Part 22: Calling All Angels
"Why have you returned? Perhaps, it was because you wished for a second chance wholeheartedly? Or… is it, because you can't let go of the past?"
"What're you… talking about?" A little boy with messy black hair and an almost healed black eye appeared in a shadowy realm. The ground beneath his feet was rigid and dry, and lightning rained down from the dark heavens above. "Am I having a nightmare?" he asked with a shiver of fear.
"No, but what you see before you, truly was a nightmare. One such nightmare dreamed by one so terrible. A demon, which thirsted for such power that would have brought an end to everything as you know and do not."
He looked behind himself, and saw a girl lying on the ground, though he could not see her completely as she was shadowed by the darkness. "Why would… someone want such scary power? Why would someone wanna end everything?"
"Because… he shared the same sadness in his heart as you do." The girl said.
"Ah!?" He stepped away from her, even more startled and afraid.
"You don't have to be sad, she's out there… waiting for you."
"Waiting for… who is?" he asked as the girl sat up on her knees and held her hands over her chest.
"An angel, no, a savior. Find her, she will replace your sadness with joy, and fill your heart which has been enveloped in the darkness with light. Always, she will always protect you… as long."
"What? What do I need to do?" He asked the unknown voice intently until he felt a feather brush up against his face. He looked back at the girl to see the angel from the day before smiling at him with her wings folded around them and her arms reaching out to him.
"As long as you need me…"
"Kioshi… Kioshi? Kioshi Akutagawa?"
"Huh?" the little boy stared around. "I recognize that voice…"
"AKUTAGAWA!"
"AH!?" The little boy's head shot up from his desk.
"Sleeping again Kioshi?" his black haired teacher asked as her class giggled.
"Huh… uh? AH!!" He quickly jumped out of his desk and bowed to her repeatedly. "I'm so sorry Miss Goto! I'm sorry!"
She sweat dropped and patted him on the shoulder so that he would calm down. "Relax Kioshi; I was just giving you a little hard time."
He blushed then quickly sat down at his desk.
"You're in pre-school Kioshi, you just need to know the characters I teach you and have fun playing with your friends okay?" She asked.
"O… okay…" He nodded.
"Hmm, here." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box of crayola crayons and put a piece of paper on his desk. "I got some of these when I was in America last summer."
Kioshi smiled slightly and looked up at her before he opened the box.
"You can have them, I'm giving those out as presents to my students that try hard and show good behavior."
"Thank you Miss Goto!" He smiled thankfully, which amazed the teacher slightly as she walked away to tend the rest of her class.
"They're not much, you can find crayons here… maybe he's just happy to get a present?" She thought as she glanced back to see him putting his crayons to use in drawing a picture.
"That angel, I'll find her after school like the voice told me too." He thought as he drew two blue-lined angel wings on a piece of paper. "But… will she like me?"
Meanwhile at Nekomi High…
"Nauthiz!" Akina beamed a happy smile as she held up a bite of rice. "Say 'Aah'!"
"Um?" He blushed slightly and opened his mouth. "Aah?"
"Silly, you're supposed to eat the food when somebody tells you to say 'Aah'!" Akina laughed as Nauthiz quickly ate the food off of her spork.
"I must have looked like a fool with my mouth agape like that…" He grumbled to himself then noticed the sparkling look in her eyes.
"So… how was it?"
"Very good, did you prepare this Akina?" He asked, making her blush.
"Actually… no, it's all instant, I've just always had this little fantasy of feeding my boyfriend lunch." She giggled then looked at him slyly. "And you left the 'Miss' off of my name, you're getting a lot better at doing that lately…"
"Because you asked me to." He reminded, trying to be oblivious to her flirtatious vibes.
"Down girl!" Hope suddenly intervened.
"Look whose talking, don't tell me you don't get all lovey dovey whenever you're together with Tyr."
"Actually, it's more of a blushing and holding hands relationship at the moment." She said coolly as she took a sip of tea.
"Oh…?" Akina eased over next to her. "So… it's 'That' sort of relationship? Hope, I didn't know you had it in you!"
"It's just hands and blushes…." Hope crushed her tea can in her hand and glared at Akina angrily.
"R… Right…" She eased away from her and noticed Nauthiz was quickly jotting down Hope's behavior in his notebook.
"Miss Hope, if I may ask, why isn't Lord Tyr with you now? Now that your wish has technically been granted he should be able to visit with you whenever he pleases."
"Yes, but he has his duties as King of Muspelhiem…" Hope sighed. "So… we can't really visit as much as we want to…"
"… Forgive my asking." Nauthiz looked down shamefully.
"No, no! It's okay really!" Hope shook her hands and laughed. "Well anyway… how have… ah?" She looked up blankly.
"Hope?" Akina looked at her and waved a hand in front of her face. "What's up?"
"… Someone's… calling me?"
"A summon?" Nauthiz asked after finishing another bite of rice.
"No… I don't think it's a summon… I'm still not technically a goddess first class, I shouldn't receive a summon…" She stared out into space, trying to figure out what was calling her. However, unknown to the trio, a creature lurked in the shadows, observing the young hybrid goddess closely.
"You no longer possess the power of the mjollnir blade… excellent…" It cooed evilly. "Tonight young Morisato, I will utterly defeat you and make you bend on hands and knees before mistress… that is, if I don't kill you first!"
Later in the depths of Muspelhiem…
"Lord Tyr, the flames are looking exceptionally bright today, great work!" One of his many assistants complimented.
"Yeah… thanks…" He sighed and dismissed them so that he could stare blankly at the ceiling and be bored with his 'high maintenance' job.
"Yes… the flames are burning bright… with PASSION!" Hild appeared and giggled happily.
"WHAAA?! HILD!?" Tyr panicked. "What are you doing here!?!"
"Me? I'm just checking up on my lil' fire tiger." She said then slid over to his throne like a snake. "So tell me, been enjoying your little visits with Hope?"
"Not that it's any of your business… but yes." He smiled happily.
"Even though… because of your frequent visits you've fallen WAY behind in your duties, I don't think you'll see her for a good… hmm…" She counted her fingers. "Three weeks?"
"THREE WEEKS!?!" he roared out, making the fire outside of his castle roar in fury.
"Relax, maybe just a few days until everything is back to normal…" She reassured, making him slide into his chair.
"Thank Kami-sama…"
"If only…"
"Huh?"
"There was a way for you two to be together… all the time…" Hild grinned. "Tell me... you enjoy being around her… but you want more time, and more of her don't you?"
"Uh… wha… what are you talking about!?" He inched away from her.
"I'm saying, what if you two had to be together, and all that is in that cute little sailor fuku belonged to you?"
Tyr blushed and inched even further from her. "You got one sick mind you know that?"
"Flatterer." She smiled. "So, what do you say? Ready to sign a pact with the devil?"
"Pass, Hope and I will be together eventually…" He got out of his chair and started to walk away.
"Eventually isn't now, and Hope is deserving punishment… Mara! NOW!"
"YES MISTRESS!" Mara shouted out and lunged out of the shadows with a large mallet.
"MARA!?" Tyr stared up at her but before he could dodge he was seeing stars and birds.
"Well done!" Hild applauded. "A perfect KO, someone's been practicing their fighting games I see."
"Yes Mistress." Mara nodded then looked down at Tyr, slightly proud of her work. "But… how is this going to punish them, you're giving him a full paid vacation…"
"Apparently…" Hild held out two silver rings. "You aren't familiar with the curse that surrounds these two rings?"
"The ones I retrieved for you? What about them?" Mara asked.
"Hold up his hand first."
"Right!" Mara picked up his heavy arm and held up his hand. Still, even more curious, when Hild placed one of the silver bands onto his ring finger.
"The rings of Beowulf… Mara." Hild held the ring out to her. "Make sure that when Tyr and Hope next meet, this ring is on her ring finger."
Meanwhile outside of Nekomi Pre-school…
Kioshi walked out of the school with a content smile on his face, and his crayon drawing tightly held in his grasp. A drawing of the angel he had seen the day before, drawn from the best image he could remember her by. Surely if he looked hard enough he'd find her again. "I'm not going to give up; the person in my dream said as long as I need her she'll stay with me… but…" He stopped and looked up confusedly. "How does that work if she's not even with me now?"
"AKUTA!!" A harsh voice shouted out.
"Eegk!!" He looked back to see three boys stomping towards him. "AGH!!" He shouted out and kicked off running.
"HEY!" one shouted out as he dashed after him.
"AKUTAGAWA! COME BACK YOU BUTT KISSER!!" Another shouted as the other two came dashing after him too.
"Are you sure Miss Hope?" Nauthiz asked with a blush smeared across his cheeks and nose.
"Positive, besides, I haven't been attacked in awhile and even if I am it's nothing I can't handle." She smiled reassuringly at him and Akina. "Though, don't get suggestive..."
"No promises." Akina joked, as Nauthiz tilted his head in puzzlement.
Hope grimaced then waved her hands. "Just make sure you have a good time."
"Hope?" Akina stared at her in surprise.
"I was talking about walking!" Hope panicked. "Geez!"
"Um… very well then." Nauthiz was still confused with this sort of human behavior, so he dismissed it and took Akina's arm in his as he escorted her home.
Hope stood and watched them for a minute with a smile. "Aww! They're both just so cute!" Though she was envious, just once she wished that she could walk home arm in arm with her boyfriend. "…I guess it can't be helped, Tyr wouldn't even come to school in the first place!" She laughed to herself as she started off on her way home. "Still… I should be happy that I at least get to see him every now and then … it's better than not at all."
"AKUTA!!!"
"Huh?" She looked to the other side of the street to see a distressed pre-school boy running with all of his might. Following fast behind were three punkish looking pre-school boys shaking their fists and cursing at him. "Why isn't anyone stopping that!?" Hope thought to herself then reared her feet. "I'll stop it!" She quickly dashed down her side walk to get ahead of the boys then hopped the road railing and to the other side.
"AKUTA!! BUTT KISSER! GET BACK HERE!!"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Kioshi shouted and nearly screamed out when he felt himself come to a sudden stop.
"Its okay."
"Ah?"
"HEY! Stay outta this girly!" One of the three boys shouted as they tried to gang up on the high school girl.
"Yah! Give us the butt kisser!"
"Butt Kisser! Give us those crayons Goto gave you!"
"They're mine!" Kioshi growled, trying to hide his fear, but it felt as though his fear was vanishing, he felt warm and safe in the arms of whoever had caught him.
"That's it!" Hope loomed over the boys, wishing that she were slightly taller. "You leave this little boy alone!"
"This ain't your business!!"
"I made it my business!" Hope eyed all three down in one glare and reared back her hand. "Now go! Or else you'll end up walking home with a red throbbing hand mark on your faces!"
"You can't touch us!" One snapped until he felt the sharp sting of a slap on his face.
"Are you two going to mouth off as well?" Hope glared.
"N…No!!"
"Then go home!" She barked, making them both dart off with their sobbing friend. "Honestly… Kids these days…" She sighed to herself. "Wonder why I got so steamed? Oh yeah!" She looked down at the little boy and smiled. "It's okay, they're gone now."
"Un… huh?" He looked up at her.
"Oh!?" She knelt down and put her hands on the sides of his face gently. "That black eye, did they do that to you?"
"… Uh huh…" He nodded; completely amazed that someone that seemed so fierce was so beautiful and kind.
"Argh! Those little brats! I can't believe it!" she thought aloud then dusted off his shoulder. "You shouldn't let people bully you around like that, stand up for yourself and show the world what you're made of, okay?"
"I… Okay…" He nodded, she was so convincing not through her language but just through her being, especially with the setting sun acting as a halo around her head. "A.. halo… HALO!?" He repeated then held up his drawing, staring at her then back at it until he concluded. "You're the angel!!"
"Eh!?" She sweat dropped
"I saw one in the sky the other day! She had long brown hair and really pretty wings!" Kioshi held the drawing up, though Hope was quick to think up an excuse that wasn't a lie.
"But, this angel doesn't have blue triangles on her cheeks, and I do." She smiled as she pointed to the markings on her face. "And you can clearly see, I don't have wings, I'm certainly no angel."
Kioshi stared at her with determination, but sighed in disappointment. "Yeah… I guess it'd be kinda hard to hide wings under that shirt anyway… I'm sorry." He said then looked back down at the drawing. "Thank you for saving me.... I'm gonna go home now…" He bowed then walked by her with his head hanging.
She couldn't help but feel how sad he was, and deep down she felt terrible. "I really am that person you saw the other day…" She thought to herself then smiled. "My name is Hope…"
"Huh?" He stopped and looked back at her as she tilted her head curiously.
"Hope Morisato."
"Um…" He shuffled his feet then looked back up at her.
"Well…" She walked over to him. "What's your name? Is it Akuta?"
"Huh uh, my… My name is Kioshi Akutagawa." He smiled slightly.
"Kioshi? That name fits you." She mussed his hair then held out her hand. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
"Um…" He blushed embarrassingly. "No… I'm… I'm fine."
Hope looked at him for a moment and gave him a small kiss on his forehead. "Cheer up; you seem really sad on the inside." She stood up straight then looked across the street. "Well then, I wish I could've met you under better circumstances Kioshi, sorry." She bowed then waved farewell as she headed towards a crosswalk. "I hope I see you again someday!"
The little preschooler stood there with his blush now smeared across his face. Even though she wasn't his angel, something told him not to let her go. "I… I gotta follow her." He thought and dashed after her.
"So you want me to walk you home then?"
He skid to a stop and looked up at her.
"Geez Kioshi, you're so trusting of nice strangers too… what am I going to do?" She sweat dropped nervously.
"I can't trust you?" He asked.
"Um… well… do you trust me?" She asked as some people stared at them when passing by.
"You're not scary." Kioshi said.
"Um… well thanks." She scratched the back of her head then held out her hand. "Come on, I'm REALLY afraid to let you walk by yourself now."
A little while later at the Morisato Residence…
"Hmm…." Skuld analyzed Sigel's right knee socket, she was lagging in her speed whenever she dashed around to ward off minor nuisances like little spirits, demons, or salesmen. "There! I'm such a genius. If only I showed you and Banpei off to the world I could win one of those Nobel Prize thingies…" She giggled to herself.
"Um… yeah…" Sigel sweat dropped until Skuld's lab door opened. "Belldandy?"
"Huh?" Skuld flipped up her visor and smiled. "Hey sis, what's up?"
She looked around for a moment and sighed. "Hope is not with you either?"
"No, she's not forced training video games with Urd?" Skuld asked.
She shook her head. "I am worried about her; earlier today I felt a dark presence…"
"Don't worry; she's probably caught up fighting another one of those loser spirits!" Skuld waved her hand carefree, "She'll be home by dinner."
Belldandy stood there for a moment. "But then, she had Mjollnir to rely on…" She said to herself, not wanting to trouble her sister as she apologized and closed the door. "Hope… where are you?"
"Here!" Hope held out an ice cream cone to Kioshi whom was sitting on a park swing.
"Thank you Onee-chan!" Kioshi smiled happily as he quickly took it.
"Onee-chan? Kioshi you're very trusting you know that?" Hope teased as she sat in a swing next to him so that she could eat her ice cream cone too.
"No not really, I just feel like I can trust you…" he said.
"I'm that way; it's not really your fault I guess when I think about it." Hope laughed. "Anyway, aren't your parents going to be worried? You're running home late…" Hope said when she noticed that the Nekomi campus clock tolled seven.
His swing chain creaked. "My Mommy is dead… I live with a foster Dad, but he just doesn't care, so I'm okay…"
"Ah!?" Hope felt like a bombshell was dropped onto her. "…"
"Why is your name Hope? That doesn't sound very Japanese." He quickly changed the subject.
"Um…" she shook off her startled feeling and looked up at the sky, swinging a little as she ate her ice cream. "Because, that's my Momma's favorite emotion."
"Hope?" Kioshi asked.
"Yes." Hope nodded. "You see... no one, can really live without hope." She said and looked at him. "It's what drives us everyday to do our best at school, to have fun with our friends, to live our lives to the fullest, wish for the best of things, and to see the ones we love.…" She smiled. "It's my favorite feeling too, I'm glad that I was named after it."
"… It's really pretty…" Kioshi smiled.
"Kioshi means something like 'little voice' right?" Hope looked down at him. "I guess… your mother took a lot of time choosing it for you?"
"I dunno…" He kicked his feet as he ate his ice cream too.
She sighed as she finished her cone and tossed the paper wrapping into a trashcan nearby.
"I wish that you were that angel I saw the other day… you're so nice Hope, and… well… I've always wanted a big sister like you…"
"Hmm!?" Another bombshell was dropped on Hope, but this time she fell back and hit the ground hard.
"Agh!? Are you okay!?" Kioshi panicked.
"Ugh… uh huh… It's just…" Hope pulled herself back into her swing set and tried to swat some dust off of her clothes. "No one's ever said something so cute like that to me… well." She held a finger to her chin in thought. "Except for my big sister…."
Kioshi blushed again then jumped out of his swing as he finished his cone. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called you Onee-chan then…. Well, I'll go now…"
"Are you sure?" Hope asked.
"Uh huh." He nodded.
"Okay then, but I'm making sure you get hom…" Her eyes widened.
"Hope?" He stared at her blankly, but just then, he heard a crackling sound, it crackled and popped, soon he saw crimson lightning surging on the ground beneath them in a circle until a large dome formed around the park.
"What is this!?" Hope stared around; everyone in the park was gone, except for her.
"Don't worry; those lowly humans aren't dead… yet. They will meet their fate at my Mistress's hands…" a voice said, with no tone.
"Not good…" Hope looked around.
"Up here!"
"Ah!?" She looked up, to see a demonic ninja standing on top of a lamp post with his arms folded boldly across his chest. "You, what do you want with me? My blood?"
"Only for my mistress, she craves to bleed you of every drop and make you suffer to the fullest extent. Such a desire shall be granted, for I am the great demonic ninja! I am… SUSHEE!"
Hope blinked and sweat dropped. "Sushi?"
"SUSHEE!" He barked angrily, but quickly regained his composure. "Now that you know my identity, goddess of revolution, I shall kill you!"
Hope waved her arms frantically and ran away; dodging several ninja stars he was throwing at her. "It's your fault for telling me in the first place!!" She whined until she dodged into a cement dome. "Eeep! He's crazy…"
"What kind of ninja is named Sushi anyway?"
"Huh? AGH!?" Hope panicked when she saw Kioshi's little blue eyes blinking in the dark. "Kioshi!? What… What are you doing here!?"
"Hiding…" He answered simply.
"Uh… no that's not quite…" She sweat dropped again.
"Where is everybody?" He asked.
"SUSHEE IS HERE!" The ninja's eyes peered through the darkness as well only to have four blue eyes widen and vanish into the red light outside.
"I have to get you out of here, that guy won't think twice about hurting a kid!" Hope panicked and placed Kioshi under a set of slides. "Stay here and don't move, I'll do everything I can to protect you alright?"
"Uh huh." He nodded, but what was she going to do?
"I HAVE YOU!" The ninja broke through the dome with his ninja sword reared back.
"No way! Mjollnir!" Hope drew out the hilt, but was quickly reminded when only a fourth of the blade emerged.
"Defending with a broken sword!? PATHETIC!" Sushee laughed as he slammed his sword down on her broken blade.
"HRNNGG!" Hope slid back as she tried to hold against him. "Ninja's are supposed to be QUIET!" She barked as she kicked him in the waist.
"Quiet!? I need not be when my skills are so divine!" He grabbed her ankle and flung her into the ground. "Now surrender!"
"Not to the likes of someone as weak as you!" Hope flung him to the ground while he still had grip of her ankle then jumped back up to her feet. "Geez! You don't even deserve to be called a ninja!"
"Is it okay now Hope!?" Kioshi called out.
"Hrng!? AH! The child!" Sushee grinned and flicked his wrist. Three stars appeared between his fingers on his right hand. "I hear that you are quite fast goddess of revolution…" He cackled and glared over at Kioshi. "Let's just see how fast you are! No point in not having a little fun before I kill you!!" He laughed as he flung the dazzling stars of doom towards the frightened little boy.
"KIOSHI!" Hope kicked off the ground and dashed towards him. "If only… If only I hadn't broken Mjollnir!" she thought as she raced past the second ninja star and dove towards Kioshi. "I'd have finished this sooner! And he wouldn't be so scared!" she thought as she quickly snatched Kioshi in her arms as two stars blazed by her shoulders.
"LOOK OUT!" Kioshi cried.
"UNN!" Hope hit the ground with him.
(SSSHK!)
"….Ah?" Hope saw her hair flow over her shoulders.
"Heh, now that's what I call a buzz cut…" Sushee grinned with delight. "Though I'm impressed that you ALMOST dodged all my stars."
"Hope?" Kioshi stared at her blankly as she moved her hand down her hair; it ended just barely below her shoulders. "You JERK!! How could you do that to her!?"
"Next time… it will be her head that falls to the ground…" He grinned as he prepared another star. "And then… maybe I'll kill you…"
"Don't you touch him!" Hope snapped and spun around to face him. "The only one who's going to die here today is you! You disgraceful spirit!"
"THEN COME AND KILL ME!!" He roared as he bounded off towards her.
"YAAH!!" Hope bounded from her ground and held back Mjollnir so that she could strike him with full force.
"Why does he want to hurt her so badly!? Why?" Kioshi stared then looked at Hope. "And why… why is she protecting me?"
They were about to clash together; Hope's sword would be no match to his full length blade.
"NOW YOU DIE!!"
"HOPE!!" Kioshi cried out with tears streaming down his face.
"Ah?" A light surrounded her body.
"Give to her… the strength she needs… the strength she needs to fight…"
"But… but what can we do!? We're just…"
"Humans? Hmph, perhaps you are, and yet… Hope, is something more…"
"What do you…"
"Give her strength, think young one, imagine her a warrior, full of strength and power… and believe in her with all the power you possess in your heart…NOW!" Two golden eyes glared at him.
Kioshi clenched his fists in determination and shouted, "I BELIEVE IN HOPE!!"
"This light!?!" Sushee winced until Hope came bursting through the light of the young boy's heart.
"YAAAAAAAH!!!" In Hope's hands was a blade of pure light.
"No… NOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHH!!" Sushee was overwhelmed when Hope dashed by him and came to a quick stop with her blade aimed to the side. "Ah…. Ahaha…." He grinned then turned to face her. "Fool… now I'll kil…"
She looked back at him and smiled innocently. "Shouldn't have moved…"
A glowing slash went along his waist, separating him into two halves. "Hnngg!!"
"Bye Bye!" Hope waved simply and watched as the ninja vanished into little spheres of light. "Now that was one of the most peculiar fights of my life. Whoever keeps sending these themed baddies after me better start taking me seriously and just come after me herself, I'd really like to get this little ordeal in my life out of the way."
"You're a…"
"AH!?" Hope looked back nervously to see Kioshi's eyes sparkling and wide with wonder. "Um… Now, it's not what you think…"
"A MAGICAL GIRL!!"
"Eh? Hauuu…" Hope tripped over. "Again…?"
"I was hoping you were my angel but wow! A magical girl!? You're just the coolest! First you were all like…" He ranted on about her battle, though Hope was too busy wondering if her mother had ever encountered an odd confusion of identities.
"Well Kioshi, you see I'm not…" She looked down on the ground and blinked in disbelief. "My sword…" She grasped Mjollnir's hilt and lifted it up. A Silvery white blade that was hollow in the middle, resonating with pure light had been forged from this little boy's heart.
"Magical girls shouldn't fight without a weapon, don't you know that? It's dangerous!" Kioshi warned sternly until Hope put a hand on his shoulder.
"Kioshi, I'm not a magical girl."
"But…"
"You see, I'm human, just like you, but I'm also half… well, goddess." She smiled. "That angel you saw the other day, it probably was me…"
"But…"
"Hmm?"
"You have a magical girl costume." He pointed at her new garb.
"EH!?" She stared at herself in shock. Her hair tie cloth was wrapped around her neck like a scarf, and her battle garb, looked more like a bikini with warrior belts and cloths. "What the… what is this!? I look like an RPG heroine!" Hope blushed.
"The voice in my head told me to make you into a warrior, and that was the first thing I could think of…" Kioshi said nervously.
"What inspired this?" Hope looked down at him worriedly.
"A girl from one of my Dad's magazines."
"What sort of Magazine!?" Hope sweat dropped, until she noticed that the barrier around them was beginning to disappear. "First! Let's get out of here before someone sees me!" she quickly grabbed his hand and dashed away.
Meanwhile back at the Morisato residence…
Keiichi was busy at work, drawing up a plan for an old styled chopper for the Whirl Wind shop. "Hahh…" He sat back and rubbed his eyes and popped his neck. "Hope wanted to help me with this…" He looked at the clock, it was nine o' clock and Nauthiz had come back at least an hour before then. "… what if…" His eyes widened, suddenly he could see a distorted image of Tyr laughing in his mind. "That guy finally cracked… I mean he is an adult demon… what if… he found Hope and he…" He crushed his pencil in his hand. "YAAAAGGH!!"
"Dear?" Belldandy stared at him from his workshop door.
"EH!?" He looked back at her and shook his hands. "Oh! Sorry! I just… Do you know where Hope is!?"
"I believe she may have had another battle with a demon or spirit…"
"WHA!?"
"She's okay though, and yet her waves seem confused and happy…" She held her index finger to her chin in thought.
"Confused and… HAPPY!?" His eyes grew bug wide. "I'M GOING TO FIND HER!!"
"I'm home!"
"Oh?" Belldandy looked over and sighed in relief. "Hope, you're… oh my?"
"Whew, you had me worried Hope where have you bee…." Keiichi walked to the door and stared at her in shock.
"Um… how does it look?" Hope ran her fingers through her hair.
"You cut your hair off?"
"Well, the ninja spirit I fought today kinda lopped my hair of with a ninja star…" She blushed. "Momma, could you even it out for me?"
"Of course!" Belldandy walked over to her and gave her a relieved hug. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Hope smiled.
"And don't worry; I think your hair looks simply darling."
Keiichi stared for a moment, that hair, made her look her age. Not much like his little racer, but more like a goddess.
"Poppa?"
"Um… well Belldandy said you had confused and happy waves… what happened today?" He asked.
Hope sighed still with a smile. "Long story… Kioshi?"
"Huh?" They both looked at her until they saw a little boy with a suitcase in hand walk into the house.
"Kioshi, these are my parents, Keiichi and Belldandy Morisato."
He blushed slightly and bowed. "Nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too Kioshi." Belldandy smiled and bowed back, Keiichi nodded and bowed as well.
Hope smiled brightly and dropped to her knees so she could give Kioshi a hug. "Momma, Poppa, say hello to my little brother Kioshi Morisato."
Belldandy and Keiichi both stared in surprise, however their expressions quickly differed when Belldandy's eyes began to sparkle. "Oh how wonderful!"
"Um… Hope?" Keiichi stared then sweat dropped nervously. "I think I would have been better off if she was somewhere with Tyr…"
*A Fan-Authors Worthless Rant!*
this chapter was pretty much an attempt to bring back Kioshi, Hope's former little brother from the failed attempt 'The Temple Life'. He's just an absolute cutey :3 Also, if the way Ch22. ended was weird… sorry, it's just because X-mas is coming up pretty fast and I want to type up the X-mas special :3 Because I LOVE CHRISTMAS!! XD YEAH!! :3
See ya next time ;3
(Teaser: You'll find out why Kioshi is now a Morisato in ch. 23)
"Why have you returned? Perhaps, it was because you wished for a second chance wholeheartedly? Or… is it, because you can't let go of the past?"
"What're you… talking about?" A little boy with messy black hair and an almost healed black eye appeared in a shadowy realm. The ground beneath his feet was rigid and dry, and lightning rained down from the dark heavens above. "Am I having a nightmare?" he asked with a shiver of fear.
"No, but what you see before you, truly was a nightmare. One such nightmare dreamed by one so terrible. A demon, which thirsted for such power that would have brought an end to everything as you know and do not."
He looked behind himself, and saw a girl lying on the ground, though he could not see her completely as she was shadowed by the darkness. "Why would… someone want such scary power? Why would someone wanna end everything?"
"Because… he shared the same sadness in his heart as you do." The girl said.
"Ah!?" He stepped away from her, even more startled and afraid.
"You don't have to be sad, she's out there… waiting for you."
"Waiting for… who is?" he asked as the girl sat up on her knees and held her hands over her chest.
"An angel, no, a savior. Find her, she will replace your sadness with joy, and fill your heart which has been enveloped in the darkness with light. Always, she will always protect you… as long."
"What? What do I need to do?" He asked the unknown voice intently until he felt a feather brush up against his face. He looked back at the girl to see the angel from the day before smiling at him with her wings folded around them and her arms reaching out to him.
"As long as you need me…"
"Kioshi… Kioshi? Kioshi Akutagawa?"
"Huh?" the little boy stared around. "I recognize that voice…"
"AKUTAGAWA!"
"AH!?" The little boy's head shot up from his desk.
"Sleeping again Kioshi?" his black haired teacher asked as her class giggled.
"Huh… uh? AH!!" He quickly jumped out of his desk and bowed to her repeatedly. "I'm so sorry Miss Goto! I'm sorry!"
She sweat dropped and patted him on the shoulder so that he would calm down. "Relax Kioshi; I was just giving you a little hard time."
He blushed then quickly sat down at his desk.
"You're in pre-school Kioshi, you just need to know the characters I teach you and have fun playing with your friends okay?" She asked.
"O… okay…" He nodded.
"Hmm, here." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box of crayola crayons and put a piece of paper on his desk. "I got some of these when I was in America last summer."
Kioshi smiled slightly and looked up at her before he opened the box.
"You can have them, I'm giving those out as presents to my students that try hard and show good behavior."
"Thank you Miss Goto!" He smiled thankfully, which amazed the teacher slightly as she walked away to tend the rest of her class.
"They're not much, you can find crayons here… maybe he's just happy to get a present?" She thought as she glanced back to see him putting his crayons to use in drawing a picture.
"That angel, I'll find her after school like the voice told me too." He thought as he drew two blue-lined angel wings on a piece of paper. "But… will she like me?"
Meanwhile at Nekomi High…
"Nauthiz!" Akina beamed a happy smile as she held up a bite of rice. "Say 'Aah'!"
"Um?" He blushed slightly and opened his mouth. "Aah?"
"Silly, you're supposed to eat the food when somebody tells you to say 'Aah'!" Akina laughed as Nauthiz quickly ate the food off of her spork.
"I must have looked like a fool with my mouth agape like that…" He grumbled to himself then noticed the sparkling look in her eyes.
"So… how was it?"
"Very good, did you prepare this Akina?" He asked, making her blush.
"Actually… no, it's all instant, I've just always had this little fantasy of feeding my boyfriend lunch." She giggled then looked at him slyly. "And you left the 'Miss' off of my name, you're getting a lot better at doing that lately…"
"Because you asked me to." He reminded, trying to be oblivious to her flirtatious vibes.
"Down girl!" Hope suddenly intervened.
"Look whose talking, don't tell me you don't get all lovey dovey whenever you're together with Tyr."
"Actually, it's more of a blushing and holding hands relationship at the moment." She said coolly as she took a sip of tea.
"Oh…?" Akina eased over next to her. "So… it's 'That' sort of relationship? Hope, I didn't know you had it in you!"
"It's just hands and blushes…." Hope crushed her tea can in her hand and glared at Akina angrily.
"R… Right…" She eased away from her and noticed Nauthiz was quickly jotting down Hope's behavior in his notebook.
"Miss Hope, if I may ask, why isn't Lord Tyr with you now? Now that your wish has technically been granted he should be able to visit with you whenever he pleases."
"Yes, but he has his duties as King of Muspelhiem…" Hope sighed. "So… we can't really visit as much as we want to…"
"… Forgive my asking." Nauthiz looked down shamefully.
"No, no! It's okay really!" Hope shook her hands and laughed. "Well anyway… how have… ah?" She looked up blankly.
"Hope?" Akina looked at her and waved a hand in front of her face. "What's up?"
"… Someone's… calling me?"
"A summon?" Nauthiz asked after finishing another bite of rice.
"No… I don't think it's a summon… I'm still not technically a goddess first class, I shouldn't receive a summon…" She stared out into space, trying to figure out what was calling her. However, unknown to the trio, a creature lurked in the shadows, observing the young hybrid goddess closely.
"You no longer possess the power of the mjollnir blade… excellent…" It cooed evilly. "Tonight young Morisato, I will utterly defeat you and make you bend on hands and knees before mistress… that is, if I don't kill you first!"
Later in the depths of Muspelhiem…
"Lord Tyr, the flames are looking exceptionally bright today, great work!" One of his many assistants complimented.
"Yeah… thanks…" He sighed and dismissed them so that he could stare blankly at the ceiling and be bored with his 'high maintenance' job.
"Yes… the flames are burning bright… with PASSION!" Hild appeared and giggled happily.
"WHAAA?! HILD!?" Tyr panicked. "What are you doing here!?!"
"Me? I'm just checking up on my lil' fire tiger." She said then slid over to his throne like a snake. "So tell me, been enjoying your little visits with Hope?"
"Not that it's any of your business… but yes." He smiled happily.
"Even though… because of your frequent visits you've fallen WAY behind in your duties, I don't think you'll see her for a good… hmm…" She counted her fingers. "Three weeks?"
"THREE WEEKS!?!" he roared out, making the fire outside of his castle roar in fury.
"Relax, maybe just a few days until everything is back to normal…" She reassured, making him slide into his chair.
"Thank Kami-sama…"
"If only…"
"Huh?"
"There was a way for you two to be together… all the time…" Hild grinned. "Tell me... you enjoy being around her… but you want more time, and more of her don't you?"
"Uh… wha… what are you talking about!?" He inched away from her.
"I'm saying, what if you two had to be together, and all that is in that cute little sailor fuku belonged to you?"
Tyr blushed and inched even further from her. "You got one sick mind you know that?"
"Flatterer." She smiled. "So, what do you say? Ready to sign a pact with the devil?"
"Pass, Hope and I will be together eventually…" He got out of his chair and started to walk away.
"Eventually isn't now, and Hope is deserving punishment… Mara! NOW!"
"YES MISTRESS!" Mara shouted out and lunged out of the shadows with a large mallet.
"MARA!?" Tyr stared up at her but before he could dodge he was seeing stars and birds.
"Well done!" Hild applauded. "A perfect KO, someone's been practicing their fighting games I see."
"Yes Mistress." Mara nodded then looked down at Tyr, slightly proud of her work. "But… how is this going to punish them, you're giving him a full paid vacation…"
"Apparently…" Hild held out two silver rings. "You aren't familiar with the curse that surrounds these two rings?"
"The ones I retrieved for you? What about them?" Mara asked.
"Hold up his hand first."
"Right!" Mara picked up his heavy arm and held up his hand. Still, even more curious, when Hild placed one of the silver bands onto his ring finger.
"The rings of Beowulf… Mara." Hild held the ring out to her. "Make sure that when Tyr and Hope next meet, this ring is on her ring finger."
Meanwhile outside of Nekomi Pre-school…
Kioshi walked out of the school with a content smile on his face, and his crayon drawing tightly held in his grasp. A drawing of the angel he had seen the day before, drawn from the best image he could remember her by. Surely if he looked hard enough he'd find her again. "I'm not going to give up; the person in my dream said as long as I need her she'll stay with me… but…" He stopped and looked up confusedly. "How does that work if she's not even with me now?"
"AKUTA!!" A harsh voice shouted out.
"Eegk!!" He looked back to see three boys stomping towards him. "AGH!!" He shouted out and kicked off running.
"HEY!" one shouted out as he dashed after him.
"AKUTAGAWA! COME BACK YOU BUTT KISSER!!" Another shouted as the other two came dashing after him too.
"Are you sure Miss Hope?" Nauthiz asked with a blush smeared across his cheeks and nose.
"Positive, besides, I haven't been attacked in awhile and even if I am it's nothing I can't handle." She smiled reassuringly at him and Akina. "Though, don't get suggestive..."
"No promises." Akina joked, as Nauthiz tilted his head in puzzlement.
Hope grimaced then waved her hands. "Just make sure you have a good time."
"Hope?" Akina stared at her in surprise.
"I was talking about walking!" Hope panicked. "Geez!"
"Um… very well then." Nauthiz was still confused with this sort of human behavior, so he dismissed it and took Akina's arm in his as he escorted her home.
Hope stood and watched them for a minute with a smile. "Aww! They're both just so cute!" Though she was envious, just once she wished that she could walk home arm in arm with her boyfriend. "…I guess it can't be helped, Tyr wouldn't even come to school in the first place!" She laughed to herself as she started off on her way home. "Still… I should be happy that I at least get to see him every now and then … it's better than not at all."
"AKUTA!!!"
"Huh?" She looked to the other side of the street to see a distressed pre-school boy running with all of his might. Following fast behind were three punkish looking pre-school boys shaking their fists and cursing at him. "Why isn't anyone stopping that!?" Hope thought to herself then reared her feet. "I'll stop it!" She quickly dashed down her side walk to get ahead of the boys then hopped the road railing and to the other side.
"AKUTA!! BUTT KISSER! GET BACK HERE!!"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Kioshi shouted and nearly screamed out when he felt himself come to a sudden stop.
"Its okay."
"Ah?"
"HEY! Stay outta this girly!" One of the three boys shouted as they tried to gang up on the high school girl.
"Yah! Give us the butt kisser!"
"Butt Kisser! Give us those crayons Goto gave you!"
"They're mine!" Kioshi growled, trying to hide his fear, but it felt as though his fear was vanishing, he felt warm and safe in the arms of whoever had caught him.
"That's it!" Hope loomed over the boys, wishing that she were slightly taller. "You leave this little boy alone!"
"This ain't your business!!"
"I made it my business!" Hope eyed all three down in one glare and reared back her hand. "Now go! Or else you'll end up walking home with a red throbbing hand mark on your faces!"
"You can't touch us!" One snapped until he felt the sharp sting of a slap on his face.
"Are you two going to mouth off as well?" Hope glared.
"N…No!!"
"Then go home!" She barked, making them both dart off with their sobbing friend. "Honestly… Kids these days…" She sighed to herself. "Wonder why I got so steamed? Oh yeah!" She looked down at the little boy and smiled. "It's okay, they're gone now."
"Un… huh?" He looked up at her.
"Oh!?" She knelt down and put her hands on the sides of his face gently. "That black eye, did they do that to you?"
"… Uh huh…" He nodded; completely amazed that someone that seemed so fierce was so beautiful and kind.
"Argh! Those little brats! I can't believe it!" she thought aloud then dusted off his shoulder. "You shouldn't let people bully you around like that, stand up for yourself and show the world what you're made of, okay?"
"I… Okay…" He nodded, she was so convincing not through her language but just through her being, especially with the setting sun acting as a halo around her head. "A.. halo… HALO!?" He repeated then held up his drawing, staring at her then back at it until he concluded. "You're the angel!!"
"Eh!?" She sweat dropped
"I saw one in the sky the other day! She had long brown hair and really pretty wings!" Kioshi held the drawing up, though Hope was quick to think up an excuse that wasn't a lie.
"But, this angel doesn't have blue triangles on her cheeks, and I do." She smiled as she pointed to the markings on her face. "And you can clearly see, I don't have wings, I'm certainly no angel."
Kioshi stared at her with determination, but sighed in disappointment. "Yeah… I guess it'd be kinda hard to hide wings under that shirt anyway… I'm sorry." He said then looked back down at the drawing. "Thank you for saving me.... I'm gonna go home now…" He bowed then walked by her with his head hanging.
She couldn't help but feel how sad he was, and deep down she felt terrible. "I really am that person you saw the other day…" She thought to herself then smiled. "My name is Hope…"
"Huh?" He stopped and looked back at her as she tilted her head curiously.
"Hope Morisato."
"Um…" He shuffled his feet then looked back up at her.
"Well…" She walked over to him. "What's your name? Is it Akuta?"
"Huh uh, my… My name is Kioshi Akutagawa." He smiled slightly.
"Kioshi? That name fits you." She mussed his hair then held out her hand. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
"Um…" He blushed embarrassingly. "No… I'm… I'm fine."
Hope looked at him for a moment and gave him a small kiss on his forehead. "Cheer up; you seem really sad on the inside." She stood up straight then looked across the street. "Well then, I wish I could've met you under better circumstances Kioshi, sorry." She bowed then waved farewell as she headed towards a crosswalk. "I hope I see you again someday!"
The little preschooler stood there with his blush now smeared across his face. Even though she wasn't his angel, something told him not to let her go. "I… I gotta follow her." He thought and dashed after her.
"So you want me to walk you home then?"
He skid to a stop and looked up at her.
"Geez Kioshi, you're so trusting of nice strangers too… what am I going to do?" She sweat dropped nervously.
"I can't trust you?" He asked.
"Um… well… do you trust me?" She asked as some people stared at them when passing by.
"You're not scary." Kioshi said.
"Um… well thanks." She scratched the back of her head then held out her hand. "Come on, I'm REALLY afraid to let you walk by yourself now."
A little while later at the Morisato Residence…
"Hmm…." Skuld analyzed Sigel's right knee socket, she was lagging in her speed whenever she dashed around to ward off minor nuisances like little spirits, demons, or salesmen. "There! I'm such a genius. If only I showed you and Banpei off to the world I could win one of those Nobel Prize thingies…" She giggled to herself.
"Um… yeah…" Sigel sweat dropped until Skuld's lab door opened. "Belldandy?"
"Huh?" Skuld flipped up her visor and smiled. "Hey sis, what's up?"
She looked around for a moment and sighed. "Hope is not with you either?"
"No, she's not forced training video games with Urd?" Skuld asked.
She shook her head. "I am worried about her; earlier today I felt a dark presence…"
"Don't worry; she's probably caught up fighting another one of those loser spirits!" Skuld waved her hand carefree, "She'll be home by dinner."
Belldandy stood there for a moment. "But then, she had Mjollnir to rely on…" She said to herself, not wanting to trouble her sister as she apologized and closed the door. "Hope… where are you?"
"Here!" Hope held out an ice cream cone to Kioshi whom was sitting on a park swing.
"Thank you Onee-chan!" Kioshi smiled happily as he quickly took it.
"Onee-chan? Kioshi you're very trusting you know that?" Hope teased as she sat in a swing next to him so that she could eat her ice cream cone too.
"No not really, I just feel like I can trust you…" he said.
"I'm that way; it's not really your fault I guess when I think about it." Hope laughed. "Anyway, aren't your parents going to be worried? You're running home late…" Hope said when she noticed that the Nekomi campus clock tolled seven.
His swing chain creaked. "My Mommy is dead… I live with a foster Dad, but he just doesn't care, so I'm okay…"
"Ah!?" Hope felt like a bombshell was dropped onto her. "…"
"Why is your name Hope? That doesn't sound very Japanese." He quickly changed the subject.
"Um…" she shook off her startled feeling and looked up at the sky, swinging a little as she ate her ice cream. "Because, that's my Momma's favorite emotion."
"Hope?" Kioshi asked.
"Yes." Hope nodded. "You see... no one, can really live without hope." She said and looked at him. "It's what drives us everyday to do our best at school, to have fun with our friends, to live our lives to the fullest, wish for the best of things, and to see the ones we love.…" She smiled. "It's my favorite feeling too, I'm glad that I was named after it."
"… It's really pretty…" Kioshi smiled.
"Kioshi means something like 'little voice' right?" Hope looked down at him. "I guess… your mother took a lot of time choosing it for you?"
"I dunno…" He kicked his feet as he ate his ice cream too.
She sighed as she finished her cone and tossed the paper wrapping into a trashcan nearby.
"I wish that you were that angel I saw the other day… you're so nice Hope, and… well… I've always wanted a big sister like you…"
"Hmm!?" Another bombshell was dropped on Hope, but this time she fell back and hit the ground hard.
"Agh!? Are you okay!?" Kioshi panicked.
"Ugh… uh huh… It's just…" Hope pulled herself back into her swing set and tried to swat some dust off of her clothes. "No one's ever said something so cute like that to me… well." She held a finger to her chin in thought. "Except for my big sister…."
Kioshi blushed again then jumped out of his swing as he finished his cone. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called you Onee-chan then…. Well, I'll go now…"
"Are you sure?" Hope asked.
"Uh huh." He nodded.
"Okay then, but I'm making sure you get hom…" Her eyes widened.
"Hope?" He stared at her blankly, but just then, he heard a crackling sound, it crackled and popped, soon he saw crimson lightning surging on the ground beneath them in a circle until a large dome formed around the park.
"What is this!?" Hope stared around; everyone in the park was gone, except for her.
"Don't worry; those lowly humans aren't dead… yet. They will meet their fate at my Mistress's hands…" a voice said, with no tone.
"Not good…" Hope looked around.
"Up here!"
"Ah!?" She looked up, to see a demonic ninja standing on top of a lamp post with his arms folded boldly across his chest. "You, what do you want with me? My blood?"
"Only for my mistress, she craves to bleed you of every drop and make you suffer to the fullest extent. Such a desire shall be granted, for I am the great demonic ninja! I am… SUSHEE!"
Hope blinked and sweat dropped. "Sushi?"
"SUSHEE!" He barked angrily, but quickly regained his composure. "Now that you know my identity, goddess of revolution, I shall kill you!"
Hope waved her arms frantically and ran away; dodging several ninja stars he was throwing at her. "It's your fault for telling me in the first place!!" She whined until she dodged into a cement dome. "Eeep! He's crazy…"
"What kind of ninja is named Sushi anyway?"
"Huh? AGH!?" Hope panicked when she saw Kioshi's little blue eyes blinking in the dark. "Kioshi!? What… What are you doing here!?"
"Hiding…" He answered simply.
"Uh… no that's not quite…" She sweat dropped again.
"Where is everybody?" He asked.
"SUSHEE IS HERE!" The ninja's eyes peered through the darkness as well only to have four blue eyes widen and vanish into the red light outside.
"I have to get you out of here, that guy won't think twice about hurting a kid!" Hope panicked and placed Kioshi under a set of slides. "Stay here and don't move, I'll do everything I can to protect you alright?"
"Uh huh." He nodded, but what was she going to do?
"I HAVE YOU!" The ninja broke through the dome with his ninja sword reared back.
"No way! Mjollnir!" Hope drew out the hilt, but was quickly reminded when only a fourth of the blade emerged.
"Defending with a broken sword!? PATHETIC!" Sushee laughed as he slammed his sword down on her broken blade.
"HRNNGG!" Hope slid back as she tried to hold against him. "Ninja's are supposed to be QUIET!" She barked as she kicked him in the waist.
"Quiet!? I need not be when my skills are so divine!" He grabbed her ankle and flung her into the ground. "Now surrender!"
"Not to the likes of someone as weak as you!" Hope flung him to the ground while he still had grip of her ankle then jumped back up to her feet. "Geez! You don't even deserve to be called a ninja!"
"Is it okay now Hope!?" Kioshi called out.
"Hrng!? AH! The child!" Sushee grinned and flicked his wrist. Three stars appeared between his fingers on his right hand. "I hear that you are quite fast goddess of revolution…" He cackled and glared over at Kioshi. "Let's just see how fast you are! No point in not having a little fun before I kill you!!" He laughed as he flung the dazzling stars of doom towards the frightened little boy.
"KIOSHI!" Hope kicked off the ground and dashed towards him. "If only… If only I hadn't broken Mjollnir!" she thought as she raced past the second ninja star and dove towards Kioshi. "I'd have finished this sooner! And he wouldn't be so scared!" she thought as she quickly snatched Kioshi in her arms as two stars blazed by her shoulders.
"LOOK OUT!" Kioshi cried.
"UNN!" Hope hit the ground with him.
(SSSHK!)
"….Ah?" Hope saw her hair flow over her shoulders.
"Heh, now that's what I call a buzz cut…" Sushee grinned with delight. "Though I'm impressed that you ALMOST dodged all my stars."
"Hope?" Kioshi stared at her blankly as she moved her hand down her hair; it ended just barely below her shoulders. "You JERK!! How could you do that to her!?"
"Next time… it will be her head that falls to the ground…" He grinned as he prepared another star. "And then… maybe I'll kill you…"
"Don't you touch him!" Hope snapped and spun around to face him. "The only one who's going to die here today is you! You disgraceful spirit!"
"THEN COME AND KILL ME!!" He roared as he bounded off towards her.
"YAAH!!" Hope bounded from her ground and held back Mjollnir so that she could strike him with full force.
"Why does he want to hurt her so badly!? Why?" Kioshi stared then looked at Hope. "And why… why is she protecting me?"
They were about to clash together; Hope's sword would be no match to his full length blade.
"NOW YOU DIE!!"
"HOPE!!" Kioshi cried out with tears streaming down his face.
"Ah?" A light surrounded her body.
"Give to her… the strength she needs… the strength she needs to fight…"
"But… but what can we do!? We're just…"
"Humans? Hmph, perhaps you are, and yet… Hope, is something more…"
"What do you…"
"Give her strength, think young one, imagine her a warrior, full of strength and power… and believe in her with all the power you possess in your heart…NOW!" Two golden eyes glared at him.
Kioshi clenched his fists in determination and shouted, "I BELIEVE IN HOPE!!"
"This light!?!" Sushee winced until Hope came bursting through the light of the young boy's heart.
"YAAAAAAAH!!!" In Hope's hands was a blade of pure light.
"No… NOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHH!!" Sushee was overwhelmed when Hope dashed by him and came to a quick stop with her blade aimed to the side. "Ah…. Ahaha…." He grinned then turned to face her. "Fool… now I'll kil…"
She looked back at him and smiled innocently. "Shouldn't have moved…"
A glowing slash went along his waist, separating him into two halves. "Hnngg!!"
"Bye Bye!" Hope waved simply and watched as the ninja vanished into little spheres of light. "Now that was one of the most peculiar fights of my life. Whoever keeps sending these themed baddies after me better start taking me seriously and just come after me herself, I'd really like to get this little ordeal in my life out of the way."
"You're a…"
"AH!?" Hope looked back nervously to see Kioshi's eyes sparkling and wide with wonder. "Um… Now, it's not what you think…"
"A MAGICAL GIRL!!"
"Eh? Hauuu…" Hope tripped over. "Again…?"
"I was hoping you were my angel but wow! A magical girl!? You're just the coolest! First you were all like…" He ranted on about her battle, though Hope was too busy wondering if her mother had ever encountered an odd confusion of identities.
"Well Kioshi, you see I'm not…" She looked down on the ground and blinked in disbelief. "My sword…" She grasped Mjollnir's hilt and lifted it up. A Silvery white blade that was hollow in the middle, resonating with pure light had been forged from this little boy's heart.
"Magical girls shouldn't fight without a weapon, don't you know that? It's dangerous!" Kioshi warned sternly until Hope put a hand on his shoulder.
"Kioshi, I'm not a magical girl."
"But…"
"You see, I'm human, just like you, but I'm also half… well, goddess." She smiled. "That angel you saw the other day, it probably was me…"
"But…"
"Hmm?"
"You have a magical girl costume." He pointed at her new garb.
"EH!?" She stared at herself in shock. Her hair tie cloth was wrapped around her neck like a scarf, and her battle garb, looked more like a bikini with warrior belts and cloths. "What the… what is this!? I look like an RPG heroine!" Hope blushed.
"The voice in my head told me to make you into a warrior, and that was the first thing I could think of…" Kioshi said nervously.
"What inspired this?" Hope looked down at him worriedly.
"A girl from one of my Dad's magazines."
"What sort of Magazine!?" Hope sweat dropped, until she noticed that the barrier around them was beginning to disappear. "First! Let's get out of here before someone sees me!" she quickly grabbed his hand and dashed away.
Meanwhile back at the Morisato residence…
Keiichi was busy at work, drawing up a plan for an old styled chopper for the Whirl Wind shop. "Hahh…" He sat back and rubbed his eyes and popped his neck. "Hope wanted to help me with this…" He looked at the clock, it was nine o' clock and Nauthiz had come back at least an hour before then. "… what if…" His eyes widened, suddenly he could see a distorted image of Tyr laughing in his mind. "That guy finally cracked… I mean he is an adult demon… what if… he found Hope and he…" He crushed his pencil in his hand. "YAAAAGGH!!"
"Dear?" Belldandy stared at him from his workshop door.
"EH!?" He looked back at her and shook his hands. "Oh! Sorry! I just… Do you know where Hope is!?"
"I believe she may have had another battle with a demon or spirit…"
"WHA!?"
"She's okay though, and yet her waves seem confused and happy…" She held her index finger to her chin in thought.
"Confused and… HAPPY!?" His eyes grew bug wide. "I'M GOING TO FIND HER!!"
"I'm home!"
"Oh?" Belldandy looked over and sighed in relief. "Hope, you're… oh my?"
"Whew, you had me worried Hope where have you bee…." Keiichi walked to the door and stared at her in shock.
"Um… how does it look?" Hope ran her fingers through her hair.
"You cut your hair off?"
"Well, the ninja spirit I fought today kinda lopped my hair of with a ninja star…" She blushed. "Momma, could you even it out for me?"
"Of course!" Belldandy walked over to her and gave her a relieved hug. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Hope smiled.
"And don't worry; I think your hair looks simply darling."
Keiichi stared for a moment, that hair, made her look her age. Not much like his little racer, but more like a goddess.
"Poppa?"
"Um… well Belldandy said you had confused and happy waves… what happened today?" He asked.
Hope sighed still with a smile. "Long story… Kioshi?"
"Huh?" They both looked at her until they saw a little boy with a suitcase in hand walk into the house.
"Kioshi, these are my parents, Keiichi and Belldandy Morisato."
He blushed slightly and bowed. "Nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too Kioshi." Belldandy smiled and bowed back, Keiichi nodded and bowed as well.
Hope smiled brightly and dropped to her knees so she could give Kioshi a hug. "Momma, Poppa, say hello to my little brother Kioshi Morisato."
Belldandy and Keiichi both stared in surprise, however their expressions quickly differed when Belldandy's eyes began to sparkle. "Oh how wonderful!"
"Um… Hope?" Keiichi stared then sweat dropped nervously. "I think I would have been better off if she was somewhere with Tyr…"
*A Fan-Authors Worthless Rant!*
this chapter was pretty much an attempt to bring back Kioshi, Hope's former little brother from the failed attempt 'The Temple Life'. He's just an absolute cutey :3 Also, if the way Ch22. ended was weird… sorry, it's just because X-mas is coming up pretty fast and I want to type up the X-mas special :3 Because I LOVE CHRISTMAS!! XD YEAH!! :3
See ya next time ;3
(Teaser: You'll find out why Kioshi is now a Morisato in ch. 23)