Inaba's Dark Knight

Chapter 1

The sea was an unforgiven place, as waves crashed along the rocks the force of the sea destroying whatever reached the shore. Near a deserted beach wood splintered as it crashed against the sharp rocks. But that hardly mattered to one man, the rocks sank deep into his skin as blood poured from his body but he the pain was nothing compared to the hell he had just escaped, with a grunt he jumped out of the water and finally onto solid land. His body finally gave up after two days at sea, but Bruce Wayne couldn't help but laugh.

He had done it, he had escaped from the League of Assassins and Ra's wrath. Two days watching the shore, biding his time and hiding whenever a ship passed him by. Pieces of wood from the monastery that he had exploded had been his salvation, he hoped Talia would understand. But her father asked him something that he could not do, he would never kill not even a criminal.

"No time for that" he muttered as he tried to stand up, his muscles crying in protest, begging him to rest for just a second longer. But staying here was suicide.

Out of the shore and into the mainland was his best option, he could hide there and then call Alfred. He was not going back to Gotham, not yet at least there was still much he needed to learn, at 17 years old he was still green. He needed to master more fighting, more engineering, business management and hone his detective skills if he wanted to change Gotham. Tentative steps into the beach, made it look deserted but he spotted few people here and there, as he got closer he recognized the language on some of the posters that announced ice cream and the like.

Japanese, that complicated things.

He could ask directions just fine, but there was no way he could have an actual conversation with someone without sounding like a robot. It made it harder to blend in but it wasn't like he was going to stay for long.

Movement caught his eyes, near an abandoned looking store even if the sign said open, two thugs where dragging a girl away. Her mouth covered so that no one could hear her screams. That wouldn't do, they where behind the store and he could reach them easily, the only problem was that his outfit was torn to shreds. Whatever protection it once held was long gone,, barely hanging onto him, but that didn't matter when he had someone to save.

"Stay still and don't scream, it will be over faster if you do" the brute said as he pushed the small girl to the ground, the other keeping guard. A shadow made them turn around in confusion "What the fuck was that?" the man asked as they both grew tense and their darted towards the shadow.

The one keeping guard prepared his pocket knife "No one should be here, not at this hour, I should know is my fuckin store"

Sweat began to form on their brow, as a metallic groan reached their ears barely audible over the sound of the waves. Then faster than they could react Bruce dropped on the one with the knife, his knee shattering one of his ribs.

"WHO THE…" Bruce launched sand at the others eyes, making him stumble. But Bruce failed to notice that the other man had already recuperated, a sharp pain almost made him scream as a knife sank into his side. Bruce turned around quickly and smashed his fist against the nose of his opponent, furious at the criminal and at himself for the cut, Bruce proceeded to punch him in the throat and followed it with a kick that hit a nerve on his leg.

As the man fell to the ground screaming the last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was a fist coming right at him.

Bruce groaned as he looked down at his fist, he had hurt his knuckles. To his surprise when he turned around the other criminal was on his knees begin for forgiveness Bruce did not quite catch if it was to him or to a god, but it did confirm that criminals where all cowards and a superstitious lot.

Not bothering to answer he kicked the criminal in the head for a quick knockout, he frowned as he looked at them sprawled out on the sand, they didn't fear him. It was only after he had brutally beat his friend that the criminal had feared him, just like Ra's said. But there must be a way to instill fear without violence, that path only led to murder and it would make him no better than a common kingpin.

The girl whimpered as she thanked him over and over again, arigato easy enough to understand. He lowered the tone of his voice and told her to get help, she nodded and ran towards the beach away from the shadow. Bruce for his part looked down at himself and then the clothes the criminals had, a small smirk made its way onto his lips as he had an idea. He did say that he was the owner of the store after all.

Police arrived to quite a sight, two criminal tied up one missing his hoodie and the other missing his pants. As the police arrested them they noticed that the door to the store wad open. The shack had been raided of supplies it seemed and someone had left them a letter. The words "Human traffic" barely legible, but one officer recognized some photos "Call Tokyo, seems like we found a lead on the girls that went missing"

The younger officer nodded "Who do you think beat them?" A shrug was the response he got and a pat on the back "I am sure that they will reveal themselves in time, he probably just wanted to save the girl, right place and right time and all that"

The girl for her part thanked the heavens that she had been saved, she was waiting for her parents to come for her the sun now out on its full glory as the dawn passed and the day for many began, as a train passed on the horizon she briefly wondered what happened to her savior.

Bruce gritted his teeth as he finished stitching his wound, pain gave him focus in a fight but the aftermath was not something he liked all that much "I was too slow" he muttered as he closed the hoodie he had acquired. But now he had put some distance between him and the league, he even managed to get some free food while he was at it, the pictures behind the counter was an added bonus.

Kidnappers like them worked for a larger organization, yakuza or some other form of mafia. But it would seem that they did not hire the best there was, if Bruce had not stepped in he was sure that some one else sooner or later would have caught up to them, but he was glad he had sped up the process. "Why does this train stop in Inaba again? There's nothing there! Barely a Junes I think" Two businessmen seated behind him, Bruce had not paid attention to their conversation until now.

"It has a famous inn from what I recall as well, but I agree with you. It's a waste of time to stop in such a tiny place, but if I ever need to hide from my wife I cant think of a better place" the two laughed as their conversation shifted to affairs with women from the countryside.

"Inaba" Bruce muttered as he looked at the passing trees, it was the next stop and from what he had heard it was the perfect place to lay low. His mind made up, Bruce stood up as soon as the train announced he was in Inaba, the foggy and cold climate a welcome change from the beach.

Some people stared at him, as he easily towered over most of them but most kept walking too preoccupied with their own business. Contacting Alfred was his next step, looking around he came to a conclusion. The best bet for an international call was at the Inn if it was famous he bet that it got visited by tourists. Following the signs he walked for what felt like an hour before he reached his destination "Amagi Inn" it read.

As he walked toward the doors he spotted a girl looking at him with reserved caution "Good morning I was hoping to get a room for the day" he spoke as best as he could.

The girl gave him a fake smile and a nod. "Sure, please follow me" Bruce looked at the prices and then down to the money he took from the criminals, it was more than enough to cover one night "I was hoping to make a call back home, my phone was stolen" that did make the girl react.

"Are you okay? Do you need me to call the police" Bruce shook his head as he put the money on the counter "No need, it was not in this town"

The girl gave a him a weird look but nodded as she handed him the phone "Please take all the time you need, I will go get your room ready"

Bruce nodded and waited until she was out of sight to make his call, the number was one he had burned in his mind. Only he and Alfred knew of it, the phone on his fathers studio "Master Bruce?"

"Hello Alfred, sorry I took so long" he said as a loud sigh of relief was heard from the other side "Young man what did I tell you about calling every week?"

Bruce allowed himself to be childish and rolled his eyes "I know, but lets just say that I was busy. I found them Alfred"

"The league? But those are simply rumors… I suppose that means that your plans have progressed?" Bruce looked down at his bruised hand. He needed to train more but there was no one else that he could go, Shiva was the best warrior in the world and he had burned that bridge. She was loyal to the league and he was an enemy.

"Yes, practice is what's next for me… I don't know if I am ready to return to Gotham yet" Bruce said making Alfred pause "More fighting Master Bruce?"

"Don't think so, I trained with the best there's no where else to go" Bruce said, Alfred's tone changed to a more jovial one. "Then if you are to change Gotham, why not partake in other forms of learning. Business was something your father often complained about, wishing that he had paid more attention while in college" Bruce hummed as he pondered on that "I am no medic like him, I really have no excuse. I will think about it Alfred. For now just transfer some of the funds I saved to my location, Yen as I am sure you already know"

Alfred chuckled "You where the one that insisted on installing the ability to track you down" Bruce smiled a bit "And I was right, I will talk to you again soon Alfred. I just need to think for a while"

As he hung up the call, Bruce decided that he would think about all that tomorrow he was going to take a shower and then see the town. A glimpse of red made him turn around in time to see… a schoolgirl?

"I was told by one of the staff that we had a new guest, I simply wished to introduce myself. My name is Yukiko Amagi, please follow me. I will show you to your room"