Author's Notes:
Standard disclaimer here.

Yes, I know that I am taking my time in getting to the crossover, as one person who reviewed the previous chapter pointed out, but I ask that you please bear with me. I promise that I will get to it. If you notice, things are closing bit by bit. I do not wish to rush things too much, thus I am attempting to take the time to develop the story as much as possible, even if it means taking a little time to get to the crossover. Again, please bear with me.

As you may have noticed, the characters are slightly OC, and there is a reason for this. They have all grown up a bit from the manga and anime. Since this story is taking place somewhere between the last two chapters of the manga, where Keitaro and Naru confess their feelings to Hina, and their getting married in the final chapter, I feel that all of the characters would have matured to some extent or other, though their personalities would retain many of their older mannerisms. Hence, you find Shinobu still getting flustered to some extent, yet also showing a bit more backbone of her own, Motoko is a bit more mature and willing to look at all of a situation before reacting (at least to some extent), etc. Even with these changes, though, it takes a LOT of time and effort to change a person's habits and personality, so you still see many of the older traits poking their ugly little heads out occasionally.

All in all, though, I think that things work out fairly well. Anyway, you didn't click on here to read my silly drivel, so on to the story.

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Chapter 2 - The Dream Ends


Tariki Hongan Temple – one week later

"Keiichi-san, your breakfast is ready," the call once again rang out, as Belldandy had called countless times before from the doorway of the Tea Room.

"Be there in a minute, Belldandy!" he replied, finishing his morning ritual in the shared bedroom.

Today, he was off of work at Whirlwind, but that didn't mean that he had the day off entirely. He had other obligations on this day, in Heaven, training more with his angel, Hope's Assurance, as well as building up his physical and magical abilities and stamina. It had been roughly thirteen years ago that he had been granted godhood so that his wish to be with Belldandy forever could be fulfilled. Actually, that wasn't entirely correct. He was first made immortal, but several months later he was made a god so that he could support an angel properly, as a way to heal a great wound that had been caused in a battle with a particularly strong and ancient fiend. Unbeknownst to him and everyone else – except Kami-sama – he had played host to the angel Mjolnir, and the spirit of the god Thor. After he had been injured by Skuld in one of her fits of jealousy, and then subsequently healed, they had revealed themselves to the group. The pair had sacrificed themselves as the only means to defeat the hulking monstrosity, being that they had been linked in a very early, very close, form of a doublet system. The only way that it could be defeated for good, was for them to die as well. Seeing as they were a part of Keiichi after residing within him and sharing his life force since just after his birth, the loss was akin to what the goddesses would feel upon the loss of their own angels, though not quite as bad. Mjolnir was not truly connected to Keiichi's soul the way that goddesses and their angels were connected, as he had been bonded to Thor, and only used the humans as hosts until their eventual deaths. That didn't mean that the loss wasn't devastating, though. It had left him catatonic, his own soul torn in half, even if they weren't one, per se. The only way to save him was to elevate him to godhood, then implant his own angel into him – one that he would name, thus bonding completely and healing him. Whether the same could ever be done again in similar circumstances – something that he hoped never to have to find out – was open to debate.

Thirteen years, now! Wow, it's hard to believe that it's been that long, already. Even then, I have so much to learn, so much training to do. From what Belldandy and the others have said, I will be doing this for a long time to come - the training and practicing, the learning. Kami-sama granted me the normal span of life for a human to stay on Earth, to watch my family grow and all, as well as ease some of the feelings of all involved, but I still have to begin my training, so that I can at least control my powers. Thankfully, Belldandy and her sisters are overseeing the lion's share of the training, along with Lind, but I have to meet with a senior teacher on a regular basis to evaluate my progress.

As he exited his room and began the walk to the dining area, he recalled that he was to meet with Lind to work on his physical fighting and stamina. He smiled at the thought of the strong, competent Valkyrie, and the paces that she would put him and his angel through. She certainly didn't skimp on the pace that she set for him, even if he was a new god, and still getting used to his new abilities. If anything, actually, she was more strict with him than even herself. Besides, considering the power at her command, she could handle just about any situation that could arise from his training.

After his session with the head Valkyrie, Keiichi was to follow his wife on a few of her trips to grant wishes, to see how the goddesses used their powers while on the Mortal Plain. She had begun to ease back into her responsibilities at the Goddess Relief Office recently, as it had been years (Earth time) since she had worked there. Her status was listed as 'on extended assignment', being as the wish was so open ended, and then there were the circumstances later surrounding her husband. Now, however, Kami-sama wanted her to resume her duties, albeit with a few new regulations and guidelines in place as regards wish parameters.

The man entered the dining area expecting another noisy, rambunctious morning, but was surprised to see only his wife just sitting down at the table.

"Where's everyone else this morning?" he inquired, casting his perception about the house, sensing no one else within the grounds.

"They have already left. We're the last two," she answered, as she leaned over and placed a light kiss on his cheek.

"You know, I never get tired of that, and never will," he said, savoring that small sign of affection. "I remember when something as small as that would have set me into fits, thinking that I was being too forward with you, or worrying that Skuld was about to go off the deep end, on one of her crusades against me, for taking her sister away from her."

His wife laughed lightly at that, before saying: "I used to overlook everything that she did because she was my little sister, not wanting to see the truth in front of me." Her eyes grew sad for a moment, in memory of all the things he had been through for her sake. "That's when that accident happened, and I had my eyes forcibly opened to her jealousy and anger, during that trip to the beach. It was supposed to be just the two of us, but in true form, my sisters tagged along in secret, intent on interfering with our vacation. Her actions caused you so much pain and misery…"

Keiichi silenced her with a kiss, stopping her protestations and recriminations. They parted a moment later, both with their eyes closed, not wanting to lose the moment. Finally, he spoke.

"Don't go down that route. It led to us getting closer, to the pushing of our relationship forward, but please don't dwell on it. It's done, and thirteen years in the past. We have both forgiven her entirely, so let's leave it at that."

He gave her another quick peck on her cheek, which brought a smile to her face, and a little rosiness to her cheeks.

"You are right, Keiichi-san. Let's eat so that we can get going. We don't need to be late – Lind wouldn't forgive you again!" she teased playfully.

Keiichi frowned comically, remembering the other times that he had been late for her scheduled instruction – and the 'punishments' that she had meted out.

"No, it would not be wise to be tardy again. Lind shows no mercy whatsoever!"

The young god glanced at his wife at the sound of her laughing at his admission, to see that irresistible smile that she had used on so many occasions. He couldn't help but smile in return, then turn to the business of eating. They finished breakfast and then quickly cleared the dishes, cleaning and stowing them in the cabinets. Stepping outside, they called upon the gate to allow them passage to their destination. Upon arrival, they gave each other a quick hug and went their separate ways.


Keiichi was reaching the limits of his endurance after over two hours of intense training under the eyes of the most powerful Valkyrie. Lind was working him overtime today, determined to push him to the limits of his abilities. She threw attack after attack at him, forcing him to go on the defensive, blocking both physical and magical blows. His only consolation was the fact that both she and her angels, Cool Mint and Spear Mint, were likewise showing signs of exhaustion. Keiichi was never truly out of shape, considering the 'training' that his sempais – Tamiya and Otaki – had put him through while he lived in the dorms, not to mention all the 'exercise' that he got while living with the three goddesses – two of which chased him all over creation at every opportunity, three if you counted Peorth's visits. Then came the change, when Kami-sama granted a very special wish – that of the goddess Belldandy – so that she and her love could be together forever, making him a god as well, at which point Lind began his training. He still had yet to outlast her in her training battles, but to the amazement of all (himself included), he was coming darned close after so few years.

Keiichi spotted an opening in her defenses, but held his ground, not wanting to rush into things. He'd learned some time ago that the Valkyrie would bait him, only to turn the tables at the last moment, so he watched warily, before slowly moving in, pressing his attack.

His own angel, Hope's Assurance, was busy with a barrier field for protection from the woman's angels' attacks, while he was locked in physical combat with Lind herself.

Hope, when I say, drop the shield and attack Lind directly. Ignore the Mints, as they won't be a threat once she is out, as per the rules of engagement. Don't give any indication that we are changing up. I don't want to alert them to the fact that you will be attacking rather than defending.

Understood!

There was another mental grunt from his angel as he repelled another combined attempt by the twin Mints. Their own faces showed signs of weariness through their masks of determination. Keiichi gathered his strength into himself for one last concerted push against Lind, carefully drawing energy into himself. With a massive blast of energy, he pushed back against the efforts of the Valkyrie in front of him, pouring power at her, and watched in grim satisfaction as the trio that he faced reeled from the surprise offensive.

NOW!

The shield around the pair dissolved instantly, and Hope's Assurance shot a beam of energy at the woman who was still regaining her balance, while Keiichi swung his pair of kadochis in a wide arc in front of him.

"Thundering Winds!" he yelled, suffusing his blades with wind element, watching as the energies peeled away from the metal, rushing at the defenseless Lind. It rushed forward to strike at…

…Nothing! Frantically, the young god searched his immediate area for any sign of his opponent, only to be blindsided by the flat of the halberd that was Lind's signature weapon. He was knocked to the floor, semi-conscious, knowing that he was beaten utterly, unable to bring himself to move for several minutes.

His opponent stood about ten feet away, Halberd planted firmly on the ground, leaning hard against it for support, panting for breath herself. After a minute, she straightened and walked over to the prone form of the god, extending her hand to aid in his rising.

"Well… done…, Keiichi-kun!" she grunted at him as he accepted the proffered arm. "That was the longest… anyone has… lasted in a very long time. Just goes to show what your good old human tenacity can bring about."

They were having a good laugh at the outcome of their sparring when they became aware of their surroundings once more – and the ranks of Valkyries staring at the pair, mouths agape.

"Well, Lind, it appears that you've gone and ruined your reputation as not only the most fearsome warrior, but the Valkyrie without a sense of humor, the one who can't laugh!"

A comical look of consternation crossed her face, followed closely with one of anger at the ranks, before she could bear it no more, relented, and burst out in laughter anew.

"Darn you, Keiichi-kun! Now I'll get no respect whatsoever from the rank and file! It's all your fault for showing me how to enjoy myself!" she exclaimed in mock anger.

"Ah, crap! I'm in trouble now! I just know you will take this out of my hide – most likely literally – in a few days time. Your memory is too good, and you have a vindictive streak the size of Belldandy's jealous one!"

He smiled at her, feigning a warding gesture, though she soon easily returned the smile, clapping him on the back companionably. He thought back to the time that he had first met her, comparing her from that time to the wonderful woman standing with him now, and marveled again at the transformation that she had gone through. He had talked to her about it at one point, and subsequently blushed as much as she when she told him that he was the reason for her changes – well, he and Belldandy. Before that visit to the temple grounds in search of the Angel Eater, she almost never smiled, never derived enjoyment from anything other than her training and battles. After she met them, spent time with them, she began to peel away the layers and walls that she had built up in her pursuit of strength and acceptance. Now, an equally powerful, but much more approachable woman stood in her place, one who had learned the value of friendship, family, and joy.

"Look," she began with a small smile on her face. "You've definitely earned the right to head off a bit early, with that workout. Why don't you go check in with that wife of yours. I'm sure that she is going absolutely nuts waiting for you – though she probably looked in on you a few times there, knowing her. Go on, get out of here, and meet her at her station at the Relief Office, and say hello to her for me."

She gave him a shove toward the portal back to the central complex, and he caught himself before stumbling, laughing.

"All right, Lind," leaving off the honorific after so long an association with the Valkyrie. "I'll see you again in a few days for my next session. I'll relay your message to Bell when I arrive. See you later!"

He gated away, and made his way among the buildings and pathways to the Goddess Relief Office, home to the Goddess and the Earth Help Lines, tired but in high spirits – and the location of his wife's station.


Urd lounged in her seat at the head of Yggdrasil's Main Control and Administration office. She was once again clad in her favorite attire – her purple dress, with all of it's revealing nature. Her calf-length snow-white hair billowed around her, caught in a non-existent breeze, as she eyed a screen floating just in front of her.

I'm impressed, Keiichi! She was saying to herself in admiration of his latest feat. And this in only thirteen years or so! Some of the others have worked for centuries, and have not come close to your progress. I give you this, you are tenacious when you set your mind to something. Of course, I already knew that – even if you were rather spineless for a while there.

"Well, I guess that will conclude today's entertainment, eh ladies," she teased slyly, catching the whole office with their screens tuned in to the spectacle that had begun to garner more and more attention over the last couple years. Keiichi's resolve, his love for Belldandy, as well as his growing prowess as a fighter and the kindness and genuine care that he showed for others, had drawn quite a following for the once-mortal. This was definitely evidenced by the fact that, whenever he sparred with Lind (who was the only one who could keep up with him at this point) or made any official appearances, he drew the attention of all – this latest being a prime example.

"Um… eh… er… Y-yes – I m-mean no! We… um… just happened to… um… come across that when we were doing our work, and… paused momentarily!" they stammered, trying to cover over the evidence with enforced activity.

"Oh, don't worry," the goddess of the past said. She then grinned evilly, before drawling: "I won't tell Belldandy that you were all ogling her husband like a pack of rabid wolves in heat." She watched their reactions from the corner of her eyes, pretending industry as well. Their faces visibly paled at the mention of her middle sister, and she smiled inwardly in mischievous glee.

"N-no! Please, d-don't do that!" they pleaded, flustered and scared. Belldandy's love for, possessiveness of, and jealousy of, Keiichi and his attentions and well-being were quite well known – as were the resultant jealousy storms that plagued her when pushed too far. She was getting better control of them, and had begun to tolerate others getting attention from her husband, settling into an uneasy acceptance when he was approached by other females, knowing that she had his heart as completely as he hers. The normally happy, easy-going, care-for-everyone goddess could turn into a very scary person when she felt that Keiichi or their relationship was in any way in danger or being encroached upon by another female. She had even denied Hild, Daimakaichou of the Demon Realm, to her face when faced with the love and life of her beloved man.

Smiling at the memory, Urd once again turned back to her own work.


Hinata-sou – several weeks later

Things had calmed down and returned to a state of almost normalcy for the kanrinin and tenants over the intervening weeks. Shinobu had settled back into her older routine fairly quickly, though she did keep a close eye on the object of her affections. She also seemed to blush and lose composure more easily, once more, after the nighttime conversation with Keitaro on the roof. The man had calmed down again, himself, but his innate clumsiness and all-round bad timing kept rearing their ugly heads at the most inappropriate and awkward of times. It rankled Shinobu's nerves that 'her Sempai' kept getting attacked for accidents and non-existent offenses, but it appeared to her that the two people who dished out 'punishment for Keitaro's crimes' had at least tried to curb the worst of their tirades since the incident – especially Motoko. Naru tried, but her indecisive nature left her in a quandary as to how to handle the arising situations – often times falling back on her tried and true instinct of hitting first, apologizing later (if at all). Motoko, on the other hand, had her pride pricked over her actions thus far, as well as their possible ramifications, and how they pertained to the family honor (not to mention her own) and codes of conduct. As she meditated on the young chef's words, and all the possible meanings behind them, she began to detect the disturbing pattern of abuses at the hands of herself and the brown-haired girl who was the manager's girlfriend. She realized that she would have a lot of work to do, as well as a long way to go on her attitudes towards men in general – and a certain one in particular – but she vowed then and there to curb her anger and attack-first tendencies, beginning with how she dealt with who she had thought was nothing but a vile pervert for so long.

It is true, when you sit down to look at things objectively, what they say about hindsight being twenty-twenty. If you are willing to be brutally honest, you see the truth of the matter, whether you want to believe it or not. It is entirely true, much of what we thought were perversions on Keitaro's part were indeed accidents, or situations out of his control. There are the instances where he walked in on us changing or in the hot springs, because of either not knocking first, or knocking and not allowing any time for an answer; however, not everything rests on his shoulders. Oftentimes, it ended up that he was either protecting someone, or was the butt of some prank or other, and it was we ourselves who are at fault for misinterpreting the situation, not allowing him to explain before passing judgment.

She frowned deeply, not liking this newfound honesty, the new insights into the daily occurrences of the Hinata-sou. And then, there was her worrying about how he viewed her. When did she begin to care about what his opinions of her were? Yes, she had confessed a couple years before now, but the thoughts of how he held this power over her without even trying, without doing anything more than his usual caring things, upset her still, throwing her off at the most inopportune times. To be honest, the things she did were not huge in their own right, but she found herself brushing her hair for longer periods, often zoning out in a daydream about the man; her stories tended to morph into torrid love affairs between herself and the kanrinin; she would spend extra time adjusting her cloths just so, unconsciously, attempting to elicit a response from Keitaro; she took great pains to care for her skin's appearance and health. She still did not wear makeup, and her wardrobe was still depressingly sparse – containing mostly her hakamas and gis, as well as her school uniforms. She just had little time whatsoever to worry over petty details such as fashion. All of this paled in comparison to how she had begun to wonder what her manager thought of her physical appearance.

Unconsciously, her hands had mover of their own accord, and began to stroke her long, raven tresses, as she thought on the meanings of her own meanderings. Startled by the knock at the door of her sparsely furnished room, she called shakily to the person on the other side of that flimsy barrier. She wasn't too surprised at the appearance of Keitaro, who quietly entered and turned to slide the door closed once more, just as gently. He reached to the back of his neck to scratch at it in nervousness.

"Hey, Motoko? Can I ask you a question, talk to you about something?"

"You may, Urashima-san," she replied, feeling heat on her face and ears.

"Thanks," he began as he started to turn towards her. She watched in disbelief as, almost in slow-motion, one of his feet caught on the other. His eyes bulged out, he thrust out his arms in a vain hope of stopping what was happening, and he lurched forward, in the kendoist's direction. He fell face-first into her lap, his hand catching the fabric of her top in his desperation, pulling it down off her torso. She drew in her breath sharply, screwing her face in anger, but fought to remain calm and in control. All her resolutions would be for naught if she lost it now, in this instance.

"Oh, Kami, Motoko! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to do that!" he blubbered as he struggled away from her, to hide in the corner of her room, cowering in fear of the inevitable slashing that would be coming on swift feet.

Seizing the opportunity to apologize to her landlord for her actions over the last couple of years, she grabbed his arm, blushing deeply. He stopped his struggles, resigning himself to his fate, while wondering why the sword-stroke had not yet arrived. He closed his eyes tightly, waiting.

"It is alright, Urashima-san. I could tell that it was an accident. Besides, I have been thinking. What Shinobu-chan said is the truth. I am guilty of many offenses against you, all in the name of honor and justice; however, the facts are that I am guilty of much abuse and faulty reasoning in regards you. I… I wish to apologize to you for my actions, and wish to… beg forgiveness… of… you," she trailed off as her voice gave way to the tears that she felt pooling in her eyes.

Keitaro was at a loss for words, and cautiously did the only thing that he could think to do in the situation he now found himself in – he drew her near as the floodgates burst and the tears fell. She settled herself into his comforting arms and allowed him to hold her, drawing upon his kindness and care. After a short while, when she had gained a modicum of control over her emotions, she sniffed a couple of times, before turning her head to look at the focus of so many injustices in the past.

"K-Keitaro-… san," she said shyly, quietly. "I… have a confession to make. Please let me make it… before you say anything. It… is difficult enough as it is." She drew a shuddering breath, held it a moment as if looking for the right words, then began. "I… I have… feelings for… you. I have for a long time now, as you are well aware. Whenever I close my eyes, your face comes to me; when I sleep, I dream of… us… together; when I am down or in need of encouragement, it is always you who seems to make everything better, to put it all in perspective.

"The thing is, I guess… I… I lashed out, for fear of my continued feelings for you, as well as those of the other residents, even though… even though you are already in a relationship with Narusegawa-san. It is not an excuse for my actions, merely an explanation, and one that shames me beyond belief. However, I do have these feelings, and wish that I could… I could… act upon them."

The whole time, Motoko was speaking in quiet, quick tones, trying to put voice to her inner thoughts, while at the same time, pulling in close to the man in front of her who, even now, found himself with one of her arms encircling his neck, her lips mere millimeters from his, while he could feel her breath brush across his lips like a phantom.

"Really, Motoko-chan? That's… what I wanted to talk to you about! I, too, think of you, and all the more so lately. I… am getting tired of Naru's back-and-forth attitudes, never knowing where I stand with her. I… was hoping that... I could… start over… with you. Motoko- chan, Naru and I… are breaking up."

As he said this last bit, Keitaro hung his head, becoming quieter and quieter, so that she had to strain to hear the last three words. She sat, shocked to her core, at the revelation that she was just given.

Naru… and… Keitaro… separating? An-and, he wants… to date… me?

Seizing the moment before it passed, she finished pushing forward the last few millimeters, to press her lips fully on his. Soon, he pressed at hers with a desperation that surprised her, and gladdened her at the same time. Wrapping him fully within her arms, she continued to kiss him, and then gasped as she felt his hands grasp her breasts and squeeze. She began to beg him for more, then thought of how the other residents would react to their indiscretion.

"Kei… taro-kun… We cannot do this, not yet…," she begged, yet couldn't hold back any longer, losing her resolve within his embrace.

"!" she snapped out of her fantasy, breathing heavily, still feeling the grasp of Keitaro's hands upon her chest, squeezing little by little, red as a tomato, her eyes wild. No,no,nononono! She screamed over and over in her head. What the heck am I doing? And with him, Naru's fiancée, of all people!

"What was that about… Kei-ta-ro-kun?" she heard a voice behind her, in her ear, ask, mimicking her own use of his name moments before, only to be followed by: "and what can't you be doing yet?"

"N-n-n-nothing! W-what do you mean?" she flailed, alarmed, trying to move away from the intruder, and in the process, discovering that the female's hands were indeed spread about her breasts, squeezing in time with her questions. When she was able to disentangle herself, she slung around to come face-to-face with a smirking Kitsune, looking entirely too smug. Looking around again, she finally saw that she was still on the roof, in her meditative state, where she had knelt just after her practice.

"I don't know what you were thinking, just now, but your face turned an interesting shade of red, and you got this great big smile on your face just prior to your outburst. Having improper thoughts about our dear Manager, Motoko-chan – a male?" Her grin grew knowing, suggestive, as did her tone.

"AHHH! No! Why are you saying such things?"

Motoko drew her blade, and began to swing wildly at her friend, chasing her to her room, where the fox shut the door in a laughing panic. Outside, Motoko shook herself, giving off a soft sigh, trying to re-collect herself, her emotions.


Su was hungry, which wasn't anything new, and the thing that satiated that hunger better than anything else, was a huge pile of bananas. Her stash in her room had been depleted a short time earlier, while she worked on her latest version of Mecha-Tama – Version 3.1. At the time, she hadn't realized that she had breezed through her supply so fast, being so wrapped up in her work as she was; but now that she had a moment, the hunger pangs were not going to be denied. Sighing gently, she swung out of the tree that she was sitting in and ran out her door, down the hall, and then flew down the stairs like a whirlwind, her white hair flying behind her.

The Molmol girl was just pulling out a fresh supply of the yellow fruit when she spotted a familiar person leaning against the wall in the corner. The resident chef and homemaker's eyes were all glassy and star-struck, her dainty hands clasped in front of her, as she stared vacantly off into space. Worried, the young genius approached her cautiously, and began to reach out to her, when she heard Shinobu's voice faintly muttering.

"Sem… pai… no, Keitaro…" she drawled out, changing how she addressed him in her current state, which brought the tanned girl's hand to a halt momentarily, as a look of devilish glee split her face. With her look plastered in place, she snuck up beside her spaced-out counterpart, and placed her mouth right next to Shinobu's ear.

"Oh, Shinobu!' she whispered huskily. "I love you, and only you, forever." Her grin deepened as she heard the younger girl's breath catch.

"Oh, Keitaro," she intoned, almost silently, as her face burned. Suddenly, she came to her senses, and registered the presence of another person alongside her. She spun about in surprise, recognizing the maniacal glint in her friend's eye. "AHH! S-Su! C-can I h-help you w-with something?"

The young genius doubled over in mirth as the laughter overcame her, and she howled out her guffaws.

"T-that wasn't very f-funny, Su," she scolded, while trying to slow her heart rate and catch her breath.

"So, you… really do… have the hotsies… for… Keitaros!" the other girl forced out between her bouts of giggles. "Ooh, ooh! How exactly were yous thinking of 'Sem-pai', and are you willings to share-share? I wants some of Keitaros, too. I love-love him also!"

Shinobu's face turned a deep crimson at the images that flooded her brain at the innuendo of her companion, before she ran off with a loud exclamation that went something like "AHHHHhhhhhhhh!", which faded into the distance as she sped to her own room. Su, wiping a tear from her eyes while gaining control of her laughter, gathered her new supply of bananas and retreated to her room.


Keitaro had awakened earlier than normal that day, a rare occurrence for him. With sleep filled eyes, he turned his head to look blinkingly at his clock, which read 5:17 am, then turned over to try to get a little more sleep. That blissful state evaded all his efforts, however, and now that he was even partially awake, his mind began to slowly turn over, preparing itself for the day, refusing to settle back into sleep mode. Deciding that it would be better to just rise and begin his day, the young ex-ronin made his way to his private lavatory to see to his morning washing and ablutions. He came out and dressed in a pair of faded, but still neat, jeans, and a sweatshirt to fend off the chilly air.

Keitaro surmised that it would be a good idea to get some of the more… dangerous… jobs done, before any of the other residents rose, so he started by cleaning the onsen, though the work didn't go without mishap – his side and head still throbbed from where he had slipped and landed roughly against the stonework, which had knocked him nearly unconscious for several minutes, while his stomach fought the queasiness that had gripped it, while his head swam in nausea.

Looking at his watch at that point, he decided that he would take a quick snack to tide him over until breakfast was served, seeing as it was 6:45, and the meal wouldn't be for a little while yet. He exited the hot springs, and made his way to the kitchen, his mind a million miles away, as he looked closer at the direction that his life was taking.

Am I… making the right decisions? And, what about my relationship with Naru? I know that she says that she loves me, but… does she really? If so, then wouldn't she at least hold back a little, maybe even listen once in a while? I don't know anymore. Perhaps we should sit down and talk about it, about how we truly feel about each other. And, what of my schooling? Yeah, I finally got in, and am doing decent, but I still rely on Naru's help to even halfway understand the curriculum. Am I as bad as she still claims, even now?

All these things, and more, were running through the young man's mind as he rummaged through the cabinets looking for a quick bite to eat, when Shinobu wandered into the kitchen, still rubbing her bleary eyes. Her mind registered another person in her kitchen, and she snapped about. Her eyes grew round as she realized who it was.

"Sempai! You're up early. Is there anything that I can get you?"

"I just woke up early, and decided to get an early start on the chores, that's all," he answered her, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I've been at it since about 5:35, and figured that I would grab a snack to hold me until breakfast."

Keitaro smiled winningly at her, causing her to blush brightly.

"I can throw something together for you fairly quickly," she offered without trace of her usual flustering. "It won't be much, since I have to go shopping today," she hurriedly added, becoming quiet near the end.

"That sounds good, Shinobu," and she didn't fail to notice the loss of the honorific as he addressed her. "How about I help you out, and then we can both go out and do the shopping together after breakfast, kind of as a 'thank you'?"

The dark-haired girl blushed anew, her head spinning at the suggestion. They quickly threw a small snack together for the two of them and ate in companionable silence, just enjoying the pleasant company. Once finished, they gathered their dishes and placed them in the sink to wash with the rest of the dishes that would be dirtied in time at breakfast. Keitaro suggested that they both change for their trek into town after their morning meal with the other residents, and they turned to leave. As they did, his foot caught on the protruding leg of the step stool, and he plunged head-first into her chest, while grabbing at her shoulders. Belatedly, he noted how much she had developed in the time from his first arriving at the Hinata Girl's Dorm five years before, until now. Then, in a flash, he became aware of his situation, and shot upright, rushing to apologize to the young woman in front of him. However, she didn't hear him, as she was already gone, her eyes glassy, in her own world, and slowly stepping against the wall in the corner, where a certain Molmol girl would find her a few minutes hence.

"Ah… um… I'm... I'm g-going t-to… um… head off… now, to my room… um, and… um... g-get r-ready to g-go," he stammered, bowing his way out the door, before turning and bolting to his own room, expecting an attack at any moment. Relief flooded him as he slammed his door closed and sank to the floor.


Naru was just rousing from her futon when she heard the door to Keitaro's room quickly open and slam shut. Taking care of her morning necessities, she dressed in a long skirt and shirt, over which she donned a sweater of her own, anticipating the day warming up later. Once done, she decided to check in on Keitaro, lifting Liddo-kun and the plank that it sat on from the hole between floors.

"Hey, Keitaro, you up and decent?" she asked playfully, holding the stuffed toy upside-down through the hole. It was almost a game now, this morning ritual.

"Ahhh!" PANT,PANT "Y-yeah, I am."

"Hey, what's with the yelling? You do something wrong again?"

"N-no, n-nothing like th-that!" he countered, his hands held in front of him, waving frantically. "J-just another accident, a-and… I don't want… to be hit, again," he finished quietly, resignedly.

Naru considered who would be up at this hour, and came to the conclusion that it must have been either Motoko – who would have punished him if it had been her – or the chef, Shinobu, that had been the recipient of said accident. Her rage boiled over at that point and she began the usual accusations.

"You molested Shinobu-chan? You did, didn't you, you pervert!"

"No, I tripped when my foot caught on the leg of the foot stool and fell into her! I didn't do it on purpose, and nothing else happened!" he frantically explained, for once getting the whole explanation out.

Royally pissed off, she gathered herself and swung through the gaping hole in her floor, intent on getting to the trembling dead meat below her. However, as she slipped through the hole, her sweater caught on a protruding jagged piece of flooring and was pulled clean off, along with the shirt underneath, leaving her in only her skirt and bra. Keitaro's eyes bugged out at the sight, and he rushed to turn his head to show some respect to her, as well as forestall the nosebleed he felt coming; she, on the other hand, stood looking at herself numbly, her face gradually reddening in embarrassment and anger, before she broke out of her stupor.

Naru's fist balled up and she began to come back to reality, for the most part, and she lashed out at the unfortunate boyfriend, not even seeing that he had averted his eyes from her.

"Don't look, you pervert! This is all YOUR fault!"

Her punch connected with the back of his skull, and the next thing that Keitaro knew, he was on the ground outside, on the front lawn, dazed and aching all over again. He slowly came to, and glanced at the hole in the front of the dorms that he had recently exited through. All about him lay the remains of pieces of his door, the wall, the window frame, and glass. Shinobu came flying out of the front door and over to the tree that he had bounced off of.

"Owwwww," he moaned, attempting to move his limbs. Invulnerable he may be, but it still hurt like hell every time he took one of his frequent flights, not to mention the disorientation and such that accompanied the impacts at the ends of his impromptu flights. "I really wish that she would learn to curb that temper of hers, and to look at what really happens. I'm getting tired of always being the scapegoat for every perceived wrong – real or imagined – not to mention the ready punching bag when such perceptions are judged worthy of punishment," he muttered under his breath, before becoming aware of the girl kneeling next to him. "I'm sorry, Shinobu-chan. You shouldn't have heard that."

Shinobu placed her hand behind his neck and grasped his arm as she helped him into a sitting position against the tree, while inwardly feeling a little upset that the honorific was once again added to her name by the man that she loved.

"Thanks, Shinobu-chan, but you had better high-tail it out of here before Motoko-san or Naru-chan see you here. I'll take care of things."

"But, Keit…"

"No, Shinobu-chan. We don't need another incident like a few weeks ago, do we. We have enough problems around here without another one of those," and he sighed in memory of her standing up for him against the 'punishment patrol'. "Please, Shinobu-chan?" he begged.

Unable to resist the look in her love's eyes, she nodded and ran off. Naru exited the same door that the younger girl had earlier, a moment after she rounded the corner of the building. The brown-haired girl stalked over to the recent recipient of her ire and lifted him by his collar, holding him at eye level.

"I'm only going to say this once, so listen up. I-I'm… sorry. I overreacted to something that wasn't your fault really. I… I apologize."

With that, her face contorted into a strange expression and she dropped him, to turn and stalk stiffly away.

In the window next to the front door, Motoko stood off to the side, staring at the scene playing out through that portal, half-way satisfied. She had made Naru apologize to the kanrinin, after finding out what had happened, before allowing Naru to leave Keitaro's room. She had heard the commotion and rushed to the room, in time to watch the older girl removing her garments from the offending jagged piece of wood and re-don them. She came to the correct conclusion and approached the girl – as borne out by her confession of a moment before. Motoko was still contemplating talking with Shinobu, but if what Naru had told her was the truth, then she may not need to take it any further. The sword maiden stepped away from the curtain and went in search of the young dark-haired girl, but didn't get a chance to talk to her at breakfast or afterwards, until near lunch-time, as she had left with Keitaro a few minutes after the meal to go shopping.


"Shinobu-chan, may I ask you something?"

The girl in question had been in the middle of preparing the afternoon repast, now that the kitchen pantry and refrigerator had been restocked sufficiently, when the summons startled her out of her ruminations. Though she started slightly, she kept most of her attention on the task at hand. Still, she inquired as to what was on Motoko's mind, halfway dreading the answer.

"I would like to know what occurred this morning. I know what Naru claimed that Keitaro told her; but, quite frankly, we both know how she can get when her temper is roused, how she doesn't truly hear things clearly. I… am sorry to admit this, but… I have that problem, too… at times. I am attempting to remedy that defect, however, especially where Keitaro is concerned."

The petit chef paused in the middle of her preparations for the slightest second, registering the kendoka's use of "Keitaro" rather than "Urashima", before resuming her work. Motoko saw the teen's jaw clench in repressed anger, before she regained her composure and answered the question.

"I was walking into the kitchen after just waking up," she began, an edge to her voice that brought the older girl's head up instantly. "Sempai… had been up for a while already, doing chores about the Hinata-sou, and was in the kitchen looking for a small snack to hold him until breakfast. I fixed a little something for him, which he ate and then helped in the cleanup. Once done he turned to thank me, tripped on the foot of the step stool there," at which point she gestured to the offending object, "and fell against me. He quickly stood up, apologized, and took off – to his room, I would guess, considering the next few minute's events.

"I was taking stock of what we needed, as Sempai and I were going shopping after breakfast, when I heard Naru's voice, the destruction as Sempai crashed through the walls, and his landing outside. I rushed out to find him and help as best I could, and he told me to leave before Naru got there, to stop anything from happening like what happened a few weeks ago."

The kendoka nodded her head almost imperceptibly, before speaking.

"I thought I saw a glimpse of you taking off around the side, to the rear entrance. So, there were no… perversions… on Urashima's part?" she inquired cautiously, well aware of the girl's uncertain temperament when it came to casting about accusations about Keitaro's character of late.

Shinobu sighed, already guessing where the other's thought processes had traveled. "No, Motoko-sempai, th-there were n-no 'perversions' involved." Suddenly, the girl's old habits reasserted themselves, leaving her stammering out her reply in nervousness and embarrassment. She refused to mention where her own mind had gone, or where 'her Sempai' had fallen, causing her mind's impromptu vacation.

The swords woman looked at her friend, noted the crimson rising on her face, heard the stuttering, and sighed herself, aware of the cause – namely one Urashima Keitaro, and the feelings that all the girls had for him.

"You are still stuck on him, are you not?"

It was more a statement than a question, to which Shinobu froze.

"Wh-what? N-n-n-n-no! I-I'm h-happy for Kei… Sempai, and… Naru."

A gentle hand settled on her shoulder.

"It is alright, Shinobu-chan. You are not the only one who still has feelings for our clumsy manager. As hard as it is to admit, I gave up on myself, also, so that those two could be together for the sake of their promise – even if most of us felt that it wouldn't work out due to Naru's temper and his timidity. I know that you stated that you were only interested in Urashima's happiness, at the expense of your own; however…" and she trailed off, at a loss of words for the situation they both found themselves in.

Shinobu let out a soft, strangled cry, and wrapped her arms around the kendoist, seeking some form of comfort, recognizing that she was not alone in her pain and loneliness.


Breakfast was only slightly tense the next morning, as everyone was pretty well used to the previous morning's hijinks, which had similarly played out that morning as well. Motoko and Shinobu stole a look at each other, and then the 'happy' couple. Keitaro was silent, appearing lost and dejected, whilst Naru was silent, pointedly ignoring the other Todai student. Mitsune was wisely holding her tongue on this occasion, perhaps sensing the level of anger present within Naru. Su, on the other hand, was her normal, bouncy, jovial self, devouring everything in sight and rambling off at the mouth a mile a minute. She appeared completely oblivious to the ebb and flow of the emotional tides going on around the dorms.

The residents finished their breakfasts, and made their own ways to their various schools or institutions, with the exception of Mitsune, who still had yet to get full-time work. She helped out at Haruka's Hinata Tea House a few days a week so that she could begin paying her rent on time (though she still tried to weasel her way out of it occasionally – 'for old time's sake', of course), but she had today off. Unknown to the others, the resident Fox planned on doing some digging for answers, and that usually included going through the other's rooms for them. It was only information gathering, after all. No one got hurt. The only person spared that treatment was Motoko, as the kendoist scared the crap out of Mitsune when she was riled up, and one of the few things that would do that instantly was having her privacy invaded.

The woman decided to start with the manager's room, hoping for some juicy tidbit of information about what had been happening over the last few weeks. Finding nothing of interest, she moved on to Naru's room. Again, she was disappointed, after reading through a few of the journal entries and doing a search of the place. Normally, there was something of use between these two rooms to pique her interest, but she was turning up completely empty this time. This was beginning to depress her a bit.

She began to think. The first two rooms turned out to be busts, Motoko's was out of the question, and Su's jungle of a room (literally) was just too dangerous to try to enter. That left Shinobu's room, and the sly grin on her lips spread into a devilish smile. There just might be some information in there. After all, she was the one really out of character lately, even knowing that she liked the klutzy kanrinin. With the smile plastered in place, she headed off for the youngster's abode.

After nearly half an hour of searching, Mitsune happened upon a sketchbook hidden at the back of the girl's desk drawer. Opening the pad, she sucked in her breath. Page upon page of art filled the book – ranging from simple sketches to finished art pieces. All of them, though, contained Keitaro, either by himself or with Shinobu. Mitsune found herself amazed at the talent displayed within those pages, and couldn't help but compare the art here to that within Keitaro's own sketchpad.

Our little chef is full of surprises! I had no idea she could do this!

Soon enough, she found herself swept up in viewing the artwork. She was nearly to the end of the book, and thus the last few drawings, when she came upon a folded sheet of paper next to a finished piece displaying Keitaro's head in profile, his head bent and a pained expression displayed that was more depressing than anything she had ever seen on the young man's face before. Behind the man, in a similar pose, was Shinobu, with a look mirroring the one on the kanrinin. The drawing itself caught the woman off guard, her heart skipping a moment's beat at the sadness immortalized on the paper. Curious, she pulled her attention from the drawing, set the pad down, and unfolded the item hesitantly. Within was contained a poem. Glancing at the bottom of the page, she saw that Shinobu was the author, and with renewed interest, she went back to the top and read the title: "These Halls Echo Empty". She began reading.

These halls echo empty

as I wander them alone,

wishing you by my side

as I bask within your glow.

My mind wanders back

to the times we spent together,

and I find myself

wishing those times to last forever.

Yet Fate has conspired

to keep me away from you,

while in silence I

watch as to her you hold true.

I die slowly inside

each time I see you with her,

confessing Love for her,

trying her heart to stir.

As you try so hard to

win over that uncertain heart,

I stand in the background,

my world slowly falling apart.

A wisp of Thought,

a dance of Light,

a play of Sound,

a blurring of Sight!

Is it you, come back

to share with me again

the times I so love -

the ones I wish to never end?

As I walk these Halls

called Memories, a lonely, lost soul,

a thought occurs to me:

"These Halls Echo Empty!"

By the time she finished reading those verses, obviously meant to go with the art piece she found it with, she realized that she had been crying. No one knew what the girl was going through, as she put forth a happy – if often shy – front all of the time, for the benefit of the other girls! Obviously, though, it was only a front, and she was definitely hurting inside. She gave up her heart's desire so that Keitaro could find happiness, and it was tearing her up inside, a little at a time. Mitsune had no idea – none of them did – that the girl felt that strongly about the current landlord, and she would bet long odds that the younger girl had felt this way for a long time now.

Carefully replacing the folded paper, Mitsune proceeded to glance through the remainder of the five or six pictures, including the sheet she had sketched the night of Keitaro's nighttime walk after 'the incident', before similarly replacing it just as she found it at the bottom of the desk drawer. Noticing the time, and finally realizing how much time she had spent at her self-appointed task, she decided to leave the room, knowing that the others would be returning before too long. She turned to slide the door of the girl's room closed and then turned back around – to find herself staring into the disapproving gaze of Haruka, the former housemother.

"Find anything interesting?" she asked with a dangerous tone to her voice.

How the heck did she do that? "Maybe a few answers to some troubling questions, actually," she answered nervously.

"Really?" and Haruka's eyebrow raised a fraction. "How about joining me below and explaining yourself, before I really do get angry."

They walked down the steps to the Tea Shop, while the 'aunt' of Keitaro lit her ever-present cigarette. Stepping through the doors, Haruka looked about to take in the shape of things in her establishment, before leading the younger companion to a table away from prying eyes and ears.

"Now, start talking. What did you mean, and why were you searching everyone's rooms?"

She knew? How could she have known? Was she there the whole time? "Okay, here's the story. A few weeks ago, Naru went to town on Keitaro, with Motoko almost following suit (although she has eased up on her actions), over another accident – which I had nothing to do with. That's par for the course, with those three, and you know it." Haruka nodded almost imperceptibly, then gestured for Mitsune to continue. "Now, what was interesting was Shinobu's reaction at that time, as well as of late. She blew her top at them," to which the older woman's eyes widened, "all of us, actually."

"And?"

"Well, she's usually so quiet and shy, that it got me curious. Since then, she's become even more protective and solicitous of Keitaro - though most of the others aren't really paying attention to it, I think. Su may know something, but the rest seem ignorant of the fact.

"Because of all this, I decided that I needed to find out what was going on. There was nothing indicating the source of the problems in either Keitaro's or Naru's rooms, and you know how dangerous it is to enter Su's or Motoko's rooms. That left Shinobu, and since she has been the most off lately, it made sense to check there.."

"So, you see no problem with entering their rooms without permission, not to mention searching through their personal belongings?"

Mitsune straightened up in her chair at the accusation, especially as it was accurate enough at the time she had committed said acts. She then hung her head and Haruka sighed tiredly, rubbing her temples.

"I've known of Shinobu's feelings for my nephew for some time now – almost since the beginning, when he arrived. However, that doesn't explain your actions."

"Look, we all knew she had a huge crush on the boy, Haruka, but none of us knew the full extent of her feelings – for Keitaro or about herself."

This got the older woman's attention, and a faint flicker showed in her gaze before she spoke.

"What do you mean?"

The squint-eyed girl began to recount her findings – from the sketchpad, which all had seen her carrying at some point in time or other, but she kept very secret, to the finished piece of her and Keitaro near the end, how it had affected her with it's deep, depressing sadness, and finally ending up with the poem. She explained in every detail all that she had seen and read, holding nothing back, even feeling fresh tears threatening to fall as she told of what the poem had read.

"I never dreamed that she felt so strongly about Kei-kun, or his relationship with Naru. She's come to me now and again for a listening ear, sometimes advice, since I know some of her past family history; and then she also mentioned her decision to back those two all so that Keitaro would be happy, at the cost of her own wishes and desires. But, never once did she let on that she was hurting so much, that she felt like that."

"This also explains the hostility towards Naru and Motoko when they were hitting Keitaro. She cares so deeply for him, even though she keeps most of it bottled up. When she thinks about how she put her own feelings on the back burner for Naru and Keitaro to be together, it must burn her up to see him abused. She may well care for him more than Naru ever will admit to, maybe more than anyone else, even Kanako – and that's saying a lot."

"You may be right, Mitsune, and I have a feeling she may get her chance someday. I can't elaborate on the feeling, but you never know."

Mitsune looked speculatively at her table companion for a good long minute, then slowly nodded her head at the unspoken command for silence on that matter, and to not try delving any further into that statement.

"I won't say anything, at least for now. Just for your info, though, Shinobu may have a bit of competition if there ever comes a time that Keitaro was on the market again. All of the girls – myself and Kanako included – have some mighty strong feelings for your nephew, whether it's stated out loud or not. And then there's Mutsumi, who has a strong claim over him as well."

"I know," and the shop owner drew on her cigarette. "And I worry for Shinobu's heart if or when that chance ever presents itself," she stated while looking off into the distance. With an effort, she drew herself back to the here and now, looking at the other girl. "I don't want to find out that you are sneaking into others privacy again. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly!" and Mitsune shivered at the implications.


Valkyrie Training Grounds – same day

It had been another all-out battle, neither side giving an inch. In the end, though, Lind once again had proven victorious, defeating Keiichi soundly, if barely this time.

"It's getting harder to defeat you. Each time, you seem to have progressed by leaps and bounds, making each session more difficult than the last. How do you do it?"

"I don't know. All I know is that I come every few days to train with you, and the best that I hope for is to just survive your onslaught. I usually don't even entertain the notion of besting you, just to keep up and alive," he answered the blue-haired goddess, while rubbing the back of his head. "You don't give me the opportunity to do much more than that."

They both chuckled, then stood. Lind hopped out of the crater they had created and subsequently collapsed into, then turned and extended her hand to help the younger god out. He accepted her proffered arm, and within a short time they were strolling amicably among the archways and walkways towards the central complex, and Belldandy's station. As they walked, the conversation was easy and happy, much to the surprise of those that they passed along their way. More than a few times they heard whispered comments on the change in Lind's personality – for the better. She became quite self-conscious, until Keiichi calmed her apprehension.

"Don't worry, Lind. The change is good for you. They are happy to see you smiling, happy, and socializing more. Just because you are doing all this doesn't mean that you've lost anything, that you've become weaker. In fact, friendship and love can give you strength that you've never had before. When you care for someone, have friends you love and care about, the power that you can draw out can be almost limitless. Think about the time that I was injured so badly by Skuld's bomb, and Belldandy took off with me. Think about what everyone felt and what Yggdrasil registered."

Lind was silent as she recalled the events of about a decade before, Earth time, around the year 1992. It was nearly impossible to forget, as Belldandy moved Heaven and Earth – almost literally – to save the man that she loved, when he was but a lowly human who could do little for anyone physically. She loved this man more than anything, would do anything for him, and was devastated when she thought that he would not live. She had screamed his name in despair, alerting everyone in Heaven to the tragedy with her soul-shattering shout, only to moments later blast though the tattered remnants of their shared room and fly so fast, draw on so much power – even limited as she was – that the shockwaves had passed through the gateways to not only Heaven, but the Demon Realm as well, surprising Hild upon her throne, and stumbling Lind and Chrono where they had sparred in the training grounds. Yggdrasil registered a power reading that was off the chart, one that even a first class goddess should not be able to produce while shackled with her limiters, one that they would be hard-pressed to produce even without their limiters. To say that she had drawn much attention to herself and her plight would be quite the understatement.

This young man-turned-god was constantly giving Lind new things to think about, new ways of looking at the world(s) around her. His unique perspectives had helped, not only herself, but countless others through various trials and tribulations over the past years.

"Thank you, Keiichi, my Life-Long Friend. I have more to contemplate, and you have helped me once again. Please take care, and give my greetings to your wife."

They parted ways, she for her next destination, he for the Goddess Relief Offices – and Belldandy's station. He was just approaching her cubical when the full-length mirror within began to glow a bright blue, to emit the form of the most beautiful woman that he had ever met, Belldandy.


Belldandy was returning from yet another successful wish-granting, floating free of her mirror, when she spotted her beloved husband walking through the room towards her. Her face lit up as he drew near, and as she finished materializing, he pulled her into his embrace.

"Keiichi-san! How was your training today?" she asked in greeting.

"Well, if you look into the training grounds, you'll find some rather interesting changes, including a rather large crater that we had to climb out of. She beat me again – which was to be expected – but then collapsed herself as soon as I conceded the match." He rubbed the back of his neck, grinning impishly, while his wife giggled at his descriptions and the images she plucked from his memory. "Afterward was almost as interesting, if you ask me. We were walking back, chatting companionably – she was even laughing and having a good time – when we became aware of the whispers around us, she becoming uncertain, nervous, even a little scared maybe. They were talking about the changes in her personality, how she's gone from being so strict on herself, never smiling or opening up, to freely smiling and laughing, enjoying herself."

"That's your influence, my Keiichi-san. You cause change in everyone and everything that you touch, and those changes have been both needed and beneficial. Without your influence, things would have continued to stagnate here, to spiral out of control, until the shares – the wishes and the contracts – became the be-all and end-all of our existence, and war the only reason for the Valkyries to exist. Since you began your influencing of things here, we have once again come to see that there is so much more to our lives than just surviving, just existing. We have once again come to know what true love, devotion, and selflessness are, through your actions, your displays. It has also begun to show in the quality of our services in the Mortal Realm, as well."

Belldandy caressed the cheek of her beloved, to show her love and appreciation for this one person who had brought about so much good to all those around him. They stared into each other's eyes for long moments – moments that seemed to stretch into an eternity. All too soon, though, they were drawn back to reality by the collective sighs of the audience that they didn't even think about, as well as the exclamations of "AWWWWW!" from same goddesses. They looked about a little sheepishly to see everyone watching them over the tops of their dividers, from the walkways, from whatever vantage point they could find. Belldandy giggled and covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes dancing with merriment, while Keiichi blushed and rubbed his neck in embarrassment. Somewhere among one of the other side rooms, a voice was heard stating that she wished she could find someone like Keiichi to love her like that – which caused his blush to deepen and him to try to make himself as small as possible.

The couple was saved by the sound of several phones ringing at once, including Belldandy's.

"Care to join me on this one?" she inquired as she reached for the receiver of the old-style rotary phone on her table. He nodded as she began that now-well-known introduction for the new client. They smiled at each other as she hung up the phone and then both faced the floor-length mirror next to them.


Hinata-sou – one week later

""Haruka-san, can… can we have a word with you?"

The shop owner was finishing her closing chores when the young couple approached her. Turning partway around to look at them, something in their mannerisms and expressions told her that this was not going to be a pleasant social call, so she gestured to one of the tables, inviting them to sit.

"This is the last table to clean off, and then I have a few things in back to take care of. Can you wait a few minutes while I finish these things?"

"We can, Aunt Haruka," Keitaro affirmed quickly, earning a whack upside his head with her fan.

"How many times do I have to tell you, don't…"

"….call you 'Aunt', I know, I know. Sorry about that," he completed her sentence, apologizing quietly, as if it took all his effort to even speak. His tone and demeanor was beginning to alarm her, but she hid it from him, behind her calm, non-caring mask.

"Better. Now, give me just a few minutes."

The duo nodded their acceptance, and moved to the previously indicated table. To Haruka's eye, they seemed uncomfortable, troubled greatly, and the fact that they sat across from one another instead of beside the other, boded ill for the coming conversation.

The once-housemother completed her tasks quickly and then returned and sat in one of the other chairs, facing the pair.

"Seta should be by shortly to pick me up," she said quietly and without emotion – her norm. "So, what do you need to talk to me about so urgently?"

Keitaro squirmed in his seat a bit, looking in Naru's direction, without meeting her eye, before answering haltingly.

"We… we've…" sigh deeply, all energy seeming to drain from him as he attempts to speak what's on his mind. "Haruka-san, Naru… and I, we… we have talked a good bit lately, and have decided that we need to break off the engagement, to break up as a couple," Keitaro finished finally, almost in an undertone.


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Next chapter: All It Takes Is A Wish...

That's right, the crossover will finally happen next chapter! I know many would prefer that it take place already, but the story was already written this way, all that I am doing now is imputing it into the computer (which I know is a slow process on my part). At this point in time, I have to do the next chapter of my other story (Of Warp Drives and Dark Energies), and then I will update this one. In the meantime, I will work on imputing the next chapter of this story in between working on the other story's chapter (as I will be doing a good bit of research for the other one, and can't do it while away from the house).

I hope that I am able to keep you entertained up to this point, and will continue to be able to.