Happiness' End Chapter 16: The Weasel, an oh my goddess! fanfic

The character Xerangref was created and copyrighted by myself. If anyone wishes to use him in the future in any fanfic, you have permission to do so as long as credit is given.

A/N: This is my first shot at an AMG related fic. Although the story line follows fairly closely to the manga at first that is all that will really be related to it. Certain plots and such may be hinted at or explained, but that is all.

Further notes that should be noted are that if you HAVE NOT read the manga past volume 19, you should NOT read this story, as it is a tangent off a major plot line in volumes 19 and 20, but involve different situations and ideas that didn't happen in the manga.

I honestly have no idea how long this fic will be, it depends on whether or not I believe it's finished, which may be soon.

And just so I say this…..I HATE MY SNES. I've tried playing through a couple of old games that I never really finished just to relax after reading and classes and such. Yet no matter how I try it seems the damn thing tries to spurn me constantly by erasing all my data off one certain game. Playing through 3 times just to try to beat one game SUCKS.

My SNES and writers block suck…that is all.

Happiness' End

End of Chapter 15:

As he walked into the kitchen, he noticed the grave looks all three of his housemates had. Belldandy immediately got up and reheated his dinner and sat it before him.

"What's wrong? You three look like Hild visited this afternoon."

Urd shook her head, "No, but close enough. We may have another demon to deal with, unless Mara got a power upgrade."

Keiichi's eyes widened, "Another one?"

All three nodded. Things suddenly became deafly quiet inside the temple as all the occupants knew that they had some bearing in all that was happening.

Xerangref cursed as he heard this. This would complicate things greatly.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 16: The Weasel

"MARA!" Xerangref barked as he entered her 'lair.'

Mara appeared quickly from a game she was playing in the back as soon as she heard her elders call that ran throughout the entire building.

"Yes lord?" Mara quickly bowed and then took a look at him again, but this time in closer detail. He seemed quite pissed off.

"We need a foolish human to use as a subject quickly! I've been discovered by the sisters and things may get difficult. The sooner we find a human worm to do our bidding, the faster we can plan. We need to plan out for this attack to happen in several months so that they let their guards down. We prepare quickly and work out any and all mishaps and mistakes along the way while waiting for the opportune moment to strike."

"Yes, I'll get back out immediately, lord," Mara said with another bow and then slowly vanished from sight.

Xerangref sighed. The demon girl was quite eager to please him so they could extract revenge on the goddesses for causing her so much grief over four years. He would be quite glad to help such a promising one as her. She had interesting plans to separate the man and goddess, but none of them ever seemed to work. Her last effort had almost scored before the elder of the goddesses figured things out.

He looked outside a broken and dust laden window to see that the sun had already set. He knew Mara wouldn't find anyone looking out this late at night, despite her best efforts. From observation and instincts, he knew that none of the family in the temple would venture outside to be 'social' at this time of night.

At least Mara was trying hard. She really seemed like a slacker at first, but that attitude changed when she realized this plan might just work with his abilities.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next week at Whirlwind, Chihiro was once again swarmed. She called Belldandy over and asked her to keep track of inventory and look at the books to make sure that they were balanced while she and a few hired hands worked on everything that was piling up.

Whirlwind had gained a small name for itself for its service. The staff was always friendly and helpful, the owner was a former circuit racer and the ever lovely Belldandy dropped by to help once in a while, drawing even more attention to the place.

The attention of one such 'customer' was not needed on a busy day like today.

As Belldandy finished making a quick snack tray with sweets and tea to take to the members in the back, Aoshima walked in through the door.

At the sound of the chine at the door, Belldandy turned and smiled, "Welcome to Whirlwind! I'll be with you shortly."

Being in a hurry to deliver the break time snacks, Belldandy paid no heed that it was Aoshima who had walked in.

She quickly dropped off her load for the workers and returned to see Aoshima holding a bouquet of roses for her.

"My fair lady Belldandy, these are for you as a token of my affection," he replied while handing her the roses and performing a curt mid-section bow.

"Oh, why thank you Aoshima," she said while taking the roses and smelling them slightly. "But I'm afraid that I cannot respond in turn, for my heart lies with another."

"Keiichi-san yes? What do you see in that droll of a person?"

Belldandy straightened her back and frowned at Aoshima letting him know her apparent dislike for the insult directed at Keiichi.

"He is always kind and caring and tries his best for everyone around him, including me. He is not droll or any other word in the same category. Please refrain from using insults or something bad may happen," she stated while putting the flowers on the counter.

"Something bad? My fine lady, I do not intend to fight nor do I wish to argue. I wanted to come and try to convince you to leave the poor fool who you're currently residing with," Aoshima responded while adjusting his glasses.

A larger frown appeared on Belldandy's face. It seemed so out of place on such a beautiful face with such a radiant smile. Before he could continue, Aoshima felt two hands grab him by the shoulders. He turned his head to look back at both Tamiya and Ootaki who had unreadable expressions on their faces.

"Aoshima…are you interrupting and bothering Miss Belldandy?" Ootaki asked, being the first to speak.

"Ya, ta think you woulda got it through ya think head that she dun want nuthin' to do with ya," Tamiya continued. "Since yous disturbin' Miss Belldandy, wes gonna ask ya ta leave…NOW!"

Each man took a hold of one of Aoshima's arms, dragged him over to the door and threw him out face first into the dirt. Both turned to receive a grateful smile from Belldandy.

"Thank you Tamiya-san, Ootaki-san. Although I don't know if that much force was necessary…"

"Naw, dun worry about that loser Miss Belldandy. He's jus a punk that never lissens to what others tell 'im," Tamiya replied. Ootaki slapped him on the shoulder and both men waved slightly then moved out back to talk to Chihiro.

Belldandy took the rose bouquet in the back and put them in a vase with plenty of water. She brought the flower vase out and set the roses on the back counter. At least Aoshima's little gift would serve to bring a little color to the mostly white and gray shop.

As Belldandy went back to work after a small cup a tea, a small figure emerged from a shadowy area in the shop. Mara's eyes thinned a little as she looked at the vase of roses, but she soon laughed. She had a target that would greatly please her master. After a little over a week of looking, things could be put into motion.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Belldandy returned to the temple to find her siblings bickering once again. As she entered the front door, she sighed and shook her head.

"Nee-san, Skuld, what is it now?"

"We were trying to figure out a way to bump up security around here, but the brat thinks everything would be fine if things were just upgraded a little more," Urd replied while crossing her arms.

"Everything IS fine, you floozy!" Skuld seemed a bit irate at the point when Belldandy had returned. "The sensors can be upgraded to cover more ground and air space and Banpei-kun already has everything we need to ward off demons."

Urd's eyebrow twitched slightly, gaining a smile out of Skuld. Urd had always called her a brat or kid, so she had come up with some pet names for her eldest sister in return.

Belldandy, not wanting anything to progress further than an argument made a quick suggestion, "Why don't we upgrade the sensors, increase power to the barrier field and add a more powerful ward? That would solve everything both of you are complaining about."

Urd put a finger on her chin and tilted her head a little, "I guess that would work. When should we start with the ward and field? The sensors are the brat's specialty."

"We could adjust the barrier spell now and work on the ward tomorrow?" Belldandy suggested raising her eyebrow slightly.

"Sure, whatever you say Bell. You hear that brat? Do whatever you want to the sensors you have out whenever you want, but do it soon."

Skuld stuck her tongue out at her sister and moved to her 'Skuld Labs' room.

"Well Belldandy, shall we?" Urd asked as she turned to look at her younger sister and walked outside. Belldandy nodded and followed her.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Lord, I've found a suitable target for the plan we have in mind," Mara said as she appeared before Xerangref and bowed slightly.

"Excellent Mara, who is this maggot?"

"He seems to be a close rival of the mortal Keiichi, and has feelings for Belldandy. Earlier today he was trying to swoon her to his side with gifts and flattery that had little sway over her," Mara held out a small folder. "I gathered as much information I could from a small tap on the mainframe."

Xerangref took the folder and browsed through its contents before looking up while a smile, revealing his fangs. Fangs that were larger than Mara's set.

"Most excellent Mara, you have chosen a good candidate for out little operation," he said while placing the folder down on a broken counter top that served as his desk. "Now then, all we need to figure out is a weakness in the household and exploit it."

"How, lord? We can't even get near the complex without them being alerted by that stupid barrier spell they have."

Xerangref thinned his eyes and glanced at her with a grin, "Oh really Mara? You may not be able to, but I can. Quite easily at that."

Mara raised an eyebrow and looked curiously at her demon elder, "How is that lord?"

"One of my abilities that gained me this position is the ability to alter a persons mind. I can do pretty much anything I please if I gain access to it. Scanning the temple and finding its inhabitants, I can alter all of their minds from outside their precious barrier quite easily. This includes turning off the little warning sense that clues them that a being with divine or demonic energies approaches. I can do much more, but for now this is all that is required."

"But what about the kid's sensor line?"

Xerangref shook his head slowly at her question, "Dear Mara, don't tell me you never took the time to learn your more advanced cloaking spells? Those will easily render those foolish machines useless."

Mara dropped her head and slouched slightly and replied in a quiet voice, "No sir…not the advanced spells. I never had use for them before."

Xerangref turned to look at her, "Fear not, Mara. We have time to teach you the necessary spells and techniques. While we wait for the opportune time, we shall both train to be ready if a battle ensues. I highly doubt that any fighting will follow this, but it just might."

Mara nodded and looked back at the elder demon. "Will you be looking in on them tonight, lord?"

Xerangref nodded, "Yes Mara, I will. Them knowing about me being here on the surface world may have given them the incentive to up 'security,' if you can call it that, around the temple."

He turned and walked into the shadows and began to fade out of sight, "Tomorrow Mara, the planning stages will take action. We will prepare as best as possible."

Mara nodded and watched the dark figure vanish from her sight before turning around. No sense in having a little fun before weeks of training and preparation right? She walked over to a still functioning game and sat down at the controls. This would be her haven for the last time in a long while.