Chapter 22
Last chapter Mariko was framed—this time I didn't frame a character for murder; how strange—haha anyhow now she's being sent to the scariest place in the world for her; an asylum. Oh how scary Arkham Asylum! Where all the twisted freaks—Joker, Penguin, Ivy, Harley, Two-face….the list goes on. However only a few of them will be interacting with Mariko. ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!
"Crazy? I was crazy once, they sent me to an asylum. Then the flies came," Mariko mumbled, as she rode in a police van to Arkham, she was heavily medicated and had found entertainment in speaking in an endless loop, and annoying her drivers. "Flies? I hate flies; they drive me nuts. Nuts? I like nuts except for walnuts—they drive me crazy. Crazy…?"
"Someone put a gag on her before I rip out her tongue." Bullock growled, Montoya; the officer that was with him shushed him.
"There's nothing either of us can do; she's heavily medicated." She said, holding her injured hand. When Mariko was brought to the front office she had flipped out screaming; saying she didn't want to go. She bit Montoya and kicked Bullock in the groin. It was safe to say neither of them liked her.
"That day they took me to a pretty white room. I've been here ever since In a pretty hallway there's a pretty room. At night one by one they take us there." Mariko sang softly, in English however so the words made no sense to anyone else.
"I swear Montoya, I'm going to deck her." Bullock grumbled. Mariko stopped singing, and started talking.
"Jigoku Shonen!" She shouted in a somewhat happy giggle, "Good to see you; Mariko's heavily medicated; did you find anything out?"
"Now she's talkin' to invisible men." Bullock mocked, "Not so tough now is she?"
"Enough Bullock; look we're almost here." Montoya said, as they pulled into the drive to Arkham.
"Jigoku Shonen; please don't let them put me in there." Mariko sobbed, "No! don't leave me here!"
"Alright kid time to go." Bullock said, pulling Mariko out by the straps of her straightjacket. Mariko screamed, and kicked until they were inside the compound and she was officially signed in. she was then stripped of her old clothes and given a plain white outfit. Mariko let out a small cry her medication was beginning to ware off.
"I hate white…" She mumbled, then noticed a man with a white coat taking her clothes away, "Where's he taking that?"
"Incinerator." A man said, Mariko went wide eyed.
"NO! He can't do that! I have things in my pockets! Important things!" She screeched bolting from the two guards and ran for the man that held her clothe. She knocked the man off his feet as her clothes fell to the ground. She then began picking through them, and plucked her perfectly preserved photo of Takumi from the pockets. She was then stabbed with another needle and everything went fuzzy as her picture slid from her grasp. She moaned.
"Takumi…"
~0~
Batman and Robin arrived at Arkham a few days after Mariko was admitted in. They were in the Warden's office at the moment; Robin couldn't help but feel bad for her.
"You wouldn't believe the trouble this kid's causing; she keep demanding to see some guy." The Warden said when asked about her. Robin frowned.
"What guy?" He asked, the Warden shrugged.
"Some Vandal guy; I wasn't really listening. She's already been seen talking to things that aren't really there." He said. Batman scowled, as Robin looked into Mariko's file; he noticed the photo, and quickly pocketed it without being seen.
"We'll be back to check on her later in the week." Batman said, "Be sure to keep a close eye on her."
The warden nodded, and the two left the room, as they walked Robin couldn't help but notice someone standing in front of what was said to be Mariko's cell. He stopped.
"I'll catch up; I'm going to go…check on her." He said to Batman, who nodded and let him go.
~0~
"Savage-sama," Mariko said as Vandal Savage came to visit her in Arkham. She smiled happily seeing the man once again come to save her from Arkham.
"For one who does not like asylums this would be the second time being in one." Savage joked, Mariko frowned.
"I've been framed, Gemini; she betrayed you Savage-sama." She said, "Please I want to go home."
Savage shook his head. "I know all this Miko."
"Then let me take Gemini apart for what she's done," Mariko said in a dark voice, "I'll make sure to make her suffer for betraying you."
"I'm afraid I cannot do that." Savage said with a frown, Mariko froze.
"S-sure you can Savage-sama, you did it the last time." She said, "Please, I want to go home."
"Gemini will be dealt with," Savage said "However you will be spending your time here."
"What?" Mariko's eyes went wide, "W-why? I don't want to be here; I want to go home."
Mariko couldn't believe what she was hearing; the one person she had come to trust in the world was leaving her to her worst fear. Why? Why was this happening? Savage stood and began to walk away, as Mariko pressed herself against her cell bars.
"Savage-sama! Please! Don't leave me here!" She screamed However her screams fell on deaf ears as Savage continued walking away from her cell and down the hall, "PAPA!"
~0~
Robin side stepped to avoid being seen by Savage as he walked to the front office. He couldn't believe what he had seen; Savage abandoning Mariko? He had been loyal enough to help her out of any predicament she put herself in. had he finally gotten tired of it? No; more than likely Mariko wasn't useful to him anymore. Then why let her live? Robin scowled and walked to Mariko's cell where her screams and cries fell silent.
"Mariko…?" He asked, Mariko sat in the corner of her cell hugging her knees. Upon hearing Robin's voice she looked up, she smirked and stood to walk to her cell door.
"Hiya Robin; what's up?" She asked forcing an evil smirk. Robin frowned.
"You can cut the act; I saw everything." He said, Mariko's smirk fell, and she scowled crossing her arms.
"Oh yeah? Well big deal," She said turning her back to him, "He'll be back; Savage-sama won't leave me here. I'm his favorite."
"Didn't seem like it to me." Robin said, Mariko bit her lip as she wiped her eyes of the threat of tears.
"Why is he abandoning me? I never did anything wrong by him." She mumbled, "I did everything he told me to; I even left my girls back in Tokyo."
"Girls?" Robin asked, then remembered the trio from Mariko's memories and shook his head.
"Listen Mariko I know you're innocent—this time." He said, Mariko looked over her shoulder.
"Of course you do; you were there when Gemini turned on me." She said, "But a lot of good that's going to do me. I'm still stuck here; away from everything, away from Savage-sama.
"And what's worse I don't even have my picture anymore." She sobbed, Robin reached into his pocket.
"You mean this one?" He asked holding the picture, Mariko turned and relief washed over her as she went for the photo, only to have Robin snatch it from her. She stared.
"What's the Light planning?" He asked, Mariko glared.
"You're low." She hissed, then drew her fist back and gut punched him, he let out a pained 'ouf' sound and dropped the photo, "I like you Robin, but not enough to betray my Savage-sama."
Robin scowled as he held his stomach. Mariko smiled.
"And a word to the wise Robin sweetie," She said sweetly, then her features grew dark, "Never use Takumi nii-chan against me. Because it doesn't matter how much I like you; I'll end you."
"Noted," Robin groaned. Then stood up straight, "I'll be back in case you change your mind."
Mariko nodded, "I wouldn't count on it Robin."
Robin shrugged then went to walk away. Mariko looked back at him.
"And Robin," She called, a bit gentler and calmer, "I still haven't told anyone; if that means anything at this point. "
He nodded and continued to walk away, leaving Mariko in her cell with her beloved photo.
~0~
"Savage abandoned Mariko?" M'gaan asked, Robin had relayed what he had seen to the Team. He nodded.
"Yeah but she still thinks he'll come back for her," He said, "She's in complete denial."
"Do you blame her?" Artemis asked, the group looked to her, "Well obviously he's the only person she trusts; of course she'd believe he'd come back for her. She'll believe that until her dying breath."
"Or until someone gives her a reason not to." Conner said.
"That'll only push her to insanity." Robin said.
"You mean she's not there already?" Zatanna asked bitterly. Robin nodded.
"Not anymore; she's scared and in a place she doesn't belong in." he said.
"You mean you believe that whole innocent plea?" Wally asked, "She's a sociopath Robin; she'll lie and do whatever she cane to get out of a bad situation. She's tried on M'gaan remember?"
"I was there; she was just as surprised as I was when the building exploded; and her body guard just up and attacked her." He said, "And if she wasn't innocent then why did Vandal Savage just abandon her?"
"Robin has a point," Kaldur said. Robin nodded.
"So then what are we going to do about it?" Wally asked, "It's not like we can bust her out of Arkham."
"The League would have our hides for it." Conner said, "And there's no way I'm helping some brat who used my own against me."
"And what do we do if she turns on us?" Zatanna asked, "She might be planning all of this."
"Then we'll wait," Kaldur said. "Until Mariko decides she needs help."
"There's one more thing I can't quite understand." M'gaan said, "Nothing was ever mentioned about Tony, what happened to him?"
"More than likely the Light's either using him for themselves; or he's been killed" Robin said.
"That poor boy," Zatanna said, "Of course none of this would have happened if he never met Mariko."
"I wonder if he thought the same thing." Wally mumbled.
~0~
"Kagome kagome, the bird in the cage. When, oh when will it come out," Mariko sang as she laid on her cell, she then heard a sudden groan.
"Not this crap again," Joker's voice growled, Mariko sat up and walked to her cell door.
"You gotta problem clown face?" she hissed. Joker came to his cell door across from her and leaned against the bars.
"As a matter-o-fact; I do," He said, "you're tune is too sad; try putting a little smile on your face."
"There's nothing happy about an asylum." Mariko growled, Joker shrugged.
"Says you. Sour puss." He said, Mariko growled.
"You better watch it pale! I've attacked you once; what makes you think I won't do it again?" She hissed, Joker frowned then shrank back in his cell.
"Hey you listen here kiddo don't you go threatening my puddin, or I'll make you wish you were never born." Harley growled from the cell next to Mariko. She huffed.
"You're about twelve years too late blonde." She said, then walked back to her bed and pulled out her photo of Takumi. She sighed, "Oh Takumi; what am I going to do? I don't want to be here."
"Give it some time; I'm sure you'll think of something. Thinking is your specialty after all." A familiar voice said behind her Mariko perked.
"Jigoku Shonen." She mumbled standing up, "You left me in that truck you jerk."
"Yes; but do you remember what I told you?" Klarion asked, Mariko shook her head.
"I was heavily sedated I don't remember a bloody thing." She hissed, Klarion sighed, while Teekl meowed from his shoulders. "What's going on Klarion? Why'd Savage-sama leave me here?"
"Not my place to say; though I can tell you that the cyborg and your favored dog are safe." Klarion said, Mariko cocked an eyebrow.
"Tony-boy and Yukie? I'd nearly forgotten about them; what happened to them?" She asked. Klarion nodded.
"I teleported them out of the building just before the authorities arrived." He explained, "They're some place far from Gotham."
"I don't suppose you'd get me out of here?" Mariko asked.
"Too much fun to watch." Klarion said, Mariko glared.
"You're real sick you know that Klarion?" She hissed, Klarion smirked.
"I've been called worse." He said, then disappeared. Mariko growled, grabbing the pillow from her bed and throwing it at the space Klarion once occupied.
"Honestly Jigoku! You suck!" she shrieked, only to cause the guards to come to her cell.
"What's going on in here?" The guard asked, Mariko glared but stayed silent. It was the others who spoke instead.
"The kid's acting a little funny; maybe you should put her in the straightjacket." Joker said, Mariko stared.
"Shut up clown!" She hissed pressing herself against the door, "Before I give you a more permanent smile."
"The kid's a maniac! She's been in here a day and she's already threatening us!" Harley shouted, Mariko bit her lip as the guard opened the cell. She struggled as two of them grabbed her by the arms.
"Lemme go you over paid, lab lackies!" She shouted, as the third stuck a needle deep in her shoulder, and everything went black.
So sad; haha. Is this the end of Mariko's servitude for the Light? Will she join the side of good and join the Team? Haha guess you'll find out! review! 'See you later armadillos—unless I see you first. Haha!'