Ah My Goddess Fan Fiction ❯ A Goddess Carol ❯ One-Shot
[ A - All Readers ]
By: Gaian Knight 
A one shot from the VK/VM series. Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year to all.
Anime/Manga: Ah My Goddess Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Classic / Comedy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 12.23.2008 | Updated On: 02.21.2009 | Pages: 37 | Words: 35.9K | Visits: 1.1K | Status: Completed
A one shot from the VK/VM series. Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year to all.
Anime/Manga: Ah My Goddess Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Classic / Comedy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 12.23.2008 | Updated On: 02.21.2009 | Pages: 37 | Words: 35.9K | Visits: 1.1K | Status: Completed
Oh My Goddess! - Valkyrie's Mirror
A Goddess Carol
--------------------
“~ Twas the Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.”
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.”
“Yay.”
Imlade piped his eyes up, as Skuld, Sentaro, Hijiri, Sigel and Banpei? um.. all sit looking comfy around him, as he started to read from a classic book of Christmas poems, one Lind brought the day before as the season rolled in. (And whom was sitting nearby in their alcove.) “Heh.”
“A bit silly though.”
Eyes suddenly look, as to most, a familiar ratty looks up, cuddling a smallish teddy bear (somehow,) for some reason. Hijiri just blinks. “Did that mouse just talk?”
Sentaro/Skuld: “Too often.”
Gan just huffs. “I'll have you know us rats believe in ol Saint Nick just as well as you biggie blokes can!”
Imlade just eyes downishly.. “You're not supposed to be stirring.”
“Who're you? My speaking agent now?”
Imlade just pucked his lips, before hearing... “And I'm the eating one.”
Gan just scampered onto Skuld's head. (Which creeped the others out, organic wise anyway.) Sentaro just snips. “Velsper. Don't mess this up please!”
Velsper of course hears zilch, as both biological prerogative and lack of respect for anyone that isn't named Belldandy or Hild, just gets Gain flustered enough to screech! “I've not had my shots you should know!”
“And I worry cause?”
Imlade just stops this with... “Kitty control in Aisle One!”
Velsper doesn't stick around long, as Celestine appears, then gone just as fast, but not before Gan chases after with a pencil-club! “Lemme help!!”
Imladris just blows out like a horse, as Skuld gingerly rubs her hair. “I feel so soiled.”
Lind afar just finally comments. “Impressive that use of a Lower God would become of you beloved.”
Imlade just waves it off. “Nay nay, we're off theme here.” ..this Lind smirks, and looks out into the early afternoon air. Two days before Christmas, the first she knew of, though the holiday in Heaven was indulged upon as much as it was on Earth. Lind remembered that a white Christmas had a whole 'enlightened' meaning up there. But down here on Earth, was something entirely special. The first part was just in gearing up, as songs filtered over the radio, commercials on the old color TV that the other goddesses fought tooth and nail over Jenga and Uno over, as Chihiro at work started putting up meager decorations, amongst other things.
There were other things in store, but this biggest at present didn't even have to do with the poem Imlade was reading. This as Lind spies Peorth, rather afar past the Temple entrance as she floated past, another story in mind of holiday note to be readily had.
What since there were three Norns to be had to fit the theme so well.
---
“The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her `kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.”
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her `kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.”
---
Skuld spied as well, but kept calm, for a moment.
---
“When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.”
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.”
---
Peorth entered the residence and floats past the TV room where Keiichi and Belldandy were having a quite afternoon, though Peorth recognized the pensive look Keiichi had once more. Peorth traded a smile with Bell, before floating on down to Urd's Castle. She entered and saw...
---
“When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.”
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.”
---
Keiichi wanted to say something, but everytime he did, all his mind flooded with, was that one 'thought'...
---
“With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!””
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!””
---
Belldandy just enjoyed the company, purely because Keiichi was there. There was little else she truly needed, than whom was at that same calm table. If only her heart, and her nascent Mind link was listening more...
---
“As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.”
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.”
Hijiri just squealed lightly.
---
Peorth slipped in, as Urd just sighed to Frig.
...the one of cause was just making sure.
---
“He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.”
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.”
---
Belldandy looked up as a light screech of brakes made her note. “Oh, Chihiro has arrived.”
Keiichi blinks.. “Who.. wha? Oh.. oh yeah. She said... yeah.”
Bell blinks over. “Are you okay dear?”
Keiichi starts waving his left hand, chuckling off key as he holds the other hand on his back melon, a bit too hard more than realized. “Oh oh yeah.. sure. I'm great.”
Bell wanted to ask, but Chihiro approached. Bell got up to greet. Keiichi just slumped down and sighed. “I just can't....”
---
“The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!”
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!”
---
Peorth... “Être nous fin prêt?”
Frigurina just cocks her head sweetly. “Just about. Just making sure Urd 'uses' control here.”
Urd just grumbles.
---
“He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.”
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.”
---
“They are in the temple.”
Chihiro smirked. “Guess I need to see how lazy they are today.” ..she then looks around. “I thought there'd be lights.”
Belldandy blinked at that, not even realizing...
---
“He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!”
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!”
---
Peorth just smirked as Urd moaned out. “Look, if you want this done right for their sake, let's do it this way instead of the usual prodding.”
Frig took that as acceptance, enough to produce a Skuld like device. “I know I want it done right. The story my Nephew told yesterday at dinner gave me the idea after all.”
Peorth giggled. “Keiichi est un Harpagon? How weirdly quaint.”
---
Chihiro came into the alcove area, as Imladris was finishing...
“He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, `ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!””
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, `ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!””
“Ohhhhhh! That is just so cute!!!”
Imlade barely had gotten done, before his hairs stand on end from the sudden Chihiro-esc injection of her voice. Lind looks up and waves simply. “Hello good boss milady.”
Chihiro waves, carrying two parcels all wrapped in theme. “Heya peeps. I see the kids are enjoying this thick blokes stories.”
Sentaro quips as Hijiri just looks all sugary-bubbly as she dreams of a lot of Christmas things that were more westernized than the local norm. “He has a good voice for em.” ..this while Skuld looks 'elsewhere'. Chihiro just quips.. “Good for something then. Here, a holiday bonus for my best store jockeys.” Chihiro tosses the two loosely bundled packages to them both, Lind serenely catching hers, while Imlade has to juggle his, while not dropping the book of Christmas poems at the same time. It was not all fanciful at that either, as Lind quips. “Please not damage my tome you gave me love.”
“I'm not. I'm not!”
Chihiro just pops Imlade on the melon anyway. “No opening that till the big day. Kay? I really shelled out this year, so don't go peeking or all that returning crap.”
“Heck why would I do such boss?” Imlade put, rather surprised to even hear all that. Chihiro just saw the ol 'amazed in everything' look in Imlade's eyes, and chuckled. “That look I don't hate so much today.”
Just then, a slight grumble makes Sentaro look.. “Where are you going Skuld?” ..this as the said Norn rises. “I have an ill feeling in the air.”
Chihiro looks as much as anyone, but then hears right above her from the interior roof supports. “That's typical of her.” ..this as the said mortal jumps, looking up.. “Eh? Sigrun?”
“Eeyup.” ..the said Fate Norn just relaxing in the elder rafters. Chihiro looks down at noted Master, whom.. “She's going through relaxation training. A learned, rested mind of patience can focus better when needed.”
Chihiro just nudged him in the melon with a balled fist. “Is that why you're so lazy at work?”
Imlade just twitches an eye as Lind giggles well and true. Hijiri meanwhile is about to ask again 'how' Sigrun got up there that high, when Belldandy approaches. “Cousin?”
Said bloke rises. “Aye?”
“A myriad query if I may?”
Most cock their until Belldandy asks...
-------------------
Keiichi just starts to slunk out, admonishing himself once more for lackings well know about these parts. He was deciding to head to mess with his Beemer again, when... “Eh?”
...he only half yells, when he feels those ALL too familiar vines of ye goddess note. He soon ends up in Peorth's room, with a dry look on his face.
“You know being cut by those vines could get me an infection.”
“Taire and heed young one.” ..this Keiichi gulps as Peorth suddenly looks at him with less than appeased eyes. The tone, and the room somehow start to turn a shade darker than he'd like. “You, one so young, and lacking what is needed to accomplish for one you cherish, are most coupable before us all on high.”
“I.. what.. eh?”
“You're being selfish with your heart. How's that kid?”
“Not much better lady.”
Those whips can hurt. Keiichi takes the message well enough, before the proper one is administered.
“To think after 'all' this time. All that's happened. And still you do not fully confess, when your eyes are of such a passion to do just that. This trifle spectacle that your heart cries to defeat, is why this Crime is being dealt with.”
Keiichi dryly blanches out. “Have you been taking lessons from gold dude again?”
A second reminder from the whips, shuts his yap. “Your cowardice and selfish withholding, while it 'may' seem enough to just appease Belldandy. But for the 'rest' of us, more than a few you should know, are dead set on seeing better. This, if you wish to remain by her side, in 'our' eyes to accept. This especially upon the season where it can have the most effect!”
Keiichi gets enough gist, and looks away. “I dunno. I 'know' I know, but still... somehow and where...”
“Hence what will happen in short order.” Peorth then walks around a stunned Keiichi of his senses, and imparts in a crooning, if wary to the heart tone. “Par conséquent, you will be visited by three spirits of the season, to stand in view of your very history and soul. Before them, your truth will be revealed, and...”
“Uh...”
“WHAT!? I'm waxing poetic here.”
“No kidding. But... if it's just to make me see how special Belldandy means to me, I already...”
Peorth gives a rather bemused look back. “Non. Belldandy already accepts all things, especially vous, as all such are. But do 'you' accept all such? Or are fears too much to perchance by, to excuse you from taking advantage that lies before you in deserved measure?”
Keiichi blinks and has no words this time. Peorth smiles. “That is why we're going to show you and help you decide once and for all. Not that it was moi idea, but...” ..she trails off with a giggle. Keiichi however asks.. “Um.. does this mean that Belldandy will...”
“I said trois Spirits will greet you. Ghosts would be the proper term here, but... ew...” ...this Keiichi gets enough of 'some' gist to glance blandly upon. “Spirits huh... you guys sure act spirited as it is.”
Peorth just glowers at K1, and then bonks him over the head a vine whip 'mallet'. Good enough to knock him out cold, rather than wait any apparently.
The Forever goddess just giggles.. “Le sommeil éternel de rêve dorés, petit Keiichi.”
-------------------
Imlade blinked 'quite' wondrously. “You think this place needs decoration?”
Belldandy smiles her perfection in kind. “Yes. I never realized it before Chihiro mentioned it, but since you handled the decorations for Hallows Eve this past year...”
Chihiro says something she'd regret later. “Yeah. This place can use some sprucing up. Bet you could get some help too.”
Imlade gets some helpers around him, Lind on his backside for that note, but when he asks Chihiro.. “Ah.. I already got plans. Plus if you do it good here, we can have a lighting party for all the guys around here.”
“You just want to liquor up.” Imlade said to the pain of his melon. Chihiro says back with same said pain to her fist. “You make this place look good. Boss's orders.”
“Huh?” He puts, with a decent 'do it' glare from Chihiro to shut him up with. He however then looks from Belldandy, and looks around the Temple. He puts with a thinking tone. “Lot of lights to place... hmmm... I wonder if... ahhhhh...”
Chihiro turns. “Well, my damage is done.”
“Would you like a drink before you go Chihiro?”
“Oh yeah. Thanks good lady.” ..she puts before she catches herself in the formality act. They both leave with Belldandy adding back... “Now do be careful of all things Cousin here.”
It was semi lost as Imlade's mind went into detail overdrive. He then snaps a finger upwards. “We need to do some shopping!”
At that, Operation Uber-Decorate began. With Lind, Sentaro, Hijiri, and Sigrun helping, what could go wrong?
-------------------
Keiichi fluttered his eyes open. “(Wait... is it night already? And... huh? What room is this?)” ..this he looks from within, a bed type that was not only far too westernized to be his, but also closed of drapes all around. He looks about as 'sounds' start to shuffle about him, as he then realizes to look at his cloth for some reason.
“Eh? Why am I dressed like I'm an old English maid in bed?”
He even feels and finds a well out of place bonny bed cap of some kind, one that is quickly forgotten, as a good stiff shuffle unseen gets his sweat glands working. “Uh... ok.. okay... who's that? Common!”
Another shuffle, but one that makes Keiichi almost wet himself, when it BUMPS the bed, one with familiar cursing with it. “Eh? URD!!”
One of the drapes is shoved aside to his left, as Urd holds her right toe. “Dang it, this room is too dark! How'd you mortals survive in this pitch stupidity anyway?”
“What the heck are you doing?!”
Urd looks and then leans forward.... “I... ah... uh... oh, wait a sec.” ..as she rummages through.. what is she wearing? K1... “Do you have enough rags to cover yourself up with? Jeeze, put a coat on!”
“Oh shut it... ah, here it is!!” ..as she fishes out a card from her... ugh.. cleavage. Urd trying to make look like a ragged ghost or something, just makes Keiichi have a nosebleed. “Ah.. okay... still do dumb dark to read... ah.. I am the Spirit of Christmas... uh.. Pest.. er... Past. How's that?”
Keiichi twitches an eye. “Pest I 'get'.”
This time is Static flicks that replace the rose vines. “Can it wimp. I'm here to set you straight on all the misery of your Christmases come and gone. Oh, that came out cool. Right?”
Keiichi just flusters this off... “The heck are you taking about lady? Ye goddesses... my Christmases have been just fine over my life.”
Urd just eyes him like a mutant or something. “Yeah. And that's why all you can do is give my Sister lip abuse, and nothing else? I bet you're just loaded with Past holiday cheer, huh?”
Keiichi just huffs and folds his arms. “What's it to ya?”
Being yanked out of the bed that hard didn't help much, nor that.. “YEEH!! This floor is cold! What the?! Why are we in old England!? Wow. That's a lotta snow.”
“Well what'd you expect? A paltry offering from us Spirits? What better way to show your suffering, than through suffering?”
“And the difference from every day is?”
Static shocks: 2, Vine whips: 2.
Urd just flicks her hand clean of static. “Okay, let's get going.” ..as she fishes out some weird device from.. uh.. -turns red-
“Isn't that a remote control?”
Urd just punches some apparently well preprogrammed button, and suddenly everything goes fuzzy, like their old TVs do when changing a channel. Keiichi goes freaky as expected, before the 'channel' sets, and looks more familiar again. “Eh!? What the heck!??!”
“Oh wow. Something of Skuld's actually worked. Cool.”
Keiichi looks around. “Eh? Isn't this my old home in Hokkaido? I... why are we here?!”
Urd flicks her blond-platinum-white mane needlessly. “I was told to say 'when' instead. Something like, one of your worst Christmases ever!”
Keiichi looks around.. “Uhhhhh..” ...before Urd pushes the bloke towards a window. “Common, let's see how messed up your childhood was.”
“Now wait a.. ACK!” ..as he is all but shoved to a window on a cool Japanese Christmas Eve, where in a semi-small, typical Japanese home, a quartet of bundled family members, looking all cozy as they share a joyous evening of family frolicking. Presents are already exchanged, Keiichi the little and danged cute, just holds up a bat, glove and ball set, while a very wee looking Megumi just giggle-burps-glurgles out just as happily in Takano's happy arms. Even Keima looks pleased as heck than his normal. Keiichi the nominal version, and way out of place, looks and smiles. “I remember this.”
K1-K1: “Wow, it's what I wanted! Thanks Mom and Da.. OWW!”
Parentsx2: “Watch it.” ..Takano the... wow... “And Merry Christmas Kei-kun.” ..this as Megumi holds a nice and plushy Happy-Stuffy-plush Kitty, Takano with very fine glass work jewelery that could make Diamonds cry, while Keima just watches his own young 'present', have fun and be happy.
Urd, to the point of the 'wow' afore just glares out. “I don't believe it! Takano and Keima haven't changed one bit in... -looks at 'remote'- ...sixteen years!!!
“What was dat?” Takano gleeps, as by the time Keima shoots his head out of a hastily opened window, their 'proods' watching are hidden away! Keiichi the semi-nominal, when they are sure they won't be spotted, just yelps! “What the heck was all that!?!?”
“Uh... thought it was supposed to be a rotten Christmas.”
“You nuts!? My Christmases were just swell you know before... well.. but.. WAIT! Why are we even HERE to begin with!?”
Urd just smirks. “Gee, Mother would just 'love' to know you didn't appreciate her gift of Skuld's temporal... uh... temporal... ergh... it's a time device. I don't know how it works other than it does! Don't get on me!”
Keiichi looks about to go as gray as Keima always seemed to have been, as he yelps again! “Time travel!? Aren't we supposed to blow up a Galaxy or something if we're even seen!?”
“Oh pipe it! You're watching too many movies with Bell these days.”
“Well... anyway, if I guess what's going on here.. and you of the Pest and all here. Why aren't we invisible then?!”
“I said this was Skuld's! Mother forced me to use this! I said lay off!”
“People got thrown in jail for peeping even back 'then'... uh... 'here'.. ah... you know!!”
“Ergh...”
Static shocks: 3, Vine whips: 2.
Keiichi just smolders, but still blares out. “-Cough- You know... if this was your idea of a lousy Christmas, this ain't it doll.”
Urd has to admit.. “Yeah. Bell should be shown your kid pictures. Kinda cute you were. Plus... 'what' the heck are Takano's beauty secrets! I want them!!”
Keiichi just moans and grabs the remote. “Here, if you want a really lousy Christmas...”
The two suddenly vanish after K1 punches some buttons, as Keima suddenly appears at the back end of the house. He looks around and scritches his head. “Hmmm... swore I saw...”
-------------------
Chihiro and Bell sit and enjoy a warm cup of tea each, whole one of the aplenty numbers of Christmas spongecakes, partitioned perfectly, ladle each of their plates... (Apparently Chihiro forgot what she was going to go do. A habit around here anymore.) “Mmmm... this is the best Bell-glory.”
“It is indeed tasty.”
...before the sound of decent rumbling grabs their attentions. They soon emerge outside to the sight of sounds that take them to the Temple grounds entrance, where Team Decorator watch as Imlade waves his hands like a construction worker. “That's it... lower... lower... almost there...”
“What tha heck?!”
A 'good' sized thunk, as a very, very large crate, is settled down on the road outside the Temple. Hijiri just bounces like a Tiny Tim on super sugar cakes. “Yay! Yay!! This is gonna be so much fun!!”
“That's right!” Imlade all but too excitedly squeals out too. (Creepy..) “Tomorrow morn, it's decoration fest 20XX!! We're gonna make this place marvelous!”
Lind just shakes her head, but can't help her own bubbling emotions, as Chihiro at first just sighs, but then joins in as Belldandy claps her hands excitedly as well. (Hijiri doing it, makes Chihiro join in anyway.) She adds in as truck delivery woman that helped deliver the mass of decorations just gets a delivery signature that makes her cry happily, what after 'that' much money paid for all this.
Bell meanwhile just glees out.. “Keiichi must see this.” ..and looks around. “Where is Keiichi dear?”
Chihiro just shrugs. “Huh. I haven't seen the lazy bum. Ahhh... must be one of those 'special' trips.” ...she nudges Bell with to her immediate blush.
Soon well after the truck departs, Imlade just smacks his hands.. “Okay. Stand back good ol elves.” ..and levitates the 'quite' large crate with his gravity powers. (Quite handy.) Hijiri just watches wide eyed. “Gee! How are you doing that mister?!”
“Christmas magic.”
They all then head in to start pre-sorting, as while more cake soon meets willing 'elf' tummys.
Frig peeks from around a corner and smiles, before heading in to keep 'witness'.
-------------------
Everything pop-hisses from static, into view of a dorm room hallway. Urd blinks around. “Wow. You're good with that.”
“Yeah yeah, um... where's... ah..” ..and finds an Invisibility/Mute button that makes them both invisible and silent to anyone else. Urd blinks. “Okay, you're making me jealous here.”
Keiichi meanwhile pats himself over. “I swear this isn't healthy for me.” ..before Urd half bonks K1 on the noggin. “Oh can... wait.. where are you.. oh... there... ” ...and fully bonks K1 on the melon! “Oh can it! And why are we here? Can't believe Mother called this one anyway. Weird foresight.”
Keiichi blinks at that, trying to see where Urd is, but then looks around. “Don't recognize it?”
“Yeah. Your old dorm. I.... oh...”
Keiichi just walks around, naturally knowing where to go from here. Urd manages to follow without tripping them both over, as they reach an apparent common room. There, sitting under a Kotsu, slurping some cheap Ramen, a less than happy scene of lonely and hardly the spirit deserving. It was obvious who was the center of this lonely scene. Urd just sighs. “Ah.”
“Yeah. My first Christmas away from my family. The high point of my Freshman year.”
Ahead, a barely functioning TV shown some Christmas show that was barely being paid attention, as the Keiichi here, thought of things he didn't expect to, at the time. Keiichi the learned better watching just explained. “Heh. And I thought all I wanted at the time, was to get as far away from Hokkaido as possible. Must be one of those teenage emotional drives that only gets someone into a mess. Not a fun year I was having, after I found this Motor Club, and... well..
...I think I realized here what I was missing. Even if I tried to leave all my bad luck behind at home. I guess it just followed me here. I could tell stories about it all.”
Kei feels a warm hand on his left shoulder. “Oh, I think we already got that gist, after all these years.”
Keiichi smiles, but then he and Urd are unceremoniously BUMPED to the side each, as Tamiya storms in as his gaudy norm, making Keiichi the lesser SPIT TAKE his Ramen! “Mherrys Xmas!” ..as he and Otaki bumble in! “Hey Freshy! How's haps!”
Keiichi sees himself just moan up. “What is it now guys?”
“Hey! Yous better gives danks wes scoops up all this doughs for this prezent we gots yous!” ..this as Keiichi looks in surprise as a small package, very badly wrapped three times over, and tapped more than Keiichi's red tape had been to get admitted to Nekomi Tech! Keiichi glazed it over like it was nuclear waste, but managed to get it open, and finds.. “WOW! You guys fond those injection valves I've been needing for the bike!”
“Yup! Merry Christmas dude!”
Keiichi actually finds reason to be happy, for a very long once. One getting to borderline weeping, such that Tamiya bonks him on the head for. “Hay, don'ts be going unmanly on us Freshy.”
“Oh... no... ow... prob.”
Just then, some of the other guys of the dorm start piling in without warning, not that there ever is, as Imai then pipes up. “Hey! You got this package from home bub!”
Keiichi blinks! “What?” ..as this time a 'real' sized package appears, one full of sweets and little doodads from the Morisatos that Keiichi finally found reason to be appreciative for the first time in his life. Course, most of the... well all... of the sweets don't last ten minutes, but the glasswork of a small graduation cap and a set of riding goggles survive. But the picture of the family, without Keiichi in it, from Megumi, makes Keiichi weep, no how much Tamiya wrastles him for it.
Keiichi the knowing better, just smirks. “I forgot all this. With all that crap I took my first year, I forgot.”
Urd afar, and dribbled with dorm trash without the others bothering to realize stuff was on something invisible, recognizes just as well as Kei does. “Heh. Guess the guys still can care, even all that happened after. Nice to know what happened after you met my Sister and accosted her.”
Keiichi the nominal blares over. “But... but I didn't...!”
“Oh 'really'! The one Wish you get, and you use it on someone so special, that the rest of your life after to this point, makes 'this' scene so pale in comparison? Don't you think it's time you realized what you got, and 'do' something with it?!”
Keiichi just smiles over. “But I already have. Everytime I see Belldandy smile, is when something is done with it. That's what I want the most, over all else.”
Urd smirks. “I think you know one more way you can make her smile. I 'know' you know.”
Keiichi forgets the scene before him, and finds that feeling he'd been fighting with for about a month now. Probably ever since the earthquake even. But still that shred of doubt. “I.... just...”
Urd shakes her head and grabs the remote. “Gee what thickness. Might as well...” ..and hits some buttons she should WELL know better than hitting. The remote suddenly makes less than encouraging sounds as Keiichi bounces over. “Uh! What'd you do!?”
“I...” ..and both zap out. Tamiya and Otaki look around. “Whut made dat sound?”
-------------------
As they were fiddling/cataloging the decorations, as Hijiri and Chihiro tossed a plastic decoration bulb back and forth... “What are you doing Lind?”
Lind was 'drawing' something in midair in front of her, leaving only a barely fading trail of blue haze as she did so. She replied back to her metal head love. “Something to augment a theme.”
Imlade just blinked, before Sentaro comes up. “You think we can do this by tomorrow night?”
Imlade just looked down, and then started... “Can we do this? Can we do this.” ...Tim Taylor-esc grunting-laughy sounds. Hence the theme for the next half day to come. (What after Chihiro bonks a plastic ornament off of Imlade's head to get him on track.)
-------------------
Urd and Kei just run for the friggen lives, as the sound of heavy foot plodding, along with roaring, snarling dino teeth come rampaging after them!!! Keiichi just screams every bit girly like! “You know how damn cliché this all is!?!?!!”
“Skuld needs to know restraint already!! What is with this thing!?!?!?!?”
They both manage to jump over some way over clichéd tar pit, before diving into a cave, avoiding being some rather 'rare' lunch for the uber lizard!
“Like I knew we'd jump on top of lizard guys dinner back there.”
Kei.. “I thought dinosaurs were closer to birds than lizards.”
“Not. The. Time!”
They both wonder what to do next, when Urd realizes. “Aw crap, I dropped the remote!”
“WHAT!?!?”
The prospect of being the first eternal fast food of prehistoric note, is cut short when a third pop-hiss of a goddess form appears nearby. Urd.. “Skuld! Oh thank goddess you... er... well you know.”
Skuld keeps grumbling, as Urd points at Keiichi. “He broke your remote.”
“Hey! You used it last!” ..just as a large, hungry roar makes them all shiver. Skuld just jumps on that with. “I found out from Mommy what's going on.” ..as she grabs Keiichi and twirls her own remote like an old west revolver. Urd blinks. “You better not...”
“Mommy said she'd pick you up in a couple of hours. Give or take an Eon.”
Urd just FUMES at her lonely state. The next roar makes her find focus for her agitation. “Oh you wana bite heads off huh?” ..and flicks more than just static in her hands.
A prehistoric Christmas 'that' would end up being.
-------------------
Keiichi looks around at... zilch... “Eh? Why is there nothing here?”
Skuld just blows at the end of the remote, like a same said revolver. “A pit stop between time and space. A good place to YELL at you for all this!!!!!”
“What'd I do?!”
Skuld just fumes like a red-in-red mistletoe berry. About as safe looking as well. “So you get to go through some fun ride through time, eh? Mommy says 'It's my turn to be a Spirit', eh? Playing Scrooge on us, eh?”
Keiichi blinks more than should be alloted in a day to a mortal. “This all wasn't my idea Skuld! And all this suffering Urd wanted me to see, isn't exactly happening either. Not like I've had much suffering other than worrying about you guys so much. And... wait... if we're mimicking that... what was it called...”
“Christmas Carol?”
“Yeah. I thought the Present Ghost... or.. uh.. Spirit comes after the Past.”
Skuld just looks at him with an anime big head look of split poison and beefy annoyance! “Oh you'd just love to be alone with my Big Sister huh! See a moment where you can all get lovey dovey and icky doohickey, making out while no one else can look. You just love that wouldn't you!!”
Keiichi looks... longingly... “Well... hehe...”
Skuld pops a fit zit and starts pushing buttons with better effect than Urd did. “I can fix that sucker! Let's try... ten years from now, and see just how bad it can all really be!!”
Kei BLINKS! “Say what!?!?” ....and both pop out of sight.
This while a waiting 'Parent' gets properly ready. Somewhere...
-------------------
Belldandy blinked as Peorth slunked out of the residence with a shaking head. “What's wrong Peorth?”
“Ohhh... just heard from your Mother about Urd. Sheesh what an angst.”
This as the others around start singing holiday carols 'way' out of tune.
-------------------
Frig sees her 'fetcher' head off with another remote. She shakes her head too. “And I thought that planetoid was bad for the dinosaurs back then.”
---
Said fetcher arrives, as Troubadour arrives on scene. “Oh my Urdy Wurdy.. I came to... DEAR SPIRITS OF THE SEED!!!”
All around lie about a few dozen carnivores of the Jurassic, as Urd looks around having a Skuld caused fit to the ill of the lizards all around! The trees don't fare much better!”
Troubadour just blanches.. “These poor beasts! I... EEK!!”
Urd towers over Troubadour 'most' Hild like. “Take. Me. Home.”
“-meek- ...okay.”
-------------------
Keiichi looks around as they arrive once again. “Um.. how come I started out in an English setting, if we aren't even bothering with it anymore?”
“How should I know or care! Jeeze you guys and your schemes to corrupt my Big Sis.”
Keiichi retorts a bit annoyed more than his usual. “Hey! Not that it was still my idea, but I'd never do anything to hurt Belldandy. You should know that by now Skuld!”
Skuld turns and fits out childishly, just as exasperated! “But why do this to her?! I mean.... she... she doesn't deserve to be played around with this much! I mean.... if you'd just either make your stupid mind up or...”
“I don't know dang it!!!”
Skuld reservedly holds off, as Keiichi stands unrealizingly in some decent snow fall. “I don't know.... don't know... if that I 'can' make that decision. I mean... I 'should' know... but I don't know, what after all these crazy things we've all gone through, in ways no imagination could figure out, that if... I 'do' choose... something else won't actually happen. I don't want to make a decision that hurts Belldandy. I really don't want to!”
Keiichi then looks at Skuld, just as worried in tone. “The same way I don't want you or Urd or Peorth or Lind, to be hurt by actions mortals like me decide! Even like gold dude has to do. I mean look at us all! I don't want any of us hurt if.... we... I... go 'that' far. I don't want to hurt you all.”
Skuld gulped. It surprised her to hear Keiichi expanding his torment to apparently thoughts, regarding far more than just Belldandy or himself. She then realizes that her Sentaro could end up having this same torment someday. That her Cousin already had gone through so much. The way she saw Peorth and Urd restricting themselves, while 'wanting', more than readily seen enough.
Skuld then got surprised doubly so, when Keiichi holds both of Skuld's shoulders suddenly, and hears to a finality. “But I also know that I'd do nothing to ever willingly harm Belldandy. I love her so much, too much to dare do anything stupid like that. But... but if this is about me just being a mortal, then stuff that, because I love her for who she 'is', and just for who she is. Not for what we all are. And even if it's still there anyway as some stupid roadblock, I'm not going to let that stop me anyway.
Not after realizing from what Urd showed me, just how much Belldandy means to me. Not after the Ball and all. Not after that Earthquake and all. I'll be with Belldandy to the end. Maybe more if I felt right lately too. And that is that!”
Skuld went from fearful shock, to... tears. Keiichi is then the one to be surprised when Skuld suddenly hugs him readily. Even to a sobby fashion.
“Even... even if I have to let go? Even if she's not my own Big Sis anymore? If that, will you love her like I know she deserves?”
Keiichi smiles and hugs back with his own sniffles. “Who... who ever said... we have to let go? I mean with my own Sister, I never did. We just evolved into a weirder brand along the way.”
Skuld laughs pretty good, forgetting for a moment why they were here. She just finally remarks.. “Okay, but if Belldandy ever is somehow hurt by you...”
“Oh, I think Urd and Peorth get first dibs already.”
“Ahem. Hey, I go before Peorth. Sheesh, I'll be a First Class someday too you know.”
They both laugh off the moment, before Keiichi imparts to his original fears... “Still... I... I think I need to 'ask'... before I can...”
Skuld blinks. She considers. She then remembers the remote and looks around. “Oh. Ten years from now.”
Keiichi looked around, the Temple grounds, nice and snowed over, holiday lights already up all over. It looked both peaceful, and as he rubbed his shoulders. “Gee it's cold. Wait.. are we invisible?”
Skuld at that punches the appropriate control on the remote, Keiichi finally asking. “How'd you guys make that thing anyway?”
“Cousin's vessel has 'all' kinds of cool stuff. Not that he needs know past Mother, if you won't tell.”
“Uhuh.”
Skuld Bombs: 1, Static shocks: 3, Vine whips: 2.
“-Coughx2- Just... 'how' I am alive is beyond me.”
Skuld smirks. “Now, if you could shut up, we can see how your future is. Er... or could be. I dunno. All that unwritten stuff or whatnot.”
“Whatev... OKAY okay! I'll shut it.”
Both then hear a strong voice.. “Who is out... here? Eh?”
Skuld and Keiichi both blink... “Whoa.” ..the latter.. “Is that gold dude?”
The said being just shrugs and heads inside. Rather than worry them off, even Skuld creeps up. “Wow, wonder what else...”
“Okay.. uhh...”
“Now what?”
“Are we... you know... supposed to know?”
Skuld just rolls her eyes. “I said 'unwritten'. I mean, what else could there...” ...-a child's squeal!- “...be?”
Both suddenly find themselves peeking around a creeped unto slide door, where a decent gathering within of the familiar, if more aged than expected. They see at first... “Is that... Belldandy... oh my.” ...Kei notes a 'bundle' in Bell's arms, one done so, so happily it makes her smile brighter than Keiichi has, had, or have ever seen such. And then a second unknown female form, all of four, bounces over.
“Ohhh... she's so pretty Mommy!”
Keiichi turns away with GREAT gasps of air. “Oh my goddess!” ...with Skuld nabbing his aged sleepy shirt! “You mean you two...”
Just then a 'second' Skuldly voice pops out with.. “She's so beautiful Sister. Just like ours.”
Skuld's WIDE eyes peek back around, as she sees... “W... wow... I 'do' look sexy in the future... and.... ohhhhhh nooooooo!”
A second bundle...
Keiichi looks and gleeps... “Uh... wow?”
They then hear Sentaro's suddenly eclectic voice. “This is sure a banner day huh?” ...this Skuld-kun looks at Keiichi-shocked, both stunned to the point where the next voice. “You both should be proud.” ...ala small version...
“Yes, this is a grand day for the name of family.” ...the nominal one, ala General mode.
Skuld and Keiichi think the same hidden thought... “(Eh? Two Linds?)”
Both snap look back comically, and think they see double, if in two sizes. Mostly obscured, both think they see a younger one with a mix of steel blue and white locks. They think.... Both look at each other again. “Dang.”
Keiichi the unbridled shocked just gleeps out.. “Ahhh... where is the suffering part in all this?”
“I think it's the headaches. Maybe it was that three buckets of Ice Cream I had yesterday too. Uhhhhh... I really think we better get outta here.”
Keiichi nods and they both pop out of temporal sight at the touch of a button.
They miss one more 'Parent' that knew where to look. Imlade within looks and asks.. “My Lord?”
....an eternal smile back. “: A matter eternal now coming, as is my turn of it. :”
Imlade just smiles and looks at his own smiling kin.
-------------------
Imlade looks up from his fighting with a string of lights. (Literally to Hijiri's giggling.) “What's so funny now Lind? I know these lights are tough...”
Lind however responds... “Nay... -giggle- ...a thought came across my mind, for no apparent reason.”
Lind, thinking of lines of motherly hints, keeps this iota to her own auspice, whit Imlade just shrugs it off before he prods and gets smacked for it. (A history there in fact.) He then grunts as he fights with the light string in hand again. “Confound this bloody contraption unraveled!”
Belldandy then squeals. “I got six strings unwrapped!”
Everyone else cheers, as Imlade quips dejected. “No fair.”
-------------------
Skuld appears, and looks around. “Ugh... I didn't need to see all... eh? Keiichi?” ...looking around apparently in Keiichi's nominal (temporally or otherwise,) room. “Keiichi? Where is that dope?”
“Ahem.”
Skuld gulps as Urd looks 'at' her.... seriously.
“Ah.... hi?”
“Yeah. Hi.”
Skuld looks around for... “Uh.... Mommy is...?”
“Away.”
Skuld gulps. “But... I'm still shocked here.”
“Good.” ...and heavy crackle of goddess electricity.
-------------------
The others saw Troubadour suddenly scamper out of the residence as the insides flare over and over a good bit. “Most of the decorators moan. “...not again.”
Troubadour look-sees and then thumbs behind him. “Uhhhhh... Urd is... well...”
The others just go back to decorating stuff. (Like any Urd/Skuld stuff is news anymore.)
-------------------
Keiichi appears and looks around him. In fact, he feels himself blink and apparently wake up. “Uhhhhh...”
“Did you have a good nap?”
Keiichi looks, and sees only Belldandy at the table with him. “Eh? Oh... yeah. Guess I dozed off.”
Belldandy only smiles. Keiichi then looks around. “(Huh... pretty quiet. I thought. No wait. Guess it was just that studying that... eh? But I don't study anymore. Even that German stuff is...)”
“Are you okay dear?”
Keiichi looks back and chuckles. “Yup. Never better!”
Belldandy giggles. Keiichi decides to rise and check for something in his room for some reason. Belldandy seems little of the mind of it, as she hums happily, polishing a tea cup perfectly. Keiichi still feels something odd, but can't put a finger on it. He starts to open the slide paper door...
...and it SMACKS open despite him!! Keiichi falls flat on his butt!!! “What the!?!?”
A suddenly anime larger than life Frigurina floods out from the door somehow, crooning of demanding over all else... “Marry my daughter Morisato Keiichi!! Marry her nowwwwww!!”
“AIIIIIEEEEEE!!!”
---
He blinks awake. “Ack! Ak... ah... eh?”
“Are you alright dear?”
Keiichi looks over, and sees a worried, yet sunny as sunny cast aglow, dispositioned goddess of Present, leaning toward him! He gulps and blushes his Keima-esc worst, and chuckles. “Ahh.. ah.. I'm fine. Musta been something I ate.”
Belldandy looks pensive. “Oh... if I did something wrong.” ..at whit K1 throws his hands over Bells like a lightning rod to Urd bolts!! “Nonononononononono!! Never ever that Belldandy! I just... uhh...” ..just before he has to turn away and burp something out. He punches his chest. “Oops.. sorry... better out than in. Or... both in this case.”
Belldandy just laughs readily, both of them in perfect tune that lasts forever it seems. Keiichi stops suddenly, as Belldandy seems to laugh perfectly into that said forever. He gulps and sees how gorgeous she is, doing just that.
And then feels all over his backside... “You know you want too.”
“ACK!! Frigurina!??!”
---
He blinks again, and this time lays in the sun, that day... wait... “Eh? Isn't this that day Peorth and Bell... we all were on that weird date? I couldn't swim and...”
“Keiichi!”
Said bloke looks up and sees Belldandy leaning over him. His thoughts vanish into little more than that swimsuit this perfect goddess is wearing. His breath with said too. She starts to say something he should remember, but instead comes out as. “Don't you want too also?” ...in a slightly off-sounding voice that makes the mortal blurt. “Eh? Frigu...”
---
He's standing in her heavenly memories. Keiichi still knows them well. He looks around, and sees Belldandy, singing at the apex of her initial prime. A white angel bird amongst others, the one on her hand that grants her joy. He smiles, and then remembers... “Oh... this is where...”
He stops, as Belldandy in her cloth of goddess glory, fluttering about her as she joyously rises and starts to run toward him. Keiichi then remembers this is the dream he was having in lieu of Celestine, and looks behind him, expecting see the same god...
...and suddenly instead, feels a loving form utterly encapsulated about him, endearingly so at that. Keiichi looks in white numb love's shock, as... “B... Belldandy?”
She just seems to show so much love, the scene of Heaven around them seems to glow pink and endearing, all just for them.
“My wonderful Keiichi. My perfect love.”
Keiichi gasps for some breath. “M... me? But...”
“Isn't this what you want?”
A gentler voice this time. Keiichi looks, but the scene does not change this time. “Lady Frigurina?”
Said Eternal Mother just smiles.
-------------------
Belldandy suddenly just starts hugging at herself. Giggling, laughing, crying, all to the same. Smiling above all else is this emotion. Imlade and Lind, finishing setting aside decorating for the night, look, as the latter asks. “Are you okay Belldandy?”
“I... I just can't stop thinking about Keiichi all of a sudden. It makes me so happy. So very happy.” ..she squeals and lets the feeling flood over her, as much as the rest of the holiday cheer had been doing. Lind and Imlade just look and smile for her own sake.
-------------------
Keiichi can't say anything for a blank moment. Frig recognizes, and then flicks her right hand of two fore fingers. Keiichi gasps in decent enough terror when Belldandy vanishes from his sight! “What!? What are... where is?!”
“Or is 'this' what you want?”
Keiichi looks back with mixed dejection, fear, and anger in enough portions, that he next hears. “It is a thin line, between accepting, and fearing. Reality and fantasy. Which is it, of these, that you fear more? Which do you want more?”
Keiichi gulps, stuffs his emotions down, and forgets he's still 'standing' within a Heavenly scene. “I... if... if you mean...”
Frigurina just smiles. “I believe you know the answer. You are already very wise and knowledgeable. You only need confidence to accept it all, along with what I already have so done.”
“Are... are you sure?”
Frigurina just smiles, and starts off with a brush of her hair... “Hard to find a truly 'suffered' moment, in your past or future, to make you realize what you have. (Not that really need to look.) Rather, I believe you realize what is 'more' to you, since you made that Wish. How much more 'both' your lives have grown because, and moreover, despite of it. Despite being the happiness beyond the Wish, more the Contract, that... helped... bring everyone else here, in a way. And all such chaotic brands. You both are truly happy beyond it all.
It has made me both proud, and jealous, as a Mother and Wife can only attest.”
“Is it just you?”
Frig hears more of the question, than offered. “I see. I know what you seek and fear. No offense there either, to be sure.” She then waves her hands about over her head, causing Keiichi to start seeing all these floating pictures, ones moving like they were from those fancy screens from... “Looks like from gold guy's ship. Thanks for having that metal bot kidnap me back at the Ball!”
Frig just smiles and reflects iota back unto... “It's also Belldandy, of her mind, every day now since you both met.”
Keiichi looks again, seeing all sorts of familiar images, apparently from Belldandy's point of view. It was both unique, weird. And yet.... “Really?”
Frig smirks, and then starts quipping. “You worry about needing permission too much. I mean why worry so much when my daughter just fills her mind all but essentially about 'you' anymore. I mean her network links all but seep out of the uplink pores about you. Cute, if a bit inefficient. Soppy and focused on her Contract, and beyond it, both too.”
Keiichi keeps looking, as Frig keeps prodding the point home needlessly, as she turns and wipes a hand to 'open' an Intracellic code pane view of some display kind, and moves her fingers across it, like some touch screen. One that both expands and focuses more and more. Keiichi sees this and can't help how gilded all that unreadable code is, as Frig then focus 'draws' her hand to bring up a small set of 'folders' of three Goddess Sigils that branch down from two 'much' more extravagant Sigil types. It doesn't take Keiichi long to realize 'what' he's looking at. As Frig then brings up... “Hmm.. been awhile since I poked in my daughter's files. Well, not really. But... dang...” ..as a set of relevant, and well ordered files appear, perfectly ordered, but also set in a priority. “Daughter... such neatness within all that chaos.”
“Pardon?”
Frig ignores that, and then quips. “Oh dear: Administration, Heavenly Relevance Files, Tenth Dimensional Mechanics, Goddess Files, Mortal Personality Files, Mortal Customs and Cultures, Core Family Files... hmm.. at least we're up there some... Cleaning, Cooking and Mortal Care... gee thanks daughter... Familial Directives and Facets, Customs of Love and Cherishment.... whew that went pretty high didn't it? Ah... ahh... Keiichi Morisato.... kun.”
Keiichi wasn't moving. Breath included. Frig just turned around and thumbed back at the glowing blue-white display that had Heaven haloed behind it. “I will ever wonder why, that a High on High goddess, with years of Heavenly training, Mentorship, and Understanding, along with a supposed acknowledgment that Heaven's Commandments, my Husband's Own best I may add, would be transcendent over all mortal concerns, would then forgo all that, if not utterly in favor of, but quite put in higher over 'all' else listed, for one such as you?
In fact, the Top listed file, was renamed in fact. I 'believe' it was supposed to be originally named Contract File. It wasn't even 'supposed' to be renamed. I mean I swore (blessedly,) there was a Protection Read Only algorithm to prevent a renaming even. One that somehow got overwritten along the way. Probably during all those System crashes you two like to cause.”
Keiichi gulped, Frigurina giggling of seeing enough 'sorry', of understanding. But she also saw a blush that said just as much. She then embellishes to the point. “I'd open the file, but we'd likely be literally flooded to Medical Section as a result by data alone.. Besides, it seems my daughter is kept happy daily, by both you being near her, and all her memories, all verily at the same time. No wonder she's as strong and controlled, yet directed and assertive.
Makes me (again) jealous.”
“Jealous?”
Frig holds her own arms. “I... have to admit... I love my daughters so much, one with pride that drives my joy of them, exasperation of whom they each are despite. But you have something even I cannot have with my own Husband. A natural, biding, and binding companionship that has withstood so utterly much. Plus it was naturally driven, despite all accord, even if Heaven constitutes as a catalyst in the first place. -Decent sigh- I readily admit I was a creation of my Husband's Will. You are a product of the same, if far more removed. This is yet tied to the same end, where our Daughter is concerned.
As such, Ours was a love created. You both made yours.”
Keiichi gulps out.. “But what about...”
“Biological concerns are inconsequential, if you're willing to adjust yourself over time, for whatever occurs. More untold and unforeseen will likely happen. But let not that stop you. Either of you. Nor your other question.”
Keiichi smiles, if iffily... “It would still be proper. I mean my Da.. uh.. Keima.. still had too.”
Frig just shrugs. “Well, if you insist.” ...and twinkles her nose. Keiichi swears he hears a sound from some old TV show imported from America, that Takano watched a lot once. Of the next moment....
-------------------
Imlade lays down in bed, everyone back home where they should be. They should know better, if not for some 'motherly' influences in the very air. (Literally.) “Ahhhh... tis a yuletide day to be had tomorrow. And that before even the big day!”
He then feels a Valkyrian form plop on his once again. “Aye.” ..only returned. Imladris swears he hears more in that word than intended. “Lind?”
“Sleep.”
Imlade blinks, but soon feels sugarplums dancing around his head. A fleeting thought of too many hits to the noggin as of late leads to a driftful sleep. Said so for what would eventually come....
-------------------
Talos finally saunters in, less than happy. Troubadour sees, semi-solemn as well. “What be with you?” ..on the looking up at the common table. Talos just groans. “Another world of needing funds I do not have. How to I be able to gift my own on a day for such, when I am want of trifle paper for such calling?”
Troubadour translates.. “Currency problems replete. I do remember the Lady Peorth mentioning a knightly blunder head holding such resources at ready command.”
Talos blinks at that. “The Lady Urd kept crying about wanting access to such. I never found out why since I became of here.”
The two share a devious look.
-------------------
“Tomorrow.”
Talos and Troubadour look warily, if shakily, as Lind stares them 'down'.
Both: “But...”
Lind 'stares' moreso. “Wane my plan to your hazard, do you?”
They both scamper off, and wait the alloted day. Lind huffs, before Imlade shuffles up yawning.. “Was that Talos and...” ..and gets BACKHANDED out cold! “Sleep said I.”
When Lind has a plan. Done with a smile and rubbed hand of sore.
-------------------
Keiichi is of fear incarnite. His very bones and senses 'know' where he is at!
“I had to ask.”
There was only one Chamber such as this, and dream or nor, he was present there, in the There and Now.
“Well?” Frig prods lightly. Keiichi gulps, looks behind him, and FREEZES on so doing. “Eeep.”
“: Tidings to you as well mortal of Contract. :”
To an incredible amount of credit, Keiichi manages to face the sight of the Avatar form of 'the' One Almighty. Asking whom this was on such a sight, Keiichi did not need to do. The gilded chamber, Heaven at it's empowered Apex here. All senses awash and then swamped. Keiichi was making good stead of himself despite it all. (I.e. he hadn't fainted.)
Frigurina just quips. “Nice to know you can dust off that form, once in an apparent while.”
The Avatar form, ancient yet youthful enough looking, a phasic effect of all those 'faces' attributed to him over all kinds of stories, faiths and religions, kept altering his face, like looking at one of those changing, holographic cards, or a sort. Despite, the face kept enough stable semblance of it's own Identity Accord. The effect Keiichi saw, as he 'swore' he saw Keima's facade meshed within there, fluid if stable, ever and ever.
But the facts at hand came to the fore quickly, as Almighty imparted. “: I have Capability where needed. It is needed now. This I have foreseen to the moment before us all. Such is now, as is the question. And despite my eternal reservations that have lasted to the Before and Hence, the Moment is at hand to Witness.
Since it is needed, whether if actually so. :”
Keiichi gulped out. “You... you're really...”
“: Enough for you to accept. But that is not the matter at hand. Speak of it, if it is important enough to you. Such since it has long been so, of my Daughter. :”
Frigurina just shakes her head, as Keiichi stammers.. “I... I know I probably don't have a right to do this, but... I want to ask... I.... I want to... I...”
He lost voice at that moment, but he wasn't prodded. And for that moment, that lost courage, was filled with both fear and wanting, with one facade and soul of mind. It suddenly became easy after that to attempt again... “I want your... permission to... well... heh... I guess I just want to be with Belldandy forever. Maybe a forever that can't happen, but one I still... feel... I want to have happen anyway. I want to see Belldandy always happy, more than what just I can do, but since... I'm happy when I'm with her... and I see that from her as well... that I want to be with her forever for 'that'.
I mean... I guess I can't... well...” ...he stopped and gathered himself, finding more courage with each word. It was not remiss 'Here'. “Maybe late to ask to... gold dude said Court... yeah... it's late to ask to court your daughter, but... yeah... that. But more...
I want to marry her. I really want to! If... if you'd both let me. You... you know?”
Keiichi tried to stuff down a ton of emotions as soon as he finished, such was not remiss 'there' either, but it soon came forth as uncertainty, as there was only looking, for a moment far longer than it could ever seem. One where a Father, just looked with all intent into Keiichi soul. It was all shown, and it seemed forever...
“Hey.” Frigurina 'actually' shoved in, as Almighty tilted his head over. “The guy asked a question.” ...she then put with impatient hand gestures. “: I am understood to both Hearing and Understanding. :”
“And of Answering?”
Keiichi bit his cheek, before Almighty 'answered' back a very unasked quip... “: If there is advice in that thought, young mortal, it is that the meaning of Woman, lies beyond past my Ken. Even after having created such. Yes she has rule over my auspice. Enough more than I express 'ever'. :”
“Don't ye forget it either Love.” ...with a loving peck.
Keiichi betrays a small chuckle, and wonders if Belldandy...
“: Enough of your lives together will be as like ours and your own kin of lovers around ye. Even if I am to admit, that my Love of my Daughter, is now ever the Secondary to yours. :”
Keiichi stammers out.. “I.. I didn't mean to...”
“: Aye you do. Love is selfish and giving to a singular own. The propensity to create from that, is a Work admired, if not appeased immediate, in this 'very' secular case. Such that has waned in my objection, since ever the Judgment Gate said otherwise for even Myself. :”
Keiichi looks down and remembers. “No matter what. Yeah.” ..and looks at his own hand, remembering Belldandy's in it, and that Judged time.
Almighty moves nil, spoken word where his stroke lies. “: It is honorable to ask of me, where it is not needed. Customs are of your import here, and are such heeded. But know that I give acceptance, only on word of one that truly matters at hand here. And it will not be my own Word that is of acceptance. Not until that Word, comes from another. You know whom I speak. :”
“Yeah.” Keiichi only needs to say. That time when he all but killed himself getting that ring for Belldandy, after their first year together. One of many such mental reminders he readily uses, to a reason here.
“: Know of this however. :” ...this Keiichi looks up quickly upon. “: My daughter is a precious commodity, an agent of incredible good, and well of knowledge you still cannot fathom easily. What she is slated for, now becomes what she is most happy to acquiesce into.
For that to ever be in vain... :”
“I think your other daughters already have dibs. Only for the past decade or so, or... has it been a decade? Uhhmmm...”
Frig just nudges her Love. “He already gets it Dear.”
“: As he does of my acceptance, with Clause attached. :”
Keiichi smiles and then bows. “T.. thank you Sir.! I really appreciate this!”
And now, that last reservation lain low, in favor of the final step now. The moment then is of course intruded upon as... “Okay, now where... oh... OH!!”
Keiichi and Frig: “Lind?!”
Lind suddenly appears from a dream like vapor cloud, or it seems such, as she looks around and realizes to her immediate knee! “ACK! I'm so sorry!!”
“: Tis is fine General. I suspect the Dream State accosted you from your own attempt. :”
Keiichi of bewildered note.. “Say what?”
Frigurina just smirks. “A Dream Program. Yup, both asleep and awake all the same. You'll realize when you wake up kid. Course of one Moi and Big Guy here impugned, is enough to mess with other Dream Programs apparently. Not that we were expecting such.”
Lind is bid to rise, as she imparts with a Keiichi like hand behind head pose. “My mind was on my own Confessed. Guess I actually got lost. A figure that will be for later awake.”
Some good giggles around, before Keiichi asks, as if it was any other normal time. “Giving gold guy a good dream tonight?”
Lind responds by cracking her palms and knuckles. “Of a fashion. If ye will allow my leave.”
Frigurina and Almighty just eye each other warily, as Almighty then 'lights' a way with a dream tunnel of a sort. (Waving of hands not even needed.) “: Thine path leads to his perish then. :”
Keiichi gulps as Lind heads off. “Uh... was that..?” Frig just flits a hand. “Worry them not. Only a Iceberg tip Lind is forming there anyway. But a rather round about relevant note.” Keiichi blinks before Frig snaps her fingers, quite stiffly, and two Norns 'not' of Keiichi primary concern, suddenly appear! Urd and Skuld (nice and frazzle-blasted by now,) blink and when they see and realize. Both: “ACK!!! Daddy!?!?”
Almighty just 'stood' there, as Frigurina handled this facet. “Did not say I, to use restraint with the imparted devices? Temporal effects, even in a Dream state, is still an uncertainty.”
Urd: “I told you handling that piece of junk was not for me! Plus I thought we'd not be seen at all and all that!”
Skuld: “Junk!?!? My device works great when someone that has a brain, can use it!”
“You mean you had one when you were making them!?”
“You sure didn't when you were going Dino blasting back there!!”
“What about you finding out you'll be a Mommy!”
“I.. wait... I didn't say anything!? How... MOM!!!”
Frig: “The remotes had recorders put in. Not that I asked for them.”
Urd: “There she goes, overdoing it again.”
Skuld: “Says you, Goddess Rex!”
Keiichi blinks over. “Can I get a copy sometime?” This Frig only waves a finger lightly at, which K1 doesn't argue against. It fades fast as Urd's and Skuld's new tiff about goes with both pulling characteristic implements of Sisterly damage.
Skuld: “Bring it Dino grrl!!”
Urd: “It's been brought for Years!!”
Skuld Bombs: 0, Static shocks: 0
Smite Bolts: 1
Keiichi gleeps.. “Woooo...” ...as Urd and Skuld find a 'calming' influence, scalded all over them both.
“: Are thine both done? :”
U/S: “Yes Daddy dearest.” -Sizzling to boot-
Keiichi quips again. “I'll keep this in mind too.” ..making both Norns look, but their parents recognizing better. Just then, another figure appears from a dream cloudy 'door'. Kei: “Peorth?”
“Excuse-moi, but Keiichi bub has a six am wake up call to get to.”
Urd/Skuld: “Can we...?”
Frig levels back.. “Seven a.m.”
Skuld/Urd: “Oh crud.”
Keiichi however then stops, and then bows quite respectfully. “Thank you both so much!”
Frig just leans on her Beloved and waves Keiichi off. “Go on, have things aplenty to do, do you.”
Keiichi turns, noting a slight head bow from Almighty, before turning... and then stopping, at a rather ghastly sound. Keiichi blinks.. “Sounds like a cow being gutted... what... oh yeah.”
Peorth even looks white. “Lind est occupé. Modeste Chevalier.” ...the last part giggled though.
The Eternal Couple just eye each other again, as Keiichi is led back to the awake lands. Urd and Skuld just eye with mixed envy, and annoyance. Mainly since Skuld tries to start.. “Does Keiichi have to...” ..whit Frig 'grunts' Skuld quiet. “He is busy. But so should you both be.”
Almighty just sighs.. “: To their fate I leave them. A soon enough date for a formal visitation to come hence. :”
Frigurina just waves her hand cutely as Almighty heads off to his Mighty Works. “Bye honey! Have fun with the Multiverse!” Skuld and Urd looking a bit off kilter at this, before seeing Frig snap back around and glare at two sweating Sisters. Frig growls higher and harsher before finally at the height of Daughterly anxiety, they both are suddenly 'powed' in the chest each with...
Urd feeling... “Eh? Is this mistletoe?”
Skuld gleeps.. “Uh oh.”
Frig looks on deviously. “You both need to get five well endowed and quite holiday-esc passionate kisses from each of your blokes, if you don't want those trinkets to start tickling you both into a Tenth Dimensional level coma. And trust moi, I know they will so do. This if not acquiesced.”
Urd just moans at the inescapable prospect, while Skuld just balks honestly... “I can't do that to my Sentaro! We're both not of... er... age... ummm...” ..she trails off with a bad blush, remembering her future self and all 'that' stuff that keep attaching to her thoughts. Frig just waggles a finger. “Uhuh. Five kisses by Christmas night. Have fun. I need to bestow this on Peorth and Lind each too. Cya.”
Urd/Skuld: “MOM!!”
As their conjoined dream vision state starts to fade to a wakening not wanted, Urd and Skuld just moan to each other respectively. “I can give pointers.”
“Forget it Sis.”
-------------------
-A driftful knightly dream-
“What are you doing here? Why is it so snowy and white?”
Lind ala dream state, just looks on in a cute looking sexy Misses Claus suit, set in Valkyrie suit colors. While Imlade wonders what fortune of imagination, caused this to smack into his dreams, Lind just stands there, 'still' cracking her knuckles. (Essentially a split second taken from one Dream State to the proper target version.) She just stares dryly with a simple look of holiday austere joy. (Wait... what?)
“Call it my own version of a dreamy psyche ward. Such a poor form you have been this past year, such is why I am here to append.”
“Say who what now?”
More cracking... “Tis I, the Spirit of Angst and Pain yet Begotten, for your current Holiday season. And since we only have this secular moment to enjoy it in, do please take my gifts...” ...-smack-... “...in the Spirit given.”
Imlade just sighs. “Oh.... joy.”
-Sounds / scenes of Holiday gift giving, withheld for the squeamish, replaced by pictures of cute little bunnies in a snowy scene.-
Sgt. Gunny like voice: “I don't know what I'm even doing here, I got shopping myself to do! But since we have these standards for our little Christmas elves out there, we have to... oh sweet holly that one looked painful! Uh.. so we got this scene of cute little bunnies somehow not in hibernation, out in the snow here. All here for the little tykes in holiday land! Got me where they even came from, since... HOLY COW that was a hit!! Wow, that reminds me of the time of this guy I knew named Mack. He who looked for some presents under the mistletoe, and ended up in traction till July. Reminds me to never open gifts without a proper tag on em.
Oh wait, looks like they...
-TOTAL LOVING SCENE OF UTTER WRATH!!!- “Wait that's my EYYYIKKEEE!!!!! ACCCKKK!! Oh Dear Goddess!!! YEOW!!! Oh that felt good... That didn't!!!” -BIG fat scene of a lot of holiday wrath, blizzarding all OVER the place!!!-
Sorta-Gunny: “Wow. Gee. This is why I 'never' forget my wife's Anniversaries and Holiday gifts. Man what a beat down I got one year for that. And I thought Korea was cold that one Christmas. Ahhhh... the joys of the holidays. Well, this is gonna last forever. I need my paycheck and get some shopping done. Still can't believe I'm making fifty grand for a stupid write in part here. Good thing for sounding famous on paper. Oh well... happy holidays, and watch for the traffic. I;m outta here.” ..and heads off making some Army like version of Jungle Bells, literally all the way to the jewelery store.
...the rest.. well... next scene please! Yeesh.
-------------------
-------------------
Keiichi woke up, so incredibly 'light' of heart. He wasn't sure what he dreamt was real, until he looked down and saw Belldandy sleeping peacefully next to him. All those feelings just suddenly went to one iconic thought.
He slowly got up, and started to act on it.
-------------------
“Over there. Yup... ow.. some dream.. yeah, put that garland string there. Okay... oh yeah good lady. Excellent!”
Sigrun gives Imlade a thumbs up, while Imlade rubs his neck, not believing a dream could be that painful. Course only Lind could do that, and still make it fun and joyous 'somehow', for only they both could share and enjoy. Imlade snickered lightly, and looked over to where Lind was already spot throwing stud nails with perfect accuracy, all over the Temple braces. They would hold till the others awoke to 'hammer' the residence hard, but that didn't save the Temple now. As soon as he looked over, Lind just 'blew' him a kiss. He felt a good cool sting from it, and just worried if he'd survive Christmas.
And then...
Sigrun: “Eh?”
Lind: “Wha?”
Inside-Peorth: “Que!?”
Imlade looks around, as sounds of goddess shock, come with a whisper unto Imlade's ear suddenly.. “Thy should worry of Lind's lips, if I `twere you.”
Imlade just groans. “`Twerrific. Noted Milady Frigurina.”
He would look, but she's already gone anyway, as he then notes a glimmer from Lind's eye. And of he.. “Oh bother.”
“Gold dude?”
Imlade has something, and reason, to look away at. “Milord?”
Keiichi stands there, looking... peaceful, as he sees Imlade look at him with a waiting look.
“I guess I get what you know now.”
Imladris just cocks an eye, as Keiichi tells a bit of what happened last eve, whether it was dream or nay, and unto one of Imladris's smiles. “Well, the match is a long time coming, even despite my limited experiences here in comparison.”
Keiichi nods, the others looking before doing more decorating. “I still... I want to... no... I'm going to.”
Imladris folds his arms to impart. “If you already have what you seek, save one iota apparently, then it's time to deal with the last iota.”
“So even you don't have a problem with it all?”
“Nay. And since I too have had Dream Communication via State prior, I know better. Another step for you good lad, plus one earned I know to impart.” Keiichi hears to his own humbling. “You've been the focus for us all. Belldandy is yours. So to speak. If a Gate can't separate you, Demon nor Goddess alike, nor battle and threat over you neither, then there is no halt to your intent in any of our minds.
Do go, and make your lives happy. It'll be one more reason for us all to fight, and to live.”
Keiichi just teardrops. “How bout just the living part.”
“Good call. Oh...” ...and makes one of his snap decisions as he leans in, Keiichi the same... “...and two words: Blank check.”
Keiichi blinked at that. Three minutes later, he was so gone. Sigrun just floats down and imparts. “Nice one Master.”
“Tonight will be something.”
Sigrun then complains. “Uhhh... not to get snippy more than my previous angsty version is, but who am I going to kiss with 'this' thing on me!?”
“I dunno. My lips are sure taken.” ..seeing a growing further gleam in Lind's eye. He just walks over at that. “Better get this over with.”
Sigrun just looks away, as Belldandy appears with a yawn. “Goodness oh my. Oh. Sister, I see you... oh dear.” ..the last on seeing the 'pressing' obvious afar. A giggle of note, then is added as Sigrun then asks.. “Aye... um... Sister? If I can use that... um... can you help me with a mess, our Mother got me into?”
“Of course. I... think...” ...Bell puts, asking first... “Did perchance you seen my Keiichi dear?”
Sigrun just smirks. “Worry not for tonight, I should sayeth.”
Belldandy just blinks, as Imlade wobbly-stumbles back over... “Goddesses, my senses went null.”
“Poor Master.”
“Yeah yeah.” ...just as Sentaro makes the rise with Ichigo and Fusuchi. With Hijiri, Hijiri's mother, Takano, Keima, Keiba and Megumi in respective tow and line of arrival! Takano and Megumi just glee out. “Let's play holiday folks!”
Sigrun just twitches an eye. “I need another year to get used to this.” This Imlade just balks.. “Nay nay, another year will bring reference to this one. Come now, a good couple of hours of decorating before stores open and I send you all off.”
“Eh?” ...comes a few unexpected voices.
-------------------
Keiichi found a ring. Not the most expensive, but for some reason, the most perfect to reflect it's coming owner.
Only 375,000 yen. He felt kinda weird charging it to Imlade's account card. (Much less work this time around, for one thing.)
But... he knew....
-------------------
-0827 hours-
Velsper is yanked from Celestine's acquiring mouth. “Hey! HEY!”
“Okay! Everyone right now goes get their presents, using my replete funds, or the cat gets it!!!”
Everyone looks at the demi-godly mutant. Takano especially... “What's your prob bucko?”
Velsper just hisses while Imlade looks plain dumb trying to accost everyone like this. “What? I just want everyone to get a present for each other, off my expense. Tis my own gift, what it is.”
Megumi just looks at a head shaking Lind. “He's being dumb again.”
Urd, lip sore twice now so far, just quips. “So it's Velsper, so what?”
Imlade just grumbles and tosses Velsper behind him, (whit Belldandy catches deftly.) “Oh yeah?! What if I... where's another cat... I need a cat... any cat.. I.. ah... here kitty... here kitty... kitty.... kitties... ki... wait, I just need one. I said one! One said I!! Will you... wait! Where are you all coming from?! ACK! Stop! Okay don't come! I don't need... WHAA!! I don't need this many...!! -Heavy muffled sounds thankfully after!-
Hijiri just openly laugh-giggles.. “Look! It's mister kitty man!”
More than a few guffaws at Imlade's expense, as Keima just moans out. “Providence becomes of what one seeks.” ..and lays down his hammer. Urd then claps out. “Okay folks. Cousin said we could abuse his account.”
“What was that?” Skuld walks up with. Urd looks and rolls her eyes. “I need to teach you how to use lipstick better.” This as Sentaro wobbles by... “Where am I?”
Ichigo just huffs.. “This isn't wholesome behavior, if not for... that... was it a spell or a curse?”
Urd looks over at a happy dizzy Troubadour, under a tree nearby. “Curse.” ..and rubs her own bruised lips.
Imlade soon is just left there with fifty-something kitties all over him in a mound. They all take turns patting 'him', where the head is supposed to be, as they leave him be. Lind is the last, as she removes a calico kitty where Imlade's mouth is. “I'll leave you be to finish. I presume you'll have help.”
“Yup... ow, claws... yeah, Scetu and the Synthetics will help. Take Sigrun too and help her out will ya?”
“Okay.” Lind imparts and replaces the calico, leaving Imlade alone to contemplate... “(I think I gained a goddess type karma.)”
Yeah. Real shocker.
-------------------
Belldandy is shopping, already begotten one item Keiichi would adore, when she thinks she sees...
“Oh... Keiichi... eh?”
“Come along daughter dearest. I saw something else you can get for him.”
“O... okay.”
Frig's plotting in the Saint nick of time.
-------------------
Urd pointing at a 'naughty' display in a certain window. “There you go Skuld darling.”
“ARE YOU CRAZY, GUTTER HEAD!?!?!”
Sentaro was thankful Ichigo was pulling him away there. Fusuchi's resistant dragging didn't help his jacket though.
-------------------
Keiichi was shocked he found a second gift without even looking for it. It almost outdid the ring. And hence his plan to enact...
-------------------
Lind found a cute camera clock for Chihiro, that was cute this time to look at.
-------------------
Keiba and Megumi weren't fooling each other when they they saw the matching biker helmets.
-------------------
Takano liked the new tool set her Keima would find good use of.
-------------------
Keima was indeed stealthy with those five boxes of Swiss chocolate. (Real stuff even. Wonka would be proud. (Sorta.))
-------------------
Urd finally found Mara trying to hide the holidays away in a karaoke bar. That's where Frig found them both later, late that afternoon after the stores closed.
-------------------
Lind's love of books, found five big fat ones of the American Military Services, (even the Coast Guard apparently,) for her certain someone.
-------------------
Belldandy drew 'such' a face. “Mother. I know they're cute and all...”
Frigurina just blinked at her. “Pardon? But Urd thinks the universe of them. Even if she takes her skimpiness from Hild more than moi.”
Belldandy 'actually' became curious enough to... And to Frig's surprise even. Gee.
-------------------
Chihiro became the first to come around the residence again. “Heya holiday sports! I... yo ho ho?”
Imlade looks back, covered in cat claws, tape and glittering garland bits. “Yo ho. Bout done.”
“Where's everyone else?”
“Gift finding. You too?” Chihiro just tosses up and down a decent sized package. “For my best workers.”
“Heh, since we already got ours, Lind and I.”
“Yup.”
“What about Tamiya?”
“I tied him up with a big fat scarf.”
Imlade gave a quirky Frig-like eye, before Chihiro relented. “Annnnnnd.... a good peck. But just one!! Blather it and die creep!!”
The knight just snickers, almost eating Chihiro's held gift in the process. Chihiro however then notes... “Eh?”
They both stop as a flake flutters past down them both, the first of a number that make them both look up. Chihiro blinks... “Guess the weather dude was wrong again.”
Imlade then sniffs the air and imparts... “Nay. Tis was Lind that is ever 'right'.”
This both smile at, as flakes start coming down more and more, enough so by the time the others start floating back in, Hijiri hefting a rather large kitty plushy, even bigger than the one the previous night. “Yay it's snowing! Yay yay yay!!”
The fact they all seemed to have come back together as a family pack, makes Imlade blink some. Megumi does the same with.. “Wow, you got your.. uh.. guys really working.” This as a good dozen, holiday colored Synthetic humanoid units affix some of the last of some of the decorations. This as garland, light strings, and all manner of tick tack, nick nacks cover everything. Urd comments, rubbing her lips from another recent 'locking'... “Nice work, even looks artistic as well.”
“We try.”
A decent moan makes them look again, Imlade wondering unto now... “Mara? Ew.. what, who... where?”
Urd with a similar moan. “Hiding from Christmas with me in a bar.”
“Ah.”
Mara just moans out. “I can't stand all this sappi... er.... uerp... wut... woooooooooooooo...” ...and rushes out of thankful sight to... well... Most the rest remark.. “Demons.”
Imlade then notes.. “Lady Belldandy?” ...and her rather deep blush. Frig just waves a hand. “Some preparations discussed... and... well... prepared.”
Skuld looks less than pleased, though a rather decent tick less than even a passing night ago. Takano then asks, noticing.. “Where's K-kun?”
This train of thought is interrupted as Talos and Troubadour suddenly appear! Both: “We got them! We got...”
Troubadour has to side step out of the way, as Talos is SMACKED into a rolling tackle somewhere, by fast flying French flair goddess of some sort. Most cringe at the sight, before Urd just quips. “Pardon me as well, I guess.” ..trying to keep her own skin from crawling again.
Troubadour would be happier, if not for the sudden pain.
Lind meanwhile walks by and 'bumps' Imlade at this hip, this making him look, with a sigh. This of course is intruded upon by a slowly off screen approaching head of.. “So whens the lighting shing ding?”
“At true dusk, milady Takano. I imagine hunger is in our hearts and tummies here.”
“What about our skin!?!” ..this as Sigrun appears beside her Master, in the midst of holding her arms, trying to keep sane! Imlade notes as Sigrun yelps at her wits end! “My skin is trying to tickle me so bad!!” This Imlade blinks impressed. “Wow, you have greater focus and restraint than...”
“Master please!!”
“Aye then! Milady Frigurina!”
Said goddess floats up. “Oh okay, like she's found a true love just yet.” ..and plucks the 'special' mistletoe from Sigrun's goddess akin blouse. Sigrun then sighs a 'real' breath of relief. (And flops over beneath Imlade.)
“Next year though.” Frig quips, as Sig just grumbles. Imlade just fingers that thought on his chin, as Sigrun and Banpei roll up. “/ It's all set!” ... “Excellent! We... eh? You put the mistletoe on Sigel instead?”
Frig giggles as Sigel pokes at the trinket. “/ What's this for?”
Imlade just prods a semi-jittered Sigrun away with him. “Uhhhhh... we'll leave this uncertainty to the winter winds.”
Frig smiled and soon explained. Sigel just gleeped out!!! “/ How is that all supposed to affect me?!?”
“Oh trust a goddess to know it 'can'.”
Sigel gulps before she hears and sees Banpei flat out steaming out from his ear ports!!! Sigel just glowers back. “/ You just wait till this is all over scrap heap.”
The steam stops. (For a bit.)
The scene turns jumbled as Frig then goes help a distracted Bell with a light dinner, Christmas music plys the Temple air once more. (Been there on and off for a month, usually overlooked by most.) During the settling phase of things around the temple, one last soul finally slips in. Keiichi looks around, and smiles. He really does.
Peorth of note notices as she pokes her head above a half smashed into bush. “Keiichi?”
“What?” Talos manages to muster up as well, details of obvious note withheld. (No not 'that' far. Sheesh...)
Peorth smirks and senses it. She instead just looks back at her own love. “Temps a venir.”
“What appended?”
Peorth just responds by flopping back on top of Talos, to continue round number four. Keiichi eventually looks around, and without alerting Belldandy somehow, finds his own parents. Some details told, just to prepare them for what soon comes.
-------------------
Not that any of them were ready for 'this'!!
“Ready everyone!”
Hijiri just bounces up and down. “Yay, light time!! Yay!!” ..this Imlade hands a remote single button box, rather archaic looking at that, to the wee Japanese lass. “Okay, one press, and it'll be like Lighting day in Heaven.”
“Uh oh.”
Megumi looks over at several pensive goddesses. “Uh oh? 'Uh oh?' What does that mean?”
When Imlade puts some kind kind of tinted goggles on, Sigrun doing the same, Skuld reacts by throwing goggles over Hijiri's eyes! “Might wana cover em quick mortals!!”
“Why?” Hijiri's mother quips, before Hijiri presses the button.
---
Eihwa just giggled out after a certain flash from the Third Dimensional Plane registered on Intracel's encompassing sensors. When Ere triangulated it all, the smiles came readily all around Central Hub. Eihwa just smirked.. “Cosa baraonda. Cosa gioia.”
She couldn't help but hatch a new plan for a coming visit. (One that would become something else entirely.)
---
“I'm blind! I'm blind!! Holy cow! Wow! Woweewow!!”
Chihiro's screams are one octave louder than Megumi's or Takano's before their vision begins to return. As Skuld bonks Imlade on the head! “You're supposed to watch it with things like that around mortals!”
“Hey.” ...Lind dryly retorts to Skuld, before smacking Imlade into a set of anime dizzy eyes, twice as hard than Skuld bonked him! “My job.”
“Sorry.”
“wHeRE aM iyyee?”
As eyes soon recover (And Imlade's senses,) there are soon a lot of amazed gasps, as the decorating, past the blinding fury unneeded, indeed passes holiday fruitcake. Green thick runs of garland, interspersed with intricate light patterns in very nice patterns of the expertly laid, reflect onto the accumulating snow, and crystal and plastic bulbs of many kinds and shapes. A blue to white to green to red pattern, runs from the Temple, over to the residence, with shrubbery and trees along the way used to make a decent 'seamed' effect between the two structures. But the walls are also alit, all around, no space wasted, from all sides of Temple Tarikihongan. A simple, sweeping layout as classic as it is breathtaking on the first view.
Urd just pushes Lind on top of Imlade. “Wow, first Halloween and now Christmas. Getting beaten senseless gave ya a sense of style it seems.”
Imlade just blushes with Lind's bosom literally on top of his head. “It was Lind's idea.”
“`Twas not. Collaboration I thought it was.”
“Aye... sure..” ..this Lind smirks and uses her position to flip over and yank them both down to the ground. Keima quips down, uneasily. “Is that their third or fourth?”
“Second. They need catching up.” Urd quips before noting one other detail. One where Keiichi finally walks over and sees Belldandy's smile. Belldandy sees Keiichi come over... “Oh Keiichi! It's so beautiful around here tonight! It's just so beautiful.”
“I know.”
Belldandy looks, as she sees something...
-x2 Hand clap!- “Okay boyos! I think we can exchange some early gifts.”
Keima blinks over at Takano, quipping.. “But I thought it was just...” ...before being pushed off to the residence. “Hey. I said I do the thinking for us. Common.”
The others only look on, before following. Keiichi feels his hand led for him as he fiddles in his jacket pocket...
---
“Ahhhh... you're spolin` me.” Takano says on top of Keima's back. This as Peorth and Urd go gaga over respective jewelery that both respective lovers remember from the Irtasus incident. No, Keiba and Megumi didn't fool each other. (Not counting the ruby and emerald bracelet that 'did' catch Megumi off guard. Keima was waiting for Takano to find her new necklace in one of the boxes unopened, to get the same 'result'.) Enough presents for tomorrow to come, save one more.
“Where's mine?”
Lind's lightly prodded query, at the end of a pointed finger into Imlade's folded arms. Imlade however notes Keiichi enjoying the new scarf Belldandy knitted. “Soon. I think it will have to wait miValkyrie.” ...this Lind notes and sees clearly. Keiichi smiles as Belldandy enjoys seeing her present well endowed. “This is great Belldandy! It matches the sweater you knitted so well.”
“I'm so happy Keiichi dear.” ..she only expects for her own present. Frig watching however quips out. “If you say so daughter.” ...this making Belldandy look blankly, as Keiichi takes that as his cue. He coughs nervously, and reaches out of his pocket to impart.. “I guess this'll have to match it Belldandy.” ...as Bell looks to her clear surprise as she is handed a decent sized, flat jewelery box. She opens it with more vocal surprise... “Oh Keiichi! It's so lovely!” ...and displays in her hand the silvery charm bracelet, with a single tree with emeralds in it. Megumi oohs out... “Wow, nice one bro! It looks so great Bell!”
The others, mainly female, ooh and ahh as Bell puts it on her right wrist, this she 'now' only expects, along with the hug she gives Keiichi. She then happily says... “I love you so much.”
“I know. And.... that's why...”
Belldandy raises her head from Keiichi's shoulder, as she notices Keiichi is shivering, even shaking, breathing a bit labored, pulse shallow, a pink leading into a soft red color hue? “Keiichi?”
“...can... can you come outside?”
“Keiichi?”
“Here we... ow!” ...Skuld's still resistant tone cut short by a good bonk of a Motherly hand. Belldandy is led outside to a good, if light falling snow outside. Belldandy fully wonders, as she still giggles a bit as flakes caress her chin, this wile Keiichi thinks he's insane for it all finally. The other's filter out, Frigurina at the appropriate fore, as Keiichi stops them both a few meters from the residence. Belldandy watches as Keiichi faces her. “Keiichi dear?” Bell asks, her curiosity getting the better of her usual manners. Keiichi just takes a smile of his, with her own, before he gulps and looks over at... “Um... Lady.. Frig... uh... Frigurina? Can... can I ask... um... that we cancel our current Contract?”
“That shocks everyone quite cold, as even Frig is taken aback for a moment, Belldandy immediately drops her hand from his, tears welling up fast! “K... Keiichi!? No... no you...”
Frig levelly asks... “Why shalt I?”
Keiichi gulps out and looks away with a blush that confuses Belldandy. “Well... I was thinking... thinking a lot... that... well... the Contract we had... well... isn't good enough anymore. I... I mean...” ..this he suddenly drops to both knees, to the accumulating shock onlooking... “...it's just not right as it is anymore. I mean, after all this time, it's.. just not a goddess I want by my side always anymore.”
...and the other pocket is withdrawn it's smaller velvet box, displayed, gasped at thrice over, as Keiichi imparts in 'such' a calm voice. “I mean I... ah... I mean I... I see Belldandy, for Belldandy, now and forever. And because of that... I want Belldandy to be with me always. Always and forever. If... if you'll have me.”
A nice, silent moment... (Even Skuld was lost in the moment finally. What after so long.)
But for that moment, nothing...
Frig: “Now... ahhhh... hmm.. now... um... now I want you daughter to calmly think and...”
“Yes Keiichi! Yes!!!”
Frig literally had to jump clean out of the way of 'that' loving tackle. “Nice we had this chat.” ..before she smiled. No one didn't. They all soon joined in one very happy moment, Megumi rubbing both their hair. “Wow Bro! That was as manly as 'manly' can get!”
Troubadour/Imlade/Talos: “Agreed!!”
Keiichi tried to speak but Bell just happily tackled him back down. Takano meanwhile kept plying Keima's shoulder like a pirate parrot. “Golliee. Now you and Kei-goober have something in common on Christmas.” ..this Keima just blushes at. The rest of it got lost in a long moment under the snow and mistletoe. The Christmas a new chapter begins.
---
Course there are others along side and ever...
“Wonder what I'd be like to propose.”
Ichigo and Fusuchi now look at Sentaro like a mutant, before Skuld hears and suddenly holds her cheeks, redder than Santa's rosy own now! She just squeals at the memory to come, before Sentaro look-trails at, as much as some of the rest. “What'd I say?”
Fusuchi just bonks Sentaro in the head. “Sheesh you men are unthinking.”
“No kiddin.” This as Urd sits in Troubadours lap rather contently, as well as glittery. Ichigo just moans. “Don't encourage em.” ..this before Skuld's doppler effect squeal suddenly comes back, nabs Sentaro again and back she-they goes! Ichigo just SHOUTS!! “I said don't encourage!!! Dang nabbit!”
Sentaro's present of some high end RAM chips came next by the way.
Peorth then floats in, caressing her well used lips. “C'est-Ã -dire nombre cinq.”
Urd croons... “I'm working up to mine here.”
A mix of smiles and grimaces depending, are then stuck to one look of bewilderment, when the whole bunch of them, as well as loose nick nacks, jump once after a HARD thump outside. Urd blinks. “I guess Cousin is getting a taste of his present to Lind. Didn't know those Axes could be made from pure diamond though. Wonder how 'that' got managed?”
“Probably got the idea during their trip to Heaven for the Ball.” Peorth commented. “Her family probably helped too. Guess they'll be paying a visite à domicile bientôt.” Urd though looked back in surprise while the other listened. “I thought they had a problem still with Cousin.”
Peorth only shrugs, some things still not fully said from their guardians, even despite prodding. Not dwelt on, as Takano leaned on Keima nearby. “Anywho. Thus be good times folks. Good times.”
Just then, Frig shoots in with a Christmas cake in each hand! “Time for more desert!!”
She pulls a face as all the pained moans that come back as a result! Takano leading objections with... “You kiddin!? That's ....four... five... three yesterday... sixteen cakes in a week! I'm gonna lose my figure here.”
Urd: “Yeah right.” ...this Takano blinks at. Frig pulled her frown low at this. “What am I supposed to do? Stuff them down my Nephew's gullet?”
Fusuchi quips as Hijiri starts stirring in her lap. “He'd probably need it with that last hit we felt.”
Frig just flits ditzy like... “Phhhtt... that was a lover's tap.” Hijiri's mom just quipping. “Even I never hit that hard.”
Just then, a strange chime flitted the cold air outside, waifing down with the snow. It makes them all look, before more chimes crescendo down more and more. Urd suddenly remarks. “Uhhhhh... are we forgetting...”
Keima remarks as the sounds grow... “Did there not be that Spirit from Halloween? And.... if....”
Three tiny, if loudly holly syllables ply the air lightly, sounds on approach.
“Ahhhh!! You gotta be kidding me!!”
Everyone sees Mara suddenly shoot by without warning, which prompts them 'all' to suddenly scamper to bed as fast as possible, yelling and yelping included!! Hijiri just looks about bleary eyed! “What's going on?” Fusuchi just yeeping out! “Trying to keep ya on the gift list here! Move it lose it Urd! AIIIIIEEEEEE!!!”
“Yeah Ugly Sis! We don't need your coal lumps!”
“HEY!!!”
---
Tis includes, as Sigrun watches the two warrior lovers to scamper to bed, just as fast. The fourth Norn just shakes her head as the sounds are readily clear, of now the snow and deep of night, such the 'meaning' of Christmas comes from. (Part of the meaning anyway.) She just quips. “It's just a Spirit. I mean what's so special about....” ...before a colorful present actually materializes in her lap. She gazes in amazement as the sounds start chanting off with... “Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!”
Sigrun couldn't find her goth angst at all after that. From then on even.
---
One couple never really had it, nor ever would again, cuddling together under their own covers. One happy for every Present to come, the other... just proud. Happy all the same.
As the chimes fade...
“Merry Christmas, Keiichi my love.”
“Merry Christmas Belldandy.”
....the snow outside was as pure as their anew love.
-------------------
“Woohoo! I'm a happy rat!”
Velsper lies under a lit tree in that same snow, tied up with a 'do not open till Xmas' sticker over her/his mouth. Celestine just tongue waggles out. “I aim to please.”
Velsper: “(New Years resolution. Dog repellent and rat traps galore.)”
(End - A Goddess Carol)
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