AN: Takes place after the end of chapter 308 (EOS)

"I'm going to get a sugar high just from watching those two," muttered Urd.

Those two - Belldandy and Keiichi - were working in the kitchen. Keiichi was cutting vegetables, while Belldandy was making mochi. The couple was in full preparation for lunch. In itself this was not anything new. But with this being their first full day married after their wedding the night before, there were subtle but noticeable differences. The way Belldandy's hand lingered on Keiichi's when she got him some tomatoes from the pantry. Keiichi brushing up against Belldandy when he brough her a bag of flour. Lingering gazes that grew into smiles and snickering laughter as if they were hearing some unheard joke. A light blush at their closeness. Earlier, Urd even caught the two coming out of the woods in the back of the temple, hand in hand and Keiichi's eyes were dreamily unfocused. Urd had no doubt what they had been up to, and she was not the only one.

Next to her, Skuld was fuming watching Keiichi flirt with Belldandy. "I did this for ice cream cake," grumbled the youngest Norn, "and all this perversion is not worth it."

"Ah contraire," put in Peorth, "its beautiful those two are finally letting their love be expressed." She was floating behind the two sisters looking over their shoulders into the kitchen.

"Yes, is it not normal for copulation after matrimony?" question Lind from beside Peorth.

"Eww," cried Skuld, "don't say things like 'copulation.'"

All four goddesses had been observing the happy - and oblivious to their watchers- couple go about their day since the morning. Belldandy and Keiichi had been in their own content little world since the ceremony the night before. The group had left them alone after the wedding and their evening together. But curiosity had pulled them in to watch the couple today. And at this point it was becoming a bit of a betting game. Peorth was now wagering before the meal was ready Belldandy was going to drag Keiichi into the bedroom and have her way with him.

"Nope," argued Urd, "my sister is a lot of things, but the possibility of ruining lunch just to play mattress mambo with her new husband is not one of them."

Lind face scrunched up in confusion, "Mattress mambo?"

"I'm not listening to this," groaned Skuld as she covered her ears with her hands.

Coming in unexpectedly, a voice shouted down the hallway from the entrance to the house. "Hey, Keiichi!" The goddesses turned their heads to see Megumi Morisato come through the front door. With a flourish of her hands, Peorth gracefully lower herself back to the floor, not letting the other mortal see her gravity defying abilities.

"Ah," whispered the rose goddess, "we have a wild card in the mix."

"Hi everybody," announced Megumi as she passed the living room on way to the kitchen. She slowed for a moment as she took in the four seated women and noted the presence of Lind. Shaking her head while muttering about multiplying supermodels, she continued into the Kitchen. Megumi found her brother and Belldandy, the latter adding a finishing touch to the mochi.

Smiling brightly, Belldandy said, "Hello Megumi, how are you?"

Managing a bit of fragile smile as she took a seat next to her brother, the younger Morisato replied, "Still sporting a bit of a hangover from your birthday party yesterday."

Ever the gracious host, Belldandy turned to the kitchen's ice chest. "I have just the thing," she hurried over and pulled out a pitcher of freshly made lemonade. "Keiichi made this up earlier." She poured a tall glass of the drink and handed it to Megumi.

Taking the offered glass, Megumi took a sip, "Hey, not bad Kei. Are you taking lessons from Belldandy?"

"Uhh..Hmm...Yeah," stuttered Keiichi while getting red in the face. Belldandy nodded as well, but a tint of a blush also made its way onto her cheeks.

Not directly noticing, Megumi continued talking. "Yesterday was weird. I could swear the whole of Whirlwind blew up. But then didn't? Uh...too much to drink." Looking at her brother and Belldandy she shook her head slowly back and forth. "And you two just up and disappeared."

"Oh, ummm..." began Keiichi, "... Belldandy sort of...ummm, had a family emergency."

Megumi was quick to refocus on Belldandy, "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, everything is fine, now," nodded Belldandy.

"Well, that's good," replied Megumi as she took another swig of lemonade.

"We're married," added Belldandy happily.

The explosive spit take from Megumi sent streams of lemonade everywhere. Belldandy was quick to save her mochi, Keiichi was not so lucky with his chopped vegetables. All the while the younger Morisato sputtered, coughed, and gasped for breath. Her eyes grew wide and bugged out of her head. Keiichi by her side patting her back, while Belldandy ran to get a dish towel to mop the mess. Meanwhile in the living room Urd turned to Peorth with smirk, "I win this round." Peorth just scowled.

"Oh dear," sighed Belldandy as she helped clean up the still sputtering Megumi.

"Yeah," muttered Keiichi to his new wife. "Maybe we need, umm...to kind of buffer this with everyone." He smiled shyly. "Don't want to send people into shock."

"Sorry," apologized Belldandy. "But I sort of want to run around and tell everyone. And sing and dance and..."

"I know exactly what you mean," answered Keiichi as he gave Belldandy a gentle hug.

"You...Two...Are...Married?" wheezed Megumi.

"Yes," confirmed Keiichi with a nod. "We had the ceremony last night."

After finishing cleaning up the mess, Belldandy went to the kitchen basin to clean out the washcloth. Megumi, now recovered, reached over and grabbed a fistful of her brother's shirt and yanked him over to harshly whisper in his ear. "You didn't get her pregnant, did you?"

"No. No." Keiichi waved his hands frantically. "Nothing like that."

"Megumi," he sighed, trying to think how he would explain the rules of gods and mortals, the Judgement Gate, and Tyr's trails, and just shook his head wearily. "Belldandy's parents have some strict rules on relationships. The kind of very totally completely inflexible ones."

"That bad?" she questioned, still confused.

Keiichi smiled, looking at Belldandy finishing with cleaning up the washcloth. "No, not all. I want to be by her side, and she wants to be by mine. So, it's very good."

Megumi took in the way her brother was looking at his wife and as Belldandy rejoined them at the kitchen table, how she looked at her new husband. Megumi could not deny the obvious and sighed. "Hmm, guess that make you my new yome-san."

Belldandy immediately brightened, "It does! You're my new sister-in-law!" She clapped her hands excitedly.

"So," began Megumi, "what are your plans? Party? Honeymoon? Kids?" She said the last word with a sly smile towards her brother.

"Uhh," shifted Keiichi a little uncomfortably, "how about one thing at a time?" Looking to Belldandy, he continued, "We're thinking of having a party tonight. Having everyone over and letting everyone know."

From the living room came an added chorus of support from Urd and Peorth, "Yes for party!" and "Anything that keeps you from molesting my sister!" from Skuld. But Lind was oddly silent. She was staring fixedly out the window into the temple grounds, with a frown slowly growing on her face.

"Enough from the peanut gallery," grumbled Keiichi. "I know you've been watching us all morning. Why don't you four watch something on TV?"

"You're far more entertaining!" shot back Urd.

Keiichi was about to continue arguing but was stopped when a loud crash came from outside and without a word Lind launched herself down the hallway and out the door. Urd and Peorth were quick to their feet and following her.

"Wow," exclaimed Megumi as she had watched Lind move at near inhuman speed, "she is fast." Turning to her brother and Belldandy she asked, "Another one of your guests? Let me guess, she's an Olympic sprinter?"

"No," answered Keiichi, "She's Lind."

Megumi waited for a moment for a further explanation, but none was forthcoming. "And?"

But any type of clarification from either Belldandy or Keiichi was violently cut off as the wall between the kitchen and living room exploded inward. Something huge and black thundered through the destroyed wall.

Megumi raised her arm to shield herself as a cloud of wooden splinters and debris rushed at her, only to see the flying ruble freeze midair. Stunned, she looked up to see Belldandy standing above, her right arm outstretched palm flat to the explosion, as if she had ordered it to stop. But Megumi's amazement grew to outright shock as she saw what was seemingly growing right out of Belldandy's back - a radiant spiral of fabric forming into a woman with wind swept blonde-haired with wide wings of white feathers. Megumi could do nothing but stare dumbfounded.

Keiichi grabbed on to his sister and pushed them both to the floor of the kitchen. Through the haze of debris, he could see what he could only describe as a gigantic black bull, with gleaming white horns. It bellowed and snorted as it stomped its hooves, kicking up more dust and wood. But Keiichi was not looking at the beast, he was watching his wife and her angel - Holy Bell.

Belldandy with Holy Bell strode forward towards the monster. In a voice as angry as he had ever heard her, she shouted - "Begone!" A burst of cyclonic wind with hurricane strength burst from her, smashing into the pitch-black bull, sending it flying back out of the hole it had created in the house. Stopping before the hole, the angel merged back into Belldandy. Turning back to the Morisato siblings, she said with a faint smile, "Please, stay here." And then she launched herself into the air

On the floor of the mostly destroyed kitchen, Megumi turned to her brother and stammered out, "What...Who...Keiichi...what...is going on?"

"Short answer," replied Keiichi with a sigh as he climbed to his feet. No point in trying to hide the truth from his sister now. "Belldandy is a goddess."

She blinked at him. "A goddess?"

Keiichi nodded.

Megumi slowly climbed to her feet as well. "Like an actual goddess, goddess? With god powers and flies around and magic stuff?"

"Umm, yeah."

Megumi stared at her brother, then around at the demolished kitchen, and then through the newly created opening in the temple. She watched Belldandy land gently outside with her sisters. Megumi pointed at them and turning back to Keiichi asked, "And them?"

"The same. All goddesses."

Megumi promptly punched her brother in the arm.

"Ow! What'd do that for?" he said while rubbing his arm.

"For not telling me, dummy!"

At that moment Keiichi thought he and Megumi could swap places with their nine- and eight-year-old selves where they would squabble over everything until Takano broke them up. He was half tempted to put his sister in head lock and give her a noogie. But that was not going to help the situation, even if it would make him feel a lot better.

"Megumi," he sighed, "How would I tell you about all this? And you believe me? 'Oh, hey Megumi, Belldandy is a goddess and her sisters are too. And did I mention Lind is a Valkyrie? Oh, by the way, there's this computer system called Yggdrasil which controls the universe.'"

Megumi's right eye twitched. "Um, what?"

"See, exactly."

Outside Lind was in the middle of fighting one of the giant black bulls, axe in hand. The Valkyrie dodged the beast's horns and slashed at it. But the monster seemed to shrug off her blows. Peorth and her angel Gorgeous Rose were engaged with a second bull and were having better luck with ensnaring the beast in an assortment of vines and roots that burst from the ground. It struggled and snorted in rage, but the Peorth's magic held it fast.

The last bull had landed on its back, behind the temple, where Belldandy windstorm had thrown it. Thrashing about, the bull's horned feet dug into the ground as it struggled to right itself. Urd cautiously approached, with her sisters following closely behind.

"What are these things?" asked Skuld.

"The Raging Bull Brigade of Hell," answered Urd.

"That doesn't sound friendly," replied Skuld.

"They're my mom's pets," further explained Urd.

"Well that really doesn't sound friendly."

"I hate to admit this," grumbled Urd as she came to a stop before the great bull as it got to its feet, "but I don't think this is one of Hild's plans." Taking a stance before the beast and crossing her arms, she firmly commanded, "Momo-chan, you don't belong here. Take your brothers and go home."

The massive black bull opened it's mouth wide and let out a bellowing howl. Skuld immediately ducked behind Belldandy. Then it's big eyes focused on Urd and a raspy voice echoed out of the giant maw. "Mistress Urd?"

"That's me," confirmed Urd.

"You got big."

"Yeah, I did."

"You were small and rode on my back."

Urd sighed and rubbed her forehead. "These guys aren't the brightest bulbs. But aren't usually violent."

Momo-chan the bull grated out the words, "Blonde one hurt us...and then tried to send us away."

"Blonde one?" asked Belldandy

Urd groaned again. "Oh, I get it. Yesterday Mara fought these guys during Hagal's little powerplay. She tried to seal them up, but typical Mara, she screwed it up and they escaped."

"Momo-chan," began Belldandy softly, "I'm sorry I was angry with you. But you almost hurt people I really care about. Please, can you get your brothers to calm down? We'll help you get back home."

"Don't... Like... You..." snorted the bull as it backed away from Belldandy.

"Sorry Bell," said Urd as she put a hand on her sister's shoulder. "But Momo-chan isn't going to be very pro goddess. Unfortunately, they've got a one-track mind. We can seal them up but probably going to have to do this the hard way."

Belldandy reply was sad, but firm, "I understand."

Urd stepped forward and began chanting, "Sentient Spirit, I compel thee, be sealed in my name." Her hands shot forward, and a glowing sigil burst from her fingers, flying towards the great bull. It tried to pull away, but Belldandy began a chant of her own. Wind began swirling around the monster, holding it in place. Yet still it struggled, stubbornly trying to force its way out of Belldandy's torrent of wind. Fighting against being sealed by Urd's magic.

Seeing her two older sisters work to seal the Great Bull of Hell, Skuld felt a moment of doubt. Of uncertainty. But she took a deep breath and pushed her fears down. Moving behind the beat, she held out her hands and she summoned her angel - Nobel Scarlet. As one, they began a chant of their own. "Spirit of the water, I compel thee, lend me your strength." From Nobel Scarlet's palms came a high-speed jet of water, aimed at the bull's backside. It struck the beast squarely, shoving forward just enough to be engulfed by Urd's sealing spell. With a flash of light, the bull was sealed away, leaving only a black stone statue behind.

Skuld smiled and cheered, "We did it!"

"Good work, Skuld," praised Belldandy.

"Yep, you sure did," deadpanned Urd. She had gotten decently drenched by Skuld's attack and was wringing her hair out.

"Oh, sorry," apologized Skuld.

"Let's just finish sealing these guys," replied Urd.

Across the temple yard Lind was still engaged with her bull. Her axe was not having much effect on the creature, it's hide was far too tough to be easily penetrated. But Lind was not discouraged, she would find a weak spot and bring her foe low. She ducked under the swing of its horns and spun in, striking its flank. The bull bellowed in pain, and Lind took it as a sign she had found a target.

"I'm just going to have to do this by hand, aren't I?" she said to herself. The thought of that made Lind smile. Hefting her axe, she swung it outward, casting it away from her. It spun away to embed itself in the trunk of a nearby tree.

"I hope you're ready," growled Lind as she faced the bull down, barehanded.

The giant beast snorted and charged the Valkyrie. Lind held her ground, waiting for the perfect moment, and then launched herself straight at the rushing bull.

From their vantage point in the kitchen, Keiichi and Megumi watched as Lind threw away her axe and changed straight at the bull to begin wrestling it.

"Is she crazy?" questioned Megumi as she watched Lind spin kick the bull square in the jaw, staggering it.

Keiichi could only shrug his shoulders. "No, I think this is Lind's idea of fun."

Lind grabbed the bull by the horns and planted her feet, stopping its charge. Twisting her hips, she sent the bull flying over her shoulder to crash on the temple yard. Lind stalked forward to her foe, fists clenched. On its back the battered bull struggled to right itself. It wobbled to its feet and let out a weak bellow.

Lind stood before the bull and bowed her head slightly. "You were a worthy foe," she complimented the beast. "Now be sealed."

Holding out her hand, she chanted, "Sprit of the Earth, I compel thee, bind my enemy."

A sigil appeared on the bull's forehead. It's struggles grew weaker until it was frozen in place and then a flash of light, and the statue was all that remained.

Now only Peorth's bull remained. It had put up a great deal of struggle, twisting and fighting her vines and roots. Repeatedly snapping free, only for her and Gorgeous Rose to bind it again. But finally, Peorth had the creature subdued. Cords of thick green vines were wrapped around its massive body, keeping it in place. Holding out her hand, she began her own sealing spell, "Spirit of the vines, I compel thee..." But there was a sudden rip as the bull, frantic not be sealed, shoved its might hooves into ground and pushed backwards. It had constantly been fighting to escape by going forwards. Never realizing it would be easier to escape by reversing.

Neither had Peorth.

In one sudden burst of speed, it ripped completely free of the goddess's vines. Yet it had no more desire to fight, and in a near panic it bolted away from Peorth and the nearby Norns returning from behind the Temple. The great bull raced across the temple yard, its hooves beating a thundering cadence. Peorth chased after, swearing away in French.

The lone Hell Bull was desperate to escape from the temple grounds and found it at the entrance of the Tarikihongan Temple. Sharply veering to the side, it managed to slip past the perusing Peorth. It charged towards the Torii and the open road beyond. Just as one lone figure was climbing the steps of the temple - Takano Morisato.

She made the first step into the temple grounds as the giant bull barreled straight towards her.