An intense nightmare had Mitsumi bolt straight up with a small whimper. Saitama was quick to wake from this and now he was sitting up to cradle her.
"Easy…" he soothed and cradled her. "What happened? Can you tell me?"
"Just…bad dream…" she shivered and pressed into him.
"About what?" he asked and ran a finger over her cheek to comfort her.
"I…" she paused and cringed. Saitama didn't like that and was quick to think to Inichi for help. :Hey! Get over here! I need your help with Mitsumi!:
:Oh? Ah! I'm on my way! Maybe we should shift the bedroom to a corner window area for easier reach for things like this.: Inichi said in a suggestive way. Saitama could only agree with that, but it was under a minute for Inichi to appear from the bedroom doorway to evaluate Mitsumi. "Can you please show me the nightmare? If you don't, it will only eat at you, Lady Mitsumi."
"Ah…" she trembled.
"I…see…" Inichi huffed and frowned. "Mr. Saitama, her prior tormentor had invaded her dreams. She was reliving parts of her hell."
"Once again, I'm defeated by thoughts," Saitama sighed and rested his head against Mitsumi's shoulder. "Okay. We need to clear some buildings out for construction, anyways, right?"
"What?" Mitsumi blinked at him.
"Whenever that asshole torments your thoughts, I will level a building," Saitama smirked and kissed her cheek. "Let me get my shorts on. Here, put on your nightgown."
"Saitama…" she frowned.
"No. Don't. I need to prove that that guy has no hold on you," he said. Inichi sighed and went to fetch Zenchu. Everything was quickly explained within two minutes and he was not happy.
"What?!" Zenchu grimaced. "Ugh! Okay. I'll stand watch. It's almost dawn, too. Didn't we plan to wake up early, anyways?"
"We did. If anyone wakes from the noise, I will inform on what it is," Inichi said and noticed that Orotsu was already setting up breakfast. They looked over when Saitama was seen carrying Mitsumi out. He was now wearing a set of grey shorts, and she was in a deep blue nightgown.
"We'll be right back," Saitama nodded to them and was quick to head out the main door. Zenchu was now able to follow them and simply keep watch. Suiryu was just getting up to start on his routine when he saw Saitama carrying Mitsumi out and running towards where some other desolate buildings were.
"Huh?" Suiryu frowned and was quick to dress and follow them. He was just coming up to them when Zenchu jumped in front of him.
"Don't!" Zenchu hissed to stop him. "They'll be back."
"What's going on?" Suiryu asked.
"Lady Mitsumi had a nightmare. Saitama is leveling a building," Zenchu said. "It dealt with her past. He does this to prove he can protect her."
"Can I watch what he does?" he asked now.
"Hmm. Fine. At a distance. Not up close. You'll see how terrifying he is when he's royally pissed," Zenchu said. "Keep up!"
"Ah…" Suiryu blinked and was now jumping and pulling himself up to the top of a tall building. Zenchu pointed at where Saitama was. Suiryu was able to sit down and study what was done now.
"Brace behind me," Saitama said in his gentle tone.
"Okay," Mitsumi nodded and pressed herself against his back and form. He had chosen a massive, twelve level building that was still standing. It was nowhere near to falling apart. Saitama pulled his right fist back, narrowed his eyes and lunged at it. The power reverberated and smacked into the building at full blast. He turned to jump away with her just as the building groaned, crumbled in on itself and simply collapsed completely.
"Ah…what…?!" Suiryu gaped.
"Don't ever let him punch you," Zenchu said calmly and watched the building fall. Then Suiryu's jaw dropped even more when he saw the building behind that one fall. "This is why he was moved into class S. He's rank 3."
"What?!" Suiryu blinked.
"You didn't know?" Zenchu grinned. "Lady Mitsumi is rank 4 in class S. That's from the fans she uses, as you know."
"What are you both doing here?" Saitama asked when he was suddenly behind them both with Mitsumi in his arms. They both jumped and looked at him.
"I wanted to see what was going on," Suiryu said. "I mean…Master…that power! I…"
"I told you before to not get any stronger," Saitama said seriously. "Eventually…everything starts to feel dull. Boring. If it wasn't for Mitsumi…I probably wouldn't have any true emotions left. She…brought it back. But only with her. I can feel again. I can live again. The moment I saw her, I felt alive. The moment she leaves my side, I feel lifeless. It's why I always hold her close."
"Saitama," Mitsumi smiled and got kissed passionately. "Let's go back inside and get something to eat."
"Yeah," he smiled and kissed her forehead before dropping down the building with her. Suiryu gaped and looked down to see that Saitama had no issues landing with her at all. Even when he stepped out of the small crater he made, Mitsumi was lifted up to keep her from getting hurt. Once back on solid ground, he started to carry her away.
"Did you really have to do that?" Mitsumi chided him. "Now it's another thing to repair! You could have just run down! Even taken the stairs! Leaving a hole in the ground? Really?"
"Not fast enough," Saitama grinned and kissed her. "Besides, I'm fine. See? I'm hungry, anyways."
"Always food motivated, eh?" she sighed.
"I'm motivated by other things. Speaking of which…I could…" he mused and whispered to her to make her blush hard.
"Oh! Terrible!" she winced.
"My hunger for you knows no bounds," he grinned wickedly and kissed her in a loving way while he carried her off. "You are my food."
"How am I not surprised?" she sighed and blushed at his fond squeeze.
"How did he find her?" Suiryu could only blink on watching them walk off.
"She was miserable and crying her eyes out. He heard her. He found her. It was pure chance that we found this city to live in," Zenchu said and flicked his tail. "Don't get any ideas, though. You'll have to go through me before him. I won't hesitate to bring out the claws, either."
"Oh…" Suiryu swallowed.
"In fact, you may have to go through Inichi first," Zenchu mused and shrugged. "Stick to being a disciple. You'll still learn new things. And who knows? We may find a monster girl for you yet! They are out there. It just depends on who we can wake up."
"What?" Suiryu looked at him oddly.
"Don't tell me that you're not bored of the typical girl," Zenchu grinned. "Unless you like men?"
"No!" Suiryu said quickly. "I just…not only is Mitsumi gorgeous…she has so many talents! I mean…who would want to hurt her?"
"You don't know that she was set up to be raped and hopefully killed off, do you?" Zenchu asked. Now Suiryu's jaw dropped. "Nope. Okay. Ten minute run down on the bullshit she lived through including what we just learned last night…"
After fifteen minutes of talking, answering questions and bringing the young man up to speed, Suiryu was just in shock and outrage on everything. "When do you plan to go to that place to confront that thing?"
"After the Hero Association to meet with them," Zenchu said.
"Can I go?"
"Hmm. I don't know. Honestly, I don't know."
"I know how to fight."
"I'm not saying you don't. I just know it may be overkill already."
"I need to ask. This is just…disgusting."
"Tell me about it," Zenchu agreed and shadow phased out to get back to the main building. Suiryu now made the long trek down to the destroyed street and ran back over to confront them all with his request. Then he paused when Inichi's blue bubble surrounded him and brought him to them.
"It is kind of you to wish to assist in this," Inichi said when Suiryu arrived. "You may be able to assist in the form of a lookout. To ensure nothing else tries to intervene. As you are Mr. Saitama's disciple, this would be excellent training for you. Come and eat. We will have to head out soon."
"So…I get to join you?!" Suiryu blinked with excitement.
"For now, yes," Saitama said and tucked into his omelet. Mitsumi had a similar dish and sipped on some tea.
"Our uniforms are clean?" Mitsumi asked.
"Yes. Richoo took care of them last night," Inichi nodded. He smiled at Fubuki when she made her way in, and now he informed her of what happened. She was not happy about it, but she was soon served her own breakfast.
"I'd say we should try to remove those memories…but…" Fubuki frowned.
"I know," Mitsumi shrugged.
"I'll just keep proving that I'm here for you," Saitama said calmly. He glanced over to see Genos carrying in Kamiko to set down carefully.
"Ow…" Kamiko winced.
"You wanted it that way," Genos said and kissed the top of her head.
"I know…I did it to myself…" Kamiko sighed. Mitsumi looked at her with a small smile. "He…got his adjustment. Yes…it works…very, very well…"
Mitsumi put her hand over her mouth to keep down the laughter. Genos simply chuckled and got their breakfast to eat together.
"She admitted that she never wishes to be with another," Genos added to get Zenchu barking out laughter.
"Well…with what you can do?! Why would I?!" Kamiko said now to get the others laughing and blushing.
"Huh?" Saitama asked. He was the only one not laughing. Genos now thought to Inichi to have the message relayed. "Wait. You can…what?!"
"Yes," Genos nodded.
"Huh. Do they have something like that for me? I gotta figure something out now…" Saitama frowned and got Inichi laughing like crazy.
"What?" Mitsumi asked to get a whisper from him. "Saitama! Why?! No! You're fine as you are!"
"Genos is my disciple. I cannot be outmatched by that," Saitama said with a small mutter. She smacked her hand to her forehead to get Zenchu dying with laughter. "It's a status at this point."
"Just…no!" Mitsumi seemed to beg.
"I'm sure I can find something to help," he said calmly and glared at Zenchu's breathless form. When King and Kianna walked in, Inichi gave them the run down mentally. They both looked at each other and then at Genos. He simply waved and continued to eat. King cleared his throat and let Kianna guide him to a place to sit and get served breakfast. Kamiko was doing her best to stay as composed as possible. When Kamikaze and Tacki came in and got the news, they both looked at each other and then at Kamiko's blushing form.
"I need one of those," Kamikaze said to get Zenchu dying all over again.
"I already said I did, too," Saitama said to get Inichi shuddering with silent laughter.
"Will you stop!" Kamiko scowled at Inichi. Fubuki couldn't even focus on eating from how hard she was laughing now.
"What's so funny?" Rendor asked when he walked in with Tatsumaki. Then he paused at what Inichi revealed to him. Tatsumaki looked at him with a small smile at his grimace. "I regret asking…"
"It sounds interesting," Tatsumaki mused. Now Rendor looked at her with shock to get the others laughing hard. Saitama was actually leaning into Mitsumi from laughing so much.
"Laughing again?" Mitsumi managed to ask him.
"Yeah…" Saitama nodded and pressed into her. "I love you."
"I love you," she smiled and let him kiss her gently. "We should finish eating. We have much to do today."
"I know," he agreed and pulled her even more into his lap to cradle her. "We'll get all of this fixed. Okay? I don't like how you get nightmares. Bad thoughts. All of it. I'm gonna make sure nothing bad happens to you."
"Okay…" she swallowed and pressed into him.
"What? A nightmare?" Tacki frowned now as the others watched them.
"Yeah. She had a bad one this morning. It woke her up and me up when I heard her panic from it. I leveled more buildings," Saitama muttered.
"So, Genos, how well does that…work?" Kamikaze now asked to kill the somber mood. Genos now pointed at Kamiko's blushing and speechless form. "Okay. Order me something, please."
"I'll ask and see if Dr. Kuseno can make some…improvising options," Genos nodded with careful wording. Kamiko now scowled at him to get the others laughing all over again.
"Can he make one with a remote control?" Zenchu asked.
"Shut up!" both Saitama and Mitsumi said to get the room filled with laughter once again. Inichi was ready to slap Zenchu now.
"No! Seriously! Do you know how awkward it would be to see a remote controlled dick suddenly go up to a monster, or even a criminal and-!" Zenchu started before ducking from Inichi's near-miss slap.
"We are trying to be gentle about the verbal language, and you simply destroy all of that! Stop it!" Inichi scowled at him. "It's just as bad as reading one of Sweet Mask's new scripts! Utter disgust and revolting dialect!"
"I speak my mind. You should know that!" Zenchu argued back. "But we should totally get one!"
"That is just heavily disturbing to think about," King frowned.
"Would be funny as hell, though," Kamikaze admitted. Tacki made a face at him and found herself laughing. "If we get one, we need to test it on Bane first."
"What?!" Genos now asked him to get Saitama cringing and pressing his face into Mitsumi's shoulder again. Kamiko and Fubuki were both dying with laughter even more now and struggling to compose themselves. Suiryu was trembling with his face in his hands from his own laughter.
"Great. Nothing like breakfast and morning dick jokes…" Rendor muttered to get more laughter and sniggers all over the place.
"Huh. But…didn't you end up using yours on me earlier?" Tatsumaki asked him to have him look at her with even more shock. Fubuki was now fully bent to have her head in her lap in a curled up fetal position from the laughter.
"You don't…mention that…" Rendor said with a touch of embarrassment and scratched the back of his head nervously.
"Why not? It's clear they all did," she said. Tacki and Kamikaze now looked at each other with small smiles. King and Kianna just looked at each other and laughed at the others.
"So…nothing for either of you, eh?" Saitama had to ask.
"We agreed to wait for a cure for her," King said.
"No improvising?" Kamikaze asked to get Zenchu laughing. Inichi ran a small hand over his face.
"No," King said. Kianna laughed softly and shook her head.
"No, we haven't. Not that we haven't…discussed it," Kianna winked. "But…no. We are waiting."
"What's so funny?" Fumio asked when he walked in and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"Morning giggles," Kamiko managed to say and hugged her brother. "Do I even go to Neutral Grounds?"
"I don't know. Genos will be with us. Tsuruga may want to join the fight. Orotsu and Richoo may be okay there, but…" Saitama frowned. "I want Fumio to travel with me. He's safest with me and Mitsumi. We may be able to find a small place near the mansion home and you can help be a hidden lookout. Suiryu was also going to help with that."
"We did tell that one man who applied that he would be starting today. The young man's name is Chikao. He's the usual type. Trying to make a living and such. He's already set and ready to start training," Inichi frowned. "But we can't ignore this critical task, either."
"You know I would need to assist Master Saitama," Genos said. "Kamiko…I know you are not a monster anymore. I'm not sure what we can do unless we put up an official schedule to have the restaurant have closed days to give everyone time off."
"We have yet to really set an official schedule…" Inichi mused.
"Do we have a website yet?" Mitsumi asked.
"Ah! No. I said I would work on that," Genos frowned. "I shall remedy that later. You have my promise."
"When we go to the association, we can compile days for work and days off," she said. "I know everyone needs breaks. Of course, I don't mind paying those that work, but I don't want overwork, either. We should also do benefits for health and such, as well as vacation."
"I can work on that," Genos said. "That is easy."
"Okay. As for now, we need to get to the association. Let's finish eating and focus on this. Orotsu, if you don't mind, we may put up a notice that the restaurant will open late today," Mitsumi said.
"I actually can't go in late. I have food setting that must be seen to. Suiryu, I know you wish to help her, but I could really use your help, too," Orotsu said from the kitchen. "You really are a great help to me."
"Oh. Hmm. Well…how long do you think it would be?" Suiryu asked.
"No more than an hour. So, I propose this. Let's go to the restaurant first. Let me check over everything and prep the next stages. Once it is done, you can leave with them. I would suggest for Kamiko to stay with me. Even Tsuruga. I would even say for Tacki to stay with me, too. Fumio can even remain with me and help with tables. I will protect them with Tsuruga. Make the official schedule there. We can even set it so tomorrow is a closing day, and I'll set up ingredients that don't need to be seen to be seen to until the following day," he said calmly while setting up dinner to marinate.
"That can work," Saitama nodded.
"To leave Tacki there without me? I don't know what trouble she'll get into," Kamikaze sighed. He grinned at her small huff.
"I think I will want King there, too. To ensure even more that nothing will go wrong," Kianna said. "He can reach out to Inichi and be another set of eyes."
"I can do that," King nodded calmly. Saitama nodded to show he was already agreeing with it.
"Hmm…" Inichi mused. "The board members are willing to meet us at Neutral Grounds. If we go now, it will be before opening hours. Several other management staff will appear, too, so we can do a mild breakfast catering. We should get ready to go now."
"Okay," Mitsumi nodded. Saitama now rushed a bit to finish eating with the others before lifting Mitsumi in his arms to go into the bedroom. Once there, he simply set her down and hugged her tight. "I love you so much…"
"I love you, too," he whispered and kissed her lovingly. "More than I can ever admit. Every time you get assaulted by that asshole…I'll be right there to show you I'm protecting you."
"And if there are no more buildings to punch?" she smiled.
"Eh…I can always slap Zenchu…" he grinned. Then he snickered at Zenchu's intense outburst at what Inichi told him.
"Terrible," she laughed softly and got kissed intensely.
"Now," he said in a rather soft, serious tone. "Let's put that horrific thing that killed your real mother in a place of intense hell."
"I…want you to do the killing blow. If she's really a monster," she said with a small swallow. "You killed Ajito. I…need you to help me give full closure. I know Inichi is going to let the others know. But I need this from you."
"Okay. The moment we confirm it is a true monster it will be done," he vowed and kissed her passionately. "I'll end it for you. Play me with your deck of cards. I'll crush everything to protect you."
"Saitama!" she whimpered and let him kiss her to brand her as his own.
"I will say this," he muttered after the kiss broke.
"Yes?" she asked.
"You may need to use your fans to reveal what it is. You'll have to slice the skin open," he said carefully. "If there is a monster under that, it won't bleed. It will show another skin."
She winced at the thought, but she nodded. "I…okay…"
"I know. You don't like to harm anyone. You warn. You pity. You forgive. You can't be forgiving with this one. You can't warn this one. That thing fed you pet food for six months! Murdered your father! Gave you to another monster that did…disgusting and outrageous things to you! This is a monster that won't turn at the sight of your flower. It needs to die," he said again in a stern way.
"Yeah. You're right," she said with a sharp nod. "I'm just not used to hurting. But this…there was no excuse."
"No. There wasn't," he watched her carefully. "I'll be right there with you to guide you. To help you. And, if it's only skin, you won't be hurting. It's another form of clothing."
"Oh! I can think of it that way," she mused.
"Exactly," he smiled and kissed her forehead. "Once that thing is revealed, I'll go against it. I'll take it out."
"Hopefully it won't explode if it's in the house," she grimaced.
"Eh…that's what cleanup is all about," he chuckled and squeezed her again.
"I do like this," she smiled and traced a finger over his muscled arm.
"The moment that thing is dead, we'll come back home. I'll play more and let you enjoy it even more," he promised and let her kiss him softly. "Let's get ready and get to Neutral Grounds."
"Yeah," she nodded and he let her go. It took them five minutes to dress, and Kianna was able to walk in to help with Mitsumi's hair and makeup. Right after that, they all moved outside to let Inichi lock the place up tight and carry them to the restaurant to meet with the Hero Association. It was time to plan an assault on the Takashi home at last.
