At Neutral Grounds, Mitsumi was seated in Saitama's lap and finally getting some gentle nourishment back in her system in the form of miso soup with ultra-soft Peking duck bits. He was enjoying a bowl of udon noodles with Wagyu steak pieces. Orotsu was ensuring she had something easy to digest at all times and for Saitama to have something substantial. Zenchu was seated near them to ensure everything went well if anyone approached them. When Inichi told them that Tacki thought she was pregnant, Mitsumi was overjoyed.
"Damn…" Saitama grumbled.
"What?" she frowned.
"That guy gets a kid and I don't?!" he moped.
"We have Fumio," she smiled. "And there is only a short window of opportunity for us, anyways. Mine likely passed before I got bitten. And there's no shame in trying again, hmm?"
"True…" he nodded at that thought. He kissed her cheek before regarding her again. "How are you feeling?"
"Despite everything? I feel…as though a large weight is finally gone. No longer do I feel that I have to hide. I owe you…everything…" she swallowed.
"No. You do the exact same thing for me," he said and found himself kissing her heavily before resting his cheek against her forehead. They looked over at Sweet Mask walking in from Inichi's bubble. The restaurant was quite busy, but he called for attention.
"Atsuko Takashi wished to come here for an audience with Mitsumi. Also known as Fan Dancer. I came back here quickly to help monitor this. Inichi will be here shortly to assist. We need to clear a small place, please," Sweet Mask said. Kamiko was quick with Tsuruga to help. Fumio was still kept in the back room for safety with Orotsu. Kianna was quick to help move a few tables, too, just in case. "I will need to head back to continue some research in that study, but this was too important to ignore."
"Should we meet in the other room? I mean…we have guests…" Mitsumi frowned. Saitama looked at her and now rose up to carry her into the side room for private meetings. He knew their meals would stay where they were and even moved to the home if they went home after. The place was still a bit cleared out to provide safety for the civilians that were there. A number of heroes were also there and would help keep the peace in the main room.
"Are you ready to meet with her?" Sweet Mask asked and sat down by the door to catch her by surprise if she turned to leave. Zenchu stationed himself to sit by where Inichi would likely be hovering, but Saitama gave him a small warning to remain quiet. He wanted no interruptions on this, and it was clearly apparent.
"I guess…" Saitama rolled his eyes. Mitsumi frowned, but he kissed her softly to show he was there. He sat down to hold her in his lap, but they were facing the door to confront her sister. Inichi was quick to appear and head into the private meeting room to hover where Zenchu was seated, but Fubuki had stayed behind. She knew he was coming back. The plump woman was escorted in by Hero Association security from the black limousine that rolled up to the entrance. Saitama watched her blankly when she walked into the meeting room, and he pressed a kiss to Mitsumi's forehead.
"You killed her. Didn't you?" Atsuko said. She was still wearing her purple finery, but she was given alternate clothes while she was staying in custody to at least let her clothes get cleaned.
"As a hero, I had to confront her. She was a monster. I had no choice," Mitsumi said softly. "And I rescued Himiko. That thing had her strung up to get sliced open by blades if the front door of the main home was opened. Did you know that she did that? Had Himiko hanging by ropes for almost two days?"
"What?" Atsuko blinked.
"We also found refrigerated crates of my internal organs all over the property," she said with a sudden edge in her tone.
"Those…were yours…?!" Atsuko gasped.
"They were. All harvested by Ajito while he had me drugged up! I would have died if it wasn't for that stupid snake that made me old and young constantly! So, tell me. Did you eat any of it?" she asked now. "That thing that was our mother was eating them when we found her in Father's safe house!"
"Hey. Let me talk," Saitama said gently and caressed her cheek to calm her. Mitsumi swallowed and nodded. Now Saitama glared at the older woman. "I killed your 'mother'. Mitsumi revealed what she was. She was a monster. A large, fat, red monster snake. I took her out with one punch. Tell me now. Did you get anything from her? Do we have to see if you need to be revealed now?"
"You…no! Mother…she wasn't a monster! There's no way!" Atsuko cringed. Then Inichi showed her the entire scene of what happened. She burst into tears and fell to her knees with complete shock.
"She lied to everyone. Fumihiro is dead, too," Mitsumi said softly. "You know he became a monster. You saw him grow his wings out."
"Who…killed him?" Atsuko asked.
"Who do you think?" Saitama asked with a blank stare at her like she was completely stupid. "Mitsumi reveals the monsters. I kill them. It's that simple."
"I was there," Sweet Mask said softly to get Atsuko to look over with shock. "I witnessed all of it. They speak the truth."
"What…will happen to us now?" she asked.
"I am not above helping family that loves and respects me," Mitsumi said. "But I cannot support family that thinks they can crush me under a boot. Not anymore. Saitama? Help me stand?"
"Of course," he smiled and rose up with her to set her on her feet. Then she took out a set of crane fans for the other five sets to instantly appear and separate out. Then the blades were revealed to show they were ready to test the kneeling woman. Atsuko's jaw dropped with complete shock.
"I am the only known sole survivor of the Wind Crane Clan! If you are not a monster hiding in human skin, the fans will not cut your skin. They may slice up your cloak, though. Please stay still," Mitsumi said and darted around her older sister. Once again, the fans moved like deadly butterflies to whip and slice open clothing. When she was back at Saitama's side, he snapped his fingers.
"Ah…!" Atsuko gasped with shock when only her cloak fell apart to pieces. Her skin was completely untouched.
"Good. That monster didn't recruit you. You still have crimes to pay for, if what Genos has stated still stands. You will be processed accordingly. Maybe, if you get out and regret everything you did to me, I'll permit you to live in my house," Mitsumi nodded. "And I say 'my' house, because that is exactly what it is. Father's will is binding by law. He made me his sole heir to everything. I even found a letter written by Father before he died. He knew what she was…"
"That he did," Saitama nodded.
"Uncle Kiyoshi is also aware now. He knows everything," Mitsumi said to get Atsuko's eyes to widen with surprise. "Father instructed me to go to him. And I did before we went to kill that monster."
"Daiki and Himiko are safe," Sweet Mask said. "Now we need to let the court system sentence you for your past crimes."
"Ah…but…" Atsuko cringed.
"If there is a bail, I may convince Mitsumi to pay it. But I need a few questions answered first," Saitama said to get her hopeful attention. "Why did you agree to feed her pet food for six months?"
"I…" Atsuko cringed and shuddered. "It was…her idea. She was convinced that Mitsumi had no merit in being the youngest and told us so, too. That she was…only kept out of kindness. Just like a pet would be. That she was Father's personal pet from how he doted on her. We…didn't think any differently. At least…I didn't. The others just went with it because she said so."
"And why did you want her to go back to Ajito after all the crap he put her through?" he asked now. Sweet Mask was taking careful notes for record keeping. So was Inichi. Zenchu was simply listening and keeping his own anger in check.
"I thought they would work things out! I didn't…know what he was really doing with her. I still don't know…what all he did…" Atsuko admitted. Now Inichi revealed all of it to her silently. "I…no…that wasn't…!"
"He was also like her. I was told they were cousins by Daiki…" Mitsumi grimaced. "Were they really cousins in flesh?"
"Yes…" Atsuko swallowed.
"You let family rape her. You knew he was related. You still wanted her to go back to him. Were you hoping he would kill her?" Saitama now asked with a nasty edge in his tone. "Were you hoping she would die in his lab?!"
"We never questioned what Mother said!" Atsuko argued.
"That was not our mother after I was born!" Mitsumi scowled at her.
"Hey!" Saitama said and pulled Mitsumi away from the confrontation. "Look at me. Calm down. I'm taking care of this. Okay? I need to ask the questions and take the brunt of everything for you."
"I just…" Mitsumi whimpered. She still had her fans out. They suddenly formed a circular shield around her with their blades to give them privacy to talk. The others in the room were surprised at this. Inichi now knew that the fans truly did act on their own at times, but only to help her.
"Hmm…" Saitama frowned and looked at the enclosed fans. "Okay. What do you all think?"
:I will interpret for them. They are highly upset at everything. They are also witnesses to this. They are recommending for Atsuko to get processed in the courts. Find out how much the bail is, if there is a bail set. However, they feel she should serve a minor sentence. They feel that…Lady Mitsumi was committed to an innocent death. Over and over again. So, there is no further need to consult with that one. Judgment will be done properly.: Inichi informed them both.
"I need to know. What are you all made of?" Mitsumi asked softly.
"That would be a good question," Saitama chuckled.
:They vow to reveal that when another fan set is found. They wish to speak of it, but they need to become whole. They also know you both are highly disturbed. You need to rest now.: Inichi said softly in their minds. :They will not even tell me what they are made from! When I said it was a meteor…they said it was not…:
"Oh! That's…interesting…" Saitama mused. "Anyways, okay. We'll go home and let Sweet Mask handle it from here."
The fans vibrated with agreement and drew away to reveal them again. Zenchu rose up from where he was sitting and crossed his arms over his chest. On flicking his tail, Atsuko just panicked that he was a monster. "Relax. I don't randomly hurt people. Unlike that thing you worshiped. I'm Lady Mitsumi's older brother. We see each other as family. I protect her from others like you."
"I wonder if I can smack you with a fan instead of a walking cane," Mitsumi said now to get him looking at her with a small grin.
"Nah. I still have to pinch him," Saitama said calmly.
"No!" Zenchu barked out to get Saitama grinning at him. Now Mitsumi pulled back the blades in her fan set to signal to the rest of the fans to do the same. On looking at Zenchu, all the fans smacked at him to prove a point in a flurry of harmless swirls of cloth. "Ow! Stop! I give! Okay!"
"I like that!" Saitama grinned.
"Lady Mitsumi?! Why?!" Zenchu winced. Sweet Mask was hiding his face from the laughter at all of it now.
"They wanted to cheer me up," she smiled. Inichi was just dying with laughter and sent the visual to the others. The fans settled down along her belt again, and she regarded Sweet Mask. "At this time, I leave my older sister in your care. As well as the remainders of my family. If the others wish to speak with me, I will be at my home in City Z. I need rest. Desperately."
"Of course. Come, Atsuko. You can speak with a lawyer," Sweet Mask said calmly. The older woman now stood up and silently followed him out. Right after she left, Mitsumi winced and coughed.
"Ah! Crap…" Saitama frowned and quickly scooped up Mitsumi into his arms. "Home, please, Inichi. I'll get a bath going for us to help her. And, eh, you can send our food back, too. I'm sure Zenchu will handle that."
"And after?" she asked when Inichi was quick to send her, Saitama and Zenchu back to the complex.
"You can watch me play a video game while we finish our meals. I don't think we have any books. Inichi can always get the one you picked in your room before. But I'll still hold you while I play," he smiled and kissed her softly. When they got there, Zenchu was the one to get a glass of water ready for her capsules and set the unfinished meals away. Then he moved into the bedroom to get the bathwater started. Right after she took the medicine, Saitama rushed her to the bathroom to let her tend to herself.
"Is the water ready?" she asked.
"It is, Lady Mitsumi. I'll be on the couch out there. Inichi went back to your father's safe house," Zenchu smiled and nodded before heading out of the bedroom. She had undressed and moved into the heated water with relief. She soon found herself getting pulled into Saitama's arms. His uniform and underclothes were draped over a chair for now to show he was as nude as she was. He simply held her until he knew the medication started to work.
"Feeling better?" he asked.
"For now," she nodded. "Sometimes the cramping gets so bad I feel sick. Luckily it's not that bad right now. There are other medications that last longer, but it's not as effective as the stuff I use. So, I'm good for a couple hours before it hits again. It's why I have a lot of it. After the third day it all fades out. Just the first two days tend to hit hard."
"Hmm…" he thought and kept his arms around her.
"Did you want me to scrub you down?" she asked.
"In a bit," he said and only held her. "I was thinking about stuff. When it came to all the politics and crap that it comes with."
"What's that?" she asked.
"We may need Daiki to clean up a few loose ends," he admitted. "He knows about all that. I wouldn't trust your oldest sister for as far as I can throw her!"
"Even if she ends up coming back to us from going around the earth?" she grinned. Now he looked at her and tickled her lightly to get her laughing. At her small wince, he quickly relented and looked at her with concern. "I'm okay. The first two days of this are always the worst."
"And around five days it all clears out?" he asked.
"Yeah. Usually. Rarely would it go seven days with me," she nodded. "But, I do want to ask you something."
"Go on," he smiled.
"I asked you before, but…is there anything that you really wanted? Anything at all?" she asked. He thought and ended up shaking his head.
"Mitsumi…look," he sighed. "I have great friends and an absolutely amazing family now. I have an awesome upgraded hero suit, too! I have a way to get food whenever I need to. I have a place to sleep. But, most importantly, I have you. As much as new games and things are nice to have…I just don't need it. I just need you."
"Saitama…" she shivered and let him pull her close to cradle her.
"Things feel fresh and alive again with you at my side. As much as the fans creep me out a bit, I know they help you and protect you. They reveal danger so I can kill it. They are always good in my book," he grinned and kissed her. "I am concerned about your needs. It's true that you lived in luxury, but you were also trapped by it. You had to run away from it. You actually had it so much harder than me! I saw it! I witnessed it! You never lied to me! I am only happy now when I see that you are happy. That is what I want. I want you to be happy."
"I…" she blinked and hugged him tight. He hugged her back and squeezed her to give her a completely solid sensation of comfort.
"That's what I want," he muttered and kissed her forehead. "That's only what I want."
"I never thought…I'd ever be happy…" she admitted.
"Do I make you happy?"
"You do. You saved my life."
"And you saved mine," he whispered and kissed her intensely now. With the tub water keeping her stable during his advances, Zenchu was busy flipping through the channels on the television. He glanced over when Inichi appeared with Fubuki and the others from City L. Kianna also appeared from Neutral Grounds to help out with Mitsumi the moment she was ready.
"Hey. Things are fine?" he asked and chuckled at the romance book that was handed to him by Fubuki. He set it on the couch that Saitama and Mitsumi tended to recline on.
"So far. Tacki and Kamikaze went to their room downstairs. They're waiting for Kamiko to show up. Rendor and Tatsumaki went to their room for now to rest. It's so…weird. Like…we know things are over for now. But…" Fubuki tried to put her thoughts into words.
"It won't be over until the Secret Skins are all dead," Inichi agreed. "And this group thrives in most political areas of power. Of course, not all parties are part of this. And, as always, there are other monsters out there. Our work will likely never be done."
"How much longer until Neutral Grounds closes?" Zenchu asked.
"Two hours at the most. Genos is there to be with Kamiko. Ah…I am being asked by Fumio to bring him back here. A moment…" Inichi nodded and focused to bring Fumio home.
"I did have a question, though," Fubuki asked.
"Yes, my dear?" Inichi muttered while focusing.
"Was Ajito a Secret Skin? You told me he took a tonic to remove his human form to bring out the monster one. Didn't you?" she asked. He rose up a hand to finish bringing Fumio home before regarding her. When he arrived, he waved at them before darting off into his room to study his schoolbooks.
"Hmm…from what I heard before we killed off that false mother…I caught a glimpse that Ajito had lost his skin a long time ago. It may be that he was in a fight with a Wind Crane Clan member…but…if that's…the lab! We need to go back! Lady Mitsumi needs to join us!"
"To see if a fan is there?" she asked.
"Yes. If there is, then it would show that he was keeping one for himself as a keepsake that he won a fight. Lady Mitsumi can use her fans to find any others around her. We need to go back there," Inichi said. "Ah. I also need to visit a set of volcanic islands today. I told Child Emperor that I would have the final ingredient for Kianna's cure. In fact…I should probably do that now. It won't take long at all."
"Take a small pot to gather soil," Fubuki said.
"Here," Zenchu said and handed over a few bowls. "If you find a few of them, get them all."
"Right!" Inichi quickly agreed and floated off swiftly with the bowls. Five minutes later, Saitama was carrying out Mitsumi in his arms. They were both dressed in civilian clothes of basic shirts and shorts. Kianna moved to style up Mitsumi's hair into a cute Bao Bao style again. Saitama now looked at Mitsumi and kissed her intensely.
"I forgot how cute you are in that hairstyle," he grinned after the kiss.
"Should I wear this as a hero?" she asked.
"No. This hairstyle is only for me," he said to get her laughing.
"I love you," she blushed and got a rewarding kiss.
"I love you," he said back and squeezed her. Then he noticed the slightly tense atmosphere. "Eh…did I miss something?"
"We need to go back to the lab with Lady Mitsumi," Kianna said. "Inichi felt there may be a fan there. Ajito…we think he lost his skin and kept a fan as a trophy for surviving the battle."
"What?!" she gasped. "I mean…should I change back into my hero garb?"
"We don't plan to be fighting anything, but you should bring the fans," Zenchu said. "All of them."
"Well, I think they would want to sniff out if there was another one there," Saitama sighed. "Hmm. It could also be why that other guy I killed was there, too. Not just for her antidotes."
"Where is Inichi?" Mitsumi asked.
"He's getting my final ingredient for my antidote," Kianna said.
"Ah! Okay. When he gets back, we'll go," Mitsumi said. "Um, Saitama? I should get the fans now to have them ready."
"When he gets back," Saitama nodded.
"I do worry a bit, though," Mitsumi frowned.
"Why?" he asked and the others looked at her.
"Father did tell me the tales of the Wind Crane Clan long ago. That…when the fans were all together, they were insanely powerful. That one person couldn't wield them on their own. That person would have been destroyed by the sheer destructive power they had. There were ten members that balanced it. If it's just me doing this…I mean.." she frowned.
"Nope. You have me, too," he nodded. "Remember our dual attack? I felt that power envelope mine. I brought you balance."
"What?! Why didn't you tell me?!" she gasped and smacked his arm to have him grinning at her. He did find it amazing that she would never get a backlash of hurt like others would. He knew his love for her and need to protect her overruled that part of him. I can be normal around her. I don't have to think that I'm going to hurt her by accident. I love this about her!
"I figured I would tell you when you got curious?" he shrugged and hugged her tight to him now to calm her down. "So, if you feel overwhelmed, or whatever, you give that excess to me. I'll get rid of it."
"But…with the sheer destruction all ten fans did together…" she frowned. "They made a desert for ten miles around. That power is insane!"
"I know. So, we will test it when we get all ten fans. I will help you in that same location," he said with a stern nod. Her jaw dropped. "Hey. We have to practice. Hmm?"
He looked at the bedroom when a crane fan set suddenly boomeranged into her hands to vibrate. She blinked and now looked over at Zenchu. He was on Saitama's phone and calling someone. "Genos! Can you hear morse code over a phone call? The fans have something to say, and Inichi isn't here to help. Okay. We'll try and do this. Ah, Lady Mitsumi, rest the handles on the table…"
"Okay," she nodded and Saitama stood behind her. She set the handles on the table for vibrations to rattle out in a distinct pattern. Genos paid very close attention to everything.
"Master Saitama! You cannot leave her side while she holds the fans! You will save her life in their most destructive ways to protect others. If she did this on her own, she'd be burned up with it. You can definitely shift out the power with what you already have within you. They sensed this when they amplified your punch. She would have been incinerated. You took that destructive power away. They took a chance…" he said.
"She could have died with that punch we did?!" Saitama gaped. "But…well…that was the coolest thing I ever saw…!"
"And you protected me from it," she said and leaned into him. "You really are my fighting partner now."
"Oh. Ah…they want to see Tacki…?" Genos said with confusion in his tone. Mitsumi thought on that and gasped.
"That's right! They can see if a woman is with child! And she thinks she's pregnant!" Mitsumi blinked. Fubuki was quick to think to Inichi, and Kamikaze was carrying in Tacki to get examined. Mitsumi took both fan sets in her hands and placed them over Tacki.
"Anything?" Kamikaze asked.
"Hold on…" Mitsumi said. Then both fans vibrated to show they were done checking over Tacki's form. She set the fan handles back on the table to give the message to Genos. There were a tense few seconds of silence during this.
"She's having twins," Genos said and cleared his throat. Fubuki gasped and clapped her hands with excitement for Tacki now.
"WHAT?!" Kamikaze could only gape and the stick fell out of his mouth for Tacki to catch it. "I…are you sure?! I mean…seriously?! What?! Twins?! That's…two…right? Not one? But…I…seriously?! Twins?! It's real?!"
"Yeah. Twins would be…two…" Tacki said with an intense blush now. The others were clapping and congratulating her now, but Saitama was not happy.
"Damn it!" Saitama scowled.
"I'm sure we'll be next," Mitsumi soothed him. "And I'm sure you'll react the same way when it happens to me."
"Ah…yeah…most likely…" Saitama sighed and shook his head.
"He might be even worse," Zenchu grinned and ducked at Saitama's glare.
"Where do you plan to go after this? Do we have plans?" Genos asked.
"We need to go back to that lab. It's thought that a fan set may be hiding out there," Zenchu said and told him what was discovered.
"That's news to me!" Kamikaze frowned. "Tacki, I'll go with them. You stay here. Light cleaning only. Got it?"
"Fine," she sighed and got kissed heavily before putting the stick back in his mouth. "Also…ah…when do we get married?"
"We'll figure that out soon. I still need Iaian to get his ass back here with a ring for you," he snorted and lifted her into his arms.
"Master Saitama, I shall go with you there. Kamiko has things just fine here with Tsuruga. King will be heading back with them to ensure safe passage. Richoo and Orotsu are managing the kitchen with no issues. Even Suiryu is ensuring that everything is running smoothly with Orotsu. Chikao is also adjusting well as a server. I will see you soon," Genos said and hung up the call.
"I'm sure we'll know more in a couple more weeks, okay?" Tacki said to Kamikaze when he sat down to hold her in his lap.
"Hmm…today was supposed to be an off day for the restaurant. When it closes today, we need to ensure it," Mitsumi said.
"Nope. That's for tomorrow. We did everything early enough in the day that everyone gets tomorrow off. So, we'll plan for the restaurant to close for tomorrow. We're good with that," Saitama nodded.
"Okay. We'll make sure that Genos knows. As much as I'd like two days off, one is likely all we can do. Unless Orotsu gets a sous chef, or trains another like him, we can't really do an everyday schedule. We need more staffing, too," Mitsumi sighed. "I'd put an advertisement in the paper, but…"
"We'll handle all of it tomorrow. Most likely," Saitama said and kissed her forehead. They all now looked at the door when Inichi came in with five pots filled with lava earth and set with the rare flowers. Then another set of flowers in a bouquet of roses was given to Tacki in congratulations. She blushed hard and got squeezed by Kamikaze.
"I'm gonna be an uncle!" Fumio beamed when he ran out of his room to head over to Tacki. He hugged his sister with a grin and moved to hug his parents before moving back into his room to read his schoolbooks. Kamikaze found himself chuckling at the boy now.
"Not the only one!" Zenchu chuckled.
"Congratulations! The fans always speak truth. And I, too, will be considered an uncle figure," Inichi chuckled. "Child Emperor wanted to see the lab that Lady Mitsumi was in. We should all go now. For those that want to go, that is."
"Let me get the other fans, then," Mitsumi said. She blinked when the other five shot over to her to let her gather them up. "Oh! Ah...I need a belt to hold them...I think..."
"Yeah, you do. I don't think you'd want to hold them like that," Saitama said with a small chuckle. "I don't think they'd want to attach to me, either."
"I can make something! And I'll make an extra three spots for the others when you find them," Tacki said, set down the roses and went to the fabrics she normally made for belts. It only took ten minutes for Mitsumi to have a new belt for all the fans to easily move in and out of. "I'll work on some others, too, while you're all out."
"Thank you," Mitsumi said and moved to hug her. Saitama had let her go briefly to let her do this. He smiled when Mitsumi made it back to his side to get cradled in his protective embrace. "You really don't want to let me go. Do you?"
"Never," Saitama grinned softly and kissed her. "Anyways, is Genos meeting us there?"
"Yes. Kamiko will arrive back here with the others. We should go now," Inichi said. Saitama carried Mitsumi outside and watched Kamikaze walk out to meet them. He gave Tacki a warning look for no heavy cleaning. She pouted, but she also understood his protective standpoint.
"I'll stay here for Fumio and the others," Kianna said.
"Did Rendor want to join us?" Mitsumi asked when Fubuki made her way to them to show she was going.
"He and Tatsumaki are staying home for now. They say to call on them if needed," Inichi said. Zenchu nodded and let Inichi take the five of them back to the lab to look for another set of the intricately powerful fans.