Kotetsu wakes up on his couch, drool running down his face. He's not sure when he fell asleep last night, but it was in the middle of his searches. All of which didn't get him any closer to figure out what Yuri was doing or where he was. This was the exact reason he didn't want to do things this way. This was more Barnaby's forte, anyway.

He stands up, stretches the kinks out of his muscles, and gets on with his day. At first, he tries to go about it regularly. That's what everyone else would want, after all. But damn if he can't not keep looking at the door.

Well, it's been at least twelve hours now, right? He should be fine to head out and do things his way. He just… won't tell Barnaby or Karina or anyone else that that's what he's planning on doing.

Out he goes, and it's time to hunt. It starts with asking around and listening in on things. Thanatos mentioned here and there, though no new sighting since last night. That makes enough sense, but it isn't leading him anywhere.

A struggle, for sure. But a struggle never stopped Wild Tiger before!

He keeps going, and gets news of a man with long gray hair being in a nearby area. It could be anyone, he tells himself, that's what Barnaby would say. But he might as well check it out, see if it really is Yuri.

A large area, with shops all about - mostly mom and pop businesses, too. The type that would be sure to remember the various customers they get, right? Television screens playing whatever news happens to be on scattered around - all the more reason for people to remember if they saw someone who looked like Thanatos.

He makes it over there in no time, but no sign of the man at first. He wanders, asking for directions here and there, and feels more restless with each passing moment. He can't let Yuri slip away, not for a third time.

Losing track of Lunatic had happened plenty already, he doesn't need to do the same with Yuri. It was the start of a new era, right? Lunatic was dead, so him missing his chance to catch him was, too!

Finally, he catches sight of gray hair, held up haphazardly with a scrunchie. It has to be him, there's no one else it could be…! He starts after him, but the man doesn't even turn when he yells for him to wait.

It's crowded - nothing too unexpected at this time of day, but annoying nonetheless. It's hard to keep up, having to try and push and weave through the people. How Yuri (or the man Kotetsu thinks is Yuri) can do it so easily, he doesn't know.

And, is it just him or is he walking faster? Trying to get away from him, dammit…!

Kotetsu picks up his own pace and lunges, knocking the man over. There's no doubt about it - this is Yuri.

"Finally caught up!" He breathes out, grinning at him. "Long time no see, eh?"

Yuri narrows his eyes, looks away. "I didn't want you to catch me."

"Yeah, I had a feeling you didn't with the way you tried to run and all that," Kotetsu huffs. "But what can I say? I'm stubborn."

"I can tell that," Yuri pushes him off. "...If we must do this, not here. Follow me."

Kotetsu doesn't have to be told twice, and off after Yuri he goes, heart pounding in his chest. He never thought this day would come, never thought he would be able to get answers or do something more. Maybe he'll start with thanking him.


When he had killed Lunatic, Yuri Petrov had considered killing himself, too. At least the image of him, of the unbiased judge making rulings and helping in running Hero TV. He had been doing well at that, before deciding he couldn't stay away. When he had decided to show his new form of justice, the new sense instilled in him by many a hero, he had made a mistake.

That mistake was saving one Kotetsu T. Kaburagi from dying a fool's death. It wasn't the first time he'd done so, and likely not the last as loathe as he was to admit it. There was something about the man that spurred Yuri on.

He thinks if Kotetsu dies too soon, it will be a loss for Sternbild as a whole. Even if Wild Tiger had been buried alongside Lunatic three months ago.

Kotetsu still follows after him, not breaking stride for a moment. As if he'll lose sight of him the minute he stops. Yuri wishes he wasn't so stubborn about things like this - wishes he hadn't been caught.

They make it to an alley that's empty and he finally stops, looking back at the ex-hero. "Well? I'm sure you have questions."

"A whole lot of them!" Kotetsu nods. "Like… where have you been for these past few months?!"

"Recovering, thinking," Yuri says, keeping things vague. "...Avoiding heroes like you turning me into the police."

Kotetsu frowns at him. "I wasn't planning on that, at least not at the moment. You… You've done a lot for me, if anything, I need to properly thank you first."

Yuri lets out an empty chuckle. "Do I really deserve that, despite all I did?"

"You were a murderous idiot, no doubt about that!" Kotetsu is quick to reply. "But maybe you hung up that murderous part of that title!"

Yuri narrows his eyes. "Are you saying I'm an idiot?"

"Vanishing for three months out of nowhere, showing up like this, making everyone worry… Of course you're an idiot!" Kotetsu huffs. "But even idiots are loved, so… If you come back, there's a place for you. No jail cells involved."

"I thought your idea of justice was arresting people like me."

"You gotta face what you did and become a better person," Kotetsu says. "Seems to me you're already doing both of those things."

Yuri laughs. "You sound quite sure of yourself."

"Because I am! My gut never leads me astray and my gut says you've made a change for the better," Kotetsu's voice softens. "But you don't have to change all on your own."

Yuri bites his lower lip and turns away. "You know nothing about me, even now. How disappointing."

With a flash of flames, he's gone. He hopes this time that Kotetsu won't follow him. Won't find him. After all, there was no reason to chase after a dead man.


"You did what?!" Karina is more than a little upset when Kotetsu explains what happened yesterday, and he wonders if he should've held off on saying anything for just a little longer. "What if he hides away again?!"

"Well, at least Tiger saw his face, right?" Pao-Lin says. "So we can look for him even if he doesn't go out as Thanatos!"

"You got a point," Ryan looks at Kotetsu. "Okay, lay it on us. "Who's the weirdo under the mask."

Kotetsu looks at the heroes, tight-lipped and unwilling to speak. He's kept who Lunatic was under wraps since he found out - a feat for someone like Kotetsu. He can't just go breaking that silence now, can he?

"Well?" Nathan says, eyebrow raised. "Who is it?"

"I can't say," he finally forces out. "Sorry."

"Can't say?!" Karina narrows her eyes. "And why is that? You didn't go making a promise with him, did you?"

"Nothing like that!" Kotetsu shakes his head. "I just… don't wanna ruin his life. He's already making strides to be better, so…"

"You don't want to make things worse," Ivan mumbles. "I think I sort of get it."

"He's a murderer," Barnaby says. "He needs to face time for his crimes, you know that Kotetsu."

"I guess I do, but…" His shoulders slump. "With all I know about him… I don't know, it just feels wrong."

"The stuff you know that we're in the dark about," Antonio points out. "You're not doing a very good job of convincing us, Kotetsu."

"Sorry, guess it's not my forte," Kotetsu says. "Maybe give me some time and I'll find a way to lay it all out for you."

"Well, not like we can even grab him right now, right?" Ryan says. "So sure, why not? Just keep us updated, gramps."

"I will, don't worry," he looks at Barnaby, begging his partner to trust him. "Thanatos isn't the same man Lunatic was, he's changed. You'll see it too, just give it time."

Barnaby sighs, looks away from him. Kotetsu can't tell if his plea did any good. "Three appearances. If I haven't changed my mind by the end of his next three appearances, I'm taking him in."

"That's fine, hopefully by then I'll know what to say," Kotetsu smiles. "Thanks, Bunny."


When a dangerous NEXT is spotted, Barnaby wonders for a moment if it's Thanatos for a moment. He's still thinking about Kotetsu's plea - to give him some more time to explain it all. Barnaby already has more information than the others, but it just makes it all the more frustrating.

He knows Yuri Petrov is the man behind it, knows Kotetsu talked to him more than he really did. He wonders if there's a missing link there that he just can't grasp, one that could explain all of this.

It makes him want to rip his hair out, to be honest. He and Kotetsu trusted each other deeply - if he was keeping things from him it was good reason. He knows that, but it still hurts to think there's some things Kotetsu can't say.

When he finally makes it to the scene, he's able to push it aside for now. The NEXT on the loose was a water manipulation type, with more control over it than Magical Cat. Maybe she and Fire Emblem can bond over that later…

For now, he has to act. The NEXT had stopped a prison transport and was currently trying to kill the criminals on way to incarceration. The goal was to stop not only the NEXT, but protect said criminals without allowing them a chance to escape.

He jumps into action as soon as he can, going right for the NEXT. He sees a man next to them, drowned above water… It makes his skin crawl, but he knows he can't falter now.

A kick towards him, and a surge of water throwing him back. Fire Emblem and Sky High are there now, sending a flaming tornado towards him. The NEXT jumps out of the way, dousing the duo quickly.

Rock Bison comes rushing in, drills at the ready. Origami Cyclone comes up from behind, DragonCat coming from the side. Four at once couldn't be easy to take on. Barnaby stands and rushes to help Ryan and Blue Rose with the convicts.

A gush of water comes towards them, as well as Rock Bison. Barnaby catches the older hero and darts towards the NEXT. Origami is clashing against one of his armored gauntlets, Cat against his water.

Dragon Kid runs at a criminal who got away in the moment Barnaby cause Rock Bison, clashing against them and trying to keep the chaos down. Blue Rose freezes the NEXT to the spot, but it looks like he can control the temperature of the water, too.

The ice melts quickly and he jumps away from Origami and Cat. Barnaby makes sure Bison is on his feet and then rushes forward, towards the NEXT.

That's when the blue and green flames descend.

He jumps back and stares up, Thanatos. It was about time he showed up. And it looks like Barnaby wasn't the only one waiting for him.

"Lunatic! You're here!" The NEXT yells, arms outstretched. "Oh, how I was waiting for this! I just knew this was how to bring you out - punishing sinners as you would!"

Thanatos says nothing and aims his crossbow at the NEXT.


Yuri is getting tired of people calling him Lunatic. Lunatic is dead, a fire-fueled funeral only three were present for the last remnant of him. He grits his teeth and points is crossbow at the murderer.

His sense of justice has changed, but someone doing this just to draw him out makes him ache for the voice of Thanatos - or he supposes his own voice. He wants to shoot him through, watch him burn.

But Barnaby is watching him, he would hate to prove Kotetsu wrong via his own partner. He has to wait, had to make sure Kotetsu sees it and truly just gives up. And so he changes his aim at the last moment, right at the feet of the NEXT.

The NEXT lets out a shrill laugh and points at him. The water shoots forward and he propels himself up and away. Onto another building he perches, and he readies to strike again. Barnaby takes note and goes for his free side.

Barnaby's leg connects and the NEXT turns his attention to him, shooting him away with a fountain of water. Yuri shoots again, and the flames meet the water. One small shot, not matter how hot, can't withstand that.

The other heroes approach, Yuri doesn't want them involved. He cuts them off from himself, the NEXT, and Barnaby. Not that Barnaby was doing much at the moment, still trying to regain his footing.

Yuri could finish this before then.

He lunges, flames licking at his hand. He clashes against the NEXT, listens as he hisses in pain. Only a little more now, and this will be over. He doesn't let up, and perhaps that's where things go wrong.

A knee to his stomach and he chokes out in pain - still sore from the battle three months ago. The NEXT grabs him by the face and water begins to choke him. He grasps at his hand, clawing as his fire burns, but it's not enough.

He's going to die. After all this, he's going to die.

"Thanatos!" Barnaby's voice shakes him and he sees a flurry or red and white.

The NEXT goes flying and he's coughing up water, trying to gasp in air. Barnaby comes to his side and helps him up, he's unsteady on his feet. It's hard to even see straight, everything is swimming…

He coughs up more water as the NEXT stands and promises to find him again.

"Next time," he says. "I'll wash the naivety out of you, I promise!"

He wants to follow after, but the grasp Barnaby has on him is too strong. Barnaby holds him up, and all either of them can do is watch. Yuri's flames disappear as his own consciousness starts to fade, as well.


"So, Handsome," Fire Emblem is the first to speak up when the dust settles and Barnaby lays Thanatos out on the pavement. "Are we gonna unmask him?"

"No, Kotetsu'll be here soon," he says. "I had Mr. Black call him. We'll do this when he gets here."

Fire Emblem crosses their arms. "You already know who it is, don't you?"

Barnaby laughs, but it comes out choked. "Was it that obvious? Sorry for not saying anything, but Kotetsu and I…"

"Didn't know how to tell us Yuri Petrov was Lunatic, right?"

He turns to look at them, eyes widening. "You-"

"Of course I figured it out, Handsome," Fire Emblem sighs. "I'm not an idiot, and I worked with him plenty when setting up the buddy system, you know."

"Does anyone else know?" Barnaby asks after a moment.

"As far as I know? Nope, just you, me, and Wild Tiger," they glance back to where the other heroes are gathered, waiting for Fire's go-ahead to approach. "But hey, at least you boys'll have some help explaining it all - after you fill me in, that is."

"I'm guessing this isn't something I can opt-out of?" Barnaby jokes as he sits next to the unconscious vigilante, one hand on his wrist just in case.

"Sorry, but your partner hit the limit on that already," Fire Emblem laughs. "So come on, start at the beginning. When did you realize Judge Petrov was Lunatic?"

"Well, it was right at the end of the battle with L.L. Audun." He grimaces just thinking about it. "Kotetsu and I followed the blood trail…"