Teen Titans New Gen Presents- Tokyo Knights

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Chapter 36: Magic Mirror

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Dick scratched his head as Jackie groaned at the face of a magical fae in the mirror. The mirror that had appeared by way of Richard's key. It didn't open the door, just a direct line to Ava - and she was already in Japan!

"Without telepathy, huh…Sorry – Ava Marie." Dick apologized with a sheepish laugh. "I forgot that you and Ami have a thing, ah…anything you need-

~ I would like you to come, and bring Jacklyn. Aiden too.~

"Serious, girl? You aren't playing?" Jackie hummed to the fae in the mirror. It looked like Ava, but at the same time didn't.

She had shorter hair, while the ears on Ava were still human for a time. Her eyes however, where lavender bloomed, had grown almost silver as the snow she was surrounded by. Her features were paler, her figure was taller than Anna and Aiden. Her garb was of a woman with sophisticated stoicism. And Dick, he worried even as they stared at one another through a crystal one pane of mystic glass.

"Are we going, then?" Jackie asked the man, who…against all of what he'd wanted to do, decided. His heart was not wrong. It had to be so. He smiled up at his daughter. His first and the one who had allowed this Chosen business to really become what bound them by rite. By fate, one he had allowed to happen.

It wasn't a choice then either, truth be told. Ava knew that, yet she'd cried so hard for so long. He knew her face below could remain human enough to feel. Maybe it wasn't in one glance as she soon burst out laughing.

~ If that is the choice you wish, I'll be with Amelia soon. Come find me, I miss you all terribly. You forget, I'm a part of this family always…papa…~

He beamed back at his eldest, tears withdrawn barely as she resisted the urge to cry as well. ~ I am very sorry. Force of habit…as queen of the Barrens, May bell has told me to not joke. ~

"You're our guest here, cry, laugh. Don't stop being Ava for a second." Dick grinned back, her one head bobbing happily as they parted with peaceful expressions on their faces. He wanted to hold her, so now would be that time. That time to tell her with a great big embrace how worried his mind had been over her departure. Jackie grinned at Dick, knitting the man to head out soon. Dick texted Cy, abd the other make was glad. He simply texted back one thing…

~ Keep them both safe. Call if you need us heroes again, Spike.~

/

Ami sped up the walk to where she'd have Yumi to scold her. She was pulling her dear new friend who was very much trying to pull back, while Hisao and Kazuya walked behind the two. The car ride was actually quiet. Ami had let the young boy have his space. Ichiro, or Iyori, as Kazuya could tell through the ruse, was perfectly masked from their father and the Jorogumo witch.

He could care less what the higher ups said to his choice, being Ami would protect this young boy or sooner or later, they'd too figure out a partial truth.

Ichiro had their head down as shoes came off, slippers on. Yumi told Ami to take their coats and so, dinner that night was three more.

Ami watched the space as Yume said thank and they dug in. "Sukiyaki isn't dinner." Yumi looked with a disdainful glance at Kaede. "This chef has spoken, Onee- chan." The fox grinned. "Look how happy I made everyone! It's great. You don't like red snapper. Duh!" Kaede slapped her forehead with a groan.

"It is a human allergy." Yumi clarified. "I will, have my things in the kitchen." Removed from the scene, Hisao then decided to speak. "We can't take Ichiro with us. I did check in with the chief….thus." He pointed with a thumb to the display. "Sukiyaki."

Ami's face lit up while Haru almost dropped a shrimp from her mouth. "More….guests??"

"YES!!"

"But."

Kaede put another serving of rice to her bowl. "What'd it be then, great detective?"

"Ichiro, isn't cleared to stay. Only tonight. Tomorrow, we head back to the station. We still have to locate the –

"The bad dad theory can wait, Mr. Hisao!" Ami broke her proper barrier as Haru cringed. "Ami – chan…." Sge pulled the teen's sleeve. "Sit down…"

"No. We have a guest bed."

The teen did sit, yet it was for another reason entirely.

A knock came.

"Waut a sec….what happened to Jax??" Ami gasped, running up the stairs to see a portal – a mirror, and through it?

Her father, Jackie Ann and….

Ava.

/

"Sis?"

Ami backed up as Dick tried to pull in between them.

Kaede and Haru were up the steps as real kitsune in seconds.

"Is this normal behavior?" Hisao asked with something of a sushi roll in his grip.

"Could be." Shrugged Kazuya.

"Um, could I just wash up…?" Ichiro asked.

Kazuya shook his head, Hisao wondering, why. "The...toilet? If he has to-

"I'll escort you then." Sighed Kazuya as he rose from his seat like a billowing cloud. Somewhat calm, and also not.

"Come."

Ichiro felt a chill in the air, knowing trouble wasn't far.

/

Ichiro saw Yumi on a call by the kitchen. She sounded very upset…

Past that hall, the washroom was secured. Kazuya put a finger to the door, reciting something vague in the sutras of the gods. "You are free to seat yourself. I will be outside if you need anything." That grin was back, and then it made sense. The fox god was on edge with this energy of a chill. Not Yumi's holiday vibes, but in case there was an attack. That was Iyor- Ichiro's good feeling as they sat and relaxed, business done with one push of the flush button.

When the door opened, the cold returned. Ami was leading down the steps three others. Ichiro hid as they passed. Dick was laughing about himself he'd never needed to be so nervous. Jackie was telling Ami to text next time. Ava, she was almost like glass. Delicate as any ice shard in the heart of winter. Her short hair hid nothing. Her eyes were wolfen aware, as her frame was built as a doe and a stag. Strength and grace. She wore the modern attire of a long skirt, tall boots and sweater. No less than twenties, early.

She didn't seem to be someone that resembled Ami. No, more….ethereal and ghostly by her presence. A spirit of winter.

"Ami, you should slow down." Ava smiled yet seemed to be warm in her lecture. "I believe your sun born magic is too intoxicating. You must use it wisely."

Ichiro crinkled their nose as the girl's words felt as if they were directed at her.

"It's winter! I have to be a light in the dark fir all of Tokyo –

"Yeah, yeah. And Sentai papa D here is gonna get the crew back together ta fight world tyranny." Jackie snorted, Dick blushed at the idea of being a knight if justice with the Titans.

"The Shinsengumi were the first." Ami pouted, moving on to supper as a gasp rang out.

Ichiro flew over in their socks while Ami grinned over her shoulder. "There you are! Come finish the meal with us, you must be hungrier than my dad!"

/

Jackie kicked back as Ami tried to swing her feet under the table. ( Like me, Raku has asd while Ami and Dick to a degree, have Adhd. Ava suffers from ptsd and depression, and Anna has trouble with social and reg anxiety as well as aggressive eps. Kori? She has to deal with it all. Pain!)

"So?"

"So…" Ava placed a shrimp onto her plate separately, her manners were as royalty by how she held her utensils and chopsticks.

"Are you on a mission? What's the hold up? Tell –

"Ow!"

Jackie cleared her throat as Ami rubbed her knee.

"You are back in town, in this….well, universe! Aren't you a royal pain on the ice –

"I was called here. I want to help."

"Help?"

Ichiro saw Kazuya's eyes narrow whilst already doing so.

"Help. Exactly how?" He asked.

"There is a threat that is leaking into our void. She is feared by the small ones of my plane. Though, not of face. An entity that wishes the past to remain. Trapped in time."

Her voice was so, sad

Ichiro dared not excuse themselves as Hisao put down his chopsticks and let out a brief sound of defeat. "You aren't from this world, do you know what is happening on our world enough to do anything else?"

"To a degree, no more than you. I am connected through my elemental siblings. Raku is in trouble –

The catalyst. The start of the current CHOSEN.

Ami sat up, Jackie unable to stop her. "How?? John made sure he was safe! Dad…what's going on??"

"Ami…Raku was, he was in school. Normal to – do, but there was…a spy that –

"Ageha."

Ichiro then said, not thinking as they sat back down.

"How….you know her name?" Kazuya added, hoping the girl would not spare her only cover. "They, they threatened my father. They ordered that cult to do something horrible. To collect souls and…"

The tears came - the show must go on!

"Right, you escaped inside of it. Sorry, this is Ichiro. Where are my manners!" Ami laughed nervously. "We met down at the station. He's, seeking safety from his dad, who is possessed by possibly our same enemy."

"Ah, well….I was built up to become something of a container." Not entirely a lie. Jorogumo had given their all in devouring her mother. To do something, to do anything…to keep her in chains. All her life, Kohaku – dono was in fact her jailer in that estate. He expected the best.

Never falter. Not once. Marry into a perfect woman you shall become, only to flourish under my –

"Ichiro?"

Ami's words had the youth look up, eyes bright and hurting. "May I please be excused? I'm very tired from the day as is …" They sniffled, and Yumi led Ichiro to a guest room as promised for only one night.

/

Ami's desert pudding was given to the fixes as Ava only asked that sge stay in Tokyo woth her via suite back a few blocks to the city. Dick was invited by, yet he instead pulled Ava to the side and spoke to her as calmly as he could. "You were connected, you said. Was it a prediction? I'd there anything the Titans can fight, with you? I'm…sorry you had –

"Father, you are by all means not at fault." Ava smiled warmly to him. "I'm worried that staying too close, will make my heart melt all too quickly. It is barely cold in this city, and I will only stay until after the holiday. When Christmas here is over, I will return."

"Come stay with your mom and I, sweetheart. I don't want you to think –

"My body won't do well, I'm sorry." She said, eyes to the floorboards. "California is hotter than I'm allowed to be."

"You…" He swallowed, "You really are my not – so - tiny snow queen, anymore…" She looked at him as if he'd seen through her, partly. She hid it well. Giving her a hug, they made their way back together to the hotel. Dick opened for his own floor, Ava would have her privacy and they'd find Shoji's new den tomorrow.

/

Ami let her leg jump as Jackie took a sleeping bag to the floor with a mattress. "Yumi is gonna start a global ice age." Jackie chattered away. Ami pointed to a foot heating pair of booties by her school work desk.

"Uncle Shoji is somewhere in Tokyo, why is he not fighting this inane political –

"Big words don't belong in your mouth, and girl? You know how many warrants that dumb dog's had on himself since before either of us were born? He's gonna fight this when you save the cosmos, princess-

"Then be my prince and support your lady, dang it!" Ami flopped backwards as Jackie laughed, Ami swinging her twin tails over the side to frown back, "What?? I mean it! I'm the sun God – ess. Or will be, right?"

"And I'm gonna be looking down on your ass from space. Keep dreaming, sun child. Night, girl." Sleeping a tenth faster than Ami ever could on a good night, Amelia shrugged and turned off the lamp by her bedside dresser. "Night, Jax." Her yawn was distant, as her dreams were full of dying and blasting stars, cobwebs and endless clocks that never went in reverse.

Only forward.