Ah My Goddess Fan Fiction ❯ Conflicted Hearts ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Conflicted Hearts Chapter 3

 

You've read right! This is chapter 3 of Conflicted Hearts. Sorry, REALLY sorry about the long wait. Especially to you Player0! My one true fan for this story! Again, lack of source material knowledge is slowing this story down. I hope to speed it up when I get my hands on the mangas, but the best I can do is use some very good Ah! My Goddess websites that has, of all things, summaries of the mangas, and one even has English translations of the Japaense mangas (not scanlations, just a translation of what the panels say if I ever acquire the originals. Unfortunately, that only extends to the latter mangas. For whatever reason, this guy doesn't have it for the early ones, and he hasn't updated in a long time. Still, these websites help me form the next few chapters of this story). Been too lazy to read them yet (since they are not quite the same as reading the mangas). So, why is the mangas important for this story? One word, Mara. Not seen in the OVAs, and not seen in the movie that I have recently acquired. If the last part of the last chapter was kind eh, it was due to the fact that when I introduced Mara, I didn't know how to do it, and if she have anyone else besides her (I WILL change that in the future. I might even change chapter 1 in order to reflect the mangas more then the OVA).

 

And maybe when the Ah! My Goddess anime is brought over (since they have been licensed, I can't download them), I'll get that and this story should REALLY be taking off.

 

Now, OTHER then Mara, especially with the movie I just watched, characterization of the other characters should be decent. I might even make this chapter slightly longer if only to hold off Mara's involvement due to my lack of knowledge of her personally.

 

Well, after that short rant, on with the story!

 

Morisato Residence

 

Keiichi yawned as he got up from his position. It was early morning and at the moment, things seemed to be going back to normal. Though right now, Belldandy was outside instead of making breakfast. Skuld was in her room working on something. Urd? Well, she was doing something at the moment. She was probably sleeping or something. Still, he needed to talk to Belldandy about leaving a little early today given that he needed to find a job.

 

Keiichi walked around the hallway of his house looking for Belldandy. “Belldandy?” He called out as he opened one door and another. As he exited the temple, he comes across Benpai. He knelt down. “Say, have you seen Belldandy?”

 

Benpai looked at him, and then pointed in one direction.

 

“Oh.” Keiichi headed in that direction. `Wonder what she's doing?'

 

As Keiichi headed towards where Belldandy was, Skuld came out of her room. `Hmmmmm. What should I do?' At the moment, she didn't have a laptop to work with due to that little, incident. True, there is that desktop in the other room, but that computer was a little old. Her now defunct laptop could do a lot more calculations then that ancient thing. Of course, even that had its limitations. `The System Force is something that shouldn't be taken lightly. I should know since I worked on it before I was stuck down here.' Skuld sighed as she looked at Keiichi heading in one direction. “Wonder where he's going? Probably going to where Belldandy is. Speaking of which…” She followed closely behind.

 

Urd was flying around. Normally, she would be doing her favorite activity right now, well, okay, second favorite, watching TV. Then later, maybe make a potion. Maybe one to make Keiichi and Belldandy get closer together. Something she wasn't supposed to do given the last time she tried it, but why should that stop her? One of these days, it will work! But, at the moment, her interest lied elsewhere. `I wonder where Keiichi is right now?'

 

Keiichi walks through the little forest next to the temple/home. He walked past a number of trees when he hears a beautiful voice. It was a voice that can only be coming from one person, or in this case, a goddess. “Belldandy?”

 

Belldandy was singing a song to a dead tree. It was a beautiful song. “Lalalalalalaaaalaaaa…” Okay, so it didn't have words exactly, and can't be easily expressed written down, but it was a beautiful song. Coming out from Belldandy's back, Holy Bell was mimicking Belldandy's actions.

 

Keiichi came into view of her. `Wow. Her voice is really beautiful!' Although he had seen and heard her sing before, it was still something he had greatly enjoyed hearing. It was something he liked about her. `Liked? Don't I mean…' His cheeks start to redden.

 

Skuld followed Keiichi closely behind. She stopped when she hears Belldandy's voice. Her heart brightens when she hears it. She sits down on a nearby rock.

 

Urd flew until she came into view of Belldandy and Keiichi. When she sees the two, she turned away for a moment. `What, why did I do that?' She was momentarily confused by her action.

 

Belldandy stopped her singing as he sees Keiichi. Holy Bell reverts back into Belldandy. “Hello Keiichi!”

 

Keiichi was momentarily stunned. “Um, hello Belldandy!” He smiled at her.

 

Skuld sighed happily. “Belldandy is so skillful at what she does. She's so gifted.” `And that's why I don't want her to be with HIM!'

 

Keiichi smiled at Skuld. “Yeah.”

 

Belldandy smiled at the two. She doesn't see Urd who was hiding behind a tree. Although she could sense that she was near. `Wonder why Urd is hiding?'

 

Keiichi looked at the dead tree that Belldandy was singing to. He noticed that it started sprouting. “This tree has been dead before we arrived. And yet, now it has started to sprout! Your powers are incredible, Belldandy!”

 

Belldandy smiled brightly. “No, I just heard a voice. He said that although it knew its life was at an end, he still wanted to spend a little more time in this world. So I helped it along. When it heard my voice, it gave him the will to live just a bit longer. I just helped him realize it!”

 

Urd looked at Belldandy. `Giving it the will to live longer. Only possible with First Class Goddess.' She sighed at the thought. She was still a Second Class Goddess, even though she was technically older then Belldandy. She then looked at Keiichi. She felt a little warmth inside of her. `Why do I feel this way?' She looked away and decided to look at something else. She decided to look at a nest of chicks at a nearby tree instead.

 

Keiichi patted the mostly dead tree. “The will to live.” He smiled at the thought.

 

Urd looked at the family of chicks chirping at her. She then eyed Skuld staring at her. “What are you staring at?”

 

“None of your business.” Skuld replied, and then looked back at Belldandy, at Keiichi, and then, at Urd.

 

Urd looked back at Keiichi and Belldandy admiring the tree. “Keiichi, didn't you have something to ask Belldandy?”

 

“Huh?” Keiichi looked back at Urd. “Oh yeah!” He turned to Belldandy. “Belldandy, after breakfast, I'd like to leave immediately! I need to find a job. For that…” Keiichi looked at Skuld. “Laptop that was, destroyed.”

 

Skuld glared at Keiichi. “You better replace it!”

 

Belldandy smiled. “Alright! I guess I should start breakfast now!”

 

“Yeah!” Keiichi smiled. He watched as Belldandy trotted away to the kitchen.

 

Later…

 

Keiichi sat on the motorcycle and put on his helmet. Belldandy, sat next to him. She also put on her helmet and waved at the two watching them go.

 

“If you want Skuld, I can teach you how to sing later!” Belldandy said.

As Belldandy said that, Skuld became very excited. “Really sister?”

 

Belldandy nodded.

 

Keiichi smiled. “Bye Skuld! Bye Urd! Take care you two!”

 

“We will!” Urd waved at the two as they sped away from the temple.

 

Skuld also waved. Though she was happy that she will have singing lessons with Belldandy later, she wasn't happy about the situation Bell was in. `She's everywhere with him! Just because that stupid contract requires her to be on Earth, doesn't mean she has to spend most of her time with him!' Skuld let out a frown.

 

Skuld's frown was noticed by Urd. “What is it this time?”

 

“Nothing that you need to be concerned with.” Skuld replied as she headed inside the house. “I'm just…wish that Belldandy was here to teach me how to sing now!” Well, it was true.

 

“Is that all?” Urd crossed her arms and frown. `Selfish little brat.' “You really need a hobby you know.”

 

“I already have a hobby.” Skuld pouted in front of Urd. “Besides, you're not exactly the one to speak! What? Watch TV all day?”

 

“Phhhh…” Urd glared at Skuld. “I don't watch TV all day!”

 

“Whatever!” Skuld stormed into the temple.

 

Urd glared at Skuld as she exited her view. “I do other stuff…though…” She flew into the living room and turned on the TV. “My favorite show is about to start.”

 

On the Road

 

As they were speeding away, Keiichi turned to Belldandy. “Skuld looked really happy back there!”

 

Belldandy smiled. “I always help my little sister! Oh, that reminds me, thanks for helping Urd when she was down! Ever since that race, she wasn't her usual self!”

 

“Urd.” Keiichi slowly repeated.

 

“Keiichi?” Belldandy replied slightly worried.

 

“Huh?” Keiichi looked back at Belldandy. “Oh yeah! Thanks. I was just trying to help!”

 

Something stirred inside of Belldandy that she didn't like. However, she brushed it off as nothing. “So where are you going to work?”

 

“I don't know.” Keiichi replied as he looked down the road. “I will probably look up postings on the board to see if there is a job available. Then I'll probably check out the career center, see if they have anything I can do in my spare time.”

 

Morisato Residence

 

Urd was watching the TV. “I wonder if Minako will finally reveal her secret?” Urd wondered out loud.

 

Skuld walked down the hallway. She was dead bored. She looked to see if there was any ice cream left in the freezer. There was none. That meant she had to wait for someone, like Urd, to buy some. She didn't feel like badgering her over that right now. Also, she was kind of stuck with her little `operation'. She wanted Belldandy to return to Heaven. But with the contract in place, System Force to deal with, and, well, her almost inseparable relationship with Keiichi, she couldn't come up with a solution at the moment. She was going around in circles with this problem. It also didn't help matters that she still had lingering doubt of whether it was it the right thing to do. She still needed to eliminate that doubt before she could continue. As she turned the corner, she noticed Urd watching TV. She decided to ask Urd a few questions that might give her the answers that she was looking for. “Hey Urd?”

 

“Shhh!” Urd shushed Skuld as she entered. “Minako is going to pop the big secret!”

 

Skuld watched the TV. Urd was apparently watching As the Days Turn. Some cheesy soap opera that Urd liked to watch.

 

“Because Ken!” Minako, the longhaired woman in the soap opera said through tears. “I'm pregnant!”

 

“Pregnant?” Ken, the studly man of the series, was shocked by this revelation. Shocked I tell you! “Who's the father?”

 

Suddenly, the camera goes in real close to Minako before the scene faded out.

 

“WHAT?” Urd yelled at the TV. “You can't go to commercials yet!” As the commercial for a new series, Fullmetal Evangelion came on, Urd sighed defeated. “Great.” She then turned to Skuld who was sitting next to her. “What do you want Skuld?”

 

`Ice cream.' Skuld thought. Though she wanted to ask something else first. “Urd, what do you think about Keiichi?”

 

“Huh?” Urd raised an eyebrow at Skuld. “That's an odd question to ask. And why exactly are you asking that?” She narrowed her eyes a bit.

 

“I'm just curious! Sheesh!” Skuld pouted again.

 

Urd sighed. “Very well. What I think about Keiichi…” As she was thinking this, she realized that she didn't know what to say. “Ummmm…” `I never really thought about what I personally think of Keiichi.' “Well, for starters, I think he's a shy, blind fool who can't advance his relationship with Belldandy.” She felt a gut turned when she said relationship. `What is that?'

 

Skuld didn't notice that and was in fact, a little disappointed. Then again, what was she looking for? She continued to probe. “Is that all?”

 

“Ummm…” Urd continued to rankle her brain. “He…”

 

Skuld looked closer at Urd. “Yes?”

 

Urd frowned as Skuld was staring at her, eager to know something. She took a deep breath. “Well, I think he…he's…” Again, Urd was having trouble coming up with what to say. Finally, she just blurted out what first came to mind. “He's very kind and caring and I like being around him.” As she said the last answer, her voice dropped a few octaves. `Did I just say that?'

 

Skuld noticed that. A huge smile spread across her face. “Thanks Urd!” She got up off her seat and ran out of the room.

 

“Thanks Urd?” Urd was stunned by that. `Since when does Skuld thank me?' “Hey kid? What did you mean?” But as she was about to chase Skuld, the soap opera came back on. She immediately sat back down and watched. “Oh, oh, oh! Here it comes!”

 

Minako's tears started up again. “The father is…”

 

Kekomi Institute of Technology

 

The school was crowded as most of the classes were held at this time. Though in Keiichi's case, his class doesn't start until a half hour later. Just enough time to see if he can find a job that he could do.

 

Keiichi was standing in front of a board. “Let's see, there's a band playing this week, a movie club showing Akira Kurosawa movies…ah!” He finally sees a posting on the board. However, he frowned when he read the details. “Mailings? Work at your own pace? Work at home even?” While it sounded like the perfect job for him, there was a nagging voice in the back of his mind telling him not to take this job. “It just sounds too good to be true.”

 

Belldandy was quietly standing next to him. “Don't find a job that you want?”

 

Keiichi shook his head. “There isn't that many job postings here period.” He sighed. “I guess I can try out the career center to see if there are any openings.”

 

As Keiichi and Belldandy walked through the campus, a woman called at them from behind. “Keiichi!”

 

Keiichi and Belldandy turned back to see the woman.

 

“Oh hey Megumi!” Keiichi waved at her.

 

“So, you're looking for a job I see!” Megumi replied as she looked at the board.

 

Keiichi blinked in complete surprised. “How did you know?”

 

“Well…” Megumi eyed the two and grinned. “You were staring at the board looking at postings. Unless you decided to join another club, I'd take it that you're looking for a job to pay for something. Am I right?” She grinned at Keiichi.

 

“Yeah.” Keiichi conceded. Then he thought of something. “Hey! Speaking of postings, how come we don't have one?”

 

Megumi sighed. “Well, there was one posting but…” She holds up a poster with the corners ripped. It showed Tamiya and Otaki taking up nearly the entire poster. In fact… “I had to rip it down since, IT DIDN'T EVEN MENTION THE MOTOR CLUB! Those two morons forgot to add fonts to it!”

 

“Oh boy.” Keiichi slapped his head.

 

Belldandy patted Keiichi on the shoulder. “It's okay Keiichi. Everything will turn out fine in the end.”

 

“Yeah. I hope so.” Keiichi replied, not so sure of that.

 

“Anyways…” Megumi grinned. “So, you need a job huh? What'd you do this time? Didn't mom and dad send enough money?”

 

“It's not that.” Keiichi continued. “You see, Ur…I mean, I accidentally destroyed Skuld's laptop. And I need to buy a new one.”

 

“Really?” Megumi looked, concerned after she heard that. “I guess you need the money now huh?”

 

“Yeah…” Keiichi raised an eyebrow at Megumi. “What are you getting at?”

 

Megumi brightly smiled. “You're in luck! I'm in need of some help at Fujimi's shop!”

 

Keiichi blinked at his luck. A job was waiting for him with his sister! Well, his friend Fujimi's actually, but he found out through Megumi. That's when he realized; he had a bad feeling about this. “What job exactly?”

 

Megumi took Keiichi's hand. “You'll see!”

 

Keiichi felt a wave of dread wash over him. “I really have a bad feeling about this.”

 

-------End of Chapter 3

 

Wow! Pretty short chapter given the long wait, and the marathon chapters I've been writing for my other story recently, Fullmetal Evangelion. The story is progressing FRUSTRATINGLY slowly. I am so sorry about that. One of the things that is keeping this story from progressing is again, lack of source material knowledge. While I can probably do Urd, Skuld, Belldandy, Keiichi, heck, even Megumi, Tamiya, Otaki, and possibly even Peorth (since she was in the movie) pretty well, I'm still not that confident with Mara (who, for the first part of this story at least, is supposed to be the main baddy). In fact, that last part of Chapter 2 WILL change, once I get a better handle on her character. It is also frustrating since I KNOW where this story is heading. Just getting there is the hard part.

 

Also, if you notice, the scene where Belldandy is singing with the tree, that was taken from the movie. I know, not exactly creative. But hey, I couldn't think of another way to start this chapter. And I think it fits in nicely given the circumstances.

 

Oh yeah, and if you have been reading my Fullmetal Evangelion story, you would have noticed the soap opera that Urd was watching was the same one Riza Hawkeye was watching in the latest chapter of that story. And of course, blatant self promotion too. Hehehe.

 

Next Chapter! What is Fujimi going to do to poor Keiichi? And what are Skuld's plan? And what else is going to happen? Ummmm…I don't know. But things will happen I can guarantee…that much. Until then…later!

 

OMAKE TIME!

 

SimmyC: And THAT, is a wrap!

 

Skuld: FINALLY! I was ready to look for another job waiting for you to work on this!

 

Belldandy: This story is going too slow! I want to see what punishment I will dealt with to Skuld and maybe Urd!

 

Skuld: (blinks) Punishment?

 

Belldandy: (glares at Skuld before giving a sweet smile) Yeah!

 

Skuld: (shrinks down)

 

Urd: Okay, I'm now officially scared.

 

Mara: HEY! Where was I in this story? You introduced me already right? (growls)

 

SimmyC: Well, yeah. But…

 

Urd: And you're not going to spend another five months or so before you update again are you?

 

SimmyC: (sweat drops as the goddesses stare at me) Eep! Ummm, no, NO! Of course not! Maybe…four months?

 

Urd: (glaring at me dangerously)

 

SimmyC: I mean, three months? Two?

 

Urd: (picks up Edward Elric from Fullmetal Evangelion)

 

SimmyC: No! You wouldn't dare!

 

Urd: Update soon or the midget gets it!

 

Edward Elric: WHO ARE YOU CALLING A MIDGET YOU OLD HAG?

 

Urd: (glares at Ed) Metal is a good conductor of electricity right? (Urd's hand starts to electrify)

 

Ed: (gulps)

 

SimmyC: (river of tears streaming down my face)