Chapter 16

April 9th, 2038

Toyko-2

Cemetery

It was raining.

It had been raining for the past 3 days. It was only fitting though, it fit Kensuke's mood. He walked past row after row of graves, heading towards one in particular..

He really didn't have much going on these days. The two Eva Units, 02 and 03, had been moved out to Nevada for possible rebuild and use. The severed arm of Unit 01 they found was also moved there. Celes had vanished, the next time she surfaced, it would be with the location of SEELE's base. Until then, all he could do was sift through the data that had been already collected.

He finally arrived at his destination. Kensuke turned and stood quietly in front of the grave. The simple headstone told all who passed the name of the occupant:

Misato Ryoji

1986-2037

Wife, Mother, Friend

Kensuke knelt down and placed roses next to the headstone, then stood up.

"I'll find them Misato." He said quietly, "I'll find them and make them pay."

He then turned and left. He had to get for tomorrow. It was a very important day.

He was going to see Sayoko again.

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The next day

April 10th, 2038

Sayoko's Birthday

"Come on Baka!" shouted Asuka, "We need to hurry up! They'll be here any time now."

"Alright alright." muttered Shinji as he finished hanging the last of the decorations. Since early in the day, Asuka, Shinji, Rei, Hikari, Touji, their kids Kirika and Mereille had been over at the Morisato/Wishbringer apartment helping to get it ready for Sayoko's homecoming. Keiichi sat in his recliner watching everything.

"I think you're going a bit overboard." He said.

Asuka placed her hands on her hips and glared at Keiichi. "Your daughter is coming home today, on her birthday, and you don't want to celebrate it?"

"I didn't say that……" Keiichi said, "I'm just saying I think all the decorations are a bit much."

"Well I think they brighten up everything." said Asuka as she turned and walked off to the kitchen.

Keiichi sighed. "She didn't listen…….."

Skuld looked over from where she was adjusting the 'Welcome Home Sayoko!' sign. "Let her be Keiichi. You and Bell need a party as much as they do."

"But the Doctor's said she……." Keiichi stared to rise, but quickly fell back into chair clutching his chest in pain. Skuld was at his side in a second. She placed her hand over his chest. It glowed softly for a moment. Keiichi's face relaxed as the pain faded.

"Thanks."

"No problem." Skuld said, "Keiichi, I know what the Doctor's said and I've seen Sayoko. Throwing a party for her isn't going to hurt her."

"What about them?" Keiichi asked, motioning at the others.

"They're her friends." Skuld said softly, "Who knows, maybe seeing them all will help her."

"Maybe." Keiichi slowly rose to his feet, "I think I'm going to go lay down. Get me when they're about to arrive ok?"

Skuld smiled and nodded. "Right."

As Keiichi walked off to his room, Skuld thought about the events that had transpired just 4 months before…………

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December 19th, 2037

Skuld stood silently in the rain beside Shinji, Asuka, Rei, Touji and many others, as they watched the coffin of their friend being lowered into the earth. Across from her Taro, Misato and Kaji's son, stood silently as his mother was lowered into the earth.

Skuld had been to many funerals during her time on the Earth, from Keiichi's parents to the ex-NERV members. But this one was hitting her the hardest. Maybe it was because she and Misato were the same age. Maybe it was because both had become the guardians of children, Skuld of course had raised Sayoko from a young age while Misato had raised Shinji and Asuka from age 14. Somehow both had become good friends.

And now Misato was being buried.

Normally, when one died, be it peaceful or otherwise, the person appeared before the Gates of Heaven. There, a goddess would bring up their life on a display, and the person would either be welcomed into Heaven, or sent down to Hell.

Misato never had that chance. Her soul had been ripped from her by the Soultaker and was gone.

Skuld brought herself back to the present as the service was ending. Shinji and Asuka walked forward and both dropped a flower atop Misato's coffin, before turning and leaving. Soon Skuld and Taro were the only ones there. The workers ignored them while they began to bury the coffin. Taro glanced at her briefly, then returned his gaze to the grave when a worker slipped and swore. When he looked back up Skuld was gone.

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December 20th, 2037

Toyko-2 University Hospital

Yui Ikari stood by the bed of Keiichi Morisato, holding a clipboard. At Keiichi's bedside sat Belldandy, holding the hand of her unconscious husband. The last couple of days had been hard on her, she had not slept at all, worried about her husband and her daughter. Nearby, Skuld stood against the wall.

"He's been through a lot. Broken ribs, legs." Yui said softly, "But he's still strong. He should wake up in a day or two, and then be home in about 4 weeks."

Belldandy nodded slightly.

"You should sleep Belldandy." Yui said, "You won't do him any good if you get sick."

Belldandy just nodded her head again. Yui looked over at Skuld and motioned towards the door. Outside, Yui turned around and spoke.

"Have you heard anything about Sayoko?"

Skuld shook her head. "Not yet. Belldandy and Urd are up there waiting."

Yui frowned. "How can Belldandy be up there and down here."

"You notice she was a bit shorter?"

"Come to think of it, yes. What's going on?"

Skuld looked to see if the hallway was clear, then held out her hand. A small 6 inch tall Mini-Skuld appeared in her hand and waved at Yui before vanishing. Yui looked at Skuld curiously.

"Belldandy created a mini-version of herself. It's been up there in heaven for the last several days," Skuld looked back in on her sister and brother-in-law. "That's why she so tired."

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Heavens

Urd stood silently by a window with the Mini-Belldandy perched on her shoulder. Both were staring into a pure white room where several of Heavens best Doctors moved about a table on which Sayoko's still form lay. Several sensors had been placed upon Sayoko's head. One of the Doctors stood at a console looking over the data coming from the sensors. He then turned and left the room. He reappeared a moment later beside the two waiting Goddesses.

"Lady Belldandy, Lady Urd." He said in greeting.

"What is the diagnosis?" asked the Mini-Belldandy.

"Milady, I know it isn't easy to hear, but your daughter's mind is gone."

Mini-Belldandy's face fell. Urd looked at the Doctor. "Isn't there anything you can do?"

"We have done everything we can." The Doctor replied, "There is only so much we can do. Her personality, memories, everything is gone. She's just an empty shell."

"Can't we just, replace her mind? Put in memories?"

"I only wish it could be that simple." The Doctor shook his head. "No. What you ask has been tried before. A longtime ago, a God also lost his mind during a Vaccination. We implanted memories into him, and it worked, for a week. He then went insane and had to be……….terminated."

Urd winced. "Ouch."

"Indeed." The Doctor looked back at Mini-Belldandy. "The best we can do is put basic knowledge into her mind, so that she can walk and follow basic commands. Hopefully, in time, she can learn how to do other things again."

"How long will it be till I can bring her home?" asked Mini-Belldandy.

The Doctor looked at Mini-Belldandy in surprise. "To the surface? That is impossible! In her present state she cannot leave the heavens!"

Mini-Belldandy glared at the Doctor. "I want to bring my daughter home. How long?"

The Doctor ran his hands through his hair. "Maybe 4 months or so."

"What about the others?" asked Urd.

"Lady Cayla will recover in a couple of weeks. She had only a few broken ribs and a broken leg." replied the Doctor, "The Demon is a different story."

"What's wrong with her?" asked Urd.

"The force bolt that hit her caused a lot of damage to her body, and it seems to have infected her with a virus that had been meant for the Mortal. So far it has defied all treatment."

"Please do your best for her Doctor." Mini-Belldandy said, "She saved my husband. For that, I owe her much."

"I will do my best Milady."

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Present Day

April 10th, 2038

A loud crash followed by German cursing and lots of laughing brought Skuld back out of her thoughts. She walked into the kitchen to see flour all over the floor, and three flour dusted figures. Touji, Rei, and both kids were rolling around on the floor, laughing hard.

"What happened?" Skuld asked, trying to withhold her laughter.

Asuka glared at Shinji. "Someone knocked over the flour while looking for a pan for the cake."

"It's not my fault!" replied Shinji.

Hikari was glaring at her husband and children.

"And what are you three laughing about?" she asked angrily.

"Momma silly!" said Mereille. Kirika was laughing to hard to reply.

Hikari smiled at her children, then turned her attention to her husband. "Well?"

Touji struggled to stop laughing. "I'm sorry. It's just……..he reached up……..the flour went poof!" Touji started laughing again.

Hikari bent over and scooped up a bit of flour.

"Funny hmm?" She tossed it in his face. Touji sputtered and wiped the flour out of his eyes. His children roared with laughter along with Rei. Touji glared at Rei.

"That funny hmm?" He scooped up a handful of flour. Rei immediately stopped laughing.

"You wouldn't dare." Rei began to move towards the living room.

"Sorry Rei." Touji tossed the flour. Rei vanished, then reappeared in the same spot. Rei smirked at Touji, being happy with how she avoided the flour. She then noticed that Shinji, Asuka, Hikari, and Touji had looks of horror on their face. Even Kirika and Mereille were hiding. Rei was trying to figure out why when she heard someone coughing behind her.

Oh yeah. Skuld had been in the entryway.

Rei slowly turned around to see a very unhappy Goddess of the Future. Skuld glared at Rei, then looked over at the others.

"Clean up this kitchen. Belldandy won't be very happy when she sees or hears what you did to her kitchen."

If possible, their faces got even paler then the flour.

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Heavens

Peorth and Mist stood silently off to the side while Kami-sama looked at the helmet that, up till four months ago, had been on his grand-daughters head.

"Your report." He said.

"Sir," began Peorth, "From what we are able to tell, the helmet increases the wearers power by drawing from the demon source. Because of the way demons get their power, there is no way of cutting it off. It could theoretically supply the wearer with unlimited power."

"Does it have any side effects?" asked Kami-sama.

Peorth shrugged, "None that we know of. Of course, we haven't tried to wear it."

"There was a side effect on Sayoko." Mist said, "The demon power flowing through her caused her scar to bleed."

Peorth frowned, "I thought she was bleeding because of the spell she was under."

"No it was because of the Demon power."

"I still think it was the spell."

"Demon power."

"Spell."

"Ladies!" Both turned back to Kami-sama. "Is there a way to test this helmet?"

"No sir." replied Peorth, "The spells are set for Sayoko and her alone."

"Hmmmmm.' Kami-sama muttered. He then looked at Peorth and Mist. "Continue to study it and keep it under guard. No one is to know it is here understood?"

"Yes sir." The goddesses replied.

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One Hour later

Everyone was waiting patiently in the living room by the full-length mirror. Skuld had gotten off the phone just minutes before with Urd. As they waited, Skuld leaned over and whispered to both Rei and Shinji.

"Keep an eye on Asuka."

Shinji looked over at Skuld.

"Why?" he whispered.

"Because she may not like what Sayoko has become."

"I thought she was better?" asked Rei, "That's why they were releasing her."

"She is better." Skuld said softly, "But not by much."

The mirror on the wall then glowed. Belldandy and Urd both stepped out first, then turned and helped Sayoko through. Upon seeing her, the others inhaled sharply. After four months of being in the heavens infirmary, Sayoko looked malnourished. Her cheeks had sunken in, and she look extremely thin. Her face still held a blank stare. Keiichi walked forward and wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

"Welcome home." He said softly.

"Sayoko, this is your father." Belldandy said softly, "You should give him a hug."

Sayoko's arms moved slowly around Keiichi, but it was not the heart warming hugs that she had given in the past. Still, a large smile appeared on Belldandy's face.

"Come on Sayoko," said Belldandy, "Let's sit you down so everyone can see you." She took hold of Sayoko's hand a led her towards the couch. The others followed, all but Asuka. Shinji walked over to Asuka's side.

"Asuka? Are you ok?"

Asuka was still staring at the mirror.

"Asuka?"

Asuka mumbled something.

"What?"

"She's a doll." Asuka muttered, "She's become a goddamn doll."

"Asuka…"

Asuka turned and looked at Shinji. "She's a doll! He mother told her to do something and she did it. She obeyed!"

"Asuka!" Shinji placed his hands on either side of Asuka's face and held eye contact with her. "Belldandy is not your mother. Your mother is in heaven. We've had dinner with her several times a month for the past 20 years or so. You know that."

Asuka blinked several times. She then looked down at the floor.

"I'm sorry. I just……..I mean she looks…….."

"I know." Shinji said quietly, "Look, this party isn't just for Sayoko, it's for Belldandy and Keiichi too. You've seen how sad they've been. They have their daughter back. We should be happy for them."

"But she's not really back." said Asuka sadly, "That is not the Sayoko we knew."

"No it's not." replied Shinji, "In time, maybe we'll see some of the old Sayoko."

Asuka nodded and started back towards the others when she froze in mid step.

"Oh shit." She muttered.

"What is it?" asked Shinji.

"Kensuke."

"What about him?" asked Shinji confused.

"Oh….…uhh…..." 'I can't let them know. I promised them.' "He'll be stopping by sometime today."

"Oh." Shinji turned and continued back towards the party Asuka followed, but in her mind wondered what she would say to Kensuke.

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One hour later

Kensuke walked up to the door of the goddesses' apartment with a dozen roses in his hand, though why he was bringing the roses he had no idea. He had heard from Mist about Sayoko's condition. On the one hand, he really wanted to see Sayoko. But on the other, he was really afraid. Would she still be the Sayoko he knew? Also only Asuka knew what had gone on between him and the goddess. Did he want the others to know?

He had now reached the door. But still he could not bring his hand to the doorbell.

'Dammit Kensuke,' he thought, 'You haven't seen her in months, you've already flown halfway around the world to see her. GET IT OVER WITH!' He reached for the doorbell. He never touched it.

The door immediately opened and he was yanked inside by a certain red head.

"What the hell Asuka!" Kensuke shouted.

"SHHH!" Asuka placed her hand over Kensuke's mouth. "Where have you been? Everyone was supposed to be here an hour ago!"

"I had to do a few things." replied Kensuke after pulling Asuka's hand away from him. "How is she?"

Asuka's face was neutral. "What have you heard?"

"Mist said she wasn't in her right state of mind."

"That's putting it mildly." muttered Asuka, "It's worse then that."

"How much worse?"

"You remember back in High School when your computer crashed and it wiped out all of your hard drives?"

Kensuke stared at Asuka. "Please tell me you're kidding."

Asuka shook her head sadly. "I wish I were."

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The others had broken up into small groups, talking about this or that.

"So what's Taro doing with Misato's house on Lake Kizaki?" asked Skuld.

Shinji shrugged, "He really doesn't want to deal with it right now. He just wants to concentrate on his studies. But he did tell me there's an old guy who's been asking about the place."

"Where's Pen Pen?"

"He's back at the apartment."

"Still drinks beer?"

Rei nodded. "Like it's water."

 Belldandy looked up as Asuka led Kensuke into the living room.

"Oh Kensuke. Welcome."

"Hello." replied Kensuke, "I have some flowers here for the birthday gir…….." Kensuke stopped as he spotted Sayoko. He moved in front of her and knelt down, looking into her face. Her eyes remained unfocused.

"Hello Sayoko." He said softly. "I have something for you." He set the flowers in Sayoko's lap. She continued to stare off into space. Kensuke remained in front of Sayoko, looking for any sign of life in her eyes, and seeing none. He felt his despair rising and was saved only when Asuka asked him if he wanted something to drink and pulled him into the kitchen. Even after several drinks, he was still in shock.

"You said it was bad." He finally said. "I didn't think it was that bad." He looked at Asuka. "Can't they do anything?"

"Everything that can be done has." replied Asuka softly, "I know it's hard to accept, but the Sayoko we knew is gone."

"No!" Kensuke slammed his hand down on the counter. "I won't accept that! There must be someway of restoring her memories!"

"If there is, it's not in the Yggdrasil database." replied Asuka, "Besides, bringing back her memories would bring everything back, including her recent……..captivity. Would you really want her to remember that?"

Kensuke looked as if he was going to argue, but finally conceded.

"No. I wouldn't. Bathroom's down the hall right?" He turned and left the kitchen.

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Kensuke walked through the living room looking lost. He then vanished through into the hallway. No one else noticed his passage but one. Belldandy frowned, wondering what could be troubling Kensuke so. Still wondering, she reached over and picked up the roses on Sayoko's lap, intending to put them in water.

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Kensuke had intended to go the bathroom to compose himself. Instead, he found himself in Sayoko's room. He looked around. Even though she had not lived in the room for sometime, he could still feel her presence here. He let out a sigh. This room held all that he could remember of Sayoko before she was taken. He walked over to her dresser and picked up a picture that sat there. It was from back in High School and had everyone in it. He smiled as he looked at Sayoko.

"You know, as a mother, I should be very unhappy with you."

Kensuke jumped. He turned and saw Belldandy standing in the doorway, holding the roses.

"Uhh what…uhh…..What do you mean?" he asked nervously.

Belldandy's eyes narrowed and she stared at him. Kensuke began to sweat more.

'Oh shit….she knows…..'

"Yes I do."

'…...and now she's reading my mind.' Kensuke sighed and looked up at the ceiling. 'Is the lightning going to strike me down now?'

"You know it would be easier if you would just speak to me." Belldandy said, "And no. You not going to be struck down."

Kensuke let out a sigh of relief.

"…..yet."

'Oh man…..'

Belldandy set the roses on Sayoko's dresser and sat down on the bed, still staring at Kensuke.

"So what exactly is your relationship with my daughter?"

Kensuke sat down on the bed and stared at the picture for a bit.

"I've been trying to sort that out myself." He said. "I mean, at first, after spending a week together, I thought it was just a fling. We decided to move our separate ways, mine with the UN, hers with her goddess duties." As he spoke, Kensuke began to feel more relaxed talking about Sayoko. "We kept in touch, but it wasn't the same. When I saw her back in Chicago last fall, I felt……..complete. I didn't want to let her go." He sighed. "But I had to. She still had her job to do, and I had mine. It was only after she went missing that I realized what I was feeling." He turned and looked at Belldandy. "I'm in love with your daughter Mrs. Morisato. Only…….she's gone and I never had a chance to tell her."

Belldandy's stare softened. "You've been thinking about this quite a bit."

Kensuke nodded.

Belldandy turned and looked at the flowers. "You've left quite an emotional memory in those flowers. I'll have to keep them out of Skuld and Urd's hands. They'll never let you hear the end of it." She turned and looked back at Kensuke. "I know you love her. Just as I know she loved you."

Kensuke looked at Belldandy curiously. "How do you know? She told me she never talked about it to anyone. Asuka's the only who knows and it was only a few months ago that she figured it out."

Belldandy smiled. "You thought about that first night while you were carrying the flowers." Kensuke blushed. "You remember what happened the next morning?"

"Yeah." replied Kensuke, "I woke up with Sayoko on one side and her angel on the other." Kensuke blushed again. "Then the Angel kissed me before vanishing."

"That's how I know. An Angel's feelings are directly linked to their Goddess. So when Morning Bell kissed you……….."

Kensuke stared at Belldandy. "She……...loved me?"

Belldandy nodded. Kensuke turned his face back to the picture.

"But she's gone…….." Kensuke turned and looked at Belldandy. "and you can't bring her back can you?"

Belldandy shook her head. "No."

A look of anger appeared on Kensuke's face. He carefully replaced the picture on the dresser next to the rose, his hand shaking the entire time.

"I finally meet the girl of my dreams." He said softly, "A girl that actually fell for me, Kensuke Aida, and she's taken away by a demon. It's just not RIGHT!" Kensuke slammed his fists on top of the dresser, several of the pictures falling over.

"Kensuke." Belldandy stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder. He shrugged it off. And stared at her.

"Aren't you mad?" he asked, "Shouldn't you be furious? They took away your daughter!"

"But she's here. She's in the living ro…….."

"THAT'S NOT HER!" shouted Kensuke, "That could never be her!"

"But it is her……"

"You may believe that but I don't!" Kensuke started towards the door. "I'm going to find that demon. AND SEELE. And I'm going to force them to give me back Sayoko. The REAL Sayoko, not some…….doll."

"Kensuke." Belldandy grabbed his shoulder, preventing him from leaving. "Violence isn't the answer. It won't bring her back. Neither will revenge."

"In the end, it may not bring her back." replied Kensuke, "but removing SEELE and that demon will brighten my now dark world a bit. Good bye Mrs. Morisato." He shrugged off Belldandy's hand and left the room, heading straight for the front door, ignoring the others confused and concerned faces.

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Kensuke wondered the streets until it was dark before returning to his hotel room. He opened the door to his room and closed it, leaning against it for a few moments. He then started to reach for the light switch when a light blinked on further in the hotel room. Kensuke sighed when he saw who had turned it on.

"Dammit Asuka." He said, "Can't you just leave me alone."

"No I can't." Asuka watched as Kensuke sat down on the bed across from her.

"Why are you here?" he finally asked.

"We're worried about you." She said.

Kensuke raised an eyebrow. "We?"

"Don't even try to set me off." Asuka said with a glare. "Look you just went and exploded at Belldandy. Nice, sweet, kind, caring Belldandy. You want to tell me why?"

Kensuke sighed. "Sayoko gets her mind erased, zapped whatever, and theirs her mom acting like there's nothing wrong. She should be mad, angry, furious, wanting vengeance or something. Instead she's smiling and happy." Kensuke looked over at Asuka. "Don't you think there's something wrong with that?"

"It's the way she is." Asuka said, "Skuld told me that no matter whatever Mara did to her or Keiichi, she never got angry. Oh she'd get upset for a bit, but she never stopped thinking of Mara as a friend."

"But it's her daughter……"

"I know Kensuke, I know." Asuka sighed, "But believe me, she's hurting. She'll put on a happy front to the rest of us, but she's hurting. It's the way she is."

They were quiet for several minutes.

"So what happens now?" asked Kensuke.

Asuka shrugged. "It's up to you."

"I'm going back to the UN. I want to get those basterds for what they did to Sayoko."

"Technically they weren't the ones responsible for Sayoko's memory loss."

"I don't care." replied Kensuke angrily, "They were the ones who brainwashed her or whatever. I will find them."

"….and what will you do when you find them?" asked Asuka softly.

"The Demon………there's nothing I can do to hurt a demon, other then calling in you, Shinji, and the others. SEELE though……." and evil grin appeared on Kensuke's face. "I'll make them wish they had never even heard of a demon."

"Revenge Kensuke? Will that bring Sayoko back?" Asuka shook her head. "You sound like Gendo Ikari."

"I'm nothing like him!" shouted Kensuke, "I just want Sayoko back!"

"Different words. Same thing." Asuka stood up and stared at Kensuke. "She'll never forgive if you continue down this path. It will only lead to your ruin, and death."

Kensuke drooped his head. "Just go Asuka. Let me be."


Asuka started to leave. She had reached the door when she turned around.

"We're still your friends Kensuke." She said quietly, "But we can't tell you what to do. When it comes down to it, it's your decision. Make the right one."

Asuka left the room. Kensuke sighed and laid on his back, staring at the ceiling, wondering what to do next.