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 14: Tears like Falling Silver

As his eyes met the two points of crimson brilliance, he was momentarily still; his inert form in the chair's embrace like a creature that has spied a predator until he seemed to relax once more. A voice, now terribly familiar, sailed out through unseen lips with a query; its nature one of apparent concern.

"Unpleasant dreams? " The query was followed by silent footsteps and the figure of Mephistopheles emerged from the shadows. Keiichi, still unnerved by his sudden appearance wondered if he saw the darkness actually retract around the demon as he emerged………or maybe it was just a trick of the light. The young man turned to the creature's now faintly illuminated face as he replied.

"You could say that, I…..I'm just feeling a bit drained lately." The demon nodded in concurrence before coming closer with a now contemplative posture.

"It is a discouraging thing, but do not contemplate it too deeply, Keiichi. They are merely the vestigial flickers of a deceived heart and offer no true substance." K1 tried a weak chuckle under his breath before rubbing his eyes wearily; wondering if all this was only some terrible dream and he was still back home, writhing in his bed. Then he looked up and asked something that had plagued him for the past several hours.

"Is Rind…eh….okay? You didn't do anything unnecessary?..." The demon smiled his soft smile and answered; the faint light seeming to play of its reptilian eyes.

"Rest assured, I addressed the matter with appropriate measures and the implacable goddess was only incapacitated………..with no lasting injuries of course, but I do sense that you have other concerns on the tip of you tongue." At this K1 seemed apprehensive for a moment before sitting forward slowly, his hands resting on the expanse of varnished wood, and spoke of what had been gnawing at his mind since this had all began. The question seemed so vague and yet he felt compelled to satisfy some part of him that had always pondered why.

"Mephistopheles, there's something I have to ask you."

"Of course. On such a night, I can only wonder what troubles you so, K1." The mortal hesitated for a moment then spoke.

"I…..I have to know why?...why Belldandy? Why this madness that always seeks me out? And why…… you?" He intoned with a confused and weary expression.

"You mean, perhaps, why all this has occurred from the very beginning, from your original blessing to where you find your self now?" The demon quietly intoned.

"In a manner of speaking, yes." At this, the demon rose up and reclined on the air, legs casually crossed as he seemed to reflect on something before he continued to speak.

"The truth of the matter lies in your rather unique disposition, upon which I shall explain. You may know that you lead a rather blessed life as evidenced by your company, but the reason lies in your purity of soul; your consistency of purpose which does not lead you astray."

"Ehh…I don't quite understand?"

"Well, you see, contrary to what you may believe you, Keiichi Morisato, are a virtuous being; pure, untainted by a world that walks a precarious path between darkness and light. But in addition to that, you find yourself at the centre of a spiritual pentacle where you act as a fulcrum and unifying force. If you permit me a small indulgence K1, through you fire, earth, water, air and even ice all find balance and expression in your humanity; a point assisted by the fact that you are, in short, a singular expression of all humanities virtues." He punctuated this by gently gesturing to the young man as he sat with a now bemused expression. In a way it made sense; there was a reason why he had received the blessing of the goddess relief office and the company of Belldandy, a time that now seemed like a millennia ago as he spoke with a demon in this shadowy office but K1, melancholy as he was, endeavoured with his second question.

"That makes sense, in a way, though I still wonder why all this has a significance for you?..."

"Ahh, yes of course, but first I have to ask you how many beings that receive the attention of either hell or heaven ask, quite simply, for their representative to be with them always?" The mortal seemed ambiguous for a moment before tentatively answering.

"Very few, I think." To this Mephistopheles nodded with a small smile.

"Precisely, K1. Within the past five centuries only one is similar to your arrangement with heaven. If you comprehend the nature of that, you shall appreciate my interest in this matter with more gravity…….." The demon's answer left K1 confused until it clicked and he turned to his companion with a newly curious, if rather, unsettled expression; the creature quietly watching as the human grasped the relevance of his wish to the goddess four years ago.

"It was you, wasn't it? The contracts were so different and yet what follows is similar, I just didn't think to consider it."

"Yes. Irrespective as to what myth and legend assert, I came to understand the wizard as well as Belldandy thinks she knows you, and yet even when such a great force imposes itself, you alone still endeavour to follow your heart; that ancient prerogative accorded to all sentient beings without a hypocritical morality interfering. I showed Faust who he truly was but you follow the same path alone; prepared to overcome the obstacles along the way as you always have. That is what intrigues me, Keiichi Morisato."

"That cleared a few things up, though I still don't feel good about this………….but, thanks." The demon slightly nodded and K1 let his eyes slide along to Sumiko, still reclined peacefully on the couch. For a long moment he let his eyes rest on her, reflecting on what must inevitably come. He sighed then got up, the demon's eyes silently following him until he came to the window and peered out at the dark campus below. Watching through the saturated windows he considered the place where he had spent some of the best times of his life, but those memories seemed distant now; a profound and ominous tension had descended, as if the very earth itself held its breath in preparation for something horrible yet to come. Turning with sombre eyes that held conviction, K1 asked a question that was more a statement of fact; the answer had not been in doubt.

"Their coming to finish this." The shadowy figure descended to its feet with one hand supporting its chin as it returned the mortal's knowing look.

"Yes, they will come with objectives in mind, and then the question of sacrifice may very well rise……….." Keiichi's reply was resigned but determined as he met the creatures questioning look.

"No. No one's going to be sacrificed tonight. I'll reason with them and Bell; something can be worked out, I'm sure of it."

"Though Belldandy may not be as understanding as you may believe. If that is the question, then what shall you do?..."

"If that happens…..then I'll…..I'll do everything I can to stop this. One way or the other." In the silence that followed, the young man leant against the table; his visage one of a man facing a terrible dilemma. Close by, the demon smiled his secret smile as he observed the mortal's resignation. There are only a few remaining pieces left on the board. The weakened knight and rooks would be removed and the king neutralised. With this, the queen would taper on the brink of oblivion; awaiting one final move that would dispatch her into the abyss……….

The sole occupant of the room lowered her hands and lifted her head once more. In the relative quiet of her room, Belldandy completed her prayer and yet remained upon her knees as she reflected on how this horrible situation had come about. For the longest time since the demon had openly revealed his influence on Keiichi, the first class goddess had pondered with a great and painful regret why she had not detected anything wrong sooner. The morning prior to his possession K1 had seemed unsettled and yet she had found nothing abnormal. Even when her love had reassured her that the Daimakichou's intervention had no lasting significance, all the while with the Mephistophilis within, she had felt nothing and it frustrated her. Even with the fabric of reality so subtly warped to the demon's will, a goddess of her distinctive experience had failed to sense even a flicker of the darkness that peered out through the young man's eyes; a darkness that had spun a web with them now struggling in its terrible embrace. Was this partially her fault? Had she failed, even after overcoming the machinations of Mara and Hild, to divine the possibility of another maleficent being orchestrating their down fall? Was she unable to put the pieces together fast enough?...In truth it didn't matter now. Her personal combat fatigues were evidence of the goddesses impeding counter-strategy, as was the movement in the tea room down the corridor. In the hours after Rind had recovered, the Valkyrie had formulated a strategy to rescue Keiichi and, at least, contain the demon. The plan required a considerable secretion of power and, against her better judgement, required all members of the household to support it; a task which necessitated the use of both goddesses most unsuited for this. Urd, still struggling with her darker side, would support the main group while Skuld, counting on her limited experience, would be a reserve. The problem of the spell on Urd was partially remedied by Skuld; the younger sibling fashioning a demonic suppressant device which slipped around her older sister's forearm. In truth, the contraption would only take the edge off the gnawing demonic energy but as dubious and exceptionally dangerous as it was, it was the only solution for their plan to work. It was one of many things that compelled her to take a moments solitude as the household prepared for conflict; her prayer one of hope that they would emerge from the conflagration victorious and unharmed, yet one memory of this night still haunted her and it brought a terrible doubt. When K1 had spoken to her about wanting to talk away from the others, she had not felt a hint of hesitation or coercion in that familiar voice; only a calm clarity which unsettled her and for a moment she wondered if Keiichi was more than just the demon's hostage……………….

It was before she could reflect on the terrible matter further that her string of thought was interrupted by soft knocking from her door; turning, she gave consent and the door was slid back. Peorth, bedecked in her combat uniform of brown and white with a measure of red, entered quietly.

"Ma sherie, it seems that we're almost ready for the operation to begin; Rind has finalised the plans and our briefing. I believe we will be prepared for every possibility we may encounter." The rose goddess's words were quietly confident but they lacked her usual vitality. Belldandy arose and smiled softly.

"Thank you. I was only praying that we shall prevail in this trial to night."

"Souci pas, Belldandy. We will overcome this, just as Keiichi will and the sun will rise with you two together once more. I know it." Belldandy nodded her thanks and the two first class deities made their way to the tea room; the familiar walk now seeming suffused with a foreboding that they both felt acutely. The door slid past and the sombre goddesses entered to reveal a scene of preparation mixed with a palpable trepidation; the sense of growing intent about to be implemented. Rind was occupied with a holographic projection of her strategy with the air of a commander; Urd was sitting by the table in quiet contemplation and Skuld was feverishly making the final adjustments to her weapon, a long, shoulder mounted device with a advanced scope and cannon like muzzle. The three looked up as the two entered and Belldandy felt the anxiety only one horrific thing could invoke in most sentient creatures: the sensation of approaching war. Bell and Peorth settled down at the table with their compatriots and, after a brief pause, Rind elaborated in full on their strategy. As the valkyrie started to speak, no one saw Urd glance at the silent T.V in the corner and its switch turn silently from off to standby.

The briefing complete, Rind sat back and waited for any possible opposition. There was none. She turned to the four pairs of eyes that seemed contemplative; digesting the information before them until the axe goddess spoke.

"The plan takes into consideration any particular variables and the house will be protected by a reinforced shield, leaving us to address the matter at hand. I know that it may not be the most attractive option but, after due consideration, it has the highest possibility of success." The goddesses nodded their agreement then Rind turned to Belldandy, a sorrowful yet profound conviction in her sapphire eyes.

"Belldandy, does this have your approval? If not, there might be something else we could consider, but I can't guarantee the same probability of success………" The uncharacteristic question perplexed her fellow deity until Bell shook her head slowly.

"No, it's fine. This will succeed…..I..I'm sure of it." They exchanged a silent confirmation and the valkyrie turned once more to the awaiting group.

"Alright. It's time to go. If we follow our plan we may be okay and Keiichi will be returned to us." With collective affirmation, they agreed and rose; making their way out of the room. It was Urd who seemed like she was going to be the last to leave when she called over to Peorth, a casual if slightly melancholy smile on her lips.

"Peorth….do you think we'll win this one, after all that's happened?"

"We will have to now, Ma sherie. So much depends on this that victory must be ours without fail."

"I would definitely say so, but," she continued, giving a knowing glance to the waiting goddess," I think that I may have a better plan that could solve this mess. Tell Bell that I'm sorry for the inconvenience." In one quick motion she was across the room and though the T.V screen, leaving the alarmed Peorth to call the others.

Urd arrived after several moments in a class room where a computer monitor had been left on during the day. Once fully manifested, she proceeded quietly and with supernatural speed across the building and onto the roof, her preoccupied mind absently noting that her vision and movements had become so easily predatory as she darted along the empty corridors and stairwells; the platinum haired goddess dismissing the sensations that were only just contained. Entering onto the roof of one of the buildings adjacent to Nekomi Tech's centre, a rectangular area lined with trees with the administrative building on the other side, Urd's newly acute demonic senses pulsed out over the shadowy and wet campus until she found what she was looking for. Directing her gaze to the top floor of the administrative building, she smiled; it would have taken too long to explain to the others, and under the circumstances difficult to believe, but K1's close encounter with Hild had left the faintest trace of her demonic mother's energy on the mortal which resonated within, allowing her to track him wither reality was warped or not. Ascending onto the opposite roof she wandered how this all seemed to easy, but no doubt the Mephistophilis was here somewhere and if so, she was prepared. She followed the sound of the mortal's heart until she found the office. Just before she entered, every light within the office sprang into life with new power and hearing the bemused cries within she entered with speed to find Keiichi looking startled.

"Urd!" She smiled, striding forth, her red uniform and newly crimson eyes seeming all the more brilliant under the light.

"Yeah, I'm the cavalry don'cha know, but we'll have to save the questions until we get you back home. There's going to be a bit of a close encounter soon and we don't what you in the middle of it, so we'll have to get going now." Strangely, he didn't seem as enthusiastic as she had anticipated.

"Yeah….eh…Urd, about that, something has changed and I'm afraid I can't go back just yet." This statement aroused Urd's suspicions. Narrowing her eyes, she scrutinised the young man from her position; she had trained herself several hours ago to find just the merest hint of the shadowy demon's presence and yet none was forthcoming. She stared glared at him, advancing several steps.

"What do you mean "something has changed"?

"It's just that I…I met a girl and I think I have fallen in love with her." The gravity of the words stopped her, the incredulity apparent in the crimson brilliance of her eyes.

"K..Keiichi, think about what you just said. This isn't you, those are just his words slipped into your mouth…….."

"Urd, believe me I don't like what I am feeling right now, but I can't deny them and I have to explain this to Bell personally when she comes; I love Sumiko and I couldn't leave her here." Urd inwardly groaned.

"Keiichi, Listen to me! What your feeling isn't real, is just a facet of an extremely powerful enchantment programme and I can't believe that you would just change like that on your own; understand now K1, you are just telling me what he wants."

"That may be so, but I'm not leaving her alone." Urd ground her teeth, the demonic blood deriving strength from her growing anger; she would have to suppress it as she already felt the cuff like device straining to contain the mounting energy. She continued, perspiring slightly.

"Keiichi, you don't know what the hell you're talking about, this isn't real and I'm going to have to take you back, with a couple of thousand volts or not! You………" She felt profoundly weary; her vision swam as a wave of vertigo like disorientation swept over her. It was then her eyes grew wide. She felt it behind her; the maleficent presence she had been anticipating. In the blink of an eye she leapt up, darted from the ceiling to the floor some yards away and fired; the office shook as brick, glass and wood was blown out into the night. Urd dashed forward then around and fired, blowing a hole where the door and wall once where, but as she recovered, the entity, faster than she believed, was beside her and a gloved hand reached out with its two forefingers to softly press her forehead. The last thing she recalled as the world dissolved around her was the looming shadow; its two eyes beaming down at her with interest and the thought that she had once again put them in serious trouble…………

The arrival at Nekomi Tech went without incident. The troupe of Goddesses landing silently on the outskirts of the university's centre, all now prepared for a confrontation with the demon. They were also preoccupied with Urd's deviation; the goddess's personal plan eliciting both fear and consternation in her companions, with great frustration for the valkyrie. Their numbers reduced, Belldandy would have to retrieve Keiichi while the others, including an anxious Skuld, would give covering action. Making their way across the campus, Belldandy pondered on how a place that held such beautiful and joyous memories for most of them had become so forbidding; the buildings that had been familiar now ominous in their silence with a million places from which unseen eyes could watch. Eventually they came to the approach for the main concourse; a valley of buildings which led to the main administration, its tall silhouette looming ahead as if to beckon them forward. It was as she let her eyes travel up its dark exterior that she saw the gaping, ragged hole on one of the office levels and felt a flicker of her love. Suppressing the joy she felt keenly, the first class goddess turned to her companions with an expression that left no room for doubt. Silently acknowledging her, the two elder deities nodded. Skuld seemed about to say something, but was silent. Belldandy turned; a new hope in her clear blue eyes.

"Don't fret. The raising of the sun will see us together again, Skuld. I am quite sure of it." With that, she vanished into the shadows of the nearby buildings, leaving the remaining trio to advance towards the main square. Advancing up through the falling rain, she detected no other presence save him and yet as she came to the dark, gaping maw she was weary of traps. Entering, the goddess found a chaotic scene: broken glass, shattered stone and wood with paper and office supplies scattered around on the wind. Then, under the weak over head light, she saw him. Her heart, her love; the feeling of desire was almost over whelming as she ran towards him. He stepped forward and embraced her weakly then, before she could speak, Keiichi began.

"Bell, please listen carefully because there is something I have to tell you." At this Bell became still as she stepped back to look upon his weary visage.

"Belldandy, four years ago I asked for you to be by my side always but now….I…..I must ask for us to separate. I have felt things that I should not feel and yet they have always been there since the beginning; this doubt that what we may all come apart one day, I can no longer ignore and though I feel horrible, I must ask that the wish I asked of you be ended." The silence that followed, broken only by the sigh of the wind, was unbearable as Bell tried to comprehend what her love just uttered.

"N..no. This is just his spell, Keiichi, its warped the world around us and planted illusions…….."

"That may be the case, but I cannot deny what I feel. I have often wondered if what we have can truly last. A wish made by a mortal man that can keep a goddess on earth…….I seems now to be simply too difficult to keep. I think that we should end what will be tested to destruction by heaven and hell alike. We can't live each day wondering if the next catastrophe or trial will be the one to tear us apart."

"Keiichi, we have overcome them all so far, all things thrown against us have been endured; this will be the same, I know it." The goddess spoke quickly, trying to suppress the rising terror that seemed irresistible; her belief that these words were the contrivance of Mephistopheles waning as she beheld eyes and an aura that were clear, the words spilling from his lips sincere and with horrible meaning. K1 stepped forward and with trembling hands embraced her quietly. Their heads together, K1 spoke once more; the words difficult to come at first.

"Belldandy, you showed a man heaven on earth. Each and every day was brighter than the last. You taught me things that I will remember always but…..but it seems that, perhaps, the vision you accorded me was too pure; the life we lived too beautiful too last the rigours of our worlds. I can't lie to you Belldandy, because even now I have come to love another." As he stopped, he felt her sobs; her cheeks were wet and her body seemed to tremble in their intimacy as they slid to their knees in each others arms, he continued.

"Belldandy, I do not wish you to suffer any longer; my mind has strayed and I don't want to cause you any more pain than I already have. Please Bell, nullify my wish and we shall both be free of this horrible pain. I won't forget you Belldandy, but the longer we remain like this the agony won't stop." He stood slowly, Belldandy murmuring her protests through tears that fell from wet cheeks to stain the floor.

"Keiichi…don't…no…not this……." Her words didn't have any visible consequence as he stepped back to lean against the desk. He felt empty, his limbs lacking any energy and his mind was almost numb as he watched, with heavy eyes, a creature of divine beauty weep with a shattered heart; her tears catching the light as they fell to the floor. The sorrowful goddess then felt a presence behind her. The sensation followed by tentative footsteps as a young woman emerged, as if on queue, from the recess of the former doorway. She was beautiful, perhaps slightly smaller than herself and oddly she knew this woman's name. Sumiko walked cautiously around the goddess, nervous eyes darting from her love to Belldandy.

"I…I know the agony you must feel and I am sorry. I have always loved Keiichi from afar but would not express what I have felt gnaw at me for years, but at least he understands my affections. I have always admired you, Belldandy, and I thank you for what you taught K1. We won't forget what you have done for us," She walked quietly over to the seemingly listless K1 and linked her hand with his," My self and my precious, precious Keiichi."

It was as Sumiko uttered those words that the sorrowful goddess began to feel the first tremors of something and recognised it as it race through her; surging through her heart and giving flight to terrible feelings that had grown within. Her resistance was overcome; the world around assuming an almost dream like quality when her anger rose. The goddess looked up with a tear stained visage and peered into Sumiko's eyes. The young woman twitched slightly before raising her hand to a wet sensation that ran over her lip and chin. Her fingers found blood and she returned to the goddesses sapphire blue eyes. It was then a great force collided with the young woman, the energy sending her into the wall. This action was succeeded as every window in Nekomi Tech promptly blew out in a flux of psychic energy. This brought K1 back as he tried to shield himself from the glass; crying out as the force of the goddess's pain pulled Sumiko up the wall, now distinguished by a slight crater, and started to strangle his new love. His cries to stop unheeded, the young man felt a familiar sensation as wings unfurled and a storm of ebony feathers marked the emergence of Virtues Apostate from her partner. The demonic angel's di-morphic eyes darted to the goddess and in an instant the winged guardian was between the goddess and Sumiko. To her shock, the angel's wings contracted rapidly, the torrent of air blowing Belldandy back several feet into the air. She had just enough time to recover to see Apostate direct and fire a burst of energy form its clawed gauntlet. Impacting, Belldandy was thrown out into the night, her world one of pain and mind numbing grief as she descended into the darkness below…………..

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As always, opinions and marginally constructive flames are always appreciated.

Thanks.

Sorcerer's Familiar.