Bruce came down in his Batcave, his operatives all in the room. Konomi was at the computer and Hunter was in her suit. Red Vixen sat in the room smoking from her pipe, her madame-esque clothing on as well.

"Vixen, your operative, Paulo, told me he has built armoured cars for previous operations. Is this true?"

"Yeah, it's true." She said, blowing out smoke. "He's pretty damn good at it. Why?"

"I need some. How many do you have?"

"Three."

"Do they have remote-control functions?"

"That's right." Bruce turned to Konomi. "Oracle, I'm going to need you to pilot two of those cars. Vixen, I'm going to need you to summon several more of your people. Hunter, your part is one of the most integral. We're going to cripple Black Label."

After going over the plan with everyone, everybody nodded in understanding, Vixen making calls, Hunter running towards the Batcave elevator and Bruce putting on his suit.

"Ryu..."

Bruce glanced at Konomi, a desperate look in her eyes. She gripped at his cape, her wide, shimmering eyes nearly putting him in a trance. "Please, please be careful..."

"Don't worry, Konomi." He replied in a low whisper. "Stay in my ear and I'll be fine." He threw his cowl over his head. "I'll come back to you, I promise."

Their lips met, the softness becoming impactful. They both inhaled sharply, Konomi relaxing into him until the kiss ended, too soon for Konomi and she slowly sat back in her chair, watching him leave with worry in her stomach.

Oriha and Mikoto stood on the roof, Oriha with a grenade launcher in hand and Mikoto with her two guns. Oriha and Mikoto were wary, waiting for signs of an attack.

"Hey… Miko-chin..."

"What is it?"

"You don't think he's really coming… do you?" There was a slight amount of trepidation in her voice. Mikoto glanced at Oriha, seeing her grip her grenade launcher tightly.

"Yeah… he's coming. But don't worry, squirt… Miko-chin will protect you, no matter what."

Oriha turned her head to Mikoto and felt reassured, smiling at her. Their sisterly moment was cut short by the sound of approaching tires. The birds flew off into the night sky as the sound disturbed their nests, knocking down the forest trees. Oriha glanced behind her, hearing another one of the same sound approaching from the south.

"There's two of them!" She exclaimed.

Mikoto frowned heavily. "He's here… the Batman is here!"

An armoured car rushing forward from the south, destroying the water fountain as it came into the courtyard.

"Oriha, activate the traps!"

"Already on it!"

Before the car could get any closer, several rockets were launched from statues and hedges, hitting its tires and flipping it over. Once it landed on its back, the area around it exploded, destroying the car.

"So they do have traps. Remote controlled."

The other car, coming from the front, shot down the gate and knocked it onto a statue.

"A ramp?!" Oriha exclaimed. The car rode onto the gate and flew it into the air, crushing the statue but managing to get enough air to avoid the rocket traps. The car busted into the main door and stopped in the main hall.

'EMP – activated.' A robotic voice said. The next moment, the lights blew out including the booby-traps and other appliances in the house that weren't EMP-protected.

"Oriha, we're going down to help!" Mikoto shouted.

"Right!"

Just before they could move, Mikoto found herself shot in the shoulder and sent rolling back on the roof, stopping after a few rolls. Oriha ducked down quickly, glancing towards her comrade.

"Miko-chin! Are you alright?!"

Mikoto sat up, holding her shoulder. She glanced to her side, picking up the projectile. "Fucking rubber bullets..." Mikoto ducked behind the roof peak. "We got snipers! We can't do anything until they're gone..."

Now that all of the traps were useless, several men in gear and armed with guns with rubber bullets and tranquilizer darts began moving in on the house. They came in, checking corners and began moving down the main hall, past the car. Once they were at a safe enough distance, the machine exploded, setting fire to the walls around them. The sprinklers and various safety measures put the fire out before it became too large of an issue.

Hitsugi popped up from the railings up stairs and began shooting at the men, their enemies taking cover. They shot at her but couldn't get up fast enough, the turret in her hands firing too rapidly.

In the east side of the house, where there was no commotion, Batman entered the house, having been watching the events from afar. He ran through the halls, forgoing stealth as that wasn't the priority. Batman was forced to jump roll out of the way of a shot from behind. He glanced behind him but saw nothing there. Batman looked forward again just in time to weave his head out of the way of an incoming bullet. He saw Miki holding her gun, aiming it for his head. Batman reached for his batarangs but once again had to duck forward from a shot behind him and shots in front of him. He sprinted to the corner of a nearby wall, throwing the batarangs at Miki, who them shot down and then disappeared via a secret door in the wall of the manor.

Batman narrowed his eyes. "Secret passages in the manor… they're using them to attack me with it..."

Batman ducked again, glancing to his side to see Arashi having shot at him and then disappeared again. He exhaled sharply, closing his eyes. He walked back into the open and waited. He listened intently, paying deep attention to his surroundings.

"Shift in their position, slow turn, breathing… Slight peek, confirmation of their target… One… two…"

The minute Miki and Arashi stepped out of their passageways did batarangs fly towards them. Arashi dodged the projectile but on the other side of the hall, Miki wasn't as lucky and had it embedded into her shoulder. She grunted, reaching and taking the offending object out but when she did, a misty gas blew into her face, knocking her unconscious on the ground. Arashi and Batman stood off, staring at each other.

Arashi then stood up straight and stowed his gun away. He took off his helmet and threw it to the ground. Understanding what he was doing, Batman stowed away his batarang and took off his cowl, showing his own face. Arashi reached into his back pocket and pulled out a syringe full of yellow liquid. He injected it into his neck before tossing it to the side. Arashi's veins began popping out of his skin, his eyes turning yellow and pupil becoming a thin slit.

Bruce narrowed his eyes. "TX-56-1M… An experimental drug that hyper activates the body's functions, pushing them beyond normal human limits… He won't be able to feel pain and with that indicator gone, he can exert as much strength as he wants."

Arashi crouched down like a cougar, slamming his hands on the floor and glaring at Bruce. He took up his stance, returning the glare. The moonlight from the window separated them, the two figures standing in the shadows.

The two rushed forward, coming into the middle, right in the light. They collided, arm against arm, pushing against each other, gritting their teeth.

"Show me what you got, kid."

Hitsugi began walking down the stairs, firing off heavy fire and keeping the pressure on the intruders. They kept their heads down, the bullets whizzing past them.

"I didn't sign up for this!"

Paulo, in his gear, crouched behind a railing above Hitsugi, who was walking down the stairs and getting closer to his men. He arrived separately from them per Batman's plan. He took out a grenade launcher and shot a grenade at Hitsugi, who glanced up. The woman jumped back but the smoke appeared in front of her face, allowing the men to scatter. Paulo turned his attention to the window, seeing a searchlight going through the windows of the house.

"Well, this is escalating fast." The slide of the gun was pulled back and then she aimed it at her two targets. The Red Vixen stood in the room of Ran and Mochizuki's with two of her men, aiming a gun at them. "It would be so easy to shoot you two right now."

Mochizuki glared at her and rolled in front of Ran's body, the barely conscious woman widening her eyes. "I'm not going to let you lay another finger on her."

Red Vixen raised her gun and hit Mochizuki in the face, knocking him out of the chair and onto the floor. He wiped his chin, glaring up at her. He was unable to move, his body too sickly to do so. Vixen aimed her gun at his cranium, sneering down at him.

"You and your damn excisions cost my brother his life. In the end, maybe going after Mikami and Kiba is the wrong way of getting my revenge. Maybe..." She turned off the safety, the gun making a 'click'. "I should put you down instead."

Before she could even try, a figure stood in front of Mochizuki, arms wide and shielding him with their whole body. Mochizuki's eyes widened.

"Ran! What are you doing?! Get out of the way!"

She glared at Red Vixen potently, her body shaking as she struggled to stand on her feet. "Your brother… was a tumor that fed off society. He got what he deserved."

That sentence failed to make Red Vixen happy as she put the gun to Ran's head. "I won't..." She continued. "Let you harm him."

Red Vixen's nostrils were flaring, her angry eye see clearly through her shades. "Screw you, bitch." She hit Ran in the head with the gun, knocking her unconscious.

"Ran!" Mochizuki exclaimed.

Red Vixen walked over and kicked in the temple, knocking him out too. She turned to her men and nodded. "Take 'em."

Bruce and Arashi skid back, their force pushing each other away. The two charged again, Arashi pumping more energy than humanely possible into his legs. He spun and kicked Bruce in the side, knocking him away. He recovered with a flip but Arashi was quick, following up with an uppercut to the gut. The strike was powerful enough to send him flying into a wall, cracking the wall. Bruce forced himself to get up fast and avoid the wood crushing kick that Arashi sent his way. The boy glanced behind him, calm and collected despite the rush of adrenaline running through his system and dulling his pain sensors.

Bruce jumped back and Arashi jumped forward, mercilessly wailing on Bruce and forcing him to keep his guard up. The flurry of punches were fast and bone crippling. Had it not been for his armor, a lot of his body parts would've been broken by now. Seeing an opening, Bruce ducked beneath the next punch and hit Arashi with a finger jab beneath his arm. He shrugged it off, not feeling the impact and backhanded Bruce in the jaw. Bruce spun but balanced himself, standing his stance. Blood trickled down his chin but he ignored it. Arashi sprinted forward again, jumping and trying to kick Bruce in the face. Bruce blocked it with his right hand and finger jabbed Arashi behind his knee. The boy kicked Bruce in the chest with his other leg, landing no worse for the wear.

Bruce spat on the floor, wiping his chin and glaring at Arashi, who smirked at him. The boy ran towards him and threw another punch but Bruce stopped it, grabbing it with his hand.

"Enough." He said, his tone dripping with dignified finality.

Like lightening, Bruce used both of his hands to finger jab Arashi in the collarbone. The boy tried throwing several more punches but they were all either parried, dodged or buried. Bruce tagged him in his side, back and chest with finger jabs before making the boy skid back with a double palm strike to the chest.

Arashi took a step forward but suddenly collapsed, unable to move. His eyes widened in shock as he coughed up blood. The pain couldn't be felt but no matter how much he tried to move, his body refused to listen.

Bruce stood over him, his figure towering over Arashi's body. "The fact that you gave up your feeling of pain made you unable to recognize the pressure points being pinned all over your body. Even if you can ignore the pain, your body can't listen to you. All of the nervous signals that would activate it can no longer do so. You have no choice but to stay down."

With a front kick to the chin, Arashi was knocked to the ground, paralyzed. "I don't blame you for following your orders, for interrogating that man. I blame your naivete, your ignorance. Your blind following of a man who doesn't understand the damage he can cause. You annoy me greater than anybody else on this team… only because we're so alike. Wake up, kid. Your leader… doesn't have a clue of what he's doing."

Arashi couldn't respond, conscious but immobilized. Bruce threw his cowl back on and left Arashi lying there. He turned the corner of the hall, coming upon Miki's unconscious body. He looked down solemnly.

"Thank you." He silently thought. He ran forward, continuing his path down the hall. His ears picked up the sound of helicopters. "Mochizuki had Hijiri call in the SAT to counter the Vixen's men and aid them. I need to get this over with quickly."

He turned the corner and came to face to face with a ghostly figure. She sat on her knees, eyes closed, with her sword on her lap. Batman stopped short, exhaling softly as her eyes open, a sharp stare piercing his cowl as she stood to her feet.

"I've been waiting for you." She reached to the side of her hip and pulled out the katana, holding it to her side. "Be grateful in Death… that I was your surgeon. I won't give you any chance to feel the pain." Her brown hair began turning white. "Begin operation: Open fire!

The SAT team outside began entering the building, shooting at the various shadowy figures they saw. Vixen's men stayed down, shooting anesthetic grenades at the team. A few of the team managed to distract the snipers, coming up behind them and holding them up. The snipers pretended to hold their hands up but then kicked out the SAT's legs from beneath them and began a struggle. Seeing that they were no longer under pressure, Mikoto and Oriha began rushing inside to help.

Batman and Yuko ran forward, Yuko's sword speedily coming down at him. He blocked it with his gauntlet and she smirked.

"Interesting. You've changed the metal in your gauntlets. You adapt well. However..." Yuko raised her heel and a knife stuck out of it. She did a back flip and cut Bruce in the jaw. "So do I."

Batman threw several batarangs at her, the swordsman blocking them with her sword, cutting them in half. The last one she cut exploded but she jumped back in time, avoiding the brunt of the explosion. Batman had ran forward and jabbed her in the stomach. She recoiled from the blow, shifting her body out of the way of his other strikes. Batman took out two of his batarangs and held them in his hands like knifes. Yuko and Batman collided again, pushing against each other with all their might. Yuko pushed him off, cutting at him with several large, deadly slashes. He blocked them all and kicked her in the stomach, sending her onto her back. She quickly recovered with a back roll, jumping back when Batman tried to stomp on her while simultaneously cutting his chest with the tip of her sword.

Batman took up his stance and, grabbing her sword with both hands, Yuko took up hers. They stared at each other for a moment, looking past the masks and loyalty and seeing the pain in each other's souls. That's when they realized that the other had never had the left side of their chests feel so tight.

Yuko ran forward and jumped onto the wall. She flipped off and threw several golden kunai at Batman, who rolled out of the way. A thin, barely visible string on her hands attached to the kunai and when pulled it back, they tied around Batman's body. She ignited the string on fire and it speedily went towards him. Using the fins on his gauntlet, he cut through the string and flipped back, Yuko landing as well. Batman reached into his belt and pulled out several pellets. He threw them at her, smoke exploding around her. Yuko coughed, and calmly closed her eyes, feeling her senses.

"Even if I can't see you..." She felt a shift in the air. "I know where you are!"

Turning her sword into the reverse position, she stabbed behind her, her blade coming into contact. She turned and saw she got Batman in his side. She turned edge of the blade upwards, the sword directly under his heart and prepared to end his life when he grabbed the blade by hand, stopping her. His gauntlets began to spark and the next thing Yuko knew, she was being electrified painfully. She stepped back, panting, with her sword still inside Batman. He took out the weapon and tossed it to the side, holding his own side to stop the blood. Yuko shook off the effects of the electricity and ran forward. She threw several quick strikes at Batman, who managed to block them and then she kicked him in the stomach, causing him to double over. She then used her legs to wrap them around his neck and flip him over, sending them on their backs. She used her leg hold to squeeze into his neck. Batman gritted his teeth before pulling out an electric batarang. He stuck it in her leg, activating the shock. She screamed and pain, loosening her hold and allowing him to get out. She grunted, pulled out out the batarang and stood up but was knocked down again as Batman gave her a cross to her face. Down but not out, clicked her heels, revealing the blades and shot them both into his gut. Batman growled in pain, pulling them out. Yuko stood up, wobbly, the pain of the shocks getting to her as well. They both panted, staring each other down. The tension was broken with a smirk from their lips.

"You're not half bad/You're not half bad."

Paulo ran through the halls, recalling the words of his mistress.

"Paulo, the Bat requires the services of my men. He's sending you to fight the Black Label. However, considering this, I see a little chance for payback. Find either Mikami and Kiba. According to his plan, he should've taken one of them out by then. Put a bullet in their unconscious heads."

"Yes, mistress."

Paulo stopped upon finding the fallen body of Arashi Mikami. The boy was conscious but apparently unable to move. That was fine with Paulo. The man took off his helmet and raised his gun, aiming it at his head.

"Goodbye, you who angered Red Vixen."

A bullet was shot and Paulo fell to the floor dead. Miki stood over his body, dazed and half-conscious. Shaking her head, she focused, quickly taking out a syringe.

"Stupid boy! What were you thinking, using that..."

Batman's and Yuko's fight was interrupted by bullets flying Batman's way. He rolled out of the way, crouching down behind a statue of a feudal samurai warrior armor. Yuko retreated behind Mikoto and Oriha, who fired at Batman. Taking out several batarangs, Batman threw them from cover, forcing Mikoto and Oriha to roll out of the way. Batman was suddenly forced to jump out of the way as a certain blue-haired nurse attempted to punch his head off, her fist colliding with the wall instead. She turned around and grabbed him by the cape but Batman shifted his body and threw her over his shoulder. She recovered with a roll before running up to him and trying to rip his neck off. He ducked but before knocking her mask off with his hand. Before she could do anything, Batman did something that surprised everyone present. He grabbed Sayo by the neck and kissed her firmly. Mikoto and Oriha gaped at the sight, Mikoto's cheeks crimson red. Yuko narrowed her eyes in suspicion before widening them in realization.

"Hitsugi!"

But it was too late. Batman had already placed the shockwave emitter to her stomach and activated it, sending her rolling like a ball into the wall. Mikoto and Oriha aimed their guns at him. Batman raised his hands as not only Mikoto and Oriha held him at bay but on the other side, so did the now awakened and un-paralyzed pair of Mikoto and Arashi, holding their guns at him.

Yuko picked up and raised her sword. "On my mark!"

Hunter landed from the windowpane onto the grass outside the mansion, having just completed her mission. She put her finger to her comm-link, avoiding the searchlight of the helicopter.

"Oracle, I've completed my mission. I've also gotten word from the Red Vixen. Her objective has been achieved as well. You're clear to commence your next part of the plan."

'Got it.'

Before Yuko could lower her hand, a loud revving sound was heard and in a flash, an armored car burst through the wall over Miki and Arashi and landed beside Batman, knocking Sayo onto her back. This car was different from the first two. It was sleeker and had a more techno-race car feel to it. It was well armoured and seemed more gadget orientated than the first two. It also shared the same, shiny silver of the first two armored cars. Everyone immediately began shooting as Batman jumped into the car, the door on top shutting closed. Protected by the tinted windows, Batman activated a rocket that shot out at the roof of the mansion, setting the place on fire. Angrily, Sayo jumped onto the car and punched the window, the glass cracking. Batman quickly activated the afterburner, knocking her off as he sped out of the building through the hole the car made. Taking notice of the car, the helicopter followed from above.

Inside, the mansion roof began falling down as the fire picked up in strength.

"Evacuate, everyone!" Yuko exclaimed. Black Label began running out of the building, Oriha stopping upon passing the large picture of her mother. She grimaced upon seeing it burn before shutting her eyes painfully and running on.

Inside, Vixen's men began escaping and the captain of the SAT team radioed in. "Captain Hijiri! They are several assailants escaping! Should we pursue?"

'No. Only go after the Batman.'

"Understood." The man made a hand motion and they all began retreating to their vehicles. Vixen's snipers had knocked out the SATs that snuck on them and took their armour and left in plain sight.

Yuko busted into the room of Mochizuki's, seeing that he was gone. Her eyes widened in revelation. "He distracted us… he had no other intention except capturing Mochizuki-sensei and Fiona! Damn him…!"

Yuko jumped out of the window and rejoined everybody in the front. Confused as to why she didn't have Mochizuki and Ran, the team ran after her when sprinted past them. The fire began spewing flames and Oriha glanced back one last time at her house, a small flutter of tears flying behind her, before blinking several times, drowning them away.

Batman drove the car through the trees, whipping around them expertly before riding off a mound and landing on the freeway. He revved his car and sped away, helicopters following from above. He heard the cop sirens getting closer.

From above, the helicopter broadcasted the chase on the news. Akemi watched in the private room of her house. She sighed, her mind wandering to her father's health before mentally snapping back to reality.

"Good. The first part of the plan the Batman and I formulated is done. Now, my part finally begins..."

She picked up her phone and called a number.

'Yes?'

"Hello, Captain Hijiri. I have something important to discuss with you..."

'Who is this?'

"Your true enemy – the shadow. I am the one who has blown up the police headquarters around the city."

'W-what?!'

"Don't even try it. You won't be able to track me with your technology. And if you would like proof of I who I say I am..."

In Hijiri's office, he sat at his computer on the phone. The headquarters he sat in had just finished getting rebuilt, the first of a few. In his email, he was sent something from an unknown person. When he opened it, his eyes widened.

"Wha-what?! How did you get ahold of this?"

'That's none of your concern. Listen carefully, I am ready to release this video across the globe and expose you for what you really are. You would be endangered and may even get thrown in jail for life. At worse, you could get the death penalty.'

"Damn!" Hijiri thought in frustration. "There's no way to figure out who this is! I can't even tell if it's a man or a woman!"

'Here is what you will do – First off, you will call off the search for the Batman.'

"Is this person allies with the Batman? If this guy was really working with the shadow, wouldn't they want me to keep the chase going? Why…?" Hijiri sighed picking up his other phone line. "Namikawa, can you hear me?"

'Loud and clear, sir.'

"Abort the chase on the Batman. I repeat, abort the chase."

'Yes, sir.'

"Alright," He told Benzaiten. "It's done."

'Good. Next, I am sending you a file. Open it and let me know when you do.'

Hijiri opened his web browser and turned on his email, his eyes widening when he saw what it was. "This is..."

'Yes. A promotion slip for police officer 02760. Konomi Suzue.'

"But she died!"

'Incorrect. She is currently hiding out somewhere in the city, under my discretion. I want you to declare her a sergeant directly under you and lieutenant Ogawa. Release a public statement that her death was staged so there would be no suspicion when she infiltrated some drug operation. Tell them anything that sounds believable.'

Hijiri clicked his teeth in frustration. "I don't understand… What would the shadow that blew up the police headquarters gain from instilling another cop into the force? I don't get it… is this person really fighting against the Batman… or is this one of his allies in disguise?!"

'You will take all of your orders from her. I will be giving them to her to relay to you but ultimately, you will remain in your seat as a figurehead with me in true control. You will continue to obey your Black Label associates so as to keep face but soon, you will have them arrested.'

"How are you so sure that I'm not deathly loyal to Black Label? That I won't just tell them despite anything that happens to me."

'Because it won't just affect you. It will affect the one you love too, emotionally. And you can't bare to do that to her, can you?'

"This bastard! Maybe he does work for the shadow after all..."

Fujino sat in her chair, dialing a message to the Vixen, reading "Do it". "Finally," Akemi continued. "I want you to remember who you're dealing with. If you ever try to cross me, if I ever even suspect you of trying to find a loophole in my words, I will release this video across the world and you will be executed, regardless of your intentions. Remember who you're dealing with, Hijiri Hamasaki." A rumble was heard on the side of his phone and she smiled upon hearing it. "Don't worry. That was one of the construction sites for the police headquarters being rebuilt. No one was there or around it. Keep this in mind, Captain. You're my hostage."

The phone shut off and Akemi sat back, crossing her legs. She put her phone to her ear, calling the number Batman had given her. "It's done."

'Good. The first part of the plan has been executed on my part as well. Black Label has lost its second base, its leaders have been captured by me and one of its strongest assets, the police, is no longer in their control. These people have been crippled. Soon enough, we'll get justice for your father.'

Akemi smiled softly. "I appreciate that, Batman."

She shut off the phone and recounted the experience in her head, her mind wandering back to when she and Batman investigated the room where her father had a heart attack.

Fujino and Bruce walked through the door of her house, coming up to the maid.

"Please, forgive me, Akemi-sama." Memma bowed apologetically. "If only I were here, I could've protected your father..."

"Stop, Memma. I won't allow you to blame yourself." She insisted, walking up to her maid and raising her back upright. "There's nothing that could've been done. Please, don't torture yourself over something that was out of your hands." Akemi graciously kissed her servant's forehead as a sign of forgiveness.

"Please, ma'am, is there anything that I can do for you?" Her eyes seemed almost pleading, wanting in some way to make herself useful to her master.

Smiling sweetly, Fujino simply said, "Some tea would calm the nerves, Memma."

"Yes, my lady, right away." Memma rushed to the kitchen, leaving Bruce and Akemi alone. She motioned for him to follow her and they walked upstairs, down the hall and came to her father's room, where he had his heart attack. Akemi and Bruce began inspecting the room, with her going to the bed and Bruce walking over to the window sill.

"Dirt on the windowpane… This is how they infiltrated the house. Probably parked the motorcycle several blocks back and made their way here by foot..." Bruce surmised.

"The sight of them alone wouldn't be enough to scare my father… They had to have done some psychological tactics, something to push his mind beyond the limits he had. However, if they did do this, something doesn't add up."

"I know. If they are the ones who did this, then how is has this not happened in the past? There has been a least several months of reports about an Iron Masked gunman. I suspect that at least a few of their leads on criminals had to come from civilians like your father, who had no heart condition of any kind. Psychological torture like this couldn't have just happened now as a coincidence..."

"It is odd that my father would get a heart attack by these people only when it's made apparent that you and I have come in contact… there may be someone after us."

"Perhaps… if that's the case, then the original Iron Mask is not the one who did this."

"No… but Mochizuki definitely had a part in this. If not, by now, he would've found some way to prevent a war between you two, even if meant broadcasting it. He knows who did this and is trying to keep it hidden, willing to fight you to keep it secret. Mochizuki will need to be extracted and questioned."

"Agreed."

"Oh, thank God you're okay..." Konomi ran up and hugged Batman, the man taking off his cowl.

"I told you-"

"Shut up, you idiot! You had me worried to death!" She slammed her fists on his chest before hugging him again.

"Ow!"

"I'm just so happy you're okay..." She softly uttered.

Bruce smiled down at her, kissing the top of head. "Told you."

Hunter and Red Vixen came down the elevator of the Cave, walking up to the two. "Where is he?" Bruce asked Vixen.

"I've set him up in one of my safehouses. He won't be found any time soon."

"I want to interrogate him as soon as possible."

"Wait," Hunter exclaimed, her fingers lightly touching his cut wound. "You should get that fixed first!"

"I'll be fine." Bruce insisted. "Oracle, I-" Bruce made the bad mistake of looking at Konomi, who glared up at him crossly.

"Sit!" She ordered, pointing down to his chair.

Bruce sighed, sitting down in the chair and lifting up his body armor, revealing the wound. In the background, Vixen gave a stifled snicker at his obedience but it was quickly shut down by a glare from Oracle herself. Konomi took out a medical kit and began to work. Due to the many injuries he had acquired, she was getting decently good at repairing the wounds and could handle the process calmly now, though it still made her uncomfortable seeing a bunch of them all over Bruce's body.

"Oh," Hunter began, taking out a flashdrive. "I've got the data you wanted." She walked up to the computer. "I did as you said. While you distracted Black Label and took out their defenses and Red Vixen would capture their leader, I snuck in and found their secret computer. I siphoned all their information via Oracle's instructions and then snuck out without being seen. It's all here."

After patching Bruce up, Konomi glanced up at the computer and checked the file. She tried to open it but nearly went slack-jawed after trying. "Woah… there's so may codes on this file, it's ridiculous. It'll take forever to de-code it… weeks even."

Bruce narrowed his eyes. "That means whatever is in there is useful to us. Get to work." He told Konomi as he stood up and throw his cowl over his face. "I'm going to have a word with Masamune Mochizuki."

After getting to a safe enough distance, Black Label stood on a hill, tired and beaten. They watched the plumes of smoke rise into the air, the symbol of their destroyed base.

Oriha watched it dully, her mind wandering to the uncomfortable memories of her past. "Again… another house burned down again… To ashes… because of another bad man… because of the Batman..."

Yuko's hair flowed in the wind, a fierce look in her eye as she stared it down. She turned her back on the base, her hair covering her eyes. "Oriha… I know what that house means to you but the fire can clearly be seen from the city. If we don't let investigators come to the scene, it will make you seem suspicious. We need to blow it up, destroy the evidence."

"I understand…" She said, deadpanned. She rose up and pulled out a trigger. She pressed the button and watched her mother's house blow up, destroying the land and everything in it. A transparent, tasteless tear fell down her eye, a tear that her numb cheek couldn't feel.

"Damn, what the hell is going on out there?"

Rouga peered out the window of his shared office, looking out into the distance and seeing a pillar of smoke. Throughout the entire night, loud sounds like explosions and sirens could be heard.

"Maybe there's something about it on the news..." He took out his phone and began scrolling through the browser when he stopped cold upon feeling something was off. He turned to his right and jumped back upon seeing a masked woman standing before him. She wore an all black leather suit with a mask covering half her face and her hair tied in a long pony tail. She had purple eyes that looked dead.

"Who the hell are you?!"

She didn't answer him, merely spraying his face with a misty gas, putting him to sleep. She stood over his body, sighing in sadness.

"Please, forgive me..." She quietly said before picking him up and then disappearing into the night.

In the hospital room, Akemi's father lay in his bed awake, staring out at the night sky. He looked toward the moon and thought of his daughter. He smiled softly and then his thoughts moved to his late wife.

"How I miss you… my dear wife..."

"You'll join her soon enough." Before the man could react, a shadowy hand was put to his mouth and a silenced pistol to his head. The trigger was pulled and bullet ended the man's life. The figure hit the button that called the nurse and then exited through the window, disappearing with the wind.

A.N. First update of the new year! Hope you guys like it and if you did, let me know what you thought. Also, I just wanted to inform any who are interested that I've got a lot of stories with Batman/[Insert title you NEVER expect him to be crossed over with] in the making. I mean, it's really grotesque how many ideas I have and are actually working on. Just to give you guys an idea, I'll give you a few ideas I'm expanding: Batman/Black Widow, Batman/Darkchylde, Batman/Battle Chasers, and a bunch of oneshots featuring him crossing over with fighting games. Crazy, isn't it? If you want to stay updated on it, follow me! Oh, and speaking of the fighting genre, what do you guys think of a story revolving around Batman, in his younger days, training at the Ryonzanpaku dojo? If you find the idea interesting, I've got a poll on my profile that I've started now so that way I can see the results over time because I probably won't be publishing that story for awhile (I've got so many others!). Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time.

Green out.