Hey all! I am so sorry for updating a day late! It has been a rough week. As I explained in my other AN in TBU, I recently had to put my dog down, so I have not been very focused. Regardless, please enjoy this next chapter!
Mai was drinking coffee and was reading a book in the main room in her apartment at the time. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she was in a large t-shirt and some shorts. Her natural beauty had Naru reeling for a moment until she caught sight of him standing there.
"Relax, Naru," She had said, her eyes smiling with amusement at his obvious lack of comfortability in this scenario. "There's coffee or tea if you want some."
He happily grabbed a cup of tea from the kitchen and relished in the taste. Despite his large consumption of tea, England did not make a cuppa quite like Mai's. Walking back into the living room, he noted that Mai was now working on her laptop and appeared to be deep in thought about something.
"Are you expanding on your presentation last night?" He asked her rubbing the side of his head where his hangover was bristling at the sunlight.
Mai stopped typing and used two fingers to scroll up and down on her laptop. "Somewhat," She shifted so she was sitting up taller. "There are a few areas I want to expand on as well as a few mistakes I want to correct. The conference was so short that I did not have enough time during my presentation to explain what I wanted to."
Sighing, Mai shut her laptop and pushed herself back onto the couch. She eyed Naru who was sitting across from her.
"How are you feeling?" She asked him smirking behind her mug of coffee. "If you need any painkillers for a headache, let me know."
Naru nodded towards her and rubbed the back of his neck. "I just started feeling one coming on, but it is somewhat manageable."
Mai giggled into her hand. She had never seen him so disheveled and even though she had worked with him for quite a while before he went back home, this presentation was fairly new. They both entered a moment of silence that neither one of them minded. Naru rested his head on the back of her couch and she stared off into the distance. Having a moment to think, Mai couldn't help the warmth and rouge tint to her cheeks.
Bits and pieces of last night flew through her brain, all coming in waves and varying speeds that she could not process to its entirety.
Awkward smiles and light laughter broke through her mind. Whispers of sweet nothings inside her head and the taste of his whiskey on her tongue paired well with the Merlot she had sipped on that evening. She was reminded of the soft dark hair she gripped tightly in her hand – her way of trying to ensure that she had some form of physicality to keep her grounded in the moment. The bitterness of her coffee did not sour the cognizance of salt skin on her lips. She had never wanted something so desperately or strongly in her life. The quickness of their movements only made her justify her selfishness. He wanted this as much as she did. A forbidden phrase that she was ignorant to the meaning to floated just on the edge of her consciousness and she knew it would forever mark her.
Sei sempre nel mio cuore.
She shook herself from her thoughts. He did not seem like he was looking forward to talking about their night of drunk ecstasy, and because of his hesitation, she just decided to accept it for what it was: a beautiful mistake.
A cold sadness gripped her heart and bit into her. Ice dragged its way down her spine and she internally recoiled at the depressive thoughts streaming through her brain.
Looking over, she noted that Naru had fallen back asleep, his hands cradling his half-drank tea. Standing, she grabbed the throw blanket lying on the back of the couch and draped it over him after placing his tea on the coffee table. Allowing him this moment of respite, she moved into her bathroom to shower and start moving through the day.
Mai couldn't help but shake her head at the ridiculousness of the situation she was in. After Naru woke back up on the couch, he saw her dressed in her work clothes and packing her bag to go to the office. When she confirmed his assumptions, he said he wanted to go with her to work. But that required him to shower and change his clothes unless he intended to wear the tux he wore last night.
Tapping her thumb on the steering wheel of her car, Mai looked at the watch on her wrist. Sitting outside waiting for Naru outside his hotel she felt slightly impatient. Nerves ate at her as she was not sure if taking him with her (like he gave her any room to deny him his statement of his accompaniment) was going to be destructive to their friendship or detrimental to her psyche. The last thing she needed was an emotionally taxing event. Kado was just explaining that they were going to be getting a new case in a month when the trial finished.
The passenger side door opened and Naru climbed in. His face looked somewhat flushed and Mai eyed him wearily.
"Is everything okay?" She asked before shifting the car and pulling away from the curb.
He coughed. "My… Mother says hello and would like you to get dinner with us tonight."
A blush decorated her face. She forgot his parents accompanied him to the conference. Mai actually got along with his mother, Luella, quite easily.
Mai bit her lip. "Unfortunately, I think I will have to decline. We are going to be receiving a new case, and I want to be as prepared as possible."
Her eyes were focused on the long stretch of road and she missed the disappointed look that crossed Naru's face.
"I understand."
The car ride into the office was a fairly short one and neither one of them dared to break the silence within. When they arrived at the parking garage Naru took in the building in its entirety. An impressively sized structure stood before him, and Mai quickly entered through the front doors and proceeded to discuss something with the woman manning the desk. Looking around, he noticed that the marble floor was complimentary to the rest of the décor throughout the entrance, and black and white acrylic painted geometric shapes on canvases decorated the walls. The furniture that they had in one area, which Naru reckoned was a waiting area of sorts, had black leather couches and chairs all of which were on a large white rug. Shade plants in pots hanging and, on the floor, held various shades of green.
Noticing her presence approaching him, Naru turned towards Mai as she held out day-pass.
"Here," She watched as he clipped the tag onto his shirt. "We are going to go stop by my office and then I can show you around and introduce you to some people if you want."
Mai walked ahead of him and talked him through the areas they were walking through, sharing little stories associated with certain locations. Despite her narratives, Naru was not paying attention to any specific details she had said. He had not seen her in so long, and now he felt like he had rushed through everything with her. Physical pleasure aside, the emotional side of the whole ordeal was now sinking into him and he felt ill-equipped to deal with the confusion of it all. She had bloomed for him, beautiful and pure, and now he was unsure of how to navigate the aftermath.
They had stopped in front of a door, the nameplate giving away that it was her office. Sifting through her small key ring, she found the desired one and unlocked the door. Pushing it open and switching on the soft yellow light, Naru was surprised to see a lack of personality upon the walls and on the desk. Her office was comfortable, but not cozy, which for Mai seemed considerably foreign. She was always so open and outgoing.
"I need to put these cases away and then we can walk around a bit more." She moved over to her desk, removed her blazer revealing a light pink blouse and her gun holster. After hanging her blazer on the back of her chair, she detached the holster and he saw that she opened a small safe and placed her gun inside. Her movements seemed ridged and stressed. Was she nervous? "Alright, we can go!"
She was. He noted the quiver in her voice. As she went to walk past him in the doorway, he reached out and wrapped a hand around her upper arm.
"Mai, what is going on with you."
It did not seem like a question. Mai sighed.
"Sorry, Naru," She shrugged out of his hold. "I just don't want to ruin any salvageable part of our friendship after last night. I don't want you to feel obligated or uncomfortable with anything."
In all honesty, Naru had the very same thoughts. He couldn't pursue anything further with Mai until he could figure out how he felt. On top of all that, he couldn't remain in Japan for any length of time. He had a class to finish up and a few more studies he wanted to squeeze in before finishing his next book and submitting it to his editor.
"Nothing will change between us, Mai." Naru crossed his arms and looked away from her.
She studied him. "Promise?"
"Yes."
"Pinky promise."
Looking back at her, Naru noted that she held her pinky out to him so he could grab it with his own. After sighing at her childish nature, he wrapped his pinky around her delicate one. A tingling sensation flittered across his senses and he had a strong urge to stay in Japan – stay with her – until he could sort out his mind.
"Okay then," She released his finger and continued down the hall they were previously walking in. "Let's keep going, shall we?"
Naru was introduced to a few members in the same unit as Mai but unfortunately not her team. The last person he did get to meet was the section chief. Kado seemed to be a good person and was very aware of the fact that Mai had a knack for getting herself into tricky (dangerous) situations.
"It was great to meet you, son!" Kado shook Naru's hand and smiled widely. "We should all get together and have dinner tonight! I know Kana would love to see you again, Mai."
Mai chuckled. "She's too sweet, I'd love to see her again, but I'm going to pass. I know Naru is also having dinner with his parents, so he will have to pass as well."
Naru held his chin in thought. "Actually, I'm sure my mother and father would love to meet you and your wife. You might have some interesting conversations."
Mai let the two of them talk about their plans for the night before getting restless and announcing she was going to get coffee.
Kado watched her leave and faced Naru with a serious look. "If you can, please convince her to come with us tonight. She needs to try to enjoy life and take a break from work." At the confusion on Naru's face, Kado continued. "We face many different kinds of cases, and most of them are anything but pleasant. If Mai had not already disclosed to you, we interview and talk to individuals involved in crimes that are serial in nature. At first, Mai seemed fairly outgoing, but it started taking a toll on her morale. We've seen it too many times in this department, but she puts up a fairly good front. I can tell that she'll listen to you. Please, if there is any way you can, have her come with."
Naru frowned hearing all of the details that he described. On cases at SPR Mai always bounced back fairly quickly and consistently. So, hearing about a stall in her behavior worried him.
"I will do what I can, but I am not sure that I would be able to convince her."
Kado clapped him on his back. "I'm sure you'll find a way!"
Mai kept adjusting her dress in the lobby of the restaurant. The light pink wrap dress was flattering on her small form, and her nude heels showcased her white nail polish. This wasn't the first time she had been invited to dinner with Kado, and she knew in the back of her mind it wouldn't be the last. But sometimes she just couldn't be around people after she had been around them for a while. She got tired out fairly easily and she wanted to get a jump start on work.
A thought occurred to her, she did have her phone on her, and she could access her notes while she was here. Too wrapped up in her thoughts she did not notice Naru walking in with his parents who were chatting with her boss and his wife. When she saw a pair of black shoes directly underneath her gaze, she looked up to him.
"Oh, you are all here?" She looked over to the group of four individuals laughing and talking. "How could I have missed them?" She shook her head and looked back to Naru. "So, should we break them up and get to our table?"
"Probably for the best."
Naru moved away from her to gather his parents. Within a few minutes, Mai felt her face flush slightly as they all looked over to her. It wasn't long before Hina had her within her grasp and was smothering her quite tightly.
"Mai!" Hina squealed into the air. "It's been ages since I saw you!" Her arms were wrapped around Mai's middle.
"Hina, you saw me yesterday," Mai said chuckling in her arms. "Remember? I had to present at the conference and you gave me a shot of tequila to encourage me to not let my nerves get the best of me?"
"Oh, yes!" She leaned away from Mai. "You told me you didn't need it, silly girl." Hina huffed slightly and turned her cheek.
Mai smiled at her slightly before looking at Luella and Martin.
"It's great to see you two again," She held out her hand for them to shake and after Martin shook hers in a returned greeting, Luella grabbed her hand and pulled her into a hug.
"You are the absolute cutest thing since I first saw the twins!" Pulling back from Mai to look at Naru, Luella smiled at him. "I mean, you are still cute, Noll!"
Naru shook his head at her. "Mother, would it be possible for us to eat sometime this nigh-"
"Ugh! Look at that," Luella said rhetorically. "You've ruined that pretty face by opening your mouth."
Mai burst out into laughter as Naru frowned.
"It is really great to see you again, Luella!" Mai said returning her hug. "I missed being around Naru without you around." Mai side-eyed Naru and noticed his glare.
"Let's go sit!" Kado said leading his wife with a hand to her lower back.
After the hostess walked them to their table and took their initial drink order, Mai pulled out her phone as the rest of her party engaged in contact. Her current case had her head spinning. She had to backtrack to older cases and the notes that were taken were sloppy.
"Mai!" Kado snatched her phone out of her hands. "No working."
"Kado, please, just let me-"
"Absolutely not, Mai!" He frowned at her. "You're a wonderful investigator, but you're starting to run yourself ragged. This is a night for you to take some time for yourself."
Mai crossed her arms. "I am not 'running myself ragged'! I have a normal work ethic, just like everyone else."
When Kado was about to say something to her again, Hina placed a hand on his arm.
"Mai, sweetie, you have fallen asleep at your desk three times this week, and everyone at the office has barely seen you eat. You need to take care of yourself."
Mai sighed and rubbed her eyes. She was beginning to become irritable. Standing up from the table in one movement she muttered an excuse to use the restroom. Moving over to the sinks, she turned the faucet on and splashed water on her face. She should have told Naru to pound sand when he told her to come with them.
The door opened to the left of her and she turned to see Luella.
"Sorry if I am overstepping, but could I offer you a piece of advice, Mai?"
Mai turned and leaned against the front of the sink. Waving Luella in closer to her, she sighed. "You're entitled to your own opinion."
Luella moved to copy Mai's body language. "Mai, I want you to know how much you mean to a lot of people, and how important it is for you to remember that you're still young."
"Look, Luella," Mai said sighing. "I appreciate you saying that, but I am getting a little exhausted over everyone telling me what to do and who to be around."
Watching with careful eyes Luella looked at her. She could see right through her. "You know, Mai, Noll was just like you when he was younger."
Mai looked up at her. "I'm not surprised. What was he like?"
"I swear he would go to work and go home. Those were the only two places I ever saw him." She smirked a little before frowning. "But I realized that it had to stop. He was just empty. I couldn't let him continue the way he was. So, I told him as much."
Mai laughed. "And how did he take that?"
"Well, as you can imagine he pouted like a child and whined to me for a while, but the following day, he joined me and his father for dinner instead of taking his dinner in his home office. From then on, he has willingly shown interest in taking even a bit of time for himself."
Mai tapped her heel on the floor and looked at Luella.
"I know you are probably right, Luella, but I wouldn't even know where to begin. I… I don't communicate very much with any of my friends from school and I couldn't get in touch with Ayako or Monk."
"Hmm, well do you know anyone at work? You could start there, and go and get drinks with them after work or coffee in the morning. But until then, spend time with yourself! Watch a movie or paint your nails. So long as you take a break from work, even for a bit."
Smiling at her, Mai pushed away from the sink and faced Luella. "I think I'll start with this dinner. Shall we?"
My Italian is/may be rusty, I rarely use it, but I do know that phrase fairly well! I will see you all again Friday with another new chapter! I am getting pretty excited! We are going to get into more of the secrecy surrounding Mai's job and the individuals with who she deals! See you then!
Cheers!