22 Chapter 22: Seals!

Sora was locked in his makeshift workshop as he slowly drew symbols in a notebook. He took his time, making sure to avoid unnecessary or unneeded errors in his strokes and lines.

While he was busy with that, he thought of his current guest. It had been a full week since Zatanna arrived and Sora still remembered his reason for allowing her to stay.

Despite his seemingly passive acceptance of her stay, his reason was beyond that of the league or drawing attention to himself. Her words in trying to convince him didn't so much as affect his reason.

'Karin, Jugo, Suigetsu. They were powerful assets that were able to assist Sasuke in pursuing his goal. If I want to achieve my goal, I need to find something similar to that.' He thought, bringing him to the reason he allowed her.

'Magic. There's a lot I don't know about magic and I doubt Zatara or the light will be willing to educate me in what I need. Who better to fulfill the role of Zatara than his own daughter.' He thought as he came close to finishing the drawing.

'Still, the fact that she was able to follow me all the way back home.' He thought as he remembered what happened.

~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~

After dropping the abducted children at the police station, Sora turned to walk away when Zatanna spoke up.

"I'm coming with you. So what's going to happen no…" Her words were cut off as her eyes met red eyes, causing her body to freeze as she went passive.

"We're not doing anything. You are going to leave me alone." He said, setting her down with the other children and leaped away from the scene, leaving her looking blank.

At the speed he ran, it would take him almost thirty minutes to reach his apartment. With the condition of his body and clothes, he felt safer on foot than in an enclosed bus.

Halfway through the trip, he slowed down a bit as he took his time to note the changes in his body. He felt the significant increase in his chakra, strength and speed.

Despite the battle he just came out of, he still felt decently full of energy. Knowledge of jutsu and their respective hand seals resided in his memory, ready for use.

Deciding to test his limits, he tensed his body in preparation before leaping high into the air. The result was outstanding as he jumped even higher than precessional athletes.

Despite the height in the air he achieved, he still managed to land silently on his feet.

'Amazing. This feels wonderful. I'm much stronger than I was before.' He thought as he almost lost himself in the wonders of strength.

As someone who never had powers or some form of ability, it was exhilarating. The feeling of knowing that you're no longer powerless is something that very few can forget.

He shook the thoughts out of his head before continuing on his way back to his apartment. Increasing his speed to the max, he disappeared in a blur.

With his new speed, it took him less than fifteen minutes to arrive at his destination. Using Energy Sensing, he made sure nobody was nearby before dropping down in front of the door.

He locked the windows and the openings to the house to avoid intruders snooping around his things. He was also planning on changing the locks on the door to restrict any access Kaito or anyone else could have.

'Having an entrance on the roof isn't a bad idea.' He thought as he dropped down in front of the door.

Just as he thought of that, the area behind him lit up in a blue light. He dashed to the side a few feet away as the light died down to reveal Zatanna with a dizzy look on her face.

"I found you!" She said with excitement, barely noticing how Sora's sharingan was immediately activated.

"Relax. I mean no harm." She said with her hands above her head in a surrender but Sora didn't care.

"What are you doing here!?" He demanded, the tomoe in his eyes spinning menacingly.

'Magic.' He thought with a growl not bothering to ask how she got here. The light show already gave it away.

With Energy Sensing, he felt a few people moving around hurriedly in the surroundings. It was almost midnight and people were previously sleeping. Her method of transport wasn't exactly discreet seeing as it lit up the street.

With great reluctance, he led her into the apartment before locking it behind him. Spreading his perception for a few moments, he observed the movement of the surrounding energies before confirming that they none of them moved closer.

He narrowed his eyes as he turned to see Zatanna still looking at him with a look of surrender.

~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback End~~~~~~~~~~

'Even Doctor Fate acknowledged her talent and affinity for magic. If grown properly, she could even be a match for Dr Fate. Of course, that is if she can prove to be an asset, if not...' He thought coldly as he continued his drawing.

With his knowledge and power, he could easily make her many folds stronger than her cannon self but that was only if her loyalties were to him and only him. He wouldn't train someone who could become a threat to him.

Just as he drew the final stroke on the note, a notification popped up in front of him that brought a grin to his face.

[*Ding!*]

[Due to special action you have gained 'Sealing Mastery'!]

After the incident with Zatanna teleporting in front of his house, his urgency to avoid magical beings was put at the top of his list of priorities.

Fuinjutsu was a major boost to his arsenal. Storage scrolls, exploding tags, Flash bomb tags and most importantly, a seal to hide himself and his apartment from magical detection and teleporting.

With the hours he spent trying to recreate it, he had run out of ink. He was lucky to finally get the skill right before his supplies ran out.

Getting off the seat, he put on a change of clothes and grabbed his wallet. He exited the workshop as a click was heard with the closing of the door.

He walked into the kitchen to get a snack before heading out. He paused as he reached the kitchen, the smell of something cooking hitting him.

"Who do you think pays for the ingredients you're wasting." He spoke as Zatanna, using her magic, levitated a tray out of the oven with a smile on her face.

"It's not a waste if it comes out alright." She said as the tray descended softly on the counter, displaying the well baked donuts on it.

"Also, we're out of flour." She said innocently to which he gave her a blank stare.

She had already developed a habit of baking which he really wished she would stop. Although she cleaned up each time after she was done, the problem of ingredients came up a lot.

He had already gone to the grocery store three times in just one week and he was already tired of it. It was the only thing he could use to keep her busy until he could determine how to gain her loyalty.

He sighed as he stretched his hand to the cabinet above, taking out two chocolate bars, sticking them in his pocket.

"Come on. Aren't you even going to try it?" She asked enthusiastically as Sora took another chocolate bar before opening it before.

"No. Clean up when you're done and don't leave the house." He said as he walked towards the door, taking a bit out of the bar.

"Where are you going?" She asked, noticeably less enthusiastically than before.

"The library. I need to get somethings before the day is over. Don't open the door for anyone that isn't me." He said as he exited, shutting the door behind him.

Zatanna's shoulder slumped a bit before she went to lock the door. She thought it would be fun to hang out with someone her own age for once but Sora was like a wall that couldn't be read.

Sometimes it was fun to try and guess what he was thinking, other times it was just frustrating. She let out a huff before take a bite out of one of the freshly baked donuts.

Her eyebrows raised a bit as she chewed and swallowed.

"Needs less sugar." She commented before taking another bite.