Mitsumi and Saitama had gone straight into the bedroom to help him regain control of himself. Then they were on their couch to lounge on it in basic clothes. He was wearing shorts, but left his shirt off for her. She was wearing a crop top shirt, a short skirt with her undergarments and had her hair loosened around her.
"We didn't stay for the full fireworks performance. Did we?" she sighed and snuggled into him.
"We were the performance," Saitama smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Did you both want…something…?" Zenchu started and blinked at the red haze that radiated from Saitama's form. When the bald man looked at him, he saw a fiery glow emit from his eyes before everything vanished to normal. "Shit!"
"What?!" Saitama asked.
"You keep…radiating that crap! It really does scare the shit out of me!" Zenchu winced. Mitsumi frowned and looked at Saitama.
"You don't feel any different, though. Right?" she asked.
"I don't. No fiery tinge or anything. I don't know what to say," he shrugged. "I have a feeling that I'll know when it really hits. Right now, it's like…preparing. I guess. I honestly don't know what else to say."
"Zenchu, you know that Saitama would never hurt you. It wouldn't even be intentional, either," Mitsumi frowned sadly.
"Lady Mitsumi, I know," Zenchu said and sat by them now to explain what he felt. "It's an…instinctive fear. I know, as much as Saitama threatens me out of humoring you, he would never hurt me. I completely trust him. He gave us a chance to finally live our lives! Freed you from your torment that none of us could touch! That red haze…it's a primal power. Something I've never seen before. There's no end to it, either. And, Saitama, I know this for a fact."
"What's that?" Saitama asked.
"The moment everyone can see that power from you…" Zenchu said slowly to ensure he was fully heard. "I know that you can't leave your bedroom. I mentioned this to Inichi, but…Saitama, would it be possible for him to gently break into your thoughts to carefully relay information? Such as, if there is a phone call, or if you need meals…?"
"Hmm. That…should be okay," Saitama nodded. "Have him mentally reach me first. Oh! An experiment. I need Inichi here real quick."
"Oh…he's hesitating…" Zenchu seemed to say with a touch of surprise. "But he understands the importance of what you want to try."
"What is it?" Mitsumi asked.
"I want him to try and reach my thoughts with that red crap around me," Saitama said. "To see if it's even possible. Because if he can't reach me, then only physical means will have to be done."
"Oh…" Mitsumi said. "If he can't reach you, then he can reach me."
"We'll see if he can," Saitama said and looked at the doorway when Inichi floated in. Fubuki was also with him to keep him calm.
"We need to see if that red glow comes around you first. As you have no control over it, I shall remain here until it is done. Others are ready to come home, but I am having them wait ten minutes. Ah! The glow!" Inichi seemed to gasp at the red haze seen around Saitama now.
"I don't see anything," Mitsumi frowned.
"I don't, either," Fubuki said. "I know Bane saw it. And Zombieman. But I thought I saw it before! Inichi, quick! Before it fades out and you can't see it!"
"Right!" Inichi nodded and focused. :Can you hear me?:
:Barely.: Saitama frowned. :It feels like…you're drowned out. Kinda. I wonder. Are you able to bridge Mitsumi and I in together to hear you?:
:I have never done a three-way conversation! I know I reached out to multiples, but never had them reach out to me for full mental conversations to each other. Let me try…: Inichi focused a bit more.
:I can hear you clearly!: Mitsumi said.
:I can hear you through her now.: Saitama said. :This may be how to reach me to advise me on what's going on with this red crap. She can assure that it's you and that won't piss me off.:
:Excellent! It's a touch draining on me, but only because I never did this before. I shall practice with those that wish to try.: Inichi said and breathed a sigh of relief. "I am able to reach him if I include Lady Mitsumi in my mental conversation. She can help him be heard by me. He cannot hear me with the red haze coming out. He says I sound…drowned out."
"At least there is a way to reach out to him," Zenchu nodded. Saitama nodded and yawned. Then he looked over to see his mother walking in with his father. He waved at them and watched Orotsu stride in with Suiryu. Fumio came in after them and hugged his parents before moving to sit down. Zombieman and Himiko walked in to settle on a couch and nod to them all.
"I saw the fireworks at a distance. That was awesome!" Suiryu grinned.
"You could have sat with us," Mitsumi said.
"Nah. I did enough today. I caught Sonic watching, too. After that dog-thing attacked you, he was quick to search around to find anything else about it. He did find something…" Suiryu grimaced. "He wanted me to show you."
"What is it?" Saitama asked. Now he paused at the sight of the shed human skin that was brought out of a plastic carry bag. "That's disgusting."
"Wait…stretch the face out," Mitsumi said. Suiryu did just that and she gasped. "It was that guy that said he wanted me to be his wife!"
"I bet your fans did not do anything due to the populace around us," Inichi grimaced. "I sent him off to City W, but he likely came back right away. As I said, I was distracted by morons. I wonder, though. How did the skin peel away?"
"Good question," Zenchu said and stood up to take the human skin from Suiryu to examine it. "The back. They wore it like a one-piece suit. Look."
"What does the inside look like?" Fubuki asked. Zenchu turned it inside out to show no veins or blood. "It's like…leather! That's…ugh…"
"I shall have Genos incinerate this! Wait. What's that?!" Inichi asked and pointed at a small, circular lump in the skin. "Why does that remind me of the monster that infected Kamiko's palm…?"
"We need to see what it is. Outside," Saitama said. "Mom. Dad. Stay here. I don't want this thing to go after either of you. You too, Fumio. Stay put. Zenchu, I need a shirt, please."
"Oh! We'll stay here," Okada nodded. Kodama frowned, but he was letting his son take care of it. Fumio frowned, but he nodded to show he would obey what his dad said. Zombieman narrowed his eyes, but he refused to let Himiko leave to check it out, too.
"Stay behind me," Saitama said to Mitsumi and kissed her forehead. She nodded and got carried outside with him. Zenchu handed Saitama a blue zipper shirt to put on and he was right behind them with Inichi and Fubuki. They saw Genos and Kamiko at the place where the fire pit was. They were shown the human skin and the odd lump. Kamiko grimaced and got pulled behind Genos.
"Stay back," Genos warned her. She only nodded and watched Zenchu reveal a claw to cut the lump out.
"Meep!" the tiny little monster squeaked when it was revealed. It looked like a small burrowing crab, and its legs were small drills to get into any form of skin. Inichi safely bubbled it and brought it over to Saitama.
"You can talk. We killed the main monster that lived in that skin. We normally cut up and incinerate every bit of skin we find. So, you're the first one that we found alive. What are you?" Saitama asked.
"No tell!" the tiny monster squeaked out. Now Wind Crane appeared to glare at it. The little monster panicked.
"You're a seed. Aren't you?" Inichi mused. Now the monster struggled and failed to flee. "You are formed…from a higher monster. You are not a true monster cell, but you give a monster form in exchange for living in the skin. You keep the skin safe and alive until the monster can return. Interesting. So, the Secret Skins are two monsters. The changed human and the living skin to cover it. Makes sense now. Doesn't it?"
"We killed the host that lived in the skin. Now we see how the skin is wearable after the host is killed," Genos frowned. "It is much like Kamiko's situation, but that charm monster fully changed her into its likeness. This one likely grants a random form. Of course, you cut up the skin, you kill the seed. And I do incinerate everything, anyways. It all ends up dead."
"Who made you?" Saitama asked. Then the red haze came off his form with a dull, flickering fiery light from his eyes before vanishing. No one but the small monster saw it. It shrieked and panicked like mad.
"Lady Mitsumi, this thing came from your false mother," Inichi growled. Now Mitsumi studied it a bit more and made a connection from how it was trying to jump away in mid-air.
"You're a little flea, aren't you?" Mitsumi asked.
"Not flea!" the monster hissed out. "Strong monster! Not flea!"
"Ooooh. Lady Mitsumi, you struck a nerve," Zenchu grinned. "It's a pest. A little jumping bug that bites and feeds off others like a flea. Isn't it?"
"NO!" the monster spat in its tiny voice. "NOT FLEA!"
"But you are. You are a parasite," Mitsumi said. "You live in a host. Give the host powers. Feed off the host to live. Much like that snake bracelet that was given to me. A nasty, vile, parasitic bug in the form of a monster. Saitama, I would like you and Shenjou to test something."
"Shenjou…? Oh! See if it can take a venom bath?" Saitama asked.
"Yes. A repellent made from a monster to kill monsters," she nodded. Shenjou was already quick to appear when called for, and Masaki was also there with him. Saitama looked at Inichi now.
"Can you bubble a drop of his venom and merge it with the bug bubble? It may be easier than me trying to poke at it," Saitama asked. The monster was hissing with rage at how it kept getting referred to as a lowly insect. At the sight of a small drop of clear venom being brought over and merged into the small bubble it was in, the monster was puzzled. When the venom touched one of the legs, it screamed with absolute horror from the pain.
"Venom can easily kill it," Inichi smirked and forced the two together. The small monster melted and seemed to evaporate within the small drop. "Genos, shall we have you incinerate this?"
"Of course!" Genos nodded and moved to face the spent fire pit. Inichi dropped the small glob, and it landed within the hellish flames of Genos's flamethrowers to get completely destroyed. The old skin was soon added to the destructive flame to reduce it to solid ash.
"What was that?!" Flashy Flash asked when he strode over. "I was going to congratulate you on that stunning fireworks performance, but I found myself listening in from a distance instead!"
"It's the cause of what makes a Secret Skins monster," Inichi said and showed him the whole thing. Flashy Flash was thoroughly disgusted. Now the event was shared with those that needed to know.
:Absolutely horrific! If any of these discarded skins are found, they shall be discreetly sent to you for examination and destruction!: Sweet Mask vowed.
:I thank you for that.: Inichi said with a mental nod.
:Also…I would like to thank Fan Dancer properly for her performance. Simply stunning! What would you recommend?: Sweet Mask asked.
:You call her, thank her and leave it at that. No gifts. Trust me. Mr. Saitama is fast approaching his time to be alone with her. His power…I saw it emanate from him. Others are seeing it, too. He will be VERY dangerous when it finally comes about. If he feels his bond with her is threatened, I have no doubts in my mind that he will hunt down the one he feels is responsible. And he will find that one. I do not want to know the outcome of such a meeting.: Inichi said with grave warning. Sweet Mask was stunned.
:How can one emanate such power?!: he asked.
:I know I'm going to regret something from you once again. Do you have another script I can look at? As a way to scapegoat why you are coming by to see such a thing for yourself?: Inichi asked.
:No, but…ah! Daiki wanted to stop by to visit. Himiko and Zombieman already left. I believe they are there now, come to think of it. I can bring him with me, and Himiko can travel home with him through you if she chooses. Will that work?: Sweet Mask asked. Inichi confirmed this, and dropped the conversation. Inichi now turned to see Flashy Flash staring with a form of horror at Saitama.
"Eh…you see that red crap, too?" Saitama frowned lightly.
"What…is that…?!" Flashy Flash gaped.
"His inner power," Mitsumi said and nuzzled into Saitama's neck. "I have no fear of him at all. I can't even see it. I…feel like I'm immune to him like that. But others? You see the result."
"Immune to me? Huh! I never thought of it like that! However, I'm going to try something," Saitama mused and gave out a whistle. The fans were quick to come over and swirl around him now. Mitsumi was given control of the eleventh fan set, and Saitama grabbed her to jump up into the air with her. Inichi blinked at Saitama's idea and gave a mass call to the family to come forward now and sit around them.
Wind Crane watched curiously and sat down. Zenchu moved to lightly lean against her. Genos looked over and gestured to Kamikaze, Tacki, King, Kianna, Rendor and Tatsumaki to approach silently. Siren soon showed up with Metal Knight's robot to settle with them. Flashy Flash was gestured over to them and to find a seat. Bane was even asked to appear, and Inichi was able to bring him to settle next to Kamikaze. Child Emperor nudged Inichi after that to get brought over and settled to sit by Siren and Metal Knight's robot with full curiosity.
"What's going on?" Tsuruga asked. Shenjou was able to sit down and shrug. Masaki and Grigos now fully approached to see what was happening. Zip was even gently called over by Inichi to sit with them to start being a full part of the family, and Tacki was quick to start making friends with him with Kianna.
"Why are we going outside?" Okada asked when Fumio gestured for his grandparents to step outside. Himiko and Zombieman were quick to follow and settle to watch from the apartment banisters. Even Orotsu and Suiryu settled along the banister to watch and found Lightning Max standing with them. Sonic was watching from a distant rooftop. There was an odd tension in the air that was nearly stifling with a form of unexpected excitement.
"Not sure yet, but Dad's testing something with Mom," Fumio said. "Inichi told us we had to see this to know what to look for. That it's important."
"Hey! We wanted to…" Daiki said when he strode up with Sweet Mask from the sleek car that was parked nearby.
"Quiet!" Fubuki said and warned them to stop. "Come here and sit by Flashy Flash. Something…I don't know what…but something's happening."
"Oh?" Sweet Mask asked. Now he saw Saitama calling forth the inner power that was building up within him.
"What are you doing, love?" Mitsumi asked.
"It's too soon…" Saitama muttered. "You're not ready yet. I know this. I have this feeling that heroes shouldn't be seeing this come from me yet. Even monsters. I have to burn out some of this excess power. That means punching with your fans. We'll focus south of us. Okay? Towards that desert and the ocean. Move behind me. I know your fans will keep us hovering at a safe level."
"Are you sure?" she asked. He kissed her passionately and had her move behind him. He focused even more to call out what he felt he had to get rid of. A dark red, fiery aura now emanated from him. The pupils in his eyes were like smoldering, flickering coals on doing this, and her fans were quick to charge up on this intricate power. She couldn't see the power, but she felt it. It was intense. She nodded and kept her face stern. She knew he would never hurt her. He screamed as he punched with all he had, and the fans let out a blast of the raw energy now.
Metal Knight had decided right then and there that no machine he could ever build would measure this punch. Sweet Mask's face went dead white at the sheer destructive power that was now unleashed with an unbridled fury.
"Tacki. Don't you dare suggest to have me use my swords with his punch after this," Kamikaze muttered to her. She looked at him, but she found herself nodding with agreement now.
"What…the fuck…?!" Garou whispered to himself from what he saw from where he was hidden. Even Sonic saw that every building that was over ten stories tall was simply leveled down to the tenth floor from the path of the insane punch. There is nothing left of them! Not even a trace of rubble! And the path is over a quarter of a mile wide! How long does it travel for?! Do I even want to know?!
"He should be rank 1 in our class," Genos muttered.
"That was only excess energy that he had to burn off," Inichi said.
"What?!" Fubuki gaped. "That's…just an excess?!"
"Yes. He knew he had to get rid of it somehow. It feels…calmer around him now. He may have to do this once a day until he knows it is time," Inichi seemed to shrug.
"Himiko, let's move to another planet," Zombieman said to get her cringing with agreeable laughter.
"Saitama?" Mitsumi asked softly.
"I'm okay. I actually feel better, too," Saitama chuckled and turned within the circle of fans to pull her close and plant a long, loving kiss on her mouth. Then he looked around and blinked at the crowd. "Oh. Hey."
"Are you really my son?!" Okada asked to get his father laughing.
"Yeah, Mom. I am," Saitama sighed and rolled his eyes. "I told you. I'm stupid strong right now. I just had to burn off some excess energy. I think. I'm good for now."
"That was excess?!" Flashy Flash asked.
"Oh. You're here, too. Okay…" Saitama said with a neutral look at him.
"Mitsumi, don't you dare let anyone tell you to leave his side," Daiki said from where he was sitting with Sweet Mask.
"Oh! It looks like we had an audience," Mitsumi chuckled.
"Saitama, forget I ever asked to try and measure the power of your punch," Metal Knight said from his robot. Siren laughed at this and shook her head.
"Do you feel weak?" Child Emperor asked.
"Nope. That was excess that I had to get rid of. I'm fine," Saitama shrugged. Then he glanced at Mitsumi when she played with the zipper on his shirt. "You know…you're going to have me burn off even more energy just by doing this…"
"And…?" she mused. "Where would the problem be with that?"
"Get your fans to cover us," he growled and kissed her possessively just as the fans around them formed a perfect ball to cover and conceal any noises. Inichi found himself laughing with pure amusement.
"She played with his zipper," Zenchu sighed and chuckled. Wind Crane clapped her beak with agreement.
"What does this mean with his power?" Zip asked.
"It means you should be glad we are his allies," Tsuruga chuckled.
"That power rivals yours, Tatsi," Rendor said and squeeze her. "He can do physically what you can do mentally. I'm glad you're with me, though."
"Eh…he can have Mitsumi. I want you around," Tatsumaki said and leaned into Rendor's chest. "Did you like the fireworks?"
"What you did was amazing," Rendor chuckled and kissed her. She whispered to him to get him stuttering at her. "Ah…um…"
"Now," she said and lifted them both to head to their room.
"I guess I'll see you all in the morning!" Rendor said. Zenchu died laughing at it. Sweet Mask still couldn't believe what he witnessed. When his phone rang, he had to stand up and walk off to calm down the moderators of the Hero Association that caught the energy imprint on their scanners. He explained what it was. They were in fits of excitement and awe. Then they sent him a satellite view of what the punch did. He went dead silent that the path made went straight through the southern land and breached out to the center of the ocean. Even the clouds were evaporated away!
"Think we should head off to bed?" Mitsumi whispered within the fan bubble and gasped when Saitama ran his mouth over her neck.
"My parents are still here. Until they leave, I don't think we can," he grunted and locked her to him a bit more to hear her cry out from it. When he started to hear sounds of concern, he gave out a growl and glared at where the sound was coming from without having the fans move. The voice quickly stopped with a sharp gasp of shock at the sensation of the glare before he went back to focusing on Mitsumi.
When it happened again, Saitama tensed with irritation. It was when Mitsumi looked at him and nuzzled him gently that he calmed down. "Love, should we do any traveling? With the way you are…it makes me think your power is in control. What's going on?"
"It's not in control. I'm just…annoyed at the disturbances. I think…okay. Restaurant only for the next few days. Even then, just a few hours at a time. The moment I start feeling needy we need to go. Maybe return after. It's gonna be a bit touchy on my moods," he sighed.
"I can tell. Can I tell others that you're on your cycle if they ask what's wrong?" she grinned. Now he looked at her with his usual blank look to show he was not amused to get her laughing hard at it.
"That's not funny," he said to get her laughing even more. "Shut up! I mean it! Don't you even think of it!"
"Darling," she crooned to make him shiver at the sound. "Listen to me. Are you listening?"
"Yeah…" he nodded and trembled at how her hand moved to gently caress his jaw to lift his face to hers.
"I love you," she said softly. "Don't let those others out there get to you. Within two weeks…I know…we've said this a lot to each other! But within two weeks, Saitama…I got married to my hero. To the man that saved my life. No one else will ever come close to you. As you repeat things to me, I'll gladly repeat these things to you."
"I love you, too, Mitsumi. I just…" he faltered before looking at her. "I take you as my wife."
"I accept you as my husband," she breathed and let him give her a fiery kiss before claiming her again. Only after that did he finally feel calm enough to let her move from him.
"Okay. Let's get the others to go away so I can take you to bed," he muttered and smirked at her small giggle. They fixed up their clothes, he pulled her into his arms to carry her and the fans finally dispersed to lower them to the ground. "Why is everyone still here?"
"Just making sure you're well," Bane chuckled.
"That beam! Wow!" Child Emperor said.
"Yeah…don't use my swords with your punch. Okay?" Kamikaze said to get Mitsumi giggling softly.
"Caped Baldy," Sweet Mask said and walked over to him.
"What?" Saitama asked. Mitsumi studied Sweet Mask and realized that he was very nervous.
"The Hero Association was able to track that punch from orbit. It was out over the ocean when it ended," he said.
"Okay. That's cool," Saitama said.
"And he's only rank 3?!" Genos argued.
"I know!" Sweet Mask said.
"I'm fine with it. Leave me where I am, please. I want to have Mitsumi right under me at all times. Don't make me any higher," Saitama said. "Besides, it was her fans that attacked with me to disperse the power. They amplified my attack. Remember the Eye of the Meteor? Both her and Wind Crane worked with me. Leave me at rank 3."
"That's right!" Sweet Mask realized. "Okay. You're right. It was the sheer destruction of what happened that got them excited. I'll talk to the association board and explain it like that. Also, when do you plan to be free of your…excess power? Do you know?"
"I am always being told within the next three days. When it hits…I think everyone will know. I may be ten times worse than you saw me. You don't want to see me that way. Mitsumi will be the only one able to let me see others clearly when it does hit. And I'm sure I'm going to be rushed home when it hits if I'm out," Saitama said with a shrug. Mitsumi snuggled into his neck and yawned. He looked at her and kissed her forehead. "Yeah. Bedtime."
"Can you answer one question, Fan Dancer?" Sweet Mask asked.
"Okay," she nodded. Inichi seemed to glare, but he decided to let his friend learn a valuable lesson.
"Would you have ever seen anything in me if we did meet cordially?" Sweet Mask asked. Saitama's neutral gaze cut right to Sweet Mask, but Mitsumi gently tilted his face to look at her with a loving smile to calm him down.
"In truth…I may have said hello. Chatted with you. Likely left it at that. I do remember you glancing at me a few times at various events. I mean, you know how protective my father was over me. And…hmm. I do recall something my father said about you. Now that I think of it," she mused.
"What was it?" Saitama asked before Sweet Mask could.
"I drew a picture of you, Sweet Mask. I'm not sure if you recognized that one of the drawings was him, Saitama. But when I drew his face and hair, Father told me, 'That one is not for you. He has too much responsibility on his shoulders. I will talk to him. Do not let him come to you unless I am with you. You know how your mother would also see the situation. We do not want another one to be under her power. Let me handle it.' So…" she shrugged.
"I…I see…" Sweet Mask frowned.
"Her father protected you," Saitama nodded. "You even said you had no time for marriage. I doubt you still do. Anyways, Mitsumi is my wife. We got married in secret. She's claimed. You can find another."
"Maybe you can talk to Atsuko," Daiki grinned.
"I would rather write a script for Inichi to berate me with it," Sweet Mask said with a small mutter. Inichi looked over and grinned wickedly at the idea. Fubuki rose a brow at it, but she chuckled, too. Himiko made a cringing look for Zombieman to grin and pull her close to him to show that this one was not up for grabs, either.
"Saitama, what do you plan to do tomorrow?" Okada asked when she finally got to approach him.
"I don't know. I may go to Neutral Grounds or stay home. I may stay home more than anything right now. It depends on things," Saitama said and squeezed Mitsumi gently to him. "Anyways, I gotta get some rest with Mitsumi. I'll see those around in the morning."
"Fine," Kamikaze nodded and chewed on the splintered stick. Tacki was yawning and now being carried to their first floor corner apartment.
"I'd like to stay home if you do," Fumio said to his parents.
"That's fine," Saitama nodded and pat his son's shoulder. "Hmm. I know I won't hurt you, either, Fumio. Maybe I should have you stay home to help Zenchu with me. Masaki wanted to try and teach you, too, so that's fine. It's gonna take teamwork to work with my odd moods. This will be my first run, so, if something starts to go wrong…"
"You let me know," Mitsumi said and nodded. "I can bring Saitama back around. These next few days we can treat as a trial run of sorts. It will help prepare us. Don't expect him to react normally to things until this passes. Genos, we'll need you to keep a close eye on Neutral Grounds when we are locked away."
"I understand, Miss Mitsumi. Kamiko and I will oversee everything," Genos agreed. Then Mitsumi had an idea.
"You and Kamiko will be managers of the restaurant as of now," Mitsumi smiled. "It will be easier for you to step in to handle things."
"I like that!" Kamiko grinned. "I can be head waitress, then. We'll make it work. Don't worry, Lady Mitsumi."
"I can help!" Fumio nodded. "I'll go to bed now."
"Okay. Please ensure everyone leaves safely?" Mitsumi smiled and hugged her and Fumio before Saitama carried her into the bedroom and kicked the door closed. Fumio yawned and was soon heading into his room to rest.
"We'll monitor Master Saitama's condition for the next few days," Genos nodded. "Shall we escort the others away that need to go?"
"Let's do that," Kamiko nodded and pressed a kiss to his mouth before following him out of the apartment to end the night.