I'm sure that you've already noticed, but the tagline says "Neptune Arc." This will be a three-chapter event that lead towards the first major Arc of the Omni series. There will be major hints about that towards the beginning and end of this chapter.

Not to be a bother, but I would like to hear what everyone's thinking about Omni so far. So, please write a review if you want to, I'm not forcing anyone, as long as no one is writing insults about these stories. I don't mind creative suggestions or pointing out grammar mistakes. Just no shit talk like "this story is trash" "Delete your account" "YOU'RE TERRIBLE". If they didn't like Omni in the first place, then why comment on it, much less read it!?

With all that said, here's the latest.

I hope you enjoy it.

P.S. I'm trying a new writing style. Nothing major.

Ch.8: Omni Isn't A Hero…

Sitting behind his desk, Omega examined the reports with a heavy frown.

"Are you certain of this?" He inquired, lowering the reports to stare back at his chief scientist. "We can't involve ourselves in Earth investigations without clear proof of alien activity."

Leaning forward, Epsilon pressed her arms against the armrests. "I've triple-checked these files before coming here. This intel was sent by our inside source and even I had to admit that something doesn't add up."

"The victims were identified as humans and suggests 2nd level Bio-Modifications are being utilized, which falls under Earth clearance."

"And yet M.I.B headquarters possesses technology up to Level 20," Epsilon countered, staring directly into his eyes. "Likewise, this wouldn't be the first experimentation on humans, there have been others in the past. As you've seen, those doctors are having difficulties locating a common factor, and for all we know, they could be under-equipped to locate a cause. With your permission, I would like to pursue the possibility that this might be our jurisdiction."

Narrowing his eyes, Omega asked. "What's your opinion, Delta?"

"Epsilon doesn't waste her time on things like this unless she's certain that something is amiss," Straightening his posture, Delta glanced at Epsilon and continued. "She had me go through these files before presenting them to you. Now I'm no scientist, but even I can tell something's wrong with this picture. While it could be a waste of time, we should perform a cross-examination on the off-chance."

Leaning back in his seat, the chief breathed out of his nose and faced his top agents.

"Better to have tried than done nothing. If it turns out to be nothing, at least we can prove that it was nothing." With a slight smile, Omega nodded. "Epsilon, you are permitted to examine the subjects. I want your assessments as soon as possible."

"Thank you, sir. Since the first subject is out of the question, I'll see if our contact can get me undercover with the second subject," Epsilon stated as she left the office.

"Delta, investigating the last-known locations of these victims. The police have already questioned families and witnesses, so you'll be going over the areas with a fine-tooth comb. Searching for any possible leads."

"They've been missing for weeks, so chances are weak," Delta admitted, rising from his seat. "Still the police don't possess the same technology as us, so I might have better luck. I'll start with the recent victim's last whereabouts."

"In that case, would you mind doing something for me?"

Raising his brow, Delta sighed tiredly once he noticed the impish grin on the old man.

At the far end of the building, three boys sprinted through the halls until they were met by their seniors.

"Kozue! Have you seen him!?"

"No." He shook his head and tightened his grip on the bat. "Squad 1-3 checked the Nurse Office, but they were nowhere in sight. Miss Sakura isn't there either and Fujinami-sensei is still defrosting, so he's useless."

"Damn that Onsen! He allowed Moroboshi to leave ahead of us, even forcing poor Lum to accompany him! Need to see the nurse, My Ass!"

"Onsen always had a soft spot for that moron."

"It's the same for Hanawa."

A third-year grinned eagerly, his blackened teeth ready for biting. "Doesn't matter, he won't get far. We've got every student searching the school and beyond. Moroboshi will face punishment or my name isn't Zen Sugawara!"

With a loud cheer, the second years beside him raised their bats as the trio of first-years looked away, much to their confusion.

"What's up?"

"Does this seem… a little extreme?" A wolf boy questioned, pinched his fingers. "Every boy in the school is hunting this guy down? We're carrying sports equipment like their weapons and I've seen some third years practicing their quirks."

"Are we going to kill him?" Kozue asked timidly.

"If so, count us out! I don't want the police breathing down my neck!"

"Or Omni," They gulped.

Rolling his eyes, Zen twirled his bat and scoffed. "We ain't killing Moroboshi, we're trying to slow him down. This isn't the first manhunt on that slippery bastard."

"Class 2-4's Ataru Moroboshi is famed for his vanishing acts. Some days, he'll sneak away during homeroom and come back two classes away from the final bell. On others, prick managed to skip the whole day."

"Tai-sensei once tried to stop Moroboshi, only to lose him near the stairwell. He had the entire class assist in finding the bastard. They spent the whole period only to come up empty-handed."

"You're kidding?"

"Nope."

"Lum can fly, maybe they took to the sky? "

"We would've seen her already!"

"And with everyone searching, we should have found him by now! So, where is he?"

One floor above them, inside an empty classroom, their target sighed as he leaned against the desk.

"One robbery, Two traffic accidents. Other than that, today was strangely peaceful." Ataru sighed again, rolling his neck. "Who am I kidding? Today was a mess. Nearly everyone wants my head on a pike. The girls think Lum is being held against her will and the boys are jealous about our relationship. Fortunately, morning classes were canceled. If Lum met him, then things would've shot right past bad to shitshow."

Cracking his neck, he hummed quietly. "At least, Sakura removed those bandages. That's a plus, I guess."

Meanwhile, the remaining occupants were focused on something important.

"So he can be harmed!"

"Not exactly. It's more like his body handles injuries differently depending on the transformation. He once badly cracked his shoulder as this werewolf-"

"Blitzwolfer."

"Whatever. He fractured his shoulder and when he changed, Ataru was left with a moderate shoulder sprain that would've lasted six weeks if it weren't for me."

"Thanks again."

"I should charge you for my services."

"Please don't," Ataru begged as Sakura smirked cruelly.

"Like I'd be able to," She jeered, crossing her arms. "You're broke."

"Like you're any richer. Especially after an all-you-can-eat buffet…how the fuck do you keep staying thin after all that food?"

"Trade secret."

Sighing, Ataru noticed Lum was keeping a firm grip on his arm. "Not that I'm against this, but would you mind loosening your grip? I'm starting to lose feeling in that arm."

Huffing, She jerked her head towards the windows. Outside, they could see the horde, still thirsty for his blood, roaming around with vengeful glares and Quirks primed for use.

"We're in enemy territory and must remain cautious at all times," Lum advised, watching for movement.

"This coming from the girl who wanted to wait for me in the Nurse's Office and nearly gave herself away."

"I didn't expect Mr. Icy to be standing there!" Lum yelled, offended.

"And now you are shouting," Sakura scoffed, making her growl. "So much for caution."

"How about we turn our attention towards more important matters?" Ataru interrupted.

Sakura smirked venomously. "Like Kuribayashi got reassigned."

Suddenly, those robots didn't matter anymore.

"He got fired?" Ataru repeated, shocked. "No bullshit?"

"Shouldn't the robots take priority? Why is this Sanjuro more important?" Lum questioned, raising her eyebrow.

"Kuribayashi is…was the 2nd year math teacher," He paused, grimacing as the Oni leaned closer with half-lidded eyes. "He's annoying, but that's normal for teachers."

Slapping him upside the head, Sakura objected. "Most teachers don't use their authority to tyrannize certain students nor should they encourage students to bully others."

"And this…teacher was?" Lum retorted, pressing her lips.

"Sanjuro Kuribayashi is regarded as the Trump-Card Teacher. Famed for creating prodigies out of the classes he's taught. The Vice-Principal Motoshige hired him under the radar and by the time the Principal was made aware, Kuribayashi was assigned to Class 2-4 back when they were first years. I was told that, on his first day of teaching, Kuribayashi ground his lit cigarette on Moroboshi's desk, nearly setting aflame to his books before kicking him from class and marking him as skipping," Sakura smiled mockingly at Ataru and Lum slowly stared at him. "And that was his first day. You can guess how he was the rest of the year."

"Darling? Is this true?"

"…It wasn't all that bad and it allowed me to patrol Tomobiki more freely," At her low growl, Ataru gulped and quickly wrapped his arms around her, already struggling against her. "Calm Lum! Relax!"

"I'll relax when he is fried!" She growled under her breath. "Being fired is not good enough! He needs a fistful of lightning straight up the…!"

"Kuribayashi couldn't be fired," Sakura reinstated, drawing their attention as she crossed her arms. "It would've ruined the Ministry of Education if his actions were made public since he's deeply connected to them. Instead, he won't be teaching your class anymore. Furthermore, if he tries to pull the same shits on anyone else, then he'll be looking forward to some hefty lawsuits. Hanawa was more than enthusiastic about teaching Mathematics and Onsen had no problem giving extra lessons, so Takahata allowed it."

Stilling holding his girlfriend, Ataru gave a strained smile. "Crazy Taka finally did something sensical."

"Takahata didn't make the call. Just like how those robots weren't his choice," Sakura revealed, frowning. "It was Mendou's doing."

*Silence*

"The Mendou Clan, one of oldest clans in Tomobiki. Ataru, you've lived here for 17 years, how do you not know this?"

"I've been busy," Ataru stated flatly as he showed his watch to the nurse.

"The Mendou Conglomerate owns 51% of the Japanese economy and 5% of the global finances. They have an annual income of 50 billion yen every year. Rivaled only by the Mizunokoji Clan, the Mendou Clan is effectively the richest family in Japan," Sakura recited, placing her hands on her hips. "They lived here long before Tomobiki became a prefecture."

"Mendou," Lum muttered, furrowing her brows until she snapped her fingers. "You mean, Shutaro Mendou?"

Ataru blinked. "Who?"

"Shutaro? The guy dressed in white sat in the front? Most of the girls in our class were fawning over him? You didn't notice?"

"Was kind of distracted by all of the boys giving me the stink-eye," Ataru deadpanned before glancing at Sakura. "Are you sure this wasn't Takahata doing something rational?"

"Rational?" Sakura raised her brows, leaning her head forward slightly. "This is the Principal of Tomobiki High School we're talking about?"

*Silence*

"That's what I thought."

"The principal did mention some kid's parents were responsible for the drones, but my classmate got Kuribayashi reassigned?"

"He did it."

"If I recall, there were tons of students who wanted him gone, but Kuribayashi was improving the school's reputation, so Motoshige had them suspended. Since then, no one could go against Kuribayashi."

"All because some old fuck cared more about their reputation than their students."

"Most students don't come barging into a conference room with a full legal team behind them and practically take over a staff meeting," Sakura smirked, tilting her head. "He was quite explicit about the repercussions if they did not submit to his demands. Takahata had no problem since he didn't even hire Kuribayashi and there were already teachers willing to take his place. You should've seen it. Motoshige looked like a dying man in the desert and Kuribayashi was ready to kiss Mendou's boots if it saved his ass."

"He should've exposed him, regardless," Lum sneered.

"Then, the school would have suffered for their actions," Ataru stated, despite the dirty looks they sent. "The media loves to string viewers along. They'd properly say that the entire faculty were hiding his abuse or some stupid shit like that."

"I don't think the media works like that? Then again, that's how people work," Sakura sighed, walking towards the door. "Look. I have to get back to my office and finish defrosting Mr. Fujinami. Was there anything else you needed?"

"Nothing else. Thank you for your time."

Once they were alone, Lum frowned. "Why didn't you-"

"Cause it didn't bother me. It was just some bigot trying to put me down. There were more important things than Kuribashiyashi."

"You don't care that a teacher was abusing you? That he had others bully you for being Quirkless. You don't have a problem with that?" Lum said, kneading her brows.

"I had better things to do than pay them any mind."

"I doubt your friends shared your opinion."

"Well, it doesn't matter anymore, now does it? He's been replaced. Problem solved," Ataru shrugged as he went through his watch. "We should leave before they find us. Flying seems to be the best option, right now."

Just then, the Omnitrix started vibrating and Lum growled silently.

"Well look, Omni's needed again," Lum fumed softly, making her way towards the window. "I'll see you at home."

As she left, Ataru grimaced at his watch. "Right, bye."

A pained scream echoed through the shopping district as a body flew past the store. The cashier sighed as her boss, a pretty little thing with those starry eyes, left their customer to spectate.

"Asuka-sama, you're not supposed to leave a customer during checkout."

"But Misa! Big Brother is out there!" Asuka smiled, looking through the display windows. "It's Ghostfreak!"

Their customer raised her eyebrow at the owner. "Brother?"

"Lady Asuka admires Omni…" Misa said, awkwardly watching her Lady cheer loudly. "Quite a bit."

"It's cool," The customer shrugged, the lip piercing shimmered briefly. "Just wanted to do some quick shopping before I start the daily grind."

Their customer was a petite woman with a neon purple asymmetrical bob cut with a black undercut. She wore a dark purple leather jacket over a blue short-sleeved shirt and ripped black leggings, underneath a pair of black shorts with bright purple trainers.

"Thank you for your understanding," Misa smiled, relieved as she rang up the register. "That will be 7,000 Yen, Miss…?"

Feeling dazed, she rubbed her forehead and groaned silently.

"Shizue," The woman smirked as she took her bag. "I've already paid, remember?"

"Yes," Misa said, shaking her head, pulling 7,000 yen out of the register. "My apologies, Ms. Sakamoto. Your change, ma'am."

Taking the money, Sakamoto smiled cheerfully as she left the store. To her left, the fight had already reached its conclusion, officers were pulling a trio of robbers into squad cars and this Ghostfreak floated over them.

No longer interested, Sakamoto whistled a tune and slipped into the crowd, until she felt a wave of heat behind her and glanced over her shoulder. Cursing her luck, she pushed past some spectators and slightly hastened her departure.

"So we meet again," Endeavor frowned, crossing his arms. "Criminal."

"Your head is set up straight. I'll give you that," Ghostfreak joked in a faint, whispering voice. "What brings Japan's Number Two Hero to our humble little town?"

"That is none of your concerns, but since I've found you. I might as well arrest you."

"You Can't Do That!" "The Kid's Done Nothing Wrong!" "Run Omni!" "Take Him Down, Omni!" "Damn Bastard! Tomobiki Doesn't Need Your Help!" "He's A Hero!" "Better Than You!"

Narrowing his eyes, Endeavor paid no attention to their protests and remained focused on the vigilante before him.

"Normally I'd be willing to play around, but I'm kinda busy right now," Ghostfreak said before waving at the Flame Hero. "Next time?"

"There won't be 'a next time."

"That's what you think," Ghostfreak sniggered, crinkling his eye.

Flames surged from his boots as Endeavor launched himself towards the Ectonurite. Just when his fist was about to connect, Ghostfreak vanished into thin air, forcing him to cease his attack.

"Bye Bye," A mocking voice brushed his ears as the Flame Hero scrunched his brows, floating over the protestors.

The wind sang without a cloud to block the sun as it shined over her. It was such a nice day outside.

Sadly, she couldn't enjoy it as her mind burned.

"He's so stupid," Lum grimaced, facing the blue sky as she flew. "It's like it doesn't matter what they do to him. He gets bullied, ignores his friends, but it's alright because Tomobiki needs Omni. Omni is more important than Ataru!"

Where Omni was beloved, Ataru Moroboshi was hated, save a few.

But, at the same time, Omni couldn't exist without Ataru Moroboshi.

With a deep breath, Lum spun around and stared at the town below her, at the people.

They smiled, while some shouted.

Some laughed, while others cried.

So many emotions, but one stood above all.

Hope.

Sighing, Lum watched them go about their business, unaware of the Oni spying from above.

"This feels familiar. Watching someone try to forget their problems by any means necessary. And here I am, leaving them because I cared too much to watch them fall when I should be helping them soar."

Lum chuckled somberly. "The issue is…. No solution is agreeable to all. One solution is seen as a weakness and frowned upon, believing they are being walked all over. While another seems like torture and is rejected violently, promising to never do it again, if desperate enough then anything will sound like honesty. Whether they fumed with rage or cried with regret, someone wins and someone loses."

"Even so, I can't run away from this. Just like before, someone precious to me is lost in their world and they need to realize that stewing in the past won't change things. Whether he realizes it or not, he needs me, needs us to guide him back. Even heroes need help sometimes. Double if they aren't heroes."

"Lum?"

Looking behind, she found a ghost staring worriedly at her and, to her, the chains adorning his body were fitting. "Are you okay?"

Exhaling through her nose, Lum examined Ghostfreak with half-lidded eyes. He shifted slightly under her gaze but didn't stray from her eyes, which was good. If he wanted the truth then she wanted his full attention. She wanted to help him, but it will mean nothing if it goes through his ears.

"From the second we met, something was bothering me and you know what, I finally figured it out."

"Omni," Without letting him speak, she continued dryly. "Now, I don't have a problem with Omni. I believe it's admirable how much effort Omni puts into protecting people. He's eccentric, a bit of daredevil, but he knows to leave behind the jokes and get serious. I respect Omni."

Lips falling flat, her eyes expressing her disappointment greater than any words could have.

"I respect Omni, but he isn't the man I love," She repeated, before glancing at the people below them. "I love Ataru Moroboshi, the Quirkless young man who never gives up. A man who stares ahead with a silent passion, who never lets others decide for him, who is steadfast in his ideals even when it does him more harm than good. A truly stubborn bastard."

"And that's where the problem lies," Looking at Omni, she floated closer until she could feel the smooth surface of his chains against her hand. "Ataru is Omni, but Omni isn't Ataru. Omni isn't the man in my bed when I wake up. Omni isn't the man who set my cousin straight even when I didn't consider it."

Pulling away, she looked right into his eyes, staring deeply into his soul. "Omni isn't the man who was not my first."

As his eye widened, her hand trailed upwards, fingers caressing the leathery hide until they rested on his pale cheek. Returning his gaze towards hers, Lum smiled with a touch of gentle melancholy.

"That man is Ataru Moroboshi, but why should he matter when there's Omni? His family and friends, even Ataru himself. Nothing comes before Omni," She stated somberly, making him flinch. "Not even me."

As much as he wanted to, words failed him.

Omni raised his head to the sky, her hand slipping away as minutes went by, but Lum was more than willing to wait. The moment he took her hand back, she knew her patience had been rewarded.

Leading her toward a nearby rooftop and reverting from his ghostly state, Omni leaned against the chain-link fence, his fingers sticking through the gap as he watched the streets below them. Behind him, Lum clasped her hands behind her back, never letting him leave her sight.

Although the silence was heavy, they were content with it as he gather his thoughts.

"This isn't something that can be fixed with simple words," He admitted, without facing Lum. "And I don't want to talk about this."

As if seeing her frown, He tightly clenched the fence and stiffly continued. "Despite that, I don't want you to feel like you're not important to me because you are. For someone who's only been in my life for a few weeks, you've managed to seat yourself in a place reserved for a handful of people." Turning towards her, his cold gaze brought her frustration turn into concern. "It's…honestly terrifying how much you mean to me, that losing you genuinely scares me and I haven't felt this way since…"

Inching forward, Lum touched his arm. "I'm not trying to fix your problems. Something like that takes time. I know being a hero is important to you, but you are important to me, and right now, I want to see you live your life, not because I'm here, but because you're avoiding those who care about you."

"Omni isn't a hero," Omni whispered, looking back at the streets. "Nagi was."

"What?" She frowned. "Wait? Are you referring to Gunkanjima?"

Sighing, He repeated, only slightly louder. "Omni isn't a hero, Nagi was. Omni…is just me pretending to be Nagi."

"I don't understand? Didn't you say you were trying to…"

"I did say that, but that wasn't what I meant," He conceded, before pressing his head against the fence. "Back when I was still learning about the watch, concealing my identity was something I had to cover, but nothing I did felt right. It just didn't fit in with what I was trying to do and it seemed like it was going nowhere. As cruel as it might, I just couldn't find it in myself to care about others. Just like how the Omnitrix wasn't mine, Nagi was the one who cared about people, even when they didn't care about him. And then it hit me, why pretend to be something I'm not when I could pretend to be someone who was. I knew my brother like the back of my hand, so it wasn't all that hard to act like him," Omni sighed as he sat against the fence. "Eventually, Omni became my coping mechanism."

Slowly, Lum widened her eyes and gasped softly. "That's why you care about being Omni. You don't want to accept that he's gone."

"When I became Omni, it's like Nagi wasn't the one to die. It's easier to imagine him being alive than dealing with my shitty life," He murmured like he hadn't slept in a thousand years. "It's not…. It's just…no one gives Omni any shit…people appreciate him like they should have appreciated Nagi. And if Heroes come after Omni…it doesn't matter because…Omni isn't Ataru. It's just…easier…living two lives."

"You said it before, life is never easy. He shouldn't be living your life," She scolded gently as he sighed. "You can't avoid the fact that Ataru has a life of his own and it shouldn't be thrown to the side when Omni seems easier. Nagi wouldn't want this."

Glaring, Omni looked away. "But I do. I'm not blind. Everyone wants me to stop, but Tomobiki…they're finally recognizing what Nagi was trying to do. Just because I have a Quirk."

"I'm not saying you should stop being Omni," Lum said, kneeling before him. "But Ataru, you shouldn't throw your life away because if you do, then you're abandoning everything Nagi stood for."

Gritting his teeth, Omni pressed his lips together as she watched his eyes scrunched up. "I don't know how to live without Nagi. Omni's the closest thing I have to him."

"That's not true. You just haven't realized it yet," Lum admitted gently, standing up. "Still, at least, you won't be alone. We'll be here for you, every step of the way."

Looking back at her, he nodded reluctantly. "Thank you."

"No thanks are needed." Lum purred lovingly, holding her hand toward him. Cracking a small smile, Omni was covered by a dim glow as Ataru reached out for her hand. "You are my Darling."

Reaching their home, they were surprised to see Delta leaning against the gate.

"Finally. Thought you two were taking the paper route."

Lum squinted her eyes. "Paper-"

"Forget it," He said, tossing some kind of car key at her before handing a license to Ataru. "Your request has been accepted."

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the remote. "Really!?"

"Request?" Her Darling repeated, pressing his lips into a flat line as he examined the ID card. "And what is this?"

"I.S.T.D.C," Delta stated flatly. "International Space Transport Documentation Card. Think of it as a passport, driver's license, and visa put into one card. If you wish to travel the universe without the cops on your ass, then you'll need that card."

Lum added. "I issued a request for you to grant you a travel card. After all, we need to leave for Setsubun in a few weeks. Since you're my husband, you're required to attend sacred festivals on Oniboshi."

"Maybe save that talk for another time," Delta glanced at Ataru and frowned. "It's time for your first assignment."

"What?" Ataru jerked back at this.

"Am I speaking Russian? Use those three brain cells and pay attention. You're going to Neptune."

"Neptune?" "Neptune!"

"Their queen has requested an audience with the princess of Oniboshi. Due to her current residential address, Lum will need an escort. Coincidentally, you have been asked to attend as well, and since you're an agent, why not kill two birds with one stone."

Grabbing his arm, Lum grinned excitedly. "Oh, Darling. The timing couldn't be better! I can introduce you to my friend and this could be the chance you need."

Before he could respond, Lum flew over them and entered their room through the window. "TEN! GRAB YOUR WINTER GEAR! WE'RE VISITING OYUKI!"

"YAY!"

Rubbing the back of his head, Ataru grimaced. "This is necessary? This isn't the first time Heroes tried hunting me down."

"It will be if they're going undercover. Except for a few, several Pro-Heroes will be scooping around Tomobiki in plain clothes. It's possible that they are hoping to ambush you and we can't have that."

"So, Omni needs to be out of the picture while they're here?"

"That would be appropriate," Delta noticed his discomfort and mentioned. "If your pockets are feeling light, you will receive compensation."

"That isn't the problem," Ataru muttered, glancing at his home. "This is different from hanging out at Yoshinoya."

"Your parents have been notified of your departure."

"No, it's just…. leaving Tomobiki. I can't leave this place unprotected."

Rolling his eyes, Delta stated. "I doubt the heroes will ignore any crimes. More importantly, you're M.I.B now. You have a duty to all life on this planet, not just the residents here."

"But-" Ataru stopped when Delta pulled out a neuralyzer.

"If you're so obsessed with this place, maybe I should just neuralyze you? Then, the Onis can return-"

"No!" The word came so fast that Ataru didn't realize the desperation dripping from his lips and when he didn't holster the device, a cold sweat formed on his brow.

"Pro-Heroes defends Earth from the threats that exist within," Delta stated calmly, never raising his voice. "Likewise, The M.I.B protects the Earth, except it isn't just humans. We have a civic duty to safeguard all life on this planet, not only against internal dangers but external ones."

"Omni-"

"Is a hero, at least to the people he's protecting, but the man behind Omni is more than that. You have a duty that goes beyond this place, beyond this country, beyond this ball of water and dirt." Getting directly in his face, Delta smirked cruelly. "You're doing this because your brother died, right? Did Nagi only care about Tomobiki? Would he ignore their pleas simply because they are from somewhere else? Would he disregard them because it wasn't Tomobiki?"

"Shut up," Ataru scowled darkly, glaring fiercely at his lifeless gaze.

"Interesting," Delta smirked, pulling away before tossing the neuralyzer, which the vigilante caught. "Relax, kid. I'm only fucking with you. Alongside the assignment, Omega wanted me to give you some basic equipment."

"Didn't sound like it," Ataru glared, stashing the device in his pocket. "Why do you care anyway?"

"You and I are going to be partners," Delta revealed as he poked the rookie in the chest. "It's mandatory for field agents to cooperate in teams of two or more when operating out here. I'm making sure you won't be a liability. If you do well, maybe I'll show you the…ropes."

For a second, Ataru could've sworn something flickered through Delta, but it was replaced by his stoic stare.

Taking out black sunglasses and an onyx compact mirror, Delta continued. "Anyway, these custom Ray-Bans shield your eyes from a neuralyzer, so don't lose them. Lastly, we have your multi-functional communications device or Multi-Coms."

"What-?"

"At the time of their deployment, Epsilon was going through a fashion phase. No one argues because she manages our equipment. Translation, she's very prideful about her creations and carries a vindictive streak a mile wide," He mentioned before instructing Ataru on the device. It's an advanced computer with long-distance network access to the M.I.B. Think of the Multi-Coms as a swiss army knife, except with investigative gadgets. Once the device touched his palm, a burning sensation filled his hand before the Multi-Coms powered up.

"Biometric scanner does that to new users. Limits its use to the owner and co-workers."

"Could've warned me," Ataru grimaced, opening the device as a message popped up. "A video?"

Before he could interact, Delta snatched his Multi-Coms. "M.I.B Introduction Recording, not something to play outside. Once you've completed your mission, then play it. Understood?"

Ataru nodded warily as Delta tossed it back and started to walk away. "Good, then I'll be going now. Think about what I mentioned, okay? It's important to keep an open mind. Hero."

Once he was gone, Ataru stared at the device before clenching it in his hand.

"Ataru?" Raising his head, he found his mother standing at the front door and turning away from her worried gaze.

"It's nothing, mom. Just a little bothered is all," Ataru lamented quietly as he headed inside.

Frowning, Hazuki examined her son and sighed, letting him through. "Lum is waiting upstairs. She's prepared for the trip."

"Right," Ataru said but stopped to look directly at his mother.

His family and friends, even Ataru himself. Nothing comes before Omni.

I want to see you live your life, not because I'm here, but because you're avoiding those who care about you.

Under his gaze, Hazuki blinked. "Is something wrong?"

Before she could react, she found herself wrapped in his arms as Ataru squeezed her dearly.

"Be careful out there," She whispered, returning his hug. "You're always looking for trouble."

"More like trouble always finds me," Ataru jokes as she frowns. "I'll try."

"That's all I ask." "As a failure of a mother."

Letting go, Ataru walked upstairs and Hazuki closed the door. Shivering, Hazuki pushed the door slightly and peeked outside.

"I could've sworn…"

Finding nothing, she sealed the door shut, locks snapping into place.

"Sub-thermal clothing? Check. Thermoregulators? Check. Snow Toys? Surprisingly little." Lum counted as she went through Ten's storage unit which, unlike hers, was the size of a lunch box.

"I couldn't bring everything," Ten pouted, dressed in his yellow snowsuit and black gloves. "Besides, why bring snow toys when the snow is a toy?"

"Spoken like a little kid," Lum teased as Ten puffed his cheeks. "Don't forget to be on your best behavior…I don't want a repeat of last time."

"Ten will be the best boy," Ten declared with burning eyes. "He promises."

As they went over preparations, Ataru enter the room and noticed Kotatsu-Neko sitting under his namesake, staring out the window. Making his way toward him, Ataru followed his example and was greeted to an empty street.

Is something out there?" Ataru asked quietly, only for Neko to shrug. "That's reassuring."

Glancing back at the Oni, and once he was sure they weren't listening, Ataru crouched next to Kotatsu-Neko.

"We won't be back for a while, so I need you to do me a favor. Think of this as compensation for borrowing my kotatsu," He claimed quietly. "Keep my parents safe while we're gone, okay? Do this and I'll get you whatever you want."

Still watching the window, Kotatsu-Neko nodded, for what little relief it brought the human. Nodding briefly, Ataru turned his attention towards the Onis as Ten pulled his tiger snow cap. Lum wore a light pink jacket with a yellow thermal shirt and white gloves. A pair of red pants clash with the yellow socks sticking out of her white boots.

"I'm guessing Neptune is cold," Ataru said sarcastically.

"Very, but that's why I love visiting that oversized snowball, and that's everything," Shutting down their storage units, Lum dusted off her hands before placing them on her hips with a sympathetic smile. "I know this is sudden, but this will help. As for the town, Tomobiki can handle two days without Omni."

"Two days," Ataru grimaced, biting his cheek.

Moving in front of her Darling, Ataru was forced to acknowledge the Oni girl glaring down at him. Her glare faded into a benevolent gaze, trying to put his mind at ease. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before Ataru smiled weakly.

Smiling back, Lum kissed his cheek. "I promise you, two days and nothing more. This place won't fall to pieces just because you're not watching. There was a time when Tomobiki didn't have Omni and it survived."

"Yeah?" Ataru conceded, uncertainly.

"It's not like you're the only Hero around." Ten added, barging in. "When I was playing outside, this winged human flew by. The guy who visits Tomobiki and saved your butt from that Turtle lady. Falcon?"

"Hawks," Ataru said before asking. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but why are you treating this as a vacation? Delta said she requested an audience with you. This could be"

"Darling," Lum stated dryly, her half-lidded stare throwing him off. "I'm a princess. Networking plays an important role in politics. Which means visiting with my friends is a part of my job."

"You're trying to sound smart, and that last part ruined it."

"Blow it out your ears!" She scowled playfully, before flicking her hair. "Point is, Oyuki always handles business with my father. Back when I didn't own my spacecraft, this was our method of getting my father to take me to Neptune without him realizing it. Poor dad, he was always so proud of his little girl trying to follow in his footsteps."

"You sure?"

Marching right into his face, Lum narrowed her eyes at her Darling. "You dare doubt your wife?"

Their noses were almost touching as Ataru leaned in, raising his brow. "After an explanation like that? I very much doubt you."

"You want proof."

"If you can manage it."

Pulling her space phone, Lum went through her contacts. "Fine. While I'm doing that, help Ten with his snow booties. He doesn't know how to tie his shoes."

"Why Did You Tell Him That?!" Ten yelped, blushing as Ataru picked him up. "Let Me Go!"

Ignoring him, Ataru set him down on his desk before tying his shoes.

"I could have done that," Ten muttered before glaring at the human. "You better not get any funny ideas."

"Like it would matter, Jariten. You can fly," Ataru mentioned as he left for his closet and took out some winter clothing. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like some privacy."

"Why would anyone watch you get changed?" Ten gagged, his tongue sticking out. "Just be quick."

As her phone rang, Lum tapped her foot with her left on her waist.

*Ka-Click*

"Hello? Lum?" A regal voice called out, making her smile.

"Oyuki, It's me-"

"Unfortunately, I'm currently not unavailable right now and unable to answer. If you are Lum, Benten, or Ran, and you'd like to leave a message, then do so after the beep."

*Beep*

Glaring at her phone, Lum said. "Really."

"I take it she's not answering," Ataru jeered, wearing a thick grey sweater under a red puffy vest and dark jeans with a pair of grey sneakers. Pouting, Lum pointed at the storage units and her Darling snickered as he picked their cases.

"We're going to give Mother and Father our farewells," She said as Ten floated up to her. "What about you?"

"Already did that." "If I go down there, I won't leave."

"Alright then. Make sure to turn into a flier because we're going up," Lum pointed at the ceiling as she opened the door. "Come along, Ten. We gotta be quick."

"Welcome home, Dear." The Onis flew downstairs and found Hazuki greeting her husband As he removed his work shoes. "How was work?"

"Miserable," Rikyu groaned, taking his coat off. "I swear my boss wants to kill me and it's working. In the slowest way imaginable."

"Being old must suck," Ten said, receiving a warning glare from his cousin, and quickly waved. "Hey, Oji-san. I'm here to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" He blinked before his eyes widened briefly. "Oh yes. Well…"

Glancing at his wife, Rikyu noticed her empty gaze before nodding sternly at the Onis. "Have a safe journey. Keep my boy safe, alright?"

Pecking his forehead, Lum declared. "I plan on it, Father."

"We'll bring back some candy!" Ten nodded at Hazuki, who chuckled into her hand. "That's alright, Ten. Stay safe, okay?"

"Okay," He grinned, floating back to the room.

Following her cousin, Lum turned her head and shared glances with Hazuki, nodding sharply as the housewife snorted awkwardly. Once she returned to their room, she bumped into Ten as he collided with her, gagging violently. Just then, Lum recoiled from the foul scent invading her nose, covering her bulging mouth before choking it down.

What the fuck is that smell!?

The answer came in the form of an insectoid as its head lowered from outside, no doubt clinging to the roof.

"Alright, I'm-"

"-Changing!"

In the sky, three figures flew through the clouds as the town below became smaller.

Carrying the cases with his feet, Jetray grimaced. "I get that Stinkfly…well stinks, but don't you think you're overreacting?"

Gulping down air like it would be his last, Ten exhaled happily as Lum heaved a euphoric sigh of relief.

"Never use Stinkfly around us again."

"I didn't know you guys had sensitive noses."

"Well, you'll be sleeping on the couch if this happens again."

"It's my room."

"Did you know that elemental Onis tend to discharge in our sleep? *Crackle* It would be a shame if I tased a certain someone in their sleep."

Sighing, Jetray asked. "So, Delta never mentioned anything, but how are we getting to Neptune?"

Reaching into her pockets, Lum pulled out the car keys and pushed the button. "With my ship, of course."

Up ahead, hidden by the clouds, a wave rippled through the air, and suddenly a giant spherical spacecraft appeared before them. The golden spacecraft was covered with tiger stripes that spread across the top while the dark grey underside hummed with a whitish glow at the center.

"That's…" Jetray gulped, eyes wide. "A big ship."

Smirking, Lum bragged. "It wasn't always this size, but thanks for noticing. This is an STS Oniyari, an M-Class starship designed by the Oni. This old girl was given to me by my parents as a birthday and she's been by my side through thick and thin. Beyond space capability, Oniyari's my home away from home." Looking back at her Darling, she smiled as the entrance slid open. "And now, she will be our home whenever we travel."

The moment his feet touched solid ground, Jetray reverted to Ataru as they stood in the hanger. As the entrance shut behind them, Lum walked briskly towards a second gate. Pressing her right hand against the gate, whitish light spread outwards until a white circle formed underneath her palm. The gates revealed a long hallway with a gold floor and to their right, multiple doors with strange writings etched onto brass signs.

Looking around, Ataru whistled. "Compared to the outside, the inside is quite slim."

"It uses the same tech as the dimensional dormitory in your closet," Lum explained, strutting proudly. "There are more rooms on this ship than you'll ever see. Now then, we need to unpack before we take off. First, Ten's room."

Suddenly, Ten took his storage unit from Ataru and went ahead. "I know what to do. I'm not only a good boy, but I'm a big one."

"Alright," Lum nodded, watching him fly away.

"Where will I be staying?"

"Where do you think? You're staying in my room." With a slight blush, Ataru shook his head as Lum scoffed before taking him to their bedroom. "What's with that reaction? We've picked our flowers, so this is rather tame."

"It just feels like," He gulped slightly, looking away. "We're a couple sharing an apartment. May I use another room while you get…Oniyari moving?"

"The controls are in my room to travel a helluva lot easier," Lum grinned, gesturing for him to follow. "I don't have any other rooms to give you and we don't have time to make space. Plus, I've been living in your room since I arrived here, so think of this as returning the favor."

After a while, they reached their target, the only gate on the left. Lum pressed her left hand against it, repeating the earlier process. Once inside, she twirled around and faced her Darling with open arms.

"Well? What do you think?"

Looking from left to right, Ataru had to admit that he was impressed by her room as the door shut behind him.

"Not what I was expecting."

"I know. Pretty cool, right?"

He thought it would be eccentric like her, but what lay before him was rather simplistic. The walls were light pink, while the floor was still gold. A wide set of panels and monitors were positioned at the far end of the room with a big chair bolted in front of it, which was no doubt the controls Lum mentioned earlier. In the center of the room, there was a translucent dome filled with alien fishes as they swam merrily in their home. Behind the aquarium, a wide yellow bed that was slanted slightly, but there was an oddly shaped hole underside the bed. Following her Darling's stare, Lum took her storage unit from him and floated to her bed. Inserting the case into the hole, she kept pushing until a click was heard and the entire underside extended outwards like a drawer, which was immediately closed. Landing on her bed, she rolled onto her back with her head off the edge.

"The Unit came with the bed, so it can be detached for traveling purposes. To be honest, it's easier when it's attached," Lum explained before smirking sexily. "Although considering the view you once got, you must think differently."

Recalling that made her Darling red, but she licked her lips, hungry for more. Nodding to herself, Lum hummed loudly.

"May I pretend to be stuck? I know you'd help," Her eyes became half-closed as Lum said lustily. "But would you have resisted then?"

*Hiss*

The sound at the moment was the steam coming off Ataru's head as his eyes flickered between faded and clarity. Slowly, her giggles turned into laughter as she rolled across the bed. Her chest goes up and down as she holds her stomach with one hand and covers her eyes with the other.

"…."

"Hahaha!" She panted with slight giggles now and then. "After today, I-hehe-I n-need that."

Once she was done laughing, Ataru slowly shook his head, looking at his hands.

"Why do humans even find such a thing as sexual?" Lum pondered, tilting her head cutesy. "I mean…getting stuck in a washing machine sounds pretty serious?"

"…."

"No offense to your species Darling, but humans seem to find themselves in ridiculous situations when it comes to pornography. Like wrestling shouldn't result in sex afterward. Nor should two people be able to bang in a line of five or six people and not get caught," Lum said before rubbing her chin. "Then again, they are actors and I have zero complaints about what I've seen. Maybe we should try-"

"Let's!" Ataru yelped, pausing to compose himself. "Let's focus on getting to Neptune. Remember, Oyuki."

"You're right," Lum agreed, standing with a serious expression. "We'll continue this conversation at a later date."

Wilting, Ataru facepalmed. "Not what I was hoping for, but that is a problem for later."

Floating over the aquarium, Lum plopped on her chair and went to work on the monitor before her, rapidly typing their coordinations. Just then, Ataru heard a low rumbling noise as he felt the ground become lighter, as though they were on an airplane. Slipping, he quickly regained his footing while Lum twirled her chair around.

"Autopilot is engaged. We should arrive at Neptune in approximately three hours. Until then, it's smooth sailing from here."

"I'm still not sure about leaving," Ataru frowned, and when she returned it, he sighed with a slight grin. "I won't complain because you want me to enjoy this, so I'll give it my best."

"Thank you, Darling," She said, slightly relieved. "This is exciting. I want us to experience the full package that Neptune has to offer."

"This isn't a vacation, Lum. This is technically my job, so we can't just fool around."

"No worries, Darling. We'll see what Oyuki wants and then, we'll spend some quality time on Neptune. You need to get used to traveling through space before Setsubun. Your body needs to adapt to a different atmosphere so that the warp drive won't damage you. Traveling to Oniboshi requires a Warp Drive and that requires at least forty-eight hours outside your home planet. At least, that's what I was told when it was installed."

When her Darling crossed his arms and raised his brow, Lum rolled her eyes. "It will be fine."

"Experience has shown me that nothing is fine."

"Oh come on! What's the worst that could happen?"

Rolling his eyes, He made his way towards the bed, falling back with his open arms. "Murphy will have our asses because of you."

"Murphy?"

"Revenge." A voice whispered, the frozen wind beating down upon their crouched form. Grabbing another cylinder from the satchel, they inserted it into a tube before sealing the cylinder tight with a sliding hatch. "I will have my revenge."

Lowering their weapon, they raised their head and glared at the winter sky, snow falling like raindrops.

"You'll be here soon, won't you?" They said, raising to their feet with a feral growl. "There will be no forgiveness. You will pay for what you've done."

"Lum."

"Drip. Drop. Drip," He muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose while holding his phone. "You wish to abandon your assignment. You're usually not a quitter, Shizue."

"You're right, I'm a survivor and right now, that's what I'm doing. In case you haven't been listening, Endeavor is in Tomobiki and if I've heard correctly, then Hawks was around earlier. I bet your little display has gotten their attention, and now, they have people searching for suspicious activities. I can't operate without the possibility of drawing suspicion."

"That does sound concerning."

"Oh yeah, then how about this," Shizue scowled. "Without me, you'll have a hard time getting new patients. Likewise, if you think I'll keep quiet against a living firestorm like Endeavor or worse, then you've got another thing coming."

"Hmmm. You have a point," He hummed before conceding. "Very well. Drip. Drop. Drip. This will delay our progress for a while, but I'll have Sashiko bring you back."

"Thanks, Doc."

"A doctor must always look after his staff," Lowering his voice, He said. "Be careful, the others won't be pleased with this. Boro might even attempt to relieve you of your duties. Do you understand, Shizue?"

"Crystal," She growled as the call ended.

Sighing, he covered his face and rested on his desk.

"It's nearly complete, but they need more time," He thought, the silence taunting his mind. "I can't delay this any longer. And once it's done. My dreams will be ruined."

Poking his head from his arms, he narrowed his eyes. "I'll have to reduce the recovery time. There will be drawbacks, but I cannot afford any setbacks. Not when they're this close."

"Omni is proof. They will live again. I swear it."

It feels like I'm rushing the emotional stuff, but I think it's going well. What do you think? Well, that's all for now. See you next time.