Disclaimer and stuff: Not ours. Possible OOC-ness ahead. XP

Penny: Hi peeps! Lorelei's Crossing, sixth chapter up! Before everything else, I'd like to tell you guys that assumptions are assumptions, but it ain't over till it's over. Cliché but true. :D

Hope you'll like it…thanks for the encouragement, although I wouldn't go so far as to think I'm a good fic writer…(Unlike a certain brother of mine. :D) I think I'm slightly below average. And did anyone notice that I killed Aragog in the last chapter?

Paul: You did? (And whaddya mean, unlike me?


Chapter 6

"Okaaay…focus now…"

Frowning slightly, Loki knew he was having doubts about this exercise. He and the girl were linking their hands together, preparing for the attempt to return his powers. He did not relish the close contact, but Yuki advised it so. And frankly, after all the studying they did, Loki could not come up with any other way.

'…yes, I suppose that's all we can do. And there's a more th'n reason'ble chance for it t' work.' He silently agreed, but nevertheless, it did not make him any more comfortable with the idea. In fact, if it were not for the strange occurrence with the monster, he would have flatly refused.

And speaking of the spider…she ignored the incident entirely, laughed nervously, or , when questioned, changed the subject faster than the speed of light. It was odd. But then everything had been odd so far, since meeting these two. Like the fact that, Yuki, once seeing him, did not bother to ask about what Ruri now called 'the mysterious Loki-sama's freaky fit of DOOM', or the-

"…girlfriend or something? Wake up!"

"I am awake." Impertinent girl. But she had a point. Utmost attention was needed for this to work. Loki turned mind towards the effort at hand. He looked down, concentrating at their linked arms.

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Ruri nodded to Gram, who acknowledged it and left the room. It was risky for her to stay.

"Okaaay…focus now…" Ruri took a deep breath and channeled her powers into her hands, careful not to form them into dangerous balls of undiluted power. Her hands began to glow slightly. Okay…that's a good thing, right? Right. At least, it's not the same glow that shows up when I'm trying to annihilate something… Hey, all you 'higher ups' up there, better make this work if you still want your offerings! Standard size, given with sincerity, but no blood.

She was undeniably nervous. I wonder how he's taking it? Sneaking a glance at their mysterious guest, she was –extremely– annoyed to see him losing some of his focus. Grr. And she was supposed to be the one with the wandering mind here!

"Hey! You dreaming of your girlfriend of something? Wake up!"

"I am awake."

Ah. The ever-present 'shut-up-or-my-eyes-will-turn-red-and-swallow-you-whole' glare. She resisted the temptation to stick her tongue out at him. Must pay attention…

Come on…into him now…go back…it occurred to her that it was stupid to talk to cosmic power, but what the heck? It's not like he'd read my mind and laugh. Like he looks like he'd ever laugh. Ruri had the feeling that Loki was one of those persons who never took life lightly... Oops, attention deficit disorder alert! Danger! Dang-

BOOM.

-er. Ouch-my-Odin-Buddha-Kami-sama! That's gotta hurt. Whoopsie…

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Loki was very aware of a scorching wave of power exploding at his front, catapulting him strongly into the concrete wall behind him. It took his (slightly) shocked brain longer to recognize the feeling that was slowly traveling through his arms and back to his entire body. Pain. Acute, agonizing pain. Protected by his power, he had never felt this before. Dimly, he wondered if the others felt like this every time they got blasted by enemy attacks-

Warmth. Soft, light, gently wiping away all traces of his injuries. Peering through his blurry eyes, he saw Yuki smiled at him wryly. "Sorry, lad."

"Eck! Gome-I mean sorry Loki, I couldn't help it! Sorry sorry sorry sorry! You okay? You sure? Want me to…" Ruri, gibbering away as usual. With effort, he purposely blotted it from his hearing.

"He's fine, calm yerself down."

"Okay." Loki suddenly wished he could turn her mouth off like that. Gingerly, he got to his feet, trying to ascertain his precious well-being.

"Yer fine, I healed ye completely. No worries there. And as for you…" she turned to her granddaughter, one eyebrow raised in question. "…what did ye do wrong?"

"Ah…eh…hahaha…the usual?"

Yuki heaved a resigned, long-suffering sigh. "Very well…I s'ppose we can call this a night. We'll discuss this t'morrow. I'm terribly sorry, lad. Perhaps ye would like me t' punish her?" Upon hearing, Ruri gulped nervously.

"That will not be necessary."

She beamed at him in thanks.

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"So…you're really leaving? Just like that?" Mutinous muttering followed. " …isn't because of yesterday, ne? 'Cause I really didn't-"

"Loki, are ye certain?"

"Yes. I shall return in a measure of time. For my powers."

He saw no reason to linger. Loki knew by experience that it was going to take her more than a year to acquire the control and discipline needed to pass the powers back to him. In the meantime, he saw no point in staying. He already knew Yuki was competent enough for the job of training her, judging by Ruri's current abilities. In fact, her powers would have been very useful to…never mind. Personality-wise, she was definitely NOT suited to being an assassin.

"Aye…but aren't ye disadvantaged with yer loss?"

"I am aware of that. However, I am not totally reliant on my cosmic powers. I believe I can get by without them."

It was true. Loki was formidable, even with the total loss of his cosmic force. And he knew how not to get himself into trouble. He was also considering the possibility of dabbling in magic, now that he possessed it and the ability to use it.

And… Loki mentally shrugged the offending thought away. Nonsense.

"Alright, we cannot stop ye. Good luck, lad." She bowed, and retreated into the house.

"But…what if you get another fit of DOOM? Are you sure you're completely adjusted yet? And there're the robbers, and the monsters, and…" She obviously was not as accepting as her grandmother.

"Not necessary."

"What about if I join you a little way? This particular area is really dangerous for the traveler…some even say the roads leading here are cursed…"

"…"

"…please?"

"…" Why must she insist?

"Feh, alright. Sayonara, then."

"…?"

"In Amatsu, it means goodbye."

"…"

"Hey! Aren't you gonna say goodbye to the girl who saved you? And took care of you too, wheile you were incapacitated? Ingrate…"

A vein ticked in Loki's temple. His already strained patience was in danger of wearing thin. What of the fact that it was all her fault? The noisy, irritating, moody, confusing girl. Hands on hips, staring at him as if he had done a grievous wrong. Apparently, she was not going to give it a rest until he gave in.

"Goodbye."

Loki turned and did not look back.

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Ice cream…Ruri stared longingly at the sidewalk stall. It was a hot, busy day in town. And here she was, almost finished with her errands, with nothing to do when it was over, except maybe drool over Mr. Rafael's ice cream stand, or head for the creek, unless she wanted to die of spontaneous human combustion.

But in the meantime…she sighed, waiting for the package that her Gram sent for to arrive. The heat was sapping her spirit. What she needed was something cold…like ice cream or a swim or even Loki's chilly stare. And speaking of Loki… I wonder how he is. It's been what…three days since we last saw him?

Ruri didn't particularly miss him, but she was lonely, and it had been nice to see a person who had the same ability. Correction: who had had the same ability. She supposed she ought to feel very guilty, since she did strip him of an important part of himself. As a fellow 'cosmic power wielder', she could imagine how it would feel to wake up with your powers suddenly gone. I hope he isn't hurt or dead or something…

"Aye, Ruri! Why look sad face? Wan sum ice cream?" A very loud, happy, boisterous voice interrupted her thoughts. Mr. Rafael. Ah…his business was probably booming today …which would mean free ice cream for someone lucky...and by the looks of it, said person was her.

"Did veri gud job few yest'rdays ago. Beat de bad golem, eh? En' you save me nephew! Here, have ice cream." Yay! Thanks a lot! The gods must love me today! As he started suggesting which flavors to pick, she felt her spirits lift. Maybe today won't be so bad after all.

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Yep, today definitely isn't bad. In fact, she thought, it turned out to be very good. She, not to mention several others, had gotten free ice cream, the breeze started blowing, her chores were done, and the place was relatively peaceful.

It was getting late, though, and Ruri decided to get home before Gram got worried. She wondered why, because unlike most people her age, she could defend herself against most dangers. Ah, well, at least it shows that Gram's concer-

"Ehh-!"

Ruri's chest suddenly exploded in pain, her head buffeted with grainy black and white images. Premonition! She bent double, clutching at her torso, waiting for it to pass. And when it finally did, she was running full speed, heart pounding, jaw clenched tight, gasping for breath, going faster, faster, her mind unable to register anything but the prone figure of Loki, slumped on the ground, bleeding copiously, and unmistakably, undeniably, irrevocably dead.

End of Chapter 6


Penny: Chapter over and done! In case you're wondering,Mr. Rafael...it doesn't matterif his accent may be at odds with his name, becauseIhave no idea what nation he came from. ;3

Me: Hey guys…guess what…:D

Loki: All of you had better stop making me the focus of your evil evil fanfics. And I better not be dead!

Lynna: But Loki…your character's so fun to mangle…erm, write about.

Me: Ahem… -.-'

Iris: ((singing)) …why don't you tell me where it hurts, now tell me…and I'll do my best to make it better…

Skurai: ((singing)) I've become so numb…

Chaos: ((singing)) …and I'll make my own destiny!

Lynna: I told you to keep the radio away from them.

Me: Nobody listens to me. T.T

Penny: Eh…I think jj wants to say something… ((sweatdrops))

Me: Yay! Ruri was physically modeled and named after my 'original character'. You know, the ones you make up in case you'd need a fantasy character while RP-ing, or a username online (aside from jj), or a fictional alter-ego. Personality-wise… the only thing me and this Ruri have on common is ice cream…but even I'm not that obsessed with it. :3

Penny: Well, after realizing 'Ruri' had the eye color I had in mind, I thought, 'Why not?' So here it is!

Me: Yep! Thankies, Pen. And my alter ego gets to be in a fic with Loki, too… fufufufu… ((evill chuckles))

Loki: O.O ((shivers)) That…is very disturbing. ((looks terrified))

Fenris: Scary.

Lidia: What's the matter, Poochy Poo?

Loki: ((turns green)) …mommy…

Paul: R and R please, have mercy on Penny!

Penny: Meanie… T.T … By the way…How are Yuki and Ruri going? Are their personalities inconsistent, or flat, or…? Is Loki being too OOC, or something? Feedback of that sort would be very much appreciated. Until the next chapter then!