Mai had decided to skip out on afternoon tea. She stayed where she was, staring into space on the veranda.
Behind her, leaning against the door frame was Ayako, keeping an eye out for her daughter-like friend. Masako stood just behind Ayako, watching from a distance.
"Why do you think she's so upset?" Masako asked.
"I'd bet my life that it's Naru's fault," Ayako answered. "He's always hurting her."
"I don't understand why he's in such denial about Kairu and Koyuki being his children."
"I don't understand it either, Masako. I don't either..."
They heard soft footsteps and saw Houshou, John and Yasu approaching. Houshou wrapped an arm around Ayako's waist and kissed her shoulder blade tenderly.
"Is she still upset?"
"Yeah..."
"Afternoon tea is ready and being served as we speak," Yasu murmured softly.
"I'll grab her," Hana spoke as she appeared behind them with Kairu and Koyuki.
They looked at her and nodded and watched as she walked to Mai. Whispering into her ear, Mai smiled softly before nodding. Hana laughed and turned the wheelchair before heading to the door.
Mai looked up and saw her friends there by the door. All of them looked at her in concern and affection. It made her eyes water and she offered them a watery smile.
She loved them all so much.
Afternoon tea was strangely silent. Lin kept an eye out for Mai who ate slowly, so very unlike the Mai he used to know.
Looking up from her food, Mai spotted the juice by Naru, far away from her.
"Kaa-san?"
Mai looked down on her left to see Koyuki looking up at her innocently.
"You want the juice?" She asked.
Nodding to her daughter, Koyuki turned to look for the apple blackcurrent juice, her mother's favourite. Spotting it, Naru realised it was by him and before he could pick it up to pass down to them, it levitated up, beyond his reach.
"We don't need your help," Koyuki all but spat at him and brought the juice to herself, glaring at Naru before turning to Mai with a smile, the juice moving close enough for Mai to take.
"Thanks Kiki," Mai smiled down at her affectionately.
Koyuki looked up at her mother, her idol and role model. She couldn't express how much love she had for the woman because no words could even come close. She would do anything for her mother, all she had to do was ask. Like killing Keiko. If Mai said; kill her, Kiki, the whore would find the eating utensils she was using inbedded in her chest. Magically.
With that thought, Koyuki giggled softly to herself. Kairu, who was sitting on Koyuki's right, looked at her in amusement having picked up her thoughts.
"What the hell are you two laughing at?" Keiko snapped, knowing it had something to do with her.
"Nothing," they drawled, shooting knowing looks at each other before laughing again.
"You brats," Keiko hissed.
"Keiko, please refrain from insulting my grandchildren," Luella spoke calmly over her cup of tea, not even bothering to look at the raging woman.
"They aren't your grandchildren!" Keiko spoke up.
"We shall see."
A couple of days later...
Mai sat there, talking to Gene. How? Her abilities were growing and she could now see and hear the dead.
"We get the paternity test results back. It's about time Naru realises he is the father of Kairu and Koyuki."
"Agreed."
When someone knocked on her bedroom door, she opened it to find Yasu.
"Come on, Professor Davis called us down to his lab. He's got the results."
~X~
Mai was wheeled down to the lab where everyone had gathered. Keiko wore the smuggest grin and Mai did not want to think that she just got laid. Martin stood there with an envelope.
"Are you ready?" He asked everyone.
Everyone nodded, tense. He opened the envelope, face blank. Reading the results, he looked up.
"Well?" Luella asked.
"Oliver..."
Naru looked up.
"..."
"..."
"...?"
.
...
...
...
.
"You are not the father."