Sorry for the long wait, but I was experiencing some technical difficulties and a case of writer's block! Please enjoy! And have a great 4th of July!


Chapter 43: Re-meeting the Family

"So…she has amnesia?" Keiichi asked Dr. Himura.

"Yes, the trauma she received to her skull seems to have made her forget just about everything: her name, her friends, her family…" The doctor explained, watching as Urd seemed saddened by this news, "But it seems to be a temporary case. If you can manage to give her some form of trigger, she should remember everything."

"I hope so." Urd sighed, turning back to the room, watching as her daughter sketched on a spare piece of paper.

Yuki continued to let her pencil run freely on the paper, the form of a puppy taking shape. It was pure black with a white heart on the forehead, round and clumsy as it tried to walk.

'Cute! But…why did I draw this?' She wondered, tracing the pup's mark.

Yuki then looked up from her drawing as Belldandy entered the room.

"Hello Miss…uh…"

"Belldandy, Aunt Belldandy to you."

"Then…you know who I am?"

"Yes…you're Yuki Morisato, a goddess trainee and my niece."

The girl was speechless for a moment before she started chuckling.

"A goddess trainee? You can't be serious…Goddesses and the like don't exist." She snickered, putting her drawing off to the side.

"I had a feeling you would say that." Belldandy smiled, holding out her hands.

Yuki watched curiously for a moment before a soft glow came from Belldandy's hands, her drawing floating over before landing in the goddess's palms.

"Uh…I think I believe you now." Yuki said nervously.

"I'm glad to see you're keeping an open mind Yuki."

"'Yuki?' Is that really my name?"

"Yes…your birth mother named you that before her passing." Belldandy smiled as she carefully embraced her niece.

"My birth mother…then…I'm an orphan?" Yuki inquired as she unsurely returned the hug.

"No…your mother is my elder sister, Urd; norn of the past and active administrator of Yggdrasil." Belldandy explained as she stroked Yuki's hair.

"'Yggdrasil?', 'Norn?', what do any of those words mean?" Yuki grumbled, gripping her head as a headache started to form.

Belldandy merely kissed Yuki's forehead, making the young woman lie back down in her bed.

"Everything we'll be explained in time Yuki…but first you must recover from your injuries."

"All right…I'll take your word for it." Yuki yawned, curling into a more comfortable position.

Belldandy then returned to her family, smiling sadly.

"Is she…?" Keiichi started, but Belldandy just sighed.

"She's fine Keiichi, she just doesn't know how to react to us now that she no longer has any memories of her life. Yuki was very hesitant of returning my hug; to her I'm just someone she knew before, but can no longer recall."

Urd wandered into the room, watching as Yuki's body rose and fell with sleep. She pressed a hand to the girl's shoulder, letting the warmth Yuki gave seep in.

'You're so close…yet you're so far away from me now Yuki.' "I promise…I'll do everything to help you remember who you are."

Yuki was kept in the hospital for several more days for observation, ensuring she was physically fit to be released. Urd smiled as she led Yuki to her motorcycle, the pure white paintjob shining brightly in the light.

"Is this your bike Urd?" Yuki questioned as her mother picked up a red helmet.

"No…this is yours." Urd chuckled as she straddled the machine.

"Mine? I used to actually ride this thing?" Yuki gasped as Urd passed her daughter her old pink helmet.

"Indeed…you took a lot of pride and joy in this thing, ever since the Auto Club first gave it to you." Urd smiled as Yuki settled into the sidecar.

"I see…I guess I have a lot to remember." Yuki muttered.

"True…but we have plenty of time…there's no need for us to rush." Urd assured before she started up the bike.

As they made their way back, Yuki closed her eyes, allowing the sounds around her to take over her senses. A brief scene appeared behind her eyelids…


She could feel the wind blowing her braid behind her, the roar of the motorcycle's engine in her ears…

"You're doing great Yuki! I'm proud of you!" A voice called to her from her left.

Just as she turned her head to say something…


"Yuki…we're here."

"Huh? Wha? Oh…I see." Yuki laughed embarrassedly before she got out of the sidecar.

Urd smiled as Yuki made her way up the temple stairs, her steps unsure and nervous like a young child's.

'You'll remember everything soon Yuki…I'll make sure of it.'

Yuki smiled slightly as she made her way to the top, looking around the courtyard.

"This looks like a nice place…"

"That's a bit of a debate I think…but it's been your home for the last seventeen years." Urd grinned as she came to her daughter's side.

Just as Yuki was turning to Urd, she was bowled over by a furry black mass.

"Wah! What is it? Get it off me!" Yuki yelped as a warm red tongue met her face.

Urd laughed out loud as Venus continued her love assault on her master, happy to see her beloved mistress at last after so long.

"Calm down Yuki; this is Venus, your pet hellhound." Urd snickered as she gently pulled the dog off her daughter.

"I own a whatnow? I thought I was a goddess trainee. I'm supposed to fight these things, aren't I?" Yuki exclaimed, wiping away the slobber from her face.

"It's kind of a long story about how you came to own Venus, but we'll talk about it later." Urd smiled.

Venus whined sadly as Yuki glared at her; normally her master loved it when she gave her kisses. Urd stroked the hound's ears, leaning down to explain the reasons why Yuki had rejected her canine companion.

"She has amnesia; doesn't remember a thing, but we'll fix that soon Venus old girl."

The hellhound barked in understanding before dashing inside. Urd giggled a bit as she helped Yuki to her feet.

"Is there anything else I need to know? Like do I have crazy relatives or something?" Yuki sighed.

"A few…I guess, but you'll be used to it again in time."

"'Used to it again?' You mean I'm normally tackled by someone in this family?"

"Yes and no…but let's just go inside and eat, you must be hungry."

Yuki's stomach gave a loud growl in response.

"Now that you mention it, I'm starved; hospital food isn't exactly a filling meal."

"No kidding, but you'll be happy once you get some of your Aunt Belldandy's food into your belly; you loved it before you lost your memories."

"Really? Are her meals really that good?"

Urd chuckled lightly as she sat her daughter down at the table.

"Why don't you see for yourself?"

In minutes, Yuki was shoveling food down her throat, seemingly starved.

"Slow down will you? You're going to choke." Urd sighed.

"Oh let her be Urd, she hasn't had a decent meal in days." Belldandy smiled as Yuki downed her tea.

"I know…but of all things to forget, it had to be her table manners." Urd frowned as Yuki wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve.

"That was great! I don't know how I could forget about food this tasty!" Yuki exclaimed happily as she patted her belly.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it Yuki, it's wonderful to have you back." Belldandy smiled as she took the dishes.

"I'm happy to be back…even though I don't remember anything." Yuki said before burping.

"Say 'excuse me' when you burp, that's just rude." Urd sniffed.

"Sorry…Mom?" Yuki said unsurely, the word unfamiliar on her tongue.

Urd smiled before embracing her daughter.

"It's fine…this is something I can overlook because of your condition."

Yuki smiled a little as she embraced Urd, feeling at ease. Just as she pulled away however…

"Yuki! My precious little niece!" A voice cried as Yuki felt herself being pulled back.

"Yah! Who the heck is this?" Yuki demanded as she struggled to get free.

Urd sighed as Peorth hugged Yuki tightly, the young woman struggling to breathe.

"Peorth, Yuki has amnesia, she doesn't know who you are." Urd explained as Yuki finally freed herself.

"Amnesia? Oh dear, how could that be?"

"Could someone please explain to me what the hell is going on!" Yuki demanded as she crawled away from the rose goddess.

"Please calm down Yuki, you're going to hurt yourself."

Yuki looked up from her position, spotting a blue-haired woman carrying an axe.

"Who the heck are you?"

"I'm your Aunt Lind, there's nothing to be afraid of. And you must forgive my wife, she was just so worried once she heard what happened."

"Okay...this is a lot to take in...I think I need to lay down." Yuki muttered before she fell unconscious.

"Yuki!"

Urd pressed a hand to Yuki's forehead, checking to see if she was all right.

"She's just fainted, nothing to worry over." Urd smiled as she lifted Yuki up.

"Perhaps it'd be better if we let her rest a bit before we try to help her regain her memories." Lind offered as she followed Urd.

The two tucked Yuki in comfortably, smiling as Yuki unconsciously reached over for Shadow, snuggling the black plush.

"Hard to believe she has forgotten everything." Lind sighed, stroking Yuki's head.

"Indeed, and I'm not going to stop until my daughter remembers who she is." Urd said determinedly as they left Yuki to rest.

As the two reentered the dining room, Urd was a little angry to see Hild and Mara already there.

"What do you want Hild? Yuki can't see anyone right now." Urd said as she watched her mother glance down the hall to Yuki's room.

"I know Urddy...and I'm here to tell you I know how she managed to lose her memories."

Urd's interest was peaked as she took a seat.

"Mara and I took the time to have a closer look at the car that hit Yuki...and we discovered that a powerful, but subtle, amnesia spell was placed on the front of the car, a demonic one at that."

"So that would mean..." Keiichi started.

"Yeah...that car was meant to hit Yuki, and whoever did it wanted to be sure Yuki lost all memories of being a goddess." Mara hissed.

"If Yuki lost her memories as a goddess..." Belldandy gasped.

"That means she's vulnerable to attack Bell dear, no doubt all her spells and weapons are far from her reach and use." Hild finished.

Urd clenched her fists as she took in the news; someone was trying to harm her daughter again.

"Urddy...I think there might be something else you might want to check on with Yuki." Hild said as she looked down the hall again.

"What is it this time?" Urd growled.

"It's possible that...since Yuki lost her memories, and is now unable to defend herself, she may be targeted. After all, a goddess trainee with all the knowledge of Heaven sealed inside her mind…makes for a tempting chance at overthrowing The Almighty." Hild retorted as Urd's eyes widen in realization.

"I never even thought about that." Urd gasped as she rushed back to Yuki's room.

Yuki was enjoying a dreamless sleep before she felt someone shaking her awake.

"Huh? What is it?" Yuki yawned as she rubbed at her eyes.

"Come with me this instant!" Urd whispered as she tugged Yuki out of bed.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming." Yuki mumbled as she allowed Urd to pull on her arm.

As soon as Urd brought her to the others, Yuki became curious of the two demons who were staring at her.

"Um…who the hell are these two?" Yuki inquired as Hild's eyes widened a bit at Yuki's words.

They were all nervous as Hild walked over to Yuki, a hand cupping the girl's cheek. Yuki gulped slightly as she felt the heat radiating from the Daimakaicho's skin, as well as from the calculating stare Hild was giving her.

"Yuki…"

"Yes?"

Hild smiled broadly as she hugged her granddaughter, glad to see she was safe.

"Oh it's so wonderful to see that you're okay!"

Yuki looked to her mother, pointing at Hild as the leader of Hell pulled away from her.

"And she is…?"

"Yuki, meet your grandmother, Hild; ruler of Niflheim and leader of demons." Urd explained.

"The leader of demons? I thought I was a goddess, deities and demons are enemies…aren't they?" Yuki questioned.

Hild chuckled as she patted Yuki's head.

"I wouldn't say we're enemies per say…more like rivals, dear little Yuki." Hild grinned as Yuki looked confused.

"Rivals for what exactly?"

Urd smiled tiredly as she came between the two.

"Why don't we all sit down and explain everything?"

Yuki nodded as she sat down between Urd and Hild.

"Tell me everything you know about Heaven, Niflheim…and me." Yuki said determinedly, eyes growing fierce.

Urd smiled in relief as she saw her daughter regain some of her old spirit.

'There's hope…she only ever got this way when she was getting ready for battle; whether it be a battle of strength, or of the mind.' Urd thought happily.

After explaining the relationship of demons and deities, as well as who she was supposed to be, Yuki took a deep breath as she tried to get everything straightened out.

"So let me get this straight…my birth mother died when I was nearly a week old, Urd found me and took me home, and I've been raised as a goddess, and to act as envoy between Heaven and Earth, since I was four?" Yuki asked as Belldandy passed her a cup of tea.

"Yes indeed Yuki, and you are by far one of the strongest goddesses, after me of course." Peorth smiled.

"Right…and I'm able to use my powers to control earth, as well as defend myself with the combat skills "Aunt Lind" taught to me?"

"Correct Yuki, you are one of the best when it comes to combating against skilled opponents." Lind complimented as Yuki sipped her tea.

"Okay…and Hild is my grandmother, but being a goddess that means I'm supposed to try and collect contracts and increase the shares for Heaven?"

"That's only if you are a first-class goddess like your Aunt Belldandy, but yes, that is the case Yuki Dear." Hild grinned.

Yuki finished her tea before looking at them all.

"I guess my life is a lot more complicated than I thought." Yuki laughed nervously.

Urd embraced Yuki tightly, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"I think 'unique' is a better word for it, but yes, it's quite extraordinary."

Yuki grinned a moment before a thought came to mind.

"If I have so many aunts and uncles…how many cousins do I have exactly?"

Just as Yuki said that…

"Cousin Yuki!" Marie cried out before tackling Yuki to the floor.

"Yah! Who is this?"

"Oh no…Marie, get off your cousin this instant young lady!" Lind scolded as Marie wrapped her arms around Yuki's neck.

"But Daddy…"

"No 'buts,' you know better than to tackle other people. Besides, Yuki doesn't even remember any of us."

Marie sniffled before Yuki patted her head.

"It's okay…I guess this is just your way of showing how glad you are to see me." Yuki smiled understandingly.

"Qui!"

Urd grinned as Yuki cuddled Marie for a moment.

'At least she's willing to try and understand all of this…soon she'll remember everything…I hope.' Urd thought as Yuki allowed Marie to snuggle into her neck.

Yuki smiled as she allowed everything to sink in.

'I may not remember these people, but they seem to care about me…and I'm sure I'll be glad to regain what I've lost.'

But then…

"Yuki!"

"Huh?"

Skuld wrapped her arms tightly around Yuki's neck, causing the girl's face to turn blue.

"Skuld, Yuki can't breathe!" Urd exclaimed as her daughter managed to free herself.

As soon as she was out of Skuld's hold, Yuki made a break for the courtyard.

"Yuki, come back! Banpei, help me out here!"

The robot was soon a motorcycle, and he and Skuld proceed to chase Yuki down.

"Forget what I said! I want out of this crazy family!"


Dragonlover71491: So here it is after nearly two months! I'm real sorry about this, but there's no internet at my house at the moment, plus our Microsoft Word is from 2003, thus not compatible with Fanfiction for some reason. The only connection I have is at the library, which I can only go to on Saturdays due to my mother's and my work schedule. At most I can only update once a week, if I write at a steady pace. Really sorry about the long wait, but please don't worry, this story is far from over! Love you all for understanding!