Author's Notes: Dark Horse lags horribly behind on manga compared to Japan. If you've read ahead in the Japanese Manga, you should note the more this story goes on, the more likely I'm going to be contradicting something in the manga eventually -_-; If I do this please notify me in your review so I can make the corrections necessary.

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Ah! My Goddess- Insecurity and Innocence (Chapter Six: The Other Side of Me)

By Gredival

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Skuld spent her walk home in thought. Ever since Sentaro knew her she had just been this girl he met in the park, a foreigner. She couldn't escape the reality of the fact she had lied to him, tricked and deceived him for as long as they had known each other. How could they ever just go back to being the same? Would she ever even see his face again? Would she ever see the smile she loved again? Would she ever find trust in his brown eyes again? Could he accept her? Skuld sighed deeply as she looked up at the pale moon.

Starlight reflected off the tears that rolled down her cheek as she ran a hand through her disheveled hair, matted with the blood of her beloved.

***

"Don't worry Bell," Keiichi said reassuringly as he took Belldandy's hand in his own, "I'm sure she's fine."

Belldandy nodded as she turned her head to face Keiichi. She managed a weak smiled; "I'm fine, really." But her gentle blue eyes, so filled with worry, told Keiichi otherwise. He couldn't deny the worry he saw in her blue orbs or the tremor in her voice. He glanced over at the clock. Where could Skuld be?

The door slid open and Urd walked in. Her violet eyes and posture also showing fatigue and worry. "Skuld's home..." Urd said, Belldandy and Keiichi might have been able to relax if it wasn't for what Urd said next. "She's got dried blood on her clothes."

Belldandy got up in a hurry. Urd moved aside to let Belldandy through as she made her way to the entrance of the temple. Keiichi, however, turned the other way as he exited Belldandy's room.

"Keiichi?" Urd questioned as he began to walk off.

"Belldandy is very good at this, and there's no use for me to be there. Skuld probably wouldn't want me there anyway," he explained. The bronze skinned Goddess nodded and he slipped into his room.

"Yeah, I'm scared too," Urd said with a smirk as Keiichi disappeared. She headed to meet Belldandy and Skuld. Urd walked into the room brushing her white hair behind her as she took a seat across from Skuld. "All right what happened Skuld?"

Skuld took a deep breath. Belldandy put her arm around her little sister. "Sentaro was thrown from his bike... He was injured... We tried to get back but we couldn't," she said softly, her eyes misting up a bit, "so I healed him... And n-now..." Skuld's voice broke up as she began to sob softly.

Belldandy patted her little sister on the back, "I'm sure you are exhausted Skuld. Try to get some rest."

Skuld nodded as she got up. She hugged Belldandy and Urd before going off to her room.

Urd noted Belldandy seemed deep in thought. "Bell?"

"I'm just thinking what is going to happen now, especially between Sentaro and her," she explained.

"She has just shattered Sentaro's image of her. She has been basically lying to him since Day One. He is probably feeling very betrayed, can he still trust her?"

"Yes Urd. If he loves her. The person you love is the person you love and trust no matter what secrets may lie under the other's eyes. You will always love that person. No matter what, because they'll always be the same to you," she said smiling, "always." Belldandy got up from her seat, "I have no doubt they can make it through this - if they believe in each other."

[You really are something else dear sister,] Urd thought as she closed her violet orbs, giving a little nod of agreement. "We should get some sleep," Urd yawned, "it's been a long day." Stretching her arms into the air she disappeared into the hallway.

Turning off the lights Belldandy followed Urd down the hallway. She walked down the hallway to Skuld's door sliding it open gently. Skuld was fast asleep. Belldandy walked in quietly, taking a place on the bed next to her little sister. "Don't be afraid to be who you really are with Sentaro, to show him the other you. Your true side, the one you won't show to any of us," she whispered, "because if you love him, it can work." Standing up, she pulled the covers over Skuld. She shut the door and left Skuld to her dreams.

***

Sentaro stood in front of the temple, holding his bike up with one hand. He ran his hand over his leg again. Perfectly healed. The only question was: Was he ready? Was he ready to find out about Skuld? He wasn't sure, he would never be. But he knew one thing- he needed her.

The week he had spent away from her, he couldn't stop thinking about her. He cared for her too much. He loved her too much to let her go.

He tried to steel his resolve as he swallowed. "Hey is Skuld home?"

Skuld finished the braid in her ponytail and took a deep breath. Sentaro deserved to know. "I'll be right out," she called. She hurriedly pulled on her skirt and coat and rushed out to meet him.

She gave him a hug then pulled back to make sure he was okay.

"I'm fine," he assured the Goddess.

She nodded, "Here take my hand."

Sentaro was confused but complied. She led him to the small pond and pulled him with her as she jumped in. Sentaro's eyes bugged out in surprise, they only widened as the gate opened below them. Sentaro found himself in the riverbank as soon as he passed through.

Skuld walked over to a large rock and pulled herself on top of it. Sentaro followed.

"My feelings for you haven't changed Skuld," he assured her after a moment of awkward silence. "It's just..." the boy's voice trailed off.

Skuld closed her eyes sighing. "I know; it must be a shock. You deserve to know everything. I'm sorry I couldn't trust you until now, but I hope I can make up for it," Skuld apologized. She took a deep breath. "I'm a Goddess, Sentaro. Belldandy came from Heaven to grant Keiichi's wish. He wanted her to stay with him forever," she explained, "then Urd and I came later. We've been here ever since. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but we don't know how people would react. How they would feel. What they would do." Her voice trailed off as she looked off into the clouds.

"If they care so much about 'what' a person is, they're not worth the time," Sentaro said as he climbed up the rock, and stuck his face in front of Skuld's smiling. "You're still Skuld. Belldandy's still Belldandy. Urd's still Urd. Deity or human, you are still the same person as the day I met you. Still the girl I love," he promised her, a hand brushing past Skuld's cheek, "and I want to apologize too, for leaving you the other night."

Skuld blushed, her eyes forming drop of moisture, and she hugged Sentaro. Sentaro smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. Her hair was still as intoxicating as wildflowers.

Sentaro held Skuld close as she cried on his shoulder. "Don't worry Skuld... I'll stay here, no matter what happens, as long as you want me to. It's okay," he assured her running a hand and brushing some fallen hair out of her teary face. He kissed her lightly on her forehead.

"Thank you... Sentaro..." Skuld said softly. She looked into his eyes and his bright smile, finding the betrayal in them replaced by open acceptance

She finally understood something that she had been told all her life, but never truly comprehended. A lesson more important than any spell or incantation or skill Belldandy, Urd, or any Goddess could ever teach her. Loving someone with all your heart is the greatest thing someone could ever do, and being loved by someone with all their heart is the most precious thing anyone could ever possess. And only something so pure, yet fragile could be the source of power for a Goddess.