Chapter 2
"Ohhhh..my head." Asuka opened her eyes and looked about. She found herself laying on a hillside. "What the hell?"
Asuka sat up and looked around. If was definitely a hillside, but it was anything but familiar to her. Further down the hill she could see a road. Off in the distance she could just see the tops of buildings.
'I should probably get to the road and start walking towards the city,' thought Asuka, 'Then I can contact Misato. Ooooo Ritsuko is so going to hear from me about this.'
Asuka walked down the hill to the street and then started off towards the city. After a half hour of walking, Asuka was no closer to the city then when she started. In addition, it was becoming darker.
'Mien gott! This sucks! It'll be nightfall before I reach the city!'
The sound of a vehicle approaching from behind caused Asuka to stop.
'Maybe I can get a lift.' Asuka turned and waited.
Soon, a motorcycle with a sidecar came into view. Asuka took another look at the motorcycle.
'That looks....familiar."
Asuka quickly began to wave. The motorcycle pulled off to the side of the road. The driver pulled of his helmet.
"You need a lift?"
"Yeah," replied Asuka, "and a phone."
"I live just 10 minutes away from here. You can use the phone there." The biker replied, "Hope in."
"Thanks." Asuka walked over and climbed into the sidecar, she then pulled the helmet that was there on her head. 'Hmm Red, my favorite color.' "My name's Asuka."
"Mine's Keiichi," replied the biker, "Pleasure to meet you."
As they drove off, a thought ran through Asuka's mind. 'Keiichi?....Nah.....couldn't be.'
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As they got further into the city, Asuka began to feel a strange sense of Déjà vu. The buildings they passed looked familiar to her, but she couldn't place them. It wasn't until Keiichi pulled into a drive of a temple that it suddenly dawned on Asuka why the place looked familiar. Sayoko had brought her to Old Nekomi 4 years ago in search of her Aunt Megumi. The old temple Sayoko had teleported them to was old and dilapidated. Now Asuka was staring at that temple, only it wasn't falling apart. It looked almost brand new.
'It.......just can't be.' thought Asuka.
Keiichi pulled the motorcycle up to a small garage. He took off his helmet and looked down at Asuka. He followed her eyes to the temple. "Yeah, it's not much, but it's home. I live here with my girlfriend and her two sisters. Come on, the phone is this way."
Asuka slowly followed Keiichi towards the house. 'This isn't happening! It's impossible. I must be hallucinating.'
As they approached the house, a voice could be heard from inside. "Keiichi!"
Asuka's stopped dead in her tracks. She knew of only two people who sounded like that. One was Sayoko. The other was Sayoko's mother who, last Asuka remembered, had been in Eva Unit 04, the pieces of which had vanished after the failed third impact.
'But it can't be her...it just can't be.'
At that moment the speaker stepped into the doorway.
"Belldandy, this is Asuka. She needs to phone a ride."
Belldandy looked over at Asuka, "Hello there. Please, come right in."
Asuka did the only thing that made sense to her at that point. She fainted.
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Consciousness returned slowly to Asuka. As she began to wake up, she felt something damp on her forehead. Asuka opened her eyes and looked around. She was laying on a couch inside the temple. Kneeling on the ground next to her was Belldandy. Keiichi was hovering right behind her.
"Are you alright?" asked Belldandy.
Asuka sat up quickly and moved as far away from Belldandy as she could while still being on the couch. "This can't be happening, this just can't be happening!"
Belldandy and Keiichi looked at each other confused.
"What do you mean?" asked Belldandy.
"I'm asleep right?" said Asuka, "I mean, I remember getting zapped by the computer. I must be unconscious or something."
"You're not unconscious or anything." said Keiichi giving Asuka a funny look.
"Perhaps we should call your parents." said Belldandy, "Could you give me the number?"
"No...no..That's alright." said Asuka, "I...I can call. Just point me to the phone."
Keiichi pointed towards the hall, "It's just over there in the hallway."
"Thank you." Asuka quickly got up and walked towards the phone, vanishing from view.
Keiichi turned to face Belldandy, "There's something wrong with that girl. Maybe we should call the police."
"No." replied Belldandy, "There's....something about her. I can't place my finger on it, but there is definitely something about the girl that's bothering me."
"She's a nutcase."
"Keiichi! That's not very nice." Belldandy glanced towards the hallway. "Besides, I could sense her confusion. There is something she is not telling us."
"But it's not our problem," said Keiichi, "Besides, once her parents find out she's here, they'll come to pick her up."
Belldandy turned and gave Keiichi a look. Keiichi didn't even need to ask what she was thinking. He let out a sigh, "Alright, I'll go set up the spare room."
Belldandy gave Keiichi a smile, "Thank you Keiichi."
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Asuka quickly went to the phone. She immediately picked it up and dialed Misato's apartment.
"We're sorry," came the operator's voice, "The number you have dialed is invalid. If you require assistance, please press 0 now." Asuka quickly hung up the phone. She leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor.
'What the hell is going on?' thought Asuka, 'This temple should be a wreck and the city should be flooded. The apartment's number doesn't work. And to top it off, I'm conversing with people who shouldn't even be here! This is making no sense!'
"Are you alright?"
Asuka turned to see Belldandy standing at the end of the hallway. She quickly ran through everything she could remember about the goddesses.
"Well, I can't seem to reach anyone at home." 'Well, that is the truth anyway.'
"It is late," said Belldandy, "maybe you should spend the night here. Keiichi can take you wherever you need to go in the morning."
Asuka gave Belldandy a smile, "Thank you, I appreciate it."
"We're home!" came a loud female voice.
"Those are my sisters," said Belldandy, "they went out shopping for things at dinner. Are you interested?"
At the word dinner, Asuka's stomach growled. Belldandy put her hand to her mouth to stifle her laugh while Asuka blushed red.
"I'll take that as a yes." said Belldandy. Belldandy turned and headed towards the kitchen. Asuka got up and started to follow.
'Belldandy is so nice,' thought Asuka, 'Now I see where Sayoko gets it.'
Asuka was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she wasn't paying attention to where she was going and crashed into a small object. She fell to the floor with a thud, the object she hit also landed on the floor.
"OW! HEY WATCH IT!"
Asuka looked up to see not an object, but a girl of about 12. She wore a white and red outfit, had long black hair and had a hammer on her back. She also had very familiar markings on her forehead and cheeks.
"Skuld?!" asked Asuka, stunned.
Skuld frowned, "How do you know my name? Who are you?"
Asuka paled slightly, "Uh...Belldandy told me your name. My name is Asuka."
"So why are you here Asuka?"
"I sort of got lost out in the hills. Keiichi brought me here."
Skuld's face got a bit darker at the mention of Keiichi. "Keiichi hmm? Probably was out there looking for a place to do perverted things to my sister." Skuld grabbed her hammer and headed for the living room. "I'll show him!"
Asuka got up and was about to head for the kitchen when she heard yelling.
"Skuld! What are you doing?!"
"You were out in the forest looking for a spot to do perverted things to my sister! Admit it!"
"No I was not! Urd help!"
"What? You weren't looking for a spot? Why not?"
"Urd!"
"Feel my wraith!"
"No stop!" the sound of something crashing into the floor reached Asuka's ears.
"Hold still!"
"No I won't stay still!"
"Keiichi, I know a few good spots where you two could... ( CRASH ) OUCH! DAMMIT BRAT!! THAT WAS MY FOOT!"
"Sorry, I was aiming for Keiichi, not your big old smelly..."
"THAT'S IT! URD BOLT!" There was a brilliant flash and the sound of thunder from the living room.
"OW! WHY YOU WITCH! SKULD BOMB AWAY!" ( explosion )
Asuka started to wonder wither walking past the living room for the kitchen was worth possible injury. Sayoko had told her about her Aunts legendary fights, but she never expected to see one. She watched as a stunned Keiichi wondered out of the living room.
"Ouch." He said before collapsing to the floor. Belldandy stepped out of the kitchen at that moment.
"AHHHHHH!! KEIICHI!" Belldandy ran to Keiichi's side.
"I'm aright." He mumbled. He then glanced over and saw Asuka. "Ahh ahh ahh."
Belldandy looked over and saw who Keiichi was looking at. "Oh... Um...you see."
Asuka shook her head. "I saw nothing." She then walked out to the porch.
At first Belldandy thought she was leaving. But then Asuka sat down on the porch and looked up at the sky. Another loud explosion quickly brought Belldandy's attention to a different problem. Belldandy walked into the living room, a force bolt glowing in her hands.
"YOU HURT KEIICHI!"
Both Skuld and Urd turned and looked at their sister.
"Uh oh."
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Asuka sat down on the porch and looked up at the sky. She heard another explosion, followed shortly thereafter by Belldandy yelling and then a loud blast. All was then quiet. A minute later, Belldandy poked her head out of the door and looked at Asuka.
"Dinner will be ready shortly." She then vanished back into the kitchen.
Asuka let out a sigh and closed her eyes.
'What is going on here? Belldandy and Keiichi here, Skuld, who should be in her thirties, looks like a 12 year old. Who knows what Urd looks like.' Asuka smiled, 'Sayoko would flip if she could......' Her smile vanished as a thought dawned on her. 'Wait a second. Sayoko got hit at the same time I did....does that mean she's here too?'
Asuka stood up and began to pace about, 'If she's here, how do I get her attention. I can't call her, I don't have telepathic powers.' Asuka looked up to the heavens, 'How the hell do I get the attention of one specific goddess?!'
"Asuka, Dinner's ready."
Asuka sighed, 'Wrong goddess.'
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Later that night, after showing Asuka where she would be sleeping, and after Keiichi had gone to sleep, Belldandy called her sisters into her room.
"What going on Belldandy?" asked Urd.
"Yeah," asked Skuld, "Why did you let Keiichi bring that girl here?"
"He found her walking towards the city." replied Belldandy, "Then after she got here she fainted. And then she was very confused when she woke up."
"Bell," said Urd, "Most people would be confused waking up in a strange house after fainting, its normal for mortals."
"But I sense something different about her." said Belldandy, "I only wish I had access to my full powers." she added, fingering her bracelet.
"They said Yggdrasil would be back up soon." said Urd.
"I'm surprised they're still talking to us after what happened." muttered Skuld.
Belldandy smiled, "Father forgave you for crashing Yggdrasil."
"It was for a good cause." replied Urd with a smile.
"I still don't know how you talked me into it." muttered Skuld while glaring at Urd.
Urd glared back, "I told you! It was for Belldandy and Keiichi! Without that Warding Circle, Belldandy would have returned to heaven! She and Keiichi would have been miserable for the rest of their lives!"
Belldandy fingered the ring on her hand, knowing what Urd said was true. She would have been miserable without Keiichi. In the past year, Keiichi had shown how much he cared for her. Then, a month ago, he had fought hard trying to reach her through the force field around the return gate, it had almost cost him his life. "Skuld, Keiichi is a kind and caring person. Can't you see that?"
"But he wants you all to himself!" replied Skuld.
"Keiichi is not like that!" said Belldandy. "You know how I feel about him and I know he told you how he feels about me."
Skuld looked at the floor, "Doesn't mean I have to like him."
Belldandy looked at her younger sister pleadingly, "Please, for me."
"I'll think about it." Skuld got up and headed towards her room.
"Don't worry." said Urd, "She grow to like him in time."
"I hope so." said Belldandy, "What do you think of Asuka?"
"I'm not sure." said Urd, "She didn't speak much at dinner, its like she was hiding something from us."
"I thought that too." said Belldandy, "What do you suppose......
The sound of someone crying reached their ears. Belldandy and Urd looked at each other confused before running down the hallway. Skuld poked her head out of her room.
"What's that?"
Belldandy reached Keiichi's door and listened. All she could hear was his quiet snores. She then moved to the room where Asuka was staying in. Faint sounds of crying came from within. Belldandy opened the door and moved quietly to Asuka's side. Urd followed and looked down at Asuka.
"What is it?" asked Skuld quietly from the doorway.
"She's having a nightmare." replied Belldandy.
Suddenly Asuka called out, "Nooo, don't make me remember that! Nooo! Help me! Shinji! Misato! Sayoko!"
Belldandy reached over and placed her hand on Asuka's shoulder. She then spoke softly to Asuka. "Shhhhh. Everything is fine."
Asuka reached out in her sleep and grabbed Belldandy, "I'm sorry Sayoko. I didn't mean it. Please don't go!"
Belldandy looked over at Urd. Urd shrugged. Belldandy turned back to the crying girl. Cradling Asuka in her arms, Belldandy spoke again, "I'm here Asuka. I'm not leaving."
Asuka's sobbing slowly quieted. She then let out a soft sigh before her hold on Belldandy relaxed. Using her powers, Belldandy slowly moved Asuka back onto the bed. She then got up and motioned her sisters out. After Belldandy closed the door to Asuka's room Urd spoke.
"What do you think?"
"I'm not sure." replied Belldandy, "She obviously was calling out to people she knows."
"But why would she call you Sayoko?" asked Skuld.
"I don't know." said Belldandy, "I just don't know."
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Asuka woke up early the next morning. Normally, she would just go back to sleep until Shinji came in for her. But this was anything but a normal day. She got and walked out into the hallway. The temple was silent except for sounds of activity in the kitchen. Asuka walked towards it and peeked in. Belldandy was moving about preparing breakfast, humming something to herself. Asuka choose not to bother her and started to go outside. As she moved across the floor, a board creaked. Belldandy immediately turned around.
"Oh. Good Morning."
"Good Morning." replied Asuka.
"Are you feeling ok?" asked Belldandy.
Asuka frowned slightly, "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Last night you had a bad dream," replied Belldandy, "I was wondering if you wanted to talk about it."
Asuka stared stunned at Belldandy, "No."
"But it might help to..."
"No." said Asuka. "I'm going to out for a bit."
Asuka then turned and went outside, leaving a worried Belldandy to stare after her. Upon entering the yard, Asuka immediately started doing what she had been the night before, pacing and trying to figure out how to contact Sayoko.
'Grrrr. This is so frustrating!' thought Asuka as she kicked at the dirt. She then frowned and looked down at where she had kicked. A dark burn mark lay uncovered. Asuka bent over and moved more of the dirt away, revealing what looked like part of a circle. Some writing lay next to it, writing that Asuka was now familiar with.
'God's writing.' thought Asuka. She moved to another spot and kicked away at the dirt, revealing more marks. 'Whatever this is its huge.' Asuka then shook her head. 'Wait, getting off track. Contact Sayoko first, strange circle later.'
Asuka sat down on the porch and went over any event concerning Sayoko that she could remember. Suddenly it hit her. Back during the Angels, Sayoko had sensed Kaji invoking her name just before he had been shot.
'But how do I invoke her?' thought Asuka, 'Do I curse someone in her name or what?' Asuka looked up to the sky, 'Sayoko? You out there?'
No response.
'Hey Sayoko! Answer me!'
Still no response.
Asuka began to get frustrated, 'Dammit! Why did this have to happen! I was perfectly happy with Shinji, Wondergirl, Hikari, and Misato. Damn you Sayoko! Where the hell are you?' Asuka proceeded use every curse word she knew in several different languages, tossing in Sayoko's name every now and then.
* HEY! *
Asuka fell to the ground in surprise. She then looked around. 'I know I heard someone...'
* Of course you did! It's me! Sayoko! *
'Where are you?' thought Asuka.
* Where are you? *
'I asked first.'
* I'm at this small diner. Auntie used to take me here before we moved. It was only 5 minutes walk from the temple we used to live in. *
Asuka smiled, 'I'll meet you there.'
Quickly looking to see if anyone was around, Asuka left the temple and headed for the diner. Inside the kitchen, Belldandy was trying to sort out what she had just sensed.
'It felt like a telepathic transmission," thought Belldandy, 'But it wasn't demonic and it felt almost.....familiar, like it was Urd or Skuld. I'll have to ask them at breakfast.'
"Ohhhh..my head." Asuka opened her eyes and looked about. She found herself laying on a hillside. "What the hell?"
Asuka sat up and looked around. If was definitely a hillside, but it was anything but familiar to her. Further down the hill she could see a road. Off in the distance she could just see the tops of buildings.
'I should probably get to the road and start walking towards the city,' thought Asuka, 'Then I can contact Misato. Ooooo Ritsuko is so going to hear from me about this.'
Asuka walked down the hill to the street and then started off towards the city. After a half hour of walking, Asuka was no closer to the city then when she started. In addition, it was becoming darker.
'Mien gott! This sucks! It'll be nightfall before I reach the city!'
The sound of a vehicle approaching from behind caused Asuka to stop.
'Maybe I can get a lift.' Asuka turned and waited.
Soon, a motorcycle with a sidecar came into view. Asuka took another look at the motorcycle.
'That looks....familiar."
Asuka quickly began to wave. The motorcycle pulled off to the side of the road. The driver pulled of his helmet.
"You need a lift?"
"Yeah," replied Asuka, "and a phone."
"I live just 10 minutes away from here. You can use the phone there." The biker replied, "Hope in."
"Thanks." Asuka walked over and climbed into the sidecar, she then pulled the helmet that was there on her head. 'Hmm Red, my favorite color.' "My name's Asuka."
"Mine's Keiichi," replied the biker, "Pleasure to meet you."
As they drove off, a thought ran through Asuka's mind. 'Keiichi?....Nah.....couldn't be.'
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As they got further into the city, Asuka began to feel a strange sense of Déjà vu. The buildings they passed looked familiar to her, but she couldn't place them. It wasn't until Keiichi pulled into a drive of a temple that it suddenly dawned on Asuka why the place looked familiar. Sayoko had brought her to Old Nekomi 4 years ago in search of her Aunt Megumi. The old temple Sayoko had teleported them to was old and dilapidated. Now Asuka was staring at that temple, only it wasn't falling apart. It looked almost brand new.
'It.......just can't be.' thought Asuka.
Keiichi pulled the motorcycle up to a small garage. He took off his helmet and looked down at Asuka. He followed her eyes to the temple. "Yeah, it's not much, but it's home. I live here with my girlfriend and her two sisters. Come on, the phone is this way."
Asuka slowly followed Keiichi towards the house. 'This isn't happening! It's impossible. I must be hallucinating.'
As they approached the house, a voice could be heard from inside. "Keiichi!"
Asuka's stopped dead in her tracks. She knew of only two people who sounded like that. One was Sayoko. The other was Sayoko's mother who, last Asuka remembered, had been in Eva Unit 04, the pieces of which had vanished after the failed third impact.
'But it can't be her...it just can't be.'
At that moment the speaker stepped into the doorway.
"Belldandy, this is Asuka. She needs to phone a ride."
Belldandy looked over at Asuka, "Hello there. Please, come right in."
Asuka did the only thing that made sense to her at that point. She fainted.
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Consciousness returned slowly to Asuka. As she began to wake up, she felt something damp on her forehead. Asuka opened her eyes and looked around. She was laying on a couch inside the temple. Kneeling on the ground next to her was Belldandy. Keiichi was hovering right behind her.
"Are you alright?" asked Belldandy.
Asuka sat up quickly and moved as far away from Belldandy as she could while still being on the couch. "This can't be happening, this just can't be happening!"
Belldandy and Keiichi looked at each other confused.
"What do you mean?" asked Belldandy.
"I'm asleep right?" said Asuka, "I mean, I remember getting zapped by the computer. I must be unconscious or something."
"You're not unconscious or anything." said Keiichi giving Asuka a funny look.
"Perhaps we should call your parents." said Belldandy, "Could you give me the number?"
"No...no..That's alright." said Asuka, "I...I can call. Just point me to the phone."
Keiichi pointed towards the hall, "It's just over there in the hallway."
"Thank you." Asuka quickly got up and walked towards the phone, vanishing from view.
Keiichi turned to face Belldandy, "There's something wrong with that girl. Maybe we should call the police."
"No." replied Belldandy, "There's....something about her. I can't place my finger on it, but there is definitely something about the girl that's bothering me."
"She's a nutcase."
"Keiichi! That's not very nice." Belldandy glanced towards the hallway. "Besides, I could sense her confusion. There is something she is not telling us."
"But it's not our problem," said Keiichi, "Besides, once her parents find out she's here, they'll come to pick her up."
Belldandy turned and gave Keiichi a look. Keiichi didn't even need to ask what she was thinking. He let out a sigh, "Alright, I'll go set up the spare room."
Belldandy gave Keiichi a smile, "Thank you Keiichi."
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Asuka quickly went to the phone. She immediately picked it up and dialed Misato's apartment.
"We're sorry," came the operator's voice, "The number you have dialed is invalid. If you require assistance, please press 0 now." Asuka quickly hung up the phone. She leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor.
'What the hell is going on?' thought Asuka, 'This temple should be a wreck and the city should be flooded. The apartment's number doesn't work. And to top it off, I'm conversing with people who shouldn't even be here! This is making no sense!'
"Are you alright?"
Asuka turned to see Belldandy standing at the end of the hallway. She quickly ran through everything she could remember about the goddesses.
"Well, I can't seem to reach anyone at home." 'Well, that is the truth anyway.'
"It is late," said Belldandy, "maybe you should spend the night here. Keiichi can take you wherever you need to go in the morning."
Asuka gave Belldandy a smile, "Thank you, I appreciate it."
"We're home!" came a loud female voice.
"Those are my sisters," said Belldandy, "they went out shopping for things at dinner. Are you interested?"
At the word dinner, Asuka's stomach growled. Belldandy put her hand to her mouth to stifle her laugh while Asuka blushed red.
"I'll take that as a yes." said Belldandy. Belldandy turned and headed towards the kitchen. Asuka got up and started to follow.
'Belldandy is so nice,' thought Asuka, 'Now I see where Sayoko gets it.'
Asuka was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she wasn't paying attention to where she was going and crashed into a small object. She fell to the floor with a thud, the object she hit also landed on the floor.
"OW! HEY WATCH IT!"
Asuka looked up to see not an object, but a girl of about 12. She wore a white and red outfit, had long black hair and had a hammer on her back. She also had very familiar markings on her forehead and cheeks.
"Skuld?!" asked Asuka, stunned.
Skuld frowned, "How do you know my name? Who are you?"
Asuka paled slightly, "Uh...Belldandy told me your name. My name is Asuka."
"So why are you here Asuka?"
"I sort of got lost out in the hills. Keiichi brought me here."
Skuld's face got a bit darker at the mention of Keiichi. "Keiichi hmm? Probably was out there looking for a place to do perverted things to my sister." Skuld grabbed her hammer and headed for the living room. "I'll show him!"
Asuka got up and was about to head for the kitchen when she heard yelling.
"Skuld! What are you doing?!"
"You were out in the forest looking for a spot to do perverted things to my sister! Admit it!"
"No I was not! Urd help!"
"What? You weren't looking for a spot? Why not?"
"Urd!"
"Feel my wraith!"
"No stop!" the sound of something crashing into the floor reached Asuka's ears.
"Hold still!"
"No I won't stay still!"
"Keiichi, I know a few good spots where you two could... ( CRASH ) OUCH! DAMMIT BRAT!! THAT WAS MY FOOT!"
"Sorry, I was aiming for Keiichi, not your big old smelly..."
"THAT'S IT! URD BOLT!" There was a brilliant flash and the sound of thunder from the living room.
"OW! WHY YOU WITCH! SKULD BOMB AWAY!" ( explosion )
Asuka started to wonder wither walking past the living room for the kitchen was worth possible injury. Sayoko had told her about her Aunts legendary fights, but she never expected to see one. She watched as a stunned Keiichi wondered out of the living room.
"Ouch." He said before collapsing to the floor. Belldandy stepped out of the kitchen at that moment.
"AHHHHHH!! KEIICHI!" Belldandy ran to Keiichi's side.
"I'm aright." He mumbled. He then glanced over and saw Asuka. "Ahh ahh ahh."
Belldandy looked over and saw who Keiichi was looking at. "Oh... Um...you see."
Asuka shook her head. "I saw nothing." She then walked out to the porch.
At first Belldandy thought she was leaving. But then Asuka sat down on the porch and looked up at the sky. Another loud explosion quickly brought Belldandy's attention to a different problem. Belldandy walked into the living room, a force bolt glowing in her hands.
"YOU HURT KEIICHI!"
Both Skuld and Urd turned and looked at their sister.
"Uh oh."
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Asuka sat down on the porch and looked up at the sky. She heard another explosion, followed shortly thereafter by Belldandy yelling and then a loud blast. All was then quiet. A minute later, Belldandy poked her head out of the door and looked at Asuka.
"Dinner will be ready shortly." She then vanished back into the kitchen.
Asuka let out a sigh and closed her eyes.
'What is going on here? Belldandy and Keiichi here, Skuld, who should be in her thirties, looks like a 12 year old. Who knows what Urd looks like.' Asuka smiled, 'Sayoko would flip if she could......' Her smile vanished as a thought dawned on her. 'Wait a second. Sayoko got hit at the same time I did....does that mean she's here too?'
Asuka stood up and began to pace about, 'If she's here, how do I get her attention. I can't call her, I don't have telepathic powers.' Asuka looked up to the heavens, 'How the hell do I get the attention of one specific goddess?!'
"Asuka, Dinner's ready."
Asuka sighed, 'Wrong goddess.'
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Later that night, after showing Asuka where she would be sleeping, and after Keiichi had gone to sleep, Belldandy called her sisters into her room.
"What going on Belldandy?" asked Urd.
"Yeah," asked Skuld, "Why did you let Keiichi bring that girl here?"
"He found her walking towards the city." replied Belldandy, "Then after she got here she fainted. And then she was very confused when she woke up."
"Bell," said Urd, "Most people would be confused waking up in a strange house after fainting, its normal for mortals."
"But I sense something different about her." said Belldandy, "I only wish I had access to my full powers." she added, fingering her bracelet.
"They said Yggdrasil would be back up soon." said Urd.
"I'm surprised they're still talking to us after what happened." muttered Skuld.
Belldandy smiled, "Father forgave you for crashing Yggdrasil."
"It was for a good cause." replied Urd with a smile.
"I still don't know how you talked me into it." muttered Skuld while glaring at Urd.
Urd glared back, "I told you! It was for Belldandy and Keiichi! Without that Warding Circle, Belldandy would have returned to heaven! She and Keiichi would have been miserable for the rest of their lives!"
Belldandy fingered the ring on her hand, knowing what Urd said was true. She would have been miserable without Keiichi. In the past year, Keiichi had shown how much he cared for her. Then, a month ago, he had fought hard trying to reach her through the force field around the return gate, it had almost cost him his life. "Skuld, Keiichi is a kind and caring person. Can't you see that?"
"But he wants you all to himself!" replied Skuld.
"Keiichi is not like that!" said Belldandy. "You know how I feel about him and I know he told you how he feels about me."
Skuld looked at the floor, "Doesn't mean I have to like him."
Belldandy looked at her younger sister pleadingly, "Please, for me."
"I'll think about it." Skuld got up and headed towards her room.
"Don't worry." said Urd, "She grow to like him in time."
"I hope so." said Belldandy, "What do you think of Asuka?"
"I'm not sure." said Urd, "She didn't speak much at dinner, its like she was hiding something from us."
"I thought that too." said Belldandy, "What do you suppose......
The sound of someone crying reached their ears. Belldandy and Urd looked at each other confused before running down the hallway. Skuld poked her head out of her room.
"What's that?"
Belldandy reached Keiichi's door and listened. All she could hear was his quiet snores. She then moved to the room where Asuka was staying in. Faint sounds of crying came from within. Belldandy opened the door and moved quietly to Asuka's side. Urd followed and looked down at Asuka.
"What is it?" asked Skuld quietly from the doorway.
"She's having a nightmare." replied Belldandy.
Suddenly Asuka called out, "Nooo, don't make me remember that! Nooo! Help me! Shinji! Misato! Sayoko!"
Belldandy reached over and placed her hand on Asuka's shoulder. She then spoke softly to Asuka. "Shhhhh. Everything is fine."
Asuka reached out in her sleep and grabbed Belldandy, "I'm sorry Sayoko. I didn't mean it. Please don't go!"
Belldandy looked over at Urd. Urd shrugged. Belldandy turned back to the crying girl. Cradling Asuka in her arms, Belldandy spoke again, "I'm here Asuka. I'm not leaving."
Asuka's sobbing slowly quieted. She then let out a soft sigh before her hold on Belldandy relaxed. Using her powers, Belldandy slowly moved Asuka back onto the bed. She then got up and motioned her sisters out. After Belldandy closed the door to Asuka's room Urd spoke.
"What do you think?"
"I'm not sure." replied Belldandy, "She obviously was calling out to people she knows."
"But why would she call you Sayoko?" asked Skuld.
"I don't know." said Belldandy, "I just don't know."
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Asuka woke up early the next morning. Normally, she would just go back to sleep until Shinji came in for her. But this was anything but a normal day. She got and walked out into the hallway. The temple was silent except for sounds of activity in the kitchen. Asuka walked towards it and peeked in. Belldandy was moving about preparing breakfast, humming something to herself. Asuka choose not to bother her and started to go outside. As she moved across the floor, a board creaked. Belldandy immediately turned around.
"Oh. Good Morning."
"Good Morning." replied Asuka.
"Are you feeling ok?" asked Belldandy.
Asuka frowned slightly, "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Last night you had a bad dream," replied Belldandy, "I was wondering if you wanted to talk about it."
Asuka stared stunned at Belldandy, "No."
"But it might help to..."
"No." said Asuka. "I'm going to out for a bit."
Asuka then turned and went outside, leaving a worried Belldandy to stare after her. Upon entering the yard, Asuka immediately started doing what she had been the night before, pacing and trying to figure out how to contact Sayoko.
'Grrrr. This is so frustrating!' thought Asuka as she kicked at the dirt. She then frowned and looked down at where she had kicked. A dark burn mark lay uncovered. Asuka bent over and moved more of the dirt away, revealing what looked like part of a circle. Some writing lay next to it, writing that Asuka was now familiar with.
'God's writing.' thought Asuka. She moved to another spot and kicked away at the dirt, revealing more marks. 'Whatever this is its huge.' Asuka then shook her head. 'Wait, getting off track. Contact Sayoko first, strange circle later.'
Asuka sat down on the porch and went over any event concerning Sayoko that she could remember. Suddenly it hit her. Back during the Angels, Sayoko had sensed Kaji invoking her name just before he had been shot.
'But how do I invoke her?' thought Asuka, 'Do I curse someone in her name or what?' Asuka looked up to the sky, 'Sayoko? You out there?'
No response.
'Hey Sayoko! Answer me!'
Still no response.
Asuka began to get frustrated, 'Dammit! Why did this have to happen! I was perfectly happy with Shinji, Wondergirl, Hikari, and Misato. Damn you Sayoko! Where the hell are you?' Asuka proceeded use every curse word she knew in several different languages, tossing in Sayoko's name every now and then.
* HEY! *
Asuka fell to the ground in surprise. She then looked around. 'I know I heard someone...'
* Of course you did! It's me! Sayoko! *
'Where are you?' thought Asuka.
* Where are you? *
'I asked first.'
* I'm at this small diner. Auntie used to take me here before we moved. It was only 5 minutes walk from the temple we used to live in. *
Asuka smiled, 'I'll meet you there.'
Quickly looking to see if anyone was around, Asuka left the temple and headed for the diner. Inside the kitchen, Belldandy was trying to sort out what she had just sensed.
'It felt like a telepathic transmission," thought Belldandy, 'But it wasn't demonic and it felt almost.....familiar, like it was Urd or Skuld. I'll have to ask them at breakfast.'