Michael and Ruby had been wondering around for a while before finally finding a shop which sold squeaky bears. Stepping in he looked around at the slightly overwhelming array of toys.

“Ok Ruby,” he said looking about, “which one of these would your sister most appreciate? Also what do you think we should get Iris? Do you reckon she’d like one of these?”

Ruby had been rather dilligantly looking for the perfect squeaky bear for her big sister. She knew it had to be durable and to be able to stand the teeth of a wolf. Ruby felt her fox ears perk up underneath her hat when she saw a squeaky deer.

Ruby picked it up and found it was cheaper than the squeaky bears. Proably because they werent as popular with the kids. But Ruby was thinking of it more as a calming mechnaism for Emerald when she needed to hunt something.

"How about this for Emmy?" Ruby asked, showing Shield the squeaky deer which looked to be tough as well as adorable.

Michael smiled at Ruby as she held up what she’d found. Considering Emerald’s wolfen side it looked to be just right. “Perfect,” he said as he took it from her, “Do you want to look for something for Iris or go elsewhere for that?”

He went and paid for the toy, then came back to Ruby and waited to see whether she wanted to go off and find something else or keep looking among the multitude of squeaky animals here.

Ruby pondered this for a moment, and even though she was a little scientific genius when it came to robots she was still a thirteen year old who never really had a childhood after she was taken by Fusionist. Ruby began to look around the toy store, eyes filled with child like wonder.

She walked past one of those creepy talking parrot dolls that imitated the fox girl's humming. Ruby jumped backwards, looking around before noticing the parrot. She poked it and it started talking again.

"Man I dont even make things this annoying." Ruby said, poking the thing irritably.

She then noticed a light up bouncy toy and immediatly pounced on it. She bounced the ball, watching it light up.

"Hmm...if I get two of these and that snow globe over there I can not only have something for Iris but I can play with one bouncy ball and study the other." Ruby thought this through for a moment before grabbing the items. She payed for them with her own money and walked back over to Michael.

"I got Iris something and I got a toy to....study."

Michael smiled at Ruby, “To study, of course. Nothing to do with the fact you think there’re fun to play with. Though why have you bought two?” He grinned to show he was only teasing.

“Well that’s that then, let’s head back to the mansion. Maybe I’ll have time to wrap Emerald’s present before she wakes up.” Heading back outside they started walking towards home when someone called out from an alley.

“Well, well,” came a deep growling voice, “If it isn’t my puppy’s little sister.” Out of the shadows stepped a large and intimidating man. He had shoulder length black hair with red tips, and his teeth seemed to be red tipped as well.

Staring out at them with dark red eyes he demanded, “Where’s my puppy Ruby?”

Ruby was about to say something else to michael in retort when she heard the voice. There was only one man that she knew called Emerld his puppy and that was Bloodfang. Ruby growled at him, ears flat.

"None of your buisness Bloodfang! You sick, perverted freak!" Ruby clenched her fists trying to look intimidating as possible.

Michael looked in confusion from Ruby, to Bloodfang, and then back to Ruby. “Who is this guy Ruby?” he asked, stepping forward slightly so he could get between Bloodfang and Ruby if the man lunged.

Bloogfang let out a low growl, “Tell me where my puppy is or I’ll have to force it out of. We have unfinished business that needs to be concluded” he said with a wicked grin.

When Michael stepped forward he looked at him as if for the first time. “Back off boy or I’ll have to deal with you as well, and believe me you don’t want that.” He flexed his muscles at Michael in a threatening manner.

Ruby backed up a bit. "His name is Bloodfang, I cant tell you all the details but all in all he tried to do something to Emmy against her will."

Ruby charged herself up with electricity, it crackling around her body.

"You cant force her to love you!" Ruby shouted at Bloodfang.

“Just you watch me,” Bloodfang spat back as eh took a step forward, “If you tell me where Emerald is I won’t hurt you, much.” He said the last part with a cruel smile. The man clenched both fists, readying himself for a fight.

“Ruby,” said Michael calmly as he set his bag down to one side, “I want you to leave, now. I’ll deal with Bloodfang, you just get out of here.” Stepping forward he put himself between Ruby and Bloodfang.

Ruby felt her ears flatten. She took the bag from the side of Micahel.

"I want to help though! I can help Michael!" Ruby exclaimed. She didnt want to be pushed aside again, not this time.

“Sorry Ruby,” said Michael, not taking his eyes off Bloodfang, “but not this time. If you’re here someone will get hurt, either you or me. On my own I can focus just on stopping him. Please Ruby, I don’t want to take you back injured, just think of what your sister will do to me?”

Bloodfang sneered as he stepped up to Michael and back handed him into the alley wall. “You’re not going anywhere little one until you’ve told me where I can find my puppy.”

Ruby took a deep breath and began to count backwards. She was trying to calm herself down before a massive surge of electricity surged through her and shot at Bloodfang.

Without looking back she bolted back to the institute, wanting to get Emerald to safety before it was too late

Bloodfang howled in pain as electricity surged through him. when the pain subsided he was about to set off in pursuit of Ruby when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. Turning around in confusion he saw Michael standing their smiling at him.

Michael’s first punch hit Bloodfang right between the eyes, sending him reeling. The second caught him in the stomach. Growling Bloodfang grabbed the side of Michael’s head and slammed it into a lamppost.

Michael hit back, catching Bloodfang in the jaw. Howling in frustration Bloodfang picked Michael up and threw him out into the street. He was hit midair by a speeding taxi and knocked flying down the street.

Bloodfang grinned as Michael skidded along to a halt, only for the grin to disappear as Michael got back up. Dusting himself off Michael stepped back onto the sidewalk and headed back towards Bloodfang.

With a growl of rage Bloodfang charged at Michaelm knocking people aisde to get to him. he delivered a huge punch to Michael’s stomach which took him off his feet. in response Michael slammed an elbow into Bloodfang’s nose.

Bloodfang reeled back, blood streaming down his face from his now broken nose. holding out a hand he gathered the blood and shaped it into a knife. he lunged forward with the weapon, driving it into Michael’s chest.

Bloodfang stared dumbfounded at the knife which had sliced clean through the boys clothes, but not even scratched his skin. Michael just grinned at him, before jabbing him in the eye.

people were now forming a ring around them, watching the fight in amazement. some had turned and run when they saw Bloodfang make the knife, but most continued to watch, fascinated by the pair of brawling mutants.

Howling in pain Bloodfang lashed out with the knife slashing one of the onlooker’s throats. The crowd gasped in horror and began to panic. “Run,” Michael yelled at them, “get out of here!”

The crowd took his advice and scattered. Bloodfang had an arm extended towards the man’s slit throat and was drawing the blood out of it and forming it into a chain. He extended the chain out and wrapped it round one of Michael’s arms.

Grabbing the other end Bloodfang swung Michael around and smashed him through a shop window. Michael flew through the glass and slammed into a rack of clothes, knocking it over and tangling himself in it.

Untangling himself Michael shouted an apology to the owner before heading back outside. The streets were deserted except for a large, angry looking German Sheppard. Michael worked out that Bloodfang was the dog when it lunged at him.

He was knocked off his feet and landed with the big dog standing on his chest. Bloodfang lunged for his throat, clamping his teeth around it. But biting as hard as he could he couldn’t tear Michael’s throat out.

Michael lashed out with his fists again, slamming them into Blodofang’s ribs. Bloodfang winced in pain, but didn’t let go. Michael kept hammering until it became too much and Bloodfang released him and jumped back.

“You won’t stop me,” he growled, “I’ll still get my puppy and she’ll be mine. You’ll see,” With that Bloodfang shot off into an alley. Michael picked himself up off the ground and looked around.

the street was deserted and he could hear sirens in the distance. Figuring he’s better get going while the going was good he set off towards the mansion. He hoped that Ruby had gotten there alright.