Thanks for the reviews all of you are giving me. It gets me motivated to write more and just simply reading it, gets my spirits up, so thank you very much! :D

Anyway, I'm really, really, really, really sorry for updating late! I had exams to study for and after that, school REALLY got in the way with homework and such and it really sucked. But this time I'll be sure to update more chapters early. xD

Forgetting Me

Disclaimer: I do not own Matantei Loki

- - - -Chapter 5: Choices- - - -

The key to your universe is that you can choose.

~Carl Frederick~

Loki walked alone in the beautiful garden, trailing along the stone paths in the middle of the grassy ground. A small breeze ruffled his brownish-red hair but he paid no mind to it. The day was beautiful and could even be compared to the goddess's beauty, Freya. But Loki wasn't mesmerized by it.

"Lord Loki." Someone called and he was automatically pulled out from his thoughts. He turned to face Verdandi, one of the Norn sisters.

He gave an absent smile to her and asked her what she wanted.

"Lord Loki, it's about Master Thor, he…"

Emerald eyes stared hard on the long hallway he was walking on. Verdandi was trailing behind him, knowing what was going to happen once Loki will arrive to Odin.

The news he received bothered him a lot. And the god of mischief couldn't just sit around and let Odin do something that would ruin it all. It was his decision. All he needed to do was shoulder it all without anyone interfering. Later on, when the pain would slowly vanish inside him, then he would forget and move on.

The hallway came to an end when they arrived in front of the main door leading to Odin's room. The place was quiet and the atmosphere was weighing heavier and heavier when Loki slowed his pace to push the doors open rather harshly.

"Odin!"

An older man turned, red eyes looking at the younger looking god blankly. He immediately knew what Loki wanted to say to him the second he heard the door open loudly. But even after that, he waited patiently for him to speak.

"Why did you order Thor to go back to Midgard?" he asked, his tone hard. Both of them weren't still in good terms and Loki didn't bother visiting him after his arrival.

Odin seated himself on a chair comfortably, rubbing his white beard absentmindedly. "I sent him to check if everything was back to normal there. And I want him to see her for me if her memories were erased and if there were no problems." He answered, causing Loki to narrow his emerald orbs at him.

"How do you know…"

"I have my sources. After all, I'm the chief god and I should know more about my brother, don't you think?"

With new realization, Loki slowly turned his head to look at Verdandi. Her lips were pressed into a grim line, showing him her apologetic eyes. That was it. He quickly turned to face Odin once again.

"Don't interfere with this." He said his voice strangely calm. He knew Odin was doing this because he wanted to interfere or to find a way to kill him – or maybe both. But that thought never really bothered him except for the first one.

"Hm? And may I ask why?"

"I need to shoulder this alone so I want you to get Thor back here, Odin."

"No not yet." Was Odin's simple reply.

Loki glared at him, Odin was a stubborn man. With a shrug, he gave him a look of challenge. "Then I have no choice but to go there and bring him back here myself." He exclaimed, walking away.

"I will not give you permission to do so." Odin's harsh tone caused Loki to stop abruptly and turn to him.

"And why not?"

"I'm starting to know your situation well Loki."

The god of mischief narrowed his eyes in question. He wondered what this old god was implying.

"Once you arrive there, I know you won't come back." He answered Loki's questioning eyes with a hard stare.

What Odin said startled his thoughts only for a moment. It didn't even occur in his mind that he wouldn't even go back here in Asgard. All he had to do was just get Thor and return. Nothing else.

"Why won't I return?" he asked, his attention all on the god in front him.

"You'll want to stay there once you get a glimpse of that mortal girl's face." He replied bluntly, not wasting any time to explain any more details.

I see.

Loki sighed sadly. "That's what you're worried about?" He exclaimed in a low voice. "I don't think I'll stay there when…"

"But what if you actually decide to stay there?" Odin interrupted, with a point of his finger. "Then what? How will you explain it? We had enough trouble of gods and goddesses going to the human world without any special reasons."

The young god tried not to roll his eyes at what Odin said. Of course, whose fault was that anyway?

"I have to get to go there and get him back."

Odin stared at him hard. "It's your choice Loki if you want to return there or not."

"What are you talking about?" he gave an incredulous look. "I am going to come back."

"Is that so? Then it's your choice." Odin knew there was a chance that he wasn't going to come back.

Loki didn' gave one last look at his brother before he commanded his feet to start moving. He had to get out of there fast before Odin's words would bother him more than it already has. He didn't want anyone to pester him. It was annoying.

The door shut closed slowly and left Odin to sigh in a relax manner. It wasn't like Loki to be so hard to order. The first time he actually complained was when he was sent to the human world. And now when his back, he starts to complain that he needed to go back there. It was confusing. Oh, how he needed one of Idun's apples right now. It felt like he was growing older and older as he deals with this situation.

"Is there something you want to say Lord Odin?" Verdandi's voice interrupted his running thoughts.

He simply motioned her to come forward and so she sat opposite from him. Silence fell between them when a soft breeze past them gently from outside the open garden doors. The brightly shining sun filtered through the windows, embracing them with its warm embrace as Odin stared at her in a knowing manner.

"Where are your other sisters?" he made conversation, trying to relax the mood for a bit before he would get straight to the point.

"They are a little busy with their matters. It seemed that they missed this place too much." She answered politely as she always did.

"I see."

Verdandi shifted her weight on her seat, waiting for her master to continue but nothing came out of his mouth. And the heavy feeling was now back in the atmosphere. Guilty feelings surfaced in her when she remembered the look Lord Loki gave her after he knew that she was the informer.

She shook her head.

"Lord Odin, about Lord Loki, I-"

"Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that." He leaned closer to her in his seat. "Tell me, what do you think about the situation right now concerning Loki?"

She thought for a moment. "Well, it seems to me that Lord Loki wants to go back to Midgard badly…" she answered truthfully.

Odin let the words sink in. Just as he expected. Loki missed the place too much even from the beginning he came back here.

"And may I ask why?"

"It would be because of Daidouji Mayura, the mortal girl who Lord Loki was rather fond of."

Another hit of pieces came together. Yes, all of this was happening because of that girl. The one who triggered all of this. The one who Loki missed so much. And the very girl who Loki was in love with.

It finally made sense.

Odin inhaled and exhaled air before he slumped back gracefully in his chair.

"Human minds are very simple, don't you think, dear Verdandi?" he spoke in a strangely mocking tone. Verdandi was about to reply but he continued on. "And so are the minds of the immortals…"

"What do we do now, Lord Odin?" Verdandi was ready for the next orders he would give her, but Odin briskly waved her question off.

"Let him do what he wants… it's his decision and he has to make choices that would affect his future and that girl's future."

"Yes, of course."

"Right. You may leave."

Verdandi didn't go right away as she continued to stare at her master, who looked at her, as if asking why she wasn't leaving. She decided to sit up straighter, wanting to know more information that will concern Loki.

"Lord Odin… I have one last question, if I'm allowed to ask." She started and Odin nodded, letting her know that she can continue.

"I want to ask why you are letting Lord Loki do all this, rebel against your decisions and not punish him…" she pursed her lips.

She wanted to know why he was letting Loki go without any problems. He wouldn't let any god go there without any further any explanations. Especially Loki. Odin really did keep a good eye on him.

"I don't really know, but what I know is just to let him do what he wants. I won't interfere; I'll just observe from the sidelines. I'm also interested how that human girl stole Loki's heart and made him like how he is today. It's all very interesting. He can do what he wants. At least that man knows what he finally wants. We will just when the time comes."

Verdandi could see the chief god give out a small smile, and all her insides started to relax. Yes, she could see that Odin was going to be in good terms with Loki again. Even without Loki knowing.

"Yamino, go get ready. And get Fenrir and Ecchan" Loki ordered, making his son look at him in a questioning manner before walking off to follow him. He was confused at his father's abrupt order and he stared at him.

"For what Master Loki?" Yamino questioned, just as they both arrived in Loki's courters. He could feel the uneasy aura that his father was giving out and it bothered him, as his worry-wart side kicked in. "Did something happen?" He was panicking.

Loki glanced at his young caretaker for a moment, before getting all the stuff he needed for his trip back to the human world. He somehow felt one feeling and he was sure it was excitement. His mind was overjoyed with the thought of going back there but in the end, he scolded himself. He shouldn't think that way. He needed to forget and leave her so that there wouldn't be any problems. He shouldn't succumb himself to temptation.

"Were leaving for Midgard." He announced in a nonchalant tone.

"What!"

:: End ::

That's the end of chapter 5! I'll be sure to update more.

Please review! :3