Chapter 7: Rejection

Hinata felt her heart sink at hearing his answer. Why was he going to Slade if he knew this was a trap? "B-but it's a trap! Didn't you hear what Robin said?" she asked, the worry obvious in her voice but he was too angry to notice it.

"You believe them? Those traitors?" he bellowed, causing her eyes to widen in disbelief.

"That's not true! They tried to help us get back home! What makes you think they wanted to harm us?"

His teeth clenched in frustration. "Because I saw them betraying us!"

"What? This can't be! Robin hates Slade! Why would he be working for him?" Hinata asked, finding it hard to believe his words.

"It wasn't Robin I saw. It was Terra!"

The shock was obvious in her expression before she shook her head slowly. "I can't believe this! What did you see that made you so sure?" she asked, not wanting to believe what he said and saw his face contort in anger, giving her a glare.

"I saw her writing to him. I don't know what it said but if they wanted to stay away, they wouldn't be writing to him. And besides," he began slowly before turning away from her. "…it's too dangerous for you to come with me," he said and began to walk away.

And when he said those words, she remembered her father – she remembered hearing him tell her sensei that she wasn't strong enough to be heiress of her clan, that she was too weak.

And as Sasuke walked away, that feeling of worthlessness replayed in her mind but it also mixed with silent anger – mostly anger at herself – that she wasn't brave enough to do something. She bit her lip, hands clenched to fists at the realization that she could lose a friend and her home if she didn't do something.

The veins around her eyes bulged, activating her Byakugan and she decided to strike his legs as she charged forward, pulling her arm back to lash it out.

But suddenly, Sasuke turned, grabbing her wrist of the hand that wanted to attack before she quickly moved her other hand to strike his wrist but found herself too slow as he gave a shove to her chest with his foot, making her skid and stumbled backwards.

Her eyes met his Sharingan that seemed to intensify his previous anger. "I'm not letting you walk into a trap!" she said with unusual determination and Sasuke noticed the concentrated look from before. Usually, she had seemed so reserved…and almost weak…but now…

She charged ahead, palm facing forward but Sasuke ducked out of the way, letting his leg swipe at her feet, causing her to fall but she quickly caught herself and rushed forward, this time, shooting out her leg towards his side but he caught her before flipping her over so she'd land inside the water but she used her other leg with the momentum to aim it at his head. But he saw this coming, and let go of her leg and blocked her attack before she stood upright again…just in time to see him throw two kunai at her in quick succession and she ducked out of the way of one before countering with her own kunai, deflecting the other one. But the one she threw had a tag attached to it which made a strong light burst in a matter of a second.

And now she had the advantage.

His chakra system was clear and she charged forward before managing to grab his left wrist and charging with her other hand towards his chest but he took her by surprise when his fist suddenly met with her face and sent her into the air, causing her to fall into the water.

But she wasn't going to give up yet!

She quickly broke through the surface and was about to lift out of the water when she heard his voice.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

A large, burning ball of fire shot towards her and she had only one chance to escape. She ducked inside the water and began swimming towards him from below. But when she broke to the surface, Sasuke wasn't where he had been standing and she was surrounded by steam caused by his previous attack. But that was no problem. She could still find him with her Byakugan and glanced around, expecting him to attack.

After a few silent moments, she noticed movement to her left and turned, letting a kunai fly into the direction.

But it never made contact and as the steam finally vanished, she was faced with Raven who held the kunai in mid-air with magic before it dropped.

"What is going on?" she asked in a confused, yet somewhat harsh tone. It was like she had sensed that something like this was going to happen. Was it?

"Sasuke is going to Slade!" she said in slight panic and the other's eyes widened in shock before she narrowed her eyes.

"I knew it!" she muttered through clenched teeth, making Hinata glance at her in confusion.

Did she know from before? Was Sasuke right?

The others appeared as well before Robin faced her from just in front of the tower, his eyes (or mask) angry…and suspicious?

"Why did you let him go to Slade? We told him that he's dangerous!" he growled and Hinata didn't like his expression and looked down before Terra and Beast Boy stepped beside Robin and she took a few reluctant steps forward until she stood on dry land.

Her eyes wandered over each over their faces, wondering if she should tell them. They were their only hope to get home and she prayed that Sasuke had been wrong. She let out a slow breath before eyes briefly held Terra's and then gazed at their leader.

"Sasuke said…that one of you was writing to Slade. He said that you weren't trustworthy and worked for him so he went to get the scroll from Slade himself," she began and Terra's gaze quickly lowered and she took a step back, not having the courage to excuse herself. She just wanted to run – just like she always did.

But how did they find out? Or…did they mean someone else? No, that was impossible! Of course, they found out that it was her!

She took another step back, causing the changeling to look at her in slight worry.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked concerned and she turned away.

"I…" she began before she felt him slowly place a hand on her shoulder and she flinched. This was a horrible mistake! And now she couldn't stop it!

"If you feel bad or something, I could give you company," he offered and she was glad she couldn't see his face – she didn't want to see his expression.

"Who was it?" Raven asked, making Terra shiver.

"He said…it was Terra," Hinata said slowly, sadness obvious in her voice and gasps were heard.

Terra felt the changeling's hand remove from her grip and she clenched that hand to a fist.

"Terra?" he asked devastated and she hung her head low before Robin's voice broke through.

"You were working for Slade?" he asked, his voice sharp and filled with disbelief.

"I knew we couldn't trust her! I had this bad feeling from the day we met her," Raven said before stepping closer.

But the changeling held out an arm to stop her from getting any closer.

"Is this true?" he asked and Terra heard his voice shaking with emotion and it made her sick!

But she didn't dare to speak – it was as if someone took her voice away until the changeling's voice got a tone of anger to it.

"Look at me!"

Slowly, she turned around and gazed at his face before she nodded and she felt his anger shatter into sadness and devastation and he took a step back. "B-but…I didn't want it to get this far. I would have told you!" she stammered.

"You would've told us now? Don't you think that this is a bit late?" Cyborg asked.

"I know what I did wasn't right. But I'd have told you."

"Why would you ever work for someone like that?" Robin said with a hint of disgust in his voice and Terra felt panicked – their faces were no longer the ones that gave her warmth and love. Those were the faces of hate!

"I don't know. He said he could help me. He said I owed him!" she said hurriedly. "But…then, you came along – and I got friends for the first time in my life!" she struggled for words.

"But why have you not let us known earlier?" Starfire asked. "Don't friends tell each other everything?"

"I know but…I guess I was scared. I just thought that…nobody would want to be my friend because of my powers."

"And you think what you did changed anything?" Raven said crossly before Terra turned to the changeling.

"I really didn't want it to go this far. I realized that you wouldn't want to hurt me - I realized that you were my friends. Please, you have to believe me, Beast Boy," she said, almost begging the changeling but all he did was stare at her – with that look that was stuck between anger and sadness.

"I…want to…but…" he began, as if speaking was painful to him and Hinata saw the look of shock in Terra's eyes before she turned and ran back into the tower.

It pained her to see her like this so Hinata quickly followed her and she saw a flash of yellow hair running into her room and once she reached it was well, she saw Terra already standing on the windowsill, prepared to jump – or escape.

"Don't run! You still have a chance," Hinata cried out.

Meanwhile Sasuke was rushing through the streets and after a while, finally reached the docks. And he quickly spotted Slade, standing in front one of the bobbing ships.

"Where is the scroll?" Sasuke growled.

"Right to the point, are we?" Slade said, his voice coming out in Japanese once again through Sasuke's communicator. "Follow me!" he said and Sasuke did as he commanded but kept watching him intently.

He wasn't going to be tricked again!

It took a while but they eventually reached the destination – something that looked like an underground cave of some sort.

And Slade stopped walking and turned…to see Sasuke lashing out at him and blocked the fist that was coming for him. But Sasuke wasn't done and pulled out a kunai, throwing it into the ground in front of them before Slade caught him by surprise with a knee to his stomach and simply threw the boy into the air.

But the avenger caught himself quickly and saw with surprise that Slade had somehow caught his headband, taking a close look at it.

"That symbol on it – is that your home?" he mused and Sasuke felt furious. That headband was his and Slade was not allowed to touch it!

"Release!" he growled, making the appropriate hand sign before a bright light appeared from the tag of the kunai…and Slade's one eye narrowed.

The avenger charged again, making hand signs for Chidori. His Sharingan made it easy to find out where Slade was and he pulled his arm back to strike before it connected with his shoulder.

But eyes widened to see sparks fly from his shoulder – it was another robot. He got up, picking up his headband and put it on before he heard approaching footsteps.

"I'm surprised you didn't figure out that this was a robot too. Well, maybe you're not as strong and skilled as I thought about you," he said, making Sasuke burn with heated anger.

"I came like you asked me! Now give me the scroll!" he screamed and the villain chuckled amused.

"Oh, you will get the scroll…after you get me one little thing I need," he said, lifting the scroll to prove that he wasn't lying.

And it didn't take long for the Titans' communicators to indicate Sasuke's task he had to accomplish for Slade.