ARC ONE: The Loot House

Chapter Three: Natsuki Subaru

Natsuki Subaru continued walking down the road next to a living legend. In his mind he could somehow comprehend the fact that he was summoned to a parallel world, one of magic, demi-humans and spirits. That he could buy. But the reality that Batman, THE Batman, was walking next to him, in the flesh?

THAT HE COULD NOT BELIEVE.

No matter what he could think, nothing clicked. Subaru grew up watching certain anime and TV shows. He particularly loved Dog of Flanders and Panzer World Galient, but he only knew about Batman as he got older. He enjoyed the films about him, especially the one with the crazy clown.

However, Subaru had to accept it. Next to him was someone he knew could possibly fend off that monstrous woman. He knew of Batman's incredible feats of strength and his amazing fighting ability. He just hoped that it didn't end up killing him, just as did the others in all the previous loops.

Subaru had images flash through his mind, horrible, frightening images. His guts spilled out, Rom and Felt butchered, and of course…his friend, lying dead next to him.

"-"

Subaru made a promise to save her and he would.

"Subaru."

"Huh?"

Batman called to him, he collected himself with a rub to his eyes.

"Sorry. Lost in thought there for a second."

"No no, it's quite alright. I can assume you're thinking about what to do next."

"Yeah, bringing you along with us, helps give me clarity."

"Listen. When we get there, keep close attention to our surroundings, if you see anything suspicious, keep Felt close to you and I'll handle the rest."

Subaru was surprised by his preparedness. Subaru had died several times already and was still greatly ill prepared to face off against the assassin named Elsa. But Batman seemed as though he was forming 10 different plans at once, all in his head.

He was immensely impressed.

"You really think things through, don't you Batman-san?"

"It's something you have to pick up when you fight crime for as long as I have. Plus, when fighting things like giant monsters and cosmic entities, you need to go in with as many plans as possible."

"Yeah! Like you do with that creepy clown right…um who was it again, JOKER! The Joker right-?"

Before Subaru could finish his sentence, he saw Batman's face falter with a tinge of sadness and regret in his eyes.

"I-I'm sorry. I must have said something insensitive."

Batman straightened his face once again.

"No. It's nothing. Absolutely nothing."

Batman looked out at the row of houses to his side and began having images of Gotham. The city was similar to Gotham in a way; the middle of the city was vibrant and pretty at times to look at, while the outer edges, the slums, were a cesspool of crime and violence. He was reminiscing about old times.

"Hmmm.."

"Batman-san?"

Batman looked back down at Subaru, his Sanpaku eyes being his most definable feature on his young face.

"Surveying the area is all! Just keeping up our defenses, just in case."

Felt had finally turned around at the two.

"No worries! Most of these losers are cowardly and will only pick on REALLY weak looking people."

She then gave a long glance at Subaru.

"HEY HEY! Is that an insult? IT WAS AN INSULT! You cheeky little…"

Subaru gritted his teeth, while Felt smirked about his expression as she turned to Batman.

"Besides, uh Batman-san, was it? You look really intimidating so no one would dare come near you."

"I suppose that's for the best."

Batman simply shrugged his shoulders at this.

"So Subaru were are you from?"

"Oh, from a town in Saitama. Not too shabby of a place I guess."

"I see, and your family?"

"Just me and my parents. They said they wanted to wait to have another so.."

"Hmm. Alright then, school or training?"

"Nah, I just hung around the house all day…that's all I did."

They both fell silent; Batman could tell he may have hit a nerve as well. He decided to change the conversation a bit.

"Is there anything you believe you'll miss from your old world?"

"Um, well…my parents would be one thing. Let's see manga, some video games, a couple snacks-wait snacks?!"

Subaru then gave a shocked expression as he looked back at Batman.

"That's right! They may not have it here!"

"What exactly?"

"Only something we, the Natsuki household, hold as dear as the finest wine!"

"Oh really?"

"Yup. Mayonnaise."

"...You're kidding right?"

Batman gave a dumfounded expression, while Subaru waved his finger.

"Of course, it's a family staple, we use it for all our cuisine! I've loved it since as long as I could remember. And well…"

Subaru gave a bashful smile.

"It was something that connected us a family."

As Batman heard this, he thought of his own "family" and their own connections, it let him smile for a moment.

Only for that smile to fade as Subaru spent several long drawn out minutes detailing his family's eating habits with mayonnaise.

They then saw a shabby looking building in the distance that made Subaru slow down a bit. It was a large decrepit house, some windows were broken and the tree next to it was beyond dead. Various images flashed through his mind of the first two times he faced off against Elsa. Killed in the night with his new friend. Killed trying to save Old Man Rom and Felt. He was scared, no doubt about it. His thoughts swirled, thinking about how he would deal with her, as Felt reached the front door.

"Well, we're here!"

The group of three then made it to the front of the shack. Subaru looked up at Batman, giving a nod to him. He could register what he meant by it and clenched his fist as he observed behind them.

Felt knocked on the door, and they heard a large gruff voice.

"To the giant rats...?!"

"Poison."

"For the White Whale…?!"

"A harpoon."

"To our most honorable dragon lord, we are…?!"

"Shitbags."

As Felt finished her answers, the door opened and a large old man appeared, taller than even Batman. He stood there and looked at the three of them. Felt simply waved at him.

" Sorry to keep ya waiting Rom-jii. But it seems these two weirdoes' have business with us."

Subaru grimaced at this.

"You know it's rude to call people weird especially to a Superhero!"

"Super…Hyro? See, Rom-jii? Totally special in the head these guys."

Rom took a glance at them. Subaru seemed to be an ordinary boy with odd clothing and creepy eyes. He didn't think much of him. But when it came to Batman it was completely different.

"-"

Rom got closer to Batman who didn't even budge. He got his face closer as he examined him.

"You're some kind of warrior or the like?"

"Something of the sort. Why?"

"Nah, it's just an Old Man saying so, but I hear you can just feel it on some people."

"Hmmm."

Rom let them in, as they discussed the price of the Metia, Batman took Subaru to the side to have a quick conversation with him.

"So Subaru, what's this Metia term they keep using?"

"Well, I guess as you can tell, they don't have technology or the like here, so they just have magical items. They call them Metia."

Batman rubbed his chin as he nodded. Batman has encountered magical items various times in the past. He did not have fond memories of any of them. One could say Batman was NOT a fan of magic.

"I see. So you're making them think your phone is one of these Metia to acquire the pendant?"

"Yeah, we get the pendant, grab Rom and Felt, and get the HELL out of here."

"And you brought me along as Plan B?"

"Plan B? Ha. Wow was that a joke? Get it, B? Hehe. I thought you were always serious."

"I am."

Batman folded his arms and gave a stern look at him. Subaru gave an almost trademark wry smile as he apologized for the comment.

"Still, let's hope this deal goes well."

Batman and Subaru returned to Felt and Rom as they continued negotiating. However Felt picked up on the fact that Subaru seemed nervous and in a hurry. Before Batman could calm him down.

"Why do want the pendant so badly?"

The question shook Subaru to his core. He couldn't explain to her about the murderer coming to attack them, Batman only believed because he was a hero, these guys might not buy it at all. And he couldn't reveal to any of them about his Return By Death ability. Even Batman, being from a world of super powered humans, might not believe his wild declaration of having a superpower he was not able to prove.

"I want to return it to its rightful owner."

"…What?!"

Felt stared at him with her fierce ruby red eyes, tinged with animosity and turned to Batman.

"And you?"

"I'm just here to resolve this situation, that's all."

"Oh…and how much is he paying you do this nonsense?"

"Nothing."

"YOU!"

Felt raised her voice and glared at the two of them.

"I won't be tricked by the two of you! This is some sick joke right?!"

Felt pointed at Subaru.

"You're going to be paying all this money for a pendant that's been already stolen and return it to the original owner?! Are you stupid?!"

She pointed at Batman.

"And you're going along with this?! Protecting a kid you just met and not expecting a single pay from it?! Ridiculous!"

Rom looked down at Felt with a caring expression.

"Felt, I don't think they're lying."

"No Rom-jii! Don't be tricked by these two. If they're gonna lie, they should do a better job at it. No one acts this way. NO ONE. I won't be tricked…"

Felt was shaking at this point, but something caught her eye and made her stand still. It also made her angry.

She saw Batman, making a sad but caring face at the young girl.

It was pity.

"Hey. HEY. What's with that look?! HUH? Stop it."

"You don't have to distrust the world so much."

"SHUT UP! What do you know? HUH? You know nothing about me!"

"I do. I've seen children like you countless times where I'm from. Dejected from the world, believing that everyone around them is out for themselves and thus, cannot be trusted. I know. There are some people you can trust, Felt."

"HK!"

Felt's eyes furrowed, into shapes of seething rage. Who was this guy? Who did he think he was to say these things?

Then a knock on the door was heard.

Subaru jumped up from the sound.

Rom noticed it as well.

"Who's that?"

Felt calmed herself and began walking to the door.

"Probably my client. A little early, but now we can get these negotiations over with."

Felt looked back at Batman and gave a sharp look toward him.

"And then you two can leave."

As Felt grabbed the doorknob, Subaru let out a scream.

"NO! DON'T OPEN THE DOOR WE'LL BE KILLED!"

Batman stood straight up. He believed that this was the Elsa person that Subaru warned him about. He slid over and got in front of Subaru.

Subaru was in deep despair. He didn't want to face Elsa, he wanted to get the negotiations over with and get everyone out of there. But it was too late. The bargaining failed and Felt seemed to now distrust both of them.

"Crap. Crap. Crap, I couldn't stop this."

The door opened as the light of the now red light of the sunset enveloped the room. Was this the color of death? Subaru had no time to think, he was scared, and he was nauseous, he was-.

"What do you mean 'be killed'? I'd never do anything that violent without warning!"

-Surprised.

The open doorway revealed a silver-haired girl who proceeded to enter, with a very sour look on her face.

"I won't let you get away this time. I have only one demand: Return my pendant, it's very important to me."

As she says this, Felt takes several steps back as she sees ice crystals form around her. Rom saw the situation unfold before him and realized they were in trouble.

"Looks like we can't even budge."

"Huh? Rom-jii, you're going to give up so easily, just cause she's using some magic?"

"Against any other magic user, no. But I think this one is much more trouble."

Rom stared at the silver haired girl with a look with caution as he asked her a serious question.

"You're an Elf, right miss?"

She closed her eyes for moment and answered with a sigh.

"No, I'm actually only a half-elf."

Felt stepped further back as she shuddered.

"Half-elf with silver hair…are you-?!"

"No I'm not her! I only look like her, it causes me problems you know?"

Felt then noticed she was near Subaru and Batman, she then sneered at them.

"You guys set me up didn't you?!"

"Huuuh?!"

"What?"

Felt stomped her foot down and stared at the both of them within her field of vision, with nothing but animosity.

"Both of you saying that you wanted to return the pendant, coming here together, just when she got here?! Ha! I knew you two were suspicious! So cut the act! Just give her back her pendant and gloat, laugh at me! I am so stupid!"

She scratched her head and had tears forming near the edges of her eyes.

Batman patted her head. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"No one tricked you Felt, coincidences happen a lot in any world. Things just happened and now is the opportunity to do something right. Right, Subaru?"

Subaru nodded to show his approval and walked over next to Batman.

"Yeah Felt, just give the pendant back and everyone can go home with a sense of ease you know?"

Subaru then looked at the silver haired girl ahead of him and gave a bright smile.

"So how about it? If she gives it back can we just let bygones be bygones? Also, try to take care of it better so it doesn't get stolen again."

The girl looked at the two of them confused.

"I don't understand, you two are not with her? I really don't get what's going on at all."

"Yeah me neither!"

Felt and the silver haired girl questioned who their loyalty lay with and why. Subaru gave a wry smile as he heard Batman and Rom try to calm everyone down.

Then he noticed it. A large blade was behind the girl, spiraling from a shadow next to her.

"PUCK! SHIELD HER!"

As he screamed this, a light glowing blue shield protects her. With this failure, a woman jumps out of the shadows and lands near another corner of the house. Batman puts his hand on Subaru and takes a defensive stance.

A small grey cat then floats around the silver haired girl, which surprises everyone, especially Batman. The cat lands on the girls shoulder and looks to Subaru.

"Were you the one who called me out? Thank you!"

Subaru gave a quick smile and a huge thumbs up.

"Oh yeah! You did great Puck!"

The woman in the black cloak, who had attacked, began to stand before them. She looked over at the girl and Puck.

She let out a seductive smile as she lifted up her curved blade.

'Spirit? You're a spirit aren't you?"

She giggled a tad; everyone around her became immensely tense.

"Fufufu. How splendid! I have never split a spirit's stomach open before."

Elsa had arrived, and with it, the battle for survival had begun.