Note: Chris Angel, one of my prereaders, says that there seems to
be some parallel between this chapter and his OMB chapter 9, which he's
been working on a while himself. Please don't take there to be any
plagiarism in either direction, when it appears.
	Personally, I find this chapter to be somewhat rambling.... I
dunno. Tell me what you all think.


  Now read on....

************************************************
  An Oddzilla Productions fanfic, by Andrew Huang.
  Guard the Future, chapter 2.
  Based on Fujishima Kosuke's "Aa! Megami-sama!"
************************************************

  Essentially, there were three different types of training for me:
skill, power, and, well, "et cetera".

  Skill was, for the most part, fighting technique. How to swing the
hammer (and it's not as easy at it seems, unless you _want_ blisters on
your hands), how to block, ways to strike...Skuld taught me all of
this--she's the one with plenty of experience using a hammer. Quite a
good sensei, too. In addition, she had this holoprojector, with which
she produced targets for me to practice on.

  Out of deference to Skuld, my targets--at least, for the time being--
were in the form of those system bugs that occasionally popped up around
Yggdrasil. It made sense, since right now, I was still working on the
basic of the basics: the overhead smash. How was I doing?

  "Well, Andrew," giggled Skuld, "total time was three minutes and six
seconds. That's ten targets you've crushed...and seventy-three craters
in the ground. You need to keep practicing."

  As I sat on a handy bench, blowing gently on my blistered fingers, I
summoned my bachelor's-degree-in-philosophy level of eloquence and
answered, "Biiiidah," accompanied by sticking out my tongue.

  Man, to have that finesse and dexterity that Kami-sama gave me on the
airport runway.... Now, that was _skill_. You'd figure that after three
training sessions, I would have gotten somewhere. But still, here I was,
after an hour of running around, with the level of aim that resulted in
a training field which rivaled the face of a blind man trying to shave
himself. Using a straight razor. After smoking crack. While he suffered
extreme hand cramps.

   "Don't be so negative, Andrew-kun! The hand cramps bit was just a
little excessive, perhaps."

  I bit back a sigh of exasperation. "I thought you were going to stop
reading my mind, Urd."

  She giggled. Only Urd can giggle and make it sound more sexy than
cute. "Oh, let me have my fun. I let you have yours, don't I?"

  I grinned. Skuld, watching from her position by her holoprojector,
muttered "Bleah."

  "That's true. Your turn, now?"

  Urd nodded. "One hour, yep. Come on, then."

  I jumped to my feet, eagerly. "How much this time?"

  She thought for a moment. "Hmm.... Okay. Solid granite, tetrahedral
shape, four metric tons. You have a minute."

  Urd's my instructor in _power_, you dolts. Brute strength enhanced by
the runes in Heaven's Knuckle--the key was unlocking and controlling the
power. What did you think I was talking about?

  The pyramid of rock appeared on the battlefield. "HA!" I shouted, and
set on to it. As I concentrated, the lines engraved in my weapon glowed
softly. As I said, it was also about control; power was more than having
a good physical workout (though I did get that, certainly).

  On top of that, this one was excellent stress relief....

  Once the monolith was reduced to rubble, I turned, panting. "How...how
fast...was it?"

  Urd frowned. "Sixty-two seconds. I would have stopped you, but you
seemed to be enjoying yourself. Plus, you were almost done anyway."

  "Feh," mumbled Skuld. "Absolutely no subtlety. Just running in and
smashing things up."

  "Oh, it's all well and good if you can swing a hammer like a gymnast
with a baton, but what help is it going to be if you don't have enough
force even to dent the skin on a Ch'roll?" Urd shot back.

  "Well, if you have enough skill, you could hit the vulnerable spot,
and that doesn't take too much force--"

  "Why bother when you can just blast its head off, though? And you know
the B-tug type doesn't _have_ a vulnerable spot. They'd just keep on
spouting off nasty remarks while trying to rip you apart."

  I sighed. It was going to another one of those days. Actually, there
had been only three previous training days. Well, they were shaping up
to be just the same.

  "I'm taking a break, you two," I called out, in the absolute
confidence that neither would hear me. I approached the gazebo on the
edge of the field. "Wonder if Belldandy made cookies again...."

  In fact, she did. "Hello, Andrew-san," she called out, appearing from
behind the small structure, brandishing a plate of chocolate chip'ed
pieces of Heaven. The sight of that would make armies surrender for a
taste of home-baked goodness.

  "Ooh, thanks! My favorite.... You know that your sisters are fighting
again, huh?"

  "I heard them. I should go stop them before they take up too much of
your training time."

  I trooped along behind her as she glided across the field. "Skuld!
Urd!" Both of them froze, guilty expressions on their faces. The one on
Urd's disappeared in an instant, though. "Please, not now. We have much
work to do, still."

  "Right, right," said Urd, smoothly. "Andrew, let's get going then."

------------------------------------------------

  An hour later...and I was hurting.

  "Did you really ow have to ack push me that hard argh today?"

  "We're behind schedule anyway. Don't be such a baby...or do I have to
kiss it and make it--"

  "Pleasedon'tgotherePLEASE! Ow!"

  At that moment, I felt a soothing warmth rush through me, lifting my
body above its aches and pains, leaving them far, far behind....

  "Urd, don't tease him so. Are you feeling better now, Andrew-san?"

  "Thanks for the healing spell, Belldandy...."

  Now, it was Belldandy's turn. She teaches me just about everything
else that's necessary. For example, now I know how to shrink Heaven's
Knuckle down from its full size to its form as a blacksmith's hammer, as
it was presently, hanging from a loop on my belt. I nicknamed this form
Heaven's Nail Clipping. After Belldandy looked at me in no uncertain
manner, I stopped calling it that.

  (She raised an eyebrow! One eyebrow! How come a single raised eyebrow
on Belldandy is so discomforting?)

  Another thing--how to fly with these wings. They're really nice to
have, you know. I like flying in planes, but that just doesn't even come
close to being able to soar through the air on my own power, gliding on
thermals, being up in the sky.... It's also pretty convenient how they
pass right through my clothes when they unfurl, not ripping anything,
but are otherwise tangible. They thought of everything.

  "Andrew-san, today is slightly different. We'll be going to Yggdrasil
to finalize your operating parameters...I mean, set your power levels
and abilities," she explained, seeing the blank look on my face.

  "Ah."

  The four of us quickly made our way to the Great Tree, once again
entering. Belldandy swept over to the nearest unoccupied terminal. I
followed, looking over her shoulder. "Why'd it take so long to do this,
anyway?"

  "As was said earlier, Class I guardian angels are very rare. It's been
a while since any have been appointed, and each case has to be specially
prepared, considering all the circumstances. Some of it is calculated by
Yggdrasil, while other parts--including the overall review--have to be
drawn up by gods. And goddesses."

  I blinked. "So that's where you've been this past week...."

  "You know, Keiichi's been feeling lonely, Sis. You shouldn't be away
from him that much, you know." Urd grinned. She always seemed to be
smiling, in one manner or another.

  Belldandy blushed lightly, something which _she_ always seemed to be
doing. "Anyway. Your power level is to be one degree higher than the
standard warrior angel. Associated element, ice." She tapped a key, and
I felt a buzzing sensation. Heaven's Na...Knuckle seemed to cool.  "As
for magical capabilities outside of your elemental manipulation, you'll
be restricted to some healing and defensive spells. Intrinsic quality...
we deemed your job important enough to merit grade A regeneration."

  "What's grade A regeneration?"

  "So long as Skuld is...." Belldandy's face shadowed as she hesitated
there. "So long as your charge is alive, you essentially cannot be
killed. Physical injuries will heal on their own very quickly, so long
as countering magic isn't in effect. Also, there can't be anything in
the wound--that would block the regeneration. For example, if you were
stabbed with a knife...the knife would have to be removed before healing
could take place."

  I noted that Urd had gotten this odd look on her face when Belldandy
said "grade A". I thought it would be pretty cool, but I wasn't so sure
anymore, having seen that. Well, maybe I could ask her later. I watched
as a few more keys were typed. The buzzing sensation grew for a few
moments, rattling my head, then cut off suddenly. "Yow."

  "It's finished. How do you feel?"

  "Er...fine? Yes. Fine."

  Belldandy nodded, then resumed her typing. "Now, then, to update the
records...this will be just a few minutes."

  In the meantime, Skuld looked me over inquisitively, then whipped out
some sort of device. I backed away. "Skuld, what's that? It took me
hours to get the green out of my hair last time you pointed something
weird at me."

  She sniffed. "Just an ordinary scanner. Like Oneesama said, it's been
a while since a Class I's been around. I never saw one before, so I'm
curious what your readouts are like." She paused. "Cool!" She punched a
few more buttons.

  "I guess there isn't any harm." I stood patiently as she continued her
scan. "Hey, Urd, come over here, would you?"

  "What's up?" She stepped my way.

  "Why did you look funny when Belldandy mentioned my regeneration?"

  For once, Urd appeared uncomfortable. "Well.... I've known a few
warrior angels who had grade A regen. It's...it's just...no, no, don't
worry about it. They were just reckless, because they knew they had it.  
Just be careful, and don't get into situations that require the full
extent of your healing abilities. I don't think it's likely that you'll
run into the same problems. Trust me--you don't want to know. And
hopefully, you won't need to know." She smiled slightly. "I hope you're
not scared."

  Needless to say, it didn't reassure me in the slightest.

  "Could I see the hammer, please? This'll take just a second."

  "Sure," I replied, absently, lifting it from my belt. "Well, Urd, I--"

  "WAK!" *THUD*

  Three pairs of eyes, one of them mine, swiveled around simultaneously.
They settled on Skuld, currently on her knees. Her hands were pinned
beneath Heaven's Knuckle, now expanded back to its full size. "OWOWOWOW!
Get it off me! Wah!"

  I silently picked up the hammer which was like a beam of light for me,
and like a beam of steel for Skuld. She yanked her stinging hands back,
shaking them, and sniffling. I caught her gaze, and she smiled
sheepishly at me, through a few tears.

  "Eh...heh...."

  "No ice cream for you tonight."

  "Awww! No fair...."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

  Belldandy finished up her hour with me by teaching me some elementary
magic, both my healing and shielding spells--beginning with fixing
Skuld's fingers--as well as how to use my ice elemental abilities. (I
suppose, to be fair to her, I should call her my magic tutor now, rather
than just my teacher of miscellany.) It was really quite fun. All I
have to do is figure out how to create an ice sculpture of that really
annoying guy one floor down from where I am at work, and I can have some
extra stress relief. Mweh. Heh. Heh.

  Now, we were done for the day. I was feeling kind of tired; my
abilities only take care of injuries and the like--I still have to eat
and rest to recover energy, that sort of thing. Anyway, I followed the
three back to Earth, grabbing a ride with Belldandy through her mirror
transport mode. Don't ask me to explain how that feels.

  "Andrew-san," she said as we arrived, "would you like to join us for
dinner tonight?"

  She's asked me this both of the previous Wednesdays, starting with the
day that I arrived here. I think this is going to become a ritual, of
sorts.

  "I would love to." I nodded, and smiled. Hey, I'm a single young male.
My cooking skills are perhaps better than most bachelors' (Mom has
pronounced my simple vegetable sautees as "very good"), but this is
Belldandy's food I'm talking about. I'm not going to miss this, ever.

  "Hello, Belldandy...hey, Andrew!" greeted Keiichi, coming around the
corner in the hallway. "How are you today?"

  Good old Keiichi. I could say that he'd never know how lucky he is,
but the thing is, I'm sure he does realize it. No one could ever take
Belldandy for granted. Besides, the guy's had pretty rotten luck with
females before she came into his life.

  "Pretty good," I answered, grinning and summoning a small bit of
power. I put my hand out, palm up, and said, "Need to keep your drinks
cold? I'm your man!"

  There was a flash of magic and a crinkling sound.

  There was silence.

  "Doesn't that hurt?" asked Keiichi, after a moment.

  "Ysssss," I answered, through gritted teeth.

  "Oh, dear," said Belldandy. "Let me thaw your arm out...."

  Though ice is my elemental, it seems I can still get hurt by it,
especially when I do it to myself. Geez, I try to flash-freeze the
moisture in the air above my hand, and I get my forearm instead. So
that's what it's like to have ice crystals form in your veins. Very
interesting.

  "Ow! Eagh! Thanks...ooh, I can feel it healing up. Gah! Remind me
never to show off, okay?"

  "Ha! You could try telling Urd that, too. She's always messing up her
magic spells." Skuld stood in the doorway of the bathroom, from where
she had observed my little mishap.

  "I heard that!" said the TV in the living room.

  It never ends....

  But, at least, life would go on. Belldandy slipped into the kitchen to
make dinner, while Keiichi and I sat down at the table, crosslegged. We
ignored the continuing squabble between Skuld and Urd.

  "So, you learned magic today?" ventured Keiichi.

  I nodded. "Not as well as I'd hoped, I guess. I'm kind of worried.
Things are coming to me too slowly--it's been more than two weeks
already, and I'm doing so poorly. At least nothing's happened yet." I
shook my head. I was, frankly, afraid of having to do my job,
considering my learning curve.

  "Don't worry. Besides, you're not the only one protecting her,
Belldandy and Urd are here. You all can manage. I'm sure." He smiled.

  "I hope so." I looked at the glass of water in front of me. "Let me
try this again." I concentrated.

  *crackle*

  "Hey! You did it!"

  "Yeh." I grinned, then peered at the cup. Unfortunately, I had frozen
more than just a few cubes into it, and I was still thirsty. "Be right
back."

  I returned from the kitchen with another glass of water. As I sat back
down, Keiichi spoke. "Hey, Andrew? Could you tell me about what's going
on, exactly? I mean...like, what or who you're protecting Skuld from?
None of them will tell me."

  I regarded him silently for a few moments. "I think it's because none
of us really know much about all of this ourselves. We can't get more
specific than simply, 'the agents of Hell'. Belldandy is pretty sure,
though, that they aren't out to...kill...her. The doublet system's in
effect--if she...dies, then so will her demon counterpart."

  "Oh. I see." He sounded slightly relieved. "I'd forgotten about that."

  I wanted to let it at that, but...as Skuld's friend and big-brother
type, he had the right to know. "However...as Urd pointed out, who
knows? They're trying to ruin the Future of Mankind. They might be
desperate enough...and since no one knows who links to whom, they can't
do it that way."

  A gloom had settled over the room. He merely nodded, and we both were
silent.

  As I studied the frozen glass on the table and sipped from the other
one, I wondered. Really, who in Hell wanted to hurt Skuld? Why? I mean,
the world was already cranking out enough damned souls anyway. Was this
really necessary, to cause more trouble?

  I hate it when I drop into this sort of mood. Time to do something
about it. "Keiichi."

  "Yes?"

  "When are you going to ask her to marry you?"

  Keiichi blushed on cue. That fact supported my conclusion that
Belldandy and Keiichi were perfect for each other.

  "I, I, I, I...."

  "Forget it. You're hopeless." I grinned. "I'm surprised Urd still
hasn't given up."

  He looked miffed. "Well, someday. We're just not ready yet." I nodded,
but still smirked a bit. He decided to try to turn the tables on me.
"What about you? Sooner or later, Urd's going to try to get you matched
up with someone."

  Now he grinned, while my face slipped to a bemused expression. "I
suppose she's going to try, indeed." I smiled again, not quite mirthful,
but not empty of feeling, either. "I welcome her to try."

  Keiichi developed a look of extreme surprise. "You _want_ her to...
to...you're nuts!"

  "You challenged me, young man?" said a voice by my ear.

  I like to imagine that I didn't show the slightest amount of
disturbance by Urd's sudden appearance. The unexpected extension of my
wings, though, denied that. Still, I answered in a perfectly straight
voice, "Yes, I guess I did."

  In hindsight, that probably wasn't the best of answers. I guess I was
too confident in my ability to control myself when it came to girls and 
surmount anything that Urd might come up with. Unlike Keiichi, I don't
get so easily flustered.... Oh, forget that. Right now, it was almost
dinnertime. Actually, it wasn't; Belldandy was still in the middle of
preparing. Hmm.

  "I think I'll help Belldandy out with dinner. I want to learn how to
cook better." I spun around to face Urd. "After all, it would be
wonderful to make a meal for my future date, yes?" I marched myself to
the kitchen.

  In hindsight, that was _definitely_ a stupid thing to say. Oh well.

------------------------------------------------

  The meal was, of course, wonderful. Plus, I picked up a few cooking
tips from Belldandy. We talked for a little while after we finished, but
not for too long. I was already yawning halfway through eating, and now,
I was feeling particularly wiped out.

  "I'd best go home, now...gotta get some rest. Thanks for dinner,
Belldandy. It was great."

  "Thank you." She smiled, as she always did.

  Urd got up with me to see me out. That struck me as slightly odd,
since usually it was Skuld or Keiichi who did that.

  "So, Andrew-kun. You've settled into your life well here, huh?" She
glanced ahead to the doorway. I thought I spied a small smile on her
face....

  "Yeah, I guess so...it's nice being here. I'm glad I came. So far." I
smiled slightly. "Anyway...." I reached for the door and opened it.

  On the other side was a young woman, fist poised to knock. I blinked.
She blinked.

  "Um...hi, Urd. Who's this?" she asked.

  Urd nudged me. I blinked again. "Ah. I'm...er, Andrew Huang. Yes."

  She seemed to be waiting for more information. Oh, crap. I hadn't
planned on explaining my presence here...add to that the fact that I was
tired, and things could be complicated. "Er...I'm a relative of Urd's.
And Belldandy's. And Skuld's. Yeah." I found myself staring at her,
trying not to lose mental focus. It didn't seem like she noticed; it was
somewhat dark by now.

  She frowned at me. "With a family name like 'Huang'? You're Chinese,
aren't you?"

  "Taiwanese," I corrected automatically, while my brain raced. "Related
by marriage, that is. Yeah. Um. I moved into the area two weeks ago,
from the United States."

  "Ah. Well, I'm Morisato Megumi. Keiichi's sister. Two weeks already?
This is the first time we've met."

  "...I've been busy. Not been around here too much." Please, please,
don't ask me more, my mind's too fuzzy.

  Fortunately, Megumi didn't pry further. "Well. Good to meet you. I
imagine we'll run into each other again...." She smiled. "Good evening."

  She stepped aside to let me pass, then ducked in the doorway. I
breathed a sigh of relief, then started walking, as I heard her greet
her brother and Belldandy from inside. I stopped when I realized that
Urd was still just behind me. I turned around.

  "Huh? What?"

  "Ah-ha." She grinned.

  Uh-oh.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

  Thanks, always, to my prereaders--Robert "The Eternal Lost Lurker"
Morrison, Chris "God-Boy" Angel, and Christian "The Flashman" Rogers.


Andrew Huang
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~alhuang/
Harvard Anime Society, President
Wanted for taking the derivative of e^x