"First order of business. Food," Saitama said when he appeared with Mitsumi in his arms. They were right outside the main building where they left the event area with Bright Bolt.
"Oh, do we improve your promise ring? Like, turn it into a wedding ring?" Tacki asked when she hopped over to examine their clothes.
"Ah…hmm…I think we could add a diamond to each side," Saitama said and let her look at the ring resembling a fist. He had never taken it off after it was placed on him by Mitsumi. He still had his gloves off, too, to ensure Mitsumi had his direct touch at all times.
"I'll see what I can do when we get home. I can make Lady Mitsumi another ring she can wear resembling circular fans," Tacki grinned and got hugged by Mitsumi. "Of course, she'll still wear the initial one you put on her."
"Sounds good," Saitama nodded.
"Orotsu is expecting these," Inichi chuckled and sent over the two deer carcasses. Shenjou already planned to eat any parts that weren't needed. Wind Crane and Fire Flight became human again to find places to sit down inside. The other monster pets stayed gathered around Saitama and Mitsumi to follow them. Overgrown Rover was held in Mitsumi's arms with Tangled Vine.
"I'm so proud of you!" Okada gushed at Saitama when he walked in. Mitsumi was still carried in his arms, and she hid her large grin at his eye roll.
"Mom…please…" he sighed. "I need to sit down."
"So, what all happened with those older folks?" Kodama frowned.
"I can't talk about it right now…" Mitsumi grimaced. "Let's just say they helped with my torment."
"What?!" Kodama blinked with shock.
"Yeah. Then they wanted money from her to continue it!" Saitama growled and sighed to remove the anger. "Anyways, we'll likely see where their business is and find out exactly what they were doing."
"Darling?" Mitsumi asked softly and got squeezed in response. Overgrown Rover whined and nuzzled into them both when he finally sat down with her in the large chair. With the others seated on the floor to receive their luxurious dinners, Saitama was now able to feed Mitsumi several slices of gently cooked deer and Wagyu beef from an elevated table. Inichi walked into the room with Fubuki and rang a small bell for attention to be given.
"As this is a wedding feast, there is one small tradition," Inichi smiled. "When this bell is rung, the wedding couple should kiss."
"Really?" Mitsumi asked with a small smile.
"It was just rung!" Kamiko giggled. Saitama gave her a small, wry smile before pulling Mitsumi close to kiss her passionately. That got the guys cheering at it with whistles. Then Zenchu waited for Saitama to take a sip of water before moving to the bell to ring it.
"Are you serious?!" Saitama asked him after just barely swallowing the water down. Zenchu died laughing with the others now. "That's not fair! Wind Crane! Peck at him for five full minutes later!"
"I can do that," Wind Crane nodded to get Zenchu staring at her with shock. Everyone still cheered at Saitama to kiss Mitsumi again, and he found himself doing so a bit longer this time.
"Oh! Lady Mitsumi! You need to throw your bouquet! You left it after you signed the document. Can we do that real quick? It won't even be five minutes," Tacki beamed. Himiko looked over at Kianna and Kamiko with amusement. Tajima blinked and got nudged by Akiyama. Iwasaki giggled and looked over at Takeda being ushered out of the kitchen to join them.
"Tatsi is…sleeping?" Rendor blinked at her napping form against him. "May be for the best. She'd just pull it to her."
"Go with them," Tsuruga said to Tanktop Girl with a chuckle. Fubuki rose up to join them, and Saitama looked at Mitsumi with a raised brow.
"Just stand out there with me," Mitsumi smiled.
"I'm not done eating, though…" he frowned.
"It's only five minutes! And I'm sure dessert will be almost ready by the time we're done," Tacki said. "Oh! Before I forget! Lady Mitsumi, come here…"
"What?" she asked and noticed how her fans moved to cover them for privacy. Saitama noticed it was also to keep from being overheard.
"Put this on your leg so Saitama can take it off with his teeth! This is for the guys to catch," Tacki grinned a touch wickedly to reveal a white lace garter belt.
"Ah…what?!" Saitama gaped.
"It's a wedding tradition! Just go with it, okay?" Tacki rolled her eyes and had Mitsumi slip it on her left leg. When it settled up to her thigh to show the dress would have to part nearly all the way up to reveal it, Saitama could only blink with shock. "We won't say anything until the bouquet is caught. Okay?"
"I'm glad you're a pain in Kamikaze's ass and not mine," Saitama grumbled to get Mitsumi dying with laughter.
"Nah! I just keep him on his toes," Tacki beamed and hugged them both. "Come on! Let's do this!"
"We can wait here," Blue Ripple chuckled. Stable Rock yawned and settled under the chair. Bright Bolt nickered happily and tilted his horse-like head at them. Tangled Vine was set in the seat next to Overgrown Rover now to wait patiently for their return. The monster dog was not happy, but Saitama gave a small gesture to stay put.
The fans dispersed, and Saitama carried Mitsumi outside to lead the small flock of girls behind him. They moved to stand where the table was still set, and Tacki handed over the beautiful bouquet. She was set down, and he moved aside. She turned her back to the girls, threw the bouquet over her head and the girls clamored for it.
"I got it!" Lily squeaked and got pounced on with joy by the others. Mitsumi laughed with them and watched Tacki whisper to the girls now to get them laughing hysterically. Tanktop Girl brought a small chair up for Mitsumi to set her leg up on, and the girls rallied the guys soon after.
"No! I don't have to do this!" Kamikaze said.
"You do!" Tacki grinned. "I'm keeping you on your toes. Good luck, honey! I hope you catch it!"
"I suppose…" Inichi chuckled and had to promise to not catch it in mid-air.
"This is unnecessary," Genos said and found himself grimacing at Kamiko pointing at him and then to the area the girls were just at. Garou and Zenchu rolled their eyes at each other, but they ended up joining the others. Even Shenjou got up to show he was going to see how it went.
"Too bad Siren isn't here. She'd love to do this," Kianna sighed.
"I like to watch!" Siren chuckled from the hovering robot. "Metal Knight's sweating over this, anyways."
"Quite true," Metal Knight chuckled with her.
"I'd say Sonic and Hirata should have joined, but they likely have better things to do," Mitsumi smiled. She looked over at the other S class heroes that showed up and were single. "Ah. Quite the crowd?"
"Yeah," Saitama sighed and shook his head. Now he had Mitsumi set her foot on the chair to expose the garter belt. She bent her leg up in an enticing way to have him growl lowly at her with a small grin. He knew she also did it to mildly get the guys riled up. The look he gave her showed that she was in for it later. She made an air kiss at him with a wink.
"No need for us to be out there," Kiyoshi chuckled with Daiki.
"I am totally catching that!" Metal Bat grinned.
"Is it food?" Pig God asked.
"No. It's clothing. Bomb's waiting, though," Bane chuckled.
"Never been part of this before! Pretty neat!" Superalloy Darkshine grinned.
"I was pushed out here," Anno grimaced.
"Not the only one," Sweet Mask chuckled.
"I'll pretend to catch it," Zombieman mused lightly.
"I should sit this out," Tanktop Master said.
"Nope! You're single. You stay," Tsuruga snickered at him.
"I have no clue what's gonna happen," King grimaced.
"Good thing I don't have to be there," Child Emperor grinned from where he watched with Fumio and Black Sperm.
"Interesting," Watchdog said in his neutral way.
"I don't think I'll have a chance to catch it," Sneck sighed.
"Do I have to do this?" Mumen Rider asked.
"You're here. May as well," Kamikaze grunted. Genos shook his head, but he focused on the garter belt. Now the guys whistled when Saitama used his teeth to gently tug the belt off and down Mitsumi's leg. Once it was freed, he took it up and threw it into the mob of anxious men. Genos easily caught it, but then he did a split-second move to shove it into Mumen Rider's hands.
"Did I really catch this?!" the C class hero gaped to get the men laughing.
"Damn! Hopefully you'll find a nice girl! At least that's what they say," Suiryu chuckled to get Mumen Rider looking at him with shock.
"I know what you did," Kamiko said to Genos when he rejoined with her.
"I already have you. I did not need another. Mumen Rider clearly needs someone. Of course, that is if the supposed tales are true," Genos nodded and let her sit in his lap to cuddle into him.
"None of us are single, so I'm keeping this bouquet. And it even has more flowers to make it even better," Lily beamed at Garou when she got pulled close to him. "And it's so pretty!"
"May I see one of those flowers?" Tangled Vine asked from where he was in the large chair. Lily pulled one of the delicate white flowers out to bring over to him, and he studied it intensely. "I…hmm…"
"What is it?" Wind Crane asked.
"I cannot recreate this!" Tangled Vine said. He found himself picked up to be held by Mitsumi before Saitama sat down with Overgrown Rover climbing into their laps. Tangled Vine now looked up at Mitsumi for a reason. She took the white flower to let Lily go back to Garou's side.
"These flowers were made by Wind Crane's egg when she fell and landed. We don't know why they appeared, but they help monsters see reason and lose their instinctive need to attack. All of the ones here have seen the flower first. Then we got their scents not long ago. In fact, it's the same thing you smelled in our guest room here from my fans," Mitsumi said. "Zenchu was the first one to feel the full, intense effects of them when he found me in the field of them. He kept the flower I plucked and gave to him. Then he showed it to Tacki to let her recreate them in silk form."
"I see. These flowers…they are touched by Wind Crane! Likely from when she landed and hatched. I need to examine the soil they were in. I have an interesting theory," Tangled Vine mused.
"And that is?" Wind Crane asked curiously from where she sat with Zenchu.
"If I can make a tree from all of us in the proximity of that field," Tangled Vine said. "I wonder if we can make a type of fruit or blossom that would be exquisite and do other things."
"We do need to build a house by the field," Saitama said.
"Oh! Let me build something like a living tree house!" Tangled Vine blinked at the idea. "That would be better, and I can ensure protection for the field, too. We'll have to work on it the moment we can."
"There's tons of things that we need to work on quickly," Saitama frowned. "Damn. I want my honeymoon. One week. That's what I want."
"No rest for us heroes, eh?" Mitsumi chuckled and got a loving kiss pressed to her mouth. "Let's finish eating, dear."
"Okay," he nodded and rested a hand against her belly before taking in a spoonful of miso soup. "Oh, ah, Metal Knight? Is my house ready for tonight with the gaming setup to watch?"
"Yes! That is all in order. The moment King is ready to play, you shall head there with Mitsumi and Fumio. As well as with any pets you plan to take with you. However, we shall have to do this after we see to the chamber below to protect it. My scanners indicate we have two hours before the meeting is set to occur. We also still have dessert to partake in," Metal Knight said from the hovering robot. Mitsumi nodded with complete understanding with this.
"Sweet Mask, can you tell us who this one was to the Hero Association? You said he was a benefactor of sorts?" Mitsumi asked.
"Yes. He provided about…oh…roughly ten percent of our funding," Sweet Mask sighed. "He also insisted on the best protection he could get at all times."
"Interesting. How many known benefactors do you have?" she asked. Inichi blinked at her idea and coughed to hide a laugh.
"That's a pretty good question…" Sweet Mask frowned.
"I can answer that," Stitch said when he walked over with the four board members. "We receive anonymous donations and funds that provide over seventy percent of the income we need. Neutral Grounds is included in this, but it's also a separate account to draw from as an emergency source. We have nearly twenty known benefactors that willingly give monthly to yearly donations."
"They provide the other thirty percent?" Mitsumi asked calmly.
"Yes…" Stitch said.
"Inichi, can we get the full amount? Then make a bank account to quintuple that to set that into effect for emergency funding?" Mitsumi asked with a small smile. The board members gasped with shock from where they were standing.
"Get me any contract needs," Rendor chuckled.
"You…need…funds…?" Stable Rock grunted.
"No, dear. This is my inheritance. I'm putting it into use. Don't do a thing, okay?" Mitsumi chuckled and scratched under his chin when he leaned his head up to accept some scratching.
"Eh, if he wants to, let him," Saitama said.
"Why?" she asked. Garou snickered with Zenchu at another bantering attack that was about to happen.
"His choice," Saitama nodded.
"Not a valid reason," she frowned.
"Then think of it this way," he said and squeezed her. "With every gem they sell to someone from his shell, it gets sold off in some way. Those gems are still his. He can see through them for us to view. This will help disperse them and get even more funding for the Hero Association to keep from them needing to take from Neutral Grounds."
"Ah! I didn't see it that way!" she gasped with realization.
"And if those gems go into black market hands that are hard to track down…" Bane mused aloud. "A very intense way to reveal things!"
"Hidden espionage at its very best!" Metal Knight seemed to snicker.
"I may as well tell you," Saitama said to Tangled Vine. "I do have a plant. A cactus. Maybe you can look at it later."
"I shall," Tangled Vine nodded and curled his chameleon tail around Mitsumi's arms gently. Kamiko blinked at that and got up to walk over.
"I was wondering if you knew of a charm that was in the shape of a chameleon. It took me over and turned me into a monster. As you can see, we got rid of it, but Saitama had to destroy it. Have you heard of such a thing?" Kamiko asked Tangled Vine. The tiny, powerful plant monster blinked at this and leaned up to sniff her. She showed off her palm from where the charm had burrowed in to take her over, and he sniffed thoroughly.
"Not of my kin, but I know what you speak of. Was it only you?" Tangled Vine asked carefully. "There are others out there, but rarely do they prey on humans. Yours must have been a rogue."
"It was just me. To my knowledge, that is," Kamiko frowned.
"Hmm. Since you were touched by it, I think…yes…" Tangled Vine chuckled. "You are good with healing others?"
"Yes. I was studying medical practices to help treat patients. I am still learning things," Kamiko smiled. Tangled Vine looked at her palm and licked it. She stared in shock at the small, glowing mark he put there.
"In dire need, your touch can mend like plants regenerating wounds. You will be able to cure the most toxic of venom, too. You can also apply such venom, but only to open wounds. So you can heal, and you can also hurt. I would prefer the heal over the hurt, you know," Tangled Vine winked.
"I…don't know…what to say…!" Kamiko said with intense shock.
"You and I can easily work together!" Akiyama beamed at her. The others in the room could only stare and murmur with shocked surprise.
"Can she grow plants, too?" Genos asked when he walked over to support Kamiko's trembling form. "Or just supply and remove toxins?"
"She will always be successful in growing plants. However, they will grow normally. She can tell if a plant is sick or not just by looking at it. She will be an adept farmer and harvester," Tangled Vine chuckled. Mitsumi pet him now to show her intense approval, and he rolled onto his back to get some rewarding belly rubs. Overgrown Rover growled and whined to get the same attention.
"Jealous puppy!" Mitsumi giggled and laughed when it rolled out its tongue at the belly scratches. Saitama looked up when he saw Garou striding past the bell to stealthily ring it.
"Stop that!" he growled to get Garou snickering with the others.
"You don't like kissing me?" Mitsumi asked.
"Never said that. I just don't need to be trained by a bell," he said.
"Well…maybe we can deter this with something more…intense," she mused and traced a finger down his neck.
"You mean…start the wedding night…early…?" he asked with a raised brow before pulling her close to kiss her passionately.
"Not in front of us!" Okada said quickly.
"It wouldn't be in front of anyone," Saitama smirked and gestured to the fans. "They'd hide us."
"Well, kissing like this only builds up the fun, too, eh?" Mitsumi chuckled and got another kiss pressed to her mouth. He sighed and rested his hand on her belly before glancing over at the massive, seven-tiered wedding cake that rolled in on a small table. Anno and Takeda did the finishing touches and gestured to the serving cake knife. Mitsumi blinked and said, "Ah! We get to cut the first slice!"
"I suppose," Saitama chuckled and had the pets move off them carefully. He studied the pristine white cake with decorated floral blossoms and edible silvery glitter. Having her put her hand over his, they were able to cut out a decent slice to share. The cake was a rich vanilla crème with raspberry tart layered filling. Setting the slice on a plate, he glanced over at Zenchu making a gesture to shove it in Mitsumi's face. "No. I won't do that. You can do it to Wind Crane."
"Do what to me?" Wind Crane asked Zenchu to get him grinning at her.
"Hmm. Maybe I should do that with Daiki…" Mitsumi mused to get her brother stuttering with shock. Himiko coughed out her laughter and shook her head. Then she gave a small glare at Zombieman's amused grin.
"After eating, we should have a small dance session," Kodama chuckled.
"Only if I am the one dancing with Mitsumi," Saitama said flatly. "Her body goes nuts if I can't touch her directly."
"Even a three minute song?" Superalloy asked.
"I'm not chancing it," Saitama said and guided Mitsumi back to their seat. "I'll dance with her as a small performance dance. But I can't let her dance with any others. I don't know how she'll react to others touching her."
"Why should that matter?" Mitsumi asked.
"I just…a feeling. Family is okay. Friends are okay. But others? I don't know. And I don't want to test it," he said with a serious, neutral stare.
"Sounds like instinctive talk," Rendor frowned. "I'd go with what he says."
"But if we don't know for sure…" she shrugged.
"Okay. Let's eat our cake. Then we'll test," Saitama grimaced. "Tanktop Master. You'll help with the test."
"Not Mumen Rider? Or someone else?" Tanktop Master frowned.
"Mumen Rider caught that thing. He's immune to this test," Saitama smirked to get the S class hero gaping with shock. Mumen Rider seemed to sigh with intense relief at this. "You've also hung out with us. Do you see Mitsumi as a little sister?"
"Ah…not really. I do respect her, though," Tanktop Master said. Mitsumi set the plate with the cake slice aside and rose up from Saitama's lap.
"Let's try this now so I don't get sick. If it happens," Mitsumi said calmly. Saitama was clearly not happy.
"Fine. I can't let you go for over five minutes. We know this," Saitama nodded and looked at Tanktop Master. "Just hug her lightly and treat her like a cousin. Nothing else."
"Okay," Tanktop Master nodded.
"Hmm…" Garou frowned. Bane looked at Bomb with a small shrug. Rendor was still holding Tatsumaki's resting form, but he saw Zenchu ready to intervene if he absolutely had to.
"This may not bode well…" Inichi frowned and let Fubuki lean into him. Tanktop Master stood up and gave Mitsumi a polite nod of respect before letting her slip a hand in his. Then he was able to give her a small hug to show that all was well. After a minute, she gasped and cringed before yanking herself away to nearly fall into Saitama's arms with a form of shock.
"What happened?!" Saitama asked and let her cling to him.
"Not right…his touch…can't focus…!" she grimaced and burst into tears.
"The child within her is ruthless," Fire Flight frowned from where she sat with Shenjou. "He will not allow any others so close."
"So, my son is the cause?" Saitama asked carefully.
"Yes. He sent a spike of anger through her. Only you, his true father, may touch his mother for prolonged time. Small sessions under a minute by others unknown are tolerable. Any other time? You must be close," Fire Flight said from what she sensed. Saitama had already carried Mitsumi to their chair to let her sit in his lap to be consoled. He pressed his hand directly to her belly to soothe the irritated fetus completely.
"I cannot sense a growing child. But her mind is…torn apart," Inichi frowned on what he sensed. "It's as though the child mildly takes over to show how important things can be. To a point."
"How can an unborn child be like this?" Bomb asked. "And so early in development as well?"
"Because of the power in me," Saitama said and took up the cake plate. "My power had me berserk when I wasn't with Mitsumi for three days. It was absolute hell. She was the only one able to keep me calm and focused. Now it's what I have to do for her. For nine months."
"Can you still do missions?" the first board member asked.
"I probably can. I only have a five minute window. Ten minutes is the absolute limit, though. She goes through hell if I'm not there after ten minutes. The girls witnessed it from the hot springs. I just can't take my time on long missions without her. So, if you need something done fast, she comes with me. I get it done. Then I go home with her. If you need things drawn out, don't get me," Saitama said sternly.
"Yep. And he can still berserk out if push comes to shove," Zenchu nodded.
"Speaking of taking time on a mission, was Drive Knight able to get any information on his current mission? Or is that still being worked on?" Mitsumi asked and got fed a slice of the elegant and rich vanilla cake.
"He's been in touch with us here and there. He's been…tailing some intense figures. He keeps things brief, but he is gaining some intricate information," the second board member said and accepted his cake slice.
"Who…is…this…?" Stable Rock asked with a curious tilt of his head.
"I shall inform you," Inichi said and mentally gave over all the details. Stable Rock snorted and thought hard.
"He…risks….much…" he mused.
"Sometimes too much for the sake of others. Even risking the safety others just to get a job done," Genos muttered and took in a mouthful of his cake slice. Stable Rock looked over at him to peer into his memories before getting up to lumber over in front of Genos. Then he sat down to show he wanted to talk.
"Take…this…" Stable Rock grunted and shed off an ice blue sapphire to fall on the ground. Genos blinked at this and picked it up to study it. "Follow…me…"
"What are you up to?" Blue Ripple mused. Then he paused with recollection. "Wait…you're not going to call him now! Are you?!"
"You know…my plan…?" Stable Rock chuckled.
"How is he able to call others so quickly?" Saitama asked.
"Due to his age, you could say he's a bit of our leader," Bright Bolt nodded. "We don't follow each other, but we listen when he calls us. It's intense respect."
"If he called for me, I know I would have listened," Fire Flight chuckled.
"I can understand that," Bane agreed. "But…what's going on?"
"We need…the help…of another…" Stable Rock snorted. "Fire Flight…you know…who…"
"Not that one! He irritates me!" Fire Flight growled.
"He is…needed…now…" Stable Rock said calmly.
"Are you summoning another GOD monster?!" Saitama gaped.
"Yes…" Stable Rock nodded. "A brother…of sorts…to…Blue Ripple…"
"I do not need to speak with that one. He's worse than Bright Bolt in attitude," Blue Ripple grumbled and moved to get snuggled by Mitsumi. "We look nothing alike, too. Leave him out of our affairs."
"Can you…make…ice?" Stable Rock asked now.
"Well…if Bright Bolt helps…and if Fire Flight and Wind Crane get the right temperature…" Blue Ripple mumbled out from the snuggling he got.
"So…this is a GOD monster of ice?" Kamikaze asked.
"Oh! Would he have helped make a weapon?" Tacki asked.
"No. Different…powers…" Stable Rock said and looked at Genos. "Come. Follow…me…now."
"Why do I need to assist?" Genos asked.
"Trust me…please…" Stable Rock said.
"Genos…" Kamiko grimaced. Genos stood up and pressed a kiss on her forehead before moving to follow Stable Rock.
"Wind Crane…come…for safety…" the powerful earth monster said.
"You want to…!" Wind Crane gasped at what was mentally asked of her. "I shall become my monster self for this! Zenchu, stay here. Keep Kamiko calmed. Genos…he may need you to recreate the need for you to overload with heat…"
"What?!" Fubuki gasped and rose up with concern. "I helped him before with that! It nearly killed me!"
"I can handle his safety. I can bring forth chilling winds," Wind Crane said gently. "The one we need to call can help do things far faster with the chilling touch of cold, but only if intense needs and measures are met. First, we will see if he will respond to calling by Stable Rock. Only if it is ignored will we take the intense step of summoning."
"Why the sapphire?" Genos asked.
"You will…see…" Stable Rock said and had Genos move to the middle of the outside area. Saitama and Mitsumi were able to watch lightly from where they sat, and they were both highly concerned.
"Don't let him get hurt too much. That'll stress out Mitsumi and I'll get pissed," Saitama warned. Stable Rock turned to look at him and wink a glowing amber eye in complete knowing.
"Ready…?" Stable Rock asked Genos.
"Not really, but I suppose one never is," Genos admitted.
"Truth…" Stable Rock snorted and focused to call. The air suddenly spiked in a chilling wrath. Breath was easily seen in the air when a bright blue, flashing sparkle lit the place up to reveal a small, child-like creature standing before them. The child looked like a boy, had crystalline hair that was spiked up all over, and he resembled a clear piece of blue glass. He seemed to flick a tail with a tuft of icicles, and he regarded Stable Rock curiously.
"Why did you call, Old One?" the ice monster asked and crossed his arms over his chest. His ethereal voice sounded like crackling ice over water at various peaks in pitch, and he blinked his glowing ice blue eyes. He even had a set of small horns at the top of his forehead, and he tilted his head curiously. Then he looked around and blinked at Wind Crane. Then he saw Bright Bolt trot out to chuckle at him.
"We need…your…help…now…" Stable Rock grunted.
"Why? You clearly have many here," the monster frowned. "I was curious on why so much power was here, too…"
"Just shut up and join us, Cold Snap!" Blue Ripple growled when he was forced to walk out to meet him. "The prophecy is apparent soon."
"Blue Ripple?! Ah…no way!" Cold Snap blinked with shock.
"He's right. I still have my part to play," Tangled Vine said when he trotted out with a sigh. Fire Flight soon walked out and nodded to Wind Crane to become their monster selves. Then they both settled to show importance and neutrality.
"We are pets to the one that needs us. Except for little sister, Wind Crane. She claimed that one as her daughter. In our human forms, we see her as family. As irritating as it is for you to be in my presence, there is not much choice to be had," Fire Flight sighed. Then she turned and saw Mitsumi walking out with Saitama. Overgrown Rover was in her arms, and Saitama led Mitsumi up to the ice monster. She smiled warmly now.
"Hello! I'm Mitsumi. It's nice to meet you!" she beamed.
"You're not scared of me?!" Cold Snap blinked.
"Why?" she frowned. "I don't get scared unless I'm heavily tormented."
"Why would anyone…?" the monster frowned and blinked at Inichi's offer of mental explanation. After five minutes of information, Cold Snap seemed to shiver with explosive rage. "It looks like I need to freeze something solid…!"
"Nah. I'll punch them first," Saitama said. "And, eh…your name is Cold Snap? That's pretty neat!"
"Oh! Ah…thanks?" Cold Snap blinked and gave a small grin.
"Smell this!" Mitsumi smiled and let a perfumed crane fan set swirl around the ice monster. He seemed to pause with a sense of dazed confusion now.
"That's…different…" he said on coming around. "Why do I feel so…calm? That's just…I mean…"
"Is it safe to give you a hug?" Mitsumi asked with a small chuckle.
"A what?!" Cold Snap blinked at her. Then he paused again when she put her arms around him to hug him gently. He found himself hugging her back and shivering from the emotions that hit him.
"Do you feel better now?" she asked gently.
"Feel…better…?" he asked and blinked when his voice lost its ethereal tone. "This just feels…so weird…like…I like it…and not in a bad way…"
"You don't have an animal form like they do?" Saitama asked and rested his hands on Mitsumi's shoulders.
"Eh…I do. I rarely become it. I'm small enough, anyways," Cold Snap said with a shrug and rested his head against Mitsumi's neck. "I don't chill you?"
"Fire Flight made me immune to cold," Mitsumi chuckled. "I do need to be careful of this dress, though. It's my wedding dress."
"Wedding dress?" Cold Snap asked. Inichi was quick to help give mental information once again. "Oh. I guess I have a lot of catching up to do."
"How old are you?" Saitama asked.
"Um…I think…I'm about…fifteen hundred years? A bit older than Blue Ripple. But since we have the same elements in different forms, we're kinda…distant in relation. I think. Stable Rock calls us brothers," Cold Snap chuckled. "I just see him as an annoyance."
"You try to freeze me in place!" Blue Ripple growled and charged over to huff with intense dislike.
"Easy now," Mitsumi soothed and got him purring with a hand running over his neck. "Everything will be fine. Okay?"
"Eh…I hope so…" Blue Ripple sighed and enjoyed cuddling into her.
"So, what's with you?" Cold Snap asked Genos.
"I am unsure. I was asked to come over with this," Genos said and showed off the ice blue sapphire. Cold Snap looked at Stable Rock now.
"Charge it…with…ice…" Stable Rock said lightly. "This one…heat…can hurt…and kill…easy…"
"Oh! I can do that," Cold Snap grinned and took the gem to focus on it. It began to glow an intensely bright blue in color. "There. I put in three charges. When you need it, use it. Just hold it against where you need it. It will nullify any heat up to a volcano full of lava. You can also use one of the charges to call on me directly. Just nothing stupid."
"Ah! You have my intense thanks!" Genos said and secured the gem in leg compartment. "This will definitely save my life."
"Can you all make gems like that?" Mitsumi asked.
"Hmm…" Stable Rock mused. "Later…"
"We can work something in for sure!" Bright Bolt nodded. He turned to see Imai rushing out with urgency to meet with them.
"I know you all have dessert to finish, but that car just showed up! I need to try and stop him as I always do. But…you need to set a trap now!" Imai grimaced.
"Saitama!" Mitsumi said with a sharp nod to show clan needs had to be done. Saitama narrowed his eyes and nodded back.
"Let's go. Genos, have everyone stay here. Only monsters should join us for safety until we know what's up. But I won't object to heroes blocking the way out," Saitama said. "We know it's a Secret Skins. We don't know how strong."
"Of course, Master Saitama!" Genos nodded and was quick to see to the others. Stable Rock grunted and looked at the others there.
"I shall…take us…into…the earth…" he chuckled. Before Wind Crane could ask, he simply teleported them all into the chamber below. He knew the trap had to be set. He already had ideas in mind.