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 8: Within / Without
The town of Nekomi was alive under the afternoon sun. The lethargy of the earlier hours shaken off as it became a hive of activity. Nekomi Institute of Technology was no exception; students coming to and from classes, some resting while others talked casually among friends. Of course this slice of University life was overlooked as Rind surreptitiously watched; her critical dark eye's and senses analysing all under her for any trail or evidence of demonic activity. Detecting nothing out of the ordinary the Valkyrie arose from her position on top of the Student Affairs building and made her way, unseen and unheard, to the north-west. As she glided over the town, her mind turned to why she was here; the thought's of one of Heaven's most formidable soldiers suffusing with longing and anger. Of course, it's not in the nature of the Valkyrie to allow emotion to cloud or influence their judgement; the long and demanding training denies that but, on this occasion, Rind reflected on her personal incentive. The demon she currently tracked was forever ingrained into her memory and yet she wondered why the anger of almost five centuries had not subsided. Long ago, she had resigned herself to having occasional feelings of guilt, melancholy and hatred over her first encounter with him, but these were only fleeting as her renewed training assumed precedence………..though, she often wondered in her darkest moments what she would feel if she met the creature once more; a chance to avenge herself on the demon that had inflicted so much pain and suffering on herself and those of her comrades. The first time they did battle would be something this lone Valkyrie would not forget. She would have continued to reminisce if she had not detected a familiar energy leading to Nekomi town centre. She stopped for a moment, then darted across the town; bracing herself for what may be at the end of the trail. She followed it to the top of a corporate building where the trail stopped. With rapid and experienced moves Rind landed soundlessly behind a large ventilation outlet and summoned her halberd. Pausing for a moment, she considered the layout of the roof and the most effective strategy; she could sense her target at the other end and thus would go with caution, weary of traps or ambush. Deciding on her plan, she was surprised to hear muffled footsteps and slowly leant out of her position to get a better look. Expecting to behold the Mephistophilis, she was interested to find the figure of a young woman, perhaps 19 or 20, swathed in the robes of a Shinto priestess. The expression she wore was lifeless; her eyes gazing into the distance. Then this strange woman spoke, her tones as devoid of emotion as her visage.
"You can come out now. I know you're there."
The Valkyrie considered the odd situation, weary of a trap, but found that the figure was not supernatural. Curious, she resolved to investigate. In one swift dash, faster than any human could have achieved, she was facing her potential opponent; a figure who watched the sudden appearance of the goddess passively. Adopting a neutral stance, she spoke to her, though she tightened the grip on her weapon.
"Who are you?" The goddess spoke in dispassionate tones but with an edge to each word.
"That doesn't matter."
"You're not a demon or a spirit, so why are you here?" She asked, already knowing the answer but wanting vindication to further investigate.
"To serve my master."
"Your master?...and why is he here?
"That is not your concern, but he does send his greetings."
"And what might those be?" She swung her halberd as she adopted a combat stance; her thoughts turning to what the ever courteous demon had prepared for her.
"He hopes that your welcome is pleasant, Rind." The woman's lips turned up in a cruel smile as she casually pulled back a lock of hair from her face. It was then Rind began to detect a growing power around her. One thought rang through the soldier's mind as the woman's power level peeked.
"Trap."
The Valkyrie launched her self into the air as the ground she stood upon exploded into a burst of telekinetic power. Bringing her weapon across, she landed, dodged another blast and sped towards her target, whom all the while remained stationary. As she brought the tip of the halberd toward her, the woman's figure began to waver then, in the blink of an eye, she dissipated into a flock of ravens; the creatures rising rapidly into the sky in a storm of black feathers. They reformed into the woman as they landed on the next building. Following her, Rind landed, darted along the roof and swung the weapon at her enemy. The woman ducked quickly several times before somersaulting back wards into the air. Rind leapt up and then back as the woman extended her hand; a gesture followed by a blast of energy which narrowly missed the Valkyrie. Coming up, Rind returned fire with a blast of her own; the shot skimming her opponent's shoulder. Seeming to ignore her singed shoulder, she landed then shot across the roof, directing a telekinetic blast at Rind, who ducked then returned fire. Her enemy soared onto the next roof and ran; stopping abruptly when Rind landed only feet in front of her and jabbed with her weapon. The woman stepped back then spun on her heel; Rind then swung her weapon under her and tripped the woman. She stopped trying to get up when the spearhead of rind's weapon was pressed gently against her chest. For several moments the only sounds were that of a faint wind and heavy breathing. Then Rind spoke, her voice authoritative.
"It's over; now answer me, where is he!"
The priestess only smiled; her face wet with the first beads of sweat. "Are you sure?"
The inflection of her response was a prelude to Rind detecting two incoming objects. Spinning around, she spotted chunks of concrete charging towards her. Her opponent escaping, Rind gave a calm response; the first chunk disintegrating on an energy shield while the second was cut in two with a twist of her halberd. Giving chase once more, she followed her foe across a range of rooftops, towers and apartment blocks until Rind caught up with the priestess. A telekinetic nudge caught her off balance; its strength rolling her across gravel on what appeared to be the roof of an empty high rise. The Valkyrie landed seconds later but the priestess was up again and ready; the energy shot deflecting off the goddesses axe head. Rind advanced on the woman, who now seemed to bear the strain of the battle, as she stood panting; her hair plastered to her wet brow with a faint smile on her lips. The goddess noticed this odd expression, but was unable to act as movement became difficult. It was the sudden appearance of magic circle, with her in the centre that alerted her to the trap laid. The priestess meanwhile spoke in the same lifeless voice, albeit with a new and indelible tiredness.
"Effective don't you think? A binding spell to hold even a powerful goddess like you while allowing me to dispense with you at my leisure…….but at least you'll see it coming."
The priestess delved into the recesses of her robe to produce three Ofuda before spreading them like cards in one weary hand. She smiled once more. "Return to where you belong, goddess." Rind saw the pieces of paper catch fire as they gained speed; the inscriptions suffusing them with destructive power. She closed her eyes and prepared herself. The explosion of flame and charred concrete turned into a plume of smoke as the victor watched with satisfaction. The satisfaction subsequently drained as she felt something drop behind, then propel her across the roof with incredible force. As she pulled herself up the ache in her side and stinging wetness brought her back to reality. Wiping her mouth, the right corner now wet with blood, she watched Rind approach, her features dispassionate; her voice hard as steel.
"Your good. Very good in fact, but magic does have it weaknesses and I think this is the first time you've done this so I'll be lenient; now where is he and the hostages before I have to get deadly."
The weary priestess only chuckled.
"That, Rind, is something you'll have to find out for yourself, but my master wonders if he can finish what you started."
With that she vanished, leaving Rind to remember the meaning of her words on their smouldering battlefield. A few moments passed as the Valkyrie scanned for any trails to follow. Finding none, she propelled herself into the air. It was about half a mile from the battle when Rind picked up the energies of the missing goddess and mortal. She readied her weapon as she approached their location, which appeared to be inside an empty apartment on the top of a tower block. Checking for possible entrances she slipped into the empty apartment and found them. The two turned, equally surprised to see the Goddess of Battle approach them with measured steps; her halberd drawn in a defensive posture. She then addressed them with her customary, dispassionate tone.
"Urd…..Keiichi."
"Errrrr……..Hello Rind, I can guess why you are here but Keiichi is fine and I'm………..well, I've been better though I assure you I haven't turned." Urd started, her tone and appearance conflicting as the crimson eyed goddess tried to assure Rind of her Intentions.
"That's good to hear Urd; Keiichi are you wounded?"
Keiichi, supported by Urd, gestured that all was well with him, just that he was feeling exhausted.
"It….it's okay Rind, really. In fact Urd is the reason that I'm here, I'm only feeling a bit queasy just now."
"That's interesting." The Valkyrie intoned, her weapon still drawn; her eyes focused on Urd. Urd sighed and tried to reassure Rind of her state of mind as she stepped away from K1 in a gesture of good intentions.
"Look, Rind, it's me. I haven't let my other half out but it's been damn hard; I can feel it rattling the door always now but you must believe me, I'm not your enemy!"
Keiichi motioned to Rind; desperate that she understands that the only reason he was alive was because of Urd.
"Rind, please! I'm fine and Urd may have changed a bit but she hasn't gone over to the other side, I can vouch for her!" Urd watched with a weak smile; she had taken him to the brink of death and yet he still defended her with all the sincerity that his exhausted body could project. It was a site that stirred her affection for him all the more.
The Valkyrie ran a critical eye over Keiichi, then Urd. After a few tense moments she relaxed, bringing her weapon back as her tone lightened. At this, the two approached as Rind considered the situation.
"It's good to see that your both okay, but it appears that the problems of the past few days originate with a particularly powerful demon; a demon who I am acquainted with. I have just met his welcoming committee and it looks like he remembers me. The two nodded; worried eyes running over her torn and partially singed uniform.
"By the looks of things you have both been through a lot, but we need to move quickly. Urd, can you carry Keiichi?" Urd nodded.
"I've gotten quite good at it, so it shouldn't be too difficult; K-boy here is quite light."
"Good. Keiichi, are you well enough to travel?"
"Sure Rind, it won't be a problem,"
"Excellent. We'll be moving at the best possible speed so I'll provide a rear-guard, let's get going."
Urd, supporting Keiichi under his arm's, sped across the clear sky with the Valkyrie bringing up their back. Darting across Nekomi, all three considered different thoughts. The reflections of Keiichi Morisato were those of trepidation, fear and exhaustion as he considered the surreal nature of the past twenty-four hours; voices in the dark, temptation before finally being patched back together by the Daimakaicho of all people. Urd's thought's were sardonic in their nature; reflections that were a mix of guilt, relief and agonising over what her mother had wanted for K1's restoration. Glancing occasionally at her charge, she wondered why, for something so great, Hild had only wanted an opportunity to kiss her daughter; the demon's scarlet lips pressing gently against her daughter's forehead. The Daimakaicho's assurance that her rebellious blood would settle down in a few days, only made her more weary of her calculating mother. Though as they passed over Nekomi Tech, she had the feeling that she had forgotten something; a niggling sensation in the back of her mind about something important that was just frustratingly out of her grasp. She sighed, comforted in the knowledge that her more reasonable side had kept things together………..barely. The third of the group behind the mortal and the goddess perhaps had the most ordered thoughts of all; her mind running over different questions, tactical scenarios and magical counter measures and pondering the identity of the demon's servitor, who appeared human yet was suffused with such considerable power. But what loomed over her mind like a malevolent shadow was the whereabouts of her true enemy, who appeared to have hidden himself from her senses.
The group descended quickly into the courtyard of the temple; the mechanical figure of Banpei observing their descent before returning to his patrol. Landing, Urd whispered to Keiichi in a voice that was an echo of her more playful nature.
"Hey Keiichi, you did great back there; you really make a girl feel wanted."
With that she kissed him lightly on the cheek; Keiichi, his visage turning a shade of crimson, thanked her in turn.
"Awww…..eh…..thanks Urd, really I just didn't want to see you get hurt after all that's happened. I know it was difficult to ask your mother on my behalf." Urd grinned, an expression more like her old self, though still careful to hide her fangs.
"Don't mention it kiddo. I did what had to be done; you're to precious to us to be allowed to slip away into the night."
"Thanks all the same Urd, I appreciate it."
The two watched as Belldandy and Peorth emerged from the house; as she looked Belldandy's feature became a paragon of joy as she caught sight of her love. The goddess's joyful cry ringing out in the clear afternoon air.
"Keiichi!"
The two lovers approached; Belldandy running into the arms of Keiichi with all the unbridled desire in her. For a long moment everything seemed to fade as they embraced for the first time in what seemed like an eternity apart.The first tears began to moisten Belldandy's face as they kissed; a gesture that dispelled any hint of the young man's fatigue while her warm, soft lips met his. Eventually she withdrew, her sapphire like eye's
gazing into K1's.
" Oh my Keiichi! I...I was so worried. I thought that you might be..d..dead."
"It...it was touch and go for a while, Bell, but Urd was the one who really made the difference. She's the only reason I'm standing here."
The couple embraced as Urd watched with just a hint of envy and profound astonishment. She, by her own direct actions, had endangered K1's life and yet he still carried her cause before Belldandy and the others. She stepped back though, trepidation suffusing her, as her sister turned to her; the first-class goddess's face gazing into the crimson pools of her eye's. Urd stepped back once more expecting fury; fury that she merited and yet it did not come. Her sister stepped forward and warmly embraced her older sibling as if the events of the past twenty four hours had been nothing but a bad dream. Releasing her embrace, Belldandy looked into the bewildered face of Urd and smiled.
"My sister, my dear,dear sister...how you must have suffered..."
"Bell I...what I'm going through is nothing to what K1 has endured; what my darker side loosened on him was terrible...even now I can feel it rocking it's cage."
"Please Urd, don't be downcast. I know that the only reason it happened was because of this demon's appearance; a demon who seems to have bent reality to his will and almost you too, yet here you stand amongst us. Changed or not, you have resisted and prevailed."
Urd smiled somberly; her sister's forgiveness was truly divine in its depth and in that instant she felt truly blessed to be this remarkable woman's sister.
"I hope so, Bell...I truly hope so."
It was then Rind stepped forward; more pressing issues on her mind.
"My apologies, but I have information for you and I believe your residence would be safer than in the open as we are." With that the party returned to the couple's home; a pensive Rind turning momentarily to the town beyond them. Her trained eye's searching for any other presence before she too entered their home.
It was agreed that Rind would inform them of the situation once she had erected a quarantine around the temple and home. Until this was complete, Belldandy asked K1 to rest awhile after his experience; a proposal Keiichi, with some hesitation, took up. Belldandy and Peorth considered the technicalities of the warped space while Urd, fearing a resurgence of her darker half, asked to be sealed within her room; Rind applying a demon seal with some reservation.
The day was beginning to wane as Keiichi tried to rest; the sun slowly descending into the western horizon cast faint shadows around the realtively quiet home but something had changed inside. Most within knew that they were not dealing with the likes of Mara or one of her familiar spirits but something similar to the power and subtlety which defined the Daimakaicho. This fact did not alleviate any fears they had at anticipating the Mephistophilis's plans; his whereabouts and designs unknown. These thoughts occupied K1 as he lay on his bed trying to impose some order on the memory of the past day. It shamed him though to have the angelic face of Sumiko rise up from the recesses of his mind. He swore under his breath; how could he think of her at a time like this. Laying one hand across his fatigued visage he reflected openly.
"I hope they find him, because we're gonna be in at the deep end if he tries anything against Bell."
Bell. That one thought tortured him as he wondered how she would react if he talked about Sumiko with her.
"No damnit, no! It won't happen."
It was heart stopping when his quiet ruminations were answered by a terrifyingly familiar voice that seemed to sweep through his mind like a summer breeze.
"Your conviction is truly commendable; but is it the truth? Or merely a denial of your mind's reality."
Slowly K1 looked around the room; scrutinising every recess and shadow. The voice wasn't distinct enough to be in the room and yet...
"You have my apologies Keiichi, but you are not having a flashback or hallucination; the possibilities are slim as I see them."
A sensation of absolute terror filled the young man as he wondered how the voice of Mephistopheles had instantly known of his thought's. Then, with a sickening clarity that horrified him utterly, Keiichi knew where the demon had been hiding all along.
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Once again, sorry if this chapter seems long. I would also like to thank Devil-Urd and Miroku-dono for your reviews; they allow me a different perspective of my work and the views of fellow fan-fic writers are always appreciated.
Yours sincerely
Sorcerer's Familiar
