"Is this the place?" Garou asked when the small, abandoned building in City T came into view. It was along a long stretch of beach front property that was clearly overgrown with intense growth. Cold Snap had sent him over with Lily, Zenchu, Kamikaze and Tacki to inspect it. Bang optioned to stay back in case he was needed elsewhere. Zenchu was ordered to go as Wind Crane wanted him to support the others as much as possible again. It looked like it was a very well-established shop at one point. Tacki took down the rotting door and found shelves filled with dust. On taking out the dust, it was pleasantly discovered that various shells used to line them.
"This was a shop for shells! I mean…being on a beach…it would make sense. We could turn it into a retail outlet for us. This section of the beach was abandoned, though. I wonder what that means," Zenchu mused.
"I think the place was flooded out," Tacki said on finding traces of seaweed and intense sand buildup.
"We were brought over," Deep Sea Prince said when he walked in now. Akiyama was with him to inspect the place. "You know, a lot of my people are crafters of coral and shells. I would love to help this place with that."
"That would be awesome!" Tacki grinned. "And we can get more reformed Secret Skins to help with the place!"
"Looks like we have a way back and forth…" Kamikaze said and pointed to a new tunnel appearing next to the small hut. Robots now spilled forth from it with Metal Knight's direction. Siren was sending out robot scouts along the beach to start cleaning it up and removing the excess growth.
"I shall work on reconstruction. This place is now being purchased," Metal Knight chuckled from a hovering robot. "I could sell deep sea equipment here."
"A surf and turf shop! Perfect!" Tacki beamed and started to write down some ideas on what to make to sell.
"We could make a small restaurant outfit, too. Like a guest shop and bistro deal for beach souvenirs," Lily suggested. "Like, sell small snacks from Neutral Grounds here. It may be a bit much, though."
"We can have small crystal figures, jewelry pieces featuring ocean animals, clothing for beach wear…" Tacki muttered while writing things out. "Oh! What do we name this place?"
"I got it," Garou grinned. "Oceanfront Oddities."
"Okay. That's awesome! And it would be filled with things from Deep Sea Prince's people and the stuff I create, too! It's perfect!" Tacki squealed.
"I had to arrive," Blue Ripple said in his small monster form. "Cold Snap brought me here. Hmm. I don't think we should widen the place. The small structure is good enough."
"But it should be filled to the brim with stuff!" Tacki said.
"Too much clutter will be harder for others to find things. We shall have a surplus, yes, but we'll bring up what we need to refill. That will not be difficult. I mainly came here to check the seaweed found," the strong water monster said. The dried seaweed was shown, and he sniffed it thoroughly. "This place…the way the sand built up around the corners…a major storm struck here. It looks like…twenty years ago from the buildup of dirt, too. And it does appear to be a form of intense flooding that happened."
"Do we know who owned it?" Akiyama asked.
"It was given back to City T. The place is considered condemned, but we can fix that up. Metal Knight is working with the Hero Association now to get this place removed from that listing," Blue Ripple chuckled. "Hmm. Siren is with you, right?"
"I'm right here!" Siren said in her gravelly tone from Metal Knight's robot.
"I am checking something," Blue Ripple thought and focused.
:Eh? Blue Ripple?: Saitama mentally asked at the poke.
:I WANT TO LOOK INTO SIREN'S PLACE OF CHANGE. THE GRAVEYARD. WHAT DO YOU THINK? WE ARE IN THE SAME AREA OF THE LOCATION.:
:Oh. As long as it won't hurt anyone. Just let Mitsumi and I know what you found.: Saitama agreed. The water monster chuckled and looked at the hovering robot to show he made a decision.
"I want to visit that gravesite. The one that changed you," Blue Ripple said. "We are in the same area of its location, and we need to look into it. Saitama even said we should check on it and solve the mystery carefully."
"Oh…" Siren seemed to frown in her tone.
"I know it's a tough subject for you. But I really would like to see this place. Metal Knight, do you happen to know where it is?" Blue Ripple asked.
"I just need ten minutes, honey!" Tacki said to Kamikaze's groaning form.
"I know you do…" Kamikaze rolled his eyes. "I guess we're staying here."
"Blue Ripple, did you want me to come with you?" Zenchu asked.
"It may be best," Blue Ripple agreed.
"Lily and I can also go," Garou nodded.
"I shall remain with Akiyama," Deep Sea Prince said.
"I do have the coordinates," Metal Knight said. Cold Snap collected them mentally and sent Blue Ripple, Zenchu, Garou and Lily to the graveyard in question. A hovering robot was already waiting for them to lead them to the towering grave. As they approached it, they saw the small, chair-like wedge that was clearly where Siren sat to get transformed. Underneath it was a small inscription. Zenchu moved in close to read it.
"Hmm…'Whoever sits here shall be what went missing. If returned to this seat…there will be a permanent fixture returned'?!" Zenchu frowned.
"What does that mean?" Lily frowned.
"I know what it means…" Black Shade said when he came forth. "There was a gargoyle that sat here before. Someone took it. This tomb belonged to a man that tried to tame monsters beyond his control. They attacked him and made this stone pillar. They put him on it, and he became a statue, himself.
"However, one of his followers pulled him down. He's still a statue, but anyone who would dare to sit in his spot would become a gargoyle to fill the seat. Siren likely changed, but as she was not a male figure, she was released from the spot. If she returned to it…well…she may become permanently attached from what the inscription says. All speculation, of course. I would not know anything more than that."
"Siren?" Metal Knight asked in his base. She was sitting next to him and completely transfixed on the spot she sat on long ago. A burning desire to return to it began to fill her mind. He was quick to lean over and cover her glowing green eyes with his hand to break the hold on her.
"Ah!" Siren gasped in her gravelly tone and quickly looked away. "I…was being called…to go back to it…!"
"No!" he said and pulled her right into his lap. Then he turned his chair away from the screens.
"I'm okay now," she said and pressed into him. "Yeah…I don't want to go back to it. Especially if it might make me a permanent statue. I am wondering if we should find the original statue to return to it, but I don't know if I would change back, either. I mean…I feel it would be the right thing to do to fix it."
"To keep others from changing, sure, but we don't know about you," Metal Knight frowned. He knew he was still being heard, and the others were silently waiting on what was going on.
"What does Lady Mitsumi think?" Garou asked.
"Hmm. She's sleeping now, but I'm sure she would want the grave fixed if it will not hurt Siren. Black Shade, was there anything said about this being repaired?" Blue Ripple asked. "Of course, I haven't heard anything on this."
"Hmm…" Black Shade thought. "I wonder if normal stone will work. Not the original thing, but a cover up to hide the flaw…"
"There is a lot of old debris on the seat now. Let me try something," Blue Ripple said. He had the dirt and debris carefully brushed off the spot first. Then he focused on a loose stone to lift it and put right on the chair-like spot.
"I sense nothing," Siren said from the hovering robot to them. "I don't want to look at the grave, though."
"No need to. This is just to hide the spot from others. Much like keeping Zenchu alive as a vessel for me," Black Shade nodded.
"Blue Ripple, check Metal Knight's thoughts. I'm gonna change into my gargoyle form, and you can have Stable Rock make the figure with that shape," Siren said while jumping out of Metal Knight's lap.
"A brilliant idea!" Blue Ripple rumbled out and focused. He knew Stable Rock was also peering into Metal Knight's mind. The gargoyle shape in a sitting position was quickly seen, studied and soon emerging from the earth. Blue Ripple removed the ordinary stone and set the false gargoyle on the seat. It looked like it belonged there, and Siren felt no different in anything. She actually felt that a form of relief was lifted from her shoulders, and she stated this.
"Ah! I can look at the grave again with no issues!" Siren said in her humanoid form. "It really just needed the gargoyle returned!"
"Good. This place has been untouched for decades. We shall ensure it will remain undisturbed even more," Blue Ripple nodded. "We can cross this place off of our list of mystery visits."
"I'll never get used to him doing that," Zenchu grimaced when Black Shade released him. "Maybe we should check out another place. What do you all think? Oh! The old warehouse! That should be next!"
"What warehouse?" Garou asked.
"In the beginning before we met Saitama, we had a warehouse in City Y. Thugs kicked us out, and we didn't know it was from Lady Mitsumi's fake mom. I have no idea what the place looks like or what's going on with it," Zenchu explained. "If it's still there, I wanted to check a few things."
"I should head back. I'm sure others may want to help," Blue Ripple nodded. "I don't want to leave Saitama and Mitsumi alone for too long."
"I'm also curious. I can help!" Garou grinned. Then he looked at Lily and asked, "Are you still good?"
"I am. Maybe we can eat when we get back home," she smiled. He kissed her softly and nodded with agreement. Zenchu chuckled and sent the next location coordinates to Cold Snap. He found himself standing with Rendor and Tatsumaki joining them in front of the locked up warehouse.
"I insisted to be here. And they put a heavy lock and chain over the doors? Idiots. I'll take care of it," Rendor grumbled. "Let me do this, Tatsi."
"Okay," Tatsumaki smiled and blushed at his squeeze. He shifted into his monster form and snapped the chain off easily. Then he pulled the doors open to stare with disbelief at what was revealed.
"They didn't do shit with the place…" Zenchu frowned. "They just ran us out and closed up shop! I thought Sweet Mask was looking into this place for us? We still have items on the shelves that we can use for our own needs. Wait…some of this was torn down and ransacked. Yeah…Tacki is gonna be 'thrilled' for sure."
"I'm here!" Tacki said when she bolted in with Kamikaze striding calmly behind her. She examined the entire building and started shrieking out her anger.
"Why is she so pissed?" Kamikaze frowned.
"Because she organized everything herself and those thugs pulled everything down…" Zenchu grimaced at how she was now re-organizing everything.
"I can't tell what's in here. Do the lights still work?" she asked while pulling loose wooden planks off the floor. She growled that some of them were even broken in half. "I thought some of this was liquidated! I am gonna chew out Sweet Mask if I ever see him!"
"Make popcorn if she does," Kamikaze muttered to Zenchu's snickering form. "I mean it."
"Deal," Zenchu nodded.
"What the heck did they do?!" Tacki freaked out at the sight of various cables that were deliberately cut.
"I just told Cold Snap. Metal Knight will be here shortly with some robots. And Inichi is reaching out to Sweet Mask right now. He said to let him deal with that," Garou grinned lightly. As they went through the building to start salvaging what they could, Inichi was getting calmed down by Fubuki.
"I'm going to make him write me a script for this…" Inichi muttered.
"About what?" Fubuki asked and let him lean into her.
"Anything at this point," Inichi said. Then he focused. :Sweet Mask. My family is very pissed off at you.:
:Huh?! For what?: Sweet Mask asked with sudden alarm.
:They just checked out the warehouse building that we were thrown out of in City Y. The place was locked with an iron padlock and chain. Rendor removed it. The inside was completely ransacked, the cables were cut and nothing was liquidated. You said you'd look into that…: Inichi said with a heavy mental sigh.
:I put in the request to get it looked at! Wait. The request went to that one board member that got killed…: Sweet Mask blinked with recollection.
:Okay, that makes sense. A Secret Skins threw out your request. Since that one knew that the warehouse was already a dead end and was best left abandoned. We will purchase the building now and bring it back to life. Thank you for clarifying. I shall inform the others.: Inichi said and left his mind. Then he looked at Fubuki and said, "He put in the request, but it went to the false board member."
"Oh…" she said and shook her head at it. Then she found herself thinking. "Wait a minute. We killed him before you talked to Sweet Mask! Didn't we?"
"We mentioned it while Lady Mitsumi was still undergoing the torment of the bracelet. It was told it would get looked into, but…hmm…he did say he would look into it after the board member was apprehended…" Inichi frowned. "He was killed much later, but he was caught around that time…"
"I don't think he's telling us everything," she said. Inichi narrowed his red eyes with black cat pupils and thought again. :Refresh my memory. When did you agree to check into the warehouse? Before the board member was apprehended? Or after the fact?:
:Really? I know I put in the request. I was told it was going to be looked into, but I lost track of it after the fact. I'll have to see what happened to my request. What were you planning to do now?: Sweet Mask asked.
:We will purchase the building outright and use it as a warehouse again. Likely to store more things and sell some surplus materials. I'm still wondering what happened to your request. Please find out?: Inichi asked. Sweet Mask agreed and found himself lost in thought in his office.
"Sweet Mask?" Tajima asked when she walked in. "I heard you groaning."
"Inichi just reached out to me about a request that never went through," Sweet Mask sighed and started going through his older notes. "And here's the request! I knew I sent it! Where is that email…?"
"Hmm?" she asked and moved to rest a hand on his shoulder. He kissed her fingers and started to scroll back through his sent messages. "Is that it?"
"You found it," he nodded and opened it. "And…it's unread…?!"
"You sent it to the correct place and no one opened it? After nearly a month?! Who was it sent to?"
"The main head of our investigations team…"
"Are there other emails unopened?"
"I'm going to find out," Sweet Mask said and picked up the phone handle at his desk. He pushed in the buttons to show he wasn't using his cellphone to keep the call official. At the girl that answered, he found himself confused. "Who is this? Where is the man in charge?"
"Oh. I was told to watch the phones, but that was about a month or so ago. I honestly don't know where he is. We all thought he went on vacation," the girl admitted. "Ah…who is this?"
"Sweet Mask."
"Oh!"
"Did he ever say where he went?"
"I don't think so. He just said he'd be back and left the building."
"Did you notice anything odd about his behavior?"
"Not really. He just looked like he was in a hurry. I mean…if I knew his password, I would have checked on the emails. I'm sure there's tons of them unanswered! What do you suggest?" she asked.
"You never went to the board about this?!" Sweet Mask asked.
"I tried to, but I was always told there was no need!" she said.
"By who?"
"The receptionist at the front desk…"
"I'm informing the board members, and we are going to interrogate the front desk receptionist. Say nothing for now," Sweet Mask said and hung up the phone. Now he thought to Inichi and relayed the entire conversation.
:I'm checking into this now…: Inichi said. What was discovered had him furious. :Your receptionist…is a…one of them…:
:Seriously?! Are you joking?!: Sweet Mask was gaping with shock.
:I am informing the board members now. You need to get to the Hero Association right away. If I tell Mr. Saitama about this…I know I may need to.: Inichi sighed. Then he thought to Saitama. :The Hero Association has Secret Skins employees. They have no idea about this. I needed to let you know.:
:WHAT?!: Saitama asked with a form of outrage. :How do you know?!:
Inichi gave Saitama the full run down of what happened, and sighed. :I know. I am unsure how you think we should proceed.:
:Mitsumi's still sleeping. Can you scan the minds of everyone?: he asked.
:I might be able to. It will take time, but I can have Fubuki write out a list of names that I discover. I'll inform Sweet Mask now.: Inichi said. He was soon informing his old friend, and it was already in agreement of what had to be done.
:Give me that list when you compile it. I'm getting ready to head out.: Sweet Mask growled. He looked at Tajima and said, "I don't know if I want you at my side for this. I may want you to be at Fan Dancer's home for safety. It appears we have Secret Skins working for the Hero Association."
"It may be best to send me there," Tajima agreed.
"Please do that. I don't want you here alone. Once it's discovered that we are looking for them…" he started. She nodded and blushed when he pressed a hand to her belly. "For the children. You know? And you, of course, but…"
"I know," she chuckled and rested her hand over his.
"Also…we're getting married next month," he smiled.
"Without talking to me about it?" she blinked at him. He started laughing and seemed to shrug.
"Well, we have some time. I do have to talk to the press and introduce you as my bride-to-be. You'll have to talk to your family, of course. But I know we need to do this before you really start to show," he explained.
"I'm aware. Let me get to City Z, and you track down who you need to," she nodded. He stood up to hold her close and kiss her passionately.
"I'll fetch for you the moment it's safe," he said. She nodded and let him kiss her again before watching Cold Snap teleport her away in an ice blue spark. He cleared his throat and gathered up his jacket and boots to head out shortly after that. He didn't expect Cold Snap to send him directly to the Hero Association, though. He was thinking he could drive there.
:I DON'T MIND HELPING OUT WHEN I CAN. WE'LL KEEP TAJIMA SAFE. OH. GO STRAIGHT TO THE BOARD ROOM WHEN YOU GET THERE. DON'T TALK TO ANYONE.:
:Cold Snap?! Ah…I see. Okay. You know something's up?: Sweet Mask mentally frowned while walking in.
:IF YOU APPROACH THE FRONT DESK LIKE THERE'S TROUBLE, YOU'LL ALERT THE ONE YOU WANT. DON'T DO IT. LET THE BOARD CALL THAT ONE TO YOU. WE WANT TO CATCH THEM ALL BY SURPRISE, RIGHT? WE DON'T WANT THEM TO RUN.:
:Got it.: Sweet Mask agreed and nodded to those around him while striding through like a normal day. He ignored everyone around him, as usual, and got into the elevator. When he got to the destined floor, the first board member was waiting for him. "You were informed?"
"All four of us were. We can't call on Caped Baldy?" the first board member asked with a frown.
"He's resting with Fan Dancer. He'll punch another hole in this building if we piss him off right now. Let's stick with who we have available," Sweet Mask said. Then he paused at Stable Rock appearing in his human form from Cold Snap's teleport. The ten foot tall, powerful earth monster smirked lightly and nodded to them both.
"Mitsumi woke up just enough to ask me to help. I was promised head scratches if I did a good job," Stable Rock chuckled.
"I get butt scratches!" Bright Bolt said when he appeared in his human form. "But we're here only as backup support. If the Secret Skins is exposed as a strong monster, we'll stun it and take it home."
"With the skin for experimental needs," Stable Rock nodded.
"Right…" the first board member nodded back. He led them to the board room, and the other three men there paused at the sight of the strong monsters.
"Don't force us to get our little sister. Saitama would totally bite your heads off," Bright Bolt grunted and flicked his small, tufted tail. "We're only here as backup help. That's it."
"And now I'm here to ensure that," Zenchu said when he arrived from Cold Snap's teleport. "I'm just going all over the place now, huh? May be best since I know about that warehouse, too. Anyways, call who you need. We'll be off to the side and out of sight."
"I'll do that now," Sweet Mask said while writing up the names that Inichi mentally gave him. "Nine employees. Call them in one at a time? I want the receptionist first, though."
"She's already on her way," the second board member said. The middle-aged, black haired woman walked in and sat down when gestured to a chair.
"I need to know where the man in charge of our investigations department went off to," Sweet Mask said bluntly. Now she blinked her brown eyes at him.
"I…wouldn't know…" she frowned.
"You're lying," he said and studied his nails. "You have one more chance to tell me the truth."
"I honestly don't! He just told me to tell anyone looking for him that it wasn't necessary!" she said adamantly.
"And you found it odd that he said that?" the third board member asked.
"I just get paid to do what I'm told, okay?" the receptionist retorted.
"You know where he is. Exactly where he is," Sweet Mask smirked. "Because you met with him on the day he went missing. So, you know what happened to him. Don't you?"
"I…I don't know what you're talking about!" she stammered.
"Lying again. Stable Rock? Bright Bolt? Zenchu? What do you three think?" Sweet Mask asked and gestured to the strong monsters. The receptionist's jaw dropped at the sight of them walking over.
"Hmm. You are definitely a Secret Skins. It's now at a point that I can…smell what's in your arm. And definitely a liar," Stable Rock nodded.
"If you run, I will zap. Only warning," Bright Bolt said with a small grin.
"Then where is he if you know where he is?" the receptionist asked.
"You killed him when he wouldn't become one of you," Stable Rock said. The employee paled with absolute shock. "He was on the fence about becoming one of you. When he saw you remove your skin, he wanted out. You murdered him in cold blood and pretended that he was still alive."
A savage hiss came from the false woman now, and Bright Bolt sent a lightning bolt straight through her. Stable Rock nodded and encased the stunned form in solid rock with small holes. Cold Snap was nudged to take the trapped figure away, and Bright Bolt looked over at the board members. "Next?"
"Wait! We need to fill some empty positions and work on a few things now," the third board member said.
"We are on a time limit. Judge what positions need to be filled after we leave. Take notes and do internal hiring," Stable Rock said calmly. The fourth board member was already writing out what positions would need to be filled. The second board member began to make a list of eligible employees to help with this. With this event being done with the exposure of the false employees, Stable Rock was able to glean something else from the minds of those he listened to before they got zapped, caged and sent back to City Z.
"You look like you're pissed…" Zenchu muttered to the powerful earth monster. "Something we should know?"
"There was a plot to go after City Z. To remove Mitsumi…" Stable Rock growled. Bright Bolt looked at him with shock.
"The fuck?! When?!" Zenchu spat out.
"Calm. It was only in discussion. Nothing was set in stone. But it would have been…within the week. By doing this, we deterred everything," Stable Rock grinned a bit wickedly.
"Hmm. Was this something being cooked up by other Secret Skins, then?" Bright Bolt asked. "And we'd better get back home before the others want to come here and join the fun."
"Wind Crane informed me of one that tried to defect from the original core. Thus, those odd fleas. The ones here…were part of the group. They were hoping to take out Mitsumi due to her status as a Wind Crane Clan assassin. But they didn't count on us getting in the way. You would think that they knew of us, but not exactly what all we did. They are gnats and easily disposed of," Stable Rock smirked. "However, that receptionist…is the ring leader…"
"So…something of interest?" Zenchu rose a brow.
"Bright Bolt, you and I are going to touch that one and make an egg," Stable Rock nodded. "Since that one was also touched with intense telepathic thought. But it couldn't read our minds due to what we are. Intense telepathy among humans. But other monsters? A hindsight."
"Okay. I'm in. It's already at home, so we need to get back there and get to work," Bright Bolt grinned widely at the thought. Then he blinked. "Ah! Little sister is awake…and extremely pissed off…"
"Who told her of the plot?" Zenchu asked.
"I do not like Cold Snap right now…" Stable Rock grimaced. "However, as he is her son, he must keep her and Saitama informed."
"Hey. We need to get home. Mitsumi woke up and she's not happy," Bright Bolt sighed while looking at the board members. "You all set here?"
"Yes. We have our next plan of action," the first board member nodded.
"We're good. I'm sure I'll be sent home later. I want Tajima here, though, if the threat is gone," Sweet Mask frowned.
"We shall keep an eye on your employees. And don't worry about the warehouse. We are claiming it back and will repurpose it ourselves," Stable Rock said calmly. "I am not detecting any other foul play currently. The false ones here are already removed."
"Hey," Cold Snap said when he appeared. "Mom wanted me to help out with something. She wants me to add my touch with yours and Bright Bolt's. I would have waited until I got home, but…"
"We have to do that at home, anyways," Stable Rock chuckled.
"And, eh…Dad is making threats to come here. Because Mom is getting mad and upset. So we gotta hurry," Cold Snap said. "I already sent the ones you trapped home. They'll be in the arena."
"Can you bring Tajima to me?" Sweet Mask asked Cold Snap.
"Can do!" Cold Snap grinned and lightly focused. The flickering blue spark revealed her standing with them, and Sweet Mask moved to her hug with relief.
"I brought you some lunch. Courtesy of Orotsu," Tajima chuckled and displayed the carry out package.
"I will gladly accept it," he chuckled and kissed her cheek. He watched the monsters leave in a flicker of light and looked over the list of empty slots.
"We'll do an internal hiring. It was suggested and would do some good for moral," the third board member said. "But, we do need to check on the position for the head of investigations. Maybe we should have Zombieman do that…"
"I wouldn't. He's helping in other areas with Fan Dancer's family. We'll see who qualifies for this," Sweet Mask said.
"Anything about Sandra?" Tajima asked.
"She's making progress with her family. And she is returning here tomorrow, come to think of it. We'll still watch her, but Fan Dancer definitely woke her up from what our intel is saying," the third board member said.
"Good to know. Tajima, please sit with me and take some notes. We have some hiring to do. And I don't want her to be the replacement receptionist. It turns out that, well, Tajima is pregnant with my twins…" Sweet Mask chuckled.
"What?!" the first board member gaped.
"Oh!" the second board member blinked.
"We'll definitely ensure she works lightly. Of course, I'm sure you will take care of that," the third board member smiled.
"When's the wedding?" the fourth board member asked. That got them all chuckling and discussing it now. Back in City Z, though, Stable Rock and Bright Bolt were getting their rewarding scratches in their pet forms.
"We'll take care of all the Secret Skins things tomorrow," Saitama said.
"Ooooh!" Stable Rock swooned at the head scratching.
"Butt scratches! Yessss!" Bright Bolt whinnied with joy.
"As much as I am upset that such a thing happened, I am very glad that we squashed it fast. I'm sure you all would have sensed such a nasty attack though, hmm?" Mitsumi chuckled. Tangled Vine stretched and swooned at the rump scratching he got now.
"No more distractions. But…it is noon, so…were they planning anything else? Or just…chilling? I know the warehouse is being taken apart, right?" Saitama asked and lay back in the bed.
"It is…" Stable Rock nodded lightly and snuggled into his leg.
"Yeah, we'll figure that out tomorrow. I'm done traveling," Bright Bolt agreed. Blue Ripple was resting contentedly against Mitsumi's side. Scritch and Overgrown Rover were happily snuggled between them carefully.
"Too many pets!" Saitama groaned. Once again, all the monsters snickered, huffed and chittered in response.
"And I love them all! Can you imagine all of Black Sperm's clones in here?" Mitsumi beamed. Now Saitama twitched his eye.
"NO!" he said adamantly to get her laughing at him. Then she squealed with laughter when he leaned over to tickle her and pull her close. The pets shifted around to let him comfort her and his growing son. They were all pleased with everything and planned to do all they could when Mitsumi and Saitama could leave the bedroom. Until then, they were all content to relax and keep guarding the home that they all came to enjoy and cherish. Even though they were in the penthouse suite, the pets knew that home was always where the powerful couple chose to stay in. Even if briefly.
*Author's Note - Okay, so after two years of writing this and now at 2,130+ pages I felt I was getting burnout. So, yes, I took a small break and started up another fan fiction. No, I amnot going to stop writing this fiction! I just needed to step away for a little bit and come back to it with fresh ideas and go through my list of stuff still needing to be done. And I'm glad I did! So, sorry for the late update, but it felt good to start working on another project for a bit. I'll likely go back and forth on them to keep my mind creative. I was even thinking of fun little 'nods' to each other here and there like little Easter eggs! :) See you all in the next chapter!*