Chapter 8

Belldandy walked quietly through the halls of the Yggdrasil building. She had already spent two hours searching the building for her daughter. Repeated calls to Peorth, who was starting to become very annoyed, would only tell her Sayoko was in the Yggdrasil building. The Goddess was beginning to get frustrated when she passed an area she had entirely bypassed in her previous searches.

"Of course." Belldandy muttered.

She walked up to a set of doors and waved her hand past a sensor. With a beep, a light went green and the doors unlocked with a loud click. Belldandy walked through the doors and entered a large chamber. A few more steps and she was walking on a catwalk which traveled around the outer walls of the room. Standing against the wall, showing her it's left profile, was Eva Unit 4.

Belldandy stared at it a moment. As she stared at the Eva, she could just hear the faint sounds of women talking. Belldandy began walking along the catwalk until she reached the side exactly opposite the Eva's face. There sitting with their legs dangling under the railing were Sayoko and her daughter Kristine.

"What are you two doing here?" Belldandy asked.

Sayoko and Kristine both looked back at the elder goddess.

"Talking." Sayoko replied.

"Mom was reliving her Eva Piloting days." Kristine said with a smile.

"I see." Belldandy said, herself smiling while Sayoko scowled at her daughter. "I've been looking all over for you. Welsper contacted us."

Sayoko was instantly on her feet.

"What did she say? Does she have news about Mana?"

Belldandy raised her hand, cutting Sayoko off.

"First, Hell is under the complete control by the Rogues."

"Damn."

"Second, Mana is alive."

Sayoko let out a sigh. "Thank Goddess."

"……but she doesn't have a communicator. Welsper is using it."

"Wonderful……."

"Welsper said that the Loyal Demon forces have been driven into the lower reaches of Hell, and the Rogues seem to be pressing deeper. Mana is was going to try and link up with them."

"At least she's alive." Sayoko said, "I hope she stays that way."

"I also talked to Keima."

"And?" Sayoko looked at her mother expectantly.

"Sentaro arrived back last night. Megami was with him."

Sayoko hugged Kristine tightly in her excitement.

"MOM! AIR!"

"Sorry."

"There's more." Belldandy said, "Asuka and Arael somehow got on Terra 2. Arael went out and rescued Sentaro and Megami from some demons….."

"Arael is so getting a thank you." Sayoko said.

"……she also found the Soultaker with them."

"She…..WHAT!" Sayoko was in shock.

"Apparently," Belldandy said, "The Soultaker rescued Sentaro and Megami from other Demons before Arael got there. She's currently staying at the restaurant."

"Bet Keima loves that." Sayoko muttered.

"Keima isn't the problem. Neither is Asuka. Arael seems to be the only one with a major issue."

Sayoko frowned. "Why would……wait……how old is the Soultaker?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Kristine asked.

"Because," Belldandy said, "Arael and the other Angels were created to fight and drive the demons from the earth. Yes, from what I've read, the Soultaker would have been around at that time."

"So not only do they have to worry about the Rogue Demons, they have to worry about Arael and the Soultaker fighting." Sayoko shook her head, "Some how I'm glad I'm here."

Belldandy smiled. "Actually when I tell you the next thing you might regret it."

"Why?"

"Sentaro seems to have a following."

"A following?" Sayoko frowned, "I only remember Megami."

"Well there's another one. And you'll never guess who."

Sayoko's frown deepened. "Ok, so I obviously know the girl. Is it Cherry?"

"No."

"Bloodberry?"

"Nope."

"Auntie Asuka?"

"KRISTINE!"

"Well, you never know."

"Celes wouldn't dare hit on him." Sayoko muttered, "Rayne though……"

"The Sexed up Mana?"

"Kris……."

"Sorry Mom."

"Who the hell could it be?" Sayoko thought.

"What about Arael?" Kristine asked.

"Nah, not Arael, she….." Sayoko's voice trailed off as she noticed her mother nodded at her daughter. "Arael?"

"Yep."

"Arael the Angel?"

"You know another one?"

"Schiesse."

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Keima, Celes, Morgan, and Asuka sat at a booth in the far corner. Sentaro, Megami, Arael, and Rayne moved about, attempting to run the restaurant. Their attempts resulted in Keima alternating between groaning, and laughing.

"We really have to hurry this up." Keima said, "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"We have more important problems other then the restaurant." Asuka said, "You know the Rogues will be back."

"And we'll defeat them like we have before." Morgan stated.

"This time is going to be different." Celes said, "This time they're going to be spread out."

Morgan frowned. "Why would they do that?"

"The last two times, they concentrated on the castle." Celes said, "They were looking for that kid."

"But she was here last time."

"The Demons didn't know that." Keima pointed out, "Heck, most of us didn't know she was here. Lime did, so did Lorelei. They will come here looking for her."

"Why is she so important?" Morgan asked.

"I'm curious too." Asuka added, "I kept hearing about her, but I haven't seen her."

Keima turned. "Hey Megami!"

"Yeah? Nyao."

"Would you go ask Yoko to come here?"

"Sure." Megami hurried off and up the stairs.

"Yoko?" Morgan asked.

"You'll see." Keima said. He then sighed as Arael dropped another tray after being distracted by Sentaro walking by and brushing against her. "Arael is killing me here."

"I think it's cute." Asuka said with a smirk.

"Creepy is more like it." Celes pointed out.

"I'll remember you said that when you end up with a guy." Asuka said.

"Not me." Celes said, "I like being single."

"I thought that too once."

"When? Sayoko said you had this thing for Kaji."

"Oh shut up!"

"Mr. Keima?"

Everyone at the table turned to see four-year old Yoko looking at them, hugging Mr. Bear tightly to her body. Asuka stared at the girl.

"Hi there Yoko." Asuka said with a smile, "I'm Asuka."

"Hi Miss Asuka," Yoko said, "You look like Yui."

Everyone at the table blinked.

"Yui?" Asuka asked.

"Yes. She's my sister."

"Sister?" Keima mumbled softly.

"Whose your mother?" Asuka asked.

"Mommy is."

"Ok," Asuka frowned slightly, "Does she have red hair like you?"

Yoko frowned, "My hair isn't red. It's auburn."

Asuka sat back, slightly pale. The other three noticed.

"Yoko, why don't you go play." Keima suggested.

"K." Yoko turned and ran off.

Asuka still had a stunned look on her face.

"Before you completely lose it," Celes said softly, "There's something else about her. She has an Angel."

"An Angel?" Asuka repeated.

"Yeah," Keima replied, "It looks like Onee-sama's, only darker. It wiped out a demon that was trying to get her."

Asuka let out a low whistle. "From what I know, no angel has ever been giving to someone that young. They don't have the ability to control it."

"From what I've seen," Keima said, "Yoko hasn't used any powers. The Angel was a complete surprise, and it seems to act on it's own."

"So if Yoko has her own defense, why does she need us?" Morgan asked.

"The rest of Terra 2 for starters." Keima replied.

"Oh yeah."

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Draco and Loki stood over the table display, watching as their cloned demons pushed the Loyal demons deeper and deeper into Hell.

"It won't be long now." Draco said.

"I still don't know what you want down there." Loki grumbled.

Draco rolled his eyes up to look at Loki.

"This is important to our plans." The demon said.

"I thought getting that girl was important to our plans?"

"It is." Draco replied, "But so is this."

Loki rolled his eyes.

"Fine. You keep at it. I'll go and get the girl."

"Whatever." Draco returned his gaze to the table display.

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The Soultaker sat quietly on the balcony above the restaurant entrance. Her eyes were closed and she seemed lost in thought.

Or asleep.

At least this is what it looked like to Lime. Lime walked over and leaned against the railing, looking out over the city.

The last day had been a blur to Lime and her sisters, ever since learning that their mother was dead. Lime felt lost, even more so then when her father had died. At least her father had died of natural causes, not killed. Lime didn't think she would ever look at Demons the same way again.

"That's probably a good thing." Lime heard a voice beside her, "As a general rule, we can be very unpredictable."

Lime turned to see the Soultaker still in the same spot, her eyes still closed.

"There are of course," the Soultaker continued, "some exceptions. The current Queen for instance. She is quite tame by Demon standards."

"What about you?" Lime asked, "You kidnapped Keima's sister. You brainwashed her and turned her into a weapon against her family."

The Soultaker slowly opened her eyes and looked at Lime.

"I have done many things." She said, "So many things, that had I been mortal, I would have been damned to hell an infinite number of times."

Lime shivered slightly under the demoness' gaze.

"But then that was my job." The demoness continued, "And I died for it. Now I have a second life. And yet, I find myself lost."

"Lost?"

"Things that I used to take joy in are no longer interesting to me. Somehow, I think that Goddess is to blame, yet I cannot fault her." The Soultaker looked at Lime. "I put a bit of myself into making her the demon I wanted, and somehow, a bit of her came into me."

"What do you plan on doing when this is over?" Lime asked, "Will you return to Hell?"

"I don't expect to see Hell ever again." The Soultaker replied.

"I'm sure Mana will….."

"No." The Demoness replied, raising her hand, "You don't understand. I'm sure my granddaughter would allow me in. But I do not expect to survive this." The Soultaker slowly turned her head, taking in the city. "Very few will survive what is to come."

Before Lime could ask, the demoness rose to her feet.

"They're here."

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Loki stood upon the tallest building in Japoness. Several score of cloned demons stood around him.

"The girl is somewhere in this city." Loki said, "Go. Find her. Destroy anything that gets in your way."

The demons immediately flew off, leaving Loki to watch.

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"This is bad." Celes muttered as she shot at another demon with her harkonnen cannon.

"This is fun." Rayne replied as her blades ripped through another demon. "How can you not be enjoying this?"

"Maybe because we haven't got any back up." Celes replied, shooting at another demon. She then cursed as the demon dodged the shot. "The remaining Sabers we have are at the castle. Keima and Asuka are defending the restaurant. Arael and Morgan are moving around the city from place to place. And who the hell knows where that demoness went."

"Means more fun for us." Rayne said with a smile.

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Lime, Otaru jr., Cherry, Bloodberry, Megami, Sentaro, and Yoko waited silently in the restaurant. Outside, they could hear the explosions and grunts as Asuka and Keima fought off the cloned demon attackers.

"We do have a ready supply of pans right?" Sentaro asked.

"Yeah," Lime said, "why?"

"Because if they get past Uncle Keima and Auntie Asuka we'll need them."

"Where did the Soulta…..I mean Kay go?" Megami asked. "Nyao."

Sentaro shrugged, "I don't know. I haven't seen her all morning."

"I did." Lime said, "She said 'They're here' and then vanished."

Megami looked over at Sentaro.

"She's been a real help. I can't see at all why you're defending her. Nyao."

"Oh shut up."

"Bad people coming." Yoko whispered.

"I know." Lime said softly, holding little Otaru closer to her, "Keima won't let them near us."

Suddenly Yoko's eyes went wide.

"Bad man here."

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Loki watched in amusement as Asuka and Keima fought off the dozens of demons he had sent against them. He knew of all the places to look, this place where the half-breed's son lived with his mortal wife had to be first. And he had to go personally.

Loki had never personally faced off against a Guardian, but he was looking forward to it. The god, first class or not, was nothing. He'd defeated many demons over the years, and had Gungir not interfered, he would have taken out the half-breed long ago.

Besides, if Loki could take one Guardian, he could take them all.

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Asuka slammed her staff into the stomach of her demon. The demon lurched over, gagging. Asuka then brought the staff down hard on it's back. A loud crack filled the air as the demon's back broke. As soon as she had finished off the demon, another one, or even two, would take its place. This had been going on for sometime. And then, they stopped coming.

Asuka leaned against her staff, breathing heavily. Beside her, Keima was also breathing heavy. Asuka looked around. The Demons were still there. But they were now standing away several paces.

"What do you think they're doing?" Asuka asked between breaths.

"Don't know." Keima replied, "Maybe they're all going to rush us."

"Now that's a pleasant thought." Asuka grumbled, "Stop thinking like that."

Then the demons parted, allowing a figure Asuka remembered all to well to step forward.

"Loki." She hissed.

"Hello Second Child." Loki said, "It's been ages."

"Not long enough." Asuka grumbled. She lifted her staff up, ready to strike. Beside her, Keima also readied himself. Loki looked at him with a smile.

"Sadly, you are outmatched." He waved his hand, sending Keima flying through the air and crashing through the wall of the restaurant. Loki then turned to Asuka.

"Shall we dance?" he asked.

"Bring it asshole." Asuka growled.

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Keima's eyes fluttered as he woke up.

"Ow."

"Thank god!" Lime cried as she hugged him, tears running down her cheeks, "I didn't think you were going to wake up."

"How long was I out?" Keima asked.

"About eight minutes since you crashed through the wall." Sentaro said.

Keima held his head and groaned.

"How's Asuka doing?"

Megami was near the hole in the wall, peering out.

"I think she must be tired or something. She's not fighting the way she was. Nyao."

"He's playing with her." Came a voice. In a flash, the Soultaker appeared, startling everyone.

"Where the hell have you been?" Keima asked.

The Soultaker ignored the question and looked out through the hole.

"Loki is playing with her." The demoness repeated, "He knows she has no chance against him."

"Asuka's a Guardian." Sentaro said, "She's stronger then any god, save Kami-sama."

"Loki isn't like any god you've ever met." The Soultaker replied, "In another time, he'd be a demon."

"Wonderful." Sentaro muttered, "Don't suppose you'd be willing to go help her?"

The Soultaker looked out thought the hole.

"My help is unrequired."

Everyone else frowned.

"What do you mean you won't help her!" Sentaro shouted.

The Soultaker turned and looked at Keima.

"Can you feel it?"

Keima frowned, then closed his eyes and reached out with his senses. He felt something odd, yet familiar. He reopened his eyes, confusion all over his face.

"What is that?"

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Asuka was getting frustrated, and slightly worried. The only person she had experienced comparable to Loki was fighting Mist. Even then it had been close. She'd been fighting Loki for sometime now and she was tiring, yet Loki still seemed fresh as ever. With a clang their staffs met, sparks flying from the contact.

Asuka tried several strikes at Loki, attempting to gain an advantage. Yet all her efforts were blocked effortlessly by Loki. Several times Asuka tried, and failed. On her last attempted, Loki reached out and grabbed her staff, before kicking her violently in the stomach and sending her flying across the street.

Asuka lay stunned on the ground. She could hear Sentaro and Megami, shouting for her to get up. She wanted to comply, but her body wasn't listening. She could just see Loki standing not thirty from her, still holding both staffs in his hand. A smile appeared on his face as he knew this was the end.

Then everything exploded.

Well not everything.

Blast after blast exploded around Loki, forcing him to back away. The explosions continued, clouding the area. Loki and the cloned demons vanished within the smoke, dust, and flame. Soon a new sound reached Asuka's ears. Between explosions, she heard a cry, followed by the sound of steel on flesh. Flashes of light off of steel could just barely be seen in the smoke.

Finally the smoke cleared, revealing Loki and another figure. Every single cloned demon lay dead in pieces on the ground. Loki wasn't even looking at his forces, he was looking at the other figure.

It was a Goddess in her battle outfit. Her light blue hair blew gently in the breeze, and a massive battle ax, rested firmly in her hands. Asuka knew of only one Goddess that had an ax like that.

Lind, First Class, Type three, Limited.

"Lind." Loki said, his voice betraying no surprise. "How unexpected."

"There is much you didn't expect." Lind replied, pointing towards a roof. Loki followed her finger, as did Asuka.

Standing on the rooftop stood three goddesses Asuka knew well. Sayoko, Belldandy and Skuld. Sayoko and Belldandy both held their staffs out before them. Skuld held several bombs out in her hands.

Loki's eyes narrowed.

"Very unexpected." He murmured.

"I suspect you've worn out your welcome." Belldandy said coolly, "I suggest you leave."

Loki frowned, before vanishing. The three goddesses floated down from the roof, landing softly beside Lind. Asuka slowly rose to her feet and limped over towards the group. From the restaurant, the others also came out.

"You know Sayoko," Asuka grumbled, "You could have chosen better timing."

"I thought that was good timing." Sayoko replied.

Asuka frowned. The voice, while it was Sayoko's, sounded too young. As she moved closer, Asuka could tell it wasn't only her voice that was young. She also wasn't the only one to notice.

"Wait one second here." Keima said as he moved up to the goddesses, "Something isn't right here."

"I wonder what that could be?" The Soultaker muttered in a very obnoxious voice.

Lind turned and glared at her, but was held back by Belldandy's hand on her shoulder.

Sentaro and Megami walked up. Sentaro blinked at the sight of the four goddesses.

Sayoko turned and looked him over.

"Hey," she said, "Who's that? Is he single? He's kinda cute."

Keima, Asuka, Megami, and Sentaro all let out an 'ewww', leaving the four Goddesses looking confused. Megami also moved beside Sentaro, trying to keep between him and his 'mother'.

"She's about fifteen right?" Asuka asked.

Belldandy nodded her head.

"I should have known Mana would call you." Asuka said, a smile creeping across her face. "Our Sayoko would never have hit on her own son."

Now it was the goddesses turn to cringe.

"My son!" Sayoko repeated.

"Ok." Keima said, raising his hand. "I'd like to say I'm confused."

"Keima, Sentaro," Asuka began, "I'd like you to meet your alternate universe family."

"What!"

"Remember that incident with the rice cooker?"

Sentaro winced. "Oh."

"Well I haven't heard." Megami said, looking at Sentaro curiously. "Nyao."

Asuka glanced at Megami and the others.

"Years ago, Sayoko and I got sent to an alternate universe, one where Second Impact hadn't occurred. Later, Sentaro accidentally sent Mana and Sayoko there again." Asuka looked back at the four alternate Goddesses.

"I'm Belldandy Morisato," AU Belldandy said, "First Class, Type one Unlimited."

"Sayoko Morisato, Second Class Type Two."

"Skuld, First Class, Type Two, Unlimited."

"Lind, First Class, Type Three, Limited."

Keima pointed, "That is Sentaro Aida, Sayoko's son here. That's his friend Megami. You know Asuka. That Demoness there is called the Soultaker. She's……on our side……I think."

The Soultaker only smirked.

"I am Keima Morisato, First Class Type Two, Unlimited." Keima said, "My wife, Lime is hiding over there, as are her sisters Cherry and Bloodberry and my son."

AU Belldandy blinked. "I'm a grandmother?"

"Technically you aren't." AU Sayoko said, "The other one is."

"Which is who I'm going to call in a moment." Keima said, "Our Heaven needs to know what's going on."

AU Belldandy nodded. "Of course."

At that moment, Morgan and Arael appeared.

"The Demons have left." Arael said calmly.

Keima nodded, then noticed that AU Belldandy and AU Skuld were looking at Morgan funny.

"We've got a few things to talk about." He said, "Even more when Rayne and Celes get here."

Morgan and Arael looked around, their eyes widening at the sight of the goddesses. Arael's eyes then narrowed when she saw how close Megami was to Sentaro. Keima let out a long sigh when he spotted this.

"A lot of talking tonight." He mumbled.

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Loki walked into the control room and dropped himself in the nearest chair, annoyed. Draco didn't even look up from the table display.

"Didn't go well?"

"Those damn Goddesses!" Loki shouted, "Everytime I do something they are there!"

Draco glanced up. "Which ones?"

"Who do you think? The Half-breed and her family! They always show up!" Loki crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair. "And I haven't a clue how they lowered the block I put on the gates."

"I have news for you." Draco said, "The gates are still up."

Loki sat up.

"What?" he snapped.

"The gates are still up." Draco repeated, "Those Goddesses aren't the ones you're used to."

Loki looked at Draco as if he was insane.

"Well who the hell are they?"

"Perhaps, alternative ones?"

"Alterna……" suddenly Loki's eyes flashed in remembrance. "The Half-breed was sent to another dimension. She met goddesses there. Then these……"

"…….are that universes Goddesses that vex you so."

Loki stared for a moment.

"Even locked away in heaven, those goddesses find a way to annoy me."

"Well this will make you feel better." Draco said. He reached from the side of the display table and pulled out a severed hand, which he sat on the display top. Loki stared at it.

"Did you need a hand with something?" he asked.

Draco shook his head.

"This is the prize I told you of."

"Not much of a prize."

Draco smirked. "What if I told you this was the hand of Gendo Ikari?"

Loki shrugged. "I would reply 'So what?'"

"Then I would add, this is the hand that was bonded to the First Angel."

"Again, so what?"

Draco narrowed his eyes.

"Your new body was created from the few cells that remained after Gungir destroyed your original, as was mine created from the remains left by the Third Angel. All we need is a few cells………"

"And what? We have an army of cloned Gendo Ikaris?"

"No." Draco replied, his smirk growing, "We clone but one, and it's not Gendo Ikari."

Loki frowned for a moment. Then his eyes widened in realization.

"A counter then. An Angel to counter their Angel."

Draco nodded, "And what a better counter to the Fifteenth Angel, then with the First."