AUTHOR'S NOTE: I am horrified to see that horrible mistake I made last chapter. URD IS THE OLDER SISTER! I typo-ed it SO MUCH! AARRGGH…sorry! So sorry!!
DISCLAIMER: Once again, I retain no possession of the aforementioned anime known as Oh! My Goddess!
Make My Dreams Come True
"I'll be back soon. Urd said she would stay on Earth to look after you…you don't mind do you?"
Smiling at his uncertainty, Morgan shook her head. "No. I don't mind at all."
"Right…"
"There is nothing more you can say." Holding his hands lightly in hers, Morgan nodded towards Peorth and the Valkyries waiting on the courtyard. "They wait for you…" Growing slightly pensive, she whispered only for his ears, "But I am waiting for you as well. Come back…and then be happy."
"What if…."
Morgan tilted her head curiously as Keiichi trailed off and averted his eyes. "What if what?"
"…I'll tell you later Morgan." Smiling softly, he leaned forward and tapped his forehead against hers. "I'll tell you when I get back."
Watching the two from the courtyard, Peorth sighed. "Almost nostalgic…isn't it Urd?"
"…Yeah…whatever." Distinctively uncomfortable, the white-haired goddess crossed her arms together against her chest.
"Are you sure you can be so glib with your answer?"
"Leave well enough alone, Peorth." Urd's eyes flashed. "That's a mortal quote you can apply a bit more in life."
"It would be a bit more applicable if I was a mortal. You can pretend for the longest while, Urd. Be more honest with yourself."
"…just take care of Keiichi while he's in Heaven alright? I can be honest with myself later." Urd sighed. "It's not like I don't know what you want from me."
"That's good for now. That'll do for now."
"Peorth…I've had a lot of time to think. Too much time. It's not like I don't know what I want from myself." Giving her one last gaze, Urd crossed over the courtyard and laid a hand on Keiichi's shoulder. "Are you ready?"
Slowly, almost reluctantly, Morgan slid her hand from his and took a step back. "Be safe…" Her voice grew strained. "And do not forget our promise. I will never forgive you if you break it." She tried to soften her words with a smile but failed miserably.
"I won't. It'll be the last thing I forget."
Opening her mouth to reprimand his loose tongue, Morgan bit her lip softly and slowly nodded her head. Smiling, she whispered softly, "I will be waiting for you."
Peorth interjected in the background, "We will go at your convenience Morisato-san. Say what you must say…take your time."
"Time…" Rolling the word on his tongue, Keiichi shook his head. "No. We'll have plenty of time to do that when I come back." Waving goodbye, Keiichi slowly walked backwards. "Take care of yourself Morgan…"
Feeling a spike of impatience, Urd gripped the Fairie's shoulder tightly and waved him off. "I'll take care of her. Don't worry. Just go!"
"Right…" Trailing of, he slowly turned around and walked towards Peorth who had a hand extended towards him in preparation. "I'm ready to go."
"No…you're not." Peorth's mouth was creased in a knowing smile. "But that's alright. I may be paranoid…and I might take advantage of the situation…but I know my place. It is not my responsibility to play judge." She looked up towards the sky and laughed softly. "You would be surprised…Morisato-san…how limited even Kami-sama's powers are."
"I would."
"Well spoken. But come…" Peorth squeezed his hand reassuringly. "The twelve Valkyries of Kami-sama do not escort all mortal souls to heaven. Only a select few are honored in such a way. This is for your honor, Keiichi. Hold your head up proud."
Slowly an intricate design of a mandala inscribed itself on the soft grass and weaved into a circle that slowly rose into the air, encompassing Keiichi, Peorth, and the Valkyries who stood at the circumference of the ellipse.
But the two, the mortal and the Fairie, only had eyes for each other as a glowing light washed over the courtyard. Watching him disappear…possibly from her life…again… Morgan felt the completely irrational urge to just rush forward, grab him by the arm and see what design Fate had in store.
But she waited.
As the mandala vanished, Morgan weakly raised an arm and waved slowly. "Don't make me wait long…" Her hand dropped as she whispered softly, "Don't make me wait anymore. Come back."
And it was as if nothing was there. He had already gone.
"But even if I say that, I'd probably wait forever."
***
"You're in love with him…aren't you?"
Morgan coughed loudly on her tea as her eyes widened and her cheeks almost burst into deep vermilion. Struggling to keep from choking, the Fairie set her cup against the table as she steadied herself on the floor. "I…I beg your pardon?"
Urd coolly gazed at her from her position across the table. "I'm saying Morgan, that you are completely in love with Keiichi Morisato…aren't you?"
"Surely you jest…I am…was…" Stammering in complete embarrassment, Morgan was flustered beyond words as her eyes flashed across the room, as if looking for an answer in the small apartment.
Urd had never seen this side of the Fairie. The Morgan that she knew was cold, calculating, and bitter. She was responsible for so many sins…so many crimes…and yet…and still through it all…in the core of her essence, Morgan was just another woman who desperately wanted someone to love her. Exactly like Belldandy. They both had been so eager to find that someone special in their lives.
But Morgan wasn't Belldandy…she wasn't her dearest younger sister.
Urd watched Morgan blush for a few heartbeats before asking, "What if he was in love with you?"
Morgan's voice cut off as she stared wide-eyed at her. "Eh?"
"What if I told you that somewhere along the line…Keiichi Morisato fell in love with you? Would you be happy if I said that to you?"
"…You're serious…aren't you?"
"I've been serious…for the longest time. Yes." Urd's voice sounded weary. "I am very…very serious."
"Are you suggesting…that Keiichi…is falling for me?"
"Haven't you done the same thing?"
"I…I…" Morgan gripped her heart tightly as her eyes flickered uncertainly. "I…can't have…"
"You stare at him…for hours sometimes Morgan. You always fall asleep facing him at night. When you two talk, you grow unhappy when its about Belldandy…but so very happy when it's about anything else." Urd's smile didn't reach her eyes. "And when he holds your hand…you hold it so tightly that I don't know how you can let go."
"That…that is…"
"If you did Morgan…if you did fall in love with him…" Urd took a sip of tea before continuing. "It wouldn't have been to hard. Did it?"
"…no…" Morgan gripped her cup tightly in her hands. "It would have been the most natural thing in the world. If…if it wasn't for Belldandy…" Her voice broke off.
"What if it wasn't for Belldandy?"
"If it wasn't for Belldandy…" Morgan smiled. "Saying that is so easy. But it is Belldandy…still…always…forever."
"Do you begrudge her that much?"
"How could I? I know how she feels. I fell in love once as well…it's a beautiful feeling…but no matter how long it lasts…it ends too quickly. Love ends too quickly even if it lasted for an eternity."
"That's true." Urd nodded her head. "That's too true."
"I wish I could say 'if not for Belldandy'…" Morgan slowly enunciated each word as she fought to choose the right ones. "But that is impossible. There is something I can say however. It's that Belldandy…goddess or not…" Her voice stalled, as her eyes grew misty.
"Yes?"
"She must have been so happy. So very happy…Keiichi must have been so very happy…" Morgan gasped softly as a tear trickled down her cheek. "Why am I crying?" Wiping her eyes gently, she shook her head as she realized it wasn't stopping. "It…it doesn't make any sense…why? I've been crying so much while I'm on Earth…but I've been happy here. I…I don't understand this at all…"
"She was happy. She deserved to be happy…Belldandy…" Urd smiled. "I can say what you can't though. If not for Belldandy, Keiichi wouldn't have a reason not to fall in love with you…right?"
"…Is it wrong? Is it wrong to think like that?"
"Yeah. It's very wrong…but…" Urd sighed. "But it's a fault no one will blame you for. You can't help feeling that way. You can't help being selfish. You've been unhappy for so long…you have to deserve some happiness too."
"I would be happy…"
"Eh?"
"If you told me Keiichi fell in love with me…I would be indescribably happy." Morgan sniffled. "But I want him to love me more than anything. I want to always be in his thoughts…his heart…I don't want him to think about Belldandy. I want him to keep on loving me. Forever…always…"
"…Even if he forgot Belldandy at the very end?"
"Yes." Morgan's voice grew fainter, "But I can't expect that to happen…and even if it did…it still wouldn't be enough."
"Why?"
"Because I would want myself to do the same thing…but I can't. I can't do that…"
"You can't say that. How do you…?"
"If I could do that Urd…if I could…I would have never lost my first love. I would have crossed the Gate." The Fairie clenched her heart. "My soul is tainted. It is so impure… Keiichi loves Belldandy. Not me. Even if what you say is true…even if my feelings are pure…" Her eyes grew haunted. "Keiichi's are not. His heart does not belong to me."
"If it was…" Urd pressed on further, determined to find an answer.
But the Fairie would have none of it.
"STOP!" Morgan's voice grew pleading and was tinged on the border of desperation. Gasping, she breathed deeply as her chest convulsed sporadically. Regaining control of her voice, she continued. "…please stop. I want to believe you. I want to have Keiichi fall in love with me. I might even want to do the same…but I can't believe it. I…I can't. It is enough that I can stay by his side. But my heart is stained…and his heart belongs to another. It…it can't change."
"But how long can things stay like this? If it comes so naturally Morgan…if you two do fall in love, what will you do then?"
"…I will cherish it. I will cherish it for as long as I can…until…" Morgan slumped. "Until his love returns to its rightful owner."
"You can't live like that."
"…I know. But for now…for now Urd…please allow me to have that much."
***
"Keiichi-kun…wake up dear. Breakfast is almost done…ANATA…you'll be late for work!"
There was a bright light that he could see even with his eyes closed. It was so strange…and there was a voice next to him that he could almost faintly recognize.
"K-kun…the sakura blossoms are so beautiful. Let's go see them together tomorrow morning."
But that was probably just part of a dream too.
"Morisato-san…wake up."
"…You're not Belldandy…are you?"
Peorth smiled as she walked past the Western-style bed Keiichi was sleeping on and drew down the curtains. "For sure."
"That's good…" Relaxing on the pillow, Keiichi shielded his eyes lightly with his right arm. "I'm glad…it was a good dream."
"You never fail to amaze me. But I believe you're forgetting something." Peorth gestured out the window and smiled. "You're in a place mortals have dreamt of for an eternity. Morisato-san…welcome to Heaven."
Keiichi smiled. "Heaven…it's too bright…"
***
Heaven was in every way, just as brilliant as any fairytale could have possibly imagined. The sky was a vibrant blue as fields of lush greenery waved healthily in a small breeze that barely ruffled his coat. The air itself was oddly buoyant and an almost soothing aura seemed to permeate the earth.
Belldandy was raised here. It wasn't too surprising.
Slowly walking down the cobblestone trail, Keiichi smiled. "I have the oddest feeling I've been here before."
Peorth laughed softly in response. "Are you sure? I can guarantee you that few mortals have witnessed what is before your eyes."
"It's perfect…Heaven…"
"Perfect? Not beautiful? Or awe-inspiring? Simply perfect?"
"It's just perfect."
"Oddly disappointing…" Peorth pouted lightly. "I was hoping for a more impressed look. Ah well…after being with Belldandy, Morisato-san…I can understand that few things could move you anymore. As a child, Belldandy loved being in this courtyard. I remember it quite clearly…"
"And you?"
"I didn't have that kind of luxury. I was busy in the sysop training center making sure I graduated at the top of my class. Most of my free time was spent in front of the Ygdrassil terminals pouring over OS harmonic programming and free-body data instrument."
"Oh…I apologize for being presumptuous."
"Why? I expected it of myself…don't feel badly for me. Life is what you make of it. Nothing more and nothing less. Besides, it was all worth it when I received my first-degree license and my Angel. Just because I may have had a more sheltered childhood doesn't mean I was in any way less privileged than Belldandy." Her eyes softened. "We just had different dreams in life. That's all."
"Did you want to grant wishes like Belldandy? Was that your dream?"
Peorth blushed. "Ah…no. I'm sorry but most definitely not." She sighed. "In fact, I disapprove of the whole idea."
"Eh? But you worked for the Earth Assistance Hotline. And you came down to grant my wish…"
"I came down to make Belldandy confess her feelings to you. Coincidentally, that coincided with your heart's desire. That was all." Peorth shook her head. "I knew it from the start. Don't misunderstand me. If I had seen otherwise, I would not have wasted my time."
"You don't like granting wishes?"
"Granting wishes…making dreams come true…" She smiled. "Those should be things mortals do by themselves. I would never allow anyone to realize my dreams for me. I would like to think that First Class Goddess Peorth of the Roses doesn't need such a handicap. True, I enjoy seeing the happy faces of people who have their heart's desire granted, but I can't help feeling a sense of pity for them."
"Pity? Why should you pity them? They got what they wanted…they got to be happy."
"Don't fool yourself into thinking happiness should be so easily attained. We only fool ourselves when we think like that. When I grant a wish, I feel that I denied them the chance to experience life for themselves. I shoved them their dream in an easy-to-wish package…and with it, I stole the pain, the mistakes, and ultimately the triumph of accomplishment as well. That makes me the selfish one…the shortsighted one. I can't stand that. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that was how I defined my life."
"Than why did you grant my wish?"
"Because." Peorth smiled. "I made you work for it. I made sure that I gave both you and Belldandy enough hell so that in the end, it was that much sweeter. Remember that Keiichi. Joy unmixed with pain is blind. It holds no purpose. I firmly believe that Belldandy understood that as well. I believe that she didn't come down to Earth to grant your wish. She came down to have you grant her wish. That is amazingly remarkable."
"How so?"
"Somewhere along the line…to be together with her…because your dream as well...your wish, so to speak. And yet, you didn't accept it as just a wish. If you had, Kami-sama would have forced Belldandy to return to Heaven. I was watching you know…Morisato-san. A wish did not keep her by your side. You did. That is only what I would have ever expected out of you. I hold you in very high regards. It may be wrong of me to think like this, but don't you ever disappoint me."
Blushing, Keiichi laughed. "I'll try my best."
"You have been. You have been for so long." Peorth's gaze grew piercing. "And for you Morisato-san…even though I am a goddess…I will do so as well. I may not be able or even willing to protect your happiness…but don't you dare use that as an excuse. No matter what I, or even Kami-sama, says or does, I expect you to do what other mortals cannot. I expect you never to need a silver platter or a crutch to realize your dreams. You have your belief…your conviction…that is all you will ever need. That is all you ever needed. Do not let that quality about you ever change. Belldandy may not find fault but I am not Belldandy. I will never forgive you."
Slightly taken aback, Keiichi slowed his pace down and stopped in front of Peorth. "What do you mean? What's going to happen?"
"Morgan must have told you about her view of Heaven. You have to learn Keiichi, that Heaven, like life itself, is nothing more than perspective. It becomes what you see of it." Her voice grew soft. "Which means that her view may not just be all too true…it may be the truth. I don't want you to find any meaning of Heaven however, that is not your own. Judge for yourself what you perceive Heaven to be."
Her eyes narrowed. "Just…just don't expect it to be perfect. Heaven is everything… everything you can possibly conceive of…but perfect."
***
Urd smiled as her cursory scan of the bookshelf bore fruit. "I knew it. You still kept it after all this time…didn't you?"
The white book easily slid out off the shelf. Although Keiichi had done his best to forget his pain…by running away from the temple, by lying to her, and perhaps even by following Peorth to Heaven, there was still a part of him that refused to forget.
All the other books on the shelf were caked with a thin film of dust. All but this one.
Memories should be let go, but that doesn't mean they should be abandoned. And in this case, it didn't mean they shouldn't be treasured.
Leaning against the wall, Urd opened the book. To the upper right corner was a picture of Belldandy sharing her bento with Keiichi. To the mid-left was a picture of the entire Nekomi Motor Crew after they had won the Annual Tokyo Motordrive. And finally, on the third page, in two neat rows, were the wedding pictures.
Belldandy looked absolutely stunning in the Western-style dress with the white veil doing little to hide her blush and even less to hide the warm, glowing smile that brushed across her face. And although Bell-chan, like most mortal woman, loved jewelry, on that day she only wore two pieces besides the ornate, filigreed earring seal.
The wedding ring Keiichi bought her as his wife, and the ring Keiichi had bought for her as his lover.
Even though Belldandy consistently sported a fashionable array of bracelets, rings, hairclips, and necklaces, those two rings never left their spot on her finger. Maybe she wore them to show Heaven she was wife to Keiichi Morisato. Maybe she wore them to show herself it was not just a dream flashing before her eyes.
Maybe the picture painstakingly centered on the fourth page, of them sharing their wedding kiss upon the altar of the church, was to show that they truly did belong to each other. Not Heaven…not to friends or family…not even as a goddess and a mortal. But two hearts that were simply in love.
Belldandy would have made a wonderful mother.
She would have made an even better wife.
Urd had watched the two of them fall in love. That long…painstakingly long process that had left her completely exasperated at times and yet always wanting to see more. For the longest time, Urd had wondered whether Belldandy had truly fallen in love with this typical mortal or if she was still holding onto a childish obsession that had caused her so much unhappiness before. She had wondered how far they would be willing to go together…if Fate suddenly turned against them.
They had gone farther than Urd could have ever imagined. They had gone as far as they could…together…hand-in-hand.
They could have gone further. They could have. Belldandy had always been with Keiichi…not only physically but also in heart and soul. Even in death, Urd sincerely believed that she still watched over her love.
What then…
What then would she feel right now?
What would Belldandy think as she saw her beloved slowly…slowly but surely fall in love with another woman?
Would it break her heart? Would she still keep smiling even though it was Morgan who was by Keiichi's side instead of hers?
Belldandy had always wanted Keiichi to be happy…but not at the cost of losing him to anyone else. Urd knew Belldandy only as an older sister could now a woman. She was the kind of person who would give up…HAD given up practically everything just to keep Keiichi's love. Her position in heaven…her license…the dignity, respect, and awe of every inhabitant of Heaven…
Belldandy had not been a confidant lover. She had never believed strongly enough in her own capability to deserve love. She willingly believed every word that came from Keiichi's mouth but likewise doubted every action she made. Her faith came from her simple love…not from her own capacities as a woman or a goddess. Belldandy never doubted for a second the conviction behind her love…or Keiichi's love.
But she was still so naïve.
She never understood that it wasn't a wish that kept them together anymore. She was far too thankful that a strange twist in Fate made Keiichi say, "I want a goddess like you to stay by my side forever."
What had never…never in any scope of her comprehension…hit her was that it wasn't a twist of Fate. It WAS Fate. It was Destiny that the events occurred as they did. Left alone to recur for an eternity, the events would have never strayed from their path.
Belldandy would still have fallen in love with a small mortal boy.
And the mortal would grow up and say without any hesitation, what his hearts desire was to a strange Goddess who appeared out of nowhere from a mirror.
And that heart's desire…no matter what anyone would say otherwise…would be Belldandy.
But, then again…was it Fate that was unweaving its threads right now? Was Belldandy supposed to pass…and was Morgan to take her place?
Urd's fist quivered in anger and her eyes slanted into narrow slits as the thought physically sickened her. She refused to believe it. She refused to believe that with every fiber of her being.
Keiichi's was Belldandy's and Belldandy's alone.
Urd sympathized with Morgan…understood her pain and wished with all her heart that the Fairie could find relief from the insanity of her soul malaise. But…but not at the cost of her sister's happiness.
Belldandy was not dead. Not in the mortal sense of the term. And unfortunately, not in a way that could salve Keiichi's pain. Belldandy was a goddess…and although not even that title could shield her from death, Heaven would not allow her to simply disappear from her existence.
It…it would not be too difficult…not difficult at all for them to fall in love again. If they had done it so easily on Earth, Urd had full confidence that it would not be in any way more difficult in Heaven.
Belldandy loved Keiichi…loved only Keiichi. Even when her memories were completely wiped, she still knew it. It was Fate after all.
Keiichi might be ready to move on but Urd was not. Urd was not ready to see her…brother…hold another woman in his arms. Not when she still saw so much promise in their future together. Not when it was her profoundest conviction that something far above Father had brought them together.
Morgan didn't want to acknowledge the fact that she was falling in love again. She didn't want to acknowledge the fact that Keiichi was doing the same. But they were at a crucial precipice. It would not take much for her to change her mind. Urd could see that although the Fairie's mind was steadfast, her heart and soul were very willing. Whether or not she knew it, Morgan La Fey WANTED to be loved again.
And Keiichi was as hard on the rebound as the term could possibly describe.
Slumping onto the floor, Urd cradled the white book against her chest as she suddenly realized how tired she felt. She had matured a lot…and if Belldandy ever spared a moment from watching Keiichi to look at her, Urd knew her dear sister would be amazed. She was a First Class Goddess now. Both in power and in soul.
It was tiring. Urd had a lot more fun being a carefree Second-Class.
But those times were over. She couldn't change the clock back around and mix a potion to make everything perfect. There just weren't enough ingredients to do that. Life was too complicated…and she understood a bit more than she was willing to accept.
Looking toward the ceiling, Urd whispered softly, "My dearest sister…you still love Keiichi…don't you?"
She closed her eyes and sighed.
"And he still loves you. I know. That won't change…not as long as I can do something about it. When you two meet again, his heart will belong to no one else's…but yours. That is my promise to you…Belldandy."
First-class goddesses never lied…and they never broke a promise. Never.
Right?
***
"This is the principal building of Heaven. I serve as Director most of the time…but then again, most of the time Heaven and Earth are stable places." Peorth teased lightly, "It's only when people like you cause so much trouble for us do I ever get a chance to earn my paycheck."
"Ah…I don't regret it much though." Keiichi followed her into the spacious structure. "Some things in life are just worth it."
"No doubts there. Can't blame you too much… follow me. I'll give you a tour of the place." Motioning him along, Peorth waved absently towards the imposing consoles in the central layer. "Here are the dual processing cores of the Ygdrassil OS. Usually its maintained by the…"
As the extremely detailed specifics went on and on, Keiichi, despite his best efforts, felt his eyes begin to glaze with boredom as a very enthusiastic Peorth began explaining the intricacies of atomic density software with non-moving data processing components each of which had some purpose…but he really had difficulty remembering at the moment. It was therefore, not entirely his fault when he accidentally stumbled into the path of a small sysop who seemed to be carrying twice her weight in paper.
Tripping together, the sheets in her arms flew every which way as the girl, who barely came up to his chest, collided head on. Although she was not very big, the momentum was still enough to bring them both to the floor in an ignominious heap and knock the breath out of his diaphragm.
"Hey! Watch where your…wait…"
Regaining his breath, Keiichi stumbled around in panic as he hastily bowed. "I'm sorry, it was completely my fault. I wasn't paying any attention and…"
"K…Keiichi…? It…it is you…Wh…what are you doing here?"
Eyes widening, Keiichi raised his head with shock as he immediately recognized the voice. "S…Skuld?"
Peorth smiled as she watched the scene unfold out of the corner of her eye.
They stared at each other for a good while. Skuld had not changed at all since they had parted ways maybe half a year ago. Whereas Urd had lost the rampant sexual appeal, Skuld still kept much of her innocent charm which was set off even more by the thick bifocals on the bridge of her nose that seemed to cover over half her head.
Interrupting, Peorth snapped her fingers. "That's right. I forget to mention this to you Keiichi but Skuld is my personal aide. She has a very bright future in front of her. One of the quickest minds in advanced 5-D programming in all of Heaven."
"Congratulations…" Replying numbly, Keiichi gasped and shook his head. "I'm sorry for causing such a mess." Grabbing at loose papers on the floor, he grimaced. "Let me help."
"No."
"Eh…"
Grabbing the loose paper from his hand, Skuld refused to meet his eye. "I don't need your help Morisato-san…I'm…I'm old enough to take care of myself." Her voice broke sporadically as she rapidly began gathering papers in front of her. "You…you shouldn't even be here…why are you even here? This…this is re…restricted area."
Peorth replied softly, "He's with me Skuld."
The words fell on deaf ears as the young goddess grabbed fistfuls of sheets next to her, ignoring the fact that her tight grip was crumpling half of them. "Urd's doing fine isn't she? I mean…since she went back to Earth instead of staying in Heaven…she got her First-Class License too you know. I'm…I'm going to get it too someday…just like Bell…Belld…just like sis."
Keiichi smiled. "Ah, you'll be just like Belldandy. How long have you been working here?"
Skuld's mouth opened as if to answer but her teeth were clamped so tightly shut, that no sound came out. Giving up, she viciously lunged forward and began snatching paper even faster.
"Have…have you been getting along with Urd?"
"Urd?" Skuld's mouth twisted in a half-smile that didn't work at all. "You mean my sister? My older sister?"
The bitterness in her voice was not lost on Keiichi. Hesitantly, he reached forward. "Are you alright Skuld? Is anything wrong?"
Recoiling, Skuld's voice was high and sharp. "YES! I…I'm perfectly fine. You…you're just a mortal…what could you do anyway?" Her voice began escalating unconsciously. "WHAT COULD YOU DO ANYWAY?"
"I…"
Skuld suddenly raised her head up and snarled, "You always want to help people right? You couldn't even do anything to help sis…" Freezing mid-sentence, her eyes grew wide as she suddenly realized what she had just said. Her foot irrevocably in her mouth, she struggled to find the right words. "Keiichi…it's not that…"
It simply wasn't working. There just weren't enough words to accurately express the feelings in her heart. Unable to continue as emotion chocked her throat, Skuld suddenly leapt to her feet and began running back the way she came. Leaving a stunned Keiichi with reams of spilled paper fluttering everywhere, she broke right at the corner and quickly disappeared from view.
Staring after her, Keiichi slowly whispered, "Skuld…?"
"Forgive me." Peorth sighed and lifted Keiichi to his feet. Noticing his dazed expression, she grimaced as she stared down the aisle where Skuld had disappeared. "She took Belldandy's passing extremely hard…but she's strong. She didn't want to break down in front of you…Skuld doesn't want to break down in front of anyone."
"You couldn't do anything…" Keiichi numbly whispered, "Skuld blames me…doesn't she? For Belldandy…"
"Skuld's young. She's blaming the world more than she's blaming any one person." Peorth patted his shoulder comfortingly. "It's not just you…Skuld and Urd probably haven't spoken to each other in months. Both of them just tried to ignore their sorrow by working until they could forget anything. Urd realized the futility of trying a while ago… Skuld is still trying."
"Why doesn't Urd help her?"
"Because she was too busy getting help from you." Peorth smiled at his surprise. "You don't think her calling down to Earth everyday was for your benefit only was it? Don't forget, we goddesses grieve as well." Her eyes grew mellow. "I think talking to you kept her sane. But she didn't talk to Skuld enough…and I don't think Skuld ever really forgave her for that."
"It's happening all over again. I stole Belldandy from her…and now she thinks I stole Urd from her too." He bowed his head. "Dammit…to hell…"
"Skuld will learn. Give her time. Skuld's trying hard…I would say too hard but that's part of her charm. She got that trait from Bell, if nothing else, Keiichi. She will learn. Of that I am positive."
"What does she learn? It's not like her thinking is wrong."
"Skuld will learn that there are some realities in life that remain constant. Many of them are not pleasant but exist nonetheless. Death and sadness, just to name a few. Right now, all she's doing is keeping the pain inside that small heart of hers as she fills her mind with nothing but work." Peorth crossed her arms and smiled ruefully. "I will find it interesting to see how long it takes before she forgets. If she ever forgets that is."
"That's cruel…that's a very cruel thing to say."
"No. It's not." Peorth shook her head. "Skuld must deal with her problems. I am not in the position to force her to find acceptance. If the choice she makes is to forget it all ever happened, then so be it. Either way, it is only then that I may teach her something worth learning."
"Heaven…and goddesses…are like that aren't they?" Keiichi turned his head towards her. "They aren't that much different from us in Earth are they?"
Peorth's mouth blossomed into a warm smile as she gripped Keiichi's shoulder tightly. "It is times like these that I do not fear at all for the future of humanity. You are starting to see it as well. Something Morgan completely overlooked. Yes, Heaven may be proud, overbearing, and too aware of its own ascendance. But at its base…between you and I…there is not too much difference."
"What a letdown. Here I thought Heaven might be a bit more divine than that."
Peorth's gaze grew even as she considered within herself. Never even flinching once, she smiled. "Do you want to see it then?"
"Eh?"
"Want to see why Heaven has inspired the imagination for the longest time? I can assure you, you will not be disappointed."
"…It would be worth seeing."
Laughing, Peorth motioned him to follow her. "Than come with me…and do not leave my side." Walking briskly down the aisle, her eyes wavered ever so slightly. It can't be helped…he must see it. With his own two eyes…Urd…this is where you are absolutely wrong. Figure out the meaning.
***
"…"
"Beautiful…isn't it?"
"Yes…"
"Welcome to the fields of Elysia. They are known by many names but each do not do it as much justice as it deserves."
Peorth's words were a pale understatement. Staring out at the field before him, Keiichi found it difficult to phrase a statement in his mind that could accurately describe what he saw before him. Glowing with an almost austere white, rows of soft green grass waved in the wind with a dense row of underbrush and trees lining a river that flowed as far as the eye could see. It wasn't just the view…it was the almost palpable feeling of peace and tranquility that soothed his mind and held him in a cool embrace.
It…it was not just beautiful. That word alone could not describe it.
It left him speechless.
Like before.
"This is the holiest site within Heaven. The souls of the most deserving beings, the most valiant heroes, the purest hearts, and the noblest dreams reside within these fields. You begin to see why it is such an answer to be placed here?"
"When…when I passed through the Gate with Belldandy…I…I saw this…" Keiichi turned around and stared at her. "I saw this didn't I?"
"That is entirely possible. It is of little use asking me however. I did not pass the Gate. You did. You tell me what you saw."
"I…."
"Tell me your thoughts. Your dreams. They too passed the Gate with you. The are just as important as what you saw."
"I want…" Keiichi swallowed the lump in his throat. "I want…to see Belldandy again…I want to tell her how much I loved her…and…" Losing words, he stared helplessly at Peorth. "I want to see this again…with her…"
A smile crossed Peorth's face. Slowly a mandala inscribed below her feet and she began disappearing from view. Bowing to him, she whispered, "I find your heart worthy. Your wish is granted." The mandala rose up and when it disappeared, Peorth was gone as well.
"P…Peorth…what…"
"Who are you?"
The world froze in an instant and stayed in a moment that stretched for as long as Fate could possibly perceive. It shattered into glass and remade itself with every passing second. A second froze into what might as well be an infinity.
And still, it was impossible to imagine it ever happening.
Slowly, completely disbelievingly, Keiichi turned around and saw what he half hoped to see and what half denied was possible.
The woman, dressed in a smooth white dress that flowed around her body like water, slowly stepped up to him. Her skin was still smooth and creamy white as a blue diamond adorned her forehead and two triangles tinted her cheeks. The earring on her ear was gone but on her right ring finger were two bands that sparkled iridescently in the glowing light of the Elysian Fields. Stopping a meter in front of him, her waves of golden-brown hair rippled in the wind. Her voice was softly musical and her eyes never left his. "I have never seen…"
No…Her voice trailed off as something rippled in her deep blue eyes. Speechless for a moment, her smile fell. "No…I beg your pardon…" Her right hand rose to her chest. "…but I have this strangest feeling that I have seen you before…"
***
Morgan stared at the night sky.
It was beautiful…it was like the night sky she had watched from below on her first night with Keiichi.
Something in her heart…something in her soul…this night…was staring with her. Waiting with her.
"Our promise…Keiichi." She stretched an arm up. "Will you remember it?"
tbc