The order of the Mortal Knights.
By Elnauhual

Fan fiction, inspired by "Oh My Goddess" by Kosuke Fujishima.

note: I offer my apologies in advance, this chapter has not been reviewed by a native english speaker,
so probably has many mistakes. Please, if you found something really outrageous, let my know.

Chapter XLI

Interlude: What is heaven?

Along a sinuous road in the hill of a mountain there was a lone motorcyclist, although at times he reached a high speed actually he seemed in no hurry as he lowered his speed to almost to a crawl whenever the landscape worth to take a look, and that happened frequently.

The man was driving a modern and elegant machine, the soft purr of the engine was far from the roar of the old Otto internal combustion engine that until recently had been the standard of motorcycles. Despite the silence, the ease the man speed up showed he was using the machine only at a fraction of it´s real capacity and the man seemed to enjoy that; he accelerated and decelerated only for the pleasure of feeling that amazing machine in his hands.

Suddenly he stopped and examined the surrounding area, he smiled and advanced, leaving the road behind to enter a path. By the marks it looked like it was made by mountain bikes, but the machine moved smoothly along it. The man seemed determined to test the machine thoroughly and unhesitatingly followed the difficult path.

Suddenly he reached the top of the road, the place was deserted but surely weekends would be swarming with cyclists and hikers enjoying their effort to climb up there. At the sight the man shouted satisfied, enjoying the rush of adrenaline.

He looked around and saw a viewpoint that had been set up upon an imposing rocky outcrop jutting above a cliff, he got out of his machine and walked toward it. At the edge he breathed satisfied and leaned against the railing to see the awesome spectacle.

From there he had a commanding view of the mountainous area at the Boso Peninsula, in the Chiba district. The place where he stood, Mount Nokogiri, was not particularly high, but that was no reason for that view to be less spectacular. Far off Tokyo Bay was barely seen, but most of the landscape were forests so it was easy to ignore the modern world, at least temporarily ...

It was mid afternoon and the sun shone brightly, but in the distance some dark clouds were heralding a summer squall and the air brought the smell of wet earth. Still, the man knew he had enough time to enjoy the landscape. Thanks to recent advances in computing and climate modeling, weather had become a precise science, so he knew exactly how much time he had.

The man was about his mid 30s, but his clothes made him look still younger. His fashionable pants and stylish jacket definitely gave him a youthful appearance; he took off his helmet and revealed a serene face with a light tan showing that he liked the outdoors, his had some elegant glasses with a thin metal frame that gave emphasis to eyes that looked at the world with curiosity.

He closed his eyes for a moment to enjoy the moment, then opened them and looked at the motorcycle he had left behind, then to the clothes he wore, he began to laugh like a child who has committed a prank and enjoyed it.

He touched his brand new jacket, then took off his glasses and examined them as if it were the first time he saw them, he paused and gave a deep sight.

So Dr Shugahara Kenji, tenured professor at Chiba University came to realize he was happy, as happy as he never had been before. He still felt adrenaline running through his blood, and that increased his sense of happiness, so he began to evaluate his new life.

He was living with a goddess!, no less! That alone was enough. Time ago he had imagined that the mythical Urth he had found in old manuscripts had been just a woman whose story had been embellished by the myth, but reality had been more wonderful than any dreams he had. Now he was living in a world where gods and demons not only were real but he could talk and even be friend with them, even more, it was a world where he was important for them. He touched his face where he knew there were those magic marks, invisible to common men, but showed his status as a judge of demons and gods ... a member of "The order of the mortal knights", no less ...He laughed happily, the name had a fantastic sound, and somehow, even it was a bit ridiculous, and yet it was real and respected.

His life had changed radically and he enjoyed it, he even enjoyed his new clothes!. He knew that some of his colleagues had expressed surprise at his new image, yet all had expressed they liked the new Shugahara.

With a dreamy gaze he remembered how it had happened. Just after Urd had returned from Hell to live again at the temple, he realized that he could no longer live apart from his goddess and she seemed to feel the same, so without much ceremony he became the new resident of Tarikihongan temple. However, there was an unexpected requirement that he had to meet ... something that for a moment make the honorable professor to have some doubts. With the motto:

- " I have a reputation to hold"-

Urd had made it a condition that she would take care of his wardrobe since that moment on.

The goddess had been implacable, his beloved ties had been buried in the lower strata of his belongings, perhaps to be unearthed in ages to come to for the surprise and wonder of future archaeologists. The rest of the of his wardrobe also had to endure the critical analysis of the goddess, and the verdict had been swift, since virtually all his clothes were identical ... and so, they received the same treatment as his ties. After that, new clothes were in order.

Of course Urd´s first suggestions had been utterly ridiculous. Her cunning personality could not let that opportunity to be lost and have some fun at his expense. But Kenji had undergone the procedure with a full trust in her and had been willing to accept everything his goddess wished. Urd finally gave up and soon exercised her sense of fashion. To her surprise, Kenji quickly adapted to his new wardrobe. The professor soon discovered that people treated him differently, they listened more attentively, authorities had greater deference ... and even realized that women turned to stare at him ... something that certainly was now very, very dangerous.

-"Changes!"-, Kenji thought as he remembered the entire funny episode. The world was changing and he could not be left behind, especially since he had been part of those changes.

While thinking about it, he stretched in order to appreciate better the great precipice before him, and then looked around to the mountains, he felt a profound sense of inner peace.

The world now seemed a peaceful safe place, where magic and advanced technology and were complementing each other. Mankind gradually was acquiring the power to eradicate many evils, and apparently now it had the wisdom to avoid new. But he could not forget that there was a hidden enemy. It was an enemy that had the power to cause havoc in Heaven and Hell, an enemy that had killed a goddess on earth, the unfortunate goddess Giörel, and apparently other missing goddesses could have suffered the same fate. It was fearsome enemy, that could attack both in the world of the gods and demons as the mortal world.

The peace he felt at that place abandoned him, he felt a chill that had nothing to do with the winds that pushed the storm clouds. Forcefully he grappled the handrail. He wondered if a simple mortal like him could help to protect his goddess from such enemy. Of course, he was not alone, now was surrounded by some of the most intelligent and wise people of the world, also now he had the power of Galileo, the conscious that now resided at the great computer center with his combination of magic and technology. With that Galileo was now able to repair and restore the information he had with him when he had taken refuge in Keiichi computer. Also, there were the archives of the ancient cache that Keiichi had recovered from Yggdrasil. Yet they have been able to make sense from most of it. it was so much material he could spend many live on it, although he began to suspect the nature of the enemy, he needed confirm it, but apparently the oldest historic public records form Heaven and Hell had been destroyed in a methodical and deliberate manner. Gods and demons had a past that had vanished. Maybe, there could be old caches in forgotten places, like the one Keiichi had found in Yggdrassil, but probably they would be protected behind powerful firewalls and had powerful guardians protecting them. Urd had tried to found then using her new high level credentials, yet she had been refused. The goddess was surprised to found the oldest records of Hell were so strongly protected and all her efforts were futile, Nieghood kept those secrets with zeal and her mother ordered her to stop, either Hild had no access or she knew something about them.

But his scholar mind began to form an idea. Some legends of earth had a real basis and could be used to examine the past. Now, thanks to Urd, he knew that both gods and demons had their own mythology, their own ancient songs, their stories and legends and maybe it would be possible to recover the past from there. After all, traditions were his specialty. He could research them without causing too much conflict, and then laughed as if he had told a joke. His current specialty was "specialist in ethnobotanical studies of European traditions" maybe it was time to expand his horizons a little more ... maybe "specialist divine and infernal mythologies?"

Somehow his sense of humor always came to his rescue and his fears from a moment ago disappeared, as his mind slowly filled a work plan and that made him happy, it was a plan that Urd would enjoy.

At that moment a gust of wind distracted him and at the same time an impersonal voice with an old accent came from the motorcycle and said:

- "Shugahara dono, may I remind you that rains are coming, if you please, you can leave right now and reach the Tarikihongan Temple on time and thus avoid getting wet. -

The voice had an affected tone that seemed to come from a period play. For some reason, experts had decided that if those small artificial intelligence they were creating sounded like the servants of aristocrats from the eighteenth century, they would be more acceptable to humans ... Personally Professor Shugahara hated the idea, but at that time had his mind elsewhere. With his new plan he wished to return to his beloved goddess. He mounted the motorcycle and gave it a friendly pat:

- "All right, I got it. I recognize you are a marvelous machine, Keiichi is a genius for designing you, I think you and me are going to be friends, so please, call me Kenji"-

- "Understood, Kenji-dono"-

The answer made him laugh, but he did not reply, changing that probably would require some tweaking by Skuld so he just headed home.

Had he stayed a bit more, Shugahara would have noticed something strange. At the distance, over the ominous outline of a black cloud there was something, a truly unusual sight ...

... It was the silhouette of a young woman flying on a broom.

-xxx-

Belldandy looked around to assess her situation. She was flying inside a thick cloud and expected her pursuer could not find he, at least for the moment.

The black cloud soon would drop its load of rain and she felt the moisture that permeated her clothes making them to stick against her slender body.

She had been flying near the top of the speed that could be achieved in the mortal world, but poor visibility had forced her to slow her flight, although her extraordinary senses helped her, since she could see and perceive things like the direction of the magnetic field of the earth, the electricity inside the cloud had blinded her.

Finally, she stopped and floated gently in the air. It was in that quiet moment that she was assaulted by the thoughts she had been trying to flee.

All began with a simple question, a question that Keiichi had has asked some time ago but now seemed to be more important that ever.

- "Who are really you?"- Had ask Keiichi,

How to answer that question now, if even she did not know the answer?

For Keiichi she had pretended to be the perfect girl, she had been a real "yamato nadeshico", the Japanese ideal of the traditional woman. She even could say that she have enjoyed that. She had to work hard at first, after all she held great responsibilities in heaven, yet found that taking care of the housework had been gratifying. Those daily chores have become like a ritual and rituals offer comfort. Instead of the high responsibilities of the heir to the title of Kamisama, she found more gratifying concentrate on identifying the foods Keiichi liked, keeping the temple clean, making the laundry and many other chores that help her to put aside the high responsibilities that someday would fall on her.

All that Keiichi had accepted in his own natural way, and Belldandy have felt happiness. Somehow, she, the great Megamisama that one day would take the place of Kamisama, felt satisfaction with the task of making happy and ephemeral mortal boy.

She had worked so hard to be the best in everything, competitions, grades, spells, singing, she had been the best in everything, but seemed that everyone took it from granted and they were nothing compared with her destiny. They did not care she had enjoyed that.

And when she finally had been put to test and became Kamisama, the duty for which she had been created, she had failed.

So, while she felt the world of gods have rejected her, this mortal did not care, he accepted her, without asking anything, instead he gave everything he could and more.

So she had a question, who was the real Belldandy?

The great goddess destined to greatness, the woman that only wished to make happy this mortal, or the pity goddess that had lost her powers and that had been unable to find a solution that apparently no one wished to get.

Did she even have the right to share this load with Keiichi? What would happen if she, the perfect one would reveal to him the real fears, her doubts, her insecurities to that man she loved? Would he rejected her?

She had failed as Kamisama, she had failed her duty. The real world had been very different from her dreams and expectations, and she had failed to confront it. Maybe if she had acted differently, if she only had ... Belldandy bit her lip, she felt that she had failed everyone, especially Keiichi, since she was far from perfect goddess she had pretend to be.

What would be her fate? She was no longer a goddess, nor she could return to heaven, the role for which she had been destined even before birth, no longer existed.

After he had woken up and discovered that Keiichi had grown up without her, she had been deeply depressed, but somehow Keiichi again had come to her rescue.

Keiichi knew the sweet goddess really was someone who love competition, and she had used that to help her. He knew Belldandy was a champion in competitions in heaven, and she had the same competition spirit he had.

Keiichi the mortal that was thrilled with his machines running at full speed. She, the great race champion in Heaven.

To keep he away from her depression Keiichi asked he to tell hims about her competition days. Keiichi had listened enraptured to her stories. Keiichi's´s honest interest about the competition was enough and after that an unexpected proposal. Could she teach him? Could they train together?

And thanks to that Belldandy had finally got out of her depression.

Suddenly she saw a shadow approaching her. Keiichi had matched her and now he was getting ahead! Belldandy forgot her thoughts and grave a cry of pleasure. Keiichi had been quick to master the magic brooms. And now he would be able to compete against gods. Belldandy eyes opened full of passion. Maybe Keiichi could compete against the gods, but she was still Belldandy, the number one and second to none. She accelerated behind the shadow..

But it would not be easy. Even is she was no longer a goddess, she had he superhuman senses, she could see the magnetic fields of the earth, sense variations in humidity, she could feel the emanations of the earth and air, but Keiichi, like his father, had an extraordinary instinct together with a large intelligence, and the two of them were trying to do their best to please their rival.

Not only that, maybe the have not realize it, but their hearts were synchronized so to some possible observer, this did not seem and intense competition, but instead a beautiful and extraordinary aerial ballet. Even if they went trough the dark and moisture laden clouds, they could follow the other movements as if they had a previous rehearsal. What one did, the other seemed to know immediately and repeated. They race against each other, they encourage each other, and above all, they gave themselves to each other.

Belldandy finally landed on the temple with a grace and elegance more appropriate to a ballet than a competition, she had won, but only by a fraction of a second so she felt a supreme pleasure when Keiichi arrive just behind her.

The intensity of competition make them a laugh, result from the overflow of emotions.

Then Keiichi tried to give a few steps to get close to Belldandy, when he felt a pain throughout his body. He had given his best, but ultimately he was just a mortal and had taken his body to the limit, now he had to pay the consequences.

He collapsed into the ground in pain, but before hitting the floor he found himself into Belladonna arms. The goddess was holding him in panic, but soon disappeared when realized Keiichi was smiling as if he were asking an apology. He was the first to speak:

- "Ah !.., I am very sorry, it´s not as bad as it looks, it´s just that my muscles are protesting, it seems I abused them. .I only need to rest"-

Belldandy pursed her lips in a moue of anger that made her look lovely, then spoke in a mock formal tone.

- "Keiichi-san, you should not have done that, you can get hurt."-

- "Come on" - he said apologetically - " This is something that Urd´s potions can easily fix."

Belldandy laughed relieved, but immediately she pretended to be angry.

- Urd potions ?, Keiichi-san, do you not trust me ?, I still have a bit of magic, there is a special treatment that I have been reserving just for you.

Keiichi smiled timidly, he was bewildered by Belldandy teasing tone, it was so unusual but he got distracted when Belldandy easily lifted him in her arms. Keiichi tried to protest. Being carried by a seemingly delicate girl hurt his pride, yet when he felt the soothing warm of her body he soon forgot his pride. Belldandy took him to her room, as if he weighted nothing.

She placed him face down on her futon and began a soft and slow massage on his joints and muscles while intoned a healing song.

At first Keiichi moaned in pain. His muscles were stiff for the strain, but soon the slow and rhythmic massage relax his muscles, while the magical song filled him with energy as his body functions began to follow the dictates of magic. The combination of her soft, warm hands, the rhythmic movement and the perfume emanating from Belldandy body soon began to take effect, without realizing it, Keiichi´s moan ceased to be from pain.

Keiichi suddenly realized and was panicked..

-Belldandy, Please do not go on, I ... I already feel well, I do not want you to think that ...

Belldandy answered with a beautiful laugh. She knew very well what Keiichi was trying tell her. But she would never make the same mistake twice... Once Keiichi have approached her full of passion... but she mistook his excitement with a fever and had tried to cure him!.

Now he knew more about humans and especially this particular mortal. So she lowered her voice to a faint whisper, while a slight blush covering her cheeks she said:

- "Keiichi-san! I know exactly what is happening to you, and I know this requires a very special treatment from me."-

Keiichi's heart skipped a beat, her soft voice had been so passionate. Something was happening, so with an effort he forced his muscles to turn around. Now on his back he met Belldandy's eyes staring at him. But they were not the sweet eyes he was used, instead they were the passionate eyes of Belldandy the racing champion...

It seemed that Belldandy had accepted that part of her, maybe it was time for both to be bond by their feelings.

He tried to speak, but Belldandy gently put her fingers on his lips and then began stroking his face. Keiichi sense Belldandy's perfume was more intense now, and realize it was not really a perfume, it was really the magic that emanate from her. Belldandy´s powers have returned, as if the block have been broken by her passion.

Suddenly they were interrupted by a shrill voice:

-One -sama!, Keiichi! What are you doing? I am not going to let...

But Belldandy made an elegant gesture with her hand and suddenly there was silence as if a switch have turned it off. At the same time everything that was around them also became blurred and began to fade.

Now Keiichi confirmed that Belldandy's magic was back, they were under the goddess physical barrier. In the past Belldandy had use it only in cases of extreme necessity, and now she could use it again... and Keiichi´s face turned red... With that barrier now there was no power on earth that could disturb them. Keiichi gulped as he realized the implications and tried to get up.

At that moment Belldandy put the palm of her hand on his chest, gently forcing him to lie down and began a new beautiful magic song. It was am old and powerful song, it was about the most ancient magic, the magic of love. Keiichi felt the power as it surround him, and a soft light came from their bodies as their auras mingled and Keiichi,,helped by Belldandy's senses, was able to so for the first time his own aura along with hers. It was so beautiful!. She stopped singing and slowly she got nearer him until their lips barely touched.

Keiichi suddenly felt transported, and found he was no longer in her room. He was floating in a beautiful place, his naked body glowed with a magnificent light, but he was seeing it as if he were another person… He had never imagined something so beautiful, then hear a voice his mind.

- That's your aura, and it´s the reflection of your soul, you are very special and your beautiful aura is a reflection of that. This is how I see you!. You are seeing with my eyes. Gods can see your aura, and to the eyes of gods you are beautiful, almost like a god ... Keiichi, for me you as the most beautiful of mortals and gods.

Keiichi felt a strange emotion, but it was not his... That feeling came from Belldandy, it was ... jealousy?. Yes, Belldandy was sharing her emotions with him!. So Keiichi finally understood. If that was how they gods saw him, he could understand Belldandy´s feelings when he was near other goddess, like Peorth. Belldandy could have been a powerful goddess, but she felt insecure about love as any woman. Belldandy let him see and fell her emotions and fears.

His point of view changed, now he could see her. Her divine body bore only her aura as clothing, the vision made him feel drunk with love and realize it was his turn, sharing her emotions Belldandy had done much more than baring her body she had also bared her soul to him and it was his turn.

Keiichi floated toward her until their hands could touch, they trembled as their hand began to explore each other soul and body.

Before he embraced her, Keiichi had a last thought.

-This is heaven!

-xxx-

At the top of the hill there was a young boy, he was pacing up and down under a tree, holding an umbrella. A summer rain had come and go, but he had not realized it.

He was at the onset of adolescence, although his bearing made him look a little older than his real age. His school uniform also help to make him look older. It was that dark uniform that some obscure bureaucrat from the XIX century had decided would be use by all Japanese boys, it had been inspired by the German uniforms and now used by millions of young Japanese, yet despite being so common it suited him quite well.

After having traveled around the world along Dr Shugahara he was now more mature than most boys of his age, several times they have been called to resolved emergencies, the kind that required the magic of the medallion, and so, he had seen things his school mate not even imagine. From terrorist and civil wars to hunger and poverty, even more, he had help to correct them.

But for now, some of that maturity seemed to have evaporated, at that moment Kawanishi Sentarō continued walking nervously from one side to the other without being able to stand still.

He knew that Skuld would arrive soon and he began to feel panic. He began to question himself What did he felt about Skuld?

For any boy of his age, the word love seems to be so big as that it became something unreachable Especially when the fires of desire were just beginning to burn. He knew his missed her when she was not near, and her face appeared to him in his dreams. Maybe it was really love !.

He remembered something Shugahara sensei had told him

- "We do not know what love is. But we can see it´s symptoms." -

But What were those symptoms? At least he knew his own symptoms, he wished to be near her, to take care and protect her, to see her happy and share that happiness, Would they be the symptoms Shugahara sensei was speaking?

He touched his face remembering the marks he had, and realized he already had vowed to defended her. And yet it was hard to talk about certain things with her.

Suddenly he stopped the nervous walking, That uniform he wore every day today was squeezing him and felt hot. He realized the rain had stop and felt a bit silly, so he closed the umbrella.

At that moment, he saw Skuld at the distance arriving to their ...date?. He felt weak. Last night he had been talking to his father, he had offered some wise words, but that did not make him feel better.

As he saw the beautiful girl approaching he shuddered, he remembered something that Shugahara had mentioned some time ago. She would grow to be as beautiful as her sisters. He did not dare to imagine that...

Skuld was walking lost in her thoughts, she was trying to reconcile her conflicting feelings. She knew what was happening in the temple now, yet she wasn´t sure what were her feelings about it. .Did she even hated Keiichi? After all, Belldandy loved him and she was happy at his side, as happy as she had never before.

When he had come for the first time to the human world she was convinced that Keiichi did not deserve her, now she knew the young man would give his life for her. Maybe it was time to accept him.

Still thinking about it, Skuld reached the top of the hill and looked puzzled to the boy that expected her.

-" Sentarō!, you are already here!. But why are you using your school uniform? Did you come straight from school?"-

While she was speaking, Skuld could not help but to admire Sentarō. Since she did not attend any school, those clothes so common in millions of young Japanese were new to her. She had to admit that that uniform made him look a bit more ... manly?

- "Well, no, I want to tell you something and ... err.. The uniform us important."-

- "Why do you need the uniform to tell me something? I do not understand.!"-

Sentarō felt more nervous. Could it be that she did not know what could it meant? Apparently it would be more complicated than he had expected

- "Ah!, the uniform... is... Well, yet it´s necessary. There is something important I have to say. "-

- Don't tell your family is going to leaveagain ! "- Skuld commented with concern. She had already been through that before.

- "No no no..!, this time it's not about that."-."-

Sentarō felt a lump in his throat. Her concern make him more nervous.

-" Ah, I am not sure.. Maybe... if you... me... I wish..." -

Sentarō opened his mouth, waved his arms, but could not make a further sound!. Skuld looked at him puzzled. Obviously there was something was wrong but she had no idea what it could be.

Sentarō gave up, and decided to ignore everything he had planned to say. He took Skuld´s hand, and with his other hand ripped, the second button of this uniform shirt and put it in her palm.

Skuld gasped at the boys actions... Then proceeded to examined the button. It was an ordinary button, it had nothing special, then she looked at Sentarō, the boy was looking at her expectantly. I seemed he was expecting and answer. But what was the question?. Maybe it was some kind of ritual, but what kind.

She scratched her head and tried to remember her goddess training about the Japanese customs in that area ... She had memorized all the info, but she had not tried to understand it.

-Hum!, Let´s see, it has something to do with: Button, uniform, high school boy... and girl? And so, she remembered !:

"It is customary that in high school some boys offer the second button of their uniform shirt to the girl they love to express their desire to seal a commitment ..."

Skuld screamed in surprise, she threw button in the air, as if it were a burning coal.

Sentarō bewildered looked as the button soar into the air. He had discussed with his father the possibilities about what could happen, but none of it the was: "The girl screams and throws the button in the air".

Suddenly, he heard a flapping and saw something like feathers around him

It was Skuld´s angel..

Since Skuld magic was not very powerful, her angel was much more independent than others and was used to appear without being invoked.

The button began to float. The angel was using her magic to levitate it.

Skuld´s hand was still open, and before she could react again, the button was again in her hand. Skuld blushed, now she understood its meaning.

The little goddess looked at her angel angrily, but the beautiful creature just returned an innocent smile...

Skuld sighted and her anger became awkward smile. She had to admit the angel has acted according to the desires of her own heart, although it was difficult to accept it. Then the angel extended her ethereal hand and put them around the button, there was a soft glow and then the angel disapeared. Now in Skuld´s hand the button had a delicate silver chain.

Skuld turned around and meet Sentarō´s eyes, She swallowed and decided to answer him.

The goddess took the puzzled boys hand and put the button in his palm. Sentarō felt his heart sank, did she reject him?

Then Skuld said with a coquetry that would have made Urd proud.

- "I think you should put it on my neck ...- the goddess turned around and lifted her hair to expose her white neck." -

Sentarō a stammered a shy - "Y.. Y.. Yes!" - And proceeded with shaking hands to put the chain around her neck.

Skuld then turned around and taking advantage of their proximity leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss, barely touching his lips, then pulled away quickly, amazed at her own daring.

Sentarō turned red, he could not believe she had accepted the compromise. And now, what was next?

I was an awkward silence, he needed to say something, then had an idea, given the circumstances, it seemed appropriate.

- "Ah. Do you ... Do you want... Do you want an ice cream?"

Skuld laughed with pleasure ...

- "Sure, it was announced that new flavors would arrive today to the mall." -

Skuld took Sentarō hand, and before the boy could react they were heading down the road to the mall.

As the got near the mall Sentarō panicked, there he would meet some of school mates, they would see them holding hands, and Skuld with his uniform´s button. Soon half the city or at least half school would know.

At that moment a summer rain began to pour, the boy quickly opened his umbrella and offered shelter to Skuld. The girl took his arm and they began to walk together. At that moment all his fears vanished. Now he wished that everyone knew how happy he was. He raised his arm and put it over Skuld shoulders, in response she girl leaned her head on his own shoulder, and the boy thought:

-"This is heaven!"

-xxx-

Dr. Shugahara Kenji had a pill in his hand, he was looking at it as if it were a strange bug. He was intrigued, he brushed it with his fingers to feel its shape, then approached it to his nose and sniffed it, trying to perceive its components, then turned around and said to Urd.

- "So this is a love potion?"

Proudly Urd answered him:

- "This is one of my specialties, a pill is more practical than the liquid potions, besides with just a single dose I can get the desired effect, of course, it is better if two are used, one for each of the prospects."

- "but, is it really love ? - Urd sighed, Kenji have guessed it´s weak point. Belldandy had called it´s effects "illusory Love".

- "It is really a powerful illusion, but love always starts as an illusion."

The doctor put his hand on his chin, he could not help feeling a bit skeptical, even if he knew Urd was proud of that pill and he did could not doubt about her ability with potions, still talking about love was a very special subject.

- "And what happens when the effect ends?"

Urd floated in the air and positioned herself behind the intrigued professor. He was still holding the pink pill with a heart shape. She hugged him resting her chin on his shoulder, then looked at the pill with her face almost touching his.

Many times when the illusion end they fell a void, and in order to fill that void they try to get close person they had been deluded them. Usually that lead to a true love, but also may led to the opposite and they reject to the other person.

- "Ah" ... "- The doctor scratched his head as he thought the implications and then muttered without realizing Urd could hear him- "I think that could be corrected. "

Urd laughed amused by those words, and could not help teasing him.

- "So you also expert in love, Sensei Shugahara?" - And with a tone part defiant and part teasing - "Do you have a lot of experience ?"

The doctor could not help blushing, Urd had been the illusion of his entire life. He had never tried to approach another woman.

- "No ... I have no personal experience, but if I read and thought about it ..."

- "Ah!, Then you, the scientists have put the love of laboratory and have measure it ? ... That´s something I'd like to see. "

- "Love is a syndrome of attitudes" - answered Shugahara emphatically, then smiled apologetically. She was not one of his students to speak like that. Besides the warmth of her body against him was something he could not ignore and had a toll on his senses... So he turned around and took Urd hands, then looked at her beautiful eyes and said: - "I am sorry, that not what I meant. You're right, we can not measure love nor really know how people in love feel. But there are other ways to study it. We can see how a person acts. People in love act differently to the one they love, even if they tray to hide it. When we can not explain something but we can describe and diagnosed by it´s symptoms, we call it a syndrome ". -

- "Syndrome ?, Symptoms ?, you talk if it were a disease" -

- "And I can say it´s a beautiful and devastating disease, with some very unusual symptoms..." - The doctor smiled looking at Urd, he sighed deeply, the closeness of the goddess still make him shudder. He took a deep breath to get some courage and said: - "The symptoms of love are: respect, responsibility, caring and knowledge."

- "Kenji" - Urd said with dreamy eyes - "Seems very deep in your soul there is a poet. I concede you are right, Falling in love starts with an illusion, but that's only the beginning of a process. Lovers should know not only the virtues but also accept the flaws of the other person. I suppose that is what you mean by knowledge. Lovers must respect each other with their flaws and virtues, and help each other to overcome their shortcomings. "

The two stared at each other, while one tried to follow the thinking of the other, Kenji added:

- "You have to know the person you love as well as yourself. Look at that girl from the motor club. If I remember well, her name is Sora. After many years she is still in love with that playboy, but her love is an illusion, since she cannot really see his defects. To really love him she must see the real man, someone conceited and empty inside, and yet accept him anyway, that way she could help him to help fill that emptiness in his life. He should also should be able to see her and accept her shyness and insecurities yet with a great capacity to give and help others. They should go beyond the illusion, to realize that they are real people, and accept the strengths and weaknesses of each other "

- "Interesting words, Doctor Shugahara Kenji. "- Urd said and added in a challenging tone : -" Why not to put then into test ?, scientist always say hypothesis must be but to test in order to became theories."-

-"Put it into test? How?"

As an answer Urd went to her potions cabinet and began to gather some ingredients she placed them carefully on her work table and proceeded to prepare her equipment, which now included many modern items brought by Shugahara.

- "With these ingredients we can cause those symptoms, as you call them."-

- "But it is not just having the symptoms" - objected the Professor - "There is a process to be followed: they must be deluded to with each other, then start to know each other, open up to share their vulnerabilities and then ..." -

Urd interrupted him, putting her finger in his mouth and with a mocked seriousness said:

- "Dr. Shugahara.!You are disappointing me, I am sure you can find a way to overcome that, after all, you are the one that spoke about those micro capsules that allow to have drugs with scheduled release and you said you can control the dose and when each ingredient is released. "

The doctor's face lit up. It was a really interesting challenge.

Soon they engaged in a lively and entertaining discussion as they began to mix and prepare the ingredients, they discussed doses, timing, release levels, drug reaction times etc.

Some hours later, the doctor held in his palm a couple of pills, he bore a satisfied grin on his face. Urd exclaimed with a laugh.

- "Congratulations Sensei Shugahara. You just have created your first love potion. Exciting, Isn't it? Now. Would you do not like to try it? "

- "What? - Asked him taken by surprise- " Try it? But first we must do test on animals. I would not risk try it on humans yet. "

Urd made an angry gesture, she put her hands on her hips and then with a voice that invited mischief said:

- "Come on, Kenji!. How would you recognize love in a lab rat? You can not deny that you are curious to see what happens. Besides, you know that if it works with that couple they will find real happiness, and if it not, then it´s time they move on.

The doctor began to think about it, slowly his surprised look was replaced with a grin, to be replaced by a mischievous expression that would have astonished any of his students, then said in a hectic tone:

- "Yessssss ...!"

He looked at Urd and they both laughed like children about to commit a mischief. As if it were part of the prank, the doctor said.

- "But first, maybe we should put ourselves in romantic mood, I brought you something. I still can not understand why do you like them so much, although I recognize they can become very addictive. "-

From a bag he had brought he took out several packages, one of them contained a number of outdated DVD disks he gave to Urd. She looked delighted and amazed, while Dr. proudly enunciated:

- "This are the original discs with the full season of" Winter Sonata " and even I got the anime version. Furthermore, I got the complete tetralogy : Autumn in My Heart, Summer Scent and Spring Waltz. I have been told it´s the best s cycle of Korean TV drama that has been done to date. "

- "Kenji. You Got them - Urd exclaimed excited, she approached the Doctor, and gave him a smacking kiss".

The doctor blushed and stated:

- "I always keep me promises. And...well, I put some of my students to do some... mh! .. Research. Of course, they will have some extra points for "the developing of modern narrative, an audiovisual point of view"- he laugh heartily- " it was a bit of abuse of my position, but it seems they also got some fun.

I also brought a laptop to play them. The TV seems to be always in use by Lind, Skuld, Ghadril and sometimes even by Belldandy. You have to explain me why goddesses seems to be so attracted to these stories. Once you even told me you used some Shojo manga to bribe goddesses at the computer center in order to get access to Yggdrasil. There must be writers and drama or something like that in haven. I would like to see something of it.

While he set the machine, Urd pondered at his the words.

- "Yes, We have some stories, but they are from ancient times and you would find most of them pretty boring, the have some beautiful words and metaphors, but in heaven conflict rarely exist or are quickly taken care by elders using magic. Also, when you have an immortal life, your feelings, well, got diluted . On the other hand mortals live their feelings with great intensity ... just like your feelings Sensei Shugahara ".-

Urd adopted a sensual pose that never failed to impress the professor.

- "Ah yes ... Good. I think I understand... Ahhh ... "- He looked at her breathless in a state of rapture, then somehow managed to react and said -" mhh.! I also brought some sake, it´s not much since tomorrow I have to give classes, but its you favorite "

He bent down to take the bottle, suddenly heard a soft rustle behind him ...

He had learned to recognize it and His heart accelerated. It was the sound produced when Urd used her magic to change clothes.

He turned slowly as Urd spoke with a very low and sensual voice:

- "Then I also have to change my clothes for something more appropriate to get that romantic ambiance you want ..."

He almost let the bottle slip as he saw before him the most heavenly vision, Urd slowly floated in the air toward him.

His heart began run still faster as those beautiful arms surrounded him, he just had a last conscious thought.

-"This is heaven!"

-xxx-

End of chapter XLI

Note: I thank Vaughan Ralph Williams and his beautiful ballad "The lark ascending" that inspired me this chapter. It is also celestial music.