Hello again! I know it has been some time since I last updated, this whole pandemic has caught me off guard. However, that is no excuse! I have developed a better system to ensure updated are relatively consistent. Anyways, please enjoy this next chapter!
Mai did not notice that her hand had a vice-like grip around Naru's arm until he smoothly placed his much larger one over hers. The flashes of cameras in front of her were different than the ones that she saw in front of the office building at BSPR. These ones had a different intent. She was thankful, however, for the barrier that the officers placed between her and Naru, and the peering eyes of those who had nothing better to do.
Aside from Naru, Ayako, and Monk, the others decided to head back to the house, giving Mai more time to think without distraction. Unfortunately, for her, it was short-lived as Naru and she exited the hospital.
"This way," Officer Max led the pair to a dark-colored cruiser and opened the back door for them.
Once Mai was sitting, Naru moved over to the other side of the car.
"Mr. Davis! Over here!" A reporter that had a notebook in one hand, while the other that was holding a recorder was pressed into Naru's face. "A quote about the current case regarding your employee and famed Japanese spiritualist, Miss. Taniyama?"
Naru grabbed the recorder out of his hand and studied it. "What do you expect to accomplish with a quote by me?"
The reporter smiled. "I knew you would understand- such a bright young lad. More information on the case that she is involved with, I would appreciate a quote from you explaining it, or I will have to assume."
"It is boring?" Naru questioned looking at the man.
"Is what boring, sir?" His eyebrow was raised and an uncomfortable smile was plastered across his face.
"Your life, I assume the answer would be in the affirmative, or else why would you care to stir up drama in someone else's life?" Naru grit out, anger quite evident on his face.
"Why you- Insolent-!"
"I do believe this is the epitome of being a hypocrite to call someone, who was merely stating a fact, 'insolent', yes?" His gaze turned deadly. "It truly is a pity to see someone who is older than me, act so childish." He dropped the recorder on the ground and didn't hesitate to crush it beneath his foot.
"WHAT DO YOU THI-"
"I suggest you leave, now." Without any more of a reply, Naru opened up the door of the vehicle and slid in as if nothing happened.
Mai watched the exchange between him and the reporter. While she couldn't understand what was being said, she was grateful for the tinted windows. The flashing of the cameras was almost sickening. Just then Naru entered the vehicle.
"A nice dramatic touch, Naru," Mai laughed into her hand.
He rolled his eyes.
"An interesting observation from a relatively dramatic person herself." His smooth reply didn't go unnoticed by Mai.
She was about to retort when Officer Max got into the driver's seat.
"Your parents are going to be right behind us with Officer Parks," Officer Max said buckling up. "He's a good man and trustworthy too. He'll make sure they avoid the media as well."
Mai looked back to Naru. His posture was stiff, it was obvious that he was not in a good mood. He looked out the window and Mai couldn't help looking at him. Guilt ate at her heart.
"Naru," He turned to look at her. She looked down at her lap and fiddled with her hands. "I'm sorry. For a few nights ago. I was incredibly childish and rude, and angry." She sighed. "I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve my anger, you were just being logical."
Looking over to him through her lashes, Mai was now angry about the small smirk Naru had on his face.
"What are you smirking about?" Color reached up and painted her cheeks.
Just like that, it was gone. "You really are an idiot, you know that?" He mumbled under his breath.
Mai pushed him lightly in the arm and turned away from him smiling.
"Whatever!" She said. "I'd rather be an idiot that a prude."
At this Naru frowned and rolled his eyes.
"So!" Mai clearly wasn't going to stop this conversation anytime soon, and Naru was beginning to feel talked out. "When do I go on our first case in England?"
Naru huffed. "Do you truly lack the brain cells needed to remember our conversation?"
A growl came from the back of Mai's throat. "Oh, I remember very clearly. I am just emphasizing that I am not okay with the decision you made for me." She grinned knowing exactly what to say. "If you do not allow me to go on cases, I will just end up finding my way there anyway. It is in your best interest to let me go with the team."
While he was entirely sure she wasn't joking about showing up to a location, regardless of banishment from cases, he wished he could keep her as far away from these cases.
A deep sigh. "There will be some conditions,"
"Yes!" Mai pumped her fist in the air. She soon realized that she was still not in the clear. "Conditions?"
Naru crossed his arms. "Lin will be training you during any use of your abilities," He watched her think about it and then nod. "And furthermore, you are not to withhold information, go running off, or do some other stupid incident that could put you or the team's lives in jeopardy."
To this, Mai again nodded. She silently vowed that she would get hurt before ever risking her families.
"You will also be monitored and required to record any progress or new developments that you discover pertaining to your abilities." Naru was not done with his conditions, much to her dismay. "Are we clear?"
Mai bit her lip.
"Crystal."
Officer Max placed a plastic cup full of coffee down in front of Mai and Naru and sat across from them in a conference room.
"Thank you," Mai said, speaking for her and Naru.
Officer Max nodded towards her and set down a notepad in front of Mai.
"I need to ask you a few questions, is that alright?" He asked.
Mai nodded and looked to Naru. An uneasiness crept through her as she thought of her answering any questions alone without a constant presence. "Is he able to stay with me while I answer these?" A blush coated her cheeks in embarrassment, knowing that Naru's ego was going to continue to inflate.
"Of course," Max shifted in his seat and began his onslaught of general questions, and led up to questions about the crime. "Do you know Ryan MacKay before this incident occurred?"
"Yes," Mai straightened. "We met at a store in the Cotswolds, he and his friends were talking about something we hadn't heard."
Max nodded scribbling down information and then pausing. "We?"
"My friend and I, John Brown, the man who helped me."
Nodding again, Max looked over what he had written. "Did anything come off as threatening about Mr. MacKay?"
Mai shook her head. "Nothing stuck out. Sure, I got an uncomfortable feeling, but other than that he seemed to be a regular man, hanging around his friends. One was engaged and this trip was intended to be a bachelor's party." Mai swallowed thickly before continuing. "I was worried that something would happen to someone else if I didn't say 'yes' when he asked me if I wanted to go out with them."
Max scribbled a few times in his notebook. "And when you got there, he gave you a drink?"
Mai shook her head. "Not at first. I got the first one, and then when I had finished it, he offered to get me another. I hadn't thought anything of it at the time, I don't ever go out drinking, but when I took my first sip, I noticed a different taste. I thought he had just gotten me something different."
"Is that when you started to feel dizzy?" Max said, not looking up from his writings.
"Yeah," Mai shivered and she clenched her hands until they were white. "I was having problems talking, and standing." Tears pricked the back of her eyes, but she fought them by biting her lip.
Naru watched Mai with gritted teeth. "Are we quite finished?" He asked.
Max's head shot up and he noticed Mai. "Yeah, I believe we have enough to charge him considering there are more than one witnesses, and the bartender has security cameras all over the pub."
Max stood up, and Naru and Mai did the same. After walking the two back out to the lobby, Ayako, and Monk were there waiting.
"Mai!" Ayako and Monk came over to her, and Naru moved out of the way to make room for them.
Naru watched as an officer came over to Max. After a brief exchange of words, and a passing of a manilla folder, Max looked towards Mai and then noticed Naru watching him. Max waived Naru over and the other officer walked away.
"That was Tim," Max motioned to the other officer. "He just got done interviewing Mr. Mackay and is going to interview the others." Naru nodded his head. "Have you ever heard of Force?" He questioned, giving Naru a quizzical look.
Naru immediately stiffened. "Hardly. All I am aware of is that it's a group that does dirty work."
Max nodded. "Ryan is in connect with this ragtag group and one of their duties is kidnapping," Naru felt his blood run cold, and he immediately glared at Max. "Apparently, this group has recently accepted a request to kidnap Miss. Taniyama. Although we haven't heard of any reason why. Has Miss. Taniyama come in contact with anyone who threatened her at all?"
Naru looked over to where Ayako and Monk were fussing over Mai.
"As far as I am aware of, no, there has been no threat to Mai." He crossed his arms. "In fact, she just arrived in England, I can't imagine someone knowing enough about her to threaten her."
Max shifted his weight to his other foot. "With all due respect, Mr. Davis, your presence alone could spur any reaction from those attempting to get to you and your family."
Naru clenched his jaw. "I have no idea what Mai would have to do with any of the threats my family and I receive."
Max stared at Naru owlishly. "You're clearly close to her. It would be rather easy to focus their attention on someone close to you or your family."
A frustrated sigh escaped Naru's lip. "As I have just said, Mai just arrived, it would be rather difficult for anyone to figure out how close she would be to us."
Max laughed a little and placed a hand on Naru's tense shoulders.
"I cannot believe you have a Ph.D. with how oblivious you are to your own feelings. You certainly act like you've known Miss. Taniyama for quite some time, and I would even go so far as to say having a relationship with her." Max leaned in closer when Naru narrowed his eyes onto him. "You'd be surprised just how much cameras catch and what tabloids say about you two." Patting his shoulder one more time, Max walked past Naru and towards Mai, Ayako, and Monk. "We'll be in touch."
Naru watched as the officer walked over to the group and handed them his card, shook Monk and Ayako's hands, and went back inside to the offices.
I know this is a rather short chapter, and I am so sorry about that! Hopefully, you all enjoyed this update! I will be seeing you all very soon! :)
~Cheers!