Title: Amor Est Vitae Essentia
Author: Inspired Seeker
Rating: PG-13
Number of Words: 2,618
"This" Denotes speech while
"This" Denotes thought
Keiichi slowly awoke when the sunlight fell on his eyes. He turned his head to the left and smiled gently at his goddess's sleeping form. He affectionately placed his hand on her cheek.
His heart leapt as he gazed at her. He saw the woman he loved; the woman he wanted to be with forever. Even though three years has passed since he met her on the men's dormitory, their love for each other had grew stronger with each passing moment.
The young Morisato simply gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek before he left. He had a lot to do today. Today was not an ordinary day.
Today was the day he had finally decided to propose to her.
Kei had finally mustered the money and courage he needed to put his plan into motion. He already had everything planned. But he still needed to accomplish some things if he was going to succeed.
He was just about to round the corner towards the kitchen when a voice stopped him.
"So, when are you going to pop the question?"
Keiichi immediately stiffened and turned around to see Urd grinning slyly at him.
"How did she know?" It took a second for him before the answer dawned on him. "Oh yeah, that's right. Goddesses can read people's minds. Never trust her not to read your mind when she's not supposed to…"
"You do realize I can read your mind, right? And what was that bit about not trusting me?" Urd asked threateningly, cracking her knuckles.
The young Morisato just put his arms up in a defensive manner.
"Uhh… It's nothing really…" The young Morisato chuckled nervously, before turning around to leave. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You still haven't answered my question." Keiichi sighed dejectedly.
"Why don't we go into the living room? Belldandy might hear us…" Urd nodded, and followed Keiichi towards the living room. She closed the shoji door behind her.
"Tonight." Urd raised an eyebrow.
"Tonight? Do you already have everything planned?"
"Why, yes. I-" He was cut off when somebody opened the door rather harshly. Keiichi already knew who it was.
"WHAT? KEIICHI MORISATO, WHAT IS THIS YOU'RE PLANNING ABOUT MY SISTER?"
"Skuld, keep it down."
"But, Urd-"
"Keep it down. For Belldandy's sake." Skuld huffed at her older sister, but complied anyways. She would do anything just to ensure Belldandy's happiness.
Urd trained her eyes on keiichi and spoke sternly.
"I may not show it, but I really care for Belldandy's welfare." Skuld looked up at her oldest sister. She rarely saw this side of Urd, but was glad that she did.
"Just make sure you take care of her… or I'll be taking care of you in a different manner." Keiichi gulped at this. But Urd wasn't finished yet.
"Skuld and I won't interfere with whatever you're planning. Right Skuld?" Urd threw a sidelong glance at her youngest sister. The latter just nodded mutely.
Keiichi was relieved. Urd had just taken away his main worry, namely their interference with his plans. At least, he hopes she did.
We never know with Urd, though.
"Keiichi," Skuld began to speak, carefully choosing her words. If her sister was going to be happy with it, then so be it.
Urd briefly contemplated stopping her younger Goddess, but decided against it. She felt that there was something different with her tone of voice.
"I know that you want to be Belldandy, and she also wants to be with you because you make each other happy." Skuld paused for effect. "Now, for me to interfere between you because it would mean that our relationship would grow distant would be very selfish of me."
"But, all I ask is for you not to take her away from us." Skuld pleaded as a few tears slipped from her eyes. Keiichi's brotherly instincts took over as he took the young girl in his arms and tried to console her.
Urd couldn't help but smile at the scene before her. She wished Belldandy could see this; See that her younger sister and Keiichi have mended fences.
A few minutes has passed before Skuld pulled away, still crying lightly. She rubbed her eyes before looking up at the young Morisato.
Keiichi smiled at the young goddess and spoke in a soft voice.
"Skuld, I know how close you are to Belldandy. I will in no way stop you or Urd from getting close with her. I just want to be with her for as long as I am able to and, to make her happy."
Both sisters nodded thoughtfully as they digested his words. Then they smiled at him.
"AS I've said before, we won't interfere with whatever you're planning. Good luck, you'll need it." Urd said teasingly, before she got up and left the room.
"I wish you luck, Keiichi." Skuld said, before making her way to the door. She was just about to leave when Keiichi stopped her.
"Your acceptance of our relationship means a lot to me, you know? Thank you." Skuld just smiled before she left the room completely, leabing Keiichi alone in the room.
The young Morisato sat deep-in-thought for a few moments before making a few phone calls in preparation of his plans.
He was going to make this one memorable day.
Belldandy was standing outside, taking in the fresh air that morning. She felt happy that morning, although she was slightly saddened by the fact that Keiichi had already left the room before she woke up. In spite of that, she was looking forward to spending some quality time with her Keiichi-san.
She was humming a lighthearted tune when she felt hands on her eyes. She stiffened for a moment, before relaxing at the person's embrace. She knew exactly who it was.
"Belldandy." The person said, seductively whispering at her ear. (Or at least, trying to be seductive. )
Belldandy couldn't take it anymore. She immediately turned around and gave the person a passionate kiss. She was right; it was Keiichi.
After a few moments, they regretfully parted from each other, their need for air overriding their desire to continue on. As they rested their foreheads against each other, Keiichi couldn't help but smile at his blushing goddess.
Neither of them spoke for a few minutes, obviously reveling in the moment. Then keiichi decided to break the spell.
"Say, Belldandy, why don't we go somewhere later?"
"That would be wonderful, Keiichi-san!" Belldandy smiled, before a slight frown marred her features.
"But what about Skuld and Urd?"
"Oh, don't worry. They'll keep themselves away from harm's way, hopefully." Keiichi nervously said, hoping to reassure Belldandy.
"I hope they didn't hear
that."
"WHAT did he just SAY? Is he implying that we can't take care of ourselves?"
"Pipe down! We don't want to get caught."
"I'm gonna get Keiichi for this…Why, that little…"
"Urd, if you don't stop, I'm gonna sic my Skuld bombs on you!"
A large explosion from behind a tree startled the couple from their conversation. Sharing a knowing look, they rushed off towards the site of the explosion, knowing full well its cause. As they neared the site, they saw Urd and Skuld blackened, obviously dazed.
"Sssaaakeee…"
"Iceee creammmm…"
"Oh my."
Keiichi resisted the urge to smack himself as they proceeded to carry the dazed goddesses inside the temple.
"What could they have been
doing behind that tree? Spying, perhaps?"
Keiichi was making holes in the floor. It was almost time, and Belldandy hasn't finished dressing yet. He was wearing black sacks, coupled with a black dress shirt and a coat. He reached inside his pocket and fingered the velvet box with the ring inside of it. It took him a couple of months to save for the ring, but he continually assured himself that it was worth it. It may have been one of the most expensive rings in the store, but she deserved nothing but the best.
"Belldandy." The mere thought of her made his heart race. She was all he wanted and more. He silently thanked the almighty for giving him such a wonderful woman.
He was just about to go fetch Belldandy when he heard a voice behind him.
"Don't screw this up, Keiichi. I'd hate to be you if you do." Urd said, winking at him. Keiichi just sighed and spoke sarcastically.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Urd."
Belldandy had just finished herself. She wasn't aware of what was in store for her later that day, but she dressed nicely anyway. She wanted to appear in the best form for her Keiichi.
She gave her best in everything, and she would do no less now.
It took her a few more minutes to finish dressing before she came out of the room that she and Keiichi shared.
Keiichi couldn't help but gawk at Belldandy. She was wearing a modest form-fitting dress, but it amplified her beauty, if not more. It took a few moments before he managed to pick up his jaw from the floor.
"Y-you l-look beautiful, Bell." Belldandy giggled and blushed at the compliment and the nickname he gave her.
"Thank you, Kei-chan."
Two pairs of yeyes were watching from behind some bushes when they saw Keiichi put a blindfold on Belldandy and gently led her to the motorbike.
"Uhh… are you sure we're supposed to be doing this? I mean, I'd hate to be intruding in their privacy…"
"Nonsense! Isn't it the duty of the eldest to watch over her sisters?"
"Well, yes, but-"
"But nothing!" Urd exclaimed, a little giddy about Keiichi's proposal to her sister. After all, it took him long enough!
"Where are we going?" Belldandy softly asked. Fortunately, the BMW's engine was not loud enough to drown out her voice.
"It's a surprise." Keiichi answered good-naturedly as he kept his eyes forward on the road.
Belldandy briefly considered probing his mind, but decided not to. Keiichi knew she wouldn't intentionally probe his mind, and doing so would be a betrayal of trust; a betrayal of trust of the man she loved.
"We're here."
"It's… beautiful." Belldandy gasped as Keiichi removed the blindfold from her eyes. They were on a hill overlooking the ocean, and the stars together with the moonlight shining upon them. It was truly a sight to behold.
They stood there, holding hands, as they took in the sight before them. Neither of them spoke for a while, before Keiichi asked her to dinner.
"And I thought he was romantically-challenged…"
"Shut up."
Keiichi led her to a table for two, complete with candle lights. He pulled out her chair, allowing her to sit before he himself took the seat in front of her. A waiter promptly arrived to take their orders. After scanning the menus given to them, they immediately gave their choices. The waiter scribbled them down before slipping away.
"Belldandy?"
"Yes?"
"I feel really happy that we got to spend some time alone."
"Me too. We rarely get a chance to get together at home. Thank you for this, Kei-chan."
Keiichi was just about to ready to propose to her when the waiter arrived with the food. He was cursing and thanking the man at the same time; cursing him because he ruined his chance and thanking him for delaying the inevitable.
Dinner passed on uneventfully, with the two of them inserting small talk in between. Soon, they found themselves along the beach, walking arm in arm.
Keiichi felt increasingly nervous as they walked. This was it; he could no longer delay the inevitable, or his yearnings for Belldandy. He gave her a furtive glance.
Belldandy could feel her soul mate's nervousness, and she wondered for the reason behind this. She looked at him, and saw him seemingly entranced by the waves lapping at the shore. She slowly took her eyes off him before closing them, reveling in the sound of the waves and the warmth of Keiichi's nearness to her.
Noticing that she wasn't looking anymore, he slowly got down on one knee and opened the small jewelry box, with the ring glinting slightly under the starlight.
"Belldandy?"
She was just about to reply when she saw the scene in front of her. She gasped.
"Belldandy, I know I'm not the most romantic guy around, but here goes." Keiichi paused as he took a deep breath. "Ever since I've met you that fateful night, my life has been filled with meaning. It has become a life full of love and joy. You're the first thing I think of when I wake up… and when I dream, I dream of you. "
"I know I am a mere mortal, and you, a goddess. And I know that I can't offer you what you really deserve. But, I can offer you my life and love, for as long as I am able to. So what I'm really saying is, Belldandy, the light and love of my life, will you marry me?"
Belldandy stood there speechlessly for a few moments before she slowly got to her knees before she enveloped him in a loving embrace.
"Yes, I will Keiichi. I love you, and I want to be with you forever…" She said brokenly as she sobbed on his shoulder.
Keiichi could feel his shoulder becoming wet as he slowly parted away from her. Placing a hand under her chin, he lifted it up slightly as he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Belldandy returned the kiss as she embraced him tighter.
Both of them parted from each other slowly, with Keiichi wiping away her tears. He slowly lifted the ring from the box and gently slipped it in her ring finger. It was a perfect fit.
The young goddess just smiled at Keiichi as they kissed again.
Both were obviously delighted in the new phase of their relationship. It marked a new beginning for both of them; a new beginning for something wonderful; something wonderful that cannot be described by words.
This was, undoubtedly, the happiest moment of their lives. Pledging themselves to each other allowed themselves to experience what it really meant to be alive; to be in love.
Skuld and Urd were both entranced by the scene they just saw. They were slightly tearing up at the declaration of love that had transpired before them.
It took a moment before the two regained their composure.
"I wish somebody would propose to me like that…" Skuld said dreamily. Urd looked at her sister as if she had grown two heads, then smiled mischievously.
"Wouldn't you like that… you don't even have a boyfriend yet!"
"Of course, I have! Its-" Skuld suddenly stopped. She realized what she had almost done; Urd had just tricked her again!
"What was that?" Urd asked, with a teasing glint in her eye. Skuld felt steam rise out of her ears.
"Argh! Urd, you idiot!"
Author's note: This is the first Ah! My Goddess! piece I have written, and I sincerely hope that you'll enjoy it. I apologize if the characters were OOC, but it was needed to achieve the ending I had in mind. ()
This was written because I was bored out my skull, and, coincidentally, I had this idea for a fic forming in my mind. And thus, this is the result.
Anyways, please read and review! Constructive criticism and suggestions would be most welcome.