Watch Warmly three.
~0~
Tsu… really shouldn't be enjoying this… like, at all.
A war was going on, and Aizawa-sensei's plan was falling apart faster then a house of cards. (how could it be? Their Sensei was Nedzu's personal student and the smartest of his generation… or it was just a bunch of hoopla, and the guy was just a random Hobo that just so happened to wander in Aizawa's stolen cloth after having found the original's dead body… Todoroki's lunatic-level conspiracy theory was really starting to look more like the truth.
Since… Well, she couldn't remember one thing their sensei had taught them; quite honestly, she couldn't remember any fight he'd won against a villain.
Or any of his planes working…
He was either sleeping or giving them stacks of paper and telling them not to disturb him.)
…
The Frog mutant let herself sink below her bath water… Rainwater!
She couldn't handle any type of Chlorine in her water or too many minerals like copper and such. It would make her sick… like, really sick.
UA and this Reverse osmosis system for her, but the frog girl couldn't get a good soak since filling a bath would take way too long, and she didn't have any time to waste, especially with he war.
A stupid war that could've been prevented if Snipe had done the smart thing and shot Shigaraki dead. She'd heard it was a policy in the US school system.
You trespass, you're dead, and it was like that in all their buildings.
Nevertheless, this was in the past… and in the present, away from the blood and the horrors of wars, Tsu could finally get a good soak and properly hydrate as she let the mind Medicine work.
Ekadasi had told Tsu that it wasn't poisonous, she and Deku had taken it when they arrived in Gensokyo, and that a single dose could heal all mental wounds… as long as one was not born with them.
As long as you ignored her frog mutation, Stu was completely sane and probably one of the few Neurotypicals of 1A. And since she was a frog, food poisoning was not a problem.
So she took the medicine, watching for anything pointing to poisoning or drugging. If something like that happened, then she would spew out her stomach, cleaning it up to the best of her ability and stuff it back in.
Gross? Yes.
Effective? very.
But, instead of a horrible reaction, she had the… Well, the worst bad trip ever, yet the best therapeutic bout of Crying she got in her life. Whatever this drug was made, he purged all of her trauma through her tears.
Thus why she needed to soak in some sky juice to rehydrate.
She now had more respect for Deku and his four-litre water bottle.
And Ekadasi had been more then happy to help her prepare for her soak; the young woman, not much older then her, had hovered around her and Ochako with a happy smile and the same energy her cousin down in Malaysia had when she would visit.
It was endearing, and it told Tsu that… Ekadasi was… not unknown to her.
But try as she might, the frog girl could not stop thinking how she would look like Eri, given a few years.
'But… that's not possible. Eri's safe… right? All Might's taking care of her, there's no way he would fail… right?' And yet, Tsuyu was also painfully aware of how Little Eri had just… vanished one day.
Deku had no clue where she went, Aizawa kept dismissing her worry, and All Might looked guilty as fuck, but told the frog-girl that Eri was safe with his friends.
This… didn't do shit to stop her worry. But he had held the title of the number One hero the longest, so he must know what he was doing…
Right?
Suddenly, there was a knock on the lavish bathroom door. It was under a glass roof and filled with so many plants, Tsuyu felt like she was a tiny frog in a Bromeliaceae, enjoying the pool of rainwater.
If she could, Tsuyu would've gladly spent her days in the conservatory… but it seems her host finally wanted their blood.
"Froppy-nee?" Ekadasi called out, and once again, Tsuyu found it odd that the shockingly young head maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion was calling her big sister. And she could not help making a parallel with Sweet Little Eri.
Who was safe wherever Yagi-san had hidden her?
"Yes, Eri… Ekadasi." Tsuyu bit her tongue at her slip. No, the maid wasn't Eri; Eri was still a little girl approaching seven…
She hoped Eri could have a cake this year and celebrate the joyful event with all of her Heroes.
She heard the maid giggle. "May I come in? Mistress would love to have lunch with you and Ura-nee. She even sent a dress for you guys." She said as she showed Tsuyu the said dress.
It was obviously Victorian but not filled with frilled and poofy parts.
There was a corset tough, and while most girls of her class and family members would call this a torture device and the killer of many women, the frog-like hero knew better.
It was more supportive then a bra, could be worn out and was tailored to the one to wear it.
And yes, Tsu loved Corset; it had always been her dream to wear one as she prepared for a tea party with all types of fancy sandwiches, cakes and the like, preferably in a rain garden.
Unfortunately, she had no friends who shared her interest in the ancient past.
So yeah, her being in the SDM was a dream come true… until the little mistress would reveal herself as a villain and thus would have to be fought to the death…
…
Ekadasi helped her with the dress, something relatively simple and refreshingly elegant without looking too trashy. After having her hair expertly combed and tied at the end, she was led to the dining room.
There, she found Ochako talking animatedly with a young woman all dressed in purple and looking like she could not be bothered wearing something other then a nightgown and slippers; beside her was a redhead with wings sprouting from her head. The woman in purple was holding a massive book open, and from the title, it was clear it was all about Vedic astrology.
Of course.
"Ah, Finally, the last of Damodara's friends has graced us with her beautiful presence." The… young girl with hair as blue as Tomura once where. Spoke grandly, a glass filled with something… blackish red sloshing around the cup, striking to its side.
Toga had the same, and she was chugging it like a starved woman…
"I don't know anyone named Damodara." Tsuyu bluntly stated as she took her seat as close to Ochako and the mysterious woman, Eri… ak, Ekadasi pulled the chair for her.
The girls… Renuka, look at The rainy day Hero with eyes wide with surprise. "You Don't?"
"Mistress," Ekadasi interjected. "I've heard from Mother Bahula and Murasa-nee that they only managed to intercept Deku-ni above the ocean, and that was after he escaped from Toga-san's arena."
Both Heroling eyes grow wide as they experience the same surprise that the mistress of the house had gone through.
"Wait… Damodara's Deku?"
"You brainwashed him." Tsuyu accused, ready to pop out of her chair.
Renuka hid her smile behind the rim of her glass… and one beat later, she had to dodge a laser, Courtesy of the sleepy girl.
She could easily pass for Shinso's elder sisters with her hair colour and general disposition.
" *Mukyu* Remi, don't toy with them." The sleepy woman chided the youngest.
"Spoilsport," Renuka muttered with fond exasperation. "Alright. So let's start at the beginning. My name is Remilia Scarlet, Mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, and I am a real Vampire, Unlike this… fraud over there." She neglectfully gestured as Toga, clearly not thinking highly of the Vampire Coded Yandere. "Besides, miss Uraraka is my best friend and mage, Patchouli knowledge, the saviour of the great library of Alexandria and the most powerful of the witch the seven colour academy have gifted us, and Bhaktivedanta."
"Mukyu." The witch covered her now red face with her moon-adorned mob cap.
"And my head maid is… Ekadasi… to tell you more would be a surprise, but just know that she would never hurt anyone of you." At this endorsement, Ekadasi bowed demurely.
"Now, I'm sure you noticed that we all have a second set of names. This is merely a sign that we have taken the path of Bhakti Yoga, the active cultivation of our eternal link to Krishna, the supreme personality of Godhead, through acts of love, devotion and active service." She explained. "It's a bit more complicated then that, but I do not have all the time in the world, unfortunately."
"So you guys are Christians?" Tsuyu asked, remembering this girl from 2-B…
She felt… fake.
"No… Well, We practice what can be considered the first… religion. But, at the same time, Bhakti-Yoga has nothing to do with the mundane religious process; for one, we don't keep begging God for food or a better situation, but to be his servant."
"If you want more information about Sanatana-dharma or soul science, you may come to my library, and I will point you to all the beginner-friendly books I have," Purnamasi spoke up. "Just know that, while our process cleans our mind gradually of bodily illusion, it is a voluntary process and Damo… Midoriya-kun took it up over the course of many years. Maybe even decades."
"What do you mean by 'maybe decades?" Tsuyu asked, a feeling of dread pooling in the pit of her stomach.
Renuka hummed as she weighed her words, swirling the red liquid in her glass and making Toga giggle.
"I think… I should start from the beginning, just to make sure we are all on the same page… We, of the scarlet devil mansion, and anyone who can fly and shoot bullets are from a… parallel dimension called Gensokyo."
"Wonderland." Ochako whispered.
"Yes, it is a land of wondered, practically untouched by the industrial revolution." Renuka picked up. "It is a land where all ghosts, youkai, goblins and everything that goes bump in the night lurk. At first, it was thought to be a place where all forgotten and lost things would end up, and where the forgotten god, bereft of faith, would seek shelter…" The child-like vampire chuckled. "But no, Gensokyo is the natural dwelling place for all living entities that are rated above humans… and yes, Vampires and youkai belong to this category, and we also had a… let's call it a warp that can let up reach the old hell, the one with the snow and the sprawling onsen. This is where Damodara is staying usually… and yes, Damodara is, indeed, Izuku Midoriya, for after we get initiated by our Guru, He or she gives us a spiritual name is a way to assure that, at the moment of our death, we will remember the Lord, even if the only thing we remember if our name. And thus attained our true, spiritual nature" The little vampire waved her hand. "But I'm getting ahead of myself."
"Kero, you have to tell us how Deku managed to get to Gensokyo," Tsuyu asked; she just wanted to understand what the hell just happened and why Izuku…
Just… why?"
"I have another question, too," Ochako said as she got up from her chair. "Are you a Vampire? Or… is it your Quirk?"
"May I have more blood?" Toga asked, and her cup was filled once more.
The little Ojou grinned, exposing her sharp fangs. "Why, yes, I am. My sire turned me and my little sister around the Victorian era." She sighed sadly. " unfortunately, I missed my opportunity to witness God's pastime on earth. It was six hundred years ago, and I… I decline an expedition to Odissa, where they worship the Jugernaught, Jagannath, the Master of all that move, and the universes… what a Loss." She once again dismissed the topic with a wave of her hand. "But I digress, the one thing you girls have to know: I may need blood to survive, human blood, preferably." the two heroines felt the adrenaline pump in their bloodstream. "BUT, I don't want to drink from you if you don't offer. I have a big enough stockpile that I don't care for the fresh stuff, and I can't drink someone to death; I just don't have the stomach space for all this blood."
"Prove it!" Tsuyu demanded.
"No, we are at the kitchen table!" Renuka snapped, looking positively disgusted. " Truly, you youth have no table manners, at. all!"
Properly chastised. (Tsuyu had gotten asked and bullied about her stomach yeeting ability.) The frog-quirked girl sat back down, dragging Ochako with her.
"Sorry, Kero…"
Renuka sighed. "You are forgiven; you girls have survived this long in a cutthroat world made for the explicit exploitation of the fairer sex. Not only that but as a far descendent of the types, I, by nature, am not trusted." The young mistress leaned on her hands and opened her crimson eyes. "I am a Predator, and humans are my prey… of where, I gave up on the Hunt a long, long time ago… and I had hope that others, especially those gifted with a human birth, would also give up this foolish endeavour."
"It's not foolish if it's fun~" Toga spoke up as she giggled. " I get to show my Love to all, to cover them all with my favourite color…" Then she frowned, tears filling her eyes, and the glass in her hand broke. "But they hate me; everyone hates me. My mommy and daddy hated me; they hated what I was… nobody loved me because of my quirk." She liked the blood that flowed from her wound. "The only one who loved me… he was murdered."
"Yes, Bubaigawara Jin, was it?" Renika gently asked as she gestured for Ekadasi to attend to Toga's wounds. Unfazed by how Toga, in her psychosis, had taken over the narration.
The Vampire-like woman (now that they saw the real thing, it was hard to mistake a living, breathing girl for something that once had a heartbeat.) pitifully nodded.
Both Ochako and Tsuyu were hit with how… human Toga looked at this moment.
She had lost someone, someone important… someone who had shown her love and appreciation.
Someone who had died in a tragic accident… or so they had been told.
"He was murdered by Takami Keigo, wasn't he?" The blue-haired Vampire (Shigaraki… ancestor? sibling?) asked as she got up from her high-backed chair and reached Toga faster then what should be considered logical. Offering her a comforting hand as Ekadasi finished mending the bleeding wounds. "Hawk?"
Both Heroines sucked in a shocked breath.
Hawk, the number two hero, had…
Killed…
He had killed someone; sure, he was a villain, but…
Wasn't there a rule against that? Against Heroes killing civilians? No matter how bad they got?
Toga sobbed harder, and Tsu just knew those were sincere tears.
"He… Twiccy… he did nothing wrong! He never stole, he never hurt people… he didn't have any other place to go then us! We… we were his only family, and Twice saw nothing wrong in anyone; he kept wanting to kidnap more hero students cause he thought they were all so nice and polite and… and he had this huge collection of board games and… and he would play with Hawk every evening!" She stopped, biting her lips. "He killed him… Why? Just why?" She asked brokenly.
"We'll he's a villain, so, of course, they gonna-" But Ochako was interrupted by Tsu, who quickly shook her head.
"The lesser being filled with fear are always afraid of those more powerful then them." Paurnamasi suddenly spoke up, peering into a crystal ball held by the big lady devil. "This is the demoniac nature, filled with fear and envy. No matter how nice of sweet the holder of power is, as long as they are not under the control of the top ruling demon, then they are seen as a liability to be eliminated."
A shudder shook Tsuyu's spine, remembering some of the more… disturbing and unsavoury conspiracy theories Todoroki had come up with…
But… those were fake and untrue… right? The HPSC was not… they were good; they were the paragons, the ones who kept everything going smoothly and who let the Heroes do their jobs and a-and who kept Todoroki-kun with his abusive father and who buried Dabi's past.
"Well… Fuck."
"And this is why we, the great power of Gensokyo, will take over Japan, nay, the word by either love or force, our iron grip with be soft yet firm; the miscreant will taste the rod of punishment wile the innocent and those unjustly persecuted will find refuge and care against the broad bosom of the lord… as long as they follow his ruled, rule, being nice and moral at the bare minimum."
Ochako and Tsuyu jumped to their feet. Only to realize that they were tied to the chair.
"Sorry, Ura-nee, Froppy-nee. But us taking over is for everyone's benefit, trust me." Ekadasi spoke as he bowed.
"Yeah, that's what all villains say!" Ochako spat out, trying to tag her chair, only to find her fingers covered in ribbons.
"Now, now, I know it sounds alarming, but our laws are based on kindness and common sense," Renuka explained. "Do not harm any living entity except for plants and those who do harm to others, don't do nothing when you see someone you can help, and don't litter. Ask for consent for anything you do, you know, that sort of thing. Also, her Hon'rable Ekanamsa, the judge of the dead, got tired of passing judgment on child soldiers, so no, no one under the age of twenty-five will be allowed to have their… war permit."
"Where not child soldiers, where heroes!" Ochako declared boldly, and Renuka sadly shook her head.
"Maybe in ancient times, when a human would grow twice as fast, and their bodily strength was superhuman naturally, and mystic powers and magic were common among the warriors being taught at gurukul. But today, I see children with fragile bodies, barely old enough to survive in the world as it is, forced to perform tasks and endure stress and trauma even adults struggle with." The vamp spoke with great emotions, her brows creased. " Enough, I say. Today, us responsible adults will fight the wars while those too young to cope will watch as we ensure their future as being one of peace. We will still teach you how to fight demons and true villains, but for now, rest. And let us take care of the rest."
"Actually, let Krishna take care of the rest. Mukiyu." Paurnamasi piped up with a cough.
"Schematic." the blunt waved it away. "Now… I don't think either of you will be willing to eat a full meal after what I've revealed. Such a shame; it was my turn to cook."
"I don't mind eating cold, Mistress. Whatever Radharani has cooked through you's bound to be delicious!" Madan-Mohan-Mohini pipped up, causing the undead oujou to blush.
"Oh, so she still had blood in her.' Ochako taught before beating herself for it.
"Oh, hush you. Ekadasi! Bring us all to the Belvedere by Gunga Mountain." She barked at her head maid. "Let us prepare for the beautiful danmaku festival in honor of Reimu and her Family."
"Yes, mistress." the maid lowered her head, her eyes glinting with… something only a villain or AIzawa Sensei should have.
Mohini punched her hand in her fist. "Yata! I can't way to check out the big baddy. It's been centuries since I participated in an incident." she cheered.
"Indeed, the little vamp gave a fangs-filled smirk. And the next thing the two Herolings (plus the suspiciously well-behaved Vilain.) were in a mahogany belvedere overlooking the Grimm battle field where All For One was mowing down all of those he could reach, his body having being restored to perfect health.
Ochako felt sick at the sight… did they… did they lose?
'No… I just have to slap him in the dick and he'll be towed to the mesophere. Bet I could hold 'm there long enough to have the Tiamat rocket blow his ass up.'
But as she was about to jump over the railing to beat up the villain –since it was clear Endeavour was on his last dreg, and Hawk didn't seem to do much. (and Tokoyami, if the ancient ass would manage to grab Dark Shaddow, it was game over. And what the heck was Jirou doing there? Fuck! What happened?) Ekadasi stopped time.
"Eka-chan, is something the matter?" Renuka asked, dressed in a red leather overcoat over a frilly blouse and leather pants and sturdy-looking boots.
Even with her mob cap, it was clear this outfit was meant for fighting.
She was looking at her maid with concern.
"My blood… Shigaraki is using my blood; his body is still rewinding." the young maid spoke with cold anger, her red eyes gaining the same hue as burning iron.
"Hmm… now, this is unfortunate, we can't have our main event just… oh, what a joke, having one's body rewinding until oblivion. The farthest he could reach form wise is the grain his father ate that got turned into a semen. Nevertheless, we can't let him die quite yet. Ekadasi, I trust Ekarani already got notified of this… travesty." Renuka elegantly asked as she moved away from the frozen form of All For One onto the buffet table laden with oodles of delicious finger food from numerous parts of the world, taking a plate and piling the vittle as high as she could.
"Of course, we can't have our main event be canceled due to an idiots's grave mistake," Ekadasi uttered as she… reduced the time bubble until it was only All For One locked inside.
"-AAAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" Endeavour screamed in sheer confusion… along with all the heroes and sidekicks that had once been on the battle field.
"Kero? Oh God, Kyouka!" Froppy zeroed in on her friend's croaking, immediately noticing Jirou's missing jack and the blood still dripping from it.
"Tsu!? What the… where the fuck are where, what's going on?! Why are you dressed like that?"
"No idea… just… just go with it."
"Yes, just let the real adult handle this," Renuka said as she handed the girl the richly endowed plate… free of meat and eggs.
Huh.
"But… I believe we are missing a few players. I'd gathered our dear Damodara Das is still dealing with this poor boy. And Bahula has yet to destroy Tartarus; Ekanamsa must wait for her before she passes her judgment. Then, I do hope She'll be able to remain calm tough.".
"So, what sould we do, mistress?" Ekadasi asked, having pleased allt he heroes in plush chairs, having frozen them in time.
"Well, as their host, it is my duty to entertain them before the main event." the little vampire (a real one.) spoke dramatically as she made her easy way to the… launching pad and taking off in a few beats of her wings ( afterhanding her prashadam plate to a rather shocked Vlad king.). The blood-red moon shone behind her like a spotlight.
"Welcome, welcome all to our Danmaku festival!" She grandly declared with opened arms. "My name is Renuka Devi Dasi, your host for the night and, as you may have guessed, a vampire, a real one."
"We, the people of Gensokyo and friends of Umayado-sama, ancient prince of Japan, have now once again taken control of Japan."
This, obliviously, had been met when roars of outrage and defiance.
"Now, now, children. We've left you all play for a few centuries, trusting that you would lead our tiny island of Japan to an era of prosperity where every human, no matter their cast, creed, or colour would matter, where all would be respected and treated the way they deserved… as human."
A fearsome scowl marred Renuka's ever-youthful face, exposing her sharp fangs to all. "And you… you, from your forefathers to now, have all disappointed us, from the Goddess of Hell to the chief of Bhava-agra. You quarrelsome beast in human form has practically destroyed what little culture you had left for the glam and dazzle of 'heroics,'" Ther Irate vampire made bunny quote on the spat word. "Power corrupt, brilliant and wise people had said. And I didn't believe them since all of my friends hold powers beyond my mere human comprehension… and yet, I've seen it happen with those quirks… no, those… magical abilities and curses.
"All For one, the Meta-Human Army and all the villains in General are but a symptom of a graver ill that has befallen you: Lust!"
This declaration was met with plenty of outrage. Still, Renuka soldiered on, for she knew she was right and that some anvils needed to be dropped, for humans, were dull and stupid and would not understand their precarious position until it was too late.
Not that it was their fault, the age of Kali Yuga was one of degradation, all decayed and lost what made them great.
It was the final yuga before the golden age would start anew.
The Charismatic vampire raised her hand to stop the commotion, enjoying seeing the so-called greatest villain listening to her with interest.
"It is lust only, oh Arjuna, that is the cause of all evil in this world" this is what Bhagavan Sri-Krishna, the Supreme absolute truth, the supreme personality of Godhead said to his best friend and disciple on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, answering the question. And to you, I ask this, can you deny it? Can you deny the fact that all evils, that all villains are a product of lust and greed?" She asked as she sat on a trone overlooking the battle field… and All For One.
That Monster of a man didn't look impressed by Renuka's presentation. But no fools can recognize a great woman when they see one.
"And what is wrong with Lust and greed?" he asked with his nose in the air. "I you have the power, if you have all this might, then you have the right to take whatever you want! Isn't it the laws of Nature?" he cackled. "The strong will always rule over the weak."
"Oh, please. The real laws of mundane nature are that all that takes birth has to bow down to death eventually and that I, a Vampire, am your predator, human. What to say of the laws of ultimate nature? You, by turning your back to God, have gone against your own natural laws." Renuka scolded the two hundred-year-old man like one a petulant child. "The laws of Nature is true that the strict rules over the weak… and that they protect those who can't protect themselves from others, who gives shelter to the needy and knowledge to the students and, ultimately, help them all go back home, back to Godhead. This is how a powerful human should act." Renuka explained as she extended her hand, Ekadasi appearing beside her with a bottle of wine.
Green Valley, bottle no. 4. 0-.
The maid expertly poured the blood-red 'wine' into the richly ornate goblet now resting in Renuka's sharply taloned claws.
The 'young' descendent of Tepes brought her cups to her lips and wetted her throat.
After savouring the full taste of the now rare blood, Renuka spoke again. Drilling Shigaraki in place with a sharp glance.
It was clear this overly powerful animal had now met his match.
"But you… all of you." She emphasized as she let her eyes rest on all the Hero's squeezes in the Belvedere. "Have instead chosen to waste your precious human life and powers for future endeavours!" She pinned the flaming bastard down with a glance filled with enger.
" you have used the gift the denizen of the dream world has bestowed upon you, using them for clout and rotund earnings, but ultimately nothing for you have all ignored the true, eternal goal of human life, to gain spiritual emancipation. Alas, you are instead working like asses and dogs. Oh, I can hear you all protest about how you are saving lives with your so-called Heroism, but Heroism cannot be taught or tortured into some unqualified cowards!" She spat. " What to say of young children who had yet to feel and see death up close. Besides, you are all so busy in your futile attempt at saving bodily covering from self-manufactured villains that you have all failed to save the soul, the person stuck in those fleshy prisons, bound by the chains of your's faith. You-" But before Renuka could continue her charismatic rant, someone threw a snowball in her face.
"You talk too much!"
All For one whirled around to face the foolish child who dared interrupt another villain's monologue. (it took one to know one.) and took in the appearance of the idiot in front of him.
She had ice-blue hair and wore a blue and white dress with a ribbon tied around her neck. Her ice blue hair was topped with a green bow, and six ice wings vibrated in her back, keeping her dirty, shoeless feet off the ground.
She had crossed her arms across her chest in defiance, a fierce (not really, she was too cute to look fierce.) scowl twisted her features, and, according to Shigaraki's heat vision, her body temperature was… colder then a dead body, well bellow the freezing point.
"Eye'm Cirno, the Strongest ice fairy out there!" The fairy brazenly declared, speaking like a preschooler too.
Not that Shigaraki cared about the age; if he liked the quirk, then it's his.
"And Eye's gonna defeat you!" She pointed at him.
Behind him, Shigaraki heard the vampire sigh. "Cintamani, I wasn't done yet."
"You're never done." The Fairy pouted. "You always talk and talk and talk, but you don't do anything!"
Renuka's mouth remained still as she refused to rise for the bait.
"You know what? You are right, I to tend to speak too much." the 'young' descendent of Tepes staples her fingers, looking down at the two clowns. "Cintamani, strongest of all the fairies in Gensokyo, I know you want to fight, but this man is simply too much for you."
"WHAT!"
"Just wait with he others for Damodara to return and partake in the hors-doeuvre while I have Madan-Mohana-Mohini deal with this scum."
All For one, gritted his teeth; how dare she consider him no better then bond scum!
"Ah! Are you saying I'm weaker then Meiling?"
"Yes. Unless you can prove me otherwise." Renuka spoke as he inspected her nails as if she hadn't just enraged an Ice fiery and the boogeyman of the underworld.
"YOU'RE ON! COME HERE, FROTSY!"
The fight that ensued would, for those who didn't know Cirno, be considered an easy win when All For One one shot the little ice fairy.
Who then respawned only to taunt him.
Let's just say the rest of the hours were filled what frustration for him as they waited for Damodara and Uttara to make their appearance among the rest of the luminaries.
Standing in a field of bodies, Uma stood, her cloak somewhat dusty from the fight.
The turn of events saddened her, and yet, she knew that violence was the only true way to deal with a war, for nonviolence had no place on a battle field save for those highly romanticized stories made to cater to a certain group.
War wasn't won by not picking any weapon; even Krishna, the sweet son of Mother Devaki, had mowed down armies despite his status as the supreme personality of Godhead.
War meant to fight; war meant to kill or be killed—And war and conflict where unavoidable in the material world, born of envy, hatred and fear.
Uma, being a ruler, a Kshatrani, had a duty to perform for the land, she had to fight for the good of the innocent, for those who had no powers to fight and protect themselves.
Those mutants may have also done atrocities, but most were simply reacting to a horrible situation where violence had been done to them.
And thus, Uma tipped the battle their way and had Mamizou talk sense into them.
But… she had to admit…
She had cheated at this war game.
She got up from the rubble she had been sitting on, having finished her prayer to Invoke the causeless mercy of Gaura-Nitai on that poor fool.
Surrounding her were the bodies of those who had a grudge and misplaced anger towards the Mutants, the descendent of the youkai, Rakshasha and even of some Yaskhas and Tsukumogamis.
She stopped at their leader; the man had been at the head of the pack, his weapons warm from the few shots he had already taken.
Was it any wonder why those Mutants had taken arms? Why did they choose the villain instead of the shiny, perfect heroes?
"Ah… what a Mess." She shook her head as she offered prayers to those who had surrendered their life. Fortunately, since they all died valiantly on the battlefield, they would head to Swarga, the planet of Indra, where everyone gets drowned in sense gratification.
They would all hold Apsaras, divine escorts, in each arm, lying on beds of fragrant flower in pleasure forests, they would drink soma rasa, the legendary nectar of immortality and other heavenly wines and spirits that flowed like rivers and wells, they would eat food so delicious, anything else would taste like ashes and dirt. And in the heavenly realm, they would not be harassed by the looming figure of death… until their garland faded. They are then summarily thrown out of heaven, their fading bodies to be eaten by demons, taking shelter of their tears, those soul turn into rain, and this rain into the grain, and grains into food eaten by future fathers, and hopefully returned to a human form.
Uma, it the corps-filled street but one knee down, began praying fervently.
'Oh Sri-Gauranga Bhagavan, I beseech you… may all of those who fell by my blades and hands not take birth in Swarga, where, enervated by the false promises of eternal pleasure, those poor souls will miss your boat of causeless Mercy, taking birth at the end you your blessed golden era, where all fruit-bearing plant and sweet flowers will cease to be, where rain will stop falling on earth, and when the only sustenance will be one's own progeny. Oh Sri-Gauranga, you advented by your own sweet will in this earthly plane as your own devotee tasting the Bliss of pure bhakti, devoid of all desires for one's own benefit, desiring to flood the universe with Krishna-Prema, pure love for Krishna, the true wealth for all souls, and desired by those wise man who has seen and seek the absolute truth." The ancient regent of Japan prayed.
Better would have been for them all to start a spontaneous Kirtana. But this was real life, not a Bollywood cringy dance sequence.
Seriously, the next this she would conquer was this one studio that tought it was ok to turn Mahaprabhu's life story into a shameless Bollywood parody.
"Dang girl, I thought I'd never see you flex so hard." A feline voice said, high and scratchy with a hint of demoniac nature to it.
Uma got to her feet, having grown used to being unable to hear Kasha's feet.
She never… well, she was used to them having this ability, but it would never ease the unease that clenched her chest to know that those Yokai could easily sneak up on her and end her life.
Not that they would; Kashas were necrophagic, preferring their meal to be putrid since it reduced the sinful reaction in them.
"Those were mere humans… or, more like two-legged animals claiming to be humans," Uma explained as she watched Radha-shyamasundara's hellish Cohort pick up bloodied and cut-up corpsed left and right and their expelled owners.
Sadly, Despite Uma singing the holy names of Nityananda…
Suddenly, the battlefield was filled with light, and all the ghost shed their ghastly body for those of Sages residing above Swarga; some even resembled the inhabitants of Brahma Loka.
Those fortunate being then circumambulated Uma before taking to the sky without the aid of Vimanas to reach the three top-most planetary systems.
Once all the blessed sages left the earthly plane to reach the Sages and Brahma abodes, silence again fell upon the filthy field. Giving those who were aware of the significance of this pastime the time to absorb it truly.
…
"So… Miss Renuka decided tah flex for a bit and had Ekadasi build a nice belvedere by youkai mountain; they be calling it Gunga mountain now." The Kasha rolled her blazing yellow eyes as she loaded her Cathcart with more corpses, undisturbed by the sudden ascension of those once sinners. "Dusty also got overly ecstatic and cooked an entire chapan bhog by herself for her Jagu." She continued as if she was picking flowers and not the bloodied remains of… well, saints now, Uma supposed.
Still, the call for sacred food was substantial, over ridding Uma's nature as a hermit subsiding on fog, sunlight and fresh, pran-filled air.
Prashadam was nothing less then his leftover, spiritualized to no end and nourishing for the body and soul.
It came from Bhagavan Sri-Krisna, and to consume in the sacred remnant guaranteed a human birth for anything that honoured it.
Among other things.
Who wanted to live on air after that?
And thus, Uma left the now sanctified area and left to the sacred Belvedere, hungry for the sacred remain of Revati's daily sacrificial offering.
Oh, and to size up this relatively young king of Demons, she supposed. But after living with the likes of Yuthika, Revati, Uttara and Demigoddess Shinki (Su-devi), this… human sounded.
Mildly interesting… but definitely not big enough yet to be considered a demon king.
'His humbling shall be entertaining for sure… but before that, I should check up on my boys.'
And with that, Uma made her detour back to Senkai. Worried for Dabi's well being.