Chapter 17

Race Cars and Race Queens

Belldandy and Keiichi had been spending ample time together, and today was a day to get things in order. Belldandy had tried calling the temple, but there was no answer.

Kei: "Hey Bell? I just remembered the enormous time difference. I forgot all about it. We'll have to call her late this evening."

Bell: "I can't believe I've forgotten that too. Hehe. Guess we've been having too much "fun" ."

Kei: "So we're gonna put the bike together and look for a place huh?"

Bell: "Yes. I want find the place that you've dreamed of, don't you?"

Kei: "Of course. But I want it to be your dream too."

Bell: "Oh Kei! You're so wonderful." (Bell gave him a sweet kiss on the lips)

Kei: "You're more a part of my life than any 'ol house. So it has to be our dream, right? "

Bell: "You're absolutely right. I wonder if Urd and Skuld had fun last night?"

Kei: "Why don't you call them and see? It is getting near lunchtime. And I'm starving!"

Bell: "I'm hungry too. Let me call them first."

Bell picked up the phone with the paper with Will's number on it. She dialed the phone and waited and waited. Regina finally answered the phone.

Regina: "Hello, Regina speaking."

Bell: "Regina? Hi. It's Bell. How are you?"

Regina: "I'm fine. I think we all had a little too much fun last night. Everybody is still pooped out."

Bell: "Sounds like you all had a blast."

Regina: "Urd is up. Do you want to talk to her?"

Bell: "Please could I?"
Regina: "Hang on a sec."

Urd: "Hello Bell."

Bell: "Hello Urd. Are you staying over at Regina's today? You and Skuld?"

Urd: "Umm. I guess we are. Regina is nodding her head yes. So I take it we are."

Bell: "Ok. I was just checking. Kei and I are going to put the motorcycle together and go looking for residence. So we may be gone for a few hours. I just wanted to tell you, alright?"

Urd: "Sure Bell. You two have fun. Find a nice home. Preferably near Will's house."

Bell: "Why near Will's? The houses nice there?"

Urd: "Yes. But it would make Skuld happy too. V-e-r-y Happy."

Bell: "Oh really? Well ok. We'll look around there too. Talk to you later, Urd. You two behave. Don't give them a hard time now ok?"

Urd: "Urd has everything under control."

Shane had left earlier in the day to his job at a performance motorcycle shop. Shane loved his bikes, especially his GSX-R 750. But he also had his Ducati 999R superbike. He rarely rode it around town much. He only raced it when he felt like it. Will is always making cracks at him about one day having to peel him off the asphalt from riding the "crotch-rockets" he loved so much. Shane knew he was just joking with him about it all the time. But he seriously knew the kind of rider he was. He was very good, good enough to race in the factory superbike challenges. The only problem was his attitude, and the fight with the guy he knocked out for taking him of a race intentionally. He deserved to be pissed off about it. But it cost him a career as a professional bike racer.

Will was pre-occupied with trying to piece together his car for the event this weekend. It proved a little difficult thinking about Skuld as he worked, and the events between them the past couple of days. "cats out of the bag now. Guess I have to live up to my end of the bargin." Will thought as he tapped his fingers on his desk. "Damn it, I can't find my carburator tuning box. Shit. I'm getting stupid or something." He said to himself as he unlocked his car trailer, and retrieved his box. "Jeez, I got A LOT of work to do in 5 days." He mumbled to himself as he disappeared back in the shop.

Urd, Skuld and Regina were in the house, talking about what else?

Urd: "So Skuld? Does Will have any hickeys?"

Skuld: "Huh? What's a hickey?"

Regina: "If he does, I can find out! Hehehe!"

Urd: "Just kidding, Kiddo!"

Skuld: "Very funny. Whatever you're talking about."

Urd: "Well. I think I'm going to find something to wear for my date."

Regina: "You really like Shane don't you?"

Urd: "We get along great I think. So why not?"

Skuld: "Will asked me to some race this weekend."

Regina: "OH did he! Grrreeaatt! I need somebody to help me with things, while he's racing."

Skuld: "Things?"

Regina: "Yeah. I hand out flyers and pens and hats for his business while he's not in the pits."

Skuld: "Oh."

Urd: "What's the matter Skuld? Not your idea of a date?"

Skuld: "I never said it was a date to begin with."

Regina: "I just hate wearing the outfits."

Skuld: "What outfits?"

Regina: "I've been wearing this spandex little dress here (pulls out of her closet) it's not bad. But I'm pretty modest myself."

Urd: "OH. So does Skuld need to wear that too?"

Skuld: "ME? Wear THAT? Nooooo Way!"

Regina: "I bet it looks really hot on you Skuld. Might get extra points with my brother too. Heheh!"

Skuld: "Maybe. Hey that has RPT on it too?"

Regina: "Yeah they've always been a part sponsor to Will's racing ventures. Mainly because of my Dad's involvement before he passed."

Skuld: "So he races the pretty car he had out the other night?"
Regina: "Oh no. Not really. He does sometimes. But that's just his baby. It was his very first car he earned the money to buy."

Skuld: "I like that one. It's so cool."

Urd: "He's got quite a lot of stuff though. What exactly does he race?"

Regina: "Pro Stock. Nhra. He's one of the few independents out there. It gets very expensive if you can't win consistently."

Urd and Skuld just gave her a strange look. They had no clue what she was talking about.

Regina: "Sorry. It's Drag Racing. Just very, very competitive."

Skuld: "Now I see. It sounds like fun."

Regina: "It is. I know you'll have fun. Urd and Bell will be there too won't you?"

Urd: "Why do you say that?"

Regina: "Well, I'm sure they'll have Kei there for RPT's race teams. They have they're own racers and programs in different classes. I'm sure that's how they will "break" Keiichi in so to speak."

Urd: "Oh boy! It sounds like a big family kind of thing."
Regina: "Well. Yeah it is. But don't forget. They sponsor my brother, but he competes AGAINST RPT..hehe."

Skuld: "Oh wow! That sounds interesting."

Regina: "Believe me, it is."

Skuld: "I'm kind of excited about it. I've seen some TV racing from over here, but never in person."

Regina: "Then you're in for a big treat."

Kei and Bell and quickly assembled his sidecar and other things to his bike, with Bell's "help" of course. They had spent the next few hours looking for a house. Much to their surprise, the house they had chosen is ironically not far from Will's house. Only about a half mile away, in fact. Keiichi could see Bell's eyes light up when the realtor showed them the house. It was clear to him, that this would be their new home. It was not very old. Only 12 years according to the Realtor, it was a nice three bedroom, 2 bathroom house, with vinyl siding, light blue in color, with a huge back yard, and even a two car garage for Kei. Bell loved the eat in kitchen and the patio/sunroom in the back. It was plenty large enough house for the four of them, with room to add on two rooms downstairs if they needed to. Kei told the realtor to get the paperwork started and handed her a cashier check for the down payment.

The wheels are set in motion. Things are happening at a rapid pace for Kei and his three goddess', but going smoothly. Nothing to dampen their spirits, and their excitement. Even a revisit of Senbei could not get him down. Bell and Kei sat in the front of the house for a while admiring it's essence.

Kei: "It's wonderful, isn't it Belldandy?"

Bell: "I love it Kei. It's just like we described it to each other."

Kei: "Shall we go tell the others?"

Bell: "YES! I can't wait! I am SO excited!"

Kei fired up his Bike and they pulled off toward Will's house to give Urd and Skuld the good news.

Brad and Rachel were given their orders for the weekend. "Expose Keiichi Morrisato to the race program immediately." Straight from the RPT president.

Brad: "Talk about throwing him to the dogs. Hahaha. Think he can handle it?"

Rachel: "I don't think they'd hire him if he couldn't. But that is a lot to take in at one time."

Brad: "Kei's cool. He's got a winner attitude. I think he'll be fine."
Rachel: "Uh. Might want to look at this first." She hands Brad a weekend schedule of the races.

Brad: "So what? It's the schedule for the races."

Rachel: "Did you read it?"

Brad: "NHRA Powerade Nationals, blah,blah,blah. Ooooh SHIT!"

Rachel: "Oh shit, is an understatement."

Brad: "Well, I guess we get to see how really good he is."

It was getting dark already at Will's house. He was still outside in the shop doing the necessary things to ready himself for the race. A spare engine, transmission, various cylinder heads, carburetors, tools and fuel and oil containers. He removed his nomex race suit and checked it for damage, his helmet, his g-collar, and his nomex shoes. He tested the halon fire suppression and all other electrical and mechanical functions to ensure he passes tech inspection with no problems. All of it neatly stuffed inside the 30 foot transport trailer next to the shop. "Funny no one asked what was in the trailer the other day. Guess I forgot all about it. Oh well. Hehehe." Will thought to himself as he started to clean up to go inside.

Kei: "I guess we're headed to the hotel. Will you be there later Urd, Skuld?"

Urd: "Yes. We'll be along in a little bit. Right Regina?"

Regina: "Yeah. I'll bring them to the hotel in just a while."

Bell: "Ok. We'll see you later. We'll all eat together when you get back. We have some news to tell you after dinner."
Skuld: "Ok Bell. See you in a little while."

Will was closing up his shop, when he heard a motorcycle rev up and take off down the street. It wasn't Shane, he knew the sound of his bike.

Will: "Hey. Who was on the Bike?"

Regina: "That was Bell and Kei. They just left."

Will: "Oops. Sorry. I didn't mean to miss them."

Skuld: "It's ok. They just stopped by to make sure Urd and I were going back to the hotel later for dinner with them."

Urd: "Yeah. They said they had something very important to tell us after dinner."

Will: "Important huh?"

Urd: "I hope she doesn't say she's pregnant already."

Skuld: "That's not FUNNY URD!"

Will and Regina could only laugh at the comment.

Will: "Well that would classify as "Important" . Heheh."

Regina: "Major Important. Hahaha!"

Will: "So are you and Skuld gonna be my race queens for me this weekend?"

Regina: "I think so? Are you Skuld?"

Skuld pulled Will aside and whispered in his ear.

Skuld: "I thought it was more like a date? Or is it not?"

Will: "Yes. For us, Skuld. I want to spend the weekend with you. I don't race all weekend. Only for short periods of the day. I mean I'll be busy some of the time. But when I'm not I want to spend it with you, ok?"

Skuld could only blush at his comment.

Skuld: "Well ok."

Will: "I'll make a deal with you. If I get put out early. I want to take you to dinner alone, and do whatever you like? Sound fair? I was planning on doing that with you after the weekend anyway."

Skuld: "Deal!" She thrust her face in front of his and kissed him sweetly on the lips, without thinking.

Regina: "Oh My. That must have been some convincing huh?"

Urd: "I wonder what more convincing would get him?"

Skuld (blushing): "Really hilarious you two."

Will just stood there smiling.

Will: "What are you two looking at me like THAT for?"

Urd and Regina just couldn't contain their laughter as Will took Skuld and laid a very long and probing kiss on her, unexpectedly.

Regina: "We can tell when we're not wanted. Come on Urd."

Urd and Regina left the room.

Skuld was dazed and confused at first.

Skuld: "Wow. That was, really. Sweet."

Will: "I know, I couldn't help myself. Sorry. Are you mad?"

Skuld: "Of course not. My guard was just down, it surprised me."
Will: "Yeah. But it shut those two up didn't it?"

Skuld laughed.

Skuld: "Yeah. It guess it did."

Kei and Belldandy had just arrived back the hotel when the message light on the phone was blinking. Kei told Bell to relax as he headed down to the lobby desk to get his message.

Concierge: "May I help you sir?"

Kei: "Yes. I'm Keiichi Morrisato. I have a message waiting."

Concierge: "Yes. Here it is."

Kei: "Thank you sir."

Kei sat in one of the lobby chairs as he read the message.

Please be in the lobby at 7 am. We wish to meet with you concerning the race this weekend. You may bring Belldandy, but please do not invite anyone else to attend. We will explain everything on the way to LACR. Thank you. See you in the morning.

Brad and Rachel

RPT Performance

Kei: "Wow. Must be important. Guess we'll see in the morning."

Kei went back to his room, explained the message to Belldandy, then they cuddled together as they watched TV and chatted to each other about calling Megumi tonight to invite her to stay with them during her summer school break.

Regina was enroute to taking Skuld and Urd to the hotel, when Regina felt compelled to ask Skuld a question.

Regina: "Say Skuld? You really like my brother don't you?"

Skuld: "Yes. He's really sweet."

Urd: "Never thought I'd hear my little sister say she actually liked a guy at all."

Regina: "You know I told you about Donna, right?"

Skuld: "Yeah. You did."

Regina handed her a couple of photos she had up in her sun visor, before Urd snatched them from her hand.

Urd: "OH MY! What are these?"

Regina: "They're photos of Donna."

Skuld: "Lemme see Urd."

Urd: "I dunno Skuld."

Skuld: "Gimme! (she grabbed them from her hands)"

Skuld: "She. She looks just like…"

Regina: "Pretty scary huh? That's why my brother was afraid to talk to you much when he first met you. It kind of brought back painful memories."

Skuld: "I mean, she isn't identical. But she really looks like me huh?"

Urd: "I bet it felt like he'd seen a ghost, right Regina?"

Regina: "He was at first, but then he saw how she liked cars and technical stuff and that made him head over heels for ya I guess. Haha!"

Skuld: "Do you think he just likes me cause I look like her?"

Urd: "Don't be silly Skuld. I can even tell his affection is genuine."

Regina: "He was afraid that was what you'd think if you saw any pictures of her. SO he hid them all."

Skuld: "Awww. Now I feel bad. I don't want him to hide his memories of someone he loved so much."
Regina: "He really likes you Skuld. Not because you remind him of her, because of who you are. I just want you to always remember that. Ok?"

Skuld: "Ok. I can see he does."

Regina: "Just one thing."

Skuld: "What's that?"

Regina: "If you guys are doing the nasty in his room, always lock the door ok?"

Skuld's face turned completely red and Urd simply laughed so hard she lost her breath.

Skuld: "Do I have to be quiet too? Or would noise be a factor too? I might be loud, I wouldn't want to keep you up Regina." Skuld felt she had to retaliate with something, although she was hoping they knew she was just joking. She thinks..

Urd: "OOOHOOHOO! That was rich, I guess she told you Regina."
Regina: "Well if that's the case just tell me, and I can arrange to be gone for a few hours, hehehehe!"

Skuld: "OKAY!" Skuld just smiled with and smirk. Urd was still laughing, trying to keep her breath, and shaking her head in disbelief. Her little sister was growing a lot bolder than she ever was. Which to her, was a good thing. Seeing as Belldandy never was quite that way.

Megumi: "Hallo, Megumi speaking!"

Keiichi: "Heya Megumi! How are you?"

Megumi: "KEI ! Yay! How are you all doing? I've been so worried!"

Bell: "We're all fine Megumi. We've been just so busy. It's very wonderful here!"

Megumi: "That's great Bell. I miss you all sooo much."

Kei: "Actually, that's why I called. How would you like to stay over summer break?"

Megumi: "Are you SERIOUS? REALLY?"

Bell: "Please come Megumi. We'll all have so much fun!"

Megumi: "Can Sora come too Kei? She can pay for her airfare there and back. Please?"

Kei: "Well. Sure why not? We'll have the tickets ready for you to pick up on Thursday ok? Sora can just pay me back later. I get a discount through the company to save her money."

Megumi: "Ok she'll love it. (he could hear Sora in the back) "Thank you Kei Senpai!"

Kei: "Tell Sora she's welcome. We'll call again on Wednesday ok? We should be in the new house we bought by then I hope. But not completely I'm sure, but Be good till then."

Megumi: "I love you Kei and Belldandy!"

Kei: "We love you to Megumi. Bye for now."

Megumi: "Bye-bye Brother!"

Megumi hung up with Kei and told Sora about their trip on Thursday. Then they grabbed each others hands and jumped up and down like toddlers, laughing and screaming.

Next Chapter

Driving Lessons