Zenchu was quick to move and gather up Mitsumi into his arms to carry her back to the apartment complex. Saitama and Genos were close behind, and Rendor moved over to talk to them. "Where are you staying?"
"Hmm? Oh. That place," Saitama said and pointed the complex they were heading to. "Sixth floor. Third room on the left."
"We are on the fourth floor and two doors down on the left from the main stairs. We were thinking of taking a few of the rooms next to us on either side for building supply needs and extra space," Rendor said calmly.
"Nice. If you need help, let me know," Saitama nodded.
"Master, are we really going to ally with them?" Genos frowned.
"Why not?" Saitama asked and continued walking. "They aren't hurting us. They want to help others. If they go against that and start attacking then we know that we can take them out. They even told us where they are. They aren't hiding. That tells me that they are extremely different. I'm willing to give them a chance. The girl here is in trouble. Big trouble from what I have seen and witnessed so far. And she clearly cares about them. If they are her family, why would we take that from her?"
"Oh," Genos seemed to pause in thought.
"I'm kinda glad I don't have to just punch out a monster to prove a point. If monsters want to find a way to become human again, then fine," Saitama shrugged. "If there are any that don't care, well..."
"I understand," Genos nodded and continued to walk with him. I do worry about Sweet Mask, though. He may kill them without a second thought. Other heroes would do the same, too. If Master believes that these monsters should be protected, then I will not argue with it.
"What's your story?" Fumio asked Genos.
"My family and village were slaughtered by a rogue cyborg. I vowed to hunt it down to destroy it," Genos said.
"Oh!" Fumio gasped.
"If you find it, we can help. If you need the help, that is," Kamiko said. "We don't mind playing as bait. It's a bit fun!"
"Thank you. I will consider it," Genos nodded.
"Oh, let me introduce you to my family," Mitsumi said. She had the group pause, and she calmly introduced each one by name and had them step forward. Saitama looked at each one closely and nodded. Nine in all. I might be able to remember their names. Their features are all different. So…I'll see how it goes.
"There you are!" a harsh voice rang out. The small group turned to see Beetlemeister there. "I lived through all of that...to find you all..."
"For what purpose?" Mitsumi asked softly. Now the stag beetle monster paused. "Why do this to yourself? Do you hold regrets?"
"Hmm..." Zenchu thought aloud.
"I hold nothing! I am not done with my fight! You! The tall human with the hair! You and me! Right here! Right now!" the monster roared.
"Hey. Saitama. You want to take care of him?" Zenchu asked.
"He asked for you," Saitama said with gesture. "If he still stands after you take him on, then fine. I'll clean it up."
"Fine," Zenchu grumbled and handed Mitsumi over to Rendor. When Rendor curled back his lip to snarl at the bug man, he was quickly calmed by Mitsumi's hand caressing his muzzle.
"Master?" Genos frowned.
"It's not my fight," Saitama shrugged.
"Why do you call him master?" Kamiko asked.
"I am his disciple," Genos said reverently.
"Oh! Huh. You'll have to tell me how that happened," Kamiko chuckled at Saitama. The bald man nodded and watched how Zenchu let his claws loose with a quick swipe to rend the bug man to shreds. That shocked Beetlemeister. He thought Zenchu was a human in full. Then Zenchu went into a spinning kick with his claws out and his tail slashing into him with the nasty barbs like a whirlwind of death and sharp blades.
"Interesting..." Saitama mused. That one could easily be Dragon ranking. Many of the others could be Tiger or even Demon.
"Mr. Saitama?" Inichi asked and hovered over to him.
"Yes?" he asked and glanced up at the floating blue monster.
"I would like to see if I can reach out to you with telepathic thought. This way, if something is wrong, I can inform you directly. I vow that I will not bother you for petty needs," Inichi said with a gesture of honor.
"Hmm. Okay," Saitama nodded. Then he blinked at the small mental poke.
:I am letting you see how this works. You can think to me this way, too. Just focus on this mental voice. Or think my name. I will hear you.: Inichi explained.
:Like this...?: Saitama asked.
:Brilliant! I will not read your thoughts unless you allow me to. You have my utmost vow.: Inichi promised and let the feeling that he was there fade out.
"It's dead," Zenchu snorted. Then Fumio pointed to show the bug man was pulling himself together. The bug man shed out the carapace to emerge completely healed. He howled with rage and readied to charge.
"Oh, fine. My turn," Saitama said with boredom and faced Beetlemeister. "Death punches series 2."
"What...?" the bug man asked before finding himself obliterated from the single lunging force of the punch Saitama did. The group of monsters was in a state of shocked silence. Two trees were even smashed down from the sheer force of the shockwave that happened after he pulled his fist back.
"Well done! Thank you, Saitama," Mitsumi beamed at him. He looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"Oh. Um...you're welcome?" he blinked. Why do I feel...happy? All she did was thank me for killing it...
"Like HELL am I pissing you off!" Zenchu cringed. That got Saitama laughing and shaking his head. "I don't know what you're made of, but that scares even me! And it takes a lot to do that!"
"This is why I am his disciple," Genos nodded. "He could easily be a class S rank, but he does not want it."
"Much like how I don't like being a celebrity figure if I don't have to be," Mitsumi said softly and looked away. "I really dislike it."
"Oh. Anyways, um...is it time for you to change?" Saitama asked. It was as though he had already forgotten about the monster he just killed off.
"Thirty minutes left..." Kianna said.
"We need to hurry!" Zenchu said and took Mitsumi back from Rendor. The moment he pulled her close, she gave out a sigh and fell unconscious. He swore and bolted to the apartment complex to prepare. The others were quick to follow and pile into the small set of rooms. Saitama and Genos were given chairs close to where Zenchu was reclining on a small couch with her.
"She always falls unconscious. It's as though her body is preparing," Rendor grimaced and sat on the ground by the door. "Usually she does this at the start of the hour before dawn. If she's busy, then it prolongs as it did just now. But she always falls unconscious before the change. This keeps her feeble and unable to control herself."
"It's...starting..." Kianna whimpered and looked at the snake bracelet. The jeweled eyes shimmered and brightened to show the daylight change was needed. Then it moved with a fluid movement and struck hard to sink its large fangs into her wrist. It chewed lightly to push the venom in before letting go and reforming into the solid gold bangle again to keep from getting removed.
"Hmm..." Saitama frowned and narrowed his eyes in intense thought. Five minutes later, Mitsumi's body began to convulse. Zenchu tightened his arms around her and twisted his body with hers to keep her stable. He sensed where her body was going to turn next, and he was quick to adjust to work with it. It was when her body arched to let out a blood-curdling scream from the bones shrinking down with age that he had to loosen his grip to keep from hurting her. Her hair turned ash-grey before their very eyes. Her skin got looser in areas as age quickly set in. Genos was in absolute shock and outrage to see how a young, vibrant girl became an elderly near-lifeless woman before his very eyes.
"Master...!" he hissed.
"I know," Saitama frowned. Ten minutes later it was over. Tacki had the larger red kimono ready for Mitsumi to wear. Zenchu let out a hard sigh and gently lifted her old, frail body up to take her into another room for the feminine monsters to care for her and dress her. When he sat back down, he looked completely haggard.
"If I ever find Ajito..." Zenchu seethed out with hatred.
"What does he look like?" Saitama asked.
"She had a picture on her phone. She threw it in a river, though," Zenchu growled and sighed.
"I have a mental image. She destroyed her phone after meeting with me. Safer to have me reach out for her, but I did store the images within my vast intellect. Allow me?" Inichi asked Saitama. He nodded and studied the mental image received very intensely.
"Glasses...black hair...no facial hair...somewhat good build...he looks like a typical man to the normal eye," Saitama frowned.
"Note the small birthmark on the left side of his neck. That may help give him away," Inichi said. Saitama nodded and leaned forward to rest his chin on his hands. He was clearly not happy with what he witnessed.
"One month you say?" he asked out loud.
"If you mean for the business before judging it safe to remove the snake, that is what we were thinking," Rendor nodded. Saitama now looked at Genos.
"Master?" the cyborg asked.
"Can you get a mental picture from Inichi?" he asked.
"Oh. I can try," Genos said and looked at the floating monster. At the small prodding, he found himself amazed. "It appears that I can!"
"Yes. I can focus on the part of your mind that is still relatively human. Call my name out mentally for me to hear you. Here is the image of the cretin!" Inichi said and sent it over. Genos now looked at Saitama with a nod.
"We won't look for him. Yet. But, if we see him, we will know who he is," Saitama said. He looked over to see Mitsumi dressed in the large kimono and shuffling into the room with Kianna's protective form hovering over her. Her hair was styled in the single bun on the back of her head to keep her looking elegant. She was given her walking cane to use for balance now, and she looked around with a small smile to show she was fine.
"Oh! Do we have guests, my children?" she asked on seeing Saitama and Genos. "Do they need anything? Tea? Cookies?"
"We were actually on our way out. It's quite late," Saitama said and stood up to nod to her. Then he looked over at Zenchu. "I need to get some sleep. Have Inichi wake me up when she plans to go out with you."
"Master, I don't need sleep at all. I can stay and help her," Genos said.
"No. There is no need for you to do that. We can only wait on the sides for now. Let me know when she plans to go out," Saitama said. When he turned to leave, a cane came out to block him from leaving.
"I...think I know you..." Mitsumi said softly.
"Oh? Oh! Yes. We met at the store yesterday," Saitama nodded.
"Wait...she's remembering!" Zenchu whispered with amazement. "Saitama, please...stay and talk to her. For a while?"
"I really need to get some rest, though! I was awake all night!" Saitama groaned. At this, the cane was pulled away. Mitsumi then moved to reach out and grab his gloved hand. He looked at her with concern.
"Help me...please..." she whimpered and trembled with a form of fear and sorrow. On hearing her small, weak and gentle crying plea, Saitama stooped down just a bit to look her right in the eyes.
"You have my word. I will help you," he said.
"You can...go and rest. I know it must be rough for you," she said in her frail tone of voice. "This pain...this constant back and forth of age...it hurts...I can't...I don't want it...anymore..."
"I saw," he nodded. The others in the room only watched with pained looks on their faces and in their eyes. Zenchu even dashed a tear away to show how much he was hurting for her.
"My family...these ones that many call monsters..." she trembled.
"They are not monsters to me. As long as they do not attack others, then I will not attack them. Keep them hidden and safe for now. Let me rest for a while. They will tell me when you plan to go out. Okay?" Saitama said gently. He looked at the snake on her wrist and flicked it in the head. Now he watched it shudder with surprise. Inichi was in complete shock that he made it aware. "You. You will die by me. You have a month of life left. No matter what you think. You. Will. Die."
The snake let out a seething hiss, but then it reverted back into golden jewelry. The monsters in the room were simply stunned as none of them could get the snake to respond much less do anything else unless it was ready to bite.
"I worry," Kianna said. "You threatened it. I truly hope that it does nothing more to Lady Mitsumi. She already suffers so."
"If it does, you tell me. Immediately," Saitama nodded. At the glare he gave the golden snake, he knew he was heard. "You may have the others fooled. You will never fool me."
Mitsumi coughed a bit and wearily pulled away from Saitama now. She was moved to a rather plush couch to sit down and recline on. He looked at Genos and shook his head at everything. Genos could only furrow his brow at everything. "Master...what are we to do?"
"First we rest. Then we'll see what's going on in the city. When she starts to move around, I need to know," he said. "Come on."
"Yes, Master," Genos nodded and was quick to follow. He was actually a bit puzzled over Saitama's new mood. Normally he is quite distant from everything and doesn't care from the boredom. This girl...I think she sparked something in him...
"Saitama," Zenchu said lightly. The bald man looked over calmly. "Thank you for staring at me in the market yesterday."
"Oh. I just thought I fought you in a fighting tournament. Or somewhere. Eventually you all look alike. You all hit the same, too. I don't feel a thing anymore," he shrugged.
"I will not spar you," Zenchu smirked.
"Actually, he trained with me. And...yes...he won," Genos sighed. "I vowed to get stronger."
"Just remember who you are supposed to be," Mitsumi said softly in her frail tone. "Do not forget yourself."
"It is the same thing that Dr. Kuseno says to me. I will not forget it," Genos said with a small smile before heading out the door after Saitama.
"Rendor," Mitsumi whispered out.
"Yes, Lady Mitsumi?" the tiger man asked and pushed some of the lion's mane out of his face.
"He is a nice man. The caped one. Isn't he?" she chuckled.
"He is," Rendor nodded.
"Ah...if I were younger..." she sighed.
"What?!" Zenchu blinked at her.
"Oh..." Kamiko found herself giggling.
"Did she just...?" Kianna blinked.
"I won't test him," Tsuruga snorted. "I saw what he did to that monster at the park!"
"I swear..." Zenchu muttered and lay back on the couch he sat on. "However, Saitama may be the only one I would approve of. If it happened."
"If what happened?" Orotsu asked while starting to get breakfast set up to cook and simmer.
"If Saitama likes her back?" Fumio chuckled.
"That would be awesome!" Tacki whooped.
"Hmm...maybe I could put some thoughts in his mind..." Inichi mused.
"No," Zenchu said quickly. "Such a thing like this...just no. It needs to be a natural thing. Do not force it."
"Oh! Of course," Inichi agreed. They all noticed that Mitsumi was sleeping now from her old age, and they quickly settled to either do the same or get things ready for the day.