Raging Lion: This was one of my first stories on this site so it's pretty bad and short and just plain… bad! But hey, I'm glad you were one of the first people to like it. Did you know I'm from Kentucky too?

Hiroshi: You're very right, my chapters are short but it takes me long enough to post something short so if I made it longer it would take longer (sweat drops) Oh well…

Gary: Yes, I know its short (sweat drops again). I think the reason that SDG has infiltrated Keiichi's house is pretty lame so next time you can aim that catapult thing at me.

Chapter Four: Umiiruka, Goddess 3rd Class

It was the next day, and quite beautiful at that. Keiichi was at his work and Belldandy was doing some much needed grocery shopping. Her cheeks were a little flushed from her date with Keiichi last night. If only she could spend time with him like that every night. That would be the most wonderful thing in the world!

"Hey Bell." Urd dropped out of the sky from one of her magical brooms and began walking alongside her younger sister.

"Hello Urd. What brings you here?" Belldandy asked kindly.

"I'm just a little worried about Skuld." Urd spoke quietly; pretending to not be very worried at all but Belldandy wasn't fooled.

"I'll talk to her when I get home." Belldandy reassured Urd.

"Thanks Bell. You know how much I suck at stuff like that." Urd smiled and flew away on her broom when no humans were watching.

Come to think of it, yesterday when she was doing the shopping she had felt that strange energy and a cry for help. Afterwards there was no sign of any major changes so Belldandy ignored her feeling but now that Urd was worried too, it confirmed her belief. The energy she had felt could have only belonged to a lower rank goddess.

"I'm home!" Belldandy called into the house and left her shoes at the front door.

"Welcome home Belldandy!" Skuld ran to her older sister and helped her carry the groceries into the kitchen.

"Skuld, may I ask you a question?" Belldandy asked pleasantly.

"Of course, Belldandy!" Skuld smiled widely.

"Who are you?" Belldandy's gaze darkened slightly.

"W-what are you talking about, Belldandy? It's me Skuld." Skuld stammered.

"No you are not. Tell me who you are and what you've done with my little sister." Belldandy demanded.

She looked at her feet for a long time, not answering. Belldandy waited patiently for her to answer. Skuld's silky raven hair changed to a shimmering sky blue. Her eyes also changed to a shining gold color. Green triangles marked her cheeks and forehead. "I am… Umiiruka… goddess third class, type two, limited license." Umiiruka admitted.

"Where's Skuld?" Belldandy asked the lower ranking goddess.

"Skuld is sleeping." Umiiruka dug into the sleeve of her goddess robes and retrieved a blue glass orb. Within the depths of the glass orb showed Skuld sleeping peacefully and unharmed. "Belldandy… are you angry with me?" The third class goddess whimpered.

"Not really, Umiiruka. But I don't understand. Why would you do this? Kidnapping a fellow (not to mention higher ranking) goddess can get your license revoked forever." Belldandy sat down at the table in the tearoom and Umiiruka sat across from her.

Umiiruka stared down at her hands in her lap before answering. "I really wanted to meet you, Belldandy! I've heard so many good stories about you and you're my role model." Umiiruka confessed.

Belldandy smiled kindly. "I would have rather met you face to face then have met you pretending to be my sister."

"Thank you…" The third class goddess smiled weakly.

"Belldandy! We're home!" Keiichi and Urd called and burst into the tearoom to stop dead upon seeing Umiiruka.

"Who's this?" Urd narrowed her eyes at the third class goddess and lightning began to crackle in the palm of her hand.

Belldandy held up her hand to stop Urd. "Don't attack, Urd. This is Umiiruka, goddess third class."

That instant, the phone rang and Keiichi ran to answer it. "Hello?" Pause… "Yes…" Keiichi turned back to the rest of them. "Umiiruka… it's for you."

Umiiruka winced and hesitantly picked up the phone. "Umiiruka speaking… Yes… I understand… what?!" The blue-haired goddess dropped the phone with a clatter and hurriedly picked it back up. "Hello?!" A moment of silence passed and Umiiruka placed the phone back on the receiver gently.

"Looks like you're in trouble." Urd remarked with a mischievous grin.

"Yes… I've been temporarily banned from heaven and my license has been restricted further." The young goddess sighed and plopped back down at the table.

Belldandy glanced at Keiichi with a pleading look and he nodded, understandingly. "Umiiruka, you're welcome to stay here until your suspension is over."

"Thank you so much!" Umiiruka bowed and in her excitement she hit her head on the table, making Urd stifle a laugh.

"But…" Belldandy trailed off, drawing the third class goddess' attention back to her. "I ask that you return Skuld."

"Of course! I-I'm sorry." The young goddess stammered and set the blue glass orb onto the table.

"Huh?" Keiichi and Urd questioned in unison.

"I'll explain in a minute." Belldandy reasoned with the two.

Meanwhile, Umiiruka held her hand palm down over the orb and chanted a releasing spell. "Divine orb, whom serves thee, unbind the goddess within and release her from her sleep!" The glass changed from a deep sea blue to an electric, translucent blue and then dimmed suddenly.

"So where is she?" Urd demanded irritably.

"In her bedroom, just now waking up." Umiiruka explained.

"I think it would be best if we didn't tell Skuld right now." Belldandy smiled kindly and then told the whole story to Keiichi and Urd briefly. She had just wrapped up the story when the real Skuld dragged her feet into the room, rubbing her eyes.

"Hi guys…" The raven-haired goddess spotted Umiiruka and a wide smile spread across her features. "Umiiruka!!! What are you doing here?!"

"It's so nice to see you again, Skuld my old friend." Umiiruka smiled and the two goddesses embraced.

Belldandy smiled, happy to see the two of them as friends while Urd hovered over the floor in a stupor and Keiichi was puzzled as well.

"We were friends while training together as junior goddesses at the academy." Skuld explained to her sisters and then paused and turned to her friend. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh uh… something came up and I'm stranded here for a little while." Umiiruka carefully chose her words so as not to lie but also not to tell too much and Belldandy could see she felt guilty about it.

"That's horrible!" Skuld exclaimed.

"Well, I'm going to go make some tea. These two probably have a lot of catching up to do." Belldandy left the table and went into the kitchen.

"Yeah, whatever…" Urd floated away into the living room to watch TV.

"I have to go work on my bike. Megumi said that the last time I rode it, it sounded a little shaky." Keiichi told no one in particular and left Skuld and Umiiruka to talk in the tearoom.

TO BE CONTINUED

Ha! I actually have a decent length chapter today! I feel so proud of myself.