Chapter 9, Alone:

Keiichi woke up with a headache. His thoughts slowly came back to him about the events that took place the
past night. He wanted to believe that everything was alright, but deep down inside, he knew that nothing was. He
laid there for a moment, not really wanting to wake up. But finally, he forced himself to get up and to get dressed so
he could go to the Motor Club.

At the Motor Club;

Keiichi walked in. His eyes still had sleep in them and there was bags under his eyes form the loss of sleep last night.

Tamiya: Ya don't look so good.

Otaki: Anything we could do ta help?

Keiichi sighed as he sat down on the couch.

Keiichi: I just want to know if there was any rumors going around about me or Belldandy?

Tamiya: There is, uh, one.

Keiichi: What is it?

Tamiya: I'm not suppose to tell ya.

Keiichi stood up to face Tamiya.

Keiichi: You'd better tell me, Tamiya. What is it?

Meanwhile Otaki was looking at the two of them with a puzzled look on his face.

Otaki: Ya mean tha one bout you cheating on Belldandy?

Tamiya: Now ya done it.

Otaki: What? What I say?

Keiichi walked over to Otaki with a pleading look on his face.

Keiichi: Who started it? How did you two hear about it? And why the hell didn't you tell me?

Otaki: It was tha Shikaru woman. She da one ta tell us.

Keiichi: Where does Shikaru live?

Otaki: About a mile from here.

Keiichi: And?

Otaki: And?

Tamiya: Her house number is, 1560.

Before Tamiya or Otaki could say anymore, Keiichi was out the door to head over to Shikaru's house.

Shikaru's house;

Keiichi walked up to the front door and banged on it until she answered.

Shikaru: Oh, Keiichi. What brings you to my house?

Keiichi: Did you start rumors about me to try to get Belldandy to leave?

Shikaru: Whatever do you mean?

Keiichi: Don't play dumb with me. Tamiya and Otaki already told me about it.

Shikaru: Oh, that rumor. Well I...

Keiichi: How could you? Belldandy won't even talk to me anymore.

Shikaru: I'll be with you then.

Shikaru started to walk towards Keiichi, but stopped when Keiichi yelled at her.

Keiichi: Is this what the rumor was all about? You wanted to get rid of Belldandy to get me?

Shikaru: Yes it was. I was the person you was suppose to meet at the party a few weeks ago, remember?
But when I saw you with Belldandy, I couldn't take it anymore. I...I love you.

Keiichi was shocked a what Shikaru had just told him.

Keiichi: If you do love me, then you would have left Belldandy and I alone. What you did wasn't from love, it
was from greed and hate that came from your heart.

Shikaru: What? I don't understand.

Keiichi: I'll never forgive you. Never show yourself at my home or anywhere that I'm at.

Keiichi left Shikaru on the steps, tears forming in her eyes. Only thing Keiichi thought about was finding Belldandy
to tell her that he had proof that it was all a lie. Keiichi left for home.

When Keiichi got home, he ran inside to tell everyone the news.

Keiichi: Everyone, the rumors aren't true! Shikaru made them up.

Keiichi went into the living room, where Urd was watching TV.

Urd: That's great, Keiichi.

Keiichi: Where's Belldandy? I need to tell her about it,

Urd: She's gone.

Keiichi: What? What do you mean gone? Where? How long?

Urd: Don't worry, she'll be back in a day or two. So just relax and wait.

Keiichi: Why did she leave?

Keiichi sat down on the couch beside Urd.

Urd: She just needed to think about the two of you and your relationship. She really is hurting inside.

Keiichi: Don't worry, after I tell her the news, she'll be ok.

Urd: Don't be so of yourself. It'll take more than that to convince Belldandy.

Keiichi: I just want all this to end.

Urd: We all do.

The next day;

It was already lunch time and Skuld, Urd, and Keiichi was sitting in the kitchen, waiting for Belldandy to
come back home.

Keiichi: How much longer do we have to wait?

Urd: I'm not sure. Just give her time. Everything will be ok, I'm sure of it.

About that same time, Belldandy walked in. She glanced at Keiichi and then glanced down when she saw that he
was looking at her. Tears was already forming in her eyes. Before anyone could say anything, Keiichi rushed up
and embraced Belldandy.

Keiichi: Please don't leave me again. I don't know what I would have done if something would have happened to you.

Belldandy returned the hug, crying softly into his shoulder.

Urd: Skuld, you and me better leave the two of them alone. I'm sure they have plenty to talk about.

Skuld: But why? I don't...

Urd: Let's go. Now.

Quickly getting the point, Skuld followed Urd out of the room, leaving Belldandy and Keiichi alone.

Belldandy: Sorry to have worried you, Keichi-san.

Keiichi closed his eyes, feeling the pain in his heart from hearing Belldandy still call him by Keiichi-san.

Keiichi: Why do you still call me Keiichi-san?

Belldandy: I'm sorry. It's just, I'm still unsure about my feelings for you.

Keiichi brought Belldandy's chin up, to look into her soft sorrowful eyes.

Keiichi: You don't have to worry anymore. I have proof that the rumor was a lie.

Belldandy: How?

Keiichi: Shikaru told me that she made it up.

Belldandy: But why would anybody do such a thing.

Keiichi: I don't know. But it's all over now, Bell-chan.

Belldandy slowly stepped back from Keiichi, bringing her arms to her heart.

Belldandy: Even if it is a lie, I'm sorry Keiichi-san, but I've done so much to hurt our relationship. I'm not
sure if I can continue it or not.

Keiichi: What are you saying? I love you, Bell-chan.

Belldandy: I know. I love you too, but I've done nothing but hurt you and put you in danger ever since
I came down to earth.

Keiichi: What about my wish then?

Belldandy: Your wish was fro me to be happy. I'm not sure what makes me happy anymore.

Tears were now freely falling from Belldandy's face. Keiichi couldn't bare to see Belldandy like that and
embraced her, not really knowing what else to say or do anymore.

Keiichi: What's going to happen now?

Belldandy: I'm not sure.

Keiichi: Will you please think about it? You must understand that we have indeed gone through so much, but
never has anything come between us in our relationship. To love somebody, no matter how hard it may be at
times, doesn't mean that you have to give up. To never love is the same as never living life to the fullest. And I
want to live the rest of my life with you, Bell-chan.

Belldandy: Oh, Keiichi-san, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that I've hurt you so much.

Belldandy cried uncontrollably into Keiichi. Her heart letting go of any doubts that she had of Keiichi.

After a while of Belldandy and Keiichi being close to one another, Belldandy looked up and smiled at Keiichi.

Keiichi: What is it, Bell-chan?

Belldandy: I love you...Kei-kun.

Keiichi: And I love you, my Bell-chan.

Life at times can seem impossible, but only to those who have yet to find faith. Belldandy and Keiichi, no matter how
hard it got, always had faith in each other. Even if it seemed doubtful at times, their love always surpassed, bringing them
back together. And that's the true meaning of love unconditional.

END



(Author's notes: It's been fun. It was my first fanfic and hopefully not my last. I'm thinking about making a sequel to Love Unconditional,
sometime in near future, so be looking for it. Please read and review. Tell me if I messed up on anything. Thanks everyone for the
support and God bless you. -Manui)