This is it, The end is near. It is sad to see it come to this but I hope you all like it. Please tell me what you think, and... if there should be more...


Back in Shibuya…. The same scene played over again for the fourth day in a row.

"Naru, have you heard from Mai-chan yet?"

The boss barely shook his head in answer never looking up from the file he was reading, He realized the night they left that they had disappeared. Lin had not called him to leave SPR and a little after one he emerged from his office to find an empty office. Lin's office was empty and sealed. Even his PK would not let him in if he had tried. In the parking lot were the SPR Van and a personal car with no sign of Lin. He wondered at that moment what happened but he hoped it was only a temporary thing. He made it home, ate and slept, still making it back to work before six the next day.

That is when he found a copy of Lin's email to Madoka. As most correspondences Lin had, he had been copied as a recipient. Simply it stated Lin was on emergency 'family' business and had to leave immediately. He had booked a ticket to Japan hoping Madoka could cover his absence. Otherwise, he trusted her judgment to send a replacement.

Madoka replied stating she would be there in 48 hours. By the time she had arrived, everyone had known that both Lin and Mai had disappeared. Ayako had stated that no one should mention Mai's recent hospitalization as anything out of the ordinary. Mai should be able to choose whether or not to let Madoka know.

"Are you going to do anything about it? Your own assistant kidnapped her!"

Naru closed the file, and looked up at the monk. The monk was fiercely protective of the girl and would be ranting at him for the next couple of hours, thus preventing Naru from getting any work done.

"Mai is old enough to choose where she goes, and Lin would not take her anywhere against her will. You know that, he is almost as protective of her as you are."

"He is Protective of her? Is that what you call kidnapping."

Madoka took this instant to come in to the office. "Noll, I know that you are as worried as Bou-san is. Why don't you tell him what you have found out so far, instead of keeping it all to yourself?" as usual Madoka's 'suggestion' was little less than an order.

Noll looked at the ceiling for some sort of answer then sighed. He looked down at his watch and shook his head. "Madoka tea." He said simply.

Madoka bustled quickly out of the room. Bou-san marveled at how the women could convince Naru of everything. "Don't stand there monk, call Matsuzaki-san and the others, I do not like repeating myself." The monk snapped out of it and headed out to Mai's desk. Leaning on the desk he dialed numbers. Within minutes Ayako, John, Yasuhara and Masako were all in the office. Naru sat in his accustomed chair and sipped his tea avoiding eye contact with the impatient team.


"As you know nine days ago Mai and Lin left the office, and has not made it to either of their apartments, nor have they answered their phones or made any contact. Lin left a simple note on the desk stating he was taking personal time, and that it would be good if Mai did the same. Although not explicitly stated I believe that they are together. That day he also contacted Madoka to get her as his replacement for a while. He did not give her any time frame either." The group looked toward Madoka for confirmation or comment.

"He said that he needed someone to cover him for a little while since he had personal obligations to attend to. He did not know how long he would be gone but requested myself or someone who could assist Noll come as soon as possible. He called me, put the same notice in an email, and sent it to several people of BPR. I came within a day but he left almost immediately after we were contacted." Madoka paused. "As far as we know he has no obligations or needs outside of this country currently although, we do not know his family."

"Lin left both his personal car and the SPR van in the parking lot. I believe he may be taking a rental car but I have not located the company yet. No withdrawals have been made on company credit or checks. He is personally taking the financial side on himself and I have not been able to trace it. He has left no trail since he left. Although I do not believe he would go too far, and he has mainly company contacts here in Japan so we do not think he is staying anywhere personal, most likely an inn, Onsen or hot spring. Although we have contacted these in a limited form, no one has reported a Lin Koujo or Taniyama Mai as guests."

"So you're telling us you have nothing? No trace of either of them?"

Noll deigned to answer, thinking he already told them what they needed to know.

"How about their cell phones, have they left them behind or are they with them?" Yasuhara asked from the corner.

"Lin left his work one here; his personal one might be with him. Mai's is not here or her apartment so we can assume she has it with her, but it is likely that it is not charged. She had been forgetting to do that lately."

"Lin had a personal cell and a work one?" Madoka asked curiously.

"He has a company one that was left here. I have seen him answer another one while at his apartment."

"Do you have that number?" Yasuhara inquired.

"No, Madoka?"

"No, I did not know about it."

"If we did we could call it and trace the phone number, maybe get a fix on it."

"I have contacted lieutenant Inari and he is considering assisting us in this but is reluctant without a missing persons report."

A missing persons report had been discussed multiple times, but they did not want to incriminate Lin if he did not have anything to do with it, but could not leave him out. All of them were upset if not angry about him disappearing with Mai but none was willing to accuse him of it.

"Who called Lin?"Hara-san asked.

"I am not sure, Lin said it was a 'work contact' I thought at the time it was a girlfriend or something he was quite secretive, but now I believe it was Mai. It was around the right time."

"I think they should know about that other time Oliver." Madoka instructed in English.

"It is not pertinent to the situation."

"It would not hurt." Madoka replied in English.

"Lin would not appreciate people talking about him and his past." Noll slipped into English easily.

"They should know about the last time he kidnapped two boys." Madoka spoke in Japanese.

"He did not kidnap anyone, they ran away." Noll snapped in English.

"I think we have a right to know if Lin has done something like this before, Mai might be in real danger." The monk interrupted the two bickering.

Madoka sipped her tea innocently while Noll glared at her.

"Once before since I have known Lin has he disappeared like this. That time, there were two boys who ran away at the same time. Although their families may have thought they were kidnapped, they too had known Lin, and when the boys ran away, he followed them. One boy had been having ongoing troubles psychic issues and had lost control before they left. Their families did not realize until a day later that they were missing. Since he was a troubled boy it was not unusual after losing control for both boys to disappear but this time they did not return the next day. It wasn't until a full week had passed that their family was contacted by one of the boys. And then it was another week before they came home. Lin came with them and both boys were better for the time away. They had gone to a small camp ground not too far away, and helped them find themselves again."

"So Lin has a history of doing this?" Bou-san asked incredulously.

"How is that supposed to be comforting?" Ayako interjected.

"Are you just waiting then for him to call or are you trying to find them?" the team asked over one another. Naru ignored all of them and sat there.

"What you should all ask," Madoka spoke gaining attention of the group. "Who was it that was kidnapped last time?" she glared at Noll.

Barely audibly Naru answered. "Gene and myself, I had sent a tutor flying across the room." he stood and walked back to his office hesitating once he opened the door.

Silence reigned over the room for a long moment. All eyes were trained on Naru remembering all they knew of Oliver Davis. They had seen his abilities when he lost control.

"I do not think Mai is in any danger, Lin doesn't find connections with very many people, especially Japanese." Naru stated before closing the door of his office.

"He wouldn't hurt her. I believe he asked her out a few weeks ago." Ayako stated. "He has been watching over her for a long time, but until then he never thought it was the right time. Even then he felt like he was taking advantage of her vulnerability." The group stared at Ayako.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"I thought they would tell us eventually, besides it wasn't my place to tell, it wasn't your place to know." She said simply. "Every time he helps her, protects her we persecute him. Accuse him. Watch him, and why? He has never done anything that wrong, just unquestioningly protected Mai."

John gave an agreeing nod. "You are right. We haven't given him a chance."

A day or two later the office phone rang. Madoka picked it up.

"Shibuya psychic research Mori Madoka speaking" there was a pause. "Mai-chan?" everyone in the room were on their feet and crowded up next to Madoka. "Yes, I understand. I will tell the others." She paused listening again. "We understand you needed some time, we will talk to you soon." She hung up the phone and looked around to find every eye on her. She even noticed that Noll stood in his own doorway watching.

"That was Mai. She is fine. She's Relaxing at an inn, a couple hours south of here."

"Where? Is she ok?"

"She seemed fine. Happy. She apologized for simply disappearing. She needed some time to think and face something, but she is ready to face us again." Madoka paused. "A little confusing over the phone, I am not sure what she had to face but she is feeling better about it now." No one had informed Madoka of the rape, pregnancy or the following miscarriage. Naru had realized what happened before Madoka had arrived and had avoided telling not to tell Madoka what happened, but made it clear she would report everything to BPR, and although him and Lin could easily face the consequences of their actions, Mai might have a more difficult time. After Ayako realized what he meant he threatened everyone with the bricks in her purse and had easily thought of a misleading although truthful answer to Mai's most recent medical issues. They were all complications that arose during her hospitalization after the most recent case. More in-depth medical questions they referred her to Ayako for medical expertise. Ayako simply looked at the woman and stated 'doctor patient privilege.' The questions stopped.

John and Bou-san looked over to Ayako who nodded. "I will discuss with Mai what she wants to tell you later, in private." She stated.

Madoka raised an eyebrow but gave a winning smile. "She said they have a great restaurant in town and wanted to know if we wanted to meet up there as her apology."

"Of course!" a chorus of voices answered. After a little while they were headed to see Mai. "She also wanted to know if she had been fired yet or not." All eye centered on Noll who stood in his doorway.

"Since the last case she has not been medically cleared to return to work." He paused they watched him intently. "While on medical leave it would be illegal for her to be dismissed due to medical conditions." A collective sigh of relief flooded the room as Noll returned to his office.


When they arrived at the little in the group swarmed out of the van looking for Mai. The desk clerk told them the rooms but stated they had headed out for a walk and had left a note saying they would arrive back soon and stated the Sakura café down the street they could meet up at 11am. That gave them ten minutes of tense waiting. Slowly they walked toward the café in hopes of spotting them early but not really wanting to leave the inn.

At 11:05, Bou-san called Mai for the third time for no answer. He was headed out the door in a panic just as Mai entered the café, breathless. Everyone looked at her relieved that she was safe. Lin followed a step behind her in the shadows. Their looks changed to glares as he entered.

"Sorry Guys!" she called seeing them. Their attention refocused on her. "I wanted to see the lake but I fell, and then I had to change before I came but I didn't have any clothes so… We had to go shopping,"

She was cut off as Bou-san gave her a suffocating hug. "It's ok Mai." He said. Letting her go he directed her to the table where the rest of them sat. "As long as you are ok it doesn't matter." He stated looking past her at Lin. Smiles greeted her at the table as she sat down. He positioned himself between Lin and Mai.

"What happened to you Mai?" Ayako asked. Checking the girl over for injuries but generally relieved to see her smiling. Lin sat at the only empty seat next to Madoka.

She leaned down and whispered to Lin. "What happened? Mai was in the hospital and then you kidnap her?" she asked. He paled slightly at the wording.

"What did the others tell you about it?" he asked, Madoka was a great fisher, but he did not think she had any bait.

"She was hospitalized from over exerting herself and then you and she disappeared. What else is there to say?"

"That is for Mai to explain if she chooses." He stated knowing the others had not said a word to her. "Don't press; she is not ready for it." He sent her a threatening look which she lowered her head slightly.

"Hmm…" she mused, Lin was always difficult to crack. "You have some explaining to do." She stated watching amused as the monk ruffled Mai's hair and she giggled happily. "BPR is not happy with your disappearing act especially after Noll sent his report n a couple weeks ago." She glanced his way but he continued to watch Mai unaffected. "They are sending out an investigation team. Unless I send them back a full report they will ask you to return to England."

Lin was unsure if she was serious or still fishing but as he watched as Mai truly smiled, he did not care. "I have no regrets." He stated watching with a rare smile. Madoka watched him then settled to watch the group. Whatever happened, Noll and Lin were different people then when they came to Japan. She wondered if it was all because of the young woman who she watched captivate the room.


Two weeks later…

"Mai, I have been requested to return to England and to BPR. 'To give reports on the activity here and what our office has been doing'." Lin paused; he saw the disappointment and sadness in the girl's eyes. "There is also the small matter of my insubordination to people of SPR and BPR they would like to discuss, Madoka will be staying to take my place as Naru's assistant."

"I see, Madoka will be replacing you, for how long?" She did not want him to leave; now things were back to normal, and they had gone out on dates a few times. She actually felt like they were dating, not just him taking care of her.

"A month, maybe more,"

"Naru will be a bear" Mai groaned.

Lin chuckled, "Well you don't have to stay here, you could come with me."

"To England?"

Lin nodded. "Actually I had thought before of bringing you back to England, we have other psychics and mediums there that could help you understand things from personal experience more than Noll or I."

"But Naru would want an assistant and tea." Mai stated sadly.

"He will understand, anyway, he doesn't always need to get what he wants. You are not supposed to go on cases for a while or do heavy labor, you should go to relax and have fun in a new place."

"I don't speak English well, and don't know anyone there, I would be lost."

"You speak English better then you think," he slipped into English. "And I will be there for you." He leaned forward and kissed her right temple. "Think about it, if you want to come, I will make arrangements." He stood and walked out of the room.

"I will need a passport," she mumbled calculating the costs in her head. Suddenly she saw a book flying towards her. She automatically grabbed for it, and looked toward where it came from. Noll's form was retreating from his doorway.

Mai looked at the book in her hands, opening to a picture of herself stared back, and all her identifying information. She had her own passport.

~ Le Fin ~


That is all she wrote,

For now.

I hope you all enjoyed this piece. I enjoyed writing it immensely. Tell me honestly what you think. Should it continue? I have been dabbling in this and other things, This has been fun but sadly he characters are not mine and live on with you and Fuyumi Ono some day we will see her own conclusions. I have been enjoying taking a few of my own characters for a spin while finishing this up, so if you want this continue let me know.

Oh! and Congratulations Jade! Some how I missed that announcement but Glad to hear it!(I will forgive you for lack of continuations)

Thanks to everyone who reviewed Especially Wolfie-sama, Ariana-sama and Celtyin-sama (who sadly has not updated her work in a long time)