This is my second fanfic. This is Mai x Lin, don't like don't read
I do not own any of the characters in this fanfic, though I do own the plot.
R&R please, but no flames, though I do take constructive criticism XD
Chapter one
"Mai, is that you?" the shocked queries of the group were sounded. It's been three years since Naru and Lin-san left to go to England, and two years since they came back. But I wasn't here. I had broken all contact I had with everybody the day that they all left. I never spoke to them again, and I even went so far as to leaving the country and travelling. Everywhere I was only brought pain, but then again, I can't run from my past and I can't run from myself, I was a fool to think so.
"Hi" I said meekly. I understand how they don't think it was me. Gone is that short skirts and sleeveless shirts and short hair, now I wear black jeans, long sleeved shirts, jumpers and knee high boots and gloves, even in winter. Plus my hair now reaches my bottom.
I haven't spoken to anybody since they left because I couldn't stand the pain and shame. Everyone was here, staring at me in shock and looking me up and down. Today I wore black skinny jeans, a black form fitting long sleeved shirt with a deep V-neck, my black choker, my hair down and my black knee high boots.
"What are you doing here?" Bou-san asked, hope and pain marring his features. No, this is why I didn't want to come back. It was too hot and so I pushed my sleeves up and looked at Naru.
"Actually, I need to speak with Shibuya-san" they seemed shocked I didn't call him Naru, but I ignored that. He glared at me, and unlike when I had worked here as a school girl, this time it was actually filled with hate. He motioned me into his office and I followed, head ducked to hide the pain I knew would be shown on my face. We entered his office but I didn't sit down like he motioned.
"I'm here for Gene" I began, my voice quiet as I fidgeted with the bottom of my shirt. He stared at me in angered shock.
"Well, he's not here right now but feel free to leave a message, oh wait, you can speak to him yourself, can you not?" he snarled. I winced, but shook my head. I was in pain, I'm not sure how I had mistaken my love for Gene as love for Naru, and then to find out that Gene was actually dead almost killed me.
"No, he told me to come here to tell you that he's…he's moved on. He's no longer clinging to this plane any longer" I whispered, the stunned silence that was filled with anger and pain was almost palpable, I was sure that we could cut it up right now.
"You came all the way here from wherever the hell you were just to tell me this?" he snarled and I shook my head again.
"N-no, I had to come here anyway. Listen, I'm sorry, I'm just doing as he said. I didn't mean to cause trouble" I tried again, turning and heading to the door.
"Didn't meant to cause trouble? You show up out of the blue after three years and suddenly give me this message? What do you expect me to do? Scream and dance and thank you?" he yelled in anger and I lost it.
"No, of course I wouldn't expect that from you! You're Naru, the almighty narcissist that expects everybody to get on their knees and bow before you! I'm sorry I came back, I did as I was told, I didn't want to come back but it was the least I could do!" I yelled back in anger, turning around I slammed open the door, staring at some pain filled faces. I knew they had heard what we yelled; they knew I didn't want to come back.
I ducked my head and began walking out the door when I bumped into somebody. Unfortunately, in front of everybody, they grabbed my bare wrists, our skin connected and I gasped. My eyes were closed as I felt pain rock through my brain.
"I'm sorry, dear, are you alright?" I opened my eyes, tears in them as I pulled my wrist from her grip, not wanting to see anything else as I pulled my sleeves down and motioned over to the SPR team, Naru know standing out the front of his door.
"It's alright, Hinajira-san" I said before realising my slip as I looked down. I heard her gasp and saw her begin to shake in slight fear.
"How do you know my name? Have we met before?" I glanced over at her before shaking my head and giving her a kind smile that calmed her down.
"It's alright, I'm sorry but no, we haven't met. Tell these people all about your daughter, trust me, you're in good hands, they will do anything they can to help you" she gaped again, tears in her eyes as she placed a hand over her mouth in shock.
"How did you know about my daughter? I haven't told anybody" she said, wondering how this stranger knew so much about her life. I didn't answer her, instead giving her a kind smile and beginning to leave, walking past her.
"Wait, do you work here?" I shook my head and glanced back at my old family in pain, but the shock written on their faces did nothing to quell it. Even if I would've laughed silly at the dumb look on Naru's face.
My powers have escalated, and I don't know how to control them. They cause more pain and agony than they do well, but I don't care. I'm useless anyway.
"No, I'm an ex-employee, and I'm sure I've out done my do" I said but just as I went to leave she gripped my wrist and almost pleaded with me to stay.
"Please, I will feel much better if you stay. Please stay and help me" Hinajira-san said and I sighed once again, removing her hand from my covered wrist I shrugged.
"Mai-san, I believe you should stay, after all, you do seem to know more than you are telling us" Naru said and I turned an icy cold glare onto him that even he himself seemed shocked I can deliver.
"I have nothing to tell you. You do not wish for me to be heard, I will stay because Hinajira-san wishes for me to stay" I said before gently guiding her to the couch. I sat down next to the client, placing a comforting hand on her knee as I patted it.
"Why don't you tell them what has been occurring?" I said and she nodded, making me smile at the young woman. She may only be around her early thirties, black hair that fell mid-back, dark brown eyes with slightly pale skin. She looked tired though.
"I live in a large manor that my husband owned, he recently died a year ago, my daughter, Akiko, was only four. She had always been so happy and cheerful, and she still is…to an extent. Lately, she'll come into the house s-screaming that someone hurt her; she'll have bruises covering her back and arms. At night we'll wake up, she'd have stayed in my room, and when we go into her room there'll be blood on the walls in writing, I'm not sure what it says because it isn't in a language I understand. Tapping is always heard coming from her closet, like someone's knocking on the door but when we open it, there is nothing in there. I even took her clothes out to see if it would still happen and it does" she was almost in tears I noted, and I hesitantly placed an arm around her shoulders.
"We'll take your case, please leave your home address and number. Is it far from civilisation?" Naru asked, I kept my eyes away from his. I was angry, ashamed but mostly in pain.
"Yes. It is a fifteen hours' drive away. If you need to stay in this house there is enough room. You all can have a room each if you wish" she said, I smiled at her generosity.
"Yes, please, and I would also like an extra room for our equipment, one with a lot of plugs if possible" sh nodded her head almost frantically, standing up and bowing.
"Thank you so much, Shibuya-san" Naru nodded before motioning to a pad and pen. Once she left I stood, grabbing my bag again and moving to leave.
"Mai-san, wait" I stopped, bowing my head to hide my face, I turned.
"Yes, Takigawa-san?" I looked up then, my face expressionless, which was hard to do when I noted the pain on his.
"Will you help us on this case? Like old times?" he questioned sadly, and I noticed they had all stopped what they were doing and staring at me. Even Naru, now that he knows my powers have escalated, didn't seem to have a problem with it.
"Times are not like back then, but if I am welcome I will help. But there are things I cannot tell you that I know you all will question. My number is the same, if you wish for me to come you may call" with that, I turned and left the building.
I sighed, I hated being so formal with them, but if they found out about me than they will hate me. They will be disgusted in me I knew. Nobody knew of my supposed feelings for Gene. In truth, I had thought that I loved him, but I knew I couldn't. I didn't love Naru or Gene. I was a seventeen year old girl; it was a bad crush, my first. I was stupid to ruin so much with my wrong thoughts. I had only let Gene know this a few weeks ago, I had told him to say goodbye to his brother, but he snapped that his brother was an idiot for hurting me like he did. I told him that we all knew that, but he was his brother, he loved him and deserved a goodbye. I hoped Naru saw the paper I had 'dropped' on the floor. It was a letter Gene wanted me to give to Naru, Gene's goodbye because he didn't want to say it to his face. Gene knew his brother loved him; he just wanted Naru to know that he loved him as well.
I walked the long way back to the hotel, trying as hard as I could not to bump into anybody. I didn't know how to control my powers, and seeing people's life, past, present and future flash before your eyes is sometimes a gift and a curse. You are able to see the happy memories of their life, but at times you see the worst. At times, you see the things you've never wished to, and you can't change it. You can't wish it didn't happen or wasn't going to because you know that's not how your power works. They show you the things that will come into fruition.
That night, I simply showered, dressed and fell asleep. I was always exhausted now, no matter what. I got up in the morning, dressing in some blue skinny jeans, a blue singlet with a black loose long sleeved shirt over it that reached almost to my knees. I wore my usual black gloves that were more like latex as they easily conformed to my hands every bend, making them easy to use unlike those thick wool ones. I put my hair in a high ponytail, but kept my fringe out so that it almost covered my eyes. I put on my knee high boots and grabbed my duffle bag that was my only luggage.
I walked down the stairs of the hotel, my eyes widening in shock as I saw the SPR gang outside. When they saw me they smiled, before getting a look at my pale and washed out skin. It's true that I'm not as healthy anymore, my gift takes too much out of me and I have to constantly worry about having skin that isn't easily touchable.
I let my eyes fall to the ground, missing the frown it caused to come upon all their faces; I watched my feet as I walked. Suddenly though, I was pushed over, as I did they fell as well. Somehow, it ended with them gripping my hand, but as we fell their hands had pushed my sleeve up, so they were gripping my bare skin. The pain that rocketed through my body made me cry out. I yanked my arm from theirs on instinct, they grunted as I gripped my head, tears falling from my eyes in pain as their future flashes through my head.
Killing. Murder. Rape. Pain. Screams. Blood. So much blood. Laughter. Smiling. He likes it. He likes what he does.
He glared down at me when I looked up at him, and I flinched from his view, hiding my head as he picked my bag up and held out a hand. I stood on my own, pulling my bag from his hold, pushing past him and running out to the others.
"Mai, what's wrong?" I couldn't save that poor girl. Oh god, but what if I could? No, I don't know when it will happen. Will it be tonight, tomorrow? I don't know and I don't know where.
"Nothing, John. It's fine. We better go" I mumbled, everyone got into the back of the van and I stood shocked before shrugging and getting into the front.
"Why am I in the front?" I asked and Naru glared at me, not as much hate but still hatefully.
"We don't want you in pain the entire time, now would we?" he snapped and I looked down immediately.
"Sorry" I mumbled as I put my seat belt on. As he turned the car on familiar songs went through the car. I looked up in confusion to Lin-san who was driving. He grinned sheepishly and I smiled, giggling since it was a look I wasn't used to on him.
"Do you understand the lyrics, Mai?" Bou-san asked in shock. Right, they didn't know my past. I looked down in pain and nodded.
"I know English, Bou-san" I told him before looking back out the window.
"How?" Masako asked tactlessly, I smiled, that was so like her.
"I lived there until I was twelve" I told them and they gaped at me.
"You lived in England?" Naru asked, I wrapped my arms around my front and nodded. My secrets were eating me up alive.
"Yeah" I saw the curious look on Lin-san's face and gave him a smile, one that he returned.
"Can you tell us why you were in Tokyo?" John asked carefully, I turned to look at him and gave a brief nod.
"I lived in England with my mum, dad and twin sister" everyone gaped at me, knowing what went on with Naru and Gene, and how his twin had died. They never knew that I had my own twin that was taken from me as well. I could see Naru tense at the mention of my sister.
"When Anya, my sister, and I were five we watched our father die as a man murdered him. He wanted to get to us, but we had always been psychics, her slightly stronger than me and she used some PK and slammed him into the wall. At that time mum ran in with the cops but the man managed to get away and we were sent to live in America. It was almost a year until I started high school when I watched mum and Anya die by the same man. In a fit of rage I channelled Anya's psychic powers, as we always had a telepathic bond, and slammed him through the wall, it broke his neck. I was sent to an orphanage where a nice couple adopted me. They took me to Tokyo, but by the time I was fifteen they died in a car crash. By that time I was old enough to look after myself" I told them, they gaped but I simply turned back around and listened to the music circulate through the car.
~~^_^~~ Time Change – At Manor ~~^_^~~
I stretched as I got out of the car, hearing wonderful pops and cracks of my joints going back to place. The others had fallen asleep a while ago, being a fifteen hour drive, and having left at eight in the morning, it was only 11 at night.
"Taniyama-san" I looked up as Hanijima-san walked out. Her real name is Chekiko, and her daughter Akiko. I walked over, the daughter was so cute, and she was only five now. She had almost ankle length black hair that was in a braid, blue eyes, and pale skin and cute features. She wore a white night dress and carried a teddy bear.
I walked over, smiling at Chekiko before kneeling down.
"Hello, Akiko. My name's Mai" I said, she smiled up at me and held her hand out. I smiled back and shook her hand.
"Hi, Mai-sempai, would you play with me?" well, she got straight to the point, didn't she? I smiled at her and looked up at Chekiko.
"Actually, we wanted to speak with you first" I said, still kneeling down in front of her. Her face lit up and she smiled.
"Oh, can we have hot chocolate while we talk? Mamma never lets us have hot chocolate, but you're so nice that she wouldn't be able to say no to you!" she cried and I laughed, hearing her mother's defeated sigh.
"Fine, I'll make some" she sounded exhausted and I shook my head, standing up I placed my hand on her shoulder.
"Why don't I have Akiko show me around while you show Shibuya-san and the others where the rooms are? I'll be happy to make everyone some hot coco" I said, she smiled and nodded while I grinned down at the little girl.
"Can you take me to the kitchen?" the little girl was like she was overcome with energy as she grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction of the kitchen and house. I laughed, happily following her.
"I'll go with, we don't know how dangerous the ghost is" I heard Lin-san mutter before following us.
"Akiko, may I ask you something before we head back to the others?" I asked her, taking a sip of my own hot chocolate while Lin-san stood next to me and Akiko sat on the bench. She glanced up from her mug and got a serious look on her face, I didn't like it. A young girl should be happy, never serious. They should always wear a smile, but innocence and happiness doesn't stay forever, at her age mine was ripped from me.
"Can you tell me, when you get hurt, what happens?" I asked, she suddenly got a sad look in her eyes but nodded.
"I'm usually asleep. I feel scared suddenly and angry and then I feel like someone's hitting me, when no one's there" she whispered, the sad look in her eyes made me sigh and walk over. With my gloved hand I pulled her chin up and gave her a small smile.
"Don't worry, we'll fix this, I just know it" she smiled, being reassured and nodded.
"Come on, I'll show you where everyone else is" she said happily, grabbing her cup of hot chocolate after she had jumped on the ground. I placed mine and Lin-san's on the tray, despite his slight disappointed stare at not being able to take another sip, as we walked down the blackened hallways.
"Akiko, why are the lights not on?" I asked, a sense of foreboding coming over me. She glanced back and shrugged.
"The lights don't work. It costs too much money to keep so many light bulbs" I nodded in understanding. Akiko hurried ahead, obviously knowing her way around this humongous building, while Lin-san walked next to me.
"Mai, I know you don't wish to answer, but every time you touch someone, do you really see flashes?" Lin-san asked hesitantly, I sighed and shook my head.
"No, I don't see flashes. I see their life. Past, present and future. Some things that they don't even remember and things that they won't know until later" I told him, he turned and gaped at me, but I gave him a sad smile.
"I'm sorry" he said, and I nodded. He realised that this isn't a gift, it's a curse. He knew that and I was happy that he knew.