Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 and as always, please don't flame.
Chapter 5: Call of the Wild
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."
Racing into the darkness, Batman's thoughts were on the boy. He was an enigma. Something about the way he opened that safe without any tools, manipulated plants with ease and calling himself 'Kurama'.
Opening a connection to the Cave, he said, "Alfred."
"Here sir," came a very British male voice over the video connection to the Cave.
"I need you to look up the name 'Kurama' in the crime files, especially in Japan. See if there is any records on him."
"Very good, sir. Anything else?"
"Yes, put in a call to that old master, what's her name, the psychic."
"I think her name was Genkai, sir."
"See if she knows the name."
"Right away, sir. Out." Alfred signed off.
The Bat team arrived at the old airport, scanning the area for activity. As they were surveying, the video phone sounded.
"Sir, I placed the call as you requested. I believe the old woman knows Kurama. Her words were, "So what is that Fox Boy up to now?" She said that he's an honorable and vicious fighter with a keen sense of right and wrong. He's cold and ruthless, very calculating and not to underestimate him."
"Thanks Alfred. Anything else?"
"No sir. Still waiting on police files but as yet nothing is coming up."
"Keep me informed."
"Very good sir."
Not far in the shadows, Kurama was listening. So they had called Genkai, have they? He smirked, the old woman was a good and trusted friend.
She won't tell them about me.
Taking a small compact looking device out of his tunic, Kurama decided it was time to put his plan into action by placing a call.
"The Mighty Koenma here."
"Hello Koenma, I need a favor."
A large dirigible was anchored by a out of the way hanger. Guards moved silently around as the Bat team moved into position.
A strange man appeared directing workers as they were loading the aircraft with long canisters. He was tall wearing a scarecrow outfit. His face was covered with a burlap sack.
"Careful you cretins! Batman will be here any moment. We must be out of here! Don't drop that, Moron!"
Over the sound of the motor of the dirigible, men began to shout. A plant unlike any they had ever seen snaked out and wrapped itself around the aircraft. Its leaves were purple and blood red with stripes of green lacing through the foliage. The leaves were palm tree size attached to limbs that were growing into the size of telephone poles. When the dirigible exploded, the plant absorbed most of the fire and escaping gases. The Scarecrow shouted, "NO! MY BEAUTIFUL TOXIN! IT'S DESTROYED!"
From the smoke and flames, a silky voice with deep purring tones spoke, "So you are the little vermin that makes this delicious nectar."
"Who said that?" The Scarecrow looked around as Batman, Robin and Batgirl stepped out onto the tarmac. "YOU! YOU DID THIS!" The scarecrow lunged at the Bat team only to be ensnared by several palm leaves, gripping him tightly.
The voice laughed, "No, little vermin. They did not. I suggest Batman that you and your friends don't move. My Ojigi plant will crush you to death. It goes for movement, even a heart beat will attract it."
Stepping out of the shadows, a seven foot male with long white hair, fox ears and a tail wearing white pants and a toga like top. The fox man smirked, holding a canister of fear toxin. Yoko Kurama has come out to play.
The plants moved almost lovingly around Yoko, ignoring Batman and friends. The Scarecrow screamed as he struggled to get loose, "Put me down!" More palm like leaves wrapped around him.
"Know this vermin, I bore easily. I like to toy with my prey," Yoko gave the canister to one of the vines for safe keeping as the Scarecrow struggled causing the leaves around him to pulsated more.
"You are a kitsune," Batman said, in Japanese, stepping closer slowly as not to excite the plant more.
"I am Yoko, a spirit fox," the kitsune explain, also in Japanese, not turning around to face the Dark Crusader. "You will find I'm not as forgiving as the boy. If I had my way, the earlier vermin would've died."
"You're the one that taught him to use plants," Batgirl said, stepping closer as well.
"Indeed. He is quite capable," Yoko smirked. A vine snaked around Batgirl, pulling her closer to the kitsune. "The mask is a definite turn on."
Shuichi in the back of his mind growled, Stick to the plan, Yoko.
'I tend to Red, but I can have a little fun too.'
"Put me down! You. . . you. . ." Batgirl shouted, reaching for her tool belt. A large limb moved as Yoko jumped on it taking Batgirl with him. Growing larger and higher, the limb carried the pair into the night sky as Yoko settled the girl onto his lap.
"Relax little bat. Continue to struggle and I won't be able to control the Ojigi," Yoko chuckled softly as the limb stopped several stories about the hanger. "As much as I desire a good rut, the night is almost over. Besides, I think Red has other plans."
"Red?" Batgirl relaxed a bit in his arms as the vines removed themselves. The large leaves quiver around her but made no move to ensnare her again.
Yoko reached for the compact communicator as the plant brought the screaming Scarecrow and the canister of the toxin level with him. Batman and Robin landed not far away, avoiding the leaves as much as possible. Yoko flicked his wrist and the leaves moved off.
"The Mighty Ko . . .YOKO! What are you doing out?" Batgirl also fell out of Yoko's arms as she stared at a toddler wearing a blue hat sucking on a binky seating at a desk with stacks of paperwork piled on it. She didn't understand much Japanese but she got the idea that the toddler was very shocked to be talking to Yoko.
"I have the Fear Toxin and the maker. You've decided, toddler? There isn't much time," Yoko asked in Japanese as Batman narrowed his eyes, listening. Police sirens could be heard in the distances as copters coming over head. Time to bring this little game to a close. It wasn't much of an effort and he was getting bored. Evading the police will be much more entertaining as long as he was out.
"Very well, Yoko. I can't have demons running amok in Gotham City. I will send Botan to open a portal."
"And she will deliver them as a gift to Mukuro?"
"Yes. They will be delivered to Mukuro." The toddler didn't sound happy as he signed off.
Yoko closed the communicator as a blue haired girl wearing a pink kimono riding a floating boat oar appeared through a round black hole not far from away.
"Yoko! What are you doing out? I can't believe Kurama would allow it," the girl asked as she hovered in mid air.
The Batman team stared at her. The Scarecrow whimpered as the leaves wrapped around him tightened.
"Ah Botan. Could you take this package to Mukuro with my compliments? As well as these two canister, and give my regards to Hiei. Tell him we've found our new home not as dull as we had first thought," Yoko chuckled, looking over at the Scarecrow. "Oh don't worry. You will be well looked after. Your toxin is so exquisite, so delectable. Demons will just love you. It may be deadly to humans but its catnip to us." At the word 'demon,' the captive started to thrash again to Yoko's amusement.
"Enough, Yoko. Put us down," Batman said.
"As you wish, Batman." Yoko called back his plant. When everyone was safely back on the ground, Yoko allowed Batgirl to escape his arms. "It's too bad really," Yoko pouted a bit as the plant became a seed once again.
"Why's that?" Botan asked as loaded her oar with the man and the canisters.
"I could've made a tidy profit on the Demon market for him."
unique-vision: I'm always up for people to tell me where my errors are. I'm slightly dyxlectic and I sometimes just can't see them.
KawaiiKoneko89: Thanks for the vote of confidence. I hope I continue to keep your interest.
Psycho Dragon Lover: I went more for the soap opera type format in trying to keep the point of views separated. I'm sorry I'm confusing you.
Thanks for reading and reviewing. Until next time. -- GF