Hidden in the shadow of the temple bell's sheltering roof,
Belldandy and Keiichi watched as Megumi and Skuld spoke briefly
at the gate. Keiichi stood behind Belldandy with his arms wrapped
around her waist and his chin -- barely -- resting on her
shoulder; her hands were clasped over his, and she had inclined
her head slightly so that her temple rested against Keiichi's
cheek.
They were too far away to hear the discussion, nor would they
have made the effort to eavesdrop if they could, but even at this
distance they could see the vehemence and anger in Megumi's
expression. As Megumi stormed out the gate, Belldandy made a
wordless sound of concern, and Keiichi gave her the faintest
gentle squeeze in equally wordless reassurance.
The two watched in silence as Skuld slowly made her way back to
the house. When the door had shut behind her, Belldandy turned
in Keiichi's arms to face him and he relaxed his embrace to let
her; before she could speak, though, he leaned forward and
kissed her.
Drawing back, he looked deep into her eyes, which were filled
with fear and worry.
"I know what you're going to say," he said softly. "No."
"But..." she began.
Keiichi shook his head. "I'm not going to leave. I don't care
how dangerous this might get." He reached down and took her
hand in his; raising it to his lips, he kissed her knuckles and
then squeezed it gently. "Together, forever, remember? That
doesn't just mean you staying with me. It means *me* staying
with *you*, too." He kissed her hand again. "No matter what."
A tremulous smile slowly materialized on her lips as her eyes
began to shine. "Oh, Keiichi."
"Whither thou goest," he whispered, "there go I."
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
Belldandy and Keiichi watched as Megumi and Skuld spoke briefly
at the gate. Keiichi stood behind Belldandy with his arms wrapped
around her waist and his chin -- barely -- resting on her
shoulder; her hands were clasped over his, and she had inclined
her head slightly so that her temple rested against Keiichi's
cheek.
They were too far away to hear the discussion, nor would they
have made the effort to eavesdrop if they could, but even at this
distance they could see the vehemence and anger in Megumi's
expression. As Megumi stormed out the gate, Belldandy made a
wordless sound of concern, and Keiichi gave her the faintest
gentle squeeze in equally wordless reassurance.
The two watched in silence as Skuld slowly made her way back to
the house. When the door had shut behind her, Belldandy turned
in Keiichi's arms to face him and he relaxed his embrace to let
her; before she could speak, though, he leaned forward and
kissed her.
Drawing back, he looked deep into her eyes, which were filled
with fear and worry.
"I know what you're going to say," he said softly. "No."
"But..." she began.
Keiichi shook his head. "I'm not going to leave. I don't care
how dangerous this might get." He reached down and took her
hand in his; raising it to his lips, he kissed her knuckles and
then squeezed it gently. "Together, forever, remember? That
doesn't just mean you staying with me. It means *me* staying
with *you*, too." He kissed her hand again. "No matter what."
A tremulous smile slowly materialized on her lips as her eyes
began to shine. "Oh, Keiichi."
"Whither thou goest," he whispered, "there go I."
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
