Chapter 6: I Need to Talk with You

Loki had Yamino call Mayura in sick from school the next day since he knew her time left with her father was limited to one or two days. Concerned about her welfare, Loki along with Yamino went to the hospital with Mayura to see her father. After much complaining, Fenrir and ecchan agreed to stay home. Loki calmly explained to Fenrir that even though he knew he would behave in the hospital, it wouldn't be good to expose sick and injured people to dog hair, especially since there would probably be many patients who were allergic to it. And to ecchan, Loki explained that it probably won't make Mayura papa feel better if he saw something supernatural. Alright, then technically Yamino-san and I shouldn't go either, but Mayura won't understand that. I think Mayura papa can deal with our presence for the sake of Mayura.

"Thanks for coming with me Yamino-san, Loki-kun. It means a lot to me."

"It's nothing. Isn't that right Loki-sama?"

"Of course Mayura. We wouldn't let you go on your own. This must be very tough for you, knowing that your father won't get better. We'll support you Mayura, you know that right? If … if you can't…" Loki didn't finish his sentence.

"If I can't what Loki-kun?"

"No, it's nothing... never mind," replied Loki. "What is that building for?" Loki stopped walking.

"Huh? Which one? Oh, you mean the one that looks like an elementary school?"

"Yeah, I thought we were on hospital property now. Why is there an elementary school here?"

"I don't know Loki-kun. I don't remember it being here, but I don't come this way very often."

"I read about it in the paper earlier this month Loki-sama. It's a new addition to the hospital, a special wing for terminally ill children if I recall correctly," informed Yamino.

"Oh, that's so sad. And I thought my life was bad. Imagine the moms and dads of those poor children. Yamino-kun, it's made to look like a school to cheer them up right?"

"That's correct Mayura-san."

"I think I understand what you were talking about two days ago now Loki-kun."

"About what Mayura?"

"When you said that the gods can't save everyone's loved ones. I mean, which child in there would they chose. And even if they saved all the children in that building, there are probably plenty of other terminally ill children in Japan alone." Mayura stared towards the building they were walking to.

Mayura… You shouldn't have to learn about this at such a young age. But then again, neither should those children. "Come on, lets go see Mayura papa."

Still lost in her own world, Mayura didn't hear Loki talk to her. "Huh? Wha?... Eh…Wait up for me Loki-kun!"

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"Patient's name please," said the nurse at the reception desk.

"Daidouji Misao,' replied Mayura.

"Is the young boy family?"

"Yes he is, Miss," responded Yamino.

"Daidouji Misao is in room C512, it's the third door on the left."

"Thank you."

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"Papa… It's me. Loki-kun and Yamino-san came with me. I hope you don't mind. Papa?"

"Ah, Mayura it's you. I'm glad you came. I don't think I have that much time left. It's been so hard to stay awake recently."

"Don't say things like that papa. Let's enjoy the time we have left, right?"

"Mayura…"

"Hey papa, do you remember the time when…"

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"This is a general hospital announcement. Visiting hours will end in thirty minutes, thank you."

"I guess we better go Mayura. We've been here all day," informed Loki.

"Yes Mayura-san, I think your father needs to sleep now," said Yamino.

Yamino, Mayura, and Loki got up and were about to leave the room when Mayura's father said, "detective, can have a word with you?"

"Ah, sure. Mayura, Yamino-kun, would you wait outside for me?" asked Loki politely.

"Sure Loki-kun."

"I'll be outside Loki-sama."

Yamino was the first to leave the room. Hesitantly, Mayura looked back at her father and Loki before following suit. Loki was silent and questioningly glanced at Mayura papa. Behind him he heard the door close quietly. Both continued to remain silent.

"I was a bit surprised that you didn't bring that punyaan thing," commented Misao.

"I thought ecchan might upset you. I wanted the last moments between you and you're daughter to be peaceful for the both of you."

"I thank you detective. I guess I should hurry up and got on to the reason I asked to talk with you alone, Trickster god."

"Uhh…."

"Yes, I've finally figured out who you are. It took awhile, I must admit… even if you didn't change your name, Loki-sama."

"I see." Loki swallowed nervously. This can't be good. I haven't given him the best impression and if he's done any reading on the subject… There are a lot of stories that don't exactly put me in the best light… not to mention the old prophecies of Ragnarok.

"I've been doing some research lately, and have learned quite a few interesting things. But that isn't the major reason I needed to talk to you alone."

"Go on…"

"When I first met you, I didn't trust you. Your whole presence screamed of hidden agendas. And I was certain that you would lead Mayura into one dangerous situation after another. But I knew that Mayura wouldn't stay away. She was drawn to you… like a moth to a flame." Misao laughed softly. "I didn't expect the analogy to be so… fitting. Huhhhh… I didn't want to lose Mayura with another fight, so I let her continue to see you." Misao stopped talking and looked over to the window on the far side of his room. Silence reigned down on the room.

"About a year ago now, I noticed that your aura had changed. It had gained in strength and felt older somehow. That's when I really started to wonder who you really were. Previously, I had always assumed you were just some incredibly spiritually gifted child… I don't know what was going on but…"

"The gods had exiled me into the form of a child," offered Loki. "I broke the seal last year."

"So that's it. But, shouldn't that have caused… you know… Ragunaroku?" asked Misao as he tripped over the pronunciation.

"I didn't go back. I couldn't… Mayura…" rambled Loki as he looked away.

Misao straighten up and sat seiza on the bed. "I have a request. Will you promise me to look after Mayura? When I die, she wouldn't have any other family left. My wife and I were both only children, and both sets of Mayura's grandparents died when she was about two."

(A/n: Seiza is the traditionally Japanese style of sitting. Daidouji Misao sits seiza in episode one when he finished banishing the "evil spirits" from the business man's company.)

"Yes, of course. I swear upon my life." Responded Loki solemnly.

(A/n: The Norse took their oaths very seriously. Oath breakers were considered as bad as or worse than criminals.)

"I never thought I would be saying this but…" Misao placed his hand on Loki's shoulder. "If you love my daughter half as much as I think you do, then I give you my consent to marry her."

"Uhh…" Loki was once again speechless. "I'm honored, Mayura… papa."

"Of course, that doesn't mean you have Mayura's agreement. And that will be more troublesome than you think. Mayura has some very adamant views on the subject. Well, that's all I wanted to say, but, would you try to get her grades up for me? I didn't finish high school, and I've always hoped that she would, although it doesn't look too hopeful now. I guess that's it. I don't want to take up all your time and they must have been waiting outside for a while now."

Loki walked to the door and was about to open it when he said, "I'll put in a good word to Hel for you."

"That would be much appreciated."

Loki could only close the door to Mayura papa's room before Mayura anxiously asked, "What did you talk about Loki-kun?"

"Mayura-san, that's rude," informed Yamino.

"Nothing really Mayura, he just had to ask me for a favor."

"Ah, boring!!!!"

A/n: Thank you all for your wonderful reviews! And Ytak, I looked back and realized that the flashbacks were written a little awkwardly into the story. Thank you for your comment. In the chapters that I've already finished (and haven't posted yet) I tried to make the story flow better into them. I might even fix the ones that I have posted, I'm not sure.

And if anyone hasn't noticed, I'm trying to leave the fan-girl Japanese out of this story as much as possible. Which is really hard for me because...

Nihongo ga chotto hannasemasu. Ratogaazu diagaku de nihongo o benkyoushiteimasu.

or in English

I can speak Japanese a little. I'm studying Japanese at Rutgers University.

And I keep getting phrases in my head that sound better in Japanese for this story. But it's my personal vendetta to use as little Japanese as possible because when I was just starting to read fanfiction, I had no clue what all that Japanese mumbo-jumbo was. And I won't be caught (hopefully) of doing it now to other newbies. (Not that they're reading MaLoki, but that's beside the point.) Enough of me ranting, I'll post again in a day or two. Bye!