Teen Titans New Gen – Tokyo Knights –
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Chapter 14: Suffering Spooks!
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There was noise, and there wasn't. He was still in the classroom, yet his arms and feet were somehow not waking up. The poison tip came back as he threw his head back. The new professor was there with wide eyes and a scared look in her pupils. "Are you ok? Oh, there was a strange person walking around. They came after –
Raku then let his eyes shut. "You are a terrible liar, Miss Lau. Or should you be someone else…"
Her lips curved up slowly as her back straightened with her eyes swapping to that of the multi -shades of a butterfly. "You are still quite perceptive. Even in this body, I mistook you for a child." She praised. "How is it that such a power is forever wasted on the lives here, on this world? You were a king. Rightfully, this world would be your stomping ground had you stayed from turning the way you had –
"The way HE had." Raku threw shade to the demon butterfly "His interests are not my own. I was corrupted once. If you dare to –
Raku threw his head back as her mouth opened in a high gasp. Hair tugged, everything bolted down by a foreign power
A strange tube curled out to latch itself to his temple.
~ You are forgetting the time it took to raise armies. I looked up to you, as did my Lady. She expected you never to change, and, thankfully in my many eyes… you have not…~
Raku's hands were tied, eyes wide and falling back, back …. his vision and sights saw webs as the rest was pixie dust in a memory. It was not Veronica. No, she would never go as far as to suck away his powers. Maybe, something that had stolen her body to live again. ~ Not that you can fight it. ~ She purred delightedly, the proboscis not taking – no, but feeding something into his head. To control-
~ End…
This .
N-
The proboscis split to find his mouth as Raku remembered the vines and his lips past them, he screamed. Eyes getting so dry from the days Lil had done her deeds to his body. He squirmed and she did nothing to sooth the scared boy he was. ~ You were once strong. That will happen. Help us gather the girl, and you shall be a king once more of this world. ~
~ N
…. a
…. h… .
A…~
He couldn't feel anything as the fluid spilled deep, feeding him the same poison as his mind went completely still.
/
The house of mystery was connected to those within as Raku's alter Ignitor was spat through to meet John. "Mate, you didn't check on im?? What's bloody –
~ His gift. It was stolen. I must be set free. Let the small Jinni do it. Let his might be not quelled through our anger. I must-
"Ignito." John put up a palm, glowing golden. "Stop what you are doing and talk to me. Is Raku NOT here right now? Why did he get left behind? Wasn't that 'self' of his in charge –
~ I, am not sure what this goddess wants, yet the demon us quite hungry. It wants…to be selfish for its executioner. ~
"Ominous as a bleeding arse- really??" John groaned and ran a hand over his face. "Take us to im. He didn't get to the hospital."
~ No. He was stolen from there. ~ Ignito seethed. ~ I …. have failed. So, please let me eradicate-
"It won't stop what's after our student." John let his wall back up and started walking. "Come on, then."
/
Aiden didn't hear from Yumi again. It made his eyes roll, but some other emotion nipped at his head and heart. Raku was not where he could find him. "Hakuro…. I need someone, right now."
Aiden sighed. The room remained dark until a ghostly hand built to have a body. Then, the gate opened to reveal the Astral projection of the vassal of the afterlife himself.
The gate keeper, Hakuro.
~ You called, yet that wa s a pitiful summons. ~ Shaking his white-haired skull, Haku looked to see Aiden in a tremendous amount of duress. "Raku, we have to go to him. Please. The longer it takes –
~ I am to be present? ~
"Yeah." Aiden bobbed his blonde skull. "Yeah, he needs us both there. I think he's hurt. I only feel this way if he us in danger."
~ Your bond never broke then. Raku didn't allow it, and neither did you. ~
Aiden shut his mouth. "WHA…He's my brother-
~ As a brother, not by blood. ~ The ethereal teen responded ruefully. ~ Raku is, still cautious about himself. Just as my misery overtook, he believes a human self, will rid him of what he is sworn to be. He cast his spell to protect your child and their children into the future. ~
"He is going to be fine, but only if I know why Yumi is not calling back. We can go to them. London, I think would be the best start."
~ As any. My time slot is free. This is a matter as you humans say, of security. Is it not? ~
"More than you know, or me." Aiden replied. "I'll get out my sword, but just to have a portal. Can you …would you show me how?"
The ethereal looked relaxed in the hero's son's request. ~ I maybe can. The sword is like a key in its form when turned. ~ Hakuro told Aiden and motioned for the blonde to summon the sword of the Golden Dragon. Aiden stood back and felt at his shirt to pull something met, warm as a hot sunburn from by his abs. "This…. here!" He let it turn as directed until it changed forms. A key. A mechanical….
"Because my direction is earth. Right?"
~ Correct. Metal is to earth; thus, it is you. Anna will harness lightning and others. Smoke. The raw elements combined. Rain to Ava and ice as she sees it. Ami us still not attune to her wind energy yet. She will learn much later in time. And of course, Raku creates life. He cannot take it. If he tries to do so, like a curse it may backfire. That, is my job. To seize the dying and lead them to judgment. ~ Hakuro explained. ~ It was why death followed. Why Raku was so willing to craft life instead of take it – when he did this, he become a true demon and there was only one way. The way of the dawn to cure his sickness. ~
"I can't let him get hurt then." Aiden breathed out. "I care, more than I admit I should." Aiden let the key turn as a crack in the wall of time had Hakuro motioning for the way in. ~ Time to go. To merge as one, once more. ~
/
Ami had to keep up with where they were headed. An ex-company staff was targeting Shoji. Why though? He was problematic as it came with a lot of…. things he hadn't done yet.
She seeped in a breath as the window closed. The door, being that flashing screen and the calling card of their new foe.
~ Hiii!! Koki - kuri HERE YOU LOVELY PEOPLE! IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE BIG UNBOXING OF TAKAHARA CORPORATIONS LATEST PROJECT, COME TO TOKYO SQUARE AND SEE THE FIRST DEMO – WE HAVE A WONDERFUL ASSISTANT HERE AND EVEN THE CEO WANTS TO GIVE YOU A BIG GREETING. SEE YOU THERE, KON? ~
~ Ah! To the square! ~
"We have a destination-
Eiji shook his head to Kaede. ~ I'm sure the others can handle a little trickster. This one isn't to be taken as a joke. Especially the plan they have for all of these mortals. ~
/
In her little hell scape, Jorogumo moved her pieces carefully across the board. A hand on the orb of her seeking eye saw Iyori's district in her teammates, and Ami's confused eyes darting back and forth. From the dogs to her lap.
Then, she sought out Ageha and her troubled underling. Raku was aware and trying to fight. She pulled a thread and later on, there was a gasp.
Across the world, John Constantine was tugged up onto his knees. "Damn! She's aware of us??"
A spider crawled through the void yet it was, quite large. "I should've taken the last metro into the station. Damn it all!" He let his body catch fire as John began to spell.
"Alright. Can you lot of legs handle a dose of your own medicine- in Hiragana??"
These spiders were from an orb weaver demon's territory. If not, a different variety than the gentle giant of lore. This had to get that leggy wildlife panic attack to bugger off.
~ Akui no ikimono. Watashi no yobikake ni ōjite omae o hai ni yaki tsukuse. Dai kōzui no kamigami ya kaminari no ō-tachi wa jihi o motanaito shira shimerudarou. Sore o keshi sareba, sō narudarou! ~
*(Creature of ill intent. Scalding to ashes ye be at my call - shall it be known that the gods of high floods and lords of lightning shall hold no pity. Erase it and so it may be!)
Raku had his boorish now it was sleeping. Ignito didn't show, not until a small speck landed atop John's shoulder to aid him. The big-eyed child jinni that was Raku's immortal aspect let the spider drown. The summons of a storm upon it had the demon shout and flight, but not lose a leg. That was odd.
"She's gotten stronger…we have to find him. Lad? Go to him, don't worry –
~ You need me too! ~ The tiny manifestation whined in fear. The miasma had made a wall that regular humans could not see.
"I can take this fuzzy twat; the beastie won't be standing by the time I arrive. Go. I can't sense a damned –
~ My children aren't fond of willful meals coming to their webs. ~
The threads bit into John's arms as he was tugged away. The young jinni screaming as he was pulled from his host's teacher. ~ No!! I'm not leaving you –
The binds of a dozen spinnerets bound the small jinni until he was all cocoons up. Crying and his canines red hot to be set free. ~ LET GO!! LET GO RIGHT NOW…. RAAKU!!~
/
Ami held her head up as they came to a complex that was surrounded by miasma. The tech was solidly broken or malfunctioning and a smell of if smoke permeated the air. "In." Iyori walked, Hisao jumping in front. "This is too far." He halted the teens. "We'll go first. Plan to take the other side."
"Sorry. But Mr. TAKAHARA Shoji is in danger of a MAGICAL demon?"
Hisao scrunched his brows while Sun Woo waited for the two to make amends for this rescue to happen. "He's inside." Kazuya sighed. "Let me act as a perfect distraction. Haru – chan? Saturday?"
"Aww, so…. we'll be –
"But it's a killer in there!" Ami protested. "Haru, say you'll wait."
"Sanctioning off the area is what must happen, my child." Kazuya told the ebony haired miko. "Iyori chan? I have one job I know you and those nice detectives could do. Back in Shinjuku."
/
Slade watched out the window as the flying dollar bills looked to have wings on their backs.
Ok. This wasn't the sane Tokyo. He turned to Anna and Rose.
"We have a problem."
Rose pulled out her phone and showed a news channels in Japanese with Subtitles in English.
~ Sokuhōdesu! Kyō no gogo, Tōkyō no achikochi de kimyōna hōsō ga ikutsu ka hōsō sa remashita. Kono genshō ni kidzuita hito wa, tōkyoku ga kono saibā hanzai-sha to omowa reru jinbutsu no sōsaku ni torikunde iru koto o shitte okubekidesu. Denshi kiki ya dengen ni setsuzoku sa reta mono o shiyō suru hito wa imasen. Sumātokā no kategorī ni fukuma renai kuruma wa unten shite mo anzendesuga, ATM, bideogēmu-ki, geitaidenwa wa… -
"ROSE!" Slade batted the device from her hand and tossed Anna's with a yank from her fingers into a pile. The things that cane up as wafting smoke were demonic as Slade shot at one, the thing looking beaten. "Run." The three left the lobby of their hotel and didn't watch as Phone lines were electrocuting the building's staff and clients.
Slade and Anna had Rose follow out to the street where even more chaos brought the elder merc to raise his head to the screens showing a strange scene. Of a murder about to ….
"Shoji!!"
"He won't die. This is a trick." Slade scoffed. "Come. I know where to get to the bottom of all of this."
"The client who talked about Project Daylight?" Rose asked from over the man's shoulder.
"That…he's a big shot…." Anna bit her lip. "At Uncle Shoj's company!"
/
The mastermind was not Shun. It never was, then who had sent Slade to put a dangerous twist on a program that could ruin the competition?
The question, had to be a sinister thought. Saturday looked away as his eyes swapped to something less distant. ~ If we go in…(important for later!)will we be shocked to find the culprit?~
Kazuya and Haru didn't need to wait. The door was pulled back as Kazuya let out a growl, sniffing the air. "Old energy. We've –
"Over there!!" Haru pointed to a black smoldering face on the rug. She screamed. "HE'S DEAD!"
"This was the home of that employee." Kazuya clicked his tongue. "We've been tricked. The real culprit has moved, and they took the wrong victim."
/
Ami and Iyori had Sun Woo and Hisao get them through the police lines that had appeared around a tower of electricity. "We can get through. Kaede – San?"
Iyori turned her eyes to the fox and to Eiji who looked anxious. "Not enough strength. If I turn into my kyubi self, it could fail."
From spot away, Anna's fingers pricked. (Important!)
Slade saw this and turned to Rose. "Step away a second. Anna? You are fire as far as tour power can be considered. I think you can handle a decent shock."
"What??" She snapped back at her tutor. "I'm not –
"Electric energy and fire work well of each other. You can help." He pointed to the ground where Ami was unaware if the others on the roof across from them. "I'd have to blow my cover."
"What cover? We are people right now, not killers." Rose grinned jokingly. "You are a fire starter, so start the music! We'll wait."
/
Aya looked to the next roof as she was sure she'd sensed currents of magic –
~ Come back, Aya – Chan.~
The grasshopper spirit sighed and went to join her human on the ground. "I think there us a spell –
The team ducked as overhead; a bolt of lightning struck the tower – yet it didn't seem to be causing problems. Ami gasped and smiled at the tower, pointing at how the electrical field was slowly vanishing. "It's taking out the wall!"
~ Gods…what was that?? ~
Aya shot a look at the roof, yet a billboard prevented them from seeing anything but a reverse ray of heavy electrical shocks. "We can go in now. Hisao – san?"
The ender cop bobbed his head to Iyori. "Right. Sun Woo. Are you coming?"
"I am, detective!" The male saluted with a grin before heading into the now tricky trap that possibly was laid out before them.
/
The building was deserted. No one had stayed inside or else everyone was burnt alive. Ami never saw the bodies. She was glad to not have to, yet Iyori acted strangely tough. She didn't have the ideal empathy to cry like a kid anymore. With her family name to uphold, it was important that she never acted like someone she'd just met. Like Ami, as the Miko stayed close by Aya and Iyori with the two detectives leading the way. "Here."
"Wait." Hisao stopped Iyori as he turned to face her.
"If I can see it with my own eyes what that man truly resembles, I will have no one stop me from doing so."
~ Can't let you go as far as to mess up the prototype, princess butterfly! ~
"Kuri – watsherface!" Sun Woo gasped at the intercom and speakers setting off around them. Alarm bells had the miko and her team look way up.
~ Nice to crush you …or, should I be more polite do ya think? ~
Upside down on a floating wall was Ryoka. They didn't know the face, yet she was a bit older now. Less effeminate and hard to tell by gender. The ears however, said enough.
~ I know –
~ Ah – ah! I like surprises, don't you? ~ The twisted grinning chatterbox giggled and swapped walls like a static cling that had become visible. Her outline showed, yet not that face again. ~ Shoji is a bad dog. He was working on ways to subjugate humanity. I just undid all the bolts on where he keeps his tanks and robot servants! ~
"Come down and fight us yourself, spirit!" Iyori called out, demanding the nogistune freak stand still. ~ Why? Can you bring me down and give me a collar to keep, princess? I know your kind. So noble until they get stepped all over. And you think the cops have any power over a wish unrated ywt?? You could ask me, make a deal and I might give them all back-
"No deal." Hisao loaded a special bullet into his gun. Sun Woo was handed a similar cartridge. "I think we can get you to fall, a bird out-of the nest. Ami, take Iyori to the lower level. The signal –
~ WRONG. WRONG WRONG! IT'S NOT THERE. ~
"Don't lie to us." Iyori gripped Ami's arm as the semolina took over. Ami just went along not to question a thing. Kaede was outside and trying to keep back the electricity with whoever. –
"Iyori?" Ami cocked her head as the young priestess in training froze up. "Aya…I need you now!!"
Aya flew after the girls. Her grasshopper stealth was good, until Kokkuri snapped its fingers. ~ Don't think so! ~ It sang while Hisao raised his gun with a real sacred item from Kazuya.
The doors shut from above as the three, Aya and Ami with Iyori were separated by a metal wall. Iyori froze. "I can't go back. Ami! You have to fight! I'm still not able to face whatever is hurting this city alone…"
"Iyori." Ami clenched the girl's hands into her own. "You won't be alone. We can fix this. Come on." The elevator was working which meant that Ryoka had to be plotting away.
/
Down on the lowest lab floor, the buzzing electricity was producing mannequin sized items. Bigger than the original. Ami gawked and ran over to the belt. "This is…. what's going on here?"
"I heard about a project that Takahara had taken credit for." Iyori looked over the mess if tunes and wires. "Project Daylight. But this looks wrong."
"Alchemy." A voice came out of the dark.
"It's what I'd meant to expose. That was, until my Ryoka came along to have those dreams come true."
/
The slick surface of chrome and glass made the glasses this silver haired man was guiding look ominous and doubtful of any good intent. "I was a scientist here; I created the program only to become dismissed…. he took credit for an idea that might have been safe. He said it was controlling the will of others…by making them smart??" Scoffed the stranger.
"Who are you?" Iyori saw from her eye a sliver of thread as cold as a winter's storm. She jumped back. "You…you're a –
"Puppets don't all need masters…." Grinned the dead faced adult. "I slaved away for Shoji and I was locked up like a dog. Fed and forced to do what made him into a sociopath. Like I am…"
"He's…" Ami looked at the man again. "Where is his soul?? I can't sense anything!"
"For a wish, I gave it up to have my vengeance. In fact, do you know who sent a hit earlier on the dog's board members to scare them into going after that CEO?"
"Where is he?? We have to stop this!" Ami exclaimed. "You're creating a big problem –
"OH? Is progress like this too much for an idiot like you??"
Iyori brought out a ward, getting ready to attack. "You couldn't be more wrong. If you are dead, then this will be the last place you ever stand against those willing to see you to rest."
"HAH!" The man fell back into the dash of a computer and his hands did mean to press a switch. "Have fun fighting something just as soulless. I'm only doing what I want and if I live, you can meet your fate without praying for a last wish back…that creature granted my only wish. To get revenge and never be crossed by anyone !"
"Self-esteem issues, much?" Ami grumbled. "That fox… thing isn't the boss. You got corrupted by it. We saw the body."
Iyori looked at Ami. "This, then he is the same man??"
"My self from this reality is dead. Now, can go between this world and the world I am for- Ryoka. Know her well. She's here to stay, magicians! I'll never lose to brats like you. I am… untouchable!"
"Delusional is more like it." Ami huffed. "Aya has to be close. She can always crawl through a duct to find us. Tell us where Shoji and Ayane are, now. We have the entire building surrounded abd the cop coming is no push over with the supernatural." Ami crossed her arms triumphantly. "His go - to boss is actually quite a silver fox himself!"
"Ah, the god fox. He should check his glasses. Old grandfather. He's obsolete-
~ I'll take it from here, courtesy of our employers. ~
Shun looked behind him at a tall, hybrid creature with a Shiba dog's ears, a fox's teeth and stare and a tanuki's bushy tail. ~ I just need to show them why they need to give in today. Bring the prisoners up on screen. ~ The demonic spirit flicked an arm and Shun went to do her bidding rather nicely. Ami saw how disgusted and scared Iyori was making herself appear less of, while Aya had to find them. Or somebody. Was this it? Did Ami have to fight to save Iyori like before?
Shun moved the bodies from beyond the wall as Ami couldn't get in close. The creature's eyes forbade her. Iyori was shaking. It was a demon sure, but there was something strange about this battle they weren't having just yet.
It felt more…like a negotiation!
/
Dick grabbed his Nightwing gear as Jackie Ann swooped by the door in Yumi's upstairs to scowl at the man pointing, by how he was going to leave her unguarded. "I know you're the hero an all, but I'm trying to stay a bit longer. Ami won't even talk to me. I can't see you get woven up into this mess with ghosts an –
"I'm going to see someone else. Not Shoji. I heard he's in trouble and there was someone helping out. If my hunch is right, Anna is still watching out from a far distance. I'm calling-
"Ya can't. The news guys said that doing that would get hour brain fried. My computer isn't gonna work either." Jackie groaned. "Can I come with? I can navigate –
"It's not going to be a drive in the country, Jax." Dick replied. "Ami is in danger and Anna is no stranger to getting mixed up in it either. Slade has some explaining to do whether he puts me on hold or leaves the country. I'll be back, just hold on and stay with Yumi."
"I have no choice. Tokyo is under attack by cyber terrorists from the spirit world and what? Ami is gonna save everybody she knows on her own?" Sighing and looking at an image of her friend on her cell phone, it was offline and not letting her zoom around at warp speed. "I don't want her to go far away…"
Dick looked at Jackie, then his eyes grew bigger as he clutched her shoulders, pulling her away from whatever his eyes had spied.
"JAC-
The thing roared out and clung to her shoulders. In that light, there was a single face that made Dick want to cry out and attack.
He couldn't.
" RAKU ??"
/
Not Raku, it had the face of an old enemy. One so very sly in its motives that Dick could see his life flashing back to the days of the dragon's blood drinking ceremony. ( a new beginning arcs)
"No. Let them…go, you're fake!"
~ Ami I, Grayson. ~ The half Djinn sniffed and put a clawed set of hands over Jackie. ~ You should have never gotten so close to them. I warned my aspect of innocence of this and he chose not to listen. I warned your sons and daughters that I had no soul to tether. Raku is he, I exist as I may. ~
"That isn't why you're ethereal at all. Let her go. If you want a hostage." Dick put his hands out. "Take me. She's not worth your power struggle and you know it."
~ You could be tricking me. And besides, she us gifted with Erebus's energy. Why should Ares sway me to war as he did you? ~
"Because, I'm not going to say no. Until I know who you really are. If you are real, or back. I don't want Aiden or Ami to know yet." He bit his lip. Roku was a crafty soul. He would take and do so by intent. Why Jackie? Then, it made sense. ~Who has the host, who took Raku?? Was it her?? The spirit spider?? Is she making you work against us now?"
~ I suppose. ~ Hummed the anti God. ~ Tell me, Grayson. If you child Ami should become a goddess one day. Will you trust her to remember that humanity is salvageable? The role us a torturous process. I should know. Raku, I, took forever not to be ridiculed into what I might never be great enough to be. ~
"Shit, you shouldn't sound like Ignito, but you do. He's not you. Is he?"
~ He is a remaining tether to past and future; what I was, and what I will be. I am here, because that boy will become me if you forget. And you gave forgotten one thing to save from these red eyes…. your wish to see Wilson repent. ~
The grinning dragon moved as a cloud to Richard's shoulders. Nails bit in as Dick winced. ~ Let's contract. Like old times, hum? I'd very much like to help you get even. ~
He was persuasive and right.
Slade was ruining his kid. His life was too close too soon and Ami could get hurt. Aiden was going after Raku even if he'd had nothing to do with….
Wait.
~ You're after a way back. ~
Dick turned to Roku's smiling face. ~ He's not growing any older. I could do so slowly. But yes, he will become me –
"Only if we don't stop the spider spirit in time. She's infatuated apparently with the past you two shared I suppose? I thought Raku was not interested in women? That was what-
~ I still had to make deals you know. It hurt; it really might have. It was never if love. My sociopathy was not to the boy you know now and his personal, affairs. He cares too much. I almost never do enough. ~
"No. No deal then. But I will stay a hostage. Just for Jackie. I can do that. Torture me, but I've made up my mind. Slade will…be trouble, but Anna wants to trust that he's not out to get anyone. He still is respectable to our family. I have to know for myself. So, have me take her place."
~ That does not include, your wish then? ~
Dick shook his head. "No, I'm just keeping my friends and family from getting hurt. Call me a hypocrite for it. Like old times."
~ Very well. ~ Raku waved his arm and a vortex opened up. ~ Step through. Don't look back. ~
"As long as my kids are ok. All of them." Muttered the cop. Roku's eyes changed to something out of surprise. Maybe confusion. ~ He has no father in this or any life. ~ Roku responded coldly, leaving Jackie to faint as the spirit left her and took Grayson to another room of skulls and a giant spider's webbing.
/
Long, but will see! So, to clear this up!
Shun did not die. His soul was taken so Ryoka was given reign over him by Jorogumo and Ageha. She intends to stuck around so she wants him to serve her even as a deluded soul that crawls by her feet. Claws…yeah, that's that.
Ami is trying to figure out why Iyori senses a different aura. This may get to be connected to something far worse. – a trap.
Aya has to find a way into the lab. What about Kazuya and the others who got a false impression here? Aiden and Hakuro are off to London. Will they make it to John's side or Raku's?
Roku us there astrally because Raku is being overtaken so his dark side is no longer as easily sealed back. Rexall madness and genius. If Ignito is reason and intellectual, Roku is the urge to murder and plot and lie. Dick is sacrificing himself because he cares about Ami and maybe Slade despite his pissy flaws is still doing Anna a solid despite the bad guy act wearing off.
Jorogumo has a thread in every plane and she can tug at will as she wants to. Us she getting more powerful? And is Ryoka really the perfect distraction?
Raku was taken over by a venom that hinders his powers useless to anyone but Ageha and her mistress, yet Roku is rebellion in Raku so he is actually trying to fight in a way that will later be explained.
Ayane and Shoji? Are they still alive? Find out!
