Chapter 3
2547
Terra 2
Otaru's restaurant
'Sigh'
Arael looked up from her waffles at her companion. Yui was staring wistfully off to the side. Arael slowly turned her head to see what Yui was looking at. There at the counter, Keima was going over a few last minute details before opening the restaurant up. Beside him, Lime was doing everything in her power to distract him.
And succeeding.
Arael turned and looked at Yui.
"You still want him." The Angel said flatly.
"Yeah," Yui said, sighing again.
Arael went back to eating her breakfast.
"You should move on." The Angel said, "It is unlikely he will change his mind, and your obsession will only hurt the relationship you currently have with him."
Yui blinked and turned to look at her friend.
"When did you become the relationship goddess?" she asked, "I seem to remember you being the one worried about anyone even being attracted to you."
Arael blushed. "I have been out with a few Gods. As to my relationship knowledge, after your sleepover party……..I…….sought out…...research material."
Yui frowned, "What kind of research material?"
"Your Aunt Rei has a rather extensive collection……..of movies……"
Yui's jaw dropped, "You raided Auntie Rei's romance movie collection!"
Arael seemed to sink down in the booth.
"Yes." Came her very quiet reply.
"Did Rei know?"
"She supplied the…….Kleenex."
Yui thudded her head against the tabletop.
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From that point for the following year, whenever Guardian Rei and I were together, Yui would refer to us as 'Heaven's Romance Movie Junkies'. Rei determined that to be acceptable, and got herself a t-shirt that said as much. It even had her name on the back.
I received one too.
At this time, 'Heaven's Romance Movie Junkies' now includes a dozen other people in Heaven.
Yui has yet to join.
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Yui finally lifted her head back up.
"So tell me oh mighty relationship guru, what words of wisdom do you have for me?"
Arael looked a Yui for a moment, confused momentarily at what exactly Yui said. Then something clicked.
"I would suggest hanging out at Keima's college." Yui finally said, "It would seem to be the place to 'pick up guys'."
Yui was suddenly on her feet and running towards Lime and Keima.
"Lime!" Yui shouted, "Where's a good spot on Campus to pick up guys?"
"Uhhh…" Lime said, "The Dorms?"
"The Dorms!"
"Well that's where I met Keima."
"Ugh." Yui sagged, "You never dated anyone else?"
"No." Lime said, "I didn't. Bloodberry on the other hand……."
"Bloodberry what?" the woman in question asked as she and Cherry entered the room.
"Yui is trying to pick up a guy." Lime said.
"And why would I know?" Bloodberry asked.
"Because you're kind of a skank." Cherry said.
"WHAT!"
"Oh shit." Keima, Lime, and Yui muttered. Arael only turned her head and looked at the group questioningly.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M A SKANK!" Bloodberry shouted.
"Look at the way you dress and act." Cherry said, "A proper lady wouldn't……"
"Hold on!" Bloodberry shouted, "What about you?"
"What about me?" Cherry demanded.
"I've seen you squirming and screaming guys names."
"What?" Cherry shouted, turning red in the face.
"Oh my look at the time." Lime said, "Keima, we're going to be late."
"Uh yeah, right." Keima and Lime quickly ran out.
"Arael, we have to go." Yui said.
"No we do not."
"Yes we do." Yui said. She nodded towards the door.
Arael frowned. "We do not have anywhere to be. Do you have some kind of problem with your neck?"
"Arael," Yui said slowly, "you have been around us for sometime now. What do you normally do when Skuld and Urd are about to fight?"
Arael's eyes went wide. She looked back at the still arguing Bloodberry and Cherry.
"Oh." Arael said.
"Oh indeed." Yui said.
"Yui," Arael said standing up, "We have somewhere to go."
"I think you're right." Yui replied.
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Moments later.
"What is a skank?"
"You really shouldn't ask."
"But I wish to know."
Yui sighed, "Ok, a skank is basically……well……ummm……..a loose woman."
"Like Goddess Urd?" Arael asked.
Yui winced and looked around. Seeing no one, she turned back to Arael.
"You really shouldn't call Urd a skank." Yui said, "It's an insult."
"Oh." Arael said.
"However………" Yui looked around again. "If you ask Skuld, yes Urd is a skank. BUT you never heard that from me."
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I have heard many insults since my revival. Yes, after I was first created, demons and gods taunted one another, but the insults of today are worlds apart.
Having been around Yui and her family a lot, my first experience with the insults began while listening to Asuka rant.
That Guardian knows more curse words in more languages then I'll ever know.
The now infamous Skuld/Urd fights of course are a very strong memory. The Sayoko/Sentaro fight is a very recent memory, also one that I try to forget as it hurt my friend the most. I do believe the best fights I have ever seen would be the Mana/Asuka fights. It also taught us two very important things.
Asuka has red hair.
Mana has auburn.
Never confuse the two.
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2563
Terra 2
Arael and Yui were sitting in what had basically become their booth in Otaru's Restaurant. Arael was sitting normal. Yui however, was slowly pounding her head on the tabletop. Her reason was sitting across from her.
Her mother.
"….and another thing." Asuka said, "Why don't you call home enough? You have a communicator. I don't ask for much, just simple phone call to let your father and I know how you're doing. And speaking of that, who are you dating these days……"
"I really and truly pity her right now." Keima said from where he was standing by the counter.
"Is she always like this?" Lime asked.
"No." Keima said, "I think something is bugging her."
"But what?"
"It started after Sayoko's birthday."
Lime frowned, "What could it be?"
The front door chimed as it was opened, admitting four people. Keima smiled.
"I think our answer just entered." He walked over to the four. "Hello Sis. How's it going?"
Sayoko smiled at her brother.
"Hey Keima. I figured Mana needed to try Japoness cuisine and figured this was the place to go. Sentaro and Kristine are tagging along to hear embarrassing Mana stories."
"Yeah, they're…HEY!" Mana turned her head and glared with her one good eye. "What do you mean MY embarrassing stories?"
"Because that's what you are Kirishima, an embarrassment." Came a voice with a slight Germen accent.
Mana's eye flashed red and her demon markings flared into existence. Sentaro and Kristine took several steps back. Mana slowly turned towards the booth.
"Sohryu." She muttered.
Yui and Arael looked at each other, then at Asuka, then at the slightly annoyed demoness.
"It's Ikari now. Remember?" Asuka said with a smirk, "So, steal any boyfriends lately?"
Mana started to retort, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. She glanced back at Sayoko, and her fury faded, along with her demon markings. She let out a slight harrumph, then moved off to a booth far from Asuka. Sayoko gave a slight smile to Asuka, then went to the booth, Sentaro and Kristine right behind her.
"Mom," Yui whispered, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Asuka was still glaring daggers towards Mana.
"That bitch screwed over Sayoko years ago." Asuka muttered, "Left us to pick up the pieces. Sayoko wasn't right for months after."
"I thought Auntie Sayoko forgave her." Yui said, "I thought you missed her."
"I forgot what a pain in the ass she was." Asuka said, "Everytime we meet she keeps bringing up MY Shinji."
"Sayoko did say Mana had feelings for Shinji." Arael said.
"And probably still does." Asuka growled.
"Mom," Yui said, "You are overreacting."
"Am I?"
"More so then I did with Keima and Lime."
Asuka frowned. She slowly turned her head back to where Mana and the others were sitting. All four seemed to be having a good time.
The door then chimed again. Asuka glanced over to see Shinji entering. Asuka started to open her mouth in greeting when she heard a "Shinji!" from behind her. Mana practically ran to Shinji and gave him a hug.
Storm clouds began to form over Asuka's head.
"Mom?" Yui said.
"Asuka?" Arael said.
Asuka's eyes began to glow.
"Mom seriously, this is not the best place to do this."
"Oh no." Asuka said, her voice sounding very dangerous, "I think it is."
"DAD!" Yui shouted, "Mom's losing it!"
Shinji jumped at hearing his daughter's voice. He then paled when he saw Asuka's angry face.
"Asuka this isn't what you think."
"Just what is it then?" Asuka asked, her voice sending chills down everyone's spines.
"Kristine and Sentaro wanted to hear about our time in school." Shinji said, "They asked me to come. I couldn't get ahold of you.""
"Oh?" Asuka then directed her glare to Mana, "And now explain why you felt the need to hug MY husband?"
Mana glared back, "I was greeting an old friend whom I haven't really been able to see in a long time."
"Well we know who's fault that is now don't we?"
Mana's eye began to glow as her markings flared into existence. Sayoko moved in front of Mana.
"Asuka that was…." Sayoko was cut off as Mana pushed her out of the way.
"What are you trying to say Sohryu?" the Demoness growled.
"I think you know. And it's Ikari!"
"I was punished for that." Mana said, "and I served it out. And it will always be Sohryu to me!"
"I think they were too lenient on you." Asuka replied, "…red haired freak."
Mana's eye became a glowing furnace.
"Asuka….." Shinji said.
"It's Auburn." Mana growled, "I don't have Asuka hair."
Asuka's eyes narrowed. "And just what is wrong with my hair?"
"Mom…please?" Yui pleaded.
"Nothing," Mana said, "It looks great on a bitch like you."
Asuka started at Mana. Shinji grabbed her.
"Asuka this really isn't the time and place to do this."
"The hell it isn't!" Asuka shouted.
"Let her go Shinji!" Mana shouted, "I still haven't gotten her back for that cheap shot she gave me back in High School."
"CHEAP SHOT? I'LL SHOW YOU CHEAP!" Asuka tossed Shinji out of the way and dove at Mana.
Mana crashed to the floor with Asuka trying to claw at her neck. Keima came running from around the counter.
"Aw come on you guys!" he shouted, "Don't fight!"
"Mom!" Yui shouted.
"Mana!" Sayoko shouted.
There was a bright flash as Asuka was blasted off Mana and through the ceiling.
"WHAT THE HELL!" came Bloodberry's voice from upstairs.
Mana leaped to her feet and flew up through the hole after Asuka. Several more crashes were heard from the upstairs. Bloodberry came running down the stairs.
"Keima! There's……"
"I KNOW!" Keima shouted. He looked over at Sayoko. "She's your friend."
"Which one?" Sayoko asked, as they heard something loud crash above. "At this point I'm inclined to say I don't know either of them." She glanced at Shinji. "Any idea why Asuka went off? Besides the argument?"
"Asuka's been a bit off since Mana returned." Shinji said. He then paused as more crashes and cursing were heard from above. "She seemed happy that Mana was back but………"
"Mana and Asuka really haven't been around each other since High School." Sayoko said, "Asuka didn't really visit me at the Lake, and when she did….."
"Mana was busy with school." Shinji finished, "So…….."
"Are you saying," Yui said, "That Mom is still pissed off over things that happened in your high school, five hundred years ago?"
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Considering I have the memories of both Asuka and Sayoko within my head, I am in the rather unique position of knowing them better then anyone alive.
That is why I do believe that Asuka could hold a 'grudge' for that long.
Personally, I am glad that Asuka and I were able to talk civilly.
And without the property damage.
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"Can we stop with trying to figure out why they're fighting," Keima shouted, "and figure out how to stop them from fighting!"
Sayoko looked at Shinji. "Asuka's a Guardian. She has more power then me."
"Do you think I really want to go up against Asuka?" Shinji asked, "She took down Mist for crying out loud."
"Don't even look at us." Kristine said from where she, Sentaro, and now Yui were standing.
"I'm not fighting Mana." Sayoko said, "I got my ass kicked last time."
"You think I want to?"
"Guys!" Keima shouted.
"I'll go." Arael said. She promptly stood up and vanished.
"Oh Asuka is really going to be pissed." Shinji said.
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It was not that I really wanted to interfere. I suppose I could say I was being the noble one, preventing two friends from making a mistake even bigger. I could also say that it was upsetting to me to see Sayoko, Shinji, Yui, and everyone in distress. But my true reason for stopping them was not so noble.
I wanted the waffles and their fighting was disrupting the production of them.
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Asuka had Mana in a headlock and seemed to be trying to tear the Demoness' head off. Both were covered in scratches, bruises and cuts. Their clothes were torn in several spots and blood was splattered here and there.
"You leave my Shinji alone you demonic bitch!" Asuka growled.
"Shinji can do whatever he damn well pleases." Mana replied as she struggled to free herself. Her vision was starting to go black.
"It pleases me to do this." Came another female voice.
The air between Mana and Asuka crackled with orange energy. Both Guardian and Demoness cried out in shock as they were flung to opposite sides of the room, slamming into the walls hard. Arael appeared within the room and glanced at the two combatants.
"Arael," Asuka groaned, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Why are you interfering?" Mana asked.
"I am tired of seeing two grown deities acting like children." Arael said, "And you are damaging the Morisato residence."
Mana and Asuka looked around the room. Besides the large hole in the floor, most of the furniture was destroyed, several of the walls had large holes in them, and the ceiling seemed to have been scorched at some point.
"You are both my friends." Arael said, "But if you continue to act in this fashion, I will ask Lady Belldandy to punish you."
Mana and Asuka both gulped.
"I suggest you fix this……..mess." Arael said, "Now." Her eyes flashed to emphasis her point. She then turned and walked back down the stairs.
"That's a first." Asuka said.
"What is?"
"Arael getting angry."
Mana blinked, "She's never been angry?"
"Well, at least not that I've seen." Asuka sat down with her back against the wall. "Arael is a lot like how Rei was in Tokyo-3, very emotionless."
"Not much anymore."
"Yeah, I think that's Yui's doing." Asuka glanced at Mana. "I'm sorry about bringing up……you know."
Mana sighed and sat down next to Asuka. "It's alright. I shouldn't have dissed your hair."
"I think mine was the bigger insult."
Mana waved her hand. "Hold it, we're doing it again. Can we ever get along?"
"Don't know." Asuka replied, "I think there's only one thing we agree on."
"Shinji?"
"Bingo."
"He's your husband."
"And you have the hots for him."
Mana blushed. "Yeah. He's a sweetheart."
"He is." Asuka said, "And that's probably why I'm always jealous. He cares for everyone."
"You know I won't try anything so long as he's married to you." Mana said.
"You would have tried to get him long before now." Asuka said, "Ok, look. I get that he's a good friend of yours and you've missed him, but could you keep the touchy feely to a minimal when I'm around?"
Mana nodded, then smirked "Agreed. I'll make sure you're not around when I get touchy feely with Shinji."
"Good now that that's……." Asuka raised an eyebrow, "I…you…..did you just…?"
"Kidding."
"……."
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Everything worked out for the best.
Mana and Asuka got along.
Shinji lived.
The house was repaired.
….and I got my waffles.