{Chapter 5 : Transmission/Disturbance}
"Pray now for a fair summer."
- John Proctor, The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

    It had been unusually quiet at the temple. Skuld had finally figured out what was wrong with "Kewl-Aid kun" and Urd had watched television from morning till night while drinking like a fish. Banpei was just doing his rounds, and missing Belldandy a lot. But other than that, all was quiet.
    "I sure miss one-sama," Skuld quipped as she walked into the living room where Urd was. "It sure is quiet around here."
    Urd ignored her, more focused on the TV. Although in that drunken state, Skuld never knew. Skuld shrugged. Urd never paid attention to almost anyone when she was like this. Just then, she noticed a strange light in one of the rooms. She went to check it out. But first, she'd need to make a detour. She had this strange feeling she'd be needing it.

*     *     *

    Peorth arrived in a flourish, scattering rose petals all over the place while posing for whatever cameras might've been around to take her pictures. Of course, it was all for show, but still, Peorth loved showing off.
    "Keiichi-san! Iiiii'm here!" Peorth announced, loudly, proudly.
    *click*
    The lights came on.
    *whooosh*
    Peorth had about a second to take defensive measures before a rocket-propelled baseball bat buried itself in her face. She wasn't fast enough, and she winced, expecting her face to be smashed in. Seconds passed, nothing happened. Opening her eyes, she noticed Skuld staring at her, disbelievingly. Skuld's bat had dropped to the floor with a loud clattering and lay there, still.
    "YOU!" They both exclaimed at the same time.
    "Whaaaaaaaat's all this noise about, Skuld? I just thought I heard Peorth." Urd yawned sleepily as she floated through the doorway to Keiichi's workroom. She stopped being sleepy and sobered up when she saw Peorth, and nearly stopped floating as well.
    "YOU!?" Urd exclaimed, every little bit as surprised as Skuld and Peorth.

*     *     *

    Somewhere else in Keiichi's workroom, Ganchan was snickering as he saw the Goddess's shocked and disbelieving expressions. He finally got the joke Skuld and Urd had made about him. At least Belldandy was kind enough to forgive him and let it go at that when he'd confessed about his petty thievery and repented.

*     *     *

    "Peorth, what are you doing here?" Urd asked, crossing her arms. Peorth was looking rather indignant, arms crossed, floating an inch above the floor, looking at the both of them.
    "Where's my Keiichi darling?" Peorth asked.
    "Hey, I asked first." Urd said, her voice growing a little louder.
    "I want my manga collection back!" whined Skuld, who was ignominously being ignored.
    Urd and Peorth started a staring match, and as lightning bolts flew between the two of them, Skuld decided to back off and see what would happen.
    "I asked you first, as such, you should answer first." Urd growled, between clenched teeth.
    "I'm a first class Goddess, and it's not your place to order me around." Peorth growled, equally fiercely.
    That did it. Urd hated, probably more than anything else, to be reminded of her rank and station. She took a finger and poked Peorth in the chest insultingly.
    "Don't you mock my rank, Peorth! I've got a lot more power than you'll ever have!"
    Peorth pushed away the finger and mocked her with a haughty look. She then mimed a thoughtful look, her eyes pointing heavenwards.
    "Well, it's not like you could ever gain access to most of it for, say... oh, I don't know. Forever?"
    Urd's veins began to bulge in indignation. She held a fist up, and lightning crackled in it like a javelin.
    "Well, we'll see about that! Urd-Lightning-"
    Peorth was game. She raised her arms and began summoning a whirlwind of roses, thorns and all. "Rose-thorn-swarm-"
    Both of them never finished it. Instead, a third voice cut in. A very irritated voice. A voice who had been ignored for quite a while.
    "NEO-SKULD BOMB!"

*     *     *

*KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    The explosion rocked most of the neighbourhood, but nobody cared. The temple had always been a lively place, with all sorts of weird things going on in it. Nobody bothered when that blast came unexpectedly. Even the babies slept soundly. Only one person commented, as he calmly flipped to the next page of his newspaper.
    "They're at it again. Honey, get the accounts book ready, we've got business."

*     *     *

    Two blackened and charred Goddesses and one fairly unscathed Goddess stood in the center of what was formerly Keiichi's valuable workspace, and room. The first one to move was Skuld, unaffected by her own bomb. (Nobody knew why.) She dusted herself off, looked around, and became worried. Keiichi had his room bombed before, and he was never nice when it happened. This time, she'd done it. His entire room was in shambles. Her neo-Skuld bomb worked a little too well.
    Meanwhile, the other two Goddesses had their own problem. First of all, they had been bombed, which wasn't nice. Secondly, that bomb came from a little girl, which was even worse. Thirdly, that bomb wasn't very good for them, and they didn't like that. Urd recovered first, being the most used to bombings such as these. She dusted what was left of her clothes off, used a little magic, and had a new set immediately. Peorth, however, wasn't so fortunate. She'd never encountered a Skuld bomb, let alone a neo-Skuld one, and this hurt. A lot. But at least she knew she wouldn't be arguing with Skuld anymore, Skuld was likely to have a lot more of these, and she could chuck 'em faster than Peorth could extinguish them. She was glad she'd extinguished the one Skuld had threatened her with the last time. One less bomb wouldn't hurt at all. Nobody noticed poor little Ganchan though, lying in a corner, his beautiful rat fur burned off.
    Eventually, everyone was in some shape to move. Skuld was the first to say something.
    "Look what you made me do! I bombed Keiichi's room!"
    Urd and Peorth stared at her. Skuld felt herself shrink under their eyes as stares turned to glares.
    "Then again....."
    Urd and Peorth turned to each other. Their staring match resumed. Skuld sighed. Some grown-ups never learned.
    "This is our house and you came in, uninvited, looking for Keiichi." Urd growled.
    "This is Keiichi's house and I can come anytime I like. I'm a Goddess." Peorth retorted.
    Finally, Skuld decided on the peaceful way to break this up. She shoved them aside and walked between them, looking at both of them in turn.
    "Come on, you two. We're Goddesses. We don't fight amongst ourselves."
    Urd and Peorth stared at Skuld again. What was it with these people?! Skuld wondered. Urd nearly laughed, Peorth did. But they calmed down quickly, and looked around them.
    "Sure is a mess here." Urd commented. "Keiichi won't be happy."
    "Yeah." Peorth agreed. "But I can fix that! Keiichi will owe me so much for this...."
    Peorth snapped and the room suddenly changed. It looked like something Urd would've thought of, but with a lot more frescoes and roses.
    Both Urd and Skuld looked at Peorth, bigsweating. (You know, that large sweatdrop that appears on their heads everytime something like this happens?) Peorth was laughing to herself.
    "Aaah haa haa haa haa! I am such a great interior decorator!" Peorth had done this once to Keiichi's room before, when she had wanted to help him make up his mind about his wish. She obviously slept in rooms like this, since she didn't seem to notice that it wasn't supposed to be her bedroom she was restoring, it was Keiichi's.
    "Ahrm, excuse me, Peorth?" Skuld asked, raising a hand.
    "Yes?"
    "This isn't Keiichi's bedroom. And it's... well, supposed to be?"
    "I know," Peorth clapped her hands together and got that dreamy look. "But when he gets back, that won't matter!"
    Skuld and Urd looked at each other as Peorth went waltzing around the room, daydreaming about how wonderful their night together will be. Urd cleared her throat.
    "Peorth," It was Urd's turn. "Keiichi won't be back tonight."
    That got her attention. She spun to face Urd.
    "Say what? I could've sworn you said Keiichi-dear won't be back tonight?"
    "I did," Urd cleared her throat again. "Not for a week."

    Peorth stares at Urd. Urd shrugs.
    "Sorry, things like these happen."
    Peorth grabs Urd's shoulders and shakes her.
    "WHERE IS MY DARLING KEIICHI!? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!?"

    "Iwaiwai weeweel tewelwel yu-u-u wewen yu-u-u le-et gowowowo!" Urd sputtered as Peorth shook her violently. Skuld was enjoying the show between Urd and Peorth. She'd never seen anything as hilarious yet, not even on TV.
    Peorth stopped shaking Urd. Urd couldn't stop shaking. But finally, she did. Giving Peorth a smug look, she hoped what she said would give Peorth a little incentive to leave them alone. Crossing her arms, Urd prepared to stick the knife in Peorth's guts.
    "Keiichi went with Belldandy, alone, on a little vacation. Privately. We couldn't come along even if we wanted to." Urd obviously loved what she was saying, stressing every word she thought would twist the proverbial knife in Peorth's gut. It worked. Too well.
    Peorth looked absolutely distraught at the thought of what Keiichi might be doing with Belldandy now. A dozen images flashed through her mind, most of them erotic. She claspsed her head between her palms and shook it, trying to get them out of her head.
    "Nonononono! Keiichi wouldn't do that! He wouldn't! You're lying, Urd! You always do! My darling Keiichi wouldn't dare to do that!"
    Urd shrugged. She hadn't lied about anything yet, Peorth's imagination was doing everything she didn't need to. Just as well. Maybe Peorth would give up hope on Keiichi now.
    Suddenly, Peorth stood up. Fierce determination burned in her eyes, and showed in her clenched fist, that tight lipped look of determination etched on her face.
    "I cannot allow that to happen! I will stop Keiichi before he does something foolish with Belldandy!" And with a spin, the room went back to normal. Along with it went Peorth.
    Urd and Skuld watched as Peorth flew out.
    "There goes Keiichi's peaceful vacation." Urd sighed, face in her hand, shaking it sadly.
    "What about my manga collection!?" whined Skuld. Nobody had paid her the slightest attention so far.

*     *     *

    It had been quite a quiet and wonderful night. Keiichi had gone star gazing with Belldandy out in the park, amidst the other couples already in the garden, doing the same or whispering sweet nothings into each others' ears. Keiichi and Belldandy were lying on a large grass slope within the Lodge's grounds, staring up into the sky. Belldandy was pointing out and identifying, flawlessly, each star's name and constellation. Keiichi was just soaking it in, the atmosphere, the beauty, Belldandy's voice, everything.
    "And there's Orionis. Orion was rather flattered, the human's image of him had been a lot greater than he dared take credit for." Belldandy mused. Keiichi absently nodded.
    After a while longer, Belldandy stopped naming stars. She was out here, alone (more or less) with Keiichi, and it was a perfect night. Nothing could get better. This was what she had hoped for a long time ago, it had been her secret hope and dream, and it had finally come true. The fact that Keiichi had thought the same thing too was pretty conincidental. But nobody was complaining. Belldandy just wanted to stay close to Keiichi.
    "I wish I could always be with you, Keiichi...." Belldandy said in her mind. She had always wanted to say that, but she never had the nerve to. She had always thought Keiichi strong and strong willed, and that was true. But she saw herself as a smaller being beside him, always modest and humble, always quietly supporting him. Keiichi knew that and had tried to bring her into the spotlight as often as he could, but she had pointedly refused, too shy, too humbled, to be sharing Keiichi's glory. But now, there was nothing to stop her from being shy but shyness itself. She could just blurt it out to Keiichi and hope she hadn't messed things up, she was just so scared. Imagine that, a Goddess, scared.
    But Goddesses were only so much, after all.
    Keiichi noticed Belldandy shifting besides him. He turned his head and ended up staring right into her eyes. They were wide open and surprised.
    And they soaked up and radiated the moonlight brilliantly, blue and silver in perfect conjunction with each other. Keiichi was mesmerized by them, as he had been so often.
    "Keiichi-san?" Belldandy swallowed. She had to build up her courage for him.
    She had to. She'd probably never get another chance at this. They'd been through a lot, but this was her hardest test yet.

    And one had to remember all that they'd been through before. Back then, when Keiichi had lost all hope, Belldandy had been there for him, and vice versa They'd worked together to bring happiness to others, they'd counted on each other when trouble arose. Even during the Lord of Terror's time, Belldandy had stuck by her principles and saw it through to the end herself. When Yggdrasil had broken down, Keiichi had been their source of hope and strength. In fact, Keiichi had done a lot of things the Goddesses couldn't do, and wouldn't admit to themselves. Keiichi had risked his life for her and others once too often too, and why was that so? (To some of those in the Heavens, Keiichi trying Urd's medicines without knowing what they'd do to him for Belldandy's sake was feat enough. They were still talking about that.)
    She had to admit, she was a little obsessed with Keiichi. And making Belldandy obsessed wasn't easy at all. Keiichi had done a lot for her. She'd felt she'd done nothing for him. None of the housework would matter, all the things she made for him wouldn't make up for Keiichi's actions. Keiichi had given her his love, his world, his life, and she'd given him nothing but sweaters and lots of love. She felt useless at the moment.
    "Nonsense, Belldandy. You're a Goddess, you have responsibilities." Keiichi had once said, when Belldandy tried to tell him that she wasn't good enough for him. What she didn't tell him was that there were a lot of Gods and Goddesses up there doing the work for her, and her own workload was minimal considering her rank. Keiichi knew Belldandy wasn't working in the Heavens now, too. But he'd tried to make her feel better. She owed him everything she had for that alone. She didn't know was that all that was needed to pay Keiichi back was her continued existence and love for Keiichi.
    Even Keiichi didn't know that himself.

    "Yes, Belldandy?" Keiichi snapped out of his mesmerization. He wished he could've stayed there forever and looked.
    "Keiichi... I... I...." Belldandy still couldn't get it out. But she wasn't sure if this would affect their relationship. They had been together for years now, and their relation might have grown deep beyond simple, petty words, but still, words held a lot of power.
    Power Belldandy couldn't find yet.
    This is so frustrating! Belldandy thought. I'm a First Class Goddess with enough power to destroy and create a world, and I can't bring myself to tell Keiichi how much I want him! I'm so useless!
    She hadn't noticed she had shut her eyes and was crying softly.
    Keiichi definitely did, and he wondered what he did wrong.
    Men were so dense sometimes.
    But he stroked her face, and hair softly. She opened her eyes. He was smiling. He had guessed though. The same face he wore was on her own.
    "Belldandy?" Keiichi's voice held hope. Belldandy's hope that he would say it for her.
    "Yes, Keiichi-san?" Belldandy's own voice held hope that she could find the strength to say it too.
    "Did you want to say.... something?" Keiichi was a little nervous himself.
    No, his own voice held his own hope that he wanted to voice too. Belldandy knew it, but, nothing would come of it unless someone said it.
    "Yes." Her response was simple.
    Belldandy decided to be a little daring. Or at least, something to help her make her daring. She wouldn't need words anymore, actions would speak louder than anything, and these actions would deafen Keiichi.
    She kissed Keiichi. Just to be brave.

*     *     *

    Somewhere in the Heavens, Uruz was busy checking the programs, administrations and runnings of Yggdrasil as well as the relations spreadsheet she had. Her job kept her busy, and she loved being busy. Something on her spreadsheet caught her attention though. She examined it. It was actually two things, something to do with her job.
    Those two were most interesting, Uruz mused. But at the moment, Uruz heard the confirmation that Keiichi was staying at someplace called the "Couple's Lodge", and she could go and grant his wish now. Uruz was overwhelmed. Expecting to meet this Keiichi person and actually going to meet him were completely different. It was like going up on stage for the first time in your life with a thousand eyes upon you, waiting. Dropping everything, Uruz leapt to her feet and opened her gateway to Earth.
    Her primary mode of teleporation-transportation was simple : Doorways, arches, anything that formed an enclosed space that led from one place to another which she could pass through.
    How simple, and elegant.

*     *     *

    Mara was snoring in her futon, exhausted from her exertions the past weeks. Senbee was finally beginning to warm up to the place, and was enjoying himself as he randomly caused trouble for the other couples. He knew Belldandy was here, and as a constant source of Happiness, he'd not cause any long-term damage. At least his "Happy" level was high now.
    And then the door to the room glowed.
    Senbee stared as someone stepped through it. It was female, as he had come to expect a long time ago, and this one resembled a fashion model from some lingerine show.
    Only fashion models didn't walk through doors, have Goddess markings, and wear that sort of stuff out of their jobs. Senbee eeped once, and dived back into his bottle. Mara snored on.

*     *     *

    Uruz looked around the room she had entered. It was large, spacy, very cozy, and partitioned. She heard someone snoring, and assumed Keiichi was asleep. She quietly floated over to the partition and peeked into the left side, where she saw someone sleeping. But this someone had silver-blonde hair. Not Keiichi then. Then the figure turned in its sleep, and Uruz caught sight of the distinctive Demoness markings.
    Keiichi!? With a demoness!? Where's Belldandy!? Uruz thought, panicked. She was sure she had entered the correct room, and here was, in all her snoring glory, a demoness. Uruz sincerely hoped Keiichi hadn't gone into leagues with this one, it'd be the end of his wonderful legends in the Heavens.
    "Psst! Yo, here!" A small voice called.
    Uruz looked around and saw a tiny man calling to her from a bottle. Interesting, a genie! An evil kind, but nonetheless, a genie. Well, maybe he was the demoness's companion. That would explain a lot, but why would Keiichi share rooms with someone he knew was a demoness? Uruz had a distinct and unreasonable hatred for demons and demonesses alike, and this one in particular seemed to invoke her very rage upon sight.
    "What is a Goddess doing here?" Inquired Senbee.
    "I'm here to take a wish." Uruz replied, coldly. She had this nasty impression of demons, having heard all about them. She hadn't met one before in her life though. This was a new experience.
    Senbee chuckled. "Eh, Goddess taking wishes? Senbee guess that means Goddess here for Keiichi?"
    Uruz was surprised. This one knew Keiichi too! This was worrying.
    "What do you have to do with Keiichi!?" Uruz was beginning to get worried. This wasn't working out the way she had hoped. Demons in Keiichi's room, she was talking to one's companion, and she was scared. She knew the demoness was a First Class demoness, and she didn't know how demonesses fought. Where was big sister when she needed her? Peorth would know what to do.....

*     *     *

    Near to the beach, Peorth sneezed in mid-flight. She had read up on the Couple's Lodge on her way here, and she knew it was an old temple converted into an unusual type of holiday resort. That probably meant no demons or demonesses there, which was good. What was bad was what Peorth would expect to find when she found Keiichi with Belldandy.
    Of course, Peorth always was one for melodramatics and hyperbole when it came to things like relations. She hadn't chosen the Rose for no reason. Peorth was mumbling to herself something about making the best use of her time with Keiichi during her week long break when she finally came up to the Lodge. She knew she'd find them somehow now that she knew where they were. She used her magic and sensed around, and hoped nobody was using a concealment spell.
    Keiichi, Belldandy, Uruz, a demoness named Mara and a demon named Senbee were in the approximate area.
    Hold on, Uruz, Mara and Senbee. And they were in close proximity.
    They weren't supposed to be there. Uruz was out on a wish granting job.
    Unless.... NO WAY! Peorth had thought of the most absurd things to ever happen in her entire life, but nothing had prepared her for this.
    Uruz was granting wishes to The Enemy?! Peorth did not like this one bit.
    The Almighty was going to hear about this, once she got this matter cleared up. Ooh yes, He would hear of this.

*     *     *

    Uruz suddenly sensed the approach of someone. Someone familiar. She had been hoping for this, but this was absolutely unexpected.
    It was Peorth.
    Uruz quickly left Senbee behind, talking to thin air, while she went outdoors and looked for Peorth. She sent Peorth a mental message.
    "One-sama!" She thought excitedly. "You're actually here!"
    The response was not good. Uruz felt a lot of suspicion dripping in it.
    "Don't one-sama me, Uruz. What are you doing?"
    "Talking to some demon named Senbee. He scares me."
    "Not granting his wish, are you?"
    "Come again?"
    "I said, you're not going to grant his wish now, are you!?"
    Uruz jumped. Peorth was right beside her. Uruz shook her head vigorously, hoping that Peorth's impression of Uruz wasn't going to be tarnished.
    "One-sama! I was only asking Senbee where Keiichi was!"
    Peorth blinked at Uruz once.
    "Keiichi?"
    Uruz nodded.
    "It's his wish."
    Peorth knew the Almighty would hear of this one, only it would be of the Human Who Got Three Wishes. And she thought this only happened in fairy tales with Genies (who were always Arabic, which was false) in the lamps. (Which were absurd. Genies lived in anything but lamps. Too easy to get roasted. Peorth suddenly thought to bring this up to the Almighty as well, wondering whether people had dealt with demons in the past.)

*     *     *

    Keiichi was truly deafened by Belldandy's action. Mentally, emotionally. The kissing part had happened before, but this was something new. There was something behind this kiss.
    And besides that, Keiichi could almost envision a group of winged mini-Urds floating around them blowing trumpets and throwing confetti and cheering them on. Urd had her charming points once in a while.
    And Belldandy broke off. She hoped Keiichi couldn't feel the heat from her face radiating out. That had been an eternity of bliss, for both of them. Keiichi blinked once.
    "Belldandy?" Keiichi asked.
    "Yes?" Belldandy was snuggled right up to Keiichi now.
    "I.... I've always wanted....." Keiichi could almost hear the group of Urds cheering louder. He even thought some of them were wearing cheerleader outfits now. He swallowed and prepared himself for the big speech.

    "KIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

    A piercing shriek filled the air.
    Keiichi and Belldandy broke off, rather suddenly. They, and everyone else around, turned their heads to look at who screamed.
    Peorth.

*     *     *

    Peorth could not believe this. Her entire life had just shattered around her when she came over the hill and saw Keiichi and Belldandy.
    SO CLOSE!
    Peorth saw Belldandy cuddling up to Keiichi. They seemed to be saying something, and she could guess what it was. Despite the fact that she tried to hide the fact that was was pretty infatuated with him, yet she had no chance, she'd always held that flame for him, ready and burning. She'd always tried preparing herself for the time when Keiichi would do this with Belldandy and much more, but she'd never really gotten used to the idea. She never did.
    The truth always hurt.
    Besides her, Uruz looked on as Peorth turned and flew off to places unknown. Uruz didn't know what Peorth was going through now, but as she stood there, numbly and dumbly, wondering what to do. Keiichi and Belldandy stood up and walked over to where Uruz was.
    The two of them didn't feel so good anymore.
    Uruz was just plain confused.

*     *     *

    Senbee suddenly felt his Happy level go up very, VERY high. He didn't know why, but he knew it was going to take Belldandy a long time to fix this. And he knew someone else wouldn't be very happy either. He quickly woke Mara up. She cursed him once, then sat up and listened to his story.
    "Senbee say we leave this place, Mara! Some people are not going to be happy when they come back!" Senbee knew it. He felt it as surely as a human feels a baseball bat hitting them.
    Mara wouldn't have taken Senbee's word for it if he didn't sound so serious, since they were all on holiday and nothing was supposed to happen.
    Supposed. That word had implications. Implications were a demon's game.
    Mara left quickly.

*     *     *

    Peorth was in a daze. She still couldn't get over what she had seen. Nothing could prepare her for it, and even though she knew she should've handled it like a professional, there was nothing to be professional about in relationships. Even Urd had admitted that, although not directly. She found a conveniently tall tree and flew to the top. She had a long week ahead of her to think things through as she sat at the top, looking at nothing in particular.

*     *     *

    Back at the room with Keiichi and Belldandy, Uruz was introducing herself. It wasn't the best of times for anything, but it was all they had. Keiichi's dream vacation had turned into a nightmare, and for once, Mara had nothing to do with it. At least, he had hoped for that. Mara had left rather hastily, leaving a note.

    "It wasn't our fault!" it had read.

    Well, Keiichi believed that much, at least. First, they had found the Lodge a perfect hideaway for them both. That was good. Then Mara had come along. That wasn't all too good. But he and Belldandy still had time to share some romance. That was the best part. Things were going to go from bad to worst, as Keiichi would soon find out. He'd have a lot more on his hands that he would ever hope for in his lifetime. And he wasn't sure it was going to last through the week at the rate things were going.

{End of Chapter 5}
{Chapter 6 : Regrets and Reparations}