In the week of Kotetsu's captivity, his face had been all over TV. WILD TIGER MISSING. HEROES SEARCH FRANTICALY FOR RETIRED COMRADE. Hero TV had tried conducting interviews with the heroes to generate more views. It didn't end well.

Rock Bison had railed at his interviewers for being insensitive. "Our comrade is missing and all you people care about is your own self... self... Uh, what's the word?" Origami Cyclone could be heard in the background trying to discreetly supply the word. "Yeah! What he said." Barnaby had refused to even show up to the interview. He had said he was too busy but everyone knew he was out looking for Kotetsu. Not that he'd ever admit it. Sky High had tried to get him to stop looking for Tiger-san by himself but Barnaby had simply said that he was going shopping or out for a walk... or walking the dog

he didn't actually have. Blue Rose had gotten that last excuse.

"You don't have a dog"

"I did... You must've scared it away." Blue Rose had pretended to stalk off in a huff but actually stayed to keep an eye on him. You're not the only one who's worried about him, baka.

Nathan had made so many inappropriate comments towards Kotetsu during his interview that the studio couldn't air it.

"What do I like about Handsome? Well, let's see. I just love his %^&. Oh and his big strong hands. And you know what they say about men with large hands..." He had continued to describe Kotetsu's anatomy with obvious glee. Agnes had been furious.

Despite the heroes protests, cameramen and reporters followed them when they had received an anonymous tip detailing Kotetsu's whereabouts. They had burst into the building, and found far more than they'd been expecting. The house was old and reeked of fear, blood, and sweat. The first body they found was on the first floor. Barnaby assumed the charred corpse was Lunatic's handiwork, and new fear for his partner made him grit his teeth. He called out to the other heroes, "Does anyone smell anything like this coming from any other part of the house?" Ivan and Dragon Kid shouted. They had gone further on towards the back of the house and the smell near a certain door was strong enough to make them gag.

The problem with staircases is that someone has to go first. Barnaby insisted that he go down first. He did his best to sound calm and rational. His Hundred Power was more suited for an underground attack than Sky High's and more controlled than Fire Emblem's. He was also more immune to surprise attacks than the other heroes. In truth, sending him down first made a lot of sense, but the boy's irritated manner and glowing eyes made Sky High uneasy. Still, he agreed. And so, Barnaby was the first to see what had been done to his partner.

Barnaby couldn't smell the burnt flesh through his helmet; nor the coppery reek of stale blood and urine, but he could see it. All of it. A dim flickering light lit up the room; revealing a concrete cellar with no windows. A charred body lay twisted and grotesque across the last step and another, larger, one could be seen a few feet away. In the middle of the room, a bloodstained chair was bolted to the floor. And in the farthest corner from the door, his partner, his ridiculous meddlesome partner, lay beaten and bloody with a small child in his arms.

"Kotetsu!" The moment Barnaby rushed forward, Sky High got a clear view of the room.

"Blue Rose. Origami Cyclone. Go back upstairs and wait with the reporters." Blue Rose protested but Origami Cyclone gently pushed her back up the stairs. Under his breath, he added, "Such a scene was not meant for the eyes of children." He took notice of a broken TV and a bucket of water, filled just enough to drench a person without making to much of a mess. What on Earth happened here? Rock Bison shouted for someone to call an ambulance.

Barnaby tried desperately to shake Kotetsu awake. "Come on, Kotetsu! Wake up! Powers or no powers, you're my partner dammit!" Tears welled up in his eyes. A long raspy breath broke the short silence.

"Oi, Bunny-chan, be quiet, would you? I haven't gotten any real shut eye in a while." The girl in his arms stirred. "Bunny, is your visor down?" For some strange reason, Kotetsu refused to open his eyes.

"Yes, why?"

"Keep it down. Don't let this girl see your face. Also, I could really use some water." Barnaby flashed a confused and mildly hurt look at his companions, but rushed to go find a cup and water.

"Aw Handsome, you look terrible!"

"I feel great, though." Rock Bison looked Kotetsu up and down. He had opened his eyes once Barnaby had left. They were bloodshot, teary, and swollen.

"What did they do to you, Kotetsu?" Kotetsu went for a grin but settled for a grimace.

"Nothing I can't handle. Help the girl. She needs it more than I do..." His head lolled to the side, seemingly unconsciousness. Bison looked at his friend and shook his head.

"Damn fool. Acting all cool and then passing out." He gathered both Kotetsu and the girl into his arms and took them to the ambulance.…..

"I want to ride with Handsome, too!"