Chapter 30: Face Off

Kioshi slid open Hope's bedroom door and stared in at her, she was already asleep. "Ah..." He opened his mouth to speak, but felt that feeling of uncertainty as he took a step forward and closed the door behind him quietly. "Onee..." He whispered as he took another step.

"Mmn..." Hope looked back and rubbed her eyes. "Kioshi? Couldn't sleep?" She yawned.

Kioshi shook his head. "I was just..." He lowered his startled voice into a whisper. "I was just checking to see if you were... okay?"

Hope sat up and held out her arms to him.

Kioshi walked over to her and gave her a hug as he sat in her lap.

"Kioshi, it's alright, I'm always going to be there when you need me."

Kioshi tried to keep his eyes from watering up. "But... you were gone for so long, I was so scared Onee-san!"

Hope rested her chin on his head and rocked him gently back and forth; she could feel how tense his aura was, and the fear in his heart. "I was, but I was scared too. I was afraid of myself, I was afraid of what might happen to those I love if they were near me." She looked down at him. "I shouldn't have been afraid, everything is alright."

Kioshi rubbed his eyes and looked up at her.

Hope smiled gently. "I'll never leave you again, I made a promise to you and I'll keep it no matter what."

Kioshi smiled back at her.

"You feel better now?"
Kioshi nodded and hugged onto Gan-chan. "Can I sleep in here tonight?"

"Aunt Urd watching her scary movies again?"

"No..."

Hope smiled gently. "Okay." She fluffed up her pillow and tucked Kioshi in next to her. "Good night Kioshi."

"Good night, Onee-san."

Meanwhile in the depths of Niflehiem...

"That is what I have to report Mistress..." A monster trembled as he bowed before the cloaked figure before him.

"...So... again she is spared..." Her voice was low. "She destroyed an entire planet... but that is to be overlooked... she took millions of lives... but that can be dismissed..." she growled angrily and glared down at the monster before her. "IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE TELLING ME!?! HOPE MORISATO REMAINS UNPUNISHED!?!"

"Y-Yes Mistress!!" He yelped just before she destroyed him in a simple gesture.

Slowly her hand curled into a shaking fist. "...DAMN YOU!!" She destroyed a wall with a raking motion and roared out in rage. "THIS CANNOT BE!!" She ran to her scrying sphere and glared into it, there laid Hope in her futon with her little brother safe in her arms. "... You disgusting hybrid!" She growled. "Because of one incident, because you are Kami-sama's granddaughter you are given such treatment! YOU DESTROYED AN ENTIRE PLANET!!" She roared in a hoarse voice, a voice that startled her and made her grab at her throat. "This... this cannot be... what is it about her!? Why!?" she looked back up into the sphere. "Such beauty... yes... it is that beauty that you have fooled so many with... and that charm, your cries of pain from the wonderful gift of power! Such power that Lord Surt would have used to set us all free from this... this retched thing they dare call 'existence'!"

Several of her minions trembled with fear.

"I have not felt such frustration in years..." She forced herself to regain her composure. "I'm afraid I can bare it no longer... Hope Morisato does not deserve this life that has been given to her." She looked back over her minions. "Do any of you know why?"

"No Mistress Hel..." They winced.

"She is the truest form of ALL evil! Even her name labels her for what she truly is!" She stepped towards them. "Before there were all forms of pain there was no need for such a feeling! However when man kind was punished with pain and death, they were given hope! A belief that they can change the course of their futures!" She laughed. "It is such a feeling that killed my beloved Lord Surt... a feeling that made him fall in love with that wretch Peorth!" She growled. "I have given many of your comrades the chance to avenge him... and all have failed, and yet... I do not turn my back on you." She said in an almost kind manner. "You! The most hideous of all creatures, the ones that heaven and hell have cast aside, all of you find sanctuary at the roots of Yggdrasil within my domain!" She grinned as they were given moral, in this rude manor. "I ask of you merely to lend me your services once more... for tomorrow, we shall make this icon suffer..." she grabbed the sphere and cracked it. "...we will destroy Hope, and finish where Lord Surt left off..."

The demons roared in approval, finally their pain would end.

"Tomorrow... I will make you wish you had died long ago..." Hel grinned at the cracked image of Hope. "Goddess of Revolution!"

That next morning....

Hope put on her shoes and tapped the toe on the ground to make sure they were on secure. "There we go." She smiled and looked back at Kioshi. "Are you ready?"

Kioshi copied his sister and gave her a nod. "Uh huh!"

Hope smiled happily and mussed his hair. "How did I ever get the cutest most wonderful little brother in the world?"

"You're just lucky!" Kioshi joked.

"He's almost like Aunt Skuld." Hope thought to herself with a sweat drop.

"I'm sorry it took longer than I thought." Belldandy called as she walked out of the kitchen with two lunches.

"No, no! I should have woken up early to help you with breakfast!" Hope said as Belldandy handed Kioshi his lunch.

"You needn't worry about that, I'm happier knowing my children are going to school well rested and with a full tummy!" She smiled happily as she walked with them outside. "Have a good day at school!"

"We will!" Kioshi gave her a hug then trotted off.

"Can we go visit Poppa after school?" Hope asked.

"Yes, I'll be heading over there as soon as I finish the dishes." Belldandy nodded.

"Okay!" Hope gave her a hug then followed after her eager brother. "Kioshi! Wait up!" She glanced back. "Bye Momma we love you!"

Belldandy's heart was filled, she deeply cherished mornings like this. "I love you both too!"

"I should have gotten that on film." Urd was standing in the doorway. "It was SO darling!"

"You know it!" Skuld nodded with a tear in her eye. "OOH! Maybe Banpei got it on his memory! Oh BANPEI?!" Skuld leapt outside and to her robot.

"Oh my." Belldandy sweat dropped.

"Hope! Kioshi! Good Morning!" Akina skipped down the street towards them and wrapped them in a heart filled hug.

"Wow!" Hope blinked in surprise. "What has gotten into you this morning!?"

"Good Morning Sis Akina!" Kioshi wheezed and gasped for air until Hope pried Akina's arm off of him.

"I'm just so happy that my best friend in the whole world and my cute lil' Kioshi are having such a wonderful morning!" Akina explained.

"That's nice." Hope sweat dropped. "And I know what you're really after..."
Akina raised her brow curiously. "What?"

"You want to know the Nauthiz count down don't you?" Hope asked and noticed the impatience in Akina's face.

"YES PLEASE!!" Akina yelped. "I miss him SO much! It's been five whole days!!"

Hope sighed and looked at her watch. "Nauthiz will arrive about..." suddenly Nauthiz came running up behind them.

"Good morning!" He waved happily.

"Now." Hope covered Kioshi's eyes as Akina switched to love combat mode.

"NAUTHIZ!!" Akina tackled him to the ground and overwhelmed him with kisses.

"Uhm... Akina, we're in public and there is a child present." Hope sweat dropped.

"Mmm.... Hmm? Oh! My bad!" Akina got to her feet and smiled happily down at Nauthiz. "Welcome back."

Nauthiz's eyes were as wide as they had ever been. "I'm... sure I caught the message my love..."

"AWW!! You're just begging for more!" Akina lunged forward but was brought to a stop by Hope's other free hand.

"Cut it out!!" Hope growled angrily as she tried to keep her other hand over Kioshi's eyes.

"Is Sis Akina and Nauthiz making smoochie?" Kioshi asked naively.

Nauthiz quickly got to his feet and bowed in a gentlemanly manner to Hope. "Miss Hope I am glad to see that you are well."

Hope nodded to him with a blush. "Thank you Nauthiz... I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you all."

"You needn't worry, we in telecommunications and system maintenance are more than obliged to assist all gods and goddesses in any way we possibly can." He smiled then held his arm out to Akina.

Hope nodded and let the crazy girl go then took her hand off of Kioshi's eyes.

"Hi!" He smiled up at her.

Hope held his hand then looked back at her friends. "I'll meet you two in class."

"Very well." Nauthiz nodded to her then walked off with Akina blossoming hearts in the air.

"Hmm, well we'd better get going." Hope looked down at Kioshi.

"Yeah! Today we're going to paint!"

"Oh?"

"Uh huh! I'm going to paint a picture of you!"

"Really?"

"Yeah!"

"As an angel?" Hope raised a brow to him.

Kioshi's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow! How'd you know! Is that one of your powers?"

Hope sweat dropped. "Kioshi, you always draw me as an angel."

Kioshi thought about it for a moment, and then nodded. "Yeah you're right!"

Hope shook her head and smiled.

"I like drawing you as an angel!"

"And I like you drawing me as an angel, but I always seem lonely." She winked down at him. "Why don't you draw yourself with me too?"

"Me? Nah!" Kioshi shook his head.

"Hmm... AH!?" Hope stared at her hands in shock.

"What's wrong!?" Kioshi stared around for a monster.

"My... my hands!!" She knelt down and started tickling his sides. "They're acting of their own free will!!"

"GYAAAH!! AHEEHEE!! Onee-san stop!!" Kioshi laughed.

"I can't!" She continued her act. "They won't stop until you agree to draw yourself in a picture with me!"

"Heeeh!! Okay, okay!!!"

Hope quickly stopped tickling him then stared at her hands again. "Well what do you know? It worked!"

Kioshi patted his uniform then glared back at her. "Good, I'm not gonna do it though!" He ran off.

"Uh oh!! It's happening again!! Quick Kioshi you'd better take it back!" Hope laughed as she ran after him. "You know I'm faster than you!"

"Nuh UH!"
"... the boy..." Hel glared down on them from a tree. "I don't recall Belldandy ever bearing a second child... never the less; he just might turn out to be my trump card."

A short while later at Nekomi High...

"I'm here!" Hope walked in through the class room door. "Hey everyone!"

Several of the students were surprised.

"Morisato! How are you?" One of the boys asked.

"I'm fine Ken! Did I miss anything important?" She asked.

"Hope... I'm shocked." Mrs. Tetsuya appeared behind her. "I'd hope that my students would think off all my lessons as important!" She sniffled sadly.

"ERK!" Hope turned to stone. "Uhm... what I meant to say was what important lessons did I miss?"

Mrs. Tetsuya gave her an icy glare.

"I-I'm sorry?"

Her glare dissolved. "That's okay!" she grabbed Hope in a monstrous glomp. "Welcome back Hope! We all missed you SO much!"

"INDEED!!" Masahiro burst his way through the students and glared down at her. "How dare you take a leave without notice!!"

"Hello Masahiro..." Hope groaned as she walked to her desk.

"Don't give me that cold shoulder! Do you know how humiliating it was for me to not have my girl here to deliver the rose bouquets I purchase everyday to!?"

Hope sweat dropped. "I don't believe this guy... ever since kindergarten it's like he's been living in this fantasy land where I just adore him... but now he even knows I have a boyfriend! He should know that after Tyr threw him like a javelin twice!" She thought to herself as Masahiro continued to rant until the Hope Morisato fan club of the Nekomi High district dragged him off.

"Looks like everything is back to normal!" Akina smiled happily.

"Akina, don't say that, such a sentence could hex us." Nauthiz hushed at her.

"Nauthiz, I didn't think you'd be the superstitious type!" She giggled at him.

"I am just cautious."

"Okay everyone." Mrs. Tetsuya tapped a ruler on her desk. "Pay attention, class has begun." She smiled happily, though that smile slowly vanished. "..."

"Mrs. Tetsuya?" Ken stared at her blankly. "Are you alright?"

"Quiet!" She snapped, shocking them all into silence as she closed her eyes. Her ears seemed to twitch ever so slightly; she was intently listening for something.

"What's going on?" Nauthiz opened a link to Hope's mind.

"Nauthiz! She can hear us!" Hope quickly glanced over at him.

"What!?" His eyes widened, but grew even more when he saw his teacher glaring directly at him until he was silent.

"What does she hear? What.... Ah!?" Hope could feel it, waves so thick with hatred, coming right outside the class room!!

"GET AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS!!" Mrs. Tetsuya barked.

There was a pause; the students weren't sure what was going on.

"DO AS SHE SAYS!!" Hope and Nauthiz shouted as loud as they could, and quickly the students scrambled out of their desks.

"GODDESS OF REVOLUTION!!!" A coarse voice roared out as hideous demons slammed against the windows. The class cried out in fear and confusion. "I know you're there... COME OUT!!"

Hope's body froze. "This... this isn't happening... why here!? WHY NOW!?!" She thought. "What... what do I do!? I can't go out... everyone..." She looked at her classmates. "They'll know my secret..."
The wall began to crumble away from the demons claws and weapons, the other classes were crying out as a figure approached the school, floating in mid air as the demons hacked away at the wall until they were in the room, but they did not attack. "What better way to begin the end of your life than by exposing your little secret to all your friends... your life as a human will end right here and now... and soon your life as a goddess will follow." The figure was Hel. "Perhaps you are wondering who I am? I am one who has suffered greatly because of you!! Young hybrid, your wretched existence has caused me nothing but pain since you saved this filthy planet and murdered my beloved Surt!!"
Hope's eyes widened. "Surt..."

"Come out now! I will have my revenge today for Ragnarok shall recommence!!"

The right side of her face became visible as her demons roared furiously.

"A goddess!?" Nauthiz and Hope thought in shock.

"...Why are you just standing there? Fine... if you will not come forward, then I will pick off each of these humans one by one until only you are left." A demon snatched onto Masahiro's leg and dragged him towards his mistress.

"HYAAAH!!" A pink energy orb hit the demon in the face and sent it flying out of the building, it and the others shrieked as it fell to the ground. Masahiro sheepishly kicked back to his feet and hid behind the other students.

"Finally, she steps forward." Hel grinned when she looked into the room, and there Hope stood out among the students with her hands held out; crackling with electricity from the sphere she had cast.

"Mo- Morisato..." One of the students gasped, they all stared at her in surprise and disbelief.

"..." Hope held her position, but not to prevent another attack. She was paralyzed from the moment.

"Behold foolish mortals, for in your very presence is a goddess." Hel narrated. "Hope Morisato, the Hercules of your time, the goddess of Revolution." She applauded in a sarcastic manner, how she had waited to tear Hope's life apart piece by piece

Hope lowered her hands and stood with her eyes on the ground.

"You should fall and bow before her, for were it not her you would all be dead." Hel cackled.

"Are you the one who sent those monsters after me?" Hope asked quietly.

"Indeed... and my loyal followers have awaited the day to avenge the death of their fallen comrades..." The demons roared at Hope as fiercely as they could, and were silenced with a gesture from their mistress's hand. "Silence, you will all have your turn... but I am not finished.

They waited claws ready and weapons held high.

Hope clenched her fists and removed their confidence with a single glare.

"Who are you...?" Hope looked up at her.

"I my dear am Hel, goddess of the underworld." She announced, but not with pride.

"Call off your demons, if you want me dead then kill me by your own hands." Hope called. "Or perhaps you are too much of a coward." She stepped forward.

"Don't even bother; I could crush you in an instant!" Hel growled.

"Is that so?" Hope kept her glare fixed on her. "Call off these demons and leave these humans be. I am the one you want, not them."

"You are in no position to ask favors of me..." Hel sighed with a grin.

"Morisato?" Ken stared at her in surprise.

Hope's heart sunk. "As class president I have to watch over my fellow class mates..." She looked back at them. "Right?"

Nauthiz stepped forward and summoned his twin battle axes.

"I KNEW IT!! I KNEW HE WAS A GOD!!" One of his fan girls screamed as he walked to Hope's side.

"If you wish to battle Miss Hope, you must first face me." He called.

"How amusing!" Hel laughed.

"CALL YOUR DEMONS AWAY!" Hope roared, sending a chill through the cloaked goddess's body. "If you do not then I promise you that I will show you no mercy."

"Still concerned over those pathetic humans?" She sighed in frustration. "Very well." With a snap of her fingers the demons jumped and tumbled to the ground below, roaring for their enemy to fight.

"Nauthiz... you don't have to do this..." Hope looked up at him. "This is my responsibility... it's my fault."

"I will stand by your side no matter the battle!" Nauthiz handed her one of his axes.

Hope stared up at him uneasily for a moment, and then nodded.

"Come forth! My demons are growing restless."

Hope and Nauthiz looked back at the class, and then lunged out the torn side of the building. "HIYAAAHH!" With two slashes they cut through the center of the demon gathering and pressed their backs together, keeping each other's guard as the demons seemed to swallow them in their numbers.

"MORISATO!! NAUTHIZ!!!" The class cried out in shock, they couldn't have been killed.

"GRAAAAAWW-!!" The roars were silenced.

"So soon?" Hel's right eye widened.

Two hands emerged from the pile of bodies followed by Hope and Nauthiz's bodies.

"That was pathetic!" Nauthiz announced. "They were all silenced from a level one sleeping spell!"

Hope looked up at Hel and pointed at her with her axe. "They should not have to die when you are the one with dirty hands!"

"Is that so? You didn't have a problem with killing their comrades." Hel asked. "You say I am a coward...speak for yourself."

"Nauthiz, protect the class, I'm taking her down now!" Hope began to drift up until a clawed hand dug into her left ankle. "GNGGH!!

"MISS HOPE!" Nauthiz cut away the arm in one swoop. "Are you alright?" He asked.

"They don't need to be awake for me to control them." Hel held out her hands like a puppeteer, and one by one the demons came to their feet with zombie-like expressions on their faces.

"You monster!" Hope exclaimed as she stood back.

"Your grandfather made me this way..." Hel hissed as Hope stared up at her in confusion. "Weaken her!"

Instantly the demons charged at the shocked goddess.

"What will you do goddess of revolution? It's kill or be killed!" Hel grinned in delight.

Hope dodged from side to side, getting nicked on her arms by the sharp blades, claws, and struck with their iron mallets. "I can't! I can't just kill them!! They don't know any better!" She thought as she tried to dodge. "I have to get to the sou-" A claw slashed her school uniform open.

"FOUL BEAST!" Nauthiz struck down the creature responsible as Hope staggered to keep on her feet.

"MORISATO!! JUST KILL THEM!!" Ken shouted.

"KILL THEM!!"

"USE YOUR AXE!!"

"SAVE YOURSELF!!"

Hope's eyes widened. "Ah!?" She covered her ears, but she could still hear them, she could feel their hearts and hear their thoughts. "Stop... Stop..."

"KILL THEM!"
"KILL THEM!!"

"STOP IT!!" Hope cried.

"So... now you're trying to run away?" Hel asked as a vine snapped off the ground and around Hope's neck.
"HGLLK!!"

"MORISATO!!"

Hel made the vine bring Hope to her, she wanted to enjoy every moment that she suffered up close. "Normally... you would expect a long... drawn out battle between two foes such as you and I... however young one..." Hel's right eye narrowed. "You have worn my patience dry..."
"Hahh... GGGLLK!!" Hope's eyes were starting to role in the back of her head. "No... I can't..."

"I will not stand idle and allow you to bring any more harm to Miss Hope!" Nauthiz launched out of his melee with the demons.

"Fool! Don't even waste my time!!" Hel laughed. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into!"

Nauthiz took a stance. "I am fully aware!" He trusted his arms up and vanished in a spin.

"A valkyrie technique..." Hel thought as a blurred figure caught the corner of her eye. "You will stop right there... or..."

"AAAGGH!!" Hope gasped in pain, bringing the god to a halt.

"Just enough air to scream..." Hel sighed and tossed Hope back into the classroom.

"Hope!" Mrs. Tetsuya caught her and gently eased her on the ground as she took in a raspy breath.

"Hope! Are you okay!?" Akina quickly stepped forward.

"Guh... hahh... Stay back!!" Hope shouted.

"Ah!?" Akina hesitated.

"She might..." Hope stopped and coughed three blots of blood onto the floor. "She might hurt you if you come near me..." She then glanced up at Mrs. Tetsuya, and the teacher stepped away.

"Morisato, why won't you use your power to kill those monsters?" A girl student asked in panic.

"Yeah! You used one of those pink orbs before! Do it again!"

"...I-I don't want to dirty my hands anymore..." Hope clenched her fists, caked in dirt and dry blood.

"But they're just monsters... you're the good guy!"

"I am not a good guy." Hope said plainly, with her innocent smile. "My hands are just as dirty as hers..."

The students stared at her in a confused manner, what could Hope have possibly done? They didn't understand; all they could understand was their fear and Hope's display of power. "Hel... listen to me!" Hope called.

"... I'm listening."

"Surt... I had no choice but to kill him..."
Hel's eye narrowed again. "How dare you..."

"I was not going to let one power hungry demon destroy the entire universe in his pursuit for absolute power!!" Hope shouted. "I'm sure that if he had known the price he would have stopped..." She looked down. "...but, because of the pain he endured... of being separated from his love... and his own son..." She looked up at the cloaked goddess. "He was no longer the demon he was. Please Hel, don't throw your life away for his deranged plans... you can still change and live your life to the fullest!" Hope held up a hand in friendship. "I will forgive you; I know all too well the pain of being separated from someone dear... so please."

Hel glared down at her for a moment, and then slowly extended her hand out to her. "Perhaps..."

Hope smiled slightly in relief.

"...You are a bigger fool than I thought!!" Hel grinned as her hand clasped into a fist.

"Ah!?" Hope's eyes widened, suddenly a feeling of extreme pain overwhelmed her. "Agh... AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!!!" Hope grabbed at her chest and fell to her knees.

"HOPE!!" Akina cried out in terror.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MISS HOPE!?!" Nauthiz roared as he summoned his battle axes back to his hands.

"Reminding her that no matter how many years pass, nothing changes... just like her scars!!" Hel clenched her fist tighter. "Remember this pain Goddess of Revolution!?" Hel grinned in a fiendish delight. "It's the very same pain you felt when Lord Surt impaled you with the vine spike!"

"NGGGGHH!! AAAAAGGGH!!!" Tears streamed down Hope's face as she curled into a ball. "Hahh... Hahh... Hahh...AAAAAAAAAGHH!!"

"STOP IT!!" Nauthiz threw one of his axes out at her only to be shocked when Hel brought it to a stop.

"I have lived longer than you... I have seen many of the Valkyrie techniques... if you dare interfere with me again then I will make you suffer as well!!"

"I will gladly place my life on the line for Miss Hope!" Nauthiz dashed towards her until he noticed a group of demons charging into the room, after Akina! "AKINA!!" he destroyed the group in a single spirit blast.

"Ah..." Akina fell to her knees.

"Are you willing to place her life on the line? You cannot protect her forever..." Hel grinned as Nauthiz stared at her in complete and utter rage. "Oh yes young one, ever since you stepped into Hope's life I have watched you as well... this mortal is very precious to you and her..." her lips curled. "Come at me again... and I will make sure Hope lives long enough to watch her best friend suffer a truly horrible death..."

Nauthiz felt as if his heart had been torn out, he dropped his other axe from his hand and averted his eyes from her. "P-please, I beg of you! Stop."

"You are in no position to request favors of me." She snapped then glared back at the writhing Hope. "Now... where was I... oh yes..." She grinned. "You dare to offer me a hand in friendship, just after you preached of how evil I was!?"

"There's still hope... I can see it now... it's so very faint..." Hope coughed.

"Hope..." Hel's teeth grit. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW!?!" She clenched her fist tighter.

"KIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!"

"That will be all for today!" Mrs. Tetsuya stepped forward.

"What?" Hel glared down at her.

"I won't let you take her life." Mrs. Tetsuya took off her glasses. "Right now you should be more concerned with keeping your life!!" her canines turned into fangs as an elongated tear drop marking appeared on her forehead.

"LEAMEN!?!" Hel's eye widened.

Her bangs tufted, and a blue tail slipped out from under her skirt. "You've made a fatal error by bringing so much harm to my little sister and my class!!" Her eyes turned yellow and her clothes morphed into a goddess battle garb. "Prepare yourself..." in an instant she vanished from sight.

"WHERE... UGGH!!" Hel's right eye went blank; Leamen landed an upper kick in her jaw, sending her flying in the air.

"Don't feel so confident with yourself!" Leamen appeared above her and clasped her hands over her head. "You didn't even have the nerve to attack Hope without innocent humans around for your TRUMP CARD!!" She slammed her hands down on Hel's waist and sent her into the Earth.

"Im- impossible... How could I have missed this one!?!" Hel thought as her demons rushed to her aid..

Leamen narrowed her eyes. "Ever since I began my goddess training, I've vowed to use my strength to protect those dear to me, and ever since Ragnarok, something inside told me to keep watch over my little sister." Leamen got her footing into a sprinting stance when she landed on the ground. "That is why I assumed the guise of a high school teacher, in case such an incident as today would happen... I would be able to handle it for her!!" Leamen growled.

"I see..." Hel growled back. "Leamen... goddess of time, born of Zukkie of the Lupi-jin clan and Bil god of the moon... you are just as naïve of your powers as she is..." she pointed to Hope.

"Years do not matter... I believe the pain coursing through your body has proven that quite well." Leamen grinned as Hel sneered back.

"You don't know the meaning of PAIN!!" Hel roared as vines burst up from the ground and darted out at the goddess.

"ARROOOOOOOO!!" Leamen howled and jumped above them. "I'm going to enjoy taking her down!!" She dove back down with her arms crossed. "FANGS OF THE FALLEN!!" Two wolf toothed knuckles dropped over her fists, and with a swift motion she cut through them all.

"Very impressive..."

Leamen straightened her posture when she landed back on the ground. "Give it up... you can't win."

Hel stared at her for a moment then burst out laughing. "How rich! Now who is the confident one?" she held up her fist. "Do not forget that I still have the upper hand."

"Clench that fist any tighter and I'll rip it right out of your socket!!" Leamen growled fiercely as the fur on her tail bristled.

"Hmph..." Hel glanced at her fist, then up at Hope. "Very well..." She unfolded her hand.

"GUUUGH KUGH KUGH!!" Hope breathed in deeply and coughed blood onto the floor.

"HOPE!!" Akina ran to her side and leaned Hope against her for support. "Don't breath too deep you'll choke on your blood!"

Hope was in too much shock to hear her friend's words. "What... how did she do that!?" She thought. "That pain... It felt just the same as back then, like my heart and soul were being torn away very slowly!!"

Hel sighed and glared back at Leamen. "Stand down wolf, this fight does not concern you..."

Leamen growled through her teeth. "When it comes to wolves... you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us." There were sounds of howls in the distance; it made Hel's skin crawl.

"Hope, call off your dog... or perhaps you are too afraid to take me on your own?"

Hope forced herself on her feet and glared down at the cloaked goddess fiercely. "No one calls my sister a dog, and you are not one to talk!!" She jumped down to the school yard, and almost tumbled over.

"Looks as though you have a few very bad handi-caps, goddess of revolution." Hel commented.

"I offered you my mercy once... I will not offer it again..." Hope warned.

"Mercy... hmm?" She held up her hand and clenched it again.

"AUUUUGGHH!!" Hope cried out in agony, but she would not fall.

"THAT'S IT!!" Leamen howled. "NAUTHIZ!! PROTECT THE CLASS!!"

"YES MA'AM!" He stopped from going to Hope's aid and took a defensive position in front of the class room.

"Do you actually think I will back down from my ambitions just because of a flea bitten goddess?!" Hel growled and glared back over at Leamen. "My minions! Relieve me of her presence!"

Leamen dashed forward into the wall of demons and began her slaughter.

"FOOL!!" Hel roared. "I'll make her suffer! SHE WILL KNOW MY PAIN!!"

"GOT YOU!!" Hope threw her arms around Hel's neck and caught her in a head-lock. "Stop this now!! Hahh... If you don't I'll..."

"You'll do what!?" Hel grinned and clenched her fist even tighter.
"IYAAAAAAAAAGGH!!" It felt like a sword was twisting in the middle of her chest.

"ONEE-SAAAAAAAAANN!!" Kioshi's voice cried out

Hope's school uniform morphed into her battle garb. "GRRNNNGGH!!" She tightened her hold on Hel's neck. "If I die I'll make sure I take you with me!!" With her right hand she drew out Kioshi's blade and held it at the exact spot on Hel's chest where Hope had been pierced. "I have the power to kill an immortal! AND I WILL USE IT ONCE MORE IF YOU CONTINUE THIS MADNESS!!"

"GNNGHH!!" Hel grimaced then grinned toothily. "You think the scar and your humans were my trump cards?"

"What!?" Hope winced.

"Just how is it that you were able to transform just now? That you were able to summon that sword?" Hel vanished into the ground and reappeared a safe distance from the young goddess, with a frightened Kioshi in her grasp.

"ONEE-SAAN!!" he cried out with tears streaming down his face.

"KIOSHI!!" Hope's eyes widened in terror. "LET HIM GO!!"

"STAY BACK!!" Hel growled as vines lurched up from the ground and wrapped around Kioshi's limbs. "You will submit yourself to me... or I will shatter every bone in this boy's body!!" A vine tightened around Kioshi's left arm.

"AAAAGGH!!" Kioshi cried out in pain.
Hope felt her knees collapse beneath her and she lowered her head.
"Now that's more like it... a hybrid like you bowing before your superior..."

Leamen was growing even more enraged than she was. "You wouldn't dare... the punishment for bringing harm to a mortal is severe!!" She burst through the mounds of demons but stopped when Hope grabbed onto her legs.

"Don't provoke her Onee-sama! Please!!" Hope sobbed.

"HOPE!!" Leamen stared down at her in shock. "She can't do ANYTHING to him!! She's bluffing!!"

"PLEASE!! Let my little brother go!! He has nothing to do with this!!" Hope sobbed. "Let me take his place! I'm the one you want! Not him!!"

"Onee-san!!" Kioshi cried above her. "Don't worry!! I'm strong! I can take it!! Just beat this evil lady up!!"

Hope stared up at him; she could see the fear in his eyes. "Ki-Kioshi..."

"SILENCE YOU LITTLE BRAT!!" Hel roared, she released too much emotion in her words and the vine on his left arm snapped.

Kioshi's eyes went blank. "Ughh..." His arm tilted to the side slightly. "....Agh...AAAAAAAAAAAGGHH!!"

The ground around Hope cracked. "KIOSHII!!!!"

His scream was silenced when the pain made him faint.

Leamen made a bone chilling growl as her markings turned red and changed shape. "I'LL KILL YOU WITH MY OWN BARE HANDS!!" She kicked off the ground and tackled the cloaked goddess to the ground.

"Ki-Kioshi..." Hope caught him before he fell to the ground, the look on his face burned into her heart, mind and soul. "..."

Leamen fiercely pounded her fists into Hel's face and chest. "GRRRAAAALLLL!!!"

Hel quickly vanished into the ground but she did not reappear anywhere on the school yards. "COWARD!!" Leamen howled furiously then slammed her right fist into the ground, shaking the entire foundation of the school. "NNGH!! Why didn't I summon my val-haid!? Dammit!!"

The demons vanished into the earth, along with the little boy.

"KIOSHII!!" Hope slammed her hands on the ground and dug away at the earth.

"If you want him back alive... you'll come to the forest... alone, if I so as much sense the presence of another immortal I will break his neck!"

"Onee-sama..."
Leamen slowly walked over to Hope and knelt down, taking Hope's bloodied hands in hers. "Hope?"

"Thank you... for fighting for me... I was too afraid to do anything..."
"Hope..." Leamen said in a gruff voice as Hope's fists tightened so hard that blood dripped from in-between her fingers.

"I am not weak... I will make her pay..." Hope hissed when she felt a primal rage overwhelm her heart.

Meanwhile in the forest near the temple, Hel appeared from the ground and leaned on a tree for support. "Damn Leamen... no matter, I know a few of her fighting methods now at least... I will destroy her after I am finished with Hope, and then Nauthiz will be next."

Kioshi lay on the ground whimpering, tears flowed from his blank eyes.

"This child, he seems to have a very strong hold on Hope's heart..." She grinned fiendishly. "Perhaps I should kill him... yes..." She stepped towards him.

"YAAAAGH!!"

Hel jumped back as a bolt of lightning separated her from the child. She glared around and there stood an elegant figure carved in setting light of the sun. "So... you came, alone."

Hope was silent; she began slowly walking towards her with a cold expression on her face that couldn't be thawed by the light.

"On your knees!" Hel ordered as a vine snapped out from the ground. "I will kill the child if you so dare step any closer."

"Monster..." Hope growled."

"WHAT!?" Hel snapped.

"You... MONSTER!!" in an instant Hope hand her hands around Hel's neck. "HE'S JUST A CHILD!! YOU COWARD!!!" Hope slammed her against a tree with all her might, making it break and fall over. "You try to hide behind that hood and force me to bow before something so weak!? A stain on the very existence of time!?" Hope tightened her grip. "I can see right through you, you reek from heaven to hell with selfishness!" Hope grabbed her hood and flipped it off her face. "WHAT ARE YOU!?"
" ..." Hel had a face of a goddess, at least half of one, for the other side was decayed and foul, the sight of it made Hope want to run away in disgust. "You dare shame me this way..." She quickly pulled her hood back over her head. "Above anything else I want to see you suffer...I want you to feel the same pain I have felt..."

Hope jumped off of her and got into a battle stance. "You have caused enough suffering... it's time that I bring an end to this before you can cause any more pain."

"You FOOL!! I can destroy you in an instant! I can crush your heart! I..."
Hope stepped forward, still with the primal glare in her eyes. "You've made a mistake; all the times those monsters attacked me I couldn't bring out my full power because I was concerned with the others around me..." Hope took another step and the ground beneath her trembled. "You made a fatal error when you brought harm to my classmates...and my little brother!!" Hope held up her sword and ran at her.

"NO!!" Hel dodged and locked her blade against a vine spike. "You cannot beat me!!"

"I can!! And I will!!" Hope slashed through the spike and landed a punch in Hel's face. "THIS IS FOR KIOSHI!!" She grabbed her left arm and squeezed with all her might.

"GYAAAAAAAAGGHH!!" Hel roared in pain and fell to her knees.

"First your arm and then I'm going to stab you through the same spot!!" Hope threw off her scarf with her other hand so Hel could see her glowing red scar throbbing with pain. "You think you're the only one suffering!?!" Hel's arm snapped within her grasp.

"I WON'T LOSE TO YOU!!" Hel roared in fury. "This isn't over Goddess of Revolution!! NOT BY A LONG SHOT!!" Vines shot up from the ground behind Hope and wrapped around her arms and legs. "Somehow, someway I WILL kill you..." Hel growled angrily as she vanished into the ground.

"HEL!!" Hope roared out. "COME BACK AND FIGHT ME!!!" she broke free from the vines and fell to the ground.

"On...ee...san..."

Hope stared over at Kioshi and rushed to his side. "Kioshi!? Can you hear me?"
His bottom lip trembled.

"It's okay! She's gone now!" Tears burned in the corners of her eyes before they ran down her reddened cheeks. "Hold on, I'll make the pain go away." She gently eased her hand on his arm, trying her best to heal him as much as she could.

"Hnnn..." Kioshi whimpered again.

"Kioshi...I'm so sorry!" Hope hugged onto him protectively. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I never should have allowed that to happen... you shouldn't be involved in my troubles!" She sobbed. "That monster harmed my precious brother... I'll never let it happen again... I promise!"

"Do you promise?" A god-like voice howled.

Hope froze; this wave... was almost like her grandfather's.

"Do you promise you will never allow an incident such as this to happen again? Will you be strong enough to protect your mortal friends and family without them being aware of your goddess life?" The voice grew louder. "...In your current state, there is no possible way you can keep such a promise to this young one."

"Who are you?" Hope stared around until she saw two golden eyes glaring out at her from the shadows.

"I am one who will help you... though I am not a hybrid such as yourself I understand all too well the complications of being one." The eyes belonged to the massive sized, yet elegant white wolf Ulric. He stepped towards and glared down at her.

"Y... you're Onee-sama's..." Hope stared up at him in shock.

"Grandfather... yes." His tone lightened. "It warms this old wolf's heart to know my old friend's grandchild as well as my own have formed a sisterhood, and because you are her sister, you are also one of my pack."
Hope stared up at him in awe then back at Kioshi.

"You know it in your heart that you are not strong enough... that Hel has something you do not. Though you may surpass her in power, she is willing to put everything at stake to destroy you even if it means using the ones you love."

"Then what do I do?" Hope held her protective grasp on her brother. "She's ruined my life! She threatened my best friend and she harmed my little brother!! I can't just accept that!!" she sobbed in frustration. "I... I wanted to kill her!"

"Only a coward takes lives."

Hope again looked back up to the wolf as he lowered his head down to look her in the eye without the intimidation.

"You live a separated life, you wish to lead a peaceful mortal life but in reality whatever occurs in your life as a goddess will affect your mortal life as well."
"But what could my mortal side do..." Hope asked.

"Look around you... see what damage you humans have caused to my world." Ulric said gruffly. "Humans have taken gifts from immortals and abused them... they destroy my forest dwellings!!"

Hope lowered her eyes from his.

"But... what they take, some also return, such as you have."

"..."
"Worry not, I am sure your grandfather will erase this incident from the mortals' memory and restore your school to its proper state."

"..."

"I stand ready to begin your training... you had best accept my offer if you truly mean to keep that promise to your brother."
"Training?"

"When you are ready, tell Leamen, she will guide you to the den, and your training shall begin." And with a turn he was gone.

"..."

Belldandy ran outside.

"Bell!" Urd followed after her. "Did you feel that!?"

"Hope... her waves were bursting with frustration..." Belldandy looked around. "I can't feel her anymore... where... Ah!?" Her eyes widened.

"What... Oh my god..."

Hope emerged from the forest, with Kioshi in her arms, her entire body almost drenched in blood. "Momma..." She said weakly.

"Hope! Kioshi!" She quickly ran to them and caught her children in her arms as Hope collapsed from fatigue. "What happened!?"

"Something... I was too weak to prevent..." Hope sighed as she fell faint.

"Urd! Help me please!" Belldandy cried in the voice only a desperate mother could.

Urd rushed to her and took Kioshi in her arms. "His arm has been broken... Hope enchanted it with her magic to take away the pain..."

"I can still sense energy within her! Hope! Why didn't you heal yourself as well?" Belldandy asked as she used her magic to heal Hope's wounds.

Later that night...

"...Hope... can you hear me?" Belldandy asked softly.

"Nn..." Hope looked up drowsily at her mother. "Momma..."

"Thank the heavens you're alright!" Belldandy hugged her. "Why didn't you call out for help? Why did you take this burden upon yourself?" she asked.

"...It was my responsibility..." Hope said as she forced herself to sit up. "She would have... she would have killed Kioshi if I had brought anyone with me..."

"She?" Belldandy asked.

"She was a goddess with two faces." Hope clenched at her blanket. "She said her name was Hel."

Belldandy's eyes widened.

"You know her!?" Hope asked in a startled tone.

"Yes... that was so very long ago..." Belldandy reflected. "She was the vainest goddess in all the heavens. She neglected the duties given to her by your grandfather and sought only what she desired. She even tried to take Surt from Peorth when they announced they were to be married." She stopped; there was something she couldn't tell her. "Because she was so vain, and wicked to the core, Kami-sama punished her by bringing what was inside of her out. Her body is half decayed to reflect her inner evils, and she was banished to Hild's domain where she would reside in one of Yggdrasil's roots."

Hope looked down in thought.

"Next time she emerges, we will all be ready." Belldandy comforted her. "I will make sure that she will pay for..."

Hope shook her head. "Momma, is Kioshi okay?"

"Yes, Skuld is fitting him with a cast right now."

"You mean you couldn't heal him with magic either?!" Hope asked in shock.

"That wound was cursed from Hel's hatred, our magic can do nothing."

"I have to see him!" Hope staggered to her feet with Belldandy's help. "I need to talk to him."

"Hope, don't push yourself like this!" Belldandy warned.

She nodded as her mother led her to Kioshi's room, there the young boy sat with a lollipop in one hand and a blue cast around the other arm. "And we're finished." Skuld and Urd clapped their hands in applause. "We'd like to thank our little patient for being so brave for us."

Kioshi blushed and received hugs from both of them. "Thanks Aunt Urd, thanks Aunt Skuld." He looked to the side and smiled brightly. "Onee-san! You're all better too!"

Hope's eyes widened slightly, she gave him a single nod.

"You sure showed that bad lady! I bet she won't ever come back cause you were all like.... Like whoosh! And BOOM!" He tried to gesture but winced from the pain in his arm.

"Kioshi..." Hope was looking down on the floor. "Do... do you want to go outside for a little while? Get some fresh air?" She asked.

"Can I?" He looked at his aunts; they gave him a little pat and helped him up. Eagerly he walked to his sister and took the hand she offered to him.

The garden was well attended to, the flowers were in bloom and so were the cherry blossoms. Hope led Kioshi around then came to a stop at the bench she and Keiichi had built when the family had been restored. She sat down on its ledge then patted the spot next to her; Kioshi took its spot and looked up at her. "What did you want to talk to me about Onee-san?"

She was quiet for a moment, staring over the flowers then with a breath she asked, "Are you happy?"

"Huh?"

"Are you happy?" She looked down at him.

"Well... yeah." He nodded.

Hope's eyes seemed to glimmer in a sorrowful way. "Kioshi, it seems that ever since I became your older sister, I have caused you so much worry and now I..." her eyes fixed on his cast.

"It's okay Onee-san! I'm strong so..." He saw her tremble, and how tight her bandaged hands were grabbing onto the side of the bench.

"I'm not... Kioshi I love you so much, when Hel had you I thought my heart was going to burst... I didn't know what to do!" Tears streamed down her face. "Kioshi... are you happy? Do you want to grow up a Morisato... even if it means getting hurt again? Be-Because you can..." She didn't want to give him the offer. "... You can always move into a different family, a normal one... where you can live a normal life."

Kioshi's eyes began to brim with tears.

"All I want is for you to be happy."

"NO!!" He did the best he could to hug her and sobbed on her waist. "I don't care! I'm strong! I'll be strong for you Onee-san if you'll be strong for me too! I want to stay a Morisato, because I love you and Momma and Poppa an Aunt Urd an Skuld!" He sniffled. "Please don't make me leave Onee-san; I want to stay your little brother!"

Hope gently wrapped her arms around him. "Kioshi!" her tears were filled with joy.

"The white wolf!"

"Eh?" Hope looked down at him.

"He said he could make you stronger didn't he?" He asked as he wiped away his tears.

Hope nodded. "I will accept his offer, but Kioshi, this means I will have to leave you for a little while."

He smiled through his fresh tears. "I'll be okay! You're becoming stronger for us! So I'll become stronger and have everyone else be stronger for you too! I know you'll come back so it's okay!"

She smiled for the first time with honesty that night. "Thank you Kioshi."

It is time...

Hope gently pushed a tree branch over her head and walked under it, there standing under the light of the moon was the goddess of time. Leamen raised her head and looked at Hope with certain eyes. "So you've accepted Gramp's offer?" she smiled. "Good choice, I would have bonked you on the head later if you didn't show up."

Hope shrugged her shoulders. "So, Ulric's training is THAT great huh?"

"Gramps hates mankind." Leamen sighed. "I never took you to the wolves den for that reason" She stopped when she saw the blue in Hope's face. "Don't worry; he approached you directly... he likes you." Leamen turned around. "He wants to help you."

"That's not why I'm going..."

Leamen stopped.

"I'm not doing this because of who Ulric is... I'm doing this for a completely different reason. Onee-sama, I'm tired of this. I'd like to say that during these past five years I have been happy... I really wish I could... but the truth is that I want back what was taken from me. Ever since the day that I was told that I was a half goddess, I did feel that something missing was given back to me but..." Hope looked at her hands. "You do understand what I mean don't you, Onee-sama?"

Leamen looked down at the ground. "More than you could ever know." She smiled. "Of course because at a time I lived three lives..."
Hope looked up at her.

"I was raised as a human, but in a day I became a goddess, and then I became a wolf." She looked at Hope. "I wanted to be just myself too and well..." she turned back towards Hope. "I don't believe you'll achieve living as just one of your halves..."
"But!!" Hope objected until Leamen snapped a golden glare upon her.

"I achieved something greater, but I had to train so very hard to realize the truth." She smiled and held out her hand to her. "I want you to be able to achieve that as well, So let's not waste anymore time."

She walked up to her sister and stared gold to sapphire. "Onee-sama, take me to Ulric."

Leamen's eyes faded to the same sapphire.

"I accept his offer."

A smile returned to her face and she placed her hand on a tree, a portal opened to a land not soiled by man. "Well then, let's go."

A Fan Author's Worthless Rant

If you've been reading this far you must be thinking "man, Liz sure is one sadistic writer" or something along that line, but don't worry cause as they say it's always darkest before dawn. Hope is about to embark on the journey that will determine herself, will more angst lie ahead or will Hope finally be able to live her life in the manner she has always wished? What could she possibly gain from Ulric's training? Maybe you'll find out, in the next chapter...

Kira: What? Some underling attacked my niece!?

Kira... you're a little late.

Kira: Unacceptable Liz, how dare you not include me in this chapter!

You're a guest character...
Kira: Grr... Even Leamen has been in more chapters than me!

Leamen: Relax, you'll be in ch.31 too!

Kira: Very well. still sulking

See ya next time!

Tyr: HEY! What about me!?

this is not a Corey Edit