Chapter 36

As Keiichi was still in a deep trance communicating with Arvid regarding the matter of the ring, the runes and the Interface Layer, Kami-sama, Istvar and the Goddesses were still sitting quietly in the Tea Room waiting for Kei to emerge with the solution. He had only been under for about 15 minutes, but to the rest, it felt like hours.

Belldandy and Ilse were engaged in quiet conversation about whatever it is First Class Goddesses gossip about. Urd was dying a thousand deaths fending off Istvar's ever more lustful advances and constant intrusions into her personal space. Skuld was still in her room asleep. None were prepared for what happened next.

A violent barrage of energy swept over the temple like a tornado. The air crackled with magic as lightning and thunder split the sky in two. The ground shook as mammoth cracks appeared swallowing up ancient and priceless Buddhist artifacts. An unholy wind howled as it ravaged the temple compound blowing shingles off the roof, shredding the paper-thin walls, and upending trees that stood for centuries. The giant bell on the temple grounds started to ring a hellish, ominous tone, the heavy log crashing into the iron bell with greater and greater force until the structure fell apart under the stress, its tolling echoing through Nekomi City.

A bolt of lightning struck the great statue of the Buddha and set it on fire, its golden features melting under the intense heat. The presence of evil, and intense magic hung over the temple grounds like an oppressive and heavy blanket of power.

All knew that someone was descending. Someone of immense and uncontrolled power. Urd's face took on a mask of fearful dread as she said to herself, "Oh No, No! Not now!" One of the few times that Urd showed genuine fright.

The door to the temple house flew open and was smashed into splinters and shards of burnt wood and paper. Standing at the threshold was Hild. But instead of presenting a white flag of truce, she is in full Queen Bitch mode. Covered from head to toe in the blackest skin-tight leather, her face was contorted in the throes of pure evil. Magic and power radiated from her like the rays of a thousand suns. The rings, bracelets and bangles she wore on her hands and arms and in her hair to restrain her power were gone. She slowly entered the temple headed for the Tea Room. As she passed, everything that wasn't nailed down was thrown violently against the walls shattering them into thousands of pieces. Hild was in no hurry to get where she was going. She intended to inflict the maximum amount of damage possible. Her anger knew no depth. And it would not be sated.

Belldandy being Belldandy, approached the Daimaikaicho to greet her. "Hild, are you all right? You seem upset. Is there anything we can do-"

Hild put a hand up to silence the Goddess and spoke with barely contained fury. "Belldandy." Hild rumbled. "If you know what's good for you, you will stand aside and let me pass. I am in no mood to play nicey-nice with you."

Bell said, "Maybe if you tell me what's wrong…"

Hild said, a little louder. "Belldandy, It is taking all of my patience right now to not hit you with a spell that would make Hell's Lightning feel like a mosquito bite. I have business with your boss. All due respect, last warning. Let. Me. Pass!"

With the mention of Hell's Lightning and vivid memories of how that wicked spell laid her low when Hild last attacked the temple, Belldandy reluctantly stood aside. Hild passed without even a "thank you."

Upon laying eyes on the enraged Hild, Istvar thought that if his powers of seduction worked on Urd, they would clearly sweep her equally ravishing mother off her feet. He boldly, or foolishly stepped forward to engage Hild.

"Lady Hild." He crowed, reaching out to take Hild's hand. "I do not believe that we've met. My name is Istva…"

He barely got his name out before Hild dismissively waved a hand. The lust-addled God was catapulted across the Tea Room to crash into the far wall and land in a heap on the floor.

Bending over him, Hild said frostily. "Istvar, I know exactly who you are. Your reputation precedes you all the way to Niflheim. Your name is the punch line to a very bad joke amongst Demonkind. You can't even get lucky with Urd, what insane notion possesses you to think that you'd have any chance with me? Stand aside, pervert."

She ignored Urd, turned to Ilse and warned. "Well, do you have anything to say?"

After seeing how Hild treated two highly ranked First Class deities. She relented. "I've got nothing. Go right ahead, he's over there." Ilse pointed to the Supreme Ruler.

Hild smiled tightly. "At least someone here has some sense."

Kami-sama sat at the table calmly drinking his tea. Seemingly not letting the chaos unfolding around him to bother him. Hild stood before him, black leather creaking in the silence of the Tea Room.

"Okay, old man." Hild said with blatant disrespect. "Why are you on Earth?"

Kami-sama said quietly, "I have no idea what you are talking about. I'm just here visiting my friends."

Hild sneered. "Don't play coy with me, Kami-sama. It doesn't suit you. I didn't even have to bug the temple to know you were here. I could sense your arrival in my throne room. Other than me, the only deity than me that causes that much commotion when descending is you. And if i'm not mistaken, you've never been to Earth before. So there's something going on here, and I'm not leaving until I find out what it is."

Hild looked over at the slumping Keiichi. "What's wrong with him?"

Kami-sama said. "He's currently indisposed." Still drinking his tea and acting as if Hild were barely there.

"What is he doing?" seethed Hild. "I don't appreciate being ignored." She attempted to shake Keiichi out of his torpor when Urd blocked her hand. "Speaking of being ignored, mother dear. Did you forget someone?"

Hild drew back her hand, just barely. "No Urdie, I would have gotten around to you. Eventually. So. what's the deal with Keiichi boy? Why is not greeting me with the deference I deserve?"

Urd said. "Like Kami-sama said. He's indisposed."

"Well!" Hild said. "No matter. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. Kami-sama's arrival has piqued my curiosity and I aim to find out why he's here."

"So, Hild. What was with the fireworks? Are you really as pissed off as you let on?"

"Of course I am! I admit that I do so love to make an entrance, but yes, I am pissed off. Kami-sama doesn't just come down here to 'visit his friends'" Hild said while making air quotes with her hands. "And Keiichi being knocked out and not saying 'Hello, Mistress Hild, how may I serve you today' has irritated me even more." Hild eyed Urd warily. "C'mon, Urd. Tell Mommy dearest what's really going on. I'll find out one way or the other. It'll go easier on all of you if you tell me now."

Urd said dangerously. "Is that a threat, Mother?"

Hild said evilly. " It can be."

Chapter 37

Arvid said. "Keiichi, I need your answer right now. Also, you must know that Hild is now with Kami-sama and the others and she is definitely not happy."

Keiichi was still trying to muddle through the situation at hand, and certainly didn't want or need the prospect of facing a pissed off Hild to complicate matters.

"Do I have to leave my family right now, Arvid?" Keiichi asked desperately, trying to stall for time

Arvid paused for a moment. "Actually, Keiichi. I might be able to do you a favor." After thinking a little more, he said, "I think that I can work things so that you don't have to leave immediately. As a matter of fact, you can put off the matter for quite some time. But not forever. You'll be given a sign that will tell you when you must leave. At that point, you have no choice. You'll know the sign when you see it. And when you do, you have 24 hours to say your goodbyes and finalize your affairs. At that time, you will be pulled off Earth whether you're ready or not. Hold out your left hand."

Keiichi did so, and immediately a jolt of pain afflicted his hand. It was mostly a dull soreness that lasted a few seconds. When he opened his hand, he was surprised to see that an intricate blue tattoo-like design was imprinted on his left palm. It resembled a Goddess symbol in that it contained delicate and complex loops and swirls, but it was not like his or any other deities symbol, he had ever seen. "What is this?" He exclaimed.

"When the mark on your hand turns red, you'll have 24 hours to prepare to leave."

"When will it turn red."

"Don't know. It can happen anytime between next week and the next hundred years. I have given you seven days grace. That's the best I can do. What is your answer?"

Keiichi hesitated for as long as he can. He didn't want to deal with Hild, but he couldn't stay with Arvid. He needed to get that ring off and decipher the runes. "Okay, Arvid. Deal. In exchange for the solution to remove the ring and decipher the runes, I will agree to leave Earth and my family behind forever."

Arvid said, "Very good, Keiichi. I'm sorry that it had to come to this. But I had no choice. By agreeing to my request, you will have saved your family much pain and injury. I cannot reveal to you the troubles you and your family would have suffered at this time. When you leave Earth for good, you'll find out." Before Keiichi's eyes, a cube that resembled the Type 2 message cubes used in Heaven materialized. Arvid said. "The contents of this cube will allow you to remove the ring and decipher the runes. Make sure that you have Belldandy with you when you open the cube. Since she gave you the ring, she has sealed some of her essence into it. That essence acts as a kind of encryption key and both your powers and her's plus the content of the cube will allow the ring to be removed. You and her must touch the ring at the same time and recite the words the cube will reveal. Now go!"

Chapter 38

Keiichi came to with a wrenching shock that left him a little disoriented. As he opened his eyes, he saw Kami-sama, Ilse, Belldandy, Urd and an unsmiling Hild staring him in the face. Istvar was still knocked out in a heap against the wall. Belldandy grabbed him with great concern and said. "Keiichi! Are you all right?"

He responded. "Yeah i'm fine. How long have I been out?"

Bell said. "About two hours."

"Funny, it only seemed like five minutes."

"You were performing very high level magic, Keiichi. Higher than any first class God of your stature had any right to do."

"Belldandy, you and I have a lot to talk about. The spirit of the ring told me some things about you and Kami-sama that concerned me deeply. When all this is over, we have to have a real heart to heart." They way Keiichi spoke left no uncertainty that Bell was not to speak about it now.

"Did you get what you were looking for?"

"Yes, Bell. I have the solution to removing the ring and deciphering the runes, but I had to pay a very high price for it." He lifted his left hand to show her the design on her palm. As soon as she saw the design, a look of dread recognition crossed her face.

"You didn't!" Bell gasped.

"I didn't what?" Keiichi said, confused.

"You took the Mark!"

"What Mark?"

"The one on your hand."

"What about it?"

"Were you told by the spirit that in exchange for the ability to remove the ring and decipher the runes, you had to leave Earth forever? And that you could be forced to leave at any time?"

"I had no choice, Belldandy…"

A pause. "I guess you didn't. I just wish that I was with you. To explain to you what you just did."

"What about the Mark, Belldandy."

"Keiichi, truly, you paid a high price indeed for that information."

Keiichi produced the cube that Arvid gave him. "Bell, I'll need your help to remove this ring."

"Yes, Keiichi."

Kei and Bell stood up and faced each other. He held out his left hand and Belldandy touched the ring. Keiichi could feel the power of the ring tremble on his finger as Bell's power connected with the essence she sealed into the ring. He opened the cube in his mind and it unfolded and revealed its contents.

The script was in the current alphabet of Heaven, but Keiichi could translate it instantly. He and Bell recited the words.

" The force of a thousand seas. The heat of a thousand suns. The fury of a thousand winds. The magic of a thousand spirits. We can upon the elemental powers of all these to come into this place and loosen the bonds between this ring and its wearer. Make the hidden known. The invisible visible. Make the mystical plain for all to see. Unlock the secrets. Solve the puzzle. Bring light to darkness and clarity to the obscured. Let it be so, let it be so, let it be so"

As the words died away on the winds, a golden glow settled over Keiichi's hand. The Mark flashed brightly a pure white, then died away. The mark on Belldandy's forehead flashed all the colors of the visible and invisible spectrum. Keiichi took hold of the ring and slowly pulled. The ring appeared to offer some resistance, but eventually gave way. It slid off his finger, flashed once and the once pure gold became tarnished and pitted. It was still readable, but it was clear that it would never be worn again.

Keiichi said. "Well, Belldandy. We did it."

Belldandy gave Keiichi a passionate hug and turned to Kami-sama. Showing him the ring, she said. "Kami-sama we've removed the ring."

The Supreme Ruler said brightly. "So you did. Congratulations. Maybe now, we can get this whole Interface Layer mess straightened out. Wake up Istvar. It's up to him now.

Chapter 39

Urd broke her silence. "Ooooh, can I wake up Istvar? Please, please, please, can I wake him up?"

Kami-sama gave his approval. Urd skipped over to the fallen God like she was a giddy toddler. Holding her hands over his prone body and giggling manically, Urd gestured savagely at him. A bolt of white hot lightning roared from her fingertips and enveloped Istvar in a fierce electrical storm. Istvar screamed as thousands of volts ripped through his body jolting him back to the land of the living none too gently. Wisps of smoke wafted off his body as his system was rudely shaken awake. Which didn't improve his nasty and brusque temper.

"GAAAAAAAAH!" Istvar roared. He let loose with a volley of curses. "What the hell happened?!" Then he laid eyes on Urd who waved at him coquettishly with a wicked smile on her face. "Up and at 'em, you pervert! You've got work to do."

Chastened and embarrassed, Istvar slowly got to his feet and shuffled over to the table where he had the misfortune of sitting between Urd and Hild. Both mother and daughter looked nastily at the disheveled God as he evaded their deathly glares.

Hild looked at Istvar and said sweetly. "Are you all right, Istvar? I certainly hope that dear Urdie didn't hurt you too badly. I know how well you two get along. Trust me, it's better that she woke you up. I would not have been so gentle."

Istvar learned his lesson quickly. "I'm fine Hild. Thank you for your concern."

"Don't mention it, Istvar, sweetie."

Urd said. "Istvar, Keiichi and Belldandy were able to remove the ring. Now it's up to you to translate the runes."

A bit of bluster started to make its way back into Istvar's demeanor until he saw the ring sitting in Keiichi's hand. "So you were able to remove the ring, Keiichi? I would be impressed, but I still don't like you or Belldandy enough to give you credit. Now that the ring is off, I can send you into the Interface Layer through Belldandy's conection with Yggdrasil with a cleaning spell to remove your hybrid filth from the Layer."

Keiichi queried. "What about the runes?"

Istvar said. "They're nothing, they were just a spell to lock the ring to your finger."

"That's all?"

"That's all."

"All that work for…"

"Yep, nothing." Istvar said smugly. " All right. Let's get this over with so I can get off this God-forsaken rock and go back to Heaven. I've got a ton of work to do and you clowns have kept me here long enough. Hold Belldandy's hands and don't let go."

Istvar then uttered a guttural string of words, waved his hands in an overly grandiose gesture and two minutes later, Keiichi's spirit was back in his body, the layer was back to its pristine self and with no small amount of grumbling and attitude, Istvar was back in the Gate speeding his way back to Heaven.