Crimson Gaze

Disclaimer: I do not own Matantei Loki Ragnarok. It belongs to Kinoshita Sakura Sensei…

Chapter 1: Her Sudden Departure

The alley lights flickered eerily in the dead of the night, casting distorted shadow on the walls. A figure ran into the narrow alley way, and looked around frantically. She moved quietly towards the pile of boxes at the corner. She positioned herself behind the boxes so that she will be hidden from view.

'Loki….help me… please hurry….' she whimpered.

She froze as she hears footsteps approaching her hidden place. 'Kami Sama…. Please don't let him find me…' she closed her eyes tightly and prayed.

'Why do I always get myself into such mess?'

Flashback

"Loki-kun….Loki-kun……. Have you seen the newspaper?" he heard her from his study even before he saw her barged into the room as usual.

"When will you ever learn how to knock before barging into someone's room?" he sounded a bit weary.

"Nee…… Loki-kun, did you see the news article on the murder of teenagers? It was said that bodies were found all over the neighborhood. And the weirdest part is that it forms a shape of a six pointed star. Fushigi Mystery!" Mayura exclaimed excitedly.

Loki frowned. 'Six pointed star? Occult? Most occult have that kind of symbol.' He was so deep in thought that he nearly didn't hear Mayura say they are going to investigate it. "No. we are not going to get involve in this case. Let's leave it to the police to handle it."

"But…But… They..."

"I said no, Mayura. This is a murder we are looking at, not some mystery. So, don't try to go investigating it." Loki fixed Mayura with a stern stare.

"Fine…" she lowered her head to avoid his stare and sat down dejectedly on the sofa.

"You should go home too before the sunsets. There is a murder on the loose; your father will feel much better if you are home. Come I'll walk back with you."

"Hai…" Mayura signed as she followed Loki , Fenrir and Yamino out.

As they were walking to the shrine, Yamino was telling Loki about his newly acquired gadget he got from mail orders. Mayura quietly stared at the back of the small figure and wonder who he really was.

It was almost 8 months since that day. That day when he had disappeared, leaving her feeling so empty and helpless at the same time. That day when she believe in God again when He had brought Loki back.

After that…many strange things started to happen. New friends came and went. Never staying long.

There was one time when she dreamt that she became the assistant of the God who strangely enough owns a pet snake and a black puppy; the man who bear a great resemblance to Loki. The mansion was in shabbles and the God was in poverty.

When she told Loki about this, he smiled at her and said that was only a dream. But it had felt so real to her.

Till this day, she still hasn't quite figured out Loki.

"…yura-san, Mayura-san, we're here." Mayura blinked and realized that they had reach the shrine.

"Oh… Thanks for sending me back. Thank you too Fenrir." She smiled and bent down to pet the black pup. He gave a few barks and wagged its tail. "Ja-ne Loki-kun, Ymino-san and Fenrir."

"Don't wonder around at night, Mayura. Remember what happened the last time you didn't listen to me?"

"Hai…Hai…, papa" Mayura teased.

Loki hummmppped and turned to return home.

As she sat down to dry her hair in font of her mirror, she noticed a box in her bag. "Oh no" she gasped.

She had forgotten to pass the present to Loki. She had seen this beautiful necklace in a shop and thought it would look really nice on Loki. The pendant was in the shape of a silver crescent moon with intricate design by the side. It hung on the thin leather stripe. She remembered Loki always have this weird staff with one end shape like a crescent moon.

She looked at the clock showing 15 minutes to 9 o'clock. She quickly went to change and went out with the box in her hand. She decided to take a short cut to Loki's place.

She passed by the deserted row of shops and stopped when she heard something moved in one of the alley way. She moved cautiously towards the sound and peered round the corner.

Something white flashed past her. She screamed and fell back. She looked at the thing and laughed nervously. It was only a white cat. As she stood up, a shadow loomed over her. She turned……and screamed.

Hovering behind her was a man with a mask over his face. In his hand was a bloody knife. Raised and ready to strike.

Mayura quickly scrambled to her feet and ran as fast as she could. However, the man was hot on her heels. She turned into an alley way and stop when she noticed that it was a dead end. She whimpered and ran behind a pile of boxes.

End of Flashback

Mayura's hand clenched the small box in her hand. The footsteps came nearer and nearer.

"Come out, little one. Don't hide from me…I'm not going to hurt you……much." The man laughed manically. Mayura bit her lips and pushed the boxes. It landed on the man. She ran out the alley without turning back. She screamed when she felt something sharp against her arm. She could feel her blood dripping. The next thing she knew, the man had slammed her on the floor.

Her pupil dilated as she saw the flash reflected from the blade as it sliced through the air and her flesh.

"LOKI………………" she screamed out as blood filled her month.

Loki looked up from his book he was reading. Ever since after dinner, he had been having a bad feeling that something is going to happened.

"Are you alright, Loki-tama?" Ec-chan asked from the top of his head.

"I don't know. I've been having a feeling that something bad is happening." He frowned and tried to shake off the feeling.

"LOKI…………………" his eyes widen as he heard Mayura's voice screaming his name.

"Mayura…" he jumped of his sit and rushed out.

"Loki-sama, where are you going?" Yamino asked, concerned after seeing the worried look on his face.

"Daddy, wait for us." Fenrir shouted and hurried up to catch up with Loki.

"Mayura. Something happened to her. Damn it! I told her not to go off investigating the murder." Loki snarled as they ran towards the shrine.

"What are you doing here, brat?" Mayura-papa glared angrily at them. He was sweeping the courtyard when they came running. "If you are looking for Mayura, I thought she was at your place? She said she had something to pass to you."

Loki froze and started swearing. "Fenrir, can you detect her scent?"

Daidouji Misao raised an eyebrow as the brat started talking to the black pup. To his amazement, the pup actually lifted his head and smells the air. It turned to the kid and barked a few times. The kid nodded and followed the pup.

"What the hell happened?" he muttered under his breath. He threw his broom aside and followed them.

She felt so cold…very cold. She no longer feels any pain, too numb after loosing so much blood.

"Yes…you are so beautiful. With your blood drained out of you, your skin had turned snow white. Just like the others. Only difference is that you look much more beautiful than them." The man chuckled as he stroke her hair he had cut from her earlier. "I will keep this as a souvenir and the photos too."

The man stood up, he was about to dragged her to a new location when he heard footsteps approach from afar.

He looked at Mayura with regret. "Seems like we have company. Well…sayonara." He leaned down and kissed her on her cold lips.

Her eyes widen as he twisted the blade further into her heart. And her world fades to darkness.

"Daddy… shes in front. But…… I smell blood." Fenrir whispered.

Loki felt fear twisting his gut. "Please…let me be in time. Please…"

"Loki-sama! Over here at the alley!" Yamino pointed at the narrow alley way ahead of them.

They ran there and what they saw shocked them to their very souls.

"MAYURAAAAAAAA……………………" Daidouji Misao howled as he ran to his daughter's side. "NNOOOOOOOOOO………….."

Loki stood there. Not believing what he saw. He didn't even realise when he had turned back to his kakusei form.

'No, this can't be true. No…' He repeated those words over and over in his head until he felt a hand squeezing his shoulder.

"Loki-sama…" Yamino whispered. He felt anguished rolling off Loki-sama. Anguished that he wasn't able to reach her in time.

Lighting flashed across the sky, illuminating the dark alley way and the scene it presented. Rain started to fall from the sky.

Even the God is weeping at her sudden departure.