Chapter 8
9:00am, December 25
Tarikihongan Temple.
The great day arrived at last. Even though winter had just arrived in Japan a few days ago, and the country was in the midst of celebrating Christmas and preparing for the upcoming New Year's holidays, Life at Tarikihongan Temple had reached a fever pitch for an entirely different reason. Today, there would be a wedding. The climax of a four year courtship between two most unlikely people. Keiichi Morisato, a gawky, awkward human made God, obsessed with motorcycles, who had little luck with women, and the Goddess Belldandy, a powerful and exquisite Goddess sent to Earth to fulfill a single wish.
Little did either of them know that the wish made four years ago would begin a new life together that would propel them through so many adventures, trials, a lot of joys and a few sorrows. But despite it all, the love that grew between Keiichi and his Goddess had never been brighter or stronger. Both knew that this day was merely a formality. Kei and Bell bound their lives together in an unbreakable bond forged in Heaven, when he confidently declared his love for Belldandy before the entire company of Goddesses and Kami-sama. And those Goddesses rewarded his declaration by transforming him into a God through the mystical Song of the Goddesses.
But those whom they loved on this Earth could and would not accept such a declaration made in Heaven. Not having seen and beheld Heaven's glories, they would think that Keiichi and Belldandy were crazy if the God and Goddess told them about their Heavenly binding. So for the benefit of the humans they cared about, they decided to get married. To confirm to them the pact that Kei and Bell made in Heaven.
During the last month, the preparations for Keiichi and Belldandy's nuptials proceeded at full throttle. Bell gave Keiichi a list of items she needed to make the wedding gown as well as the dresses for the bridal party and the tuxes for Keiichi's groomsmen. When he had bought and presented them to her, she immediately locked herself away in the Tea Room and except to prepare and serve meals, refused to come out and forbade anyone to come in and disturb her. If anyone attempted to open the door, she would block their way and gently, but firmly let them know that they were not to come in.
Keiichi tried numerous times at all hours to see what his Goddess was doing, partially out of concern, but also because he was intrigued by what she was up to, but she always told him in her own special way that her activities were a surprise and that he should please go away.
Of course, Urd and Skuld took their sister's actions as a challenge and devised all sorts of schemes and devices to sneak into the room, but Belldandy foiled every attempt. No matter what half-baked plan the sisters came up with and no matter what time of the day they hatched their latest plot, Belldandy was always one step ahead of them. Flustered, the two gave up.
After four days of cloak and dagger secrecy, Keiichi went into his room, and found laying on his chair a black tuxedo and top hat, a crisp white dress shirt, a white bow tie, and black shoes. Surprised, Keiichi picked up the suit and examined it closely. If he didn't know better, he could have sworn that the workmanship exceeded that of the finest tailors in Japan, or anywhere else, for that matter. The suit was perfectly sewn, without a stitch out of place. The pants were pressed with razor sharp cuffs. The shoes buffed to a high shine. If he were to buy or even rent a tux this well made, the cost would have been exorbitant. Everything about this suit screamed, 'Top of the Line.' He tried on the suit and marveled at how well it fit. It looked very distinguished on him, and fit perfectly. Keiichi stood in front of a mirror and said to himself, "Is that me? I've never looked this good."
"I do so love a man in a tuxedo!" A come-hither voice called from behind. Keiichi whipped around to see who it was just in time to see long bronze arms wrap around him, and his face pressed up close and personal to the awesome cleavage of Urd as she enveloped him in a smothering hug. Urd's voluptuous body filled Keiichi's vision as she swooped in to let the hapless and helpless Keiichi get a eyeful of her most prominent assets.
"Keiichi," Urd cooed. "You look almost good enough to eat. I never thought you'd clean up this well. I might marry you myself." Urd said as Keiichi tried to wriggle out of her grasp. But the more he tried to squirm free, the tighter Urd held him.
"Urd! Get away!" Keiichi cried in mock rage. "You know how Belldandy gets!"
"Keiichi, you know that you can't get enough of this hot body. C'mon, Kei. It'll be your last chance to take a walk on the wild side before saying 'I do.'" Urd taunted.
Keiichi paused a moment and then said. "I already get to walk on the wild side with Belldandy. You've never seen us in bed together. Believe me, there's nothing you can do better than her. So if you don't mind, please let me go."
Oh, fine! But you're making a big mistake refusing me." Urd grumbled as she released Keiichi. She struck a modeling pose and said, "How do you like the dress, Keiichi?"
This was the first opportunity that Keiichi had to see the dresses that Belldandy had made for her bridesmaids, and judging by the one made for Urd, Bell would have the prettiest bridesmaids in any wedding that he had seen, which admittedly weren't that many.
Urd was dressed in a ocean blue strapless number that was tight at the bodice to enhance her best feature, and it extended down to the hips to flare out into a flouncy skirt that ended three inches above the knee and begged to be twirled. Over her left breast was a large white corsage, and behind her right ear was a blood red flower, that Keiichi had never seen before. All in all, Urd cut quite an enticing figure, and Keiichi had to admit that to himself as she spun around letting him get a look at all sides. As she turned around, the skirt would lift just enough to afford a fleeting view of how truly long Urd's legs were.
In spite of being head over heels in love with what was arguably the most beautiful woman in the world, like most men, he couldn't stop himself from taking an occasional peek at a pretty girl in a fetching outfit. While this dress may have been a little bit too conservative according to Urd standards, which dictated that nothing can show too much skin, be too short, and too tight, the dress did look good on her.Keiichi had let his eyes linger upon Urd's curves a moment too long when Belldandy walked in.
"Oh, Keiichi." Bell said sweetly. "I see you're trying out the tuxedo. How does it fit?"
Keiichi jumped out of his skin at the sound of Belldandy's voice and struggled to compose himself.
"F-fine, Belldandy! It fits perfectly."
"I'm so glad to hear that. I must say it looks very good on you." Belldandy said as she walked around Keiichi checking out the results of her labors. "I was a little worried that it wouldn't look all right for a first time project."
With her remark, Keiichi was reminded that indeed, this was the first time that Belldandy had ever taken on a sewing project this complicated. And once again, he marveled at his Goddess' ability to succeed at almost anything the first time she attempted it.
Kei asked. "This is incredible, Bell. How did you do all this?", as he pointed to Urd's dress and his tux. "We don't own a sewing machine. Don't tell me you did all this with just needles and thread."
Belldandy said "Thank you very much for the compliment, Keiichi. But, no, we don't have a sewing machine, and it took a little more than just a needle and thread. But it's my secret."
Keiichi wasn't entirely satisfied with Belldandy's response, but he didn't see a need to push it.
"So, Belldandy. Is there any chance that we can see the wedding gown?"
Bell vigorously shook her head. "No. Not until the ceremony."
Urd said. "C'mon, Bell. Why do you have to be such a spoilsport? Can't we have just one little peek? We won't laugh or anything."
While she flashed her award-wining smile, Bell still stood firm. "I said no, and I mean no. You'll see it when the ceremony starts and not a moment before."
Keiichi and Urd looked at each other dumbfounded at Belldandy's curt response. "I guess she told us, Keiichi." Urd said.
"No use trying to budge her." said Keiichi. "When she gets like that, nothing in Heaven or Hell will make her change her mind."
At this time, Belldandy's bridesmaids: Chihiro; Hasegawa; and Megumi arrived to try on their dresses and not long after, Ootaki and Tamiya dawdled in to check out their tuxes. Hasegawa took one look at Urd in her bridesmaid dress, and almost fainted. "There's no way I'm ever gonna look that good in THAT dress." she complained as she held up the dress offered to her. But she changed her tune after putting it on. Somehow, the dress was able to accent and maximize even Sora's modest measurements, and for the first time ever, Hasegawa didn't look like a high school girl, but a very pretty and confident college co-ed. Chihiro looked at Hasegawa and said to Urd, "Wow, that dress looks awesome on her. I am genuinely impressed."
Hasegawa beamed. "You guys really think so? You really think I look all right? Please don't say that just to make me feel good."
Chihiro pulled Sora aside and whispered. "You know that we love to give you grief, Hasegawa. But this time, we're telling you the truth. You look gorgeous." She steered the nervous girl over to a mirror.
"Take a look for yourself."
Hasegawa gazed into the mirror at the stunning reflection staring back at her. She was struck speechless at what she saw. "I really look like a college girl. I don't believe it."
Urd said. "Neither do I. Who'd have thought that under that ugly duckling exterior, lurked a beautiful swan dying to be let out."
Chihiro crowed. "Hell, if this dress makes Hasegawa look like a million bucks, I can't wait to see what it does for me!" as she hurried off to change.
Meanwhile, Tamiya and Ootaki were trying on their tuxes, and liking what they saw.
"Looking good, Den" said Ootaki, sizing up his buddy.
"Feeling good, Dai" said Tamiya. Like the dresses, the tuxedos had the ability to make even these two behemoths look presentable. Keiichi wandered in and joked. "Excuse me, have you two seen Tamiya and Ootaki?"
"Very funny, Keiichi." said Tamiya.
"Yeah, Keiichi. Hardy har-har." bellowed Ootaki. "So you're actually gonna go through with this?"
"Yep." said Keiichi. I'm committed."
"You should be committed...to a mental hospital!" Tamiya chortled. He and Ootaki fell into fits of laughter.
"You two have never thought about finding a couple nice girls and getting married?" questioned Keiichi.
"Hell, no!" blustered Tamiya. "No chicks are evah gonna tie us down! Guys like us, we're men of the woild. We go where we want, and do what we want, and no girl is gonna tell us what to do."
"Right, Tamiya. We're as free as birds. Belldandy is gonna have you wrapped around her little finger, and there ain't a damn thing you can do about it."
"Tamiya, Ootaki! Get the hell out here and let me look at you!" Chihiro's voice roared through the temple.
"Yes, Chihiro!" Both men sounded off as they scurried out of Keiichi's room.
Keiichi chuckled as the two fell over each other trying to squeeze through the tight doorway. "Yeah, right guys. No girl's gonna tell you what to do."
The rest of the wedding preparations proceeded as planned. Megumi's boyfriend, Hiro Yoshida, arrived with a crew from his restaurant carrying the wedding cake and the food for the reception. The cake was a decadent six foot high creation with five tiers, decorated with angels, swans, doves, and enough candy flowers to fill a dozen floral shops. Keiichi was about to complain about the massive overkill of the oversized confection until Megumi reminded him that the cake was her and Hiro's gift to Kei and Belldandy for their wedding day, and that it was rude to refuse such a gracious gift. Even so, the couple knew they had plenty of wedding cake to munch on as leftovers for a long time.
As expected, Belldandy attempted to enter the kitchen to help Hiro's crew prepare the food, but the chef stood at the door of the kitchen and shook his head vigorously.
"No, Belldandy. This is your day. Let us take care of the food. We promise we won't poison the guests." Hiro said jokingly.
Belldandy backed down, but she didn't like it. She always considered the kitchen to be her exclusive domain, where she endeavored to make the best food for Keiichi. She wasn't used to having strangers taking over her space. "But I just want to make sure that everything will be all right."
But Hiro wouldn't budge. "Belldandy, I have cooked for many weddings, we have one of the best catering businesses in Nekomi City. Our reputation for excellence is known even in Tokyo. I have never had a bride complain about the food at any wedding I have worked. And I will not have you be the first. So, please let me and my crew give you the wedding you and Keiichi deserve."
"Okay", Bell said hesitantly. "But let me know if you need anything."
Hiro shook his head and turned back into the kitchen.
The flower arrangers from Nekomi Tech arrived with a massive spread of all kinds of flowers of all shapes and sizes and colors. Some of the plants were native to Japan, but many came from overseas. And as Keiichi looked at the NIT students putting together the presentation, he had to admit that it was a good idea to go with the hobbyists. He certainly wasn't going to argue about the price. And it seemed that the students were really getting into arranging the flowers so that the colors complemented each other, and the balance between large blooms and dainty flowers was just right. Quite a difference from the crazy, unbalanced color clashing explosions that decorated the flower geeks' booth at Spring Carnival.
Keiichi continued to watch the flower arrangers as they puttered around the temple engaging in animated discussions as to which roses belonged with which begonias, and whether the daffodils looked better with the tulips or the lilies. The sound of a horn and a familiar rumble of a motorcycle engine interrupted his reverie.
He ran outside in time to see an old 1972 Datsun 510 sedan and a classic Matchless M50 motorcycle pull into the temple courtyard. It was his and Megumi's parents, Keima and Takano.
A pair of odd ducks indeed, Keima dismounted from the Matchless and pulled off his helmet. Keima stood about a couple of inches taller than Keiichi, had a shock of gray hair that resisted all attempts of being smoothed out, and having a full-face helmet on didn't help any. He wore glasses and had a permanently worried look on his face. He looked like Keiichi with about 30 years added on.
By trade, Keima was a expert glassblower, but he also was an ace mechanic, who could fix almost anything that had wheels and an engine. He was a man of few words, and when he did speak, it was as if he had measured out each word from a finite supply, and was deathly afraid that he would run out.
He and Takano taught Keiichi and Megumi to never, ever refer to them as Mom and Dad to their faces. Always by their first names. Keima felt that the use of titles like Father, Mother, Brother and Sister denigrated the worth of the individual. The use of of those titles to Keima was a surefire way to get a slap in the face.
Keima also had an almost paralyzing fear of women. Whenever a strange woman stepped up to him for no other reason but to offer pleasantries, Keima would immediately back away in a cold sweat, a look of abject terror coming over his face, while almost shouting, "Too close!, Too close." The only women who were allowed to stand within a meter of him were Megumi and Takano. During a recent visit by the parents to the temple, Belldandy earned her way into that exclusive club, through the goodness and kindness she showed Keiichi. But othewise, Keima was in a constant state of nervousness, especially knowing that Urd was in the area and was always a threat to coming over and standing too close to him just to mess with him.
As skittish and twitchy as Keima was, his wife Takano was the exact opposite. She was the spitting image of Megumi plus ten years. Her bushy hair was tied in two puffy ponytails at the back of her head, and she spoke with an easygoing drawl that clearly showed her Hokkaido roots. But anyone who mistook her Northern accent as proof that she was an ignorant country bumpkin from the sticks was playing right into her hands. While her main job was assisting Keima in his glassblower's shop, she was as smart as a tack, and loved to lure people in with her unsophisticated image only to snare them like trapped small animals with her quick wit and mind. She was the perfect complement to Keima.
Takano walked up to Keiichi. "So, Keiichi. My little boy's gonna get married. It's about time. I figured Megumi would be walking down the aisle before you. You were always so bad around women."
"Well, Takano, I guess that's where I take after Keima. At least I can have them standing next to me without freaking out."
"That is true, Keiichi. I can't break him of that habit for the life of me. Speaking of which, here he comes now. By the way, here". Takano said, as she handed Keiichi a small box. "You will be needing this for the ceremony." Before he could ask what the package contained, Takano walked away to give father and son some privacy. Keiichi quickly looked inside the box, and sighed in relief.
Keima nervously walked up to his son, gave him a tentative embrace, and as if he was paying by the word, said merely, "Keiichi."
"Keima."
"Where are Belldandy's parents?"
"They couldn't make it, Keima. They had very important family business."
"So important that they couldn't come to see their daughter get married? That makes no sense."
"If you don't believe me, ask Belldandy."
Keima glared at Keiichi for a moment, then relented. "No. As unusual as it sounds, I believe you. But I still would have liked to meet them."
Keiichi remembered the cover story he used as an excuse for why he and Bell were gone for six months. "Her parents are pretty high up in a major company in San Francisco. They're the co-owners or something like that. They said they were at some important time in the company's business and they just couldn't spare the time. Some legal stuff. They tried to explain it to me, but it went completely over my head."
Keima didn't completely buy Keiichi's alibi, but he didn't have enough proof to call him on it, so he let it go. "Well, no matter." Keima looked Keiichi up and down. "You look good in that tux, boy. I would have preferred a traditional Japanese wedding myself. But you young people are into all that modern stuff."
Keiichi replied, "It's what Belldandy wanted. And whatever she wants, that's what I'm going to give her."
"You do that, You take care of her, she's very special Keiichi."
Before Keiichi had the chance to take the words back, the phrase, "I will, Father." spilled out of his mouth. Keima's face immediately flashed into a mask of insane anger. He reared back to strike his son, but caught himself just in time. Keiichi flinched in horror as he braced himself to receive the blow.
Keima looked back at his hand which was still cocked. He dropped it as he lowered his head in shame.
"I'm sorry, Keiichi. You're not a boy anymore."
"It slipped out, Keima."
"I know, Keiichi."
Awkwardly, Keima started backing away from Keiichi. "I-I have to find Takano." He stammered as he turned and shuffled away.
At that moment, Megumi appeared at Keiichi's side. "What was that all about?" She was in her bridesmaid dress and looked cuter than ever.
"I accidentally called Keima 'Father'"
"And he didn't slap you senseless?"
"He was about to, then he caught himself. Weird. He said that I wasn't a boy anymore, and then he just ran off."
Megumi looked intently at Keiichi. "You know, you have a different look about you. It's like there's a different kind of energy, an aura, around you now. You've always been this geeky, nervous guy who was so unsure of himself, and now, I sense a certain kind of...I can't explain it, but it's like a sort of 'power' that surrounds you. Like a new confidence, you seem much more sure of yourself. I can't explain it."
Keiichi said, "You said something like that to me some time ago."
Megumi replied, "Yeah, I remember. That was when Belldandy was sick, and I came over to help with the cooking. But it's a lot stronger now. You're not taking any strange drugs or following some off the wall religion or anything are you?"
"No, Meg." Keiichi said. "I'm the same Keiichi Morisato, you've always known and loved."
"Yeah, right Kei." Megumi laughed as she slapped him on the shoulder. "You're still a hopeless nerd, although with a hot girl like Belldandy by your side, you're obviously doing something right."
Megumi gave her brother a peck on the cheek, and said, "Maybe one day, she'll make a real man out of you yet. Although, I won't hold my breath."
Keiichi thought to himself, "If she only knew..."