Last time on Spirit of a Hero and the Heart of a Saiyan: Rebirth, the time had finally come for Yuno's first-ever mission. After hours of waiting that had seriously driven his patience to its very limits, he was rewarded with a ferocious battle with a similar-tailed warrior, leaving him battered but victorious—or so it seemed.

But what comes next for our young hero

Find out...now!

https://youtu.be/XepybcU039k

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It was late in the afternoon when Yuno's eyes slowly opened once again, met by the blinding light of what he could only guess was the complex's medical infirmary. He waited patiently as his eyes adjusted to his new surroundings before slowly sitting up, a wave of pain shooting all across his body as he did so.

Yuno: Ow...my...everything.

Laura: Well, good morning, sleeping beauty, you look like shit.

Yuno delicately turned his head, finding Laura sitting in a nearby chair with a smirk playing on her lips.

Yuno: Yeah, and I feel like it, too. How long was I out?

Laura: It's already the middle of the day.

Hearing that, Yuno's eyes widened, and he blinked in surprise.

Yuno: Damn that long!? And you've been watching over me this whole time?

Laura: What? Oh god, no, I've got a million more important things to do. We've just been taking turns, is all, and this one just so happened to be mine plus a part of me knew you'd pull through alright.

He just stares at her completely deadpan, not knowing whether to take all that as a compliment or an insult.

Yuno: Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence, Laura I'm feeling so much better already.

She could practically feel the sarcasm coming off of him and rolled her eyes, chuckling.

Laura: Hey, if it makes you feel any better...I'm glad you're not dead, Yuno.

Yuno: Aww, Laura, you do care.

Yuno wipes a single tear from his eye before instantly leaning back as Laura points her claws right at his throat.

Laura: Shut up before I put you back to sleep.

As Yuno leaned back, a cautious grin danced on his lips, and a glimmer of mischief sparked in his eyes as he gently moved her claws to the side, knowing full well by now not to push things too far when it came to Laura

Yuno: Hehe, alright, alright, I'll stop, but seriously, Laura, thanks for watching over me. I mean it.

He caught her eyes warmly as she glared at him, shooting her a contagiously idiotic smile, forcing the hint of a smile to tug at the corner of her lips despite her best to squash it down and save face before she finally gave in, pulling back her claws and crossing her arms as she turned away from him, the smallest traces of color brushing onto her cheeks.

Laura: Yeah, whatever, dumbass don't get used to it. I just didn't wanna have to deal with Sam and Miles being the only guys around here again, that's all.

Yuno chuckled and nodded at her, letting her have this one before swinging his legs over the side of the bed, only to instantly curl over in pain, holding onto his right side.

Yuno: Ah! Why do my ribs hurt so much

Suddenly, as if on cue, the door to the infirmary flung open, revealing a less than thrilled-looking Widow

Widow: Because you've got three broken ones and a concussion.

Yuno winced just hearing her words and slowly guided his hand along his side, feeling each broken rib for himself before glancing back at her.

Yuno: Yeah...that feels about right.

Widow: We had Viv check you out while you were unconscious, and after hearing from the others about how they found you, I'd say it looks like you got off pretty lucky, kid.

Yuno: Oh really? I'll let you know when I feel it.

As Widow approached him, her expression softened slightly, though her demeanor remained stern.

Widow: OK, lucky might not be the exact word to use, but considering the alternative, I'd still say so. Now, I need you to listen carefully. You're going to have to take it easy and sit on the bench for a while.

Yuno: What!? You can't be serious. What if that guy from the jewelry store comes back? Or some other crazy bad guy comes along, and the others need my help taking them down.

Widow: They were handling things just fine on their own before you came along, kid. I'm sure they'll be fine until you get back to one hundred percent.

Yuno: Well, then, consider me one hundred percent right now.

He smirked and slowly but thoroughly rummaged around his Gi, making sure to check through every nook, cranny, and seem.

Yuno: Come on, I know I put it in here somewhere.

As he searched, Laura gave Widow the most concerning side-eye and mimed to her that Yuno had seemingly gone insane before finally, he smiled.

Yuno: Ha, I got it!

Deep from his sleeve and despite a quick surge of pain shooting across his body, Yuno pulled out a single senzu bean, holding it up high triumphantly in the air.

Yuno: Senzu Bean, just what the doctor ordered.

As Yuno proudly displayed the senzu bean, Laura's eyebrows shot up in surprise, her curiosity piqued.

Laura: Senzu, what?

Yuno grinned, holding the bean between his fingers as if it were a precious gem.

Yuno: Just watch.

And just like that, he popped the Senzu bean and chewed before anyone could say anything else. Seconds went by of pure silence as Widow and Laura watched seemingly nothing happen until, in the blink of an eye, Yuno leaped out of his bed, and his Ki instantly erupted out of his body, stronger and brighter than ever before now fully healed.

Yuno: Oh man, I love these things! So this means no benching, right?

He turned toward Widow and Laura, a huge grin spreading across his face, while the former stared at him in utter disbelief and Laura just chuckled.

Laura: This guy is fucking weird.

Rebirth:

As the afternoon faded into evening, night swiftly descended again, and Yuno, riding atop the flying nimbus alongside Miles swinging beside him, glided across the Manhattan skyline, vigilantly scanning the streets below. Minutes of nothingness flew by yet felt like an eternity, so Yuno started doing tricks and twirls in the air to give himself at least something to do.

Miles: Don't you get dizzy doing that?

Yuno: Meh, not really. I got used to it a long time ago

Miles: What about if you fall off, though?

Yuno: Oh, I'm sure Nimbus will catch me before anything bad happens. Right, buddy?

He patted the soft golden cloud, only receiving a quiet hum as a response while they turned the corner. The two young heroes continued to fly for hours on end as they patrolled the city, just waiting for something, anything, to happen. Still, it seemed like, in a shocking twist for New York, it was actually giving them a quiet night, or at least it was until suddenly, out of the corner of Yuno's eye.

Yuno: Hey, Miles, I know about the mutant turtles in the sewers, but have you ever heard of anything about mutant cats?

Miles: Uh...no, why?

Yuno: Nothing, I'm just making sure. Uhh...what about a person wearing a black cat suit with silver hair?

Miles looked at him, confused for a moment before his eyes widened as something seemed to click.

Miles: Oh, her! God, don't tell me you saw her. She's given the other Spidey and me so many headaches.

Yuno: Uhh...

Suddenly, down below them, a swarm of police cars sped by as the cat-like figure leaped across another rooftop.

Yuno: ...No.

In an instant, Yuno sped toward the direction the figure had gone, the whaling of sirens blasting below him only fueling his energy and excitement even more in the thrill of the pursuit. Meanwhile, Miles, caught completely off guard by Yuno's sudden burst of speed, struggled to keep up with the Nimbus.

Miles: Yuno, wait up!

Yuno's adrenaline surged as he chased after the mysterious figure across the rooftops of Manhattan. His senses heightened, and he could feel the rush of wind against his face as he maneuvered effortlessly through the air, his keen eyes fixed on the agile silhouette ahead. Miles, struggling to keep pace on his own, called out from behind, his voice barely audible over the noise of the bustling city below.

Miles: Yuno, slow down! We need to stick together!

Unfortunately for Miles, though, Yuno was fully committed as he angled Nimbus sharply around a corner, narrowly missing an antenna tower as he closed the distance to the fleeing figure. The black-clad woman with silver hair leaped gracefully from one rooftop to another, effortlessly navigating the urban landscape. Yuno pushed Nimbus to its limits, dodging obstacles and leaping across wide gaps between buildings.

As they neared an open plaza, the mysterious figure finally came to a halt, turning to face Yuno with a confident smirk. Her eyes glinted mischievously in the dim light of the city.

Yuno: Hey! Stop right there!

The woman chuckled, her voice carrying a playful tone.

Black Cat: Oh, it looks like I've got a new playmate and a handsome one too.

Yuno's face instantly flushed red as her comment caught him completely off guard, nearly sending him flying off the Nimbus as it came to a sudden halt before he leaped off, clearing his throat and trying to regain his composure. As he looked at her more closely, though, Yuno quickly realized she was much younger than she looked, probably even closer to his age than anything, and for some reason, strangely...familiar.

Yuno: Uh...thanks, but that doesn't excuse whatever you're up to.

The girl chuckled again and twirled gracefully, her hair almost shining in the city lights, distracting Yuno for a moment as he seemingly found himself lost simply watching her before he stopped catching his eyes with a smirk.

Black Cat: Oh, come on now, I haven't done anything wrong. Can't a girl just have a fun night on the town anymore?!

She suddenly rushes toward Yuno, razor-sharp claws popping out of her gloves as she leaps into the air. Yuno swiftly moves out of the way just in time, narrowly avoiding her attack as she crashes onto the ground where he once stood. Yuno quickly put his hands up, narrowing his eyes as he focused on her movements. It was obvious she was fast and agile, but compared to the tailed boy from the night before well, Yuno just smiled.

He anticipated her next move, watching as Black Cat's leg flexed with the smallest of movements. He heard the shifting of gravel beneath her feet. Holding his breath, then exhaling harshly, he brought his arm up just in time to block a powerful sidekick from Black Cat. Not letting up, though, she used her size to her advantage, demonstrating her superior reach as she charged forward once again. Yuno was ready this time, elbow-blocking her slash with precision.

Surprised by his counterattack, Black Cat found herself in Yuno's grip as he curled her outstretched arm over his shoulder. In response, she locked her legs in front of his, halting their movement.

Black Cat: How about we stop the roughhousing and stay like this for a while?

She leaned in close against Yuno's back, pressing her lips against his ear, and purred.

Yuno: WHAT THE–?

Startled by her sudden advance, he immediately let go of the hold, turning to shove her back. The impact sent Black Cat skidding across the roof. Inhaling, she saw plumes of dust in the air and Yuno standing within it. Her smirk remained, growing wider at the sight.

Black: Wow, I can't believe it. Not only did you get cuter going, but you also got stronger, too.

Yuno: What are you talking about? Do I know y-

Before he could finish talking, she took off in a full sprint, swiping without care with her claws, hoping to cut and scratch Yuno. The hero quickly snapped out of it, engaging in a fierce dance with the figured feline. Dodging, weaving, and redirecting her blows, Yuno managed to keep in time with her attacks. They danced across the roof, Black Cat leading with her strikes and Yuno countering with swift movements before finally coming to an end with a well-timed block on Yuno's part, stopping Black Cat in her tracks. She swiped with her left hand, but Yuno leaned back to avoid it, causing Black Cat to spin 180 degrees, to which Yuno capitalized, kicking her back, sending her stumbling.

Black Cat stifled a groan as she steadied herself, slowly turning around to reveal that the smirk on her lips had faltered.

Black Cat: Won't you be a good boy and just stand still?!

Yuno: Why don't you be a good kitty and stop attacking me!?

Before she could retort, a glob of web fluid splattered between the two of them, forcing them both back and causing Black Cat to roll her eyes.

Black Cat: Wow, talk about a mood killer.

She turned around, and Yuno found Miles standing there...panting out of breath.

Miles: You fly...too damn fast!

As Miles caught his breath, Yuno couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's exhausted state.

Yuno: Hey, sorry about that, Miles. I got a little carried away back there.

Miles: Yeah, no kidding. Remind me to start doing more cardio.

Yuno extended a hand to help Miles up, and the two exchanged a brief nod before turning their attention back to Black Cat, who was now eyeing them both with a mixture of annoyance and amusement as she reached into her pocket.

Black Cat: Well, this sure has been fun, boys, but this gal has places to be.

She glances at Yuno for a moment, shooting him a wink before throwing a pellet on the ground, filling the entire rooftop in spoke, leaving only Yuno and Miles standing there. As it finally cleared, they exchanged a glance filled with a mix of confusion and excitement. Yuno rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, trying to shake off the unexpected encounter.

Yuno: Well, that was... something.

Miles chuckled, shaking his head.

Miles: Yeah, you see what I mean, though? She's a real headache.

Yuno nodded, still slightly flustered.

Yuno: Yeah, definitely. But uh... she was...wow.

Miles burst out laughing, unable to contain himself at Yuno's reaction.

Miles: Dude, falling for a girl on the enemy team, really?

Yuno's face reddened, and he waved his hands defensively.

Yuno: S-Shut up, will ya?! It's nothing like that. Let's just go home.

Miles grinned mischievously but relented, patting Yuno on the shoulder.

Miles: Alright, alright. Let's get outta here.

With a nod, Yuno summoned Nimbus, and the two heroes took off back into the night sky. Meanwhile, on a nearby rooftop, Black Cat watched as our tailed boy flew away.

Black Cat: Oh yeah, I call dibs.
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The next morning, Yuno decided to leave the complex early and get some breakfast outside. He found himself strolling through the lively morning streets of Manhattan. The city was slowly waking up, and Yuno enjoyed the feeling of the cool morning air against his face. He decided on a quaint little cafe nearby and stepped inside, greeted by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the buzz of early customers.

As Yuno waited for his order, he noticed a girl sitting alone at a corner table, sipping a cup of coffee. Her streaking blonde hair and confident demeanor caught his attention immediately, but what caught him most of all, similar to the girl from last night, she seemed strangely familiar to him. As Yuno approached the corner table, the woman looked up from her coffee, her sharp gaze meeting his. There was a flicker of recognition in Yuno's eyes, a sense of deja vu washing over him.

Yuno: Uh, excuse me. I know this is gonna sound a little strange, but uhh...have we met somewhere before?

The girl raised an eyebrow, her expression curious yet guarded. She studied Yuno for a moment before responding in a smooth, confident voice.

???: Hmm, I don't think so. But who knows? Manhattan can be a small world sometimes.

Yuno nodded, trying to shake off the feeling of familiarity.

Yuno: Yeah, you're right. Sorry about that. It's just...never mind. Enjoy your coffee.

Yuno turned to leave, but as he took a few steps, something nagged at him, a sense of curiosity he couldn't shake off. He paused, turning back to the girl with a hesitant smile.

Yuno: Actually, do you mind if I join you for a bit?

The girl's lips curved into a faint smile, and she gestured to the empty chair opposite her.

???: Not at all, feel free.

Yuno took a seat, and as they exchanged pleasantries, a conversation sparked between them. They talked about everything from the weather to their favorite spots in the city. Yet, amidst the casual chatter, Yuno couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to this encounter than mere chance. As they spoke, Yuno's mind wandered back to the events of the previous night, to the encounter with the mysterious figure known as Black Cat. Could there be a connection between the two? It seemed unlikely, but Yuno couldn't help but wonder.

Lost in his thoughts, Yuno almost didn't notice when the girl extended her hand toward him, a warm smile on her lips.

???: By the way, I'm Felicia. Felicia Hardy.

Yuno smiled as he shook the girl's hand, letting his thoughts fall to the wayside.

Yuno: Nice to meet you, Felicia. I'm Yuno.
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Thanks to my boy GohanBlanko  for helping me finish this chapter.