Chapter 14 – Team Leader
Mai stayed at the patio after dinner, she need to composed herself before talking to Naru. She called him when she saw him walking towards the stairs, and gesture him to sit on the vacant chair that she purposely reserved for him, and the tea. Both of them are silent for a moment until Naru decided to talk.
"It took us a while to have some time alone like this" he stated, and heard her chuckled
She looked at him "Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm kinda busy"
"I can see that"
They were silent again. Mai heaved a sighed, she really want to ease the awkwardness between the two of them.
"I know we have issues that we must talk about Oliver, for our peace of mind and for our team to fully work together" she said, she looked at him and saw him sigh and sip the tea.
"Yeah I agree" he pause and chuckled "I really miss you calling me 'Naru' Mai, after all you're the one who baptized me with that name. 'Oliver' doesn't sound right when it comes from you" he said
Mai chuckled "Really? I didn't know you really wanted to be called a 'narcissistic'"
"Really. If it comes from you, then I don't mind being called a narcissistic" he answered. There was silence again.
"Ne Naru…" Mai said, for a moment she hesitate to continue "I… don't love you anymore" she said without looking at his eyes.
Naru immediately look at her, he opened his mouth to say something but no words will come out, he close his eyes and took a deep breath, then he look at her again "Is it because of En?" he managed to ask.
She shook her head "No"
"Gene?"
"Huh, a big NO"
"Then why? Are you… are you tired of me?" he softly asked, and tears slowly fall from his eyes.
"You're an idiot if you think like that" she chuckled
"I like you Mai… No, not 'like' but love… I love you" he paused and took a deep breath to calm his self "I only realized how much I love you when you're gone one year ago, when I saw your apartment empty"
Mai reached his face and wipe his tears with her thumb, and smile "Thank you. I appreciate it, but the 'Mai' that you love is the 'Mai' from years ago Naru, not the 'Mai' that you see now"
He hold her hand tightly that still on his face and shook his head "No Mai, the person that I love is right in front me, nothing has change whether you change your name, or your appearance, for me you still my Mai. Whether you are my klutz assistant or the boss of the other psychic research company, I don't care. You are you" his tears keep on flowing, he hold his breath when she lean forward and kiss his forehead
"It won't change anything Naru, but still" she paused and look at his eyes "thank you" she smile and stood up, she turned to get back in the house. She gasped when firm arms wrap her waist, and she can feel the well-tone chest with rapid heartbeats on her back, and the smell of tea.
"Will you give me a chance?" he asked, he gripped her tightly
"What?"
"Will you give me chance to win your love again? And to be the man that deserves you, and your love?" he seriously asked, without letting go, Mai turned to face him and saw her carefree smile, the smile that he's dying to see.
"Maybe?" she cupped his face with her hand and smiled at him "C'mon, let's come inside its getting colder out here"
Naru let her go. And they both went inside the house to discuss who will be the in-charge for this case. But when both team gathered they are all silent, no one wants to speak first.
Mai sighed "What happen?" she asked
"Are you okay?" En asked back. She nodded then smile.
"So… for this case, Alex will be the in-charge" Rurik stated.
"Why me?"
"Because you are the common denominator in both team" Sasha answered
Both team look at Naru waiting for his opinion. Mai wonder if it will be okay for him. Knowing his narcissistic attitude.
"I agree" Naru said, the SPR all agreed too "besides, I can't order the IPR around like I used to do with my team"
"That's right Mai. If it's you, they will do what you will tell them to do because they trust you" Gene added
"But –"
"If it's about us, we trust you Jou-chan" Bou-san assured her. SPR and IPR all agreed to Rurik's idea.
"Well, it's final then. Alex will be the team leader for this case" Rurik take a note about it.
Mai give them their assigned task "So tomorrow, Sasha and Boris will leave for Germany; Madoka and Yasu will go to the real estate and ask about the history of that place, and you will have Vlad's sister to come with you; Lin, Rurik, and Ayako, make enough charms tonight"
"But Mai, isn't it too early to make a charm?" Ayako asked
"No, it's the best time to make a charm"
"Why is that?"
"Full moon" Rurik answered "its full moon tonight. It is when the spiritual powers at its strongest"
"I never about it" Lin stated
"This belief is not passed down in Japanese and Chinese sorcery."
Lin frowned "Why?"
Rurik shrugged "I don't know. Ask your elders."
"Enough!" Mai ordered "Let me continue, Oliver, En, and Kir I want you to go to the National library, find whatever information you can gather about this case" She saw Naru and En wanted to object "I will hear your objections later, let me finish first" She immediately said. "Xander, I want you to train Gene and Masako"
"Train them? For what?" Alexander asked, he is used to train somebody though.
"They are both mediums, but only limited to ghosts and spirits"
"I see. You want me to train them like I did to you?"
"Yes"
"Mai, what training will it be?" Masako worriedly asked
"For you to become a true medium"
"But Gene is already a true medium. I trained him before" Lin objected, Madoka seconded.
Alexander smirked "Really?" then he snapped his fingers.
En sighed "He's not anieue*" he looked at his brother "The way you trained Gene before, and the way Xander trained Kir and Alex, it's different"
"What do you mean?"
En looked at Gene "Do you feel something?" he asked him. He sighed when he shook his head "This is what I mean anieue, if he is a true medium he should at least feel Xander's ekikis* hugging him from behind" En explained. "You are being soft on training Gene, anieue. You are holding back, you are afraid getting him hurt. While Xander, he's willing to hurt them if it means unlocking their hidden potential"
"And besides, all medium in IPR, including the English branch they are all true medium and was trained by Xander, even me, Kir, and Sasha" Boris added.
Naru is worried for his brother. But he trust Mai's decision.
"You have my consent, Alexander." Naru firmly said
"Are you sure Naru?" Lin asked.
"Yes. I trust Mai"
"Thank you" Mai smiled at him "Now lastly, Vlad" Mai called
"Yes?"
"I want you to let John and Bou-san stay at your house."
"Eh?" All of them was surprised
"And why?" Vlad asked, well he was surprised as well.
"They are both exorcist, I want you to show them the different kind of exorcism that deals with demon, especially John, since he is a Catholic priest"
"Okay. Roger!"
"That ends tonight's meeting. Your dismissed" She stood up and went to her bedroom.
"It's too early to sleep. I wonder why she went to bed already" Madoka wondered
"She's preparing herself for the case" Boris stated
"But she seems so prepared"
"No she's not. She's not emotionally prepared yet"
"I see"
They understand what Boris said. Mai is not yet emotionally prepare to go back to that house – to the place where she lost someone so important to her.
[A/N]
Hello! It's been a while *wave*wave*
I didn't abandon you all. Many things happen to me, a bad thing, a good thing, then a bad thing… stuff like that!
I miss you all.