Aka-chan

Prologue: Catching up

At the age of twenty-four and having just completed her medical degree she let out a sigh of relief and Mai finally allowed herself to relax for the first time in five years, since she had signed up for the course. It had taken a lot of hard work and studying to reach this point and admittedly she would never have reached it if it wasn't for Naru the pain in the ass Narcissist and his parents, Martin and Luella, who had practically adopted her as soon as they'd laid their eyes on her.

It had only been Mai's reassurances along with Naru backing her up on how she could cope fine by herself that had stopped them from signing the papers to make her officially part of the family. She didn't know what was worse, having Naru as a sibling or being in love with her new 'brother'. Either way it wouldn't have worked out…well.

Mai had received a nearly full scholarship, she simply had to pay for her text books and apart from that everything including accommodation was paid for. Mai suspected bribery from Luella and Martin's quarter for the free living space but when she pushed for answers she simply got placating smiles as they handed her a cheque for her reading materials stating that she needn't be so independent all the time.

Doing a medical degree and working with SPR had been a strain but Mai had quickly managed to pay back her debt to the Davis couple and managed to save for her trip to England where she'd be working in one of London's hospitals.

The years had been good to Mai, better than she could have imagined when she'd lost her parents. She had a family in SPR and parent figures in Martin and Luella who invited her to their house in England along with Naru, Lin and Madoka for holidays such as Christmas. She had grown into a confident woman from the skinny teenager she had once been.

She could have been an entirely new Mai but her personality had stayed the same. Happy, caring and kind she didn't even whack her idiotic boss as much since he couldn't insult her for lack of intelligence anymore, not having degrees under her belt.

Speaking of Naru as Mai glanced at him, ignoring the other people bustling around the departure gate; he really hadn't changed over the last eight years. Grown an inch or two taller perhaps but on the whole, still the person her sixteen year old self had dubbed 'Naru' on their first case.

Everyone else she had said her goodbyes to until Naru offered to drop her at the airport. She had been just as surprised as everyone else but didn't let the shock faze her. Instead she smiled warmly as he assisted her to the car and also as he carried her luggage to the check-in desk. She was still smiling as they waited for her flight to be called over a cup of tea but the time came to say goodbye.

Mau stared into the guarded eyes of her boss and friend looking for some sign of sadness but Naru was never one to show his emotions, not even to her. He stood staring down at her only a few inches away, hands stuffed in his black coat, a hint of a navy blue shirt peeling out from beneath the collar. Mai let herself smile, she'd gotten him the shirt for his birthday and this was the first time she'd seen him wear it.

Getting impatient, as was her way, since Naru didn't look like he was going to do anything she gathered her courage, flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly breathing in the smell of mint and saved it to memmory. Still hugging him she was shocked to feel his hands tightening around her back and let herself relax in his arms. Everything felt better, safer already.

"I'll miss you," she murmured in his ear before she pulled away, smile brightly plastered on her face, her flight having been just called over the inter-com. She hoped and waited for him to reply and tried to suppress the disappointment as he didn't say anything. Putting on an even brighter cheerful smile she glanced back down at the only non-black clothing he was wearing, "Love the shirt Naru," she said backing out of his arms and walked away backwards, "You should wear blue more often, suits you," she saw his lips flicker up slightly before he raised his hand in goodbye and walked away through the crowd to the exit.

Still a social recluse as ever, Mai thought shaking her head as she went up the escalators, but he was improving, she'd give him that much, she mused as she took her seat and the plane took off while she looked out the window at the buildings beneath her, at the colossal size of Tokyo.

It would be a year and a half until Mai returned to Japan but within five months of her having left and on one late night, Luella would pick up the phone to hear Mai on the other end,

"Luella, I need your help,"

Ok I know very boring chapter but I had to introduce the story and get you update. Next chapter will be better, swear it!

And yes I know, I've started yet another story and I still haven't finished or updated a couple of my other fanfics but I couldn't help myself. Over the last month I have had four, that's right FOUR amazing ideas for fics and while I wrote them out, I didn't post a single one of them so when I thought of this I couldn't hold back any longer. The temptation was too great! I just haven't got much willpower lmao.