I'll probably try going back to NGEjd 4 after this...although, if
I find I still do have momentum with this one, I won't waste it. Anyway.


  Well, then. Here we go, continuing on my first authentic self-insert.
n.n

************************************************
  An Oddzilla Productions fanfic, by Andrew Huang.
  Guard the Future, chapter 2.
  Based on Fujishima Kosuke's "Aa! Megami-sama!"
************************************************

  Presently, I was staring at the phone on my nightstand, back in my
small apartment. I was going to call my folks.

  No, don't get the wrong idea, we're a loving bunch. Sure, I don't call
nearly as often as Mom wants, but then again, no kid in college (or just
after college, as it were) does. But, well...I don't know. The entire
situation was so much for me to handle already. 

  I was sure that my parents would approve: me, getting a nice
internship in Japan, at a financially solid corporation--one that had
weathered the Asian economic shakeups just a few years ago, and even
came out better off. This would be great for applying to business
school, yes? Leaving the country, though, and this suddenly...didn't
know how they would take that.

  Besides, I might miss my sister's graduation, in a few months. Wait,
no, silly me; I can go around the globe in eighty seconds, with my
goddess's mode of transportation. Explaining that to them, though, would
be difficult.

  (So weird. "My goddess"?)

  "Oh, He...eck," I hastily corrected, and flopped backwards onto my
bed. "Why am I so worried?" Actually, I had my suspicions. I seemed to
be taking this all far too well, considering the situation. Let me show
you, back at the Heavenly Ice Cream Shoppe (With All Flavors Under the
Sun).

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

  "Japan?" I said. Despite my surprise, a little bit of glee rose inside
me. I _like_ Japan.

  "Yes," answered Belldandy. "Due to previous circumstances, we three
are presently residents of Japan."

  Ignoring a small scowl from Skuld, I spoke. "But...but how's that all
going to happen? I mean, I've got a job here, an apartment...I suppose I
can call on my connections from college, but it'll be pretty hard to
pull it all off."

  Belldandy replied, "The Ultimate Force will take care of it. It is
what keeps the effects of continuing wishes in motion. You don't have to
worry."

  Urd jumped in here. "Yeah--you know those connections you just
mentioned? Remember that resume you sent out? Let's say--it is, right
now, in the hands of an exec who really likes what he sees." She smiled.

  I sat silently for a few moments, digesting all of this. Then, a
question that I should have asked much earlier came to mind.

  "Hey. Hey, hey, wait. No one ever asked me if I really wanted to do
this. What's up with that? I mean...this is my life, here!"

  Belldandy and Urd glanced at each other. Urd took the initiative.
"Relax, kid! No need to get all bothered now. Look--think about it.
Think about all of this long and deep."

  I frowned at her, but relented. Might as well, huh? "Okay. Where do I
begin...."

  "You're alive, aren't you?" said Skuld.

  "Well, yeah...."

  "And you've always wanted to go to Japan for a while, right?" prompted
Belldandy.

  "Sure, but--"

  "And you've found your life to be pretty boring, I know that," said
Urd, grinning. "Think about all the excitement you'll get into, hanging
around all of us goddesses.

  "Um, I'm not too sure about that."

  Urd deflated for a moment, then narrowed her eyes at me. I shrank
back. "No, no, I don't mean anything like that, I'm _sure_ you're quite
an interesting, cool person, I mean goddess, I just don't know if I
could handle it, heh, heh, heh...."

  She hadn't stopped glaring, and I felt very, very small right now.
Fortunately, Belldandy defused the situation. "Urd, please...." With a
sniff, the oldest sister sat back and merely glowered a bit--and then
grinned.

  The grin scared me even more, actually.

  Belldandy continued. "Andrew-san. Father spoke to me earlier, telling
me how you see so many terrible things happening in the world, and how
you wish you could do something about them. It was that bit of you which
understood what was going on, while you were lying in the car wreck, and
pushed you to phrase your wish the way that you did. You're being given
a chance to act on that desire, now. Our wishes aren't monkey paws, ones
that twist what you wish for into something ugly and only superficially
adhering to what you asked for. That is the realm of the demons. Our
wishes actually follow through with what your heart really wants.
Believe me."

  I looked at her doubtfully. Belldandy picked up on this immediately.
She placed a slender hand on Skuld's shoulder, who looked up to her
older sister, questioning.

  "Please, Andrew-san. Father says...He says that Skuld's in danger.
Whoever it is isn't striking directly at her, now, but it seems like it
might happen soon. Even if they don't, even if they 'only' attack
worldly targets--she is the Future, and she would eventually suffer. I
couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her, and there is
only so much I myself can do to protect her. Please...."

  "I...." To my slight surprise, I felt tears welling up in my own eyes.
Wow, she's good.

  And--she was right. The world sucks, that's for sure. It'd be nice to
have the power to directly do things about...stuff. And there was Skuld,
here, to think about. I was growing rather fond of her...she reminded me
of my own younger sister. I wouldn't want anything to happen to her,
either. I nodded slowly, then spoke.

  "But it's all so freakin' sudden!" I wailed. Skuld almost fell out of
her chair, while Urd sighed in exasperation.

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

  After a little longer, I did agree. They were right--this was the sort
of thing I wanted, when I stopped and really thought about all of this,
long and deep.

  (What finally did convince me was the fact that a side effect of my
wish had, indeed, undone the "accident" on the highway. As it turned
out, in one of the cars involved, there had been a local politician who
was "on his way to bigger and better things," according to a suddenly
cryptic Belldandy....)

  I just couldn't shake how eerie it felt, though. That job opportunity
opened up so suddenly, as well as some housing slightly down the street
from where the sisters lived. They showed me pictures of the apartment.
It was definitely a very place to live. Much better than my flat here.

  The Ultimate Force creeps me out. I have to say that.

  I sighed. No use putting it off. "They'll approve. I'm sure of it.
Really."

  I paused. "Also need to stop talking out loud to myself. Hmmph."

  I picked up the phone, and dialed. "Hi, Dad? Is Mom there, too? And
Annie's home right now, huh? Yeah, yeah, I know, I need to call home
more often. Listen, I've got some good news...."

  I hung up about an hour later, smiling.

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

  "We don't really have to do this, you know. Any one of us could just
teleport you straight to Japan."

  Urd and I were waiting for the airplane flight that would take me
across the Pacific to my new home. It was two days after I had made my
call and picked up my last paycheck from my former firm. They usually
require two weeks notice, but...ah, I have no idea how the Ultimate
Force pulled it off, and I won't ask. In the meantime, Belldandy was
helping take care of things over there (such as claiming that apartment
for me), with Keiichi's help. And....

  "Well, sure, but it would be a little difficult explaining things like
that to my parents, as well as taking care of any eventual paperwork
that might come up, like stuff about when I entered the country.
Belldandy said that the Ultimate Force shouldn't be pushed too much.
Besides, I kind of like flying in airplanes. And so does Skuld."

  "Hmm?" asked the sleepy young goddess. Skuld had gotten bored of
waiting so long, and decided to go for a nap. Actually, she would have
preferred to sneak out on the tarmac and look a the jets up close, but
that wouldn't have been such a wise idea. Of course, that didn't stop
her from trying to duck through one of those doors labeled "Authorized
Personnel Only". She would have made it, too, if some other sense hadn't
told me that she was about to do something rash.

  I had a feeling that otherworldly forces weren't the only things I
would have to guard Skuld from....

  "Oh, nothing. Actually, you'd better wake up, 'cos our flight is
going to board soon." We all stood up, Skuld stumbling along slightly as
she struggled to wake up, and walked toward the gate where the flight
attendant was starting to take tickets.

  I looked at my boarding pass. First class. Mmm. The Ultimate Force is
kind of nice, actu--

  wait, said a still, small voice.

  Ohboy.

  "Hey, hold on...I think something's happening." With that, I strode to
the nearest "Authorized Personnel Only" door. Make that, my body strode
to the doorway; I was just along for the ride. SomeOne, a certain
someOne, seemed to be taking over this situation.

  "Hey...wait! Why're you going through? You said I--"

  "Skuld, don't argue. I think it's about...that."

  "What're you talking about?"

  No one moved to challenge me. Other than Urd and Skuld, I don't think
anyone noticed. My body walked to the closed door--and through it. I
found myself standing on top of a flight of stairs leading down to the
runways. To my left was a plane, our outbound flight.

  watch and learn. see over there?

  I looked. Nothing seemed wrong, at first, but then some shapes faded
into view. A few rat-like creatures--five, I counted--rather ugly ones,
were climbing all over the landing gear.

  They would hurt Skuld. They were trying to hurt Skuld. Skuld!

  I felt an ancient rage fill me, and Heaven's Knuckle appeared in my
hand. andrew, I will guide you, this first time.

  I raised the hammer high above my head, and jumped over the railing,
down about fifteen feet to the ground. There was a sudden breeze on my
back then, but I ignored it. Then I charged--silently. I'll never forget
that: I made _no_ sound as I ran....

  They were going to hurt Skuld! Over my fricking dead body!

  Wham! Wham! WHAMWHAMWHAM!

  Five demon-things disappeared in satisfying bursts of flame. Never
even noticed me until it was too late. Damn them! Ha!

  you see, my son? they are beginning to move.

  My body was suddenly again under my control. I blinked a few times,
then turned--and staggered slightly, on account of the strange weight
sprouting from between my shoulderblades. White angel wings....

  Through a subsiding haze of anger, a thought snaked into my mind: No
turning back now, was there?

  Unsure of what to do, I tried to think them away. To my surprise, they
vanished, quite obligingly. I looked at Heaven's Knuckle, and imagined
how a large (and still smoking) battle maul would look inside an airline
terminal. In short order, it disappeared as well. Then, I ran up the
steps, hesitating at the door.

  "Forget it." I turned the handle, opened it, and walked through.

  "Andrew! That was cooool!" burbled Skuld.

  I blinked.

  "We decided to take a peek at what you were doing. Skuld here rather
liked your technique."

  "Can I hold your hammer? Please? Please?"

  I felt odd, now...the adrenaline burst was gone, and so was the fury.
And having God take over my body there....

  "Let's just get on the plane. I'm kind of tired."

  I slept through the entire flight, without dreaming.

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

  Nudge. Nudge, nudge. "Wake up, sleepyhead. We're landing."

  "Huh? Ow! My neck! Argh!"

  "Oh, dear, Andrew-kun. Let me fix that for you."

  I like planes, but I hate trying to sleep in the seats. Even first-
class seats, it seemed, if I haven't had the chance to tilt the thing
back before I zonk out. (A waste of a first-class ticket, perhaps, but
at least it saved me from having to think about what happened.) Now, I
had this monstrous crick in...oooh...ahh...that feels.... Hey, it
stopped. I blinked, and turned my head to the right.

  "I _have_ made men melt beneath my fingertips, but never as quickly as
you just have, now. Not with a simple neck massage," said an amused,
silky voice. It came from just below a pair of twinkling blue-gray eyes
that were scant inches from my own.

  The next few seconds were spent in an attempt to wedge myself into the
wall of the plane's cabin.

  "Don't _do_ that! I just woke up! Gah!"

  "Urd! You shouldn't tease him like that." Skuld's voice piped up from
across the aisle, where she sat at a window seat.

  The plane approached the runway while I regained my breath and
retracted my wings. Apparently, they tend to spring out when I get
stressed. Luckily for me, no one else in the cabin seemed to notice
their appearance. Maybe they're invisible to normal people, or
something.

  "Actually, I cast an invisibility spell over them when they came out,"
said the same voice, now tickling my ear with warm breath.

  *fwipfwip*

  "Urd...that's mean. Don't bother him."

  "I can't help it! I've been so bored, and the way he reacts is just
priceless!" laughed the older goddess.

  I growled, as I unhooked my fingers from the armrests and again
withdrew my wings. This was going to take some getting used to. I shook
my head to clear it, and looked around.

  Skuld seemed unusually quiet, and just looked out the window as the
plane continued its descent. Something was wrong.

  "After she finally got over how great you were back there, with those
minidemons, she realized what exactly was going on," said a subdued Urd.

  I glanced over. "You mean, how they're sort of targeting her now?"

  "Yes. And the fact that Father had to step in, as well. We hadn't
expected anything this soon. We'll have to start on your training
shortly."

  I considered this for a few moments. "I think I should talk things
over with her, huh?"

  "That would be good, yes."

  There was a lurch as we finally touched down. "Oh, and...Urd?"

  "You want me to stop reading your mind."

  "Right. Hey! Stop that!"

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

  I stared in complete wonder at the sight in front of me. I raised a
slightly shaking hand, and pointed.

  "They...they have Pocky, in an airport snack stand."

  Skuld mentioned later that she could almost hear Urd roll her eyes
while I babbled.

  "I can buy _Pocky_ at an airport snack stand! And, and, roasted green
peas! With wasabi! Ooh, I think I see some copies of Shounen Jump! I'm
in HeavennononomaybeI'mnotletgoofmyearUrdpleaseOW!"

  I calmed down after a few minutes. "Sorry. You do know how I am...
especially after having missed my chance to come here a few years ago."
I looked around, and remembered something. "Hey, Skuld! Let's have some
ice cream."

  She perked up visibly. That's something which'll never fail. I hope.
"Okay!"

  "I'll catch up to you two later. I think I saw some cute guys over
thataway." Urd vanished with a bit of light laughter which promised...
er, stuff, for those guys.

  Skuld hmphed. "She's always thinking about that. Geez...."

  We walked over to the snack stand and each ordered a cone of our
choice flavors, then sat down at a nearby table. I licked my scoop of
green tea ice cream, looking thoughtfully at Skuld. "So."

  "Hmm?"

  "You seem a little quiet, lately."

  Her eyes fell. "I...I don't want to talk about it."

  "Are you sure?"

  Silence.

  "Skuld, don't worry. I'm here to protect you, now. More than that, I
_want_ to protect you, too. I'm glad I have the chance to do that."

  "Really?" she asked, in a small voice.

  "Of course. I made the wish, right? The Ultimate Force looked into my,
my soul, I guess, and saw what I really meant, even if I didn't exactly
know myself." Skuld nodded slowly. "So, if anything happens, it'll have
to get through me first. You can trust me on that."

  She said nothing for a few seconds, then smiled, a genuine, heart-
warming smile. "Thank you, Andrew." I returned the smile. This all felt
pretty good, really. "Oh, can I ask you something?"

  "Go ahead."

  Urd returned about a minute later, in time to hear the following
between myself and Skuld.

  "Please?"

  "No."

  "Waah! You're being mean!"

  "Sorry, but no!"

  "I just want to hold your hammer! I won't do anything with it, I
promise!"

  "Kami-sama said you'd want to play with Heaven's Knuckle, and that I
wasn't to let you."

  "Meanie!"

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

  "You may ask yourself," I murmured, "'how did I get here?'"

  Now, I was lying on my bed, in my new apartment, already furnished--it
had been taken care of before I left, actually. Though there were
logistical problems with transporting me across international lines
without going through customs and all, I had absolutely no qualms about
shipping furniture through a bathtub.

  My mind ground to a halt there. That just sounded downright strange.

  A knock at the door interrupted my musings. I removed the toothpick I
was chewing on--it's one of my few habits, one which my mom doesn't
particularly like. She says I look like a hooligan when I do that. Eh. I
walked over and opened the door. It was Belldandy.

  "Oh! Hi. Hey, thanks again for helping out here." I beckoned for her
to enter, and she stepped in.

  "Of course. Please, come over for dinner tonight. We want to welcome
you to Japan, and thank you for accepting all of this so graciously."

  "Oh, sure thing, thanks. Just let me get a jacket here...."

  While I hunted through my closet, Belldandy spoke again. "I heard
about what happened at the airport."

  "What, that Skuld called me a 'meanie'?" I called out, looking over my
shoulder with a smile.

  I could have sworn that I spied a grimace on Belldandy's face, but
I'll never know for sure. "No, at the other airport. The sabo-demons."

  "Yeah...that was something, all right. Never thought I would have to
get into it so quickly. Now I see what you meant, back in Heaven."

  She nodded. "Actually, the reason that plane was targeted was due to
some important business leaders taking that flight. You remember those
gentlemen sitting two rows in front of you?" I nodded, then flinched as
I saw her face harden. It seemed...so very wrong. "The fact that Skuld
was there was, for _them_, an added bonus. It is probably only a matter
of time, though...."

  I don't ever want to hear that amount of venom in Belldandy's voice
again. The way she said the word "them" could have roasted a steak.

  She continued in a gentler tone, much more like herself. "Thank you so
much again for helping. I feel I should warn you--your training is going
to start very soon, and it won't be easy."

  "Story of my life. I can handle it. I hope." I slipped my jacket on,
and walked with her to the door. I decided to change the subject to
something less disturbing. "So, what's for dinner?"

  We exited the apartment. My first night in Japan...it was looking
pretty good, really.

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

  Thanks, always, to my prereaders--Robert "The Eternal Lost Lurker"
Morrison, Chris "God-Boy" Angel, and Christian "The Flashman" Rogers.
Special thanks to Lurker for inspiring the bit about Skuld wanting to
see my hammer. ^_^
  "You may ask yourself, 'how did I get here?'" is a line from the song
"Once in a Lifetime", by the Talking Heads.


Andrew Huang
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~alhuang/
Harvard Anime Society, President
Wanted for taking the derivative of e^x