Chapter 29: Forks and dresses

"By the way Mayu-chan, are you busy April first?

"Of course not Loki, it's your birthday…"

"And our first year anniversary," finished Loki.

"How did you remember that? I thought all guys forgot those kinds of things."

"It's kind of hard to forget Mayu-chan. I had a wonderful birthday party with you."

"Oh my god!"

I wish she would stop saying that. One of these days I know I'm just going to answer her.

"I completely forgot last year. I didn't get you a birthday present."

"But I did get one. She even had a ribbon in her hair."

"Stop Loki, you're making me blush."

"Why? You look cute that way. As I was saying however, I know of a small traditional European restaurant by the river, and I was wondering if you would like to go there for our first year anniversary."

"I've never had traditional European food before. Mystery!" exclaimed Mayura happily.

Loki laughed. "When I was ten I'd never thought I'd say this, but you look so cute when you say that, now that it's not every other word that comes out of that pretty mouth of yours."

"Loki…" Mayura blushed.

"Seriously though, I think you're going to have to buy a new dress Mayu-chan. We haven't gone somewhere this classy before. Do you know what type of dress to buy?"

"I'll just ask Skuld-chan. She always seems to know about all that stuff."

"And don't worry about the price Mayu-chan. Those typed of dresses are just normally expensive, okay?"

"I'll have Skuld-chan look at the price tags," giggled Mayura, "because it sounds like I'd freak out if I checked them."

"Alright, whatever makes you happy."

"I have one question," asked Mayura worriedly.

"Okay."

"You said the restaurant is classy right? Does that mean I'd have to use a fork?"

"Umm, that's generally how you eat European food Mayu-chan," replied Loki as he sweat-dropped.

"But I can't use a fork! "

"You've used a fork to eat cake plenty of times before. I don't understand."

"But cake just squishes on it, and it doesn't fall off. Neither do you have to cut with it. I don't get how you can cut food with a fork. How can you hold the knife and a fork at the same time?"

"Ah… practice?"

"But I did. I tried once, and I got food in everything but my mouth! Papa teased me as being 'fork challenged.' Please don't make me use a fork. Please… I'll make a fool of myself. There was sauce everywhere."

"What kind of food were you eating?"

"Spaghetti..."

Oh, give her a harder food to learn on why don't you. And I bet they didn't' tell her to turn the fork so the noodles stay on when you pick the fork up either.

"… and the noodles kept slipping off the fork. I took me forever to poke each one. I ended up using the fork and spoon as some make-shift chopsticks. Why couldn't the Europeans just have used chopsticks! They make so much more sense!"

That must have been a delightfully messy experience. "I could teach you how to use a fork Mayu-chan. People in Europe aren't born knowing how to use a fork anymore than people Japan are born knowing how to use chopsticks. You just haven't been taught and given enough times to practice. And it's quite easy to use once you've got the hang of it."

"You really think I'll be able to use a fork correctly? But…ummm… what about all those extra forks? I've heard that those really classy places give you two and three sets of everything! Why do you need so many? Isn't one fork good enough?"

"Don't worry. I'll explain that too, after you learn how to use a fork okay? Let's just take one step at a time."

.

.

.

"Don't do that Mayu-chan!" warned Loki, but it was too late. Mayura was already in the process of flipping over her fork and consequently lost to gravity. Everything that had been on her fork once again fell onto the table. Loki couldn't stop himself from sighing. "I guess Mayu-chan papa was right. You are fork challenged."

"I told you I can't use a fork! Why don't I just give up?!"

"You can't do that Mayura! If you could help me get over my fear of water, I'm sure I can teach you how to use a fork." Mayura was taken aback, surprised at Loki's determination. Why am I so acting so single-mindedly trying to help Mayu-chan? That's something she would do. Fushigi mystery… Loki rested his chin on his hand and began to think of other ways to teach Mayura how to use a fork. Ehhhhh?!!!!! I just thought fushigi mystery! Am I sick? Or have I finally spent so much time with Mayura that I'm picking up her speech patterns? Loki shuddered.

"I'm sorry Loki."

"For what?" Loki asked.

"The thought of helping me until I can use a fork makes you shudder," cried Mayura. "I'm not surprised. I'm so pathetic that I can't use a fork even after days of trying. I guess that dress I bought with Skuld-chan will be worthless." Mayura began to cry harder.

"No, I wasn't thinking that. Something stupid just popped into my head," finished Loki as he walked around the kitchen table and sat in the chair next to Mayura. Sliding over until he was flush against her, Loki placed his right hand over Mayura's.

"Loki?"

"I have an idea." Loki moved Mayura's hand, bringing the fork she was still holding towards her plate. Picking up a piece of carrot, he brought the fork up to Mayura's mouth and popped it in.

"Loki! What are you doing? I can feed my…" Mayura stopped talking, embarrassed.

Loki just laughed a picked up another carrot. But this time he brought it up to his mouth.

"Hey! That's my dinner. You're only letting me eat what I pick up with a fork! I'm hungry! Don't eat any of my potential dinner. Loki… you're so mean!" His only response was to eat another piece of food from Mayura's plate. Pulling her hand away from Loki's grasp, Mayura picked up a carrot and eat it, before sticking her tongue out at Loki in defiance. "My food!" Mayura went back to eating without paying attention to Loki. Hearing clapping, Mayura looked up and noticed Loki smiling. "Why are you smiling Loki?"

"You used your fork."

"I did?"

"Without anything falling off either."

"I… I used a fork? Thank you Loki!" cheered Mayura as she glomped him.

Author's Note: Sorry, I know this wasn't the best chapter I've ever written—and it's so short! These last couple of chapters are just waff away from the main story line.

To Dunebird: Mayura's a bigger weakness than you realize. Muhahah!

To Lare: Unless you're a guy, please don't kiss me, but my story is mostly about love. No bad guys, just horrible situations that life dishes them.

To LisSakura: You get more.

To Bibliomaniac: Yup, took it from episode 12. Of course it was wrong. That's why Loki had to do it. And Loki made sure not to video tape himself until the apron was off. Loki's not stupid.