All righty guys, seems like so far the majority vote is for an M rating so I will change that just as soon as I get some M content in here. But don't hesitate to let me know your opinion if you haven't yet!
Naru's POV
I pinched the bridge of my nose, more tempted than ever to just toss the whole folder out. So far the client hadn't mentioned anything that an exterminator and some anti-psychotics couldn't cure. Someone cleared their throat and I was reminded of my guest and her translator. Completely unnecessary since English was my first language but I wasn't going to tell her that, people were so much more interesting when they thought you weren't listening.
"I don't know if they can handle this. It's way over their heads." The client told her comparably silent companion.
"She wants to know when you can start." The sad-eyed translator said in his melancholy voice.
"I'll just bet she does." I muttered in Italian, the only language I knew that I was positive the translator didn't. "I need to consult with our expert in American folk lore." I responded in Japanese, thinking quickly. I sent a silent apology to Mai for using her as a scapegoat, then realized I was apologizing to Mai and cut that thought off.
I reminded myself that Mai was in America, permanently as far as I knew and she hadn't shown any interest in returning or even consulting with SPR. And despite Lin's many accusations, I was NOT sulking about it.
"IF and WHEN she gets back to us, I can let you know. Until that time we're shooting in the dark." I stood pointedly and after a moment's hesitation they rose as well. When I opened my office door there was no hesitation and I followed them out. "But we do have protocol follow and I have to allow her three days to respond. Pennsylvania University has to clear her research as well, so it may take as long as-" I broke off, realizing there was someone else in the office.
A woman, fingertips brushing the top of Mai's old desk, eyes locked on a photograph of the entire group taken right before Mai left. Her lips curved and she began turning.
That's a woman I could lose myself in. I thought idly, feeling the urge to smile more strongly than I had since losing Mai. Losing her? I shook off the odd mood I'd been in since first reading the case file sent in by the American woman.
Long auburn hair swung over the mystery woman's shoulder and partially obscured a delicate but stubborn jaw and cheekbones. I felt a familiar drop in my stomach as I recognized the stubbornness. The drop turned into an anvil when unusually large eyes met mine.
"Hello Naru." She said quietly.
"Mai." I nodded cordially, shocked that I could sound so normal. "We weren't expecting you. You should have warned someone."
That earned me a flash of a smile. "Lin sent me a job offer about…" She checked her watch. "Fifteen hours ago. I was sure he'd have let you know about it by now." Her eyes sparkled with mischief and I stomped down the urge to sparkle back.
"Did he?" I shot a look at Lin's office as the sound of typing stopped.
"We'll be on our way then Mr. Shibuya." The translator bowed, barely noted at the edge of my attention.
"It was nice to meet you. Please don't fail to delay to contact your American folklore expert." The client said in English and was translated by her assistant.
"We will get back to you by the end of the week." I assured them as they left.
As soon as the front door closed, Lin's door banged open. Lin very rarely showed his emotions but there were so many on his face I couldn't differentiate between them. He strode across the room and swept Mai up in a hug, leaving both of us gaping.
"We have missed you Mai." He said, then glared at me over the top of her head. "What the hell are you doing Oliver Davis? Get over here." He grabbed me faster than I would have thought possible and jerked me into a group hug, then stepped back so I was pressed against the now very grown up Mai without the comfort of him as a buffer.
Somehow my face ended up in the curve of her neck, her sage and peppermint scented hair caressing my face. I stepped back quickly. "Once you're settled you can look over the case file."
"Ah, so I'm your 'American folklore expert' huh?" She grinned despite her rosy blush. "All right Naru, what are we dealing with?"
She let herself into the conference room while I retrieved the file.
"The client has claimed that they are experiencing a variety of phenomena on the property of their bed-and-breakfast. There has been a few run-ins with a man with a hook for a hand—but only leaving minorly scratched victims—a girl who appears in the mirror when someone says 'bleeding mary'-"
Mai spluttered a laugh and I glared at her.
"What?"
"Bloody Mary Naru. It's an American urban legend… come to think of it so is the Hook Man." She frowned, biting her fingernails. "What else?"
"An old dress keeps appearing in people's luggage, a few people have been found unconscious with a 'red dot behind one ear' and a woman who appears dressed in all white who does not like men."
Mai closed her eyes, dark lashes fanning as she thought. "I don't know about the dress but the red dot would be Doc Benton and the woman in white is a vague general American legend."
"You HAVE been learning." Lin said, impressed.
She made an effort to not glare at him but I saw her eyebrow twitch in a familiar annoyed gesture.
"I don't know about this." She said with a frown. "We're talking about classic American urban legends, these things aren't real."
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Mai we deal with things that are not real every day."
"No this is… I mean this is like a woman who's happy with her weight Naru. This is just not real. If she's really having this trouble than we need everyone in on it. It's so varied and unusual…" She slid the folder out from under my fingers. "Yeah. This is weird."
"Lin. Start making the calls. Mai…" I paused, looking around for her luggage. "Do you have somewhere you're staying?"
"I have an apartment in the same complex where I used to live but I slept on the plane so I can review the case file if you want an opinion from your 'American expert'." She smiled at me.
"Good. Make tea first." I waved dismissively at her.
"Sure thing boss." She laughed with a roll of her eyes and pushed to her feet.
Lin waited until the sounds of the tea kettle clattered out from the kitchen, then rounded on me. His dark eyes glittered with humor as I did my best to hide my off-kilter mind and heart.
"She's back sooner than I expected." Lin said with a small smile.
"When exactly did you designate yourself the manager of this company?" I asked cooly, spinning a pen in my hand.
"I thought this was one hiring decision you would not argue with. You need her Oliver."
I dropped the pen. "Need?"
"Yes. Need. You can interpret that anyway that you want."
"I don't-"
"Don't even try to argue. Even if you don't know it… and you do… Gene has told me that you need her."
I felt the familiar seizing in my chest at the mention of my twin brother. So Gene thought I needed a woman. Considering his present state I didn't think he had any right telling others about my needs.
Mai returned with a tea tray and a smile. She placed our cups, freshly cleaned, on the table and poured equal measures of steaming liquid from a tea pot. I watched her movements openly, noting the grace she had developed in her time away from Japan. I also noted with a start that she had white tattoos on her hands for the nine cuts, with Rin, Pyo and To spanning along the top of both of her thumbs, Sha on both pinkies, Kai and Jin on her middle fingers, Retsu on her left pointer finger, Zai on the inside curve between her thumb and pointer finger on her left hand and Zen mirroring on her right.
I caught her hands. "What is this?"
"You poor dear." She gently disengaged herself and patted my cheek. "I didn't know you'd had brain damage since I was last home."
To cover his laugh, Lin rose, took his tea and went to his office, leaving us.
"I know they're tattoos Mai. But WHY are they on you?"
"With all of them on me I can choose to use only a few instead of all. It makes whatever spirit, person or object I'm working with take less damage."
"An interesting theory, but hardly verifiable."
She ignored me and spread the file out on the conference table. "So-"
"MAI!" The conference room door was flung open a bang and Ayako and the monk came rushing in.
Before she could even open her mouth they had swept her into hugs.
"Why didn't you tell anyone you were coming home?" Houshou kissed her cheek. "We would have taken the day off!"
"You take every day off." I muttered under my breath.
He still caught it. "So this day shouldn't be any different! Come on Mai! We can find a bar somewhere that opens early!"
"Uh, it's barely nine, I don't think any bars open THIS early monk." Mai smiled ruefully. "I see you haven't cut your hair."
"If only we were so lucky." Ayako rolled her eyes and took the steaming cup of tea that Mai had poured for herself.
Mai took the cup back and looked at the ring on Ayako's hand. "Pretty big rock for a monk."
"Yeah well this monk has a high-maintenance priestess for a wife." Houshou kissed Ayako on the forehead affectionately. "You are spoiled woman."
"Hardly. I could have married a doctor but I chose a monk."
"I love you too Ayako."
"As charming as all this banter is, Mai, tell them what needs to be done and I will have Lin call the client to tell her we will take the job."
"What job?" Ayako asked, returning from the kitchen with another tea cup.
"The usual. Crazy weirdness that can't be explained and we have to go explain it." Mai pushed different sections of the file to them. "Start reading. Monk I'll let you take Bloody Mary. Ayako you and Masako can be in charge of The White Lady. I'll do some more research on Doc Benton and John can check out the Hook Man when he gets here. We'll deal with the mystery dress when we get on location."
"Which will be on Thursday, is two days long enough for everyone to get ready?" I stood, tea in hand and glanced around the room.
"No problem boss." Houshou saluted me.
"I'll call the client and tell her to warn patrons about Doc Benton and the Hook Man, those are the two most violent legends." Mai went behind her old desk and picked up the receiver.
I was half-way to my office when I realized Houshou and Ayako were grinning at me. "What?"
"You're blushing." Ayako whispered.
I slammed my office door behind me.