Hollow Rising

Chapter 4

The Man Makes The Suit.

As he placed the file down and began to walk out the door she picked it up and read it. Her eyes went wide when she found out what the blueprints were.

"Ichigo why the hell do you need these blueprints for!"

Ichigo grinned as he pulled his mask back on. "If I'm going after De Luca, I'm going to need a better suit."

She sighed. "This day just keeps getting better and better."

She walked out to her car after slapping the file down, which caused the blueprints to fly out and land of the floor. It read only two words.

Titans Tower.

Ichigo quietly let out a grunt. This crawling in vents shit wasn't very high on his list of things he enjoyed about his line of work. Sure he had to it on a few occasions but still it just never caught on with him. It made him feel more like a spy then a thief. He swatted through yet another spider web as he turned to the left and resumed crawling.

He knew he was taking a huge risk by trying to break in a place like the Titan Tower but what choice did he have? There was absolutely no chance he was going to let De Luca get away with hurting Jimmy. And he promised Naomi that he would take care of it, that they would never have to worry about De Luca ever again. And come hell or high water, Ichigo Kurosaki always kept his promises.

It was then that Ichigo felt something. Something that was crawling on his back, then it jumped to his shoulder. As he twisted his neck around to see the culprit who took form of a decent sized spider, just sitting there on his shoulder. It took a moment for it to register in Ichigo's mind but when it clicked he nearly tore the vent down.

"FUCKING A!"

Raven, annoyed, was gritting her teeth. It seemed a mistake by telling her comrades about her run-in with a certain thief. At the time is seemed like the most reasonable thing to do. Warn them about a possible threat in the future. Their reaction wasn't what she expected.

Beast Boy chuckled. "I can't believe you got beat by a common criminal!."

"There wasn't anything common about him." She sharply replied.

"Cut her some slack B.B." Cyborg said while getting something out of the microwave.

She figured she'd take some flack from the green moron so she sat content.

Next it was the boy wonder to speak. "Cyborg is right. Anybody can be outmaneuvered. I can remember a few occasions where it was you that was overwhelmed by an opponent, Beast Boy."

The green teen sighed as he threw his hands up in defeat. "Jeez dudes, I was just messing around."

He quickly took a seat opposite of Raven and continued to have a one-sided conversation. He was accustomed to it by now, it seemed Raven always ignored him anyways.

"So how did this guy beat you?" He asked but froze when he felt two hard glares at him, one from Robin, the other from Cyborg.

"I mean…get past you?"

The rest of the Titans had gathered around by now.

"As much as I know you don't want to talk about it anymore, I'd actually like to know more as well." Robin said.

Raven nodded as she pushed back her hood. "One moment I'm attacking him, the next he disappears, and somehow gets behind me."

"So we're dealing with a disappearing act then?" Asked Robin.

Cyborg snorted. "Jeez sounds like a natural Houdini."

Raven shook her head. "I don't think it was magic or a trick, I think it was raw speed."

Robin nearly fell out of his seat. If that was truly the case, it meant that they had another Flash on their hands.

"That's not what worries me though."

Starfire tilted her head. "Then what worries you friend Raven?"

"You all know about my history, what I am…"

The whole room tensed. This was a sensitive issue indeed. Even Beast Boy kept his mouth shut. The battle against her father nearly ended their entire existence, but they had found a way to come out on top, and since that day it wasn't spoken of.

"What does that have to do with anything Rae?" Cyborg quietly asked.

"I felt something similar inside of him. Yet it was a lot stronger then my own."

This time it was Beast Boy who fell off the sofa.

Robin began to pace quickly back and fourth, from one side of the room to the other. This was bad. Extremely bad. They didn't need another Trigon in human form roaming the streets of Jump City. He was abruptly cut from his thinking as Beast Boy let out a sigh.

"So we're dealing with a demonic Flash?"

Robin shook his head. "Maybe worse. Might be another Trigon."

That statement made the entire group shudder, and no surprise, it effected Raven the worst. Robin growled. He'd be damned before he let anything happen to his team or home again. He quickly took a seat in front of the Titan's large voice activated computer monitor.

"Search all criminal activity within the last few months, including police reports."

….

….

….

Ding!

Several things popped up. Grand Theft, Arson, Assault and Battery, Breaking and Entering, amongst other things.

"Scan Museum break-ins."

Within an instant the city and surrounding cities' layout shown up. Then red flags started popping up. Of the thirty museums that were shown there was at least three flags on each one.

"Holy hell…why haven't we heard anything about this guy?" Cyborg spoke out.

"Because he's really good at his job." Robin replied.

"You would think the police would have at least notified us on these happenings." Beast Boy chimed in.

"Well you know how some of them are. Don't want us doing their job. Might give them a bad reputation." Cyborg said.

Before they could continue the Tower alarms went off as the room was enveloped in a red light. Robin quickly turned back to the computer and found the location where the defenses were set off. It was his room!

"What idiot breaks in a building where heroes live!? And how did he get past our defenses in the first place!" Robin screamed towards Cyborg.

The robotic man threw his hands up defensively. "Hey don't blame me! It was B's turn to set them up!"

Beast Boy snarled. "Nark."

"Enough! Let's go!"

With that all the Titans headed toward Robin's room, not knowing what to expect… Ichigo had finally won his epic battle with the evil spider and was now staring at his goal. He gazed at the mask that took form of a skull with an x shape engraved on it.

"A skull with red marking, isn't this irony."

As he took a step forward the room sounded off with a dull siren noise while everything turned red.

"Well that can't be good…"

He quickly grabbed the suit and made a break for it.

Robin and the rest of the Titans made it to his room fairly quickly and found nothing missing. Robin's eyes widened in realization. He quickly made it to the spot where his alter ego was kept and dropped to his knees.

It was gone.

"Damn it!"

The rest heard his curse and rushed to see what was wrong with their leader and when they got there they knew exactly why he was in such a state. The infamous Red X suit was no longer in the room's possession.

Cyborg offered his hand, in which Robin gladly accepted.

"We'll get the guy together man." Cyborg said.

Robin nodded as he seen all of his friends nod their head in approval. "Alright guys, spread out over the city."

Beast Boy was snooping around the place when he found a card. The Suicide King. He picked it up thinking nothing of it until he spied words on it. His eyes narrowed.

"Yo! I found something!" He shouted waving the playing card around before he handed it to Robin who read it aloud.

"Thanks for the suit. Tell Doom and Gloom I said hi. Get strong Titans, I'm sure we will be crossing paths again."

Raven's eyes widened as she actually made a small noise after hearing the nickname.

Robin was the only one who noticed it.

"Our thief I take it?" He asked.

She nodded.

"Guys we can't let that suit leave this city.

What they didn't know, it was already lone gone, and headed toward sighed a breath of relief as he landed in Gotham City. Flash Step was a lot of work and took a great amount of endurance doing so across the country. He immediately noticed a difference from Gotham and Jump. While Jump City had a more bright and upbeat attitude it was not so with Gotham City. Gotham was dark, and grizzly in a sense.

That and temperature was like night and day. Jump was warm, but it was freezing in Gotham. He let out a shiver. Time to find this bastard De Luca. But first, he had to change.

He actually had a little more time to admire the suit this time around. He liked it, though he would have to make a change to it, because it just kept catching his eye. He hated a cape, okay with a cloak, but absolutely despised a cape. He grabbed it and with one strong tug the cape was ripped from the suit and was no more.

He ran his hand over the mask one last time before placing it over his face and like a shadow he was no more.

In moments he was overlooking the De Luca estate. Basically a mansion, "The Manor of the Wicked" the locals called it. And on top of that right across the street from the mansion's large gates was a inconspicuous laundry van.

"Well that isn't suspicious or anything." Ichigo said sarcastically.

However inside the van wasn't two undercover agents, instead it was two members of the Young Justice squad. Two attractive young females. Batgirl AKA Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Police Commissioner James Gordon. And Artemis AKA Artemis Crock. The daughter or Sportsmaster and the Huntress. They had been assigned the task to watch over the De Luca estate because Bruce had personally ask the two to do so.

The two had grown close over the year. They along with Megan Morse, AKA Miss Martian, were the only full time female Young Justice members. Of course it seemed Wonder Girl was starting to come around to the idea of joining fulltime.

Barbara sighed. "We're getting nowhere with this. De Luca hasn't left since he's gotten back and the only sound I can hear is Opera music."

"Wow Barb you can actually hear that? It's so low I didn't even notice it." Artemis replied.

Barbara put her head down. "I'm seriously about to die from boredom. I wish something would happen…anything, beggars can't be choosers."

She just didn't know the power of her words you were to enter the premises of the De Luca household, you would first go through the large iron gates, and immediately come across a building just inside the gates where one armed guard would check you and your vehicle to make sure nothing…unpleasant was about. Then and only then would you be able to proceed. Tonight, that particular guard was inside his small building checking out all the cameras. Sitting down with his feet propped up he continued to watch the Van outside the gates. He knew something was up. It hadn't left since Mr. De Luca had arrived back from Jump City. He was going to handle it.

He got up and pulled a Glock 17 pistol out of his holster. He had to do this quickly. But before he could turn to leave a gloved hand shot out and grabbed him around the throat leaving him gasping for air. Ichigo didn't release his grip until the man's body went limp.

When it did Ichigo unceremoniously dropped the man's body who fell in a heap to the floor.

Now it was De Lucas turn.

Alessio De Luca yawned as he stepped out of the large shower. It had been a long day. A trip on his private jet to and from Jump City, just to put a lowly cunt like Jimmy Jay in the ground. Long day but a good day. Now it was time for relaxation. He just had his shower. Now it was time for a steak and cigar. After that was just waiting for the arrival of his wife and son, whom were returning from a trip to the Philippians. They would be their tomorrow morning at the airport, and he would be there to greet them with a smile.

As he looked into his bathroom's mirror at his reflection, he smiled.

"I'd fuck me." He said with a chuckle.

Before he could continue his self admiration he was interrupted with the sound of a knock. His eyes narrowed.

"That you Johnny? Didn't I tell you to stay at your position to watch the cameras!? Don't want any uninvited guests now do we?"

The music kept playing and Alessio snarled. "Good-for-nothing…bastards lucky he married my wife's sister."

He leaned down to splash he face with water, but when he leaned back up he nearly died from shock! There was another reflection in the mirror, and it was a goddamn skeleton!?

"Oh Fuck Me!"

Before he could react he was grabbed by the back of his neck and thrown through his door. He landed with a crash going through the living room table.

Ichigo quickly found the stereo and with his thumb and finger turned the knob all the way up causing the music to blast!

"Jesus!" Shouted Barbara as she yanked the headphones off her ears.

"The moron just turned his music sky high! Nearly caused by ears to bleed!"

Artemis didn't help the situation when she let out a felt like he was staring death in the face. The eerie skull gazing at him, he was snapped out of his thoughts when the masked man spoke.

"Suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door."

"What the fuck…"

"You heard me rapping didn't you?" The intruder asked De Luca.

De Luca finally seemed to get his shit back together as he reached under a sofa and pulled out pistol with a silencer on the barrel.

"Now you fucking freak. Now you're going to regret breaking into my house. Do you know who the fuck I am!? I am Alessio De Luca! The Mob Caesar! Phillip Testa ain't got shit on me! I run Gotham. Not that idiot Gordon. Not some grown man dressed up in a bat suit who runs across building tops with young kids! Me!"

"You hurt people…time and time again. Every time they try to put you away, the prime witnesses go missing, or you simply pay off the judge. It's a never-ending cycle. You'll never know justice." Ichigo quietly said.

De Luca actually grinned. "Exactly. Looks like you've done your homework. I will never spend a day in jail much less a prison in my life. Nor will my family or associates. So that means even if by some chance of god, you subdue me here, that is all that happens. The police show up within 30 miles of this place my attorney will slap a lawsuit on Gotham so fast it would make that idiot Gordon's head spin."

"Now that we've got that all cleared up, I'm giving you one chance to walk out of here without me putting a bullet in the back of your head!"

Ichigo shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere De Luca."

The older man shrugged. "Oh well." and he pulled the trigger but to his horror, the man had disappeared.

"Too slow."

De Luca swung around to be met with a jaw shattering right hand that connect to his chin sending him flying across the room into the dining room. Alessio had made it back to one knee before Ichigo's boot planted itself under De Luca's chin and snapped his head back causing him to fall flat on his back again.

Ichigo grabbed Alessio by the throat and lifted in a few feet in the air before he spoke.

"I am going to beat you within an inch of your life De Luca." After saying his piece he flung De Luca through the dining room table. He went through it with so much force that the small chandelier hanging above it fell with a crash on top of him. Before he could move Ichigo snatched the remains of the chandelier off of him, and unfolded a chair and placed it on top of De Luca sitting backwards down on him, with one of the bars forced into his throat.

"If you ever come around Jimmy Jay and his soon to be wife Naomi again, you'll be getting another visit from me, understand?"

De Luce was choking to death and couldn't give an answer.

"I said do you understand!?"

More wheezing from De Luca.

"Oh of course. Forgive me. If you understand blink twice."

Alessio De Luca did just that, and Ichigo removed himself from the chair.

With that Ichigo made his way to the door.

"Hey! Where the fuck you think you're going huh? I didn't say I was through." De Luca said while gasping for air. He tried to wipe the blood that was bleeding profusely from his mouth, to no avail.

"I'll hand it to ya. You got balls. Coming into my own house assaulting me. Threatening me. You're the first person to make me bleed in a long time, but don't go getting cocky. See I didn't know why you were here. But now I do. It was Jay and that Whore that sent you wasn't it!?"

Pain ran through Ichigo's head after hearing De Luca's statement. He bent his neck while grasped his cranium. "Don't call her that."

"Hit a nerve did I? Well guess what? One of us ain't leaving this room alive. And when I'm done with you I'm going to finish what I started. Put Jimmy six feet under. And I'm going to slit his bitch from her clit to her throat!"

Once again his statement made Ichigo nearly double over from pain. But he stood defiantly. "You're right about one thing De Luca…"

"And what part is that Skull Boy?"

Ichigo murmured. "One of us, is not leaving here alive."

De Luca grinned. "You think that scares me!? I'm the man around here! Not you! Not some painted up like a dead whore, who calls himself the clown prince of crime! I'm the fucking boogeyman around here!"

De Luca's fear returned when the man's mask started to glow? It was like a golden color. Ichigo spat as he replied.

"The Boogeyman you say? Let me show you a real Monster!" A Gunshot ranged out which was enough to get Barbara and Artemis snap out of their sleep.

"Artemis scout out the perimeter while I get contact my father!"James Gordon walked in the crime scene that had taken the form of the De Luca household, or more commonly the "Manor of the Wicked" He was met with the sight of Detective Harvey Bullock

Harvey Bullock was a mammoth of a man known for his questionable tactics, and undying loyalty to Gordon.

"Jesus Christ." Gordon said after Bullock uncovered the victim's body.

"Where the hell is De Luca's right arm!?" Gordon asked.

Bullock shrugged as he ate a doughnut. "Don't know we got people scanning the rest of the building."

Gordon sighed as he kneeled down to Alessio De Luca's corpse.

"Well Mr. De Luca, can't say I'm sad to see you gone, but just who exactly got to you before us?"

"Maybe it was our friendly neighborhood vigilante?" Said Bullock.

"You know that's not his M.O."

Bullock nodded. "Wishful thinking. So any suspects? Or does the bastard have a list to high to count?"

Gordon shook his head. "Actually it's a pretty short list."

Bullock was shocked. "You're shitting me. He was called the Cesar of the mafia, and yet he doesn't have any enemies? How about some other member trying to make a name for himself?"

"And risk all out war with the southern and northern mobs? Highly unlikely. Besides all the rest of Mafia thought De Luca was bringing in an golden age of criminal activity. And in a sense they were right. So I think you can cross them off of an already incredibly short list."

Bullock scoffed. "That's just fucking peachy."

"It's nothing short of a goddamned mess, I'll give you that." Gordon replied.

"Detective Bullock! Commissioner Gordon, we found his arm…and something else. Might want to take a look at it!"

The three walked up the stair into the main bedroom and found the bloodied stump that was once Alessio De Luca's arm.

"Why the hell is his arm so far away from his body?" Bullock asked.

The doctor spoke. "It was uh…used as a pencil sirs."

Bullock and Gordon's eyes widened as they whipped around to see blood sliding down the opposite wall, then dripping onto the carpet. Written in the blood was one word.

GUILTY

"Looks like you weren't that far off when you mentioned a vigilante, Harvey."

Detective Bullock nodded. "If it was up to me I'd give the bastard a medal for what he did here. It took us over three years to even start to get dirt on De Luca, it just took him one night to finish it."

Bullock and the doctor made their way out of the room leaving Gordon alone, who seemingly spoke out to no one.

"I guess you wouldn't have any idea who did this."

A figure stepped out of the shadows. The Dark knight himself, Batman.

"I wouldn't but I am going to find out." The only words he said, and he was gone.

Gordon sighed. "Getting too old for this shit."

Now Ichigo had the Titans, The Batman, and Young Justice after him. Maybe just maybe, he would find a group of his own to stay with, to find shelter and sanctuary. And as he thought about it, he opened up a Jump City newspaper to find an interesting individual on the front page.

Brother Blood.

Hope you guys enjoyed it J godbless

-BH