Chapter 18

It was strange.

Amai began to notice something odd about Hunter every so often. In the city, when they would patrol, something caught his eye. Suddenly Hunter would turn to him and say. "How about you go check the other side of the street, to see if there's anything I missed. Better still, back track for me just in case."

Amai would protest, yet Hunter would threaten to take his hoodie off of him then and there, not wanting to challenge the threat, he would go and do as he was asked. There would always be nothing there, yet when he got back to Hunter, it appeared a crowd would have just disbursed. Amai grew curious to the event, he would approach Hunter once more and inquire about the event, but nothing would be spoken. "Just some citizens not too thrilled with me, that's all." He would say. Amai didn't question it, he knew there were people who resented Garou and his family still, most of his fan base being some of those people!

Through out the day, Hunter would try and make small talk with him. Yet with so many people around, he found Sweet Mask oddly silent. Hunter knew that his name shouldn't be said aloud, so he paused and thought of something. "Hey, if I can't call you by your name, how about a nickname?" he asked.

Amai nodded his head, there were too many people around him, if he spoke his cover would be blown. So Hunter paused and thought. "Does Blue sound good to you?" The question surprised him, Hunter knew he wasn't going to speak aloud, he could have given him a really dumb or annoying nick name to use and he would have to agree with it. Yet, Blue? It was to the point due to his scale color, the news has called him the blue serpent hero so he nodded in agreement. "Okay, Blue it is!"

The day was eventful.

The two of them took down three monsters. Amai was stunned when he saw Hunter eat one of them, and yet he requested he not tell his mother and father. "They don't know I do this yet… not a word!" he said.

Amai merely nodded his head.

With the monsters defeated, for once, Sweet Mask didn't consume any of them. "Not hungry today Blue? Then again, you still look pretty full from the last one."

They as the people began to gather to see and thank their heroes, Mask noticed the looks people were giving him. He began to grow uncomfortable; he turned to Hunter and grabbed his arm. "Okay, we're going…" Hunter said without hesitation. They were quick to leave before too many people gathered around.

It was time to head for home once more. Sweet Mask wasn't quite feeling it today. Despite the device used to keep him warm, he felt today just wasn't what it should have been. Hunter took him to an area of the city where there were hardly any people and no one would hear him speak. Before they took off, Amai recalled something. "Wasn't something supposed to happen? Something important?" he asked Hunter.

"Where do you think we're going now?" Hunter replied with a grin.

They took off. He was stunned as he was taken back to the crater where Hunter and his family took him when he was took Garou's power. The place was a mess, he just realized the extent of the damage he caused. "Down there, is where we fought. You did quite a number to say the least."

Sweet Mask saw the destruction; nearly half the wall collapsed into ruins, there was a hole in the wall from where he shoved Hunter. It appeared to be utter chaos, and yet he couldn't quite believe he did this sort of demolition. He understood now why Hunter took him here when he couldn't control Garou's power. Had this been a city… it would have been destroyed. "So, you two came as well?"

Amai froze as he turned and saw Saitama and Genos lingering behind them. "Hey, is dad here yet?"

"Garou should be on his way shortly, he said something about needing to help your older brother Pac."

"What's with him?" asked Amai.

"Well, contrary to popular belief, my brother doesn't want to turn into anything like dad. He never has, and continues to fight it to this day. Pac… Pac is sensitive to say the least. I can control my body rather easily, he struggles since he is constantly fighting himself with it."

"I thought the children of Garou all want to grow up and be just like him!"

"Never assume Blue," said Hunter. "Besides, Pac needs to understand, it's genetics, and there's no stopping it. Also he can do a lot of good with that kind of strength, I just don't think he realizes that yet."

It wasn't long until Garou arrived with Pac and Melee. When he landed, he looked about and sighed. "I think we are going to have to find a new crater." He said to Saitama.

"Nah, this one is holding up okay, we're still out of the city and no one getting hurt. It should last us a while. Also the terrain will give us a more interesting fight."

"Now, before we fight, I want to let my son Pac have a turn…"

"Wait, what? Dad, I didn't intend on training today!"

"Bro, you need to get your skill up a little. Before you were better than me, but I've gotten better than you." Said Hunter.

"Prove it!"

"Here and now!"

"I hate it when the kids get like this," sighed Melee. "Don't hurt yourselves!" she announced.

They stood and watched from the side. Amai tried to coil himself up but couldn't quite get to the comfort level he wanted with the monster still lingering in his belly. Still, he got as relaxed as he could as the two sons of Garou took their stance. Genos went out to officiate and announced to the brothers that the contest will go for ten minutes or until one cannot proceed. With that, the fight was on!

As much as Amai wanted to see the two brothers battle it out, his sights kept turning to Melee. He wanted to talk to her, say something, anything at all to explain himself. Yet, how could he? Then a part of his wondered why should he anyway? What's the point? She isn't leaving Garou any time soon, she wouldn't care what he has to say. So he kept silent. He jumped through when the brothers clashed, both using the move Torrent against each other. Their energies opposing against one another, and yet neither one refused to yield! Hunter however was getting the advantage, he is able to strike his brother with the serpent dragons he possess, Pac had no defense against them or a way to block all of them from attacking at once! He did what he could, but was struck down hard, pinned in place and was at the mercy of Hunter!

Then he felt it.

Pac was agitated, and then he started screaming out in pain and agony. Hunter immediately got off and found his sibling fighting the growth within himself. One of the dragon serpents broke free from his back, it then turned to the burnt flesh and began to tear it off, devouring it and releasing the others! Amai was sick at the sight of it all. It lasted ten minutes until the creatures won out. They ate the old skin and Pac regained his ruby red scales and serpent dragons. They were quick to coil around him and take their place.

He wasn't happy about it either.

"Damn it!" he growled. "Why couldn't they just stay hidden!"

"Pac…" said Genos.

"Save it, I don't want to hear it. I'm going home" with that, he left in a hurry.

"Wow, I didn't think he would be that upset," said Saitama. But then he turned to Garou. "You ready?"

He stood and stretched himself out. "Yeah, I could go for an ass kicking. Let's do it!"

It confused Amai greatly, as Hunter took a seat next to him. He turned and questioned. "I don't understand the logic of this. Garou strives for victory, he lives and feeds off of it. If he knows he is going to lose to Saitama, then why does he agree to this?"

Hunter laughed. "Despite the loss, dad gets stronger. Saitama helps him gage his level, dad knows when he has gotten stronger and needs to adjust just in case he takes on a person. He doesn't want to accidently kill someone when stopping a monster. Besides, it's all in good fun. I think it helps him stay humble too."

"Humble?" Amai questioned.

"The rules of the bout are simple. The fight shall go on until one can no longer fight. Garou, we continue until you cannot. Your current record is 14 minutes and 54 seconds. Are you prepared?"

Garou paused, he did a quick breathing exercise before taking his position, the serious stance with intent of going all out in battle. "Ready" he said.

Saitama merely stood there, picking his nose. "Yeah, I'm good,"

"BEGIN!"