Chapter 2: Something's Wrong
Four and a Half Years Earlier
It was late in the day and Yamino had already brought the afternoon tea hours ago. Fenrir was sleeping on the coach again, and ecchan was curled up on Loki's head per usual. Loki looked up from his desk as he heard footsteps running up the stairs to his study.
"Bakery delivery!! Always fresh and with a smile." Narugami grinned as he pushed open the door to Loki's study.
"Narukami-kun," whispered Loki as he slumped back into his chair.
Where is she? Why hasn't she come in over a week? It's not like Mayura. Should I go and see if she's alright? Maybe something has happened to her. It won't be the first time one of the gods kidnapped Mayura to trap me. No… no, that can't be it. They would have contacted me already if that were true. Anyway, Mayura-papa hasn't come over screaming about how I've caused nothing but trouble bringing Mayura into dangerous situations and filling her head full of mysteries.
"Happy to be of service. Well, I got to go, more deliveries and all," Narugami stated, walking out of door. "And four-eyes, it seems like I wouldn't be able to have dinner tonight. I'll be here for breakfast"
"Ah, y-yes, of course," stuttered Yamino. Loki meanwhile sighed in his chair.
"Loki-tama?"
Well, he's right. If it wasn't for our friendship, Mayura wouldn't have gotten into the battle between Odin and me. Let's see: there was that time Heimdall trapped her, the time Odin possessed her thanks to the Norns, can't forget the time the devil sword of Volsung possessed her, not to mention the time Hel kidnapped her. Yeah, and those are the times I can recall off the top of me head. Loki sighed again.
"Loki-sama?" inquired Yamino.
Maybe if I had never met her at all… No, because then that doll would have k-ki-ki…killed her. But I certainly could have kicked her out that first night. Couldn't I have? She wasn't listening sure, but I could have been more persistent and authoritative. But then, but then… Images of Mayura ran through his head again, seemingly teasing the trickster god. Oh, who am I kidding. At first it wasn't worth the effort, and then I didn't want her to go. I couldn't give her the hairpin to erase her memories last year… Loki sighed for a third time looking out into space.
"Loki-sama…" whispered Yamino, worried about his father's empty stare. Yamino wasn't exactly sure what his father was thinking about so intensely, but he had an idea: Mayura-san. And frankly, he had to admit to himself that he was worried about the girl. She normally never missed coming over for more than two days in a row. Today had made it the tenth.
"Loki-sama, dinner will be ready in five minutes. Please come to the table. Hey, wake up nii-san." Yamino began to shake Fenrir awake.
"Eh? Ah, yes Yamino-kun. Come on Fenrir, time to eat."
"Coming daddy."
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It was dark and the house was quiet. Neither was it unbearably hot either, although it was the middle of summer. But Loki was still wide awake tossing and turning in bed. After staring at the ceiling for several moments, he suddenly got up and walked over to the window curtains. Pulling them open, Loki walked back to the bed and sat down. Ecchan meanwhile was cutely snoring away, completely oblivious to Loki's movements. Turning his head to the now open window, Loki's eyes are drawn to a lazy firefly.
"I should really stop worrying. She's just probably busy," Loki said to no one in particular.
Yeah right. When have you ever seen her be too busy for a mystery? Can't answer--I thought so. Chimed an unwanted voice in his head.
Huhhh, maybe I should go see her. Even if it's nothing, I'm sure she won't mind the visit. Anyway, it'll be fun to see Mayura-papa again. Hehehe. That decided, Loki lies back down and quickly falls asleep.
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The next morning Loki woke up to the birds singing and a window full of sun. "That's what I get for opening the window at night," Loki grumbled as ecchan flew over his head. Realizing that he's now too awake to enjoy going back to sleep, Loki decided to start the day.
"Time to wake up… Ah, good morning Loki-sama. Would you please come to the table? Today's breakfast includes fried eggs, blueberry pancakes, and fresh maple syrup mail ordered directly from New Hampshire, USA. With a 15,000 yen order they even included a complimentary five pound block of Cabot cheese. Isn't that wonderful Loki-sama?" Yamino finished as they walked into the kitchen. (A/n: about $150, quick conversion is estimated at ¥100 per US $1)
Loki rolled his eyes. But Yamino-kun, when are we going to use 15,000 yen of maple … glancing over to the table, Loki saw none other than Narukami-kun already on what looked like to be his fifth or sixth plate of pancakes. And it didn't look like he had any intention of stopping anytime soon. Ahhahahah, never mind…
"Narukami-kun, you're going to eat me out of house and home."
Narugami looked up from his plate for the first time to notice Loki taking a set at the table. "Did you say something Loki?"
"No. Nothing at all," commented Loki as his eyes rolled to one side. Geez, and people call me oblivious while I eat. The house could fall down and he wouldn't notice.
"Ah, thank you ecchan." Loki picked up the glass of orange juice off the tray that was balancing on ecchan's head.
"Here you go, Loki-sama." Yamino placed a plate of pancakes on the table as Loki smiled back.
"Ittadakimasu." He quickly picked up his fork and brought it back down. "Um, say, Narukami-kun, how has Mayura been? She hasn't been around for the last week and a half."
This comment however, seemed to catch the attention of Narugami. "What!? I thought see was staying late here everyday. Yelling about 'fushigi mysteries' and what not." Narugami paused to think. "Hmm—now thinking about it, she hasn't finished her homework and has been sleeping in class more lately. She's had this glazed eye look since the beginning of this week too--and the teachers aren't even yelling at her!"
"Narukami-kun! Why haven't you said something about this before!" yelled Loki as he stood up and leaned over the table towards Narugami.
"I, I—I haven't thought about it until now. Don't worry Loki. Its Daidouji, she'll be fine."
"Exactly Narukami-kun, its Mayura! She's been possessed by, and randomly found more strange evil energy than is right for any one human to ever encounter in a life time, let alone in only a year and a half! What if it's another god using her to kill me?" stressed Loki.
"Okay, okay Loki. Calm down. I've never seen you so worked up before. I'll talk to her at school okay? And don't worry about it being another god. It seems as if Odin has given up on his little vendetta to kill you. Especially since the Norns have changed their prophecies concerning Ragnarok."
"Perhaps you're right Narukami-kun." I wouldn't bet on it though. Odin has a long memory and quite a vindictive streak. At best he's rationally thinking about my demise. Almost half the pantheon is down here on Midgard because they failed to kill me. I think I'll give him a century or two to calm down.
"Well, I got to go. Thanks four-eyes." Narugami immediately got up, grabbed his school bag, and ran out of the kitchen. A few seconds later, the front door was heard opening and closing.
"Loki-sama?"
"I think we'll go and visit Mayura's house if she's not here after school." Loki calmly picked up his fork again and began to eat. "Mmmm, it's really tasty Yamino-kun."
"Thank you, Loki-sama."
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"Daddy, she should have been here by now, right?" inquired Fenrir from Loki's lap.
"I think you're right, Fenrir. Even with clean-up duty, she would have gotten here by now. I guess we better go see her," Loki said as Fenrir jumped off his lap. "Narukami-kun, what's wrong?!"
Stopping at Loki's desk, Narugami leaned over to catch his breath. "I just ran… from my job… I had to get a replacement… Daidouji wasn't… in school today. I asked one of the teachers… and he said that she was excused for class. But he wouldn't tell me anymore. Loki, where are you going?!"
"To Mayura's house!" replied Loki not even turning around.
Narugami stood still, shocked at Loki's behavior. Yamino, hearing the commotion, had walked over to the top of the stairs where he saw a determined Loki run out the door. Fenrir and ecchan looked out the doorway of Loki's study wearing blank expressions. Minutes passed.
"He's got it bad," commented Narugami as soon as he had regained his voice. The grin on his face almost looked wrong on Narugami, and it forewarned of many embarrassing moments for Loki.
"Ahem, let's go catch up with Loki-sama. Right nii-san?"
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He ran whole way there, including the numerous steps required to reach the shrine proper. Looking around, he didn't notice anything out of place. Perhaps it looked like the property had been neglected for the past couple of days. The steps were upswept and the flower pots had been left unweeded. But Loki ignored this and continued to the house section of the shrine where he was sure Mayura would be. After knocking on the door, he let himself in.
"Hello! Is anyone home? Mayura? It's me… Loki… I came over to see how you're doing." Loki began to get worried. No one had answered him. Could it be that she's not home? No, those are Mayura's shoes on the floor. She has to be home. I wonder where she is. And why isn't she answering? Walking farther into the house, Loki was able to hear someone crying softly. Crying? What's going on? Wait, that's Mayura!