The Proposal
The afternoon had gone well. Chihiro had not nagged him at all, not even one little bit. As a matter of fact, she had been downright solicitous. At a half before eighteen hours she even said to him and Bell, "You know, I think we can close up a little early today. Why don't you two head on out? Don't mind me; I'll lock up here!"
Bell gave Chihiro a look of pure wonder. No matter how many favors or how much help she gave to others, she was always surprised and grateful whenever anyone else did something nice for her. "Are you sure?" the goddess asked. "It's no trouble for me to stay and close up!"
She knows, Keiichi thought, looking at Chihiro. Somehow, she knows. But at least she hadn't spoiled the surprise by telling anyone. Or had she?
"Oh, you've done so much here! You've been the best office assistant that anyone could ever ask for!" Chihiro answered her. Which was true. In addition to being a gracious receptionist who could speak any foreign tongue the girl mechanic had ever heard of...Bell had received a diploma in languages from Nekomi Tech...she was an awesome salesgirl, a clever accountant, an impeccably honest cashier, a brutally efficient and organized parts stocker, and not half bad with a wrench in her hand herself. On top of all that, she wasn't too proud to pick up a broom every day and clean the shop, as well. It would take at least five people to replace her. Chihiro wanted to keep her and Keiichi close to home, at any cost. She smiled and waved as the two of them headed out the door.
It normally took Bell about twenty minutes to straighten up the shop, clean the floors and the bathroom, close out the cash register and the day's books, and get everything ready for the next day. Chihiro's version of closing up, that day, was to flip the light switch and turn the key in the lock before climbing aboard the Yamaha RZV500R which she had meticulously prepped earlier that afternoon.
Oh, and to pull out her cell phone. She hit, "Call Back". It was answered with gratifying promptness. "Megumi? Chihiro. On my way!"
Conflicts were always worth tracing; they were the unmistakable hallmark of the Evil One. The most serious in this time frame, though, was an understated tussle between two Great Powers which never actually seemed to flare up into direct violence; they called it the Cold War. Could it be a false lead?
But then she got a buzz from Ann. "Boss?" the brunette angel called. "I'm back at the limit you set, the calendars say 1944. There's a tremendous war going on here! Why, it seems like almost the entire world is caught up in it!"
Jackpot! "Be careful what you say on an open channel," she warned. "But which areas look to be most seriously affected?"
"From what I can see, almost all of Europe. The worst damage seems to be concentrated in Russia and Germany. But there's also some serious fighting and bombardments halfway around the world, in a nation they call Japan. We'd better check both locations out!"
"Received. Ann, you stay where you are to anchor the timelines. Robin, concentrate on Europe and Germany. Delle, scan through Japan with a fine-tooth comb. I'll pop around as necessary to investigate. Watch yourselves; this could be serious!"
Keiichi and Belldandy had an audience. He was aware of it; he had seen Megumi's motorbike parked behind a shrub as he approached the hill. He was sure that Urd and her friends were nearby as well; he was correct. Belldandy had not seemed to notice; not that she would care in the least if the moment were being broadcast worldwide on TV. Well, he cared. Suppose she said, "No"...what then?
"It's such a pretty view. Thank you for taking me here!" Belldandy exclaimed in her silvery soprano voice.
"Are you hungry?" Keiichi asked.
"Well, no more so than usual...but if you are, then I'm ready too! Should I gate home ahead of you so that I can have dinner ready?"
"No, no! Listen, Megumi made dinner for us tonight!" he said as he reached for the basket and the bento boxes within.
"She did? Oh, that was wonderfully thoughtful of her! I'll have to make her a special cake to say, 'Thank you!'"
"Get on with it!" Chihiro growled.
Beside her, the mountainous Toraichi Tamiya had his arm wrapped around his best friend, Otaki. Both were weeping. "Our boy is all grown up, now!" the hulking Tamiya wailed.
"It happened so fast!" Otaki commiserated.
Megumi rolled her eyes. Were these two for real? She felt more in line with Chihiro. Come on and say it, big brother!
Behind her, a young man on a mountain bicycle rode up. "Excuse me," he asked, "but aren't you Keiichi Morisato's sister? I went by the temple but none of them were home. I'm looking for my friend, Skuld!"
And at that point, an ancient Fiat Nuovo drove up. Tiny, mousy Sora Hasegawa stepped from the driver's door. "I came as soon as I heard," she said breathlessly. "Did I miss anything?"
"Not yet!" Chihiro muttered angrily.
The goddesses were clustered a short distance away. Skuld, the youngest and who had just started to blossom as a woman in the past six months, had tears in her eyes. "Oh, sis!"
"Think of it this way: We're not losing a sister, we're gaining a brother!" Urd said cheerfully. This reassured Skuld not at all.
The Valkyrie Lind and her apprentice Chrono craned their necks to observe the proceedings. Behind them stood Peorth, a statuesque and voloptuous goddess nearly a full six feet tall who was barely dressed in a black-and-leather bikini outfit. While most of her jet-black hair was worn in a pageboy cut, a thick lock at the back of her head almost brushed the ground. "I want to see better," she announced to no one in particular. Lifting off the ground, she ascended and then set her feet upon the nearby power line. Much better.
But the proceedings were also being observed by another entity. "Boss, you gotta see this!" said an excited Delle.
"Negative!" she responded. "Telepathy is not secure! We've found that out the hard way!"
"I know," the blonde angel replied laconically. "I'm sending you a text!"
The communicator in the goddess's hand morphed into a smartphone. On the display was a picture...of…!"
"Girls! Converge upon Delle's coordinates! We're at the nexus!"
"If you don't go through with this, I'm taking back that partnership!" Chihiro said through clenched teeth.
But almost as if on cue, Keiichi reached down into the basket and extracted a small box. He closed it into one hand, then took Belldandy's hand with his other. He touched the ring she wore. "Bell," he said hesitantly, "I gave you this ring for Christmas, almost three years ago. I think it's time that I gave you another one to go with it."
"Why, that would be wonderful!" Belldandy exclaimed with innocent enthusiasm. "Is there an occasion?"
"Oh, I certainly hope so," he said. "You see, I've been saving up our money for the past two years. I have enough now for a down payment on a house. It can be all ours, just our own...if you'll share it with me!"
"Well of course I will!" said Belldandy. "You did wish for a goddess like me to stay by your side forever!"
"And that's the best wish I ever made...so far," said Keiichi. "But, like that ring, it's time to make another one to go with it. Belldandy, you know that men and women on Earth live as husbands and wives, sharing their lives together. I've lived with you for three and a half years, longing for you, hoping for you to make me complete. Will you do that for me?"
"I'd love to. What more could I be doing?"
"Belldandy...will you marry me?" He opened the box, revealing the engagement ring.
In her pure innocence, the goddess had never seriously considered anything deeper than the platonic relationship they had shared for the past three years. Oh, she knew all about human marriage, and sexuality, but it always seemed to be something meant for someone else. She realized, now, what he was asking for, and what it meant...and what would be the consequences which she knew but that he could not even begin to be cognizant of at this point. But the two of them had successfully passed through the Judgment Gate a year previously...it meant that Fate must approve of this match. Still, there were so many potential issues to overcome any time Heaven touched Earth...was she truly willing to work through them? And with this man? Could she, ultimately, trust him?
"We're in position, Boss!" Robin called on behalf of herself and Ann. The slim redhead was poised to break through into the scene before them.
"Do NOT make contact!" the leader warned in a voice which brooked no dispute.
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes, Keiichi. I will marry you!"
Keiichi was relieved, but also somewhat taken aback. Weren't girls supposed to be overcome with thrills and excitement and emotion when this question was asked and answered? Belldandy seemed more determined and resolute than anything else. But maybe that was just how goddesses reacted? Maybe it was, in point of fact, a good thing? It certainly was the answer which he had been hoping for!
He placed the engagement ring on her finger. Then he reached for her, intending to seal the pact with a kiss.
"This is it!" Delle cried. "This is it! Now?"
"NO! Stay outside the zone limit! Do NOT make contact!"
"He did it," Chihiro said in wonder. "He actually went and did it!"
On the other side of the hill, Skuld was bawling.
Keiichi and Belldandy embraced; the goddess warm and alive in his arms in a way he had never experienced before. He bent towards her lips to kiss her.
Suddenly there was a tremendous pull. As irresistible as a tidal wave, the surge of energy pulled them apart. "Belldandy!" he cried.
"Did he just chicken out?" exclaimed Chihiro.
"Start the clock!" the mystery goddess cried.
Urd and the other goddesses, watching the tender scene, were slow to recognize the unexpected threat. The combat veteran Lind was first to respond. Materializing her halberd, the Valkyrie advanced upon the mysterious vortex. Chrono and Urd were only a step behind her.
Chihiro and the others had no experience with the mysteries of spiritual conflict. They watched the scene, jaws agape, not understanding.
But Keiichi had seen similar things several times before during his forty-two months with Belldandy. He also knew that this was beyond any power that he had to combat. Still, he desperately struggled against the inexorable force tearing him away from Bell. "Help!" he cried in a loud voice.
Tamiya and Otaki had no experience with the spiritual, either. But both men knew how to handle themselves in a fight, and their friends were calling for help. That was all they needed to know.
She had known. Something like this would happen, she had known. Still, she fought the tide with all the power of a First Class Goddess. "Keiichi!" Belldandy wailed.
It was no use. Despite her struggles, the power of the vortex overwhelmed her. Desperately she fought to maintain contact.
She did not succeed. The vortex closed.
"Move in NOW!" she called to her three compatriots.
He should have felt pain. He should have felt remorse. He should have been overcome with emotion at separation from Belldandy. But, at this moment, the only thought going through Keiichi's mind was, Here we go again.
Around him, his goddess friends were charging from one side while the humans were converging from the other. The latter were looking at the former as if they had never seen them before. Strange; everyone on this hill knew everyone else...didn't they?
But then, towards them from a right angle, came four determined and beautiful ladies. There was a blonde, a brunette, and a redhead; they were led by yet another brunette. Her flowing dark brown hair tumbled down in curls well past her shoulder; her eyes were a piercing blue. "Time...MARK!" she cried.
The silver-haired Valkyrie interposed herself between Keiichi and the newcomers. Brandishing her halberd, Lind cried out, "Identify yourself!"
"Identify myself?" asked the leader. The others drew back as power seemed to flow into her. Then in a stentorian voice which silenced all, she proclaimed: "I am understanding! I have strength! By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice! By me princes rule, and nobles; all the judges of the earth! I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me! I am the Living and Eternal Spirit of Wisdom!"
Then, in a much milder voice, she added, "My friends call me Jessica!"
