Disclaimer: All original characters of 'Oh! My Goddess' belong to Mr. Kosuke Fujishima and are under copyright of Dark Horse Comics. Njord and Loki and other characters as related are of my own invention and not associated with Oh! My Goddess.

To my readers: This is the longest of all chapters I have written, and it will take sometime for you to read all of it. I know its long but I had to write it this long to get all what I needed written in. Thanks again for reading and please let me know what you think.

Chapter 5

Morisato Takano stood in the kitchen as she continued to prepare the dinner she was making. The boiling pot of water and the rice inside gave no hint as to the meal she had decided to make. Every now and then she would look down the hallway towards Keiichi room; she had never pried but she was beginning to worry about her son. It had been almost two month since her son came home, but he did not even tell her why.

Takano continued to prepare for the dinner when in the processes of doing so; a knock came at the front door. Takano put down her knife and lowered the temperature of the rice and went to answer the door, which had been knocked on a second time. Takano opened the door and slid the door open and looked at man who barely able to drive the truck that was behind him.

The man looked on older than seventeen, but he had no pimples, other blemishes that affected people his age. The only thing he had on his face that did not look like pimples were a small, blue upside down triangle under each eye. He was wearing a brown shirt and brown pants that barely looked like they fit him in his underfed looking frame. He had a smile on his face that almost scared Takano in either its creepiness or enthusiasms.

"Special Delivery!" The man said with tone of so much cheeriness that it frightened Takano. The man was holding a box a little small than a shoe box and it was covered with brown paper and a white string.

"Thank you!" Takano said as she took the package and then the man bowed to her and then said, "Please Sign!" The man pulled out a small clipboard and handed it to Takano. Takano took it and signed her name to the clipboard and then handed it back to the man.

"Thank you; have a good day!" The man said and then turned away and walked briskly back towards his truck. Takano looked at the box she had gotten and found something odd.

"Hey, there is no return address on this package!" Takano called out to the man but to her surprise, the man gone, and so was the truck he was in, only the fresh trail of truck tracks in the mud signal his stealthily departure. Takano looked out over the driveway and then looked at the package and slid the door shut still looking at who it was address to: 'Morisato Keiichi.' It gave no address, just his name. Takano walked down the hallway and knocking on her son's door she opened it to find him working on a piece of his bike.

"This was just delivered for you." She said and placed the package on the corner of his futon and started to leave. Keiichi looked at his bike part and then set the part down and walked down the hallway and stopped at the kitchen. Takano went back to work in the kitchen and then turned as Keiichi leaned against the doorway, his guilt read over his face.

"Takano?" Keiichi said; Takano turned and faced her son as she continued to work on the dinner. "I-um I jus-"

"Ah know already." Takano said reading Keiichi's his expressions. "It's written all over your face, boy."

"What is?" Keiichi said looking sad and confused at his mother.

"That you didn't know what to do since she left." Takano said to Keiichi; Keiichi knew this was the problem so it did not surprise him that she hit the problem right on the head.

"To tell you the truth, I don't even remember how I got here. I just got on my bike and drove and drove and next thing I knew; I was here. But now I just don't know what to do anymore." Keiichi said to his mother. She put down her spoon and turned off the pot of water that was boiling and then looked at her son.

"A long time ago, about three months before you were born Keima and I got into a big fight. I don't remember what it was about, but some words were said to each other and he stormed out and got on his bike and left. When he came home, he told me that as he rode around he seriously though about leaving, but as he drove he stopped at a small park near the ocean." Takano stopped and then looking at her son she said, "He got to thinking about his life and he told me that of all the things that had happened to him in his life he said the greatest accomplishment was him being a father and a husband." Takano turned around and looked at her husband working out in his shop and then told Keiichi, "That girl you were with was only woman other than Megumi and me who could get close to him. I know that she meant so much to you, if she didn't you wouldn't have raced Keima wouldn't you?"

"No I wouldn't have." Keiichi said, and then Takano turned around and walked back to her son and leaning close to him.

"I know that, and I also know she would have done the same." Takano said to her son; Keiichi looked at his mom and then gave her a hug. Takano and Keiichi embraced each other for a few seconds and then released as Keiichi looked back at Takano and said, "Thanks Mom."

"You betcha." Takano said and turned around and went back to preparing dinner as Keiichi went back to his room.

Keiichi went back to his room with the intentions of finishing his bike part, but as he passed his futon he spotted his package. Keiichi leaned down and picked it up and looked at suspiciously at just his name that was written on the package. No other clue was given to possibly give Keiichi a hint to its origin or even who sent to him. Keiichi loosened the white thread that was tied around the box, and then worked to get the brown paper that was wrapped around it. When the paper was taken off a small white box was revealed, it was about six inches on all for sides and only three inches high.

Keiichi looked over the small box and found that nothing was on it that looked dangerous. Keiichi reached and slowly took the lid off and looked inside the box; at the very top he found a small note at the top. He took the note out and using one hand he read the note that was address to him.

'Put on the gloves, and achieve a step closer in your goal.'

Keiichi looked back in the box and sure enough was a set of black gloves. These gloves were not like work gloves, neither were they like motorcycle gloves. But instead they were black gloves that were fingerless and had some soft plastic-like protection on the back of them. The gloves did have some Velcro-like cloth to connect them together across the back of the hands. The gloves also did look like they had seen service before, but nothing on the gloves gave any hint as to what service they may have been.

Keiichi looked at the gloves, and then he just shrugged his shoulders and bravely put the gloves on. After he tightened the last of the gloves on his hands he stretched his fingers inside them. Nothing happened to him; Keiichi took the note and read it again; as he did small part of the note suddenly appeared,

'Make sure you do this outside.'

Before he could even react; it happened. A light grew from the gloves and began to spread over his arms and then his body; panicking Keiichi tired to take the gloves off, but could not. When the light had finally encompassed him and before he could even react he felt his body rising into the air. Then feeling like a rocket Keiichi shot upward and went through the rafters and the roof of his home. In less than a second his house vanished from view and then he could see all of Hokkaido, and then Japan and then the whole Earth.

Keiichi couldn't even scream he was traveling so fast, he was going faster then he remembered going on Urd's Maxell Stone's driven broom. He watched as the Earth started to grow smaller and smaller and then passed the moon. Keiichi was going so fast the speed made him feel faint and dizzy until finally he succumbed to the lack of oxygen and he passed out.

Keiichi opened his eyes and found his sight with a dark haze as his eyes readjusted. Keiichi saw only white and gold as his eyes finally came back into focus as he slowly looked at the thing he landed. The ground did not feel like concrete, but stone and it was pure white marble that was glass like smooth. Small lines of gold were laced though the stones, some were small and narrow lines and connected to bigger broader lines. Keiichi slowly raised him self off the ground and wanted to look around, but as he looked up he saw someone in front of him with their hand extended to him.

"Good, you made it." A voice came from the person that extended their hand to him, Keiichi recognized the voice and looked up for a confirmation; it was Njord. Njord was squatting down in front of Keiichi and continued to extend his hand to Keiichi. Keiichi was about to take it, but as his hand reached Njord's; a mark on Njord's hand caught his attention.

The mark on Njord hand was a curious black mark and mostly consisted of many shapes forming a symbol. A square was the center of the mark and inside the square was a small dot that on two sides had small 'T' letters. Outside the square was an octagon that touched each corner, and on four sides of the octagon were shapes as well. One two sides were two triangles both of the same design, and on the opposite sides were two acute angles both measuring at about forty five degrees, but neither one of these shapes touched the octagon or the square. The only shapes that were touching the octagon was a set of acute angles similar to the ones on the sides of the octagon, but these were flipped upside down and fitted around and above the bottom line of the angles. Above these upside down acute angles was one small line that also did not touch the angles. Between the triangles and the upside down acute angles were triangles as well, but they were also upside down. On top of the upside down triangles was an obtuse angle that measured one hundred and forty five degrees. Finally after all this at the top of the original triangles a ray line went down the side of the triangle and down to the original acute angle, but did not touch either. Keiichi looked at this mark for only a few seconds, and noticed it looked more like a lock than a mark.

"Don't worry about that." Njord said closing his marked hand quickly as he helped Keiichi up from the ground. Njord brushed Keiichi's shoulders off and then turned around and then said, "Come on, your almost late."

"Late for what?" Keiichi said sounding confused at the suddenness of Njord attitude.

"Your meeting!" Njord said to Keiichi who was struggling to keep up.

"A meeting with whom?" Keiichi said looking at Njord as he rushed through the foyer of the Council Room.

"Guess!?" Njord said sounding sarcastic; Keiichi stopped dead in his tracks and Njord felt this because he stopped and looked at Keiichi. Keiichi looked back at Njord and confusion had left and animosity had settled over Keiichi face and expression.

"Why should I meet with him?" Keiichi said this with the same tone he used when confronted with Loki. Njord just stood their and read Keiichi's expression as his own mind gathered its own thoughts.

"Can I ask you something, Keiichi?" Njord asked and took a few steps forward to Keiichi and the looking into Keiichi's brown eyes he asked, "Have I-personally; ever given you a reason not to trust me?"

"No." Keiichi said after thinking about it for a moment; his tone had dropped too.

"Then just humor me ok." Njord said, but still looking into Keiichi's eyes he could see that confusion and the animosity was still inside him. "Look, I have set up a meeting with you and the Almighty and if you just talk to him and answer his questions. There is a possibility that you may not have to leave heaven alone today; ok."

Keiichi looked at Njord's eyes and saw that they were serious, and sensing that what he meant nodded in agreement. Njord smiled and turned around and lead Keiichi down the hallway and headed past a row of pillars that looked out over the whole of Heaven. Keiichi marveled again at the city he once beheld; when Loki ordered Hel to kill him, he was sent to a small hill that he could not see right know, but he could see all over heaven. Keiichi sat their and only with his memories; he only remembered Belldandy and other happy memories with her.

Now he was back in heaven, only this time he was not a spirit, but actually human. Also this time around he was no longer on a hill looking at Heaven, he was in heaven and he as being lead to one of its buildings. Keiichi followed Njord for what only felt like only a few minutes and then they both stopped at a massive gold door that towered over Njord and Keiichi. The door was like an ancient cathedral door except of wood it was gold, but had the same design, there were no handles, but as Njord got a little close to it, one door opened enough to allow someone to pass by it. Njord looked at the open door and then turned around and looked at Keiichi.

"Okay, you're on!" Njord said to Keiichi. Keiichi was a little shocked and as he walked past Njord he noticed that Njord backed away from the door.

"You're not coming with me?" Keiichi said sounding panicked, at the thought of meeting with the Almighty alone.

"This meeting was for you alone." Njord said to him in almost a whisper, but still seeing his nervousness. "Let me give you some advice, open your heart and mind to him, let him see the real you. Also, always be respectful, only speak when spoken to, and also one last thing. In the room there is a large, broad gold line that's on the floor, what ever you do; do not cross that line."

Njord winked at Keiichi and then motioned to him to go into the Council room; Keiichi turned around and saw the open door and took a massive breath and walked past the door way and into the Council room. As soon as Keiichi walked pass the doorway, the last thing he saw was Njord smiling at him and the door shut and Keiichi was all alone. Keiichi turned around and looked at the brightly lighted room that was before him, and looking down at his feet had to command them to even take steps forward. Keiichi walked down a narrow, but a high ceiling hallway that that white stone pillars along the walls of the hallway.

Keiichi walked a little further and then walked into the massive rotunda of the large circular room that was the Council Chambers of the High Council of Heaven. The pillars opened up the massive Council room that was just a semi-circular of seats and chairs that was connected around the Council room. Behind the row of the chairs was a row of massive windows with only a break every few feet of pillars. In the window was a view off all of heaven and further in the distance were the Earth and the moon, clearer than Keiichi had ever remembered seeing it on the Earth with his family.

Keiichi kept walking forward as he looked up and around the Council room, completely in awe. His gaze fixed on the sheer massiveness of the room, but also the great details that was all around the Council room. As he looked around his gaze finally made its way to the floor and he saw that a gold line was directly in front of him, less than a few inches from his feet. The gold line was very broad and wide, and also in a straight line that ran from one wall to the other. Keiichi stopped and making sure not even a hair went over the line, Keiichi dropped his gaze to the line as he lowered himself to the line and kneeled; Keiichi made sure also his eyes stayed fixed on the gold line and did not look up or around past the line.

"Morisato Keiichi." a voice came from beyond the gold line; but still Keiichi kept his gaze on the floor in front him. The voice boomed across the council room; it was a very powerful sounding voice that filled every fiber of his body. The voice was commanding, but it was not threatening voice, strangely it filled Keiichi with joy with just its sound.

"I am he." Keiichi said weakly, his voice was barely able to get higher than a whisper. Keiichi wanted to look up, but he held his gaze on the floor, trying to fix it on a small point on the floor, but he could find none on the spotless white marble floor. As he argued with his eyesight, Keiichi felt his heart and mind suddenly feel empty, like a locked door being opened and all his memories swimming freely before him.

"Your heart and your mind are open to me and I see what is contained in them." the voice of the Almighty said, still echoing off the walls. "Pain and sorrow is what fills them," Keiichi's mind saw past him, as he remember the bike wreck that he had when he and Megumi raced, suddenly he saw Loki's face when he stood before him, and the pain in his chest erupted as he saw the memory of when Hel, under Loki's orders ripped out his soul. "Loki's betrayal caused you much pain and sorrow that you needed not to suffer from," Then he saw the day when Belldandy rose into the air, and he still felt the sting from his tears as they rolled a fresh down his cheeks, and the emptiness that was felt in his heart during those first few days she was gone. "But when I ordered Belldandy to return home I inflicted more pain upon you then Loki could have."

Keiichi suddenly felt all his memories return to him except for the ones he had about Belldandy. He felt them fading from his memory, and when he tried to get them back the faster they were taken until he had no memory of her at all. Keiichi fought in his mind trying to find a memory of her, but he had nothing about her. In his heart he began to panic as he tried desperately tried to remember her for even just a moment; finally he found something. It was nothing special, but very subtle; in the memory it was actually a discussion he had gotten into with Skuld and in the memory it just had a glimpse of her hair as she worked in the kitchen. Just this simple memory of Belldandy's hair was enough for Keiichi to hold on as he finally remember Belldandy and it was a joyful memory.

"Even after I have taken all your memories of Belldandy from your mind, you fought to just hold on to a piece of her memory." The Almighty said; his voice sounded small and powerful, but also quite intrigued at the resolve that Keiichi had to try and remember her. "Belldandy meant something to you; something far beyond a simple wish." The Almighty said still speaking softly and then said, "Tell me, what was it?"

Keiichi stayed knelt before the Almighty, he still gazed at the floor and would not even dare and try and move his eyes. Inside his mind, he was able to take just a memory of Belldandy's hair and like a painter; he painted a mental picture of Belldandy smiling at him. This mental image of Belldandy; filled Keiichi's heart with joy and filled every fiber of his being with happiness. Keiichi's mind tried to think about what he was going to say to the Almighty, but his mouth just opened and he spoke what was in his heart.

"I can not hide the fact that I was skeptical when she first came out of the mirror and told me that she would grant any wish I want." Keiichi began, as the memories of Belldandy slowly began to return to him, but not all. "When I made my wish, I did not think it would be granted, but as time went by and I got to spend more time with her and we grew with each other and on each other, she became more then just a Goddess to me. Belldandy became the best friend I ever could ever have, and what ever may happen to me, as long as she was with me I would gladly face it."

"Thank you, Morisato Keiichi." The Almighty said to Keiichi. Keiichi still looked at the floor, but his gaze went to his hand as it began to fade out of his sight. Keiichi felt his body disappear and rising into the air as the gold line got small and more of the Council came into view. "I must now speak to another and I ask that you remain silent as I do." Keiichi heard these words from the Almighty as Keiichi finally evaporated and settled on a slab of marble above the hallway that lead into the Council room.

Keiichi looked around from his vantage point above the whole council room, waiting on who ever he had to meet with. Suddenly the door to the Council room opened and a woman walked inside that Keiichi could not see from the bright light that was outside. When the door closed, the light died out, but Keiichi could see who it was and his heart soared as he saw Belldandy below him. She walked towards him and then underneath him, and past him without even stopping him or even a notice that he was there. Keiichi's heart dropped into his stomach as she stopped at the gold line and knelt before the Almighty.

"Belldandy." The Almighty's voice sounded again, but instead of being booming and echoing off the walls it was soft and whispery. Keiichi could barely hear him, and could not even hear Belldandy's response as she gave her response. Keiichi closed his eyes and tried over and over again to try and hear them talking, but to no avail. Finally after a while of trying over and over he finally heard something from the Almighty.

"You chose to stay with the human even thought you had more than one chance to leave." Keiichi heard the Almighty; his voice was clear and was booming as when he was speaking with Keiichi. "Why did you stay?"

"My reason is simple My Lord." Belldandy said her voice soft as she spoke to the Almighty. "I wanted to stay with him not because of the contract I had with him but it was because I love Keiichi-san."

"But you hold a deeper reason inside you Belldandy." The Almighty said to Belldandy; Belldandy was silent for a moment and then continued.

"He was nothing like some of the other humans that I had met or even heard of, but the more I got to know him I grew to love him and he became a very special person to me. He always did his best and he would never give up, even in the face of almost impossible odds. He also did his best to help us and protect us from any harm that would come to us." Belldandy finished with her head still lowered before the Almighty; the Almighty was quiet for a long time.

"You really did love him, didn't you?" The Almighty said; Keiichi's noticed a change in the tone of his voice. Unlike his booming voice that had shook Keiichi's soul to its core; his voice was more subtle, and understanding.

"I still do, my Lord!" Belldandy simply whispered, but the strength in her tone was felt by even Keiichi who was still only a wisp of air.

Keiichi, who looked down at her from his high vantage point, felt her words pour through him as if he was solid. As he looked at Belldandy, Keiichi suddenly felt heavier as he suddenly began to drop slowly from his vantage point near the hallway of the rotunda. As landed on the marble floor and instantaneously his body reformed into its original state, Keiichi felt his blood flow through his veins, his heart pumping and felt better than he had in a long time. Keiichi still kept his eyes on Belldandy as he landed on the marble floor, but she still did not see him or even notice him.

"Belldandy!" The Almighty announce as his voice returned to the booming voice that Keiichi had first heard.

"Yes, My Lord?" Belldandy said, her head turning up and looking at were the voice was coming from.

"Arise and behold what you seek." The Almighty said; Belldandy stood up and then slowly turning around, she finally saw Keiichi. All time seemed to stop as both Keiichi and Belldandy laid eyes on each other; Keiichi watched as tears began to swell up in Belldandy's eyes as they were filled with both shock and happiness. Keiichi was also trying to hold in the tears of joy that was brewing inside him, all the feeling in his body returned as his memories of her also returned to him.

"Keiichi-san." Belldandy simply whispered, it was so quiet that Keiichi barely heard it with his own ears. She put one foot in front of the other and ran to him; Keiichi finally finding his own feet ran to her.

Keiichi and Belldandy meet near the archway to the massive rotunda and there embraced each other. Keiichi wrapped his arms around her shoulder's and held her tightly and would not even dare think of letting go of her. Keiichi felt her warmth escape from her and filled his body with so much joy and happiness that he could never find the words to express how he felt. The tears in Keiichi's in eyes finally escaped and everything came out of his heart as he held on to her.

Keiichi and Belldandy held onto to each other for what felt like an eternity and then finally pulled away form each other, but did not let go of each other. Keiichi looked into her deep blue eyes that were still flowing with joy that matched the tears that still were still inside her. Before Keiichi could even think twice about it, or even argue it; he leaned towards Belldandy and put his lips on hers. Keiichi kissed Belldandy for a good five seconds and then he found his head, and then pulled away; he looked at the embarrassed, blushing face that was on Belldandy's face.

"I-I-I'm S-soo-sorr-sorry." Keiichi stuttered for a second and then felt Belldandy warm hands touch his cheeks. Keiichi looked up at her eyes, and then she leaned towards him and then she pressed her own lips against his. Keiichi's whole body felt electricity as it coursed through his body as he closed his eyes. Keiichi wrapped his arms back around Belldandy and felt weightless as the ground underneath him disappeared and it was only him and Belldandy together as her lips still pressed against his lips. He felt himself floating in the air as suspended in the air and the only thing he felt was Belldandy's soft skin and her lips still pressing against his.

Keiichi felt the ground under his feet again, but he still would not open his eyes as Belldandy finally pulled away from him. Keiichi finally opened his eyes; Belldandy was still leaning into him, her lips and face was lightly touching the side of his face. Both Keiichi and Belldandy were looking into each other eyes, and both were smiling at each other. Belldandy looked at Keiichi and then her face dropped for a moment and then still holding Keiichi's hand in hers; she turned to the Almighty.

"My Lord, may I ask a question." Belldandy asked, still holding Keiichi's hand in hers.

"You may." The Almighty said his voice was sounding curious.

"Why did you separate us?" Belldandy asked sounding still respectful to the Almighty; Keiichi was now curious as he had wondered also. The Almighty did not say anything for a long time, but after a few minutes he finally broke the silence.

"When Loki ordered Hel to kill Morisato Keiichi, you felt his soul being ripped out and you reacted to it." The Almighty said, "In your anguish we felt a power surge that grew so powerful it almost broke the seals, and if you had broken the seals you would have destroyed half the Earth." The Almighty went silent again for a moment and then spoke up, "I became concerned for your well-being, I was afraid that if this had happened again, would you be able to contain yourself, or would I have to. I had become fearful of the bond that had grown between both of you. I ordered you back to heaven and I had the intention of separating both of you-" The Almighty said, and then a massive booming sound announced the great doors to the Council room had closed. Keiichi and Belldandy both turned around and saw Njord walking towards them, but he stopped at the archway to the rotunda.

"-, but Njord did not approve of my decision and asked that I meet with both of you before I made my final ruling. Njord told me that if I just looked into each of your hearts and minds I would find the love that both of you had for each other and I did."

Njord stood at the far end of the hallway; he was barely visible in the distance as he looked on with a sheepish smile. Njord folded his hands across his chest as he looked at them; Njord's eyes reflected the joy he had inside for them. Keiichi looked at him for a moment and then noticed also something else in his eyes that Njord was trying to hide from them.

"Njord come forward, and do your duty." The Almighty spoke up to Njord. Njord bowed and walked out of the hallway and then towards Belldandy and Keiichi and took each of them by the hand. He put them together and then clasped his two hands around them holding them together as a low chant came from his mouth. As the chant continued a small glow of light grew form inside the hands and light up the Council room. After only a few seconds of the light, Njord's low chant ended and he pulled away his hands from Keiichi and Belldandy's hands and revealed a small mark on the joints of their left thumb.

The mark was not as unique as Njord's mark on his hand; it was much simpler than that. A small cross was on his hand and had two dots that were diagonally across form each other. Horizontally across form each other was two lines that ran one on top of the each other, but neither touch each other or the lines of the cross. One diagonally line connected one dot form the other and ran trough the middle of the connection line that crossed at the cross.

"These marks are a reminder to yourselves of your bond that you have to each other, and it is also a promise to both of you. Never again will heaven separate both of you, unless by your own actions and words." Njord said solemnly in an audible whisper as he took a step back from them to let them look at the marks. "Only you two can see them and only if both of you remain true to each other."

Keiichi and Belldandy looked at the marks and then at each other, and then turned to walk out of the Chamber room. Njord did not turn to follow them out, but turned around and looked back towards the Almighty. The Almighty said to him, "Stand before me!"

Njord walked away from Keiichi and Belldandy and walked back up to the Gold line and kneeled before the line. Njord's head was lowered so low his chin was touching his chest and he closed his eyes and waited for the Almighty. The Almighty's footstep echoed through out the Council room as he approached the kneeling Njord. He stopped and then took a breath and then his voice echoed through out the chamber as he spoke to Njord.

"Njord, it was the will of heaven to separate the Goddess Belldandy, from the human Morisato Keiichi and you went against this will. This falls under the charge of insubordination and I can not allow this to past, and I must pronounce sentence upon you." The Almighty said; Keiichi felt his heart drop with the words, 'charge and pronounce sentence' were uttered by the Almighty. "Do you have anything to say before I pass your sentence?"

"What I have done, I have done and I will carry this on my shoulders." Njord said and then went silent with lowering his head a little lower.

"Then I will pass judgment upon you Njord," The Almighty said to Njord; Belldandy and Keiichi could only stand in horror as the Almighty opened his mouth and his voice echoed off the walls and was heard throughout heaven. "Njord for the charge of insubordination, you are hereby stripped of your seat on the High Council of heaven and are also hereby stripped of your title as, 'Lord!' You are further banished from the realm of heaven and will be confined to the Earth." The Almighty stopped speaking for a moment and then sighed and then continued, "But as you did not do this to further your own powers or rank; I will allow you to retain your Element, along with all the responsibilities and duties. Furthermore, you will remain with Belldandy and Keiichi until the day they are truly separated. Upon that day you will be allowed to return to this realm and reclaim all that was stripped from you. This is your judgment and the matter is closed."

Njord rose from his knees and then turned around to face Belldandy and Keiichi; they had expected to see him distraught. They were more shocked to see his reaction to his judgment; Njord was actually calm and even gave them a reassuring smile. Njord walked silently pass them and then Belldandy and Keiichi turned and followed Njord out the doors. After the doors closed Belldandy looked at her friend who had stopped and leaned next to a pillar in the foyer and looked over the heavens. Belldandy took a few steps ahead of Keiichi and then said, "Njord, I'm so sorry!"

"I am too!" Keiichi said, as guilt overcame him as the Almighty's words echoed over and over in his head.

Njord stood up straight and then turned around and looked at Belldandy and Keiichi. He could see in their eyes the guilt they were feeling in their hearts, and the pain it was cutting into their souls. Njord took a step towards them and then folded his arms and looking at both of them he spoke to them.

"What I have done, I have done and I will carry this on my shoulders." Njord said in a very gentle, reassuring tone. He smiled as he repeated to them what he had said to the Almighty and then added to them, "This was my choice, and I knew that this could be one of the consequences, and I will not accept any of you trying to carry this on yourself; this was my choice and mine alone."

Njord smiled as he looked at them and then turned around and looked over the heavens again. He looked for only a few more minutes and then with Belldandy and Keiichi with him, they walked to an open platform in heaven and then Keiichi's eyes darken and heaven disappeared from his view.

When Keiichi's eyes readjusted he found himself in front of the Tariki Hongan Temple and looking around he saw the house. He looked around but he did not see Belldandy or Njord; Keiichi started to panic but in an instant he felt a hand on his left shoulder. Keiichi turned around and it was Urd who was standing there smiling and then said, "Welcome back, lover boy!" Keiichi put on a smile, but his anxiety was still bellowing inside of him as he looked around for any sign of Belldandy or Njord.

"If you're looking for Belldandy she just arrived in the temple." Urd said, Keiichi looked back at Urd with a confused look on his face and then remembered.

"Oh, she needs a mirror to teleport." Keiichi said to himself turning red from embarrassment as he had forgotten that fact. Keiichi looked at Urd who had a wicked smile on her face; Keiichi just smiled and ignored her and ran up the stairs of the temple.

Belldandy was standing and talking to Skuld and Peorth when Keiichi came into the temple. Peorth had set down a mirror that she was holding as Skuld hugged her sister with a massive smile across her face. Keiichi tired to back away, but Peorth spotted him and then said in her French sounding tone, "Where do you think you're going, runaway!" Belldandy and Skuld looked at Keiichi as Keiichi face turned to a shade of magma and all the air in his lungs escaped and all Peorth and Skuld could do is just stare at him.

With a sudden brush of the wind from inside the temple it drew their attention away from Keiichi. The wind swirled around and around until Njord finally materialized before them as the winds he created died out. Njord's eyes opened and his arms went back to being folded across his chest; Keiichi noticed that the gloves were back across his hands again. Njord looked around the room at the Goddesses and Keiichi and then smiled and then said, "Well it looks like we are all here!" Njord turned and looked at them for a second and then he announced to them, "As of right now I am the newest tenant at the house."

"What happened?" Skuld asked Njord as Peorth and Urd looked at Njord and then Keiichi and Belldandy. Belldandy and Keiichi turned their heads down and remained silent as Njord spoke up.

"Belldandy and Keiichi are allowed to remain together but I am to remain with them until the day they are truly separated." Njord said still sounding calm about the whole thing, which was something that Keiichi probably never would understand.

"He kicked you out of heaven?" Urd said shocked; Njord just nodded

"Did he strip you of your title?" Peorth asked from the shock at this news.

"I am allowed to remain an Element and I will still keep my powers." Njord explained to Peorth and the other Goddesses that were not present at the meeting.

Before anyone could ask anything else a sudden, loud scream erupted from outside in the temple grounds. Everybody ran outside the temple and looked over the temple grounds and saw Banpei-kun and Sigel approaching a man who stood ready to fight them. The man was old and had only a brown robe over him and had a round straw hat that covered his bald head and used his wooden walking stick as weapon ready to do combat against Banpei and Sigel. Everyone looked out at the man and then it was Belldandy who recognized him, "Keiichi, it's the monk!"

"SIGEL! BANPEI! STAND DOWN!" Keiichi yelled at the top of his lungs as he and Belldandy ran down the stairs of the temple. The monk, Banpei and Sigel looked at everyone and lowered there weapons and backed away from the monk to allow Keiichi and Belldandy to approach the monk.

"I'm so sorry about that Monk!" Keiichi said as he and Belldandy bowed to the monk.

"Well, I was just admiring how happy the grounds have been when this-uh-doll!" The monk said, pointing at Sigel. "Asked me who I was, and I guess I didn't give a good enough answer and then the other one came around and then they attacked me."

"Well we are very sorry." Belldandy said; Skuld looked at Banpei and Sigel.

"Don't be, I was quite impressed with them." The monk said, sounding quite cheerful. "I can feel that the temple has been quite happy since I left it in your care all those years ago. I had just traveled for so long I wanted to see what it looked like and I am quite satisfied at the care you gave it."

"Well we did our best." Keiichi said to the monk.

"But if I may ask?" the monk asked Keiichi and then pointing to the others standing about a few feet behind Keiichi and Belldandy. "Who are they?" Keiichi and Belldandy turned around and before they could say anything Njord spoke up. He pointed to Urd first and introduced them to the monk.

"This is Urd and Skuld; they are Belldandy's sisters." Njord said who was standing ahead of the group; he as pointing to everyone as he continued, "This is Peorth who is a friend of Belldandy's." Njord then took a step forward and looked at the monk.
"My name is Njord; I'm an old friend of Belldandy's." Njord said sounding calm as he made the announcement and then he bowed to the monk. "We have heard much about you monk, most particularly about how you gave Keiichi and Belldandy a place to live."

"Yes I did, any who is allowed to stay by the temple are welcome to remain." The monk said returning the bow to Njord who walked over to the monk. "Even those who currently reside at this temple may stay."

"You have our gratitude, from my understanding; you left it to them as you went in search of the power that Belldandy had accomplished." Njord said sounding a little cheeky but gentle.

"Yes I did." The monk said sounding confused and wondered what Njord was getting at; Njord took a step closer to the monk.

"An old lesson you were taught was that when someone does something for someone, they should be rewarded. You have my gratitude and I wish to show my appreciation." Njord said. The Monk nodded to Njord and bowed to him; Njord did not return the bow but instead he raised his right hand rested it on the monk's forehead. The monk jumped slightly in surprise as a strong warm breeze encompassed the monk and Njord. Beneath Njord's feet a blue light radiated around the monk and Njord as their clothes fluttered in the breeze as it continued to swirl around them for a minute.

When the wind had finally died out; Njord and the monk reappeared and looked the same as they had. Njord slowly pulled his hand away form the monks head and revealed a small blue dot that was now on the monk's forehead. Njord held his hand still open towards the monk as a pool of water formed a small disk in his hand and he held it like a mirror. The monk gasped as he saw the mark on his forehead and then ran his finger over the mark to feel the mark.

"With this mark you are now a friend of the Elements, the waters will heal all pain and the wind will give you comfort and both will be there to give you speed and strength." Njord announced to the monk as the mirror disappeared and Njord lowered his hand from the monk, but not his smile.

"Thank you, Njord-san!" the monk said as he bowed to Njord. Njord smiled at the monk and bowed to him as well, when he rose up Njord spoke up to him as well.

"Forgive me, Monk. I must intrude upon your generosity once again and ask for your permission to allow all who are before you to remain here a little longer." Njord asked sounding completely respectful. The monk looked up at Njord with a shocked look on his face and then smiled.

"As long as the temple will allow it all that are here may remain." The monk said to Njord.

"I am in your debt once again, Monk." Njord said bowing back to the monk and then retreated back towards where Urd, Peorth and Skuld were standing.

The monk stood up and looked again at the temple and then holding on to his walking stick a little tighter. The monk turned towards Keiichi and Belldandy and said, "This temple is still in your care!" He turned around and started to walk away, but Keiichi asked him.

"Monk, where are you going?" Keiichi asked confused as to why the monk was leaving; Keiichi was not the only one, only Belldandy and Njord knew why he was leaving. The monk turned around and smiled at all of them.

"When some one gives you a gift, you do not hold it for only yourself. You allow it to grow inside yourself and then you give it to others so they can savor the joy as you have felt from the gift." The monk said and then turning around again, he walked the steps and vanished from their sight.

Everyone looked at the empty path to the street as the monk vanished from there sight, only the sound of his sandals grinding along the sidewalk signaled his progress. Banpei and Sigel turned around and walked back over to the house and in a minute Urd and Skuld followed. Peorth then followed afterwards as she went back into temple to get the mirror, leaving only Belldandy, Keiichi and Njord alone in the grounds. Njord, Keiichi, and Belldandy sat outside on the porch looking at the sun setting.

"Well, tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start." Njord said to both of them.

"Yep." Keiichi said in agreement.

"Although there is still one problem we need to figure out." Njord said standing up and folding his arms, he sounded quite serious.

"What's that Njord?" Belldandy asked sounding concerned from the tone of his voice.

Njord turned around and then looking at the house for a minute he looked at both of them and asked, "Where am I going sleep?" He finished the sentence with a smile and a small laugh that both Belldandy and Keiichi joined in, the laugh could be heard all over the grounds.

The End.

With this story! 

You made it this far, YEAH, thank you! Since you made it this far I wanted to let you know, I am writing one more story with Njord and make it a trilogy. I thank you for reading and I promise that I will work hard on it. Thanks again for reading and please review.