There are something's that have to be expressed through words and emotions...
There are something's that can't be expressed through actions...
However there are words that mean more than anyone would admit... Including Naru.
Words...
Three simple words...
Yet the hold some much meaning...
Three simple words...
'I love you.'
If Naru had just conveyed them through words, not by teasing, not by his actions...
If that had happened, right now Mai wouldn't be slipping right from his hands...

Naru's POV

Mai's been unconscious for three days now. When I think about her, I always think of how she storms out in a tantrum when I tease her. I always think about her bright smile and warms my heart.

She always got hurt. On every single case we took she always got hurt. It is like she is wearing a sign say, 'Ghosts come and get me.' And the fact that every time she got hurt, is every time I had fail to help her. That hurt my pride and made the guilt overwhelming.

Stupid Mai. Why couldn't she be a normal high school girl.

I shook my head, a sad smile pulling at my lips. If Mai was normal, she wouldn't be Mai anymore. My Mai was clumsy. My Mai was childish. My Mai was selfless. My Mai was brave. Braver than I give her credit for. My Mai attracted danger like a magnet.

Stupid Mai. Even if she's stronger than she was two years ago, she still gets hurt.

I hear a little moan and my eyes immediately go to Mai's face. I watch with barely contained joy as she opens her dazed, chocolate brown eyes. She opens her mouth to talk but nothing comes out.

Shaking my head with amusement, I say, "You won't be able to talk for a while. Your wind pipe was damaged." Mai nods mutely, as the silence begins to become uncomfortable I mutter calmly, "I'll tell the doctor you are awake."

As I get up to move I feel a tug at my black shirt. Looking down I see that Mai had grabbed hold of me, I then glanced into her eyes. What I saw shocked me.

I knew exactly what Mai wanted to tell me just by looking into her rich brown eyes, "Don't leave." I held my breath at the surge of emotion. Mai had just woken up, she's probably delirious. She doesn't love me anymore. I figured that out when her expression became emotionless when she first looked at me after two years.

I took to long to find the answer that was already in front of me.

However I could say no to her, so I sat down pretended to sleep. Once I knew Mai had fallen asleep again, I watched her peaceful expression. Eventually I fell asleep as well.
She was going to be okay. She was Mai after all.

Case 3: The Descended Part 1

Third Person POV

Mai stretched and glared at her boss's office door, muttering "Stupid, workaholic, slave driver..." After she had gotten released for the hospital Naru had made her come straight back to work. Her throat was completely healed but there was a dull ache from the deep gash she had received a week ago one the last case.

"Mai," the young brown haired girl jumped at her boss's harsh tone. "Tea." Then rolling her eyes she went to make her stupid, workaholic, slave driver of a boss his tea.

The front door opens with a click and an elderly gentleman walked calmly in. Mai came out of the kitchen holding Naru's tea, careful not to spill it. "Good morning, is there something I can do for you?"

The grey haired man turned his eyes onto Mai, "Yes, I have a message for Taniyama Mai and a case for your team."

Mai blinked in surprise, "Um, well have a seat. Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, thank you."

Mai knocked on her boss's door and walked in, hearing her entrance, Naru looks up as the sweet aroma of tea breezes past him.

"There is a client waiting." Naru raised his eyebrows but said nothing as he sipped the delicious earl grey tea. Then he stood up and walked silently out of his office, Mai following swiftly behind him.

As Mai went to make the elderly mans tea Naru began the questioning.

"There have been strange things happening in the art gallery that I own," the old man slipped into professionalism as he talked. "Deep scratches are dragged along the walls, paintings are destroyed and the security guards are killed."

Mai placed the cup of tea in front of the man and then sat down beside Naru.

"How do you know it is not just a living person doing all of that?" It was a reasonable question,some paranormal occurrences are not actually paranormal but structural problems or done by humans.

"I have already had confirmed by another team, which if you accept this case you will be working with them." Naru nodded, it wasn't abnormal for a client to hire more than one research team.

"I don't think there is anything we can do on this case..." Naru began but the client cut his off.

"I see but at least let me deliver my message to Taniyama." The old man said regretfully.

"Oh, that's me, I'm Mai Taniyama." Mai blurted curiously about what the message was. The man took out a clean, sealed envelope.

Mai took it, staring at it as if she could somehow see through it. "I'm sorry..." Naru continue and explained why we won't be taking the case but Mai didn't hear it, her attention was entirely on the envelope in front of her.

As she pulled the single slip of paper out, she stopped breathing and felt the colour drain from her face. "I will go." She said more confidently than she felt.

Naru turned to Mai and glared at her. "Mai I said we won't be taking this case."

"No, Naru I am taking this case." His frown deepen then Naru asked, "What does the letter say?" Mai's mouth refused to move, as she opened and closed it no sound came out. All of SPR had heard Naru and Mai's conversation and had walked in. However they remained unnoticed by Mai and Naru.

Painfully slowly Mai turned the slip of paper around so everyone could see it. Written in big bold writing was the words: DESCENDED ONE