The chapter came to me easily so I hope it turns out well. Again, any help with Ame's Jinchuriki would be nice. Thank you!
Pairings: Naruto/Artemis, Catwoman/Batman
Disclaimer: If I owned any of the following fictional characters do you think I'd be writing on Fanfiction?
Episode 2: Average Day of a Not-So-Average Teen
"Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!" Naruto cursed as he leapt from building to building. He checked his watch again and uttered another curse.
"I am so screwed," Naruto muttered as he leapt down to the alleyway behind Gotham High. He ran out from the alleyway and to the front doors that he jumped through just before they shut automatically and locked. The blonde hopped back up to his feet before the final bell rang and ran towards the first class he had. He entered the classroom just as the teacher finished writing down on the board their first assignment.
"Well Mr. Kyle?" the English teacher, Mr. Slogger, asked as he turned to face the blonde, "What's your excuse for being late today?"
"My car broke down?" the blonde said sheepishly, earning snickering from the rest of the class. The teacher shook his head and rubbed his eyes with one hand. Slogger pointed to a chair.
"Just go sit down...we'll discuss this after class," the man said. The blonde sighed before going to his chair and plopping down in it.
"Smooth move, Snot," a small teen whispered to his left. Naruto glared at the teen. He was no taller than 5' 1" and his hair was shaved off his head, giving him a buzzed hairstyle. Around his neck were welder's goggles and he wore a dark green shirt and brown cargo shorts with military-type boots on his feet.
"Bite me Micro," Naruto hissed back, earning a glare from the smaller boy. Micro eventually turned his attention back to a tinkering subject on his desk. Naruto, curious as to what his somewhat friend was doing looked at him and asked, "What's that supposed to be, Giz?"
"Neutron Accelerator," the young technological wizard replied, "It'll scramble anyone's brainwaves if I can get it to work well enough...might just actually make yours work, Fox-boy."
Naruto growled at the jibe before smirking and whispering, "Remind me again, who's the one that's been in Juvie seventeen times?"
"Shut up!" Micro roared, interrupting the class and getting glared at by the teacher.
"Mr. O'Jeneus!" Mr. Slogger shouted, "That's a detention for you!"
When the teacher returned to his lesson, Micro glared at the smirking blonde on his right and hissed, "Remind me to never give you another code-bypass when you ask for it."
"Aw, Micro, I'm hurt," Naruto whispered, feigning pain by holding a hand to his chest and forcing his lip to tremble. The blonde then reduced himself to snickering while the nearly-bald boy to his left grumbled before returning to his project.
"Miss Kyle," Michelle, Selena's assistant said through her phone, "You have an eleven o'clock with some private investors at the museum, a lunch with a Chicago Museum head at Romeo's, a 1:30 dentist appointment, and Naruto has a parent/teacher meeting at Four, with Mr. Jenkins, the Chemistry teacher. He's worried about Naruto's lack of interest in the class."
"What period class is that, Michelle?" Selena asked through her blue tooth as she walked out of the elevator and towards the garage of her apartment complex.
"It would be tenth period, ma'am," Michelle replied. Selena sighed.
"That figures," Selena said, "Ok, move my dental appointment to two o'clock, I'm busy at one thirty."
"Yes ma'am," her assistant replied before Selena hung up on her and walked to her car. She unlocked her car and got in, driving away to begin her busy day.
"No way!" Micro shouted in the lunch line to the blonde next to him. Naruto shushed him and nodded. He had just told Micro that he managed to get his first single raid job planned.
"Yup," he said as he grabbed a hot dog, gelatin, and a Coke for his lunch from the line. The technological genius looked up at him in awe.
"I doubt it with the idiot you are," the boyish teen said. Naruto glared at him.
"Not all of us can be born geniuses, dumbass," the blonde said as he paid for his lunch and walked towards his usual table. Sitting there was an average looking boy with long red hair wearing a black and yellow T-shirt and black pants, a bald Indian girl wearing a white tank-top and jeans, and a thirteen-year-old boy wearing all black with a red skull on his shirt and sunglasses gleaming.
"Fox-face," the thirteen-year-old said with a nod, still hiding his eyes from the group. Naruto grinned as he sat next to the red haired boy.
"Sup Xavier," he returned as Micro sat next to him, "Jinx, Baran. How's everyone doin?"
"We're all good," Jinx answered with her eyes shut, eating some of her soup slowly before she looked at the blonde across from her, "And how are you, Kitsune?"
Naruto narrowed his eyes, "Knock it off, witch. I don't want to blow my cover right now."
"What's your problem?" Baran asked as he took a sip of his Venom energy drink, his muscle pulsing slightly, "You seemed edgy in Spanish today."
"Snot here is going away to Maine tonight," Micro answered as he ate a few tater-tots before tinkering with his project again, "Gonna steal some necklace or something."
"I thought Ms. Kyle wouldn't let you go out on your own?" Jinx asked, keeping her mouth shut about their alternate identities.
"I managed to convince her otherwise," the blonde replied, "Unless the League shows up."
The table all nodded in understanding, as they were all rookies compared to the members of the Justice League.
Naruto knew all these guys from his occasional gun-for-hire jobs he took up. Jinx went by the name Jynx, not really original but who was he to judge? She could control "luck", or so she claimed, but in reality all she did was Eastern Magic, which came in handy when he needed help with an artifact's history, but other than that he saw her skills no better than that of the Gentleman Ghost.
Baron Flinders was also known as the muscle-for-hire Mammoth. It was rumored on the street that he was the illegitimate son of Bane, but Naruto didn't believe in rumors...mostly. He did use a serum he called Venom to increase his muscle mass and in turn his strength nearly a thousand fold. The six foot boy would turn into an eight foot giant with arms as wide as some men's waists. Naruto made the mistake of upsetting him while he was under the influence of Venom, the side effect made his brain slightly smaller than average, and was put in the hospital for at least two months as a result.
Micro O'Jeneus was the closest thing to a best friend Naruto could say he had. Micro, or Gizmo as he called himself, was a technological prodigy at the young age of twelve. He turned thirteen last month, but had been in the black market business for at least five years prior. Usually he wore a loose green jumpsuit with black welding gloves and his welding goggles along with a technologically advanced backpack Naruto swore he'd seen in a comic book or movie. Gizmo's pack could become a jetpack or spider legs that allow him to climb buildings.
Xavier, aside from his age of thirteen, was a mystery. His alter ego, Red X, was just as mysterious. He committed his own fair share of burglaries, but always did so in smaller cities, nowhere near as large as Gotham or Metropolis. His own skill with his X blades rivaled Naruto's with his kunai and shuriken. They had never gone all out against each other, but Naruto knew Red X was more than likely a match for Robin the boy wonder. The two had a bet as to who would best the Boy Wonder more times, but currently they were tied at 45-45.
"Yo! Snot!" Micro shouted, getting the blonde's attention, "Did you hear that some rookie heroes are going to Maine for a little bit?"
"W-What?" Naruto asked, paling slightly. He swallowed before taking a thoughtful bite of his hotdog. Man, if Selena finds out about this...No, it'll work out. She said I could go so long as there isn't any League members, he thought before turning to Micro, "Any Leaguers?"
"Nah," Xavier answered in a cold tone, "They're all the rookies. I'm going because word on the street is our favorite bird is going to be there."
Naruto grinned challengingly, "You wish! I'll bet I best him five times before you can even beat him once!"
"Doubtful," Xavier replied, pushing his glasses up his nose. He smirked at the blonde, "Bum a ride off ya?"
"You're paying for your own ticket you freeloader!" Naruto shouted while pointing at the boy. The other three snickered at the two's antics before a presence behind their blonde friend made them clear their throats. Naruto stopped his rant and turned to gulp at his Advanced Algebra teacher, Mr. Slade.
The man was also known as Death Stroke, one of the most skilled assassins in the United States. Usually he wore a gold mask with one eyehole along, but now with his face free, you could see the lone scare that traveled down his right side of the face and the heavy scarring on the left.
"Mr. Kyle," Slade said with an icy tone, "Keep your voice down."
"Y-Yes Mr. Slade," Naruto stuttered out, "S-Sorry sir. S-see you l-later."
Slade walked away and left the group frozen in fear of his aura. Naruto swallowed and turned to the group and said, "S-So who wants to go to Maine?"
-Two days later, Maine-
Naruto had managed to recruit Gizmo and Red X for this adventure, Mammoth said he had another job and Jynx replied that she was being called in for a religious aspect by her father. Before he left, Selena had given him a cell phone with the word 'Fox' engraved into it, and told him to call at the first sign of trouble with the League. Selena had also given him keys to one of her penthouses in Maine to use as a base. Naruto was grateful and didn't feel at all bad when he hugged her in front of his friends at the airport.
He conveniently forgot about telling her about the rookie heroes and Robin being there, but he doubted it'd matter.
Now the three boys were going over the game plan.
"Here's the target," Naruto said pointing to the picture on the table, "The Fox Tail of Fire. It comes from an ancient Japanese ruin found underneath Ottowa. It's said to have ancient abilities related to fire, but I think it actually has much, much more. This is personal for me, so no matter what, I want that gem."
"We're doing this for you...why?" Gizmo asked as he prodded at his pack, "What's in it for us?"
"I knew you'd ask that," Naruto said with a groan before holding two checks out, "These are both fifty-thousand each, plus whatever else you grab from the museum. But whoever gets the Tail, gets a ten-thousand bonus."
The two teens accepted the checks with stars in their eyes and nodded to their elder counterpart. Naruto sighed before he pulled his hoodie off and put his beanie on. He pulled his goggles on over his eyes and pulled his gloves from his bag on. Kitsune finished getting ready and looked at Red X and Gizmo, both of whom also looked ready. He opened the window to the balcony and grinned before flipping off the railing.
Gizmo activated his jetpack and pulled his goggles on before shooting out to the night sky. Red X leapt out to the rooftop and stayed along the edge in order to keep up with the others. Kitsune was practically bounding from rooftop to rooftop with four legs as he twisted, flipped, and leapt through the night.
-Museum of Maine, 2:00 AM-
"Why are we guarding the museum, Robin?" A green skinned girl asked as she floated upside down next to the boy wonder.
"Because it's holding a very powerful object, and plus, Kaldur told us to," A boy wearing a mask with white transparent fillings covering his eyes. He looked over at the Martian and grinned, "You'd rather be with Superboy, wouldn't you Megan?"
Megan blushed, "Sh-Shut up Robin!"
"Superboy and Megan sitting on a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G–" Robin sang out, causing the Martian to turn a darker shade of green before another voice cut in.
"First comes love, then comes marriage...Do you think a Super baby would even need a baby carriage?" Kitsune asked Red X, who merely shrugged. Red X saw Megan and Kitsune slapped himself when he followed the skull-masked boy's gaze.
"Here we go," the beanie wearing boy muttered. Red X waltzed over to the green skinned girl.
"Why hello there," he said seductively from behind his mask and leered at the girl, "And what is your name, beautiful?"
"M'gann M'orzz, but you can call me Megan," Megan said, not understanding his advances. Red X seemed to smile behind his mask and lifted her hand to place a kiss on it through his mask.
Robin slapped his own face before looking at Kitsune, "He hasn't changed once?"
"Nope..." Kitsune said shaking his head, "But then again, you haven't grown at all, so it's to be expected."
"What are you doing here anyway?" Robin asked, ignoring the jibe and an questioning gaze locked on the elder teen thief.
Kitsune flashed the boy his foxy grin, "Just taking in the sights, meeting the girls, you know, enjoying summer."
"No, I mean what are you doing here?" Robin asked his eyes narrowing behind his mask. Kitsune's grin grew.
"I'm just window shopping," he replied, strolling past the skylight that was above the main hall of the museum. He looked back at the Boy Wonder and asked, "Plus I heard you were visiting so I thought, 'Why not go play with Robin? Maybe he can give me Batgirl's number!' So what do you say?"
"...I told you to leave her out of this!" Robin roared before he leapt at the older teen. Kitsune stopped his advance with one hand on his head. The beanie wearing thief laughed.
"Aw, looks like Birdboy does have a crush! How kawaii!" Kitsune said teasingly. Megan looked from her embarrassing situation before looking at the beanie clad boy near her age holding her friend back.
"Hey! What are you doing to Robin?" Megan asked with a demanding tone, leaving Red X wallowing off to the side, muttering about his horrible single life. Kitsune shook his head before looking down through the glass behind him and reaching into his back pocket and pulling two smoke bombs out.
"Just talking," he replied, readying the smoke bombs before his nose twitched slightly. I know this scent...I haven't smelt it in a while though...
He threw the bombs down, hiding himself and Red X, who jumped through the skylight window Gizmo opened from the inside. Kitsune followed the skull masked thief through the window before clinging to the ceiling with his ability. He looked at his boots, which were slightly glowing blue, and then back up at the window and shut it before the smoke above cleared. He listened as the Martian girl started speaking again while Gizmo and Red X went looking for the Tail.
"Damn! He got away...AGAIN!" Robin fumed. Kitsune smirked from his spot to the right of the window, just barely being hidden in shadow.
"Who was he?" Megan asked. Robin scowled.
"His name's Kitsune," the Boy Wonder said, "He's Catwoman's apprentice, and he's damn good at what he does. He's given Batman some trouble sometimes, but that's mainly because he's a new type of meta-human. We don't know who he is, but he's annoying as hell!"
"Should I try reading his mind?" Megan asked as she started to do just that. Kitsune felt a tug in the back of his mind and kept his thoughts from wondering, looking down at an guard that Gizmo had knocked out and tried using what his thoughts would be.
"Sure, don't get your hopes up though," Robin said as he sat on the window, "He's probably long gone."
After a moment, Megan sighed, "He's gone. All I'm getting is the thoughts of the guards in the museum."
Kitsune blinked before grinning and dropping to the floor. He started to walk away backwards before turning around and coming face to face with a green arrow aimed at his nose.
"I knew you were waiting somewhere for me," he said as a foxy grin crossed his face, "Hello Artemis. Been a while."
"You know me?" the blonde asked, arching an eyebrow behind her mask, "Because this is the first time I've met you."
"I'm hurt, Arte," Kitsune said holding his chest and frowning, "Right here."
The sound of the bow being drawn caused him to become quiet, "Who. Are. You?"
Kitsune grinned and said, "Gotham Museum 09."
it took a second before Artemis' eyes widened in recognition and she lowered her bow, "You! You were with Catwoman that night! ...Who are you?"
"Bird boy doesn't talk about me?" Kitsune asked before turning away and going into a thinking pose, "That's rather insulting...I talk about him and Batgirl all the time...well more so Batgirl than him, but that's a different story."
Artemis narrowed her eyes and redrew her bowstring. Kitsune turned to look at the drawn bow and raised a brow behind his goggles, "I save your life and this is how you repay me?"
"You tried to kill me!" the blonde girl growled, pulling her bow back further. Kitsune sighed and pinched his nose.
"You were the one that didn't dodge!" he snapped back at her as he looked at her, "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm trying to NOT attract attention...however, if you want my attention you have it."
Before Artemis could open her mouth, the wall exploded open and a boy wearing a tight black shirt with a red S and shield on it walked in. He clenched his fists and looked from where Artemis' arrow was pointed to the goggle wearing teen in front of her. He pointed at the boy and narrowed his eyes.
"You." The clone of the man of steel said.
"Me?" Kitsune asked, pointing at himself. At the 'S' wearer's nod, he continued with, "Not her?"
"No. You," the boy said again. Kitsune sighed before cracking his neck and grinning.
"Bye."
The two heroes in the room with him had confused looks on their faces but then Gizmo shot through the room, dropping something to Kitsune on the way out. The teen held the gem up and grinned.
"Beautiful..." he whispered before turning back to the two awestruck heroes and lifting his goggles as he looked at Artemis with a wink. The girl blushed before scowling as the teen thief held his hand up and Red X shot past on his sky-board. Red X grabbed Kitsune's hand and the two flew up through the skylight. The two heroes were too awestruck to move an inch to stop them.
"What took ya so damn long?" Kitsune asked as he dropped from Red X's hold onto a rooftop once they were a good three miles away. Red X shrugged as he looked through the gems he had. Gizmo was rubbing his cheek against the ripped out security console he took from the guard room and had stars in his eyes.
"Sixty-thousand and a new Anti-thief 23X console! A dream come true!" the bald teen cried in ecstasy. Kitsune shook his head and pulled his goggles down around his neck and examined the Fox Tail with a gleam in his eyes. The moon shined through the gem and into his eyes, causing a bright red glow. Gizmo and Red X covered their eyes as the flare of light increased.
From across the city, Artemis looked up at a flash of red, "What the?"
"Yo Artemis!" Kid Flash shouted, "Let's go!"
"Y-Yeah, hold onto your goggles speed freak!" she called back looking one last time in the direction of the red glow that was now dying down before Artemis turned around and walked back to the ship. Her face heated up as she remembered how that villain winked at her. She hadn't flirted with an enemy before, it was weird. He acted as though he really didn't want to fight...more like he wanted to talk, Artemis thought before she remembered that Robin had met him before. As she walked onto their ship, she took a spot next to Robin.
"Bird boy," she said, earning Robin's attention, "do you know someone that wears a black beanie with a metal plate on it?"
"Did he have goggles and a tight black and orange shirt along with fingerless gloves?" Robin asked her. With Artemis' nod, Robin palmed himself in the face, "I knew he had an ulterior motive! Dammit! Ugh, I've gotta make a call."
"Who was he?" Artemis asked as Robin activated his communicator. The boy wonder looked back at her.
"His name is Kitsune," Robin said, holding his communicator up to his ear, "He's an ok guy, but works with Catwoman a lot. I think they're related, not sure though."
Artemis nodded and went back to her controls, her mind was on the thief known as Kitsune. Just what kind of Hero am I if I let a thief get away just because he's cute...I did NOT just think that!
"...not...hey, he's waking up!" a voice said next to Naruto. He rubbed his head and winced.
"ugh...Gizmo?" He asked as he started to sit up. A hand landed on his shoulder.
"Easy there, Naruto," Xavier said from his left, "You passed out twenty minutes ago after the gem reacted with the moon. It's not as red as it used to be, but you started heating up, so we brought you back here."
"Ugh, my head," Naruto groaned as he held his head and slowly sat up, "Where's Giz?"
"Gizmo is on the phone with Ms. Kyle," Xavier said, "Or Michelle. I don't know which. Here, this tablet should help your headache."
Naruto took the pill and swallowed it whole before coughing violently. When he could speak again, he groaned out, "W-Water...Get me some damn water!"
Gizmo came in from the other room with a glass, "Here Snot. I heard you in the other room. Selena sound pissed about something...you did tell her about those rookies, right?"
Naruto drank down his water before smiling sheepishly, "Whoops?"
Xavier smacked him upside the head before going to hang his cloak up on the coat hanger and sitting down by the couch in a lounge chair. He looked over at the blonde and tossed him the gem and its necklace. The blonde caught them and looked disappointedly at the gem. It flashed again and his head throbbed.
"About damn time, where have you been kit?" A voice asked in his mind. Naruto looked around before looking at the sunglasses wearing antihero and asked, "Did you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?" the other two chorused.
"They can't hear me Dumbass. Only you can," the voice said again. Naruto groaned and rubbed his head.
"Oh great...I've snapped!" he muttered. Gizmo gave him an amused glance while Xavier ignored him and instead looked over his gems. Naruto groaned before rubbing his head and closing his eyes.
-Mindscape-
Naruto walked through his penthouse and came across a red suit wearing man with short trimmed red hair and beard. His eyes were hidden by round black sunglasses.
"It's been a while, Kit," the man said with a devious smile, "Look at you...all grown up and without any jutsu."
"You know me?" Naruto asked, readying himself for a fight. The man laughed.
"I've known you since the day you were born," the man said, his smile turning devious, "Let me show you!"
Suddenly images filled the blonde's mind. Fire; there was a lot of fire. And the screaming, it was horrible. Then the image of a blonde in his mid-twenties atop what looked to be a giant toad. In the blonde man's arms was another blonde, an infant. He had six scars on his face, three on each cheek.
Time moved on. People throwing stones, the feeling of anger and hurt, the horrible glares...it was all too real for Naruto. He kept watching though.
The deaths, all the deaths and the sobbing...It was his fault, people would shout in his mind. They called him a monster. They called him a demon. They cried for his blood.
And yet, he stayed kind towards them.
This boy this man was showing Naruto, it was weird. Subconsciously he knew the blonde was himself, and yet he was so different. So dumb...so naïve...Naruto hated him already.
"No more! I can't take anymore!" the blonde shouted, falling to his knees. The man in red stood and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Too late, Kit. You escaped, but you lack the skills required to stay free. I will teach them to you in your sleep or whenever you wish so long as that gem is near you," the man said before he started to walk towards a door that didn't exist before, "I am the Kyuubi no Kitsune. You are my Kit. Enjoy my gifts. They don't come often."
-Reality-
Naruto gasped as he sat up. He scanned the room and found he was now in a plane with a sleeping cat on his stomach. He groaned.
"I'm so screwed," he muttered.
The clacking of heels alerted him to his guardian's presence and he winced when she spoke to him, "You're damn right you're screwed!"
Naruto turned his head to the right to see Selena looking at him, very upset and he smiled sheepishly and held the Tail up, "I got what I wanted."
"Without researching the object, asking any specialist about it specifically, trying to get more information on a routine stakeout of the area, basically," Selena said as she pushed him back onto the couch, "You acted like a rookie!"
"Only because I had someone else steal it for me!" Naruto said back at her coldly, "Gizmo got it and he got paid for it. We didn't get caught because I distracted the heroes myself! Is that a rookie move?"
Selena narrowed her eyes, "If Xavier and Micro weren't there, then yes. I'm not mad about any of that though!"
"...The whole not telling you about the heroes piss you off?" Naruto asked. Selena's glare intensified and Naruto shrunk back as Sylvia purred and rubbed against his stomach.
"I want every detail about the raid," Selena said, crossing her arms over her chest, "Now."
It's going to be a long, long night, the blonde thought before he started relaying what happened to him on the heist.
-Days Later, YJHQ, Location Unknown-
"Damn it!" Artemis swore as the computer showed SEARCH FAILED across its screen. Aqualad, who was watching Superboy and Black Canary spar (again), walked over to see why the archer was so upset.
"What's wrong, Artemis?" he asked. The unmasked archer sat back in her chair and crossed her arms angrily.
"I'm trying to get more information on that Kitsune guy Robin told me a little bit about," she said, "But I can't find anything. The computer isn't taking any of my searches."
"Have you tried searching Gotham's Newspaper for Catwoman's associate?" the Atlantean asked. Artemis growled.
"I did," she muttered, "Nothing about this guy came up! It's usually centered on Catwoman or mentions the 'possibility' of another person fighting with her. It's like he was an illusion!"
"Well think about his name," Aqualad said, "'Kitsune'. It's the Japanese term for fox, right? Foxes are often related to as tricksters, thieves, and illusionists. Perhaps he's staying below the radar. Ask Robin more about him if you want...speaking of which, why do you want to know more about him?"
Artemis blushed and looked away, "He, uh, he saved my life once...after he tried to kill me...it was weird and confusing. Messed me up for my first few missions. I want to know why."
Red Tornado, who was nearby, approached and said with some humor, "It sounds as though you are more interested in who the boy is. Are you attracted to him, Artemis?"
"Wha, No! O-Of course not!" Artemis said, blushing again and turning away. She clenched her jaw and looked to see everyone looking at her. Her blush increasing, Artemis growled to herself before storming off towards her motorcycle.
"I'm going on patrol," she grumbled before grabbing her mask and mounting her bike. She sped off towards the night. The teens all looked at her, and Megan started towards her own bike, but Red Tornado stopped her.
"Let her be," he instructed, "This is something she has to do on her own."
Artemis sped off towards Gotham, planning to meet with the only other person she could recall Kitsune having mentioned when he spoke to her.
"I just hope she isn't busy in the political area because of her father," the blonde muttered before she resumed focusing on her driving.
-Gotham City, 10:00 PM Friday-
Barbra Gordon, fifteen year old red headed teenager, A+ student, daughter of the Gotham Police Commissioner, and secret apprentice to Batman. After school let out and the sky turned dark, Barbra Gordon became Batgirl. As batgirl, she had a better connection to the darker side of Gotham, and an even better way to make sure her dad came home every night.
She was doing her nightly rounds and paused on a rooftop as a figure walked up to her.
"Hey..." the person said before leaning against the building next to her.
"Hey yourself," Batgirl said as she smiled, "Kitsune. I heard you were out of town."
"Yup," Kitsune said as he pulled a candy cigarette out and put it in his mouth, "Been robbing in Maine. Bird boy was up there, any idea why?"
"No," Batgirl pouted, "Batman wouldn't tell me."
"Odd," The goggle clad teen said, before he pulled something from his pocket, "Here."
He tossed an object to her and she caught it before smiling back at him, "You haven't changed a bit, Root."
"Don't use that name here, Barb," Kitsune said as he looked away from her, "So I got you another state memorabilia, so sue me."
"To me, you're still that dumpster diving boy that saved Batgirl from being raped," Batgirl replied as she pocketed the small corny Maine trinket and smiled back at him, "So I'll call you whatever I want, Root."
Kitsune was quiet for a minute before asking, "What do you know about a heroine named Artemis?"
"She's ok," Batgirl said looking back over the city, "Very talented, Batman almost took her in but Green Arrow took his chance away."
"Bullshit," Kitsune said, earning a look of disbelief on the heroine's face, "I've seen her and Arrow in action. I ain't stupid, Barb. They're related."
Batgirl looked back at the city, "Maybe...I'll ask Batman for you if you want."
"No, that brings in too many people. You're lucky Red X can be bribed."
"I know, I know. What else do you want to know?"
"Hold old is she?"
"...Are you going to ask her out?" Batgirl asked with a sly smile.
In the shadows, he blushed. "Maybe I am, maybe I just wanna know."
"She's a year younger than us, Root."
"Stop calling me that," Kitsune said annoyed.
"Sorry, habit. She's very cold when on the job, but usually more comfortable off. She does have a Bruce Wayne type of thing going for her."
"...well that helps me with two people now..."
"Aw damn it! Don't tell anyone, Root! Or I'll..." She trailed off, letting the threat hang.
"Relax Barb, relax. Everything's safe with me up in my head. I just want the answers."
Batgirl smiled back at the goggle clad teen, "That's all you've ever wanted."
A chuckle, "Yeah, sometimes I forget that you-Someone's coming. See ya around BG."
With that, Kitsune vanished back to his home. Batgirl waited before a light tap landed on the spot Kitsune was standing in earlier. They sat next to the crouching teen heroine. Batgirl smiled secretly before she looked over at her guest.
"Hello Artemis."
Shorter than the last chapter but it's working out well. I think so anyway. The next chapter, Naruto trains in his new abilities given to him by this Kyuubi no Kitsune, Artemis and Batgirl finish their heart to heart, and Selena Kyle's personal and night life get too close. So please R&R! PEACE!
