Chapter 2: For My One and Only
The lack of snowfall greatly troubled Keiichi.
One week had already passed since their date in the park, and during that entire period of time, hardly any snow was present within Nekomi's city limits. It had gotten to the point where the local meteorologists began actively commenting on the unusually good weather during their segments on the local news channels. In addition to that, the days began to get warmer – most of the city's residents have stopped wearing sweaters and winter jackets; consequently, Nekomi's outdoor recreation areas are now frequented more than usual for this time of year.
He couldn't help but wonder if Belldandy had something to do with all of this. Ever since that day, she'd been more focused than ever with everything she did, whether it be cooking meals, maintaining the temple grounds, or manning Whirlwind's register. Occasionally, he would catch her singing to herself, smiling mirthfully as she did so. And to top it off, every time they were alone together, she would find new ways to kiss him on the lips; each session left him thoroughly satisfied yet wanting more.
Keiichi wistfully smiled, running his fingers across his lips. They arrived at work seven minutes late today – Bell had been very reluctant to part her lips from his earlier this morning. He could still taste the remnants of her strawberry lip gloss in his mouth; she'd taken to using it every chance she got. "For you, dear," she told him earlier.
There was little time to dwell on that memory, however; today's workload would keep him occupied for the greater part of the morning and afternoon. Whirlwind was to take apart a retro motorcycle, polish up the engine, and add in a turbo – the client wanted unmatched performance out of the bike. In addition to that, the rest of the bike also needed an overhaul. And so it fell to him to carry out all of these tasks; Chihiro had taken off to parts unknown, leaving the shop in his care.
Keiichi was halfway done with dismounting the engine when Chihiro finally came back. "What a morning," she said to no one in particular. "The roads were completely clear – I can finally stop using tire chains." Her eyes caught sight of the disassembled bike. "How close is it to being finished?"
"Still a ways to go." He removed another screw from the bike's undercarriage. "The clutches still need to be replaced. The engine's also going to need to be completely taken apart and retuned." Keiichi reached for a 3/8 wrench, keeping his eyes on the engine. "Whose bike is this, by the way? The W800 isn't supposed to be available for another month."
"Friend of mine knows someone who works for Kawasaki's R&D. Got it as a surprise gift." She eyed the chrome tank emblems closely. "It's beautiful. He's one lucky guy to have this."
Keiichi sighed. Wish I could have one these. He had lost count of the bikes he personally fixed ever since he began working at Whirlwind. Some of them were quite impressive – Chihiro had to tear him off the red Ducati Streetfighter he tuned up a month ago when it was finally done. Acquiring a proper bike in the near future was but a pipe dream for him – Urd and Skuld's antics, more often than not, had hefty price tags attached to them, even with Belldandy's intervention.
As midday approached, the heat gradually became more and more oppressive, and Chihiro decided to retreat back into the confines of the shop. Keiichi however, did not have that luxury, not for another hour or so. Regular weather would've been better, he briefly entertained. Cold weather had never truly troubled him – one of the perks of having grown up in Hokkaido. Even the frigid ocean waters failed to faze him, as his recent seaside retreat aptly demonstrated.
"Thirsty?" a familiar feminine voice asked.
He looked up and found a can of cola waiting for him. "Thanks, Bell," he said, reaching up for the can. With a flick of his fingers, Keiichi popped the lid open and took a long drink.
"It's a beautiful bike," Belldandy began, eyeing the vehicle. "Whoever owns this loves it dearly. And I can also see the effort you've put into it so far, dear." She gave him a bright smile.
"Well…" Keiichi scratched the back of his head. "It's still not finished. There's a lot to be done, and I don't know if I'm going to be able to finish on time at this rate." He slid back under the bike, pushing a small cloud of dust up behind him. "Pass me the 3/8, would you?"
Belldandy handed him the wrench. "I never get tired of watching you fix machines," she spoke after a while. "Somehow, I can't imagine you doing anything else with such focus and intent." She leaned over the bike's fuel tank, above where his head was currently. "The first thing that comes to mind whenever I think of you is someone who is loved by all machines."
"If you say so." He still remembered his encounter with the Machiners, an enigmatic race of robots, or rather, living machines. They had come to him some time ago for repairs, claiming that he possessed an intrinsic quality necessary for the process. Keiichi still had the toolbox they gave him as a token of gratitude, currently stashed away in his room – the tools within greatly enhanced the performance of all machinery they came into contact with. Despite the risk of unwanted questions and attention, he still occasionally used those tools to perform repairs, both on his own bike and the ones left in his care at Whirlwind.
Before he knew it, lunchtime arrived, and he took off at once into the cool, dry confines of the container that served as Whirlwind, with Belldandy close behind him. Inside, a kettle of hot tea and Bell's homemade bento box awaited him on the coffee table. Behind the register, Chihiro was busy keying in transactions from the ledger, pausing at regular intervals to cross off finished entries. A warm cup of tea sat precariously on the counter's edge – Chihiro took regular sips from it and placed it back ever closer to falling off, all the while keeping her eyes on the screen.
Keiichi waited for his paramour to sit down across from him before opening the box, revealing the best meal she'd prepare to date. Inside was a sizeable serving of grilled eel and steamed rice, accompanied by a portion of lettuce salad. Simple, yet elegant in presentation – Belldandy took great pride in her culinary skills – it brightened his spirits immediately.
"It looks delicious." He picked up the pair of chopsticks next to the box, and took a bite of the eel. A torrent of rich, bursting flavors engulfed his sense of taste. "And it's absolutely delicious," he complimented after swallowing the portion. "You've really outdone yourself today, Bell."
"I'm glad you enjoy it, dear." She took a long drink out of her teacup.
They made small talk as he finished the rest of the lunch, with the weather as the centerpiece. Belldandy cheerily commented on the abundant sunshine. "More intense than last year," she pointed out in between sips of her tea. "We should spend more time outdoors this weekend. I'd like to go to the park again. Just the two of us."
He nodded in agreement. "If that's what you want." In all honesty, Keiichi was elated that she brought up the idea. Their previous outings had always included Urd and Skuld, both of whom somehow managed to derail the couple's progress in their relationship. Skuld bombs… His ribs ached as he recalled the latest instance the explosives were used on him. Not having the other two goddesses around would drastically improve his health and sanity.
Soon enough, his lunch break ended, and Keiichi packed the now-empty bento box back into his knapsack. Belldandy had disappeared off behind the store, taking the kettle and teacups with her. He could hear her singing through the door, and smiled as her voice soothed all the worries he currently harbored within. Her voice, he noticed, had become more refined as of late, able to invoke stronger emotions from everyone who heard it. Each note touched his heart to the core, filling his mind with vibrant images of her feelings.
Just as he was about to leave the store, Chihiro called out to him. "Oy, Morisato, got a minute?" She motioned over towards the counter.
"Sure, boss." He walked over to the register. "Something you want to talk about?"
"Valentine's day is coming up in a few days." She pointed at the calendar on the wall behind her. "Bell-chan's been in high spirits all week. Seems to me that she's got a surprise planned for you this year."
"I wouldn't know. She never lets on anything until the day itself."
Chihiro gave him a warm smile. "How romantic. You're one lucky person, y'know? To have someone else to care for you like Bell does."
Keiichi nodded in response.
"Enough about Bell-chan – what about you? What are you going to get for her this year? Chocolate, like always? Or something else entirely different?" She eyed him closely, half-waiting for his response.
"I have a month to work on that. White day's still not here."
"That's true, I suppose." Chihiro took another sip of her tea. "Why not do something different this year though, Morisato? Like, giving her a proper gift on Valentine's?"
"What do you mean?"
"In the West, couples exchange gifts on Valentine's Day. White day is, for all intents and purposes, a custom confined to our country." She briefly paused, keying in another entry into the register. "In many ways, their version makes more sense. What could possibly be better than exchanging gifts with your beloved on the same day?"
Once again, he silently agreed with her. It would be nice to do something new for a change. For the past two years, they've only exchanged chocolates on the respective dates. A proper gift this time around would change things, hopefully for the better.
Chihiro finished the last of her tea. "Anyways, it's just food for thought. I sure as hell won't be celebrating Valentine's this year…again." She muttered a couple of incoherent curses. "Sigh…aren't there any decent guys left?"
An awkward silence filled the room. "Are you alright, boss?" Keiichi spoke after a minute.
"It's nothing. I'll be fine." Her demeanor instantly turned serious. "You should get back to working on the bike. I want it finished before the day's up."
"As you wish." He picked up his wrench off the counter, pocketing it in the back of his pants.
As he was stepping out through the back door, Keiichi heard her sigh softly to herself. Deciding not to get involved, he shut the door behind him.
By the time Belldandy and Keiichi finished work, it was already pitch black outside. She was tempted to extend the daylight hours, but held back at the last minute. Her mood for the past week had already influenced the local weather in more ways than one; she would hold back from interfering further lest there be more unintended consequences. I really have to get a hold of myself, she mused as she climbed into the sidecar.
They made their way back to the temple at a brisk pace. Aside from the streetlights, the only source of illumination present was the bike's single front headlight. Amidst the darkness surrounding her, Belldandy dwelt further on her thoughts – Keiichi remained silent as they rode past the city center. They hadn't spoken since lunchtime; he was too preoccupied with finishing the bike's modifications. More than anything, she wanted to continue the conversation they began then – there was so much more she wanted to tell him.
"Do you really?" her conscience asked.
"Of course!" Ever since that day by the sea, she felt more alive than she'd ever been before. With one of her biggest fears gone, she can finally focus on strengthening her relationship with Keiichi. "Granted, with Urd and Skuld around…" She'd worry about that later – her sisters would eventually come around, like they always do. Right now, all that mattered was moving forward with her paramour. And the perfect chance to do so was just right around the corner.
"You alright, Bell?" Keiichi asked out of the blue.
"Yes, dear," she replied over the engine's steady hum. "Just wondering what everyone's up to back at home, that's all."
They rounded a particularly sharp corner at breakneck speed; Belldandy leaned towards the right, balancing out the bike. Her chest briefly brushed across Keiichi's back – her breathing became slightly flustered for a few seconds. While they've done this maneuver countless times already, this was first time it provoked this reaction from her. In addition, she found herself enjoying the feelings invoked, from this as well as other instances of contact with him.
Before she could dwell further on the matter, they began slowing down – the ramp up to the temple's rear was coming up. In less than a minute, they were parked inside the open-aired garage. Keiichi offered to take her helmet – once it was off her, she shook her hair loose, breathing a sigh of relief once it was over. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Keiichi staring at her and laughed softly to herself. "Enjoying the view?" she coyly teased.
"Y…yeah…," he stammered, placing the helmets on the shelf.
Belldandy smiled at him in response and beckoned him over. Taking his hand, they slowly walked back to the house. She took the time to admire the condition of the temple's garden; even at night, she could still make out the fine details of the statues, cherry blossom trees, and koi pond. She leaned in closer towards him, closing the distance between both of them; her heart skipped a beat the moment they made contact.
"We're home!" Keiichi announced once they reached the door. He slid the door open, moving aside to allow Belldandy in first.
The house was unusually quiet – at the very least, Urd would be watching Winter Storm reruns in the tea room at this hour. All of the indoor lights were turned off, making it impossible to see beyond a few feet down the main hallway. Not a sound emerged from any of the rooms, even Skuld's own; the young goddess rarely ventured out of her abode at this time of night. There was also a notable absence of indoor heating – the thermostat was turned off, a problem Belldandy promptly rectified.
"Sis? Skuld?" she called out, slipping out of her shoes. "We're home." She flipped the light switch next to the shoe cabinet on, and gasped at once.
The hallway was littered with a plethora of parts, gears, and cogs, enough to make passage without proper footwear hazardous. Now that the lights were on, Belldandy caught a glimpse of stray sparks of electricity arcing between all of the metallic components. As she traversed the hallway, the pile grew larger, eventually reaching half her height once she got in front of Skuld's room. She gasped in shock again once she caught sight of the haphazard state of Skuld's room. All manner of parts, machinery, and furniture were scattered throughout the confines of the room. One pile in particular rumbled at regular intervals; upon closer inspection, Belldandy found a hand buried underneath an assortment of wires and plastic plates. She took hold of the hand and gave it a tug, pulling up Skuld in the process.
"Skuld, are you alright?" She placed her right hand on her sister's forehead and quietly whispered a simple healing spell.
Skuld's eyes fluttered open at once. "Big sister?" she groggily began, letting out a yawn. "What happened –." She quickly scanned the entirety of her room. "URD! WHAT DID YOU TO MY ROOM?!"
Before Belldandy could get a word in, Skuld bolted out of the room, knocking down another pile of parts in the process. From her spot, Belldandy could hear her younger sister push aside various obstacles as she made her way out to the porch. A loud THUD soon followed, prompting Belldandy to rush outside immediately. Once outside, she saw her Keiichi sprawled out on the porch, rubbing his forehead with his left hand, and Skuld angrily shaking her other sister back and forth. "URD, YOU DUMMY! WAKE UP ALREADY AND FIX MY ROOM!"
"Skuld! That'll be enough!" Belldandy forcefully commanded, narrowing her eyes slightly. "The both of you shouldn't be fighting like this."
As soon as Skuld ceased shaking Urd by the lapels of her shirt, the elder sister woke up, muttering several incoherent phrases. "My ears are still ringing," she complained, shaking her head. Opening her eyes, her expression immediately darkened. "Oh, it's you."
"Sis, what happened?" Belldandy asked.
"Nothing you need to worry yourself over. Skuld and I just happened to disagree over television rights, again." A crackle of lightning danced across Urd's fingertips. "Speaking of which…" She narrowed her eyes at Skuld. "You made me miss Winter Storm, you little brat."
"You didn't have to wreck my room like you did, Urd!" Skuld backed away, putting distance between herself and both her sisters. "Thanks to you, all of my stuff is ruined. I'll have to spend tomorrow just cleaning it all up."
"If you knew how to use magic properly, it would be done in less than a minute." Urd haughtily laughed, keeping her eyes on Skuld. "But then again, you don't know how to use magic properly, do you? Why, you couldn't even get a simple water spell right."
"URD, YOU DUMMY!" Skuld drew a pair of cobbled explosives out of her pockets. "TAKE THIS!"
It was at this point that Belldandy finally intervened, stepping in between both of her sisters. She quietly intoned a few words, conjuring up translucent barriers from both hands – the fields separated Urd and Skuld from each other. "Enough already. All of this quarrelling has already made enough of a mess here." She pointed at one of the piles in the hallway. "Can't the both of you just get along for one day?"
She briefly paused, taking a deep breath and calming herself in the process. "I'm going to go make dinner. It would be nice if everything was fixed by the time I'm done." With that said, she lowered the barriers and slipped away into the kitchen, closing the doors behind her. Belldandy quickly looked around the room and, satisfied that she was alone, let out a long sigh of relief.
Clearing her thoughts of everything else but the task at hand, Belldandy reached underneath the sink and brought out a chopping board. She silently summoned all of the ingredients for stir-fried rice to her, which she then began chopping up with a cutting knife. Beside her, the stove turned itself on and a wok settled into position on top of the blue gas-fueled flames. Seconds later, she twirled her right pointer clockwise, sending all of the ingredients flying into the wok.
I'm getting better at this, Belldandy reflected as she brought out the stainless steel spatula. Over the past few weeks, she'd been practicing using spells without relying on incantations. Ever since her voice disappeared for one day some time ago, Belldandy made it a priority to be able to perform magic nonverbally, a feat most goddesses in her shoes rarely bother with. So far, her progress has, in her opinion, been admirable; she no longer had to vocally call out basic spells and incantations. Regardless, there were many aspects of her magic that still relied on vocal commands, which she hoped to rectify sooner rather than later.
The rice gradually turned a light shade of brown; a trail of smoke wafted upwards from the pan. "Heavenly." Belldandy closed her eyes, allowing the aroma to fill up her nostrils. She sprinkled a dash of spices into the rice for good measure and tossed the mix several times, ensuring that the flavor would be evenly distributed. A few minutes later, she turned off the stove, poured the rice into a bowl, and sent both the spatula and pan into the sink with a soft splash.
"Keiichi, dinner's ready," she announced. Belldandy set the bowl down at the center of the table and snapped her fingers. Four smaller bowls, accompanied by chopsticks, floated out of the kitchen and arranged themselves on each side of the dining table. Another snap of her fingers summoned a tray carrying four teacups and her favorite porcelain kettle. In one smooth motion, she grabbed the kettle out of the air and began pouring tea for all of them.
Just as she finished, Keiichi entered the room, appearing none worse for the wear. "Thanks, Bell." He sat down next to her, picking up a pair of chopsticks.
"Are you alright, dear?" Belldandy asked, a hint of concern in her voice. In her haste to get away from the quarrel, she'd completely forgotten about his condition. "I'm sorry about Skuld, again. She's been more than a handful lately."
"Nothing more than a bruise or two. I'll be fine." He rubbed his right elbow before setting it down on the table. "You don't need to apologize for what she did. It's not your fault."
She sighed. "Somehow I feel responsible, regardless. It's hard to believe how much trouble my sisters can be. To be honest, I'm surprised I haven't really noticed up until now."
"Well…"
Belldandy shifted her eyes downwards.
"It's not like that!" he protested. "How do I say it…Bell, you tend to overlook mistakes to a fault. That's one of the things I like about you. But it's also been an inconvenience as well – you hardly admonish anyone, even when it's called for."
She kept silent for several seconds. "I guess I do," she finally answered. "Seems like I just can't bring myself to see fault, even though I should be able to."
"You worry too much," a familiar voice called out from the door.
"Sis!" Belldandy blushed slightly in embarrassment.
"One of these days…" Urd plopped down in front of the television and took a cup of tea. "The brat outdid herself today. Rubber band pistols, pinecone launchers, salt-powered RPGS….gah! Next thing you know, she'll be bringing the whole house down in one stroke."
"I heard that!"
The porch door flew open, revealing a very irate, fuming Skuld. "You were the one that started it." She wedged herself in between Keiichi and Belldandy, to the latter's consternation.
As Urd and Skuld continued arguing, Belldandy grew more irritated by the second. Not only were they drowning out every word she tried to get out, Skuld also remained where she was between her and Keiichi. To make matters worse, her younger sister continuously pestered Keiichi, to the point where he was forced to back off all the way to the opposite side of the table. She gripped harder on her teacup and her eyes began narrowing down.
Without warning, the last remnants of her patience snapped. "STOP IT ALREADY!" she forcefully screamed. Everyone in the room covered their ears.
She looked straight at Skuld with a stern expression. "Skuld, move aside. I'm sitting next to Keiichi."
Her younger sister's eyes began watering up. "B…but…big sis."
"Did I not make myself clear? Move. You've already caused enough grief for one day."
For several seconds, Skuld lingered in her spot, determined to hold her ground. Yet Belldandy refused to relent, her displeasure evident on her features. Seeing that there was no room left to maneuver, Skuld reluctantly backed away, ducking behind Urd. She peeked out from behind her eldest sister, gulped once, and turned towards the television.
Keiichi sat down next to her once again. He quickly glanced at Urd and Skuld before turning back to her. "That was rather harsh of you. Not that I don't appreciate it though." He took a bite of the fried rice. "Still," he whispered to her, "is everything alright Bell? You've been on edge all week. All these problems are getting to you more than usual."
"I don't know," she softly answered. Her features visibly relaxed as she took another sip of tea. "All of these changes...the things I feel…" Belldandy paused, closing her eyes. "Can we talk about this later, dear?"
He nodded. Behind him, Urd and Skuld were arguing about the documentary currently being shown. "We should go to that amusement park this coming Sunday. They're having a special Valentine's festival. It'll be a perfect…date…for us."
"Oh?" Urd turned an eye towards the couple.
"We're coming too! I can't leave big sis alone with –."
Belldandy looked at her younger sister straight in the eye.
Skuld clammed up at once and went back to watching the television. "Grr…," she muttered under her breath.
She took half a minute to compose herself, breathing in and out at regular intervals. "Yes, it would," she finally spoke. "Just the two of us, Keiichi, like it should be."
Her paramour turned beet red for a split second; he promptly gulped down a large amount of tea. "Sunday it is, then."
The rest of dinner passed by without incident, save for Urd and Skuld's occasional outbursts. Once everyone was finished, Belldandy gathered up all of the dinnerware and brought it back to the kitchen. There, she turned on the faucet and got to work cleaning up. It took the better part of half an hour, but she eventually finished; Belldandy closed the door behind her with a snap of her fingers and stepped outside to the porch.
To her joy, Keiichi was also there, watching the starry sky nonchalantly. She snuck up behind him and closed his eyes with both of her hands. "Guess who?" she whispered into his left ear.
"Belldandy." He reached behind him and lightly caressed her cheek, turning slightly red in the process. "You keep finding new ways to surprise me."
She sat down on his left, keeping her right arm draped around his back. "It's rather enjoyable, this…flirting…thing. I really have missed out on quite a bit." She mirthfully laughed. "You seem to be enjoying this as well, dear."
"Well…um…" Keiichi looked down at his feet for several seconds. "I do like the new you, Bell. It's just that my nerves aren't exactly taking this in stride. I mean, I'm still turning bright red whenever we get this close." He paused and turned to face her. "It's rather embarrassing, isn't it? I should be able to be more…confident…and more…assertive…with you. And yet I'm not."
"People can't change overnight." Belldandy nuzzled against the crook of his neck. "It'll take time. What matters is the desire to move forward into the future. Overcoming your fears and hesitations – you've come so far already." She let out a soft sigh. "Is it wrong of me to want…more from us?"
"Of course not," he reassured her, lightly brushing away a stray strand of her dark blonde hair. "It'll be difficult with Urd and Skuld around, though. Especially Skuld."
"Let me worry about that."
Neither one of them spoke for several minutes; they silently watched the stars, admiring how each one managed to shine brightly on this night. Belldandy, for one, felt quite content for the duration; there were no quarrels to be broken up or problems that needed fixing, only a well-deserved respite from all her worries. The cool night air also helped to lighten her spirit, in addition to spreading the fragrant plum blossom aroma all around their house.
"I've been wondering," Keiichi finally spoke up, "why now? We've been together for three years, and this is the first time you've ever done things like this. What's changed, Bell?"
Belldandy carefully contemplated her response. "All relationships have to move forward, don't they?"
"I guess so. It's only natural."
"There's your answer. If what we have is going to work, then we'll have to move forward sooner or later." She playfully pinched his left arm. "And I'd rather it be sooner than later, dear."
Keiichi smiled at her in response; she barely noticed any traces of nervousness on him this time around. She decided to take the initiative once again, drawing him into a tender, loving squeeze. Her heart quickened as warmth suffused throughout her body. I'll never grow tired of this.
"Keiichi…?" she softly whispered in his ear.
"Yes, Bell?"
"The wish… If you could do it all over again, would you want anything different?"
"Maybe not have Urd and Skuld around," he replied. Breaking their embrace, he looked deep into her eyes, and for a brief moment, Belldandy felt his gaze pierce through her very being. "In all seriousness though, I wouldn't change a thing for the entire universe. This…this is us now, and I promise that I'll make it work no matter what it takes."
Belldandy leaned in, brushing her lips against his. She then closed the distance and kissed him as deeply as possible, lightly pushing the tip of her tongue into his mouth. To her elation, he promptly mirrored her actions, sending a shock down her spine. And as their kiss went on, she felt the both of them slowly fall towards the porch, landing on the mahogany with a soft thump.
I don't want this to ever end.
The kiss Keiichi shared with Belldandy last night occupied his thoughts throughout the morning. For him, it was the most intimate experience with his paramour to date, made more significant by the lack of any form of external interference. As if on cue, her sigh of contentment rang through his ears, bringing him back to the moment they finally parted their lips. "Wow…," she breathed, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
He quickly banished the memory away; it wouldn't do for Skuld or worse, Urd, to see him in that state. Keiichi was rather surprised that the two were conspicuously absent throughout the whole night. Maybe Bell finally got to them, he mused. The former was currently sitting opposite of him, absentmindedly scooping spoonful after spoonful of Cheerios into her mouth. As for Urd, she was still in her room, snoozing away the better portion of the morning.
"Keiichi, breakfast is almost ready."
He could smell the delicious aroma coming from the kitchen – a mix of ginger, garlic, and peppers. His mind ran wild with the possibilities of today's breakfast item – perhaps a steak, or maybe another serving of yesterday's fried rice. It's best to just wait and see. Bell's cooking always manages to surprise me.
With nothing else better to do, Keiichi reached for the newspaper and flipped over to the classified section. He glanced quickly through most of the listings; most of them detailed real estate offers or product adverts. The jobs section, however, had an unusual amount of listings for this time of year; it occupied three pages alone. One particular listing caught Keiichi's eye immediately.
WANTED: Mechanic with considerable proficiency in motor vehicle repair and maintenance. Part-time job. High pay. If interested, contact: Nekomi Antique Motor Museum (*****************)
It took Keiichi several moments to process the entirety of the advert. For one, it seemed too good to be true – Nekomi has its fair share of skilled mechanics. The job could have simply been offered to any one of them without relying on adverts. Furthermore, considering how easy it was to spot in the papers, the job might have already been taken.
Before he could dwell on the matter further, Belldandy came out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of breakfast items. One of the offerings was a pepper-grilled steak, accompanied by stir-fried vegetables. "What do you think?" she asked as she placed the remainder of the fare on the table.
"I haven't had a steak in a while. You shouldn't have." He folded up the newspaper and placed it behind him.
"I just felt the urge to make one this morning." She warmly smiled at him, sitting down directly to his left. "Thought you might like it. Am I wrong?"
He gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Definitely not."
Across the table, Skuld stared at both of them in shock, dropping her spoon into her cereal bowl. "Kei-ichi…" She drew a miniature Skuld bomb out from underneath her green shirt. Just as she was about to lob it, Belldandy shot a displeased look in her direction. Grumbling, she reluctantly made the explosive disappear back to where it came from.
"It's delicious, as always," he complimented after swallowing the first bite. "At this rate, you're going to completely spoil me. There's really no reason for us to eat out now."
She simply responded by snuggling him, causing his pulse to quicken. As breakfast continued on, she occasionally stole a bite of food from his plate, giving him a sly smile in return every single time. She's becoming bolder by the day. Belldandy even offered him her teacup when his came up empty - Skuld was visibly fuming from her seat.
Once he was done, Belldandy whisked away all of the empty plates and disappeared into the kitchen. Her singing was soon accompanied by the sound of rushing water. Before long, Skuld followed her as well, but not before sticking her tongue out at Keiichi. "I hate you!" she boldly declared before slamming the door shut.
With nothing else left to do, Keiichi made his way out to the telephone in the hallway, taking with him the job advert in the newspaper. He quickly dialed the listed contact number. Several drawn-out second passed by as the dial tone repeated itself through the phone's speakers. He could also hear the static in the background as well.
"Nekomi Antique Motor Museum, how can I help you?" the other end of the line finally answered.
He spent the next few minutes explaining his situation in detail – that he was interested in the job and that he had all the necessary qualifications for it. To his relief, the job was still available – no one had called in so far. "We'll need you to come in this Saturday, though. Will you be available?"
"Of course."
"Excellent. We'll see you then." The line promptly went dead.
Keiichi gently placed the receiver back into its dock. Staring into the mirror, he gave himself a congratulatory smile. The payout from the job was substantial enough to allow him to get a proper gift for Belldandy on short notice. Better yet, he wouldn't have to resort to digging into their savings – while at a comfortable level, he didn't want to risk being shorthanded in case an emergency occurred, which, with Urd and Skuld around, was more than likely to happen.
Soon enough, Belldandy met up with him in the hallway. She had changed out of her regular clothes into a new set – a light blue shirtwaist dress with white sleeve edges and collars, complete with a light brown belt. "What do you think?" she asked.
He gulped, wiping away droplets of sweat from his forehead with the back of his right hand. "It…it looks great on you, Bell."
Belldandy's cheerful expression was instantly replaced by one of concern. "Are you alright, dear? I'm not being too much of a bother, am I?" She gently wiped away the few remaining droplets of sweat on his forehead.
"It's just my nerves again. I'll be fine." He grabbed his jacket off the table. "We should get going, or else we'll be late."
Despite his reassurances, Belldandy continued to fret over him as they walked to the garage – she even insisted on picking up his helmet for him. She also made it a point to help him move the motorbike out onto the road, instead of waiting at the front like she usually did. Eventually, she settled down once they were on the road; aside from glancing at him at regular intervals, she spent most of the commute watching the scenery pass by.
Upon arriving at Whirlwind, Chihiro immediately put the two of them to work; she gave Belldandy a set of ledgers to update and had him help her disassemble an engine. "Amateur repair work," she complained, struggling to remove a bolt. Several dents and burn marks were scattered all over the surface. Most of the bolts had chipped heads, making their removal all the more troublesome.
The task took a better portion of the morning, and by the time they were done, Keiichi felt quite exhausted. Chihiro had disappeared off, taking with her the usable parts of the engine. He was left alone with the excess – a sizable pile of chipped bolts and dented plates, all of which had to be taken care off. And so, he spent several minutes putting all of the parts into an empty cardboard box, taking care not to drop any onto the floor.
As he was placing the filled box down at the back of the store, Chihiro reappeared, looking worse for the wear. "Are those the leftovers?" she asked, pointing at the box.
"Yes. Want me to leave them there?"
"For now. I'll figure out if any of them can be saved later today." She grabbed the nearest water bottle on the shelf, taking a long drink.
Keiichi waited for her finish. "Do you mind if I go out for a bit? I need to take care of some errands."
"What kind of errands?"
"It's personal."
"I see." Chihiro placed the bottle back on the shelf. "Sure, why not. I'm sure Bell-chan will appreciate whatever it is you end up getting her." She gave him a sly wink. "I won't dock this out of your pay…this time. Come back when you're done."
Before he could say anything in response, she'd already disappeared – the door to the front of the store swung shut behind her. Keiichi changed out of his overalls, stuffing them into his locker, and cleaned up his hands before leaving out the back. Seconds later, he was off on his bike, cruising at a brisk pace through downtown Nekomi.
Twenty minutes later, he found himself in the shopping district, walking past a number of confectionary outlets. Every single shop he passed by was offering discounts on chocolates, ranging from pocket-sized boxes to gigantic gift baskets. He spent a fair amount of time at each one, carefully looking over all of the offerings before moving on.
At one particular store, Keiichi was busy browsing through a refrigerated shelf when a familiar voice called out to him. "Senpai? What are you doing here?"
He turned around and spotted Sora at the store's entrance – the entry bell chimed at her recent arrival. "I'm looking for something suitable for Belldandy. But it's proving harder than I thought – none of these chocolates seem right for her."
She walked over to him and studied the selection. "I can see why. White Day isn't for another month."
"Speaking of which, I thought you'd already be set for this year. Not making your own chocolate this time around?"
"I…well…" Sora's cheek turned a bright shade of red. "I'm probably going to end up buying a box. It would save me a lot of trouble and, well, I think he might appreciate it a bit more."
"I see." Keiichi continued browsing through the chocolates, picking up a white box from the top shelf. "Finally, white chocolates. First set I've found today."
Sora quickly glanced at the package. "Belldandy-senpai would definitely love those."
He paid for the chocolates at the register. "I have to get back to work," he told Sora. "Hope you find what you're looking for."
For the first time ever, Belldandy soaked her feet in the koi pond's crystal blue waters. She couldn't help but wonder why she never bothered to do so before now – it was by far one of her most relaxing experiences to date. The waters provided some relief from the heat; the sky was completely absent of clouds today. She sang to herself, allowing her voice to fill the entirety of the garden with a moving, clear serenade. Across from her, the plum tree continued to burst into bloom as her singing continued, releasing a fragrant aroma all around.
If only Keiichi could be here now. He'd left a couple of hours ago, leaving her at the house by herself. "Sudden part-time job. I'll see you later tonight, Bell," he told her before he rode off. She was tempted to follow and spy on him, but held back at the last minute – Keiichi wouldn't be happy with her if he found out. She'd settle for asking him about it later tonight – whether he answered her or not would be another matter.
Her thoughts wandered elsewhere, eventually settling on her experiences during Peorth's first arrival. In retrospect, Belldandy didn't appreciate her counterpart's attempts at 'seducing' Keiichi throughout her stay – she wondered why she didn't assert herself more forcefully at the time. And yet she was right. She was, and still is, holding back on a very significant part of her relationship with him. Is it still too soon? Can I ever tell him? What would he think of me once he finds out? She closed her eyes and whimpered, allowing her feet to sink deeper into the pond.
"Big sis?" Skuld sat down next to her. "Is everything alright?"
"Skuld." She composed herself, banishing all traces of her earlier worry. "I'm fine, sweetie. Just thinking about the past, that's all."
"You should come inside. World's Greatest Inventions is about to come on, and I don't want to watch it by myself again." Her younger sister tugged at her sleeves.
She kept staring at her reflection in the water. "I'd rather be alone right now."
Skuld's voice dropped an octave. "You're thinking about him again, aren't you?" She groaned in exasperation. "Why do you keep worrying over Keiichi all the time? He doesn't deserve to be with you at all, big sis."
"Skuld…"
"It's true!" She hopped down onto the pond's surface, turning to face her sister. "What has he done in all the time he's been with you? Nothing!"
Belldandy looked at her sister straight in the eye. "You know that's not true, Skuld."
"I still don't like him anyways! He…he…he's going to take you away!" Before Belldandy could react, Skuld crashed into her, sobbing profusely into her blouse. "I don't want to lose you, big sis! Especially not to him. HIM, of all people!"
Belldandy remained silent, unsure of what to say next. For the moment, she allowed her younger sister to continue crying her heart out. A part of her wanted to comfort Skuld then and there, to reassure her that she'll always be there for her no matter what. And yet she could not bring herself to say the words that would defuse the whole ordeal here and now, not without lying to herself.
"Skuld…," she finally spoke up. "I love Keiichi. There's no other way to say it. And there's nothing I wouldn't do to prove that I love him with all my heart. Even if it means…choosing between you and him."
Skuld was at a loss for words, her mouth agape in shock. She stopped crying at once, distancing herself from her sister. "Big sis…you really don't mean that, do you?"
"I do, Skuld." She straightened herself up. "I know that you've never approved of Keiichi. And maybe you never will. But I'm asking you to respect our relationship. Whether you like it or not, it's not going to end."
"I…I…"
"Please, for me." Belldandy reached out towards her sister, begging her to take her hand.
"I don't know…"
Before she could stop her, Skuld dove beneath the pond's surface, leaving behind a rapidly closing portal. Belldandy let out a long drawn sigh – she would have to talk to her younger sister again at some point in the days ahead. Getting her sisters onboard with the changes in her relationship was proving harder than expected.
Just as Skuld's exit portal sealed up, a familiar presence made itself known. "She'll come around. Or at least I think she'll get used to the idea, eventually."
"Sis!" Belldandy scooted over to her left, making space on the boulder she sat on.
Urd sat down next to her, keeping her back faced towards the pond. She took a long swig out of the bottle of Fallen Angel sake she brought with her. "Give her some time. Like it or not, the brat's very attached to you. Convincing her that nothing's going to change in respect to her relationship with you is going to take a lot work. And she's going to have to do some growing up of her own as well."
"I guess…" She waved her feet back and forth, allowing the water to flow past her toes, cooling them in the process. "What about you, sis? What do you think about all of this?"
"It's about time you dropped your passive stance on the matter," Urd answered her. "I'm glad to see that you're finally being honest with yourself." She paused, taking another drink out of the bottle. "Well, almost honest with yourself, anyways."
"What do you mean, almost?" Belldandy turned her head to the right just enough to view her sister's face. "Is there something you want to say to me?"
"Bell…" Urd placed the bottle on the ground, straightened herself up, and looked at her sister straight in the eye. "When are you going to tell him the truth?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
She grabbed her younger sister by the shoulders. "Don't dance around the subject! You know exactly what I'm talking about. Heck, Peorth knew about it – I suspect that was why she was trying so hard to help Keiichi the last time she was down here. The only person here who isn't remotely aware of the matter is Skuld, and only because she's too young to know."
"Sis…" Belldandy broke eye contact and turned back towards the pond, keeping her eyes downcast.
"Don't tell me that you honestly enjoy the way things are now." Her younger sister blushed furiously for an instant. "Bell…"
"It's not like that! I…I…"
"Bell, he has a right to know. It's been three years already. That might not seem like a lot of time to you, but for him, that's quite a while." Urd adjusted her seating until she faced the same direction as her younger sister. "Like it or not, he's being kept in the dark. And you owe it to him to let him know why he's been acting the way he is for all this time."
"I can't tell him. It's...it's too soon. It's not the right time yet."
"Well, when are you going to do it then?" Urd forcefully countered. "A year from now? Two? Five? Ten? Are you going to wait until his deathbed to let him know what Yggdrasil did to him?"
She refused to answer the question, instead summoning a sphere of water to her left hand. She quietly uttered a string of incantations, molding the water into a lifelike model of her Keiichi. "He can't know… He'll never think of me in the same way again." She gently rebuffed her sister's attempt at drawing her into a hug. "He won't forgive me, I just know it. And I can't bear the consequences of that happening."
Neither one of them said a word to one another for several minutes – both sisters stared deeply into the darkening waters of the pond. Around them, the wind began to pick up, tossing plum blossom leaves up into the air. Urd finally broke the silence. "You don't trust him after all."
"That's not true!" she protested, slamming her fists into the rock beneath her.
"You don't! If you did, you wouldn't have a problem telling him this when he gets home."
"That's not fair, sis." Her eyes began watering up. "I'm…I'm not ready yet."
"By the time you're ready, it might already be too late." Urd placed her left arm around her younger sister. "Bell, is it really worth risking everything?"
Belldandy closed her eyes, letting out a long-drawn sigh. "I can't… Not yet…not yet…"
Urd stood up, picking up her bottle as she rose. "Seems like I can't convince you otherwise." She held out her hand – her broom shot out of the house before coming to a rest on top of her open palm. "It's your decision, Bell. Just be prepared to deal with whatever comes out of that." In one smooth motion, she boarded the broom. "Well, I'm off. Going to go see what Keiichi's up to today. Later!"
Urd took off into the sky in a rush, stirring up a gust of wind in her wake. Belldandy coughed, having inhaled a significant portion of the dust cloud. She watched her sister fly off, waiting until she was out of sight.
She let her tears fall freely, sobbing at regular intervals. As each one fell into the pond, ripples expanded from each point until the whole surface became disturbed, distorting all reflections.
"Thank you, please come again," the saleswoman bid Keiichi goodbye as he walked out of the store.
Keiichi took a moment to pocket his purchase – a sealed purple rectangular jewelry case – before walking down the shopping district's main thoroughfare. The whole area was completely crowded; several people brushed past him, leaving little room to maneuver. Several couples were present, each completely absorbed in their own private world – some took the time to window shop at the various boutiques, while the rest slowly made their way down the street.
A gust of wind swept over him, rustling his jacket as it passed by. He closed his eyes, feeling the breeze envelop every last bit of his face. As quickly as it arrived, the wind died down, and the surrounding air suddenly became warmer. Keiichi opened his eyes, and was immediately flabbergasted by the sight before him.
Urd was hanging upside down from a nearby lamppost – her hair stretched down almost to the pavement. A large number of people in the vicinity stared at her, unsure of what to make of the situation. One woman dropped her groceries in shock.
"Hi!" She dropped down to the pavement, flipping herself upright as she fell. She took a moment to straighten out her hair, sweeping stray locks behind her.
Keiichi swiftly approached her, ignoring the puzzled looks directed towards him. "Urd, what do you think you're doing? Do you want to be the main story on the 6 o'clock news tonight?"
"Relax, Keiichi. They'll forget about this soon enough." Urd pointed at the crowd behind her. "See, they're already leaving. In ten minutes, my little stunt will be nothing more than an afterthought."
"Well, in that case…" He turned to leave, only to be stopped by a hand on his right shoulder.
"And just where do you think you're going?"
"Home." Keiichi broke away from her grasp and briskly walked away, only to have Urd sidle up next to him.
"Aww, don't be such a spoilsport." She pouted at him. "I only came here to check up on you. Bell's been worried sick about you all morning."
Keiichi turned his eyes towards her. "She is?"
"Would I lie about something like that?" Keiichi narrowed his eyes at her. "Okay, okay, maybe my track record hasn't been stellar. But, really, there's no reason for me to gloss anything over now, especially considering what you two have been up to all week."
"What…what do you mean?" Keiichi's face turned beet red.
"You know what I'm talking about. Your 'alone' time. Don't think that I haven't noticed the two of you sneaking off to be by yourselves. It's actually rather bold of you – I didn't think you had it in you to make my sister swoon like that."
"You were spying on us?"
Urd broke out into a sheepish grin. "Well…not exactly…" She wiped the smile off her face in an instant, regaining her playful demeanor. "But I'm getting off topic. What were you doing before I ran into you?"
"That's none of your business," he answered. "You're just going to end up spoiling it again, like you always do."
"Since when have I ever ruined the mood between you two? If I recall, it was because of me that you even managed to confess your feelings to Belldandy back then." She chuckled, giving him a pat on the back. "I'm here to help, remember?"
"Yeah…help." He shook his head in resignation. "Well, I don't need help with this. You can go back home now; I'll be on my way as soon as I find my bike. Speaking of which…" He fished out his keychain from his left pocket, "I'd like some more time for myself, if you don't mind."
"As you wish," Urd waved him off. She glanced downwards, muttering to herself.
Keiichi turned the ignition, causing his bike to start up with a loud VROOM. As he fastened the helmet's straps around his chin, Urd called out to him. "Hey, Keiichi."
"What is it?"
Urd opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. Instead, she shook her head, closed her eyes, and let out a sigh. "Nothing. I'll see you when you get back."
For a brief moment, Keiichi was tempted to press the issue further; Urd hardly held back when giving any form of advice. He dismissed the notion, however, and took off in the bike, leaving the goddess behind. It probably wasn't important anyway.
When dawn broke, Belldandy got up at once, tossing aside her futon in a hurry. Instead of conjuring up a change of clothes, she opened her dresser, digging through the contents frantically. After several minutes of searching, she finally found her icterine blouse and sandy brown midi skirt, the same set of clothes she wore on her date in the park. She physically changed into those clothes, taking care not to get her hair caught up within the blouse.
Satisfied that her clothes were in order, she walked over to her dresser and picked up her hairbrush. She sat down in front of her mirror and got to work straightening out her hair. Although she could have simply used her powers, Belldandy felt compelled to actually perform the task. I want him to see it. A part of her wanted to show off the effort she put into making herself look perfect for him. Every single kink she managed to remove greatly increased her satisfaction. For him, nothing less than perfect is acceptable.
When she finally placed her hairbrush back down, her hair was neatly tucked behind her ears, flowing smoothly down her back. Smiling at her reflection, she brought out her strawberry lip gloss and carefully traced it across her lips until every single spot was covered. Once she was done, she inspected her handiwork; every single detail of her face was nothing less than stellar. A surge of pride swelled up within her. Satisfied with her handiwork, Belldandy got up and snapped her fingers, tidying the rest of her room in an instant.
The rest of the household was still asleep. As she walked past Keiichi's room, she could hear him roll around in his futon. Silently, she slid the door open by a hair's breadth, enough for her to take a peek into his room. She could clearly make out his figure amidst the darkness in the room; he was still snoozing through the morning. He's so cute like that, she thought to herself. Maybe… An image of her spooning against him rushed to the forefront of her thoughts, causing her to blush furiously. Suppressing the squeak about to escape her lips, she quickly slid the door shut and rushed off to the kitchen.
The rest of the morning passed by in a blur for her; Belldandy hardly recalled preparing breakfast for everyone. She could barely remember the things she said to Keiichi as they ate breakfast in the tea room. Even the kiss she gave him on the cheek after he was finished faded into the background. By the time her faculties returned to her, Urd and Skuld were already awake and bantering with each other over television rights.
"It's my turn to watch Megafactories!" her younger sister protested. "You already got to watch the Winter Storm marathon last night."
"Last night was last night. Today is another story." Urd held onto the remote, waving it back and forth. "You're going to have to earn the right to watch, just like always."
Belldandy sighed and got up to leave; she had no desire to be in the middle of their latest contest. As she shut the door behind her, she caught a glimpse of Skuld producing a deck of cards out of thin air. A smile crept across her face; her sister was finally starting to apply herself more seriously in improving her magic.
"All set, Bell?" a voice called out from behind her.
"Keiichi!" Belldandy turned around and found him waiting for her, all dressed up for their date. She gave him a brief kiss on the lips.
"Of course. Let's go, before my sisters realize where we're off to." She slung her left arm around his right and led him outside of the house. She could feel his pulse quicken through their contact, and giggled.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
She beamed at him. "Can't you tell?"
She helped him push the Beemer out to the side road. As Keiichi mounted the bike, she slid behind him, adjusting her seating until she was secure on the seat. "B…Bell, what are you doing?" he asked her.
"Taking a ride with you, of course. I haven't had the chance to do this in a while." She leaned in closer, stopping just short of resting her head on his shoulders. "Why? Do you want me to get back in the sidecar?"
"Well…no…" He shifted slightly in his seat, rolling his shoulders back.
"Then let's be off, darling."
Keiichi nodded, turning the clutch to full throttle. They took off down the road at full speed; Belldandy shrieked at the sudden acceleration. She recovered momentarily, and promptly clutched her boyfriend tighter. As they raced down the mountain road, the wind continued to whip around them, causing her hair to float behind her. Feeling bold, she decided to nuzzle against the left nook of Keiichi's neck.
"Go faster!" she yelled over the engine's roar.
Keiichi complied at once, accelerating the bike to breakneck speed. Belldandy let out a whoop as they rounded a curve. She turned to her left and saw the town pass by in a blur – all of the details blended together. Around her, the wind rushed by fast enough to suck all the heat away, leaving her feeling rather cold. Fortunately, the road remained smooth – the bike hardly bounced throughout the trip.
When they finally arrived at the amusement park, Belldandy nimbly hopped off her seat and banished her helmet away, revealing the entirety of her hair. She shook her head several times, scattering her hair down behind her. Stealing a glance behind her, she saw Keiichi visibly blush at her current appearance. She laughed and smiled at him, beckoning him over.
There were quite a few people waiting in line at the entrance gate. Many of them were couples, eager to partake in the Valentine's festivities being held here. As she passed through the crowd, their emotions and desires – a young girl's anticipation of her confession to her boyfriend, a married couple's desire to rekindle their romance, among many others – washed over her. Each experience resonated with her; she too, wanted today to be memorable. Here, she can truly be herself in front of Keiichi – no outside expectations, nobody constantly watching over her shoulders, and certainly no interference from her sisters.
Truly yourself, Bell? Aren't you forgetting the one thing you're keeping from him? She quickly dismissed the thought – there would be time for that later. Much later. Belldandy finally arrived at the ticket booth and bought two all-day passes, thanking the attendant as he handed back the change. She pushed her way back through the crowd and found Keiichi waiting for her at the gate. She allowed him to take her hand, and together they entered the park.
Inside, the Valentine's festival was in full swing. Balloons of all sizes, shapes, and colors lined the main thoroughfare. All of the park attendants were dressed for the occasion; most of them sported candy-themed costumes. In addition, specialty booths offering both games and souvenirs occupied all of the available space along the paths.
She stopped in front of one of the booths on a whim. "Let's go in here," she declared, dragging Keiichi with her. Inside was a shooting range equipped with moving targets at multiple distances and air rifles.
An attendant dressed in a red and white pinstripe suit greeted her. "Would you like to try your hand at this game, miss? Three tokens for a game. Win a prize if you hit all the targets!"
Belldandy nodded and handed over the tokens. She picked up the closest rifle, inspected it, and aimed at the targets. When the bell sounded, she began firing in rapid succession. As each shot went off with a BANG, a target would fall back out of sight – she perfectly landed every single shot she made. All eyes were on her; Keiichi paid rapt attention to her focused, steady demeanor as she fired off the last shots. Once the last target fell, she calmly placed the rifle back down on the counter.
She looked over her shoulders back towards Keiichi. "That was fun."
"I didn't know you liked these sorts of games, Bell."
"Me neither. And that was my first time using a rifle as well."
The booth's attendant handed her a stuffed panda off the top shelf. "How cute!" Belldandy gave it a squeeze. The doll would be a nice addition to her room. She carried it with her outside of the booth, with Keiichi following behind.
Once outside, Belldandy searched the area for a suitable mirror; as much as she liked the panda, she didn't want to have to carry it around with her all the time. It took her a minute to find a reflective window at the corner of the park's main street. She made sure that no one was looking her way before tossing the stuffed doll through the window, sending it back to her room.
"What do you want to do next?" Keiichi asked her once she was finished.
She spun around and smiled at him. "I'll let you decide. I shouldn't be the only one having fun today."
He took her hand and led her further into the park towards the main attractions. Belldandy took the opportunity to sidle up next to him, holding him as closely as possible. To her delight, Keiichi didn't tense up at all despite their proximity; he was getting better at controlling his nerves. He even reciprocated her gesture, placing his left arm around her.
By the time evening came, Belldandy was ready to call it a day. They had spent the afternoon on every single ride in the amusement park, including the roller coaster, where Keiichi nearly threw up his lunch. After he had recovered from the ordeal, she'd challenged him to a go-kart race; he won by the skin of his teeth. They even took a ride through the park's Tunnel of Love; the both of them were flushed in embarrassment throughout the whole trip.
They decided to have dinner at The Gorgeous Rose, a nearby tavern. The interior was dimly illuminated, making it difficult to see beyond a few feet. A number of oak tables and chairs took up the majority of the floor, accompanied by private booths located next to the windows and on the edges. Almost every single table and booth was occupied; all of the waiters were busy rushing back and forth across the floor, taking and delivering orders. The bar itself was no less hectic; drinks flowed out of the taps at a furious pace, and were rapidly guzzled down by the patrons there by the pint. Several photographs of previous patrons lined the walls, each one accompanied by a brief description of their visit.
They took their seats at the last booth in the corner; a waitress handed them the menus before departing. "We haven't had dinner outside in a long time," Keiichi said once they were alone.
Belldandy laughed as she recalled the incident. Keiichi had won a free dinner for two at the Koenig Hotel several years ago. Unfortunately, thanks to Urd's meddling, they never got to enjoy their evening out; they ended up having their date at home instead.
"So this is your way of making it up to me, dear?" She flipped through the menu, stopping at the main course listings.
Before he could answer, the waitress came back with two pints of Guinness. "Compliments of the house. Can I take your order?"
She decided to order a plate of fish and chips, while Keiichi settled on having a sirloin steak. The waitress jotted down their orders in a hurry and promptly departed, leaving the two of them alone once again. "You were saying, Keiichi?"
He took a long drink of the Guinness. "I suppose you could call it that. We've never had dinner where you didn't cook up until now. It's a nice change of pace."
"But I don't really mind having to cook all of the time. In fact, it's one of the things I enjoy the most – well, next to being with you." Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink.
She decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. As the minutes passed by, they reminisced about all of their experiences over the past year. When they finally arrived at the 'love' incident, Belldandy's cheeks blushed profusely; she still remembered the intense shock his words gave her. Keiichi, on the other hand, tried his best to avoid looking at her. "I didn't mean to knock you out, Bell!"
She mirthfully laughed. "I know, dear, I know. And I heard the words you said to me then. It was…beautiful. I was quite touched – your feelings were so strong."
Several seconds passed by as Keiichi struggled to find the proper response. "Still, I should have handled it better," he finally spoke. "They wouldn't have had a reason to do what they did if I'd only…"
"Shh…it's okay." She placed her right forefinger on his lips. "You wouldn't be you if you'd acted differently."
They both smiled warmly at each other. Suddenly, Keiichi reached into his jacket and brought out two boxes wrapped in red wrapping paper, placing them on the table. He handed both of the boxes over to her. "Happy Valentine's, Bell."
Belldandy started with the larger gift, carefully peeling away the wrapping paper. Underneath was a box of white chocolate hearts. Putting it aside, she unwrapped the other gift, revealing a purple jewelry case. She opened it at once and found a necklace waiting for her. It was made out of pure white gold and had a circular locket at its center. Flipping the locket around, she saw the engraving on the reverse side of the locket – Together Forever. As she brushed her fingers across the lettering, a burst of warmth rushed through her hands.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, gently caressing the necklace's chain. She took a moment to fasten it around her neck. "You really know how to get me all weak in the knees, dear."
Keiichi turned bright red. "Well…I… It's my way of letting you know how much you mean to me. I wouldn't be where I am without you. You're my…how do I say it…my reason for being."
"And you mine." She reached out for his hand, gently clasping her right hand over his. "Know this – that you are, and always will be first and only in my heart. And I will never, ever, betray your trust in me." She then summoned her gift – a large, hand-wrapped box – on top of the table. "That's my promise to you." Tears trickled down from her eyes, splashing softly on the edge of the table.
He unwrapped her gift, uncovering a detailed portrait made out of dark chocolate; the scene depicted the two of them sitting together on the park bench by the seashore. "It must have taken you quite a while to make this."
"I had help." She twiddled her thumbs back and forth. "Don't forget that I can make teacups dance."
"It's a wonderful gift, regardless." Keiichi covered the chocolate back up. "No matter what happens, I'll never forget how wonderful today is. And I hope that more days like this come our way."
Belldandy nodded in agreement. I'll make sure those days come, no matter the cost. That's my promise to you, Keiichi.
