G'day Everyone....

Well.. it's been months and months since I posted anything to *anywhere* and in that time I've written a little more of the Oh My God series - What's going to follow is a repost of series 1 and series 2 - followed by the first part of series 3

I've gotten enough e-mail in that last few weeks from people requesting different parts of my series - so I figured since the list is up and running (kinda) I'd get posting.

Please note the difference in my Web Page address the old one (on the first postings that are in the archives) is *wrong* - currently my page's address is:

http://www.ozanime.com/darkwind

If you check out the FanFics area you'll see *most* of my writing so far - the page is continually undergoing updates - as are my FanFics :)

I hope you all enjoy the repost - the versions I'm posting have had a few updates (spelling/grammar) - but remain essentially the same...

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

  "Imagination is more important than knowledge"

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

Author's Forward:

     With this version of my OMGod FanFic - I've done a little
editing.. correcting a few errors that I've made and changing
some of the grammar - no big changes....

     Firstly - before you read this you should be informed
that it's a story that deals with the author putting himself
into his story... many people object to this kinda FanFic..
now that is their opinion and they are certinally entitled to
voice it whenever that want to.  So if you are a member of
this group that doesn't like what I term 'self-indulgent'
FanFics... DON'T READ ANY FURTHER.. if you do.. you'll be
sorry...

     As for everyone else... enjoy..

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

     This all started one sunny afternoon, it was a beautiful
day outside, the birds were singing, it was hot, perfect for a
swim.  Where was I, well, as usual I was tucked away in my
room, hunched over a computer screen.....

     "Finding new places is getting hard", I thought to
myself.  Here I was going through my lists of internet sites,
looking (in vain) for a site which I hadn't already plundered
of interesting files.

     "Hey, Brett!", called a voice.

     It was my sister (of course), interrupting me in the
middle of something that could, ahh, well some day be
considered important.  "Are you coming to the pool with us or
not?", she asked, sticking her head around the doorway.

     "Naw Jan, you go ahead, there's a few things I want to
check out first", I replied.

     She sighed, "Well, it's your loss, I'll see you tonight",
she said, heading out the front door.  I am in the lucky
position of living downstairs, a place that is not only
spacious, but also walks straight out into the yard (very good
when you sometimes come home at 3 in the morning).

     I stood and walked over to the window, for a moment I
considered calling out and asking her to wait.  The call stuck
in my throat, I really didn't feel like going out with her
friends.

     I walked back to the computer and sat down again.  Not
really caring what I was doing, I pulled up my web-browser and
started flicking through a few links.  I must have spent about
twenty minutes just browsing, before something caught my eye.

                          ENTER THE PEARLY GATES
                (http://www.goddess.gov.heaven/office.html)

     Well it looked interesting, so I followed the link, not
really knowing what to expect.  The picture on the screen
blanked out suddenly, replaced with a shimmering pink-gold
background.  "Nice effect", I thought.  The brightness
gradually lowered, I was marvelling at the unique way it
faded.  The background was gradually replaced with a picture
of a woman.  She looked to be in her mid twenty's, had a mane
of silver hair and a piercing gaze.  She was looking straight
out of the screen at me.

     "Well at least they're using nice graphics", I said,
admiring the figure on the screen.  Two things should have
tipped me off at this stage, the first was that usually images
of this quality take time to download the second was the way
the woman's eyes seemed to follow my movement.

     "Thank you", said the computer, in a *very* female voice. 
I looked at my computer in shock.  I must have been using it
for too long, I was starting to hear things.

     "Your not hearing things", said the voice again. 
Suddenly the image reached out towards me, pushing slightly as
it encountered the monitor's screen.  A delicate hand lay
before me.  "Well?", the voice asked again.  Not knowing what
else to do I took the hand and pulled.

     A well formed arm followed the hand, and the body that
followed the arm was definitely.. ahem.. quite 'well formed'
as well.  The woman looked around thoughtfully and then
proceeded to study me, the same way I used to study laboratory
mice, back in high-school.  "I am Urd", she said, "A Goddess".

     I stumbled backwards, my legs catching on the bed. 
Sitting down heavily, I did all the usual things one would do
in such a situation (that is.. I pinched myself, checked my
glasses etc....).  "Ahh, how did you do that??", I asked, not
really being able to think of anything else.

     She looked at me disgustedly, "I told you 'I am a
*GODDESS*", she replied.

     "Well, if your a Goddess, why are you here in *my*
room?", I asked.

     "Alright, here's the deal", she said, sitting down in a
chair, "And listen closely because I don't want to have to
repeat myself".  Seeing that she had my full attention, she
proceeded to explain.  "I am here to grant you *one* wish",
she said.

     "That's it?", I responded, expecting a much more
complicated explanation.

     She nodded, "Yep, that's it, you get one wish", she said,
"So what's it going to be?".

     I frowned, "Umm could you give me a chance to think about
it for a minute?", I asked.

     She nodded, "Alright, but don't take all day, I've got
places to be and things to do", she said.

     With that she stood up and walked over to me bookshelves,
examining the huge library that I've collected over the years. 
Meanwhile my mind was in a loop, "If this is a dream or a
joke, it doesn't really matter what I wish for", I thought to
myself, "But, on the other hand, if it isn't...".

     The woman (ahh that is to say Goddess), yawned loudly,
and sat back down, after inspecting my collection of video
tapes.  She sat waiting expectantly, I was getting rather
nervous, I kept coming up with nothing, my mind kept turning
around in circle.  In desperation I decided to delay for a
while.  "So, ummm, how's business?", I asked.

     Urd broke off her examination of my posters, "Are you
trying to delay me?", she said, "I told you I've got things to
do".

     "What things?", I asked, trying to delay her even more.

     Urd sighed, looking at her wristwatch, "Well I've got to
get home soon, my sister will have made dinner and it will be
getting cold", she said.

     "Sister?", I asked, forgetting my contemplation of my
wish.

     "My younger sister, Belldandy, she's annoying sometimes,
but she can really cook", Urd replied.

     "I know what you mean", I said, remembering my own
sister's delicious dinners.  "So what does your sister do?", I
asked, getting interested in the conversation.

     "Oh, at the moment, she's living with this Japanese guy
named Keiichi", she replied, "But usually *she's* the one
going round answering wishes".

     "Is that all you goddesses do?", I asked, "answer
wishes?".

     Urd nodded, "Well pretty much, when we're not answering
wishes, we're supposed to help out people in trouble, but
after that our time is our own", she explained.

     "Wow", I said, forgetting something important, "I wish I
had that kind of a job".

     Urd's face registered shock, as she suddenly began to
glow.  She suddenly raised off the ground, energy seemed to
crackle around her, filling my room.  Suddenly a huge beam of
light shot from her, through the ceiling and into the sky.

     "Your wish has been approved", Urd said in a quavering
voice.

     "WHAT!!!?!?!?!", I practically screamed.


                                Oh my God ?

                          An Oh My Goddess FanFic

                                    by

                                Brett Handy


CHAPTER 1:

     The Goddess seemed quite bewildered herself, "According
to our office - you've made a contract that's been approved",
she explained.

     "You've got to be joking", I spluttered, "Why.. I
couldn't do a job like that.. I mean I'd have to be a...".

     Urd sat chewing her lower lip, "There's got to be some
mistake here", she muttered.  Suddenly she snapped her
fingers, "I've got it", she exclaimed, jumping up and grabbing
the phone.  She then proceeded to dial an impossibly complex
number, my mind boggled trying to keep up with the speed she
was hitting the buttons.

     I shook my head, "this has got to be a joke", I thought
to myself.  Not knowing what else to do, I got up and had a
look out of the window.  As I caught my own reflection in the
window something made me pause.  For a moment I couldn't tell
what had made me stop, then I saw it.  Moving a shaking hand
up to my brow, I felt the distinct outline of something like a
gemstone.  I jerked around and raced over to my mirror.  It
was there alright, just visible below my hairline.  It was a
light golden colour and seemed to shine the more I looked at
it.

     "What do you mean, *I've* got to take care of him??!?",
Urd was shouting into the phone, "I thought this was supposed
to be a one-shot, 'grant the wish and get the hell out of
there deal'".

     Urd winced and held the phone slightly away from her ear. 
Even across the room I couldn't miss the authoritarian tone
emanating from the earpiece.  Urd sighed heavily (a
magnificent sight in itself, but we won't go into that), "Yes
sir", she finally answered, "Yes, for as long as he needs it,
and no I won't do anything to try to get out of it' she began
again.

     Shocked and a little (make that a lot), scared by the
change in my features, I had resumed my seat at the bottom of
the bed.  "All I wanted to do was find some new software", I
was thinking to myself morosely.

     Urd hang the phone up and began pacing the room, "I can't
stay here", she muttered, "If I don't keep an eye on Belldandy
and Keiichi something's sure to go wrong".

     I just sat meekly on the bed, my mind was totally blown. 
"Alright!", she said finally, "You're coming with me".

     I looked up, startled, "I beg your pardon?", I said.

     She looked around the room, "Throw anything you need into
a bag and we'll get out of here", she said.

     "But... what about my family, I can't just..", I began.  

     Urd snorted, "Just leave them a note, saying that you'll
be gone for a few days - that should be enough time to sort
this mess out", she said.

     I sighed, not knowing what else to do I followed her
instructions.  Leaving a note for my family, I also called a
friend and let him know that I would be gone for a few days. 
"Why, what's up?", Hubert replied, to my jumbled explanation.  

     "Never mind, I just need to get away", I said, noticing
Urd was tapping her foot impatiently.

     "Oh come on Brett, you can tell me", he insisted.

     "Look, can you just tell my sister or parents, that I'm
staying with you if they call?", I asked again.

     Urd stomped over to the phone, snatching it out of my
hand, "Look just do as he asks", she said into it angrily.

     Snatching it back quickly, I was met with silence on the
other end.  "Hello??, are you still there???", I asked,
wondering if he had hung up.

     "You sly devil!", Hubert exclaimed, "No wonder you never
wanted me to fix you up with a girlfriend.... ", then
remembering what the conversation was about he quickly agreed
to take care of any questions from my family.

     I hung up the phone with a sigh, "This will take a bit of
explaining when I get back", I thought to myself.  Grabbing up
my bag, I turned to a now very-impatient Goddess.

     "Well *finally*!", she said, grabbing onto my hand and
walking over to the computer.

     "Uhhh, I don't think I'll fit in that", I said to her as
she prepared to jump back onto the screen.

     She gave me a flat stare, "Trust me", was all that she
said.  Suddenly I found myself on the other side of the
computer.

                                  ******

     I'll say one thing for travelling behind the screen, it's
certainly not boring.  We whizzed along circuit paths,
sometimes stopping to let other travellers pass.  That's
something that I also found incredible, there are actually
hundreds of, well people in there.  We had just gotten to the
junction where information flows outwards from Australia to
the rest of the world, when I finally realised how much goes
on behind the scenes.

     Urd had decided to stop for a rest, we were sitting
somewhere in a database on a large mainframe when I finally

ot around to asking about all the other travellers.  "Oh,
there other gods/goddess etc, all providing wishes or services
for mortals", she explained.

     From what I gathered, since the expansion of the
internet, the Goddess Relief Office and a number of other
heavenly (and other) services had decided that using the net
for transport was the best way to get around.  I guess
progress follows progress, where once gods and goddesses had
to fly themselves to where they wanted to go, now they just
hitchhiked on the super-highway.


{Authors Note:  No I *don't like the phrase 'information super
highway' - but it seemed to fit in here.....}

     Anyway, while it seemed like we travelled for hours, Urd
later told me that it only took a few seconds to travel from
my home in Australia, all the way to Japan.  I must say this,
it's certainly a unique way to travel.

                                  ******

     Well when we had finally reached our destination, I had
my first experience with looking at someone from the other
side of the monitor.  In this case, it was a young girl, she
was sitting typing away at her terminal.  Urd and I appeared
suddenly from out of the screen, "Hello Sis", Urd greeted her.

     "Oh... hello Urd", she said (as if this was an everyday
thing - and I was to find out later that it *was*).  Then she
noticed me, "Who is this?", she asked, "Another poor fool,
who's fallen for your 'love' potions?".

     Urd winced, "I told you that wasn't my fault, I got the
wrong dosage....", she said.

     "Oh right", said her sister sarcastically, "You
'accidentally' give the guy enough for one *hundred*
doses...".

     I stuck out my hand quickly, "G'day, the name's Brett".

     The young girl looked at my hand suspiciously for a
moment before returning the handshake, "I'm Skuld", she said.

     Urd turned and walked over to the door, "Where's
Belldandy?", she asked Skuld, "I need her help".

     Skuld smiled maliciously, "Oh, our sister's *out* at the
moment", she said, "Why what's wrong this time?".

     Urd snorted, "Never mind", she replied.  "Come on, let's
find you a room", she said, dragging me out of the room.

     I smiled apologetically at Skuld and followed Urd from
the room.  Something about the situation struck me as strange
(well actually the whole situation was bloody weird.. but this
stood out), the whole previous conversation had been in
Japanese - I didn't speak Japanese!  Ignoring that fact for a
moment I followed my reluctant hostess down a small corridor. 
She opened a sliding door, "Here, this is your room", she
said, grabbing my bag and throwing it inside.

     I was about to protest the treatment of my stuff, when I
heard a motorcycle pull up outside.  Urd quickly ran from the
room, leaving me to trail along behind her.  I walked through
the house more slowly, looking around, absorbing the feel of
everything.  Now I've got no idea what a *traditional*
Japanese home looks like, but I got the feel that this was
something close.  The walls were, for the most part, a kind of
paper and the floor seemed to be rather unusual.  I headed in
the general direction that Urd had disappeared in.

     I finally came to a wide veranda and took my first look
at the outside of the house.  It looked like a rather large
Temple.  I wondered at the statues and buildings, it all
looked so incredibly peaceful.  Then I shook myself, "Where
else would a Goddess live?", I thought.

     I then noticed a rather dispirited Urd sitting on the
steps leading out into the courtyard.  I walked up beside her,
"What's wrong?", I asked.

     She stood suddenly, "I'm afraid that my sister has
decided to visit heaven for a few days", she said, "According
to Keiichi she won't be back until Friday".

     I frowned, "Who's Keiichi?", I asked.

     My question was answered a few seconds later as a young
guy came around the corner of the building.  At first I
thought he was just a young kid, because of his height.  But
then I noticed that he was carrying a set of keys and wearing
a motorcycle helmet.  He was also carrying a pile of groceries
bigger than himself.

     Urd made no move to help him, so I grabbed up the top few
packages, just before they could fall.  "Thank's Urd", he
began.  Then he noticed that it was *not* Urd in front of him. 
He looked at me awkwardly for a moment before I introduced
myself, "Hello, the name's Brett", I said, bowing slightly
because my hands were full of groceries.

     The young man nodded, "I'm Keiichi", he said, "Not that I
mind the help, but what are you doing here?".

     I shrugged, "You'll have to ask her that", I said,
indicating Urd with a flick of my head.

     Keiichi's face took on a pained expression, "What has she
done now?", he asked.

     Urd stood up indignantly, "This is *not* my fault!", she
said, before heading inside and slamming the door.

     I exchanged a long look with Keiichi, his look was one of
sympathy, "Come on, you can explain inside", he said, making
his way up the steps.

*****                                *

     "And I thought that *I'd* made a mistake", Keiichi
muttered under his breath.  I'd just finished filling him in
on what my situation was.  We had unpacked all the groceries
and were sitting on the front steps talking.

     I sighed, looking up at the afternoon sky, "I'm really in
trouble", I said, "My family's going to start worrying about
me if I don't get back within a few days".

     Keiichi nodded, "Well Bell-chan should be back before
they get too worried and I'm *sure* she'll be able to work
this out", he said confidently.

     "Bell-chan?", I asked.

     Keiichi blushed slightly, "Umm yeah, well Belldandy and I
are.. ummm", he began.

     Taking the hint I nodded, "That's ok, I was just a little
confused - I woke up this morning not knowing how to speak
Japanese", I explained.

     Keiichi's eyes widened, "But... you're speaking it so
well, without even an accent", he said.

     I shrugged, "It must be Urd's doing", I said.

     He nodded and got to his feet, "Well, you're welcome to
stay, as long as you need to", he said, walking inside.

     I smiled, "Thanks mate", I replied.

     "I heard the accent that time!", Keiichi called from
inside.

     I just sat and looked up at the slowly darkening sky.


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



CHAPTER 2:

     I must have sat for about an hour, turning things over in
my mind, before Keiichi called out that dinner was ready. 
Looking up at the stars for a final time, I headed inside.

     Urd and Keiichi were already sitting at the table, eating
ravenously.  I joined them (finding sitting on the floor to
eat a new experience), and after a moment Sklud brought out
her meal and my own.

     Looking at the offered food I suddenly realised that I
was *famished*.  I gobbled down the meal quickly, hardly
pausing for breath.  I don't know what everyone thought of my
table-manners, but at the time I didn't really care.  I think
I enjoyed Sklud's cooking - but I can't really remember what
it tasted like (or even what it was!).

     Urd and Keiichi finished their own meals and sat back
contentedly, "Your getting better, Sklud", Urd commented.

     I smiled, "Yes, I really enjoyed it", I commented.

     Skuld looked at me disgustedly, "Oh we *never* would have
guessed", she said sarcastically.

     Keiichi finished up his meal and the two Goddesses
proceeded to clean up the dishes.  I offered to help but
Keiichi insisted that I was a guest and I shouldn't trouble
myself.

     The rest of the evening passed pretty quickly and
surprisingly I found myself rather sleepy.  Excusing myself I
headed back to the room that Urd had stuck me in.  Making
myself comfortable on the strange bed I drifted into a
restless sleep.

                                  ******

     I was woken rather rudely the next morning by the shouts
and screams of two goddesses arguing.  "I'm telling you, it's
not my fault!", screamed Urd.

     "Oh sure, you were in too much of a hurry and approved a
wish that was only a slip of the tongue!", replied Skuld
sarcastically (obviously enjoying being the aggressor in the
argument).

     Finally they degenerated into insults, before Keiichi
broke them up.  "Why do I have the feeling that things aren't
going to get better quickly?", I thought to myself.  Standing
up I marvelled at how refreshed I felt.  "Umm must be the
different kind of bed", I thought.

     I rummaged through my bag for a set of clean clothes and
procddeded to shower and shave.  Stretching my legs, I stood
and made my way to the veranda.  The morning was crisp and
clear, I took in a deep breath, Keiichi noticed my appearance,
"Morning Brett-san", he greeted me.

     I smiled and nodded, "Morning", I called.  He disappeared
around the corner of the building, carrying a huge box. 
Curious I followed, walking into a auto-workshop of some kind. 
Keiichi was sitting in the middle of the floor, sorting
through some parts.

     I looked over his shoulder, "Humm, what are you
building?", I asked, not recognising most of the parts strewn
over the floor.

     "My Sempai - Tamiya, asked me to rebuild the fuel-
injection system for our drag bike", he explained, "So, I'm
stuck using these old parts".

     I nodded and sat down beside him, "Anything I can do to
help?", I asked.  While I'm not very experienced with engines
- pulling apart computers has given me a knack with working on
small parts.

     Keiichi nodded, "Sure, see if you can sort....", he
began.  For the next few hours I had a lecture on how to
assemble a fuel-injection system.  We had finally gotten it
together when I noticed something strange (actually the thing
that was strange was the fact I noticed it at all).  We had
just finished hooking up the injection system to the bike when
I glanced over the front tyre.

     A strange grey spot was covering half the tyre.  Curious
I walked over to have a closer look.  The spot was there
alright - it was definitely unusual.  I called Keiichi over,
"What do you make of this?", I asked, point to the grey spot.

     Keiichi looked at me strangely, "It's a tyre?", he asked.

     "Yeah, I *know* its a tyre", I replied sarcastically,
"But what's that grey patch?".

     He glanced back at the tyre - looking closely, "I don't
see any grey patch", he said.

     Confused, I shrugged, "Well it must have been a trick of
the light", I said, wondering if I was starting to loose it.

     Keiichi nodded, "Never mind, give me a hand to get the
bike on the trailer", he said.

     Keiichi and I rolled the racer out onto the trailer,
strapping it down firmly.  "Do you want to come along?",
Keiichi asked.

     Shrugging I nodded, "Well it doesn't look like anything
else is happening here", I said.

                                  ****** 

     As we travelled Keiichi explained that he was in his
college's auto-club.  They had a big meet this weekend and
their bike had to be tested.  We travelled for about half an
hour, towing the drag bike behind the car Keiichi's Sempai had
lent him.  Finally we stopped at a large race-track.

     We were just unloading the bike when a pair of guys came
running up.  "Morisato, where have you been??", said the first
fellow, grabbing Keiichi by the arm and dragging him off
towards the trailer, he then proceeded to lecture Keiichi on
the proper way to attach a bike to the holding clamps.

     I frowned, not really liking the way he was brow-beating
Keiichi.  Walking over to the trio, I was surprised to notice
that the grey patch that I'd had noticed earlier now covered
the whole front half of the bike!  "This is *really* strange",
I thought to myself.

     Suddenly the two fellows stopped talking to Keiichi and
looked in my direction.  "You there!", called the bigger of
the two, walking over.

     I stood my ground (I've had lots of guy's try to
intimidate me - *usually* I don't intimidate).  "What are you
doing, hanging round here??", he asked, eyeing me
suspiciously, "You're not from the Aoshima Formula Racing Club
are you?".

     Keiichi stepped up beside me, "No Sempai, you see...", he
began to explain.

     "Be silent, Morisato.. I asked the *gaijin* a question",
he snapped.

     I frowned, "I think you could be more polite to Keiichi-
san, after all he's just spent the last three hours rebuilding
that fuel-injection system", I said, beginning to get a little
upset at this guy's attitude.

     "How would you know that?", he said, "Unless you've been
*SPYING ON HIM!*", he said, grabbing me by the shoulder.

     Now usually I'd have backed away from a situation like
this, but for some reason I was feeling rather hostile (not
angry - just hostile...).  I looked the guy straight in the
eye and said in my most threatening voice, "*Mate*, if you
don't *bloody well* let me go now, you'll never use that hand
again!", I snarled.

     Keiichi was jumping up and down in frustration
(literally!), "Please Sempai, Brett-san is staying at *my*
house, he's a friend of Urd's", he said desperately.

     Something strange seemed to pass (like the sun moving out
from behind the a cloud), "I apologise", the fellow said,
dropping his hand and smiling widely, "I don't know what
happened to me, I don't usually threaten Keiichi's
houseguests".  His attitude had completely changed.

     I grinned back at him (also not feeling hostile anymore),
"Never mind, I guess your a bit tense about this weekend's
meet", I said, "Keiichi-san has been telling me about it,
while we were working on the fuel injector".

     Keiichi breathed a sigh of relief and introduced me to
his two friends, the big fellow was Tamiya and the guy in the
leather jacket was called Ootaki.  They were both senior
students at NIT, and both heavily into anything to do with
engines.  I made the mistake of mentioning that I was studying
computers and the next thing I knew I was sitting in front of
some computer simulations of their bike.

     After running through most of the stuff, I couldn't find
anything wrong with it - but I still had a strange feeling. 
When I finished up with their computer (assuring them that, to
my knowledge, their simulations were right-on), I went out to
the track to watch Keiichi test the bike.

     I was just entering the gate to the track, when Keiichi
started up the bike for the first time.  I frowned, something
was still not right, looking around I saw that the stands were
empty, except for a woman sitting high up at the back.  I was
making my way down the track towards Keiichi, just as he took
off.  Suddenly I finally realised what had been bothering me,
Keiichi's right forearm was covered in the same grey patch
that was covering now covering the *whole* bike - and it was
steadily making its way up his arm.

     Acting on impulse (and not knowing why I was doing it at
the time) I jumped forward and snagged Keiichi's right arm as
he went by, throwing us both to the ground.  The bike
continued on its way down the track.  Three seconds after I
pulled Keiichi from the bike, it exploded in flames.  Ootaki
and Tamiya ran up to us, "Morisato!, are you alright??",
Tamiya cried.

     Ootaki turned to me angrily, "Why did you do that?", he
said, pointing at the wreckage of the bike, "You've destroyed
our bike".

     Keiichi was holding his right arm carefully, attempting
to hold back tears at the pain, "It's not his fault, if Brett-
san hadn't pulled me from the bike I would have been on it
when it exploded", he explained.

     Tamiya and Ootaki helped Keiichi to his feet, and I
examined his arm carefully, "It's broken", I said, testing it
carefully.

     I glanced around for someone to help, as we moved Keiichi
towards the car, but the only one was the strange woman who
was sitting in the stands, She was wearing a black-leather
jacket and matching black jeans.  She had hair that was a
silvery colour and there was something *very* strange about
her.

     Keiichi cried out in pain as he accidentally bumped his
arm on the car door and I helped him carefully to sit as
comfortably as possible.  I looked back as we drove away, but
could see no sign of the woman.

                                  ******

      It was very late by the time we'd returned to the temple
and Keiichi had fallen asleep from the pain-killers.  Tamiya
and Ootaki offered to help me carry him in, but I declined
their offer of help.  "It's alright, I'll take care of him", I
said.

     "We're going to find out what happened to our bike",
Ootaki declared to me quietly, "If it was sabotage then
there's going to be some revenge".

     I nodded, "Let me know what you find, I'm sure Keiichi
will be interested too", I said.

     With that the two (rather depressed) guys drove off,
leaving me holding a sleeping Keiichi.  I trudged into the
temple, kicking the door open loudly.

     "Keiichi!, where have you been!", began Urd angrily,
stomping out onto the veranda.

     "Shhhh!", I admonished her, indicating Keiichi's
condition.  Urd's eyes widened in concern, noting the cast on
his arm.  I carried him upstairs and into his room, laying him
gently on his bed.

     The two Goddesses hovered around (no *not* literally this
time) anxiously, examining Keiichi's sleeping form.  I left
the room, leaving him to their examinations.  For some
reason, I was feeling *very* tired again.  I stumbled back
into my room, only managing to get my head on the pillow
before I fell into a restless sleep.

                                  ******

     I woke slowly the next morning, ignoring the sounds of
activity outside.  I tried to sort out what I had seen
yesterday.  The grey patch on the bike had grown gradually,
but I actually saw the grey patch growing on Keiichi's arm
before I grabbed him.  "It must be a kind of warning thing", I
thought, wondering why *I* of all people would start seeing
things like that, "I'll have to keep an eye out for any more
of them in the future".  Again, I was feeling refreshed after
a good nights sleep (and only slightly hungry), so as I got up
and moved into the bathroom to have a shower and shave.

     I had just finished my shower and was about to start
shaving when I noticed something strange, I didn't need to.  I
ran a hand over my jaw, and noticed that it was still smooth. 
This was *very* disconcerting, I'd been shaving daily for a
while now and was a bit concerned in this change in routine. 
Taking a closer look at my face, I noticed that the strange
gem-like object that had appeared was suddenly no-longer a
solid thing.  It appeared to be a part of my skin - something
was most definitely wrong.  I was contemplating the changes
when a swirling began deep within the mirror.

     Shocked I took a few steps backwards, a moment later a
woman stepped through the mirror, she seemed slightly out of
breath.  "Where's Keiichi-san?", she asked quickly.

     Not really knowing what else to do I pointed in the
direction of Keiichi's room.  Obviously understanding where to
go the young woman raced from the room.  "That's gotta be
Belldandy", I thought to myself.  Looking down at my towel-
clad body I gave thanks that she didn't arrive a few minutes
earlier.

     Shrugging on my last set of clean clothes I brushed my
hair down carefully, to cover the strange marking and headed
out to see how Keiichi was doing.  I got five steps towards
Keiichi's door when a *very* upset pair of Goddesses greeted
me.

     "Keiichi tells me that *you* broke his arm!", Urd
accused, advancing towards me.

     Skuld was two steps behind her, holding a rather large
mallet of some kind.  I began backing away holding up my hands
in a gesture of surrender, "Well, umm yes, you see....", I
began.

     I caught a faint glimmer of grey on the floor at my feet. 
Needing no further encouragement I jumped to the side, as
Skuld's mallet impacted where I'd been standing.

     "After we take you into our home", Urd snarled, hurling
an object in my direction.  Not wanting to find out what was
it was I decided to make my exit.  I raced out the front door,
only a few steps ahead of the tumbling object I now recognised
as a bottle.

     I was about to race down the front stairs when I saw they
they covered in a shimmering grey light.  Cutting to my left I
winced at the sound of an explosion behind me.  Looking over
my shoulder, I saw a large crater where the steps used to be. 
I jumped the railing and landed on the ground running (I must
admit - I've never been much of a runner, but I guess some
things *really* encourage you to do your best).

     "How the hell am I supposed to fight two (or even a
single) angry Goddesses??", I thought to myself, reaching
Keiichi's auto-shop.

     Stopping to catch my breath I again caught sight of
another growing grey patch, it was centred on the door to the
shop and was steadily moving across the floor towards me.  I
took several steps back, deciding that I should stand my
ground (and the thought had occurred to me that they might
just hunt me down and kill me later...).  Placing myself
outside the ring of grey, I stood and waited.

     A few seconds later, the door blew inwards in a fiery
explosion (I made a mental note that the destruction stopped
at the exact point the grey patch did).  I raised my hands
again, "Stop, please and let me explain", I begged.

     Urd was breathing deeply, holding up another bottle ready
to throw and Skuld had an even *larger* mallet than before. 
"Give me one good reason I shouldn't blow you back 'down-
under'?", Urd asked angrily.

     Fortune smiled on me at that moment, Keiichi appeared
from the main house, followed by the young lady I had seen
earlier.  "Urd, Skuld, stop that!!", he called, seeing them
about to finish me off.

     Urd lowered her bottle reluctantly, "But you said...",
she started.

     Keiichi awkwardly jumped down where the steps used to be,
"Brett-san broke my arm", he finished for her.

     "Yes.. ", she said, her eyes getting angry again.

     Keiichi cut her off quickly, "You left before I could
explain: Brett-san broke my arm, saving me from an exploding
motorbike", he said.

     Urd and Skuld took a moment to digest that news before
grinning sheepishly, "I guess we over-reacted", Skuld
admitted, looking at her 'mega-mallet'.

     Urd smiled weekly too, "I'm sorry Brett", she said,
turning to me, "I misunderstood".

     Skuld echoed her a moment later, "I'm sorry too", she
said, bowing.

     I breathed a sigh of relief and looked around at the
damage that had been done, wondering how sorry they would have
been had any of those attacks managed to hit me.  "That's
alright", I said, "next time, just give me a chance to explain
before you try to kill me".

     The young lady (who had been silent up until this point)
bowed to me, "Thank you for taking care of Keiichi-san for
me", she said, "I'm Belldandy".

     I smiled and nodded, "I kind of guessed that", I replied,
"and I'm sorry I couldn't help him without injuring him".

     Keiichi rubbed his good hand up behind his head, "Oh
that's alright", he said, "Bell-chan here will fix me up, good
as new".

                                  ******

     I followed the others back up the path to the house and
then stopped as Belldandy suddenly halted in front of the
ruined stairs.  I was wondering what she was doing when I
suddenly saw tendrils of mist (or what looked like mist to my
untrained eye), gathering around her.  She began chanting in a
strange language (I later found out it was ancient Nordic) and
making unusual patterns in the air in front of herself.

     I stood shock still - feeling the hair on my arms raise,
as a strange form of energy seemed to fill the air.  I kept
watching Belldandy as she completed her intricate motions, the
energy I had felt (and seen) building in her suddenly shot
outwards.  I watched amazed as the bits of broken step and
veranda pulled themselves back together, mending seamlessly. 
I was observing warily as the energy dissipated, "Oh, did I do
something wrong", Belldandy asked, glancing at my bemused
expression.

     I shook my head, "Uh.. no never mind", I mumbled,
following them inside.

     We all made our way to the main living/dining room and
sat down to talk.  Firstly Urd explained to Belldandy what had
been going on in her absence.  Keiichi joined in, telling
Belldandy about what had happened at the racetrack.  To be
honest, I felt like some 'prize exhibit', sitting there
listening to people (who had been total strangers three days
ago) describe me.

     Belldandy smiled graciously (how does she seem to keep
that radiant expression, *sigh*), "Brett-san, I would like to
aid you in your studies", she said.

     I frowned, "Umm, what studies?", I asked.

     Belldandy turned to Urd, "You didn't tell him?", she
asked.

     Urd shrugged, "I figured that he'd work it out for
himself", she replied.

     "Oh, sister", Belldandy said, shaking her head.

     Getting slightly upset I repeated my question, "What
studies?", I insisted.

     Urd looked slightly embarrassed, "Umm, well I've been
assigned to help you learn how to be a god", she said.

     "A WHAT??", I replied, disbelieving.

                                  ******

     It was later that afternoon when I met Keiichi's sister,
Megumi.  I was sitting on the (now repaired) front steps,
marvelling at how well Belldandy's spell had worked out, when
I spotted a person walking through the temple gates.  She was
wearing some kind of sports uniform and was carrying a
baseball bat on her shoulder.

     She seemed to be lost in thought, walking up the front
steps and past me without a word.  She had just removed her
shoes, about to enter the house when she realised that I was
sitting there.  "Who are you?", she asked, examining me
closely.

     I smiled, "I'm a friend of Urd's", I replied.

     She seemed a bit dubious, "Oh really?", she said, "Well
the next question would be: 'what are you doing here?'".

     I shrugged, "I'm staying here for a few days", I
answered, "and you are?".

     She seemed satisfied with my responses, "I'm Keiichi's
sister, Megumi", she said.

     I stood, "Well, don't mind me", I said, "I'm harmless".

     She looked me up and down, carefully.  "That's a shame",
she replied, turning and going inside.

     I shrugged and made my way back to my room.  To my
surprise Urd was waiting for me, "Oh there you are", she said,
"Time to start your training".

     I looked at her suspiciously, "No exploding bottles this
time?", I asked.

     Urd blushed slightly, "Look, I already apologised about
that", she began.

     I sat on the floor beside the bed, "I know, I'm just
teasing", I said, trying to lighten the mood.

     Urd shook her head, "Your not helping", she said,
"Firstly, you need to get a bit of background on what it means
to be a God".

     I nodded, "Alright, lay it on me", I said.

     She pointed to a high stack of books that looked
suspiciously like textbooks (*very* thick textbooks).  I
groaned, "You've got to be kidding", I said.

     Urd grinned maliciously, "Nope, when you've finished
reading all that, then I'll get on to teaching you
techniques", she said, making her way to the door.

     I suddenly realised something, "How long will it take me
to learn this properly?", I asked.

     Urd shrugged, "Oh, not much more than six months", she
said.

     I believe that my next response was words to the effect
of 'you've got to be joking', well the words I used aren't
*that* important.