{Chapter 14 : Revelation Revealed}
"Would you give them such a lie? Say it. Would you ever give them this? You would not; if tongs of fire were singeing you you would not!"
- John Proctor, The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

For there were days of happiness, and days of sorrow,
That the fear and the hope that would always soon follow.
Meeting in two, in the deepest of depths,
Forged in the heat of life, brought out as one,
Lay our beating heart, exposed on the breast.
We do hold the heart now, our two combined,
We shall never leave, this place so Hallowed.
How could we ever live on,
If one of us were to go,
That if ever, the other could never follow?

    And Keiichi opened her eyes to the new day, the last word lingering in her mind. That was an unusual poem, Keiichi thought. Who thought of it?
    Then the events of last night came to Keiichi like a cleansing flood. It worked better than a strong pinch, Keiichi's mind was clear from the mists, this time formed from a very, very sound night's sleep. Keiichi smiled, a warm, tingling feeling replacing the cold one that had been in Keiichi the previous night.

    "Let's just keep it between us, OK?" had been Keiichi's request.

    Life was good. Or was going to be good for the next few hours. Keiichi groaned. Megumi was coming over. Talk about give and take.
    Keiichi got out of bed, straightening her rumpled clothes from the night before. The sunburns from the previous day were beginning to make their presence known. The burnt skin scorched Keiichi like a fire, making it unpleasantly uncomfortable for Keiichi to move. And it spread all over her body. Which reminded Keiichi as she looked at her chest and felt it again, a habit of sorts by now. It would be interesting, Keiichi thought, if someone were to put me in a dress about now. In a twisted sort of way, being female now would probably allow Keiichi her only chance of putting on a skirt without being called a pervert.
    Ironically, that was exactly what Keiichi would probably be called when they found out. Irony was so strange at times.
    Keiichi made her way to the kitchen, Velsper joining her on the way out.
    "Ohayo, Velsper!"

*     *     *

    Skuld had finally finished everything there was to do. She'd worked day and night to complete the stasis field and composite projector. The tub of ice cream lay empty, scooped dry and clean of every single last drop of ice cream there was. With barely enough strength left in her, Skuld just flipped the master switch.
    "Skuld's own Stasis Field and Composite Projector, switch on...."
    The reprogrammed nanomachines would transport all the salvaged material from the secret backyard store to this stasis field, and all incoming scraps would also be put inside, where the Composite Projector could sort them out according to shape, size, weight, etc., and try to recreate an image of the object.
    Skuld fell face first into her tub of ice cream and started snoring.

*     *     *

    Urd woke up in her room. She didn't remember going back to it yesterday. Belldandy must've carried her back. She got up, yawned, and stretched.
    *yaaaaaaaaaaaah* *smack* *smack*
    "Another morning, another day at being the Cupid of Love!" Urd said. So far, the results of those two's activities together had been encouraging, Urd thought. Maybe they'd confess today.
    But first things first, Urd had to check in on Skuld.

*     *     *

    Megumi woke up to the sound of seagulls squawking and screaming over a morning meal, groggily. Her curtain flapped gently with a morning sea breeze, which brought with it the salty smell of the sea with those hundreds of different smells. No petroleum today, Megumi gladly noted. I went to the beach to get away from it, and Tamiya brings a gallon of it. Of course, those would probably be the last few hours Megumi could go without the smell of petroleum or exhaust. Well, she'd be in the temple soon enough. She hoped Belldandy told Keiichi, she wouldn't want to be the first of many unwanted guests popping in today....
    The door opened, although Megumi wasn't expecting anyone. She rubbed her eyes, scratched her head and looked, still sitting on her bed.
    "Ohayo!" Chihiro chirped, like a bird, as she poked her head into the room. "I hope you've had a good night, Megumi! I'm going to have to drop in on Keiichi and tell him when I want him back at the Whirlwind. Is that ok?"
    Megumi was staring at her with drowsy, dark ringed eyes. Her hair wasn't messy though. Chihiro "che'd" at Megumi's soft hair. It could probably sit through a typhoon and come out perfect. Megumi yawned sleepily.
    "Ok, drop in if you want. Tamiya and Ootaki are also coming by anyway, so what's one more seeing my Keiichan?" Megumi said, nonchalantly. "I'm gonna wash up now, so if you don't mind...?" Megumi got off her bed and plodded off towards the bathroom. Chihiro looked at Megumi and decided not to bother any longer.
    "Ok, I'm off then! See you later!" Chihiro said, and shut the door.
    Somehow, Megumi felt very reluctant to go to Keiichi's place, and it wasn't because of the three seniors. She had a gut feeling.

*     *     *

    Urd looked into Skuld's room. Skuld was out cold, legs folded under her unconscious frame, as she slept on, peacefully. Urd raised a questioning eyebrow at Skuld's face in the ice cream tub, as she scanned the room. There was a strange cubelike structure in front of Skuld that was semi-transparent and had purple walls. For its rim was an alternating black and silver metal structure, and a small control panel at the base facing Skuld. Urd could guess where the switch went, and watched as slowly, the invisible nanomachines dropped in piece after piece of the salvaged material, whatever it was, and a small pile of it appeared on the floor inside the cube. Then there was this weird gunlike contraption that was black, had knobs and wires all over it, a small display on its top, with an antenna for a barrel, pointed at the cube. The gun reminded Urd of the laser cannon of some movie that featured a character whose name sounded like "Skywoker" or something. Urd never watched that one more than once. Sci-fi high-tech space shows didn't appeal to her, but Skuld had taken to it like ice cream.
    Urd watched as the gun hummed softly, a small bank of lights running down its length. Each time the running lights finished one long, slow, painful run, Urd noticed that some of the particles in the stasis cube positioned themselves somewhere in the air. Urd watched this for a few minutes, noticing that something was slowly forming in the cube. It promised to be ovoid, if not a little irregular. But at this rate, Urd would fall asleep before the thing half reassembled itself. Obviously, Skuld didn't mention reassembly would be a time consuming process.
    Urd shrugged. Skuld had done her work. It was time for breakfast now. Urd had dismissed her tiny friends a day back with something from the fridge and a thanks after they'd collected all the largest bits of this strange thing. Ganchan had grumbled vehemently something about 'unpaid, forced conscription into an unknown labour contract', and Urd had stared him down, then meowed once, doing a pretty good imitation of Velsper. Ganchan shut up.
    "Hm. Belldandy should be awake by now. I should have a word with her." Urd said, rubbing her head from the effects of a hangover fast fading. Urd didn't suffer from hangovers very long, if at all. She was such an experienced drinker nothing could really make her head throb anymore. She envied Belldandy though. After Keiichi had told her about Belldandy's episode of drunkedness on an innocent soda bottle of coke, of all things, Urd had tested Belldandy for alcohol tolerance. Belldandy didn't even get tipsy on Urd's strongest cocktails. Talk about the Fates playing cruel jokes on them.
    Ah well, Urd didn't mind being drunk, she kind of liked it.

*     *     *

    Belldandy woke up, promptly, at the crack of dawn, as always. Taking a cool morning stroll in the temple garden which she and Keiichi had been tending to the previous day, she bid good mornings to just about every single living bird, insect and animal she passed by. She saw the boulder which she normally sat on in the mornings to listen to the birds sing for her, and upon approaching, she saw a little figure standing on it.
    "Ah, ohayo gozaimasu, Earth Spirit!" Belldandy happily bade. The Earth Spirit scowled. Belldandy looked confused.
    "You don't seem too happy this morning, Earth Spirit." Belldandy said, quoting the obvious.
    "You don't seem to have noticed the activity around you, Belldandy-sama." The Earth Spirit said. He was obviously disturbed by something. Belldandy looked as the Earth Spirit's eyes followed something she couldn't see, and suddenly snatched out of the air.
    "Look at this, Belldandy-sama. Magnify your vision."
    Belldandy looked at the Earth Spirit's palm, and used her magic.
    She saw a tiny little metallic thing resembling a tick with about maybe ten legs, if not more, squirming in the Earth Spirit's hand. He was holding it down with his magic, and had uncloaked it as well. The magic was distinctly Urd's. Belldandy noticed that the metallic thing had the tiniest of displays on it, and had something in its legs.
    "Nanomachines?" Belldandy asked. The Earth Spirit shrugged once.
    "I don't know what these metallic beasts are, but they're all over the place collecting the unusual fragments of demon-metal and bringing them into the temple. I just thought you'd like to know."
    Belldandy restored her normal vision, and looked disturbed. She looked at the Earth Spirit, contemplating.
    "Skuld never told me about her machines. And what about this demon-metal, Earth Spirit? What's going on?" Belldandy was really confused. What was this metal, and why would Skuld go to such lengths.... Urd.... oh no. Belldandy's head snapped upwards, her mouth opened into a small 'O'. Her eyes wide, Belldandy looked to the temple.
    "They're still keeping things from me!" Belldandy exclaimed, in sudden revelation. The Earth Spirit could easily assume from Belldandy's expression she hadn't been told everything. The Earth Spirit decided he'd done everything he could, and bowed to Belldandy.
    "I shall take my leave now, Belldandy-sama. My work here is done."
    Belldandy dismissed him with a wave of her hand, and quickly headed for the temple.
    She was going to have a word with Skuld.

*     *     *

    Urd looked into the Tea Room, and Belldandy wasn't there. As she stood there with a hand on the door to the tea room, she contemplated between looking for Belldandy and having an early morning alcohol high. The decision was made for her though, as Belldandy stormed into the room and saw Urd as she turned the corner.
    "Urd!" Belldandy exclaimed, none too pleased. Urd looked at Belldandy. She was in for it.
    "Er, good morning, Belldandy." Urd said, sweating.
    "Don't good morning me, sister!" Belldandy said. She was angry, but unusually so. Again. Urd was worried. Belldandy had been more prone to mood swings ever since that wish granting incident. Maybe it was just the stress. "Why are you keeping things from me?!"
    Urd decided not to try Belldandy's patience. She sighed, once.
    "We didn't want you to worry about things, Belldandy. You already have a handful with Keiichi's problem, and seeing that we had nothing to do, well, you get the idea."
    Belldandy looked at Urd once, considering whether she could be believed. Urd caught the look and took a deep breath, expelling it slowly, quietly. Then she looked up at Belldandy and smiled.
    "You can't always do everything for Keiichi, Belldandy. We have to join in sometime, right? You're only one Goddess and her fiancee."
    Belldandy saw the reasoning and calmed down considerably. Urd was suddenly relieved that her ruse had worked. Belldandy didn't even question the field of cloaking Urd had cast over the temple grounds just to keep the demon-metal's disturbing emanations from reaching them. But did Belldandy know about the field in the first place?
 Better not to push things.
    "Oh, Megumi's coming over today!" Belldandy suddenly quipped. Urd blinked once, then stuck a thumb in the direction of Keiichi's room.
    "And 'he's' gonna let Megumi see 'him' like that?" Belldandy nodded. So far, Belldandy had resisted the urge to just grab Urd, hug her tight, and tell her about Keiichi's confession. Urd coughed once, then started screwing her lips as she tried not to laugh. She failed.
    "Aaaaaaah haa haa haa haa!" Urd guffawed. "I can't wait to see Megumi's face when Keiichi comes out to greet her! This'll be rich!"
    "What's all this noise about? Can't a girl working all night long even get some sleep?" Skuld complained as she crawled out of her room, scratching her head. She stopped in front of Urd and Belldandy, and yawned a huge one.
    "Skuld, Megumi's coming." Urd said, gaining enough composure to stop laughing for the moment. Skuld didn't get the idea. Then Belldandy remembered something else.
    "Oh... I still have to get Keiichi to try on that new bra.... he can't go around without anything to cover up!" Belldandy said it absolutely innocently, as if she had never even contemplated the sight which Keiichi would present wearing a bra.
    That sight flitted through Skuld's head.
    "BWAaaaaah haa haa haa haa haa!" Urd joined Skuld on the floor, laughing.
    Belldandy looked at Urd for a second, then at Skuld, and back. Then she smiled happily.
    "I'm sure he won't mind!" Belldandy said.

*     *     *

    Keiichi looked at the calender. Friday. Nekomi Tech opened on Wednesday. Which meant another five days' grace from embarrassing herself in front of the entire faculty by turning up with a bust and going to the ladies instead of the gents. And Megumi was going to have the honour of spreading the news when she came over today.
    Goodness.
    When had the wish gone awry? Last Friday? Keiichi counted the days on her fingers. One day after the wish, Saturday? Three days after that talk with Belldandy, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Then another three days had passed. It had been Friday when Uruz had tried to grant Keiichi's wish all right.
    "Well, time to face the music."
    That was when laughter broke out, further down the corridor. Keiichi blinked once, twice, then grumbled.
    "What is it with those two nutcases anyway?" Keiichi wondered. Just then, the door opened.
    "Ohayo-gozaimasu, Keiichi-san!" Belldandy cheerfully greeted as she walked in with a small bundle of cloth in her hands. She closed the door behind her. Keiichi looked at the bundle in Belldandy's hands, and swallowed once.
    "O..ohayo, Belldandy." What was Belldandy up to?
    Belldandy dropped the bundle on the floor and rummaged through it. At length, she pulled out something which looked suspiciously like a bra.
    At length, Keiichi stared at it.
    Then she pointed at it.
    "I'm... gonna... wear... that?" Keiichi said, as if even suggesting it was going to confirm her fear. Well, not so much fear as reluctance.
    Belldandy nodded cheerfully. She apparently didn't notice Keiichi's discouraged reaction.
    "Mm hmm! Keiichi-san, you can't go around without one if you ever go out, you know." Belldandy looked at Keiichi. Keiichi's skin was red as a cooked lobster. "And you haven't gone out in quite a while."
 Keiichi began to protest, but Belldandy put a finger on Keiichi's lips and whispered.
    "That garden trip didn't count."
    Keiichi slumped slightly, defeated. Belldandy avoided patting Keiichi, since that would probably send burn pains streaking through Keiichi, instead, she smiled.
    "Don't worry, Keiichi-san! It'll only be until we find the solution!"
    Keiichi look up. Belldandy was still holding it in her hand. Keiichi didn't want to think of it by name.
    Hey, it wasn't as if Keiichi was supposed to wear this under normal circumstances.
    Belldandy noticed Keiichi's face looking doubtful. She chuckled, then pouted.
    "Mou, Keiichi-san. Nobody's going to call you a pervert for wearing this." Belldandy clasped Keiichi's left hand in her own free right hand. Belldandy's hand was ice compared to the burning feeling Keiichi's had in her hand. Then she asked.
    "Besides... who would you rather meet without the bra? Someone who's never, ever met you and would therefore base their impression of you at first glance, or someone who's met you, knows you, and can be made to understand?"
    Belldandy squeezed it lightly. Keiichi's doubts fled. It's only a bra, Keiichi thought. And Belldandy's right. Keiichi nodded. Belldandy smiled, let go of Keiichi's hand and looked at her bust.
    "I noticed your cup size is about the same as mine, so I thought you could fit into my ones, Keiichi-san." Belldandy said, holding up the bra to Keiichi's chest for good measure. Keiichi stared at it, still feeling a little weird, but nodded. It did look like it might fit. Not like Keiichi would know anyway.
    "Shall I help you put it on?" Belldandy asked.
    Keiichi had yet to refuse Belldandy.

*     *     *

    Skuld and Urd were staking out Keiichi's room, waiting, just to catch the first glimpse of Keiichi. This was too good to miss, they thought. It was far too good for anyone to miss, actually.
    Too bad, anyone wasn't around, just the two of them.
    Which made it extra special. In a perverted sort of way.
    Urd and Skuld heard some voices behind the closed sliding door, starting almost as soon as Belldandy closed the door. They leaned closer to the door, hands cupped behind their eyes, trying to make out scraps of conversation. They heard Belldandy describing how the hook at the back of the bra went with the clasp, heard Keiichi groan in dismay as she looked at herself in the mirror, heard Belldandy's words of encouragement.
    Urd was grinning from ear to ear, and a little bit past that, which might've been anatomically impossible if this were in real life. (Which it, of course, isn't.) Skuld had her lower lip pouting upwards as she listened to the exchange, wonderingly.
    "I'm not even wearing them yet and Keiichi's already wearing a... bra?" Skuld whined, disappointedly. Urd stared at Skuld up and down. She stifled an evil laugh.
    "Would you like a Sister's test again, just to make sure you don't need one?" Urd said, breathlessly, as if she were suggesting something erotic. Skuld forgot about that train of thought immediately.
    "No, and no thanks, Urd." Skuld scowled. Urd suppressed a short, sharp bark of a laugh, and went back to listening at the door.
    "Maybe we should let my sisters look at it, Keiichi-san? They may have something to say about it."
    "I'll bet it'll be nothing good, Belldandy."
    "Give them a chance, Keiichi-san. I'm sure they mean well."
    A pause.
    "Really, I do."
    Another pause.
    "Keiichi-san?"
    Yet another pause. The suspense was annoying, both Goddesses thought.
    "Oh, alright."
    Urd grinned. This was going to be good.

*     *     *

    Megumi picked up the phone, and was about to call Belldandy to tell her that she'd be arriving sometime in the late afternoon. Then she thought about how to explain Tamiya, Ootaki, and Chihiro's rather unexpected arrivals as well.
    "Well, I'm sure Keiichan won't mind." Megumi told herself, trying to get this queasy feeling out of her chest. She'd been feeling it since she woke up, and it didn't promise a good day at all. But she kept telling herself she was thinking about too much. She punched in Keiichi's number.
    *bip* *beep* *bip* *beep*
    *riiing* *riiing* *riiing* *riiing*
    *click*
    "Hai, moshi moshi? Morisato desu." Belldandy again. Megumi wondered if Belldandy had resolved that day's issue.
    "Hi, Belldandy. This is Megumi."
    "Ah, good morning Megumi!"
    *crash* That came from the background, then some unrestrained laughing.
    "Is everything ok? I heard a crash." Megumi omitted the laughing part.
    "Oh, that. My sisters are at it again. Hold on, please."
    Megumi waited patiently, then heard Belldandy come back to the phone.
    "Sorry for the disruption, Megumi. Is there anything I can help you with?"
    "Yeah, I'm coming over now, so I should arrive later in the afternoon."
    "Ok, Megumi. I'll tell Keiichi that."
    "Swell! Ok, seeya then, Belldandy!"
    "Ja mata, Megumi."
    *click*

    Megumi looked at the clock. 8 AM. She'd have time for breakfast. Well, at least this time the conversation had gone well, with exception of that laugh. Belldandy's sisters were a strange lot, Megumi thought.
    "Then again, so are we all..." Megumi said abstractly to the air. "So are we all..."
    And Megumi had forgotten all about mentioning the extra guests.

*     *     *

    When Belldandy put down the reciever, she sighed. Urd and Skuld had been too busy laughing to do much of anything. Urd had slapped some of Keiichi's stuff off the table when she saw Keiichi, clad in pants and bra only, standing there, flushed red with embarrassment and sunburn.
    "Oh boy, I've seen you cute Keiichi, but this takes the big cake!" Urd bellowed. Her legs were too weak to carry her, she was counting totally on the desk to keep her from falling to the floor laughing.
    Belldandy came in at a brisk walk, and looked at the three. Skuld was sitting on the futon, trying her best to stop laughing as she clutched herself in fits of amused shaking. Urd was kneeling on the floor, one hand on the desk for support, as she laughed. Keiichi looked at Belldandy pitifully.
    "Help me, Belldandy!" Keiichi moaned.
    "I'm on the phone, Urd. Could you please co-operate and calm yourself for a while?" Belldandy asked, simply. Urd nodded, and took a deep breath to steady herself. Belldandy flashed a look at Keiichi.
    "Sure...sure thing, Belldandy." *snigger*
    Belldandy nodded and smiled.
    "Thank you."
    Then she turned away and went back to the phone. Looking at her only source of salvation leave, Keiichi sighed and hung her head sadly.
    "Why do I always become the butt of everyone's joke?" Keiichi lamented, as if asking the Gods. She got her response from the Goddesses instead. Urd came over, all seriousness now, and slung a shoulder over Keiichi's while looking at her. Keiichi looked up a little to see Urd, face covered in shadow, smiling at her.
    "That's because you're such a nice guy, Keiichi." Urd winked once, and mimed a kiss. "You're sweet enough to take our jokes without breaking down or blowing up. That's why we like you so much." Urd smiled. This one was a genuine smile of friendship, sisterly and knowing. Keiichi couldn't help but smile back. Whatever it was, Urd did share some of Belldandy's traits, even if only the barest fraction of them.
    "Yeah, well, thanks for the encouragement, Urd." Keiichi replied. So far, her mood had been on a roller coaster from the word go this morning. Hopefully it'd stay on the high today, Keiichi thought. Urd smiled once, and patted Keiichi on the bare back. Keiichi winced a little. The sunburn wasn't going easy on her.
    "Ok! Well, we won't intrude on your business any further, Keiichi." Urd said, winking again. "Come on, Skuld."
    Skuld had composed herself by now, so she nodded. She took one last look at Keiichi, and nodded in Keiichi's direction.
    "Looks good on you, Keiichi." Skuld teased. Keiichi blinked. Then Urd shoved Skuld out.
    "Come on, you little brat. Let's go."
    Urd shooed Skuld out of the room, and looked Keiichi in the eye.
    "Don't worry, Keiichi. Things'll be fine."
    Urd turned to leave. Before she was out of the door though, she turned one last time and looked at Keiichi. Giving Keiichi a thumbs up, she held it there until Keiichi returned an unsure, shaky thumbs up of her own, unsure of what it was for.
    "And the bra does look on you."
    Urd ran out laughing as Keiichi tossed a small cluster of sharp pencils at her.

*     *     *

    Megumi was lounging on the seat of the bus, if lounging could be used in this instance. One arm slung over the back of the chair, one elbow on the windowsill, leaning back as far as she could, Megumi looked out the window. The rest of Nekomi Tech's Auto Club guys and Chihiro were all up front, talking, yelling, ribbing, or otherwise just being a rowdy bunch. Yumi and Kikuko were sitting besides Megumi, looking at her. All morning, through breakfast, bag packing, and then to the booking out and later, the bus ride, Megumi wore a worried look. They weren't exactly Megumi's closest friends, but they could see Megumi wasn't herself today.
    "Megumi?" Kikuko asked, tentatively. She tapped Megumi on the shoulder, not knowing what to expect. Megumi turned her attention away from the moving scenery outside and looked at the two.
    "Hm? Oh, sorry." Megumi moved so her arms wouldn't be splayed all over the place, and put them on her lap instead. "What is it?"
    Yumi spoke first. "You don't look quite yourself today, Megumi." Kikuko nodded. "Care to tell us why?"
    Megumi looked surprised for a second, sitting up a little straighter with widened eyes and a slightly dropped jaw.
    "Does it show?" Megumi asked, incredulous.
    Both of the nodded. Megumi grinned nervously. She scratched the back of her head as she responded.
    "I guess I'm just worried for Keiichan."
    Kikuko and Yumi looked at her. Then at each other.
    "Your brother?" Megumi nodded.
    "The one with Belldandy?" Megumi nodded again.
    "Can we go see him too?" Megumi almost nodded, then shook her head. Yumi and Kikuko looked downcast.
    "Sorry, I don't think it's a good time to see Keiichan...." Megumi started, then pointed a thumb in the Auto Club's direction. Not with his sempais coming along." Kikuo and Yumi looked at the Auto Club and nodded solemnly, appearing to understand completely.
    "Our consolations to Keiichi for putting up with them, Megumi." Both of them clapped a heavy hand on each of Megumi's shoulders at the same time. "He really is tough."
    Megumi grinned nervously as a big sweatdrop rolled down her head, and loosened the collar of her T-Shirt, suddenly feeling a little uncomfortable with it.
    "h..Heh heh... heh... erm, thanks. I'll pass it on."
    Yumi sighed.
    "Lighten up, Megumi-chan. Or didn't you hear?" Megumi looked interested.
    "Hear what?"
    Yumi and Kikuko moved closer to Megumi, whispering into her ear.
    "There's a branch of Belldandy's fan club now... it's for K-"

*     *     *

    Keiichi sneezed once, after she neatened her futon and patted the blanket. Breakfast was just over, and Keiichi was all too glad to have pulled a sweater over the embarrassing strip of cloth binding her bust. She rubbed her nose.
    "Argh.... too dusty, too dusty. I've got to dust them sometime..."
    *bap* *bap* *bap*
    Keiichi looked out her window. Belldandy was there, surgical mask over her face, dusting several sheets slung over a heavy clothesline with a huge rugbeater. Small plumes of dust rose into the air, shimmering, then disappeared. Keiichi recognized at least Urd and Skuld's sheets, among other things.
    "I could ask Belldandy to help..." Keiichi thought. Patting the sheets once, a small cloud of dust flew into the air.
    The futon and blanket were out in a second.

*     *     *

    "Belldandy!" Belldandy stopped beating the sheets for a moment, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and turned to see who had called her. It was Keiichi, bringing her own pile of sheets.
    "Ah, Keiichi-san? Would you like me to dust those too?" Belldandy said, after removing the mask. She'd been more prone to sneezing in dusty places nowadays.
    "Yeah, thanks, Belldandy." Keiichi said, handing the pile to Belldandy who took them effortlessly. She hung them up and put the mask back on. Looking at Keiichi, Belldandy smiled under her mask.
    "It's always my pleasure, Keiichi-san." Keiichi blushed, and scratched the back of her head for no reason at all.
    "Erm, well, if that's all, then I guess I'll be going back to my work now...." Keiichi lied, for lack of things to say. Keiichi had intended to pass the time waiting for Megumi finishing a romance novel.
    Belldandy looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded.
    "A glass of iced water would do nicely, Keiichi-san." Keiichi nodded, noting the perspiration on Belldandy. The sun wasn't terribly glaring today, some cottony clouds were covering it. A good sign summer was going to end rather soon.
    "Sure thing, Belldandy." Keiichi said, moving off towards the kitchen. Belldandy nodded and went back to beating the sheets.

*     *     *

    In the kitchen, Urd was busy rummaging through the liquor cabinet for her secret stash of stout. Not that stout was rare, but the sempais loved the stuff and could probably smell the stuff out from a mile away. Sake was their primary drink, but Urd wasn't taking any chances....
    "Ah, here's the Guiness." Urd commented, as she pulled out a sixpack of black and red cans.
    "Urd?" Urd nearly dropped the sixpack to the floor, a small distance down, as someone called her. Spinning like a cat burglar caught red handed, Urd tried to hide the sixpack behind her. She was flustered, every muscle in her body tensing in anticipation of escape.
    "Er, ah, I can explain! This stout was for the sem-" Urd furiously tried to explain, sweating nervously. It was a good thing she was floating, not on a ladder or stool. Else she would've had quite a nasty fall with all the aerobatics she was performing.
    "Urd?" It was Keiichi, looking curiously at Urd. "What Stout?"
    "Oh, it's you, Keiichi." Urd calmed down immesurably. She floated down with the sixpack in her hand, letting out a breath in a relieved sigh.
    "Phew. I thought Belldandy was going to berate me for keeping the sempai's second favorite drink from them." Urd had to remind herself Keiichi sounded exactly like Belldandy, if not a little louder. Somehow, this didn't feel right, but then again, nothing had been right for the past week. Keiichi shrugged.
    "Oh, what are you here for, Keiichi?" Urd asked.
    "Getting Belldandy a glass of water. She's working rather hard, beating those sheets of yours." Keiichi said, walking past Urd. Urd stood there, looking wonderingly at nothing.
    "Does Belldandy need a glass of water for that task?" Urd asked herself. Keiichi caught the comment as she poured some water from a small pitcher into a teacup.
    "Why not? Beating sheets and rugs isn't easy, you know. Sometimes, Urd, you've got to learn to think of others. Belldandy was sweating buckets of the stuff." Keiichi replied as she opened the freezer and grabbed a few ice cubes. Her sunburnt skin burned at the sudden drop in temperature. It wasn't too painful, but it was distracting. Urd shook her head and turned to face Keiichi. She looked disturbed. Keiichi turned and caught the look.
    "Urd? What's wrong?" Keiichi asked, worried.
    "Belldandy doesn't sweat."
    Keiichi nearly dropped the glass.
    "She doesn't?" Urd nodded solemnly. Keiichi walked up to Urd and stared up into her eyes. Urd thought she saw irritation in those clear, brownish red eyes...
    "Don't lie to me. You sweat enough, Urd."
    "I sweat when nervous, and I sweat when I do physical labour," Urd said. "But I'm not Belldandy." Keiichi looked thoughtful. Urd shook her head.
    "Keiichi, have you ever seen Belldandy sweat, even in this summer heat, at all?"
    Keiichi shook her head. She thought back to the day they spent gardening. Belldandy didn't even look winded.
    "Uh uh."
    "There you have it."
    Keiichi was left looking worried as Urd left the kitchen, humming a tune to herself. Looking out after Urd, Keiichi gripped the glass in her hand tighter. Her skin burned, but she didn't care.
    Something was going on, and Keiichi didn't know what it was.

*     *     *

    Outside, Belldandy could feel her hot breath in her mask as she beat the last few dust motes out of Keiichi's sheets. She was sweating a lot, it ran down her dress and blouse, down her arms, her head, her ears. Her hair clumped together into heavy, uncomfortable clusters, and it itched in a lot of places where she had rubbed her body against cloth constantly, or in places where the sweat had dried, more had appeared, and then dried again. She scratched herself. The feeling was pretty good, for the moment. This was unusual. She'd never felt sweaty before. But it was a new feeling, an interesting feeling. She took it in, without question. A wind blew, and it was blessedly cool. This wasn't bad at all, Belldandy thought. If not a little uncomfortable.
    "Belldandy!" Keiichi called. Belldandy turned to look. She smiled.
    "Ah! Keiichi-san! Thank you!" She said as Keiichi handed her the cup of water. She drank it. It was a cold-heaven running into her mouth and down her throat, cooling her as it went, and into her stomach, where the coolness spread like a frozen core. This was new to her too.
    Keiichi, however, knew something was weird. Belldandy really was sweating a lot, as much as Keiichi would've if they'd traded places beating sheets. This set Keiichi thinking.
    "Belldandy?" Keiichi asked. Belldandy looked at Keiichi. Somehow, the wet clusters of honey-silver hair arranged messily on her face and running down her back looked appealing. Belldandy's face was a little red from the exertions, which added to the charm. She looked like she was blushing. She didn't seem to notice anything strange about sweating, even though Urd had seem disturbed enough when Keiichi had told her about Belldandy. Maybe Urd was just overreacting.
    "Yes, Keiichi-san?" Keiichi looked around, wondering how to put this little question.
    "Erm, I.... I think I lost my bike keys around here somewhere. I think I lost them that day we went gardening." Keiichi said. Truth was, Keiichi had thrown them into the flower bed they were working on. Keiichi had something in mind. Belldandy looked worried. She put the cup on the grass.
    "Oh no! We can't have that, Keiichi-san! Come on, we're going to find it." Belldandy said, resolutely. She grabbed Keiichi's arm and they went all over the garden, where Belldandy had her arm up and out in the air, with a small glowing globe in it. She had her eyes closed and was muttering something Keiichi couldn't catch.
    They walked past the boulder where Belldandy sat in the mornings, talking to the birds. Nothing. Past the shade of the trees which sheltered bushes and flowering plants, which grew in thick profusion. Again, nothing. They walked past several other flower beds, some small bushes and undergrowth, another copse of trees. All nothing. Finally, when they reached the flower bed which lay near the plum tree, Belldandy opened her eyes. She held her hand out in front of her as she zeroed in on the location. Digging around for a few seconds, Belldandy found them, shiny and new as ever. She handed them to Keiichi, smiling.
    "There you go, Keiichi-san!" Belldandy said happily. Keiichi smiled at her as she pocketed the keys.
    "Thanks, Belldandy. What would I do without you?" Belldandy frowned a little at the question, as if she didn't approve of it. She shook her head, pouting now instead of frowning.
    "Don't think about that, Keiichi. We'll be together forever, right?" Belldandy beamed, that night not lost, would never be lost, on her. Keiichi smiled. That night.
    Belldandy gave Keiichi a small peck on the cheek, and was returning to where she'd hung the sheets.
    "I have to put the sheets back now, then I have to cook lunch, Keiichi-san!" Belldandy called out after her. Keiichi nodded and called out her own reply.
    "Ok, Belldandy. Thanks again!"
    Daringly, Belldandy blew Keiichi a kiss and started walking around the corner of the temple. When Belldandy was out of earshot and safely around the temple corner, Keiichi scratched her chin thoughtfully.
    "Belldandy hasn't lost her powers or anything..."
    Looking at the sky, and thinking about Urd, Keiichi shrugged.
    "Maybe she's adjusting to Earth's conditions?"

*     *     *

    During lunch, Skuld had come in groggily. She'd taken a nap after Keiichi's incident, because even all the projects in the world couldn't keep her awake after that night's incident without a good tub of ice cream, of which there was none left. Urd, Belldandy and Keiichi were already there, waiting.
    "Good afternoon, Skuld." Belldandy greeted as Skuld trudged into the room, without her bolster this time though. Skuld returned the greeting sleepily, and plopped down besides Keiichi as Belldandy started passing out the servings of the afternoon's lunch. Skuld blinked once, rubbed her eyes, and remembered the morning's incident. She turned and looked at Keiichi, then a little lower. She could see it under the shirt, and she stifled a laugh. Keiichi shot her a venemous glare.
    "Skuld!" Keiichi said, angrily. Despite knowing it was Keiichi speaking, Skuld couldn't help but obey the voice, since it sounded so much like her beloved Belldandy one-sama. She stopped herself, and looked up at Keiichi.
    "Sorry, couldn't help myself." Skuld said, rubbing her eyes again. Keiichi could see the dark, baggy rings under her eyes, and pitied Skuld. Whatever it was she was working on, apparently it was important enough to her to stay up all day and night without rest, which Keiichi felt respect for even though she had no idea what it was and why it was so important.
    "You wouldn't find it so funny if you were a guy and you were suddenly forced to wear one of these." Keiichi said, still determined to tell Skuld off despite whatever it was she had sacrificed so much for. Skuld nodded, looking Keiichi in the eye. Somehow, Skuld was compelled to listen to Keiichi like she would Belldandy. It was that voice.
    Skuld noticed Keiichi's eyes, and thought about them. They were a little red today, along with the rest of her eyes and the skin around them. Her irises looked a little bloodshot. Looking at Keiichi's nose, a little red, Keiichi probably developed sore eyes and a bit of a runny nose from all the dust in her room. Skuld knew how dusty Keiichi's room got sometimes. Her own eyes would tear at the stuff hanging in the air like a mist when Keiichi neglected to clean it out.
    Lunch went on after that without much incident, except where Belldandy told Keiichi about Megumi's call earlier on in the morning. After lunch, Keiichi had gone to do some basic maintainence on her bike while Skuld offered to help Belldandy wash up the dishes. Urd decided to leave for town to buy herself some of the essential herbs she'd lost a week back, having discovered some missing after finally managing to sort some of them out. She guessed the missing reagents were probably buried underneath the temple now, she just hoped nothing would sprout from some of them....

*     *     *

    Underneath the temple, Ganchan was weaseling away a small packet of tidbits he had relieved from the pantry after a raid. Sitting there cackling, Ganchan opened the packet and looked in. He took a deep breath.
    "Aaaaaah!" Ganchan sighed in contentment. "This is the life!"
    What he didn't notice was that a small tentacle-like appendage covered in leaves and topped by a vicious looking mouth was slowly creeping its way towards him, attracted by the scent of rat. The rest of it, a bulging cancerous mass of wood and flesh, sat in the middle of soil underneath the temple, waiting for prey. A small bottle with Urd's insignia lay to a corner, its contents spilled.

*     *     *

    Keiichi was wiping the grease off her hands when she looked at her wristwatch. It was a quarter past four o'clock. Keiichi thought about the travelling time between the beachside and the temple, and figured that it Megumi would probably be arriving by-
    "Keiichan? I'm here!" It was Megumi's voice.
    -Now. Keiichi took a deep breath and was about to go out and face the world and Megumi's snide comments when she heard something else, a very, very unpleasant something else.
    "Hooi! Morisato-kun! We're here too!" Those were Tamiya and Ootaki's voices.
    "So am I!" That was Chihiro's voice.
    Keiichi looked to the sky and mumbled a prayer of strength.
    Just then, Belldandy came into the back yard, where Keiichi was working on the bike. She stood in front of Keiichi and bowed apologetically.
    "I'm sorry, Keiichi-san!" Belldandy was awfully apologetic. Keiichi wondered what for.
    "What for, Belldandy?" Belldandy looked at Keiichi, then looked away with her head lowered.
    "I didn't know the rest were coming..." She said, as if their unexpected arrivals were hers to blame. Keiichi growled at the back of her throat. Megumi.
    "Don't worry Belldandy, it's not your fault." Keiichi walked up to Belldandy, and was about to put a hand on her shoulder when she realized it was still greasy.
    "Tell them I'm cleaning up, ok?" Keiichi requested. Belldandy nodded.
    "Yes, Keiichi-san." She still sounded apologetic. Keiichi remembered a while back she had told Belldandy that she had to stop apologising for others all the time, because to Keiichi, Belldandy appeared to have been unnecessarily bearing the misdeeds or mistakes of others.
    Belldandy left, leaving Keiichi to wonder how best to face four friendly faces that would turn to laughing ones soon. But she shrugged for want of better ideas.
    "Just clean up..." Keiichi said, and started for the bathroom.

*     *     *

    Megumi graciously accepted a cup of tea from Belldandy as they waited in the living room for Keiichi to come out. Belldandy had, as always, come prepared with cakes and tea, and a ready smile that she wore at all times just for being the person she was.
    "Thanks." Megumi said, as Belldandy offered her a slice of cake. As always, she had baked it herself, and Megumi wouldn't pass up a chance to taste Belldandy's cooking for the universe. It was that delicious, and always had something in it Megumi couldn't lay a finger on, but had her coming back for more. Belldandy just smiled.
    "My pleasure." She said, as she went on to pass the cake and tea to the other three. As expected, Ootaki and Tamiya just swallowed their slices in those huge maws of theirs like wolves while Megumi and Chihiro ate theirs with less hurry.
    "Mmmm!" Tamiya said, as he licked the cream off his lips. "I loved that! You have any more, Belldandy?" Megumi sighed. She wondered how these two monstrous guys could eat so much and not yet eat themselves out of house and home. Belldandy nodded, and got up.
    "I'll get more." Belldandy turned towards the kitchen and began to walk off.
    "Me too!" Ootaki yelled behind her. Belldandy turned and nodded.
    "Ok!"
    Megumi sighed again, but this time in admiration. She'd always wondered how Belldandy could keep her temper so good, her persona so sweet, her attitude so likeable, and have the face and charms to go with it. Sometimes, she felt, life wasn't too fair. Oh, it was fair enough to Megumi, she was 'Queen of the Road' now, a not too dubious title at worst, and she had the guts and skills to handle a lot of things most others wouldn't touch or get near to, but she always seemed to fall behind Belldandy, who had matched her in most regards, and had won her brother's heart to boot. Not that that was tough, but Megumi couldn't have been more glad Keiichi was her brother. Besides, Megumi wasn't going to start comparing herself to others. It was dumb. But she'd gotten to meet one of the most impressionable people in her life. Gaijin or not, Belldandy was probably the most perfect wife Keiichi could have in Japan, or any other country for that matter. Oh, Megumi wouldn't doubt that wife part, those two were a match made in Heaven. (Or the Heavens....)
    Well, she didn't know how true that was, but she would soon.
    Belldandy came back with half the cake on a tray, some serviettes, and a knife. She set it down on the table, where the two sempais stared at it hungrily. Chihiro shot them a glare, and the two sunk back like kicked dogs.
    "Be courteous now," Chihiro chided the two. "This is Belldandy's cake after all."
    The two just nodded, much humbled. But Belldandy just gave them a smile and giggled.
    "They're welcome to it if they want, I've saved a slice for Keiichi-san in the fridge."
    Megumi sighed again, in envy. She was doing a lot of sighing, she noted with impartial interest. Belldandy was just so generous. Megumi was beginning to suspect Keiichi was hiding something about her from them.
    "Oh, which reminds me." Megumi asked. Belldandy looked at her.
    "Yes, Megumi?"
    "What did the two of you do during the holidays?" Megumi just couldn't help it, she had to know what her Keiichan was up to. So far, she'd observed that Keiichi and Belldandy had kept a warm, if not stagnant, relationship. She had to know if anything had transpired between them. She knew the best source of this gossip was from Urd, but more often than not, Urd had proven grossly unreliable.
    Belldandy suddenly blushed a bright red, but lost the hue just as quickly. Megumi caught it though, as did Chihiro. They winked at each other. Chihiro punched Belldandy in the arm lightly.
    "Hm? You have something to say?" Chihiro asked, hintingly. Belldandy sat down and tucked her hands on her lap, under the table, out of sight. She had regained her blush, and had her head lowered a little. Ootaki and Tamiya were too busy fighting over the last crumbs of the cake to notice what was going on. Chihiro and Megumi noticed Belldandy's secret smile. Well, so they had done something after all.... now, all that remained was to know what it was.
    "Ano...." Belldandy started. Megumi and Chihiro leaned forwards.
    "We.. just... had... a... stay... at... the..." Belldandy was dragging each word out of her mouth, pronunciating each syllable with more emphasis than was required. Belldandy could be shamelessly brave when it came to talking about certain things, but personal issues concerning Keiichi were about the toughest thing Belldandy had faced so far. Belldandy still couldn't bring herself to look up, her head was still hung a little low.
    "Couple's..." Belldandy couldn't go on. She was too embarrassed. Chihiro and Megumi looked at her for a while, but she shook her head, smiled and giggled slightly. She was burning up in the cheeks, and Megumi and Chihiro could feel its heat almost literally. Megumi and Chihiro looked at each other.
    "Couple's...." Megumi said. Chihiro looked thoughtful for a moment. Suddenly, Megumi snapped her fingers. She'd read about this in a magazine somewhere.
    "Couple's Lodge!" They both exclaimed at the same time.
    "Huh?" Tamiya and Ootaki said, fists in each other's faces, as they turned to look at Megumi and Chihiro. The two girls waved their hands at the guys.
    "Nothing." Belldandy finally got over her shyness and looked up, nodding. Megumi and Chihiro grinned toothy grins at each other.
    "Looks like Keiichan's-"
    "-Become more daring."

    "Who's become more daring?" Called out a voice from the corridor. Everyone turned to look. Belldandy, most of all. That was Keiichi's voice. Real voice.
    "Hey, Morisato-kun!" Tamiya hollered, too loudly. Everyone winced.
    "Long time no see!" Ootaki joined in.
    Keiichi walked towards the group, looking curious. Belldandy stared, dumbfounded. What did Keiichi do? Had he suddenly gone back to normal? Keiichi caught Belldandy's look and winked once. Belldandy blinked a few times, then looked back to the table, although she still looked disturbed. Keiichi sat down besides Belldandy, amidst admiring looks from the foursome gathered at the table. Megumi shuffled up besides him and nudged him in the ribs.
    "Way to go, Keiichan!" Megumi said, winking. Keiichi looked at Megumi.
    "What'd she tell you?" Keiichi asked. His voice sounded a little raspy, but Megumi guessed he had a sore throat or something. Megumi looked to Chihiro.
    "Well, what'd you do last week?" Chihiro asked. Keiichi looked at Chihiro, then at Megumi, then back at Chihiro. He looked at Belldandy, who put her hand across her mouth and looked back at him innocently. Keiichi blinked. Megumi nudged Keiichi in the ribs again.
    "Come on, out with it Keiichan. Belldandy's already told us where you went."
    "Yeah, out with it, Morisato-kun!" Both sempais exclaimed, arms slung over each other.
    Chihiro came over and grabbed Keiichi with a mock choker hold.
    "Out with it, Keiichi." She said in a sweet-venomous voice. "Or I might have to strangle it out." She smiled charmingly at Keiichi, although obviously Keiichi couldn't see it. Keiichi pulled Chihiro's arms off, not too gently.
    "We went to the Couple's Lodge, ok!?" Keiichi admitted, rather irritatedly. Definitely a sore throat, Megumi thought. His voice was a definitely raspy and sounded strained. Everyone cheered and whooped, before Tamiya suddenly put a finger to his chin.
    "What's the Couple's Lodge?"
    Everyone except Tamiya fell over.
    "Nevermind!" They all exclaimed, Belldandy included. Tamiya shrugged.
    "Oh, ok." Then he suddenly remembered something. He looked at Keiichi.
    "Oh, yeah, come here, Morisato-kun. I got something good for you." Tamiya said. Keiichi looked at the rest of the people at the table. Ootaki shrugged, Megumi grinned, Chihiro shrugged, Belldandy patted him on the shoulder. They could all guess what Tamiya was up to, especially since only Belldandy and Keiichi were the only ones not to see what Tamiya lugged into the temple.
    "Ok...." Keiichi said, nervously. The two left, and the rest followed.

    Outside, Keiichi stared at a yellow Yamaha race bike, modified almost beyond recognition, and with a blazing red "Nekomi Tech" streaked on its sides. Tamiya was proudly introducing the bike.
    "I worked on this the entire holiday, Morisato-kun." Tamiya said proudly. "And I'm giving you the honour of test driving it!" Tamiya slapped a hearty hand on Keiichi's right shoulder.
    Keiichi's right leg almost gave out from under him with the weight and power of Tamiya's hand, and he sagged to one side rather forcefully.
    "Urk!" Keiichi grunted, a wet swallowing sound. Everyone looked on, suddenly worried. Keiichi wasn't the strongest guy in the campus, but he wouldn't buckle under Tamiya's clap anyday. Not with all the garage work he did. Belldandy, most of all, was horrified.
    "Keiichi-san!" She shrieked. Tamiya took his hand off Keiichi's shoulder and looked at him worriedly. Ootaki came jogging up as well.
    "Hey, you all right, Morisato?" Ootaki asked. Keiichi nodded, and was about to speak when something clattered to the floor. Keiichi stared at it, then quickly picked it up.
    I'm screwed. Keiichi thought. Skuld built that in a hurry just so I could sound like myself. Belldandy noticed and recognized Skuld's device though. It was a Voicebox. Keiichi had tried to hide from them. She suddenly felt strickenly disappointed for a moment, but it faded. Given that Keiichi was only prepared for Megumi, Keiichi had every right in the world to try hiding. Still, it felt wrong.
    Keiichi sighed as the two sempais watched on, then paced slowly back to where Megumi, Chihiro and Belldandy were watching. He tossed the Voicebox to Belldandy, who caught it with one hand.
    "Hey, what's going on here, Keiichan!?" Megumi asked. She didn't know what was going on, but she felt that uncertainty from the morning return to her. Putting it mildly, she had a bad feeling about it.
    Keiichi turned and looked at everyone. Belldandy held his shoulders for strength.
    "Guys, I'm sorry." Keiichi spoke with Belldandy's voice. "Sorry I tried to hide."
    The world stopped for Keiichi as the four assembled took in what Keiichi was saying. Keiichi's roller coaster mood just took a plunge from its all day high.
    Megumi recovered first. She looked at Belldandy. Belldandy had a pleading look in her eyes, half sad, half hopeful.
    "You aren't ventriloquating, are you, Belldandy? You aren't one of those ventriloquists right?" Megumi asked, haltingly. "Keiichi... Keiichi's...."
 Belldandy nodded her head, altogether not happy at all.
    "I think you have some explaining to do, Morisato Keiichi." Chihiro said, bluntly.
    "Now."
    More than you would want to listen to, Chihiro. Keiichi thought.

{End of Chapter 14}
{Chapter 15 : The Sacred Holy}