RS wrote:

"I-I just want to talk, can we--"

"I can't!" Belldandy said firmly, "I want to, but--"

Her voice trailed off, leaving Keiichi with only questions.  It
was almost a given that she would want this, to be returned to
normal and have her powers back.  Not just because it is who she
was, but that the past few days had obviously been so stressful
for her.  The emotions, the impulses, the physical pain...she
couldn't possibly want to endure more of it!

True. It's nice to see him confused about things. Of course, I think Bell is
too.

"I don't want to lie to her, Urd!" he blurted out suddenly.
Now he did it.  The damage was done, and it stunned her.

"Oh, ho-ho," she said, "I see now."

"Urd," Keiichi pleaded, "It's not my call, and--"

"What kind of a man are you?" Urd demanded, "Are you afraid that
she will hate you?"

Of course, the right response from his is 'I like her either way just as
much." But that would be too easy.

Keiichi knew it, he was tightening a bolt on his motorcycle with
needless force.  Lost in thought and worry, the wrench gave way,
right after he had succeeded in stripping the bolt so that it
could not be removed.

"Oh, dammit," he said quietly, gathering his bearings in the real
world.  From his position on the ground, he searched for the
wrench that had skipped some distance away from him.

"Here you are," Belldandy said, once picking

'once picking' ? Not sure what you're trying to say there.

By this moment,

'time' would be better, IMO

"Even you don't understand what I'm going through!" she cried,
right before storming off.

Yep. She's human, all right. Now she expects him to read her mind, just like
all of them expect us to. :)

He paused before giving an answer. "Well, yeah," he said, "But you
don't have to put up with the trouble."

"I want to."

Nice answers.

To Keiichi, she was the same, and she was very much different, but
none of it explained why Belldandy, for whatever reason, would
want to remain as she was.  Only that, beneath the surface of her
behavior, she had acquired a rough edge that made being around her
a little more...complicated.

Nice way to put it.

"Alright, alright!" Keiichi said, laughing but all the while
trying to comfort her, "I guess there are risks.  That's why some
people don't ride roller coasters, it makes them afraid."

Need a line break here.

"That was...wonderful!"

"Huh?"

"Let's do that again!" Belldandy said eagerly.

Of course. :)

A stunned Keiichi looked at her, "You mean you liked it?"

"Well," she replied, trying to get it all out while catching her
breath, "It was so terrifying at first, and for a moment, I didn't
believe that I would make it, but...it just became so exciting!"

"Yeah," he said, "I guess that last turn did everyone skip a beat."

made everyone

The goddess laughed, and shook her head, "I'm still frightened by
it all...these new emotions can be so powerful.  But I just need
to conquer these fears, and I'll...maybe I'll be able to truly
make you happy."

"You never needed to anything more to make me happy."

Belldandy leaned forward, "Not like this.  Not like..."

True. It's about making her happy. She's happier this way.

reflected on her delicate face.

"You're wrong," he said to her, "Nothing can make me happier than
this.  But...you're welcome to find out."

Yes. We must find out. So do continue.

D.B. Sommer

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