Official Disclaimer: The characters created by the Goddess Rumiko Takahashi and the deity Kosuke Fujishima are herein used without permission, and I, the author, do not expect to earn one red yen from my unauthorized usage thereof. However, the situations in which the aforementioned characters find themselves are my own fault. There...howís that for a disclaimer?
Aiyah! *My* Goddess?
Chapter 6
as Chronicled by Trella
Friday afternoon. After school (much to the relief of that man of action, Ranma Saotome, who was presently shaking off his terminal case of boredom at Ucchan's, but then, that's another story...), and Nabiki finally had what she had been waiting for.
"Hey, Kasumi, the pictures came in!" Nabiki greeted Kasumi upon getting home. The elder sister was briefly puzzled. "Pictures? What...oh! Of Freya's fight with the police?"
"Exactly!", Nabiki affirmed. "I'll have to remember to thank Gosenkugi for his darkroom expertise later...amazing that the kid's actually *good* for something..."
The two sisters poured over the photos. It was all there...Freya in her armor, Freya with wings, Freya smearing Tokyo's finest. It all affirmed a theory Kasumi had been developing about Nerima's latest mysterious visitor. She showed Nabiki the material she found on the Internet, and as the younger Tendo girl read through the papers, Kasumi explained.
"I don't really think Freya's...well...quite human, Nabiki. Or maybe it's that she's *more* than human. The similarities between her and the Freya in those papers is just too much to ignore, and while I don't *really* believe our Freya's a goddess...that's be too silly, even for us...I feel sure she's some sort of supernatural creature. Perhaps even an angel."
"An *angel*? Kasumi, that's so...*Western*!", Nabiki scoffed.
"But look at the wings and that armor!", Kasumi defended.
"Hey, I'm not saying you're wrong about lill Miss Freya being...something. After all, haven't we dealt with ghosts, phoenixes, dragons, not to mention some really weird martial arts...what do you think, Kasumi, did we do something *really* bad in a past life to deserve *this* sort of karma?"
Kasumi leveled a serious gaze on her sister. "Nabiki...we couldn't *possibly* have been *that* bad."
"Yeah...there's something supernatural about Freya, you're right about that." Nabiki said as she turned her attention back to the matter at hand. "And look at this...she came to school today during lunch...pumped me for info about Kuno...and she payed me with *these*..." And Nabiki casually dropped the two gold coins Freya had given her into Kasumi's hand.
Kasumi, naturally enough, boggled. Well, she boggled for Kasumi, that is. Her normally placid face quirked slightly as she felt the weight of gold in her hand. That ever so slight catch in her breath was the equivalent of less centered people squealing "Or! Or! Les oodles, morbleu! Nous sommes riche! Ah, St. Tropez, 'ere we come!" At least, if those people were semi-French, anyway. Then the scholar in Kasumi took over and she examined the pair of coins more carefully.
"Nabiki? How would you like to go into town...today...right now, in fact?"
"Kasumi?" Nabiki was surprised at this uncharacteristic show of impulsiveness on the part of her sister.
"We need to get these coins identified. They *look* old...almost ancient...but they also look freshly minted. That *can't* be right, can it? We need to find an expert opinion", Kasumi explained.
Thus it was that the two girls were partaking the advantages of Japan's justly famed public transportation system. Nabiki made a quick change of clothes while Kasumi scribbled out a quick note to the effect that she and her sister would be out for a few hours (a note about which she had some trepidation, since if Akane saw it first, she'd likely take it into her head to cook up a little something for the family, with the usual results, but that was something that couldn't be helped this time).
Now while Japan Rail is famous for its efficiency, cleanliness, and punctuality (not to mention the Shinkasen, which is *just* now reaching the US, and bloody well about time, too, and Amtrak had *better* expand bullet train service to more than just the Eastern corridor...please excuse this author's rant, and back to the story...), its also famous for being...well, crowded. Like, pack the people in like sardines. And when there's *that* many people packed together, its almost inevitable that an unpleasant percentage of them would be that sub-species of human that are called...ecchi.
Gropers...feelers...fanny pinchers...and just plain *perverts*! Now, while the intra-city rail upon which Nabiki and Kasumi were riding wasn't *that* crowded (by Japan standards), since it wasn't the peak commuter hours yet, there were still some hentai types sharing the car with the two Tendo girls. What *were* those nasty types thinking? Let's look into their collective minds and find out.
"Woo, *mama*! Lookee that! C'mon, baby, bend down...*bend down*!" This thought was directed toward Nabiki, who was wearing her trademark shorts (Nabiki never minded showing off what she worked so hard to maintain). Then the chikan pervert saw the young woman next to Nabiki, and his filthy mind instantly envisioned the most naughty of thoughts, of the two girls doing *all* sorts of things to each other...the fact that they were clearly sisters only added to the lecherous excitement. And then...they both turned and caught his eye.
Suddenly, our pervert's thoughts (okay, there were more than one in the train's car, but since he's by far the worst of a nasty lot, the author is letting him represent the others of his breed) take a strikingly different turn. Like that it would be a crime against nature itself to be even *thinking* such thoughts about the older of the two girls, and it would sully the entire globe to even give her round and shapely fanny (what he could see of it, since Kasumi was favoring a long and demure skirt) a pat. And as for the other...here he shivered as his thoughts turned to her. While the older girl's eyes were quite innocent and utterly guile-less, the younger girl's eyes all but announced 'Try it, buddy...try *anything*, and you'll be owing me your first born child, the hospital in which he's born, the schools which he'll attend, *and* the company in which he'll end up slaving away his days. *And* I have ways of collecting!"
Needless to say, even such a consummate and complete pervert like Futana Shimeru decided to leave the Tendo sisters un-molested.
********************************************************************
That was the joy of Kasumi, Nabiki reflected as they walked through the corridors of the museum. Despite outward appearances, appearances as carefully crafted as Nabiki's own, there was always something new to learn about her older sister. For example, she was quite surprised when, upon entering the museum, the security guards all seemed to know the eldest daughter of Soun Tendo, and what was more astounding, when Kasumi expressed a desire to visit the curator of the coin collection, a quick call to the back offices was made and the two were allowed through. Nabiki knew her sister had a life outside of home and kitchen, but she never suspected it could be so intellectually rich.
As impressed as Nabiki was with her sister, that feeling did not extend to the curator. The younger of the two girls didn't really know just what a curator was *supposed* to look like, not having encountered many at all, but this one certainly looked the stereotype she held. Mr. Howard, as Kasumi had introduced him, was rather wispy, somewhat underfed, pale...and quite colorless. Nabiki had the distinct idea that if someone patted the man on his back, a small cloud of dust would emerge. Indeed, the only thing remarkable about the man was his rich British accent. (There was also that very curious plaque on the wall behind his desk that read "Toot'n'C'mon", but Nabiki just dismissed it as one of those unexplainable mysteries of life)
But this insipid man certainly came to life when Nabiki, at Kasumi's direction, dropped the two coins into his hand. Nabiki barely restrained a giggle as Mr. Howard screamed (rather high pitched) and fumbled, the coins dropping onto his desk. He hastily scrambled in a drawer and pulled out a pair of cloth gloves. With his hands now suitably protected, he picked up the coins to examine them more closely. It was plainly evident that he was quite shocked at what he held.
"Wh-where did you get these?" he stammered.
"A friend gave them to me...", Nabiki responded. Hey, there were times when it never hurt to tell the truth.
The response...well, just plain flummoxed the man. "A...friend...*gave* them to you...just like that?"
"Ummm...well...yeah. That's about it..." Nabiki nodded.
If it were possible for the man's eyes to pop out and his jaw to drop to his desk, this is what they would have done. They certainly thought about it.
"Is there something wrong?" Kasumi asked.
"I...I don't *know*...this is impossible...these coins...if they are indeed what they appear to be...they're over a thousand years old...but...there's no sign of wear at all...they look absolutely new...but...there's no signs of forgery, and no forger would mint a coin this old looking so new..." Indeed, the esteemed Professor Howard was babbling. In fact, he was about ready to get a calculator out, punch in a few numbers, pull his hair and scream despairingly, "It just don't add up!" Luckily for his sanity, Kasumi had a suggestion.
"Isn't there a test to determine the age of metals?"
"Hey, good call, sis", Nabiki whispered.
"Well, I didn't want to poor man to have a seizure", Kasumi whispered back.
The poor man in question mopped his sweating head with a somewhat used handkerchief. "Yes...yes, you're right", he panted. (He was near to hyperventilating, in fact...better find an oxygen tank, girls) "Fortunately, we've got the labs here for that..."
The coins were tested for trace minerals to determine where the gold was mined and processed. They were tested for the way the gold was originally melted, examined under powerful microscopes for tool and die marks, and the results compared to an extensive database, and the result...
"...is that these coins are about 1060 years old, Byzantine Empire. And I'd like to know just *how* your friend got hold of two such *perfect* specimens! Ummm...you don't suppose...that..." Mr. Howard wasn't gauche enough to come right out and say it, but Nabiki caught on quickly enough.
"You want them, they're yours. Don't really know what I'd do with them anyway."
Actually, Nabiki had several ideas about what she could do with the coins. Collectors would pay top yen for them, obviously, or she could find a good auction house...there was always Christieís, for example, although her father would likely flood the house at the thought of the travel expenses.
Kasumi thought it somewhat uncharacteristic of her sister to just *give* away something as precious and valuable as the two coins, and said so...delicately, of course.
ìWell, yeah, trueî Nabiki explained, ìbut we can get a hefty charitable tax credit...and we can always hit this guy up for future favors...might need to do more research on Freya at odd hours...I mean, just *how* did Freya *get* those coins? Its almost like she had herself a time machine and zipped back to get them...and if Iím thinking like *that*, then I *must* be watching too many cheap sci-fi movies...î
"Yes, its all so mysterious", observed Kasumi in agreement. And then the eldest and most responsible Tendo sister squealed like a little schoolgirl. "Oh, Nabiki, don't you just *love* a mystery? Maybe we can solve who's been robbing all those banks next!"
Nabiki...blinked. Stopped and took a breath. "Umm...Kasumi, while I appreciate the enthusiasm, this is Serious Stuff. I mean, we don't know who or what Freya is, what her intentions are...she could be *dangerous*, after all. Wouldn't be the first time some
Mystical Force decided to drop in on the house and give us all a nice big hello. And as for those bank jobs...well, what do they pay the police for, anyway..." Then Nabiki muttered to herself, "Strange, though, that they haven't found any clues to those jobs..."
Kasumi pondered her sister's words as they walked. "Well...to be honest...I'm not sure that Freya really is a threat...or at least a danger...I just have the impression...the *feeling*...that her intentions, as you say, are...rather benign. Don't ask me *why* I feel that way, though...Maybe its because...well, do you remember the sparring she did with Ukyo? Ukyo's *very* good, of course, but I had the feeling that Freya was holding back...holding back a lot...and that if she had truly wanted, she could have defeated Ukyo at any time. In fact, although I hesitate to say it, I had the impression that Freya, mystery that she is, could have demolished the dojo itself without a thought."
Nabiki didn't exactly scoff, but she *did* point out, "So? Ranma and his Demolition Brigade tend to wreck the dojo on a regular basis, usually without thinking...I swear, one of these days I'm going to hire them all out to a contractor that needs to take a building down...put that energy to at least profitable use..."
Kasumi giggled at that, then sobered. "I don't mean the dents, holes and general mayhem that Ranma and his little friends do...which, as you say, they tend to do with distressing regularity...I mean..." and here the girl made the appropriate gestures with
her hands, "BOOM, *poof*...gone! No more dojo. None. Nothing left, not even any debris. Maybe not even any postholes left in the ground. Total devastation. I think that's what Freya's capable of..."
"Wow. I'll trust your instincts on that one, sis...I never got *that* impression...but then its all the more important that we figure out just *what* Freya is..."
"I *might* have a solution to that...just maybe. We'll be having a guest for dinner tonight...Kodachi...I accidentally bumped into her and...Nabiki, are you alright? You sound like you're choking on something...Well, anyway, I was thinking of inviting two others, as well. Freya...so we *can* observe her...perhaps we can show her those photos you took...or have them just accidentally laying on the table and see how she reacts...and also my old friend from High School...Urd's always liked mysterious things, after all."
"Kasumi, you're *so* devious!" Nabiki admired. "Although...I don't know why, but Urd...I remember Urd (hoo-boy, do I remember her) and Freya...in the same room? I don't know why, but the thought makes me shudder!"
"Yes, I admit the thought gives *me* pause, too, but Urd knows all about Nordic legends...it seems a bit...odd...with her being as dusky as she is...she almost looks like that one girl from an American comic book...I can't remember the name of it right now..."
"But surely Urd's in Scandinavia...just the *call* will be expensive, let alone travel costs..." Nabiki pointed out.
"Nabiki, with our family at potential risk, *can* money be so important?", Kasumi scolded. Well, it was scolding for Kasumi, anyway. Nabiki looked suitably ashamed. Kasumi went on, "Besides, I've heard that Urd was living with her sister here in Japan...in Nekomi, in fact. The strange thing is, I heard they were living in some abandoned temple with a college boy...that doesn't really sound very proper, let alone comfortable..."
Nabiki just shrugged. "Takes all kinds..."
And thus the two young women made their uneventful way home, untroubled by any perverted attention. Hey, even among the hentai, there's a grapevine...
As had been pointed out earlier, Kasumi was worried that her dear youngest
sister might adventure another expedition in the kitchen during her absence and try another go at pois...errr...cooking for the family. As well-founded in past precedent as this concern was, in this particular instance, it was a needless worry. Not that Akane had markedly improved her culinary skills (she hadn't), it was just that she, Ranma, and Shampoo had accepted an invitation to a certain restaurant called Ucchan's.
But this wasnít just some ordinary get-together one might expect between the semi-friendly rivals that Shampoo, Akane and Ukyo had been, or between people coming to learn just how important they all were to each other, as they were discovering, perhaps even without the aid of Shampooís wish. This particular gathering had the air of Something Important...as evidenced by the expression on Ukyoís normally cheerful face.
ìHey, whatís wrong, Ukyo...you look like your best friendís died or something...î Ranma observed with all his usual delicacy and tact.
ìIs so.î, Shampoo agreed. ìSpa...errr...Ukyo look like have *much* on mind...î
ìYeah...whatís up, Ukyo? Anything you want to talk about? You know you can tell us anything...î Akane prompted.
Ukyo...hesitated. She *had* planned to tell her loves...well, *something*, but now it came to it, she faltered. Still, she *was* from the Kansai region, so had a reputation to uphold...and she just came out with it...well, sort of.
ìWell...yeah. There *is* something. I...I gotta go someplace for a few days. Well...it might be more than just a few days...Actually, I donít really know *how* long itíll take...î
ìUkyo?î Akane urged.
ìItís...a Kuonji matter (Ukyo was lying, of course)...we have these things...kinda like re-unions...every so often. No outsiders...sorry guys, Iíd invite you otherwise, but you know how it is...î
ìOh, that relief. Shampoo think it maybe something like you do something silly like journey to Cursed Springs or like that.î
Ukyo burped and coughed slightly. ìAnd thatís why I invited you all here today. Iíll be leaving tomorrow, and, well, like I said, I donít really know how long itíll take...I just wanted us all to be together for a bit...î The pony-tailed girl was having a hard time keeping herself under control. The thought of leaving her friends, her *loves*...was a hard thing to bear, yet bear it she must, for her personal honor. She owed them all so very much, but especially Shampoo...or so she thought, anyway. And so she busied herself cooking up okonomiyaki and playing the perfect hostess, and she soon relaxed in the company of those who were most important to her.
There was someone else playing hostess in Nerima...well, preparing to play hostess, anyway. Itís been noted elsewhere (and often) that in the Tendo kitchen, Kasumi ruled supreme. It was her realm, her kingdom...there was not an implement or an ingredient the location of which she did not know...which is why she tried to keep Akane away from the kitchen as much as she gently could...there was something about her youngest sister, however much she might love her, that disturbed the harmony of her domain.
However, Akane was safely away at Ukyoís, and Nabiki, while never particularly fond of the more domestic aspects of running a house, was at least not a total klutz and was actually being helpful getting things ready for their guests. After all, this was a dinner that was important to both the sisters. For Kasumi, she would be welcoming back an old and dear friend as well as hopefully making a new one in Kodachi...as for Nabiki, it was another chance to carefully observe Freya. So both wanted this meal to go off without a hitch. Nabiki set about the task to preparing the house and the dining room while Kasumi busied herself in the kitchen making ready the food she had chosen.
And so, all was ready, and the guests began to arrive. The first was Kodachi, which was surprising, since one would have expected her to be ìfashionably lateî. Also surprising, for one as apparently as exhibitionistic as the Black Rose, she was wearing...well, not her usual leotard. It fact, the long black skirt with red rose appliqués was rather fetching A raving, psychotic loony Miss Kuno might be, but at least she has a sense of style.
Next to arrive was Freya herself. Nabiki greeted her, partly because of the fact that Kasumi and Kodachi chatting away like old pals was beginning to...well...creep her out a little. She knew her sister could make friends with almost anyone, but...Kodachi? There was something almost...well...un-natural about that. Nabiki and Kodachi never got along all that well, though their relations werenít outright hostile, but she had to admit, the Black Rose was being well-behaved. That in itself worried her.
So it was a relief to get away and welcome the object of her interest into the house. Freya was dressed casually, nothing ornate, yet somehow her choice of clothing appeared very dignified.
And thus it was that Freya and Kodachi met. Kodachi was aware of her brotherís growing interest in Nerimaís latest resident, and so finally took he opportunity to thoroughly scope her out. What she saw *did* impress her...after all, Freya moved with a feline dignity and grace, and she *was* quite the beauty.
ìSo...*you* are the one to have so lately captured my botherís heart...I must admit, you do seem somewhat better than that red-haired floozy that so shamelessly bears my own belovedís name, not to mention that...that...î Kodachi, just in time to maintain politeness, remembered in whose house she was...and she really didnít wish to offend her hostess (and for some reason, she *really* didnít want to do anything to upset or hurt this Kasumi Tendo...such consideration for those lower than herself was quite rare) by labelling Akane with unkind names, no matter what she may have thought of her brotherís other romantic interest. For Kodachi was, believe it or not, rather protective of her brother. It was true, they argued most all the time (and made life a real terror for their faithful retainer, Sasuke, poor lillí guy...), but they shared a horrible trauma that they coped with as best they could. So Kodachi had an interest in whatever female captured Tatewakiís heart. Or wh!
at!
ever organ might be involved.. Naturally, like any sister, she didnít think any girl was good enough for her brother, but this Freya...there was something about her...something almost ethereal.
Finally, there came a third knock at the door, and this time, both Kasumi and Nabiki rose to greet the new visitor, leaving Kodachi and Freya alone. The two begain something of a verbal fencing match, Kodachi trying to learn more about her brotherís latest love interest, and Freya attempting to satisfy the rose girlís curiousity without giving too much away. And just then, the voice of the third invited guest drifted into the dining room. Freya's eyes narrowed sharply, her body went tense, and her hand convulsed sharply, crushing the teacup she was holding. Kodachi hardly missed that, thinking to herself, ìOho, whatís *this*?î, but aloud she asked, ìFreya...is there anything wrong?î At the very least, the fire-haired vision sitting across from her should have been dashing off in search of bandages...the shattered teacup *had* to leave some very sharp splinters, after all, which should have gashed and deeply cut into Freyaís hand...and yet, there she sat, evidently unaware of what she had just done.
ì"Wrong? No, no, no, nothing wrong. Nothing (heh heh) at all! Why would you (heh) think there's anything wrong?" Freya nervously stammered. And then she squealed ìYow! Hot!î and shook her hand where the tea spilled over it.
Kasumi recognized the distinctive knock at the threshold of the house as she went to the entrance, and eagerly greeted her new guest. In walked a silver-haired vision of incredible beauty. Without hesition, she caught Kasumi up in her arms and gave the eldest Tendo daughter a hug that seemed...a little less than proper. Nabiki looked up in surprise at the dusky-skinned babe...errr...visitor that was so fondly embracing her older sister. She knew Urd, (for indeed, it was Urd) naturally...in fact, it was because of Urd that the middle Tendo girl realized that she liked girls. I mean...*really* liked girls. This wasn't due to Urd's incredible beauty, altho she *was* an Absolute Stunner...it was more because of...
Well, if we skip back a couple of years, to the days when Kasumi was in high school, we might note that she had made the acquaintance of a foreign exchange student that went by the unlikely name of Urd Odinsdottir. Kasumi, drawn to anyone who might help her learn about new places and peoples, befriended her and the pair soon became quite close. In fact, Urd was given to making visits to the Tendo house, each girl helping the other with their studies...Kasumi, quite naturally, had a mastery of most all the subjects she studied, while Urd was an indifferent student at best in every subject...except chemistry, for which she seemed to have a genuine passion.
There was one other subject that Urd had a passion for...biology. Or to be more precise, shall we say...*applied* biology? And during one sleepover with Kasumi, Urd had applied some biology on Kasumi, who...ummm...bear with me here, please...quite lapped it up. So just how is it that Kasumi can have experienced that (and don't think that was the only time...) and still remain the Innocent that she is? Quite simple, really...for Kasumi, it was quite natural that two good friends, so close and loving, should wish to share life's joys together. Including *that* one. She saw neither harm nor blame in it, which might be why she wasn't concerned about what others might call the ìimmoralityî of that Group Arrangement thing.
But getting back to Nabiki...well, Urd can be rather...vocal...and Kasumi proved to be something of a moaner...and the walls between Nabiki's room and Kasumi's were thin enough to allow the younger girl to hear...well, not *everything*, but certainly the juicier bits, and being the quick study she was, she quickly realized just *what* was going on behind the green door. Except that the door to Kasumi's room wasn't green. That's when she started to look at her fellow female students in...well, a new light. Not that she let on about it, of course...that way lay ruin for her, with her carefully crafted icy reputation...and she didn't have any problem with boys, either (having scoped out a few tight butts in her time). And while she focused most of her attention on her studies, when Nabiki *did* sneak a peek, she gave both genders equal time.
But to return to he present. The somewhat overfond embrace broke (and about time, thought Nabiki), and the two more-than-friends gazed at each other with happy smiles. ìMy goodness, Urd, itís been *too* long!î
Urd agreed. ìThatís for sure...how are you getting along with that Dr. Tofu?î
Kasumi giggled. ìHeís still as silly as ever...but what about your sister? I heard she found a young man?î
ìKeiichi? Yeah, well...the boyís a bit of a wimp, but I gotta say, his heartís in the right place...and he *does* seem to make Bell happy...just wish they wouldnít take so much time about...things...î
Kasumi blushed becomingly. ìOh, but thereís still plenty of time for that, isnít there? Anyway, thereís *so* much to catch up on...and thereís some people Iíd like you to meet...î
As Kasumi led Urd into the house, they passed Nabiki, who fell in line behind them...but not before the Nordic beauty gave the middle Tendo sister a rather fetching and somewhat suggestive smile...as if hinting she *knew* what was on Nabikiís mind...and the Ice Queen of Furinkin High School did something she *very* rarely did...she blushed.
From the sound of it, Freya and Kodachi were geting along well enough during their hostessí brief absense. Both were somewhat...guarded...but curious enough, Kodachi didnít feel the...resentment...she normally would have when faced with someone so beautiful as Freya. Not that Kodachi was at all insecure about her own looks...she *knew* she was an utter knockout, and most women certainly could not *possibly* compare to her own majesty. Still, she could see her brotherís reasons for falling for the flame-haired beauty.
The aforementioned flame-haired beauty had her own opinions about Kodachi. What a nutcase, she thought, especially when Kodachi talked about her ever-so-shy suitor, Ranma Saotome, and uttered her trademark laugh. The which, quite naturally, caused Freya to shudder inwardly. But the goddess also remembered what Nabiki had told her about the Kunoís and their family tragedy, and she knew that if she were to have any chance with Tatewaki, sheíd have to win over his sister. Besides, Kodachi did have some good qualities, buried though they might be under her apparent madness...maybe, thought Freya, if I reach out with my powers and touch the poor girl, just *there*...and she froze on that thought as...
ìKodachi...Freya...Iíd like you to meet an old friend of mine...Urd Odinsdottir.î, Kasumi introduced. Kodachi nodded her head ever so slightly in apolite greeting (although she couldnít help thinking that Urd seemed to share with Freya that strange ethereal quality she had noticed earlier), but Freyaís reaction...
Was, well...curious, to say the least. She looked very tense and watchful, almost guarded, and this was just the sort of behavior to capture Kodachi's deep interest. So the self-proclaimed Black Rose set about observing Freya as Kasumi, Nabiki, and this new person...this Urd...came into the room. And yes indeed, Freya was definately upset and agitated, and this was most curious...after all, she was quite realxed and at ease just a minute ago, when it was only the Tendo sisters and herself with the Nordic beauty, but in walks this Urd and suddenly Freyaís almost as nervous as Ranma facing a cat.
And this Urd person...she seemed to share a couple of things with Freya.
For one thing, there was a strange, almost unearthly ethereal quality to both of them...it was almost as if Kodachi was in the presence of something almost holy, yet tempered with an earthiness that suggested neither of the two would turn down a good party. The other thing was that this Urd seemed to be almost as surprised to see Freya as Freya was to see her. The tension was mutual. And then there were those most unusual facial markings both women bore, differing in design and pattern, yet arranged in the same way.
Freya made a visible effort to relax and brought her teacup to her lips for a sip...yes, that very teacup that she has shattered in her hand. It was only when her lips touched not procelain but flesh that she fully realized what she had done. Reflexively, she giggled and rubbed the back of her head in embarressment.
As might be expected, Nabiki and Kasumi were both watching this as carefully as was Kodachi...
Freya finally found her voice. "Well, Urd...been a while, hasn't it? Mind telling
me what you're doing *here* of all places? Last *I* heard, you and that Mara..."
Urd, rather quickly, and blushing, interrupted whatever it was Freya was about to disclose regarding her and the aforementioned Mara. "I could ask *you* the same thing,
Freya *dear* (Urd was almost hissing out that "dear")..."
ìOh! Then you two know each other?" Kasumi asked
"Ohhhh, yes..." Two voices chorus...and two pairs of jaws clench...
It was evident there was...some tension...between the two Nordic visitors. It would hardly do to have them glaring over their teacups at each other (even though Freya didnít have a teascup at the moment), and it would disturb the harmony of the house. It was bad enough when Ranma and Akane bickered. So Kasumi exerted her usual calming influence, with a word go two here, a gentle touch there, a glance or a look...whatever she sensed would work. And soon, the strain between the two had thawed a bit, and at one magical moment, bith Freya and Urd even smiled.
And it was that smile that did it. For Kodachi, wounded as she was by years of maternal abuse, it was like the sun burning away the clouds in her disordered mind, and she knew, she suddenly *knew*, with a certainty that surpassed anything she had ever known before, the nature of her fellow guests.
ìYou! I *know* what you are! Youíre...*goddesses*!î
Okay, whatís going on here? *Kodachi*, of all people, solving the mystery about Freya? How can this be? Well, in a lot of traditional cultures, itís believed that those that are...disordered, or disturbed, are more...in touch...with the Spirit World...and they donít come too much more disorded than Kodachi, normally. Of course, she *does* have cause...since Iím borrowing Jimís theories regarding the upbringing of the Kuno siblings here. And what a place to end a chapter! Will Urd and Freya try to deny Kodachiís ìaccusationî...after all, she *is* a nutcase, and if so, what will they say? And what of the missing people in the story...like Ryoga and Mousse, for instance? Well, Japanís favorite bacon-boy will have to wait in the wings for a bit more, but Mousse...well, letís butter him up with a chapter all of his own...well, not a *whole* chapter, just a half chapter...Chapter 6.5 of ìAiyah! *My* Goddess?î, now in production!
Many, many thanks go to Jim Bader and T.H. Tiger (a fellow FurFolk) for their help, and again, thanks also to Lawrence Ang for hosting ìAiyah! *My* Goddess?î.