Chapter 3
Awakenings
No! Don't wake me up. I'm still sleeping," Takumi replied rolling over. Indeed sleep was becoming hard to come by of late, what with the current spirit of enthusiasm pervading the temple, the seemingly unending Nekomi Tech parties celebrating Keiichi Morisato's miraculous recovery (even though it had now been 2 months), and Urd's arrival this morning in which she was anxious to discuss with him all the juiciest gossip from the winter solstice. Morning had now come yet she wanted something else from him!
"Go out and deal with Skuld. She's bothering me," Urd said.
"Skuld's back?"
"Yeah, she just got back from the big 'bike' trip."
"Don't give her a hard time about it. We've been away. You should see her as a loving sister."
"In other words: can't you deal with her so I stay here asleep?"
He shrugged.
"Well since you're intent on staying here dear, perhaps we can discuss why I'm sensing pictures of my sister dancing around half naked? Something you want to tell me?!"
He squinted back looking up. "That . . . whole day was very confusing to me! I didn't even know what I was looking at most of the time!" he protested. "Just go say hi to Skuld."
"I can't. I have an important meeting with Megumi."
"Meeting with Megumi? She's coming over?"
"Actually she never left last night."
Defeated Takumi wandered out into the hallway, stepping over several unconscious Nekomi members in the process. Peeking into the living room he spied Skuld sitting atop her gear bag.
"Finally!" she said seeing him.
"How was the big motor sports trip up north Skuld? Did everything go well?"
"Pretty well. Sentaro finished third and I think the Nekomi Tech members did pretty well in their event. It was nice to see Naru spend time in the forest."
"You don't seem that excited."
"There was this green-eyed girl that kept watching Sentaro."
"I see. And how did he respond?"
"He didn't have a lot of time to see her. Since she was standing by the river and got knocked over by a big wave there."
"Skuld."
"Hey, who knows how these things happen?"
"Is he here now?"
"He's coming tomorrow with Tamiya and some of the others."
"How did you get back?"
"I rode back with Megumi. I though it looked cooler."
"Great. I wish you wouldn't do that Skuld."
"If I can handle the Wing I can ride on the back of a bike!"
"I suppose. And your gear?"
"Otaki took it in the car.
"You made him drive back alone?"
"No. He came back with that girl."
"What girl? Otaki has a girl now?!"
"Try to keep up old man. Why are you so surprised?"
"He does spend a lot of time with Tamiya," he muttered.
"So you want to hear about how my and Urd's trip went?"
"I have no particular need to hear about your guys perversion."
"Hmm. Did you miss us Skuld?"
"No."
"Why are you bothering me then?"
"Because there are things going on here!"
"What kind of things? You mean the parties?"
"No. Things!" she cried cryptically. "Like Big-sis only listens to about half of what I'm saying now! What's going on? It's crazy! Has the whole world gone mad? Is it a disease?!" she said frantically.
"And all this has happened during the 10 days we were gone? What does Keiichi have to say about it?"
"Shoo you two, this is where our meeting is," Urd said moving them out into the hallway as she sat down with Megumi.
Takumi frowned taking up his cup. "And where is Belldandy?
I hate it when you shrug like that!" he called back to Urd.
The door to Keiichi Morisato's room door slid open as Otaki's head appeared.
"Well that's definitely not Morisato," he said peering in to see a blushing girl inside. "Have you seen Keiichi?" he asked Otaki.
"Said he was going to make other arrangements last night," Otaki replied as a form of explanation, careful not to say more in front of Skuld. "You check the garage to see if his bike is here?"
"Good idea," Takumi replied departing with Skuld. "Hey did that girl in the room look like she was wearing a catsuit to you Skuld?"
"What?!"
"Never mind."
A search of the garage found that Keiichi's bike was still there. He turned around puzzled. "Keiichi!"
High in the loft at one corner of the main temple Keiichi stirred beside Belldandy. "Do you think we should deal with that?"
Belldandy shook her head cuddling closer under the blanket.
. . .
"You see what I mean?!" continued Skuld.
"They must have gone out for a walk before breakfast," Takumi replied returning inside. From the hallway he saw Urd and Megumi excitedly punching the air in the living room as they watched TV. "Urd what the hell are you watching!"
"It's a prototype of our new show. You've heard of Hello Kitty haven't you?"
"Umm yeah," he said watching the screen with growing dread as at that moment several innocent characters were splashed with viscera. "Seriously, what the hell is this?!"
I told you, our new show - Hello GUNDAM Kitty. It's good isn't it?" she said biting into a cookie.
He looked back at her in horror. "Urd this is - just not right."
"Oh fine. I've already got an idea for spin-offs."
"Spin-offs? I'm afraid to even –."
"Full Metal Kitty!"
"I really don't think we need -."
"Samurai Champloo Kitty!"
"Okay now this is just getting -."
"Kiddy Grade Kitty!"
"I'm going now Urd -."
"No listen," she said grabbing him. "Megumi and some of the Auto Club are already helping me with merchandising. See?" she said holding up several questionable fanservice drawings depicting her creations.
"That is just - wrong on so many levels," he said looking back.
"Each team member has a special power," she continued, pushing the small stuffed cat toy into his face clawing the air ferociously. Takumi shook his head.
"No? Then what about Love Hina Kitty?!"
"Isn't that what we've already got going on around here?" he murmured. "Look, aside from the copyright lawsuits I see in your future - that one there is obviously just Keiichi and Belldandy drawn as cat Bond characters.
"No it's not!"
"It's them with eyepatches!" Just then he looked outside noticing the real Keiichi and Belldandy beyond the window sneaking toward the back of the house. Urd leaned beside him raising an eyebrow. "Hey, nice hair Bell! What did you just -," he coughed as Urd jabbed him in the ribs. "I'm kidding!"
He turned around to catch Skuld's frowning. "Yeah that confuses me too!" he nodded. His mind would frequently go back to those winter days in the years to come. The temple. Its majesty among the pines and snow. But most of all how they were all together. How that winter the house seemed to become a perfect place for members of the Auto Club to read, or chat, or nap beside the kotatsu. Dinners together and talks late into the night. Perhaps it was the weather, perhaps their recent shared experience over Keiichi that drew everyone together. As January gave way to February Keiichi began work on a new bike to replace that which had been lost. Takumi assumed it was in part to help build up his strength, but as time wore on he became less sure. He opened the garage one morning to find him hard at work. "Something on your mind chief?" he asked quietly sitting down beside him.
"No, nothing."
"You sure?" he said looking around. "You went through a lot."
"It's not that. It's just – well, it's Belldandy," he said assembling the parts.
"If it's Belldandy how big a problem could it be?"
He pulled out a feather holding it up.
"Hmm don't know what to tell you. Maybe she's molting?"
"Oh be quiet."
"Look women are complicated. You think everything between me and Urd is always perfect? Believe me, we've got our issues."
"Like what?"
Like – uh never mind," he said beginning to rock.
"Tell me. I told you."
He continued rocking. "Well like, you know when the two of you are together and things are about to cometoa conclusion?
"I suppose," he said not looking up.
"Well for us that always happens at the same time."
He nodded waiting for the rest.
"That's it," Takumi replied tersely.
"That's your problem?" Keiichi turned his attention to the clutch irritated. "Sounds terrible. I can't imagine how you put up with it. But tell me, are you complaining - or bragging?!"
He resisted the urge to choke him. "Don't you get it? Every time! Every time we're together things conclude at exactly the same moment. You see what I'm getting at?" he muttered looking around hoping further explanation was unnecessary.
He began to understand. "I see - you think Urd is fak-."
"Did I say that?!Did I say anything like that!" he said glancing around. "I mean, that couldn't be the problem – not for somebody like me," he said defensively. "But um, I mean just in case - you haven't heard anything have you?" Seeing only a blank expression in his face he continued, "I just wondered if, you know - something might need to be worked on . . . or something," he said attempting to shrug nonchalantly.
"If you're worried why don't you just ask her?"
"Ask? We've been together a while now. How exactly am I going to bring it up at this point?!"
"Maybe you should have asked earlier. Belldandy and I can ask each other anything."
"Oh you're just full of good ideas today aren't you Morisato," he grumbled. "Before was – well you know there's no manual that explains this stuff!" he complained.
"Actually there might be," Keiichi mused, remembering a book Urd had once showed him - several times.
"Heh, heh yeah I think I've seen that book," Takumi chuckled. "But it's all written in some kind of hieroglyphics I can't make heads or tails of. And the illustrations are all rather technical in nature, not very focused on social customs if you know what I mean. Which reminds me, do goddesses have some kind of fascination with rope?"
"I think what you were seeing are symbolic strings of characters in their language," replied Keiichi.
"Really? Oh thank goodness! Because I was beginning to think - never mind."
In any fair assessment of what subsequently occurred, it's important to point out that Keiichi was kindhearted and really did want to help if he could. After all it's what got him here. So he couldn't be entirely blamed for trying to clear things up.
"Takumi I need to talk to you!" he said a few days later sneaking out through Skuld's shoji door.
"In a minute," he replied continuing to stack the wood.
"I'm not sure we have -."
"Dinner!" Urd shouted suddenly appearing at the doorway. Once inside, Takumi was surprised to find the food already laid out. "Bell won't be back for a while so I was told to feed you - something," she said sitting down. "Sit," she said directing the two of them beside her.
Is that fear I see in Keiichi's eyes? What would he be afraid of? he thought."Urd is everything okay?" he asked taking a seat.
"Of course! Why wouldn't it be?" she replied biting into a biscuit as though snapping bone. She looked over seeing Keiichi trying to signal him. "You have something to tell us Keiichi?"
"Uh, no," he replied quietly.
"Funny, you always seem so talkative," she said folding her arms. "Did everyone have a nice day?"
"I think I did," Takumi replied nervously. "I mean the -."
"Fascinating. Keiichi tell me, if you had a problem of oh saya personal nature regarding your partner would you go and talk to them, you know like a man would, or would you go talk to a complete stranger about your SEX LIFE?!" she shouted.
Takumi's eyes shot open looking at Morisato, "Keiichi!"
"Technically I'm not a stranger," he said quickly.
"This is all theoretical right?" Takumi asked.
"Did you say something Tai?!"
"Um - just about how lovely you look tonight . . . dearest."
"Come here!" she shouted jumping at him.
"Traitor!" Takumi cried scrambling for the door as she leapt over the table after him. Several bolts of smoke and flame passed across the courtyard before she had him.
"Now what do you have to say for yourself?!" she said pouncing on him.
"Well you see, I was worried because things are soooo perfect between us. Too perfect. It's a sickness really."
"God are all men as dumb as you?"
"Can't really help you with that one . . ."
"I pity Bell if that's true. You have no idea what makes a goddess tick do you?"
"In my defense Keiichi and I have determined there is no manual available. We've looked on the internet and everything."
"Ugh! Look you, when a goddess is with - well the person they are with, they have a certain response upon seeing that person pushed to physical states of . . .," she began to shiver thinking about it.
"So it's just a weird goddess kink?" he replied.
"No it's – oh just be quiet," she said kissing him.
Snow fell several times over the next month but it did nothing to cool the mood at the temple. Keiichi now fully recovered was helped daily by members of the auto club and Megumi, who brought him in various bits of needed parts, Skuld and Sentaro seemed sufficiently preoccupied with their own projects, Urd and Takumi tried to stay out of everyone's way; and Bell acted as a house mother to it all. If anything the cold weather seemed to bring them all together. One day in March after Chihiro dropped off a crankshaft and cylinder heads to the temple the skies cleared and the winds turned fair as the group gathered to play. Urd stood on the porch looking on pulling the shawl around herself against the cool air. She stood by the column taking it all in watching the scene. She felt happy if a bit lightheaded. Putting her hand out on the pillar she felt herself trembling. Steadying herself she felt suddenly weak, kneeling before collapsing on the ground. Beyond her in the yard Takumi whooped as he ducked past Sentaro into the end zone. "Ha! Not so fast now eh deer boy!" he gloated. "Did you see that Urd?" he said looking back at the house. "Looks like the old man still – Urd? URD!" he shouted running to her followed by the others.
. . .
Takumi pulled his knees under himself looking anxiously at the doorway as two more goddesses appeared rushing into the house. "There goes some more!" he complained. "I think I recognized that last one," he said.
"It's Peorth," Keiichi replied.
"Why do more people keep coming!"
"I don't know," Keiichi said for perhaps the fifth time.
"It's been forever! She was fine this morning!" he continued.
"It's been 40 minutes," he said trying to calm him.
Takumi looked around the courtyard silently for several minutes. "You ever notice how we seem to be out here a lot?" he said impatiently.
Keiichi muttered something under his breath.
"You ever think about putting a hammock out here or something Keiichi?"
"You know this isn't our house, right?" he replied.
Inside Belldandy continued to welcome their new visitors.
"We're here Bell," said Peorth coming in.
"Thank you for coming on short notice."
"It's fine. What this all about?"
"It's Urd. She collapsed suddenly a little while ago. We've been trying to ascertain her condition but I'm still not sure.
Your mother was a healer so I wanted to ask you your thoughts about the following: I am wondering if it's possible - well if her condition could be related to a secondary emergence phenomenon."
"What?! Is that even possible?"
"Well it is Urd we're talking about here."
"I see your point," she said kneeling down.
Outside Takumi had taken to alternating between pacing and questioning Keiichi about the details of goddess medicine. "But don't they know everything?!"
"I'm sure they're doing everything in their -." At that moment Peorth appeared at the doorway. They looked up expectantly. "Mr. Sato you can -." He was gone, past her without another word, almost colliding with Belldandy in the hallway.
"How is she Bell? Is she alright?"
"She's resting," replied Belldandy.
"But she's alright, right?" he said searching her eyes.
"You - should speak to her about it."
His heart pounded as he forced a smile moving off down the hallway until he reached the entrance to her room. "Urd?" he called gently. Propped up on the futon she looked over at him tentatively. "Hiya."
He bowed low taking her up in his arms, pushing his head past hers so she would not see him holding his tears. "Indigo be honest with me. Are you dying?" he asked not wanting to know the answer.
"What? Of course not!" she said shaking her head, hugging him back. For several long moments he said nothing simply hugging her trying to slow his heart. When at last he brought his head up meeting her eyes she smiled looking away.
"You're okay then?"
"Yeah."
"And nothing's wrong?" he asked.
Again she smiled looking away. "Well it's just that some people think we may need to discuss our current arrangement," she said quietly.
"Oh?" he said feeling his heart beginning to pound once more.
"Yes. You see the prevailing opinion seems to be that all of this may be linked to aspects of secondary emergence."
"Uh-huh," he replied, nodding at her the way he always did when he had no idea what she was talking about.
"I mean – they think there may be a sprite in our future."
Finally the source of his concern a name; a focus. "A sprite? What is that? Can it be fought?! Can it be killed?!"he demanded.
"GAAA! NO! It's - you know, little, looks like us. You hold it in your arms?" she imitated, rocking.
Takumi's motion ceased, his eyes searching hers. "You mean like - a baby?!"
"Ah, baby - that's the human word for it!" she said snapping her fingers.
He looked around lowering his voice. "Urd, I thought you said we, you know, didn't have to worry about those things?!"
She blushed looking a bit embarrassed. Her eyebrow began to twitch. "Well yes, but now that I think about it -."
"NOW - that you think about it?!" You mean after the - and then the – and when we - Now that you think about it?!"
"Well you have to understand, this process for a goddess is complex. It involves the whole community."
"The whole community?!"
"Yes, you see for successful conception to occur – it requires the goddesses wishes to align with that of the majority."
"They vote?!"
"Eh sort of. And you see because it's rare for more than fifty percent of the entire community to favor a given union, offspring in the heavens are a rather infrequent event."
"I'd always wondered why there weren't more."
She nodded. "As such multiple offspring in the same family are an even more uncommon event. Perhaps no more than twenty percent of unions now have siblings like Belldandy and Skuld."
"And their parents weren't exactly unknown."
"Exactly."
"So you're telling me that more than half of everyone in the heavens wants us to have a child?! I had no idea we were so popular. I didn't think half the people in the heavens even knew our names!"
"I'm pretty the sure folks up there know my name alright. But I don't think that's what's going on."
"Meaning?"
"Well . . . you know I'm half demon right?"
His eyes narrowed.
"And you can imagine that the demon realm's system of voting isn't exactly -."
"Hild."
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure she can influence all elements under her control."
"But that would still only give her 50% influence over one parent."
"That's pretty much what I thought," she said biting her lip. "But, we may not have correctly considered your constituency.
"Which means?"
"Well technically youwererestored to your current state using her power."
His face grew pale. "You mean Hild -!"
"I believe so," she nodded.
"That's why she gave us the pools!"
"The thought has occurred to me."
"That witch! Of all the -!"
Urd turned to the side putting her head down. She grew quiet. "Well, that's what I`ve been thinking anyway. But . . . there's no need to worry. I mean, parents . . . they do have the ultimate say in all this and . . . well it's – it's not for us . . ." she said seeing her small fingers curling around one another. He followed the wavering tone of her voice; realizing now how his outburst must have sounded. No. She think's -. But what to do now? He thought quickly bending low, beginning to chuckle - then laugh. Her eyes looked over at him.
"Can you believe it Urd?!" he howled cocking his head.
"It's finally happened! One of the old hag's tricks has finally backfired on her! And in so doing has brought us more happiness than we possibly dared dream! Can you believe it?!" he shouted happily. From the corner of his eye he could see his words were beginning to have the desired effect. Under her tresses he saw her eyes beginning to look back hopefully. He thought she had never looked more beautiful.
"Do you . . . really think so?" she asked nervously.
"Of course! Isn't it fantastic!" he cried hugging her to allay her fears. "I mean, I don't want to speak for you of course but -," yes she is definitely beginning look better, he thought.
"Well . . . I guess maybe," she said twirling her fingers around her hair trying to hold back any hint of excitement.
"Are you kidding me?! Oh Indigo it's– well it's so much more than I ever dreamed," he said excitedly.
Only now did any hint of excitement begin to show in her. "Well I guess it's a little exciting," she said allowing a few nervous tears to fall.
"What's this?" he said wiping her tears.
"I just – I didn't know how you would feel," she said letting her them fall more feely now.
"Oh you knew!" he replied kissing her.
And so for the next several hours the two huddled together in Urd's small room, not worrying about the world, or the Heavens, or the Demon Realm, allowing themselves to dream the dreams that all expectant parents do.
"This'll be great," Takumi said pulling the blankets around them. "I can teach him how to shoot, how to fight, how to -."
You know it's possible it will be a girl right Tai?"
"Oh yeah, but as you say we never talked about it but it's going to be a boy."
"How do you know that exactly?" she said putting her arms defensively around her stomach.
"Well, you see I didn't think we needed to have this talk so I didn't tell you; but in my family it's all boys."
"Well since we're talking about thing I need to tell you - we're going to have to involve Belldandy in this."
"Certainly. But why?"
"Well in the first place, the odds of Belldandy and Keiichi ever having a child of their own are not great - or even being formally wed for that matter."
"I don't really think the Heavens have much control over that but I defer to your greater expertise on the matter. Basically you're saying you don't think they'll ever be fully accepted?"
"It's unlikely."
"And that's it?"
"Well, I don't really know how to say this, but when it comes to baby anything's – Belldandy's got a bit of a problem." He smiled putting his hands behind his head. "No I'm serious, there've been incidents:"
The Gardens of Fensalir – Belldandy, age 4:
"I said one Belldandy – ONE! Odin she's making a run for it!"
"Come on!" Belldandy shouted leading the way, running with multiple peregrine chicks in hot pursuit down the hill, two jumping onto her shoulders.
"Here`s another one," Freya said catching her. "Why are they in your jacket?!"
"They got tired on the way here," complained Belldandy.
Urd shuddered remembering the tale. "There are wild falcons living around Fensalir to this day!"
The Folkvang – Belldandy, age 7:
"They followed me!"
"Then why are they in your coat Verandi?"
"They were cold Mom! They're practically frozen! You see? All these little kittens are shivering!"
Freya put a hand inside her coat, "They`re purring Belldandy!"
Nekomi - Belldandy age 22:
"I don't even want to tell you what happened when we found out that the hospital kept all the babies grouped together in one place!" She still remembered her sister's frenzied face pressed comically against the glass, eyes wide, fingers unconsciously squeezing at either side.
"Bell, you know these babies aren't for our use?" Urd said tugging her.
"But, just some, need hugging," she said as they slowly pulled her away.
The next day at breakfast Urd and Takumi informed everyone about the coming event and predictably there was much excitement from almost everyone gathered - almost everyone.
"How could this have happened!" Skuld demanded for perhaps the third time that morning.
"Well sometimes when a man and woman love each other very much, they do certain favors for each other -," Urd began.
"Augh! I don't want to hear your perverted explanations! AAAH! Now I've got those pictures in my head!
I thought you were a responsible adult!" she said pointing an accusatory finger at Takumi.
"I'm really not -," he admitted, shaking his head as disappointed as she.
"What kind of precedent does that set around here?!"
"Skuld, I think that horse has already -," Urd began before Takumi stopped her. She'd had enough shocks for one day.
"But Skuld don't you see, it means you will have -," Belldandy paused doing the mental calculation, "a niece or nephew."
"You mean we're going to have to keep it? That's even worse! Isn't here a place where unwed tramps like Urd can give up their kids?"
"We're going to go the traditional route and keep it," Takumi said placing a hand over Urd's mouth blocking her likely obscene response.
"They had a presentation ceremony," Belldandy reminded her.
"Yeah but even you and Keiichi – oh I can just see where this conversation is going!" she fumed rushing out of the house.
"Good that'll keep the numbers balanced," called Urd.
Belldandy frowned.
"No think about it, her room would make a good nursery. Or at least a place to keep dirty diapers."
Takumi left the sisters to their debate, following Skuld outside but to no avail. After searching the bell tower, the stairs, and the top of the wall he found Keiichi, Tamiya and Otaki gathered in the back. "Keiichi did you see Skuld?"
"She just took off . . . on Banpei," he whispered.
"Man, I wish there was a way we could take her keys to that."
"Tell me about it." He watched Takumi sit down nervously at the edge of the group trying to fit in. "So - at least you know."
"Seems so," nodded Takumi. "Urd says Belldandy's going to go nuts about it so . . . be prepared."
"You and Urd huh? That's heavy," Otaki mused.
"Yeah it's . . . it's heavy," he agreed. "Hey Otaki, who was that girl I saw you with?"
"If you want advice come to us any time," interjected Tamiya. "I know all about how to handle difficult women."
"Yeah, I heard your typical play is to hide from them in trash cans," Takumi replied.
The senior auto club member shook his head, "You've got yourself some inaccurate information there. It was a trash receptacle," he said smiling.
Sentaro pushed the bike up the riverbank, surprised to find Skuld sitting against the far end of the shed wall. "What are you doing here? I haven't seen you since the competition."
"Why, were you expecting someone else? Someone with green eyes?!"
"That . . . she's just a girl Skuld."
"We'll I'm just a girl too. . ."
"No, there aren't any girls like you." They were young, from different places and it wasn't always easy to communicate. But sometimes his offhand words struck just the right note - made her feel as though everything in her world was okay.
"Why are you here? Is everything alright?"
"I just had to get out. Everything's crazy at my house now."
"I thought you said things would settle down when your older sister came back."
"Well I was wrong OK! It's only gotten crazier. My older sister says she's going to have a baby! Who knows what will happen? I tell you, it's a crazy world Sentaro!"
"Geez," he said sitting down beside her producing a large bag of Pocky. "Here - it's wine flavored."
"Classy," Skuld replied helping herself to one as they sat together against the rising sun.