The Zoo was closed on that day, it gave them some time to investigate while no one was around. They got permission to investigate the area, after telling the owners that it was about the Mysterious Feline." The blood ends here, master," Genos said as he scanned the spot just in front of the doors to the entrance. Saitama was staring down at the said substance with his simplistic features and hummed in thought.

"Are you sure? Look," Sai stated and pointed to a fainter trail that led away from the more visible one. His disciple turned around and saw how the faint line of blood pointed in the opposite direction, this caused the cyborg to narrow his gaze.

"It's possible that she bled in more than one place. Maybe Speed O' Sound Sonic got her somewhere else. Then again if that were true, wouldn't two blood trails lead into one direction...?" Genos questioned, looked over at Vei for just a moment, and noticed her glaring at him from the corner of her eyes, behind those nearly dimmed shades.

After she realized he saw her, her expression went from cautious to annoyed with a small hint of pink on her cheeks. "What...?" Vei asked rather rudely and crossed her arms. She stood before a window that exposed monkeys from within the building and animal cries could be heard inside.

"Vei, every time you stare at me, your heat signatures rise. Why? If it were a fever, your signatures would be high regardless if you're staring at me," The cyborg replied and fully faced her. He saw her mouth open to speak but, rattling from the bushes nearby occurred. He quickly jerked around, spotted heat signatures within the bush, and immediately prepared an attack from the palm of his hand. Just before he could shoot, though, a voice resonated.

"If Rin's eyes are that of a feline, then look for them in another person's eyes!" Out came Sonic from the bushes jumping high into the air, chucking out kunai towards Vei. Her eyes widened and a small sound escaped her lips, before attempting to move out of the way. Much to her good luck, Saitama stepped in and easily caught them by their sharp ends

Shit, for a second there I thought I was done for! If I had used the afterimage technique by accident, then I would've been exposed! Vei exclaimed in her head and narrowed her eyes.

"Why'd you attack her?" Sai asked and held up the kunai, staring back at the ninja with his simple features.

The said ninja landed before the three and stared directly at the woman. "Why? Because, what other way is there to expose someone's true identity, then putting them into danger?" His mouth being uncovered, Sonic smirked and lowered his features so shade could veil over his gaze. "Isn't it strange that she's wearing sunglasses when it's not even real sunny out?~" He chuckled, folded his arms, and saw her expression waver for just a moment.

OOOOH no... No-no-no-no, he is NOT touching the sunglasses... A small hint of panic began to rise in her system, as she mentally spoke. Now she fully faced them all and looked at everyone. Their eyes were all suddenly fixed on her suspiciously.

"She did say before, that her eyes are sensitive to lighting. That's why she wears them," Sai commented and gave a bored expression. Genos however was curious, to say the least... He wanted to know what her eyes looked like, it was only for safety measures. To reassure Rin wasn't right under their noses, spying on them and covering her own tracks behind their backs.

"I want to know what your eyes look like... Vei, please?" The cyborg asked, making her nervousness worsen.

Damn, how am I gonna get out of this?! Both Genos and Sonic want to see my eyes, if that ninja didn't then he wouldn't have said anything about it right?! Alright Vei, don't panic! Breathe... She exclaimed in her mind and softly exhaled through her nose. "Listen... If I take my sunglasses off, they'll hurt so much that I won't even be able to keep them open. I can try...but no promises," She hated this but she had no choice in the matter. Before she got to reach up to her shades, Sonic spoke up.

"Wait..." He said, disappeared, and reappeared behind her. Her arms got lifted up from under the armpits and she was held back, it surprised her. "One of you grab them, I'll hold her back," he added.

Saitama just sweatdropped and kept that simple expression on his face. "She was going to take them off herself, you know..." Both he and Genos had an oh my word face, as they watched Vei get held back against her will.

"No. If she were to do it, then she'd probably change her eyes somehow! Though she also could've put contacts on to hide her true eyes beforehand..." He said to himself at the end of his sentence and narrowed his gaze.

"WILL YOU LET GO ALREADY?!" She hollered with irritation written on her face. She was about to kick at his crotch from behind when Genos spoke up and made her halt.

"Hold on," The cyborg said and walked up to her. Vei's eyes widened more and more as he came closer. Feeling nervous by each passing second, her eyes tightly shut and she felt her shades get taken off. "Can you open your eyes?" He asked with a strict look to his features and stood there waiting for a reply.

"Of course not, I've already told you I couldn't! I-" Before she could finish, Saitama used his gloved red hand, opened one of her eyes with his index finger and thumb. Everyone gasped! Saitama and Genos both gawked at her slits, staring at her astonished face. "W-What?" Acting as though she had no idea what was going on, she knew they can see her cat eyes. Her other one opened and both her eyes blinked, worriedly but cautiously having her attention on the two.

"Your eyes are the same as Rin's but, the slits in them are wider than hers. Are you her sister? Are you two related? Twins perhaps or maybe mother and daughter?" Genos continued on, asking about possible relations she has with her. Sonic let go, fast-walked next to Genos, and his eyes widened.

The ninja's finger pointed directly at her and faint flushes dusted his cheeks. "You're her! You have to be, there's no one else with those eyes except Rin! Admit it, you're her!" He was jumping too fast on the case, or so they thought... Despite guessing correctly, Genos and Saitama thought he was assuming without having any evidence.

"Oi, don't just jump to conclusions!" Sai rose his voice then sighed and patted Genos's shoulder, indicating he did a good job. "Genos is right, there's a lot of questions on this. Too many and assuming right away isn't a good idea." Finishing his sentence, all heads turned towards him and stood there pondering...well, except Vei of course.

She, on the other hand, was too busy screaming in her head. SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT! What am I gonna do now?! What excuse or lie can I pull out of my butt this time?! Damn, I'm in a deep hole right now! YOU STUPID NINJA! Mentally panicking, the girl had gritted teeth in view and shocked eyes.

"Either she's acting or her personality's different, master. Someone with a personality like Rin's, couldn't be the same person as her unless it's all an act," Genos began then looked to his side at his teacher, with a contemplative stare.

"That's true..." Sai said, glanced over at Vei for a second, and leaned into the cyborg's ear with a whisper. "Let's stay here until night. Rin should show up since her blood stopped here." With that, Genos nodded to his master's words and Sai looked at Vei with a friendly smile. "It doesn't matter if your eyes look the same as hers. What's important is that we get evidence of who she is. You said before you didn't know her in person, right?" He asked, kept his lazy posture present, and stepped away from the cyborg.

"Yeah... I only know about her since the news keeps bringing her up," She lied, frowned, and formed that cautious stare. Her slits narrowed, soon a sigh escaped her lips and her hand scratched her scalp.

"Why did you lie to us about your eyes?" Sonic asked and crossed his arms against his chest, frowning all the while.

"Because... I didn't want to show my eyes to the public. Don't need people getting the wrong idea about me, thinking I'm a monster or I'm the mysterious feline." This time it wasn't a lie, she had a different meaning being her second reason but she made it sound like she didn't want people thinking she was Rin and have them pester her.

"Ah, I get it... So it's kind of like when I was accused of being a part of that gang that stole my look," Sai said with an index finger directed her way and grinned, shifting his weight right after.

"I...guess? Yeah, accusing me..." Her simple agreement made silence surround the atmosphere to occur. All was quiet for a good while until Vei started to walk towards the doors and took her shades back from Genos. "I'm gonna check out the animals, have fun...investigating." With that, she entered the building and left the other three outside. She looked at the snakes, lions, gorillas, penguins, and even the tigers... Ironically enough.

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Ebon Metal was seen leaning over a table with chemistry tubes and a boiling pot to the side. "No, no, no no, I need more! A single hair strand wasn't enough." His hands were both flat on the table and his hidden gaze stared down at the hair strand through a microscope. "I need some blood, it'd be more precise than a single strand of hair..." he added. Ebon was in a barely lit room with scanning machines of all kinds in it.

Lab tables, embalming tools of different types littering them, and lamps hovering over notes that laid on a desk in a corner. He rose to his full height and paced over to the corner desk, with his gradient cape under his crown swaying roughly. He grabbed one of his notes and read its contents, with exposed excitement in his movements. "Same strength, similar eyes but hot-headed and cold." He began, pacing with long strides back and forth in the room.

"Her personality is indeed different and there are no signs of acting, no signs of the mysterious feline showing herself at all. I have to see the mysterious feline tonight, I must get information on her. How she acts, what she does, her personality, a small piece of her DNA, and more. First I must find Vei, I need a blood sample, and the best way to do that is if I approach her myself in this armor of mine. She'll grow hateful and distant towards me if I'm in my casual clothes. She doesn't know who I am, so meeting her in his outfit will benefit me. She only knows me as Gratta Quall but, she doesn't know who I really am," He explained to no one in particular, with a finger to his chin and masked eyes focused on his notes. It was no lie, he truly did blush when he met her in person and wearing his casual clothes.

The man paused in his step, thinking about Vei and her attitude. "Feisty..." His mumbled word escaped his masked mouth. A small mew echoed near his feet and he looked down, seeing his pet cat, walk towards his feet. It was gray with black spots, it was short hair and really tiny. It kept making trills and cute mews as it brushed against his legs. He knelt down and petted the little guy, forming a kind smile behind his helmet. "Feisty...hot-headed... Cold but, I bet she could be just as sweet as any tamed or raised cat. A kitten with dull claws is what she is. One who is but a stray and trying to survive all on her own... Not trusting those around her and biting the hand that feeds if one were to show generosity," His lowered voice seemed as though he was in deep thought.

He didn't realize he was actually admiring her traits, finding her interesting despite the mystery she holds. When recognition hit him, his hand stopped petting the cat and he froze in his position. "What am I saying...? Why am I talking as though she has stolen my heart?! We only met once, it'll take more than that to break the steel walls around it! No, I want to solve this mystery and I can't let something so trivial like this distract me," He said angrily and clenched his fist.

Ebon rose to a stand and faint meows murmured in the atmosphere. "After I figured Rin and Vei out, I'll start my plans... Seeing that I've finally found Gaia's daughter," He added, walked past the scene and his cape flailed harshly after he swatted it away. "Igilous!" The man called out with demand in his voice and rushed out of the doors. "We're leaving, bring a needle with you! I'm going to draw some blood..." Adding to his sentence, the scene changed and showed Vei.

It was nearing dinner time now, it was a bit past six o'clock and the girl herself was staring face to face with a tiger behind glass. "I feel so sorry for them... I bet they want to be free again. Tch... Damn bastards capturing animals for display. That irks me. Why can't people leave animals alone?" An irk mark was throbbing on her head while one eye twitched behind her shades. Many other tigers roamed inside but the one she stared at, was acting as though it was reading her or at least trying to if it weren't for those sunglasses... Yes, she put them back on after she entered. She didn't want to risk anything.

Vei turned and looked around. It was dead, no sight of the three guys, she guessed she wandered too far and possibly got lost. So the woman sighed, closing her eyes and irritably walking towards the open space where benches sat. The Zoo had no lights on, it being dark gave her an advantage since she could see in it. She sat down at one of them, leaned over with her elbows on her knees and palms holding her head up. Man, what am I gonna do...? They almost found out about Rin, if I hadn't said anything. Her mental words sounded as she sat there in silence. I need to tell Rin that they're gonna be here. She must have gotten in a rough fight to earn this cut, I'm just glad this shirt of mine covered it up. At least this isn't as bad as getting my ribs fractured... Adding to her thoughts, her hand lifted up and grasped her bicep gently.

Her eyes shut for a moment, a sigh came from her nose and her sunglasses got taken off. She sat there for a good bit, pondering on hidden thoughts about Rin and the stress she felt. "Loneliness can be a burden..." A deep but clear voice caught her off guard and her eyes widened upon hearing it. It felt like the voice came from behind her, sounding familiar to Gratta's. She stood up and turned around, lips barely parted in surprise. No one was there... Nothing but darkness lingered in the space before her. That and some tropical-looking plants that aligned against the walls.

"Who's there...?" She asked, her slits viewing every aspect of the area she was in. No one could be seen... Great, I think I'm going crazy now... First, a voice that sounded like Rin's and now a voice that was similar to Quall's.  She said in her head and narrowed her eyes. "Loneliness can be a burden, huh...?" she repeated after it. Her hand got placed over her closed gaze, finding it annoying that she keeps hearing these voices.

"You feel alone, endlessly fighting to survive with no care to get close to anyone. You're cold, your distant, you refuse to let others in..." It spoke again, making her head instantly lift up and her hand lowering.

"Where are you...?" She asked, hoping to get an answer but none came. Grumbling, she sat back down on the bench and stared up at the ceiling.

"You're mysterious. You hide behind sunglasses to shield your eyes from the world, in fear of what comments you'll receive on them. Why so afraid...when you hold strength to cause enough fear into others, to make others stray and keep quiet about you?" It spoke again, only this time she was able to pick up the voice owner's whereabouts. Justin the corner of her eye was a black silhouette, it startled her. Even with her heightened senses as a cat, she still couldn't detect him. Her head looked over and saw his blackened figure sitting on the other side of the bench, his shoulder nearly brushing hers. She noticed some kind of leather material draping beside her over the edge of the bench, it was attached to the stranger.

"Who are you and what do you want...?!" She was getting irritated now. Anger was growing more visible with each passing moment, on her face. Before she could even react, he stood up and disappeared into the darkness. She too got on her feet and quickly turned to face the bench.

"I want you..." It was too quick for any thought to process in her head. Her eyes widened upon hearing the voice behind her and as soon as she went to face the man, she got spun around by him. Within a second she got pinned to a wall and felt a needle pierce her skin.

"Gah! Damn it!" She hollered out, not from the needle injection but from feeling the pressure of his force. She was strong, which was why he used so much force to pin her; one arm was pressed against the wall while the other was punctured by the needle.

"It will be over soon," The man spoke, drawing blood from her and into a small tube. He felt her kick at his shins, though it didn't even seem to faze him in the least. She thrashed about and tried to break free from his grasp but it was all in vain. The needle was taken out and he got in her face, his silver crown and sharp teeth looking-part that covered his mouth were barely noticeable in the dark. Regardless she was just barely able to see him. With her being able to see in the dark, everything that was black was lit up green like night vision so no matter how much she tried... He still blended in with the surroundings.

"Let go of me!" She yelled in his face, gritted her teeth into view, and burned the image of his crown and mouth compartment into her brain.

He hesitated, letting go of her one arm but kept the other pinned. It was as if he was thinking hard on something. He stayed close to her face for a moment until he finally let go. "This won't be our last meet..." The shadowed man stated and backed away, fading into the blackened atmosphere. Leaving her alone once more and having her recall those words he spoke. He was gone, so she checked her arm, and right where the crease was, blood had been drawn.

"This won't be our last meet... The hell? Does he mean we'll meet again? Damn, he got blood from me? Why? How come he was talking about loneliness earlier...? Am I really that easy to read or something?" She asked no one in particular, then shook her head. "I need to go home... Before it gets too late. I need some food too," Adding to her speech, Vei put her sunglasses back on then wandered around until she found the exit.

Some time had passed, she told the three guys she was heading home and left the Zoo. Of course, they had their debates but Saitama let her leave anyway and made the other two shut up. So now she was at home, got done eating her meal, and was in bed. Vei tossed and turned for a while, thoughts about that stranger occurring in her mind made her do so. She already made a note for Rin to read, so she was already prepared for tomorrow. "Rin, was that you? Is that why you were saying be careful? That you felt something strange earlier? Did you know something was bound to happen and didn't like the feeling? Was that you... Or my common sense...?" She asked in a low, tired voice and gradually closed her eyes. Vei already put that on the note, questioning Rin about that voice she heard in her head before. 

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter!~ Don't forget to leave a comment, I'm always happy to hear from my readers! \o/