"So why…on earth…did you bring her here?" Kyou demanded, an icy glare directed at his twin sister.

Kyona had immediately grabbed Noriko in a hug when she noticed the catgirl leave the house and glared back at her brother. "I'm here with my cute little Nya."

"You don't have any reason to be here," he continued. "And…your…cute, little Nya? I don't remember her saying that she was with you now. In fact…every time we talk…she never even mentions you. So, really, you don't have any claim to her, do you?"

Noriko could feel static electricity moving up and down Kyona's arms and carefully pulled away from her. "Hn. Kyou, she's here because your father disowned her. He picked Kenta over her."

"Is that true?" He looked to Saitama, raising a pale grey eyebrow.

"Huh? Uh. I don't know. I wasn't there when Kenta attacked. I think I heard Sonic say something like that though." The bald hero glanced from one twin to the other and finally settled his gaze on Noriko. "Hey, Nya-chan. I think we should probably go home; you're still injured."

A hand subconsciously pressed to her abdomen and she winced. The slashes from Kenta were still bleeding a little and she was unsure of what was beneath the bandages that covered them. She gave Saitama a nod, but frowned. Her feline ears drew back and she looked at Kyona. "Hn. What are you going to do, Grey-san?" She knew that a decision had to be made quickly. Sonic now knew that the baby was his and he had disappeared to get another dose of vapor to make him part cat. He would be back soon.

Kyona stuck out her tongue at her brother and linked her human arm with Noriko's. "I can't stay with Kyou-nii…obviously…so I don't have any choice. I'm staying with my cute, little Nya~" She leaned over, rubbing her cheek against Noriko's and beaming.

It was at this moment that a familiar figure came into view on the path leading to the ranch house. Genos was moving faster than Kyona could register and soon had Noriko lifted in his arms and was departing the ranch. Noriko wrapped both arms around his neck, startled by his sudden appearance and action. What is he doing?! And how did he know where we were? Does he know about what happened? He has to, right?

The ranch soon disappeared into the distance as the catgirl buried her face in the crook of his neck. He was holding her tightly, his black and gold eyes focused on the horizon. The blonde cyborg offered no explanation as to where they were going or what he was doing. Noriko had to simply guess that he was taking her somewhere safe. Her eyes clenched shut, tail wrapping loosely around his arm. The wound on her abdomen was throbbing and tears sprang to her eyes. "G-Genos? Where are we going?" she finally forced out.

"I am taking you somewhere safe. I will protect you until the baby is born. I know that you are trying to be careful, but you still need protection. I have told you before that you can rely on me to protect you."

Shift P.O.V

Saitama stared after Genos and Noriko, seemingly unfazed. "Okay so I guess she's going somewhere with Genos." A glance back at the twins showed them arguing again. "What's with you guys? You really hate each other or something?"

"Or something? She…was willing to help that monster hunt down Samurai Catgirl and you expect me to get along with her? Kenta…that cretin…he would have killed Noriko, you know! The mother of my daughter! The girl that I love! My sister would have let it happen!" Kyou snarled, ice collecting at his fingertips.

"Ignorant as always…just like all men! Just like all of you…disgusting…so-called "men"! Like any of you…could ever…appreciate her real beauty! But that's beside the point, isn't it? Kyou-nii…you really think I'd let him kill her? Heh…heheheh! You have no idea how important Nya is to me! She's my world! I exist…only for her now! Not you! Not Kenta! Not our father! I exist solely for my sweet, little Nya! Why do you think I was there today?! I heard him…tell our father…that he was out to "collect some kitty corpses"! I left as soon as I could! If Speed o' Sound Sonic wasn't there today…if he hadn't beaten me to punch…I would have paralyzed and destroyed that asshole for even touching my Nya!"

Saitama listened to this exchange for a moment before pulling his phone from his pocket to check for messages. There was one from Koneko, demanding to know why Genos had suddenly left the apartment, and one from Mumen Rider. He dialed the other male hero and stepped back to avoid a thread of electricity shot by Kyona. "Hey. How's it going?"

"Did Genos make it to you?" The bicyclist sounded out of breath.

"Huh? Oh. Yeah, he grabbed Nya-chan and took off. I don't know where he was going though. Why?"

"I told him about the accident. I would have come with him, but something came up."

"A monster? So did you grab Koneko?"

"No. I didn't have time and I don't think this is something she should see. It's just me and a few other Class C heroes, but it's a gross one. She doesn't need to see something like that." He panted and paused in his words for a moment. The sounds of traffic filled the air. "Does anyone have eyes on Speed o' Sound Sonic?"

Saitama looked around him and tilted his head. "Nope."

"I don't think that he should be allowed near her in her condition, Saitama! I just have a bad feeling in my gut and-!"

"Oh. Hey, I'm getting a call from Koneko. Can I call you back?"

"Please just keep him away from Noriko!"

The call ended and the hero frowned a little. He accepted the call from Koneko, holding the phone a little ways from his ear when her high pitched voice snarled. "Hey, calm down. What's up?"

"Genos-senpai suddenly left and Mumen Rider left and I'm home alone! What am I supposed to do?! Where are you, Saitama-sensei?" she demanded.

Slowly, he began to realize the imminent danger she was in. If Kenta went after Nya-chan, he might go after Koneko. I know Sonic said that he's just a head right now, but he's with Kyou's dad, right? That can't be good. He held up a hand when the twins turned toward him, preemptively silencing their questions. "Hey, Koneko? Lock the doors and windows, okay? I'm on my way back. I'm bringing a guest okay. Until we get there, can you do me a favor and hide in the bathroom?"

"Hn! I'm not okay with this! You know I hate not knowing what's going on!" she snapped. "You'd better bring me something yummy to eat, sensei! I'm serious!"

"Okay, okay. Just stay hidden, got it?" He received a confirmation and put his phone away. Saitama's expression turned serious as he looked at the twins. Specifically Kyona. "You're coming with me until we get everything settled. Don't touch Koneko and don't talk to her; you probably give her the creeps. Kyou, can you do me a favor and keep Sonic busy if he turns up again?"

The pale-haired man frowned, but nodded. "I understand."

"Good." He shot Kyona another warning look before the two set off.

Shift P.O.V

Noriko was sitting on an examining table, head bowed and fidgeting anxiously. She bit at her thumbnail, taking a quick glance at her surroundings. The lab made her pulse pound and she soon returned her gaze to the floor. I hate labs. I really hate labs. I can't stand it! I feel like I'm trapped. I know the doctor wouldn't do anything, but this just reminds me of Kenta's lab!

The doctor was eyeing her wound, following it from her navel up to her sternum. There was dark blood on her bandage, outlining the slashes perfectly. "Genos, I've told you before that this isn't a medical facility. Unless she's on the verge of death, there really isn't much that I can do to help her," Doctor Kuseno explained.

"I am not asking for your help with her wound. I am asking that you allow her to stay here until the baby is born. I can protect her more efficiently if she is somewhere secure and I can tell the Hero Association that I am preoccupied so that I will not be called by them and-"

"Slow down now, Genos. Does this really sound like a good plan to you?"

The blonde stared back at him. "Yes. This is the best that I can think of, Doctor Kuseno. I want to keep her and the baby safe, but she is not safe at the apartment or at the ranch."

Watching the two converse, Noriko's tail swished side to side. I don't totally understand what's going on. Did he think this was a good idea? The wounds on her chest began to hurt again, making her double over and clutch her chest. "Hngh! G-Genos!"

He turned toward her and, seeing her in pain, tried to comfort her. "It will be alright, Noriko. I will take you somewhere secure and get something for your pain," he assured the catgirl. He lifted her in his arms and bid his doctor farewell.

She clung tightly to him, biting her bottom lip to keep from crying out in pain. "Just…take me back to the apartment. Please. I want to see Koneko and Saitama. I don't want to be separated from them."

"You will not be safe in the apartment," he argued. "You will be susceptible to attack from Kenta or Speed o' Sound Sonic."

"Hn. I'll have you and Saitama there to protect me. That's why I'm not afraid to stay there. I just pushed myself today. I didn't know that Kenta would show up; it was supposed to be a cat herding job."

"A cat herding job?" Both eyebrows rose in surprise as he looked down at her. "I would think that would be a job for someone else. Why were you herding cats? Don't you find that strange when you are part cat?"

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and she averted her bright green eyes from his black and gold ones. "Mumen Rider asked Saitama to help him and he wanted me to help because it was supposed to be easy. I was able to tell where stray cats were hiding. We caught a lot of them and they're supposed to be going to good homes so…"

His expression softened a little and he leaned down, letting his lips brush against hers gently. To his surprise, she leaned up to deepen the kiss. Her arms helped her stay up and she threaded her fingertips into his soft blonde hair. When she finally broke the kiss, Genos allowed himself a half-smile. "You cannot ignore the need to help others," he stated knowingly. "It is one of the things that I love about you, Noriko. Alright; we will return to the apartment. I will decrease the amount of time that I spend away from you so that I can keep you safe."

What they found at the apartment immediately set Noriko on edge. Saitama was sitting at the table with Koneko, but there was someone moving around in the kitchen very loudly. Genos gently set Noriko down so she could stand and she beat him to the doorway. Kyona's eyes lit up and she rushed forward for a hug, but was intercepted by the blonde hero. "Hn. What are you doing here, Grey-san?"

Kyona pouted and twirled a lock of her pale grey hair around a finger. "You act like you're not happy to see me, Nya! I'm here to help you! Just think of me…as your birthing partner! I can help you with breathing exercises and yoga and nutrition! I got a book on the way here and…since I'm a genius…I'll be the best for this! I even made you dinner!" She gestured at the stovetop where something appeared to have freshly burst into flames. "It's a steak!"

Noriko stared at the burning piece of meat and took a step back. "You can't sleep here."

"Of course not! No way…would I ever sleep in the same apartment as some guy! I wouldn't dream of it! I'm setting up just down the hall from you! We'll be neighbors! We'll be so close…separated by a thin wall…almost like living together!" Kyona's smile was far from benevolent. "We can even have a sleepover some time~"

"Hey. I said you could hang out for a while, but if you're creeping out Nya-chan then you should probably leave," Saitama spoke up from behind Noriko. He looked down at Noriko and smiled, giving her no warning before pulling her over to the futon. "Stay there. I got you something."

"What…?" Noriko obediently sat on the futon and was grabbed in a hug by Koneko, who started to purr and rub her cheek against Noriko's. She hugged back and felt Koneko pull away to look at her stomach. Tears filled the child's eyes and she hurriedly began petting behind her feline ears to soothe her. "It's okay. H-he's okay. Your brother is really strong, Koneko."

The younger catgirl smiled and leaned in again for a hug. "I was worried! Mumen Rider came here and told Genos that something happened to you! I was home alone and I didn't know what was going on! And when Saitama-sensei came home, he brought that grey lady with him! She keeps staring at me and giggling!"

Noriko hugged her a little tighter and looked toward the kitchen doorway. Genos was banishing Kyona from the kitchen. She scowled and swore at him, static electricity running up and down her arms until she caught the catgirls staring. Kyona pulled up the hood on her sweatshirt and left the apartment, a door slamming open next door. I don't like the thought of her living so close to us. Especially with Koneko living here. Something dropped over Noriko's head and she jumped a little, panicked until she realized that it was a hooded sweatshirt. Holding it up, she saw that it was large enough to cover her baby bump comfortably.

Saitama sat beside her and reached over to ruffle Koneko's hair. "That will probably fit, right? I saw it on my way home and thought you could use it."

She smothered a laugh when she saw the words displayed on the chest. In bold lettering it said "Cat Mom". Pulling it on over her bandages, she half-grinned. "Thank you."

"Cat mom?" Koneko snickered and poked at her mom's stomach. "That's weird! How many ladies can say they're a cat mom?"

"Right? That's why it's so perfect," Saitama agreed. "Sorry about bringing Kyona here. I didn't know what else to do; she and her brother would've torn the ranch apart."

"She's Kyou-san's sister?!" the little catgirl exclaimed.

"Huh? They're almost identical. And they're twins."

"They don't smell the same at all!" she argued.

Noriko could feel herself growing tired from the day's events and held out until after Genos served dinner. With a full stomach, she slumped forward at the table and felt consciousness fading. She was only vaguely aware of arms lifting her and settling her into the futon, making sure that she was comfortable. "…thank you…"