Earth
The street was pretty much vacant. The light had long since given way to the darkness of night, a darkness made even darker by the heavy black clouds above. A homeless man sat on a bench near the corner. Once upon a time, this bench had been inside a bus stop shelter. The shelter had long since been stolen, but the bench had been too securely fastened to the ground.
The man pulled out a bag and unscrewed the top of the bottle within. He then took a long hard pull from the bottle.
"DAMN!" he said, upon pulling the bottle from his lips. "Nothing like Ole Jack to keep a man warm at night."
He took another pull from the bottle. As he did, he noticed the window across the street seemed to be glowing. Like most of the windows on the street, this one had a mirrored finish, preventing anyone outside from looking in. The man pulled the bottle away and watched, stunned, as a girl flew out of the window, strangely without breaking it. She landed gracefully on her feet, only to be sent to the ground when a boy also came out of the window and crashed into her. The man looked at his bottle.
"What the hell they give me?"
The girl was instantly on her feet and started chattering away in some foreign language, clearly pissed. The boy replied back in the same language, apologetically. The language sounded vaguely familiar.
"Damn Japos," he muttered. "They taking over this country........"
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"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!?!" Kristine shouted. "YOU REALIZE YOU COULD GET ME SUSPENDED?!?!?!"
"I'm sorry, Onee-chan," Sentaro replied. "I just wanted to come with."
"You.........." Kristine raised her hand, ready to continue the argument. Her hand dropped to her side. "Fine," she muttered. "You can come with........"
"YAY!!!" Sentaro cheered.
".....but only because it will be more trouble to take you back and then come again." Kristine grabbed his arm and started walking. "Come on. It's not getting any lighter out and we have a ways to walk if Mara's directions are correct.."
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The two siblings walked down the street, soon leaving the buildings behind and hitting the more open suburbs. After two hours of walking, they had finally caught sight of their destination.
The house was set back on the property, with a driveway leading up to a detached garage. The garage itself seemed close to collapsing. The house had obviously seen better days. Paint was peeling off the exterior in sheets. Most of the shingles on the roof were missing. Several of the windows had shattered panes in them.
"Are you sure that's the right place, Onee-chan?" Sentaro asked wide-eyed.
Kristine was about to reply when she noticed a figure running up the street with his dog.
"Excuse me, sir!" Kristine called out as the man approached. The man immediately whirled about and pointed a weapon at her. The dog that had been running beside him let out a deep growl in her direction.
"Stay where you are," the man said. "I'm not getting robbed by you punks again."
Kristine held her hands up. "I don't want to rob you. I just have a question for you."
Sentaro looked at the man, then at his sister.
"Onee-chan? What's going on?" He didn't understand a word being said, since of course he only spoke Japanese.
"Shh," Kristine replied. She then looked back at the man. "Sir, do you know who lives in that house?" She pointed towards the house.
The man followed her finger and stared at the house.
"Are you crazy? No one has lived in that house for years! Hundreds of years. That place is haunted!"
"Haunted??" Kristine asked confused.
The man nodded. "You obviously aren't from around here. About 500 or so years ago, according to the story, a mother and daughter were brutally murdered here. Their killers were never found. Then about 300 or so years ago, a girl was brutally gunned down in that house. But she was able to kill one of the gunmen. It's been said that the girl's death was so brutal, it stained the house and marked all those who had entered. Within days all of the men responsible for the girl's death were dead. The girl's mother remained there for years afterward. But nothing ever happened to her. Most believe the dead daughter was protecting her. After the mother passed, several families tried to move in. Each left after experiencing horrible nightmares, visions, and noises. No one goes near that house ever! Other than people who tempt fate." The man glanced around. "What are you kids doing out here alone this time of night, anyway? You should be at home where it's safe from those gangs."
"We'll be on our way, then," Kristine said. "Thank you, sir."
The man quickly hurried off with his dog. Kristine grabbed Sentaro's hand and they both began walking up towards the house.
"What did he say?" Sentaro asked.
"You really don't want to know," Kristine replied. "But Mara was right. This was Mana's house."
The two walked up the front porch to the door. Sentaro started to reach for the doorbell but Kristine grabbed his hand.
"Don't," she said. "We won't need it."
"What do you mean, Onee-chan?"
Kristine looked at the house for a moment. "I have this strange feeling about this place. But I don't detect any Demons, and if Mana was here..........."
The goddess grabbed the door knob and twisted it. The door opened up with a loud creak. The two carefully walked in. Light from the street lit up an area of the living room near the door, but the rest of the room was black. Kristine put her hands together and said a short chant. A small ball of light burst from her hands and floated above her, lighting up the room. The interior was about as bad as the exterior. The walls had piles of peeled and chipped paint at their bases. Multiple holes were scattered here and their throughout the room. The ceiling bowed downward at several spots. Even the carpet was worn and patchy. Of the furniture that remained, neither the chairs nor the couch looked in any shape to hold the weight of a person. Several bookshelves lined the walls, each with several shelves broken in two and large piles of dust and other things that might have been books. A TV sat shattered on a stand as well.
"This is really creepy," Sentaro muttered, moving closer to his sister.
"You wanted to come," Kristine replied. She started down the hallway, Sentaro right at her heels. The first bedroom was empty and in the same condition as the living room. The bathroom seemed to have collapsed long ago from the weight of the tub and toilet. The last bedroom they found was even more eerie. A bed frame sat bare against the wall. The carpet here was even more worn, but the thing that caught their attention was a dark stain on the floor boards on the far side of the bed. Kristine walked slowly up to it and looked at it carefully.
"Is it....?" Sentaro asked.
Kristine nodded. "Blood. Old blood."
Sentaro began to look nervously around the room. "I don't like this anymore, Onee-chan. It's too scary."
Kristine nodded, but remained silent. There was something else here, but Kristine couldn't figure out what. All she had was this feeling of someone watching her, almost right beside her. It really bothered the young Goddess. She would easily have detected a Demon, and a ghost would have been visible to her eyes. Kristine grabbed Sentaro and started to walk out.
"We'll have to figure out another way to find her," Kristine muttered, as they reentered the living room. "Maybe we should go talk to Dawn. She might know........" Kristine's voice trailed off as they exited the front door.
Standing before them was a gang of about eight people, mostly male. All looked very dangerous, with wild, crazy looks in their eyes.
"Well, looky looky," one of them said. "Someone ain't afraid of no ghost."
The others laughed hysterically. The one that spoke approached Kristine, who pushed Sentaro behind her.
"Awwww, look.... she's hiding the little boy. What is he? Your boyfriend? You could do a lot better."
"Get her, man!" one of the others shouted.
"Just make sure you share!" another added.
"Oh, we'll share, alright," the first one said, reaching his hand toward Kristine's face. Before he could touch her, Kristine grabbed his hand and twisted it violently. The gang member's wrist let out a loud crack as several of the bones in it broke. The gang member screamed in pain. The goddess then brought her foot back and drove the heel of her shoe into the gang member's chest, sending him hurtling to the ground.
"GET THAT BITCH!" the gang member cried out in pain.
The others charged at Kristine. The Goddess hesitated for a second. She couldn't use her powers against them. She ran the risk of getting Sentaro hurt, either by the gang or by her powers. She looked around for a quick exit and found only one. She grabbed her little brother and shoved him into the house.
"Shut the door!" she called out as the gang reached for her.
"What about you?" he asked.
Kristine kicked one of the gang in the face, his nose exploded in a gush of blood.
"Don't worry about me!" she cried. "Close the door!"
Sentaro struggled against the door. For some reason it wouldn't close, like something was blocking it. He then heard a cry from his sister and looked up. Two gang members grabbed her arms, holding her back from throwing any punches. Another dove at her legs, holding them together to prevent any more kicks. The final one drew back his fist and punched the Goddess in the face. Kristine sagged in their arms. They dropped the unconscious Goddess in a heap on the ground.
"They're even more fun when they don't struggle," one of the gang said.
"Forget her a second," the first gang member said, holding his broken wrist. "Get that boy out of there. We can use him against her."
Another member started across the porch to the door where Sentaro was still struggling to push it closed.
"Come on, little boy," he said. "We only want to play. Ever played crack the neck?"
Sentaro's eyes went wide as the gang member drew closer. He turned and ran back into the darkness of the house. The gang member hesitated at the entrance.
"What the hell's wrong with you?" shouted the first gang member. "Go get him!"
"But the house......."
"Screw the house. Get him, Switch!"
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Somehow Sentaro made his way into the back bedroom. He opened up the closet door and leaped inside, shutting it as best as he could. He then wadded himself into the corner of the closet, trying to make himself as small as possible. Several minutes later he heard footsteps. Then the gang member entered the room, holding a glow stick.
"Where are you, brat?" the gang member said. "If you come out now, I promise I'll go easy on you for making me go through this rat trap of a house. Come out!"
Sentaro held his breath. The gang member looked around the room, then spotted the closet. A smile crept across his face as he approached it. He then flung the door open, revealing Sentaro.
"I got you now, you little......"
Even though he had the best view, Sentaro still couldn't explain what he saw. A shadow seemed to separate from the wall and move up behind the gang member as he reached for Sentaro. Suddenly the Gang member spun around. There was a loud crack and the man's head jerked backward as if punched.
"WHAT THE HELL?!?!" the gang member cried out, finally seeing the shadow. "HOLY SHIT!!! THERE IS A GHOST!!!!!!"
The shadow seemed to swarm at the gang member, who then vanished with a scream.
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"What the hell is he doing? I want to get out of here so I can get my hand fixed." The first gang member kicked Kristine hard in the side. "Dumb bitch."
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
All of the gang members turned and looked at the doorway to the house.
"Switch! Get out here!" the injured gang member called out.
There was no reply.
"..... Tiny, go get Switch."
"Why don't you, Masher?"
"Don't tell me you're afraid of a stupid house!" Masher shouted. "He probably just fell through a crack in the......."
A strange sound came from the house. It sounded half human, and half animal, yet did not truly belong to one or the other.
"What the hell is that?"
"Go find out."
"I ain't going in there. Are you....... nuts...... oh my god."
A shadow slowly crept out of the house and across the porch. It flowed like a liquid, but it didn't seep into the cracks of the porch, nor was it absorbed by the grass when it reached it.
"What the fuck is that?!?!"
"How the hell am I supposed to know!??!"
"Fuck this shit!!" One of the gang turned around and took off running.
"I agree." Another gang member ran.
Masher looked around and saw the remaining gang members also backing away.
"Fine!" he shouted. "Let the...... whatever have the bitch. Beat it!"
He turned and ran, the others following him.
Had anyone remained nearby, they would have seen the shadow creep right up beside the unconscious goddess. A figure rose from within the shadow, dressed in black. The figure bent over and lifted the goddess into its arms, then turned and entered the house.
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Kristine slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was still fuzzy for a second or two before becoming clear. She was lying on a bed in a room. Sentaro was sitting on a chair nearby, a book resting in his lap.
"Sentaro?" Kristine asked weakly.
Sentaro looked up. "Onee-chan!" He dropped the book on the floor and grabbed his sister in a hug. "You're alright!"
"Yeah," Kristine replied. "Where are we?"
Sentaro released her then backed away, a large smile on his face. "It's sooooo cool, Onee-chan. You'd never have believed it!"
"Sentaro, Where are we?"
"Look around!"
Kristine frowned, then looked around the room again. Then it clicked. This was the last room in the house they had looked at, only it was no longer in disrepair. Kristine's jaw dropped as she looked at walls that had been the poster children for decay the last time she saw them.
Then she remembered what they had seen on the far side of the bed. She started to look that way.
"It's not there," Sentaro said. "I already looked."
"What's going on?" Kristine asked. "Why is the house in good shape? How'd I get in here?"
"I can answer that," came a female voice from the doorway.
Kristine slowly turned her head and found herself staring at the woman they had only seen in photographs: Mana Kirishima. The only difference between the two was that Mana now had long auburn hair down below her waist, and a black patch that covered her right eye.
"It's an illusion I use to keep away unwanted guests," Mana said. "Now, you're going to answer my questions. Who are you and why are you here?"
"I'm Kristine Aida," the goddess replied. "This is my little brother, Sentaro."
"Aida," Mana mumbled. Then, louder, she added "And the answer to my second question?"
"We were looking for you."
"What for?" Mana asked. Then a frown appeared across her face. "You're not one of THOSE people, are you?"
"Those people?"
"Ever since my suspension ended I've become an object of curiosity," Mana said, throwing her hands up in the air. "Oooh look, its Mana, the mortal killer! She killed a dozen mortals. Ooooh she's scary!" Mana crossed her arms and glared at the two siblings. "If you're like that you can kiss my ass and leave now."
"We're not like that!" Kristine said.
"Then why are you here?"
"Well," Kristine said, "the answer is kinda complicated."
"We want to bring you home to meet our Mom," Sentaro said.
"Well, maybe not that complicated," Kristine muttered.
Mana let out a sigh. "I'm not the kind of person that people bring home. So maybe you should just go home and forget you saw me."
Kristine leaped to her feet. "But we've come so far to meet you!"
"Then you came for nothing." Mana turned and started to leave the room.
Kristine started to get frustrated. "Why won't you listen? You're as stubborn as Auntie Asuka!"
Mana froze. She slowly turned around and looked the girl over again.
"Auntie.......who?" Mana asked slowly.
"Auntie Asuka. Only she really isn't my Aunt by blood."
"What is Auntie Asuka's last name?"
"Ikari."
Mana sat down hard on the floor. "How do you know them?"
"Well, I'm a Goddess."
Mana's jaw dropped, then closed as she got a hold of herself.
"I suppose you're half mortal, right?"
"Well, yes."
Mana stared at Kristine long and hard.
"No way," she finally said. "Your mother is.........."
Kristine nodded. "Sayoko Aida, Goddess Class 0 Type 2 Unlimited."
"Aida. Does that mean your father is Kensuke?"
Kristine nodded.
"How did he.......?" Mana stuttered. "He was....... isn't he..... where did he.....?"
"You can ask Mom when you see her."
"Why would she want to see me?" Mana asked. "Last time I saw her, I left her unconscious in an alley."
"She misses you."
"And how do you know?"
Kristine glanced over at Sentaro before answering. "Uncle Shinji told us how she reacted after you....... left. She tried to forget you by locking away your pictures, but she didn't destroy them. That means she still hopes to see you again."
Mana remained silent.
"Mana," Kristine said softly, "I know you're afraid to see her."
"Maybe I am," Mana replied. "I spent years on earth alone. No contact with any demon or god. Then when I came back, I had only Welsper, Mara and Hild. No one else came near me, unless they had to. I just didn't care anymore. And then....." Mana brushed the eye patch on her right eye. "It was a wake up call in a way. Told me I had to change how I was acting." Mana smirked. "I almost saw Shinji, Asuka, Rei and Touji once, when they were here to stop the Angels. But I just couldn't face them. Not after what I had done."
"You're ashamed for what you did," the young goddess said. "You have served your punishment. Now is the time to put it behind you."
"I still feel like a monster."
"A monster wouldn't feel sorry for what she did." Kristine held out her hand. "Come with me. I bet I can find another person who would agree with me."
Mana looked at Kristine hesitantly, before taking her hand.
"You definitely have a bit of your Grandmother in you," Mana said softly.
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Mana blinked in the sunlight. They had appeared in a garden beside the enormous Yggdrasil Building. Heaven had definitely been fixed up a lot since the last time she saw it. She looked down at the goddess and mortal beside her.
"Is it alright for me to be here?"
"It'll be fine," Kristine replied. "And if someone says anything, they can talk to Grandma. Besides....." She pointed towards one of the doors to Yggdrasil where several demons and gods were talking. "I don't think anyone would notice you."
"Don't you, now?"
Kristine froze, as did Sentaro. They knew that voice, having heard it several times while growing up, as well as on several visits to the heavens. The two slowly turned around.
"Umm.... Hi, Mist," Kristine said nervously.
"Hi, Auntie," Sentaro said, causing Kristine to cringe and Mist's forehead to twitch.
"Your Grandmother would like a word with you," Mist said, "along with your..... guest."
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"What do you think Grandma wants?" Sentaro asked as they turned into the hallway that led to Belldandy's office.
"Well, let's see...." Kristine turned and glared at her brother."You did sneak to Earth, using me to get you there."
"But I wanted to help find Mana!"
"And you may get me suspended, as well as the both of us grounded."
The two paused at the door and then realized someone wasn't with them. They both turned to see Mana standing before the large painting of Sayoko, now updated after the Mad God fiasco of several years before. It still held Sayoko standing before Tokyo-3, but it now showed her as much older, with Kensuke standing just behind her.
"Mana," Kristine called out.
The Demoness began walking toward the doors, still looking up at the painting. Kristine reached out and knocked on the door.
"Enter," came their Grandmother's voice.
The door opened and the two siblings entered the office, followed by Mana. Belldandy sat behind her desk, with her hands interlaced and her head resting on them. Sitting in one of the chairs in front of her desk was Mara. Standing behind Belldandy on either side were Shinji and Cayla. Shinji's eyes widened slightly, before a smile broke out on his face at seeing Mana. Mana gave a nervous smile in response. She was wondering what was going through the elder goddess's mind.
Kristine fell to one knee and bowed to her Grandmother, while Sentaro just waved.
"You went to Earth," Belldandy finally said.
"Yes, Grandmother," Kristine said, her head still bowed.
"Sentaro is a mortal of Terra 2," Belldandy continued. "He is not allowed on Earth, unless he travels by mortal means."
"I know, Grandmother."
"Why was this rule broken?"
Kristine raised her head and started to answer when Sentaro burst out crying.
"It's my fault, Grandma," he cried. "I wanted to go with, so when Onee-chan went through the mirror I grabbed her robe and followed. Don't punish her for something I did!"
Belldandy looked at her Grandson.
"I trust you won't try to do that ever again?"
Sentaro nodded. "Never ever ever."
A smile slowly creped onto Belldandy's face. "You're forgiven, then. I could never stay mad at you. Now come here and give your Grandmother a hug."
Sentaro immediately raced around the desk and leaped into his grandmother's arms. Kristine remained on her knee and looked at her brother and Grandmother stunned. Belldandy noticed this.
"Don't you want to give your Grandmother a hug?" she asked.
"Grandma!" Kristine replied with a blush. "That...... that wouldn't be proper......... being a First Class and you're a Class 0."
Belldandy sighed. "Very true. I'll miss the old days." Belldandy then turned and looked at Mana. "Ms. Kirishima, I see that you are looking well."
"Thank you, Ma'am," Mana replied nervously.
"You can relax, Mana," Mara said. "Belldandy isn't going to bite you."
Man shifted nervously.
"I think Ms. Kirishima is still nervous regarding the incident of long ago," Belldandy said. Seeing Mana pale slightly, she knew she was right. "Mana, you were punished by Hell for your crime. You have done your time and have shown yourself to be...... a respectable Demon. You don't need to seek forgiveness from me, nor Kami-sama regarding that. We feel that situation was handled and over with when Hild sentenced you."
Mana gave a sigh.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Now here's the part where you should be nervous," Belldandy said. "You still have several people to face before you can truly begin to heal yourself."
"I know," Mana replied.
Belldandy raised her hand toward Shinji. He immediately stepped forward.
"Shinji here will take you to a place to start the healing." She glanced over at her granddaughter who was still kneeling. "Kristine may go with."
"Why can't I go?" Sentaro asked with a pout.
"Because I want to visit with you," Belldandy replied, "and to find out if you're still ticklish." She immediately began to tickle Sentaro, causing him to toss about on her lap, laughing hard.
Kristine's jaw fell at the display. A tap on her shoulder brought her back as Shinji led her and Mana out.
"I can't believe she did that," Kristine said, once they were well away down the hall. "It's so..... undignified for a Goddess in her position."
Shinji shrugged. "She's the boss. Let her do what she wants. In the meantime........."
Shinji wrapped an arm around Mana, causing her to jump.
"We've missed you, Mana," he said, squeezing her against himself. "I'm glad Kristine got you to come back to us."
Mana sighed and wrapped her arm around Shinji, leaning her head against him.
"How are Asuka, Rei and Touji?" she asked. "Do they.....?"
"Not yet," Shinji replied, leading them out into the city of Heaven itself, where the souls of the dead resided. "And don't worry, they've missed you too. None more then Sayoko, though, I think."
"It's been so long, though," Mana said. "and after what I did......."
"You can't change the past, Mana. What's done is done and you need to move forward." Shinji paused a second. "Why do I sound like Sayoko all of a sudden?"
Mana shrugged. "So, where are you leading us?"
"You'll see."
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Shinji led them to a grassy hill, overlooking a beautiful meadow filled with various creatures, as well as a fantastic view of Heaven.
"Wow," Mana said in awe. Kristine had to agree, even if she saw heaven a lot more than Mana did.
"Still doesn't explain why you brought us out...." Mana began, before another voice interrupted her.
"Mana-mama?"
Mana turned around and found herself looking at what seemed to be a twenty year old blond woman.
"Oh... my....." Mana started. "Dawnie?"
"MANA!!!" Dawn leaped at Mana. Both fell to the ground with their arms around the other, sobbing quietly.
Kristine wiped a tear from her eye as she watched the two.
"Mara told your Grandmother what you were up to," Shinji's voice came from beside her. "Then she brought me in on it and had me hunt down Dawn. Wasn't easy, but I found her."
Kristine smiled. "Grandma was always a softy for this kind of thing."
"So is your Mom."
Kristine nodded. "Don't suppose you could tell me why a teenager looks like a twenty year old now?"
Shinji shrugged. "Apparently any child that dies grows up a bit in heaven until they're twenty, then...... they just stay that way."
The two then stood silent and continued to watch as surrogate mother and child continued to cry in the other's arms.
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2211
"Mana?"
Mana looked up from her book at the little eight year old girl in her nightgown.
"What is it, Dawnie?" Mana asked.
"I can't sleep."
It had been like that ever since that night a year ago. Had it been a year? To Mana it still felt like yesterday. Every night Mana would put Dawn to bed, and always, within an hour, Dawn would be up and telling Mana she couldn't sleep.
"Come on over here," Mana said, saying the same phrase she'd said over and over.
Dawn walked over to Mana and climbed onto her lap. Mana wrapped a blanket around them. Dawn then snuggled against Mana and sighed, just as she had done every other time. Mana started to read her book again, gently rocking the girl, waiting for her to fall asleep.
"Mana?"
Apparently this night would be different.
"Yes, Dawnie?" Mana asked softly.
"You'll never leave me, right?"
Mana looked down at the girl in surprise. At least now she had an idea what was bugging the girl.
"What makes you think I'd leave?"
"Promise me," Dawn said. "Promise me you'll never leave me."
Mana bit her lip. "I can't promise that."
"Why not?!"
"The world is a complicated place, Dawn," Mana replied. "Things happen every day, both good and bad. I can't promise you I'll always be with you forever. Someday, something could happen that would take me away from you, breaking my promise."
"But then I'd be without you," Dawn said. "I'd be alone."
Mana shook her head. "You'll never be alone, I can promise you that. You'll still have Aunt Sayoko, Asuka, Shinji and Rei." Mana then leaned closer. "And even if I'm gone, I'll still be with you right there." She pointed at Dawn's head. "...and there." She moved her finger down to Dawn's heart. "And so long as I'm there, you'll never be alone."
Dawn smiled and hugged Mana tightly.
"Thank you, Mana-mama."
Mana smiled at the young girl's pet name for her, then returned the hug.
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2563
One week later.
Sayoko was stunned.
She was in shock.
She was staring in disbelief.
Kensuke had had the audacity to put a party hat on her head.
What made it worse was that it claimed she was 'Over the Hill'.
Well, she supposed, 562 is definitely over the hill...... but still.......
"Where in the name of Kami-sama did you find this?" she asked her husband, pointing at the hat.
Kensuke smiled. "My secret."
"I think it looks cute," Rei said with a smile.
Sayoko glared at Rei. "I'll remember that when your birthday rolls around, Ikari." She then glanced at the chuckling redhead leaning against the kitchen counter. "Same with you, Sohryu-Ikari!"
"I didn't do anything!" Asuka shouted.
"You laughed."
"So?!?! Your 'Auntie' did too!"
Sayoko turned around and looked unhappily at her Aunt Skuld.
"Auntie!"
"I'm sorry!" Skuld replied. "You just looked so........"
"Cute?" Urd offered.
"Well, yeah. And so......"
"Offended?"
"Yeah!"
Sayoko dropped her head in her hands.
"You two are soooo getting coal for Christmas."
"Coal?" Urd asked. "Since when is coal given at Christmas?"
"It's for bad boys and girls," Sayoko replied. "And you two are being mean."
"I never heard of that," Urd said. "Who told you that one?"
"I was told by Ma...." Sayoko began, before her voice trailed off. Silence reigned for a moment.
"Hey, lets see what the others are up to!" Skuld said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah. Ok," Sayoko mumbled as she let her Aunt lead her to the living room.
Kensuke glanced at Rei.
"She was about to say Mana, wasn't she? What did happen to her? She won't tell me."
Rei let out a sigh.
"They had a fight," she said. "A bad one. Then Mana...... well..... there was an incident. Anyway, Sayoko never tried to talk to Mana afterward. Felt guilty, and she didn't think Mana would speak with her."
"Mom suspended Mana after the incident," Urd said. "But she never told me about what happened to her afterward. She always brings up something else. It's almost like she was protecting Mana."
"Would Heaven punish Mana for whatever she did?" Kensuke asked.
Urd shrugged. "I don't know. She was punished by Mom. Usually that is enough, but this incident was pretty bad. Wherever she is, Mana is laying extremely low off the radar."
At that point Sentaro walked in.
"Daddy?"
"Yes Sentaro?" Kensuke asked.
"Did you really take pictures of Momma , Auntie Rei, Auntie Asuka and Auntie Hikari while they were in the shower?"
Kensuke's jaw dropped. Asuka immediately fell to the floor laughing hysterically, as did Rei.
"Kensuke," Urd said with a smile, "I never knew........"
Kensuke got up and walked into the other room.
"SAYOKO!!! WHAT ARE YOU TELLING OUR SON!?!?!?!"
"It wasn't me!!" came the reply. "It was your stooge friend!"
"HEY!" Touji's shout came. "I was just telling the kid stories about his Dad back in the day!"
"YOU DON'T NEED TO TELL HIM THAT!!!" the two parents shouted.
"I think Touji is in deep trouble," Rei said with a chuckle.
"You think he is now," Asuka said, "wait till Hikari finds out."
"I suppose you'll tell her?" Skuld asked.
"Nah. I'll let Sentaro do it." Then Asuka smiled. "Of course, there's always the possibility that Kensuke or Sayoko will tell her."
"You're just downright evil."
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Kristine paced nervously back and forth in her room. The party had so far been a success. In addition to Rei, Asuka, Touji, Skuld and Urd, Shinji, Yui, Arael, Belldandy, Cayla, Mara, Peorth, Celes, Keima, Lime, Otaru, Lorelei, the Marionette Lime, Cherry and Bloodberry had also come. Currently, everyone was out having cake, waiting for the time to open presents. Everything was in place. Everything, but one person.
"She'll be here."
Kristine turned to see her Grandmother standing in the doorway.
"Mana said she would be here," Belldandy said. "She does keep her word, even though she is a demon."
"But she's missing the party!" Kristine said.
"She has missed quite a bit more time with Dawn," Belldandy replied. "Being late for a party seems rather petty then, don't you think?" The Elder goddess smiled. "Now, come on. There's a piece of cake with your name on it downstairs."
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Cake soon gave way to presents. Sayoko received a number of things, from books, to music, to clothes. Kristine kept glancing nervously at the front door, expecting a hear a knock at any moment.
"Onee-chan."
Kristine looked down to see Sentaro had moved beside her, holding their present for their mother.
Kristine nodded. They couldn't wait any longer. The two walked forward towards Sayoko.
"Mama," Sentaro said, "this is for you."
"We were hoping for something else to be with it," Kristine added, "but......."
Sayoko unwrapped the present, revealing a leather bound book. She opened it to the first page. A smile crept across her face.
"What is it?" Asuka asked, looking over her friend's shoulder. "Awwww."
The first page contained one picture. It was of Belldandy holding a baby Sayoko in her arms. The caption around it said simply Goddess Sayoko, born April 10th, 2001.
"You're soooo cute," Asuka said. "What happened to you?"
Sayoko glared over her shoulder and was about to reply when there was a knock at the door. Kristine's face suddenly lit up.
"She's here!" she cried out, heading towards the front door.
"Who's here?" Kensuke asked.
"Part of Mama's present," Kristine replied.
"It's a person?" Sayoko asked. She started thinking that maybe it was the Gartlant Sabers.
"Yes," Kristine replied, as she started to turn down the short hallway to the front door.
"Can I get a hint?"
Kristine paused at the hallway. She then looked her mother right in the eye.
"Guardian of Shadow," she replied, then vanished into the hallway.
"Guardian of Shadow," Sayoko repeated. "Who is...." Her voice trailed off, her face paling slightly. Behind her, Skuld, Urd and Peorth also paled as the words reached their ears.
"What's a Guardian of Shadow?" Asuka asked.
"I don't know," Rei replied.
"It sounds familiar," Yui added.
"It should," Skuld said softly. "Demon Doublets are known as 'Guardians of Shadow'."
Rei, Asuka and Touji's eyes widened.
"Now, I know what a Doublet is," Asuka said. "Does that mean.......?" Her voice trailed off as Kristine rounded the corner with a figure in black. The figure wore a hooded cloak, with their face hidden in the darkness of the hood.
"Mama," Kristine said softly. "Sentaro and I went through a lot of pictures. During that search, we found a picture of someone we couldn't identify. We talked to Uncle Shinji, then Auntie Mara, and, well......"
The figure pulled back the hood of their cloak. Auburn hair spilled down the figure's back.
"Mana?" Sayoko said softly.
"Hello, Sayoko," Mana replied. She then looked down at the floor as Asuka and Rei glared at her. Skuld and Urd's faces remained neutral.
"Who is that?" Lorelei asked Yui.
Yui shook her head. "I haven't a clue." She glanced at Keima.
"Don't look at me," he replied. "I know as much about my sister's past as you."
"I....." Mana began. "I know..... I........" Her mouth moved, but no words came out. Kristine walked up beside her.
"It's alright," she said softly.
Mana raised her head and looked at Sayoko.
"I'm so sorry about what happened," she finally said. "I should have...... long ago, but I...."
"Hush."
Mana froze as Sayoko stood up and walked right up to Mana until they were inches apart. Asuka and Rei tensed up, ready to jump to the Goddess's defense. Then Shinji laid a hand on their shoulders and shook his head.
"Long ago, I forgave you for attacking me and my friends," Sayoko said. "I told you that as a Goddess, we were to forgive those who sought it." Sayoko's eyes narrowed slightly. "You left me unconscious in alley, and then went and........."
Mana's eye fell to the floor. "I know what I did. Nothing I do can atone for that."
Sayoko raised her hand and gently ran it over Mana's right cheek. The Demoness flinched slightly.
"What happened?" the Goddess asked.
"After Dawn died and my suspension," Mana said, "I just gave up. I'd lost my only friends because of a moment of rage. I had no one." Mana touched her eye patch. "This reminded me that there was still a reason I was around, that I had a second chance." She closed her eye and bowed her head. "I only hope that you could give me another as well."
Mana stood there. For a minute she heard nothing. Then she heard the slight rustle of cloth, then arms wrapping around her. She opened her eye to find Sayoko hugging her.
"Sayoko?" she asked.
"Nothing will ever change the past," Sayoko said. "We must live with our mistakes and move on." Sayoko released Mana slightly and looked her in the face. "Welcome back, Mana."
A tear came to Mana's eye.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"And you two." Sayoko knelt down and looked at her two kids. She pulled them into a hug. "Thank you."
"Awww, Mom," Kristine muttered.
While Sayoko hugged her kids, Asuka, Rei, Touji and Celes walked up to Mana.
"Hello, Kirishima," Asuka said.
"Hello," Mana replied, bowing her head.
Asuka glared at Mana, but couldn't hold it. Finally she threw her hands up in the air.
"Ah, screw it." Asuka grabbed Mana in a hug. "I missed you."
"Does this mean you two are going to fight over Shinji again?" Touji asked.
"Hell, no," Asuka replied as she released Mana. "Shinji is mine!"
"Only until he gets tired of you," Mana said, a hint of a smile appearing. "Then he'll trade you in for the newer model."
"But I'm younger then you!" Asuka shouted.
"Boys like the naughty girls," Mana said. "And I am naughty."
Asuka's face turned red.
"Why, you......"
Yui looked at her father.
"Mom's going to get violent, isn't she?"
Shinji shook his head. "Nah. She'll curse and shout, but that's about it." He chuckled. "She and Mana always fought over me back in the day, even after your mother and I got married. It's just something they do."
"Ahhh."
In another corner, Belldandy stood near her sisters, a smile on her face.
"Old friends getting back together after so long," Belldandy said. "It's so wonderful."
"Are you sure?" Skuld asked. "I mean...... after what happened...."
"As Sayoko said," Belldandy said, "it's all in the past."
"Hmph," Urd mumbled. "Maybe Mom will finally start to relax now."
"She worried about your Evil Step Sister?" Skuld asked with a smile.
"Mana is several things," Urd said, "but she is not my Step Sister. Hell, she's a child compared to me!"
"Feeling your age, hmm?"
"Why, you little....!"
Belldandy let out a sigh as Skuld and Urd began to argue. She glanced over to see Asuka still fuming while Mana smiled. Sayoko watched the two with her children, a smile on her face as well. People who had never met Mana, namely Keima, the Limes, Otaru, Lorelei, Yui and Arael, could only watch in confusion as the red head argued with the auburn haired demon.
"Sometimes things never change," Belldandy said softly to herself.
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That night.
Kensuke had finally got both of his kids off to bed. Kristine protested, saying she was old enough to stay up late, as well as the fact that she was a First Class goddess. But she was overruled. That, and Celes threatened to bite her.
Kensuke stepped out onto the porch. There, he found his wife and Mana sitting side by side on the steps, looking up into the sky.
"So," he said, causing the two to jump, "is this were I learn where Mana's been for the past hundred years or so?"
The two women looked at each other, then back at Kensuke.
"Never ever bring that up again," Sayoko said.
"What's in the past stays in the past," Mana added.
"Ok, ok," Kensuke said, raising his arms in defense. "I assume you're staying the night, then."
"Yes, she is," Sayoko replied.
"Alright. Just be careful you don't wake Celes. She's a cranky Vampire." He then turned and walked back into the house.
Mana let out a sigh and looked back up at the stars.
"I've missed so much," she said. "Your wedding, the kids' births..."
"Hasn't always been great," Sayoko replied. She turned and smiled. "But you're here now. That's all that matters."
Mana returned the smile. "Yeah."
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6 Months later.
"DAMMIT!! WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!!!!"
Sayoko rolled her eyes as her daughter raced about the house. "So what if we're late? It's not like we're going to miss anything important that Grandma can't tell us later."
Kristine turned and glared at her mother. "I'm NEVER late!"
"I seem to remember someone being late on a homework assignment......."
"That's different!"
"Yeah. Of course it is." Sayoko glanced over at Sentaro. "Now are you going to behave for Auntie Mana?"
Sentaro nodded. "Yes, Momma. Auntie Mana is my favorite Auntie."
"That's nice." Sayoko started to walk away when she froze. "I thought Auntie Celes was?"
"She is, too. But Auntie Mana said if I misbehave she'll turn me into an iguana."
Sayoko slowly turned to face Sentaro's babysitter for the night. The babysitter lowered herself further into the chair, hiding her face behind her book.
"I trust my son will not have any scales when I return?"
Mana's eye reappeared over the book.
"Of course he won't," Mana replied. "Though I hear he likes to be duct taped to the ceiling."
Sayoko let out a sigh.
"And I thought the duct tape would end with Celes," Sayoko shook her head. "Alright, the meeting is supposed to be about three hours or so long. We should be back by midnight. Kensuke is on shift at the Shogun's palace. Celes is with him."
"Decided it got boring around the house?" Mana asked.
Sayoko stared at Mana. "You really have no idea. I think she made another bolt hole, but she won't tell me. Anyway, emergency numbers are next to the phone. The ones labeled office and tech support go straight to Mom's office and Yggdrasil control." Sayoko turned and looked at Sentaro. "Try not to annoy your Auntie, ok?"
"Yes, Momma."
Sayoko turned and looked up the stairs.
"COME ON KRIS WE HAVE TO GO!!"
"ALRIGHT ALRIGHT!!"
Kristine flew down the stairs and right into the mirror, glared at her mother as she vanished. Sayoko started through the mirror. She was almost through when her head popped back out.
"You two have a good time tonight!"
"Bye, Momma," Sentaro called out. Mana simply waved. Sayoko waved then vanished completely.
"Hey, Auntie?"
"Hmm?"
"What's an iguana?"
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saa yukou mou furikaeranai kono mama ate nado nakute ii
Come on, lets go. We can't turn back now.
Just like this, aimlessly is fine
yume miru you na yume wa hoshikunai
I don't want a dream that's like I'm dreaming
nagareyuku hoshi ni kaketa negai wa hitotsu kareru koto no nai tsuyosa o kudasai doko made mo tsuzuite yuku kono michi o arukitsuzukete yuku shika nai
I only have one wish for the shooting star Nothing to lose, please give me strength No matter where it leads to, we'll continue on this path We can only walk on
koufuku ni riyuu nanka iranai kanashimi wa souzou kara hajimaru
We don't need a reason for happiness Sadness starts from the imagination
mata sagaseba ii doko ka ni aru wa
We should search again, it's there somewhere
karamiau kimochi no ito o hodoitara omou yori kokoro wa kodoku datta mizu o motomeru sakana mitai ni hakanaku aorarete ashita ni wa ikanai
When we unfasten that strand of mixed emotions The heart is more lonely than we think Like a fish seeking water We can't just move miserably on to tomorrow
nagareyuku hoshi ni kaketa negai wa hitotsu kareru koto no nai tsuyosa o kudasai doko made mo tsuzuite yuku kono michi o arukitsuzukete yuku shika nai
I only have one wish for the shooting star Nothing to lose, please give me strength No matter where it leads to, we'll continue on this path We can only walk on
Little Viking - Future (end theme of Kiddy Grade)
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Author's note
That pretty much ends this arc of the story. I may return to this, but right now I'm going to jump to a different story which will include the Goddesses.
That should start appearing after Christmas.
One more thing before I go........
OMAKE:
Heaven.
Sayoko and Kristine walked side by side toward the auditorium.
"What exactly is this meeting about?" Kristine asked.
"It's not a meeting so much as a lecture," Sayoko replied. "Mom and Mara are giving it."
"What's the lecture about?"
"I'm not entirely sure. But your Grandmother said we should be present."
The two reached the entrance to the auditorium and paused to read the sign:
'To Forgive or Curse: a Lecture for Gods and Demons'
Just underneath the title, in smaller letters, was:
'Presented by Lady Belldandy and Lady Mara'
"Well, this should be interesting," Sayoko said as she reached out to open the door.
"Mom." Sayoko glanced at her daughter and notice she was pointing off to an area. Sayoko followed her daughters finger to see an area where Demons were teleporting in for the lecture. Many seemed to be covered in something white. As the demons approached, Sayoko realized the white stuff was snow.
"What the hell is going on?" Sayoko muttered.
"Excuse me," Kristine said as one demon got near to them. "What's with the snow?"
"Is that what it's called?" the demon said. "All I know is that about ten minutes ago it got really cold and this white stuff started to fall from the skies over hell. Within minutes the ground was covered in it."
"It's snowing in Hell?" Sayoko finally said. "What on earth could cause it to snow in Hell??"
The demon shrugged, then reached out and opened the door. Almost immediately, loud cursing and swearing blasted out into the hallway, causing many in the corridor to jump. Sayoko and Kristine looked at each other and then quickly followed the demons in.
Almost immediately they found the source of the cursing.
It was Belldandy.
And she was saying things that would have made sailors blush.
"Well," Kristine said, "we know why it was snowing in Hell now, don't we?"