Chapter IV: Once in a Blue Moooon part 2. (2/2)

After her meal, Siegfried picked up her empty plates, placed them in the sink, and thanked him for giving her a nutritious, hearty, and delicious meal she had in a while. "So, someone told me that this is the second time you ran away... Care to explain?" he softly asked, she looked as though she was tearing up, her expression soured. "I-I couldn't take it, anymore. My hosts were complete jerks!" she started to sob suppressively, Lily grabbed a box of tissues and gave her a handful to wipe her tears and comforted her. "I didn't like them nor did they like me. The first one was nice at fir-!" Siegfried abruptly took her hand and examined and took closer inspection, as he discovered the bruises earlier. "Bruises... Why... didn't you say anything?" Mina looked surprised when Siegfried took her hand then her expression turned to a grim, and shameful look as she averted her eyes away from him. "Y-You already gave me a wonderful meal. I shouldn't bother you with anything else..." Mina muttered. Siegfried has an irritated and angry look on his face. "Too late." He marched to his bedroom and brought out the First-Aid Kit and placed it near the coffee table. "Arm. Show. Now." Mina complied with a confused expression. And Lily stared at Siegfried with surprise and smiled with relief at his actions. Siegfried ordered Lily, "Lily, can you get me a pack of ice from the freezer?" She nodded then went and got a pack of ice then handed it to him, as he placed them on a reusable ice pack and he gently massaged it over Mina's bruises. She winced in pain and blushed at the same time, "Ahn! P-Please be gentler, Mr. Siegfried!" The way she said it and reacted to it seemed erotic undertones. "Forgive me." "But I need you to stay still, so it won't hurt." Comforted by Siegfried with a serious face. "Uhm... Mina, are you enjoying this?" Mina looked at Lily with bright red embarrassment on her face, "W-What!? N-No! Of course not! It's just I'm not used to this at all." Urgently explained by Mina, however, Lily was not buying it. "Other arm." Lily remarked, "I can't believe someone treated you this way." His arm trembled and without thinking he accidentally crushed the ice cubes on the pack. "Oh, looks like they've been crushed. Hold on, I'll replace these in a second." Mina nodded and Lily has a mischievous cat smile on her face. "So, what do you think of him?" while she was sitting cross-legged on the couch with her palms on her chin. She blushed deeply at the question she scooted closer to Lily and whispered. "Mmm... he was scary at first. He has that nasty sneer in his eyes that drives people away. But he speaks really softly and in actuality, he seems a really nice man." The two giggled and Siegfried appeared behind the couch. "What are you two whispering about?" he softly said. The two immediately split apart when he spoke up. "It doesn't matter... Ms. Taurus, are there any more bruises that I should know about?" she returned to her seat and softly said, "Um, I don't think so, Mr. Siegfried. Thank you." He narrowed his eyes, "You're lying. You still have more bruises beneath your shirt, right? Let me see it." He demanded to show him her bruises but she hesitated for a second and glanced at Lily then she gave her an assuring smile and nodded, as if to say, "Don't worry, he won't bite." There she complied, as Siegfried explained, "There are three types of bruises, Subcutaneous, Intramuscular, and Periosteal. From what I've seen on the bruises on your arms Ms. Taurus: they're subcutaneous." he told the two, "Do not worry, within a week or two, they'll fully heal without any problems." And Lily had an impressed look, "Nya... how do you know all this? Are you a licensed medical practitioner, meow?" he glanced at her apathetically and spoke. "Hmph, no, I just had training, that's all... For now, let's focus on treating that bruise. Ms. Taurus, if you would?"

She slid down her overalls, raised her shirt, and with an embarrassed look and reddened ears from shyness revealed the bruises she had on her back and spots of bruises on parts of her stomach. Seeing all those bruises inflicted on her filled Siegfried with justifiable rage, for someone innocent like her has been wronged, his expression won't allow emotion but inside the flames of rage are being tempered by ice-cold hatred. "Ms. Taurus? If you don't mind..." Siegfried touched and caressed the bruise, which took her by surprise, "Ah! S-Sorry... that surprised me..." timidly said Mina, (His hands feel so rough, and yet... And yet they're so gentle...) and after the inspection, Lily's Host nodded in approval, "Let's begin."

She lay down on the couch on her stomach, "Luckily, it's not too serious. I've heard that in days of old, Minotaurs can take quite a beating. I've read in stories that that the Bovine-kin were among the best warriors on the battlefield, due to their immense strength and endurance." She fidgeted while she was being examined. She explains, "Well, that only usually applies to the males and depending on the species, females as well. But usually, we females are sheltered and protected, although there are exceptions to that rule such as the Bullfighters where even the females fight side by side with the males..." Siegfried had an enlightened expression when she told her that. "I see... then what's your species, Ms. Taurus?" She blushed when he asked her and she timidly responded. "Um, my species are not built for combat or fighting, instead we're more into agriculture as we've evolved to produce more nutritious and delicious milk than other Minotaur species." Lily swooned at the thought of milk. "Mmm... milk..." and Mina tries to answer to the best of her abilities. "Oh, um, I'm uh ah—!" as she was about to answer. Siegfried poked her bruises to see if it was infected and she winced in pain. "A light bruise. Nothing like a little ice won't fix." He grabbed the newly refreshed ice pack and started treating the bruise. "Stay still, this'll be a lot easier for me if you don't move." She shyly complied with his request. He gently massaged and treated the bruises with the Ice Pack and she tried to hold the pain as best as she can. After massaging the bruises and treating them, he bandaged them so that they won't get damaged or hurt, and after that, the procedure is all done now. "It'll do." Mina looked around the bandaged bruises, and nodded in approval and gratitude, "Moo...! I... Thank you, so, so much. I do not know how to repay you..." "Repay me? Then I have one thing to ask of you." Lily and Mina, looked at Siegfried intently, even Lily was curious as to what his request was and waited for his answer, "My request: If you're ever in the area, do drop by for a visit." Then a loud rumbling sound was heard in the distance, like a heavy transport, then suddenly the windows shattered and popped out a tear gas grenade. He dropped the pack and immediately reacted by kicking the grenade outside, and a couple more came in. "Cover your mouths and get out of here!" He accidentally inhaled some of the gas and learned a horrible truth, (It's not tear gas. It's sleeping gas!) He cursed to himself, but Lily and Mina passed out from the gas and lay on the floor. He coughed repeatedly before pulling himself together by dragging both of them at the same time and carrying them to his room near the main bathroom, placed Lily and Mina on his bed, locked the door, and went outside.

Despite the gasses capable of knocking out a full-grown a full-grown near 7-foot-tall Minotaur girl and Nekomata unconscious, the gasses don't seem to affect him. (These gasses... Knight's equipment?) Then soldiers wearing gas masks rushed in and came busting through the roof, windows and battering rammed through the door. He quickly dispatched the first one that came through the roof, he grabbed him by the neck and slammed him through the wall, incapacitating him. He waited at the corner at the living room and when a soldier came through, he grabbed his gun, held it upwards while firing bullets and karate chopped his neck, knocking him out. "Knights!?" Then a Knight with a pump shotgun was aiming at his back and yelled with rage. "Freeze! You are under suspicion of holding an unauthorized Monster! Surrender quietly, and come with us that and additional charges of assaulting a Knights' Operator and resisting arrest!" then plenty of soldiers quickly surrounded Siegfried, on the entrance and to the backyard. Seeing himself with surrounded by automatic weapons and highly trained soldiers, he knelt to the ground with his hands held up. The soldiers immediately, rushed in kicked him down, seized and cuffed him. "There seems to be a misunderstanding, I'm a registered Host Family!" defiantly yelled by Siegfried. "Neighbors have reported that a Minotaur girl was spotted walking aimlessly around this street!" barked back by the pinning soldier. "Like I said, it's a misunderstanding! I called my Coordinator Agent to take her in, and this happened!?" the Knights ignored his plea and initiated a sweep around the house. "Find the Minotaur Girl and secure her! She must be around here somewhere." Then one of them yelled out, "Two pulses found! Near the door at the end of the hall!"

He thought to himself: (Suppressor release: Level One. Psionic Release: Level One!)

He snapped the handcuffs and rolled to a supine position and tackled the Knight that was also pinning him and kicked him in the chest and sent the poor bastard flying to the wall. (Tch, I have to take them down without harming them too much.)

The soldiers open fired and he leapt to the couch, rushed and slid under the dining table and kicked it to the side for cover as the hail of bullets deflected off the dining table. He was catching his breath while he was in cover. "Fuck..." he cursed at himself. "Secure the minotaur girl at all costs!" defiantly shouted by a soldier. (What do they want from Mina? Why are these Knights attacking me?!) He closed his eyes and concentrated. (Psionic Technique no. 2: Twilight's End.) The surrounding area suddenly became dark and thus, blinding the soldiers. He went over the table and initiated his attack and he quickly followed up with another technique, "Psionic Technique no. 9: Othello's Mirror of Sorrow!" he split his body and clones of himself appeared to hasten the dispatching of hostiles. He attacked the line of soldiers that were shooting at him, he swept their legs and immediately struck their necks with a powerful chop, one by one they fell and incapacitated. Then his clones scattered to knockout the separate blinded soldiers. After the duration of the 2nd technique, the area was littered with unconscious soldiers and the clones dissipated.

Then there was a soldier that was still standing, and pulled out a gun, Siegfried appeared close to his face and the soldier's eyes was met with overwhelming bloodlust from Siegfried despite his calm demeanor. He quickly let go and went for his gun. He quickly punched him in the stomach, easily shattering the ceramic armor plate that was supposed to protect him from high-caliber bullet shots. The punch was so strong it made him kneel and bowing to the ground in intense pain, as he was kneeling, Siegfried kicked him in the side of the stomach and he was lying in supine position. Siegfried stepped on his stomach and slowly applied force. "I have two questions. First, why are the Knights attacking me? Second, what do you want from her?" the soldier was keeping his mouth shut. Siegfried was applying even more pressure to make him talk, slowly crushing his ribs and lungs. "I-I'll never t-talk, s-scum! T-The other's w-will be here s-soon—!" He slowly added more and more before finally, "Bend or break. Your choice." Warned by Siegfried. The soldier shrieked in pain, "AHHH!!! Never!" (Tsk. He won't talk, admirable.) He relented and decided to use an alternative way, "This'll be painless." He held out his right hand and with his Psionic Abilities he siphoned out the information relating to this situation from him. (The 12th Division? Lead by Knights Division Commander, Tsubaki "Tatsumaki" Shinomiya? Fascinating...) Then a voice echoed through the room. "Woah! Now that's a lot of damage!" Footsteps and debris echoed through the room and finally arrived at the hallway of bedroom doors. "Heya! Looks like you haven't lost your edge at all, eh 'Siegfried'?" The look on his face when he saw that familiar visage was filled with distaste, "Joker..." A man in fine violet pinstriped suit with black tousled hair and gleaming mischievous smile and eyes came casually through the door. "Woah, woah, woah! Easy there, tiger, it's all about codenames, right? Why're you all worked up? It's just game!" mischievously grinned by Joker. "Now, I've sent a small portion of KDC Tatsumaki's forces to safely secure Ms. Taurus here. She owed me favor you see. And that's why she let me mobilize and take orders for these useless Knights." As he exchanged disgusted looks at Siegfried. He sighed, "They don't make 'em like they used to." And continued, "And the other was sent to seize the 'misbehaving' Host. We've already arrested them, all that's left is bringing back the abused monster and quite possibly deport them from the country." Joker explained. "So why send a fourth of your forces here to attack me?" Siegfried growled in irritation. "Well, I wanted to play a little prank, like we used to ol' pal! Now, ain't me, Jack Frost and you are work buddies before your leave?" "We are, but I just don't like you, Joker." He scoffed, as he knelt down and picked up a piece of debris, "Right, right you were always the solo-type, eh? Speaking of Jack. He goes by a new name to keep an eye on you?" Siegfried kept silent on the matter as he still looked at him with a neutral expression with a hint of irritation in his eyes, Joker grinned widely with malicious gleam in his eyes. "I'll take that silence as a yes. You know since we're both member of the 12, I'm obligated to tell you that several Anti-Monster/Human Organizations are popping up left, right and center in the numerous places, and Japan is no different." His left eye glowed a faint purple light with a sick and psychotic smile on his face, "Don't worry, I'll pull back my forces. A security transport is on its way, to transport Ms. Taurus. Oh yeah, about the damages? The Organization will handle it." He clapped his hands and the medical unit came to round up the incapacitated Knights. "You still haven't lost your edge, Reaper. I look forward to the next time we'll play." And he disappeared in the bright light outside. The soldier's medics rounded up the unconscious men and women and they later retreated back and a horde of revving engines cars later faded in the distance. Siegfried sat on the side of the wall exhausted and sleep deprived. He sighed deeply and said, "Glad that's over..." He slouched at the wall and beginning to lose consciousness and drifted to sleep.

After sometime passed, someone was trying to wake him up. "Psst! Hey... hey..." then louder, "Wake up!" yelled by someone, "You look really damn peaceful, when you're sleeping eh, Freddie?" when his vision cleared up, he saw a face of a man in his early-20's, gleaming silver hair and cheeky and cheerful expression. "Mr. Heinz...? What the...?" He moved from his sleeping position and he immediately fell down. "Where am I? What's going on...?" wondered by Siegfried. "Well, looks like Joker's "jokes" have gone a little bit too far, eh?" with a wry expression on his face. He groaned in tiredness, "Where's Ms. Taurus? Where's Lily?" Mr. Heinz tried to stop Siegfried from moving and he calmly replied. "Well for starters, Lily is sleeping soundly in her room, the medics took care of her when she was found lying unconscious on your bed after inhaling the sleeping gas. And don't worry, after busting through your room we safely escorted Ms. Taurus back to the MRPA HQ, when she woke up and before she left, she offered me a note and wanted to give it to you." Mr. Heinz, gave the note to Siegfried and it read: 'To the kind Mr. Siegfried. Thank you, for not only feeding me when I was hungry, for calming me down when I was panicked, for guiding me to a safe place. For treating my wounds as well. You have my eternal gratitude Mr. Siegfried. Thank you and meeting someone like you, to me, that's a once in a Blue Moooon.' Siegfried gazed at the note and softly said, "I... I wonder if I made the right thing... Mr. Heinz, tell me: Did I make the right thing?" Mr. Heinz grunted in satisfaction, "Who knows, Freddie. That's up to your heart to decide, whether it was the right thing or not." He wisely said and Siegfried looked at him with a hint of sadness and confusion. "She will not remember what happened here," as he huffed in his cigarette, "In order to prevent future mental trauma, she'll only remember of how you treated her, apparently the sleeping gas made her memories all fuzzy after her waking up." remembered by Mr. Heinz. He grunted in pain, "That's for the best." Heinz continued, "Indeed so, she may not remember what the entirety of what she was thankful for you. But..." He glanced at Siegfried, "...but she does remember that you guided her when she was lost, you fed her when she was hungry, you gave her water for her thirst, and tended to her wounds."

Siegfried shifted uncomfortably in his bed, "I don't know why I did that. But I do remember my Mentor's teachings." He waited for him to finish, "And that is...?" he replied, "Don't be a cunt." He chuckled, "Good advice."

"Please tell me the Org will fix the house?" pleaded by Siegfried. Mr. Heinz smiled in confirmation, "Of course!" He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard those words, "Thank goodness. I was afraid of spending money on damages I didn't do." And he glanced at Mr. Heinz, and he asked another question, "How about that abusive Host? Did he got arrested?" He huffed and puffed the cigarette, "He broke the law not just one but four of 'em. Of course, he got arrested, and he'll be in jail for two to four years maybe even five, depending on the charges he got slammed. And the other hosts that previously harbored Ms. Taurus. Abusive Hosts aren't common around here, especially since they only were revealed for like what? 4-5 years ago?" Siegfried grunted in agreement, "What you said is true, Heinz there is going to be plenty of racial discrimination around here and around the world as well." He had a wry smile, "Hidden but it exists and prevalent." Mr. Heinz put out his old cigarette and fished out a fresh stick and a lighter from his pocket, picked one up and lit it and continued smoking from the backyard window. "These are stressful times, Freddy boy. I'm not getting paid enough for this shit." As he said that he chuckled while smoking a cigarette. "This is the first time I've smoked an entire pack on a single day! Man, I should quit smoking... Anyways, you don't have to worry about anything, the repair team here'll fix everything!" He gave him a wide and goofy grin and Siegfried just grunted and laid back down to rest. "I see..."