Tiger and bunny: Lucky to be a lady tonight

Chapter 31

Barnaby was beyond worried. Kotetsu hadn't answered his calls while in the alley, and she hadn't responded to anyone else's. It was scaring him, knowing that Hunter probably out there, maybe even controlling the sudden breakout of criminals. So far, none of the identified NEXTs had been captured, but one was reported to have an Ouroboros tattoo on their forearm.

The blond had moved back into the alley, hiding where it was darkest to gather information on what had happened to Kotetsu. No one really seemed to know, feeding his fear even more.

He soon wished he had been paying better attention to his surroundings as he was in the alley; a rustling noise coming from somewhere close to him. He paused, looking around while being as still as stone.

Three large figures appeared approaching him, and two smaller ones leaped down behind the blond, blocking him in as they surrounded him.

The largest figure –a woman- cracked her neck as she brought a thin metal pipe with a flat, flared out end down into her free hand. Her forearm supporting a dark Ouroboros tattoo.

"Well, well~ What do we have here? A little hero, all alone and vulnerable~"

Barnaby looked at each figure before settling on the woman. He lowered his eyebrows, though it went unseen to the woman. "I can take down each one of you."

"Well, you can believe that—but it doesn't make it true~"

The others chuckled.

He eyed her tattoo. "Are all of you members of Ouroboros?"

"We wear the mark with pride."

"That mark can't protect you from the justice you deserve. You all should be thrown in jail."

"No, see, things are about to change, little hero. Our roots run deep, and our branches are about to bloom. You parricidic heroes will just be the first to go." She tapped her weapon against her palm.

"What do you mean..? Who are you acting under?!" He balled his fists and gritted his teeth.

The man next to the woman smirked, "Our King; the great Hunter."

"Hunter?" He let his guard down for the slightest bit, surprised that Hunter was leading the Ouroboros agents.

The two behind him took the opportunity. Twins, working as if they were one mind in two bodies. In a flash, they streaked by him, crisscrossing and stopping behind him once more, two cuts ripping through Barnaby's armor.

Barnaby cried out, fists flying to hit his attackers, but he only exposed himself more to his attackers.

The larger three approached and the man kicked Barnaby over as the woman who had spoken towered over him. "Hunter's out claiming his queen now—but you have your own problems to worry about."

The rod in her hands began to glow red hot, and she turned it towards him. He could finally see what it was before she pressed it to his lower ribs as if he were cattle, the heat eating through the damaged suit and under suit before it sizzled; searing the brand into his pale skin with the smell of burning flesh.

A branding iron with Ouroboro's symbol drawing out a desperately pained cry from the blond.

Kotetsu glared down the barrel of the gun pointed between her eyes, "Do it." She challenged, "—But you won't. You want me for something. You want me alive. You'll harm me, but you wouldn't kill me. I'm also no longer pregnant, so you can't use that to manipulate me." She pushed herself up, the gun pressing against her skin as she moved.