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Ch. 27: The Beast Inside

"I guess we can't stay like this can we?" Mic sighed.

"No, we can't."

"How long do we have?"

"Not long."

There was a small amount of silence. "How long have you been watching me?"

"Weeks. I returned and they found me loyal, but still on a fine line, so I was given little freedoms such as moving about on my own for certain hours. The hours were random, and with those hours I decided to keep an eye on you."

"You were always good at being a sneak."

"Hizashi, we know about today." She spoke plainly. "What they don't know is about Toshi's weakened form. What's worse is the fact you all split up. When the signal is given we attack, keeping you all apart. They think half of you are actually advanced students with the heroes which puts you at an advantage."

"How do I know you're not lying to me again? That you're not in control right now."

"They have no knowledge of our relationship. I can't be commanded to do something if they have no knowledge about it." She paused. "They're going to use me today. I'm going to ask you one more time. I want you to —"

"I'm not going to kill you if that's where this is going."

"I figured that much," She smirked. "I'd go back to Shota and Toshi if I were you, I have to leave now." Her tail unraveled from his fingers.

"Wait!" He turned abruptly and saw shew as gone.

Tigris looked from the nearby ally watching the loud hero in a panic looking for her. She knew being around him was to cause this.

She turned down the ally and began to walk then felt the wind from something strange behind her. As she turned a metallic net was inches from her body. Her eyes widened as it wrapped around her like a cocoon.

Wrapped up tight, Tigris fell to the ground. She wiggled for a moment trying to move her arms but couldn't, it was strong. Her eyes looked at the end of the Ally to see Mic walking towards her.

"Hizashi?"

His neutral face left her confused.

Mic pulled out his phone and called Shota, "Sho, I found her. She'd been trapped in that net. We're in the ally next to the fountain, between the red brick and grey brick buildings. Hurry."

"Hizashi what are you doing!?" Her eyes became black as her body tried to change to something larger. As she sized up the net began to shock her, forcing her to return to normal size. "What the hell is this?"

"Technological weapons specifically designed to capture you." His stone-cold face began to scare her, a piece of him she'd never seen, a serious side that didn't exist. "If you try to change at all it will shock you until you return to your normal size. The steel wire was specifically crafted to handle any sized animal you might change into. Any."

His glare pierced her. Panic began setting in. "Hizashi, please. Let me go."

"I can't do that Tigris."

"Let me protect you!" She shouted.

"Do you really think that I'm that weak?"

She paused, not fully understanding his question, "What?"

"I'm a Pro hero who's taken on countless Villains. I've been trained for survival, offense, and defense. I'm not scared you'll hurt me, not at all, I'm scared you'll hurt others, even worse yourself." He bent down towards her. "They're trying to turn you into something you're not. I know you, Tigris Griswald."