"You've got to be kidding me!" Robin protested.

"I don't like it either." I admitted, very glad Daken couldn't speak English. "But until the spell gets lifted, I'm stuck with him."

Wally shook his head, "And if he suddenly turned back to normal while he's still here? What do we do when there's an crazy immortal feral trying to cut our heads off!"

"Scream and run while I take care of him." I said, then tuned to Zatanna, "Do you think you can take a look at him? Try to reverse the spell?"

She shrugged, "I can give it a try at the very least."

I turned to Daken, who partially hid behind my leg, half frightened and half curious at these new people who spoke such an odd language. He wasn't stupid, he knew they were upset, probably knew they were upset about him.

"Zatanna wa anata o mite mimashou shiyou to shite iru, moshi anata no mite mi... Ē to... Anata no byōki ya sōdenai baai." Zatanna is going to take a look at you, try to see if your... uh... if your sick or not. How else was I supposed to explain it?

He looked perplexed. "Shikashi... Watashi wa mattaku byōkide wanai. Watashi wa nai nda to kakushin shite imasu." But… I'm not sick at all. I'm sure I'm not.

I sighed, "Chōdo kanojo ga kakunin shimashou." Just let her make sure.

He reluctantly nodded, and Zatanna put her hands out in front of her, focusing on him for a few minutes, until she shook her head dropping her hands and turning to me, "I can tell that there's a heavy magic aura swirling around him, but it's so complex, and it unfamiliar. Whoever did it used a magic instrument, and that's what's clouding it up."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose, "So there's nothing you can do?"

She shrugged sadly, "I'm sorry."

There was a soft tug on the end of my shirt, and I looked down at Daken, raising an eyebrow. "Nanda?" What?

"Karera wa daredesu ka? O tomodachi?" Who are they? Your friends? He questioned.

I nodded, "Hai." Yes.

I motioned Zatanna forward, and she walked closer, a bit reluctantly, "Daken, Zatanna."

Zatanna smiled a little, offering her hand for a handshake. He looked at it oddly, and I gave Zatanna a glare, "Japanese."

"Oh!" She said, taking her hand back, and giving an awkward bow, which Daken quickly returned.

She smiled at Daken again, then turned to me, "How do I say, it's nice to meet you?"

"O ai dekite, ureshīdesu." I mumbled.

She quickly repeated what I said, and Daken beamed, quickly rattling something off in Japanese, and Zatanna gave me a quizzical look.

"He said its nice to meet you too, and that he thinks your pretty." I said.

"How do I say thank you?" She asked.

"Arigatō." I translated, and she nodded, turning to Daken.

"Arigato."

He nodded a little slowly, before reaching into his pocket, and pulling out a small book, thumbing through the pages before looking up excitedly. "Thank you!"

I kneeled down next to him, looking at the book, an English to Japanese dictionary. Donna must have given him the one she got.

He smiled up at me, "Watashi wa eigo o benkyō suru tsumoridesu!" I'm going to learn English!

"Watashi wa sore o miru koto ga dekimasu." I can see that.

Batman suddenly entered, "Team, enter the-"

He stopped suddenly seeing Daken, and then he turned to me, the bat glare burning through his mask. "Explain."

Before anyone could speak Artemis suddenly interjected, "Apparently Daken had another child in secret, he was discovered late last night by The Avengers, and brought to Mio until Logan could be contacted."

Batman just kept glaring at me, then turned to Daken, "Anata no namae wa?" What's your name?

Daken didn't hesitate for one moment in saying "Akihiro."

Batman paused, then just shrugged it off, "Just keep him out of trouble, and contact Logan as soon as possible."

I nodded, "Sure thing."

Note to self, let Artemis have the day off from training sometime in the per seeable future.

I turned to Conner as batman started to explain the teams new mission, something about a huge snow machine hovering over the world, and Wally delivering a heart to a little girl. "Look, I'm just gonna take him home, and meet up with you guys later."

Conner nodded, but Batman spoke up, "Hell Hound, you need to meet Wally at the hospital, I'd ask you to battle with us, but I can see you need to take care of Akihiro. So just sit this one out."

"Whatever." I said, "How am I getting there?"

"You remember an old friend of yours, Night Crawler?" Batman asked.

"Acquaintance better suit's the relationship." I corrected.

"He'll be your transport." Batman commanded. "Be standing right outside the cave, he'll pick you up in roughly an hour to transport you to the hospital where the girl is staying at. By the time Wally get's there, make sure everything is ready to go, no if's, maybe's, or risks. Am I understood?"

"Hundred percent." I agreed. "Am I clear for dismissal?"

"Yes." He agreed.

I took Daken's hand, leading him outside the cave, and sitting him down next to a tree. I took out my cell phone, sighing.

"I'm so doing def con 4 nonstop all weekend." Which is really just my version of I'm so grounded. Logan can be cruel.

He picked up a the first ring, "What?"

"Nice to hear form you as well." I said sarcastically. "Logan, what is the probability of magic having a reverse then pause button on the human aging process? From one to ten?"

There was a slight pause on the other end, before he growled in annoyance. "What did you do this time? I swear, if you've broken into another cursed tomb and unleashed another possessed mummy soul set on taking the souls of woman again-"

"I didn't do that!" I protested. "God, you nearly bring about the end of all female life once, and everyone has to make an example out of the occurrence!"

"He killed twenty eight woman." Logan pointed out.

"And I've apologized for this constantly." I snapped. "And this has nothing to do with a mummy!"

"What did you do then?" He asked.

"I didn't do anything, I'm cleaning up your idiotic sons mess, again!" I growled in frustration.

Daken looked up from a few sticks he was playing with, a bit wary of the hostile conversation.

"What did that punk do this time?" Logan snapped, and I heard him getting up, probably getting ready to come over here and kick the snot out of said illegitimate child and save my feral butt from what Daken was putting me through.

"That idiot just had to go to LA, and team up with some FBI lady, like a bad rerun of Law and Order, then tick off that group of The Pride's children, so that stupid girl with the magic staff turned him into an eight year old!" I complained.

There was a rather long pause, before Logan spoke, "What now?"

"Just send some magic person over here that can undo spells concerning age." I ordered, snapping the phone shut.

I turned to Daken, sighing, what was I supposed to do? Just treat him like I would Lovette I guess, should work at least until Logan sent some magician, sorcerer, or Voodoo lady to help out.

"Wana koinu to asobu?" Wanna play with a puppy?

He nodded vigorously, and I raised two fingers to my lips, whistling sharply. Wolf came bounding around the corner, tongue flopping out, a doggish smirk on his face, and a playful look in his eyes.

Daken's eyes widened, and he jumped up, half in glee, half in fight. Why was he scared? This is Daken, Daken doesn't get scared of an overgrown puppy. It must be an act! He's not really a small child, he got the spell done himself, and he just looks like one! He did it to learn out secrets, he's playing me again, just like in Madripor!

Wolf trotted over to Daken, licking his face promptly. Daken giggled, jumping up and wrapping his tiny little arms around Wolf, hugging his neck.

Wolf seemed happy with this, and when Daken let go, he knelt down in front of Daken.

Daken seemed at loss for what wolf was doing, so I spoke up, "Kare wa anata ni kataguruma o ataetai to kangaete imasu Daken." He wants to give you a piggy back ride Daken.

Daken looked at me with a strange mixture of annoyance, hurt, and mistrust. He climbed on Wolf's back, seeming dejected slightly.

I frowned, "Nani ga warui nodeshou ka?" What's wrong?

He sighed, looking up from Wolf's back to look at me with sadness, "Naze anata wa watashi ga Daken to yobu nodesu ka? Watashi wa anata no tamede wa naku keii wa nani mo nainagara, watashi wa chōdo watashi ni au to watashi o shiru mae ni, mada anata o mitashite iru, anata wa watashi o karakatte, watashi o keibetsu." Why do you call me Daken? I have just met you, yet before meeting me and knowing me, you make fun of me and scorn me, while I have nothing but respect for you.

My eyes widened, I had gotten so used to calling him Daken, scratch that, I had never called him anything but Daken, my whole life! I had never even acknowledged his other name, but I knew he had one. I bit my lower lip, giving a short bow of apology, "Watashi o yurushite, watashi wa shitsurei shite imasu, to handan suru ni wa, tōzen dochira mo. Watashitachi ga dekiru koto o negatte... Saisho kara yarinaoshi... Akihiro?" Forgive me, I am being rude, and judgmental, neither of which you deserve. I hope that we can... start over... Akihiro?

His eyes widened, in Japan the older never apologize to the younger. If there is a disagreement, the younger is expected to submit to the elder, reasoning that they are wiser, even if they only outage them by a week.

"No... Mochiron! To watashi wa yoi tomodachi ni nari eru koto o negatte imasu." Of… of course! And I hope we get to be good friends.

I nodded, this was no longer Daken in my mind. Daken was my father. Daken doesn't giggle when he gets piggyback rides from wolves. Daken isn't terrified for his life whenever he rides, or sees, a motorcycle. This is Akihiro, and he's my little brother.

I smiled as Wolf stood up, Akihiro clutching onto the fur of his neck, a bit uncertain, scared about falling. I smiled, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Otōto kara ochinai yō ni shite kudasai."

He stared at me, eyes wide, before breaking out onto a huge grin, which quickly turned into a squeal of delight as Wolf took of running, which Akihiro on his back.

LATER THAT DAY:

Wally carefully put the container that held the heart of the queen on the shelf, smiling to himself.

A voice suddenly came from nowhere, "What with the sword?"

Wally turned around to see Daken standing there, hands tightly holding his English and Japanese translation book, looking up with childhood innocence masked by curiosity.

Wally shrugged, "It's in my room, why, you want it?"

Daken thumbed through his book quickly, then looked up, shifting his feet sheepishly, "Yes please."

Wally nodded, disappearing then coming back in the blink of an eye, holding the sword he had gotten. "Here kid."

Daken took it gratefully, bowing in thanks, and running off, shouting for Mio. Probably wanted to show her his new toy.

Wally shook his head, "This is so weird."

WITH MIO:

"Logan, I'm telling you, if we can't fix it, then I can take care of him." I insisted.

Logan sighed, shaking his head slowly, "Kid, this is out of your league. Any minute he could turn back, and when he does-"

"I'll deal with it. Most likely he'll just rough me up then run back to LA with that pretty little blonde." I said. "I can o this Logan, I don't need your help with Akihiro."

"Daken?" Logan asked.

"His name is Akihiro." I stressed. "And while he's eight years old, that's what you'll call him. He's not an evil maniac anymore, he's a scared little eight year old boy and right now, he's staying here with me."

Logan sighed, shaking his head, "Just let me take him already! You're not going to keep him, he's not a stray puppy! He's dangerous, and he's not staying in a cave with a bunch of teenage kids."

"Then my apartment." I countered.

"And if he wakes up in the middle of the night, turns back to normal, and then tries to kill you?" Batman interjected.

"I fight, win, and then kick his sorry butt back with Donna, she can deal with the weirdo." I sketched out.

"You're going to send Daken back with a civilian?" Logan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, she'll be fine." I said, slipping into a high pitched prissy voice, "She's FBI."

Logan sighed, raising his hands in mock surrender, "Fine. You know what? I'm done trying to talk you out of stuff you know you can't do, and fights you know you can't win. You're on your own Mio."

He turned around, walking to the door, freezing when Akihiro ran into the room, holding Count Vertigo's sword/cane.

"Hen'na kami no shōnen ga kureta mono o mite!" Look what the boy with funny hair gave me!

Logan paused, his eyes widening. I knew what was wrong. He was seeing his son, happy and young, glowing with childish excitement. Okay, now I finally have to ask the question, am I dead? Is this some very weird kind of Heaven, no, Hell that I have to endure before going onto the physical torture chambers I'm very certain Hell has?

If so, then the devil has really lost his edge. This isn't torture, it's just weird.

Logan paused, as Akihiro looked up at him with curiosity, "Anata dare?" Who are you?

Logan bit his lip, before managing to get out just above a whisper, "Logan."

Akihiro smiled again, "Sore wa anata o mitasu tame ni hijō ni ureshīdesu! Watashinonamaeha Akihirodesu. Dono yō ni mio o shitte imasu ka? Anata mo hīrōdesu ka? Anata wa ōkina osoroshī kuro no otoko tomodachidesu ka?" It's very nice to meet you! My name is Akihiro. How do you know Mio? Are you a hero too? Are you friends with the big scary black man?

Logan paused for a moment, and I knew he couldn't help the amusement that crept onto his face and into his scent. Daken was an adorable little kid. "Anata wa Battoman no kotodesu ka?" You mean Batman?

Akihiro nodded, and Logan chuckled. "Watashi wa inchida kibun ni izon shite." Depends on the mood I'm in.

I rolled my eyes. Yeah right Logan, you've always been friends with Batman. Your friendship with him is older than me.

Logan continued, "Mio wa watashi no magomusumedesu." Mio is my granddaughter.

Daken nodded, "Magomusume to shite kanojo o motsu koto wa ōkina meiyodearu hitsuyō ga arimasu." Having her as a granddaughter must be a big honor.

Logan nodded, looking over at me out of the corner of his eye, "Sore ga arimasu." It is.

Having to deal with me? An honor? I knew that wasn't true, it couldn't be. I'm a headache, an annoying kid who frequently screws up then has to call him to come fix it. This one wasn't my fault though, this was all on Daken! He's a grown man, he should know a lot better than to take drugs, even with his healing factor!

Akihiro turned to me, eyes glowing, "Ōkami wa dokodesu ka?" Where is Wolf?

I pointed down the hallway, and he took off, waving his cane sword around wildly.

"Kende wa jikkō sa remasen!" Don't run with a sword! I warned, not wanting to deal with a screaming, bleeding, eight year old.

Logan turned back to me, and I smirked, "You're already in love with the adorable little Daken aren't you?"

He gave me a look, "Just don't do anything stupid kid."

"I don't make mistakes Logan!" I hissed, "I am not a child after all."

"Yes you are." He said, glaring at me, "And you'd do well to remember that."

He left, and I scoffed, "I don't need your help old man."