Title: Warrior Goddess Belldandy
Basis: Ah! My Goddess, Warrior Nun Areala
Protagonist(s): Keiichi, Megumi, Belldandy, Peorth
Antagonist(s): Marller, Senbei, Shiho, Hasegawa
Synopsis: A much darker alternate reality to the AMG universe.
Setup: World War III occurred twenty years ago, and the planet is littered with apocalyptic cities and marauding gangs. Rather than being a college student studying technology and skilled with vehicles, Keiichi Morisato is a master craftsman gunsmith skilled in gunplay. Perhaps even more altering: Heaven and Hell are actively at war, long abandoning the "Doublet System" that prevented open conflict. And like all wars between deities: it's not a conquest of territories, but of souls...


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Chapter Notes: This chapter portrays Sakakibara Shiho as a widely stereotypical anime gun-carrying priest. This greatly deviates from the original version of her character; a Shino Exorcist in training. There are two reasons for this: (1) my knowledge of Japanese religion is sketchy at best, and the Shinto faith is an incredibly complex one (often quoted as the religion of a thousand gods); (2) I've been watching too much Hellsing. I'm sorry for this lack of original imagination, and I promise no vampires will show up in this fanfic. It just that me trying to write about a Shinto priestess would read like real crap...


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Belldandy yawned after placing the finishing touches on the meal she prepared for breakfast. The goddess never left Keiichi~san's side after his midnight ordeal, and she used a vast reserve of her power to mend what she could of his soul. If only he knew how serious his condition was: it would soon reach a point that even her nigh limitless powers couldn't impede. Only forcing Marller to give up what she took would restore Keiichi~san, and Belldandy never dared leaving his presence to search for the demon: each passing hour brought him closer to...

"May God bless you this beautiful morning, Belldandy."

Turning in surprise, Belldandy gazed upon the smiling face of Shiho-san. Why couldn't she sense her presence anymore? The goddess returned her visitor's smile.

"Good... Good morning, Shiho-san," Belldandy felt waves of nausea suddenly surging around her, "how... how can I..."

Shiho-san continued smiling.

"You don't seem well, Belldandy. Is something wrong?"

The goddess opened her mouth to answer, but turned back to the kitchen counter and placed her hands against it for support. Beads of sweat slowly dripped from her brow, and her body shook as feelings of frigidness coursed through it. Shiho-san walked forward, and then leaned against Belldandy; the goddess gasped as a traumatizing tightness seized her heart.

"You're not human, are you?"

Belldandy collapsed to the ground, unable to see or hear the world around her, though she could feel terrible pain enveloping it. It was beyond anything words could describe; so excruciating, the goddess couldn't muster strength to scream.

"But you're not a demon either. A spirit? No. A goddess. The markings suggest so, but I've learned long ago to never trust those tattoos." Shiho-san's use of the word goddess was filled with unhidden contempt.

An unbridled vigor of agony focused itself around Belldandy's skull, as if the pain itself was an instrument probing and experimenting with it.

"Know this, self-proclaimed goddess: my God and I are watching you. If you mean no harm to Morisato-sama, then nothing will occur, but if you are after what I think you are..."

Incredible anguish consumed Belldandy, far greater than anything she had ever felt in her existence. It tore at her flesh and burned her mind.

"...then we shall purify the blaspheme and indignity that you represent. Yours is not the right to trespass that which is His."

As impossible as it seemed, the pain increased several folds over, rending the goddess until she could bear no more, and welcoming the touch of sweet unconscious oblivion.

Shiho turned to leave.

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Belldandy awoke to a soothing wet towel being placed on her head. Slowly opening her eyes, the goddess caught sight of anxiety in the eyes of another melting away into relief. It took another long second for her to realize the eyes belonged to her beloved Keiichi~san. Belldandy tried to voice his name, but found herself far too weak. Keiichi~san placed a finger over her lips, weakly smiling in response.

"Don't try to speak. Shiho-san found you unconscious in the kitchen and ran to Megumi and me for help. At first I was suspicious, thinking she might have attacked you or something, but I didn't see any injuries or signs of struggle. Then I felt really bad when I discovered you had a high fever."

Belldandy so dearly tried to shake her head and somehow let Keiichi~san know that Shiho-san was responsible, but barely had the energy to blink her eyes. There was so little Belldandy understood of faiths outside of hers, and now was one of the moments she felt regret in that limitation. All she knew was Shiho-san followed European teachings: something Catholic or Protestant. Whichever it was, the priestess was incredibly well versed in banishments and seals, knowing to strike out when the goddess was at her weakest.

"Morisato-sama. Is Belldandy alright?"

Shiho-san. Belldandy shuttered in hatred and apprehension, fearing what interest the woman had in Keiichi~san, and so dearly wishing she could protect him and herself.

"I believe so. Where's Megumi?"

"In your workshop, assembling firearms. She said something about them being a work order from a person named Chihiro. I tried to help, but I'm sad to admit that my expertise with guns aren't anywhere near hers or yours."

Keiichi~san smiled at Shiho-san, bringing a bitter presence in Belldandy's heart. He saw something in her. The goddess didn't need divine powers to see that.

"Could you watch Belldandy for me? I need to let Megumi know everything is fine. She tends to overwork herself whenever something awful happens to take her mind off it."

Panic filled Belldandy. She wanted to scream out and beg Keiichi~san not to leave her helplessly alone with Shiho-san, but remained too enervated. Keiichi~san looked down at her, and for what seemed like an eternity, Belldandy hoped he read the expression in her eyes.

"I know you want me to stay a little longer, and I don't want to let you go, but it would be better for me to tell Megumi the good news myself. Please understand."

If the goddess had the energy to cry, she would have. She didn't want him to disappear. Not when she need him the most. Not with Shiho-san. Belldandy shut her eyes in dire fear, waiting for Keiichi~san to move away and allow the priestess to take his place. It never happened.

"I'm still here Belldandy. What's wrong?"

Belldandy opened her eyes and saw that Keiichi~san spoke the truth. He knew. Somehow he knew. Even with her expressionless blank face, he knew. Just like all those year ago.

"Morisato-sama. I hate to be impolite and seemingly indifferent to your situation, most especially at such a time like this, but I must take my leave."

Keiichi looked back to Shiho-san.

"Of course. I figured you'd be leaving early. Megumi and I packed your things while you were in Morning Prayer. You'll find them in the storage bin near the front door."

"Thank you Morisato-sama. Your hospitality is more than I could ever repay."

Shiho-san slowly knelt down next to Keiichi~san, and much to his surprise and Belldandy's, innocently kissed him on the cheek. Keiichi~san quickly blushed a deep red and began to randomly mutter.

"Uhhh... I... What I mean to say is..."

The priestess wordlessly stood and smiled; it seemed she was just as surprised by her own actions.

"Until we meet again. My God bless this house and all who dwell within."

Belldandy's emotions screamed in unheard silence.

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"How many are still alive?"

Peorth refused to believe the devastation her eyes revealed. The massacre was beyond anything she could possibly imagine, the bodies of goddesses scattered about like weeds in an untended garden: all of it by one being.

"Only three Lady Peorth. Your immediate subordinates: Chrono, Era, and Ex. We've already gated them to the infirmaries in Heaven. They were in critical condition."

Welsper had a reason for sparing them, but she couldn't place the reason why. How could one read the mind of a madman? What did the demon see in the three? What connection did they have? The answer struck Peorth with terrifying force.

"Does Hell know that!?"

"Know what Lady Peorth?"

"That Chrono, Era, and Ex are my subordinates?"

Silence. The terrible wait and silence of confirmation.

"No. That information is highly classified."

Peorth shuddered. But Welsper did...

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Perched upon a dying cherry blossom tree, Marller watched as an unrecognized hooded figure left the Tarikihongan Temple grounds. The gods surely blessed that person, for his life had just been spared from a terrible fate.

Agony cooed with uncertainty. Marller frowned.

"You sense something different in that one? No matter. We'll wait a few more minutes until he leaves from sight and hearing, then progress as planned."

Stepping from her branch footing, the demon floated gracefully to the ground; placing herself before the human pawn she had enslaved the morning prior. On the mortal's shoulder rested a smug Senbei, his thoughts obviously lost elsewhere. Marller often envied the genie's haphazard attitude towards life.

"Enjoying yourself Senbei? You know we have an assignment to carryout."

Senbei broke out of his daydream, smiling knowingly at his demonic master. He held a dark glint in his whimsical expression.

"Saa... Ikimashoo aka-chan."

Marller grinned. Ikimashoo indeed.

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A knock on the temple's door caused Megumi to lose her concentration, and the firing chamber to the delicate sniper rifle she was assembling fell apart. Turning around, she caught Kei-chan carrying Belldandy in his arms as he walked by the workshop door.

Belldandy was okay. Megumi giggled.

"Taking the princess to her castle, Prince Charming?"

Kei-chan grumbled before answering back.

"Try being serious for once and open the door, Megumi."

Giggling even more at her brother's obvious embarrassment, Megumi grabbed her firearm from the table next to her and loaded a fresh clip of ammo. Satisfied the weapon was in working order, she holstered it in her lightweight jacket, and then hastily threw a bandolier of knives across her shoulders. Gut instinct told her something was amiss, but she simply dismissed it as a stomachache for missing breakfast.

Walking to the temple entrance, Megumi halted at the doors and stood in a safe position. She slowly drew three knives from their carrying belt, placing the blades of each between the knuckles of her fist.

"Who is it?"

"Its me Megumi-sempai."

It was only Hasegawa-san. Megumi breathed a sigh of relief and eased into a less heightened mood. She opened the sliding door with her free hand.

"It's been awhile since you last..."

Megumi stopped in mid-sentence. Hasegawa was pointing a gun at her.

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Placing Belldandy on her sleeping mat, Keiichi was surprised by gunfire before he heard a woman's scream and the temple door slamming shut.

Megumi.

Keiichi immediately drew Keima and Takano from his coat, quickly but cautiously moving against the main hall walls, hoping he wasn't too late. Holding the weapons against his chest in an "X" position, the palms of his fist pressed towards his body, he waited at the end corner for the sound of an opening.

He got one: footsteps moving towards him. Keiichi rounded the corner with is arms held straight out.

It was sister. She embraced him, shuddering and crying.

"Kei-chan! It was Hasegawa-san! She's gone nuts! She tried to shoot me! I fell back and threw some knives at her and shut the door! I... I..."

Keiichi kept vigilant watch of the closed entrance while returning Megumi's hug, unsure of how to proceed next. Hasegawa was most likely dead now. His thoughts were interrupted by the growing sensation of warm dampness under his arm. Megumi was bleeding.

"Megumi! You're hurt! Where did she hit you?"

Megumi didn't let go or step back.

"Its only a shoulder wound." She cried harder. "Its nothing compared to what I did to Hasegawa-san."

Full aware of how close Hasegawa and his sister were, Keiichi found himself unable to express words of comfort. They were the only two women - with exception to Belldandy and Chihiro - in the outer city limits. For several long seconds, the silence was only interrupted by Megumi's remorse.

The temple door was sudden thrown open.

Hasegawa was still alive, a single knife embedded through her left eye, and two more jammed in her chest. Two gunshots rang out the moment Keiichi tightened his grip around Megumi and rolled back against the cover of the passageway wall, his sister grunting in pain from the abrupt halting slam. The shots didn't appear to hit their mark.

Megumi regained her composure, though tears still trickled from her eyes.

"Who else!? Who else is there?"

Keiichi couldn't bear to let his sister know the truth. It would be too traumatizing. To make matters worst, she was hurt and wouldn't be able to fight at her best. Keiichi had to challenge Hasegawa alone.

"Megumi, I need you to watch Belldandy. Take care of her and yourself. I'll handle as much as I can alone. If I need you, I'll call."

Megumi released her hold and looked at her brother. She nodded in understanding, but showed signs of defiance in her eyes.

"Please be careful, Kei-chan."

Keiichi nodded in response, watching as Megumi hurried her way to Belldandy's room. His sister was always the more reasoning one.

Keiichi cleared his mind of distractions.

It was time to put Hasegawa in her place.

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"Marller-sama. It appears our chiisai hana has begun the paatii."

Senbei stood on Marller's shoulder, resting his back against the demon's head, brushing the nails of one hand against the front of his jacket.

The haft of Agony tightly gripped in both hands, Marller wasn't so confident of the situation has her companion. Though she was certain the Morisato siblings were having a pleasant surprise with her magic educed plaything, Belldandy had yet to make her move. It troubled the demon greatly. Hadn't the goddess sensed her presence? Was she setting a trap?

Agony's uncharacteristic silence told her it was thinking the same. Marller decided she would wait a few seconds longer. Senbei only sighed in boredom. One day, Marller thought, that flaw would get him killed.

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Keiichi fired two rounds into in the wall before him, hoping Hasegawa's inexperience in gunplay and heightened adrenaline would lead her to make a mistake. It did. Two shots answered back, hitting an area of the wall Keiichi could see. He smiled, now knowing everything he needed.

The size of the bullet impacts told Keiichi three things; first that the caliber of his opponent's firearms was .44 and of high quality, second that she carried two of them, and the most important of all: the trajectory of the crater debris revealed where she generally stood.

Without moving his body into harm's way, Keiichi placed the barrel of Takano around the passage corner, and let lose a single tungsten round from her uppermost barrel. The act was greeted by the high-powered round's ear shattering crack and the muffled explosion of flesh, muscle, and bone. Somewhere on Hasegawa-san's body was now a basketball-sized hole. Keiichi quickly rounded the corner while dropping to his knees, instinctively closing his opponent's window of retaliation.

Hasegawa was motionless on the ground, her right shoulder completely separated form her body. Remembering how she survived Megumi's fatal attack, Keiichi took aim one final time with Takano and whispering for forgiveness to both Hasegawa-san's lost sanity and Megumi.

A fine mist of blood, muscle, and bone took the place of what once was Hasegawa's head.

Having fully realized that he killed a dear family friend, Keiichi simply lowered his head and cried.

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"Marller-sama, our hana is dead. Ikimasu ka?"

Damn Senbei. He knew her senses were just a sensitive, if not more so. He was simply egging her to rush into combat. Fortunately for the pair, she always maintained a cooler head.

"Something isn't right Senbei. Where's Belldandy? She should have long been here."

The genie pushed himself into the air and hovered into Marller's line of sight, his face obvious with the lack of interest he was feeling.

"Perhaps Belldandy-san has already left? Ja, soo desu."

For a moment, Marller considered the words. Was the individual with the strange aura Belldandy? That could have explained what she and Agony felt. The demon ran her thumbs back and forth along her weapon's haft, lost in deep thought.

"No. She wouldn't dare leave his side. Not with him so close to the Sorrowing."

A look of confusion and ignorance crossed Senbei's face.

"Sorrowing?"

"The side effect of losing one's soul more than once."

Senbei became utterly lost.

"Mata? Demo... Senbei thought the tasien of gatsu past was Marller-sama's saisho encounter with Keiichi-san."

Marller gazed out into the void of nothing before continuing, a sight that made her partner unsettlingly cringe.

"It was for me... But..." Marller's expression changed into something Senbei couldn't interpret, "I know her... Belldandy... From my childhood... She's not what she seems... Belldandy... I... The part I've lost... My innocence..."

"Marller-sama? Moshi-moshi. Marller-sama? Oy!"

Agony howled in disapproval and trembled in its master's hands; an act that broke the demon out of her trance. Marller blinked into reality.

"We're leaving..." Her voice was a whisper.

Senbei blankly stared at Marller, considering voicing an objection, but finding himself for a loss of words. Something wasn't right. Something he couldn't put his finger on. Something he so desperately wanted to know. As if she could read his thoughts, Marller gave Senbei a grimacing look.

"I promise I'll explain later, but now isn't the time. There will be other moments; I swear it."

Senbei shrugged as Marller took to the air, Agony held in tow.

"Yare-yare. Hild-joosama will be so fushiawase..."

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"Keiichi-kun! It's me, Chihiro! Keiichi-kun!"

As the temple doors slid open, Chihiro was greeted by the loaded barrels of Keima and Takano, and knowing what she did, understood why.

"Sora-chan came here, didn't she?"

Keiichi gave Chihiro a look of scorn.

"Hasegawa is dead. Go home Chihiro."

Chihiro raised her hands in objection, but quickly placed them against her side the moment she heard Keiichi-kun squeeze back the triggers of his twin guns.

"I said go home!"

Aware of the anxiety and tension Keiichi-kun was feeling, Chihiro slowly backed away, keeping her eyes level on the deadly firearms that shone in the setting sun's red light. It was like looking into the eyes of a silvered skin demon.

"If you ever feel ready to talk about it, you know where to find me."

Chihiro turned around and walked away, cursing herself as she did. Why didn't see realize it sooner? Why?

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Closing the door and easing himself away from it, Keiichi found that he didn't know whom to trust anymore. First Hasegawa attempted to kill his sister. Then, when Belldandy fully recovered from her bout of weakness, he discovered that Shiho was responsible for seriously harming her. And there always were the dreams; those goddamned dreams.

"Kei-chan?"

Megumi. He could always trust her. She was blood. She was all he had left of his family. She was always there, whether he knew it or not.

"It was Chihiro, claiming she wanted to talk. I told her to leave."

Nodding in understanding, Megumi turned around and returned to her room. It then dawned on Keiichi that she was holding a set of knives in her hand. She was just as wired as he.

Keiichi returned to the tearoom, where he sat with Belldandy before Chihiro's unwanted interruption. Aside from his sister, Belldandy was the only person whom he left at ease with now. The three of them against the world; the thought held little merit or satisfaction in Keiichi's mind.

"Keiichi~san? Are you sure you're okay?"

Smiling back at Belldandy, Keiichi gently sat on the floor, reassessing the day's events. He had no idea how to proceed tomorrow. Belldandy moved over to him, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Everything will be alright, Keiichi~san."

Keiichi looked into Belldandy's deep blue eyes. Since making his faithful wish, he never asked a single thing from her: everything she did a faucet of her freewill. Now that was about to change. His inner weakness implored that he ask something from her, or else it would break free and leave him a broken shell.

"Belldandy."

The goddess suddenly became concerned with Keiichi's wavering voice.

"Yes?"

Tears rained from Keiichi's eyes, not of water, but of blood.

Belldandy's own eyes reflected the horror growing inside her.

"Make the dreams stop... please... make them stop..."

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[ CHAPTER FOUR ]

CD Music Listened To While Writing Chapter: Last Blade II Arranged Sound Track


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What follows are the Senbei dialogs, first as they appeared in the story, then the English equivalent. For those already fluent in Japanese, remember, Senbei speaks with incorrect word usage; just as the original did with English.

Japanese: Saa... Ikimashoo aka-chan.
English: Ok then... Let's go baby.

Japanese: Marller-sama. It appears our chiisai hana has begun the paatii.
English: Lady Marller. It appears our little flower has begun the party.

Japanese: Marller-sama, our hana is dead. Ikimasu ka?
English: Lady Marller, our flower is dead. Do we go?

Japanese: Perhaps Belldandy-san has already left? Ja, soo desu.
English: Perhaps Belldandy has already left? Yeah, that's it.

Japanese: Mata? Demo... Senbei thought the tasien of gatsu past was Marller-sama's saisho encounter with Keiichi-san.
English: Again? But... Senbei thought the battle of months past was Lady Marller's first encounter with Keiichi-san.

Japanese: Marller-sama? Moshi-moshi. Marller-sama? Oy!
English: Lady Marller? Hello? Lady Marller? Hey!

Japanese: Yare-yare. Hild-joosama will be so fushiawase...
English: Oh well. Queen Hild will be so unhappy...