Belldandy looked around the streets as she and Ren made their way through the inner part of town. The streets were jammed pack with people who decided to spend the better part of their Wednesday afternoon shopping during the beautiful spring day. It seemed that Belldandy and Ren were just the same as these other people but they were on a mission. Keiichi had just asked Belldandy out on a date that Friday and Ren decided that Belldandy should have a beautiful dress to wear for their date. She had told Ren on their bike ride here that she did not need a dress and that Keiichi would like anything that she would wear. Ren just said that this was going to be something special and that her dress would be a gift from him to her for treating his wounds for him.
"Is there anything special that you think that I should wear, Ren? I really do not want anything that is too extravagant. Are you sure that I really need to get a dress for Friday? It's just going to be Keiichi-chan and myself, right?"
Ren could only smile at Belldandy, turn back to the shop windows, and continue browsing at all the men suits and dresses that were on display. "You just answered the question yourself. From what Keiichi has informed me I am under the impression that you and Keiichi have yet to have a real personal date that was just you two without worrying about Urd or Skuld interrupting you two. You both have given me a new home and a new chance at life and so in return I want to give you two a chance to take your relationship to a new level. That means a romantic date with no interruptions and no worries."
"Arigato, Ren. You really do not have to do all this for us. We just appreciate the opportunity to make sure that you are all right and to make a new friend in the process. However since Keiichi-chan has already asked me out and I had said yes I guess it will not make much a difference if we go out and get something new to wear."
"Hai, besides I need to get some new clothes for myself also. I appreciate Keiichi-san allowing me to wear some of his clothes, but unfortunately, I am a little bigger then Keiichi when it comes to the upper body and I really need to begin my new life sooner or later."
Belldandy turned to look at Ren as he stopped outside a gift shop to see what they had within its windows. That was when Belldandy took the opportunity to look at Ren. All the time that she was changing his bandages she really did not look at his body's structure because he was either laying down or she was only worried the wound on his chest. Now, however, she could see what he meant by Keiichi's clothes not fitting him properly. The shirt that Keiichi had given Ren was stretched out across his chest and looked as though it might not hold onto him for much longer. That was probably the reason that Ren had decided to have another shirt over that but to leave the buttons undone because that shirt was a few inches smaller than the shirt underneath. However Keiichis pants fit him almost a little too tight but to many of the women that they passed on the street Ren's clothing seemed to fit him just right in all the right places for them.
"Can I call you Belldandy?"
Belldandy looked straight up into Rens eyes to see that he had been watching her while she must have been watching him. "H...Hai. If you do not mind me calling you Ren."
Ren started to laugh aloud. "You can call me by any name that you wish. I just wanted to make sure that you were okay with me calling you Belldandy. I mean we will be living together for a while until my wounds heal and I am able to find a new home to live in. Keiichi has already said its fine by him if I call him by his first name and I just need to make sure that there is no other name that you wish for me to call you by before I continue on with you."
Belldandy could not help but smile at Ren as he did his best to be a man around her. She had gotten so use to being just around Keiichi that she was not too sure how to act around another man when she was alone with him. As they continued down the street walking side by side, Belldandy could not help but notice that some people soon began to notice her and Ren walking together. How did they perceive Ren and herself walking together like this? They did not look as though they were siblings and surely, they did not think of them as a couple. Perhaps they just assumed that they were friends out on the town together. Belldandy was so lost in thought that she did not see that Ren had stopped in front of her until she had run straight into him and began to fall backwards.
His movements were so swift and liquid that before she could think of a spell to prevent herself form falling she found herself in his strong arms. He had caught her as she began to fall and yet she felt that this was the only place she wanted to be at the time. His strong arms holding her so gently that it would make any woman's heart melt. Was this what it truly felt like to be held by a man such as him, but what was he exactly? He was so quick in movements and strong that she felt scared and excited at the same time. Keiichi! Quickly Belldandy roused herself from his arms to stand a few feet away form him with her back turned towards him. What had gotten into her? How could she allow herself to be caught in such a moment as that when she had Keiichi to think about and all the love in the world that he had promised to her and her alone?
Ren gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Gomennasai, Belldandy. I did not mean for that to happen, any of that. I hope that you are not too upset to finish our shopping."
There was something very sincere in his voice that made Belldandy realize that he was telling her the truth when he apologized. "Daijōbu desu, Ren. I know that you did not mean for that to happen and I just was carried away in the moment. Let us continue forward and find that dress that Keiichi will love."
They both turned and continued their walk forward in silence until they came to a shop that specialized in formal attire. Belldandy immediately fell in love with a dress she saw displayed in the front window. A black dress was low cut in the front with no back and made of a material that looked so smooth and comfortable. It seemed that Ren had seen the dress too and decided that that was going to be the dress that he got for Belldandy. Both made their way into the shop and Ren immediately told the sales associate that he wished to see Belldandy in that dress no matter how much the cost was.
"Ren are you sure about that? What if it cost too much?"
"Don't worry about the cost, Belldandy. I am here because I want to see you and Keiichi happy and there is no price that you can place on that smile of yours."
"Thank you, Ren. You are a very kind person."
The sales associate returned with the dress and escorted Belldandy to a dressing room so that they could fit the dress properly on her unique body. As Belldandy finished smoothing the dress out she turned to look at herself properly in the mirror. The dress hugged her in all the right places and showed off her curves. She had never really worn something so revealing and flashy for Keiichi except when she had taken those love crystals from Urd and did not realize what she was doing. If Keiichi had acted so anxious when she wore that negligee, she wondered how he would act when he saw her in this dress. It was very beautiful on her and the dress did come down to her ankles, but she knew her legs would protrude from the slit up the dress. Was this how a woman really dressed when they went out on a formal date? If this would make Keiichi happy then she would wear it, but if he did not like it, she would just return the dress and give Ren his money back.
"Belldandy-sama, are you okay?"
"Hai. I was just looking at myself in the mirror. Do you mind looking at me with the dress on before you decide to buy it? I really want to know what a man thinks of this dress before you buy it."
"I'm sure that you look…" Ren's voice trailed off as Belldandy walked out of the dressing room on with the dress on. It seemed that Ren was not the only man to notice Belldandy had emerged from the dressing room with the dress on. As she looked past Ren, she noticed that many of the men and women within the store who were able to see her stopped what they were doing and did their best to get a better look at Belldandy standing there. Belldandy turned back towards Ren to see that his gaze was going up and down her body. "Ren-san, are you okay?"
"What?" His gaze shot straight up to look her in her eyes with a look of embarrassment. Was he blushing at her because she was wearing this dress? Belldandy knew that this was a mistake and had decided that at that moment she was not going to allow Ren to purchase this dress for her. "You look so exquisite in that dress Belldandy. Keiichi really is a lucky man to have you and will be thanking his lucky stars even more when he sees you wearing that."
Belldandy looked at Ren with a questioning look in her eyes. "Are you sure Ren? I don't want Keiichi-chan to feel too nervous around me with this on."
"I really do not think that it will be a bad nervousness that Keiichi will feel but a nervousness that a man feels when he is around a beautiful woman such as you. Besides I have a special surprise for you and Keiichi that I am sure that you both will love and I think you should look your best for it too. That and I already purchased the dress for you so either you can go with that dress or we can find another dress that suits you. I honestly hope that you go with that dress. I almost feel a little urayamashigaru (jealous/envious) of Keiichi for being able to have dinner with you looking as beautiful as you do right now."
Belldandy smiled at Ren and admitted defeat. There was nothing she could do now but to wear the dress for both Ren and Keiichi Friday on their date. Belldandy went back into the dressing room, changed back into her other clothes, stepped outside with Ren, and waited for the sales associate to finish wrapping her new dress for her. When the sales associate returned, she brought two packages and a box with her that Ren took without questioning her. It seemed that Ren had found some clothes for himself also.
Belldandy and Ren continued their walk down the market street stopping here and there to look at the special items that they had within the windows. Finally, as the sun began to set on the west they slowly began to ride their bikes back home both loaded down with groceries and packages. As they entered into the temples front yard, they saw Keiichi sitting on the porch waiting for them to return.
"Konbanwa, Belldandy and Ren-san. It looks like you both had a prosperous day out on the town." As Keiichi got up to help Ren and Belldandy with their packages, Belldandy went rushing over to Keiichi to hold him in her arms. "Belldandy, is everything all right?"
"Hai, now that I am in your arms."
Keiichi looked towards Ren hoping that he could explain the situation, but Ren just smiled at him and signaled for Keiichi to hold Belldandy. As Keiichi put his arms around Belldandy he felt her hold him that much tighter. Ren just walked past them with the packages in his arms into the home and left them standing outside wrapped in each other's arms.
"I love you, Keiichi. I will always love you forever."
"Belldandy…."
Ren watched from the doorway with a vein twitching in his temple. It seemed that it would take a lot for them to be together and that he was going to have to ensure that everything goes, as it should. Fortunately for Ren and Belldandy, and in a way Keiichi, Keiichi would have not choice but to sleep in the same bed as Belldandy after he finds out that Ren had bled all over the sheets and was currently cleaning them. Ren knew that he had just set his healing time back two days by opening his wounds again on purpose, but he had to do what he had to do.
As Ren placed the packages up, he heard the shock in Keiichi's voice as he screamed out in surprise and ran to his room. The door slid open and Keiichi stood there with anger in his eyes. "Ren-san, did you bleed all over my bed?"
"Hai, but do not worry I will have it all cleaned and ready for you too sleep in tomorrow. Until then why don't you just sleep with Belldandy?"
When Ren mentioned this Keiichis anger melted away to shock and surprise and then finally to a dreaming look. It seemed that he did not think of doing that until Ren had mentioned it to him. Keiichi slowly looked up at Ren and smiled. Keiichi knew that there was no way that he was going to win a fight against Ren at this time of the night and besides Belldandy had really wanted him to hold her for a little longer. Maybe this was an excellent opportunity for him that he needed to grasp before he let it slip through his fingers for good.
"I am going to pretend that you did not do this on purpose and go along with it since now I don't have a place to sleep and Belldandy has already asked me to stay with her tonight. But I will not do anything to her!"
"Get some rest, Keiichi. You both got work in the morning and besides I am trying to get my wounds to heal so that I can get out of your hair. Why would I reopen my wounds on purpose? That just does not make any sense at all."
Keiichi game Ren a look of knowing and slowly closed the door. Ren heard Keiichi slowly making his way down to Belldandy's room where he stopped knocked lightly and then entered. When Ren knew that Belldandy and Keiichi were both in bed, he pulled out Keiichi's new bedding and laid it down. There was no way that Ren would be able to get the blood out tonight and so he decided to wait until tomorrow to take care of it. Until then they all need to get a good night's sleep for tomorrow's preparations and then Friday's big day.
"Oyasuminasai, Keiichi and Belldandy. I hope that in the morning that I will have a home to sleep in."