G'day all...
It's been a LONG time since I posted much of anything to the FFML, blame it on too much work and generally being lazy. I have been writing quite a bit in the last months... and I find that today I have the time and inclination to post something..
I believe I've posted some of this story to the ML before.. but not the whole thing - several of these parts have been available at my web page (www.ozanime.com) but again, I've been rather remiss in updating it as well (I do have an excuse for this: I'm looking at moving my page to a different server.. and I was planning to update it then..).
To those of you who haven't read my stories before.. I would *highly* recommed that you first read the previous stories (Oh My God?, Too Good To Be True & Hazards of Divinity) - because I don't give a background at the beginning and you're likely to be throw in at the deep-end. Those stories are on my web page or at the RAAC archive in the AMS section.
All comments are welcome, any C&C is welcome as well.. I'll be posting some other stories which continue on after this one as well.. but I'll comment on those as I post 'em...
-----Brett
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Oh My God FanFic
Who's a God??
PART 1
by
Brett Handy
"Brett?!?!?", called an unfamiliar voice, it seemed
urgent and I blinked awkwardly and looked at the person
speaking. She was a beautiful young woman with white hair and
the nicest eyes I'd ever seen.
"Who are you?", I asked, then I noticed I was standing in
a huge room, with literally thousands of people, all lined up,
"Where am I?".
The woman looked at me in disbelief and grabbed something
out of my hand. The was a parchment of some kind, covered
with a script that seemed to shift as I looked at it, making
reading it impossible. The lady's face had gone white and she
muttered, "Oh no", before the parchment fell from her hands.
I frowned and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Are you all
right miss?", I asked in concern, scooping up the parchment
and leading her to a nearby bench. She seemed in a state of
near shock over something she'd read on the parchment. With a
little encouragement she sat down and I rolled up the
parchment and sat beside her.
The room I was in was huge (of course it would have to be
to hold thousands of people), but the architecture was like
nothing I'd seen. The roof was so high and it didn't seem to
have much visible support. The people in the room were rather
unusual as well, some of them were dressed in costumes from
various religions, one or two even sporting realistic-looking
sets of wings. The young lady seemed to have settled down a
little and was resting her head in her hands.
"Excuse me", I asked, when she looked up I smiled
apologetically, "I don't mean to bother you.. but could you
please tell me where I am?".
She took a deep breath and nodded, "You're in heaven",
she said carefully.
The poor lady must have some kind of mental problem and I
nodded, humouring her. "Very well", I said, "Does that mean
we're dead?".
She gave me a dirty look, "Don't patronise me Brett", she
said sharply, "I'm not crazy and I'm telling you the truth!".
I frowned, "All right", I allowed, ignoring that subject,
"Then could you tell me your name?".
"My name is Urd", she sighed, a look of near-pain in her
eyes.
"Unusual", I commented quietly, "Would it be a problem
for you to tell me how I got here?".
"Yes", she said blandly, "But I can take you home easily
enough".
I nodded, "If you wouldn't mind", I said, smiling
apologetically, "This is just a little strange to me".
Urd stood and held out her hand, "Come on", she insisted,
when I didn't take her hand right away. I reached out, took
her hand and there was a sudden flash of light. Quickly
snatching my hand back I rubbed my eyes and realised that I
was in a different room.
Now usually I'm a pretty open-minded guy, but this was
beyond me, "How did I get here", I demanded angrily of Urd,
who was looking at me sadly.
She shook her head, "Wait here", she said, stepping out
the door, "I'll be back soon".
The door shut and I looked around, the room was obviously
not mine, but several of the items inside looked remarkably
like ones that I owned. I reached out and pulled a book off
the shelf, flipping through. Then I got the shock of my life,
"To Brett, Happy Christmas - Mum and Dad" was written on the
front cover. I re-examined the book, it was the same as one
I'd received for Christmas at the end of high school. Placing
it back on the shelf, I went through noting that this
collection was exactly like my own. Then I noticed an
exception, there were several books that I didn't own. The
majority of them were continuations to other series I had the
first few of. I checked the cover and then it hit me, the
year of publication of the first was April 1997.
"That's impossible", I said out loud, "It's only 1996".
I walked over to the computer, it resembled the machine I kept
in my room. Flicking it on, I shook my head at the system
date, it read October 11th 1997. The system asked for a
password and I idly typed in my old password. To my surprise
it worked and the machine started up in some kind of graphical
user interface. The little copyright notice at the bottom of
the screen read "OS-Copyright 1996-97 Skuld". I played around
with it for a few minutes, noticing it seemed rather
efficient, before I found a diary file.
"I've never kept a diary", I said, looking at the
filename, it read 'Brett's Diary', the file was protected and
I tried every password I could think of. After my tenth
attempt I gave up. I was idly examining a fencing foil that
was hanging from the ceiling, noticing how the balance was
just right for me, when the door slid open.
I placed the foil carefully back in it's place and turned
to face the door, "How did you manage to get all my stuff
here?", I asked the pair of women confronting me.
The two women quickly spoke to each other in Japanese and
I frowned, not understanding more than a word or two. I
looked at the new girl, she appeared to be a little younger
than Urd and she had an apologetic expression on her face, "I
am Belldandy", she said gently, this time in English.
I gave her a speculative look, "I suppose you know me as
well?", I asked.
She nodded and I shook my head, "Look, I don't know
either of you and I don't know what all my stuff is doing
here!", I was getting rather concerned about what was going on
and a little angry at having been told nothing, "But would one
of you *please* tell me what the bloody hell is going
on!?!?!".
Urd ignored me and spoke again to Belldandy in Japanese,
Belldandy replied and I sat down on a chair, not understanding
a word. I don't know much Japanese, but I know an argument
when I hear one and they were arguing about me. I noticed a
jacket lying on the bottom of the bed and I picked it up,
checking the pockets I found my wallet.
I put it on and walked between the two arguing women,
"Excuse me", I said, slipping between the two of them.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, "Where do you think you're
going?", Urd demanded, "You can't leave".
"Listen lady!", I said, losing my cool, "I don't have a
clue who the two of you are, you won't tell me anything and I
don't know where I am". Pointedly removing the hand from my
shoulder I turned and walked down a corridor, "If you're going
to stop me, do it", I said, gambling that whatever I was
involved in, they didn't want to hurt me.
I reached what I assumed was the front of the building
and I opened the door and stepped down into the grounds of a
temple. Frowning I walked towards the main gate that appeared
to lead out into the street.
"Brett!", a voice called from the garage beside the gate.
I paused and looked in, there was a young man bending over a
motorbike, he grinned at me and spoke to me in a long string
of Japanese words.
"Err sorry mate", I said apologetically, "I don't
understand".
He looked at me strangely. Standing up he dusted himself
off and asked me something in Japanese. I smiled and shook my
head, "Sorry", I said again, stepping back.
"Wait", he said, in broken English, "What wrong you?".
"I don't know you", I said slowly, smiling apologetically
"Who are you?".
"His name is Keiichi", came a voice in English, from
behind me.
I turned around to see a young girl standing there, she
had a circuit board in one hand and a screwdriver in the other
and looked about fourteen. "Who are you?", I asked, looking
at the young girl.
"My name is Skuld", she said, "You don't remember either
of us?".
I shook my head, "No, I'm sorry but I don't", I said,
looking around at the temple I frowned, "I don't remember this
place either".
Skuld translated for Keiichi and then she looked at
walked over to me examining me closely, "You've been living
here for more than a year", she said, "What happened?".
"What are you talking about?", I asked in disbelief,
"I've spent the last year studying... living at home with my
parents and sister!".
"Brett", Skuld said seriously, "What year do you think it
is?".
"1996", I replied promptly. She and Keiichi exchanged a
long glance.
"What?", I asked, "You're telling me that it's 1997?".
The two of them nodded, "And I've been here and not at
home?", I finished. They nodded again.
I leaned against a wall, "Alright", I said out loud, "I'm
left with three options: first, this is all some kind of
elaborate joke". Skuld and Keiichi shook their heads and I
smiled, "Well, I didn't think that was the case, Option 2:
this is a dream". Skuld walked over and pinched me on the
arm, it hurt. "Alright, that leaves the last and most obvious
option", I said, "I've lost my memory".
******
"How could Kami-sama do this to me!", Urd fumed angrily,
"He's doing this just to spite me!".
"URD!", Belldandy protested, "You can't talk that way
about Kami-sama!". Then she noticed that Urd's hands were
shaking and it wasn't from anger, "It's all right", she said
gently, "Everything will be all right".
Urd shook her head, "No it won't", she said quietly,
"Things will never be right again". Belldandy laid a
comforting arm around her sister, "Brett's memory might return
in time", she said, "After all, look what happened with
Keiichi".
Urd shook the arm off, "That took years", she said,
"there's also the fact that this was done by Kami-sama! his
spells are unbreakable!".
Belldandy sighed sadly, "What do you want to do?", she
asked, "We can send him home...".
Urd nodded, "That might be best", she allowed, forcing
out the words, "He's better off being surround be people he
lov.. I mean.. people he remembers".
"Urd..", Belldandy began, not knowing what to say.
Urd turned and walked to the door, "It's better this
way", she said, "For him and me".
The door to the door opened and Keiichi stumbled inside,
"I've been looking for you all over, what happened to Brett?",
he half-demanded. Urd and Belldandy explained and Keiichi
whistled in awe, "He got to meet Kami-sama?".
"Not that he remembers it", Urd said sarcastically,
"We're trying to work out what to do with him".
"Ummm", Keiichi said, rubbing the back of his head
nervously, "I think Skuld has beat you to it".
"What?!?!", Urd asked, grabbing Keiichi by the shoulders,
"Where is Brett?".
******
I looked curiously at the strange device that Skuld was
working on as we talked, it was a mess or wires and exposed
circuit boards. I gave her an incredulous look, "You're
telling me that you are a Goddess?", I asked.
Skuld nodded, posing dramatically, "Are you impressed?",
she asked.
"Look", I said calmly, "I'd be more impressed with a
simple, logical explanation of what's going on".
Skuld sighed, "Sorry", she said, "But that type of logic
doesn't count here, magic, gods, goddesses, Demons, spirits,
they all exist, you just don't know it at the moment".
I shook my head, "Alright", I said, "Could you prove any
of that to me?".
Skuld looked thoughtful, "Which one?", she asked.
"For a start, how about doing something magical?", I
asked sceptically, "That'd be enough for the moment".
"All right", Skuld agreed, "I can show you something
magical". She began to chant in some kind of strange language
and I started to feel a strange tingling in the air around me.
Then above my head a sphere of light appeared, hovering
easily.
I nodded, "Ok", I said easily, "Magic works then".
Skuld gave me a strange look, "You believe so easily?",
she asked.
"Well", I said, "Either I've gone totally insane or
you're a really good stage-magician, whichever is true I'd
like to hear the rest of your story".
Skuld thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright, well I
met you a bit over a year ago...", she began.
"Skuld!", a voice called from the doorway, "What do you
think you're doing?".
Urd was standing in the doorway, looking rather angry,
"What are you telling him?", she asked.
Skuld gave her sister a defiant look, "I'm explaining
what's happened over the last year", she said, "Do you have a
problem with that?".
"Yes I do", Urd said, "He's going back to Australia
tomorrow morning, so don't go confusing him!".
"Err excuse me?", I asked, but I was ignored.
Skuld looked a little confused, "Why?", she asked, "Can't
we just explain what happened and he can still live here with
us?".
"Hang on..", I said, once again being ignored.
"Because I'm sure he'd rather be back with his family and
friends", Urd said.
"We *are* his friends!", Skuld shot back quickly.
"Now just a minute!", I said, standing between the two
arguing sisters, "Don't I get a say in this?".
Urd gave me a speculative look, "And?", she snapped, "I'm
taking you home, isn't that what you wanted?".
I took a half-step backwards at the anger in her voice,
"Did I do something to make you hate me?", I asked curiously,
"Cause if I did, I'm sorry".
Urd's anger seemed to collapse and she hugged me
suddenly, sobbing, "I'm sorry", she whispered. I held her
awkwardly, giving Keiichi and Belldandy an uncomfortable look.
Belldandy came forward, putting her arms around Urd. Urd let
go of me reluctantly and Belldandy led her back into the
temple.
I felt strange watching them leave and I gave Skuld and
Keiichi a speculative look, "Why don't you start with at the
beginning?", I asked.
******
Belldandy was sipping her tea thoughtfully when Brett
walked into the room. It was early evening and Brett had been
talking to Keiichi and Skuld most of the night. "Belldandy",
Brett said seriously, "Can you return my memory?".
"I'm sorry", Belldandy said, "But I don't think so, I'm
not that powerful".
Brett gave her a desperate look, "Could you try?", he
asked, "Please?!?".
Belldandy sighed, putting down her tea and walking around
the table to sit in front of Brett, placing her hands on his
forehead. She began chanting and I felt a tingling again,
this time from her fingertips, a blue glow began to come from
her hands and I closed my eyes to protect them. After a few
moments the light faded down to nothing.
Brett opened his eyes and noticed Belldandy looking at
him in shock. "What?", he asked, "What's wrong?".
"Kami-sama didn't cast the spell", she said, looking and
me carefully.
"Then you can remove it?", he asked.
She shook her head, "Kami-sama has *locked* the spell",
she said, "But someone else cast it".
"Who?", Brett demanded.
Belldandy shook her head in confusion, "You did", she
replied.
******
I eventually found myself sitting on the temple steps,
looking up at the evening sky. I felt very comfortable, just
leaning back and watching the stars, as if I'd done this
before. I chuckled a little, realising that I probably *had*
done this before. Ever since I was little I've always liked
to look at the stars. I'd taken every opportunity I'd had to
just stargaze, letting my mind wander.
"Could you use some company?", called a soft voice from
behind me.
I smiled and motioned for Urd to sit down, "I thought I'd
find you here", she said, smiling almost sadly.
"Pretty predictable am I?", I asked raising one eyebrow.
"Of course", Urd laughed easily.
"The stars are very bright here", I observed, "Especially
since we're in the middle of a city". Urd just nodded
silently and I pointed to the moon, still low, but rising over
the horizon, "I remember when I got my first telescope, it
was.. ", I began.
"Your seventh birthday", Urd broke in, "Your Dad got it
for you as a surprise, it was red and you stayed up way too
late and missed your morning classes the next day".
I was silent as she continued, reciting what I'd seen and
how I'd felt about it until I raised my hand in surrender,
"All right!", I said, cutting her off, "you know me better
than I thought".
Urd gave me a small smile, "I know you better than you
know yourself at the moment", she said laughing softly, "Trust
me".
I stood sharply, "I'm sorry", I said firmly, "But at the
moment I don't know any of you well enough to trust you, trust
is earned...".
"...not given away", she finished. I decided that a
hasty retreat was in order and I returned to my room,
wondering what was in store for me.
******
Urd was silent for a while after Brett left and her
sisters joined her a few minutes later. "You intimidated
him", Belldandy said softly.
"I've always intimidated him", Urd replied evenly, "He as
much admitted that to me once".
"So what are we going to do?", Skuld asked, "We can't
just give up on him".
Belldandy nodded, "Brett has no powers any more", she
said grimly, "That makes him a target and unable to defend
himself".
"I think we should return him home", Urd replied, "He'd
be safe there and would feel more comfortable anyway".
Skuld gave her oldest sister a cold look, "You mean *you*
would feel more comfortable, don't you?", she asked. At Urd's
blank expression Skuld shook her head, "Urd, you're looking
for the easy way out again".
Urd's anger exploded into a fiery aura, "WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT YOU LITTLE BITCH!?!?! YOU THINK THIS IS EASY FOR
ME?!?!?!?", she thundered.
"NO I DON'T", Skuld shouted back in response, "BUT IF YOU
LOVE HIM YOU SHOULDN'T GIVE UP!".
Urd's fiery aura disappeared, as if blow out by a gust of
wind, "But he doesn't love me anymore", she whispered.
Skuld shrugged, "But he did once right?", she asked. At
Urd's glum nod Skuld smiled brightly, "So what's to stop him
loving you again?".
Urd considered the question for a while and nodded,
"You're right Sis", she said, "I guess the only thing stopping
him is me".
"Why do you think Brett decided to cast a spell to remove
his memory?", she asked, continuing her assault, "Don't you
think he would have had a good reason?".
Urd thought for a moment and nodded again, "OK", she
said, "He stays here and we try to find out what happened".
Urd turned and walked back inside, leaving her two sisters
standing in the moonlight.
Skuld nodded and then looked over at Belldandy who looked
back at her proudly, "I couldn't have put it better myself",
Belldandy said, smiling.
******
"You drove that in a race?", I asked in disbelief,
looking at the ungainly car in the picture. Keiichi and I
(with the help of one of Belldandy's language spells) were
going through some photos that he thought might jog my memory
"Yeah", Keiichi replied, grinning, "And you navigated",
he picked up the album and leafed through a few photos,
"Here", he said, handing it to me. I frowned at the picture,
it was of me standing in front of the car in question. I had
my arm around Keiichi's shoulder and the two of us were
holding up a large trophy. Keiichi also had Belldandy
standing beside him with an arm around his waist and to my
surprise Urd was standing with her arms around me!
I stared at the picture, everyone was happy and laughing,
including me and with a cold feeling in my stomach I realised
that this was only a tiny fragment of the last year. Going
through the book I found other photos, of myself and my
friends of the last year. With a start I realised that most
of the photos of me, also had Urd in them.
"So Urd and I were pretty good friends", I noted, looking
at a photo of the two of us at the beach, Urd was trying to
push me under the water, without apparently a lot of success.
Keiichi glanced at me nervously, "Yeah", he said, "Good
friends".
I gave him a serious look, "How good?", I asked bluntly.
"Err...", Keiichi began uncomfortably, "I really couldn't
say...".
"Look mate", I said firmly, "This is important, I need to
know what I'm getting into".
Keiichi nodded, "You two got along very well", he said,
"But I thought you were just good friends, well at least until
this morning".
"What happened this morning?", I asked, as he broke off.
"Well", Keiichi said, blushing a deep red colour, "She
kinda spent the night in your bed last night...".
"You're kidding?", I asked in amazement, then I noticed
his expression and shook my head, "No, you are serious!".
Keiichi smiled slightly, "When I asked Belldandy about it
she said that it was none of our business what the two of you
did..", he said, "but she was giggling as she said it".
I closed the photo album slowly, "This is even worse than
I thought", I mumbled, "If I'd spent the night with Urd... I
should at least be able to remember it!". Keiichi and spent
the rest of the evening talking, I was sceptical about some of
the things he was telling me, but he convinced me more by
admitting that he didn't understand the truth behind a lot of
it, than just skipping the issues.
"*I* got drunk?", I asked in disbelief when Keiichi told
me about last new years eve.
"You passed out!", he said, laughed at the memory,
"Belldandy had to teleport you home, cause we couldn't wake
you!".
"Well that's a surprise", I said, "I don't usually
drink".
Keiichi nodded, "You vowed never again after that night",
he said, "And you haven't since". Then he grinned
maliciously, "Urd really got you the next morning", he said,
"You woke up and...".
"AHEM!", Urd interrupted from the door, "That's quite
enough of that Keiichi!", she said sternly.
Keiichi grinned, "Ok", he said, standing, "See you
tomorrow Brett". I nodded in farewell and was left alone in
the room with Urd, there was a long, awkward silence before I
finally got the nerve up to talk to her. "Keiichi tells me
that you were my teacher for a while?", I asked.
Urd nodded, sitting down opposite me, "That's right", she
said evenly, "I taught you everything I knew about spells,
incantations and potions".
Shaking my head I laughed, "This is all so strange", I
said, "Me being a trainee God, it's beyond ridiculous".
Urd smiled, "Perhaps", she said, "But you're here now and
you have to make a decision about what to do now".
I gave her a curious look, "What can I do now?", I asked,
"According to what I've been told, I don't have any powers
anymore...".
Urd nodded, "That's true", she said, "But you still have
a life here without your powers".
"You mean studying?", I asked, remembering Keiichi's
explanation of the computer courses I'd been taking at Nekomi
Tech.
"That", she said, "And there's also the matter of your
wish".
"My what?", I asked, not understanding, "I thought I
already had one of those".
"You did", she said, "But in that decree that took away
your powers, it also stated that you're entitled to a
'replacement' wish".
"So I could simply wish for things to go back to the way
they were?", I asked, confused, "Why didn't you tell me that
in the first place?".
Urd shook her head, "You could wish for that", she said,
"But I wouldn't recommend it".
I frowned, "What?", I asked, very confused.
"Because that's not a solution", Urd said. Then she
smiled, "Taking the easy way out probably isn't the best way",
she explained, "I had to be reminded of that myself". She
reached across the table and took one of my hands, "Have faith
that you cast that spell for a good reason", she said,
smiling.
******
Tupnixua idly polished one of his horns. He was lazing
about in a pool of flaming oil, he inhaled the aroma and
luxuriated in it. He enjoyed this time alone that he'd set
aside for himself, after all, being one of the Lords of Hell
was a difficult job. "My Lord?", a small voice asked.
"What?", he asked curtly, he'd learned not to kill a
messenger when it interrupted him (He'd gone through so many
of them over the last thousand years, that the budget had
blown out and he now had to conserve the ones he had left)
"Master, Demon Nilthar requests an audience", it
squeaked.
Tupnixua sighed, Nilthar had been a 1st Class Demon, in
line for a seat on Hell's council, until he'd run into that
Mortal-turned-God, Brett. Now he had a reputation of going
easy on his victims, even letting a few get away deliberately.
"Send him in", Tupnixua ordered. The two of them had one
thing in common, Brett was like a nagging itch that sat at the
back of Tupnixua's mind, always there, but nothing he could do
to 'scratch it'.
Nilthar walked slowly into the room, sweat visible on his
brow, "Lord Tupnixua", he said, bowing.
"What is it this time?", Tupnixua asked impatiently, "I
have little time for 2nd-Class Demons like yourself!".
Nilthar drew himself up, "I want to talk to you about a
mutual problem we both have", he said, "I have someone waiting
outside who would like to talk to you about Brett".
Tupnixua frowned, "Bring them in then", he said shortly,
"and be quick about it!".
Nilthar stepped out of the room for a moment and was
followed into the room by a disembodied spirit, that fairly
glowed with evil energy, "Tupnixua, Lord Of Hell", Nilthar
said formally, "This is Phalarus, late God of Evil of the
World of Lodoss".
******
I felt a little guilty at the pitiful expressions on the
faces of Tamiya and Megumi. Keiichi was explaining to my
other friends the (fictional) circumstances around my memory
loss and they were shocked to say the least, "I'm so sorry to
hear this Handy-san", Tamiya said, his eyes tearing.
"Thanks", I said, smiling a little nervously.
Ootaki patted Tamiya's shoulder, "There, There", he said
comfortingly, "We'll find someone else to fix the club's
computers".
"But they'll probably charge me full rates!", Tamiya
wailed mournfully.
I think the expression on my face must have said it all,
because Ootaki quickly smiled at me, dragging Tamiya behind
him, "We are very sorry to hear this Handy-san, you can count
on us for support...", he called, as he nearly ran from the
room.
Megumi shook her head, "Those two", she sighed. Then she
looked over at me and smiled, "If you need any help, don't
hesitate to let me know".
I nodded thankfully, "I appreciate this, it's all so
awkward... ".
"It's nothing", she said, "We always study together
anyway". With that she gave me a small pat on the shoulder
and headed off for her next class.
"Study together?", I asked.
Keiichi nodded, "The two of you seemed to get along
pretty well", he explained, "You helped her get through
ancient history and she helped you get through advanced
statistics".
"Oh", I said, feeling a little strange.
"You even went out when you first got here", he said
regretfully, "But things didn't work out".
I frowned, "What's wrong?", I asked, noticing his tone of
voice.
Keiichi smiled, "Nothing", he said, grinning, "But I
could think of worse people for my little sister to go out
with".
The two of us spent the rest of the morning touring the
facilities, several people greeted me warmly and I replied in
kind, substituting 'mate' for their names (our national
pastime of calling everyone 'mate' has more to it than many
people realise). Afterwards I'd quiz Keiichi about who they
were and how I knew them.
It was a difficult morning, for both myself and Keiichi.
I could see that it was a strain for him to continually answer
my questions and there was almost hurt when I didn't remember
some important event. It was getting late into the afternoon
when we returned to the motorclub, Keiichi was about to call
Urd for our 'lift' home when the door burst open and Tamiya
rushed in, "Handy-san!", he said, grabbing my arm, "Please
come with me, I have something to show you". I was dragged
outside and found myself standing in front of a car that was
covered with a large sheet of blue plastic.
"What's this?", I asked, looking around, confused.
Ootaki smiled broadly, "It's something we've been talking
to you about for months now", he said grandly.
"Don't tell me that's..", Keiichi began, before Tamiya
quickly placed a hand over his mouth. "Don't spoil things
Morisato", he said, seeming to force a laugh.
"Here", Tamiya said, throwing something to me.
I reflexively caught a set of keys that he tossed my way.
Then making a big show, Ootaki pulled the blue plastic away to
reveal a light-blue sportscar. I gave Ootaki and Tamiya a
confused look, "You're giving me a car?", I asked in
amazement.
The two of them nodded. Keiichi was making strangled
noises, trying to say something I walked over and opened the
door to the car, "It's great!", I enthused, looking over the
custom dashboard. I gingerly sat down in the driver's seat,
it fit me like a glove, apparently the seat had been modified
for my height.
"So you accept our gift, Handy-san?", Tamiya asked.
I smiled, "Thanks a lot mate, I won't forget this!", I
replied. At that point Tamiya released Keiichi (who gasped
for air), "We'll see you on Sunday then", Tamiya called, as he
and Ootaki quickly walked back into the club, shutting the
door.
Keiichi gave me a remorseful look, "Why?", he asked.
I gave him a confused look, "What's the problem mate?", I
asked. As I asked, I looked around carefully. The car had no
back seats and apparently the engine was in the rear, because
I could see part of it sticking through into where the rear
seat would be. It also had racing-harnesses in each of the
two front seats. When I noticed the map on the passenger seat
with the title, "Rally Japan, 1st leg", I became worried.
******
Keiichi stumbled out of the car as we got back to the
temple, "Where did you learn to drive?", he asked.
I shrugged, "Sorry mate", I said, "I guess I'm not used
to driving a car like this". The two of us walked inside and
Keiichi gave me a curious glance, "Are you sure you won't join
us?", he asked.
Shaking my head I smiled, "I'm afraid that I wouldn't
feel right", I explained quietly, "This party at the autoclub
doesn't sound like my kind of thing anyway". At his
expression I shrugged, "It was hard enough walking around
campus, how would I survive talking one on one with all those
people?".
"Well, if that's the way you feel about it, I can't force
you", he grumbled.
"Listen Keiichi", I said, as we reached the steps, "I
want to thank you for your help, I dunno how I'd be getting
along if it wasn't for you...".
Keiichi shrugged, "You'd do the same for me", he said,
"And I really think you should come to this party, you and Urd
have been looking forward to it for a few weeks".
I considered it for a moment, "I'm afraid that if I went
I'd make a fool out of myself", I admitted quietly, "And
embarrass my friends as well".
I felt a hand on my shoulder and noticed Keiichi looking
at me with a serious expression, "If you change your mind, you
know where it is", he said, "And speaking as one of your
friends, I'd never be embarrassed by anything you do, I know
you too well". With that Keiichi turned and walked towards
his room. I stood silently for a few minutes and then walked
to my own room, deep in thought.
In fact I was so deep in thought that I failed to notice
a figure in grey robes, sitting at my computer, until I'd sat
down on the bed. "Hello Brother", the figure said. I was
startled for a moment, the voice that had spoken had no
identity behind it, if could have been male or female.
"Do I know you?", I asked curiously, "What are you doing
here?".
"Ahhh", the figure said, standing, the robes hid the
person's body shape and face, so I had no clue who or what I
was talking to, "No you don't know me and before you ask,
you've never met me before today".
I frowned, "Then could you answer my second question: Why
are you in my room?", I asked.
"Perhaps I am here just to greet you brother", the figure
said, it's voice taking on a light tone, "Or perhaps I'm here
to warn you".
I opened the door and gestured to it, "When you make up
your mind, let me know", I said, "For now I think you'd better
leave".
The figure laughed, "You haven't changed at all Destiny",
it said, "No matter who they get to fill your place, you all
act the same".
I frowned, "Who are you?", I asked, "And why are you
calling me 'Destiny', I'm no longer a god".
"Arn't you?", the figure asked, "The forces of Destiny,
like those of Truth and Mystery are cosmic... who is able to
blunt them?".
"You didn't answer me", I said evenly, "who are you?".
"I did answer you", the figure replied, stepping forward
so that it was within arms reach of me, "You just didn't hear
me".
I reached for the door, only to have my arm intercepted,
the hand that gripped my arm was delicate, but the grip was
firm, "Brett", the figure whispered, leaning close to me. I
found I couldn't move and I felt the warm breath of the figure
on my ear, "Do not be afraid brother, I am here for you,
together we shall prevail, we two have always been one".
There was a flash of light and the figure vanished. I
stumbled out of the door, and ran into Urd. "What's wrong?",
she asked, "I felt magic coming from your room".
******
Brett finished his explanation of the encounter in his
room and the three Goddesses exchanged a worried look.
"What?", Brett asked, "Do you know who that was?".
Belldandy nodded, "That was the God of Mystery", she
explained.
"I'm sorry", Brett said, "I don't have any idea what
you're talking about".
Urd sighed, "Listen Brett", she said seriously, "When you
were the God of Destiny, you were taking the place of a deity
that was fulfilling the position of a natural element". Urd
frowned at Brett's uncomprehending expression, "You remember
that I am the Goddess of the Past?", she asked, at his nod she
continued, "My sisters represent the Future and the Present".
Brett nodded, "This mystery person kept calling me
'brother'", he mused.
"That's because you took the place of his brother", Skuld
explained, "The previous God of Destiny died".
"Gods can die?", Brett asked blankly.
Belldandy smiled reassuringly, "It doesn't happen often",
she said, "But it can happen".
"So I have a 'brother' god then?", Brett asked.
Urd held up a hand warningly, "You *had* a brother god",
she reminded him, "You're not a god anymore".
"This God of Mystery seems to disagree", Brett said
blankly. Then he thought for a moment, "What does 'Truth'
have to do with me?", he asked.
"That's your other brother", Skuld said, "Chia-Yao is his
name and he's the God of Truth".
"How did you know about him?", Urd asked, examining Brett
intently.
Brett grinned a little sheepishly under her piercing
gaze, "Oh, it's just that Mystery said something about Truth
and Destiny being cosmic forces.... so I guessed that there
must be a God of Truth involved somewhere", he explained.
"Well we can figure it out later", Urd said, standing,
"It's time for the Party at the Autoclub".
Belldandy and Skuld nodded, and headed off to get
changed. Urd looked at Brett, who was acting rather nervous,
"You'd better get dressed into something a bit more formal",
she said, looking at him critically, "That T-shirt and jeans
you're wearing arn't going to fit in".
"Uhhh.. I was actually thinking of sitting this party
out", he admitted.
"Why?", Urd asked, "We've been waiting for this for
weeks.. ". Then she broke off, "Right", she said, remembering
his memory loss, "Whatever". With that she stood and stalked
out of the room, leaving behind a young man who was feeling
rather guilty.
******
"I can't believe I'm doing this", I mumbled to myself.
After Belldandy and the others had left I'd found myself alone
in the temple (I'd been assured that the temple wards would
protect me if someone came knocking). I straightened out my
jacket as I stepped out of my new car, pushing the button on
my key ring, the car's lights flashed once as the security
system came on. Curiously I touched the window with one
finger. A moment later a blue-flashing light popped out of
the roof and a rather irate Tamiya's voice shouted out, "VILE
THIEF, STEALING THE PROPERTY OF A MEMBER OF NIT'S AUTO CLUB -
THE VENGEANCE OF HEAVEN WILL FALL UPON YOU...", the recording
continued to rant and rave and I quickly push the disarm
button.
Trying to act like nothing was wrong, I armed the
security system again and walked towards what I assumed to be
that building that the party was in (I used a time-honoured
technique of following the noise). Walking to the well-lit
building I nodded to a few people who were at the entrance,
"Evening Handy-san", one guy greeted me, handing me a can of
coke. I smiled in thanks and walked inside, into the noise
and music.
The music was blaring loudly and I smiled at people's
greetings, rather than trying to answer them. Moving further
into the room (where it was quieter), I spotted a familiar
face, "G'day Megumi!", I said as I reached her.
Megumi seemed to force a smile, "Hi!", she replied
absently, her gaze at a group across the far side of the room.
I frowned, "What's wrong?", I asked, noticing that she
seemed to be a totally different person than this morning.
She glared at me for a moment and then sighed, "That's
right", she said, "You wouldn't remember".
"Remember what?", I asked.
Megumi shook her head, "I guess some things never work
out the way you'd hope", she said, her gaze on the far side of
the room.
Trying to work out what she was talking about, I noticed
that she seemed to be staring at a guy in a suit, who was
standing between two girls, his arms wrapped around them both.
She noticed my expression, "That's my ex-boyfriend", she
explained, her voice hovering between angry and mournful, "I'd
been going out with him for nearly a year before I found out
that he was cheating on me".
I nodded, "Sorry to hear that", I said quietly, "The guy
must be a totally idiot".
"Actually he's quite smart..", she began, before she took
my meaning. Megumi nodded, "I never should have danced with
him that night", she sighed, "I should have stuck with you".
"Me?", I asked, confused.
Megumi shook her head, "It's all right", she said, "I met
him one night when the two of us went out to a club". As she
continued her explanation of the night in question I frowned,
"So you dumped me to go out with this guy?", I asked after her
explanation.
"Well.. I wouldn't put it that way", she said, blushing
slightly, "You told me to dance with him...". Then she broke
off, "I suppose it could have looked like that", she admitted,
then she looked at me closely. "You never said anything about
that night later Brett... did it bother you?", she asked.
I shrugged, "*I* don't remember", I said, smiling a
little.
Megumi nodded thoughtfully, "Well then", she said,
grabbing my arm, "I'll have to make it up to you". She led me
over to where people were dancing and the two of us danced for
a while.
******
Skuld and Belldandy were watching Urd with apprehensive
expressions as she sat down and began drinking. They'd
arrived at the party without Brett, but she'd seemed to accept
that easily enough. Later on that evening however Brett had
arrived and Urd had been estatic, until he'd started dancing
with Megumi.
"Please Urd", Belldandy said, "Don't do this to
yourself".
"Do what to myself?", Urd asked, sipping some sake.
"Sister, this isn't like you to give up so easily",
Belldandy said, "Brett will come around in time....".
"WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I'M EVEN THINKING ABOUT HIM?!?!",
Urd shouted, "I'm quite capable of managing my own personal
life thank you very much!". She then turned away from her
sisters and began to drink in earnest.
Skuld began to unlimber her hammer, "So they're dancing
are they?", she muttered.
Belldandy touched her little sister on the shoulder, "No
Skuld", she said, "It's not Brett's fault".
"Who said anything about Brett", Skuld replied, "I'm
going to pound Megumi into the floor!".
Belldandy blanched slightly, "You wouldn't?", she asked,
looking seriously at Skuld.
Skuld returned the gaze steadily, but couldn't bare her
sister's disapproval, "I guess not", she sighed, "But we have
to do something, or Urd...".
"I know", Belldandy said softly.
******
I enjoyed myself, dancing with Megumi, until I felt a tap
on my shoulder. Looking around I didn't see anyone behind me,
until I looked down, it was Skuld.
"Can I talk to you outside for a minute?", she asked.
"See you later", Megumi said.
"You bet!", I replied, following Skuld from the building.
I was feeling quite good as I stepped outside. Then I
noticed that Skuld seemed rather upset, "What's wrong?", I
asked, concerned.
"You'll see", she replied. The young goddess led me to
the parking lot and we stopped near my car. "Keys!", she
ordered.
I pulled out the set of keys and handed it to her. A
moment later Keiichi and Belldandy came walking over,
supporting a nearly unconscious Urd, "What happened?", I
asked.
"She's drunk", Skuld said bluntly, as the three of them
fastened Urd into the passenger's seat of the car.
"It's your fault", she said, throwing me the keys, "You
take her home".
The three of them turned and walked away before I could
bring myself to say anything. I looked over at the snoring
Urd, "My fault?", I wondered.
"Your fault!", a voice echoed beside me.
I looked sharply over my shoulder, to see the indistinct
form of the God of Mystery standing, watching me. "I know who
you are now", I said firmly, "But I'm no longer the God of
Destiny, so you can stop bothering me".
Mystery laughed, "Oh you think it's that easy", it said,
"You just snap your fingers and you're out of the game?".
Mystery took a step closer, "Oh no Brett, it's not that easy,
the game goes on, you can try to avoid it, but it will always
come back to you".
Urd groaned and I glanced at to her, when I looked back,
Mystery was gone. "Bloody hell!!", I groaned as I sat down in
the driver's seat of the car, "What do these people want of
me?". I pulled out of the car park and began driving back
towards the temple.
The drunken goddess startled into semi-consciousness half
way through the trip, "Bretsh?", she groaned, her speech
slurred, "Wha.. happened, where am I?".
I sighed, "I'm taking you back to the temple, you got
drunk and passed out", I replied, disapproval colouring my
voice.
She leaned back in the seat, "I know you donsh like me
getting drunk *HIC*", she mumbled, "But I only do itsh when
you're here...".
"Oh thanks", I replied sarcastically, "That makes me feel
so much better".
Urd nodded drunkenly, "Caush I know you'll be there for
me", she finished, then she lapsed into unconsciousness again.
I turned her words over in my head during the trip back
to the temple, Skuld's words also echoed in my thoughts, "It's
your fault, you take her home", she'd told me. I pulled up at
the temple and moved over to unstrap Urd, she giggled in her
sleep as I undid the safety harness that had been wrapped
around her. Lifting her into my arms, I was amazed at how
light she was, she woke suddenly, "What's going on?", she
managed to croak.
"You're fine", I said, trying to reassure her, "We're
home now". She seemed to settle down and her arms wrapped
around my shoulders as she hugged me tightly. I carried her
inside and to her room, then placed her on her bed and covered
her with a sheet, "There you go", I whispered, "Sweet dreams".
I flicked out the light and walked towards the door.
"Thanks Brett", she mumbled, half-asleep, "...love you".
I stopped in mid step. Turning around in amazement, I
noticed that her expression had slipped into one of total
relaxation. I closed the door gently and moved to my own
room, laying down on the bed. I now understood what Skuld had
said.
******
The next morning I got up and left early, skipping
breakfast and leaving before even Belldandy awoke. I guess in
the back of my mind I didn't want to face the consequences of
last night's party. I quietly pushed the car down the road a
little, so that the noise of the engine wouldn't wake any of
my friends. I laughed at my own thoughts, I barely knew these
people, yet I was calling them my friends.
Revving the engine I drove, not really caring where I was
going, but just needing to get away from everyone and
everything that seemed to have a claim on me. After about an
hour and a half I was driving along a seaside road as the sun
rose from the ocean. Pulling into a roadside park I sat down
and just watched it rise into the sky. Warmed by the sun I
just dozed.
A shadow fell over me and I opened one eye. An older man
was leaning over me, he had grey hair and an amused expression
on his face, "Something I can do for you?", I asked curiously.
He looked at me more closely, "You don't recognise me?",
he asked in a slightly English accent.
I sighed, "Look mate, I don't know who you are, I don't
even know who I am anymore!", I snapped, "I wish everyone
would just leave me alone and let me live the way I want to
live!".
His gaze seemed to go vacant for a moment and the
muttered a few words that I didn't catch. Then he looked at
me closely, "Sorry", he said, "I thought you were someone
else".
With that he turned and walked off into the bushes. I
watched after him in amazement as there was a flash and a
quiet 'popping' noise. Ever curious, I walked over only to
find a scorch mark and an empty clearing. With a chill
feeling, I walked quickly back to the car and headed back to
the temple.
******
I was driving through the streets of Nekomi, just looking
around when a motorbike pulled up close behind me and flashed
it's lights several times. I recognised the driver as Keiichi
and I pulled off the road.
"Brett!", he called, jumping off the bike and running
over quickly, "Are you all right?".
I frowned, "I'm fine mate", I replied, confused, "What's
up?".
He looked at me strangely, "You were gone when we all
woke up...", he began.
"I decided that I needed a bit of time to myself", I
replied seriously, "I mean from my perspective three days ago
I was simply using my computer and then the next thing I know
I'm suddenly missing more than a year of my life".
Keiichi looked almost angry, but controlled himself,
"Brett", he said slowly, "You shouldn't just disappear without
warning, even if you don't remember it, we *are* your friends
and we're concerned about you".
"I don't see what the problem is", I replied, taking note
of his serious look.
Keiichi leaned against the car, "Brett, believe it or
not, you've made quite a few enemies in that year you don't
remember".
"Enemies?", I asked, it wasn't something I'd considered.
"I've told you bits and pieces about what's happened",
Keiichi explained, "But I've been leaving out some of the more
unbelievable things".
I raised an eyebrow at that, "You're kidding?", I asked
hopefully. Everything he'd told me so far had been straining
the bounds of my imagination.
He looked a little nervous, "Well, perhaps it's better if
one of the Goddesses explained it...", he grimaced, "Actually
we'd better get back to the temple before they get everyone in
Nekomi looking for you..".
Within a heartbeat, he'd jumped on his bike, "I'll follow
you back", he said firmly.
I shook my head, but got into the car anyway and headed
back to the temple. The two of us were driving back to the
temple when I noticed something strange, we had reached a
bridge and the road across it seemed to be filled with a grey
mist of some kind. Acting on some instinct I didn't know I
had, I slammed on the breaks and locked the wheels to the
right. The car skidded for a few meters, before coming to a
stop a hair's breadth from the bridge. The traffic behind us
also ground to a halt and several cars were beeping their
horns at us.
Keiichi just managed to avoid ploughing into me and he
raised his visor, "What are you doing?", he demanded.
Before I could respond the ground began to shudder and
Keiichi fell from his bike, "Earthquake!", I heard someone
scream.
-----CONTINUED IN PART 2