*Episode 5*
The next day, Keiichi introduced 'Koujiku' to Tamiya and Ootaki, only having to do
a little translation for "him". I had insisted on waiting until the meeting the next day, to
Keiichi's confusion (although he *did* understand when we went), and avoided the
"Tamiya treatment" by wearing a spiked-leather jacket (Tamiya still DID try, though). I
was quickly assigned to work on a motorbike for an upcoming race. Something about
fuel-efficiency (The racers got a finite amount of gas, and were graded both on speed
and on just how much they used. Winners were selected from both categories, with an
additional "overall" winner). Obviously, Keiichi was driving. After the meeting, we
stopped and chatted.
"So *THAT'S* why you insisted on waiting!" Keiichi exclaimed, laughing.
"Yeah. I picked it up in America in a garage sale."
"Do you know where to get the parts for that bike?"
"Yeah. I have most of what I'd need lying around my house. Why do you use that
dump for your meetings, anyway?"
"Well, we're a bit low on funds, so it's the best we can afford."
"Heh. Why don't we use my place in the future? It's close by, and a *lot* nicer."
"Sounds great. I'll have to run it by Tamiya and Ootaki, though."
"Of course. Why wasn't Belldandy at the meeting?"
"She went to get some groceries for the temple. We're running low on food,
especially ice cream. Why? Do you want to meet her?"
"Sure. I've heard a lot about her and her sisters."
Twenty minutes later, we were at the temple. Keiichi told me to wait up front and
got the three sisters. While I was outside, he warned them about my "hobby" with
mythology and to be careful not to reveal anything that would make me realize what
they truly were (A totally useless effort. I had intended for 'Koujiku' to figure it out
from the beginning).
"Okay, come on in," he said.
"Konnichiwa, Koujiku-san," Belldandy said.
"Konnichi.... Oh, my god...." 'Koujiku' said in apparent shock as he saw the sisters'
forehead emblems.
"What is it, Koujiku-kun?" Keiichi asked.
"The runes on their foreheads. They're the Norns' runes!"
"Huh?" said Keiichi, confused. The goddesses looked at each-other, not knowing
what to do.
"Urd has the rune of the past and of destiny on her forehead. Belldandy's is the rune
of being and of the present. Skuld's is the rune of necessity and of the future."
"What?"
"Don't tell me you don't know!" 'Koujiku' exclaimed.
"Know what?"
"Well, I really can understand why you'd want to keep it a secret," I said.
"Keep what a secret?"
"That you're living with the Norns, of course!"
Keiichi stared in shock.
"Well, I can understand why no one's figured it out so far. Norse runes are pretty
obscure. You'll have to tell me the real story behind how you met, though."
To make (another) long story short, Keiichi told me, with occasional interjections
from the three sisters.
"Whoa," I said when he finished, "What are the odds of *that* happening?"
"I really don't want to know," said Keiichi, "but I'm glad it did."
"Yeah. You and Belldandy really are in love."
"Yes, I suppose we are," Keiichi said.
"There's no 'supposing' about it. You are."
"That's very perceptive of you, Koujiku," said Urd, "but if you don't mind, I'd like to
make sure you aren't another of Mara's little... umm...."
"Sure. Go ahead," I replied, resignedly.
To simplify yet another long tale, Skuld brought out one of her little devices and used
it to scan me.
"All clear," she said, "although you really should cut down on your salt intake."
I laughed out loud. "Okay, I can do that."
The next day, Keiichi introduced 'Koujiku' to Tamiya and Ootaki, only having to do
a little translation for "him". I had insisted on waiting until the meeting the next day, to
Keiichi's confusion (although he *did* understand when we went), and avoided the
"Tamiya treatment" by wearing a spiked-leather jacket (Tamiya still DID try, though). I
was quickly assigned to work on a motorbike for an upcoming race. Something about
fuel-efficiency (The racers got a finite amount of gas, and were graded both on speed
and on just how much they used. Winners were selected from both categories, with an
additional "overall" winner). Obviously, Keiichi was driving. After the meeting, we
stopped and chatted.
"So *THAT'S* why you insisted on waiting!" Keiichi exclaimed, laughing.
"Yeah. I picked it up in America in a garage sale."
"Do you know where to get the parts for that bike?"
"Yeah. I have most of what I'd need lying around my house. Why do you use that
dump for your meetings, anyway?"
"Well, we're a bit low on funds, so it's the best we can afford."
"Heh. Why don't we use my place in the future? It's close by, and a *lot* nicer."
"Sounds great. I'll have to run it by Tamiya and Ootaki, though."
"Of course. Why wasn't Belldandy at the meeting?"
"She went to get some groceries for the temple. We're running low on food,
especially ice cream. Why? Do you want to meet her?"
"Sure. I've heard a lot about her and her sisters."
Twenty minutes later, we were at the temple. Keiichi told me to wait up front and
got the three sisters. While I was outside, he warned them about my "hobby" with
mythology and to be careful not to reveal anything that would make me realize what
they truly were (A totally useless effort. I had intended for 'Koujiku' to figure it out
from the beginning).
"Okay, come on in," he said.
"Konnichiwa, Koujiku-san," Belldandy said.
"Konnichi.... Oh, my god...." 'Koujiku' said in apparent shock as he saw the sisters'
forehead emblems.
"What is it, Koujiku-kun?" Keiichi asked.
"The runes on their foreheads. They're the Norns' runes!"
"Huh?" said Keiichi, confused. The goddesses looked at each-other, not knowing
what to do.
"Urd has the rune of the past and of destiny on her forehead. Belldandy's is the rune
of being and of the present. Skuld's is the rune of necessity and of the future."
"What?"
"Don't tell me you don't know!" 'Koujiku' exclaimed.
"Know what?"
"Well, I really can understand why you'd want to keep it a secret," I said.
"Keep what a secret?"
"That you're living with the Norns, of course!"
Keiichi stared in shock.
"Well, I can understand why no one's figured it out so far. Norse runes are pretty
obscure. You'll have to tell me the real story behind how you met, though."
To make (another) long story short, Keiichi told me, with occasional interjections
from the three sisters.
"Whoa," I said when he finished, "What are the odds of *that* happening?"
"I really don't want to know," said Keiichi, "but I'm glad it did."
"Yeah. You and Belldandy really are in love."
"Yes, I suppose we are," Keiichi said.
"There's no 'supposing' about it. You are."
"That's very perceptive of you, Koujiku," said Urd, "but if you don't mind, I'd like to
make sure you aren't another of Mara's little... umm...."
"Sure. Go ahead," I replied, resignedly.
To simplify yet another long tale, Skuld brought out one of her little devices and used
it to scan me.
"All clear," she said, "although you really should cut down on your salt intake."
I laughed out loud. "Okay, I can do that."