OK, time for the third part of this Three-Part Japanese adventure. I hope you all enjoy it. Enjoy.

Snake in the Grass Part 3

(Tokyo, Japan. Midtown. March 13th, 23:55)

Orochi hissed darkly at the group as he roared down at the heroes as Captain Marvel flew away from a burst of darkness that formed out of him as he shot a burst of lightning at Orochi, who barely flinched at the lightning.

Orochi growled as he powered up a shadowy orb before firing, trapping Marvel in a dark orb. "Hey, what gives!" said Marvel as the orb came down.

"Now…to absssssorb your ssssstrength, Warrior of Sssshazam…" The creature hissed as dark bolts went into Captain Marvel's body, making him yell out as the energy flowed out of him and into Orochi as the orb vanished, leaving a now weakened Captain Marvel going onto his knees as he looks at his hands, seeing only faint electricity coming out.

"Wha…what did you do…" he groaned as he held his arm.

"That was dark magic…he absorbed some of his power." Said Etrigan with a snarl as the snake's mouth opened again. "And he's going to release it!" The large serpent fired a large burst of lightning out at the group, but Wonder Woman flew in the way and got her bracelets out and blocked the lightning as she was pushed back, but didn't flinch as she separated it with ease.

"…There are SO many reasons why that shouldn't have worked…" Samurai said calmly as he flew forward with Superman as the two both strike at once: Superman with his heat vision and Samurai with a slash of wind at the monster's chest, but the marks that it left healed over.

"…Did you really think that would work?" the large snake asked as he smacked the two away with his tail, sending them through a building as the large snake roared.

"Ssssoon…the Midnight hour shall form…and my ultimate form shall arise!" Orochi hissed loudly as darkness formed over him, laughing darkly as he sent out a large pulse of darkness around him, making all of the Leaguers in the area to be sent backwards from the force of the hit.

"I am SO hopeful the others are handling their problem with more ease…" Alchimia said flatly as he looked at a couple of cars before rubbing his chin, an idea forming.

Samurai groaned as he looked up as he frowns and says "No choice…" He concentrated as a mark on his arm shined…the kanji of storms, or 嵐, on his arm.

(Tesshin Industries, 23:58)

Zatanna looked over Katana as she continued to try and heal her as she groaned, the mark glowing red hot on her arm.

"What gave her this idea to give her soul to some demon sword?" asked Green Arrow flatly as he looks at Bushido.

"I believe it has something to do with what Orochi had done to her in the past…you see, her lover, Maseo, was killed when Orochi used his own twin brother as a way to get the Soultaker. But know…it's gonna take Tatsu's."

Zatanna looked at the mark as she asks, "Something must be going on…why is she acting this way?" The others looked and saw Tatsu was sweating as she rolled her head from side to side as her body began to shine faintly, making everyone back up in surprise.

(Inside of Tatsu's mind)

Tatsu yelled out as she rolled away from her darker double as she glares as the wraiths, which all hissed at the young woman, as they grew closer to her.

Tatsu looked up at Izunami as the Death Goddess glared at her. "So, mind telling me why you are doing this?" Tatsu asked Izunami as she dodged another slash from her other half.

"You have signed the warrant, girl. I have come to collect my fee." Izanami hissed as the shadowy half glared at her counterpart, blade at the ready.

Tatsu glared at this, as she says "I am not gonna go down without a fight. Especially against a part of me that I've been fighting for years." The double glared angrily at this, going into a stance.

"And that is exactly the problem." A voice said as Tatsu and 'Katana' looked to see a bright flash came down as Izanami screeched out in pain from the light as her ghosts vanished.

Walking forward was a beautiful Japanese woman with flowing cloud-white hair, red marks around her eyes that looked like fire around her eyes, bright red lips and wearing a brilliant white and gold kimono with red trimming, a sword on her side.

"Wait…who are you?" asked Tatsu, shocked as the woman gave her a motherly smile.

"I am Ōhirume-no-muchi-no-kami. But you know me as…Amaterasu." The woman said with a smile, giving a small bow.

"Ama-Amaterasu!?" asked Tatsu in shock as she ducked from a slash from her evil half. "What are you doing here?"

"I have felt the power of the sword I help create centuries ago…and I now know why it's power is causing harm." Amaterasu said, giving Izanami a glare, as the ghostly woman hissed. "Mother, this is wrong and you know it."

Izanami just growled as she says "You know the cost of power is loss, daughter. Do not argue with me of right and wrong."

"Mother…" Amaterasu said with a sigh. "I apologize, child. My mother here has never found anyone worthy of the blade."

"It's because they allow their dark virtues to swallow them." Izanami hissed, as she looks down at Tatsu as her other half glares at the young girl. "Face it, no one has ever lived through this and no one will. Because no one is worthy of this power."

Tatsu looked at the wraith and the sun goddess before looking at the reflection of herself as she asks "You're the sword itself, aren't you? All of the negative energy that are sealed in the sword."

The doppelganger just glared at her, her sword arm gleaming as Tatsu walked over, not showing fear anymore. "Listen…I'll admit, I had vengeance on my mind for years…but that's because I miss the man I love…is that so wrong?"

"Tatsu-chan…" said a whisper as Tatsu went wide eyed as she turned and saw one of the ghosts returned.

"Maseo-kun?" Tatsu asked, shocked as she saw the young man appear before her. "…Your spirit, it was sealed within this blade?"

"Yes Tatsu-chan, it was. And we are unable to leave…because that's what Orochi would want." Maseo explained.

"What do you mean?" asked Tatsu as Amaterasu walked up.

"After my brother, Susanoo, destroyed him the first time…it was discovered he gained power from absorbing spirits. That was why he chose to have sacrifices, it was to get power, so I am sure he is wanting to get more power and I believe he is almost there." Amaterasu said calmly.

"And the Soultaker is the only thing that can stop him. It absorb souls, so thus if you defeat him, you can release the souls from him and you can release the souls. But first, you need to prove yourself worthy." Maseo explained as Tatsu looked at her copy as she nods.

"Sensei taught me a long time ago…" Tatsu said as she walked up to her doppelganger as the fake Tatsu jumped at her while Tatsu got into a stance. "Is that the sword is a mere Extension of yourself."

Then, with surprising speed and skill, she caught her double's sword arm as her double began to shine before vanishing, turning into the real Soultaker as Amaterasu nods as Izanami hissed as she vanished.

"You have passed," said Amaterasu as she shined, making Tatsu cover her eyes from the bright light.

(Outside of Tatsu…)

(Tesshin Industries. March 4th, 00:10)

Tatsu gasped as she woke up and asks, "What happened?" as the others with her sigh out of relief.

She got up as she saw her costume had changed: She was now clad in a red and gold jumpsuit instead of the original black one and had a red mark on her white mask, making it look like there was a sun on her forehead with armor pads on her shoulders, gloves and also long leggings that had armor on it as well.

"Good to see you're awake, kid." Said Green Arrow as he heard a loud thud as he turned and saw Captain Marvel, Superman and Wonder Woman on the ground near them.

"You three OK?" Batman asked, running to them.

"…You might want to look…Big Snake got bigger." Captain Marvel said, pointing ahead as a large, eight-headed version of the giant serpent from before, the main head with seven heads coming around it as the snake strikes at a…

"A giant mech in Japan…of course." Batman said flatly as a giant version of Alchimia's armor was fighting against the large snake, as Tatsu got up, groaning a bit as she saw the mark on her arm was gone and was replaced with what appeared to be the kanji for the sun, or "日".

"What in the world…?" Tatsu whispered as she asks, "OK, why is there a giant robot here?"

"Alchimia. He made it out of his armor and a bunch of cars." Said Captain Marvel, getting up as he saw a figure rushing by the giant snake. "Who is that?"

"Susanoo…Samurai's most powerful form." Said Katana, her mark glowing as Bushido saw it as he looked at his own arm, which had the mark of the moon, aka 月. He looked at Katana, who nods back as the two got their weapons out: Katana's Soultaker and Bushido's Yumi Bow.

"Lets get prepared." Said Bushido, his mark glowing as looks at Marvel. "Can you put me and the archer up top?" He nods as he picks him and Green Arrow up and put him on a building as Alchimia and Susanoo fought against Orochi.

Susanoo, a ghostly figure dressed in a samurai-styled amor with green marks around his face slashed forward, releasing a burst of wind at the creature. It roared out in pain as the air attack made contact but didn't pierce the skin while Alchimia sent a powerful fist towards on of the heads as Superman flew over and sent a fist his way, hitting one of the higher heads as he slashed at one of the others, but it recoiled and bit on the metal, but hissed in pain from the metal.

"Sorry, no go, scale-face." Alchimia mocked as he head-butted one of the snake heads that came near him, making it hiss loudly as it growled at him, hissing darkly at the large machine as missiles flew out of the machine's chest and hits the large creature, causing explosions as it roared out in anger

The large serpent hissed darkly as he shot out bursts of purple smoke out as Superman froze the mist as Superman whispers "Poison…" as he frowned

"Why isn't he talking as much?" Marvel asked Katana as he followed after the others going at the large creature. Several of the heads opened their mouths as smaller snakes flew out of their mouths and flew at the heroes but Superman, Diana and Captain Marvel began to fight them off as several of them began to coil around them.

"Sorry…but…" Diana concentrated as she yells out and flexed before using her super strength to get through one of the snakes as she grabs one and rips it off of her.

Captain Marvel concentrated as lightning formed out of him as Superman blasedt hrough the snakes on him. "Dark magic, toxin breath, little freaks in his body, what's next?"

"We need to stop him before we find out. What's the plan?" Diana asked Batman, as he looked at Orochi calmly.

"My sword can absorb souls. He needs soul to get power. So if I Can get this into him for a long enough period, it could defeat him." Katana said as Captain Marvel groaned.

"Why do I hate it when people say 'could'?" He asked himself as he saw Etrigan throwing some objects at the large snake before shooting out a blast of hellfire at the objects, one of which was a tanker of a trunk that ignited and exploded on contact.

Orochi hissed loudly as three of the heads turned and fire three bursts of dark magic down at the demon, sending him flying backwards into a wall. Etrigan growled as he withdrew his sword as he stood at the ready for more attacks.

Etrigan saw the group fly at the group as the ghostly samurai slash at the figure as he saw Katana come forward and frowned as he says "So, my sister has chosen a human now, yes?" as Superman came over.

"Not sure on that…but Katana has a plan: her sword can absorb souls, so that means if we let her get to him, we can get rid of what gives him his power." Superman said as Susanoo nods.

Batman ran aside with Black Canary and Katana as Hal flew down in a Green construct of a fighter jet as he fired green energy missiles down at the 8-headed snake as the bombs made contact with the scaled demon before one of the bolts blasts it, making it explode.

Hal quickly flew out as he glares at it. "OK, anyone got a plan aside of the giant robot?"

"Maybe you can get the heroes who are kind of small and get them in my robot?" Alchimia suggested as Hal rolled his eyes as he and Marvel felw down and got Katana, Batman and Black Canary as Zatanna got her hands out.

"Llaberif niar nwod!" Zatanna said as fireballs flew down from the sky and hits Orochi in the back, making him hiss out of pain and annoyance as the two flying heroes put them on the top of Alchimia's machine.

Batman found a hatch and opened it and the three entered as they saw, to their shock…Christian was in the control seat of the robot, standing on a transmutation circle under his feet.

"Hey guys." Said Christian, wearing a black and red jumpsuit that had blue lines on the body.

"Christian Natura…you're Alchimia?" asked Katana in a shocked tone as Christian nods.

"Basically, yeah." Christian said with a nod as the machine shook as he turned and saw Susanoo and Superman both send two strikes down at the snake at the same time, making it hiss out in pain.

"Hmm…" Batman looked as he asks "Can you make a cannon on this thing?"

"Yeah, why?" asked Christian as Batman removed his cowl, revealing his face as Christian went wide-eyed. "Bruce!?"

Bruce nods as he pressed his com-link. "Everyone, this is Batman. Keep Orochi busy, I got an idea."

"If its your idea, it should work. Go for it." Green Arrow said as Christian looked confused.

"Thanks Ollie." Batman said with a nod as he turned his com-link off.

"…Wait, Oliver is Green Arrow!?" Christian asked in shock as Bruce nods. "…OK, you got some explaining to do after this is done!" He then slams his hand down as the right arm of the machine gained a cannon-like weapon as Katana gets her sword out.

"Tatsu, I want you to put the Soultaker into the cannon." Batman told her as she nods as a slot for ammo appeared as she puts in her sword as it gets put through. "Christian, aim for the creature's chest. That should be were the heart is."

"And with the sword there, it'll take the souls out. Clever." Christian said with a smirk as he adds, "Something I would have planned, of course."

Bruce rolled his eyes faintly at this as Dinah asks "Is he always like this?"

"Pretty much." Bruce said as he saw the outside area.

Captain Marvel concentrated as Lightning formed in his hands as he fired a blast of lightning into one of the heads, making it roar out in annoyance from the blast.

Green Arrow and Bushido put their bows out and fired at another head, making it recoil as Etrigan fired blasts of fire with Zatanna, hitting two more heads as Diana charged as she sent a barrage of punches at another head, making it recoil, but it didn't leave any marks.

Superman looks at Susanoo and nods as Hal created a construct of a barrage of missiles as he sent them down, hitting another head as Superman fired a blast of intense heat out of his eyes at one as Susanoo flew down and sent barrages of wind down at the large serpent's head in the middle.

The serpent roared out in annoyance, all eight heads distracted as the attacks kept coming as it strikes down at the heroes attacking him, the heroes going against him as several of the heads opened up as black lightning flew out hitting Captain Marvel, Etrigan, Zatanna, Bushido and Diana, making all five scream out in pain.

"Guys!" Hal yelled in shock as he saw the five mystical heroes cry out in pain as their power began to be extracted, as Batman frowns and turns to Christian.

"OK…Chris, make another thing for the armor…a large speaker on the chest and something to put noise through." Batman said as Christian gave him an odd look.

"…I don't know what you have in mind, but alright…?" Christian said as he did so, the armored mech gaining a large amp on his chest as a microphone came out.

"Dinah, use your Canary Cry into the microphone." Batman said calmly. "Eight sets of ears, it should be painful from a direct hit." Canary nods as she concentrates her Canary Cry.

A rumbling sound is heard as Superman says "Everyone, cover your ears!" everyone did so as a booming version of the Canary Cry was concentrated at the snake, making go back a bit at the force of the sound, but all were hissing out of the volume of the attack as windows all over began to shatter from the force of the sound.

"Ugh, does Bats want to make everyone in Asia deaf!?" Hal yelled over the volume of the sound.

"…WHAT?!" Oliver yelled at Hal, unable to hear him from the volume alone. As the snake heads yell in annoyance, the five heroes who were being weaken fell down onto the ground, Marvel and Etrigan turning back into Billy and Jason as Diana groans in pain.

Canary stopped as Batman says "Now, while he's distracted! Fire the sword at his chest! Make sure to hit the heart!"

Christian nods as he presses some buttons as the device aims at the still in pain snake's chest as he pressed a button. The Machine's arm came out and fired something…

"Wait, what did he fire?" asked Oliver, confused as, to everyone's shock, the Soultaker flew through the air and stabbed into Orochi's chest due to the pressure of the blast, the mystical blade going through the thick skin, its blade glowing a brilliant white like the sun.

The eight-headed snake roared out in pain as Susanoo saw this as he says, "Superman, this is our only chance! Attack him at once!" Superman nods as the two flew down at the creature as the souls inside of the monster began to be absorbed into the blade.

"HYAH!/RAH!" The two warriors struck at once; Superman with a powerful heat vision blast at the creature's main head as Susanoo flew down and slashed downward, slicing through said head right down the middle with the combination of his sword's magic and Superman's heat.

Orochi hissed out as he suddenly combusts into a powerful burst of darkness from the combined attacks, making it roar out as a giant, spiritual version of Orochi hissed into the air as it dissipated, leaving behind a crater in the ground. All of the heroes came over and saw what remained.

In the crater, aside the Soultaker was the now dead body of Takeo, Maseo's brother. Katana looked down from the machine as she pressed her hand against the screen, a look of sadness in her eyes.

"…Takeo-san…I am sorry…for all of this…" Katana said as the heroes walked out of the machine's body as Susanoo changed back into Samurai as he picked up Soultaker as he turned to the returning heroes.

"Seems we have accomplished much together…even if some of us were weakened by this fight…" Samurai said calmly, looking at the now weakened heroes in the group. "But Orochi will return, especially if he gets this blade and it's souls."

"Then I shall do what is right…" Tatsu said as she took the sword from her teacher as she concentrates as she raises the sword into the air. Suddenly a brilliant light came out of the blade and into the sky as Billy looked at Christian.

"…He was the pilot for the giant robot, wasn't he?" Billy asked as Batman nods. "Cool." He said with a grin before he groaned. "OK…that last attack was painful."

Batman put his cowl back on properly as he says, "Lets get everyone somewhere to rest…" as Katana's sword stopped glowing except for a faint one.

Katana looked confused as she hears a voice say, 'you can't take them all out…I'll stay here. You see, you need at least one soul in here to access the magic in the sword.'

'Maseo…' Katana said, as the spirit chuckled.

"Do not worry, Tatsu-chan. I'll be OK. Besides, I'll be there to help you out when you need it.' Maseo told her as she smiled before sheathing the sword, looking at the other heroes as they left.

Samurai, watching as well, looks at his student and nods as he flew over. "Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman…I wish to have a talk with you all." The three heroes look at each other and smile.

Christian watched them go, chuckling before heading off.

(Washington DC. Hall of Justice. March 15th, 10:23)

A press conference is being held as Superman stood at the podium to speak. "We are all here today to honor those who were injured by the demon Orochi last night in Tokyo. We apologize we couldn't save them, but there was nothing we can do."

"But we were able to stop Orochi before he could kill anymore. With the aid of these three heroes from Japan and a hero from America." Batman said as Samurai, Katana and Bushido walked up, all looking calmly at them.

"Samurai, Bushido and Katana. The greatest heroes of Japan, and I would like to extend a hand of friendship and membership to them for the League." Said Superman.

"I have spoken with Nightwing of the Teen Titans, and he wishes to have Bushido on his team if that is alright." Batman spoke to the three calmly as the three heroes looked at each other and nod.

"We accept your proposition, Superman-sama." Samurai said with a calm smile on his face, as Superman nods in agreement.

"We would be honored to fight by your side and protect the planet as we have protected our homeland." Katana said, giving them a bow. Bushido smiled as he gave a bow as well.

"If there are any questions, let us know soon." Batman told the people calmly as the team went inside as Green Arrow smirked at the returning heroes with Captain Marvel.

"So, I take it these tree accepted, huh?" asked Oliver as Batman nods.

"Yep." Batman had a slight smirk, confusing the three samurais as Green Arrow nods to Marvel, who nods back as he whistles as Flash came over and putting several bowls of his chili out as Cyborg walked in.

"What's this?" asked Cyborg as Hal chuckled as he came over.

"Something you missed out on when you first joined." Oliver said as he handed out spoons to the four heroes as they looked at the bowls oddly before they each put a spoon in.

"So, this is how the Justice League spends its down time?" asked a voice as Alchimia came in, his helmet off to reveal his face.

"Hey Christian. Take it you got my message?" Batman asked him calmly as he walked up to him as Christian shrugged.

"I don't know…I mean, I got to worry about a big company, I got all of those meetings, not to mention all the inventions…I…got to…finalize…" His eyes were distracted, making Batman raise an eyebrow before turning to where he was looking at and chuckled.

Robin, Spoiler and Supergirl all walked in at this. "So you're officially a member of the team now, Kara?" Spoiler asked, smirking.

"Yep. I'm officially part of the League. Which means you'll be seeing a lot more of me." Kara said with a grin as she saw Christian with Batman as she flew over. "Hi, you one of the new guys? I'm Kara Zor-El, but just Kara is fine." She said, putting a hand out for a handshake.

"Uh…ni-nice to meet you." Christian said, sounding a bit nervous as the two shook hands as Bruce chuckled.

"So, should I expect your membership?" Batman asked as Christian smirks at this.

"Eh, some of them aren't THAT needed. Besides, I can help you guys more back at Gotham." Christian said as he looked at Kara and says "I'm Christian Natura, but you can call me 'Alchimia' on the field."

"I'm Supergirl." Kara said with a smile as a set of doors open as everyone turned to see Aquaman walk in…but his right hand was replaced with what appeared to be a hook.

"Arthur? What happened?" Batman asked as Aquaman looked at them calmly.

"…Long story, but I want to introduce you all to someone…" Aquaman said as a figure came out.

"Hello, fellow heroes…I am the new Aqualad." Said the young man as the League look at him with shock.

"…Allow me to explain what happen." Aquaman said as he sat down as the heroes look at him curiously.

"We are all ears, Aquaman." Samurai said calmly, looking at the young man in front of him as he saw faint marks on his arms glow a bit.

End of Arc

Well, I hope you all enjoyed this arc. The next one will explain what happened to Aquaman in more detail. But first, there's a one-shot about everyone's favorite alien bounty hunter, the Main Man himself, Lobo. Please Read, Review and Suggest away!