******

     There was a tearful reunion (well, on Soun's part anyway)
as they returned to the temple.  "What's going to happen
now?", Nabiki asked, looking at the frozen Brett, "While it's
good that you got him back.. I don't think he'll look good as
a garden ornament".

     "We'll have to see if we can find a way to break the
spell", Urd said, slumping against the wall, "but to tell you
the truth, I'm stumped".

     Belldandy and Skuld nodded, "That's a problem alright",
Skuld agreed, "I checked the heavenly database for data on
that collar.... so far I can't find any way to remove it".

     "Why don't you just ask him to remove it?", Kasumi asked
curiously.

     Urd gave her a scornful look, "He was ready to rip us
apart", she said flatly, "I don't think he's in the mood for a
logical discussion".

     Kasumi frowned, "I can't believe he'd hurt us", she said,
"no matter what's happened to him... he didn't hurt you Urd..
even when Akane fed him a hate potion".

     "But that's a totally different kind of magic", Urd
argued, "This is forcing him to hate... if we start talking to
him about removing the collar.. it will just overwhelm him".

     Skuld tapped her chin thoughtfully, "You know", she said,
"I think that gives me an idea".

     Five minutes later, after Ryouga had carried Brett's
inert form out into the courtyard, Urd was looking dubiously
at her sisters, "You really think this is going to work?", she
asked.

     "Look", Skuld said carefully, "We know that your potions
are still active... with a bit of luck if you ask him a
question.. he'll have to pause and answer you..".

     "That's where I come in", Ranma said, holding up a vial.

     "You just make sure that when he opens his mouth, you
pour that in!", Akane said, "If you miss, we're all going to
be in trouble".

     Belldandy nodded Skuld and the two of them cancelled
their time-freeze spell.  Brett staggered slightly as the
spell was released, "WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS", he bellowed
angrily.

     Urd glanced at him nervously, "Brett", she said.

     He turned to face her, "What are you doing?", he said
coldly, "Why did your sisters attack me?!?!?!?!".

     Urd squared her jaw, "Why are you angry?", she asked.

     Brett's face suddenly relaxed and his expression became
blank, "I..", he began.

     Ranma executed a jump-kick that had her passing within
inches of Brett's head and she tossed the potion down his open
throat.  He reeled back and staggered a few steps before
turning back to Urd.

     "Urd", he growled, advancing towards her.

     Skuld raised her mallet, but Belldandy placed a hand on
her shoulder, "Wait for it to take effect", she said calmly.

     Urd began to back away as Brett walked steadily towards
her, his eyes almost burning with emotion.  She suddenly found
herself against the outer wall of the temple, "Oh no", she
thought to herself.

     Brett stopped in front of her, "Now I've got you!", he
said, reaching out.

     Urd closed her eyes, "Sorry for making you into this",
she whispered.  Then she suddenly found herself picked up and
Brett's lips pressed against her own.  She opened her eyes in
shock,  she'd been kissed by Brett before, but never like
this.  It seemed to last forever.

     Skuld and Belldandy exchanged a smug look, before
Belldandy spoke up, "I don't mean to interrupt", she began.

     Urd broke off the kiss reluctantly, "I know", she said,
"The collar".

     Brett looked a little disappointed and he didn't put her
down right away, he looked at her lingeringly, "Urd", he said
softly.

     Urd blushed under his gaze, not used to having someone
look at her like that.  "Brett", she said, "Could you please
remove that collar You're wearing?".

     Brett nodded and placed her on the ground, then he moved
his hands to the collar at his neck.  His arms seemed to tense
and a sweat broke out on his forehead, "I...", he stammered,
"I.. can't... it's fighting...".  He fell to his knees,
straining with effort.

     "Here, let me help", Ryouga began, stepping up and
reaching out for the collar.

     "NO!", Brett shouted, backhanding Ryouga across the
courtyard.  Ryouga impacted the wall, turning it into rubble. 
Ranma and Akane quickly dug him our from under the wall, "He's
alright", Ranma replied examining him, "He gets worse from me
all the time".

     Brett's expression became pained as he struggled with the
collar, "No", he moaned, "I won't...".

     Urd placed her hands on his, "Please Brett?", she asked,
"Can I help?".

     He nodded slowly, as if it was taking all of his
concentration.  Urd added her strength to his, whispering a
quick spell.  There was a high-pitched scream as the collar
broke apart.  It fell to the ground and disappeared in a puff
of smoke.

                                  ******

     I woke suddenly, wondering when I'd fallen asleep.  What
amazed me even more was that I was kneeling in the middle of
the temple's courtyard.  Urd was standing in front of me, her
hands clasped in mine.

     "Ummmm", I began, "What's going on?".

     Urd smiled at me and I felt my heart soar, her smile was
like the sun on a rainy day.  "You're alright now", she said
with relief.

     I stood carefully and looked around, "How did I get
here?", I asked, "The last thing I remember is throwing a rock
at a guard demon".

     Noticing everyone's expressions I frowned, "What?", I
asked defensively, "Did I miss something?".

     Urd started laughing and then slowly, everyone picked up
her laughter.  I smiled in spite of myself, "Oh great", I
sighed, "Everyone's gone nuts!".

     Urd controlled herself with great effort, "Come on", she
said, pulling me towards the temple, "I think we could all do
with a good meal".

     Belldandy nodded to Kasumi and the two of the hurried
inside, my stomach growled in anticipation at the thought of
the two of them cooking together.  I felt a profound
disappointment as Urd released my hand and I frowned slightly,
something still wasn't right, I couldn't seem to think about
anything but Urd, her eyes, her hair, her... I stopped that
line of thought before it took me too far.

     I went inside have a quick shower and change clothes, I
was drying my hair when I noticed my reflection.  Bending
closer I traced two thin lines, which ran vertically down my
forehead.  Even as I watched, the lines thinned and began to
disappear.

     Shrugging on a clean set of clothes I almost bumped into
Ranma, who was waiting outside, "Hey!", she said indignantly,
"I was a prisoner longer than you! let someone else use the
bathroom!".

     I bowed and gestured grandly for her to enter, "Your bath
chamber awaits, m'lady", I announced.

     Ranma gave me a flinty look, "Yeah, right", she huffed,
pushing past me.

     Smiling slightly I walked back to my room, only to stop
as a shout of joy filled the air.  I turned back in shock as
the bathroom door was flung open and a taller, male Ranma
emerged.  "YES!", he shouted literally jumping for joy, "I'M A
GUY AGAIN!".

     I grinned slightly as he moved toward the common area to
share the news with everyone, "You keep jumping around like
that wearing just a towel and you'll prove that beyond a
doubt", I observed dryly.

     Ranma, who was still grinning, settled down slightly and
slipped back into the bathroom to change.  I sat down in my
room and flicked on the computer, bringing up the report I had
downloaded on Ranma's curse.  "At least I can try to help
Ranma and the others", I noted.

                                  ******

     Brett was frowning slightly as he walked back into the
dining area.  He sat down at the table, but made no move to
eat anything.

     "What's wrong?", Skuld asked, eyeing him over a bowl of
seasoned rice, "Usually you'd be giving *them* a run for their
money", she indicated Ranma and his father, who were
shovelling food down at an enormous rate.

     Brett shrugged, "Nothing, I suppose", he replied, half-
heartedly picking at his meal.

     Belldandy looked a little concerned, "Are you feeling
unwell?", she asked, "Is there something wrong with the
meal?".

     Brett shook his head, "No... I'm fine", he said, looking
around, "Where's Urd by the way?".

     "She said she had some work to do", Skuld replied, "She's
probably in her lab".

     Brett nodded and stood, "I think I need to have a talk
with her", he said.

     Then he noticed the strange look that passed between
Belldandy and Skuld.  "What?", he said defensively.

     Skuld grimaced and Belldandy had a knowing smile on her
face, "Oh nothing", Belldandy said innocently.

     Brett quickly retreated from the room, wondering what on
earth was going on.  He scratched is head thoughtfully as he
walked through the temple, to Urd's lab.  Knocking on the door
he heard a distracted "come in" from inside.

     Quietly sliding the door open he smiled broadly at the
picture Urd presented.  She was sitting cross-legged in the
middle of the room, stacks of magical encyclopaedias floating
at various levels, surrounding her completely.  One wall was
covered with blue characters in her handwriting.  Her back was
to the door and she didn't look up from the two test tubes she
was mixing.

     "Just dump the food somewhere out of the way", she
ordered briskly, "I'm busy here".

     Brett snapped his fingers, "Damn", he muttered, "I should
have remembered to save you something".

     The was a muffled crash as Urd dropped the two test tubes
and the encyclopaedias fell to the ground, she swung around
angrily, "What the hell are you doing?", she demanded,
"Scaring me like that??!?!". 

     Brett winced at her outburst, "Sorry", he mumbled, "I
didn't mean...".

     Urd sighed and shook her head, "No", she said ruefully,
"I should be apologising".  She muttered a few spell-words and
the books suddenly flew off and found their perches on the
bookshelves.  She dusted herself off and carefully cleaned up
the spilled potions.

     Brett watched her silently for a moment, his expression
unreadable.  "What's wrong with you Urd?", he asked, "Since we
got back you've done nothing but closet yourself in this room,
you've hardly said two words to me... this isn't like you".

     Urd turned to him with a half-angry expression, "Who do
you think I've been doing this for?!?!", she demanded, "Do you
think I've been enjoying myself here or something?!?!?".

     Brett was about to respond when he realised something, "I
didn't blank out and answer your questions", he noted, "That
means the honesty potion has been removed".

     Urd sighed and explained how they'd freed him from the
collar's hold, "That's why you've been staying away from me",
he surmised, "But why didn't you explain this right away?".

     "I thought that I'd be able to find a cure for you
quickly and you wouldn't have to know...", she began.

     Brett frowned, "Why should that make a difference.. I
mean it's not that big a deal.. really", he said forcing a
smile.

     Urd raised and eyebrow and smiled slightly, "Oh it
isn't?", she asked in a coy voice.  Urd stepped forward and
wrapped her arms around Brett's neck, "Do you really feeling
nothing at all?".

     Brett gritted his teeth, "Well", he said awkwardly, "I'm
just glad that I know you well enough to know You're just
teasing me".

     Urd smiled, "Am I?", she asked, raising her chin.

     Brett gulped a mouthful of air, but couldn't stop himself
leaning forward.  Abruptly, Urd pulled away, "Don't worry
Brett", she said, laughing slightly, "I won't let you get too
carried away".

     Brett looked almost disappointed, "Oh?", he asked.

     Urd's smiled faded slightly, "I know what you really
think of me, remember?", she asked.

     Brett frowned, "And what exactly do I think of you?", he
asked sarcastically, "You keep throwing that back in my face..
*WHAT* did I say to you?".

     Urd smiled slightly, her lips twitching upwards slightly,
"Well", she said, "If you knew.. I'd spoil the surprise of
working it out for yourself".

     "Oh great", Brett replied, "You're a big help".

                                  ******

     Urd and I were walking back to talk to Ranma and other
others suffering from the curse, when I noticed Kasumi and Dr
Tofu, sitting talking in the garden.  They were both smiling
and sat very close together.  I grinned at Urd, "Not bad
huh?", I asked, indicating the two.

     Urd shook her head, "Don't put your arm out of it's
socket by patting yourself on the back", she said
sarcastically, "It's the ultimate force.. not any supposed
skill at matchmaking on your part".

     I gave her a wounded look, "Hey!", I said, "At least my
one match has worked out better than the many *hundreds* of
yours!".

     I stepped out of range as she took a swipe at me with one
hand, "Just you wait", she promised, "I'll get you for that!".

     I grinned at her as we walked into the dining room. 
Ranma and his father were sitting, talking quietly at one end
of the room, while Shampoo was pointedly ignoring Mousse. 
Ryouga was sitting quietly at the table, sipping on a cup of
tea.

     "Now as corny as it sounds", I began, "You're probably
wondering why I asked you all here...".

     Ranma rolled his eyes, "Just get on with it... you
mentioned something about our curses?", he asked.

     I nodded and sat down at the table, "I'm very sorry", I
began, "But none of us can cure your curses".

     There was near outrage around the room, "WHY!", Ranma
shouted, "You said you could help us!".

     Ryouga was on his feet, "Brett-san!", he said, "I thought
you were my friend...".

     "We help you escape.. now you give us cure!", Shampoo
insisted.

     I looked at Urd and she shrugged, "It's your party", she
said, "You explain it to them".

     I shook my head and turned back to Ranma and the others,
"It's not that I don't want to help... ", I said, "I'm just
not allowed to!".

     Ranma frowned, "What do you mean?", he asked.

     I sighed, "Alright", I began, "Do you all know about the
'ultimate force' that comes into effect when a wish is made??"

     Seeing blank looks around the room I sighed, "Alright,
this force is up into effect to see that a wish will be
fulfilled, it can be something really simple, like making sure
that a coin lands on heads instead of tails... or it can be
really complex, turning the law of probability on it's ear", I
explained.

     Ranma nodded, "What's that got to do with us?", he asked.

     "The curses you are under have the same force working
within them", I said quietly.

     "WHAT?!?!", Ryouga exclaimed, "How do you know that?".

     "Firstly", I said, "What do you think the odds are that a
devil like Tupnixua would be released??".

     Everyone looked confused, so I continued, "Look, that
kind of devil is really powerful.. really nasty and it'd take
a horrible set of coincidences to set it free", I explained.

     "But that doesn't prove anything!", Mousse said, speaking
up for the first time, "It could just be chance".

     I nodded, "That's possible", I allowed, "But remember,
everything that's happened has been because I was trying to
cure Ranma... Happosai's antics wouldn't usually lead to
something like that, would it?".

     Ranma shook his head, "Now that I think about it", he
said, "Usually he stops short of using demons and stuff".

     I nodded, "There's also the fact that I looked it up in
the heavenly database", I explained, "It said that no god or
goddess is to try to interfere with a Junsenkyo curse".

     I looked around at the disappointed faces, "I'm very
sorry", I apologised.

                                  ******

     It was late in the evening when we returned to the Tendo
Dojo.  Shampoo and Mousse left quickly, saying that Cologne
had demanded they return as soon as possible.  We couldn't
find Ryouga, he had wondered off after I'd explained about
being unable to provide a cure for the curse.

     I walked out to the fish pond, watching the darting and
shimmering shapes just beneath the surface.  Ranma and Akane
were arguing about something and I glanced up in time to see
Ranma sailing out of one of the second story windows.  "UNCUTE
TOMBOY!", he groaned, picking himself up off of the ground.

     I shook my head, "You never cease to amaze me", I
laughed, "It's not often you find two people so stubborn in
one country, let alone living in the same house!".

     Ranma snorted, "So what do you do now?", he asked,
sitting on a rock, nursing his bruised cheek.

     I shrugged, "Well", I began, "I think Kasumi's wish is
taken care of, Dr Tofu certainly makes a good match for her...
and now that she's finally thinking of him other than just a
family friend....".

     "Does that mean You're leaving?", he asked.

     I noticed a wistful tone in his voice and I smiled,
"What?", I asked, "Gonna miss me?".

     Ranma grinned, "Actually I was thinking that Happosai has
been pretty scarce since we got back here", he admitted, "I
think the old pervert actually respects you".

     I laughed, "Well mate", I said standing, "it was nice
meeting you".  I extended my hand and Ranma shook it warmly.

     Walking back inside I almost fell over Nabiki, she was
sitting in the middle of the dining room, pictures spread over
the table.  "What are you doing?", I asked curiously.

     Nabiki picked up one of the photos, "I just finished
developing that last roll of film", she said innocently, "I
was wondering if you'd like to buy any of them?".

     I laughed, "Why?".

     She held up a photo, it was of the illusion that I'd
created to distract Happosai (one of Urd wearing only a little
more than a smile), "Oh I thought that you might find these
interesting", she said, then she grinned, "If You're not
interested, I know one person who would be".

     I gulped nervously and licked my lips, "I tell you what",
I began, "Give me *all* the pictures and negatives... and
we'll call it even".

     Urd nodded, "I thought you might say something like
that", she said, handing me a strip of negatives.

     I muttered a quick spell and the photos on the table
burst into flame, Nabiki jumped back in fright, but they
burned down to a powder and blew away as she watched.  I
stuffed the negatives into my pocket and said a grateful
goodbye to Nabiki.

     I stopped by and said farewell to Akane and Soun and
before I knew it I was walking into the kitchen.  Kasumi was
busy washing up some dishes, I picked up a towel and dried
them off as she passed them to me.

     "Well", I began, "I think you'll be alright from here on
out".

     Kasumi smiled, "Thankyou Brett", she said, "This wish has
worked out better than I'd ever hoped".

     I grinned, "Oh?", I asked, "that well?".

     Kasumi blushed, "Not yet", she said quietly, "But it's a
start".

     I walked back out into the dining room and muttered a
quick transport spell.  In a flash I was back at the temple
and my first mission for the Relief Goddess (I've *really*
gotta try and get that name changed!) Office was over.

                                  ******

     "Brett!", called Keiichi, as the young God appeared in
the temple's dining room.

     Brett grinned, "Hey mate!", he said warmly, "How did the
race go?".

     Keiichi gave Brett a thumbs-up, "We won!", he said
happily, "It was close, I almost thought that the team from
Honda was going to beat us...".  Keiichi gave Brett a blow-by-
blow description of the race, it concluded with Keiichi asking
if anything interesting had happened since he left.

     Brett burst out laughing, "You wouldn't believe it if I
told you", he said.

     Urd walked into the room, yawning and wearing only her
wispy nightgown "Are the two of you going to talk all night?",
she asked, "Some of us would like to get some sleep here!".

     Brett glanced at Urd, "What?!?!", she said defensively.

     "Oh nothing", Brett said, "It's just nice to know I've
got a good memory".

     "What?", Urd asked, frowning.

     Keiichi stood and announced that he was going to get
changed.  Urd watched him scoot out of the room and then
turned back to Brett, "What are you grinning at?", she
demanded.

     Brett shrugged, "Nothing", he said, standing.

     At that moment the roll of negatives he had been keeping
in his pocket fell out onto the floor.  Urd snapped her
fingers and the roll of flim winged over to her.  She held it
up to the light, examining it closely.

     Brett began edging towards the door.  Then Urd lowered
the film, "YOU!!!!  ", she began.  Brett didn't wait for her
to finish, he bolted out the door and across the courtyard,
wishing that he had a spell that would let him fly. 



                                  THE END
                                 (for now)

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

Author's Notes:

     I never thought that Oh My God would become as popular as
it has, every week I get a few more notes, some requesting
stories, some asking about new stories and some just to tell
me they enjoyed it.  This particular story has taken me many,
many months to complete (due to commitments in Real Life) -
but I've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of writing it, I hope
you all have enjoyed reading it.

     I've got to apologise for the recent state of my Web
Page, I simply don't have much time to update it.  As of this
time, it should contain *all* my stories, including A Trek
into The Past, A Flaw in The Blade and Freedom.  I've also put
preview chapters for some other OMGod stories that I've been
messing around with.  Check it out - if something's missing,
let me know and I'll fix it (I promise! ;)

     If you'll indulge me, I've got a few people who I'd like
to thank, aside from the creators of Oh My Goddess (imitation
is the sincerest form of flattery, after all), my friends have
been very supportive of my stories.. thank you all.. you know
who you are.. so there are no need for names!

     I hope everyone has enjoyed this little tale and I'm
looking forward to writing the next instalment... as always -
C&C is welcome....

-----Brett (darkwnd@sv.net.au)        (11/11/96)
           (http://www.ozanime.com/darkwind)


**************************************************
            E-Mail: darkwnd@sv.net.au
   Web Page: http://www.ozanime.com/darkwind

  "Imagination is more important than knowledge"

                             -Albert Einstein
**************************************************