Hey guys! This is the next update to the story! So sorry it was late! I've got family over and I've been watching my nephew!

Waking up early, despite the large amount of sleep she had gotten that night, was not Mai's happiest moments.

The half-lidded brunet lazily hugged John and Yasu as they were dropped off at the airport going back on a flight to Japan. Yasu had booked it overnight, and John was more than happy to get back to Masako. Luella, Martin, Madoka, and Lin had all bid them farewell at the house before they left for the office in London.

After exchanging handshakes with Naru and Monk, Ayako stepped up to them both.

"Alright, call us the second you land, and be sure to update us on the situation with this new client," Ayako gave them a hug that was currently cutting of some much-needed air from John's lungs.

"Ayako, ease up a little," Mai said yawning and slouching slightly into Naru's personal space. She ignored the look Naru shot her in retaliation. Ayako was quick to release her hold on the poor priest and researcher as they regained a breath. "We do still need him alive to be able to report back to us."

The group watched as they walked into the airport, waving goodbye, and continuing on their way to TSA. After a brief pause, they got back into the car and sped off to the office in London.

Mai still couldn't believe that she had been in the car for a few hours to get from the Cotswolds to London and still the short trip to the office seemed like torture.

'Though that could be because I slept on Naru for most of the ride here…'

Ignoring the burn of embarrassment from her behavior in a sleep-deprived state, she stared back out the window to watch the scenery of the large and vast city pass her by.

Although the only two people who were talking (bickering) were Monk and Ayako, Mai found that she didn't mind the energy between her and Naru. He seemed contemplative, but also somewhat content, regardless of the fact that Ayako and Monk were continuing to argue.

Dismissing the curiosities that shot through her, Mai focused on trying to figure out who exactly hired those guys to hurt her. While she dared not to think that way, her thoughts took a turn for the worst when she thought about what they could have done, had they gotten away with it.

Amongst her preoccupated mind, Mai hadn't realized they had already reached their destination. Once they parked, got inside the building, and were in Martin's office her thoughts were happily occupied listening to him discussing a case.

Madoka and Lin were in their offices dealing with the specifics of the case, when they were leaving and what they needed to bring, according to the blueprint of the house.

"There is not much that we can find on this property. There are no violent or heinous deaths that occurred in or outside of the house to our knowledge. So, we've also gotten reports of violent attacks: multiple 'kitchen accidents', grabbing, pulling, pushing, and strange dreams. People have also had reported seeing figures standing at the foot of their beds, objects being thrown across rooms, and one time, even thrown at someone." Martin nodded to the file on his desk. "This is an accumulated account of that. From this day, we will be staying at our townhouse, here in London, until this case can be wrapped up," Martin said handing out the manila file containing a debrief of the case. "Also, this needs to be kept on the down-low. So outside of the case, speak of this to no one until this is solved."

Ayako couldn't help but ask the same question weighing on everyone's mind.

"I don't understand," She was looking at the file, flipping through the papers. "Who exactly is our client?"

Luella sighed. "Unfortunately, we are not in a good place to disclose that, so you will just have to wait and see tomorrow!"

Her cheery voice did not do enough to quell Mai's curiosity, but she was comforted by the fact that there would be no way that the Davis' would put her in any harm's way.

Martin looked to the team. "Under normal circumstances, Lin would have a higher presence. However, we have asked that his role stays prominent in operating a few devices and monitoring the cameras and the feedback gathered throughout this case."

Naru's eye's narrowed. "And why, pray tell, would his presence be dimmed through this case?"

"Lin will have an alternative job in this case," Martin then looked to Mai. "As will Mai."

Mai no longer felt comforted by the Davis'.

"Sorry," Mai asked quietly. "What is my job?"

"You will be leading this case with Noll," Luella said placing a comforting hand on Mai's shoulder.

"What?!" Both Mai and Ayako exclaimed.

"Mai this is going to be easy for you," Monk waved off her shocked face. "You lead all the cases in Japan."

Mai looked around wildly. "Yes, but this is different!" She stood up looking at Martin. "When I lead cases in Japan, they are usually much smaller in comparison to BSPR's level of intensity. I don't know if I feel comfortable dealing with that sort of accountability."

Ayako nodded along with her arms crossed, something she did when she was upset. "Not that I don't think you are capable of dealing with this, Mai, but you also have a lot of other things at the moment that you're dealing with."

Martin considered her point. "I appreciate your concern; However, I am already aware of Mai's current challenges."

Biting back a snide comment, Mai looked between Ayako and Martin. They knew she was in the room, right?

Tired of a lack of authority of who led the case with him, Naru cleared his throat. "I agree with my father, Ayako," A level of shock crossed Mai's face. "In fact, I am confident that due to Mai's abilities that she demonstrated, she will be an asset to this case. Furthermore, we will keep a detailed account of any alterations or occurrences that her ability show. Part of our agreement was monitoring her during her dreams."

Mai watched Naru out of the corner of her eyes. Was that a compliment?

"Of course, I am not expecting much, I do not believe we will experience anything new about Mai." Naru finished with a lack of interest in his voice.

Just like that, Mai wanted to punch him in his throat.

'Freaking jerk!' She gritted her teeth as she restrained from saying her thoughts out loud.

Steering the conversation away from what Martin was sure is a disaster, he spoke directly to Mai. "Mai, if you truly do not believe you are capable of achieving such a task, I will not force you." At this, Mai looked away. "Although, I do think you are indeed overqualified for said task." A smile was shown at the end of his declaration.

Mai looked around at the faces of her team and family. Even if she wasn't lead, she would guarantee that she would not be able to follow someone else's orders. Especially Naru's. She knew in the back of her mind she could be lead, and she knew her abilities would undoubtedly help.

"Okay," She said after a few moments. "I'll lead with Naru."

Martin grinned. "Excellent!" Quickly organizing some papers, he presented them to Mai and another to Naru, although he had already been made aware of the case. "These are the current case files, history of the property, current and past owners, and, accounts of everyone involved, and a few pictures that they took detailing the extent of the damage."

Taking them from Martin, Mai bit the inside of her cheek. Looking over case files never boded well for her psyche. Her dreams of the lives that have passed did not help either. It was a much more personal account of the history of the property that Mai did not want to think about.

Madoka took that moment to walk through the office doors, files in hand, and sit down at one of the open couches. Without saying much she listened and watched as the conversation took place.

"You will also find a few waivers that you need to sign," Martin added, making Mai's face twist in confusion. "In the unlikely case of injury or death, you signify that you were fully aware of the stakes. You signed something similar when working for Oliver in Japan."

Mai nodded recalling a similar rundown from Naru when she visited the office for the first time all those years ago.

"That goes for the rest of you as well," Naru took over for his father. "This case is highly risky, and you need to be aware of what could await you."

Monk and Ayako looked at each other and to Mai. Both nodded their heads.

"If Mai is going, so am I," Monk said placing an arm around Mai's small frame.

"I have to be the mature and rational adult and look after these two, I'm in," Ayako said with feigned boredom.

Mai looked to Madoka.

She grinned at her. "Oh, I already signed the paper!" Her cheeky smile broke the tension. "There's no way I am missing Mai and Naru working together. It is bound to be interesting."

Sighing at the usual behavior being displayed, Mai pinched Monk's hand so that he would release his grip and turned to Luella.

"Does that mean you are going to join us in this case?" She ignored Monk's shout of pain and looked to Luella, who had yet to speak up.

"Unfortunately, I do not share the same interests in the paranormal," Luella said. "I'll be happy to help with any information or understanding of human behavior. That way we might be able to understand why they did what they did."

Mai then remembered that Luella had a Doctorate in Psychology and Sociology. She truly was an amazing woman and Mai couldn't help but look up to her accomplishments.

A knock on the door interrupted Mai's thoughts. Tommy stepped in and quickly assessed the people in the room and his eyes narrowed into Martin.

"Sir?"

"Tommy?" Martin seemed surprised by his interruption. "What do you need?"

It was then, when he stepped more into the office, that Mai noticed the magazine that he held in his hand.

"I apologize for interrupting, but I thought that you would want to see this." Tommy stepped forward and laid the magazine cover onto the desk. The cover showed a picture of her buried into the side of Naru. In big dramatic letters, the title of the article read: 'Oliver Davis No Longer a Bachelor'. In smaller print, there was an indication of where to read more on this topic. "While this isn't necessarily concerning, you told me to let you know if anything was published regarding Mai."

Martin nodded. "No, thank you, Tommy," He massaged his temple. "I would have wanted to know about this."

Nodding his head, Tommy took his leave.

Not being able to hold it in anymore, Madoka's laugh broke the silence.

"I'm so sorry," She exclaimed in between catching her breath. "Just the look on Mai's face is priceless!"

Beat red, Mai's mouth hung open in shock and embarrassment. She recovered just enough to close her mouth and cover her face with her hands.

Ayako swung an arm around Mai. "Oh, Honey," She said smiling. "It's a good photo of you two, and who cares about a few rumors. Nowadays people will make up anything for attention."

"While in any other case I would agree," Martin said picking up his office phone. "We were trying to keep Mai out of the public eye until we could get a hold of her abilities. With enough curiosity, a person can do dumb things."

Monk raised an eyebrow. "You think someone would focus on Mai?"

Luella looked to him and answered while Martin dialed a number. "Like we said when you first arrived, unfortunately, there are people that exist in this world and will stop at nothing to harness even a bit of untapped abilities. That is when they are the most fragile and easily influenced. Having her influenced in a way that is detrimental, or to the benefit of someone else is a disaster waiting to happen."

Ayako gripped Mai's shoulder. "I'm still not clear." She said, her eyes narrowed on Luella and Martin. "What exactly are you two hiding?"

Martin spoke quietly into the phone and quickly hung up. "There is an organization dedicated to-"

"Martin!" Luella gasped out.

He silenced her with a hard look. "They all have the right to know what exactly the dangers are." After she looked down, a sign of submission on the subject, Martin continued. "This organization is dedicated to breading psychics."

Monk huffed out a breath of air. "What exactly does that mean?!"

"Exactly what it sounds like." Naru's cold voice and dark eyes shocked Mai. "They kidnap individuals, men, and women, with psychic abilities or potential promise, and artificially impregnate the women." Ayako couldn't hold back the quaking in her arms.

Mai found the words in her head. "What for?" It was soft, but she needed to hear the answer.

"We're not sure," Luella said. "We only know so much about them. The rest is an assumption."

"How exactly do you know this- how on earth did you find out?!" She was angry now, thinking about a group of people who could actually exist. Ayako clenched her fists. "Have-" She had to swallow. "Have you experienced this?"

Mai's eyes widened. The thought hadn't even crossed her mind. She looked to Martin and Luella for answers. They looked to their son, who gave them the slightest nod.

Martin sighed. "We didn't find Gene and Noll at an orphanage; their mother came to us."

"What?" Mai said looking at Naru. He refused to acknowledge her look.

"We were just starting to take off, in terms of recognition, and one day we got a knock on our townhouse door in London," Luella said, wrapping an arm around Naru's. "Their mother was beaten and bloody, but she still managed to get away with two newborns."

Martin looked to the group. "It was then that she insisted we take her kids. She didn't trust anyone else, and she had a limited amount of time to explain. We agreed, but we were shocked to hear about this group."

"She was so desperate and insistent, that we agreed without even thinking. She told us she knew who we were and what we did, and knew that her kids would be safe with us. She told us that they had psychic abilities and that there was an organization out there dedicated to kidnapping them."

Luella spoke up softly. "She looked too tired. I think she had had the twins a few hours before seeing us; she was covered in a lot of blood." She noticed Naru's clenched fist and wrapped hers around it. "With a little research, we learned about reports and accounts of people who were able to escape from wherever this place was. But we were so busy with the twins and when they started to grow up, we began researching."

Mai shook her head. "Wait, I don't understand. What happened to their mom?"

At this Luella backed down. Martin took over now. "A few days after seeing her, a body was found in a park not too far from here. According to the autopsy she hemorrhaged during labor and bled to death."

After re-reading this chapter, I realized this is the one where I drop a huge bomb of a twist. So, ya know. Enjoy. Have a great week and I will be back near the end!

~Cheers!