Chapter 4

I really shouldn't be typing these fictions. I'm gonna end up failing because of my lack of control, but oh well, it's just one class. At the moment I don't care, I need to drown myself in something other than studying. Anyway, Match and Conner got to see each other, and Tai-li isn't too happy about the fact that he's around. Isn't that cute? What about Dick and Mariko you ask? Well we're gonna get to that, and don't worry I haven't forgotten about Tony. ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!

"Stupid, batman wannabe…" Tony muttered as he paroled the school to make sure everyone was in their rooms. After he had seen Dick Grayson—a person he hadn't seen since he left school—he had been feeling a bit bitter. Ten years he had Mariko all to himself, she might have even started to develop feelings for him. She had been a lot gentler towards him after all this time. Sure she still insulted him but it wasn't nearly as bad as it used to be. Now boy-wonder was going to swoop in and take her away again. Just like before.

"Hiya bro what's up!?" A voice called to him. Tony turned, it was little pink haired Misato. He scowled.

"You're supposed to be in your dorm." He said, Misato pouted.

"Aw come on, I'm not as powerless as the others here." She said, "Besides I wanna spend time with big brother by myself."

"Go to your dorm Misato, or Miss Mariko will get mad, you're already in enough trouble." Tony said.

"But you're jealous of Headmaster Miko's friend aren't you?" Misato asked running to catch up with him she then grabbed his hand. Tony scowled.

"I'm not." He said. Misato giggled.

"Liar." She said, Tony looked down at her, "Misato felt the electricity in your body jump. You lied, you are jealous."

Tony grumbled and removed his hand from hers, "Misato-chan, you need to go to your dorm, you don't want to get into more trouble do you?"

Misato puffed out her cheeks in a pout, "Fine, meanie."

Tony smiled as he watched the young electric girl run down the halls toward her room. that girl was such a trouble maker. He sighed, thankfully however she was the only one out of her room, which meant he could now go to his for a little while.

~0~

"So you'll help right?" Mariko asked looking to Dick who sat next to her in the chair in front of her desk.

"Yes, I'll send a team down here to keep an eye on everything." He said, Mariko smirked and pushed herself off the desk.

"Goodie," She said, "but I can't let any of the other students know about this. As far as the others know, Meiko and the missing seven transferred."

"They don't know?" Dick asked, Mariko shook her head.

"I believe whoever's going after my students is posing as one of them, or the teachers here." She said, "So whoever you send will have to be under cover. You can do that right?"

"If no one knows how did Tai-li and Misato find out?" Dick asked, Mariko sighed.

"Misato broke into my office a few days ago, her powers are much like Livewire's. Despite my great security she managed to short circuit everything." She said, "I'd be proud if it weren't so dang annoying. Tai-li, I assume doesn't know, and only went with Misato to keep her out of trouble."

"So who will you be sending? Mind if I make a request?" She asked, Dick cocked an eyebrow.

"I need teachers, people who can teach these kids." She said, "I figured M'gaan could be a great teacher for Tai-li. Maybe even help her speak again."

"Is that all?" he asked.

"Pretty much, I already have someone for Misato. And the others pretty much have a handle on their powers. It's those two who need the most help." Mariko said, "The others just need to know basic math and all that junk."

"Great." Dick said standing.

"And you." Mariko mumbled, he scowled.

"Mariko, do you really think now is the time?" she asked, Mariko pouted, and walked toward him.

"No I don't." She said, "But you can't deny that you were eager to see me after ten years."

"And how do you figure that?" Dick asked, Mariko smirked and got really close to him.

"I'm still the smartest girl alive, I'm just sexier now." She said smoothly. Dick felt his face turn a slight red as he tried to take a step backward, but he ended up stumbling instead. Mariko laughed.

"Same old Robin, still taking things too seriously." She said, "Oh but you don't go by Robin anymore do you? it's Nightwing isn't it? Much cuter than robin."

"Mariko I have a girlfriend!" He said standing up straight, Mariko's smile fell, "So I'd thank you to leave your weird ideas of flirting out of this!"

Mariko stared, a bit hurt by his words. He stared back as she searched his face to see if he was lying. Of course he was, but only a bit. Zatanna and him had gone out for a time, but it was over now. Mostly because of Mariko.

"I see," Mariko said evenly, "Well…then, gather your team, and I'll see them all tomorrow. I'll be resuming class tomorrow."

With that Mariko turned her back on him and walked back to her desk, "You can find your own way out right?"

Dick nodded, and left the room. though he couldn't help but feel bad for lying, even if he was lying to Mariko. Rejection never sat well with anyone, though this time Mariko was taking it very well, maybe all the children around her changed her for the better?

~0~

"Alright team," Nightwing said the next morning inside the Cave, "As it turns out the trio from the other day weren't the only ones to go missing from Takumi Academy."

"Are we suspecting the Headmistress?" Robin asked, "Cause she seems sketchy."

"No," Nightwing said, "As it turns out the Ai Takumi is really Mariko Miko."

"You mean that insane criminal who nearly killed herself trying to kill Savage ten years ago?" Batgirl asked, Nightwing scowled.

"Sorry the file was on the batcave, couldn't stop myself." She said, "But I thought she was dead."

"To anyone outside this Justice League, and myself, she is." He said, "We forged the death certificate at the hospital so that she could leave things be. She went missing for a while, but as it turns out, she's been in Gotham the whole time."

"Running Takumi academy?" M'gaan said, Nightwing nodded.

"She's requested that the team act as extra security, to protect the students that haven't gone missing." He explained, "This is a covert mission; Robin, Impulse, and Wonder-girl, you'll be under cover as students."

"Undercover to bust the badguys? Crash!" Impulse said putting his thumbs up.

"M'gaan, she asked for you personally," Nightwing said, M'gaan scowled, "She has someone she thinks you can help."

"So you, Superboy and I are going to be posing as teachers then?" She asked, Nightwing nodded.

'does that mean you admit—'

'There's nothing to admit!' Nightwing snapped.

'I was going to say you missed her.' M'gaan huffed, 'Not that you loved her.'

"Anyway, suit up and head out. She's expecting us." Nightwing said aloud, M'gaan rolled her eyes, as she shifted into her human skin.

~0~

"Miss Mariko?" Tony asked walking into Ai Takumi (Mariko's) office. Mariko glared as she turned to him as Ai Takumi.

"How many times do I have to tell you it's Ai Takumi!" She said, Tony sighed, "I sounded schizo just then didn't I?"

"Not at all." Tony said smiling to her. Mariko scowled as she tried to tie the ribbon bolo around her neck.

"Ack! I hate these things! Stupid things are impossible to tie." She growled, Tony couldn't help but laugh as he went to help the young woman.

"Here, let me." He said, Mariko scowled.

"What'd you come in here for anyway?" she asked, Tony was silent for a moment as he tied the bow.

"I got the call from Dick Grayson," he mumbled as he finished the bow, "They'll be here soon."

"Perfect," Mariko said turning, she then looked over her shoulder to him, "I said I'd over look your behavior last time, don't make a scene this time."

Tony looked up and opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it, "Yes ma'am."

"Now let's go make the announcement." Mariko said, then walked out of the room. Tony sighed, and then soon followed.

Poor Tony. Will Mariko ever acknowledge the fact that he's in love with her? it's like a horrible love triangle. Poor kid—er adult. Since he's like 25 and she's 21. There's a major age difference, so uhm..wait where was I going with this? Ugh, I hate short chapters. See you later armadillos—unless I see you first haha! REVIEW!