Chapter 30: Once in a Blue Moon
The weather forecast for the night was perfect. The chance of rain or clouds was almost nonexistent, and the temperature was supposed to stay nice and balmy. The moon was going to be full that night, and to top it off, the cherry trees were once again blooming on schedule. Loki couldn't have hoped for a better night. Of course, that's why he specifically asked for it. Thor had promised that there wouldn't be any rain, and Loki himself could control the temperature with permission from Freyr of course--since the temperature would affect the growing season. And it only took an off-handed comment by Loki in Freyr's presence to convince him to have the cherry trees bloom on time to slightly early that year. The only thing that Loki hadn't planned was the cycle of the moon. And he wasn't worried about that. Loki did find it funny however that later in the month was going to be a blue moon.
Well… what I'm planning to do would only happen once in a blue moon, thought Loki as he finished putting on his tuxedo. A knock on his bedroom door pulled Loki out of his thoughts. "Come in Yamino-kun."
"Reiya-san came over with the limousine as she promised, but… Freya-san wants to talk with you Loki-sama."
"Bring her into the study. I'll talk with her there."
"She's already there Loki-sama."
"Thank you Yamino-kun." Loki walked out of his room and entered the study. He silently closed the door before addressing the only other person in the room. "You wanted to speak with me Freya?"
"Yes I did Loki-kun," responded Freya. Loki only raised his eyebrows at Freya's use of the honorific 'kun'. "The Japanese might have come up with a few good ideas, Loki-kun. It's easier to be… to distance myself from you when I use it." Freya looked down at the floor. "I've been thinking about this crush—I'd guess you could call it that—that… that I have for you. I always assumed you didn't notice my feelings, but you knew, didn't you?" asked Freya looking up at Loki.
"Yes. You made it pretty obvious over the last three hundred years. And even if I missed your flirting… your brother stated it out in the open, during a main feast with Odin I recall once."
"I don't remember that…" stated Freya as she tried to remember the event.
"You were arguing with Frigg at the time over colors or something," offered Loki.
"Oh… that feast. Hey! The colors involved with the hand-fasting knot are very important!" yelled Freya. Loki held his hands up, palm outward and started backing up slowly. "And you better not mess up with Mayura-chan! If I hear that you're starting to recite Poe again in depression after you ignored and rejected me…! And if you hurt Mayura-chan in any way, I will personally make your life a living nightmare!" Freya flipped her hair and reverted back to Reiya as she sauntered out of the room happily. Loki could only stand there in shock.
Peaking into the room, Fenrir asked, "Daddy… what was that?"
"I don't know Fenrir."
"Loki-tama… Freya-chan has given up on you, but since she's already lost, she'd rather lose to Mayura-chan than nothing."
"Ecchan, are you sure you're not a psychologist or something?"
"Punyaan," spoke ecchan, not answering Loki's question.
"Loki-sama, I got the corsage you bought for Mayura-san," announced Yamino coming up the stairs.
"But daddy, you're not taking her to a dance."
"I know. But Mayu-chan will like it, and that's all that's important. And who knows? Maybe we will dance," answered Loki as he stepped outside the study and closed the door.
At that moment Skuld came down the hallway from Mayura's room. "She'll be ready in a minute Loki-sama. And may I ask why this date is such a special occasion? Hmm?" pried Skuld.
"Because it's our first year anniversary?"
"Oh, come on. That's not the only reason, is it Loki-sama?"
"If I told you anything, all of Asgard would know before the night was over."
"Well of course! The courtship of Loki-sama," Skuld sighed, "is the biggest event since… since… since… the time Freyr tried to swallow a whole watermelon!"
"I'm honored to entertain Asgard. And I want to surprise my viewers," responded Loki sarcastically. My love life… compared to, to, to Freyr's stupidity! But I guess by the reasoning of most of the gods I am being foolish, spending so much time and energy courting a girl that will be dead in only sixty or seventy years. Me… courting. They're probably laughing themselves silly just off that. Me, the god that can turn almost any girl—or goddess for that matter—into a heart eyed idiot by just winking at them, is reduced to courting the girl he loves. Absorbed in his thoughts, Loki didn't notice Mayura walking up to him.
"How do I look Loki?" asked Mayura shyly. "Skuld-chan picked out the cut of the dress, but I picked out the color."
"You… you look beautiful Mayu-chan. More beautiful then I imagined," answered Loki lost for words. He was flabbergasted at the cut of the dress. Loki had never been privileged to such a view. Mayura had been known to wear short skirts, especially while in high school, but this dress was different. It came almost to the floor, instead displaying her other attributes with a low cut bodice held up with spaghetti straps and a low cut back. "And I love that color. It almost exactly…"
"It is exactly the same color. Skuld-chan and I went to the same tailor and seamstress shop that you buy your clothes from. I had them use matching fabric." Mayura began to blush. "I hope you don't mind."
"No… not at all. If I had known we could have gone out matching. And seeing how stunning you look in that color, I think we will some other time." Meanwhile, Loki had picked up Mayura's left hand and kissed it before tying a white rose to her wrist. "This is for you, I hope you like it."
"It's beautiful Loki."
Holding his left hand up as an invitation, Loki asked, "Shall we go?" Mayura nodded in agreement and gently placed her right hand on his left. Wrapping his fingering around Mayura's hand, Loki began to descend the stairs. Yamino could only stare in awe at the regal air they displayed walking down a simple wooden staircase. And Loki couldn't help but imagine that they were walking down the main marble staircase for the Yuletide Feast. But that's impossible. Mayura's not a goddess. Together Loki and Mayura walked out of the house and got into the limousine waiting for them.
A mere ten minutes later, they arrived at their destination. The restaurant itself was hidden behind a beautiful garden of roses, bushes, and trees. If you didn't know the restaurant was there, you would have sworn it was a privately owned park. Small water fountains and many benches were dispersed throughout the garden entrance. Mayura stared wide-eyed at the scenery before her.
"I always thought this was a park Loki!"
Loki laughed. "I thought so at first too. It took me a while to find it, but see the building way in the back?"
"Yeah"
"That's the restaurant. But we're early for our dinner reservations, so I thought we could just sit somewhere in the front garden for about ten minutes."
"Could we walk around instead Loki? This place is so beautiful."
After Dinner
"This place is so romantic. Dinner by candle light and soft music playing in the background, I've had a wonderful time Loki. But I won't forget about your present this year. Here, happy birthday!" Mayura handed Loki a small thin and long wrapped package. "I know you don't need many things, but… I hope you like it."
Curious about what Mayura could have bought him, Loki opened the wrapping paper carefully and slowly to prolong the exciting anticipation. A wide smile crossed Loki's face as he opened the box. Inside was an old fashion ink well pen. Looking carefully Loki noticed an inscription on the gold clip. "My beloved Loki… Mayura, how did you get this written in Old Norse runes?"
"I asked Professor Ikari to write it for me and took her sample to the engraver," Mayura answered smiling and blushing.
"I don't know what to say. Thank you Mayu-chan, I love it. And I have something for you too."
"But it's your birthday Loki. You didn't need to get me something," stuttered Mayura.
"But I wanted to Mayura," replied Loki as he stood up and moved around the table to stand next to her. Kneeling down on one knee, Loki pulled out a small black velvet box and held it up to Mayura. "It's only been a short while that we've been dating, and yet I know you so well. Your favorite color, your favorite food… the way you wake up in the morning and the smile that appears on your face when you're helping someone with a problem… and I love everything about you, from the bottom of my heart." Slowly opening the box, Loki looked at Mayura expectantly. "Would you make me the happiest man on this world and beyond, Daidouji Mayura? Will you marry me?"
"Yes… yes Loki! I'll marry you. Would you put the ring on my finger please?" Loki stood up and brought Mayura up to her feet as well. Taking the diamond ring out of the box, Loki placed it on Mayura's finger. "I love you Farbautisen Loki…" whispered Mayura as she rose up on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Loki kissed her gently. "We shouldn't be doing this… here."
Mayura laughed. "And where do you want to go?"
"I recall you once said that the shrine grounds are closed at this time, and the cherry trees are in full bloom," stated Loki as he kissed Mayura again.
"But I don't have the keys with me this time Loki."
"I think we can manage. So, are we going? Mayura nodded her head and kissed Loki again. Disentangling himself from Mayura, Loki paid the bill plus tip and left it on the table. Mayura however, didn't like being apart from Loki and wrapped her arm around his. Loki's only response was to laugh at Mayura's exuberance.
They walked together in silence to Ginga Shrine, with Mayura leaning her head against Loki's shoulder. Upon reaching the gate to the shrine gardens, Mayura was surprised to see the gate open. Loki walked her through the gates and sat down at the same bench they had sat down on that eventful day one year ago.
"Loki, why was the gate open?"
"I asked Nakaji-san to leave it open for tonight, and I told him that I'd lock it after we left," replied Loki.
"You planned this entire night, didn't you? That's so sweet." Mayura sighed. Loki wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her temple. "Ah! Look at the moon it's so bright."
"It sure is Mayu-chan. Would you care to dance under the stars?"
"I would, but my shoes are hurting my feet," admitted Mayura timidly.
"Just take them off then."
"But I'll ruin my stockings…" pouted Mayura.
"I'll buy you new ones, soon to be Farbautisen Mayura," whispered Loki into Mayura's ear.
"I can't wait until that day," replied Mayura with a large smile.
"Shall we?" Loki stood up and offered his hand to her. Placing her hand delicately into his, Loki pulled Mayura up onto her feet. They began to dance a slow waltz to music only they could hear. And as they danced, the space between the two of them became smaller and smaller until Mayura was able to comfortably lean her head against Loki's chest. "I wish we could dance like this every April for eternity," mumbled Loki, not paying attention to what he was saying.
"To do that, we'd only need to borrow the power of a god," giggled Mayura.
I would let you Mayura… if I only knew how.
Author's Note: Oh yea, more cute waff. But as you can see, the plot is definitely progressing. There's foreshadowing people! All too soon there will be a lot of plot and some funny stuff too. Next chapter is entitled "Wedding Plans and Strange Events."
To Minna-san: I'm not sure where I came up with the 'fork challenged' idea. I think it was when I was joking with Alaska Boy about something in my dorm room
To LittleGreenWolf:. I won't be writing about the spaghetti incident, gomen. My fanfic writing is going a little slow because I'm showing my sister Cardcaptor Sakura for the first time… well in the language that counts. We're on episode 12. Oh, I expanded the description of Mayura's dress just for you.
To Ytak: I usually try to, but last chapter didn't flow out that way when I wrote it. Thanks for pointing it out though. I'll be more conscious about that when I write from now on.
To Erinys: Loki is 18 and Mayura is 24.
To Bibliomaniac: Sorry, I had this planned as another sweet chapter. She had worked really hard learning how to use a fork after all. As for the other gods, well there in this story, but they're not main characters. If I wrote everyone in all the time this story WOULD go on forever.
To Neru: Thank you.
To The Liz: Mayura already knew how to use a knife. Even overly traditional Japanese used knives! I watched the anime… about 5 times. Can't read the manga because it's not published in English yet, and although I did some translations, I'm not good enough to read the Japanese manga, maybe in another year or two.
To Manda-chan: The connection is coming. It's coming. Gomen, gomen.