Teen Titans © DC Comics

6. Obsession

The Japanese teen stood his ground, sword poised at his side. Bushido's sharp eyes darted swiftly left and right, carefully pinpointing the ninja assassins at every dark alley of the Shibuya scene. Bright lights illuminated from above on top pf bubbly and sensual stores. Civilians ran screaming when the ninja band struck, robbing the rich of their possessions. The night sky darkened with dots of stars, and frail crescent moon barely assisted with the sliver of light.

Bushido withdrew his sword, slashing at the shuriken aimed for his head. The first dozen ninja leaped expertly off rooftops with kunai raised, but Bushido cut through them, and they vanished in a fit of smoke. He swerved back, cutting through the second squad. Like the first, they turned into black fog. Bushido remained silent, pursing his lips in concentration. Gentle, quiet clacks nearby berated on the gravel, approaching him in an unknown quantity.

Closer…

Closer…

Closer…

Strike!

Bushido swiped through the barraging ninjas with the hilt of his sword, effectively knocking them out. Sheathing his weapon, he bowed his head and turned away. Sighing for his own job well done, he retreated back towards his home.

That's when the cool underside of a kunai appeared under his neck.

"Don't move," the man ordered in slightly broken English. "Come with me."

The silent warrior stared forward in a tidbit of shock that he foolishly allowed himself to be captured. Bushido began walking as directed towards a pitch black alleyway. As his foot stepped into the shadows, Bushido ducked and pivoted to see his startled adversary.

"Hello, Bushido," Katarou taunted to his chagrin. "I'm hoping you've improved from the last time we-" He stopped when Bushido raised his sword to his parted lips. "Ha! I can see you're still very vengeful on your defeat."

"It is not just that," Bushido hissed, voice low and even. "You used too many dishonorable tricks to blind me such as smoke screen, explosives, and other hidden allies with guns. In a fair fight, I would have been victorious."

Katarou sneered, laughing. "Fool! I thought you'd have learned that anything goes. After all, y our mother learned that the hard way."

Bushido's eyes widened in sudden surprise, lips a thin line like wire. Rage broiled in his chest as he lunged out and aimed his sword in vehement quick jabs. Knowing he had Bushido's goat, Katarou retrieved his steel rod, blocking each maddened blow. Suddenly, Katarou flipped his rod up, slapping Bushido's wrist. Grunting, Bushido dropped his sword clumsily and gasped as Katarou leaped forward with his stolen kunai.

As Bushido hesitated, a wooden staff whirled by and whapped into Katarou's neck. Instantly, his eyes drooped, and he fell onto the ground, unconscious. Bushido watched the cane return to its owner. Retrieving his sword, he sheathed it as an elderly woman in black and red robes with tanned skin, and her hair in gray twin braids approached him slowly. Chu-Hui, the True Master, stared up at Bushido before clonking him over the head with her staff.

"You idiot! Don't let this moron control your emotions!" she snapped, beating him.

Bushido winced, rubbing his head as the Chinese elder kneeled down by Katarou. "Thank you for my rescue."

"Eh, forget about it," she replied, poking Katarou in the side. "Good, he's out, but not dead. He claimed to be a former student of mine, but I showed him the door because he was a liar and a cheat. I would be home right now, but I figured I'd drop by to visit your mother. Bushido, was it? Your mother told me all about you, her precious son. She was a student of mine. Is she around?"

Bushido gasped, startled at the sudden revelation and turned away. "My mother was murdered."

"I'm sorry, what was that? My hearing is-"

"My mother was murdered, killed by an assassin in the midst of night, cloaked by the black sky above. She relieved her sword to me, her son and I, Bushido, live on as her successor. I will avenge my mother's death." Bushido clenched his blade tightly, and Chu-Hui observed his knuckles become a stark white. His knuckles were brighter than milk, looking read to break to her surprise. "When I find the monster that killed my mother, I will-!"

"Enough!"

Stunned, Bushido looked down to her as Chu-Hui's shrill, coarse voice boomed through the once boisterous Japanese city. He watched her take his sword and inspect it with keen, beady orbs. Her eyes wandered on the frigid metal that glinted in the moon's dim light. No trace of caked blood was present, and the sword was kept in perfection without being poisoned by the plague of cutting a man down. She smiled, wrinkles seeming to vanish on her elderly, wise face, once hardened by years of training and fighting the strongest of opponents. Handing it back, she snickered gently to Bushido's confused wonder.

"You're just like your mother, always vowing to take action, but your mother never killed anyone. She was an honorable woman. Why, I heard she beat two moronic ruffians, some brotherly demigods, into submission when they 'played' in Tokyo. By that, I mean they were blowing everything up with their elemental powers. I met them myself, but they became Titans just like you. She even preached to them like what that green child had done." Chu-Hui sighed wearily, shaking her head. "Your noble mother was a great heroine of Japan, but she never soiled her might sword with blood. You are her son, and, already, you've started down her path of justice."

"True Master…" Bushido trailed off and smiled, nodding. "I see now. You want me to remain honorable. Killing the monster who murdered my mother would only place me in the same category as him or her."

"Exactly, but you're a little slow socially." She tapped his noggin with her staff, smirking. "I think you're ready."

"I am sorry, but what do you mean?"

"Like you mother, who was your age when she started her apprenticeship, you've the potential of a wondrous, master swordsman. Let me teach you, Bushido."

Bowing, Bushido sheathed his blade. "I most humbly accept. I hope I can measure up to your expertise, and I feel I will soon."

Chu-Hui instantly frowned, slapping him over the skull. "Fool! Don't compare yourself to me!"

Yelping, Bushido hurried after her, apologizing until she smacked him again; this time, it was for being an idiot.