When they arrived, King and Kianna waved at them all. Tatsumaki and Rendor were standing nearby to show they were present. Fumio was with Fubuki and going over what they thought the dojo would need. Siren was even there in her new dress and chatting with Metal Knight happily on her ring communicator. Her dress had definite room for her large bat wings, and she stretched them out lightly with comfort. Lightning Max had learned about the dojo and decided to show up to talk about security measures with Genos and Tsuruga.
"Hey!" Zenchu waved at them and pointed to the couple in the cart. "I'll be pushing them around until they feel like walking."
"I can store the cart elsewhere, if needed," Inichi said when he hovered over Fubuki. They all looked over to see Sweet Mask walking over. He paused at the sight of Mitsumi, though, when she got out of the cart with Saitama to stretch.
"Are you…performing?" he asked.
"I was thinking about it," she shrugged. "It's an event. I figured I just might. Saitama is also dressed for it, too."
"Yeah," he said and kept his arm around her waist.
"We could do something before the fireworks. I can talk to the men in charge of the event. A small stage is easy to set up," Sweet Mask nodded. "The event is set to go off right after sunset. Just make your way up the street to the northern section. You can't miss it."
"Oh! It's Sweet Mask!" a young girl gasped in the distance.
"Fan Dancer! Caped Baldy! Demon Cyborg! Wow!" a young boy said with delight. Saitama smiled lightly and blinked at the sight of so many people now wanting autographs.
"There's Atomic Samurai! He rarely gives autographs!" another fan said.
"Aw…" Kamikaze grimaced, but he had Tacki climb up onto his shoulders to handle the fanfare. Zenchu was quick to form lines for autographs and pictures.
"What costume is this?!" an older lady asked Mitsumi.
"Oh, this is a custom made costume for performing. My hero costume is for when I'm actually fighting," Mitsumi chuckled.
"Can you do something now?" an older man asked.
"I could!" she grinned. Saitama looked at her neutrally and nodded. Now the crowd backed away to see her take out the controlling fans for the others to quickly leave her fan holders and swirl around her and Saitama playfully. She had the fans do fantastic formations while she twirled around with Saitama gracefully with a small dance. It ended quickly, though, but the crowd still cheered.
"We may do a bigger performance later. With the fireworks," Saitama said. Mitsumi held out her hand to let a fan set land in it like a large butterfly. When a fan set landed on Saitama, he grinned lightly. "Hey!"
That got the crowd to laugh and giggle at it. The fans settled back on Mitsumi's fan holders, and she waved at the crowd.
"You're so beautiful!" a man said to her on coming up for her autograph.
"Thank you," she smiled and signed his book.
"Can you put 'to Yoshi with love'?" the man asked.
"Ah…I'll just put 'to Yoshi'," she smiled and did that. "Here you go."
"No! It must be 'with love', too! Ever since I saw your photo in the Hero Association book…I vowed to meet you! To have you love me!" the man said. Saitama now moved Mitsumi behind him and crossed his arms over his chest.
"You know that she's marrying me. Right?" Saitama asked and studied the black-haired, brown eyed man in civilian clothing.
"In fact, we did we get married," Mitsumi shrugged. "It was a private ceremony. A public one will be done later."
"What?! But…no!" the man said and pointed at her. "I will make you my wife! You'll be mine!"
"Um…no?" Mitsumi blinked. Inichi's bubble quickly surrounded the man to carry him off and to a different city. Saitama was not happy.
"I should have slapped him," he said.
"Not in front of the fans. Inichi had the right idea," she said and kissed him passionately. "I married you. Not changing it."
"Good," he smiled and squeezed her. "Anyways, let's hide out in the cart for a bit. Shall we?"
"Okay," she smiled back. Zenchu helped them in before starting to push it down the street with the others. Saitama was now able to close up the curtain to silently claim her when a fiery need took over. Zenchu had no notice of what was going on at all. Tacki had reinforced the cart to be unnoticeable of anything that could be going on inside it. The feathers made a perfect sound-proof barrier, too, and Saitama was pleased that a small battery light was installed for quick needs.
"Are you okay?" he asked and ran a hand over her cheek after helping her fix her dress back up.
"I'm good," she smiled and pressed into him.
"This is rough…but we'll manage," he muttered. "I don't think we should do much traveling after this."
"At least the cart works," she chuckled and let him cradle her.
"I wonder if we can make this into a treasure bed cart…" he mused.
"What?" she blinked at him to get him grinning at her. "Why?"
"Well…we'd have extra cash all the time…" he started and laughed when she pounced him to try and tickle him. He moved to sit up cross-legged and pulled her into his lap to cradle her. He pulled back the curtain now to look out with her.
"We need to start thinking of a nursery set up," Tacki said and looked down at Kamikaze. "May as well start gathering supplies."
"Hmm. Yeah. Okay," Kamikaze nodded.
"I can help with that," Kianna said. Kamiko was already starting up a list with Genos on what could be gathered in bulk safely.
"There you are!" Bane said and gestured to them to come over to where fireworks were being sold. Mitsumi now got out with Saitama to examine what was for sale. Inichi studied each product, and Tacki was quick to point out what was good and bad. A number of them were purchased for Inichi to send them back home for safety.
"Fan Dancer! Wow!" a young girl gasped and was quick to skip over for an autograph. Mitsumi chuckled and happily signed her book. "Um…I want to learn how to fan dance, too!"
"Really? Well, a dojo is being built to teach just that! Information will be given at Neutral Grounds when it's done," she smiled.
"Cool! Oh! Um…Caped Baldy?" the girl blinked.
"Yes," Saitama nodded.
"Um…" the girl looked at Saitama shyly and pointed to his image in her hero book. Saitama took up the book to sign it, much to her delight at it.
"Monster!" someone shrieked in the distance.
"Not any of us," Siren said with a frown.
"Saitama!" Mitsumi said to have him nod with her. Her group moved quickly to where the disturbance was to see a blue lizard-like man attacking the food carts. Its tail was swatting at them to make the food come out, and it was hissing with rage at the whole thing. The torn up green vest and jean pants it wore was the only thing it could wear. The monster turned to face them and paused at the sight of a fan set darting around it to give off the flower image with the calming scent that came with it.
"Ah…what…?" the monster blinked.
"Hey! Are you feeling okay?" Mitsumi frowned.
"Um…what was I…doing?" the monster grimaced. "My head…"
"What's your name?" Zenchu asked.
"My name?" the monster asked with surprise.
"Yeah! You have a name, right?" Fumio asked.
"Well…I don't know…" the monster grimaced.
"Come here. We'll talk," Tsuruga said and tossed his horns. Then Rendor became his monster form to show that he could also help. Tatsumaki moved to settle on his shoulder with delight and pat his mane.
"However, do you still want to attack?" Zenchu asked.
"I'm just…very hungry," the monster admitted. Mitsumi nodded at Zenchu to purchase a couple large meals for the monster and it was shocked. "Ah…thank you! Um…yeah…I can talk…"
"Shenjou is waiting at home with Grigos," Inichi said. "I shall transport you. We do need your name, though."
"I don't remember my name…" it admitted.
"Are you a guy?" Saitama asked.
"Oh. Um…yeah…" he nodded.
"We'll call you Zip for now. That work?" Siren asked.
"Oh! I like that! Okay. I'll be Zip for now," the lizard-like man nodded. Inichi was quick to transport him away for the crowd to cheer.
"Amazing…" Sweet Mask chuckled from where he watched at a distance.
"It's good that you're learning how to tolerate us," Siren said next to him to get him to jump. "And I know you didn't hear me approach you. It's one of my talents. Metal Knight wanted me to test a few things for him later."
"What?!" Sweet Mask blinked at her.
"I'm Siren. Nice to meet you!" she winked a glowing green eye. "Also, your latest script sucks. Unless you want Inichi to rant, don't show it to him."
"You…read my script?!" he gaped. "It was in my car! And the alarms didn't go off?"
"Yeah. You did leave a window open slightly, so that was enough for me to fish it out and peek at it before Lady Mitsumi got here. I'm crazy stealthy. Don't worry, though. I put it back," she chuckled. "I gotta get back to Lady Mitsumi now. Catch ya later!"
"Wait!" he said quickly to see her turned her lightly horned head at him. "You're able to get past things undetected?"
"Easily," she shrugged. "I was gonna test how far I can go with Metal Knight later on."
"Can I see this?" he asked. She mused and pressed on the ring once.
"My dear?" Metal Knight asked from it.
"I have Sweet Mask here. He'd like to witness my testing of stealth," she chuckled. "What do you think?"
"We can do a video live stream," Metal Knight agreed. "You know how to reach me, Sweet Mask."
"I do. Thank you," Sweet Mask said. Siren nodded to him and skipped off to rejoin the others. Then he paused with sudden realization. Metal Knight called her 'my dear'! Are they…? No…
:They agreed to try.: Inichi mentally chuckled at him. Sweet Mask was dumbfounded by this. :So far, it is just talk and light outings of exploration.:
:So they haven't tried anything further?: he asked.
:To my knowledge, no. She thought she had something with Saitama's disciple, Suiryu, but he favored his fanfare over her. It hurt her deeply. Metal Knight is gently wooing her and not letting her feel stressed. She needs to build trust again.:
:I see. A shame, indeed.: Sweet Mask sighed and moved to see to the night's event lineup.
"Peking duck on a stick!" Mitsumi gasped with delight at the stall again.
"We need to have Orotsu make that for you," Saitama said and got his stick after Zenchu purchased a few bags. He glanced at how Mitsumi was nibbling at the meat and felt the tinge of burning need. "Cart. Now."
"Huh? Oh!" Mitsumi blinked and was quick to rush him into it and seal the curtain shut. Zenchu was able to get their food to hold onto to ensure they'd get it back. Five minutes later, Saitama pulled back the curtain to show her sitting innocently in his lap and flush against his form. "Very little traveling…"
"Yeah…" Saitama sighed and hugged her close. He reached out and took up the sticks again to let Mitsumi finish her meal with him.
"Saitama?! Where are you?" Okada rang out from the crowd with Saitama's father following behind her. Inichi was able to help guide them over to settle with the group. "Where is he?"
"I'm in here, Mom," Saitama said from inside the cart and tossed out the sticks to get thrown away.
"Get out here and walk with us!" she said.
"Not yet," Saitama said and closed the curtain again.
"Saitama!" Mitsumi giggled and got a loving kiss pressed to her mouth.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear and pressed another kiss on her mouth.
"I love you, too," she whispered back and got hugged tight.
"No one will ever steal you from me," he muttered and kissed her forehead.
"As if I would ever let them," she said and snuggled into his chest.
"Let's stay like this for a bit," he said and squeezed her to him. She nodded and sighed with complete contentment. She softly sang to him to hear his own sigh of relief. He waited for her to finish the song before kissing her lovingly and moving to open the curtain.
"Oh. Finally coming out into the open, son?" Kodama asked on watching his son step out with Mitsumi.
"It's part of my issue, Dad," Saitama said. "I can't fight it. I get strong urges to be alone with her. It'll go away in a few days. I try to fight it and I go stupid. Then I start slapping people. This keeps that from happening."
"That's weird," his father frowned.
"Do you want grandkids?" Zenchu asked.
"Well…yes!" Okada said.
"Then don't question it. This can lead up to that," Zenchu grinned lightly. Now Saitama's father looked at his son with a bit of surprise.
"I have an urge to slap. Zenchu, come here," Saitama said with a blank stare at the monster. Mitsumi burst into laughter with the others now.
"No," Zenchu said and grumbled with a tail flick. Then Zenchu paused with shock at Saitama. He saw a red, fiery glow come off his form for split-second. It scared him half to death. "Um…"
"What?" Saitama asked.
"I think I just saw your power radiate from you. That shit scared me!" Zenchu said. Now Saitama looked at him with actual surprise.
"His inner power appears to be reaching out at last…" Inichi frowned on studying what Zenchu saw. "If it comes out longer, then we must take him back home with Lady Mitsumi. No exceptions."
"Hey," Zombieman said and paused on seeing Saitama. "What…the hell did I just see?!"
"You saw that shit, too?!" Zenchu asked.
"Like a red glow. What was that?" Zombieman asked.
"I didn't see anything," Himiko frowned.
"Saitama," Mitsumi said and hugged him tight. Her fans came out to swirl around them both to help exert the power that Saitama began to expose. People stopped to watch with a form of awe at the display, but the fans simply charged up lightly and expelled the power safely in the form of intricate displays.
"Thanks…" Saitama said to the swirling fans. "Keep me in check, please."
Several sets landed on him now, and he didn't brush them away. Bane walked over and found himself pausing with surprise at what he was seeing.
"Not good," Kamikaze said and Tacki nodded with him. "When does this show start? We need to get him home."
"I'll be fine. I don't feel stupid yet. I'm just…I dunno. This never happened before," Saitama shrugged.
"Just stay with me," Mitsumi said and let him hug her close. He scooped her up in his arms to carry her now, and they started to head to where the fireworks were supposed to start.
"It's still early," King said. He was wearing a mild disguise to keep from being recognized. Kianna was walking against his side and frowning with concern.
"We can work on lighting," Genos said. Lightning Max was quick to jog over to get started on it.
"Hey!" Child Emperor said when he ran up to them. "Glad I made it!"
"Hey there!" Mitsumi chuckled and gave him a small hug.
"Hey, Zombieman!" Child Emperor grinned.
"Hello," Zombieman nodded and kept an arm around Himiko.
"Do you think I can join you for this event?" a male voice asked. They looked over for Mitsumi to gasp at seeing Daiki standing there in a stately suit.
"Are you going to be an idiot?" Saitama asked.
"No. I want to be…normal. For a bit," Daiki admitted. "I've been trying to clean up loose ends, but, Mitsumi, you have to marry him to finish up what Father started. I did all I could, but his will is binding."
"We did get married by Wind Crane Clan tradition, but it was a private ceremony. We still need to do a public one for the legal side of things," Mitsumi said. "We weren't planning on doing that until I got pregnant, though."
"We can't wait that long," Daiki said. "Uncle Kiyoshi discovered something in Father's will."
"What is it?" Saitama asked. Now Rendor walked over to listen. He was still in his monster form, and Tatsumaki was on alert. Fubuki, Genos and Kamiko were now at Mitsumi's side. Himiko was in shock and had to go over to them with Zombieman at her side.
"Mother snuck something into Father's will. It stated that…if Mitsumi's happiness is at risk with the man she is with, then the will is void," he said.
"Rendor, do you have the will? I can scan it and compare," Genos said. Rendor was able to take out the document, and Siren now flew over with Metal Knight on her communicator ring.
"I still have the files, too. Genos, you can download a USB?" Metal Knight asked. "I can get it to you now."
"Yes. I can do that," Genos said.
"Give me ten minutes," Metal Knight said.
"That's fine. We can go over stage setup," Rendor said and nodded to Tatsumaki. Within ten minutes, a robot was sent over to deliver the USB stick.
"You sent a robot?" Siren asked and found herself approached.
"Yes. I figured a more…standard figure other than my voice would be beneficial to you," Metal Knight chuckled from it. The robot moved over to Genos and popped out a tray to reveal the USB stick for him. Genos took it and inserted it into a small section near the back of his neck. His eyes flashed yellow to download the information before removing it and setting it in a leg compartment.
"You didn't put a virus in him, right?" Siren asked.
"Absolutely not!" Metal Knight said.
"Good. If you did, that would have killed my trust," she nodded.
"What do I have to do to show that I mean you and your family no ill intent?" Metal Knight finally asked.
"I got it," she smiled. "What can you see in that will that isn't right?"
"Hmm…" he mused and brought up the document on his end.
"The original will states that it was sent to the correct authorizing agents," Rendor said and pointed it out. "The time stamps are here…"
"The date! The false woman tried to alter the date!" Genos said.
"Of course! The date it was submitted," Metal Knight said.
"So, there is a false document and a real document," Mitsumi said. Saitama was watching everything with a neutral gaze, but he was still curious on it.
"Yes. We have the real one. Genos, can you scan the real one and get it to me?" Metal Knight asked. The cyborg nodded and took out the USB stick to download the information to it and give back to the robot after he glanced over the document Rendor was holding to make a digital copy.
"Okay. You've proven yourself to me," Siren smiled.
"Good," Metal Knight chuckled. "I'll get this information to the correct areas. It will be done first thing on an auto send."
"Thank you," Mitsumi nodded to him with respect.
"Yeah. Was there anything else that fat thing tried to do?" Saitama asked.
"Not that I can tell from what I have seen so far. Genos should have everything now. What is the setup for?" Metal Knight asked.
"Mitsumi is going to perform before the fireworks show," Child Emperor said while setting up his cameras.
"Oh! Siren, I would truly enjoy watching this event with you," Metal Knight chuckled. Siren nodded and went to lead him to a chair, but the robot held out its arms to show she could sit right there. That had her blush, and she was quick to settle down in the robotic arms.
"You have rockets in this?" Siren grinned.
"Only two hundred mini rocket rounds, a machine gun, a few flame throwers, mine placers and electrical shield discharges," Metal Knight said with a bored sigh. "I went easy on this one. It's actually one of my scouts."
"Do I dare ask what your main attack robot is?" she asked to get him laughing softly. Genos chuckled at that and found a seat with Kamiko.
"Good. It's about to start. When it's time for us to go up there, we will," Saitama said and sat down in the cart with Mitsumi. Zenchu had it stationed in front of him with Fumio on one side of him and Saitama's parents on the other.
"You really need to be in there, eh?" Kodama asked.
"I know. After this thing happens with me, I'll be fine. It's just in case something goes wrong," Saitama said. Okada was talking to Tacki about possible furniture upgrades now. Kamikaze had Tacki in his lap, and he was chatting lightly with Bane on what the dojo being built would need.
King and Kianna were sitting together, and she was watching him play his portable game. Rendor reverted back down to human, but Tatsumaki decided to sit in his lap. Fubuki was helping Inichi set up instruments for use in the performance. She even glanced over to see some of her Blizzard Group associates there to nod to them and keep them up to date on current events.
"Super powered monkeys…" Saitama whispered to Mitsumi to get her cracking up softly. She lightly smacked his chest to make him grin at her.
"Glasses, Eyelashes, Mountain Ape and Lily. Please oversee the event," Fubuki said. "Inichi will be focused on keeping the music going for Fan Dancer's performance. It's important that nothing goes wrong."
"Inichi?" Lily asked. She was a hero with long, black hair done up in a ponytail with a light blue streak going from the front bangs in a lock of hair that also went down her back. It was tied up in a white ribbon set with white lily flowers, and she gazed at Fubuki with her bluish purple eyes. Like the others in the group, she was wearing a standard business suit dress.
"Yes. Me," Inichi said and hovered over Fubuki. "My dear, did you not inform them of us?"
"Well…" Fubuki sighed and regarded the group. "Inichi and I decided to become…life partners. He was human once before. We agreed to try dating. It was very successful and still is. In short, we've come to love and respect each other. We decided to cement it and make it slightly official with promise rings."
"You're...in love with a monster?" a large man asked with confusion. He was a bulky hero with a large cleft chin, black hair and large eyebrows.
"Why not?" Inichi countered. "Even Sweet Mask recognizes me as a friend. I no longer wish to do harm to any. I do much to help the Hero Association now."
"Inichi? What's going on?" Mitsumi asked and had Saitama walk over with her. "Is there a problem?"
"I am unsure, Lady Mitsumi. Apparently, my standing with Fubuki is being questioned. I knew it would be," Inichi narrowed his red eyes with black cat pupils at Mountain Ape. "May I transfer him to the middle of the ocean and hope he can swim to shore?"
"What?" Mountain Ape grimaced.
"That's a waste of your strength," Saitama said. "I'll flick his arm for you."
"A flick?" Mountain Ape snorted. "Do it."
"Ah…" Glasses said and tried to interject. He was ignored, and Saitama flicked Mountain Ape's arm. The man screamed with pain, grabbed his arm and rubbed at the spot frantically to soothe it back down.
"Careful! Keep rubbing it like that and you'll chafe!" Zenchu shouted out from where he was sitting. Fubuki hid her face in her coat to die laughing.
"Um…" Lily blushed and covered her face in her hands. Eyelashes cringed and had to force himself to remain composed.
"Really?" Okada looked at Zenchu while her husband was laughing shamelessly at it.
"But it's true…" Zenchu shrugged. Mitsumi was hiding her face in Saitama's chest from laughing so hard.
"Do you have a problem with Inichi and Fubuki?" Saitama asked Eyelashes now. The man stammered to show he simply couldn't respond. "Don't then. It's fine. Okay?"
"Right…" Eyelashes cleared his throat. There were sudden screams at the sight of a dog-like monster running out of the crowd to aim straight at Mitsumi. Saitama punched it up into the air without even blinking.
"That monster went straight for me?!" Mitsumi frowned. Her fans were still out and the blades flicked out before vibrating. "It was a…"
"Secret Skins. Is it dead?" Saitama asked.
"Very," Inichi said on bringing the body back down in a blue bubble for inspection. "Genos, we need the body incinerated."
"Lead me to a place to do it!" Genos said to rise up and take care of it. "Actually, can you take it to Shenjou? Should he eat it?"
"We don't know if their makeup is contagious. I know he did eat one before, but that was after it was revealed. This one simply attacked without being revealed," Inichi said. That got Genos to blink and nod that he was ready to get to work in a discreet area. The bubble followed Genos to a safe place to have the corpse destroyed.
"What happened?" Mitsumi asked. "Inichi, do you know?"
"I was busy listening to morons," Inichi glanced at Mountain Ape. "I was properly distracted. It won't happen again while we are out."
"Two monsters tonight. One we broke free. The other killed on attacking me. Why now?" she asked.
"Because you are out in the open," Saitama said. "Just stay with me. If we lure them out, then fine. I'll punch them out. I'm in no mood for their crap."
"Same," Mitsumi nodded. They watched Genos come back from doing the small chore, and he moved over to Kamiko's side again. The next ten minutes were uneventful, and Tacki was all but tied to Kamikaze's lap to keep from helping them set the stage.
"It's all wrong!" she said. "Please, honey! Please! I need to help them! They know nothing about stage centering! It looks like garbage! I can compare that stage to a script Inichi reads from Sweet Mask!"
"What?!" Kamikaze looked at her and saw Inichi dying with laughter.
"Oh, Inichi, Sweet Mask did have a script in his car. I read it. Don't read it," Siren grinned. Inichi now looked at her and gave a groan of disgust at the news. She whispered to Metal Knight's robot to get him laughing at it all.
"On that note…" Sweet Mask sighed and decided to bring it over. Inichi glared at his friend. Fubuki cringed and shivered with controlled laughter.
"If this is yet another notch on giving me more for my personal mental asylum, I will say no thank you," Inichi said.
"Please?" Sweet Mask asked and gave over the folder.
"I'm going to regret this…" Inichi muttered and flipped the folder open. Now Mitsumi and Saitama looked at him with a touch of eager anticipation. On reading just the first page, he took in a controlled breath of air. "Sweet Mask…"
"Yes?" Sweet Mask asked. He made sure to be sitting down in a chair.
"You gave this to me to make you laugh. Correct?" Inichi asked.
"Possibly…" he admitted.
"Very well. This writer…either they are joking that this is a script, or they need to go back to being a first year to understand how finger painting works!" Inichi growled to get Sweet Mask bursting out with laughter.
"What's the story about?" Siren asked. "I couldn't even tell!"
"It's supposed to be a mystery story. The main mystery is if this writer graduated even a single curriculum about writing!" Inichi scowled out. Sweet Mask was in tears now. Fubuki was almost suffocating in her coat again. Lily was in complete shock over what she was hearing.
"Oh, Inichi. I'm sure you're over-thinking it," Mitsumi said. Now she was shown the script to read. "Hmm. Daiki, did you write this?"
"Nope!" Daiki said quickly to get Himiko laughing and leaning into Zombieman's grinning form.
"Oh," Saitama said on glancing at it. "It looks like it's about an old house? Okay. But…how is it haunted? It's just…an old house. That's all it talks about."
"There is no definite plot! Strike another year for my mental asylum!" Inichi said to get them all laughing. "No discussion on said house history. No backstory. How the house was found. It's just…an old house. Does this house come with a rubber room for my sanity?"
"Inichi!" Fubuki said and coughed for air. "Please!"
"What? My love, I am telling you, I just need Sweet Mask over there to give me an idea. Then we can get a script done. No more idiots! Please!" Inichi said and gave the script back over by smacking Sweet Mask with it.
"Ow!" Sweet Mask said through his laughter and took up the script.
"It behooves me on how you continue to find these…things you call scripts! Absolute disgust!" Inichi sighed hard and looked at Sweet Mask's weakened form from laughing. "I will get you back one day. Mark my words."
"He wants to learn fan dancing from me. Just teach him moves that make him dance like a woman," Mitsumi grinned. Now Inichi mused at that and looked at Sweet Mask's gaping jaw. Now she looked at him and said, "What? Fan dancing is a very feminine form of dance. What more is there to say?"
"Anyways, how much longer until this starts?" Saitama asked.
"I think it's safe to start announcing that it will be starting in ten minutes. Let's get the word out," Sweet Mask said.
"Oh, do we have a microphone that I can wear?" Mitsumi asked.
"Ah! I don't know…" Sweet Mask said. "Why would you need one?"
"Here! Lightning Max found one. I can get it set up fast," Child Emperor said. Two minutes of sound testing had it perfected, and Tatsumaki helped position the lighting. Tacki was finally able to help fix the stage up and return to Kamikaze's side. The instruments were tested and everything was ready. The crowds were quick to draw in and find their seats.
"The fireworks are supposed to be amazing!" Okada beamed. Then she saw Mitsumi and Saitama go on the stage. "What's this?!"
"Thank you all for being here! I am Fan Dancer! This is my eloped husband, Caped Baldy! Enjoy the show!" Mitsumi said through the microphone attached to her costume now.
"Eloped husband?!" a girl asked.
"Oh! I heard her say they got secretly married and still have to do a public one! I hope I get to see it!" a man said. The talk spread like wildfire, and Metal Knight was already sending information to Sweet Mask to get the next Hero Association booklets updated that the marriage was done in secret. It would also be suggested to hint that a public wedding event would be done later.
"Ready?" Mitsumi smiled.
"Yep," Saitama nodded. Inichi started up the violin slowly to start the tune. Mitsumi elegantly danced around Saitama with the fans in the circular sets of ten floating over them. The lights homed in on them to let her silvery dress sparkle with his performance costume. Then she started to sing in tune with the violin. Sweet Mask was in shock. He had no idea that she could sing. The others in her group were excited and screaming with the crowds with heightened energy now.
"Oh!" Himiko gasped with delight.
"She could…do this?!" Daiki gaped.
"Yeah…" Himiko said with tears in her eyes.
"This is one of the best performances I have ever seen," Metal Knight whispered to Siren. She was already agreeing with him. There was complete hushed silence with the occasional cheer at each twirl Saitama gave Mitsumi. Her slight pumps were perfect for keeping balance around him, and her silken sleeves left shimmers and sparkles in their wake with each slight twirl.
Mitsumi's voice got stronger while dancing around Saitama, and she ran a finger over his cheek. Inichi was able to give mental images to him on what to do for dancing with her. At the height of the music, he jumped up into the air with her for the fans to split out into their groups of three to help them hover and splay out in fantastic positions while they twirled together.
Fireworks suddenly went off behind them, and they kept twirling each other in the hovering space of the fans while she sang. The effect was simply stunning. Tatsumaki was even making the fireworks explode in time with the music as an added effect much to Rendor's surprised delight. The fans flicked open and closed with the beat, swirled around the dancing couple and made kaleidoscope images in timed movements with Inichi's tune and the fireworks. The couple landed gently on the stage as the song came to a close for Saitama to twirl her one more time, pull her close and kiss her.
The applause was deafening. The fireworks were still going off now, and the fans continued to swirl around with a form of delight. Mitsumi waved at the crowds before letting Saitama scoop her up and jump off the stage with her.
"That was amazing!" Okada gushed. "And to think I never thought you had any form of talent growing up!"
"Mom!" Saitama gaped at her to get Zenchu dying with laughter. Mitsumi's jaw dropped and she laughed hard at it. "What the hell?!"
"I'm just saying…" she started before seeing Richoo come over with a woman and a young girl.
"Lady Mitsumi!" Richoo said and bowed slightly to her. "Your performance was amazing! We watched in the background. This is my wife and daughter. I wanted you to meet them."
"Oh! Hello! You can stay with my family for as long as you like," Mitsumi beamed at them. She saw the woman was a bit tall with dark brown hair and light green eyes. She was a touch plump, but looked fit enough in the white shirt and black jeans she wore. Sneakers were on her feet to help her walk around.
"Can you teach me how to fan dance?" the young girl asked. She had green eyes, long brown hair and very gentle look to her features in the basic blue dress and shoes she wore.
"I would be delighted to," Mitsumi smiled softly. "I'm having a dojo made to do just that. I'll let everyone know when it's ready."
"That performance was truly stunning," Richoo's wife said. "Also…well…Richoo and I have been talking. We think it may be best for him to stay as he is. I can finally stop cleaning!"
"I don't blame you," Zenchu chuckled.
"I was sort of hoping I could help out in some way, though," she admitted. "You've done so much for my husband and I. You freed him. I honestly thought I lost him. I even saw him change…"
"You saw him?!" Child Emperor said and darted over. "I know you said you wouldn't mind him staying as he is, and that's fine, but I'd like to know what you saw. Can you tell me?"
"Well…I actually kept what changed him," she said and took out a jar of strawberry jam from her purse.
"You had that?" Richoo frowned. "Mia, did you really have it?"
"I did…" she frowned and gave over the jar to Child Emperor.
"I'll study what was in it, okay?" Child Emperor said.
"Tani, we'll let you know when the dojo is ready. It's past your bedtime," Richoo said to his daughter. "Inichi, can you take us back?"
"Of course! Also, Mia, if you wish to repay us, we always need assistance at Neutral Grounds. We could use another greeter or waitress. If you can cook, you could even help prep for Orotsu. We will pay you, too, with full benefits. Worry not. Your help is always appreciated," Inichi chuckled.
"Speaking of help," Fubuki frowned. "Mitsumi, my faction, The Blizzard Group, has some issues getting around. We got a car, but we really need another one. I was just informed this a bit ago. We have one car, but we really need two."
"Pick the car you want. Inichi, get it for them, please," Mitsumi said.
"Why are we helping the super powered monkey club?" Saitama asked.
"Well, I'm part of the stupidly strong hero club," she countered.
"Ah…huh. I got nothing," he blinked at her to get her grinning.
"You're serious?! You'll help us?!" Lily gasped at them.
"Fubuki is family now. So is Tatsumaki. If you need anything at all, just ask me. I insist!" Mitsumi chuckled. "I have a lot of money, anyways. I bought a huge portion of City Z that was abandoned. I still have tons to burn. If you need something, tell me."
"Could we each get a car?!" Glasses asked to get her laughing.
"Don't push your luck," Saitama said. "Her money is also my money now. We'll help you with the basics. In fact, I'll let Inichi make the call on that. He'll judge if the need is real. If it isn't real, he won't allow it."
"That's fine," Fubuki nodded.
"Lady Mitsumi, may I request a personal car for Fubuki, though?" Inichi asked with a small grin. Mitsumi nodded to him and he looked at Fubuki. "Let me surprise you with the car I have in mind."
"Ah…well…um…okay…" Fubuki blushed softly.
"You can call it a small wedding gift to you, hmm?" he chuckled and rested a small hand on her shoulder. "Oh. I still have funds from my human days…"
"Did you want that to become an emergency bank fund?" Mitsumi asked.
"Ah! That could work!" Inichi blinked. "I still recall all the details of it, too. I may even be able to visit my prior apartments. I made so much that I paid the rent off a year in advance. I'll need to transfer things to my new room with Fubuki. The rent is almost due and I can let it pass with an empty apartment for them to inspect. I can work on that tonight."
"Good," Saitama said. Now Richoo looked over and blinked at the red mist that seemed to seethe out from Saitama's form.
"Is it happening again?!" Zenchu asked.
"I saw…a red mist…" Richoo grimaced.
"Home, please! Now! We can handle further discussion there!" Mitsumi said. "Anyone that needs to speak with us can head there."
"Does that include us?" Okada asked.
"I guess…" Saitama rolled his eyes. Before she could berate him for it, Inichi was already transporting Mitsumi, Saitama and Zenchu back to the apartment with the push cart. He may not be changing in his moods, but the power showing now…I believe it is a timer. The moment it's out in full will be the time to show that no one can disturb him for something basic. Ever. At least for three days until it calms back down.
*Author's Note - The music of inspiration for the fan dance can be found on YouTube. It is: Lindsey Stirling - Love Goes On and On feat. Amy Lee of Evanescence*