G'day again (look at that, two Fics in one day.. sometimes I amaze even 
              myself)

  Here we go with chapter 11 - enjoy and as always I invite comments

                          An Oh My Goddess FanFic

                                Oh My God ?

                                    by 

                                Brett Handy

Chapter 11:

     Nilthar walked over to Urd's body and sneered, "Looks like
your student could have done with some more teaching", he
commented.  A second later a blue light flared from Nilthar's wrist
and a sharp snap echoed around the clearing.

     Nilthar screamed in pain as his wrist was broken, he fell
backward and leaned against a tree.  Occupying the area where
Nilthar had been standing was the *very* angry figure of Brett.  He
rubbed his neck, "Well that was an awkward fit", he mumbled.

     Brett was minus his wrist watch, which was sitting in the
middle of a force bubble over at Nekomi Tech.  He looked in
disbelief at Urd's body and then turned to where he knew that
Nilthar had regained his feet.  "You *bastard*", he swore at
Nilthar, "You don't even have the guts to face me yourself".

     Nilthar (who was cradling his wrist carefully) narrowed his
eyes, "Oh no?", he asked, raising his good hand and sending a
powerful fireball hurtling in Brett's direction.

                                  ******

     I was at this point having second thoughts about running to
the rescue, I still remembered to cast the shielding spell that I
had memorised so Urd (if she was still alive) and I were protected
from Nilthar's first blast.

     I smiled grimly at him, "You'll have to do better than that",
I taunted.

     Nilthar set his jaw against the pain and raised his broken
arm, "Alright then", he said through clenched teeth.

     There is something to be said for keeping your mouth shut when
dealing with an opponent who is obviously more powerful than you
are.  I forced as much power into the shield as I could, straining
to hold it under his renewed attack.  It was then that I had a
rather unique experience.

     <Brother.. Hear me...>, came a voice in my head.

     I nodded and talked out loud, "Who the hell are you?", I
replied.

     <Just listen>, it said.  What followed was a detailed
explanation of the correct way of casting force-bolts.

     "I already know that", I replied, straining with the effort of
maintaining the shield, "Tell me something new".

     <OK>, the voice answered, <How about a little encouragement?>

     What I felt then was not the slow, comfortable, build-up of
power that I had come to associate with spellcasting.  It was more
like someone had flicked a light switch, instantly filling me with
raw energy.  Needless to say I put it to good use.  Nilthar must
have noticed the sudden jump in my energy, because he desperately
threw up a shield, just in time to stop my first shot.

     I smiled slight and threw another, followed by another.  I
must say the sensation of casting this kind of spell was something
unexpected, it was exhilarating.  What I failed to notice was the
state of my hands and arms, with the first bolt, all the hair was
vaporised along my arms.  Each bolt thereafter began to burn my
hands.  By the fifth bolt tears were streaming from my eyes at the
pain.  Thankfully before I had to cast a sixth, Nilthar turned and
fled after Marller, who had already departed the scene.

     I held my arms out carefully, they were red and blisters were
already forming, I was also totally and utterly exhausted.  Then I
remember Urd, lying motionless on the ground.  I hobbled over to
her, turning her over carefully, she was bleeding from a nasty cut
to her lip, and didn't appear to be breathing.  "No!", I said,
checking her pulse, it was there, but only faintly.  I quickly
began running over all the healing spells that I'd learned, but
none seemed to be quite enough for this situation.

     Desperately I tried the only thing I could think of, <Are you
still there?>, I thought firmly.

     <Brett?>, came the surprised (but tired) response, <What's
wrong now?>

     <It's Urd>, I replied, <She's hurt badly and I don't know
enough to heal her>

     I received what would probably be the mental equivalent of a
sigh, <Ok>, the voice began, <First you....>

     I carefully raised Urd's head and upper body from the ground,
resting her against my shoulder, wincing at the pain in my hands as
I repeated the gestures as the voice explained them to me. 
Unfortunately I never got to see what the result was, since I
passed out just as I concluded the spell.  I've since learned that
whenever you exceed your power, there is a tendency to black out.

                                  ******

     Belldandy and Skuld ran at full speed through the park,
slowing only when they encountered the odd tree.  "Come on", Skuld
said, racing ahead, "Urd's in deep trouble this time".

     Belldandy huffed a quick affirmative and increased her pace,
they had just entered the clearing which was the scene of the fight
as Brett's final spell was cast.  Skuld shielded her eyes at the
white flare, "What was that?", she muttered, raising her mallet and
moving quickly over to where the unconscious forms of Brett and Urd
were lying on the scorched grass.

     Belldandy reach the pair first, "I'd guess that Brett was
trying to heal Urd's injuries", she concluded.

     Skuld looked at her sister closely, she didn't seem to have
any injuries, "Well he seems to have done a good job", she
commented.

     Belldandy nodded, "Your right", she replied eyeing here
sister, who was snuggled up against Brett's chest, "Urd looks fine
to me".

     Skuld grinned, "Well perhaps we should just leave them alone",
she suggested.

     Belldandy smiled slightly, "I wonder what Brett's reaction
would be?", she pondered, then she remember that Brett had been
fighting too and gave him a quick visual inspection.  She gasped at
the condition of his lower arms and hands, they were bleeding and
blistered, "Skuld!", she said, pointing.

     Skuld winced and quickly put her mallet back into it's
holster, moving over to gently touch her sleeping sister on the
shoulder, "Hey, wake up Sis!", she insisted, being careful not to
disturb Brett too much.

     Urd mumbled a quick, "Go 'way.." and snuggled down against
Brett more comfortably, realising that this was unusual she opened
her eyes with a start, "What the....", she began loudly.

     Belldandy placed a hand on her mouth, "Shhh", she said,
"*Don't* wake him".  Seeing that this was probably asking too much
for Urd (being quiet that is...), she quickly cast a quick sleep
spell.

     Urd was about to protest anyway, until she remembered the
reason she had been napping, "Nilthar", she hissed, quickly rising
to her feet.

     Belldandy placed a hand on her shoulder, "It's alright", she
said, "Brett took care of him".

     Urd looked at his unconscious form disgustedly, "Oh great",
she said, "Now I've got to thank him for rescuing me".

     Belldandy's face became bleak, "Look", she commanded, point at
Brett's burnt arms.

     Urd followed her gesture and gasped, "He...", she began
quietly.

     Belldandy nodded, "Yes, I'd say he did that to himself,
casting beyond his ability", she confirmed, ripping off some cloth
from her dress and carefully binding his hands.  The three sisters
winced as Brett whimpered unconsciously at the pain.  Belldandy
removed a small mirror from her pocket, "I can get him home
easily", she said, "But taking you two would only make the trip
more difficult".

     Skuld and Urd nodded and stood back as Belldandy transported
herself and Brett back to the temple.  They turned and walked
slowly back towards their earthly home.  "Sis?", Skuld asked.

     Urd grunted in acknowledgment.

     "Why did you do that to Brett?", she asked quietly, "I mean
that thing about pretending to be his friend?".

     Urd sighed, "I wasn't really pretending", she said.

     Skuld nodded, "I didn't think you were..", she said, "But why
couldn't you just be friends with him *without* resorting to a
disguise spell?".

     Urd smiled, "Well it seems that Brett would rather share his
feelings and problems with another guy than with a girl", she
explained, "It's a real failing of him".

     Skuld nodded, "I suppose so", she said, "But would you discuss
all your problems with him?, I mean remember that time you....".

     Urd cut her off, "WELL", she interrupted, "I guess we all have
thing's we wouldn't discuss in front of a member of the opposite
sex", she admitted.

     "I'm sorry I ruined Christmas for everyone", Urd said quietly.

     "I don't think it's *me* that you should be apologising to",
Skuld said.  They continued back to the temple in silence, each
with their own thoughts.

                                  ******

     Nilthar screamed as the bone in his wrist was set back in
place.  "You couldn't have made that more painful?", he asked
sarcastically of Marller.

     Marller grinned at his discomfort, "You can do this yourself",
she said , "Or you can let me get on with the job".

     Nilthar bit back a heated reply and steeled himself for the
rest of the healing.  Aside from the broken wrist, he had bad burns
to his back, from where he had turned and ran from the fight, "Not
one of my greatest moments", he thought to himself, "Where did he
get all that power from?".

     He screamed again as Marller healed the bone, it seemed that
whoever designed the spells that the Demons were using had
neglected to mention the fact that while healing was accelerated,
you still got the pain (just all at once instead of while it healed
naturally).  "That should do it for your hand", she said, moving
around behind him, "But this might take a bit longer".

     Nilthar nodded, "Well get on with it", he growled.

     Marller grinned behind his back, "Oh yes", she thought, "I'm
going to enjoy this".

                                  ******

     Belldandy arrived back at the temple to find a *very* worried
Keiichi pacing the dining room floor.  "Bell-chan!", he said in
relief seeing her materialise from the mirror.  He raced over to
her, and grabbed Brett's head before it could hit the floor.

     "What happened??", he asked worriedly, noticing the makeshift
bandages on Brett's hands and lower arms.

     Belldandy smiled, "I'll explain later", she said, "For now I
think it's best if we take Brett to his room".

     Keiichi nodded and the two of the half-dragged and half-
carried Brett to his room.  Belldandy replaced the bandages with
fresh ones from a first-aid kit and then covered Brett up to let
him sleep.

     Keiichi looked at her curiously, "Why can't you just heal his
hands?", he asked.

     Belldandy sighed and sat down, leaning heavily against a
table, "It has to do with how the wounds were made", she explain
tiredly, "He inflicted them on himself using magic, so they have to
heal naturally, nothing I could do would help".

     Keiichi smiled, "I'm glad everyone got out of this ok", he
said placing an arm around her shoulders.

     Belldandy leaned against him comfortably, "Yes", she murmured. 
Then after a moment she sat bolt upright, "Where's Chia-Yao?", she
asked.

     Keiichi pointed to the kitchen, "He's in there, hasn't said a
word since you got back", he replied.

     Belldandy peaked into the kitchen, Chia-Yao lay snoring in the
middle of his pentagram.  She smiled at the position he was in,
curled up in a ball, lying in the protective centre of the diagram.

     "I don't think we'll have to worry about him until the
morning", she said to Keiichi, smiling.

     Keiichi nodded and then swept her up in a fierce embrace,
kissing her on the lips.  Belldandy smiled at him as he broke their
embrace, "What was that for?", she asked.

     He grinned, "Merry Christmas, Bell-chan", he said, almost
shyly.

     She nodded and gave him an equally passionate kiss, "Merry
Christmas to you too Keiichi", she replied.

                                  ******

     I don't know how long I was asleep, it could have been hours,
or weeks (I found out later it was days).  I opened one eye and
glanced around my familiar room in the temple.  Everything was
unchanged, except for one unusual feature, Urd was sitting on a
chair at the end of the bed.  She had obviously fallen asleep while
reading a book, because it was lying on the floor next to her.

     "Well at least she's alright", I mumbled to myself.  I felt
something unusual on my hands and raised them so I could see (bad
mistake).  I hissed in pain as I moved my fingers, my whole hand
felt like it was on fire.  I must have disturbed Urd, because she
came awake with a start, I quickly closed my eyes and returned my
hands to where they had been, before she woke completely.

     Keeping one eye slightly open I watched her stand, stretch
(again, a *very* pleasant sight indeed) and then moved over to take
a look at me.  Deciding that I needed a bit of revenge I began
mumbling in my supposed sleep.

     "Urd....", I muttered, "...how could you... Why?.....".

     The effect was immediate, she started crying (not *exactly*
the reaction I was expecting to evoke - I thought *maybe* she would
feel a *little* guilty), "Brett...", she sobbed, "I never meant to
hurt you....", and then she broke off.

     I began to wonder why and then realised that I had opened my
eyes and was looking straight at her.  I did the only thing that
came into my mind, with as neutral an expression as I could manage,
I muttered, "Errr, yeah, G'day....".

     "You...", Urd said, looking at me with daggers in her eyes,
"You...", she seemed to be stuck, "You....", and then she finally
decided on a conclusion to the statement, "YOU CREEP!!".

     I winced and raised my hands in a gesture of surrender, then
hissed in pain again, as I jostled my hurt hands.  "Hey, go easy",
I begged, "I'm an invalid at the moment".

     Urd frowned at me, seeming to lose part of her anger when she
noticed I was in pain, "Well if your well enough to talk then your
well enough to eat", she said, leaving the room.

     I looked at my hand, "Eat??", I muttered, "How the hell am I
suppose to eat with my hands in this condition?".

     My question was answered a few minutes later when Urd returned
with a bowl of soup and a spoon, she sat down on the edge of the
bed, "Open up", she said, aiming a spoonful of it in my direction.

     I think I managed a "Blub.. Slurp, Glup!", in reply.

     "That's good", she said, reloading the spoon for another
round.

     I frowned, "How long till my hands are healed?", I asked
bluntly.

     She grinned, "What?", she asked, "Already sick of my
company?".

     "Not yet", I replied and then looked at her critically, "But
your bedside manner could do with some improving".

     In response she shoved another spoonful down my throat.

                                  ******

     Chia-Yao awoke in a start, sitting up quickly, "What the??",
he muttered, looking around the room.

     He in an unfamiliar room, looking around he noticed plans and
diagrams all over the place and a computer occupied the centre of
the room.  "Where...", he began and then remember, "Oh that's right
I'm at the temple".

     He stood and rolled his shoulders, "I gotta make that body
armour more comfortable to sleep in", he thought to himself. 
Muttering a quick incantation he changed his clothing (or at least
he would have, if the spell had worked).

     He looked at his unchanged clothes strangely, "Now why didn't
that work?", he muttered uncertainly.

     "Probably because you've got no power left", Skuld commented
from the door.

     Chia-Yao turned around to her, "What do you mean?", he asked.

     "Well", Skuld said, walking into the room and sitting down at
the computer, "You used up so much power on Christmas Eve that your
still depleted".

     Chia-Yao nodded, "Your probably right", he said, "Brett really
sucked me dry with those force bolts, I don't know how he managed
to channel all that".

     Skuld grimaced at him, "Well he didn't come off unscathed, his
hands were badly burned", she explained.

     The God of Truth punched the wall in frustration, "DAMN IT!",
he cursed, "I shouldn't have let him draw so much power".

     Skuld placed a hand on his shoulder, "Come on, it's not your
fault", she said, "You couldn't have known".

     Chia-Yao shook his head, "I *should* have known", he insisted,
"It was *my* responsibility to deal with Nilthar, Brett shouldn't
have had to fight him".

     Skuld eyed him strangely, "You've changed since I last saw
you", she commented.

     Chia-Yao nodded, "More like I've *been* changed", he said with
a wry grimace, then he looked at her appraisingly, "Looks like
*you've* changed a bit too", he commented, "I'll probably have to
start calling you 'Lady Bug'".

     Skuld poked her tongue out at him, "Oh *very* funny", she said
sarcastically.

     Chia-Yao smiled tiredly, "Well I guess I'd better make my
report", he said, "Where's the phone?".

                                  ******

     It had been two days since Brett and Chia-Yao had awoken,
while Brett's hands were healing quickly, it would still be a few
days till he was without pain.  Urd had been waiting on him hand on
foot, to his apparent annoyance.

     "Would you *please* leave me in peace", Brett insisted.

     "If that's the way you feel about it...", Urd returned.

     "Yes!", Brett insisted, "Please go!".

     Belldandy looked up as Urd stomped into the room, muttering
"Stupid mortal, he can't even tell when someone's sorry", she
slumped down at the table where Belldandy was reading a spellbook.

     "So have you actually said 'I'm sorry'??", Belldandy asked,

     Urd nodded, "I'm sure he can tell....", she began.

     Belldandy shook her head, "All he can see is someone hanging
around waiting to be forgiven without even admitting a mistake",
she explained, "I think you will have to apologise, no bluffing or
making excuses".

     Urd shook her head, "What if he doesn't forgive me?", she
asked quietly.

     Belldandy sighed, "Well then you'll have to deal with that",
she said bluntly, "But you've got to at least make a start at
patching up things".

     "I though he was going to punch me when he found out that I
was Okuda", she admitted, "It frightened me a little to think I'd
forced him that close to loosing control".

     Belldandy smiled, "Well it might help to remember that he also
saved you from Nilthar, at no small cost to himself", she said, "I
don't think that's the act of someone who doesn't care".

     When Urd remained silent Belldandy got up and walked over to
where Urd had placed the presents Brett had gotten her for
Christmas, she picked them both up and pushed them firmly into her
sister's hands, "This is probably a good place to start", she
insisted.

                                  ******

     I'd just finished putting on my jeans (not an easy task with
your hands bandaged), when there was a knock at my door.  "Come on
in", I called, sitting down on the bed (I was still a bit worn out
from the fight and accelerated healing that had gone on).

     To my surprise Urd opened the door (surprise because she
usually barges in, unannounced - a habit that had gotten several
things thrown at her in the last couple of days).

     "Back to torment me some more?", I asked with a grimace.

     Urd sighed, "I think we've got to talk", she said, sitting on
the other end of the bed.

     "About what?", I asked tiredly.

     "How about these", she asked, placing two familiar objects on
the bed between us.

     I shook my head, "What's to discuss?", I asked, "I think you
answered my letter pretty well by your actions, as for the other
one, I think I'd call it a gift to a departed friend".

     Urd sighed and bowed her head, "Look I might have made a
mistake about pretending to be Okuda..", she began.

     "*MIGHT*??? YOU *MIGHT* HAVE MADE A MISTAKE???", I shouted,
getting angry that she would dismiss Okuda and my friendship as a
'mistake', "You pretend to be my friend all the time laughing at me
behind my back...".

     Urd interrupted, "I WAS NOT *PRETENDING* TO BE YOUR FRIEND",
she shouted back.

     That took me by surprise, "You what??", I asked, confused.

     She shook her head, "That's just it, I wasn't pretending", she
said quietly, "I never told anyone about our discussions and I
never laughed at you behind your back".

     I must admit that I was confused, "But why couldn't you be my
friend without resorting to trickery?", I asked.

     "Oh right", she said sarcastically, "Like you would confide in
*me*".

     I sighed and thought about it for a moment, "All right", I
said, "I think I can accept why you did it, but I'm still not happy
about it".

     Urd nodded, "I didn't think you would be", she said quietly,
then she picked up the small box and handed it to me, "I think
you'll want this back".

     I opened the box, noting the destroyed mess that was left of
the rose.  I looked at it and shook my head, "I should have
guessed", I said quietly.

     Urd frowned, "Guessed what?", she asked.

     I smiled sadly, "That the first girl I give a real *romantic*
gift to wouldn't like it", I explained.

     Urd shook her head, "I never said I didn't like it", she
returned, "I just didn't think you'd want me to have it, well, not
anymore".

     I grinned at her, "You have no idea how hard it was for me to
think of this", I said.

     She smiled, "I *do* know how hard it was for you to find,
remember?", she replied.

     I grimaced, "That's right, you would know", then I looked at
the rose, "Well since it took me so much time to think of, I
wouldn't want it to go to waste".

     I passed one hand over the box, reciting a spell that
Belldandy had taught me, one that repairs broken objects.  It was
a strain and after I completed it I felt *very* weak, but Urd's
reaction made it worth while.  I passed her the rose, now whole.

     She smiled brilliantly (and her smile was a least as nice as
Belldandy's), "Thank you", she said simply, accepting it.

     I cleared my throat awkwardly, "Ahem... Well since I'm giving
you the rose anyway", I said, passing her the box with the letter
still inside.

     She looked surprised, "You'd still like to go out with me?",
she asked, bemused.

     I nodded, "Well I figure that it's worth a try", I said, "We
got along fine when you were pretending to be Okuda....".  But even
as I said it I felt a small twinge at taking a second chance on
Urd.

     She smiled, "But I think if we go swimming, this time I'll use
the ladies change-room", she said.

     I blushed red, "Err yeah", I replied.  I looked at the happy
smile on her face and smiled back. "At least I can give the
appearance of having forgotten all about it", I thought to myself.

                                  ******

Author's Notes:

     Hmm - well the fight scene wasn't quite as big as I expected,
but to keep it in line with the dream, I couldn't have Belldandy
and Skuld join in (besides, that would pretty much wipe out the bad
guys and then I've gotta go and create a new ones :)

     For reference - Skuld is about 13 in this series - that makes
Chia-Yao around 16 (despite his grey/silver hair...)

     I hope you liked this one, only four more to go in this
series, *rubbing his hands together* - what further mayhem can I
produce????

-----Brett




---------------------------------------------------------------------
Address: darkwnd@sv.net.au   WWW page: http://www.sv.net.au/~darkwnd

Kane: "Master, the other children tease me..."
Old Master: "Have you learnt nothing from my teachings, Grasshopper?"
Kane: "What do you mean master?"
Old Master: "Well can you not beat the Sh#T out of them???"

  -----Fast Forward (1990)
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