I do not own Ah! My Goddess or any of its related characters or copyrights. These are the property of Kosuke Fujishima and the relevant corporate bodies.
Light's Nemesis
Chapter 7: Far From Grace
The darkness of Belldandy's room was disturbed by a voice that was melodic but with an edge of desperation. Rising out of her nightmare, beads of perspiration saturating her brow, she sat with one hand pressed against her rapidly beating heart. She called out again, her call going unanswered.
"Keiichi!"
Then, with a start, she rushed outside into the cool night air and up into clear inky sky; the clothes she summoned billowing furiously around her as she followed a trail of strange energy which led to her love.
Urd sat back to examine her handiwork. The spell she cast had attended to the lesser of the young man's wounds; the superficial burns and gashes closing quickly but, as she knew bitterly, that's all they were: superficial. The real wound was the deep, bloody penetration in his shoulder which, though now temporarily stabilised, would ultimately cost Keiichi his life if it wasn't healed. She considered for a moment possible courses of action; dismissing each as quickly as they came. Her sister would be beyond consolation if she discovered the cause of his injuries and would possibly retaliate, a punishment she now merited, and her own limited potions would only send him into unconsciousness. Her flawed reasoning not apparent to her, a consequence of her incessant other half, she concluded that only one creature could safely heal Keiichi's mortal injury. She sardonically chuckled to herself; the mother she detested would be Keiichi's salvation and may even allow her to redeem her self. In past years her demonic side had very nearly cost Keiichi his life and now it seemed that she may be third time lucky. Kneeling over the inert figure, her heart almost leapt as his eyes opened just a bit as he partially regained consciousness. Fighting to cry out happily, she ran one blood stained hand softly across his face; cupping one cheek, she whispered to him.
"H…hey K-boy, you still there? I know you feel like you've been hit by a tank but you've got to stay awake for now ok? "
The young man's eye lid's fell briefly as he tried to say something; an act that resulted in a hacking cough and a mouthful of blood spilling down his chin. Groaning, he returned his head to the soft earth. The sight tore at Urd's heart and mind; the grief and guilt welling up in her while her darker half pondered on how pathetic this creature looked. Balling her hands into fists, she forced her self to focus and wondered how to transport the fragile being before her. Smiling sadly she placed her hands on his shoulders.
"First things first now, aren't they " She mused to her self. " Listen K1, we've gotta take a small trip to get you patched up, but first I going to give you something for the pain, all you have to do is not fight it okay? "
Bending over him, she kissed his lips deeply and, tasting the copper like tang of human blood, she poured all the regenerative energy she had into him; their forms momentarily lit by a profound light which lit up the small clearing and scattered the surrounding shadows. The kiss ended as the light faded and Urd stood; a faint smile hung around her lips as she satisfied herself that his pain was completely numbed. She also sincerely hoped that he did not feel the two dagger like teeth protruding from her upper gums or see her eye's with their crimson light. With a strained look she lifted her head to the sky and its full moon; the face some imagined it had almost mocking her. Looking at Keiichi, she now decided on her plan. Stretching her hands out, the casual clothes melted away as her more formal reiments reformed; the transformation leaving her in the revealing purple and black dress which distinguished her in the heavens. With the bleeding temporarily suppressed she lifted K1 under the arms and, pressing him to her chest, covered him with the wing of her cloak. Satisfied that he was secure she cast a weary eye over his exhausted form and then, gently, pressed her forehead against his. She then whispered to him in a voice leaden with sombre conviction.
"You're not going to pass away Keiichi. Not here, not now; your too precious to Belldandy…..Skuld and" She hesitated briefly, "…..even to me." They started to rise into the air now as Urd prepared for the flight. Glancing down at him, she intoned," Come on K1……time to see what big sis Urd is made of……" As she was about to launch them into the air something caught her attention and the 2nd class Goddess's heart sank. The aura was unmistakable. She turned in mid-air to look down across the clearing to the still form of Belldandy; her visage heart rending; the pain, sorrow and betrayal etched into her features. For a short eternity there was silence as they looked upon one another. Belldandy trying desperately to understand what she was seeing; the figure of her love and his blood which seemed to have been sprayed across the area. Urd hoped that her face was shadowed at this angle; she did not wish her loving sister to look upon her now, so changed, and responsible for Keiichi's life threatening injuries. Finally the silence was broken by Belldandy; her cry ringing out in the clear air.
"Urd!...w…why are you here? What happened!...what have you done to my Keiichi!"
Urd looked down at her sister and spoke in a sorrowful voice. "I…..I'm sorry Belldandy. I'm truly sorry. This is my fault dear sister."
Belldandy could only stare at the spectre of her sister; her form now wraith like in the moon light as she held the bloodied Keiichi under a wing of her cloak. Urd's features, now obscured by shadow, are indistinct save for her two eyes, now crimson points in the darkness.
"What happened here Urd! What came over you to do such a vile thing to Keiichi."
The first class goddess started to approach them only to be stopped by her air borne sibling. "……..Belldandy don't. Please don't……….this……….this is something K1 and I must do together. This is something only I can do. I am so sorry my dear, dear sister." With that Urd and the inert Keiichi vanished. Belldandy stood for a few moments as the gravity of what had happened set in; tears began to flow over her flawless visage as she tried to track Urd's trail. This task was now impossible as the odd feeling she had been getting now became indelible; throwing her senses into chaos. As the world started to spin around her, she was vaguely aware that she wasn't alone; that something was watching her from the dark recesses of the high trees. The last thing she recalled was the ground quickly coming up to meet her before she lapsed into unconsciousness.
The small clearing was silent once again and, from his hidden vantage point in the trees, the Mephistophilis smiled as his plot approached fruition. Ascending rapidly into the night sky, he knew that the heavens would now respond; the distortion of reality around the sleeping town would have attracted Yggdrasil's System manager by now and, if the reports were anything to go by, she would intervene personally. Darting across the forest and over Nekomi, the demon arrived back at the empty apartment. Slipping over the veranda, he entered the darkened apartment; the long shadows and pale moonlight creating an almost sepulchre atmosphere. It is to this darkness that he spoke.
"As you requested, Urd will be contacting you shortly, though you will also be pleased to know that she is not alone. "
From the darkness the sound of slow clapping could be heard, followed by the shape of Hild materialising a few feet from him; her expression one of profound pleasure.
"Excellent work, you have my gratitude Mephistopheles, though you do now that heaven may well send an armed contingent with the goddess Peorth."
"That is a possibility and, if so, will aid our plans significantly. Belldandy will-"
The demon's reply was interrupted as both felt the familiar sensation of a divine gate opening; the unmistakable feeling of Goddesses approaching the town now indelible. The gate opened in the north-west, close to where the unconscious Belldandy lay in the small clearing. With this development Hild eyed her ally with a mischievous smile; her expression now of satisfaction.
"Well…….it seems we've got company haven't we. Two goddesses; both first class, one class two licence and a special duty." She turned to him with a knowing smile. "I think the latter is an old acquaintance of yours."
Mephistopheles chuckled; a dark, sinister sound as a look of recognition passed over his features. The demons reptilian eyes narrowed as one name arose to mind.
"The Valkyrie…..Rind. My…… that is interesting and, perhaps, even fortuitous for us though ,your Excellency, the very fact that she is here my show that I've been found out but it will not hinder the next phase. I promise you."
"Hmmm……..okay" the Daimakaicho mused for a moment. "They may interfere but proceed as planned. I wouldn't want anything to impede my reunion or Belldandy's return to heaven and thus I'll leave them to you Meph, I know you'll take good care of them."
Mephistopheles bowed; the pale light playing on his crimson eyes, "As you wish your Excellency."
The Daimakaicho clapped quickly, an almost innocent smile spreading across her face. "Oh goodie………"
The morning light was weak at first and then stronger. Belldandy sighed and then awoke to find herself in her bedroom. Raising herself up, she wondered how she had gotten home after the…..the terrible "incident" last night. She remembered the horrible sight of her love; his clothes bloodied, his body still and her sister……her sister now so changed in the faint light; her burning eyes bearing down at her from the darkness……. She shuddered Feeling tears well in her sapphire like eyes, she dabbed at them until she heard the door opening. Turning she beheld a familiar figure; her distinct bathing suit like uniform with its brown leather led to a concerned face with troubled eyes.
"Peorth…" She almost whispered. The first class goddess quickly walked over and knelt by her, looking almost relieved in the process.
"Ma cheri, how are? How do you feel."
"F..fine, thank you. I feel better but when did you arrive. The last thing I remember was the forest and then I must have fainted……"
"Well I'll definitely say the spell hasn't affected your memory. We found you in that clearing sometime before sunrise; which by the looks of things you'd been out for hours."
"Spell?"
"Yes. You recall the odd feeling you got two days ago? Well it seems you were right. Reality has been subtly altered at the local level and, I'm sad to say, the cause is definitely demonic."
Belldandy's visage became strained; her features betraying the fear that dwelt within her mind and heart. "Then this is connected to Urd's…….strange behaviour?"
"Without a doubt, but its still in place and we can't track Urd's trail; or Keiichi's for that matter. Also, more disturbingly, we think we know who the demon is but there is something very strange about why it would be here."
"So it isn't Mara then?"
"Not quite. So far we think that it is one of the Hasatan's higher-ups, one that you may have heard of before. Mephistopheles."
Belldandy was silent for a moment; her eyes welling again as she began to realise the gravity of the situation. It was then her visage hardened into a look of uncharacteristic severity.
"Then if he, of all creatures, is here then Hild is involved; it's the only reason why Urd's demonic side has been so active recently and why she harmed my Keiichi………….I…I just wish I knew where they where."
I know Bell ,I know ………..it's why we came down in the first place to investigate, we just need a better trail to follow and then we'll get K1 and Urd back."
"I hope so, Peorth, I really do but you said we…..who else is here?"
"Rind. She has had a good deal of experience with this demon in the past and was instructed, if it is him, to remove the threat if he's here for more than the usual demonic trouble-making. We-"
"Belldandy! Your awake! I was so worried." The excited Skuld cried as she ran to Belldandy's side, throwing her arms around her older sister as the first tears started to flow. "I know about Keiichi and Urd's gone wacko again….I so sorry, I'm just happy you're alright."
The older goddesses smiled; Belldandy returning her sister's hug gently with pleasant words. "I know Skuld, I know…."
Peorth rose, preparing to slip out. Belldandy motioned to ask something but her fellow goddess answered first; a soft expression reassuring her.
"It's okay Bell, we can talk later when Rind gets back from her reconnaissance operation. For now, you just get some rest." With that she closed the door quietly. Resting against it for a moment her countenance became melancholy; her anxiety resurfacing now alone.
"Oh Kami-sama……why must they always be the ones to suffer." She silently wondered.
The sun was rising steadily in the east as Urd, with a pale and almost lifeless Keiichi Morisato, materialised. The light from the veranda only added a certain menace to the areas deeper in shadow. The goddess cast a weary eye around the place, now absently noting that her vision was sharper in the shadows. Her scrutiny yielded no response; the only sounds that could be heard was his laboured breathing and the squeal of an old door hinge. In no mood to play mind games, she lay K1 down gently, making sure that he was behind her before she called her mother out.
"All right! It's just us; we're alone, so you can come out now."
The sound of light foot steps could be heard as the air seemed to distort and the figure of Hild appeared; her face alive with an almost hopeful expression. Noticing Keiichi behind Urd, she clapped quickly and smiled.
"Oh Urd, Oh Urd!...has my little girl come back to me?"
The goddess grimaced; physically at having to be in her presence and mentally in having to negotiate with her.
"No Hild, your "little girl" hasn't come back to. But, when I called earlier, I wondered if I could ask a small favour of you."
The Daimakaicho looked over Keiichi; curious but keeping a safe distance. She was silent for a moment, then answered.
"A small favour eh?...and this wouldn't have anything to do with Keiichi who looks like he got on my bad side," she turned, a sly smile forming, "or on yours."
The goddess sighed. "Look, whatever you did to me worked like a charm. So far I've put Keiichi through Hell and traumatised Belldandy, and all because the darker side of me wants out."
"What ever I did" Hild exclaimed, a look of feigned hurt passing over her features," How can you be sure it wasn't your own, true self striving to be free?"
Urd smiled grimly, "I would hardly think my true self has glow in the dark eyes and teeth that would make a vampire whimper!"
Hild smirked," But it is you Urd; the you if you would only be true to yourself, be true to the blood flowing through your veins and to the part of you that is so much stronger than anything "they" could instil."
The goddess ground her teeth, feeling the new prominence of the fangs which descended past her upper lip, but the temptation to be free of the restrictions, the guilt and the prejudice she had felt in heaven, was profound. For one terrible moment she wanted to let go; to let the dark and horrible desires which lurked in her mind to wash over her. It was only the thought of Belldandy, Skuld and Keiichi that brought her back from the brink. She sighed for a moment as her mother watched passively; the Daimakaicho having already discerned her state of mind. Urd looked to her mother, a weary yet strong conviction in her now crimson eyes.
"Look, I came here because you're the only person who can grant me this request so what will it be? yay or nay"
Hild glanced at K1," You want me to piece Keiichi back together" she intoned casually.
"It is my solemn request. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours," Urd answered.
Hild laughed softly; the sound echoing in the empty apartment." You want to make a deal with a devil?...and what can I expect in return?
"Anything……..Anything within reason."
Hild pondered this for a second; the devious look returning to her steel blue eyes. She then glanced at K1 and then back to Urd before chirping, "Okay. Let's see how Keiichi is doing then, shall we." The couple approached the stricken figure of Keiichi, now bathed in light from the veranda. Keiichi, who had only a vague sense of what was going on caught bits and pieces of their negotiations but, of course, it did nothing for his already labouring heart to find the grinning face of the Daimakaicho close to him; her benevolent expression disturbing him profoundly.
"Well you appear to be in a bit of trouble, don't you and," She almost chuckled, gleaning a thought form his exhausted mind, "no, Keiichi, you are not in Hell, I can promise you that."
Leaning over she glanced at the matted blood on K1's top. Hild blinked and the torn piece of clothing opened, as if by its own violation, allowing her full view of the mortal wound. She hummed to herself before intoning, "My, my…….that is deep but you certainly are very durable aren't you." She leant closer, Urd keeping a watchful eye over the entire procedure, and examined the deep wound; her eyes gazing past the torn flesh to the haemorrhaging tissues beneath. She turned to her daughter. "It's okay, I can fix this my dear but I will hold you to your word." Urd nodded and Hild turned to Keiichi; her face mere inches from his, her eyes seeming to lock his with hers.
"You are a very lucky young man, Keiichi Morisato, what I'm about to do is rare; you should be pleased to hear ,now," he suddenly found himself inert, as if held still by a great force," try not to move because this," her right hand suffused with a strange, dark energy," may sting a little". The Daimakaicho gave Keiichi a small, devious look and with that she released the spell into Keiichi.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Once again thanks, sorry if this seems long but I've been trying to include more in the later chapters.
