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Clash of Realms	By : RaphaelTMNT Category: -Misc Anime > Crossovers Views: 3294 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Justice League, Rosario Vampire or Dark Stalkers nor the characters from either of the three series. I do not make money from writing this story.

Chapter List
- 15
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Clash of Realms
CHP16: Backlash

It was on his way down the halls that Bruce stretched, already suited in his training gear and met with Selene who awaited him in one of the larger facilities. But unlike he was used to seeing her, the vampire was dressed somewhat differently, in battle gear of her own.
"Have you heard back from Fafnir, what are the state of things?" Bruce asked without delay or hesitation.
The female vampire removed herself from the wall she had been up against and approached him while exhaling deeply.
"To put it in one word... chaos. The leaders of the global powers are raging and many pointing fingers and stories have gotten out they were ambushed by hundreds of demons, so your tactic has proven useful thus far. You do realize what you've... what we've done, don't you? We freed a man who's been sought after by many kingdoms for crimes he's committed over time, highly regarded by the criminal underworld. You wouldn't believe how many wanted his head on a stake or humor on the idea of watching him burn alive."
"I'm aware," Bruce nodded.
"It wouldn't surprise me if a civil war breaks out because of this all, but I know our emperor won't let that happen. There is no one more upset and angered by these events then himself... no wait I take that back, Akasha-sama must be losing her mind by now if she hasn't already. I actually feel quite sorry for her and everyone else, many are hurting because of that night, mostly of mental scars. Never before has a prisoner escort of this caliber led by the National Wexers, with such high valued prisoners failed so miserably. The list of suspects in the matter behind his breakout are longer than that of a skyscraper, so we have nothing to worry about as of now."
Bruce stayed silent as she continued on breaking down more and more of the details and gossip that had been going around throughout the entirety of the monster world.
"Apollo has vowed to bring the ones responsible to justice and won't stop until he finds them. And from what I've heard your antics have gotten him angrier than anything in recent memory, but can you blame him? That very man was fully responsible for abducting his granddaughter and that very man is now able to roam freely and continue his mischief. With king Fafnir inside the inner circle and these discussions we'll be kept up to date and of course our involvement kept secret, he hasn't lived this long or kept Arcenill Mount afloat for centuries just by luck. That dragon is a huge flirt, and perhaps even arrogant but he's also just as crafty. We shall never be exposed long as we play our cards right, I'm sure of it."
"Let's hope so," Bruce nodded.
He was more than aware of not only the emperor's intelligence, but other monster species that without a doubt would revisit the battle ground and examine it. They could do so all they wanted, but nothing was left behind that could be traced back to himself, or the three of them. Having such an investigative mind, he knew how to go about a mission, getting in and out without a trace.
"And about Jitoshi," Selene looked to change the subject somewhat. "That bullet or whatever that you tagged him with, have you checked if it..."
"It was a success," Bruce nodded. "If he hasn't already he'll return to Fairy Tale or whoever his latest employer is. Jitoshi's type are predictable and simple in nature, he will resume his duties without comprehending he's playing right into my hands. I will discover where they're operating from, their purpose but not with an immediate strike. First thing is discovering how many, who... and then I'll go from there."
"You would consult with the league?"
"No. This mission is ideally kept secret from them, however I shall cooperate and work with the team as things progress. What's happening here is on a massive scale and I won't risk innocents in the end by withholding information, besides we've been working this together. How this information was obtained is the least of their concerns. All of this spans much further than Gotham, or even our world... this might be an issue for all realms."
Selene took a deep breath whereas shaking her head in understanding, still in awe what he had single handedly accomplished. He was simply one of the greatest minds and soldiers she had witnessed and to be so close and working with him was a gift, but she saw his potential and how much more he was capable of and she simply wouldn't allow that to go to waste.
"Are agreed time on a month, and four inside the Realm of Alvasleha has just about reached," she breathed out. "And perhaps this might be asking too much but here goes... I'd like to keep you for another two months and a half real-time, which translates to ten months and over a year if you take into account the time already spent."
Falling silent, Bruce had no words for this as he took his eyes off the vampire, but she didn't stop.
"I see it in you, both physically and mentally in the very way you think and do things. The night of Lagooz forest truly opened my eyes to this, and I can't in my right mind allow you to return as is when there's so much more to explore. Dammit, everything I'm doing is for you... and I see now why the Justice League holds you in such elevated honor and I want to give them and the world the best possible reemergence of the Batman."
There was a quick pause but their eyes locked.
"It's your choice and I won't force you to stay but as is and this is in all honesty you'd still be vulnerable. And I primarily refer to your mental state of mind. As you grow stronger and your body morphs it can take a heavy toll on both body and mind in the sense of control. Meaning you will be at higher risk for uncontrollable wrath and thirst for battle and in this you could truly lose yourself and..."
"Enough," Bruce looked the purple haired vampire in the eyes. "If doing this helps preserve who and what I am then I'll do it. I refuse to lose control to vampirism or the monster lurking inside."
With her hands clasped together and beaming, Selene's body tingled with excitement.
"You've made the right choice, Mister Wayne. Had you refused many things could have happened if your return to Gotham was soon as now."
"Tell me," Bruce responded.
"First off and this is true with all vampires, especially those who've reached a higher level of power develop a strong sense of pride, cockiness and egos the size of a mountain. You were none of those things before your turning and I shall see through spirit and mind meditation within these next several months that doesn't befall with you. Bruce, you're level headed, calculative and take threats, circumstances and potential enemies very serious no matter the proclaimed significance."
Bruce halfway smiled at this proclamation.
"And where did you hear all this, Akasha?"
"Not this time," Selene shook her head. "It was actually from Diana Prince. During your long hours of training we conversed on lots of things, some of which about you. But don't worry, she didn't go into details."
Selene took a deep breath as she refocused on the prime subject.
"But as I was saying, we need to keep that mind of yours intact without unforeseen inclinations and interferences. Perhaps you haven't seen it, but I too am very prideful and sometimes it's gotten the best of me. But you're young and a newly turned so in your case we can snatch it early and prevent it. There's also something else I've been meaning to bring up, something that I said to you on the night you awoke in the watchtower as a vampire."
"Being?"
"I told you that night to forget the past and embrace what you had become, but I was mostly wrong in a sense. I didn't mean for you to forget the past or what drove you, but rather not to reject or despise what you had become... you could be the best of both man and vampire. That mind of yours is what makes you Batman, so we must keep it intact. But I'll warn you ahead of time that I'm going to be so much tougher on you from this point forward. As I've described before, your power is increasing at an exponential rate compared to other vampires and once I'm done with you, shinso blood awakened or not you'll be able to compete with the best of them. But enough chit chat, let us commence with your training."
As they readied themselves, there was however a significant detail the vampire kept from him. While his mission was a success, Jitoshi wasn't the only prisoner that managed to escape!
XXX
Having just finished sweeping the kitchen and dusting the dining room the doorbell rang not a second later. Alfred Pennyworth looked on nosily as it was already after eight in the evening and Bruce Wayne declared out of town on business. Even so Alfred didn't think twice as he pushed open the door and standing on the other side was a woman dressed casually with light brown boots, gray leggings and a light blue blouse.
"Miss Aono!" Alfred stepped back in surprise but straightened his posture as he coughed clearing his throat. "What brings you to town, are you alright?"
"No," Moka answered honestly as she shook her head and desolation in her eyes. "May I come in, I need to speak to Bruce?"
"Of course you may," Alfred stepped aside with a smile over his face. "Please do, but the young master is however is out at the moment."
The vampire did precisely this but with her shoulders sunk, moving in as Alfred closed the door behind them where he then led her to the living room and Moka took a seat. Alfred then ventured into the kitchen but returned a short while later with a tray of refreshments and pouring Moka a cup of coffee as he looked down on her. Taking the steaming cup into her hand she took a quick sip before lowering it back over the tray.
"Is there a problem, has something happened?" Alfred inquired.
Moka only nodded and with that same sadness visible in her eyes and Pennyworth had an idea what might have been on her mind, but he waited silently for her to speak up.
"Can you contact him for me?" Moka looked Alfred in the eyes. "There's something he needs to know... it's about Sasha, something happened and she's gone missing."
"Oh dear!" Alfred placed a hand over his mouth, attempting to look and sound as surprised as he possibly could. "How did this happen?"
With his time serving Bruce, he learned how to put on a pretty good act as he continuously had to cover up for Bruce time and again in various instances.
"I honestly don't know," Moka shook her head. "I wasn't there the night it happened. She was staying in mother's castle and it's believed she might have ran away or possibly kidnapped and I won't lie, this is something that happened weeks ago and it should have been brought to you all within days of it occurring, but mother didn't want Bruce to worry. I suppose you could say she was hopeful Sasha would resurface but that never happened."
Alfred's face was one of shock, as that's exactly what he wanted Moka to see.
"So do you have a number or some way of contacting Bruce? I'd really like for him to know what's happened and I'd like to be the one to tell him."
Alfred opened his mouth to speak but then went silent at the sound of footsteps approaching from up the steps in the room opposite of them. Those sounds became louder as the person revealed themselves from around the corner and it was none other than Damian himself.
"What's she doing here?"
Alfred immediately stood clearing his throat with his eyes on Damian.
"Miss Aono is here with rather distressing news regarding Sasha," Alfred went on as the teen crossed his arms and back against the wall. "She has gone missing, and it is believed she might have taken off on her own."
Again the butler tried sounding as worried as he possibly could but Damian seemed uninterested in playing along as he simply shrugged his shoulders.
"And this surprises either of you," Damian eyed them both. "She's far too snoopy and loves roaming and exploring, it was only a matter of time before she..."
"She's your little sister as she is mine!" Moka retorted, jumping up from the sofa. "You could at least pretend to act like you care! She's out there somewhere, possibly alone or worse and you're going to stand there and say stuff like that! Sasha had nothing but good things to say about the three of you and never passed up an opportunity to express how much she missed it here, you don't deserve her love!"
Damian was unfazed with a blank expression but he distinguished the rage mounting in the eyes of the silver haired vampire and so he rationalized with what he might say next.
"It's a dangerous world out there, Aono. I know it, as does father... and our so called sister has been and gone through a lot more than most children her age. She'll be perfectly fine," Damian's arms lowered. "She's the daughter of the Batman."
This was it for Moka, her fists clinched as she wanted to run over and strangle Damian on the spot for his insolence and being so inconsiderate but she held her cool and instead looked to Alfred.
"Can you please give me Bruce's contact information?!"
"I am so very sorry," Alfred shook his head whilst his eyes fell over the ground. "Master Wayne is out on private business and we have no means of reaching him, I do apologize."
Moka looked him over with oddity as this very remark raised red flags, as her eyes moved back and forth between them.
"When you say private business you mean mission, don't you? What sort of mission would he go on that compels breaking contact from all of you... you're a family and team. Do you at least have an idea where I might be able to find him?" the vampire questioned.
Alfred again shook his head.
"That is also unknown," the butler responded.
This time Moka's glare fell over Alfred.
"You really expect me to believe he just took off somewhere without telling either of you where?"
"Believe what you want, but that's the truth and it isn't the first time that he's done this... sometimes father likes working and keeping things close to the chest which includes from us," Damian chimed in.
Moka took a step back while shaking her head and really collecting and going through her thoughts as she felt and knew something was wrong with this picture. The timing was also questionable, but even more so than that was their unwillingness to cooperate.
"If you don't want to tell me where he is that's fine," Moka rolled her eyes in irritation. "But whenever you speak with or see him again, please let him know what happened and that I stopped by. And you should try working on your manners," Moka's eyes fell directly on Damian.
"We shall," Alfred tipped his head.
Damian proceeded to clear his throat as he pushed forward and away from the wall.
"And if you do stop by again anytime soon, try and do so when you aren't on your period," Damian said coldly.
"Oh dear," Alfred's eyes twitched while Moka snickered.
"I couldn't say I liked nor hated you the first time we met, as we didn't interact but I didn't miss nor forget the manner in which you spoke to grandfather with such disrespect."
Damian chortled while Alfred felt there was little to nothing he could do to stop things from escalating between them.
"It was your grandfather that came here speaking out of place, demanding things he felt was his to know and our obligation to tell. Clearly he forgot where it was he stood and while he rules your little monster world, Batman is king in Gotham and takes a backseat to no one, including the almighty yokai emperor."
Moka's blood simmered over with agitation and annoyance as she stepped forward cracking her knuckles.
"There's one way to handle little boys like you with so much disobedience... and that's beating the living daylight out of you."
"You'd only embarrass yourself if you tried," Damian grinned, knowing he was already in Moka's head.
Alfred bit over his tongue and knew he needed to interject before things went any further.
"Embarrass myself?" Moka laughed, humored by his arrogance. "I could break every bone in your little body in one kick and unfortunately for you there's no Batman here to stop me."
"Master Damian, miss Aono... please," Alfred interposed.
"You vampires are all bark and no bite, why don't you put some action behind that mouth of yours."
Once again Moka found herself both laughing and amused by the words and insults stemming from the lad.
"You talk too much," Moka marched forward with a confident smirk occupying hear features. "I'm going to enjoy putting you in your place!"
Damian didn't budge nor fret and Moka didn't tap into her aura at all, knowing she was easily twenty times stronger than the boy without doing so. It was no good as neither would listen and Moka far too absorbed in her pride to back off. She was a foot away from Damian who was already in a defensive stance.
"Miss Moka, don't!" Alfred shouted. "Sasha is... is safe!"
"Pennyworth, you fool!" Damian shot.
Moka's heart instantly hurdled as in that second her anger and frustrations disappeared.
"What did you just say?" her breathing slowed as her head spun.
"Please do have a seat and I'll tell you everything, but only under the condition that what you hear stays in this room."
The vampire felt slight lightheadedness like she was a bliss and so she returned to the sofa and sat while Alfred do so across from her and all the while Damian stood with his teeth gritted and couldn't believe the butler spilled the beans.
"I'm sorry about the early antics but I deceived you for good reason and because Master Bruce asked that I did so."
"I don't get it," Moka shook her head. "You people have been hiding Sasha all this time?! Is that where Bruce is, with her; where are they?!"
Alfred exhaled and knew she had every right to be angry and frustrated, so he didn't hold that against her.
"It's complicated... very complicated. The honest truth is we've known of Sasha's departure from your mother's fort since the night after she took off. Much has changed since then and most importantly Master Wayne..."
"Where the hell are they?!" Moka hissed, slowly losing her patience and temper as she didn't like the way she'd been lied to.
Alfred's gaze fell over the ground as he gave no eye contact and remained in that position for some time before looking up at her.
"The young master was brutally injured in a battle the night of Sasha's return and I suppose you could say fate was at work, for if she hadn't returned when she did Master Wayne would no longer be with us."
"How so?" Moka looked at him fright. "None of this makes any sense."
Damian remained soundless and still with no intent to interject as Pennyworth had already said too much and stopping him was pointless.
"She injected him with her blood," Alfred looked into the eyes of Moka which had again expanded. "And over a three day period he was unconscious, but his body going through extreme changes and by the time he woke, master Wayne had... had been turned."
The last words out his mouth took her time to really digest as she fell back over the sofa and running both hands through her hair, feeling as though she might explode. Little by little she pulled herself together as she was experiencing so many different feelings all at once, threatening to consume her, but she pushed back and took control.
"Miss Aono," Alfred waved. "Are you still with me?"
"I think... so you're telling me Bruce is a vampire," she made eye contact with him again as he nodded, and a shiver circulating through every muscle in her body. "I want to know everything."
"Very well, but shall I prepare you something to eat? This might take a while."
Moka took deep breathes attempting to settle her nerves and she didn't want to speak on the matter of his turning or the reveal that Sasha had been with family the entire time until she heard every last detail.
"It can wait," the silver haired vampire shook her head.
And just like that Alfred rubbed his hands together and cleared his throat as he started from the very beginning.
XXX
Tensions were high and many on edge as already a couple fights and arguments broke out with finger pointing coming from all directions and the yokai emperor calling on a meeting in the town of Meltaw where most the international powers happened to be ahead of the grand trials set to take place for the realm's most wanted criminals. It wasn't the usual sizeable space that was inside his estate but there were plenty of seats and a long table where the kingdom leaders sat at the table alongside some of their top ranked generals.
There were also others not seated at the table who stood around off to the side but were just as engaged in the conversations as everyone else. A couple things were thrown but no physical fights had broken out to that point, though things certainly seemed to be headed in that direction. It was just a few short minutes later that Apollo himself entered and typically his very presence would silence the room but on this day that didn't happen and the overall atmosphere was more comparable to a rowdy court room than it was a conference. Apollo cleared his throat as he tried getting the attention of everyone in attendance but his efforts were for nothing as the yelling and shouting prolonged, and Apollo running a hand over his face.
"Enough bickering!" he shouted after several seconds of listening to the back and forth insults and threats. "Yelling and screaming won't us anywhere."
The room quieted as Apollo's shoulder's dropped and on seat down to his left is where Akasha sat and across from her was Fafnir. Many were affected by what occurred in Lagooz forest, some personally and others from a mental standpoint. The Dark Lord was one of those persons heavily affected as it took every fiber in her being not to punch through a wall or hurt someone.
"This is a travesty, we must discover who the persons behind this are and they shall be punished severely for this. Never before in the history of this realm has a band of criminals freed a prisoner, or prisoners during a wide realm prisoner escort with National Wexers at the helm. This has been a disgraceful showing by all parties involved! Had I been there none of this..."
"Wooooohhh, wooohh hold it there, the blame game has got to end or we'll end up fighting each other and that's precisely what the person's responsible want. And stop me if I'm wrong, but weren't four of your own handpicked vampires along the trip?" Nicolas Patro, the king of goblins posed, eying Akasha.
The Dark Lord silently growled but didn't consider responding as he had made a compelling point. But the vampire quietly reflected and felt strongly that had she been present the night of the attack, those said hundreds of ghost like beings would have been stopped.
"What I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around, aside from who they freed, but who they didn't break free," Yasmine Laurent, the queen of Aqualanteis spoke. "They blew the golden bridge sky high splitting more than half of the escorts and attacked those who were redirected into the Lagooz forest. And of all the prisoners... they freed Jitoshi Ichiro who was rated just fourth out of those among the prison carriages, and five others! Why only them, why not free them all?!"
This very question left everyone throughout pondering this exact notion until the queen of kitsune, Kiyoko Ito decided to speak.
"A conversation between myself and major general Kotori Chiemi which persisted a few couple hours revealed something to me, as you all know she was on the frontlines when this all went down. These monsters, these demons if you will, left every security personnel and National Wexers alive. Naturally they could have and should have killed each of our fallen warriors... but they didn't. The first suspects that come to mind are the Wallop broods, Sanction Gloves and the Back River Crips! At some time or another Jitoshi, and two of the other escapees had been allied with each group of outlaws and highly regarded. And early reports from my inspection squad who investigated a handful of the traps and weapons scattered throughout the forest proved two things."
The entire room was dead silent as everyone listened in to what she had to say.
"The first is the positioning, setting of where each trap was set. Our enemy is with great battle and weapons proficiency. The entire setup inside Lagooz was methodically planned out and setup by a battle genius and or geniuses. This attack was planned to the root, down to the very last detail."
"What the hell is that even supposed to mean?!" King Delbert shot.
"It's exactly as I detailed. The whole strike was formulated from the point of the golden bridge decimation, which detail unit believes their intent was in fact to purposely cut down our numbers before springing their attack. And interestingly the weapons and traps in place were all of non-lethal weaponry, which seems to point in the direction of Sanction Gloves."
"There's them, but we can't forget the other dozens of gangs and outlaws this man's associated himself with in just the past eighty years alone. It wouldn't surprise me if this was a collective effort by various firms!" Imani added, king of ogres.
Others within the room felt similarly, knowing of the gang in particular that went about its business holding a code of honor and killing if it became necessary. Problem was the group was so wide spread just as the others, so pin pointing an exact stronghold was difficult. There was that, but another factor being the circumstance itself. Even if they had the Wexers outnumbered ten to one, there was still no way they should have fallen, the power, skill and combat abilities so much greater.
Watching them all go at each other's throats with threats, speaking out of anger, humiliation and fury was like first rate entertainment to the dragon king and if he could have, Fafnir would have sat back with his feet propped over the table and a bowl of popcorn in his lap. All this talk about hundreds of demons and ghosts on the attack was a load of bullshit. He knew the truth of what went on and the entirety of them taken down by one man, one single man! Even now he couldn't believe it, some of the best the realm had had to offer defeated by a newly turned. But even he was stunned to hear that five others escaped, which must have occurred during the scuffle… or perhaps someone else was out there and took advantage of Bruce's actions. In fact the more he thought about it the more the dragon realized a third party involved itself. Even unguarded, it was virtually impossible for any said prisoner to have the means of escaping the prison carriages without assist. And for most the time since the beginning of the conference the dragon king sat in silence but looked to become more vocal as he cleared his throat and spoke up.
"What happened here with this whole ordeal and Jitoshi's escape is completely and utterly unacceptable, but I think we've touched on this more than enough. Arcenill Mount will take center stage in reconstruction of the bridge and our own investigations into what exactly happened behind the scenes!"
Apollo smiled at the words of his son as he sat forward and with his hands together. This was certainly a surprise coming from him, and the emperor pondering what the base was for his assertion.
"As I'm sure each individual in this room and your firms will perform your own separate inspections I shall have the Nights Warriors on standby and working things from another angle, deducing a possible motive for this attack and figure who was behind this. The persons responsible, and I mean all of them will be brought to justice! I shall closely look into matters myself!" Apollo added.
Fafnir bit back and gulped at this statement, but another part of him silently chuckling as he knew the truth. The Batman had made fools of them all with the support of himself and Selene Kayeda. And what was believed to be hundreds of demons was a three person operation with the caped crusader at the wheel and doing what he did best, preparing himself for a hopeless outcome and making it possible. And as he sat there Fafnir couldn't help but take satisfaction in the hurt and discomfort in the eyes of Akasha. Her entire world was slowly crumbling around her, first the loss of Sasha and now this and what made it even more gratifying was those involved. Her past lover, who he was convinced she still cared for and of course her very own loyal maiden, Selene.
Inside he was laughing historically as he very much enjoyed seeing her in torment and felt it was justifiable punishment for her actions seven years back, but the dragon put on his best poker face as his father sat right between them and the emperor was no idiot. If Fafnir gave any indication of delight in front of Apollo, he'd see it and though he was the emperor's son, red flags would raise. The matter before them wasn't humorous nor a laughing matter, but lucky for him Fafnir took what he learned from Apollo and applied it to himself, knowing exactly how to hide things and go about operations without details getting out or leaked, especially to his father of all people. His decision to aid the crusader wasn't a declaration of war on the realm, but more so a gamble and if it played out as planned the dangerous enemies would be closer to falling.
Days later
It was over a platform surrounded by raging flames that both Selene and Bruce positioned with their hands clasped together and their eyes closed and a bright aura emitting from them both. They had been this way for the past couple hours in a meditative state and their inner spirits effectively connected and soon the energy circulating around them died down as their eyes gradually opened and met. She lowered her hands from his but they remained in their kneeled positions.
"So much darkness, pain and misery... but there is light within you Bruce," Selene spoke softly. "All these years you've held it all at bay, and with your turning you're far more at risk for being engulfed by it all and consumed, but lucky for you I'm here to prevent that."
Bruce bit back as he looked her off for a moment.
"How exactly does that technique of yours work, did you read my thoughts?"
Selene chuckled at this as she shook her head.
"Nothing quite like that, Bruce. It's a deep meditative technique that I picked up on two and a half centuries ago during the process of traveling the world and bettering myself as a doctor. I'm no telepath I can assure you, this procedure fundamentally allows me to dive into your inner spirit and connect with my own as you felt the joining of our inner energy."
"I did," Bruce nodded.
"The purpose of this all is to in a sense create a safety wall, barricade or whatever you want to call it... detaching spirit from body. And I don't mean literally, just metaphorically speaking the changes in your body will have less affect over the way you behave and think."
"I think I understand," Bruce spoke. "Generally speaking, mind, body, spirit and soul all work in sync and if one is damaged then the others will experience backlash. This meditative method if I'm following would in a way have spirit and mind operating over its own panel away from body and therefore less distressed."
"Bingo," Selene gave him a thumbs up. "I couldn't have explained it better myself, but until you've perfected this technique you will be at high risk for losing what you were, especially with all that darkness inside you just waiting to spring loose."
"Teach me," Bruce gazed into her eyes with intent and purpose. "I want to perfect this."
The female vampire smiled at his determination with a slight nod.
"This isn't something that'll come easy and it'll be quite some time before you're able to master it on your own, but until then I shall pilot you through connection," Selene reached out taking hold of his hands once more. "We shall go under again, but this time much deeper and forewarning... you may experience the greatest traumas of your life. It will feel livelier than a dream and you must stay poised and not give into emotion. It is through this, facing your greatest fears and aches that you make it through and master this. I shall piggyback you through this as many times as it takes and then one day... and I know that day will come that you do so without the connected link of myself. It took me years to master, but something tells me you'll have it down much sooner. Are you ready?" she asked.
"I am," Bruce replied.
"Good, now close your eyes and concentrate on the flow of my aura and match it."
Bruce did exactly this and within moments their minds and spirits were in an entirely different plain, connected and a bright energy force surrounding their bodies.
XXX
It snowed vigorously just outside the kingdom of Yundervelt as two yokai journeyed through the small storm. Both were dressed accordingly for the weather, and the first Kiria Yoshii with Kuyo to his left. It was in front of a cabin that they knocked and moments later a figure standing over 7'0 appeared through the doorway dressed in a brown trench coat and other winter attire.
"Ilon," Kiria smiled at the ogre. "I hear you have something for us."
"Come in," the ogre stepped aside as both yokai did exactly this and the door closing behind them.
Around the corner and into the next room is where Ilon led them both and it was there they set eyes over an individual sitting beside the fireplace with a blanket wrapped around his body and his feet in a bucket of hot water surrounded by herbs. He had spikey orange hair, with fair skin and rose red eyes with a slit through them. It was Kiria that quietly chuckled as he stepped forward.
"Well what do you know…"
"A couple of my bandits in Xsouviz found him roaming a couple miles from here and brought him to me. Turns out the National Wexers were hit, and hit hard," Ilon looked to Kiria. "He isn't the only one who managed to escape. Word is they were hit by hundreds, possibly in the thousand range with some of what's been said. What about this one, what will you do about him?"
Kiria looked down over Jitoshi who did the same returning that gaze.
"I'll summon and bring in an inspection squad and have him examined," Kiria looked away from him. "Once they've confirmed he hasn't been compromised in any way than I shall return with him to Fairy Tale… I'd imagine Ched still has some use for him."
"Who out there could have pulled this off is the billion dollar question," Kuyo moved away from the group and situated in front of a nearby window. "It must be one hell of a group to oppose the Wexers head on and succeed."
Months later
The scheduled two months and a half of training finished in just over three and in that time he'd gone through and accomplished much. There were times battle sessions lasted three days or even four days nonstop, on the move battling or sometimes passing through deathtraps and mazes with dire obstacles to overcome. Selene Kayeda put him through it all, pushing him to the peak of his physical strength and endurance whilst exercising his most powerful weapon, his mind.
As he got further and further into his meditation drill the sessions became so much more intense as he lunged further and deeper into his own hidden darkness and there were many times Bruce suspected he might be consumed by it all, never to resurface but no matter how far he sank he always found a way back to the surface. Early on Selene was there to do so but as his training progressed he was left on his own to do so without safety insurance.
The conditions he was put through weren't always ideal, sometimes forty to fifty degrees below freezing and other times in environments that would otherwise melt the skin right off any normal person. Even during his down time he was always on guard as Selene had often instructed her maids to attack at random, some in close and sometimes from afar using long range weapons. His yokai detection and senses developed greatly through the months and at a point incoming attacks with energy or yokai attached to it, he dodged without thinking as it came so naturally.
There was that but he had also taken full control of and understood the ins and outs of his body and how to regulate his mental state and natural vampire inclinations through blood consumption and meditation. All of what he learned was essential, but nothing held his attentiveness more than losing control and allowing what he physically became to take over and what he was pushed aside as a passenger for the ride. It was just after three months real-time that it all ended, bidding Selene farewell at the wrapping up of his training as he made his departure from the realm of Alvasleha, but he also realized that wouldn't be the last they'd meet. He expected to see much of her in the future as she agreed to check up on him now and again to confirm he wasn't suffering any setbacks.
It was a lovely afternoon in the kingdom of Hiklorhan and its queen couldn't have been more cheerful despite the past months occurrences, but there was still so much to be excited about. And all morning she'd been busy running in and out of her office with so many different errands to attend but within the last hour things had really began to settle and she was able to focus on what she really wanted. The Dark Lord was with a smile and along her table and desk were thousands of printed and prepared wedding invitations nearly ready to be sent out to the masses. The door to Akasha's office was left open as a woman approached, but it had been some time since her last visit and she wondered just how exactly the pink haired vampire would react to her reappearance.
"Hello," the woman knocked. "Long time no see..."
Akasha turned from the table and looked back at this woman who had fair skin standing at 5'9, with long purple hair, red eyes with slit pupils and she wore silver lightweight armor. The gear covered her chest, forearms, but her stomach and her upper arms left exposed. She also wore a pair of black boots and Akasha was halfway astounded as she stared at this woman.
"Selene..." the pink haired vampire whispered, their eyes locked.
The Asagao three's medic lightly bit over her tongue waiting for a response from her master as there were so many ways she could respond and after what felt like a minute of just standing there, Akasha took a deep breath as she slowly approached Selene.
"Where have you been all this time?! The night you left my castle, you said you'd be absent a few days and here we are nearly four months later! Where in the world have you been?!"
The Dark Lord marched toward Selene who stood her ground and she was anticipating Akasha might strike her but instead she threw her arms around the purple haired vampire and embraced her, which came as somewhat a surprise but even so she hugged her back.
"It's very good to see you."
"As it is to see you, Akasha-sama."
From the last time she'd been inside Akasha's office there were various changes all of which good. Selene followed her master further into the space and right away she noticed the sadness in her eyes, but in that moment Akasha didn't care about where she'd been all this time and instead just happy to see her.
"A lot has changed since that night... and I mean a lot. Sasha went missing the same night you left, and I'm sure you remember the scolding I put on her! I believe that was basis which led to her departure and I nor has anyone else seen her since! I've done my best to show face and not look affected but there are times I've wanted to cry, and even now I have trouble sleeping, the not knowing has made it difficult. And that isn't all," the Dark Lord shook her head with her eyes lowered over the ground. "Jitoshi was sprung free! Freed from imprisonment right under our feet!"
"What?!" Selene's eyes widened as she fell back. "How could that happen?!"
The purple haired vampire listened as Akasha detailed what she'd been told by her personal handpicked vampires who were present during the outbreak and how they were attacked by hundreds of ghosts coming at them from all directions and Selene putting on her best expression to appear terrified.
"That... that's horrible my lady. Is there any idea of who's responsible?" Selene inquired.
"Nothing, so many different suspects it'll take time," Akasha shook her head leaning against her own office desk. "But I have this really bad feeling that what happened might be tied to Sasha... she was close to him, and she begged me to spare his life on the night of her disappearance but I wasn't hearing any of it. Part of me believes she returned to wherever she was for the latter of her life and it is they who're behind this and if true, then my baby girl has allied herself with an enemy to the entire realm..."
Akasha fought and held back tears as it was the most emotion she showed on the matter in weeks, part of it being the very presence of Selene who she wasn't afraid to reveal her wounds and emotional side.
"I... I just don't know what to do, I've thought about going to her father and telling him but I just haven't found the inner strength to do so. All this time I believed Sasha would be much safer and happier under my care, but maybe I was wrong on both accounts."
By then Akasha bit back as tears fell from her eyes and Selene embraced her once more and rubbed a hand over the back of her queen and they remained like that for a moment before Akasha backed away and smiled as she wiped the tears away from her eyes.
"Thank you, it means the world that you've returned to me and now of all times. I've only got around to discussing the bad but there's also some good news," Akasha's expression brightened. "We have a date set for the mating ceremony, two weeks from this very day Colton and I will be mated and he'll become king of Hiklorhan! Isn't it great?!"
Akasha took hold of Selene's hands and jumped up, but the purple haired vampire's lack of energy was exceptionally noticeable as Akasha took a step back staring at her.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing," Selene put on a forged smile as she shook her head. "I'm happy for you."
Her eyes followed Akasha as the Dark Lord's hands dropped down over the table top with countless invitations.
"I could really use your help getting these invitations sealed in envelopes and sent out if you wouldn't mind. It's funny, just a little while ago I was torn between this entire situation and my past relations... but then Colton told me he wanted to start a family. That made me so happy and I'm at a point now where I can truly move on and not hold onto other possibilities."
"Other possibilities?" Selene asked curiously. "Are you referring to Wayne again?"
"Yes," Akasha nodded simply. "Our genetic dissimilarities and my position as queen have made it impossible for anything to truly come of us as I've touched on. I'll always hold a spot for him in my being, but my love and dedication is to Colton from this point forward. But enough about all that, how's about we get all these invitations packaged and ready to go? My personal attendants are out on lunch and I'll have them finish the rest once they return but we'll go ahead and get a head start. I'm also in talks with the best bands available, it's going to be great and there will be plenty of food and entertainment. I'm so excited!"
The pink haired vampire smiled warmly.
"Sure," Selene nodded.
From then they went right to work and a book of kingdom addresses to yokai nobles was opened as they went through filling out the proper info over the envelopes and it was just after the eighth that Selene could no longer take it as she tossed the invitation aside, sick to her stomach and her eyes over the ground and a very worried Akasha looking down over her.
"What's the matter?" Akasha questioned.
No response was given and instead Selene pushed away from the table in bottomless thought, and while it had been roughly four months for Akasha since they last spoke, that timeframe was vaster for the purple haired vampire, being just over one full year and four months given the flow of time inside the realm of Alvasleha. It was during this stretch she learned much about her master's past lover, being the way he pushed himself, firm sense of justice and a mind more brilliant than so many. Early on she studied and quickly determined he was a special case, but even she wasn't prepared for or prophesied what he'd accomplish in just over a year of severe training, reaching such a level in raw power and balance of energy that normally took the typical vampire a decade or two to muster.
And through it all she had failed to awaken his shinso blood, but it was somewhere deep inside him just waiting to erupt and when that happened it would be quite the manifestation. Whether that meant power equal to or greater than Akasha's. But she did realize one thing and that was always having her master's best interests in mind, which nothing being more important than her future and happiness. Selene was to the door in a hurry as she slammed it shut and locked as she rubbed her head against the wood surface of the door as she silently grumbled to herself.
"Dammit, dammit," she quietly jeered as her fists clinched, taking note of the promise she made; a promise she fully intended on keeping. But then came this, she just had to return to something like this! "Bruce... I'm sorry."
Akasha couldn't make out any of what Selene said as it was all in a whisper and the vampire was with her back to her for an extended period before eventually turning and facing her.
"You were asking about where I've been this entire time," Selene breathed out. "Truth is you could say I've misled you the very moment I stepped into this office, but I will do that no more. Before I speak more you must promise you won't... won't harm me."
Hearing this caused Akasha to jump slightly.
"Harm you, I would never do that. Please tell me, no matter how awful it might be."
Selene took a deep breath but didn't give Akasha eye contact.
"Sasha has nothing to do with any of what happened with Jitoshi's escape. I'm confident the ones responsible will be brought to justice, whoever they are."
"What are you saying, do you know where she is?!" Akasha shouted.
The vampire bit over her tongue, still refusing to look the Dark Lord in the eyes.
"I've been away and haven't communicated with anyone from this end, but I find your father's decision to keep this from you rather alarming. It happened the night after Sasha ran away," Selene raised her head and made eye contact for the first time. "She managed to store herself in the back of my jet undetected and once I touched down in the human world she took off without my awareness. She then returned to Gotham."
Akasha's heart dove, but in a good way feeling nothing but relief as though she might cry again.
"She's been with Bruce this whole time, and you're saying father knew and didn't tell me?! All the conversations we've had since then and him consoling me... was that all a lie?! And none of that explains why you've been missing for long as you have!"
Selene bit back witnessing firsthand Akasha's motherly fury mounting from being kept in the dark.
"I wish it was that simple, but sadly that's only part of it," Selene shook her head. "Sasha returned to Gotham as I stated, but not to what she was hoping to see. You've heard and read about the vampire Demitri Maximoff, well oddly enough he was in Gotham at the time of Sasha's return and confronted Batman. Needless to say, your ex didn't fare so well."
Akasha lowered a hand over her heart as it pounded significantly faster and fear springing within her.
"What happened to him, is he okay?"
Selene took a deep breath before continuing on.
"Bruce Wayne was beaten to near death, every bone in his body broken and beyond repair. Demitri's goal was to completely destroy him and he..."
The purple haired vampire stopped as tears fell from the Dark Lord's eyes as by then she realized Bruce was either dead, or crippled and his life as Batman a thing of the past. She knew that sooner or later it would come to this, an enemy or criminal getting the better of him, but she never imagined it'd be so soon. Selene watched in shock as Akasha fell to her knees and her face buried in the palms of her hands as she cried, and her heart ached at the sight of seeing her master this way.
"Akasha-sama, please," Selene extended an arm shaking her head. "There's more and Bruce isn't dead... all thanks to Sasha."
With her hands lowered Akasha looked up at Selene with tear filled eyes, speculating what she meant by this.
"While he laid dying in the arms of Sasha she did exactly what you'd expect her to do... she infused her blood into him."
Akasha jumped up wiping away the wetness from her cheeks.
"Emperor Apollo showed up not long after and as I'm sure you know the rules of our realm which must be upheld."
Akasha's fists clinched as her inner yokai jumped.
"Father killed him?"
"No," Selene shook her head. "Though he would have had it not been for the timely emergence of both Superman and Cyborg of the Justice League. Your father even threatened to dispose of little Sasha for her refusal to step away from Wayne. While Cyborg took off with your daughter and Bruce, Superman held Apollo at bay and a fight broke out. A battle ending in the kryptonian's victory. A few hours later I received a call from a weeping Sasha and she explained to me what had happened... and the state her father was in. They boomed me up to their little watchtower and for the next couple days I worked on and looked after him, keeping Bruce from mutating into a ghoul. Whelp, those days came and went and then he awoke..."
"And?" Akasha asked cautiously with her hands together.
"He was no longer human, nor a ghoul," Selene looked Akasha off as she paced back and forth. "Sasha's blood successfully turned him. Bruce Wayne is just as we, my lady... a vampire."
The Dark Lord stumbled back as her very brain spun, taking time to digest all this info and on the edge of passing out as her body grew so frenzied with so many thoughts swirling throughout her at once. This wasn't enough however, the purple haired vampire knowing exactly what she was doing and her reason for breaking the promise was all for the sake of her master. But she wanted to push her even further and so Selene continued.
"And now that leads us to my absence for the past several months," Selene looked into the eyes of the Dark Lord who looked just about ready to have a nervous breakdown. "Newly turns don't make it out there alone on their own very well without guidance as you know, so I've been at his side teaching and showing him the way and how not to misplace himself. And you know of Wonder Woman, yes? She was also very helpful and active during this time."
Akasha wanted to speak but she didn't know what to say as she was utterly shell-shocked. Apollo knew of Sasha's whereabouts this entire time, Bruce had been turned and one of her most loyal servants had been secretly coaching him without her knowledge.
"Oh and before you ask, your father is oblivious to Wayne's turning from what I've heard. Sasha has been in the Justice League's care since that night while I've attended to Wayne and his changes. We focused only on the mental aspect, he has no physical training whatsoever. But as I was saying before," Selene smiled devilishly. "Diana Prince was mostly present during this time and you could say a little something sparked between them and one night I even walked in on them."
"Walked in on them," Akasha murmured. "Doing what?"
The Dark Lord raised her voice and her fists again tightened.
"Let's just say the princess of Themyscira experienced personally what it's like to be fucked by a vampire in extreme heat," she lied through her teeth on not only this, but details of his training.
Akasha's shoulders fell and her mouth slumping, feeling like she'd been punched in the gut.
"And that was only the one time I saw for myself. There's no telling how many other occasions they've done it. Amazons are said to be a great warrior race just as our species but with much higher standards and certain rules. They aren't ones to spread their legs so simply, if at all to a man so the fact that their very own princess did so for him, must mean it's serious. Any who, yur over him," Selene shrugged her shoulders as she closed her eyes. "So it matters little to..."
Almost immediately Akasha shot forward and ceased the throat of Selene, lifting the purple haired vampire off the ground as her feet dangled.
"Like hell I'm over him!" the Dark Lord hissed baring her fangs. "Whenever I've given Colton sexual favors, or even when we've kissed I often close my eyes and imagine it's him that I'm with, Bruce! And now you're telling me two weeks before my wedding that he's been turned, and I'm just now finding out about this when you've known for months how I feel about him?!"
Akasha's grip tightened around Selene's throat and the vampire's attempts at responding were virtually impossible.
"And not only that, but you've known all along of Sasha's safety and didn't think for a second that I'd want to know, she's my daughter! You should have returned the instant this all broke out. Not knowing where she was almost killed me!"
Selene's eyes rolled into the back of her head, feeling like she'd pass out from a lack of oxygen but then Akasha tossed her forward and up against the wall. Coughing and gasping for air, Selene was on her knees and drooling from the left side of her mouth.
"I kept his turning from you at his own request, Akasha-sama. Otherwise I would have come to you immediately... shall we finish with the invitations?" she barely got the words out, panting and breathing heavily.
"Invitations?" Akasha glared before taking off in the opposite direction toward her desk and punching into the middle of it as the table split in half and the envelopes scattering all over the floor. "Screw the invitations, I need time to think! I refuse to go through with this marriage... not with this out there, not when there's still a chance. Thousands… no millions were scheduled to attend the ceremony and now this! Morrigan is a succubi so fooling around with someone of interest is one thing but the amazon... eeeerrrrrrr!"
The Dark Lord pulled at her hair as she marched back and forth, Selene quietly enjoying a victory lap as she set out and accomplished exactly what she wanted. Akasha wanted to punch through and break down every wall in the room with her frustration mounting, knowing just how troubling cancelling an event this vast would cause.
"I must go to him, is he in Gotham?!" Akasha's glare fell over Selene, but then she quickly backtracked as another came to mind. "Father! This whole thing, everything that's been happening has been one huge conspiracy and myself left out!"
Akasha was torn about what she should do from there. A discussion needed to be had with both Apollo and Wayne, feelings of betrayal and deceit weighing heavy over her as she contemplated what she should do from there.
"Out of my office Selene, I need to think."
"As you wish, Akasha-sama," the vampire bowed before stepping out.
XXX
He was sitting over a bench with one of the larger fountains within the palace as he tossed ripped down pieces of bread to the birds chirping and flapping about just in front of him. It was a beautiful evening in the kingdom of Vindellorien. Luke Fox was also enjoying the view of the sun setting but in the distance but he wasn't alone for long as a woman approached from the steps to his left extending upward and towards the castle.
"Howdy," the woman waved.
She had light green hair tied in two pigtails with red bows, light brown skin, wearing a red tunic, black skirt and black boots with a necklace.
Luke halfway jumped from the bench as he looked into the rose colored eyes of the vampire.
"You don't really intend on doing it here, out in the open like this, do you? The blood sucking is really becoming an annoyance."
Miukei rested a hand over her heart as she stuck out her lower lip and pouted.
"How vindictive, you hurt my feelings," the remark wasn't spoken without mockery in her tone.
She marched around and in front of him as she leaned forward with her hands over his knees and just a couple inches between their faces.
"Did you think for a second that maybe, just maybe I just wanted to say hello?"
He thought about it for a quick second before looking away from her and with a silent chortle.
"Forget discussions, I hardly doubt you are interested in anything about me other than my blood."
Her mouth opened as she looked to argue against the notion, but the only that came out of her mouth was a snicker as she stood upright and took two steps back.
"You saw right through me," she smiled. "But hey, we have to start somewhere, so how about you go first. How did you and that woman end up in our realm and then in the custody of the elves?"
Miukei lowered herself and sat beside him over the bench with one leg over the other. But surprisingly Luke didn't speak and nor did he give eye contact, knowing full and well what she thought about humans and felt she used this opportunity to try and butter him up for easier access to his blood. Realizing exactly this, Miukei rolled her eyes and breathed out.
"Fine, I'll go first. I'm Miukei Suzcoo of the Asagao three, loyal to and trained by the great Dark Lord, Bloodriver Akasha. The trio consists of myself, Selene Kayeda and Lailay Izami, as I know you've seen her more than a couple dozen times, quite the dearest she is," Miukei smiled.
From the corner of her eyes she noticed Luke staring off into space and paying her no mind, which the vampire then hissed punching at his left shoulder.
"The hell was that for?!"
"It's impolite not to listen when someone is talking to you, Fox!" Miukei shot back.
"And what gave you the impression I wasn't?!" Luke responded.
She wanted so gravely to shout at and go off on him, but she didn't and so she just sat back awhile quietly grumbling.
"As I was saying," she continued on. "I am of the Asagao three, each of us contributing in our own unique ways. Selene for example specializes in medicine and treating the injured or ill. She isn't just the team's medic, but she's considered one of the best in the entire realm. Many have sought her in the direst situations. And then there's Lailay who's practically the brains and schemer of we lot, so more or less she leads the charge whenever we're out on the battlefield."
"And you?" Luke's eyes fell over her. "What's your contribution?"
For a moment the vampire paused as her gaze met with his.
"I'm the weapon's expert and our best hand to hand fighter, but that isn't to say either isn't fully capable in battle themselves. We stay on top of our training and studies much as possible, with current and past events but we aren't without having a little fun on the side. Partying is totally our forte when the time is available, I mean who doesn't like to have some fun and get wild from time to time?"
"Yeah," Luke nudged with his eyes falling over the ground. "Point made, and it sounds to me like the three of you hold quite an important position in this realm."
Miukei only nodded as she sat back.
"Yes, very much. Our master Akasha is not only the queen of vampires, but the adoptive daughter of our emperor and therefore princess of the entire realm, holding much higher authority than any other king or queen in power within the many kingdoms."
Luke listened as she continued relaying more and more information and oddly enough he found himself growing interested by much of what she said. In just those couple minutes alone he learned a great deal about the monster world and with a different perspective on things and even her.
"Okay so I've told you a little... not a lot about myself, so have at it. What's the backstory of Luke Fox?"
The vampire shifted and almost in his lap which caused him to shiver as she looked on with eyes of interest. He thought silently for a period before sighing and shaking his head.
"I... I'd rather not talk about it, at least not now," Luke replied as he looked up in her eyes.
"You don't trust me?" the vampire probed.
No response was necessary as this very notion was clear just by looking into his eyes, and so she sat back but never taking her eyes off him.
"Fine, I'll just have to gain your trust."
"And how do you intend on doing that?" Luke faced her.
"Come now stupid," Miukei flicked a finger over his left cheek. "That isn't gonna come in a sudden second, give it time and you'll see."
Right away Luke laughed as he looked to the sky and the vampire looking on with muddled eyes, unmindful to what he found so humorous.
"You want to gain my trust," Luke cackled some more as he ran a hand over the side of his head. "Blood drinking isn't going to do that, let me tell yah."
The vampire frowned but then just as quickly chuckled.
"Quite the smart ass," Miukei smirked. "I like that. Gaining your trust has little to do with snacking on you. But in the meantime how's about giving me a pint serving of that delicious blood of yours?"
"Talks about gaining my trust and then asks for my blood a second later. And is that you asking, or a demand?"
"This is me asking," she smiled with the nod of her head.
"And what if I were to say no?" Luke questioned.
Miukei simply giggled, playing with a strand of hair which had fallen over her face.
"I'd feed regardless of your answer," she clasped her hands together with sparkles in them. "Your blood is just too irresistible to pass up. So we can just do it here or find somewhere private, but I want some now," she wiggled her backside.
There was no time for a response or action as a set of individuals approached from down the steps and leading them was Prince Arlo. The prince of elves specifically approached and looked to the vampire as she did the same back.
"We're setting off for the Golitex event in just forty minutes if you're still interested in attending. It'll be about a two hour ride there and we won't be back until another day or so."
"Golly," Miukei jumped up from the bench, just about forgetting her urge for human blood. "Can't believe I let that slip my mind. I'll go and get ready right away."
"Good to know," Arlo smirked. "Both the King and Queen will be making the trip, but Princess Sienna will stay behind and watch things, but she shall have the best security watching over her. Also, Isla and her unit should be returning from a four day voyage, so Vindellorien will be in great hands."
Miukei gave Luke one final glimpse and much as she wanted to taste his blood, she was short for time and didn't want to hold up everyone. She was the first up the steps and then followed by Arlo and his men. And it was right in that instant that Luke realized their scheduled capture of Princess Sienna was planned for this exact day. They had known well in advance that the circumstance would be in their favor. For various reasons this couldn't be brought to the attention of anyone, even King Delbert.
XXX
It was his first night back to Gotham and he only got around to speaking with Alfred before taking off on patrol following a long hour of reading over some of the headlines. And it was anything but a quiet night as he came up on a group of mobsters with tides to not only Scarface but the rat catcher. The group in question had particularly gained some ground in his absence. His trailing of them led to a small business building and he managed to drop a small tracking device over a black truck pulling out and based on the conversation picked up on, the vehicle was headed for the prime stronghold.
"GCPD is relentless aint they, sheeeshhh, got em off our backs for a lil while though."
"They can keep coming and coming but with Dent and his latest gig and all the noise he's been making, aint nothing to worry about. We're living the life, pretty gals, action and stupid amounts of money. Last thing we need is Gotham's finest breathing up our asses," another replied sorting through weapons over a table.
Across the room a single of the gunmen tossed the final duffle bags filled with money into a safe before slamming it shut.
"Heard something about Killer Croc holding up in the sewers and building an army on the surface in hopes to gain an edge. There aint been no sign of the bat in months or the Joker for that matter, so..."
The windows above them shattered as a single dark figure dropped down. There were eighteen of them total, all taking hold of their weapons.
"No way, it's him! This can't be happening!"
They fired his way as the dark knight zipped through and didn't bother ducking for cover. The bullets were moving at such a decelerated speed from his perspective that he was easily able to see and dodge each projectile as he moved in on the first of them and laying him out in a single strike. The next came a second later and then another, all of it happening so fast as he moved and twirled around in such a unnatural way that the gunmen were unable to get off a clear shot and the eighteen of them taken out in just over eight seconds.
There was however one that remained conscious a couple feet from him and the criminal reaching for his weapon as Batman zipped along KOing him in a singular strike to the head. Not a second later someone applauded as he looked upward and to the skylights used to enter and another jumped through, gliding atop a table. It was a woman dressed in brown armor, silver boots, and a purple bat symbol over the chest with cape and cowl. Her long silver hair with pink at the ends waved about.
"Moka!" Batman stared her down in surprise.
"Sssshhh," the vampire placed a gloved finger over her own lips as she jumped from the table and in front of him. "We're in suit, no secret identity reveals. It's Vampire Bat."
Batman only glared with no response.
"I watched you just now, and... you were so incredible, so fast and fluid! You've likely heard this a bunch, but how does it feel?" she almost jumped out of her boots as she leaped up. "And before you ask, I found out from Alfred but I didn't want to believe it until I saw for myself, but there's no denying it. You're a vampire! That Selene must have been one hell of a teacher, you really look sharp with great control of your..."
"Who else knows?" Batman questioned as he walked passed Vampire Bat and to a safe in a corner of the room.
She followed close behind him and the Dark Knight not pleased with Alfred's slip up of his situation, but the circumstance unknown to him and so he didn't judge.
"Only myself, not even Tsukune," she moved up on and watched him break open the safe with a small gadget containing loads of stolen money and weapons. "I came to town because of Sasha-chan's disappearance to speak with you, but I was instead met by Alfred and Damian. Stuff happened and things got heated between myself and the little twerp and..."
A beeping sound stopped her from saying another word.
"What's that?" Vampire Bat asked.
"They've stopped," Batman responded. "The retreating vehicle I marked has reached its destination. Time for me to move."
"You mean us," Vampire Bat smirked. "We need to chat, and I mean like really but let's first take care of the crooks. I want to see Sasha-chan soon as possible when this is over. What do you say, for old times' sake? Oh and if you must know I kept regular contact with Alfred the day I found out, so got myself here two days in advance to your supposed return."
The caped crusader hacked into the police radio and made an anonymous call, giving out the location of the defeated criminals and stolen money. He then looked to Moka and stared at her for an extended period.
"What's up?" she asked.
"The suit," Batman pointed. "You held onto it."
"Hehe," she chuckled. "No way would I have given it up. You don't know how hard it was keeping this all to myself, especially from my husband."
He wasn't fond of the whole teaming up gig but he also knew how stubborn the silver haired vampire was and shewing her away would be more trouble than it's worth. So instead he reached down and behind his belt and tossed her an extra grapple gun.
"Use that to get around. You'll draw too much attention with your creation ability."
Batman pulled out an additional as he was the first out and then Vampire Bat as they took to the rooftops.
To be continued
- 15
- 16
- 17
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Clash of Realms