Chapter 18
"Preparing for Earth restoration." Peorth called out.
"System online." Erie said.
"System at 97 readiness and holding." Chrono called out.
Peorth looked over at Urd and Verdandi.
"Initiate the program." Verdandi said, "Watch for variances in the subatomic area."
Peorth looked at X.
"You heard her."
"Yes ma'am."
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Sayoko had just finished entering more commands into the terminal when a hand clamped down on her wrist. Sayoko looked up to see Arael standing there.
"Areal?" Sayoko asked, confused. "What's……"
"Get up." Arael said.
"I don't understand Arael, why are you…….." Sayoko turned to see her mother and Mana standing nearby. Neither looked very happy. "Mom? Mana?"
Mana walked over to the terminal.
"Move." The Demoness said.
Sayoko frowned, then moved out of the chair. Mana sat down and typed at the terminal.
"She was accessing the storage unit from the future." She called out, "She also was looking at the info on Yoko."
Belldandy slowly turned and stared at her 'daughter'.
"What else did she do?" The Elder Goddess asked slowly.
Mana typed away.
"Nothing. Just accessed various files and attempted to access the secured area." Mana turned around in the chair. "didn't get in though."
Belldandy nodded at Mana, then looked at Arael.
"Release her."
"But…." Arael began.
"Release her."
Arael frowned, but released Sayoko. Sayoko rubbed her wrist.
"When were you going to tell me?" Belldandy asked, her voice practically a whisper.
"Tell you what?" Sayoko asked.
"Tell me my daughter……my real daughter was dead."
"I am your daughter!" Sayoko replied.
"Technically yes." Mana said, "You are Belldandy's daughter……..but you came from the future."
Sayoko blinked.
"What?"
"You slipped up." Mana said, "Our Sayoko wouldn't have known Verdandi was her Grandmother."
"How would you know Sentaro watched over me?" Arael asked, "Only the Ghost of Sayoko was there."
Sayoko let out a long sigh.
"Looks like the cat is out of the bag." She said. She then looked at Belldandy. "This didn't turn out the way I was expecting."
"What were you expecting?" Belldandy asked.
"I thought that if I could fix the past." Sayoko said, "Then Heaven would be safe for Yoko."
"Messing with time is a very dangerous thing." Belldandy said, "You can make worse the very thing you were trying to fix."
"I know." Sayoko replied, "And you're right, it has become worse."
"My daughter is dead!" Belldandy shouted, "and all you can say is it's become worse!"
"What would you like me to do?" Sayoko asked, tears beginning to form in her eyes "I can't bring back the dead! I tried my damndest and I failed. So I tried to fix it." She pointed at her chest. "I am Sayoko Aida. I just happen to be the almost one thousand year old version." Sayoko fell to her knees. "I watched my mother break down in tears from losing my father, then my brother. I watched Asuka die, then I died. Then I watched as Mana went through the loss of Shinji. I had the chance to fix things. I took it."
Belldandy turned and paced a moment. She then turned back to Sayoko.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.
"I've already seen what you looked like when you those you lost were gone." Sayoko whispered. "I didn't want to see it again. Because of me, you lost your Sayoko. I was trying to prevent you from the misery my mother went through."
Belldandy resumed pacing. Arael and Mana watched her move, while Sayoko remained on her knees, staring at the floor. From the main floor of the control room, they could hear Verdandi shouting out orders, then the cheers as they succeeded in restoring Earth.
Belldandy finally stopped her pacing, but remained facing away from the others.
"Mana, Arael." She called out.
"Yes/What?" The two responded.
"We will not discuss this matter anymore." Belldandy said, "In fact, this discussion never took place."
Mana and Arael both stared at Belldandy stunned. Sayoko lifted her gaze from the floor and looked at Belldandy curiously.
"You want us to lie?" Mana asked.
"No." Belldandy replied, "It's an omission." She finally turned around and walked over to Sayoko. She held out her hand. Sayoko took it and was pulled up and into a hug.
"What….?" Sayoko began to ask.
"You may not be the right one." Belldandy said, "And I'm still upset. But you are still MY daughter."
Sayoko sniffed, then wrapped her arms around Belldandy, allowing the tears to fall. This was to her, the first time in almost five years she had felt the warmth of her mother's touch.
Mana sighed. Arael looked at the Demon curiously.
"I don't understand." Arael said, "Why does she wish us to deceive the others?"
"She is Sayoko." Mana replied, "So we aren't really deceiving them."
"But she….."
"Arael," Mana said softly, "think of Sentaro's reaction to losing his mother."
"I do not have to think of it." Arael replied, "I talked to Dawn."
"Then you know what it would do to him if he found out the truth." Mana looked over to see understanding on Arael's face. "If you truly care for him, let this go."
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One day later
Heaven
Asuka glared across the table at Mana. Mana ignored her for the most part. Shinji stood against the wall, afraid to sit next to Asuka for fear of her killing him, as well as afraid of sitting next to Mana for fear of Asuka killing him.
The wall just seemed safe.
Sayoko entered, followed by Yoko, hugging Mr. Bear tightly to her. Her eyes immediately widened when she saw Mana.
"Mommy!" she shouted, racing over and hugging Mana.
Mana's eye went wide and she looked at Sayoko pleadingly.
"Yoko." Sayoko said, "Remember what I told you?"
"Yes." Yoko replied, "You said Mommy and Daddy love me, but they don't recognize me here. They also don't live together."
"That's right." Sayoko said, "Why don't you sit with me, ok?"
"Ok!"
Sayoko sat down at the end of the table, Yoko climbed onto a chair next to her. Sayoko then glanced over at the wall.
"Shinji, you can sit. I don't think Asuka will kill you in front of witnesses or a child."
Shinji moved nervously to the table and sat next to Asuka. Asuka now moved her eyes back and forth, glaring at Mana, then at Shinji. Sayoko wondered briefly if the German would go cross-eyed at any moment.
"Alright!" Sayoko said, "Yggdrasil: Identify Sayoko, Goddess Class 0"
"Identity confirmed." The Computer replied.
"Yggdrasil," Mana then called out, "Identify Mana, Demoness Class 0."
"Identity confirmed."
Shinji and Asuka then called out to Yggdrasil and were confirmed as well.
"Yggdrasil," Sayoko said, "Access storage unit and play the secured file."
The screen at the end of the room flickered, then revealed an image of an older Mana. She seemed to be sitting in front of a terminal in the Yggdrasil Control room, though the room looked like it had seen better days. Behind her stood Kristine and Yui, both looking over the Demoness' shoulder.
"If you are seeing this," the image began, "then Yoko has arrived safely. As you might have already guessed, she is the daughter of me and Shinji. Now before you explode Asuka, there is an explanation."
Asuka muttered something to herself and rolled her eyes.
The image of Yui leaned forward.
"You died Mom." she said, "Dad was lonely. We all could tell. He missed you so much. Mana helped out. She talked to him, got him to actually leave the house once in awhile. I was happy the day he finally asked her out on a date, I was even more happy when he asked her to marry him."
In the room, Mana blushed deeply.
The image of Kristine then moved in.
"Later on, my mom was killed," she said, "Everyone was affected by it, from Grandma Belldandy on down. But everyone was surprised by Mana's reaction. She was pregnant at the time, and was extremely upset."
The image of Mana then returned.
"I hid in my room for days. When I finally left it, I told Shinji we were going to name our daughter after you Sayoko. He agreed as you can tell."
"Wimp." Asuka muttered.
"Which brings us to now." The image of Mana said, "As we are recording this, Demons are assaulting this very building. There is no chance of us making it." A tear came to Mana's eye. "Yoko is only four years old. She's known nothing but death and destruction, despite Shinji and mine's efforts."
Kristine appeared again.
"I created a program with Yggdrasil. It should have activated upon arrival there. The program accessed Yggdrasil using all the back doors and codes Aunties Skuld and Urd taught me. It will write a file there, adding Yoko's name to the role of Guardian's. That way even if the future changes, she's now a part of that time and won't disappear."
"Yes," the image of Mana reappeared, "She's a Guardian like her father. She does have some powers that are demonic in nature, as well as an Angel. The Angel is Morning Bell, and it's too complicated to explain how she got her." Mana leaned in closer to the lens. "I know it's asking a lot, but I would like Shinji, Asuka, and Mana to take care of Yoko."
"WHAT?" Asuka, Shinji, and Mana all shouted.
"She needs you all." The image said, "I can't deny her a mother and a father. Though you technically aren't…… you are her parents. Asuka, I'm relying on you to help my past self. She's only had experience with Dawn, and she was almost in her teens. A four year old is a lot more…….stressful."
The image of Mana sat back.
"Please, take care of Yoko." She said, "And tell her no matter what, I'll always love her."
The image then broke up in static.
Sayoko glanced over at Mana. The Demoness was looking away. From experience, Sayoko could tell she was upset. A glance to the other side an unhappy Shinji, but a very thoughtful Asuka. Asuka looked over at Yoko.
"Hey Yoko."
Yoko looked over.
"Yes Miss Asuka?"
"How would you like to see my house?"
"Can Mommy and Daddy come too?"
Mana and Shinji both went red.
"Well," Asuka said, "Your Daddy lives there with me. I suppose your Mommy could visit though."
Yoko jumped up.
"Yay!" she shouted.
Asuka stood up and headed towards the door. Yoko quickly ran over, then paused at the door.
"Come on Mommy and Daddy!"
"Yeah." Asuka said with a smirk, "Come on Mommy and Daddy."
The two then exited the room. Mana looked over at Shinji.
"We aren't going to hear the end of this are we?"
Shinji shook his head.
"Nope."
"What was I thinking?"
"Technically, I think it's 'what will you be thinking?'."
"How can I be a Mother!" Mana shouted, "I haven't even had sex yet!"
Shinji winced.
"Too much info Mana."
Sayoko just laughed.
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Arael stared at the communicator, sitting before her on the floor, much as she had for the past day. She herself was sitting in the corner of the darkened guest room in the Ikari home, the same room she'd been staying in since she was forced to stay in Heaven.
Several times, Arael had picked up the communicator, intending to contact Sentaro, only to set it back down. After several hours of staring at the communicator, Arael picked it up and checked to make sure was receiving signals. She then started to contact Sentaro again, only to set it back down.
Another hour later, Arael couldn't take it anymore. She picked up the communicator and attempted to contact Sentaro. Static met her ears.
Frustrated, Arael tossed the communicator against the wall. The communicator shattered against the wall.
Arael pulled her legs closer to her body and then set her head down on her knees.
Muffled sobs soon filled the room.
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Only one shadow on the wall
Just one candle burning bright
I hold your picture to my heart
I'm alone inside the night
The sun comes up in China ... the lights go on in Rome
Half the world is waiting for someone they can hold
Half the world is praying they'll never be alone
Everytime you leave me a part of me goes too
And half your world is waiting here for you
I reach across an empty bed
I hear your whisper in my ear
But like the sun without the moon
It's half a dream without you here
The train that takes you from me
Brings somebody home
Half the world is waiting for someone they can hold
Half the world is praying they'll never be alone
Everytime you leave me a part of me goes too
And half your world is waiting here for you
Baby the earth stands still
When I'm lying next to you
No matter where you go
Our whole world's inside this room
The sun comes up in China
The lights go on in Rome ... oh
Half the world is waiting for someone they can hold
Half the world is praying they'll never be alone
And everytime you leave me my heart breaks in two
And half the world is waiting here for you
I'm waiting here for you ...
Belinda Carlisle – Half the World
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Two days later.
"In other news," the reporter said, "the phenomenon that disrupted communications with Earth has dissipated. The strange phenomenon had caused many leading Scientists to believe the Earth to be destroyed. Scientists continue to go over their data to….."
Bloodberry shook her head.
"That has to be the lamest excuse I've ever heard."
"It's not that bad." AU Sayoko replied, "When faced with the unknown, the mortal mind will accepted most plausible explanations, however unlikely."
Bloodberry blinked.
"Say that again?"
Keima looked up.
"Don't worry too much about it." He said, "People will accept what the scientists say. Those that don't will read supermarket tabloids."
Celes then entered the restaurant.
"Rayne gone?" Keima asked.
Celes nodded.
"I made sure she got on the ship before she got any ideas on taking my head with her."
"Somehow I doubt she'd get your head." Keima said with a smirk, "It's not a good looking trophy."
"Yeah it's…." Celes frowned, "Hey! Are you calling me ugly?"
"Let it go." AU Sayoko said, interrupting, "You look perfectly fine."
AU Lind, AU Belldandy, AU Skuld, and Sayoko then entered the room.
"Thank you again for all your help." Sayoko said.
"After you helped us save Yoko it was the least we could do." AU Belldandy replied, "Are you alright though? I mean, your eyes……"
"Yeah well," Sayoko said, "I guess I'll just have to get used to grey."
"Come on Squirt!" AU Skuld called out.
"Hey!" AU Sayoko grumbled, "You said you wouldn't call me that!"
"Tough!"
The two continued to argue as AU Lind pushed them out the door. AU Belldandy waved one final time before also exiting. A few moments later, a loud boom signaled their departure.
"And they're off." Sayoko said.
"Yep." Keima looked at her. "You sure you're alright?"
Sayoko rolled her eyes.
"Is everyone going to ask that?"
"Well, you did die."
"I got better." Sayoko replied, though she avoided looking at him.
"Right." Keima frowned. He knew she was hiding something, but he decided not to pry. "So besides saying good bye to the AUs, what else brings you down here?"
"I De-Cat Girled Megami."
"Thank Goddess. Her hair balls were getting disgusting."
"That's mean!"
"Well it's true!" Keima shouted, "You never stepped on one in the middle of the night!"
Sayoko gagged.
"Ok….maybe it is disgusting." Sayoko walked over and sat down across from Keima.
"There is one other thing." She said.
"What's that?"
"Mom is throwing a party." Sayoko replied, "or actually Aunts Urd and Skuld got her to throw one. Everyone here is invited of course."
Keima raised an eyebrow.
"'Hooray we saved Heaven' party?"
"No, more of a 'Welcome Verdandi' party."
"I still can't believe it." Keima said, "Grandpa and her."
"Yeah." Sayoko sighed. She looked around. Bloodberry was once again occupied by the TV. Cherry was in the kitchen. Lime was upstairs, tending to little Otaru with the Marionette Lime. Sentaro was……..
"Where is Sentaro?" she asked.
"He's been hiding in his dorm." Keima replied, "Only Megami has seen him."
"He hiding from us?"
"Well, not us exactly." Keima said, "Mostly Arael."
Sayoko frowned.
"That's interesting. Yui said Arael's been hiding in her room. She thinks Arael's upset Sentaro hasn't contacted her."
Keima now frowned.
"He's been trying to. I even let him use my communicator. But either he can't get through or someone tells him she isn't receiving calls."
"Who the hell is telling him that!"
"Don't know." Keima replied. Then his eyes narrowed. "But I think he speaks Latin."
"That means the person is either an ancient Christian, a scholar, or a certain Roman prick." Sayoko muttered. "My money's on the prick."
"Same here." Keima agreed, "So what do we do about it?"
"Well, I was thinking of TP-ing his temple and……"
Keima raised his hand.
"Not Saturn. I mean Sentaro and Arael."
"Well, they'll both be at the party." Sayoko said.
"They'll both avoid each other." Keima replied, "And how do you know they'll show up?"
"You will make sure my son comes. And no fighting with him!" She said with a glare. Keima shrank under the glare. "Yui will make sure Arael comes. Then I'll talk sense into Sentaro and where it goes from there……." She tapped her chin. "Hopefully late night aerobics in bed."
"Right." Keima then frowned. "You think we've been hanging around Urd too much?"
"Nah."
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Heaven
Three Days later
Party Day
Yui raised her hand towards the door, then lowered it. She paced about the hall for a moment.
"Whatcha doing Yui?"
Yui jumped. She then whirled around to see Yoko standing there, holding Mr. Bear, looking at her. Her parents and Mana had explained Yoko's origins to her. Yui was surprised at first, but then became excited at the fact she had a little sister.
Her mother surprised everyone by asking Mana if Yoko could stay here. She used the excuse that Yoko was already familiar with the house and it would be easier on her then trying to adjust living in Hell. Mana had thought it over for a day before finally consenting.
"I uh….that is….uh….."
"Are you gonna get Auntie Arael to come out?" Yoko asked.
"I was going to try." Yui said, "The party is tonight. I wanted to help her get ready."
"Party!" Yoko shouted, "Yay! Can I help make Auntie Arael all pretty?"
Yui smiled. "Well first we have to get her to come out."
"Ok!" Yoko went up to the door and knocked. "Auntie Arael! Can I come in?"
Their reply was silence.
"I know you're in there Auntie Arael!" Yoko called out, "I'll come in if you don't answer!"
More silence.
"Maybe she's asleep." Yui said.
"Nope." Yoko banged on the door. "Auntie you let me in now!"
"Um Yoko….." Yui began before a voice from in the room reached their ears.
"Enter."
Yoko quickly reached up and opened the door and vanished inside. Yui followed a second later.
The room was completely dark. The curtains were shut, blocking out all the light from outside. The hallway supplied the only light that pierced through the gloom. Yui looked around, but could only see dim shapes.
"Arael?" she called out.
"She's over here." Yoko's voice called out.
"Traitor." Arael's voice muttered.
Yui walked towards the voices. As she did, her eyes became more accustomed to the light. She was finally able to make out Arael, sitting on the floor in the corner, her arms wrapped around her legs, head resting on her knees. Yoko had sat down beside her and copied the Angel's posture. Yui knelt down before Arael.
"It's time to get ready for the party." She said softly.
Arael sighed. "Must I go?"
Yui looked over at Yoko.
"Should she go Squirt?"
"YES!" Yoko shouted.
Yui looked back at Arael.
"Now are you going to make her unhappy by not going?"
"You fight dirty." Arael commented.
Yui smiled.
"It worked didn't it?"
Arael let out another sigh.
"Yes."
"You hear that Squirt? She's going!"
"Yay!" Yoko shouted.
"Why don't you go get ready?"
"OK!" Yoko quickly raced out.
"Now that she's gone……" Yui looked back at Arael. "Have you been in here moping over Sentaro?"
Arael put her head back on her knees.
"You really know how to depress a person." The Angel muttered, "He hasn't even contacted me."
"Aha!" Yui said, " I thought that was it."
"I was planning on staying here." Arael muttered, "Then you had to bring her in."
"Well she misses you." Yui said standing up and moving to the closet. She came back and set some clothes on the bed. "Get changed, then come over and I'll help you with the make-up."
"What's the point?" Arael asked, her voice sounding on the edge of tears.
"The point is he will be there." Yui said as she headed to the door. She then paused before exiting. "And I have it on good authority he has tried to contact you. A certain Latin speaking asshole has prevented him from reaching you."
Arael snapped her head up.
"Now why don't you get ready." Yui said before she closed the door.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Yui could hear Areal scrambling to her feet. The Guardian smirked, then headed off to get ready herself.