A/N: There is much influence from Batman Begins and the next chapter has scenes straight out from Begins. I don't own Batman Begins, never have and never will.

Chapter Ten: Nakumaru

Now

"Hello Aré. Aré. Earth to Aré. Hello."

Silver eyes blinked and focused on the hand waving in front of his face before turning to the owner of the hand. "Huh?" Aré asked dumbly.

Dick pulled his hand back and gave the other man a strange look. "Where were you just now?"

"Sorry I guess I just zoned out." He turned away from the window and his eyes cast about the room. "Where's Clark?"

"He left about twenty minutes ago with the kid." It was then Aré noticed Terry was missing too. "What were you thinking about? I haven't known you to lose touch with reality like that too often. What gives?"

Aré moved away from the window. "It's nothing. For some reason I got to thinking about the time Bruce ran away when he was fifteen."

"Which time?" Dick asked.

Aré gave a soft chuckle. "Good point." He moved from the window and towards the couch, Dick followed him.

"Look whatever's bugging you, you know you can—"

"Dick, don't push it." Aré said cutting him off. "You're the second person to ask and I already told Clark to drop the subject. When I'm ready to talk I will but don't expect that to be anytime soon."

Dick nodded. "Alright." He followed Aré back towards the couch. "These are the areas we figure Powers will most likely be hiding." Dick pointed to several points that had been marked on the map. "Clark and the kid are doing a sweep of the city and they'll call if they find anything."

Aré nodded and sat down and propped his feet up on the table. "So let me guess, we're stuck with the wonderful task of waiting."

Dick sat across from Aré and a smile slowly crept across his face. "Not exactly…."

Batman followed Superman as the two of them searched the city for any signs of Paxton Powers. So far nothing had turned up but they weren't planning on giving up any time soon. Batman had had many things on his mind since before they had even come to Metropolis. Many of them circled around Aré and exactly what his relationship to Bruce Wayne really was. He suspected that there was more to it than Aré simply having been an authority figure while Bruce had been growing up. "Do you mind if I ask you a question?" Batman asked Superman.

"Sure." Superman said. "What's your question?"

"How long have you known Aré?"

"Not as long as Bruce has." Superman replied. "The first time I met him I was doing an interview for a paper in Smallville and he was introduced as Taji Marin."

"Taji Marin? I know that name. Comic book guy right, died about twenty years ago? They still sell his books…Wait a minute, he's Taji Marin?"

Superman chuckled. "Yeah, as I said, when I first met him he was just starting to get recognized for his work. He became rich overnight when his most popular book series came out. Though, after I really got to know him I learned he was already rich. Money hasn't ever meant very much to him. It's just another part of life for him. Anyway, when I first met him he was supposedly twenty-five. And he didn't look the way he does now. When I met him he had blonde hair and green eyes."

"He mentioned something about that being his 'mortal form.' He really doesn't age does he?"

"No, he still looks the same as he did when I first met him, apart from the hair and eyes of course. His age isn't frozen though, not the way you would think."

"Frozen?"

"What I mean is, some things do change. While he will forever look about twenty years old he does require a hair cut from time to time."

"Oh."

"Was there anything else you wanted to know?"

Batman thought about it for a moment. "Well, besides asking you how well you know him I was wondering how he learned who you were. I know Bruce trusts him and so does Barbara and I guess Dick does too. I don't know, there's just something about him that feels weird. I guess I'm just not used to all of this yet."

Superman laughed now. "I know what you mean. After I learned what he was and what he could do I felt the same way. Especially knowing I can be hurt by magic. I guess he's one of the few people born on Earth who could kill me if he really wanted to."

"Whoa, that powerful?"

"You have no idea kid." Superman led the way to Hobbs Bay. He stopped and while hovering over the bay used his X-ray vision to scan the area for Powers. "The way he figured it out is kind of funny actually. Bruce figured it out a few weeks before Aré did but he never told him. Because of the aura that surrounds my body I don't actually leave fingerprints. Somehow Aré managed to lift the fingerprints I should have left behind after touching one of the tables in the cave."

"How did he do that if you don't leave fingerprints behind?"

"Magic."

"I should have seen that coming."

"He ran the prints and my name came up. Bruce told me that Aré just laughed once he had found out. Aré had known that Bruce was hiding something when it came to me." Superman laughed and continued searching the bay. "Right after I found out Aré knew who I was Bruce and I were working a joint investigation and we had just gotten a new lead. When we left to go check it out Aré said to us, 'Now you two love birds go have fun and I want you to have him home by ten.' Bruce and I both turned white and took a few steps away from each other. Aré was just joking but the way he said it, and with a straight face no less, we both thought he meant it."

"That's creepy."

"I know. And good lord once he met Flash. Those two went out of their way to annoy us. They always played pranks on us. Aré has this uncanny ability to get us all to act out of character." Something caught his attention, "I think I have something. That yacht looks promising."

"Lead the way." Batman said, following Superman down to the docks. They came to a large white yacht. It didn't appear as if anyone was on the boat but Batman knew that if Superman had seen someone inside then they must be there, X-ray vision and all. They moved silently towards the boat. Once on the yacht they crept below deck and moved towards where voices could be heard coming from. Batman easily recognized Paxton Powers but the voice of the other male was one he didn't recognize.

"Do you have any idea how badly you have screwed up?" Demanded the unknown male. "You idiot, the assassin you hired was never going to go through with the killing in the first place."

"I was not the one who hired him. That was Damien's fault." Paxton argued.

"And he will be punished for his failure. However, you were the one to tell me Damien would be able to hire someone qualified to do the job."

"And this guy was qualified. How were we supposed to know—"

"You should have run the assassin by me first. You should have checked the man out." Unknown growled. "You have absolutely no idea just how much is riding on this."

"Like what?" Powers asked. "While our reasons are different we both want Wayne dead. What difference does it make if we both get what we want?"

"Bruce Wayne is just a pawn. He is the means to an end. I am after someone much more dangerous than a decrepit old billionaire."

Unknown turned more towards Powers and Batman quickly switched on his camouflage and was able to get a better look at the other man's face. He was young, looking only about Terry's age. His eyes were an unnaturally bright blue and his hair was a very light brown, almost on the edge of being blonde. It hung down past his shoulders and was currently tied back into a low ponytail. He stood just under six feet, that much Batman could tell. Batman didn't recognize the style of dress the man had though he did recognize each article of clothing. His pants were black and tight fitting and they appeared to be made of leather. He wore calf-high black boots and his white poets shirt hung loosely on his lean frame. There was something about him that Batman couldn't peg. Was there a reason that he looked familiar?

"We need to leave." Superman said very softly.

Batman turned to him, "Why? Powers is right there. We can take him in now." Why did Superman look surprised?

"What's going on Terry?" Bruce asked over the comm.

"We found Powers but Superman wants us to leave." Batman said.

"Bruce, we need to go back. Talk to the others first." Superman said, knowing Bruce would hear him.

"Turn on your vid-link." Bruce said to Batman, which he did. He turned his gaze so Bruce could see the two in the other room. There was silence for a moment then, "He's right, leave."

"What?" Batman asked, incredulous. "We can take them."

"No, you can't. Get out of there. Now!" Bruce growled.

"But…."

"Please Terry; don't argue with me on this."

Batman glanced once more into the room then turned and followed Superman out of the yacht. They left the docks and returned to Clark's apartment. As soon as they were inside the apartment Batman pulled his cowl off. "What the hell was that about?" Terry demanded.

Dick and Aré had looked up from what they were doing when the other two had returned. "What's going on?" Dick asked.

"Ask him and Wayne." Terry said, "We found Powers and we could have taken him but those two had the bright idea of getting out of there without him."

"Why?"

"Powers was working with someone else. Someone much more powerful." Clark turned his gaze in Aré's direction. "Someone I was sure you would want to know about. You need to tell us everything that happened while you were gone."

Aré's eyes went wide and he was up and across the room before anyone realized it. He grabbed Clark by the front of his outfit. "Who was it?" He demanded. "Was it Sora?" Color drained from his face. "Naku?"

"Yes." Clark said, "It was your brother."

"Say what?" Terry and Dick asked at the same time.

Aré let go of Clark and took a few steps back, stunned. He bumped into the back of the couch and they watched as a series of emotions played out across his face. "It makes no sense. They were…" He swallowed hard. "Kane still hasn't been found. We searched for twenty years but there hasn't been any sign of him. Naku would never purposely hurt our father. There's got to be more to it." He sighed and looked back up at Clark. "I tried to find him. I tried to help him but I haven't actually seen my brother in over twenty years. I don't know what happened to my father. I did everything they asked of me and more." His eyes hardened and he shook with barely controlled rage. "But it wasn't enough. It was never enough for the Council. It didn't matter that I was their King. I was never good enough, nothing more than Kane's halfling bastard son." He took deep breaths. Aré couldn't afford to have his emotions become out of control. He was barely restraining his powers as it was. "I… I tried everything I could think of to find them and set things right. I put up with the constant ridicule for as long as I could. I gave the throne to Izumi then left without even looking back."

"Izumi's your sister right?" Dick asked. Aré nodded.

"They talked about the botched attempt to kill Mr. Wayne. The other guy said Bruce was just a means to an end." Terry said. He looked at all three of them, finally coming to rest on Aré. "What is going on?"

"Get Bruce on the phone, I'm only going to say this once." Aré said, he seemed almost defeated.

Dick grabbed the phone and dialed Bruce's number and put it on speakerphone. Bruce had been expecting their call. "He hasn't changed much." Bruce said.

"Of course he hasn't," Aré said, "You know our bodies don't change like yours do. We both stopped aging centuries ago." Aré stepped away from the couch and moved closer to the phone. "In Kane's absence I was appointed as the Fae ruler. It was apparent to everyone that we all expected for Kane to be found and that my rule was only going to be temporary. The High Council members always made a point of reminding me of that and of the fact I am what I am every day. At least, the ones that didn't like me did anyway. There are a few members of the Council that actually did like me. That's not the point though.

"Naku and his mother had gone missing around the same time Kane did. Izumi didn't know what to do with herself. She had been called back home too. Izumi lived among mortals, something her mother did not agree with whatsoever.

"Anyway, while I was King it was mostly in name only. I spent most of my time searching for the others. There were a few leads now and again but everything always went into a dead end. I suggested to the High Council that outside help be attained. They said absolutely not. No mortal would be allowed to help in the search in anyway. That no contact with the mortal realm be had. That's why I wasn't able to contact you. I may have been King but there were some members of the Council even I wouldn't cross. I didn't fear actions taken against me, just anyone outside I may have had contact with."

"There more you are not telling us." Bruce said.

"I really don't want to get into the gory details Bruce. Yes, I've edited my story but more for my sanity than anything else. I, yes, I did find Naku once. I was so close to getting him back but I was too late. Do you have any idea how frustrating that is? To have something within your reach only to have it taken away at the last minute? I was so close."

There was silence in the room for a long time then, "how close?"

Aré laughed but he was anything but happy. "How close you ask? I could have reached out and grabbed him, that's how close. Problem is it didn't work. I thought I had the right one this time."

Bruce was the only other one who had any idea what Aré was talking about. Clark and Dick both knew that Aré had been searching for his younger brother for a long time but neither of them had the full story behind it. They all knew better than to ask. "So where does this leave us?"

"With a whole lot more problems."

"Would your brother tell Powers what he is?" Terry asked.

Aré shrugged. "Honestly Terry, I don't know. Maybe, if for nothing more than to instill fear in Paxton."

"Your brother is after you, isn't he? He said Bruce was just a pawn. I'm guessing he planned on killing Bruce just to get to you. What would be the point of that?"

Aré rubbed his face then ran a hand through his hair. "Sit down Terry, there's something you need to know."

Nakumaru left Paxton Powers before he killed the man. Paxton was unfortunately an important piece of his plan and it wouldn't do if he killed him before he had served his purpose. He left the yacht and headed for another part of the city. When he arrived at his destination he entered the lavish apartment and went straight to its only occupant. "You're lucky your boy still has a purpose." Naku said.

Derek Powers turned around to face Nakumaru. "He failed I take it."

"Spectacularly." Naku said, "You are lucky I didn't kill him. Because of his failure we have to completely recreate our plan to kill Bruce Wayne."

"My son has always been a failure. That shouldn't be much of a shock to you."

"What do you plan on doing about it?"

"Me? You expect me to rectify the situation?"

"Of course," Naku said, "You were the one to tell me that he would have all of the contacts I would need. His failure is your failure."

Derek Powers didn't like the sound of that. "I am not going to clean up his mess."

Naku's eyes narrowed and with a wave of his hand Derek Powers was sent flying across the room. He landed against a table, breaking it on impact. Naku stalked over towards him. "You forget, I rescued you from that submarine explosion. I am the one who brought your condition under control. All I have to do is release the magic that contains it and you will light up like a roman candle. You don't really want the authorities, or Batman, to know you survived do you?"

Powers glared, "No," he conceded.

"Good. Your son does not know that you still live. Perhaps it is time you reminded him exactly how to get things done." With that, he turned away from Powers and left the room.