Note from HotelKatz : Forgot to upload this. Originally, I had chapter 6 here.

Thanks to:

TheManTimeForgot

Hotspot the 626th

zeroIQ

Hild was having more and more fun watching the possibilities offered by the TV, her chief engineer had done a great job. She also began to get hungry, or rather she wanted popcorn and ice cream to accompany the evening party. Of course, Mara was forced to go shopping, while Mokkukalfi installed a 'parental lock' on her machine, by order of Hild. The Daimakaicho understood that this invention could be ... embarrassing.

In the fourth part of the question 'What if Mara was the wishgranter', she was not pleased by the fact that she was taking a mud bath, naked, with Mara's mother. The 'private' activities of Queen of demons were not a big secret (in Nilflheim, every demon must take a 'How please to Hild' class in their school studies), but she was not particularly thrilled to see herself on exhibit on a television before Ma-chan and Mok-chan.

It was then that Mara returned with the 5 flavored ice cream and everything needed to satisfy her queen. When she had finished putting all the food on the table, she was exhausted. Hild offered a small favor to Mara, feeling generous. "Thanks Ma-chan. As a reward I'll let you ask the next question." said the Daimakaicho.

"Thank you, your highness. I want to see the next part of the question 'What if Mara was the wishgranter' please."

Hild smiled. She was certain that Mara would choose this. The image appeared on the screen again.

-qQqQq-

Katagai beach... The Nekomi tech motor club is holding its annual four-day summer retreat here at the coast... Far away from reality anything at all can happen between a young woman and a young man but... summer... and here, at the beach.

"Whew, hot." exclaimed Keiichi.

"It's not that early. I didn't know it was so far. I really got tired on the bus. Sometimes the human world is harder than the demonic world." grumbled Mara who had hated the long journey by bus with Keiichi's sempai. "I hope that humans develop teleportation machines quickly." she thought.

"YAHOO! MORISATO HONEY!" cried a voice.

"Ack! D-Don't tell me ..." Thought Keiichi.

"Let's not waste these four days." added Sayoko.

"TAMIYAA! SAY IT ISN'T SO! WE'RE NOT DOING A JOINT RETREAT WITH THE ART CLUB, ARE WE?!" Keiichi screamed angrily on his sempai.

"If we was gonna get duh special rate, we needed a bigger group! Besides our club is mostly guys an' their club is mostly babes-geddit?" answered Tamiya, somewhat uncomfortable.

"You don't have to treat me like the plague, mm? I just want a chance…. to paint your semi-naked body glistening in the summer sun!" said Sayoko mischievously, while wrapping her arms around the neck of Keiichi.

"You're going to trigger the Ultimate Hell Force. This time I will not help you. It'll teach you a lesson." thought Mara.

Then nothing happened. "Oh. It ... didn't?" told the demon, surprised by finding that nothing happened.

"What? What? What didn't?" Asked the Queen of Nekomi Tech, seeing the astonishment of Mara.

"Wh - What happened to the Ultimate Hell Force ?!" thought the blonde, more concerned than

surprised.

The first time, it was Urd, who had deactivated the 'Ultimate Force' from heaven to come down to Earth and facilitate the relationship between Keiichi and Belldandy. This time, it was impossible that Urd did that, because she was not aware of her time travel ... unless as Norn of the past, maybe... Normally goddesses, even the goddesses of the time, are not informed of temporal changes caused by demons and vice versa. So even Urd couldn't have known that…

"But Urd is half demon" thought Mara. "While it is possible that even if she has no access to Nidhogg, she could perhaps, one way or another...FUCK!" the blonde yelled very loud in her heart. The most likely conclusion was that Urd had discovered everything and she tried to put everything in place. Turning off the Ultimate Hell Force was the first logical step. She would probably get in some time with her two sisters in an attempt to regain Keiichi. Mara must absolutely prevent that. Getting closer to the heart of the human became a necessity, although she would have preferred to keep some distance. Then she should also be prepared to fight.

The demon was beginning to regret having chosen to travel back in time instead of trying to bring Urd to the side of the demons. At least she could have gotten a nice promotion if it worked.

"I have to go, I need to make a call." she said, with a voice or anger and anxiety was mingled.

"Me too." said Keiichi who chose to accompany her in order to get away from Sayoko.

Moments later, Mara was on the phone talking to one of the attendants of the "Hell Hotline".

"What's that...? The Ultimate Hell Force is down? I'm sorry. We have some bugs we need to work out with the system." replied the unknown operator.

"Bugs?" marveled the blonde.

"Yes. Sorry ... Right now I don't have a clue when it'll be fixed."

"Ok. Thank you." said the demon before hanging up.

Keiichi had heard the conversation and was worried. "Uh ... If the Ultimate Hell Force isn't working ... Then don't you have to, you know ... go back?" he asked her.

"Absolutely not. I won't leave you for anything in the world. The Ultimate Hell Force is just a support system. It won't affect me directly ... I will stay with you until the day we reach our mutual goals." she assured him. Mara didn't realize that by saying that she would never leave Keiichi for anything in the world, he could receive her words as a declaration of love.

Anyway, Sayoko was forming a plan to put into practice. A few minutes later, she had managed to lead Keiichi on the beach after having put on her bathing suit. "Heh, heh, heh. Just look at them everyone's fixated on me, the beautiful Sayoko. And that dweeb Morisato's so overwhelmed he can't even look straight at me. Poor guy." she thought.

In reality Keiichi was not looking Sayoko simply because he thought his 'partner' would be on her way. "What's keeping Mara?" he said to himself.

"Heh, heh. While Mara was on the phone, I saw inside her bag; she doesn't have a bathing suit. My victory is assured. Bwa Ha Ha Ha Ha! And so once we're in the water he's all mine".

Mara, however, was not fooled for a second. Actually she didn't bring a bathing suit since she preferred to bathe alone and naked, as usual. However, even if she could create another bathing suit by the power of her thoughts, she had preferred to steal one in order to save her magical energies. Even still she still had to spend some energy to adapt this suit to her preference. The one she had found had little pink hearths on it, reminiscent of an old grandmother's curtain instead a bathing suit. Red flowers on black background was a style that suited her much better.

"NO WAY! WHERE ... WHERE DID SHE FIND THAT BATHING SUIT? WHERE?" screamed the brown girl, surprised.

"Well, where is Keiichi? I have to find him quickly. It's risky to leave him too long by himself with Sayoko." thought Mara, totally indifferent to the seductive effect she had on a growing troop of swimmers who were running toward her.

While some swimmers tried to seduce the beautiful blonde who wasn't even listening to them, the demon was trying to identify the voice of Keiichi in the hubbub.

"I ... I'm here." said a little voice ... from under her feet.

"EKK! KEIICHI ?!" Mara exclaimed.

"Heh, heh. I've been waiting f-for you..." stammered the boy who was trampled unintentionally by Mara.

The demon then bent down to help him to up and to be sure he was not broken. At that moment Mara felt more strongly that feeling that she felt for some time. The more she attended Keiichi, the more she seemed to see herself in him in some ways. Certainly, the boy was almost devoid of ambition, which was a big contrast. However, he was far from the incapable, too lucky-for-his-own-good boy she had always believed. It was the opposite. He was resourceful, but extremely unfortunate. Nevertheless, he persevered to achieve its goals, even if they were modest.

Mara understood that it probably came from his mortal nature. When we have eternity before us, or as close as anyone can possibly get, we can spend all the time it takes to complete the bigger goals. In comparison, when we are limited by time, the only thing to do is to set goals that can be accomplished within that relatively small time limit. Mara knew this since a long time, but never had the time nor the need to think about mortality. Now that her projects were related to the lifetime of Keiichi, this truth seemed to her more clearly. The boy had won her respect since a long time, now he began to earn her admiration...and sympathy. Mara was not yet aware of this change. Not yet.

A voice interrupted the course of her thoughts. A voice other than the disappointment of the swimmers to see that the blonde already had a boyfriend (at least that's what they thought). "ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT! ENOUGH WITH THE THEATRICS! YOU TRAMPLED ON YOUR BOYFRIEND... AND YOU DON'T EVEN NOTICE?! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?! HMPH! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO CALL YOURSELF HIS GIRLFRIEND!" admonished Sayoko.

The feeling of goodness Mara felt towards Keiichi gave way to a growing anger. Mara had esteem for Sayoko and sincerely hoped to renew her old alliance with her. However, she had just crossed the line. The demon sat up, then when Keiichi was well up on his legs, she headed straight Sayoko ... and gave her a vicious slap.

"Why did I think that we could be friends?!" Mara said icily before returning to Keiichi.

The Queen doubled over in surprise than in pain. She had thought to shame the demon and that she would run away crying. Her trap had turned against her. The slap was strong, and the pain she felt allowed her to understand the grief she had caused and now she sincerely regretted her actions. "Hmm ... maybe that was a tiny bit cruel?" she thought, massaging her cheek.

The people left Mara and Keiichi together, uncomfortable with what had happened. That night, Keiichi bandaged his wounds, pondering. "Geez, Mara, she was angry... and she didn't come down for dinner. I've got to clear things up with her and-" he thought it before being interrupted.

"Yo! Morisato! Where ya goin'?!" Asked Ootaki.

"Huh? Me? Uh, just up to see Mara…y'know," replied the boy.

"WHAT?! MORISATO, YA JERK! DIDN'T READ MY SPECIAL RETREAT RULE BOOK ?!" exclaimed the blonde showing off a book he has handed Keiichi.

The book had a bunch of internal codes of conduct. One of the rules stipulated that the men could not enter the women's dormitory under any circumstances. As always, Keiichi tried to argue but to no avail. The next day was the day of the rally organized by the club. Tamiya gave the signal to start.

Keiichi was hoping to talk to Mara today, but this was not possible, his sempais had made a program so that Keiichi would never have time to be able to talk to Mara as he had hoped.

At first he saw in this holiday season an opportunity to stay closer, emotionally, to the demon. Now a dark uneasiness had seized him. "Our contract? She said she would not leave me for anything in the world but ... what if I can't be with her?" he said to himself. Keiichi had already imagined Mara going off on a lonely road, considering the boy as a poor useless loser and, without difficulty, find a new partner much more interesting.

In fact, Mara also felt a similar fear. She saw in this trip to the sea the perfect opportunity to consolidate her hold on Keiichi in preparation for the time when the goddesses would eventually come. But nothing was happening as she had hoped. Every time she wanted to talk to him, there was something to prevent it: the Auto Club fools came for Keiichi, a boy approached her to try to seduce her, etc...almost like the Ultimate Force of heaven was against her. And then, the final day…

All this did not escape Sayoko who, despite her regrets of last days, had not sacrificed her plans entirely. "Heh, heh... As soon as he steps in, I'll invite him out for a walk. Clever me…"

Then she noticed Mara enter discreetly into the boys' dormitory to do something. The demon had decided to try her luck one last time. Taking a piece of paper, she had used her magic to leave a note that only Keiichi could read. When she left the room, Sayoko went in turn to see what had been happening and noticed the note.

"Huh?! It's blank?! Hm...what shall I do?"

Having successfully invited Keiichi to go walking she decided to give him the note, thinking it would not matter because, inexplicably, it was white. "Here, I think this is for you." she said, holding the 'white' paper.

Keiichi, he saw a written note:

"For Keiichi,

I need to talk to you, I'll wait for you tonight at the beach.

COME TO ME, IT IS AN ORDER.

Mara."

Overjoyed to have a chance to finally talk to her, Keiichi rushed to Mara, completely forgetting that Sayoko was surprised by this attitude. "He looks a blank sheet of paper, and then runs away. Too weird for me!" she mumbled.

Seeing Keiichi run to her, Mara felt immensely relieved. The Ultimate Force wasn't working against her after all. But her bad luck had not disappeared either. As he was about to reach her, Keiichi slipped on the sand and fell backwards on Mara. They both fell in the water. In other circumstances, Mara should be furious, but not this time. she was too relieved.

"I'm glad! You still need me as a partner!"

"Of course I do Mara! Forever and ever. Come to think of it, we've been here for days and we never went swimming. LET'S GO!" answered Keiichi.

Normally, bathing with a boy, especially in a romantic setting, wasn't Mara's sort of thing. However, this time it pleased her. She thought it was a great opportunity to get closer to Keiichi, for her mission. That is certainly what she was saying to herself.

The next morning…

"The salt water got into the wounds and made them swollen" Sayoko said, leaning over a Keiichi bedridden and knocked out.

Mara asking a question to herself. "Who's unluckier? Him for his injuries? Or me because it could strain our relationship? Besides, who is the unluckiest of us in general?"

In the meantime…

"When I got your call, I was very happy, but also intrigued. You said you had a deal to offer me." said Hild swallowing her piece of beef.

"Yes, it concerns Mara. You knew about her time travel?" Urd asked.

"Of course. You know that in such matters, I immediately get information on my desk. However, I didn't even bother to look up what you were worried about. It's annoying to check whether the 34,500 sheets have filled correctly."

"And you get to run your business by being too lax on this kind of thing? How do you do it?" astonished the Norn of the past.

"Sooner or later I check such documents personally and my staff knows very well what awaits them if ever I see something that does not please me," retorted the Daimakaicho on a disturbing tone.

"So you know what I want to ask you."

"It's easy to guess: you want me to give my consent for you to travel back in time and prevents Mara from intercepting the phone call, so that Bell-chan and her boyfriend get back together," said the queen with smile.

"That's it. What is your price?" Asked her daughter, determined.

Hild did not answer right away, instead, she ordered a bottle of French wine. "Oh, these Japanese. Their sake is remarkable but nothing beats a good French wine." Hild sighed as she poured herself a drink.

"I asked you a question, mom." Urd sighed in return.

"It makes me so happy when you call me 'mom'. Now if only you could add 'darling', it would be perfect."

Urd did not comment on this request, waiting for her mother to finish her mouthful of wine.

"Anyway, for no one price would I allow another person to time travel in this case." She answered.

"Why? I thought everything had a price for you?" Urd asked.

"Normally yes, but this time there's a problem. Mara has already made this journey in time. If I let you do the same, we could end all trapped in a time loop endlessly. It would take me months to solve this problem. It would be so ... boring. Besides, this story became my favorite soap opera. Each time something interesting happens, I look at my private television. I generally have a good time, and you want me to give that up? Out of question." explained the brown skinned woman.

"So I'm wasting my time trying to negotiate?" asked her daughter.

"Not necessarily. If you're willing to give me something, I could give you an opportunity..."

"No way I become a full demon or to go back to Nilflheim. Apart from that, we can discuss terms." said Urd firmly.

Hild smiled again because fortunately she had another solution to propose.

Meanwhile, the problem with the Ultimate Hell Force had allowed Mara to realize something. Something insignificant ... and disturbing. There was a day she had remembered, a time when she became a member of the auto club under the influence of a singing Belldandy, last year...

But she had never experienced this moment. This could have happened in their own future, but had not happened since she had traveled back in time two years earlier. How could she remember a time that had not yet happened even before her travel through time? How could she remember about the future?

This phenomenon was well described in the paperwork she had filled for permission to travel through time. Nidhogg works in tandem with Yggdrasil. Both computers are the only ones to have partial control over the future. They do not create it, since it is the actions of everyone who determines their own fate, so the future is always in motion.

While it is true that the two computers in question can manipulate the odds to change certain events, for example, by reading the profile of a candidate in an election, they can estimate what will happen if he is elected with great probability, and therefore act on this to promote or prevent his victory. This is also valid for small acts of everyday life. For example, when people lose their key and found them later in their own pocket.

However, Mara had obviously received information stored in Nidhogg to which she was not supposed to have access. The receptionist she had called earlier about the problem of the Ultimate Hell Force had reassured her somehow. If all this was just a bug, the incident would be resolved quickly...or not. She knew it could be hanging on its journey through time with Keiichi, as it had been the first time with Belldandy.

The first time, Skuld was came on the mortal plane and solved the problem. Mara had been cautious and had verified that is not a micro-singularity forming within Keiichi. She could not do anything for now, otherwise hope that the incident would not get worse. One day, a package arrives in the mail for Keiichi. He opened it, and saw it as a disk labeled 'Appealing'.

"Must be another gag by my old dorm mates," he thought. Motivated as much by curiosity as by its...content, he inserted the disk in the computer. Moments later, a beautiful woman came out of the screen, terror and surprise gripping the boy.

Unfortunately, as she advanced towards Keiichi, the girl stumbled and fell on him, knocking him out in the process. "Hmmm ...seems I've made a bit of a mess." She said seeing the blunder she had committed.

At this time, the girl heard someone slamming the door of the apartment. "OH NO, SHE'S BACK!" she thought. Instantly, she disappeared into the ceiling.

When Mara entered the room she saw Keiichi knocked down. Needless to read his thoughts. The demon had dreaded this moment and thought she could avoid it, but according to her research, the date was correct. No mistake, Urd had finally arrived and the battle was inevitable. She was not afraid though, she was preparing for this moment since her return from the trip to the sea... But she was too weak for a long fight with Urd.

"ALL RIGHT, COME ON OUT! I'M READY! " exclaimed Mara, showing a ball of fire in each hand.

"You haven't changed, still as aggressive as always" said the voice of a demon who came down from the ceiling.

Mara's face changed from a mixture of anger and determination at the most total amazement. "Kles?! It's...YOU?! But-But what the hell are you dings here?!" she stammered.

"Of course it's me. You thought it was who? A goddess perhaps? " replied the demon with white skin.

Normally, Mara was relieved that it was not Urd...but Kles? If she had been offered the choice, she might have chosen Urd. When Keiichi recovered from his emotions, the demon with brown hair appeared more fully.

"Hi honey. I'm Mara's cousin Kles. "

"What are you doing here?" Mara asked, hoping that her cousin was soon clear off.

"Always so direct. No 'I'm glad to see you, it's been so long?' Or even a 'welcome, I hope you are able to stay a little?' Nothing? Good, fine. The truth is that...you two were really starting to bug me." Kles conjured an image in the air showing the events of recent months.

"You're together for two months and what have you accomplished? NOTHING! This is total inertia. And you know, more than any other demon, how much I hate inertia." she said. "So I decided to come in person so that it change a little."

Mara was now more furious than worried. "I hope you kidding? As a demon of change, second class, limited, you do not have the right to come wreak havoc in humans. You have nothing to do here."

With that, the demon immediately launched a fireball at her cousin who managed to deflect it towards Keiichi, who managed to narrowly avoid it too. Later, while he was cooking the evening meal, Keiichi pondered the situation.

"WHEW. What a day. THIS turned out to be. Aim what a gorgeous babe that Kles is! She's a little like Mara. They are two real femme fatales!" He was then interrupted as Kles entered in the kitchen with an apron...and nothing else.

"Hello sugar. Do you need some help for the dessert?" she asked without shame.

"YES! I mean NO! Thank you! Good-bye!" Answered Keiichi completely distraught.

"Why did Mara choose this loser? If he's a slouch, she will accomplish nothing." thought Kles.

In fact, the goal of Kles was simply to have fun. When she heard that her cousin had made a partnership with a human, she was very surprised. This hadn't happened since the Buddha case. The demon thought it was an opportunity to repair her mistake of the past and to use the situation to wreak havoc on Earth through this team, she had no right in any normal situation. But this way she could create a mess in the plans of other demons. Such is the nature of the demons of change: unpredictable even to themselves.

At the same time, she wanted to help her cousin. She wanted her contract to work and that this human and she accomplish great things together. But why had she signed a contract with that boy? This guy was a customer for goddesses, not demons. It was obvious as fire in the night. "I'll take things in my own hands. First, I'll just-have to teach him a thing or two about real women."

After thinking this, the demon came towards Keiichi, becoming increasingly embarrassed.

"Okay honey, look into my eyes…you'd like to eat my muffin now wouldn't you?" she said, muttering an incantation.

"Y…Yes...I ...would like that." Said Keiichi, his mind becoming clouded by Kles's spell.

However, beyond the fog, he thought he heard the voice of Mara and her face was clear in his mind. "Resist Keiichi. You have more control than that." she seemed to say. Keiichi broke the spell and returned to the meal he was prepared, before Kles can do anything. The demon in vain to use all the power she had access to, but she was not able to bend him to her will.

At this point, Mara perceived the psychic struggle and intervened. "You've got to be careful Keiichi. I have to explain some things. My cousin is VERY dangerous. She is not nasty or cruel, but she's a demon of change".

"A demon of change? "Asked Keiichi.

"Yes. The term is pretty ridiculous, I admit. But that's it. She is part of a demon force that wreaks havoc...for other demons. Its role is to bring change among us, just as normal demons trying to bring change in humans. As it is more difficult, she has access to a lot more power, but, paradoxically, with greater restrictions. The problem is that she easily tends to go overboard and make more trouble than necessary." explained Mara.

"How?" Keiichi asked.

Mara sat down and bade Keiichi to do the same. The two team members were face to face and it was time for the demon to tell one of the most painful episodes of her life. "Keiichi. What do you know of Buddhist legends about the demon Mara? About me?" asked the blonde.

Keiichi thought for a moment. "Well, I never got so interested in religion, but if I remember correctly, the legends speak of a demon mistress trying to destroy the Buddha." he replied hesitantly.

"That's pretty much it. In fact, a deity had descended to Earth to grant a wish to Prince Gautama. He had asked for wisdom."

"What did he give in return?"

"Nothing. The gods grant their wishes free. The thing about this story is that the wish was 'overflowing'. Normally demons don't interfere vows made by the gods and they do the same. Except this time, the prince used it to create a new religion, and it began to gather followers…too many followers in our opinion."

"How did the new religion disturb demons?"

"Generally we don't care. Most religious leaders eventually disappear naturally with the money of believers or living without work with the food of naive people. They are manipulators who use stupid humans to enrich themselves. Of course, some end up believing the crap they tell. This time it was different. "

"Why?"

"Stop interrupting me and let me continue. This time it was different because his new religion is the exact opposite of what we as demons desire. Buddhism roughly teaches that everything is vanity, to accept things as they are, never try to oppose fate, that human passions lead to their loss, in short, a whole bunch of crap for 'Nirvana', a mental state where you feel not even the slightest desire... But, Keiichi, the desire is perhaps the most beautiful thing there is. This is the essence of change. Without desires, without ambition or greed, and all those beautiful sort of things, you'd live in a static world, where nothing ever changes. It would be endless misery. Think of the middle ages and the life led by the people, hard, painful, short and with little joy. Without desires they would be at that same stage, and you, instead of trying to make something of your life, go into auto racing, have a beautiful girlfriend etcetera...you'd be plowing a field without even trying to be happy. Resigned to your fate, and that you have no control over your life. That seems desirable for you? We demons, we would prefer death and nothingness instead of that." Explained Mara.

"But the deity didn't give him wisdom? So it's supposed to be the logical way forward, right?"

"Keiichi, 'wisdom' as with each truth or lie, it is a relative thing. For me the simplest truths are usually the most accurate. The more complicated stuff is the more there's a chance that it's a crappy thing if you ask me. The deity did its best to provide some form of wisdom and fulfill the vow. She did not do her job correctly. It happens to everyone, as the Valkyrie who gave a German painter the power to make his country a prosperous and powerful country. It gave you what? The Second World War. Needless to say that the Valkyrie in question has seriously regretted her actions, and the office of assistance goddesses is not proud of that history. As you see, a good intention can have disastrous consequences. We all make mistakes, sometimes big for which we do not have to pay, and sometimes small for which one has to pay all the costs. Humanity still paying the error of this Valkyrie today. Besides for your information, the deity in question resigned after that, and today she works Assistance of Early Childhood Office."

The demon got up to make coffee.

"It is very interesting as perspective, even though I'm not sure I agree, but what does that have to do with Kles?" asked Keiichi.

While she put the water to boil, Mara resumed her narrative. "It'll come. Concerned about the adverse consequences of this wish that was spreading more and more, Hild, the Queen of demons, decided to send one of its most popular agents to resolve the situation. Me. At that time, I was climbing the ranks and I was about to be promoted to the highest level of demonic hierarchy: 0 unlimited class. The ultimate dream for all demons." explained Mara, placing a cup of coffee in front of her and another in front of Keiichi.

The demon took a sip before continuing her story. "The fact is that before promoting me, the Daimakaicho ordered me to fill a mission. Corrupt Buddha, or, if necessary, kill him before he is to spread his message. You see, people who have no goal, who accept fate without fight, formulate any vow, and therefore do not contract with us, which is detrimental in addition to the reasons I gave you."

"But things did not go the way you wanted."

"Unfortunately not. For me it was an easy mission. I was so excited to receive my promotion...that I botched my work. I went to see the Buddha directly and I offered an empire, gold and all the women he wanted, if he agreed to change his religion. To my amazement he refused. I call him an idiot and tried to kill him, by all the means at my disposal, my magic powers of course, but I also hired mercenaries, bandits, and even an ogress. Nothing worked. Seeing that the situation was worsening and that this stupid story could cost me my promotion, which finally came, I opted for another solution: bribe followers instead of corrupting the messenger. They would have taught a perverted version of their religion, which would have the opposite of what the prince wanted and exactly what us demons, wanted. A resounding victory for our side ... And a triumphant return for me. "

"Given the place of Buddhism in the world today, that was a bust." Keiichi ventured.

"Indeed, and my cousin is largely responsible." Mara said with a hint of anger in her voice, before continuing her story.

"My plan was simple. I did reduce famine, disease, I offered to local life entertain for some times. Kles was responsible for...satisfying their carnal desires: gluttony and luxury. They nicknamed her Klesmara in Buddhism. This is the kind of work that I refused to do it myself, and the Department of Nilflheim succubae couldn't help me, for various administrative reasons. Only the Daimakaicho can mobilize an entire department. To my great misfortune, I chose to give a chance to my cousin ... THAT SCREWED IT ALL UP!" shouted the demon as she smashed the cup, remembering that bad memory.

"What did she do exactly?" Keiichi asked a little scared.

"At first she did very well...her job. Then, in the moment of the final triumph ... she discovered her vocation. At my expense. "

"Her vocation? "Asked the boy.

"Yes. You see, each god or demon, at birth, is already specialized in something, but they never know what until they discovered it. I, for example, I am a nightmare demon. In theory, this is my main function, though I prefer to work in "Hell 'hotline'" than to scare children. Demons work or do what they want even if it has nothing to do with their original function. It makes no sense that we called for freedom of choice, if we were prisoners of a role or style. I am a demon but I am known to be nice. Compassion and mercy are not unknown to me, like goddesses, seemingly perfect, may experience jealousy or lie. Then one day we discover our vocation. The specialty where we are the most talented, although then we choose to do this or not." Mara explained.

"And in the case of Kles?"

"Her vocation is...SABOTAGE. This is the demon of sabotage. Nothing attracts her more than a plan, who looks perfect, to come to ruin. I learned the hard way. I missed my promotion, and I lost the admiration and esteem of my colleagues at the time. A humiliation that I have not forgotten. Although some recent problems with three goddesses and…a human, had allowed me to forget some of that old story."

"A human and three goddesses? That sounds interesting too. Will you tell me?" Keiichi asked, no idea that he was the human that Mara was talking about.

Of course, the demon did not tell the truth to Keiichi. She said it just in a moment of anger. "No. It's long and uninteresting. Trust me. To return to Kles, she not only foiled my plans, my promotion and the rest, but in addition, it was she who was promoted directly to class 2."

"Huh? But this is absurd. Why is it she who received a promotion if she thwarted your plans?"

"Because she is a demon of change. You see, the great Daimakaicho considers it normal that some demons wreak havoc among other demons, in order to change our society. However, as I have told you, they have restrictions. Never sow chaos in humans, as this will affect the balance of power with the heavens against us. The queen of demons is capricious, but not counter-productive. An exception was made for Kles because she had discovered her vocation. Otherwise, she would have been severely punished."

"I guess I understand. But if it was not your fault that you failed, then why were you punished?" wondered the astonished boy.

"Going to class 0 is something extraordinary...but very difficult. I was responsible for my mission. It was felt that I had misused the resources at my disposal, taking undue risks and above all that I botched my work. So I paid dearly." Mara replied.

"So actually Kles is an enemy?"

"No. She is my cousin, I admire and I love her, even if we sometimes have conflicts," said the demon, calming down.

"Despite what she did?"

"Yes. I know it may seem hard to understand, but it's like that for demons. Kles did not mean to discover her vocation at the worst time in my life. Also, I have to admit that she is very good at her profession. I repeat; The demons of change are highly respected because it is they who advance our civilization, even if they spend their time creating problems for us." sighed the blonde.

"What is she doing here in your opinion? She said she wanted to help."

"Yes that's what worries me. You know the proverb 'with friends like that, who need enemies?' Kles is the same. When one gets help from her, we only need to wait for a disaster to occur. Beware. Oh, one more thing about her."

"What?"

"I know her methods. Given what was going on in the kitchen, I'm sure she will try... doing things with you, to 'build confidence'. So if you still want to preserve your childlike innocence, be careful. I can't stop her. She's a LOT more powerful than I am actually. She can wreck this whole city if she wanted. In fact, I'm very surprised you were able to resist her!" Mara said in a questioning tone.

"Well, I ... Uh almost about didn't. I kept imagining your face saying 'Keiichi resist. You have more control than that.' That was as good as a cold shower!" explained Keiichi.

Mara was very pleased to hear that. This meant that her work strengthening Keiichi was beginning to show results. That night, while Mara was recovering from her energy expenditure earlier, Kles slipped into the chamber Keiichi while he quietly read a comic book, lying in a futon.

"WAAAAAHHHH!" he exclaimed, recoiling when the demon lay beside him.

"Look dear, you want to keep around Mara don't you? Because you see, the problem is that if you two don't accomplish anything soon, now that Ultimate Hell Force is no longer active, the queen of demons is likely to end your contract, and Mara will have to return to Nilflheim" said Kles.

"SO WHAT CAN I DO? I MEAN TO HELP RECHARGE ULTIMATE HELL FORCE?!" Keiichi said, panicked.

"Eat my muffin!" Replied the demon.

"What."

"For the moment, Mara is helping you gain confidence, that you may be able to help later and your partnership agreement to work. My muffin is like a remote terminal, with a direct live link into the system. If you eat it, your psychologic information will be uploaded immediately. This will strengthen your contract and you can stay together. So how about it?"

"Mara told me that demons were always serious in their contracts. And, what if Kles is right?" Thought Keiichi.

"When I was getting him all steamed up earlier at least I got a spell into him. This time he won't resist. When I make him a true man with my muffin, and destroy his shyness, he will be much more determined, which will strengthen buddy with my dear cousin." thought Kles taking a break before the lascivious Keiichi was beginning to look at her.

"I accept…eat your muffin…" replied Keiichi blushing, before adding, "But... it will be the first time that I've done something like that."

Kles pretended to be surprised. "Ah good? This is the first time you've had to eat a muffin? "I thought that all children had already eaten at least one, at least in this country."

The note about children sent some repugnant images in Keiichi's mind. However, it wasn't exactly what Kles was trying to say. In fact, the demoness had used this play on words to induce a bit of fear in the boy...and to have a little fun. She wanted Keiichi to overcome his shame, but it was absolutely out of the question that he 'eats her muffin' in the way that he had understood. What Keiichi thought when Kles demanded him to eat her muffin, was a sexual reference. While actually Kles handed him a chocolate muffin with pecans to Keiichi. At this time, the door opened suddenly.

"Kles! JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! "Mara shouted angrily.

"W-wait, your cousin only wanted to help. To prevent our contract being broken by the Queen…" explained Keiichi, trying to resolve a misunderstanding.

"Keiichi, I don't know what she told you, but do not trust her. Although Kles has the right to bring chaos to the other demons, she does not have the right to interfere in contracts. That's why Kles is a limited grade demon even though she's stronger than me. The Daimakaicho would never break a partnership contract. If our team works, then it works. If it does not work ... Then the queen savors my torment behind a screen while eating popcorn. As I know, she must be about to laugh at this situation right now. "Explained the blonde.

(At the same time, somewhere deep in Nilflheim…)

"You're absolutely right, Ma-chan. I'm still not laughing but I'm really close. Come on, try a little harder!" commented Hild.

"HAH! I couldn't care less about that! It's worth it if I can strengthen your team!"

"OKAY, ENOUGH NOW! I'VE HAD IT! YOU'LL REGRET COMING TO INTERFERE WITH MY CONTRACT!" howled Mara, preparing a black flash she was about to hurl at Kles.

"HAHAHA! FINE, COUSIN, GIVE ME YOUR BEST SHOT! BUT YOU'LL BE SORRY YOU DID!" retorted the demon of sabotage with a manic grin.

This fight did not take place because at this moment, a small molten volcano seemed to erupt from the earth and shoot a large stone at Kles's head.

"...Jeez, wasn't that a little severe?" asked Keiichi.

"That wasn't me! Look, there's something writing on the stone!" Mara replied.

"To have wreaked havoc with a human, and for my own entertainment, Kles must remained

EXILED until further notice. Signed: Hild." translated the demon.

"Looks like I'll be visiting for a while! " joyfully declared Kles.

"Why Majesty...?" sighed the blonde.

"Because I have plans, because the original story must be preserved as much as possible, but mostly because you're the most fun my little Ma-chan." said Hild from deep Nilflheim.

Soon after, the 'Queen of Nekomi University Campus Beauty Pageant' was organized. "I still wonder how did you lead me to succeed in this stupid contest. I don't care is they call me the Campus Queen." Mara growled in her black swimsuit with red flowers.

"It's simple. I blackmailed you. If you do not participate, I try again to make Keiichi eat my muffin... and maybe not a pastry this time. So you agreed because you felt that it was better for you." replied Kles, wearing a green bathing suit with yellow birds.

"But why do you care that I participate? What's in it for you?"

"Nothing. Just a bit of fun."

At this time, Kles felt the challenge waves that surged toward her. Excited and intrigued as she turned to see a girl she did not know to look to her with a face of triumph.

"Campus Queen? Hmph! There's only one choice! And the men of Nekomi Tech will prove once again I am the undisputed QUEEN of this CAMPUS!"

"Mara, it will be even more fun than I thought. What did you say this girl was called? Sayoko?

That's Sayoko putting out those seriously hostile energy waves! And they're aimed at us! Hah! She defies the demons?! Marvelous. I shiver with pleasure." said the demon of sabotage.

Then an idea germinated in the head of Mara. "BUT YES IT IS THE SOLUTION! If Sayoko win this stupid contest, she will be happy and I could rebuild the relationship we had the first time. I hate losing, but I'll make an exception. I still have to manage to make her forget the slap to the beach. That won't be a problem, I'll just make her believe that it was just a bad dream. This is my original purpose after all. The only real difficulty is to prevent my cousin from winning, or rather prevent everyone from losing."

Shortly after, the contest began. The candidates were a bit surprised at the nature of the tests. They thought they should practice swimsuit modelling, singing ... the usual tests of this kind of contest. They had forgotten that it was the auto club which organized the competition this year, things would be very different. After the candidates had donned mechanic outfits over their swimsuit, Otaki announced the first test.

"Are we ready ladies? Then it's time to take those bikes in front of you...and repair them following the instructions you'll be given! Of course, the broken parts are marked!"

"WHAT? I must...REPAIR something? But ... but I never been able to fix anything. This is the opposite of my vocation. I...I...It is a test that fate sends me. I ACCEPT!" thought Kles who flashed a rueful smile.

"Repairing a motorcycle? With my magic it is easy but I prefer to save my energy…I learned a lot of little stuff with Keiichi. I just have to leave enough time for Sayoko. Kles won't be a isue, she is awful at repairs." Mara thought with a smile of relief.

"Hmm. Those two look confident! Bad news; I've got to do something!" thought Sayoko with a worried smile.

The queen of the university pretended to go to the bathroom. In fact, she went to see d a member of auto club discreetly, to charm him.

"Which of those bikes will be easiest to fix?" she asked.

"Uh ... I'm not allowed to tell ya miss. Really!" stammered his interlocutor.

"Pleeease? I can give you your reward in advance." insisted Sayoko with a mischievous smile.

The poor guy was not strong enough to resist and gave her the number of the bike he considered the easiest to fix, number 18.

Kles, which had not lost sight of Sayoko purred with excitement. "The treacherous little cheater. She pleases me more and more. But I will not let her win." thought the demon.

Otaki gave the signal to start. Several cards were arranged on the ground, and candidates had to choose one of them at random.

Sayoko frantically looking card number 18, but it was Mara who found it.

"That woman! Does she have the gods helping her? She hits it just like that!" sold Sayoko astonished before adding: "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE 'PLEEEASE LEMME HAVE THAT CARD cause... eighteen's my lucky number!"

Mara suspected, of course, Sayoko was lying, but she wanted her victory and that was the opportunity to arrange a little her relationship so she accepted.

Sayoko already imagined winning the contest. "HO HO HO! JUST CALL ME QUEEN! I SHALL RETURN TRIUMPHANT TO MY THRONE!"

It was very optimistic. Despite the 'facility' to repair her motorcycle, Sayoko knew nothing about mechanics. It was still too complicated for her. Mara, for her part, had already started the repair. Staying with Keiichi began to be helpful. Not only she knew what to do, but she also drew a sense of pride in the expertise she had acquired.

Kles was too preoccupied with her bike, to care about all that. "I barely recognize a quarter this stuff." she muttered.

Tamiya then announced the second round. "Now, the kicker here is that the bikes that are EASIEST to fix are also the SLOWEST- the hard ones really RIP! The campus is full of food stands and display booths today. CARDS have been concealed in the FOOD and other things they're offering. The CARDS are a PUZZLE- different parts of a CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL'S face. You must FIND the right cards; ASSEMBLE the photo, LOCATE the mystery person, and BRING him or her to the stage!"

"OOH! WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO SOONER?! NO TIME TO LOSE!" yelled Sayoko, straddling her bike, which she had repaired to the best of her ability.

Meanwhile Kles was panicking, completely unable to make repairs. Her bike, however, understood that if it let Kles care for her, she would end up as spare parts, forever destroyed, before the demon understood how to fix it. So it decided to run anyway before it is too late.

"LUCKYYY!" cried Kles getting on her vehicle.

"MARA! EVERYONE ELSE HAS LEFT ALREADY!" encouraged Keiichi, who believed that Mara wanted to win like everyone else.

"Do not worry, Sayoko is ahead and Kles is no good when it comes to putting things together." Mara told Keiichi, who did not understand what she meant. What she forgot was that if Kles is bad at repairs, she is incomparable in sabotaging the efforts of others.

"Good, good. No one's found a complete set so far!" she thought. "Heh, I've even got time to grab something to eat at the next check point!" exclaimed Sayoko.

"Before I'VE even started looking? We can't have THAT, girl! Oh ye substenance, acquire the taste of pure Chili!" murmured Kles.

Of course, Sayoko had all the trouble in the world when she swallowed her dish and put it on the usual madness of the auto club. "They are crazy. Someone can die for less." she said in tears but forcing herself to swallow anyway.

"Do not exaggerate. It tastes like raw peppers but it is really noodles. It would be an unforgivable waste to kill a cheater of your caliber." Kles replied softly.

Moreover, it is very difficult to cheat against Kles since cheating is one of the best tools she uses to sow chaos. So she quickly found a hidden set of cards. Mara, who wanted to catch Kles to prevent harm to Sayoko, decided to catch up to them. Unfortunately, her eternal bad luck played against her. She found the right set that included all the right cards...and saw the face of Keiichi.

Meanwhile, Kles had also completed her card set, and Sayoko soon after. Other candidates also recognized Keiichi and a moment later, it's a horde of motorcycle rushing towards the boy, unaware of the danger. When Mara saw that her partner was in danger she decided she had to protect him, even if only to get a favor from him later.

The motorcycle (a NSR) of Mara was completely terrorized by the will of the devil and rushed to prevent Mara striking her. The NSR thought to herself. "I must STRIVE to save my gears."

Keiichi had tried to escape but he was quickly cornered. Now he was in the midst of a horde of pretty girls who was hanging all the side to win the competition. "I'll die happy…" he thought.

It then came down to Mara's NSR. Terrorized by this vehicle that she did not control, she screamed for help. "KEIICHIIII!"

There followed a crash that propelled the two team members in the line of finish. Without even wanting to, Mara had won.

"THIS YEAR'S CAMPUS QUEEN IS MARA!" announced the voice from a loudspeaker.

"Eh? Oh, my...r-really? Damn. I did NOT want to win." she whispered with remorse.

"You were fantastic, and you saved me. I owe you a lot." Keiichi said, placing his hands on the shoulders of his partner while the staff delivered the trophy to the blonde.

In addition thanks to Keiichi, the whole crowd turned its eyes towards Mara, cheering to their new queen.

It was a long time that this had not happened to the demon. She had totally forgotten how it feels to be carried in triumph. This intoxicating feeling of glory...

"Um ... I do not know if I won or lost something. But if victory feels like this, I want more." she said, laughing, finally happy.

"Special Runner-ups go to MISS KLES and MISS MISHIMA!"

When she heard that she was tied with Sayoko, Kles thought to herself, pouting. "I just wanted to have fun, not win. I enjoyed myself and yet...I feel like I have lost."

And for Sayoko, Mara's victory had strengthened her desire. "NEXT TIME THE CROWN IS MINE! But meanwhile... I'll take what I can get."

Belldandy looked on her screen as Keiichi and Mara got closer, and there were mixed feelings in her again. On one hand, Keiichi looked happy. Very happy. Whatever her objectives, Mara did a very good job and she was, too, happy to Keiichi.

On the other hand, something inside of herself screaming that it wasn't fair. That things were not in their place. That should be her there instead of Mara. She felt this way since the first day and it kept getting stronger. Why? She was really happy for Keiichi...and also for Mara. So why this feeling of sadness and…that other feeling she had never experienced before? It felt like fear, the fear of losing something very important.

Skuld understood less and less the attitude of her big sister. Was she happy? Was she unhappy? Could she do something? Should she do something? She WISHED she could do something?

She also felt a strange feeling. The feeling of having something RECOVERED. This history of the wish did not concern her directly. It was just a wish and this human had himself chosen what he wanted. However, her big sister was sad and happy at once. Skuld was an unparalleled genius for everything related to science, but emotions...it was not her cup of tea. She preferred the current situation, it seemed as if Bell was able to fulfill this wish, then the future that she herself hoped would not occur. She was afraid that this boy would make a wish to change the feelings between she and her big sister.

She knew she wanted to help her great beloved Belldandy, but she does not know if it was by helping her fulfill the wishes of the boy or helping the Norn of the present to forget him.

Urd, for her part, thought about the conversation she had with her mother. "This is what I had in mind. You remember the first time Mara had come to separate Bell and Kei? Well, if you accept a temporary demon's license... I'll let you return to the same time to try to separate Mara and Keiichi. If you succeed, your sister may become his girlfriend again."

"I refuse to become a demon, even temporarily."

"Then I'm glad we had this little evening. If you change your mind, let me know, the offer still stands." Hild said happily savoring a banana split.

"Wait. I refuse to become a demon...but I am willing to accept a temporary license...if I can use my goddess powers without using my demonic energy" Urd proposed.

"It must be able to work out. However, during the term of your new license, all the energy you will obtain will be for the benefit of Nilflheim and above all, you will not be able to explain anything to anyone, except if I give you the authorization. Especially not to Kei-chan or Bell-chan."

This deal was below what Urd had wished, but she understood that it was that or nothing. Better to accept the offer her mother before she become more demanding. "I accept" said the elder of the Norns.

"Perfect, then signed contract." joyfully declared the queen of demons.

Under this contract, Urd was not really going to become a demon. She was just working for them. Even if this still made her ill. The downside is that it was to replace Mara and therefore she could not intervene at this time, to maintain the flow of time as intact as possible. She had to be patient. Something she was not used despite her advanced age. However, the worst part was to be unable to reveal anything to Belldandy.

The Norn of the past tried to console herself by saying that by saying nothing to Belldandy, she was protecting her from a great sorrow...The lie by omission. It was a form of lying that she did not like either.

A few weeks passed and Christmas was approaching. Keiichi wanted to offer something to Mara, for all she had done for him (at least that's how he believed in his innocent heart...for now).

He had thought about buying some clothes for her, but on the one hand he did not know her measurement and secondly ... What can you offer clothing to anyone who can produce anything at will with magic spells?

"What kind of gift will make a girl happy?" He asked himself.

On returning home, the boy was surprised to see that his sister was present. "Sheesh… You again? Do you not have your own place...?" he asked.

"Blame Kles. She got bored and invited me over." explained Megumi.

Kles took to Megumi and they became great friends. The playfulness of the girl was invigorating. Also, there were a kind of malice in her eyes ... which had a little charm. But mostly, it was the independence and exhilaration of the girl that Kles liked the most. When she learned that Keiichi had a sister, she had imagined a serious girl with glasses, or a little girl who lived in the skirts of her big brother. It wasn't the case and she was delighted.

Keiichi thought that since her sister was there, he might as well ask what he could offer for Mara, but not too directly. He didn't want his sister or Kles to meddle in this matter. "Meg! What should I give a girl to make her really happy?" he asked as naturally as he can.

Believing that the issue was an offer from her brother, Megumi began to dream in her response. "Let's see. Keyboard's not bad. 8mm camcoder ... A Nikon F4 camera's not bad too..."

"THOSE ARE THE THINGS YOU WANT!" cried Keiichi, who saw himself embarking on a story where he would be forced to buy all this to her sister if he did not put things right immediately.

"Do not be too naive, Megumi. Alla the girls wants what they have always wanted..." declared Kles before daydreaming more than Megumi.

"A man of the house; someone doing the chores in short all the hard work around the place."

Keiichi felt a deep depression invade his spirit. Why had he asked this question to these two insane? He decided that perhaps by asking Mara directly, he would get a more serious response. "Just be natural." he thought. He went to the chamber of the demoness, 'Mara's Den' was written on the door. This strange name had surprised Keiichi when he read it. A den?

"I wonder what her house looks like in hell. Does she live in a cave?" he thought the first time he read that sign.

The room did however not a cave. It looked like a mixture of science fiction and a witche's hideout. You could see all kinds of strange artifacts: a bone pyramid, bottles, mirror topped with a gargoyle head, lit candles with flames of all colors, orange, blue, green, purple ... but also there were devices that looked straight out of Star Trek and Keiichi did not understand the function of.

Keiichi did not like coming into her room. The place did not seem hostile in and of itself, but it was too strange for him. The only things relatively normal here was the pinball machine and video game arcade. Strange things in someone's room, but humanly understandable. And amidst all this heterogeneous clusters ... a coffin.

Mara was not the only one living here. The rats she had recovered from her old haunt was living with her. They had arranged a dormitory under the floor. Mara gave them greater intelligence, including the ability to speak. They had now become her assistants. Keiichi had almost fainted the day when these rodents had spoken to him for the first time. He was used to it now, but he was still a bit unsettled.

The moment he entered the room, Mara was playing pinball, trying to beat her prior record. Keiichi had to wait she finishes her game. Which could be long time since Mara was very good at this game. Fortunately for him, he did not have to wait long, his partner had almost finished. Heaving a sigh when she failed to beat the high score, the demon then noticed the presence of Keiichi.

"What do you want?" She asked bluntly.

"Uhh...Do you need anything? It just occured to me..." he replied hesitantly.

"It's Christmas. I had completely forgotten. This is the time when he wanted to give a gift to Belldandy to thank her." thought Mara.

The demon was hesitant. On the one hand, she had no desire to have a ring. These things did not interest her. On the other hand, if she told Keiichi she didn't want anything, risked pushing him away from her emotionally and change fate in one direction...unpleasant.

She decided that ultimately, it was better to stick to the original story. Nothing required her to wear the ring that Keiichi offered her, although she hoped he would choose something else. "I would need 4 LR6 batteries. Can you go to the store and get me please?"

Keiichi mounted his bike to fetch the batteries. However, he still wondered what gift he could offer his partner. Once he had finished his purchases, he decided to go traipsing in the shopping arcade. Hoping that he would find a good idea. As he walked, he noticed a strange shop. The sign out front said: "For all tastes, for all prices!"

In the window he noticed a ring. It seemed to say, "Buy me."

He was interrupted in his dream by the seller. The person wearing strange clothes. She was dressed like a kind of monk holding blue with yellow cabalistic symbols on the edges. A white mask that shows a smile covered his face.

The place was also strange. Initially, Keiichi thought it was a jewelry store because of the ring. It looked more like a kind of witchcraft store. There were all kinds of weird artifacts in the room. In fact, it looked a bit like Mara's room. Not quite the same objects, but the same atmosphere.

"What can we do for you mister?" asked the individual, interrupting Keiichi's thoughts.

The boy could not determine whether it was a man or a woman. The sound of the voice was completely neutral. "I am looking for a gift to please a girl. I had noticed this ring in your shop window, but I do not think she can be interested in jewelry..." Keiichi replied simply.

The individual took Keiichi by hand before the to take him behind the window. Keiichi tells them what ring it was among the ten that were exposed, the 'monk' took the little casket in which rested the ring Keiichi noticed. "Look at this ring more closely. Are you sure it would not be appropriate to your friend?"

"How do you know this was this ring I was talking about?" Wondered the boy.

"It's my job, to know people's... needs. Now, look at this ring more closely." The person replied in a tone still neutral.

Keiichi, mesmerized, watched as the jewel and the feeling sometimes returned. This ring seemed really shout "buy me." It was almost as it was begging him to.

Keiichi was not jeweler, he could not know what the ring was made, only that it was beautiful. A silver circle topped by a black stone inside the red and orange hues. He thought it was a black opal as he had already seen once day that he had visited a jewelry store with his mother. The jewel was truly beautiful and would go very well with the personality of Mara. Enough to convince him ... He already imagined pass the ring on the finger of the demon and the latter would make him smile by finding the nice gift.

That's when he noticed a small label on the side of the casket.

"One...Five…Zero...Zero?! FIFTEEN HUNDRED BUCKS ?! " he, completely out of his dream, panicked.

"And? Your friend is not worth that much money?" asked the monk.

"She is worth more than all the gold in the world. Except that I do not have that kind of money." replied the young man.

"You can't obtain it?"

"I...I'd-have a hard time making that working full time for a month! Five month's worth of food bills! Enough for a brand new Mac i-book!" he despairs.

"So this is perfect. Come back in a month. I will keep the ring in a safe place until then".

Keiichi left the store, wondering how he was going to be able to find all that money. As if that concern was not enough, Kles found him. The demon had followed Keiichi. When he was asked what he could do to make a girl happy, she had guessed his intentions. She had lost him of sight for a few minutes in the shopping arcade. She would gladly have used her powers to find him, but Kles was not good at finding things or people. She was especially good at losing people in the woods instead.

"What were you doing?" inquired the demoness.

Understanding that it would be useless to lie and Kles would not leave him alone until he answered (even if she had to read his mind), he opted for a straight answer. "I was looking for a present for Mara".

"That I understood. But where were you for the last two minutes? I looked for you everywhere."

"In a store. Excuse me but I have some concerns. I must leave you to make a few phone calls," said Keiichi leaving Kles.

The demon smiled at this attitude. "He's starting to gain confidence. That's good." She thought.

Sure. The efforts of Mara, and now Kles, to change the mentality of the boy bore fruit, piece by piece. Keiichi became...not a bad person, but more confident, more determined...and paradoxically, more difficult to handle. He lost part of his innocence but he gained in maturity.

Changes were beginning to become apparent and it made the boy ... more appealing. At least in the eyes of Kles.

At lunchtime (he obviously prepared), Keiichi was lost in thought.

"Only one more week to x-day. Which means... Over $200 a day...How the heck..."

Megumi's brother did not realize that the demons do not celebrate Christmas. In Nilflheim, demon children do not expect to see a big red guy late in the year that brings them gifts. Especially if they are 'kind' all the year. It is not part of their manners. The demons believe that when they are born already with immortality and magical powers. Why ask more? Answer: grab more. If they want to get something more, it is for them to win by using their immortality to weave plans, and their powers to achieve them. No pain, no gain.

Morisato left the table. "Okay! I gotta use the phone right now."

Mara did not even need to read the thoughts of the boy. She reread the chapter about the ring in her notebook. She knew what Keiichi had in mind and what he would do. Part of her was excited that Keiichi tries so hard to please her, without expecting anything in return but a simple thanks, and perhaps a smile. Another part of her was annoyed. All this work for a ring she had no use for? But maybe it would not be a ring? Maybe Keiichi would choose something else for her? For a moment she searched the memories of the boy, to know... but she preferred to remain in ignorance, and be surprised... hoping it would be good.

Keiichi had called Otaki, hoping his sempai, for once, would make him a favor instead of talking him into a crappy plan.

"Okay, kid...after you called, I did some thinkin'...and I guess I owe you a favor or two. So ... I'll tip you off to my best part time job" declared Otaki.

Otaki, for once, was remarkably effective. Keiichi had obtained all the jobs he needed to get the money, not knowing he was being watched by the seller of the store clerk through a crystal ball.

"It's good. Keep at it." they said.

Everything was not without difficulties, however. Keiichi had almost fallen from the top of a building when he accepted a window cleaner job. Fortunately, the rope to which he was attached had saved his life.

He also had to work in a construction site where he was helping to vehicle traffic. Night work, tiring for the eyes, brain, body...and for the ears.

The most amazing thing is that Mara was in the habit of preparing his food before he went to work. Not by kindness, but because Keiichi was his teammate now, and she felt she could do well this little effort, especially that he was working for her. The demon had also started to change a little without realizing it, but the changes were not visible...except for Kles, smiling inwardly.

Keiichi would normally have noticed this anomaly. But he was so busy with his work, he had not thought to ask...until the day Mara had come to bring him a Coca-Cola on the work place.

"M-MARA?!" he cried as she helped him to withdraw a suit for work in which he was stuck.

"Here. Have a fresh drink," replied the demon, just.

"D-did you come to ask why-hm-why I'm working so hard?" Keiichi stammered.

Mara did not need to ask since she already knew he was here to earn enough money to give her a gift, but she said nothing, preferring to act "nice" to maintain his relationship with Keiichi ...

Without realizing it, she did not need to pretend. Just to be sincere.

"No, it's not worth it. If you want to tell me let me know. I just came to support you because we are teammates, and that teammates look after each other." she replied before disappearing in a CD player of the recording studio where Keiichi was.

Finally, the boy managed to save enough money for the fateful day. He turned to see the strange store...only to discover it was gone. There remained an empty place, where obviously there had never been anything to begin with.

He tried to ask other people in the mall, but none of them had ever heard of any shop there, neither the strange person he was talking about.

Keiichi started wandering in the street, wondering what he could do now with all that money. Buy another ring in a jewelry store? Invite Mara in 5-star restaurant? Take her to see a horror movie? (Mara liked horror movies with ghosts and demons. It was so far from the truth that she could not help laughing every time. Her laughter contributed so much to the atmosphere no one dared to ask her to make less noise. Everyone thought it was part of the show...and everyone actually liked her.)

Turning the corner of a street, he came face to face with the strange monk sitting on the floor in front of a crystal ball. "Hello young man. I was waiting for you." said the individual.

"You waiting for me? How did you know that I would be here? Are you a demon too?" He asked, having understood that the monk was perhaps not human. Keiichi was now sufficiently accustomed to the supernatural for not to be troubled by such things.

"Let's just say it's my job. Good. Here's your ring. Do you have money please?" Replied the creature.

"Yes, here it is, but..."

"So this is perfect. Proceed with the exchange."

Keiichi handed the money as he took the ring before the monk goes away without allowing time for to the boy to say anything.

"WAIT, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU!" Keiichi cried, rushing after them to discover that they were gone.

He looked then the ring in his little box. "I hope that Mara will be happy at least" he wondered, anxious to disappoint and have done all this work for nothing.

Mara, meanwhile, was prey to her own anxiety. On one side so that she hoped the gift would please her. She would be really disappointed if it was still a ring. She would still be happy with the efforts made by the boy, but a gift she did not care would be like a failure. It would prove that Keiichi did not know her very well and she was not as close to him that she hoped for the success of her plan.

When her partner was back to the apartment, the two partners sat face to face.

"All done? Is it time ...?" She asked shyly.

"Uh ... yeah," stammered the boy, holding a small box.

While viewing a rueful smile, the heart of Mara clenched, her worst fears were realized. It was a ring and Keiichi did not know her very well.

She made the effort to open the box however, to contemplate the magnitude of the disaster. The ring was better than opening Mara's eyes about her relationship with Keiichi. Her eyes widened.

"YOU FOUND IT? "Cried the demon overwhelmed by surprise.

"A kind of strange monk convinced me that it might please you. At first I did not want buy you a jewel because I didn't think that's your style, but this opal is very beautiful and I thought-"

He was interrupted by Mara who had thrown herself to her neck and squeezed so hard he could not say anything.

"I LOV…. UH…. LIKE YOU! I WANTED THIS GIFT FOR AN ETERNITY ! LITERALLY!" exclaimed Mara, weeping with joy.

"I'm glad it makes you happy, but what it has this ring?" Keiichi asked, surprised by such a reaction.

Managing to regain her composure, Mara explained. "It's not just a ring. This is an amplifier. You see, some demons are so powerful that they could destroy the world with a single gesture without meaning to. Therefore Hild asks them to seal their power with limiters. Normally it is also my case but since we are in this contract, I am weakened. I have very little magic...at least until now. With this ring, I can use all my powers as before."

"And you wanted it for ages?" Asked Keiichi.

"In fact, this type of ring is only given to demons class 0. I should get one if I had managed the Buddha case. The amplifier passed right under my nose. And now you offer me one. You just made up for the worst day of my life. How could I not be overjoyed? It's almost as if my queen had just placed a crown on my head." Mara explained.

"Can I put it on your finger then?"

"Of course. You've earned it."

Mara was like in a dream. She saw the world differently. It's like she was in hell, among his peers, to receive her ring from the hand of her queen with her promotion to class 0. It seemed like experiencing a sacrament. Keiichi also had different composure. For a moment she had forgotten that he was a human as he sparkled with demonic glory with this ring in his hand.

Kles, who followed the scene of the corner of her eye, was very suspicious. "Only the Daimakaicho can create and distribute this kind of ring. It has surely not come into the hands of Mara by accident. Even less of kindness on the part of the queen. Savor this moment well cousin. Our Majesty may have projects...projects that do not bode well for you. Luckily I'm here." thought the demon of sabotage.

Keiichi also was happy. His anxieties were gone and Mara was delighted by this gift. He made her happy.

"Thanks to this I am ready. The limitations of my contract with Keiichi disappeared. I'm as strong as before. If ever Urd comes, I can compete on an equal level." The demon could not contain her joy and relief. If Keiichi asked her, she would have embraced him again. Then it came to her mind something that allowed her to regain her composure: now she had a huge favor to give to Keiichi.

If the gift he had given her was something that had lesser value to her, she would not have had this debt ... but now she owed him something. More, a lot of more than for the Ozawa case. The look she gave him made Keiichi understand what she thought. He gently took her hand in his and he said to Mara.

"You owe me nothing. I just want you to accept this gift for all you have done for me this year." He said innocently.

"What I've done for you? While I have taken Belldandy from you?" thought Mara, with a certainly slight but real pang of guilt. However, she immediately dismissed the thought. It was her job. It was nothing personal. Nothing could now ruin her joy.

-qQqQq-

The TV went out again.

"But majesty, if the events are repeated, even if Urd assumes the role of Mara, she will fail like her." Mokkukalfi said.

"No. Because, as I said, Urd will do everything to make this happen. She is a prisoner of events and at the same time, she could succeed." answered Hild.

"Me, what surprises me, is the presence of Kles. Not only she has taken the place of Urd, but is even more illogical. She is the demon of sabotage and her pleasure is to make life of other demons worse. So why would she want to help my counterpart make good team with Keiichi?" asked Mara.

"I think there's several reasons for this. First, during the Buddha case, although Kles was pleased to discover her vocation, she feels guilty to her cousin for what she did to her, in spite of herself. Second, there's sabotage ... in another sense of the word. By helping her cousin, Kles is wreaking havoc in a way ... unusual because it contravenes the law prohibiting her to wreak havoc in humans, since in theory she is only 'helping' her cousin. She is not the first to try, but she could well be the first to successfully escape punishment. If the other Hild is like me, there are high chances that she let it. For now, at least."

"The presence of Kles does not surprise me in the background. As against what amazes me is the attitude of Belldandy. On the one hand she is sad that Mara has taken her place to fulfill the wish of Keiichi, on the other hand, she sent her a ring that increases her powers. That is not kindness, that is masochism." Mara said.

"Ma-chan ... This person with the mask ... I'm sure it was not Belldandy. Despite the blue outfit with yellow pattern ..."

"So who is it?"

"Think a few about it. Kles said herself: It's only me who can create and recover such rings. This masked man ... it was either myself or one of my emissaries."

"Why else would present such a wonderful gift to Mara? With all due respect, you are not so…um…generous?" said the demon, trying not to offend her sovereign.

"I don't think this ring is arrived in the hands of the other Mara to please her. If the other Hild thinks like me, she understands that when Urd comes, she will crush Mara without much difficulty. The presence of Kles could compensate but we cannot trust her. So she sent the ring to Mara through the back door to offset the imbalance. Thus, the show will last longer, while sticking to the original story, and as a bonus, to contract with Keiichi selling this ring. Victory over the line." explained the queen of demons.

"You have to believe that the other Hild likes watching this story just as much as us." Said Mokkukalfi.

"Hey, that's not surprising. This story became my favorite TV show since the affair of the Lord of Terror. In fact, when Urd called me, I was expecting an opportunity to come play with you. I was running out of patience elsewhere. I should have come much earlier."

There is a silence for a moment and then Hild asked a question its chief engineer. "Mok, what about the ability to communicate with 'ourselves'? It would be great if I could meet hundreds of other Hilds, or go into a world where I could entice another Tyr and why not, pervert and bring him here as the 'demon-king'?" Asked the Daimakaicho, whose imagination was in full swing.

"Unfortunately majesty, I'm stuck because I still do not know if those other universes really exist or if the machine shows just theoretical possibilities. I could create a theoretical bridge, but it completely ignores the consequences of such an act. If our universe crashes into another, if there's some theory of matter/antimatter... it could get pretty explosive. The only solution would be a different machine to connect to our reality. I could, for example, ask 'What if another Mokkukalfi in another world tried to get in touch with us?' The machine would show us such a scenario, but it would be an act without return. Once contact is made...there's no way to break it. Are you sure you want another Hild? Another Belldandy? Billions perhaps?" explained the technician demon.

"The prospect of meeting billions other Belldandys...inspired some fear in Hild. Her chief engineer was right. The entertainment machine could quickly become a serious threat to her kingdom...or it could be harmless. She had to think about it before making a decision.

"You think someone is right now watching us from another dimension." Mara ventured.

VERY IMPORTANT:

This chapter is the last published on the fanfic "what if". The next part will be published in the fanfic "What if: Mara the Wishgranter".

End of Chapter.