Donner
version 0.7 beta
September 1, 1996
A Fan-Fiction Featuring Skuld
Disclaimer
I would like to publicly thank omega@freenet.toronto.on.ca
for thy work. First as a proof reader, then a full fledge editor,
and finaly as a net-friend. Without thy help this story would
have never seen the light of the net.
A fan fiction based on Kosuke Fujishima's ongoing manga
series "Ah! My Goddess" (Also know as "Oh My Goddess!").
Keiichi Morisato, Belldandy, Urd, Skuld, and Megumi Morisato are
copyright 1991, 1996 Kosuke Fujishima, and used without
permission. Kenji copyright 1995, 1996 Ed Sharpe.
Dramas Personal
Keiichi Morisato: A collage student at Nekomi Institute of
Technology (NIT), majoring in engineering.
He lives in a temple with Belldandy and her
two sisters.
Belldandy: Goddess of the present, staying at Keiichi's
side because of his wish and her own free will.
Urd: Belldandy's older sister, goddess of the
past, with tan skin and a nice figure.
Skuld: Goddess of the future, the youngest of the
three goddesses.
Kenji: Keiichi's cousin on his mother's side.
Donner: A god. A childhood friend of Skuld.
Donner
* * * * * * * * * *
"Da daa dada daaa daa," Skuld hummed "The Ride of The
Valkyries" happily as she scooped ice cream into her dish.
Exiting the temple with dish in hand, Skuld was confronted with
a scene that destroyed her good mood. There on the porch, where
everyone could see, Keiichi was pestering older sister. Keiichi
was all over older sister, pawing her goddess's body with his
thelyphthoric hands. Just the thought of where his hands might
have been on her older sister almost made Skuld physically sick
as she thrust another spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.
Really, thought Skuld as she sat down between the two of them,
just because his wish has bonded you to be with him forever, that
does not give him the right to paw you like that!
Looking across Skuld at Keiichi, with sorrow in her eyes,
Belldandy spoke, "I am sorry, Keiichi-san."
Not bothering to hide the sarcasm in his voice Keiichi
glared at Skuld. "It's all right, she's just a little kid.
"I am not!" Skuld snapped back, whacking Keiichi with her
spoon. How dare he, a mortal, call me, a goddess, a little kid.
Really older sister, you apologize way too much. You should
never apologize to this person. He should apologize to you for
forcing you to become a martyr!
At that the three of them sat in silence as Skuld slowly ate
her ice-cream.
"Ring ----, ring ----," the telephone in the temple shouted.
It was followed uncharacteristically by Urd yelling from
somewhere inside the temple, "I'll get it."
"Oh, Skuld-chan, it's your little play-mate Kenji-chan."
Urd shouted in a teasing voice from the temple.
Squealing in delight, Skuld jumped up and ran into the
temple, leaving her ice cream behind rattling in sudden neglect,
and Belldandy to fend off Keiichi's perverted advances on her
own.
Kenji, now he was a mortal worthy of a goddess's heart.
Kenji needed no stinking wish to get a girlfriend. A young man
who could win any girl's heart, who was too good for any mere
mortal girl's heart, had won the heart of this goddess (second
class, limited). Why can't Belldandy find a mortal worthy of
her, instead of that jerk? Well, since she won't share him with
me, I am not going to share Kenji with her.
"Kenji," Skuld squealed into the phone.
* * * * * * * * *
Urd sat high in the cherry tree sipping sake, where Keiichi
and Belldandy could not see her spying on them. No, not spying,
standing vigil over the two, praying that Keiichi would finally
put the "moves" on her little sister, when Skuld came out of the
temple, ruining Urd's good mood with her interferace.
Urd had had it with her little sister. Why did she always
insist on interfering with Bell and Keiichi. They had been doing
nothing. A real "G" rated scene, in fact, if there was rating
milder than "G" they would gotten it! They weren't even kissing,
let alone sticking their tongues down each other's throats and
otherwise exchanging bodily fluids. Well, it is about time to
teach you a little lesson, thought Urd as she divided herself
into several Mini-Urds. All men are dogs (except Keiichi) Skuld,
and the sooner you learn that, the better off you will be.
* * * * * * * * *
'Everything is set,' thought Leader-Sensei Mini-Urd from her
hiding place near the phone. With a sense of irony, Leader-Sensei
Mini-Urd set her lesson plan into motion. "Switch-on!"
she shouted quietly, as she depressed a big red button.
"Ring ----, ring ----," the telephone in the temple shouted.
Picking up her mini-microphone Leader-Sensei Mini-Urd shouted,
"I'll get it!"
Leader-Sensei Mini-Urd slowly counted to ten, then spoke in
her best teasing voice into to her mini-microphone again, "Oh,
Skuld-chan, it's your little play-mate Kenji-chan."
Look-Out Mini-Urd watched her little sister receive the news
of who was on the phone. 'What a hypocrite,' Look-Out Mini-Urd
thought as she saw Skuld squealing in delight run into the
temple. 'It is alright for you to have a mortal boyfriend, but
not Bell!'
"Urd?" Skuld called out, but her sister had left, leaving
the phone unattended. "Kenji," Skuld bleated excitedly into the
phone.
"Hello Skuld-chan," Voice-of-Kenji Mini-Urd spoke into her
mini-microphone, doing her best to imitate Kenji.
Voice-of-Kenji Mini-Urd continued, "You are probably
wondering why I called. Well, my friend Omega-kun asked me
whether I talked to you while making love. And I had to say no.
He said that I really should talk to you while making love, that
girls really like it when the man that they love talks to them
during intercourse."
"Um...," Skuld interrupted Voice-of-Kenji Mini-Urd, "why are
you calling me with this?"
"Well so I can talk to you while having sex," answered
Voice-of-Kenji Mini-Urd.
"What!" Screamed Skuld into the phone. "How can we be
making love when we are 99.314 kilometers away from each other?"
"Oh! Am I suppose to be screwing YOU when I talk to you?"
Asked Voice-of-Kenji Mini-Urd in to her mini-microphone.
"Who are you talking to on the phone?" Moaned Faking-Having-Sex-
With-Kenji Mini-Urd into the mini-microphone.
"Your little sister Skuld," replied Voice-of-Kenji Mini-Urd.
"Aaah, more, more K2," moaned Faking-Having-Sex-With-Kenji
Mini-Urd. "I'm not sharing this with you, little sister!"
Skuld was speechless. She could not believe her own ears.
Kenji-- her Kenji-- was doing . . . doing . . . It was too
horrible to think about. As her fragile, young mind sank deeper
into the abyss of her goddess begin, the world became a dark
lonely place for Skuld. All she could hear was the breaking of
her heart. It sounded like laughing.
'Laughing?' Thought Skuld. Why do I hear laughing?'
Sensei Mini-Urd had lost control. Skuld's reaction to the
phone call had become too much for the Mini-Urd. As her laughter
permeated the temple it infected the other Mini-Urds. Soon all
four of them lay on the floor rolling in laughter.
Slowly it began to dawn on Skuld that it was not the real
Kenji that she had been talking to. Depressing the hook to get a
dial tone, Skuld dialed Kenji's number.
An older woman answered the phone.
"Hello, is Kenji-kun there?" asked Skuld.
"Yes, just a moment," The lady replied.
"Hello?" Kenji queried into the phone.
"Hello, Kenji."
"Oh, hello Skuld. What's up?"
"Did you just call me?" blustered a worried Skuld.
An apprehensive Kenji replied, "No. Was I suppose to?"
"No," a relieved Skuld answered. "You haven't seen my
sister Urd today have you?"
A now confused Kenji replied, "No. Is everything OK?"
"Yes, Kenji, Yes!" a very relieved Skuld answered. "Don't
worry about it, I will call you later, bye!"
"Bye!" A very perplexed Kenji hung up the phone.
"Urd! You will Pay!" Skuld vowed, putting down the phone
as the Mini-Urds continued to laugh at her.
* * * * * * * * *
Skuld was pissed. Really pissed. Older sister Urd had
finally crossed the line. Skuld understood and accepted that Urd
had a mischievous streak, it was what made Urd, Urd. When Urd
had gone over to the other side for a while, Skuld had forgiven
her. Skuld had come to accept Urd trying to get Keiichi and
older sister to do the "nasty," and had forgiven her for it.
Even forgave her for giving Kenji such problems last month. But
this outrage Skuld would never forgive. This cut through the
ties of blood. As of today Urd was no longer her sister. It was
sacrilege to toy, the way she did, with a young virgin's heart.
No punishment, no torture, no pain would be too great to right
this wrong against the hearts of all young girls.
"Urd! You will Pay!" Skuld vowed again, shaking her fists
at the heavens. "Banpei-kun, fetch my armor," Skuld commanded her
faithful robot.
As Banpei-kun left, Skuld slowly began to undress in a cool,
slow, measured manner. Her precise movements frightening in
their deliberate perfection. By the time Skuld had finished
undressing, Banpei-kun had returned with her armor. As Banpei-kun
handed Skuld each piece, she began to dress.
First was a short skirt of parboiled leather reinforced with
metal studs. Next, a lightly padded blouse, over which Skuld
donned a light form fitting breast plate of black enameled metal.
Next Skuld pulled on a pair of low-top boots, each with a large
brass button on the toe. Next on were her greaves, made of a
golden metal, they covered her kneecaps and her lower leg down to
her boots. Vambraces of the same metal as the greaves covered
Skuld's lower arm. As Skuld pulled red leather gloves over her
hands, Banpei-kun handed her a small helmet of the same material
as the breast plate, topped with horse hair dyed red.
Setting the helmet on her head, Skuld gave Banpei-kun one
last command, "Bring it!"
Banpei-kun hesitated at the command.
"Bring it now!" Skuld shouted as the light the men call
reason slowly faded from her eyes.
* * * * * * * * *
Banpei-kun entered carrying a dusty wooden box. As the
robot placed the box on the table, Skuld moved to it and wiped
the dust off of it. The small brass plate on the top was etched:
"Mjolnir, Beta." Opening the box Skuld removed a wide belt of
dark red leather which she fastened around her midriff. She then
lifted a hammer out of the box. Where Skuld's usual hammer, the
Mjolnir Mk II, was slender this hammer was massive, and where
hers was bright this one was dark.
Lifting the hammer above her head, the lights in the room
dimmed, free lighting began to play around Skuld and her new
hammer, and as thunder sounded the distance, Skuld again vowed,
"You will pay Urd!"
* * * * * * * * *
Slipping a tape into her walkman, Skuld pressed the play
button. With Wagner's "---" blaring in her ears, Skuld slipped
out of the temple, her rational analytic mind clouded with the
red haze of a berserker. Skuld had one thought and one thought
only, the death of her older sister Urd. Not the slow painful
death that most people bent on revenge wished. But a quick
spectacularly messy death with blood and brains sprayed
everywhere to sate Skuld's berserker soul. Skuld would not be
satisfied until she had sucked the marrow out of Urd's bones,
draining every last drop of blood out of Urd's body. Spying Urd
across the courtyard Skuld let out a soul rending scream.
"Aiyeeeeee."
Skuld's scream interrupted Urd's sake drinking. Looking up
Urd saw a battle crazed Skuld running at her while swinging her
(Skuld's) hammer above her head. Staggering to her feet, Urd
uttered the first thing that came to her.
"Skuld, have you been watching Xena again?"
Rushing Urd, Skuld took a mighty overhead swing with her
hammer at Urd's head, intent on splattering Urd's brains all over
the courtyard. At the last possible nano-second Urd's self
preservation instinct kicked in, allowing Urd to evade her little
sister's blow. But, not quick enough to avoid having the hammer
smash down on her right big toe.
"Shit!" Screamed Urd, "That is going to hurt you little
brat." 'That is when the sake wares off' Urd added under her
breath. Looking up from examining her toe, Urd sees Skuld take
another wild swing, this time from the left side, like the great
Sadaharu Oh going for number 869. Hopping on her good foot, Urd
jumped back, just out of the way of Mjolnir as Skuld continued to
wildly swing her vengeance weapon.
Grabbing her blouse by the collar, Urd pulled down, exposing
her fully developed breasts. "See these Skuld? Its called
cleavage! If you had some Kenji might want to be seen with you
in public!" Teased Urd.
With Skuld intent on murdering Urd a quickly as possible,
and Urd equally intent on living to a ripe age, neither sister
noticed the gathering thunder clouds that un-naturally began to
form over the temple courtyard.
"Damn it you little punk!" Cursed Urd as her little sister
wildly continued to try to connect Urd's head with Mjolnir.
"Give it a rest Skuld! You are going to really hurt someone if
you keep this up."
But Urd's curses fell upon deaf ears, as all Skuld could
hear was the rushing of her own blood.
Jumping away from another wild overhead swing, Urd stuck her
tongue out.
Skuld paused, gulping in air, her body working as fast as
possible to replace the oxygen she had burned in her frenzy
pursuit of Urd.
"Have you got it out of your system yet?" Asked Urd from
just out of Skuld's and Mjolnir's reach. "It was just a joke.
You know that I have no designs on Kenji and I don't think he
even likes big tits!"
But Skuld heard nothing of her sister's plea. Her body's
need for oxygen had not restored her intellect. All she knew was
pain, and the source of that pain was in front of her, destroy it
and the pain go away. Lifting Mjolnir above her head, Skuld
leapt at Urd.
But as Skuld leapt nature intervened.
"Ka-boom," the lighting bolt thundered, striking Skuld in
mid-leapt, throwing Urd across the courtyard and dropping her on
her ass.
'Woooo,' thought Urd. 'That was way too close.' Standing,
Urd rubbed her cute behind. 'That is going to leave one hell of
a bruise. Maybe I'll show it to Keiichi.'
Looking the across the courtyard, Urd saw the cause of the
lighting, So it was just Donner arriving from Asgard. 'I wish he
could arrive by stepping out of a T.V. or something. Lighting
bolts are so damn loud.' As she moved toward Donner Urd saw what
had become of Skuld. She lay in a small crater surrounded by
scorch marks, dressed in the smoking remains of her armor. Next
to her knelt Donner.
"Ice-creama, ice-creama," was all Skuld could say.
Endlessly repeating the word as her eyes spun crazily.
"I'm sorry, Skuld-chan; I'm sorry, Skuld-chan," the boy kept
repeating.
The absurdity of the situation was too much for Urd.
Breaking out into hysterical laughter Urd fell to the ground,
bruising her other cheek.
With Urd in hysterics, Skuld dreaming about ice-cream, and
Donner apologizing for it all, Keiichi and Belldandy entered the
courtyard un-noticed.
"Oh my!" exclaimed Belldandy at the sight that confronted
them.
'What now,' thought Keiichi, resigned to the bizarre in his
life.
Keiichi moved toward Skuld and the boy that knelt beside
her, intent on finding out just what the hell was going on. As
he approached, the young boy interposed himself between Keiichi
and Skuld.
"Who are you, mortal?" demanded the boy, "Dare you not to
come closer."
At his words Keiichi halted his forward progress to take a
good look at this boy. He was short only a hand's breath taller
than Skuld, and of the same age. His bright red hair was tied in
a small braid. He, like the three goddesses, had small marking
on his forehead and each cheek. Where Skuld's were shaped like
rounded plectrums, his were shaped like small lighting bolts. In
his hand he held a hammer, twin to the one in Skuld's hands.
Coming up behind Keiichi, Belldandy wrapped her arms around
Keiichi's waist and, resting her chin on his right shoulder, she
answered the boy's question. "He is Morisato Keiichi-san."
His eyes wide, "'The' Morisato Keiichi?" the boy asked.
Simply, "Yes," Belldandy replied as she gave Keiichi a
squeeze.
Bowing, the boy introduced himself, "I am Donner, Son of
Thunder. I apologize for my earlier rudeness. May I stay with
you while I am here on Midgard?"
"Why?" asked a puzzled Keiichi.
"Why? Why I am here to visit Skuld-chan. She is my best
friend after all," Donner stated in a matter of fact tone.
Bending down Donner gathered Skuld's stunned body into his
arms, lifting Skuld with an ease that shouted of an inhuman
strength not apparent from his size. "Belldandy," began Donner,
"if you would be so kind as to show me to Skuld's room, I will
tend to her until she recovers."
"This way Donner, I am sure Skuld will be honored to have
you attend her," responded Belldandy to his request, moving
toward the temple.
Forgotten, Urd continued to laugh in the courtyard, unable
to contain herself, Urd soon divided into six mini-urds, each
laughing harder than the other.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Donner gently lay Skuld down on the futon Belldandy and
Keiichi had prepared. "Thank you Belldandy, Morisato."
"I'll make you and Skuld some tea." Offered Belldandy.
"Tea! That is a sissies' drink, have you not wine in this
place?" Queried Donner.
"Wine?" Exclaimed Keiichi, "aren't you a little young for
wine?"
"I'm a god!" Thundered Donner, "I was there when Beowulf
threw down Grendel, I watched as Harold lost his eye, his life,
and his crown to the bastard duke that September day. I have
feasted with my father in the great hall, and dare you to tell me
I am too young, mortal!"
"I'm sorry Donner." interrupted Belldandy, "But here on
Midgard you will have to have tea!"
"I understand Belldandy." Donner weakly responded. "While
on Midgard I will follow customs." "Tho' its more like Niflheim
than Midgard." He added under his breath.
Closing the door to Skuld's room Belldandy smiled weakly at
Keiichi.
"Um, Belldandy," began Keiichi.
"Yes? Keiichi-san."
"Is it alright to leave him alone with Skuld in her
bedroom?"
"It will be all right. They are old childhood friends.
Skuld thinks of Donner like a brother."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Back in Skuld's room Donner began to soliloquize, "Skuld why
do you sojourn here on Midgard? It is no longer the Midgard of
old when men where men, brave and free, living by their own
strength. When women were beautiful and loyal, trusting the
strength of their man. The air was clean and sharp and with
every breath you knew you where alive. Now the skies are choked
with smoke and poisons. Men are weak cowardly liars, afraid of
women, no girls! What a backward place Midgard has become, where
the women are strong and the men pretty. This is not Midgard, it
is Niflheim! What is it about mortals that so fascinate you and
your sisters?
* * * * * * * * * *
In the beginning there was the void. And in the void a
voice began to speak, "ice-creama, ice-creama."
Slowly Skuld's conscience became first aware of the mantra,
then the fact that she was Skuld. Painfully Skuld put her brain
back on-line.
"Ice-creama, ice-creama."
Skuld wished that who ever it was that kept repeating 'ice-creama'
would shut the heck up, only to realize that it was she
who was chanting. Where was she? What had happen? Skuld could
not answer these basic questions. Another voice began to filter
into her brain from out of the void.
"Skuld-chan, are you alright?"
'O yes,' Skuld recalled, Kenji. It all started with a phone
call from Kenji. Only it was not really a phone call from Kenji.
It was a nightmare. 'Oh Kenji, you are here, I had the most
horrible dream.' As light began to chase the blackness from her
vision, and she could just see his outline. Skuld pulled Kenji to
her, kissing him.
But something was wrong! Opening her eyes fully, Skuld
realized that it was Donner she was kissing. Pulling away from
him Skuld stared at Donner in horror. 'At least I didn't use any
tongue.' Skuld thanked kami-sama as she covered her mouth with
her hands.
"Thank you for the welcome, Skuld-chan, I didn't know you
missed me so much." Donner responded, pleasantly surprised at
Skuld's kiss.
"Ahh, umm," was all Skuld managed to get out.
"Did I really taste that bad?" Donner joked, trying to break
the embarrassment of the movement.
"No it is not that," replied Skuld. "It's just that I
thought. . . I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize, Skuld-chan, I quite enjoyed it."
'I am sorry Kenji, I was unfaithful, please forgive me.'
Prayed Skuld.
"But if did not know it was me, who did you think you where
kissing?" Asked Donner
"Excuse me," Belldandy interrupted the two, "oh, Skuld you
are awake. Are you okay?"
"Thank you older sister I feel fine!" Skuld answered,
grateful for the rescue.
"I have made some cake, and the tea is ready, if you would
like to join me and Keiichi-san," Belldandy offered, leaving the
two of them to follow at their own pace.
"So Donner, what brings you to Midgard?" Skuld hesitantly
asked, still embarrassed.
"Well to see you of course. It has been a long time Skuld.
I missed my partner in crime."
"You missed me? How could you be lonely in Asgard? What
with all of your brothers and classmates." A surprised Skuld
answered, 'I didn't think anyone in Asgard would miss me.'
"Don't get me wrong Skuld. I'm not lonely, and there always
seems to be something to do. But Asgard in not the same without
you and your sisters. Do you remember the time we ..."
[Need to put some sort of prank here. Stealing of Gungnir?
Mjolnir?]
"I'm so embarrassed that you remember that. We would have
been in real trouble if Urd had not decided to ride Sleipner
through Valhalla's formal dinning-room that night!" Recollected
Skuld.
"I don't think I have ever seen her so drunk, I wonder what
she was drinking?" Mused the red headed boy.
"I think it was something called Tequila'," Skuld offered.
"She said it was made from the fermented blood of Jormungandr,
but you know how she likes to tell tales."
"O-Boy do I. Do you remember the time she told everyone she
kept Odin's eye in a pickle jar?"
"Actually that is true!" Stated Skuld. "I think she has it
hidden around here somewhere."
"No shit!" Thundered Donner. "No wonder she tried to rip
Lodge's tongue out of his head."
"I've seldom seen her so mad. Of course you cooled the
situation off by deluding us all in that sudden thunder storm."
Recalled Skuld.
"That was great, but I couldn't have done it you hadn't
given me access to the Yggdrasil computer system." Added Donner.
Skuld remembered by rubbing her tush. "I couldn't sit down
for two weeks after that. But it was worth it to see the look on
Urd's face when she got hit with that torrent of water!"
Amazed that Urd actually did have Odin's eye, Donner asked,
"How the hell did Urd get Odin's eye in the first place?"
"I don't know, but it was about the same time she started to
drink. And drink is all that Urd seems to do now days," sighed
Skuld, a little bit of worry for her sister creeping into her
voice.
"Skuld seeing you again is so much better than I imagined it
to be. Skuld..."
Interrupting Donner, Skuld made a request. "We better go.
The tea is getting cold, and if we are too late Keiichi will eat
all of the cake. I'm sure older sister would like to visit with
you too."
"As you wish."
Rising from her futon Skuld guided Donner to the tea room.
Belldandy was feeding Keiichi some cake when Skuld entered.
"Really older sister! Must you do that?" Snapped Skuld.
"Now Skuld, we have been over this before, and we have a
guest," Belldandy replied. Turning her attention to Donner she
continued. "Have a seat Donner. I hope you will find this
Darjeeling tea refreshing after your trip from Asgard."
"Thank you, Belldandy," replied a Donner confused over
Skuld's reaction to her sister's behavior. 'Is it not the duty
of the woman to serve her lover?' Thought Donner as he sat down
opposite of Keiichi.
"Skuld wouldn't you prefer to sit next to your friend?"
Keiichi suggested as Skuld tried to insert herself between
himself and Belldandy.
As all eyes turned to her, Skuld sheepishly sat down next to
Donner, leaving older sister next to that pervert Keiichi.
Ever the perfect hostess, Belldandy began the conversation.
"So Donner are you here on business or just pleasure?"
"I am here to see Skuld. Pleasure all the way." Donner
replied in an almost rakish tone.
With Belldandy's attention focused on Donner, Skuld toke the
opportunity to silently stick her tongue out at Keiichi.
"Skuld?" Began Belldandy.
"Yes? Older sister?" A startled Skuld responded.
"After tea," Belldandy continued, "you better get out of
those soiled clothes and take a bath."
A meek Skuld agreed. "Yes, older sister."
"Donner do you remember taking baths with Skuld when you
where little?" Asked Belldandy.
"Older sister!" Wailed Skuld, her face red in
embarrassment.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about Skuld, we were both
little kids at the time. In fact we even snuck out once and went
skinny dipping when we where in kindergarten," Donner added.
"O my!" Exclaimed Belldandy. "Skuld, did you really?"
A very embarrassed Skuld chose to look at her hands in her
lap rather than answering.
"This is really delicious cake Belldandy," Donner stated,
tying to change the subject.
"Why thank you Donner. It is a new recipe I got from my
friend Betty Crocker. It is really nice of you to visit. Skuld
has been a little blue since Kenji left."
'Was it Kenji Skuld thought she was kissing?' Thought Donner
before inquiring, with a hint of jealousy in his voice, "Kenji?
Who is Kenji?"
"Just Keiichi's cousin," interjected Skuld, chagrined that
the conversation seem move from one embarrassing topic to
another. "I just helped him with his computer programming
homework while he was here, that's all. So, Donner what are you
doing now days?"
"Well I am working in TAK, (The Acts of Kami-sama
department) as a backup thunder and lighting technician."
"O' I thought so," responded Belldandy, "I can always tell
when its one of your thunderclaps, they have such a unique sound.
There seems like there is something almost reckless about the
sound."
"Thank you, I try very hard to make each one a work of art."
To Skuld's relief the rest of tea passed without anymore
embarrassing movements.
* * * * * * * * *
"Belldandy that was delicious!" Donner stated the obvious
to all who where present. He had just finished his third serving
of chirinabe. Keiichi too was just finishing, but he (Keiichi)
had spent most of dinner looking at his dinner instead of eating
it. The three girls had finished about the same time that Donner
had finished his second helping.
'So far, so good,' thought Skuld. To her relief supper had
so far passed without any of the embarrassing revelations that
had marked tea.
"So Skuld," Belldandy asked, "what are you and Donner going
to do tonight?"
"Aaa, uuum, I don't know. I haven't thought about it."
Skuld stammered. "What would you like to do Donner?"
"I don't know. What does one do for fun here on Midgard?"
"Maybe we all could go to the video-arcade," Offered Skuld,
looking at Belldandy for help.
"Sounds good to me!" Interjected Urd. "Let's go then!"
Grabbing Skuld and Donner, Urd dragged the two teenagers out of
the room.
"Older sister!" Skuld pleaded looking to Belldandy to save
her from Urd.
Belldandy waved good-bye to the trio. "Have a good time
Skuld. I'll bake some cookies for later. Bye, bye!"
"Hey, we can go to the pachinko parlor too!" Urd added from
down the hallway.
Belldandy turned her attention to Keiichi-san. All through
dinner he had been quiet, lost in thought. Belldandy was worried
that she had done something to upset him. But then Keiichi-san
looked up from examining his tea, a warmth spread through out her
body, "Keiichi-san?"
"Yes, Belldandy?"
"It looks like it will be just the two of us tonight..."
"What about the cookies?" Keiichi asked, knowing that he
would have to explain to Skuld why Belldandy was unable to make
them.
"I have already made them."
"..."
* * * * * * * * *
Monday
After spending the day alone with Skuld at the temple
talking and remembering old times, Donner finished Monday night's
dinner by putting his foot in his mouth. "That was delicious
Belldandy. Keiichi is a very lucky man to have you as his
lover."
"She is not his lover!" Skuld screamed, "right? Older
sister?"
Belldandy blushed, as Keiichi stammered, "A-a-a-a-a-a."
"That's right," offered Urd. "Not that the two of them
haven't thought about it! Keiichi is just so damn shy."
"Urd!" Shouted Skuld, "stop encouraging them!"
"Skuld you are such a hypocrite!" Countered Urd. "What did
you and Donner do all day with no one here to chaperon? Nudge,
nudge, wink, wink." Adding under her breath, 'I have seen how
you look at Kenji. And now you have Donner here too. I see
you're playing the field, and keeping your options open little
sister.'
Embarrassed, Skuld continued to scream at Urd, "Donner is
just a friend! How come you have to turn everything into sex?"
"Because everything comes down to sex!"
"Die Urd!" Skuld screamed, reaching into her blouse for a
Bomb.
"OK, OK," Urd conceded, "you have turned as red as the trim
on your shoes little sister"
'What did I say?' Thought Donner as Skuld stormed out of
the dinning room. 'Does she really only think of me as a
friend?'
[Finish with Donner going to Skuld's room and talking?]
* * * * * * * * *
Tuesday
[Bell & K1 skip school to be with Skuld and Donner.]
* * * * * * * * *
Wednesday
Urd in mini-Urd form quietly made her way to Skuld's room.
Skuld and Donner where going over a set of blue-prints they had
been working on all day.
"You see Skuld," Donner was explaining, "if you increase the
bus speed to 132 GHz, along with increasing the width of the bus
to 64 mega-bits you will increase the through-put from the
Flux-capacitor to the Over-thruster by a factor of ten.
"Ah so," Skuld answered, "I see, but we will have a lot of
wasted band-width 80 percent of the time."
Donner nodded his head in agreement. "I know, but the other
20 percent is the critical part, at that time we will be maxing
out the bus!"
"Yes you are right, that critical 20 percent will max out
our ability to move instructions down the pipe. But that is the
important distinction. It is instructions, not data that we have
to push down that pipe."
"Brilliant Skuld!" Donner exclaimed, excitement burning in
his eyes.
Skuld explained. "If we can optimize the causality
fluctuation algorithm by just five percent, the new bus design
will be able to feed the flux-capacitor instructions fast enough
to achieve stability in the chameleon circuit."
"You're a genius Skuld!" Donner declared, giving Skuld a
hug around the shoulders.
"No you are the genius! Your redesign of the influx booster
circuits was a work of art," giggled Skuld in rapture over their
design.
"Well get the source code out and let's get to optimizing
it."
As Skuld pulled out a ream of paper on which Urd assumed the
program was written, Urd cursed. Kami-sama! How can two
teenagers be so boring! The thingy majiggy goes into the
what-you-may-call-it that interfaces with the doohickey! AAAAAH!
It makes my head hurt! Then a wicked smiled crossed Urd's mind.
I could teach both of you a thing or two about putting a
doohickey into a what-you-may-call-it. What they need is a
little C15H15N2CON(C2H5)2 in their milk, Urd decided. You almost
think that they loved their computer more than...
Urd paused and thoughtfully watched the two teenagers
inanely chatter on about their invention. Who do you love little
sister? Aaa Donner, my naive sister has no idea how you feel
about her. What will you do if she does not choose you? Dear
kami-sama Skuld! You have no idea how much it is going to hurt
when you break one of theirs heart. It hurts just thinking about
it! Sighing, mini-Urd wandered away from her sibling's room in
search of yet another bottle of sake and forgetfulness.
* * * * * * * * *
Thursday
[Bell, K1, & Urd gang up on Skuld and Donner, teasing the
two on their matching clothes.]
* * * * * * * * *
[Need to set scene.]
After dinner, Donner flashed Skuld the "high-sign" to meet
him in the courtyard.
"Skuld I am tired of everyone tagging along, what say you to
sneaking out to see a movie?" Asked Donner.
"I don't know, I am not really suppose to go off with out
letting someone know where I am," stammered Skuld.
"By Woden's Spear!" Donner cursed. "Are you not a goddess?
Why do you let them, especially that mortal, treat you like a
little kid?"
"Let's go! What are you think of seeing?"
"I though you would like to see 'Mission Impossible',"
answered Donner.
"But its only playing in America!" Exclaimed Skuld.
Taking Skuld by her hand, Donner lead Skuld across the
courtyard toward a telephone-pole. "What good is it being a god
if you can not see a movie when you want to?"
Skuld's vision blurred in a flash of white and her head
began to swim. When her vision returned, Skuld found herself
standing next to Donner on a small sphere whizzing through space.
Looking around Skuld took in the strange world she was in.
Although lighted, there was no discernable source for the light.
The sphere she and Donner were on was flying through the air like
a mini-comet. There were many other spheres visible whirling
around them, some circling other spheres, forming mini-solar
systems. "Where are we?" Skuld asked.
Nonchalantly Donner replied, "We are riding an electron
inside of a wire that makes up the global communication network.
We should be in America in a minute or two our relative time."
"Wow! It's so fantastic, like a ride at Disneyland," Skuld
exclaimed.
* * * * * * * * *
"Ring..., ring....," the phone shouted, interrupting Urd's
T.V. watching. Some how Skuld and Donner had managed to slip out
of the temple without her. Urd was bummed, another Friday night
watching reruns. She could not even remember the last time she
had a date.
"Ring..., ring...," the phone demanded attention.
Urd shouted down the hallway. "Belldandy are you going to
get that?"
As in response to her question, Urd was greeted with the
sound of Belldandy's voice drifting from the far side of the
temple. "Keiichi-san that tickles!"
"O brother!" Urd swore as she got up to answer the phone.
"If he knew what he was doing it wouldn't tickle little sister."
Picking up the phone, Urd gave the phone the tribute it
demanded. "Hello!"
Pausing, Urd listened to the phone. "No, I'm sorry she is
out somewhere with Donner." She responded to its query.
"Sure, I'll let her know you called." Urd assured the phone
after another pause. "You know I'm free tonight." She added.
"How noble of you."
* * * * * * * * *
Arriving back at the temple in the wee hours of the morning,
in the same matter that they had left, Skuld and Donner
materialized in the courtyard in a flash of lighting.
As her vision cleared, Skuld began, "Donner, thank you for
the movie. I had a really good time. I had forgotten how much
fun we used to have in Asgard. Well it is late, good night."
"Just a second Skuld," Donner spoke, stopping Skuld from
entering the temple. Taking Skuld's face in his hands Donner
gently kissed Skuld on the lips. Breaking the kiss, Donner
lingered for a movement, before moving back.
"What was that for?" Stammered Skuld.
"What was that for? Do you not understand Skuld. Can you
not see that with all of my heart, with all of my mind, with all
of my soul, yes, even with all of my body I do love thee, Skuld.
I have always loved you Skuld. If you ever had any affection
toward me. Even if that affection is not yet love, grant me
this one boon; come back with me to Asgard," pleaded Donner.
Blind-sided by Donner's confession, Skuld stood there
looking at her childhood friend. "I do not know what to say,"
Skuld finally managed to get out.
"Only say that you will return to Asgard with me," replied
Donner.
"I have to think, this is all so sudden. I..., I... ."
Pivoting, Skuld sprinted into the temple. Her head and her heart
raging in a clashing symphony of words, thoughts and emotions,
her eyes turning into water.
"Ah, my Skuld," Donner soliloquize. "You are so cute when
you are flustered. When first I came to Midgard I had a rougher
task in mind, but now I would dare all. Waste not your time on
this unworthy Midgard, Skuld. I have had my fill of mortals, I
long for our home, and thirst for mead and thee"
* * * * * * * * *
Belldandy was up early, even for her, working on breakfast
for her family. Skuld and Donner had been gone all night.
Worried, Belldandy was not singing some little ditty to the food
as was her habit.
"Ano. . . ," Skuld interrupted her sister, as she entered
the kitchen.
"Skuld! Where have you been? Do you know how worried I
have been about you?" Belldandy asked as she turned to look at
her sister. "Skuld! Are you OK? You have been crying, haven't
you?"
"Please don't chastise me," pleaded Skuld. "Donner has
asked me to return to Asgard with him, and I do not know what to
do older-sister."
"For a visit?" Belldandy asked, sure that it was more than
just a visit that had Skuld upset.
Looking at her shoes, Skuld simply spook her head 'no'.
"Kenji?" Belldandy stated more than asked.
"Older sister do you miss Asgard?"
"Yes, Skuld, I do so miss Asgard, and my friends. But...,"
Belldandy answered.
"But?"
"I have something here on Midgard more precious than all the
gold in the Rhine. Keiichi-san is all I could ever want, all I
want, all I ever wanted, all I will ever want. Listen to your
heart little sister," Belldandy advised.
'But,' thought Skuld as she studied her shoes, 'I can't hear
my heart over the din that my head is making!'
"Skuld?" Belldandy continued.
"Yes, older sister?"
"When I can not think clearly, I do something relaxing,
something I like to do, to rest my mind. Like knitting, or
cooking, but maybe you would prefer to work on banpei-kun."
Suggested Belldandy.
Throwing her arms around Belldandy, Skuld gave her older
sister a hung. Disengaging herself, Skuld left Belldandy to
finish breakfast.
"Skuld." Belldandy's voice stopped her sister in the
doorway of the kitchen.
"Yes?"
"I do love thee, no mater what you do," Belldandy added as
she turned back to her task of preparing breakfast.
Silently Skuld left.
* * * * * * * * * *
Returning to her room, Skuld tried to work on improving a
servo in Banpei-kun's legs. But her heart would not let her mind
concentrate on the task. Sighing in frustration, Skuld turned on
her computer. 'Maybe some net surfing will relax me,' thought
Skuld. Connecting to Yggdrasil, Skuld found an E-mail message
from Kenji awaiting her. Hesitatingly Skuld opened Kenji's
message and began to read:
Return-Path: aeka@usagi.jrd.dec-j.co.jp
To: skuld@yggdrasil.asgard
Subject: Insomnia, thinking about you
From: Takaiyama Kenji <takenji@win.or.jp>
Content-ID: <4062.826867040.1@super.win.or.jp>
Date: Fri, 24 May 199X 04:17:20 +0900
Sender: takenji@super.win.or.jp
Reply-To: takenji@win.or.jp
Dear Skuld,
I just could not sleep last night and spent the night
staring at the ceiling and thinking about you. I hope you
are well. I wish I could have phone, but I did not want to
wake you (or Keiichi). Anyway, about two o'clock this
morning I wrote you a poem, it is not very good and does not
rhyme, but I hope you like it.
For Skuld
if by being a writer,
(a poet)
made one a pen,
(and if and deed I am
a poet, despite what
the critics may say)
and I was a pen,
(a slim and lovely
silver pen that wrote
with redandgold ink)
and if this slim silver
pen was yours,
(as my darkred
heart may
well be)
I would be
a happy man
clipped to your
white cotton blouse
by my strong fingers
I would sleep
nestled against
your warm white breast
with the music of your
brightred heart
upon my ears
Kenji
//
// Member of SkAS
// Skuld Appreciation Society
//
As she read, Skuld began to cry. To cry softly with gentle
tears filling her eyes, unlike the torrents of tears she usually
cried. Even tho' Donner was her best friend, and sometimes it
seem like they were so close that they could read each other's
mind, Skuld had always thought of Donner as a brother. But that
had all changed with three little words. Skuld had to admit to
herself that Donner was cute, and he does have the most gorgeous
red hair. But to think of him in a romantic way, well, yesterday
Skuld would have called it incest, but today, like the temptation
of a forbidden fruit, it was dangerously exciting. "Kenji, Oh my
dear Kenji! I don't know what to do." Burying her head in her
arms, Skuld cried until Belldandy called her to breakfast.
* * * * * * * * *
Entering the dinning room, Skuld found Keiichi and Urd
already at the table, waiting for Belldandy to finish setting the
table. To her relief, Donner was not present. Skuld knew she
could not face her best friend without torrents of tears.
Sitting down, Skuld picked up her rice bowl, and pouring her
shiro miso over the rice, began to eat breakfast.
Leaning over, Urd picked at Skuld's broiled fish with her
chopsticks. "So Skuld, out all night where we?"
"None of your darn business Urd," sneered Skuld.
"What's the matter Skuld? Couldn't Donner 'rise' to the
occasion. Or couldn't he measure up to 'K2' Kenji?" Teased Urd.
"Only a whore like you would say such things!"
"Why you little punk, what do you know? I otta teach you a
lesson in manners." Urd offered.
Standing up, Skuld reached into her blouse. "Come on then,
we still haven't finished our last fight!"
"Anytime, anyplace, you Xena clone!" Urd shouted as she
stood up.
"Slut!"
"Lolita want a be!"
"Sisters!" Screamed Belldandy as she jumped to her feet.
"Can't we all just get along? Urd, I know you have been
depressed about something. I wish you would talk to me about it.
But, please do not take it out on Skuld. Skuld, I know it is
hard, but do try and ignore her teasing. She only does it
because she knows it will get a reaction out of you. You are
both my dear sisters, and I do love no Aesir as much as I do you
two. But, I will not tolerate such strife in Keiichi-san's home.
Am I understood?"
Belldandy stood her ground waiting for an answer. "Skuld?"
"Yes, older-sister." Skuld meekly replied.
"And you Urd?" Belldandy asked turning her attention toward
her older sister.
"As you wish, sister," Urd meekly agreed.
Switching into her usual 'happy mode', Belldandy commanded,
"Let's eat then."
Skuld silently began to pick at her food, but after minute
of this, she pushed her bowl away. "May I be excused? I don't
feel well, and would like to lay down."
Belldandy shoot Urd a sharp commanding look before she could
make some crack, wisely she (Urd) kept her tongue. "Of course
you can go. Would you like me to wake you for lunch?" Offered
Belldandy.
Skuld answered, "That is OK. I will set my alarm clock," as
she left the room.
"Well I'm done," announced Urd a minute later.
"Urd?" Belldandy questioned.
"Yes, Belldandy?"
"Don't you go bothering Skuld." admonished Belldandy.
"Don't worry. I have had my fill of that hormone time-bomb.
I am going outside to catch some rays. Later!"
"I thought they would never leave," sighed Belldandy.
"Keiichi-san, I found this book in a used-book store yesterday.
I thought we could read it together after breakfast."
At Belldandy's unique request, a slightly confused Keiichi
asked, "Sure Belldandy, that sounds fine, what is it called?"
Leaning over, Belldandy whispered into Keiichi's ear as she
ran her hand up his arm.
* * * * * * * * *
Donner woke to the smell of Belldandy cooking lunch.
Stretching his limbs Donner got up. Everything was right in the
world. He would be home in Asgard with Skuld by tonight. But
first things first his stomach reminded him. Finding Belldandy
in the kitchen he asked, "Belldandy how soon until lunch and do
you know were Skuld is?"
"Ah, Donner, I should be very cross at you for keeping Skuld
out all night. Don't do it again!" Belldandy scolded Donner as
best she could. "Skuld is very tired and needs to get some rest.
So don't you go and bother her. Understood?"
"Understood."
"Keiichi-san and I are going on a picnic, I have made some
western style sandwiches, which are in the refrigerator along
with some juices and cokes. Help yourself. There are also some
potato-chips on top of the refrigerator."
"Thank you Belldandy. I think I'll grab a sandwich and take
a walk. It seems like too nice a day to stay inside. You would
make anyone a perfect wife. Later!"
Belldandy waved good-bye to the naive god, 'Not anyone
Donner, someone!'
* * * * * * * * * * *
Urd sat on the temple roof letting the sun's rays warm her
old bones, but that mighty orb could do nothing to warm the
coldness that cradled her heart. 'What will you do Donner, when
Skuld breaks your heart?' Mused Urd at the sight of Donner
leaving the temple.
* * * * * * * *
Slowly Skuld became aware that her alarm-clock was trying to
wake her. Rolling onto her side, Skuld pressed the snooze
button.
Again Skuld became aware that her alarm-clock was trying to
wake her. Already on her side, Skuld pressed the snooze button,
and proceeded to roll onto her stomach.
Once again Skuld's alarm-clock began its Herculean task.
Rolling onto her back, Skuld once more pressed the snooze-button.
But this time Skuld's eyes opened to the soft afternoon sunlight
filtering into her room. Despite everything that had happen to
her the last couple of days, Urd's teasing, Donner's proposal,
Kenji's poem, older-sister growing closer to that pervert,
Skuld's brain had only one thought in it.
'I gotta pee!'
Resigned to her fate, and not a wet futon, Skuld got up.
* * * * * * * *
Emerging from the bathroom, Skuld found herself in an empty
temple. Wandering out of the temple Skuld entered the woods. As
she walked Skuld barely caught the sound of older sister's voice.
Following the sound, Skuld moved forward trying to make out what
older sister was saying. But when Skuld got close enough to
catch a glimpse of older sister and Keiichi through the trees
Belldandy stop speaking. Skuld never knew why, but instead of
busting in on the two and putting a end to their shanagins, Skuld
chose to quietly observe her older sister. Keiichi and Belldandy
sat side by side on a blue and white picnic blanket. They just
sat there, not talking, but simply feeding each other little
morsels of food, looking at each other, or just watching how the
sunlight danced through the leaves. It seem to Skuld that the
two of them would be happy to sit there for the rest of eternity.
And eternity is a long time, Skuld knew. After all she is the
goddess (second class, limited) of the future. There were many
words Skuld's analytic mind tried to use to cataloged the scene
before her. Bliss, contentment, harmony, picturesque, even
nirvana, and pussy-whipped. 'Pussy-whipped'? Another part of
Skuld's brain asked, where did that word come from and what does
it mean? Of the millions of words available to Skuld there was
only one word that could be applied: love.
Turning around, Skuld started to make her way back to the
temple. Reaching the cherry tree on the edge of the courtyard,
Skuld closed her eyes and lean back against the familiar tree.
Skuld now knew what she would do.
* * * * * * * * *
"I'm back!" Donner announced as he jogged up to the temple.
Kami-sama that felt good. Nothing quite like a brisk 20
kilometer run to get one's circulation going and clear one's
mind. Donner felt like a new god.
"Skuld? Belldandy?" Donner called out, but no one
answered. Searching through the temple Donner found no trace of
Belldandy, Keiichi, or Urd. Knocking lightly on Skuld's bedroom
door, he check to see if she was still sleeping, but alas, Skuld
too was gone. Going outside once again, Donner found Skuld
leaning up against a cherry tree on the edge of the courtyard.
Moving to her, Donner reached out with his left hand to cradle
Skuld's cheek and draw her to him for another kiss.
Skuld moved away from his touch. "Donner?" It was more of a
statement than a question.
"Skuld will you come home with me?" Donner asked.
"My dear Donner, we have always been friends, haven't we.
We will always be friends, but my friend, I am staying here on
Midgard. Please forgive me," Skuld answered, her voice just a
whisper by the time she finished.
"Why not? Your probation time as a surface world trainee is
long past."
"But, my sisters are here and ...,"
"Get them to come home too."
"But older sister has a contract in force."
"Pasha." Donner's voice began to rise in volume as he
spoke. "Between the two of us, you with your debugging skills,
and my knowledge of circuits, we could easily bypass the system
enforcer, thus null and voiding Belldandy's contract with
Morisato."
"But...," Skuld continued to stammer, unwilling to hurt
Donner.
Angry at her excuses, Donner began to shout as thunder
clouds began to form over the courtyard. "But, but, BUT! Is that
the only word you can say? Why this hesitation Skuld? Have we
not always been the best of friends? Will you not come home with
me? I do so love thee Skuld. Do you not care for me? What is
it that chains you to this Niflheim of a world?"
"Please listen to me," Skuld pleaded. "My dear, dear
Donner, you are one of my bestest friends, but it is Kenji I
l..."
"I do not want to hear! What is it about mortals that so
affects you and your sisters? Why does loving an angel hurt?"
Screamed Donner at Skuld, as he left Midgard in a flash of
lighting, and a clap of thunder.
With the clap of thunder the rain began to pour, drenching
Skuld. Stunned, Skuld just stood there, the tears cascading down
her face. "Damn you Donner! Why won't you listen? We were
friends, why, why did you have to say those three little words
and ruin everything?"
Growing to her normal size, mini-Urd moved out from her
hiding place behind a boulder near the cherry tree. "How
touching. It almost brings a tear to your eye, doesn't it?" She
asked her little sister.
"Go to Niflheim Urd." Skuld flatly responded to her sister.
Turning Skuld walked into the temple, shutting herself in her
room.
'You are starting to understand Skuld. Man is a idiot, and
men are dogs. I hope this toughens your heart Skuld, as flesh is
much too soft a material for one's heart. Now, where did I hide
that bottle of sake?' Thought Urd as Skuld cried in her room.
[Add a phone call from Kenji?]
* * * * * * * * *
Entering the temple like a rampaging Burma bull, Tamiya
greeted the occupants of the temple with thunderous, "Yo!
Morisato!" Destroying the peaceful quiet of their breakfast. "I
have grievous news..."
Urd laid her head on the table, covering her aching head
with her arms trying to protect her hangover from the
mercifulness decibels of Tamiya's voice.
'Keiichi's senpai is such an ooff,' Skuld thought,
determined to not pay attention to the buffoon, and continued
eating her breakfast.
"O my!" Exclaimed Belldandy.
"Senpai..." Keiichi stammered his chopsticks still half in
his mouth.
* * * * * * * *
Owari