They had just reached the main pathway that led to the main stairs when Saitama paused. He turned his head and glared at the shadow of a tree. "I see you. You suck at hiding. Is this your first time doing this?"

"What?!" Zenchu hissed out. "No!"

"How did you see him?!" Mitsumi gasped.

"I just can," Saitama said. Then he rose up his arm to block an attacking swipe. He quickly turned to pull Mitsumi into his chest to wrap himself around her to keep back the attacks. Zenchu was getting madder and madder that Saitama wasn't getting hurt. He started to try hitting even harder with his claws now, but the hero didn't budge at all. All he did was simply move when he sensed Zenchu moving around him to protect Mitsumi. He was moving far too fast for Saitama to get Mitsumi to safety. Something's not right with Zenchu! I'll just focus on protecting Mitsumi for now!

"Zenchu!" Kianna hissed.

"Did he lose himself?!" Rendor winced.

"If he does anything more, I'll pull him away!" Inichi vowed.

"Zenchu..." Mitsumi whispered and rose up the white silken flower.

"What?! Wait...I...!" Zenchu paused in mid-swipe at it. "No...no...what did I do...?! What have I done?!"

"I'm fine," Saitama said. "Not a scratch on me. I kinda stopped getting hurt after I started to punch things out. Even my clothes are fine unless it's something really intense."

"Zenchu!" Mitsumi said and moved from Saitama's arms to pull Zenchu's shivering form into her arms. "It's okay! It's okay now..."

"He was...protecting you...from me..." he whimpered and fell to his knees with complete shock. "I...I shouldn't..."

"Hush, Zenchu. You saw the flower. You remembered. You are fine now," she soothed and gently rocked him while his tears fell. Only after he was able to hug her back with relief did everyone start to settle down again.

"Can you tell me the story about the flower?" Saitama asked and sat on the ground now. "Why you all seem to respond to it?"

"Yes," Zenchu nodded and continued to let Mitsumi comfort him. "It was a few months after she got that snake. I've been a monster for close to eighty years. I transformed into one in my mid-twenties. I forget...what I did to become this form...maybe in time I'll remember what happened. But...the first thing I remember on becoming a monster was to take a life a day. It didn't matter who's it was. What it was. I just had to kill something every day. And I did."

"Wow," Saitama blinked. "That's dedication."

"I always struck at night. Easiest way to get things done. No one ever saw me or knew what happened until it was done. When I discovered my abilities...I made use of them. I rarely hold memories of what I did then. But I know that...some deaths...I left horrible scenes behind me. I reveled in the chaos. Of the pain to inflict on those that saw what happened. The aftermath of the bloodshed I did. It brought me...a sick sense of joy. I'm so...disgusted with myself now!

"On that night that I met Lady Mitsumi...I heard soft humming in a field of white flowers. I stalked the sound...and when I struck out...I saw her...and she smiled at me. I was stunned. I couldn't even move. I didn't know what was coming over me just then. When she saw that I was just watching her, she held a flower out to me...and I realized..."

"He couldn't attack me," Mitsumi smiled softly.

"Yeah. The flower...it's a symbol of complete purity and gentle reflection. I realized...what I did for all those years. The waste of life I did! I...fell to my knees...beside myself with tears! And I promised to protect her and care for her from that point forward. To never kill again unless it was to protect her. It was then...that she was able to tell me her story. Show me things on her phone. Let me see her transformation. I already know that I won't hold back on Ajito. The flower will help me remember myself when it's over. But he's already marked for death by me," Zenchu grunted.

"Good. Now give Mitsumi back to me," Saitama said.

"What?" Zenchu looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"We aren't dating, though," Mitsumi said with a soft smile.

"Ah..." Saitama started and grumbled to himself. "Fine. Tomorrow night. We start dating. How much time until your day form?"

"A little over an hour," Inichi said.

"Where do you plan to take her?" Zenchu prodded.

"Does it matter?" Saitama asked.

"Wait," Mitsumi said. "I need to talk to everyone. I have to."

"Oh?" Kianna frowned. Genos was silently listening and observing everything. He wasn't worried in the slightest, though. Master Saitama is very protective over her. He never showed so much interest in anyone like this before. I think...could it be...? The signs are all there, but it's much too early to tell...

:It is I, Inichi. Genos...your thoughts are correct. He has not yet figured it out, but he has completely fallen in love with her. And it was the moment he first set eyes on her when he found her crying.: The telepathic monster whispered softly in his mind.

:But...he needs to know! He should pursue her and wed her immediately! Such a thing would not be good to just let it idle!: Genos argued.

:You need to understand. These things...they take time. The flame may be there, but it must become a raging inferno to fully take form. Help him find places to take her. The more romantic, the better. Even you know how Mr. Saitama is when it comes to his own emotions. They need to reform naturally. However, Lady Mitsumi has original tastes. She does not like most places that other girls do. In fact, she was enjoying herself immensely at King's place just watching video games. She isn't one for movies or candies. But she does adore nature...:

:Nature! I am sure there are plenty of natural parks and scenic areas! I shall start to compile a list of places now.: Genos nodded and moved to follow the others to the apartment complex stairway. When they walked in, everyone first saw to Zenchu to ensure he was back to being himself. He pushed them all away and sat down. He was given something to drink with a small meal to recover himself shortly after. Only Mitsumi was permitted to rest a hand on his muscular shoulder to show she still cared about him.

"Okay. I...know that you all want to wait a month for the restaurant. But I can't wait that long," Mitsumi swallowed. "So, after I turn old and we know that various locations are opened up for the day, we must start to transfer things to me as my younger self. The snake...I want it gone. I am not waiting a month for it. I will wait a week."

"A week? Why? Wait...oh..." Inichi was actually highly surprised and quickly relayed the message to the group. :She is keeping her thoughts hidden to fool the foul thing. She wants it killed the moment she turns back to herself the next night! She will let the snake think that it has a week. No. It has less than 24 hours...:

:Done.: Saitama nodded. The others gave mental murmurs of worry, but they all agreed.

"Yes, it would take a week to transfer rights and building permissions with deeds. I had to think on that. We shall work on that first thing," Inichi agreed.

"If the restaurant fails...well...we tire of watching you suffer," Orotsu nodded his large, blubbery head and continued to work a stove with two of his tentacled arms. "We can always regain funds."

"And I still have a gift or two that I can sell to make back any lost funds," Mitsumi nodded. "I am not worried."

"What are these gifts you were given?" Saitama asked before yawning again. He knew he was nearly at his limit.

"Mainly bits of jewelry and fine clothes. Stuff I really don't need," she shrugged. "Saitama...do you plan to go back to your place?"

"I'm just a couple floors above you. I have to sleep in my bed. I'll wait until you change, though. Then I'll go," he nodded.

"When everything is done...would you move in here? To be with me?" she asked softly. Now the others looked at her with soft chuckles and gasps of amazement. Saitama just looked at her with a blank stare of surprise.

"Um...well..." he blinked.

"Master, it should be fine. If we need our own space, we can remove a wall from an apartment to here. It will work," Genos nodded. "I can also move in to help protect and vouch as an eye witness on many things."

"Let me think about it," Saitama sighed hard.

"I can do your laundry!" Mitsumi grinned.

"What?!" Saitama blinked to get them all laughing.

"Marriage in three months?" Zenchu asked out loud.

"I will slap you," Saitama warned. Zenchu just grinned with understanding. It was when Mitsumi suddenly gasped and slumped down for Saitama to catch her that all awareness was brought to the present. "She's unconscious. Her body is preparing, you think?"

"It is. I'll take her," Zenchu said.

"No. I'll help her," Saitama said.

"Ah, she'll be an old lady. I don't want her to get weird ideas," Zenchu warned. That had Saitama pause and nod.

"Fine. Here," he agreed and handed her over to the monster.

"There is no need to get jealous over him," Rendor muttered.

"It's not that. I just want to protect her," Saitama admitted.

"And there is nothing wrong with that, either," Zenchu nodded. "Tell you what, Saitama. When she is ready to change young...you can hold her."

"Deal," Saitama nodded and accepted a cold soda pop. At the hard knock on the door, he sighed and got up with this drink. On opening it, he blocked a punch from another hero. "What's the big deal?"

"Monsters are in there! It's time to flush them out!" the man hissed out like a snake. "I know the association said to leave them alone, but I won't allow for it to be happening here in this city!"

"Here we go again," Kamiko sighed.

"Eh...do I know you?" Saitama frowned and thought while blocking another snake-like punch. He took another sip of his drink in thought. "Oh, yeah. You fought at the arena, right? And still lost?"

"Shut up! Get out of the way!" the sharp-eyed, black haired man hissed. He was wearing his usual mottled green and brown snakeskin suit and attacked again. Saitama simply finished off his soda and set the empty container aside while still blocking the other hero. He was clearly looking bored over it.

"It's not Ajito. We don't care," Zenchu muttered out. "Just slap that guy and get rid of him. We don't have time for this right now. Lady Mitsumi is ready to become old again. I have to focus to help her."

"What?" the man blinked and paused in his attacking. A monster wants to...help someone...?!

"Who are you?" Kianna asked now when she looked over Saitama's shoulder. "Be neutral to us and we will talk like civilized people."

"You? Civilized?!" the man scowled.

"Says the one trying to punch me over and over again. And failing at it," Saitama sighed with boredom. That had the man gape with shock at him. "Just stop it. Listen to what we're trying to tell you. You'll see what's going on with your own eyes. Okay? Genos even knows all this. So does King. That guy...uh...Mumen Rider does, too. These guys here are not the problem."

"He speaks the truth!" Genos said when he now looked over Saitama's other shoulder to get the intruding hero gaping even more that an S class hero was there.

"Saitama!" Zenchu shouted. "Get over here!"

"Huh?!" he blinked and was quick to walk over. Now the man in the green suit was able to peek in, but he was met with Tsuruga and Rendor.

"Mind your manners, please," Rendor snorted at him. "Introduce yourself. I am Rendor. This is Tsuruga. Who are you?"

"I am...Biting Snake Fist Sneck..." the man seemed to hiss out. "But you can call me Sneck."

"Fine. Come in and sit down. Do not interfere. Lady Mitsumi is undergoing a change that is not done by us, but by something else we are trying to keep under control. We hope to find a cure for it soon," Rendor nodded.

"Hold her hands. She just got bitten by that thing," Zenchu said to Saitama to have him do just that. "Inichi told me that she was...begging for your touch through her unconscious thoughts. I don't know why...but..."

"Okay," Saitama nodded and squeezed her hands in his lightly. He noticed that her form seemed to relax even more now. "I don't think I'm going to get any sleep until this is over..."

"Likely not," Zenchu nodded and glanced over at the other hero. "Hi. My name is Zenchu. You may have seen me escorting an old woman around. This is her. She'll be turning old shortly from a form of potent venom in her system. All thanks to the bracelet on her wrist. We are hoping to get it removed soon. We protect her and care for her like a little sister. Saitama, though..."

"Shut up," Saitama warned to get a rewarding grin.

"He likes her. A lot," Rendor grinned. Saitama rolled his eyes at the monster to get the room laughing.

"I told you I will start dating her tomorrow night," Saitama droned out.

"And we are fine with it!" Tacki beamed. When Mitsumi started to twitch around, Zenchu hissed for focus. Saitama had to back away slightly to let her twist and turn from the pain. When she screamed for the change to happen, Sneck could only stare with shock at what he was witnessing.

"We want this to stop..." Kianna cringed.

"It will," Saitama nodded. Then he looked at Sneck. "See? Are you done being stupid about all this? Do you see now what's really going on?"

"Ah..." Sneck blinked. After five minutes of watching the beautiful girl change into an old woman, he was in complete and absolute shock. Zenchu rose up now to carry Mitsumi's newly aged body to the back bedroom to get tended to. When he walked back in to sit down, he looked at the new hero.

"You still plan to attack us? After seeing that?" Zenchu asked.

"I...no..." Sneck sighed and glanced away.

"I get it. We're monsters. But we don't want to be," Kianna said softly and shook her head. "If there was a way to revert back, then we would."

"We all lost families from this. I wasn't even thinking about it," Richoo sighed sadly. "I'm so glad that Lady Mitsumi woke me up!"

"Not all of us are like this, though," Kamiko said. "There are those that still don't care. We let Lady Mitsumi talk to them first. If they don't wake up, then we kill them off. They will only hurt more innocents, and they would attack her, too! We just can't have that."

"We, as a small group, are the only ones like this so far. That is how few we are," Zenchu nodded. "I'm just glad she woke up Inichi! That one could have caused some massive damage if still in a monster mindset!"

"I could be that troublesome, hmm?" Inichi chuckled when he floated in. Sneck only gaped. "Greetings! I am quite telepathic, as well as empathic. I'm telekinetic to boot, too! Just think my name and I will hear you."

"You're...that strong...?!" Sneck gaped.

"That I am!" Inichi chuckled. Then he cringed at the smack of a cane. "Lady Mitsumi! What was that for?!"

"You are gloating again, child," she wavered and shook her head. "You didn't even know I was right here, eh?"

"Oh...ah..." Inichi flustered.

"And you. Do you plan to hurt my family at all?" Mitsumi asked Sneck directly. "Please do not do so. They mean no harm."

"Right," Sneck said and cleared his throat. Then he saw the bracelet. "That is a...very interesting bracelet..."

"Oh? If I could give it to you, I would. But I need it for later," she sighed.

"It's a monster..." Zenchu muttered to the hero.

"What?!" Sneck asked.

"Quiet. It will be dealt with in time. When it bites her, it changes her. You saw the change after she was bitten," Zenchu warned. "We need to handle it when she is young. Not when she is old."

"Oh..." Sneck frowned. "I can...see that now..."

"Right. Anyways, Saitama...?" Zenchu now saw the bald man had fallen into a deep sleep on the couch he sat on. The others chuckled softly.

"Let him rest. I need to rest, too. Set me near him?" Mitsumi sighed. On looking at Sneck, she said, "Please be kind to us and we will show kindness back."

"Of course," Sneck nodded.

"We will be down at the restaurant later in the day. If you go there, just be respectful," Orotsu said while cooking some batches of rice for sushi. Sneck could only nod again and leave while deep in his own thoughts. Inichi was keeping a close, yet silent watch over him. He was curious on what he would tell his superiors.

"I'm going back to the restaurant. I told Mumen Rider I would be there to install the cameras," Genos said and got waved out to do just that.

"Let me rest..." Mitsumi sighed and lay back near Saitama's sleeping form. "We will all wake soon."

"Of course," Zenchu nodded and lay back on another couch. Time would pass quickly now as those rested and slowly for those that worked around the rooms of the apartment.