Only A Wish Away

by mnementh2000

Two hearts yearn for love and attention. One thinks they have it, the other knows who has their devotion. So close, yet so far, who will help them, and what are the consequences of their actions? Warning, a few spoilers from A!MG and LH.

4. Chapter 4 The Healing Begins The One

A/N: In writing this chapter, I realized that I had provided no time and date reference for the previous chapter, only stating that it was cold out, and decided to rectify that at the beginning of this one. The only things that were known were that Shinobu had already turned eighteen (and her birthdate is listed as November 15 or 16 on Wiki), and that some time had passed since then, as well as the temperature as being cold. This gives a little time reference now.

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Chapter 4 – The Healing Begins / The One Who Supported Him From The Shadows

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oo

Hinata-sou – February 26, 2005

Sempai and Naru-sempai… are no longer together? He was so sad, heart-broken, while on the phone with Granny. He even stayed home from Todai today. He claimed that it was only to call Granny Hina, but I can tell that he hurts too much to go, let alone pay attention to whatever is happening there at the moment. It must be so hard on him; Sempai tried for so long to get together with Naru, his 'promise girl', and finally succeeded. Now, however, the two of them have separated. She was his world, his whole goal in life; even his pursuit of Tokyo University was all to get back to his childhood girl, Naru-sempai. She was his world, and we all supported it, but now that she is not there for him, who will help him, who will support him in his time of need? The others will help Naru, I'm sure, but will he allow us to help him?

Shinobu was worried over Keitaro's state of mind. His words struck deep in her soul, those words of self-doubt that betrayed his feelings of worthlessness that had been beaten into him over the years since his arrival – both verbally and physically. She had come to know him better than probably any other resident of the Hinata-sou, with the exception of maybe Motoko, who had taken more of an interest in the young ex-ronin once she was able to get over her own demons as regards the man. Even Naru didn't know him as well, and she was engaged to him for so long. She knew so much about him, for she made it her business to know him, to know the man behind the clumsy nature. To hear his words that morning, to see him fall to pieces in front of her like that, caused her own heart to ache, to constrict in pain. She wanted to just run to him and throw her arms around him, to tell him that everything would be all right, that she was there for him to hold him and chase away all the self-doubts and all the sorrow. Yet, how could she really help him? Besides, he still looked at her just as he looked at Kanako – as a little sister, even if she was now eighteen.

If only you would see me as an adult, as a woman, Sempai! I'm only seven years younger than you, but since you've known me since I was twelve, I guess it's hard to believe that I've grown up. You'll probably always consider me your little sister.

The young, dark-haired girl sighed quietly to herself, then looked about her at the crowds round about in the shopping district, belatedly remembering that it wasn't a good idea to zone out in the middle of shopping. To do so could invite trouble from those that prey on the unwary, especially young girls not paying attention to their surroundings. There had been a few warnings of late about assaults, and she took them to heart, particularly after Naru and Motoko made her promise to be more attentive and careful, aware of her habit to let her mind wander at the most inopportune times.

Still, I am really worried, so I better call him and make sure he's okay. I can at least do that much, even if I don't reveal that I already know of this news. I only hope that he doesn't think of doing something… drastic.

The thought distressed her so much that she shuddered and rushed to extract her phone from her pocket and began dialing back to the dorms. She had purchased it not too long before, at the insistence of the older girls when they mentioned the disturbing reports on the news about the attacks. She silently thanked Kami-sama for such a fortuitous thing. She finished dialing and put the device to her ear, listening to the ringing as it connected.

"You have reached the Earth Help Line, the beauteous, magical Peorth speaking!" an unknown voice practically sang in her ear, causing the girl to frown and look at her phone in disbelief. Cautiously, she put it back to her ear. "…will be with you in a moment to conclude our business! Please be patient a moment."

With that, the line went dead, the familiar sound of a dial tone buzzing through the speaker. Suddenly, a flash of light burst from the lens of the camera on her phone, startling all those nearby, nearly blinding them. Shinobu almost dropped her phone in her surprise, as a woman emerged from her phone, bathed in the light it emitted from the camera. The woman looked to be in her late twenties to very early thirties, with shoulder-length dark hair, brown eyes, and the most inappropriately revealing garb seen outside of the swimming pools. It consisted of what looked like a black bikini bottom, black crop top, and covered with some sort of strappy, brown, leather-looking thing, the whole of which hid little more than the essentials, and barely even that. The whole ensemble caused her face to violently blush deep red, and she quickly looked to the side in embarrassment. When she did, she saw that the two of them had become the instant center of attention in the shopping district. Seeing this, the chronically shy girl nearly fainted dead away, but the strange woman deftly caught her in surprisingly strong arms.

"Auu, what's going on? Who are you?"

The woman only smiled as she helped her regain her feet.

"Let us find somewhere a little more private to talk, shall we," she offered, looking about. "Here, this way."

The older female laid her hand on Shinobu's back, guiding her away, towards a quiet little shop around the corner, where they sat down in one of the booths in the corner.

"As I stated on the phone, before you pulled it from your ear," and her smile broadened at the younger girl's surprised and suddenly slightly guarded expression, "my name is Peorth. I am a Goddess First Class, Category Two, Unlimited license. I am here to grant you, Maehara Shinobu, a single wish, which the control system in Heaven has decreed you to receive. You have met very stringent criteria to receive this honor."

"Ano, I am n-not the one who sh-should b-be getting a w-wish…" she replied so quietly that the goddess barely heard her, even with her improved hearing.

"Your kind-heartedness, compassion, consideration of others, willingness to help all in need, and self-sacrificing spirit, has all led to your qualifying for this gift."

"B-by those 'q-qualifications' alone, th-that you mentioned, I know of a m-much more qualified individual, and they are extremely unlucky, as well."

"He certainly does, I know; however, it is with you that I am to contract a wish. Someone else will handle his file," and she smiled a knowing smile, eyes twinkling. That smile reminded Shinobu of all her warnings to not trust strangers.

"H-how did y-you know it was a he?"

"Because I can read your thoughts and heart. You are correct, trusting total strangers can be a very bad thing, but I am unable to lie to you, as it is forbidden for First Class Goddesses." Lie, no; twist circumstances to my will – well, that's a different matter altogether!

"What should I wish for?"

"What do you most want in your life?"

'Most want'? What do I want? A family again? My parents divorced, treating like some sort of trophy to be won in the courts. Besides, those at the Hinata-sou are my family, now. I've no need for popularity or money; in fact, I usually prefer not to be noticed by most people – except Sempai. So lost in her thoughts was she, that Shinobu missed the huge grin splitting Peorth's face at that thought. A more mature appearance? No, that would cause as many problems as the previous ideas. What do I really wish for, in my heart? She thought for only a minute more, then: Truthfully, I only have two wishes – one, for the happiness of Sem… no, Keitaro, Keitaro! ; and two, for Keitaro to notice me as a woman and fall in love with me, especially now that he and Naru are no longer a couple.

Once she divined the two wishes that occupied her heart, Shinobu began to agonize over which of the two she should speak.

If I wish for Sempai's happiness, then he will find a girl who will love him and treat him right, which is the selfless decision. However, if I ask for him to notice me and fall in love with me, I am being selfish, thinking only of myself. There is no guarantee that he would be happy with me. I mean, who am I, compared to anyone else? I am a shy, emotional, teenager, who makes decent grades in school, and all I can offer is my love and a few domestic skills.

Peorth watched the teen's face contort through a veritable gauntlet of emotions and expression, listening to the internal debate. Soon, as she was want to do, she became impatient with her client's indecision. The goddess prided herself on not only the quality of her service, but also the speed at which such service was rendered. Belldandy's husband, Keiichi –that loveable, wonderful, irritatingly noncommittal, once human – had seriously tried her patience greatly, with his inability to admit his wishes and heart's desires, let alone do much with his relationship before that unfortunate accident brought about via his youngest sister-in-law.

Ah, Keiichi! You were almost child-like in your innocence at the time, not to mention too easy-going about things. Still, it only made you more attractive when added to your beautiful aura and personality. SIGH!

"You know, you're looking at this the wrong way. Why must the two wishes be mutually exclusive?"

"Huh?" Shinobu snapped back to reality. "Oh, yeah, that's right. You said that you could read thoughts."

She thought a bit longer, while weighing her two wishes against what the strange, indecently clothed woman, stated.

Kami-sama! Please forgive me for this instance of selfishness! She pled to said deity, not noticing the wicked gleam that entered the other woman's eyes.

"I wish that Keitaro-sempai would finally notice me and my feelings for him as a woman, not as a sister, finding happiness in my love for him," she stated firmly and without any trace of hesitation or stuttering. Noticing what she had just said out loud, and the way in which she said it, the homemaker blushed a bright crimson and tried to hide by sinking lower in her booth and lowering her head.

Instantly, markings that the younger woman had overlooked on the goddess's forehead began to glow a bright blue, and a bolt of light not unlike a laser beam shot into the sky, blasting a hole in the roof of the small café. After about ten seconds, the goddess returned her attention to the open-mouthed teen, as the light faded from existence and the markings returned to their original state.

"Your wish has been accepted and approved. Wish granted," she stated formally. "Now, all that is left is for me to cover over my little light show!" Peorth noted as she peered about the eatery, spying the audience she had attracted and the damages incurred.

The Earth Help Line employee began to chant a small incantation, causing everyone to turn away as if in a trance, and then modulated it so that everything was repaired and returned to it's original state. The young client stared at the goddess in open amazement at the display.

"Oh, don't look like that! This is simple child's play. It's usually easier to do this at a person's home, out of the prying eyes of the masses, but with the rising usage of cell phones and more people being out and about more frequently, that's not always a viable option." She sighed. "We end up using more and more power to cover up our presence. Anyway, good luck, and I hope Keitaro notices you soon. You are a wonderful, sweet, girl, much like a certain other goddess that I am acquainted with, and your love seems to be a good man, a good match for you."

With that parting remark, she stood up and walked away, to find another camera to teleport out via. As she walked, she garnered quite a lot of attention – open gawking admiration from the males around her, and angered, scandalized, incredulity from the women, over her state of dress (or undress, as the case may be) and open, flagrant, sexuality. Finding one, she disappeared in a flash of light, to join a particular married couple on another wish-granting, knowing that they had just completed their task.

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oo

Tariki Hongan Temple

"I believe that we will have one or two visitors within the next couple of days. One will be a young man of twenty-five, and the other a young lady of eighteen years of age. The man will be quite down, so please treat him with the utmost kindness; that means none of your pushy ways, Onee-sama, or your outbursts and inventions, Skuld. He is going through a hard time right now, and we invited him for a visit to help him escape from his problems for a short time. He will need much support from us, not pushing devises or potions upon him; just some kindness and support."

Belldandy stared pointedly at her two sisters as she announced the eminent visit, knowing that, although they were better than they used to be, they still tended to get carried away. She then turned her attention to Peorth, who was staying with them for a few weeks.

"That goes double for you, especially with that wish that you granted earlier, while we were taking care of our client. I know that you are visiting, as you do on occasion, but that does not give you license to molest him, appear in his room, or try to push for things to happen faster than they will. A broken heart takes time to heal, even with assistance. Truth be told, he has a hard time around women, even if he is surrounded by them at the dorms. Two of them had… strong… opinions about men, though one has pretty accepted him, and the other was his girlfriend for a time. His girlfriend still exhibits that personality, and it has landed him in more troubles than any other mortal than I have ever seen – quite literally at times. Please be considerate."

"Yes, I agree. While they are here, they are under our protection as guests, and I intend to extend every courtesy to the two of them," Keiichi added.

All agreed to the request and reasons for it, albeit reluctantly on the parts of Peorth and Urd. They were used to getting their ways, no matter what, whatever the means. The woman of the house, not to mention her husband, had severely hampered their movements with the restrictions. Yet, they did agree, and quickly because of the look that Bell had pinned them with, so there wasn't anything that either of them could do. That look, while the married goddess was generally the most loveable, easy-going, being they knew, bespoke of great displeasure if they didn't comply; and a displeased Belldandy was just shy of being as scary as experiencing the displeasure of Kami-sama.

Peoth and Urd went their own way, heading into Nekomi City in search of entertainment, whilst Skuld returned to her room, and whatever invention was currently under development. Sigil and Banpei each studied the photos of the two coming visitors, as Belldandy addressed them.

"Please allow these two people to enter the grounds, and show them all due courtesy. They may arrive together, or the girl may come a short time later; either way, she is to be welcomed as well."

The two robots acknowledged their instructions, and once more looked over the file photos from the Yggdrasil system. Once done, they returned to their patrol of the temple grounds.

The deity couple each begged a small amount of time from their superiors to aid the two people that were due to arrive at any time, though they were uncertain of the exact timing of their arrival. Finally, on the third day after the wish granting, there came a tentative knock at the front door. Keiichi rose from his place in the Tea Room, at the table, where he had been studying the schematics of a new bike that he had been working on. Belldandy's face appeared in the open door of the kitchen as she leaned out while she continued in her work of preparing the noon meal.

"Keiichi, love, that is our guest. Please welcome him and then show him to the table. I will brew some tea for us to offer in welcoming."

The young god smiled at his wife and nodded in acceptance of her directions. He walked down the hall to the front door and pulled it open to find that Keitaro stood there in open amazement at the two robots, one on either side of him. He also was obviously confused, as the child-like Sigil had his bag slung over her shoulder as if it weighed nothing at all.

"Welcome, Keitaro-san," greeted Keiichi, while bowing deeply at the waist. "My wife informed me of her offer to you after we left your dorm, and that you said that you would take her up on her offer for a few days of peace and quiet to do some thinking and soul-searching. Please, enter our humble residence and find the peace and healing that you are seeking."

"Thank you for your kind offer. I humbly remand myself into your care."

Keiichi bowed again, then stepped to the side of the door and gestured the other male in. Keitaro entered into the entryway and sat to remove his shoes, setting them to the side, as the god handed him a pair of house slippers kept for use by guests.

"Kaitaro-san, please make yourself comfortable in our home. If you have need of anything, you have only to ask. Anyway, please follow me, and we can settle your bag in a room, and then my wife begged you join us for tea and lunch afterwards. While here, you are to consider yourself our guest of honor, and under our protection while about the grounds.

"This way, if you will," and he accepted the bag from the humanoid robot.

The dorm owner was led through the hallways to the door of the room that used to belong to Belldandy and set the sack within. He allowed the despondent younger man to peer about the space for several minutes before drawing him to the Tea Room, and the table within.

"Welcome, honored guest," Belldandy said formally, with that smile of hers that would melt the heart of the most jaded person on the planet. "Please join us at our table, and enjoy your stay."

Keitaro fidgeted at the formal greetings that were offered, finally settling for adjusting the glasses that sat upon his nose. He put on a brave face and a small smile, before replying.

"Thank you for your hospitality."

The two hosts could tell, however, that the whole thing was nothing more than a thin façade, meant to placate them. As they eased into a comfortable routine of light conversation, it became apparent to the two deities that he was still in misery, despite the act he put on.

They ate lunch, and once it was finished, they continued to chat, while the hosts began to glance to one another more and more often in growing concern. Their guest seemed to once again be spiraling into the darkness that was growing within him. Wishing to help, Keiichi suggested that the young man might want to relax for a while, either in his room or among the gardens that adorned the temple property. Keitaro opted for the room, and Keiichi led him back to the door to his assigned space. He opened the door, stepped in with him, then closed the door behind them.

"Keitaro, if it is not too forward of me, may I ask what is bothering you, though I may have an idea?"

"Please,… I… I… don't k-know… if I can… say," he replied haltingly. He seemed to think for a bit, during which time Keitaro remained silent, before he appeared to come to a decision, and opened up to the once human. "My fiancée and I… we broke up. I had pursued her for so long, had made a promise with her about fifteen years ago when we were small. Now, it has all fallen apart. I'm not the boy I was back then, and she is not the girl she was all those years ago. When I was made manager of the Hinata-sou, I fell in love with her all over, not even knowing that she was the girl I had been searching for since that fateful day that the promise was made."

Keiichi listened in silence, though he already knew the details through Yggdrasil's files. Sometimes, though, it helped to have a listening ear. Keitaro continued.

"I chased her all over Japan – quite literally, in fact – to tell her how I felt, and to find out her own feelings. Finally, I got the chance to propose, and to my joy, she accepted. We spent the next two, maybe two and a half, years together. Unfortunately, it was all nothing more than a dream, it wasn't meant to be. The way that we both are, there is no possibility of there being an 'us' in that way; and if we did marry, then we would each become miserable in short order. We are friends, now, family even, but as a couple…

"Now, I feel like there is this hole where my heart once beat, that I fall into every time that I turn around, whenever I think of what might have been. I don't know what to do, where to turn, anymore. It feels like the darkness is swallowing my life, and there is nothing that I can do about it. Staying at the dorm was just making it worse; that is why your wife suggested that I come here.

"To tell the truth, I was really surprised," he said, while rubbing the back of his head, with an abrupt change of tone and topic. "When she invited me here, I was thinking that you lived, you know, up there, not in a temple here on Earth."

"That's where Belldandy and her sisters are from," the young god answered, hand on the back of his neck. "To tell the truth, I'm not that comfortable with the idea at the moment. I grew up here on Earth, a relatively normal human child; of course, that was well before the whole wish and then transformation thing – which is quite the story, let me tell you.

"I was offered the opportunity to move there, about twelve years ago now, back when I was first turned into a god, and will have to eventually accept the inevitable, but I just couldn't bring myself to make the transfer at the time."

Keitaro shook his head in disbelief.

"I really appreciate your kind offer to let me stay here for a while. I hope you don't mind, but I left your number with my Aunt Har… sorry, with Haruka-san, in case of any emergencies."

"That is quite all right. It is understandable, what with all of your responsibilities, being the kanrinin. As we said before, make yourself at home, and don't hesitate to ask for anything. Oh, and before I forget, you might wish to knock at the bath room and toilet room doors before entering; Urd and Peorth would not take exception (quite the opposite, most likely), but Skuld most definitely would. You have no idea how much trouble I used to get into when it involved that trio," Keiichi finished, deadpan.

Keitaro chuckled a nervous, knowing, chuckle. "Yes I would. Remember my wish?" Keiichi nodded. "The dorms have an onsen."

The god's eyes widened in horror as he put two and two together, followed soon after by a sympathetic groan.

"Yeah, well, The two older goddesses wouldn't batter you, merely smother you with too much attention. They seriously have little to no self-control, and almost no sense of right or wrong. They don't mean bad, though, I guess."

They both smirked at his descriptions.

"Anyway, I will let you rest some. Please find your peace here."

"Thank you."

Keiichi exited the room and slid the door closed once again. As soon as the partition was closed, he heard the unmistakable sounds of sobbing coming through the thin material. He closed his eyes in sympathy, then left to talk with his wife.

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As soon as the door closed, Keitaro sank to the floor and gave way to the sorrow that he had held in check and hidden. Tears flowed freely as he leaned his back against the wall.

How am I supposed to go on? How do I pick up the shards of my life and carry on with any semblance of normalcy? What is there for me? Sure, I'm Seta's assistant, and go on all sorts of digs with him, am making it through Todai, and am also the kanrinin of the Hinata-sou. I could throw myself wholly into any of those, but that won't help the pain inside. I have lost something that I've held dear for so long, my driving force, something that I need. None of these things can fill the void – mask it momentarily, but not fill it.

Keitaro knew not how long he sat there, like that, nor did he care. He didn't even know when the oblivion of sleep overtook him. But, sleep he did, even if it was fitful and full of disjointed, sad dreams.

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oo

Hinata-sou

"Sempai, breakfast is ready when you are." Only silence answered the young woman's statement. "Sem… Keitaro, are you awake?" Still, silence.

Strange, it's been three days since my wish, and Naru has been telling everyone what has happened. Keitaro-sempai hasn't been out of his room, seen us, or touched the meals I've left him in all that time. He hasn't even said anything to any of us through his door. He normally will say something to us. This isn't like him. I better take a quick look, make sure that he's alright.

Shinobu knocked on the door one more time, just in case, then slid it open a crack to peek inside. If he wanted to be left alone, that was fine, considering the circumstances; but to not acknowledge anyone, that was totally out of character for the caring man.

The state of the room shocked her. His futon had been stowed away neatly, and the rest of the room was neat and clean, too much so. Even the few articles that usually were left about had been put away with care. She glanced around quickly, and soon determined that he had not run away, per se, but an old carry sack and quite a few articles of clothing and his toiletries had been removed and taken. She knew everything that was gone intimately, as she had done his laundry, as well as the other tenants', for the past few years. Once more, she surveyed the empty room, only then noticing the envelope upon his desk, held in place by an old artifact from one of his many expeditions with Seta, like a paper weight of sorts. She lifted it up with trembling hands and opened it, seeing as it had her name written on it.

-To all –

I am pretty sure that it will be you, Shinobu, who finds this letter, as you do so much around the dorm, and looks after me a bit more than the others. First off, let me assure you – and the others by extension – that I have not run away, and I am sorry to leave this way. I just need some time to think. I am not upset at anyone, least of all you, Naru. I know that you told everyone last night, and I am grateful to you for doing that, as I am not sure how I could have, with the way that I am feeling right now.

Anyway, I met a couple the other day that offered to put me up for a bit, and I decided to take them up on their offer. I may be gone for up to two weeks, but I will return by then at the latest. If you need anything, Haruka-san said that she would keep an eye on things in the meantime.

Please understand, I just needed some time away from everything. I could never hate any of you, my extended family, but I hurt too much right now. I will see all of you before long.

Urashima Keitaro-

Shinobu stared at the offending sheet in disbelief. She read it again, before the paralysis that had overtaken her limbs snapped and she bolted from the room. She never before made the distance from that doorway to the dining room in so short a time, startling the others who were assembling therein. She waved the paper to and fro as she tried to stutter out her message.

"S-sem-pai h-has l-l-left! H-he left yest… erday!" she gasped out between breaths, nearly hysterical.

The announcement was met with utter silence and blank, staring faces, before…

"WHAT?!" the others yelled in unison. Once her words had sunk in, their faces registered a mixture of betrayal over his solution, incredulity over the fact that he had skipped out on them once again, and anger and hurt because he was taking everything upon himself as always, not relying on them for support.

It was at this point that Motoko saw the paper crumpled up in the younger girl's hand. Certain that it was important, seeing as Shinobu held it tightly to her chest, she approached and spoke to her.

"Shinobu, please calm down and catch your breath. Between your stammering and trying to breathe, it will be hard to find out anything from you. In fact, why don't you let us see that paper you are holding so tightly, as it would seem to be from our wayward manager, if I read your actions correctly."

The kendoist gently but firmly removed the sheet from the girl's vice-like death grip. As she began reading the letter aloud, Shinobu ran from the room, outside the dorm, and down the steps two at a time. She didn't even pause to change her house slippers for her sneakers.

After recklessly flying down that long dangerous flight of stairs, she turned and slammed through the door of Haruka's tea establishment, even managing to scare the older woman enough to whip her head about and frown in annoyance. The owner took in the sight before her, quickly evaluated the situation, and relaxed with a sigh, closing her eyes a moment.

I knew this was going to happen. Time for another long night of questions. I pretty much guessed that it would be Shinobu-chan who got here first. She's had the most dealings with Keitaro over the last few days. Oh well, better get this over with.

The proprietor stepped away from the wall she was leaning on and gestured for the dark-haired girl to follow. She was led into a private office in the back, where they both took seats.

"Before you start pushing for answers, I will preface it with this: Yes, I know Keitaro has left, as he mentioned in his note; yes, it happened yesterday while everyone else was out and about; no, not even I know when he will return exactly; and finally, no, I don't have any idea where his destination is, though I can contact him in case of emergencies only."

Haruka's spiel drew Shinobu up short. Did this happen often enough for her to already be prepared? She shook those questions away with a violent shake of her head.

Wait! Did she just say that she could contact him?

"How can you get a hold of him? Please, Haruka-san, I must know!"

Knowing that she wouldn't get a moment's peace otherwise, and making a quick decision, she reached over to her desk drawer and removed a folded scrap of paper. On it was only a phone number.

"May I use your phone, Haruka-san, as mine is up in my room at the dorms?"

She nonchalantly waived her hand in the general direction of the device, while taking a drag from her cigarette.

"Thank you for calling the Morisato residence, this is Belldandy speaking. How may I help you?" a beautiful, melodic voice answered after a few rings.

A… a woman, already?! Oh, please no! Keitaro-sempai…

"Anooo… um… uh… is… is there an Ur-Urashima Keitaro… there, by any chance?"

"Hai," she answered cheerily. "Shall I get him for you? I believe that he is asleep at the moment, but I can go wake him if need be."

"No, no! That's alright! Only,… can I ask,… where are you located?"

"Nekomi City, just a short ways south of Tokyo. Our residence is at the Tariki Hongan Temple," she readily supplied. "May I ask why you wish to know, Maehara-san?"

The teenager didn't even register the fact that the woman on the other end of the line had used her name, without her supplying it, such was her relief at finding the love of her life.

"Would it… would you be too terribly put out if I… join him… there?" If they are together, then she will not agree to this. If she does, there is still a chance…

"Space would be a little tight, and you may have to share a room with him. Would that be a problem?"

S-s-share a r-room with Keitaro-sempai?! Aauuu…

Shinobu's face burned at the news, as she suddenly got the most vivid images of her Sempai and her getting intimate…

NO! Stop it, Shinobu. Get a hold of yourself!

"N-no, that should be f-fine. Just, please don't tell him? I wish it to be a surprise."

"Hai! That would be fine. We look forward to seeing you."

The girl replaced the receiver, almost as if in a daze, before it hit her.

How did she know my name? I never gave it to her!

A hand on her shoulder roused her from her thoughts.

"Go. He needs someone right now, and you have loved him for far longer than the others, with the exception of Naru and Mutsumi, through many hardships. He needs you, and I can tell what he means to you. You have my blessings. I will attempt to stall the others for as long as I can."

"Thank you, Haruka-san!"

With that, she rushed from the Tea House, with Haruka following outside at a leisurely clip, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

Please help my cousin, Shinobu-chan. Bring life back to him, a smile back to his life. I didn't like his look over the last few days… no, weeks, and the look yesterday was the worst. I am worried for him. She watched as the homemaker crested the hill and disappeared, followed almost immediately by the appearance of the others at the top, who paused and looked at their companion's retreating back. Maybe this will heal you, too.

With that, she turned and reentered her shop as if not seeing the females descending the steps towards her establishment. She went back to her counter, leaning over it as if she had not a care in the world, and began formulating plans for the incoming madness that was the tenants of her nephew's dorm.

---

Shinobu was moving without thinking. Using her friend, Su's, computer terminal, she quickly found the location of the temple named, as well as the city, and the fastest way to get there. She booked passage on the next available train that she could catch, then ran back to her room to pack. There was no time for second thoughts, no time for questions; no, this was the time for actions, for her to do what needed to be done. She had to get to this Tariki Hongan Temple right away, before anyone else.

Throwing only the bare necessities for several nights' stay into her suitcase, she peeked out of her room. Hearing nobody (as they were probably still down at Haruka's pumping her for information) – Thank you again, Haruka-san! – she rushed to the front door to don her sneakers. She had just opened the front door, when she was knocked off her feet, a pair of arms engulfing her.

"I knew it, Shinomu-chan. Good Luck-luck!"

She placed a name to the voice and way of speaking.

"Thanks Su-chan, but I gotta go to catch my train!"

"Hurry up and brings him backs, okays."

"I will. It may still be a bit, but I will definitely bring him back."

With that parting promise, she was off for the station.

---

oo

Tariki Hongan Temple

"Who was that, Belldandy?"

"Our second wayward soul! She should arrive before the end of the day. Teehee! Isn't it so sweet?"

Her husband walked up to her and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her into his embrace, enjoying the intimate moment.

"It is, indeed. I only hope that she can reach him, and in time. He is a good man, a generous one, and it pains me to be witness to the anguish he is suffering. If she is the person that I've heard about, even half the person, then she will be good for him. Hopefully she can reach him in time, as he has refused all of our help. That darkness is threatening to swallow him whole, and soon."

With a worried sigh, he embraced his wife tighter. After a minute of standing in that position, Belldandy turned in her love's arms, and, with a little cry of sadness at the situation, returned the hug, needing the close contact of her husband's comfort and support.

---

It was full dark out when Keitaro finally swam up through the haze of pain and tear-induced slumber. He slowly became cognizant of this fact, as well as the faint light filtering through the thin paper panes of the door. He recalled falling to the floor, breaking down, just after that aperture closed. He remembered leaning against the wall, as memories flooded to the surface of the ocean of his mind – his playing in that sandbox with Mu-chan and Na-chan, the fateful promise, all the years of jeering and teasing over his dedication to a girl he couldn't remember, his first day arriving at the Hinata-sou, life with the girls – painful and upsetting at first, and fun and happy later on – his relationship with Naru, finding out she was his 'promise girl', and then… He saw instances of his accidents, followed soon after by punishments to the cries of "Pervert!", her reactions at first, and then later as their feelings grew and evolved over time, even if she couldn't admit them. All this culminated with him confessing, then chasing her all over Japan to find out her feelings, only for her to shout them out to the Heavens above. Then he thought back to a few months prior, when the two of them realized that things weren't quite as they had expected.

Then, the pain began anew, as he thought of that soul-wrenching night that they sat in her room, clutching at each other in a vain attempt at denial of the truth that lay as plain as could be before them, as they bared their hearts to one another, and came to the inevitable conclusion: they should separate as a couple, go their separate ways. He remembered the chasm that opened in his soul that night, as he slowly died inside at that moment. Since then, he had only been going through the motions of life, but inside… He found no joy in anything after that point, held no ambitions, had no drive or desire to do anything.

Throughout all this, three images were seared into his mind, and dominated everything else: the image of Naru and him in that sandbox making that promise, the look of joy on her face as she smiled, and finally, the look of heartbreak and despair that night.

There was a soft, gentle touch at his cheek, as a hand lightly passed over it, then brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. It came back and gingerly wiped away the tears that he hadn't even felt falling from his eyes. He felt this, but thought it only a figment of his broken memories.

"Na-ru…" he whispered, and squeezed his eyes against the pain. The hand paused, stiffened, and then relaxed, resuming it's gentle ministrations. It felt like an eternity that he lay there, that loving caress against his face, before he chanced opening his red-rimmed eyes.

He became aware that his head lay upon a soft surface, then recognized it as someone's lap, and concluded that the ministrations were real, and that he was no longer alone in his room. He shot up to a sitting position, and tried to focus his attention on the person in the room with him; however, the shadows were too deep, the light filtering through the panes, too diffuse, and his glasses were nowhere to be located. He could tell that it was a girl, and that her hair had been pulled back into a pony-tail held in place high on the back of her head.

"Wh-who are you? Why a-are y-you…"

She silenced his questions without a word, putting her hand to his mouth. She moved next to him without speaking, drawing him close and laying his head on her shoulder, holding him tightly. He was allowed to weep anew, hopefully tears of healing, as he was held within that dark room.

Not a word was spoken, and yet volumes had been said, as she supported him during his time of need, taking in his pain, and returning love and companionship, acceptance of all he was and ever would be. Her hand moved in the darkness to the back of his head, drawing it tighter to her, determined to show him the depths of her devotion to his happiness and well-being, her devotion to him.

Keitaro eventually lifted his face to meet hers in an attempt to divine her identity, only to meet her lips pressing to his – hesitantly at first, then more firmly after the initial contact. He felt himself melting into that contact, the need and desires burning in them both.

However, as much as he wished to lose himself in that moment, he reluctantly pulled back, unable to continue.

"I-I c-can't. Not right now. I-I'm sorry, but, please…"he begged. "I would love to, b-but…"

"Shhh. I understand. I have waited this long, I can wait a little longer – as long as it is me," she replied in a whisper, her breath ghosting across his lips as they sat a mere inch apart. So soft was her voice, so full of emotions, he still could not make out who sat across from him in the darkness.

"Please forgive me, but who are you? I cannot see you, and you are speaking too quietly for me to distinguish your voice."

"'I could never think the worst of you, even when you lied to me about getting into Todai. I have loved you for so long.' Do you recognize that, Keitaro-kun?" she asked him, still in a whisper, stumbling over the name and honorific that were still foreign to her.

He was certain that he had heard those words before, whispered in a similar fashion. He wracked his brain to match words-to-time-to-face. He sat for several minutes, searching, hunting. Finally, a flash of an image came to him, and he knew who was with him.

"Sh-Shinobu-…chan?!"

"Yes! I knew you would remember!" she whispered earnestly, not wanting to break the mood, the quiet. "I admit, at first I only had a childish crush on you, but as we got to know each other, spending our lives under the same roof, watching how you treat everyone – including me – I finally realized that, even with all that had happened, I had to be honest with myself: I love you, Urashima Keitaro! I don't know when the crush became so much more, nor how it happened, but it did. However, you were pining after Naru-sempai, and I was much too young.

"And then the news came. I don't want to push you away, Keitaro-kun, but I want to be the one that you turn to, the one to comfort and support you, to provide you with the strength you need – just as you have done for me so many times before. For so long I have stood in the shadows, my own heart breaking every time I saw you hurting, in pain. Now, finally, I want to step into the light, to be the one to lift you up, to bring you joy again, to help you smile and live again."

As she spoke, her voice broke, and the kanrinin could see the tears glistening in the pale light that found purchase in the darkened room, on her face and in her eyes. He could hear the conviction that the young… woman, before him kept hidden away, the quiet strength that had kept her going through all the trials that had befallen her in her life. He felt the emotions that she normally kept hidden away, bottled up, so that she could deal with the fat that he had loved Naru, and couldn't return her feelings before. It was as if a wall had been violently smashed, and all that pent up emotion surged forth like a river breaking through a dam.

"I'm sorry, Shinobu-chan, so sorry. I didn't know. I remember, now, what you told me back there on the roof of the Hinata-sou. It shocked me so much at the time, but then I didn't really think about it afterwards, as I was so focused on Naru." At the mention of her name, his chest constricted threateningly, but he forced himself to continue. "Afterwards, I… just didn't want to think about anything at all; it hurt too much. Please forgive me, Shinobu-chan."

He averted his face, to ashamed of his own weaknesses and actions to look at her. Her hand was suddenly on his cheek, turning his face back to her.

"There is nothing to forgive, Keitaro-kun. I understand. All that I ask is that you think of me if and when you are ready to move on. I don't want it to be a rebound relationship, but one truly of love. I know my feelings for you, as do you. As I said, I've waited this long, I can wait a little longer."

The moment was broken by a quiet knocking at the door. Shinobu stood an answered it, opening it a few inches to speak with whoever was on the other side. The voice announced that dinner would be ready in ten minutes, and the teen acknowledged, saying that they would be there shortly. She then closed the door again and moved to the light switch and flipped it on.

Keitaro surveyed the newly illuminated room, noticing a second bag sat next to his own.

"Are… you planning on staying, as well?"

"I am," she stated firmly. "I plan on being right beside you every step of the way. I do not want to see you slip back into that darkness, not if I can help in any way."

"Um… where are… you planning on… um… sleeping, by the way?"

"I will be staying in here, to be able to help. Don't worry, I am not planning on doing anything; besides, the Morisatos provided a second futon for me. I may want and yearn to be your girlfriend, and so much more, but I am capable of showing self-restraint and modesty, and recognizing when the time is not right for something."

He relaxed a bit, then announced that he was going to freshen up before dinner.

"Just a moment. I know your track record, and we don't need you walking in on our hosts," she cautioned with a bit of a smirk to cut any hard feelings from the warning. "Let me check on any potential occupants of the washroom while you grab a change of clothes and anything else you would require."

With a warm smile, she left him alone in the room to go about his business. He could hear her padding away from the door and down the hall. A minute later, Shinobu returned, as he was extracting his razor and a change of clothes from his bag. She informed him that the washroom was currently empty, he thanked her, and then left the room himself, making his way to the required room.

Keitaro began by shaving, then followed up by washing so that he was presentable for the dinner table, not wishing to embarrass himself or offend his hosts any more than was necessary. He finished up by changing into the fresh clothes that he had brought with him. Judging himself at least presentable, He opened the door to step out, and promptly caught his foot on something, plummeting forward. Reaching out, he somehow managed to find his hand holding him back by means of the door frame – and just in time, he noticed.

In front of the kanrinin stood a tall, statuesque woman with bronze skin, white, flowing hair, a beautiful figure, eyes like amethysts, and markings on her face similar to those of his hosts. These markings, though, were a set of triangles, one upside-down on her forehead and one on each cheek. She wore a long purple dress that reached to her ankles, yet barely concealed much of anything, as it was slit up her thigh on one side to her hips, and plunged down her front to her stomach, revealing her ample cleavage for all the world to admire.

It was this very area of her person that his face stopped mere inches from impacting, against all expectations when he is involved. Keitaro realized this fact, blushed, and let instinct take over. Jumping backwards and waving his hands in front of him, he began to apologize profusely for the incident, still surprised that he had captured the frame of the doorway, rather than falling face-first into the woman's chest. The white-haired woman in front of him smirked seductively and ran the back of her fingers over the side of his face, purring out:

"If you really wanted something, all you had to do was ask. I'm sure we could have come to an… understanding."

Is this lady related to Kitsune?! Keitaro wondered, smelling the sake on her as she began to lean in closer. I swear, she is acting just like her. Oh, Kami! Please don't tell me that she is planning something like Kitsune does. I'm dead, I'm de…

"Onee-sama!" a disapproving voice rang out, stopping the woman in her tracks, as well as freezing Keitaro's blood in it's tone. She felt a cold shiver ripple down her spine before she slowly turned to look at the speaker. "Remember what I told you?" She nodded mechanically in response, too afraid to speak at the moment. Then, Belldandy's icy tone turned warm and inviting the very next breath. "Please honor your promise, Onee-sama."

The offending sibling nodded again, shook herself, stood up and continued on towards the dining table. In a bit of disobedience, when she drew next to Belldandy, she stopped and winked at the young man over her shoulder, after which she quickly disappeared around the corner.

"Si… sis… ter?"

"Yes, that was my oldest sister, Urd. She and my younger sister, Skuld, arrived home from their stint in Heaven, in Yggdrasil's control center. That's why you haven't met them yet. I do apologize for Onee-sama's actions, Urashima-san, Shinobu-san. She can be… impossible... at times."

The goddess's words caused the manager of the Hinata-sou to slew about, finding Shinobu standing at the other end of the hall, stock still, fists clenched at her sides. This was a side of the teen that Keitaro had never really seen before – hints, yes, but not to this extent.

"Shinobu-… chan?"

With an effort, she calmed down before answering him.

"It's okay sem… Keitaro-kun. I just saw how… how she was acting, and the first thing… I thought of was Kitsune's tricks, and I got a little… upset," she replied, a hint of her old self creeping in.

"Please don't be mad at Urd. Heehee! You should have seen what she did to my Keiichi-san before we married, all in an effort to 'help' us along. Sometimes I still marvel at the fact that he didn't die of embarrassment." Again, she called upon the power of her disarming smile to defuse the situation. "I came to tell you that dinner is on the table if you feel up to joining us."

She turned and retraced her path, the flowing dress that she wore swirling about her. As she retreated back down the hallway, she hummed merrily to herself. Keitaro heard a sigh at his back as a delicate hand twined with his. He turned in surprise to see Shinobu next to him with a rueful smile gracing her lips.

"Ano. Come on, Keitaro-kun. I know that I am hungry, and I am betting that you are, as well. Let us join our generous hosts, shall we?"

I've never seen Shinobu-chan acting like this before, he thought in wonderment, still blushing at their contact. Normally she's much too timid and shy to be like this, except when she gets mad, or is cooking and directing others. She's blushing constantly, but her confidence has shot up drastically over the last few weeks. Well, to be honest, I guess it started really showing months ago, especially that night that she went off on Naru and Motoko. It's amazing, really. I remember when she would blush fiercely and run away, or just as often faint, if I just spoke to her in greeting. Now, her stuttering has almost all but disappeared, she rushed here on her own, she's holding my hand openly, telling off others for their actions, and more. Heh, she's really grown up while I wasn't paying attention. Shinobu would really make a lucky guy a wonderful girlfriend. I guess I was too focused on Naru to notice that she is no longer the little girl I met five years ago, but a beautiful young woman.

Still, I'm not yet ready to just jump into another relationship right now. Heck, I only really broke up with Naru a few days ago. One day, maybe, but in the meantime, I'm just not ready. Anyway, we better move; our hosts are waiting on us.

With a sigh he looked to his dark-haired companion.

"Shall we join them, Shinobu-chan?" he inquired with a sad smile.

She beamed at him as they followed the others to the Tea Room, hoping that her bright smile would cheer him at least somewhat. By now, after studying him for so long, she could read her manager and love's body language, and could tell that he was putting up a brave front for her benefit.

They entered the room, and were surprised by the sight before them. Upon the table was spread a veritable feast, more than was needed to feed the assembled group. Belldandy must have been busy all day to cook all of this, was the thought that passed through both guests. Then Keitaro remembered that the group that they stood among were all divine beings – a fact accentuated by the sight of the woman who he had nearly fell into earlier seemingly laying upon thin air, floating a couple of feet above the ground.

There was a small gasp at his side, and Keitaro realized that Shinobu hadn't known that the whole household was made up of goddesses and one god.

They're gods and goddesses, too, like Peorth?! And why is Keitaro-sempai so calm about this? Doesn't he know that… or, maybe he does? Does he know what they are? Perhaps he does, since he met them before.

"Indeed he does, Shinobu-chan. He knows who and what we are. I apologize for not rightly introducing ourselves when you first arrived. Allow me to correct that oversight," Keiichi said while rubbing the back of his head. "I am Morisato Keiichi, a human made into a god almost sixteen years ago. Chronologically, I am thirty-five. Belldandy is the Norse Goddess of the Present, and the woman who granted my wish nineteen years ago. This is Urd, her older sister, and Goddess of the Past," - "Hello there, kiddies! 3" – "and this is her younger sister, Skuld, Goddess of the Future. That day, you both met Peorth, a family friend and fellow goddess. There is also a cat running around someplace by the name of Welsper, who is actually a demon cursed to remain in cat form (Don't ask! Long story!)."

"He… had a… wish…?"

"Yes, he did, just as you did. Same day and time, actually. Now, just so that you know, under normal circumstances, once the contract is complete, the client – you two – would never see us again. Where our family is concerned, though, things are anything but 'normal'. We try to live low-profile lives most of the time, but because of who we are, when cases such as yours come along, we kind of can't help but try to assist as much as possible. This is the first time that we have revealed that we live here on Earth, at this temple, actually."

Keitaro smiled to the two humans, who stared to each other, attempting to absorb his words. Suddenly, two stomachs loudly proclaimed their impatience for sustenance, and the assembled beings broke into laughter, as the two mortals looked down in embarrassment.

"Come on, no need for embarrassment! Sit down, let's eat. Truth be told, I'm as famished as you are."

They found seats, with the regular inhabitants moving to make room for them. The assembled beings intoned the traditional "Itadakimasu!", before digging into the feast laid before them.

"This is incredible," the two humans exclaimed, causing Belldandy to smile broadly at the praise.

"Indeed, love! As I have been telling you for years, you are a wonderful cook," Keiichi agreed.

"Keiichi," Skuld began in a monotone. "You always compliment Onee-sama."

"That's because I appreciate her and honestly mean every word of it. Don't you agree, as well?"

"Oh, I agree with you; it's just that I've heard you tell her that every meal since the day I first met you."

"Actually, Skuld, I'm really grateful for his praise. It shows that my efforts are genuinely appreciated, that he is satisfied with what I try to do for him."

"You two are hopeless!" she loudly proclaimed, but the sting was negated by the huge grin that split her face, followed by a growing coloring of her cheeks, then her attempts to hide it.

"Eeeehhh? Thinking of Sentaro, Skuld? 3" came the singsong, teasing, voice of Urd, with a wicked grin of her own. "So, have you cooked for him yet? What have you done to get him to 'praise' you?" she asked, while raising her eyebrow suggestively.

"Shut up!" shouted the madly blushing form of Skuld.

A collective sigh escaped those around the table who knew of the banter that was about to ensue, though they also knew that the two sisters loved each other deeply. Soon, the air was filled with shouts and magic blasts from the now-all-too-familiar bout of sibling 'love'.

---

In short order, the ample dinner was reduced to a stack of empty, dirty, dishes, which the middle goddess began to clear with quick, quiet, efficiency.

"Please allow me to lend a hand," Shinobu hurried to offer, standing and collecting dirty flatware and glasses.

"I've got it taken care of," admonished Belldandy. "You are our guest."

"I just don't feel right leaving all this to only you. Besides, if I'm helping out, I can at least repay a little bit of your kindness and generosity to me." She then turned shy, looking down slightly, and began to drag her toes across the floor. "And… um… I was wondering if… you would, possibly,… um… possibly teach m-me to cook like you?" she finally finished in a quiet rush.

"I would love to teach you! Perhaps we can try some of your cooking tomorrow. I have read about your skills in our records that we have, and heard about you from Keitaro-san. I would love for you to assist me in making dinner tomorrow," she beamed.

"Certainly!" the teen instantly answered without hesitation.

They finished clearing the table and set about doing the dishes, when a thought occurred to Shinobu.

"Ano, if you don't mind me asking, why don't you use your powers to do the dishes? It would go much faster, and use less effort."

"That is true, but I found that doing things this way is more satisfying. Besides, this is calming to me, doing this. When I cook a meal for everyone, I put all my love into it, with the hope of hearing that everyone – especially my Keiichi-san – enjoyed it. I enjoy the time I spend in here, as it's quiet and I can just sit and think about things at my own pace. Then, afterwards, yes it can be a little tedious at times, but I prefer doing the dishes this way as well, as they then know that we are thankful to them for doing their part, when we take the time to lovingly wash and dry them."

They continued on at that point, with Belldandy humming happily as she went about her task, Shinobu right beside her.

---

Keitaro found his way outside and into one of the gardens that dotted the grounds. A cold breeze blew through, chilling him, and he pulled the coat he wore tighter about himself, his hands buried in the pockets of same outerwear. His breath came out as wisps of vapor as he strolled. The young manager was at a loss over what to do. He had his schooling to worry about, his work with Seta, his responsibilities to the Hinata-sou – both as the resident repairman and kanrinin – as well as his responsibilities to and protection of the tenants under his care. The problem was, his failed relationship with his 'promise girl', Naru, was throwing quite the wrench in the works. He couldn't think straight, couldn't study, couldn't perform his duties correctly, heck, he couldn't even function right half of the time. He would space out at the worst times, wasn't sleeping at night more than a couple restless hours, and his clumsiness had gotten worse. He would cry himself to sleep, sleep fitfully for a while, then wake up and be unable to find his way back to that welcomed respite.

By the time that he became aware of his surroundings again, he had made it back to the porch of the house. He sat down on it's edge and stared off into the blackness of the cold night sky. The troubled young man still had no answers to his problems.

To complicate matters, although he and Naru had only been split a couple of days (as far as the other girls were concerned, anyway; a couple weeks in actual fact), Shinobu had already found him and put forth her bid for his attentions. He expected the lot of the girls to arrive en masse to try to bring him back, but only she had arrived; the others wouldn't be far behind, though, if she found him so fast. What truly surprised him was how forward she had been, and how she had lost most of her stuttering, timid, ways. It was as if a whole new personality had broken out of the cocoon that she had been, a metamorphosis into the beautiful, wonderful, person who had found him. Not that she was anything but all that before; but now it was all housed in a very adult body, one that she knew was attractive and that she knew was no longer underage, as far as society in general was concerned. Yes, under Japanese law, they could have had a relationship once she turned thirteen and marry with her parents' approval at the age of sixteen, but that was still frowned upon in this day and age, as well as the other tenants would have beat him to a bloody pulp if he had tried anything with the diminutive homemaker anytime before. Heck, if he tried now, they still might.

Now that he thought about it, she may not be the last. At various points in time, each and every girl had confessed her feelings for him, with the exception of Haruka – thankfully. Even his own adopted sister had been trying for years to get his attentions lavished upon herself, citing the fact that they were not blood related as a legal loophole to the whole incest thing, much to his chagrin.

Ah, man, why me?! Why do these things always happen to me, of all people? At least my wish seems to be working. My natural clumsiness hasn't hit more than once or twice today, and then the problems were avoided. Thankfully, nothing happened.

Keitaro remained where he was, unaware of the various worried sets of eyes that watched his silent introspection from a variety of windows and slightly opened doors. One pair lingered the longest, a pair of beautiful, large, blue orbs, and seemed to feel the effects of his pain the most. Slowly, they slid away to move off to the owner's room, though they vowed to keep checking on him, to keep him close, and, if at all possible, help remove that pain from his heart.

About an hour later, Keitaro absently entered the house and made his way to the room that he and Shinobu were sharing. The old place was completely silent as he maneuvered the halls. He cracked open the door a fraction and spied the body in one of the futons, with his own a few feet away. Fully entering the room, he gathered his nightwear and adjourned to the washroom to change. He returned to the room and cautiously slid into his bed, careful not to rouse the beautiful teenager a few feet away.

In the darkness of the room, the tears once more fell unbidden, memories of times past plaguing him. He curled himself tightly and let the feelings wash over him, wishing to be swept away, for the flood of pain and sorrow to carry his soul into the waiting oblivion. He felt himself slipping into that abyss within his heart, and he didn't fight this time. He wasn't at the Hinata-sou, now, and didn't have the responsibilities holding him back anymore. He could give in and let himself slip away without fear of his responsibilities being affected. He could give himself wholly to his grief, let it overtake him. With a sense of release, he gave in to the sorrow, pain, and memories of the last few years.

Keitaro was lost to the world around him; thus he failed to notice as the young woman who was his roommate rose from her own futon and approached his. She lifted the edge of it and slipped inside, wrapping her arm over him, and conforming her body to his protectively. She buried her face into his back, as she felt his sobs wracking his body.

"I will always be here for you, Keitaro, watching over you. I won't let anything happen to you, for as much as it's in my power to prevent it. I have loved you for so long, and promise to do so for the rest of my life. I only wish that you could return that love, but I know that it is too early to hope for that," she whispered into his back, not knowing if he would hear her or not in his current state.

Some time after he had cried himself out and fallen into slumber, she herself drifted off.

---

Five days had passed, and Keitaro had seemed to improve a bit. He no longer moped about all day, though he was prone to long periods of silent introspection. Usually, these times were brought on as something caught his attention, and his eyes would lose focus as some particular memory or other made itself known. He even showed a few genuine smiles over the last two days, much to the relief of his hosts, and the elation of Shinobu – especially as two of those smiles were for her alone.

The morning after that first night after Shinobu arrived had proven to be quite the shock for the young man. He awoke to the feeling of someone else in bed with him – a feeling that he had not had in some time – and it wasn't the vice-like grip of the dorm's resident genius that accompanied that revelation. It had taken a minute for his sleep-addled brain to register this fact, before he rocketed out of his bed, staring about wildly for the impending beating, cowering in the corner. He was certain that an attack was eminent, for the sin of waking up with a girl in his futon with him – and even more so when it sank in just who said girl was.

Shinobu had been awakened by his alarmed cry and subsequent wild flight from the bed, and was raising herself to her elbows, staring about blearily, not fully roused.

"Huh? I-is everything alright, Keitaro-kun?" she inquired in a cute, slurred way, not realizing just which honorific she had used.

"W-w-w-why a-are you in m-m-m-my b-b-bed, Shinubu-chan?! Are y-you trying to get m-me k-k-killed?"

Waking up fully and remembering the events of the previous evening, she sat up and wrapped the blankets about her shoulders against the frigid morning.

"I heard you last night and came over to offer some comfort. I really do not like to see or hear you like that, so I had to do something. I guess I fell asleep with you there. I'm sorry to startle you, Keitaro-sempai."

He had awoke each day since with that same feeling – a person wrapping his body in their arms, enveloping him protectively. That warmth and sense of security and care was comforting, not to mention that it chased away the loneliness and despair.

This morning, the sixth day of their stay, the pair woke to the sounds of muffled singing. Even muffled as it was, they could tell how beautiful it was, and that there were both male and female singers. They dressed quickly, Keitaro using the washroom, and left the house to find the source of the sound.

Outside, the two were floored by the spectacle that met them. Belldandy, Keiichi, Urd, and Skuld, were arrayed about a glowing circle upon the ground, with a winged being a piece protruding from their backs. As the combined divine beings and their winged companions sang, a feeling of peace and tranquility suffused Keitaro's being, and the hole that tore through his soul didn't feel so all-encompassing, as bottomless as before. He could see past it, to a hopeful future. As the song progressed and lifted, so too did his heart, and he felt his worries ease, if only enough to bear.

The song finally ended, and the two mortals released breaths they hadn't even realized they had been holding. As they watched, the glowing circles and sigils that had adorned the ground beneath the deities began to dissipate. For the first time, they noticed a tree in the middle of that glowing pattern, which they realized had just been black and lifeless. Now, despite the winter chill and the fact that all of the trees were bare of foliage, it somehow felt changed, full of life.

The assembled vocalists began to filter away when Keitaro stopped Keiichi.

"What was that just now? What was everyone doing?" he asked breathlessly.

"Heh, you saw? Well, as you know, we are all gods or goddesses." They nodded. "The thing is, we each have an angel within us – a partner to aid us – who is a reflection of our soul. The name of mine," and a majestic winged being emerged once more, "is Hope's Assurance. Belldandy has Holy Bell, Urd, World of Elegance, and Skuld is blessed with Noble Scarlet. What we were doing is singing a song of healing, restoration, and renewal, and our angels help with that by providing a way to control the vast energies that we were imbuing the song with. It was very ill, but was not yet ready to die, so we aided it in it's healing. I would say that the song had a secondary effect on you, as well, Keitaro, looking at your aura. It appears to have been beneficial to your healing, too."

"Yes. For the first time in weeks I can think clearly. The loss and sorrow don't threaten to drown me at the moment. While you were all singing, everything seemed to clear up, for a bit at least, and it all seemed to melt away. For that moment of peace alone, I thank you."

There was a soft touch on his arm – light, warm, questioning. Turning, the kanrinin met the clear blue eyes of his stoic companion of the last week. Shinobu's eyes were pleading, yet happy for his apparent upturn.

"Shinobu-chan, you have suffered so much over the last week because of me and my selfishness." He held his hand over her mouth to halt her interruption. "I have selfishly wallowed in my own despair over my loss of… Naru,… my 'promise girl'." His voice hitched little, and a pained expression crossed his face momentarily. "But you have stayed by my side constantly, through it all, this whole time, watching over me as if my personal angel," and he got a mischievous grin, "or goddess." He looked to Keiichi to see him smile at that remark appreciatively. "You have selflessly watched out for my welfare, and held the deepest darkness at bay with your love and caring – not letting me slip away as I so wished to do. I could never show you enough how much your devotion and self-sacrifice mean to me, how much I value them. If not for you, I don't know where I would be right now.

"What I am trying to say is… is…" and his voice faltered, his courage slipping, much as it did at the Hinata when he had something important to say that pertained to his feelings and emotions. "What I want to say… is… that I think… no, I know, that… I like you; I like you a lot!"

Shinobu stood in front of him, stunned. It was so sudden, yet it was the one thing that she had yearned to hear from him for five long years – hoped to hear, but never thought she would since he had fallen so hard for Naru. Now, he was confessing feelings for her, the girl who rarely spoke up, who rarely put herself forward, who – even now – had a hard time expressing her thoughts and emotions. Her heart skipped a beat or two, her mind swam.

D-does he… really mean it? Did he really… just say what I think he did? Please tell me that I'm hearing correctly!

"Kei… taro, did you mean what you… just said?"

"Yes, Shinobu-chan, I did. You have been my staunchest defender and constant companion over these last five years, whether I noticed it or not at the time, lending me your strength and support from the background. I didn't see it for so long, and then when I did, I tried to deny it so that I could focus on Naru, or keep her and Motoko from 'punishing' me, so as not to worry you. You of all people know their tempers and refusal to listen to reason when they get riled up, though Motoko hasn't sent me flying for some time now. But, there you were these last couple of years, prodding me forward, while at the same time lifting me up when I fell. You have shown me more devotion and compassion than I rightfully deserve, and for that, I can only say thank you, which doesn't fully express my gratitude to you."

"No, Urashima-san, it is we who must thank you, and apologize most deeply for our actions and blindness."

The voice froze Keitaro more completely than the ambient temperature of the snow-covered morning ever could. He cringed at the thought of the attacks that were sure to come, the ones he had feared since he left the dorms a week ago, not really hearing the words spoken after the voice registered in his mind.

When no attack was forthcoming, he cautiously opened his right eye and turned around to face the speaker, visibly shaking with the effort to calm his fearful mind. Before him stood arrayed the residents of the dorm that he managed. Motoko and Naru stood front and center – Naru looking about nervously and a bit sadly, Motoko staring him directly in the eye with the softest expression that he had ever seen on her face. Su was next to Motoko, bouncing on her heels, a ridiculous smile plastered on her face (Nothing new there, his mind idly interjected). Mutsumi was beside Naru, hands clasping at her chest, with a bright yet somehow sad smile on her lips. Sarah was next to her, also peering anywhere but at him, shame evident in her looks. Haruka, his aunt/cousin, brought up the rear, cigarette hanging from her mouth, though unlit, and her trademark blank expression giving nothing away of her thoughts.

Shinobu moved next to Keitaro, wrapping her arms tightly around his upper arm, displaying her determination to protect and be with him. Motoko's and Naru's faces darkened briefly at the display, then returned to more neutral looks.

"Urashima-san – Keitaro – we have wrongfully treated you for far too long. You have only ever tried to be a gentleman, a friend, and a brother to us, despite your clumsy nature. I know, upon careful reflection, the truth of the matter. Despite all of the punishment we have inflicted upon you, you have always returned with open arms and an open, forgiving, heart. You have never spoken to us in hate, nor truly in anger, even when such would have been deserving. You have never once blamed anything on us, when in actuality, most of the blame lay at our feet, due to our blindness, our insecurities, our baseless fears and hatred.

"To the contrary, you have always taken the blame upon your own shoulders, and instead of punishing us or evicting us as we would have so rightly deserved, you kept us all together, forged a stronger family out of us. You became the adhesive that binds us, the support that held us up in our times of need, the one person who we all came to depend on – more than depend on: love – more than anyone else. Yes, Keitaro, we all love you. You have become important to each and every one of us."

At this point, she did the one thing that he thought he would never see in his life, unless it was to her sister. Aoyama Motoko, sister to the ever-powerful, Aoyama Tsuruko, heir to the Shinmei-ryu Dojo, took her sword in hand, knelt in the untouched snow of the courtyard, placed it before her, and bowed her head to the snow-covered earth. From this position, her voice could be heard, though muffled.

"Urashima Keitaro, I beg forgiveness of my transgressions against you, many and varied as they are. I have dishonored myself and my family by my actions, and dishonored you by my accusations, which I now know to have been baseless and petty. I have no way to make it up to you at this time for such dishonorable deeds. I also know that I have no right to ask your forgiveness in this matter, yet I beg of you to please find it in your heart to please try."

As he watched, her shoulders began to vibrate as she prostrated herself before him, her shame evident in her bearing and the tears that fell to the snow beneath her bowed form. The other girls, not to mention Shinobu, Keitaro, and Keiichi, stared at her open-mouthed. After a moment's hesitation, while his mind rebooted, the kanrinin stepped off the porch, unwrapping Shinobu's hands as he did so, and slowly approached the kneeling woman, his feet crunching in the snow. He drew up in front of her, his shadow falling across her prone form. He bent down and wrapped his hands around her shoulders, lifting her up with all the care one would show a fine porcelain doll.

"Motoko, please stand up. This is embarrassing, and one such as you should never bow so low." SIGH "There is nothing for me to forgive. The truth is, I could never hold a grudge against any of you. Yes, it hurts, both physically and emotionally, when you throw around the accusations and then the attacks that follow, but I can't bring myself to be angry or hold a grudge. I resent the actions, the insinuations, but you are all family, and I can't hate my family. You are all too important to me.

"Yes, Naru and I broke up, and it hurts even now to try moving on. Yes, you hurt me when you levee the accusations, sometimes so much so that I try to avoid either of you for a while. Sometimes, even you, Su, and you, Sarah." Sarah stepped closer to Haruka, while the Molmolian princess ceased her bouncing. "It hurts to be attacked, either by your welcoming kick to the face, or your inventions and experiments. More often than not, they hurt or leave me in embarrassing, compromising situations. The same applies to Sarah's actions. I know none of you – especially Shinobu, and, to a lesser extent, Su – want to hurt me usually, either by actions or, in some instances, inaction, but it often eventually leads to that.

"Shinobu-chan has been there, cheering me on, offering her support – even when I have hurt her, for which I am eternally sorry.

"Motoko, you have always been so strong, even when your sister caused you all that trouble. Your training has made you strong, dependable, and a good, independent woman.

"Naru, my 'promise girl', you have driven me from the time I was four to improve myself, to push myself to greater heights – even helping me to attain my goals once we again found each other. I will always love you, even though it didn't work out with us. But, we are a family, and together, as such, we are still attending Todai, though we don't have too much longer to go. I am sorry that it didn't work out between us, that we couldn't come up with some way to salvage our relationship, and it will hurt for some time to come, for both of us. However, I hope that I can still make you happy as a brother, even if not related by blood.

"Kaola Su, you are as hyper and energetic as ever! As with the others, you are just like a sister to me, and I love you as such very much. We've had our differences at times, as anyone will, but we have managed to make it through – and have come through stronger and closer for them. I know that you do not try to hurt me intentionally, thinking me indestructible, but even things that are indestructible can be harmed, whether it shows or not.

"Kitsune is a good person, and is now having to learn to take responsibility while she helps out at the Tea House and tries to find outlets for her articles, something I thought I would never see," and he chuckled a second. "I know she cares for all of us, even as she loves to cause mischief and mayhem and loves her drink. Even if I am the brunt of most of her pranks, I still care for her just as deeply.

"For all I knew when I arrived at the Hinata-sou, the total sum of my family consisted of Granny Hina, my parents, Haruka, and my adopted sister, Kanako; but when I arrived there and lived there, I found something that was so precious, so valuable, something worth taking hold of with both hands and guarding with my very life – I found a family to add to that which I already had. I would do anything, suffer anything, to keep that family together. I know that one day we will go our separate ways, but for as long as possible, and as much as I can influence things, I will hold our family together against all obstacles."

Keitaro paused to look each of the girls and his aunt in the eye, one at a time, before continuing.

"Motoko, I said it already, and meant it, there is nothing to forgive. All that I ask is that you put what you have learned into practice and try to be a little more understanding, a little more patient, before meting out punishment. If you saw, as you claim, the truth of what happened all those times, then you will understand that most of those times were really accidents, many of which were 'helped' along by a certain person who is not here, were bad timing, or even just simply my not paying attention to my surroundings. I do not enjoy your punishments," and a wry, lopsided grin graced his face, "and so I would never consciously incur your wrath. You are a good person, one whom I look up to because of your strengths and your dedication to your ideals."

With that, he decided to dare fate, drawing her into a tight embrace. She stiffened up briefly, her eyes widening at the contact, unable to move at first from surprise. After a moment, she hesitantly and awkwardly returned the gesture. They held this tableau for a few seconds before stepping back. Keitaro followed this with a repeat performance with Naru, then with a more enthusiastic Su and Mutsumi. Sarah accepted the hug nervously, still not wanting to meet his face.

Keitaro pulled away once more and moved back to where Shinobu stood, before turning back to the girls.

"I'm going to remain here for a couple more days. I am still working through a few things in my head, but don't worry, I'm not running away or doing anything drastic."

Shinobu stared at her feet for but a moment, before mustering her courage to speak up.

"I… I will stay, too."

All eyes turned to her. She stared purposefully and wrapped her hands around Keitaro's right hand.

"Are you sure, Shinobu-chan?" Naru queried, suddenly eying Keitaro with slightly narrowed eyes. "Will you be okay?"

The homemaker fought down a spike of anger as she caught the older girl's look and the implications. Then, remembering that feelings and ways of thinking don't change overnight, she quickly squashed her fury, trying to remain calm.

"Yes, Naru. I have been here with him since his second night here. During that time, he has been nothing if not a perfect gentleman, if rather sorrowful. Besides, I am eighteen, and can make my own decisions."

The younger girl let go of Keitaro and went to wrap her arms around Naru, then quietly spoke in her ear.

"Naru-sempai, I really am grateful for all that you have done for me, including protecting me from perverts and all, but,… I want to do this. I have already confessed to him, again, and even after that, he has not tried anything with me. He is not ready. I have waited this long, and can wait a bit more; however, I intend to be the one he turns to. Now that I am eighteen, there is nothing holding us apart, except his heart – which, at the moment, still beats for you. I can wait, though, and help him through his pain."

She released the older girl, and met her gaze. There was a sheen of moisture there, but also a sad look that was at once happy. It was replaced with one of determination.

"You're right, Shinobu-chan. You are old enough to make your own choices, and we should support you in them. I will support you in this. Perhaps you will be the one, the one to fill that part of him that needs to be, the part that I couldn't properly. Thing is, don't push too hard or fast, take your time and let things progress at their own pace."

It was as if a weight had been lifted from Shinobu's shoulders, and she breathed an easier sigh of relief. She didn't know how much she wanted the older tenant, her friend, to support her and give her permission for this. Yes, she was going to make her bid for Keitaro's heart one way or another – and make sure that her advances were the ones accepted – but she really wanted Naru's understanding, approval, and blessings.

"Thank you, Naru-sempai," she stated simply, with tears brimming in her eyes.

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A/N: To those of you who may state that Keitaro is out of character in this chapter, as Shinobu slightly is, I will reiterate, both characters have grown up over the five years that they have known each other, and have had the influence of all of the other tenants and everyone else in their lives. It would be inevitable that they would grow and change. Also, Keitaro's speech may sound somewhat unlike him, too serious or too deep, but think about it, in the manga and anime he rarely got a chance to show any kind of deeper thoughts, as he was being chased, beaten, belittled, or ignored more often than not, and so he spent all of his time either cowering, apologizing for things not really his fault, or pining after Naru and trying to win her attentions when not studying. Also, after having effectively 'wasted' most of his life chasing and trying to woo the girl of his promise, he would be bound to take a long, hard look at himself and how he looks at things, and this could be one result.

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With the conclusion of this chapter,there only remains one last installment to "Only A Wish Away". All I can hope is that you are enjoying the journey, and like where it goes. I, of course, know where the road will eventually lead, and I'm sure that you can deduce it's eventuality as well; however, I have found in the writing of a story that, even if you know where you wish to end up, sometimes the story chooses it's own path, and you end up just as surprised as your readers. Such is the case with this one. Some of the turns in here were not originally planned, yet as I wrote, they came to me as either necessary to the plot or progression, or as fortuitous occurrences. One such was the wish of Keitaro; I knew he would make a wish, yet I couldn't figure out exactly what it would be; while approaching that point, I kept pondering the problem, and before I knew it, I had written the wish and the reactions to it, without realizing it. Upon reflection, it only seems to have worked out for the best, as a wish that would grant the desired results of allowing Keitaro the opportunity to meet a girl without disastrous results, while at the same time affording him some form of respite from the hell that was the 'punishments' from his most vocal of tenants - Naru and to some extent Motoko.

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The road to this point has been a long one, but I hope enjoyable. I also hope that I have not upset too many people with my choice of partner for Keitaro. I honestly didn't know if I wanted to do a Kei/Motoko or Kei/Shinobu fic at first, and began writing this story with the ability to lean either direction. However, I later decided on Shinobu for a few reasons: 1- She has loved him from nearly day one. Yes, it started as a crush and grew from there, even if she wasn't entirely knowledgeable about what love was, but her feelings were always there; 2- she has always stood by him, with the exception of the short time after she found out he lied about being in Tokyo U (even if unintentionally); 3- she's just so adorable! Seriously, as a character in the manga, she was one of the most sincere and honest people in Kei's life. You can't help but be drawn to her, even if she was too young for him. That is why so many people who pair the two try to find a way for it to happen - either through the natural means (like in my story, where she ages naturally and they get together), or some mystical or scientific occurrence (something Su related maybe) - which leads me to number; 4- There really are so few Kei/Shinobu fics, compared to the others. The closest in terms of how few there are would be him paired with Kitsune, or the fewest yet, him and Sarah. Now, frankly, I have nothing against Kitsune, but I don't see that couple working too well without a LOT of reworking of one or the other character; likewise with Sarah or Su, they would have to change a lot for it to work out, which has happened in several good stories. Mutsumi is another, along with Motoko, that I see paired with Kei to a great extent on the site, so I steered clear of either of them for now,though I have a Motoko/Kei story written at the moment that I may eventually transcribe onto the computer and submit. As for Naru, I never cared for her as a girlfriend, or her abusive personality. I suppose I wouldn't be so opposed to her if she were less violent or quick to jump to conclusions, but, there you have it; Finally 5- Shinobu, herself, had faced so many problems in her short life, that I couldn't see making her lose one of the few GOOD things that has happened in her life, by having Keitaro choose either Mutsumi or Motoko to fall to after the separation.

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Anyway, until the last chapter, please enjoy and let me know your thoughts (in a kind way, mind you - no flames or nasty comments). I respect constructive criticism, but will ignore and erase (if possible) any blatant flames and hate comments. If you don't like something, tell me in polite terms what it is and why, and I will either take it under advisement, or reply with my own reasoning for my decision, though I will be respectful of your opinion. Again, thank you for your time and attention.