HEY! Sorry I'm late. I had tons of work to do and I just tried to squeeze this in.
Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and reviewing this story! ^ v ^ For those who didn't get the "bathroom door clicking" part in the previous chapter, I'll explain.
I know I haven't written about Naru's PK as frequent as I have in the Norringbent arc of Key. Last chapter was the first time that I wrote about it in this story. So basically, since Mai told him she won't personally serve him his tea, he locked the bathroom door with his PK (remember Mai said she needed to go to the bathroom?). It was basically a form of punishment - he won't let her use the bathroom since she didn't let him have his tea served in bed.
Mai knew it was his PK so she scolded him (remember Gene educated her back in 'Are you happy?' about how hazardous to Naru's health using PK was?).
If it's still confusing, do tell me. * v *
Oooh, a lot of people want Luella and Martin to have a grandchild/grandchildren. Interesting! LOL
Here's another chapter for 'Where is home?' I'm seriously thinking about uploading once every two weeks. But I'm still not sure if I'll do it. Anyway, please read and review! ^ v ^
"Where in Japan should we start searching for Noll?" Madoka asked as she sat beside Lin in the airplane.
Martin and Luella sat in front of them, having a conversation of their own as the plane soared away from London.
"I've given Martin an itinerary," Lin said. "After we get settled in the hotel, we'll visit Shibuya where Taniyama used to live in…or still lives in now."
Madoka nodded, understanding the plan. Shibuya was quite a large place so they would most likely visit the house or apartment that Mai lived in...or is still living in.
"I've also had some detectives trace the people that Noll mingled with in Japan two years ago," Lin said. "We'll be meeting them too."
"But so far, those detectives you spoke with didn't find him, yes?" Madoka asked. "Not even Mai..?"
Lin raised a brow at Madoka. "You talk about her as if you've already known each other," he said. "Would you mind enlightening me on this matter?"
Madoka frowned and glared at Lin. "She's Noll's girlfriend, and most probably will be Noll's wife," she said. "We might as well treat her as part of the family!"
Lin sighed and shook his head. "Let's hope the professor didn't hear you," he said eyeing the professor sitting in front of him, who luckily seemed to be busy muttering something to Luella – most probably a rebuttal to what Luella told her.
It was the couple's favourite past time – annoying each other.
Lin smirked.
That was Noll and Mai's favourite hobby too.
Madoka rolled her eyes at Lin. "Would you really, rather have Charlotte or Masako as your daughter-in-law?"
Lin stared confused at Madoka. "Why would either of them be my daughter-in-law?"
Madoka glared at Lin. "Because they're going to marry Noll if you don't let Noll marry you-kno-who," she muttered.
Lin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Madoka," he began. "Noll is not our son. He is the professor's and Luella's."
"You deny that you treat him as your son?" Madoka whispered, daring him.
Lin frowned at Madoka. "That does not change the fact that whoever Noll is going to marry won't carry my last name."
Madoka glared at Lin. "Now you're telling me you don't care about Noll and his future..? What happened to 'hoping we're doing the right thing,' huh?"
Lin sighed. "It's still here," he said. "But I'm more worried about how this search is going to affect Noll's emotional and psychological state, not who Noll will end up marrying. You've seen how depressed he could be. That's what I'm worried about."
Madoka frowned and slumped childishly on her seat.
"Madoka, what if the professor has a point?" Lin said. "What if being with Taniyama hurts him? Burdens him..? What if separating them will actually do him good?"
"It won't and you know it," Madoka muttered, glaring at the window.
Lin sighed and held Madoka's hand. "No I don't know it," he said. "Feeling like it is not going to do him good, is different from knowing that it won't do him any good."
Madoka looked up at Lin. "But what if Noll really was your son," she said. "Would you do this to him? And don't give me that crap about 'don't cross the bridge before you get there' thing!"
Lin smirked. "Crap, huh?" he said. "You've been watching those American action movies again."
Madoka glared at Lin. "You answer me, Koujo. I just asked you a question."
Lin chuckled. "I won't," he said. "…Because in the end, it's not going to be me who will spend the rest of my life with Taniyama. It's Noll."
Madoka looked sadly at Lin. "How come he doesn't see that?" she whispered, slightly leaning her head toward the profesor's direction at the word "he."
Lin leaned his head beside Madoka's. "Because he's not me," he said. "There's no universal definition for fatherhood and love. You know that."
Madoka sighed. "I just can't help but feel that this is all crap, you know?"
Lin chuckled. "Well sometimes we need to do shit to know if it really is shit."
Madoka stared shocked at Lin.
Lin just smiled at her.
"Don't do that again, Koujo."
"You have no idea how much I want to scrub my tongue with soap right now."
Madoka chuckled and leaned her head on the crook of Lin's neck.
Mai scribbled the word 'chicken' on the slip of paper she took from the library as she stared at the pantry filled with canned goods.
It was then that she noticed what kinds of food were already present in the pantry aside from sausages, corned beef, chicken chunks and tuna.
There were also canned fruits like halved peaches, pineapples, and mixed fruits; canned sauces like tomato sauce; canned ready meals like soups, chicken tikka marsala, chilli con carne, and curry; and canned vegetables like roasted bell peppers, green beans, potatoes.
There were also bags of uncooked pasta and instant mashed potatoes on one shelf.
Mai hummed, thinking of what she could whip up with the ingredients.
She could think of a number of basic British dishes that she cooked while in Master Mortimer's household.
The question was if Naru would like them. He hasn't, after all, eaten anything that Mai had prepared.
He just drank her tea.
And they couldn't always eat instant meals because they would end up stuffing themselves with preservatives.
So that's why they still need to go to the market and buy the things on Mai's list.
Mai looked down at her list.
They were basic fresh foods that could easily be cooked into something edible – whole chicken, eggs, some beef or pork, fish, other seafoods if they were available...or if they could all fit in Mai's budget.
Mai bit her lips.
She had some money, but she doubted it would last for...how long were they going to stay in the house anyway?
Mai nodded.
She would have to ask Naru about that...and about the mess they were in. He obviously was still hiding tons of important facts behind her back.
Naru kidnapping her just because he didn't want to look for her anymore..? Sure, that could have meant that Naru cared for her, but that wasn't enough reason for him to actually kidnap her.
He could have told her to go with him to Amsterdam. She would go with him...as long as it didn't burden anyone else...
Did...Did they burden someone? Like Naru's family..? Were they looking for him?
Surely, Naru would inform them about his whereabouts. But what if he didn't? After all, Mai hadn't met his parents.
If he did tell them about her, they probably thought of her as a housekeeper that would watch over their son.
...But weren't they staying in Master Mortimer's house? What would be so important that Naru would stay in another person's house?
Well, he stayed in her house because he was looking for Gene...when he could have just stayed in a hotel...
...Why didn't he choose to live in a hotel in Amsterdam? Because living in someone else's house was cheaper..?
Naru didn't look like the thrifty type. And he came from quite a well off family.
The house was also situated in a place far from the nearest town. They didn't even have any neighbours!
It was as if they really hid themselves away from people.
Mai frowned.
Did Naru really think she was that stupid?
"That's what you're wearing outside?" Mai suddenly heard Naru's voice say near her ear.
She jolted in shock and glared at Naru, who suddenly stood behind her in the kitchen.
"Don't do that!"
Naru raised a brow at her. "I've been standing here for two minutes," he said. "I've even asked you about that list you're making."
Mai looked away, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "There's nothing wrong with my clothes," she said. "And what were you asking about the list?"
Naru stared incredulously at Mai. "I was asking you about how much food you're planning to buy in the market," he said. "...If you're planning to buy food enough for a week or so. And you're wearing a shirt, and a mini-skirt, which I doubt is suitable for the weather outside."
Mai raised a brow at Naru and turned to look at the nearest window.
It was raining outside.
Mai gasped and realized how cold it was in the kitchen.
"Do you have a coat?" Naru asked.
"I have a jacket," Mai answered. "I'll just go upstairs to get dressed," she said before she ran out of the kitchen and stomped up the stairs.
Naru watched her as she disappeared into the second floor.
He knew Mai was starting to think about everything. She would start asking him questions soon.
Naru sighed and looked at his reflection in the mirror.
"Just knock her up," his reflection said.
Naru glared at him.
"I see," Yasuhara said as he sat across Takumi in the office. "You've seen this Baehler person?"
"Yes," Takumi said. "Naru asked me to watch the places where people could get information about Oswald Mortimer. I saw this tall German introducing himself as Detective Ulrich Baehler in the Valuation Office Agency. He asked about records of Mortimer's properties for an investigation."
"So their on his tail," Yasuhara said looking away.
"It's too subtle though," Takumi said. "I bet it's the Chinese guy who told Baehler to do it. I mean, I watched them all leave the house and drive to the airport. If they're planning to look for him in Europe, they could have just taken a train."
"That's right," Yasuhara said. "Still, one wrong move can ruin everything. I'll tell him about this, including your report on the papers. Are you planning to go back to Europe?"
"Not really," Takumi said shrugging his shoulders. "Mai's in good hands now. But if it will make sure that she get's a good future, I'll go back there."
Yasuhara smiled. "That's good," he said. "Detective Baehler could change our plans a bit and we might need someone back there in Europe."
Takumi nodded. "No problem," he said. "Like I said, I'll do anything if it would be good for Mai."
Yasuhara chuckled. "It still hurts, doesn't it?"
Takumi smirked. "I'll get used to it," he said.
Yasuhara nodded. "I'll need a kitchen staff by the way," he said. "Have you already gotten a job?"
Takumi smiled. "Yes," he said. "...Kitchen staff in your bar."
Yasuhara chuckled. "In that case, let me give you your contract."
Mai gripped her purse tight as she gazed at the view outside the window of the bus.
They rode a bus to the nearest town.
The drizzling rain was soaking the road and the grassy lawns.
It was a good thing Naru told her to change her clothes. Her deep red leggings warmed her legs from the cold.
Naru sighed as he took a glance at Mai.
If it wasn't mini-skirts, it was a pair of mini-shorts. At least she wore leggings this time. And she wore a hooded long sleeve T-shirt that reached her thighs.
Naru smirked.
For a childish idiot, she had fashion sense.
He looked away and kept his eyes on the road that the bus was taking.
"Hey Naru," Mai asked as she looked up to him, trying hard not to admire him in his navy blue Yale duffle coat. "How long are we going to stay in the house?"
Naru looked at Mai and noticed how much she gripped her purse.
She was worried about the budget.
What was he going to tell her?
They would stay there until his father accepts the fact that his son didn't want to get married to anyone other than Mai..?
EH? Where did that come from?
"Two months," Naru said.
"That long..?" Mai asked. "So this is your vacation."
No. This is his work.
Of course it's a vacation – a vacation from everything giving him headaches back in England.
...And the first step in keeping her for good.
Yes. He needs to eat a real decent home-cooked meal.
"And you're going to go back to England after two months," she said.
Naru stared at her. "Why are you asking these questions?"
"Can't I ask them?" Mai said looking away and hiding her blushing face from Naru.
Naru looked out at the road.
She was worried that he would leave her, wasn't she? Well it wasn't like he had plans of doing so. It's just that...Knowing Mai...There was a greater chance that she would leave him once she knew the whole circumstance that they were in.
So he couldn't tell her everything. Not yet...
"This is our stop," Mai heard Naru say as the bus slowed down to a stop.
Mai saw a stretch of stores on the side of the road. A small crowd was forming on the strip.
Perhaps it was market day.
Mai suddenly felt a warm hand pull her hand up. She turned to Naru and saw him standing up with the other passengers.
She followed him – her cheeks flushed at how Naru held her hand as they walked out of the bus.
"Where do we go from here?" Mai asked trying to keep her eyes away from seeing how Naru held her hand as they stood on the side of the road.
"Keep your eyes on the path," Naru said pulling Mai close to his side – his fingers locking themselves with her own.
Mai stared up surprised at Naru.
He was frowning at her. "It's market day," he said. "Stay close to me."
Mai found her self nodding – her cheeks burning.
They then followed the people into a nearby block that led into the market place – their hands tightly clasped.