Disclaimer: again as the last several times, we own nothing.
Chapter 26
---(Goddess of the earth universe)---
Sitting in a dinning room to the Inn, Raziel and Yu sat silently eating breakfast. Raziel still didn't feel too good, having a throbbing headache. Then felt like someone was hiding right behind his eyeball trying to get out.
Putting his fork down again, Raziel rubbed his forehead. "Ouch..... Damn this sucks." Raziel said to him self out loud.
"Hangover?" Yu asked, looking up from her breakfast.
"Yeah..... You sure that it was only one?" Raziel asked back.
Yu nodded. "You know you and Anata have getting bad hangovers in common."
"Really?" Raziel said with a questioning look.
"Yeah... But normally Kou would nurse her back to health. And would say something like..... 'I told you not to have that one last beer.' Or something like that." Yu said. "It's really quite sweet watching Kou care for Anata like that....."
Just then there was the sound of wood hitting wood just out side in the court yard. Both Yu and Raziel looked over out the window to see two people engaged in a rather intense Kendo match. To Raziel it was clear that both opponents where a women, but because of the armor he couldn't make out who they were. But then he glanced back at Yu, who was intently watching the match.
"I Didn't know you were into that? That's cool." Raziel said.
"What me? No.... That's not my thing." Yu replied.
"Oh... Okay.... Then what's with....."
Before Raziel could finish, Yu told him. "The one on the left is my mom."
Raziel just blinked a couple of times, before even saying anything. "It makes since now...."
"Oh? What's that?" Yu asked before taking a bite of her bagel.
"How fast she can draw that knife of hers out of no where." Raziel replied, explaining him self.
Watching the match just out side take place and what Yu and Raziel could tell the two opponents where well matched.
"So you're telling me you didn't feel a thing? No aura or anything?" Yu asked, with out looking away from the match.
"No it doesn't work that way.... Well normally." Raziel replied.
Just then out side, in a series of two swift movements, the Shinai (Kendo stick) belonging to Mrs. Asakawa was firmly planted on to the right shoulder of her opponent, scoring a point. And winning the match.
Out side Mrs. Asakawa removed her helmet, allowing her long hair to fall down her back, and her opponent did the same. Shaking her head, Mrs. Asakawa's opponent ran her right hand through her thick short hair.
"You've got me again Hitomi, that's how many now? Three times this morning?" Maya said as she tried catch her breath.
"Try four." Mrs. Asakawa replied.
"So who's the kid with Yu?" Maya asked as she handed her friend a towel.
Looking back at the window to the dinning room, Mrs. Asakawa found Raziel and Yu looking back at them, but when they noticed that she was looking at them they quickly went back to breakfast. "Oh Him? That's Raziel, He's related to Yu's friend Anata."
"I see...... and is he here just visiting or staying?" Maya asked.
"Visiting his mother." Mrs. Asakawa replied.
"Shame....... He's not to bad looking." Maya said making her friend give a playful tap up side her head with her Shinai.
"You're sick...... he's like fifteen maybe sixteen tops." Mrs. Asakawa shouted.
"Yeah..... ahhhh youth."
"Stop that.... you're freaking me out." Mrs. Asakawa said.
"Well I need to repay him for doing such a good job with the springs."
"Well sorry to burst your bubble, but I think that Yu might have something to say about your reward." Mrs. Asakawa informed.
Back in side Raziel had just finished up his breakfast. "Well I guess I'm going to take a morning dip in the springs."
"I'll join you." Yu said as she too got up from the table.
"Umm...... I don't think."
"On my side of the divider.... We can sit there beside each other. And talk." Yu added before Raziel could finish.
"Oh okay... Umm I'll meet you there." Raziel said with a heavy blush.
---(Son of Urd Universe)---
Having gotten there orders from Chihiro, Fiona and Anata were on there way to a nearby town about a half hours drive.
"I don't like trucks....." Anata moaned as she shifted gears.
"What was that?" Fiona asked not hearing what Anata had said.
"I said I don't like trucks..... They suck. Car's sure, but not trucks." Anata said.
"Oh okay... " Fiona said.
Finally getting on to the highway, the two drove silently. Fiona wasn't too sure what was bothering Anata, sure over the last week and a half they've gotten a chance to know each other quite well. But there was something's that she wasn't about Anata.
'For the most part my sister is really out going, but when ever something would happen to her..... She withdraws in to a shill or something.' Fiona thought to her self then she let out a heavy sigh, there was something she wanted to do but wasn't to sure what.
"What's the matter?" Anata asked with out taking an eye off the road.
"I was about to ask you the same thing." Fiona said back.
Anata was silent for a moment, Fiona had guessed that she didn't want to talk about what was bothering her, and figured that it was nothing more then missing Kou and her universe. When suddenly.......
"The bad dream last night....... I don't think was a dream. But a message from Natsuki, telling me that she's here in this universe." Anata said.
"But I thought you said that this Natsuki person was dead, plus how would she get here?" Fiona said.
"I know that, but from what I know about her from our last battle she told me that she was the embodiment of the Shadow collective thought, and that they made her. So what's to say that the shadows can't make her again? And as for her ending up here..... Maybe that Evangelion empress has something to do with it." Anata explained.
"I guess so......" Fiona said.
But meanwhile back at the Morisato temple, Belldandy was doing some cleaning around the house when she happened to notice that the device that Skuld was working on so Anata could keep in contact with her family and friends in her own universe was flashing. Wondering what was the flashing about, Belldandy pressed the button that was flashing. Then up the screen came some text. Then again curiosity got the best of her and she started to read.
After reading the news about this Natsuki girl attacking Yggdrasil and destroying three out of four of Anata's reactors, and inflecting great amounts of pain to Anata's boyfriend Kou and to Raziel.
Then scrolling on down to read the rest, Belldandy started to read some more, but quickly shut off the screen with a deep blush across her face.
"Goodness... I had no idea about the extent of Anata and Kou's relationship." Belldandy said to her self, and went back to her normal every day things. Trying to get the mental image out of her mind.
Elsewhere at the Empress's Place, Natsuki was sitting in a small room going over what the empress wants her to do.
Natsuki didn't really like the idea that was made out for her, but with the possibility of freedom from the shadows and there voices. There was really nothing that she could say. But again being how she is, she has to have a back up plane just incase things don't work out.
'Once infiltrating the school, I'm to make contact with a demon named Kou. And convince him to break in to Yggdrasil. Reports say that he is capable of this task. In the likely event that he reclines the 'request' inform him that I have the location of her. That should have an effect of compliance.' Natsuki read to her self. Then she pressed the link to the information listed as HER. And too much of her surprise that the one refried to as HER was..... Well her and Anata's double.
'The Morisato double of this universe, is just that. A double with the only things in common is the first and last name. But not biologically related to one Anata Morisato. This Morisato of this universe is nothing but a mortal. She currently resides in the Kyoto area.' Natsuki finished reading the task at hand.
"Well sister..... We will have our fight from the looks of it, and our mortal sister will be in the middle......" Natsuki said to her self.
---(Goddess of the earth Universe)---
Again sitting in the hot springs, with his back resting against the divider that he just repaired yesterday; Raziel let out a heavy sigh.
"What are we going to do after this?" Raziel asked.
On the other side of the divider, Yu pulled a wash cloth out from the steaming water and folded it up and then placed it on her head. Then she too let out a heavy sigh. "I don't know...... we can go back to the town again." Yu replied.
"Maybe...... Or maybe we can just hang around her and relax some." Raziel said back.
Then there was a moment of silence. On the woman's side of the bath, Yu placed her hands in to the water and readjusted her self in the water in to a position that was a little more comfortable. Then she realized that the divider Raziel had spent a good part of yesterday rebuilding, found that the bamboo didn't go all the way to the bottom of the springs. Leaving a gap about foot and a half wide, But she soon found that with moving some of the bigger rocks at the bottom that gap can easily be made bigger.
"Hay Raziel..... wanna see something?" Yu asked as she started to move the bigger rocks out of the way.
"Depends." Raziel replied with a hint of suspicion in his voice.
Just then Raziel heard a splash then nothing. Seconds later Yu surfaced on the men's side of the bath scarring Raziel.
"Yu..... What are you doing here? Your mom might hear you!" Raziel whispered loudly.
"Shhhhh!!! She might not if you quite down." Yu whispered loudly back.
Then again a moment of complete silence came across them. "So..... What now?" Raziel asked.
"There's always the taking our relationship the next........"
Raziel waved his hands in front of him. "Or sit here and talk."
"Or that." Yu pouted.
Hearing that tone from Yu, Raziel could tell that she was hurt by his rejection. And felt that he needed to say something.
"Look I know you want to do...... that, yesterday was the big clue. But I don't want to screw up our life. I mean what if we do.... And umm all of a sudden my aunt Skuld finds a way to send me back to my own universe. Then come later on you find out that........" Raziel was stopped by Yu's finger being placed on to his lips.
"Raziel, I really do think you are a nice guy. And I really don't want to see you fall into the typical nice guy finishing last. That just wouldn't be right." Yu paused for a moment to gather her thoughts.
"And to be honest, you would be my first. And I would want my first time to be with someone as good of a person as you are."
"Yu......"
"I'm not finished....... And if we did sleep together, I wouldn't care what would happen, as careless that may sound. I see it as what happens, happens."
Raziel sat there thinking about Yu's words. Sure at first it's hard to see her logic, but it was there. As obscure as it may have been it was there.
"I know..... But I'm not ready at least I think so. But I do truly feel something for you, is it love..... I would like to think it is. But I just really don't think I'm ready."
Yu sat there holding her tears back, sure Raziel had just rejected her for a second time in just less then a minute, but she could tell that there Raziel feels something for her.
"Maybe before you leave? Think of it as a good bye present." Yu said trying to lighten the mood with humor.
"Maybe.... I mean according to my aunt Belldandy, that won't be for six months." Raziel said. "So a lot can happen in six months."
Hearing this Yu's face light up with a smile.
"So there's a chance?" Yu asked.
Raziel smiled back. "You can never know."
Just out in the hallway in side, Mrs. Asakawa held her ear up against the door to the men's bath listening to the two teen's conversation.
'Raziel is something.......'She thought to her self.
"Hay Hitomi what you doing?" Maya asked as she rounded the corner, walking in to the same past of the inn as her friend.
"SSSHHH!!! My daughter and Raziel are having a moment." Mrs. Asakawa whispered back.
"I wanna see." Maya said as she started to slide the door open, but was stopped by her friend. "Come on..."
"You really need a man..... Come on let's go out and get something to drink in town." Mrs. Asakawa said as she started drag Maya away.
"But......"
"Come on."
Meanwhile in hell, Mara had just finally gotten the news of Raziel.
"What let me get this right?" Mara asked another demon. "Our queen, Hild is a grandmother?"
"That's what I hear." The demon replied.
"How?" She asked.
"Well apparently Urd......." The Demon said but was quickly cut off.
"Urd? A mother? Yeah right." Mara said as she held back her laughter. "So who's the father?"
The demon only shrugged his shoulders.
"Well you're no help.... I've just got to see this for my self. Cover for me while I'm gone. If Hild asks, tell her there was some pressing matters to take care of and I'll be back later." Then with that Mara walked out of her office.
---(Son of Urd universe)---
Having gotten the engine that Chihiro had sent them to get, Fiona and Anata had stopped for some lunch.
"..... So sis, any planes for later today?" Fiona asked just before having a French fry.
Thinking about the question as she had a sip of her drink, Anata Shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know..... Say I was thinking what's to day?" Anata asked.
Placing her index finger on her chin, Fiona thought for a moment. "It's July 6th, why?"
Anata let out a sigh. "Thought so..... Tomorrow is Tanabata....... it's mine and Kou's favorite holiday." Said Anata, "We would go to another temple for the festival....... We even thought about talking mom and dad in to letting us set something up with the other temple and have something going on at home so people wouldn't have to walk half way across town."
Fiona then let out a sigh. "..... The summer star festival..... That so romantic."
"Have you and Lyn ever went to one?" Asked Anata.
Just then out side, a black motor cycle drove by vary slowly. Slow enough to see if the truck from Whirlwind was there. After seeing the truck, the sped bike sped off. Back in side. Anata had heard the motor cycle and had looked out side to see it drive by, but thought nothing of it.
"Nice bike....." She muttered.
"What?" Asked Fiona.
"I was saying that was a nice bike that just went by. It kind of looks like that super bike, dad used to have a long time ago when I was little." Anata said.
But back down the street, the vary same bike turned down an ally where four other super bikes were waiting. Shutting off the bike bedside the other bikes, the driver lifted their helmet.
"It was them; the truck was parked at the dinner just down the street." The first driver said.
Another driver then lifted their visor. "Good, from the info from the boss. There should only be two girls driving it. We'll take the truck when it gets out on the highway. Remember the boss wants that engine for his ride. So nothing happens to the truck, but he said that he didn't care what happens to the girls." The second driver said.
"Shame, they both seemed really cute......" the first driver added.
"If you take someone, you're on your own." The second driver said.
Back at the dinner, Anata and Fiona where on their way out. Ready to start back home. "Just an hour drive and we're done." Anata said.
Getting back in to the truck, Fiona looked out the back window to see the crate still sitting there. "So did Chihiro say what's in the crate?" Fiona asked.
"Yeah, she said some guy ordered some rare engine for an old Civic..." Anata replied as she started the truck. "She said that the guy was against the whole AI car stuff and was going to drive until the cops stop him."
"I've heard something about that.... Dad doesn't like it neither, he grumbles something under his breath when ever he hears something about on the news, I can't ear what he said though. But what ever it is, he gets a stern look from mom." Fiona said as she watched Anata shift gears as she drove down the street, trying to get back to the highway.
"Yeah same here. But in my universe dad has an EVO and drives it when ever he can, but lately he hasn't drove it around. I guess that it's rather the gas price or the fact that parts for it are hard to find." Anata said.
"But don't you drive a motor cycle too?" Fiona asked.
"Sure I do and I'll be damned it the government takes my bike from me." Anata said as she clenched the steering wheel.
After a good half hour drive, Fiona was sitting back in her spot with a set of head phones on just watching the country side fly by, but for some reason she looked at the mirror and in it's reflection she watched four black motorcycles start to speed up. And soon they where right behind them, then two pulled up on both sides of the truck. Taking off her head phones, Fiona looked around some more. They where boxed in.
"Umm..... Anata?" Fiona said, still looking at all the bikes around them and the truck.
"I know, one is the same one that drove by the restraint." Anata said. Just the bike that was on the right came up and the driver pulled something that looked like a pole and with one swing knocked off the mirror that was on Anata's side.
Getting mad, Anata looked around then she looked to Fiona. "Fiona you drive... looks like I need to take care of some jack asses."
"But.... But I don't know how to drive! Let alone drive a stick!" Fiona yelled.
"I'll set the cruse....... Oh damn!" Anata said, but just before she could say that she was about to set the cruse control, she noticed that there was no cruse control. "Looks like I'm driving.....hey what you doing??!!"
Fiona had just opened the back window and was about to craw out of the opened window when she was pulled back by Anata. "I'm the one that dose stupid stunts around here!"
Maybe being around Anata for this long something had rubbed off on to Fiona, but a smile came across her face that said that she was about to do something stupid. But not just stupid, but vary stupid. "Looks like I'm taking your job for the day." Fiona said, and then she started back out the window.
"AW!!! Damn it Fiona!!" Anata yelled. "If something happens to you mom and dad are going to kill me!"
Just as Fiona climbed out on to the back of the truck, another set of motorcycles started to come up along the first four. The second group of four each bike had a side car.
Seeing this from inside, Anata started to get worried. 'Has she even had a fight with out her Evangelion form?' Anata thought as she started to get ready for what ever was going to happen. "I guess we'll find out."
Back out side, two of the motor cycles came up to each with side cars and a person in them. Looking around for something to use to fight back the bikers, Fiona found a crowbar. Grabbing it just as someone took hold of the side of the truck bed. Fiona then turned and hit the man's hand with the crowbar......
Half hour later, and after a long drawn out fight at high speeds on the highway. Fiona and Anata pulled up at the parking lot of Whirlwind and Chihiro standing there waiting.
When she saw the truck she just stood there with her jaw hanging wide open. "What the hell happened to my company truck!!" Chihiro asked... well more like demanded.
Shutting off the car, Anata and Fiona climbed out. "Umm.... Chihiro what's up?" Anata asked.
"Don't you what's up me. What the hell happened to my truck?" Chihiro asked again.
"Well Chihiro it was kind of like this...." Fiona said as she started to explain what happened, but not before the front quarter panel to the truck fell off. Making both Fiona and Anata laugh before they started to tell their story.
--- (Goddess of the Earth Universe) ---
Walking through the nearby town, Yu and Raziel found them self's at a small ice cream stand.
"Would you like some?" Raziel asked.
"Sure I'd like that." Yu said smiling at Raziel.
Walking to the ma running the ice cream stand, Raziel pulled out his wallet. 'Man I'm glad that mom gave me some money.......' Raziel thought to him self. "Two ice cream cones please." Raziel said to the man running the stand.
"Here you go....." The man running the stand said, handing the ice cream to Raziel. And Raziel then handed the man the money.
Walking back to where Yu and sat at a bench, Raziel found her typing away at a cell phone.
"You're back... here just let me finish this text message...... Okay." Yu said as she hit send on the phone, sending the message off to where ever it was going to go.
Seeing the phone, Raziel knew he needed to call home and let Kou know what was happened. "Umm Yu can I please barrow your phone so I can tell Kou what's happened?"
"Oh Sure. Here, I guess he would want to know. With that Natsuki chick gone and all." Yu said handing Raziel the phone.
Looking at the phone, it made Raziel stop and think. "Umm Yu is the temple's phone number in there? I don't know if it's the same here or not."
"Yeah, just scroll down through it's listed as Anata." Yu replied.
Back at the Temple, Kou was sitting in the living room reading a book as Matagu played a video game and Urd slept on the couch for her mid day nap.
Hearing the phone ring, Kou put the book that he was reading and answered it. "Hello Morisato residence."
"Kou, hi it's Raziel."
Hearing Raziel, Kou sat up some. "So has Yu had her way with you yet?" Kou asked with a slight chuckle.
"What would you say if she had?" Raziel asked, quickly making Kou stop laughing. "Just kidding? I really wanted to call and tell you that we don't need to worry about Natsuki any more."
"What do you mean?" Kou asked.
"I cant say right now, I'm out in public. I'll send a message on to Anata's cell phone telling you more about it." Raziel said. "Ahh It's melting!! One second!"
Sitting there on the phone, Kou could hear Yu laughing about something. "Okay I'm back."
"Sounds like you two are hitting it off." Kou said.
Over at the couch, Urd was listening it to what Kou was saying and she could just hardly make out what Raziel was saying.
"Umm... you can say that. But I'll talk about that more later."
"Okay" Kou said.
"Is my mom there?" Raziel asked.
Kou looked over and say Urd there on the couch looking like she was asleep. "She's having her afternoon nap right now. Do you want me to wake her?"
"No that's alright. I know how she can get if she doesn't get that nap in. well I'll talk to ya later." Raziel said. "Bye and tell my mom that I'll be coming home in the morning."
"Have a safe trip back, and I'll tell her." Kou said then he hung up the phone, and looked over at Matagu. "Matagu, tell me when did your mother say she'll be back?"
With out looked back from the game he was playing, he answered. "She said sometime around dinner."
Looking at the clock on the wall, Kou found that it was only two in the afternoon. "If you can keep a secret, would you like to start some training?"
Dropping the controller, Matagu turned around. "What?! Really?!"
Kou nodded. "Sure, but you must keep it a secret."
"But what if my mom asks me, I can't lie!" Matagu said.
Kou thought about this for a moment. "No you can't do that can you. But if Skuld asks tell her the truth. Because I know for sure that your mother will get more mad if you lie."
"Okay what do I do first?" Matagu asked.
"Well first we must know if you can levitate." Kou said, and as soon as he said that Matagu hovered up off the floor. "Okay you know how to do that."
"Are you going to teach me how to make a force bolt?" Matagu asked.
"In good time, but first you need to know how to do other things. Go and find six dice. And we'll get started." Kou said then he watched Matagu run in to the other room.
Turning back to his book, Kou placed his book mark in the book and he put it back on the coffee table. "So how is my son doing?"
Kou didn't even bother looking back at Urd. "He's doing fine from what I can tell."
"So, has Raziel and Yu hit it off?" Asked Urd, "Am I going to be a grandmother some time?"
"You'll just need to ask him when he returns in the morning." Kou replied.
"You know, I can just tell Skuld that you're teaching Matagu. If you don't tell me that is." Urd said thinking that she has him.
"I can tell her that, but I have nothing to tell you. So it would really be point less." Kou said.
Just then Matagu came back in to the room. "Okay I found them. What now?"
"First sit on the floor and place them in front of you." Kou instructed.
Doing as he was told to do, Matagu waited for the next set of instructions.
"Now with your mind, stack the dice in order." Kou said.
"Hey Matagu, sweetie. When you get done with that I can show you how to make some good potions." Urd said trying make her sound like the favorite aunt.
"No thanks Aunt Urd. I want to be able to do magic like Auntie Belldandy." Matagu said, making Urd left eye brawl twitch.
T.B.C.
FYI
Tanabata
July 7th is called Tanabata or Star Festival in Japan. People celebrate the day at home and in schools. Many cities and towns hold festivals and have Tanabata displays decorating the main streets. In some regions, people light lanterns and float them on the river, or float bamboo leaves on the river. The festival traces its origins to a legend that the Cowherd Star (Altair) and Weaver Star (Vega), separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet just once a year-on the seventh day of the seventh month. Tanabata originated more than 2000 years ago with an tale called Kikkoden. Once there was a weaver princess named Orihime and a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi After they got together, they were playing all the time and forgot their jobs. The king was angry and separated them on opposite sides of the Amanogawa River (Milky Way). The king allowed them to meet only once a year on July 7th. In Japan people write their wishes on narrow strips of coloured paper and hang them, along with other paper ornaments, on trees or bamboo branches placed in the backyards or entrances of their homes. They then pray hard that their wishes will come true. The most common Tanabata decorations are colourful streamers. Streamers are said to symbolise the weaving of threads. Other common decorations are Toami (casting net), which means good luck for fishing and farming and Kinchaku (bag), which means wealth. The Tanabata festival is thought to have started in China. It was transmitted to Japan during the feudal period and combined with traditional local customs to become an official event at the Imperial court, with different localities developing their own distinctive ways of celebrating. Resources
Tanabata Activities - Japanese words, chopsticks, paper lanterns, Onigiri (Rice Balls), Moon cakes courtesy of Dagenham and Barking Childminding Association
Chapter 26
---(Goddess of the earth universe)---
Sitting in a dinning room to the Inn, Raziel and Yu sat silently eating breakfast. Raziel still didn't feel too good, having a throbbing headache. Then felt like someone was hiding right behind his eyeball trying to get out.
Putting his fork down again, Raziel rubbed his forehead. "Ouch..... Damn this sucks." Raziel said to him self out loud.
"Hangover?" Yu asked, looking up from her breakfast.
"Yeah..... You sure that it was only one?" Raziel asked back.
Yu nodded. "You know you and Anata have getting bad hangovers in common."
"Really?" Raziel said with a questioning look.
"Yeah... But normally Kou would nurse her back to health. And would say something like..... 'I told you not to have that one last beer.' Or something like that." Yu said. "It's really quite sweet watching Kou care for Anata like that....."
Just then there was the sound of wood hitting wood just out side in the court yard. Both Yu and Raziel looked over out the window to see two people engaged in a rather intense Kendo match. To Raziel it was clear that both opponents where a women, but because of the armor he couldn't make out who they were. But then he glanced back at Yu, who was intently watching the match.
"I Didn't know you were into that? That's cool." Raziel said.
"What me? No.... That's not my thing." Yu replied.
"Oh... Okay.... Then what's with....."
Before Raziel could finish, Yu told him. "The one on the left is my mom."
Raziel just blinked a couple of times, before even saying anything. "It makes since now...."
"Oh? What's that?" Yu asked before taking a bite of her bagel.
"How fast she can draw that knife of hers out of no where." Raziel replied, explaining him self.
Watching the match just out side take place and what Yu and Raziel could tell the two opponents where well matched.
"So you're telling me you didn't feel a thing? No aura or anything?" Yu asked, with out looking away from the match.
"No it doesn't work that way.... Well normally." Raziel replied.
Just then out side, in a series of two swift movements, the Shinai (Kendo stick) belonging to Mrs. Asakawa was firmly planted on to the right shoulder of her opponent, scoring a point. And winning the match.
Out side Mrs. Asakawa removed her helmet, allowing her long hair to fall down her back, and her opponent did the same. Shaking her head, Mrs. Asakawa's opponent ran her right hand through her thick short hair.
"You've got me again Hitomi, that's how many now? Three times this morning?" Maya said as she tried catch her breath.
"Try four." Mrs. Asakawa replied.
"So who's the kid with Yu?" Maya asked as she handed her friend a towel.
Looking back at the window to the dinning room, Mrs. Asakawa found Raziel and Yu looking back at them, but when they noticed that she was looking at them they quickly went back to breakfast. "Oh Him? That's Raziel, He's related to Yu's friend Anata."
"I see...... and is he here just visiting or staying?" Maya asked.
"Visiting his mother." Mrs. Asakawa replied.
"Shame....... He's not to bad looking." Maya said making her friend give a playful tap up side her head with her Shinai.
"You're sick...... he's like fifteen maybe sixteen tops." Mrs. Asakawa shouted.
"Yeah..... ahhhh youth."
"Stop that.... you're freaking me out." Mrs. Asakawa said.
"Well I need to repay him for doing such a good job with the springs."
"Well sorry to burst your bubble, but I think that Yu might have something to say about your reward." Mrs. Asakawa informed.
Back in side Raziel had just finished up his breakfast. "Well I guess I'm going to take a morning dip in the springs."
"I'll join you." Yu said as she too got up from the table.
"Umm...... I don't think."
"On my side of the divider.... We can sit there beside each other. And talk." Yu added before Raziel could finish.
"Oh okay... Umm I'll meet you there." Raziel said with a heavy blush.
---(Son of Urd Universe)---
Having gotten there orders from Chihiro, Fiona and Anata were on there way to a nearby town about a half hours drive.
"I don't like trucks....." Anata moaned as she shifted gears.
"What was that?" Fiona asked not hearing what Anata had said.
"I said I don't like trucks..... They suck. Car's sure, but not trucks." Anata said.
"Oh okay... " Fiona said.
Finally getting on to the highway, the two drove silently. Fiona wasn't too sure what was bothering Anata, sure over the last week and a half they've gotten a chance to know each other quite well. But there was something's that she wasn't about Anata.
'For the most part my sister is really out going, but when ever something would happen to her..... She withdraws in to a shill or something.' Fiona thought to her self then she let out a heavy sigh, there was something she wanted to do but wasn't to sure what.
"What's the matter?" Anata asked with out taking an eye off the road.
"I was about to ask you the same thing." Fiona said back.
Anata was silent for a moment, Fiona had guessed that she didn't want to talk about what was bothering her, and figured that it was nothing more then missing Kou and her universe. When suddenly.......
"The bad dream last night....... I don't think was a dream. But a message from Natsuki, telling me that she's here in this universe." Anata said.
"But I thought you said that this Natsuki person was dead, plus how would she get here?" Fiona said.
"I know that, but from what I know about her from our last battle she told me that she was the embodiment of the Shadow collective thought, and that they made her. So what's to say that the shadows can't make her again? And as for her ending up here..... Maybe that Evangelion empress has something to do with it." Anata explained.
"I guess so......" Fiona said.
But meanwhile back at the Morisato temple, Belldandy was doing some cleaning around the house when she happened to notice that the device that Skuld was working on so Anata could keep in contact with her family and friends in her own universe was flashing. Wondering what was the flashing about, Belldandy pressed the button that was flashing. Then up the screen came some text. Then again curiosity got the best of her and she started to read.
After reading the news about this Natsuki girl attacking Yggdrasil and destroying three out of four of Anata's reactors, and inflecting great amounts of pain to Anata's boyfriend Kou and to Raziel.
Then scrolling on down to read the rest, Belldandy started to read some more, but quickly shut off the screen with a deep blush across her face.
"Goodness... I had no idea about the extent of Anata and Kou's relationship." Belldandy said to her self, and went back to her normal every day things. Trying to get the mental image out of her mind.
Elsewhere at the Empress's Place, Natsuki was sitting in a small room going over what the empress wants her to do.
Natsuki didn't really like the idea that was made out for her, but with the possibility of freedom from the shadows and there voices. There was really nothing that she could say. But again being how she is, she has to have a back up plane just incase things don't work out.
'Once infiltrating the school, I'm to make contact with a demon named Kou. And convince him to break in to Yggdrasil. Reports say that he is capable of this task. In the likely event that he reclines the 'request' inform him that I have the location of her. That should have an effect of compliance.' Natsuki read to her self. Then she pressed the link to the information listed as HER. And too much of her surprise that the one refried to as HER was..... Well her and Anata's double.
'The Morisato double of this universe, is just that. A double with the only things in common is the first and last name. But not biologically related to one Anata Morisato. This Morisato of this universe is nothing but a mortal. She currently resides in the Kyoto area.' Natsuki finished reading the task at hand.
"Well sister..... We will have our fight from the looks of it, and our mortal sister will be in the middle......" Natsuki said to her self.
---(Goddess of the earth Universe)---
Again sitting in the hot springs, with his back resting against the divider that he just repaired yesterday; Raziel let out a heavy sigh.
"What are we going to do after this?" Raziel asked.
On the other side of the divider, Yu pulled a wash cloth out from the steaming water and folded it up and then placed it on her head. Then she too let out a heavy sigh. "I don't know...... we can go back to the town again." Yu replied.
"Maybe...... Or maybe we can just hang around her and relax some." Raziel said back.
Then there was a moment of silence. On the woman's side of the bath, Yu placed her hands in to the water and readjusted her self in the water in to a position that was a little more comfortable. Then she realized that the divider Raziel had spent a good part of yesterday rebuilding, found that the bamboo didn't go all the way to the bottom of the springs. Leaving a gap about foot and a half wide, But she soon found that with moving some of the bigger rocks at the bottom that gap can easily be made bigger.
"Hay Raziel..... wanna see something?" Yu asked as she started to move the bigger rocks out of the way.
"Depends." Raziel replied with a hint of suspicion in his voice.
Just then Raziel heard a splash then nothing. Seconds later Yu surfaced on the men's side of the bath scarring Raziel.
"Yu..... What are you doing here? Your mom might hear you!" Raziel whispered loudly.
"Shhhhh!!! She might not if you quite down." Yu whispered loudly back.
Then again a moment of complete silence came across them. "So..... What now?" Raziel asked.
"There's always the taking our relationship the next........"
Raziel waved his hands in front of him. "Or sit here and talk."
"Or that." Yu pouted.
Hearing that tone from Yu, Raziel could tell that she was hurt by his rejection. And felt that he needed to say something.
"Look I know you want to do...... that, yesterday was the big clue. But I don't want to screw up our life. I mean what if we do.... And umm all of a sudden my aunt Skuld finds a way to send me back to my own universe. Then come later on you find out that........" Raziel was stopped by Yu's finger being placed on to his lips.
"Raziel, I really do think you are a nice guy. And I really don't want to see you fall into the typical nice guy finishing last. That just wouldn't be right." Yu paused for a moment to gather her thoughts.
"And to be honest, you would be my first. And I would want my first time to be with someone as good of a person as you are."
"Yu......"
"I'm not finished....... And if we did sleep together, I wouldn't care what would happen, as careless that may sound. I see it as what happens, happens."
Raziel sat there thinking about Yu's words. Sure at first it's hard to see her logic, but it was there. As obscure as it may have been it was there.
"I know..... But I'm not ready at least I think so. But I do truly feel something for you, is it love..... I would like to think it is. But I just really don't think I'm ready."
Yu sat there holding her tears back, sure Raziel had just rejected her for a second time in just less then a minute, but she could tell that there Raziel feels something for her.
"Maybe before you leave? Think of it as a good bye present." Yu said trying to lighten the mood with humor.
"Maybe.... I mean according to my aunt Belldandy, that won't be for six months." Raziel said. "So a lot can happen in six months."
Hearing this Yu's face light up with a smile.
"So there's a chance?" Yu asked.
Raziel smiled back. "You can never know."
Just out in the hallway in side, Mrs. Asakawa held her ear up against the door to the men's bath listening to the two teen's conversation.
'Raziel is something.......'She thought to her self.
"Hay Hitomi what you doing?" Maya asked as she rounded the corner, walking in to the same past of the inn as her friend.
"SSSHHH!!! My daughter and Raziel are having a moment." Mrs. Asakawa whispered back.
"I wanna see." Maya said as she started to slide the door open, but was stopped by her friend. "Come on..."
"You really need a man..... Come on let's go out and get something to drink in town." Mrs. Asakawa said as she started drag Maya away.
"But......"
"Come on."
Meanwhile in hell, Mara had just finally gotten the news of Raziel.
"What let me get this right?" Mara asked another demon. "Our queen, Hild is a grandmother?"
"That's what I hear." The demon replied.
"How?" She asked.
"Well apparently Urd......." The Demon said but was quickly cut off.
"Urd? A mother? Yeah right." Mara said as she held back her laughter. "So who's the father?"
The demon only shrugged his shoulders.
"Well you're no help.... I've just got to see this for my self. Cover for me while I'm gone. If Hild asks, tell her there was some pressing matters to take care of and I'll be back later." Then with that Mara walked out of her office.
---(Son of Urd universe)---
Having gotten the engine that Chihiro had sent them to get, Fiona and Anata had stopped for some lunch.
"..... So sis, any planes for later today?" Fiona asked just before having a French fry.
Thinking about the question as she had a sip of her drink, Anata Shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know..... Say I was thinking what's to day?" Anata asked.
Placing her index finger on her chin, Fiona thought for a moment. "It's July 6th, why?"
Anata let out a sigh. "Thought so..... Tomorrow is Tanabata....... it's mine and Kou's favorite holiday." Said Anata, "We would go to another temple for the festival....... We even thought about talking mom and dad in to letting us set something up with the other temple and have something going on at home so people wouldn't have to walk half way across town."
Fiona then let out a sigh. "..... The summer star festival..... That so romantic."
"Have you and Lyn ever went to one?" Asked Anata.
Just then out side, a black motor cycle drove by vary slowly. Slow enough to see if the truck from Whirlwind was there. After seeing the truck, the sped bike sped off. Back in side. Anata had heard the motor cycle and had looked out side to see it drive by, but thought nothing of it.
"Nice bike....." She muttered.
"What?" Asked Fiona.
"I was saying that was a nice bike that just went by. It kind of looks like that super bike, dad used to have a long time ago when I was little." Anata said.
But back down the street, the vary same bike turned down an ally where four other super bikes were waiting. Shutting off the bike bedside the other bikes, the driver lifted their helmet.
"It was them; the truck was parked at the dinner just down the street." The first driver said.
Another driver then lifted their visor. "Good, from the info from the boss. There should only be two girls driving it. We'll take the truck when it gets out on the highway. Remember the boss wants that engine for his ride. So nothing happens to the truck, but he said that he didn't care what happens to the girls." The second driver said.
"Shame, they both seemed really cute......" the first driver added.
"If you take someone, you're on your own." The second driver said.
Back at the dinner, Anata and Fiona where on their way out. Ready to start back home. "Just an hour drive and we're done." Anata said.
Getting back in to the truck, Fiona looked out the back window to see the crate still sitting there. "So did Chihiro say what's in the crate?" Fiona asked.
"Yeah, she said some guy ordered some rare engine for an old Civic..." Anata replied as she started the truck. "She said that the guy was against the whole AI car stuff and was going to drive until the cops stop him."
"I've heard something about that.... Dad doesn't like it neither, he grumbles something under his breath when ever he hears something about on the news, I can't ear what he said though. But what ever it is, he gets a stern look from mom." Fiona said as she watched Anata shift gears as she drove down the street, trying to get back to the highway.
"Yeah same here. But in my universe dad has an EVO and drives it when ever he can, but lately he hasn't drove it around. I guess that it's rather the gas price or the fact that parts for it are hard to find." Anata said.
"But don't you drive a motor cycle too?" Fiona asked.
"Sure I do and I'll be damned it the government takes my bike from me." Anata said as she clenched the steering wheel.
After a good half hour drive, Fiona was sitting back in her spot with a set of head phones on just watching the country side fly by, but for some reason she looked at the mirror and in it's reflection she watched four black motorcycles start to speed up. And soon they where right behind them, then two pulled up on both sides of the truck. Taking off her head phones, Fiona looked around some more. They where boxed in.
"Umm..... Anata?" Fiona said, still looking at all the bikes around them and the truck.
"I know, one is the same one that drove by the restraint." Anata said. Just the bike that was on the right came up and the driver pulled something that looked like a pole and with one swing knocked off the mirror that was on Anata's side.
Getting mad, Anata looked around then she looked to Fiona. "Fiona you drive... looks like I need to take care of some jack asses."
"But.... But I don't know how to drive! Let alone drive a stick!" Fiona yelled.
"I'll set the cruse....... Oh damn!" Anata said, but just before she could say that she was about to set the cruse control, she noticed that there was no cruse control. "Looks like I'm driving.....hey what you doing??!!"
Fiona had just opened the back window and was about to craw out of the opened window when she was pulled back by Anata. "I'm the one that dose stupid stunts around here!"
Maybe being around Anata for this long something had rubbed off on to Fiona, but a smile came across her face that said that she was about to do something stupid. But not just stupid, but vary stupid. "Looks like I'm taking your job for the day." Fiona said, and then she started back out the window.
"AW!!! Damn it Fiona!!" Anata yelled. "If something happens to you mom and dad are going to kill me!"
Just as Fiona climbed out on to the back of the truck, another set of motorcycles started to come up along the first four. The second group of four each bike had a side car.
Seeing this from inside, Anata started to get worried. 'Has she even had a fight with out her Evangelion form?' Anata thought as she started to get ready for what ever was going to happen. "I guess we'll find out."
Back out side, two of the motor cycles came up to each with side cars and a person in them. Looking around for something to use to fight back the bikers, Fiona found a crowbar. Grabbing it just as someone took hold of the side of the truck bed. Fiona then turned and hit the man's hand with the crowbar......
Half hour later, and after a long drawn out fight at high speeds on the highway. Fiona and Anata pulled up at the parking lot of Whirlwind and Chihiro standing there waiting.
When she saw the truck she just stood there with her jaw hanging wide open. "What the hell happened to my company truck!!" Chihiro asked... well more like demanded.
Shutting off the car, Anata and Fiona climbed out. "Umm.... Chihiro what's up?" Anata asked.
"Don't you what's up me. What the hell happened to my truck?" Chihiro asked again.
"Well Chihiro it was kind of like this...." Fiona said as she started to explain what happened, but not before the front quarter panel to the truck fell off. Making both Fiona and Anata laugh before they started to tell their story.
--- (Goddess of the Earth Universe) ---
Walking through the nearby town, Yu and Raziel found them self's at a small ice cream stand.
"Would you like some?" Raziel asked.
"Sure I'd like that." Yu said smiling at Raziel.
Walking to the ma running the ice cream stand, Raziel pulled out his wallet. 'Man I'm glad that mom gave me some money.......' Raziel thought to him self. "Two ice cream cones please." Raziel said to the man running the stand.
"Here you go....." The man running the stand said, handing the ice cream to Raziel. And Raziel then handed the man the money.
Walking back to where Yu and sat at a bench, Raziel found her typing away at a cell phone.
"You're back... here just let me finish this text message...... Okay." Yu said as she hit send on the phone, sending the message off to where ever it was going to go.
Seeing the phone, Raziel knew he needed to call home and let Kou know what was happened. "Umm Yu can I please barrow your phone so I can tell Kou what's happened?"
"Oh Sure. Here, I guess he would want to know. With that Natsuki chick gone and all." Yu said handing Raziel the phone.
Looking at the phone, it made Raziel stop and think. "Umm Yu is the temple's phone number in there? I don't know if it's the same here or not."
"Yeah, just scroll down through it's listed as Anata." Yu replied.
Back at the Temple, Kou was sitting in the living room reading a book as Matagu played a video game and Urd slept on the couch for her mid day nap.
Hearing the phone ring, Kou put the book that he was reading and answered it. "Hello Morisato residence."
"Kou, hi it's Raziel."
Hearing Raziel, Kou sat up some. "So has Yu had her way with you yet?" Kou asked with a slight chuckle.
"What would you say if she had?" Raziel asked, quickly making Kou stop laughing. "Just kidding? I really wanted to call and tell you that we don't need to worry about Natsuki any more."
"What do you mean?" Kou asked.
"I cant say right now, I'm out in public. I'll send a message on to Anata's cell phone telling you more about it." Raziel said. "Ahh It's melting!! One second!"
Sitting there on the phone, Kou could hear Yu laughing about something. "Okay I'm back."
"Sounds like you two are hitting it off." Kou said.
Over at the couch, Urd was listening it to what Kou was saying and she could just hardly make out what Raziel was saying.
"Umm... you can say that. But I'll talk about that more later."
"Okay" Kou said.
"Is my mom there?" Raziel asked.
Kou looked over and say Urd there on the couch looking like she was asleep. "She's having her afternoon nap right now. Do you want me to wake her?"
"No that's alright. I know how she can get if she doesn't get that nap in. well I'll talk to ya later." Raziel said. "Bye and tell my mom that I'll be coming home in the morning."
"Have a safe trip back, and I'll tell her." Kou said then he hung up the phone, and looked over at Matagu. "Matagu, tell me when did your mother say she'll be back?"
With out looked back from the game he was playing, he answered. "She said sometime around dinner."
Looking at the clock on the wall, Kou found that it was only two in the afternoon. "If you can keep a secret, would you like to start some training?"
Dropping the controller, Matagu turned around. "What?! Really?!"
Kou nodded. "Sure, but you must keep it a secret."
"But what if my mom asks me, I can't lie!" Matagu said.
Kou thought about this for a moment. "No you can't do that can you. But if Skuld asks tell her the truth. Because I know for sure that your mother will get more mad if you lie."
"Okay what do I do first?" Matagu asked.
"Well first we must know if you can levitate." Kou said, and as soon as he said that Matagu hovered up off the floor. "Okay you know how to do that."
"Are you going to teach me how to make a force bolt?" Matagu asked.
"In good time, but first you need to know how to do other things. Go and find six dice. And we'll get started." Kou said then he watched Matagu run in to the other room.
Turning back to his book, Kou placed his book mark in the book and he put it back on the coffee table. "So how is my son doing?"
Kou didn't even bother looking back at Urd. "He's doing fine from what I can tell."
"So, has Raziel and Yu hit it off?" Asked Urd, "Am I going to be a grandmother some time?"
"You'll just need to ask him when he returns in the morning." Kou replied.
"You know, I can just tell Skuld that you're teaching Matagu. If you don't tell me that is." Urd said thinking that she has him.
"I can tell her that, but I have nothing to tell you. So it would really be point less." Kou said.
Just then Matagu came back in to the room. "Okay I found them. What now?"
"First sit on the floor and place them in front of you." Kou instructed.
Doing as he was told to do, Matagu waited for the next set of instructions.
"Now with your mind, stack the dice in order." Kou said.
"Hey Matagu, sweetie. When you get done with that I can show you how to make some good potions." Urd said trying make her sound like the favorite aunt.
"No thanks Aunt Urd. I want to be able to do magic like Auntie Belldandy." Matagu said, making Urd left eye brawl twitch.
T.B.C.
FYI
Tanabata
July 7th is called Tanabata or Star Festival in Japan. People celebrate the day at home and in schools. Many cities and towns hold festivals and have Tanabata displays decorating the main streets. In some regions, people light lanterns and float them on the river, or float bamboo leaves on the river. The festival traces its origins to a legend that the Cowherd Star (Altair) and Weaver Star (Vega), separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet just once a year-on the seventh day of the seventh month. Tanabata originated more than 2000 years ago with an tale called Kikkoden. Once there was a weaver princess named Orihime and a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi After they got together, they were playing all the time and forgot their jobs. The king was angry and separated them on opposite sides of the Amanogawa River (Milky Way). The king allowed them to meet only once a year on July 7th. In Japan people write their wishes on narrow strips of coloured paper and hang them, along with other paper ornaments, on trees or bamboo branches placed in the backyards or entrances of their homes. They then pray hard that their wishes will come true. The most common Tanabata decorations are colourful streamers. Streamers are said to symbolise the weaving of threads. Other common decorations are Toami (casting net), which means good luck for fishing and farming and Kinchaku (bag), which means wealth. The Tanabata festival is thought to have started in China. It was transmitted to Japan during the feudal period and combined with traditional local customs to become an official event at the Imperial court, with different localities developing their own distinctive ways of celebrating. Resources
Tanabata Activities - Japanese words, chopsticks, paper lanterns, Onigiri (Rice Balls), Moon cakes courtesy of Dagenham and Barking Childminding Association