Chapter 6
"Haven't these guys ever heard of a good night sleep?" Keima muttered.
For the second time in twenty-four hours, he was fighting rogue demons. Like before, only a few were attacking, if you considered thirty a few. Keima had suggested that the bulk of the rogues were attacking hell. His mother had agreed, and informed him that they were still trying to get him more help. Some help had arrived about an hour before this group attacked. Keima glanced off to the side to see a green blast rip through a demon.
He didn't know who exactly Morgan Le Fay was. He could see she was a fairy, and apparently knew his mother and father over five hundred years ago in Nekomi. But neither Morgan, nor his mother would say much about it.
The sounds of gunfire then reached his ears. Celes had taken up a position near the restaurant with her Harkonnen cannon. The Vampire was using it to pick off any demons that got within range.
Speaking of vampires……….
Keima looked to the other end of the street. There stood Rayne, the Dhampir, fighting away. Celes had called her and Rayne had jump on the first ship to Terra 2. She'd barely arrived when the demons struck. Already several demon parts lay on the ground.
A low growl caused Keima to turn around. As he did so, he formed a force bolt and was able to catch the charging demon off guard. The Demon sailed backwards, the force bolt having ripped a hole through the demons stomach. Keima stared briefly at the corpse, before turning and heading towards Rayne. The Dhampir had just plunged both of her blades into the stomach of a demon, before removing them by spreading her arms. The two halves of demon tumbled to the ground with the splatter of blood.
"I don't think I'll quite get used to that." Keima said as he grew near to her.
Rayne just smiled at him.
"The first dozen or so, it is shocking." She said, "Then you learn how to get the stains out."
"Stains?" Keima asked.
"Blood, digestive fluids, other assorted bodily fluids……." Rayne replied, "It's murder to get that kind of stuff out of your clothes, your hair. There was this one time I had to go inside this sewer demon and…….."
Keima raised his hand, cutting her off.
"Too much information." He said.
"Fine." Rayne turned her head to the side and pulled out a pistol. She fired off three shots, and was rewarded with a demon corpse falling into the street. She then turned back to Keima. "That's fourteen I've killed, how about you?"
"This isn't a game." Keima muttered.
"You're no fun." Rayne said with a smile, "At least Celes is making an effort to enjoy herself."
"I don't enjoy killing." Keima stated, "And somehow I don't think Celes does either."
"She's a vampire. Vampires enjoy killing."
"You obviously haven't been around Celes that much."
Celes choose that moment to run up, her harkonnen cannon slung on her back.
"I think I got ten of the basterds." She said, "How about you?"
Rayne turned and gave Keima a smile. Keima just held his head. He was still holding it when Morgan walked over in her mortal form.
"What's wrong with him?" she asked.
"I think he's stressing out that he's surrounded by psychotic crazy killer types." Rayne replied.
"Rayne," Celes said, "You are the only psychotic crazy killer type here."
"What about you?"
"I am not Alucard."
"Alucard is better looking."
Celes grabbed her head.
"Oh I can't believe you said that!"
"What? You didn't think he was good looking?" Rayne asked, "I bet even Lady Hellsing got a piece of him."
"ALRIGHT!" Keima shouted, "Enough!"
Morgan sighed, "The people you Morisatos hang around keep getting weirder and weirder."
"I'll take your word on it." Keima replied. He started walking.
"Hey!" Morgan shouted, "Where're you going? Don't leave me with the mosquitoes."
"I am not a mosquito." Rayne growled.
"Something we agree on." Celes added.
Keima let out a long sigh.
"Where the hell does my family meet these people?"
"KEIMA!" came a scream from up the street.
"LIME!" Keima shouted. He started running in the general direction of the restaurant.
"Shit!" Celes swore as she followed, positioning the Harkonnen cannon under her arm.
Morgan and Rayne glanced at each other, then took off in a run as well.
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Lime let out another scream, clutching little Otaru tightly to her chest. Beside her, Cherry and Bloodberry swore loudly, throwing pans, dishes, anything they could get their hands on at the demon that had entered the restaurant. They were helped by little Yoko, who handed them their ammo, while Mr. Bear watched.
The demon muttered to himself, holding his arms over his head, trying to knock away the objects hurtling at him.
This is the scene that met Keima's and the other's eyes. They paused at the doorway, watching for a moment.
"Umm." Morgan whispered, "Should we help?"
"Who?" Rayne asked, "The girls or the demon?"
Keima quickly formed a force bolt. The Demon immediately sensed the presence of a god and turned to face Keima.
This was his mistake.
Upon turning, Cherry let fly a large cast iron skillet. The skillet slammed into the back of the demon's head. A loud thunk echoed throughout the restaurant, followed by a second as the demon dropped dead.
Keima stared blankly at the dead demon, then he looked up at Cherry.
"Remind me to never insult you while you have a skillet in your hands."
"Ditto." Celes added.
Keima quickly moved to Lime.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly.
Lime nodded, before leaping at Keima. Keima wrapped his arms around his wife and son. Lime let out quiet sobs, shaking as she did so.
"He just appeared." Cherry said to Celes and the others. "One moment we're making a snack for Yoko, the next……."
"What is Yoko doing here?" Celes asked, "I thought she was in the castle."
"Mom." Bloodberry replied, "As far as she could tell, Yoko was perfectly fine and didn't need to stay in the infirmary. Since she's rather…….up there in years and Marionette Lime is watching her, she thought we'd be better at watching a four-year-old."
"Considering the Angel she has, and with Keima and Morgan here I'd agree." Celes said, "I wish someone had told me though. I could have positioned several Sabers nearby and……." Celes' voice trailed off. Her pocket was beeping.
"What is that?" Rayne asked.
"My alert beeper." Celes pulled the object out and read the screen. Her eyes went wide. "KEIMA!"
Keima snapped his head over.
"What is it?"
"Teleport us to the castle NOW!" Celes shouted.
Keima frowned, "Why do……?"
"NOW DAMMIT!" Celes whipped around and pointed at Rayne and Morgan. "You two, stay here. No arguments." She turned back to Keima. "Hurry!"
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Keima and Celes appeared outside Castle Japoness. Celes immediately pulled out her hand gun and raced towards the main doors.
"What is your hurry?" Keima asked when he had caught up to her.
"That beeper only goes off when there is a problem with the Imperial Saber." Celes said, "So the signal comes from either Baiko or Tamasaburo." The vampire glanced at Keima. "They both sent it."
"Which means there's something wrong with them." Keima said.
"Keima," Celes said slowly, "if both go off, we're talking about something very serious. The last time they both went offline, Demons took them out."
Now Keima understood. He and Celes quietly entered the castle. Almost immediately they began finding pieces of marionettes.
"These are the regular Sabers." Celes whispered, "In case of attack, the Imperial Guard would go directly to defend the Shogun. Since he's gone, they went with their secondary objective."
"Lorelei." Keima stated.
"Yep." Celes moved quickly through the halls, leaping over more broken Sabers. Finally after several minutes and several flights of stairs, Celes came to a halt at the end of a hallway. At the far end were the heavy iron doors that led to the Shogun's chamber, now being used by Lorelei in the Shogun's absents.
They were laying bent and broken from their hinges.
Before them lay the shattered forms of Baiko and Tamasaburo.
"Dammit dammit dammit." Celes swore as she ran down the hall.
Keima followed, but didn't move with her past the doors. He could already sense what she would find.
Death.
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Lime sat across from Yoko, watching the four year old stuff her face with mint chocolate ice cream.
"You really shouldn't have ice cream before you go to bed." Lime said.
Yoko looked up at Lime curiously.
"Why?"
"Cuz it rots your teeth."
"Why?"
"Because of the sugar."
"Why?"
Lime thudded her head into the table.
"Why are you hitting your head Lime?" Bloodberry asked as she walked into the room.
"I've suddenly become our mother." Came Lime's reply, muffled by the table.
Bloodberry frowned at Lime, then noticed the ice cream in front of Yoko.
"What's she doing with ice cream?" Bloodberry asked, "She'll be as hyper as you were when………" Suddenly Bloodberry had her answer. "Oh. THAT's why you're hitting your head."
"Yep."
"Well then why did you give her ice cream?"
"I didn't." Lime replied. She lifted her head. "Our dear sister caved in to her demands."
"Hey!" Cherry peered out from the kitchen. "You didn't see the look she gave me when she asked! I'd like to see you try and resist it!"
"Wait." Lime said rising to her feet. "I gave you those looks when we were kids! You never gave in then!"
"I was a kid too." Cherry replied, "Besides, Mom would have punished me."
"Mom would have punished you?" Lime shouted.
Morgan and Rayne peered at the arguing sisters.
"I can't believe these people are related to Belldandy and Keiichi." Morgan grumbled.
"Only the god is." Rayne replied as she turned and looked at one of her blades, "As well as the little one sleeping upstairs. Those three are clones of Lorelei."
Morgan turned and looked at Rayne.
"I don't understand this cloning thing." The fairy said, "Why would they make a planet of clones?"
Rayne shrugged. "I know the colony ship that came here crashed and only six males and Lorelei survived. Lorelei was locked in suspended animation by the computer of the ship, the men stuck on the planet. So, to keep the planet and increase their number………."
"They cloned themselves." Morgan said. She shook her head. "I still find it distasteful."
"Humans do what they must do to survive." Rayne replied.
"Yeah but……" Morgan began before her communicator went off. Morgan picked it up and flipped it open. Keima's face appeared on it.
"Morgan," Keima said, "are you alone?"
"Rayne is beside me." Morgan replied. She then glanced up. "Yoko is watching your wife and her sisters argue about ice cream and bedtime."
Rayne moved in close to the communicator.
"So are we going to find out why you guys left in such a damn hurry or what?"
Keima sighed. "I'll be back soon. Celes……….will be here a bit longer."
"Why?" Morgan asked.
"I'd appreciate it if you, preferably Morgan, could keep an eye on Otaru when I get back." Keima said.
"I'll ask again." Morgan said, "Why?"
"Because none of the other adults are going to be in any shape to do so."
Rayne grabbed the communicator and glared into it.
"WHY Dammit!"
"BECAUSE MY MOTHER-IN-LAW IS DEAD!" Keima shouted before ending the transmission.
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Celes sat quietly outside the repair bay. The doctors had tried everything they could for Lorelei, but it was just too late. The marionette Lime though, she was a different story. The vampire watched through the large bay window as Lime was worked on, as well as Baiko and Tamasaburo. Celes knew from experience that Lime would take this hard. She had been very upset when Otaru had died, more so then Lorelei some thought.
Lorelei herself had told Celes about the marionette Lime's experiences with Otaru. Thus she knew that the marionette had been with Otaru longer then any of the others, and that Lime had held a special place in his heart.
The marionette would be repaired. Celes knew it would be Lorelei's wish that Lime be taken care off. The three girls had grown up hearing about their marionette namesakes. They would be the right ones to take care of Lime. And if for some strange reason they wouldn't, Celes was sure Sayoko and Belldandy would know what to do.
The door to the waiting room opened, admitting Asuka and Arael. Celes was instantly on her feet.
"The gates are down!"
Asuka shook her head.
"No. They aren't."
"Then how did you get here?" Celes asked.
"Sayoko was owed a favor." Asuka replied, "But the route we came by isn't exactly a great way to travel. We're it for now." Asuka looked into the repair bay. "And it seems we're too late."
"Lorelei's dead." Celes said, "Most of the Sabers are destroyed. Lime, Baiko, and Tamasaburo are under repair, but who knows when they'll be up."
"Do the others….?" Asuka began to ask.
Celes nodded. "Keima went back to tell them."
"The girls must be a wreck." Asuka said.
"Keima's not much better. Hell, I'm not that great." Celes glanced over at the two. "Sentaro still hasn't shown up."
Asuka's eyes went wide.
"He hasn't? Where the hell is he?"
"I don't know." Celes said, "With all the demon attacks he……" The vampire frowned.
"What?" Asuka asked.
"Wasn't Arael just here?"
Asuka turned and looked around her. There was no sign of the Angel.
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"LOOK OUT NYAO!"
Sentaro ducked as a force bolt ripped through the air where his head had been. He glanced over at Megami.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Nayo." She then clamped her hands over her mouth.
Sentaro chuckled then glanced over at the Soultaker. She was busy fighting three rogues at once. Unlike most demons, the Soultaker was using a staff as a weapon. She also, surprisingly, didn't seem to have her heart set in fighting. She was only doing enough to keep from getting injured.
Sentaro then turned his attention to the demon that had just tried to fry him. The demon let out a yell and charged at him. Sentaro raised his hands and formed a weak force bolt and sent it at the demon. The bolt slammed into the shoulder of the demon, spinning him around. Sentaro smiled at his accomplishment, when something slammed into his side. He spun about and slid along the ground before coming to an abrupt halt when he hit the wall.
"SENTARO!" Megami screamed as she raced to his side. She helped Sentaro roll over and he let out a cough.
"Mental note," he gasped, "do not get hit by force bolts."
The sound of footsteps approaching reached Megami's cat ears. She glanced over, followed by Sentaro. The two demons were now approaching, smiles on their faces. One pulled out a sword and brought it up, preparing to deliver the killing blow. Megami closed her eyes and pressed her face into Sentaro's shirt.
Thus it was only Sentaro who saw what followed.
The demon brought his sword downward. Just before it reached him, it was stopped by a flaring orange hexagonal shield. The demons frowned. The orange field then moved, slicing through the hands of the sword wielding demon. The demon screamed in pain, a scream that was cut off as the field moved around and removed his head.
The second demon looked around for the attacker. Without warning, the attacker stuck again. A cloaked figure slammed feet first into the back of the demon, sending him flying. As the attacker rose to her feet, Sentaro was able to identify her.
It was Arael.
Her face was one of pure rage, something Sentaro had never seen on her before.
Arael moved between Sentaro and the demon. The demon moved into an attack stance, ready to strike. Arael simply waved her hand. Her AT-field flared into existence and shredded the demon. Pieces of him fell into a heap. She then turned to face Sentaro.
Her face no longer held the look of rage, it was the neutral expression she had always worn. Then he saw the look in her eyes.
A look of worry.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"We're fine." Sentaro replied.
Megami then looked up. "For the most part. Nyao."
Arael's eyes widened slightly at the sight of Megami's ears. Sentaro chuckled at the look on the Angel's face, when he remembered someone.
"The Soultaker!" he shouted, standing up.
"I'm fine." Sentaro glanced over to see the demoness walking towards them. Behind her lay the three demons, still breathing, but unconscious. "I'm a little rusty. Didn't think they'd……." her voice trailed off when she looked at Arael.
Sentaro glanced at Arael as well. The look of rage had appeared back on the Angel's face, only this time, it was directed towards the Soultaker. Sentaro moved to Arael's side and gently grabbed her arm. Arael jumped and looked at Sentaro with surprise.
"It's ok." He said, "She saved me earlier. She's good."
"Please." The Soultaker muttered, "Don't insult me like that."
"Fine. She's evil, but in a good way."
Arael continued to stare at Sentaro, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. Sentaro frowned, now trying to figure out what was wrong with the Angel.
"Hey Sentaro." Sentaro looked over at Megami, who had a smirk on her face. "I think you can let her arm go now. Nyao."
Sentaro looked down at his hand, still holding onto Arael.
"Oh!" he quickly removed his hand. "Sorry."
"It is alright." Arael replied, though she didn't make eye contact with Sentaro.
"Is Mom here?" Sentaro asked.
"No." Arael replied, "Only myself and Asuka."
Sentaro nodded. "We should get to Uncle Keima's then."
"Sentaro." Arael said, "About Lorelei……she's…….dead."
Megami gasped and held her hands over her mouth. Sentaro closed his eyes and bowed his head a moment. When he raised his head again, a new look was in his eyes.
"All the more reason to hurry back to Keima's." he said. He then began walking, followed closely by Megami.
Arael watched Sentaro for a moment, then unconsciously grabbed her arm where Sentaro's hand had been only moments before. Once again a blush color her cheeks.
"What's the matter Snowflake?" The Soultaker said quietly from the Angel's side. "Mortal got your tongue?"
Arael quickly lowered her arm and glared at the Demoness. The Soultaker smirked.
"Or maybe the mortal's got your heart?"
Arael's eyes widened for a moment, then she stormed off after the two mortals, the Soultaker's cackle filling her ears.
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Keima sat quietly in the only lit booth inside the darkened restaurant. Sitting across from him sat Asuka. Lime, Cherry, Bloodberry, Otaru Jr., Yoko, and Morgan were asleep upstairs. Celes and Rayne were the only ones still awake. Both were sitting in another booth across the restaurant from Keima. Since they had excellent night vision, they required no light.
"It's not your fault Keima." Asuka said softly, "You can't be everywhere at once."
"I should have guessed they'd hit the castle again." Keima whispered, "I should have known they'd go after that girl. I should have known Lime took her in…….."
"There are many 'should haves'," Asuka said, "What you must ask is if you 'could have'. I've asked myself many times. Could I have done more for your sister when she was under the Soultaker's control. Could I have saved her years of heartache if I had gone with Kensuke to that German castle? I'm sure Kristine is wondering what could have happened had she stayed here on Terra 2."
"I assume they know then."
"Yeah," Asuka said with a sigh, "They know. Sayoko went as far as to bring Otaru to meet her." Asuka was quiet a moment. "Any word on Sentaro?"
"No." Keima replied, "But he can't be dead. I would have felt it. Sayoko, our mother, even his sister would have felt it."
"But where is he?" Asuka asked, "Hell, where's Arael?"
"Right here."
Asuka and Keima turned to the door. Arael stood there. She moved to the side, allowing Sentaro and Megami to enter. Asuka was on her feet in a second. She quickly wrapped her arms around Sentaro.
"Where the hell have you been young man!" she shouted, "You're mother's been worried sick about you."
"I'm fine." Sentaro replied, "Megami's been better though."
Asuka turned and looked at Megami. Her eyes went wide, taking in the sight of cat ears and tail.
"A Catgirl? What the hell did the demons….?"
"Believe it or not, it's a vast improvement from what she was turned into." Sentaro said.
Asuka frowned. "She was something worse? Who turned her….." Asuka's voice trailed off as she felt something dark moving very close to her. Keima too stiffened slightly.
Asuka quickly glanced at Arael who was now looking at the floor. Standing in the doorway now was a demoness with long brown hair. Asuka easily recognized her from the SEELE base so many years before.
"Soultaker." The Guardian hissed.
The Soultaker smirked.
"I remember you." The Demoness said.
Asuka's outfit flared, changing into her battle one. She also pulled out her staff and had begun to point it towards the Demoness. Behind her, Keima too had changed into his battle outfit. Rayne and Celes had leaped out of their booth and had brought out their weapons as well. The Sentaro ran between her and the Demoness.
"Wait!" he shouted, "Don't hurt her."
"WHAT?" Asuka shrieked.
"Sentaro have you gone mad?" Keima asked, "She's a demon!"
"So is Mana." Sentaro replied.
"She challenged Mana for the crown of Hell!" Asuka shouted, "She was going to fight Mana!"
"Was I?" The Soultaker asked, "I believe I left long before any fight occurred."
"You……" Asuka growled.
"Auntie." Sentaro said softly, "Listen to what she has to say."
Asuka stared at Sentaro, then back at the demoness. Her mind flipped back and forth, trying to decide what to do. Then with a flash, Asuka returned to her normal guardian robes.
"Alright." She said, "have a seat and I'll listen."
The Soultaker nodded, then moved to the lighted booth. Keima and Asuka moved to sit across from her.
Megami watched as Sentaro sat on a barstool near to the booth. She then turned to asked Celes about a spot to sleep when she noticed Arael. The Angel was looking at Sentaro funny. She was also lightly rubbing her arm where Sentaro had grabbed it.
"Hey Arael!" Celes called out.
The Angel jumped and looked at the vampire.
"You alright?" Celes asked.
"Yes." Arael said flatly. She then turned and headed up the stairs, leaving a surprised vampire, and a very curious Megami.
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Hell
Draco smiled as he entered the control room of the Hell mainframe. Debris and dead demons lay everywhere. Various cloned Demons moved about, checking on bodies as well as checking for functional equipment. Behind him, Loki entered and then coughed, covering his mouth.
"It reeks of death here." Loki said.
"Yes, it does." Draco replied, "How I have missed that smell."
One of the cloned Demons approached.
"Lord Draco," he stated, "The mainframe is still online. Much of the equipment here is recoverable."
"Excellent." Draco said with a smile. "How goes clean up operations?"
"We have secured the entire main city and gone as far as level 7."
"Good. As soon as possible, clear a way to the bottom most level."
"Yes Milord."
Loki frowned, "What is there in the bottom level?"
"A prize." Draco replied, "One that Hild never even knew she had."
"Milords!" a cloned demon shouted.
Draco and Loki both looked over to see two of the cloned demons lifting a demoness to her feet. She sagged in their arms, her blond hair hiding her face from view. Draco walked over and lifted her head up by the hair, allowing him to see her face.
"Mara."
Mara spat at Draco. Draco slapped the demoness, snapping her head violent to the side.
"Where is your Queen?" Draco asked, "Where is that half-breed?"
"Dead….." Mara whispered, "she…..died………..here……."
Draco waved his hand. The cloned demons walked away, dragging Mara with them.
"If she's dead we can……" Loki began.
"She's not dead." Draco stated.
"What?"
"Until I see her corpse," Draco said, "she is not dead." He turned to another cloned Demon. "Tear this room apart. I want Queen Mana found and brought before if she is alive, if she is dead, or however many pieces of her you can find!"
"Yes Milord."