- The Price of Perfection-

One: Makoto

November 3rd 2007

I shiver and send a breath of frozen air into the sky.

It's early in the morning, I can't even see the sun yet. The SPR van is parked outside the house with its back doors open, ready to have its contents unloaded. As I am handed a string of cords, I silently curse Lin and Naru for being the early risers they are. What normal person wakes up at 5 am in the morning to start their day, 7 days a week? A normal, average human being would be just as dysfunctional as me. But then I realize that those two are furthest people I know from the definition of the word 'normal' - in their character and job. My definition of normal anyway.

I'm in a state where I know I'm awake, but my eyes keep focusing in and out, as if I'm falling asleep. I remember being shaken awake, Ayako yelling about Naru and the case as I was grabbing at clothes and shoving them on before she could drag me outside half naked. Now I look down at myself and realize that I forgot to grab my big warm jacket. A cough escapes my lips and I stop a moment to rub my blurred eyes. When I reopen them, I see Bou-san's face, tilted to one side with concern.

"Good morning." I murmur without my normal enthusiasm.

"Mai, you alright?"

I smile at the monk who looks like he's about to take of his jacket for me the moment I say otherwise. I nod my head and pat his arm with a silly grin. "I'm completely fine Bou-san." A yawn comes out at the end of the statement. "I'm just really tired is all."

Ayako jumps in at that, her gloved hands on her hips. "Honestly! No regular person can be functional this early in the morning! I can't see why this can't be done in the afternoon or at least when it's not below zero degrees out."

"Because, Matsuzaki-san, that would be a waste of time. I assure you that your presence will not be missed if you wish to return to your beauty sleep." His voice comes out of nowhere, sharp as a splinter.

Well somebody hasn't had his tea yet.

Then I realize that that's my fault.

Ayako stutters as Bou-san and I suppress smiles of sympathy. We both can relate to her moment of temporarily impaired speech. She decides that yes, she will do it if I will too (though I think that the 'if even Mai can do it' was a little unnecessary) and takes a camera stand and strides off to the base.

I see Naru walking out of the front door and stepping down the porch steps. Ayako walks past him as if the guy has a sphere surrounding him, 10-feet in diameter.

He and Lin had already carried a quarter of the equipment by the time the three of us had arrived downstairs. Lin is at the base, connecting everything up now that we are here to help unload. I can't will myself to whine in front of my boss - thanks to him, my pride has grown over the years and I know that this is part of my job.

Bou-san is shifting a computer monitor in his arms as Naru looks over the remaining equipment, silent thoughts running through his head. I offer Naru a cheerful 'good morning', but he gives no answer.

I pout, then sigh - loudly and to myself. Geez, he doesn't have to outright ignore me like that. I am startled by Naru's stare when I turn around.

"How long do you intend to just stand there?" He asks bluntly with a look of irritation on his face. "There are equipment we still have to unload."

That tone of his. I scowl and sharply turn around without a response. I decide then and there that his tea will now be prohibited from him for another three or five hours. Bou-san falls in step with me as we enter the house and are headed towards the base. I burst out into a tantrum as soon as we are out of Naru's earshot.

"What's his problem this morning? Being in a bad mood like some three year old kid!"

Bou-san shrugs good-heartedly and says, "I'm sure Naru-chan has his reasons. I heard that something didn't go so smoothly between him and the client last night."

"That doesn't mean he should be letting it out on us. Don't you agree? Geez," I pout. "He could have at least let us sleep in another hour. We arrived here late last night after all."

"Naru and Lin slept after you did though, and they were up early today."

There is a moment of silence where I glare at him, half-jokingly.

"Hey, who's side are you on? Answer carefully."

He averts his eyes, grinning. "At least we're better off than Ayako. Her lack of 'beauty sleep' will be all let out on me you know."

That makes me laugh and already I feel a bit better.

The hallway we are walking down opens up to a small, yet comfortable space - the room our base is beginning to grow within. There are windows on either side of the room that allows in chilled breaths of air every once a while, rippling the curtains. A large carpet covers the middle of the floor, giving off a sort of homely comfort. Lin-san has on only a white dress shirt, and I can't help but shiver for him. He is kneeled down next to the desk we are borrowing, with Ayako watching and listening to what the man has to say. A breeze momentarily catches Ayako's red hair, and it sends the long strands in a dance around her shoulders. She brushes her hand behind one ear while asking Lin where she should store the camera. I smile when I catch Bou-san watching her, his expression soft.

"You're staring."

I say it loud enough for only him to hear. His breath immediately gets caught in his throat and he turns red, pressing his lips together without knowing what to say. I laugh at the silly expression. Leaning over, I secretly whisper: "Shouldn't you offer her your coat or something? It's pretty chilly this morning."

He mutters incoherently and shrugs as if he doesn't care the least. "N-not really. Like it's my business whether she gets a cold or not…"

Those are the actions and words I now know translates to, of course I should. I do care.

I put down the cords, and go to shut the windows. However I leave the curtains drawn up - the bright and early sunlight is starting to fill the whole room with a transparent yellow.

"Mai."

I look up at the call of my name. Bou-san smiles and jabs towards Lin with his thumb. "You stay here with Ayako and help set up, 'kay? I'll unload the rest of the equipment with Naru-chan." He says it loud enough for Ayako and Lin to hear as well, and I punch the air with relief.

He walks towards the door and when I look up, I am struck by pieces of him - the breadth of his shoulders, the tilt of his grin, the way his long hair falls around his face. He turns to see me watching and tilts his lips up even more.

"Mai - you're staring too."

Before I can respond, I see that he no longer has on his jacket. I stick my tongue out at him, and smile.

One Day Ago

The client's name is Ito Keiji.

His two shining and somewhat arrogant eyes are the first things that catch my attention. He is a sturdy man of forty and yet always looks half afraid. His speaking voice, a suave tenor, adds to the impression of the charm he conveys. Upon the couch directly across the one Naru and I are sitting on, Ito-san sits with his seven year old son, who'd lost his mother a year ago when she'd fallen over due to sudden heart failure. However, Ito-san believes that it had been due to a spirit that had been haunting her for months.

"She'd been in a very weak state before she'd passed away." Ito-san says to us, a tired look on his lined face. "I told her that taking the trip to the temples would be too hard on her body."

Makoto's expression falters a bit as he leans away from his father. I want more than anything to go and give him a large hug. To loose your parent right before your eyes is too much of a trauma for a young child to bear and a year is hardly enough time to recover. I can relate to that.

Naru is sitting beside me with crossed arms. After glancing at Makoto for a moment, he turns back to Ito-san and asks, "And why did you believe that your wife would have a spirit haunting her?"

There is a short pause where Ito-san looks quite uncomfortable. "I don't….I can't say it in front of my son."

"Mai." There is no pause. Naru tilts his chin towards the boy ever so slightly.

I shoot Naru a defiant look. Of course I don't want Makoto to stay if it would hurt the boy anymore than he'd already been, but I also want to stay and listen. Ito-san thankfully realizes this and intervenes our glaring war.

"It is alright. We have a housekeeper that can be with him while we talk." He looks down at his son. "Makoto, would that be alright?"

The boy shakes his head.

"You don't want to show your bad manners in front of our guests, do you?"

Another shake, a bit slower than the first.

"Then please go with Maya-san to your room."

At his words, the young lady who'd been standing near the door walks forward and gently rests her hands on Makoto's shoulders. The boy is reluctantly taken from his father's side and hand in hand leaves the room. The door clicks shut and our eyes all fall on Ito-san once more.

I'm glad that Naru isn't pushing the man to speak. Ito-san seems to be having a problem forming his words. Personal issues? The man opens his mouth and tries, oh he does, and pours out a strangled knot of air.

Naru speaks to help him get on track. "You said you're wife could have had a spirit haunting her. Was it someone she knew?"

Ito-san shakes his head, like his son had done minutes ago - but then catches himself and nods. His voice comes out hardly louder than a whisper. "There was…was someone whom she'd thought had committed suicide… because of her."

Suicide.

I can feel Naru shift the slighted bit on the couch. The bit of information catches his attention.

"And who might that be?"

Ito-san heaves it out of his chest as soon as I start seeing signs of impatience from my boss. The name lingers in the air heavily, meaningfully. I roll it over my tongue to embed it into my memory.

"Ikeuchi Takeshi."

Naru narrows his eyes a bit, catching onto something. "What relationship did Ikeuchi-san have with your wife?"

Ito-san thinks back. I realize that it must have been before Makoto-chan had been born. The man nods and answers the question in a way that makes me curious about it's true meaning.

"He'd…loved her."

Naru is contemplative for a moment. I myself already had half a dozen scenarios and possible stories in my head.

Ito-san continues with a sort of roughness in his voice. "It was around twelve years ago when I'd met my wife. Ikeuchi was one of the friends she introduced me to, and back then I'd thought nothing special of him. But when she and I started going out, Ikeuchi showed signs of jealously and violence."

Naru frowns. "Violence?"

"The shoving and grabbing." Ito-san explains with growing anger. "She was obviously afraid of him, and yet couldn't see that he was beyond loving her to the point of obsession. When I asked her to marry me, we made sure Ikeuchi didn't know of it, even until the day of our wedding. Afterwards I applied for a restriction order."

I listen with my shoulders tense. I can't help but feel sorry for Ikeuchi-san. But imagining how frightening it must have been...

"He was being possessive and forceful, she'd been right to leave him! I loved her better!"

I've seen this type of reaction enough times to realize that it's only momentary. He is being affected by having to talk of such private and put-out-of-mind matters; of course he'd get irritated. There is a moment of silence where we allow Ito-san to collect himself. I silently sit wishing that the interview will be over soon. However, new information comes our way.

"And another thing." He adds.

We wait patiently, hands in our laps. Ito-san's voice comes out strong, much differently than it had been before. Is it a hint of worry that I detect the reason why?

"My son, Makoto, hasn't spoken a word since my wife's memorial a month ago. He'd been fine before then, but after coming home the boy would only nod or shake his head. I suspect that he knows something, but I can't get the boy to speak! Nothing is wrong with him, of course I've gone to the hospital. They say that it is a physiological thing and that he needs some therapy and time to recover. Therapy for a seven year old!" Ito-san shakes his head as if it were the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.

"He hasn't spoken for that long?" I ask with a terrible worry. I can't help but remember how distant he'd seemed from his father - they way he'd leaned away from Ito-san, instead of towards.

"Couldn't it be possible that it was due to shock?"

Ito-san laughs as if Naru has just said something witty. "If it were, I can't understand why he'd be in shock now, nearly a year after his mother's death." His face falls the slightest bit. "But you know, Shibuya-san, it could be because of the ghost in this house. His ghost - and that's why I called you, SPR, over. Please do something to save my son."

I wait for the decision to come. But instead, Naru asks another question. "Ito-san, did anything unnatural occur before your wife's death? Something that could have led to you to believe that there was a spiritual presence?"

He presses his knuckles to his lips, thinking back. "Yes," he begins slowly. "I can't name everything, but temperatures would often drop and doors we'd surely close would be open the next minute. My wife had always said she'd felt that someone was watching her. And look how things ended, she was killed!" His body is bent over and I can see the weariness of his broad shoulders and the thin gray hairs on his head. "And now my son."

Naru nods and takes a sip of his tea. "Very well. I'll accept this case."

…

The picture he is drawing came to him out of the top of his head. Maya-san had told him to use his imagination and let it out onto the sheet of paper. So Makoto wraps his whole hand around the black crayon, thickly made to endure pressure, and steadily draws a line across the page. There is no green. He imagines it to be the horizon. Next he takes a crimson red and above the line, draws a half circle. Inside the setting sun he sketches in a face. Then another, and another. A whole family. Then in a sudden fit of uncontrollable gestures, he takes the black and draws in claws and teeth of a monster, biting into the scenery.

Maya takes the crayon from him and frowns.

Then the door to the room opens and standing there is a figure. Makoto sees the face of the young girl who'd been talking with his father. Something about her comforts him, just like the times when he'd been with his mother. It makes him all the more suspicious.

She had said that Mai was her name.

She walks over and kneels down beside him, a wide and genuine smile on her lips. Makoto slides his hand away from sudden shyness.

"What are you drawing? Can I see?"

He nods but remembers what he'd made. He quickly looks up at her instead of trying to hide it, curious as to what her reaction to his picture will be. She seems surprised only for a moment, an expression that melts back into a mask of dismissal. He realizes that she's different.

"A few of my friends and I will be staying over for a while, Makoto-kun. I hope that we will be able to get along together." Mai smiles again and offers him a tilt of her head.

He nods - neither happy about the news nor upset. He had been told not to speak with strangers, but then again, he can't speak at all.

So he figures that it's alright.

Today

Our base is as clean as any other room in the large house even when Ito-san had said that it'd been in disuse for over a year. The whole place is neat and pristine - which sounds like an impossible thing for two guys to achieve. I had been surprised to hear that Maya-san wasn't the maid, but merely Makoto's baby-sitter.

Bou-san, Ayako and John are talking with each other when I enter the base. There is Lin-san as well who is, for once, not typing up any useful information. Instead, he's looking through them and writing something down once in a while on a notepad. It's only been a couple of hours since he'd finished setting up the base. Still doing work constantly. Some habits will - sadly - never be broken.

"Where's Naru?" I ask with a glance around the room.

"Calling Masako, since you were gone to visit little Makoto-chan." Bou-san answers. I raise an eyebrow, wondering why Naru would have gone through the trouble to do so. I mean, he could have just waited until I'd gotten back. My thoughts are cut off when Ayako asks me a question. "This is the second time you've visited him right? So, how's the child taking all this?" She makes a sweeping gesture with her hand. Suddenly, Ayako looks very motherly and caring. "I mean, Makoto-chan must be taking it hard that his mother is being asked about by strangers and such. It's only been a year after her death too…"

I told her that he'd seemed fine. "He's really adorable and acts very properly - makes me want a younger brother."

"But don't you think this could affect him negatively in the long run?" Bou-san questioned, leaning forward from his seat, both hands clasped between his knees. "His speech might not come back at all."

"Mm, but that doesn't mean that Naru's going to draw back. He's positive that Makoto's harboring a secret or something else related to the case. Besides, there had been children involved in cases before." I remind them.

A pause.

"He's so insensitive." Ayako mutters.

"Yup."

"Agreed."

John just smiles.

To be continued…Two: Questions

Tell me what you think! Chapters 1 2 and 3 used to be all together, but that was too long so I cut them up. It's a bit slow of a start, but gets much better as it introduces an intricate and suspenseful plot