Hello everyone, I've managed get a new chapter out. Hope you will enjoy this one. I got to say this one was difficult to write But I hope I pulled it through for my dear readers.
Was listening to the soundtrack 'Antrozous' while trying to put this chapter together. Have a listen while you read :)
Please enjoy and review.
Chapter 25: Antrozous
"An owl." The Huntsman said with his low voice.
"Yes, an owl." Man-Owl said stretching his wings. "And do you know what do owls eat?"
Huntsman was silent as the owl gave the answer with a hiss. "Bats."
The Huntsman remained silent for a second before speaking. "I'm not a bat."
Man-Owl tilted his head a bit at that.
"I'm the Huntsman." Huntsman scowled at the Owl.
"Well you are the one who's being hunted right now." Man-Owl said, his talon foot dragged along the floor, talons scratching the ground.
"Who are you?" Huntsman asked.
"Just business." Man-Owl said not answering the question and let out another eerie hoot that tingled Hachiman's spine.
Hachiman could feel his fingers trembling a little, but he steeled himself fuelling himself with anger and determination.
"Hn." Huntsman's scowled intact he clenched a fist.
"Kakatte Koi." Huntsman growled.
Man-Owl howled loudly, and lunged straight for Huntsman. Leaping up, Man-Owl pointed a foot at Huntsman with talons at the ready. Huntsman quickly made a roll under the Owl dodging the bird feet hitting the floor.
Quickly getting up, Huntsman jumped and kicked the large owl from the back. Following up the attack, Huntsman drove a fist into the lower part of the Man-Owl's back, and another.
The Owl hooted out, quickly spinning with his huge wing swinging straight for Huntsman. Getting his arms in an X, Huntsman braced for the hit. The wing swung and knocked Huntsman a couple of metres away. Huntsman skid on his back across the floor before quickly making a back roll to get on his feet again.
Man-Owl jumped up and flew up higher with his wings. With a screech he swooped down for Huntsman.
Huntsman got his left hand at the back of his belt and took out something quickly. Man-Owl got his leg pointed straight for Huntsman as he swooped down for him, Hachiman jumped for him as well, twisting his body in the air and sticking his hand ahead. Huntsman dodged the talon feet and Man-Owl felt a searing pain in his thigh and howled and haunting hoot.
Huntsman rolled away and faced the Man-Owl, with his hand holding a bladed batarang which had blood stained on it.
Man-Owl turned around to face the Huntsman, standing perfectly fine despite one leg having a gash on the thigh.
"Dammit. Whoever or whatever this is, is a strong opponent. But is he really a good fighter?" Huntsman readied his fists.
Huntsman dodged another lunge the Man-Owl, side stepping as the owl rushed in.
"Who sent you?!" Huntsman demanded and baring his teeth at Man-Owl. "Answer me now!"
Man-Owl did not answer, instead swinging a right hook with his massive wing. Huntsman bent back, trying to dodge the hit. Man-Owl leaned forward hooting loudly right at Huntsman's face.
"Ngh, Kuso." Huntsman lost his balance, falling on his back with Man-Owl towering above him. With his sharp beak, Man-Owl dove his head down straight for Huntsman's face.
Huntsman moved his head to the right dodging the beak as it hit the floor. With his free right hand, he punched the Man-Owl's face, and again, and again.
Before he could deliver another punch, Man-Owl pulled his face back and talon feet pressed down on Huntsman's face, pinning it down hard with claws holding his head.
"Mmmpffhh!" Came the muffled voice from Huntsman, trying to breathe.
Thinking quickly, Huntsman used the batarang that was in his left hand, jamming it into the gash he made earlier. Hooting and howling in pain, Man-Owl got his foot off the Huntsman's face and stepped back a bit. Now Man-Owl was holding his side in discomfort for a reason.
Huntsman still on his back got his feet together and tried to kick the Owl's face.
But his right foot got clamped with Man-Owl's beak. He grunted in surprise as his foot got caught like a vice grip. The Owl lifted his head up, lifting Huntsman up off the floor upside down. Man-Owl began thrashing him about, flinging him all over.
"Arrgh! Shit!" Huntsman reached with his left hand trying to grab the Man-Owl, but then he held onto the edge of the wing from the owl, pulling out some feathers off him.
Man-Owl threw the Huntsman off him and the black and red vigilante was thrown off the roof. "Whoaah!" Huntsman quickly put the batarang in his belt as he fell. Stretching his cape out, he glided across the streets of the district. Leaning back he slowed down as much as he can with wings catching air drag. Unfortunately he was gliding slowly towards the window balcony, of a love hotel.
"Ohhhh crap." Huntsman said flatly and slammed himself against the window, shaking the whole frame, inside was all curtains however. A feminine shriek was heard inside the room followed by a shocked male voice. Peeling himself off the window, Huntsman groaned and shook his head back into focus, standing austere.
The curtain was drawn and a furious man wearing black pants was there, behind him was his wife on bed covering herself in blankets.
The man shouted. "Who the hell-" He was cut off upon the sight of the figure in black and red eyes standing on the balcony, shocking the married couple.
Huntsman quickly got out his grapnel gun and fired a cable onto the roof that he was on, reeling himself up quick with the grapnel accelerator to get back into the battle.
Launching up and landing on the roof he got ready for a fight, but no one was around. The sound of a hooting howl from above got his attention, looking up the Man-Owl was there. But he was flying away, going up higher instead of continuing the fight.
Huntsman aimed his grapnel gun at his foe, but it was no use. Man-Owl has flown up way too high, and has fled the battle. Man-Owl was gone.
"Kuso!" Huntsman put the gadget in his holster, gritting his teeth. "Who or what the hell was that?"
In his frustration he kicked the pile of feathers that on the floor, but then rubbed forearms nursing it considering he'd received a hook from the Man-Owl. His heart still pounded in chest. But then he realised. "Pile of feathers. Must have been those that I've pulled out earlier."
Huntsman picked up the biggest grey feather, twenty centre metres long. He remembered something else, he pulled out the batarang he had used earlier, which had blood stains belonging to the Man-Owl.
"Well this is evidence that Man-Owl exist. But what more can I do with it? Who do I give this to?" He wondered who else can help, his mind narrowed down to two people that can help.
Yin Etsudo, or Alfred Pennyworth?
"Damn." Huntsman knew he needed to head back already before it got way too late. Securing the evidence properly in his belt and head on back home, staying close to the streets and not too high on the rooftops to stay hidden both from below and above.
Traversing rooftops on houses, he finally made it onto his home roof. Silently standing on the ledge of his room, he quietly lifted it up, took off his boots and snuck into his dark room. Taking off the mask, cape, joint guards, gloves and shirt, along with his belt he packed them into the case.
Hachiman took out a white t-shirt from his closet, wore it and snuck out, landing quietly on the ground floor outside.
He went to the front door, calming himself down properly, and entered in. "I'm home." He whispered to no one.
Taking off his boots, he went inside hearing the television in the living room. Soon the sound of footsteps came to him.
"Onii-chan!" Komachi said, hands on her hips. "Where were you?! You were gone the whole day!"
"Yeah sorry, sorry. I…was out." Hachiman said tiredly.
"Where?" Komachi asked.
"Just…out. Just gallivanting. Uh you know a little window shopping and getting fresh air." Hachiman answered, the scenery of the 'adult entertainment' district was still very fresh in his memory.
"But where onii-chan? And why wasn't your phone with you I called you?" Komachi pressed the matter. "I also sent you a message, you know today is like your birthday and all."
"Uh I just I thought I had it with me when I went out, but nope." Hachiman said, and used his birthday as a cover story. "Yeah like you said, it was my birthday so I thought I'd just go out to the city."
"But where?" Komachi asked again.
"Just the city for crying out loud. You don't have to worry Komachi ok? I didn't really go anywhere specific, just gallivant for my birthday that's it." Hachiman was a little annoyed, trying to keep his cover. "Why do you keep asking? Do I ask you where you go every day with your friends?"
Komachi's face got a little stern now. "Why do you have to say it like that? It's like you are saying you don't care about me."
"I didn't say that." Hachiman replied unfazed by Komachi's face, "I'm saying that I don't probe into your stuff, like where you go or who you should be friends with or if you're dating or whatever. I just let you do your own thing unless you come to me for something."
"Hmmm." Komachi lightened up a bit, "Fine. You just had me a little worried that's all."
"Look I'm fine ok? Don't need to worry ok?" Hachiman said, easing the tension.
"Uh…ok then onii-chan." Komachi submitted.
"Thanks. See you in the morning maybe, I'm beat." Hachiman went past her to the kitchen, Komachi went back to watch the television.
Opening the fridge, Hachiman checked if there was any MAX coffee can, there wasn't. Seeing the other drinks available and snacks in the fridge. Opening a small packet of salted peanut, he took a small handful and stuffed it into his mouth. As he chewed the food in his mouth, he took out another drink and closed the fridge. A can of tonic water. Before he left however, he took a mug and filled it with ice as well, but it wasn't for the drink.
He went upstairs to his room, secretly getting the blood stained batarang. After putting the feather and bloodied batarang in separate zip lock bags, he put the batarang in the mug of ice and hid it under his bed.
The he went straight for the bathroom. Tossing his clothes into the basket. He stepped into the shower, the water rained on his face body. In the shower he opened the can of tonic water. He drank while he showered.
The taste and gas of tonic water filled his mouth. The cold drink went down his gullet and to his stomach. He leaned on the wall while the shower head continue to shower him. He inspected his body, seeing the bruise on his arms and the area at his collar bone. He sighed heavily.
"Half man, half owl." Hachiman drank more tonic water, a bit of water from the shower head got into the can as well. "Whoever he was has an American accent, foreigner probably." One hand dispensed some soap and rubbed it around his body, particularly his bruises. The other hand still held the chilled can drink.
Then the one grave notion came into his head, someone wanted him dead, someone wanted to actually kill him. He drummed his fingers on the wall as stress build in him.
The Huntsman was being hunted.
The horrid memory of the Crime Alley crept in again much to his displeasure, the memory where someone was going to fire a gun right on his head, to kill him.
"Someone wanted either Huntsman or Batman dead. Either Man-Owl or someone else behind all this. You've made enemies, but with who? Dammit Hachiman you don't even know who you're supposed to be hunting."
But at least it was the Huntsman that was targeted, not Hachiman.
"If he wanted to kill me, why did he flee when the fight was not over? He was holding his side, like something was wrong in him, before he threw me off the building. He has an American accent, he's strong, probably because being half owl, but not a proper fighter it seems. He needed to leave early, for what? Where did he go?" Hachiman went through what he knew.
Gulping the last bit of tonic water and emptying the can, the shower washed the soap off his body.
And this was not over, Man-Owl was still out there, and Hachiman's got the evidence to help the case. A feather, and blood sample, although it was still in his room, and who he should deliver them to, he still did not know.
He knew this though. The next time the Man-Owl faced him, the Huntsman will be the top predator. He'll make sure of that.
His drumming fingers clenched into a fist, and he took a deep breath.
After the shower, Hachiman was back in his home clothes and applied a bit of heat rub cream over his small bruises. He was laying down on his bed. With the lights off, he drifted into sleep.
"Everything went smooth Alfred?" The sound of the Batman's voice came through Alfred's phone while the butler was in an empty board meeting room in Wayne Enterprises.
"Smoothly Master Bruce." Alfred said looking at the city from above. "Mister Hikigaya has gladly accepted his birthday gift sir."
"You should head back to the Royal Okura Hotel Alfred, should get some sleep now." Batman said.
"As should you Master Bruce." Alfred said back.
"Good night Alfred."
"Master Bruce there is one other thing sir?"
There was a second of silence. "What is it Alfred?"
"Mister Hikigaya knows that Bruce Wayne is the Batman." Alfred gave the news.
Morning has arrived, Hikigaya Hachiman was woken by the ringtone of his phone, groaning and lifting his head up, he reached over to his table and picked up the phone. Seeing the caller ID, he quickly got cautious.
"Hello?" He slowly said.
"Hikigaya." The voice from the phone replied.
"Hiratsuka-sensei?" Hachiman said
"Are you awake?"
"No, I'm sleep talking through the phone." Hachiman said sarcastically.
"Funny." Shizuka remarked. "Listen, are you free today?"
"Uh…why?" Hachiman sat up on his bed.
"I need your help with something today."
"This is club activity or what?"
"No, I'm serious I need your help, really. You need to be in smart casual too."
Hachiman asked suspiciously. "What is going on Hiratsuka-sensei? What happened?"
"It's easier if I tell it to you in person ok, just please be ready in about ninety minutes, I need you in to meet me at the station when the club met for the camp." Shizuka said and hung up the phone.
Hachiman sighed and got out of bed.
After another shower and freshening up, Hachiman got into his white shirt and black pants he'd used when he went to the Royal Okura Hotel. Getting to the kitchen all he took for his breakfast was bread. He then left the house.
Reaching the station he waited for a while, leaning against a street lamp post. The sound of a car horn got his attention, and there she was. In a red Aston Martin V8 vintage.
"Hikigaya!" Shizuka called out and he went up to her.
"Hiratsuka-sensei?" He saw her in a dress with the straps coated in petals.
"Get in." She said, and he did. The car then drove off down the street.
"What happened to that van we used before?" Hachiman asked.
"That's a rental. This is my car." Shizuka said.
"What is it you need help with?" Hachiman asked. "And what's with the attire?"
Shizuka turned to the expressway. "Ah I'll get to that soon, but before that. Happy belated birthday." She said.
"Oh, y-you knew? Thanks." Hachiman said.
"Mmhmm."
"But what is it you need help with now?"
"I'll explain when we get there. But let me ask you to fill me in on what's been happening with you."
"What do you mean?" Hachiman asked.
"Where were you yesterday?" She asked.
Hachiman was silent for a second. "What?"
"I've heard you've been coming home late recently, apart from the camp. Not just yesterday." Shizuka said.
"Oh really? Who told you that?" Hachiman asked although he already knew who.
"I need to maintain client confidentiality." Shizuka answered.
"Well you and my sister have been getting along pretty well eh? Talking about me behind my back. She told you about my birthday right?" Hachiman said crossing his arms.
"I…Y…Ho-" She stammered a bit, "Answer my question Hikigaya." The car rode down the expressway.
"Just out, window shopping and that kind of stuff." Hachiman answered.
"Alone?"
"Yeah. Why is it so important to you anyway?"
"Because as you know already, Komachi called me and told me you were out late. Birthday or not, that is disconcerting." Shizuka answered.
"What? I'm not allowed to go out on my own to spend the day for myself? What am I an inmate?" Hachiman asked, a slight hint of defence in his voice.
"Hikigaya." Shizuka said with some sternness, "All I know now is that you've been coming home late."
"And what's your definition of late? I'm not coming home at like five in the morning or something." Hachiman said.
"Ok look, you're in high school Hikigaya. Did it ever occur to you to consider your parents feelings from all this?" Shizuka threw the question at him.
Hachiman narrowed his eyes, "You would understand how a parent feel? But you aren't one."
"Huh?" Shizuka asked.
"I mean you don't have children, you're not married." Hachiman tread on the sacred ground saying that.
The displeasure and anger was clear on Shizuka's face, which did not really impress him.
"Why you little piece of…Don't go there Hikigaya." Shizuka 'warned' him.
"Right, right." Hachiman leaned back on his seat. "Also what does being in high school got to do with anything?"
"What?" Shizuka asked.
"I said what does being in-"
"No I heard what you said, I'm asking what you mean by that?"
"You mentioned high school earlier, how is that relevant?" Hachiman asked.
"I mean you're just a kid in high school, a student. You should be thinking about making friends, Service Club, getting good grades, that kind of stuff, making good memories for yourself in high school. Not wandering around late at night, alone for that matter." Shizuka said.
"Just a high school student….sure." Hachiman scoffed upon hearing that.
"What? You don't agree?" Shizuka asked. The car was exiting the expressway already.
"How many good high school memories do you have Hiratsuka-sensei?" Hachiman said.
"I…Well…" Shizuka sighed, "Hikigaya, this isn't about me. What are you getting across with this crappy attitude Hikigaya?"
Hachiman sighed. "Look, I was just out, spending the day for myself yesterday ok? That's it."
Shizuka frowned a bit at that, but finally accepted. "Fine, we're done with that part. But now what I want to know is about you not agreeing with high school being relevant."
Hachiman sighed again, "You don't seem to have any good high school memories apparently. Yet you appear to be doing fine now."
"I wouldn't say that. I still got stuff I got to deal with ok? And addition to that I still can't get married." Shizuka's hands tightened on the steering wheel after saying the part about marriage.
"Is marriage really the only single thing that can give you fulfilment? And nothing else?" Hachiman said getting a little tired of her complains on marriage, or rather the lack of it. "I mean if you really desire marriage that badly, why are you here then?"
Heat started to gather at Shizuka's cheeks, but she managed to keep it in check.
"Stop trying to avoid the topic Hikigaya." She said with firmness. "You don't think high school life is relevant, is that it?"
Hachiman took a moment to form his answer. "A person goes to high school, get the grades and friends right? All happy and perfect right? But after that then what?"
"Then what?" She repeated what he said.
"You graduate, furthering your studies. Then you all split up because of different reasons. So is it supposed to last?"
"So you think high school life is not really important because you think it won't last." Shizuka concluded. "Hikigaya, it's called keeping in touch, working to make the bond lasts."
"But don't you have your personal life to deal with?" Hachiman asked.
"You make time for it, it will help your personal life. Keeping in touch is supposed to be part of your personal life." Shizuka advised him.
Hachiman looked out the car window. "Maybe some lives can't have space for that."
Shizuka flicked the back of his head, causing him to instantly turn to her.
"That's nonsense. Make space for it." Shizuka said and sighed. "Maybe it's just that you're at that age, and you have not seen what the world out there is like."
"What the world out there is like…" Hachiman thought. His eyes narrowed.
"If you say so." Hachiman gave the lame answer.
He then said, "Look you still have not answered my question. What is with the dress, and what do you need me for?"
"We're here already." She said, making a turn to a carpark, of the Royal Okura Hotel.
"Why are we here?" Hachiman asked.
"I need you cooperate with me. I want to make sure you are not going anywhere doing I don't know what today. So you are going to follow me to my relative's wedding."
Hachiman stared at her with a confused face.
"…Wedding?"
Thank you for reading. The car scene was so tough to write, like holy shit. But I hope it was done right.
Hope to see in the next chapter.