Author's Note: I haven't written anything for Loki x Mayura since "All I Need" which was completed in 2009. I'm feeling very nostalgic, and re-read "All I Need". So "All the in Between" is that, it's the in between one shots of "All I Need". "All I Need" was quite long; however, you could read it any pace and be able to follow these planned one shots. You basically only need to know that Mayura's world changed the moment she declared that she believed in gods, and since seeing is believing, obviously she was going to find out about Loki.

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One Shot: It's A Beautiful Day

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A picnic lunch with Loki? Sure! How hard could that be?

…Quite hard actually…especially with a lovesick kami, some rabid fan girls and an obsessed love goddess added to the mix…

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Mayura arrived at the Enjaku Detective Agency, happy to be spending the day with Loki. She had chosen to wear a short black skirt, black knee high boots and a white short sleeved top, her hair in a ponytail. The storm clouds in the distance and the wind wouldn't deter her—not as long as she was with him. She knocked on the door and surprisingly it was Loki who answered. Her smile widened as crimson met emerald and her smile was returned.

"You look happy, Mayura," teased Kakusei Loki as he stepped aside to invite her inside, "Whatever for?"

She scowled, a wrinkle forming on her brow as she did, "Mou, Loki-kun…you didn't forget did you?"

Loki watched her expression change to his delight as he replied, "Forget? Was there something to remember? Let's see," he began, putting his index finger to his chin in thought, "today is Saturday, and I don't believe I had any cases today."

The pink haired girl puffed out her cheeks in annoyance and just as she was about to berate him, her eyes widened, her hands having been seized and her lips receiving a chaste kiss from the infamous playboy of Asgard.

All of all her thoughts were put on hold for a moment; Loki had a way of putting several thoughts on hold. Mayura smiled, her eyes closed and hands now resting on his chest as she felt his arm encircle her waist, his free hand cupping her cheek. When had it become a norm for these moments? It didn't matter, since the feelings they roused between the couple overpowered all logic.

Loki held her to him, his nose brushing against hers, a contented smirk on his face in the process. Yes, she was fun to rile up and he would continue to reap the rewards if they were going to continue to be as good as this. Her voice released him from his thoughts.

"Loki-kun," she began, not that she wasn't happily content to stay like they were, "are we still going on a picnic today?"

He smiled and straightened, "Of course. Yamino made lunch before he left to go shopping."

Mayura followed him to the kitchen; thankful that Yamino had thought ahead. Loki's cooking was infamous, and the idea of a picnic basket full of "goodies" courtesy of Loki left one in terror. Mayura had no idea where Yamino would put any more of his shopping "treasures". She propped her elbows on the counter of the bar in the kitchen while occupying a stool as she watched him get the basket and start to put the supplies inside.

"Are you going in this form?" she questioned with a thoughtful look.

Loki, peeked around the refrigerator door with a sly grin, "I was planning on it. Why?"

"Well…every time we go anywhere, we run into them," she commented with a groan. By them she meant Loki's rabid fan girls that seemed to pop up like daisies each and every time he left the house.

Feigning innocence the kami smiled, "I have no idea why they show up," and was met with her grumbling, "Although they do make it hard to be alone with you."

The refrigerator door shut and Loki walked back with the sandwiches, now in his chibi form. His pink haired companion blinked as he climbed up on the stool across from her to place the contents in the basket.

"Of course this form will complicate things too," he stated with an aloof air about him, while packing the basket.

"Why?" questioned the mortal, with confusion evident on her expression.

"Well, now this will make it harder to kiss you."

The tint of pink on her cheeks at his comment…he never tired of that and he wasn't sure that he ever would.

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They left the house, Mayura being saddled with the basket, but somehow she didn't mind. Of course, things were going quite easy, so it should have been a red flag that something would happen and/or pop up in the form of trouble…or a meddlesome kami or two.

Everything was perfect, great company, the weather seemed to be turning for the best and they walked animatedly down the street. Mayura was happily chattering about anything and everything, her companion nodding in agreement and then…

"Yamato Nadeshiko!" rang out from down the street.

Mayura turned to see Freyr bounding toward them with Gullinbursti in tow.

"Ah Kaitou-san," began Mayura with the same politeness she held for all of their acquaintances, minus Freya.

Loki felt that when it came to Freyr, Mayura was too polite. Why couldn't she just kick him to the curb like the rest of them and be on the way?

"Oh my Yamato Nadeshiko," exclaimed Freyr…

…Babbling like an idiot in Loki's opinion, as he looked embarrassed to have to be seen with him in public. Loki took in Freyr's appearance—disheveled, face nearly red as a tomato, stumbling over his compliments, typical idiot.

"Where are you going with such a large basket?" he inquired, happy to be in her presence.

3…2…1…

"Loki, you cur," declared Freyr, pointing his finger and shaking it at the kami of mischief, "How dare you take my lovely Yamato Nadeshiko on a picnic!"

Mayura, used to the scene unfolding, and with a tendency to be absentminded had spotted something in a shop, "Ano…I'll just…" She felt it was pointless to inform them of her intentions and disappeared into the shop, besides they would probably still be there when she was done.

"What will you think of next, you fiend?" questioned the irate and lovesick kami, "Taking my lovely Yamato Nadeshiko on a picnic of all things?!" Freyr nearly pulled his hair out at the thought, in reality, he was questioning why he hadn't thought of the idea himself. "What do you know about picnics? This is just a way to keep my Yamato Nadeshiko from me!"

"I don't recall Mayura ever agreeing to be your Yamato Nadeshiko," informed Loki with a smirk, he so enjoyed picking on Freyr, "Did you ask her? I'm sure she would have mentioned it."

Freyr started to sputter as Gullinbursti tried to talk to him.

"Bwee? Bwee?"

"Well, no I might not have," mumbled Freyr, his index fingers meeting in a nervous manner, "And no…I suppose I didn't…"

"Bwee, Bwee, Bwee…"

"You think so?"

Loki rolled his eyes at the scene before him and then turned his head to gage Mayura's reaction.

"Mayura, now do you see why—

He blinked, looking both up and down the street for the bubble gum pink head of hair.

Freyr had obviously come to a conclusion, "Yes, Gullinbursti, I will!" He turned happily, sitting on one knee, "Will you be my Yamato Nad-e-shiko?"

Speaking of Yamato Nadeshiko, Loki shook his head, no speaking of Mayura…where had she disappeared to? Freyr seemed to be frantic: torn between accusing Loki of vile deeds, continuing to search random areas, (like the dumpster, or the phone booth) or merely run off in the pursuit of happiness. He even took Loki and shook him upside down before starting off on his quest to find her.

"Quickly Gullinbursti! We must find my beloved Yamato Nadeshiko!"

Gullinbursti sped off at full speed ahead, knocking over Loki and a few trashcans in his wake.

The matantei had a few oaths for his fellow kami before picking himself up off the ground and brushing himself off. Mayura had just been checking out at the store when she saw Freyr running off with Gullinbursti on, what could only be assumed, another "mission" of sorts. She came out of the shop with a bag in her hand and rejoined her companion.

"Where did you conveniently disappear to?" questioned her emerald eyed matantei.

"This shop sold ramune soda," explained Mayura, taking out a bottle to show him, "They have it in a mystery flavor! I wonder what flavor it is?"

Loki shook his head with a smile on his lips and left her to ponder the question, with her coke bottle glasses on, shaking the bottle and making faces trying to ascertain its contents—leave it to Mayura to want to try anything with the word mystery on it.

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With one potential crisis averted, the pair continued to the park. Truth be told, Loki enjoyed these moments with Mayura best; the moments that he didn't need to worry about sharing her attention with anyone. Of course, he wasn't always sure why he felt this way, considering how Mayura was a bit of an oddity, but she was intriguing nonetheless. Especially when she looked at him with her eyes wide and happy to be in his presence. Her gaze was far different from the fans he had accumulated both on Asgard and Midgard; it wasn't lust or obsessive, it was pure and it made him want to be the person who was reflected in her eyes…not that he was about to tell her any of that though.

The park was in sight when Narugami appeared with a food cart.

"Oi, Loki! Daidouji!" exclaimed the over worked kami of thunder.

"Narugami-kun, how are you today?" asked Mayura.

That was where she had gone wrong. Making eye contact AND speaking to Narugami when he was working was a sure fire way to get delayed.

"You'll deliver these for me on your way to the park, right?" cheerfully asked Narugami with a smile.

Loki sighed and went to object when Mayura, who was very kind, and had a soft spot for Narugami made him promise to buy her sweets if she were to assist him.

"Of course Daidouji! Arigato!" agreed Narugami, packing her and Loki's arms full of boxes with addresses.

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"It could be worse," the pink haired girl addressed her stoic companion, as they walked down the street barely able to see past the boxes in their arms.

"I suppose," came a muffled reply from her companion, the boxes easily towering over his form as he walked, "at least we didn't have to wear any costumes."

He thought he heard a sigh in response to his statement. Yes, this was Mayura after all, she did enjoy her costumes.

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The boxes were starting to go down, but Mayura couldn't help but puff her cheeks out in annoyance that Loki's deliveries were all to women who couldn't help but hug him, and delay them further, with compliments on how cute he was. You'd think these women had never seen a cute kid before or something? At least she was thankful that he wasn't in his kakusei form because they'd never get their deliveries done.

Mayura leaned against the wall of a building, waiting for Loki to pry himself away from another woman who was currently pinching his cheeks or something she surmised. She looked upward at the clouds, hoping that they wouldn't threaten rain. It was well past lunch, as her stomach informed her, and when her eye caught the clock across the street she frowned for it was nearly three o'clock.

The chibi kami came running down the steps of the apartment building with a pant, trying to fix his collar and wipe the traces of pink lipstick from his cheeks. Mayura observed his current state and sighed, maybe she felt a little badly for him. He walked up to her, his hair sticking out at odd angles as she shook her head, before bending down and smoothing out his hair. She then took a napkin from her pocket and disdainfully removed a nice pink smudge that he had missed from his cheek.

"I hope she was at least pretty," grumbled his pink haired comrade.

Loki was about to reply when heard a female voice calling from one of the apartments above them.

"Come again kawaii little boy!"

Mayura looked up and nearly face faulted at the sight in the window. A rather large woman, she hoped it was a woman—it was hard with all of that facial hair and the unibrow, the bright pink lipstick was evident.

Loki looked traumatized and Mayura couldn't help but laugh.

"Aren't you going to wave to her?" she giggled, covering her mouth with a hand at the idea of the captive kami in the woman's grasp.

Emerald eyes glared in his companion's direction, before turning and smiling upward at the woman in the apartment.

"Okay, if my mother says I can!"

Mayura's eyes widened when she realized he was speaking of her. Now he was officially even as he pulled her along.

"C'mon Mom," he happily stated leading her down the street.

Mayura sighed with her head hanging low. She probably did deserve it. Sparing a glance upward at the woman she managed to suppress one last snicker.

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The park was just around the corner, it wouldn't be much longer until they were sampling Yamino's delicious lunch and their mystery flavored ramune. Mayura could practically taste everything and her stomach was happily awaiting lunch.

Ah, but it was not meant to be as a familiar female voice rang out,

"Hi, Loki!"

Mayura had no sooner turned when she found herself pushed out of the way by the overly hormonal love goddess. Her ass meeting the ground, well Mayura had sadly become accustomed to it. She made a dive for the picnic basket and sighed in relief before it too hit the ground.

Loki let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing his forehead with his fingertips in the process as Freya continued her sexual advances. Mayura blinked to see that more than a few onlookers had gathered, their whispers and mention of a young boy, a pedophile and an irresponsible mother? Babysitter? Older Sister? However, this did give Mayura an idea, as she set down the basket and crawled over to the duo.

"Loki-kun! What is this woman doing to you!?" She would play the character that the audience had deemed her to be as she took him hold of his shoulders and pulled him back into the safety of her arms. Sitting on her knees, his back against her and her arms protectively holding him, she could hear the onlookers and their comments growing.

"Excuse me?!" ranted the irate love goddess who shot a death glare at the pink haired girl who had spoiled her Loki session.

"How dare you throw yourself at this child," informed Mayura haughtily as she held Loki.

The chibi kami was enjoying how this scene was playing out as bystanders started to complain about Freya and that there were laws against these sort of actions.

Freya shook her finger angrily at Mayura, "You might have won this round! But I'm not giving up!"

Well, she was giving up for today that she was. The commotion had led her doting brother right to her.

"Freyr's loving sister! I have finally found you!"

CRASH. A few pots and pans hit the ground too.

Mayura wasn't going to wait around for another crisis to arise as she grabbed the basket with one hand and Loki with the other and hurried away toward the park. Loki gladly allowed for himself to be tugged along.

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At four o'clock, a blanket was down, the basket open, both parties had finally made it, and it had only taken them four hours to get there. Mayura was practically famished as she took her sandwich in hand and savored its delicious flavor.

"That was quite unexpected of you, Mayura," commented Loki at her earlier antics with Freya, "Clever but unexpected."

"She deserved it," replied Mayura before taking another bite of her meal, "You can't just assault people in public."

Loki chuckled, "Is that what she was doing? I thought it was something different."

Mayura made a face, "Why does she have do it to you in your current form?" She questioned in between bites.

"Freya doesn't see me as being different when I'm in this form," offered Loki with a smirk, gaging her reaction, "Something you two have in common, no?"

Mayura nearly choked on her mystery flavored soda, and she had been so close to solving its mysterious taste too!

"Wh-What?!" she sputtered, "We are nothing alike!" Her brow was creased and she puffed out her cheeks angrily at the idea of being compared to someone who would, dare she think it, be so indecent in public.

"Well no, I suppose you're not," contemplated the kami of mischief, "Freya's quite bold and often speaks with actions instead of words, and she does it when I take either of my forms. I'd be lucky to get a hug out of you in this form, Mayura," he teased.

He blinked as he was pulled across the blanket and into her arms, his back against her, her chin resting on top of his head and her arms encircling him.

"Mou, just ask if you want a hug," she murmured, "You don't need to tease me."

Loki sighed, there went his fun, but he had to admit being held by her was quite a pleasant feeling.

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She couldn't be certain when she had fallen asleep on the blanket, yet when she opened her eyes she was greeted by the form of Kakusei Loki occupying the spot next to her. She couldn't help but smile, for even in this form when he slept he looked like a peaceful child. Mayura absentmindedly pushed his hair back from his face and froze when she felt that feeling, (you know the one), of being watched. No, it wasn't aliens…far worse…

She slowly turned and then wished she hadn't. Was it too late to make them believe that she was still asleep? The look on their faces confirmed that yes, it was definitely too late.

From what Mayura could tell, the rabid Kakusei Loki fan brigade had them surrounded.

"Loki-kun," she whispered, "Loki-kun, wake up."

At first it looked as though her prayers had been answered and that he was going to awaken, but no, instead he grabbed her hand in his.

Mayura refrained from saying "Ack!" but the urge was strong and the intent of death was now imminent from his adoring fans.

"Loki-kun, Loki-kun, wake up!" whispered a frantic Mayura, she could see her life flashing before her eyes.

She had been wrong, the intent of death she had felt before, no that wasn't death that was hope of parole. Loki's actions now had sealed her fate within the brigade.

The pink haired girl lay trapped within his arms, her back on the ground and looking up to find expressions that frightened her on the fan girls faces. She tried gesturing to them with the waving of her hands and the shaking of her head; this was all clearly some sort of mistake and…was that a weapon in one girl's hand?!

Her frantic gestures had ceased their movements: weapons, sticks, and random household objects froze above her as she let out a sigh of relief. FINALLY…she was getting through to these girls, it was all a—

Loki turned her toward him and rolled with a sigh as a great many objects hit the spot she had once been occupying….and rolled…and rolled….and rolled…

…Right down the hill they had been picnicking on…

Mayura yelled as the speed increased, classic anime moment right there—for they just had to picnic at the top of the largest hill at the park. When they skidded to a stop, she could be found lying breathlessly under the kami, her chest heavy from the events that had unfolded. Mischievous emerald orbs peered into wide crimson orbs. Placing a hand on her cheek and a playful kiss on her lips, Kakusei Loki was quickly on his feet. He pulled his awestruck pink haired comrade to hers and smiled, with his hair all mussed,

"That was a close one wasn't it?"

She stammered, trying to regain her balance, all of the rolling had made her quite tipsy.

"Wh-What?" she questioned, looking quite baffled by the entire ordeal.

"I'd recommend that we run," informed the kami, calmly pointing his thumb toward the masses descending the hill.

It was a like great scene from a war movie, the massive troops making their descent upon the few.

Mayura's jaw hung open as Loki added, "Or we could always stay here and see what—

He didn't have time to finish that sentence as his companion grabbed hold of his hand and ran full speed ahead.

"We're going to die!" She wailed, Kakusei Loki nearly flapping in the breeze behind her as she ducked watching a toaster fly past her head.

"Well actually, you will be the only one to die. Me? I think they want me alive."

Mayura nearly screamed in vain! Only with Loki could she get into these sorts of problems, and did he really need to be technical at a time like this?

Loki had never seen Mayura run so fast without having a klutz attack. Of course, with the screeching of tires, and nearly getting hit by that bus as she dragged him across the street at rush hour, it was probably a good thing she hadn't klutzed out.

It wasn't until he stated the obvious that the mystery loving girl let out a scream.

"You know Mayura, if you weren't dragging me across town, they probably would have stopped chasing you a while ago."

She looked back, her chest heaving, trying to catch her breath as she hid in an alley way.

"You didn't think of that before did you?" chuckled the kami, his back leaning against the alley wall.

Mayura peeked out to see if the masses were in sight. She turned to Loki and pointed her finger angrily, "This is all your fault, Loki-kun! Why did you change into this form!? Do you want to get me killed?!"

Loki smirked, "I just thought things would be more interesting with me in this form."

Apparently Mayura didn't share his amusement, for she took him by the shoulders and started to shake him.

"Turn back! Turn back!"

"Over there!" came the war cry of the masses.

Mayura let go of the matantei and was ready to face the firing squad as they appeared in the alley way—their bats and household objects raised, when she heard to her surprise,

"Aw, it's just some kid."

Followed by several more sighs, dragging their bats, hockey sticks and rackets they sadly moved along.

Mayura blinked before slowly turning around to find Loki in his chibi form regarding her in all seriousness.

"We owe Yamino a picnic basket."

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Hope you enjoyed. Please review.