Tigress and Bunny

by MewStar0013

Fem!Kotetsu and other genderswaps. The call of justice. Katsuko Kaburagi knows this like all the other heroes in Sternbild. But what if the world she knew changed before her eyes? She obtained a new suit and sponsors, went a step up in the hero business, and even gained a partner along the way. But can she really handle this egoist of a "bunny"? Will all end well? Read and Review!

8. Chapter 8

Hey guys! I'm back with another chapter! I've really got nothing to look forward to from the rest of the Summer (Besides my birthday on the nineteenth of this month) so I feel ready to break that boredom with an all new update! This one's gonna be really fluffy, warm-hearted, and funny, so I hope you'll all like it! And it focuses more on Katsuko and Barnaby so, sorry to all of you Dragon Kid fans if were expecting a lot ^^; Oh yeah, and thanks for your reviews, too! You guys are so sweet and it was really nice to hear what everyone had to say. You guys are what keep me going ^_^ Alright, now let's get this chapter rolling!

Disclaimer: Tiger and Bunny is under the rights of Viz Media. I am only fulfilling a request. River Lullaby by Amy Grant is under the rights of The Prince of Egypt franchise.

---

~Episode Eight: Childish Games We Play~

"You're finished!" Over the tips of her fingers, Dragon Kid twirled her yellow staff and shot a burst of lightning, frying the clown-dressed robber, his hair smoking as he released his hostage. The NEXT of lightening threw a salute at the camera as it awarded her the points she gained, another victory made by the amazing kung-fu star.

---

With the television shut off, a blonde woman dressed in a pantsuit smiled at the girl in the chair with a shrug.

"Well, there's no surprise that you won those points fairly, Pao-Lin. But maybe, you should use some more flair." She suggested.

""More flair"?" Asked her client, tilting her head.

"Add something more to your theme, dear," Her publicist advised. "Something more interesting."

"So you mean still kick ass but with style, right?" Asked the younger blonde, resting her feet on the table in front of her and leaning back. Sighing, the older woman stood and pushed off the teen's feet, earning a surprised frown.

"Please, watch your language, young lady. We've been over this a million of times; would it kill you to be more lady-like?" She asked in a begrudged voice. Pao-Lin tilted her head to the other side.

"What's wrong with how I talk?"

"I mean, maybe you should be more. . . Elegant with your theme. Like Blue Thorn and Origami Cyclone. You've seen them, motivating their audiences with their looks and talents. Blue Thorn can sing and Origami is like a little runway model. We need to bring out more of that in you. Oh!" She stood up, clapping her hands excitedly. "That little clip on your parents gave you," She walked over to the little black velvet box that lay on a table, opening the lid. A purple flower clip rested in the white pillow, bejeweled with tiny rhinestones. "This should work nicely. Here," She held it to the young NEXT. "Try it on, dear." She insisted.

Pao-Lin gave a nervous smile, turning herself in her chair and ignoring the pin, acting as if were the plague.

"No! I'll do anything else, but I won't wear that!" She shook her head. "You can just forget it!" She stated. Girly things always made her stomach feel odd, and being lady-like wasn't something she wanted to try. Like a true tomboy at heart, being herself was all that mattered to her.

Her publicist sighed, never meeting a girl who could be in so much denial of her womanhood.

---

Barnaby awoke with a gasp, sitting up and nearly hitting his head with the door to his oxygen capsule. The cold air that chilled his beading sweat made him shiver, his hand reaching up to wipe away the sweat. He almost didn't realized that his hand was shaking from the terrible nightmare he had. It was the same as all the others, ending with that smirking man on fire. The man he could never recognize. The man who murdered his parents.

Someone knocked outside his capsule and he jumped as the door slid open. Katsuko peeked her head in, cocking a brow.

"You OK in there, Bunny?" She asked, dressed in a black tank top that stopped just above her belly button, a small wrap of bandage hidden by the lose top. She jerked her head back a little, bewildered and concern. "Are you. . . Crying?" She asked. Barnaby scowled, pushing himself past her and reaching for his glasses.

"No, I wasn't," He sighed. Still looking unconvinced, Katsuko followed his to the bench to grab her jacket and vest lying on a provided bench.

"You know, we can talk about it, if ya want," She scratched the back of her head, offering a small smile. "Getting it off your chest will make you feel better." She reasoned.

"There's nothing to get off my chest. It was just a nightmare."

"Uh, yeah, exactly why we should talk about it. I am your "girlfriend" after all, Bunny."

Sighing, Barnaby began to rub his temples, feeling a potential headache coming on.

"Can we just drop it?"

". . . OK."

Barnaby blinked, looking back at Katsuko as she plucked through the buttons of her jacket. That's it? The Old Bat was just going to drop it when he said so? That had never happen before. Usually, she would pester him on a subject until he ultimately snapped or she ultimately gave-up. It was a battle at teeth and nail when it came to their arguments, with neither of them actually winning. Barnaby was almost worried as to why she wasn't questioning him further.

Well, almost.

"HOW YOU TWO FEELING?" Saito shouted over the intercom of the room, barking the "bunny's" musings. "FEEL REFRESHED? ENERGIZED?" He asked. Katsuko wagged her ear a little from the shout, giving a thumbs-up at the tiny scientist.

"Fit as a fiddle!" She assured. She reached for her open vest, wincing as her arm moved the wrong way and caused her shoulder to burn. She cried out.

"Hey, are you OK?" Barnaby stepped over to her, touching her shoulder lightly. "Where does it hurt?" He asked, looking over the shoulder wrapped in gauze.

"I'm fine, Bunny," The brunette assured him, though small welling tears held back weren't hidden from Barnaby's trained eyes. "Please, after what Palm-face did to me, I suffered worse when I was still a rookie. Hm," She glanced at her left foot, tapping her toe to the floor lightly. "I remember my last worse injury I got was about four years back. Whew, I couldn't do this to my foot for nine months."

"That bad?" Barnaby asked, curious. In hindsight, he had looked over Wild Tigress's records before, but he was only able to surface a little. He barely knew who the Wild Tigress from back then was anything like the bumbling brunette before him. Now that he really thought about it, Barnaby knew so little about Katsuko. It made his insides twist, an unknown guilt stirring there.

Yet that feeling went away as Katsuko wiggled her hands like spider legs, giggling. "Want me to spin you an old wives' tale, lil' Bunny?" She joked. Like a switch was set off on her, she stopped when he eyes landed on her left hand, pulling a small frown before retreating her hands back to her sides. The young hero noticed that his partner had been doing that on occasion, especially when she was about to tease or get affectionate with him. Her eyes would always catch her hand and she would drift into some kind of trance-like state.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked. The disappointment melted from Katsuko's eyes, her body's rigid stance dropping as she waved her hands with a nervous look.

"N-Nothing's wrong!" She assured, picking up her shoes, hat, and choker with haste. "I'm just tired. That's all," She forced a smile on her lips. "Don't worry about it, Bunny."

"I'm not worried. If you slow down because of your own problems, you slow me down," Grumbled the blonde, flushing slightly. "Don't bring your personal problems to work."

"Says the guy who went on a rampage after a guy who wasn't even linked to a monster from his past."

Katsuko cursed inwardly, knowing that she went too far as the blonde stared back at her with an unreadable expression, his lip twitching in a hidden emotion. Even though Barnaby spat at her, the vile she spewed back struck below the belt.

She raised her hand to Barnaby, unsure to touch his shoulder.

"B-Bunny," She started. "I-I didn't mean-" An alarm cut her off, the vibration running along her elbow from her wrist communicator. Shaking her head, she flipped open the screen and met Agnes's face. "Talk to me."

"Tigress, we have an emergency," Spoke the hostess in a grave tone. "Get to the Training Center ASAP." She ordered.

"Is something wrong?" Asked Wild Tigress, flinching her head as Barnaby peeked his chin over. She blushed as wavy blonde side burns tickled her cheek. Agnes noticed but hid her smirk. Sure, she could use this for publicity for the show, though she knew Tigress would refuse her whole face to be seen on camera, exposing her identity. Really, if the woman's "kitten ears" weren't a dead-giveaway already, the blonde would have pointed it out. But other matters were in order.

"You'll see when you get here."

---

Kyle stepped into the training room with a half-empty water bottle, feeling his legs finally set after they had turned to jelly from running on the treadmill. He felt like taking a small break in the heroes' lobby, but he could see it was preoccupied by everyone else, all of them gathered around the coffee table of the room while Katsuko argued with Agnes about something.

"What's going on?" He asked, walking to the table and stopping as he saw a dark-skinned baby tucked in a bassinet with a blue blanket, a hat with a marigold flower pattern fitting snugly around his head as he napped. "Whose baby's that?" He asked.

"The mayor's son." Antonio said. Kyle looked at him before looking back at the kid.

"Say what now?"

"He and his wife had business outside the city to attend to, so they wanted Tigress to keep an eye on the boy." Rock Bison explained.

"Again, say what now?" Kyle turned his surprised eyes to a fidgeting Katsuko. The letter looked away and crossed her arms, sighing.

"I'm agreeing with Kyle here. Why did they turn to the heroes for something like babysitting?" She asked.

"There have been numerous kidnappings of children from wealthy families as of late," Explained Agnes, looking quite tired herself. "The mayor felt safe leaving his son with a hero while he and his wife are away."

Katsuko threw her hands slightly, an annoyed look on her face. "Who does he take us for, his personal staff?" She asked.

"That doesn't matter. Point being, it's your job to look after him, Tigress," Without a further adieu, her boss walked off to the door, waving her hand behind her. "Take care of little Sam." She said, the doors closing behind her. Had Katsuko loose her restrain, she would have used a certain finger on her that told Agnes who exactly she'd take care after the huge mess. Thinking against it and her sense of moral pushing her back, Katsuko sighed and tipped her hat.

"Man, why me?" She muttered.

"This seems perfect for you." Barnaby interjected. Katsuko cocked her head in confusion, cocking it further as the other NEXT voiced their agreements.

"Sweetie, you're the perfect choice!" Natalie smiled.

"I agree with Miss. Fire Emblem." Beamed Iva.

"You'd be the perfect mother figure, Miss. Tigress." Added Keith.

"Yeah," Kyle crossed his arms with a small grin. "You'll make a really awesome mom some day, I bet."

Antonio smacked his forehead and threw his head back with a laugh. "Some day? Guys, she's already an awesome mom!" He chuckled. Everyone looked at him with their own voices of confusion, stirring baby Sam from his sleep. Katsuko was at the side of the table in a heartbeat, rocking the bassinet and humming soothing melody. Color drained and formed again on everyone's faces as she murmured a lullaby they never heard of, yet all of them found as if their tense figures were relaxing. Katsuko's humming made them at ease, almost peaceful. "See?" Rock Bison grinned.

Tigress placed her finger on her lips and made the gesture to her childhood friend, warning him on the noise and returning to her humming. Once the infant settled, she sighed and looked back at the wide pairs of eyes looking back at her. She blinked.

"What, I never told you guys?" Their silence was her answer, probing the gold-eyed NEXT to sigh. "Yeah, it's true; I have a nine-year-old daughter, guys."

Everyone gasped aloud, disturbing the child as he began to hiccup. Katsuko quickly picked him up and began to sway him. Her gentle movement was nothing compared to the rocking any parent would do to calm an infant. He swaying was slow and calm with small bounces, her heels barely leaving the floor. The League watched in awe as Katsuko murmured the words to the lyricless lullaby she hummed before, whispering them to the distressed infant.

"~Hush now, my baby. Be still, love, don't cry. Sleep like you're rocked by the stream. . .~" She hummed, petting Sam's back and holding him closer to her. "~Sleep and remember. . . My lullaby. And I'll be with you when you dream. . .~" Like the plucking notes of a violin, the lullaby she murmured sent waves of warmth to everyone in the room. Sam wasn't the only one calming down and feeling his body lulled to slumber.

Katsuko pulled him a little away, smiling softly as his drowsy eyes blinked at her owlishly. Laughing gently, she hymned again. "~Drift on a river that flows through my arms. Drift as I'm singing to you. . . I see you smiling. So peaceful and calm. And holding you, I'm smiling, too,~" She slipped his hat over his small ears, providing him extra warmth as he went back to his nap. "~Here in my arms. Safe from all harm. . . Holding you, I'm smiling, too. . .~" She quietly returned him to his bassinet, bundling him back in his blanket and sighing.

Antonio made the first sound. "Damn," He breathed. "I could get a week's sleep after that."

"Wow, I'm impressed," Natalie whispered. "Sweetie, that was amazing. You could give Blue Thorn here a run for his money." She grinned. Speaking of the ice-themed hero, he all but grabbed Katsuko's shoulder, turning her to meet a deadpanned look.

"What the Hell was that?"

"What?" Katsuko asked, shocked by his snarl. "I sang that to my daughter when she couldn't sleep at night. What's-"

"Don't care, I just want to get this out; You, me- duet on my stage. People will go nuts." He said this so seriously that the veteran thought he was joking. "And I'm not taking no for an answer, mom."

"Oh, can it," Katsuko huffed. "I don't need another blonde telling me I'm old. Geez, you guys are making a big deal over nothing." Everyone gasped again and Katsuko shook her head. "Man, you guys. . ." Shrugging, she reached into her pocket and dug out her wallet, displaying the photos she kept there. She showed her most recent one with Kaede, a few months ago and when her daughter won her first gold medal in figure skating. "There you go," She sighed before smiling slightly. "That's my little Kaede."

Barnaby scanned the picture, eyes widening as he recognized the girl by her outfit. It was the same girl he'd saved when transferred to Sternbild. There was no mistaking it. "That's-"

"She's really pretty." Iva commented.

"As beautiful and lovely as her mother." Said Keith.

"Hm, the eyes maybe," Natalie shifted her gaze to Katsuko. "Looks like she got more looks from her daddy," She winked slyly. "Tigress, you seductress, you. Where'd you bag a hunk of man to get a kid like that?" She giggled.

Katsuko suddenly turned rigid, pulling back her shoulders and darting her eyes to the ground. Everyone took noticed in the change of her mood. Barnaby could see how green her face was turning, as if she were about to vomit. However, Katsuko raised her shoulders slightly, sighing and stuffing her hands into her pockets.

"A-Actually, the man who. . . Well, the man who helped me conceive her left the minute I told him I was pregnant," She whispered. No one could make a sound, watching as Katsuko tried to hold herself up. The silence was feeding her mind with words yet unspoken, words that were hurtful. "I. . . I should have seen it coming, considering I was still in high school at the time. When it happened, I didn't want to give up my baby. My family supported me so I took regular visits to the hospital. There. . . I met my husband, who was a hospital intern at the time," Her right hand took her left gingerly, pulling it to her chest and hiding her silver ring from the world. "He helped me take care of Kaede and proposed. We were a family. . ."

Barnaby could feet his gut turning and churning as Katsuko told this. A part of him wanted to know more, so much more about this woman who came into his life. But judging by the tone of her voice, her story didn't have a happily ever after.

"But, well. . . A few months ago, we lost him to illness." Finished the brunette, the cat ears shaped on her head almost drooping. "And. . . Yeah, that's that."

"Katsuko. . ." Antonio started, but Wild Tigress threw him a smile that wiped away the sadness forming all around them.

"Hey, it's alright. Stuff like that happens. We all get skeletons in the closets and all that, you know?" She walked back to Sam's side, lightly spinning the mobile that hung over his bassinet and humming the lullaby a little.

"Well, now we see why you were the perfect choice then, Miss. Tigress." Keith offered to the awkwardness. Everyone was feeling that after the cadence of emotions they now felt for Tigress. None of them, with the exception of Antonio, knew that she felt this way. It all took them by surprise when she brushed off the sadness.

For a moment, Barnaby felt that he and Katsuko were on the same wavelength. She had lost someone important just as he had lost his parents. Something of remorse slipped into him, showing him more of his partner that he never knew.

That was the moment baby Sam decided to wake up, his huge eyes staring at all the tall people around him. When his eyes landed on Katsuko, his current caretaker smiled.

"Did ya have a good nap, little guy?"

Thick globs of tears sprang from Sam's eyes and he began to cry with a fuss, waving his arms about. His tiny body glowed blew and no sooner did he do so, vending machines began to tumble and photos of the heroes began to fly off the walls. As Sam wailed and cried, everyone looked beyond confused and shaken as the entire room was whipped by chaos.

"Oh, did I forget to mention?" Agnes popped her head from the door, dodging cereal bars that crashed from the broken vending machines. "He's a telekinetic NEXT so you'll have to be careful with him!" She warned as she made the most casual get-away any of them had ever seen.

"That's for the tip!" Tigress roared after her.

"Someone make him stop!" Shouted Natalie, she and Iva clinging to the sides of the table.

"OK! Stand back guys, I got this!" Said the tallest blonde of the room. Everyone knew that this couldn't end well.

And so, the trials of calming down the mayor's son began. And with each movement, none had soothed the savage beast of an infant. The first idea was to have Katsuko sing to him again, but Sam was screaming too loud for her to get the lullaby to reach his ears. The job then moved to Keith, who threw the baby up-and-down in the air, hoping that would make him laugh. When that plan failed, Antonio took the shot, ridiculously wiggling his tongue at the red-faced infant. Of course, that scared the baby further ("If that didn't work on Kaede in the past, then it sure as Hell won't work now, Tony! Quit it, you're starting to scare me, too!" Katsuko shouted.) The task was soon passed to Natalie, then to Iva. The fire-themed hero only scared the baby more and even though Iva had taken care of her brothers and sisters back in Moscow, the child wouldn't calm from her gentle nature. Kyle was muttering to himself, lost in dollar signs and wonderings of dating a widow, to which no one wanted to get into detail with. Barnaby flatly denied when the baby was almost passed in his direction and the crying and distortion causing infant was placed in the bassinet once more, creaming his lungs out.

"Here, Dragon Kid," Katsuko moved to the first youngest hero of the league. "You give it a try. We're all running out of options here."

"No way!" Pao-Lin waved her hands in denial with a nervous look. "You need a girl for this, not me!"

"Uh, I know from whatever I got from Anatomy from school, girls have curves," Katsuko gestured to her own before forming an outline in the air and then re-drawing it to fit Pao-Lin's figure. "And you got 'em, Dragon. So, here's the low-down; You happen to be a girl. Sorry if this is something of a shock for you." She added with a slight pout.

"I-I mean a girly-girl, not me!" Pao-Lin tried, yet baby Sam was moved into her arms. The second he was carried by her, Sam began to coo and wiggle his fingers at the kung-fu star. Katsuko didn't hide her smile at all.

"Look at that, he's sweet on you." She teased.

With a stutter, Dragon Kid returned a smile at the infant. "Nǐ hǎo. . ."

---

Light green eyes watched as Katsuko stepped back into the room, a bag of baby supplies in one hand and an old-looking tote bag over her other shoulder. "So why am I here again?" She asked, holding Sam as he sucked on his pacifier. After the past couple of hours, she found herself at Barnaby's apartment, confused since she had hardly gotten to know the stoic rookie for the past season. Not that Barnaby made an effort to know her or anyone else besides Katsuko while he was around, so feelings were mutual.

"I need a little help," Katsuko sat down and began shuffling through the bag, pulling her over-night clothing aside as she searched for something in particular. "If he starts crying again, I need you to help me out, Pao-Lin." She said.

"Couldn't you just sing that lullaby?" Asked the child.

"We both saw how that turned out when he wailed, right? Please, just cut me some slack for tonight- Ah, found him!" What appeared in her hand was a small tiger plush toy, patches of random cloth sewn across it's stripped body, one of its button eyes larger than the other and a torn ear stitched by red thread. "Here ya go, Sammy." She smiled, elated to hear Sam giggle and play with the toy in wonder.

"Why are you guys even here?" Barnaby spoke from his spot near glass wall of his apartment, arms crossed. "They asked you to babysit, Mama Bear, not me." He sighed.

"Well I figured you could help me, considering you're my boyfriend, "Papa Bear"." To his irritation, Barnaby silently cursed when his words were thrown back at him. "Besides, since I bought an old toy of mine for him to use, the least you could do is provide your apartment. C'mon, be a gentleman for once and help this ol' lady in waiting."

"That's pretty sexist, coming from you."

"OK, so I just really need you, alright? I," Fighting back a blush, Katsuko took her tiger toy and began to move him along Sam's arms, sighing softly as the infant pawed after the stuffed-animal. "I. . . I just need you close by, OK? To be safe and just know that someone's there. It'd really do me good, Bunny."

Barnaby didn't move, physically speaking. His emotions, however, were sent in a dance of confusion. First towards choice of words spoken from the heart, the next to how he reacted. Katsuko needed him. Yet reading between the lines, Barnaby knew she meant she always needed him. It sent his heart into a rapture of blood, tingling him to the very tips of his fingers. He would surely get dizzy from the blood rushing from his teeth. Was this what it felt like when you were in love with someone? To be at the edge of feeling nothing yet feeling everything all in one swift motion? Barnaby wanted to know so badly. How he wished he could solve this.

"'Sides, it's not like the little guy can cause so much trouble. So he messed the lobby up a little. Big deal," The brunette shrugged and waved her hand. "The worst damage he could do with his ability is bust your laptop. And it's not like that can't be replaced, right?" Katsuko scrunched up her nose. "Unless you're all highty-tighty about money." Barnaby gave her a look that proved the statement false and she merely turned and gave Sam a goofy look with voice to match. "He's a scare-wee lookin' bunny, huh wittle Sam?"

The baby's face puffed red and he spat out his pacifier, crying and sending items flying. Barnaby caught the sight of flying metal and he made hasty steps to it.

"Sorry, sorry!" Katsuko quickly apologized, trying her lullaby again to calm the infant. After a few minutes, the song reached Sam's ears and he soon calm down, items falling to the ground. Barnaby caught something with great protection, holding it close to his chest. Katsuko caught sight of an action figure's arm.

"That's what you were worried about?" She laughed lightly, taking pride as Barnaby flushed. "I guess some boys never grow up. Then again, I still have this little guy." She sighed, picking up her fallen tiger plushie and handing it back to Sam.

Pao-Lin even giggled. "You collect toys?"

"Not exactly," With nostalgic fondness, Barnaby held the toy robot carefully in his palm. "You see, this was a gift from my parents."

"Oh. . ." Katsuko watched as Barnaby recollected back to his memories with his parents. The sting of a twenty-year lost did a number on him. She could understand him, seeing that the tow was a gift from his deceased parents. "It's kind of like my toy then," She looked back as Sam nibbled on the tiger's ear. "My old man gave that to me when I was two. I've kept it ever since."

"Was the toy he gave you what helped you pick what type of hero you wanted to be?" Pao-Lin asked. Unable to hold it back, Katsuko gave a dry laugh and tilted the bill of her hat to her eyes, pulling a sarcastic smile.

"Please, the old fart would have beaten my power out of me if he could," She scoffed. She barely noticed the looks Barnaby and Pao-Lin gave her as she spoke to herself. "Nah, he ran off when he saw what I could do. The asshole. . ." She muttered. She looked up and shook her head, smiling again. "Hmph, as if I care, right? I'm better off with 'im." She patted Pao-Lin's head. "No, not my dad. The one who gave me the idea was. . . My husband."

"Oh. . ." Shifting the baby on her lap, the younger hero tried to press further without trying to bother. "He came up with your name then?"

"Yeah. He designed my suit and everything! He even convinced me to join the League," Laughing as old memories returned, Katsuko pulled her knees to her chest and tilted her head, brown locks bouncing lightly. "He was. . . My rock. He was my everything. . ." Heart clenching, Katsuko took notice to the floor, not wanting to talk about Tomoharu anymore. Her two occupants caught the idea and they were all silent.

Sam's babbling got their attention and Katsuko looked to see his stubby finger reaching for Barnaby, most likely his toy.

"I think he wants that." She figured out, pointing at the robot. With reluctance, Barnaby edged over and handed the child the toy, huffing quietly.

"Just try to be careful with it, OK?"

"Don't tell a baby that," Katsuko groaned. Tilting her head, a smile came to her lips, her fingers reaching and tracing the flowery designs on the baby's hat as he played with his new toys. "Did you mommy pick that flower pattern for you? So cute!" She compliment, her voice scaling a few notes.

Pao-Lin blanched, curling her lip. "You're kidding, right?" She asked.

"You know, you'd look cute as a button if you wore that design with a dress."

"No way," Scoffing, Dragon kid looked away and narrowed her eyes. "Don't say that, you sound like my mom." She moved her gaze to the confused hero couple. "In fact, my folks bought me a flower clip before I left home, and I couldn't care less." She informed coldly.

"Hey, don't say that. You gotta understand that it's hard for parents to get something for their kids," Katsuko's eyes turned in motel gold, the pair absent-mindedly looking at her tiger toy. "Even if they're far away or look like they don't put much effort into it, they do what they can to show their love for you." Katsuko could remember the few times she had with her father when he left. Before the whole catastrophe, they would do so many things together, from sharing the recliner in the living room to watch the sports or news channels to playing a few rounds of soccer or football in the front yard with her older brother. In those times, her father had cared for her and their little family with all his heart, always wearing a large grin that Katsuko owned to this day.

Her earlier words rammed into her and she mentally cursed, feeling like a hypocrite. Maybe insulting her father earlier made her go a little too close to home.

"Well, she has a point, you know?" Barnaby pointed out, snapping Katsuko out of her thoughts. "You have to take care of what your parents give you, no matter what." Either to prove his point or to show how possessive he was, Barnaby took back the toy. Katsuko rolled her eyes at his childish action.

"You really aren't that big on sharing, huh?"

---

The next few hours passed into nighttime. The four NEXT spent their time in Barnaby's living room watching movies and having dinner, settling down Sam whenever he got fussy. As soon so the infant began to grow tired, Katsuko suggested it was time for the children to head off to bed. Pao-Lin protested, but soon sank into the covers of Barnaby's bed along with Sam, the blonde deciding to let this one slide. He closed the door of his room behind him and he walked back into the living room.

Something delicious wafted into his nose and his mouth watered a second. Curious, he walked into his kitchen in the other room and spotted Katsuko by the stove, humming a made-up tune as she stirred something in a flat pan. Yet that didn't catch the rookie's attention at all. Flowing like a wedding veil, Katsuko's hair became a rich color of burgundy in the light, smooth and curling just near her lower back. It took Barnaby a second to see that her "kitten ears" were not fixed on the sides of her head, all the extra hair tumbling in waves. And at that right moment, Katsuko turned to him in a heavenly vision with a sweet smile, bright eyes close to becoming two stars in the night.

"Ready for a late night dinner, dear?"

"W-What?" Barnaby stuttered.

"I said are you ready for some late night grub, Bunny," Katsuko poured whatever she made onto two plates with sides of brisket, a few bottles of assorted drinks in her free hand. "Come on, let's eat over there, yeah?" She moved her shoulder slightly. "Kind of need to rest after all the activity today." She admitted.

Nodding dumbly, Barnaby followed his attractive guest to the living room, the woman taking her time to ease herself into a recline without damaging her shoulder further and placing the food on the nearby table. A pillow was held to her and Katsuko looked up as Barnaby looked away, his eyes to the dark sky. Smiling, Katsuko took it and placed it behind her, lying back in the chair.

"Thanks, 'lil Bunny."

"Don't call me-" But in all the anger he wanted to say, it dropped as Katsuko made a whimper. Barnaby strode over to her, bending on one knee and placing his hands on her shoulders. "Are you OK?" He asked, a little bit of fear gripping his heart.

"F-Fine," Katsuko took a few breaths, shrugging her cramping shoulder before the shot of pain went away. "Yeah, I'm alright now. It just started to cramp up and it hurt for a while. Guess I should have taken the doc's advice and take those pain killers he suggested. Meh, as if I need 'em now when the pain's only coming in little spasms." She said.

"I see," Dropping his hands, Barnaby took the other chair and stared at the offered food. "What did you make?"

"Fried rice," Grinning, Katsuko turned her seat and snapped her chopsticks, thanking for the meal before eating a mouthful of the sauce-covered food. "Mmm-mm!" She took one of the bottles of liquor and gulped down half of it, sighing sharply as the mix made it to her gullet. "The best dish I've ever made! Well, maybe the only since this is all I can really cook, but it's pretty damn cool that I can cook it so well!" She laughed.

Barnaby eyed his own platter stacked with sauce and a few veggies. With hesitation, he took his own wooden utensils, gave his thanks and popped a small portion into his mouth. The taste settled on his tongue and a small smile came to his lips as he savored the food.

"Pretty good." He said, his tone off-handed, though Katsuko smiled at the sincerity.

"Told ya," She returned to her own meal and the two ate in silence, the occasional sip of a drink and taps from their plates. Barnaby wiped his mouth with a napkin, his eyes falling to the brown hair resting on Katsuko's shoulder.

"How come you're wearing your hair down?" He asked, used to see those animal like appendages made of soft brown hair. He would almost say he missed him, yet Katsuko looked just as beautiful without them, the free hair now framing her face.

Swallowing, Katsuko tugged at one of the brown locks. "You know how hard it is to sleep with those things on?" Laughing quietly, she flicked the piece behind her shoulder. "Trust me, it's a real bitch. Putting them up, too."

"So why do you wear them?"

"Ah, it was a both mistake and something I stuck with back when I was seventeen," The veteran reclined in her hair with her chopsticks poised in one hand. "I went to my town's old barber shop to get a haircut, but the new girl working there thought I was someone who was going to prom at a local high school and had a specific hairstyle in mind. Four long hours later, I became a neko." She said with a throw of her shoulders.

"You didn't notice that was too long of a haircut?" Deadpanned her partner.

"Hey, don't judge! I fell asleep after the first hour!" Puffing her cheeks, Katsuko pulled her hair behind her ears. "Anyway, I was hanging out with Tony and my boyfriend at the time-"

"That guy who left you?" Katsuko shrank at the growl at his voice, mistaking it for disappointment.

"N-No, my husband, Tomoharu," She stuttered. Barnaby held back his relief. At least his partner still wasn't with that jerk who left her with their child. He had growled at the thought of that, his anger for the unknown bastard dying. "Anyway, we were all kidding around and Tony was teasing my hair. Tomoharu, well, he. . ." Katsuko slowly cradled her left hand with her right, smiling as she remembered that one moment where Tomoharu leaned over and caressed one of the "ears". "He told me they were the cutest things he'd ever seen, right next to me." Turning pink, Katsuko bought her ringed finger to her lips and kissed it softly. "H-He always knew what to say. . ."

Barnaby stared at the silver band around his partner's hand. No wonder she constantly stared at it. Not the hand itself, but the seal that bonded her with her late husband. So that moved him on to what he wanted to say next; how come every time she was close to him, why did she think of her husband then and all of it would drop?

'Unless. . .' He looked back at the oblivious Tigress as she stared at her ring. 'You feel. . . The same and yet. . .'

Murmuring came from the next room and the two NEXT strained their ears. They could hear Sam simpering with blubbers while Pao-Lin was humming him something.

"The lullaby. . ." Katsuko recognized the notes anywhere, smiling as she pushed her empty plate aside and reached for a bottle of sake. "I'm glad it still works."

"You said you sang that to your daughter." Barnaby said. It was nowhere near a question.

"Yep. It put her right to sleep when she was a baby," Taking a swing of the rice-soaked drink, the burning liquid. The slow effects of alcohol bought her to a state of calm. She could handle the bottle well so a few of them wouldn't hurt her. "You know what, Bunny? Taking care of these kids and spending time with you and them. . . It reminded me of when Tomoharu was around." Katsuko sighed, rolling her bottle a little and watching the amber drink swirl in the transparent bottle. "Yeah, it's bought nothing but good memories back."

"Do you miss him?"

Katsuko stared at Barnaby past the glass, hopping the foggy coloring would hide her sad smile.

"Of course I do. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't," She placed the bottle down and rested her arms in front of her, popping her elbows and resting her chin on her hands. Like fireflies, her eyes flickered to the glass wall, taking in the amazing view of Sternbild at night. "You know, to this day, I still wear the same engagement ring he gave me."

"I've noticed." Barnaby looked at the piece of jewelry, something akin to jealousy flaring in him. Jealous of a dead man? He looked at Katsuko, watching her eyes glow by the millions of lights of their highly-advanced city. 'No. . . I'm jealous that she's in love with someone else. . . That she's not in love with me. . .'

"Ah, I'm sorry, Bunny," Barnaby cocked his head at the apology. "Telling you this sad stuff isn't good for dinner, huh? Sorry."

"I was the one who asked the question." The blonde pointed out, pushing his glasses up when they got close to the bump of his nose.

"Hey, can I say something?"

"You're already talking, so go ahead."

"After what happened today, it makes me think of my daughter, too." Sighed Katsuko.

"After hanging out with Dragon Kid?" Barnaby asked.

Yep," Katsuko tapped one of her chopsticks along the surface of the table, eyes drearily drooping. "I miss her as much as I miss Tomoharu. Sure I get to call her now and then, but after today. . ." She rolled her shoulders with a grunt. "Makes me wonder what my own kid thinks of me."

Noting the threat of silence, Barnaby moved to another topic. "How are your injuries?"

"Hey, I told you not to worry, right?" Smiling wistfully, Katsuko rested her head on her arms. "But I'm fine now. Only a few light spasms, y'know?"

'But why did you take the hit that caused them in the first place? If I had learned to control my anger. . . This wouldn't have happened. . . I didn't want you to get hurt.'

"That's good to hear." Replied Barnaby.

"Say, can I ask something?"

"First you want to say something, now you want to ask? That's pushing it, you old bat."

"Watch it, Bunny," With no malice in her words, Katsuko looked up at him. "After Sam's last outburst, I saw all those documents on your flat-screen," She jerked her head to the screen. "How long have you been doing that?"

Freezing at her words, the rookie's hand twitched before he reached to the floor and picked up a fallen report. Clinking a button, the screen was soon decorated with news documents and charts, a few pictures displaying the Ouroboros symbol and pictures of Barnaby's parents.

"Damn," Katsuko exhaled in sheer odd, widening eyes never missing the crime syndicate's title. "It must've been Hell to dig all this up."

Barnaby couldn't agree more. "These people murdered my parents right in front of me. It's been something I've been trying to solve for years." He grasped his fists tightly, using the control he had to stop an oncoming breakdown. A hand suddenly laid on top of his own and gently squeezed. Startled green eyes met gentle and compassionate amber.

"Did you see him?" The hand squeezed again as Katsuko murmured. "The one who. . . Did it, I mean."

Gulping, Barnaby hoped his heart wouldn't leap from his throat. The distance between him and Katsuko was very close and he could smell a hint a sandalwood wafting from her.

"My memory's a little foggy, but I sort of did," He uncurled his fingers and took Katsuko's hand, the warmth of it anchoring him to reality. "All I can remember is that tattoo on the back of his hand. I wish I could have seen more. . ."

"Just make sure you don't push yourself," Katsuko said with a small smile. "Remember what I said; if you grieve and wallow in pity, never really living life, then you'll just be going against your parents' wishes. No parent wants their kid to live with regrets."

"Is this from experience?" Barnaby asked, shivering as another hand stroked the top of his.

"You could say that," Said the brunette. She had noticed how tense her partner was turning. Remembering Tomoharu's soothing hand trick, she took a chance to see if it would calm the blonde like it did for her. The results bore fruitfully. "So, did you figure out anything else during the investigation? Anything that could help you?"

"Not until I was still studying at Hero Academy and I found out about a criminal that was going to be locked away with leads of his connection to Ouroboros," Barnaby locked his eyes with the fingers tracing his knuckles. "I wanted to ask so many questions when I ran into the courthouse, just as they finished his trial. But the man, J. G. Benjamin, was mentally unstable. He could barely speak without breaking into a seizer. All I got out of him was the Ouroboros' title. After that, he faced a two-hundred-and-fifty year prison sentence and later died."

"I guess you lost your only lead back then?"

"Right on the mark, old bat," Sighing, Barnaby reached among the drinks and picked a can of ice tea spiked with a little liquor. He wanted to relax tonight, but not get wasted by sake like Katsuko. "For over two decades, I've been searching and gathering whatever I could get on Ouroboros or the man with the tattoo on his hand." He took a swing of the drink until he had brain freeze, slamming the can to the table and crushing the aluminum in his grip. "I want to remember so much. . ." He growled.

"Hey, forcing yourself to remember isn't healthy. Don't beat yourself over this, Bunny," Katsuko squeezed his hand again, reaching over and pushing away the stubborn curls gathering along Barnaby's forehead. "I know you'll find the truth. Just don't hurt yourself while doing so, OK? Please," Her eyes turned into liquid earnestly. "I don't want to see you hurt yourself, Bunny. I've already been through that. . . And I don't want the same thing to happen to you." She whispered.

Barnaby's words died on his tongue, his eyes widen at her plea. Shakily, he took a hold of the wrist of the hand resting on his cheek and nodded slowly.

"Sure." He whispered, tongue tied and hopping his hands weren't sweating.

Katsuko smiled, taking her hand away. "Wow, you're being really nice tonight, Bunny. Must be the tea," Laughing quietly, she took her hands away and picked up her bag, which laid close by. "Honey-?"

"Yes, dear?" Barnaby asked automatically. A long pause passed by them. It was quiet enough for the sound of a pen to drop.

"What was that?" Katsuko asked, placing her bag on her lap. Barnaby was caught in a stutter, his hands moving uneasily and a blush forming on his cheeks. That was all it took to cause Katsuko to giggle. "I think you had too much tea, Bunny." Holding her hand to her mouth, she pulled out a small cake kept in a store-box. "I wanted to know if you wanted some honey cake from a bakery from my old town. My mom sent me one this morning," She opened the box and pulled out the sweet confectionary. "Mmm, smell that? That's what comes out of baking from scratch instead of those fancy machines they have around here. Here, try it." She said, pulling two plastic forks our of a little plastic bag. A small piece on one of the forks was held to Barnaby's mouth. "Say, "Ahh~"." She laughed.

Annoyed, Barnaby took the fork and stuck the sweet in his mouth, shrugging. "It's good." He said, though the honey that glazed over his tongue made him wonder if he could order one from Katsuko old town himself.

"Right?" Smiling, Katsuko took a few bites herself, cheeks turning red at the sweetness. Barnaby never thought an older woman could pull that off. "Ah, I miss this," She turned back to the reports on the screen, blinking as something caught her eye. "Hey, why am I in that report, Bunny?" She asked. Barnaby looked himself as he ate his sure.

"Oh, that's-"

"Let me see," Taking the remote, the brunette clicked on the report and enlarged it, seeing her five-year-old self with Mr. Ledged. "Hey, I remember that!" Sitting back, Katsuko grinned. "Man, I can never forget the day I met Mr. Legend. The guy's my hero!" She looked at Barnaby. "How come you saved an article about it?" She asked.

"It was just something I found." Replied the blonde. It wasn't a total lie. He did find it while searching, but that was about a week ago, when he wanted to learn more about Katsuko.

"If you wanted to know some stuff about me, you could have asked instead of snooping, Bunny." Laughed Katsuko.

"Can I?"

Katsuko raised her head. "Huh?"

"Can you tell me more about yourself?"

"You serious?" Asked Wild Tigress, surprised. "That's a first. Why the sudden urge?"

'I want to know more about you. I want to know why you still love a man who's been dead for months. I want to know about your daughter, the rest about your family, your life, things that make you happy and sad. I want to know so much more about you that it hurts and I want the pain to stop. I want to know why you make me feel this way. I want to know if there's any chance I got. And I want to know if you feel the same way and if you'll fall in love with me."

The rookie shrugged. "Just curious."

Still astonished by the egoist's curiosity, Katsuko spun one of her strands of brown hair. There was no trickery or taunt in his eyes. Only pure and unbreakable truth. She had never expected to gain that from Barnaby, who always acted so cold to her and treated her to the point of tearing at her hair. Katsuko smiled radiantly. 'We're finally getting along. . .'

"Alright," Katsuko got more comfortable in her seat, taking the bottle of sake and nursing it in her hands. "What do you want to know?"

"Can you tell me about. . . What happened while you were in high school when. . ." Barnaby trailed off, hopping he wasn't asking too soon.

"When I had Kaede?" Asked the older NEXT. Barnaby nodded uneasily as Katsuko drank the rest of her sake, reaching for another bottle before nodding. "I'm only gonna say a little, OK?" At the "bunny's" nod, Katsuko went on. "Well. . . OK, it goes like this; I was stupid in high school. And before you get any ideas, I had good grades and everything, despite my record. Anyway, I started dating this one guy –bah, I hated the bastard so much after all he did, I can't even remember his name- Anyway, we started dating. I liked it because, well, he was the first guy to ever ask me out. I was in some sort of honeymoon phase, you know? And then a while after. . . Well, I won't go into detail so, this and that happened, and I end up getting pregnant with Kaede at sixteen." She paused, looking back at the city again.

Barnaby waited for her to continue. No sense in rushing her and only to end up hurting her in some way. And Katsuko appreciated it, taking a breath before going on.

"It gets kind of bad after that."

"I can only imagine."

Katsuko took a deep breath. "No shit."

---

"The server you are trying to reach has been disconnected."

"Heh, figures."

A large hand clasped over her shoulder. "I'll hunt him down and run him over with the old truck."

Laughing, Katsuko wrapped her arm around her big brother's shoulders and hugged him.

"I appreciate it, big bro, but I bet the bastard's out of town by now. Who gives a shit, anyway?" She sat back on the plastic chair of the hospital room, the sixteen-year-old''s eyes lifting to the ceiling. "I have the baby and all he has is bragging rights for banging a NEXT. That'll last like for what, three, four weeks? Pfft-" She rolled her eyes back to her brother. "Big deal. . . Say, when's mom gonna show up?"

Her brother checked his watch. "Ten, maybe fifteen minutes."

"Hmm. . ." Looking around the pale blue room, Katsuko was quiet for a second before reaching into her pocket, pulling out a couple of coins. "Can you get me something to drink, bro? All this waiting is making me thirsty."

Nodding, her brother took the money and left the room. With her brother's footsteps fading away, Katsuko looked at her stomach and smoothed her hand over it, catching the slight chubbiness of a baby bump that steadily swelled for the past two months.

"I'm having a baby. . ." Enthusiasm lacked in her voice, a small frown on her lips. Not for having her baby or from how her family would react. Not even from the jerk that jumped town the minute she told him she was knocked-up. It was her worry for being a parent. She had no idea what to expect or what was going to happen. She knew it was going to be hard, watching as her mother struggled to take care of her and her brother when her father left. The gist of taking care of child was all she knew, and she worried how she would take care of her own. "Damnit, I don't even know much. How is this even gonna work. . . God damnit!" Exhaling tiredly, she sat up and buried her face in her hands, shaking her head as tears began to form in her eyes. "I'm an idiot. . . What was I thinking?"

"Miss. Kaburagi, may I come in?"

Blinking, Katsuko sat up and wiped her eyes hard.

"Y-Yeah, come in!"

Stepping into the room, a young man wearing pale blue scrubs and a white coat with a clipboard. His brown eyes twinkled kindly behind his glasses and his black hair was kept short and neat.

"Hello, Miss. Kaburagi. My name is Tomoharu Nakamura and I'll be asking you a few questions with you today," Tomoharu took the seat across the room and slid it in front of Katsuko, taking a seat and pulling out his pen. He stopped, concern crossing his features. "Miss. Kaburagi, are you alright? Your eyes look rather red."

"I-I'm fine," She rubbed her eyes again. "You don't need to worry about nothin', OK? It's my business." She couldn't help but growl. She already had enough trouble dealing with a guy. The last thing she needed was talking to another, even if Tomoharu wasn't doing something intentional.

"Don't you mean, "You don't need to be worried about anything"?"

"Why the Hell are you correcting me?" Annoyed, Katsuko bared her teeth. "Quit being a smartass."

"If you fix your grammar and attitude, I might." Tomoharu replied.

"Tch," Looking away, Katsuko pouted. "Smartass."

"I think we've already established that my name is Tomoharu Nakamura, Miss. Kaburagi," Sighing, Tomoharu fixed his glasses. "Miss. Kaburagi, would you like to tell me why you're acting so upset? Talking might make you feel better."

"It won't change anything though, will it?" Amber eyes filled with fire, Katsuko sat up and glared. "It won't change the fact that my old man left when I was four. It won't change the fact that people are still afraid of me 'cause I'm a NEXT. It won't change the fact that my no-good, fuckin'-excuse-of-dick boyfriend left me when he found out I'm having his kid. It won't change the fact that I have no freakin' clue on how to raise a kid. And, to add it a freakin' cherry on top, talking won't change the fact that I'm a complete dumbass for screwing up my own life!" Katsuko was in tears now, hysterical as tears ran down her cheeks, pants escaping her throat. "So tell me, Tomoharu; how the Hell is talking gonna do jackshit for me?! Huh?!" She screamed.

Tomoharu sat where he was, watching Katsuko cry and cling at her hair. After several minutes, she began to hiccup and calm down, breaking a little more calmly. Watery gold eyes watched Tomoharu write a few things down on his clipboard before he looked at her silently.

"Better?"

That simple word made Katsuko sit up, her mouth agape.

"I. . ." She took a breath, sighing and rolling her shoulders. Sniffling, she stared back at him and nodded. "Y-Yeah. . . How the Hell did that happen?" She asked. Tomoharu smiled, fixing his glasses.

"Sometimes when we have a lot of grief, crying it out to someone and letting it all out helps us out," He leaned over and took her hand, suddenly tracing it. Katsuko flinched and tried to yank her hand, kept the intern kept it firmly in place. "Calm down, I won't hurt you, Miss. Kaburagi."

"Freakin' understatement of the century." Muttered Katsuko.

Tomoharu chuckled lightly. "Be that as it may, I'm a man of medicine, so hurting people would contradict my profession," A silence passed between them for awhile, Tomoharu's hands never releasing and causing Katsuko to squirm in her seat. She didn't want to admit that a button-nose and dark brown eyes were her weaknesses when it came to guys. "So, Miss. Kaburagi, do you think we can talk like adults now and see if talking will do, as you said so colorfully, do "jackshit" for you?" He asked, laughter in his brown eyes. Blushing, Katsuko eyed her lap.

"I-It might."

Tomoharu smiled.

"Very well, then."

---

Someone knocked on the door and Katsuko's mother, Anju, and her brother stepped in.

"Katsuko, are you alright? The doctor said that your examination is done and we can leave."

"Aw, mom, already?" Katsuko whined, having just heard Tomoharu tell about a mishap he had while studying medicine. It made her laugh and grow more excited about the intern's life. "Can't we stay around for five more minutes or something?"

Anju shook her head. "Katsuko, let's be reasonable. I'm sure that Mr. Nakamura is busy-"

"I call bullshit on that, mom. He's been talking to me all day," She turned to him and smiled. "You're a real chatter box, Tomoharu."

"Likewise," Chuckling, Tomoharu stood and placed his pen behind his ear. "Though it is getting rather late. I think we should call it a day."

"O-Oh. . ." Biting her lip, the sixteen-year-old looked at the floor and kicked her foot. "Well, hey. . . I was just wondering and this is random but. . . We can talk again, right? Maybe over coffee or somethin'?" She asked, turning pink as Tomoharu smiled at her again. She melted at his thousand-star smiles.

"Coffee wouldn't be the right choice for your condition now, so I'll have to decline," He replied. Katsuko turned crestfallen but when a two hands took her own, her face turned as red as a stop light. "But I know a good restaurant we can check out. There's this fruit salad that is extremely good and it's totally safe," He grinned, rows of white teeth dazzling. "Shall we exchange numbers and I'll pick you up next Sunday, say, three o' clock?" He asked.

Holding back a laugh, Katsuko nodded.

"You got yourself a deal, Mister."

In the background, the elder Kaburagi sibling muttered, "Great, now I might have to run over two people with the old truck."

---

"Wow." Barnaby whispered.

Hiccupping, Katsuko nodded, her cheeks tinged with red and her head wobbly. "Y-Yep. He sure was a Hell-of-a-guy. Knew when to piss me off and. . ." Sighing, Katsuko swayed her new bottle about. "Knew how to m-make me feel like. . . Like the happiest girl in the world." Sniffling, Katsuko threw her arms over her bloodshot eyes. "I miss h-him. . . T-Tomoharu. . ."

The site was pitiful and Barnaby didn't want to have it. Within his heart of hearts, it saddened him to see Katsuko this way. Drinking away her sorrow and crying like a wounded animal. He wanted to ease her, to comfort her, and tell her that everything would be alright. He lacked it though; consoling, understanding another's feelings. He lacked the experience. He wasn't a people person like his partner. No, he knew he couldn't match the kindness Katsuko had, nor the happiness. And the happiness was what he wanted to bring back.

"Come on, I think you had one-two-many, old hag," He sighed, standing up and walking over to Katsuko. As carefully as he could, he reached his arms under her neck and knees and picked her up. A mewl came from Katsuko and she wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling to him.

"Bunny. . ." She whispered softly. Barnaby gulped dryly.

"Yeah, old bat?"

"I'm s-sorry for callin' ya. . . Ya all those things in the p-past. . ." She confessed drunkenly, pulling away and blinking tiredly. "You're actually a good k-kid, y'know? I mean it."

Barnaby scoffed lightly. "You're drunk."

"And you're rude, b-but that's not. . . The point here," Katsuko leaned back to him, her warm breath causing goosebumps along the blonde's neck. "You're. . . You're smart, considerate, patient, and deal with me when I. . . When I screw things up. What I want to tell ya, B-Bunny, is that. . . Ya mean a lot t-to me. Hell," She hugged him tighter, sighing dreamily. "I-I like you a lot, Bunny. . ."

"Old bat. . ." Gulping, Barnaby stood where he was, holding the precious cargo that was his veteran partner. It might have been the alcohol talking, but Barnaby never thought his heart could be tugged at by its strings anymore than this. Maybe this meant he had a chance to be with Katsuko. Maybe this would allow him to win her over. But right now, he knew he couldn't do such a thing. Katsuko wasn't sober or thinking straight. Another day would come, and Barnaby would take that chance when he could, when Katsuko looked at him with the same eyes of adoration she had when she talked about Tomoharu." Old bag," He said again, only to fine Katsuko passed out in his arms. He sighed, shaking his head. "Drunk old hag." He mumbled gently before carrying her to the couch with a simple throw.

He sat down and tried to pry her hands off him and frowned. Katsuko was strong, even without her Hundred-Fold power. Sighing and knowing that any means of escape was impossible without waking the "sleeping tigress", Barnaby pulled the throw from its place and laid down with Katsuko, shifting so hear head rested on his shoulder while his head rested on the top of her own. Taking off his glasses, the rookie placed them on the side and got himself comfortable. His nose met the cool and sweet smell in Katsuko's hair and he smiled softly. Quietly, he leaned over and kissed the top of Katsuko's head lightly.

"Good night, you old bat." He whispered, nuzzling his chin to cat-ear-less hair and falling fast asleep. For the first time in twenty-years, Barnaby Brooks Jr. finally had a good night's rest.

---

The next morning started with Pao-Lin opening the door, dressed and looking bright eyed as she carried baby Sam.

"Good morning!" She called, only to get a mumbled reply in return. With curious eyes and a cooing baby, she walked into the living room to find Barnaby and Katsuko snuggled up together, a throw over them and their chest rising and falling in content sync. Pao-Lin would have smiled if it weren't for the fact that the entire room smelt as if liquor had been poured onto the carpets.

"Smells like a bar. Huh, good thing Blue Thorn and Origami Cyclone invited us to the park, right?" She asked, the infant squealing with joy.

---

Pao-Lin had no trouble finding the two other junior heroes in Sternbild Park. She simple followed the sound of a guitar playing accompany by a masculinity beautiful voice. She soon found the park's fountain rolling her eyes as Kyle stood at the edge of the great fountain, playing a song with his white and blue Gibson Guitar while Iva was at working with yellow crafting paper, a stack of multi-colored paper right next to her. She could see a small spread of paper cranes near her sides and feet.

"Gonna make a wish when you reach a thousand?" Lilac-purple eyes looked up and Iva smiled at Dragon Kid.

"Hello, Miss. Huang." She smiled.

"Er, Pao-Lin's fine, Iva." Assured the martial-arts expert.

"If you say so," The Russian smiled at Sam. "Hello, Sam. Would you like one of my cranes? Or maybe I can make you a puppy or a kitty?" She asked, the baby giggling and taking the crane she offered, his tiny hands tearing at the wings.

"Aw, Sam-"

"It's fine, Pao-Lin," Iva said with a kind smile. "He's a baby, he doesn't know any better." She giggled as the infant waved the paper crane's decapitated head. "He reminds me of my little brothers at home. Hm, I have to remember to send a letter to my family before this Saturday."

Pao-Lin shook her head with a tiny smile. "Doesn't it get annoying to write to them so often, though?" She asked. "I mean, don't you wish they get you when you don't need them around?"

"But I do need them," Iva quipped, surprising Pao-Lin. "It's a little difficult since we live far away, but I know whatever they do for me is because they care and love me." She smiled, her purple-grey eyes glowing. "Leaving Russia was one of the hardest decisions my parents made. But they knew it was time I could take care of myself and they trusted me to make the right choices while here in Sternbild."

'At least your parents are that decent.' Pao-Lin thought with a huff.

"But I know that it was hard for them, too," Iva continued. "I mean, I'm their first born child and they would miss me terribly. They still do. But you know what I found out?"

Pao-Lin shook her head.

"No matter the distance, my parents will always love me, just as much as I love them," She sighed happily. "And knowing that, I know that everything they do or so is because they care." She tilted her head thoughtfully. "Speaking of distances and places, Pao-Lin, do Miss. Tigress and Mr. Barnaby know you're here?" She asked. Pao-Link flicked her wrist.

"I didn't want to bug them while they cuddled," Platinum-blonde waves tilted with a bounce and green eyes caught the confusion. "Long story but don't worry. I left a message on Barnaby's communicator. They'll know where I am." She sighed, looking over the older girl's shoulder and hearing a familiar tune.

"~Sleep and remember. . . My lullaby," Kyle sang, plucking his guitar strings softly. "And I'll be with you when you dream. . .~"

Sam giggled and waved his hands, halting Kyle from his song and the latter turning to smile.

"Hey, little man," He looked up and flashed a grin at Pao-Lin. "Hey, Pao-Lin. What, Tigress and Pretty Boy put you on duty while they feed ducks by the pond and listen to the Oldies?"

Laughing, Pao-Lin shook her head. She liked Kyle for his blunt and harmless way with words. She found him funny.

"No, they were busy and since you guys invited," She shrugged. "Why not, y'know?"

"Alright, that's what we're going for!" Grinning, the Prince of Pop swung his guitar on with its strap and he jogged over to the two girls. "Well, ladies and little man, shall we get going?" A small crane smacked in his face and his eyebrow twitched at the dozens of others littered around the fountain. "Uh, but let's pick these up first before the cops arrest us for littering." With Iva chanting her apologies and the three of them picking up the mess, they were off on their day-off in no time.

---

A sniff of the air was all it took, and the young man sighed as his light blue eyes to the back of his head, a shiver climbing down his spine causing his wavy, light green hair to dance with its rose-pink tips.

"Well, brothers, I do declare," He sighed, his crossing his arms charmingly. "I say we hit the jackpot. The smell of money in the air is more thrivin' than a June bug in a plantin' nursery." He said, clad in a black open vest with a red mesh shirt, tight and torn skinny jeans, clack combat boots, and yellow visor on his forehead.

"This place is bursting with the high-society types." Said his older brother with flashing blue eyes, his long, dark purple hair streaked with white and tied into a ponytail, wearing a similar outfit but with a dark blue color scheme. The oldest of the brothers smirked and jerked his head to the side, his red-brown deadlocks swaying.

"Check this out, bros," He snickered, dressed like his brothers but with a yellow pattern. His younger siblings followed his gaze as they spotted three teenagers and a baby. The youngest brother sniffed the air, purring in delight.

"Yes. I say this'll be a easy!" He laughed, the middle brother nodding in agreement.

As the three NEXT walked together, laughing at one thing or the other, neither of them expected Pao-Lin and Iva to drop back as white cloths were pressed to their noses from behind. Kyle barely had a chance to make a punch when a cloth was pressed to his nose. The last thing he saw was two men grabbing Pao-Lin and Iva, Sam's confused face leaving his mind.

---

Groaning, Barnaby moved in his sleep and grabbed a sallow behind him, throwing it in the direction of the door.

"Go away."

"Yeah," A person next to him yawned and nuzzled his neck. "We're sleeping. . . Come back on Christmas. . ."

'WILL THE BOTH OF YOU GET OFF YOUR ASSES AND COME GET THE DOOR!" Both jumped and shouted at the fog horn-like voice almost murdering their ears drums. They both looked at each other, then at the wide-screen with a very annoyed-looking Agnes. "AND SAVE THAT FOR THE SHOW! DO YOUR REHERSING ON YOUR OWN TIME, YOU GOT THAT?!" The couple looked at each other again before Katsuko screamed and jumped, falling on the floor with a not-too graceful landing.

"Ouch, damnit," She muttered, looking up at Barnaby and blinking a few times. "Say, Bunny? We didn't. . . Do anything last night, did we?" She asked, suddenly flushing a looking worried.

"Calm down," Huffing, Barnaby pulled at his messed-up hair with a scowl. "The kids took the bed so I moved us to the couch. Don't worry about it," He sighed, remembering Katsuko's words from the night before. Even if it came out of liquor and her inner-mind, perhaps Katsuko really did like him. For his own sake, he gave an unimpressed look. "Besides, even if we did do anything, I'd have to stop and make sure not to break your back." He shrugged.

Scowling and with a muttered, "Ass," Katsuko stood up and sent her furrowed gaze at the ringing door. "Calm the Hell down, Agnes! I'm coming, geez!" Throwing her hands in the air, Katsuko walked off to get the door with her young partner trotting behind her.

In a matter of minutes, dipper bags and baby toys scattered along with the cans and bottles of empty drinks, Agnes eyeing the two. Barnaby was trying to clean his glasses while Katsuko was at a small battle with her hair, using hair ties and clips.

"Just what were you two doing?" She asked suspiciously.

"Sleeping," Katsuko beat Barnaby to the punch, her eyes smoldering with a bothered anger. "And nothing more. Nothing worth leaking to the Media." She said, securing the straps and forming her cat ears. Agnes hummed lightly before looking around.

"Where's Sam and Pao-Lin?" She asked. Barnaby yawned, still looking half-asleep.

"Probably still asleep."

---

"Alright, kiddies," A snicker passed from the young brother as he hovered his taser near the teens' nose, smirking at the fear in Iva's eyes. "What, don't like my toy, missy?" He tilted Iva's neck and pressed a button, a static charge hissing between the rods and drawing close to doppelganger NEXT. Iva almost screamed, but the younger brother pulled his gun away. "Calm down, I'm only having some fun here. I love playing with little kids." He giggled.

"Mikkie, you sure these brats got cash?" Asked as the second oldest brother, leaning against the wall of the trio's van.

"Duh, I can smell it on them, Mitch." Rolling his eyes, Mikkie swung his gun, the NEXT watching it dangerously.

"Alright," Mitch walked over to the tied-up three and held his taser gun to their faces. "Where's the loot?" He ordered.

"What loot?" Asked Pao-Lin.

"Don't play dumb, or else," He held the gun near Sam's head, the infant sleeping, unknowing of the danger he was in. "Junior gets it."

"Leave him alone! He just a kid, bastard!" Shouted Kyle, only to get his head yanked back with the rods of the gun held to his neck.

"Watch your mouth or your sisters and baby brother get it, ya little shit." Mitch growled. Pao-Lin's phone rang from her pocket and Mitch swiped her phone, flipping it open.

"Pao-Lin, where are-"

"Sorry, lady, but your kids are a little ted up at the moment." He smirked.

"Who is this?"

"Look, I'm gonna make this short a and sweet, 'cause I'm an impatience man; bring one million Stern dollars to Warehouse #3 at the West-Bronze Docks by the end of the day. Don't even think about bringing the cops or else-" He grazed Kyle's cheek with the barrel of the gun, laughing dryly. "You're oldest son dies first. Followed by his sisters and his baby brother if we don't get our money after that. Better hurry." With one last laugh, he hung up the phone.

---

"Kidnapped- gah!"

"How the Hell could you let this happen!?" Agnes shook Katsuko wildly, almost ruining her newly made "cat ears". "What are we going to do if those people hurt the mayor's baby!?" She shrieked, shaking seeming to be the only thing she can do in such a frazzled state.

"What are we sitting around here for, then?" Asked Barnaby, watching the fight as if it were a yard sell. "Let's just go look for them."

"Are you crazy? They're holding Pao-Lin, Kyle, Iva, and Sam as hostages!" Shouted his boss.

"Don't worry, I have a plan." Assured Barnaby. The two women stared at him, wondering what sort of plan he had.

---

Agnes turned her head this way and that way as she stood by the warehouses of the docks, looking at Katsuko and Barnaby's hiding place.

"Don't look this way!" Katsuko hissed, slipping her domino mask over her eyes.

"So you're the mom?"

Surprised, the television producer turned, heaving the large black bag she carried and staring at Mikkie and his older, red-haired brother.

"You two must be part of the children kidnappings that been happening." She said. The redhead smirked coolly and held a hand to his chest.

"Yeah. Luke and Mikkie Myers, pleasure to meet you, ma'am." He laughed.

"Huh, we're getting' popular," Mikkie beamed childishly. "Ain't that awesome, Luke? Geez, we should've charged more if we were getting' so famous!" He snickered.

"Where are my children?" Agnes demanded, tightening her hold on the bag. "I only give you the money if I see them and know that they're safe!" She asked. Luke's nose twitched, his glowing blue eyes narrowing.

"Freakin' Hell, she's lying!" He cursed.

"Yeah," Mikkie curled his lip in disgust. "I don't smell much on her, bro."

Luke pointed his gun. "Freakin' bitch!"

"Look out!" Katsuko and Barnaby dashed forward, the older hero socking Luke in the jaw while Barnaby caught Agnes. Growling as the kidnapper and his little brother retreated, Katsuko chased after them, wandering around the large cargo holds. She stopped at a crossroads and waited, the blunt points of magnetic rods touching the back of her head.

"Heh, hey ya, doll face."

Katsuko spun on her foot and threw an upper-cut, clipping the boy's chin and grabbing his taser gun. She held the gun ready with a glare.

"You were saying, clown face?" She countered. The boy pouted.

"Geez, no need for insults," His nostrils flared and he crossed his arms. "Wait, aren't you a hero or something?"

"What if I am?" Asked Katsuko. Mikkie rolled his eyes.

"It doesn't pay well, from what I can tell," He huffed. "This is why me and my bros started our little babysitting service. Works better than getting a minimum wage with saving people."

"Whatever, kid. Just tell me where the other kids are." Katsuko sighed. Cocking a brow, Mikkie suddenly pounced forward and shoved Katsuko to the wall of a cargo hall, chuckling as she bit her lip in pain.

"Aw, come on, let's see if we can work something out." He purred leaning down and pressing closer to the struggling Katsuko.

"Get off her, bastard!" Mikkie jumped back and Katsuko slid to the floor, someone catching her before she made it to the ground. Dazed, Katsuko looked up and sighed with a small smile.

"Thanks, Bunny."

"Douche," Mikkie muttered under his breath. "If you love her so much, keep a better eye on her."

"I don't like her like that." Barnaby growled.

"He's lying!" Luke shouted. Barnaby glared in his direction, the latter rolling his eyes. "Hurry the Hell up, Mikkie!"

Nodding, the green-haired lad winked at Katsuko. "Catch ya some other time!" He laughed, sprinting after his brother.

"Get back here!" Shouted Katsuko, tailing after the boys with Barnaby at her side,

"Sure, that'll stop them." He huffed sarcastically.

"Says the guy who lied."

"I wasn't lying! I don't like you the way they implied!"

"Ah-ha! But you still like me!" Katsuko grinned. "That's sweet, Bunny!"

"Shut up and run, old bat!"

---

Mitch sniffed the air, casting his eyes to the three NEXT.

"What?" Asked Kyle with a bite in his voice. He was annoyed by the man's look and the way the bridge of his guitar dug into his back.

"You kids smell like trouble," Sighing, he sat up and looked at Sam, snoozing away. "Heh, look at this kid. Sleeping through his own kidnapping." He crackled quietly.

"What did you mean by trouble?" Asked Pao-Lin.

"It's my power, kid. Same goes for my brothers," He rested his arms on the table, smirking knowingly. "Mikkie can sniff out money on people. When it comes to lies, Luke's like a bloodhound. And I can smell danger," He waved his gun lazily with a shrug. "We all attended Hero Academy, thinking we can score it big with saving people. When we found out that was nothing but crap, we switched to our "babysitting services" and got a Hell lot of money out of that."

"How can that be?" Squeaked Iva.

"Don't play dumb. You're parents, of course," Mitch tapped his fingers along his taser. "They'll pay anything to have you guys back safe and sound, even an arm and leg. That's how unconditional love works. I mean, just look at your baby bro's hat," He pointed at Sam. "The yellow marigold is a symbol of health, so your folks want him to live long and healthy."

Pao-Lin gasped. "Health?"

"Just goes to show what saps parents are," The kidnapper chuckled. "Anything for their kids, no matter what the cost. That includes money."

All three NEXT were struck silent. Based on what Mitch had told them, they all felt a sort of feeling in them. It reminded Kyle about how his father was, worrying about him and wondering if his son would come home unharmed after a crime. It reminded Iva that her parents had no ways of reaching her if she were in danger, the two on the edge about their oldest child. It hit Pao-Lin the worst, Katsuko's words ringing in her ears.

"You gotta understand that it's hard for parents to get something for their kids. Even if they're far away or look like they don't put much effort into it, they do what they can to show their love for you."

The door was kicked open and Mikkie and Luke ran in, looking worried.

"We got heroes tailing us, Mitch! We gotta go!" Shouted Luke.

Mitch spared a glare at the kids before nodding.

"Fine, start the van, but leave the older brats."

Luke sniffed at them. "They aren't related, are they?"

"That, and they're all NEXT," Mitch looked at them with disgust. "Come on, let's just-"

In that faithful moment, Sam suddenly woke up. His eyes took a survey of the three teens' faces and his eyes began to water. With a gurgle, he let out an ear-shattering cry, causing items to fly wildly like bullets. Everyone ducked hid as cupboards began to rattle. With another cry, Sam broke the engine of the car, the kidnapping trio pulling the kids and child out of their as the van exploded. The roof as the warehouse was set in flames, iron beams falling from the ceiling.

"Shut the damn kid up!" Shouted Mitch, only making Sam wail more.

"We'll stop him if you un-handcuff us!" Shouted Kyle.

"Fat chance!" Shouted Luke. Kyle grinned and showed his hands, completely thawed off by ice. Pao-Lin's were free too and she had just undone Iva's. A crate fell from the catwalk above and almost hit Luke, Sam flying out of his arms. Pao-Lin caught him in the nick of time, landing on the ground and fixing his hat.

"Don't want to lose that, right? She asked with a kind smile, holding the crying infant to her and murmuring Katsuko's lullaby. "~Hush now, my baby. Be still, love, don't cry.~"

"~ Sleep like you're rocked by the stream. . .~" Iva joined, Kyle accompanying them with his guitar. "~Sleep and remember. . . My lullaby. And I'll be with you when you dream. . .~" Sam calmed down and giggled, smiling and the three.

Kids, hang in there!" Clashing through the roof top came Wild Tigress and Barnaby, the both of them radiating with their Hundred-Fold strength. The oldest of the group of NEXT looked at the cowering brothers, giving a look.

"Still wanna run?" She asked, cracking her knuckles. Squawking like chickens, the brothers nodded shakily. Signing, Katsuko walked over to them and picked up one of their taser guns, shaking her head. "I didn't even get to do anything, man." Sighing, she threw the gun once in the air and caught it easily, looking back at the others and smiling.

Something flashed before Barnaby's eyes. Someone stood in Katsuko's place, a face becoming clear and sinister. A sharp pain zipped to his brain and exploded into agony. Screaming, Barnaby almost feel to his knees, panting as the pain relentlessly roasted his mind.

"Bunny!" Katsuko called out, jumping back as the young man suddenly roared like a wild boar and spring into the air, running away from the scene. Everyone stood in the building and stared. Katsuko grew worried as the fire began to die, wondering what came over Barnaby just then.

---

The next day was less disastrous than yesterday. With Sam safely returned to his parents and the heroes off at another day of work, things were turning back to their run-of-the-mill activities.

"Hey, everybody!" Katsuko walked in, pushing back some of her hair and looking around. "Hey, I thought I was the only one wearing a flower on me." She grinned.

"You're the one who told us to try it in the first place." Kyle grumbled, looking at the light blue amaryllis pinned to his shirt.

"It's for Pao-Lin," The brunette smiled. "We made a deal."

"Hm, why being so secretive, Sweetie?" Asked Natalie with a sly smile, a light pink Jonquil in the bun of her hair.

"It's a surprise, Miss. Natalie." Giggled Iva, a small gathering of Lilies of the Valley buds near her ear.

"Why do I get the feeling it's not going to be good?" Asked Antonio with a sigh, a copper-orange Nasturtium on his wrist.

"I'm sure they have good intentions. I look forward to this." Keith grinned, a white Alstroemeria pinned to his shirt. The doors to the room opened and Pao-Lin walked in, a purple clip glittering in her hair. Everyone cooed at her in their own way, causing the girl to blush.

"D-Don't make fun of me." She stuttered. Compliments went to her anyway and Katsuko smiled in the background, glad to see that Dragon Kid finally saw her parents' true love for her. It made her heart swell and she wondered for a moment of Kaede was fine. Looking around the lounge, Katsuko saw her young partner looking at his laptop, looking distraught. Concerned, she stood up and walked over to him, sitting next to the quiet "bunny".

"Hey, are you alright?" She asked. Barnaby didn't reply for a while. He sighed and closed his laptop, shaking his head.

"I-I just need some time to myself," He said in a heavy tone. "Just. . . Leave me alone for a while, old hag." He sighed tiredly. He had been acting so distant with everyone, looking so lost. It was like his first day in Sternbild all over again. Looking at him softly, Katsuko nodded and reached into spare bag.

"Alright, but don't forget to wear this, Bunny." She said, leaning over and pinning a flower to his shirt with a safety pin. Barnaby eyed the sun flower on his chest.

"Old bag-"

"It looks nice on you if you ask me. Very handsome, Bunny." Laughed Katsuko, leaning over with her eyes on the blonde's pink cheek, the perfect target for a teasing kiss. She suddenly stopped again, gulping and pulling away. "A-Ah, just kidding. . ." She backed away from the surprised man and stood up, walking over to the group with something blue in her hair.

Barnaby watched as Katsuko walked away with a Forget-Me-Not resting on one of her kitten ears. He could've sworn his heart dropped.

---

Katsuko: Hey, folks! Katsuko here! You know, the member of Tigress and Bunny who likes to eat ice cubes out of her juice glass. Ah, finally! The paid vacation I've been waiting for! Well, I don't want to leave Bunny by himself. He looks all sad and lonely. Wait, don't rabbits die of sadness! Whhhaaa! Don't die on me, Bunny! Oh, wait. . . He's not a really bunny. Damnit, but he's cute as- No! Katsuko, you can't say that! Tomoharu, remember Tomoharu! Wait. . . What's going here? Something's not right. . . I better help out! Next time, on Tigress and Bunny; Eh. . . Um. . . I gotta go! See ya guys later!

Tigress and Bunny: Episode Nine: To Battle We Go!

---

Hm, I really did like to work with this chapter. Not just because of drawing Katsuko and Barnaby closer, but with everyone else's interactions. It really brings a smile to my face when I can write up those scenes. That, and writing how Katsuko and Tomoharu met. I really enjoyed that ^_^ I hope all of you did, too. Oh, before I go, I want to leave a little note about the flowers everyone had, just for fun!

Kyle Lyle- Amaryllis- Meaning achievement and inspiration.

Natalie Seymour- Jonquil- Meaning "desire for affection returned."

Iva Karelin- Lilly of the Valley- Meaning sweetness and "Return to happiness."

Antonio Lopez- Nasturtium- Meaning Conquest and "Victory in battle."

Keith Goodman- Alstroemeria- Meaning devotion and aspiring.

Pao-Lin- Aster- Meaning "Always thinking of you."

Barnaby Brooks Jr.- Sin flower- Meaning "Wishing you luck."

Katsuko Kaburagi- Forget-Me-Not- Meaning lost love, faithfulness, and "Never forget your true love."

Man, I hate to admit that Katsuko's flower is really bittersweet. Especially on Barnaby since all of this is racking his brain up. Well, fear not, readers! These two will be together in the end! You can quote me on that!

Well, I'm gonna sign off for now. Please make sure to review and I'll get back to you guys real soon. I really am excited since the next chapter is gonna be a load of fun ^_^

This is me saying, Peace!