Mizuki closes the distance between me and her. Her speed was insane. I was caught off guard, she lands a hit on me. It feels like I was hit with a baseball just struck off a bat. No, that pun is not intended.
I put both my arms in front of me to block her next strike. I need to study her first, if I attack at all, she'll be able to react properly. I take a step back. Analyzing her stance and posture. I go into a defensive dodging position. Studying her attacks, the way she moves, to find any weak points. I don't find any in a physical matter that I can exploit.
But the fighting style is Aikido. I take a breath as I go into an MMA pose. From the studies of my martial arts, MMA is an effortless counter to Aikido. Aikido itself is not a tested fighting system, MMA is the real thing to utilize for this. She doesn't seem to notice, let alone care I switch my stance. Her overconfidence or whatever is affecting this woman shall be her undoing.
I let her take the strike as position myself to counter it, landing a solid strike to her clavicle. She recoils and steps back.
"You would hit a woman?!" She gets angry and charges towards me. I counter more of her hits and even take some myself as she slashes at my abdomen. Breaking through the leather armor. I feel the warmth there. Liquid pouring down, but not too badly.
I then land a solid leg strike to the side of her head. Letting her feel the steel toe boot hit at full force. "The hammers of justice is Unisex." It was then I hear a voice.
"I am Sailor moon! And in the name of the moon... I'll punish you!" It seems like she was saying something before I heard those lines. Perhaps a small speech of some sort. I was too focused on the fight at the time. I look to this girl. My age, maybe younger. Long blonde hair in a hairstyle I myself never saw before. In a sailor outfit with a symbol on her chest.
"What the...?" Was all I could utter before I heard and felt an explosion next to me. Of Mizuki being hit with an attack of some sort. Was it a rocket launcher? If so, I would have felt the shrapnel hit me at that close of the explosion. Mizuki was killed, right in front of me. I look to see who did it. Both me and Sailor moon I believe she said her name was, look up to see shadowy figures, their outfits resemble that of Sailor moons attire.
Before I could react or even speak, they disappear into the night. Were they assassins? I myself have many thought roam in my head before I feel something sharp on my symbol. What looked like a gold inlaid crescent moon with a handle. A sickle? No, it looks like a toy of come kind. A sharp one at that.
"Are you a friend or foe?" I put my fighting stance away as i let the cape cover my body as I look at her.
"I was defending this woman here." I nod towards the shrine girl as I see the crystal go into her body. Tonight is getting stranger by the minute.
"Rei!" Sailor moon runs towards Rei as she helps her down to the ground as Rei regains consciousness.
"Are you alright, Rei?" Sailor moons dusts Rei off and helps her to her feet.
"Yeah, I was caught off guard. Thanks for saving me."
"I didn't do much it was that-" Before she knew it, I was already gone. I went to the rooftop to where I saw the shadowy figures. I look to find any sort of evidence. From what it seems, there was no rocket shell here. Not even that of any burning residue from whatever they fired.
I was unable to find anything to track them down. I need to be more equipped. Need more gadgets. I was expecting gang members, murders, drug trafficking. But this... strange individual acting like they themselves weren't human along with having superhuman speed and enhanced strength. It means I must improve as well.
I head home. I feel my body getting heavy. From the amount of physical exertion and from probably the crash of the coffee. I put some gauze and bandages to my abdomen to let it heal as I get in bed and crash hard.
The next few days pass. I wake up and rub my eyes. Today I need to begin... renovations and some definitive looks into the applied science division at Kaioh enterprises. I call a house decorator, the best the city would have to offer. They came in no time flat as soon as they heard my last name.
"It is such an honor to be doing this for you, Mr. Kaioh. I am Aoyama." She presents her hand as I respond with shaking it, getting into my happy portrayal of myself. My day persona.
"Well I'm just glad I can find someone who can help. I myself have no idea about house decorum. Plus from what I have read online you are one of the best."
"As well I should be, I have been doing this for 5 years and have done so proudly. So what is it you are looking for in your home, Mr. Kaioh."
"I suppose if I had to, I am rather a fan of the book 'The great Gatsby' could that be arranged?" She gave a big smile, she she struck diamond and gold.
"Oh that can be arranged."
"Just send me the list of the items suggested and I'll pay it and add a 15% tip for yourself as well." Her eyes heavily gleam at this sight of money and generosity.
"It shall be done. Thank you, Mr. Kaioh." She bows at me as I nod to her. I see her out as I get a cab. I head to Kaioh enterprises. The pictures I saw as a child don't compare to in front of my own eyes. I enter the building. Very professional, nothing fancy about it. Just they way I prefer it, even though I said what I wanted at my home. It's all for the act.
To keep myself from looking anything related to Batman. Although I doubt anyone knows from my first few nights. It'll be a good head start for me as Sun Kaioh. I head to front desk, where I am greeted like a King as I am sent to where I'm needing to go. I head into the applied science floor and saw it looked more like a parking garage that what I saw in the other parts of the building as I see older woman sitting in front of a computer screen.
"Ah, you must be the mysterious Sun Kaioh that came back to Tokyo." The older woman showed me her hand, I go to shake it.
"Mysterious? I hope my sister didn't say such, makes it sound like I'm an enigmatic puzzle to be solved. I've only been here for a day."
"Well, she always did talk about you. She spoke in a somber tone. But now that you are back, she's much more brighter. You are a light in her life."
"I do hope that's not a pun." She chuckles to what I say.
"Not intentionally. Lucia Meioh Fox. Head of applied science. Well, all of applied science."
"It's just you, I was half thinking there was a crew here."
"I make the ideas, some people come to help when they can, but these bones of mine are getting older." She stands up to walk with a tiny limp to her step. She grabs her cane to help herself.
"Now that I'm here, some changes Will definitively will be made to accommodate you. I myself wanted to personally invest further in this division. Come up with some ideas I could potentially run by you." She was a bit surprised by the statement, pleasantly so.
"That would be very kind Mr. Kaioh. What ideas did you have in mind?"
"Well I am a fan of... stunts." She looks to me quizzically.
"Stunts? How do?"
"Well I mean of uh... action sequences. Not to say I'm wanting to get into acting but I suppose I just love the... thrill of it. To feel bigger than life. Even if no one sees me I just enjoy doing said scenes. So... i was wanting to get something like a uh... body glider of sorts. The one people use when they jump off mountains to traverse downwards. I thought to myself how fun would that be. But maybe... with a cape instead of the suit." Again, she looks to me, surprised or perhaps reading my response to see if there's more to it than that.
"A cape? Well, I could be able to build something like that. Could also be used for the military as well. Perhaps to fund the enterprise."
"As long as it's not weapons. If we have been making any, that will be changing. We will not sell any weapons to any military. Ours or otherwise." Now she looks to me with shock.
"We have been producing weapons, yes. That will... be upsetting to some people investing in our company."
"I run a different ship, Ms. Fox. I am not a fan of weapons. Quite frankly I hate them. Being able to kill is something that will not be allowed under my supervision and leadership. I trust that you will help me make that understandable with the board."
"Well, I don't have much weight in the company much, I was sent here after I had a few... ethic questions to the board."
"I'll get them in my side I think."
A few hours later
"Mr. Kaioh... what you are demanding we do... it Uh... it's not going to make people that we have in our investments happy." An older gentlemen along with a few males and females nod in agreement.
"I am aware. But since my sister has entrusted me with the business part of the family, what I say shall be made so." A few of them murmur to themselves, wondering if I was crazy.
"That may be true, but our stocks will be hit quite a blow on us-"
"Will it have us go bankrupt?" I cut him off as the head older gentlemen collects his words.
"No I suppose not but-"
"Then there's no more to be said. We will make equipments for the army. But no weapons. Not anymore. Let those people know and if they wish to speak to me, you may direct their calls to me." I then take my leave, as soon as the doors close, I can arguments having been made.
Lucia was very helpful as she had a gas-powered magnetic grapple gun. One that was much stronger and able to pull more weight. I procure one for myself as this'll be helpful. She mentions that the cape will take some time. I tell her I understand as I take my leave for the day. I then begin to change my complexion and looks for a specific task
I head over to a weapons shop. I ask for 3A tactical armor. The man doesn't ask any questions as I pay for it in cash. I also use a fake ID I had made for me so that it won't lead back to my name. Last thing I need is for Michiru to ask why I bought one if she has the means to find that info out.
After that, I remember about Haruka's words about my ID being expired. I change back to Sun Kaioh as I head over to get that done too. You might be asking why I am telling you such mundane things. Well reader, I intend to be thorough, and at times people do mundane things. I myself am no different.
As I finish with my errands for the day. I get several calls from a lot of the military contracts dealing with us. They were shocked and even rather critical with me. I make sure to say my case kindly, yet firmly. We lose two out of the seven military investment contracts. But it's their loss, not mine.
When I get home, I see a car parked in front of my home with a couple inside it along. Perhaps they were hoping it was still for sale. But as soon as i get dropped off, I see it's my sister and Haruka. Michiru herself looks... nervous. Perhaps it's because of something personal. Or she herself was yelled at by the board.
"Michi?" Michiru's head turns to me as she gets out of the car and hugs me for a quick moment.
"Hello brother. It's good to see you."
"I was about to call you actually, I apologize for a few days of radio silence."
"Actually it hasn't been silence. Seems you've been making some moves in the company." So it was the latter.
"Ah, and I'm guessing that's why you are here?"
"Not entirely... who's that?" I turn my head to see several U-Hauls park at my place with Aiyana's company name on it as I unlock the door.
"The door is open so you all can begin!" The men all nod as they get the furniture moving. "Forgive me, Michi I haven't gotten the furniture brought in yet into my home. Been sleeping on a futon." She looks to me as if I was dealing with something horrid.
"Oh goodness I'm sorry." I shake my head and hand at her with a smile.
"Nonsense. I have slept in worse places, Michi. But you were saying I was making some moves at the company."
"Right, Yes. Some of the board directors told me about what happened and that we lost two military contractors out of your decision due to you discontinuing weapon manufacturing."
"Yes. While I know we have the permits to do so and have been doing so since... father. I wanted there to be some changes. Not to redo the entire company. I'm just... I hate weapons. To think that they could be used to kill... it feels shameful to think on. Not against us or even you it's just-"
"I understand." I look to Michiru after her reply. She had patted my shoulders. "All I needed was a reason and that's enough of one for me. I'll make sure it's set in stone for the board directors to leave this matter alone for you. I apologize that they went to me instead of you."
"You need not apologize. You can't control them. They act like children getting their toys taken away. But I do thank you for the help, Michi."
"You have my support." She smiles at me before Haruka wraps an arm around my sister.
"And mine. If it's bares any weight of course."
"Of course it does, Haruka. You are dating my sister so you are practically family at this point." They look to me with a warm and subtle smile as they bow their head a bit.
"That means a lot. Well, I think I'll help with the movers. Think of it as a way of repaying you."
"Oh that's not necessary. But then again an extra person could go a long way and I doubt I'd be able to stop you." Haruka winks and trots off.
"I knew I'd like him, Michiru!" They go to help get the furniture in as me and my sister talk again for hours. It's pleasant to have her back in my life. To know that she's strong, confident and extremely talented woman. I don't need to worry much about her. Yet I do. As Batman, she is one I must protect. But where she must be treated equally as a civilian. Otherwise I feel I have failed in my mission to protect the innocent already if I did.
After the day passes, I head down through the service elevator in my kitchen and head down to suit up.