Oliver had to admit that he had been slightly surprised that Mai had gone to bed so early. He had expected to find her reading in the living or something when Madoka finally left. Yet when he pressed his ear to Mai's door, he could hear her soft breathing.

He supposed she had had a long day. Some extra rest would not be uncalled for.

Thus, Oliver returned to his room and thought about what Madoka had shown him. It turned out she had been playing around on her own computer and managed to hack into a deeper level of the work system. One that revealed the location of Lin.

She had repeated the feat for Oliver, so that he too knew how to access this other layer. He had pulled out a map and they had tried to ascertain where Zone W was exactly, as that was where the system now said that Lin was located. Lin's job had been listed only as 'worker'. This did not fill Oliver with hope. Yet Madoka seemed pleased that Lin was still alive at the very least.

When Mai barely spoke to him the following morning, Oliver was not concerned. Yet when Yasuhara approached him at work, he realised something might actually be wrong.

"Mai was round at ours early today." Yasuhara commented as he took a seat. "Said she had to talk to Masako. Said it was 'girly talk', is everything okay between you?"

"Yes."

Oliver answered on autopilot but he was not sure he believed his own answer. Though it was possible Mai was having personal feminine issues, Oliver thought that those sorts of issues would be classified as 'girly problems' rather than 'girly talk'. But maybe he was just reading too much into Mai's choice of language.

"I could do with some advice, actually," Yasuhara muttered.

"Masako try something?" Oliver guessed.

"Yeah... I don't know what to do. I don't want to upset her but…"

"Just tell her."

"But━"

"The longer you leave it, the worse it will be. Just tell her. She will understand and━"

"Oliver, that's not the issue. I've heard rumours," Yasuhara hissed.

"What rumours?" Oliver muttered, lowering his voice to match Yasuhara's.

"That if they find out you swing that way… That you get shipped off."

"Shipped off where?"

"To a work camp or something."

Oliver frowned. He thought back to the protestors they had brought in previously. They had mentioned work camps… If they had been gay they would have reason to protest the current system.

"Where did you hear this rumour?"

"From a friend."

Oliver pinched the top of his nose, but before he could ask more, Hirota arrived.

"Oliver, did you hear the news?"

Oliver spun to face his partner and raised a questioning eyebrow. Behind him, he could hear Yasuhara returning to his own work.

"They've constructed a multifaith prayer building. They've even got some guy to man it and take confessions and give religious talks and stuff."

"Confessions?"

"He's catholic I think. But apparently he knows a lot about other religions and stuff so they picked him to manage the whole thing. Word is they even found a few copies of religious texts and stuff."

"Hmm."

"You don't sound thrilled?"

"I am not religious. It does not much concern me."

"You're not?" Hirota sounded surprised.

"No."

But it interested Oliver that the powers that be were more interested in the public's ability to pray than in basic communication. Though the former was an arguably easier task to complete.


Considering the only method of mass communication was by word of mouth, news about the multifaith building got around fast. By the time Oliver had arrived home, Mai already knew about it.

"Masako wants to visit out of curiosity," Mai mentioned as she made dinner. "We're going to go together and see what the fuss is about."

"Yasuhara mentioned you were around very early to see Masako today," Oliver said. "Any reason?"

"I was just keen to see her," Mai replied.

"Yasuhara mentioned you had some 'girly problems'," Oliver prompted, deliberate in his choice of words.

"Yasuhara should learn to keep his mouth shut," Mai said, her voice sickly sweet.

Oliver frowned at Mai and left the kitchen. He returned to his room with no intention of returning until the food was ready considering Mai's current mood. Instead, her turned on his computer and began running through the motions that Madoka had shown him the previous night.

He was ashamed to say that that he had not thought of searching for his brother in this deeper level of the system. However he would rectify that now.

He typed in Eugene Davis. But it gave no result. He tried Gene Davis. Still no result. Frowning, he tried changing the surname to Griffiths. Nothing.

His brother was not in either system.

Which meant one of three things: he had used an alias, he had not been registered, or he was dead.

He could not think of a valid reason that Gene would use an alias, unless he was in some sort of danger. Which while possible, seemed unlikely. The chance that he had been missed of the system was possible, though again, unlikely. As for the final option, Oliver did not want to contemplate it.

"Food's ready!"

Mai's voice permeated Oliver's ears and he sighed, logging out and shutting the computer down. Mai had laid the table and was waiting for him so she could start eating.

He sat down and they began to eat in silence. Oliver had barely raised his fork to his mouth when a knock at the door sounded through the room.

"I'll get it," Mai said quickly, jumping up and practically running to the door. Oliver watched as she opened it. "Yasuhara?"

"I need to speak to Oliver."

"Oh of course. Everyone needs to speak to Oliver," Mai grumbled. "Let me guess, you don't want me to hear it, either?"

"Uh, well it is sort of private."

Oliver stood up as Mai stomped back to her chair and plonked down into it.

"Do you want to come in?" Oliver offered.

"No, this won't take long."

Oliver stepped out and pulled the door to before turning to Yasuhara again.

"Well?" he prompted.

"I'm gonna tell Masako."

"Good."

"But if it goes tits up, can I sleep on your sofa?"

"Of course. Is that all?"

"No, I think I know why Mai is pissed at you from something Masako has said."

"Go on?"

"I think she thinks you are having some sort of intimate relationship with Madoka."

"What?"

"Apparently she overheard some noises from your room last night and came to her own conclusions…" Yasuhara said, looking at his shoes.

Oliver rolled his eyes so hard it was practically audible.

"I will clear that up."

"I better be off."

Oliver nodded and stepped back inside, closing the door behind him.

"Sure you don't want to take him to your bedroom," Mai muttered sourly from the table.

"Why would I want to do that?"

"You tell me."

Oliver sighed and stepped into the dining area.

"Jealousy is not an attractive trait."

"Excuse me?" Mai's mouth fell open as she looked up at him.

"You're excused."

Mai spluttered, unable to find words for several moments.

"Why on earth do you think I am jealous?"

"How else would you like to explain your behaviour?"

Mai stood and squared up to Oliver, pouting furiously.

"What behaviour?" she demanded.

"Your foul mood and dark mutterings about me having private conversations that have nothing to do with you."

"Well you try being stuck in a tiny apartment with someone like you!"

"Someone like me?" Oliver repeated, though as a question. He raised an eyebrow at Mai, inviting her to explain.

"Yes! Someone like you! You're so━" Mai evidently could not go on. She balled her hands up and stomped her foot.

"I am not having any sort of physical relationship with Madoka," Oliver stated, deciding to get this over with sooner rather than later.

"You're not?" Mai's body began to deflate.

"She is concerned for the whereabouts of our mutual friend, Lin, who, as I have previously told you, was reassigned. All I have done is try and help her locate that information."

"Oh."

"Is that all?" Oliver asked, his voice as cold as ice.

"I'm sorry."

"In that case, I would like to finish my meal."

Oliver sat down, leaving Mai standing, and began eating. She turned, looking somewhat lost, before sitting down herself.

"But I heard noises."

"Likely Madoka's excitement at actually getting somewhere with our search."

Mai stared down into her lap.

"I'm sorry," Mai repeated.

"You've merely formed an attachment to me because we have been kept in relatively close quarters and thus feel jealousy when another female approaches me," Oliver said.

Mai's mouth fell open again.

"What?"

"Almost like Stockholm syndrome, but with less kidnapping," Oliver mused. "Though I suppose it helps that I am considered handsome."

Disgust spread over Mai's face. She left the table without a second thought to her food. Oliver watched as she fled to her room.

"Hmm, perhaps too far," he murmured.

He finished eating and then glanced at Mai's plate. It still contained plenty of food. Oliver took it to the kitchen with his own plate and put the uneaten food in a container in case Mai wanted to reheat it later.

As he contemplated whether or not to apologise sooner rather than later, Mai stormed out of her room with her shoes and jacket on.

"Mai."

She ignored him and walked straight past with her head held high.

"Mai," Oliver repeated, stepping forwards to grab her arm.

But Mai danced out of reach and out the front door. By the time that Oliver had pulled on his own shoes to follow, Mai was out of sight. Cursing, Oliver grabbed his jacket and keys and left the apartment.

He ran down the stairs and onto the street, looking either way. But he could not see Mai anywhere. Oliver could just image Madoka saying 'I told you so'. He sighed, and began back up the stairs. He was going to need help.

Yasuhara was quick to answer the door.

"And to think I thought I would be needing to sleep on your sofa, what's happened?"

"Mai ran out on me. I can't find her. I need your assistance."

"Mai's what?" Masako asked from behind Yasuhara. She pushed forward to glare at Oliver.

"She's run away, we need to find her," Yasuhara said.

"What did you do to upset her this time?" Masako said, scowling at Oliver. "Screw some other girl?"

"Masako, Oliver isn't in any kind of intimate relationship with Madoka," Yasuhara muttered lowly.

"But━"

"Mai misheard things."

"Oh."

"Have you two finished? We need to find her," Oliver said, folding his arms.

"Let me put my shoes on," Yasuhara muttered. "Masako, stay here in case she comes back."

"And do what? It's not like I can contact you so I may as well come and look!"

"She has a point," Oliver said.

Yasuhara and Masako readied themselves to leave and the trio left the apartment block. Once in the street, Oliver scanned around again, hopeful that Mai would have reappeared.

"Right, I'll take the north, Yasuhara, you head south, Masako you head east. Meet back here at sundown at the latest, or sooner if you get tired or find Mai."

They nodded solemnly and walked away from each other.

Oliver headed to his office, then turned right and circled around all the roads. There was barely anyone out, despite the good weather. The sun was setting slowly, though Oliver had no appreciation of the sight. His mind was filled with thoughts of Mai.

He rounded the street where the park was and a dreadful notion occurred to him. His pace quickened until he had entered the park and seen the sawtooth oak, standing tall and proud in the middle of the grass.

There was no body dangling from it now.

Oliver's shoulders sagged in relief. He walked towards the tree, though he was not sure why. His random moment of curiosity was rewarded when he caught sight of a small figure sat on a branch.

Mai.

Oliver let out a breath he had not realised he had been holding. She was safe. If you could count halfway up a tree as safe.

"Mai," Oliver called as he looked up at her. "Come down."

"No, I quite like it up here."

"I am sorry for what I said."

"Are you? That's nice."

Mai appeared to be picking dirt from under her nails. Oliver sighed and began to study the tree, trying to work out how she climbed up in the first place.

"I know it's just a stupid crush. I know it was stupid to be jealous over Madoka. I knew that. You didn't have to be cruel about it."

Guilt rose within Oliver at the sound of the hurt in Mai's voice.

"I'll get over the stupid crush."

Oliver looked away.

"Come down Mai."

"I don't want to."

"Why?"

"It's calm up here. There are no people. I can see why that boy came here to… You know…"

This comment concerned Oliver. He closed in on the tree and found a notch to use as a handhold. He lifted a foot and pushed it against the bark.

"What are you doing?" Mai demanded.

"Climbing."

"I wouldn't do it there," Mai mumbled.

Predictably, Oliver slid down the bark. Frowning he moved around and tried again.

"Or there…" Mai giggled.

He failed again and scowled at Mai's laughter.

"Put your hand there, on that notch. Then use that branch and shimmy up to the first big branch," Mai instructed, pointing.

Oliver did as she suggested.

"Now what?"

"Then grab those two━"

"That looks too thin to hold my━"

"It held my weight," Mai muttered.

"Yes and you are several inches shorter than I am," Oliver retorted, gingerly taking hold of the two thinner branches sprouting from the trunk.

He pushed upwards until he could reach the next branch.

"Now put your foot on those ones you just used as handholds," Mai guided.

She shifted back on her own branch so that Oliver would have somewhere to climb onto. He landed, panting slightly and gripping the thick branch that they were now both sat on.

"This is higher than I thought it was," Oliver muttered.

"Are you scared of heights?"

"No."

"Then look down," Mai teased.

"I am not afraid of heights, however it is perfectly rational to be concerned about falling a great distance. Especially when the health care in this country is subpar."

Mai rolled her eyes.

"But it's pretty up here. It almost looks like nothing has happened. Like I could climb down and my Mum would be there waiting and…"

"You climbed trees as a child," Oliver surmised.

"You didn't?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Yes. I preferred reading."

Mai smiled. She turned her head to watch the setting sun. Oliver noticed the reflection on her hair.

"Why did you climb up?" Mai asked. When he did not answer, she looked around. "You look a bit green. Maybe we should climb down…"

Oliver nodded mutely.

Descending the tree took twice as long as it did to climb up. Mai guided Oliver as best she could before climbing down herself. Oliver waited for her, gripping the tree and breathing heavily.

"Are you alright? You still look a bit ill."

"I'm fine."

"Really? Maybe we should get back," Mai mumbled.

When Oliver nodded in agreement she offered her shoulder for him to lean on, which he declined, starting off by himself. Mai watched him walk two whole steps before darting under his arm and helping him along. Oliver did not push her away.


Author's note: So I suck at schedules and sticking to them. This chapter has been written for a while, I literally just forgot to upload it. However, I now own a diary, so I will write reminders in for myself!

Please review!