The last of the old chapters after revision. I'll also send out
chapter 4 in just a bit.

  Now read on....

************************************************
  An Oddzilla Productions fanfic, by Andrew Huang.
  Guard the Future, chapter 3.
  Based on Fujishima Kosuke's "Aa! Megami-sama!"
************************************************

  Essentially, there were three different types of training for me:
skill, power, and, well, "et cetera".

  Skill was, for the most part, fighting technique. How to swing the
hammer (and it's not as easy at it seems, unless you _want_ blisters on
your hands), how to block, ways to strike...Skuld taught me all of
this--she's the one with plenty of experience using a hammer. Quite a good
sensei, too. In addition, she had this holoprojector, with which she
produced targets for me to practice on.

  Out of deference to Skuld, my targets--at least, for the time being--
were in the form of those system bugs that occasionally popped up around
Yggdrasil. It made sense, since right now, I was still working on the
basic of the basics: the overhead smash. How was I doing?

  "Well, Andrew," giggled Skuld, "total time was three minutes and six
seconds. That's ten targets you've crushed...and seventy-three craters in
the ground. You need to keep practicing."

  As I sat on a handy bench, blowing gently on my blistered fingers, I
summoned my bachelor's-degree-in-philosophy level of eloquence and
answered, "Biiiiiiih," accompanied by sticking out my tongue.

  Man, to have that finesse and dexterity that Kami-sama gave me on the
airport runway.... Now, that was _skill_. You'd figure that after three
training sessions, I would have gotten somewhere. But still, here I was,
after an hour of running around, with the level of aim that resulted in a
training field which rivaled the face of a blind man trying to shave
himself. Using a straight razor. After smoking crack. While he suffered
extreme hand cramps.

   "Don't be so negative, Andrew-kun! The hand cramps bit was just a
little excessive, perhaps."

  I bit back a sigh of exasperation. "I thought you were going to stop
reading my mind, Urd."

  She giggled. Only Urd can giggle and make it sound more sexy than cute.
"Oh, let me have my fun. I let you have yours, don't I?"

  I grinned. Skuld, watching from her position by her holoprojector,
muttered "Bleah."

  "That's true. Your turn, now?"

  Urd nodded. "One hour, yep. Come on, then."

  I jumped to my feet, eagerly. "How much this time?"

  She thought for a moment. "Hmm.... Okay. Solid granite, tetrahedral
shape, eight metric tons. You have a minute."

  Urd's my instructor in _power_, you dolts. Brute strength enhanced by
the runes in Heaven's Knuckle--the key was unlocking and controlling the
power. What did you think I was talking about?

  The pyramid of rock appeared on the battlefield. "HA!" I shouted, and
set on to it. As I concentrated, the lines engraved in my weapon glowed
softly. As I said, it was also about control; power was more than having a
good physical workout (though I did get that, certainly).

  On top of that, this one was excellent stress relief....

  Once the monolith was reduced to rubble, I turned, panting. "How...how
fast...was it?"

  Urd frowned. "Sixty-two seconds. I would have stopped you, but you
seemed to be enjoying yourself. Plus, you were almost done anyway."

  "Feh," mumbled Skuld. "Absolutely no subtlety. Just running in and
smashing things up."

  "Oh, it's all well and good if you can swing a hammer like a gymnast
with a baton, but what help is it going to be if you don't have enough
force even to dent the skin on a Ch'roll?" Urd shot back.

  "Well, if you have enough skill, you could hit the vulnerable spot, and
that doesn't take too much force--"

  "Why bother when you can just blast its head off, though? And you know
the GB species doesn't _have_ a vulnerable spot. They'd just keep on
spouting off nasty remarks while trying to rip you apart."

  I sighed. It was going to another one of those days. Actually, there had
been only three previous training days. Well, they were shaping up to be
just the same.

  "I'm taking a break, you two," I called out, in the absolute confidence
that neither would hear me. I approached the gazebo on the edge of the
field. "Wonder if Belldandy made cookies again...."

  In fact, she did. "Hello, Andrew-san," she called out, appearing from
behind the small structure, brandishing a plate of chocolate chip'ed
pieces of Heaven. The sight of that would make armies surrender for a
taste of home-baked goodness.

  "Ooh, thanks! My favorite.... You know that your sisters are fighting
again, huh?"

  "I heard them. I should go stop them before they take up too much of
your training time."

  I trooped along behind her as she glided across the field. "Skuld!
Urd!" Both of them froze, guilty expressions on their faces. The one on
Urd's disappeared in an instant, though. "Please, not now. We have much
work to do, still."

  "Right, right," said Urd, smoothly. "Andrew, let's get going then."

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

  An hour later...and I was hurting.

  "Did you really ow have to ack push me that hard argh today?"

  It was annoying. Here I was, a guardian angel, and I still had to suffer
the indignities of sore muscles due to being out of shape.

  "We're behind schedule anyway. Don't be such a baby...or do I have to
kiss it and make it--"

  "Pleasedon'tgotherePLEASE! Ow!"

  At that moment, I felt a soothing warmth rush through me, lifting my
body above its aches and pains, leaving them far, far behind....

  "Urd, don't tease him so. Are you feeling better now, Andrew-san?"

  "Thanks for the healing spell, Belldandy...."

  Now, it was Belldandy's turn. She teaches me just about everything else
that's necessary. For example, now I know how to shrink Heaven's Knuckle
down from its full size to its form as a blacksmith's hammer, as it was
presently, hanging from a loop on my belt. I nicknamed this form Heaven's
Nail Clipping. After Belldandy looked at me in no uncertain manner, I
stopped calling it that.

  (She raised an eyebrow! One eyebrow! How come a single raised eyebrow on
Belldandy is so disconcerting?)

  Another thing--how to fly with these wings. They're really nice to have,
you know. I like flying in planes, but that just doesn't even come close
to being able to soar through the air on my own power, gliding on
thermals, being up in the sky.... It's also pretty convenient how they
pass right through my clothes when they unfurl, not ripping anything, but
are otherwise tangible. They thought of everything.

  "Andrew-san, today is slightly different. We'll be going to Yggdrasil to
finalize your operating parameters...that is, set your power levels and
abilities," she explained, seeing the blank look on my face.

  "Ah." I nodded.

  The four of us quickly made our way to the Great Tree, once again
entering. Belldandy swept over to the nearest unoccupied terminal. I
followed, looking over her shoulder. "Why'd it take so long to do this,
anyway?"

  "As was said earlier, Class I guardian angels are very rare. It's been a
while since any have been appointed, and each case has to be specially
prepared, considering all the circumstances. Some of it is calculated by
Yggdrasil, while other parts--including the overall review--have to be
drawn up by gods. And goddesses."

  I blinked. "So that's where you've been this past week...."

  "You know, Keiichi's been feeling lonely, Sis. You shouldn't be away
from him that much, you know." Urd grinned. She always seemed to be
smiling, in one manner or another.

  Belldandy blushed lightly, something which _she_ always seemed to be
doing. "Anyway. Your power level is to be one degree higher than the
standard warrior angel. Associated element, ice." She tapped a key, and I
felt a buzzing sensation. Heaven's Na...Knuckle seemed to cool. "As for
magical capabilities outside of your elemental manipulation, you'll be
restricted to some healing and defensive spells. Intrinsic quality...we
deemed your job important enough to merit grade A regeneration."

  "What's grade A regeneration?"

  "So long as Skuld is...." Belldandy's face shadowed as she hesitated
there. Skuld herself looked away, studying the walls intently. "So long as
your charge is alive, you essentially cannot be killed. Physical injuries
will heal on their own very quickly, so long as countering magic isn't in
effect. Also, there can't be anything in the wound--that would block the
regeneration. For example, if you were stabbed with a knife...the knife
would have to be removed before healing could take place."

  I noted that Urd had gotten this odd look on her face when Belldandy
said "grade A". I thought it would be pretty cool, but I wasn't so sure
anymore, having seen that. Well, maybe I could ask her later. I watched as
a few more keys were typed. The buzzing sensation grew for a few moments,
rattling my head, then cut off suddenly. "Yow."

  "It's finished. How do you feel?"

  "Er...fine? Yes. Fine."

  Belldandy nodded, then resumed her typing. "Now, then, to update the
records...this will be just a few minutes."

  In the meantime, Skuld looked me over inquisitively, then whipped out
some sort of device. I backed away. "Skuld, what's that? It took me hours
to get the green out of my hair last time you pointed something weird at
me."

  She sniffed. "Just an ordinary scanner. Like Oneesama said, it's been a
while since a Class I's been around. I never saw one before, so I'm
curious what your readouts are like." She paused. "Cool!" She punched a
few more buttons.

  "I guess there isn't any harm." I stood patiently as she continued her
scan. "Hey, Urd, come over here, would you?"

  "What's up?" She stepped my way.

  "Why did you look funny when Belldandy mentioned my regeneration?"

  For once, Urd appeared uncomfortable. "Well.... I've known a few warrior
angels who had grade A regen. It's...it's just...no, no, don't worry about
it. They were just reckless, because they knew they had it. Just be
careful, and don't get into situations that require the full extent of
your healing abilities. I don't think it's likely that you'll run into the
same problems. Trust me--you don't want to know. And hopefully, you won't
need to know." She smiled slightly. "I hope you're not scared."

  I eyed her dubiously. Needless to say, it didn't reassure me in the
slightest.

  "Could I see the hammer, please? This'll take just a second."

  "Sure," I replied, absently, lifting it from my belt. "Well, Urd, I--"

  "WAK!" *THUD*

  Three pairs of eyes, one of them mine, swiveled around simultaneously.
They settled on Skuld, currently on her knees. Her hands were pinned
beneath Heaven's Knuckle, now expanded back to its full size. "OWOWOWOW!
Get it off me! Wah!"

  I silently picked up the hammer which was like a beam of light for me,
and like a beam of steel for Skuld. She yanked her stinging hands back,
shaking them, and sniffling. I caught her gaze, and she smiled sheepishly
at me, through a few tears.

  "Eh...heh...."

  "No ice cream for you tonight."

  "Awww! No fair...."

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

  Belldandy finished up her hour with me by teaching me some elementary
magic, both my healing and shielding spells--beginning with fixing Skuld's
fingers--as well as how to use my ice elemental abilities. (I suppose, to
be fair to her, I should call her my magic tutor now, rather than just my
teacher of miscellany.) It was really quite fun. All I have to do is
figure out how to create an ice sculpture of that really annoying guy one
floor down from where I am at work, and I can have some extra stress
relief. Mweh. Heh. Heh.

  Now, we were done for the day. I was feeling kind of tired; my abilities
only take care of injuries and the like--I still have to eat and rest to
recover energy, that sort of thing. Anyway, I followed the three back to
Earth, grabbing a ride with Belldandy through her mirror transport mode.
Don't ask me to explain how that feels.

  "Andrew-san," she said as we arrived, "would you like to join us for
dinner tonight?"

  She's asked me this both of the previous Wednesdays, starting with the
day that I arrived here. I think this is going to become a ritual, of
sorts.

  "I would love to," I answered, with a smile. Hey, I'm a single young
male. My cooking skills are perhaps better than most bachelors' (Mom has
pronounced my simple vegetable sautees as "very good"), but this is
Belldandy's food I'm talking about. I'm not going to miss this, ever.

  "Hello, Belldandy...hey, Andrew!" greeted Keiichi, coming around the
corner in the hallway. "How are you today?"

  Good old Keiichi. I could say that he'd never know how lucky he is, but
the thing is, I'm sure he does realize it. No one could ever take
Belldandy for granted. Besides, the guy's had pretty rotten luck with
females before she came into his life.

  "Pretty good," I answered, grinning and summoning a small bit of power.
I put my hand out, palm up, and said, "Need to keep your drinks cold? I'm
your man!"

  There was a flash of magic and a crinkling sound.

  There was silence.

  "Doesn't that hurt?" asked Keiichi, after a moment.

  "Ysssss," I answered, through gritted teeth.

  "Oh, dear," said Belldandy. "Let me thaw your arm out...."

  Though ice is my elemental, it seems I can still get hurt by it,
especially when I do it to myself. Geez, I try to flash-freeze the
moisture in the air above my hand, and I get my forearm instead. So that's
what it's like to have ice crystals form in your veins. Very interesting.

  "Ow! Eagh! Thanks...ooh, I can feel it healing up. Gah! Remind me never
to show off, okay?"

  "Ha! You could try telling Urd that, too. She's always messing up her
magic spells." Skuld stood in the doorway of the bathroom, from where she
had observed my little mishap.

  "I heard that!" said the TV in the living room.

  It never ends....

  But, at least, life would go on. Belldandy slipped into the kitchen to
make dinner, while Keiichi and I sat down at the table, crosslegged. We
ignored the continuing squabble between Skuld and Urd.

  "So, you learned magic today?" ventured Keiichi.

  I nodded. "Not as well as I'd hoped, I guess. I'm kind of worried.
Things are coming to me too slowly--it's been more than two weeks already,
and I'm doing so poorly. At least nothing's happened yet." I shook my
head. I was, frankly, afraid of having to do my job, considering my
learning curve.

  "Don't worry. Besides, you're not the only one protecting her, Belldandy
and Urd are here. You all can manage. I'm sure." He smiled.

  "I hope so." I looked at the glass of water in front of me. "Let me try
this again." I concentrated.

  *crackle*

  "Hey! You did it!"

  "Yeh." I grinned, then peered at the cup. Unfortunately, I had frozen
more than just a few cubes into it, and I was still thirsty. "Be right
back."

  I returned from the kitchen with another glass of water. As I sat back
down, Keiichi spoke. "Hey, Andrew? Could you tell me about what's going
on, exactly? I mean...like, what or who you're protecting Skuld from.
None of them will tell me."

  I regarded him silently for a few moments. "I think it's because none of
us really know much about all of this ourselves. We can't get more
specific than simply, 'some agents of Hell'. Belldandy is pretty sure,
though, that they aren't out to...kill...her. The doublet system's in
effect--if she...dies, then so will her demon counterpart."

  "Oh. I see." He sounded slightly relieved. "I'd forgotten about that."

  I wanted to let it at that, but...as Skuld's friend and big-brother
type, he had the right to know. "However...as Urd pointed out, who knows?
They're trying to ruin the Future of Mankind. They might be desperate
enough...and since no one knows who links to whom, they can't do it that
way."

  A gloom had settled over the room. He merely nodded, and we both were
silent.

  As I studied the frozen glass on the table and sipped from the other
one, I wondered. Really, who in Hell wanted to hurt Skuld? Why? I mean,
the world was already cranking out enough strife and misery anyway.  Was
it really necessary, to cause more trouble? ...but then, that was what
Hell was all about.

  I hate it when I drop into this sort of mood. Time to do something about
it. "Keiichi."

  "Yes?"

  "When are you going to ask her to marry you?"

  Keiichi blushed on cue. That fact supported my conclusion that Belldandy
and Keiichi were perfect for each other.

  "I, I, I, I...."

  "Forget it. You're hopeless." I grinned. "I'm surprised Urd still hasn't
given up."

  He looked miffed. "Well, someday. We're just not ready yet." I nodded,
but still smirked a bit. He decided to try to turn the tables on me.
"What about you? Sooner or later, Urd's going to try to get you matched up
with someone."

  Now he grinned, while my face slipped to a bemused expression, as I
scratched my head. "Been too busy since college really even to think about
that stuff. Too busy now with getting used to Japan and my new job. Both
jobs, that is. But I suppose she's going to try, indeed." I smiled again,
vaguely sardonic. "I welcome her to give it her best shot."

  Keiichi developed a look of extreme surprise. "You _want_ her to...
to...you're nuts!"

  "You challenged me, young man?" said a voice by my ear.

  I like to imagine that I didn't show the slightest amount of disturbance
by Urd's sudden appearance. The unexpected extension of my wings, though,
denied that. Still, after a few moments of regaining my internal balance,
I answered in a perfectly straight voice, "Yes, I guess I did."

  In hindsight, that probably wasn't the best of answers. I suppose I was
too confident in my ability to control myself when it came to girls and
surmount anything that Urd might come up with. Unlike Keiichi, I don't get
so easily flustered.... Oh, forget that. Right now, it was almost
dinnertime. Actually, it wasn't; Belldandy was still in the middle of
preparing. Hmm.

  As I got to my feet, I said, "I think I'll help Belldandy out with
dinner. I want to learn how to cook better." I spun around to face Urd.
"After all, it would be wonderful to make a meal for my future date, yes?"
I marched myself to the kitchen.

  In hindsight, that was _definitely_ a stupid thing to say. Oh well.

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

  The meal was, of course, wonderful. Plus, I picked up a few cooking tips
from Belldandy. We talked for a little while after we finished, but not
for too long. I was already yawning halfway through eating, and now, I
felt particularly wiped out. My brain was feeling sluggish, too. Runes of
magic kept on dancing around in my mind.

  "I'd best go home, now...gotta get some rest. Thanks for dinner,
Belldandy. It was great."

  "Thank you." She smiled, as she always did.

  Urd got up with me to see me out. That struck me as slightly odd, since
usually it was Skuld or Keiichi who did that.

  "So, Andrew-kun. You've settled into your life well here, huh?" She
glanced ahead to the doorway. I thought I spied a small smile on her face,
wondered at it a bit, then decided not to worry about it. Brain was
already overloaded.

  "Yeah, I guess so...it's nice being here. I'm glad I came. So far."  I
smiled slightly. "Anyway...." I reached for the door and opened it.

  On the other side was an attractive young woman, fist poised to knock. I
blinked. She blinked.

  "Um...hi, Urd. Who's this?" she asked.

  Urd nudged me. I blinked again. "Ah. I'm...er, Andrew Huang. Er. Well,
the Japanese reading of my name is Kou Antoku, if you prefer."

  She seemed to be waiting for more information. Oh, crap. I hadn't
planned on explaining my presence here...add to that the fact that I was
tired, and things could be complicated. "Er...I'm a relative of Urd's.
And Belldandy's. And Skuld's. Yeah." I found myself staring at her, trying
not to lose mental focus. It didn't seem like she noticed; it was somewhat
dark by now.

  She frowned at me. "You certainly don't look Scandinavian. And with a
name like 'Huang'? You're Chinese, aren't you?"

  "Taiwanese," I corrected automatically, while my brain raced. "Related
by marriage, that is. Yeah. Um. I moved into the area two weeks ago, from
the United States."

  "Ah. Well, I'm Morisato Megumi. Keiichi's little sister. Two weeks
already?  This is the first time we've met."

  "...I've been busy. Not been around here too much." Please, please,
let's leave it at that, my mind's too fuzzy to keep inventing madly.

  Fortunately, Megumi didn't pry further. "Well. Your Japanese is quite
good. It's a pleasure to meet you--I imagine we'll run into each other
again...." She smiled. "Good evening."

  "Yes...good night."

  She stepped aside to let me pass, then ducked in the doorway. I breathed
a sigh of relief, then started walking, as I heard her greet her brother
and Belldandy from inside. I stopped when I realized that Urd was still
just behind me. I turned around.

  "Huh? What?"

  "Ah-ha." She grinned.

  Uh-oh.

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

  End chapter three.

Andrew Huang...Shizumaru@KawaiiMUCK
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~alhuang/
NAC MAC FEEGLE!

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