It's true / the way I feel Was promised by your face The sound of your voice Painted on my memories Even if you're not with me I'm with you
You / Now I see/ keeping everything inside You / Now I see / Even when I close my eyes
I hit you and you hit me back We fall to the floor / the rest of the day stands still Fine line between this and that When things go wrong I pretend the past isn't real Now I'm trapped in this memory And I'm left in the wake of the mistake / slow to react Even though you're close to me You're still so distant / And I can't bring you back
It's true / the way I feel Was promised by your face The sound of your voice Painted on my memories Even if you're not with me I'm with you
You / Now I see/ keeping everything inside You / Now I see / Even when I close my eyes You / Now I see/ keeping everything inside You / Now I see / Even when I close my eyes
no No matter how far we've come I can't wait to see tomorrow No matter how far we've come I can't wait to see tomorrow With you
You / Now I see/ keeping everything inside You / Now I see / Even when I close my eyes You / Now I see/ keeping everything inside You / Now I see / Even when I close my eyes
Linkin Park - With You
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Chapter 16
2217
The Police Station was mostly vacant at that time of night. A few officers remained to keep an eye on the prisoners and to handle anything that came up at the front desk. The rest were either on patrol or off duty. That was why no one noticed the light coming from a Detective's office.
Sitting in the darkness before a computer was Mana. Her face was lit up by the monitor, allowing anyone that might have seen her to see the demon markings on her face. Her red eyes stared intently at the screen as picture after picture flashed by them. Finally she halted on one. It was the man that lay dead in the house. She quickly set the man's address as well as known associates to memory. She then hunted down those men as well. When she finally had all the information she needed she got up from the desk and vanished.
She reappeared moments later near a bar that the police listed as a hang out for members of the Mob group the man had belonged to.
Mana started up the street, heading straight towards the bar when an arm shot out and pulled her into an alley. The Demoness soon found herself face to face with Sayoko.
"What do you think you are doing?" Sayoko asked.
"They killed Dawn." Mana stated, her eyes still full of hate and anger at thinking about it. "For no reason other then to get paid."
Sayoko crossed her arms. "Killing them won't bring Dawn back."
"No." Mana replied, "It won't."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"I swore I would destroy all monsters like my Father." Mana said, her eyes glowing even more fiercely by the minute. "These........creatures killed Dawn, a girl who was for all purposes my daughter! They don't deserve to live on this planet any longer." Mana turned and started towards the bar. Sayoko's arm shot out and stopped her again.
"I can't let you do this Mana." Sayoko said, "This would make you as bad as your father."
Mana's anger rose considerably.
"Let me go Sayoko." Mana growled.
"I can't."
"You promised to help me and Dawn. Are you going back on your promise?"
Sayoko winced. When it became clear that the Heavenly Council didn't mind a mortal living under the care of a Demon, she had promised to help and support Mana and Dawn.
"This isn't the same....." Sayoko began.
"This is exactly the same." Mana replied, "Dawn needed your help.....and now she's DEAD. I need your help now and you are refusing to help me."
"I'm not going to help you senselessly murder mortals!"
"They deserve to DIE!" Mana hissed.
"Let the mortals pass judgment on them!" Sayoko shouted, "We are not their judge and jury!"
"No. We only decide where their souls go. And I'm sending them to hell now."
Sayoko crossed her arms and blocked Mana's way to the bar.
"You'll have to go through me."
Mana glared at Sayoko, the anger of the current situation adding to her rage over Dawn's death. Her eyes were now hot furnaces, glowing very brightly.
"Get. Out. Of. My. Way." Mana said very slowly.
"I won't let you do this to your....." Began Sayoko before a fist slammed into her jaw. Sayoko flew backwards, hitting the ground hard. She lay there dazed for a moment before she saw Mana walking past her.
Mana had only gone six steps from Sayoko when there was a bright flash, followed by something slamming into her back. Mana sailed through the air, slamming into the side of a dumpster before falling to the ground. She rose up on her hands and knees, then looked up. Sayoko was walking towards her slowly, another force bolt ready in her hands. Mana growled and leaped to her feet, charging at the goddess. As she ran, her battle helmet and sword flashed into existence. Sayoko's eyes went wide as Mana pulled her sword out. The goddess released her force bolt, just barely missing the charging demon. She then pulled her staff out just in time to block Mana's wild swing. For the next several minutes the two fought back and forth. Sayoko was shocked at the ferociousness of Mana's attacks. The Demoness seemed to be getting more powerful as the battle continued.
"Mana!" Sayoko gasped, "I'm your friend! Stop this!"
"A friend would be supporting me!" Mana replied.
"A friend is supposed to help stop another friend from making a mistake!" Sayoko cried.
"Then maybe I don't need a friend!" Mana shouted as she swung her blade at Sayoko's neck.
Sayoko was just barely able to block the blow with her staff. Mana then turned her blade slightly and went for another swipe. Sayoko quickly moved to block the swipe, when she realize Mana was not going to swing her blade. Instead, Mana extended her arm, smashing her fist as well as the hilt of her sword into the side of the goddess' unprotected head. Sayoko fell to the ground in a heap, her staff clattering uselessly beside her.
Mana stood over the goddess, breathing heavily. She then turned and resumed her walk towards the bar, her helmet and sword vanishing as well as her outfit changing to one more suited to the task ahead, tight jeans and a small t-shirt. She immediately entered the bar and walked up to the bar. After ordering her drink, she took a moment to look around. A smile crept across her face as she spotted most of the gang in the bar.
How fortunate for her.
How unfortunate for them.
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".....we followed her to a bedroom." The gangster said, "Tony went in first and then cried out. The little bitch had some kind of sword. Mitch and Ralph pulled out their pistols and shot her up. She went down."
The leader of the gang nodded his head. "What did you do with Tony's body?"
"We couldn't do nothing." The gangster replied, "The bitches body began to give off this weird glow."
"That and Tony's body was in like two pieces." A second Gangster added.
The leader was silent for a moment, then looked in a file. "The Hit was supposed to be two people. What happened to the older woman?"
"Don't know. She weren't there."
"Because she's right here."
The gangsters all turned around, pulling out their guns and pointing them at the female that stood behind them. Other people in the bar screamed and ran from the building. The Leader of the Gangsters looked down at a picture in the file. He then looked back up at the woman.
"You're Kirishima."
The woman's red eyes narrowed as she nodded. "And you are the scum that killed my Dawn."
The Leader shrugged. "It's just business. What's with the red face paint?" He then waved his hand. "Nah, doesn't matter. Take her out somewhere nice and quiet and shoot her boys."
"You won't be killing anyone." The woman said softly.
"Oh?" The Leader asked, a smug look on his face. "We seem to have all the guns. What are you going to do about it?"
"This."
The Woman's eyes flared bright red. One of the gangsters beside her suddenly let out a scream before his body exploded in a cloud of blood and gore.
"Holy shit!" one of the other gangsters cried out.
"Jesus Christ!" the Leader exclaimed.
"He won't have anything to do with you." The woman said, "You're in my hands now."
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Now I will tell you what I've done for you
50 thousand tears I've cried
Screaming Deceiving and Bleeding for you
And you still won't hear me
(I'm going under)
Don't want your hand this time I'll save myself
Maybe I'll wake up for once
Not tormented daily defeated by you
Just when I thought I'd reached the bottom
I'm dying again
I'm going under Drowning in you I'm falling forever I've got to break through I'm going under
Blurring and Stirring the truth and the lies So I don't know what's real and what's not Always confusing the thoughts in my head So I can't trust myself anymore I'm dying again
I'm going under Drowning in you I'm falling forever I've got to break through
So go on and scream Scream at me I'm so far away I won't be broken again I've got to breathe I can't keep going under
I'm dying again
I'm going under Drowning in you I'm falling forever I've got to break through I'm going under I'm going under I'm going under
Evanescence - Going Under
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Sayoko opened her eyes with a slight moan. Her head still throbbed from the blow Mana gave her. A quick look around revealed her to be in the Medical Wing of Heaven. She sat up, holding her head.
"Hey Sayoko."
The Goddess turned to see Rei walking into the room. The Guardian took a seat beside the bed.
"Hey Rei. How did I get here?"
"What do you remember?" Rei asked.
"I was trying to stop Mana from going after the men that killed Dawn. We fought, and then she knocked me out." Sayoko suddenly grew very concerned. "Rei, did she.....?"
Rei looked away from the goddess. Sayoko's heart instantly fell.
"She obliterated all three of the gang members that were involved." Rei said softly, still looking away. "She also killed another six members that were at the bar. Only seven of the gang has shown up in hell."
Sayoko's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean only seven? You said nine died! Are the missing two in heaven?"
"No." Rei replied, her voice shaking slightly. "We can't find them."
Sayoko's jaw dropped.
"What are you saying Rei?"
Rei finally turned around and look at Sayoko, clearly upset.
"They haven't shown up in Hell, nor in Heaven. They are not on the surface. Yggdrasil cannot find them. They are nowhere. We believe.......Mana......." Rei's voice trailed off.
Sayoko knew what Rei was saying without her even finishing. Years before, a Demon known as the Soultaker had killed off their friends by draining them of their souls. Fortunately, unlike those she had killed in the past, the Soultaker only held onto them to place in the Evas, whereas others she literally consumed. Mana's father also had the ability, and if it got passed down to Mana............. Sayoko shivered.
"What happened to her?" Sayoko asked softly.
"She was brought down by twelve of the Queen's Guard, after she disabled five." Rei looked down at the floor, "She is to be judged by Hild."
Sayoko was quiet for several moments, letting everything sink in.
"I failed her Rei." She finally said, "I failed her as a friend."
"You did all you could." Rei replied, "We all did. But she is a demon."
"No." Sayoko said softly, "She never truly was a demon in that sense. Once she was a sweet innocent girl whose mother died before her eyes." Sayoko turned and looked at Rei, "Now, she is the Mother whose child was murdered. We may have done all we could, but we still failed her." Sayoko lay back down and turned away from Rei.
"Sayoko....." Rei began.
"Leave me alone Rei." Sayoko said, "Just........go away."
Rei waited a moment before rising and leaving the room. Sayoko remained the way she was, staring off towards the windows. As she did, a tear fell from her eye.
"Kami-sama go with you Mana." Sayoko said softly, "For I can no longer."
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2563
"But what happened to Mana?" Kristine asked.
Shinji shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Mara would never say. Even Urd couldn't get anything about it from her mother. She would just say she was punished and that was that." Shinji then sighed. "When Sayoko got out of the medical wing she refused to even discuss Mana. Anytime someone mentioned her Sayoko would either change the subject or just get this sad look in her eyes."
"What happened to Dawn?" Sentaro asked.
"She's here in Heaven. Asuka and I have seen her a few times. We didn't really see her that much on the surface so she doesn't know us. I don't think Sayoko has...." Shinji leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment. "Come to think of it, Dawn did know a few things that only Sayoko or Belldandy would know, so one of them must see her from time to time." Shinji glanced up at the wall where the clock was. "I have to go back to preparing dinner. You two had better get home. And don't tell anyone I told you all this."
"We won't Uncle Shinji" Kristine and Sentaro said together.
Shinji led them out of the room. They followed him through the living room where Yui gave the three a funny look, then waved to him as they walked out the front door.
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"So we're going home right?" Sentaro asked.
"Are you kidding?" Kristine asked, "We're going to go find Mana Kirishima!"
"Why?"
Kristine stopped walking and looked at her little brother. "You heard Uncle Shinji. Mom still feels bad about what happened to Mana. Maybe we can get them back together again."
"But we don't even know if Mana Kirishima is still alive." Sentaro pointed out.
Kristine shrugged. "So we'll talk to someone who does."
"Who?"
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"It's going to be about an hour before the seminar begins Miss Mara."
Mara looked up from her notes. "Thank you Cayla. I suppose Belldandy is still preparing?"
Cayla, Goddess 1st Class and Belldandy's assistant shook her head.
"No, she is currently in a Council meeting and then has some reports on Terra 2 to look over."
Mara smiled, "Ah the joys of administrative work."
Cayla smiled, then turned and left. Mara lifted her notes and began to read. She never heard the footsteps as two people entered the room.
"Auntie Mara?"
Mara looked up to see Kristine and Sentaro standing just inside the door.
"Hey there kiddos." Mara then frowned, "Is he allowed to be up here?"
"Grandma's fine about it so long as he behaves." Kristine replied.
"I see."
"Do you have a moment?"
"I think so." Mara replied, "I do have a seminar in about an hour with your Grandmother."
"What's it about?"
"It's called: 'To forgive or Curse: a Lecture for Gods and Demons'. It's supposed to make the surface world a better place then what it is right now. Anyway, what's up?"
"Mana Kirishima."
Mara's jaw dropped. "How do you know about her?"
"We were making a scrap book for Mom's birthday......." Kristine replied.
"We went to Grandma's because we wanted to find older pictures..." Sentaro continued.
"While we were searching we found a sealed box and opened it....."
"Inside were pictures of Mana Kirishima and Mom......."
"And then we asked someone about her......."
"Uncle Shinji." Sentaro said.
"SENTARO!!"
"Oh....that's a secret."
"Well, we were told what happened and that Mana was punished for it." Sentaro said, "What we want to know what was her punishment and where is she now."
Mara leaned back in her chair.
"Why do you two want to find her?"
"Mom's been rather depressed lately." Kristine replied, "She's happy when her friends or father are around, but........"
"Something's missing?" Mara asked.
"Yeah. We were hoping we could find Mana Kirishima and maybe get them back together. Uncle Shinji says Mom still feels bad about it."
Mara smiled, "There is two reasons why I'll tell you. One is because you have good intentions."
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2217
Mana knelt before the throne of Hild, Queen of Hell, her wrists chained behind her back.
"Mana, Demoness 1st class." A Demon in official robes stated, "You have been charged with use of illegal and banned spells. In addition, you have killed nine mortals without just cause. What say you?"
Mana raised her head slightly and looked up at Hild. Hild's face remained neutral, giving away nothing of what was going on inside the Queen's head.
"I......" Mana began, hesitating slightly, "I...don't....I.....I did kill them. But it was because...."
"SILENCE!" the official shouted, "The prisoner admits to the mortals deaths."
"But I....: Mana began again.
This time the official walked down and backhanded Mana, sending the Demoness to the floor.
"That is enough." Hild's voice echoed throughout the chamber. Mana slowly returned to her knees, very difficult when ones arms are bound. She then turned her head upwards and looked at Hild.
"As the Prisoner is guilty of the crimes committed," the official began, "There must be the passing of sentence. As in the past, these crimes must be eternity as a class 2 life...."
"Silence." Hild said.
The official turned and looked at Hild.
"Milady?"
"Silence." Hild repeated, "I will set the punishment."
"As you wish Milady." The official replied with a bow.
Hild looked down at Mana.
"Mana, you have given me two hundred years of loyal service. In that time you have neither disobeyed, nor gave me any cause to punish you. This act you have committed has thoroughly shocked me." Hild rose and looked out over the demons assembled. "Due to her past service to myself and Hell, the sentence of eternity as a class 2 life form will not be applied."
The assembled Demons began to quietly muttered amongst themselves.
"Instead," Hild continued, "Mana, Demoness 1st Class, you shall be stripped of your powers and forced to live on the surface as a mortal for the next fifty of their years. You will be denied all communications with Hell. No demon shall support you, nor offer aid. Should you die during the fifty years, you shall spend the remaining time of your sentence as a tormented soul here in hell. That is all." Hild returned to her throne.
Two of the Royal Guard grabbed Mana by the shoulders and dragged her out of the room. Mana's eyes never left Hild's until the throne room's door closed. Mana was taken into another room and forced up on her feet. The guards then turned and left out the door. Mara then entered the room, the Demons outside shutting the door behind her.
"Hey kid." Mara said softly.
Mana didn't reply. Mara waved her hand and the chains around Mana's wrists vanished. The Demoness slowly raised her head and looked up at the other.
"Welsper and I will still be here for you." Mara said softly, "So will Hild. The fifty years will pass by quickly."
"I really screwed up." Mana said softly.
"Yes, you did." A smile crept across Mara's face, "But then we're only human."
Mana gave a small smile, just as quickly it faded. "Have you heard from Sayoko?"
Mara shook her head. "The Heavenly Council asked what was to happen to you. But there has been nothing else."
"I really screwed up Mara." Mana repeated, "I've become the Monster my Mother feared. Sayoko will never talk to me again."
"I know." Mara replied. She then raised her hand. In it was a glass sphere. "Mana, I have to do this. I'm sorry."
"I know."
The sphere began to glow. Wisps of energy began to flow out of Mana and into the sphere. When the wisps faded, Mana sagged slightly. The sphere in Mara's hand continued to glow from the trapped energy. Mara returned the sphere to her pocket.
"It'll will be waiting for you when the fifty years is up."
Mana nodded. "Guess I'll see you then."
"Good bye Mana." Mara then waved her hand. Mana vanished from room. Mara continued to stare at the spot for a moment, then turned and left the room. She walked silent into the now empty throne room, empty except of course for Hild and Welsper, who sat on the Queen's lap.
"Has it been down?" Hild asked.
Mara reached into her pocket and removed the sphere, handing it over to the Queen. Hild looked at the brightly glowing sphere.
"This was unexpected." Hild said softly, "For Mana to loose it like this......."
"It was her anger Milady." Welsper said, "She was overwhelmed by her own anger and despair."
Hild nodded, still looking at the sphere. "Keep guards around Mana. They are not to be seen by her, but they are to intercept any Rogue Demon that might try to kill her."
"Yes Milady." Mara replied.
Hild then rose and quietly left the throne room, still looking at the sphere.
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2563
"Mana remained on Earth for her entire sentence." Mara said, "During that time, Hild and I kept an eye on her, but never interfered. She had returned to that house and packed up Dawn's stuff, putting it all away. During that time, like normal mortals, she got a job to pay for things. But during her free time she seemed to brood about Dawn, even Sayoko. I think it was during the second year of her sentence she lost it. See, she hadn't really met anyone, just knew people casually. She really missed Hild, Welsper, and myself, as well as the Guardians and your mother." Mara rubbed her nose. "It was really hard to watch her break down in front of a picture of your mother, crying for forgiveness and do nothing. When her sentence was up, she wasn't the same."
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2267
Mara flashed into existence on the curb of a street where someone had discarded an old CD. A quick glance to the nearest street corner showed she was just a block away from her destination. Mara headed off and arrived at her destination several minutes later. The house had few lights on and seemed rather run down. Mara walked up to the front door and reached her hand up to knock, then stopped and tried the doorknob. The door opened, and Mara entered. The house was a mess. Dust covered everything. Mara looked around taking in all the disorder before heading down the hallway. The first room she passed was vacant except for piles of dusty boxes. The last room however, was occupied. Laying on the bed was an elderly woman, apparently asleep. Though it had been many years, Mara still recognized the woman before her.
"Mana." She said softly.
The old woman jumped slightly, opening her eyes and looking at Mara.
"Is that you Mara?" the woman croaked.
The Demon nodded. "Yes it's me. Your suspension is over. It's time for you to come home."
"I am home." The woman replied.
Mara thought for a moment. "Yeah, I suppose that's true as well." The demon reached into her pocket and pulled out the glass sphere. "Time to give you back this."
She sphere glowed and the wisps of energy flowed out from it back into Mana. As the energy flowed into Mana, the years began to vanish from her face and body. By the time the sphere had gone dark, Mana was back to her youthful twenty-something look. She then sat up on the bed and looked over at Mara.
"For now, you are a restricted First Class." Mara said, "In a few months, the restriction will be taken away."
Mana only nodded.
"We are both needed back in Hell." Mara smiled, "Hild very much wants to see you and has your old room ready."
Mana nodded again. She then turned and looked around her room. With a wave of her hand, everything vanished. All around the house, items vanished, leaving the house vacant and empty.
"Lets go." Mana said softly.
Mara nodded and teleported them away, noting that Mana seemed to be looking at a spot on the floor as they vanished.
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2563
"Mana wasn't the same after that." Mara said sadly, "Of course, spending that kind of time alone is bound to effect you. Mana did her job of taking out Rogue Demons just as she did before, but she seemed to only be going through the motions. A lot of the Demons with her during those battles feared she might get killed or badly injured. Her heart just wasn't in it like it once was. Nothing that Hild, Welsper or I could do could snap her out of it. This went on until about seventy-five years ago........."
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2490
Mana's sword crashed against the Rogue Demons. He let out a snarl and stabbed viciously at Mana. Mana parried the blow and swiped back, catching the Rogue just in the shoulder. The Rogue howled in pain.
"You'll pay for that bitch!" he hollered.
He charged forward, swinging his blade with all his might. Mara blocked several of the blows, but the Rogues attacks only increased in their ferocity. The Rogue then took a swipe at Mana's head. Mana saw it coming and raised her sword. The Rogue blade shattered her own and continued in an arc towards her head. She jerked backward, trying to move her head away from the blade.
She was only partially successful.
There was a bright flash on the right side of her vision that soon exploded into darkness and pain. Mana cried out, clutching the spot where her right eye had been. Blood dripped down between the fingers of her glove.
"Looks like I win this one." The Rogue said with a smile.
He raised his sword to deliver the killing blow to Mana. Mana suddenly brought her hand away from her eye and flung a force bolt at the demon. The bolt ripped through the demon, sending him crashing down on his back dead. Mana fell to her knees, dropping her now useless sword. Blood still dripped down from the now scarred and empty eye socket. She looked around with her remaining eye. Much of the battle had moved away from her. Mana ripped a strip of her robes off, creating a kind of bandage and then covered up her eye. It still burned with pain, and would continue to do so. Such is a wound created by a demonic blade. She then headed off towards the rest of the fight.
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2563
Mara stared at the wall for a moment.
"I think the loss of her eye finally woke her up." The Demon said, "She refused to get it healed, preferring to let it be. I suppose she saw it as another punishment she deserved or something. Mana was in several more fights after that, rather surprising considering she'd lost half her vision. Even more surprising was the fact the old fighting Mana seemed to have returned. She took out three powerful Demons. Hild apparently decided that Mana had done enough by that point. She promoted her to Class 0 Demoness and assigned her to train all new Demons in fighting. She did damn good too. All those that Mana trained went out and came back without any losses. Then the Angels returned." Mara looked back at the goddess and the mortal. "I assume you've been told about that?"
Both Kristine and Sentaro nodded.
"Auntie Arael told us." Sentaro said.
"Auntie Arael." Mara said with a smile, "The returning Angels wiped out two squads of Mana's specially trained Demons. Of course they also wiped out the remaining Rogue Demons too. While the Guardians were in Hell, Mana avoided them entirely. She was afraid to approach them after what she had done. She continued to train Demons for another couple of months. When it was finally confirmed that all the Rogues were dead. Mana asked and Hild granted her a vacation. She's been living on earth ever since."
"Where?" Kristine asked.
"Same place as before I imagine." Mara replied, "Course........it has been along time since she was there, times change, so do places." Mana then noticed Cayla in the doorway. "Well it looks like it's time for me to meet your Grandmother."
"Mara?" Kristine asked.
"What is it Kiddo?"
"You said that you had two reasons for telling us about Mana. One was we had good intentions. What was the second?"
Mara smiled, "The second is because Mana needs a push in order to heal completely. You two are just the right amount of push she needs." Mara then turned and left the room.
"So we're going to Earth?" Sentaro asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"No. I am going to Earth." Kristine said, "You are going back to Terra 2."
"But I want to come with!"
"It is forbidden for you to go to Earth!" Kristine replied, "You know that!" She grabbed her brother's wrist and led him out of the room. "Now come on, I'm going to make sure you get home before I go.
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Mara followed Cayla into yet another room. There she found Belldandy looking through a large folder. Belldandy looked up and smiled as Mara entered.
"Hello Mara. What have you been up to?"
Mara smiled, "I think I may have solved a mutual problem with the help of Shinji, and your Grandkids."
Belldandy looked at Mara curiously. "What do you mean?"
Mara sat down and began to talk to the goddess. They were still talking even as they walked out to give their lecture.
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Terra 2
Kristine and Sentaro appeared in their living room from the mirror. The house was still just as quiet as when they left it.
"Alright." Kristine said, "You start putting all the pictures together. I'll be back after I find Mana Kirishima."
"I still want to go with." Sentaro whined.
"Well you can't so get over it."
Kristine turned and reentered the mirror. Just as the last of her robes were vanishing into the polished surface, Sentaro reached out and grabbed hold of them, following his sister through the mirror. The glow of the mirror then vanished, leaving the house quiet once again.