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Chapter 7
Mai's POV
It was only about fifteen minutes later that Madoka arrived, flinging the door open joyously as she entered.
"Hello, my darlings!" She called out. I instantly grinned and got up to greet her.
"Madoka!"
"Mai!" She wrapped me in a big welcoming hug. I giggled. Her hugs remind me of Monk's a little bit.
"I haven't seen you in so long!" I smiled happily. When we pulled away I noticed two people standing behind her in the entrance. Madoka beckoned them over.
"Come on, you two!" She exclaimed. Shyly they entered the room and stood next to her. They gave a small bow.
"Hello..." They said with a relieved smile. I bowed back.
"Welcome to SPR." I greeted.
"So, where is he? Hiding in his office since Lin told him?" Madoka whispered to me with a grin. I giggled and nodded.
"I'll go get him." I told her before heading to Naru's office. I knocked once before I opened the door. "Naru, the clients are here...along with Madoka." I announced, mumbling the last part. I hoped he didn't notice the last part of my sentence, but apparently he had and he scowled. "Come on, Naru..." I slightly grinned, holding my hand out for him. He sighed and got up from his desk. He gently grasped my hand for a moment as he kissed my cheek before he went into the main area. I followed after him.
Madoka and the two clients, who were hand in hand, were already sitting down on the couch. I immediately went into the kitchen to make tea. I made enough for six people. When I got back everyone except Madoka was sitting in awkward silence whilst she was chattering away joyfully about something. I smiled as I stopped in front of the clients. I handed them a cup of tea and then I gave Madoka one. She stopped talking for a moment and smiled at me.
"Ah, thank you, Mai!" She said. I went to Naru and Lin and gave them theirs before sitting down beside Naru. He carefully put a hand out in my direction and felt around for mine. I smiled softly and grasped his hand, intertwining our fingers together without anyone noticing. Madoka had starting talking again.
"Madoka." Naru cut off her rambling. "You came here with a case, I suggest you state it."
"And I suggest you find your manners, young man." She snapped as she frowned at him. Naru glared at her, causing Madoka to sigh dramatically. "Really, I thought being with Mai would've changed your manners some."
"How would you know anything about my love life?" Naru demanded. Madoka immediately narrowed her eyes.
"Now listen here—"
"Madoka." Lin interrupted with a warning before either one could start something. The clients were sitting wide-eyed on the sofa looking between us all. I laughed nervously before nudging Naru in the gut to remind him there were clients. He cleared his throat and focused his intense gaze on them. Madoka snapped out of her 'fight with Noll' mode and finally introduced the two people.
"Oh, of course! This is my friend, Chise Tanabe, and her husband, Kishi." She told us.
"Pleased to meet you." They bowed.
"Our nephew actually recommended this place and Chise just so happened to know her old friend Madoka worked for you." Kishi filled in. Naru nodded.
"What's the issue regarding your case?" He evenly asked. The Tanabe's looked at each other and then faced us again.
"We were recently married about six months ago...and strange things have been happening in the house that we bought." The wife, Chise, replied.
"It started out small, but it seems to have gotten worse since our nephew has come to stay with us." Kishi informed.
"I hear a voice telling me that Kishi is an abuser and will kill me." Chise said trembling. I stiffened as my eyes widened. Kishi gently patted his wife's arm and hugged her. I felt Naru gently squeeze my hand. "But it's the one trying to kill me... I've been pushed down the stairs a couple of times." She continued.
"Has anything else happened?" Naru asked. Chise took a shaky breath.
"In the kitchen...I've had knives thrown at me! One had even grazed my neck..." Naru took up his thinking pose and nodded seriously to encourage her to continue. "I've woken up in the middle of the night to have someone touching me... I'll look over at my husband, but he's already fallen asleep..."
"Has anyone else experienced anything?"
The woman looked at her husband.
"Occasionally I will hear things like 'killer' and 'you won't get away with it' as I walk through the house." Kishi replied.
"Is that all?" Naru asked. Kishi let out a sigh.
"Oddly, our nephew has more things happening to him than me." He answered.
"I see. Explain."
"Well, I don't think things get as extreme as they do with my wife, but like Chise, he said he's felt someone touching him. He does get many strange bruises on him...one is even in the shape of a hand print." I could see Naru turning what they were saying over slowly in his head. I mean of course he had to take it anyways, but it seemed he actually was interested in it now.
"I see." Was all he replied after a moment or two. Madoka smiled, knowing like I did that he liked the case.
"You'll be coming tomorrow, Naru. The sooner you help poor Chise the better!" She wrapped an arm around her friend and hugged her. Naru scowled at her. I could tell he wanted to at least act like he was doing this of his own free will.
"We'll come noon tomorrow." He replied professionally. I blinked. Noon? Usually he wants to get there sooner... I frowned on the inside wondering why Naru chose to go so late. Madoka seemed not to like the idea either as she frowned also.
"What? Naru, you—"
"Noon, Madoka." Naru affirmed. Madoka frowned even more.
"That's perfectly fine. Noon will be okay, Madoka." Chise told her.
"Excellent. Glad that's settled. See you tomorrow." Naru said briefly. He released my hand and stood up. As he walked to his office we all stared at him in disbelief.
"What is up with him?" Madoka asked. Bringing my attention back to her, I turned towards her and the clients. I sighed.
"I have no idea."
"Poor you." She cooed. I laughed.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the fact you have to date him, and then you might get married, and then you'll have to put up with him for life!" She explained. I couldn't help but blush a bit when she said marriage. We are getting married—sometime—just no one knows it yet, except the two of us.
"He is not as bad as what you're making him out to be." I smiled. She didn't look like she believed me. Neither did the clients who were still sat next to her sipping their tea. I avoided their gazes and sipped my own tea. I heard Madoka let out an exasperated sigh.
"It seems you can handle him more than anyone though..." She said.
"Well, it's nice to know I'm good for something even if it is Naru wrangling." I replied. Madoka laughed while the clients gave a few chuckles. I gave them a smile. "Madoka, you're coming on the case with us, right?" I asked.
"I'm not sure yet." She answered. I glanced at Naru's office to make sure it was closed before speaking.
"I hope you do." I whispered. She smiled warmly at me when I turned back to her.
"Perhaps I can." She winked at me before addressing her two friends. "That is if you don't mind."
"Oh, of course, Madoka! You know you can come whenever you like." Chise smiled brightly.
"Alright, it's settled then! I'll come!" Madoka stated. "...Just don't tell Naru yet." She snickered. I gave her a wink and a bright smile.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Madoka."
Madoka giggled. "Well, I guess we'd best be going then." She said after a few moments. I nodded and stood so I could escort them out. "Oh, and Mai, I already gave all the information you will need to Lin." Madoka informed me as we walked to the door. I nodded.
"Alright, see you tomorrow." I waved as they stepped out.
"Mai, tea!" I heard Naru call from his office. My smile dropped at hearing those words. I stared at the closed door for a few moments with an annoyed expression. He literally just had tea like five minutes ago! I stomped to the kitchen. Tea-addict narcissist...! I thought. I sighed and grabbed the kettle. I began to subconsciously think about what Naru had said earlier. I was still puzzling over why he would want to leave so late. It didn't make sense, really...although tomorrow is—
I jumped as the kettle whistle went off. I quickly made the tea and hurried to Naru's office.
"Come." I heard him call out so I entered. I placed the tea on his desk and stood there, waiting for him to look up at me. When he finally did, I gave him a small smile, but my lips were pressed firmly together. He frowned slightly. "Is something wrong, Mai?" He asked.
"Why did you say we were going to be there so late? You've never done that before... And don't lie to me—I know there's some reason." I stated, telling him 'what was wrong'.
"Ah, that." He merely stated.
"Yeah...'that'." I waited for my answer. Apparently he wasn't going to give me a straight one though.
"Well, surely you'd know the reason."
"...Not entirely. I might know of a reason why, but that's not saying it's the same as yours." I retorted. Two can play this game.
"Well, give me your reason and I can either confirm or deny whether the reason you thought of is the correct one. Even though I can only think of one reason why I would want to go so late tomorrow."
"Why don't you tell me your reason first? You were the one who suggested the idea after all." I was not telling Naru first. It'd be embarrassing if it wasn't what I thought it was. Naru smirked, clearly aware that I was meeting his evasiveness with my own.
"Ladies first." He said.
"No, no, it's narcissists first." I grinned.
"Good one." He admitted as he thought for a moment before meeting my gaze again. "Beautiful girlfriends first." My grin dropped and I instantly blushed a deep red.
"Boyfriend who-is-starting-to-get-on-my-nerves-if-he-doesn't-tell-me first." He let out a low chuckle. "Naaaruuuu!" I pouted the best I could, walking to the side of his desk to stand beside him. "Please tell me why you want to go so late." I begged, giving him a light kiss.
"Please tell me what you think the reason is." He said before kissing me back more firmly. I pulled back away from him and gave him a small, mostly playful, glare.
"You're mean."
"Yes, I am." He admitted almost happily. I shook my head with a smile on face.
"At least you know it. And you probably already know that I'll be late coming to the office tomorrow." I vaguely went back to our conversation.
"Yes, I am fully aware of that. And you did know the answer to the question you asked me."
I shrugged. "I wasn't exactly sure... But thank you, you didn't have to do that." Leaning back down, I kissed him again.
"Mai, despite what you and the others may think of me, I'm not a cold and callous man and I knew how important tomorrow is for you." He sighed before wrapping his arms around my waist and guiding me to sit on his lap.
"I know you're not." I confirmed.
"And yet you still like to call me a jerk everyday." He smirked. I let a smirk of my own spread across my lips as I absent-mindedly stared at the door. "What's so funny?" Naru asked.
"Nothing... What time are we exactly leaving tomorrow?" I questioned so I wouldn't be too late.
"We are to be there by noon so I would say no later than eleven is the time we are leaving." He stated. I nodded.
"Alright, I'll try and be here before then..." I grinned. We both knew I'd be late...even if it was just a little. "Ah, wait, I do have to be here early to pack the van!"
"No. Lin and I will do that." He informed. I sighed at him.
"Naru, I can do it."
"We'll do it whilst you're at the cemetery." He insisted.
"Naru..." I began as I gave him an unsure look.
"Mai..." He countered. Then I sighed in defeat knowing that he wouldn't let me help no matter what I said to try and convince him. He smirked in triumph knowing I'd given up. "You can go home early today also to pack everything you need." He continued. I let out another sigh and nodded weakly. "Mai, are you okay with this case?" He asked me.
"What? Yeah. Of course. No problem." I replied. I ignored the small amount of anxiousness that filled me though. As much as the facts of the case disturbed me and hit close to home, I really wanted to be with Naru and see Madoka. After all, nothing would be happening to me.
"You don't look too sure." Naru said. I turned my head slightly and gave him a small smile.
"I'll be fine...I promise." I told him quietly. He didn't look very convinced by my words, but he didn't say anything. "I will be." I insisted firmly. Although it seemed I was convincing myself more than him now. Truth be told I was a little worried about this case, but I didn't want him to know that as he could and would take me off it and insist I stay here. I was not going to let that happen. The first case we took after the Chocolate Factory Case he had his mind already set up that I wasn't going to go when he took it. It had taken me forever to convince him to let me go. I don't want to think about what he'd be like in this situation. I took a deep breath then gave him my most positive and assuring grin. I gave him a quick kiss too for extra measures.
"So!" I began. We needed a topic change. "Do you want me to call the others?" I asked, grinning. He rolled his eyes as he obviously knew what I was doing. But I ignored that and waited for his answer.
"Yes, I would like you to call the others." I nodded. To be honest I thought he would have said no because of what they did. Then again I guess they're the only specialists we have and he wouldn't be able to solve the case without them.
Naruisawesome: So what do yall think about the case?
Treelow955: We actually have this one planned out a lot more!
Naruisawesome: Hehe, yay us!
Treelow955: Please review!
