Author's notes: Okay in this chapter Skuld's character changes a wee bit
from the OVA and movie (we see this change a bit more in the manga).
Through the anime she has aged four years, I am sure she's gotten more
mature and I have tried to change her character to show that while still
protecting the integrity of who she is. Basically it's what Sentaro did
for Skuld only OVA version well without Sentaro.
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Ah! My Goddess- The Definition of Perfection (Chapter 2: Labors of Love)
By
Gredival
--------
Keiichi rode along the streets on his way to Nekomi Tech. Summer was almost over it was beginning to get a bit chilly again. He turned into the campus and drove to the Auto Club's building and parked his motorcycle. He took off his helmet and left it on the bike. He walked through the doors to be met by his large burly sempai, Tamiya.
"Morisato! Here is your job!" Tamiya announced proudly as he handed Keiichi a paper. He would be working at the market in the mall. Five hours of this job would give him just enough money to buy that ring he saw. "Now about the ra-" Tamiya began saying, but not fast enough.
"Thank you Sempai I'll go there right now!" Keiichi yelled as he was already out the door mounting his cycle. Replacing his helmet and tossing the paper into the side rider's seat he sped off. He wasn't as eager to get to work as to get away from Tamiya and the possibility of him racing.
---
Back at the temple forest grounds Belldandy and Skuld were practicing their singing. The tree that Belldandy had helped just one year ago was almost back too full strength, as much from will to live, as help from Belldandy and Skuld's singing during their lessons.
"That's it for today Skuld I need to go to the Market to pick up groceries,"
"Can I come too?" Skuld asked, "I need something at the mall." As much as Skuld wanted to deny it Earth was growing on her. Keiichi was growing on her too. Sure this world and that human had stolen her big sister temporarily, but now she was near her sister, and she was beginning to see this world was not so bad.
"Sure, let's see if Urd wants to come," Belldandy answered.
"Oh she went somewhere to do something. I forgot what it was though." Skuld said, her hand came to her chin as she tried to remember what Urd was doing today.
"Ok then let's go." Belldandy said smiling at her little sister.
Skuld stopped thinking about where Urd went off to, and followed her sister to the store at the mall.
---
At the store Keiichi was in the isles restocking the cereals thinking of Belldandy, when out of the corner of his eye he saw her walk in from the mall. Keiichi blinked and she was gone. [Must be thinking of her too much,] Keiichi explained to himself. Belldandy however had moved forward and entered an isle. Keiichi was one step ahead of her in his restocking. Then as Keiichi exited his isle and started towards the cashier's booth, stopping to pick up a fallen box, he saw her behind him, he scrambled and hid behind the apples.
[Oh geeze I don't want her to see me here! If this is supposed to be a surprise she can't know anything,] Keiichi thougjht nervously. He looked over a little and saw Belldandy looking at some oranges. He slowly crept away from the isle, kept low, and headed to the back and slipped in the bathroom. He let out a deep sigh. [Damn that was close.] After a few minutes he came out and looked at the cashier's Belldandy had just finished and was exiting the store. He sighed and stepped out and walked toward the cashier's booth again. Then he saw Skuld approaching Belldandy, and he was right in her line of sight if she turned her head in any way. [Oh crap!] Keiichi thought and turned around and busied himself sorting some stuff. He slowly turned his head and saw Belldandy and Skuld walking down the mall. He let out another sigh and began walking again, until the store's manager's hand was on his shoulder.
"Morisato what have you been doing?!"
"Uh I restocked the isles then had to go to the bathroom sir." Keiichi spit out.
"Get back to work!"
"Yes sir!" With that Keiichi hurried to the stock room to inquire what he needed to do. This was turning out to be more than he bargained for. But in three hours he would have what he needed for Belldandy's ring. He just hoped she would like it.
---
On their way home Skuld was thinking. She finally stopped and turned to her sister. "Belldandy if Keiichi didn't have the contract with you would you still stay here?" she asked bluntly. She had always thought this world wasn't good enough for Belldandy to stay here. But it was growing on her. She had to know Belldandy's answer.
"Yes Skuld. I love Keiichi. And as long as he wants me by his side I will be there for him." Belldandy said. Skuld stood trying to absorb this. "Skuld it's been four years since you have arrived. At first you didn't like Keiichi and you wanted me to return home to the heavens. But you are growing up Skuld. I'm sure by now you've seen that we both care very deeply about each other."
Skuld knew the truth in Belldandy's words. Even in the second day on Earth she saw how much they loved each other. And she was changing. Two years ago she would never have wanted Keiichi and her sister so close. But now she had accepted the idea. It made her sister happy and, she was happy. Skuld nodded her agreement at Belldandy's assessment.
Belldandy smiled. Her sister was indeed becoming much more mature and compassionate. She was becoming a stronger and better Goddess as well. They continued walking to the temple.
---
Keiichi stopped sweeping and leaned on the pole of the broom. His head resting on his hand on the top of the handle. He let out a deep sigh. From his pocket he pulled out his wallet and checked the money. One more hour of pay was all that was needed. He continued sweeping the store.
---
Belldandy was preparing lunch for herself and her sisters. [Hmm doesn't look like Keiichi will make it for lunch again.] Belldandy thought to herself, a little saddened. Recently Keiichi had been working through lunch, though Belldandy thought he was out with his Sempais.
---
Keiichi finally finished the hour and was now walking through the mall to the Jewelry Store. He now had just enough for that ring he wanted to give Belldandy. He walked through the glass doors of the Jewelry shop. The saleswoman greeted him.
"Welcome!" She said with a warm smile. "Oh you're the young man that reserved that diamond ring? Morisato right?"
"Yeah," Keiichi replied. The woman reached under the counter and pulled out the ring she had been holding for him. She opened the velvet box and gave it to him. A beautiful golden ring with two small diamonds surrounding a large diamond in the center was resting inside. Keiichi had picked it out last month, and it was one of the most expensive rings in the store. But Keiichi thought Belldandy deserved the best. [It pales in comparison to what Bell deserves. But it will have to do,] He took out his wallet and the envelope he was given as payment for his recent job. He pulled out the yen and paid the woman and headed off back home. With the remainder of the earnings he had from his jobs he would take Belldandy out for a fancy dinner. Granted of course, if he could get Urd and Skuld to comply with the plan.
-------
Ah! My Goddess- The Definition of Perfection (Chapter 2: Labors of Love)
By
Gredival
--------
Keiichi rode along the streets on his way to Nekomi Tech. Summer was almost over it was beginning to get a bit chilly again. He turned into the campus and drove to the Auto Club's building and parked his motorcycle. He took off his helmet and left it on the bike. He walked through the doors to be met by his large burly sempai, Tamiya.
"Morisato! Here is your job!" Tamiya announced proudly as he handed Keiichi a paper. He would be working at the market in the mall. Five hours of this job would give him just enough money to buy that ring he saw. "Now about the ra-" Tamiya began saying, but not fast enough.
"Thank you Sempai I'll go there right now!" Keiichi yelled as he was already out the door mounting his cycle. Replacing his helmet and tossing the paper into the side rider's seat he sped off. He wasn't as eager to get to work as to get away from Tamiya and the possibility of him racing.
---
Back at the temple forest grounds Belldandy and Skuld were practicing their singing. The tree that Belldandy had helped just one year ago was almost back too full strength, as much from will to live, as help from Belldandy and Skuld's singing during their lessons.
"That's it for today Skuld I need to go to the Market to pick up groceries,"
"Can I come too?" Skuld asked, "I need something at the mall." As much as Skuld wanted to deny it Earth was growing on her. Keiichi was growing on her too. Sure this world and that human had stolen her big sister temporarily, but now she was near her sister, and she was beginning to see this world was not so bad.
"Sure, let's see if Urd wants to come," Belldandy answered.
"Oh she went somewhere to do something. I forgot what it was though." Skuld said, her hand came to her chin as she tried to remember what Urd was doing today.
"Ok then let's go." Belldandy said smiling at her little sister.
Skuld stopped thinking about where Urd went off to, and followed her sister to the store at the mall.
---
At the store Keiichi was in the isles restocking the cereals thinking of Belldandy, when out of the corner of his eye he saw her walk in from the mall. Keiichi blinked and she was gone. [Must be thinking of her too much,] Keiichi explained to himself. Belldandy however had moved forward and entered an isle. Keiichi was one step ahead of her in his restocking. Then as Keiichi exited his isle and started towards the cashier's booth, stopping to pick up a fallen box, he saw her behind him, he scrambled and hid behind the apples.
[Oh geeze I don't want her to see me here! If this is supposed to be a surprise she can't know anything,] Keiichi thougjht nervously. He looked over a little and saw Belldandy looking at some oranges. He slowly crept away from the isle, kept low, and headed to the back and slipped in the bathroom. He let out a deep sigh. [Damn that was close.] After a few minutes he came out and looked at the cashier's Belldandy had just finished and was exiting the store. He sighed and stepped out and walked toward the cashier's booth again. Then he saw Skuld approaching Belldandy, and he was right in her line of sight if she turned her head in any way. [Oh crap!] Keiichi thought and turned around and busied himself sorting some stuff. He slowly turned his head and saw Belldandy and Skuld walking down the mall. He let out another sigh and began walking again, until the store's manager's hand was on his shoulder.
"Morisato what have you been doing?!"
"Uh I restocked the isles then had to go to the bathroom sir." Keiichi spit out.
"Get back to work!"
"Yes sir!" With that Keiichi hurried to the stock room to inquire what he needed to do. This was turning out to be more than he bargained for. But in three hours he would have what he needed for Belldandy's ring. He just hoped she would like it.
---
On their way home Skuld was thinking. She finally stopped and turned to her sister. "Belldandy if Keiichi didn't have the contract with you would you still stay here?" she asked bluntly. She had always thought this world wasn't good enough for Belldandy to stay here. But it was growing on her. She had to know Belldandy's answer.
"Yes Skuld. I love Keiichi. And as long as he wants me by his side I will be there for him." Belldandy said. Skuld stood trying to absorb this. "Skuld it's been four years since you have arrived. At first you didn't like Keiichi and you wanted me to return home to the heavens. But you are growing up Skuld. I'm sure by now you've seen that we both care very deeply about each other."
Skuld knew the truth in Belldandy's words. Even in the second day on Earth she saw how much they loved each other. And she was changing. Two years ago she would never have wanted Keiichi and her sister so close. But now she had accepted the idea. It made her sister happy and, she was happy. Skuld nodded her agreement at Belldandy's assessment.
Belldandy smiled. Her sister was indeed becoming much more mature and compassionate. She was becoming a stronger and better Goddess as well. They continued walking to the temple.
---
Keiichi stopped sweeping and leaned on the pole of the broom. His head resting on his hand on the top of the handle. He let out a deep sigh. From his pocket he pulled out his wallet and checked the money. One more hour of pay was all that was needed. He continued sweeping the store.
---
Belldandy was preparing lunch for herself and her sisters. [Hmm doesn't look like Keiichi will make it for lunch again.] Belldandy thought to herself, a little saddened. Recently Keiichi had been working through lunch, though Belldandy thought he was out with his Sempais.
---
Keiichi finally finished the hour and was now walking through the mall to the Jewelry Store. He now had just enough for that ring he wanted to give Belldandy. He walked through the glass doors of the Jewelry shop. The saleswoman greeted him.
"Welcome!" She said with a warm smile. "Oh you're the young man that reserved that diamond ring? Morisato right?"
"Yeah," Keiichi replied. The woman reached under the counter and pulled out the ring she had been holding for him. She opened the velvet box and gave it to him. A beautiful golden ring with two small diamonds surrounding a large diamond in the center was resting inside. Keiichi had picked it out last month, and it was one of the most expensive rings in the store. But Keiichi thought Belldandy deserved the best. [It pales in comparison to what Bell deserves. But it will have to do,] He took out his wallet and the envelope he was given as payment for his recent job. He pulled out the yen and paid the woman and headed off back home. With the remainder of the earnings he had from his jobs he would take Belldandy out for a fancy dinner. Granted of course, if he could get Urd and Skuld to comply with the plan.