Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. The character Arthur Sinclair is an original character needed for what is to happen. Please don't flame.
---WARNING: There is torture in this chapter. You've been warned.---
Chapter 4: A Fox in the Shadows
Barbara was changing into her batgirl costume in the cave under Wayne Manor. "If I hadn't been there, I would not have believed it. He just whipped that antidote up like a master chef whipping up an entree. His apartment is a single floor of an old office warehouse. He has plants everywhere. I think he has stock in Miracle-Gro, I've never seen plants so healthy."
"He's a freakazoid, if you ask me," said Robin. "Come on. We got to get going. Batman is waiting for us. What did the doctors say?"
"Oh, Mr. Hatanaka is expected to make a full recovery and Shuichi gave the antidote to the doctors for the rest of the patients." She revved up her custom built chopper.
"You know that guy would've been arrested if that stuff had failed?"
"What makes you think it would have?"
o0o0o0o0o
The sun is setting. The police were still milling around the Wayne Enterprise building. Batman and crew watched from top the adjacent building, listening in on police band and a tiny bug in the SWAT Command Post. Things were started to wrap up for the night.
Overhead on an adjacent building, Robin had been scanning the crowd that's watching with a high power digital camera that was plugged into a laptop. "Bingo!" said Batgirl. "Found a live one." She had been running the photos through their extensive database back at the Cave. Something has come up.
"Arthur Sinclair, age 26," she skimmed through the contact information. Then she continued, "Says here that he was fired from Wayne Enterprises but stealing chemicals. He works now for Slader Industries as a Purchasing Agent. "
Robin looked up at Batman, and asked, "Isn't that the company that's trying to buy out Hatanaka's department at Wayne Enterprises?"
Batman gave a slight nod but said nothing. Giving a low whistle, Robin said, "That red head isn't going to like hearing this. He doesn't strike me as the forgiving type."
o0o0o0o0o
Not far away, in the shadows, was the certain red head. This has to be the most boring of police investigation, the running down of leads, but the fox had learnt the meaning of patience centuries ago.
Leaning against the brick building wall, Kurama had switched out of his street clothes to his favorite fighting togs with a blue and red tabard over them. His eyes were hidden under his long bangs giving him the appearance of someone taking a five minute catnap until a feral smile crossed his face.
No, he and Yoko weren't the forgiving type.
o0o0o0o0o
Arthur Sinclair was tall, rat-faced man with dark hair, and was well dressed, in other words, a businessman. At Slader Industries, he was someone. He was going places, thanks to his new secret employer, who had the juice to make things happen. As he stood watching the police run around the Wayne Building like little ants, he just had to gloat. Not even the Batman will figure out he's the one behind the gassing. That'll teach Wayne to out bid him for a company.
When he arrived at the loading docks at Slader Industries, he was informed that there was a problem. The loading crew had made a mistake. As he was arguing with the foreman, Sinclair felt a rush of wind. Turning around, he came face to face with his worse nightmare.
Batman suddenly swooped down to land behind the other person. Batgirl and Robin landed behind their mentor.
"Oh Shit!"
o0o0o0o0o
Kurama landed in an alleyway, staying in the shadows, as Batman, Batgirl and Robin move into position on the roof. He was curious to see if these vigilantes' reputations was worth the hype.
Upon seeing Batman, Sinclair made a run for it as a dozen dock workers came running to defend their boss.
Sinclair didn't get very far as Kurama snaked out one of his vines snatching him and pulling him screaming into the shadows.
When his prey was secure, Kurama turned to see four guys facing off with Batgirl. Thinking she was the weaker of the trio, they thought if they could subdue her, they can use her as a leverage against Batman. Racing out of the shadows, Kurama leaped catching one of the assailants in the jaw with his foot.
Landing next to Batgirl, he held up a long stem rose.
"How sweet, you goin' to ask me out, pretty boy?" one of them sneered as Kurama flicked his wrist and said, "Rose Whip Lash!"
The rose whip snaked out in deadly accuracy, catching the assailant in the face leaving a long bloody gash. The man cried out in pain. Batgirl brought down one as Kurama went after the other two. There was no playing around this time as Kurama's lash left two very bloody men unconscious on the concrete.
Returning his whip back into a rose, Kurama walked over to where he had hidden his prey. The vines around the man tighten then relaxed in almost a pulsating rhythm. Sending a bit of energy into the vines, they started to raise him higher into the night air until Kurama was looking up at him.
Sinclair screamed, "Put me down, put me down! I'll sue! I'll own you. You hear me!" Blood and urine dripped off the helpless captive as the vines tighten once more. "WHO ARE YOU?"
/Pathetic. He's not even worth feeding to my Death Plant/ Yoko sneered.
"Kurama," Kurama's voice low and chilling as he raised a hand to the shivering vines. "You will tell me everything you know, vermin or I'll feed you to my Death Plant."
The vines tighten even more as the man screamed in pain as a rib or two broke under the pressure. Blood flowed more freely where the thorns bit into his flesh as the air stunk of urine and feces. Sinclair thrashed and bucked trying to escape screaming in pain.
Robin started forward when Batman stopped him, "He'll kill him." Batman shook his head. "I don't think so."
Kurama turned his back on the vines to face Batgirl, who in Yoko's opinion was a bit more prettier then the vermin caught in his rose vines. Batgirl was appalled at the scene but she also fascinated by Kurama's appearance. Traces of silver laced the his red hair and his usual calm emerald eyes had flecks of gold in them.
Sinclair screamed again. "ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! I'll talk. Just put me down," he begged.
"You are in no position to bargain, vermin. I suggest you talk and talk fast." Another bit of energy caused the vines to tighten once more. Yoko was impressed. He didn't think the human could stand anymore pain.
"No more! Please!" Sinclair whimpered in pain. "Some nutcase wearing a scarecrow mask. He gave the Boss the stuff to gas the place. It's some sort of fear gas. There's more of the stuff in the office over there. Put me down!" The vines pulsated a bit. "I'm telling the truth! I just wanted to get back at Wayne. I just wanted the money, and Wayne owes me. That department he purchased was going to make me rich but Wayne out bid me."
/He's telling the truth, Red. /
"Where can I find this man that deals in fear?" Kurama asked, sending another shot of energy into the vines causing them to tighten.
Sinclair started to whimper as he started to feel the blood loss from his wounds. " One . . . one of the hangers at the old abandon airstrip outside of Gotham. He makes the stuff and sells it to whoever wants it. I swear. That's all I know. Please. I'll do anything, put me down."
/ As if Koenma would allow us to kill a pathetic human. Better to make him suffer a bit more. /
Kurama smiled slightly, bowing a bit at Batman before turning back to his victim. "Know this vermin. You are lucky this night. I'm going to let you live." The vines loosen their hold on the man, dropping him about six foot to the ground as they shrunk back and down. Sinclair groaned passing out as he hit the concrete. Kurama scooped up the shrinking plant as it reverted back into see form as he raced to the office building.
Breaking into the building office, Kurama searched for the toxin. In the corner, he found a safe and smiled. This is Yoko's favorite past-time.
/ Let's crack this baby, Red. It's in there. I can smell it. /
Batman had followed Kurama in and was going through the file cabinets. Batgirl and Robin were busy tying up loose ends.
In next to no time Kurama had the safe opened. Piece of cake. He found a small perfume ionizer filled with a purplish-blue liquid.
Taking a whiff, Yoko gave a low appreciative whistle. /Man Red. That's prime stuff. It would be worth a fortune on the Black Market in the Makai. Do we have to turn it in/
Kurama smile slightly as he tucked the ionizer into his fighting shirt. 'We'll need it as a bargaining tool with Koenma for what I have planned.'
"Care to explain, Kurama?" Batman spoke the first time since entering the office as Kurama rose from the floor, dusting himself off.
Kurama shrugged. "The safe was no challenge. I was always good at breaking codes and combinations." Walking past the large man, Kurama smiled slightly, "As for the fear toxin. I have a better use for it then to waste it on innocents. Fear is a weapon like any other." Narrowing his eyes as he looked up at the caped samurai, "The one who made it, will soon know real fear."
Outside, holding up his rose, Kurama handed it to Batgirl as he walked across the concrete, past the prone men. "Even a fox enjoys a good mystery."
"Now wait just a minute!" Robin called standing in front of Kurama. "You just can't waltz out of here. Just who the hell do you think you are?"
The red head lowered his head, hiding his eyes under his bangs as he walked back into the shadows, "Even the hunter can become the hunted."
o0o0o0o0o0o
So have you figured out who's the Arch Villain is yet? As I said, I suck at fight scenes. Thanks everyone for reading so far. Remember reviews are welcomed, I would love to know if you like this or not. Until next time. --GF