Disclaimer: See chapter 1 and as always, please don't flame.
Chapter 6: Interlude
"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."
o0o0o0o0o
Life return to normal for Shuichi. His step father recovered as well as the other victims. The doctors wanted to know more of how he came up with the antidote but Shuichi relied on Mr. Wayne for that help. With the billionaire's help, legal and pr, it was handled quietly and efficiently, to which Shuichi was very very thankful.
He returned to a whole new semester of classes and labs, ignoring the grow adoration around him. His work station at Wayne Enterprise was tucked out of the way so people wouldn't bother him, but some managed.
He had finished the roof top greenhouse and terrace to his satisfaction. He even invited Barbara over a couple of times to see his work. She adored the apartment and all the plants, asking questions about the plans for the store front and other floors.
/Personally, I think she's looking for where you stashed me/ Yoko preened.
Shuichi snorted as he decided that he was bored and a walk sounded good. After Botan carried off the Scarecrow kicking and screaming, Yoko had made good his escape, eluding Batman and the police, leaving a trail of plants and minor nuisances in his wake.
/I hadn't had so much fun in ages. You should let me out more often, Red. The villains here are quite tame./
o0o0o0o0o
Batman watched from the roof top as the red haired boy walked alone in one of the worse streets of Gotham. Knowing now why the boy has no fear of the streets, a slight frown marred his stoic features.
All information on the boy Shuichi Minamino had come up empty. He was a model student and dutiful son. His family and teachers speak highly of him, calling him a child prodigy. His tests scores were the highest among his year mates. The only flaw was his sometimes unexplained absences from ages 15 to 18. He also hung around with a couple of street punks, but that didn't seem to effect his grades or high standing.
The name Kurama didn't come up in any police files. Which was strange given that the two friends that Minamino did hang out with did. Yusuke Urameshi and Kazuma Kuwabara, both had juvenile records a mile long. Both were street fighters and punks, skipping school and bad mouthing authority was a habit with those two.
The one Urameshi was noted to have been in an accident and was pronounced dead but later it was determined that it was a coma. Later he dropped out and married his childhood sweetheart and was working as a mover. Kuwabara stayed in school and is now studying to be a vet-tech and was engaged.
Master Genkai wasn't much help. She knew Kurama and had good things to say about the boy. When asked about Yoko, her reply was, "Must've been serious to let that fox out." After that she wouldn't say more, only that "if the boy wants you to know, he'll tell you." Genkai did mention that Botan was a ditz but a nice girl and Koenma was a bit inept.
Batman watched as Kurama moved further down the street. He noticed a street gang eyeing him as a possible target. Knowing now that he could defend himself, Batman wondered if he should be worried about the punks. The man Sinclair still bore the scars and broken bones that Kurama dealt him.
He had informed Gordon that the Scarecrow was well taken care of and probably won't be bothering Gotham any time soon. He didn't go into details, since he wasn't sure on the facts himself. Then again, how do you tell the Police Commissioner that one of Gotham's arch villains had been given as a slave to a demon who thought his fear toxin was candy?
A slightly smile did play on his lips at that thought, as the gang members screamed from being lashed with Kurama's rose whip.
"I see Kurama is in fine form tonight," Robin said, breaking into Batman's thoughts.
"He's not afraid of anything, is he?" Batgirl asked, joining them.
"I think his fears are much more esoteric and the streets of Gotham are just mildly amusing to him," Batman replied. "Anything about Yoko?"
"Nothing. Unless you want me to recite the lore I found on the 'net. Demons and kitsunes are myth and legends. They do not exist outside fairy tales in Japanese legends. I did find a story about a Bandit Fox but the story was over a hundred years old. Fox boy didn't look older then 20 or 25," Batgirl said. "Where ever Yoko's hiding or if Kurama has him caged, it isn't in that building he's living in."
o0o0o0o0o
Shuichi was coming out of the Enterprise building on his way to class when he heard his name being called. Turning around, he spied Barbara coming up to him.
"Shuichi. I'm glad I caught you. I was wondering if you were busy this weekend," She smiled up at him, tucking her hand into his arm.
He shrugged as he gave her hand a squeeze. "Not really. Why you have something planned?" he asked as they walked down the street to the bus stop.
"Why don't I give you a lift? See, Dick and I are in this mud race meet this weekend and I was wondering if you would like to come?"
She maneuvered him to the waiting sports car. Tossing his school bag into the back seat, he opened her door for her and after she made herself comfortable, he got into the passenger side.
"Sounds interesting," he said as she entered traffic. "What does it all entail?"
"Well, nothing on your part. You would be my guest. Dick and I have a bet going about who will win and I could use the company."
"I see. I can't miss that many classes. When would we leave and when would we be back?"
"Well, It's just up state not that far from Gotham. We could leave Friday right after class and be back late Sunday," Barbara explained as she weaved through traffic to the campus.
Shuichi thought about it for a couple of lights. "Very well. What do I have to pack?"
o0o0o0o0o
Friday came. Thankfully, he only had a morning class. He was ready and waiting when Barbara arrived. She said, jeans and causal clothes, boots and a jacket. Also, she was going to take him out Saturday night to a disco so slacks and a nice shirt. He was set.
The trip was only an couple hours out of Gotham. Barbara zipped through traffic with the ease of a race car driver. Shuichi not use to the fast pace of American life style didn't know if he should be clutching his door handle so tightly or relax and enjoy the scenery.
Barbara was telling him some story about Dick. Shuichi mused if he should tell her that he knew her secret. Then again, being the fox that he was, knowing someone else's secrets was a treasure to be relished.
/She is most definitely a treasure to be relished, Red./
Barbara pulled up to a hotel about 30 minutes from the track she'll be racing at the next day. She checked them in and lead Shuichi to his room.
"Now don't get any ideas. My room is across the hall. Dick's is next to yours."
"Is Mr. Wayne here as well?"
"Bruce? He may show up tomorrow. He had a dinner function tonight that he couldn't get out of," she informed him as she tossed him the key to his room. "Once you get settled, come and knock on my door and we'll get a bite to eat and check out the track."
/I know what I want to eat/ came Yoko's thoughts. Shucihi groaned softly as he entered his room.
'I don't think she had that in mind, Yoko.'
o0o0o0o0o
Kawaii: Thanks for the review. I'm really glad you are enjoying this. The next couple of chapters, though is more of character building between Shuichi and Barbara.
Psycho Dragon: I'm sorry you are having problems following this. Trouble is, that's how I map out my scenes, I do see them as a TV screen. However, describing action and what's going on in my mind can be difficult.
It'll be awhile you'll see Yoko again. Until next time. -- GF