Chapter 9
Yo! Welcome to chapter 9! Nothing much to say about the last chapter—but I found a new anime. once again it's in Japanese but the anime has been English dubbed! Blood-C its, well I haven't figured it out yet; it's from the creator of xxxHolic—I think, it's the same style almost and a variation of Blood+ if you think about it. The main character Saya has beautiful pale skin and long dark hair, she wears glasses, she's pretty. But I'm getting off topic. ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!
"Man that was a long trip!" Wally said stretching as he and the others exited the Bio-ship they were in their street clothes so not to draw attention to themselves. Robin, M'gaan, and the other gave him a look.
"Well we did kind of fly half way around the world." M'gaan said. Conner scowled.
"Where exactly are we anyway?" He asked.
"Just outside Tokyo; this way we don't draw any attention to ourselves and let Mariko know we're here." Robin said typing things in on his wrist computer.
"Now we must find out where Mariko Miko is located." Kaldur said, "That will be no easy task. She could be anywhere in this city."
"She'll more than Likely be in Minato; that's where Tokyo Tower is." Robin said.
"To Minato then!" Wally said.
"Not so fast; we can't really be sure that she'll actually be in Minato can we?" Zatanna asked, "She did say she had over a dozen safe houses."
"She is right; Mariko said she had over a dozen safe houses in Tokyo." Kaldur said, "There's no way of knowing where she will be."
"Then maybe we should draw her out." Conner said, "This girl's getting on my nerves."
"Hey be happy; at least she's not crushing on you." Robin groaned.
"Enough; let's head into the city. From there we'll be able to formulate a plan of action." Kaldur said, the others nodded as M'gaan put the Bio-ship to sleep.
Meanwhile further off from the group far enough to not be seen, but close enough to see; a girl with short black hair watched them. She then spoke into an earpiece.
"Mariko-san; Karera ga tōchaku shimashita. Chōdo Tōkyō soto." The girl said, there was a short pause.
'Excellent; right on time. Make sure the twins are aware as well..' Mariko's voice replied. The girl nodded.
"Hai, Mariko-san." She said, then left her post.
~0~
"This place is crowded," Conner said with a slight growl.
"It's a big city Conner; it's going to be crowded." M'gaan said, Conner snorted; he didn't like big cities. "What part of the City are we in anyway?"
"I think we're in Shinjuku." Robin replied, "I can't be too sure something's jamming my computer."
"Mariko must be nearby." Kaldur said, "Split up and start searching."
The group nodded and went to go their separate ways when someone crashed into Robin. The group looked over and saw a girl in a black schoolgirl uniform with long black hair lying on top of Robin.
"Kya! Sore ga itai." She mumbled, then looked down seeing Robin under her. She immediately stood and bowed, "Ah! Gomene! Watashi wa watashi no inu o sagashite imashita."
"Does anyone know what she's saying?" Conner asked, the girl tilted her head.
"Hang on; my computer has a translator." Robin said, then typed in some words for his computer to translate what the girl said, "She said she was looking for her dog."
The girl tilted her head to the side as she stared at the group in confusion, she then looked at Conner's T-shirt.
"Sūpābōi!" she exclaimed then pointed to Conner's shirt. The group narrowed their eyes at Conner who scowled back.
"I like the shirt." He said sternly. The girl thought for a moment then replied, in Japanese.
"Anata ga yatta koto de dogguran o minakatta? Sūpābōi-san?" she asked, Conner scowled, then the girl said slowly, "I-n-u?"
"She asked if we've seen her dog." Robin said reading the translation. He then shook his head to the girl who sighed.
"Tell her don't have time for this!" Conner shouted, the girl gave a hurt expression.
"Perhaps we can be of assistance; Robin can you Super-boy, M'gaan and Artemis take care of this?" Kaldur asked, "Zatanna, Kid, and I can go search of Mariko."
"Great; we get to find the dog." Conner grumbled.
"Better than a cat." Artemis sighed. The others nodded and went their separate ways.
"Dōmo arigatōgozaimasu." The girl said with a bow, then. Robin had his computer ask for her dog's name.
"Yukie, Watashi no inu no namae wa Yukiedesu." She replied then pointed to the right, "Watashi wa kanojo ga sono hōkō ni nigemashita."
"She said her dog's name is Yukie; and she saw her run off down that street." Robin said, the girl then lead the group down the street, all shouting and looking for the girl's missing dog.
~0~
"Man this thing is lame; I don't even know this anime." Tony said holding onto the red scarf that was a part of the cosplay that Mariko had told him to wear. Tony sighed.
'Tony-boy; they should be headed your way. Look alive.' Mariko's voice growled then she laughed, 'Well as alive and a cyborg can be. Get ready.'
"Y-yes Miss Mariko." Tony replied, then looked around and spotted Zatanna and the others, coming his way just like Mariko said. He glared; he had rather hoped Robin would be around so he could take him out. he sighed then jumped out from the alley he was in; surprising the group.
"Hey heroes," He said, then shot a small rocket at the group. the people in the surrounding area all screamed and ran.
"It's Mariko's android!" Kidflash shouted, Tony frowned.
"I'm not an android! I'm a cyborg!" he shouted back then ran at the group blowing past them and in another direction.
"Can't catch me!" He shouted, Kidflash glared.
"Don't challenge Kidflash to a race!" He growled running after Tony, who suddenly stopped and stuck his foot out in front of him. Kidflash toppled over sliding into a nearby fruit stand. Tony laughed.
"You were saying Speedy?" He asked, then sped off in another direction. Kidflash and the others glared.
"Etatival mih!" Zatanna shouted, Tony spun around.
"Not this time!" he shouted then punched the wall to a building adjacent from him. Brick and dust covered the area as the group stopped short. When the dust settled Tony was nowhere to be found.
"Great, he got away," Kidflash hissed removing a banana peel from his hair, "Over ripe bananas and apples weren't my ideal thought for a souvenir."
"We will find him; If he is here it means Mariko cannot be too far away." Kaldur said.
~0~
"Watashi wa Enma Ai, Anata no namae wa nanidesu ka?" She asked a while later, she had led the group further away from the city to an abandoned part of town. Robin's computer replied.
"Watashi wa robinda. Kore wa, misu kasei, arutemisu Sūpābōi desu." Robin then pointed to Conner and Artemis. Artemis frowned, "She gave us her name; then asked ours."
The girl nodded, then the group heard the bark of a dog. The girl lit up and pointed into an old factory building.
"Sore wa Yukie! Kono yō ni!" She shouted then ran off toward the building further away from the group. "Yukie!"
"Ai! Wait!" Robin shouted, only to have her disappear from sight.
"We should go after her; small thing like that might get hurt." Conner said, the other two agreed and ran after Ai into the building. Once inside they realized just how dark it was.
"Ai! Where'd you go?!" Robin shouted, then sighed, "Right no English." He then used his computer to shout for her.
Suddenly the factory sprang to life. Its lights came on and Ai stood in the door way to the control room, she smiled evilly.
"Ippen, shinde miru?" She shouted, "Welcome Heroes to Jigoku Factory!"
"What's going on here?" Artemis shouted, "Who are you really?"
Ai gave a look of false shock, as she grabbed a yellow utility belt and fastened it around her skirt.
"Eh? You don't recognize me? Then again I suppose I don't really look the same do I?" She asked, then pressed her finger to her eye and what was once an almond color was an eerie blue. "Cosplay is really fun you know?"
"Mariko," Robin growled, Mariko smiled sweetly.
"Hey Robin cutie! You miss me?" she said flirtatiously, Robin glared.
"There was never any lost dog. She just played us." He said.
"Oh no there's a dog, but she's Tony's and she's not lost." Mariko explained, "But you did take the bait just like I knew you would. I love being a genius!"
"You witch! I'm gonna make you wish you were never born!" Superboy shouted, Mariko huffed and crossed her arms.
"You're about ten years too late for that Brawny boy." She said, "But please; do feel free to try anyway."
Superboy growled and jumped from his stance on the ground below and landed next to Mariko, who shivered in fear.
"Oh no! I'm trapped! Someone please help me." She mocked, Superboy glared then suddenly felt weak. He fell to his knees in pain. Mariko laughed.
"That's right, just wear idiots like you belong. At my feet!" She shouted then kicked Superboy in the face sending him backwards.
"Superboy!" M'gaan shouted, Mariko smirked and dipped to Superboy's level where he saw her necklace glowing bright green.
"Like my new necklace Superboy?" She asked, kicking Superboy once again. "Savage-sama thought it would be good to keep around in case I ran into any Kryptonians! It really doesn't take much does it? You're completely mortal from just one chip."
Mariko then reached into her belt and pulled out a remote and aimed it at Superboy who laid in a crumpled heap at her feet.
"Let's see just how mortal you are." She said, then went to press the button when something knocked it out of her hands. She glared back at Robin and Miss Martian.
"Don't worry I haven't forgot about you two." She said then ran to the control room and pressed a button. A large claw dangled over the two of them, then suddenly dropped; trapping Robin and Miss Martian. Mariko was then grabbed from behind by Superboy.
"Don't you learn stupid?" She asked slyly then dug the heel of her foot into Superboy's. he let out a growl of pain and fell to the ground. "With this thing around my neck you can't beat me. You're mortal!"
"Don't worry….I didn't, ugh, forget." Superboy said, Mariko frowned then looked down at his hand where he held her new necklace. Mariko went wide eyed and her hand shot to her neck; when did he get ahold of—then it hit her; when he grabbed her. Superboy smirked then threw the necklace away.
"Who's stupid now?" He said, then grabbed Mariko by the uniform collar.
"You brute! Let go of me you ape!" She shouted, digging her nails into his hands. Superboy then threw her across the room. She let out a yelp of pain and fell into a heap on the floor. Superboy then jumped down to M'gaan, Robin and Artemis.
"For a second there I thought you were a goner." M'gaan said, Superboy huffed.
"For a genius she's not too bright." He said then grabbed the metal claws and ripped them open freeing M'gaan and Robin. The trio then headed up to the control room where Mariko had regained consciousness and was running for the exit, she paused however to look over her shoulder at the group.
"Hate to hit and run—well not really." She said then gathered her broken necklace and ran, "I'll make you pay for breaking my present from Savage-sama!"
"After her!" Robin shouted, the group then gave chase; following Mariko as she went through a hatch that lead to the roof. Mariko ran to the edge and turned, seeing the heroes following her.
"Ha! You people won't catch me." She said then ran and jumped off the edge and landed on the building next door. She pressed a button on her belt and her shoes transformed into roller skates. She then began to skate to the next ledge as the heroes followed.
"I grew up on these streets!" She shouted at them jumping down and catching herself on a street lamp and landing on the ground, "I know all their twists and turns! While you, have nothing!"
"We can't let her get away; Artemis can you get a tracker on her?" Robin asked, Artemis aimed her crossbow at Mariko and shot.
"Got her." She said, "We should be able to track here wherever she goes now."
"Great; now we just have to catch up with the others, and tell them what's going on." M'gaan said.
"Let's just hope she doesn't find the bug before we catch up." Conner said, they all nodded, and then went to find the others.
Bwa! That took forever for me to type! Ugh, I missed feeding my calf Lily! She ended up coming back into the corral on her own with Momma cow. So she's back thank you for your concern readingisdabest I meant to tell you that earlier. Sorry. Next chapter will be a real blast see you there—oh! And Ai Enma is also known as Jigoku shojo that's like Klarion's nickname only with Shojo—which means girl. So yeah it's a pretty good anime; I'll be getting into why she chose that anime in later chapters. 'See you later armadillos—unless I see you first! Haha' REVIEW!