"Well, mama isn't here so no worries," Kat responded. "Now, come on! We've got customers to serve and feed."

"Hai, onee-chan."

In her dorm room, Tara Markov was worried and worried she should be.

Why had she agreed to that? Why did she agree to go on a date with Beast Boy? It was a bad idea and she just agreed to go out with him for dinner. It was a bad idea but she went with it anyway.

Was it because she felt grateful to him for saving her life from that thing that attacked them? A simple 'thank you' would've sufficed. But a date? No, a date was unheard of. She should just call him…

As her hand reached for her cell phone, a part of her still felt that the idea of going out on a date with Beast Boy was…strangely appealing. He was cute, funny…he was cute. Okay, maybe he didn't have much, but…

In truth, since that day Beast Boy found her and followed her to school her past had caught up with her. She had wanted to forget all that, the good times and bad, especially the bad; and just make a fresh start and live a normal life. Yes, Tara Markov was in fact Terra, the former 6th Titan who had betrayed and sacrificed herself to save the city.

That day, when she refused the communicator from him, pained her heart as she saw how heartbroken he was. She didn't want to do that, but he was a hero and was too good for her. She tried to ignore her feelings and push into the back of her mind during the Geometry test, but couldn't. It was just too painful. She couldn't concentrate and barely passed.

She hated lying to Beast Boy, but she wasn't Terra anymore. She was just Tara Markov, a student in Murakami High, nothing more and nothing less.

She sighed. Who was she even kidding?

Thinking back, she remembered seeing Kat and Leo hanging out with the Titans after the monster attack. Also, Kat and Leo cut gym, added with that the fact that the creature was never seen again later. What had happened? How did Leo and Kat know the Titans to such a degree?

When Leo first started, she did think he was cute. This included nearly every girl in class. It was probably because of his individuality, his long braided auburn hair and his emerald green eyes. The effect of manly-cuteness was aided by those goggles he would always seem to wear on his head. Despite his growing popularity (which he was either unaware of or didn't care) he was a nice guy. He stood up to bullies, defended the weak and helped out whenever he could. From what she heard, he also volunteered at the animal shelter since he was an animal lover. He also mentioned that he had a pet iguana as his sister had a pet parakeet. A lizard and a bird lover under the one roof. Of course, Tara had first though that Leo would've gotten a cat or something since his name meant lion.

She then remembered that Leo was only the shortened version of his middle name. His full name was Ryuki Leonard Narukawa, but Leo was just easier to remember and sounded cooler. Same with Kat whose full name was Neko Katherine Hasuma.

Leo had explained that Kat was his sister and Tara wondered if this was true because they had different last names. Leo had explained that their parents were divorced and they had been separated for 10 years with Leo living with his mom and Kat living with her dad. This would explain their different personalities.

However, despite all that, they were close. It was possibly because they were making up for lost time. They probably hadn't seen each other for years.

Back to beast Boy. What was she supposed to do? What was she gonna say? Most importantly: What was she going to wear?

She needed help and fast and luckily for her she had both Stephanie and Melissa on speed dial.

Even after all this time, Beast Boy's room was still an utter and complete mess. However, for some strange reason or other, he was able to find what he was looking for. Then again, he could turn into a bloodhound to find what he was looking for anyway.

Right now, Beast Boy was in his closet and looking for a descent set of clothes. He could just wear his uniform like last time, but he wanted to look nice for Tara.

Terra…Tara…He shook his head. He had to remind himself that this was NOT Terra and just a girl with a similar sounding name, looked the same and sounded the same.

Okay, bad example.

Anyway, he wanted this to be the best first date ever. Even if she wasn't Terra…Tara was a great girl. She had a great laugh and her eyes were so pretty.

Beast Boy sighed happily before continuing his rummaging.

He was gonna have dinner with Terra at 8 at Café La Salle. She said she would meet him there. He wanted to pick her up at the girls' dormitories where she was staying but it was on her suggestion. Maybe he offered to pick her up just to be a gentleman.

Besides, a boy with green hair, green skin, fangs and pointed ears would draw WAY too much attention.

Okay, back to finding a good set of clothes. He literally dove into his closet. This would take awhile.

It was 7 pm and the Café was empty, save for the staff as well as Kat and Leo. The assistant manager had left after they had returned.

"Today was good," Kat grinned as she counted the money in the register. "We made a profit today."

"Thanks to my culinary skills," Leo said proudly.

"Well, it was my advertising skills that drew people here," Kat countered.

Leo remarked dryly, "Your second one, which was my suggestion. Your first attempt was to threaten people here."

Kat shrugged. "I take the direct approach."

Tom and Sheila, their waiter and waitress, only watched the sibling banter with smiles and shakes of the head. After working for their aunt, who was quite eccentric, it was no surprise that his nephew and nieces were as well.

Tom was a blonde kid who was working part time here to pay for his college tuition. Same goes for Sheila, except she wanted to collect money to go overseas. Sheila was a brown eyed girl with brown, almost black, hair. They wore aprons over their casual clothing since this wasn't really a fancy place. Café La Salle didn't have official uniforms, the twins' aunt would have none of that. Besides, it gave the Café its own flair.

Though the place had started as a café, the upgraded menu (thanks to Leo's cooking skills) had made them nearly up to par with several of the restaurants. Leo only used the freshest of ingredients so the customers would always come to enjoy their food, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"I still say we should put a piano at the corner," Kat argued.

"Why? Neither of us can play," Leo protested.

"For mood and atmosphere, duh."

Of course, the twins were an interesting pair to say the least. Tom and Sheila began to mop the floors and clean the tables. Though the Café was customer free for the moment, it would only be a matter of time until they would have another one.

That was when the bell above the door chimed, signaling said customer.

It was a familiar green Titan and he looked frantic.

"Beast Boy?" Kat asked.

"Beast Boy-san? What are you doing here now? Isn't your date at 8?" Leo asked, confused.

"I need your help!" Beast Boy exclaimed, waving his arms.

Tom and Sheila looked puzzled at why a Teen Titan would be coming into Café La Salle and even more puzzled as he was asking both Leo and Kat's help. However, Tom and Sheila didn't ask any questions; less headaches that way.

"Beast Boy-san, calm down!" Leo said as he gave Beast Boy a glass of ice water. "Here, drink this."

Beast Boy gulped it down and sighed in relief, "Thanks."

"So, what do you need now, greenie?" Kat asked as she leaned over the bar countertop and rested her head in her hand, with her elbow on the bar.

"I don't have anything to wear!" he replied.

"What about your uniform?" Leo pointed at Beast Boy's suit.

"I want this to be a date and I thought I had something nice to wear!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "But I don't have anything clean other than my spare uniforms!" Beast Boy cried. What do I do!?"

Kat took a seltzer bottle and sprayed it at Beast Boy, who promptly quieted down. She narrowed her eyes and placed her hands to her hips. "First of all: Calm down."

"I needed that," said Beast Boy as he was now soaking wet. Leo handed him a towel. "Thanks," he mumbled.

"And second," Kat continued, "About clothes I think my otouto-chan can help."

"I can?" Leo questioned.

"Don't you still keep some of your old clothes with you since you said you were going to donate them to the Salvation Army or something?" she reminded. "Maybe there something that fits."

"Hai, oneechain," Leo saluted. "Let's go, Beast Boy-san." He led Beast Boy towards the stairs.

Kat checked her watch. "I hope he gets done soon. Tara is gonna be here any second."

A figure clad in black watched the Café with earnest interest. He took a device out of his pocket and strapped it on. If his earlier assessments were accurate, he had to be prepared.

In the meantime, he could stop by the hardware store opposite the Café. There were some things he needed to buy.

Up in Leo and Kat's room, Beast Boy looked around. The room had been split in half to accustom to the twins' each unique tastes. On Leo's side he had a drum set, a bookshelf, a bed that was made to look like a Japanese futon and scrolls hanging from the walls which depicted images of dragons. On his bedside table was a framed photograph of Leo with an older woman (his mom). There was also a picture of Leo and Kat together. Beast Boy also noticed a plastic case with a large green iguana inside that was still. Beast Boy also noticed a sheathed wooden sword, Leo's bokken.

On Kat's side of the room, which contrasts with Leo's taste, was the normal setting, except that her wall was decorated with rock band posters and pictures of bikes. There was a guitar leaning against the wall. She also had a bow and a quiver of arrows next to her guitar. There was a birdcage hanging near the foot of her bed for her pet parakeet. For some strange reason or other the bird had bright red feathers.

There were two cabinets, one for Leo and another for Kat. Leo rummaged through his to find anything that would fit Beast Boy. Seeing as beast Boy was about a head and a half shorter than Leo, Leo had to look through some of his clothes during his younger days. When he found what he was looking for, he threw them at Beast Boy and said, "Try these on!" Beast Boy caught them and looked them over.

"Dude, do you have anything besides Chinese?" Beast Boy asked.

"My okaasan and I stayed in China for a while and picked up some shirts. They were very comfortable and I decided to but more for my wardrobe. Don't worry, I think I may have something for you," Leo said as he continued to look. He smiled. "I think I got the thing for you."

"Say, Leo? Can I ask you something?" Beast Boy asked.

"Hai. What is it, Beast Boy-san?"

"What's with the wooden sword and bow and arrow?"

"My onee-chan takes archery while I practice kendo."

"Ken…do?" Beast Boy questioned.

"It's an art in Japan, Japanese swords play. Haven't you noticed that my onee-chan and I use a sword and bow?"

Beast Boy, thinking back, remembered that when Leo and Kat were in Advent Knight mode, they were armed with a specific weapon. Leo's was a sword while Kat's was a bow. Beast Boy nodded. "Yeah, I remember."

"We didn't get good without practice," Leo clarified. He then quoted his mother, "My okaasan always said that to be the best you must practice."

"Your…what?" Beast Boy didn't understand what 'okaasan' meant.

"My mother. I call my mother okaasan," Leo clarified.

"Oh, I knew that!" Beast Boy said, rubbing his head and having the decency to look sheepish.

"Now, go get changed. The changing partition is over there," Leo pointed. Beast Boy went behind the partition and changed his clothes.

Leo sighed. He hoped tonight went well for both his friends.

He just hoped that a Beast Spirit didn't attack.

Kat's phone beeped frantically and she looked at it. There was a Beast Spirit signal! Quickly heading for the door, she realized that the beeping had stopped. Looking back at the phone, the signal was gone.

"What the…?" Kat blinked.

"Nani? That's strange," Leo said, astounded, as the signal on his phone just disappeared. Where had it gone?

"What was that, dude?" Beast Boy asked, completely changed into a set of new clothes, as he stepped put from behind the partition.

"Nothing, Beast Boy-san," Leo answered. 'Let's pray that it is nothing.'

At the construction site, a Beast Spirit that looked like an armored tapir fell before card stuck to its head. It was sucked in, sealed, and the card used flew back into its owner's black gauntleted hand.

The blue eyepieces of the card holder's helmet glinted before he slid it into his card holder and rested his staff on his shoulder.

He was out hunting. No one would stop him.

No one.A one eyed masked figure clad in a black suit with silver armor plating looked at the Café with keen interest. His single eye, which was the only one seen since his mask had only one eye slot, narrowed. He said in a smooth voice, nearly a whisper but quite audible, "Soon, my dear apprentice, you will return to me…"

A/N: So, how was that? Good? Bad? It was short, I know, but I want this to be a trilogy starting from the previous chap. Constructive criticism is, well, welcomed.

Next chap preview: It seems that Beast Boy and Tara's date just might get interrupted. Let's hope the Titans can take care of it before it's ruined. In the meantime, Beast Spirit signals keep popping up on Kat and Leo's phones before shortly vanishing. What was going on?