Chapter 7: It Has Been A While
I sighed quietly as I made my way towards the door. I finally made it back home and was soak to the bone. I opened the door and said, "I'm home," and then closed the door behind me. I proceed to take off my shoes until…
"Mai?"
"Huh," I looked up and it was as if the world stopped turning that instant. My whole body was paralyzed and I couldn't help but gasped in surprise, "N-Naru?"
"Mai," Naru repeated.
"I… how," I tried to find the right word but my mind was a total blink.
"Ah, welcome home Mai-chan," Mrs. Takumi appeared through the living room door. I could see the rest of the SPR gang behind her. Everyone was desperately trying to look through the door.
"I-I'm home," I said to her and then adverted my eyes back to Naru.
"It has been a while, Mai," he greeted with a straight face.
I couldn't muster a single word but stared at him. A part of me wanted to make sure he was real, while the other part wanted to look away, afraid that he might see through me.
"Oh my," Mrs. Takumi said suddenly, "You should change out of your clothes or you'll catch a cold."
"Ah," noticing my appearance I nodded and finished taking off my shoes. Mrs. Takumi scampered upstairs and shortly returned with a towel. I wrapped the towel around my shoulders. All the while, I kept my gaze anywhere that's not Naru.
To be honest, I'm scared that he'll know how much I missed him. I didn't want him to think I can't live without him. I wanted him to think I'm fine by myself like I was before I met him.
"Mai-" "I'm going to change," I cut him off, "um, I'll talk to you after I changed, okay?"
I quickly run up the stairs before anyone could say anything. Once I reached my room, I close the door and leaned against the door. 'N-Naru is here', I thought, 'B-But why? He… I'm probably dreaming,' I let out a sigh and sat down against the door, 'He can't be here. He should still be in England.'
"Mai-chan," Mrs. Takumi called through the door as she gave a quiet knock, "are you alright?"
I forced myself up from the floor and stood up, "I'm fine. I'm getting change right now," I lied.
"Okay," Mrs. Takumi said through the door, "Your friends are waiting for you downstairs so hurry up okay?"
"Okay," I replied, not moving an inch from my spot.
A few second after I replied, I could hear her footsteps fated away and voices downstairs. I stared at the door and then sighed. "What's wrong with you Mai Taniyama," I asked myself, "You finally got to see him again and you went and ran away from him. What is the matter with you?" I sat down on the floor, "Just because you're afraid he might see through you? Since when are you a coward?"
And then I took noticed of the tears that was coming down from my eyes, "Look at me," I wiped away the tears, "crying for no stupid reason. "
Wiping away the remaining tears, I took a deep breath and let it out, "Okay, I can't stay depressed and confused forever. I've got to get change and go out there."
Taking another deep breath, I got up and rushed to my drawers. I pulled out a white strap shirt and dark blue booty short. I ran into the bathroom and washed the cold rain out of my hair and quickly changed out of my mini sundress.
I threw the dress into the laundry basket in the corner of the bathroom and quickly put on the strap shirt and booty short. I quickly combed my hair to at least make myself look decent. Once I was done, I left the bathroom and made my way across the room towards the bedroom door.
I opened the door and, "Ow!" I must have bumped into someone cause there isn't a wall outside my door earlier.
"Are you alright," someone asked.
"I'm fine," I rubbed my forehead, and then realization dawn on me. I looked up, "N-Naru?"
"Hm," he replied.
"Um, w-what are you doing up here," my brain managed this time.
"Well, you were taking quite a long time," he explained.
"Oh," I said, "Well, shall we?"
He turned around without another word and made his way down the hallway towards the stairs. I followed a few millimeters away. I didn't want him hearing my pounding heart.
"Why did you avoid looking at me earlier," he asked, as we made our way downstairs.
"Um, was I," I tried playing dumb.
"There's no point lying to me," he replied with a stern look as he glanced back at me.
"I-I wasn't," I defend.
He narrowed his eyes slightly but otherwise, he said nothing. I let out a relief even though I knew he knew I was lying.
I followed him into the living room where I found myself surrounded by everyone except Masako and Naru, of course. Monk-san patted my head gently, "What took you so long?"
"Sorry," I chuckled.
"Sheesh, do you know how long we waited for you to come home," Ayako sarcastically complained.
I smiled at her, "You haven't changed at all Ayako."
"Taniyama-san," John said from behind Ayako.
"John," I exclaimed and beamed at him.
"Don't forget about us," Madoka and Yasuhara-san cheerfully said at the same time.
"Madoka, Yasuhara-san," I put my arms around them as they did the same.
"Mai," Masako called a few feet away from John.
"Masako," I made my way towards her, "Long time no see."
She smiled, "Yes, 'long time no see'."
"Ah, where's Mrs. Takumi," I asked once I noted that she wasn't in the room.
"She said she's going to prepare dinner," Monk-san informed me.
"Oh, I should probably go help her," I said.
"No," Naru said from beside Monk-san, "Hara-san and Matsuzaki-san will go and help her. You and I need to talk."
"But," I protested. I'm already on the verge of breaking down and just hold him, but to be in the same room with him will…
"We'll go help her," Monk-san said instead of Masako and Ayako, "You and Naru need to talk."
"Um, okay," I said unsurely.
"Let's go help guys," Monk-san said as he made his way towards the door.
"Don't disappoint me," Masako whispered as she passed by me.
"Eh," I looked at her as she disappeared through the door.
I turned back to Naru and immediately an awkward atmosphere flow above our head. I nervously smiled and scratched the back of my head, "S-S0, what do you want to talk about Naru?"
"I want you to tell me about Yukiyo Takumi and what the two of you share," he said as he sat down casually on the couch.
"Huh," I blinked, "How did you know Yukiyo?"
"I will explained after you tell me everything," he said in a serious tone.
I huffed in annoyance and sat down on the armchair across from him. "How am I supposed to tell you if I don't even know why you want to know about Yukiyo?"
He sent me a glare and crossed his arms; "I already told you I will tell you after you told me everything between you and Yukiyo Takumi."
"Between me and Yukiyo," I repeated and tilted my head in confusion.
He seem to realized something since he pretend to cough, "A-Anyway, we don't have much time before the other comes back."
"Fine," I growled and began telling him about Yukiyo and me.
A Few Minutes Later
"So," I said after a long explanation of what's going on between Yukiyo and me "What else do you want to know?"
"Earlier, Mrs. Takumi mentioned that Yukiyo Takumi had secrets, and that he only shared them with you," for some reason, his voice seemed cold, "Please tell me what he said to you."
"Ah," I gulped and bit my lower lip, "I-I can't tell you."
He raised an eyebrow, "And why not?"
"B-Because I promised Yukiyo I wouldn't tell anyone," I replied.
Naru let out a sigh, "Mai," he said sternly, making me cringed a little, "Please tell me. In order to solve this case I need to know everything about Yukiyo Takumi and that includes his secrets."
"Case," I repeated in confusion.
"Yes," he replied in his serious tone, "Madoka presented me with a case that involves Yukiyo Takumi, which is why I need all the information I can get on him. Hara-san couldn't sense anything even though she was right outside his room."
"But," I hesitated.
"Please Mai," he said in a soft tone; "We can't get this case moving until I know everything about Yukiyo Takumi."
I bit my lower lip, 'I know I have to help them, but I can't tell Naru Yukiyo's secret either. Damn it,' I sighed, "Okay, I'll tell you. But first," I looked at him, almost sadly, "Did you come all this way just for the case?"
Naru looked at me for a moment and then he stood up. He walked towards me and leaned down when he was close enough. "No," he whispered in my ears, making me blushed, "I came because I was worried about you." With that said and done, he swiftly left the room leaving me stupefied and blushing madly.
AN- I hope you guys likes this chapter! I'll try to add some romance in there if I can, so hope you guys like this chapter and please review!
