Kotetsu gets kidnapped

Kotetsu stomped off towards the bar. Moments like the one that had just passed made him want to just quite being a HERO and punch that self-righteous Barnaby in the face. Argh! For such a young guy, he wasn't being cute at all today!

The sound of the door alarm of the bar wasn't even heard as the noise level rose.

The smoke and smell of alcohol inside curled like a huge purring cat in his chest, burning his eyes and nose. Kotetsu made his way through several depressed drunkards moaning about debts, a gathering of testosterone filled college and high school boys pouring shots of voldka and chugging them, and several sports fans all shouting and spilling more beer than drinking it; in order to sit right next to the figure he knew so well.

Sitting at the bar stool, he motioned for the waiter to come and bought himself a beer. The cold, frosted green bottle of cheap imported bitter liquid was quickly set down. Taking a swing, he asked, "So what are you doing here Bison?"

The large man merely shrugged. Muscles came alive with that small motion. "Same as you I guess. I wanted a drink."

Kotetsu merely raised an eyebrow. "This is a little far for just a drink?"

Rock Bison only sighed. "I knew you'd be here and I didn't want to drink alone."

Kotetsu only nodded.

Moments of silence passed between the two. The silence soon turned uncomfortable and then it turned awkward.

The roar of a group of elderly men watching a sport game erupted right next to the stools the two HEROs sat at.

"Kotetsu… why do you still wear that ring?" Bison had sighed the whole question out in one breath. It wasn't the first time he'd asked the question. Seeing the man he considered a friend lonely and figuring the ring and purple jade beaded bracelet made him worry for him. Kotetsu, for all of his years, had only been in a relationship once, and when his wife had died, he hadn't even looked at another. Five plus years had passed since her passing and the ring was still on, he was still clinging to the past.

Kotetsu only sighed in answer. "In all honesty, I don't know why I do anymore." He played with the ring, twisting the cold piece of metal around his finger, lifting it up to the knuckle and then back down. He did the same thing three times more before letting it rest.

The answer that Bison startled; not once had Kotetsu answered like that. His voice had taken a thoughtful sound, as if though he was contemplating the mysteries of the universe right there.

"I guess it's because of the promise I made Tomoe."

"The promise to always be a HERO," Bison nodded, remembering when Wild Tiger come back as HERO. His friend's loyalty to his promises was admirable.

"Yeah, but I'm afraid that I can't go on any longer. Even the One Minute is shortening up." The reminder of his dying powers was more than just a sore subject for him. He hated the thought of losing them. Out of every NEXT he'd met before, he'd been the youngest to receive his, even younger than the Mayor's own son. He'd been born with them, had learned to control them as best as he could once he had finally figured out what his powers actually were. To realize that he'd lose them all sometimes made him wish he could just activate them repeatedly until he had nothing left, because the wait was destroying him.

"Is that why Barnaby is so upset with you?" The question concerning his friend's partner had been made out of pure curiosity. Bison had seen the young blonde angrily stomp out of the Apollon Media Building, cursing Wild Tiger's name under his breath.

"Hmph! That Barnaby forgets that I was too a King of HERO's before he even thought of becoming one. And that I've been able to kick anyone's ass without my powers since before he was born!"

The words were said in such a rage, that Kotetsu, blind in his emotions, slammed his drink down on the table's top. The contents created waves that crashed upon the bottle violently, although Kotetsu had been generously taking in the contents so not one drop spilled.

Bison only looked at his friend and laughed. Every word had been true. It was a shame Barnaby hadn't seen Kotetsu in his prime; he might then be able to fully appreciate his partner's worth instead of constantly being worried about him leaving. Light dawned on him.

"What were you arguing about this time?"

Kotetsu scowled. "I accidently got hit by the criminal's bullet. When he shot the gun at Barnaby, I merely pushed him down and took the bullet. Once Baranby realized what had happened, he sort of freaked and…. I swear he turned into a devil or something because one second he was normal and the next he was chasing the guy down and the whole thing was over before I knew it."

Shaking his head, Bison could only find himself to feel pity for his oblivious friend. "Has it ever occurred to you that you could get killed by a bullet?"

Kotetsu looked at Bison as if though he said something stupid. "Even without my powers activated, I can still take on a bullet. I doubt it could do much besides break a few bones and give me a bruise."

Bison palmed his face with his right hand. Only Kotetsu would seriously take a bullet and think nothing of it. "It's a wonder you haven't died yet!"

Kotetsu snorted at his friend. "I'm stronger than I look. I can still kick your ass." He said it as if though he was stating a fact, like the sun was hot and the sky was blue.

Wincing at the memory of the last mock fight, Bison could still feel the ghost of the pain of his ass repeatedly hitting the mat in the training room. Even after using his own NEXT powers, Bison had still gotten his ass handed to him for several hours straight. Kotetsu's had not lost any of his own natural physical strength, the growing years only making him stronger.

"Yes, but Barnaby has never seen you fight against me. He might just be worried about you?" It was something Bison had noted as time went on between the two partners. Barnaby obviously cared for Kotetsu, to what extent was anyone's guess, though he was sure Nathan knew more on the subject. The flamboyant man was really keen when it came to the inner dealings of the HEROs around him, he would have to make a call later on tonight and exchange notes.

Huffing, Kotetsu, finished with his drink, decided it was time to go home. Paying for the alcohol, he patted Bison's shoulders and walked out the door. Stumbling into the pavement, Kotetsu angrily muttered at his own clumsy footing.

He righted himself.

A breath or two later, and he was walking down the streets to his lovely little home.

The moon was out tonight. It was waning, soon, as in a day's time; it'd be a new moon.

He felt himself become depressed. The waning silvery crescent above him reminded him of his own waning powers. Would his life be as empty as the night sky on a new moon without his powers? Would he still have the people closest to him once he lost his powers? What would he tell Keade, who he had long neglected for the same powers that were leaving him? Would he have broken his promise to Tomoe if he lost them?

So many thoughts were running through his head that the silent whispers of feet following him did not reach his ears.

A sudden pain and then a feeling of paralyzes took hold over him so quickly that Kotetsu found himself on the floor before he even realized what had happened. His head had collapsed near the steps of his home, the front door so mockingly near and yet so far.

Tall black figures took his fallen body into the back of van in a move so easily done that Kotetsu automatically knew that these men were not normal humans.

Something was pressed against his face, and while he was busy trying to get his body to struggle, he never felt the tug of unconsciousness pull him in until he was already lost in it.

One of the figures opened a cell phone and dialed. A ring, two, and then a third passed on. A person on the other line answered.

"DO you have him?"

"Yes master."

"Is he harmed?"

"No. We only shot a tranquilizer at him."

"Were you seen?"

"No. No one on the roof tops saw any movement."

"Good. Bring him here immediately."

"Yes sir."

The line went dead.