Chapter 11

Kei and Mizuho sat in the darkness of their apartment, looking out towards the night sky through the sliding door. Mizuho had her head against Kei's shoulder, her eyes just barely open.

"It such a beautiful night." She said softly.

"Yeah." Kei replied.

"Sometime I should take you up in my ship." She said, "It looks even more wonderful from space........"

Kei looked at her. "Last time I was in your ship there were problems."

Mizuho seemed to sadden slightly. "Actually......you weren't awake the last time."

Kei frowned trying to figure out what she was talking about when it hit him. Mizuho had brought him there during his last standstill, the one that got her in trouble with her superiors. He wraps his arms tighter around her.

"It all worked out." He said, "And I still have you."

Mizuho blushed. "Kei...." She started to lean towards his lips........

........and then something like a phone rang. Kei sighed and reached for the phone.

"Hello?" he asked. He then looked at the phone in surprise. The only sound that met his ears was the dial tone. Then the ringing came again. It was coming from Mizuho's Planetary Inspector equipment. Mizuho walked over and pulled out her laptop and set it on the table, adjusting it so that only her face could be seen. She then typed in a command. Kei watched as Mizuho's face went white before she spoke.

"Planetary Inspector Kasumi reporting." Her voice was shaky.

"There has been an incident." A commanding voice came from the laptop's speaker. "A probe has malfunctioned due to possible meteor strike. It has since gone into the Restricted Space."

"I understand." Mizuho replied.

"An attempt was made before it cross the boundary to stop it, but the probe 'attacked' the vessel."

Mizuho stared stunned at the screen. "But the probes have no weapons!"

"Exactly. We request you eliminate the probe before the inhabitants of Delta Des-8228 discover it. All information regarding the probe and it's last known course is being uploaded to your Marie unit."

Mizuho nodded. "I will stop the probe."

"Very well." The screen then went blank.

Mizuho stared at the screen for several moments, then turned to her husband.

"I have to go." She said softly.

"How long will you be gone?" Kei asked.

"I don't know." Mizuho answered. "The restricted space was made to encompass this entire system and well beyond. Galactic Command took the Goddess' threats seriously." Mizuho's eyes suddenly lit up. "The Goddesses! I have to tell them!"

She grabbed the phone and quickly dialed the number for Sayoko's. After several moments, someone finally answered the phone.

"Celes I need to....." Mizuho went quiet for a moment. Then her eyes went wide. "WHAT?!?!"

"What?" Kei asked, "What is it?"

"Sayoko, Celes, and Mana were attacked."

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Mana sat up abruptly. She looked around and found herself on a bed. The room was sparsely furnished, making her wonder where exactly she was. For a brief second, Mana thought she was somewhere in hell, but then she felt the nearby presence of a Goddess, no..... two Goddesses, One a very powerful one at that. Mana got out of the bed and walked to the door. She slid it open and jumped in surprise as someone else stood in the doorway. The other person, a woman, seemed surprised as well.

Both stared at the other for a moment. To Mana, the woman seemed familiar, though she couldn't recall anyone she knew of that had blue hair and red eyes. The other woman recovered first.

"How do you feel Mana?"

Mana's jaw dropped as she recognized the voice.

"Rei?!?!?"

Rei Ikari smiled at Mana. "That would be me."

"But you...you...your hair! It's blue!"

"Yes."

"WHY?!?!"

"That's the color it was before Third Impact, when I was half-angel."

Mana stared stunned at Rei.

"You were what?!?!"

"Never mind that for now." Rei said, "We need to talk about tonight."

Rei led the way downstairs towards the kitchen. As they walked through the living room, Mana saw a purple haired goddess sitting on the couch, watching TV. Rei continued on into the kitchen. There sitting at the table were Shinji, Asuka, and 'Sayoko'.

"Sayoko!" Mana almost shouted, "You're alright!"

Asuka immediately began to snicker. Mana frowned at Asuka, wondering why she was laughing. Rei supplied the answer.

"This isn't Sayoko Mana." Rei said softly, "This is her mother, Belldandy, Goddess Class 0, Type 2 Unlimited."

Mana's eyes went wide. Now that Rei had told her, she could see how she was mistaken. Both mother and daughter looked alike, though Belldandy looked much healthier and had much lighter hair.

"Oh." She said softly.

"Please be seated." Belldandy said.

Mana quickly complied.

"I am here do to the events of tonight." Belldandy said, staring intently at Mana, "I am to find out everything that happened, and then report it to the Council."

"Where is Sayoko?" Mana asked.

"She is still unconscious." Asuka replied.

"Due to a prior injury several years ago," Belldandy added, "and due to her recent.......captivity, my daughter is more susceptible to injury from Demonic powers." Belldandy's gaze seemed to soften. "I know who the Demon who attacked you and my Daughter was your father."

Mana dropped her head and nodded.

"It's my fault Sayoko got hurt." She said softly.

"Now how do you figure that?" Asuka asked.

Mana looked up at Asuka. "I was the reason my mother got killed. He was after me. Now he's after me again. And I led him right to Sayoko."

"Now that has to be the biggest load of bull I've ever heard." Asuka stated.

Belldandy glanced back at Asuka, then looked at Mana.

"It was not your fault." She said, "You didn't know he was free. Up until today, even Hell thought he was still imprisoned."

"But I was assigned here to protect Sayoko!" Mana shouted, "I failed!"

"You think you're the only one who feels bad?" Shinji said, "How do you think Asuka and I feel? We didn't know the demon was there until he was almost done with his attack."

"I still feel like I let Sayoko down." Mana replied, "He attacked and I just stood there."

"From what I understand of your past, I don't blame you." Belldandy said, "To see such things as a child........." Belldandy's voice trailed off. They were all quiet for a moment, then Belldandy continued. "The Demon could have finished you three off. Why did he stop?"

Mana shrugged. "He said he wanted me to serve him."

Rei frowned. "That goes against what Mara told me about him. He hates 'half breeds'."

"I've kind of picked that up." Mana said, "He was all set to go at me, then he stopped and said he'd be back."

Belldandy looked thoughtfully at the ceiling.

"Something else is happening. Something we don't know about that he does."

"I think I know." Everyone turned to see Celes and Mizuho standing in the entrance to the kitchen. Mizuho continued. "A Galactic Space Probe has malfunctioned and is heading here."

Belldandy's eyes narrowed. "All their spacecraft and probes are forbidden from coming here. Only your family can come."

Mizuho nodded "They know that very well. They even created a restricted zone larger then the area you specified. But their attempt to stop the probe failed when it attacked them. I'll be going up soon to try and stop it."

"How long will you be gone?" Asuka asked.

"I have to find it first." Mizuho said, "It's been rather erratic in it's flight. Some of it may be from the damage it originally sustained from the meteor hit."

"I see." Belldandy looked back down at the table. "I will report this to the Council. They will want to keep a close eye on this."

Mana looked up at Mizuho.

"What about school? You have to teach on Monday."

Mizuho sighed. "I'll have to contact the principal to get a substitute. I hate to do this to him on such short notice."

"Suppose you have a substitute lined up for him." Rei said, "Someone with a college degree, good people skills, and language skills."

Mizuho thought for a moment. "I suppose he would agree to that. But who would it be?"

Asuka started to open her mouth. Rei quickly gave her a look.

"It won't be you Asuka." Rei stated.

"WHY NOT?!?!" Asuka shouted.

"Because you're going to be needed to help find the demon."

"Oh. Good point."

Rei looked back at Mizuho. "I was thinking more of Sayoko."

"WHAT?!?!" Mizuho, Mana, and Celes cried together.

"Why her?" Mana asked.

"Number one," began Rei, "She is qualified to teach. Number two, you can't doubt her language skills. Number three, Mana, you can keep a closer eye on her during the day." Rei glanced at the Vampire. "Sorry Celes. You just won't be able to stand toe to toe against him."

"Fine." Celes muttered, "But I am not going to be the one to tell Sayoko she's going back to school."

"She'll do it." Rei, Asuka, and Shinji said, all pointing towards Belldandy. Belldandy's eyes widened.

"Why me?" she asked.

"Because you're her mother." Shinji said.

"And she'll do what you say without complaint." Asuka continued.

"Actually she will complain." Rei added, "But she'll still do it."

"Alright." Mizuho said, "I work up some plans for her before I go." Mizuho then looked towards the ceiling. "Marie! Teleport me home! This is a priority one!" Mizuho vanished in a pillar of sparkles.

Belldandy stood up. "I suppose I should go check to see if Sayoko is awake, then let her know her she has school on Monday."

"We'll work on figuring out where to find that demon." Asuka said, motioning towards Shinji and Rei.

"What about me?" Mana asked.

"You can join me next to the heater." Celes said, "I still need to thaw out from my unexpected swim."

"You know some mortals in the US like to do that." Mana said, "They call it a polar bear swim."

Celes stared blankly at Mana. "Well I imagine if their body temperature is normal, they would enjoy the cold. Me on the other hand........"

"You become a Vampirsicle?"

"Keep it up and I'll toss you in the lake."

"No thanks."

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The Next Morning.

Mizuho put the last things she needed and then sealed up her bag. She was now wearing the skintight outfit she had first arrived in, though she was also wearing her flight jacket over it. She turned and looked over where Kei was sitting. He sat at the table, staring down at its top.

"I'm ready to go." Mizuho said softly.

Kei looked up at her, his face one of worry. Mizuho quickly knelt down and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him tightly to her body.

"I'll be back as quick as I can." She whispered, "It's my Highest Priority."

Kei returned the hug, just as tightly.

"I'll hold you to that." He replied.

After several moments, both eased up slightly on the other, just enough to allow them to kiss. Mizuho then stood up and looped the bag's strap over her shoulder.

"Marie." Mizuho said, still staring into Kei's eyes. "Teleport me to the ship. This is a priority one."

With a hum and a wave of sparkles, Mizuho vanished, leaving Kei alone in the apartment.
That Monday.

"Miss Kasumi is gone?" Miina Miyafuji asked.

Ichigo nodded. "Left this morning."

Ichigo, Miina, and Karen Onodera were standing near their lockers.

"But where did Miss Kasumi go?" Karen asked.

"From what I know, there was some kind of family emergency that she had to go to." Ichigo said, giving the cover story that had been worked out.

"So we'll have a Substitute?" Miina asked, "I hope it's not going to be Miss Kirishima. She's a real bitch I hear."

"MIINA!" Karen shouted, surprised.

"She does have a point." Ichigo rubbed her head, thinking of all the homework Miss Kirishima had given out.

"So who is the sub going to be Class President?" Miina asked.

"I don't know. Miss Kasumi decided before she left though."
"You know you still look like death warmed over."

Sayoko turned and glared at Mana. "Yes, you've repeatedly reminded me about that since you got here."

Mana winced under the glare. "Sorry.

"Anyway....." Sayoko glanced at the papers in her hand. She and Mana had arrived at the school early so that Mana could show her around. It also gave Sayoko the chance to read and reread the notes that Mizuho had left. "According to this, I don't have a class until second period."

"Oh." Mana was quiet for a moment, "So, you want to sit in and watch my class? That way you can see how it's done."

"I would but I want to go over Mizuho's lesson plans"

Mana shifted slightly, "You sure you don't want to look them over in my class?"

Sayoko glanced up from the papers. "Are you really that afraid?"

"Me? Afraid?" Mana gave a weak laugh. Seeing the Goddess raise an eyebrow towards her, Mana sighed. "I'm on my wits end. The fact that he was here and now we can't find him........."

"Don't worry." Sayoko said, "Shinji, Asuka, and Rei are still in town, Celes is at the house, and I'll be in the school."

"I was walking right beside you and Celes and he tossed you two like rag dolls."

"He caught us by surprise." A look of determination appeared on the Goddess' face. "Rest assured he will not do that a second time."

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A few hours later.

"Is it me?" Hyosuke whispered, "Or does Miss Kirishima seem nervous?"

"She does seem to be slightly .....off." Ichigo replied, "She hasn't piled on any extra work yet."

"If you keep talking she might." Koishi whispered, "Why are you worried about her anyway? Look at Kei."

The three glanced over at their friend. Kei was leaning against his left arm, staring blankly at the blackboard.

"He looks rather spaced, doesn't he?" Ichigo said.

"We'll just have to cheer him up!" Hyosuke said, standing up slightly. As he did, he brushed against his book, knocking it off the desk. It hit the floor with a loud thud.

Several people in the class jumped, Kei included. Hyosuke sank slightly in his chair under the gaze of the entire class.

"You idiot." Koishi hissed.

"Now Miss Kirishima is going to give us extra homework." Kaede moaned from her desk.

"Uhhh." Matagu pointed to the front of the class. "Where is Miss Kirishima?"

The class looked towards the front of the room. No sign of Mana could be seen. Then, from behind the lectern, red hair slowly appeared. It continued to rise until Mana's face could be seen. It was white with terror.

"What was that?" she asked shakily.

Hyosuke was immediately on his feet.

"It was all my fault Ma'am!" he shouted, "I was talking to my friends and I knocked my book off the desk. I deserve to be punished!"

Mana let out a sigh that many in the class took as one of relief.

"Pick your book up Mr. Magumo." Mana said, moving back to her original position behind the lectern, looking down at her book. "Miss Kasuga. Please continue."

The entire class stared at Mana in shock. Mana looked up and frowned.

"Miss Kasuga?"

"Yes Ma'am! Sorry Ma'am!"

As their fellow student began to read, Hyosuke looked back at Ichigo, Kaede, Koishi, and Kei.

"What just happened here?" he asked.

"You disrupted the class." Kaede said, "Without getting in trouble."

"There is something definitely wrong with her." Ichigo said.

"But what do we do?" asked Kaede.

"Easy. Ask her friend."

"You think she knows?"

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"Miss Morisato?"

Sayoko blinked and looked over to find her entire class staring at her. Miina Miyafuji, the student who had spoken, was on her feet.

"Yes?" Sayoko asked.

"Are you alright ma'am? You seemed to be kinda spaced out."

"It was nothing." Sayoko said, "Continue your reading."

"Yes Ma'am."

Sayoko looked down at her book, half listening to the class, half conversing with the other deity in the school.

Just a book? she asked.

Just a book. came Mana's answer, Sorry for disturbing you.

Meet you at lunch ok?

Ok.

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"You know you're rather jumpy."

Mana let out a sigh. She knew that Sayoko would bring this up eventually when they met in the Teacher's lounge for lunch.

"Wouldn't you be?" Mana asked, "You try having a parent wanting to commit infanticide on you and see how you are?

"Sorry." Sayoko looked at her lunch. "You know your safe here."

"I don't know the meaning of the word safe anymore." Mana replied, tossing her sandwich on the desk.

"Miss Kirishima?"

Mana and Sayoko both turned towards the door to the lounge. Standing there were Ichigo, Kaede, Hyosuke, Matagu, Koishi, and Kei. Hyosuke shifted slightly.

"We just wanted to see if you were alright." He said nervously.

Sayoko turned and looked at Mana. "I thought you were going for most hated teacher on campus?"

"I was." Mana replied, "Then it was discovered I was friends with a Goddess and my reputation went straight to the toilet." Mana looked back over at the students. "I'm fine, just had too much coffee."

"Are you sure?" Koishi asked, looking curiously at her teacher. The others looked at her funny as well, though Ichigo's face showed she seemed to know more then the others.

"I'm fine." Mana said, "Really."

"Alright." The students turned and began to leave the lounge.

"Kei." Sayoko suddenly called out before the youth could leave. He stopped and looked at the Goddess.

"What?"

"You can come over to my place tonight if you want." She said, "I can cook you up something......"

"Thank-you." He replied, "but I think I'll just head home."

"Alright." Sayoko said, "But my offer still stands."

Kei nodded, then left the lounge. Sayoko then glanced at Mana.

"How can you lie like that to the kids? You're anything but alright."

"It's rather easy." Mana replied, she then looked Sayoko in the eye. "I am a demon. We can lie."

Sayoko sighed. "Sometimes it would be nice to be able to do that." She then smiled. "But then no one could trust the word of a Goddess."

"Right." Mana sighed, "I am wondering though."

"What?"

"Why he left? Why he didn't finish us?"

"You ask too many questions." Sayoko replied, "Besides......I'm sure we'll find out soon enough."

"I suppose you're right." Mana turned and looked at the clock. "Almost time to resume classes."

"Yes it is." Sayoko packed up her trash and started towards the door. "Oh and Mana?"

Mana looked up.

"No hiding behind the lectern for the rest of the day."

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Later that night.

The room was dark. A shaft of moonlight came from the large sliding door that led to the balcony. Within the shaft of light, sat Kei.

He sat facing the sliding door, his head resting on his arms, looking up towards the night sky. Along with the moon, several pinpoints of light speckled the darkness of the heavens.

Kei wondered which of those pinpoints was Mizuho in her ship.

He wondered, and continued to stare.

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Somewhere in space.

The ship moved quietly through space. On the command deck, Mizuho sat in the pilot's chair, Marie floating about nearby. Before her was the main screen, showing all of the space around her ship. Here and there, other images appeared, flashing various bits of information. Ship status, course, various space related phenomenon. But her attention was on one screen in particular. It was of the Earth, with Japan set dead center.

It was a real time image, so all she could see of Japan was the twinkling lights of it's cities. One small area drew her attention though. It was not as well lit as the major cities, but she could still find it easy. It was where Kei was.

She wondered if he was still awake. Maybe he was looking out the window. Maybe he.....

"NOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Marie suddenly cried.

Mizuho turned her head as a box appeared on the main screen. The box enlarged, zooming in on the object Marie had found.

It was the probe.

"Marie." Mizuho said, "Scan the probe as we approach. Let me know the second something changes. This is your highest Priority!"

"Noh!"

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He watched as the ship moved closer to the probe.

He waited until it was 100 meters away...........

Then struck.

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Mizuho gripped her chair tightly as the ship rock. Several of the images in front of her flickered, many began to flash.

"Marie! What was that?!" She called out.

"Noooooohhhh.hhh.h.h......hhhh!" Marie fell from his inner tube, sparks spitting from him.

"Marie!" Mizuho called out again. Another shudder went through her ship, followed quickly by a heavy jolt. Sparks spat out of the walls and control panel.

"Marie!" She cried again, "Report!"

There was no reply. The ship rocked again. This time Mizuho felt herself being pressed into the corner of her chair. The view of space was spinning rapidly. More sparks spat out from the controls and a small fire began in the compartment. From the corner of her eye, Mizuho could see the image of the earth, still floating serenely in all the chaos of the command deck.

It was getting closer.

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Kei was still looking up towards the night sky when he saw a bright object hurtle across the sky, leaving a long trail.

'A shooting star.' Kei thought quietly, 'I wonder if Mizuho can see it.'

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Mana sat up in bed and looked around. She had felt something.........odd. She sat for a moment and tried to place it. After a minute, she placed it.

She had felt glee at something else's expense.

........and it sickened her.

Mana walked out of the guest room and into the hallway. A glance one way showed that Sayoko's door was still shut. A glance the other way showed Celes' door was also closed. She saw there was no sign that either were awake.

The Demoness quietly floated down the hall and went down the stairs. Shinji and Asuka had both left with Belldandy and Cayla for Heaven, before searching for Mana's father. That left just one Guardian at the house. . A quick glance into the living room showed that Rei wasn't there, Mana could still feel her though. She floated out the back door and found Rei sitting on the steps, looking up into the night sky.

"Couch uncomfortable?" Mana asked softly.

"No." Rei answered, "That was not what got me out here."

Mana floated down and sat next to Rei. "What then?"

Rei turned and looked at Mana, her red eyes boring into her. "The same thing that woke you."

Mana shivered under the Guardian's gaze, and the sick feeling came back to her. "What was it?"

"Something has happened. Something bad."

"But what?" Mana then glanced back at the house. "And why isn't Sayoko out here with us?"

Rei sighed. "Sayoko has.........she is still recovering from her experience with the Soultaker." Rei looked back up to the sky. "That has made her a bit ........less sensitive to these things."

"What things Rei?"

"I do not know." Rei replied. She then pointed to the sky. "But the answer lies out there."

Mana followed Rei's finger to the indicated direction. The area of the sky was full of stars, winking ever so silently and steadily. Then there was a streak of light as an object fell from the heavens. Just as quickly, it quickly vanished over the horizon.