In the battle between Watchdog Man and the feline, Garou couldn't discern who the veritable monster was. No matter how many 'Super Feline Retributions' the cat unleashed, Watchdog Man swatted them all away without so much as a flicker of emotion on his face.
Watching those two monsters clash got Garou's blood pumping.
And thanks to the cat-like creature, he had the chance to observe the S-Class hero's fighting style firsthand. Though, he wished the match had lasted longer…
It ended in a way Garou hadn't foreseen. The feline slipped inside Watchdog Man's costume; a fatal choice. Garou wouldn't soon forget the ear-splitting screeches before absolute silence. The cat never emerged. Where did it go?
His power and speed surprised me. Along with his costume's mysterious interior. Garou stalked across the pavement lined with thick white stripes, toward Watchdog Man, who had returned to his observation platform. He lacks special techniques or weapons. I can find a way to counter that.
I have seen through your movements.
Look out Watchdog Man, now it's your turn to be hunted!
Garou's muscles first tensed, then he lunged; blasting off the ground like a missile, fist cocked, aimed straight for the hero's blind spot.
¤ ¤ ¤
How bad did she have to go? It's been over ten minutes.
Caspian drummed his fingers against the table. Minutes passed. The remaining fries sat cold between two empty cups. He glanced again at the restroom door. Nothing.
When twenty minutes passed, a mix of concern and doubt prompted him to activate 'Sense.'
Ain't no way.
Fubuki had disappeared from Cafe & Restaurant Togus. Did she escape through the bathroom window?
So, she turned out to be a dine-and-dasher at heart.
Pride swelled in his chest.
He pinpointed the fleeing criminal's position, flagged down a server, and covered the bill in full; tip included.
Rather than leaving through the entrance, he stepped into the men's bathroom. No window. Why did the women's have one? Or perhaps it didn't have one either? Then how had Fubuki escaped? A mystery he had no intention of solving. With a press of his index finger and thumb together, he generated a 'Hyperspace Gate' and plummeted.
Caspian emerged from the gate into one of S-City's expansive plazas; dominated by a grand fountain. The circular centerpiece flowed with water, cascading down its tiered, smooth stone levels. From the pinnacle blossomed an abstract statue — perhaps a symbol of interconnection — which launched arcs of water skyward, catching the eventide's light in brilliant flashes.
Then he spotted her. Fubuki stood at the fountain's edge, her curvaceous figure silhouetted against the liquid radiance. Unmistakable mischief decorating her face as he approached.
"Are you happy with your act of revenge?" He asked, coming to a halt.
"Very."
She didn't present him the opportunity to respond.
Boots clacked on stone. In one smooth stride, she crossed the space between them, wrapped her fingers around the back of his neck, and pulled him down. Her lips found his; soft, warm, and decisive.
He tasted her — salt from fries, sweetness from cola, and something distinctly her. It stunned him.
Instinct took over in haste. His hands journeyed to her waist. She pressed closer, and the kiss deepened. Heat spread through his chest. Around them, the noise of the city dimmed, the fountain faded.
When she finally pulled back, her cheeks were pink, but her eyes held firm.
"I made my decision," she stated. "Not because of your influence or anyone else's outside my own. Just this; how you make me feel. About us. About all of us, together. I want to embrace that... not run from it."
"T—"
"Let me finish." Fubuki pressed a finger to his lips. "You might feel a trace of uncertainty. That's understandable. I do too. Our time together has been brief, no doubt.
But we have the entire future to learn everything about each other. And I don't believe there's anything wrong with progressing fast. Neither of us are normal, nor are we perfect, as surprising as that may be to hear.
So if you feel the same way I do, then…"
Fubuki let her finger fall from his lips; then turned her palm upward between them; an unspoken question.
As was foreseeable… this question held but one answer.
Caspian wouldn't voice or analyze his response. He chose instead to feel and act. His hand covered hers, fingers intertwining as he drew her closer.
"Walk me home," she murmured. "Or rather, let's stroll about the city, and then you can send me home through one of those gates."
¤ ¤ ¤
After a perfect evening spent with Fubuki until late into the night, Caspian returned to his temporary home in W-City. He found himself in a familiar position; Mosquito Girl nestled in his arms, much like the previous morning. Though unlike the previous morning, she remained asleep even as he brushed her silky silver hair that extended to her neck.
He rose from the bed without disturbing her. Today he chose an old blue tracksuit. He had sent his hero costume to Genos for repairs and cleaning.
His disciple never disappointed him. Learning yesterday that him wearing a ninja uniform caused his first disciple such distress also served as non-disappointment. It actually exceeded his expectations; what an impressive level of misunderstanding.
Following that revelation, he sent Genos back to Doctor Kuseno's, accompanied by Shadow Ring, who mistook him for Blast. No need to correct her. She seemed a good match for Genos, her level of misunderstanding quite respectable. Made him wonder what she 'truly' meant when she declared, 'The Demon Cyborg must take responsibility.'
Sonic returned to Z-City's derelict sector. Still in refusal, but Caspian knew it was only a matter of time before the ninja somehow talked himself into joining the Carbonated Alliance.
Is today the day?
Caspian closed his eyes, activating 'Sense'; his mind's eye traveled through the void, landing on a star on a floor deep below the House of Takoyaki. He stepped out of the room, gently closing the door; a gate then spawned, transporting him into a complex laboratory.
Ahead, Dr. Genus' collected voice flowed: "It is time to sell the first 'Superior Immortality Serum.'"