Chapter 13: Ai's Desire

Ai's eyes widened in surprise after listening to Homura's tale. She clasped his hands.

"I... I'm sorry to hear that, Homura. Rinrei....."

Homura felt that choking feeling that he always got when he thought about what he had seen in that bubble. But somehow, with Ai by his side, it seemed much easier to face. Was this what you wanted for me, Rinrei, when you sent Ai to me, he thought glancing upwards. A slight breeze blew around them.

" Ai, you won't ever leave me, will you?" Homura suddenly said, staring down at Ai.

"Of course not!" Ai replied defiantly.

Homura suddenly hugged her, hard, feeling intense happiness course through him. Yes, she was his... always.

"Saa, lets go find Destiny now, shall we?" Homura started to led her by her hand.

But Ai held back. "Are you sure you want to go find her? I mean, you didn't have a good experience when you were there last time."

"But with you, I have nothing to fear." He smiled.

"Wow.... I've never actually known these tunnels existed! All my life.... I thought of Heaven as a bright bright place, but I never knew there were such dark places hidden on it too."

Their shoes made clicking noises on the earthen floors. Ai's voice was followed by a dozen echoes which rang around.

"This is... kind of scary, Homura..." Ai whispered holding on tightly to him.

"Don't worry.... we're nearly there. Now where was it...." Homura patted her head absently before looking around trying to identify the place.

"I was pretty sure it's here.....hmmmm," Homura let go of Ai and started searching. Ai, left alone, felt pretty curious and wandered a little farther from Homura, and slid her hands against the walls. She could feel some funny knobs and and other odd shapes jutting out but couldn't make what was it. Suddenly, she felt herself tripped over something and with a frightened scream, fell to the floor.

Homura quickly rushed to her, stumbling a little for it was really dark.

"Are you okay, Ai??! Answer me !" He nearly shook her head off.

"Y-yeaaa, I'm fine! Stop shaking me !" Ai answered, her teeth rattling.

She looked up.

"Oh...my ...god..... is that ...the door?"

Homura looked up.

"Yes! Oh Ai, you found her!" Homura smiled. "Seems like she only allows certain people with strong desires to be able to find her."

They pushed the door. It swayed open easily, much to their surprise. The bright light that came suddenly nearly stung their eyes. When they opened them again they could make out a figure sitting as Homura had described, in the middle of a circle 10 feet up in the air. For once, Ai was speechless. She could see that the person there was extremely beautiful, even though she was glowing white all over. And I thought me and Natsumi were the most beautiful Goddesses in Heaven!

"Homura desu ka..... to Ai-sama wa....." *

Her voice much like the wind startled Ai. She looked around, expecting to feel a breeze blowing around her.

"Goddess of Destiny....." Homura bowed to show his respect (his manners improved!) .

Ai suddenly remembered why she was there.

"Ano, Destiny-sama.... I'm here to ask you about my sister, as I think you would already have anticipated after giving me such a bright (literally!) welcome."

"Ai-sama.... my powers are not meant to be shown around like that. Furthermore, you are Kami-sama's beloved daughter. What would he do if he found you here?"

(Please remember that Destiny's eyes are always closed!)

"This place belongs to me as much as to him. I'm free to do as I please, and I want to know where is my sister. You would know."

Destiny smiled. The bubble between her hands glowed and suddenly images appeared.

Natsumi was curled up in a ball, completely void of clothes, with her eyes closed. She was glowing a light-pink color. All around her was black darkness. Only the occasional bubbles that rose told Ai that she was in some kind of fluid.

"What the.....!" Ai stared in amazement.

"She is not dead. Rather, before her father stabbed her, she put her system to sleep.... so what is gone is only her physical outside. What you are seeing now is her actual self."

"Meaning.... if she can be awaken somehow, she can rebuild a new body with her powers????"

"Yes."

Ai dropped to her knees and bowed until her forehead touched the floor.

"Destiny-sama, I beg you, please tell me how can I awaken my sister?! Oh please."

"I'm sorry."

"Destiny-sama, ONEGAIII kudasai!" Ai sobbed.

Homura, who was standing to one side, forgotten, looked suspiciously at Destiny. Her voice, which had always had the melancholy sound of the lone wind, now sounded like a soft, lilting melody. Almost as if she's amused, he thought.

"However, there is one way......"

"What is it?? Oh what is it???"

"I would require a favor from you before I help you. Please set me free for one day."

"NaNi????" Homura and Ai stared in astonishment.

"I haven't seen the world below.... for so long. I have been here for over 700 years... I would like just one day...."

"We-ll...that is all very well... but how am I going to do that? I don't know what kind of magic is this. I can't seem to detect it. It seems almost.... ancient," Ai asked.

"The power source that is imprisoning me is the circle. All you need to do is subdue it. For one day..... "

"Where can I get the things to subdue it??"

"Somewhere in his room, there is a door... a door so well-concealed that it takes wits to open it. Once you solved his puzzle, take the thing it gives to you and come back here." The bright light was emerging again.

"Bu-buuut.....!" Homura and Ai cried out before being transported back to where they came from.

In the now-empty room, the Goddess smiled.......

*************************************************************************************************************

"Damn! She didn't need to be so impatient!" Ai rubbed her head painfully.

"Looks like she brought us right to your dad's room. As if she wants us to quickly find that 'thing'." Homura said suspiciously.

"Oh I guess she just wants us to hurry up so that she can grant my wish earlier." Ai smiled and ran her hands against the walls, trying to find a secret knob or something that was jutting out secretly to open the secret study.

Homura walked around, feeling there was really something wrong.

"YIKES!"

Homura jumped, startled, and rushed over tow here Ai was. Ai held her hand in pain, and was blowing frantically at it. Beside her, it seemed that a tear-dropped shaped flame popped out and was crackling merrily... in the middle of nowhere?

"Ai! How did that just happened?"

"Don't know. I thought I found something so I pressed it and out came that flame. God, my poor hand!"

~Whooooooo~

(profound silence)

" Ai-sama, the Great Lord's daughter,
Pray do tell, why doth thou hither? "

babyg: (Sorry, I know it sucks!)

"A...-re? How did you know my name? Who are you?" Ai stumbled a little over the words. How the hell can a flame talk? But then this IS my father.....

" We are here to protect the Great Lord's creed,
Kindly take our advice and retreat ! "

"I cannot do that. For I am here to get the 'creed', and I will answer your riddle."

" If that must be so,
Take note of what we blow
For thou art have only three chances,
If failed, thou shall..... "

Ai interrupted, " And blablabla. I know, I know, so get on with it!" Sounds exactly like my long-winded father!

" We see you are confident, my maiden,
So we will ask with no further hesitation,
What is it that your father likes,
But has to hide? "

Question marks pops out of Homura and Ai's heads.

*************************************************************************************************************

Glossary

Homura desu ka..... to Ai-sama wa - Is that Homura, and Ai-sama?
creed - set of principles ( to me its some sort of book/paper)

babyg : Uh-oh !! What DOES Kami-sama likes?? Stay tuned for Chapter 14: Destiny's destiny!

*sweat drops* This plot is getting thicker! Yikes!