Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 and I don't own Wonder Woman, she belongs to DC Comics and please don't flame.
Chapter 12: Who's a Klepto?
"What is your relationship with him?" Wonder Woman asked.
"We are soul bonded," Kurama said as he slowly unwrapped the lasso's coils. "Yoko is a law unto himself. I do not want to cross him, if I can help it. I believe this belongs to you?" he said, holding up the coils.
Kurama bowed again and walked away into the night, leaving behind a stunned set of superheroes.
/Nicely done, Red./
o0o0o0o0o
Under the Bat-signal on top of police head quarters, a private conference was being held. It consisted of Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Wonder Woman and Commissioner Gordon. The topic -- one fox boy and one boy fox.
"Give me one good reason Batman not to haul the boy in for questioning?" Gordon was asking.
"Other then not breaking any laws?" Batgirl asked, looking at her mentor, trying to gauge his reaction. "He did clean up the mess that Yoko made."
"Well he does know how to get hold of this Yoko. And don't try to tell me they are the same person. From what I saw and what witnesses say, there's about a foot difference in height not to mention the boy has red hair and green eyes and Yoko almost an albino with golden eyes," Gordon was saying. "Just what am I suppose to tell people that their valuables were swallowed by a plant and that plant was turned back into a seed?"
Batman closed his eyes, marshalling his thoughts. He started on what he already knew about kitsunes. Granted it isn't much. He wondered what the boy meant by 'soul bond.' Did the boy sell his soul to a demon for what purpose? Wait. That's wrong. He's confusing Japanese myth with Christian beliefs. Two very different views on demons.
The boy has been in Gotham for almost a year. He only came to his attention after his family was threatened. He wants to remain in the background. That's why they didn't see him until after everyone left. No, there is a reason behind everything he is doing. Then there is old Master Genkai. She knows more then she is telling but her words rang in his mind, "They are the boy's secrets. If he wants you to know, he'll tell you. " She also called him 'fox boy'. Kurama has all the traits of a kitsune but he appears to be human.
There is a piece of the puzzle missing. What is it? What is he over looking?
Wonder Woman spoke up, "I've never had anyone take off my lasso that wasn't human before. I could only detect a normal heartbeat from him. So I can say he is human."
"That's right. Kurama may be human," Robin interjected. "Yoko isn't. He says so repeating. The only other person that we know of that can do the things he can do with plants is Poison Ivy. But she uses chemicals. He just uses his own will as far as I could see."
Gordon stroked his chin. Batman was being very quiet which means he is working things out in his mind. He had known Batman for years and he knew that stoic posture well.
"I think he's been sounding us out to see if he can trust us," Batman said finally. "I think the stolen valuables will turn up soon and in a way we least expect it. For a kitsune, it is the game that's more important then the results."
o0o0o0o0o
If they only knew that the subject of their conference was nearby, listening. Kurama had disguised his aura and scent to that of a cat in case Wonder Woman had any talent of picking up on the fact he was nearby. It was a wise fox that stayed several steps ahead of the hunter.
/So when do we start trusting them, Red? Can't we toy with them more? I hadn't had this much fun in ages./
'Soon Yoko. You know they will be following us until they get the valuables back?'
/True. Just how are we going to give them back? Do we have to/
o0o0o0o0o
Shuichi walked down the street, ignoring the looks he was getting as usual. He knew he was being followed but the sun was shining, the day was beautiful and it looked to all that he didn't have a care in the world.
It has been a week since the hostage situation. No news on the missing valuables and the police hasn't beaten down his door to get him. Batman had reassured the Commissioner that everything would turn up in time if they left the boy alone. For which, Shuichi was very thankful for. It wouldn't do to drag his family into this.
He walked up the steps to a very run down convent not far from his building. He had stumbled across when he was scouting for a building to buy. It was a small out of the way place that helped street kids and prostitutes with food and clothing. Behind the convent was a rose garden, when he had first came across it, a very sad rose garden.
He walked into the garden and smiled, taking a deep relaxing breathe. Since he's helped with the garden, it has become the talk of the neighborhood. He strolled to a small far corner where he could be alone. As he walked by, he sent a bit of energy to a small bush that looked like it needed a bit of cheering up.
Looking around, he noticed that there was no one watching him. At least not from the nuns, anyways. Taking a seed out of his hair, Kurama told it to grow. It wrapped around his arm like it did for Yoko until a single mouth could be seen. "Alright, spit it out," he commanded it.
A loud belch and a carry bag landed at Kurama's feet. The plant returned to seed as quickly as it grew. Chuckling softly, he remembered Gordon's comments.
/What better way to carry things/
Taking the bag, Kurama followed the path to inside the convent. He nodded to a couple of nuns as he made his way into the sanctuary. The dark cool place offered peace to the weary world.
"Ah Sister Bettrill. I trust you are well?" Shuichi asked as he came across an older nun, who was busy cleaning the old worn wooden pews.
"Very well, Shuichi. Can I help you?" she smiled up at him, setting aside her work to chat.
"Well, I have a problem, Sister that maybe you can help me with," Shuichi said, looking around to see if anyone is listening. "I also need it to be treat like a confessional."
"Come my child. Sit and tell me," she said, waving a hand to a nearby pew.
After they made themselves comfortable, Shuichi looked around to see if anyone was listening. Then he started to spin his tale to the good nun. He explained that he had a friend that was a kleptomaniac.
/I am NOT a klepto/
Shuichi winced at the headache that Yoko was sending his way. 'I know. Who's telling this tale? You or me?' Rubbing his forehead, he continued, "My friend is reformed mostly. Personally, I think it's more of the challenge then the actual stealing that interests him. "
/I know it's the challenge. Get on with it/
'Patience, Yoko.'
Still rubbing his forehead, Shuichi continued, "He sometimes likes to keep his hands in. Anyways, I'm left with a serious problem Sister. I hate to bother you with this, but I really need you to keep it this a secret, between us."
"It will remain a secret, like a confessional, Shuichi."
He handed over the carry all. "This was from the hostage situation a week ago. Please, sister, keep my name out of it. If there is a reward, please accept it for the convent. I just want to put this behind me." He flashed her one of his best smiles to the stunned nun.
As he was walking out the door, he stopped and without looking around, "Come out. Barbara."
o0o0o0o0o
I'm actually thrilled that I've had over 1200 hits to this story.
Inukus: As I said before, WW is only a guest star. This is the last chapter you see her in.
Thanks guys for the review.
Until next time. -- GF