He waited. He was sort of used to waiting, but this time it was hard to be patient, even for him.
After so long, he'd had a chance to relate to another person, for a brief time. The real hell of it was, of course, that he both grew closer to his guest than he had any human for as long as he cared to remember (if not far longer) and sent the man away to undo all that had happened.
He mused to himself, "Ironic. I may wind up having been a egotistical control freak again. Ah, well." He shrugged it off and set his maintenance systems to automatic. Should the mission succeed, all this would come undone, but that which was close to the time portal might well endure or end up elsewhere. It might come in handy for someone. Be a shame to waste it, if so.
Thinking on that, he trailed further away from his home on the last day, eventually crossing town to the Monument. Whatever else happens, this at least is going to change. He sat down and waited. The first sign of change was odd. He had expected a sudden ending, a negation. Instead, fading into the scenery was a man carrying a briefcase. The man didn't see the desolation, rather looking down at his wrist to check a chronometric device in the fashion of businessmen ever since the creation of affordable wristwatches. Then a lady passed by, and then children chased one another. As he stood, the ruin about him faded, a futuristic city superimposing itself into place. As the sky showed blue clarity and the passersby became more solid, he remained unseen and in fact began to fade in his own right. He realized this glimpse of the rewritten world and history afforded him came from his own exposure to the time portal, even as he felt himself drawn away.
Knowing no one else would hear, Vandal Savage spoke the only words that mattered. To the absent agent of his redemption, he said, "Thank you, my friend." As he bowed his head and finished withdrawing from the city of Metropolis, Savage hoped Superman's life had been fulfilling. Then he was gone-
Hinako Rasputin Nimomiya sighed as she withdrew from the athletic field. She had watched Tatewaki's punishment after the Periwinkle Piccolo had tried to deny his defeat ever happened. It was quite amusing to see Cologne as the disgusted matriarch had supervised Tatewaki getting a hair cleaning by a even more nauseous Shampoo. Especially when Nabiki had audibly deduced (correctly, and doubtless deliberately audible) that it all had to do with a odd memory affecting cranial shiatsu Akane had undergone some time before.
As Tatewaki howled and kept arguing with himself, Hinako had managed to overhear Cologne's satisfied praise for Shampoo's forcing Tatewaki to recall all his trials as they truly occurred any time he went into denial. Then Cologne had turned to Hinako and asked obliquely about the Soulsword. Hinako knew that in good time she would have to answer the Niichezu elder, but for now all the teacher and sorceress wanted was a good long soak and maybe something kinky. If it wasn't too strenuous, that is. If I hadn't found a way to leech a bit of his battle aura every time our swords clashed, I'd still be fighting that moron. As it is, I am sore as Limbo. There's no denying it, I need to train up my current body for extended swordplay again! As she reviewed her own thoughts, Hinako blinked. Limbo? Feeling a urge to check out her little slice of weird timing, Hinako darted into the science lab. She'd heard a whispering whir and realized the parental Kuno was waiting in ambush in Hinako's classroom, so she had made sure to leave just enough noise behind for him to 'stealthily' follow.
Gathering the more spectacular materials used by the Chemistry club in its ongoing wars with; 1) Happosai, 2) Tatewaki, and 3) the Principal, Hinako placed a small kernel of restrained mystical power into the midst of it all, then ducked through a stepping disk. Just as she passed through completely, Kuno Senior darted through the door and into the face of the explosion of her delayed spell. Thankfully, the dimensional portal closed before it could let the larger explosion of the chemicals through.
Hinako came through with her armor on and her Soulsword brandished. She relaxed and allowed the blade to fade from active mode as she took in the scene. She was on a balcony looking over a city square. Said balcony was quite evidently part of a keep. The color schemes of both town and keep were wild and vivid. There were shops for everything from body crafting to ritual tattoos. As Hinako noted the erotic slavery contract attorneys' office down the boulevard, she noted demons, drow, bondage faeries, and lightly kinky but caring examples of every sort of supernatural entity freely associating with each other.
The vampires marching in the parade that (from the sigils on the floats) was dedicated to their ruler's reshaping Limbo? Mildly worrying at first, before a closer attention revealed no link to true evil. Hinako knew of several healing techniques, and she suspected the denizens of Limbo had the feeding issue well in hand. Hinako turned when she heard a cultured and mildly amused voice behind her.
"They really love you, miss. All I've heard since I washed up here was praise of the new Mistress. Well, quite a few raunchy bouts of wishful thinking, as well." The man behind Hinako was tall, trimly hard bodied, and possessed of a lively wit. She was uncertain whether or not to skewer him on general principle at first.
Hinako asked, "How did you get here? For that matter, who exactly are you?" She felt a instant and abiding protectiveness toward this place. Anybody who threatened Hinako's charges was in for a extended stay in the hurt locker at best.
It was clear to the observer that Limbo's loyalty made its denizens worthy of defense by their Mistress, which frankly was appealing to him after all he had been through. Vandal said, "I am Vandal Savage, to answer in reverse order, and I was apparently cast adrift after undoing my own history."
Hinako shrugged. "I can't say as I ever heard of you, but;" She wove her fingers through the air behind her back, willing the magic of her realm to her ends. She continued, "You certainly were cut loose by a temporal change wave. Limbo, where you are now, is unbound temporally in relation with just about all other places or realms in the multiverse. It's no wonder you ended up here."
Vandal bowed. "I thank you for your hospitality, miss-" He left it hanging.
Hinako smiled. "I am Hinako Rasputin Nimomiya, Mistress of Limbo." She led Vandal to a dining area, or rather was led along with him. The uniforms on the staff demons were apparently layered fishnet, and the help dressed to impress. She was uncertain whether they were meant to be retainer ninja, kinky sex pets, or the local equivalent of maids and butlers. Probably all of the above, with the way things shaped up here.
As they sat Vandal replied, "I hope you'll settle for Miss Hinako. I don't want to imply more than I should, given the styles here."
Hinako covered her mouth as she laughed a bit, then filled Vandal in. "I'm a school teacher in my other home. They call me that all the time."
As a handsome devilish contour (the demon in question being entirely encased in tight latex or composed of it) served a orange steak and a large cup of outrageously potent coffee to each of them, Vandal smiled. "Then they are very lucky, I am sure. Do you teach Russian or English?"
Hinako raised a eyebrow at this outright flirting, mostly as she was seriously considering Vandal and had a urge to see where this went. The steak's superb (if unfamiliar) flavor helped, of course. "Both, actually. I'll admit, you intrigue me. I'd offer to trade life stories. but mine is not sane by any means."
Vandal smiled as he told Hinako, "And mine is odder. If you're sure you want my company that long, I'll tell you about it. But you'll end up late for class."
Hinako formed a small disk over Vandal's head, a link to something that would be amusing as it fell onto the man. It turned out to be tennis balls. "Remember what I told you? I'm back when I'm back. So let's start trading life stories.!" While she had a definite yearning for Ranma, Hinako knew that he was more interested in cultivating Nabiki. That aside, it gave Hinako a excuse to explore as they talked.
Vandal saw the interested and slightly lecherous look in Hinako's eyes. Oh, yes, she most certainly fits in here! Aloud, he commented, "Alright, but remember, Hinako; you asked for it!"
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(Posted Thu, 02 Mar 2006 21:22)
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