Ultrabross's Vision
CHP24: Settled In
For what felt like minutes they stared each other down, Ichigo ultimately leaning back the other way with the Rosario in hand. This side of Moka had only been revealed to him on two separate occasions and the last didn't end well. She was nothing like the outer personality he came to know and was not nearly as sweet. He faced the opposite way setting the Rosario over a small table having no clue how to start a conversation with her. He scratched at his hair walking the other way.
"Aren't you goanna say something?"
Her voice froze him in place biting at his tongue. Hands positioned in his side pockets Ichigo faced her direction, "What do you want me to say? Last I remember you were out to kill me and none of you would listen to reason. If you sustained any injuries I apologize but it's not like any of you gave me a choice."
"We fell under that woman's illusion, how else did you think we'd react? I don't have to explain myself and don't owe you or anyone else an apology."
"I never asked for you to say sorry and frankly I don't care; besides your other half already did. You two are parallel in more ways than one. She's cheerful, kind, sweet and whatever else you want to call it while you on the other hand are not. It's obvious you have no interest in talking with me and I could care less being around you either. So let's do both ourselves a favor and…" Ichigo went quiet thinking up the correct words that wouldn't make him come off as a jerk.
Moka was stunned by how straight forward he was and Ichigo could see it in her face. He almost regretted the words that came out of his mouth feeling he might have upset her. If he did, the vampire did an excellent job of not showing it.
"To be clear I was going to suggest reconnecting the Rosario." Ichigo spoke.
"Trying to get rid of me?"
Her question left him speechless and more uneasy than he already was. His expression produced a smile on her face.
"You've done a lot of assuming. Not once have I said I didn't want to be around or talk with you. The last time we were face to face was as enemies, but the truth has since come out. I'm willing to put the whole thing behind us and start fresh. Most if not all of what I said during that time was out of anger, so please don't hold it against me."
She wanted to thank him for his thoughtfulness, taking her off the streets and to his home. It wasn't her style to express thanks for anything out loud so was thankful her outer side had already done so.
"Mind if I ask a question?" Ichigo spoke pulling both hands from his pockets.
"Sure go right ahead."
"A little while back I talked with Yukari Chan about your connection to the Rosario and what it meant. According to her Tsukune is the only one capable of pulling it from around your neck. So my question is how in the world was I able to do it?"
"Believe what you want but only someone that truly cares about me is capable of awakening this side of me. Omote or even I lack the ability to switch back and forth at will."
Ichigo thought about what she said. As tempting it was to laugh he held himself in check. Her explanation that only someone that cared for her was the only one that could unlock her inner side sounded much like something out of a fairy tale. Ichigo took another couple steps lifting the Rosario off the table.
"Not that I'm trying to rush you but when do you plan on reconnecting it?"
"It's not often I get to roam around," She lifted her feet out of the water, "I'm going to milk it for what it's worth. Where's the closes bathroom?" She stood from the chair, the blanket remaining over her shoulders.
"Right over there." Ichigo pointed.
"Thanks." Moka replied dropping the blanket off her body.
Ichigo almost bled from his nose observing her from behind. She had the body of a model and the tone of her silver hair was just about the perfect tone, "I've got one more pack of herbs and should be enough to take a bath," She stopped at the bathroom door glancing back at him, "You're welcome to join me if you'd like." She grinned seductively.
"Wait are you being serious?!"
"Of course not, get your mind out of the gutter perv." She stepped through closing the door.
Ichigo tightened his fists wanting to punch something. He couldn't believe she'd taunt him in such a way, not that he wanted to bathe with her or anything like that. She started up the water stripping out of what little clothing she had. Moka then sprinkled the herbs within the water before getting in. The only shampoo available read off as Dove+ care for men. Ichigo saw the current circumstance as a perfect opportunity to get out and continue his mission for at least another hour.
"Hey Moka I'm goanna turn in for the night, if you need anything don't be afraid to wake me." He knocked at the door.
"Oh, ok."
Ichigo recovered his dried PJ's from the basket beside the dryer, dressing into them and headed for the bedroom. He shut off the lights getting under the covers, taking a deep breath. With the substitute badge in hand he separated from his body. Everything was perfect and would remain so long as Moka didn't try and wake him.
"I'll make a quick sweep of another location marked on the map. Maybe I'll get lucky and come across a hollow, if not I'll officially call it a night."
Ichigo exited the base through the same way they entered hopeful Moka wouldn't become aware of his absence until after he returned.
XXX
Uptown a vehicle darted down one of the main streets through a dark tunnel. Due to the time of night there weren't nearly as many vehicles around. Much like New York City, Gotham was very active twenty four seven and didn't matter the time of day or night. During his encounter with the criminals at the club Batman didn't exactly get the information he was looking for but some of what he picked up gave an idea of where he needed to go next. A beeping sound brought him out of thought pressing at the built in communications button within the vehicle, "What is it Alfred?"
"Sorry to bother you sir. Results of the chemicals came back as unidentified…is there anything you'd like me to do?"
"Leave it to me I'll take a closer look at it under the scope when I get back. In the meantime I came across cronies to Floyd Lawton inside a nightclub. None of them seemed to have any idea where to find him but I did however gather information that might lead me to his place. I have the location where most their meetings take place, which happens to be a factory in a quiet part of town. Associates of theirs work the building almost all day and night and I'm more than confident one if not all of them knows where Deadshot is hiding out."
"What of Quinn and the others? I don't know if you're aware sir but the Jo…"
"Joker escaped Arkham Asylum a couple hours ago. I'm well aware of that. He and Harley are at the top of my list after I've settled everything. If I don't end it now Gotham will become a warzone. Don't wait up Alfred."
He discontinued the conversation in a single click. Batman was no further than three minutes from the factory parking down the street. Like most nights journeyed to the rooftop using the shadows and darkness to his advantage. From building to building he leaped headed for the factory lenses set to a radar/night vision mode. The function gave him a precise number of people inside in addition to those that carried firearms and what type. Grapple gun in hand he pulled himself across the way atop the factory.
Various options stood out as to which entryway to use, Batman making a quick decision based on the location of each individual inside. Pipes situated near the ceiling were used to move around and keep hidden. Within the mid section of the main space a group of five sat at a table absorbed in a game of cards. In total were twelve and those not at the table guarded the couple exits or paced back and forth. Batman couldn't say for certain but got the feeling they were waiting for something to happen; perhaps a meeting or something else entirely.
Pinpointing each carrying a weapon especially those with guns, Batman threw down a collection of smoke bombs. The entire space was covered in thick fog, several individuals throughout becoming panicky. Shouting followed and as tempting it was to fire their weapons stopped themselves from doing so knowing they might hit each other.
"What the hell is going on?! Can any of you see a thing?!"
Next a loud thump filled the air followed by screams and the sound of bones shattering. For them it was almost impossible to see what was happening but for Batman everything was clear. One by one he took down each gunman. The foggy atmosphere died down shortly after leaving only the five standing around the table and Batman.
"Floyd Lawton where is he?" Batman asked roughly.
Three of them immediately went after him throwing out fists, one of which uncovered a hand knife. Flipping out and over Batman took them all down back handing another of them that tried attacking from behind. All that remained was a single criminal and the Dark Knight, "We can do this the easy or hard way. Tell me what I want and you might get out of this unscarred."
"Ok ok just ask it and I'll tell." He leaned back against the table feeling his blood flow rise.
"How is Deadshot involved with the uprising conflict? Bits and pieces of information I've gathered point in his direction as being a main player in all this. I want a location and a rough estimation of how many are working under him."
"He doesn't stay in one place for long and is always on the move. I can give you his last known hideouts but even I can't guarantee he will still be around. Batman or not you can't really think you will somehow put a stop to this all."
"Names of the hideouts and anything else useful and make it fast!"
Feeling he had no other choice the criminal gave what information he knew without hesitation. Receiving what info he needed Batman exited through the way he entered. He returned to the Batmobile in route to an office building just five miles away. It was the closes of eight previous known strongholds of Deadshot's. Something bothered him and was ready to put it to rest before continuing on.
From either side of her torso the wings flapped back and forth maintaining flight. Since her departure from the night club Morrigan had since returned to Succubus form trailing him from high above. She didn't think much about concealing herself within the shadows and in ways couldn't believe someone down below hadn't spotted her. She thought about it for a moment figuring the time of night played a role. The Batmobile turned into an alley, "Hhhmm he's stopping already, what's he up to." She thought.
Morrigan settled in over the ledge of a building, her eyes looking downward. For over a minute there was no activity from what she could tell, but then the vehicle pulled out of the alleyway. She didn't follow right away giving him a head start to eliminate any chance of being spotted by accident. Waiting for the vehicle to pass down the block her wings flapped and leaned forward ready to dive off the ledge.
"What's your story?"
Her heart skipped at the husky voice coming from behind. She couldn't believe someone would be able to sneak up on her without her knowledge. Rolling both eyes Morrigan looked behind more annoyed than she'd been in awhile. It was hard for her to make out the speaker's appearance on first glance. Before long her heart took another jump observing the 6'2 figure come into perfect view under the moon's light. She wanted to speak but didn't know what to say, and how could she? The person standing before her was also the person supposedly inside the vehicle she had been following, "How is that possible, you can't be in two…"
"It's set to auto drive. You've been on my tail since my tussle in the nightclub, why?!"
She took a step back placing a hand over her mouth. How did he figure it so quickly? Maybe he was a sensory type beast. How else would he know when she initially decided to follow after him? Nothing to that point gave her a clear indication of whom or what he was, assuming him to be some breed of vampire. That was the only thing that might explain how he was able to get behind her undetected. She applauded him clapping her hands.
"Very good, what gave me away?"
Her posture and overall joyful manner came off as strange. He looked her up and down from head to toe and aside from beauty things that caught his attention were the wings sprouting from her torso and both sides of her head. When perceiving her from afar through the Batmobile's built in camera view he had no idea it'd turn out they were actually connected to her body. Through experience and knowledge he knew right away she wasn't human but at the same time didn't know what category she fell under.
"Who sent you and for what reason?"
Part of him thought about Ichigo. First it was a shinigami from an entirely different world and now her; a bat woman of some sort. In ways he had the feeling she and the Death God might even be connected somehow. It was much too convenient they showed up one after another on the same night.
"What makes you think I've been sent by someone, did you think for a second I might just be out to have some fun?" She moved in close running a couple fingers on the bat symbol over his chest, "I saw what you did back there against those big strong men. I love a guy with tenacity and power. You're my kind of guy." She grinned lowering and running her hands over his abs, "Wow you're really muscular."
Before she could make another move he firmly grabbed at her wrists driving her back the other way.
"Ouch," She rubbed at her wrists frowning, "You should be gentler when handling a lady, but lucky for you I love it rough." She again smirked.
He put zero thought into her comment electing to ignore it, "You didn't answer what you're doing in Gotham and why you were following me. I'm in the middle of something and don't have time for stalkers."
"Did it occur to you I might be a citizen to the city. Maybe I don't go out much but maybe tonight I decided to do something different, life is so boring going through set agendas day in and out. If you're out to have fun, party and crack skulls along the way I'm absolutely your girl."
Like before she disregarded his question going into something else.
"Your name?" Batman asked.
"What do I get in return? What you're asking of me is top secret information, but I'll talk if you give me something." Her eyes ventured around and below his waist.
"The belt isn't anyone's souvenir or something I'd ever give up."
"You misunderstand, that isn't what I had in mind at all." Desire filled her eyes biting at her lower lip.
Batman had no idea who or why she was seemingly after him, and quickly grew impatient to the point of not caring, "If you're out to have fun like you say than go find it elsewhere. There is nothing fun about what I do, my life style is dangerous and you will only get yourself killed being around me. That is your first and only warning. I find you trailing me again and I'll put a stop to it myself."
"Oh I'm so scared you've got me shivering in my boots." She chuckled.
The Dark Knight glared at her childish response. She threw her hair back turning the opposite way, eyes staring at the moon.
"I'm not the sort of woman that can be bossed around and when I want something I get it. The moment I set eyes on you back in that club I kne…" She glanced over her shoulder realizing he was no longer around!
She ran across the roof peeking over the ledge with no sight of him. As he had snuck up on her previously, he just as easily slipped away in a split second. She crossed both arms sticking out her lower lip pouting, "How rude…he didn't even say goodbye. It's ok though, I'm certain he and I will see each other again very soon. Ichigo Kurosaki is my objective, but in the meantime I've found myself the perfect playmate."
Elsewhere Gin, Tsukune and Kurumu walked down a sidewalk. For most the time they stayed quiet and had a hard time feeling relaxed knowing Moka was all alone out there somewhere. Gin hadn't said a word to either Tsukune or Kurumu but Moka's scent had taken a huge dive making it harder to track than before.
"How much longer Gin Senpai? Are we anywhere close to her?" Tsukune asked.
"Afraid not, I'd even go as far to say she was recently on the move. Don't worry Tsukune I promise we'll find her." Gin patted him over the shoulder for encouragement.
To Be Continued