Teen Titans Presents Tokyo Knights - Chapter 9, a cartoon x-overs fanfic

Teen Titans New Gen Presents – Tokyo Knights –

Chapter 9: Sacred Storm – Scattered Walkways

This is where things speed up again. Don't wait up! Reference for the Inari shrine and Kyoto and the Seimei shrine may be a bit condensed. This is all for the fun of it so feel free to point out any flaws!

Kaede snapped open her eyes as Ami sat in her seat, drooling away as the others and Saturday must have been on this train –

Train! The shrine!

"I –

She turned to see the fox god and he was smiling, holding a pose as she flung herself at the shyster.

"HEY! What gives??"

"It wasn't enough to keep you down long, was it?" Inari chuckled and turned his slender eyes as his face looked more fox than before. "That shrine you wanted will not be enough to bind a curse to a body again. You will be much safer at dusk in MY temple grounds." Grinned the god. "Come. The stop now, approaches us." He didn't even have to say much as the scream of the track's surface had the group rising to fly off. "Who – what is …our stop! No!" Exclaimed Ami, her eyes darting to the window. "This is all wrong –

"No, It isn't little goddess." Smiled the fox god as he pushed Kaede off, putting out a palm to the doors as the entire craft, halted at his power. A billowing pocket of steam rose up as the doors parted; the woody bamboo just before it did the same. "We would have never made it up to have a cure in time, and this can assure that Iyori is saved before supper."

"Fox…. you did this?" Aya gawked at the entrance. A portal up to his realm. Inari – he was the same! "Why not her grandfather –

"Not enough power there. Here, it is a hot spot of the god's will. My will. I am here to surrender all of my time, so do not tarry." He moved to Aya and pointed to Iyori's motionless form. "Come, this is what she wants. You are her guardian and I know her Grandfather should approve."

"You, never wanted us to go there, is that why you did this?'" Ami walked on as Haru was in her arms, a bundle of white fox fur that nuzzled in close to its family. "What is your goal, Inari?" Ami wanted to hear that he wasn't hurting them, that he had every intention to do the right thing. "As I said, it is to save your friends. The day is leaving, the path will be dark, Come, now." He offered Ami a hand as Kaede tried to come after them. "Ami, he can't…you need to not trust him –

"I have to. We all do." Ami looked at Aya and Saturday's worried faces and at Haru, who was whimpering in pain from the attack she'd suffered. "This place is for foxes, Kaede – chan. I think it should be ok to go and do what he needs us to. For our family, and classmate." She was good and hopeful, yet Kaede did not like Inari for various reasons. In the past, before becoming Amaterasu's serving protector with her sister, there was a time when Inari wandered and had no shrine. He sought knowledge of the stars and even catered to the whims of mere mortals for a price. He had even known her, when she was but a pup and only aware of his true face from beyond the mask of a hermit in those mountains.

Inari, the fox god. She was afraid Ami was either being tested or collectively and unconsciously groomed by a god to later become one too quickly. He was here on behalf of a society that knew this, and she wished since one of meeting her young mistress, that she never had…

Where he walked, foxfire lit and the night started to clasp its hands round them all as overcoats. To the steps of a great temple, and before that, a set of the largest Torii that Ami had ever laid her eyes upon. "Wow….it's amazing! This is all yours?"

"I share it on occasion. The monkey and boar look after things while I am out tending to my, duties. Ami? You will need to stand here, my child. In file with me –

"Wait!" Kaede saw this and panicked. "Ami is not a goddess yet. You can't make her walk in the center of the step. It's –

"She will be fine!" Assured the kitsune lord. "Ami? You can hold Haru – chan, but do so very gently and do not look behind you. Not even at them, they….will walk on either side. And, Saturday?"

"Oh. Yes, kind sir?"

"You are to stay, here." He pointed at the base, unmoving as Aya snapped out at the god's wishes. "Why? You understand that Saturday –

"He is chaos in matter, the bridge between will reject him. You cannot go up, but you may watch here and keep the boars and monkeys, and spiders…." He hinted. "At bay."

The stories told of gods that lived in nature, Raku read from a series of artfully decorated spell books from Ami's world. One had a star upon it and he decided to read who had written the piece. "JOHN!"

The magi slammed back the door to the House of Mystery's library. "Everything alright in here, lad?"

"Yes, come look. This book was written by an astrology professional and, it speaks of the same creatures and the one to stop them in the past. Abe no Seimei…"

"That, is interesting, but not news to me. Been to Japan, lad. You've forgotten that Japanese gods are not hard to appease as the ones in Babylon."

"Are you sure? That girl had some kind of aura…the one who was asleep. That coma was caused by a curse, we ..why….why did I end up passing out!" Raku groaned and threw his head into the book directly. "I'm back here, but I can still help from afar. What do you say about that, John?"

"Finish all of your schoolwork, and maybe I'll give you a talk about this Seimei character. We might even get to meet the successor of that line."

"Well, Saturday had me fooled, he th –

Raku froze, his face turning a bright red. "Oh, gods! I said that, didn't I??"

John scratched his chin, knowing the kid was still a regular wallflower at making comrades, friends. He was mellow and it made his magic alright to a point. "Easy, lad. You should have seen my track record. I nabbed the spirit of –

"I heard that one, don't need to again." Raku grumbled. "Off to class. My next term paper is due, and I won't lose any points. I want to be what I promised Aiden…" He blushed.

"Funny thing you should say –

"Later, John! I'm an hour to the stop!" Raku rushed past his teacher to the doorway, yet John sensed that Raku was hiding how rattled that adventure had made him. ~ He's not very good at masking his feelings yet. I apologize for my young lord's behavior. ~

"None taken, Ignito." John huffed. "What are you doing out of the archives so early, mate?"

~Ah, I sensed an insect clambering around and decided to squash it. ~ Smiling, the djinn's protective side showed John a spy in their midst. A fat black spider, on its back and bleeding miasma that Ignito prevented from leaving his bubble. ~ I'd run some blood work, see if this could be a problem. After all, my young lordship is irresistible to the wrong sort of demonic presence. Turned ones alone want to BE him. The god – given? Want him slain. ~

"I'd advise you not to breathe a word of this, if you know what's good for, ya'. That child, I worry. He isn't even trying to choose his own path. I mean, Azag was partly an ancient form of Guardian, wasn't he –

~Time's up! ~ the long-haired specter announced. ~ Time for my breakfast. I think this will taste better on something flat, a bit wetter. ~ The daemon in form crushed the spider as it broke into bits to reform into a bowl of something made from lentils. Black, like it had been. ~ Mm, I have not enjoyed fresh essence like this in a millennium! ~

" Good for you…. now, can we get on with the rest of what you wanted? It wasn't for the spider –

~I have another batch to share. Care for a taste? It might tingle due to the venom. ~

"I'll pass." John dismissed. "The spider is after him, now? What about Seimei's descendent? The cursed kid Ami is busy tending to?"

~ They are…useful, but one may live and the other will be devoured. It was as I just told you, Constantine! ~ The daemon opened its jaw and took a rusk to dip into the lentil dip it had made of the spider's entire being. John didn't have a bone left to gag by. He'd seen innards far worse. This was kid stuff to him. ~ Mn, outstanding – oh, yes. The boy is wanted, and the girl's power is wanted – but she is mortal, and he is not. Do you see what I am telling you? ~

John's eyes moved before they darted to the doorway. "Raku's in real danger!"

~ Ah - knew you'd get it. ~ The daemon took another bite and moaned with a hand to its cheek. ~ Out…standing! ~ He sighed, seeing the magi worried about the boy that was no more than his faithful student.

Ami's eyes never strayed from the path. Not even when torches and lanterns and magical fox fire went up like popping balloons on either side of she and her team. Inari led the group from the steps to a barely lit path as the sun began to die over the horizon into dusk. "We must find it. Been so long too…" Inari then stopped, his eyes blinking as the group nearly tripped back. "I…NA..RI!" Kaede gritted through clenched teeth. "We're not camping out here –

"Of course not!" He laughed at her joke, even if it wasn't one. "We're going up the mountain to my favorite place of all these grounds…but you may need to tread lighter than you have been."

"How come?" Ami looked ahead to see if they were in any danger.

"Oh, the monkeys have it out for any trespassers. You're in good hands as long as we reach our destination before moon rise –

"Rise, why is this?" Aya gasped. "Will Iyori –

"As long as her condition remains." Was all the kitsune god told them, right before a damned party broke out!

Spirited away time!

~ Look ou's back to dance with the drums! The old fox -face! ~

Inari groaned and just walked while a drunken, half-clad tanuki statue got in his face. A white monkey scratched its head as the fox god's fists got tighter at his sides. "Don't look at them, stay by me and do not –

"What…. a big, chicken?!!"

More spirits set up shop, the dancing and song making it all a festival of red and golden lights. Fox fire was minimized as Inari withdrew his power a bit.

"Ami!"

Kaede saw the youth looking as the chicken grew to the size of a small bear – its claws nearly had her as Haru yipped out, sending it flying back.

"Oh no…. help….?"

"Damn it…" Inari grunted. "Aya – Chan? Have Iyori by those gates and don't stop walking at an even pace. I have to put these loafers to bed before they invite your teammates to dinner."

He pulled out a paper talisman as if a true shaman and started to recite the language of Ami's teachers. Ami pulled back to and used her manna to create an active forcefield around Aya and Iyori. Haru yipped again and Ami gasped at the kitsune as she shook her head, prepared and rejuvenated as ever before. "Haru – chii!!" Ami exclaimed, delighted to have her ally with her.

"Kaede! Go with them!"

"But –

"Please, Inari won't let anything happen to us." Ami's big blue orbs had Kaede in defeat as she did as she was commanded, technically. Ami was learning to control better. As she feared, Inari wanted that, and so did the goddess who had contracted with Ami long ago.

Down the path they went. The gates grew wide, then narrowed as owls batted their wings, and a dozen monkey eyes looked back in curious interest. "We can't find the –

"That's it, isn't it??"

"Yes!" Inari came as a wave of white in his kitsune form. As a nine tailed god, while the other seven tailed Haru let Ami ride her to a small shrine house just up ahead, he did not stop.

"In! In, while I seal it!" He had made it first as they all dove through the doorway to the shrine.

They did as Inari directed. He was barely panting; the howling did not stop as the doors were bolted back and magic took to being their door lock and bolt. "They've sensed the curse; you need to go out there and keep them from breaking the seal –

"Why?? Aya looked to Iyori, her eyes tearing away with tears now. "Those are not friends, but foe. How are we to say you won't reap my partner yourself?"

"Tomori knows I was to belong here; you all are aware that as a god I guard human lives and the spirit divides of my country's influence. That curse will steal her life if we cannot send it deep off to let it sleep again. As Jorogumo called that child, a blossom. Think; if it blooms here? In a magical place where gods could -

"They'll all turn to darkness?" Haru squealed.

"No…they'd become corrupted." Ami stared at Inari, then at her friends. "Do what he says."

"Ami –

"Inari is the only one who has enough magic, I'm barely able to do much else and Iyori is counting on us to…to get her home. Jorogumo was once human and it's my responsibility to limit the interference between spirit, god and human as much as I can do."

"I will go." Aya rose and changed forms to her god like Shinigami status. "Kaede, this is best for all of us. The sun will set, and we will have failed our masters."

"Family." Ami corrected and Haru nodded. "We are not servants, you and I, we are more." Haru added. "Trust Ami – chan. She loves us very much."

The two guardians both decided not to be afraid. After all, apes were tough. Monkeys were…

Baboons.

The tribe came down from the trees. A touch of the site and it pulled back in pain. ~ Forces that be! You think to keep us away from the god – swindler? He is no god – he is a falsehood! ~

"He's also performing sacred rights so you guys can sleep easy." Snorted Kaede as she swapped forms. Her kyubi blood rose and so too did her eight tails.

~ Oh, a god – to – become – one. ~ A second monkey chattered. ~ You are fortunate to be in favor to such a biting animal. Why is that grasshopper so coy? You do not wish to join them? ~

~ I am here, for the child of the Abe rites and YOU are trespassers at this sacred ground! ~

~Insolence!! Attack them and pull down the doors before day – break! We must have our rites returned to this mountain! ~

The lights were lit and Iyori was placed on a platform step with the tatami under her turning the color of purple glop. "Ah, is she –

"No talking." Inari lit the room full of candles. "Ami, I need your goddess form's power. Change, it will also aide in keeping the barrier up."

"Ah, sure…" She started to glow as right as a torii gate in orange. Her body beamed light as it shifted. Carefully, she folded her legs under and started a soft and fast mantra. '

"Om –

As the sutras continued, Inari took to his role. ~ Abe – No - Seimei, we call to him in spirit. Seal the child of his line….be at peace for a time….be as through the void – perform the rites; hide this curse and take it from her…! Ye hath been summoned! COME FORTH ! ~

Inari's head bowed as the ghostly eyes of another came. They had dark hair under a hat of a traditional onmyouji. Ami couldn't believe it!

Seimei in spirit, was going to save Iyori's life.

(You ask me WHY Inari is being possessed by a mortal? Easy! Half fox is Seimei in the story, and also Kazuya is a human made body that acts as a vessel for Inari to exist in their world so he's borrowing that shell – like a skin or mask and using it to make the curse crawl back into the kid since it cannot be cured yet by them. Only Ami's magic be – No more!)

The clouds of gloppy miasma writhed at the half demon's presence. He had the eyes of a kitsune, and to this looked nothing like the princess upon the altar.

~ She rests, and she may yet again. That arachnid demon is sly, yet she is not a fox as I…. ~

~On…. Sei? –

~ Speak not, my child. Continue to bear us all. ~ He held a hand to her chest and pushed lightly while sealing what looked to be a set of wings as not a tattoo, but the mark of Iyori's curse.

Ami concentrated as her palms began to feel warm as sunburn. This curse was really something!

The mage finished up as a beam from his eyes meant that he was passing over them again, Ami sighed and winced at her burnt hands. Would she end up this way again –

~ Here. Let me see them. You did well in protecting my heir. ~

"Huh?" Ami looked up at the face, but all she saw was a painful blur.

"Are…. Sei …me –

"Are you ok, princess?"

Ami saw again that Kazuya had her hands as she pulled them away with a scared yank. "Ah! Where'd he go? Se –

"Who? It was only me, silly." Smiled the fox in the skin of a handsome man. "We were successful, the moon is gone, and we may leave here whenever you –

"I saw him!" Ami blurted out. "No, I did a sutra… and –

"Oh. You mean he lent his power to us; I was still there."

"No." Ami shook her head. "He…he looked like you, but his hair was black, and he wore different clothing –

"Could be the miasma. You need to meditate properly, my dear. There was no one else in this room but us."

"I don't believe it…" Ami panted as she tried to forget his face. "He was so real to me. He saved me…my hands!" She looked and they were completely fine. Wha…but…but.…" She seethed and couldn't let this go.

"I was burned while performing the spell. I even –

"That's fine, it's fine… let's go see Iyori - chan. I think it will make sense to do so."

Haru was over by Iyori as she flapped her tails relief. "Oh, Iyori – San, you must get better soon…."

Ami sighed and saw Kaede and Aya step into the shrine, panting from their battle. "Did the monkeys bat a lash?" Blinked Kazuya as he tended to Ami's state.

"Wha…is she ok?? Iyori – Sama!" Aya ran to the girl who was not a fan or less of being smothered. "Oh…. please refrain from that, I have a headache, Aya – Chan…."

"She's up, but why did Haru recover differently?"

"Magic was here!" The younger fox grinned. "I have a power spot all to myself. The magic made me weak on the train, but I'm all better now!"

"You sound… too young!" Kaede threw a glare Kazuya's way.

"What happened to my sister?"

"The…heh…anti – aging of this shrine! I thought it would work wonders for most frown lines."

"I…will –

"Oh! Ami, check your phone. I think someone is about to call us."