Disclaimer:


Ah! My Goddess and all of its associated characters, plot devices, and fictional settings are owned and maintained by its creator, Kosuki Fujishima ( © 1988 – 2010 ). Any other characters specifically created for this fictional work are fictitious. Any similarity to any persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

Chapter Thee: Child's Play

Tariki Hongan Temple, August 6, 5:35 am, Tokyo Time.

The sun hadn't yet come up yet, and already Skuld was dressed, wearing a simple pair of shorts and a tank top. She stood over a pile of small rocks with her feet apart by about a foot. Her arms were outstretched as she whispered suggestions to the rocks, asking them to levitate. So far, without surprise, it wasn't working.

"Come on..... please levitate!" She was begging on her knees at this point, when the first rays of golden sunshine peaked over the hills around the temple.

Hearing some commotion out side, Urd awoke and hovered out her window to see Skuld down below doing ... something.

"What's she up to?" She pondered. She stayed out of sight and quiet, until she realized what her younger sister was doing. An idea flashed over her head, as a sly grin formed on her face. Carefully watching Skuld's movements, she waited until her younger sister raised her arms up. She followed suit, and the one of the rocks levitated right in front of Skuld. The young Norn smiled, overjoyed as she got the first rock to levitate. While keeping that one in mid air, she tried a second one. Urd promptly responded by levitating not only one, but three other rocks to her right.

"Wow! This is too cool!" Skuld squeaked, amazed that she was doing all of this by herself. "I guess I just needed some practice." She reasoned with herself.

Now with four rocks all levitating in front of her, she focused on the remaining larger rock on her left. With her right hand and fingers stretched out as far as they'd go, she took her left hand and made a cup with her hand, almost as if she were going to lift the rock. Urd responded and very slowly made the large rock ascend.

"I did it!" Skuld cheered, doing mini jumps on the ground.

"No you didn't. It takes a lot more concentration than your tiny brain can handle." Urd corrected, finally making her presence known from above.

"What?!" Skuld looked upwards and glared at her older sister, who by now was being bathed in golden sunshine.

"You heard me. You can't possibly have control over that many objects and dance around at the same time." Urd lectured.

"But I'm doing it!" Her arms were starting to get tired, and began dipping slightly.

"Oh... you are? Fine. I'll prove it." Urd said dryly. She let her arms fall to her sides and all of the rocks around Skuld came crashing down to the ground. A few of the smaller rocks pounded Skuld on her head before she could raise her arms up in a protective posture. By the time the largest of the rocks had hit the Earth, Skuld was crouched down on the ground, her knees tucked into her chest, and arms over her head as she cowered there. Tears ran down her cheeks, proving that Urd was indeed right, she had not done this by herself.

"Oh get up, you whiny butt." Urd teased. "I'll show you how it's done correctly. Your form was totally off." She lectured.

"Get away from me!" Skuld yelled as she continued to cry, and ran past Urd who was standing in front of her now. She ran into the temple and slammed the door shut behind her. The youngest Norn ran straight to her room and slammed her broken door against the frame, pretty much lodging it in place. Curled up on her bed, she hid under her covers, and sobbed.

"Stupid little girl. Don't get upset, just try again." Urd said with a depressing tone, knowing that Skuld wouldn't hear her. With that Urd walked inside the temple, and switched on the television, flipping through the many channels, noting the only thing on was the morning news.

About an hour later...

Belldandy woke up and immediately started with the remaining laundry from yesterday. The washing machine had done its job, now, all of Skuld's clothing had to dry in the hot summer sun. She sung a quiet melody while she placed each item on the line, making sure there was enough distance between items to ensure the wind would get every wrinkle. After she was finished, she brought the empty basket back inside and set it back in the laundry room, then she set forth on the next job of the day: Breakfast.

"Morning Bell." Urd made half an attempt to sound as full of life as her younger sister, but fell flat, clearly bored with the morning's television schedule.

"Good morning Urd!" Belldandy cheerfully called back as she chopped some onions. I guess Skuld hasn't woken up yet? She didn't eat the ice cream that was left in the freezer for her." Belldandy commented with just a hint of concern.

"Nah, I guess not." Urd lied.

With the onions simmering, she stepped away from the stove and gently walked towards the youngest goddess' room. Cautiously knocking, she waited. After a few moments of not hearing her sister answer, she walked back to the kitchen.

"Yesterday really must have drained her. She's still asleep." Belldandy casually mentioned.

Urd was too busy flipping through channels to really care. Belldandy set out two places for breakfast and finished up the omelette's she was preparing.

"Breakfast is ready, Urd." Belldandy called out. The elder goddess switched off the television, and quietly walked over to the table. Breakfast was relatively quiet with little conversation.

"Keiichi should be coming back today, right? Urd asked -- anything to break the silence of chewing.

"No. Megumi mentioned that she was going to keep him over tonight as well. She mentioned it yesterday at the last minute that the festival at the park was lasting all weekend." Belldandy answered.

"Oh, okay. So tonight is going to be another quiet night." Urd sounded deflated. She clearly missed the bickering arguments with her little sister.

Belldandy giggled slightly. "Speaking of Skuld, I'll go make sure she's okay." She got up and walked towards Skuld's room. She knocked a couple of times. This time when she got no response, she pulled at the door, but was unable to budge it.

"Urd? Can you help me with the door?" Belldandy called out.

"Is that wise?" Urd called loudly back from the living room.

"What if she can't get out?" Belldandy called back down the hall.

"She can climb out her window, can't she?" Urd called back.

"That's not acceptable. Please help me." Belldandy almost begged.

"Fine." Urd was slightly frustrated now. She walked up to the door and gave it a swift waist high kick, busting it off the tracks, and into the room. Skuld shot up out of her bed, like a cat that had just been electrocuted.

"Oh sorry, Skuld. Belldandy was worried about you." She paused. "I hope you don't mind. I'm sure Keiichi will fix your door tomorrow when he returns." Urd said flatly.

"Whatever. Just leave me alone." Skuld shot back.

"Fine. As you wish." Urd threw back walking away, and heading towards the living room.

"Skuld? Are you okay?" Belldandy cautiously asked tip toeing inside the young goddess' room.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Skuld answered flatly. "Hey, what's this?" Skuld asked, abruptly changing the subject as she picked up the white paper bag on her nightstand.

"Oh." Belldandy giggled. "Keiichi brought that last night for you." Belldandy answered with a smile on her face.

"My tummy? What does he think is wrong with my stomach?" Skuld looked up at Belldandy with eyes full of curiosity.

Belldandy took a breath and sat down on her little sister's bed, putting her hand on Skuld's knee. "He is thinking like you're a regular teenage girl going through her first monthly cycle."

"Wha--?" Skuld blinked in shock.

"He's trying to ... comfort you. You know he thinks of you as his sister too -- " She paused while looking into Skuld's eyes. "After these few years of living together, it's only natural." Belldandy added.

"Yeah -- I guess so." Skuld answered quietly, and smiled very slightly. For as much crap as she torments Keiichi through, he still ... loves her too.

"Are you hungry?" Belldandy asked.

"Yes!!" She answered, hearing her stomach grumble as if almost on queue.

"I've got some ice cream I made for you from scratch -- your favorite." Belldandy smiled.

"Yum!" Skuld hopped out of her bed, and almost ran to the refrigerator. Belldandy smiled as she followed the teenager to the kitchen.

"Big Sis... you're totally awesome! Thank you!" Skuld squealed at seeing the home made tasty treat, and sat down at the table gorging herself, scooping clumps of cold, frozen cream into her mouth as fast as her arm would move.

"Be careful not to get brain freeze." Belldandy cautioned.

"mm hmmm mm mm hmmmm" Skuld answered in between mouthfuls.

At about eleven o'clock in the morning a dented up black spray painted full sized cargo van drove up to the bar and parked in the lot. Three guys walked into the bar and settled on one of the few empty tables. The bartender walked up to the three men and stared down at them.

"What will it be today?" he asked.

"A round of beers, and an extra. ... " Jeff paused. "We're waiting for someone."

"Ah, the blond from yesterday? She seems to hold her spirits well." He responded.

"Yeah, if you say so." Jeff answered back. Just as the bartender was about to walk away, Andy stopped him.

"Say, what's up with all the commotion?

"It's free beer Saturday. Buy a plate of wings, and get a pitcher free." The bartender answered. "Shall I get you all a plate?" He suggested.

"Sure, why not?" Terry answered.

After a few minutes the bartender came back with a large plate piled high with hot wings, and four mugs of beer.

Jeff raised his mug high for a toast, Andy and Terry followed suit. "To a quick and safe monetary gain." Jeff said, clanking his mug with his buddies. Both Terry and Andy replied with "Aye."

Halfway through devouring the plate of wings Mara finally strolled into the bar, looking from left to right she saw the bar was packed, unlike yesterday. Finally spotting Terry, she walked up to the table and sat down at the available seat.

"What's up with all the people here today?" She asked.

"Oh, I guess you get free beer if you order some wings. Here have some." Terry offered as his mouth dripped with hot sauce.

"Fine. I never pass up a free bite." Mara grinned slightly as she picked up a chicken wing.

"I've actually had better wings at Hooters." Andy mentioned. "But you can't beat free beer." he later tacked on after swallowing his mouthful.

"Hooters?" Mara asked.

"Oh, it's just this joint in America." Andy answered.

"It's really a nation wide chain you dumb-ass." Terry corrected.

"Dude. Whatever! All I know is, it's got damn good wings!" Andy threw back.

"So, you're going to visit the goddesses tonight?" Mara asked, deflating the hostility in the air.

"Yeah. Your little woman problem will start to go away...probably tomorrow morning. By then, little.....Skuld (he drew out her name for emphasis) will be long gone and far away. Jeff elaborated a bit of his grand plan.

"Very good. Oh, that geek has one hell of a security system in place. How are you going to get past it? Some damned robot she built." Mara inquired.

"Oh, we've got our ways around those pesky systems. Not to worry. We'll handle it." Terry said grinning as he dropped a chicken bone onto the plate.

"Good. After you take her, I want you to make sure she swallows this." Mara said dangerously, holding out a black vial.

"Sure toots, whatever." Andy said casually.

"Make.. sure...she...swallows...it." Mara repeated herself slowly and dangerously, making it very clear how important it was.

"Yeah sure. No problem." Andy said between bites.

"Good." Mara answered with a grin.

"What of our money." Jeff asked pointedly.

"Here." Mara said handing the brown paper bag across the table. Jeff peered inside it after wiping his fingers off of the hot sauce and grinned widely.

"Excellent. Half now, half upon delivery." Jeff reminded Mara.

"Yes, yes." She paused, taking a chicken wing. "How will I know when your job is completed?" She inquired.

"You'll know." Jeff said with a vagueness in his voice.

"We'll call you and tell you were to send the remainder of our money." Terry interrupted.

"Good. I can't wait to finally be rid of those damned goddesses." Mara sighed with a bit of relief, knowing of the hell that will be coming to one Keiichi Morisato very soon. She smiled at the thought of his suffering once more, and smiled even greater at the turmoil Belldandy will be going through, if Hild's plan is to work.

"What are you going to do with the kid....if I can ask?" Mara inquired.

"Oh, nothing too bad. We'll take her for a little ride, and then probably kill her in the middle of nowhere. -- Just to be sure she doesn't come back." Jeff explained.

"NO!--" Mara outburst. "You can't kill her." She added on.

"Why the hell not?" Jeff inquired.

Mara's eyes shifted from right to left and leaned into the table, lowering her voice to just above a soft whisper. "Because.... If you kill her, then another demon will die too....." she paused. "And I really don't want to be the one that dies." Mara clarified.

"What do you mean...how in the world ---?" Andy asked, intrigued.

"It's called the Doublet System. It's designed to ensure balance between good and evil within the universe. The Almighty (she slurred at the name), built it eons ago to stop us demons from mercilessly killing his beloved gods and goddesses." Mara further explained.

"Oh, alright...whatever then." Andy answered. "We won't kill her then...." He glanced up and looked straight into her blue eyes. "... But ... we can have some fun with her....right?" He drew out the last words for emphasis.

"I really don't care what you do to her...just don't kill her." Mara said. "What do you have in mind?" She asked after a pause.

"Oh nothing too horrible." Andy answered cryptically.

"He just likes to play these twisted games on his assignments he can't outright murder. -- Likes to screw with their heads .... Makes them go insane." Terry clarified.

"Oh, okay, sure, whatever turns you on, I guess." Mara answered, and then downed the beer in front of her.

"Well, I really must be going now." Mara said as she stood up. I'll be damned if I'm going to get stuck with the damn bill again!, she thought to herself. "Remember, make sure she drinks that. Shove it down her throat if you need to. It's very important that she's gets it." Mara reminded the boys.

"It's not a problem." Jeff said, also standing up. Terry and Andy followed suit.

"I'll wait for your phone call then. -- " Mara said. "Wait...you don't have my number?" She remembered she never gave it to them.

"Don't worry about it. We have our ways." Jeff said shoving Andy into another customer, who dumped their beer all over their shirt and pants.

"Hey!! Watch where you're walking asshole!" The customer yelled dangerously.

At that, the typical bar fight scene had started. Once well underway, the three men slipped out of the bar and drove off in their van. Mara, luckily just teleported herself back to her lair in all the commotion. Once back in private, she first grinned, and then laughed loudly, her voice echoed through out the lair.