Chapter 34

All things made equal by the trials of time, and the inevitable waves of creation, eventually stories would foretell how the immortals built a foundation around a little tiny sprout.

The tree grew, and so with it, the hope of countless immortals shone their light in the sky, gifting a nothingness befitting of space. It would be said, that the twinkling dreams of thousands standing as one in the unified black void, gave shape to a small pocket universe, one that continued to mold it as it grew.

It was only then, that the tree bore fruit, and it fell from the branches like rain. It unified all three realms, the hells, heavens, and the mortal plane. Each one was a succulent hope that the future would bring, and so, the peoples of creation tossed the fruit into the stillness with prayers. With their cries, they carried a faint, wavering hope, that some would take life of their own, forming sprouts that would instill creation with mortal life anew.

However, even if that's what the scribes would say, and the bards would sing in songs, Keiichi and Belldandy recalled the events quite a bit differently. With hesitating hearts and baited breaths.

...

Many plants died, never to see the light of creation, but one sat dormant in the ashes.

A tiny green leaf poking out from the hellhole it had been planted in. Soon, another sprout, and another, peppered the darkness, until the roots began to cling and take shape, forming a new world. With it came the tears of joy that the immortals had let fall from their eyes, forming the oceans…and soon after that, the vegetation became land…

Still, even with a new home, there was nothing there. There were no people, no humans at all from which to draw power from.

It was the first territory between the heavens and hells that had formed it…and so, it only seemed fitting that such a meeting would happen here, in the lush valley that their hard work had cultivated. It had been a long time, too long by their measure.

Keiichi had no idea what to expect as he carried his tired body over the hills that seemed kissed by the wind itself. It was only after his legs could drag him no further, that in the distance, he saw an impossible image. He wondered if his eyes deceived him, and, hesitantly he recalled a blurry memory in his long ago past, when such awe had struck him then as well.

In disbelief, he blinked several times, but the image he longed for would not change. Fearful that someone might be playing tricks on him, he desperately took flight without a second thought. The woman in the distance seemed to do the same.

It was such a long awaited reunion, that he had no words as she all but dove into his embrace, the force of the impact taking them both to the ground hard as Keiichi's shield protected them from the fall. He dared not let go, and feared to open his eyes, in case it was merely a dream.

It would not have been the first that he had in his time away from her...he doubted it would be the last.

"Keiichi." A broken sob from her angelic voice tore at him, and he released the breath that stilled his heart.

Her cry was one so heartrending, that he could only cling onto the goddess more tightly, his own throat tight with emotion. He wondered what type of face he would see when he opened his eyes to look at her...he had pondered that fact for long, painful years. Such torment bothered him, and yet, he struggled to come to terms with the reality of it all.

Tears flowed over his hands like a river as he tried to caress them away, and when he looked into her gaze, he could not breathe. Frozen by her mystical beauty once more, an emotion that he had forgotten came flooding back into his heart. "Hey, Bell." His voice was so raw, it even hurt to speak. "You don't have to cry." He forced himself to say with a small, uneasy laugh. Giddy like a school boy after his first crush, he felt the fluttering that only this woman could instill from his often unkind nature.

The grass was soft under his head, and loathe though he was to part with the makeshift pillow, he desired her soft lips to press into his own. He wanted to taste her, ravish her, and take her upon the very soil that they had strived to make. Words could not express his absolute need of her body against his, and he didn't even dare try to speak it, feeling as if somehow even the justification was wrong.

Instead, he merely turned the tables, divesting himself of his cloak, as his chiseled chest adorn with seals was already exposed. He wondered if she could feel his heartbeat aching for her, but that wasn't the only thing that throbbed at the sight of his goddess.

His life mate.

His actions were rushed with need and urgency that he wouldn't begin to analyze. He was far too willing to drown in her sensations…her kiss, her womanhood, her very embrace, and her voice as it called to him through the waves of passion that so ignited him. She welcomed his touch with an eagerness he never considered that she had, as even she turned the tables on him.

It was not a pure coupling by far, but neither of them felt bothered by that.

It was only after they were well and truly spent, naked before the greater creation and a disheveled mess at best, that their breath returned to normal. They rested in the grassy knoll, uncaring of who might have seen the display from the heavens and hells, as it was a testament for their love through the ages...

Belldandy was sure that someplace, her sisters would feel her elation through the tree she so protected. "Oh how I've missed this." She murmured, basking in the afterglow of what had been a sorely needed aspect of her life. "There were times that I…" She wondered if she would have the strength to say it, but Keiichi's hold on her tightened, and the emotions that Belldandy had held in for so long broke. "I thought I would never see you again."

"You weren't the only one." Keiichi said, finally admitting to his fear after so long. "But I'm here now, Bell, even if it's only for a short time."

"I can't part from you again." Belldandy told him. "I doubt I could bring myself to do it." She buried her face into the nape of his neck, a very fragile feeling that she was not used to, rising up within her. "Even if I must, I wonder if I have the strength to do it again."

"We have a lot left to do, Belldandy." He said sadly. "We don't have time to let our emotions weaken us."

It was perhaps for the first time that she looked at him, and saw more than her lover lingering in his brown eyes. She saw a king of his people, and even his body had changed. Gone was his boyish features, and in return, a rock solid man stood in his place. His body had been riddle was scars that he seemed to wear with honor. A stirring in Belldandy's heart and soul told her that he had become exactly what Hild had wanted him to be.

He was an unyielding man, who just so happened to choose to be kind at that exact moment, because he saw fit to do so. Hild always seemed to choose kindness for her family too, of course, so it didn't come as a great shock that Keiichi had grown to be the same. Still, she could tell that his greed had taken him, and he was a far different man because of it.

Likely, from the sight of his scars, violent too.

It made Belldandy sad once again, feeling crushed by the fates…and yet, it also gave her the deepest sense of hope she could have been given. "Yes." Belldandy finally agreed, though her voice shook. "You're right, Keiichi, but I…" In an act of selfishness she shook her head. "I don't want you to leave my side again. I wish you could stay with me, or that I could go with you."

If only it were that easy, but he knew it wasn't. "I'll figure it out Bell." In spite of his own hateful thoughts on the matter, he refused to show that in front of Belldandy. Instead, he held her close, unknowing of just what step he should take next. He sat up, looking around at the world that the immortals made, the place he would have to protect and help to oversee. "How are the children?" He asked, his mystified eyes taking in the vastness around him.

Belldandy knew that the father was not leaving his inquiry in regards to Hikari, but, rather he wondered about his son. "He is still small, Keiichi." Belldandy told him with a shake of her head. "He hasn't changed his seals, but, I still think you should give him some time."

"I will not try to sway my son." Keiichi replied, not really understanding the deep feeling of regret behind the statement. It bothered him, but, he couldn't bring himself to do that one thing. "If he is to be of the heavens, you must be the one to give him an upbringing of his people." Keiichi closed his eyes, recalling the tired, and old argument that had come from his son's birth. "It's the only way to do things."

"If he grows to be of the hells?" Belldandy asked heatedly. "He may grow to be of your image and power, not mine." She hoped that would be the case, even if it separated her only son from herself, she knew that Keiichi needed that one thing. A son, his son, for the unholy throne, as he wished. However, she knew that was not his only option. "Megumi is strong too, Keiichi."

The man shook his head. "She's a powerful demon, with a devil." Keiichi reported darkly. "However, she is not made for the throne, and, I doubt she will ever make a good ruler." Upon further consideration, he shrugged. "Hikari shuns herself, and Saria is not yet old enough to consider as a possibility." He looked to her then. "However, I can expect any son of mine to take after me. It's not just a demon's whims…it's a family thing."

"He's only a baby, give him time to grow, and see what power he takes. I'm sure, if you say that the men in your family follow such a path, that our son will do the same." Belldandy said, softly smiling at Keiichi's implication. "I'm also sure, Keima is proud of you, wherever his soul rests."

…

"You can't be serious." Peorth muttered, beside herself with Belldandy's willfulness. "In case you haven't noticed, that plot of land is for mortals only."

"I am used to reconfiguring myself to fit among the mortals, I've done it for countless years." Belldandy said as she continued to pack her things. "I want to live with Keiichi, and this is the only way we can."

"Putting the family back together isn't going to be an easy thing." Peorth muttered.

"Maybe not, but we'll figure it out." A woman said, coming to stand by the door.

"Skuld!" Belldandy cheered, all but lunging for you youngest sibling. "You've grown." Belldandy murmured, having heard of the news, although she hadn't yet seen it for herself. "And in a commander's uniform no less. I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks." Skuld said a bit shyly before she righted herself back into a proper stance. She cleared her throat and bowed. "Lind has ordered that no goddess should be left alone with demons in this newly born creation. As such, you're to be escorted by those hand selected from the unit. This unit will also guard you until Lind sees fit that no demons pose a threat to creation."

Belldandy denied the offer. "That's hardly necessary, don't you think?"

Skuld averted her eyes, her older sister was a beautiful goddess, and her life mate was the ruler of hell. How could they be sure that something wouldn't happen? "Big sis, the demons feel strongly about Urd taking the throne by Keiichi's side. They've gone above their previous rulers before to act independently in the past." Skuld shook her head. "It's a risk we can't take."

"You know, she has a point." Peorth murmured. "Hild was loved by her people, and yet, they still acted out to their own whims." In thinking about it, Skuld was absolutely right. "You should listen to Lind."

"Only if Keiichi approves, or failing him, perhaps Urd." Belldandy said, not willing to give into the matter so easily. "I can't make these sorts of decisions for my household, and I'm not the head of the family." As she magically sealed another box, she gave Peorth a knowing look. "I know what the heavens bespeak, but my hands are tied."

"You are the head." Peorth retorted. "Tyr chose you."

"I am not the head of my family in any way that one might choose to look at it." Belldandy retorted, standing her ground.

"Yeah, but Urd's a demon!" Skuld shot back. "Even if she is the oldest, she can't stay here in the heavens. That omits her entirely."

"Regardless of what the heavens bespeak, I am a goddess first class, unlimited license." Looking to the two of them in the room, she shook her head. "I must follow heavenly decree, and it states that none other than the first born son undertake parental obligations. When a male isn't produced it falls to the strongest daughter, or the first born." Then the final straw was a damning one. "Not only that, but Keiichi is my life mate, I must abide by his will."

"Well, when you put it that way, Urd does have you beat when it comes to bloodline and age." Peorth sighed defeated by such a simple, forthright law. "You'll always obey Keiichi too, won't you?"

"As I've said, the choice falls to them." She returned then to her packing. "Oh Skuld, do well to inform Lind of the situation, won't you please? Perhaps, if the news comes from you, she will understand."

"Not that I really have a choice." Skuld sighed, shaking her head. "Sis, you need to consider that you are a goddess, and maybe because of that, it's okay to deviate from tradition. Maybe because this is a strange case, you should."

"I understand that you're concerned." Belldandy said, but offered her sister a gentle smile. "Tell me something, when has Keiichi ever wronged you? Ever attempted to harm you so terribly, that he is unworthy of your trust?"

"Never a day in his life." Skuld concluded after a moment. "Yet, even so, I think only for the greater good when I say our actions are going to speak much louder than words."

"If it so troubles you, perhaps you should have Lind speak with Keiichi." Belldandy told her youngest sister. "They made a vow to be lifelong friends, and, if anything they understand each other on some level. Lind may not enjoy the fact that Keiichi is a demon, but, she still must have some respect for him."

"Then that's what I'll request. However, I won't be held responsible for any strife that comes from it. Lind can be pretty bull headed, and you know Keiichi is." Skuld nodded, turning on her heel to act out her orders.

Meanwhile, Peorth shook her head, leaning on the wall with a tiny smirk on her lips. "Well, that's an image I'd never thought I'd see again." It was a tone that seemed almost in awe whilst being soft and serene. "You know, Belldandy, you have always resembled Tyr…however, Skuld has always reminded me of Anzasu. Seeing her now, I felt almost as if I was gazing at a much younger version of your mother."

"Hmm." Belldandy nodded. "I have often felt the same. However, Skuld sees things our mother never did, and she faces a future our mother never worried about."

"That, I believe, is incorrect." Peorth murmured. "I think, deep down, Anzasu and Hild worried even more than the rest of creation. I believe someplace, they still do."