Akamatsuverse Kryptonian Keitaro

[DhampyrX2]

It was no secret that Artemis of Bana-Mighdall, codenamed Requiem, and better known to many as Diana's temporary replacement as Wonder Woman during the Amazon civil war was rather fond of of the current Wondergirl, Cassandra Sandsmark. It was also somewhat well known on the Watchtower that she had developed something of a "big sister" relationship with one Keitaro Urashima. Unforturnately for her, combining those two facts put her in the rather uneviable position of sitting with Cassie and acting as her sounding board as the demigoddess tried to work out a strategy to catch Keitaro's romantic attentions.

Really, Artemis had only herself to blame. She had trained the young woman to look at all things as a battle. Now she was stuck listening to strategies for a type of confrontation that she had no knowledge of, nor particular interest in, namely that of attracting a man.

"I couldn't believe Megan acting like that. I mean, I get Kara getting all protective over Keitaro and stuff. Kryptonians need to stick together and all that, right? Right. But where does Miss Martian get off telling me I was coming on too strong?" Cassie griped to the only half-listening redheaded Amazon.

"Keitaro is more human than Kryptonian by a wide margin," Artemis blandly interjected into the conversation.

"Whatever. Kon was only half and we still called him Kryptonian most of the time. And Keitaro does have Kon's original powers," Cassie dismissed with a a wave of her hand.

"To a degree. His powers are nowhere near Superboy's level," Artemis corrected. And Keitaro has a far less grating personality than that-, what did Diana call him? Ah, yes. The Walking Hormone you used to date, she added mentally as she sat there while Wondergirl vented.

"It doesn't matter. I'm not interested in Keitaro for his powers. He's a really nice guy. And he's cute. And he's-" Cassie started to rattle off.

"Got a girl at home in Japan that holds his interest," Artemis pointed out, if only to stop Cassie from taking too long prattling about Keitaro's good points. Granted, Artemis agreed with many of the youngest daughter of Zeus' sentiments, but she didn't want to hear about them ad nauseum.

"Grrr, don't even get me started about her. I mean Keitaro was telling me, Kara, and Secret about what it was like back home and that girl sounds borderline abusive. Never mind that he was probably glossing over her worst traits. And he didn't even seem upset at the way he was being treated there. I mean, the way he was talking you would think the sun itself shined out of her butt," Cassie sulked.

Artemis smirked knowingly as she responded, "Well that would be beneficial to Keitaro. His abilities are powered by yellow sunlight much as Superman's are."

"Ugh. You're impossible somtimes," Cassie griped. "Anyway, what kind of advice can you give me? I mean, you seem to spend more time with him on the Watchtower than anyone not training him. Other than Kara, of course."

"Perhaps if you made more of an effort to spend time with him as a friend and less as a suitor you would be better able to work that out. Otherwise I'm sure Diana would be a better choice in this field. I am hardly one to go on dates," Artemis reminded her.

"Hmph. I can't trust Diana with this. I overheard her telling Superman what a cute couple Kara and Keitaro would make. Like that would happen," Cassie complained.

"You think the Princess would sabotage your efforts to win Keitaro's affections?" Artemis asked with a genuine note of surprise. That hardly seemed like something the former Goddess of Truth would do.

Wondergirl looked a little ashamed of herself as she looked down at the surface of the table and replied, "No. Of course not. It's just that like half the Watchtower seems to be acting like Keitaro and Kara are going to end up a couple already because they're both Krytonian and spend all this time together. I know if I went to Diana she'd be supportive, but she'd stay out of it too, y'know?"

Truthfully, Artemis did not know. Being supportive while keeping out of it sounded like the best idea she had heard all day at this point.

"Anyway, I was thinking of asking Keitaro if he wanted to join me in seeing the Themysciran exhibit at the Smithsonian later this week. I just need to figure out some way to do it without Kara coming to chaperone. Or half the girls in the Titans and the younger ones in the League 'just happening to be there'," Cassie plotted as Artemis tried vailiantly to refrain from banging her head on the table in front of her.

 

[FinalMax]

You have three weeks.

Let me ask you a question, what is it that you dislike about Kanako?

Personally, I find her pointless. She just shows up all of a sudden, with no real foreshadowing that I can remember. Then she tries to spy, con, and evict the tenants of the Hinata Sou so she can turn it into something she desires. And if I'm remembering correctly, she turns on the only person willing to defend her when she finds out it's Naru.

So, why was she made? Why does she add nothing way too late in the manga?

 

[DhampyrX2]

You have three weeks.

Let me ask you a question, what is it that you dislike about Kanako?

Personally, I find her pointless. She just shows up all of a sudden, with no real foreshadowing that I can remember. Then she tries to spy, con, and evict the tenants of the Hinata Sou so she can turn it into something she desires. And if I'm remembering correctly, she turns on the only person willing to defend her when she finds out it's Naru.

So, why was she made? Why does she add nothing way too late in the manga?

The same reason Kentaro was made, to add tension to the story as things started working out. Otherwise you'd either end things much sooner or have to deal with the other girls actively pursuing Keitaro to create dramatic tention and keep the story going. Besides you needed a "dark and mysterious" girl to add to the group. It's almost a requirement for harem manga in general.

 

[FinalMax]

You have three weeks.

Let me ask you a question, what is it that you dislike about Kanako?

Personally, I find her pointless. She just shows up all of a sudden, with no real foreshadowing that I can remember. Then she tries to spy, con, and evict the tenants of the Hinata Sou so she can turn it into something she desires. And if I'm remembering correctly, she turns on the only person willing to defend her when she finds out it's Naru.

So, why was she made? Why does she add nothing way too late in the manga?

The same reason Kentaro was made, to add tension to the story as things started working out. Otherwise you'd either end things much sooner or have to deal with the other girls actively pursuing Keitaro to create dramatic tention and keep the story going. Besides you needed a "dark and mysterious" girl to add to the group. It's almost a requirement for harem manga in general.

Exactly my point. She added nothing to the series. It was late enough in the series that she wasn't even needed, which really makes one wonder if she wasn't the result of an editor's meddling.

 

[Antimatter]

You have three weeks.

Let me ask you a question, what is it that you dislike about Kanako?

Personally, I find her pointless. She just shows up all of a sudden, with no real foreshadowing that I can remember. Then she tries to spy, con, and evict the tenants of the Hinata Sou so she can turn it into something she desires. And if I'm remembering correctly, she turns on the only person willing to defend her when she finds out it's Naru.

So, why was she made? Why does she add nothing way too late in the manga?

The same reason Kentaro was made, to add tension to the story as things started working out. Otherwise you'd either end things much sooner or have to deal with the other girls actively pursuing Keitaro to create dramatic tention and keep the story going. Besides you needed a "dark and mysterious" girl to add to the group. It's almost a requirement for harem manga in general.

Exactly my point. She added nothing to the series. It was late enough in the series that she wasn't even needed, which really makes one wonder if she wasn't the result of an editor's meddling.

I think she offered a different sort of tension. She was a good foil to the girls at first, and showed how far someone was willing to go to fufill their promise with Keitaro.

She also really forced Naru and Motoko to accept their feelings for keitaro. It was also nice to see more of keitaros family besides Haruka. I wish she would have shown up a bit sooner though.

At least she wasn't completely worthless like Sarah.

 

[Crusader]

At least she wasn't completely worthless like Sarah.

Wasn't she one of the background plot devices that drove a wedge between Seta and Haruka?

 

[zeebee1]

Sarah showed up long after Seta failed to commit.

 

[Ordo]

Keitaro groaned, rolling over onto his stomach and spitting out a glob of blood. His body ached as he raised his head, just in time to see Cassandra sent flying through a wall of the Smithsonian. The massive figure that had sent the poor girl on her trip turned to face him, eyes flashing red.

"Ah...the hybrid." the voice sounded like mountains grating against one another, while his eyes flashed red. "I hope you understand that you mean nothing to me." His eyes continued to glow as Keitaro climbed to his feat on shaky legs. "But I know what you mean to them." his lips quirked upwards as twin beams of energy blazed from his eyes and speared toward Keitaro.

The Ronin's mind flashed through thousand ideas, plans and possibilities. Before, his body would've tried to react to all of them at once, and he would've ended up face first on the ground. Today, his body seized on a single idea as he raisd his left hand.

The Omega beam struck and the Ronin cried out as pain flared up his arm and down his body. He sank to one knee under the punishing assault, and then was forced to use his other arm to keep himself from collapsing. Darkseid approched arms clasped behind his back as he made the hybrid suffer.

"You still live...impressive." The torrent of energy ceased as Darkseid stood over the Ronin. "I see why she spends time with you, and why he has placed his hopes upon your shoulders." Darkseid's tone was conversational as around them, people fled, while police kept everyone back. Darkseid raised a booted foot over the nearly exhausted Ronin's head. "Hope is a lie, and you will help me educate them both in that truth."

No one knew why the Lord of Apokolips had attacked the Smithsonian and begun knocking around a young couple to the exclusion of all else. None had stuck around to see the faces of his victims.

Keitaro flashed Darkseid a defiant eye as the boot descended, then lightening fast, he raised his right arm which was aglow with red. Keitaro unleashed it, more than three quarters of darkseids own omega beam into the tyrants face. Having used his own bioelectric field and tactile power to funnel and and store the energy Darkseid had tried to kill him with around the Ronin's right arm.

Darkseid reeled as his own power caught him by surprise. Keitaro's legs swung out, sweeping the tyrant off his feet and sending him crashing to the ground. A solid kick to the side, one that nearly broke Keitaro's foot, sent the ruler of Apokolips through another wall and skidding into another exhibit.

Keitaro turned and ran, stopping in front of the pile of rubble Wondergirl had been buried under. His powers flared as he began tossing rock and debris aside, freeing an unconsious Cassandra. He scooped her up and ran out the nearest door.

"Ke...Ronin." He looked up just in time to see Supergirl and the man of steel.

"Darkseid he..."

"I can speak for myself...Ronin." All eyes turned to find their nemesis dusting himself off as he strode through the front door. "An interesting choice for a name."

Kara and Clark stood in front of their injured friends. "Why?" the man of steel demanded.

"Because it would cause you pain....I need no other reason."

 

[ragnarok1337]

Kara and Clark stood in front of their injured friends. "Why?" the man of steel demanded.

"Because it would cause you pain....I need no other reason."

Hoo, SHIT

 

[FinalMax]

I'd say you got Darkseid dead on there. Brought back the vibe of the DCAU for me. The bit Keitaro did to get Darkseid off of him, on the other hand, seemed kinda odd. It's supposed to be an impromptu measure, but it just doesn't fit right.

 

[Ordo]

I'd say you got Darkseid dead on there. Brought back the vibe of the DCAU for me. The bit Keitaro did to get Darkseid off of him, on the other hand, seemed kinda odd. It's supposed to be an impromptu measure, but it just doesn't fit right.

I just finished watching JLU Destroyer, Batman/Superman Apocalypse, and All Star Superman during my day off so that inspired this snippet.

Keitaro's desperation attack was inspired by a few things I saw in All Star Superman. I'm playing with Keitaros powers a bit since I didn't want just a less powerful copy of Superboy. I want his powers to be similar but have some quirks of their own. Perhaps Keitaro's gifts are a mix of Superboys original abilities and some of the things Superman could do when he became an energy being for a brief period.

I'll keep trying to pin down just what he can and can't do.

 

[Flamewolf]

you could replace heat vision with freeze vision

 

[DhampyrX2]

I'd say you got Darkseid dead on there.� Brought back the vibe of the DCAU for me.� The bit Keitaro did to get Darkseid off of him, on the other hand, seemed kinda odd.� It's supposed to be an impromptu measure, but it just doesn't fit right.

It works in theory with the nature of Keitaro's tactile telekinesis here. All he really did was manage the equivalent of a bee sting on someone in Darkseid's power class by applying the same principles you see in Judo or Aikido. Of course that's all anyone but the really heavy hitters in the DCU could ever hope to manage against Darkseid. Well anyone but those with something like a Radion bullet at least.



Time seemed to move in a blur for Keitaro as he found himself and Cassie hustled from the museum to the medical ward in the Hall of Justice in Metropolis. It was standard procedure to do a full workup on the ground before risking transport after a tangle with Darkseid. He was hardly above boobytrapping a defeated enemy in some way, after all, and his Omega Beams seemed to have more applications every time the League faced him.

Thankfully from his point of view, Keitaro had managed to take the brunt of the damage in the attack and Cassie was soon released to the care of her mother after a greateful Dr. Helena Sandsmark had come in to thank him for being there for her daughter. Keitaro had tried to protest that he had actually been Darkseid's target and any injuries Cassie had suffered were his fault, but the noted archaeologist would have none of it. It had finally taken Diana's gentle prodding to get Wondergirl and her mother out of the room so that the medical staff could begin to patch him up properly.

Eventually, Keitaro found himself heavilly bandaged, bruised, and suffering from more than couple of broken bones that were put into special casts for him as he sat under a concentrated yellow sun lamp to hopefully speed his healing at bit.

He was going over the fight in his mind, trying to pinpoint what could have been done to better protect Cassie, other than staying away from him of course, when his mental reverie was interrupted but a familiar voice.

"You did good out there, Keitaro," Superman said as he entered the room to check on the young man. "Although if you keep this up Batman is going to insist you become a full member of the League instead of just a reservist," the Man of Steel added with a wry grin.

"I thought Batman was officially a reservist too, though?" Keitaro asked with a weak smile of his own.

"We all learned a long time ago not to try to quantify his position too closely. We're just glad he's on our side," Superman replied with a small chuckle.

Keitaro nodded in agreement at that sentiment. Batman had done as much as anyone in the League to help him since the nature of his "immortality" had been discovered. He was quiet and intimidating, for certain, but he seemed a far cry from the heartless man that Kara still sometimes referred to as "Grumpy Ass" behind his back.

"Keitaro, I want you to know that I'm sorry for this. Darkseid's attack was meant to be an attack on me and Kara. I promise I will do all I can to make sure this never happens again," Superman somberly interjected, breaking Keitaro out of his mental musings.

Keitaro looked at Superman in confusion for a moment, forgetting his own similar self-recriminations in regards to Cassie's injuries, as he responded, "It was Darkseid's choice to attack me, not yours. He's the only one to blame for the whole thing. You and Kara arriving when you did saved my life. Probably Cassie's too. If anything I should be thanking you."

Superman gave the boy a warm smile that reminded the ronin of Jonathan's Kent's open grin as he replied, "You're a good man Keitaro."

Keitaro just blushed in embarassment at the praise before Superman cleared his throat and announced, "Now, there is somebody else that wants to see you and your're only supposed to have one visitor at the time for now until they are finished with your observation period, so I better leave you to it. I'll come by to check on you later."

As Clark left the room, Keitaro was suddenly daced with a red, yellow, and blue, blur that materialized into a head of blond hair clutching to his chest as Kara hugged him as hard as she dared. "You big dork, do you know how worried I was. First Amazo and now Darkseid. Are you insane?" Kara asked without breaking her embrace.

Keitaro gently rubbed her back with the hand that wasn't in a cast as he gave her a half grin and replied, "It not like I go looking for them. It's just my bad luck to be where people are causing trouble."

Kara looked up and scowled playfully at her friend before she poked a finger into his chest and demanded, "And just what did Black Canary tell you about self-sacraficing attacks? Wondergirl said you took several hits for her when she was debriefed while you were being worked on."

"Anyone else would have done the same, Kara. She was getting hurt because she was there with me. I couldn't just ket Darkseid do that," Keitaro protested seriously.

"Grrr, I wish you were already healed so I could smack you for being so... so... Keitaro about all of this. You're like some kind of white knight or something, I swear," Kara griped as she folded her arms to glare at the bedridden Kryptonian hybrid.

Keitaro smiled in the boyish way that insured Kara would not stay mad at him before he responded, "Speaking of knights, Ronin?"

Kara looked a little sheepish at the inquiry as she replied, "What? It was the first thing that popped into my head. I mean I know the whole secret identity thing seems odd. Rao knows the only reason I do it is for Clark's sake. But it seems to fit, doesn't it?"

Keitaro smiled at her before he nodded his head and replied, "I suppose it does. I just didn't expect be become a full-on costumed hero."

Kara shrugged a bit before she replied, "Grumpy-Ass explained it to me when I first came to Earth. The more people pay attention to your costume, the less they look for the real you under the costume. Or something. I was kind of tuning him out at that point."

Keitaro chuckled at her admission, which elicited a wince from the pain it caused his bruised ribs, before he choked out, "I guess I'll have to have someone pick out a costume for me, then."

"I'm sure some of the girl in the League will be up to the challenge," Kara replied with a wicked gleam in her eye even as her brow furrowed in worry at his condition. She swore Darkseid would pay for hurting Keitaro like this. This was over the line, even for the rule of Apokalips.

"Hey, what's with the worried look? The doctors said I'd be okay witgh a few days of rest before taking it easy on the Watchtower. Nothing to get excited over," Keitaro cut in, waking Kara from her dark thoughts.

"It's nothing," she assured him. "You just worry about resting and getting better. "I promose I'll be by tomorrow to check on you," she assured him.

"Thanks," Keitaro replied gratefully.

"Now, is there anything you need before I let the likes of Black Canary and Artemis in here to chew you out ofr getting into fights out of your weight class?" Kara asked with a teasing grin.

Keitaro looked unnaturally sober as he hedged, "There is one thing-"

"What do you need?" Kara asked, suddenly all business.

"Well I know Auntie Haruka and everyone at the Inn tend to worry after seeing anything about a big League battle on the news. Especially Kanako-chan. Could you maybe call Haruka and let her know I'll be okay?" Keitaro asked, looking for all the world like a licked puppy begging for scraps.

Kara put on her best look of assurance as she answered "No problem," before she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek without even thinking about what she was doing. "Now do like the doctor asked and get some rest there, Ronin. I'll tell everyone that you're still mostly in one piece," Kara promised.

Keitaro was trying unsuccessfully to fight off a blush as he replied, "Thanks Kara."

"Anytime," the Kryptonian girl replied before making her exit with a nod toward Artemis who started making her way into the room. Her mind was su full of concerns about Keitaro and what to say to his family that she never noticed Powergirl in the hallway, nor did she see the speculative look on her double's face.

All Kara was thinking of at that moment was that it might be more appropriate this time to visit Haruka Urashima in person to deliver the news that Keitaro had been attacked. Especially since he had been the specific target this time.

 

[David Alan Abramczyk]

Uh oh!

Run, Keitaro! Flee before beautiful and big-busted Kryptonian women claim your virginity!

 

[ragnarok1337]

Uh oh!

Run, Keitaro! Flee before beautiful and big-busted Kryptonian women claim your virginity!

The sad thing is that it's hard to figure out if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

 

[Prince Charon]

Interesting, it continues to be.

 

[kevinasher]

Uh oh!

Run, Keitaro! Flee before beautiful and big-busted Kryptonian women claim your virginity!

I fail to see the problem in this...

 

[David Alan Abramczyk]

That's sort of the joke. You know, like the Castle Anthrax scene in Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail?

 

[Ordo]

"WHAT!?" a chorus of voices nearly shook the Hina Inn.

Supergirl allowed her gaze to track across the various faces of the ladies of the Hina Inn, which showed varying degrees of shock and Horror. The only two faces that were even remotely calm was that of Haruka and Kanako, and even that was due to the Kryptonain girl informing them first of what had happened to their kin. Neither had been exactly happy, but Kanako had seemed even more annoyed when she learned that Keitaro had taken several heavy blows for Wondergirl.

"I...is...Keitaro...?" that was from Shinobu, the nervous girl proving more resilent than most thought by being the first to recover her wits.

Kara favored her with a reassuring smile. "He's fine and recieving the best care on earth."

"Care he would not need if not for you!" That was from Motoko, the Kendoist had the good sense not to draw steel, but it was obvious from the way she clenched her hands that she dearly wanted to. "It's obvious that his training was insufficent, *I* insist that Keitaro be returned home where I...we shall ensure his safety."

"You're joking right, Motoko-chan?" All eyes turned to find Haruka stubbing out a cigarette. "Or are you honestly suggesting that *anything* you could teach him would've have allowed him to beat Darkseid?" The shop owner pulled out a fresh cigarette and lit it, taking a moment to calm her nerves as she drew on it.

Motoko faltered "Well....perhaps not" she admitted grudgingly "But I still think he'd be safer here with us."

"I agree, none of this would've happened had he not gotten involved with you all." Naru interjected.

"That train of thought is not really helpful to the current situation." Kara had to reminded herself that their fear and hostility was born out of concern...still something about Motoko and Naru just rubbed her the wrong way. "Besides, had he been here when Darkseid attacked, that sick monster would've had seven hostages to use against Keitaro."

"Supergirl is right." six pair of surprised eyes swung to Kanako. "Keiaro is alive because the League taught him to defend himself." she sighed, seeming to swallow something "Had they not we'd all be planning his funeral right about now."

*****

"A costume design contest for 'Ronin'?" Cassie, Secret, and Cass all looked at one another before turning their gaze on Wonder Woman. "Are you serious?"

The Amazon Princess tilted her to the side "Yes...if Keitaro is going to keep stumbling into such fights, we can at least provide him with a disguise to protect his true identity."

"Is there a prize?" Secret asked, as she floated beside her friends.

"There's...talk that the winner will win an all expense paid night out on the town with a companion of their choice...." Diana blinked when she found herself suddenly talking to empty air as the girls bolted to begin designing Keitaro's new suit, a smile touched her lips.

"Well played." She turned to find the Dark Knight standing at her side. "You keep the girls busy, keep their minds off Keitaro, ensure that they don't interfere with his recovery by constantly checking up on him, and you get a mask for our currently maskless hero."

The two turned, making their way to the bridge. "The boy deserves a break before he's smoothered with attention." The Princess began. "I was actually inspired by the chewing out/after battle assessment Artemis and Black Canary gave our young hero." She nodded to Ollie as he passed by "Maximum effect with minimal energy." she quoted.

*****

The world burned, the fires from it's pits shooting far out into the uncaring darkness of space. The lord of this world sat on his throne, surrounded by his minions, and bathed in hellish light.

"Oh great Darkseid, what is your will concerning the hybrid. Shall we take him as we did Supergirl?" Steppenwulf remained kneeling, head bowed as he spoke.

"No." his Lord rumbled as he stood, arms clasped behind his back "For the moment, the hybrid serves my will best by being alive and on earth."

"My Lord..." Granny Goodness asked, surprised at this turn.

"As long as he lives Kal-El will worry over the Hybrid, wasting time and energy trying to prepare for an attack that may never come. Kara will spend her energy plotting revenge, planning my punishment at her own hands." The corners of Darkseids lips tugged upwards. "They will fear for him, clouding their thoghts distracting themselves, becoming vulnerable and turning themselves into easy prey the day I do decide to strike."

 

[ragnarok1337]

*****

"A costume design contest for 'Ronin'?" Cassie, Secret, and Cass all looked at one another before turning their gaze on Wonder Woman. "Are you serious?"

The Amazon Princess tilted her to the side "Yes...if Keitaro is going to keep stumbling into such fights, we can at least provide him with a disguise to protect his true identity."

"Is there a prize?" Secret asked, as she floated beside her friends.

"There's...talk that the winner will win an all expense paid night out on the town with a companion of their choice...." Diana blinked when she found herself suddenly talking to empty air as the girls bolted to begin designing Keitaro's new suit, a smile touched her lips.

"Well played." She turned to find the Dark Knight standing at her side. "You keep the girls busy, keep their minds off Keitaro, ensure that they don't interfere with his recovery by constantly checking up on him, and you get a mask for our currently maskless hero."

The two turned, making their way to the bridge. "The boy deserves a break before he's smoothered with attention." The Princess began. "I was actually inspired by the chewing out/after battle assessment Artemis and Black Canary gave our young hero." She nodded to Ollie as he passed by "Maximum effect with minimal energy." she quoted.

*****

The world burned, the fires from it's pits shooting far out into the uncaring darkness of space. The lord of this world sat on his throne, surrounded by his minions, and bathed in hellish light.

"Oh great Darkseid, what is your will concerning the hybrid. Shall we take him as we did Supergirl?" Steppenwulf remained kneeling, head bowed as he spoke.

"No." his Lord rumbled as he stood, arms clasped behind his back "For the moment, the hybrid serves my will best by being alive and on earth."

"My Lord..." Granny Goodness asked, surprised at this turn.

"As long as he lives Kal-El will worry over the Hybrid, wasting time and energy trying to prepare for an attack that may never come. Kara will spend her energy plotting revenge, planning my punishment at her own hands." The corners of Darkseids lips tugged upwards. "They will fear for him, clouding their thoghts distracting themselves, becoming vulnerable and turning themselves into easy prey the day I do decide to strike."

Oh SHI-

 

[FinalMax]

You know, someone's gotta come up with how Keitaro and Kara met. Not me, writer's block and all that, but someone's gotta at least make the scene work. That, and the Amazo beatdown.

 

[DhampyrX2]

Kara didn�t know if it was by chance or design, but she soon found herself standing outside the rear of the Hinata Sou looking over the property that Keitaro thought of as home with a silent pair of Urashima women beside her after delivering the news of Keitaro�s injuries to the others.

�I didn�t want our first meeting in person to be like this. I wanted a chance to meet you all with Keitaro. I kept thinking we could all be such great friends, y�know?� Kara finally said to break the silence that had settled between them. �He talks about you guys all the time,� she added with a mirthless chuckle.

Kanako�s face broke into a small smile at the mention of her Oniichan talking about her.

�From what I understand, there wasn�t anything anyone could have done. The fact he�s going to be alright is a testament to what the League has been teaching him. God knows it�s more than he would have picked up with Seta,� Haruka responded with a snort at the mention of her former lover.

Kara chuckled as she replied, �Yeah, he didn�t exactly impress a lot of people with the situation he got himself and Keitaro into where we first met. Dr. Sandsmark had some interesting tales to tell about his reputation, too.�

�Helena Sandsmark?� Haruka asked.

Kara nodded as she responded, �She and Wonder Woman are old friends.� She wasn�t certain if Haruka and Kanako were cleared to know Cassie�s identity and thus it was safer to mention her mother�s collaboration with Wonder Woman instead.

�She�s a good woman, from what I remember. It�s been a while since I�ve been in a position to run into anyone else in the archaeological community but she always seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. Never took crap from Seta, either,� Haruka mused with a small smile.

Kanako broke the lightening mood with a question that had been plaguing all three woman internally since the matter of Keitaro�s injuries had been breached. �Will Darkseid attack Oniichan again?�

Kara�s face darkened into a scowl, and one would swear that her irises ghosted red with heat vision as she growled, �Not if I can help it.�

Haruka gave the blond superheroine a sideways glance before taking a drag of her cigarette and commenting, �You really care about my nephew a lot, don�t you?�
Kara�s face ghosted with shock for a minute before she responded, �Of course. He�s my best friend.�

�So you�re just� friends?� Kanako asked in a deadpan that reminded Kara of Batman�s attitude toward her when she first came to Earth.

�Look, I can promise you both that the last thing I want right now is a new boyfriend. Keitaro�s great and all, but I seriously not in the market for another relationship at this point in my life,� Kara promised with a pained look.

Haruka noticed the expression immediately as she asked, �Bad break-up?�

Kara�s grimace deepened into a scowl as he recalled how Powerboy grew progressively more controlling and obsessive toward her until she had to literally knee the Apokalyptian defector in the crotch and tell him to get lost. �Very,� Kara replied with gritted teeth.

�What about Wondergirl?� Kanako asked with narrowed eyes.

Kara chuckled as she responded, �Wondergirl, Batgirl, and Secret have all showed some kind of interest or another. I know Wondy in particular has developed a dislike of that Narusegawa girl after some of Keitaro�s stories from home. Keitaro�s almost totally oblivious to the attention, of course. Flirting seems a little out of his realm of expertise.�

Kanako�s look darkened even as Haruka laughed as she responded, �That�s sounds like Keitaro, all right. He never was one to pick up on a girl�s interest in him.�

�I try to keep them all under control. Well Wondergirl and Secret anyway. Batgirl is a master of understatement. Most of it is just a new guy their age around that�s so nice to them. I think,� Kara explained with a somewhat puzzled look.

�Well I know the girl�s here will be relieved to hear they don�t have to compete with you for him, at least,� Haruka snarked with a look out of the corner of her eye at Kanako.

�No. Let them stew. They deserve it after the things they�ve put Keitaro through with their own insecurities,� Kanako opined with a wicked smirk.

Kara�s smirk matched Kanako�s as she put a hand to her him and declared, �I can live with that.�

 

[crazyfoxdemon]

Is it wrong that I'm rooting for batgirl?

 

[zeebee1]

No. And Darkseid, for all his power, is incredibly arrogant. he's acting like he's never been stopped before. Just how many people have foiled his plans?

 

[ragnarok1337]

No. And Darkseid, for all his power, is incredibly arrogant. he's acting like he's never been stopped before. Just how many people have foiled his plans?

<a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE5RXhPwlKc' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Batman.</a>

Because he's <a href='http://www.merrickmonroe.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/goddamn-batman.jpg' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>THE GODDAMN BATMAN</a>