Teen Titans New Gen Presents- Tokyo Knights
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Chapter 27: Madness on Midnight Avenue- Who's that Girl?
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Raku's first reminder that he wasn't here, was how his consciousness didn't drift yet saw her, his visible lids were spider strung halfway opened as Ageha wasn't here, but the spider queen inside her domain. ~ You slept well, displaced king. I would have believed you returning from the Underworld as before. ~
~ The pit, is no land of yomi. ~ Raku saw how he wasn't the only one here. That another had not evaded capture.
~ Rokou??~ The djinn boy turned to his warrior counterpart. His son… Rokuro's. The red eyed aspect didn't pay mind as it stood freely, leaning into its guard dog status as Jorogumo only smiled as a maiden in the air of her dark realm.
~ Your dopple self of the past called, and the twins resisted all this time. You did pity your servants. It was what I enjoyed knowing of my red lord while I was still to his cabinet. ~
Raku swallowed as he watched through an orb of her magic world, of the real world. John was busy wrangling Roko, how she told them his true colors. How Raku was no Saint, past or present. ~ You coined her name to mean, insanity. Why?~
~ Direction. He punished anything that resembled the strix at the time. ~ Rokou answered. ~ He won't talk about it. He abused all of us, even his own offspring. For the sake of her empire, never his own, right? ~ Snickered the dark aspect.
~ No, I…wasn't me –
~ You were the dragon, for a time. You even tried to defeat the Chosen by turning them against one another. You killed more than one queen, and…~ Jorogumo was enamored by Roku's history. Not, by Lilith and her threats to take his own life from him or any born. He…he should have gotten over this, but the human in Raku, didn't. A tear was shed as he shook at it to leave.
~ I cannot transform. What powers are you after, Jorogumo? The self you recall won't come back. ~
~ You're so true to that. Yet, is it? ~
Jorogumo moved in eight legged motions to where Raku was strung up and helpless. ~ My pretty blossom is the second key, you would gave been the first had your aspect of the archives not left your body to me.~ She drew up his chin with a band of long nails. ~ You pretend to act the innocent, yet the power to create still resides within your frame. I see it as bright as a walking lantern to these eyes. My followers on your children's plane shall bring the pieces together. I will only then save you from yourself, my lord. ~
~ What blossom? The girl related to the great mage? The one you stole from, and enticed the head to…how can this happen!?~ Raku panicked as Jorogumo brought his head to rise.
~ None so would notice, yet there us one more part. The maiden before. Before the last. ~
Raku remembered talk of Abe no Seimei. How a shrine dedicated to him fell to disrepair and the head of one branch that was descended from the line Jorogumo had been from as a council's wife…
It. Clicked.
~ He summoned you, and you promised as demons often will. ~ Raku growled at the demon woman. ~ You're no goddess, I'm not to become one unless…unless being like you should ruin my chance to become something greater! ~
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John ran as the tapir did its best to direct him through the portal. He had an enchanted leash as the little guy was walked like a dog. Roko was saved by the brand to her body to keep her from losing control. Her dark powers resided in the past and were very destructive. Demented, as the mythos went. She wire a night club style dress that didn't sit at her hips, it made John nervous because she could materialize another outfit from thin air. He didn't like that her powers were that strong with so many brands against her back. It meant she could break free if he pulled one too many lines.
"This, is Akiba."
It was nightfall, in Japan as the people were too busy looking to go out and make the best of a Saturday. Saturday is the Friday that the United States needed. Heck if ever, John moved swiftly as his eyes spotted golden lights in a line, leading to somewhere.
"Let's move it along, kid?"
She yawned and spun in circles, arms up as the lights blared out. More people. More SPIRITS revealed themselves as John looked to the cheeky witch. "You were off to get devoured." She poked at his chest suggestive with Raku's face, his everything, stolen. John shrugged her back, the face frowning back as she rolled her eyes to skip along past a bunch of "Tanuki" drinking until they were twice as bloated with beer. ~ Oy, oy! A human??~
~ Got some nerve putting yourselves out there. Too bright, shut off that –
~ One if you, so buzz off. Don't recognize it? Red Lord's little spy? ~
They all gawked, their eyes wondering if this was the return of danger as the tanuki dogs cowered and went back to their drinks. ~ Better. ~ Satisfied with her entrance, John pulled up beside the mystical being and put a hand to her shoulder, tugging the daemon to his ear. "Listen, you can't very well go around causing this…to happen. Raku's power is dangerous. So is saying that he's still a demon in need of staying dead."
~ Did you want to meet the other side of his personality? ~ She giggled and pulled John down the block. The magi shook his head away and kept walking, moving his fingers to extend her leash while the tapir just sat and yawned, waiting on its next command. ~ Look in my head! I can show it to you! Let me gave a good time, please-
"NO." John shot back. "You're obviously not aware of the situation, so again. I'll tell you if you please, just pipe it all and listen. If Raku perishes, you may end up vanishing. To save him, then we can decide where you're meant to be. You want to be a human girl? If you did any of this cavorting in public, you'd never want that. Ever. If you are just about his age, then I have no choice but to teach you about this new reality. I don't care if you want to have fun – fun isn't getting taken advantage of while dressed up to BE devoured!"
"Human, huh?" Roko moved as her hair suddenly swapped to the image of a vocal star online with carrot red hair, eyes between blue. Violet and green, and with something Gothic to wear. "Might I then get us some more eyes to follow the signs? You're leading us to danger, but I am just that." Roko grinned. "So, follow me. I can sniff out your little student with our connection…."
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The dance floor was any club in Tokyo, building for in mind, the more middle ground demographic of club goers. She had red hair, a stinking mini skirt abd Raku's impression still stuck. John watched with his blue eyes searching the crowd as she found the stage. Snapping her fingers, the faded skirt became something far more appalling.
A Harajuku style open kimono, complete courtesan style out of a western adaptation of the times.
~ As the crow of the day emerges, so does my voice… listen ! ~
The only band was of spirits. Roko was high pitched, deep and she sounded like a pop star with diamonds for eyes. Rubies, as John buttoned his lip. Crowds gathered at her feet as Roko down hate the limelight. John rushed in, yet the daemon only grinned and twisted while singing until…
Until, the door to their fate. Had opened.
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Ami sneaked by a wall that seemed out of place. The lights were dimmer on this street as Aya checked the rooms and the other doors nearby. There were smokers from the bar out back, and to the door that the lights and powder had originated, was a new door decorated in red symbols which spelled to beckon her inside. The door creaked a while as none saw the change.
"That's her domain." Kaede's ears lowered from the energy stealing her own through it. "We'll be right by your side. Here." Kaede put a hand to Ami's shoulder as the teen breathed in the kitsune's magical protection.
Aya moved with them, not having that gift to hand to any but Iyori through their contract. She could feel it on hold, yet not dismembered. Mr. Dairenji didn't know magic; thus, he would bother himself. His faith was in controlling Iyori, so to get her back would be a feat for a heroine.
Ami took in an inhale and held it as the three went through the red door, the way closing off and after then, vanishing. Spiritual the heroes off to the realm of smoke and mirrors. And a spell to trap them by, should they acquire the wish to leave so soon.
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Dick Grayson was supposed to return to Ami, yet as he entered the suburb where Yumi should have had an eye on things, he saw a light off. Jackie. He knocked and rang the doorbell, Hakuro standing by as he flitted between planes. ~ Why stop here, Grayson? ~ The Ethereal wondered. ~ Amelia is in Osaka in school, not in the home at rest. She-
The home was deserted. That didn't sit well as a car pulled in after the cab had gone off. Yumi and Jackie stepped out of it, the fear in Yumi's eyes spoke volumes without even having to part from Dick's worrisome blue. "Mr. Grayson…." She was shaking so he went to see her to the door. "Yumi, Jax. What happened? I was only a few hours with John."
"You were hours there, practically a day over here. Ain't how time works. My girl Ami isn't at school, and –
"Shoji was gone, taken. He's been napped by a demon!" Yumi undid the lock of her home as she bowed too formally for Grayson to join them for a late-night meeting.
"I, will explain if you will gladly stay the night."
With Kayu off doing his job overseas and in the spirit council room, she was on her own. They were engaged to marry in the next few months and it broke broth humans' hearts to see Yumi as if she'd lost a loved one.
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They'd no less made it to the kitchen as Yumi gasped to see the back door to the porches glass frame, unlocked. She looked around until the sound of heavy steel toed boots brought Dick also out of his comfort zone for a cup of tea and some way to cope.
"Hello again, Grayson." Smooth and unhinged in his environment for whatever he had committed, Deathstroke put his arms behind his back, overlooking their stares as Dick protectively covered Yumi, before speaking with much conviction to a shadow of his former life. "Slade…. what is this? You broke in? How did you know-
"No, good evening, then." Slade shrugged, ignoring the adult's panicked voice. "You were out searching; I wanted to let you know, your dog may be gone, though he wasn't without his best sources to pick up the pieces." Slade pulled out a container. A metal vessel that reakwd of dark magi, trying to break free. "This seal was contained by my partner. Your daughter isn't fond of using her powers around others, yet the dog should have watched where he sat, comfortably. His seat was rigged by this paper seal. A demon." The man squinted his eyes. "My employer was abducted by one of his enemies, and now, ours."
"Why have you not left for other contracts." Yumi asked with her face as cold as her abilities. "Your calling was ended once Takahara had no use –
"He kept me along; said I could be of some assistance. As long as I didn't stray too close to the sun, I was fine. Grayson? Anna gives you her apologies for not being here tonight. She had, other cases to manage. Rose is with her. She's perfectly –
"DEMONS are after our family, Slade." Yelled the cop. "You let her go on a mission knowing that? She's not a minor, sure, but Rose isn't like her. Why did Shoji do this? He paid you to watch over us?"
"Correct. He knew the threat would arise once it had been nullified. You don't know that pup's history. He masqueraded as a criminal before settling into the skin of a mortal man. In the nineties, he was a bit of a detective; went after Veronica who was the cost of his life now on earth. Well, Takahara's." Shrugged the man as he moved towards the den, seating himself on the sofa. The bear would not move, yet Yumi didn't want to use force in her state. Dick saw how Slade wasn't fazed by the immortal's distress at all.
"Shun is back, thanks to Jorogumo and her human supporter. The case being, mt original contact as a double agent if you would have to call it that, Kohaku Dairenji. He owns a toy and video game conglomerate while his family tree was the first thing the dog told me to read up on. Before Ami took her own role into things by tonight."
"What??" Jackie now had to bite back. Slade didn't seem to care with his taunting hints. That something…. someone was going to hurt her girlfriend.
"Tell me Ami wasn't crazy enough to go looking for trouble! Mr. Grayson! We gotta go after her."
"Anna has a lock. Thankfully, we traced their whereabouts is in Tokyo, Kabukicho in Shinjuku. Ring any bells?" Slade's brow went up behind the mask as his eye hole rose wkth it, growing excitably wider. "All seen at night. The red-light district was the nick name the kid gave us." His eye narrowed and relaxed again. Jackie saw why the Titans love to hate on this creep. He was not your average evil uncle bent on world domination.
"She is a minor. There is no way –
"THEN." Slade stopped the cop's words. "The trail, mysteriously, vanished. Your perpetrators can live between planes. Not unlike our old foes, hum, Dick?"
"I'm not your friend. You owe Anna and I that you are still walking at all. Ami has to be in Tokyo, it's no shock...but we –
"Oh, not a trouble at all though that i showed up when I did, because…" Slade rose, rubbing his chin as he slowly paced about, leaving Richard and his allies on edge. "Constantine is there too, isn't he? You were going here to warn these women about the dangers lurking at every corner of this world - what's yet to come, and that Raku is not this foe's only abducted subject." Dick nodded, Slade seeing that je was partly correct.
"Shoji will be joining this little display they have and I…want to come along, too."
Jackie's mouth gaped a little. "What for?"
"For starters, Anna is like family at this point." Slade gruffly stated to the teen. "Can't get rid of her if I'd tried. Your family is my crux to bare, so the gods have told me in my waking hours." The man didn't look please to recall his promise to Autur. He still had a bone to pick with that lion eared pixie.
"You stripped her of her chance to." Dick snarled back. "You changed my physiology and made life as difficult as is it for you…. if you tag along, you're not going ahead of us. Now that I'm like you to some degree, we won't be on unequal grounds like before."
Slade stared down the cop as he grew a step closer into their circle. "That's a wall down too many. Has Anna's little proposal grown on you, Richard? My, my…" Dick flinched a little as Yumi sensed his tension rising higher.
"You're letting your enemies in through the front door, and so civilly. Not even while blinking an eye." The assassin smirked with a light chuckle. "My dear? Jaclyn, was it? You'll finally get to see how this man here was once the most lethal instrument." That eye grew again, before swallowing her into the other, a narrowed gaze of a smug cat. She didn't answer his words. She knew a threat when she saw one.
"Make sure not to blink." Slade moved by them as he opened the door on his own. "Coming?" He cocked his head and nudged it for the others to answer, stay or go.
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Slade is a creep to keep people on their toes. Amd the fact Ami is like her dad and trusts Slade...Jackie is going to hit her for that one. Find out! Roko by the way was born of the kadness of the pain Raku suffered as a child, and she was also a being from the plane he lived on as the red lord. He maid her a certain "medium" for that madness to indoctrinate his son to the dark side. It worked, but she's only responded through people hurting her. Now, will John be any different wyen she makes a monster bash happen in hef vision of a party town? Find out!
