"Oh! My Demon!" by R. Zane Richards All OMG characters (Belldandy, Keiichi Morisato, Urd, Skuld, etc) copyrighted and owned by Kosuke Fujishima, main character and jen belong to me. Don't sue. chapter 7 ******************* I woke to find myself on a futon in another room...I began recalling the conversation. My best friend...a goddess?! I couldn't even begin to contemplate what all that might mean. I was happy for her, of course, but I wondered if she'd changed any because of that. I went out to find Belldandy, but I couldn't think of what to ask her. Whatever answer I thought I would have gotten for my earlier question the one I got was nowhere close. I was thinking along the lines of becoming a famous actor & playwright...or something along those lines. I was just beginning to formulate some idea of what to ask when I turned a corner...and there she was. "Jen...?" "ZANE!!" She grabbed into a whopping hug, "Ahh!! I was hoping you might come!" She had changed alright...not in character, because she was always friendly like that. One of the things I like about her. No, she'd physically changed. I was being hugged by a Belldandy-like Jennifer, not at all like the one I remembered. Physically at least. Let me say this, I won't say what she was like before, she always felt comfortable with it...and I guess that's more than enough to say anyways. Another thing I like about her. "Whaddya think? Is it me?" She said standing back, that familiar scheming gleam in her eyes, "It took me a bit to get used to it also. I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but Bell reassured me that it was part of the package deal I ended up with." She wore a rather elegantly simple dress in a renaissance style in a deep royal purple, with silk sleeves. She had the 'goddess hair' thing going. Her goddess markings were also simple, a small diamond shape on her forehead with matching marks on each cheek. "Well, at least you didn't change where it counts, if you hadn't of crunched me...I might not have known it was you!" I joked. "I guess you're wondering about this whole mess, huh?" "Yeah, that would be correct." I said, "At least I know now that you are happy with it." "Yep! Once I finish my training-Bell and the others are helping me with my homework-I'll have my first class license! They're looking at giving me a chance to be the patron goddess of theatre! Ta da!" "Well, that certainly would be fitting...what would you do anyways?" We knelt down at a table and she explained what she knew about the job. Answering the prayers of actors, making sure the right people got the praise they deserved...things like that. I could see why she was so up about the whole thing. "Zane, is something wrong...you're awful quiet." "Hmmm? Oh, sorry...I can't but wonder what changes this will cause." I said "I hope we can still be close friends...it sounds like this is really good for you but..." "Oh, don't even go there!" she reassured me, "We are always going to be friends, even if I can't promise it." "Can't promise? What does that mean?" She spent several minutes explaining to me about the regulations that governed a deity on Earth. How a promise was basically the equal of a wish, and they couldn't be made with out the proper steps being carried out. I couldn't quite understand it all, but I knew she was telling me tell the truth. "You're probably curious as to how this came about aren't you?" "Yeah, I am. I thought you'd wish for something like fame and fortune...or least a good script now and then. But this..." "Yeah, I *had* thought of those things, but when I did...well something just didn't feel right and I never said anything like that." "So what did you say?" "Well, Urd was standing there, getting impatient with me & I decided to simply ask here to stay for awhile and make herself at home. One thing led to another, and we began talking about this or that. I asked her about her job, because it seemed like something that would be fun to do. She explained it to me and when she was finished...well my mouth popped open and I said that if the job was really enjoyable, well then I wished I had a job that allowed me to do something like that." "Oh, I see now...jeez, I guess it worked for the best, huh?" "Yeah, and Bell told me later that's how it usually ends up, the thing you want most comes out at the most unexpected times...quite a philosopher, our Bell." About that time, Belldandy came out of the kitchen and let us know dinner was almost ready. She was just so chipper about it that Jen and I had a small laugh about it. "The Joy's of Housekeeping!" I laughed, "with everyone's favorite goddess, Belldandy!!" Jen got up to go eat, and I wanted to go wash up. I was walking down the hall when I felt something. A presence, not unlike the goddesses, but somehow different. About that time I felt a hand grab a hold of my shirt and pull back. That's all I could remember for some time. ***Oh! My Demon!*** chapter 8 ******************* This was the second time I'd come to in an unfamiliar place, well some what unfamiliar. I was lying down, on grass it felt like. I felt a shadow over me, and I slowly opened one eye. There was a rather attractive young woman kneeling over me, with odd red markings on her forehead and cheeks. I remembered that the goddess all had *blue* marks...so that made me a little uneasy. And for good reason, as it turned out. "So you're awake finally." The young whatever-she-was said. "Uh-huh, so tell me...uh..." "You can call me Mara." Uh-oh. "Mara, tell me what this is all about...please." I noticed the look she gave me. "Look, it's simple...and you would know already if you hadn't of *ignored* the emails I sent." "Well, umm..." "Forget the excuses, excuses always annoy me." Mara spoke, "I tell you who I am and why I'm here." "That would be good." "Hmph, the dossier on you said you always were a real smartass." She stared me down. "I am Mara, demoness 1st class, unlimited license." "Ah, I see...and what are you here for?" "You, smartass." Now of all the things I needed to hear at that point, I was wanting something along the lines of "I just wanted to spook you." or even "Trick or treat!" would've been nice. But no, I get the "I came for *you*!" And she just had to call me smartass again, something I already know well. Jeez, ain't life grand? Now I was thinking just how the hell I got to this particular point and what the hell was I gonna do now that I'd arrived. Thankfully, that little problem was delayed, if only temporarily. "Hey!! Mara, get away from him...NOW!" I looked over to see a very upset Urd, and a concerned Bell and Jen close behind. Skuld was nowhere to be seen. All I really noticed was the energy crackling around Urd's hands. To a layman like myself it sure looked like a lot. I silently prayed that she was a good shot. "Hey, Urd...hey, I was just doing my job here..." she sputtered, and under her breath I heard her curse, "you know, you guys caused this particular problem...not me." "Yeah right!" Urd sneered, "I can solve a *particular* problem right now..." "Hey! whoa! No need for that!" Mara had actually turned a little paler at that than she was already. "Friends, remember?" Friends? I thought, dear God the plot thickens in most uncomfortable ways... "Yes, we are, but you don't threaten our guests like this, understand?" "No problem, but what about the balance of the system? Remember that?" Urd stopped, looking thoroughly frustrated. "Yeah..." Balance, what balance? What did this have to do with me? I thought of asking, but after a second thought(considering my situation)I thought it best to wait until I was out of the free-fire zone. Mara took a step back, and raising her hands said, "Okay, I'm leaving now." She knelt back down to me, as I had decided not to chance Urd's accuracy...considering what Skuld and Bell had told me about her abilities, or lack thereof at times. Mara simply said to me "Sorry if I scared you...we'll talk later." Without my knowing it, she slipped a note in my shirt. Then she got up, and in a quick flash she was gone. I just wanted to lie there a bit, and mull over what had just happened, but Jen and Bell wouldn't have it. From the first day I met Bell, and since Jen's new 'promotion' they've become quite protective of me. Not that I mind too much. Even to this day. I was half carried into the house, where Keiichi stood with a concerned look on his face. He asked me if I was alright. Thankfully I knew enough Japanese to answer him. He had no real love for Mara either as it turned out. Especially after turning him into mouse, then later trying to kill him to get to Bell, and then going after Urd...you get the idea. Man, this Mara sounded like trouble, but what else is a demoness good for, I wondered. "Look, if it's all the same to you guys." I said while Jen and Urd sat me down at the table. "I would really like to know what this is all about. It's sort of a shock to me to find some out some demoness is after *me* of all people, I know I'm sorta handsome and I've got a *great* personality and all, but..." "No ego there huh Jen?" "Nope." Great, it was time for "Fun At Zane's Expense." Bell spoke first, "We aren't really sure at this time, it could be something we've overlooked about you. I'm sorry." "Overlooked?" "What sis is trying to say is that we'll look into it, " Urd added not unsympathetically, "and try to find out. All I know is, I don't like it." "Well, I ain't too crazy about it either." Bell brought in the food, bringing the conversation to a temporary halt. Bell sat down next to Keiichi, very close actually. It *was* nice to see. Skuld then sat down next to Keiichi, and during dinner always kept glancing over to make sure he wasn't doing anything he wasn't supposed to do. The food was absolutely delicious, as I came to expect from Bell, it turns out she always does everything the 'old fashioned way'. And she loves it that way. Later on Urd and I sat watching TV, and I got the curious feeling that she was keeping an eye on me. Friends though they might be, I think Mara would get toasted if she showed up. I asked her how they'd come to be friends. She said nothing, but went in and got a couple of beers from the fridge. "Oh, we've always been friends since we were young." Urd said, opening one of the beers and handing it to me. "She just happens to be working for the other side." She sat back down and looked around again. I just sat and thought about what she'd just said. We drank on, enjoying a rather odd game show/personality show/I have no idea what. She laughed sometimes, and then looked over at me with an odd look. "That wasn't funny to you?" "Well, to be honest my Japanese isn't *that* good." "Ah, I see, maybe Bell can do something about it." Urd took another drink, "Maybe tommorow you can ask." That reminded me, I needed to look over the language book I had brought with me. So I made my way to the guest room where I'd been staying. I had been here only a while, but I felt it'd been a lot longer, considering everything I'd been through. I sat down with my book and my notes, and I noticed I didn't have a pen. I searched though my pockets, figuring I'd probably either forgotten to bring one with me or I'd lost the one I had. It happens to me alot. I found a slip of paper in one of my pockets...one I hadn't put anything in. "Wha..." it was a short note. "What the..." I read it. It was signed "Mara'. **Oh! My Demon!** Chapter 9 ***************** I sat in the room, stareing at the note Mara had snuck on me. I had no idea what to do. She wanted to meet me, tonight. Just to talk, she said. It was a matter of urgency, she insisted, and all I had to do was hear her out. Nothing's *that* simple, I thought. But I also had questions, one's that needed answers. I couldn't decide, so I settled on action. Meet me at the statue in the nearby park, next to the shrine. I looked down the hall, the whole group was watching some show that must've been rather funny. They were certainly laughing enough. Good, I thought, they're distracted. I headed out the back way, as quietly as I could. I figured they'd notice as soon as I got halfway down the hall. They didn't. I headed off on foot for the park. It wasn't too far. When I got there, I wanted to be prepared as best I could. I went the back way, and peeked down an alley. Mara was there, waiting by the statue, dressed in blue jeans, white t-shirt and black leather jacket. Hmm, she *did* look rather nice, but I shook that thought off quickly. She also was a *demoness*, and I knew I could end up in trouble over this. I made my move. "Mara!" She looked around, partially startled. "Zane, is that you? Where are you?" "Over here." She looked over to where I was standing, and an odd look crossed her face...it was something like disgust and suprise all rolled into one. No wonder...I was standing in the shrine. I said I wasn't going to take any more chances than I needed to, didn't I? "Come out of there and we can talk." "Nope, uh-uh...I can hear you just fine from here." I answered hoping that I was right about my hunch, and it seemed I was. She walked over a few steps and stopped. "What, you want me to strain my voice yelling to you from here?" "No, but you're not shouting, and I can hear you plainly." I said, "Now, tell me what you have do to with me." "Okay," again the muttering under the breath, "It's simple, I'm here to offer you a job." "What sort of job?" I didn't like the sound of that at all. "Working for our side, what else?" She had that face again, "There's a brand new opening...can you guess why?" I thought about it for a few minutes, trying to put it together. I suddenly realized what she'd meant. "Because of Jen becoming a new goddess, right?" "Jeez, you're a quick one, ain't you?" "Cut the crap Mara, if you read some file on me you know I won't accept this...job." "I thought you'd say that...you know you really don't have much of a choice on the matter." That shocked me, quite a bit. What the hell? I can't do anything about what? I would've asked her that very question, but I was interrupted by the sound of a motorcycle coming very fast. Then they pulled into view...It was Keiichi and Bell riding on the bike. And Urd in a sidecar. An upset looking Urd, and Bell didn't look too pleased to be here either. "Mara!! I told you NOT to bother him! Why'd you bring him here!!" Urd yelled. "Cool your jets, I didn't bring him here, he *came* here, of his own accord." "Liar! He wouldn't do such a dumb thing!" "Mara's not lying," I spoke from where I was standing, "I just made sure I evened the playing field some." "What??" Urd said, "Level the playing field...against a *demoness*?? Are you that stupid?" "Urd, please, " Belldandy interrupted, "Zane, she is right though, you don't know what she's capable of." "That's why I'm standing here, and she's still over there." I said indicating my surroundings. "Oh, well that was very smart of you, " Belldandy went on, "but it's still very dangerous." "Hey, it's okay," Mara said, "I told him basically what I needed to, my job's done...for now." And with that little statement she disappeared into the shadows. Leaving me to wonder about that little statement. And to have to deal with my 'saviors'. From the looks I was getting, I was in for it...oh boy. ********** Any C & C welcome, flames ignored. Interested in OMG? go to the Darkhorse website, www.darkhorse.com or your local comic bookstore and ask. email me at r_zane@yahoo.com