Hi all, mvdiva again. So sorry for the non-updateness. I'm sure no one wants to hear my whiny excuses, so I did a long chapter to make up for it. There were a few errors between the first couple chapters and mine, so I tried incorporate the differences without making it seem too glaringly obvious. Anyway, thanks for the read and review.

Come What May

Chapter 7

"What do you think they're saying?" Skuld gnawed her lower lip, silently wishing she was able to figure out what the two were saying.

Beside her, Urd sighed dramatically. The elder goddess stuck an elegant fingernail in her mouth and began to chew thoughtfully. Keiichi's arm was unconsciously rubbing the back of his neck, and his blush was visible even from their leafy vantage point. Their middle sister stood, hands clasped primly before her in the very image of perfection.

"Somebody do something!" The silver-haired goddess stuck her tongue out at the couple, half-wishing they could see her.

Keiichi stuck a hand in his pocket, fumbling for something and growing redder by the minute. "He looks like a tomato," Skuld said. "I can't watch anymore." She squeezed her eyes shut and shoved the oversized binoculars at the older girl, who merely held them in her lap and continued to squint.

"He's doing something." Urd noted. "Whatever was in his pocket is in his hand now…I wish I could see, but it's getting dark." Skuld opened one eye, and then the other. The faint twilight caught a sparkle of gold in the boy's hand, and both goddesses held their breath. The ring glittered plainly in the flat of Keiichi's hand as he held it out to their sister.

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"Keiichi, I—I wanted to thank you for driving me home yesterday. I'm so sorry if I did anything to offend you, and I'd like-"

"Don't, Belldandy, please."

She gaped at him, obviously surprised by the tremor of emotion in his voice. Although they were near each other in height, Keiichi felt the girl towering over him. "I have something for you," He began to dig in his pocket, blushing furiously when said object kept evading his fingers. "I think it was something you must have dropped somewhere. Anyhow, I don't even know if its yours, but for some reason I feel like it belongs to you. His fingers finally closed over the smooth metal.

Belldandy watched him silently. Her heart was pounding a strange rhythm, and some part knew before the ring appeared. Keiichi held the ring reverently in the palm of his hand as if the polished metal would crumble.

He snuck a glance at her face, recognizing stunned gratitude written there. It's like the first time I gave her the ring, except that time— A memory came flooding back, the pure emotion bringing tears that he tried to rapidly blink away. Belldandy's smooth fingers graced his palm, lifting the ring to examine it.

"Keiichi," She breathed. "What is going on?" Her eyes moved from the ring to capture his own, questioning. Unable to swallow against the lump in his throat, the boy settled for a shrug. Belldandy turned the ring over, clenching her small fist around it. "May I try it on?" At his nod, the ring slipped over her slim finger with ease.

It glittered, contrasting with the delicate paleness of her palm. She held her hand out to examine it, the gesture creating a ripple of memory of a familiar habit somehow forgotten. "It suits you, Belldandy." She looked up. Keiichi's brown eyes were glittering with moisture, but the blush had faded from his tan cheeks. "I want you to have it." He nodded decisively.

"There's something about that ring that says it belongs to you." She managed a small smile and ducked her head demurely. Unconsciously rubbing her thumb over the ring against her palm, Belldandy tried to think of something to say. I know this sounds crazy," He began, and rubbed a hand against the back of his head. Shadows were beginning to form around them, hiding the faint trembling in his limbs. "I found that ring in my pocket, and I started remembering…things."

Belldandy looked at him curiously. "Memories?" She asked. The smooth gold against her finger was calming. Whispers of things were beginning to assemble in her mind. Thoughts and feelings towards this boy she had only just met, but somehow knew. It was almost as if he were the key to a lock she had just discovered.

Words were beginning to bubble up in her. Something had to be said. Her own question hung in the air, simultaneously acknowledged and ignored between them. "Keiichi, I…" Don't know where to begin. Whether to laugh or cry, or simply- "Belldandy!"

Both figures swung around. Aoshima was headed in their direction, barreling down the sidewalk. A couple walking arm-in-arm split for opposite sides of the path to get out of his way. For his size, the co-president of the auto club managed to appear as if he were lightly skipping towards them.

"Hello, Sempai." Keiichi managed. The older boy offered him a curt nod, eyes fixed on the girl in front of him. "Belldandy, I've been looking all over for you!" Despite the sudden disappointment that filled her, the goddess managed a bright smile. "Mr. Aoshima! May I help you?" The older boy mock-frowned, placing one beefy hand over his heart. "Why, Ms. Belldandy, have you forgotten about our dinner date? I have been all over campus in an effort to escort you to the Auto Club's banquet."

Keiichi shot a surprised look at Belldandy. She had agreed to go out with him? Somehow Belldandy simultaneously managed to throw him a placating look and withstand a grimace as one heavy arm dropped around her shoulders. "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Aoshima." She said seriously, and looked back at Keiichi.

"I will speak to you later, Mr. Morisato." Her eyes were sad, but a little smile tugged at her lips. Keiichi found himself nodding dumbly as Aoshima led his beautiful goddess away. She glanced over her shoulder at him, blue eyes shining as they passed under a streetlight. He waved feebly, watching until they disappeared over the hill before stuffing his hands back in his pockets.

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With one more glance at the place where she had stood, Keiichi huffed a sigh and turned back towards the men's dormitory. His path led him directly under a giant oak tree where two figures high up in the branches held their breath and tried to think bird thoughts until the boy had passed by.

The peaceful cooing of birds settling down for the night was broken by Skuld's urgent whisper: "Did it work?" Her elder sister shrugged, reaching up casually to pluck a fallen feather out of her hair.

"Now we wait." Urd tried to sound smug and authoritative, but Skuld caught her subtle frown even in the falling darkness.

"That's not very reassuring." She muttered, and crossed her arms.