"Everything okay, Dad?" Fumio asked when they all regrouped at the kitchen section of the home on the third ring.
"Yeah. I think your growing brother is telling us that we need an 'at home' day once a week. To ensure I'm fully with your mom. I dunno what else it is," Saitama frowned. "Just been…really needy with her today. So, if there are no plans for tomorrow, that's the plan. Me and Mitsumi at home. Just like how I couldn't be bothered with her too much for three days."
"Okay," Fumio nodded. "Inichi thinks it's good to do, too. Oh! Fire Flight says to do it! It's definitely my brother pulling this."
"Hmm. Not good," Black Sperm frowned.
"You think pets can be around safely?" Bright Bolt asked.
"That's fine. Pets are fine. Not as you are right now," Saitama agreed.
"Oh, Cold Snap! Before I forget, I need you to do something with this," Mitsumi chuckled and took out a golden crane hair pin that was set with an ice blue topaz. He took it from her and studied it.
"Okay! What do I do with it?" he asked.
"Give her a benefit. Anyone who steals it gets a trap," Stable Rock said.
"Can do! I'll let her breathe out ice mist to mildly shock bad guys. Anyone that steals it, well…turned into a block of ice!" Cold Snap grinned and focused.
"Just ensure only friends and family can handle it safely," Mitsumi smiled.
"Got it! Okay, it's done," Cold Snap said and handed it back to her for her to put it away in her purse.
"Good! Oh. Your mom and I are having a date night tonight. Mainly re-enacting our first meeting," Saitama nodded. He looked at Mitsumi when she winced and put a hand to her mouth. Cold Snap was quick to give over an iced ginger cookie, and he even put his hand on her to cool her down.
"Mom's suffering, Dad," Cold Snap frowned.
"Crap. I need to get her home to City Z," Saitama grimaced and hugged her close. "I wanted to finish exploring this new home, but…"
"The house will not go anywhere. We can head back. I know the main home in City Z is the primary base. That's where everyone is," Tangled Vine nodded. Saitama was fully focused on soothing his wife now, and he finally bent down to one knee to let her sit on him. He ran a hand over her back and placed his other hand over her belly.
"Easy now…" he whispered and kissed her forehead. "It's okay."
"Home…now…!" she whimpered and found herself tearing up.
"You heard her!" Saitama grounded out. Overgrown Rover was whining that something was clearly wrong. Cold Snap was quick to gather them all to teleport out with an ice blue spark and took them all directly to the front of the apartment complex in City Z. Kamiko was already waiting to help her from Blue Ripple's urgent request for aid.
"Let me see her!" Kamiko insisted. Saitama nodded and made way for Mitsumi to get checked over. "Okay. Take her into the bedroom. Genos confirmed that Dr. Kuseno will be here in a couple hours. We have time to let her recover until then. This is all her pregnancy."
"Fine," Saitama said and started to lift Mitsumi up in his arms. At the sight of a brilliantly green monster veering at them with an electrical barrier around it, he turned and glared with protective rage. That made the monster falter and actually drop to the ground with complete shock. "You. I guess you're here for Bright Bolt. Fine. Don't piss us off. Ever. Until I know what side you're on, I won't hesitate to punch you out. My wife is suffering right now. I'm pissed. Don't push your luck around me right now. Got it?!"
"Ah…yeah…!" the monster cringed. It revealed itself as a humanoid male with spines coming out of its back. Two large spines came out from its shoulders and actually made a feathery, electrical projection of wings. It almost resembled a cross between a lizard and a bird. The head resembled that of a lizard with bird-like eyes. The mouth was beak-like, and it tilted its head to study the scene before it curiously. A long, scaled tail flicked around lightly, and it clasped its clawed, scaled hands together while shuffling nervously on its large hindquarters. It flicked its long tail again and didn't know what to do.
"And you are…?" Stable Rock asked on blinking his amber eyes at it.
"You can call me, um…Sparker," it said.
"Are you a guy?" Zenchu asked when shadow phased over to protect his sister. "And why do you like Bright Bolt so much?"
"I just…he's a GOD monster! And he's cool! I just…wanna hang out with him…" Sparker frowned. "And, yes, I'm a guy. But…"
"Not into guys. And I prefer to go solo," Bright Bolt snorted and flicked his tufted tail. He crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his glowing electric blue eyes. "I have nothing to teach you or offer you. I told you this before."
"Bright Bolt…" Mitsumi sighed. "Come here."
"Huh?!" Bright Bolt blinked and grimaced at her weakened glance. He was quick to merge down into his true form to trot over and shove his muzzle into her arms. He shivered and whined at her caresses to calm him down. At her sigh of delight, he turned and growled at the shocked monster. "This is my purpose. I'm her pet. By choice. I am her brother as a human in looks. But like this…I am her pet and I defend her with all I have."
"We all protect her as her pets by choice," Stable Rock nodded before shifting down into his true form. He lumbered over to give his snuggles next. Tangled Vine was next to do the same, and he loped over in his cat-like form to purr deeply in his snuggling way. Even Blue Ripple had to shift back down to rush over and snuggle into her. Overgrown Rover huffed and licked at her cheek to get Saitama laughing softly at all of them.
"You will not leave me out of the snuggling group!" Fire Flight scowled when she appeared with Shenjou. Her mate laughed at her as she shifted into her small, winged snake form to fly over and curl up with contentment.
"Sister!" a young girl's voice shouted from the direction of Wind Crane's building. Mitsumi looked over with complete delight at Starlight toddling over quickly with Wind Crane walking behind her. She was wearing a small dress of pale blue coloring, and she had grown a half of a foot in height since she hatched.
"She insisted to see you," Wind Crane chuckled. Zenchu walked over to hug his mate before guiding Starlight over carefully.
"It's so good to finally meet you!" Mitsumi laughed softly. Starlight had the monster pets move aside, and she placed a lightly clawed hand on her belly to sense the growing child. She knew something wasn't right.
"Hmm…" Starlight frowned. "I'm…hmm…this…not good…"
"What's wrong?" Saitama asked.
"Can hear…things…" Starlight said. "Hard…to talk now. Mommy said…must try. So…um…but…yeah…I feel…something…not good…"
"You're doing very well," Mitsumi smiled. Then she frowned and asked, "But what do you sense? What's going on?"
"Mad. Angry. Um…not very happy…but…" Starlight blinked her glowing, silvery white eyes. "Growing. Very fast…"
"Growing fast?! What do you mean?" Saitama asked. Kamiko was now gestured to check, and Mitsumi's belly was studied. That was when Kamiko gaped with shock at what was discovered.
"Lady Mitsumi! Your baby is growing…twice as fast…?!" she winced.
"What?!" Saitama gaped.
"It must be from the fire within him," Fire Flight sighed and nuzzled Mitsumi to comfort her. "How much has he grown, Kamiko? Do you know?"
"Almost a month along after only a few days. Possibly even two months," Kamiko frowned. "You see how Lady Mitsumi is starting to show that belly bump now? It's very slight, but you can tell. Tacki isn't showing yet, but she appears to be having a normal pregnancy with twins. Lady Mitsumi, you need to tell me if you feel any movement. That's usually around three to four months along. I mean…Saitama, I would like to see if Dr. Kuseno can do an ultra sound on her. To make sure the baby is developing properly. He can help with this."
"Hmm. Okay. As long as I'm with her," he nodded. "Let me take her to bed. Let me know when he gets here. And you. Electric monster. When you see my wife, what do you think of her as?"
"Ah! Um…I don't know…?" Sparker frowned. Mitsumi sent a set of her Wind Crane Clan fans over to swirl around him. The air was perfumed with the scent of the white flowers, and the flower image was soon given. His jaw dropped and he grimaced before cringing with a sensation of regret.
"He's free," Inichi said when he walked over with Fubuki. "I can talk to him. He would make an excellent aerial watcher with Scout!"
"That he can!" Scout said when he landed. Then he nodded to Mitsumi. "It's good to see you home. When you're ready, I'll show you what I found on our grounds here. It may have been from that prior organization of vile monsters."
"Take me there," Rendor said when he walked over with Tatsumaki hovering behind him. "I'll explore with you."
"Sounds good! The moment we know that Lady Mitsumi is well, I'll show you where to go," Scout agreed. "Come with me, Sparker. I'll show you the grounds. Let's go!"
"Oh! Sure!" Sparker nodded and flew off to follow him.
"I need to see to Dr. Kuseno's new underground section. I'll be with Genos. He's been down there making sure things were ready," Kamiko nodded.
"Sister…?" Starlight frowned.
"I'll be okay. I just need rest," Mitsumi smiled and hugged her baby sister. "You're going to be an auntie to so many babies! Learn from Wind Crane Clan Mother. She teaches me, too. I still have more to learn! We will both learn together. Okay?"
"Okay!" Starlight smiled and nodded. Wind Crane chuckled and gathered her up when Starlight reached for her. Then she turned to the home entrance with a touch of protective outrage.
"Wait!" Grigos growled from the main entrance. A brown haired, brown eyed man wearing a bright red tank top, dark blue shorts and an under suit of black spandex darted past him. He appeared wiry with a rather athletic frame, and he was making headway past Grigos as though on a secret mission. Then the unknown man paused when Sonic and Hirata jumped in front of him to stop him.
"Uninvited?" Hirata mused.
"I don't recall this one on the guest list," Sonic smirked. Both hired assassins paused at the tendriled vine that shot up from the ground to hold the intruding man aloft several feet in the air. Tangled Vine was clearly not happy with the intrusion. Grigos easily rose up to his two story height to regard the man.
"You phased past me. If not that, then something like it. I don't recognize you at all, and you're not on the Hero Association rosters. Unless you're new and not yet processed fully. But you told me you were a hero?" Grigos blinked all four eyes with black pupils at him.
"Self-proclaimed at best," Inichi muttered lightly. "Not registered."
"We don't have time for him. Send him to Sweet Mask," Saitama said with dismissal. "I need to get my wife to bed."
"Hold on!" the man said. "I…have questions for you! I came all the way here to talk to you!"
"I'll answer three of them. I'm really in no mood," Saitama warned.
"Thank you both for assisting," Mitsumi nodded to her employed guards. "I hope things are well with you both?"
"Never thought I'd find someone to have fun with while on a contract," Hirata grinned lightly. "He really had no idea what he was doing at first. He's improved with…practice. So, I know he's trainable."
"Hey!" Sonic gaped at her. Zenchu died laughing. Garou and Lily were lingering on their balcony watching them and now also laughed hard at it all.
"You give him treats for good jobs?" Saitama asked. Mitsumi's jaw dropped at him. Sonic growled and ground his teeth together.
"Oh…I reward him very well," Hirata snickered. "He's a good boy when he wants to be. Especially when he pays attention."
"Shut up!" Sonic snapped at her laughing figure. Then she blinked at him and clucked her tongue.
"Aww. Talking back is a no-no. Now I can't show you the little bit of clothing that Tacki made me to wear for you later…" Hirata seemed to pout. Sonic was about to retort before going speechless. He mumbled to himself and darted off to sulk. She gave a small, wicked grin and winked at the others before darting off to follow him. Saitama was dying with laughter at all of it.
"I suppose you have it from here. I shall return to my post," Grigos chuckled and turned back to the main entrance to guard it.
"Glad to know that Hirata can keep Sonic in line," Mitsumi sighed.
"If he can defeat her, then he may have the gall to try against you," Zenchu grinned. "Of course…if she keeps beating him up with sex…"
"Zenchu…" Wind Crane warned while holding Starlight.
"Eh, she just beats him. What?" Garou blinked at Lily's small glare.
"Nice," Saitama grinned. Then he turned his gaze to the trapped hero to make him cringe. "Your turn. Three questions. Even though I don't know who you are. And actually don't care. Go."
"How did you meet your wife?! I mean…she's just…" the man fumbled over his words. Saitama rose a brow at him. Mitsumi sighed and let her husband kiss her lovingly before answering him.
"She was crying. I heard her. Then I found out she was the victim of monsters that wanted her dead. And I killed every single one of them," Saitama said with a small nod. "Second question. Go."
"How did you get to be so strong?" the man asked.
"I honestly don't know," Saitama said with a roll of his eyes. "I worked out. I avoided using my air conditioner when it got too hot. I beat up monsters while I worked out. And I worked out every day for a full year. I even lost my hair from it. All of it."
"And I find that to be your most attractive feature," Mitsumi giggled. Saitama growled in her ear to entice her and held her closer. She looked at the man now and said, "You have one more question. What is it?"
"I want to be your disciple, Caped Baldy! What do I have to do?!" the man asked. Saitama winced and groaned with a defeated sound before resting his head against his wife's neck. Mitsumi gave her husband a sad smile, but then she looked at Zenchu to wink. Her brother grinned wickedly and casually moved to stand in front of Saitama. He flicked his barbed tail and chuckled a bit darkly to show he was going to answer the question.
"You have to fight me for five minutes. And still be standing," Zenchu smirked. "He has exceptionally high standards. I won't kill you or draw blood. But I will test you to your very limit. Pretty much a mild ass kicking."
"It's true. Suiryu had to go through the same thing," Kamiko nodded.
"Zenchu can kick someone's ass? Huh. That's news to me," Garou muttered under his breath.
"Garou…" Zenchu growled and flipped him off to avoid actively swearing in front of his daughter. That got Garou dying with laughter despite Lily smacking his chest with a bit of scorn. Wind Crane did clear her throat, but it was to keep from laughing outright at her mate.
"Ah…I don't know if I can…I don't know how long I can last…" the man frowned. "I mean…can I test myself? Is there a way?"
"Eh…maybe…come back another day after you try…?" Saitama shrugged.
"Love. Let him try and make it through your training ground. The full track," Mitsumi grinned. Saitama mused at the idea. He rose up with Mitsumi and all of the pets that clung to him and her easily. The man gaped that Saitama had to be carrying at least two hundred pounds with little to no effort.
"I have a training ground. It's a mile long track that goes around my home here. My pets here are GOD monsters. They made the track even tougher halfway through it. If you make it completely through the track, then you might have what it takes to last against Zenchu. Possibly. What do you say? Try my track? Or go home?" Saitama asked calmly. "This is your only offer while I'm here."
"Can I add something?" Cold Snap asked with a soft whisper. "I won't chase him, but I want to add spots of intense cold to really slow him down! He'll think they help, but the cold just gets worse the more you stand in it."
"Oh! Do it around the lights so they also get zapped and can't stand around!" Bright Bolt snickered. Cold Snap burst out laughing at the idea.
"Do it," Saitama nodded.
"I shall add thorn bushes that must be jumped over," Tangled Vine grinned. Mitsumi beamed and laughed at his purring snuggle. Overgrown Rover yawned, exposed its massive fangs and licked Saitama's cheek. At the sight of the man blinking on how the track was going to made a bit harder, Saitama rose a brow.
"Last chance. Do you want to do this? Knowing my pets want to really test your resolve to the very end?" Saitama asked directly.
"I'll do it," the man said in a determined way. "I have to try!"
"What is your name?" Blue Ripple snorted from where he was getting carried on Mitsumi. All of the pets had shrunk small enough to settle on her easily in various places. "Not once did you properly introduce yourself."
"You can call me Jumpstart!" the man nodded. "I'm able to leap about with insane distances, but only when I know I can make the jump. I'm a hardcore parkour specialist with intense jumping habits."
"Hmm…" Tangled Vine growled lightly before letting the vine sink back down and release him. "Behave. Or you will easily be imprisoned again."
"I will record this event," Metal Knight said from a nearby camera. "Siren has already informed the Hero Association, so they are taking a very keen interest in this. In fact, there is a proposition. Should Jumpstart become Saitama's disciple, they will make him an offer to become a low C class hero. It was decided for any that become Saitama's disciples that are not heroes to have a chance to be one. It's another form of initiation from an informal stand point. But only into the C class rank. If they want to try and join at a higher ranking, they need to join the assessment programs. What do you think?"
"Eh…I guess…?" Saitama gave a small shrug at that.
"I think it's a good idea. It gives them something else to improve on while learning from you," Mitsumi smiled. Her husband sighed and shook his head.
"Whatever. I was supposed to take you to bed," he mumbled.
"After this. I think I'm okay right now. Just hold me close," she said and kissed him softly. "I should be well enough for our date night."
"Okay," he nodded and let Inichi bubble them all to the roof of the apartment complex. He even sent out a message for any that wanted to witness the event to be brought over. Jumpstart was moved to the start of the track. Zenchu decided to wait at the end of the track to see if the man would want to fight him right away. Starlight was curious of all of it, and Wind Crane sat down with her in her lap to help watch what was going to happen.
"We exploring after this?" Tatsumaki asked Rendor when she brought him over to witness the event.
"That's the plan," Rendor chuckled. "I'll likely need to have a contract ready. Just in case."
"What's the show for?" Kamikaze asked when he appeared with Tacki.
"Possible disciple to Saitama," Garou snickered from where he stood with Lily. Kamikaze rose a brow and pulled up an offered seat. Tacki mused and blinked at what Kamiko whispered to her. Now Tacki was up and checking Mitsumi's belly with intense scrutiny.
"I'm just checking to see if I need to alter any clothing," Tacki said. "I don't think so right now, but I may start making larger gowns that can help her. And a few altered hero costumes that can be worn for future pregnancies. And I did look over your original suit. It's good to go. So is her purple kimono."
"How did you plan to approach her?" Kianna asked while sitting with King. "She can't be away from you for a very long time. What's the plan for it?"
"I was thinking you all can set her up and I approach her. Quickly," Saitama nodded. "We have ten minutes at max, and I don't want her to be alone, either. So, you all can linger around her lightly out of sight. Much like how you were watching her before, in a sense. After sunset, though. It has to be night. Then, after I sit with her, the rest of you could possibly come around if you wanted to."
"Oh, King. Saitama wanted to also make it an at home day with me tomorrow. Apparently, our growing son needs it. He's been making me want to be with Saitama quite a bit today. It would be much like a day where Saitama had to be with me. We were thinking of the gaming server," Mitsumi smiled.
"I still have it running! It's been on a 'pause' mode, so it's all good. And I have saved features backed up if it did crash on us. We have our progress saved," King chuckled. "I'll set it back up tomorrow morning. The live chat's still up, too, from all the gaming I've been doing for us."
"Good. I think I'll want Orotsu home to help feed us, though. He should be here for any personal at home days," Saitama said.
"We can do that. Anno is easily covering for him. In fact, he is being told to head back here now to help. By the time we are done, I shall assist in getting him back," Inichi nodded. He chuckled at Fubuki's cuddling squeeze.
"Master Saitama! I shall witness this event!" Genos said and was quick to charge over from Inichi's bubble. "Any that wish to disciple alongside me will be witnessed! I am also requesting for Suiryu to be here, too, to bear witness. It must be done properly."
"I guess," Saitama shrugged neutrally and let Mitsumi snuggle into him. He sighed and kissed her forehead. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I am," she smiled and closed her eyes to rest in comfort. He placed a hand on her belly and watched his pets move to ensure his hand stayed there.
"Is that necessary?" he glanced down at them. Stable Rock yawned and stretched himself out over his arm. Bright Bolt was nestled under Mitsumi's neck. Blue Ripple was curled up a bit at the base of her legs. Overgrown Rover was sitting on Saitama's hand now before laying down fully on it. Fire Flight had nuzzled Mitsumi before flying over to where Shenjou was standing to become human for him to hold. Tangled Vine had settled himself over Saitama's shoulders to keep an eye on the track.
"This will be interesting," Fumio grinned and had Black Sperm in his lap.
"I just set up the traps of cold around the lights. Oh! Is that Isobe hiding among the lights?!" Cold Snap grinned with complete amusement.
"He's disguising himself? This will be funny," Mitsumi giggled.
"Who's going to join us?" Suiryu asked when he arrived with Do-S.
"Someone who claims to be a hero and is not," Inichi sighed and let Fubuki press into him. Genos had moved to fully scan and study Jumpstart before looking at Kamiko. She smiled and got kissed by him.
"Are you feeling well?" Genos asked.
"I am. The medicine is working properly. Another two days will pass and I'll be done," Kamiko nodded. "The underground lab is set?"
"There is more than enough space to assist," Genos nodded.
"Hmm…?" Stable Rock blinked at him.
"I have been assisting with an underground laboratory space for the one that repairs and upgrades me. He is incredibly secretive and does not work with the Hero Association. He is the one that found me near death and made me this way," Genos said. Stable Rock tilted his head at this and grunted.
"I want…to see…the space…to…make it…better…" he yawned and rested his head back on Saitama's arm.
"Oh! Of course! After this?" Genos asked.
"When we…speak…with that…one…" the earth monster grunted out.
"You are so cute," Mitsumi chuckled and giggled at the snuggle she got from Stable Rock now. Overgrown Rover whined, tilted its head at her and rolled its tongue out. She squeaked at the cute dog monster and laughed at the face licks she got. Saitama could only sigh and chuckle at the whole thing. Then he watched her take out the hair pins with a fiery ruby and pristine white diamond with blue flecks within it to get set with benefits and traps.
Fire Flight opted for her hair pin to repel any cold while burning to the touch for those that can't hold it. Wind Crane decided to have a refreshing, sweet breeze to calm friends, but the hair pin would be untouchable from a wind barrier that would keep enemies from handling it. It would even send the intruder back several feet if the attempts to take it wouldn't stop. Tacki was quick to take the hair pins and set them in Mitsumi's hair, and Cold Snap's pin was also joining them safely.
"Good. Those need to become part of your everyday hair style," Saitama nodded and let her snuggle into him. "We also need to get you a charm necklace of sorts. For them to get to you."
"We can do that later," Wind Crane agreed.
When the track was set with newly grown thorn bushes starting near the center of the track, Fire Flight rose up to signal with a bright flame for attention. Even though it was daylight still, the flame was easily seen. Then she said, "The track is set! Are you ready?"
"I am!" Jumpstart nodded. Wind Crane let Fire Flight's voice carry over neatly, and another flaming spark shot from her hand to show the starting mark.
"Good luck! Go!" Fire Flight commanded and blinked her glowing, fiery red eyes. Jumpstart was quick to bolt past the starting point and was completely focused on his surroundings. He dodged a sinkhole easily and started to veer past the small boulders that rose up around him.
"Hmm…" Saitama mused. "He's got stamina. I'll give him that…"
"He did say he specialized in parkour, so it would make sense," Mitsumi nodded with agreement. "I do wonder if Genos and Suiryu should race against each other, though. To see how far along they are…"
"I may beat Suiryu," Genos said while watching Jumpstart.
"Not if you force yourself to lower down to his level," Mitsumi chuckled. "Sometimes it is best to move slower than faster to make things even."
"Oh! Hmm…" Genos mused at the idea.
"Yep. You could troll him up to the very end and boost past him to piss him off," Saitama grinned lightly. Suiryu gaped at this. Genos now looked at Suiryu with a questioning look in his black eyes with yellow pupils.
"Ah…well…maybe…?" Suiryu shrugged.
"Good. Plan for it after this," Saitama nodded.
"Heh. Can we get some popcorn?" Garou asked.
"If you win, I promise to go easy on the whip tonight," Do-S whispered to Suiryu. Now he looked at her with surprised shock. Zenchu and Garou both died laughing. Tacki suddenly rose up and pulled a whip out of her back pocket.
"Here! The handle vibrates!" Tacki grinned wickedly.
"Really?!" Do-S said with pleasant surprise. "Well, then! I suppose I won't test it on him if he wins!"
"Wait a minute!" Suiryu said just as the others died and cringed with laughter. Do-S turned to face him and put her hands on hips.
"You saying…you want me to test this new whip on you?" she asked sweetly. "The handle is made for a very specific purpose…"
"Ah…um…" Suiryu found himself coughing.
"Test it on him if he loses. So, Genos, make sure he loses. Fairly," Saitama said with a small smirk. "No pain, no gain. Suck it up."
"Master!" Suiryu said with a bit of protest.
"I will slap you and knock you out if you don't do this," Saitama warned.
"Saitama…" Mitsumi said with a small frown. "Stop scaring him."
"I'm not scaring him. I'm being a teacher," he said. Garou grinned and gave a knowing glance at Zenchu.
"A teacher does not scare their students! They humble them and make them want to improve themselves. Don't make them not to want to learn under you," she said with a small smile.
"Maybe that's the whole point…" he muttered softly. "I shouldn't have to see things to know what's going on."
"So…you saying I should blindfold you…?" she asked sweetly.
"We have yet to try that," he gave a small grin at her.
"I do wonder if you can sense what I plan to do if you can't see it coming…" she mused with a soft chuckle.
"As long as it's something that won't make me regret it," he grunted.
"Like…a soft nibble…?" she teased.
"Shut up. Before I forget I'm supposed to be judging someone," he growled and kissed her lustfully. He glanced at the track just in time to see Jumpstart shout at Isobe suddenly lunging at him. He bolted past the lamp monster and the others died laughing. Genos watched the man make it to the halfway point of the track to start leaping over the spiky bushes. Dodges were made around the heated mud and lava streams. He was nearing the finish line when the wind started to push the man back towards the nightmarish track.
"No! I can…do this…!" the man grounded out. "I want…to be…someone more! A disciple! To a strong…hero! This…won't stop me…!"
"Aw, crap…" Saitama grimaced when the man made it past the windstorm to fall to his knees at the finish line. Zenchu crouched down to regard the man, and he flicked his tail with amusement.
"You ready to fight me? Or you need a breather?" Zenchu asked.
"Five minutes…then we'll fight…" Jumpstart coughed.
"Done," Zenchu nodded and glanced up to rooftop where the others were. Saitama was not happy that the man wanted to fight Zenchu.
"Master?" Genos asked.
"Fine. He'll get his breather while you two race. Get down there. Now," Saitama said with a grim look. Suiryu seemed to groan, but he knew he had to obey the command. Genos chuckled, pressed a kiss to Kamiko's mouth and leapt down to face the start of the track. Suiryu jumped and made his way down in his own way to the starting line to stand next to Genos.
"Ready?!" Fire Flight asked and rose up her hand to spark a small flame.
"Good luck!" Genos said and let all of his motorized parts get ready for action. Suiryu hunkered down to show he was ready to bolt.
"Go!" Fire Flight said with an announcing flame. Genos and Suiryu both leapt out and started to dodge the sink holes. Saitama mused and looked at his pets to show he wanted something done.
"For advanced disciples…" Saitama started. "Hmm. Up your traps."
"Oooh…!" Stable Rock swooned at the head scratching. Then he looked at the track to snicker and cause a small, gaping rift to start at the center of the track. He knew he'd seal it up after it was passed.
"What?!" Suiryu gaped.
"Master?!" Genos hissed with shock.
"Prove to me what you've learned!" Saitama said sharply and knew that he was easily heard. Suiryu narrowed his eyes and barely leapt past the crevice. Genos was able to speed boost over it. Bright Bolt now had the lights boost in electrical shock to cause disorientation and static zaps. He was careful not to do too much for Genos, though. But he knew the cyborg was going to be extremely annoyed with lack of focus. Isobe didn't bother to jump out at them, but he was laughing softly at what he was witnessing.
"Blue Ripple," Cold Snap snickered and whispered. Blue Ripple grinned and let a small lake form. Then it solidified to a sheet of ice along the surface.
"Wow…" Garou blinked. Lily only gasped with shock at it.
"Ah…shit…" Suiryu grimaced when he saw it. Genos activated his spiked soles to run over the ice. The only thing he didn't plan on was how thin it was. The moment the ice cracked, he growled and quickly leapt out of harm's way.
"Be careful, Suiryu!" Genos warned while running.
"Thanks for the heads up!" Suiryu replied and managed to quickly leap in long strides over the icy trap. It vanished away after it was used, but it would definitely be brought back for advanced trainings. All of the traps would now be like this and easy to change up.
"Teamwork…" Mitsumi mused. "That is a very good quality."
"True…" Saitama chuckled. "Neither of them want to lose, but they don't want to see each other hurt, either."
"The way they should work together," she smiled.
"I'd race the winner, but you need to be with me. Eh. We'll see who wins. Then I need to see if Zenchu can knock some sense into that other guy," he muttered and continued to watch his two disciples get all the way up to the end point. The spiky shrubs had grown out all through the end of the track. Tendriled vines even appeared from them to try and snatch the racing disciples, but they were quickly dodged. The mud had turned into a form of tar from the bubbling lava, and that was just barely escaped from. It was when the disciples got to the end to start fighting off the wind that Wind Crane looked at Fire Flight.
"Care to add some heat, sister?" Wind Crane chuckled. Starlight laughed with delight to see a fiery tornado suddenly sprout up in the center of the ending track. It took five grueling minutes, but both racers managed to make it to the end. Suiryu collapsed to his knees. Genos was quick to check over his internal thermals for any signs of overheating. He paused when Cold Snap sent a chilling wind around him to regulate him back down.
"Thank you!" Genos nodded and waved at Cold Snap. "That last one almost caused severe complications!"
"I saw that," Cold Snap nodded. "Glad I could help!"
"Did Suiryu win?" Do-S asked. "I couldn't tell."
"They both tied, I believe," Mitsumi smiled. Saitama sat up a bit to regard his disciples with a small grin.
"Drop and give me twenty push-ups! It's a tie breaker!" he shouted at them.
"What?!" Suiryu gaped. Genos was already in a plank position. Suiryu grunted and did the same. When they both finished at the same time, Saitama found himself amused.
"It appears that you both can finish equally. Not bad," Saitama nodded. "So, next tie breaker challenge. Run up here and stand before me!"
"Ah…!" Suiryu growled and darted just as Genos started to run. Once again, they both managed to stand in front of Saitama. The only difference was that Suiryu was starting to pant from everything he went through.
"I guess you both win," Saitama shrugged.
"I'll see how you are later," Do-S chuckled at Suiryu. She helped him sit down and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks…" he sighed and accepted a cold bottle of water. Saitama sighed and returned his attention to Zenchu regarding Jumpstart.
"Rested up?" Zenchu asked.
"Yes!" the man nodded and fully rose up to his feet.
"Before you start, we'll go to the arena section," Saitama said. Inichi nodded and was quick to help deliver everyone there. That was everyone except for Saitama and Mitsumi. "Don't take me there. I want to show how I get there."
"Really, love?" Mitsumi chuckled. He grinned, pressed a kiss on her mouth and ensured all of the clinging pets were secured. Once everyone was settled in the seating around the arena, he jumped off the building. He landed hard into the ground to cause a crater up to his hips. Then he climbed out with Mitsumi lifted up over his head and let Stable Rock seal up the hole behind him. He was showing how he wasn't even hurt and even protected the ones he jumped with.
"Show off," Rendor grinned from where he watched with Tatsumaki.
"That's…I mean…wow…" Jumpstart gaped. Saitama let out the dark red aura to show he wasn't happy about the whole thing. Anyone that was on patrol had to stop and head over to pause with shock at the radiated power that emanated from him. Starlight whimpered, but Wind Crane soothed her that everything was fine. Garou even swallowed, but Lily hugged him to show all was well.
"You want to be my disciple?" Saitama asked with a bit of growl and blinked his eyes of smoldering red pupils. "Let's see how you fair against Zenchu. Don't disappoint me. Five minutes. Inichi will pull the two of you apart at the end. If you still stand…well…we'll see. Ready?"
"I won't go easy," Zenchu grinned and hunkered down to get ready to strike. Bright Bolt now focused to study how Zenchu attacked. Even Stable Rock was paying close attention with the other pets.
"No bleeding. Just rough him up. Okay?" Mitsumi chuckled. Zenchu winked at her with a black slanted eye.
"Oh! Daddy looks cool!" Starlight gasped.
"He is protective when he must be," Wind Crane agreed.
"Come on!" Jumpstart growled and got ready. Saitama gave the nod for it to start, and the man just barely dodged a swipe from Zenchu's hands. The claws were not used, but his tail was at the various tags that were done to the man's sides and back. Bright Bolt mused at something and nudged at Saitama.
"Hmm?" Saitama glanced at him.
"How much time until that guy gets here?" Bright Bolt asked.
"I dunno. Ask Genos," he shrugged. Bright Bolt looked over at Genos and mentally asked. That got the cyborg to walk over with Kamiko against his side.
"We have an hour. Roughly. I have been tracking his movements for safety," Genos said. "Why do you ask?"
"I wanna fight Zenchu in my human form," Bright Bolt snickered.
"Why?" Saitama asked and watched Jumpstart duck away from a quick swipe again. "I want to know."
"I want to see if I can carefully entice out the true shadow part," Bright Bolt said. "Call it a hunch."
"I don't know," Mitsumi frowned. "We'll need to ensure that he doesn't revert. I don't know that side of him."
"I know. But we're all here to help. You have those flowers, too! I think we have to do this now," Bright Bolt nodded.
"Hmm…" Saitama frowned and watched Inichi separate Zenchu and Jumpstart. The man was clearly battered and beaten up, but he was still standing. Saitama leaned up and bit and said, "Give me twenty pushups! Right now!"
Jumpstart grimaced, but he dropped into plank position and muscled through it all. He collapsed onto his gut coughing, but he was able to do it. Mitsumi said, "Love, it appears that he did it. What do you want to do?"
"Fine. He'll get two days to recover. Then I'll give him the same training setup as Suiryu. He'll also work in the restaurant when he's not doing missions or doing my training routine, so he'll need a working contract. He'll need to go to the Hero Association tomorrow. It was told that ones that are not heroes that become my disciples get enrolled into low C class ranking. Get on that and rest up," Saitama nodded. "Remember. Two days. Then you start."
"I won't disappoint you!" Jumpstart managed say and rose up to his feet. He was helped to a chair by Suiryu to rest and recover.
"We'll see," Saitama smirked. Then he looked at Zenchu. "Stay put."
"What?" Zenchu blinked. He saw Bright Bolt shift into his human form and walk over. They both regarded each other silently at eye level.
"Fight me. All out," Bright Bolt grinned. "I wanna test your strength."
"Really?" Zenchu rose a brow and looked at Mitsumi.
"He has a reason," Mitsumi said softly. "Just…be careful?"
"Ah…hmm…" Zenchu frowned. He looked at Bright Bolt and sighed. "No. I won't do it. I know why now. But…I can't."
"Why not?" Bright Bolt asked. "Scared I'll kick your ass?"
"Now I know he can kick some ass…" Garou grinned.
"Garou…shut up!" Zenchu scowled at him. Garou grinned widely and laughed when Lily poked his sides. Starlight blinked at this, and Wind Crane gently consoled her to keep her mind calm.
"Black Shade…" Stable Rock snickered. "You…are retired…?"
"What?!" Zenchu gaped and cringed before coughing. His hair took on a darker shade of brown before going nearly black. His skin turned ash grey. When he glanced up to snarl at Stable Rock, he found himself pausing at the white flower that Mitsumi held out to him. She had approached him just like their first meeting in the flower field.
"Don't forget yourself, Zenchu," she said softly. He crouched down to study her with a new set of beady black eyes within the black slits. The sight and scent of the flower quickly smashed any desire to attack. Now he was able to see things clearly and understood what just happened.
"So…precious you are…" he started. "Such innocence. I see now…"
"Who are you now?" she asked. She felt Saitama come up behind her to put a hand on her belly. "Can you tell me?"
"The one you know of as Zenchu…sleeps…just for now," the entity sighed. "The Old One is correct in knowing my lost name."
"Black Shade?" Saitama blinked. "Huh. Well…Zenchu wouldn't let me slap him. So, if you try to attack, I'll slap you. Then he can blame you for it."
"I am aware…" Black Shade sighed and chuckled.
"How did Zenchu find you?" Mitsumi asked. Wind Crane was keeping a close watch on her mate now. It was still his body, and she wasn't going to see him come to any form of harm.
"It was like he said. He was belittled. Bullied. Cowed into submission by others. No matter what he did…none cared," Black Shade shrugged. "I had a follower long ago. I instructed how to make a vessel if anything happened. The instructions were set in a book and hidden far off. I knew that the right one would find it. As well as the ingredients. As to what they were…well…"
"Can you tell us?" Genos asked.
"As long as they are not replicated. It could cause…complications. It may draw me out of this one. He may die if it happens. I was summoned long ago. Long past his life span. He's, actually, the longest vessel I've ever been in. So I can tell you. Just don't search and recreate," Black Shade warned.
"I vow," Mitsumi said. Inichi ensured the others did, too, and those that listened in that didn't vow were suddenly knocked unconscious by a shock of electricity from Bright Bolt. Black Shade grinned and nodded.
"The first ingredient was a cup of blood from a virgin. The second ingredient was the poison sack from a fanged snake. The last ingredient was the vessel's own beating heart to inject both things into it while reciting my name at the same time. So, it was not a potion drunk down. As he remembered. He mixed it in a cup. But the concoction had to be injected directly into the heart to pump through the body rapidly," Black Shade said with small smile. "Once it filled his bloodstream, it called me from my slumber. I took over. And then…you have him now. He almost resembles what I normally look like. Such is what the transformation does. And it is permanent as long as I inhabit the body."
"Ah…!" Mitsumi gaped with shock.
"You vanished. How?" Stable Rock asked from where he was on the chair.
"My vessel was destroyed. I warned not to do anything foolhardy. The idiocy that vessels will do to impress me! I don't need that. I just like to abide in something that helps me feel tangible. You know I have no physical form. I have gone through…hundreds of vessels. This one, though…he's the only one that actually listens to my small suggestions on how to stay alive," Black Shade admitted. "And the fact that offspring is possible?! I believe I shall be…ensuring that this one stays safe."
"Please do?" Mitsumi asked softly. "I see him as my older brother. He does so much to protect us."
"That he does," Black Shade chuckled. Then he looked at Wind Crane. "I shall definitely ensure to only step in if all else fails."
"It is appreciated," Wind Crane nodded.
"And maybe…we can get to know each other…?" he asked.
"Doubtful. I know my mate. His mind. You may share his body, but I do not know your mind," Wind Crane said calmly. "I doubt he would willingly share even if in the same body."
"You don't know that," Blake Shade started before glancing at how Saitama narrowed his eyes.
"I don't know if you know this, but Stable Rock said that I'm a GOD breaker. I have no idea what it means. But my pets do," Saitama said.
"Ah…what…?!" Black Shade's eyes widened.
"And you do, too, apparently. Good. Don't piss me off. Don't upset my family. Or I'll gladly break you," Saitama warned. With that said, Black Shade swapped places with Zenchu's mental state. Once his skin and hair shifted back to what it was being tanned with dark brown hair coloring, he shook off the sensation he felt. He glanced around and saw Wind Crane.
"I am well. He did not touch me or my daughter," she nodded. "As you can see, even Starlight is quite safe."
"Who…?" Zenchu frowned. Inichi was quick to fill him in. Now he was pissed. "That…piece of…!"
"Quiet," Wind Crane said and lifted Starlight up.
"Daddy!" Starlight said and got pulled into a hug by him.
"It's okay. I'm okay. I'll need to try and do some meditation to come to terms with this…" Zenchu grumbled.
"Come," Wind Crane nodded. She did hug Mitsumi tightly to console her before leading Zenchu to their building. Mitsumi sighed and looked at Saitama.
"Want to go lay down for an hour?" she smiled.
"Yes," he nodded and scooped her up to carry her. "Genos! Tell me when your, eh, friend is here."
"I shall!" Genos nodded and watched him carry off Mitsumi. The pets followed him, and Bright Bolt shifted back down to trot after them. Garou just whistled softly and looked at the others.
"What's on your mind?" Lily asked.
"I want Zenchu to cook me dinner tonight. He never honored his bet with me. So, maybe he can make me something he had around his time. But…the blood of a virgin? A whole cup of it?! I honestly have no idea how he could have gotten that. I can get the snake. You can find them out in the wild. But…a cup of virgin blood? That's…pretty intense," Garou grimaced.
"Interesting. He harvested that from himself before he experienced being with women…" Inichi gleaned on what he was told. Now Garou's jaw dropped. "He found the book before he decided to have his fun. Zenchu doesn't remember. But…Black Shade just told me. Hmm. He is still conscious while Zenchu is. He just can't take over, and he's able to…muddle himself to be nearly nonexistent. This was always the case, apparently. I'll talk to him lightly on the side to get more insight."
"Just be careful," Fubuki frowned.
"He saw and smelled the flower. His mind is free of the monster haze. We just…hmm…I'll put it like this. Shadows are a form of darkness that none want to meddle with. Even though he lost his want to attack…his want to cause trouble will always be there," Inichi warned. "Now that he knows we know about him, things may get…tricky. Let me handle that to keep the control."
"Just don't get sucked in," Fire Flight warned. "Although, I do wonder what the last vessel did to try and impress him."
"He vowed that he could phase in the shadow with hot coals. The coals won and the vessel burst into flame. There is no shadow with a hot coal up close," Inichi sighed. Fire Flight mused at an idea to try if something went wrong. Shenjou looked at her and chuckled.
"Okay. I want to see where Saitama plans to meet with Lady Mitsumi later. I need to make that place awesome! Who's with me?!" Tacki asked. They all looked at each other and were quick to follow her to help. Genos and Kamiko moved back into the underground tunnel just a bit of a ways away to keep working on Dr. Kuseno's future lab space. He wanted the walls and floor to be perfect and ready for any electrical equipment. Everything MUST be prefect! Nothing else will do.