Disclaimer: Oh My Goddess belongs to Kōsuke Fujishima
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This chapter was written by Ceroxon and beta-read by Hotelkatz
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It was now Mokkurkalfi's turn to ask a question. The little demon was still down compared to the other two until now, less curious than Hild and Mara.
"Mok-chan? You do not talk much. Is there not a question you want to ask ? ... I'm curious to know what you would like to ask. " The Daimakaicho asked.
Mokkurkalfi thought for a moment.
"I'm not sure. I have some questions, but on the other hand the answers do not really interest me. If my robot beat one of Skuld ? Ha. If my sister and I were closer ? Brrr. If it was me who had made the vow Keiichi ? Pfff, it could be completely anything. No, I admit that I rather would see the end of the question of Mara. I do not care whether if she would have accomplished her mission or not. Yet I wonder what Urd will do, especially if she will discover the device used to divert the call. Had it been designed in my laboratory, the goddesses discovering it would not be easy. If your Majesty allows it, I would like to see more of the issue of Mara " humbly replied the little demon engineer.
Hild smiled. That is the question she had intended to ask when his turn would. She was so glad Mokkurkalfi application has its place, even if she regretted the lack of originality of his chief engineer.
" Very good, Mok-chan. Permission granted."
Mara grimaced inwardly. She really was beginning to regret this and almost hoped that Belldandy and Keiichi quickly reunited in the video.
She knew that her hopes would be disappointed, and that the case would last long.
Anyway, Mokkurkalfi has asked the machine to show them the continuation to the previous video they had watched in the arcade.
The next day came. Keiichi was initially surprised that Mara accompanied him to NIT.
" It doesn't bother me that you came with me, but why you are interested in college? Are you going to attend classes ? " he asked.
"Enough so that I'll be taking the same courses same as you, " Mara replied.
" Really? Are you interested in mechanics? "
"Not really, although I admit that riding a motorcycle with you is more fun than I thought it would. Actually I have two reasons to be here. First, I remind you that we are now linked. I need to know more about you and your daily life before we started to work together. I read your ad in hell before coming, but I would report better by spending more time by your side. Secondly, I know someone here who could be useful to us. ...Uh, I mean, I think I'll probably meet someone who might be helpful. Call this a premonition " Mara replied, forgetting that she mustn't reveal to Keiichi that she was came from the future.
Keiichi scratched his head for a moment.
"I don't mind, but uh... " he stammered.
"It there's a problem?" Mara asked, without aggression.
"Well. ... Actually yes. Thy clothes. The university does not require us to wear uniforms. However, they never let you come into class with your rocker outfit . You're very pretty, this outfit suits you well, yet dressed like that, I feel at times to talk to a boy, no offense "said the teenager.
Mara's eyes widened. She had no thought at all to this problem. She dressed this way to stand out from the rest of her family, especially her mother, with whom she had some. .. friction on certain things. ... intimate. However, her outfit was nothing extravagant for a demon. Nevertheless, she understood that in the human world, she would have to make some adjustments. It was not necessary to change her style in recent years before her time travel because it mingled pretty well in the human world, but now she would have to accept certain rules.
"Very good. Give me just a moment."
The demon uttered a word and disappeared into a kind of black cloud for a short moment before reappearing, his clothes had exchange.
Now, instead of her Rocker clothes, she was wearing jeans with a belt and a blue short-sleeved T-shirt.
"Is this better?" she asked.
"It's a completely different style, but it suits you really well. it makes you look ... cool." Keiichi said with a small blush.
Mara was a little shocked.
'Cool? Keiichi, one of my worst enemies, just told me he thinks I'm 'cool'. Oh, after all that I went through, I did not think AC would much good to hear this, for all the demons.' she thought.
"Mara? MARA?"
"Huh? What?"
"Your mind seemed elsewhere for a moment. Was there a problem?" Keiichi asked, feeling concerned.
"Uh. ... Not at all. It's just that it's been fun to be complimented. I've not had any in a long time. "
"I'm just saying what I think. This outfit suits you very well," Keiichi said. "Since we're going to the same courses, how you get the money ? The year has already started, how are you to subscribe?"
"Keiichi. I already told you. I am a demon. A demon. First class. My power is now limited because of our contract, it's true. Having said that, hacking a computer is absolutely not a problem. Give me 15 minutes and I drop the action of oil prices at 0 and cause the third world war. " Mara replied with a terrifying look as she cracked her fingers.
Keiichi backed away a moment.
"You. ... you would not do that for real, huh?" he stammered.
The demon crossed her arms.
"I could. ... but I would not do it for several reasons. First, complete genocide is poor for our long-term business. You can not contract with dead, they are not creditworthy. Of course, there's a crafty way to enjoy it, but overall we'd lose. Secondly, in times of war, people are turning to the heavens and implore their help while that they are blaming us, even if we did nothing. There's other reasons, like some contracts between the queen of demons and Kami-sama. So relax and breathe. the world will continue to turn tomorrow. "
Keiichi heaved a sigh of relief. First, he found Mara "cool" and then she made him really scared. Overall it was kinda satisfying... for now.
The blonde then spoke again.
"I hacked into the computers of the school last night. Officially, I'm an American student who is participating in an exchange program. You do not have to worry you for this".
While the"couple" talked to each other, Keiichi nor Mara had realized they had already arrived at the University. Nobody had heard what they said, but many eyes were turned towards them, especially to Mara.
"Did you see that blonde ? She looks pretty good. You think this is a new one? " asked someone.
"I do not know. Maybe. I find she is a bit of a tomboy, but I hope she is available. If that is the case I think I'm falling in love," had answered a another student.
In fact, nobody had noticed that she was talking to Keiichi. Everyone was captivated by "the beautiful American".
The discussion between Keiichi and Mara was brutally interrupted.
"Morisato, my boy," Ootaki said, laying his hand on the shoulder of Keiichi.
"Sem. ... sempais." The boy stammered in surprise.
"What have we here, little buddy? Aren't you forget something ?" The tall blond with sunglasses asked.
Even before Keiichi could answer anything, Tamiya advanced towards Mara.
"I need your phone number an 'your adress!" The giant said.
"HEY? KEEP AWAY FROM HER!" Keiichi exclaimed, amazed by Tamiya's gall.
"Don' be stupid. We gotta send you dat junk you left in the dorm"
"Oh, that's right. .. I forgot. .." sighed the boy.
"Hey have you heard that? She's with the little Morisato" exclaimed a voice.
"But it is absurd! What is it with this looser?" added another.
"Hey, no offense miss, but there are plenty of guys here that would better deal" added a third person in Mara's direction.
The demon thought for a moment that last remark. What they thought these fools? She was the girlfriend of Keiichi ? No, but what next ? Although she had learned to respect the boy as an opponent, even if she was currently trying to get closer to him. ... emotionally, it remained purely professional. Anyway, Mara did not seek to have a boyfriend. She was focused on her career only. A reality that often brought her into conflict with some members of her family. Besides even if she was as old as eternity, she was still too young to be interested in this stuff.
In the end, Keiichi was a means to an end, a partner at the most. Maybe he would become a friend with time, but a lover ? NEVER.
At that moment the bell rang, calling students to class.
-oOo-
Meanwhile, in heaven, Urd led the investigation. Poring over all records relating to Keiichi, exploring all systems and subsystems which her Administrator rank gave her access without finding anything wrong. ... except one small detail.
In looking over the data, Urd noticed that the call that Keiichi would have made should have arrived at the office of her sister. The entire procedure of the wish approval was in place. So why did the call never reached its destination?
Picking up the phone, Urd dialed a number.
"Skuld, you found something?" asked the Norn of the past.
"Nothing at the moment. I checked about half the equipment and I'm advancing on the other half. Contact me later in afternoon. You're sure this is useful? I hope you did not make me crawl across these tunnels for nothing, " the Mechanically-skilled Norn replied.
"Look, I'm convinced that there's something fishy. Tell you what, even if you do not find anything, you have helped Bell." Urd said. She then covered the phone and asked her other sister, "Hey, Bell. There anything new on Mara? Did she try anything in particular? Is she trying anything to push the boy to do bad things?"
Belldandy had not stopped watching Mara and Keiichi since yesterday. Thanks to her excellent professional results and realizing that she had concerns, the other goddesses had no comment, trusting their colleague and friend.
"No Urd. She enrolled in NIT and will go alongside him to his classes," replied the Norne this.
"EH? What Mara wants to do in a human school? She's not likely to learn much." wondered Urd.
"Maybe she just wants to get closer to Keiichi ? Looks like they might be heading towards becoming a a couple already," Belldandy said without sounding sure.
"I don't think so. The last time she tried to seduce a human, it wound up making her miss a promotion from what we know. I doubt she wants again. Keiichi Morisato... Is he really a normal human? Or. ... maybe she's using him to strike at someone else? a friend • A family member?" Urd asked.
It was at this moment that Skuld cried.
" That's it! I THINK I FOUND SOMETHING ! "
-oOo-
On earth, the day continued. Mara carefully consulted her little notebook, far from prying eyes.
'If I 'm not mistaken, a teacher had spotted Belldandy and found her application missing around this time before she and the Auto club snuck it in. He tried to have her deported. I'll have to make sure it will fail once again. I did not give all that trouble for a human to spoil everything.'
Mara 's concerns were fully justified. Professor Ozawa, seeing no student in his class, they have deserted to go in the room or was Mara ( who rejoiced at the unexpected success with the male sex, as it facilitates better deals for Hell's side in the future) Professor Ozawa found this funny business too. It does not remembered any exchange student, and thus began to check each file candidates.
Fortunately for her, she was particularly meticulous. Before making her journey through time, she had memorized everything that might have happened on Keiichi and Bell since signing the contract until her temporal leap and noted the significant event in a book.
The first time, Belldandy had falsified documents to create a false identity after Professor Ozawa have spent the whole afternoon to check each register.
The demon did not intend to be as patient or as subtle. She had lost a lot of time trying to isolate herself from other students who had begun to follow her like little dogs.
Professor Ozawa had almost finished checking the records. Mara therefore decided that she had to act quickly and effectively. ... and sow some chaos in the university. In the spirit of demons, it was a favor Mara would give for free... this time. Not only do these students could leave their courses earlier today, but it also would brighten up their lives. This was especially the aim of the demons. When the demons believe in chaos, they rather think of rock and roll and evenings carousing. No to war and misery. For them, the chaos is change, movement, life. Not death and destruction, those are simple tools.
Mara thought for a moment. How to make a maximum of disorder quickly and efficiently, with minimal effort?
Her experience told her that a fire would be a good option. It would cause good general panic and a fire was easy to create. ... But if things went wrong, it could create some victims, that she wanted to avoid. In addition, if the fire spread and destroyed the university, it would be a major problem. Not to mention that Keiichi would suspect her responsibility and he surely dislike her, thus ruining her efforts.
While she thought, Mara noticed a small metal object to the ceiling and remembered seeing the same, in the old building she occupied.
"SYSTEM FIRE! THAT IS THE SOLUTION! " thought the demon.
Indeed, a small flame on the tip of her finger would be enough to get water in the whole school. Professor Ozawa would leave the premises immediately and Mara could destroy the archives discreetly, therefore Ozawa could never prove anything.
Of course, things did not quite happen like Mara had expected. Her usual bad luck had continued to follow her throughout her journey through time.
The demon conjured a small flame that led to the fire protection system. ... that bustling offered her a good ice-water shower particularly brutal.
The siren of the school began to sound while a real downpour inside the establishment.
Keiichi, worried about Mara, rushed to his research in the direction where he had seen from earlier. He found her trying to turn off the system that was much more violent she would have thought, but despite her powers, Mara had little affinity with water spirits.
"Are you okay? We have to get out! There's a fire somewhere in the building!" Keiichi cried out, taking the demon's hand.
"NO, WAIT! I MUST TO DO SOMETHING FIRST!" Mara exclaimed.
Keiichi was not stupid. He guessed immediately that the demon was probably responsible for the situation.
In the midst of this deluge and din it engendered, gently, quietly, Keiichi asked.
"What have you done, Mara?"
The demon had no time to think about a lie. She did not have either the time to go into details, she wanted to get out of here as soon as possible but must first get rid of the archives.
" We could talk later? Here I have to do something. I... I need your help. " She replied, in a mixture of resignation and despair.
"What should I do?" Keiichi asked.
"Just help me destroy the records of students in the next room."
Keichii was surprised.
"Why?"
"No time to explain. Please do help me. We. ... we are partners. I give you a favor later". Mara insisted with a pleading look.
Because of the "rain", Keiichi could not clearly distinguish the face of Mara. Was it tears or water on her cheeks ? He could not tell.
"Okay. However I hope you have good reasons to do here," Keiichi said aggressive but firmly.
Both good news is that firstly the chaos that Mara had wanted create exceeded her expectations, and secondly, Professor Ozawa had left the room. The bad news is that too much water flowing in torrents, so that Mara can burn anything, at least not without having to spend several days in her coffin to recover her strength. Have limited powers by a contract of partnership, it does not only have advantages... It does not even have any at all.
"Now what? Can't pass any into the shredder. Electrical system shuts down when the fire system is activated. " Keiichi said.
"We could take these books and then we'll see." Mara replied. 'How to I have not weighed it but there's too many books that we carries everything.'
The demon thought for a moment.
In fact, she did not need to destroy ALL the archives. It was enough just a few pounds disappear and no one could prove that her record was not included among the. It was essential to take enough, for all people notice that it was missing.
"Let those who are in the office. That should be enough."
Taking as many registers they could in their arms, the demon and her human partner fled discreetly by the backlog of school.
Once out of sight of the college, Keiichi asked for an explanation.
Deciding that lying would bring her nothing, the demon decided that the truth was the best option. So she told Keiichi what Professor Ozawa had tried to do and why she wanted to destroy the archives. While ignoring the fact that she had wanted to cause a little confusion.
The demon was worried that her attitude shocked boy. She was not very happy either to be indebted to him. At least, her plan had worked and Professor Ozawa, even if surely suspect something, could not prove anything, and would force to accept the presence of the new "American student ".
"Why didn't you come to me before doing this? Together we could find another solution" Keiichi asked.
"I. ... I do not usually ask for help" The demon confessed. "When you ask a favor, one must then pay our debt."
"Mara. ... I find your sense of fairness although unexpected, from the demons... Admirable. I think I have much to learn about your. ... civilization. Having said that, we're partners, remember? If you need a hand, you should not hesitate to ask me. It would have made me happy to help you," Keiichi explained in a kind tone.
Mara. ... did not know what to think. It was not the first time she heard that kind of talk, but it was the first time she could benefit from it. More it is Keiichi who told her this time. Her former enemy. She felt a twinge and hoped she wasn't falling in love with him.
"Thanks," she said simply, not knowing what else to say.
-oOo-
In heaven, Skuld proudly explained her discovery to her sisters, especially to Belldandy.
"It was not easy, but I found this unit placed on the earthline customer," the Norn of the future said.
"What is it?" Belldandy asked.
"I struggled to determine it because it is demonic, but now I am sure it is a device that can divert a call on a line to another line." answered Skuld.
"The demonic devices are incompatible with our systems and vice versa. It is impossible to divert a call on a line with a divine demonic device" Urd said.
Skuld turned to her with a slight grimace of anger on her face.
"You heard what I said? I found it on an Earth line on EARTH! Mara had put this thing on the client's side, not on our Hotline."
"Wait. ... you mean that one way or another, Mara KNEW that this boy was to receive a wish from our TODAY ? " Urd asked.
"I do not know how Mara knew or what she didn't know. What I can say with certainty is that this unit automatically diverts a call on a line to another destination chosen. In this case the " hell "hot" line ". " The little goddess explained.
" How could she know the customer and the precise day he would call? In the balance of power, we need only grant a wish to someone. And Hell grants a wish to someone else to rebalance the market. Moreover, the profile of the 'Keiichi Morisato' has very little interest in Nifflheim. Then why? What does she get? She did not get his promotion by doing stuff like that. Hild may not be happy to see a demon first class monopolized by a small insignificant human. ... " Urd said, before being interrupted by Belldandy.
"Do not talk like that about Keiichi."the Norn of the present said with a glare.
"I 'm sorry, I 'm sorry. I did not want to be rude. Having said that does not answer the question. Why Mara would steal this human? Unless. ... Unless the goal... was not to fulfill the wish of the boy, but rather to prevent Bell from granting it herself? Possible, but I repeat: why? " Urd muttered, raising her eyes to heaven.
It was at this time that she came to an idea.
"There's only one way to find out. Skuld could you do us a favor ? "
"It depends on the favor."
"I want you to build for us, one of these leisure machines, which allows to see what would have happened if things had been different. You know, one of those 'What if machines'?" Urd explained.
"You must first fill out the forms. You know that these machines are subject to authorization " Belldandy calmly recalled.
"It's okay. I'm not going to waste time for paperwork. This is good, because not for pleasure. Moreover I have only one question." pleaded Urd.
"I can build such a machine quickly, but what question would you ask him ? " asked the younger goddesses.
"I would ask "What if Belldandy was the wishgranter of Keiichi's wish?" the Norn of the past explained.
While the screen went out, three demons were again let their questions .
"What do you think this time? " asked Hild .
"I'm starting to interest me again this question. Finally this other me is more like me than I thought," Mara replied .
"Mok-chan?"
"I'm less sour suddenly . Skuld found my device too fast. She is not as smart as me. Or is it my double is less competent? I refuse to believe that." replied the engineer replied.
"As for me, I think this is quite realistic . Chronic misfortune Mara is there. Events seem consistent with those that we know and my little Urd-chan is going to understand everything. I wonder if it will take her question to the end and find out that we observe from another dimension. Your opinion about Mok-chan? " Hild asked.
"I do not know. I guess in theory, everything is possible. To find out , it may be necessary to ask the question 'What if those that we observe with the machine, discovered that we're observing them?' That is a question that really interests me."