Author's Notes: The main focus of the story is Skuld and Sentaro. However
I do have tidbits with Belldandy and Keiichi (when they're not being used
as plot devices) floating around to keep the story kind of all around.
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Ah! My Goddess- Insecurity and Innocence (Chapter Five: Mistrust)
By Gredival
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The sun's bright rays shone down through the tree canopies, which had started to blossom once again. The endless cycle of the seasons, a sign of nature's perpetual youth and beauty, continued on as the winter faded to spring. However Skuld and Sentaro did not have time to admire the seasonal change as their bikes maneuvered over and through the stones and pebbles in the dirt road.
"Hey Skuld, we're gonna stop over there at that tree with the shade there all right?" Sentaro called out behind him. His shirt and shorts flapped in the air as the wind rushed past his form as his legs pumped the bike's pedals.
"Sure!" Skuld replied as she swerved her bike around a rock. She couldn't help the smile on her face as the wind rushed past her face and over her tank top and overalls. Biking still amazed her. Being able to stay on two tires and going so fast all from her own legs and balance. And when she was with Sentaro on a day like this there was little wrong with the world.
***
Keiichi's hand scribbled as quickly as he could as his French teacher started the lesson. He only had one class, but he was working nearly full time at Whirlwind, and had little time to study.
"La classe répète après me. Je me demande si..."
Keiichi sighed as he repeated the French out loud. His left hand went into his pockets and touched the dark velvet box and thought to himself about what he was going to do.
He had no doubt in his heart. He loved Belldandy, but what could he offer her? He knew she deserved much more than he could ever give her. And could he make her happy? Did she feel the same way about him? And what of a family? Could they have a family? If demons and gods love relationships worked, there was the possibility... But what about when he died. If demi- gods and demi-goddesses were immortal, they would be so very young in their lives when their father passed on. As he looked down the road of his life the path grew darker, ever more ambiguous. The questions frightened Keiichi. He chose to try refocus his attention on his French teacher.
***
Skuld took a bite of her turkey sandwich and chewed as she sat underneath the cool shade of the cherry tree. The warm breeze made the temperature just right for their day out.
Sentaro smiled as he watched Skuld. She seemed so different lately, but not in a bad way. More caring and sensitive, he could even see it by the way she looked. Her eyes had taken on a dreamy look; her posture was more relaxed. She had changed from when he first met her, but it was the same Skuld. He finished his own sandwich and moved closer to the tree's trunk giving him a vantage point over the forest. "Hey Skuld you should see this," he commented gazing at the sight.
She moved next to him and leaned back on the comforting warmth and security of Sentaro. They sat under the tree overlooking the cliff. The forest below was a myriad of bright colors dancing under the sun. The songbirds chirped overhead, and the sky was a clear crystal blue color. Sentaro's arms wrapped around Skuld uncertainly, she relaxed into their hold and leaned her head back on Sentaro's shoulder. She would have been content to stay like this for hours, watching the beautiful changes of the Earth with Sentaro.
And Sentaro felt the same way as he held Skuld close, back leaning against the tree's solid bark. Skuld's hair smelled like the wildflowers of the place they were in, and her skin felt like silk as it brushed against his hands. His brown eyes shifted to look at the forest again, still holder her. It was a perfect spring day so far.
So far.
***
Keiichi's hands gripped the motor as he put the bolts back; Chihiro held the frame in place. Wiping off his sweat on his arm he rubbed a rag over his oil soaked hands.
"Good work Morisato!" Fujimi said as she wiped off her hands and patted Keiichi on the back. He nodded as he stood up and stretched.
"So what's the next commission?" Keiichi asked Chihiro as he tossed the rag aside.
"Whirlwind's gonna take a little break," Chihiro replied.
"What?"
"I need a vacation, and when I take mine you take yours," she explained nonchalantly. "Consider it like a spring break ne?" She tossed a wink at him and threw her own rag in the pile as she walked out. "You and Bell should have some time off afterall."
Keiichi smiled as he shut off the lights.
***
Skuld finished packing up the things they had set up and put them back into her backpack. She put on the backpack and got back on her bike.
"I guess we'll head back now," Sentaro said, "the sun will set soon."
"Afraid of the dark Sentaro?" Skuld chided.
"Nah, but you seem to be." That got him a little shove. "Don't worry I'd protect you Skuld," he replied grinning. He took off, and Skuld followed him. The sun was setting and it the backdrop of colors it created made Skuld sigh dreamily as she watched it. [The perfect end for the perfect day,] Skuld mused, [just like a dream.]
One cry shattered that dream into a million pieces.
"Ugh!" Sentaro cried out, as his bike hit a ditch he hadn't seen.
"Sentaro!" Skuld cried out.
He was thrown from his bike and went rolling down the trail. He disappeared out of view the next second, leaving Skuld unable to even cast a spell. Braking hard, she stuck her foot in the ground kicking up dirt as she skidded to a stop. She got off her bike, running up the climb and sliding down the slope to his side. He was bleeding profusely, crimson blood staining his clothes. A wooden shaft protruded from his right leg.
"Looks... like I really screwed up this time..." Sentaro muttered as he looked at Skuld's brown eyes lined with tears. He winced from the pain that shot through his leg.
"Sentaro hold still," Skuld whispered softly. "It'll be okay."
Sentaro found that hard to believe, seeing the tip of the bloody stick protruding from his thigh. And to add to that, the fact they were in the middle of the forest away from medical attention, it did not do much to calm Sentaro's nerves.
"Please just hold still, I'll take out the stick," she said softly, stroking his face. He nodded and she pulled him onto her lap. She found the butt of the stick and tugged. Sentaro's winced as a jolt of pain shot through his wound. Skuld bit her lip and decided to try make it as fast as possible. She pulled hard and tugged it free, sending drops of blood everywhere. She used the stick to cut a tear in her shirt, ripping off a strip of cloth she wrapped the makeshift bandage around his injured leg. She slowly helped him up, casting a minor unnoticeable spell on Sentaro to lessen his weight, to wobble on his one good leg. He draped his right arm around the Goddess for support, and she slowly tries to help him off. Sentaro could feel his breathing getting hard and his leg's pain getting sharper every hop. He winced in pain, and Skuld couldn't help but notice, a twinge of pain running through her own heart at the sight.
As Sentaro set down from another hop he lost his balance falling on his bad leg. He couldn't help but cry out in pain and fall. Skuld knelt down next to him, cradling him in her arms. Sentaro gasped for air clutching at his leg. Looking at the setting sun and the bandage on Sentaro's leg soaked in blood, Skuld knew they were in trouble.
[I have to do this.]
"Please don't be afraid," she whispered as she looked into Sentaro's eyes. "Do you trust me?"
Sentaro did not see the relevance or need to ask that at the time, but he nodded weakly.
Untying the strip of cloth, Skuld exposed the bleeding wound. She lifted a hand over the injury. Sentaro's eyes widened as an orb of blue light appeared within Skuld's hand. The girl moved the orb closer to the gash; Sentaro's wound began to heal, the flesh and skin melded back together. Sentaro's eyes widened more as the wound began to disappear. His could feel his breathing coming easier, the pain fast subsiding.
She backed away letting Sentaro sit up. He looked at his leg, his hand rubbing the injury to make sure it was really healed. He then turned his gaze to Skuld. He was at a loss for words, his head spun in a whirlwind. He didn't know what to do, what to say. He felt as if the ground beneath him had fallen apart.
"I'm so sorry Sentaro, I just couldn't ever tell you," Skuld tried to explain, "I... I was afraid that..."
"You couldn't trust me?" Sentaro finished for her. If the tone in his voice was not enough, the feeling of betrayal that could be seen in his eyes left no doubt of the boy's hurt feelings.
The words stung Skuld. But the simple truth of the matter was they stung because they were true. She didn't trust him. Moisture lined her eyes, but she couldn't answer.
What if he had never gotten hurt? Would she ever have told him the truth? Did she trust him? How long would she have hid herself? Skuld didn't know the answers to these questions, and the reality was she would never know.
Sentaro's heart broke, seeing the girl in pain. But how did she feel, if she couldn't trust him, and a stroke of fate had to bring a dark secret to light? He felt both betrayed, but were his feelings warranted with just happened? He decided he needed to be alone, he needed some space for himself. The boy stumbled as he got up, but Skuld caught him as he fell. He pushed her away, shaking his head. He wiped a tear from her eyes, giving her a dull and empty smile. The boy ran to his bike, getting on and pedaling away.
Skuld slumped to the ground crying. The drops of moisture wet the dry dirt. She clutched her heart. It felt horrible inside. It felt so horribly empty.
-------
Ah! My Goddess- Insecurity and Innocence (Chapter Five: Mistrust)
By Gredival
-------
The sun's bright rays shone down through the tree canopies, which had started to blossom once again. The endless cycle of the seasons, a sign of nature's perpetual youth and beauty, continued on as the winter faded to spring. However Skuld and Sentaro did not have time to admire the seasonal change as their bikes maneuvered over and through the stones and pebbles in the dirt road.
"Hey Skuld, we're gonna stop over there at that tree with the shade there all right?" Sentaro called out behind him. His shirt and shorts flapped in the air as the wind rushed past his form as his legs pumped the bike's pedals.
"Sure!" Skuld replied as she swerved her bike around a rock. She couldn't help the smile on her face as the wind rushed past her face and over her tank top and overalls. Biking still amazed her. Being able to stay on two tires and going so fast all from her own legs and balance. And when she was with Sentaro on a day like this there was little wrong with the world.
***
Keiichi's hand scribbled as quickly as he could as his French teacher started the lesson. He only had one class, but he was working nearly full time at Whirlwind, and had little time to study.
"La classe répète après me. Je me demande si..."
Keiichi sighed as he repeated the French out loud. His left hand went into his pockets and touched the dark velvet box and thought to himself about what he was going to do.
He had no doubt in his heart. He loved Belldandy, but what could he offer her? He knew she deserved much more than he could ever give her. And could he make her happy? Did she feel the same way about him? And what of a family? Could they have a family? If demons and gods love relationships worked, there was the possibility... But what about when he died. If demi- gods and demi-goddesses were immortal, they would be so very young in their lives when their father passed on. As he looked down the road of his life the path grew darker, ever more ambiguous. The questions frightened Keiichi. He chose to try refocus his attention on his French teacher.
***
Skuld took a bite of her turkey sandwich and chewed as she sat underneath the cool shade of the cherry tree. The warm breeze made the temperature just right for their day out.
Sentaro smiled as he watched Skuld. She seemed so different lately, but not in a bad way. More caring and sensitive, he could even see it by the way she looked. Her eyes had taken on a dreamy look; her posture was more relaxed. She had changed from when he first met her, but it was the same Skuld. He finished his own sandwich and moved closer to the tree's trunk giving him a vantage point over the forest. "Hey Skuld you should see this," he commented gazing at the sight.
She moved next to him and leaned back on the comforting warmth and security of Sentaro. They sat under the tree overlooking the cliff. The forest below was a myriad of bright colors dancing under the sun. The songbirds chirped overhead, and the sky was a clear crystal blue color. Sentaro's arms wrapped around Skuld uncertainly, she relaxed into their hold and leaned her head back on Sentaro's shoulder. She would have been content to stay like this for hours, watching the beautiful changes of the Earth with Sentaro.
And Sentaro felt the same way as he held Skuld close, back leaning against the tree's solid bark. Skuld's hair smelled like the wildflowers of the place they were in, and her skin felt like silk as it brushed against his hands. His brown eyes shifted to look at the forest again, still holder her. It was a perfect spring day so far.
So far.
***
Keiichi's hands gripped the motor as he put the bolts back; Chihiro held the frame in place. Wiping off his sweat on his arm he rubbed a rag over his oil soaked hands.
"Good work Morisato!" Fujimi said as she wiped off her hands and patted Keiichi on the back. He nodded as he stood up and stretched.
"So what's the next commission?" Keiichi asked Chihiro as he tossed the rag aside.
"Whirlwind's gonna take a little break," Chihiro replied.
"What?"
"I need a vacation, and when I take mine you take yours," she explained nonchalantly. "Consider it like a spring break ne?" She tossed a wink at him and threw her own rag in the pile as she walked out. "You and Bell should have some time off afterall."
Keiichi smiled as he shut off the lights.
***
Skuld finished packing up the things they had set up and put them back into her backpack. She put on the backpack and got back on her bike.
"I guess we'll head back now," Sentaro said, "the sun will set soon."
"Afraid of the dark Sentaro?" Skuld chided.
"Nah, but you seem to be." That got him a little shove. "Don't worry I'd protect you Skuld," he replied grinning. He took off, and Skuld followed him. The sun was setting and it the backdrop of colors it created made Skuld sigh dreamily as she watched it. [The perfect end for the perfect day,] Skuld mused, [just like a dream.]
One cry shattered that dream into a million pieces.
"Ugh!" Sentaro cried out, as his bike hit a ditch he hadn't seen.
"Sentaro!" Skuld cried out.
He was thrown from his bike and went rolling down the trail. He disappeared out of view the next second, leaving Skuld unable to even cast a spell. Braking hard, she stuck her foot in the ground kicking up dirt as she skidded to a stop. She got off her bike, running up the climb and sliding down the slope to his side. He was bleeding profusely, crimson blood staining his clothes. A wooden shaft protruded from his right leg.
"Looks... like I really screwed up this time..." Sentaro muttered as he looked at Skuld's brown eyes lined with tears. He winced from the pain that shot through his leg.
"Sentaro hold still," Skuld whispered softly. "It'll be okay."
Sentaro found that hard to believe, seeing the tip of the bloody stick protruding from his thigh. And to add to that, the fact they were in the middle of the forest away from medical attention, it did not do much to calm Sentaro's nerves.
"Please just hold still, I'll take out the stick," she said softly, stroking his face. He nodded and she pulled him onto her lap. She found the butt of the stick and tugged. Sentaro's winced as a jolt of pain shot through his wound. Skuld bit her lip and decided to try make it as fast as possible. She pulled hard and tugged it free, sending drops of blood everywhere. She used the stick to cut a tear in her shirt, ripping off a strip of cloth she wrapped the makeshift bandage around his injured leg. She slowly helped him up, casting a minor unnoticeable spell on Sentaro to lessen his weight, to wobble on his one good leg. He draped his right arm around the Goddess for support, and she slowly tries to help him off. Sentaro could feel his breathing getting hard and his leg's pain getting sharper every hop. He winced in pain, and Skuld couldn't help but notice, a twinge of pain running through her own heart at the sight.
As Sentaro set down from another hop he lost his balance falling on his bad leg. He couldn't help but cry out in pain and fall. Skuld knelt down next to him, cradling him in her arms. Sentaro gasped for air clutching at his leg. Looking at the setting sun and the bandage on Sentaro's leg soaked in blood, Skuld knew they were in trouble.
[I have to do this.]
"Please don't be afraid," she whispered as she looked into Sentaro's eyes. "Do you trust me?"
Sentaro did not see the relevance or need to ask that at the time, but he nodded weakly.
Untying the strip of cloth, Skuld exposed the bleeding wound. She lifted a hand over the injury. Sentaro's eyes widened as an orb of blue light appeared within Skuld's hand. The girl moved the orb closer to the gash; Sentaro's wound began to heal, the flesh and skin melded back together. Sentaro's eyes widened more as the wound began to disappear. His could feel his breathing coming easier, the pain fast subsiding.
She backed away letting Sentaro sit up. He looked at his leg, his hand rubbing the injury to make sure it was really healed. He then turned his gaze to Skuld. He was at a loss for words, his head spun in a whirlwind. He didn't know what to do, what to say. He felt as if the ground beneath him had fallen apart.
"I'm so sorry Sentaro, I just couldn't ever tell you," Skuld tried to explain, "I... I was afraid that..."
"You couldn't trust me?" Sentaro finished for her. If the tone in his voice was not enough, the feeling of betrayal that could be seen in his eyes left no doubt of the boy's hurt feelings.
The words stung Skuld. But the simple truth of the matter was they stung because they were true. She didn't trust him. Moisture lined her eyes, but she couldn't answer.
What if he had never gotten hurt? Would she ever have told him the truth? Did she trust him? How long would she have hid herself? Skuld didn't know the answers to these questions, and the reality was she would never know.
Sentaro's heart broke, seeing the girl in pain. But how did she feel, if she couldn't trust him, and a stroke of fate had to bring a dark secret to light? He felt both betrayed, but were his feelings warranted with just happened? He decided he needed to be alone, he needed some space for himself. The boy stumbled as he got up, but Skuld caught him as he fell. He pushed her away, shaking his head. He wiped a tear from her eyes, giving her a dull and empty smile. The boy ran to his bike, getting on and pedaling away.
Skuld slumped to the ground crying. The drops of moisture wet the dry dirt. She clutched her heart. It felt horrible inside. It felt so horribly empty.
