Hero For Lust

Garou extended his arm. "My fist has been perfected."

He surveyed his defeated opponents. Atomic Samurai lay motionless, his sword shattered by the final strike. Flashy Flash had crumpled before him. Farther away, Superalloy Darkshine pressed himself against the ground, muscles trembling.

"Z-City Ghost Town..." His visible eye narrowed. "Time to repay you, 'Lord.'"

¤ ¤ ¤

Caspian blinked, his gaze shifting between Tatsumaki and Fubuki's ashen face.

"What happened?"

"Sis, did you really have to invert them?"

"Hmph."

Tatsumaki's mood had soured. Something was wrong.

"Please," Fubuki said, "send me back to my office."

Whoops.

"Sure, Fubuki. I'll see you soon, and… sorry about the mess."

"Wh—"

Before she could ask the tough questions, Caspian sent her away. The 'Tornado of Terror' remained.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine."

Prying a genuine answer from her now felt pointless; he would wait for her to breach the subject herself.

"Good. Let's go." He flew to her side, relieved when she didn't pull away, and opened a 'Hyperspace Gate.'

They materialized above a derelict structure. Concrete bones and plant life jutted from cracked foundations. A tombstone of a building rotting under the sky. On its roof stood a man with twin katanas sheathed across his back.

"Yo, Empty Void!"

"Idiot! Don't just scream like that!" Tatsumaki's reprimand thundered louder than his greeting.

Empty Void glanced up, crouched, then launched himself toward them.

'Dimensional Slash.'

Space itself parted from the dual sword strike. Caspian drove his arm down to meet it. His motion cut through the air without sound; bells would not have jingled.

'Palm Bell Fist.'

¤ ¤ ¤

High above the sprawling city, Kirin appeared on Earth — one of the Divine Beasts that served 'God.' Dragon head crowned with antlers, eyes framed by thick lashes. A flowing mane and beard cascaded from its jaw. Scales covered its body down to powerful hooves.

It knew its purpose: divine flame would baptize this city.

But something watched from below. On the roadways, a green, eyeless thing stood. Human or not, it didn't matter. The city would turn to ash.

Kirin opened its mouth and unleashed divine fire. In that same moment, it heard the last words it would ever hear.

"You think you can match my 'Acid Breath?'"

¤ ¤ ¤

Tatsumaki's anger had mellowed after dealing with 'Tsukuyomi' — her revenge complete, gift-wrapped and delivered. But frustration still simmered beneath the surface. What was his problem? Why didn't he just ask her what was wrong? Why was he making her wait when he'd already spoken to most of the others? Why was he being so dense?

She glanced from the human-shaped crater in the street to Caspian.

"They should be here soon," he said.

Tatsumaki resolved she would not speak first, even with the important news burning inside her.

"Who?"

Caspian smiled, offering no answer.

Now is the perfect time for you to speak u—

Approaching footsteps shattered her thought.

"The Heavenly Ninja Party has arrived and…"

"My fated rival!" a second voice shouted.

Then she heard it: that familiar sound of wind and electricity. Her mind stumbled as he materialized before her.

"B-Blast..."

All those years she had spent craving his respect, wishing to hear his advice on how to live because she secretly knew her current life wasn't ideal. Tatsumaki recalled the version of herself she'd witnessed in the 'Mind Room.' But that was just it: a version, not her.

She already knew how she wanted to live. Part of her was still that version who looked up to him, who wanted his respect. But she was more than that now.

"Tatsumaki, you've grown." Blast's gaze softened on her, then shifted to Caspian, his expression hardening. "And you…"

Why is he looking at Caspian like that?

"Yo, old man. You got here quick. But why isn't Flashy Flash here? You also didn't bring everyone here through a 'Hyperspace Gate…' More differences."

Blast ignored the banter. "So it is you, after all, Charanko."

Charanko? What nonsense has he been up to?

"I took care of 'that man.'"

"Hahaha! You really think we'd fall for some shit like that?"

The Heavenly Ninja Party members bristled with rage.

"You irritating bastard…!"

"As long as there's light left in our eyes, we, the Heavenly Ninja Party, will not let 'that man' be mocked like this!"

Seeing 'that man' and now this group trying to harm 'her man' irked her. She flicked a finger. The street bloomed with fresh craters, one for each ninja.

"Now for the line," Caspian goaded.

This, he brings up, but not the actual important things?!

"I'm not saying 'lights out for you guys, huh!'" she snapped. The words hung in the air. Tatsumaki froze, realizing she had just said the line by denying it. How could she fall for such obvious bait?

"Hey, Caspian, why the hell are you even here!?"

"Well, if it isn't my good friend and second disciple 'Speed-o'-Sound Sonic.' We've done this bit before, haven't we?"

"I won't join your group!" Sonic drew his blade and lunged.

Before he could take a second step, Tatsumaki sent him into his own crater; deeper than the others. That's for interrupting my first date.

Caspian patted her shoulder. "Thanks, honey."

"Whose honey!?"

She turned to glare at him but saw he was staring up at the sky. She followed his gaze. Her breath caught. The sky looked fractured, like glass struck by a hammer. Jagged lines of white light crawled outward in unnatural angles.

"This is not good!" Blast reacted. "I've strayed too far from my post. With Va'thera always away from hers…"

From the crack, two titanic beasts emerged: Genbu and Byakko. Tatsumaki levitated beside Caspian and waited. They wouldn't need to do anything.

"Wait for the smoke," Caspian advised, which drew a confused look from Blast.

A moment later, smoke erupted from 'that man's' crater before a figure shot out. "'Dimensional Slash!'"

Blast immediately followed up, landing a 'Giga Gravity Blow' on the two divine beasts. They soared back into the rift before he clapped his hands together. "Shut!"

"Void!"

Tatsumaki watched it all unfold. It was odd, seeing it in person.

And she found it… amusing.