Teen Titans; New Gen Presents – Tokyo Knights –

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Chapter 8: Shrine and Sanctuary

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This one is longer and will involve multiple timeliness, flashbacks and backstories and ….beef with Verra. The usual!

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They were cornered; yet Raku had thrown the enemy some ammo. Ami was unaware of Veronica, only Ami's mother, the titans and guardians knew of such an enigmatic person.

~I…don't know what you are talking…. ~ Ageha's eyes then were instantly glued. With a gracious bow, Jorogumo knew him. Saturday looked on, feeling the same awe as the demons that had once respected the red lord.

~My lord! I see you have returned and…your body –

"He's going through reverse puberty, lov." John said to the evil youkai. "While it's all well and good to gather information on our opponents, now really isn't the time for that."

~ Iyori…and that boy is…. oh, my gods! ~ The ears of Saturday reverted with his full-fledged jinn body. ~ I knew you would come! I just knew –

~This is unnecessary! Lady Jorogumo, we have what we came to –

~Put down the girl, Lady Ageha – san. ~

~ My lad –

~ DO IT.~

Ageha was shattered. There had to be a reason. Maybe, she had another plan. ~We shall take our leave, and whence I do desire to leave my mark on that child's body, ~ Her demon's eyes led back to Ami, who flinched. ~ I shall take my prize; the last of the Abe clan cannot hide forever from being my sacrifice. Farewell –

~ No! ~ Aya leaped up as Ageha relinquished her curse unto the grasshopper's body. Sniffing cruelly at the two, how happy they were, the butterfly woman vanished through a hole in the web that was a vortex made by Jorogumo's last leave. For now…

Aya caught the sickly pale princess as she held her close and tried not to weep at her shortcomings. ~ I'm sorry…. Iyori- sama…. I will not leave you again…please, stay with me….~

~ Let her soul be ripe and tender upon the next hunt…. little miko. ~

Ami was set free as the train and everything finally moved to the pace of a human world, not a demonic one. The train though, had not conductor. John and Saturday went over to the controls. "We have to stop the train. Can anyone contact the station? What time is it now without the spell up, lad…. lad?"

Raku was looking out at the vortex as it vanished. "I know it was her, I'm not –

"Raku!" Kaede called out. "We cannot crash, you have to stop groveling and help your teacher. Ami is fine, we will be as well."

She gulped while Raku did as he was told, her words grumbled lastly.

"I hope…"

/

Hisao, Yumi, Shoji, Jacks and Sun Woo waited. Shoji scratched his head, pacing. Hisao had a smoke, or ten. Sun Woo was staring down the track and squinting at the fog that had mysteriously lifted. "This is where the dang message came outta, right?" Jackie asked the detectives. "You have some idea about who took that case from under you?"

"Not entirely, shoujo- c –

"Call me Jackie – Ann." The teen redirected. "The person fighting your villain right now is my best friend and we're together. So it has to go right, or I get to bother you while I'm here for a while month."

"A month??" Shoji and Yumi both explained in unison. "Y – you have classes, right?"

"Break, and I got an extended time frame to do my courses online."

"Right, you are a grade ahead of Ami." Shoji rubbed the back of his neck. "How long until? Ami's going to a school that may not let –

"You can pull some strings, pup. And they can't say no if I can get their security up to date. I heard about that school in the mountains. She wouldn't stop blabbing about being nervous about going so I pushed her to try it out."

"You…are close." Sun Woo blinked as he tried again to see if Jackie was that influential with his own mortal eyes. "She must be fortunate to have such a good girlfriend."

Hisao sputtered out his cigarette. "Y – you…you didn't say that."

"I said we were together; that normal for people like us. She is just really all over the place, so it's a good thing –

"Incoming call!!"

Yumi shouted out as a sound of fire made their ears thru.

"Hello?"

Jackie bopper over to the call where Yumi was waiting on Kaede or someone to pick up.

~ No more fog! Yay…. but I need Yumi. Yumi – san! We have to ask you….to freeze the tracks….! The stupid controls were busted by La –

~ Mainly by the enemy. The captives are rescued. The enemy was a youkai and we cannot -

~ Iyori – chan??~

~ My allies are correct about mostly what they said. Yumi? You are the guardian of this teenager? She is correct. If you have magic over ice, please use it quickly. This is a screaming metal machine and it will not stop on its own! ~

"Ami!" Jacks shouted through the line. "You use whatever fluff – ball magic you got. I'm not leaving until we get you outta that wreck."

~ J – Jackie?? I thought we had next week –

"I heard you were in trouble, again." Accused the African American seventeen-year-old prodigy. "Did you check the main break? It may be a bullet train, but it has to have an old fashioned one or a shut down. We're going to the station controls."

~ YOU CAN'T! IT WAS RIPPED UP BY A DEMON! JUST FREEZE IT, PLEASE TRUST ME! THIS ISN'T SOMETHING SCIENCE CAN FIX FOR ONCE! ~

Jackie's mouth fell open. "Ams…. you…. fine. we'll do it the fun way. Yumi?"

"I am ready. On the tracks. How far?"

~ Right before where the end is, the platform. We'll be around in ten minutes. Give or take…~ Ami nervously looked to her party. ~ Kazuya says to increase…. what? Why that? He said to increase your aim at the track itself. ~

"That could make y'all flip over! Tell em –

~ He said it will undo the curse on the train cars. I'm serious, Jackie. Let me do my job...We'll be there soon. ~

"Ami…. fine. we got this."

Yumi nodded and Sun Woo huddled away from the platform. "Ready? Get frosty for our girl."

/

Dick was able to get a taxi to the station, ywt Kazuya had told him to run into the Kobe line and two hours in, he saw something on the next track.

A bullet train on the fritz as through the train window, he could have sworn…

"She didn't! Damn it! Can't this thing go any faster??"

/

Raku and John tried to keep the cursed hell train from breaking the speed limit. Raku however, was still thinking about that red headed replica of his double's old follower

"Chin up, lad. We still have a job to finish 'er."

"But, this impossibly. Then we can't go anywhere until Ageha and Jorogumo are sent to trial in the spirit world!"

"Why are you working up a sweat about a woman, mate? Is she that important to you?"

"I practically raised her, as Roku…. even those demons saw the old me! You saw? I could trick them to find out if she reincarnated. What do I do? Veronica wasn't…. she died trying to escape Lilith. To stop me…"

"That was the old you, mate. This is the present. We'll find her, sure. Right now, a lot of these fine Japanese riders are looking to get off at their designated stop. They missed the past one, days ago."

"How much longer?" Aya called to Kazuya as he had her eye while she stood back, gawking and pointing. "Y- you! I know your face from Iyori's school's textbooks! You –

"Later, Oujou – san…~" He sung slightly in his tone, telling her not to give his good title away so quickly. She sputtered and had trouble understanding but Iyori was ill from the dark magic of this place. She had to go back there to fix things…. hopefully, not upset her bosses.

"How is Iyori?" Ami leaned over with a pitying gaze onto her classmate. "She's just like poor Haru – nee."

"They were infected by the aura of the demons on this train. The lackeys are gone. We have no leads…. again, she has called to war her kind again this world." Aya gritted her jaw. "Kaede said you fought like a God to get to us." Ami said while Aya…she looked up to see a sunflower in her midst. "Ami – chan?"

"We are in good hands! Yumi is the daughter of an elemental relic so she can't miss. Hang on! We have –

Ami looked back as her eyes spied another train car going right beside them.

"D- daddy!!??"

/

The screeching gears of the bullet train were magnetic. Jackie got go the control room and banged on the door. The first person to come there spoke fluent Japanese, so Hisao stepped in, surprising the already pretty fluent teenager. ~

~ Mōshiwakearimasenga, sekkin suru ressha ni kinkyū jitai ga hassei shite imasu. Ressha o sono tonari de teishi shite itadaki, ressha o okuraseru hitsuyō ga arimasu. Daijōbudesu. Watashi wa Tōkyō no keikan de, kono jiken wa kanren shite imasu. Okuraseru koto wa dekimasen.~

(Pardon us, we have to report an emergency with the oncoming train. We must ask that you stop the train beside it and ajytrains must be delayed. it's alright. I'm an officer from Tokyo and this case is connected. We cannot delay.)

The station master here nodded, their eyes steady and reliable as they spoke quicker than Jackie could rant on a good day.

~ Wakarimashita, keikan-san? Dō yatte shitta nodesu ka? Ressha wa sudeni chika sugimasu. Eki ni haitte sugu ni tometara, ōten suru kanōsei ga arimasu. Tonari no ressha ni tsuite wa nantoka dekimasu.~

(Understood, officer? How are you aware? The train is too close already. If we stop it this soon into the station, it could cause it to turn over. The train beside it we can do something about.) ( I am making this sound true, but it could be in its speed as a possible issue, he's saying.)

Jackie stayed by Hisao, as the movement was made.

The train car being stalled and the intercom going on, was on Dick Grayson's railway ride.

The jolt and the voice above his head was not a good thing.

AAconductor cane out as the entire car, cane to a full stop.

Richard's eye started to twitch at the timing.

Damn. It.

"Jōkyaku no minasan,-eki yori, jiko ni yori tōchaku ga okureru mune no tsūchi ga arimashita. Taihen mōshiwakegozaimasen ga, koko kara eki made sutaffu ga aruite go an'nai itashimasu. Toho de nokori yaku 2-mairudesu."

The other passengers looked distressed as Richard found a door once it had opened. He began to run with only one bag and his muscles burning to find out if he was too late.

" Okyakusama! Okyakusama, seki ni suwatta mama de ite kudasai! Junbi-chūdesu! Oi!"

They didn't come after him as people watched the half serum user, use his speed to get as far as he could to that platform. His daughter was in danger abd his papa bear senses had not stopped ringing all damned day. Even Anna should have cut off work to be here. This wasn't a joke.

The man's Bluetooth went off as he entered the link.

"Yes?"

~ You know where she's going to end up, correct? ~

"Kazuya…then, you??"

~ In the flesh. It's my job to keep the future deity's charge in working order. ~

Dick knew that fox had to be grinning at him just finding out who was behind those signals. Directions. He was directing Dick to come here. Psychically.

"You are going to tell me…" Huffed the messy faced papa bear. "I'm coming, Ami !!!"

/

Raku waited and tried to remember his nerves. He meditate until Saturday tapped the former king on his timid shoulder. "Raku? Do you recall? I was in the dune capital as well. I was on the youth squadron for those training under Lord Abi."

Raku gasped. "You…you're like me then…how? You are alive, but the djinn I know don't exist anymore!"

"I thought the exact same! What a tragedy….but you and I are here now! We even have our own masters –

"Actually, Saturday right?"

"My cover." Winked the bishonen daemon. "I'm full blooded djinn, but you seem wary, my friend. Why is this?"

"I'M….ONLY HALF DJINN…AND HUMAN…!" Raku blurted out, the shock on Saturday's face worried Ami as she didn't have the ability to get to the seventeen year old in time. "I…chose not to take on Azag's seat yet. I'm trying to fortify my magic to protect others as a guardian. My contracted and I are family, and I wear no shackles in the same manner as my kind…I'm sorry. What you see of me here, is someone who has little desire to –

"All well and good, but could we focus on the plan here??" Please!" Kaede barked. "We're going to crash if that ice block won't stay exactly –

"Yumi is a sure shot! She won't fail, Kaede."

"Ami…it's not about her aim." The fox frowned. "She needs her full power. It's like stopping a missed, not a train. The more force it welds by velocity, we have to counter it ten – fold. Which means…"

"She has to reveal her real identity…poor Yumi…she can erase their minds, right?"

"Is there another with them? I heard or felt the energy of a black dog." Aya wondered to the team. "He's harmless." Kazuya didn't look the least bit concerned as Kaede growled his way. "Shoji is here?? What did you do, Inari – done?? Who else did you contact behind our backs??"

/

This

….close. …

Another call??

Dick panted and opened the link.

"Kori….pant….bad time….call you back –

~ Dick!~

She would call him, rave and rant. Ami had to be safe. He picked up his speed again, no water and didn't stop. "I…AM …OUT..

OF ….

SHAPE???

GAH !!"

Rose was right. He FELT like forty – something, alright!

Time to lay off the crocky crunch….and late night coffee shop trips….

/

The icy maiden revealed herself, raiment and all as the people all gwked at the glorious cosplayer. Some tried to sbap photos, but Shoji dimmed their screens to black woth a snap of hos fingers. "Go, we have time."

Yumi.nodded and lifted herself in midair freezing the tracks as the car was not far along.

"THIRTY…..SECONDS…..TWENTY EIGHT…"

Hisao watched from their box as Jackie counted out in Japanese well beyond his imagining of her abilities,

"Come on…..wait…..wait a sec! Who is that??"

On the side of the track, running like a complete bozo in line with the screeching machine, was Dick Grayson. "AMIII!!"

"Oh….no…..Uncle Richie!! Get off the damn tracks!! You're gonna! –

He did stop to turn out to the platform as his feet bled through his shoes by the looks of that animated , exaggerated sprint. "Wha- Dick –

"SHOJI!!! GET MY KID OUT OF THAT CATASTROPHIC MECHANISM OR SO HELP ME, YOU ARE GETTING SUED FOR OBJECTING A MINOR TO –

"DONE!"

Yumi called out while Divk had Shoji by the scruff. "She's here, come take a look –

"AMI!!" Dick wailed as the carrot doors were chopped open by Aya and Kaede. "Free…dom…." Saturday gasped. "I couldn't breathe at all! The passengers are ok, friends!"

Raku looked to see cheering eyes, faces abd some a bit skeptical as he hid behind John. "Can we go back to London soon? I'm too weak to keep up this act…"

Raku did faint, and thankfully John was there. Sun Woo and Hisao watched them as the boy was joined by Kazuya who let a prop from his Swinton shrine days put everyone in a trance for a moment. "It us time to forget what they saw here today. It was a normal malfunction, nothing more."

The station all had the spell cast, all but Hisao and Sun Woo who were granted pardon along with Dick, Jackie, Yumi and the few that did understand what had gone on here today.

Dick was busy smothering Haru and Ami, who had been holding the tinier fox to see if she would wake.

"We are not done here." Aya broke the silence. "They will be at rest for too long. We must travel to Kyoto. To the shrine…if a former master Onmyouji."

/

Another train, another feeling if failure as the ones to part were Hisao, Dick and Sun Woo with Shoji and Yumi taking Jackie back to Tokyo even when she insisted to stick by her miko – goddess girlfriend.

As harsh if a plea as it was, it was refused.

"The train ride to Kyoto won't be soon enough." Shoji looked over the schedule before he decided it best to transport via teleportation. "This crystal is a prototype." He handed a strange looking comm unit with a gem encrusted into it. No, wait. "It pops out?" She asked, pointing at the test run device. "These crystals have alchemical properties to help you out against that new enemy. We'll do our own research, so be sure to not lose those. I'm trusting you, Ami – chan."

"Thank you, Uncle Shoji!!' She beamed as her sixteen-year-old self was instantly ten again. "We won't be forever. Aya said that the Dairenji shrine is in Kyoto. Her great grandfather is the head priest of it. He…might be able to help Iyori – chan."

"Keep in contact, and don't worry about your dad and Jackie. I'll keep them entertained until you finish up. Head back to the school and we'll all meet you. Promise." His wrinkled smile was just like her dad's or Grandpa Wayne's old photos. Did he get a few ages back from the Lazarus pit though? She had to wonder.

(She is talking about Batman, still looking amazing.)

They all waved goodbye as Ami explained the crystals and they were made active. A spinning vortex was missed as the group entered. In hopes that none could find them, or…that no one else watching.

/

In the deepest hollow place, Jorogumo had a spider spy crawl up her arm as she took the message. The back of Ageha's wings – as Ageha right now was being treated as a footstool for her lack of discretion, she saw Ami childishly sweet abd charmed by the fact she had a new toy. Well, there was a chance she wouldn't.

~ Kyoto in my power is a bit far…I'll send my soldiers to see to the view of our Iyori regaining her powers. I can't wait to dig into a new opportunity to tarnish the line of Abe…~

~ Y- yes…. Lady…. Jorogumo! ~

The gator faced worms; who were actually Ageha's dumb underlings, all looked on and scratched their heads. The one that had been allowed to speak from before did, making a scene without even trying.

~ Um, sorry my ladies….we want to know about the sun goddess. Is she not a danger? And that boy God! He us not like the stories –

~ He won't try to be, my dears.~ Jorogumo said to her subjects. ~ Lord Roku is hiding from the world. It is up to his kindred spirit to bring the red lord to his new domain. Where we might revel in man's obedience. Abe – no – Seimei pushed me out….Edo should never have been lost to the gods if the east. Lord Roku restrained them, made sure that none of our customs were changed. He created the first barrier against western influences and even made sure to do the same with his ungrateful children. If Iyori is not an enemy but I source of power to make Japan what it once was and for I to rule her lands – then, we must find a way to seek out our catalyst in doing so. Lady Ageha!~

The spider let go her whimpering fool of a lackey. ~ Yes my Lady !~

~ You are to infiltrate the place of solace that is the Sand Djinn son's feeble mind. If he wishes to evade us, use THAT act to subdue him. Use his current fears to keep him bound to us.~

~ He is…is in… London! Or…or will be…should I change my –

~ Don't ask anything like that of your future Empress.~ Snorted the spider. ~ Go, gather wombat you must fir us to be truly successful in taking over this country and its citizens. I want to be the first to taste the fear of this country's leaders. They will beg for me to take what is rightfully mine! Lord Seimei's child will be in my throws, and the goddess miko successor will become powerless!!~

/

Jackie wasn't there and Ami didn't get to tell her that she was sorry for being the way she had to be…

Haru was curled up this time on Kaede's lap. She had her head in her palm as the train took them to the Shinto shrine belonging to Iyori's ancestors. Iyori was over by Aya who had reverted to her tall, green haired model status. Kaede was across from the spirit protector. Other than what she sensed of their stances, they seemed to be communicating telepathically. Ami watched as Saturday rested and pit himself in a sort of autopilot mode for them all to know he'd strike at no short a notice. Who was he? Ami had questions, yet she say back and pulled out her phone. They got reception out here. But….

She sighed again and put it away, not seeing that Kazuya had appeared to bug her.

" Kazuya?? What's up…." She sheepishly asked and ducked her head down a bit. "What about my dad and Uncle Shoj?..."

"They can handle one another fine. I'm actually here to speak to an old friend. This shrine goes back generations to the line of the Abe. They of course were nearly overshadowed by the Dairenji, yet I keep an eye on both parties from my post as Inari from time to time."

"So….why is that queen of spiders after Iyori? She just fainted from its dark magic before we even got to talk…I hope wherever it is we're headed…" Sighed Ami as she looked out the window a minute. "That whoever your friend is, they can save her and help Haru…she was affected and I felt like o couldn't fight as hard as I have against other demons."

"She is strong and her powers might not be so easy to lessen." Kazuya agreed, Jorogumo had her warped reasons for coming back.

"You will be better prepared to counter the attacks of these rogue youkai. I am hoping to send a report on your progress to Tomori – chan!~ " He had changed to a doting figure with flowers by his eyes at her name. "The director of our school?" Ami exclaimed. "You will not hold out on us, I know you have some stakes in this mission – dad said he heard you talking to him!"

"Was that me?" Inari played dumb as Ami growled under her breath at the kitsune god. "You got everyone here, because you knew who –

"I did not." The god admitted. "It was. A hunch, is all. Raku sensed another entity I think calling to him, and I believe it was of his own kind that John came along. Ami's savior or whoever sent the message is among you." Kazuya smiled and got up to see what Saturday had to say. "We'll chat again, some other time." He bowed his head and left Ami to her thoughts.

/

Likely, the rest of the crew had been shucked off to Ami's magic school in the mountains of Osaka. The dog had to clear up a lot, but the rest after would fall onto the director to badger the guardian – and Ami's father had tagged along.

That , was going to be a trouble to look forward to.

"Heh….how long have we been doing these meet ups, Dick? Remember when I crashed your place at the tower as Verra? That was –

"Shoji." Dick stomped ahead as the door to the school stood at the top of a tall helping of steps

"Be quiet and…Let me play my part."

Shoji didn't know how angry Duck wasn't…

After the disaster on earth less than a year ago.

The big reveal that Dick would be fostering Raku.

That Ava had a shut down and he was neglectful to her needs.

Or that Anna could burn down the whole world if she got pissed!

Verra was HIS catalyst of all that chaos. Roku's old forbidden story books held nothing to the dog's deal making with the spirit world while the Grayson kids slept, unaware.

"Did Yumi find out –

"She said same. Jackie went after you and you talked to Kazuya, or no?"

"Not, sure what you are trying to-

"Are you two talking about Ami's ability while I'm not involved right now??"

"Oh!"

The first person to run and find the pair was a short teen wkth two dark braides and a set of owlish glasses atop her nose. She looked to be greeting them as she bowed over. "Takahara- san. Miss Tomori will be glad to see you."

"Aoi, we are. Will you see us in, this is actually extremely urgent that we talk."

"Ah, of course! Your contributions are always appreciated as well as your visits. Did you bring this person to speak as well?" Aoi asked, her age no more than seventeen. As old as Raku but a bit more mature due to her mortal status. His was still technically borderline immortal if you squinted long enough.

"He us one of the student's parents that we have to talk to Miss Tomori about today. He also has something to ask us both about the school's curriculum."

"Oh, of course…..Mr….."

"Grayson." Dick told the teen as she took in the name carefully, working out each syllable.

"Guray- son…Mr…."

" Arigato Gozaimasen." Dick bowed. "I must speak to Director Tomori before she heads out of her office. My daughter's future is at stake."

/

"Uh…unfortunately….." Aoi looked at her wrist watch and then to Dick's face apologetically. "Miss Tomori has already left for today. I can leave a message since I am one of the assistants here for the –

"When can we meet her in person." Dick jumped in, standing back as to not make poor Aoi nervous. "Tomorrow? Will shall be ok with that? My daughter-

"You…have a similar face as her, I see it." Aoi gasped. "GRAYSON!" She clapped her hands together and smiled. "She is a very bright person, Mr. Grayson. Ami – chan is a all of sunshine and nothing more would be –

"She's gone to Kyoto with a classmate of hers." Shoji told the teen. "As my own charge at this time, Ami was not supposed to go on any trips this long. But she has a responsibility. I know, so does Tomori. Will she be back by tomorrow. We can all meet, right here. Is that enough to leave for her, Aoi – chan?"

The glasses on her nose shifted as the girl nodded, serious in making sure the family was reunited by the time the mission was over with. "She was with Dairenji Iyori – san. Then, Kyoto is where Iyori's family shrine is! Is she ok? She was always weak around strong forces due to her gift. Many mediums have this inability to always deflect psychic attacks. I'm not a summoner, but I do work with potions and archery. They are what make me want to help my class in any way that I can. We do wonderful work here, so yes." Aoi bobbed her head and swerved towards the doorway of another office down the hall. "I will make sure she sees you as soon as Ami us home with us by tomorrow afternoon."

A lot of the other miko in training and priests were divided on Shoji. Dick was…normal in a way as they stared at the two men while Dick thought about all that he'd missed on being a part of. "You didn't lie to me, you knew she was going."

"I thought Tomori wouldn't have any issues. The case was just for data and Ami.is one tough cookie. She reminds me of Alicia when we lived in this city. She was still out at might, hunting after those trying to take her memory of the time she had left…but Lisa is looking out for that princess. Heard they are on tour , solo career ended for a bit."

"She and Aiden are still a couple. Long distance, but so far no throwing things against the wall. His course us starting up again in a few weeks. Right now, he's working in Kori's studio to make some money for his place you gave him. How's that working out?" Dick turned to the dog as they reached the steps. "He is fine there. Raku stays with John a lot more often and he told me the kid kind of backed off when Lisa got serious. He feels pushed away, and I hate that it's not how he really feels."

Dick tried to remember that Raku was gay, but quiet and reserved so much about his affection for Aiden that it drive him to tears all the time. Aiden had already said no, but this was Raku's real first love and he couldn't try to get loose from his feelings. "He's still learning what being human and in love can be like. He rejects that and of course he'd hate himself for trying to bottle it all up. I was like that when Kori asked if I still had a thing fir Babs. Thankfully, we made sure to cool off in time to think things through. I love her, we didn't just have kids together. We made something bigger than ourselves and Raku, no matter how much he thinks helse wrong for getting in to our lives and staying there, he made it happen ny helping us wrote those stories. We can still look forward to chatting he, and maybe one day…Raku we understand what that feels like. If he decides to stay abd become a guardian of Earth and his family here. He has a choice. It's tough –

"What about the serum, Dick."

Shoji stopped the other male as Dick rubbed his neck and wondered too, "I ran as fast as any father with altered cell damage could. I'm not going to waste my time trying to catch up if I can do it –

"You weren't, that wasn't the serum at work. Not all of it."

Dick looked up, wide eyed. "Do you mean….Raku??"

"I don't know. It could be a bit of his influence from them activated because of the serum. It's an interesting thought. I could run an analysis if you want to try out that idea. Any objections?"

"None. If this is the serum and it's different because of Roku changing how it worked back then, then some of his influence is still inside of me. I had no clue…what about the kids??" Dick exclaimed to Shoji. "THAT was how they got to keep their powers. They all had s part of Raku's alter's DNA!"

/

So, stopping @ this.

Dick is falling into his thwarted bro mance with Verra.

Ami wants to know how Kazuya was possibly suspect in having collected her family and allies in one place, subliminally somewhat.

Aya is struggling because her charge got hurt on her watch.

Kaede is worried because the grasshopper spirit Aya is acting like she did when first meeting Ami. She wants to know why this all occurred in the first place.

Kazuya is testing his group to see what's what. He is also very familiar with an association he runs that is connected to Ami's school. Find out more in next chapter!

Raku thinks he saw Veronica's face in Ageha's so he panics until Saturday starts gushing over how Raku used to be big news in the world the boy grew up later in with Lord Azag and Abi. Later back story.

Iyori is related to the Abe no Seimei and Jorogumo wants to devour her heart and body to gain more power because of her abilities as the last cursed child of the Abe line. The group is headed to Kyoto where a shrink of Abe no Seimei is located and that will be listed as well, later.

Ageha is sent to spy and subdue by manipulating Raku to awaken hid old self up. Jorogumo wants to use Raku to help her bring back old edo, but is that even possible?? And why??

Tomori kept her reasons to herself but had no idea of Jorogumo being the culprit in that train hijacking by a spider demon God.

If this is the case, what happens next? Find out!! Abd Anna will be up next in her big mission. …read on!