Blah blah blah, technicalities and crap.
Fujishima Kosuke owns AMG and its characters. I own Xerangref and Daisen, Kruss, Kyuss and Shantar (previous statements about using all of them stand).
A/N: Certain events and plots are hinted and somewhat revealed in this work. If you haven't read at least up to or past volume 19, you may be confused at some points. And for the rest of the chapters posted, it is VERY strongly suggested you not read on if you haven't read past Volume 23…There are plots that might spoil the manga for you.
Happiness' End
End of Chapter 34:
"Ah, I'm sorry. You must forgive Keima-kun. He is a bit jumpy around other women."
Belldandy tipped her head to the side slightly and smiled, "That it quite alright. It runs in the family I guess?"
Takano looked at Belldandy strangely, "Is Keiichi home?"
"Ah, he is at work at the moment. Please, come in and make yourself at home. He will be happy that his parents have arrived."
"How did you…"
"The kindness and love that the both of you give off, matches what I feel with Keiichi. Please, come in."
Without another word, Keima and Takano both stepped into the temple and awaited their son's arrival with the strange girl named Belldandy.
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Chapter 35: Plans for the Future
When he learned that there were four females in the house, Keima nearly ran. He wasn't emotionally stable when around women…women other than his wife and daughter.
Megumi had welcomed the both of them when she popped by after class.
Megumi knew her mother was fascinated by her current surroundings. So many people in a very large temple. Megumi herself had wondered how Keiichi lived here until he had finally told her about the old priest that used to live here.
As the hours passed, Keiichi returned at his usual time of 4:30 pm. Even though he got off work at 4 pm, the traffic and distance to the temple often delayed him from getting home.
He knew his parents were there when he saw Takano-san's Datsun. The confirmation came when he saw Keima-san's motorcycle pulled up next to one of side sheds.
Keiichi shut off his BMW and started walking to the front door. He was surprised to see that his normal welcoming party was replace…by his mother.
"Ah…Takano-san! How did you know I was home?"
"I know. I know because you are my son," was her response as she patted him on the shoulders.
"Ah…I guess that's true…"
"By the way, Keiichi. I have a question for you."
'Oh no…' Keiichi grimaced, as the famous Takano assumption factor took over.
"Are you running some kind of inn here? It's really big! And you have so many people here."
"Ah…no…not exactly."
"A brothel? Are the four gentlemen your customers?"
Keiichi rose an eyebrow and seemed to falter a little, "No…"
"You changed to Buddhism and joined a convent?"
"Er…no…everyone here had hair."
She looked thoughtful for a moment, "Ah, that's true isn't it?"
Keiichi kind of snickered for a moment and straightened out.
"Everyone here is your girlfriend? No wait, that's not possible. Sorry."
That was when Belldandy chose to interrupt the ongoing game of 'Twenty Questions,' "Ah, excuse me? But I should really be getting ready to make dinner. Keiichi, can you come help me please?"
Keiichi nodded and sighed a breath of relief, "Takano-san, we'll discuss why I asked you over here after dinner, alright?"
Takano nodded and watched as her son left for the kitchen to join Belldandy.
"She is the one that he likes, of that I am sure."
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As dinner was served, Keiichi made the seating arrangements extremely precise to avoid an abnormal situation. Keima and Takano sat next to each other. They sat next to Keiichi and Belldandy, Keiichi being next to his father to avoid any problems. Next to Belldandy on another side was Megumi, sitting next to her was Peorth. Next to Peorth was Urd. On another side of the table, across from Keiichi and his parents, were the twins and Skuld. On the last side, Shantar and Daisen sat alone due to their size and build.
It was rather cozy around the table, but things seemed to be fine. Random chatter ensued throughout the meal, most of which involved Keiichi, Megumi and their parents. They were catching up on the past six years that they hadn't been home, at least in Keiichi's case.
"To get back to your question earlier, Takano-san…everyone is here because they live here, or are staying here normally for a visit," Keiichi spoke as dinner finished. Everyone had already gone their separate ways, wanting to give Keiichi some privacy while talking to his parents. The only two people that stayed were Belldandy and Megumi.
Takano raised an eyebrow, "Live here?"
"Ah…yea…Belldandy and her sisters live here with me. Peorth and the four guys are here on a short term visit. I know it seems crowded here, but we don't really mind."
"So…for what reason have you called us, Keiichi?" Keima spoke for the first time. "This is something important, is it not?"
Keiichi nodded and looked at his parents, "You see, the reason Belldandy and her sisters live here is because of Belldandy…"
Both his parents nodded.
"She and I have been together a while now…and her sisters came to live with us after a really weird turn of events which lead us to live here." He motioned around to the temple.
"I've called you out from Kushiro to tell you in person that…" He paused slightly and took a breath, "That I asked Belldandy to marry me. I just wanted to let you know and ask for your approval."
Keima raised an eyebrow and Takano looked at Belldandy, "She certainly is nice. She seems to like you a great deal. You feel the same, don't you?"
Keiichi was about to ask how she knew when she simply held up her hand, "I am your mother, remember?"
Keiichi nodded.
"The question is, would you put your life on the line to be with her and love her?"
Keiichi grinned knowingly. He already had several times in the past couple of years. "I would."
"Would you race Keima-kun to prove it? To show your resolve?"
Keiichi looked a bit surprised, then thoughtful and nodded. "Sure."
Keima turned to look at Belldandy, "Would you be willing to walk with him?"
Belldandy nodded, "I made a promise to be with him always. I will walk with him till life ends."
Takano seemed to relax and smiled at him, "That's good enough for me." Keima nodded in agreement.
"Huh?"
"If you were willing to race against Keima-kun, who you have never beaten, just to prove yourself to us, that is good enough. We know that you are serious about it."
Keima nodded again.
"To risk your life for something you love or believe in, shows your resolve and willingness to come back to it at all times." She looked at Keima, "Isn't that what you told me before?"
Keima seemed to blush slightly and cough as he nodded once.
"So have you set any definite plans yet? Dates, people to invite, clothing? Anything?"
Keiichi nodded slightly, "We did discuss some things…but we both wanted to talk to you before continuing on with the plans, as you might have something to add." He reached over and held Belldandy's hand.
"Very nice! I like the way you two were thinking. Now, let's get down to business shall we?"
Megumi nodded and spoke after listening to the exchange, "Class are let out for the semester a week before Christmas. Kei-chan said he wanted to get married in December, since the snow offered nice scenery."
"Winter marriage? Isn't Spring the best time?"
"Yes, but it is also most expected. We wanted to do something a little more against tradition and against normal trends…"
"I see…Well then! Let's plan for the wedding to take place in three months! Since it's the later part of September right now, that should fit perfectly, right?"
Belldandy nodded, "Oh yes! That would be wonderful. Should we discuss the basics to get them out of the way sooner?"
Keiichi nodded while Belldandy pulled out a tablet. Almost immediately she and Takano began to discuss certain details while Keiichi turned to Keima and started asking questions about his own ceremony and what he wore.
Keiichi was glad that his parents had taking a liking to Belldandy and accepted their half-truth based tales about the other members of the temple.
With his parents involved, things could sometimes get highly complicated.
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A dark and hooded figured snarled as he saw what was going on in the temple.
Xerangref had sent a small spying device to scout out the temple and keep watch over it.
The middle goddess and the runt of a human were planning to be wed. Xerangref knew that if Kami-sama hadn't stopped it already, then it was alright. That was all the proof he needed to know that things were set in stone for the future.
He turned and walked towards the Nidhegg main room. As he walked, several lower demons bowed to him as they passed.
When Xerangref came to the huge blood red doors, they opened to admit him into the room.
There, Hild sat on her strange metal and organic throne. It, too, was blood red, fitting into the color theme of the room.
"My Queen," he said, bowing before her. She looked at him rather dully.
"What is it? What do you want?"
"It seems that the goddess Belldandy and the mortal fool she is contracted with are to be wed on Earthen terms."
Hild raised an eyebrow, "Oh? And does this displease you?"
"It does, My Queen. I was wondering if I might be able to gain your support and approval to ruin things before they get that far."
Hild smiled, "Oh, you shall gain my support alright, just not as you intend."
Xerangref looked at her with questioning eyes, "Why is that My Lady?"
"Because I will be helping you. Personally. The mortal fool fascinates me as to how he can hold captive so many gods without doing anything special. Even little Urd."
Xerangref nodded, "Do you have a plan, My Queen?"
Hild grinned mischievously, "I think it is high time we reclaim one of our special members that the gods have sealed away. The Angel Eater should prove to be enough for this situation, don't you agree?"
Xerangref nodded.
"And while we're at it, we can transform those lovely goddesses into demons, and force them to join our side! Manipulation and having the upper hand is key!" Hild started laughing wildly while Xerangref simply stared at her.
The rumors were more than true. She could create schemes at the drop of a hat with more than one motive. One motive usually meant an appeasement for her involvement.
Xerangref, for the first time in his existence, shuddered as he thought of the upcoming danger that may come.
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Keiichi had agreed to sleep out in the other empty chair in the living room.
He gave his room to his parents, who were staying with them for the night, and moved out with the other gods while Belldandy moved into her old room with Peorth.
Trying to get comfortable, Keiichi kept thinking about the events of the past day.
His parents accepted Belldandy and seemed to like her, even after one meeting.
They approved of what was going to happen.
They were planning to help with certain financial expenses that would pop up during the course of the preparations.
Keiichi smiled and sighed. Soon, a dream of his would become a reality. He was sure that Belldandy was thinking the same.
Keiichi slowly drifted off to sleep, blissfully unaware of the plans a certain other party was making. Plans that had been spurred and activated during his announcement to his parents.
Plans that had the potential to cause someone grave injuries and serious pain.
A/N: Ok, spoof off of Vol 23-24, but I included a greater deal of dialogue that appeared in the manga as well. The next few chapters will run on the main idea of Vol 25 and potentially 26.
May original statement of having only 4-5 more chapters may hold true, as I'm getting closer to the end ideal with less material to use.