Chapter 7: The White Angel of Death

Keiichi doffed his tux. "Ok, that wedding was completely over the top."

Skuld said, "It's how they do things up here. The Daitenkaicho's wedding is always a big deal. Doesn't happen that often."

"Good grief, you'd think you were Princess Kate. And that reception afterwards was crazy. Boy, those goddesses sure know how to line dance, especially Chrono. Wow, she was really good, reminded me of your stepmom. And when we finally left in that weird wedding carriage with the wyrms pulling, it was so ridiculous. I felt like I was in the end of the movie Shrek or something. At least you let me wear a human style tux instead of that stupid traditional sculpted outfit."

She pulled off her white wedding gown. "It had to be a white tux. It had to match my secret wedding photo of the two of us that I saved all these years. I wanted us to look exactly the same as in that old photo. You didn't catch that?"

"Actually, I did. That was sweet. A nice bit of nostalgia there. Of course you're a bit more mature now than the young lady in that photo."

"Yep, that I am." She mussed her hair. "I'm just glad the park could handle the crowd size. We didn't have the amphitheater anymore." That was because the amphitheater was now a flat field of fused silicon glass, just like the palace of Valhalla.

Her mussed-up hair was now sticking out at crazy angles. "Of course the turnout was low for obvious reasons."

He sat on the bed and grunted, "Thank heaven for small favors."

"Help me untie the laces on this bustier."

"Wait.. done. I don't know how you could breathe in that thing. Too much padding up top, by the way."

"Hey, I needed the extra enhancement up there. You know how insecure I am about it."

"Insecurity, thy name is Skuld. You know, that whole ceremony, all that pomp, was really kind of silly."

She picked up a towel and sat next to him on the bed, then she wrapped it around her bare torso. "Look, it's a morale booster. We've all been through a lot. Everybody. This is probably the happiest event that most people around here have seen since the holocaust six months ago. They needed something to be happy about. We all did."

"I suppose."

She looked down. "I'm happy too."

He sighed, "Yeah, it wasn't that bad. Okay, it was fun. That kiss got quite a cheer. But look, I've said this before. I just don't like how I was railroaded into this."

"How many times do I have to apologize? I railroaded myself too."

"Yeah, that you did. You are a wonderful, determined, strong, beautiful, idiot. And now you're my wonderful, determined, strong, beautiful, idiot wife."

"I hate you." She grinned.

He smiled. "I know."

Before Skuld could respond, there was a double beep. She jumped up and checked the HD monitor. "Hmm.. a perimeter sensor just tripped in the Gate arrival area. But the Gate is closed. That's odd."

Keiichi stood alongside her. "I don't see anything on the monitor."

"Yeah, I know. But something is still there. I think it's invisible. Let me try IR." She fiddled with the controls. A vague humanoid shape appeared. She slammed a largish red button. Nothing happened.

"Dang it! Where's the CAP? Chrono you idiot, you sent everybody to the wedding!?"

"Uh, Skuld..?"

"I'm going myself. Stay here!"

"Hey, wait a sec.."

She jumped into her combat suit. She was gone.

He said to himself, "Sheesh. I don't even get a wedding night." It was academic anyway. They had not even discussed it. And they already had made arrangements for separate bedrooms.

After all, he was only her kissing cousin. Technically she was his former step-daughter, being formerly married to her adoptive mother, though Keiichi never legally adopted her himself. And it was true that she was 679 years older than he was, and that she was now mature enough by any standard, both physically and emotionally, to enter into such an intimate relationship, and, indeed, as of today she was now legally entitled to do so as well, but still.

She made no secret of her feelings for him. But she respected him too much to act on those feelings herself. She promised herself she would not cross that line, at least not unilaterally. He would have to make the first move, if he ever did.

He told her repeatedly that he wasn't ready, that he would probably never be ready. He said that he was tired of higher powers running his life. So they would sleep apart. It was only a political marriage, a marriage of convenience. And she had told him that she would be satisfied with only that, for as long as he wanted. Permanently if necessary.

Keiichi started to fiddle with the monitor controls, trying to get a wider angle on the action. Then he saw what must be Skuld moving quickly into the frame.

Then there was an explosion of lights.

A firefight.

He saw her falling, with smoke trailing her lifeless body.

"Skuld!"

The distant booms echoed a minute later.


Keiichi was pacing back and forth like a puma in a cage.

Doctor Nie came out of the operating theater. He looked grim. "The injuries were quite severe. She is still unconscious. A coma. Only time will tell."

"But.. she promised.."

Doctor Nie raised an eyebrow, "Promised?"

"She said she wouldn't leave me.."

"Indeed. Well, technically, she's still here."

"She wouldn't do this to me."

"Perhaps it would be best if you considered her state right now, instead of just worrying about yourself?"

"Huh? Oh, of course. I'm being selfish."

The doctor lowered his eyebrow. He said nothing as an assistant wheeled in Skuld's bed.

Keiichi sat by the bed and held her hand. "Skuld you idiot.. don't do this to me."

The doctor left without comment.

Keiichi sat there, holding her hand, for a long time.


He said, "Hey, you're awake."

Skuld tried to focus her eyes. Then she rasped, "How long..?"

"Almost two weeks. I've been here the whole time."

"See.. you care.."

"Don't press your luck. You're just my meal ticket around here."

"Still.. hate you.."

"I know. Don't talk.. you were intubated so your throat is probably really raw. I have some ice slivers in a cup. Here. Just suck on one at a time. Then I have some ice cream that I'll spoon feed you. Strawberry, your favorite."

"Mmm."

"Shush. Here."

He babied her the rest of the day.


Keiichi pushed her wheelchair up the ramp to the roof.

Skuld grunted, "Dang it. I feel like an invalid."

"You are an invalid. Oof.. a heavy one too. You been gaining weight? Too much ice cream, I bet."

"I hate you so much."

"I love you too. Here are your daily reports. I took the liberty of running through them. Nothing significant. Chrono is still having trouble recruiting."

"Harumph. So what else is new."

He pushed her to the railing, and she looked over it. The major construction project on the western horizon was gaining shape.

She sighed. "I'm still insisting on promoting mortals. They can never be Valkyries, but they can fill the gaps on the Help Line and other places."

"Yeah. I'm glad you agreed with me on that one. The prejudice up here against humans is stupid. Pity what happened to Amamiya, though. That certainly didn't help matters with the natives."

"I know. I should have anticipated that she'd pull a Belldandy on me. She even told me face-to-face that she was spying on Himura."

"You said she was the best candidate. I first pointed her out, remember? I recommended her to you."

"Yeah, we can sure pick 'em. We both totally blew that one. We lost her in like five minutes! I'm tempted to revoke her angel status."

"She can't revert. She's a mortal. Wait.. how does that even work?"

"Nevermind. I won't do it to her. I'm too much of a softy."

He kissed her on the cheek. "That you are."

"I know. Story of my life."


She was finally out of the wheelchair. As part of her rehabilitation she took frequent walks. They often walked together.

One day they were walking together in the sylvan woods not far from the HQ. She held his arm and leaned into him a bit to support herself. He barely noticed the gesture, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. They slowly continued their walk side-by-side, looking exactly like the married couple they were.

It was a pleasant sunny day, but then again every day in Asgard was like that.

Then out the blue he said, almost in a whisper, "I miss her. I miss her so much."

She stopped walking. She knew he was talking about her Big Sis, that tomorrow would be the third anniversary of her death. "I know, I do too. I'm sorry."

He absent-mindedly let go of her hand while he looked up at the fluffy white clouds, talking almost as if to himself, "I watched her die. I held her in my arms. It still feels like it happened yesterday." His face looked wistful.

"I know. I was there, remember? You were catatonic for a month."

He turned his eyes back towards the Leader of Heaven. "Yeah. I don't think I ever thanked you for taking care of me..."

"You don't have to. It's what family members do, we help each other."

He looked down. "Thank you anyway. This happens to me on every anniversary. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I miss her too." Skuld felt his pain. She understood it better than anybody.

She kept to herself her own pain. She remembered the loss of her sister, later followed by the horrors of Ragnarök, how she lost her second sister, then she lost almost everybody she ever knew: Peorth, her mother, everyone. She operated mainly on auto-pilot during the whole battle, only to completely collapse as soon as it was over. Doctor Nie later told her that she almost never woke up ever again. For although she was not mortally injured during the battle, her will to remain among the living was lost. While she had lain unconscious in the infirmary it was Big Sis who had spoken to her in a dream to encourage her to reawaken and to lead Asgard to recovery.

She learned later that all the casualties who had reached the infirmary had survived, even the ones with grave injuries, and she knew why: Big Sis had spoken to all of them in much the same way. And so even in death Belldandy continued to help others and encourage them, for that was who she was. There would never be another goddess like her again.

Skuld had wanted to weep for her Big Sis but she kept her emotions in check. She had to remain composed, as she didn't want to add to Keiichi's burden. Instead she touched his shoulder in sympathy. "You've been through a lot. I'm sorry."

Silence.

She went on, "That's why you need to stay strong. Both of us. It's what she wanted, she told you that."

"Yeah, she did."

"I'm still sorry... She told me that too." One tear got past her emotional defenses.

"You have nothing to apologize for." He looked at her with a wan smile, then he gently wiped away her single tear.

"Honestly, I don't know if can be that strong, like she is."

He gripped her hand tightly, then he said "You will. You are." He made a point of bringing her hand close to himself.

She allowed him to lead with his gesture. Then she said, "Thank you."

He smiled at her.

More silence. After a dozen more paces he added, "You know, Skuld, you are becoming more like her every day. You're more encouraging and supportive, you're thinking of others first. It says a lot about your character."

She made a small smile. "Thanks for the flattery, I need it." They continued to walk down the park path.

"It's not flattery if it's true."

"Well, thank you for it anyway."

They continued to walk together. Eventually Skuld's not-yet-rehabilitated legs had become tired. To rest, they sat on a small exposed rock outcropping that was still warm from the setting sun. Sitting there they were facing a little round pond. The scenery was idyllic. They remained silent as they watched a flock of golden geese paddle through the water as the late afternoon sun glinted off their rippling wakes.

Her emotions began to bubble up. "Keiichi, you are the only family I have left."

"Hey.."

She drew her knees up to her chin. "I'm alone."

He sidled up very close to her. "I seem to recall that a certain very beautiful and brave goddess once told me, 'You are never alone.'"

She rested her head on his shoulder, "Yeah."


A couple months later.

Skuld was sitting at her desk and frowning. "Keiichi, we have a spy in our midst."

"How you figure?"

"Eihwaz was taunting me again earlier today, but she let something slip that she couldn't have known."

"Who is it? Does the Blue File say?"

"Obviously not. Or I wouldn't be so worried right now."

"Well it can't be that major then."

"Actually it could. The Blue File only reveals future events that are important in the opinion of the higher reality levels. Not our own. And even then it is usually only a short summary. It often lacks specifics."

"Oh. Any idea who?"

"I have a good guess. But I'm not going to do anything. Not yet."

"Why not?"

"Several reasons. For starters, I want to confirm who the spy is. Then I want to see what they will do next. Also some political reasons... I don't want to hurt someone. I can't say more right now."

"Wow, cloak and dagger stuff. Sounds like a John le Carré novel.. you know, The Spy Who Came In From the Cold."

"Exactly."


The crowd in the bleachers cheered wildly.

This was the day of the Grand Tournament. It was the major bidecennial sporting event between Asgard and Niflheim. Keiichi had watched the various sports contests, which had included horseback riding, archery, martial arts, and tug-of-war, all with keen fascination.

The rivalry was, of course, completely over the top. After all it was a contest between goddesses and demons.

Thrymr roared with victory after she destroyed the goddesses in the tug-of-war contest all by herself. The She-Hulk lorded over the defeated goddesses as they floundered around in the mud. Keiichi idly wondered what kind of material the rope had to have been made of to avoid snapping under the strain of such an immense force.

The final contest was the broom race. The score was tied, so this event would decide which side won the coveted Bifröst Medallion.

Eihwaz presented her younger sister, Hrungnir, as her champion for the final event. Eihwaz had recused herself because of her delicate condition. Skuld was just relieved that the Daimakaicho had not divulged her state to Keiichi yet. Doubtless she was waiting for the most opportune time to reveal it to cause the maximum damage.

Hrungnir was wearing her trademark spiked World War I German helmet and mask. Skuld had never seen her face without that goofy get-up. Then Keiichi saw Eihwaz give her sister what looked like a ridiculously pimped-out electric guitar.

Keiichi recognized it. "That's Glühende Hurz. Hild's personal riding broom. The one she used to race against Belldandy."

Skuld sighed, "That it is. And Glühende Hurz is the fastest broom anywhere, if you can even call it a broom. Keiichi, I don't stand chance. I guess the Bifröst Medallion goes back to Niflheim for another twenty years." She began to stand up.

He pushed her back down. "I want to race her."

"You're kidding."

"Let me."

"Keiichi, you're just a mortal."

"Look, you just said it was hopeless, right? So what have you got to lose? I wanna do it."

Skuld considered his request. She had to admit he was getting pretty good at riding Stringfellow, for earlier he had asked her to please stop picking him up to ferry him around everywhere all the time. He said it was demeaning. So to accede to his male vanity she had bequethed to him Belldandy's riding broom for his use as personal transport. Skuld had often smiled as she looked up from the rooftop to watch him tool around with it, going on many a joyride. And Keiichi was a natural racer. Hmm..

"Ok, go ahead. Just be careful."

Keiichi's eyes glittered like diamonds. He got up from the bleachers and approached the field.


The tournament was over, and the sun was starting to set. Skuld and Keiichi were riding Stringfellow together. She was holding his waist, laughing like a child. He sported around his neck a large blue medallion with six crystalline edges.

"Whooeee! That look on Eihwaz's face! It was priceless! Hah! Keiichi, you were amazing!"

He grinned so wide he almost sliced his head in half like a South Park Canadian. He landed Stringfellow expertly by the waterfall. Skuld unloaded the basket with the celebratory bottle of wine, wedge of cheese, and picnic cloth.

Together they ate and drank their victory meal just above the waterfall as they watched the sun begin to dip under the horizon.

Skuld raised her wineglass. "You know, Keiichi, you really helped everyone's spirits. After everything that's happened, that was a huge morale boost. Thank you. So, I want to propose a toast."

"A toast?"

"To the most wonderful mortal man in Heaven."

"Oh, c'mon now.."

She clinked his glass and drank.

Eventually bottle was empty. Skuld was a bit giggly. She nestled her head in the crook of his arm. The Leader of Heaven then sighed, "This is so perfect."

He agreed as he closed his eyes. "Mmm. Being in Heaven like this.. with you.. yeah, I guess it is."

A moment passed.

Two moments.

She leaned in and kissed him.

He opened his eyes and gently pulled away from her. Then he looked at the red orb low on the horizon.

"I'm still not ready. I'm.. I'm sorry."

She sat up. "I shouldn't have done that. It was just the wine. Forget it happened."

"It's okay."

"I won't do it again." She was determined not to break her promise to him.

"It's fine, really." He softly pulled her back under his arm.

She leaned back against his chest. Then she turned. "You sure this is all right?"

"Yeah."

She sighed and nestled herself again in that warm, safe spot. "Okay."

"I'm glad you understand."

I'll wait. Even it takes forever. And it might.

Together they watched in silence as the sun finally died.

After the western glow subsided, the tipsy goddess curled up and went to sleep, snoring softly. He lay on his back on the picnic cloth and gazed up at the starry heavens, alone in his own private thoughts. He could have flown away with Stringfellow but he was too much of a gentleman. He wasn't able to fall asleep himself until a couple hours later.


It was still night. Keiichi opened his eyes. Even though he only had a few hours sleep he felt restless. He found that Skuld's arm had somehow ended up on top of his. He gently moved her arm without waking her, then he sat up on the ground cloth and looked around. He had left Stringfellow propped up against the tree.

Had. It was now floating in midair.

Keiichi approached it cautiously.

He heard a voice, "Stop hurting her."

Wait? Did the broom just talk? It did. He remembered that Belldandy had told him that brooms like this were actually sentient.

"She's waiting for you."

He peered at the wooden implement. "I know."

"I mean Belldandy, you idiot."

Huh? What?

"You heard me. She's not jealous, she'll wait. She wants you to stop hurting her sister. Skuld needs you now. They all do. So stop being such a self-absorbed twit."

His mind reeled. "Belldandy?! What? Hey! Where is she? Can I talk to her? Wait, tell me what's going on!" He grabbed the broom by the neck. "Talk!"

And then he woke up.

Skuld was sitting upright on the picnic cloth and was looking at him with some concern. "You okay?"

He plopped back on the blanket and let out a big sigh. Is it true? Am I just being selfish?

"Mmm?"

"Nevermind. It was just a dream." He closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep.

She turned to look at the still-propped-up broom.


A couple weeks later, Keiichi had mentioned that his mother, Takano, was actually a powerful wind elemental named Mariah. She was the whirlwind, the heart of the hurricane, the heart of the F5 tornado, the heart of all such powerful cyclones and storms.

Skuld was fascinated by his disclosure. She quizzed him animatedly about his mother. That in turn made him curious about himself, to learn more about his abilities. Did he have any of his mother's whirlwind powers? Skuld believed it was possible. She tested him, but there was nothing. His mother was an elemental, so Skuld hypothesized that perhaps with his being a mortal, that his powers, if he had any, would only work down on Earth.

And so on Earth, in the park near the lakeshore, Skuld stood directly behind him with her hands covering his eyes. It was morning and the sun was rising in the east. She was whispering in his ear. "Focus your mind. Feel the wind moving. It surrounds you. It's everywhere. It's part of you."

"I feel it."

"Good. Now sweep it along with your mind. Imagine it swirling."

There was a gust, then a small vortex of wind. It surrounded the couple. Keiichi snapped open his eyes in wonder.

"Whoa! Did I just do that?"

"You did. That was great!"

"I wanna try it again!"

"Okay, go for something bigger this time." She leaned in very close and covered his eyes again.

He concentrated as she whispered into his ear, "Imagine a wider swath. Pretend you are flying along the arc in your mind. Define the path. Then push." It happened again. This time there was a great roar of wind as the vortex surrounded the pair, and this time it spanned a dozen meters in diameter, with roughly the power of a small F1 tornado. It was strong and violent, yet it somehow failed to harm either one of them.

Keiichi said, "Woah! Lemmie stop the rotation now.."

The vortex slowed, then stopped.

"Wow! That's so awesome!" He spun around. Their bodies were now pressed together. "Thank you."

She smiled at him.

A moment passed.

Two moments.

Three moments.

He gently kissed her.

She wanted to know his intentions. She closed her eyes and opened her lips slightly.

He kissed her again, this time with more passion. She knew.

He had crossed the line.

She opened her eyes and said in mock anger, "I still hate you." Then she closed them again and returned the kiss with the same passion.

"I know." He smiled at her.

Their feelings were now confirmed, though they would never forget the past. He gently brushed away a lock of her hair that lay between her eyes.

Keiichi wondered why he did it, why he crossed the line. Skuld loved him, Asgard needed him, he loved her, it felt right. But those reasons alone weren't sufficient. Nor was it because he knew the prophecy that they would be together for the rest of their lives.

What pushed him over the line was his realization that he was on a journey.

And at the end of that journey? Someone was waiting.

Skuld gave him a shy demure smile. The lock of hair dropped back down between her eyes. She tried to blow it away. It fell back. "You know, I think Big Sis might have even planned this, with Tyr's help, so you wouldn't be alone the rest of your life."

"You think?"

"It's possible. I wouldn't put it past her. You know how she cares about you. She wants you to be happy."

Keiichi pulled his head back. "Then why didn't you mention it earlier?"

"Because it would have sounded self-serving." She looked down. "You had to figure out your feelings on your own."

He started to gently play with her hair. "I get it."

"And.. there are some other things that I still haven't told you."

He stopped and looked at her again. "Such as?"

"Like how lonely I feel. I didn't want you to pity me."

"I already know. Since the war we've both been alone.."

"True, but that's not what I mean. I meant before that."

He looked at her quizzically.

"Keiichi, don't you see? You've known me for years. Think about it. Who was I?"

"A rotten selfish brat."

She gave him a look.

"Was, was! Not anymore."

"Humph. Nice recovery. Anyway, you know I've been a complete loner. I never had a childhood friend in Asgard, not a single one. Back when I was in Goddess Elementary School the other kids in the playground would never play with me. Nobody would."

He chuckled, "That's probably because you were tossing Skuld-bombs at them."

"Har-dee-har. I wasn't doing that. Well, not yet anyway. The point is, I've never had a friend outside my immediate family. None."

"What about Sentaro?"

She rested her head on his shoulder. "I even ended up chasing him away. People just don't like me."

"But now they do, right?"

"No, they still don't. They fear me or they're suck-ups. Power always isolates a leader like that. The other problem is that I'm way too scary now as the Daitenkaicho of Asgard, the Leader of Heaven. Impressive title, yeah, but it doesn't get me on any dates, you know? Everybody thinks I'm a total bitch who can kill anyone with the snap of my fingers. And you know what? They're not that wrong. If somebody really pisses me off, hoo boy, the angry bitch will come roaring out again, and everybody better run for their lives. Especially after I get my final powers."

"Final powers?"

"Nevermind."

"Well, it's a good thing I can put up with you then."

"Yeah, you're the only one who treats me as a normal person even though you know what I am capable of." She was getting teary again. "To everyone else I'm the queen bitch who scares 'em all poo-less." She sniffled.

"Look, you've really changed. You've grown into a caring and loving person. I know that. You really are just like your sisters now."

"You think so? Belldandy got angry sometimes too you know. It scared Urd silly. And whenever Urd herself got pissed off, wow look out. In terms of anger-management issues I'm worse than both of 'em put together. And some day it will happen and I will become the nastiest thing this world has ever seen." She tried to fix his unruly hair. It was a hopeless task. "I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you."

The couple fell silent.

She shook her head. "I can't replace her. Nobody can."

"I know."

"I'm not her. Not even close."

"True. But I get it now. This is part of my journey. I want this."

Does he know? I have to be honest with him. I'm know I'm breaking the rules. I don't care. She looked at him carefully. "So you know this is only temporary?"

"Yeah."

"You.. you do?" He knows?

"Sure. I'm a mortal. Life sucks and then we die. I think it is written down in a rulebook somewhere. I'm going to grow old, gray, and decrepit, while you stay young and beautiful."

"Keiichi.."

"Look, I know you don't care about that, so I won't worry about it either. And then afterwards? You'll send me off on my journey. You'll stay behind alone. Your duty is here. I know that. That's why there will be no mourning, right? No lonely regrets. You'll go on with your life. Promise me right now, or else I won't do this."

He doesn't know. She sighed inwardly. I change my mind. I won't tell him. Belldandy, you were right. He deserves to be happy.

She looked away. "R..Right.. No regrets whatsoever. I promise." Then she looked at him again, "I love you."

Big Sis, this is not a burden for me. I will pay the price gladly. I'm so happy! Thank you! Thank you!

He smiled. "And I've had feelings for you too. For some time actually. I admit it. I've just been holding back."

He touched her hair. "Okay, I guess I can spend one lifetime with you. I mean, it's inevitable, right? Hey, I could do a lot worse."

"I hate you so much."

"And I love you too."

He tried to move the stubborn lock of hair away again. It fell back. He chuckled. "Eh, you look better with it that way."

She started to giggle, then he did too. Then they both guffawed like a couple of idiots.

After the giggle fit ended they remained in their impromptu embrace. He finished wiping the tears from her face.

They remained embraced in silence.

She had a gleam in her eye. He missed it.

Let me try again. She did something with her hands. He missed that too. Argh, why is he so oblivious around girls? She shoved him down there in a certain way. Oh c'mon!

She glared at him. "Do I have to spell it out for you? I want my wedding night already!" He smirked. Oh wait, he was only messing with me. "Why you rotten little jug-eared fink.."

She pushed him away in an exaggerated display of mock disgust. She crossed her arms and turned away.

He walked around behind her and whispered, "Skuld, you are the most beautiful woman in Heaven.."

"Flattery? You bastard! You know how to push my buttons perfectly. Careful, I'll swoon on you."

"Better not."

"You're right, Chrono's the CAP today. Let's go to the temple."

"Yeah." They started walking.

A few minutes later she said, "Gan has kept the place up really well."

He said, "Gan? Hey, he was the Third Class Earth Spirit that was guarding Megumi's old apartment, right?"

"Yep. He's first class now, a quick promotion on my part. He runs the temple's defense system too. It keeps Eihwaz from spraying graffiti or vandalizing the old place."

Keiichi said, "Cool. I want to see that old place again. Let's go."

Skuld sent a mental command up to Chrono, who was flying as the Combat Air Patrol. She ordered her to cancel the CAP and return back to the gate, as the temple was already well protected. Chrono acknowledged her order and prepared to leave, but before she left, she telepathically sent a response that Skuld felt was rather unprofessional: "Woo hoo!"


"This is so weird... we're like an old married couple." He sat on his old tatami mat. He patted the mat next to him.

Instead she effortlessly nestled in his lap with her back pressed against him. She said, "Don't forget that I'm 679 years older than you, chronologically. Well, okay, maybe only 140 years or so subjectively, but I'm still robbing the cradle here."

"Yeah, seems like I have this habit of marrying cougars."

"Wolves."

"Whatever. I know this is totally new for you." He combed her hair with his open fingers.

She turned her head up and again gave him a demure smile as she looked him in the eyes, upside down. "I'm not as ignorant as you think."

From that position he started to give her a backrub on her bare shoulders. "You think? Your stepmom got trained by Peorth herself, and she was still totally clueless."

She bent her head forward and down, giving him access to the back of her neck. He rubbed away the stress knots in her neck with his open palms, then he worked his way down her supple back.

When he reached the bottom, she closed her eyes and leaned into his bare chest, arching slightly. "I'm not her."

"Yeah, like you know anything."

She opened her eyes and again looked into his, upside-down. "You'd be surprised."

"What, you peeked behind my old desk drawer?" He pointed. "The one right over there, the second one? My old porn stash?"

She turned and looked. "No. Well, actually I did peek at your mags, heh. But I had something better."

"Like what? You stole copies of Peorth's stupid romance mangas?"

"No, something better."

"Spill."

"I watched you with my stepmom."

He was incredulous. "What!?"

"C'mon, we were living under the same roof. I was curious.."

"You didn't."

"I did. See that knothole over there?" She pointed.

He saw it. "Skuld! That is so wrong!"

"Why? I thought it was beautiful."

"We are so not having this conversation right now."

"I'm just telling you the truth."

"I am so embarrassed..."

"Whatever for? She was your wife."

"That's not the point!"

"Besides, it really helped me. I learned a lot."

"Hoo boy.."

She pirouetted on his lap so she was now facing him. "Want me to show you?"

"Uh..."

"There's something I've never seen that I want to try."

"Ok, do your worst."

"Don't worry, I will."


Afterwards Keiichi looked up at the ceiling in a languid torpor.

Skuld started to draw imaginary doodles on his chest with her finger. She said, "I know what you're thinking."

"Mmm?"

"You're thinking that I wasn't as good as her, your first wife."

What? He sat up and turned "Hey..."

"It's okay."

"No! Don't compare yourself like that! It's apples and oranges. You were great - you're just different."

She gave him a mock frown. "My, how diplomatic of you."

"It's the truth. And you know what? Honestly? I'm glad you're not a wild gymnast. She was a combat Valkyrie. It was just her way."

Then she sat up too. "Gee, thanks for the insult. Now I really do feel inadequate."

"Huh? No.."

"I'm a combat Valkyrie too, you know."

"Wrong basis for comparison. You see, I know that women often act the opposite of their external selves in bed. She was a no-nonsense military leader, always very guarded. So in bed she cut loose and went wild. At heart you're a crazy bomb-throwing nut, so in bed you're pretty relaxed. It was just her way, that's all. And frankly all the gymnastics usually left me pretty sore."

"Really? Then why didn't you just tell her to knock it off?"

He sighed. "Because she was really enjoying herself.. and I didn't want to hurt her feelings. She was my wife and I loved her, so I just went along with it."

There was a pause.

"Keiichi, don't be that way with me."

"..."

"Please. Always be honest with me. Tell me. Always."

"Okay. I will."

There was more silence as they lay back down to look at the ceiling of his old bedroom. Then he finally said, "You were wonderful. I feel like I'm the luckiest guy in the world. And that's the honest truth."

"Thanks for reassuring me."

"I can do better than that."

He did.


The next day they were back in Asgard.

Very early in the morning, before Keiichi was awake, Skuld quietly put on her bathrobe and walked upstairs alone, in secret, to the rooftop of the HQ building.

She knew it was time. Because it was foretold.

She waited.

Then it happened.

She gasped. Her inverted raindrop sigil on her forehead glowed white.

She didn't know it would be painful. She dropped to her knees.

The glow stopped.

Two things had happened.

First, the person who was kneeling was awarded a new rank: Aggregate Principal Representative. The rank of an official, proper Daitenkaicho. A permanent one.

Second, the person who stood up now had a new title. And it was not the Daitenkaicho. Nor Air Marshal. Nor System Administrator. Nor Ambassador to Earth.

For she was given something more. Something else, something she had also expected, because it was foretold that it would happen on this date. She now received another title that was given to her from Above. It was a fifth title, her greatest title, and her final title. And she knew, with absolute certainty, that it was her real title, her True Name, and her True Purpose.

The person who stood up had been given a True Name.

A Power, an Authority, of the Second Dominion.

The White Angel.

The Angel of Death.

And at that moment the White Angel was given her orders. Orders that had come from a Higher Power. A mission. Her first.

And then she smiled. For she already knew that she would receive those orders. And she had a smile that was not a smile. A smile that was terrible to behold. The same smile that her mother wore, when she was the White Angel, whenever she had received similar orders.

The smile of a wolf.

And the irises of her beautiful brown eyes had changed.

They had turned yellow in color.

Like a wolf.

She left for downstairs.


Keiichi was concerned. "Skuld, what the heck happened? You're even taller now. And your face changed, I think."

"Really?"

"Yeah. A bit more angular. Not so round. And what happened to your eyes?"

"Oh.."


"Skuld, it's been five days. You still haven't told me what happened."

"Uhm.."

"And you're getting weird. Distant."

"Am I?"

"Yeah. You are."

"Am I?"

"See, that's what I mean. You just repeated yourself. Again."

"Oh."

He grabbed her shoulders and turned her around to face him. "Stop it! Get a grip! It's not the end of the world!"

She gave him that look again.

"Argh! I hate that look! That sad wistful look! Or that other look, that knowing little smile! It's always those same two looks for five days now! Nothing else! Stop that!"

"I can't help it.."

"What is happening to you?"

"Remember mom? How she kept saying that she wasn't a person originally? She was just an abstraction?"

"Yeah. She basically got a personality. Became almost human. She became vulnerable. I would have never fallen in love with her otherwise."

"I think.. I think the opposite is happening to me."

"What?"

"I'm not a first class goddess anymore.."

"What are you then?"

"I'm now an Aggregate Principal Representative."

"A what?"

"An Aggregate Principal Representative. That's higher than first class. Only Anzus and Tyr were at that level. Now I am too. We had this discussion once before, months ago. Remember that luncheon with Chrono and Troubadour?"

"Vaguely.. I just remember he was an ass. So when are you going to bust him, anyway?"

"What? That's not important right now."

"So what does 'Aggregate Principal Representative' mean?"

"It means I'm gaining closer contact to Upstairs, to the higher reality levels. But it also means.."

He waited for it.

".. that I think I'm losing my humanity."

"You promised you'd never leave me. How is this not leaving me?"

She tried to create a smile, a real smile. She failed. Instead she gave him that same small knowing smile. "I'm not. I'm just a little spacy right now. I'll get better. I promise." Then she held his hands. "I won't leave you. Ever."

"I'm worried about you."

"Things will work out. Trust me."

"Like I have a choice.."

"Please don't take it that way."

"What's going on?"

"It won't be long now.."

"Long until what?"

"A confrontation."

"With who?"

"With the Daimakaicho."

"Crap."

"Don't worry. I can handle it. More than handle it."

"Okaay.."


Eihwaz said, "Give it up, Skuld. I'm going to win. You know that. My child is going to overthrow you and rule Asgard."

"No."

"Yes. It was foretold. You know the prophecy is true."

"Yes, I do. It is true."

"So there then. Give it up."

"No."

"Stop being such a stubborn bitch. You are being pathetic. More than usual, I mean."

"I am sorry, I think you misunderstand me."

"What?"

"The prophecy states, and I quote, 'Any child born from that union will overthrow Asgard.'"

"Exactly! And she's right here." Eihwaz patted her protruding stomach.

"You missed something.." Skuld started to glow.

"Hey.. what you are doing?"

Skuld's whole body started to glow, white, pure white. It began to grow in intensity.

Eihwaz became alarmed. "Hey! What is this? What kind of power is that?"

She pointed her finger at Eihwaz. "I'm so sorry, Eihwaz. I was given a direct order from Higher Up. I have no choice. When an order like this comes down I am compelled to obey it." Her face was filled with tears. "I am so, so sorry.."

"No!"

"Your masters attempted to steal a prerogative that did not belong to them, or to you. Keiichi's first child will indeed lead a battle during a revolution against me. That has been long predicted, as you well know. But you tried to usurp that prediction for your own ends. That cannot be permitted." Her pointed finger glowed white.

And Eihwaz felt the life in her womb quicken. And then stop moving.

"NOOOOOO!"

The White Angel then lowered her finger. "And so your own prophecy is now fulfilled, as there will now be no issue from your union with him. You brought this on yourself. I'm sorry."

Eihwaz screamed, "You bitch! I'm going to kill you! You hear me? Kill you!"

"You can't. You see, I have my own prophecy too. I read the Blue File. So I know the date of my own death. And it is not today. Nor tomorrow. Nor will it happen for a long, long time."

"EEEIIIIIIEEE!"

"I'm so sorry, Eihwaz. You forced this. I'm just following orders. Do you think this is some kind of game or something? You brought this on yourself. Just like Hild did."

"I'm going to hurt you! Make it my life's mission! To destroy you! And if I can't kill you, I'll just kill what's most important to you! I'll kill him! Ludicrous gibs! I mean it!"

Skuld looked down with sorrow. "I know.."

"Good! He's a dead man!"

"And if you kill him, I'll kill you immediately afterward." Then Skuld looked up again. "That's a prophecy, by the way."

"I don't care! I'll find a way! You bitch!"

"I'm leaving now. Think about what happened. This was necessary. Don't be like Hild. You'll just end up destroying yourself, like she did."

"[bleep] you!"

"I tried to warn you. I now wash my hands of any further responsibility."

Skuld teleported away.

Eihwaz's face was insane with hate. "Dead! He's dead! He's dead, Dead, DEAD!"


This was the night.

"Keiichi, please make love to me tonight?"

He sat up. "Ok, that's an odd request. Like you ever ask me first."

She continued to lay there, with a sad wistful look. "Please?" She had a tear in her eye.

"Okay.. what brought this on all of a sudden?"

She gave him a small knowing smile. The tear remained. "If you love me, please?"

He became alarmed. "Ok, now I'm worried. What's going on?"

She remained silent. Her face changed back to the sad wistful look. The tear started to go down her cheek.

He gave in. "Okay, okay, sure." He wiped off her tear.

She sniffled, "Thank you."

"Which way, yours or mine?"

"I don't care."

"Wow.. you must be shook up. Obviously something happened. Just relax. Let me do everything."

And as the Blue File predicted, she conceived that very night, and so the prediction for that night came true.

And she knew something else: Her remaining days with him were growing very short indeed. That knowledge made her melancholy.

But it also gave her hope. It was what the Blue File omitted that was her greatest worry. There were two possible outcomes, one was wonderful, the other was terrible. But which would it be? She did not know. She only knew that in three weeks she and Keiichi would experience what might possibly be the greatest joy of their lives, or it might be the beginning of an endless nightmare. It would also decide the fate of the age.

It would depend ultimately on how strong he was. The fact that she couldn't tell him now filled her heart with sadness. It was a burden she knew she must bear alone, until the appointed time. She could only hope and pray.

For such was the price of love.

And the test of faith.


A/N:

In this chapter Skuld pointed out to Keiichi that Belldandy sometimes got angry too (although it was rare). We know that Belldandy can strike out in anger and nearly kill someone. How do we know? Because it happened in the manga Oh! My Goddess, Chapter 252. Eihwaz said idly to herself, "Or should I just kill him [Keiichi] here?" She was just musing aloud. It was not an actual immediate threat.

Belldandy lost it and shot a deadly energy bolt that nearly impaled Eihwaz from behind. Eihwaz freaked out at her overreaction, "What's with you!?" Belldandy turned away so no one could see her face. She closed her eyes to compose herself. Then she turned back. There is a look on Belldandy's face that is really scary. It's subtle artwork: her face is utterly expressionless, no smile. With that scary face she delivered to Eihwaz a deadly threat: "I won't do anything. But if anything happens to Keiichi-san.. it would be a different story."

Belldandy was using inhuman willpower suppress her urge to kill Eihwaz on the spot. Eihwaz then pulled Keiichi aside, leaned in, and whispered to him, "You're really going out with a scary goddess like this?"

Then in Chapter 259 Thrymr makes a direct threat against Keiichi: "I'll make you disappear." And for the very first time in 20+ years of mangas we finally see Belldandy's face drawn angry. She then proceeds to punch-out the She-Hulk.

You never, ever, want to piss off Belldandy.