Standard Disclaimer
Summer is ending, the pool closing, and that makes me sad. People I hang out with are going a little crazy, and drama is increasing...stupid drama. But we all press on and do what we can!
X-X
This Time Around
Chapter – 5
Laying on his futon as the sun crept into his room, Keiichi peeked at the alarm. He had a morning class today, but it wasn't for another two hours. Maybe he'd just sleep in a little more, avoid the drama that would come from being awake. Little under two weeks of having a second Goddess bound to him had sent his life into a tailspin. When they were in the same room, Urd and Peorth just had a cold war going on. Oh they tried to play it down when he was around, but it was obvious tension was in the air. If Urd and he were watching a movie, Peorth joined in. Peorth wanted to show Keiichi the new flowers she was growing, Urd opted to sunbathe in a very skimpy top.
What could he do though? Not like Keiichi could negate the wish he made, or this issue would never would have happened to begin with. Urd would have left, he'd be alone, and that would have prevented Peorth from coming. Neither woman was backing down either, nope it was all in for all sides. If only Keiichi didn't feel anything for Peorth it would have made things easier. But something about the woman, well Keiichi felt a similar spark as he did with Urd. Skuld and Belldandy didn't mind it either! Keiichi would have thought Urd's sisters would have been upset or try to get Peorth to leave. Nope. As long as Belldandy wasn't upset, Skuld didn't mind. And Belldandy was just 'If you love both, love both!'
"Maybe just sleep a little more, then run off with a piece of bread or something," Keiichi muttered. Pulling the blanket up higher, the cold morning made the blanket extra comfy, Keiichi finally noticed a something he didn't before. As the sleep left his mind, he felt a weight behind him and against him. Now he was no Lothario, but he was growing familiar to sleeping next to somebody. Urd would sneak into his bed to tease him on date nights, of which they had zero since Peorth formally joined them. Whispering softly, "Their a reason you're in here this morning? Did you want to go on a date tonight?" With Peorth to distract Belldandy, maybe they could avoid the middle sister's odd ability to interrupt them.
Nuzzling in close, wrapping her arms around his chest, Peorth hugged Keiichi to her tightly. "I thought you'd never ask, Keiichi. But today sadly Urd and I have business to attend to up in the heavens. Tomorrow though, you are all mine," Peorth lazily recounted. Much like her beloved plants, Peorth was a slow riser in the morning, taking her time to open and unfurl in the light of the sun, while in midgard. Leaching the heat from Keiichi, her head popping up over Keiichi's shoulder, she rubbed face against his affectionately. Nibbling his ear, "Hope you have a good evening planned. Hate for my first time to be boring."
Oh gods not again! Not checking who was with him was what caused this oddity in the first place! Urd had confirmed that Peorth had snuck of while she was making his antidote, and Peorth admitted it was to apologize. Now, now it was a game. Not moving, and hoping Peorth didn't notice his morning condition had spiked thinking it was Urd. His chocolate Goddess had him well trained, and he was acting just as he wanted. "I-I guess we haven't had any time together since the wish. Classes and everything. But did Urd and you make your agreements?" Urd had been adamant that she know what Peorth had planned.
"Oh we haven't even started talking about how things will be. But Peorth doesn't seem to care. Be careful Kei-chan, that angel of hers has tentacles. So if you want to know what those girls in Otaki's manga go through, just ask," Urd kicked the blanket off of them. Arms crossed, Urd floated about the room and kept a steady eye on the floral goddess. Reaching out for Keiichi's cheek, she gave it a small shake and a smile, "But she was telling the truth about us. Both of us are going back for a little while. Find out how the System Force will act now that you've two goddess's under your thumb."
Without the blanket, Keiichi felt the cold fall morning crash over him and all the fatigue was gone. Gazing at Urd's face however made that condition of his all the more prevalent. Peaking down, he nearly had a heart attack, Peorth had kicked his sleeping pants off as she entwined her legs with his! All that spared his two goddess' his happy friend was his boxers, and they were tented. Oh gods, no...Urd would notice and...who knew. "Is that all you're going up there for? Anything I can do to help?" Keiichi worried something bad might happen. He couldn't put his finger on it, but it felt like a bad idea.
"It's a unique situation Keiichi. A mortal has never wished for a goddess before you, let alone two of them. And I have to talk to my office, make sure they continue to work to my standards, and have some shipped down to me here when I'm not with you Ma Cherie," she nibbled on him again. Rolling away from Keiichi as Urd's foot flew at her her, her legs yanked free and forced the poor man onto his back. Sitting up fast, Peorth rubbed at where she was clipped by the tone and tantalizing food, "Urd! Reign in the jealousy will you? I beat you to the...to the...oh my...Ma Cherie, something you're enjoying?"
Snickering, Urd kicked the blanket back up and over the obstruction. "Ah, sorry Kei-chan, I know you're a horn dog, but maybe without an audience. Peorth, you mind going and distracting Bell for the next hour so I can take care of that? A lover's duty is never finished," oh she was doing her best to not laugh. But when their eyes met, Keiichi saw she wasn't being totally fake! So she was getting a little pent-up like he was, they had the same mental schedule.
"She's your sister, be easier for you to keep her attention isn't it? Ma Cherie and I haven't had a tender moment since he captured me with his soft words. A real wolf in sheep's clothing that one. But how much a wolf is he really," Peorth peeked under the blanket. More proof that Peorth and Urd were both free spirits when it came to physicality. Or maybe it was just Belldandy that was odd and Skuld to young to show it.
Opening the door as both other goddess' were gripping the blanket and staring angrily at one another, Belldandy ended the debate. "Keiichi-san, breakfast is ready and...oh Peorth, sister...is something wrong? I thought you were both heading up to the heavens today and I was to go with him," the younger goddess was confused and kept her hand balled under her chin.
"G-good morning Belldandy-san," Keiichi was mortified! Next Skuld would come in, let them all see him in his boxers and a t-shirt! He must look like a pig in slop to them, but he wasn't feeling so stellar. Just a nice and normal life, that had been his goal. Get a job with bikes, a simple woman that loved him. Now he had two goddesses that were bound to him, extra planar monsters and threats making weekly appearances, and the extended family just made everything strange. The friction of the blanket moving ever so slightly back and forth as the warring factions continued their wordless struggle, Keiichi was not relaxing at all, "So-so you're going with me to my class then?"
Getting that wicked gleam in her eye, Urd would never stop being a trickster even if it was a bad time for it. "Yup, she's going to follow you around. Try to keep Aoshima away from her, or I'll have to punish you," and she did by letting go of the blanket. Without her counter balancing the force, Peorth went flying backwards and crashed into a table. Books and papers fell off the table and buried her. Standing proudly over Keiichi, blocking Belldandy's view of the standing monument she gave him a very come hither stare she mouthed, 'tonight' to him.
"Peorth dear are you alright?" Belldandy countered Urd's action and rushed over to the buried goddess. Pulling books off of her, she looked over at the pair and froze, a book in her hand slipped and smashed right back onto Peorth's face. "Oh-oh my," that blush intensified yet the goddess didn't look away, she was mesmerized.
Yanking his pants up quickly, Keiichi felt like crying! Urd could be a bit to off with her sense of humor some times. Up and off the ground in moments, hiding behind Urd, "S-sorry about that, e-everybody, not intended. I'll...I'll go g-get breakfast." He fled the room as Urd finally broke down laughing. Listening as Urd started to try and break Belldandy out of her stunned status, Keiichi just tried to get his heart to relax. That was to much for so early in the morning. Finding the kitchen table occupied, "M-morning Skuld. You h-hear what was going on in there?" He hoped not, flashing Belldandy would likely earn him a Skuld-bomb to the face.
"Yeah, Belldandy is going with you to class today, Urd is off to check on canceling Peorth's wish," Skuld didn't bother looking up from her breakfast. Favoring something simple today, Skuld was eating a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice, she read the back of the box. A small drone flew over her head, "Say, you got another race coming up soon? Been thinking of a few low energy engine types."
Thank the heavens for small favors, Keiichi found his breakfast sitting and waiting. Belldandy was a born cook, and Keiichi felt his stomach rumble just looking at it. His favorite! Sitting down and digging in, the nightmare of ten minutes ago was already fading as he savored the flavors. He could still hear Urd snickering in the other room, barely, but once Urd's engine was going it kept going! Did she HAVE flash her sister? Things with Belldandy were awkward as it was, having her see him like that just didn't do his heart well.
"I don't know about races really close, but I do have a few ideas for bikes if you're wanting to help. Not today, but soon if you're wanting," Keiichi relented. Skuld would whine and pester until she got her way anyway, but she was a mechanical genius so it wasn't a bad thing. Just had to keep an eye on her, make sure she didn't make anything that would explode.
Joining the others in the kitchen, Belldandy sat without raising her head, a glazed expression still on her face. "S-sorry about sister this morning, Keiichi-san, she wanted to play a trick on Peorth," Belldandy poured herself a cup of tea. Her hand was fidgeting as she got some sugar cubes for her Darjeeling, her head shook back and forth a few times before settling on Keiichi's chest. With an unsteady voice, "T-they left already too. With the research they have to do, and with Peorth's agency they felt it best to get started."
Nodding but not talking, he didn't know what to say to Belldandy right now. Not the first time she saw him like that, or even the worst position, but it didn't make it easy. And she was going to be spending all day with him, glory. Eating slowly, Skuld filling the air with her own conversation with Belldandy, Keiichi wondered what exactly Urd and Peorth were going to be up to. Was it canceling the wish? Somehow Keiichi suspected Peorth would never allow it, ever the perfectionist. Urd wouldn't relinquish her hold on Keiichi either, not that he ever wished for her to consider it. But something had to happen, didn't it? One mortal shouldn't dominate the time of two immortals!
Helping clean the dishes after they all ate, Keiichi was aware terribly of how close Belldandy stood to him. Right next to him, a plate couldn't fit between them, yet Skuld was off doing her own thing so she wasn't there to complain. "S-so what are they really doing up there, Belldandy-san? I doubt its something normal. And...what do you think of Peorth being here, honestly," Keiichi did know Belldandy never lied. It was one of those 'don't abuse it' type of things, because Belldandy killed hope with her words. If you knew the person never lied, you couldn't hope they were fibbing to spare your emotions.
"Sister will likely try to find a way to have Peorth's wish rescinded. She is very territorial, but she won't find anything. I-I looked already while I was working, because I knew she'd try. As long as both of them spend some time on their original positions, there is no issue. Peorth will set up something with her agency, like I have with mine. As for Peorth being here? She is a lovely woman, very serious when needed, but she compliments Urd very well. And...as long as l-love exists, I don't find an issue. Peorth was telling the truth the heavens are polygamous," Belldandy finished drying the dishes.
So Belldandy didn't show favoritism for her sister then? Keiichi didn't know what else he was expecting, but this fit. Great, no support or anger from Belldandy if he and Peorth DID do anything. Wonderful. If only they hadn't kept saying it was alright! Humans generally weren't about group relationships, but Peorth was and Belldandy reinforced it! Could he...could he actually consider just riding this wave? No, if it upset Urd and she left it wouldn't be worth it! Just wait and see what they learn today, maybe Urd WOULD find a way to cancel the wish. Urd could and did do a few crazy things before. Then again Peorth would fight just as hard to counter Urd. Two sides of the coin. This was a nightmare!
"Are you ready to leave, Keiichi-san? I have our umbrellas, it looks like rain today," Belldandy hoisted her satchel up. Knowing it had a lunch, some tea, and who ever knew what else inside it, Keiichi had no real worries. Leaning forward, to get a better look in his eyes, "Is something wrong Keiichi-san? You look troubled. If it was about earlier, y-you didn't do it on purpose, that is a natural reaction."
Leading Belldandy to the Beamer, Keiichi sighed as he held out a helmet to her, best to be honest right? Waiting for her to get settled before climbing on himself, Keiichi pumped himself up for it. "It's not about this morning, sorry about that anyway. It is about this Urd and Peorth thing. I know you and she say its normal in the heavens. But Urd doesn't seem to want it, and I'm in love with her. If she...if she wants to break up with me because of it, what can I do? I feel like if I let this go I hurt her, if I help try and find a way to cancel the second wish I hurt Peorth. It's a lose/lose situation," he kick started the bike and put his helmet on.
"It is only at the start that Urd would feel like that. As long as you remind her you care, she will adapt. Urd has adapted to many greater things given her nature. I have faith in you and her to work this out," Belldandy took his hand and held it. It gave him confidence to continue, but a deeper smaller part in his mind wondered...why was Belldandy so adamant about this?
X-X
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Urd cursed mentally as she continued to be denied her revenge! Her first trip to the heavens in quite a while she was finding just as annoying as when she saw it daily. Going over old data logs, records, rules, and errata at a speed that would make a mortal mind cave in, Urd was not finding what she wanted. No easy way of sheering off the annoying growth that had sprouted out of her life. Hell, there didn't seem to be any way to get rid of Peorth that didn't involve the Goddess of Roses freely giving up her claim to somebody else! And if that happened it wouldn't end the sharing just the who of it!
"If participant A in arrangement wish offers their stake to participant C who is not participant B, all of which in free mind and body may…" Urd closed the document she was reading. Great, just another of the same version she had read before. There wasn't some hidden little exception, some secret handshake she could give that would end this. Peorth was stuck with them until something changed. Not what Urd wanted to hear, not at all. Growling, "And she's just been pushing him and pushing him." Only a matter of time until Peorth got through Keiichi's defenses, hard not to after Urd did all the prep work in knocking down the original walls.
Waking from a small nap, laying in an interlaced set of vines she created, Peorth stretched widely and yawned. "Are you done wasting our time now? I told you I reviewed all of these the day after the wish was granted. My wish is just as binding as yours, maybe more so since I'm a higher class," oh how she loved to lord that over others. Willing the vines to revert back into the branch of the Yggdrasil, Peorth fixed that stupid black spandex top of hers and smirked wickedly at Urd.
"Yes I'm done here. So are you ready to pass your ownership of that wish to somebody else then? Skuld would be fine with it. I'd hate for your branch office to lose its numbers with your split attention. Kei-chan deservers somebody willing to give him her all," Urd ran a finger down her side and hissed when she reached the bottom. Peorth may be willing to go faster than most on the first date, but Urd knew she was sexier in nearly every way. And if Skuld got the wish, it would practically be just her since Keiichi had no desire for younger kids, as he had just shown.
Leaving the archives and heading out into the open light of the heaven's, Peorth had to shield her eyes as the brightness overtook them. Waving at some of the lesser gods and goddesses that saw them, prissy girl had to have such a better popularity than the 'party girl demon girl'. "Or you could give yours to Skuld or failing that Chrono," Peorth said offhandedly.
Urd swallowed hard at the unspoken understanding they both had, yet neither commented on. They hadn't said Belldandy. Urd had a few inferiority issues revolving around her middle sister and Belldandy's perceived perfection, Peorth likely had residual agitation from the past incident between them. "You mention that little girl a lot, something going on there?" Urd had to quip to keep Peorth on her toes. Spotting a familiar face approaching, grabbed Peorth's hand and pulled her into a small secluded glade.
"Look Urd, I know we'll be working together for some time now, but I don't think I want to break you in before I do Ma Cherie," Peorth yanked her hand free of Urd's. Fixing her top again, Urd noticed she'd been wearing it looser since the wish, Peorth quickly distanced herself from Urd. Spotting Urd alternating between her and a passing gaggle of goddesses, Peorth's face lit up with a nasty smile. Mouth opening wide, Peorth found Urd diving atop her with both hands over her mouth, oh how those eyes batted with a terrifyingly intelligent light.
Once Ansuz passed by and was out of immediate range, Urd released Peorth and slid off to the side. Rolling onto her back on the soft grass, she smell of loam and her perfection of the heavens made Urd crave Midgard all the more. "What do you want to not rush after her, and to drop the fact I hid from her?" Urd knew the answer already. The heaven's were to perfect, to 'good' for Urd to ever fully enjoy it. Call it her nature, her half-breed DNA, or just her personality Urd like a healthy dose of chaos in things, not a lot but at least some! And if she didn't bring it, to the annoyance of those around her, the heavens did not have any.
"Two things. One tell me why you're hiding from the CEO of the Goddess collective, and two don't get in my way tomorrow when I go on my date with Ma Cherie," Peorth gave no wiggle room. Dusting herself off once she got up, she resumed the original path to some of the lesser used areas of the system administrators office. "Mother issues?" Peorth said with the stupidity of somebody who never actually met Hild.
Forcing the necessary hate into her system, Urd shuddered at the thought of her mother. If she ever stopped hating Hild it would shift her towards demon, not something Urd wanted for fear of losing Belldandy and Skuld. "I don't want to have the conversation Ansuz would force about how things are going in Midgard. Or do you want to talk to Belldandy's mother about how her daughters are fairing living with a human? I don't have the same level of rigor on me…and if we bring up Belldandy and love. What about you? Think you are ready for the trials, or are you putting up those barriers for your own good?" Urd loved how Peorth shirked that. The laws in the heavens were very strict about interaction between the heavens and Midgard. Urd got a pass since she was part demon, would Peorth?
"And the other half of my request? Going to let us have a nice evening out without you trailing along? Not even a mini version of yourself," Peorth sagely didn't bring up Ansuz. Guess the goddess of roses wasn't ready for the trials. Who would be, the trials were not meant to be easy. But, another small fact Urd wasn't going to offer to Peorth, the Earth Relief Agency had been granted a few special privileges that the Goddess Relief agency wasn't.
Her own wicked intellect found a nice little plan and Urd capitalized on it. "Sure thing. You did me a favor I can return it. And I'll even give you a piece of advice! Push hard and fast with Kei-chan. He likes to play coy, but he's actually really a beast once you get him going," Urd oh so hoped Peorth took the bait. Push Keiichi to hard to fast and he shut down, and all hopes of a little nookie ended. Urd learned that fact early on with her not-teasing-teasing. Keiichi was like Belldandy, he wanted actual love and not just sex, if he thought it was fucking just to fuck he wanted none of it. Urd grew to love that and him all the more for it, Peorth however…
"I wouldn't have thought that, not with how when I offered to wash his back before…but alright, deal," Peorth held her hand out. They both shook hands while ignoring looking at one another, Urd doing her best to hold back a laugh. Sucker. Moving further down unused corridors and higher security doors, both of them subjected themselves to scans when necessary.
As they walked, Urd was again forced to accept that she liked Peorth despite it all. She didn't want Keiichi and her bumping uglies, Urd was possessive of her lovers, but playing around with her was fun. Guess that was the demon in her, demons liked to have and possess, to own and control, what was hers was hers and she didn't have to share! Goddesses however appeared just a little more open, though Belldandy did get pouty if Urd took Keiichi away from what little time the two shared. Belldandy, just what was her thought on all of this madness? Shouldn't Belldandy have helped her get rid of Peorth not reinforce the fact that it was fine.
"Now for the real reason we're here, not your dislike of Ansuz or trying to keep Ma Cherie away from perfection," Peorth winked at Urd as she opened the door. As they entered the room, lights flickered, consoles flashed to light, and chairs emerged from the unused branch of the World Tree. Plopping down on one of the seats, Peorth flinched her head next to hers, "These dreams. It's possible it was just coincidence."
Peorth didn't sound like she accepted that idea, and Urd didn't either. "Dreams are one thing, repeated dreams are different. The fact that we both had dreams that regarded Belldandy and the wish…" Urd did not like that. It was a fear that blossomed in her since Peorth mentioned her dream mentioned Belldandy's wish. What if these were correlated? Both future versions of themselves sent something back to prevent Belldandy from granting a wish, a wish with Keiichi. From how the granting went, Urd could see Keiichi making the same wish with Belldandy since it stemmed from him not believing the surrealist nature of it.
The question came back to why. Why would Urd want to prevent Belldandy from granting Keiichi the wish? Well, she loved the man for one, maybe it was just jealousy? But that wasn't something Urd believed could be the full truth. Urd loved her sisters, wouldn't ruin their happiness out of a personal wants. Could Bell have hurt him in the future? Again the answer was unlikely. Bell wouldn't hurt a fly if there was an option otherwise! Then came Peorth's dream was not to cancel but to join…this was confusing.
"You're way to slow at this, you relief girls are never proficient," Urd chided Peorth. Joining Peorth in using the Heavenly scanners, something that was nearly never used, Urd turned the time back to prier to the wish. With how they interacted with Midgard, it was rare they ever needed to scan the planet for anything, it was always obvious and direct. What they were doing now was looking for something subtle, something outside the ordinary. Doing a time-lapse view of the night she had her dream, Urd didn't notice anything overtly different. "A bump, a tweak, anything?" Urd asked but didn't listen intently. She was to focused.
Peorth shrugged, "Nothing from hell, nothing from Midgard…but something is off but I can't place it. Almost as if something is coming from a parallel plain." Grabbing one of her braids, she played with it to focus her stressed energy into something.
Parallel…parallel…parallel what? Urd's eyes went wide and she took in a deep breath. Idea! She had heard on her paranormal television shows about parallel universes! She loved to watch those videos and point out the frauds and the times when some lesser spirit actually was doing something. It was a game with Keiichi and her, if he could guess correctly he got a reward, if he didn't Urd got the reward. Never was a game equally fun to win as it was to lose…then Belldandy started watching with them and that game ended.
"Parallel universe along the world tree. We know they exist, but why care about them. The tree is compartmentalized, if a branch in one universe shriveled it wouldn't impact others. Only the roots are shared equally but we don't go down there…but if another…HA!" Urd spotted an abnormality! Finding Peorth stunned, Urd puffed her chest out proudly, not just a damn sexy woman, Urd had a brain most didn't think of! Thumbing herself, "Kei-chan knows I'm more than just the Queen of Nekomi, and I've a brain to rival most."
Following suit with what Urd had done, Peorth gasped, "I see something like that for me as well. I can't pinpoint where it's coming from though. But alternate dimension versions of ourselves sent dreams to us? Why? Why not send them back into their own time? Where is it coming from?" Peorth was a wonderful Goddess for granting wishes, but she was not a troubleshooter for the system, Urd was so she was out of her element.
"We'd have to find the source dimension and ask them directly. But the signal is degraded…or scrambled. But our side is clean…using the tracking codes we could do a reverse tracking and find where it came from. Do we want to?" Urd didn't know. If the signal was intentionally degraded, the question was why? A lot of this was starting to perplex Urd and she hated being uniformed! A version of her sent her a dream that got her a wonderful lover, but why? Peorth had done the same…but both of them made it so they couldn't track it back easily. On an impulse Urd did a scan from the ether between worlds, were their more signals coming from this phantom dimension?
Giving up on doing the work herself, Peorth knew when she was beat, she hovered over Urd's back. "Of course we do. Why wouldn't we? There has to be a reason we did this. What if the other dimension is in trouble, what if we can help? Speaking of that, can we check if this message when to other dimensions as well or are we the only one?" Peorth was getting just a little frantic.
"Back off a little would you? Worse than Skuld when you get aggravated," Urd pushed Peorth off. Finding a good piece of the signal for both Peorth and her own dreams, Urd copied it. Scanning ahead she hissed, "Two more messages were sent to our dimension. They haven't been delivered yet, but I can see them approaching. Don't know who its going two, but I see two of them. So four different people targeted. As for other dimensions, not getting anything from them. Strange. SO do we let the dreams go, intercept them, or block them?" They needed to think about this more, a lot was going on that they didn't understand.
Pacing behind Urd, Peorth was giving this equal thought. "Can we tell who they're going to or when they'll get it? I'd say let them go, more pieces to the puzzle," Peorth lost her joking quality, she was all business now.
"Let them through it is then, my thoughts exactly," Urd wanted to know what was happening. Taking her two copies of the signal already identified she hopped off her seat. "Think you can have Chrono do a back trace on these two signals? I don't have to and I doubt you do. But she should be able to pinpoint where these came from. Then we can try talking to the versions of ourselves that sent it. Find out why they sent them," only real option they had to identify the reason for this.
Looking at the physical representation of the twin signals, Peorth nodded. "She owes me a favor or two. Hope it doesn't last long, wondering just why I wouldn't give myself more information to go off of," Peorth lead the way to Chrono and their getting the link between dimensions reconnected. This was a good idea, what could go wrong.
X-X
Pacing in her new room down in Midgard, Peorth alternated between two magazines she 'borrowed' from Keiichi's sister. Megumi had left them behind one evening when she came by to check up on her brother, and Peorth opted to peruse them. Human clothing options were strange and constrictive. So many layers, so tight and bulky, but the humans had the saying 'When in Rome'. Her little love nest was far removed from the shed Keiichi made his wish in, much more fitting for her now. Powered by some of Skuld's batteries to give her light, heating control, and the television Keiichi repaired for her. He was a dear man, offered to buy her a new one when he didn't have the money, but Belldandy found the broken one that he fixed.
"Now do I go with this light and airy number or svelte and alluring?" Peorth pondered her two options. Sitting up on the small bookshelf that contained all the manga that Skuld was missing, her feet tapped on the clean wooden floor. She wanted to 'wow' this mortal on their first official date after the wish ordeal was finished. It was different now, it wasn't just her trying to get Keiichi to admit he had sexual hang-ups thanks to Urd's sisters. Now she had her own emotions in the mix, not just a job, and she hadn't felt this way in…ever? Feeling a cold breeze curl through a slat in the wall, she willed a plant to grow up and through it plugging the hole. With a nod, she flipped a few pages back, "Tonight will be cooler, better prepare."
Having noticed Keiichi's eyes lingering on Urd whenever she put on her 'professor' attire, Peorth snickered. Urd didn't know how much Peorth watched her, them, and studied for this event. She wasn't a first class Goddess for nothing. Urd's little lie the day before was known, planned for, and Peorth had a five step plan! Keiichi was a submissive, and if what she read from Urd's own pilfered reading, that meant he liked a dominant woman! "But to whip him, that seems much. Though if it is his preference, I'm willing to try," Peorth was adaptable. Turning her goddess garb into a modified business suit just a little short on the legs and arms, she felt ready.
A light knock on her door and the call of, "P-Peorth, are you ready to go?" filled the goddess's living room. Keiichi waited outside for Peorth to answer, and when she opened the door he visibly swallowed hard. Not dressed to shabby himself, a respectable suit on, he fumbled with his hands. Shrugging a little, "I would have gotten you flowers, but I somehow thought that wrong."
"A correct assessment Keiichi-kun," Peorth winked at him and entwined her elbow with his. She loved flowers yes, but she loved them alive and not slowly dying as some sort of romantic sacrifice. Seeing his bike already running and pointing towards the gate, Peorth couldn't help but take a peek at the temple. Yup, the whole trio was standing up there, Urd green with envy and the other two Peorth didn't venture a guess. Waving at them, "Don't wait up for us. Urd you should check that scan soon, maybe it has some results."
Climbing onto his bike, Keiichi extended Peorth her custom helmet complete with rose decal, "Scan? Something from yesterday that you can tell me about? You two were really quiet about it." His aura was a mix of red and yellow, emotionally engaged but worried. Keiichi was a bag of worries, Peorth noticed, but often just standard mortal things. Today it felt different. Their reluctance to tell him things was getting to the mortal. Walking the bike along the path, he stopped to wave at those up on the veranda, "See you all later!"
"Don't have to much fun now, Kei-chan, save some for m-us," Urd called out. Taking a small side-step away from Belldandy who was waving pleasantly at the departing pair, Urd just shook her head. The other two called out their goodbyes with differing levels of intensity as well.
Snuggling up tightly behind Keiichi, the thrum of the engine was a maddeningly nice sensation, Peorth rested her chin on his shoulder. Having the yell over the motor did rob her words of the timbre she wanted but she went ahead anyway, "Going to have as much fun as possible, ma Cherie, as much as possible. Our first official date." He went stiff in her arms, ridged cords of muscle that he didn't show off with how he dressed, quite surprising.
"Nervous now…I don't have a lot planned really. With how new you are down here, thought I'd take you to an event on campus and then out for some food. Wishing I had more money now, take you someplace fancier," Keiichi's head slumped. The bike skidded about a little as Peorth squeezed her legs and he felt it. So squeamish about being touched, Urd really was slacking on the job. Once on the road and under control again, "And w-what was that scan again?"
Drat, he didn't forget about his little question even after her little squeeze. But at least she could alleviate some of his fears, "Just some dreams Urd and I had got us thinking. Nothing you need worry about. Oh and Urd realized she can't be rid of me, so you and I are going to spend forever together. So we better get nice and comfy together." Her hands felt that toned stomach of his seize up and got taught, and she felt his slacks shift. This was fun, no wonder Urd teased him so much, he just reacted so perfectly to it!
Thankfully for Keiichi's heart and mind, Peorth didn't want to get into an accident as they rode so she toned down the road towards campus. In his element, Keiichi let the bike purr as he took the turns and straightaways, really let the beast free. The odd devise was something Peorth adored being on, well when Keiichi was driving it. He had taught them how to drive it, but it wasn't the same. He could commune with the spirit of the bike, do what it wanted, while they were just operators. Pulling up to one of the larger buildings on campus, it was well lit up in the early fall twilight.
Finding a parking spot not to far from the entrance, Keiichi extended his hand after he got off to assist Peorth. Always the consummate gentleman, Keiichi knew how to appreciate and support a Goddess. "The history department is having an expo on various world histories and cultures. Urd hates such things, but I thought you might like it. You've different tastes," Keiichi flushed just a little as Peorth saddled up next to him.
"Ah, but you don't know how I taste yet, we'll have to fix that," Peorth kept her tease game up but nothing overt. Let Keiichi make what he wants out of that little verbiage. But taking a woman to a museum for a date, hardly romantic, Keiichi did need to open up his options for outings. Patting his arm as they approached the door, people were sparse but they were dressed nicely, "Let us enjoy ourselves. And next time I'll have something planned for us. Not fair for you to pick everything."
Opening the door for her, Keiichi tugged on his collar, "I wouldn't mind that at all. Thinking of what to do, I over think a lot. Megumi says to take girls out rock climbing or to a sports club, Urd likes movies and drinking, Belldandy…anything, but you…you're classy and I'm not." His shoulders slouched a little, but Keiichi tried to shake it off and put his best foot forward.
Ok, her heart skipped a beat at that, so Peorth just chose to look around and not at him as she got herself collected. Classy? He thought of her as classy? Oh that was, nothing she'd ever been called before. A ball buster, a go getter, hard worker, slut (by envious God/desses), but never classy. "You are who you are, and I find that adorable Keiichi Morisato. Don't change who you are for me, you wouldn't be the person I fell for if you did," she seized up again after she realized she said something she wasn't ready to.
"S-same," Keiichi was just as rod-stiff as Peorth was. But he confirmed that he had feelings, growing just like hers. They were soul-bound, might as well be earnest with one another or it was going to be a long time. Taking the lead, Keiichi started leading Peorth down the venues and showing off the displays, paintings, and dioramas. Once they started relaxing, Keiichi stopped being so wooden and started smiling more earnestly. Coming to a stop, he laughed a little, "Guess the club got in here too. Look, the history of motorcycles by Sora." They couldn't escape that club if they tried, and with Whirlwind just opened, it got even more of its tentacles in their lives.
Having a lot more fun than she expected here, Peorth was going to have to give Keiichi's ideas a lot more credit! "Without you, ma Cherie, I fear that group would be in much worse condition. But this is indeed fascinating! You've such a diverse history with so many different cultures," Peorth felt envious of that. Humans were so wide and different, so opposed to what the Heavens/Hell were like. They hadn't changed style since their creation. A static environment of endless time was droll when compared to such oddities and diversions.
"Keiichi? What are you doing here?" Megumi called out from across the hall. Jogging over to the pair, the younger Morisato sibling looked uncomfortable in a finer green dress. When Peorth rounded Keiichi's side, the woman stopped and pointed, "That isn't Urd. Keiichi, what is going on here? A date with this new girl, what about Urd?"
Having only spent a little time with Megumi, Peorth correctly guess what was going on in the girls mind. "This really isn't Urd's type of thing, but Ma Cherie rightly thought this was something I'd like. And unlike our last meeting, we've finally sorted out our personal business. Ma Cherie and I are in a relationship now," Peorth had her eyes shut and her body puffed out in pride. Silly how just a simple thing as a relationship made her feel bigger. She heard the hushed voices back in the heavens, the jibs and slurs. To focused on work, used goods, a real bitch, and the like…so what if she took her job seriously! Well from now on she'd only be doing lesser wishes so no more of that oddness.
"You broke up with Urd?" Megumi was quick to jump to conclusions. Grabbing Keiichi by the collar of his suit, she yanked him closer to her. Louder than Peorth would have liked, most of the other viewers turned to see the outburst. Swiping towards Peorth, Megumi continued, "After all the effort you went through for that woman you just drop her for…for…" For what, Megumi would never say as she just looked at Peorth and her lip curled up.
Gently pushing Megumi's hand down, letting Keiichi breath again, Peorth waved her other hand dismissively. Softly as to not make things public knowledge, humans did have odd opinions when it came to relationships, "Urd and my culture is polygamous. We have both agreed to be with your brother. He is not cheating on Urd, nor has he cast her aside. It is as I said. Urd would not enjoy this place, I do. So I am here with Ma Cherie. Understand?"
"B-both of you? He's with both of you?" Megumi just had to energetic of voices, that and the hall was quiet as the watched. Others pointed and whispers could be heard, another rung in the ladder of Keiichi's folk tale. Slapping Keiichi on the shoulders, Megumi had tears in her eyes, "My brother, what would our parents say! Maybe those rumors about you are true…I need to go. And, sorry for making a scene." A massive scene in fact, and she ran after she completed it.
Feeling the eyes of most of the others on them, Keiichi flinched into Peorth. "We saw most of the exhibits already. Did you want to get something to eat, little earlier?" his nerves were growing frailer. Not unexpected when your colleagues were judging you for something they didn't fully understand.
"I would be delighted. And I have to admit, I was wrong when we got here. Thought it was going to be boring, not romantic. Ma Cherie, you chose the perfect place," Peorth kissed his cheek as they left. Let the unknown talk, and if they were going to talk at least make it something worthy of talking. And while the event hadn't been totally manga level romantic, it had been fun to see all the new things with him. Some paintings and displays were spicy and got images in Peorth's mind! Maybe they'd stay in her new home instead of going back to the temple, which was how dates ended right? All the books said so.
Walking Peorth to a nicer restaurant that was in his price range, they were the best dressed, Keiichi got them seated instantly. After a few minutes of pregnant silence, both of them started snickering then outright laughing. Not the best first date, but definitely memorable. Continuing to talk lightly, learning more and more about one another, Peorth was adoring this. Before the wish there was a wall between them, the wall of 'if'. What if, could if, maybe if, if if if. Now that it was assured that they were together, just as Keiichi was with Urd, they could move, had to move past the friend level of conversation.
At one point during the meal, Peorth accidentally stretched her foot out just enough, sans shoe, to see how Keiichi was doing. The thermometer went from cold to blazing hot in moments, and he sputtered and dropped his chopsticks. "Something wr-…" Peorth's teasing ended instantly as she felt something that shouldn't be possible! Her attempts to ramp up the subtle seduction she was going to apply to her man, were doused with ice water. Quickly looking around the restaurant, she saw the cause and nearly screamed.
Walking across the restaurant, everybody watching her intently, was a woman with platinum hair, luscious dark skin, body adorned with golden bangles, and just sadistically attractive. Carrying a tray of desserts, the woman presented it to the table and the stunned Peorth. "Evening dearies, I've your dessert for this evening. It's on the house so no arguing. Dessert is the most important meal of the day after all," she showed the tray of various sweet treats.
"M-miss you look very familiar…are you…Urd's mother?" Keiichi gasped as he sat up. Man was smart, Peorth had to give him that, he knew something was wrong. Women like this didn't just approach people, she had the same body type as Urd (maybe just a bit sexier), and how Peorth had locked up. Swallowing hard, he took a small piece of chocolate cake off the tray, again smart to not deny the woman before him, "T-thank you. I uh…Morisato K-K…"
Shutting Keiichi's mouth gently, the woman tittered, "Keiichi, yes. I know the mortal that has bound my daughter to him. And look, you've another goddess already tied to you. I'd ask if my daughter wasn't good enough for you. But I've been watching you ever since the first wish so I know it was more this one…" The woman turned to Peorth and that flighty and alluring expression changed to horrifying menace, "Getting in the way of my daughter and her fun is not a good thing. Now…eat your treats and have…fun. Oh and know I'll be watching and tell my lovable Urd mama says hello." Turning back to Keiichi she actually kissed his nose before walking back to the kitchen, the whole restaurant just about erupted.
"Hild…Hild, the CEO of Hell is here and watching? M-Ma Cherie, we need to leave and tell the others," Peorth did not feel even the slightest bit randy anymore. But, true to form, neither of them could get out of their seats until after they eat their food. Hild was not to be trifled with, and Hild was not liking the fact that her daughter was sharing a mortal with Peorth. Peorth felt fear.
X-X
Disassembling a carburetor and checking the diagram he was working on, Keiichi was enjoying one of his assignments for once. Most of his college time was spent doing something that didn't seem to correlate for his desired employment path, but each semester he'd have one or two actual engine based classes. Guess it was to have a well-rounded mind and not to specialized. Made sense, and it didn't hurt to be better versed at writing and math, but it didn't get his bike running better. Jotting down the readings as the homework demanded, he started the reassembly. All the while he listened to the soft click and clack of Belldandy's knitting needles. That girl could sew all day he bet, wondered what she was making.
"Not boring you am I? I mean, you could wander the campus like Urd or Peorth do if you wanted," Keiichi looked over at the lovely young woman. The motor club had sprung its budget to get Belldandy a nice chair for her infrequent visits. Oh they used it when she was gone, they fought over her got to use it, but whenever that amber haired doe-eyed woman followed Keiichi into the shop it was as if nobody touched it while she was gone. Keiichi did snicker at that from time to time, they really did treat her like one would a goddess.
Rocking gently in the chair, everything she did was gentle still, Belldandy just tilted her head and set her sewing on her lap. "Oh not at all, Keiichi-san, and I couldn't do that. I like being around you when you work, you pour your whole heart into it. It is very special to me to witness it. As for walking the campus, I prefer to go with company," Belldandy's fingers fidgeted just a little. Ah yes, the second campus queen was not a fan of her fans. Urd feed on the eyes and attention of the campus, Belldandy shied away from it and that only fanned the flames.
"People aren't giving you a hard time are they? I mean it isn't like they could hurt you, but are they bothering you?" Keiichi slowed his work. He liked Belldandy a lot, she was a wonderful friend and he'd hate for her to have any problems. Sparing his attention away from his task, he found Belldandy was rocking a little harder once he set eyes on her. Leaning in a little more, getting a good look at her eyes, "Belldandy-san, did something happen?" If it did, Keiichi would have to act fast or Urd would overreact on the poor sod.
Ending Keiichi's worry instantly, Belldandy smiled and shook her head. "No not at all. Everybody has been very kind to me. Some a little too kind, and I can feel their aura is more basic than I'd like, but they do not act on it. And Aoshima-kun has not attempted to talk to me lately," Belldandy wasn't totally absent minded on such matters after all. About to pick up her knitting again, but she paused, and her head sunk again, "Keiichi-san…"
Grabbing his tools, Keiichi wasn't ready for Belldandy to just say his name and taper off. It wasn't a question, wasn't even trying to get his attention, she just said his name and that was it. Listening to the rowdy voices in the other room, Keiichi vowed to ask Belldandy what she wanted after the oncoming storm ended, Tamiya and Otaki were approaching. Belldandy so rarely ever asked for anything other than tea, he'd hate to miss the chance to repay her for all the help and friendship she provided. "The guys are coming, if you…have anything you need to do I wouldn't mind," Keiichi winked at Belldandy and she dropped her needles.
"I, I will get some tea for us. Take your time speaking to your friends," Belldandy quickly got up, set her work down, and rushed off. Ever since Chihiro returned and started setting up Whirlwind, the twins were extra volatile and boisterous. Stepping into the club room proper using a small side door as they entered, Belldandy had vanished as if she were never there.
Boldly walking into the room, Tamiya's bulky hands clapped together loudly, "MORISATO-KUN! We have great news for you! Oh, you're alone today! Chair is mine!" He rushed towards the plush leather chair the club had found and repaired.
"Yeah! Good news for you and the club as a whole! And I said I got it next time it was open!" Otaki added and pushed forward. The slabs of meat clashed before the chair, hands interlocked and muscles bulging against one another. Both pushed to the max of their ability and neither budged. Grunting in strain, "We have…a great…boon for you…today…Morisato!"
Switching from an over hand push to an underhand pull hoping to pain his opponent out of the match, Tamiya started to sweat. Panting as Otaki continued to match him, "We thought about….this for a…long time…finally got the…answer earlier today…only you will do."
"Guys, Belldandy-san is here today, she just stepped out for a minute. You can see her knitting on the chair," Keiichi tried not to laugh. Laughing at them would not end well, they weren't bullies and were actually quite emotional fragile, and he didn't want cause issues. When the both ended their battle instantly at the words, Keiichi started to realize just how much his girlfriend and her family impacted those around him. Moving back a little as his elders plopped down almost on top of him. Hoping they didn't damage the carburetor, "So what were you guys talking about?"
Twin hands went to his shoulders, one from each of them, and tears were in fact streaming from their eyes. "Morisato-kun! You are going to be the next director of the Motor Club! We both graduate soon and you will be our successor! Today is truly a great day for you! And we expect great things from you!" they clapped the hands not holding Keiichi down together and gazed deeply at one another.
"What? You want me to run the club after you guys leave? W-why me?" Keiichi couldn't believe it. Their pounding hands in congratulations nearly knocked him down, yet he kept sitting tall. It was these types of actions, and his diligent work, that gave Keiichi the rather muscular physique he had. Had to have muscles to survive these two. His wondering thoughts about Belldandy's odd mood today, Urd's mother, and that stupid scan Urd and Peorth were off checking again vanished in light of the new announcement.
Standing up, meaty hands grabbing Keiichi by the biceps, they took the younger Morisato for the ride. The wrapped their arms around his back and pressed their cheeks to his. "Your passion for the club and for the art! Nobody else embodies the very heart and soul of what this club was founded for like you do! So prepare yourself! We'll have another great race before we hand the reigns over to you, a final test! Be ready!" they chorused again! Letting him go, the slapped hands together again and walked out just as they came crying and embracing one another, "Our little Morisato-kun has grown up!"
Dumbstruck, Keiichi just stood there for a few moments before falling back to the ground. "Me the head of the club? That sounds like a terrible idea," Keiichi wasn't a leader, he just liked bikes! And while he had to admit he did most of the heavy lifting for the club already, he did so with the protection of responsibility. If he failed, well it was just one guy making a mistake, but if he was the leader everybody would turn to him and feel the sting of his errors.
"I think it is a lovely idea, Keiichi-san," Belldandy offered. Back in her chair as if she had never left it, a cup of tea by her side and one not far from Keiichi. The scarf of sweater she was making was coming along nicely as she paused to undo a few inferior stitches. Sipping her tea, "And it isn't as if you'll be taking over instantly. They are going to give you time to prepare, quite nice of them. Everybody respects you so much."
Ok, Belldandy was either a ninja or he had laid there thinking far longer than he wanted to admit. In times past he would let his issues overwhelm him and paralyze him. He had gotten much better with that foible of his since Urd joined his life, but he wasn't immune to it. But right now he'd very much like Urd to be there, say something witty or funny, get his mind off the weight just dropped on him. But the scan that didn't matter…that both Peorth and Urd kept hushed about. "Belldandy-san, do you know anything about that dream business Urd and Peorth are checking out?" he asked as he sat up.
"I asked Urd about it, she says she is just checking out an abnormality. Such things happen from time to time. But I think she is more worried about Hild-san," Belldandy's fingers started to work faster and faster. The wool ball was slowly spinning and yet her intensity increased. Bearing down on Keiichi with an intensity that she rarely showed, "You mustn't underestimate Hild-san, Keiichi-san. She is tricky and might do you harm. If you see her, call out for me…or Urd." She colored at her little slip, but a shake of the head and she was calm and docile again.
Ah yes, problem number three in Keiichi's life, under keeping Urd happy and accepting Peorth in his life was Urd's mother. The date with Peorth two days ago and the meeting of Hild had been a very odd. The cake he ate made him stupid randy, and the same looked for Peorth as how she looked at him when they left was how he looked at Urd when he saw her. But just who was Hild? She didn't seem bad, the cake trick aside, just a little to alluring than expected. Looked more like Urd's sister than mother. "W-what can you tell me about her? She never talks about her parents…guessing you share a father…what about YOUR mother?" Keiichi realized he knew very little about their parentage.
"Hild is the Niflheim of hell, the most powerful of all demons, and yes she was with my father. But they divorced after Urd was born and they fought over which side she would join. Father then met my mother, Ansuz. Mother is the CEO over the goddess collective and has…special duties," Belldandy's eyes went glazed and her body slowed for a moment. Fighting with something internally, Belldandy pushed through it and the small grimace of pain left her. "Hild loves Urd deeply, but Urd can never return those feelings. If she does…sister would possibly be tempted to fall to the demons. It pains me that nothing can be done, so if you could…do not talk of Hild to Urd?" Belldandy asked pleadingly.
Wow, no wonder Urd never talked about her parents, Keiichi was stunned. "I, yeah sure I won't. It must be hard on her. Bu…," Keiichi stopped himself. Don't ask, not his place to ask Belldandy things she couldn't know. Why had Hild decided to show up, why to him and Peorth, and was she gone? With how his life was, Keiichi soundly doubted the other day was the last he would see of the woman.
"What about your parents' Keiichi-san? Megumi-san and you don't talk about them. Are they still living?" Belldandy was just as anxious to move past the previous topic. Her needles weren't clinking nearly as loud or as hard.
Finishing his chore, the carb was back and all pieces accounted for, Keiichi smeared oil and grease on the back of his neck accidentally. "Megumi and my parents…well we had an odd childhood. My father is a glass blower and my mother is a stay at home that is really good at mahjong. They gave us a lot of freedom, let us be who we wanted," Keiichi had unique feelings for his parents. Keima had instilled in him his love for bikes, while Takano had been the care giver when needed.
"They sound like lovely people. One day I hope to meet them," Belldandy confessed. They fell into their work, Keiichi finishing the paper while Belldandy continued her knitting. Comfortable but a little strange, Belldandy was the queen of odd signals. After a good twenty minutes however call from the lobby got their attention, "I'll be there in a moment Hasegawa-san, are you about finished Keiichi-san? It is getting close to time for me to start supper."
Gathering up his books, Keiichi nodded, "Yeah I'll be good to go when you're finished with whatever Sora-kun wants." Watching Belldandy leave the room, but telling himself he wasn't, Keiichi wondered if that girl ever got the itch. Thinking of Belldandy even considering touching herself felt blasphemous.
"Two goddesses not enough for you? My-my you are insatiable my little Morisato-kun," a much known voice said in a sultry purr. Leaning on Keiichi's back, draping her arms over his shoulders, Hild was laying it on hard and thick. When Keiichi tried to break free, she just laced her fingers and the trap was sprung, "You're not going anywhere my little mortal. I've a few questions, and you're just the one to answer them. Answer well and I will reward you. Answer poorly and…well I don't know yet."
Any happy thoughts of having a body such as Hild's pressed against him were countered by that simple statement. Keiichi felt cold, as if his very life was on the line and it was not a good feeling. "W-what do you want to ask me?" Keiichi debated yelling for Belldandy, but thought better.
"Good, you know to keep this private," Hild whispered into Keiichi's ear. Gliding along Keiichi's body, she flew to a rest against his chest, gazing up at him she was mesmerizing. Gripping him on both sides of his head, "So, tell me why you wished for my daughter for starters. I read the report, but those are so impersonal."
Lie or tell the truth? Lie or tell the Truth? Being a terrible liar, Keiichi wasn't going to risk his life on something he knew he couldn't do. "It was an accident. I thought my friends set me up, a joke. I had…have…low self-esteem," Keiichi wouldn't even lie about that. He still wasn't sure he deserved a literal goddess as a girlfriend, but he would strive to make himself worthy. "So when she said I could have anything I wanted, I said I'd want her to stay with me forever, thinking she'd just laugh and leave…I'm glad she didn't. I love Urd, I love her more than anyone else," Keiichi's tone softened from the fear as he confessed.
Lightly slapping his face, Hild purred loudly, "That is what I wanted to hear. I know about that other girl. Like I said, I've been watching ever since my little girl was bound to you. And I'll give you credit, you made her sing. But…since you now have two lovers, is it not fair for Urd to have more than one as well?" She tickled Keiichi behind his ear, pulling him in closer and closer. "Only fair right, if you go off with another she can too right?" her lips were nearly on his now.
"I-I guess…I…this thing with Peorth wasn't what I wanted. I just wanted to be with Urd…but from what you say…" Keiichi had to resist but it was so hard. Literally impossible to move away from her, despite how soft she was holding him, Keiichi was impossible of fighting her off. And again he was honest. He would HATE the idea of Urd being with somebody else, his inadequacy fears slamming him in the face, but it WAS fair. With how he was growing in affection for Peorth, it was wrong to say she couldn't. Polygamous did not mean one man and multiple women…it meant multiple partners.
Eyes going wide, Hild pulled Keiichi that last little bit, the kiss didn't last long as Belldandy burst into the room. Breaking her embrace as Belldandy charge, "You pass for now…and I'll let a little birdy know your answers. Have fun!" And like that Hild teleported away leaving a very concerned Belldandy and a shell-shocked Keiichi.
X-X
"Oh spirits I needed tonight," Urd moaned as she tickled Keiichi's chest. Sweaty and as easy to bend as a string, Urd teased the sparse chest hairs her lover had. With all the mayhem going on lately, a date night was exactly what Urd needed to relax. A nice meal out, healthy amount of saki, and a night in their favorite love motel knocked her right back down from frazzled to palatable. Nuzzling her check against his smelly side, oddly enough she loved his aroma, "And I knew you were a natural but you keep getting better every time we do this. Plus I don't have to force you to try new things. Though if you try that with Peorth I bet it tastes like dirt."
His left arm cradling and gently rubbing Urd's breast as she liked, Keiichi groaned in mild annoyance. "Can we not talk about Peorth tonight? You didn't see the look she gave me when we left tonight. I don't know if she plans on jumping me when I get back or she plans on decapitating me," he wasn't sounding like he was joking either. Urd had only announced the quick date night, she hadn't stayed to see the aftermath at the dinner table.
Taking hold of Keiichi's hand before he got her engine primed for another go, four was the limit today, Urd owed up to her own decision. "Then give it to her when we get back. I left a little fuel in the tank just in case that happened," Urd sat up and shivered. The a/c was just delicious in places like this, so hard and cool. The temple had some nice Skuld created modifications, but it wasn't near this powerful. Looking back at the stunned nearly hurt face of the man she loved, "Not tired of you love, if I had my way we'd stay here till tomorrow and we'd break the headboard. But...Peorth deserves more than being a freeloader at the temple. Make her use that body of hers to pay rent."
"Do you...do you mean that? I mean after what I said about Hild's comment you've..." Keiichi cautiously stated. Keiichi didn't try to hide anything from Urd, not that he could since Belldandy would have. Rolling over to the side of the bed, he gathered up his clothing as Urd just snapped her fingers to put hers on. Fumbling with his socks, he kept looking back and aborting a question.
Damn Hild! Damn her for even putting the notion of Troubadour into Keiichi's head! Hugging him from behind, flying above the bed, "No Love, it isn't because I want to bring him into the mix. Hild just said that to play with us. Where some people know a good joke has limits, she doesn't." But if Hild did tell Troubadour where she was and what was going on, it would be a nightmare. Stupid prick was jealous and would try to do something bad to Keiichi. Having Keiichi explode with bugs was not something Urd wanted for her man.
And that about summed up the relationship Urd had with Troubadour. It wasn't true love, it was puppy love that just barely evolved from a crush. Man was attractive yes, a good singer, and charming as hell...but they didn't have anything really in common! It had just been a fun game for them, never trusting the other fully hence the jealousy. She trusted Keiichi to love her regardless of what happened. If she DID have sex with that bird obsessed freak, Keiichi wouldn't fault her. But she did not want to, and wouldn't ever again. That was the past, something she had moved past, grown up from. She didn't want just a fun relationship, she wanted what she had. It was work, it was trouble, but it was worth it for far more than evenings like this. Sitting on the couch with him, walking with him, watching him work...having him watch her work, having meals together, just being together...that was enough.
"I've moved on from selfish love, Kei-chan. I know that you have feelings for Peorth, you can't hide your emotions for shit hun," Urd gave his cheek a raspberry and winked at him. Flying around him, still seeing a little disbelief, Urd would have to really give it to Hild for this. Damn Keiichi's low sense of self just set him doubting. Watching him struggle with his pants, she snapped her fingers again and his clothing appeared on him. Helping him off the bed, just to feel his hands, "What that jerk and I had pales to this. And anything he might have had on you, I don't need or want. Now to flip this...do you think I'll be upset if you have sex with Peorth?"
Walking out of there room, and Urd did always insist on that particular room, Keiichi nodded. "How can you not? After what we went through to get here and she just walks in? It isn't fair to you," he didn't sound as upset before.
"Life isn't fair, and it will keep me from getting lazy. If she gets a leg up on me in the pleasure department, means I'm slacking. Can't have my man getting led astray. So no more talk about that jerk or the flower child waiting at home for you. This happened to us, we move on, and we have as much fun as we can. And you have to admit, having Peorth around did keep Bell from interfering with us," she was defiant in her statement. Moving forward this was just how it was, she was ok with Peorth and confessed she wasn't going to humor Troubadour.
Kissing her full on the mouth, Keiichi was just a bastion of silly joy. "I'll never understand you, but thank you for staying. But...can you tell me something...anything about that scan business you looked up yesterday?" Keiichi lead her to his bike. Night was into its prime, and the streets were only thinly populated. A wonderful evening for both of them, getting the funk out of there minds.
"Just a stupid dream, Kei-chan, nothing else. Peorth is worried about something, because that is what she does. She worries all the time. Right now I bet she's walking a rut in that hovel of a room of hers and pruning her plants bare," Urd could see it too. All the people that focused on their work so much were worriers. Let them fret the small stuff, worry about what others think, Urd didn't care. Loving the wind in her hair as the tore off, she basked in the ride.
A worrier himself, but also trusting to a fault, Keiichi accepted what he heard and just drove. Going down the darker streets and thoroughfares that they hardly took but prolonged the ride, Keiichi was lost in the moment as was Urd. But eventually he did take them back to the temple, and cut the engine as the entered the grounds. Walking the bike the rest of the way to the garage, "No more bad thoughts. I trust you Urd, I love you. If you say don't worry, I won't."
Spotting Peorth's leather straps sticking out from the corner, Urd sighed gave him a push. "Exactly, no more bad thoughts. Now go talk to the wall flower. But don't feel you HAVE to go to far tonight. Make her work for it. Bitch gets to much easily anyway. Talk to you in the morning," Urd whispered. Heading inside the shrine, leaving Keiichi to the fates, she was amazed at how she didn't feel. No regrets, no worries, and honestly she felt a little giddy! Peorth wasn't going to know what hit her when it eventually happened. Urd had trained that shy mortal into a beast, as any true Love Goddess should.
Finding Belldandy in her tearoom making that sweater again, Urd was to tired to try talking about that one. It was a gift for Keiichi, had to be. Belldandy did a lot for everybody, but a hand-knit gift was something else. Whatever, no worries right? Opening the door to her alchemy lab/room Urd's hands went lax. A note was laying on the floor and she knew it wasn't good. Picking it up,seeing Hild's seal on it, Urd burnt the letter without reading it. Nothing good would be gained, and she wasn't going to rise to Hild's tricks.
X-X
Authors Notes
Moving on now away from standard O!MG cannon into my own stuff and trying to keep it moving at a nice pace. This wasn't planned to be super long, a couple more chapters I'm thinking. Still really liking it and thinking I'm keeping things believable.
Ja mata
Zentrodie