Chapter 20: Like Mother, Like Daughter
Keiichi was working on his bike, Yuki observing him. Yuki was wearing a little blue dress and white mary janes, her hair in a braid. As she watched him at work, something formed in her head, a question she'd had on her mind for the last few days since the flying incident.
"Uncle Keiichi?"
"What is it Yuki?"
"Um…I have a question…but I don't know if I should say it." Yuki said nervously, shuffling her feet.
"Yuki, you can ask me anything. So tell me, what's on your mind?" He laughed, cleaning his hands with a towel.
"Well…I just wanted to ask…"
"Go ahead Yuki, I'll answer it the best I can."
"I was wondering…Uncle Keiichi, why don't you and Auntie Belldandy have any children?" Yuki asked innocently.
Keiichi felt his blood run cold; did his niece really just ask him that?
"Uh…I'm sorry Yuki, I must have something in my ears. Could you repeat that?" He said, a bead of sweat running down his face.
"I asked why don't you and Belldandy have any children."
'Ah man…I was afraid that's what she said.' "Why are you asking me that exactly?"
"Well…I want to have some cousins to play with. Can you and Auntie Belldandy please have some for me Uncle Keiichi?"
Keiichi's face went as red as a tomato; did Yuki even know what she was implying?
"I can't exactly do that Yuki." He laughed nervously, patting her head.
"Why not?"
"Well…first of all, your Auntie Belldandy and I aren't married. You need to be married first before you can try and have babies." He stated, thinking he'd sated Yuki's curiosity for now.
"Oh…Then can you please marry Auntie Belldandy and then give me some cousins?"
Poor Keiichi started to hyperventilate; was Yuki doing this on purpose?
"Uncle Keiichi? Are you okay? Why are you breathing so hard?" Yuki asked concernedly.
"I'm…fine. Just fine." He coughed, sitting down on the ground.
Yuki sat beside him, leaning her head on his arm.
"Uncle Keiichi…did I say something wrong?"
"No Yuki…but…asking someone to marry you isn't a simple thing."
"Why not? You and Auntie Belldandy love each other, right?"
"Well…yeah, we do…but I don't know if Belldandy would be willing to marry me."
"Auntie Belldandy loves you Uncle Keiichi. She always smiles whenever I mention you, so…shouldn't that be enough proof?"
"I…I…"
Yuki's face scrunched up in frustration.
"Uncle Keiichi…are you really that scared?"
"What? No! I…"
Yuki was glaring at him, her little arms crossed.
"Well…maybe I am a little scared." He confessed quietly, stroking the top of Yuki's head.
Yuki grinned widely as she stood up.
"Wait here Uncle Keiichi!"
She rushed inside, leaving Keiichi confused. Yuki soon came back, a little tied up handkerchief in her arms.
"I've been saving this for months, but you need it more than I do Uncle Keiichi." Yuki smiled as she untied the knot.
Keiichi's jaw dropped as he saw the sizeable lump of money in the cloth. Yuki grabbed the bills and started counting, completely ignoring the look of surprise on her uncle's face.
"Let's see…I have 50,000 yen saved up." Yuki smiled broadly before she put the bills in Keiichi's hands.
"How the…when did…how did you…?" He sputtered.
"I've saved up the change Auntie Belldandy has given me, found bits on the ground, and people have given me money because I was so cute." Yuki giggled.
"Yuki…I can't take this." He said, trying to give the money back.
"No Uncle Keiichi…you need it."
"But Yuki…"
"A goddess's duty is to ensure the happiness of others, Uncle Keiichi. And what I want to do is to make sure you and Auntie Belldandy are happy."
"Yuki…" He almost cried, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug, "Thank you, you don't know what this means to me."
"You're welcome…now grab the rest of your money! We're going to the jewelry store!" Yuki cheered, dragging Keiichi to his bike.
"What? But Yuki!"
"I'm helping you pick out the perfect ring for Auntie Belldandy, and you can't stop me!"
'Oh no…she's starting to become a mini Urd!'
"Come on Uncle Keiichi!"
"Hold on a minute! I need to tell Belldandy we're going out for a bit."
"Hurry up! We don't have all day!" Yuki whined.
Keiichi rushed back into the house, picking up his wallet before going into the kitchen. Belldandy was just in the process of cleaning up their dishes from breakfast, humming happily to herself.
"Belldandy…"
"Yes Keiichi?"
"I'm going to be taking Yuki out for a bit, we'll hopefully be back around lunch."
"How nice, you two hardly get a chance to bond, so this is a wonderful thing to hear."
'If she knew what we were really doing…I don't know how she'd react.'
Yuki was sitting impatiently in the sidecar, her little pink helmet in place.
"Come on! We're burning daylight here!"
'Yup…she's definitely taking after her mother.'
"Move it Uncle Keiichi!"
"All right already."
As they were in the jewelry store, Yuki was perusing the merchandise, trying to find the perfect one for Belldandy.
"Find anything Yuki?"
"Not yet Uncle Keiichi."
'I really hope this Urd like behavior is just a phase.'
"I found it!"
Yuki was pointing to a single ring in a display case. It was a simple gold band with a small diamond, one sapphire on each side of the diamond. Simple, but meaningful, and the sapphires reminded Keiichi of Belldandy's eyes.
"It's perfect Yuki…and it's actually pretty cheap."
"The price doesn't matter, when you give it with love all is right with the world." Yuki smiled.
"Excuse me? We'd like to get this ring."
A sophisticated looking woman came over to the case, eyes on Keiichi with a bit of disdain.
"You found something to your liking, Sir?"
"Yes…and I never would have found it if it weren't for my niece here." Keiichi grinned as Yuki came to his side.
Yuki gave the woman an adorable smile as Keiichi patted her head affectionately. The woman felt her heart melting at Yuki's cuteness and innocence.
"And this is the one you wanted?"
"Yup."
"And please tell me, who is this ring for?"
"My Auntie Belldandy, I'm helping my uncle…" Yuki started, but she stopped suddenly.
"What's the matter dear?"
"Can you come down for a minute?"
The woman leaned down to Yuki's level, Yuki standing on her tiptoes.
"I'm helping Uncle Keiichi propose, but don't tell anyone." Yuki whispered before settling back on her feet.
'How sweet…helping her uncle propose.' "Tell you what, I'll give you a discount."
"Really Miss? Thank you very much!" Yuki chirped, her eyes shining happily.
"What can I say, I'm a sucker for little cuties like you." The woman cooed as she wrapped up their purchase.
"You're a wonderful person Miss, may fortune come to you and bring you happiness." Yuki smiled as she took the small bag.
"Thank you Sweetie. Have a nice day."
As Keiichi and Yuki made their way home, he turned to her as they came to a red light.
"How did you know that she'd give us a discount Yuki?"
"It's as Mama say, 'if you got it, flaunt it!' Uncle Keiichi." Yuki smirked.
'Definitely a little Urd in the making.'
"Uncle Keiichi…"
"Yeah?"
"When we get home, I want to talk to you alone."
"What about?"
"I think we need to plan out how you're going to propose to Auntie Belldandy."
"And why do you say that?"
"No offense Uncle Keiichi, but you're kind of wishy-washy."
He frowned at her words, but supposed she had a point. After returning to the temple, having lunch, and Belldandy leaving with Urd and Skuld to "give Keiichi more bonding time with Yuki," Yuki dragged Keiichi off to Urd's room.
"Okay Uncle Keiichi, is there somewhere that Auntie Belldandy loves to be?"
"Yeah…she loves taking a trip on one of the ships near the city's harbor."
"Good! That's where you're going to propose!"
"Huh? Who said you made the decisions?"
"I'm just helping you get your act together Mister Gearhead." Yuki teased, messing with Keiichi's hair.
"Thanks." He said dryly.
He then saw Yuki getting on a ladder, perusing the potions and potion ingredients with a keen eye.
"Yuki…what are you doing? You shouldn't mess with that stuff."
"Relax Uncle Keiichi, I know what I'm doing."
After watching Yuki pour a few liquids together and stir it vigorously, adding a few other ingredients all the while, she soon presented him with a beaker of red fluid.
"And…what is this?"
"Just a mild confidence booster, just drink it and you'll be able to propose no problem." Yuki smiled.
"And you're sure this is safe? I'm not gonna grow tentacles or turn into a moped am I?"
"It's fine Uncle Keiichi, this is one of the few potions I can create without Mama worrying over me."
"If you say so…bottoms up."
He swallowed it easily, grimacing a bit at the aftertaste.
"How do you feel?"
"Great…really great! Like I can do anything!"
"Good…now for one last thing."
Yuki rummaged through her little chest of seeds, finding what she wanted.
"Got it! Just give me a minute!"
"Hey! Where are you going Yuki?"
"Just out in the courtyard!"
Yuki immediately planted several seeds before putting her hands over them.
"Answer my wish and grow into vibrant blooms to relay the message of love that the man here wishes to convey."
Four rose bushes grew in front of her: red, pink, white, and lavender.
"Perfect!"
Yuki immediately set to work plucking a few of the flowers, removing thorns and wrapping them up in paper in a beautiful bouquet.
"Here you are Uncle Keiichi. Just give these to Auntie Belldandy to help sweeten the deal." Yuki grinned as she gave Keiichi the flowers.
"Thanks Yuki. Belldandy will love these."
"She should. Red roses represent a sincere love and respect, pink means grace and gentility, white is for purity, and lavender means love at first sight and enchantment." Yuki grinned broadly.
"What kind of lessons has Peorth been giving you?" He asked curiously, wondering if this was something to worry about.
"Actually I learned that out of a book."
When the norns returned, Yuki immediately latched onto Urd and Skuld.
"Mama, Auntie Skuld, can you please play with me?"
"Sure Yuki!" Skuld laughed as she hugged Yuki.
"And Auntie Belldandy, Uncle Keiichi wanted to see you. He should be waiting for you at the port." Yuki smiled, her plan set in motion.
"All right, thank you Yuki."
As for Keiichi, he was waiting for Belldandy, rerunning what Yuki had said before he'd come here.
A half hour before the norns had returned home…
"Okay Uncle Keiichi, just go to the harbor while I keep Mama and Auntie Skuld busy." Yuki said as she passed him his helmet.
"Right."
"You'll be fine, Auntie Belldandy isn't going to say 'no.' And Uncle Keiichi…"
"Yes?"
"If you mess up…your motorcycle is going to have a little accident." Yuki smiled sweetly, her eyes completely serious about her threat.
"Understood Yuki."
Back to now…
"I hope Yuki is right."
"Keiichi!"
Belldandy floated down in front of him, a serene smile on her lips.
"Hello Keiichi."
"Hey Belldandy…you want to get on the boat? I know how much you like it at this time of day."
"Yes, that would be wonderful."
"Oh…and these are for you."
Keiichi presented the roses to her shyly, Belldandy taking them happily as she smelled their sweet scent.
"They're beautiful Keiichi. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
As the two stood on the deck, Keiichi was fingering the ring box in his pocket.
'Okay, now or never Morisato.' "Belldandy…"
"Yes Keiichi?"
"I…I…"
"What is it Keiichi?"
'Come on Keiichi!' "Belldandy, I no longer want our relationship to just be between man and goddess."
"What do you mean? Do you no longer want me with you Keiichi?" Belldandy panicked, tears coming into her eyes.
"No! Belldandy, you misunderstand! What I want is…" he swallowed heavily, starting to feel the effects of the potion wearing off.
"Please Keiichi, tell what it is you want to say?"
Keiichi collapsed to one knee, flashing the ring out.
"Belldandy, will you marry me?"
Silence remained between them for a few tense moments before Belldandy started to cry.
"Yes Keiichi! I will marry you! I love you!" She shouted ecstatically as she embraced him.
"I love you too. More than I can ever say."
The two shared a tender kiss as Keiichi slipped the ring on her finger, a kiss of understanding and the purest kind of love that could only be found between those who really and truly cared for one another.
'Thanks Yuki…I owe you one.' Keiichi thought as he started driving them home.
Yuki was just in the middle of beating Skuld at UNO when she felt the happiness of Belldandy flood her body.
"Uncle Keiichi did it." Yuki smiled.
"Did what exactly Yuki? What did you do?" Urd smirked as she stroked her daughter's head.
"Nothing much Mama…I just helped Uncle Keiichi propose to Belldandy." Yuki snickered as she snuggled up to Urd.
Skuld dropped her hand in shock.
"What…what did…WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
After the pair came home, explained what happened, and Yuki trying to calm down Skuld, they all went to bed. Or at least most of them did…Yuki was just making her way to the phone, a smile on her face. She got on her little footstool and picked up the receiver. Yuki quickly dialed the number of the person she wanted to talk to most at the moment. She waited patiently for a few moments before she got an answer.
"This is Yggdrasil's main office, how may I help you?"
"Yes, can you please connect me to The Almighty One? It's his granddaughter Yuki calling."
"Oh…yes, right away."
"Thank you." Yuki grinned, starting to twirl a small lock of her hair around her finger.
She only waited for a few moments before she heard her grandfather.
"Good evening Yuki…is there a reason why you're calling so late?"
"Grandpa…I want to ask you for a wish."
"And just what is it that you desire my little one?"
"I want you to…"
Dragonlover71491: So what do you think? Who actually thought Yuki was going to remain like Belldandy forever? And if you're wondering what Yuki asked for, just wait for the next chapter!