Chapter Two

Fenrir gazed at the two on the couch, wagging his tail. On the outside he was calm, which was unusual even for him. He kept darting glances over at his mother and the pink-haired mystery girl. The events in the cellar had been astonishing and surprising all at the same time. What he hadn't expected was for Mayura to see it all…and be as calm as she was now. He looked over at Mayura, who sat next to his father. Loki was now in his true, adult form and seemed to be staying that way. In fact, Fenrir was still unnerved by what had happened.

He'd never seen his father cry before. Loki had always been so strong and sure of himself. But the events in the cellar had changed that. Odin had seemed to do a complete change, one moment the vengeful god they all knew and had experienced. The next, he was sobbing, asking Loki for his forgiveness. Fenrir didn't know about his father, but he would never forgive Odin. Not after all the pain the AllFather had given their family.

Looking over at his mother, his tail started wagging in alarm. He knew that look all too well. Spica was in her 'protective, stay away he's MINE!' mode. Apparently he wasn't the only one to see the look on Spica's face.

Yamino stepped forward immediately, taking a hold of Spica and all but dragging her out, mumbling something about making tea. Fenrir's ears perked up at that, then ran after his younger sibling and mother. Food! Everything else could wait!

Watching them leave the room, Mayura turned back to Loki. She reached out and took his hand in hers. She turned it around, her fingers tracing over the lines of his palm. She marveled at how strong his hand appeared to be. Calmly, she looked up into his soft green eyes. "You lied to me, Loki-kun."

Loki actually winced at her words, though he wondered at her name for him. She had to know who and what he was now. Why the same honorific? Or was she trying to say that she didn't care about what she'd found out, that their relationship was the same as before? Then again, was Mayura even capable of such subtlety?

To his astonishment, she was. She kept her gaze on the hand that she held, her fingers tracing over his skin. "Didn't you trust me, Loki-kun? I thought we were friends. Surely you could have told me this. I even asked you who you were that time and you flat out lied to me. Why?"

Closing his eyes, Loki gazed at their hands, and then squeezed hers gently. "Because I didn't want to put you in danger, Mayura. I do not have a very safe existence."

"Why don't you tell me and let me judge for myself?" Mayura suggested lightly, touching his cheek softly.

He looked up, gazing into her eyes. He took her hand, and then kissed the back of it. "You are a good friend, Mayura. I am honored to call you friend."

She blushed, lowering her head in embarrassment. "Loki-kun!" Protesting lightly, she grinned. Her eyes narrowed, and then she grew all series. "Let me look at your arm."

"I'm fine, Mayura. Honestly." Loki tried to console her, then yelped when she took his arm and tried to take his jacket off.

"Let me see!" Her tone was commanding and determined. He couldn't help but snicker, but gave in. He used his good hand to unbutton the jacket, and then slid it off. He hissed in pain, the cloth pulling some of the skin that had started to scab over the wound.

Mindful of his injury, Mayura took his forearm in her hands, brushing aside the tattered material of his shirt. Dipping one of the towels in a bowl of water that Yamino had left behind, she light dabbed at the blood-covered wound. Loki hissed in pain at first, but soon quieted. Mayura's gentle ministrations soothed away the pain, causing Loki to look at her with renewed respect. Who was Mayura? And why didn't she fear him like most others did?

Picking up the bandages, she bandaged up his wound gently. Once she was done, she looked up at him. Eyes wide, she lowered her head quickly, blushing furiously. "Ahh…gomen. I didn't mean to be so forward and demanding."

"No, it's all right, Mayura." Loki flexed his arm, then grinned. "Thank you. It feels much better."

She nodded, clasping her hands together and rested them on her lap. Silence ensued for a long time, neither one willing to break the uncomfortable silence that had fallen between them.

Finally, Loki cleared his throat. "Mayura? May I ask you something?"

"Of course, Loki-kun." Mayura looked up, curious.

"What did you mean by 'take me home'?" Loki asked, frowning thoughtfully. That had been bugging him for awhile now.

"Nani? Oh…" Mayura felt her cheeks turn red in a hot blush. "I…thought you wanted to go home. To wherever you come from. Asgard, ne?"

"Asgard…" Loki closed his eyes, sighing heavily. He didn't even know if Asgard was his home anymore. There was so much that he loved here that it could be considered his home too. "I don't know if I want to go back."

"No? Doushite?" Mayura questioned, surprised. She'd thought he would want to go back to his family. Didn't Odin say something about a wife and daughters? Then she remembered…

"Oh Loki-kun." Mayura sighed, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. "I'm sorry for your loss. I know what it's like to lose someone dear to you."

He looked up at her, his green eyes slowly filling with tears. He hugged her tightly all at once, sobbing into her shoulder. She felt her own tears fall, holding him in her arms close. Rocking back and forth, she ran her fingers through his auburn hair soothingly, comfortingly. After a time he stopped, just lying in her arms, his head pillowed on her breast.

"Did you want to talk about it?" Mayura's voice was soft and caring, not a hint of condemnation lacing it.

"I guess I do owe you some explanations, don't I?" Loki looked into her friendly eyes, his hand cupping her cheek. She blushed, but nodded. He lowered his hand, and then gazed out the window. "First of all, I'm not the person you thought I was. I'm not…human."

"Not human?" Mayura's eyes widened. Fushigi mystery! Loki-kun was an alien!

Sensing her thoughts, Loki gave a little laugh, his eyes twinkling. "No, Mayura. I'm not an alien. When I told you I was a god, I wasn't lying. I am a god. I come from Norway and I belong to the Norse pantheon of ancient gods."

"Honto ni?!" She'd just studied that bit of European history in school. Her eyes widened, remembering. "You mean you're that Loki? The Trickster? The one responsible for Ragnarok?"

Loki made a face, rolling his eyes and looking pained. "One of these days, I'm going to see about getting that fixed. Ragnarok hasn't happened yet, Mayura. Nor will it happen. I certainly don't intend to start it."

"Honto ni?" she whispered, looking up at him with wide eyes. She smiled, and then kissed his cheek. "Somehow I knew you weren't like that. I'm glad I was right."

He smiled back, gazing into her eyes. She swallowed, and then watched silently. He took her hand in his, kissing each finger separately. "You do my heart good, Daidouji Mayura. I am glad to know you and have you in my life."

She blushed, looking down. "You flatter me overmuch, Loki-kun."

"Oh, I don't think I do." Loki grinned, taking her hand in his and placing it over his heart. "You have always meant a great deal to me, Mayura. Why do you think I stayed?"

"I…don't know." She admitted, looking confused. Why had he stayed?

"For you, my Lady, Mayura," Loki whispered, his lips getting closer to her own. She gasped, her eyes fluttering closed moments before their lips met in a soft kiss.

Trembling, she wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning in closer to him. After a long moment they parted, her ruby eyes wide, his emerald soft with an emotion she was only just beginning to comprehend.

He traced a finger along her cheek, and then winked. "At any rate, let me finish the little story I had started. For an unknown reason, my blood-brother, Odin who you met earlier, banished me here. He cursed me, taking away most of my power and confining me to the form of a child. I didn't know why he did that and I still don't.

"I came here so now one would recognize my name. Not many in the Asian countries care about ancient myths from Europe. So I was able to live here and search for what I needed to return to Asgard." Loki smiled at her, kissing her neck. She shivered at the touch, though she didn't pull away. "And then I met you. At first you were very irritating. There were numerous times that I contemplated ordering Yamino-kun to throw you out and not let you back in. But closely I started to enjoy your company and I still do.

"When you grew sad when I 'left,' I didn't know what to do. My daughter Hel had broken the curse that had been on me, restraining me into a child's form. I was free to return to Asgard, exact vengeance upon the one who sent me and become King of the Gods, if I so wishes. At least that is what Fenrir suggested. But I didn't want that…I just wanted to be happy. And that was when I realized that the only place I could be happy was here, with you."

Mayura felt her cheeks burn in a hot blush the more and more Loki said. He had stayed for her? Because being around her made him happy? She couldn't deny the fact that being around him, whether in his child or adult form, made her happy. He was her best friend…even if she had thought her best friend to be eight years-old.

Standing up, she reached out and took his hands, pulling him up. "It's decided then! We'll get you home. We'll find your daughters and then you can decide if you want to stay or come back here."

He looked down at her, and then impulsively hugged her tight. "Thank you, Mayura. You are one of a kind. I shall miss you."

"Miss me?" Mayura gave him a sly look, then winked and gave him the peace sign. "I'm going with you! It's not every day a girl gets to see Heaven! Fushigi mystery!"

Loki couldn't help it, he laughed. Pulling her into his arms, he twirled her around. She giggled, and then laughed with him, hugging him tight. When he set her down, she grinned up at him, and then ran out of the office and downstairs to tell Yamino.

Shaking his head, Loki couldn't help but follow; a smile on his face. He looked down at his bandaged arm, placing hand over the wound. He would follow her, no matter where she led him. Midgard was home…he knew that now. Or rather, his home was with her.

Cringing, Loki took a step back, his eyes wide and his back pressed against the kitchen wall. He stared at the two fighting women in front of him, no chance of escape. He could see Fenrir and Yamino snickering across the room, making no attempt to rescue their father. Ecchan had made itself scarce, doing Loki no good at all.

Spica had seemed to regain the ability of speech and she was using it to the fullest. Mayura certainly didn't seem at all perturbed by these events. She was more than willing to give her own two cents, as it were.

"Loki-sama is MINE!" Spica growled, her eyes flaring in anger, her fists clenched at her sides. She all but radiated anger and mistrust.

Mayura took a step back at Spica's intensity. She was so angry! "Spica-chan…I don't want to take him away from you."

"You…you don't?" Spica looked suspicious, taking a step back. She looked at Loki, and then bowed her head, ashamed. "Gomen nasai, Loki-sama! I didn't mean…I don't have any right to…"

"Spica." Loki reached out, taking her face in his hands. "You mean a great deal to me, you always have. Without you, I wouldn't have three of the most beautiful children a man could have. I care for you…but I don't love you."

She flinched, but he kept hold of her, his eyes kind. "I don't love you, not the way you want me to. But I know someone who does."

"Honto ni?" Spica looked up at Loki, her eyes wide. He winked at her, and she blushed, looking down. She knew who he meant. Turning from him, she embraced Mayura impulsively. "Gomen nasai, Mayura-chan."

"Ahhh…its okay, Spica-chan." Mayura hugged the young giantess back, a bit confused. She knew she was missing something here but she wasn't about to mention it since Spica seemed to have changed her mind about Mayura.

"You'll be happy soon, 'kassan." Yamino hugged his mother and she smiled and returned the hug.

"Eh?!!" Mayura blinked, staring in shock. Spica was Yamino's mother?!

"Oops. I knew I forgot to tell you something." Loki grinned, sweat dropping slightly. Mayura glared at him, tapping her foot impatiently. He grinned, and then sighed. "Yamino, Fenrir and Hel are my children. Spica, or Angrboda which is her real name, is their mother."

"Oh. Fushigi mystery!"

Shaking his head, Loki looked at all present. "We're going to Asgard."

"Nani?!" Yamino and Fenrir both exclaimed at the same time. "Ah…very good, Loki-sama."

"I'm going too!" Mayura spoke up quickly before they had a chance to leave without her.

"Mayura-san, it will be dangerous." Yamino cautioned, and then sighed when she shrugged.

"I'm going." Her tone made it clear she wasn't going to be talked out of it.

Loki couldn't help but laugh, and then shrug. "All right, Mayura-chan. You can go with us. But you must promise to do whatever any of us tell you and to not scream."

"Scream? Uh…sure." Mayura frowned darkly, giving Loki a glare. She wasn't afraid!

Nodding, Loki took a deep breath. Turning to the doorway, he closed his eyes and raised his hands. His body glowed a soft green, and then the light surrounded the door. Moments later, the other side of the doorway was gone to be replaced by a sunny landscape.

Mayura stared, openmouthed. She was too shocked to even use her favorite phrase. Loki took her hand in his, and then stepped through the portal. On the other side, there were no clouds, only a deep blue sky that was unheard of on Earth. "Mayura, welcome to my home. Welcome to Asgard."