Hey guys sorry for the wait. But here we are.

I feel like I need to really pick up the pace in the plot.

Also one thing I keep forgetting to point out. This Batman, is still on the young side. When Hachiman met him when he's 14, Bruce had just started as Batman recently, like he's 26 or 27 around there. If memory serves, Bruce started as Batman when he's 25 in New 52.

Now Hachiman is 17, Bruce is in his late twenties or early thirties. Because this is still a 'young' Batman, the bat family won't appear.

Hope this chapter was done well, apologies for any errors.

Please review.

Chapter 26: Thorns beneath the Roses

The car was parked in the hotel, Hikigaya Hachiman and Hiratsuka Shizuka got into the elevator heading up to the hotel lobby. With hotel guest both local and foreigners everywhere in the lobby, Hachiman was not exactly looking forward to this wedding he was going to attend.

But even so, he knew he had to be respectful in a wedding.

"Come on Hikigaya." Shizuka said to the teen behind her, and he picked up the pace a little to walk beside her.

"You do know what to do, and what not to do right?" Shizuka asked him.

"Yeah, I think I do." Hachiman answered, admittedly a little nervously.

"Alright I'm just going to ignore the fact that I a student is out with a teacher on my holiday? Ok then." Hachiman thought.

He resisted the urge to open his mouth as he yawned inside, after last night's failed 'Owl Hunt' and an early wake-up call.

Taking a couple of escalators, they got to the third floor. The sight of men and women in suits and dresses were appearing as the two were getting closer to the event.

"Uh sensei?" Hikigaya said.

"Mmhmm?" Shizaku turned to him.

"Are your parents here or something?" He asked, eyes looking left and right.

"Is that a problem?" Shizuka asked.

"T-They are? Uh…" Hachiman stammered a bit.

"Relax, they would probably be talking to the couple's parents more for appearance's sake. Relax you'll be fine." Shizuka pulled his hand.

Letting go of his hand, the two were getting closer to the reception ballroom hall. Wedding decorations were everywhere, with a romantic song coming from speakers could be heard. There was sign of the couples' names before the entrance to the ballroom.

"Tachibana Haruki and Hiratsuka Kaoru." Hachiman read the names in his mind.

"Shizuka." A voice called from behind. Hachiman and Shizuka turned around. And there stood a couple. A woman looking a little like Shizuka, with shorter hair and in a purple dress. The man was slightly taller in suit, sporting a bit of grey hair on his head.

"Otou-san. Okaa-san." Shizuka wished her parents, daughter and mother got into a hug with the father standing beside them with a hand on Shizuka's shoulder. Hikigaya Hachiman simply stood where he was, not wanting to interfere with the little family reunion.

"And who is this Shizuka?" Her mother asked when she had her eyes on the teen who was standing on his own. They broke the hug, and all were looking at him.

Said teen stepped forward. And Shizuka introduced him to them.

"This is Hikigaya Hachiman." She said to them.

Making a respectful bow, Hachiman greeted Mr and Mrs Hiratsuka.

Shizuka's parents took a good look at the boy. The father had questioning eyes on Hachiman which was noticed by both Hachiman and Shizuka. If he had one guess, Hachiman would suspect that it's because of his eyes.

Her mother however had more warmth in her gaze, it was welcoming. However she has hit the mark dead on straight away. "Shizuka dear, is this boy a student of yours?" She said.

Hachiman's face was composed, but Shizuka's face turned a little pink as if caught red-handed.

"Uh y-yes, he's a student from Sobu High." Shizuka admitted.

The father then spoke. "Well why have you brought him here then? I know that the invited can bring guests but a student?"

"Well I'm uh…his guidance counsellor." Shizuka made her answer. "He's been a slight trouble maker very recently so I'm supposed to um…shape him up proper, know what I mean?"

"Yeah make me look bad in front of your parents, thanks." Hachiman thought under his dry chuckle.

"Oh this charming young man a trouble maker? I just can't see it." Shizuka's mother said in a sweet voice. "Ah but to have Shizuka watching over her student's wellbeing, you're fortunate young man." Now her voice turned into a little teasing one. "She's so bold, even letting you experience what a wedding is like, on top of that she's bringing you along, as her d-"

"OK, that's enough, no need to scare the boy." Shizuka interrupted and pushed her parents from behind. "I'm sure you two want to talk to aunts and uncles, find your seats, that sort of thing so you two should probably get a move on."

"Hehe, alright dear. Leave you two to it then, we won't bother you fufu." Shizuka's mother said, handing her husband's hand and waving her daughter goodbye. Her parents went into ballroom.

"Well I uhh they're uhh…" Hachiman tried to say something.

"They are…" Shizuka stretched the words.

"Your mom is very nice?"

Shizuka rolled her eyes at that, but was still grateful that Hachiman said that. "Thank you."

"It's true, she's nice. But what can we say about you?" Someone said from behind them. Hachiman and Shizuka turned and immediately, the boy's eyes widened, not in awe, but in utter shock.

There stood a woman, as tall as if not barely taller than Hachiman. Wearing a long silky, light red dress with one strap over one shoulder. She had black hair tied in a ponytail, and she wearing black heels. One hand holding a dark purple purse, the other hand on her hip.

"You…You…Why the hell is it you?!" Hachiman's mind was a scrambled inside. "Dammit Hachiman, get it together."

"How've you been little cousin?" The woman asked Shizuka with a smile.

"Fine. It's been so long Etsudo." Shizuka greeted her. "I thought you were too busy to attend."

"Nah, I managed to wrap things up last night." The woman in red replied.

"Yin Etsudo…Whaaa…." Hachiman thought, staring at the woman in red. Yin turned to the boy, Hachiman immediately straightened up and stepped forward.

"Hikigaya Hachiman right? I overheard your name from Shizuka's parents." Yin said, and then she extended her hand out for a handshake instead of a bow.

Seeing this Hachiman got his hand out as well and they greeted each other with a handshake.

"Y-You're…You're Yin Etsudo." Hachiman slipped up.

"Yeah, I'm Yin. You know who I am Hikigaya-san?" Etsudo asked.

"Whoa, whoa you know my cousin?" Shizuka stepped in and pointed at Yin.

"Uh y-yeah. Inspector Yin, I've seen you on the news and on the papers. You're making the city safer. You are famous I guess." Hachiman said.

"Oh I see." Yin chuckled a bit. "Well it's not just me, everyone's doing their part. And I prefer Captain Yin over Inspector Yin, just sounds better to me."

"Oh ok, Captain Yin." Hachiman said.

"And you are Shizuka's student is that right?" Yin had a hint of a smirk at the corner of her mouth, looking at Hachiman then at Shizuka.

"So what's the deal with you two?" Two fingers pointing at Hachiman and Shizuka.

"I'm his guidance counsellor. And he's been a bit of trouble maker very recently. So I'm supposed to shape him up proper…you know what I mean?" Shizuka made the same answer.

"Shape him up as in, 'Aw the delinquent student somehow got the teacher's attention and she wants to save the boy from his delinquency?' Read that kind of story before, I'm sure I know what will happen next." Yin made the teasing joke.

"Etsudo! What are you talking about, for God's sake!" Shizuka quickly shushed her. Yin just jokingly bumped her on the elbow.

Hachiman was silently irritated now, the second time she made him look bad, this time in front of a cop, he decided to voice out now.

"A trouble maker? Really? Would I really be here if I was one?" Hachiman said to Shizuka. "I'm going to head to the bathroom first, I'll see you inside?"

"I'll save a seat for you then, you can sit with us kid." Etsudo said with an elegant smile with her hair in a gentle flow. "Oh and don't be pepped up about the delinquent thing, no big deal."

Hachiman went back to where he came from, leaving the two women.

"A handshake Etsudo? Very western huh?" Shizuka asked with crossed arms.

"He seems ok with it." Yin shrugged her shoulders. "Well I guess being in the states for so many years, habits are to stay."

Yin then said, "But enough about me, so you a young lady teacher is actually bringing a male student out with you…to a wedding." Yin had a smirk, a raised eye brow, arms crossed and her hips shifted to the side.

Heat gathered at Shizuka's cheek and said. "Stop it Etsudo God! I'm a teacher, he's a student. He's younger than me."

"And that's supposed to stop you? Age is only a number when it comes to these things little cousin."

"Ok enough of that already. Besides what makes you the expert? Huh, you came here alone." Shizuka countered.

"Well maybe I'm not too bothered that I'm still single like you are." Yin said. Shizuka just let out an exasperated sigh.

"Chill Shizuka." Yin chuckled. "But uh…"

"What?" Shizuka asked.

"If you're serious about him." Etsudo pointed in the direction where Hachiman took off. "At least wait till he's legal."

"Oh my God! Etsudo-"

"Alright, alright let's not get too much attention." Etsudo quickly said, "So anyway, what's the deal with the kid?"

"Ah he's a student with a personality that is as rotten as his eyes which you have just seen." Shizuka answered.

"His eyes? Seriously? You can't hold that against a person if his eyes are like that." Etsudo said acting like the older sister.

"Ok, ok let me take back what I said." Shizuka said. "What I meant to say was his character needs correcting."

"And that's where you come in? The guidance counsellor."

"Yep."

"And where does a wedding fit in your plan?" Etsudo asked her younger cousin.

"I figured, he needed to see something happy and positive, and since Kaoru's wedding was around the corner, well it could work into a plan." Shizuka answered.

Her mind went back when she saw a face devoid of happiness and positivity, when she hit Hachiman for turning up late for school when it turned out he was sick, a face that was like a cornered predator in rage and pain.

"Seriously! Captain Yin! Cousin of Hiratsuka-sensei?! Why?!" Hachiman's mind went haywire. "Relax, relax man. She doesn't know that Hachiman is Huntsman. Hell, she hasn't even seen Huntsman yet."

He remained in the cubicle after he was done with the toilet. The bathroom had luxury oozing into the atmosphere. With tiled floors, marble walls, there was even a television on the wall, showing a football match.

"Ugh, I need to deliver that feather and the blood sample. Shit I should have stored that blood sample properly first, don't know if it still viable for usage." Hachiman remembered something, he pulled out a card from his wallet.

Alfred Pennyworth's contact card.

"We'll deal with Man-Owl later I guess, got a wedding to attend. Oh hooray for me." He thought sarcastically at the last part.

Getting to the sink, the tap released the water on his hands. His eyes were on the television as he washed his hands, watching a football match with the crowd cheering everywhere.

He let out a yawn and dried his hands as he continued to watch. A football club captain gathering his team together, uniting them in this football league.

"Heh…Unite The League."

Hachiman was finally in the processional, in the ballroom with the rest of the guests, with Etsudo picking him up and Hikigaya Hachiman ended up seated a few rows from the front, seated in between Hiratsuka Shizuka and Yin Etsudo.

Unfortunately, now that he's seated down, sleeping was creeping back into his head even though he was sitting between two beautiful women.

It was a traditional wedding setup. Rows of seat with a grand path in the middle as the aisle, parents and grandparents were seated at the front. The groom, Tachibana Haruki was standing at the altar with the priest. To Hachiman, this would probably be the first and the last time he will be seeing Tachibana Haruki, it'd be pointless to remember oh so…average looks.

A certain amount of time passed. Everyone was quietly conversing among themselves, waiting for the main event to come. Shizuka was too busy looking elsewhere when Hachiman's head was slowly nodding and finally it appeared like he's staring at his feet.

The sudden burst of music got him to instantly tilt his head back up. His quickened breathing slowed down as he turned to see people walking down the aisle now. Everyone turned to the see the aisle, Hachiman covered his yawn and did the same. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were in pairs, walking down the aisle.

Hachiman looked around, the people everywhere. All having smiles on their faces, even one or two of the family members in the front are tearing up even before the bride has arrived. The soothing romantic music continued to play, Hachiman's eyelids suddenly got a little heavy.

The flower girls were walking down aisle now, sprinkling petals of roses. The ring bearer behind, holding the cushion with the rings sitting on the cushion. They too got into position before the bride, taking her own sweet time to arrive.

His head was tilting to the side, his breathing was getting a little deeper, and his eyelids were closed.

His head was tilting to the side further…until it rested on something.

Both Yin and Hiratsuka looked at each other confused, and both looked at the teen's head, resting on Yin's shoulder. A vein popped in Shizuka's temple, while Yin had a small giggle escaping her mouth, amused by the boy sleeping.

The teacher's hand curled into a fist, with knuckles cracking. Yin quickly looked at her, shaking her head telling Shizuka 'no'. It wouldn't matter either way, as the bride and her father has arrived at the aisle.

Everyone was soon rising up from their seats. Shizuka stood up and grabbed his ear with one hand, twisting it and pulling it upwards. His eyes instantly shot open, his head got off Yin's shoulder and shot up from his seat.

"What the-" He gripped the wrist which was twisting his ear. Seeing the wrist belonged to Shizuka he quickly unhanded her.

"You slept on my shoulder." Yin said to him as she got up as well.

"Oh I'm s-sorry. Really sorry." Hachiman quickly apologized. "Real goddamn smooth Hachiman, sleep on the shoulder of a cop, of Captain Yin!"

"It's alright kid. Been playing video game late at night?" Yin teased him.

"Shhh." Shizuka hissed at them. The three got their attention back on the bride and father walking down to the aisle. The bride was stunning, Hiratsuka Kaoru had deep red hair, which Hachiman guessed that she dyed her hair, and her blush was hidden behind the veil.

Everyone was silent, Hachiman finally took in the sight of the bride, Hiratsuka Kaoru, with her father walking down the aisle in her sparkling wedding dress. She was wearing long white gloves, both hands holding a bouquet of flowers.

Hachiman continued to watch the two making their way to the groom. He wondered how Komachi's wedding will be like. He wondered, if it will come to his turn. But then again, wishful thinking is for free.

Soon the bride and groom were together at the front, Hachiman's mind however had tuned everything out as his eyes drifted to the rose petals on the aisle. This bed of roses.

Something…dark crept into his mind however.

"Marriage, to be with someone special and to spend the rest of your life with. To be in the comfort of someone special, to be in happiness and bliss. Like a bed of roses in a flower field…a bed of roses masking the thorns in the stems beneath. The good people, completely unaware of the horrors out there."

Hachiman's eyes showed confusion and uncertainty.

"That homeless man on my second night, whose wife murdered by a killer croc, marriage severed so horribly. A thorn cutting a rose petal." Hachiman's mind went down the road.

"But the Huntsman stopped in the killer croc from taking anymore, the Huntsman saved lives. The thorn had been cut away from the rose. You protected people, taking down criminals, in the dark. With people either fearing or loathing you." Hachiman's eyes drifted down.

Is that what you are? A thorn that cuts the thorns from the stems to keep the roses safe?"

His train of thoughts crashed, his attention was brought back by the applause and cheering as Tachibana Haruki and Hiratsuka Kaoru got into a kiss, husband and wife at last.

Hachiman got his hands to clap as well, the least he can do is at least be respectful that a couple got married.

The processional was over, and now came the reception. Everyone was in the adjacent ballroom now. Everyone was mingling among themselves, families chatting away, catching up. Yin Etsudo had left Hachiman to find her relatives and Hiratsuka Shizuka had to join up her family and relatives as well. Leaving the teen to be on his own, with a glass of soda in one hand and a contact card in the other. He was at the glass doors between the ballroom and the balconies with no one bothering him, 'watching over' his teacher from a distance, seeing she was with the married couple.

"Well, sensei is busy right now. I got to take the chance now, can't waste time with Man-Owl out there." Hachiman opened the glass doors and stepped out into the balcony, no longer in the air condition. He looked back to see Shizuka no longer with the married couple, but with other relatives.

He could see a tower with a huge 'W' on it, higher above the other skyscrapers. A part inside Hachiman had a desire to get up on the top of that tower, being so high up there. And survey the city of Chiba below, watching from the tower.

Like a…Watchtower.

With one hand holding his phone and contact card, he dialled the number. The phone ringed as he brought it his ear, he took another gulp of soda before the line was picked up.

"Alfred Pennyworth." The British voice answered.

"H-Hello Mr Pennyworth? This is uh Hachiman Hikigaya." Hachiman spoke in English.

"Mr Hikigaya, a pleasure to hear from you sir."

"Yeah um Mr Pennyworth-"

"Just Alfred dear boy."

"Uh right um, Alfred." Hachiman said. "Wait hang on before I go on, this line is…secure right?"

"Under the protection of our mutual associate sir. Is everything alright?"

"Ok I need to tell you something. Last night, I just had a run in with someone or something. Like a wereowl. I'm not kidding, I snatched a feather and even a blood sample, but it's at home. And I'd figured you run an analysis or something like that." Hachiman explained the situation.

"Where are you right now then?" Alfred asked.

"I'm at the Royal Okura Hotel. I'm attending a wedding, well forced to anyway."

"Quite the coincidence, I happen to be staying here as well."

"What? Serious?"

"Quite so sir. Perhaps we can find the opportunity to meet at say…the Angel Ladder?"

Hachiman turned around to check on Shizuka, only to see her taking off for the exit. "Uh, just a moment Alfred, hold on please."

He went inside, seeing Shizuka heading for the exit, he could see her face and she's extremely upset. He put the glass of soda on a table, confused as to where she's going.

"Hikigaya-san." He heard Yin's voice. He quickly got the phone away from his ear.

"Mister Hikigaya?" He could faintly hear Alfred's voice from the phone.

"Captain Yin?" Hachiman asked.

"Where were you?" Yin asked.

"Uh, sorry what happened?" Hachiman asked back.

"It's nothing serious." Yin had a hand on her temple, she then said in English, "Stupid aunt can't keep her mouth shut."

"Why what did this aunt say?" Hachiman asked in English.

"Wait you know English? Oh goodness." Yin shook her head. "Ok never mind what the aunt said, can you just please go and watch over her?"

"Wait she's leaving the hotel or what?"

"I don't know, just please go after her?" Yin asked him.

"Uh ok. Till next time then Captain Yin." Hachiman left the police officer, and tried to catch up with his teacher.

He got back on phone, "Alfred?"

"Mister HIkigaya?" Alfred was still in the line.

"Sorry can I uh get back to you on this? Something's come up. I'll call you back."

"Right sir."

"Bye." Hachiman hung up the phone, and went after Hiratsuk Shizuka.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?"

Thank you for reading, hope you've enjoyed this chapter hope to see you in the next.

I couldn't resist the obvious references, I had to lol.

AND WHO'S HYPED FOR THE JUSTICE LEAGUE FILM?! HEHE