His hands were everywhere on her body, touching every pleasure spot, exploring every area. His lips were soft and kissed her neck softly. He pressed his body against her, the heat of him felt even through their suits. She moaned, her ecstatic pleasure rising with every moment. His hands glided over her body, his strong, firm hands making handles of her hips. Her leg rubbed against his, as his kisses trailed down her neck to her collarbone.

"Oh, Batman..."

The woman's eyes flew open as she sat up in her bed. She covered her face with her hand, panting slightly.

"Well… that's new..."

Bruce slept in Konomi's bed, his hair messily sprawled over the pillow. Some strands stood on their ends as he tossed and turned. Creeping into the room with a bat in her hand was Konomi, in her tanktop and panties. She raised it and then brought it down and, like a cat, Bruce awakened and rolled out of the way, all in one smooth movement. From behind the curtains, in her light green furry bra and panties, Yuu aimed her bow at Bruce's head, firing an arrow off without hesitation. The man caught it with his hand, the tip inches away from his face.

"Good." He commented. "You were faster on the draw this time, Yuu-chan. You didn't hesitate either, Konomi."

"Yeah." She replied, rather dully, putting the bat on her shoulders.

"Are you really sure we need to do something like this just for training?" Yuu asked, lowering her bow.

"Yes." Bruce replied seriously, grabbing his cup of water and drinking it. "We have not one but two enemies. Both risk corrupting the city in their own way and both used the situation to twist Tobioka to their own agenda. We need to be ready. All of us." Bruce placed his drink back on the nightstand. "Konomi, I need you to return to the Batcave and run a background check on Hijiri. The new captain of the police force is a member of Black Label. With the police at their disposal, I don't know what they would do. I need anything on him you can find."

"On it." She replied monotonously, walking out of the room. Yuu looked on with concern.

"I guess Konomi-san is still upset. She seems almost traumatized… Will she be okay?"

"She'll be fine if we give her some space." Bruce replied. "I've got to meet an associate and you've got school."

"Right." Yuu ran up to Bruce and softly kissed him on his lips before running out of the room also, leaving Bruce to get dressed.

"Lights! We need lights!"

"Alright, alright, push her in here."

"Keep her stable, damn it!"

"Stay with us, Fiona-san!"

Hitsugi and Miki rushed Ran into the sterile room of their hideout. The hideout itself was actually Oriha's large mansion, the household having various booby-traps should any intruders come by. Fiona, having been shot in the gut, was being treated by Hitsugi and Miki. Oriha turned on the lights in the room while Hitsugi tried to stop the bleeding.

"We need Yuko!" Miki exclaimed. "We can't get to the bullet in time and Mochizuki-sensei isn't well enough to perform!"

"I'll go get her!" Mikoto said, running out of the room. Resting on a bed in the guest room of Oriha's mansion was a slightly conscious Yuko. Due to the special medicine Miki had developed, Yuko's injuries were nearly healed. The flesh on her scalp had returned, her toenails were almost completely regrown and the burn mark on her side had almost disappeared. The drug no longer affected her but it still left slight mental scars and she could now walk without tipping over. Her senses were still off and, as a side effect from the medicine, her body was massively sore. So, when Mikoto burst into the room and told Yuko that Ran had been shot and needed her help, her body didn't take kindly to her running down the halls of the mansion to Ran's aid.

After sterilizing herself, she rushed in with gloves and a mask, coming up to the bed where Ran had been opened up and ready to be operated on.

"Yuko, she's been put under but if she stays that way too long, she may just die. We can't get to this bullet and only you can save her in time."

"Alright." She said, her voice slightly unsteady.

"But Yuko," Miki grabbed her friend's arm. "Are you up for this?"

Yuko held out her hand. "Scalpel." Hitsugi handed her the tool. Yuko glanced at the X-ray screen and, using it as a reference, began to cut. Despite not having done this in a while, she was still the number one surgeon in Japan. She eventually found the foreign object but her mind hazed out and she ended up nicking the bowel. "Damn it..." She scowled. "Hitsugi."

"Aye, aye." Hitsugi clamped down on the wound, preventing too much blood from leaking.

Miki looked on, keeping watch over Ran's sedation. "Come on, Yuko..."

"Right now, getting this bullet is priority. I'll attend to the bowel after this." Yuko held out her hand and Miki handed her a pair of forceps. Yuko tried to carefully get to the bullet but her hand shook slightly. She forced herself to focus, the intensity of it seen by the veins popping in her head. "Focus… Focus!"

She breathed and grabbed the bullet, carefully extracting it from Ran's stomach. She placed it on a tray and sighed in relief, Hitsugi and Miki smiling with her. "Alright… Now for the bowel."

"And I was beginning to think you wouldn't show." Sitting in the restaurant booth of Monte Carlo SS was Rouga, dressed casually in a white coat and beige sweater with light brown pants. He wore black boots.

"Sorry. I've been a bit… preoccupied with things."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. That terrorist attack on the police stations scared the crap out of me. I didn't even want to leave home today."

"We could've done this over the phone then." Bruce replied, sitting down.

"Nah. I want to co-start a business that would show the people of this city there aren't monsters who'll just bow down to corruption."

"Hm. How passionate. You remind me of someone. He's passionate about justice too."

"Ah, perhaps we would get along."

"You probably would. To be frank, I could almost imagine you pulling out a quarter to tip the waitress with."

"A quarter?"

"He has a thing for American quarters."

"Well, Komori-san, I hope it doesn't make matters awkward but I'd rather be upfront about the fact that I have done a background check on you. I am a businessman, first and foremost, after all, and when I make investments, I want to be sure of them."

"Fair enough." Bruce replied nonchalantly, sipping a cup of tea he ordered.

"I wanted to put this out in the open so we could build a strong foundation, without any secrets."

"I understand that. So, did I check out?"

"Born in New Jersey, America. Moved to Japan one year later. Parents deceased. 26-years old, graduating from one of the prestigious colleges in Japan and no criminal record to boot. You check out nicely, Komori-san."

"Well, that's good to know. I suppose I should be honest in turn about the fact that I, too, have done some investigating on you. I would be lying if I didn't say I suspected the businessman who showed interest in my venture."

Rouga smiled in amusement, resting his cheek on his knuckles. "Well, don't keep me in suspense. What did you learn?"

"Born in Bangladesh. Moved to Japan at the age of six. Father is deceased, mother lives in India. Graduated from Tobioka University with honors and have since been making a name for yourself in the city. You're impressive, Rouga."

"So, does that mean our partnership is set?"

Bruce grinned. "I think it is. I've already rented out a place where we can set up and have organized the first cooperation venture with another company."

"Which one?"

"Aranami Construction Company. They're being hired to rebuild the police stations."

"Ah, I don't know about them. Haven't they been suspected to being involved in several scandals lately?"

"They have but, unfortunately, there is no other company willing to reconstruct the buildings at the prices the police have set. They have also been said to have the fastest workforce. A bunch of underpaid workers forced to build overtime."

"Alright. When you put it like that, it seems like we've got no choice. So? What will we be contributing to them?"

"They have several automatic machines that run on a computer server. They need several patches to their software systems and they'd like us to develop it."

"Strange that such a 'prestigious' company would trust a newly born company with a project like that."

"They probably think that it will help their image, giving a new company the chance to grow big."

"Heh, so it just makes them all the more suspicious, eh?"

"Exactly."

"Well, in any case, I look forward to working with you, Ryu-kun." With a wide, illuminating toothy grin, Rouga held out his hand. Bruce offered a small smile in return, shaking his hand.

"Yes. It should be fun, Rouga."

Yuko walked out of the room, tossing her bloody gloves into the trash. Mochizuki was sitting in the hallway, his head bowed solemnly. Yuko felt sympathy for him. Without Ran, he seemed rather lost and alone. She walked up to him and softly placed her hand on his shoulder for comfort.

"She's alright." She informed him. "She's unconscious now but she'll wake up. Eventually."

Mochizuki nodded slightly. "I'm in your debt."

"We all owe Ran. Each and every one of us. Without here, our missions would have been without light."

"That woman… the woman dressed in red, the Red Vixen… She will pay. It seems now, we are war with multiple enemies."

"With Hijiri at the head of the police force, we have a powerful asset at our disposal."

"I ordered him to throw a social banquet downtown. I wanted him to show the people that we are not afraid of this unknown disease that plagues our city. I want it to be a symbol."

"How nice. I think I will be participating."

"Why?"

"He's sure to be there." She replied as she walked away.

Bruce walked down the street, his hands in his pocket. He stopped short upon seeing a woman leaning up against a wall, wearing red shades.

"What do you want?"

"I have a little problem. I think I may have bit off more than I could chew the other day." Nao Sakurada took off her sunglasses, folding them in her hands. Underneath, were clear glasses which emphasized her eyes.

"You mean when you blew up Mochizuki General Hospital on a vendetta to kill your two students?"

"Well, talk about putting a bad spin on it." Bruce continued walking, Nao walking alongside him. The two looked like a couple with Nao catching the eyes of the men and Bruce catching the eyes of the women.

"And how would you put it?"

"Look," She stepped in front of him. "It's only a matter of time before they put the pieces together and start hunting me down. I took a huge gamble on going after those two and it didn't pay off. I need-"

"-to ally with a group who can keep you safe until the heat is off? Forget it." Bruce brushed past her, but was stopped upon him grabbing her arm.

"I'm not asking to join your little crusade. We'll still be strictly professional. In return for your sheltering me, my services will be free. I have a vast network of people all around the world, in every organization. I can pull files, top secret or no, for any use. I just… don't want to die. Not yet."

Bruce paused, thinking upon this. "This woman is a wildcard. She follows her own agenda and has taken survival as her top priority. She already knows who I am and where I operate and through careful means of association, she could probably find out my allies. The safest place to have her is where I can control her – right under my own roof."

Bruce glanced over his shoulder. "Fine."

Her eyes brightened slightly especially when Bruce grabbed her hand. "But on a few conditions: You will not kill. Meaning you will stop pursuing Arashi and Mikoto for the time you are protected by me. You will not do anything that will put my identity at risk and you will do nothing unnecessary and only what I order you to do." Her eyes dimmed when his grip tightened. "Just to be clear, I don't trust you. I simply need to know where you are at all times. And if you even think about betraying me..." He got in close, glaring at her. "I will take you down."

Nao only nodded, a slight shiver running down her spine.

Yuu walked into the main room of the Batcave, coming behind the chair where Konomi sat. She was typing speedily, the screen flipping from one subject to another. Yuu glanced to the food she had given to Konomi several hours ago. It was untouched and cold.

"Um… Konomi-san?" She asked carefully.

"What?" She replied emotionlessly. Her monotone voice echoed through room and its lack of vigor made Yuu nervous.

"You… you should really eat something." She advised gently.

"I'm fine." Konomi continued typing, searching through various files about Hijiri.

"You really shouldn't push yourself so hard..."

"I'm fine." Her tone never changed, always remaining low and robotic.

Yuu crossed her arms and furrowed her brow. She knew why Konomi was doing this, had heard it from Bruce. Yuu sighed, scratching her head.

"Listen… Konomi-san… You should know… It's-It's not your fault what-"

"Don't." Konomi replied evenly, still not turning around but no longer typing. "Please..." She said a bit more softly. "Just don't..."

The two were interrupted by the lowering of the elevator to the Batcave. Stepping off the platform was Bruce and Nao. She smirked upon seeing the place.

"Nice setup. A guy like you, I would've expected it to be more grim."

Konomi and Yuu spun around, Konomi holding a gun and Yuu aiming her bow at the intruder.

"Lower your weapons." Bruce commanded. Konomi lowered her gun, but still kept her eye on the woman. Yuu's bow, however, remained trained on her.

"Who is she?" Yuu demanded.

"Lower the bow, Hunter."

She complied, reluctantly so.

"She's neither a friend nor foe. Just an acquaintance we're going to make use of for awhile."

"Well, that sounded rather dirty." Nao commented. It was ignored by everyone.

Bruce strode over to Konomi. "What do you got?"

She turned back to the computer, bringing up the screen. "I've found several scattered facts about him, but nothing substantial. It seems that Winchester was careful in keeping his information suppressed as well."

"Oh, you're trying to find out about the police captain, hm?" Nao took out her phone, calling a number. She put the phone on speaker and held her phone out. "Paulo, get me any information you can collect on Hijiri Hamasaki."

'Yes, mistress.' Several minutes of silence was observed before his voice was heard again. 'Hijiri Hamasaki, born in Tobioka City. Age – 25, birthday July 9th. Joined the police force over 5 years ago after graduating medical school a year earlier. Known classmate – Miki Tsurugi.'

Nao's lips contorted in a Cheshire grin. "I believe that may be of some use to you, no?"

"Give me the name of the school they attended."

'One of the first schools Masamune Mochizuki established – Mochizuki University School of Medicine & Health.'

Konomi typed the name into the computer but nothing came up.

"Hmm? It's not in the database?" Yuu questioned, puzzled.

'The school itself was established in the States but was eventually shut down for some unknown reason. There are no more known details about the matter.'

Bruce narrowed his eyes. "Why would they take it down? If it was a facility where they could train 'doctors' to assassinate criminals, then surely it would be beneficial… Unless…"

"Was Mochizuki the sole owner of that university?"

'No. There was another. The database however, does not list the name.'

"As I thought. There was someone else and they are the reason why the university no longer stands…"

"You did good, Paulo. That will be all."

'Yes, mistress.'

She hung up the phone, stowing it away. "Well, there you have it."

Bruce turned around, facing her now. "Alright. It seems you will be an asset, after all. The playing field is leveled. We've figured out each other's identities and now, are aware of our base of operations."

"Hmph!" Nao smirked. "Knowing you, you have several other bases in the city in case this one is compromised, correct? I'm the same way. In the end, you and I know nothing about each other and I'm quite fine with that."

Bruce looked over his shoulder at Yuu and Konomi. "Hunter, Oracle, we'll be protecting this woman… for a time. She'll be an asset against our enemies. I want no animosity towards her."

"Understood." Konomi replied uncaringly.

Still reluctant, Yuu nodded nonetheless.

"Good to hear." Nao said.

"You're going to do one more thing for me."

"What's that?" Nao took out her pipe and lit it.

Bruce walked over to the computer and punched in a few keys. "You and Hunter will accompany me to the annual social ball this evening, hosted by the police captain himself. I'm sure members of Black Label will be there and I want them to see me with a couple of girls on my arm."

Mochizuki rolled into the guest room of Oriha's mansion, Ran's resting in the bed. IV was dripping into her arm and she was breathing softly. Mochizuki tenderly looked at her pale face and softly took ahold of her hand.

"I'm sorry, Ran… I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. When I saw you get shot, it was as if my world froze and shattered, like a broken mirror… I want to clean up this city, make it healthy and free of disease but I can't do it… without you at my side…" A tear trickled down his face and fell onto her hand.

His eyes widened when her hand moved up and wiped the tear from his eye. He looked up to see her smiling at him softly. That smile made his heart warm. It sometimes made him feel as if a disease wasn't ravaging his body right now.

"It must be raining… in here..." She said softly and weakly.

"Ran, I-"

"Shh… I know. I know."

Her smile made him smile in return, their emotional connection observe by Oriha, who was peeking through the doors, taking flashless pictures with her phone.

Strong cultural music, prestigiously dressed people and several vigilantes were in the room that evening. People had come from their flats in the sky to dance in the city below. The rich and fortunate of the city, in all honesty, cared very little for the poor and the city itself. They just see a thing that could be used, that could be squeezed of its life over and over again until the profit was no longer apparent. They were disgusting, each and every one of them.

"Just like in Gotham..." Bruce strode through the entrance door, two ladies on his arm. They wore black dresses, and had black heels. They smiled at the guard who let them in. Nao and Yuu, dressed up and fancy-looking, followed Bruce as he practically glided through the room. He moved as if he owned the room, as if he were trained to belong there. He walked to a table, pulling the seat up for both of them. Yuu sat to his right and Nao sat to his left. Bruce fixed his shirt cuff, attracting the attention of several ladies, some who even had dates on their arms.

"How extravagant." Nao commented, ordering a drink.

"I feel kind of out place..." Yuu commented, hugging her arms.

"Relax, Hunter." Bruce comforted her, rubbing her thigh softly. "You'll be fine." He glanced around the room, finding the targets he searched for. Sitting at the bar, staring right at him with a knowing smirk on her face, was Yuko, healed and well along with Hitsugi and Mikoto. Yuko wore a sultry, low-cut dress that made all the heads roll. The bartender seemed rather keen on getting her drunk. Hitsugi enjoyed the olives, licking it sensually with her tongue before swallowing it whole. She wore a black dress that was similar to Yuko's. Mikoto sat there rather stiff, a blush on her face. She wore a nice silver dress, matching her hair.

Bruce smiled to himself. "Good. They've seen me, Hunter and Vixen. The timing was ripe as well. This should keep Oracle and everyone here safe from Mochizuki."

"Stay here." He told them. "I'm going to go mingle."

Bruce walked over to the bar just as the music slowed to something comfortable. Yuko watched his actions with interest, observing him as he stood next to Mikoto.

"Excuse me, miss," Mikoto whirled around to see, with some surprise, that Bruce was the one who addressed her. "Would you like to dance?"

Mikoto, too shocked by the approach to answer, glanced at Yuko, who simply nodded. Mikoto, though immensely reluctant, obeyed by holding her hand out. Smiling, Bruce took it and led her to the dance floor. Mikoto uncomfortably held her hand in his and placed her other hand on his shoulder as Bruce led the dance.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Mikoto hissed under her breath.

"Enjoying myself. You?" He replied cheekily, spinning her around.

"Bullshit. What do you gain by doing this?"

He leaned in close to her ear, his warm breath tickling her neck. The crimson on her cheeks got brighter. "Pleasure..." He sensually whispered.

Her eyes widened but she didn't stop dancing and they continued moving in unison. The longer the dance continued, the less uncomfortable Mikoto became. There was even a point where she had to resist smiling, resist admitting that she was sort of enjoying herself.

"What the fuck is with this asshole?" She thought to herself. "Why is he fucking dancing with me, when he knows I would stab him in his neck if I got the chance? And why, oh why, am I so goddamn sad this dance is over?!"

The dance ended, the participants clapping. Bruce leaned and kissed the girl on the cheek, making her blush. She didn't protest, however.

"Thank you for such a wonderful time." Bruce strode off, leaving Mikoto to faintly touch her cheek. Bruce walked back over to the bar, stopping in front of Hitsugi. She downed her drink before glancing over her shoulder, licking her lips upon seeing him.

"So, I guess it's my turn?"

Bruce held out his hand, leading Hitsugi to the dance floor for yet another song. Hitsugi pressed herself against his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck. He placed his hands on her hips and they began circling around the room. No one paid particular attention to them, as they stood out just as much as anyone else.

"I know what you want to ask." He whispered as they danced.

"Don't get cheeky just 'cuz you think you have some leverage over me… I've heard that name before. Who is he?"

Bruce reached down and grabbed her rear, making sure it could be seen from the windows above. "He's your father."

She gasped, the timing of it seeming like it was coming from his advances. He pressed her into his chest as people took notice of her reaction and his hand location. He moved it back to the small of her back, taking notice of her shocked expression.

"My… father?"

"It seems you have something about your past that you don't know about. It's a shame…" The clapping began as the song ended. Bruce began to walk away. "That I can't tell you more."

Yuko stood up and began walking through the crowd, moving until she made it to the empty hallway of the building. It was dark and the only light came from outside. She leaned against the wall and sighed.

"Don't want to dance?"

"My toes hurt."

"Too bad. I was saving you for last."

"Shame. Maybe next time." She glanced to her right to see Bruce walk over to her, stopping when he was in front of her, leaning against the wall opposite to hers. "You're quite formidable. I didn't think you would go that far, put on such a sexual charade, to protect your allies but I suppose that's just me underestimating you again."

Bruce feigned ignorance. "Whatever do you mean?"

"You came here, knowing we'd be here to protect Hijiri and the people here. You also knew we had people stationed outside. You wanted us to see you with those two, wanted to dance with us so it would seem that you had no real attachments. That you associated with Konomi Suzue through mere whim of the flesh… A clever idea. You waited until it was long enough where it wouldn't seem like you were doing that."

Bruce smirked. "You seem quite attuned to what I think."

"It's only because I might have done the same thing in your shoes."

"So, are you going to warn him?"

She shook her head. "Not this time. I do owe you a debt and this is my way of repaying it. To keep your allies safe, I won't let our leader know the reasoning behind your actions. He should probably be confused and won't go after any of the women you associate with from now on."

"That's not the only reason you won't tell on me."

"Oh?"

He stood up from the wall, walking closer to her. "You want me to win – a part of you does, anyway. You've been questioning what your 'leader' has been doing, what his true motives may be. Something tells me you were the only one he told this plan to and you didn't like it. You didn't like the idea of going after my allies."

She chuckled lightly. "Yes… I'll admit... part of me sees what you are fighting for, what you are striving for. That part is helping you right now. However, my first alliance is with the Doctor and I won't betray him. Whatever I feel for you, it won't change the fact that we are enemies. That the next time we meet, I will excise you, quickly and painlessly." She stood up, placing her hand softly on the side of his face. He leaned down and she softly kissed him, her lips embracing his fully. Their senses danced to a pleasurable tune as the mild kiss became more and more passionate. Her large bust came in contact with his chest and her leg settled between his legs, her thigh brushing against his nether regions. They parted, the moistness remaining on their lips. "Let that kiss seal our rift as enemies."

Bruce looked into her eyes, her determination to follow through with her own mission shining through with resolve. The silence was only broken with the loud pattering of the rain outside. "I see..." Bruce finally said. "Very well. When we meet next, we'll be on opposing sides."

He turned and began walking back to the ball. He stopped mid-way and without turning, said softly, "I'm glad to see you're okay, Yuko." With that, he walked through the door, leaving the pattering of the rain to her ears only.

Bruce came back into the room just as Hijiri stood at the pandemonium and prepared to give a speech.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you for coming here tonight. I want to thank the brave citizens of Tobioka City for showing the terrorists who cost the lives of so many officers tonight. The officers who swore to defend this city when it was swimming in corruption. They died at the hands of a man who believes himself to be above the law, above everyone, above you and me… the Batman murdered our police officers, masqueraded as some guardian angel only to reveal himself as a Devil in the city's few moments in the light. I swear on my oath as an officer of the law, I will catch the Batman and see him sentenced for his crimes myself. So, if you could join me in raising our glasses..." He raised his glass, the participants following in turn. "To the fallen."

"To the fallen." Came the repeat.

Bruce glared at the man briefly before turning to leave. As he was walking back to his table, he bumped into someone.

"Hey, Ryu-san!" Rouga smiled upon seeing who he bumped into.

"Rouga? Ah, glad to see you could make it. Enjoying yourself?"

"Absolutely." He motioned to his date, who stepped forward with a slight bow. She was blond and wore a black dress. She had enchanting purple eyes that had a ring around the iris. Bruce returned the gesture. "This is my date for the evening, Neko Ageha. Neko-chan, this is my business partner, Ryu Komori."

"A pleasure to meet you, Komori-san."

"Likewise, Ageha-san." Bruce noticed something on her neck. "Its slightly darker than the rest of her skin…. Make up? Why is there make up on her neck?"

Deciding not to ponder on it further, he bid farewell to Rouga and his date and continued on his way, not noticing Neko glance at him with a feral smirk and lick of her lips.

High above the city, on a rooftop overlooking the building of the ball, Oriha and Miki watched as Bruce exited the ball with his two dates.

"Oh, he's leaving." When Oriha got no reply, she glanced over at Miki who seemed rather glossed over. "Miki-chin?"

"Oh, sorry, Oriha… I was just… remembering a dream I had earlier..."

Konomi sat dully in front of the computer screen in the dark, not noticing when a cup of water was placed in front of her. She hadn't moved for the last thirty minutes and her memory continued to reply the deaths of Isoroku family and fellow police officers, friends and mentors she had grown to know, over and over. Bruce turned on the Batcave lights and shut off the computer screen, the motion eliciting no reaction from her.

"Konomi." No response. Bruce leaned down and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Konomi!"

This seemed to grab her attention as she finally took notice of his presence. "Yes…?"

He exhaled softly, kneeling down to eye level. "I wanted to give you some space, figuring that was the best thing to do. But Yuu was right. You're traumatized."

"I'm not-"

"You are." He insisted. "Trust me, I know a thing or two about it. About how it feels to be the survivor, wallowing in the deaths of those you cared about. I want to help you. I can help you. Just let me."

The sincerity in his voice broke through and the entire day's worth of indifference and lack of motion shut down and brought forth a flood of hot tears. "Oh, God, it's my fault… If I hadn't tried to comfort her… If I had done more to help my partner… If I just… If I..." She choked, unable to finish her words. He embraced her quickly, giving her a shoulder to cry on. He shushed her softly, comforting her with sweet words and small motions on her back.

"I'm here, Konomi. I'm here..." He reminded her gently.

She only cried.

Mochizuki stared out the window of Ran's room, a phone to his ear.

"I see… He came to the party with several women..." He smirked. "An impressive move. Yes… I understand. Thank you, Yuko." He shut off the phone.

"What's the news?" Ran asked softly.

"The Batman appeared at the ball in his human guise with several women on his arm. He flirted with several more, dancing with Mikoto and Hitsugi. This was his manner of thinking in making this move… He wanted us to see him with different women. He wanted us to know that he called my bluff and that even if I did capture Konomi and kill her, there would be no reason to suspect that she had a personal relationship to him. He used this method to tell me that he had no special attachments to any women he associated with, dancing with our members to demonstrate this and to solidify a 'playboy' image. If I capture Konomi now and she proves to be just one of his flings, I'll be no more than a criminal instead of one who's attacking a fellow soldier. I'll violate a code he knows I've established and become completely indistinguishable from the disease itself. So long as he associates himself with multiple women, never showing a particular attachment to one, I can't touch him. There would be no point… after all, to a 'playboy' women are just things."

"So, what will you do?"

"The Aranami Construction company is in the running for rebuilding the destroyed construction companies. Which reminds me, I'll have to make sure to have our own agencies reestablish our hospital. I can't have anyone except our own people handling that."

"Agreed..."

"Aranami is said to hold a massive amount of private funds, information which is spreading throughout the underworld. The shadow which destroyed the police stations will show itself again to claim it and the Batman will be sure to chase them. We'll have to secure it first, before either of them. I trust only myself with that money. We'll use the police to keep him at bay when needed. We'll excise him from this city no matter what!"

"Ah, what a speech the captain gave! So boring..."

"What's with people and speeches, anyway? I can't be bothered."

"Hunt went there, right? To the party?"

"Yeah. Got first view of the speech. Brought a date. Was kinda cute. Oh, and I also got some orders from the princess."

"Hime-sama? What does she want us to do?"

"She doesn't like that Hunt has started a war with Batman so she hired somebody to find out his identity."

"Who?"

"The one known as the world's greatest detective – Benzaiten."