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Keiichi Revisited part 1: Hell

@LupinIII

Published in

Fan Fiction

· 2 months ago

Nightelf (nwl9354@tam2000.tamu.edu) presents...

Sometimes big things have a way of starting small, then just...snowballing. A grain of sand in one place or another may not sound like much, but if you end up losing your footing on said sand, it becomes a lot more. Such is the way with space-time. From one "big bang", infinities of universes crop up, showing one path or another, but most just leading to nowhere. Unfortunately, these universes have a bad habit of "rubbing" together, creating...well...

The Yggdrasil system in one particular universe was empty, without any deity to watch, as its resident troubleshooters had gone off due to one scandal or another. Unfortunately, this meant the energy from this "rubbing" would grow, its electric fire building up in the system and wrecking havoc in its wake. The energy escaped like lightning from the inner workings of the system, then shimmered and swirled to form...

The newborn stared at the world around it with kawaii blue eyes, marveling at the shiny panels, flashing lights, and soft piano music in the background. He played for awhile in this normally-serene place, bounding from one scene to another. A strange feeling, a pull toward...something, latched onto him, triggering a previously-unknown wanderlust. On one of the panels, a picture flared to life, brightly showing this newborn its destination. The picture was of a young Asian man, roughly 20 years of age, with spiky black hair, dirty shirt and pants, and grime covering his face and hands.

The bug then formed a portal beneath itself and fell in. Finally, it had found someone to play with.

**********

Nightelf presents...

Keiichi Revisited, part 1: Hell

A work of anime #FanFiction by Nicholas Leifker, aka "Nightelf".

A word of warning: While this is not a lemon, there is some material which may not be suitable for younger readers. In other words, if you're too young, close your eyes.

Happy Halloween, everyone.

**********

"Yatta!"

Keiichi Morisato sat back and smiled, replacing the sweat on his brow with grease as he wiped his forehead. Cherry blossoms swirled around him as the autumn wind carried their scent and beauty from the confines of the temple and to the mundane world outside. In front of him lay the culmination of two straight days of hard work, a beautiful drag-racing motorcycle crafted to perfection. He let a yawn escape his lips as the weariness flooded through his body.

"Is it done?"

He looked up to the soft voice. Belldandy. "Yes, it's done." He continued to gaze at her for a long moment, taking her heavenly countenance, her quiet peace, her eyes, and the bouquet of her scent. The young man rose to his feet, letting escape a groan as his muscles protested their use. He grabbed a rag, wiped his hands, then took one of hers into his own. "Come on. Let's go inside." She made mild protest about her hands being dirty as he led her along.

"Hmmm...so the thing's done, eh?" A small voice came out of the shadows, soon followed by a small platinum-haired doll. A puff of smoke later, and Urd stood at her full height, admiring Keiichi's handiwork. "Truly a work of art..." she thought, rubbing her hand along the leather seat. A mischievous glint caught in her eye as she imagined herself riding it. "I wonder..."

She straddled the machine, looking rather undignified in her blue cheongsam. Another "poof", and her clothes were more suited for the task, of a little tight-fitting (this is _Urd_, after all). Her gloved hands made sigils in the air as she began to chant.

"Oh spirits of earth and fire...bring life to this creation...and let it run with the wind!"

The engine roared to life at her final words, its rumble piercing the still night. Its rumble was joined by Urd's screams as it took off, its passenger holding on for dear life.

**********

Keiichi lay down on his futon, quietly closing his eyes as he gave thanks that his job was finished. Tamiya had agreed to let someone else drive the machine (for a change), if only he'd build it.

* RRRumblerumblerumblerumble... *

His eyes shot open. "No...please no..." He jumped up, quickly threw a shirt on, then started running for the door. At the door, he stopped and dropped his head as a loud *CRASH* entered his ears. He shuffled outside as visions of motorcycle parts all over the place danced in his head.

Urd hung from one of the cherry trees outside, her unconscious body scorched from the ride. Beneath her was a smouldering pile of scrap metal, once a fine-tuned racing machine, now reduced to modern art.

Keiichi's mind was filled with indecision at this point as the catastrophe joined the ever-growing list of Urd's slip-ups since he had met her. A small part of his mind gently whispered, "Go to bed...This is all a bad dream...wake up and it will all be better." Another part of him just felt like crying, letting the pain out through tears. The rest of him took a long look at that aforementioned list, and...

"URD! WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU THINKING?!?" His eyes flared red, giving the impression he was more demon than human.

"....huh?.." Urd woke up from her forced slumber. Still dazed, she looked from Keiichi's enraged form to the wreck beneath her. "oh. sorry, keiichi."

"SORRY? YOU RUIN FORTY-EIGHT CONTINUOUS HOURS OF HARD WORK, AND ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY IS 'SORRY'? THAT'S IT. TOMORROW MORNING, YOU ARE _GONE_. GOT IT?!?"

"Keiichi? Please...she didn't mean any harm..." Belldandy stood in the doorway, her saddened eyes pleading to his fire-tinged ones.

The young man calmed down a little, enough to think straight. "I know. She _never_ means any harm. But because of her carelessness... Give me some time to think, okay?" He stormed back into the temple, purposefully avoiding her gaze.

The grumbling continued as he wandered back into his room for some sleep. "I can't believe she did that...All that work...I swear, sometimes I wish I'd never -"

He stopped, worried, as he stared at the...thing...in front of him. It looked like the result of a collaboration between Easter and Halloween. It was definitely Easter-bunny cute, with soft white fur, long rabbit ears extending out from its head, and buckteeth sticking out from a grinning mouth. Its overall body design, however, was reminiscent of a spider, with eight legs and a round, compact body. Keiichi backed away, recognizing the danger for what it was.

A Bug.

The Bug bounded for him and landed on top of his head before he could do anything about it. The young college student stood there for a few seconds, contemplating how to get rid of the thing before it decided to do...something...to him.

Then everything went black.

**********

"Oh man...what happened?"

Slowly but surely, Keiichi's senses returned to him. Scent came first, with the flowers near his head providing a pleasant assault on his nose. Touch was equally pleasant: the soft grass beneath him tickled his face and hands. He groaned as the less-pleasant senses entered his mind: the dry, bitter taste in his mouth, the commotion of people around him, and the brightness of the noonday sun gave him an annoying headache. He stood up and braced himself against a nearby tree, breathing slowly to try to relieve the pain. He gave a small prayer to God (or Goddess) that he was at least on familiar territory: the Nekomi campus.

"Keiichi Morisato..." Oh no. Aoshima. All of a sudden, the headache got worse. Keiichi spoke, his voice softened by the pain.

"What is it, Aoshima?"

The air seemed to freeze at Aoshima's words. "Sayoko. Where is she?"

Keiichi turned around to face his accuser. Aoshima stared back, his hard gaze unflinching and angry. "Sa...yo...ko?" Keiichi asked, a hand covering his throbbing forehead.

A flash of fire entered Aoshima's eyes. "Yes, Sayoko! Where's my cousin?"

"Er...I dunno."

"Don't give me that!" Aoshima grabbed Keiichi by the collar, bringing their faces inches apart. "I saw the two of you together just last week!"

Keiichi released the grip, then backed up a few feet. "I told you, I don't know! I don't go out with Sayoko, I've never gone out with Sayoko, and I don't ever intend to! I've been going out with Bel for the past year and a half, as if you hadn't noticed!"

Aoshima laughed incredulously. "Belldandy? The loony girl at the temple? Yeah, right...like you've ever been the religious type."

"That's it. Good bye, Aoshima. Seek help." Keiichi turned around to leave.

"Hey, I'm not-"

"MORISATO-KUN."

Keiichi gulped. The low, gravelly voice that spoke his name was cold, hard, businesslike. He'd only heard it like that once before...roughly twelve seconds before getting thrown out of his dorm room. Both he and Aoshima turned to face Tamiya's stern gaze.

"Ta..Tamiya-sempai?"

Tamiya stood there like a rock, unmoving. Ootaki was next to him, his normally jovial face hardened to a dark mask. Even Aoshima shrank back slightly from the accusing eyes.

"Morisato-kun, what have you done with my bike?"

"Oh no..." Keiichi's headache approached migrane levels. "Not you too..." Fortunately, while he wondered what was wrong with him, everyone else, or the world in general, his feet were more pragmatic: they ran. The others, quite naturally, gave chase. Unfortunately, it seemed apparant that others wanted Keiichi's head on a silver platter.

"Hey, isn't that..." "Why that..." "Where's my girlfriend?" "You messed up my car, you..."

School absentee rates skyrocketed as others joined the chase, each of them wanting a piece of the new Public Enemy Number One. Keiichi had known fear before, fear like not passing the jigen or losing Belldandy to the heavens. This fear was far more primal and insistent than that. Survival. If he stopped, he was dead. It was that simple. He knew only one haven, one place safe from the mob, and he headed for it as fast as his legs could carry him. Tears coursed down his cheeks at his burning, lead-filled legs, his throbbing chest, his tortured mind, as he got a little closer to his destination. "Just...a...little...more..." he wheezed, trying to summon the last of his strength from his small frame. The thunder of each step echoed through his body as he clumsily ran up the concrete steps toward the temple...home. The others stopped, allowing him his sanctuary.

As he reached the top of the steps, he sank to his knees and kissed the ground, letting his body crash from its exertions. As he relaxed, images flooded his mind: Aoshima's accusations, Tamiya's smouldering anger, everyone wanting him dead. Him. Dead. A shudder coursed through him as his mind tried to digest the information.

A flickering of light caught the corner of his eye. He looked up, then just stared at the sight, dumbfounded. He couldn't run or fight anymore.

Belldandy stood in front of him, her hands slowly forming a large energy ball. Her sky-blue eyes, normally soft and laughing, were hard, accusing, staring at him as though he were evil incarnate. "How...dare..._you_...enter...here..." she whispered, each word echoing in Keiichi's mind louder than any shout. She released the ball, sending it straight for him. He made no attempt to block.

"Why...me..." he thought in despair as the fireball approached him, engulfing his world in a sea of white.

**********

Keiichi woke up slowly, his entire body a mass of pain. Muscles ached from the forced long-distance run. Bandages here and there covered burn marks from the energy blast. Of course, these aches and pains paled in comparison to his emotional pain: everyone he'd met, including Belldandy, had become his mortal enemy...for no apparant reason.

"Take it easy. You're still hurt from the blast."

"huh...Belldandy? Why?" The young man looked into his once-beloved's eyes, reading foreign emotions in them: concern, distrust...and sorrow? He held back his concerns, preferring to wait for her to speak.

"I'm sorry, Keiichi...I attacked prematurely. I didn't know..." Luminescent tears started to form in her eyes. Keiichi, acting on instinct, raised a hand up to her face to wipe them away. The goddess retreated at first, then allowed the contact, taking in a deep breath to recover.

"Keiichi, you had better brace yourself for some disturbing news."

"I dunno...this day has already been pretty disturbing. What else could go wrong?"

"Keiichi...this isn't your universe."

He smiled, letting a small sigh escape his lips. Ever since he had first woke up on the Nekomi campus, it was as though he'd been given a puzzle with no pieces fitting together, with everyone he'd ever met acting like a total stranger. Now, though, the necessary piece had been given to him, letting all the others fall into place. The events of the day now made perfect sense to him...in a perfectly absurd manner. Fortunately, he was used to absurdity. He _lived_ with absurdity. The information absorbed, he turned his eyes back to Belldandy.

"After I...blasted you, I noticed you were human, not..." She bit her lip, catching an errant word. "I brought you in, healed you as well as I could, then I...probed your mind. I hope you don't..."

"It's okay, Belldandy." He gently rubbed his hand against her cheek. She grasped the hand tightly, holding it in a hard grip of frustration.

"Unfortunately, nothing is, here, for you. Your universe was so beautiful...your love for me...and your sister...and even Urd, despite your anger. You see, the Keiichi Morisato I know holds none of this in his heart."

She gently laid his hand down. "About two years ago, Yggdrasil chose you to recieve a wish. Once that happened, it was only a matter of finding the right moment to give the wish to you."

"Unfortunately, Mara found out. She got to you first, and...made an assistant out of...of Keiichi. Eventually, he was promoted...to full demonhood."

Keiichi's eyes widened at the news. "You mean...the version of me in this universe is a demon? No wonder you blasted me."

Belldandy nodded. "There's more...but I think the others should be here first."

"Others? You mean Urd and Skuld?"

"Hai. Mara and...Megumi also live here. They can show you more."

As if on cue, a loud engine roar came from outside. Belldandy helped Keiichi up, then led him to the source of the racket.

A cool wind blew across Keiichi's cheek, soothing his tender skin, as he limped out, braced by Belldandy. He frowned at the sight in front of him, looking at it as though it were some strange puzzle.

Skuld, mechanical megami extroardinaire, was in the driver's seat, with mirrorshades pulled over her youthful face. Urd sat in the middle, in her doll form in order to make room. Her usual fashionable clothes were gone, replaced by more functional jeans, t-shirt, and leather jacket.

It was the appearance of the third passenger which was the puzzle, a shock that Keiichi wasn't expecting. Mara sat in the passenger seat, staring at the young man as though he were a ghost...or a monster. Her red business suit was a sharp contrast to her previous leathers, though that change paled in comparison to the more subtle changes - specifically, the ones on her face. The demon markings were gone...replaced. A red arrowhead-shaped symbol was placed in the center of her forehead and underneath her eyes. Demon no longer, Mara clearly wore the rainment and alignment of a goddess.

The others in the car, noting his presence, gulped, then held onto something for dear life. The engine, recently stopped, flared to life _on_its_own_ and revved up. A familiar voice seemed to come out of the air.

"You! What are _you_ doing here?"

The car shifted gears, and charged furiously at the much-abused young man. He jumped out of the way, missing the car by centimeters. Seeing it (her?) ready for another charge, Belldandy stood in between the two, shielding him from the car.

"Megumi, don't do this. He isn't the one you're looking for."

"I dunno...it certainly looks like him!" she cried, bitterness strong in her words.

"Look closer. No demon markings...he's human. He's human."

"Me-megumi? Is...that...you?" Keiichi's face was a strange mixture of anger and disbelief.

"Of course it is!" She revved her engine, ready even to go through Belldandy to hurt him. Keiichi, remembering when Mara had done this to her in her own universe, turned his accusing eyes to her.

"Why haven't you changed her back yet? Why?!?"

Mara shook her head sadly. Her voice, once shrill and dark, was now softer and more contemplative. "I...cannot."

Belldandy put a hand on his shoulder, focusing a sad, stern gaze on him. "Mara can't undo the spell, Keiichi. You see, she didn't cast the spell."

Keiichi's eyes widened in horror as he realized...

"You did, Keiichi."

Keiichi just stood there in front of the temple, straining to come to terms with this most painful revelation as tears welled up in his eyes. Unable to take any more, he sank to his knees, burying his face in his hands as he vented the frustrations of a lost man driven to the edge. Keiichi's sobs were the only sound that could be heard for several minutes, until Belldandy spoke to him softly, reverently, bringing him out of his grief.

"Keiichi, there's one more thing I need to tell you...in private." She helped him up, gently dried his tears, and led him into a room if the temple. The others, save Megumi, followed them inside.

**********

A chill went up Keiichi's spine as he entered the room, his in another time and place. It was Belldandy's now, sparsely furnished, with photos of friends on the walls. Belldandy closed the door behind them, then invited him to sit with a small motion of her hand. He sat down, brow furrowed in worry and concern. Before he could speak, though, the goddess placed a finger on his lips, silencing his questions with a touch. She lowered her head and began to speak.

"Last New Year's, Megumi decided to try to make peace. She rode over to the apartment that you...that he and Mara shared, carrying a hamaya with her. An argument ensued, it became heated...the spell was cast. From that moment on, Megumi has worn the form she now wears...that of an automobile."

"Afterwards...Mara accidently stepped on the hamaya. The resulting discharge erased her memory and drove...Keiichi away from the scene. We - that is, Skuld, Urd, and I - found Mara and set out to rehabilitate her properly. She was just given her goddess classification a few weeks ago."

She knelt down in front of him, locking her sad eyes with his. "Keiichi...there is a way to get Keiichi...the other Keiichi...back. But, it will be dangerous. Very dangerous."

Keiichi's voice was soft, cracking, as though not used in days. "Will it get Megumi back?"

Belldandy nodded.

"I'll do it." He stood up and marched for the door, only to be stopped by Belldandy's hand on his arm. She looked up at him, confusion in her eyes.

"Don't you care about what could happen to you?"

Keiichi shook his head. "Does it matter? She's my sister. Wouldn't you do the same for Urd or Skuld?"

Belldandy nodded silently, without smiling. Tears began to form in her eyes. Keiichi took one of her hands in his own, and gave a reassuring squeeze. He smiled confidently, trying to hide his own apprehension.

"So, what do I need to do?"

Belldandy's tears got worse. Taking her hand back, she wiped her eyes and looked at him for a long moment.

"You must confront him - and, in doing so, face every sin, every hatred, every dark thought within yourseslf."

Keiichi's smile vanished.

**********

"Hello."

The sun was just beginning to set at the temple, its last gasps of day peering through the cherry blossoms, stretching the remaining shadows to forever. Megumi faced it, lost in thought, enjoying its beauty with her spiritual eyes, as Keiichi approached her.

"Hello...Kei-chan."

The two stood together, blocked by unsaid words from progressing further for several minutes, choosing to instead wish the sun goodbye as it dipped below the horizon, basking in the silence and the beauty. Finally, Megumi broke the silence softly, hesitantly.

"I heard. All of it. I'm...sorry."

"It's okay. There's nothing to apologize for."

"I also heard...that you were going to...to try to get the two of us...cured."

Keiichi nodded.

The disembodied voice showed confusion. "Pardon me for asking, but...why?"

A small chuckle came from deep within Keiichi's throat. "Do you remember the time when you came home after Hikaru Takahashi broke up with you?"

"Yeah...I was crying my eyeballs out. You...you came to my room, dried my eyes, and took me out for ice cream to cheer me up."

Keiichi bit his lip, unsure of the right words to say. "Megumi...I am your brother. I remember everything that happened between us...playing as children, getting on each other's nerves, looking after each other... I can't forget the times we spent together, and I hope I never do. For that - for us as brother and sister - I would do almost anything."

"Th-thanks, Keiichi."

"Ahem." The goddesses stood behind them, waiting. "Are you two ready?"

He looked for a long moment at his transformed sister, then locked eyes with Belldandy. "Yes. Let's go."

**********

Interlude

Darkness enveloped the room, the only illumination the byproduct of computer monitors. Beethoven's "Moonlight" played in the background, adding to the air of soft mystery. A form blocked the light from one of the monitors, long hair and small, feminine body silhouetted. The body tensed for a moment, then scratched her head, puzzled. "impossible..." she whispered, in a high, childlike voice, before running off to parts unknown.

**********

Keiichi stood outside the door, his heart flying in panic. He balled his fists, in a vain effort to keep them from shaking. Raising his fist to knock, he shuddered ha he read the message on the door.

Abandon all hope, ye who enter.

He knocked, every nerve in his body screaming for him to run. It opened, a familiar, yet alien, voice answering, full of anger.

"Yeah, whaddaya want, you-"

Keiichi stared, wide-eyed, at the person who answered the door, taking in his demon markings, dark, growling face, strange eyes...himself, yet not himself. Somehow, the young man found some strength within himself, and straightened up to his full height.

"May I come in? I think we have a lot to talk about."

His doppelganger laughed softly. "Now whatever makes you think..." He paused for a moment as he considered Keiichi further, gears in his head flying. "Hmmm. On second thought, come in. Please come in." His voice was a disconcerting mix of venom and honey. He opened the door further, allowing Keiichi inside.

Keiichi's eyes bulged out as he took in the decor, unable to stop the bile rising up in his throat. The walls, ceiling, and floor were painted black, with matblack and gloss swirled around in strange, nauseating patterns. Black candles were posted around the room, providing an eerie illumination. The pictures that adorned the walls were perverse, dark, of such depravity that even de Sade would have blushed at seeing them. A pentagram was painted on the floor, its lines the only shade of white in the room. Only two pieces of furniture were in the room: a bed (with black satin sheets, no less) and a coffin at one end. Sayoko was naked, handcuffed to the bed with a ball gag in her mouth, occasional muffled moans escaping from her throat. Keiichi ran to her and started to unbuckle the bondage contraption on her head. His demonic counterpart simply smiled.

"There. Sayoko, are you okmmmph!" As he removed the gag from her mouth, Sayoko raised her head slightly and kissed him full on the mouth, causing Keiichi to recoil in horror. The horror only increased as he got a closer look at her.

The thing that lay so forcefully on the bed had apparantly given up her claim on humanity long ago. Sayoko strained for him from her position, her tongue reaching for him, the only sounds emanating from her throat the growls and purrs of animals. Keiichi raised a hand to his mouth for a moment, fighting the gag reflex that threatened, then fighting the anger rising in him at this last affront. This mockery of himself had destroyed everything around him...the innocence of the goddesses, Megumi's body, Sayoko's humanity...Keiichi saw red. This bastard had to be stopped. Now.

"I've trained it well, don't you think?"

The words were precisely what Keiichi wanted to hear, as they provided him with the impetus to do what he most desired. The punch he attempted was the focus of all his anger, all of his rage - and all it did was hit off of the demon's protective barrier. Undisturbed by this, the demon simply raised his hand, sending the poor man flying across the room.

"What...you don't like my new pet? I've even had it housebroken..."

Keiichi stood up, fighting the pain coursing through his body from the attack. He wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth, and faced his dark adversary. "Why?" he whispered hoarsely.

The demon sighed, apparantly going through some boring memories. "Sayoko always was such a prim-and-proper soul, always so nice and tidy. However, there was always another side of her that she always kept hidden...a bit that she would never allow to show. I simply revealed to her that animal side, and showed her how to love it. Do you call that a crime?"

"Yes." Keiichi's eyes showed murder as he stared at the hellspawn.

The demon, obviously bored with the conversation, tried to change the subject. "Lovely decor, don't you think? The Tzimisce look is so...in these days." A black-gloved hand glided along wet flesh, taking a subtle pleasure in her curves and textures. She writhed, purring softly in response, a lusty smile forming on her face. Seeing her pleasure, the demon stopped and slapped her sharply across her bruised, tear-and-sweat-streaked face, knocking her into blissful unconsciousness. The demon then turned back around, flashing a host's smile at the horror painted on Keiichi's face. "So, my doppelganger...what are you? We are too much alike to be anything but the same person, and you have no power in you, so you are not some shapeshifter, but an ordinary..." He winced involuntarily for a moment, then continued, "...human." The same gloved hand reached out to caress Keiichi's cheek. The touch felt like crawling leeches on his skin...The demon continued. "Care to enlighten me? Or should I use..." A shudder coursed through Keiichi as the strange eyes glowed. "...other methods to persuade you? It would love the company." The demon gestured back to the poor woman on the bed.

Keiichi's face took on an evil sneer as he thought of the victims and shattered lives. "No. The only reasons why I'm here are to get MY sister back to normal, and to get you away from this...twisted path, if I can."

The demon began to chuckle softly. "Heh. Foolish mortal. Just for that, we're going to have some fun." His eyes glowed...Keiichi's world shifted, changed. He closed his eyes to fight off the nausea.

After a long moment, Keiichi opened his eyes. He was at his parents' house, in the kitchen...something seemed wrong, though. The decor...the pictures on the wall...the place hadn't looked like this for at least a decade, not since he was a child.

"Poobear? Where are you, Poobear?"

He stiffened at the sound. It was Megumi's voice, many years ago, when they were children. Poobear was Megumi's favorite stuffed teddy bear when she was little, until...until...

Oh.

Oh no...

"Kei-chan, have you seen Poobear?" His vision shifted around to face the toddler. Her black pigtails bounced as she ran toward him, her dark eyes full of worry. "I've looked _everywhere_ for him..."

OhnopleasenonotthisIdon'twanttolivethisagain...

"Poobear? I threw your stupid bear in the trash."

The adult's heart broke as the child's eyes saw the inevitable result: Slowly, inexorably, Megumi's expression changed from worry to sadness. Tears welled in her eyes as the horror spread on her face. "Poobear...gone?"

"Yeah. Poobear gone."

The tears started running freely from her eyes as she absently tried to wipe them away. A chill went through Keiichi's spine as he saw Megumi run away sobbing, not even bothering to call for Mom or anything. Her sobs echoed in his ears as his vision shifted again...

He was back at the apartment, on his knees, unable to stop the flood of tears. His face hardened at the violation as that voice spoke from behind him...so similar to his own, yet worlds apart. He fought hard to keep his hands from lunging for the hellspawn's throat.

"Enjoy your little trip down memory lane?"

A shaking hand wiped Keiichi's tears away. "W-why?"

The demon smiled. "For the hell of it, my twin...for the hell of it. You see, you've...we've...always been bred for evil. Mara, before those simps warped her mind, showed me what could happen if I embraced my being, rather than fight it like you have." He put a hand on Keiichi's shoulder. "I need an assistant, someone who knows me...intimately. Care to join me? I'll show you power beyond your wildest dreams. Otherwise..." His eyes glowed a sickening green as he demonstrated his power.

Something snapped inside Keiichi at these last words. He rose to his feet, his head still bowed from tears and shame. The demon's smile turned into a frown as a small chuckle came from Keiichi's throat. The voice that spoke, while soft and unassuming, held a force, a firmness to it. "Heh. you don't have the slightest idea, do you?"

Keiichi's head rose, his now-fierce gaze locking with the demon's. "You have all the power in the world...but what for? You've forgotten love, honor, courage...without which power is nothing."

A smile formed on Keiichi's lips as he noted the fear and distress appearing on the demon's face. "When I knocked on this door and saw you, I was afraid, perhaps more afraid than I'd ever been in my life. Now, I see you for what you really are: a pathetic shell, hiding his emptiness behind parlor tricks. I don't fear you anymore." His tone turned derisive. "I _pity_ you."

He opened his arms wide. "Go ahead. Do your worst."

The demon was shocked far beyond capable speech. All he could do was cast a spell...his eyes glowed...

Inside his mind, Keiichi screamed as a chorus of voices and images flashed by, a lifetime viewed in a microsecond.

"Congratulations. It's a boy." "Hush, little baby, don't say a word..." "Kei-chan...this is your baby sister, Megumi." "Ooooh...you're getting to be a big boy, aren't you?" "Now, enjoy yourself at school..." "Daddy, how does this thing go?" "See you tomorrow, Bell-chan!" "Now son, if you don't make good grades..." "I had a real nice time, Keiichi..." "Have you ever thought about Nekomi Tech?" "Yatta! I made it!" "Come join the Auto Club!" "Hello. You have reached the Relief Goddess Helpline..."

"AAAAAAAAAAAUUUGH!!!"

**********

Keiichi looked around. He was...floating...somewhere. The demon was unconscious a few feet away from him, a look of horror frozen on his face.

"Keiichi-san?"

Belldandy. Keiichi gasped in awe as he took in her form, in glorious divinity with wings, halo, and her purple-and-white outfit. "Belldandy, what happened? Where are we?"

She smiled softly. "We are on the planescape of your mind. That thing..." she said, not hiding her disgust at the demon, "made the mistake of attacking your mind. When Mara started to come around, I planted a few psionic safeguards, just in case. He fell victim to one of them."

Her face sobered. "Keiichi, I just wanted to say...I'm sorry for bringing you into this battle. If I could just shield you away from all this, I would. But, we must live and work within this world. Without it, you would cease to be yourself, and I would cease to be myself. I'm sorry for the pain he's caused you."

"Remember the promise. Have faith in me, and I will always be here for you." She bagan to fade away. Keiichi was too overcome by emotion to stop her.

**********

Disappointment rose in Keiichi's mind as his senses returned to reality: the smell of sweat and passion, the confusing sights...He looked to his left, at his now-unconscious other self. He walked over to the demon, and looked at the human beneath the dark face and rainment. "There but for the grace of Goddess..." he whispered, closing the still-open eyes of the creature. He then looked at Sayoko, also mercifully unconscious, wondering her fate. Could she ever return to what she was?

"Yes...and no."

The four goddesses stood in the doorway, looking at Keiichi with varying degrees of respect, admiration, and awe. Belldandy walked over to the demon, and touched a glowing hand to his forehead. His demon markings slowly dissolved, leaving a very human Keiichi on the floor. She then did the same to Sayoko, released her bonds, threw a sheet over her, then turned back to the young man.

"Sayoko will never forget what happened to her...but she will never be a slave to her darkness. The spell I cast released them both from their bondage, and will help them come to terms with it. It will take time though...time, patience, and help. As for Keiichi, he will become... I believe the modern term is 'mage', for good this time. Once he wakes, he should be willing to break Megumi's spell. He's going to need training, though..."

"Thanks, Bellda-"

"BUG!!"

Skuld's cry split through the quiet conversation as she pulled out her ubermallet. The source of her frustrations bounced off the ceiling, over Sayoko's still-sleeping form, and onto Keiichi's chest. It smiled up at him for a long moment, then opened a portal beneath his feet.

***************************************************************************

"Ooooh...please let me be back..." Keiichi got up slowly, noting he was back on the Nekomi campus...in fact, the exact spot he'd been earlier. He leaned against the tree, trying to fight the dizziness threatening to engulf him.

"K1? Is that you?"

He opened his eyes...and instantly regretted it. A trio of young ladies stood looking at him anxiously, longingly, as though he were more than Keiichi Morisato. He stood up straight, in order to dissuade whatever ideas they may have, and raised his hands in mild protest.

"I'm sorry, ladies, but-"

"It is you! It is you!!"

The three soon joined by others, proceeded to mob him, asking for his autograph or his hand in marriage...Keiichi chose this opportune moment to close his eyes and collapse, preferring the normality of his dreams to...

**********

Hello.

Long story as to the background of this story. This was always on the back burner, a story that was always next on my "to do" list. I first plotted out all four chapters over Christmas holiday, but never had the time to write them. At the time, I considered "Sunrise" and "Contagion" to be higher priority. Then, I planned to write part 1 during Spring Break...until a crazy BGC idea came along. Then, around late April, I got into a bit of an argument with Ryan Mathews, who couldn't understand the sources behind "serious" Ranma fanfiction. During that argument, in which both of us said some pretty rash things, I accepted a challenge from him: Write a non-Ranma 'fic. Now, I had an excuse. This was the first 'fic that I finished writing over the summer.

Believe it or not, I never planned on releasing this to RAAC on Halloween. It just sorta...happened.

Anyway, the other three parts, should I choose to write them, are named: