Standard Disclaimer
Work is a little sad right now, a lot of weekend deployments means less time to fun things. But its nearing halloween so hoping to go to some haunted houses this year! Family stuff is getting better, my brother had a bad patch but now has a new job!
This Time Around
Chapter – 6
Not the first time she woke with somebody in her arms, Peorth never felt this good about it before. Funny that. Emotions truly were strange things, how they flared and grew so quickly over something so small. A human, not a god or goddess, was able to stoke such care and wonder from her and Noble Rose. Pulling Keiichi closer to her, her arm just around his stomach, she tittered at how in the night they switched roles. They started with Keiichi as the big spoon, now it was her, she breathed in the smell of his hair and realized why. Guess he didn't like a face full of ponytail that could choke just about any living thing.
"You and Urd must have had a lot of practice as you were far better than expected Ma Cheri," Peorth whispered to her sleeping partner. Having had partners in the past, with the timespan of her existence to far it would have been odd if she didn't, they paled to this. What she felt now was a blazing star compared to matches in the dark. Sex was not something she shied from, it was part of life and relationships. In times past when she gave more major wishes some people simply wished to know her flesh, and she was a consummate worker.
Waking slowly, Keiichi was a quick riser, the man spun around and filled Peorth's vision. No, this was not the most attractive man ever, the strongest, or the most charming and that was why she loved him. He knew his place and was happy with it, and strived to improve. The god/desses Peorth interacted with believed they WERE the best in some regard. And here in her room on Midgard, full of the rich earthy smell, Peorth tried to shut out all the fears she had growing. Just what was the nature of those dreams and the source, why was Hild messing with them, and many smaller things. "But this is worth fighting for," Peorth nuzzled Keiichi's nose with her own.
Blinking a few times, Keiichi came to wakefulness with a soft smile, caressing her cheek, "Morning. Sleep well?" Silly mortal just had to ask that. A little like Belldandy, he tended to care for others before himself. The first time he slept in Peorth's room and the first morning after they first had sex, Keiichi's aura was swirling mix of joy and worry.
"One of the best nights in recent memory, Ma Cheri," Peorth said without a hint of hesitation. Sitting up, letting her sheet fall away, she stretched pleasurably and felt a few joints pop. This was something she'd want more and more of, and was shocked Urd and he didn't do it all the time. Why did Keiichi still have his own bedroom and not share Urd's when waking like this was so wonderful was baffling. Blushing a little as Keiichi drank in her form as her nightwear clung a little closer to her skin, "So what is on the docket today?"
Being caught appreciating her beauty, Keiichi sat up and faced away. Now he hadn't put his shirt on after they finished, so he sat bare chested and reached for the cast off article of clothing. "The club is running a new member drive that I have to help with, and classes. Nothing special. We can talk with Urd about which of you have to suffer that. They keep putting Urd and Belldandy in odd costumes to entice people, not something I like. But…" Keiichi paused as he pulled his shirt on.
Peorth didn't need Keiichi to finish, it was evident. Urd loved to tease people, and Belldandy would do anything to help this mortal. "Might need to get a small hotplate out here so I can cook us a little breakfast when you sleep out here," Peorth said offhanded. The sun filled her greenhouse/room but it did lack a few essentials.
"Why would you need that? The temple isn't that far away, and I've read that hotplates are a fire hazard. Be a shame if something happened to this place. You've really made it something…all of you take your rooms and turn them into something special," Keiichi sat heavily after that. Silly mortal was comparing himself to them again. Not much of a comparison in technical terms, but he only saw the bad. Urd really dropped the ball in helping him with his self-esteem. Skuld's Workshop, Belldandy's Tearoom, Urd's Lab, and now Peorth's Garden really did outclass Keiichi's bedroom.
Tickling his ribs as he stood up, Peorth felt somebody approaching the door and trying her slight warding, their morning was about to be interrupted. Getting a laugh out of him, "Stop trying to compare yourself to us. Mortals have a different light of soul to them than us. It is beautiful beyond words, and I wouldn't change a thing about you. And your room is quite the desired location from this one. Thinking next time we sleep in your…" Peorth let her hands trace down his chest and felt his libido flush much like her own. Maybe work up a little appetite before going in? Urd would understand, right? Her fingers started to loop around the waistband and the door opened.
"Good morning, I've brought the two of you breakfast. Keiichi-san, we have the recruit drive today yes? Sister has three new costumes for us today as well, and they are adorable," Belldandy's voice wafted over the air, her eyes closed and hands laden with two trays of food. Stepping into Peorth's domain, shutting the door with her foot, before noticing the more intimate manner Peorth was holding Keiichi. Averting her eyes in a very 'I'm not looking but totally looking' way, "D-did the two of you sleep well?"
And just like that, Peorth felt Keiichi's engine just shut down totally, and she was left floored by it. Not as good as Urd, she had time and experience on her, but Peorth thought she was getting better at figuring Keiichi's moods out. Maybe they weren't on the way to a repeat performance from last night but he did feel ready to fool around a little, but now it was just gone. So THAT was why Urd meant by Belldandy being a block. "It was a lovely night, and we were about to head in, but since you're here," Peorth reluctantly disengaged from her man and got her food.
Following suit, Keiichi took the offered food and sat on the purloined patio set Peorth had in the corner of her converted living space. "Thank you, Belldandy-san. Was thinking about breakfast, sorry you had to come out here to bring it to us. And did you say…Urd has three costumes ready?" oh he did sound exasperated. Just like Urd, go big or go home and Keiichi likely was envisioning a unique day already. Mortals were odd things, and there strange monogamous ways clashed with the goddess's culture in odd ways.
"They can look but not touch, Ma Cheri, don't worry. Regardless of what abomination Urd has for us, how many eyes fall on me, and don't even think of what Hild said…you are the only mortal I will consider," Peorth winked at him. Pouring herself some sun-tea she had brewed for Keiichi and herself, she had hoped Belldandy would take the hint and leave, but she sat down on Keiichi's left. Sampling the food, just a little better than her own skill level, "And why let this bother you Bell. With Urd and I, you really don't HAVE to go if you didn't want to. You could leave it to us, I'll keep Urd from losing her license again."
Pulling out her knitting, it was a sleeve for that sweater she was making Peorth noticed, Belldandy just shook her head. "Oh no dear, I rather enjoy helping with Keiichi-san's club. And Urd's outfits are just darling, I'd be sad to miss it," Belldandy didn't miss a beat. Clicking and clacking as the two ate, Belldandy filled them in a little on Skuld's new 'security' measures to alert them to Hild, and remind Keiichi to never engage the CEO alone. Gathering up the plates as they finished, "Keiichi-san, we'll meet you at the gate when you're ready to go."
Watching Belldandy watch Keiichi leave, Peorth just didn't know what to make of this woman before her. "What is it, Belldandy? You're still here, means you've something you want to say to me. I've a contract with him now, not trying to get in Urd's way, so what is it?" Peorth crossed her arms and waited for it. Just what was this girl's motive? Waiting for Keiichi to get to the temple, a flash of purple got Peorth's attention, Urd was there waiting for him, Peorth tapped her foot.
"I would like to know what Urd and you are doing up in the heavens. Keiichi-san is worried about it, and you both say it is nothing to him. If it truly is nothing, if these dreams mean nothing, why not let us see them?" Belldandy did lose the glimmer in her eyes. With a wave of her hands, a rare use of her powers for a lesser thing, the plates vanished from sight.
Instantly on the defensive, Peorth breezed past Belldandy towards the bike. "It is just as we said it was, nothing more. No conspiracy here, and my dreams are my own, they are personal and private. You wouldn't show people your dreams would you?" Peorth hissed inwardly after she spoke. The early sun ate away the last of the dew and light fog that fell over the grounds, but it was still a cold morning.
Without a mote of hesitation, Belldandy cut Peorth's argument down, "I would gladly show you my dreams, or even Keiichi-san, if it would alleviate somebody's fear and worries. But I cannot force you, nor will I ask again. Just think about it, he is very worried about you and sister." Belldandy headed towards the temple and the waiting broom. Only one person, two if they got comfortable, could ride in with Keiichi on the Beemer, and those were often reserved spots.
"You got him last night, I get the ride over, only fair," Urd winked at Peorth as the woman paced. Already clad in what Peorth learned was a cheerleader uniform, Urd had an odd possessiveness about her. Climbing onto the back of the bike, she made a point to pull the pin connecting the side-car and it fell on its heavy side with a dusty clang. Waving Peorth in close as Keiichi was locking the grounds, as if that would stop something that would dare try entering. Grumbling with a flat expression, "Hild left me a note last night. Don't bother asking me what it said, I burnt it without reading it. But she is likely going to stick around and mess with us a little more."
Burnt it? A missive from Hild and Urd burnt it! Lightly smacking Urd's arm, "We could have at least know what to expect from her! If you didn't want to read it, you could have at least let me! Now we're going in blind. And your sister is poking around about the scans. We might have to add security to those. We know both of our dreams revolved around her, don't want her nosing around more than she is already." Peorth reached into the fallen sidecar and pulled out the hidden camera, guess she was teleporting today.
Laughing without humor, Urd trailed Keiichi as he approached, Belldandy at his side broom in hand. "It happened to you this morning didn't it? Cold front Belldandy put out the Keiichi-fire. As for her poking around, she won't got to far. She's not been back to the heaven's since she got permission to work remotely," something about that last part left Urd puzzled. Both goddesses shared a very uneasy exchange, Belldandy was a total unknown.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Something happen to the side-car?" Keiichi announced. With Urd tilted her cheek his way and humming at him, he dutifully gave her a peck as he sat on the bike. "And cheerleader Urd? Going to have the whole campus in an uproar, Sayoko is going to be livid," he didn't comment when she wrapped her arms around him though. Guess he liked the idea of the outfit, just not other people ogling them in it.
Handing Keiichi the camera, and enjoying a moment of holding his hand, "It fell off by the looks of it. But I can just meet you over. And I do agree, this is going to be an odd day. Never wore something like this before. Could be fun though." She took the offered uniform, it was white with orange and blue frills, the pom-poms were just orange and blue, and the chest was emblazoned with the Auto Club's symbol. Skirt was way to short for tasteful design, Urd must have shortened it. In a flash of light she found herself clad in it, and boy was it snug in the chest and her thighs were very cold, "How do I look?"
"Those are wonderful Urd, you even got the emblem correct!" Belldandy stood at Peorth's side in the same regalia. Yeah, Keiichi's mind was a little overloaded with a bevy of cheerleader goddesses all around him. Fidgeting with her broom, Belldandy's skirt was longer than Peorth's, by Urd or her own modifications, but it did show a lot more skin then Belldandy oft did. The master of being the third wheel, in this case the fourth wheel, "If we don't hurry, you'll be late Keiichi-san."
Yeah, they were going to have to sit down and talk with Belldandy about her intentions after this Hild and Dream stuff was sorted out, Peorth accepted. Skuld was starting to show signs of a crush on Keiichi, but that could just be fallout from the bike boy that got away, but the Goddess of the Future would leave if Belldandy did. But why did Belldandy stay now that she was here? Before it was to help Urd keep the temple running smoothly, and Peorth could easily do that. Visiting was fine, but to continue living with them? Why? Maybe having four goddesses in such close proximity on Midgard was WHY odd things kept happening to Keiichi and them. They might be drawing it to them!
"Meet you there, don't get sidetracked now Urd," Peorth warned before diving into the camera. Urd would do it one day, if she hadn't already, Peorth bet. Set up a meeting or event, and just go somewhere else and leave her hanging and Urd would drag Keiichi off with her. It was just Urd's nature to be sneaky. Appearing in the workshop of the auto club, she could hear Tamiya bellowing at Sora about getting the forms ready! That giant of a man, sensitive she learned, still did scare her a little. Silly that, he was no threat, but emotions were what they were. Walking into the receiving room, they all went silent as she did, she fluffed her pom-poms she hoped the right way, "Urd thought these might help. I showed up a little early to change, think they're coming over in them."
OH how the room went up in clapping and cheers. Well Urd must have pegged this correctly as the whole club loved the outfit. When Urd, Belldandy, and the man that in the end worked the hardest that day showed up it went off again. Getting into the swing of things, making a match out of it with Urd, Peorth did her best to entice more new members than Urd did. As Keiichi suspected one ex-campus queen showed up and just had to try and get them cancelled, AND Aoshima sleazed his way about until being chased off…fun day but odd. One they needed to get their minds off the more serious issues.
X-X
"And just like that, hun, you are the newest member of the Auto Club," Urd purred at the hapless young man. He had been all thumbs and jerked about in spasms, just like Urd wanted. It was always fun to play with the over confident guys and girls, let them know they weren't always in charge. All in fun, she was off the market, and she let them know that AFTER she got what she wanted. Scooping up the pen that fell from the man's hand, Urd turned to Sora and handed her the print out. "Think that about does it for this drive, don't you?" she let the man have a glorious look at her long and slender neck.
Silent for a few moments, Sora watched the tall and muscular man swivel and shambled out akin to a horror movie zombie. "Urd-san, that was…was…almost to much! If I didn't know you liked to play with guys, I would have to Morisato-san about stuff like this. How can you do and say things like that?" the shy girl was stunned. Hustling to the door after the man left, she locked the door and leaned against it. Not the bravest girl at all, unless she had a few good rounds of booze in her, Sora was not liking her time as Urd's partner in crime.
Gathering what little reagents she had with her, a good alchemist never stopped crafting, Urd just shrugged. With an alluring gaze at the girl, "I know my limits, I know its all a joke, and I have protection." Flashing the timid girl a few vials of her own personal craft, Urd had no fear. A typical human couldn't touch her unless she wanted, and if one got crafty her alchemy would shore up any loose ends. Flipping through the pages of new applicants from the two day recruitment drive, "As for Kei-chan, he knows he's the only one for me. And if you think what I did with that guy is something, you should see us out on dates."
"I could never do anything so brazen with a guy like that. What if you see him somewhere and he's mad? What if he has friends and tries something? I worry about stuff like that. Nekomi is a safe campus, but we do have our share of…unpleasantness," Sora shivered a little. Yes Nekomi was safer than many cities of its size, but it wasn't immune to random acts of fate. Packing her homework and book away, Sora got a sheepish look about her and cast Urd a few 'I want to ask you something' looks.
Liking the Auto Club members a lot, Urd looked at the inside of her jean vest for a vial. Nothing to dangerous, Sora was a klutz after all, Urd grabbed a small ampoule of sleeping gas. Taking Sora's arm by the elbow and rolling her fingers up that silky arm, Urd deposited the sealed glass tube. "Looks like you have something on your mind, hun, why don't you ask it? As for that, if anybody gives you any trouble just throw it between their legs and run," she winked as Sora blushed. So timid and aloof, just like Keiichi. Didn't take much to get that man of hers to swallow hard, to sweat, and she loved it.
"U-Urd-san! Y-you shouldn't gi-give things like this out," oh Sora wasn't focused on the swirling yellow vapor. Putting the tube away in her purse, she took several deep steadying breaths. Once she was calm, she went about shutting many of the lights off, it was shift over and day over for the club as night encroached the town. Taking a fugitive glance at Urd she averted her eyes, "And if you're alright answering…are things alright between Morisato-san and yourself? I mean we've all seen how that Peorth woman and Morisato-san were acting yesterday. With how you were flirting with all those other guys and g-girls…"
Ah so Sora was seeing Urd's little show yesterday and was either worried or intrigued. Yesterday's first day of recruiting did have Urd lay it on thick, but it was all for the competition! Urd was not going to let Peorth beat her, so she went that extra mile. Waving her hand dismissively, "We're still happy little humpers." When Sora went full red at that little joke, Urd had to laugh good and loud. What was it with sexuality that sent some people so off stride? Standing by the door as Sora finished the last of the closing ritual, Urd was going to walk the little cutie to her bike for safety. Once Sora calmed again Urd continued, "I know it's hard to accept but our culture really is polygamous. And while Kei-chan isn't the most sought after around here…where I'm from, no…for Peorth and me he's the ideal type."
Locking the door behind them, Sora shivered as a cold fall breeze wrapped around the two of them. Fixing her hair, "That is so strange. I figured a woman like you wouldn't want to share. And Morisato-san has a small following now. I've heard rumors about an art class from early in the semester…and he has two girlfriends…it gets a girls attention. A-are the rumors true?" The pair walked side by side to the parking lot under the illuminated globes of light.
Her little joke against that prideful Sayoko just wouldn't go away, Urd gave her an A+ for that prank. Draping her hands on Sora's shoulders and pressing her cheek to the smaller girls, "Why you asking? You want to be his third? Or are you just wanting your first time to be with a stallion and hoping to rent him out?" Maybe she was going a little too hard with her teasing, but personalities like this demanded she act!
"Of course not! J-just…you know…curious is all. Morisato-san is a great quasi-leader, will be a great leader for the club. I respect him a lot. Super glad he's with you and happy. J-just b-beauties like you aren't often with…well…you could be with ANYBODY," Sora trembled in Urd's arms. Nearing her bike, she fumbled with getting her keys. "And now this other girl shows up, wondering if it is b-because," Sora wouldn't go further.
Knowing when to stop her teasing, less she burn a bridge, Urd gave Sora one last squeeze before releasing the girl. "I love Kei-chan for the same reasons you respect him. Peorth and I aren't with him for his foot long trouser snake," let that rumor spread, what was the harm. Catching Sora's keys as she dropped them, Urd dangled them before the girl's face before tossing them into the air. Watching the girl nearly fall over the bike as she got onto it, Urd was ready to catch her if she fell.
"I need to get going, and t-thanks for talking with me today. I don't know what you've got going on, but I'm glad for you two-three. If you're happy, I'm glad I guess," Sora nodded to some inner logic with a grin. Putting her helmet on, adjusting the Plexiglas screen, she waved and drove off.
Waving as the girl's taillights vanished into the night, Urd felt that warmth growing inside. She was happy, happier each day. Peorth was fun to have around, a good rival to keep her skills up and distract Belldandy when necessary. Not all roses of course, well maybe with Peorth around that wasn't the best statement. Running her fingers through her hair, Urd nodded, "But if it were perfect where would the fun be?" Striving to make it perfect, to make it better, was far more fun. Let that chaos wash over them, just as long as it wasn't too much. That was part of what separated Hild and her, Hild wanted full on chaos.
Peorth hadn't dampened Keiichi's feelings for her, if anything he made sure to show her MORE now. Silly mortal fearing she'd be upset or think he cared less. But the shoulder rub last night was nearly enough to make her pop, she had trained him a little too well perhaps.
"Thinking to much on this. Just go home, get some of Bell's supper and maybe get Peorth to play a game with her while we slip off and…" Urd paused. A sound on the breeze, music she hadn't heard in years and it made her body go ridged. No, not this, not now! Spinning around hunting the darkness for the source of those happy chords. Damn it, Hild HAD done something Urd should have anticipated. Guess Peorth had been correct after all. Taking a solid step forward, the concrete broke a little, "Who is there, don't make this hard on yourself."
Stepping out under one of the street lamps was the last person Urd loved before Keiichi, still in the colors and cloths he had when he left her. "It has been to long Urd. I've been looking for you for a while now. Heard some odd rumors that you were down here with a man," Troubadour had his harp under his arm. His long black hair hung carelessly and effortlessly about him. A nature spirit with a natural talent for music, he smiled warmly and familiarly at Urd.
"It's been a long time, you must not have been looking to hard. You never did do anything that was difficult unless it suited you," Urd took a step away from the man. Her mind was going over all sorts of plans and needed a good one fast! If this dufus learned of Keiichi it would be the bug incident all over again! Only this time it wouldn't be a simple fix to undo the damage, humans weren't that easy to put back together. First time since the Lord of Terror, Urd missed the System Force. That stupid thing would prevent Troubadour from doing anything.
Dramatically throwing his bangs back, Troubadour laughed just a little uneasily at the harshness of Urd's comment. "Been following my muse, the golden nightingale is out there and it's song needs to be sought. But I am back, back for you my dear," Troubadour held his hand out expectantly.
Old memories flooded Urd's heart and mind, good and bad. It had been a whirlwind between them back when she was younger. Passion and drama, she was happy with him but not the same as she had now. "I thought I was your muse, I was back then," Urd's pain came back. For all the good Troubadour brought he equaled it with bad. Petty and jealous, attacking any man that dare talk to her. Keeping her to himself, away from any that might tempt her. Then after they exchanged rings, pledging their love, he vanished. No word, note, or hint just gone.
"I couldn't stay, Urd. I got a clue about the nightingale and had to go or miss my chance! You were always in my heart though. And now that I'm back we can start over. That rumor about a mortal is just slander right?" Troubadour's words had a hint of edge to them, bitter and racist. Slinking right over to the distracted Urd, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her in close.
Having forgotten how forward Troubadour was, Urd was used to being the aggressor now, Urd nearly fell for it. Putting her forearms up against his chest, keeping him at bay, Urd had an idea but knew it wasn't her best. "I am with a mortal, she made a wish that I say with her. I can't be with you, I don't want to be with you. Not anymore. We had our chance, you threw it away," Urd started summoning her powers. Troubadour was a lesser deity while she was a goddess, she had power over him.
"Don't say that, it was a mistake! I have to follow my calling, you know that. Come love, let us make music and merriment together again," he tried to overcome Urd's arm block. When the lightning struck him, well maintained hair going made and frizzy, he puffed out some smoke and fell down to his back.
On her vacuum in moments, Urd took to the sky and flew right towards the temple. "This is so not the time for this! Damn it Hild, I don't want this! Why did you do this?" Urd yelled to the night sky. Somewhere she knew Hild was laughing at this, laughing and watching. Well she'd get Belldandy and Peorth to go on a little trip with Keiichi, ask Megumi over and trick the jerk into leaving. She didn't have a lot of time to set this up, even less to explain it to Keiichi. "Shit! He'll think I'm shoving him away…but if he stays Troubadour WILL do something bad to him!" Urd bit her thumb as she landed. Running into the temple, she noticed something wrong, "Hey guys come here!"
"Just me right now," Keiichi said with a joyous wave, oh gods he was smiling at her in that way made her heart skip a beat. Drying his hands as he approached, Keiichi wasn't ready for her to drag him by the hand to her lab. A little out of breath at the sudden marathon, "What is wrong? Did something happen? Belldandy left a number to call her at, should I?"
Shutting her door and putting a seal up, Urd pressed against it, "Tell me what's been happening here? Where is everybody? Where is your sister?" Maybe she could still salvage this! Damn she wished she had more time! She had to trick Troubadour into leaving, if he had any indication she was in love with and living with a man…well Keiichi's life would be in danger! At any moment the dumb jerk could attack, and just assume that over countless years she'd forgive him!
"Skuld-chan has some sort of earth license training and asked Belldandy to go with her. Peorth is in her greenhouse, she got some idea for a new rose and is working on it. I ordered us some supper, and it's just us tonight. Thought we could have a d-date night. Been awhile," Keiichi timidly asked. He just HAD to ask now didn't he! He so rarely asked for anything and he had to ask now…the perfect time to his knowledge!
Rushing to her bottles and pills, Urd worked fast. "Shit! Shit! Shit! You have to trust me on this one Kei-chan, I'll explain it all when I can. Know its for your good, and it'll all be over as soon as possible! Take these," Urd handed Keiichi some pills. Ones she had tricked him with before, but holding his biceps and pleading with him with her eyes, she so wanted to slap Hild right now! A perfect night ruined because of whatever whim Hild had which she sent off to that stupid bard!
"A-alright Urd, I'll take them. But this better not be a joke or something," Keiichi downed all the pills. His hair grew luxurious and long, his chest swelled to c-cup size, and he stopped being a he. Yes female Keiichi was back. Checking her voice, "So what is the meaning of this?" It was a little manly, but the potion was altering it enough to allow it to pass as female.
Answering for her, Troubadour kicked the door open with a flourish and had his harp in hand. "Urd! What was that bolt for! After being apart for so long are you playing hard to get again? Oh? Is this the female you said you were with? Little homely isn't she?" Troubadour observed Keiichi closely but didn't touch.
"Y-yeah this is Kei-chan, we've been bound by wish. So…I can't leave, don't want to either. So you can go now," Urd just yanked Keiichi to her side. Oh it didn't take a genius to see how at seeing the god in the room left Keiichi stunned. Great, just great.
X-X
Standing in the doorway to the temple, Keiichi felt humiliated. A cloth mask over her face, a heavy robe hanging over her back to mask her hair and breasts, and forcing a raspy voice it was just one big slap to the face. Megumi suspected something, hard not to, but she was at least not pressing. And why was she masking her current sex? Well because Urd's ex wasn't leaving, and her loving girlfriend was hiding the fact she was in fact originally a man. Wanting to trust Urd, it was hard on Keiichi though. Why not tell this Troubadour to just leave, oh and the truth? Was she ashamed to love a human?
"You sure you're doing alright Keiichi? Your eyes are really red. Need anything else?" Megumi was in her rare caring little sister mode. Being raised just as Keiichi had, Megumi had odd notions about family. Cared about her brother for sure, but more free spirited about such things. But right now she was on full worried alert. Trying to peek deeper into the temple, her face marred by annoyance when Keiichi blocked her view, "Belldandy at least making you soup or something to get your strength back?"
Forcing a fake cough into the mask, Keiichi was playing up the sick act that she concocted. "She's staying with friends with Skuld right now. Peorth and Urd have been helping take care of me though. So no worries," Keiichi felt sick at how easy she lied. But it was far easier to lie than attempt to admit the truth of it. Urd turned him into a woman to hide the fact she loved him from some other man, and his other lover was locked in her greenhouse hybridizing a new breed of rose. Yeah, she would sound fevered if she told Megumi that. Rather than appear insane, Keiichi lied about illness and asked Megumi to get her classwork.
"Peorth can at least cook, just don't let Urd play nurse to you. With how you look and sound she'd likely kill you with that sort of play," Megumi teased. When Keiichi grabbed her hands and shushed her, looking back into the temple, Megumi's concern spiked again. Gently pushing Keiichi off of her, Megumi crossed her arms with a scowl, "What the heck was that? She didn't try it already did she?"
The idea of Urd in a nurse's uniform flashed before Keiichi's mind and she as upset she didn't get the thrill she would have liked. Female hormones were odd things, and Keiichi wasn't happy to be under their sway. "Don't want her to hear the idea is all. She'd go out and buy something, and with me laid up money will be a little tight. Peorth has added a bit of a money crunch," Keiichi finally got to tell the truth.
"Maybe it's time that change then," Megumi's reluctance came back full forth. Taking Keiichi's printouts from her backpack, she handed them over but captured Keiichi's wrist with her fingers. Tugging on that arm a little, Megumi was going to push her nose in again to something Keiichi didn't want. Using that whiny voice Keiichi loathed, "Maybe it is time one of them get a job. You have three adults and a child living here with you, and you're the only one that gets any money. It could be you're sick because you've been working yourself too hard for them. I won't stick my nose in yet, but if this continues…I might tell them."
Tell their parents? Megumi wouldn't add that nightmare to the mix would she? "I've been talking with Chihiro-san about getting Urd hired at her place, it should be opening for business soon. I might even try getting a job there too. Don't worry about it, this is just a bad cold is all," Keiichi hoped that was enough. For a moment she was about to panic Megumi would press, but her watch started to beep meaning she was late for something. Bullet dodged.
"Well I have a project meeting I have to head to. I'll be back tomorrow to get these from you if you're still sick. Say hi to those models you live with…maybe you should put out a calendar or something," Megumi stuck her tongue out teasingly. Reluctantly she left with a weak hand wave that denoted she still had some unasked questions, but she had to leave.
Waving at her as Megumi got on her bike and took off, Keiichi leaned against the doorframe heavily. Oh boy did she ever feel sick now, maybe it was psychosomatic. Well, she had something to work on now while Urd dealt with Troubadour…if she was trying to get him to leave at all. Tossing off the heavy cloak, it had been stiflingly warm, Keiichi leaned back and popped her back. Breasts were a pain in the back, literally. Hanging the sick-mask by the wall, "Maybe I should try to bother Peorth about this." But the goddess of Roses had been so excited when she sequestered herself Keiichi didn't want to break flow.
"She looked like Urd does when a new potion idea gets in her head," Keiichi loved that look. It was full of passion and hope, she didn't want to squelch that! Trust Urd, it all boiled down to trust. Shambling deeper into the temple, sounds of conversation started to waft from out back in the yard. Music and song, a serenade. A man was trying to woo Urd, and Urd wanted Keiichi to just sit here and take it. Not having a traditional sense of male self, this was starting to push Keiichi past her original boundaries.
Just let it go, let this play out as Urd claimed it would. She'd talk to Troubadour, convince the deity that she was bound here and not leaving, and then he'd leave. Plopping down in her room, Keiichi tended her homework as those soft tones filled the room. Tempted to put on headphones to drown it out, Keiichi secretly hoped Peorth would hear it and come out to investigate. Two hours and all work finished, it would be a lite workload today, and it was no luck on the Peorth front. Pride was the only thing that stayed her hand now. Keiichi didn't want to rely on them for everything, wanted to show she trusted Urd, and Hild's comments came back to mind.
'But…since you now have two lovers, is it not fair for Urd to have more than one as well?' Hild had asked Keiichi that only a few days ago. At the time Keiichi felt he'd be alright with it, but not like this. This wasn't equality, this was hiding a dirty magazine under your futon when your lover came in the room. Keiichi was the magazine…a dirty little thing to be ashamed of and hidden from the bigger and better. What did she really have to compare to a literal deity! Apparently not much since Urd was 'doing this to keep you safe.'
Well, it was time to see what was happening out in the yard, the music had stopped and now Keiichi missed it. Not because she liked the cords, they were oddly plain she found, but because the lack of music meant Troubadour's hands were doing something else. Sliding the work into different folders, Keiichi tiptoed to the back entrance to the temple and peaked out. Nearly swallowing her tongue, what she saw was what she feared. Urd had that new man's arms wrapped around her. Nearly screaming in rage, Keiichi swallowed it down and watched.
"I staid stop it, Troubadour, we're not together anymore so you can't do that!" Urd shoved the deity off of her. Flying away from the man, Urd flashed a few bolts in her hands to emphasize her wants. Once Troubadour backed off she dissipated the bolts and ran her fingers through her hair, "Can't you see things aren't going to change? I have a life here, a job. I'm not leaving, Peorth isn't leaving, and you can't change that." Turning from the man, Urd's head dipped down as she wrapped her arms around her waist.
Watching as Troubadour stealthily advanced on the distracted Urd, Keiichi didn't know what to do or say. Could Troubadour keep pushing and pushing to get past Urd's defenses? What exactly had their relationship been before the breakup? Keiichi heard bits and pieces of this ex, but Urd kept the lid on it so tight that she even yelled at Belldandy once when he was brought up. Just before Troubadour could grab her, "Hey Urd, can you help me with something."
Turning around and gasping at how close Troubadour was, Urd quickly went to side step him. "What did you need help with Kei-chan," oh she was chipper. Maybe there was something to be thankful for, Urd didn't have that annoyed tick when she addressed Keiichi. But when she stepped past the willful bard, he grabbed her wrist and held firm.
"Mortal can it wait? Urd and I have important matters to discuss. Whatever trivial matters you have they can't be more important than what we are dealing with. Love and the heart trump your petty mortal concerns," ah yes that lovely condescending tone of his. Troubadour had not cared for Keiichi or 'Midgard' as he referred to it at all. Nope, only thing he cared about was Urd and some golden nightingale. Being the first real racist deity Keiichi met, the lesser earth spirits were just odd, it was a real eye opener.
Violently throwing Troubadour's hand off her, Urd drew her and back to slap him but stopped. "Not worth it. And you do NOT talk to her like that! She has never left me crying alone for some stupid bird, she has never lied to my face, or just showed up when unwanted and refused to leave because of some stupid sense of self-importance!" Urd was righteously furious! Stomping away from Troubadour to Keiichi, her features softened with each step. Wrapping her arms around Keiichi, "But he was right. Matters of love and heart due trump petty concerns, namely yours."
"I won't give up on you Urd! That mortal can't please you in ways you know I can. You may play with that woman for now, but I will stay here until you remember the love we share!" Troubadour challenged. Strumming his harp and fixing his voice for a song, the bard was clearly settling in for the long haul.
Dragging Keiichi into the shrine, the vein in Urd's forehead thumped with agitation. Once away from him, "By the Furies I wish he would leave! I'm so sorry about this Kei-chan. He's always been stubborn, and refused to listen to anybody but himself. Almost wish I hadn't used the cover story I had. Let Peorth and you wander off, or me go into hiding for a week or something. But what was the saying? In for the penny in for the pound?" Urd just crumpled against Keiichi, head to chest and hands clutching at Keiichi's clothing.
"We'll get through this, like everything else," Keiichi reassured Urd. Leading the goddess to her room, Keiichi shut the door and helped lay Urd down on her futon. Urd was a little reluctant at first, but once Keiichi started to massage her back, she started to moan into the pillow. It was nice to touch her again, Keiichi realized. Remind herself that Urd did enjoy her around, that she wasn't being dropped. But what Troubadour said, it struck a chord in Keiichi's heart. Once Urd was pliable, "About what he said though. You've never talked about your past much. The other hinted at Troubadour…how serious was it?" This was good to know. Keiichi DID have both Urd and Peorth, so if Urd did love Troubadour…it was only fair.
The groan that left Urd was not one of joy, but exasperation and worry. Shoving the pillow away and resting her head on her arms instead, Urd's body tensed against Keiichi's hands. A low growl in her tone,
"We were…close. Exchanged promise rings to one another. Yes we had sex, but it was different than what we have. When I think about it now, the more I think I was just liking the idea of being in a relationship. He was wild and passionate, I was stupid and young. And before you start to worry that pretty little head of yours, no I don't want him back," Urd confessed. Taking one of her few rings off she tossed it to Keiichi as she spun over onto her back. Bucking a little to get Keiichi working on her belly, "And this isn't like one of those stupid dramas on television. I will not sneak around behind your back or anything."
Honesty, it all boiled down to that didn't it. Keiichi nodded and started tickling and toying with Urd's taught stomach and sides. She wouldn't lie, ideas from movies and shows did play in her mind last night and when she walked out to see them hugging. What was it? The boyfriend/husband loses his wife/girlfriend to the wild and sexually liberated new guy? The fear of hearing them having sex or walking in on them left Keiichi worried of opening Urd's door. Honesty…Keiichi sucked in a deep breath. "I'm going to tell you something, and I hope you don't get upset," Keiichi started off easily enough.
"Can't it wait until after my massage? I'm betting you didn't really have any troubles and were just saving me from that jerk," Urd closed her eyes and tilted her head away from Keiichi. An unspoken little request to drop the subject, to let it slide away and vanish into the air between them all. An invisible specter of doubt and annoyance.
No it couldn't wait, Keiichi wanted that foul stink exposed and dealt with. "I know I told Hild I was alright with you having another lover. That if Peorth is also bound to me, it's only fair that the two of you do the same. But…I don't like the idea of it. Fair is fair, but liking it…" Keiichi felt better for saying it. She wasn't a saint, she had doubts and was selfish at times. Sharing the woman she loved with another, no, Keiichi truly didn't want to do that.
"You'd stop me if I tried?" Urd asked suddenly quite deadpan and blank. Grabbing Keiichi's hands, stopping the relaxation session abruptly. Sitting up Urd kept close to Keiichi and kept the woman from moving. The air in Keiichi's room was suddenly filled with a slight sense of electricity.
Shaking her head, that annoying long hair swayed with her, Keiichi kissed Urd's knuckles. "No, I would never try to stop you from something you really want. I said what I meant and that was it. I wouldn't like it, but I wouldn't stop you. Been thinking since you did this," she gestured to her new form. Sagging down as depression flowed over her, "You're ashamed of me. Ashamed of caring. A great goddess and a 'mere mortal'. Why else would you keep him around, and me like this. Be the same as me falling in love with a dog or cat." That was a fair equivalent wasn't it?
"No, you never would try to stop me would you," Urd said softly, more to herself with a small nod. Giving Keiichi a chaste kiss on the cheek before standing up filled with confidence she lacked when she first came into the room. With a big breath she bounced a little about, "I'm not ashamed of you or us. This is just a safety precaution, and don't worry this will be ending soon." Walking out of Keiichi's room and heading to her own, the harp still heard in the yard.
Well, she said her piece and that had to mean something. Keiichi just hoped this didn't turn out to be a drama after all. Maybe Belldandy and Skuld would come back soon, maybe they could help smooth things out. But until then, it all boiled down to trust, and Keiichi would trust Urd.
X-X
Clapping proudly as Skuld completed yet another basic test, Belldandy cheered on her sister. "See, I told you could do it, dear," Belldandy called out joyously. They were simple magic, but to a fledgling goddess they would seem daunting tasks. In a wide open field in the heavens, a small group of young god/desses were all training alongside one another. A few family members were watching, but for the most part the young trainees did so alone. Belldandy came to keep an eye on Skuld, just in case Hild's plans included her darling younger sister. She just didn't like how it was taking days with a few more to go, and at this point in time Keiichi was playing sick and getting classwork from his sister.
"Did you see that? I didn't know I could even do that!" Skuld waved her hammer at Belldandy. Breaking one of the rules, interacting with outside parties, Skuld got a small smack on the back of the head from the officiating god. The task had simply been to use her magic and hammer to break a board while masking the scene from view. Bowing to the teacher, "Sorry, just very excited."
Jotting down some marks, the god turned and panicked a little at seeing Belldandy. "Good afternoon Miss Belldandy. I-I don't use physical forms of punishment, just wanted her to pay attention. She-she is one of the better students in the class. Sp-speaking of that, how about we take a little break everybody," the god hurried off amid the cheers of the students. Most ran off to eat an early lunch, but Skuld hurried over to Belldandy rubbing her head.
Handing over a small sandwich and some water, Belldandy gently probed Skuld's injury. It wasn't going to bruise, just a little tap and one that Skuld did deserve. "Are you enjoying your earth-observer training? One or two more days and you should be finished," Belldandy fixed the hair she mussed. Part of her wanted to contact Urd, see what was happening down at the temple, but she focused on Skuld. With how things were lately, Belldandy felt she had neglected her little sister and wanted to spend this time getting reacquainted. And she wanted some time to think about things. Her feelings about everything became so muddled and confused.
"I don't know why I have to do it. All these things are too easy, and I can do everything with my machines if I was allowed," Skuld pouted. Skuld still had a lot to learn about not being noticed by humans. Her devices, Belldandy suspected, were far to advanced for human technology. Savaging her food while leaning against Belldandy, "But I am ready to go back down. You were right, it is fun to be down there. I like it there, with all of you."
Gazing up at the sun, letting the beams warm her face, Belldandy was overjoyed to learn that. Hugging Skuld with one hand, "I'm so glad you feel that way. As I hope we can stay down at the temple for a long time. It is good to be a family again. All of us together." With her little sister at her side, Belldandy lapsed into silence content to listen to Skuld prattle one. Little Skuld could talk and talk, and Belldandy was a wonderful listener. But as she did listen to Skuld's training gripes, Belldandy wondered. Just what were Peorth and Urd up to when they visited the heavens? Keiichi was very concerned about it, she'd have to check. Added to that was…what DID she think about Keiichi?
Oh she knew she loved him, Belldandy loved most people she knew in one way or another. But to what degree did she love the man? Never did she truly LOVE a man before, Celestin had been a small crush but that faded to just memories. Keiichi was different though, but try as she might Bell couldn't think of what she wanted! With Peorth now bound to Keiichi as well, Belldandy felt a little slighted. Urd had been so vocal that she wasn't for polygamy, yet she accepted Peorth. Did Urd not want her to encroach on things? Then the two goddess were colluding together up here in secret. Belldandy did not want to doubt Urd, but she wasn't stupid.
"Alright students, break is over back to the practical exam. Miss Belldandy will you be staying for the remainder of if?" the god was a little nervous.
Standing up, her gown flowing down her legs, Belldandy was a little rattled. "No, I'm afraid," Belldandy took Skuld's hand as her sister's eyes went wide, "I need to check in with the Relief office and a few other things. I'll be back when the exam is over though." Skuld feared being abandoned so much that Belldandy had to alleviate that quickly. With one last squeeze of fingers, "Go and finish today's testing. The longer you take, the longer until you get to see Sentaro again."
"I-I don't want to see that jerk or his bike again!" Skuld blushed and ran off. Joining the other younglings, they all surrounded Skuld and pointed back at Belldandy. A small celebrity for her time in the Office and on Midgard, Belldandy didn't have a big head about herself or her parentage.
Waiting until the testing actually started, Belldandy enjoyed a small stroll around the heavens on her way to the Goddess Relief Office. It was just as beautiful up here as it had always been, but that beauty was static. It never changed, Belldandy found it was as if she was in a living painting. Part of why she loved Earth so much, it was dynamic and shifted, embraced life and the fragility of it all. The chance that things could change, that nothing lasted, it made Midgard oh so much more beautiful as once it changed it was gone forever. Things might look similar to the previous beauty, but it would be a new but different one.
Walking into her old office, Belldandy expected one or two workers to notice and approach her. What she got however was the full office coming running. All of them stopped working the moment she walked into the office and ran to her quickly. All of them call out to her, trying to get her attention, and left her a little stunned.
"Now-now, I'll talk to all of you in time if you wish. But we have wishes to grant, and they deserved our full attention do they not?" Belldandy diffused the urgency with simple elegance. Nobody wanted to disappoint the daughter of the boss, and the best worker at the office. Once the atmosphere calmed, Belldandy found one of her co-workers still at her side. A young Second Level god fidgeted at her side, "Is something wrong, dear?"
Shaking his head quickly from side to side, his earrings jangled as he did, "N-no nothing is wrong. Just glad to see you again. Since the System Force went down, we haven't been able to watch the goings on down at Midgard so well anymore. Ho-how have things been down there?" The room was hushed after his question, a few observers peeked at the talking pair.
"They have been going ever so lovely down there. Midgard is truly a blessed place, and those that live there so lively," Belldandy admitted effortlessly. Those that observed and granted the wishes of the humans should all have that feeling. That those they aided deserved it, that the wishes shouldn't be considered a pain to grant but the blessing they were. Keiichi deserved his wish, others did as well.
Rubbing the back of his neck as he ground the ball of his foot into the ground, the god squeaked out, "W-what about the rumor that somebody from the Earth Relief agency is involved down there? A-are you upset that we allowed that to happen. We'll get our shares back up, promise." A few rallying calls from the observers rang in unison with the god.
Ah, Belldandy started to understand what was happening here. Her unexpected visit, they must be worried that the ranking drop was going to get them in trouble. "Yes Peorth is down on Midgard at the temple. Keiichi accidentally made another wish with her and she is bound to him as well," Belldandy was torn at that. Two wishes, the man she cared for had TWO wishes and each was for a Goddess at his side! But he never asked her that, then again she never gave him any indication that she wanted that. Oh her heart was torn, conflicted with doubt. Since Keiichi was with two goddesses it meant he wasn't opposed to the idea like other humans were. Did…did she want that?
Now another goddess, a Third Class page, shuffled over to them, "P-Peorth? Isn't she their quasi-leader? And did you say that mortal wished for HER too? Is that…right? Having Urd bound to him is one thing but Peorth as well?" A reluctant agreement rose up amid the listeners. They didn't want to upset Belldandy, but they all agreed. A half-breed was one thing, but a First Class Goddess was another. And for a lower life form to have a Goddess bound to it?
"It was an accident, just like with sister," Belldandy scanned the room when she said sister, "And like me Peorth is working remotely so it isn't an issue at all. As for our ranking, I wouldn't worry about that. Friendly rivalry helps spark creativity and drive." Just like the Auto Club and its members. Their drive to improve themselves and triumph over Aoshima's club drove them to higher heights! Aoshima, Belldandy did not care much for that man. He had his good qualities like all humans, but his bads were very cloying.
Once they learned they weren't about to be penalized, Belldandy's coworkers attitudes all changed quite a bit. No longer fearing reprimand they relaxed and talked with Belldandy and caught up with her. They asked about how life was on Midgard, how the mythical Morisato earned a second wish plus how Peorth was taking being bound to him, and all manner of little things. Belldandy dutifully answered them, as she always would when allowed. Once they finished talking, Belldandy's heart was warmed by camaraderie. Not the same thing as she saw down with Keiichi's club, but it was nice none-the-less. With a wave and a few small hugs, Belldandy left the office and headed for her final destination before heading back to Skuld.
It didn't take much effort to gleam where Urd and Peorth were making their mysterious scans from. Old and unused parts of the system got flagged when people entered them. All Belldandy had to do was check where Urd had been checked in at. Multi-dimensional scanning and viewing? An odd thing to check, it never got much attention before. A quaint thing to check from time to time, but nothing more. So why correlate some dream to it? Why keep it secret? Belldandy wanted to know, to help alleviate Keiichi and his worries.
Heading down gilded hallways and passing rather distracted watchers, Belldandy mulled over the possibilities as she walked. Maybe she was just being paranoid, Hild did that to the Heavens, or maybe it was something else. But why would they keep such from her? Entering the room, Belldandy gasped at the surreal image she saw. Spinning globes of colors spinning in a helix pattern of universes, and a flashing light. Approaching the console, Belldandy read the alert, 'Scan Complete'.
"What were they looking into?" Belldandy muttered. Not sure what she was seeing, she started first with what the scan was doing. Connecting the source of some messages that were inbound for Lind and Chronos? Along with those two dreams, Belldandy saw two recompiled files with Peorth and Urd's names next to them. Dream messages from other universes? Was it a violation of privacy to check those dreams? Pondering that for a moment, Belldandy found herself opening the Peorth file, "Better to be safe than sorry. If these dreams are viruses they wouldn't be in their right mind."
An image of a slightly older Peorth popped up and delivered its message to a new recipient. The instant Peorth's dream ended, Belldandy had Urd's running as well. She watched the two different dreams a few times, each time her core felt colder. The dreams, messages, intrusion from other universes were telling her friends to act against her? Both Peorth and Urd's messages mentioned her directly! And according to the flow of time, Urd got her dream first and it was what spurred the wish with Keiichi! What if the wish itself was destined just the recipient was variable? It would have been HER bound to Keiichi by his wish not Urd! Then Peorth's message would have had her replicating Belldandy being bound to Keiichi!
"But why? Why would sister and Peorth send such messages to other worlds? Why prevent what should happen?" Belldandy's powerful mind questioned. Nothing yet spoke of conspiracy or alienation. HER sister and HER Peorth hadn't asked for this, they just acted on dreams they didn't know were injected.
Opening the Lind dream, Belldandy gasped the moment she saw her friend and fellow Valkyrie. "She has both Spear-Mint and Cool-Mint out! I'm so happy for her!" Belldandy shed a lone tear of happiness. The ridicule Lind got for her duel angel and inability to summon both left a scar on Belldandy's heart. To see her fellow warrior finally able to overcome the burden made Belldandy's heart soar! Walking around the dream representation of Lind, "Now what did you tell yourself?"
"Hello my younger self," Lind started with a little more emotion than Belldandy was used to, "I come with information for you. After the CEO of hell releases the Angel Biter and you aid it its defeat, you will have an opportunity. Belldandy will temporarily become a demon from the angel's corruption, in that time take the role of the wish she is bound to. She will eventually recover and by holy law you will still be bound to the wish. Trust me, being bound to Morisato is worth it. You might feel bad about replacing Belldandy but…" Belldandy shut off the display and Lind vanished into the mist again.
Not even bothering with the Chronos dream, Belldandy knew what it would be. All the confirmation she needed. In other worlds it was Keiichi and her bound by wish, it was they that shared love…and it was ONLY them. Other worlds had interceded and alternated that fate to put in its own. What Lind has spoken of hadn't happened yet, and by the files she was reading wasn't supposed to happen for several months, Chronos even further. They had stepped in, they had interfered, and they had prevented Belldandy from experiencing what she was originally supposed to.
But…it wasn't her reality's fault, she couldn't blame them for it. And because she didn't have the wish with Keiichi, she wasn't the same person that she would have been if she had! "I don't know what to do…" Belldandy never felt torn like this before. Yes she cared about Keiichi, but she wasn't sure if it was the same as Urd and Peorth. OH An idea!
"This scan points to the world where this originated! I can ask my other self about this!" Belldandy could trust herself right? Making a quick message to herself, explaining everything, Belldandy sent the message off with a sense of peace washing over her. A true good idea, invite her alternate self to visit and explain things! Maybe sort out some of this madness!
X-X
Waking up with a start, Urd did not like the dream she just had. Stupid sub-conscious was messing with her, and maybe some of the booze was to blame too for that. But Troubadour did bring some from the heavens that she hadn't had in ages, so she went a little overboard. Stress of him being around, worry that Keiichi would get found out and hurt just kept ramping up. It was wrong, what she was asking of Keiichi, but it was the easier option. Patting his arm, Urd felt a chill work up her from toes to nose…that wasn't Keiichi's arm around her waist.
Still clothed so it wasn't THAT big a worry, and to be fair sex with Troubadour never was that good, but she was reluctant to turn around. Hearing the soft snoring, a deep male voice, Urd bit the bullet and spun. Yup, that jerk was sleeping with such a content look of confidence and conquest on his face. "Get me drunk and slip in along with me. Gods I'm just making this worse and worse," Urd muttered. The bastard just didn't listen to her and leave. So alright, she wasn't beating him off with force bolts and potions, it was nice to get attention even if she loathed to admit it.
Taking his hand off of her, fell back down and gazed up at the ceiling. This had to end, and end today. No more wallowing in the past, the sweet memories of their young love that did NOT have a happy ending. Old stories were one thing, but she had three times as many bad stories for the good. Listening to him mumbling in his sleep, Urd turned to him and found that yes she could still hold a grudge, "Why are you being so stubborn about this?"
"Urd what are you wanting for break…" Keiichi asked as she opened the door and just stopped. Urd lurched up forward, her top spilling open from a combination of sleep movement, naturally keeping it loose, and her sitting up. And there they stayed, Keiichi's eyes going glassy as Urd sat next to the guy she kept saying she was going to get rid of but didn't effectively topless.
Her heart was pounding between her ears, and she was paralyzed. Keiichi said it wasn't an issue, said that if Urd did want this it wouldn't be a big deal. But that look, Urd saw Keiichi's heart just shatter. Reaching out for that dopey geek, Urd found her mouth opening but words wouldn't come. She had never cheated before, never planned on it, but this did at least look like it. Damn it! Why couldn't Peorth had finished her stupid little plant work and been the one to be here instead of Keiichi! She could explain things to Peorth, but this was…harder.
"Morning Love, drank way to much last night. Oh, cold this morning?" Troubadour just had to wake. With liquid fast speed and precision his hand went right to that exposed problem for a small grope.
Well Keiichi didn't stay any longer after that, nail in coffin as it were. The small spark of enjoyment from the rare touch was instantly doused after seeing that. Clenching her fingers into a tight fist, her voice finally unlocking, "You pig!" Slamming her anger right between Troubadour's eyes, his head actually broke through the floorboards. Up and fixing her clothing as she hurried up and after Keiichi, Urd was already doing casualty considerations. "Keiichi, Keiichi where are you? It isn't what it looked like alright?" she called out.
Hearing the bike starting, Urd swore and stomped her foot down and broke more of the floor. Keiichi was taking off, running off, and she couldn't cast blame on this! "Fuck! Fuck! FUCK! Why didn't I put a stop to this yet?" Urd raged and rushed out of the temple. She saw the tail end of the Beemer leaving the ground. Damn it, she messed up big time. Not what she wanted Keiichi to think, not what she wanted at all…but it all tasted a lie in her mouth to say she hadn't welcomed this! Tossing force bolts all over, rage and anger overflowed her and she just took it out on the grounds.
"Hey, I'm trying to work here, nearly done. So would you please stop with…" Peorth didn't get a chance to finish. Leaving her greenhouse to investigate the random acts of violence, Peorth found Urd rushing her. Jumping away from Urd's bolt, rolling along the ground she pulled up a dirt wall to absorb the next few blasts. Summoning vines to wrap around Urd's feet, "What is the infernal realm are you on about Urd? What's going on?"
Tearing herself out of the vines, only for more to wrap around her arms and waist, Urd fought to keep her anger. "YOU! Why the hell have you been hiding in that little dirt barn of yours for days! I could have used your help here! But no! Little miss First Class just wanders off when I need her to keep me…to keep…" Urd surged with power and turned all the vines into ash. Rushing fast at the earthen wall, Urd vaulted it and knocked Peorth to the ground. Trying to replicate her earlier success with Troubadour, she slammed her fist towards Peorth's face.
A more skilled fighter than the bard, Peorth lithely dodged, and flipped Urd onto her stomach. Quick to capitalize on the shift in momentum, Peorth grabbed Urd's arm and yanked it up along Urd's back in a submission hold. "Urd, calm down. Talk. What day is it? How long have I been in there? Been…been a long time since I've been allowed to work on side projects so I lost track of time. W-where is Ma Petite Cherie?" Peorth yanked the arm up painfully when Urd tried bucking her off.
"Stupidly strong bitch," Urd found the fight being forced out of her. Unable to move, the pain in her arm to great Urd relented. Laying with her face in the dirt, cold frost melted and made a real mess, Urd stopped resisting. Not what she wanted, again, Urd relented and gave Peorth an abridged account of the last few days. Ending her tale with, "And we didn't do anything. At least not that I remember. Kei-chan walked in at a bad time, looks bad…nothing happened. And she ran off to cool her head, you know how Kei-chan can GA-GA-STOP-STOP-IT HURTS!"
Shoving Urd's arm up way past the pain point, Peorth got her inch of punishment before releasing Urd. "You just love to make drama don't you? I mean if you wanted to fuck that idiot, just do it and be done. I'll take all of Ma Cherie's love if you can't handle this arrangement. Don't destroy HIS happiness because you have some issues. I can't believe this, believe you! Where did HE ride off to, I'll go get him while you and your boy-toy get your things ready," Peorth already had her angel out and was about to take to the sky, but Urd's hand grabbed her leg.
"It was an accident! And y-yes…I admit it, no use lying now. It felt nice to have somebody be so forward with their feelings. Troubadour…is different than Keiichi. I forgot all the bad and just thought about the good. I don't WANT to be with him, I want Kei-chan. I don't more than that. But I messed up," Urd confessed. Lying to herself now wouldn't help. It had been a thrill to have somebody so openly try and woo here, Keiichi was more restrained. She had liked the attention, liked being the center of everything, but not at this cost.
Kicking Urd's hand off her, Peorth was not one to be convinced with simple words. "Talk is cheap, Urd, and your words even less. I'll go find HIM," Peorth refused to play along with Urd's little game. Flying out of Urd's reach, the Goddess of the Roses was livid and rightly so. They both knew Keiichi had an inferiority complex, hard not considering things, and Urd just slapped him in the face with what appeared a bald face lie. With Rose glaring hatefully down at her, Peorth ended with, "When we get back this ends. Either Troubadour leaves with or without you, make your choice. I will NOT tolerate him here, and all parties have to agree, so you can through that idea right out."
Slumping down to sitting on the ground, her garb instantly getting wet and dirty not that Urd cared. Talk was in fact very cheap, and Urd had ruined the market. "Can't keep saying I want Troubadour gone when he is still here, and then there was last night and this morning," Urd kept ticking off things she could have done better. World of Elegance was looking shamefully at Urd, ah yes Elegance felt the same. It had been the bane of Urd's life, her way of acting out. People who knew here, who loved her, knew that. Urd acted, not spoke. And her actions for the last few days painted a far different picture.
"Urd, what is going on here? Why did you hit me so hard?" Troubadour asked as he joined her in the yard. Covering his right eye with his hand, a bruise already showing from under it, the bard was stumbling and punch drunk. Sitting down next to her, he went to wrap an arm around her but was shoved off. Exasperated, "What? After last night and this morning…I thought you were going to give me another chance! Look I found your ring, you kept it!" Troubadour held out Urd's old pledge ring.
Taking the ring into her hand, Urd tossed it into the air and hit it with a bolt. "You have to leave now. I've played along with you long enough and it might have cost me something very dear. Kei-chan…I'm with…" her mind locked up again. Did she confess Keiichi was a man or just get Troubadour to leave thinking the other? It would be easier to deal with a jilted man thinking the lady he cared for no longer shared sexual preference, not deal with that jealousy.
Peorth however answered that question for Urd, as she had undone the magic on Keiichi apparently. The two rode up onto the grounds, Peorth hugging Keiichi form behind as the parked the bike. "Urd, time is up. I found Keiichi riding around the roads not far away. I explained what he walked in on this morning…now what are you doing?" Peorth kept her hand in Keiichi's.
"A man!? I knew something was odd with this whole thing! You were just going to try and sneak past me mortal? Try and take what is mine?!" Troubadour was off the ground and harp in hand in moments. Sneering down at Urd, he started strumming his instrument, "You've gone primitive on me since we parted? Bonded to a mere mortal? No matter, we can deal with getting you cleaned after." Ah not just jealousy but racism as well, then again most celestials and demons did consider themselves superior to those living in Midgard.
Still hosting a glassy expression, Keiichi did at least appear to be accepting what Peorth had said. He looked silly with his hair so long and heavy clothing, but his Adam's Apple was back, hips thinner, and yet he fell to this knees before any words could be said. "M-my body…it's burning! What is happening!?" Keiichi started scratching at himself. Tearing at his clothing, throwing off his top, his skin could be seen starting to churn and wriggle.
Urd just watched dumbstruck as Troubadour's magic song was coursing through Keiichi's body. It was that stupid bug spell, it would kill a mortal! Troubadour however was to blinded by hatred to remember Peorth was there as was she. "Troubadour stop!" Urd drew back a force bolt but he kept right along strumming.
"More words," Peorth grunted and sent a ball of thorny vines into Troubadour's stomach then wrapped around his neck. Hoisting the man up off the ground, she clenched her fist and the vines tightened. The harp fell to the ground as Troubadour clawed at the green ropes that dug into him. Calling over her shoulder to the now panting Keiichi, "Are you alright? It stopped?"
"Y-yeah it did, I'm fine," Keiichi got up and shuffled over to Peorth. In a rare showing of emotion, the man hugged Peorth from behind, tenderly and with great care.
No, no, no-no-no-no! Urd saw this act and it all came crashing down around her! She could see it all now! Her little dalliance would cost her how much? Keiichi would not go to Peorth over her because of this, she lost the lion share because of some little thrill! "Keiichi I…" she reached out for him, but couldn't think of what to say! Would he hug her like that again, would he trust her again? If she had just been honest from the start, even this morning's little dalliance wouldn't have been an issue. But she had told him, repeatedly, that it wasn't anything to worry about!
"You leave now. I will not abide your continued existence on these grounds. If Urd wants to go with you, that is for her to do so now. But today, this very hour, you will leave and not come back. You are barred from these grounds," Peorth released the vines and let Troubadour drop to the ground.
Crawling over to Urd, Troubadour wasn't expecting his hand to be slapped away, "U-Urd?"
Standing up, sorrow welling up inside her, Urd felt such a fool. Throwing away something beautiful, something she truly loved for just a little trip down memory lane. "Kei-chan…I am so sorry about this. I should have forced him out days ago. Should have protected you. Not make you hide who you are, hide my feelings. I lied to you, and despite it all you supported me and let me continue to dig my own grave. I'm so sorry…" she felt her tears start to fall.
"YES!" Troubadour called out in triumph. Laying on the ground at Urd's legs, a scroll in his hands, he started cheering. Unfurling the scroll, "The seal could only be undone by a goddess's tears! Finally I've got the songbird! Thanks Urd, without you I'd never have gotten this far!" Clutching the scroll to his chest, Troubadour laughed loud and hard and clear.
It was all a ruse? Troubadour being here, it wasn't to restart their relationship, he was just waiting to get Urd to cry? How? What would this soon to be charcoal planning to do to get those tears if this hadn't happened! "I…HATE…YOU!" Urd went to beat the man only to have Keiichi grab her from behind and stop her. "NO! You can't stop me! He can't get away with this! You don't trust me anymore! You'll got to Peorth over me now! All for this stupid bird!" Urd screeched and flailed about.
"Calm down…calm…just let him go, I'm still here, I still love you. Just a little stunned was all," Keiichi continued to hug Urd until her flailing stopped. Keiichi didn't release Urd until she calmed and the tears stopped. Troubadour was smart enough to leave though. Glaring at Keiichi but smart enough to realize he'd lose more than just that scroll if he tried anything.
Urd did not release her hold on Keiichi that whole day, either his hand or his shirt. So hard to believe it, she couldn't…not yet anyway. If the situation had been reversed she'd not have been so forgiving. Had Keiichi and Belldandy been acting like Urd and Troubadour…Urd would have been gone. Not out of the doghouse yet, Peorth was not the forgiving type, Urd was amazed when Keiichi did ask her to sleep in his room with her. An offer she accepted instantly.
X-X
Authors Comments
Moving plot along at a nice pace, thinking two or three chapters left to this. Not wanting to drag it out, nice and to the point. And its nice to have a little extra drama from time to time. The whole Troubadour thing in the manga was just to clean considering.
Ja Mata
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