It had been three years. Three long years away from Tokyo Mai had spent. No contact with anyone from SPR except John. Only John knew the reason she had left, and the reason she had returned.
In Mai's arms slept a two year old little girl with brown dusty hair. Next to Mai stood a young two year old boy with the same color of hair as the girl. The child in Mai's arms moved slightly at the sound of all the passing by cars and nestled her head deeper into Mai's neck. With a smile Mai walked up towards the apartment that would become her and her children's new home.
Once inside, she walked the two kids to the back where a small room was set up with two beds. Mai had been ever thankful of John for setting up the apartment and paying the first months rent.
After laying her children to sleep the young woman walked to the kitchen and took out a pot to boil water. The day had been stressful. Taking two twin toddlers on a plane from Australia to Japan had been a tiring act. But Mai, who had prepared herself for this day for two years, had been able to handle it.
The doorbell soon rang right when the pot began to whistle. Mai quickly took the water off the stove then answered the door. The blonde haired Australian priest stood at the door with a goofy grin on his face. The bright sun made his smile seem all the more gentler than before.
"Taniyama-san, I see you've made it into your new home," John said optimistically.
"Yes, John, please, come in." Mai motioned the man into her house and shut the door. "I was going to call you up soon and thank you for all the help you've been in returning."
"As long as you are back I could care less about how much help I need to give you Taniyama-san." John answered back to her comment.
"Well thanks anyways. Oh, do you want tea?" Mai jumped as she realized she forgot about the pot and hurried into the kitchen before John could answer. He followed her into the small kitchen and help by getting out two cups.
"So how are the twins?" He asked.
"Quiet, and asleep, thank god. The plane ride was a mess. I think the jet lag might take some time to wear off." Just as Mai spoke the two little kids bounded into the room, energized as ever, their deep blue eyes shinning when they saw John.
"Oni-chan!" They ran up and tackled him.
"Looks like they still remember me." John smiled down at the two young ones.
"Of course they would. You help me, I mean us, when we could not be here." Mai answered and also smiled down at her twins. "Kyan, Ren, please leave John alone and go sit in the living room. I'll be out there in a minute to give you each your lunch, ok?"
Kyan, the young boy, was the first to nod his head then leave. Ren stood there for a second, looking at her mother. "Something is bothering Oka-san." she said then left.
John looked at Mai with amazement crossing his face. "Ren can read people?"
"What can I say?" Mai said with a shrug, "She takes after her father,"
Mai walked to the fridge as the tea set and the children could be heard from the living room playing with toys that were stacked there.
"Are you going to tell him?" John asked, following the young woman with his eyes.
"Why would I do that? He couldn't even remember me the way I had been when I left."
"Taniyama-san," John said with a sigh, "you know amnesia can affect someone greatly. They can even forget the one's they love."
Mai continued to fix her children their lunch while trying to not break down from the subject, "He remembered me, but not the me I wished he had. He remembered me from when we first, not the me he came back from England for. And the worst part is that he went after Masako after the accident. When he was kissing her all those days, he did not once remember the moment we had shared."
John could tell Mai was about ready to break down. He stood up and took the two peanut butter sandwiches from her hands and made her sit down. John then took the food to the two kids in the other room then retuned to the almost sobbing mother sitting at the table.
"Being your closest friend as of now I have to tell you, I was surprised to hear when you had showed up at my mother church. Even more so, I was surprised to hear that you had shown up and asked for me to come and baptize your children. After you had been gone for a year everyone just sort of lost hope. Shibuya-san stopped accepting clients. Practically the whole team fell apart. Matsusaki-san went off and became a doctor full time. Houshou -san went on tour full time with his band. Hara-san went away for filming. And I returned to Australia. But now, things are changing."
"What do you mean?"
"You have to tell Shibuya-san at some point that he his the father."
"Not unless I avoid him."
"That will be hard to do." John looked down at his hands.
"You didn't," Mai gasped, "Did you?"
"SPR is back in business, the reunion dinner in tonight. I was hoping you would be able to go and rejoin the team one last time for an investigation."
Mai sat there looking agape at the man in front of her. Never had she known John to be a type to go behind someone's back unless it was for their own good. Even then, he did not feel it right.
"But, the children," Mai said desperately wanting an excuse not to go.
"I have already spoken to the pastor at the local church, he said he would take them when you needed it." John paused then continued when Mai did not speak. "I know you came back to raise your children in a familiar area. I know you have already found another job. But Shibuya-san called me in just two days ago about getting the whole team together again. He even stressed the word whole like he knew I had contact with you."
"Why would he want me to be at the investigation? I can remember just being a nuisance for the team back in the day."
"Mai," John said this in such a way that Mai felt she had no other choice, with a sigh Mai gave in.
"Where is this investigation to take place?"
"I do not know."