I don't own DC comic characters like Batman ®or SNK/playmore registered trademark characters of King of Fighters ®.

4.

Bruce Wayne clenched his hands together in thought as he sat in his recliner in his vastly large living room. He just couldn't shake off what happened the night before, not only did he not have to do anything about the creeps yesterday that attacked the KOF fighters. What baffled him more was why the criminal scum wanted to kill the KOF members. He wasn't too surprised though, he knew it had something to do with the invitation he received. His young ward Dick Grayson stepped into the room.

"Bruce I'm sure you already saw what happened?" He looked at him.

He nodded "Yes dick I'm perfectly aware of what's going on, and I think I know who to go after, to the bat cave Dick." they both nodded in agreement as they quickly rushed to the secret entranceway.

Within the bat cave , Batman accessed the various files on his bat-computer, he looked up at the large screen as he typed. Several pictures showed up on the screen. All descending in a row with various profile pictures as well as bios. Batman leaned back in his chair looking at each photo. "These are each of the hosts that hosted the King of Fighters tournament each year since it began, and since it went world wide." Robin stepped towards the monitor looking at each picture. In order, went Geese Howard, Rugal Bernstein, Kagura Chizuru, Leopold Goenitz, Krizalid, Zero, Igniz.

Batman furrowed his brows as he looked at each picture and read the bios. Robin stood by "Well it could be any one of them right?" Batman shook his head "No, first off Geese Howard is currently in South Town, he's no better than any other crime boss, and only hosted locally" He continues, "Rugal Bernstein the nuclear arms dealer, was supposedly killed in 1995 after an explosion, Kagura Chizuru is currently in Japan with her clan, and Goenitz died in 96 at the hands of Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami" He narrows his eyes " Krizalid , Zero and Igniz of the Nests organization were brought down in 2001." He looks down. "Pretty much all our suspects are either gone, far off, or dead, leaving us no clue of who this years host is" He stood up. "Which means we've got to enter the tournament then infiltrate behind the curtain to see who's behind this" Robin stepped up "Wait, that still doesn't rule out why anyone would want to kill the fighters, it wouldn't be the host Batman." Batman nods, " I know, which is exactly why we're going to question some of the fighters, I'm very sure it's a good motive, and judging by how these goons looked, I think it might be our old friend, The Joker."

Later that night, Kyo Kusanagi himself was walking through the cold weather of Gotham and down the sidewalk and to the rooftop of a building where he got note by Bennimaru to meet him and Shingo that night. He looked around the empty building top and snickered. "The hell was I thinking that they would be up here, why in the first place?" He crossed his arms. Just then a pair of boots landed upon the Rooftop. Kyo quickly turned around his fist clenched and a flame bursting out from it. Batman stood his ground "I wanted to talk to you Kyo." he eyed the young Japanese fighter. Kyo snickered "Forgery then tricking into a meeting? I don't buy that superhero man." Batman kept his gaze "I wanted to ask you some questions" Kyo snickered "I don't feel like answering any" he puts up his gloved fists "But I do feel like a match right now" Batman narrowed his eyes I didn't want a fight, I wanted some insight"

Kyo leapt forward and swung a fist towards the caped crusader as Batman jolted right to dodge it. "But if you insist" Batman put up his fists as well. Kyo grinned as he then followed through with a second punch from a different fist, Batman backed up enough to get the miss. He put his forearm up to block Kyo's third follow through punch. Batman got a punch of his own off which Kyo also blocked then countered with a quick jab from his right fist which connected with Batman's shoulder. He then took the opportunity at an open batman and did his three punch follow through landing the first punch on Batman's chest. "You're Wide Open!" he boasted. As batman caught the second punch by Kyo's wrist and leapt off the ground turning his body slightly as his leg went up and his foot landed against Kyo's face, making him stumble a few feet clenching his cheek.

Batman stood in his fighting stance waiting for Kyo's next move. Kyo snickered again at the Dark Knight, "Not taking advantage? That's Foolish!" He yelled as he turned his body leaping into the air , his leg pointing straight downwards as he was about to do his signature move of a diving kick. "I'm Up here!" Kyo spoke to Batman who was right below the waiting kick. Quickly reacting to the oncoming move Batman waited the precise time to Kyo's distance and grabbed his leg with both hands using his weight to turn and throw Kyo's body to the surface. It worked as well as Kyo's face was in shock as his body hurdled towards a glass pane on the roof, Batman since he shifted his weight lost his standing and ended up falling holding Kyo's leg in a tight grip as Kyo as well as Batman fell through the glass pane and to the bottom of the abandoned Warehouse floor.

The beautiful red head turned around and noticed the two men on the floor and put her hands on her hips, quite surprised that Batman arrived there, she put down some vials she was holding. Poison Ivy showed a slight smirk on her dark rose lips as she crossed her arms.

To be continued.