Chapter Four:

Mayura's eyes opened. The light was the same as always, but Mayura knew that she hadn't slept for long. Sitting up, she looked at the clock, "Only seven o'clock…" Sighing, she fell back down onto the floor. Turning on her side, she hoped she could get back to sleep when the chests caught her interest. Curiosity overcoming her sleepless annoyance, Mayura sat up and went to the farthest chest away from Loki's head. Lifting up the lid, Mayura now knew what Loki meant by 'sort of.' Loki-kun sure keeps the weirdest things. After closing the lid carefully, Mayura went over to the chest she really wanted to open, the one that Loki-kun had embarrassedly hidden the rope he was holding when she had locked them in. Yes, she had skipped the second chest altogether, having already seen its contents several times.

She opened the lid silently; worried that Loki could wake up at any second. The risk of getting caught only increased the excitement. Mayura looked over the side of the chest. So this is what Loki-kun was so embarrassed about. Mayura slowly dipped her hand into the chest and pulled out the white cord she had seen earlier. Brining it up to eye level, Mayura wondered what could have been so special about the cord to make Loki-kun embarrassed. Absentmindedly, Mayura closed the chest lid.

Suddenly Mayura's attention was caught by a picture mobile she hadn't noticed before. She creped up towards the mobile without a sound. I wonder what are in these pictures? Loki-kun didn't even mention them. Mayura had to look at the pictures closely because the light was so bad in the corner as if Loki had purposely set it up that way. They're wedding pictures! Wow, she's so pretty! I wish I looked as beautiful as her. I wonder who the guy she married is… Ah! There he is. Her brain sputtered. "He's… he's the guy I saw at the cake shop!" Mayura covered her mouth and turned to look at Loki-kun. Fortunately he hadn't woken up. But something else startled her. Loki-kun is wearing… looks like that guy I met… he looks like the guy in this picture! Fushigi mystery!

Looking back at the pictures, Mayura noticed a cord tied around the happy couple's wrists. Glancing back at Loki-kun, she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be married to Loki-kun. No, no, no! I don't like Loki-kun like that!

You don't?

NO!

You could have fooled me.

Well, you're wrong.

Your liked the way his hands touched you today, and his voice. His voice sent shivers down your spine. Admit it! shouted the mysterious voice from within Mayura's head.

But it's wrong! Loki-kun is just a kid!

Perhaps… but is it wrong now? He certainly doesn't look like a little kid right now.

Physically… but Loki-kun is still mentally a child!

Is he? When has he ever acted like a child?

You have a point there.

And he looks exactly like that guy you met outside Kotaro's caked shop two days ago.

But that's impossible! Three people can't look exactly the same.

Who did that man at the cake shop remind you of?

Loki-kun admitted Mayura reluctantly.

Then perhaps he is Loki-kun. How many people do you know, even heard of that have unrelated years apart identical twins?

None

Exactly

Umm… who are you?

Your other self. One with memories of the past.

Why couldn't you talk to me before?

Odin's powers were too strong. Don't you remember?

Odin… my father, Loki-kun's… Loki's blood-brother.

Yes, but what about yourself?

I was… Sigyn… Loki's wife.

Images flashed through her head. Places and events that she knew she should know, and yet had no memories of. But as quickly as the visions came to her they left, leaving only a name… Sigyn. Mayura tried to communicate with her other self, but was met with silence. Looking back down at the cord in her hand, she imagined hers and Loki's wrist bound together in marriage. But he's too young and papa won't allow it. she pouted. But… what papa and Loki don't know… And it's only for pretend. That can't hurt, can it? Lifting up her skirts, Mayura stepped over the chests to lie down next to Loki. She held her breath nervously, hoping that he wouldn't notice her presence. Loki stirred. Please don't wake up. Please don't wake up. But he only rolled over, mumbling something incoherent in his sleep.

Taking his right wrist in her hand, Mayura loosely wrapped the white cord around their wrists three times and tied it off with a knot—guided it seemed, by practiced hands. Loki pulled her into his arms, and this time she couldn't… didn't want to leave his embrace. Warm and content, the anxious feeling that had woken her up left, and Mayura fell soundly asleep in Loki's arms.

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During their sleep, the cord fell off their wrists still tied, and found its way between two of the chests. There it would be unseen and forgotten.

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Loki was the first one to wake up and open his eyes. He wasn't surprised to find himself holding a sleeping Sigyn in his arms. Inches away, Mayura woke up stretching—brushing her lips against his. Still a little foggy from sleep, Loki's brain didn't mind shutting down and gave into the soft sweet lips of the woman in his dreams. He ended the kiss gently. Loki opened his eyes once again—this time to reality.

Mayura… This is Mayura, not Sigyn. I miss her. I miss Sigyn. Can't I pretend? Just for one time that my Sigyn is back to me? To be able to hold her, cherish her… "Forgive me Mayura," whispered Loki as he pulled her to him tightly before kissing her passionately. Hazily understanding that Loki-kun was kissing her, Mayura wrapped her arms around his head and kissed him back enthusiastically. She didn't care. Loki-kun wasn't a child anymore, and for the limited time he would be that way, Mayura wanted to love him the way she always secretly had.

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Exhausted, Mayura fell back asleep on Loki's chest as he gently stroked her hair. "Thank you Mayura, for that one last time with my Sigyn." Kissing her forehead, Loki looked up at the clock. Three forty-five… just enough time to get myself dressed before the door opens. Finished dressing, Loki snapped his fingers to send Mayura into a deep sleep. Wrapping her in the cloak they had both been just lying in, Loki picked her up.

The door opened and Loki exited his secret room closing the door quickly behind him. He rushed up to the bathroom, to wash Mayura off. Washed and dried, Loki dressed her in one of the spare school uniforms she kept at the detective agency. But he still had to hurry. Outside the heavily wards of his secret room, Odin's spell upon him was quickly negating the effects of the fairy dust. Loki picked Mayura up and sprinted to one of the aired out guest rooms. Just as he laid down Mayura on the bed, he felt his body revert to that of a nine-year-old. Standing up on his tip-toes, Loki covered Mayura with a blanket.

Returning from cleaning himself up, Loki flopped down into a soft chair by the bed to wait for Mayura to wake up. "Mnnnn… Loki-kun, where am I?" asked a disorientated Mayura.

"In a guest room. You had a pretty high fever, and I didn't want you to stay at home all by yourself like that," explained Loki without a flaw.

"But what about us getting locked in that storage room in the basement?"

"What are you talking about? There's no storage room in my basement—besides the broom closet."

"No… no, this room had all these magical things in there like a horn that made food, and glass pictures that floated! But we got trapped in there and you had to open the door with these secret mechanisms. But you were too short to reach them and had to climb up on my shoulders." Loki looked at Mayura incredulously. "Really, it's true! And then… and then you got covered in fairy dust and…"

"Fairy dust? Mayura, I think you were dreaming," he stated is his normal condescending voice.

"But it seemed so real Loki-kun!"

"Fever dreams can seem very lifelike, but they're still just dreams Mayura."

"I guess that's true," Mayura admitted pouting.

"Come on, now that you're all better why don't we have some dinner. Yamino-kun left plenty in the refrigerator."

"Okay, I am kind of hungry."

---Almost Three Months Later---

"We don't have any customers…"

"That's true…" Yamino replied yawning.

"Isn't that good? I prefer it better this way."

"I guess."

Suddenly the door bell rang. Loki lifted up his head. "It must be Yamino-kun's shimeji." Ecchan voices his agreement.

"No, the shimeji won't come till tomorrow."

"Then don't tell me it's a customer?" asked Mayura excitedly.

"Could be," replied Fenrir—not that Mayura heard it.

"I'll go get it!" shouted Yamino running out of Loki's study.

"Now then, I wonder that case it'll be this time."

"That goes without saying!" responded Mayura turning around with Fenrir in her arms. "It must be a mysterious mystery!" she finished winking at Loki.

"Yes, I'm coming right now!" called Yamino at the front door.

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"Loki-sama! There's someone here to see you," announced Yamino. Behind him was a young woman, perhaps fourteen years old. She was wearing a cute black and white maid's outfit and had blue—almost purple shoulder length hair.

"Welcome, please have a seat," offered Loki.

"No need to Loki-sama. I'm here to deliver a message and a personal package," stated the young woman. Walking up to Loki's desk she handed him an envelope and a small package that seemed to come from nowhere. "However, this message and my gift can not be opened until the one thought dead returns. Any attempt to do so will incur serious consequences." Finished with her business, the blue haired girl walked out of the study.

"Fushigi mystery! Mysterious girl delivers a strange message and package with a cryptic warning! Loki-kun, do you know what she meant?"

"No, I don't." Idun, what are you up to? Is this just another plot to kill me? Why…? Odin…

Loki put away the package and was about to do the same with the letter when Mayura exclaimed, "Loki-kun, you have to keep letters like that on your person. What if you find the person thought dead and have to read it right away?"

"Thank you Mayura, I hadn't thought of that." Mayura beamed brightly at Loki and scratched Fenrir's head. Loki couldn't help but smile back at Mayura, her happiness making him happy in return. "But Loki-kun, don't solve the mystery tomorrow, please?"

"And why is that Mayura?"

"I have a doctor's appointment," she pouted.

Loki laughed. "I'll try, but I can't promise anything okay?"

"Ohhh, Loki-kun is so mean!" she yelled sticking out her tongue jokingly. Everyone laughed at that, even Fenrir who barked cutely.

Knowing that Mayura had a doctor's visit, Loki wasn't worried when Mayura didn't show of the next day, or even the day after that—although he thought it was a little strange. But by Saturday, he had become extremely worried and was about to go visit her when Mayura walked into his study.

"Good afternoon Mayura," he greeted, putting down the book he was reading.

"Hello Loki-kun," replied Mayura looking at the floor.

"Mayura, are you okay? We've been worried about you."

"I'm fine Loki-kun, the doctor said…" Mayura fell silent.

Getting up from his chair, Loki walked over to Mayura and led her to sit down on the couch next to him. "What did the doctor say Mayura?"

Mayura fidgeted with her fingers, pressing them together like she did every time she was nervous or embarrassed. "You didn't know this, but I haven't been feeling too good in the morning lately and…"

"And?"

"And I went to the doctor to see what was wrong and he told me that I was a fine, healthy—girl." Loki looked at Mayura suspiciously.

"There's something you're not telling me Mayura."

"Loki-kun, do you remember when I got sick three months ago and I told you about a dream I had?"

"Yes." Loki's eyes narrowed.

"Do you think that dreams can sometimes be real?"

"Yes," replied Loki warily. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm pregnant Loki-kun."