Chapter 15: Sparkles and Giggles

Mayura wrote many letters in the ensuing months. Her secret admirer meanwhile was just as attentive in replying. Two and three letters were often exchanged between the two per week… much to the annoyance of Narugami. But Loki was right; he did owe him a major favor. And not that he would admit it out-loud, but Narugami enjoyed bringing two of his closest friends together. Besides, it was way too much fun to tease Loki every time he received another letter from Mayura.

"Hey Loki, why look so glum?"

"It's been snowy-rainy for a whole week, Narukami-kun. What do you want me to do? Sing and dance in the slush?" asked Loki dryly.

"I got something that will cheer you up--another letter from your girl."

At that, Loki lifted his head off his propped hand. "Really?"

"Yeah, really… not that it should be a major surprise Loki. Daidouji-chan only writes to you two times a week."

"Recently she's been really busy at the shrine. This weather isn't agreeable to the older population and the shrine has been bogged down in funeral preparations and services. For the past few weeks she's only done necessary work around the house, eat, and sleep."

"And write letters to a certain secret admirer. Now are you going to open your letter or just stare at it all day?"

"Do you know you act just as bad as a girl? Next you're going to be asking what she wrote."

"No, I don't really care what you two love birds write about. But watching you read those letters is an entirely different story. The way your eyes shine and sparkle when you're reading… It's not every century that the Great Trickster god Loki puts on a shoujo sparkle display."

"I do not."

"Oh yes you do."

"This isn't an anime Narukami-kun," Loki sweat-drops.

"Could have fooled me."

"I do not shoujo sparkle."

"You want to bet on that with video tape evidence?"

"No"

A few days later--giving time for Loki to write a response—Narugami once again walks up to Mayura. "Special delivery, Diadouji-chan."

"Thank you Narugami-kun! Could you put it on the desk for a minute please?" Mayura had meanwhile run out of the study down to the kitchen--the location of the nearest phone.

"Whoa, where's she going in such a hurry," questioned Narugami-kun.

"It's her ritual, Narugami-kun. Usually though, she reads the letter first and then calls Skuld over to reread it together for hours, picking the words apart for hidden meanings," Loki commented.

"Do you?"

"Do I what, Narukami-kun?"

"Put hidden meanings in the words?"

"I thought you didn't care what we two love birds wrote to each other. Are you sure you're not a girl?"

"Loki…" threatened Narugami.

"Alright, alright… I'll stop. And yes, I do write hidden meanings behind the words. Maybe she'll figure out who I am before I plan on telling her," mused Loki.

"Does Skuld-san know that the letters are from you?"

"Yes, she knew since the first letter. You can't hide much from one of the Norns, Narukami-kun. We had a little talk about it and everything seems better now. If anything, I'd say she finds the whole thing cute. I only wish Freya would follow her example," sighed Loki.

"That bad huh?"

"You can't imagine. I'm not looking forward to Valentine's Day."

"Not Valentine's Day in Japan at any rate. By the way, when do you plan to tell Daidouji-chan that you're her secret admirer?"

"White Day."

"And just how are you going to…" Narugami stops his question, hearing the voices of two very excited females.

"So, what does it say? What does it say?"

"I haven't read it yet."

"What!! What's wrong with you Mayura-chan?"

"Well, you always said you wanted to see me read one of my letters for the first time, so I thought…"

"Oh, thank you Mayura-chan. Good thing I have my camera!"

"Where do you hide all your gadgets Skuld-chan?" asked Mayura as she opened the door to Loki's study.

"The same place Kaoru hides her bouken of course… hammer space. A girl's trusted friend."

"True, true," commented Mayura as she picked up the letter Narugami had placed on the desk. "You didn't read it, did you, Loki-san?"

"No, there's no reason to."

"Oh? and why is that?" inquired Mayura.

"Because you'll eventually tell me anyway... whether I want to know or not," informed Loki.

"Oh, you're so mean!" she yelled puffing out her cheeks.

"Come on Mayura-chan… let's go into your room."

"Coming"

"So, read it, read it Mayura-chan!" giggled Skuld as she sat down on the bed next to Mayura.

"Okay…"

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My Beloved,

I can't express with words alone the feelings I have for you. When I watch the sunset, I see your face smiling at me. When I wake up in the morning, I hear your voice as the birds singing. When I watch the flame of a candle flicker, I see the kindness of your heart reflected within it. You are my moon and stars, without the thoughts of you, the night would be nothing but darkness. You are the fire of my soul.

It's unfortunate, but I can not compare your person to all that is beautiful in this world… I would never finish writing if I tried. In response to your inquiry, my birthday is April 1, the day of fools. And perhaps I am foolish… to love you so much. But if that is true, then place a crown upon my head. For I rather be called the king of fools then be without the warmth of your love for even an instant.

I love the summer, when the sky is brightly blue, and the sunset reflects against the white clouds with dazzling shades of red. I love the warm nights, when it's possible to lie on the grass and stare at the moon shining above, or sit around a fire just to hear it laugh. And even though now the ground is cold and covered with snow, I know that the spring sun shall come and once again to awaken the earth. Just so shall our love-- hidden within the depths of these letters-- be freed to grow in the grace of light. But until that time, may we rejoice in the glow that our love creates on its own.

Your Secret Admirer

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"Wow… He out did himself this time. I… I'd never have thought that he could…" stuttered Skuld.

"Do you know him Skuld-chan? You know who my secret admirer is?"

"Yes"

"Is that why you were so depressed the first time I received a letter from my secret admirer? Do you like him Skuld-chan?" asked Mayura sympathetically.

"I did. When you received your first letter I still had a major crush on him, but he didn't return my feelings. He saw me as a good friend."

"What happened? You seem so happy to listen to my letters now."

"Well… after he sent you his first letter to you… I confronted him, and told him what I felt. I knew what he was going to say, but I loved him. I really thought I loved him. And then he said something I never suspected. He asked me why I loved him. And that's when I realized something important. I didn't really love him at all! I was infatuated with a childhood memory of him and created a personality that I loved around it. I felt so stupid, and I was sure that he was going to tease me about it. But… he didn't. He just looked at me. As if he understood what I was going through and how I felt."

"Skuld-chan…"

"No, it's alright. I've gotten over it now. And I know how much he really loves you."

"Skuld-chan!" giggled Mayura embarrassedly.

"Well it's true."

"He said that his birthday is April 1! That's Loki-ku… Loki-san's birthday too! What a coincidence!"

"You slipped Mayura-chan."

"Huh?"

"I heard you. You were about to say Loki-kun weren't you?"

"No… of course not. Why would I do something like that? He's just a friend Skuld-chan, a friend that I don't want to get hurt."

"You might not want him to love you, but you still love him."

"I do not. I never loved him. Not the way you're thinking!"

"Then why do you constantly make connections between your secret admirer and Loki-sama huh?"

"I do not. They're just coincidences. That's all!"

"Mayura-chan, I have eyes and ears you know. You can't hide that soft sound that comes in your voice when you talk about Loki-sama. Nor can you hide that cloud nine expression you get every time you look at him when you think no one is watching."

"Skuld-chan! He's six years younger than me! And even if I did have feelings for Loki-san, which I don't, trying to act upon them would be disastrous for the both of us."

"Me thinks you protest too much."

"Drop it Skuld-chan," threatened Mayura.

"Okay, okay. By the way, what are you going to do for your secret admirer? Valentine's Day is only a week away you know."

"I already got everything I need to make and wrap his Valentine's chocolate. But I'm wondering if I should do anything more."

"Why don't you get him a nice pair of cuff-links? When he tells you who he is, I'm sure he'll take you out somewhere real nice and he can wear them. What do you think?"

"I love it."

Author's Note: LittleGreenWolf's Loki Manga scan's translations are finished, so if anyone wants them, just give me your e-mail address. But they're not perfect… don't yell at me if they're wrong. I'm starting intermediate Japanese next semester, but I definitely got about 70-80%--with the help of the great Japanese/English dictionary of course.

To Bibliomaniac: Sent you the translations already. Hope the attachment came through fine.

To Ytak: I don't have any pictures of Loki and Narugami in dresses, but I can imagine it. When I first read that part in the mythology, I was sure that Loki wouldn't let Thor forget that incident too quickly. And Mayura will learn that her secret admirer is Loki in chapter 17. Next chapter is a little Loki/Reiya—well that's Reiya's hopes anyway.