Behind Closed Doors
File 10: The Angel of Music
A young girl with eyes like fire stood with her mouth set in a straight line. She looked up at the tall building that was to become her new home, her dark skin shimmering with sweat from the summer sun. This place wasn't as hot as her old home, but summer was summer, and the sun was as unforgiving as usual.
A large, calloused hand seized her wrist, pulling her along like a ragdoll until they reached the front door. The man beside her rapped twice and they remained silent as they stood by for someone to open the door.
Eventually, the door creaked open, eerily, sending shivers up and down the girl's spine. Inside the house was dark – pitch black. She turned to the man next to her in confusion, when she suddenly realized that he had disappeared. The girl with dark skin stared at her wrist where the man had previously been holding onto her.
She glanced around. Now everything was black. It was just her and the house, with its door wide open like a mouth just waiting to swallow her up.
Her breathing hitched, stuck in her throat; she didn't like this one bit.
Suddenly a shriek erupted from the dark void.
The brunette's eyes shot open and she took a deep breath, still in shock from the rude awakening. She examined her surroundings quickly, realizing she was still in the hallway she had passed out in – the only difference being that she was leaned up against a wall now.
"Mai? Oh, Mai, are you okay?"
Mai looked upwards in search of the source of the familiar voice; it was Ayako hovering over her, looking extremely worried and slightly hazy. Mai blinked a couple of times, leaning forward. It was at that moment she realized that she was feeling extremely hot and nauseous and decided it would be a good idea to lean back against the wall again.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine," Mai reassured the worried woman, waving her hand like it was no big deal.
It did happen a lot, after all – Mai passing out in strange places. The sickening feeling in her stomach was different, however. The brunette knew if she made one wrong move that she was going to throw up. She had no clue why she felt so queasy, but it was either the alcohol or the dream – and Mai had a sneaking suspicion that one drink wouldn't make her feel like this.
Ayako exhaled, relieved that the brunette teen was well enough to wave off whatever had happened. "Madoka went to tell the others and get you some water. What exactly happened?"
"Well…" Mai was about to recount her dream when another, stronger wave of nausea hit her. She sat perfectly still, holding up her hand so that the redhead might understand. Right now, all she needed to focus on was breathing. Deep, heavy, soothing breathing.
"Ayako, is she–? Oh, thank god," Madoka exclaimed exasperatedly as she, Bou-san, Luella, and Naru all piled into the small hallway.
Great. Why was Naru always seeing terrible sides of her? Mai quickly began to pray that she could keep her bile down while in his presence.
Seeing the cup of water in the pinkette's hands, Mai silently mouthed the word, hoping Madoka would see and understand her meaning.
The women jumped, almost as if she had forgotten the cup of water in her hands. She kneeled in front of Mai and placed the cup of water she had retrieved up to her lips. The teen immediately reached up to grab it on her own, but she was so weak from the whole experience and her hand was trembling so much that Madoka's hand had to stay in place in order for to actually hold the cup.
She wasn't sure why the vision or dream or whatever it was had effected her so badly. She had seen much worse and reacted much…less. But she was developing a recent trend where she experienced actual physical harm from her dreams. Then again it wasn't the dream that caused her to feel overheated or cough like crazy. That had all happened before she passed out…
She did hear a voice, though. A voice calling for help – and something about a fire.
Was it possible that she had experienced the affects of the fire? Without there being an actual fire?
After a couple of sips of cold water, the nausea began to fade, like a weight off of her chest. She slowly pushed the water away, taking a final deep breath before she was confident that she would not throw up when she began speaking.
Only then did she realize that they had all remained silent, literally watching her drink water for the past minute. She was unable to hide her grin, and she quickly began laughing at the ridiculous situation they were in.
As if to silently scold her, Bou-san frowned. 'This is not a laughing matter,' is probably what he was thinking. Sometimes she forgot how blessed she was to have the greatest friends in the world. They were always worrying over her and making her feel loved.
At the very thought, happy tears came to her eyes. "Thanks, guys. I'm fine," she said with a sniffle, taking Ayako's hands, which were being offered to help her up. She was surprised she even could stand considering her sudden weakness, as well as the ridiculous heels she was wearing.
"What on earth happened?" Bou-san wanted to know immediately, his mouth still slightly open from the shock of it all. He shook his head. "I don't know why I'm surprised by this at all."
"An explanation would be useful," Naru spoke for the first time since they arrived. His arms were crossed and his body tense, but his tone of voice was soft and almost…gentle. Even the way he had said it was nice – by Naru's standards, at least. It sounded almost as if he was concerned for her.
"Of course," Mai said quietly in response to her boss, nodding.
Bou-san caught the tone in his voice as well, looking back and forth in between the two.
"That can wait until later. Come on, Mai," Luella said, waving her along. "We have a car waiting outside. Let's get you home."
The brunette nodded again, attempting to follow Naru's mother, no matter how uneven her footsteps were. She gasped, her weakened legs almost costing her a trip to dirty floor, when a firm hand caught her arm.
Naru then wrapped his arm around her back, pulling her closer to him and keeping her steady as they walked in sync together. Mai ignored her body's sudden increase in temperature due to the, what she considered, intimate contact. She knew that everyone was behind them, probably staring at the couple in shock. After all, they knew that she and Naru had just had a fight, too.
Mai, feeling oddly content, brought her hand around Naru's back and onto his shoulder for some extra support.
He didn't seem to mind.
Mai sighed, resting her chin on top of her knees, which had been pulled into her chest. They had gotten home not long ago and the brunette didn't waste a second taking a shower and changing into her pajamas. Naru had even helped her upstairs, even though she had been perfectly capable of doing so on her own at that point.
She had joined Bou-san and Luella in the parlor, snuggling up to the monk as he talked to Luella about something work-related.
Mai tuned the adults out, focusing on her own thoughts – about the case, about the dream, about her life, about Naru…
Mai didn't know whether she was even ready for a relationship at all, let alone one with Naru. She had never dated anyone, but then again, she was almost positive that Naru hadn't either. All she knew was that he was a paradox – always blunt and uncaring, yet thoughtful and considerate. Quite frankly, Mai was unsure how to handle him.
He had absolutely no problem kissing her at the most inconvenient of times, but answering questions about them as a couple? How dare she even ask?
She was once again frustrated – with Naru…and with herself, for even liking the jerk.
But it shouldn't have ended up being such a huge deal. She knew she was partly at fault for being too persistent with a topic that Naru obviously didn't want to talk about.
"Mai? Mai, are you alright?"
The brunette teenager was brought out of her thoughts by Luella's concerned voice. Naru's mother looked at Mai expectantly, but she had already forgotten what Luella had asked.
Mai smiled apologetically, shying away from both Luella and Bou-san's worried looks. "I'm sorry, what was the question?"
Bou-san spoke this time, "She asked if you were alright. You've been acting like a space cadet since we got back."
Mai blushed, shaking her head. Her face must've showed everything. Why did she have to be so transparent all the time? "I'm fine. I just need some tea. Do you mind if I make some?" She stretched her legs, sitting up straight.
"Do you want me to make it?" Luella's face brightened at the opportunity.
Mai waved her hand. If she couldn't handle making her own tea, then there was definitely something wrong. Plus, she needed something to get her mind off of…well, everything. "I'd like to make it, if that's alright with you."
Luella understood. She nodded. "Of course, dear. You know where the tea is?"
"Pantry, right?" Mai asked, standing in the doorway.
"You got it," Luella answered, smiling.
Mai nodded, retreating into the hallway that led to the kitchen. Her makeshift smile faded as soon as she was out of the limelight, the brunette too tired to keep it up while she was by herself. She went into autopilot, fetching all of the necessary materials to make tea. She surprised herself with how well she knew the Davis's kitchen after only two visits.
She leaned against the counter, counting her breaths as she waited for the tea to boil.
1…
She was exhausted. Hopefully this tea would help her get to sleep faster.
2…
After all, chamomile was famous for being able to help with sleep.
3…
But what if she ended up dreaming the same thing she had earlier?
4…
Never before had a dream affected her that greatly in reality.
5…
The last case she had been on, investigating Rena's house, something similar had happened.
6…
Was that normal? It had never happened before that case. Not that she could remember, at least.
7…
She'd seen stuff like that on T.V., but never in real life.
8…
Was it some sort of new skill that she needed to learn to control or something cliché like that?
9…
What on earth was going on with her?
10…
"Mai."
The brunette visibly jumped when her name was called. She immediately laughed at herself, not sure why she had gotten so tense when she knew exactly who the voice belonged to.
She turned her head, spotting his dark clothes out of the corner of her eye immediately.
Mai's thoughts went to their conversation at the club. She knew Naru was right – it hadn't been the time or the place to talk about their relationship or what was going on between them. She was just…well, she didn't even know what was wrong with her. The brunette had just been so overwhelmed with the whole ordeal that it was impossible to keep her cool.
Had they maintained professionalism and never kissed, this wouldn't even be a problem! But now it was going to be impossible to ignore. Their relationship would either turn into something more – what Mai had always dreamed of – or it would end just like that. And that was the thought that scared the brunette the most.
At the moment, however, all she could do was bow her head apologetically. "Hey," she said quietly, her throat basically closing of its own accord before she could say any more.
"I'm sorry," Naru said quietly, taking a step closer. The shocked brunette's head lifted for her eyes to meet his. She hadn't done it intentionally, but her surprise made her lose her composure. They looked so earnest; it was hard for Mai not to melt.
Why was he even apologizing? She was the one who had blown things out of proportion.
She gave him a hard look, trying her best not to tear up. Unfortunately, her emotions got the best of her and the waterworks started. She turned her head around as fast as she could manage without giving herself whiplash, hiding her face in her hands. "Why do you always do that?"
Naru frowned, pausing silently. He had definitely not anticipated this kind of reaction when he decided to apologize to the brunette. The stoic man waited for her to elaborate before he said anything that might potentially make the situation any worse.
"You always apologize before I can even open my mouth," Mai said. Her voice cracked tragically as she continued, crying even harder. "It's irritating."
She had said something similar before as well. As if taking her words as a sign of approval, he began closing the distance between them. Naru stopped a couple of feet away, the corners of his lips threatening to turn into a smile. "Will you accept my apology or will I have to resort to some other means?"
The brunette nodded, but was unable to speak through her sobs. Instead, she remained facing away from the man that made her feel so many conflicting emotions and simply continued to cry into her hands, relieved.
"Mai," he said exasperatedly. He would've laughed had he not known that it would hurt the delicate girl's feelings. "Turn around, would you?"
This time, he watched her still damp hair fall from side to side as she shook her head in rejection. "No," she mumbled, her response even further muffled by her hands.
"Why not?" he asked. If she didn't turn around soon, he would begin to think that she was still upset with him.
Mai continued to sniff, but had managed to calm herself just a bit. She hesitated before she spoke, but she was honest when she did. "Because my face is gross…" the brunette admitted, embarrassed.
Naru rolled his eyes, attempting to turn her around physically. Mai resisted, but eventually did as he asked after a moment of struggling. She looked almost like a child – her mouth was pulled into a pout and her puffy, tear-stained cheeks were red from crying. "Your face is not gross. And this is coming from a narcissist, so you know I'm being honest."
That got the brunette laughing. Naru smiled at his accomplishment, letting his thumbs wipe away the tears still sitting on her cheeks as he took more time to examine her face. Her eyes were exceptionally big for someone of Asian decent. She also had the tiniest freckles sprinkled across her face that he had never noticed before.
Now Mai's cheeks reddened even further, this time from his intense gaze. "You know it's rude to stare," she commented, clever enough to use one of his own lines against him.
At her witty comeback, Naru's smile widened. "I've taught you well."
Mai giggled, leaning into one of his warm hands. "Hey, give me some credit," she joked.
The hands on her cheeks suddenly pulled her closer. "Can I kiss you?"
Surprised by the question, since Naru usually did whatever he wanted no matter what the consequences, Mai's legs nearly gave out on her. He looked so serious, so dreamy. She almost backed away, too embarrassed to be in the situation in the first place. Looking away shyly, she whispered, "You don't have to ask."
He brushed a loose piece of hair behind her ear before he gave her a tentative kiss. Mai's heart leapt into her throat, and from then on it was almost as if she had lost control of her own body. Her hand somehow found its way to the back of his neck, deepening the kiss further.
The kettle began to whistle, startling Mai out of the kiss. She turned around quickly, her trembling hands not sure what to do first. Naru swiftly turned off the burner before Mai could even reach the switch, his arms trapping Mai against the counter.
He was so close she could feel his breath on the back of her neck, sending shivers down her spine and raising the hairs on her arms. She swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing that her face was probably bright red.
"I'm sorry, too. I know I made a big scene for no reason. It was stupid," Mai admitted, turning around in his arms.
Naru shook his head. "It's not a big deal."
The brunette nodded, knowing that it didn't matter anymore. She glanced back at the teakettle and then again at her boss. "Want some? I boiled enough for two."
It was just past breakfast the next morning when Naru dropped a stack of papers on the coffee table in the salon. "These are all of the historical documents we could find on the building."
Mai, who hadn't felt of use in a long time, pulled up her sleeves and leaned forward. "Research time?" she suggested, almost excited to get to work.
Across the room examining her nails, Ayako scoffed. "Not for us."
Naru sat on the couch next to Mai, already with a document in hand. "If you can read English, then by all means."
It took a second for the realization to dawn on her. They were in England now, an entirely different country. Out of their team, the only ones that could actually read English were Naru, Lin, and Madoka. And Madoka was absent for some reason.
"I keep forgetting we're in a different country," Mai said, looking skeptically at the large stack of papers on the table. Would Naru and Lin be able to read through all of those? And what were she and the others going to do in the meantime?
As if reading her mind, Bou-san piped up from the doorway. "I think we should go check out the club again. It's daytime so there will be no one there and we can go ahead and start setting up equipment if you want, Naru."
Mai nodded in agreement, though felt the odd sensation of butterflies in her stomach. She didn't even realize that she was fidgeting with the necklace around her neck – the one Naru had given her.
Her boss glanced over at her. "Mai, will you be okay?"
"Hm?" The brunette was so lost in her own thoughts that she had just caught the end of his question. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be fine! Don't worry about me!"
Naru watched her with skepticism in his eyes as she sat up straight and stretched out. "Luella should be able to go with you guys, that way you won't need a taxi."
"I'll run and get her," Mai offered, hopping excitedly off of the couch.
Her first bet was that Luella was in the kitchen, but when Mai went to check, the lights were off and the woman's presence was missing. To be honest, Mai had never really taken the time to explore the Davis' house. Where else could Luella be?
Movement from the glass porch door caught her attention and the brunette went to investigate. Luella was sitting outside in the chilly air, her breath crystalizing as she seemingly stared off into space.
Mai opened the door, wrapping her arms around herself to keep some sort of warmth in the winter air. "There you are," she stated as she joined the older woman.
"Oh, Mai! Come join me," Luella demanded, patting the chair right next to her. "The seat is a little cold, though."
Mai was already shivering, but accepted her offer and sat in the chair next to hers. "We were wondering if you wouldn't mind coming with us to set up equipment today?"
"Of course!" Luella accepted, "It's been such a long time since I've been involved in cases."
"You used to work on cases? With Martin?" Mai inquired, slightly shocked. She'd had no idea that they had worked together. "Do you miss it?"
"Sometimes. It was always a thrill, that's for sure," the woman laughed at the brunette's surprise. "The cases became too dangerous, though. Someone who had no means of protecting themselves would've just been in the way."
Mai wondered about herself. She always felt like she was in the way, even if she did have ways to protect herself. She quickly decided to change the subject to something a little more lighthearted. "Oh, I didn't know you had a garden," the brunette said, motioning to the flowerbeds against the side of the house.
Luella nodded, looking at the practically barren plants. "Yes! That tall one over there is a rosebush I planted a while ago – oh, and over there are some lilies and some daffodils…and there are a few other random things I have growing here and there."
"Is it your hobby?" Mai inquired.
Luella smiled brightly. "When I'm off of work on the weekends I have to find something to keep me preoccupied, since Martin is always busy with work. But now that it's winter, all I can do is wait."
Mai stayed silent for a while, thinking. "Does he go on a lot of cases anymore?"
"Well, not too many anymore. He mainly focuses on research and data analysis and lets the SPR team here take care of cases and things like that. But he does assist on cases every once in a while," the blonde nodded, starring off into space again.
"Martin must really love what he does," Mai said, thinking about how much the man worked. It was glaringly obvious that he and Naru were very similar.
Luella turned her shinning eyes to the brunette again, flashing her another wide smile. "Like father, like son."
Shocked that Luella had literally taken the words right out of her mouth, Mai laughed. Figuring it was time for them to leave, Mai decided to end the conversation. "Well, the next time we come back, we'll have to come in the spring so I can see all of the flowers you've planted!" she said with a grin.
"Next time?"
Seeing the clever smirk on Luella's face, Mai wondered if she should've said what she did. Was she too presumptuous to assume that she'd one day come back to visit Naru's family?
"What exactly is going on between you and Oliver?"
Mai took a deep breath and held it. She figured that this question would be asked at some point, but never had she expected it this soon. What could she say? Did Naru even want his parents to know? Despite the cold winter air, Mai was suddenly feeling like she was on fire.
Eventually realizing that the brunette was at a loss of words, Luella laughed. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me."
"No," Mai immediately objected, surprising the older woman as well as herself. "I mean…I don't even really know what to say or how to describe it. And we haven't really talked about it."
Luella was intrigued, her eyebrows rising in question. "Oh?"
Mai bit her lip, a nervous habit that she really needed to get rid of. "That's kind of why we got in a fight yesterday."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
Luella looked at the brunette with pity. Mai wondered if Luella was thinking of why her son was such an idiot sometimes. "If it's any consolation, Martin and I had the same problem when we first started dating. I guess they really are alike."
Mai's face adopted a hopeful look. "Really?"
"Guys can be so dense," Luella huffed, accompanied by a roll of her eyes. "I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just try to be patient with my idiot son."
Her words caused a small laugh to erupt from the brunette. Mai sighed. "I wish I could give you more information, but I'm just as clueless about how he feels for me as you are."
"Oh, I'm not clueless," said Luella with a smirk on her face, her reaction shocking Mai.
"But I thought you–"
"I know exactly how he feels about you. I was just wondering if you two were in a relationship yet." The woman stood up and brushing herself off before she walked inside.
"Wait, what?" Mai said, her eyes following Naru's mother in astonishment. She turned around in the chair and called after her as she opened the door, "How exactly does he feel for me? Wait, come back!"
Luella closed the door before Mai could even get out her last words. Seeing that there was no point in continuing to think about the subject, Mai cursed under her breath and followed the woman's example, going inside before the winter air got to her. She made sure to lock the back door before heading to the parlor room where everyone else was waiting.
"Took you long enough," Bou-san teased, taking note of her red cheeks. "What's wrong with you? You're face is all red."
Everyone's eyes focused on her and the brunette immediately looked at her feet. Damn that idiot monk.
"It was cold outside, okay?" she said defensively.
Luella laughed.
It's been so long, guys! I've honestly been working on this chapter for a while because I felt like I couldn't get everything quite right. I sometimes feel like you all deserve a lot better than I can provide with my writing ability, but I figured you had waited long enough. So enjoy a new chapter while I get started on the next one!
