Chapter 9

Melee returned home with the kids. Garou was about to greet her, yet the moment his eyes came upon hers, he felt something was terribly wrong. The tears wielded up as she rushed to the bedroom and slammed the door. "Whoa… what the hell was that about!?" Snek asked.

"HECK!" protested Luna. "Mommy got upset at the park. Jason told us that his daddy was talking to someone and mentioned something about mommy, but we don't know what it was."

"Mom hasn't smiled since she spoke with Mr. Genus." Said Akira.

Garou froze to the news. "I'll… be right back…" he announced. "Snek…"

"Yeah, and the twins are home too. If I need help I'll call them."

"Thanks…" with that Garou left the house and decided to see what Dr. Genus said that made Melee so upset!

However, along the way, he was stopped, a monster was rampaging and it was a little too big to contend with for those on the ground. "Damn it…" he muttered. Genus would have to wait.

#

Before going on Patrols, Ran and Shaw took the brothers to get at least part of the Neo Hero uniform on to show the world that they were indeed heroes on patrol. It was easier said than done in the brother's minds.

Street and Knuckle took in the uniform; they were alike in color neon green and white just like all the other Neo Heroes they have seen, yet they didn't quite know what to make of it. "It doesn't seem… right, does it?" Street asked.

"Leaves nothing to intimidation…" muttered Knuckle. "Not to mention the material feels just like a shirt, so how is this going to protect us? I don't like sleeves either!" He tore off the sleeves and moved his arms about more freely, savoring the sensation of the air against his skin. "Ahh, much better!" he announced. He paused though as he felt the shirt roll up. "It doesn't quite do the job huh? It's a little snug."

"You don't like them either huh? Little suggestion, wear it under the clothing you do like to enjoy. As soon as we find you some, for now, this should keep you covered… mostly"

The brothers turned and saw Ran and Shaw lingering in the doorway with smiles on their faces. Ran nodded in agreement with his brother. "They aren't the best thing, I know, but they do absorb the impact of a strike quite well. It's worth keeping on yourself."

"Thanks… you know, nothing is where I remember it," said Street. "And I know everything in the cities, why do you think my name was Street? I knew them all! Just by watching the TV I see things out of place."

"Yeah, I mean, I know stuff changes after a monster attack, but how has it changed so much after the last one that took dad?" questioned Knuckle. "I was looking on the computer… even those things changed! City Z was full of people, but no one lives in a large section of it now, it's abandoned. What gives?"

"Sometimes change occurs when one doesn't notice it happening." Shaw said. "You want to go out and we can show you around?"

Street nodded. "Yeah, I want to get reacquainted with the world again, damn, I feel like I don't belong here. Don't you?"

Knuckle agreed. "Perhaps a quick tour is needed. Ran and Shaw right?" the brothers nodded. "You look familiar…"

"I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot of that. Come on, we're wasting daylight!"

#

The brothers took it all in. Ran and Shaw explained the store and city they were in. Street was confused to it all. "This isn't right… I mean there was never a department store here… nor was that yogurt stand… What the hell is an M Class Dragon?" he asked as he took a paper off the rack. They wondered by a bookstore where the newspaper showed a picture of this demonic looking guy, but he appeared too young to be a fully-grown adult. "Garou…" he muttered. "I thought I heard Accel speak this guy's name before… this him?"

Shaw nodded. "Garou, aka the human monster, level dragon threat if he is inclined to be, but for now. They made a special class just for him and other like him at the heroes association before it fell recently. Now, he is classified as a monster, Dragon level threat," said Ran. "Accel HATES the fact that he was made a hero. I mean a monster protecting people?" he said and snickered to the thought. "Absurd don't you think?"

The brothers were silent to each other. "I rather see for myself," said Knuckle, only to crack his fists with anticipation. A devious grin came from his lips. "In fact, I rather see sooner than later what all the hype is about!"

Ran laughed. "Whoa, Garou isn't to be taken lightly, you know he defeated the whole S Class single handedly!"

"What an S Class?" asked Street, but paused he remembered some of the guys at the meeting, he and Knuckle were told earlier that they were S Class heroes… that has to mean something. The more the thought it over, the more he stared at the photo in the paper, but shook his head. "I got to learn more about this guy…"

Shaw froze. "What do you mean? What are you talking about?"

CRASH

The Brawler brothers saw it, a plume of smoke and dust went into the air. Something just attacked. "Finally some action! Let's go!"

For large men, they ran like the wind! Ran and Shawn were impressed to their speed as they made it to the point of the attack. Yet, they froze. A smile came over Knuckle as he saw him with his own eyes.

The Human Monster!

The creature that was destroying the city was already taken down. Garou however wasn't leaving just yet. Knuckle got a closer look but was stunned as the human monster began to devour the fallen. It was a simple task for him, he consumed every scrap and left nothing behind. "He eats monsters?" Knuckle demanded.

His voice caught his attention. The monster's tail still lingering out his mouth, yet a swift slurp had it vanish down his throat. Garou froze, but then appeared confused by the sight of him. His head even crooked to the side as he continued to stare at the brothers. "You're…" he began to say.

Knuckle only smirked and quickly interrupted him. "You… must be the human monster I heard so much about. I want to fight you!"

"Whoa, hey, this isn't…" Shaw tried to say.

"Come on, you're the human monster now aren't you? I heard you have skills, power and a technique that took down the S Class heroes… test it on a Neo Hero! ME!" he demanded.

Garou stood rather confused for the moment, he began picking his teeth as Knuckle stood at the ready. He sucked off the lodged meat from his claws before turning back to the brash Brawler. "Not here,"

Instantly Knuckle's fists lowered. "Not here? What do you mean not here? Huh? Aren't you this so called dragon level threat?" he demanded.

"I am," Garou said rather calmly. "But I ain't fighting you here. Too many people can get hurt, too much damage can be done. You want to fight, there's an old quarry outside of town, ten miles from here and away from the city. You want to do this, we'll do it there. I'll wait for you." With that Garou took off into the sky.

Knuckle then turned to his brother Street, just as surprised as he was. But either one said anything. "You're going, aren't you?" Ran asked with a sigh.

"Hell yeah!" Knuckle said and began to run. Street was close behind him. Ran and Shaw had no other option but to follow.

#

He has waited for something like this. Despite just waking up yesterday, Knuckle craved a good fight, and one just found him. However, given the situation and circumstance, he had many questions already going through his mind on the notion. But, now wasn't the time to dwell on them.

He ran as fast as he could to the outskirts of town to this old quarry Garou spoke of, a part of him worried though. Was this a wild goose chase? Was this guy merely toying with him, claiming he would be there waiting when in fact no one would be? He had to take the chance, there was a strange look on the face of this so called 'human monster'. Knuckle could feel it too. He just passed the threshold into the quarry. Knuckle looked about until he saw it.

There he was.

He nearly couldn't contain himself as he saw the human monster standing there, waiting for his arrival. It made the run all the more worth it in his mind.

As he caught his breath, Garou merely glared at him oddly. There was something he distrusted about him. "Hey, Neo Hero… do you have a name?" he demanded.

Knuckle only smirked. "Ah, ah. I don't reveal everything about me at once there!" Yet there was a grin on his face, he just couldn't get rid of it. "I got to admit, you already surprised me."

"Huh?"

"You didn't want to fight me then and there… not really an answer I was expecting out of you… A dragon level threat… that must have taken some work to get that kind of a title to say the least."

"Look, can we hurry this up. I got to be somewhere…"

"Really?" Street muttered as he caught up to his brother. Ran and Shaw were close behind him. "Where does something like you need to go to? Don't monsters just wonder about doing what they please?"

"I don't have to tell you where I am going, I just got someplace to be, so hurry up and get your ass kicking!"

Knuckle began to crack his fists, he stretched himself out and about before eyeing his opponent, and the smile grew once more as he could hardly contain himself. "Don't disappoint me…"

There was a strange look on Garou's face. "Fine, I learned a new trick recently…" The four froze as Garou's face stressed and tensed. His body began to contort oddly, the demon like serpent that appeared on his flesh appeared to drift deeper into his body, his tail wrapped around his waist and nearly vanished into him, his wings retracted and pulled into his back as his one powerful clawed hands began to look nearly human once more! He stressed himself in doing this, yet. He nearly appeared human! "GAAAHHH!" he roared, the task winded him a little, but then, he stared at Knuckle. "There, I won't accidently lash you open."

"My God…" whispered Shaw.

Garou stretched himself out and ensured he was ready for a fight. He merely waved Knuckle to come at him. He didn't even take a stance as Knuckle came running. When he was in range, his fists flew. And yet, they struck nothing but air. 'He's that fast? I know I got the fastest fists in the family! Dad even said so!'

Time and time again he tried to land a strike but was unable to. Garou didn't even appear to be moving half the time. But then, he caught him off guard. Knuckle went to sweep him off from under his feet, but as quickly as Garou avoided it, Knuckle managed to get to his own and land a single strike! Right into the stomach of the human monster, and yet there was no oof. No sound of discomfort, Knuckle felt his hand flinch and the strike recoil. 'Damn it, I hurt myself more than hurting him!'

He backed off just as he felt his arm tremor from the impact, Knuckle tried to shake it off when Garou growled. "My turn."

Without warning, Knuckle took an open palm shot to the chest. His hand struck so fast the sound barrier broke! The strike sent him down the quarry! His body jumped and skidding along the way and hitting and embankment rather hard! His lip split open, his body cut and nicked. The air knocked out of his lungs. "So…" he wheezed. "This… is the dragon… level threat…"

Garou slowly approached him, he was in no rush to finish him off, and yet as he towered over him, he glared down at Knuckle. "Not bad for a Neo Hero," he said bitterly.

Knuckle smirked. "Not bad for a monster."

"I'm done here… you had enough?"

Knuckle slowly picked himself off the ground, he stared down Garou before nodding. "For now… I've seen all I came to see…"

"Good."

With the fight over, he unleashed himself again, the tail lashed out, he dragons emerged up through his flesh once again, and his wings burst from his back.

A powerful gale wind followed. Garou took off into the sky and vanished into the sun. Street approached his brother, the two were oddly silent as they kept looking to the skies.

"Huh, I didn't think it would have bothered to face the likes of you." Said Ran.

"Indeed, interesting to say the least. Why does he even care?" questioned Shaw.

Knuckle walked back towards them with a limp in his step. He braced under his right rib as he announced. "Let's go back on patrol…" and walked pass the two brothers.

"Wait, you're hurt!" protested Ran. "Take a moment…"

"That was nothing. He wasn't even trying. Nor was I." said Knuckle. He stunned the two brothers as Street merely nodded his head. "Dad's rule, never show everything at once. Especially when evaluating an opponent."

"Wait… why were you testing him?" asked Ran. "I thought you wanted to fight him for real!"

He laughed. "After hearing him take down the S Class, I can only assume they are an elite force to battle. If that's the case, I knew I had a snowball's chance in hell! Garou is the real deal, but I wasn't testing his power. I was testing him."