Loki stared long and hard at the board. Despite being the god of chaos, he had always considered himself to be a logical and cunning person. Loki was a master of playing and winning games. However, it was also a talent he had never given much thought about, that is, until this exact moment.

The god couldn't believe the predicament he was in. He never had to think so desperately about a strategy. Loki was positive there was a way for him to win. He just had to concentrate. He had to...

"(Sigh)...Loki-kun, just make a move."

The child god raised his hand. "I'm thinking, don't rush me."

Mayura let out another sigh. She leaned on her hand, tilting her head. "You don't have to think that hard Loki-kun. It's only checkers."

Loki's eyes twitched. The fact that he shouldn't have to think so hard was the reason he was so irritated. At any other game he could have won without a second thought. Loki had lost count of how many games he had won playing chess or a card game against Narugami. Nonetheless, Mayura, the mystery fanatic, had beaten him, the trickster of the Norse gods, five times in a row.

It made no sense. It was illogical. It would have been easier for Loki's brain to understand if he had been playing against Heimdal, or even Yamino. Yet, the girl, who was always running off after a mystery without a second thought about the consequences, was wiping the floor with him. Loki was beginning to think that it was a bad idea to let Mayura bring in board games to pass the time.

Ecchan hovered above his head watching closely. Loki knew that if he really wanted to win, he could use Ecchan to move the pieces around when Mayura was distracted, but Loki refused to use this tactic. He was determined to defeat Mayura on his own, without cheating.

At last, Loki picked up his red checker piece and moved it across the board. He leaned back with a smug grin. "Let's see you beat that move."

Mayura examined the board. She picked up her black checker piece and in one quick motion Mayura bounced around the board. At the end of her turn, Mayura had snatched up every single one of Loki's pieces. "I win again Loki-kun."

The child god gapped. "That's impossible."

Mayura patted Loki's shoulder. "I think you're taking this game too seriously Loki-kun." She folded her arms. "You shouldn't feel so bad for losing. I'm a very hard person to beat at this game."

Loki scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"It's true," Mayura continued, holding her head high. "I beat all the kids in my class in elementary school and Papa hasn't been able to beat me at checkers since I was six."

Loki blinked. "Are you serious?"

Mayura gathered up the checker pieces. "Of course I am. I'm not the kind of person who would lie, Loki-kun."

The child god shook his head. "I suppose you're right. I just never pictured you being a champion of checkers."

Mayura smiled. "Well, it just shows that there are a lot of things you don't know about me. Although, there are a lot of things I don't know about you either."

Loki couldn't argue against that. There was a whole world of things Mayura didn't know about him. It was honestly for her own good. Still, there were times he wondered if he should tell her the truth. Of course, then his common sense would come crashing in telling him a million reasons why that was a bad idea and the temptation vanished.

"Hey Loki-kun, why don't you ever tell me more about yourself?"

Loki folded his arms behind his head. "Not everyone likes to talk about themselves, Mayura."

The girl frowned. "With strangers, yes, but we're friends aren't we? Not to mention, I'm your lovely assistant, I should know more about what kind of life you've had."

Again, Loki had to admit Mayura made a solid argument. "It's not that simple Mayura. I just can't, not right now anyway." He leaned forward. "Trust me when I say it's for your own good."

Mayura toyed with a black checker piece between her fingers. Suddenly, she smiled. "In that case Loki-kun, can you promise me one thing?"

Loki raised an eyebrow. "What would that be?"

"That someday you will tell me more about yourself. Not right now, but someday when you feel more comfortable about it?"

Ecchan settled in the god's lap and Loki greeted him with a stroke behind the ears. "I can, but Mayura, it could be a long time before I can tell you anything."

She smiled confidently. "I can wait."

"It could be years, Mayura."

"That's okay."

"You could become an old lady and go deaf before I tell you."

"I said it's okay." She threw a positive fist in the air. "Since I'm a great detective, I know I might have to wait a long time before a great mystery can be solved!"

Loki blinked and shook his head. There were times he really didn't understand the girl's logic. Mind you, perhaps that was the reason he let Mayura stick around. His life would never get dull as long as she was round to entertain him.

"Alright, I promise, but only if you play another game of checkers with me."

Mayura sighed, but then smiled playfully. "Fine, but it will be years before you can beat me at checkers Loki-kun."

Loki grinned. "I'm willing to wait."