I've gone back to re-work the first four chapters as I prepare
for part five, the conclusion. All of the re-worked chapters will be
posted one per day; they are, I believe, the final form that these
chapters will take. Any final comments, especially corrections, are
desired so I can finally get this story posted at r.a.a.c! Please respond
by personal e-mail as I am not on this list. Thank you! :-)
Although Part Five is far from completion, I think I can safely
thank some people who made valued suggestions and contributions, sometimes
making my life a living hell! :) Chan Wei Lik, Ryo, Chris Lee, and
Ewan Chrystal.
And a big hand must be extended to my friend, Ed Sharpe, whose
tireless comments and editing has allowed this story to come to life (and
make my writing less vague, as another reviewer put it!) Kudos! As
well, his inspired story "No Mere Mortal" spurred me to write a tale
detailing the aftermath of a relationship, noteably the one between Skuld
and Kenji; a prolific character of Ed's, one whom I'm putting through hell
in this story--hope Ed forgives me!
So, comments now or forever hold your peace/piece! ^_^
Aa! Megami-sama characters created by Kosuke Fujishima.
Character of Kenji created by Ed Sharpe.
All other characters created by the author.
*** If this story is too dark for AMG, then sue me! :-) ***
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METAMATICS
A dramatic retelling of the last days of the universe
********************************************************************
METAMATICS: What is it?
In the 1950's, Swiss artist Jean Tinguely developed mechanistic
sculptures that poked fun at the machine age and art itself. He developed
sculptures that were monstrous machines. He designed mechas to attack one
another, auto-destructive 'sculptures' that, in effect, committed
mecha-suicide. He also designed mechas that could themselves create works
of art, which he called Meta-matics.
PART ONE: ANGELS HAVE FALLEN
Angels have fallen, fallen from heaven
Where did they go?
No-one could save them,
No-one forgave them their chance to know.
When I hear them below
I think how it is to be weary.
Save me from now, save me forever.
Hold me so close, I can't bear to go.
There's darkness around me
Or is it within me?
You're living forever
But I'm dying so slow.
Song "Angels Have Fallen" by Kansas.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The old woman was wearing a dress that might have been classy ten
years ago when it was new, when it was worn by someone with the right
figure to fill it. On this woman it hung so long and loose that the
hemline, dragging on the sidewalk, was continuously threatened by her
sneakers, and the sleeves came down so low that her hands and the neck of
a liquor bottle were invisible.
The old woman brushed a matted clump of grey hair from her eyes and
viewed the temple before her. Situated on a hill, this beautiful,
Japanese temple overlooked the university town of Nekomi, home also to
mega-computer giant, Fujishima Technologies a nd Industry Corporation --
FTIC; yet these details held little meaning to the lone woman. In her
weary travels she had finally reached her destination. When she spoke,
her words nearly strangled within her throat.
"Hasn't changed after all these years."
And she walked through the temple gate.
Inside, the savoury aroma of cooking wafted throughout the premises,
leading one's nose to its source in the kitchen. By the stove, a lone
woman wearing a long maroon dress protected by a white apron happily
prepared dinner. Her long, golden-blonde hair was tied back, allowing her
bright blue eyes to sparkle without being overwhelmed by her other salient
features; including the three diamond-shaped markings, two on her cheeks
and another, greater one centering her forehead.
Belldandy sang to herself, thinking how life around her was sweet, as
sweet as the scent that pervaded the room. She smiled when she thought
about her special love, Kosuke. Though there had been other loves in her
life, her love for him was a powerf ul bond; before he came into her life,
Belldandy had felt incomplete, and isolated, but now she couldn't be more
content. She would do anything for him, even die for him. However, she
hoped that this meal would be a suitable gesture of thanks for all th e
joy he'd given her. She hoped he'd like what she was making.
"Kosuke?" she called out for him.
Moments later, a dark-brown haired woman peeked out behind the kitchen
doorway. She wore faded bluejeans and a cherry-red blouse. "He's right
here." She held the hand of a small boy with sandy hair.
"Wha', Mommy?" the toddler asked, his wide blue eyes sparkling.
"Kosuke-chan!" she announced joyfully. Kneeling now, Belldandy
wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. "Thanks, Megumi."
"Mmm. Smells great!" Megumi said. "What is it?"
Belldandy smiled. "Shioyaki and Toko. Hope you like it."
"Of course I will, sister!"
"Megumi, please," Belldandy tittered, "You know I prefer to be called by
my name."
"Okay, so long as I can give Kosuke-chan a bath," Megumi offered.
"Oh, please don't on my account. I'm imposing on you already."
Megumi put up her hands, signalling a truce. "I'd really love to,"
she importuned. "You know how I'm with kids."
The doorbell rang.
"Please excuse me," Belldandy said, turning away.
A suddenly pensive Belldandy walked to the door, hesitating before
opening. A dull pain enveloped her mind, surrounding, then contracting
like a boa constrictor. Her current state of complacency was ripped away,
revealing a rotting, and teetering on the point of collapse, structure of
clandestine memories. Suddenly, she felt naked, vulnerable. She knew as
soon as she opened the door there would be no turning back. She shook
from fear yet, out of compulsion--perhaps a morbid curiosity--she
opened the door.
The strange but familiar woman before her looked weak and frail but
with a glimmer of youthful cleverness in her eyes. Her clothes, as well
her breath, reeked of sake. She gave Belldandy a sad smile.
The restaurant was busy, and the customers vibrated every available
air molecule with their boisterous conversations, talks of the short life
outside corporate walls. One such party was held by FTIC. They were
celebrating another 'coup' in their attempt to increase their market
share. Chopsticks dived hungrily into plates of defenseless sushi, while
beer glasses danced to the staccato rhythm of company toasts. Everybody
was blissfully ignorant to the outside world. Everybody, that is, except
Morisato Keiichi.
The solitary man, in the midst of scintillating company, quaffed his
beer, wiped off his mustache and sighed. Pronounced lines formed upon his
brow as Keiichi's mind deliberated on other things. The stress made it
difficult for him to have an appeti te. He couldn't eat. He thought
about the Peter Principle, where in every hierarchy every employee tends
to rise to his or her level of incompetence. Had he reached that point?
He looked over the table and espied a young woman sitting there. And
she was looking at him! Keiichi looked away, thinking that she was just
being curious. Where was he? Oh, right. There must be more to life than
this, he wondered. After he got married, it seemed that life had grown
dull and monotonous. It didn't help that Belldandy was too submissive,
too eager to please; yet her actions felt hollow, as if the will or desire
had died. They had drifted apart and he didn't know why. It was driving
him to madness.
Perhaps a change was necessary.
He accidently looked her way again. Still looking at him, she now
smiled. She was cute, probably five years his junior, and full of joie de
vivre. It was him she was looking at, right? Giving in, he gave her a
friendly wave of his hand and then tu rned his attention toward the
president, an ingenuous grandmaster who blathered something about 'if a
hundred business men decide to do it, then it's legal.'
Keiichi was only half aware that somebody had squeezed a seat in
beside him.
"Hi, I'm Kikuko," said a soft voice.
Keiichi could smell a strawberry fragrance which was like the voice
for some reason, tantalizing him. He looked at the person beside him. It
was her, the one who was looking at him!
"I've seen you around," she explained. She wore a navy-blue pant suit
which, along with her boyish haircut, enabled her to blend in
inconspicuously with the other men. "You're one of the technicians
involved with the latest Birugeitsu project."
Keiichi was impressed. "Really?" he said. He thought that most people
would not know him, owing to the company's practice of de-centralizing the
various departments.
"Sure," she replied, "You're pretty key in this operation. How's it
comin' along?"
"Fine, but there are many bugs in the design and I've now been
assigned as trouble-shooter," he said. He noticed that Kikuko was quite
attractive. Although her hands, toughened by years of work, and her
figure weren't feminine, she had a bright smile that would catch any man's
attention.
"Design work, hm?" she said. Aware that Keiichi was examining her,
she tucked one of the loose tails of her shirt back into her pants.
"Myself, I prefer to get into the nuts n' bolts and assemble the stuff by
hand."
"Me too, actually. I never thought I'd work for what is essentially a
computer company but, with all those advances in technology in the last
few years, computers and mechanicals are one and the same." It was a
development Keiichi detested; the more advanced and computerized
everything became, the less physical it remained. He mourned the good old
days when machines worked for him rather than for themselves, wondering if
there was any further use, other than maintenance, for humans. In effect,
he felt like a slave servicing the needs of the almighty computer; that's
why he preserved his home relatively computer-free, refusing to bring his
work home with him.
"The world has gone mecha, alright," she concurred. "FTIC believes
it's products will revolutionize the way we live. Pretty soon we'll be
living in VR chairs and letting the machines live for us." The thought
made her shiver.
"What? And stop having these company parties?" he laughed, smiling at
his new friend.
They continued the conversation and soon found themselves carried
away. To them, the rest of the party was no longer there.
"Urd? What are you doing here?"
"I thought that maybe you'd be ready," the ragged, dirty woman spoke.
"I have nowhere else to go."
"What happened to your boyfriend?"
Urd hesitated as she looked away from her sister. "He gave me the
boot... I'm too old for him," she sadly replied. She looked down to see
the young child fiercely cling to the skirt of his mother's dress. Urd had
a puzzled look on her leathery face.
Belldandy noticed this, so she explained that this was her son.
"Hi, little fellow. No need to be frightened," Urd smiled, revealing
a set of brown-stained teeth.
Kosuke-chan relaxed a little but kept his distance.
Urd stooped down to talk with the boy. "How old are you now?"
"Uh, three. Mommy, who's the old lady?"
"That's your Auntie Urd."
"Oh. I want the bathroom."
"Go ask your Auntie Megumi."
Another surprise for Urd. "She's staying
here?"
"Yes, she's working at FTIC part-time and, since it's so close to
the temple, she's living here and helping me look after my son."
"And I'm here as well." A tall, curvaceous figure walked in. She was
a beautiful young woman, with a flowing mane of shiny black hair and long,
shapely legs flowing from out of her short denim skirt. She also wore a
simple white blouse; her total appearance had toned down the bells and
large collars she had once sported in adolescence. Although no longer a
Yggdrasil de-bugger, she never did give up her trusty mallet which
remained strapped to her back by a belt, regardless of what she was
wearing or for what occasion. "Hiya, Urd. Long time no see!"
Urd felt joy to be still recognized by her sisters.
"Skuld, my you have changed," she said, hugging her sister. "Bet
you're the envy of many boys."
"Yeah. I hafta swat them away with Mjolnir," she said with pride,
patting her polo mallet with affection. "C'mon in. Dinner's almost ready,
so why not join us?"
"Why thank you," responded Urd while giving Belldandy a quick glance.
Belldandy avoided her gaze and remained silent.
"Oh, and have a bath. You reek," teased a playful Skuld, still
childlike even at age 20.
At the dinner table, Belldandy placed the final dish of steamed rice
among the generous selection, complementing the octopus and broiled fish.
Megumi, with Kosuke-chan in her lap, and Skuld knelt at opposing ends of
the table. The youngest goddess ha d already snatched the steaming pot of
green tea, impatiently pouring herself a cup. She was pouring herself
another when Urd, wearing a peach kimono, arrived at the table. Smelling
clean and fresh, the oldest sister knelt between the sitting ladies. Urd
looked more like her younger self, although still weather-beaten and
tired. The elegant host, Belldandy, removed her apron and joined the
group in grace.
"Sake," Urd said, breaking the silence once eating had commenced. She
acquired the bottle of Hokui she admired from across the table. "Drink of
the Gods!"
Megumi gave Urd a side-ways glance. "You like?" she teased. "Y'know,
while you've been gone these past years, our supply of sake has never been
the same."
"Oh, it never runs out?"
"Yep!" Megumi laughed. Kosuke-chan grabbed a fistful of rice and
crammed it into his mouth.
Urd appreciated the meal she had been offered. "Sister, are you sure
there is enough leftover for me?"
"Well, it was for Keiichi-san but tonight he's home late. Normally, I
save his share and reheat it when he gets in, but that's okay," she said
lacking the proper conviction to sound sincere.
"I'll make it up to you, I swear," Urd said abruptly. She hated to be
guilt-tripped. Silence ensued as Skuld and Megumi, not understanding the
significance of those words, observed the two sisters as they glared at
each other.
Megumi, hoping to return the atmosphere back to a joyful reunion,
asked Skuld to tell Urd what the youngest goddess had been up to recently.
"I've been in Iceland for the year," Skuld stated. "You'd figure a
place like that would have plenty of ice cream..."
The eldest sister was brought to life. "Ha ha, so you still can't get
enough of that confection, eh?
Megumi giggled.
"Say," Urd continued, "how's Keiichi?"
His sister spoke for him. "Real busy. The company we work for is
getting ready to unveil a new product--it's pretty exciting. I hear it's
going to be a world-wide event. Anyway, my brother has to work ridiculous
hours just make the deadline."
"What about you?"
"Me? I'm done for now. I was free-lancing for the company for a time,
but there's not much need for me anymore 'cause the bulk of the work's
been done."
"You must've had one helluva time keeping Skuld away from the
blue-prints!" Urd chuckled at the thought.
"Uh, actually..." Megumi began.
"No?" said an unbelieving Urd. She gave a quizzical look to her little
sister who quietly sipped her green tea. "What happened to that
mecha-fetish of yours, Skuld?"
"I grew out of it," said Skuld matter-of-factly, eyes closed.
"Really? When did that happen? I thought you'd always..."
Skuld hesitated. "I'm not... sure," she answered, absent mindedly
pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.
"Skuld! Remember the non-smoking rule in this temple!" Belldandy
scolded. She emphasized her point by indicating a sign on the wall
which read: No Smoking - Temple By-Law #2.
"Sorry, forgot." Skuld was beginning to feel the bad vibes were being
dumped onto her, so she decided to change the subject. "Anyway, I'm on a
two month break from my contract to fulfill wishes. Ever since I became a
first class goddess, I've taken over Big Sister's former job."
Urd winced at the mention of goddess qualifications.
Finishing dinner, Urd asked Skuld about something of which she was
curious. "Now that you are in the area, have you visited Kenji yet?"
"Haven't had time," she said bluntly.
"Actually, Kenji had sent Skuld a card for whenever she got back from
Iceland," added Belldandy helpfully. "It's--"
"May I be excused?" Skuld interrupted, standing up from the dinner table.
Megumi ignored her, asking Urd, "So if will you be in this town for a
while, why don't you stay here? This temple always has plenty of room.
You can even have your old room."
"That would be wonderful. I'll need some time before I can find my
own place." Urd looked at Belldandy, wondering what was on her mind. "If
it's all right with you..."
Belldandy was silent.
Megumi, realizing that the dinnertime chat was over, got up to leave.
"Well, I'm sure you and Bell have lots to catch up on. I'll be giving
Kosuke-chan a bath if anybody needs me."
As Megumi walked away with her son, Belldandy wanted desperately to
reach out but she stopped herself. She was alone now with Urd. How
could Megumi leave her in such a situation, she thought, but she then
realized she was the only who knew.
And Urd.
The eldest goddess was not insensitive; sensing the tension, she did
her best to ease it. "I'm sorry."
Bell tried not to listen by busying herself with the clearing of
dishes. And making sure she didn't hear anything offensive, she hummed
one of her clean-up songs.
"You know I had good intentions at heart. It wasn't to spite you or
Keiichi," Urd tried to explain.
In response, Belldandy only hummed louder.
The evening sky was just showing the first few stars of the night. The
crisp, cool air, although refreshing to the lungs, only served to remind
Skuld that winter was coming. Time for longer skirts, she thought,
feeling the cool air caress her legs. She pulled out a cigarette and lit
it, creating an amber glow on her face for a moment before engulfing
herself in a cloud of smoke.
She had walked some distance through the temple grounds along a shady
grove before she arrived at a disused shed, sleeping in the arbor. She
hesitated before entering, wondering if this would only complicate things
further. She knew Urd's arrival wa s an ominous portent of things to
come, but she wondered if she cared anymore.
She dropped and crushed the burning fag underfoot before she went inside.
Quietly, Belldandy showed her oldest sister the guest room, Urd's old
room. Memories cascaded inside Urd's brain as she stepped inside, feeling
a warm glow envelope her body. She wanted to clear things up with her
younger sister, but it seemed that Belldandy wasn't in the right mood.
"At least you gave me dinner, and I thank you."
"Come on, you are our guest," Belldandy said politely.
Urd looked at her younger sister with regret. "That's it, isn't
it? You're never going to forgive me."
Keiichi approached the temple wondering why the taxi dropped him off
at the ice cream parlor. Oh, right. He was hungry. Why didn't he buy
anything?
The street lights were fuzzy and the road looked like it was
breathing. He heard a loud crash.
And why do people put trash cans so close to the sidewalk? he complained.
Stumbling, Keiichi arrived home thinking pleasant thoughts about his
time with Kikuko. Then with a growling stomach he thought about
Belldandy's hot meals. He could always count on that, even if she herself
was cold. At least he had that to look forward to!
Skuld walked back through the shady meadow, still smoking and
contemplating. She stopped at one of the trees that lined the courtyard,
adjacent to the temple, and she leaned against it. Holding a white card
and torn envelope, she then pulled out a yellowed, crinkled paper and
held them out as if to compare them. The old note read:
Dear Skuld:
First of all, I'd like to congratulate you on your
passing of the exams. Anyway, I feel a need to write you
since I wasn't able to say this in person, and I've got to
get this to you before you travel abroad.
Skuld, when we met again at Belldandy- and Keiichi's
wedding, I didn't realize that my feelings for you were
stronger than ever. When we first met I was a little
confused and unsure of my feelings, but now I know that my
love for you is for real and a deeper love than just mere
infatuation. When I saw you at the wedding, I couldn't
believe how you'd become more beautiful over time. And
although you didn't steal the spotlight from Bell most of
the guys there were all over you. I admit that I was a
bit jealous. That's why asked you out, then and there, so
I could rest my mind.
The past two months have been the most wonderful of my
life. I wish it didn't have to end. Why do you have to
go? For two years? I wish we could have been together --
I mean, really together. I'm sorry, Skuld, I have trouble
writing about my emotions but I know my love for you is
forever. I just want to know if you feel that way, too.
Love always, Kenji.
She thought about Kenji's note. 'I loved you but,' Skuld looked
at the white card, 'you deserve someone who is pure and innocent.'
Belldandy tried to greet Keiichi with a kiss but he avoided it and
asked about dinner.
"I'm sorry but Urd came for dinner, so I'm making something special for
you. It'll be ready within the hour," Belldandy pleaded. She didn't like
getting her husband angry.
"You mean, you gave Urd my dinner?" Keiichi was dizzy from drunken
bewilderment. "How dare you! I'm your husband--who's more important than
me?"
Belldandy was bordering on hysteria, blubbering in a rapid-fire
delivery. "I expected you home much later so I thought it would be ready
by the time you came home. I'm sorry."
The apology only infuriated him. "You bitch!" he cried, before he did
the unthinkable, something that he would regret forever.
It was in a moment of berserker rage, an anger fertilized by
frustration and stress and a feeling of powerlessness, that Keiichi raised
his fist at his wife. In the second after his fingers involuntarily
clenched themselves, his arm shot up and conne cted with her cheek.
Belldandy heard a crack but did not feel the impact at all. Her eyes
widened in astonishment. Only when she collapsed backward from the mighty
propulsion did the event register in Keiichi's mind.
In sudden realization of what he had done, he ran to his room,
sobbing. Belldandy was left shell-shocked and in tears.
Urd overheard the melee as she walked over to the bathroom to see
Megumi, muttering to herself that it was a mistake to come here. How
could she rectify a situation of this magnitude in the state she was in?
In the darkened bedroom, Keiichi looked over the wedding photos trying
to figure out how everything had gone wrong.
"Everything was fine right up to the wedding. Look at Bell, how
beautiful she was in her dress. Like an angel. I was so madly in love
with her then. Tamiya, my best man. And Skuld, maid of honour. Mara
gate-crashed by popping out of the cake. Then the music started and that
demon wouldn't stop! That's classic. And Urd... "
He frantically flipped pages of the photo-album. "Where is she? I'm
sure she was a bridesmaid but can't find her yet. Wait. Here's The bridal
shot. She's not there! She was right next to Sayoko. Am I losing my mind?"
Megumi was more receptive to Urd than Bellandy, since Megumi could not
see any reason to behave any way different toward an old friend; so they
caught up on old times. Megumi played with Kosuke-chan as he was bathing.
"So my sister is now, not only a wife, but a mother?" Urd mused.
"Uh huh," she nodded. Megumi looked longingly at the child in the
tub. "Y'know, I wish I had a child."
"Was the pregnancy difficult?"
"For Bell? She found it quite easy, really."
Urd looked surprised. "Oh? Considering that a human and a goddess
conceived the child, I'm amazed that everything went so smoothly."
But before Megumi could continue, Keiichi came in to ask about Urd. "Oh."
He stopped. He saw Megumi.
Megumi looked at Keiichi. Her heart began to throb within her chest,
and she said, "Keiichi, you're home. I'm so glad."
She stood up and they embraced tightly.
Keiichi's heart also pounded. "I had a late meeting with the
boss."
"I missed you."
"I missed you, too."
Oh dear, thought Urd, better break it up. "Keiichi, aren't you going
to say hi to me?"
Keiichi returned to normal. "Is that you, Urd?"
"Yes, 'tis I. I think we've got a lot of catching up to do, eh?"
The pair walked off and Megumi, herself again, re-entered the
bathroom. "How are you doing, Kosuke-chan?"
She looked in. "Kosuke-chan?"
The bathtub was empty.
"Kosukeiii!!!"
END PART ONE