As always. Own nothing
So, let's go !
The Uncommon Case
Chapter Seven: The consequences
As the light came back, The people gathered in the dining room took the damages in.
Some maids were on the floor lightly injured, the plates were smashed on the same floor, John was fitted into in a nearby wall, laying unconscious. But what surprised them the more was Mai laying on her stomach and bleeding.
Ayako, Takigawa and Shigy-san hurried to her side and made her lay on her back whereas Shouji and other servants went to the injured maids.
Mai was scratched everywhere and bleeding profusely from these; her breathing was shaky. Shigy-san went to grab his tools to take care of Mai's bruises and Ayako searched for a basin with water in order to wash away the blood that hid the big scratches.
As they were taking actions, the others watched worriedly though Lin was as difficult to read as ever but Naru had a slightly visible worry in his eyes. John made a prayer for her safety, Masako watched with her sleeve on her mouth, Lin – not knowing what to do – just stood there to see what would happen next, and Takigawa held Mai's little body with a really worried look as she hissed in pain as the two doctors intended to her.
Naru approached them as his gaze didn't leave Mai's face and knelt in front of them without bothering them from their task.
Once he was sure Mai's injuries were taken care, he stood up and faced his team.
"Brown-san, Hara-san, help the injured persons; Lin, go and ask what they witnessed.
- Yes"
The three answered as one and went to do his orders. Naru went with Ayako and Takigawa as they took Mai to her room whereas Shigy-san healed his staff with a professional rapidity.
Kazuya returned to his base once he made sure that Mai was in security, behind him were Ayako and Takigawa with angry faces as they exchanged glances. A short time after, the SPR team came back to base and all sat in silence that was interrupted by Naru himself.
"Does it happen frequently ?
- Yeah, Takigawa answered with a frown, but usually it would just make all the things upside down and injured lightly some people.
- This time, Ayako completed his answer, it has injured many more persons than normally it would, almost half of the remaining maids were injured although it was nothing.
- The most injured was Mai, John said worriedly, she was choking just before Lin's shikis' intervention...
- Lin's shikis... Takigawa was thoughtful, you mean the sharp whistle we heard ?
- Before the lights went on, Ayako nodded, there was this whistle, yeah, then it was like the...thing...was gone.
- Lin-san is an onmyouji, Hara-san explained calmly.
- That makes sense now, Takigawa said as Ayako nodded.
- What did the victims at the hospital say, Brown-san ? Naru inquired annoyed.
- They were doing their daily routines, John replied with a frown, when they blacked out and felt nothing else but pain all over their body and awakened there.
- And what did those injured here say, Lin ? Naru turned to Lin.
- It was dark so they didn't see anything, Lin reported indifferently, but they felt like something whipped them or some daggers were running alongside their skin."
John, Takigawa and Ayako gulped noisily whereas Masako lifted her sleeve to her mouth (she does it a lot -_-") and Naru remained thoughtful.
"Then why was Mai the most injured if they felt these way (he is cruel, isn't he?)? He asked suddenly.
- This is...Uhm...Takigawa and Ayako exchanged glances worriedly.
- What are you hiding from us, Takigawa-san, Matsuzaki-san ? Naru glared at them, I can't do an investigation if you're hiding things important, why does the ghost seem to know Mai ? Answer !
- Uhm...Well, Takigawa was bothered and didn't know what to say as all eyes were on him and Ayako, it's just that..uhm...
- We can't tell you, Ayako intervened with a determined face as they received curious glazes.
- And why ? Naru asked impatiently and glared at them, Ayako and Takigawa took a step back.
- Because...I asked...them...not to."
A soft voice answered him as the base's door closed and Mai, breathing difficultly and not standing straight went to him but tripped before him because her legs couldn't support her. As she was nearing the ground, Naru, who was standing before her, caught her in his arms as he knelt to be at her eye level. Although she was barely able to stand as he tried to steady her.
"They...were...doing...it...for me... Mai panted as she leaned forward as she felt her conscious slipping away, I...made them...promised...to me...they won't...tell...to anyone. Don't...be mad...at them..., please..."
Mai looked straight in his eyes with tears as she straightened herself though it was an unnecessary action. And she uttered a last plea as she leaned on his chest and fainted in his arms.
"Mai !" Ayako and Takigawa cried at the same time as they reached out to Mai. Naru stood up with Mai in his arms who was sweating and in pain, probably from all her cuts. He looked at them.
"You won't tell us, right ?"
Naru stated more than asked them. The two shook their heads and Naru went towards the door.
"I'm taking her to her room, you can all go and take some rest, tomorrow will be a long day."
Without turning around he gave his last order for the day and went out, the door closed after his exit.
"How cute it was ! Ayako exclaimed breaking the astounded silence.
- Yeah ! Takigawa agreed nodding his head, Naru-chan holding Mai-chan in his arms, what a beautiful picture !"
Masako hmmphed jealously as John simply smiled shyly at the reference. The four characters just went to follow Naru's last order and rest in their room. They all missed the almost not visible mysterious smile from Lin who took his place again in front of his laptop thinking that maybe Naru cared for the little Mai more than he would like to show.
I've just remembered it's Matsuzaki and not Matsumoto *sigh* I confounded her name with Matsumoto from Bleach -_-" So I re-edited the chapters but nothing else has been changed well just the surname Matsumoto to Matsuzaki ^^" I know I'm clumsy
A/N:Poor little Mai, she must be in a lot of pain... Ah, forgive me Mai but it's for the sake of the continuation of this story ! One thousand excuses !
Merry Christmas !!! I hope you got many presents !
See you next chapter, matane !
-Yakitorii-
