Ah! My Goddess!: The Prodigal Sister Returns - Ch. 5 fanfic
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Ah My Goddess: The Prodigal Sister Returns -Ch 6
by ~gamera68
Ah! My Goddess: Ah! The Prodigal Sister Returns
-------------------------------------------
The long-awaited Chapter 6 of my 'Ah! My Goddess' Fan-Fic.
The following is a work of fiction, with characters created by Kosuke Fujishima. No copyright infringement is intended.
This is the continuation to Chapter 3's "Urd's Affirmation".
Out of Character Skuld. Rated PG. Contains comedy and drama.
Story Written by Gamera68.
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It was now early summer, and had been 2 long months since Skuld was recalled back to the Heavens to have a 'chat' with her Father, the Almighty One, regarding Belldandy and Keiichi's engagement. He had also told the youngest of the three Norns to get along with Keiichi from now on, as not to upset her eldest sister, Belldandy. She was also told to make amends, once she returned to the surface world.
That would be the most difficult task ever asked of in her brief life. She'd rather debug Yggdrasil all by herself, than to apologize to the 'pervert' Keiichi, who stole her 'big sis' from her.
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Belldandy was the one who answered the phone the night before, hearing that her little sister would be returning to Earth today. So when she heard of the impending arrival, decided to fill the bath tub full of warm water, as it was the medium Skuld used to teleport to the surface world. Keiichi was befuddled as to how she would treat and act towards him once she eventually returned.
.....
12 noon. The bathroom was suddenly illuminated in a bluish-white light. Skuld had reappeared to the temple grounds.
"Hellooooo...Big sis! I'm back!!" she bellowed out, as she slid open the bathroom door. Belldandy ran out of her room and appeared in front of Skuld and gave her a huge hug; and nearly on the verge of tears. She had missed her little sister so much, and was delighted to see her once again. Two months to a Goddess is a long time after all. Skuld was gone nearly half a year in Heaven's time. Bell immediately noticed that her younger sister was a bit taller and appears to have grown up somewhat.
.....
"Welcome home, Skuld!" Belldandy finally said, after releasing Skuld from the embrace she gave her a few moments ago. "Oh, big sis! I've missed you sooooo much!" Skuld blurted out, with tears of joy in her eyes.
"I'm sooo sorry for causing you so much trouble with Keiichi, and, and...." she continued, trailing off, and sobbing buckets on her sisters' now tear-stained shoulders.
"It's okay, Skuld, I know you meant well, and I forgive you. I love you very much, Skuld." Belldandy said with a smile across her face, doing her very best to assist her younger sister to reclaim her composure.
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"Skuld, I know what you must do, and I will be there to do my best to support you, so please do it with sincerity. I know in my heart that Keiichi will forgive you." Belldandy said to her sister, aware of what she must accomplish today; knowing from the phone call she received the night before. Skuld pouted. She knew that she had to apologize to Bell's fiance', Keiichi, but uncertain of what to say or how to say it.
.....
She'd rather catch bugs all alone, rather than to apologize. "Skuld, Keiichi will be home soon, so please do your best, okay?" Belldandy lovingly replied, as she saw Skuld suddenly appear uneasy and a bit scared. "Okay....big sis.", is all she could muster, barely audible except to herself. Urd was there in the shadows, unaware to either of them.
"Welcome back, runt!" Urd shot out, catching Skuld and Belldandy off guard. "Urd! I missed you too..." Skuld bounced back as she glomped her silver-haired older sister. "I missed you too, Skuld.", she replied as she returned her tiny sister's hug.
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"Belldandy, I'm home!" Keiichi said, as he entered the house, removed his shoes, then slid the door closed. Belldandy greeted him with a hug and soft kiss on the lips. "Welcome home, my love." She responded, with a grin across her lovely face. "Skuld is back and she has something she wants to tell you.", she continued.
Keiichi knew that Skuld was returning today. He was also aware that his blissful days alone with Belldandy were now over. Or so the thought. "Okay, let's go and see what she has to say...." he half-heartedly replied, as he held Bell's hand and headed to the tea room to see what the youngest Norn was up to. They walked into the tea room and were stupefied to see Skuld kneeling on the floor with her hands outstretched in front, with her head bowed towards the floor.
.....
"Keiichi! I'm very sorry! For everything! I ask that you please forgive me someday for all the trouble I've caused you for over the past 2 years! I'm so very sorrryyy..." she blubbered out, with tears in her eyes and sadness in her voice. Bell and Keii were shocked beyond rational thought. Skuld has never apologized like this, not once since the day she moved into their then peaceful home.
.....
Keiichi knelt down to her level and gently placed his right hand on her head. "It's okay, Skuld. I know how much you love Belldandy, and I also know how much she means to you. I forgive you okay, so please, let's get along from now on, since you're a member of my family. I know you meant well. So it's okay now....", he continued......"I know we've been through a lot, and never saw eye-to-eye, and how much you and Urd have interrupted the relationship Belldandy and I have had for over three years now. You always trying to separate us, and Urd always trying to bring us closer together. But no matter how much you two have fought, bickered or argued, I never wanted either of you two to leave. It's always been so lively around here since you two moved in. Never a dull moment. And I wouldn't have it any other way." Keiichi finished, with compassion and reassurance in his gentle speech.
.....
Skuld slowly raised her head and wrapped her arms around Keiichi's neck. He gently returned her hug. Belldandy was in tears from her fiances' emotionally-filled speech, and seeing Skuld suddenly hugging Keiichi. She loved him even more, if that was even possible.
.....
Urd was stunned at this unexpected development. She desperately wanted to say a few choice words, knowing how much grief her youngest sister gave the mechanic who fell in love with Belldandy. But she held her tongue, sighed, then left the tea room, allowing the ambiance not to be spoiled by any bad vibes.
.....
Once the emotional mood lifted, Belldandy gave Skuld a hand up and hugged her as if her life depended on it. "Skuld I love you, and I'm so very proud of you. Please allow Keiichi and I to be happy, and for you two to get along from now on." Belldandy sang with affection in her voice.
"Big sis, I'm sorry to you as well. I never meant any harm by coming between you and the big j-j-- I mean Keiichi. Can you please forgive me, and allow me to stay here, with all of you? Please? I don't wanna leave anymore...." Skuld asked, her eyes swollen and face flush from the long water works from nearly the past half-hour.
.....
Keiichi answered: "Skuld, as long as you don't come in-between Belldandy and I from now on, you're more than welcome to stay here for as long as you like. We're getting married in a few months, and Bell would like for you to be in our wedding party as the ring bearer, as we're going to have a Western-style wedding instead of a traditional Shinto one."
Belldandy lovingly agreed with her spiky-haired fiance' and added:"Yes Skuld, as long as you and Keiichi get along, you can stay. That means no interrupting us if we're holding hands or hugging or spending any time alone. At all. Understood?"
Skuld barely shook her head and said "Yes...I understand Big Sis... I promise to not come between you two anymore. And Keiichi does treat you very well, and I can see that he l-l-loves you. He is a nice guy after all, I guess. And I can see that you lo-l-love him too...." She sputtered out, with an embarrassed look across her pink face, still flush from her emotional break-down earlier.
.....
"Thank you, Skuld. It means a lot to us. I'll take your word and hold you to your promise from now on." Keiichi finally said, after Belldandy and Skuld were done bonding. "Urd, do you have anything that you want to add?" Belldandy asked to her silent sister, who's been quietly listening for over the past half-hour or so. "Hell yeah I do...." she piped up finally.
Urd went on to tell the tale to Skuld how Belldandy and Keiichi met as children and how he came about to find her in the woods that day a little over fifteen years ago, and how Belldandy was forced to seal her memory from Keiichi due to the fact that she made a promise to him, which was basically a form of contract.
.....
But due to the facts that she didn't have her Goddess License yet, plus snuck down to Earth to escape Celestine's rigid teachings, she had to be severely punished. But Keiichi, being the nice kid he was, had told Belldandy that it would be alright for her to seal his memories away, so that she would not be reprimanded too badly. On top of that, he had promised to Belldandy that they would meet again someday, somehow.
.....
Urd also divulged the fact that she was the one who redirected Keiichi's call to Belldandy's desk when she worked at the Goddess Relief Agency Helpline.
.....
To say that Skuld was surprised would be a severe understatement. She couldn't believe her ears. Bell and Keii reassured her that the story was in fact the absolute truth. That they were undoubtedly destined to meet. Urd also went on and asked Skuld how many times that Keiichi had saved Belldandy's life.
.....
She shook her head yes as she remembered: once when she had turned Keii into a girl by having him eat a desert she made especially for him, and once again during the Angel-Eater fiasco.
.....
Belldandy fell deathly ill after the vial containing a deadly virus escaped that dropped to the floor and broke, while Bell tried her best to complete a potion to return Keii to normal. He was the one who risked his life to collect the wind crystals. And the second time when the Angel-Eater appeared and took Holy Bell away along with the other Angels. He was the trump-card; the only human in history ever to be able to support an Angel; which was Lind's angel, Cool Mint. Without his assistance and perseverance, none of the Goddess's would have been reunited with their Angels. And they were all extremely grateful for his help.
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It was now much later, and Skuld had retired to her room, laying on her bed; emotionally drained. She could finally comprehend and accept everything that Belldandy and Keiichi had been through. Despite all the terrible things she did to keep him away from her Big Sister, he forgave her and accepted her to be a part of his family. She knew that no matter what she did, Bell and Keii were going to be married this coming Autumn.
.....
Skuld badly wished that she could go back and undo everything, and start with a clean slate. But they lovingly forgave her. She only wanted her Big Sis Belldandy all to herself, but no matter what she did, was now a moot point. They fell in love despite all the fights, arguments and mini-bombs she threw in his direction. Skuld was finally growing up.
.....
Skuld wanted to have a few words with Bell and Keii, as it was now after dinner and they were getting ready to call it an early night. Belldandy told Skuld she could come by her room before bedtime.
....
*knock *knock* knock* Skuld gently tapped on Belldandy's bedroom door. "Big Sis, It's me....may I come in for a moment, please?" she asked with a heaviness in her voice. "Yes, come in please." Belldandy said, as she sat up on her futon, with Keiichi at his usual place on her left side. The both of them were already in their nightwear. Skuld was a little surprised to see Keiichi in Belldandy's bedroom, unaware of the fact that they have been sleeping in each others' rooms every-night since her departure, 2 months ago., but said nothing, per her promise earlier.
.....
"Um, Big Sis, I just wanted to say thank you, to the both of you for allowing me to stay here, and for forgiving me for the past. I will do everything I can to make the best of this and to accept your engagement. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know." Skuld politely said, as she bowed her head.
.....
"Thank you, Skuld. That means a lot to the both of us. Actually, Keiichi has something he wants to ask of you." Belldandy responded to her raven-haired younger sister, who seemed to be a bit more mature and composed, compared to how she was earlier that day.
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"Skuld...." Keiichi said "....You are the Goddess of the Future, correct?"
She shook her head yes, still looking at the floor. "Then I have a favor to ask of you. Nothing too big, just a small favor. Is it possible that you can look into the future and see how far ahead that Belldandy and I are still together?" Keiichi was going to test her, already aware of the fact what Kami-sama promised him after he and Bell are married.
.....
Skuld responded, with a puzzled look on her face. "I dunno Keiichi...I'm not too sure with my p-powers yet...I--i-it'll be difficult if I don't know how f-far ahead you ask of...But since I said I'd d-do anything, I guess I can at least do that much, but I'll need to h-h-hold your hands and concentrate very hard...if it's okay with B-big Sis." Belldandy shook her head yes, with a reassuring and loving smile. Keiichi stretched both hands out in front, as Skuld knelt down on the futon next to Belldandy, and faced him, as she laid her hands on her little sister's shoulders.
.....
"Okay, Keiichi. I'll have to ask you to concentrate and allow yourself to think about Big Sis, while I attempt to see in increments of 5 years into the future first."
Keiichi proceeds to do as asked and concentrates on his future wife and one true love, Belldandy. Skuld closed her eyes as she held Keiichi's hands and started to see images from the future. First 5 years, then ten. She sees them having dinner, going to amusement parks, drives along the seashore in his Beemer, and so forth.
.....
She notices that they both look very happy, but not a day older. She continues....fifteen years....twenty years...twenty-five years. They are still happily married and very much in love, but Skuld notices that Keiichi doesn't look a day over twenty-five years old. She starts to wonder as she peeks even further into the distant future...thirty-five, forty years. Bell and Keii are still married and she unexpectedly sees a little girl who very much resembles her Big sis, around 5 years of age, except with long jet-black hair and hazel-blue eyes. 'That must be Big Sis and Keiichi's daughter...' she silently thought to herself.
.....
Then without warning, Skuld rapidly opens her eyes, as tears stream down both her cheeks.
Belldandy notices right away, and says: "Skuld, is everything alright? Why did you stop?"
.....
"I'm okay, I think...b-but I saw...I saw....f-fifty years into the future, and...and...you and Keiichi are still married and look very happy...b-but Keiichi doesn't look a day older....I d-don't understand...why..is..t-t." Skuld replied as Belldandy tightly hugged her from behind, ready to tell her the reasoning behind Keiichi's future youthful appearance.
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"Skuld, do you know the reason why I have remained here by Keiichi's side for so long?" Belldandy inquired to her raven-haired sister, still hugging her from behind. "It's because of the wish he made, right Big Sis?" Skuld replied, trying to hold her tears of confusion back. "Well, that's partly the reason...see, Skuld, it's the way that he worded his original wish, and that was for me to stay by his side forever. And do you know what that means, Skuld? It means 'time without end'. I guess what I'm trying to explain to you is that Keiichi is immortal, even after we are married, and that he will never grow old or pass away."
.....
Once again Skuld was shocked, and she knew that Belldandy was always honest. She explained what her Father, the Almighty One told Keiichi the day he received an unexpected phone call, the following day after he popped the question and asked her to be his wife. "Ohhh...Okay, if Father said that, then that makes sense I guess. I just wish He would've told me that when I was home for all that time." Skuld said, as she sighed a sign of relief, thinking her powers were on the blink.
.....
Skuld wiped her face, and got up from the futon. "Well, I guess I'm happy for you Keiichi....you can be with Big Sis forever. I guess I wanna say 'Congratulations'. Please take good care of Belldandy from now on. And let us get along forever as well.....goodnight then." She gave Belldandy a kiss on the cheek and closed the door as she left her room.
.....
"Well, Keiichi my love, that went better than I thought it would." Belldandy said to her fiance', who had a stupid look across his face. "Keiichi, are you alright? You don't look so well. Are you sick?" she inquired, while placing the back of her left hand across his forehead, with concern in her voice.
Then like a bolt of lightning, Keiichi had another epiphany.
"Belldandy, I think we should move!"
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I hope you liked this chapter. It only took me a little over 3 hours to bang out.
I didn't have time to write since the holidays kept me quite busy, but I had this story in my head since I wrote the last chapter.
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I had writing it.
by ~gamera68
Ah! My Goddess: Ah! The Prodigal Sister Returns
-------------------------------------------
The long-awaited Chapter 6 of my 'Ah! My Goddess' Fan-Fic.
The following is a work of fiction, with characters created by Kosuke Fujishima. No copyright infringement is intended.
This is the continuation to Chapter 3's "Urd's Affirmation".
Out of Character Skuld. Rated PG. Contains comedy and drama.
Story Written by Gamera68.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was now early summer, and had been 2 long months since Skuld was recalled back to the Heavens to have a 'chat' with her Father, the Almighty One, regarding Belldandy and Keiichi's engagement. He had also told the youngest of the three Norns to get along with Keiichi from now on, as not to upset her eldest sister, Belldandy. She was also told to make amends, once she returned to the surface world.
That would be the most difficult task ever asked of in her brief life. She'd rather debug Yggdrasil all by herself, than to apologize to the 'pervert' Keiichi, who stole her 'big sis' from her.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belldandy was the one who answered the phone the night before, hearing that her little sister would be returning to Earth today. So when she heard of the impending arrival, decided to fill the bath tub full of warm water, as it was the medium Skuld used to teleport to the surface world. Keiichi was befuddled as to how she would treat and act towards him once she eventually returned.
.....
12 noon. The bathroom was suddenly illuminated in a bluish-white light. Skuld had reappeared to the temple grounds.
"Hellooooo...Big sis! I'm back!!" she bellowed out, as she slid open the bathroom door. Belldandy ran out of her room and appeared in front of Skuld and gave her a huge hug; and nearly on the verge of tears. She had missed her little sister so much, and was delighted to see her once again. Two months to a Goddess is a long time after all. Skuld was gone nearly half a year in Heaven's time. Bell immediately noticed that her younger sister was a bit taller and appears to have grown up somewhat.
.....
"Welcome home, Skuld!" Belldandy finally said, after releasing Skuld from the embrace she gave her a few moments ago. "Oh, big sis! I've missed you sooooo much!" Skuld blurted out, with tears of joy in her eyes.
"I'm sooo sorry for causing you so much trouble with Keiichi, and, and...." she continued, trailing off, and sobbing buckets on her sisters' now tear-stained shoulders.
"It's okay, Skuld, I know you meant well, and I forgive you. I love you very much, Skuld." Belldandy said with a smile across her face, doing her very best to assist her younger sister to reclaim her composure.
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"Skuld, I know what you must do, and I will be there to do my best to support you, so please do it with sincerity. I know in my heart that Keiichi will forgive you." Belldandy said to her sister, aware of what she must accomplish today; knowing from the phone call she received the night before. Skuld pouted. She knew that she had to apologize to Bell's fiance', Keiichi, but uncertain of what to say or how to say it.
.....
She'd rather catch bugs all alone, rather than to apologize. "Skuld, Keiichi will be home soon, so please do your best, okay?" Belldandy lovingly replied, as she saw Skuld suddenly appear uneasy and a bit scared. "Okay....big sis.", is all she could muster, barely audible except to herself. Urd was there in the shadows, unaware to either of them.
"Welcome back, runt!" Urd shot out, catching Skuld and Belldandy off guard. "Urd! I missed you too..." Skuld bounced back as she glomped her silver-haired older sister. "I missed you too, Skuld.", she replied as she returned her tiny sister's hug.
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"Belldandy, I'm home!" Keiichi said, as he entered the house, removed his shoes, then slid the door closed. Belldandy greeted him with a hug and soft kiss on the lips. "Welcome home, my love." She responded, with a grin across her lovely face. "Skuld is back and she has something she wants to tell you.", she continued.
Keiichi knew that Skuld was returning today. He was also aware that his blissful days alone with Belldandy were now over. Or so the thought. "Okay, let's go and see what she has to say...." he half-heartedly replied, as he held Bell's hand and headed to the tea room to see what the youngest Norn was up to. They walked into the tea room and were stupefied to see Skuld kneeling on the floor with her hands outstretched in front, with her head bowed towards the floor.
.....
"Keiichi! I'm very sorry! For everything! I ask that you please forgive me someday for all the trouble I've caused you for over the past 2 years! I'm so very sorrryyy..." she blubbered out, with tears in her eyes and sadness in her voice. Bell and Keii were shocked beyond rational thought. Skuld has never apologized like this, not once since the day she moved into their then peaceful home.
.....
Keiichi knelt down to her level and gently placed his right hand on her head. "It's okay, Skuld. I know how much you love Belldandy, and I also know how much she means to you. I forgive you okay, so please, let's get along from now on, since you're a member of my family. I know you meant well. So it's okay now....", he continued......"I know we've been through a lot, and never saw eye-to-eye, and how much you and Urd have interrupted the relationship Belldandy and I have had for over three years now. You always trying to separate us, and Urd always trying to bring us closer together. But no matter how much you two have fought, bickered or argued, I never wanted either of you two to leave. It's always been so lively around here since you two moved in. Never a dull moment. And I wouldn't have it any other way." Keiichi finished, with compassion and reassurance in his gentle speech.
.....
Skuld slowly raised her head and wrapped her arms around Keiichi's neck. He gently returned her hug. Belldandy was in tears from her fiances' emotionally-filled speech, and seeing Skuld suddenly hugging Keiichi. She loved him even more, if that was even possible.
.....
Urd was stunned at this unexpected development. She desperately wanted to say a few choice words, knowing how much grief her youngest sister gave the mechanic who fell in love with Belldandy. But she held her tongue, sighed, then left the tea room, allowing the ambiance not to be spoiled by any bad vibes.
.....
Once the emotional mood lifted, Belldandy gave Skuld a hand up and hugged her as if her life depended on it. "Skuld I love you, and I'm so very proud of you. Please allow Keiichi and I to be happy, and for you two to get along from now on." Belldandy sang with affection in her voice.
"Big sis, I'm sorry to you as well. I never meant any harm by coming between you and the big j-j-- I mean Keiichi. Can you please forgive me, and allow me to stay here, with all of you? Please? I don't wanna leave anymore...." Skuld asked, her eyes swollen and face flush from the long water works from nearly the past half-hour.
.....
Keiichi answered: "Skuld, as long as you don't come in-between Belldandy and I from now on, you're more than welcome to stay here for as long as you like. We're getting married in a few months, and Bell would like for you to be in our wedding party as the ring bearer, as we're going to have a Western-style wedding instead of a traditional Shinto one."
Belldandy lovingly agreed with her spiky-haired fiance' and added:"Yes Skuld, as long as you and Keiichi get along, you can stay. That means no interrupting us if we're holding hands or hugging or spending any time alone. At all. Understood?"
Skuld barely shook her head and said "Yes...I understand Big Sis... I promise to not come between you two anymore. And Keiichi does treat you very well, and I can see that he l-l-loves you. He is a nice guy after all, I guess. And I can see that you lo-l-love him too...." She sputtered out, with an embarrassed look across her pink face, still flush from her emotional break-down earlier.
.....
"Thank you, Skuld. It means a lot to us. I'll take your word and hold you to your promise from now on." Keiichi finally said, after Belldandy and Skuld were done bonding. "Urd, do you have anything that you want to add?" Belldandy asked to her silent sister, who's been quietly listening for over the past half-hour or so. "Hell yeah I do...." she piped up finally.
Urd went on to tell the tale to Skuld how Belldandy and Keiichi met as children and how he came about to find her in the woods that day a little over fifteen years ago, and how Belldandy was forced to seal her memory from Keiichi due to the fact that she made a promise to him, which was basically a form of contract.
.....
But due to the facts that she didn't have her Goddess License yet, plus snuck down to Earth to escape Celestine's rigid teachings, she had to be severely punished. But Keiichi, being the nice kid he was, had told Belldandy that it would be alright for her to seal his memories away, so that she would not be reprimanded too badly. On top of that, he had promised to Belldandy that they would meet again someday, somehow.
.....
Urd also divulged the fact that she was the one who redirected Keiichi's call to Belldandy's desk when she worked at the Goddess Relief Agency Helpline.
.....
To say that Skuld was surprised would be a severe understatement. She couldn't believe her ears. Bell and Keii reassured her that the story was in fact the absolute truth. That they were undoubtedly destined to meet. Urd also went on and asked Skuld how many times that Keiichi had saved Belldandy's life.
.....
She shook her head yes as she remembered: once when she had turned Keii into a girl by having him eat a desert she made especially for him, and once again during the Angel-Eater fiasco.
.....
Belldandy fell deathly ill after the vial containing a deadly virus escaped that dropped to the floor and broke, while Bell tried her best to complete a potion to return Keii to normal. He was the one who risked his life to collect the wind crystals. And the second time when the Angel-Eater appeared and took Holy Bell away along with the other Angels. He was the trump-card; the only human in history ever to be able to support an Angel; which was Lind's angel, Cool Mint. Without his assistance and perseverance, none of the Goddess's would have been reunited with their Angels. And they were all extremely grateful for his help.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was now much later, and Skuld had retired to her room, laying on her bed; emotionally drained. She could finally comprehend and accept everything that Belldandy and Keiichi had been through. Despite all the terrible things she did to keep him away from her Big Sister, he forgave her and accepted her to be a part of his family. She knew that no matter what she did, Bell and Keii were going to be married this coming Autumn.
.....
Skuld badly wished that she could go back and undo everything, and start with a clean slate. But they lovingly forgave her. She only wanted her Big Sis Belldandy all to herself, but no matter what she did, was now a moot point. They fell in love despite all the fights, arguments and mini-bombs she threw in his direction. Skuld was finally growing up.
.....
Skuld wanted to have a few words with Bell and Keii, as it was now after dinner and they were getting ready to call it an early night. Belldandy told Skuld she could come by her room before bedtime.
....
*knock *knock* knock* Skuld gently tapped on Belldandy's bedroom door. "Big Sis, It's me....may I come in for a moment, please?" she asked with a heaviness in her voice. "Yes, come in please." Belldandy said, as she sat up on her futon, with Keiichi at his usual place on her left side. The both of them were already in their nightwear. Skuld was a little surprised to see Keiichi in Belldandy's bedroom, unaware of the fact that they have been sleeping in each others' rooms every-night since her departure, 2 months ago., but said nothing, per her promise earlier.
.....
"Um, Big Sis, I just wanted to say thank you, to the both of you for allowing me to stay here, and for forgiving me for the past. I will do everything I can to make the best of this and to accept your engagement. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know." Skuld politely said, as she bowed her head.
.....
"Thank you, Skuld. That means a lot to the both of us. Actually, Keiichi has something he wants to ask of you." Belldandy responded to her raven-haired younger sister, who seemed to be a bit more mature and composed, compared to how she was earlier that day.
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"Skuld...." Keiichi said "....You are the Goddess of the Future, correct?"
She shook her head yes, still looking at the floor. "Then I have a favor to ask of you. Nothing too big, just a small favor. Is it possible that you can look into the future and see how far ahead that Belldandy and I are still together?" Keiichi was going to test her, already aware of the fact what Kami-sama promised him after he and Bell are married.
.....
Skuld responded, with a puzzled look on her face. "I dunno Keiichi...I'm not too sure with my p-powers yet...I--i-it'll be difficult if I don't know how f-far ahead you ask of...But since I said I'd d-do anything, I guess I can at least do that much, but I'll need to h-h-hold your hands and concentrate very hard...if it's okay with B-big Sis." Belldandy shook her head yes, with a reassuring and loving smile. Keiichi stretched both hands out in front, as Skuld knelt down on the futon next to Belldandy, and faced him, as she laid her hands on her little sister's shoulders.
.....
"Okay, Keiichi. I'll have to ask you to concentrate and allow yourself to think about Big Sis, while I attempt to see in increments of 5 years into the future first."
Keiichi proceeds to do as asked and concentrates on his future wife and one true love, Belldandy. Skuld closed her eyes as she held Keiichi's hands and started to see images from the future. First 5 years, then ten. She sees them having dinner, going to amusement parks, drives along the seashore in his Beemer, and so forth.
.....
She notices that they both look very happy, but not a day older. She continues....fifteen years....twenty years...twenty-five years. They are still happily married and very much in love, but Skuld notices that Keiichi doesn't look a day over twenty-five years old. She starts to wonder as she peeks even further into the distant future...thirty-five, forty years. Bell and Keii are still married and she unexpectedly sees a little girl who very much resembles her Big sis, around 5 years of age, except with long jet-black hair and hazel-blue eyes. 'That must be Big Sis and Keiichi's daughter...' she silently thought to herself.
.....
Then without warning, Skuld rapidly opens her eyes, as tears stream down both her cheeks.
Belldandy notices right away, and says: "Skuld, is everything alright? Why did you stop?"
.....
"I'm okay, I think...b-but I saw...I saw....f-fifty years into the future, and...and...you and Keiichi are still married and look very happy...b-but Keiichi doesn't look a day older....I d-don't understand...why..is..t-t." Skuld replied as Belldandy tightly hugged her from behind, ready to tell her the reasoning behind Keiichi's future youthful appearance.
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"Skuld, do you know the reason why I have remained here by Keiichi's side for so long?" Belldandy inquired to her raven-haired sister, still hugging her from behind. "It's because of the wish he made, right Big Sis?" Skuld replied, trying to hold her tears of confusion back. "Well, that's partly the reason...see, Skuld, it's the way that he worded his original wish, and that was for me to stay by his side forever. And do you know what that means, Skuld? It means 'time without end'. I guess what I'm trying to explain to you is that Keiichi is immortal, even after we are married, and that he will never grow old or pass away."
.....
Once again Skuld was shocked, and she knew that Belldandy was always honest. She explained what her Father, the Almighty One told Keiichi the day he received an unexpected phone call, the following day after he popped the question and asked her to be his wife. "Ohhh...Okay, if Father said that, then that makes sense I guess. I just wish He would've told me that when I was home for all that time." Skuld said, as she sighed a sign of relief, thinking her powers were on the blink.
.....
Skuld wiped her face, and got up from the futon. "Well, I guess I'm happy for you Keiichi....you can be with Big Sis forever. I guess I wanna say 'Congratulations'. Please take good care of Belldandy from now on. And let us get along forever as well.....goodnight then." She gave Belldandy a kiss on the cheek and closed the door as she left her room.
.....
"Well, Keiichi my love, that went better than I thought it would." Belldandy said to her fiance', who had a stupid look across his face. "Keiichi, are you alright? You don't look so well. Are you sick?" she inquired, while placing the back of her left hand across his forehead, with concern in her voice.
Then like a bolt of lightning, Keiichi had another epiphany.
"Belldandy, I think we should move!"
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I hope you liked this chapter. It only took me a little over 3 hours to bang out.
I didn't have time to write since the holidays kept me quite busy, but I had this story in my head since I wrote the last chapter.
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I had writing it.