{Chapter 16 : Deliverance?}
"We burn a hot fire here, it melts down all concealment."
- Judge Danforth, The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

    Saturday Morning.
    Somewhere, many somewheres, in Tokyo and all over the world, children wake up in anticipation of morning animes, students stay asleep, filling up their sleep quota before schools open again. Parents and adults wake up to another day, a day to take care of house, home and work.
    But in a certain temple, there are no children, or students, or adults. Instead two university undergraduates and three     Goddesses reside. And none of them have woken up.
    Leaning against the door to Skuld's room, Urd's eyelids flicker as the first birdsong of the morning reaches her ears. Then they snap open.
    "Belldandy!" Urd hisses, scrambling to her feet.
    She opens the door, and looks in. Urd lets go of the breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
    Belldandy is sleeping, soundly, under a protective, warm layer of blankets, eyes closed peacefully. Her mouth slightly open, and her breathing smooth and regular. The blankets rise and fall slightly with each gentle breath, to match the gentle face. Urd sighs in relief.

    "Thank the Almighty Belldandy's alright." Urd didn't care for the fact that He didn't have anything to do with this, she was just glad Belldandy was alright. Urd left the room and went to the guest room to look for Megumi. When she floated in, the guest room was as neat as Belldandy had left it yesterday. Urd wrinkled her eyebrows and tightened her lips in irritation.
    "Where'd Megumi go? She didn't even leave a note. Hmph."
    Urd closed the door and went to check in on Skuld. When she opened the door to her room, it was similarly untouched. Well, in this case, Urd's room hadn't been touched by anyone except herself. Skuld wasn't in it, and she was a late sleeper on Saturdays. Urd began to worry.
    "Where are they?" Urd mumbled to herself. Then she hoped Keiichi wasn't AWOL as well. (Absent WithOut Leave) She left for his room.

*     *     *

    Megumi woke up when a piercing ray of sunlight broke through her eyelid's protective sheath and made her world annoyingly bright. She opened her eyes and wondered where she was for a moment. She was slumped over a table, sitting in a chair where she had been for the last few hours. Her body ached abominably from the uncomfortable position. She stood up and heard her bones pop and crack. The relief that went through her body from fingers to toes was welcome as she stretched, and yawned. She looked around. She was in her pyjamas, so that was one relief. She hadn't been working on a school project overtime.
    Skuld was lying there, on the floor, looking like a little angel while she slept. (Megumi though, had no idea that there were real angels around) Skuld dozed, curled up on the futon that Megumi had ceded to her last night... for what reason? Megumi scratched her head itchily and thought. Then she recognized the room she was in as Keiichi's room.
    Oh, yeah, that.
    Megumi looked around, and saw Keiichi sleeping on the bed peacefully, as if last night had never existed. Megumi hoped her bro would remember it though.... she wasn't selfish or cruel, but the talk last night really meant something to her, in addition to the fact that she did not want to drag Keiichi from whatever mirror there was and into her bed again.
    Yup, it was coming back to her. Megumi remembered trying to slap Keiichi awake after wrapping herself with a towel, to no avail. Then Skuld came in, and saw what had happened. Megumi had explained it to her, and together, the two had dragged Keiichi into his bedroom. Megumi had gotten dressed quickly after that though, it was a cold night and she didn't want to catch a cold. Skuld then insisted on sleeping in this room, for no particular reason at all. Megumi wouldn't refuse her, so she gave Skuld her futon and sat at the desk, thinking. Apparently, she fell asleep without even knowing it.
    The door slid open. Megumi stared as Urd floated in. Megumi was still having a hard time believing these three were Goddesses, they acted as naturally as normal human beings. With some exceptions. But Megumi had to keep reminding herself her perception of Gods and Goddesses would have to change soon, or she'd never be natural around the Sisters again.
    "Ara, I finally found someone. Ohayo, Megumi." Urd greeted, cheerily. Megumi waved a hand in Urd's direction. Urd came in.
    "Well, I finally found you and Keiichi. That's the first good thing all morning."
    "Ohayo, Urd. Oh, erm, don't step on Skuld." Megumi then stopped for a moment, stared at Urd, floating inches above Skuld, and couldn't help herself. She laughed, but as quietly as she could manage. This was hilarious, it really was. She was fully expecting Urd to walk in like any normal person, and had to remember that she floated around. After seeing landbound people such as Belldandy, Skuld, Keiichan and herself, she just couldn't get used to the idea. Urd didn't get the joke though. She looked incredulously at Megumi, one eyebrow raised and her mouth tucked into a corner of her face.
    "What's so funny, Megumi?"
    "I forgot, you float!" Megumi said, pointing at Urd's feet.
    Urd looked. She let go of her levitation spell in surprise and nearly dropped on Skuld. Only quick reflexes kept her floating, a centimeter off Skuld's stomach. Then she quickly floated away from Skuld and came down to earth on her feet.
    "Oh, so here's where the little ice-cream guzzler went to." Urd said, one hand on her waist, which she had stuck out to the right. She was smiling though. Skuld did look like a little angel while she slept. Sadly, she was anything but that, Urd knew.
    "So what brought all of you here?" Urd asked. Megumi suddenly stopped laughing, and looked at Urd with all deadly seriousness. That one event last night couldn't be forgotten by Megumi, it was too scary to be forgotten. She told Urd everything she rememberd while Urd listened intently. Urd didn't like what she heard, it reminded her too much of Belldandy's condition. Then Megumi ended the story with
    "Take a look at Keiichan's eyes."
    Megumi was recalling the last night and telling herself that it was real. Urd hmmed and went over to Keiichi's bed. Megumi went over to Urd's side and watched, hoping that she really had been seeing things last night and that it was all a figment of her imagination. She didn't want to believe this was happening, despite the fact that she knew it was true. It came across as a feeling deep in her stomach that made her want to retch.
    Urd lifted Keiichi's eyelid and peered in. Urd dropped the eyelid almost immediately. Urd was shivering as she spun on her heel and stared at Megumi.
    "Keiichi....'s.... got...." Urd said, trembling. Megumi nodded sadly and finished it for her, knowing full well this wasn't a dream at all.
    "Keiichan's got blue eyes."
    Urd groaned.
    Megumi stared.

*     *     *

    Up in the Heavens, the Almighty brooded. The Decoder had just finished his story, but from the start, it wasn't good. The Almighty realized that the Ultimate Force had just initiated a spell of metamorphosis on its own, as per the wish's parameters, whatever that was. The only good thing that had happened during this time was that Uruz was going to furnish the Almighty with bits and pieces of whatever she could remember about the wish Keiichi had made. Uruz couldn't remember it all, the feedback had taken its toll on her memory, but what she could remember would chill the Almighty.
    Uruz took a deep breath, and thought hard. She was half scratching, half pounding her head as she tried to recall what Keiichi had said that day. She could only remember it from a third person perspective.
    "I remember...." Uruz started. "Something about having You as a witness to something, that involved the two being together."
    Strike one. That had been what the Almighty had done. Uruz continued.
    "Then.... oh.... I can't remember this! What was it? Erm... that is the worst came to pass and they switched places? Something would happen, I think."
    Strike two, something was happening. The Almighty looked at Uruz.
    "Is there anything else you can remember?" Uruz shook her head.
    Uruz was utterly ashamed of herself for not telling this to the Almighty earlier, and even more so when she realized she couldn't remember the wish in its entirerity. She knelt in front of the Almighty, head hung low.
    "I'm sorry. I can't recall anymore."
    The Almighty looked at Uruz for a moment. It wasn't too late to do something about this though. But first off, the Almighty would need a party not affected by these recent events to go investigate. Coupled with Urd's information, the metamorphosis was truly taking place. The Almighty gestured to Uruz in a rising manner.
    "You may rise, Uruz my child. You have provided me with enough information for now. Thank you."
    Uruz looked up. The Almighty considered.
    Perhaps the best way to investigate this would be to send the person who knew the most about this situation to do the job. He smiled.
    "Uruz, I have an assignment for you..."

*     *     *

    Belldandy opened her eyes, slowly. Everything was blurry, but Belldandy a lot stronger. She raised her hand over her eyes and looked at it. She flexed them. They moved. She tried reciting a spell of light. That worked. Well, everything seemed to be in working order. She sat up with much effort.
    "Hurk!"
    She nearly threw up, as the world spun around her, and dizziness and nausea hit her hard in the head. She fell back to the futon, hand over mouth, taking deep breaths as best as she could. The ceiling spun above her, and Belldandy's stomach twisted. Her head felt like it was being spun on a top. Belldandy closed her eyes, and tried to block out the sensation. Her mind felt like it was being pulled in four different directions by wild horses, and her perceptions felt like they had just been put onto a giant fan set at full. She couldn't stop herself from feeling like she was on a roulette wheel, but she kept her eyes closed and focused on a spell of calming. It worked. The world stopped spinning slowly as she chanted the words to the spell. Then, with a sense of profound relief that went from head to stomach, she stopped spinning. She opened her eyes.
    Urd was there, looking over her. She looked worried.
    "You alright, Belldandy?" Urd asked. Belldandy nodded, head still on the pillow. It wasn't easy, the dizziness was returning. Urd turned around for a moment to fetch something from besides the bed, and came back with a small thermos. She unscrewed the cap and poured out a steaming brownish liquid. It wasn't tea, Belldandy could tell. It didn't smell like any teas she'd ever tasted before. It must be one of Urd's own concoctions then. Urd held out the cup to Belldandy's lips.
    "Drink up, Belldandy." Urd said. The smell was sweet, like syrup. It looked and acted thin enough to be water, but it was absolutely opaque. Belldandy wondered if it was safe. Urd kept the cup there.
    "Come on, this'll get rid of any lingering dizziness and put some strength back in your bones. I promise." Urd said, smiling. Just then, Skuld came into the room. She saw Urd offering Belldandy something and shrieked.
    "Hey! Urd! Get that stuff away from Belldandy! Who knows what it'll do!?"
    Urd flashed an irritated look at Skuld, but ignored her otherwise. Returning her attention to Belldandy, who was a little surprised at Urd's tenderness, Urd smiled again. She waved the cup slightly, and Belldandy could smell it again. It had a hint of mint.
    "Come on, this stuff's best hot."
    Belldandy nodded, and tried to sit up, but Urd held her down. Belldandy was glad though, she had nearly retched.
    "You know you're in no shape to sit up now. Just drink lying down."
    Belldandy gingerly took the cup from Urd's hands, and smiled softly at her. She still felt a little weak, but she could manage the smile. Barely.
    "Thank you, Urd one-san." Urd nodded. Skuld watched, helpless, from the doorway. Urd held the cup up to her and put a straw in.
    Belldandy took a sip. It tasted like warm cough syrup, but with a lot of brown sugar in it. There was that minty aftertaste too. Belldandy felt her insides warm up considerably, and suddenly, her arms and face didn't feel so tired anymore. The dizziness faded as well. Belldandy's face lit up, obviously. She didn't notice it, but she looked a lot healthier now. Urd grinned, and looked Skuld's way.
    "There, I said I could do it, right?" Urd winked at Skuld. Skuld sulked and crossed her arms.
    "Lucky try."
    Urd shrugged.
    "Coming from someone who doesn't know a thing, I'd say that's a compliment." Skuld glared at Urd. Then she stuck a tongue at Urd indignantly, eyes shut tightly.
    "Bleah! I'm not gonna bother with you! I'm going to check on Keiichi!" Skuld said, giving Urd a final raspberry, and ran off. Belldandy watched in concern as Skuld mentioned Keiichi's name.
    "What's wrong with Keiichi-san?" Belldandy asked. Her voice was a little raspy, but otherwise it was fine. She cleared her throat and could sit up in her bed now. Urd looked at Belldandy, almost too intently, and shook her head. She spoke softly, in a deep, sonorous voice that rang through the hearts of those who heard it like balm. Urd was surprisingly sensitive when she needed to be.
    "Nothing, much, Belldandy. Come on, fininsh it first. You'll need your strength."
    Belldandy nodded, and drank down the rest of the cup's contents. Urd emptied a second helping into the cup and stood up with the now empty flask.
    "Finish that, and we'll meet you in the living room, Belldandy. Ok?"
    Belldandy nodded, and took another sip. The drink improved her strength and mental alertness considerably. She was beginning to notice the things she couldn't have noticed when she first woke up. Urd was almost out the door when Belldandy thought to ask.
    "Urd?" Urd stopped and turned.
    "Yeah?" Urd was still wearing a smile. Belldandy thought it looked like her own.
    "What's this? It's wonderful. I'd like to learn to brew it sometime." Urd chuckled.
    "You'd have to search the ends of the Earth and the Heavens to find the ingredients you'll need, Belldandy." Belldandy's eyes widened in surprise. Urd just spent her most precious herbs in this brew? Urd caught the look, and laughed.
    "Well, almost the ends of the Earth. The herbs are pretty pricey, but you can find them for sale. Come on, you've still got the day ahead of you."
    Belldandy nodded, and drank down the rest of the brew as Urd disappeared from view. Then she just sat there, in bed, with the blankets covering her from the waist down, thinking. Apparently someone had thought to dress her in some more comfortable pyjamas, probably Skuld or Urd. She looked at herself, and brushed back the strands of hair that hand come loose from their braiding behind her. She sighed.
    "What was last night all about? I suddenly felt so weak." Belldandy said to herself. She hadn't felt anything like it before, that was new to her. She held her hand in front of her again and balled it, experimentally. Urd's potion did work wonders, she felt strong enough to walk. Outside, she heard birdsong. Scraps of twitters, some throaty callings, and some full bursts of singing. Belldandy took it all in, savouring the morning beauty from Skuld's room. She wasn't worried about Skuld's salvage operations anymore, she had faith in her sisters. A twitter interrupted her from her thoughts. She recognized Mr. Swift's voice. She turned and saw Mr. Swift standing on the windowsill of Skuld's room. He sounded happy. Belldandy smiled.
    "Ah, good morning Mr. Swift!" Her mood was also getting better. She felt like her old self again. Mr. Swift tittered something. Belldandy listened.
    "Oh, did you? That's wonderful!" Belldandy said, happily. Mr. Swift turned around, twittered a few times, and a screech came back in reply. Then another swift joined him. This one was his mate. Belldandy observed her, and nodded.
    "She's beautiful. Congratulations, Mr. Swift. You've got yourself a beautiful wife." Belldandy smiled and giggled. It was good when your friends had found a happiness of their own. Mr. Swift tittered a question. Belldandy looked slightly confused.
    "Why, of course you can, Mr. Swift! I'm sure Keiichi wouldn't mind you building a nest in the old garage roof hole. Just remind me to remind him."
    Then Mrs. Swift tittered another question. Belldandy listened to this one. The swift's voice wasn't as musically inclined as her mates, but it had a sense of refined beauty. It was long and smooth, and her clicks and warbles were better enunciated. Belldandy nodded. She looked a little worried.
    "Oh, you mean Velsper? I'm sorry, he's mine. He's been eyeing you lately?"
    Both swifts bobbed in their equivalent of a nod. Belldandy looked out the doorway, half expecting Velsper to come in.
    "Well, I'll be sure to make him understand he isn't allowed to eat birds. Thank you for telling me this, Mr. and Mrs. Swift."
    Both swifts bobbed their bodies once, then took off. Belldandy watched them fly freely into the sky, then stared into the distant view afforded by Skuld's window. She heard a meow. Belldandy turned her attention away from the scenery and saw Velsper leap into her lap. She stroked Velsper.
    "Oh, you heard everything now did you, Velsper?" Belldandy scratched Velsper behind the ears. He purred appreciatively, eyes closed, rubbing against Belldandy's body. She giggled.
    "Then you know I'll be cross if you try to eat any of my friends." Velsper opened his eyes and meowed once, then licked her face. It tickled. Belldandy laughed as Velsper licked her again.
    "Ok, ok! I get it! You understand!" Then Belldandy looked out the doorway again. Velsper followed her gaze.
    "I think I'd best be getting to the living room. Everyone's waiting for me." Velsper meowed, and leapt off the bed. He sat down and waited for Belldandy, tail swishing. Belldandy took the blankets of her, and turned to bring her feet to the floor. She tested her footing experimentally, like a paralyzed patient trying to walk under his own power for the first time, then stood up. A heady rush of warmth ran up from her legs, making her feel a little giddy for a moment. But this was a 'good' giddy. She changed her clothes with a thought as she walked out towards the living room, Velsper in tow.

*     *     *

    "Daijobu, Keiichan!" Megumi laughed, slapping Keiichi in the back. "What's wrong with blue eyes?" (Daijobu = It's all right!)
    Keiichi sighed sadly. So far, when she'd woken up, she remembered everything from the night before, eyes included. Megumi lost her happy face and looked at Keiichan sympathetically. Urd and Skuld were also there, sitting at the table watching. They were all waiting for Belldandy, who might or might not take a while to arrive. Keiichi sighed again. There was a tray in the center of the table with a pot of tea and several cups, but nobody seemed to be touching it.
    "What's next? Don't tell me my hair's going to start become silver-blonde." Keiichi said, depressed. She was leaning her cheek heavily against her palm, elbow on the table as she stared out blankly. As Urd and Skuld watched, Megumi knelt besides her brother, straightened herself and looked through Keiichi's hair. Keiichi didn't bother to stop her, for all she knew, it was true. Megumi looked at the base of his hair for signs of foreign colouration. After a cursory inspection, she sat back down and shook her head, grinning.
    "Nope. No golden roots. You're safe there, Keiichan."
    That was surprisingly refreshing for some reason. Keiichi lost that look of forlorn hopelessness, and sat up a little straighter. She looked at Megumi, still smiling. She blinked.
    "Ah..... ano...."
    Megumi looked at Keiichi.
    "Yes?"
    Keiichi shrugged.
    "Why're you so happy?"
    Megumi's smile went from a happy one to a bemused one. Exaggerating her expression with one eyebrow as high as it could go and beaming Keiichi a lopsided smile, Megumi laughed.
    "So what's wrong with getting nice blue eyes like those? As long as you're still Keiichan, who cares what you look like?"
    Keiichi sighed. She could think of at least a dozen others.
    "Aoshima, Sayoko, erm, all the guys and most of the girls on campus, mom and dad, and about several billion strangers whom I have a chance to meet, however slim that chance may be."
    Megumi just kept that cheeky grin on. She slapped Keiichi on the back with an audible thump.
    "Me and the girls at the softball club have been looking to whack a few oddballs anyway. Anyone say anything bad about my Keiichan, they're oddballs!" Megumi said, laughing. Keiichi watched for a moment, peturbed by Megumi's over cheerful act. Then Megumi stopped laughing and looked at Keiichi seriously.
    "But you really won't stay like this for long, will you, bro? The most we can do is keep the rumours at bay, Keiichan." Megumi looked at the two Goddesses. They nodded.
    "Megumi's right." Skuld said. "I could let you use the Voicebox, but you're going to have to watch out for people who're paying too much attention to your face. It shows."
    And then Urd had an idea. She couldn't help herself, she had to add it. She'd heard Keiichi complain about this once too often to pass up a good chance to rib him good.
    "And watch your toilet breaks too. People tend to wonder when you use cubicles exclusively when there're perfectly good urinals around."
    Well, that worked. Everyone stared at Urd, sweatdrops rolling down their heads. Urd looked around with an incredulous look on her slightly raised head, eyebrow raised and mouth stuck in a coy smile.
    "What, you guys never seen a guy's toilet before?" Urd shrugged nonchalantly, looking to one side to avoid their stares. Of course, she knew the answer perfectly well.
    Skuld and Megumi fell over with a crash. Keiichi stared and blinked at Urd. Skuld pulled herself off the floor first, and looked like she was climbing a vertical cliff from the way she hung onto the table edge as she pulled herself up, panting. Megumi followed soon after, with much less drama. Urd was laughing.
    "What kinda perverted girl would peep into guy toilets!?" Skuld and Megumi shouted at Urd, half pleadingly, blushing a furious red. Urd chortled and put a hand to the side of her mouth as if she was telling them a private message.
    "Not a perverted one," Urd said. She paused for effect. Tossing her hair behind her with a practiced swing of her head, Urd kept her chin held high with that haughty look of knowledge and put a few fingers on her chest. Using a breathless voice full of arrogance and enjoyment for her little act, Urd continued. "But I happen know everything. Oh ho ho ho ho ho!"
    Everyone at the table looked at her with forced smiles, twitching eyelids and a drop of sweat. They held it there as Urd stared at them disbelievingly, a sweatdrop of her own rolling down her head.
    "Geez. You guys can't take a joke, can you?"
    They nodded. Urd blinked and scratched her head.
    "Wow, you guys are for real."
    A minute of silence.
    "What's going on? Keiichi-san? Megumi? Urd? Skuld?"
    Everyone suddenly snapped out of their trances and looked towards the voice. It was Belldandy, looking hale and hearty with a curious look and Velsper pracing around her like a kitten in catnip. Belldandy flashed them a smile when she reached the table.
    "Ohayo-gozaimasu, mina-san!" (Good morning, everyone!)
    Skuld looked at Belldandy up and down. Well, everything seemed in order. Belldandy looked and sounded like she was supposed to be, acted as usual, and she even had her good morning cheer. Skuld smiled and ran up to Belldandy, hugging her.
    "One-san! You're alright!"
    Belldandy nodded and patted Skuld on the shoulder. She smiled at Skuld.
    "Yes, thanks to Urd."
    Skuld flashed Urd a dagger filled stare. Urd deflected it with a huge grin.
    "Told'ya she'd be fine, Skuld." Urd said with all the confidence in the universe. Skuld stuck a tongue at Urd. Keiichi and Megumi laughed. Then Keiichi looked at Belldandy.
    "Ohayo, Belldandy."
    "Good mornin', Belldandy!" Megumi hailed Belldandy with a mock salute. Belldandy returned it. "Come on, take a seat. We got something to talk about."
    Belldandy looked concerned. She sat, with Skuld putting herself down right besides her. Belldandy started pouring the cups of tea from the pot, wondering who set it this morning.
    "What's the matter? Keiichi-san?"
    Keiichi looked at Belldandy, and stared. Belldandy's first reaction was to blush, wondering if Keiichi wanted to give her the hint. Then she noticed Keiichi's eyes.
    It was almost like looking in a mirror.

*     *     *

    Mara could hear Belldandy's shriek from her vantage point. She nearly fell out of the tree she was camping in, but hastily turned in her tree to see what was going on. The stupid seals were still up, and they had Urd's magic in them this time. Mara wondered how they kept remembering to refresh it everyday. Frankly, it was annoying. Mara had seen a couple of Keiichi's friends come and go, totally unaware of their observer, and Mara had considered cornering Urd again and getting her answers, but this little Mara in her head kept telling her she would be well rewarded if she kept waiting, and Mara wouldn't trust anyone but herself. So she resigned herself to waiting. She sighed and stretched like a cat on the tree, yawning.
    "I wonder how many more days they're gonna coop themselves up in there for?"
    Well, Mara wouldn't be bothered by the council anymore to make sure Keiichi was in a lot of trouble. He was deep enough in it as it was. Mara grinned. Maybe Belldandy just found out Keiichi had turned/was turning into a monster?
    It would be interesting to see a real life version of Godzilla. Mara would have a good show then.

*     *     *

    Belldandy was shivering. She had quite literally jumped back when she noticed the eyes she saw on herself everytime she looked in the mirror. Of course, she never looked in the mirror for vanity, but for travel, but she never failed to observe herself first.
    Keiichi had her eyes.
    But Keiichi didn't look like she cared about that. Keiichi held a haunted look of her own she refused to let go. Everyone noticed it. It wasn't there before?
    "Keiichan?" Megumi said, waving a hand in front of Keiichi's face.
    Keiichi blinked once, rubbed her eyes, and pointed at Belldandy.
    "Look at hers."
    Everyone did. Urd blinked, then copied Belldandy's shocked expression.
    "Belldandy! YOUR eyes!"
    Belldandy blinked. She grabbed a mirror from a pocket somewhere and looked in it. Skuld stared. From this angle Belldandy's face was obscured by her hair, but she could hear Belldandy choking on her gasps.
    "Belldandy one-san?" Skuld asked, tentatively. She was afraid Belldandy would suddenly blow up again. Belldandy turned to look at them. Her breath came in ragged, halting breaths, and she carried the same haunted look as Keiichi did. She was crying, tears dripping down one at a time, her eyes red and puffy.
    And brown.

*     *     *

    Uruz stared at the portal before her. Beyond it, she could see a portion of the Morisato's residence. She wondered if it was a good idea to go back to a place which she would probably be scared silly at the slightest sound, ever since that accident. Although everything looked fine now from her vantage point, her sixth sense was telling her something was wrong, and that it wasn't a good time to visit.
    But the Almighty had given her the order to go and check in on Keiichi and Belldandy, observe them throughout this period, and report back with the wish in full detail if she ever got it. Uruz couldn't go against the Almighty, and sooner or later she'd have to face them again.
    So what the heck.

    With a deep breath, Uruz stepped through the portal and into the mortal realm again.

*     *     *

    Belldandy calmed down remarkably quickly. She took a tissue from Urd and wiped clean her wet eyes. Keiichi hadn't moved this whole time, wondering just what in the Heavens was going on here. She wished she could get some answers, this was getting waaay too weird for her liking. Urd sighed as Belldandy sat back at the table and took a few deep calming breaths. She was hunched over the table, her face half covered by errant locks of hair, and looking at her reflection in her cup of tea.
    "Metamorphosis, Belldandy. Ever heard of that?"
    Belldandy looked up, suddenly. Her head just snapped back like a crack of a whip. Everyone jumped.
    "Me-ta-mor-pho-sis?" Belldandy reiterated for Urd, drawing each syllable out like a word on their own. She turned slowly, and looked at Urd.
    "I'm undergoing metamorphosis?" Belldandy asked, worriedly. Urd nodded.
    "So far, we've only noticed your eyes. Actually, Keiichi did."
    Belldandy considered. So that was what the weakness was. Her body was burning every reserve of energy in her body to start the process off. Then she looked shocked.
    "Won't this mean I'll be breaching regulations? I've not signed up for any forms yet!" She said, as if she had just forgotten to buy cooking oil after coming back from a shopping trip.
    *crash*
    Everyone fell over, and the temple shook for a second. When the dust settled, Urd pushed herself off the floor.
    "Belldandy-" She started.
    "Belldandy!"
    Everyone looked at the new voice from the floor.
    Standing there were a pair of booted feet, and looking a little up was a sight that reminded them of Peorth. At least, those who knew her.
    "Uruz?" The three Goddesses and one Keiichi exclaimed.

*     *     *

    Uruz looked. She knew it was a bad time to drop by. When she had come in, the whole temple had shook for a moment. Probably her fault again, she thought. She saw that she was in  Keiichi's room. Then she had come into the living room and found that everyone but Belldandy was floored. She blinked.
    "Belldandy!"
    Belldandy looked up at her. Urd, Skuld and Keiichi followed not long after.
    "Uruz?" They asked. They were obviously surprised. Uruz hung her head shyly and tucked her hands in front of her. They probably still hadn't forgiven her for her misdeed yet. She couldn't blame them.
    "Did I come at a bad time? Am I welcome?"
    Belldandy nodded her head, as did Urd and Keiichi. Skuld was neutral, like Megumi. Megumi was just a little bit confused here.
    "Ohayo! What brings you here, Uruz?" Belldandy asked. Belldandy looked like her good old normal cheery self. Uruz suddenly felt warm again.
    "Orders by the Almighty... I'm supposed to stay here with you all until this mess is cleared up." Keiichi blinked, and sat up.
    ".......doing?" Keiichi asked.
    Uruz looked at Keiichi. Well, if nothing else, Keiichi was cute. Uruz stifled a giggle. Physically, she hadn't hurt Keiichi as much as she'd hurt her pride. Uruz made it obvious she was trying not to laugh though, a flicker of the eye and the hand covering the mouth was too well known to be passed off as anything else.
    "Great. Now even she finds me funny." Keiichi grumbled. Megumi was looking at Uruz, wondering who this scantily clad girl was. She wouldn't speak up though, not until everything else was cleared up. But Megumi knew this girl was a Goddess, at least, by the markings on her face. Uruz shook her head.
    "No! It's just that you're so adorably cute!" Uruz said, not bothering to stop herself from laughing now. Keiichi moaned, and Belldandy looked in her direction and smiled.
    "It is true, Keiichi-san. You shouldn't treat it so badly.... after all, you are what you are. Take it as it is!"
    Keiichi looked up at Belldandy. What was it about Belldandy that always convinced her so? Belldandy just said something and everyone would fall over themselves just agreeing, convinced. Looking at her hands, Keiichi nodded.
    "Well... since I'm like this now, I guess I should take it as a compliment, right?"
    Everyone nodded. Keiichi looked left, then right, then straight ahead. Uruz came to sit down besides Belldandy, who was sitting opposite Keiichi. Urd and Skuld were sitting at the right and left ends of the table respectively, and Megumi was sitting besides Keiichi. That teapot was still in the centre. Keiichi took a sip of tea.
    "I'm supposed to see what happens between and to the two of you." Uruz spoke up, suddenly. Everyone blinked. Uruz continued.
    "I'm sure you all know by now... Belldandy's undergoing metamorphosis?" Uruz asked. Everyone nodded. Megumi filed this information away for later research. This was really interesting, Goddesses could undergo that?
    "So I'm supposed to see what happens to her and report back." Uruz said, simply enough. Keiichi looked at herself, and at her chest.
    "Then what about me?" Keiichi asked, looking up. Uruz shrugged, grinning apologetically. Keiichi scratched her head and sighed.
    "He didn't ask me to check in on you. Sorry." Uruz clapped her hands together.
    "Ah, that's alright." Keiichi said. She sighed once, and rested her forehead against her fingers. Why would the Almighty care about this one little mortal anyway? Keiichi reasoned. He's got a Goddess to take care of!
    Then Uruz looked around.
    "Why's everyone sitting here doing nothing?"
    Everyone looked up, not knowing they were all staring at the floor or at themselves. They looked surprised.
    "Ara! Breakfast!" Belldandy exclaimed. "I'll go prepare some!"
    Uruz watched as Belldandy left the living room. She got up. Urd eyed her suspiciously.
    "Where do you think you're going, Uruz?" Urd asked, dangerously. She promised a lot of pain in that voice.
    "I gotta keep an eye on Belldandy-san." Uruz said. "Orders." Then she grinned, cheekily at Urd, daring her to do something about the Almighty's orders. Urd clenched her fist a little tighter and growled, but did nothing. But all this time, she glared reproachfully at Uruz. But Uruz looked worried now.
    "Urd? Is there something wrong?" Uruz asked, innocently. She really didn't know what Urd was angry over.
    Urd looked at Uruz for a moment, wondering about this question herself. The moment Uruz had stepped into the room, Urd had felt defensive for Belldandy and Keiichi. There was this debate going on in her mind with the winning side telling her to be wary of Uruz, while the losing side told her there was no real reason to be suspicious of her. Urd couldn't blame Uruz because what had happened then wasn't her fault at all. But Urd also wanted to blame Uruz for causing this, just because it would make her own burden lighter, it would make her feel better, and because Uruz was the convenient scapegoat to blame.
    But Urd couldn't do that. They had no solid evidence yet, but they were sure Mara was behind it. Yet, Urd didn't feel satisfied when she blamed Mara. Mara wasn't there at that time to have the blame put on her.
    So why did Urd feel that blaming Uruz was then the logical choice? It was unreasonable. Urd thought back to the day Uruz had tried granting Keiichi's third wish. Uruz had done everything she could to grant it, but immediately after that came the explosion and then this. Where was Mara? She wasn't around, Urd felt no need to blame Mara. Uruz though, was the odd one out. By simple virtue of being there, Urd felt the need to blame Uruz. Urd grabbed her head and shook it as everyone looked.
    "Arrgh...." Urd moaned as she kept her hands on her head and shook it slowly. Uruz went over to Urd and knelt behind her.
    "You alright, Urd?" Uruz asked. Everyone, Skuld included, felt a twinge of sympathy go through their hearts like a dart. The way Uruz asked made them feel guilty of ever doubting her.
    Urd nodded slightly.
    "I guess I was just being unreasonable." Urd said. Uruz smiled slightly.
    "Hey, I was the one there. You didn't see anyone else..."
    Urd's eyes widened and she sat up straight, hands still on her head. They looked funny now, out of place for the expression Urd was wearing on her face. She turned around and looked at Uruz.
    "You understand that?" Urd asked, simply, quietly. Uruz nodded.
    "When you come to think about it." Uruz grinned. Urd returned a shaky grin of her own. Uruz stood and started running off.
    "Well then!" Uruz called out behind her. "I'll be in the kitchen with Belldandy-san!"
    Uruz disappeared through a door, leaving a very confused bunch of people behind. Somehow, her logic made too much sense for them to comprehend at that time.

*     *     *

    In the kitchen, Belldandy was closing the door to the fridge with a pile of frozen foods in her arms when she saw Uruz at the doorway.
    "Mind if I come in?" Uruz asked, worried that Belldandy might get angry. She didn't know what would set Belldandy off, and it was strange that Uruz had developed a fear for annoying Belldandy even a little bit. Belldandy nodded and smiled.
    "Of course you may, Uruz!" Uruz nodded shyly and came in. She saw what Belldandy was doing and stopped near the sink, not wanting to get in Belldandy's way. She was looking at her feet and scuffing her shoes against the floor.
    "Erm, if I'm not bothering you...." Uruz said, tentatively. She was treading on thin verbal ice, since she didn't know what else to say. Belldandy shook her head as she pumped some water into the wash basin to soak the vegetables, looking at her for just a fraction of a second.
    "Of course not, dear." Uruz blinked and straightened for a second. Belldandy then went off to get a knife. "In fact, if you don't mind, could you please help me get the packet of miso out of the cabinet under the counter, third door from the right? Put it by the sink please."
    Uruz nodded eagerly and started counting cabinets. She found it and fished the packet out. She suddenly felt wanted and useful, and a little throbbing inside of her agreed. Belldandy smiled and said her thanks when the miso packet was waiting for her by the sink.
    "Thank you, Uruz." Uruz blinked and blushed from embarrassment.
    "Erm... ah..." Was all Uruz could say. Belldandy wiped her hands on her apron and walked up to Uruz, looking at her intently. Uruz looked back, and noticed the first sign of the metamorphosis. Her good cheer almost disappeared completely when she noticed Belldandy's brown eyes.
    "What's wrong, Uruz?" Belldandy asked. "You're unusually withdrawn today?"
    Uruz shook her head. Well, better to get this over with.
    "I-I just thought you-you'd be angry with me.... B-Belldandy...." Uruz half-stammered. She had both her hands clenched nervously and held them together in front of her. Belldandy stepped back and put her hands on her hips.
    Here it comes. Uruz told herself. Then Belldandy brought a hand up to her mouth and chuckled. Uruz's jaw dropped.
    "Uruz, dear. What made you think I'd be angry at you?" Belldandy said with all mirth, half smiling, half laughing in good cheer. She held her hands out in front of her invitingly. Uruz's self-confidence picked up again and she smiled, but shyly.
    "That day." Uruz said, hoping this wouldn't ruin the moment. Belldandy paused for a while, but kept smiling.
    "Oh, that. Don't worry, Uruz. I'm not angry." Belldandy said. She came a step closer to Uruz and put her hands on Uruz's shoulders. "Don't worry, everything's working out fine." She said, softly, smoothly, silently. Uruz felt Belldandy's warm, sweet breath as Belldandy leaned closer.
    "In fact, I have to thank you...." Belldandy was whispering now.
    "Oh..." Uruz gulped. Belldandy was getting awfully close. Uruz wondered what she had in mind.
    Belldandy tiptoed and kissed her on the forehead, tenderly. Uruz's eyes opened wide. Then Belldandy stepped away and looked at her innocently. Her head was tilted slightly to her left, and she kept her hands in front of her.
    "That was my special spell for you." She said, smiling. Uruz hesitatingly returned the smile. She could feel her face burning up.
    "Thanks, Belldandy-san."
    "Now, let's cook breakfast! Everyone'll be starving if we don't."

*     *     *

    Back in the living room, Megumi was looking over at Urd. Skuld was off with Keiichi, designing another, better, Voicebox. Urd was brooding there, her cheek resting on her knuckles, her eyes half closed and looking listlessly into nothing. Megumi wondered what Urd was brooding over. That conversation?
    "Hey." Megumi called to Urd. Urd's eyes flickered a little, but she didn't do anything else.
    "Hey! Urd!" Megumi called, louder. Urd looked at her disinterestedly.
    "What is it, Megumi?" Urd deadpanned. Megumi looked wonderingly over Urd's hostility.
    "Why the long face?" Megumi asked. Urd chuckled once, sardonically.
    "That's because I suddenly realized how much I've been holding a groundless grudge against Uruz, and when I come to think of it, I can't blame Mara no matter how guilty she is. That's my sin." Urd said. Megumi blinked.
    "Mara?" She asked. Could it be... someone she remembered? A face came to mind, but it disappeared too quickly.
    "Mara." Urd nodded. "Demoness. Two red stripes on her head, two pairs on her cheeks, white-blonde hair, possessed you once and turned you into a car the other. Looks like a guy when she wants to hide it, got a pair of fangs."
    Megumi's eyes widened in shock. She did know Mara! All those times! Megumi took a deep breath like a gasp, and let it out haltingly.
    "Mara..." Megumi muttered.
    "Careful, Megumi. Third time's the charm, sometimes." Urd cautioned, jokingly. Her eyes still looked tired, like she needed sleep, but Urd still had plenty of energy. Her own mood was perked up now by Megumi. She'd taken Urd's mind off the blaming. Urd owed Megumi one. Megumi nodded.
    "Speak no evil." Megumi joked. Urd laughed.
    "Too bad, you tell her that." Urd said, jokingly. Megumi laughed.
    "You're right." Megumi agreed, nodding. Urd smiled, then let out a long, voiced breath and stood. Megumi stood with her.
    "Where're you going, Urd?" Megumi asked as Urd floated out the doorway.
    "Going to refresh the seals around the temple." Urd replied.
    "Hey! Wait for me! I wanna come too!" Megumi called as Urd left.

*     *     *

    Mara watched as she spotted two figures walking out the doorway. The weakening seals allowed her to see so much, but she grumbled nonetheless.
    "Waiting half a week straight and still nothin'." Mar sighed. "I wonder if I should stop listening to myself?" Mara wondered if her gambit would work.
    Mara watched as Urd, she could tell by the colouration, chanted something and her view was blocked again by that annoying golden glow. Whatever it was, a First Class Goddess's seals were a lot more powerful than what First Class Demonesses could break. Mara growled and went back to sitting in her tree.
    "Mara!" Mara fell out of her tree and hit the floor, two stories down, hard.
    "Ouch!" Mara yelped. She looked around. There was Urd, and the girl she recognized as Megumi, standing just outside the seal's range, looking straight at her. Mara smiled once. She remembered that Megumi was quite desirable, even to her. But this wasn't the time to consider that. She floated over, arms crossed, looking haughtily at them.
    "So, what does the high and mighty Urd want this time?" Mara asked, sarcastically. Urd held her temper remarkably well, and had one hand on her hip, alluringly bent outwards to one side. Megumi was half hiding behind Urd, scared that this demoness she remembered all too well would do something to her. Mara sniggered at Megumi, the mortal wasn't safe anywhere. Urd shrugged.
    "I'd just like to let you know that when we gather enough evidence against you, we're going to see some fireworks." Urd said. She was remarkably calm on the outside, but in truth, Urd was just itching to see Mara get zapped by the Almighty. She stopped herself from grinning like a fool and laughing at Mara's appointed plight, and continued.
    "Because we know what you've been using to disrupt wishes." Urd said.
    Mara was quite literally taken aback. She took a few steps back and gasped. She thought her crime had been perfect! The device had blown up so cleanly she thought nothing would be left of it. Even the manufacturers had guaranteed untraceability.
    Apparently, she thought wrong. She would see them about this too, soon. But for now...
    "Whaddaya mean you know!?" Mara hissed like a snake, spitting venom. She wasn't going to get zapped anytime soon, she wasn't going to let anyone zap her. Urd shrugged again.
    "Well, your little machine was almost perfect, almost. And where all the Almighty's horses and all the Almighty's Men couldn't put it back together again, our resident genius Skuld did when the dust settled." Urd chuckled. She allowed herself this one chuckle, just to unnerve Mara. It worked.
    Mara blinked once. She was going to get that little twerp when she got the chance. If only she knew Skuld's weakness....
    "No way!" She yelled, shaking her head. Urd nodded.
    "Yes way, and if you own up now, we just might be able to let you off light. The Almighty isn't too happy about a demoness disrupting one of his dear Goddess's job, and even now..." Urd said, crossing her arms and stretching her body from that position. Her bosom heaved noticeably. Mara considered. Even with all the power at her command, her defenses could be worn away. It wasn't nice to be zapped, it wasn't nicer still to be zapped by the Almighty. And if what Urd said was true, and that little spud called Skuld did manage to reassemble the machine, then.......
    Mara slumped. Fine. They caught her, and even the Almighty was involved now. There was no escape. Mara was furious with herself for being caught, twice.
    "Fine." Mara said, nodding more than reluctantly. "You got me."
    Urd smiled. Her gamble had worked.

*     *     *

    When Belldandy came out with Uruz in tow, one carrying a tray of mochi and the other a pot of rice, they were in for a very unusual surprise. Uruz nearly dropped the pot of rice, but by some feat of sheer will, kept it in her hands. There was that one and the same demoness as the one in the Lodge the other time, although her tiny companion wasn't with her at the moment. Uruz blinked once at her, then stared.
    Urd and Megumi were sitting with Mara at the table, having a tea together. Mara was describing something to Urd, who was listening with intense interest. Every once in a while, she'd flick her eyes over to Skuld's room. It was during one of these flicks that she noticed Belldandy and Uruz, standing there stupefied, watching them. Urd waved.
    "Hi! Good to see you all here!" Urd grinned. Belldandy blinked once. Then looked at Mara, who in turn turned to look at the newcomers. She saw Belldandy, her usual unusual self, and some new Goddess she didn't recognize. They appeared to be carrying the morning's breakfast. Mara paid more attention to the new Goddess, who was looking at her incredulously. Probably someone who'd never met her, she wagered.
    "Mara? How did you get in?" She asked, simply. What was scary was that she didn't sound the least bit angry or disappointed, she was asking out of plain curiousity.
    "Urd invited me." Mara replied, not bothering to look behind her. She took a long draft of tea and downed it noisily. Belldandy nodded. Then the two went to the table and set down the morning's breakfast. Mara looked at it disheartenedly.
    "What, no liquor?" Mara whined. Belldandy nodded.
    "I'll get it." She said, getting up again.
    "No Belldandy, let me." Urd held a hand up. Belldandy paused, and Urd got up. She grinned.
    "I have a new brew that I've been waiting to try for a long time." Mara blanched.
    "You ain't gonna make me try it, are you?" Mara asked, shakily. Urd shrugged.
    "Depends on how much you're unwilling to try it." Urd laughed and left. The colour flushed out of Mara. Nobody noticed. Megumi clapped her hands once upon seeing the food.
    "Ara! Mochi topped with miso! Mm!" Belldandy set out the last of the bowls, then called out towards Skuld's room.
    "Skuld! Keiichi-san! Breakfast's ready!"
    Then she looked at Mara, who shuffled back a little. Belldandy smiled.
    "Won't you join us, Mara?"

*     *     *

    "Skuld! Keiichi-san! Breakfast's ready!" Belldandy's voice rang out through the corridors. Skuld looked up from her table while Keiichi turned her attention away from the stasis cube and the weird thing forming in it. Skuld wiped her forehead.
    "Whew! That was exhausting." Skuld muttered. Keiichi stood. Skuld pointed to the doorway.
    "Let's go have breakfast."
    Keiichi nodded. She had to thank Skuld properly for her help one of these days. Keiichi wondered if Skuld like toffee selight?
    The two walked into the corridor and towards the living room and met Urd on the way out. Urd had a small bottle of something in her hand which was bubbling strongly, judging by the sound it made. Urd grinned at them.
    "What's so amusing, Urd?" Keiichi asked.
    "We've got a guest who may just be the last piece of the puzzle." Urd kept grinning. Keiichi looked at Skuld.
    "Mara!" They both exclaimed, and broke into a run for the living room, leaving Urd in the dust. She coughed a few times, and waved her hand and blew the dust away.
    "Tsk. They couldn't even wait for me."

*     *     *

    Skuld and Keiichi arrived in a cloud of dust, panting. The first thing they asked when they arrived was :
    "Where's Mara!?"
    Everyone at the table pointed to the cloaked figure sitting in front of them. They looked down and jumped back. Skuld took out a bomb.
    "Look at what you did to one-sama!" Skuld yelled. Mara turned around, slowly, purposefully. Skuld's grip on her bomb began to waver and it shook in her hand. When Mara was fully around, she grinned evilly. A sweatdrop formed on Skuld's head.
    "Did what?" Mara hissed challengingly. Just because she agreed not to cause trouble, if it came to her, well....
    Skuld swallowed once, and stuffed the bomb back into her shirt. Keiichi watched as the lump of a bomb disappeared after it dropped back into her shirt. Amazing. Mara laughed a bark of a laugh.
    "Skuld, Keiichi-san? Shall we take a seat first?" Belldandy asked, patting the cushions besides her. They nodded and gave Mara a wide berth as they sat. Mara looked at Keiichi as she sat, Keiichi cringed away from the look. She grinned toothily.
    "Ah, my dear Keiichi. It seems that you've grown a blasted sight better from the last time I saw you." Mara purred, dripping sarcasm from every word. Keiichi glared at her. Mara looked Keiichi once over, and pointed to her chest, feigning surprise. Or maybe she really was surprised. Nobody could tell.
    "Those real?"
    "Yes, they-" Mara reached over and poked Keiichi's chest. Keiichi shifted uncomfortably and tried to push Mara's rude finger away. She protested indignantly.
    "Cut it out, Mara."
    Mara laughed. Then she kept laughing. And laughing. And laughing.
    "Oh hoh. So I see you two have met our guest." Urd voice wafted around the corner. She appeared around the corner with a vial of something bubbling. Mara heard it, saw it, and swallowed. Urd grinned maliciously at Mara.
    "Don't worry. It's safe to drink. Hasn't eaten anyone yet."
    Urd walked up to the table and sat down besides Mara. Mara shifted away from Urd, worried that something might spring out from the bottle and decide that Demonesses were a lot more edible than Goddesses.
    Breakfast went smoothly, everyone ate and chatted with the usual pleasantries, with the exception of Mara of course. Once it was over, everyone's attention turned to Mara. Mara looked up and saw Belldandy looking straight at her. Mara couldn't tell exactly, but there was something different about Belldandy today...
    "Well, it's time you explained things to us, Mara." Belldandy said. Mara shrugged.
    "But first of all, I've gotta have a guarantee nobody's going to hurt me."
    Skuld pounded a fist on the table lightly. She was looking indignantly, sternly at Mara.
    "And who said you could have that guarantee?"
    Megumi and Mara stuck a thumb in Urd's direction, eyes lowered in resignation. Urd sat up for a moment, sweating, eyes looking around. Almost everyone was looking at her. Skuld was glaring. Urd raised her hands for peace, looking rather embarrassed.
    "Heh... I did promise her that. Besides... Mara's our good friend, right?" Urd brazenly threw an arm around Mara and squeezed hard. Mara urked once at the sudden gesture of friendship.
    Uruz blinked. She was unfamiliar to the concept of demonesses being friends. She pointed, rather rudely, at Mara. Mara glared at her finger and looked like she wanted to bite it off.
    "Friend? Her?"
    Urd nodded solemnly. She swept her hair behind her and shrugged.
    "Mara, at least. We were childhood friends."
    Uruz looked at Urd. Urd was smiling. She looked around. Everyone else was smiling too, nervously, more or less. Mostly less. Uruz blinked once, and scratched her head. Then she shrugged.
    "Whatever." Uruz finally proclaimed. Then she bowed slightly in Mara's direction. Everyone jumped off the floor. Uruz smiled at Mara and held out a hand.
    "Pals?"
    Mara stared at the hand which held the finger she wanted to bite off a second ago. Uruz held it there as everyone came out from their hiding places from behind the TV, under the table, outside the doorway, and on the ceiling lamp. Mara blinked.
    "Is this for real?" Mara asked, pointing at the hand. Uruz shrugged, arm still held out. She grinned  impiously.
    "Unless it's against the Almighty's rules, yes. And since He didn't put that rule to be on good terms with a demoness, well!" Uruz nodded. She had no idea what made her do this, she just felt like it was the right thing to do.
    Mara looked at it, and slapped it. Uruz looked at her hand and blinked. Urd, crawling out from under the TV set, blinked. Then she couldn't stop herself from laughing herself to tears.
    "You got yourself a deal." Mara said, giving her a toothy, lopsided grin. Uruz clapped her hands once and nodded.
    "I hope we get the chance to talk some more!" Uruz laughed.
    "Excuse me? Uruz?" It was Belldandy. Her voice, anyway.
    Keiichi poked her head out from under the table and looked at them. Everyone else was at the table by now, having recovered from their shock. Belldandy wondered if this was a serious breach of regulations. Mara blinked and stuck a finger in the air.
    "Oh, yeah, that."
    Everyone gathered around as Mara began her 'confession'.

*     *     *

    Up in the Heavens, Peorth was busy looking through page after page of historical texts. With nothing else to do, Peorth decided to brush up on her history of metamorphosis. Everyone up here was talking about the Belldandy incident, and Peorth had a very nasty hunch that she'd need this information and soon. Leaning forwards in her chair, Peorth stared intently at the information that scrolled up at her command, absorbing it letter by letter. After pages of boring texts stating the rules and regulations and such (so far, 200/700 of them), Peorth's mind began to wander from sheer boredom and nothing else.
    "What's Uruz doing now?" Peorth said aloud, with nobody to listen. "She must be having a grand time at Keiichi's place now..." Peorth trailed off wistfully. She was still thinking about 'him'. Peorth hated herself for this, but the more she thought of Keiichi in 'his' new form, the more used she had gotten to it and the more she liked it. It was strange, so far. Everything that was happening was happening so quickly, and Uruz was in the middle of it all. She wished she were the one doing this for Keiichi, but Peorth che'ed herself for this wishful thinking and went back to reading the texts.
    But a nagging feeling persisted in her mind. She scrolled back a few dozen pages. Something was missing, Peorth knew. It was a word, she had read but absentmindedly passed on.

*     *     *

    *crash*
    Uruz's hands glowed with blue flames as Mara backed into the corner and knocked over something. Everyone else had taken cover in the corner of the living room by the television set as they watched the confrontation between Uruz and Mara. Urd moaned. She knew she should've been the one who let Uruz in on the news. After all this time, they realized that Uruz only knew that a demon/ess was involved.
    She hadn't known that Mara was the one who'd caused her so much pain.
    Neither did Mara know Uruz was the one she'd done in. That twerp Senbee had only told her a Goddess had come. She'd assumed Uruz was just another friend of the Norns' when she first saw her. Senbee hadn't even bothered to describe Uruz. Mara would get her sweet revenge on him later.
    Keiichi yelled to Belldandy over the roar of flaming energy, which bathed the entire room blue and white.
    "DO SOMETHING, BELLDANDY!" Keiichi yelled. Belldandy looked on, blinking.
    "I CAN'T!" Belldandy yelled back. "I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER!"
    Keiichi stared at Belldandy disbelievingly. Who was this Goddess!? One moment she was a bubbly teenager, the next moment, her fury knew no bounds. Keiichi looked at Urd.
    "DO SOMETHING!" Keiichi yelled. Urd took a finger out of her ear.
    "WHAT!?" She yelled back.
    "DO SOMETHING!" Keiichi repeated. Urd looked at Uruz. She shook her head.
    "NO CAN DO!" Urd yelled. "WAY OUT OF MY LEAGUE!"
    Keiichi looked forlornly at Uruz, who was closing in on Mara now with steps that seemed to shake the earth everytime she put a foot down. There went her beautiful temple for a second time, by the same person. But Keiichi couldn't understand it. During their introduction, Uruz had claimed to be only a Second Class Goddess. How could she have enough power to overwhelm even Belldandy and Urd? Keiichi didn't even consider Skuld, cowering behind Urd. Skuld didn't have enough magic to hurt a fly, let alone pause Uruz. And Megumi? Megumi had her hands over her ears and hiding behind Keiichi. This wasn't going to leave a good impression of Goddesses on her anytime soon.
    Who was this person!?

    Uruz's eyes flared with the light of her flames as she neared Mara, murder in her eyes. Her hands opened like claws, she kept her flaming hands pulled behind her as she advanced on Mara.
    "YOU were the one who did this to me and the rest!? YOU!?" Uruz boomed. Mara didn't do much but feebly set up a few shields, hoping she'd at least die in one piece. Mara was half whimpering by now, staring at this Goddess of Death. Uruz's breath came out hot and angry. Mara could only think of surviving for a little while longer.
    But Mara knew... something familiar about Uruz. She had trusted Uruz enough to take her up on her offer.
    "W....wait... wait there, Uruz!" Mara stammered, holding her hand out in front of her. Uruz paused for a while, shadows covering her entire self. The only part that could be seen were her eerily glowing eyes, which lived apart from the flames and Void that appeared to make up Uruz at the moment.
    "You have three seconds to live." Uruz growled. Mara didn't waste any time.
    "The... wish... has a code! That's it, a code, yeah!" Mara stumbled across her words. Her eyes flitted to the rest of the residents of the temple, huddled up in the corner opposite to them. She didn't notice the overly surprised looks they all gave her. Uruz paused.
    "Go on." She demanded. Mara swallowed and steeled her nerves.
    "Well, if I can remember what it was..."
    "REMEMBER!?" Uruz howled, half laughing. Her flames flared brighter for a second. She was clearly berserk, everyone could see that. Whatever it was that had brought Uruz to the edge, then tossed her straight over it, it must've hurt Uruz enough to make her want to kill this demoness very dearly. Mara cowered. She wasn't going to survive this one.
    "What good will REMEMBERING do!?" Uruz chortled. Keiichi only thought that berserker rages came in fantasy storybooks. She'd never wanted to see anyone go berserk, especially not in her own house. Uruz couldn't stop laughing now, but it was a hauntingly soft, low chuckle that continued even as she brought one hand forwards. Keiichi could almost imagine Uruz's face, covered in shadows with only those glowing eyes and flashing white teeth in a cruel parody of a death mask. Belldandy knew that this wasn't normal energy Uruz was using. Truth be told, she'd never seen anyone use this before. The energy coming from Uruz was tainted, like blood. It was as if Uruz had done a lot more than she admitted to for her age, and not all of them were very Goddesslike. But all Belldandy had felt was the purity of Uruz's soul, she could never have powers like this.
    So why did Uruz suddenly light up like a christmas tree on fire? Belldandy became worried. This was not normal.
    Belldandy?? A voice called through her head. Belldandy didn't recognize the voice, but it sounded mature and strong. There was power and firmness behind that voice. It reminded Belldandy of a queen, only better.
    Belldandy! Answer me! The voice persisted. Belldandy snapped out of her voice analysis and nodded to no one in particular.
    Who's this? She replied. The voice sighed in relief.
    Freya. Belldandy thought for a second and recalled a face. Then she remembered Peorth had told her Uruz was under Freya's tutelage. Maybe she could do something.
    Uruz's gone berserk! Belldandy shrieked, mentally. She watched from the corner of her eyes the confrontation between the two, and worried. Freya could feel it on the other end of the line.
    I know! Freya sounded harried. But there's no time to consider that. You've got to stop Uruz before she does something foolish, that child!
    Well, duh, Belldandy thought. Then she put her hand over he mouth and wondered how she got that thought. Freya continued.
    Do you know how to Shield things? Freya asked.
    Of course.
    Good. Use it now on Uruz's hands, seal the flames!
    Belldandy didn't argue. She held her hands out and focused, quickly. A small, white sphere appeared on each of Uruz's hands. Uruz paused for a moment, looking at her hands. She brought one up and considered the sealing sphere holding her flames captive. She grinned. Keiichi shuddered at the white row of teeth in a seemingly black void.
    I'm going to send you the spell to calm Uruz now, Belldandy. Recite it exactly as I say and pray it works.
    That was a weird thing to say, pray. They were Goddesses after all, people prayed to them. But Belldandy nodded mentally. Freya started the chant in Belldandy's head.
    As those in the corners watched, Belldandy flung her hands out in front of her and started reciting something that Keiichi remembered was similar to the computer coding language. She put her hands over her ears, the whining pitch made by the spell's recital reminded her of a binary code being read out. Megumi didn't dare look up throughout this time, and Skuld and Urd watched in fascination as Belldandy suddenly casted a spell they didn't know she knew.
    Uruz was bathed in a small white glowing matrix, and her face and body emerged from the shadows. As a terrified Mara watched, Uruz's eyes became drowsy despite her resistance, then she closed them. Her facial features appeared to soften from that hard, maniacal killer's into the usual bubbly, albeit tired, Uruz she had met earlier on. She looked in the corner. Good old Belldandy!
    Good old Belldandy? What was Mara thinking? Mara knocked herself in the head once, just in case some of that goody-two shoes propaganda was getting into her head.
    Belldandy broke out in sweat as she kept her hands out in front of her and kept reciting the spell. Slowly, the blue glow faded as Uruz's flames went out. As the rest watched, a small diagram appeared on the floor. Keiichi didn't recognize it, all the diagrams looked alike to her. But she had the weird feeling it was a sort of sealing spell.
    Then a column of energy rose from the diagram and enveloped Uruz, who screamed soundlessly as the column converged on her and crushed her.

*     *     *

    Uruz couldn't remember a thing. Mara was sitting there like a guilty child, telling them about their actions after the hot springs stay. She'd listened as Mara told them of the catalogue she'd ordered something called the T.C.D 666 from.
    Then she told them what it was used for.
    That was when Uruz's world went white and a sound like glass shattering was heard. Uruz could feel her anger bubbling up, but she couldn't feel her body anymore. She tried to calm herself, but watched from her own eyes as she blasted the living room into charcoal as she summoned the blue flames into existence.
    Where'd she get them? She never used flames!
    Especially not to hurt... who was this demoness!? What was she doing to her!?
    But Uruz realized she wasn't controlling her own body anymore. She was just a seperate entity watching her own body move and act from the body's point of view.
    She felt déja vu creeping up on her as she heard, watched, and felt her body corner Mara and speak in a voice that wasn't hers. Uruz wasn't even aware her larynx could produce such a voice.
    But nobody had taken over her body or mind, she was sure of that.
    So what was going on!?
    Uruz realized she couldn't see any more than her body was seeing. But then why did she feel so seperated?
    Then suddenly, the world went white again.

*     *     *

    Seconds later, it was over. The living room was charred and in a horrible mess, but otherwise everything and everyone was alright. Mara stared at the quietly sleeping Uruz on the floor in front of her, looking unusually angelic. Everyone crawled out of the corner and gathered around Mara. They all looked concerned. For her or for Uruz, she didn't know and she didn't care. All she knew was that she wanted out, fast. As Megumi and Skuld surveyed the damage, Belldandy went up to Uruz's side and rolled her on her back, looking her over. She seemed to be communicating with someone.
    Urd came up to Mara, head hung a little lower than Mara would've expected of her.
    "Sorry." Urd said. She meant it. "I didn't know Uruz would just... blow up like that."
    Mara blinked.
    Here was Urd, arrogantly haughty, her good friend (of a sort), powerful, and a Goddess to boot, which meant she was her enemy by job, kneeling in front of her and apologising.
    Oh, this was too good. Perhaps this was what Mara had been waiting for. The chance to see Urd apologise! Mara chuckled a little, then she broke out into full scale laughter. Urd looked up. Had the berserker rage infected Mara too!?
    "Mara?" Urd asked. Mara paused for a while, but one look at Urd and she broke out into another fit of laughter.
    "Ya twit! Didn't you realize you're apologising? To me!?" Mara's eyes were streaming tears. Urd looked at her once, and realized Mara had never recieved this sort of treatment before. Urd grinned.
    "Why, yes, I do recognize the fact that I am apologising to you, Mara." Urd said, formally. Too formally. Mara stopped laughing and looked at her. Something was up.
    "Eh?"
    Urd continued.
    "In fact, I should be apologising for everything I've ever done to you, since I've been making life difficult for you, right?" Urd said, bobbing her head. Their conversation had attracted Keiichi, Megumi and Skuld's attention. They stared, eyes wide. They couldn't believe Urd was doing this!
    "Urd! What are you doing!?" Skuld yelled. Urd ignored her.
    "Yeah." Mara said, suspiciously. "So what?"
    Urd laughed once.
    "Well then, all fine and dandy I guess. This only proves that I am worthy to be a Goddess, since in return, I also forgive all your sins, Mara."
    Mara's veins bulged. So this was Urd's game. She was looking down on Mara for being a demoness!? She snapped a fist up in Urd's face. The three watching Urd relaxed visibly. So Urd was just playing with Mara, what a big relief.
    "You saying that I need your stinking forgiveness, Urd!?"
    Urd pushed the hand away with all the confidence in the world.
    "You started it. I apologised sincerely and you made a big deal out of it. In fact, you even scolded me for apologising. Isn't that strange?"
    Mara's fist dropped. There was cold logic in there. She'd called Urd a twit.
    Great, there went her good rapport with the Goddesses. Mara groaned.
    "Urd! Mara! Stop bickering!" Belldandy called from Uruz's side. She stood up. Everyone's attention was fixed on her.
    "None of us is to blame for what happened to Uruz." She looked at Mara, who was twiddling her fingers guiltily. "Everyone, can we please forget our differences for now? Uruz needs our help now, and I sincerely hope everyone can give it."
    Belldandy looked half angry, half pleading. Everyone looked at her. They knew she only ask them for their favour and behave, because Belldandy wouldn't force anyone to do anything they didn't want to even if it were within her power. That look on her face made everyone, Mara included, feel guilty of a great sin they could never carry.
    They sat down around what was left of the table.Uruz slept in the corner, peacefully.
    "Mara, please." Belldandy pleaded. "Tell us everything."

*     *     *

    Up in the Heavens, Peorth suddenly had this horrible premonition that something bad was going to happen. She immediately summoned a projection tuned in to the Morisato household. She thanked her sixth sense, for as soon as the image cleared up, she saw that Uruz was in a very bad mood. What Peorth didn't comprehend was how Uruz could've suddenly become so... dark. She considered contacting Freya from her chair terminal, but it told her Freya was busy. Peorth gritted her teeth and uttered something under her breath most unladylike. Peorth could only watch as Uruz cornered a demoness - Peorth suddenly got the impression that this Mara, as she was sure they'd met, held some answers - and was about to burn her away - which Peorth suddenly panicked over, since that meant their answers would be gone along with a good God/dess, since she remembered the Doublet System - in a flame of tainted energy.
    Tainted? Peorth slowly realized that Uruz's energy held traces of taint, like as if she had committed some unspeakable sin which marked her for life.
    Young, innocent Uruz? Peorth told herself. Impossible!
    But it was obviously not so on her screen.

*     *     *

    Freya leaned backwards heavily on her throne of stone, exhausted. But she had done it. A valkyrie appeared and wiped her head for her, working silently. Freya blinked a few times at the sky, then let out a long breath. That had been too close.
    Freya. A voice echoed in her head. No mistaking who that was.
    My Lord. She replied. Thank Him that He'd forseen the event and informed her in time.
    Good work. Freya smiled at the sky, knowing full well that He could be looking at her and she wouldn't know it. Her wrinkles creased around her eyes and lips.
    Thank you, my Lord. Freya replied. But I'm worried for Uruz. Was sending her down such a good idea?
    The voice that replied sounded a little hurt at her faith in Him.
    Of course. Do not worry, all will come in time.
    Freya hoped He was right. He was always right so far.

*     *     *

    Uruz woke up in a clean room, covered in blankets. The air was blessedly cool, and Uruz couldn't remember a thing for the life of her. She turned her head to look out the window, the only source of light in this dark, dark room. It was evening. She'd been asleep half the day.
    Hold on, what happened during that half!?
    She suddenly remembered everything, and like always, it hurt.
    Her fault again. She didn't know what happened, but she knew it was her fault again.
    Why did she have this sense of deja vu as well? It was strange.
    But she remembered what happened. She'd lost control of herself somehow, and had nearly killed Mara.
    Great, there went their good relationship.
    Then she remembered a white flash, and she was back to normal. Then she remembered waking up. She blinked at the darkness.
    "Ah, you're awake?" A voice called out from the murk. Uruz sat up in a snap, looking around. A yellow glint. Uruz's eyes widened. They were Mara's.
    "No fear, no fear." Mara's voice called out soothingly. Another pair of eyes joined hers in the darkness, but these were distinctly feline. A meow of a yawn sounded, and Velsper was awake. Uruz looked on. What was going on? Did Mara... no, she didn't want to think about that. Who knows what would happen?
    "I've agreed to a truce for now." Mara went on. "Since I don't have to trouble the world for at least a year, I figured I could spend some time with my old drinking buddy." Uruz could almost swear she saw Mara grinning. Those fangs. Scary.
    "So where am I?" Uruz asked.
    "Guestroom, temple." Mara replied.
    "What happened?" She was hoping someone would know. A rustle of cloth, which signalled a shrug.
    "You ought to know better than any of us." Mara replied.
    "I don't."
    "Tough."
    Uruz felt a sting of frustration hit her through her heart, but it was at herself for having lost control... for whatever had happened. She could barely remember what had happened, but she had the feeling she knew.
    *schrrriiiip*
    The door opened. A pair of brown eyes glinted with the evening sun.
    "Ah, you're awake." It was Belldandy's voice, but Uruz couldn't be sure. She knew Keiichi was under the awry wish's effect, and she remembered that 'he' had Belldandy's voice. Those eyes were unmistakable though, they were his brown.
    "Ah, Belldandy." Mara called. Uruz could see her now, the sliver of light from the open door cut through the room and landed on Mara like a knife. But Uruz caught the name.
    Belldandy?!
    "Dinner's ready. Come on." Belldandy said. Mara got up with a soft groan, a few popping bones, and floated out. Mara had obviously been babysitting her for quite some time. Belldandy stayed there, looking at Uruz. Uruz was staring obtrusively back, not knowing it herself.
    "Is something the matter?" Belldandy sounded remarkably calm and caring for all Uruz had done to mess up the lives of both Keiichi and Belldandy and then everyone else she'd met. She felt absolutely guilty.
    "I.... I didn't know... I did that to you, Belldandy...san." Uruz said, her head dipping low in regret. "I... don't know! I just keep losing control of myself!" Uruz half wailed. She was getting hysterical now, she knew. But everything kept going wrong for her, so what was happening? Why was she to blame?! Uruz was crying, but she didn't know that.
    Belldandy came into the room and shut the door behind her. Her eyes were surprisingly clear and shiny, like crystals, for all their colour. She hugged Uruz gently. Uruz took her shoulder and cried on it. Belldandy quietly accepted it, patting Uruz and stroking her hair.
    "Don't worry about it. I'm sure everything's all right, the Almighty will see to that. He did send you down here because He trusted you, right?"
    Uruz nodded. She felt like a small child again, for all that she was 14. Belldandy smiled, and Uruz could feel it, somehow.
    "Then you must have a reason for being here, for better or for worse. And no, I don't think a Goddess being here is for the worse." Belldandy's soothing voice made Uruz sleepy again. But she quietened Uruz's unspoken question about what if it was worse. Uruz felt more and more drowsy by the second.
    "I'm sleepy." Uruz said, softly. She didn't care if she sounded like a toddler now, she just wanted someone with her. "Can I just stay here for a while?"
    "Of course." Belldandy whispered like a mother. She was rocking and patting Uruz like a little girl too. Uruz liked it. She couldn't remember a time she had had this care and attention.
    "Can you stay here with me?" Uruz asked. It was too much to ask, but she was scared. She didn't know what of, she just wanted someone to hug her.
    "Yes, of course I can, dear." Belldandy whispered. Uruz hugged her tighter and closed her eyes, letting her quiet tears flow. Belldandy remained quiet.

{End of Chapter 16}
{Chapter 17 : Quietness}