Chapter 9

The moment the door closed. Tama went off to Bad's room to take up the bed to sleep in, Zaphera however began to wonder the house, taking in every nook and cranny to see what was where and where to go for a good nap. She slept everywhere within the house but by far. The couch was her spot!

She sprawled over it, rubbing her body into the fabric and savoring the sensation of her fur being shifted about and her scent lingering within the sofa cushions. Without a doubt, there would be no beast on Earth that wouldn't notice this couch belongs to her!

She was about to pass out for her third nap of the day when something peeked her interest. A strange sound was coming from outside and it wasn't one she has heard before. Slinking down from her spot, Zaphera inched closer to the front door, taking in the smell. She has picked up on this scent before, and yet this time it was far stronger. Whatever it was dared to move closer to the front of the door. She was about to try and peer out a window, when a voice was heard.

"Lookie here, looks like no one's home!" She heard the voice of a gruff man who must have been eyeing the house for some time. She slipped into the dark corner as the handle of the door began to jostle and then come loose, he kicked in the door and looked about at first. No one home, at least that's what he thought. Her serpent tongue whisked through her lips, she tasted human and animal blood on this man's hands. He isn't one to hesitate a kill if it hinders him obtaining what he wants.

The man was rather large and creepy looking. "I heard this was a good place to hit. S Class Metal Bat's house, rumor has it the kid is loaded!"

He stepped foot but quickly closed the door behind him. He paused when must have seen a pair of glowing eyes peer at him through the darkness. "Ooo a little kitty? Here kitty, kitty" he said in a fake sweet tone. He reached behind him and pulled out a pocketknife.

Zaphera however bared her fangs, she gave off a serpent hiss as the man suddenly realized she wasn't a house cat!

"OH GOD!" he screamed.

Zaphera pounced, her body became serpent like as she coiled around the robber.

No one will hear his screams now…

#

"You think Zaphera is okay? Would she be lonely?" asked Zenko as they walked through the mall.

Garou snorted. "Tch, it's a damn cat. A very over grown… deadly… eat you when you aren't looking cat." He stated as his hands remained in his pocket and he walked with a slouch. "Why the hell did I come here again!?"

"You didn't want to be left alone!" smirked Bad. "Also our son didn't want anything to do with you."

"Shut up," Garou growled.

The wondered from store to store, Bad was good as he let Zenko look at whatever she wanted to see, following her in no matter how girly the store was. Garou refused to step in if the place was covered in hot pink and glitter. "Tch, if I wanted this, I would have stayed home and gotten Zenko's dolls out…"

Bad tried to ignore how grumpy Garou was. Botan on the other hand woke up and was amazed by it all. His eyes saw everything. He appeared to like glitter!

Before long, lunchtime was upon them.

#

"Is that Metal Bat?"

"What's he holding so close to him?"

"NO WAY!"

They broke for lunch, however it was hard to eat when people were stopping and whispering to Metal Bat and his now extended family. He was holding on to Botan who was now wide awake and looking at everything. He took in the mall for the first time, he wanted to see everything but then also he started eyeing the food. "You already thinking about solid food? Good!" Garou said as he munched on a burger. "By the way…" he said offhandedly.

"I made bottles… too much info I know, but yeah I made some!" Bad protested as he took one out of the bag. He got Botan fed as the women began to coo.

"AAAWWW! Metal Bat is a wonderful big brother!"

"Being a wonderful Big Brother? He's being a wonderful dad!" Zenko protested.

The women went pale and silent. Bad however flushed with embarrassment as he leaned over to his sister. "Thanks, but let's keep this on the down low for now. If they start asking question about where he came from…" Bad whispered.

Zenko was quick to silence herself as she nodded her head to him. With everyone fed, it was time to go back to shopping. Garou was left carrying the bags since Bad had Botan. But now, his own son was up and about, watching and taking in the world around him. "Ooo let's get Botan a toy!"

"He has tons of them," said Bad. "What he needs is new clothing."

"He's got plenty!" Garou muttered. "He's not out growing them THAT fast."

Bad turned and glared. "Yeah he is!"

"Botan is getting a new outfit!" Zenko announced. She led them to another store where they had baby clothing. She began picking out little outfits and onesies for her nephew, she was rather good at it, Garou would give her that!"

They ended up dropping quite a bit in the baby store, which made more bags for Garou to carry. "I don't get paid enough for this!" Garou protested.

"Dude, go to one of the hallways and drop them off in the shadow world, we'll pick them up later" Bad whispered.

He did just that. Garou found a darkened hallway where he called one of the shadows. "Psst, anyone there?"

{Garou?} came the voice Bloodbore.

"Yeah, can you take these for me? My hands are full and they won't stop shopping!" he begged.

Bloodbore took the bags without hesitation. {The king is happy, and so are we, we will gladly take his purchases and bring them home for him.}

"Thanks, you guys are a life saver!"

Garou emerged out of the shadows with his arms free once more. Just as Botan was getting fussy. "Okay little man, what's wrong?" Bad asked.

Botan was crying towards Garou, his arms reaching out for him. He smirked and found that his son grew tired of Bad and now wanted him! "I got it." Garou swooped in and took Botan into his arms, he became all giggly shortly after. "There we go, happy man!" he said in a cute tone. Botan soon fell asleep from the excitement, but Bad and Zenko continued to shop! "You're lucky kid… you get to sleep through all of this." Garou whispered.

#

Two hours later.

Garou was glad to make it home!

The day of shopping was worst than getting his blood sucked out of his body. Yet as they got home, Bad paused. "Huh? Did we get a new doorknob or something? In fact… this is a whole new door! This is new right?"

Garou glared at it and nodded, but then he picked up the scent. "Someone was here… ill intent to say the least."

"What?" Bad demanded as he summoned his bat from the shadows. Zenko hung back as Garou kept her close and held on to Botan extra tight. Bad was careful as he used his power to open the door and then he paused. "Something… is here… but no threat." He said, as he peered into the house he froze. His bat suddenly dropped as he nervously covered his mouth. "Uh…" he said.

"What is it?" Zenko asked.

Garou however sensed it… he could hear it too! However, he couldn't hide his smirk. "Well… that would teach them for breaking and entering!" Garou was curious to see for himself. He peered into the house and saw Zaphera on her back, purring and squirming about with a very loud and engorged belly. Garou could hear the muffled scream coming from it!

Bad however didn't want Zenko to see it. "Zaphera, go to Bad's old room and sleep it off will you please?" Garou asked.

It took her a few attempted to roll over on to her feet again, she was just too full to do so! But she eventually managed to roll on to her belly, even still it dragged across the ground as Garou swore he saw a hand and foot push out from her sides trying to break free! When she vanished into the room, he gave the all clear. Bad appeared to have second thoughts about keeping Zaphera in the house. "She only stopped a robber!" Garou protested.

Zenko suddenly froze. "Wait… she ATE the robber?"

Bad stuttered, Garou however was more to the point. "Yeah, there's been a burglar breaking and entering in the neighborhood recently. This guy also went as far as killing the pet inside so they wouldn't make a sound. Some people have been killed too."

"And Zaphera ate him?" she asked.

"Whole and alive by the looks of it." Garou said.

"Oh… Next time, big brother you ought to do that! He killed for no reason!"

"I am certain Zaphera will make him pay for that, for now let's let her rest and know that justice is done." Garou insisted. "Oh, your things should be in your room by now."

With that Zenko rushed to her room to put away her new clothing. Garou turned to Bad who appeared troubled. "You okay? You're oddly quiet."

"Just can't shake about what happened yesterday. That druid guy… made my skin crawl. I swear man, I heard something shouting for help coming from him. But I don't know for sure…"

"You can hear shadows, right? Could that guy have been stealing them? Then again, how could a mortal know how to take a soul?" Garou wondered aloud.

"Maybe we ought to ask… You stay here with Botan and Zenko… I am going to check this out."

Before Garou could say another word, he vanished. He sighed aloud just as Botan was getting fussy. It was time for him to eat. "Damn it, and this was Bad's turn!" he growled.