Teen Titans New Gen Presents; Tokyo Knights

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Chapter 11: Ride On – Tiger Teeth

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Song title by Walk the Moon. Ride on is too, from a film I can't recall. Ah! But this is a fun one. Rose gets into a good mood when they team –

Shutting up, now!!

/

The wall clock was archaic. In this city, nothing stood to be masking of the progress of change going on only floors below their feet. Here in the board room of Watabe Shinzo; head CEO of Aizen Labs, Slade had his finger on the trigger only moments before attending the meeting. Rose had taken on a brilliant disguise and passed through the level, while Anna and Slade teamed up on the roof to crash in, unannounced. The time ticked on their watches as Watanabe – dono made sure not to let the sweat drip onto his digital reports. The table turned to him, all hoping to get out of this with minor cuts. Anna looked around with a keen eye and saw one woman. She was going to be pregnant with her elevated levels that Anna saw through her suit's interface. An Ikon suit designed to keep her fire at bay, the collar no longer necessary.

They'd be here later in Tokyo to talk to Dr. Ikon's staff. Right now, Slade's client was after one dead and a warning, shot in the skull of the VP.

CEO would have to do, it was on the list as a back up. No sense there but the pay was quite a pretty by of Yen.

"Talk, Shinzo – san. Where is the key to project "Daylight." (This is important for later.)

"Not, in this building." The CEO swallowed carefully, "Mr. Deathstroke. We could talk about –

"Nothing in the folder here says he keeps it close. Checks out. Must be important." Rose got up and spoke in Japanese to test Shinzo a bit. "She is not from the board?"

"Never wanted a stuffy office job, so no. Thanks." Rose pulled out her fake eye and returned her patch to it with a press. No strings. Very future tech – centric, Anna noted. She had always wondered if Rose was on some level a bit crazy, but not really wanting to test if she was…that all came back to her dad's words. About staying in line.

"The project key; where is it currently being held." Slade cocked it again, Anna moved quickly as she saw a button almost being pressed at the table. "We have a reservation. No security needed." She nodded to Slade who got the muzzle of his pistol right up to the CEO's temple. "Saw it before you, my dear."

"What, is your –

"That's not important. My client wants that key." The man leaned over with his mask leaving no detail behind. He hissed darkly into Shinzo's ear until he shuddered. Finally.

"TELL us, Shinzo. You don't have to worry about a thing. We'd have to go after your VP anyway. Tell us about the key's holder, and he'll take the fall." Slade watched Anna's eyes change.

" Not you."

Shinzo sighed a huff and removed his hand from the button, only to raise it up. "That Vice President is your client, Mr. Deathstroke, and I'll raise your wager to make ends with him if you let me hire you to take him out."

"How high can you go, Watanabe – san?" Slade nearly sang the name, the man tensing beyond the gun's tip. "Twice as much. And all today, since he will have the key in his hands when you leave."

"Done."

"What?" Anna gawked and saw the man pull out his cell to receive the payment. "The client is…."

Slade's eye went up and to it, he was something a trouble.

"The key's current holder, is at Takahara Corp's main headquarters. Shinjuku…." The man growled. "What is this?"

"What I told you. Kill him, and your prize is won." The middle-aged CEO smiled wittily as the Merc pulled away his gun. "We'll debate later. My dears? Time to go." He was packing up, none dead and they had a new target to find the key to unlock an AI known as "Daylight."

/

Takahara sighed as Ayane tugged his arm to pay attention to the lab's newest fuel. Like Nina in the past or even Agatha who had been an incarnation of a goddess called Concordia, the rest of today was less of a physical touch and more, artificial.

AI was the new money grabbing sensation and Shoji's bosses were right on the money TO want. However, to remedy their hot streak from going too far, Shoji had put in place a failsafe called Project Daylight to shut off the machines, should they become too aware of their existence. He didn't want a movie monster villain to show up. Nor did he need to feel awkward about that…in Japan, youkai were still the keepers of time and life here. They determined the pain and pleasure of success and failure. He'd found this is to be something new, since like a wall built by a fat orange lummox in the states, (we dump on trump hard here) the wall and plane of spirit had become too thin and was fixing itself too slowly. There had to be a reason for its…

Jorogumo?

"Shoji? ARE you paying attention to the presentation?" Ayane knocked on his skull as the dopy CEO smiled at her sheepishly and nodded. "I got that part already. But what about the software check….I mean…" He seethed. "Could we really revolutionize without thinking in long term first? This is more than enough to put us on the way to a success that could save Japan's climate financially, but it has downsides like any other. We could be looking at thousands –

"We could, or." The prefectural techie known as Otonabe Shu, was into this baby from day one. He said it himself; there was no way that tomorrow would stand still for the country. "We could educate and this, can teach any course, any class and turn people into pilots overnight in weeks! It's a new way to study, to enthrall the masses and to collectively assist in a skill that we can benefit – the whole world –

"You want to control will." Shoji interjected ruefully, "You can't push a plan like that. We have a –

"It's not mind control, Sir." Chuckled Shu with a tap of his glasses off the brim of his nose. His shoulder length dark hair and his attitude towards human will was a problem. How did they amount to his project getting an ok to be viewed??

"I'm not backing this unless you have evidence in it holds more water than you're pouring into my pitcher. I'm sorry, Shu. We'll talk –

"Wait! You didn't even meet the assistant I've crafted! Desu – kon!"

Shoji raised an eye as before them, a child with a patch of bandages over her right eye and long white hair almost looked like a youkai from a digital drawing board. It came through a projector that made it real though, even if she was just an object to the creator.

~ Hiii!! Konichiwa! You must be my guests! I intend to do as I was programmed and show each and every member here my creator's greatest burst of activity! Will you not see for yourselves? ~

"She…...she is just a child!" One head of development member pointed out with a stutter.

"This is uncalled for and wrong."

Why is our best in the business an " otaku?" One VP sneered.

"The company cannot –

"I've seen enough here, Shu – san." Shoji stopped them all as Ayane locked eyes with the strange yokai – likeless of Desu – kon."

Kon, being as the sound a fox made. To be sly. To be smart. So, Desu – kon. It was pretty interesting at best, but dangerous. They needed minds today out of nothing, not just handpicked but this…

Was playing God, pure and simple.

"I'm done here, pack up that project or don't come in again. What you are doing is against company and industry policy guidelines. The project must be terminated, or you will be sent out of your position with nothing. This is easily a cause to put you into confinement for an illegal act."

"We- well, you use alchemy to try and wipe minds and create new ideas! That's illegal! Is anyone aware of –

"Sir, I'll have someone escort Shun out, right away." Ayane watched the small projection of the yokai as it dipped its head, looking in tears but no. She sensed a problem was about to follow. "Just, sir…don't fire him." She whispered. "He's dealing with a possession. That child in the screen, is not an AI, but a demon."

/

The man wasn't tossed, but he got into the lab to get what he needed later. That included the AI software and of course, Desu – Kon. His not so silent cheerleader. Thankfully, back in the apartment, there was no notice for raising a rent too high. He had an ok gig going but they wanted progress.

~What was that for? You almost made me shed a tear. Boo – hoo! ~ The little sprite covered her eyes as if she would. Shu rolled his and opened the door. Two tons of boxes from the move later, and it still looked like the home of a messy genius. The bed was made at least. What was for dinner -

~Are you listening?? ~

"I am. And you said it too, that this was what I wanted so you'd grant it. That failed, dog."

Desu growled and started to take on a new form of a large white dog that looked too big to fit – yet she was only a shadow. "You killed my ex, you even stopped the police from connecting the murder to us, you got me this job –

~ You sold your soul for it, human. ~ Grumbled the white shadow that clung now as a woman with the sharpest eyes he'd seen in real life. Ever, culling type.

"We went far enough; we now know that Shoji is hiding his real route to success. The reason I was denied my dream to get rid of idiots like him!"

~ Feed me more of your hate…. you know I care about the future as much as you do. Shun…make me real again. ~ She morphed into her smaller self. ~ Only one issue…. they both can hunt us down. The real dog is still inside that building. Want me to sniff them out –

"No, we could end up getting…. no." Shun said. "We drop the project, and in the meantime, work on a way to expose Shoji for being like you. A spirit."

~ Sounds better every time you order me around…. I love it! ~ Desu – kon gave a thumbs up.

~ Ryoka – nee is on the case, good Master Shu! ~ She giggled while drinking up his obsessive miasma. If he took over that company, Lady Jorogumo could come into their world, as promised…Ah, she knew about the awakened queen. It was fun to think that the old era was decades of to some.

Yet she and her sisters…were about to win over the hearts of everything on two legs…

/

Raku stood by the bus station and thought he'd be fine without John hounding over him to bring his keys or to not show his markings to anyone. Those were special anyway. He'd acquired those by his contract with Aiden. Sighing, there was rain on the way like usual. Raku looked down the street as he saw a woman about to cross.

She had an umbrella and tied up brown hair that covered half of her face.

From his left, a car was zoning in from the street corner, turning sharp as his precondition was to evade or save a life. Raku did not get to use his magic here. He would be found out and sent back for questioning. The last time had been a slap on the wrist. Who knew what awaited, as he rammed up the gears and sped up, dropping his bag and leaping into her way. "Wait!"

She gasped as the look on her face and in her eyes was nearly cosmic of color. She was in awe.

He didn't understand any of it. She looked confused until he saw a Bluetooth in her ear where her hair had covered it.

"Is that lad, alright? Someone call –

But he was fine, better; as the woman rose and took his hand, her own feeling a tad too cool to the touch (important bit there.) "It's ok. How is the driver?"

The witnesses were baffled by this example. Normally, to ask that wasn't uncommon, but the teen had dove into the road to save a woman from being hit! "I…I'm sorry…What is your name? Do you need any –

"I'm…" She pointed to his id card round his neck. "My…you're a –

"Professor Patricia Lau!" She smiled, and he did see how she brushed off any weird confrontation. "Let's go then. Can you stand?" He was gentle, not brainless as the rest of the passerby eyed and took pictures or went on their merry way. College. He was still earlier. And…

"The bus!" Raku face palmed and pulled out his –

"No need." The professor pulled out a card, then her hand went up. A cab came on the spot as he looked into her eyes for a second. "Well? Are you coming or not?" She was being unprofessional with a student. Wasn't he worried? Not as Raku hopped in the cab and Ignito's bells brought the teen back into the den of the daemon itself. ~ That was reckless, why do it? ~

~ She was in danger; I had no other choices. ~

~ She planned it, you, see? ~ Ignito turned to his shelf of tomes and grunted with a head shaking.

~ No, and I'd like it if you'd allow me to go off to class. We'll speak later. ~

~ As you wish, my young lordship. ~

Ignito snapped his fingers as Lau and Raku, were on their way. Why had the being told him she had any ill intent? Her eyes though…. they were the only reason he'd decided to listen.

To be cautious around this new, professor.

/

Ami sat up and looked at the clock in her new dorm room. The bed was to the wall while Iyori was in her own bunk and quite content with sleeping facing away from Ami. They weren't kids, and Iyori needed to rest. Yet…Ami needed to roam. Even if this was a safe place and Iyori was ok…

/

~ There is no doubt in my mind that there is a connection to their lives and that of our newest enemy. ~

~ There cannot be. The miko we have given a chance is showing herself to be unworthy of the role. ~

~ Lady –

~ My concern in the cursed girl, the one who was attacked at a young age by a demon your team fought. Jorogumo has blood of a demon, not a goddess. She is intent on changing that. Be cautious Director. That sun maiden does not know what these dark forces would do…You must be sure she cannot lose that. Her role, if not will be forgotten. Amaterasu will forsake her as a successor. ~

Haru had overheard too much as she fled as a foxling to find Ami, only to see her room now as only Iyori and Aya were there. Even Kaede was not where she was supposed to be. "Where…" She felt her fur prickle as her ears sensed another…a….doggie?

/

Outside on the road side, Ami saw Kaede and decided to follow. She was only up to get some fresh air. Her want for a little peace of mind was broken as Kaede led her to the road and where then she saw…a black dog as he was smoking a cigarette.

A…..

She stayed quiet, masking her scent in a hedge of Jasmine bushes. Listening.

"They say you're a killer now? Really?"

~I was in at the wrong time!...The real culprit –

"Eiji – san. Who?" Kaede asked him, the dog as he swapped to the form of a man with shoulder length black hair and dark eyes. He carried what looked to be two pistols and had a rough edge to him compared to the toned-down attitude of Kaede out for a stroll. This was no rendevous, it was a warning notice. "Well, if you're clean this time, who framed us? I mean, this is as much a problem for me. You're my cousin. How is Oji –

~ Very weak, but better. There was something about those marks. ~ Grumbled the anxious dog guard. Guessing he had shape shifting in his blood, it had to be a spirit thing. ~How is the owner? Did she –

"She's a kid. If she knew what I was doing here…you need to lay low, I'll get those bozo cops off your backs. We can have the case; you aren't the only one in need of a change of pace."

~ You miss the limelight, Oujo –

"Watch it…" She growled. "I'm a fox, not a hound. We have morals. You, you just do whatever with the yakuza and it's dumb. Do they know?"

~ I was never that close. I faked my death. ~

Ami blinked.

"You…that. Was dumb!" Kaede snapped. "You think a new face is enough? You were supposed to keep an eye on them –

~ The boss, found out how to make a pact…~

"I…" Kaede saw the male's hands shaking. "Wait, did you…"

~ I did, almost. I tasted his sin, cousin. It was…horrible. ~

/

Ami didn't go to bed comforted by the fact that Kaede had been in league with a yakuza – style punk. She was right out of a movie, one about the bad boys getting more than they deserved. Under the covers, Kaede came in and bucked down after having undressed in the other dorm bathroom. It was one at the point and by morning, Ami never heard the first cock crowing from right by her ear.

/

She lagged through the day. Tired, and she deserved it for sneaking out on her roomie. The one being spied on now was Ami, who fell asleep while holding a pose for a special sutra that nearly fire cracked one on the instructor's wooden geta sandals. Thankfully, they wore socks so the singing was not as bad an issue as it could have been.

"SHE DID WHAT??"

Tomori though, was able to put away her concern as the one to come in to her office was the head of their staff. "Mizuno-

"This is serious to our reputation as a school for future protectors, Director…How did she even become chosen in the first –

That ended right there as Tomori had Ami stay, while they spoke. The rejected teacher was fuming still down the hall until Iyori caught wind and in she flew. Like a set if wings upon her back, her kimono wafted as a sail with the door pushed back. Ami was miserable at best, but not by her. By a friend. Family. She had no idea how to go about it; yet on the desk, Tomori got a call from what looked to be in Osaka. Just out in the city limits, they'd be setting off now to return to Tokyo. It looked to be an Inugami and it made Ami tense up. Kaede? Was that…

/

Hisao walked briskly with Sun Woo trailing behind, trying to catch the report as the detectives suited up to meet their clients this time. The ones who would be helping to catch the victim's killer.

"New report at the precinct this morning states that: a Miss "Sakurano Ayane" was abducted from her high-rise apartment in Tokyo as of "eleven thirty-seven – 23:30," last night. The reports showed sadly… nothing – the only clue here was a scratched door made be dog claws. The biopsy on the red district' "host club" victim was the same conclusion. The conclusion we've come to is that the marks were made by a dog – the same dog that is being used to go after the victims the killer has as their target...Ayane still hopefully, alive if we aren't too late. There were no images on the security camera to either location of the attackers. The only lead we have is a man with dark hair carrying two twin pistols on the image in the host club we visited days ago…." Hisao, wondered if it was a ruse, but thought against it. "The last witness said they had contacted the "dog" and that it was intimidating. Perhaps a man posing as –

"This is a dangerous thought, Hisao – san." Sun Woo pointed out. "The ones we are bringing on this case only left in an earlier message that they are skilled in…"

Out the door, was a group of overgrown teens. Hisao shook his head, groaning. Out popped Inari from behind a beam of dying evening sunlight as he waved his tail to the detective. "Ami and Iyori – oujo sama? Meet, Detectives; Hisao – kun and Sun – Woo, san! ~

/

Kaede didn't come along.

Ami had protested going without her foxes, yet Haru had said that Aya and the familiars were willing to share. That didn't feel good at all. "So…. are we going to Uncle Shoji's at dark?" Ami asked in a high, squeaking voice? Iyori turned up her nose. "Wait, who is Miss. Sakarano? We only heard "Inuga –

"Wait!" Sun – Woo pointed at his boss. So, you DID believe her testimony!" He threw a hand to his temples and moaned out. "You think a DEMON? A demon, is out killing and kidnapping –

"Dog spirits are vengeance spirits once they form a contract with human." Iyori told the non – believer. "Then yes, we are off to see an even bigger "Tanuki."

"You…do you hate my family, Iyori –

"It's his reputation that worries me. The press and father's faction have kept stable but this…anomaly seems to see the future. We are cautious around –

"Yeah…that's because –

Inari jumped in. "He's quite a spry one! That Takahara business model is ungodly accurate!"

"Of course you'd say that." Ami grumbled. "Well, will he be there?"

"Ah, he said he's sending a person hand - picked from his security staff to help us along." Inari scratched his cheek. "He really does care about you and Ayane – chan, Ami – kyun."

"You act as if you know this man." Hisao rubbed his chin. Sun – Woo swallowed roughly. Aya watched from a distance. If this was but a memory to him, then Hisao was impervious to being spooked.

"We're going to the Shinjuku business district to head inside. There will be no need to lose our grip. Ami, was it?" Hisao didn't bother to get to know her with a how – dee – doo. "We'll need you to negotiate with Takahara's staff. Tell them what you know about Ayane, since you are closer to her than any of us."

Ami nodded, not about the yes part. The part where Ayane could unleash Lorelai Ainsley's spirit if she was provoked. And that Ami because of Roku's old life, was an incarnated grandchild of the victim right now. How could she slip that one to the detective without making Sun – Woo fall over in shock??

As well as Iyori….she didn't trust Shoji and that posed an issue – thankfully, Inari was on her side. He didn't want the dog to be convicted of fraud either.

Why did he have to make trouble? They set off on the metro underground and Ami just avoided getting trampled during rush hour. Iyori had it worse. Without Aya, she was vulnerable at close range. Aya would always be there; that Jorogumo could sleep and plot at some other underground station.

/

The passerby thought the miko crew was cosplaying, the purple kimono on Iyori standing out too much. Inari also looked bishie ready while the cops were too easily bled into Ami's cop drama anime fantasy. She shook her head, seeing she had a black pleated skirt on and a red mock turtleneck. The springs here were not hot at night at least. Her long thigh high socks and black school shoes were grabbed in a hurry. She even left her pig tails more spiky than Anna's red headed horror show. Where was Anna anyway?

/

Anna knocked on Deathstroke's suite door. She had just given a good word to Rose that she'd be keeping an eye on the man. He was going after another key, another way to get this day ended. "Y'ello? Sir?"

The lock clicked automatically as it creaked for her to open it. "Sir, the project. I want to know –

"Whoa!" She shielded her eyes. "Does Rose deal with you mooning people in the buff? Please tell me you didn't order room service!"

He chuckled and pulled his robe back on. "Got to get tougher skin on you, Annie. What did you really want to ask me."

Anna exhaled as the nightmare ended. She could breathe, good. "About Shoji. Are we…threatening him? Ah, I mean. I'm all for sending that mutt to the afterlife….but could it be a trick?"

"The key is just a set of numbers that unlock a threat to our client. Project Daylight sounds incomplete to me. They barely even gave it much fanfare." He leaned over to grab a tablet by the bed. Anna stood straight as a pin, the robe not being formally tied to stay the way she preferred it. Otherwise, she'd strangle the man to it. He had to stop –

She blushed. He raised a brow and looked up. "Anna?"

"Yes! S- s- sorry! Rose is doing some work by binocu…she's taking her time surveying for the next job…" Anna stuttered. He was coming over, shit! What did she do to make him curious? Did Aiden deal with this man on that last time they'd bumped shoulders? (arc where Aiden and Raku go to Tokyo. Slade ends up saving both in a free fall out of a plane.)

"Your father flinched too, it's fine." He pulled away. "You're working with trained killers. You should never have to let down your guard –

He flicked her on the nose with a smile that held no eye teeth to it. She flinched, but he had to dryly chuckle a bit. "See? Just light Grayson. Too trusting. Don't be." His eyes narrowed a bit as his frame receded from the door. "If I turned on you, would you pull the trigger only then? Get real, kid. No matter what you expect this job to seem like…the danger still follows. Your dad can tell you –

"Why are you so obsessed with talking about my father?" Anna sputtered absentmindedly, to Slade.

"Did you two, have a thing going that I should know about – because the apprentice time line for him isn't me. I stick around to keep my "Fire" as you call it…" She held up air quotes to him as he crossed his arms at her. Hopefully, the robe would stay bound to his torso. Dumbass. "And, because I hate how Astarte made me trust her way of killing. It was…. just sneaky and I didn't engage. She almost –

"Used you? Didn't appreciate all you did? She would have had you promoted had you stayed, but it was better to go rogue. That's the trouble with keeping yourself in line when you have a country to serve." Slade shook his head. "You know I cared enough to step in then, but now. Now, the favor was both of us to have what we wanted. You get a proper way to control as you said, that fire. I have an extended warranty for life for a time – by Autur's decree if it passes. That's all this is. A transaction."

"But, it's not! You're trying to see me like Rose, but Rose even said it. You still hang onto comparing me to my dad. It's…What is he? I heard you saved his life."

Slade let a breath go through his nose. "Do you really want to know, my dear?"

"Let loose." She leaned into the door, not moving a step. "I want to know what you owe each other. Why I'm the one you decided to train to tick him off, and where this is going once I even graduate. Or, if you intend to make me stick around a bit longer. Like him."

/

So, this has layers. Like onions! Love that comparison. Genius! Ok! So, the reason for Anna being gutsy around Slade is…. complicated history.

In my older arcs on gallivanting knights; Richard is saved by Slade with the serum while it is a tie in with Red infinity chapters arc of Nightwing first running off to Blud to work for Spyral. It's complicated. Then, before that in "court of owls family arc" I did, that was the prequel and Slade was saved by dick so later in the one shot, he is saved in turn and Slade promises to be a sort of godfather from afar to Dick's kids. Why? This is because of Roku's influence to get to Aiden and release himself as it stated in New years; parts one and two arcs!

After Slade finds out about the kids having powers, he steps in to set Anna on a path that he seeks to control for her benefit (firebird is dangerous and unpredictable.) Anna sticks around because she doesn't like how Astarte or Sara Santiago had her preordained as a sacrifice in her special unit for metas. Anna felt that if she had stayed a subordinate to Sara and Nina , even as a higher rank than her peers, she would have lost a part of her humanity which Slade pointed out "Astarte is a war goddess that doesn't care for human life like you think, so if you stay by me, I can prevent your anger from taking over. Help you regain some control and you only have to stay by me when I call you to action. You also will get this collar that is for metas, but it might help! So, on board or is this NOT your choice?"

In other words, he mentally screwed her up to trust his way of thinking even if that means being a special ops gal with a mercenary as her boss. Her code name is " Fire Starter " and she retains her Tamaranean powers to fuse with her firebird gift when she needs to give her team the upper hand on a mission like we saw in this chapter. She found out in the last arc; I did that because in the last arc before this one, Slade was using his good deed to be granted favor for saving the spirit realm by Autur - who is seen as a lioness chibi goddess (since she never fully returned to her true form.) She is a deal maker and she scrutinized from the beginning helping humans like the Chosen kids in their endeavors. She is very close to Isa Rothschild or Queen Isis of Ancient Egypt's plane. Both protect the " golden dawn' s power" (Aiden) and claim that the first chosen was Horus by rite.

On to Shoji and his working as a genius/ sociopath. Takahara Shoji was not a good person originally as the dog came to be returned to his form as Verra and stopped Veronica from causing the return of Lord Roku in the mid – late 90s time hopping they did. I did an alt - time line but it was never finished. Will put that in here soon. His aspect Verra resembles Umbreon from the very first arc I did. Takahara before Veronica ate him up ( old arcs) was a big time CEO's son with horrible karma and Shoji took his body to literally become him! He now does good by way of alchemy and owns Takahara Corp in Shinjuku.

Veronica Bethel was tricked by Lilith to go with her after a mysterious illness took away her entire family. Her sister was spared by Baphomet and was recovered half as a fae to watch over the great mystery and protect the sacred words of the horned deity from Lilith. Sadly, Lilith took control and the God was made weak enough for her power to grow. Veronica was turned into a demoness and so, that was why Verra (the fact Lilith also attacked his mother and father in Ancient India of spirit world) kind of hate one another. After his mother who was possibly not human at all had her son cursed by his own birth and protected from his power of darkness, Roku made a split version of the dog as Verra. ( Prince Veravakumu returned to the temple of his homework to control his inner daemon when it got out of line in older arcs.)

He is related to the elemental daemon or spirit guides that are as for now …

Aria of the southern isles (Mediterranean mother and poss Kaien was the daddy. We'll never know but I think it was Nereus .) Her aspect is a blue bird of paradise that is more so a smaller Articuno and is not normally spoken about in context a lot. She is a siren and has an alter self on earth as Andrea Grotto.

Vespa : Israeli and Italian descent: former war dog who has similar dark powers as Veravakumu. Her aspect (I base off of eevee evolutions except for Aria) is Espion . She comes from the same realm as Ravenna of Asterion in previous arcs, and she was reborn on earth to be a guardian that later took on Lord Chronos's reaper role in the underworld. She and Veravakumu are rivals since he was once chosen and also rejected the role as Chronos's student. Vespa is a bit younger but bold, gutsy and has a temper that can cause things to go south like her power over shadows and darkness.

Kaien : Incarnation of current mortal guise, Solario or Apollon . Works under gods of his order of the Solaris sect. These included Athena but she became corrupted by the want for too much order and Lilith tampered with the gods like virus until…well, you see this in previous arcs. Solario or Apollo is an in-between for the Universal order or realm of existence. Here we can find that the very last two are the cosmic and infinite realms or beings. These will be shown in the last arc with Raku and Ava. (Sun and moon Rhapsody arc is still finishing up!) Kaien, on earth is a fashion design executive in Roma and a bit of a flashy chauvinist with a drunken uncle complex. He is very close with Nina and Isa, whom he is too kind to and they've outright told him to back off. He also is devoted to Catalina Daia Crescendo of her sect in the Vatican where she oversees order there. She is kept there forever almost immortal and cannot leave. Like a Saint underground making the world turn. Solario is devoted to her through the Solaris sect and has even helped Aiden to gain control of his golden dragon abilities of the golden dawn. It is a show of no matter how backwards his plight, he's still there for those he cares to know.

Kelihatan or Kayumon (Calumon) is used as his aspect Raku cured him with. His other form is similar to Renamon's; Kyubimon. (I am a big Tamers season two fan of the series Digimon. 90s chick!) He's careful around new situations and a warrior with cloud magic that can cause rain, he can levitate and transform at will if his magic is grounded. On earth too long, his powers become easily corrupted so that tells a lot of how vulnerable he is compared to his relatives. To a degree.

He is the eldest son of Sayumon , a youbi fox spirit (unless spelling is wrong but culturally the origin of Kayu is in Indonesia so he is a cousin of Verra and younger by a fee gens) that made it to a nine tailed God - hood before she ended up getting feral due to Lilith and Roku's intervention in the past. Like a virus, she went nuts and tried to break through and attack earth as it was being pulled into another reality. She has helped wood and air spirit BaoShi Lan and continues to aid the order of the Eternal realm as her forever time out from being reinstated as a Celestial realm orderly. She was stripped of her post but is quick and sly. Waiting as a spider waits for its next meal, all while trying to get on the case of…

Ronald or Ron; Kayu's younger half-brother who has the aspect of lightening as Jolteon or the thunder and lightning god of japan (Kayu is thunder and he is lightning. It's a thing they fight over as vassals of their elements.) He is currently an Australian while Kayu is New Zealand and from the UK since he works as a post there in hid human guise as a diplomats (Sayu's) son doing her dirty work. Ron was formerly a bit of a rock star type of athletic muse, but now he's a deep thinker and wants to help Aiden and his family as much as possible when he's not our touring. He and Vespa tease each other as cousins but she hates Verra because their powers clash and family's histories. He is very close with her (otherwise, no slash!)

Esme and Cliff in Portugal : Esme is a nereid with higher birth than Aria who is the vain siren's rival. She and Cliff have a brother sister complex with her aspect being Vaporeon and hos being Leafeon . They were told originally that they were vassals of Bacchus and Aphrodite , yet that spot was taken and the Bacchus thing only takes from the fact that even of high pedigree. However, in earlier arc, the two siblings do an appearance and Esme sings within clubs in the city of Lisbon out of the eye of her father. They don't say who he is in other arcs but he is a powerful figure. Richard out does Cliff whose power is over earth, in a fencing match that makes it so they will form an alliance in previous arcs. The two act as look outs for danger and are close to Kaien, who never says if Esme is his kid or not. He's another one…Cliff is constantly trying to keep his sister complex at bay but the others already pointed it out as a joke. He is a DJ and works well in athletics, and Raven met him much earlier when running from Trigon before meeting the Titans. Esme is warm, cheerful and a true lady which is why the flamboyant Aria hates her so much even out of respect.

Sten Andersson: The later gen of dog elementals, his aspect is Glacion and Sten is a part of Sweden as his home – his parents have a high rank in the political field and he is about 19 give or take. He is almost kuudere, and Klara from Hungary is his teammate.

Klara in Hungary (Her inspiration was a younger Marina from her type of music. She is an artist that has more humanitarian want in her country, her doggie aspect being Sylveon . She was even recognized as the trust vassal of Aphrodite . She is very close to Sten and tries to make sure he does not close himself off too much to others. She has a similar personality to the older Esme. Esme is small and petite, yet Klara is still young and learning to recognize her gifts.

Abeni from Africa in the modern day: Abeni is the daughter and head to a village that has been starting to pick up after the incidents with the dragon Roku . She is headstrong and her motto is to work strong, work wisely with the times. She is reluctant to keep looking back and often criticizes others of her rank as the element of spirit in a way. Her dog aspect is Eeevee . She is never seen in this form often and tries to keep her people and their society without too much need. She is familiar with Ami and the others since the great infection in earlier arcs.

Cybele from NYC : She is a college freshman who is not yet acquainted with the goddess of prophecy that is her granted guardian as she overcomes obstacles. The first to be chosen as a guardian elemental that does not possess an animal aspect. She has the power to move earth as well, such as the deity she works with. She is a true-blue new Yorker that hates when chaos rages into town. She protected the world with the heroes before. Being human and just like Ami, chosen, she has a lot to understand about her role.

So, that is what I got. The arc here will interweave with timelines in previous arcs so read all in order or as you can. Find out more soon!