Interlude 2

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Yui Ikari, Guardian of Heaven, watched from the second floor balcony of the auditorium. The room was far from full. At one time, Gods and Goddesses filled the auditorium to near bursting.

Now the first floor itself was more then enough to hold the few Gods and Goddesses that could attend the ceremony. The rest remained on the front lines.

Yui watched as her father and step-mother entered with her four year old half-sister. Though her father had wanted her to be with the rest of the family, Yui had declined, stating she wished to be there for the Goddess Kristine. Surprisingly, Mana had supported her.

If only she knew the real reason for Yui's absence.

Yui turned her attention back to the door of the auditorium. Now entering was Urd and Skuld, supporting a very frail looking Belldandy. Yui sighed at the sight of the Council Member's current state. It had begun nearly two hundred years before when the Rogue Demons had attacked the Earth. Valkyries and the Guardians had been dispatched, but during the battle, all mortals everywhere, on Earth, Terra 2, Heaven, Hell, they all vanished. Keima, still living on Terra 2, vanished as well. Belldandy was frantic. She had her sisters scouring Yggdrasil for any sign of the mortals, most especially her missing family.

Then just when they thought it couldn't get any worse, it did.

Yui could still remember the night. She had just arrived back in Heaven with Arael when she found out that her mother was in the infirmary. Arriving at the infirmary, she was met by Mana, Sayoko, Skuld, and Peorth. That was when she was told.

Touji Suzuhara, also a Guardian of Heaven, was dead. Rei Ikari, Yui's aunt, was severely injured, as was her mother, Asuka. Her father, Shinji, had somehow brought them both back to the Heaven before collapsing from exhaustion.

Rei survived the night.

Asuka did not.

Before she died, Asuka had spoken with Mana alone. Only after speaking with Mana had Asuka called in her husband and daughter.

An hour later she was gone.

Yui was pulled out of her memories by the sound of footsteps behind her. She glanced to the side to see Dawn, Valkyrie and step sister to her, as well as Kristine.

"I'd ask how things were going," Dawn said, "but I already know things suck."

"You don't know the half of it." Yui replied. She turned to Kristine, "How's Belldandy?"

Kristine sighed. "Grandma doesn't talk much anymore. When she does, she's calling out for Grandpa, or Mom, or Uncle Keima."

Yui turned and looked down at the Goddess in question.

"Deep down she knows they are gone." Kristine continued, "but a part of her refuses to give up hope."

"Better then Mana I suppose." Yui said softly.

"What's wrong with Mana?" Dawn asked.

"As crazy as it sounds……" Yui said, slowly turning to face Kristine, "….she's been talking to your mother."

"Whaa?" Kristine asked confused.

"But Sayoko's been dead almost five years now." Dawn said.

"I know that." Yui replied, "I was there when we found her."

"So how can Mana be talking to my mother?" Kristine asked.

"I don't know. But she's been doing it awhile now, usually when she thinks no one else is around or within earshot." Yui waved her hand, "But that's not the reason we're meeting."

"What is it then?" Dawn asked.

Yui turned and looked down from the balcony at the gathered deities.

"We're losing." She finally said.

"What do you mean…..!" Dawn stated before Kristine gently grabbed her arm.

"Continue." Kristine said.

"We are losing more and more Gods, Goddesses, Valkyries, even Demons everyday." Yui said, "Mana and what's left of her loyal Demons were ejected from Hell. We haven't been able to fight back to the mortal realm." Yui looked back at Kristine and Dawn. "Everyday we become weaker and weaker. We can't replace our losses. Those Rogue Demons have an unlimited supply of reinforcements, at least they act like it."

Kristine and Dawn were silent. That silence dragged out several minutes.

"What do we do?" Dawn finally asked.

Yui looked back down at those gathered below.

"I intend to fight it out to the very end." She said, "If the Rogues are going to win, I want to make it as costly as I can for them." Yui then looked back at Kristine and Dawn. "But Yoko deserves better."

"What can we do though?" Dawn asked, "She's as much my sister as yours, but if what you say is true…….we won't be able to protect her."

"I know." Yui turned and looked back downward, this time singling out her sister. "That is why we must send her away."

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Mana knew Yui was up to something. She also knew that Kristine and Dawn were in on it.

Those three had been at the center of something for almost five hundred years now. Mana had tried to discover what they were up to. Even Sayoko, when she was alive, tried to figure it out. Neither could find out anything.

Not that Sayoko wasn't still trying.

Mana knew she wasn't crazy. She still had her full mental capacity as far as she was concerned. She also knew full well that Sayoko was in fact dead. Sayoko herself knew she was dead.

But that didn't stop Mana from talking to Sayoko, nor did it stop the Goddess from talking to the Demoness.

Yes, Mana could see Sayoko Aida, formerly Goddess Class Zero, Unlimited, now deceased. Mana was also sure her daughter, also named Sayoko though shortened to Yoko, could see the deceased Goddess. Yoko would always tell Mana about her 'special friend' that sang songs to her at night when she was scared.

It bothered her at first. Anyone would be bothered if they constantly saw someone they knew was dead walking around…… Celes Victoria was about the only exception. But Mana got used to it.

She and Sayoko had spent many nights trying to figure out why Mana and Yoko were the only ones that could see and talk to Sayoko, as well as trying to figure out why Sayoko was still here. They both finally agreed that it had to do with the events around Sayoko's death.

Mana blinked.

A softly glowing figure was moving past the front of the auditorium. She could just make out the features of the wall through the ghostly figure. Mana already knew who it was. She watched as the ghost form of Sayoko moved in front of Belldandy and knelt. She then rested her head on her mother's hands.

Mana let out a small sigh. She then felt a warm touch. A quick glance to the side revealed Shinji looking at her with a slightly worried expression. She gave a smile and squeezed his hand before returning her attention to the ghost of Sayoko. The ghost was staring at her. Mana stared back, then Sayoko nodded her head before vanishing.

She'd be back, Mana knew. There would be no sleep for Mana that night. She'd be busy talking to her friend.

It was the least she could do for her.