Grabbing the biscuit from the tray, Bou-san awkwardly tried to break off the silence in the room by inquiring Madoka's love life. "How is Lin, Madoka?" Bou-san then transferred the biscuit on his plate. Smiling Madoka placed the teacup back on its saucer before giving the monk a sarcastic response.
"Lin and I have been constantly fighting due to the fact that one of us were accused by Naru of giving you guys his home address here."
Bou-san signaled the sign of surrender the moment he notices Madoka's sarcasm. Ayako watched the old clock ticking, she was rather irritated by the fact that she met with the most irresponsible man. She crossed her legs and continued observing the clock. She tried to distract herself with something else, like the tea in front of her. However, she still couldn't hold herself.
"Where the hell is Naru?" Ayako cussed in her head. She was thinking of marching to whatever room he and his daughter were at and just ask him to more questions. But, it changed the moment she saw the child walking into the living room wearing a pastel pink sleeveless dress matching with a pink headband and white shoes.
"I apologize for my father's tardiness, I refused for him to talk with you not unless if I am present." Jean curtsied and then sat beside his father.
"Let me guess, Madoka gave the dress?" Ayako smirked looking at Madoka.
"Oh no, it's all on Naru" Madoka looked at Ayako back.
"Now, can we talk about my mother?" Jean looked at the three people in front of her.
"Alright, how can we be certain that you're her daughter?" Ayako rebutted.
"If you want a DNA test, I have it all here." Naru placed an envelope on top of the coffee table.
"4 years ago, when we recovered Mai's remains, the forensics team was able to retrieve some hair from the victim. It matched with Jean's DNA." Ayako opened the envelope and looked at the results. She felt rather sorry for the child in front of her.
"As for Naru's part, I told him to take a DNA test 3 years ago. When Jean experienced some psychic phenomenon, it was dangerous for Naru to leave her alone because her emotions provoke the PK she has. Naru already knew even before he took the DNA test. He knew that Jean was his biological daughter." Madoka finished before sipping the tea from her cup.
"All I know about my mother is she's cheerful, outgoing and quite an opposite of my father," Jean remembered what Lin might have told to her.
Ayako leaned forward reaching for the child's hand. However, the child quickly pulled her hand back as she looked at her with contempt. Bou-san watched Jean as she munched on her biscuits like a lady, she covered her lips to wipe off the brittles from her face.
"Did your father ever tell you that he left your mother in a case and didn't even try to find her?" Ayako folded her arms and leaned back on the sofa. Jean placed the tea cup on the side table before wiping her lips again. Jean cleared her throat and then nodded.
"Of course, I understood why my father would do such a thing."
Bou-san and Ayako turned towards the raven-haired man sitting in front of them.
How did Naru raise this kid? Ayako asked in her head as she raised an eyebrow. Her mind started to think the possibilities that the Jean might have had a boring childhood and were just stuck in books all of the time.
"What did you just do to this kid, Naru?" Bou-san looked at the child.
"I tried my best to give her a normal childhood." Naru touched his daughter's hair and slowly caressed it as he hid a small smile.
"But, when she reached the certain age that she understood what she read. She started to change." Madoka sighed. "She requested her stuff toys that Lin and I gave to be boxed and sent to charity."
"She must be a very generous person." Bou-san smiled.
"Of course, Father John often teaches me about his religion. Every other month, John visits us here." Jean pulled out a small crucifix pendant from her dress.
"Wait, John knows?"
"He knows. Ever since Naru got Jean, John was the first person he sought for."
7 years ago.
The knock on the hard wooden door startled the praying priest kneeling in front of a home altar inside his small room. Pouring rain made him curious about the person knocking at that time. It was 5 in the morning, he slowly got up from kneeling and then tugged his robe. He was waiting for a particular person to visit him but he didn't expect that he would be visiting that early in the morning. The creaking door made the raven-haired man step back while carrying the baby girl in his arms.
"Dr. Davis." He looked at him and then the child that he was carrying.
"John, a word, please." His voice sounded desperate, he glanced down at the sleeping child and then turned to the priest with worry in his eyes.
"Don't you have a plane to catch for the next 5 hours?" John stepped to the side as he let the man inside. He closed the door and watched Naru sitting on the sofa.
"I found this baby in front of my door step, John."
"Why are you really here, Naru?"
"The letter mentioned you here, John." He pulled his left hand and then took the letter from his chest pocket. "It says that she belonged in the orphanage in your church."
"You're telling me this is missing Jean?" John immediately took the letter before flipping it.
"There is a possibility that this is Mai's child." He cleared his throat.
"Naru, you and Mai actually…." The priest sheepishly asked.
"One thing led to another." He smirked as he noticed the priest reading the letter.
Dear Oliver Davis,
My name is Jean Margery-Claire Davis. I was stolen from the church orphanage where your colleague, Fr. John Brown presides. You of all people would know that we are related, you can check for a DNA test if you want but I think your abilities will be able to determine that. My birthday is December 21. I am scared of clowns and plastic dolls. I am allergic to walnuts. I may develop psychic abilities like my mother. I know are the only person who can take care of me. Please promise me you will take care of me.
"How did this kid end up in the orphanage, John?"
"She was left in a basket in front of the orphanage. There was a letter as well." John returned the letter back Naru as he walked towards the small desk to retrieve the letter he received. He looked that Naru would be having a hard time reading the letter on his own. So he decided to read it for him.
Dear Fr. John Brown,
My name is Jean Davis, I am 3 months old and I was born on December 21. I am allergic to walnuts. I may be a handful in the future once I start to grow and develop my psychic abilities. I know you would totally understand what I am saying. My father is alive and I think that he doesn't have any idea that I exist. When the time comes, I wish to know him as you knew him. Take care of me well.
"Mai must have been in danger, Naru." John cleared his throat before giving him the letter. "She wouldn't leave you or the kid if she wasn't."
Naru sighed and then rocked Jean.
"Naru, you have a twin, correct?" John asked a rhetorical question. "Is it possible that your offspring could be twins?"
His eyes started to dilate realizing that there could be another child. "Why do you ask?"
"The next day we received Jean. There was another baby dropped off with the similar type of letter."
"Let me see." His heart started to pound. The priest took a piece of paper from the drawer.
"But I'm doubting that he would be related to you, though." He flipped the letter open
"Why the doubt?"
"Do you have any genetic defects that would affect the eyes?" John asked and noticed that the raven-haired man shaking his head.
"Maybe it's just a mere coincidence?"
Dear Fr. John Brown,
My name is Ray. I am 3 months old and I was born on December 21.
"This boy has the same birthday as Jean and they have the same age. It's not a mere coincidence." Naru sighed before looking at the priest. "Can I look at the boy?"
"The thing is…" John paused for a while and then cleared his throat. "Jean and Ray went missing at the same time."
Naru scoffed, he was annoyed by the fact that his presumed son was missing as well. However, his expression changed the moment that Jean started to cry again. His arms rocked gently and slowly as he observed at the baby in his arms. The baby gave a small smile before moving her lips and fell back to sleep again.
"I will adopt her, John." Naru's tilted head looked at him. John was stunned at first but he knew that Oliver Davis would be a wonderful parent.
"Let's go to the orphanage. I'll process the papers for you to adopt Jean." John smiled.
Lin marched inside the orphanage carrying the baby basket. He started to wonder inside the orphanage looking for his student. His eyes started to beam at the children that were playing inside the orphanage. He soon sees Naru signing the documents with his right hand while carrying a beautiful baby girl on his left.
"Naru!" His thunder voice made the priest flinched. "Lin." Naru turned towards his mentor.
"What is the meaning of this?" he asked as he placed the baby basket on top of the coffee table.
"Adopting this baby."
"I can clearly see that. But why?"
"My cold heart deserves warmth." He lifted Jean up to the air and watched the baby giggle back at him. He gave a small smile that Lin clearly saw. The Chinese man was completely lost.
"If this child is your way of coping up for Taniyama-san's demise, I don't think that would be fair for the child." Lin sighed.
"No, you wouldn't understand Lin." Naru gently placed the baby inside the baby basket.
"What's her name?"
"Jean M.C Davis, She was born on December 21. She's going to be one two weeks from now. She's allergic to walnuts."
"What does the M.C mean?"
"Margery Claire" Naru hung a small stuffed bunny on the handle.
It was the first that Oliver Davis actually had something to finally hold on and to protect with his life. He didn't expect that his life would turn out to something such as being a father at an early age. But, he found Jean to be his daily motivation of living.
Flashback end
The glass shards scattered all over the wooden floor, the brown colored tea spread over the carpet underneath the coffee table. The temperature dropped the moment Jean froze blankly. Her eyes turned glassy as Oliver Davis rushed in front of his daughter, holding her shoulders firmly. He ignored the broken glass shards underneath his leather shoes and focused on the stunned child that was manifesting a phenomenal ability. He started to shake her shoulder and noticed the tears running down her eyes.
"Honey, look at me." He touched her pale cheeks. "Look at Daddy."
His heart started to pound as the tear fell. He panted as he tried to calm his daughter down by caressing his pink cheeks with his thumb.
"Daddy's here. Honey, come back."
Ayako, Bou-san, and Madoka stood up as they approached the frozen child.
"Control your sight and come back." His calm voice said.
Another tear fell off from her eye. She then slowly blinked her eyes as she lifted her arms for his embrace. His arms wrapped around her body and lifted her as she sobbed. She sniffed and then asked.
"Who's Ray?"
I thought it would be nice to have a blind character in this story. A blind character that should not be underestimated.