"Sir!" The soldier said. "We've managed to narrow down her location!"
"Excellent." Kurama replied simply. "We must catch her before she causes too much damage..."
Mike and Susan's, a week later...
Harry and Lucy were watching TV in Mike and Susan's living room, the former sitting contently on the latter's lap. Lucy didn't show it, but she had a very bad feeling about this day...
"Hey, guys, whatcha watchin'?" Mike asked as he sat on the couch next to them.
"I'm not too sure myself..." Lucy replied. "A cartoon show of some sort...
"Ah, Looney Toons. Nice." Mike said. "These are classics." Then, Susan ran in the room, a look of grave concern on her face.
"Mike, there are armed men outside our house..." Lucy tensed up and her eyes widened.
"A-Armed men...?" She asked nervously. "...Are...are they dressed as soldiers? Are they of Japanese descent?"
"Yes. You know them?" Susan asked.
'No no no no no! They couldn't have found me! I can't let them take me back! Harry needs me!' Lucy was internally panicking.
"Lucy? Are you alright, dear?" Susan asked.
"You look as pale as a ghost!" Mike added.
"L-Lucy...?" Harry asked softly, clutching Lucy's shirt fearfully. Lucy snapped out of her stupor and turned to Mike and Susan.
"...They're after me..." Mike and Susan looked at her wide-eyed.
"Whoa, hold the phone...Why would they be after you?" Mike asked. Lucy hesitated. But she knew that she had to show them...They were going to shun her for sure...But slowly, she reached up to her head and unattached the bows that were covering her horns.
Mike and Susan were shocked. They stared at the Diclonius's horns for a few moments, unsure of what to say. Lucy looked down, afraid to see their reactions. Harry looked back and forth between his caretaker and the people who had helped them.
"...Disgusting..." Lucy flinched at Susan's harsh words. Harry looked at her in shock, as if he was about to cry. Mike simply turned to look at her. "...Are you telling me those men are after you just because you have horns?!" Lucy looked at Susan, her eyes wide with shock.
"Y-You don't think I'm...a monster...?" She asked, stunned beyond all reason. Susan smiled warmly at Lucy.
"Lucy, you could't make me think you're a monster if you killed multiple people!" Lucy shifted uncomfortably. "You are a wonderful person, and I'm sure someday soon, you'll also be a wonderful mother!" Lucy blinked at this, and then Mike put his two cents in.
"She's right, y'know. It was awesome having you guys here. But...If those creeps really are after you, I guess it's too dangerous for you to stick around..." Mike looked thoughtful. "Susan, are they in the back, too?"
"No, only the front." Susan replied.
"Ha! Idiots!" Mike laughed. "Didn't cover the perimeter! That's the perfect place for you guys to escape while we distract them!"
"But...what if they hurt you...?" Harry asked softly.
"No worries, little man." Mike smiled as he ruffled Harry's hair. "We'll be fine."
Lucy teared up at the couple's kindness. "I...I don't know what to say..."
Mike snapped his fingers. "Oh! I just remembered..." He quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of dollar bills. "Since you have to leave, I figure you'll need some cash for boat fare, plus paying for food and clothes and all that...So, uh, here's about 800 dollars." Lucy threw her arms around Mike and Susan.
"...Thank you...Thank you so much..." She whispered, her voice audibly quaking.
"It's our pleasure, dear." Susan smiled as she and Mike hugged Lucy back. "Now you'd best be off." Lucy nodded and turned to Harry.
"...Harry...It's time to go." Harry leapt into her arms without hesitation. Lucy held him tightly and rushed out the back door, agilely leapt over the couple's fence, and sprinted away from the house.
There was a knock on the door.
Mike and Susan exchanged determined glances, then went to answer it.
"Sir. Ma'am. It's come to our attention that a woman who looks like this is in the premises. Have you seen her?"
"She went that way!" Mike shouted, pointing in the exact opposite direction Lucy had run. "Go get her!"
"Thank you, sir." The soldier said with a nod as he left. Mike closed the door.
"Think they'll make it?" He asked.
"I know they will." Susan smiled warmly. "Harry and Lucy will be just fine...
