Hi, everyone!!!! Sorry for not updating this fic earlier. I know I took months… Gomen!!! Anyway, hope you guys enjoy this chapter. It's quite a long chapter. I'll cry tears of joy and sadness when I'm finished with 'Tea Time Chat'… my first fanfic in my life. Haha…
Anyway, thanks to all who reviewed my story, or who's reading my story! And to Crystalia-san: nay... i don't think i'll do sigyn. I know that there're lotsa fics that write about Mayura being Sigyn, but i don't think that Mayura is Sigyn. She's just a normal human. I prefer a love story between a god and human. Oh well, even though Mayura's a human,I still don't get my wish for a heart-wrenching big love story. Kinoshita-sensei should change her chosen ending! I want more LokiMayu!!! argh... i never fail to miss a chance to complain. sorry about that!
Oh! Previously in all the earlier chapters, I spelt is as "the Norms". But apparently, it should be "the Norns". Most sources spell it with an 'n'. So, I've changed my spelling in this chapter. Maybe if I have the time, I'll correct all the rest. MAYBE…
Japanese notes: 1 shinkai: in MLR, it refers to heaven 2 Ano…: er… 3 gomen ne: sorry
DISCLAIMER: Matantei Loki Ragnarok does not belong to me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEA TIME CHAT
Chapter 11 --- The Norns
"Mayura, daijoubu? Wake up…" Loki pressed the warm towel against Mayura's forehead and shook her gently. He was now sitting up with the drunk and unconscious Mayura lying on his lap.
"Hnn… mys…te..ry…" Mayura mumbled and shifted slightly.
Loki sighed. "She can even dream of mysteries in this state?!"
Nearby, another groan was heard as Narugami struggled to get up after his electric charge-up earlier. "Argh… my whole body is aching! That idiot Freyr!" He snarled and turned, intending to locate Freyr for revenge, when he noticed Loki and Mayura. "Eh? What happened to Daidouji?"
Loki frowned and glared at Narugami, replying in a voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're asking me?! I told you to keep an eye on her and you let her drink?!"
"What?! I didn't notice that! How was I to know? Stupid Freyr distracted me…"
"And you were dumb enough to believe Freyr and participate in his crazy activities?! Along with the brainless Heimdall…"
"HEY!!!" Freyr, Heimdall (who just regained his consciousness) and Narugami shouted in protest. And Narugami carried on: "You should look after Daidouji yourself… after all, YOU are her BOYFRIEND, NOT ME!"
"WHAT?!" Loki snapped and blushed slightly.
"I don't understand why you never realized that you two are so much like a couple… it's a mystery-"
"MYSTERY???!!!!" All of a sudden, Mayura shot up from Loki's lap. "Where? Where's the mystery??? I'll solve it! Let's go, Loki-kun!!!"
Everybody watched wide-eyed in shock as Mayura sprung up on her feet and dashed forwards blindly, crashing into the table.
"Mayura!" Loki rushed over to help her up. "Are you sober already?"
"Ouch…" Mayura rubbed her arm, with tears in her eyes. "Loki-kun? Why are you here? When did you come back?"
Loki ignored her and pulled her to a seat. "Are you really awake now? Why did you touch the wine when I told you not to do so?!"
Mayura pressed her two index fingers together and muttered hesitantly: "Well… I… I thought a few sips wouldn't hurt… I didn't know I drank so much…"
"Hmph." Loki shook his head and plopped down onto his seat. "And you woke up when you heard the word 'mystery'? Now that's really a mystery…" He smirked.
Everybody began filing back into their seats.
"Well, what's wrong with that?! I want to be a detective in the future!" Mayura smiled confidently and sipped some warm water to clear her head.
"Hmm… if you want to know more about your future, you should ask the Norns!" Narugami patted Mayura's shoulder encouragingly.
"Narugami-kun!" Loki eyed him disapprovingly. He didn't want Mayura to go back to the topic on Norse gods and goddesses again. But it was too late.
"The Norns? What's that? Who's that?" Mayura asked excitedly.
"Read the book…"
Mayura lunged for the book and flipped it opened quickly, trying to locate the page on the Norns. "Aha! Here! Let's see… The Norns consists of Urd (Norn of the past), Verdandi (Norn of the present), Skuld (Norn of the future). Their names are commonly translated as 'fate', 'necessity', and 'shall be', respectively. In Norse mythology, the Norns are the demi-goddesses of destiny. They control the destinies of both gods and men, even that of Odin's. Ooh… they're so powerful! I wonder if my destiny is one of a famous detective..."
"If that were true, I think the world will be in chaos…" Loki muttered softly to himself.
Fortunately, Mayura did not hear him.
"One spun out the thread of each life, another measured its length, and the third decided when the thread should be snapped. It says here that although Urd is the leading sister, it was Skuld whom everyone feared as she was the one who had the power to end someone's life anytime she wants to… She's so scary!!!!!" Mayura wailed in fear.
On the other hand, the Norns looked surprised.
"I'm more powerful than Urd-neesan and Verdandi-neesean?!" Skuld blinked and turned to face her sisters.
Urd and Verdandi blinked back.
"Skuld is soooo scary!!! I wouldn't dare to get in her way!!!" Mayura shivered as a gust of cold wind blew by.
Skuld frowned for a moment. Then, an evil grin spread over her face.
"Oh really? Then let me tell you that you're getting in her way…" Skuld glowered dangerously.
"EH??!!!" Mayura stiffened. "But how??!!!"
"Remember I know the art of fortune-telling? To tell you the truth, I get prophetic dreams too. And Skuld-sama passed a message to me in my dream that you are bothering her by hanging around the detective agency all day long. And she's unhappy that you're imposing on Loki-sama so often…" Skuld smirked arrogantly.
"EHHH??!!! But why??!!! I'm Loki-kun's capable assistant! I have to hang around him!" Mayura was extremely terrified and close to tears by now.
"HOHOHOHOHOHO!!!" Skuld cackled and covered her mouth with the back of her palm. Then, just as suddenly as she had started, she stopped, stood up forcefully (causing her chair to fall backwards, grew dark and somber and pointed a finger agitatedly at the trembling Mayura. "YOU!!! You really think that YOU are a great help to Loki-sama??!!! You must be kidding me!!! Instead of helping, YOU are the one who attracts troubles, YOU are the one who makes things more complicated with your so-called 'help', and YOU are the one who prevented DEAR Loki-sama from returning home to shinkai1!!!!"
"Nani?! What are you talking about?" Mayura was grabbing onto her head in confusion. Her eyes were swirling round and round and round as she was knocked back dizzy with Skuld's accusations. "Nani? Nani? Naaaaniiii???"
"Ano2… Loki-sama? Mayura-san?" A small gentle voice called out suddenly.
Everyone turned to look at the tiny figure behind Mayura.
"Reiya?" Loki was taken aback at Reiya's sudden appearance. "When…? How…? Why…?"
"Reiya? That little girl is called Reiya-chan?" Freyr held his chin thoughtfully. "Reiya-chan is quite cute… doesn't Heimdall think so too? Ahh… but Reiya-chan's not as cute as Freyr's precious Freya-chan…" And Freyr continued babbling to the exhausted Heimdall, who hung his head in disbelief.
"Reiya-chan? When did you arrive???" Mayura tilted her head in puzzlement, recovering from her giddiness.
"Reiya can't recall… When Reiya woke up, Reiya was already here…" Reiya blinked, thoughtful.
"Gomen ne3, Reiya-chan. I'm too busy fighting for my life here as the goddess who controls the lifespan of humans is angry with me, so I can't talk to you for the moment… Where was I earlier?"
"I said…" Skuld began slowly and then erupted: "That's why Skuld-sama is EXTREMELY ENRAGED AT YOU!!! YOU CAUSE TOO MUCH TROUBLE TO LOKI-SAMA!!! You had better beware…"
Mayura's head snapped up. "NOOO!!!! I didn't do anything at all!" She shrieked uncontrollably and sobbed.
Everyone at the table sweatdropped and watched the heated exchange in defeat (at the ridiculousness and ludicrousness of it).
"AND YOU!" Skuld's finger glided through the air and ended up pointing at Reiya. "YOU TOO! Stop clinging on to Loki-sama! You're just an irritating, catty old hag! You're a burden to Loki-sama in your original form, and you're an even bigger burden to him in your human form!!!"
Reiya jumped back in fear and tears began welling up in her eyes.
"Loki-sama… who's this person??!! She's so fierce and scary! Reiya doesn't know what she's talking about… Reiya didn't do anything bad at all. Why?!" Reiya turned her watery eyes onto Loki, who was also at a loss (as to how to solve the problem before him).
At the same time,
"Loki-kun!!! Am I really of no help to you at all??!!! With my great detective skills, it shouldn't be… why?! Why?! Am I really so much trouble? Loki-kun doesn't need me at all??!!! That's so mean, Loki-kun!!!!!" Mayura cried and turn her fearful, disappointed, sad, tearful eyes onto Loki.
At the same time too,
"Loki-sama! Just tell them the truth about how much trouble they are! Then you wouldn't need to bother with them anymore! Wouldn't that be great?!" Skuld turned her excited, happy, anticipating eyes onto Loki.
Loki edged himself far back into his seat as the three girls blared their complaints, views and thoughts at him at the precise same minute. He was sweating continuously under as the girls stared hard at him, two of them tearful.
Narugami sighed, and then broke out into laughter. He snickered: "So I see that you're still popular with girls as ever… though I envy you for that, sometimes being too charming just lures more trouble to one! Hahahahahahaha!!!!"
"Shut up, poor, unpopular barbarian!!!" Loki glared hard at Narugami, as if daring him to shoot something back.
But the glare was enough to stop him. Meanwhile, Freyr was still commenting non-stop on the cuteness of Freya as compared to Reiya to the silent Heimdall who had a vein popping out of his forehead, growing larger and larger by the minute.
"Loki-kun!!!!!!"
"Loki-sama!!!"
"Loki-sama!!!"
Loki turned his attention back to the three girls, who were growing impatient waiting for him to make a stand. His eyes darted between Reiya, Mayura, and Skuld, where a different feeling crept into his heart as they landed on each different girl.
First, he was exasperated with Skuld for starting this whole commotion. Second, he was feeling apologetic towards Reiya who simply had no idea what was happening. Lastly, somehow, he getting all flustered and panicky and despaired at the tears (that were threatening to fall) in Mayura's eyes.
"Argh!!! That's enough!" Loki exclaimed in despair. "Skuld! Stop saying things that aren't true. It only serves to stir up trouble! Reiya… Sorry for everything! Just ignore all that has been said. Skuld's just being rash and saying things without thinking beforehand. And, Mayura… I don't think you're troublesome. So please stop wailing… don't take Skuld seriously…" All that came out in one breath.
"But…!!!" The three girls protested simultaneously. Skuld glared at Mayura and Reiya, while Mayura and Reiya glared back at Skuld.
Loki struggled to breathe before employing Plan B.
He regained his composure and flashed his brightest smile at Skuld. "Skuld… won't you just do me a BIG favor by letting this pass?" He winked charismatically at Skuld, who melted immediately and could only nod in response as she fell under Jashin Loki's unbeatable charm.
Next, he got off his seat, grabbed and threw Narugami off his seat, and offered Reiya that seat. "Reiya, please take a seat and have some tea. Don't worry about what happened. It's my tea party, so come join us!"
"Loki-sama… arigatou!" Reiya blushed at Loki's smile.
Lastly, Mayura.
"Mayura, don't worry… I'm sure you'll be able to make it as a famous detective in the future! You've helped me a lot in many cases so far…" Loki offered soothingly. Yet, on the inside: What am I saying??!!! Lies, lies, lies! There's no way this clumsy, naïve, clueless girl can be a detective!!!!! IMPOSSIBLE!!!
Mayura's face lit up immediately. "Really??!!! You're so nice, Loki-kun! And you have great foresight too… I'll definitely be a great detective!"
Loki sighed inwardly. Well, I guess I'd rather see her smile…and it's perfectly normal for the great Jashin to spout some lies every so often…
Plan B: successful.
"Daddy, you're great! You solved this so soon!" Fenrir barked, impressed, as Yamino served Reiya tea.
"I think that I'm going to lose my mind soon… this tea party is a disaster!!!" Loki whispered in lethargy.
"Hmm? This is interesting…" Mayura peered closely at the open page of the large book of Norse Mythology. "Although Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld are sisters, they differ so much in their looks! Verdandi-sama is said to be the most beautiful of the three…"
Verdandi blinked in disbelief. "Me? That's not true, I've always thought that oneesan is much prettier…"
"Don't say that… looks are only superficial. Verdandi's the most intelligent one amongst us! You're good with the science and math…" Urd smiled encouragingly, dismissing the importance of looks completely.
Meanwhile, Narugami, who was standing behind Mayura, burst out into laughter as Mayura continued reading: "Urd is depicted as a crone, looking backward into the past. Verdandi looks straightforward. She is matronly and confident. See? This is so weird… although Verdandi is beautiful and poised, Urd is a wrinkled old hag! Don't you think the differences both in looks and age are simply too wide apart? And I'm not sure about Skuld… the book says that Skuld continually looks ahead into the future. She is usually veiled and holds an unopened book or scroll, showing her reluctance to reveal the future."
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! But Urd… an old hag??!!! An old hag??!!!" Narugami, continued laughing in amusement, hands holding onto his sides.
Now, everyone should have noticed the huge, bulging vein that was twitching at the corner of Urd's forehead, expanding in size rapidly, threatening to take over the whole TV screen.
SMACK!
The remains of a slice of cake slid down Narugami's face, as Urd muttered in a low, shaking, dangerous voice: "How dare you poke fun of a lady's age? Don't you know that a woman's age is a secret? And that you should never joke around with a woman's age? No wonder you're lacking in all that gentlemanly charm that Loki-sama possesses…" She had lost all her cool, calm exterior that she had always possessed.
Meanwhile, Loki was rooted in his seat as he tried denying in his mind, that something really bad was about to happen again. And, along with that, he prayed really hard for peace, even though he was a god himself.
"Now, Mayura-san… would you pass me that book that's full of lies so that I can get rid of it once and for all, for everyone's sake?" Urd narrowed her eyes at Mayura.
Mayura, hugged the book protectively. "No! I haven't finish reading it! And this is a library book! I have to return it when it's due! And I don't understand why you're so angry!!"
"Give it here! That book is full of nonsense! Veiled? I'm not veiled! Why doesn't it describe my beauty to Loki-sama?!" Skuld joined in, fuming.
"NO!"
In a split second, another slice of cake flew through the air, aiming for Mayura. She tried dodging and jumped to her left, knocking into Reiya who fell off her chair. Unfortunately, the cake was still too fast for Mayura, and it brushed pass her left cheek, staining it with cream.
Unwilling to give up without a fight, Mayura grabbed her own cake and flung it back at Skuld. Narugami, back for revenge too, aimed a brownie and some cream puffs at Urd.
Soon, a pastry fight ensued.
"Reiya! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" Loki had rushed to help Reiya when she had been knocked off her seat. He held her in his arms as she struggled to regain consciousness.
"Loki-sama?" Reiya called out as she gazed up into Loki's mesmerizing deep green eyes. She blushed furiously.
Doki, doki, doki, doki, doki….!!!! Reiya's heart beat faster and faster, and a blinding light flashed out.
"Ahhh!!! Loki!!! I knew you loved me!!!" Freya appeared and pulled the stunned Loki into a tight hug.
Nobody noticed the transformation (not even Mayura, even though she was right beside Reiya and Loki when it took place) because they were all furiously engaged in the wild pastry fight! Verdandi, Fenrir, Freyr, and Heimdall had joined in too (for revenge) as they were hit accidentally earlier. However, Yamino was flailing his arms helplessly at the side, crying out in tears for everyone to stop, unable to see anything clearly as his spectacle lens were stained with cream.
Loki pushed Freya off him and struggled to stand up, ready to yell for everybody to stop immediately or else… But the moment he stood up and took a deep breath and opened his mouth, one chocolate cake, two cream puffs, three cookies, four fruit tarts, and five jellies flew right SMACK into his face, with some entering his mouth aiming for his throat.
Loki started spitting everything out, coughing and sputtering and choking in disgust and pain.
"Loki-sama!!!" Yamino called out in fright as he put on his clean glasses, running to his father.
"LOKI-SAMA!!!" Urd, Verdandi, Skuld and Freya screamed together, rushing to his side, fighting to help Loki.
"Get away from him! You're the one who threw all those pastries at him!" Freya pushed Skuld away roughly.
Skuld, enraged, pounced on Freya and pulled her blonde locks, dragging her away from Loki. "No! Get your dirty hands off my Loki-sama!!!"
The two of them started another fight… a catfight between girls. Urd and Verdandi ran to Freya and Skuld respectively, pulling them apart.
Meanwhile…
"Loki-sama! Are you okay?" Yamino was panicking more and more by the minute.
"Daddy!" Fenrir leapt to Loki's side, who was still choking and sputtering.
"Yamino-san! Get some water! Fenrir… if you understand me… get some tissues here! Or a handkerchief or anything!" Mayura knelt down beside Loki and gave her commands sternly.
Both Yamino and Fenrir stared at her in shock.
"Get it quick!" Mayura snapped.
"Hai!"
Yamino and Fenrir rushed back into the house to carry out their orders. (Everything on the table had been ruined. Well, mostly.) When they arrived back in the yard, Yamino handed the glass of water over to Mayura, who passed it to Loki.
"Here, Loki-kun. Drink some water to clear your throat and calm yourself down. Here are some tissues too…" Mayura spoke in a gentle and concerned voice, patting Loki's back lightly at the same time, to help him stop coughing.
"Are you feeling better?" Mayura asked worriedly. She reached for a few pieces of tissues herself, and started wiping the pastries off Loki's cheeks.
Loki stiffened and blushed slightly. "Mayura, I'm fine now… thanks… I can clean up myself…"
"Okay then… but I'm so sorry, Loki-kun! I'm so glad you're not hurt…" Mayura smiled softly at Loki, who lowered his head immediately, trying hard to calm his racing heartbeat, choosing to concentrate hard on drinking glass of his water instead.
"Loki-sama!!! Are you okay??!!! We're so sorry for that!!!" Urd, Verdandi, Skuld and Freya rushed back to Loki's side. Skuld was close to tears by now. "Won't you forgive us?"
"I'm ok… just that… would you all please return to your seats and stop fighting? Then you're all forgiven…"
Within a few seconds, the four ladies were all seated quietly back in their seats.
"And, Mayura… could you please stop-" But Loki's words were cut off as Mayura stood up and then bent down smiling at Loki, with her hand outstretched.
"Well, Loki-kun, come on! I'll help you up!"
He had actually wanted to command Mayura to stop reading the book.
But now, completely taken aback, Loki started stuttering. "Er… well… er… I… ok…"
His heart skipped a beat as he reached out for Mayura's hand.
Mayura pulled Loki up gently.
It was only then did Loki get a clear idea of the aftermath of the pastry fight. Everywhere on the tabletop, plates of food were ruined and overturned, cups knocked over, the tea had stained the tablecloth, remains of food were strewn all over the table and the ground and on everybody's faces, etc, etc, etc.
Loki sighed. I think this tea party is going to get me killed…I wondered if anybody realized… this plan of organizing a party with everyone present is a better method of annihilating me. It can be more effective than any other assassination plans…
Still holding on to Loki's hand, Mayura led Loki back to his seat.
"Don't worry about it, Loki-kun! We'll help you clear up the mess!" Mayura offered brightly and released Loki's hand.
"Whatever…" Loki mumbled as he fell back onto his seat, the hand that Mayura just held was clenched loosely into a fist.
Was he trying to keep the warmth of Mayura's hand there?
xx tbc xx
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes! End of this chapter! Truth to be told, the reason why I took so long for this chapter was because I simply did not know what to write about the Norns. I really couldn't come up with ridiculous stuff for Mayura to say about the Norns. So forgive me if this chapter isn't good/funny.
And I know that I concentrated mainly on Skuld. Well, her affection for Loki is obvious, that's why… In my opinion, Verdandi plays a very small part both in the anime and manga. But Urd plays a huge part in the manga. Those who read the manga should know this… I wanted to add Urd in the fight over Loki, but well… I think I should stick to following the anime. (smile)
And Reiya made a really short appearance just so that all the characters are in this fic. And… does Reiya address herself with her name? Like Freyr? Sorry… I wrote without making sure of that…
Well, cya next time!
