Morning dawned quickly for the members of SPR as they rushed around preparing things to make a trip across town to find out what had happened to Mai "Are we really doing this, if Mai is indeed a student at that university, we'll be waiting the whole day" Masako sniffed.
Less than amused at the idea of sitting around waiting when they could be doing things that were productive "Even if that's the case, so be it" Naru grunted, not happy in the least that he'd had to do all this work just to find Mai.
Houshou made a face in response "I do got to wonder why Mai chose that university of all universities and how she even got in" Houshou mused as the lot of them piled into the vehicles, he just so happened to be sharing with Lin and Naru.
While Osamu actually had his own van to cart people around in now, John, Masako and Ayako climbed into Yasuhara's and off they went "Takigawa made a good point why would Mai choose that university and how did she get in" Yasuhara pointed out.
Trying to make conversation with his companions "Perhaps it has to do with being attacked like she was" Ayako offered in answer not to sure herself as she stared out the windows of the van, lost in thought and not paying any attention at all really.
"Did anyone think that maybe Mai doesn't want us to know and is deliberately ignoring us" Masako snipped out, mouth covered with her kimono sleeve, that thought though left a decidedly nasty taste in her mouth.
Behind them "Still we are her friends and I'd like to know why she cut off contact, I could have helped her at the very least" John chimed in, no one in the car had an answer for him and the rest of the ride was made in utter silence.
By the time they arrived in the parking lot to the apartment building Mai lived in, Mai was well into her first class of the day computer science, Naru noticed his assistants increasing rigidity as they approached the door to the apartment Mai occupied.
Like he was bracing himself for whatever they would find on the other side and trying not to be to shocked, he did the honors of knocking only to have his breath knocked out of him as the door opened and his indigo orbs were met with familiar doe brown.
Only this pair belonged to a toddler of only three if he had to guess the child's age "Kazuya" Michiru asked in confusion, and Naru recognized her as one of Mai's friends who'd been in the classroom that one time telling ghost stories.
"Yes, this is Mai Taniyama's apartment isn't it" he creased his brows, already feeling the beginning of anger boiling in his veins for screwing up the only lead they'd had to find the missing teenager.
Michiru nodded her head in answer to his question, shifting to make the toddler attached to her hip more comfortable and herself as well "Then what are you doing here" Lin skipped right to the question they all wanted answered.
Though he wasn't as shocked as he thought he'd be seeing the child that bore an eerie resemblance to Mai, the realization was startling as it hit him all at once before the young woman ever told them.
"Well I'm babysitting for Mai, this is Shion Taniyama, Mai's daughter, don't tell me you didn't know" Michiru announced, only to frown seeing the looks of confusion among Mai's former co-workers, in unrehearsed unison, they all shook their head indicating no they didn't or hadn't known at all.
And suddenly everything made sense, the distance that had been created, the tragedy the principal had said had happened, how Mai hadn't been the same afterwards, she'd been raped, gotten pregnant, all right after they'd left.
It was a blow for the entire group "Your sure she wasn't adopted" Houshou swallowed thickly wanting his assumption to be correct instead of the alternative, Michiru nodded, grim-faced as she shifted yet again.
Until making the decision to invite them all in where she placed Shion in her playpen and gestured to the couches and chairs for everyone to sit "Make your selves comfortable, Mai's going to be gone practically the whole day, I'll just make some tea" Michiru grimaced.
Now she knew why Mai had been slightly distracted that morning, staring at her phone with an uncertain look on her face, she'd known Kazuya was back in Japan, but wasn't sure how to really communicate with the people of SPR anymore after what had happened.
Which meant it was up to her to get them up to speed on everything that had happened with that in mind she disappeared into the kitchen to make tea while the others got comfortable on couches or a chair as was the case of Kazuya.
Or the other one, Lin, Mai had named him during the telling of all their adventures on each of the cases they'd done, fifteen minutes later she was back with a tray full of tea cups and everyone took a cup waiting for her to sit.
"Right what happened, all we could get out of anyone was that Mai had been attacked" Naru cut in, tone informing her that she better answer truthfully or her life would be made into a living hell, at least that's what she got out of it anyway.
Lin booted up a laptop in the meantime as she took a calming sip of chamomile "It began two months after you left, Mai started getting these letters, they were innocent enough at first, but then around the third week they changed, became graphic you know" Michiru began.
The tale wasn't going to be an easy one and she knew Mai would never be able to recount any of it herself "She started getting the feeling that she was being followed, the police wouldn't believe her" Michiru continued.
"At the end of that week things went downhill for Mai, the phone-calls began, disgusting voice-mails and the feeling that she was being followed only got worse until inevitably one evening on her way home she was attacked" Michiru paused to take another sip.
Face grim "That night Mai was raped, she was missing for a week as well, told the cops that the guy was possessed, I wholeheartedly believe her, when they questioned the guy he said he didn't remember anything during that entire week he'd held Mai captive" Michiru breathed.
"And a month later she found out that she was pregnant with Shion" Michiru finished, polishing off her tea and waiting for the questions she knew would be coming her way as soon as the people gathered in the living room gathered their thoughts.
The first one to speak was the older woman "So what Mai didn't think that maybe she should just give up Shion right to go to better parents" Ayako frowned already not liking what she'd learned, it still begged the question how everything else had come about.
Michiru grimaced "In Mai's words, it wasn't Shion's fault that she was conceived by an influenced person, so wanted to show Shion that at least her mother loved her, hence why Mai didn't give up Shion" Michiru informed.
Ayako slumped her shoulders "Okay but that still doesn't explain why she moved from her original apartment, that place was practically allowing her free rent as I heard" Houshou chimed in, looking around the much better apartment Mai occupied now.
Surely the bills were outrageous "Not so, well at least not after you left, they jacked the prices up on her when they heard she was pregnant, the principal helped her get this place and helped with the bills originally" Michiru shook her head, moving to pour her another cup of tea.
Followed by a quick look to Shion to make sure the energetic child was actually behaving for once, her lips quirked upwards into an amused smile when she saw the three year stood peering over the playpen railing at the newcomers with wide doe irises.
"Explain how she was able to get into that college of all places" Yasuhara questioned, wanting one of his questions answered otherwise he'd never be able to rest, there was a reason that college was difficult to get into after all.
Michiru smiled "Well after the incident Mai changed, became more focused on her studies, her grades shot up because of it and earned her a scholarship into the University" Michiru answered with ease, proud of how her friend had turned out.
"You said originally….the principal of your high-school helped her pay the bills of this place originally" Masako interjected herself with a huff, though she did feel quite terrible, what must Mai think of them for all just practically abandoning her.
The young woman across from them nodded "That's right until we all graduated, then Mai found a part-time job that pays quite well, hence how she's able to afford this place, keep her kitchen stocked moderately well and still have a little extra that she saves up" Michiru admitted.
Naru scowled at this "And pray tell what sort of job does Mai have" Naru demanded to know, the same as how Mai had always described the teenager/young man as he was now and Michiru felt sorry for her friend having had to deal with this guy all the way back in high-school.
But she did answer "Restaurant, waitressing really, she absolutely hates it" Michiru hinted, hoping the group before her was able to coerce Mai into joining their team again, she knew Mai would love to go on adventures and get out more again.
Everyone raised a brow at this, having a difficult time no doubt imagining Mai as a waitress "If she hates it so much why does she not simply find another job" John asked brow creased into a frown, confused at Mai's actions.
"Zero transportation and the restaurant is practically across the street from the university, the only place that was hiring at the time" Michiru admitted, nose crinkled in dislike, she didn't know how Mai could stand it there.
With that came an end to the plethora of questions until the silent man who'd been typing away on the laptop finally looked up "Do you think Mai would come back to SPR" Lin inquired, being the only one brave enough to ask that particular question it seemed.
Michiru grimaced "I don't know, she's confused right now I think, if her expression this morning was anything to go by, hounding her won't do any good either, but Mai misses you guys even if she won't admit it so yes, eventually anyway" Michiru finally said.
It was like they in unison felt relieved at the admission as stiff shoulders relaxed and serious expression smoothed, followed by a loud squeal from a toddler, causing a few of the adults to wince at the ear-splitting noise "That's Mai's daughter alright" Houshou rubbed his ear.
As it rang "Hush Monk at least besides looks Shion-chan is nothing like her mother" Ayako elbowed the man in the side, her statement was met with silence and dread filled her in response, as the young woman babysitting Shion hefted the child from her playpen.
"Mai told me everything you know and she thinks Shion is more aware than she is of things that go on, it was just yesterday that Shion saw something right here in this very apartment" Michiru informed bluntly not wanting to be treated like she didn't know anything.
Immediately several people went rigid, while Lin simply looked surprised, his Shiki hadn't told him the child had been able to see him "There are no spirits here" Masako snipped out, though she did focus only to feel relief that the apartment was as normal as any other apartment could be.
"What do you mean Mai told you everything, you don't mean that do you" Yasuhara gulped, Michiru nodded seriously, letting them know in a certain amount of words that she knew, everything about SPR and what they did.
They guessed they couldn't really blame Mai "Before you say it was confidential, you have to remember SPR was closed at the time and she only told me the whole truth, which I swore a solemn oath to never reveal to another soul anything that she told me" Michiru said.
Cutting through a certain someones angry thoughts "So why did Mai choose that university to attend in the first place" John questioned suddenly, having been curious, though he was even more curious about the toddler Mai had, had.
Especially if little Shion was spiritually aware "Let me go make some more tea" Michiru offered, preparing to set the heavy toddler back in her playpen, before she could Shion was gently snatched by Ayako and settled the three year old in her lap.
With a shrug Michiru disappeared into the kitchen to make more tea "Right that university huh, I think Mai had intended on opening a business similar to SPR, though she never outright came and said it" Michiru said upon her return.
Naru snorted obviously not impressed with her answer "And what did she think that she could do on her own" Naru glared harshly at the living room table Mai had in her apartment, that girl had only barely learned the essentials to being a spiritualist.
Michiru shrugged again not sure how to answer that one "Either way we're going to have to wait until Mai returns to find out more" Lin shut his laptop prepared to sit there for quite a long time as the others got comfortable.
Even little Shion who seemed to be enjoying the attention Ayako was bestowing upon her "You're just a cutie yes you are, much cuter than your Mother" the Miko made silly faces for the three year old, getting loud childish laughter in response.
Until inevitably Shion grew tired and reached for her babysitter "MiMi" the little girl demanded looking tired so off down the hall to her bedroom she went so that she could take her before afternoon/lunch nap as she was use to.
"Quite the handful isn't she" Houshou chuckled having found the child adorable himself, though it did make him worry that Mai would be to busy taking care of Shion and going to school at the same time to have any time for anything else, like SPR for instances.
The young woman nodded "Oh yeah there are some day's it's like Shion is on a sugar high or something, Mai thinks it's Akira and I" Michiru huffed in exasperation, though she did love the mahogany haired toddler.
"Well if it's not you and your boyfriend then what causes her to act like that sometimes" Masako sniffed, curious but trying to act like she wasn't, she wasn't fooling anyone though as the other members saw right through her act.
This question though got another shrug "Haven't a clue, Shion is a strange child" Michiru said, it didn't make her care any less knowing that Shion was special and could see things she couldn't, even if it did freak her out quite a bit.
"Has Mai ever encountered other spirits and the like since that time" Yasuhara cleared his throat, thinking of yet another question, it was somewhat his job after all as an assistant to Lin to get information that could be used in cases and such.
Michiru nodded solemnly "They seek her out sometimes, spirits I mean, non-violent entities since that time, the first time is how she found out Shion could see them as well, then she offered up a prayer and the spirit moved on" Michiru explained.
Shocking the others "Seek her out" even Lin was surprised at that information and made a mental note to add it to the document he'd been typing up since the other day, considering Naru had classified this as their first case since reopening SPR.
The young woman across them nodded "Non-violent entities" Naru creased his brow in confusion, he'd never heard of that before and he'd never heard of spirits actively seeking someone out like that and moving on so quickly afterwards.
"Yes, that possessed guy was the last violent entity Mai encountered, after that the spirits that approach her are non-violent, she lends an ear, offers a prayer for them and they move on after" Michiru repeated what Mai had told her.
Again the group was stunned and because they never thought to even check up on her, except for John they hadn't known anything "Taniyama-san was already a magnet for spirits and such, perhaps something changed after the attack that led to her becoming something else" Lin offered.
It was all he could manage to come up with on such short notice anyway "Perhaps, we'll just have to wait and ask her when she finally does get back" Naru grunted, in a foul mood, though part of him felt guilty because Mai's powers had grown and he hadn't been there to help her.
During this time, Mai's first class of the day was finally over and after packing up her books and scribbling down the homework assignment made a mad dash to her next class electrical and electronic engineering, handing in yesterday's assignment and taking her usual seat, book open and ready.
Five minutes later the professor walked in and five minutes after that he began the lecture, and soon the room was filled with the sound of pencil on paper as she and her classmates scribbled notes in their notebooks to prepare for whenever the professor would give them another test.
For an hour and a half she sat there in that uncomfortable chair, listening intently to the professor and his lecture doing her best to keep up and write down anything important so that she could study properly and keep her grades up.
Before Mai knew it the lesson was over and she was rushing off to have lunch only to return for her final lesson of the day marketing, then it was off to work after making sure she had everything she needed to complete her homework for the night and turn it in on next Wednesday.
When she was finally released from work, Mai headed home through the downpour that had begun sometime an hour earlier never knowing what awaited her back at her apartment as she hurried trying not to get to soaked since she didn't have an umbrella.
Everyone in the apartment stopped what they were doing when the door to the apartment opened abruptly "Phew it's really coming down out there guess I should have taken an umbrella huh Mi…." Mai laughed as she appeared in the living room only to stop cold at the sight of them.
All of them were stunned at the amount of change their friend had gone through in four years, long gone was the Mai that they knew "You never answered our calls" Naru snapped irate, how dare she ignore them.
Mai didn't so much as flinch "Sorry Naru but that doesn't work on me anymore, I'm not a child anymore" Mai stated in a flat tone, ushering forward to greet her daughter and thank Michiru once again for babysitting for her when she was so busy ninety percent of the time.
Naru wasn't sure what to think when Mai didn't rise to occasion, where had her temperament gone he wondered "We came here to get you to come back to SPR" Masako cleared her throat delicately sensing that Mai no longer had that crush on Naru as she once had.
"Give them a chance Mai, anyway see you tomorrow Shion-chan" Michiru whispered in her friends ear, hoping that Mai would go back to SPR, the girl sorely needed that sense of adventure instead of being cooped up all the time and never going anywhere new.
The brunette sighed having thought long and hard about her answer anyway but she wasn't going to make it easy for them "So as far as I see you don't really need me" Mai commented, grabbing a towel from a closet to her right to dry her hair properly that way she didn't get sick.
"Cut the cr…seriously Mai is that what you think of course we need you, you're an essential part of the team" Houshou began in a slightly cross tone only to remember the toddler in their presence and try to keep the conversation pleasant and curse free.
A mahogany brow raised in response "That didn't stop you all from practically ignoring me when Naru went back to England, I tried to call you guys numerous times and got nothing for my efforts, and while John-san's attempts to keep in contact were nice, it wasn't the same" Mai admitted.
Having tried but nobody had even seemed to care anymore "Why did you stop answering my calls Mai" John asked, hurt, because he could have helped her but she obviously had thought he to would grow tired of her.
"Because I could hardly stand my phone at that point in time, if you received nasty messages or disgusting perverted voice-mails you'd ignore anyone as well, then after the incident in which I'm sure Michiru told you about, I was focused on trying to get my life back to normal" Mai said.
Hugging Shion close before vanishing into the kitchen for a late dinner, the others were quick to follow and after several more questions that she willingly answered the SPR Team left her to her thoughts, homework and daughter for the night.