A/N: Thanks once again for the reviews, love them as always! Oh, here comes the manga being incorporated into this story, I just couldn't resist, Mayu and her hidden talents.
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Chapter 7: Mortals Are Funny Creatures
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Loki looked at the clock—3 o'clock—and no bubbly teenaged mortal girl with the bobbing pink head of hair. The tea on the coffee table had grown cold—Yamino knew Mayura's schedule like clock work—every day at 2:30 she would come running up the stairs, knock, and ask if there were any fushigi mysteries that had found their way to his desk. Loki went back to his book…
A chapter later he heard the door knob turn and the door to his study open. He looked over his book to find Narugami standing in the doorway.
"Narukami?" he asked with a quizzical look, it was far too early for dinner.
"Loki, Daidoji wanted me to tell you that she wouldn't be able to come and see you this week."
Loki blinked, no Mayura for a week? She had something more pressing to do then hunt down fushigi mysteries? Despite his curiosity he merely shrugged in reply going back to his book.
"Don't you want to know what's keeping her away?" teased Narugami looking like the information was ready to spill out of him and onto the floor in any moment.
Loki sighed, closing his book, and placed it in front of him, "Alright Narukami, I'm listening."
Narugami beamed, "Your curiosity has gotten the better of you!" he exclaimed, pointing his finger at Loki who just sweatdropped.
"…Are you going to tell me or not?"
"Daidoji has joined the cheerleading team again," he stated triumphantly, holding Mjollnir toward the sky for theatrics, "Oh…" coming back down to Midgard, "She wanted me to give this to you…" he trailed off reaching into his pack and pulling out a small square box and putting it on Loki's desk in front of him. "How I wish that I had a girlfriend to prepare a bento for me!"
Loki sweatdropped and opened the box to find an assortment of his favorite foods neatly arranged with a pair of chopsticks in the middle. He smiled feeling that he should have known that Mayura would keep her word.
Yamino walked in to find his father and Narugami fighting over a rice ball…
"Don't you know that it's rude to help yourself to someone else's meal?"
"But Loki, you couldn't possibly miss one little rice ball…"
Yamino sweatdropped as he watched them…
"Janken…Roe…Sham…Boe!" in unision, as Loki made a cutting motion to indicate that scissors cut paper.
"I win," remarked Loki taking back his rice ball and stuffing into his mouth, not giving Narugami the opportunity to pry it from his fingers.
"Is Mayura-san not joining us today, Loki-sama?" asked Yamino picking up the cold cup of tea.
"Mayura has taken up cheerleading again, according to Narukami," explained Loki, trying to decide which food to eat next as he sat at his desk.
"Is that from Mayura-san, Loki-sama?"
"Hai…surprisingly Mayura is a good cook," commented Loki before holding out the box to him, "Please help yourself."
Narugami nearly fell over before complaining about how he deserved something for having brought it to him in the first place.
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By the time Wednesday afternoon came, Loki had to admit—as much as he hated to—that Mayura had become a part of his daily routine. He stood up and headed out of his study.
"Going out, Loki-sama?" asked Yamino seeing his father heading for the door with Laevateinn in his hand.
"Ne, Fenrir, shall we go for a walk?" he called to his son who had been asleep on the floor.
"Yes, Daddy!" exclaimed Fenrir happily, standing up and wagging his tale.
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Fenrir couldn't help but smirk at his father as he realized where they were heading. The school came into view and one voice in particular had caught Fenrir's ears.
"Mayura, you're just too good at this," whined Tsubasa, twirling her baton with not nearly as much speed as Mayura.
"…Mou…Tsubasa don't be so hard on yourself. You didn't practice much after you left the team last year. Don't worry, that's why I'm here to help you," replied Mayura, with a nod in affirmation twirling her baton.
"Mayura, can we do the routine once more? Please?" begged Tsubasa, putting her hands together and smiling.
"Hai!" Mayura exclaimed, before walking over to the CD player.
As Loki turned the corner he blinked hearing music, and when he turned a smirk grew on his face. Fenrir stopped next to his father; he looked down the hill to find Mayura and another girl holding batons and blinked.
(A/N: In order to write this I listened to the song "Pump It" by Black Eyed Peas)
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Mayura and Tsubasa were both in their school cheerleading outfits. The two piece outfits were blue and white, the tops with collars and no sleeves and the bottoms were short skorts.
"Ready Tsubasa?"
"Hai!"
"Ok!" Mayura replied as she held her baton, one end in her hand, while the other end rested on the ground, "One, two, one, two, three, four…" her knees were bent and her other arm was up the air as she counted.
Both girls threw their batons in the air, clapping, and twirled around catching them before side stepping right to left in sync with one another. (Insert Narugami next to Loki). Both began twirling their batons in their right hands before circling one another, throwing their batons up into the air, and catching them in their left hands. (Insert Freyr next to Loki, see Fenrir sweatdrop at love sick fool).
Tsubasa stepped back as Mayura threw her baton to her and turned around as she broke out into the cheer, clapping her hands in tune with the music, and pumping her right arm up, followed by her left. (Insert Heimdall with his mouth wide open next to Freyr with hearts in his eyes, Narugami with a burning fire in his eyes at her amazing connection with her partner, Fenrir cringing at the idiots, and Loki sweatdropping with a 'Just Kill Me' expression).
Mayura twirled moving her hips with her body as she turned, Tsubasa threw the first baton and Mayura caught it with her right hand, as she came around with her left side Tsubasa threw the second baton. As Mayura caught it she began twirling both batons quickly crossing them in front of herself then in back of herself as she threw them into the air. She stepped forward, catching the first baton, twirling it at top speed, as she stepped back catching the second baton, now holding both and twirling them in her hands once more.
Tsubasa joined her once more as both smiled at one another and began sidestepping left to right. Mayura twirled the baton in her left hand over her arm as Tsubasa took back her baton.
Their smiles broadened as Tsubasa grabbed Mayura's free hand with hers and both started dancing, still twirling their batons.
"Mayura, you're so great!"
"Mou, Tsubasa, you're great too!"
Tsubasa's smile suddenly faded as her eye fell on something at the top of the hill. No…not something…someone…four someone's to be exact. There were Loki and Narugami who she knew, the crazy transfer student who had joined the mystery club, and another boy who looked to be about Loki's age all standing behind the fence their eyes wide and their mouths hanging open—minus Loki's who had his head hung low a big sweatdrop on his head.
Mayura noticed Tsubasa's face start to turn bright red, as she threw her baton straight up into the air. Mayura blinked and let go of Tsubasa's hand to grab the baton from coming right down on her head. As soon as she head she noticed why Tsubasa's face had turned the color of a cherry tomato. She quietly turned her back to the group, walked over to the CD player and felt her own face burning as she hit the stop button…
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SILENCE
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But all good things must end as Freyr clapped like a happy imbecile and Narugami complimented her timing and her skills with her partner (sorry Tsubasa he wasn't talking about you). Heimdall merely stood their wondering what the hell Loki's mortal was doing, was she possessed? And Loki just stood in silence for a while before saying, "I'm glad that she finally took my advice and stayed with cheerleading," with his arms over his chest and nodded his head in confidence as a decision well made.
Heimdall nearly fell over backwards at Loki's statement. While Fenrir stood with his eyes wide and his mouth open, he was with Heimdall, what the hell was that? And where did the klutzy mystery girl go?
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Mayura's sweatdrop only grew as Freyr asked her to show him her routine once more, and Narugami asked to learn more about the amazing moves she had portrayed. Heimdall smacked his forehead before ranting at Freyr to not be an idiot. Loki stood behind them all watching the teenaged mortal girl rub the back of her head nervously. Tsubasa had left her high and dry, bailing the moment she saw them start down the hill.
Mayura found her scapegoat as she waved to Loki, Freyr catching where her attention had gone sighed with a 'Always Loki' look.
Pushing past her captive audience of rambling gods she stopped in front of Loki having forgotten her embarrassment.
"Loki-kun, what are you doing here?" she asked stopping in front of him and bending down to smile at him.
"I wanted to thank you for the bento that you made me."
Freyr fell over backwards, "My Yamato Nadeshiko…made a special lunch for Loki?" he asked in disbelief.
"Afraid so," replied Narugami, with his hand in his pant pocket, Mjollnir at his side, "It had all of his favorite foods too."
Freyr sniffed holding back tears as Heimdall shook his head, "I'm leaving, c'mon!"
Freyr waved goodbye to his lovely Yamato Nadeshiko before running off to catch up with Heimdall.
"You don't have to thank me, Loki-kun. Did you enjoy my cooking?" she asked, her hair falling over her shoulders, a hopeful smile on her face.
"Hai," he replied smiling up at her, standing next to Fenrir who still had an amazed look on his face, "Narukami tried to eat it all."
Mayura turned her head to look at Narugami, who was waving his hands in defense.
"It just looked so good!" She smiled at him as he explained, "If only I had a girlfriend like you…"
Both sweatdropped that obviously had come out wrong.
Loki smirked, "Why don't you ask Mayura on a date Narukami?" he asked watching Narugami's cheeks turn red.
Mayura sweatdropped and put her hand on Loki's head, "I don't think we need Loki-kun's help it was hard enough last time when you told everyone that we were your mother and father."
Narugami paled at the memory of being bombarded with by a swarm of screaming teenagers as Loki got away without a scratch.
Mayura put her blue coat on, lifting her hair up and out of the coat and letting it fall once more. She buttoned it and grabbed her bag with one hand. "Ok, Loki-kun I have to get—
Narugami looked at his watched and shouted, "I'm late! Hurry and help me with my deliveries!" completely cutting off Mayura, as he grabbed both hers and Loki's hands and dragged them down the street.
"Narukami!" yelled Loki being dragged and tempted to hit him upside the head.
"Narugami, wait a minute!" objected Mayura, being dragged around in her cheerleading outfit of all things.
"Help! This man is kidnapping me!" yelled Loki, flailing madly.
Mayura sweatdropped and made some crazy signals to people in passing who had stopped to glance.
"He's a mad man! He's taking me and my mother to a bad place!"
Mayura's head fell, as her shoulders slumped...
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"Itadakimasu!" came the trio as they took their chopsticks in their hands and began their ramen.
Narugami had been kind enough to treat them; it was the least he could do after dragging them around town…ok…so he needed a little persuading…Mayura's "Please, I'm so hungry" and Loki's "Daddy never feeds us! He's SO mean!"
Mayura had fought Loki for the inside seat of the booth. There was no way that she was going to let any more people see her in a cheerleading outfit of all things. It would ruin her reputation for sure. Now Narugami's anteater costume from when he worked at the zoo, bring it on! But this outfit…oh no no no…
Fenrir was sitting in between Mayura and Loki having only gotten in because Mayura said that he was her service dog. When questioned as to what service he performed by the owner of the restaurant Mayura replied 'He samples food to make sure that it is safe to eat…' while sweatdropping and after their orders had been brought to her she held up a few noodles with her chopsticks and fed them to Fenrir, '…Ne, Fenrir, is it good?' she had asked and Fenrir's bark was satisfaction enough as she had ordered another bowl while Narugami face faulted.
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"Daidoji, shall I walk you home?" asked Narugami before they parted ways.
"Ano…" Mayura began but was interrupted.
"I'll walk you home, Mayura," Loki stated.
She arched an eyebrow at him about to object but didn't go any further, "Arigato Loki-kun," she turned to Narugami, "…Arigato for the ramen…" she began before muttering, "Even if you did drag me around town making deliveries."
"You're welcome. See you in school tomorrow Daidoji!"
"Hai. Good night Narugami," she replied, waving and turning back in the direction of her house.
Mayura walked next to Loki, holding Fenrir in her arms, as she looked in the shop windows as they passed by. "So how has your week been Loki-kun?"
Loki walked along side of her with carrying Laevateinn in his right hand and looked up at her, "Quiet."
"No cases?" she asked, turning the corner.
"Someone lost their cat, Fenrir found Yamino's cheese cake, Narukami's been free loading again."
"…Hmmm…well I'll be back as your assistant next week, so maybe something will come up," she replied, smiling down at him.
Loki looked unimpressed as he continued walking. He suddenly felt Laevateinn pulled away from him, he blinked to find Mayura twirling it aimlessly with one hand, still holding Fenrir with her other arm.
"Mayu…ra…" he asked, blinking, now standing in front of her.
She smiled, "Mou, Loki-kun, you could at least act like you missed having me around."
Loki sweatdropped, yeah he missed hearing her yell 'fushigi mystery!' or her hair brained ideas that always let to trouble. Actually, he guessed that maybe he did miss her…not like he would actually admit it. Fenrir merely smirked as he sat in the mystery girl's arm.
"Eh…Mayura, can I have my staff back?" he asked, holding out his hand.
"Hmmm…I think I like being Mayura the magical girl," she commented, with a smile.
"…Ma…yu…ra…" he stated flatly, looking at her in disbelief.
"Besides Loki-kun…I think I'll keep it. Unless that is, you think you can catch me!" she exclaimed before turning the corner and running off.
Loki blinked, coming to his senses and yelled, "Mayura!" as he took off after her.
Mayura giggled as she watched Loki run by as she stepped out from behind the phone booth, "Ne, Fenrir, let's play this game with Loki-kun a little longer."
Fenrir rolled his eyes, mortals were strange, but he figured that she wasn't that bad and nodded his head; Mayura who hadn't been paying attention to what was going on in front of her blinked when she heard a THUMP.
Both Fenrir and Mayura sweatdropped as they looked to find Kotaro—who had taken a nice hit from Laevateinn to the head.
"Gomen, gomen…" she began, bowing apologetically after having set Fenrir down.
"Daidoji Mayura…" Kotaru stated a different light in his eyes as he took her free hand.
She blinked, "Nani?"
Fenrir's eyes widened in awe at the sudden change in Kotaru and then he nearly fell over backwards when he heard, "Will you date me?"
Mayura's eyes widened in surprise as she nearly jumped at his statement, looking down at Fenrir to confirm that she had hurt it right, who nearly sweatdropped in reply. Yup. She had heard it right.
"You're exceptionally lovely today in your cheerleading outfit. You are by far the most beautiful in your squad."
Mayura and Fenrir shared 'What the hell?' expressions, apparently checking each other's hearing to make sure that neither were losing it. She looked around with little question marks appearing around her head, he must be talking about someone else. However, all she found was an old woman on a park bench and some pigeons.
'…Kotaru wants to date me?! Fushigi Mystery!' she thought as swirlies appeared in her eyes, this was a frightening change of events.
She waved her hand up and down and gave a 'hmmm' when she noticed his hand still attached to hers. Loki stood behind Mayura and Fenrir blinking as he watched Kotaru droll on and on about how they must date, while Mayura continued her attempt at shaking him off and trying to pull away and run, yet sighing when she realized it was futile.
Loki walked up to the 'happy' couple and stood next to Mayura.
"Loki-kun…" she began before whispering, "Help me out would you?" she asked with a pleading smile.
Loki looked to Kotaru and then back to Mayura, as he too sweatdropped knowing that Kotaru must have been hit with Laevateinn, mortals had strange side effects. Maybe Mayura would be normal? No…wishful thinking…its magic wasn't THAT strong.
He held out his hand as Mayura gladly returned Laevateinn to him. Taking his staff with his right, he took hold of her now free hand with his left, "Let's go Mayura…it's getting late…" And he pulled, and they didn't go anywhere…Kotaru had a stronger grip then he had anticipated. He sighed and waved Laevateinn in front of Kotaru's face, "Eh, Kotaru, you mind letting go?"
Kotaru merely smiled, pushing his hair back before kissing Mayura's hand, "Loki, I'm sorry to tell you this but Daidoji Mayura is not your girlfriend. Now I know that when she comes to your house and plays your assistant that this makes you happy and I'm sure that she finds you to be rather cute…"
Loki face faulted and Fenrir looked ill as Kotaru continued…
"…But Loki a little boy like you cannot possibly satisfy the needs of a girl like Mayura. Maybe when you grow u—
Mayura's mouth dropped open as Loki's Laevateinn came crashing down on Kotaru's head, as her hand was freed. Fenrir merely snickered as he watched his father pull a sweatdropping and shocked Mayura down the street. She looked back at the twitching boy on the ground and winced, that was going to leave a mark.
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Chapter 8 is in the works. Please review!