4. Grand Entrances (i)
"After all this time... I finally found you."
It only took a moment for Matthew to realize that the mysterious woman was not referring to himself, but she was looking towards Keiichi.
"Eh?" Keiichi said with his mouth agape.
"I always wondered what GOD had seen in humans," the woman said conversationally. "But now and here, standing before you, I sense there is something special about you."
"M-me?" Keiichi pointed at himself.
"Of course. what else could have drawn those goddesses to your side like moths to a flame?"
Keiichi took a step back in shock, realizing that the woman knew of his relationship with Belldandy and her sisters. Then again, he rationalized that Belldandy's extended presence on Earth would have been quite the news in Heaven.
"What's all that racket!? We're having a serious meeting here!" Urd demanded as she slid open the shoji doors.
Then Urd stood there, one hand still on the door as she stared at the newcomer with shock.
"Roma..." Urd whispered. A moment later, her sisters and Peorth joined her. They too, stopped in shock when they laid their eyes on the woman. Belldandy's consternation was increased when she noticed the still active Heaven's Gate behind her.
"Still the wicked, rude child, I see," the newcomer said coldly.
The woman's remark snapped Urd from her reverie. She shook her head angrily and pointed at her. "Roma! What are -you- doing here!?"
Roma, the newcomer with her rich white hair tied back in a ponytail, gave her a condescending glare. It was a look full of contempt, like the eyes of a noblewoman staring down at a filthy orphan. That was the feeling Urd felt from her eyes, and she inwardly seethed with anger.
"Elder Goddess Roma...?" Belldandy slowly said as she stepped forward.
Seeing her, Roma's eyes softened a little. "Belldandy. How nice to see you again."
Belldandy bowed her head slightly as a sign of respect. "May I ask... what is your business here at our home?" she asked politely.
The Elder Goddess snorted. "What do you mean, 'our' home?" she demanded.
Belldandy raised her chin defiantly and stood beside Keiichi. "This our home, Elder Goddess. This is the home of Keiichi Morisato, Belldandy, Urd, and Skuld."
"Do not be impertinent, child. Your place is in the Heavens. Your stay here is just temporary."
Belldandy shook her head slowly. "No... I will stay at Keiichi's side as long as time permits," she answered with full confidence. Keiichi, motionless until that moment, found that his hand had moved by its own accord and gripped Belldandy's hand with emotion.
"Will someone tell me what the hell is going on here?!" Matthew screamed. He backpedaled in fear, retreating from both his new-found friends and the strange woman known as Roma.
"Do not mention that foul place in my presence!" Roma thundered. She snapped a finger and a bolt of lightning slammed into Matthew's chest. Before the American could even scream out in pain, he was knocked unconscious. Wisps of smoke curled from the burnt patch of grass where he fell several feet away. His shirt had a large hole where the lightning scored a direct hit.
"Matthew!" Keiichi yelled and raced to his fallen friend's side, Belldandy and Skuld close behind him. Hurriedly kneeling by Matthew's side, Belldandy began to chant a healing song.
Roma idly twirled her white ponytail nonchalantly even as Urd and Peorth confronted her.
"Why did you do that for?!" Urd demanded hotly.
Belldandy wiped her brow as soon as her spell was done. She frowned as she looked at the unconscious form of Matthew, who was breathing normally as he slept on the torched grass.
"Sister, are you alright?" Skuld asked in concern, noting her look.
"I'm fine, Skuld, thank you for asking," Belldandy smiled.
"Belldandy... is Matthew alright?" Keiichi asked softly. Belldandy nodded. But as she stood to her feet, her kind look was replaced by a sterner one. "Elder Goddess Roma, can you please explain?" she said, looking directly at the white-haired goddess.
"It seems that your older sister's foul temperament has rubbed off on you," Roma tsked. Urd's simmering anger threatened to bubble over.
"Don't act so high and mighty, you senile senior citizen," Urd hissed through gritted teeth. Peorth actually took a step back when she heard Urd's warning.
'I have never seen Urd this pissed!' Peorth thought. 'What the heck happened between them?'
Roma narrowed her eyes, and for moment Peorth wondered if she was going to send a lightning bolt at Urd. Then Roma sighed and relaxed her shoulders.
"I do not have time for this," Roma said, almost exasperatedly, "let me do my mission and stay out of my way."
"What exactly is your mission, Elder Goddess?" Belldandy asked, still maintaining her civil tone.
"My, how forgetful of me," Roma mocked. Then she smiled, almost viciously. "I am under direct orders from Judge Fides to retrieve Keiichi Morisato and the anomaly known as Matthew."
"What?" Belldandy gasped in shock.
Behind her, Keiichi who was trying to shift Matthew away from the burnt grass stopped in his tracks. His head slowly turned to stare at Roma in disbelief.
"Keiichi? I thought this is just about Matthew!" Peorth blurted.
Roma blinked. "You thought wrong then," she added in a sarcastic way.
"Why Keiichi!?" skuld demanded. Even though she harbored no real love for Keiichi, she loved her sister. And her sister loved Keiichi. And thus, Keiichi's presence was vital to Belldandy's happiness. Skuld couldn't help but to stick up for Keiichi, though it was for her sister's sake.
"Young child, do not speak to me in that tone again or you will be taught a lesson that you will never forget," Roma warned, her eyes staring down coldly at the Goddess of the Future.
Skuld's knees actually wavered.
"Y-you're joking right?" Keiichi stuttered nervously.
"My dear boy," Roma sighed, "I wish it was so. Have you any idea how long we kept an eye on you?"
"E-eh?"
"We were all quite perturbed that a goddess like Belldandy could be contracted to stay with a mere mortal. And to be honest, it was even more so when GOD saw it fit not to null the contract, despite all that had happened in your life."
Roma then assumed a thoughtful pose. "Come to think of it, you lead a very interesting life for a mortal. Have you ever thought that all the incidences that had happened to you are a direct result of your contract with Belldandy?"
Belldandy's fists actually clenched.
"Elder Goddess Roma... you were watching on us the whole time?" she asked, her voice shaking. Standing beside her, Urd wondered what was going on her younger sister's mind. She remembered how furious Belldandy became when she found out Urd had been secretly spying and recording her relationship with Keiichi.
"Child, we are -always- watching," Roma simply answered.
'Ouch,' Urd mentally winced.
"Elder Goddess! I want answers now! Just what is happening to Yggdrasil?! Why is the Justice Department so interested in Keiichi and Matthew!?" Peorth interrupted.
"Do not be ridiculous. As if I would need to answer to the likes of you," Roma replied.
Peorth's anger bubbled over. "I am a Goddess First Class! I -demand- an answer!"
Instantly, Roma's visage changed. From contempt, it became anger. The Elder Goddess raised one hand and pointed almost casually at Peorth.
"W-wha..." Peorth eyes widened.
Nobody could react in time to prevent Peorth being blasted back by a lightning bolt.
As Peorth's body flew back and landed on the ground, all they could were stand rooted and eyes disbelieving.
"Now, if there's no further complaints...?" Roma asked airily. She flicked off some imaginary dust from her robes as she slowly approached Keiichi.
"W-what are you going to do to me?" Keiichi managed to ask.
Roma smiled coldly. "My dear boy, that is not up to me decide. But be grateful, not many mortals get to go to Heaven while still being alive."
"W-what if I don't want to?"
Roma's smile merely increased. "-That-, is not for -you- to decide."
As she came closer, Belldandy resolutely stood before her and Keiichi. Roma's eyes narrowed as she recognized the look on the Goddess of the Present's face.
"I am afraid I cannot allow that, Elder Goddess Roma."
-tbc-
----
Thankees
Morisatou Keiichi: Thank you for your reviews and very kind words! Hopefully you will remain patient as I grind this out ever-so-slowly... As for your question regarding Peorth teleporting... well, she requires a camera to do so, and I can't come up with an excuse for it yet.
bludandy: Hope this will tide you over :)
---
Notes:
Roma = rescrambled from amor, Latin for 'passion'
"After all this time... I finally found you."
It only took a moment for Matthew to realize that the mysterious woman was not referring to himself, but she was looking towards Keiichi.
"Eh?" Keiichi said with his mouth agape.
"I always wondered what GOD had seen in humans," the woman said conversationally. "But now and here, standing before you, I sense there is something special about you."
"M-me?" Keiichi pointed at himself.
"Of course. what else could have drawn those goddesses to your side like moths to a flame?"
Keiichi took a step back in shock, realizing that the woman knew of his relationship with Belldandy and her sisters. Then again, he rationalized that Belldandy's extended presence on Earth would have been quite the news in Heaven.
"What's all that racket!? We're having a serious meeting here!" Urd demanded as she slid open the shoji doors.
Then Urd stood there, one hand still on the door as she stared at the newcomer with shock.
"Roma..." Urd whispered. A moment later, her sisters and Peorth joined her. They too, stopped in shock when they laid their eyes on the woman. Belldandy's consternation was increased when she noticed the still active Heaven's Gate behind her.
"Still the wicked, rude child, I see," the newcomer said coldly.
The woman's remark snapped Urd from her reverie. She shook her head angrily and pointed at her. "Roma! What are -you- doing here!?"
Roma, the newcomer with her rich white hair tied back in a ponytail, gave her a condescending glare. It was a look full of contempt, like the eyes of a noblewoman staring down at a filthy orphan. That was the feeling Urd felt from her eyes, and she inwardly seethed with anger.
"Elder Goddess Roma...?" Belldandy slowly said as she stepped forward.
Seeing her, Roma's eyes softened a little. "Belldandy. How nice to see you again."
Belldandy bowed her head slightly as a sign of respect. "May I ask... what is your business here at our home?" she asked politely.
The Elder Goddess snorted. "What do you mean, 'our' home?" she demanded.
Belldandy raised her chin defiantly and stood beside Keiichi. "This our home, Elder Goddess. This is the home of Keiichi Morisato, Belldandy, Urd, and Skuld."
"Do not be impertinent, child. Your place is in the Heavens. Your stay here is just temporary."
Belldandy shook her head slowly. "No... I will stay at Keiichi's side as long as time permits," she answered with full confidence. Keiichi, motionless until that moment, found that his hand had moved by its own accord and gripped Belldandy's hand with emotion.
"Will someone tell me what the hell is going on here?!" Matthew screamed. He backpedaled in fear, retreating from both his new-found friends and the strange woman known as Roma.
"Do not mention that foul place in my presence!" Roma thundered. She snapped a finger and a bolt of lightning slammed into Matthew's chest. Before the American could even scream out in pain, he was knocked unconscious. Wisps of smoke curled from the burnt patch of grass where he fell several feet away. His shirt had a large hole where the lightning scored a direct hit.
"Matthew!" Keiichi yelled and raced to his fallen friend's side, Belldandy and Skuld close behind him. Hurriedly kneeling by Matthew's side, Belldandy began to chant a healing song.
Roma idly twirled her white ponytail nonchalantly even as Urd and Peorth confronted her.
"Why did you do that for?!" Urd demanded hotly.
Belldandy wiped her brow as soon as her spell was done. She frowned as she looked at the unconscious form of Matthew, who was breathing normally as he slept on the torched grass.
"Sister, are you alright?" Skuld asked in concern, noting her look.
"I'm fine, Skuld, thank you for asking," Belldandy smiled.
"Belldandy... is Matthew alright?" Keiichi asked softly. Belldandy nodded. But as she stood to her feet, her kind look was replaced by a sterner one. "Elder Goddess Roma, can you please explain?" she said, looking directly at the white-haired goddess.
"It seems that your older sister's foul temperament has rubbed off on you," Roma tsked. Urd's simmering anger threatened to bubble over.
"Don't act so high and mighty, you senile senior citizen," Urd hissed through gritted teeth. Peorth actually took a step back when she heard Urd's warning.
'I have never seen Urd this pissed!' Peorth thought. 'What the heck happened between them?'
Roma narrowed her eyes, and for moment Peorth wondered if she was going to send a lightning bolt at Urd. Then Roma sighed and relaxed her shoulders.
"I do not have time for this," Roma said, almost exasperatedly, "let me do my mission and stay out of my way."
"What exactly is your mission, Elder Goddess?" Belldandy asked, still maintaining her civil tone.
"My, how forgetful of me," Roma mocked. Then she smiled, almost viciously. "I am under direct orders from Judge Fides to retrieve Keiichi Morisato and the anomaly known as Matthew."
"What?" Belldandy gasped in shock.
Behind her, Keiichi who was trying to shift Matthew away from the burnt grass stopped in his tracks. His head slowly turned to stare at Roma in disbelief.
"Keiichi? I thought this is just about Matthew!" Peorth blurted.
Roma blinked. "You thought wrong then," she added in a sarcastic way.
"Why Keiichi!?" skuld demanded. Even though she harbored no real love for Keiichi, she loved her sister. And her sister loved Keiichi. And thus, Keiichi's presence was vital to Belldandy's happiness. Skuld couldn't help but to stick up for Keiichi, though it was for her sister's sake.
"Young child, do not speak to me in that tone again or you will be taught a lesson that you will never forget," Roma warned, her eyes staring down coldly at the Goddess of the Future.
Skuld's knees actually wavered.
"Y-you're joking right?" Keiichi stuttered nervously.
"My dear boy," Roma sighed, "I wish it was so. Have you any idea how long we kept an eye on you?"
"E-eh?"
"We were all quite perturbed that a goddess like Belldandy could be contracted to stay with a mere mortal. And to be honest, it was even more so when GOD saw it fit not to null the contract, despite all that had happened in your life."
Roma then assumed a thoughtful pose. "Come to think of it, you lead a very interesting life for a mortal. Have you ever thought that all the incidences that had happened to you are a direct result of your contract with Belldandy?"
Belldandy's fists actually clenched.
"Elder Goddess Roma... you were watching on us the whole time?" she asked, her voice shaking. Standing beside her, Urd wondered what was going on her younger sister's mind. She remembered how furious Belldandy became when she found out Urd had been secretly spying and recording her relationship with Keiichi.
"Child, we are -always- watching," Roma simply answered.
'Ouch,' Urd mentally winced.
"Elder Goddess! I want answers now! Just what is happening to Yggdrasil?! Why is the Justice Department so interested in Keiichi and Matthew!?" Peorth interrupted.
"Do not be ridiculous. As if I would need to answer to the likes of you," Roma replied.
Peorth's anger bubbled over. "I am a Goddess First Class! I -demand- an answer!"
Instantly, Roma's visage changed. From contempt, it became anger. The Elder Goddess raised one hand and pointed almost casually at Peorth.
"W-wha..." Peorth eyes widened.
Nobody could react in time to prevent Peorth being blasted back by a lightning bolt.
As Peorth's body flew back and landed on the ground, all they could were stand rooted and eyes disbelieving.
"Now, if there's no further complaints...?" Roma asked airily. She flicked off some imaginary dust from her robes as she slowly approached Keiichi.
"W-what are you going to do to me?" Keiichi managed to ask.
Roma smiled coldly. "My dear boy, that is not up to me decide. But be grateful, not many mortals get to go to Heaven while still being alive."
"W-what if I don't want to?"
Roma's smile merely increased. "-That-, is not for -you- to decide."
As she came closer, Belldandy resolutely stood before her and Keiichi. Roma's eyes narrowed as she recognized the look on the Goddess of the Present's face.
"I am afraid I cannot allow that, Elder Goddess Roma."
-tbc-
----
Thankees
Morisatou Keiichi: Thank you for your reviews and very kind words! Hopefully you will remain patient as I grind this out ever-so-slowly... As for your question regarding Peorth teleporting... well, she requires a camera to do so, and I can't come up with an excuse for it yet.
bludandy: Hope this will tide you over :)
---
Notes:
Roma = rescrambled from amor, Latin for 'passion'