Chapter 10
The sword flew straight and true towards her head. Celes closed her eyes, preparing herself for the pain.
But it didn't come.
Celes opened one eye. The sword was floating just in front of her face, frozen in a blue glow.
'What……why….?' She thought.
Her opinion was shared by Father Anderson.
"What sort of deviltry is this?" he roared.
"No deviltry." came a female voice, "Only the act of a goddess." The sword fell to the ground in front of Celes.
Celes saw Anderson turn around to face the voice. From where she sat against the wall she could see who it was he faced.
"A Goddess?!" Anderson shouted, "You speak blasphemy! For there is only our Lord."
Sayoko just smiled, "I am what I am. I cannot lie. I am the Goddess Sayoko."
Anderson smiled, "A heathen god? You're but a demon in my eyes." He pulled out another sword. "And you shall meet the same fate." He charged at Sayoko and swung his blade. Sayoko didn't even flinch. The blade stopped within inches of her neck as it crashed into another blade. Anderson turned his head to see a full armored woman beside the 'self proclaimed goddess'. Her sword was what his had been stopped by.
"Hello," the woman said, "We haven't met. My name is Mist. And you will not harm the Lady Sayoko." She then shoved him away, taking a defensive stance between him and the goddess.
"The Lord will protect me from your heathen ways." He muttered.
"Seeing how he is my Grandfather I highly doubt that." Sayoko replied. She waved her hand. Anderson found himself flying through the air, slamming hard against the wall. Stunned, he watched as the goddess walked over to Celes and took hold of the sword in her shoulder.
Celes winced as the blade was removed. Sayoko then pressed her hands against the wound, muttering softly. A soft glow appeared around Sayoko's hands. Celes looked down as Sayoko removed her hands to see perfectly healed skin through the hole in her coat and shirt. A yell and then a loud crash brought her attention back to the situation at hand. Anderson now had a blade in each hand and was trying to fight his way through the Valkyrie. Celes had seen her master fight against Anderson before, and he had never got away with out a slash or a stab wound, once he even lost his head. But so far the Priest had yet to even touch the Valkyrie with his blade.
"ENOUGH!" shouted Sayoko, waving her hand. The Priest was soon flying through the air again, stopping only when he hit the wall. Sayoko walked over beside Mist.
"He's not going to give up is he?" asked Sayoko.
"No." Both deities turned around as Celes walked up to them. "He won't stop. My Master removed both his arms and her still charged at him."
"We can't kill him." Mist muttered, "Kami-sama won't allow that."
"He won't?" Celes asked slightly surprised.
"He is a Priest, regardless."
Sayoko stepped forward, making sure that Anderson's attention was completely on her.
"I ask you to cease hunting the Vampire Celes Victoria." She said, "Will you comply?"
"Never!" Anderson shouted, rising to his feet. "She is an Abomination before the eyes of God. If you were truly sent by him you would know this!"
Sayoko turned around and looked at Mist.
"Sounds like you." She said.
Mist shrugged. "Times change."
"How do you want to handle it?"
"I don't." Mist then looked off to the side. "Fortunately I did get a hold of someone who can."
Sayoko turned and looked in the direction that Mist was looking in. She then smiled. Celes frowned slightly.
"Who is that?" she asked.
"I believe you met her before. She is Arael."
The Angel walked forward and gave Sayoko a small smile. "Mist called for my help, though I do not know what I can do."
"I think I know what she was going for." Sayoko turned and looked at Anderson. "You see this woman here?" She pointed towards Arael.
Anderson glared at her.
"She is the Angel of Light, the 15th Messenger, Arael."
Anderson blinked.
"Yes you heard me right." Sayoko said, "The being that attacked Tokyo-3 so many many many years ago. She stands before you now."
"This woman cannot be that……..Angel." Anderson snarled, "She could be anyone."
Sayoko sighed, then glanced at Arael. Arael nodded. Sayoko turned and grabbed Celes by the arm, leading her back into the front of the store. Mist followed, closing the door to the storeroom.
"What is she going to….." began Celes before a bright white light appeared through the cracks in the door. Anderson's screams followed shortly thereafter. Mist waved her hand and the wall took on a slightly blue tinge, the shouts were now muffled.
"What's she doing to him?" Celes asked.
"Making him relive old painful memories." The goddess replied, "Though I doubt that will help at this point."
Sayoko sighed and leaned against the old counter.
"He's a tough old priest." She said, "Firm in his beliefs."
"He would have to be to have killed so many Vampires and Ghouls." Mist replied, "That and his regenerative powers."
Sayoko nodded and looked at Celes sadly.
"Looks like your life here won't be getting easier. Ready for a change of scenery?"
"You mean Terra 2?" the vampire asked.
Sayoko nodded.
"Might as well." Celes walked over and looked out the window into the street. "Constantly looking over your shoulder, wondering what is going to be around the next corner gets old after awhile."
Sayoko gave a small smile.
"We'll go back and pack up everything you need," she said, "when Arael is done."
"Lady Sayoko," came Mist's voice, "I believe she has."
Sayoko glanced at the door. The door was now dark, other then the faint bluish tinge. Mist waved her hand, causing the blue to completely vanish. She then opened the door and entered the stockroom. Sayoko glanced at Celes, then followed. Celes took a deep breath, then followed the deities.
Anderson was still in the same spot she had seen him last. His eyes were wide open, blinking ever now and then. He was also speaking quietly, so quiet she didn't even hear him at first.
"What's he saying?" Celes finally asked.
Sayoko listened for a moment. "He's quoting the bible."
"How come I can't understand him?"
"He's quoting it in Latin."
Celes looked at Anderson, who as of yet didn't acknowledge anyone's presence. She then looked at Sayoko again.
"What part of the bible?"
Mist then began to speak. "……..Then the spirits brought the kings together in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl in the air. A loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, 'It is done!'…….."
"Revelations." Sayoko said, "Interesting." She looked over at Arael. "You alright?"
Arael nodded. "He has…….a very interesting history."
"I imagine so. Will he recover?"
Arael nodded. "He saw only enough to cause him to fall on his knees and beg Kami-sama for mercy. I stopped shortly thereafter and he's been quoting scripture ever since."
"Alright then." Sayoko looked at Celes. "Let's start your packing."
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Terra 2
Several Days later
Kensuke sat on the couch, starring at the ceiling.
"You alright?"
Kensuke glanced over to see Keima standing at the entrance to the living room.
"No, I'm not alright." Kensuke replied, "I just spent the last four days unpacking boxes and boxes of stuff and trying to figure out where to put it all. That was just Sayoko's stuff. Then came Celes' stuff." He sighed. "Fortunately she doesn't seem to like shopping as much as Sayoko does." He then looked up at Keima. "Why are you here?"
"Lime, Cherry, Bloodberry, Yui, and Arael are all out. Don't know where and they refused to tell me." Keima said, "Got too quiet over there, so I decided to come here."
Kensuke frowned. "What is this? A mass exodus of the females? Sayoko and Celes are gone too."
Keima shrugged. "I don't know. Dad did say that Urd and Skuld have been sneaking around the house giggling about something. Maybe it has something to do with the wedding."
Kensuke leaned back. "With the wedding? What could possibly require all the………" He suddenly sat up. "Oh no………."
"What is it?"
"I just figured it out." Kensuke looked at Keima. "There can only be one thing happening that would require the presence of all the females that Sayoko knows, and that guys would be prohibited from."
"….and that is?"
"A bachelorette party."
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Hell
The Seedier side
"Where in the name of Kami-sama are we Auntie?" asked a blindfolded Sayoko.
Urd and Skuld giggled as their led their niece along.
"Not gonna tell you." Skuld said, "Keep walking."
Behind them, Lime, Yui, Arael, Celes, Cherry, Bloodberry followed. All six were whispering silently amongst themselves.
"Remind me why we're in hell?" asked Cherry as she looked around nervously.
"Aunt Urd and Auntie Skuld wanted to have a bachelorette party." Yui said, "But you can't exactly have that kind of thing in heaven."
"Why not?" asked Bloodberry.
"Because some of the older Gods frown on such things." Yui said. "So when the young gods want to party, they come here."
"But why hell?" asked Cherry, "Why not Terra 2 or Earth?"
Arael then spoke up. "Because some of Sayoko's friends are unable to go to the surface of either planet."
"Why?" asked Lime, "They get in trouble?"
"No." Arael glanced at the two mortal girls. "They are dead."
Urd and Skuld then turned into a building, still leading their clueless niece along. The other six stopped and looked at the place. A sign blinked overhead naming the place as 'Hell's Liquor Cabinet'.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Cherry said as she and the others entered.
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Sayoko knew they had entered a building, she heard a door open and loud music and shouting, but she still didn't know where. The look her Aunts had been giving her before she'd been blindfolded also had her confused. Both had had rather evil looking grins. Suddenly the music stopped and the room got quiet.
"Ladies!" came a voice that Sayoko instantly recognized as Mara's, "I give you the woman of the hour! The future Mrs. Aida!"
The blindfold was removed and Sayoko blinked as the entire place cheered. She spotted Mara right away. She was standing on a stage which was surrounded by tables. Standing around tables were people Sayoko met over the years. The only thing was that they were all female. Over there was Misato, Megumi, Sayoko (the older version), Yui (Shinji's Mom), Kyoko, Ritsuko, and Maya. Over there were Hatsuho, Mizuho, and Maho. Another table had Chrono, Erie, X, Peorth, even the Ex-Demon turned Goddess Ceres. Sayoko was directed to a table near the front where Rei, Asuka, and Hikari were already waiting. Asuka and Rei moved to either side of her and placed a hand on her shoulder, sitting her down.
"What's all this?" Sayoko asked, dreading the answer.
"What are you stupid?" asked Asuka, "You're getting married!"
"And as such," Rei said, "We are celebrating one of your last nights as a single woman."
Mara then taped on the microphone, regaining everyone's attention.
"Before we continue! The bride must receive her crown!"
Sayoko mouth the word crown before a blushing Hikari stood up and moved behind her. The Goddess felt something being pressed onto her head. She frowned slightly and pulled out a mirror. Her eyes went wide as she stared at the object on her head. It was a white head band with pieces of lace here and there, as well as a few flowers…………….and several small square packages. She slowly turned and looked at Hikari who had sat back down, but was still blushing.
"Hikari……..tell me those aren't……."
"I'm sorry Sayoko." Hikari said blushing more.
"And now!" shouted Mara, "On to the fun!" She quickly ran off the stage as the music started up again. Within seconds a man had appeared on the stage, to the loud joyous cries of most of the females present. Sayoko's eyes got even wider as she realized what was about to happen.
'Oh Kami-sama help me!'
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"What is he doing?" asked Cherry.
"Dancing." Lime said, "Rather…..interestingly."
"You two have no idea what is going on do you?" asked Bloodberry.
Both girls shook their heads. Bloodberry sighed and looked over at Yui.
"Should I tell them?"
Yui started to answer, but he attention returned to the stage. "I think they're about to find out."
Lime and Cherry's jaws dropped as the man ripped off his shirt to the cheers of everyone present.
"Oh…..…my……" Lime muttered, her face reddening quickly.
Cherry was just as red. "IT'S IMMORAL!!"
"It's a hellova good time." Yui said with a smile.
"Just think of it as an educational party." Bloodberry said before getting on her feet and joining the cheering.
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In a dark corner of the building, four woman sat silently, watching the……..'show'. Two were Goddesses, one was a Valkyrie, the last, was the Queen of Hell.
"Your daughter appears to be in shock." Hild said
"I don't blame her." Belldandy said softly, "I was in shock at mine."
Cayla, Belldandy's assistant, turned and looked at her boss. "Sempai?"
Belldandy smiled at Cayla. "Urd was just as sneaky then as she is now. Though to see Skuld participating."
"If I may ask," Mist said, "What was Lady Skuld's reaction to yours?"
"She wasn't allowed to go. So she never saw a thing." Belldandy thought a moment. "I believe she ended up spending time with Keiichi that day."
"Ah yes, Keiichi." Hild smiled, "How is that wonderful mortal doing?"
Belldandy's head snapped around. "He's doing quite fine."
"Ohh Arael!" came Cayla's voice, "How are you?"
Belldandy turned to see the Angel standing before their table.
"I'm fine Lady Cayla." Arael said, "Though I find this………display disturbing." She pointed at the now naked dancer.
Belldandy indicated a chair at the table. "Feel free to join us then. We're only here to make sure it doesn't get…….too out of hand."
"Speak for yourself." Hild said, "It's been a long time since I've been to a rowdy party." She then smiled at Cayla. "You look like you need to let your hair down and get wild."
Cayla just blushed and shook her head.
"Don't corrupt my assistant." Belldandy said.
"Spoilsport." Hild turned back and watched the partiers. "I still find this amazing. Gods and Demons mixing together to party. Who would have thought this could happen 500 years ago."
"Just because our jobs conflict doesn't mean we all can't be friends." Belldandy said, "Besides, there are still many rogue demons out there."
"Yeah the rogues." Hild sighed. She then laughed as the dancer had leaped of the stage and was now gyrating in front of Sayoko. "The look on her face! That's funny!"
Even Belldandy chuckled at the sight of her daughter trying to cover her eyes, which was becoming more difficult as Rei and Asuka kept pulling them away.
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Terra 2
Keima, Kensuke, Touji, and Shinji sat around the kitchen table.
"This is boring." Keima said.
"Yeah." mumbled Kensuke.
"You know," Touji said, "We could go out and have our own bachelor party."
"Sure, going to a bar is fine."
"I'm not talking about a bar Kensuke." Touji smiled, "I mean a strip club."
"Are you nuts!" Kensuke shouted, "Sayoko would kill me!"
"Besides," Keima said, "There aren't any on Terra 2."
"So we go to Earth." Touji said.
Kensuke shook his head. "I've seen enough of Earth."
Touji sighed, "Heaven and Hell are out. Urd and Skuld got permission as soon as they heard you'd proposed to Sayoko."
"Guys, you're forgetting something." Everyone looked at Shinji.
"What?" asked Touji.
"Hikari, Rei, Asuka, and even Sayoko would kill us if we went to some club." Shinji shook his head. "We're outnumbered."
"But there's four of them!" Touji said, "And four of us!"
"And Asuka could probably convince Yui to help, who in turn would get Arael to help." Shinji sighed, "Not to mention Sayoko could whisper something into Mist's ears."
Touji let out a moan. "Man…….this sucks!"
"Don't worry about it." Kensuke said, "I really don't have an urge to see gyrating naked woman anyway."
Touji and Shinji looked at each other, then Touji pressed a hand against his forehead.
"He feels normal."
Kensuke knocked Touji's hand away.
"Look, your married, you have Hikari. She's your one and only true love. Would you want to look at someone else other then her."
"Well no…..but…."
Kensuke shook his head.
"But nothing." Kensuke smiled, "You deal with your wives when they come back. I'll deal with Sayoko. But I'm going to get married with clear conscious."
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Hours later
The party was over.
Several of the Goddesses staggered out, bringing along those mortals who now resided in the heavens with them.
After all it wouldn't be good to leave one behind in hell.
Sayoko still sat in the chair she had been forced into by Asuka and Rei, a shocked look on her face. A slightly intoxicated Asuka waved a hand in front of the goddesses face.
"I think we broke her."
Rei shook her head. "I don't think so. It might have been the alcohol."
Celes walked over.
"She awake?"
"Awake yes." Asuka said, still waving her hand in front of Sayoko. "Aware no."
Celes grabbed hold of Sayoko's chair and turned it so she was looking at her right in the face.
"She looks stunned." Celes then smiled. "I've got it."
"What?"
"Watch." Celes leaned in close to Sayoko and bared her fangs, hissing as she did so.
"GAH!!" Sayoko flung herself backwards, tipping the chair over onto her back.
"There!" Celes said proudly.
"Yay!" shouted Asuka, "You fixed her."
"Ow……" muttered Sayoko.
Rei leaned over and looked down at her friend.
"Did you have fun?"
Sayoko rubbed her head. "Ask me again when I'm not thinking of getting new bridesmaids."
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"Mmmmmm." Hild muttered as she stretched. "Good party."
"I'll take your word on that." Belldandy replied.
"Awwww Belldandy. You can't work all the time." Hild smiled, "There are times when you just have to let your hair down and go wild."
"I'll try and remember that." Belldandy stood up. "Thank you for having us."
Hild bowed slightly. "It was my pleasure."
Belldandy smiled and then turned and left, followed closely by Cayla and Mist. Hild sighed and sank into her chair.
"I really have got to get Belldandy to unwind." Hild leaned back, as she thought.
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Keima sat reading in his room. Anytime now he expected the girls to arrive back. The guys night had ended up being a movie night. Kensuke had a rather large DVD collection that Sayoko had saved for him.
A loud pop came from the main living room. Keima placed his book down and stood up. He walked over and looked out into the living room. Yui and Cherry were both helping a drunken Bloodberry into her room. Arael was just disappearing into her own room. Lime watched Yui and Cherry help Bloodberry, then started towards her own room. She stopped when she saw Keima.
"Did you have a good time?" Keima asked.
Lime blushed. "I…….didn't enjoy as much as Bloodberry." She then walked over to Keima. "How about you? Did you have a good night?"
"It was alright."
Lime nodded. She then leaned forward and kissed Keima. She held the kiss for almost a minute, then pulled away.
"Good night Keima." She said quietly, "See you in the morning."
Keima smiled. "Good Night Lime."
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Kensuke awoke to a loud thud, followed by cursing in English. He then heard muffled conversation followed by hearing the door to Celes' room shut. The door to the bedroom then opened, admitting his beloved goddess. She closed it behind her, then shuffled slowly over towards the bed. She collapsed face first onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow.
"Are you alright?" Kensuke asked her quietly.
"………."
Kensuke chuckled. "That bad hmm?"
"You have no idea." came Sayoko's muffled voice.
Kensuke rolled over and pulled Sayoko into his arms. She let out a soft sigh as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Hey Sayoko?"
"Hmmmm?"
"Are you aware there's a headband with condoms on your head?"