Chapter 21

Conclusion

"There you are!" Urd shouted approaching them. Looking back to the field they could see the party was now in full swing, as groups of goddesses blaring out in songs both strange and familiar. The sky above was now dark and the rows of lanterns grew, augmented by what seemed to be floating fragments of light, hovering fireflies in the air above.

"Looks like this will go on for a while," Urd said following their gaze. "Bell thinks we should consider how to begin to accommodate our earth-bound guests.

"Accommodate?"

"She thinks by the time the party is over they won't be in any condition to make it home – and shouldn't try."

"I'll go up to the temple and get things started," replied Keiichi.

"It's been a long day for me as well. I'll go with you Keiichi." Takumi said passing his hands warmly over Urd.

"Were you playing a game up here?" Urd asked eyeing the glassy surface to their right.

"No we were just . . . we were just talking to . . . Who were we talking to?" asked Keiichi.

"One of your priests," said Takumi.

"She looked to him puzzled. "Tai we don't have priests."

The two looked at each other; then back up the hill.

"In that case we were just up here drinking," he muttered scratching his head. As the three made their way through the crowd to the temple, Takumi caught sight of the strangely dressed blond who sat arm wrestling a group of Valkyrie. He was about to look away when the woman flashed him a menacing smile throwing her current opponent into their path. She took a long draft of her beer nodding to Urd before facing her next challenger. They walked on.

"I hear you have an appetite for nightlife," the woman murmured sarcastically as they passed.

"Friend of yours?" asked Takumi.

"We cross paths from time to time," Urd replied dismissively, stepping over the Valkyrie in their path.

A few hours' later things were as ready as they could be in the Morisato household as guests began to arrive. From under the covers in Urd's room Takumi heard much continued partying out in the courtyard and beyond into the early morning hours. "I'm getting too old for this," he muttered drifting off to sleep.

. . .

The next morning he rolled over to find himself alone in Urd's small room. Gathering a sheet around him he peeked out into the hallway to find the scattered bodies of several whom had spent the night. "Hey you," came the whisper behind him.

"There you are," he replied turning to see Urd leaning out of an upper hallway closet.

"Come on -," she motioned, leading him down the hallway to Keiichi's room, a camera in one hand.

"What are we doing?"

"Shhh." Carefully she stepped between the sleeping bodies to reach Keiichi's door. Gently sliding it back Takumi saw Belldandy nestled comfortably in Keiichi's arms, still dressed in the gown she had worn last night. She shuffled pressing her head to his shoulder, fingers intertwined asleep in blissful happiness.

"Look how peaceful they are. Doesn't she look like an angel?" Urd said happily.

"She does," he replied as Urd leaned down taking several pictures in rapid succession. "Of course the fact she is part angel probably helps. Now can we go back to bed?"

"This isn't what I got the camera for. Come on," she said moving stealthily toward the front door.

Takumi followed but then stopped, looking to his right.

"Hey Urd, get a picture of this," he said spotting Peorth sprawled in the center of Belldandy's room on her back, arms extended over two young gods asleep on either side of her. In the far corner he spied the three goddesses who had jumped on stage with her last night asleep in a pile.

"Yeah that should satisfy her ego -," Urd said snapping a photograph from above. "Now come on."

Exiting the house, Takumi looked up at the threatening morning skies. "Looks as though it might rain; yet still it is warm out here," he said, discovering the sleeping members of the Nekomi Tech auto club scattered across the veranda.

"Why do you think Belldandy's asleep? She's been overusing her powers."

"To keep the grounds warm?"

Urd nodded. Stepping over Otaki and Tamiya she quietly slid open the outer door to Skuld's room. "Look at this," she whispered pointing inside.

Looking past her Takumi could now see Skuld asleep on her side, hands closed as if in silent prayer. She was facing another he now recognized to be the boy who'd spoken out at the party. "Now that is cute," he said observing Skuld's expression as Sentaro's mouth hung open absently.

"Yes," agreed Urd continuing to click away. "And may come in handy someday as blackmail."

At the back of the room Takumi saw the bodies of Keiichi's sister and the girl with glasses he'd spoken to yesterday.

Sleepily Skuld suddenly opened her eyes, "Urd?" she muttered just as her sister leaned in to take an even more incriminating shot.

"Yes?" she replied sweetly throwing the camera over her head to Takumi behind her

"Are they going to make breakfast?" she yawned.

Of course they are. What would you like dear?" her sister smiled agreeably.

"Well I was thinking -," Skuld rolled over, only now noticing the sleeping form beside her. Her eyes darted back to Urd's. "I don't care. Get out of here!" she snapped blushing.

"Well if that's what you really want dear," she replied innocently shutting the door.

"I think we're all going to want and need copies of those," Takumi observed. "By the way does that kid have a home?"

"We promised we'd take care of him and bring him back today."

"I see. And who's we exactly?"

"Belldandy and Keiichi."

"Thank goodness for responsible adults. Well if you're quite done I think I'll go back -."

"I'm not. We have one more picture to take."

"Oh very well -," he replied posing against the pillar.

"Not you – that," she said pointing to the courtyard.

Turning, he saw that indeed something did seem to be lying in the middle of Belldandy's garden patch. He looked at her questioningly.

"You'll see. This is the picture I really need."

Quietly approaching, Urd signaled for him to ready the camera.

"Now! Seal her!" she shouted.

"AUGH!" yelled the mass of blond hair jerking up. The picture he caught of their respective expressions was something each would remember for some time to come.

"Yeah real funny Urd!" cried the blond.

"You again!" said Takumi.

"Ahh so you remember me. I'm not surprised," said blond throwing back her hair.

"Who is she?"

"Mara," replied Urd.

The toothy blond continued to collect herself. "Yes, and you would do well to remember my name; since it's likely me you'll be negotiating with someday to get Urd un-sealed."

He was about to respond when his attention was drawn to the trees. For their shouts had awakened something in them. He saw now on the limbs of several larger branches the watchful eyes of goddesses, their matching blue and white robes wafting gently in the breeze. Recognizing there was no real threat they quickly settled back to their respective positions.

"They're all dressed the same," he said watching them.

"Yeah, and they like to be up high not close to the ground. You see?" she said pointing out several more higher in the trees.

"Valkyries?" he asked.

She nodded. "But we don't have time for their like right now, you need to get busy," she said pushing him.

"Busy? For what?"

"Oh, it's just a little custom we have -."

"I'm beginning to hate those words."

"The presented prepare breakfast for -,"

"Urd now I know you're making this up. There have to be at least twenty people here!"

"True, but most of them are still asleep. So as long as you get busy now you'll be fine. Besides, Keiichi has to help you."

"Oh no. They're sleeping peacefully and I don't intend to wake them. You will help me."

"I'll tell you what, you can have her," she said shoving Mara in his general direction.

"Are you volunteering me for this detail Urd?" Mara fumed brushing off the last of her leaves.

"Of course. I mean I don't want to leave you out there with them after all," she said motioning to the trees. "Because we both know what they would love to have for breakfast," she grinned.

Mara laughed waving her arms. "You know you goddesses really need to get over yourselves," she said heading inside.

. . .

By the time Belldandy and Keiichi awoke operations in the kitchen seemed well underway . . . judging from the clatter and occasional crash of dishes.

"Oh Keiichi! There's something I forgot to tell you last night," Belldandy gasped as they tucked their heads into the hallway.

He prepared himself for the worst when Megumi emerged in the doorway sipping happily from her cup.

"Hey Megumi, can I get some of that?"

"Sure big brother, go right ahead," she said passing him the cup.

He took a swig before gagging. "BLEAAH! Is this what I think it is?!"

"Yep."

"Sake for breakfast?!"

Urd's head now appeared from the kitchen. "We ran out of tea some time ago so we're using that."

"I can only imagine what you're using for food," he said somberly.

Yeah . . . what is it we're making again?" she shouted into the kitchen.

Keiichi heard Takumi's aggrieved reply, "Urd for the third time they're pancakes!"

"Are they supposed to look like that?" she asked.

"They're just . . . well-cooked. Aren't you supposed to be looking for something?"

"Well we never did find baking soda, instead we just used -."

"Urd,didn't we agree that would beour little cooking secret?"

"Don't worry, you drink enough of this you hardly notice it," said Mara suddenly appearing in the hallway.

"Augh! Mara!" Keiichi shouted jumping back.

"Augh yourself sweetness. You think you look so great the first thing in the morning?"

When he finally ventured to the kitchen, Keiichi saw that Urd, Mara and Takumi were all well on their way to making the room a complete catastrophe.

"How could you guys make such a big mess so quickly?!" he demanded.

The three shrugged looking to one another. "We did have kind of a batter fight a little while ago," admitted Takumi. "That probably explains most of the wall-effect you see around here. But the important thing is that everyone will receive a hearty breakfast," he said holding up a batch of less than ideal pancakes.

He shook his head rolling up his sleeves. "Move over."

Mara clamped her hands around Urd. So you're presented now Urd, at least the first time anyway," she snickered. "So do you feel old now? Or should I say – older!"

"Look who's talking, wasn't Genghis Khan your prom date?

"Eh don't remind me, that guy was all about the yak's milk -."

"And I'd think you'd be better at this, given all of your relevant work experience at the Quickie mart."

"What? I'm performing magnificently. This is exactly the way it's done," Mara replied cracking the eggs only to toss their contents, eggshell and all into the bowl.

"Hey what are you doing!" yelled Keiichi.

"See? The human knows -."

"Well come to think of it we do handle mostly pre-packaged food," Mara said thoughtfully.

Over the next hour as guests awoke everyone was eventually fed . . . something. As groups gathered reminiscing about the previous evening's events several Valkyrie came down from their arboreal perches sniffing if not actually tasting the available food. Some time later Peorth poked her head out from Belldandy's room just long enough to relay several less than glowing comments about the days' breakfast. Whether due Urd and Mara's look or reply or the quality of her in-room companionship, Peorth quickly retreated back into the room for the rest of the morning.

. . .

By the time Belldandy dressed and went to check on the kitchen things were beginning to returning to normal.

"Bell you look tired," said Urd noticing her. "Was it that Keiichi? Did he tire you out?" she asked innocently over Mara's snickering.

She ignored them. "Has anyone seen Keiichi?"

"Going to take the boy home -," Takumi said from outside.

Quickly Belldandy ducked into Keiichi's room before rushing outside to meet him behind the shed as he readied the bike.

"Keiichi," she called awkwardly walking to hand him the sweater.

"Bell," he replied smiling at her tired but happy face. The two moved close touching noses.

"It's kind of like Eskimo porn," observed Mara.

"Yeah, kind of sometimes," muttered Urd.

"Hey do I have to turn a hose on you guys!" called the mysterious voice above them. They looked up to see Skuld sitting on the corner of the roof peering down at them.

"Skuld get off of there!" shouted Takumi hoping to give the two a moment's privacy.

"No!" she said stubbornly.

Suspecting Skuld's real reason for climbing onto the roof in the first place he tried another approach. "Why are you up there Skuld? It's not to catch sight of someone special is it?"

"WHAT?! No . . . I'm just -," she jumped down immediately sufficiently embarrassed by his comment.

"Don't you know you're supposed to be good this time of year?" he continued.

"Oh are you talking about Christmas? Because I know what I want already!" she said naming off an increasingly complex list of items.

Takumi nodded feigning interest leaning against the post as he listened to Belldandy and Keiichi behind the shed.

"You spoke your heart last night Keiichi. But with everything that was going on I never got a chance to say something to you," she said leaning in.

He could not catch their whispered conversation above Skuld's continued list of potential Christmas gifts. And so he never heard Belldandy's final question to Keiichi. But he heard his response clearly. "Always Bell . . . always," he replied hugging her tightly. "C'mon Sentaro, let's go!" he shouted pushing the bike to the alley.

"Goodbye wobbly!" Sentaro yelled at Skuld walking away.

"Goodbye smelly," she replied running after them as quickly as she dared. As the bike disappeared down the alleyway Skuld turned to her sister following her inside. "Do you have special in mind for Christmas Onee-san?"

"As a matter of fact I do," she said tucking her arms around her.

"Good! Because I really need -."

"No I meant for Keiichi. I have something special in mind for Keiichi."

"Oh. Well what about you Takumi?" she asked as he stepped off the veranda.

"Yeah, there you go Skuld," he replied lost in his own thoughts.

"Huh?! Are you even listening to me?"

"-It sure is Skuld, it sure is . . .," he replied walking away.

"Ugh . . . adults!"

. . .

By noon the skies were still gray but most of the guests had managed to pack up and head for home. Slowly Belldandy, Megumi and Urd worked to return the temple to something resembling its normal appearance. Pushing the blankets into the closet Urd looked out on the courtyard only to see Takumi standing alone, watching her quietly from beneath the great oak.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked motioning to her.

Belldandy watched as the two walk for some time together under the trees of the Western wall. When Urd at last returned she seemed quiet.

"Did you get to tell him what you want for Christmas?" Skuld demanded. "Because it's not far away you know."

"Enough about Christmas Skuld!" cried Megumi.

Urd said nothing, her eyes following Takumi as he turned to leave.

"Are you alright?" asked Belldandy coming to her side.

"Yeah. He suggested we go away somewhere, just the two of us, after the New Year."

"Hmm, sounds nice," chortled Megumi flopping down atop the pile of blankets.

"Knowing him it will probably be somewhere near the sea," Belldandy said putting her arm around Urd.

"I don't think so. There's a place in the mountains. The snow is deep there - but the horses should be able to make it through," she said speaking as though in a dream.

"Horses? Horses?! You know there's a faster way to travel right?" demanded Skuld.

"That's not always the point -," Megumi reminded her.

"Have you - been there Urd?" asked Belldandy cautiously watching her sister's eyes.

"No. It's just - a feeling I have. Yet for the life of me I can't place where that white coat is from," she muttered shaking her head.

"White coat?"

"Not really a coat. More like a long thick cloak. Beautiful protection against the cold," Urd said coming out of her trance.

"Maybe it's a Christmas present!" suggested Skuld.

"It sounds a kind of like a cloak Peorth wore for -."

"PEORTH!" Urd shrieked. "Of course! That's where I've see it before!"

"Urd are you alright?"

"I am Bell," she said wiping her cheek. "This time, I really am."

. . .

Shortly after New Years Urd and Takumi were indeed to be found on horseback, deep in the mountains east of Kakunodake. The path was longer than he had anticipated and it was late afternoon by the time he broke into the snow laden meadow. "Okay this time I'm sure!" he said charging ahead down the slope. "This has to be the right place. Will you come on already?"

"My horse and I are just taking our time," she replied emerging slowly from the forest behind. "Because this time, I want to enjoy every moment."

He looked back at her puzzled moving on. "Well what do you think?"

She reached the top of the hill looking down at the small cabin. "Tai I can honestly say it's exactly what I imagined." She smiled buffeted by the blustery winds as she made her way down the slope beside him.

"Might snow again tonight. I should probably put the horses up in the woods and get you inside - come here you," he said hopping down to take her in his arms. Opening the door he carried her inside, tumbling into their cozy accommodations. Before long the cabin fire was aglow as they attempted to cook using only their earthly skills.

"So this is camping?" Urd asked biting down on a biscuit.

"Well - it's a start," he mused opening the sleeping bags to toss them on the floor. As twilight fell slowly fell to evening the two quietly watched the stars gather in the night sky while Urd described her next great plan for advancing Keiichi and Belldandy's relationship. The third time her head fell upon his shoulder as she pressed against him for warmth he drew the cloak around her taking her inside. Under the lingering glow of the fires' embers they closed the shades to curl up in the small cabin. Moments later the tiny figure who'd been hovering unseen at the edge of the tree line zipped forward, eagerly dashing from one window to another for any possible view. After several minutes of fruitless searching she plopped down at the edge of the window sill. "Ahh shimata!" she cried scowling at the heavens, moonlight illuminating the six pointed star on her forehead before streaking away into the darkness.

End

The OMG terran arc continues in Book 2: Mortality