You know the drill. General disclaimers apply.


A Request

November 21st

"Heavenly God..."

His voice sounded distant and muffled.

"John?" She whispered, and opened her eyes, searching for the source of his voice.

"Your soul becomes our heaven and the earth. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard..."

She realized she was standing in her apartment, and the realization that she was standing next to the priest came just as quickly, his pure tenor speaking without hesitation.

"For the life was manifested and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us..."

Mai watched the young man speak, at ease with the familiar actions as he took a vial of holy water, sprinkling the area in front of which he stood. He continued, uninterrupted as if she was not there, and the thought briefly crossed her mind that he was not aware of her presence.

"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."

Mai suddenly turned her head away from the priest, realizing that there was a young woman standing in front of the two. Compassion filled her eyes as she gazed at the other girl, whose dazed eyes stared not back toward her but instead were held rapt by the words of the priest.

"In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."

"Keiko-chan," Mai whispered.

The spirit seemed to be glowing brighter, and Mai shielded her eyes as the white became intense. The priest standing next to her clasped the Bible to his chest, gazing forward solemnly as if he did not see her.

"Mai-chan," the ghostly figure whispered, the calm smile on her face the only visible feature through the light. "I'm not afraid any longer."

"In precipio."

Then the light faded, and the spirit was gone.

...

When she opened her eyes it took her several moments to place the ceiling she was gazing at. Her head felt heavy and the sound that filtered into the room sounded foggy in her ears. The voices were speaking in hushed tones in the other room, and she sat up, hiding a yawn behind her hand as she stretched, trying to shake the strange alien feeling from her body.

When she noticed that she was still wearing the same clothes from the day before she instantly remembered the events from the night before. That's right... John and Bou-san were going to exorcise Keiko-chan. I must have fallen asleep...

Her eyes snapped wide open and she all but leapt to her feet. Keiko-chan?

She stepped over to the door and opened it tentatively, revealing Ayako's kitchen. Two sets of eyes turned toward her.

"Oh, Mai-chan?" Takigawa said, cheerful despite how tired he looked. "You're awake."

Ayako immediately poured a third cup of tea. "Come, sit down. Would you like some breakfast?" She laughed lightly, but the sound was awkward in the otherwise still room. "I guess it's not quite breakfast time, but..."

"John exorcised Keiko successfully, didn't he?" Mai asked quietly, brown eyes gazing absently at the floor.

"Yes." The monk said, his voice quiet and subdued. "He said she left very easily, as if she only needed someone to show her the way. We couldn't feel her presence anymore, and decided it wasn't necessary for me to do anything."

Mai raised her gaze to meet his, noticing how exhausted the monk seemed. He probably hasn't slept, she thought. She turned her eyes toward the miko, who was wearing a cardigan over her pajamas. Have they been awake all night, letting me rest..?

"John is...?"

"Ah, he went home." Ayako stood and ushered the girl to sit down, passing her the cup of tea.

"What time is it?" She felt utterly disoriented, grasping the cup, the cold flesh of her hands warming instantly where it touched the hot ceramic. Steaming wafts of soothing jasmine reached her nose.

"Almost five o'clock." Takigawa yawned briefly and grinned. "Sorry." His face became serious again and he looked at the petite girl quizzically. "How did you know? I mean, about John's exorcism. Did you..." His voice trailed off.

Mai clasped the warm cup between both hands, sighing slightly as she stared at the dark liquid. "I had a dream."

...

After Mai had finished her tea she stood, ignoring the concerned gazes that immediately followed her action.

"I'd better go home," she said, forcing a smile. "I have classes and work later today."

"Why don't I give you a ride—" Takigawa started to rise, but she smiled and shook her head.

"Bou-san, it's okay. Really." She smiled guiltily. "You've already done so much, and you look exhausted. Please, take care of yourself. Don't worry about me."

"But Mai, it's still so early.."

The younger girl smiled cheerfully, and it was evident that she would not allow any more assistance. "It's almost six already, so the trains shouldn't be empty. Thank you, for everything. Really. I couldn't ask for anything more."

Takigawa and Ayako exchanged a brief glance, the former sighing and nodding as he acquiesced. "Okay." He muttered. "Just... call us, if there's anything."

"Of course," she promised.

They walked her to the door and she slipped on her shoes, offering a kind wave as she slipped out into the dawn.

...

She stood on the landing in front of her door for several minutes before taking a deep breath, reaching forward with a trembling hand and grasping the knob. It turned with a familiar sound, and she stepped into the apartment.

She stood very still, listening. Though she would not have been able to explain how she knew, it was obvious to her that Keiko—Keiko's spirit—was no longer there.

She exhaled, and the dim light warmed as she turned on a lamp, her eyes tracing over the room.

"Did Ayako, maybe..." she murmured to herself.

The apartment's main room was clean; only a subtle hint of what had transpired before. The accusation on the wall was gone; the cupboards were closed neatly. The mess that had covered the floor had been picked up.

"How?" She finally whispered, and stepping out of her shoes, headed toward her room.

She stopped in her tracks as she crossed the kitchen, noticing the clean table save for one item. She reached her small hand to touch the neatly folded black scarf.

"When did I..."

She remembered, then. How she had worn it the day of the reunion dinner, and how cold it had been, walking home that night without it.

It must have been Ayako, she told herself, but there was a small feeling in the back of her mind that it could have been someone else.

She didn't bother to take off or change her clothes; she had slept in them already and it didn't seem to matter as she flopped down on the futon. She hadn't really realized that she was tired until she lay down, exhaustion overwhelming her body. She slipped into the darkness, and sleep overcame her.

...

Lin and Naru had arrived at the site early, setting to their tasks briskly, breaths steaming in the chilly morning air. Naru hadn't wanted to take any chances near the old building, so he and Lin together set up every camera and every microphone. It was a long and tedious process, and by the time they had finished the sun had climbed to its low winter height and begun its descent again, and both their moods had soured considerably. Naru was irritated from the slow set up he was more accustomed to overseeing, and though Lin was not one to complain, the stoic man felt himself longing for the company that would allow for an expedited process. Lin suspected that the fact that Naru had gone without a prompt lunch and the accompanying tea was a large part of his obvious grumpiness.

Naru stretched as Lin set up a monitor in the back of the van. "Readings appear to be normal." Lin remarked blandly. "As expected."

"I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't have long to wait before we find any activity." Naru said, his thoughts brightening at the prospect. He reached for a stack of papers, flipping over the first few and studying its contents. "Perhaps not even a day."

Lin glanced toward the younger man, watching his eyes flick over the papers in his hands. He turned his gaze to the road when a black car drove up and idled a short distance behind the van. There was the sound of a door opening and being slammed shut.

"Shibuya-san," a voice called, though the man in question did not look up until Igarashi was nearly right in front of him.

"Igarashi-sama," Naru said formally, inclining his head. "Good afternoon."

"Thank you in advance for all of your hard work." The man bowed slightly and smiled, smoothing the front of his clean suit. "I must say, I'm somewhat surprised you have already set up your equipment. I'm very much grateful for how quickly you have begun my case. I can say on behalf of my organization that we are very pleased."

"It is not in our nature to waste unnecessary time." Naru said briskly, tapping the edges of the papers he held to straighten them. "There are circumstances when hesitancy becomes very dangerous, even deadly."

"Of course, I understand." Igarashi nodded quickly and turned, looking toward the building. "Is there anything else I can do for you, Shibuya-san?"

Naru followed his gaze and studied the exterior of the building before turning his attention back to his client. "Actually, there is one thing I was hoping you could clarify. You gave me a list of the victims that had been found in this warehouse."

Igarashi turned his head to meet his even gaze. "That is so."

"Was this list complete?"

The client smiled, white teeth glinting in the crisp sunshine, reminiscent of a wild animal baring its fangs. "You are correct to assume that there were more, Shibuya-san. Those listed were the only ones we could identify."

A slight chill traveled down Naru's spine, though the anxiety did not show in his calm expression. It was as he feared: this was a spirit that needed blood, and had been very successful in obtaining it. "How many more?"

"There were five unidentifiable bodies that we found. I did not know the others would be pertinent."

"I see." The researcher all but ground his teeth in frustration. Igarashi wasn't stupid; he hadn't mentioned the other bodies because he—or someone in his organization—did not want them brought to light.

Knowing that the young man would ask, Igarashi continued. "My organization took care of them as they saw fit."

"Was it because of your organization that you found it necessary to move the other recognizable bodies to different locations, where they could be found by the police?"

"As in Miyamura Keiko and Harada Mizuki?" Igarashi's smile thinned. "That is exactly so."

Naru recognized the challenge in the man's demeanor, daring him to continue. He finally nodded. "Thank you, Igarashi-sama. I believe these insights will expedite our investigation."

Igarashi's expression relaxed somewhat. "Of course. I will check in on your progress tonight, if that is agreeable to you."

"Of course."

"Would the office be suitable?"

"Please."

Lin watched silently as Naru and Igarashi exchanged a polite—if not somewhat strained—goodbye, the client walking back to the car that waited for him. The tires crunched over the frozen gravel, and the car slowly drove out of sight.

Naru let out a short sigh when it was quiet once again.

Lin broke the silence. "He's rather interesting, isn't he."

Naru glanced at his assistant, irritated. "I know you didn't approve of my taking this case. If there's something on your mind, just say it."

Lin shrugged ever so slightly. "I simply find it unsettling that Igarashi neglected to tell us important information. That small fact indicates his priorities, does it not?"

"It does." There was a sullen quality to his voice, and the assistant knew Naru was not pleased. "All the more reason to resolve this case as quickly as possible."

...

The floor creaked slightly under her feet where she stood, and when she took a step forward dust rose from the disturbance.

"Is there anyone here?" she called, her voice sounding small in the large space. She looked at her surroundings, though with the deep shadows it was difficult to make anything out.

She began to walk forward, tentatively. She had a feeling that she knew where to go, and forward was the only way to get there.

...

Mai opened her eyes slowly. The sound of her alarm ringing finally registered and she turned it off with a well-coordinated swing in its general direction.

She made no move to rise from her futon, the dream still running through her mind. It had been a Dream, for certain, though the general uneventful nature of the vision made her wonder if it had any meaning at all. She had only walked through an empty old building, that was all. It was dusty and dark, and the uneasy feeling she had was most likely due to the fact that the physical structure of the building could very well be unstable. It might have been logical for the dream to have a connection with Keiko, but Keiko was gone and she was not coming back.

She finally sat up, and with a start realized how late it was. She had missed her first class and certainly wouldn't make it on time to the second. She sighed quietly, smiling to herself as she thought of the prospect of a hot shower. They were only review classes, she justified. She would just need to make sure she studied harder to make up for it later.

She rose and turned on the radio, humming to herself as she selected appropriate clothes for an afternoon at the Ginza office. A light pink blouse, a gray skirt and jacket. She turned on the heat, first, in the bathroom, and then the hot water in the shower, the steam rising into the room.

Is it that different, with Keiko gone? She thought, and slow tears began to form in her eyes. She pretended to be alive, to stay here... what was the point? What did I do for her, that she wanted to stay?

Slowly, the tears began to fall and she dropped to her knees. She knelt on the bathroom floor, crying fresh tears for the loss of her friend.

...

As Naru had decided to monitor from the van before setting up a base within the building, they had to drive the base into a more commercial district to find lunch.

Naru sat in the passenger seat, watching the laptop. Though Naru was nothing if patient, he was also looking forward to the end of the night when their preliminary reports were finished and they could return to the office—inside—to watch the data until they saw reason to return to the site and pursue a new line of action.

He looked up as Lin returned, carrying two take away boxes of hot noodles and two cups of hot tea. After spending hours in the just above zero temperatures, both men were glad to sit in the vehicle with hot food.

They ate quietly before returning to the site. Though neither men said anything to indicate their thoughts, both considered what the case might be like if it had been everyone assisting as normal.

...

The combination of late afternoon and the quiet stillness of the office was beginning to make her drowsy. She sat at a small neat desk near the entrance to the office, and while there was no one to see her nodding off she couldn't afford to let it happen. Three empty waiting chairs were lined straight against the wall, next to the elegant form of a potted plant. The phone rang quietly, and she stifled a yawn, picking it up quickly.

"Sakamoto and Associates, how may I direct your call?" She paused, listening. "One moment please." She held the phone against her ear with one hand, the other quickly maneuvering the system on the desk in front of her. "Sasaki-san, Toshida Ayumi from Giniro Limited is on line two."

She replaced the phone in the receiver and turned her attention back to the textbook in front of her. Only two more chapters to review, and by then it would be time to close up and go home. She glanced at the clock, her eyes widening. Was it four-thirty already? The afternoon had gone by quicker than she realized.

She looked up as an older man approached the desk, exiting from the offices behind her, a coat folded over his arm. "I'll see you on Tuesday, Taniyama-san. And thank you again for preparing the spreadsheets." He smiled kindly at her, a twinkle in his faded eyes. "You did me a great service."

"Of course, Tomoe-san, it was nothing." She replied, smiling brightly. "Have a good evening, sir."

"You as well, Taniyama-san." He closed the door behind him and she could hear the chime of the elevator being called.

A wistful smile crossed onto her face as he left. Even though she had never had an interaction with her former boss at SPR quite like that, she still missed the small office in Shibuya.

She sighed and dropped her cheek onto her hand, twiddling with the pencil. Maybe I could stop by and ask him about my dream... she absently thought, refusing to think of it as an excuse.

The phone rang, and she was jostled out of her thoughts, the pencil falling from her fingers.

"Sakamoto and Associates, how may I direct your call?"

...

Despite various misgivings of doing otherwise, Mai could not bring herself to go back to her apartment. Before she could have second thoughts she had boarded the train to Shibuya. Soon she found herself once again on the street corner, and she panicked when the office building came into view. She stopped in her tracks and turned away, her heart pounding and her eyes wide with a new realization of where she was headed.

Why am I so nervous?

She stared at the bookstore across the street, wondering if it was too late to pretend to be going somewhere else. Not like there are any other bookstores in the city, if you happen to run into someone...

"Mai-chan?"

She turned around quickly, wide eyes relaxing at the sight of a familiar face.

"Masako-chan... "

The other young woman took in Mai's anxious appearance and she smiled kindly, taking her arm in her hands. "Accompany me for coffee, Mai-chan."

...

"What are you doing here, Masako-chan?" Mai asked honestly, lifting the cup to her lips and inhaling the gently bitter scent.

With a delicate hand the medium indicated a package she had set on the table next to her own steaming brew. "Naru mentioned that he was interested in these books. I was going to drop them off at the office, but he and Lin-san appear to be on a case. Either that, or they've decided to go for an early night."

Mai laughed. "Naru, take a night off?"

Masako smiled. "I had the same thought. Naru must have found an interesting case. Either that or a very persistent client."

Mai was about to continue the line of conversation, but Masako spoke first and changed the subject before she could begin. The young medium, familiar with the press since an early age, was quite skilled at directing conversation, and soon the topic had moved from classes and school to work and the television program and the unseasonably cold weather the city had been experiencing.

She had finished her second cup of tea while Masako was not quite finished, and Mai worried that either she'd been rude, drinking too fast, or perhaps the medium was being polite, keeping her company? The pause in the conversation allowed it and she suddenly blurted out her apology. "I'm sorry," Mai blushed slightly in her embarrassment. "I've probably been keeping you..."

The medium's cool blue eyes avoided hers at that moment, a slight blush upon her cheeks. "Not at all," she finally said quietly, and Mai was surprised to see that the other young woman was embarrassed. "I was waiting for Yasuhara-san anyway."

"W-w-w-wh-what?" Mai sputtered, her eyes wide. "Y-Yasuhara-san?"

"He is a charming and genuine man," Masako said curtly, as if Mai was ignorant for not knowing the good qualities of the man she admired. She turned her head as she avoided Mai's gaze, hiding her hot cheeks.

Mai almost caught the giggle in her throat—but not quite. Charming, perhaps, yes, but genuine was not the word she would have used to describe Yasuhara-san. Masako suddenly seemed aware not only of what she had said but also what she had implied, and her blush deepened and she remained silent. Mai found her composure and reached across the table, taking her friend's hands in her own.

"I'm sorry, Masako-chan." She said, smiling gently. "I didn't mean to sound so startled. I didn't... I just hadn't..." Her voice trailed off several times before finding the statement she was looking for. "I'm happy for you."

Masako nodded sharply, and Mai had the feeling that the medium probably had not intended on revealing that part of her private life with anyone tonight. Slowly, she released the tension from her shoulders and she exhaled, a slight smile reaching her face. "Thank you."

"I won't tell anyone," Mai said quickly, her eyes twinkling and alight.

"That would be appreciated."

"Are you... dating, then?" There was a conspiratorial glint in her eyes and a sly grin had spread across her lips. Suddenly, in front of Mai, Masako found herself ready to divulge information that she would have otherwise resisted. Two years ago, the medium would have been too proud to admit or even realize that she could enjoy sharing something so ordinary, personal, and wonderful as being in love. Tonight, in that single respect, she was a completely different person.

The blush returned and she shook her head quickly. "No. Not yet, anyway. Mostly he helps me with my schoolwork. Or sometimes we go to the library in tandem. But..." her voice trailed off slightly. "I guess he hasn't really said anything to indicate his feelings. I'm sure I'm reading too much into his actions."

"I'm sure that's not the case!" Mai said vehemently. "Yasuhara-san wouldn't mislead you!"

Masako stared at her friend, noticing that a light that had been absent had returned to her face during this conversation. She finally smiled softly. "Yeah. I hope you're right."

The two sat quietly for several moments, when the medium suddenly spoke.

"What about you, Mai?"

"W-what about me?" Mai all but huffed.

"Naru, of course." Masako said bluntly.

Mai seemed frozen for a second and the medium began to fear that she'd made a grievous mistake. Slowly a blush crept across the brunette's cheeks and she looked at the empty cup in front of her. "I... I..."

The silence between them was sharp and uncomfortable. Mai listened to her breathing, fighting to keep it steady, wondering if Masako could hear or see the tremors in the pounding of her heart.

"Forgive me." Masako finally said, sighing as she lifted her teacup, cupping it beneath one hand. "I shouldn't have asked you."

"I don't know how I feel about Naru." Mai admitted softly, relaxing the hands that had clenched in her lap. "I mean... I thought..." Her voice trailed off and she started again. "It's been so sudden..."

"Why were you coming to see him today?"

Mai felt the heat rise to her cheeks at the directness of the question. "I guess... I wanted to ask him about my dream." She laughed nervously. "Silly, I guess, but... I guess I wanted to hear what he said."

"Was it your friend at your apartment?" Masako asked quietly, and Mai nodded, startled. "I heard." The medium explained, and set her cup back on the table. She looked worried, the expression darkening her delicate doll-like face. At nearly twenty years old, Hara Masako was just as beautiful as she had been at sixteen, though a great deal more exquisite in her maturity.

"It's okay, though," Mai said quickly, her hands waving gently in the air in front of her, a futile gesture to dispel the medium's fears. "Bou-san said John-san exorcised her... that she was eager to pass over once shown the way."

Masako remained silent and thoughtful. Eager? I see. So she really was hiding from something, or was prevented from passing on her own... "Are you okay? At your apartment?" A worry that she could not disguise still masked her face.

"Um, yeah." Mai felt her breath catch in her throat. Am I? I am, right?

The medium began to say something, no doubt a contradiction, but the slight jingle at the door indicated someone entering the cafe, and a shadow fell over the table as the young man approached. Two hearts began to pound, as both the young women turned toward the intruder, both expecting a different young man to greet them. Only one was correct in her assumption of who this person actually was.

"Ladies," Yasuhara said, bowing with a flourish. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" He straightened and grinned, and Mai felt a smile tug at the corners of her lips as she watched the gaze the young man laid upon her companion. How had she not noticed the light in his eyes as he addressed her before? It seemed terribly obvious now.

Masako blushed slightly and stood, turning toward the other girl. Mai stood as well, and Masako bowed politely, and took Mai's hands in her own. "Thank you for waiting with me," a demure smile forming on the medium's face. Was Mai imagining it, or was there a girlish grin threatening to take over her face?

"I was happy to." Mai said, smiling jovially. A sudden realization came to Mai and she gasped, staring at the two. "Yasuhara-san, what you said at the dinner a few nights ago...?"

Yasuhara cocked his head, a sly smile on his face. "What did I say, Mai-san?"

Masako looked at her inquisitively, slipping on her coat, barely noticing as Yasuhara helped the motion with a steady hand.

Mai opened her mouth as she remembered his words, but she was held speechless.

"Alas, the young lady has nothing to say. While it is very intriguing to hear what she might come up with, I must say, we should probably be on our way." He offered his arm, turning to the young woman. "Masako-san, would you do me the honor of accompanying me?"

Masako blushed a new shade of pink. "Yasuhara-san, please don't tease."

"So she says." He laughed jovially and winked at Mai. "Want to wager that I can change her mind?" And with a hearty laugh, he escorted her out of the cafe.

Mai stood, speechless, staring at where the couple had departed.

Masako and... Yasuhara?

She laughed quietly, true happiness filling her heart. The fact that Masako was acting rather un-Masako-like was most definitely a good thing. And she knew with all her heart that Yasuhara was a kind person, and despite his mischievous nature, if Masako saw a genuine man he probably was.

She lifted the forgotten package off the table, and with a sigh of resolve, held it against her chest as she left the cafe. Stepping onto the street, she walked toward the office of SPR with newfound courage and determination.

...

The SPR van was parked on the street, which she noted as a good sign. She walked up the stairs and nearly jumped when the office door opened in front of her.

"Taniyama-san?"

Lin stood in front of her and she laughed weakly, trying to ignore the harsh beating of her heart. "Oh, good evening, Lin-san. Are you well?"

He smiled wanly and walked toward her, barely brushing the edge of her coat as he passed by and started down the stairs. "I have some things to unload from the van. Would you like to accompany me?"

She turned and followed him immediately down the stairs, toward the van without question.

Lin opened the door to the van, surreptitiously watching the younger woman beside him. He had startled her, at the door. In fact she had appeared almost terrified, but she seemed relaxed enough now, though if not slightly dazed. Was it just the events of the past few days? Certainly she had much on her mind to be distracted...

The man pursed his lips, reaching for his computer case. When he had returned with Naru to the office not even ten minutes ago, they had listened, together, to the messages waiting on the machine. John had sounded somewhat tired but otherwise cheerful, informing Naru that the exorcism had been successful. Takigawa's message, left much later in the day, repeated the same information. Miyamura Keiko's spirit had left Mai's apartment, peacefully and without incident. After hearing these messages, Naru had quietly mentioned that he would be in his office and had retreated, leaving him to gather the rest of the equipment from the van.

He glanced back toward her, but she seemed at ease in his silence.

"Would you mind holding this for me?"

Mai nodded quickly and accepted the binder. She watched as Lin picked up another piece of familiar equipment: the electronic device would allow him to monitor their equipment remotely. Masako had been correct to assume that the two had started a new case.

"Lin-san, what case did Naru take?"

The man paused, closing and locking the van. "I'd rather not say." He finally spoke, his voice hushed. "It is rather unpleasant, and I should not discuss it with you."

"Oh, right..." She seemed embarrassed in her oversight. "Client confidentiality, you wouldn't be able to..." She forced a quiet laugh.

Lin could see her breath steaming in the air, and noticing that she shivered slightly. Her legs seeming terribly thin in the black stockings and heels, and her cheeks were rosy from the chill. He began to walk back toward the office, motioning for her to follow. "Taniyama-san, let's go inside. It's a frigid night, and I wouldn't want you to catch cold."

She smiled and was about to respond when a car parked behind the van, the bright lights blinding her. She could faintly see the driver, a somber looking man who stared at her evenly. His mouth moved, and Mai realized there was another person in the car to whom he was speaking.

A man stepped out of the passenger side, a thin smile on his face. "Lin-san. Good evening."

"Good evening, Igarashi-sama."

Igarashi turned toward Mai, his smile widening. His eyes were very narrow under thin eyebrows, and Lin had the sudden feeling that he was watching a smug fox that had just been presented with a delicious meal. "And who might you be?"

...

Naru was angry. Mai could tell as soon as she stepped through the door, following Lin and Igarashi. Whatever the reason, he was not pleased to see her. He shot a glare at Lin, who made a hasty retreat into his office with the equipment from the van.

Naru addressed Igarashi first, who seemed to be in a very good mood. He then turned his attention to his former assistant. "Mai," he said stiffly, trying to keep his voice expressionless despite the stern look of his cold eyes. "What brings you to SPR this evening?"

"Ah, I ran into Masako-chan. She had these for you." Mai offered the package; setting the binder she had carried for Lin on the table.

Naru took the package from her hands, an eyebrow rising to indicate his skepticism. "Was Hara-san unable to make her own delivery?"

Mai felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she remembered Masako and Yasuhara, and she hoped that the flush from coming in from the cold was enough to disguise it. "She had other arrangements."

"I see." Naru set the package on the table and turned back toward her. "Is there anything else?"

The blush was returning and Mai was terribly embarrassed in front of Naru and the man whom she assumed to be his client, the client whose case Lin did not want to discuss with her. "Ah, it's nothing. While I'm here, why don't I make some tea? Igarashi-san, would you like some?"

"That's not necessary," Naru interrupted. "You are no longer my assistant."

"You yourself asked me to come back to work at the office—"

"But that has not yet been determined. I cannot ask you to work tonight. Such assistance would be inappropriate." He said stiffly. Mai glared at him, but she could see that he had made up his mind and it was not worth trying to press the issue. He stared back coolly, unfazed.

"Please, I'd love some tea." Igarashi said, breaking the silence.

It was the admission she needed and with a quick, polite bow she headed toward the kitchenette.

Naru sighed in his defeat. "Igarashi-sama, please come into my office. I apologize to keep you waiting."

"Not at all." He smiled, watching the younger man. "I never knew you were a man of such convictions, Shibuya-san." Naru tensed and Igarashi chuckled. "I guess I should not have been surprised."

...

She entered the room quietly and set the teacups upon the table in front of the men, leaving just as quietly. Igarashi seemed to ignore her presence, though Naru did glance at her, pausing as he chose his words. He needn't have worried about her eavesdropping, because she was in the room for such a brief moment and wholly concentrating on the tea she heard absolutely nothing.

She sighed, leaning against the door as she closed it softly behind her.

"Taniyama-san," Lin called softly, and she headed across the office toward him. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "It would be very presumptuous of me to..."

"Ah! Lin-san!" Her eyes widened and she gasped, covering her mouth. "I didn't ask you. Would you like some tea?"

He sighed and a smile quirked on his lips, the expression evident in his eyes rather than his mouth as the momentum from his question was snatched away. "Please, Taniyama-san. That would be very nice."

She delivered the tea in Lin's office and excused herself, smiling. "I won't bother you," she promised, and Lin smiled. Her mere presence in the office felt very assuring, delivering tea in the evening and being in the next room should he need her, and he realized that after two years of absence it was almost comforting.

If only it were up to me to have Taniyama-san return to work here... he absently thought, then shook his head to clear the musings, turning his concentration back to the monitor with the readings from the warehouse.

She had a cup of tea for herself and she sat down, retrieving her textbook from her bag. Opening to the review chapter, she sighed and began to read.

...

"Very well, Shibuya-san." Igarashi stepped through Naru's door, the young president holding it open as his client passed through. "I will wait for you to contact me with the developments. It sounds as though you have a huge lead on this troublesome matter."

Naru smiled slightly as the two walked toward the door. "Of course, Igarashi-sama."

Igarashi paused, noticing that Mai was still in the office. She sat on the sofa in the main room, studying a textbook in front of her, legs crossed at the ankles and heels discarded on the floor. A smile lit up his face. "Ah, Taniyama-san."

Naru scowled, wishing that his client had left five minutes ago and he was the only one in the room to observe the delicate sight of Mai studying in his office. It was in his best interest for his case to say nothing and simply watch as his client walked over to the sofas, so he bit his tongue and hoped that whatever conversation Igarashi inspired would be trite and brief.

Mai looked up, startled out of her concentration. "Ah, yes, Igarashi-san?"

"I must say, the tea was quite splendid." He laughed charmingly. "May I ask you about your prior work at SPR?" He shot a smile at Naru. "I'm sure Shibuya-san would not want to discuss it without your consent, so please allow me to ask you directly."

"Oh, um." She looked embarrassed and surprised. "I just helped with office work, mostly, and assisted on cases. Nothing much, just another member of the team."

"I see." He peered at her thoughtfully. "And you will return to work for Shibuya-san in the future?"

"Taniyama-san's return has not been decided yet." Naru said quickly, before she had the chance to respond. He continued curtly. "She has other obligations of school and work—"

"Ah! Where do you work, Taniyama-san?" Igarashi looked at her, his dark eyes inquisitive upon hers.

"Um, I have a part-time at Sakamoto and Associates Law Office in Ginza, and a really-really part time at a cafe..." She laughed cheerfully, though her voice was quiet. "It's about all I have time for."

"I see." He paused, but the break did not sound like a hesitation to Naru's ears. "If you have time, you should help Shibuya-san with my case." He smiled slyly at Naru. "I'm sure Shibuya-san would be grateful for the extra assistance."

Naru was tired of the way Igarashi maneuvered conversations, and without the energy to counter he simply nodded, a quiet exhale escaping his lips. It was a testament to how long the day had been. "Yes, of course."

Igarashi checked his watch and smiled at Naru, nodding his head. "Thank you in advance for your hard work, Shibuya-san." He smiled at Mai but said nothing as he left the office.

Naru closed the door behind his client and stood quietly on the other end of the office for a moment before crossing the room and sitting down on the sofa opposite Mai. He did not say anything and did not meet her gaze, but simply stared at the table. He looked exhausted, she realized, and she stood, smiling. "Tea, Naru?"

He said nothing and she did not bother to put on her shoes before she crossed the room, taking his silence as an affirmation.

...

When she returned with the steaming cup he was leafing through her textbook. He looked up as she approached, closing the book. He frowned slightly as she passed the cup to him. The smell of the black tea was devastatingly inviting. Naru knew it was one of his greatest weaknesses, his love of good tea.

"You didn't need to make me tea."

"You didn't say or do anything to stop me." She retorted, and sat down once again.

As he sipped the tea the displeased look evaporated from his face. He finally spoke, looking up at her and meeting her gaze. "Developmental Psychology?"

"Yes." She wanted to fidget under his heavy gaze but simultaneously couldn't bring herself to move.

He leaned back slightly in the sofa cushions. "Are you studying Education?"

She nodded quickly. "Yes. Focusing on a Primary level."

He nodded and turned away, resting his head on his hand leisurely. "It's good to hear you finally have some direction."

She bristled, eyes narrowing. "As if I didn't before?"

"You certainly never made the indication." He smirked and lifted the tea again, sighing after his drink.

A peculiar sensation came over her as she watched him and she found that she had no desire to make a comeback. "Maybe I didn't really know where I was headed in high school." She finally admitted softly, twisting her hands together in her lap.

Naru looked away, lazy eyes gazing out the window. "There's nothing wrong with taking your time. Is it what you want to do? To teach?"

She bit her lip and shrugged. "I guess. I don't really know yet."

He chuckled lightly, the sound a lot less scornful than she would have expected. "Find some conviction, Mai."

"Easy for you to say." She grumbled and snatched the textbook back. "You always seem to know everything."

He turned his gaze back to her, finding that when she wasn't paying attention he could not help himself from studying her head to toe, and could not stop himself from wondering about personal details he would never bring himself to ask. What had she done the last two years? He had purposefully left without leaving contact information, not wanting to encourage anything he couldn't return. But he had never thought he would be back in Japan; he'd never thought the parent company could approve such a decision.

"You did not come here to deliver books for Hara-san."

"What makes you so sure?" She challenged.

He smiled sardonically. "It is not in your nature. Also I believe that it is very unlikely for you to run into Hara-san anywhere outside of this neighborhood to take the burden from her shoulders."

"You don't know that. Maybe we hang out sometimes." Mai said stiffly.

He raised an eyebrow. "It didn't seem like that at dinner a few nights ago. As I recall, it had been many months since you had last seen her."

"Fine. Your superior intellect has once again overwhelmed me." She said, sarcasm dripping from her words.

"Don't pout, Mai, it's very unbecoming."

"I am not pouting."

He sighed, rubbing closed eyes with his fingers. Mai found herself noticing how slender his well-shaped hands were. "Just.. tell me. I want to listen and you're making it very difficult."

Her pout turned into surprise.

"Is it the spirit of your friend?" He asked seriously.

She stared at him, surprised, and finally nodded. "Yes."

"She has been exorcised?"

"Yes." She nodded slightly, eyes downcast. "Why did she stay, to begin with?"

"I don't know."

"And why me?" She sighed and shook her head. "I should apologize to you, though. You were right about Keiko-chan, and I was not.. I was not very grateful."

"Was I?" His voice was very soft.

"I should have asked Bou-san a long time ago. I guess..." her voice trailed off.

"She was someone important to you. It's easy for judgment to cloud concerning those we care about."

Their eyes met and the two sat in silence. Mai gazed at him, finding herself captivated by his dark eyes. Was it her imagination, or was there a warm expression on his face as he returned her gaze?

The moment did not last very long, so quickly in fact that Mai wondered if it had in fact transpired at all. He stood abruptly, breaking his gaze from hers. "It's getting late. Lin," he called, and his assistant's door swung open.

"Yes?"

"Take Mai home. I'll watch the monitors."

Lin nodded as he stood, crossing the room. Mai sighed, knowing better than to argue, and stood as well, slipping into her heels and picking up her purse. Lin slid open the small coat closet, taking Mai's coat first, offering it to the young woman before selecting his own long black coat and tossing it over his shoulders. "You won't be accompanying us, Naru?"

"I have work to do." The scientist said, closing the door to his office without a word of goodbye.

Lin sighed, shaking his head as they left the office. Naru was entirely too predictable.

...

Mai, although obviously irritated with Naru's brusque nature, was cheerful despite everything, and Lin could see as they got into the van that the tense mood she had carried before was all but gone. Whatever it was she had come to SPR for, she seemed to have found it. As they began to drive she spoke cheerfully with Lin, though the conversation was mostly one-sided as Lin's responses were short and concise.

"Why Igarashi-sama?" She chortled. "What is he, some kind of lord?" She gazed out the window, watching the lights flicker by. "I've never heard Naru use that honorific. It's almost funny when he says it."

Lin spoke slowly, choosing his words very carefully. "He is a man of considerable status."

"I guess he must be, if even Naru has to be polite." She laughed. "And to have his own driver, huh? Must be nice to have your own escort service..."

Lin smirked at the irony of her statement, but she was lost in her own thoughts.

"Ne, Lin-san, Naru must be really rich, right? I mean, SPR—the British one, not—" she waved her hand, gesticulating. "The Society SPR is funding Shibuya Psychic Research, right? And before, he wasn't taking cases all the time, so unless the clients paid really well—I never did know what he charged them, I guess—he would need to have some serious financial backing to be able to go so long without work, and..."

Lin remained silent and she sighed.

"What was I talking about, anyway? It doesn't seem to matter now."

The van drove by a small shop and Mai turned, squinting after a colorful sign in the window that had caught her attention.

"Something of interest?" Lin inquired politely.

"Ah, haha, you could say that..." she laughed lightly. "I was just wondering..." her voice trailed off and she looked embarrassed. "I've been talking a lot, haven't I, Lin-san?"

Lin once again thought over his phrasing carefully before speaking. "You are a tremendous friend, and were always one to be fond of conversation, Taniyama-san. Those two traits together do lead to a more talkative manner."

"Mm, maybe." She said softly, staring out the window. "Do I annoy you, Lin-san?"

He was surprised at her blunt question but spoke without hesitation. "Of course not."

"Oh." She thought for a moment, and a small smile crossed her lips. "That's good, right? It must be. Though you are a very kind and tolerant person, Lin-san. I'm sure that sometimes..." The car was silent as her words trailed off. "I probably annoy Naru, don't I."

"Why do you think that?"

She laughed. "Well... it is Naru, right? Though I guess today he was a little..." Her words ended and she drifted into a thoughtful silence.

Her silence prompted Lin to speak. "Taniyama-san, I have a request of you," he said quietly. "I respect your decision, no matter what you choose to do in the end. But please listen to my selfish request."

She turned toward him, a worried look on her face, mixed with the surprise of his statement. Lin found that her face was full of compassion, as if she was only concerned for him as he asked her for favors. "Please, Lin-san. Tell me. I'll do anything I can."

"Don't say that, either." He sighed and braked as the light changed, the car idling before accelerating once again. "I understand that Naru asked you to return to work at SPR?"

She nodded silently, her gaze lowering slightly.

"Please consider it very carefully, Taniyama-san. It is not something to jump into so readily." He sighed and slowed, turning onto a side street. "Two years ago we undertook many dangerous cases. There were many situations that we were lucky to escape unscathed, just as there were cases where death came very near, and we were merely lucky to survive. Many people do not."

"I know that." Mai whispered, remembering the mansion where Urado's monstrous spirit lurked and the cursed inn by the sea. She flinched, remembering the cold look in Naru's eyes, when she screamed at him; and Lin's panicked words echoed in her ears as the man struggled to resuscitate his young charge's heart. It was a painful memory, seeing Lin lose control. And Naru just lay there, unmoving, not even breathing...

"Please don't think that I am trying to convince you otherwise, because I do want you to return." She looked startled and a smile formed at the edges of his lips. "Very much so. I would be very happy with your return to SPR, Taniyama-san, but only on the condition that it is what is right for you at this moment. Do you understand? Only if it is best for you."

Mai found that she did not know what to say but could only give a nod, indicating that she was listening. She watched as he turned onto the street of her apartment building, the vehicle traveling smoothly. Three buildings passed, a small allyway, and then they were there.

He parked the car in front of her apartment, turning off the ignition. He turned to face her seriously, his eyes dark in the night, dark without any light reflected from the street lamps. "This is my request, in your consideration. Think of yourself first, Taniyama-san. Consider to yourself what coming back to SPR means for you and your future. What it will do to your current aspirations and goals. And most of all, I implore you to remember who Naru is."

She opened her mouth to say something, but there were still no words.

"I know," the man admitted quietly, guiltily. "I know what it is to look at Naru and see the glimmer of his twin. I confess that sometimes I think Gene will appear in him, and say something that would be uncharacteristic of Naru. But he does not express himself like that." He gazed forward, down the street. "I don't mean to sound as if I would prefer Gene's company; I could never have favored one over the other. But they were two halves of a whole and brought out the best in each other. They never should have been separated." He turned back to Mai, and she looked down, avoiding his serious gaze. Her heart was beating loudly and there was a lump in her throat.

"Lin-san," she whispered.

He smiled again, gently. "I'm sorry. I should not have spoken so much."

"No, not at all!" She protested, looking up to meet his gaze. There were unshed tears in her eyes but she brushed them away. "I will, I promise. Thank you... thank you for taking me home tonight." She opened the door and looked back at the older man as he spoke.

"Taniyama-san, I think you would make a great primary school teacher."

She blushed at the compliment, nodded and bowed quickly, closing the door with a gentle slam. She hurried toward the stairs up to her landing, turned and waved, a bright smile on her face. She could see him lift an acknowledging hand before the van pulled into the street, driving away quietly.

"Thanks, Lin-san," she whispered, and turned, running up to the landing.

...

At the office, Naru unwrapped the paper that protected the books inside, and selected one of the three before heading into Lin's office. He sat down in front of the monitor and opened the volume.

He had not moved an inch when Lin returned, save to turn the pages he read. The older man set a plastic bag with two boxes inside on the table and brought another chair over, sitting down and opening the boxes to reveal steaming rice and vegetables.

"That curry place you liked by the station is still there." Lin said by way of explanation, and the younger man closed his book and sat in the chair next to him. The older man watched him, wondering if he would have forgotten about dinner had he not been there to bring it under his nose to remind him.

They were both near ravenous, and the hot food was more than welcome. Naru ate silently and Lin occasionally glanced at the monitor, though there were no indications that anything was amiss.

"Did you see the books that Mai brought from Hara-san?" Naru lowered his spoon.

Lin shook his head. "I didn't. Did you find a lead?"

Naru pursed his lips. "Perhaps. It's too early to tell, but the facts of Miyamura Keiko's actions do give certain implications. I believe that her spirit was prevented from moving on at the time of her death. Otherwise, how could she have stayed in Mai's refuge for so long? And it is unlikely that the exorcism would have gone so smoothly in different circumstances."

"Because what killed her did not want her spirit to pass on." Lin suggested quietly.

"Yes. Exactly." Naru sighed. "Because it needed the spirit there for its own purposes. If that is the case, then the malevolent spirit has several possible ways of trapping and then devouring its victims. But several, narrowed down from many, is not a bad situation to be in."

"This early in a case, certainly." Lin mused. The two ate in silence for several more moments before he continued. "You have a theory."

Naru smiled thinly. "I said it was too early to tell."

"Your assumptions have an almost unbearable record of being correct." Lin said, a small smile spreading across his features.

"Be as it may," Naru said, though he seemed amused, perhaps even pleased. "I'd like to do a little more research before I divulge."

"Fair enough." Lin agreed, turning his attention back to his curry.

Their silence lasted for the rest of their meal. Naru gazed toward the monitors, though Lin could see that the young president was preoccupied. Knowing that prompting an explanation would do little good, he said nothing and began to pick up the remains of their dinner.

He had opened the door to the main room and was about to leave his office with Naru finally spoke.

"What could Igarashi gain by having Mai work with us on this case?" He asked, gazing absently, his fingers tapping his chin with impatience.

Lin sighed, and it was obvious that the older man was just as troubled by the question as the younger. "I don't know."

...


Thanks everyone for being so patient! I'm sorry this chapter took so long. After not writing for a few weeks it was pretty hard to find the groove, but it's been picking up again.

Most importantly: thanks for reading! Until next time!