Part VI
The three talked late into the evening, sitting around the kotatsu. Mai eventually brought her homework to the table, though Gene suspected she wouldn't have bothered if his brother hadn't gone to the trouble to retrieve it from the school for her. She glanced over the English homework and completed it with ease, though when she had set it aside; Naru picked it up and frowned, reading over several of her answers.
"This is unnatural, isn't it?" He asked her, frowning. He passed the paper to Gene, who began to read her translations with interest. "A proper English speaker would never say that."
"Oh, who cares," Mai grumbled. "It's good enough. Honestly, I'm probably just as fluent as my teacher. Help me with this geometry so I can put it away."
Gene set her English homework down and leaned over her math problems. "There's a mistake," he said, pointing toward the page. "Here."
Mai sighed and turned her eraser toward the page, scrubbing at the marks. "I wish I could just drop out of school." She shook her head slightly after she spoke, disagreeing with herself. "Well, I guess not. But I've never liked geometry."
She finished her homework, the brothers alternating between talking to each other as Mai worked or sitting in silence, watching over her as she completed the work. When the homework was done Mai pushed the books away from her and stretched, a large yawn filling her features.
Naru glanced at the clock on the wall. "We ought to go," he said, rising to his feet and taking the last teacups from the table to the sink, where he washed them and set them on the towel next to the other clean dishes from dinner.
"It's not too late, yet," Mai said, resting her head in her hands. "It's not even ten yet." She looked toward the clock. "Well, just after ten."
"But you have school tomorrow," Naru frowned.
Gene stretched as he stood, stepping over toward the entrance and retrieving his shoes from the rack. "And we shouldn't deprive you of your sleep."
"Besides," Naru continued dryly. "You've been yawning pretty steadily. Another fifteen minutes and you'd be asleep where you are."
"Maybe true," she admitted, blushing slightly and smiling at his teasing.
"Then we'll go." Gene slid into his shoes, bending to tie the laces as Naru took their coats, passing it to his brother. "We'll walk you to school tomorrow."
"You don't have to," Mai shrugged, tracing her foot on the floor, though there was a small smile tugging at her lips that made it obvious that the idea made her happy.
"But we will." Gene grinned at his brother. "Won't we, Noll?"
Naru nodded once and stepped toward Mai, his hand cupping her head and smoothing her hair gently. "Sleep well. See you tomorrow morning."
Gene cleared his throat. Mai wondered briefly if the display of affection made him uncomfortable. "Well, shall we, Noll?"
When the brothers left her apartment, Gene turned to walk toward the street that would take them back toward the hotel, but Naru motioned with his hand for him to follow him toward the busy intersection. He flagged a taxi and the twins crawled into the back seat. "To Dogenzaka," he said to the driver, pulling the door shut behind him. The man nodded and the vehicle moved forward into the street.
Gene watched his brother out of the corner of his eye as he settled back into the seat comfortably, the passing lights from the street moving across his pale face.
"We should probably call Lin when we get back to the hotel." Naru finally said and closed his eyes. "It's ten thirty here, so in London... it must be half-past one in the afternoon." He opened his eyes, meeting his brother's gaze. "When did you last call Martin or Luella? I haven't called them since I arrived."
"I sent them an email this morning, when you were sleeping."
"We should probably call them sometime soon, too." He sighed slightly again, turning his gaze back toward the window. "Later."
The rest of the cab ride passed in silence. Gene watched the traffic lights pass by as his brother watched the street signs. As they reached Dogenzaka, Naru leaned forward to deliver slightly more specific directions to the driver.
The car pulled over to the side of the street and Naru paid him briskly, the brothers stepping out onto a lively sidewalk, only several blocks away from Shibuya Station.
"This way," he said simply and Gene followed him down the lighted, busy street, past a myriad of stores. There were tiny restaurants specializing in udon or ramen sandwiched between 7-Eleven convenience stores and Western fast food chains. The smell of fried food lingered as they walked. They passed a brightly-lit store with phones and other handheld gadgets displayed prominently in the windows, next to a dimly-lit book store and a dark bike shop. As they continued there were a variety of high-end specialty clothing stores: all with mannequins in the windows, the slim, expressionless figures wearing trim black jackets or sleek leather boots under patterned leggings.
Naru slowed when they reached the corner. "The office I rented," he began, raising his hand to point at the second floor of an office building across the intersection. "I don't know if it's occupied at this time, though I would assume not. As I recall, the realtor was having a difficult time renting the place out before I took it." He glanced around the street, finally moving his eyes to meet his brother's gaze. "What do you think? Acceptable?"
Gene laughed out loud. "Of course, Noll, don't be ridiculous. Certainly you're not asking for my permission."
Naru's lips twitched, though he did not exactly smile. "This will be a joint venture. Don't think you can make me do all the work."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Gene laughed. Tossing his arm around his brother's shoulders he nudged him forward. "I feel like walking around a bit. You game?"
Naru nodded wordlessly, though a pleasant expression had formed on his face. Together, they continued forward into the dazzling lights of Shibuya at night.
...
It was late when they returned to the hotel room. "I'm going to call Lin," Naru announced, shrugging off his jacket and tossing over the back of a chair.
"Suit yourself. I'm exhausted." Gene said as he kicked off his shoes and flopped down onto the bed, face first into the comforter.
"Not going to brush your teeth?"
Gene groaned and picked himself up heavily, slouching off to the washroom. His brother smirked in amusement though his face, too, was drawn and tired.
The two had settled into their pyjamas and the light dimmed in the room when Naru finally picked up the mobile phone. He glanced toward at the clock and once again calculated the time difference before flipping the device open to see its screen. Gene was once again lying on the bed, stretched out on his back with his arms spread wide to his sides. The comforter was halfway pulled up over his chest, which rose and fell with his steady breathing. "Tell him he needn't have his shiki pop in on us any longer," he mumbled, and his brother paused, the harsh white light of the mobile reflecting in his dark eyes. "I didn't recognize it at first and then I just thought it was something that was following Mai around, but then I realized it was just watching me. Watching us." He yawned widely and rolled onto his stomach, his head facing away from his brother. "I'm sure he just wants to keep an eye on us, but it's not necessary."
"I'll let him know," Naru said quietly as he dialled. The phone rang only once before it was picked up, briskly.
"Naru," the voice on the other side almost sounded impatient. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't call."
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Naru said dryly. "Can you speak freely?"
"Yes. It must be late there, isn't it? Mai and Gene are...?"
"Gene and I just returned to the hotel room. I think he's fast asleep already."
"'m not," a muffled voice said sleepily from the other side of the room. Naru raised an eyebrow, looking over at his older brother. Though his head was turned away, Naru knew that if even if he could see his face that his eyes would be closed.
"Or he will be shortly," he continued, a small smile forming on his lips. "We were at Mai's the entire evening, when we left we walked around Shibuya. Dogenzaka, actually."
"Ah. Shall I take that to mean...?"
"Unless something happens to change our minds, we're planning to open the office again." Naru said bluntly. "Considering that we don't have the same.." he paused, "justification as last time... we're going to need your help to make this happen."
There was a long pause. "Tell me your reason. Why you're going to open SPR."
Naru licked his lips. "Because Gene wanted to."
"To give you an excuse to stay in Japan?"
Naru sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Somewhat," he admitted.
"I suppose you both have your reasons to stay there as long as possible. How is the search coming along, anyway?"
"Very well," Naru began, briefly wondering how much information to divulge to the man. It didn't take long for him to decide complete honesty was the rational option. "We spoke to our paternal grandparents this morning."
"Oh?"
"They live in Connecticut. I can give you the complete details later. And we're going to Nagano this weekend to look for our maternal grandmother."
"Nagano?" Lin said, his voice immediately taking on a note of anxiety.
"Yes."
"I see. Well," Lin paused ever so slightly, "Not that you need to hear this from me, but.. please be careful. For the sake of your parents."
Naru smiled wryly. "Don't worry, that's a given."
"Not that things will be the same this time, of course." Lin exhaled. "Do you think that Gene will need the extra time in Japan? It sounds to me that you've made great progress."
"I don't know." Naru answered truthfully. "It does seem that way. I suppose we've found half of what he was looking for. As for the other half... it could be just as easy or twice as difficult."
"What about yourself? Surely you have your own reasons to open SPR again. I suppose Mai will have to stay in Japan until she finishes high school."
Naru closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "Yes," he finally said. "And... she said she wanted us to open the office again, so that we could change the events that happened before."
"Preventing certain events, I imagine."
"Yes." He sighed again. "Mai is naïve to think that we can save everyone. It is true that if we open the office again, perhaps the same clients will come to us with the same requests. But we can't guarantee to change the outcome of every repeated case. And then what? Will she be content to watch deadly world events unfold, or will she think we're obligated to prevent casualties to events that we've already witnessed? From natural disasters to terrorist attacks, there are many atrocities facing this world that we simply can't do anything about."
"Surely she realizes that."
"Yes." Naru sighed. "I hope so." He paused again. "I'm sure others would say I am cold-hearted but I would think it irrational to step outside reasonable measures to change the future. Perhaps my motivation lies in that I am curious," he started, "what would happen were Gene and I to take these, and other cases, together. If we were able to take these cases freely without the obnoxious gaze of the senior BSPR researchers breathing down our necks."
"Surely that's not your only motivation." Naru could hear the man's wry smile.
"Of course not. I want Mai to be happy and of course I want to stay here with her for as long as I can. She obviously isn't comfortable with the idea of coming to England before she graduates high school. And there is the somewhat delicate subject of our being together. Opening the office will give me a little more time." He exhaled slightly. "And Gene wants to. He seems to think it's the right thing to do. I trust his judgment."
"His judgment isn't infallible," Lin warned.
"No, but he is very much attuned to the world around him. Oh, he's been distracted by your shiki. He asked if you'd let it leave us alone for a little bit."
"He saw it?" Lin sounded surprised. "I was hoping it would be a little more discreet."
"I believe he's been aware of it for several days. He said he didn't recognize it as yours at first."
"Interesting," Lin mused. He paused, clearing his throat. "Speaking of which. The shiki indicated... that Gene might be attracted to Mai," he said, the statement spoken with difficulty.
"Yes." Naru closed his eyes, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling that swept over him as he heard the words.
"Will that be an issue?"
"No." Naru exhaled heavily. "Sorry, Lin, but I'm exhausted. It's been a hell of a day. I need to call it a night."
"I understand. I'll test the waters with Martin and Luella about the office. I'll tell them about your idea to stay in Japan for an extended period of time, to see how they react."
"Thank you," Naru said honestly, meaning the words more than they could convey.
Lin paused again, and when he spoke he sounded hesitant. "Naru... do you think your parents will be keen on the idea of you putting your university studies on hold indefinitely?"
"No, I don't." He sighed. "In fact, I anticipate that shortly I will have to return to London alone, to complete my studies. So we need to open SPR before then. Good night, Lin. We'll be in touch."
"Good night, Naru."
...
He knew he was dreaming.
A brilliant blue sky, holding beneath it all the countryside as far as he can see. Green fields and mountains, quiet in the warm afternoon sunlight. Birds flit between the trees and bushes, ignoring his presence, singing and chirping amongst each other. Further from the winding road on which he walks, he knows there are deer and rabbits, hiding in the trees out of sight. The gentle wind blows his hair away from his forehead, the few pricks of moisture evaporating with the breeze. The sleeves of his shirt flap against his arms and he watches the wildflowers along the side of the road bob in unison, waving him forward.
He closes his eyes, inhaling the fresh country air. He lets his mind drift upwards, looking down at his body. This detour he's taken into the countryside will eventually lead him toward a lake. It's several miles, still, but he's walking briskly, basking in the warm sunlight, and he's not in a particular hurry.
When he opens his eyes, the summer green is gone. The sky is grey, the trees are bare and the fields and mountains both are brown. But for the wind through brittle branches, the countryside is silent. The only birds he sees are two crows, perched atop the skeleton of an old, crooked tree. They are watching him, as he walks along this deserted road.
That summer day, had he imagined it all? He can't remember now.
He stops suddenly, looking behind him. The pavement is slick from an early afternoon rain. He is approaching a narrow curve in the road, but the entire road has been narrow as it winds its way through the trees. Why is he suddenly so nervous?
He waits and he listens, but he cannot hear anything amiss.
The car comes from the front.
It is obvious that the vehicle has approached the curve much faster than it should and it lurches into the opposite lane in a desperate attempt to stay on the road. He can see the shocked look on the face of the driver. It is a woman, tear streaks visible on her cheeks. Or does he see the tears now because they will appear later? With sudden he knows certainty her entire life's story, past and future. He sees an old, run-down house, surrounded by weeds, and sees her childhood. A thin girl with dirty feet, running away from the harsh words of her alcoholic father and waiting for her mother to return. Some days she does not wait or her mother does not return and she sneaks into the alleyways behind restaurants, looking through the garbage for something to eat. Her life improves after her father's funeral: her mother takes her from their old home to live with their grandmother in a distant village. It is not long before every day after school finds her washing dishes at a restaurant to supplement her mother's meagre income. She passes through high school; she is shunned by a boy and wooed by another. Though this woman's life is difficult he knows she has seen happiness. He sees her laughing, singing karaoke with her friends, getting drunk and missing the last train only to spend the night with a man. This week, however, things had taken a turn for the worse. She had discovered she was pregnant, doomed to bear the child of a man who had already dumped her. He knows she will try to kill herself, unsuccessfully, and will lose her job. Eight months later, after she delivers the child, she will hang herself in her mother's bathroom. It is an agonizing death.
He finds himself feeling pity for her even before the impact of the vehicle as it strikes him.
And then, all he sees is the grey. The grey cloudy sky, a sky that grows dim and hazy much too quickly. Then it is the car again.
The woman is crying, her arms are weak and shaky. She can barely lift him. Darkness envelops him.
And then he is sinking into a cold, murky lake. He longs for the warmth of the sun and the gentle summer breeze on his face, but they, too, are lost to him. The dim light of the cloudy sky becomes distant, further and further away until his eyes no longer see.
He awoke with a jolt, his eyes snapping open and his lungs gasping for air.
He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, his heartbeat thudding in his ears. Turning his head, he opened his eyes to look upon his brother who lay still on the opposite bed, still held within slumber's tight grasp.
Gene sat up, rubbing his forearm across his brow to wipe the sweat away. Only when he lowered his hand did he realize his arms were trembling and there were tears in his eyes.
Was that my death, he wondered. Is that how I died? Did I see what already happened, or is this still to come? Or was it only a dream?
Gene frowned and slid out of bed, walking silently toward the window. He parted the curtain and concentrated his gaze on the sleepy street below. His heart was still pounding from the vision, and he waited for it to calm, breathing slowly and watching the lights from the few cars move sluggishly along the morning street, idling at the stoplights. Only when his heart rate had returned to normal did he begin to think about his dream.
Somehow, he knew, this dream or vision was connected to what had happened the previous afternoon with Mai. If he had not looked into her memories, as he had, he would not have had this dream. This he knew with certainty.
Why now? Noll said she was receptive to my abilities, he mused. What does that mean? And what about Mai's abilities?
...
That morning Mai rose much later than she had intended. As she rushed around her apartment, gathering school books with her toothbrush in hand, there was a brisk knock at the door. She didn't even bother to look through the spyhole, a feeling of giddiness sweeping over her as she opened the door to see the twins waiting for her, standing casually on the landing.
"Oh'yo," she giggled, the toothbrush still in her mouth. Gene laughed out loud and a smile twitched at the corners of his brother's lips.
"Morning to you too," he drawled as they entered. "We bought you a bento. I hope you haven't made yourself a lunch."
She shook her head. "Mmn," and she turned, hurrying toward her sink to spit the toothpaste. "I forgot to set my alarm last night..." she explained.
"Shucks, and here I was hoping you had so we could eat it," Gene muttered. "I wanted to try them all. We got three different kinds."
Mai laughed as she slipped into her coat and her loafers simultaneously. Naru reached for her scarf, dropping it gently around her neck. "You have a hat? It's cold today."
"Mm, yeah," she said, crouching to rummage through the winter articles on the shelf, pulling out a pair of mittens and a knit hat. "Okay!" She said cheerfully, popping up to her full height, pulling the hat on over her head and adjusting it to cover her ears. "I'm ready to go. Where's my bag?"
"Right here," Gene said, lifting the item for her to see.
"Let's go, then!" Mai said, pulling her keys from her pocket and shooing them outside, locking the door behind her. "I might be running late but I am hardly ever actually late. Right, Naru?"
"Hmm," he said ambiguously. "I remember you being late a couple of times."
"Na-ru," she protested, laughing as she clutched at his arm.
"You've gotten better." He said, smiling as they hurried down the stairs.
"Oh, here, Gene, I can take that..." Mai apologized, reaching for her schoolbag.
"Nah, I got it."
"Here, you can carry your lunch." Naru instructed, handing her a bag that presumably held one of the bento boxes.
"Mm, thank you. Oh, the light's changing—let's run!"
They hurried across the intersection. Gene ran forward and Mai skipped behind him, still holding onto Naru's arm, tugging at him even as he refused to break into a trot. His feet were planted firmly on the sidewalk before the light turned green and the idling cars began to move. Mai, watching the light and his deliberate steps, made a face at him, to which he simply lifted an eyebrow in response.
"What are you guys going to do today?" Mai asked, taking a right turn at the corner, her arm slipping away from Naru's as they formed a single-file line down the narrow sidewalk. Mai walked in front, Naru behind and Gene walked between them in the middle.
"Hmm, sightseeing?" Gene said casually, glancing behind at his brother.
Naru shrugged. "I suppose so. Maybe a couple errands."
"We went by the office last night," Gene whispered loudly to Mai, leaning forward. "There was a sign in the window with the realtor's number."
She turned, walking sideways and then backwards, staring at the brothers with wide eyes. "You mean, you're really..."
"Yes," Naru said, without expression. "We might as well inquire. More importantly, we ought to prepare for our trip to Nagano. What little preparations we can do, at least. We can plan our route and reserve train tickets and a hotel room for tomorrow night."
Mai turned back around to walk forward, her lips pressed together as she tried not to smile. Failing, the smile broke her face and she gazed upwards, eyes tracing the early morning clouds. "Honestly, I'm really... really looking forward to going to Nagano with you," she murmured. She looked over her shoulder at the twins who followed her. "All three of us together."
Naru's expression lightened, smiling gently. Gene, his eyes on the sidewalk, finally looked up and grinned, turning back toward his twin. "Me too."
The three walked in comfortable silence down the street. Mai, a happy smile on her face, began to hum softly. They turned another corner onto a broader sidewalk and the twins walked side-by-side behind Mai, who continued forward in front.
"See?" Mai grinned, as they turned down the last street, the school gate not far ahead. "Almost there. Running late but not actually late."
"Liar," Gene said, smiling. "Everyone's late sometimes. Besides, I saw your memories."
Mai laughed and snatched her schoolbag from his hands. "You guys can leave me here. I should probably run," she admitted, looking slightly abashed. "Besides, not to sound, um, ungrateful, but it would probably be better not to let any girls start any rumors or speculate about you two."
"I understand," Gene said and Naru nodded wordlessly. "Call us if you need anything, okay? Otherwise, we'll meet you after school. We'll go straight to your apartment."
She smiled, nodding, and found herself blushing as Naru stepped closer to her, picking a dry leaf that had fallen onto her shoulder off of her coat. "If you weren't fifteen years old I would kiss you right now," he murmured. Gene, standing close enough to hear his words, blushed a pale pink. His brother continued as if his own twin was not in the vicinity. "But it would probably be a scandal. Especially a block away from school." His tone changed from light to mocking. "Study hard."
Mai found herself giggling. "Have a nice day and enjoy your sightseeing." She waved and turned, running toward the school, her school bag swinging from one hand and the bag with the bento in the other.
Gene turned toward his brother, whose gaze followed her until she turned and disappeared. "Now what?"
Naru shrugged again. "What do people do when they visit this city? Tokyo Tower?"
...
The twins had been meandering around the observation deck for some time. Gene stood against a railing that overlooked the park and the city that surrounded the tower. The cold blue of the sky was spotted with clouds, almost white above the muted greys and browns of the late winter earth. Gene closed his eyes and began to concentrate. Time, he thought to himself, is fluid and flexible. Noll has proven that.
He lifted his head, his eyes still closed. He became acutely aware of his bare hands against the cool metal railing, the rubber soles of his tennis shoes against the smooth white tiles of the floor and how these two points of his body connected him with the entirety of the structure in which they stood.
Tokyo Tower was built in 1958. This structure has seen every moment that has passed since its completion. And as long as it remains, it will see the future as it comes to this city.
The sun raced across the sky, the moon chasing it in the darkness. Lights of buildings turned on and off and the steady streams of cars made glowing, lighted rivers in the night. Slowly, the moon fell, now, and slowly the sun rose before him. Gene opened his eyes, looking at the vista before him.
A hot summer day. He was vaguely aware that the deck was busier than it had been a moment prior, the occupants now comprised of girls in short skirts and summer sandals or heels; boys in short-sleeved t-shirts and shorts.
A bewildered expression crossed his face and squinting toward the sun, he lifted his hand to shade his face. This summer, he realized. July—no, August. He closed his eyes again. Did our parents ever visit Tokyo Tower? Lukas—my Grandfather, he corrected himself, said our mother didn't come to Tokyo to visit our father very often. But would they have come here, together?
He opened his eyes again. From his vantage point at the window, he could see that some of the buildings were different, noticeably shorter and old-fashioned compared to the view he had just seen. He turned his head, looking around the interior of the observation deck. Most immediately noticeable was the fashion of the other people milling about the deck. A smile twitched the corner of his lips. 1982—or 1983? With that fashion, definitely the early 80's.
His scan stopped on a couple, his eyes growing wide. Gene drew in his breath sharply and stared as the couple walked past, completely oblivious to him. The woman had very pale, smooth skin with a hint of a rosy blush in her cheeks, impossibly dark eyes and long, straight jet-black hair. The man walking next to her was tall, animating with his hands their discussion. His hair was a dark brown and his bright eyes were the same colour as Gene's. In his pause she said something to him, which caused a huge foolish grin to spread across the man's features. She smiled sheepishly in response. It was obvious to Gene that despite her subdued expression she was tremendously happy.
There was no doubt in his mind that they were Ichirou Nilson and Harumi Shibuya, his parents on a date in Tokyo.
"What do you see?" His brother asked quietly, standing beside him.
Gene remained silent for several moments, watching as the vision slowly disappeared. "The past," he finally said. "As well as the future." He turned toward his brother, a grin lifting his lips in a lopsided smile. "Seems we take after our mother."
...
They met her after school, as promised. Instead of staying at Mai's apartment, however, Gene declared they would go out to eat. "We passed by a shabu shabu restaurant that looked really good," he insisted. "We have to go there."
The restaurant was several stops away by train. When they stepped off the train into the quiet neighborhood, Mai looked surprised, looking between the brothers and then down the street, as if to confirm her bearings.
"Um," she started, hesitant. "After dinner, is it okay if... we take a detour?"
"Of course." Gene said, smiling pleasantly. "Wherever you want to go is fine." Naru nodded but said nothing. Mai was beginning to expect this reaction from the two. If nothing more needed to be said Naru was apt to stay silent. Not that it was any surprise to her; she'd known since she first met him that he rarely spoke without necessity.
After dinner the brothers once again trailed behind Mai when they left the restaurant. "It seems like it's been such a long time, but I know I've been here just a few weeks ago, after New Year's," Mai murmured to herself, not expecting a response from the two. They walked down a quiet side street lined with hedges and Mai found herself looking for cats beneath them. Naru hurried forward to walk several steps behind Mai as they entered the cemetery and Gene hung back, keeping a respectable distance behind them as they walked toward the Taniyama headstone.
Mai stopped in front of the grave, her mittened hands clasped in front of her. Naru, standing behind her, gently reached forward to lay his hand on her shoulder. Gene watched as Mai dipped her head, whispering something into her hands. His brother remained silent, immobile, his hand firmly resting on her shoulder. After standing quietly for several moments, Mai lifted her head and smiled brightly, turning away from the grave.
"Thank you," she said as they left the cemetery, dropping her right hand to seek Naru's by her side. Her fingers found his and the two slipped together easily, comfortably. "Really... thank you."
Gene grinned and slung his arms around her shoulders. "It's nothing. Right, Noll?" He gazed upward, watching the blinking lights of an airplane travel across the dark, empty sky. The sound seemed to follow it as it rose higher, finally disappearing from sight, its path obscured by trees and buildings. Gene turned his gaze back toward Mai. "What should we do now, Mai?"
"Anything's okay with me."
"We should probably head back," Naru said absently. "It's a half hour on the train."
"I have a deck of cards at the hotel."
"Sounds good to me," Mai said, smiling.
After some time Gene's arm slipped from Mai's shoulders but she sought out his hand and squeezed it gently, holding it as they walked. The trio walked back to the station like that, the short brunette holding the hands of the twins as she walked between them.
...
It seemed to Mai that after their trip to the cemetery Gene was much more comfortable with her and Naru together. In fact, now that there were no secrets between the three, they all were much comfortable together. Gene laughed brighter and Naru was more at ease. She suspected that he felt immense relief, as she did, that it was no longer necessary to hide their feelings for each other and their knowledge of the future from his brother. The return to the hotel was pleasant. Once in the twins' room they sat on one of the wide, queen-sized beds and Gene shuffled and then dealt out the cards.
Their minds were not occupied with the simple game but it was something to keep their hands busy as they talked about their trip to Nagano. The brothers had made the hotel reservation and had planned the route they would take to the city. Despite the fact that they were traveling nearly to the other side of the country—Nagano being only 60 kilometers from the Sea of Japan—it was less than three hours by train.
They talked over the game for several hours until Gene and Mai were trading yawns and Naru seemed to be the only one who could remember which cards were in his hand from round to round. Finally, he put down his cards and rose to his feet. "It's late, Mai. I'll walk you home."
Mai put her cards into the discard pile and made a small dissatisfied sound, but she slid off the bed and rose to her feet as well.
"You can just sleep here, if you want," Gene said, tossing his cards down and resting back onto the over-sized hotel pillows. "There's two beds," he justified, stretching. "I'm sure Noll wouldn't mind if I made him share a bed with me."
Mai glanced at Naru, whose face remained expressionless as he buttoned his jacket. "Well," she hesitated. "I should probably brush my teeth and all that. I have a couple things I need to do." She giggled slightly. "And I'll be late tomorrow morning if I don't. I wouldn't want that."
Naru nodded and held out her coat for her to slip her arms into. "You coming, Gene?"
"Nah, I'll stay here." The older brother shrugged.
"Be back in a bit," Naru said and Mai grinned at him as they turned to leave.
"See you tomorrow, Gene!" Mai called with a wave.
"Good night, Mai."
...
The short walk to her apartment passed in silence. As Mai unlocked the front door, Naru followed her wordlessly inside. After she took off her coat, Naru pulled her close to him, kissing her fully and passionately on the lips.
"Naru," Mai murmured, opening her eyes to see his dark eyes gazing at her own.
He sighed, folding his arms around her and hugging her tightly. "After our trip to Nagano, we're going to re-open the office. Lin will probably join us. But I..." his voice trailed off. "I imagine I'll have to return to England."
Mai felt tears prick in her eyes at the thought. "University," she whispered.
"Yes." He sighed again, squeezing her body tighter against his own. "I'll return when I finish." He released his tight grip on her and kissed her gently. "Don't fall in love with my brother while I'm gone."
Mai let out a sound that was half a laugh and half a sob. "As if," she whispered, smiling even as tears dripped down her cheeks.
He smiled sadly, taking her cheeks in her hands and brushing her tears away with his thumbs. "Don't cry, Mai, I'm not leaving yet and I'm hoping I'll be able to visit periodically. My studies certainly won't be very taxing." His smile widened ever so slightly into an amused smirk. "Besides, someone will have to actually manage the office. I doubt Gene will be very keen. Not to mention someone has to keep an eye on him to keep him out of trouble."
Mai giggled and rose on her toes to kiss him sweetly. "Isn't that Lin's job? He did it for you."
"Perhaps," he conceded. "Not trying to keep me out of the picture, are you?"
"You wish," she laughed, kissing him again. He sighed as she tangled her fingers in his hair, the kiss deepening. Pulling her closer toward him, his hands slid under her shirt, his fingertips tracing patterns against her lower back, squeezing her sides and rising toward her ribs. Stumbling slightly over her shoes as she stepped out of them, she pulled him further into her apartment and into the darkness of her bedroom.
...
The hotel room was silent but for the quiet sound of a minute hand moving steadily in its rotation on the clock in the bathroom. From the bed in the bedroom, Gene thought the muted sound seemed somehow lonely and dismal. The young man exhaled quietly, turning the page of the book in his lap, his eyes tracing over the words. He shifted his body against the pillow, the mattress creaking slightly beneath him as he adjusted his position and silence once again resumed in the room.
The stillness was broken when he suddenly spoke aloud. "Still around, then?"
There was an audible chuckle. "Just thought I'd drop in to see how things are going," an airy voice said lightly. It was neither a masculine nor feminine voice, though if pressed, Gene would have said instantly said that the speaker was definitely male.
Gene snorted slightly, sitting up from his reclining position and crossing his legs beneath him. "On your master's orders?"
"He indicated I should be, shall we say, available, should anything come up. To check in on you from time to time. I hope my presence hasn't been bothering you."
The boy shrugged and made a vague waving gesture. "Since I know you're here, you don't have to hide like that. Might as well make yourself comfortable."
The voice laughed, and Gene frowned in irritation. "It's not often a human being asks us to be comfortable," the voice explained quickly. Gene watched in interest as the shadow beneath the chair spread, traveling away from the lamplight which cast it. A slim figure seemed to suddenly spring up, a smartly dressed man in a slim-fitting suit and polished boots. The tie he wore was a deep purple with a delicate pattern in silver thread, matching the silver-grey of the folded handkerchief in his pocket. He wore a dark grey fedora to match his suit, which he removed promptly as he sat down, setting the object on the table, revealing short cropped black hair. Beneath his thin rimmed glasses, large dark eyes watched Gene attentively. The long lashes cast shadows against his dark skin. "I can assure you I meant no disrespect. All by yourself this evening, I see?"
"So it would seem," he said dryly.
The man lounged back in the chair, crossing his leg and resting his hands in his lap. Gene noticed that there were silver rings on two of his fingers. "Not curious to know what your brother is up to, I see? Though it would be easy for you to slip over there with your mind to check in on them. It's not very far, especially for someone with your talents."
Gene's eyebrows lowered darkly. "I don't need to use my ability to know what they're doing. I wouldn't invade the privacy of my brother like that."
"Of course." The man smiled. "I shouldn't have suggested you would be so unscrupulous. My apologies." He looked around the room casually. "Enjoying your sightseeing?"
Gene shrugged and nodded noncommittally.
"My Master only had me check on you very briefly the other time you did this. It would seem that what you seek is within your grasp, much closer than before."
Gene frowned deeply. "You remember the other time, then?"
The man smiled, his teeth gleaming. "I do. Not surprising, considering that we perceive the world much differently than you."
Gene watched the man in silence. He took off his glasses, pulled out the silver handkerchief with a flourish, and began to polish the lenses absently. "I hope you'll excuse my curiosity, but have you managed to remember any of the past future?"
Gene said nothing and the man's expression brightened. "I can give you that time, if you'd like. I can help you remember. The time leading up to your death and all the time afterwards."
"I don't need to remember what I did the first time when I was here by myself. I'm certain that the time I'm spending now is an adequate trade." Gene looked away. "As for after... I saw enough in Mai's memories," he said quietly. "I don't need to remember my death." If I haven't already, he couldn't help but think.
"Ah," the man continued to polish, occasionally lifting the glasses to eye them in the light. "But you did not see much after she went to London. Besides, those were Mai's memories, not your brother's. You were only beside her for a fraction of the time that you were beside your brother. What of his return to London, the first time, before that girl was murdered in her apartment?"
Gene frowned. "But I guided her through her dreams until Noll found my body. After that..." His voice trailed off. He did not know what to say.
The man continued for him. "After that, your spirit never left this world and accompanied your brother until he brought you back here to this time. You followed his spirit even after his death, followed him when he went back for her." He smiled. His polishing complete, he slid the glasses back onto his nose. "So, Mr. Davis. What do you think of my proposal? Do you wish to remember that time?"
Gene spoke without hesitation, his voice laden with suspicion. "Even if I were to consider your offer, what would you ask for in return? You certainly wouldn't help me for free."
"No, no. I ask for nothing in return," the man said simply.
"Nothing?" Gene said skeptically, frowning. "I don't believe it for a second. Why would you help me, then? There's nothing for you to gain. Your kind doesn't make such bargains."
"Oh, but quite the contrary," the man said. "Helping you will in turn assist my Master. For me to advance the position of my Master is beneficial indeed." He smiled tightly, his dark eyes flashing beneath the glasses in a way that seemed peculiarly familiar to Gene. "Living human beings aren't the only ones with precognitive abilities, my dear boy. You were perhaps the exception for humans of the deceased variety. We were all extremely impressed with your capabilities after your death. Even now, you are quite impressive and I hold you in very high regard. Perhaps one of the few humans I have come to respect."
"Respect?" Gene scoffed. "Me?"
"Oh yes," the man chuckled. "The time of your death and those unassisted accomplishments aside. You managed to detect my presence quite quickly and once you attuned yourself to me, it would seem there is not much I can do to hide from you."
"I'm a medium," Gene said flatly. "I see spirits."
The man's eyebrows lifted. "Others would say you are a perfect medium."
Gene looked amused. "Rather pretentious of me to say something like that, wouldn't it be?" He considered the man in front of him for several moments before continuing. "Not that you're one to care about something like that."
"Quite right you are," the man grinned. "All that aside. I don't need to mention the other feats you have and will do. I may lie and exaggerate sometimes, but it is the truth that I respect you highly, almost as high as your brother." The man's placid brown eyes blinked slowly, gazing upon Gene's blank face. "Nothing against you, of course. It just happens that your brother is somewhat more calculating, more rational, and less compassionate than you are. These are traits that I, by my nature, understand more easily."
Gene looked away, annoyance etched into his face, but said nothing.
"It is not criticism to be called compassionate from a being such as myself," he laughed. "Deep in your heart, Eugene Davis, you are kinder than most of this sordid Earth's population." The man's smile widened slightly. "A pure heart is rare, and I dare say you've kept yours, even after passing into the afterlife when your brother's was lost long ago."
"What about Mai?" Gene suddenly asked quietly.
"That girl..." The man turned his eyes away, as if contemplating the painting of blooming fruit trees that hung above the bed. "That girl is very interesting. I have surprising difficulties in seeing where her path shall take her. It would seem she has not yet come to play her role. Her fate is tied to you and your brother, it intertwines between you."
Gene frowned. "Noll said her abilities went dormant when I stopped visiting her dreams."
"Yes."
"But you said I didn't move on. That I stayed with Noll."
"This is true."
Gene frowned again, and the man laughed lightly in response. "You look so much like your brother when you do that." His smile broadened. "So what do you think? It is an interesting thought, is it not? To have your memories from all those years. Shall I assist you?"
"No," Gene said flatly. "I don't need your help, nor do I want it."
"Are you sure?" The man gazed at him evenly. "You are younger now than your brother by almost two decades. Two decades of memories! You'll never be on equal footing again unless you remember, you know. And even I can't tell how long it could take for you to remember on your own. You may never remember it all."
"I know." Gene said quietly. "But I don't want your help."
The man nodded, unfazed. "As you wish." He stood slowly, exhaling. "I suppose I could have anticipated that. And I shouldn't expect anything less, either." He reached to the table, picking up his hat. He did not place it on his head, but held it toward his chest gently.
Gene watched the man quietly before speaking again. "Before you go, can I ask you a question?"
The man smiled. "Of course."
"Does Lin ever talk to you like this?"
At this, a sliver of surprise was visible on the man's features. "The conversations with my Master... similar in some ways, different in another. Your brother is returning, Eugene, so I shall take my leave." He stood and clasping his hands together, gave a short, bow-like gesture. "Good night," he said, and he disappeared back into the shadows created by the lamp light.
Gene sat very still, listening to the quiet ticking of the clock. Lin's spirit familiar was gone.
...
Gene was still reading in the quiet room when the door opened and his brother entered.
"Welcome back," he said dully.
"You're still up." Naru sounded surprised.
He shrugged. "I didn't think you'd be so late."
"Sorry," Naru said apologetically. "I wasn't intending to stay long, but..." His voice trailed off and he had the unfamiliar and uncomfortable feeling of not knowing what to say.
Gene shrugged. "It's not like I mind. You and Mai probably want a little time alone together every so often, and..." he paused, shrugging. "I had a chat with Lin's spirit familiar." At that, Naru's eyes widened in surprise and Gene simply nodded, waving his hand. "Get ready for bed, I'll tell you all about it."
Gene had decided to tell Noll nearly everything about the conversation. Some things he had deemed unimportant or unnecessary: in particular, the proposal the shiki had made to help him recover his memory of the time after his death. He knew the thought he was now younger than his twin by almost two decades would only bring guilt and unhappiness to his brother. When he had finished, Naru was leaning against a pillow in his pyjamas, gazing at him attentively. "I find it difficult to believe that it respects us," he finally murmured.
"Perhaps you," Gene said, scratching his head. "After all. You did turn time around. Twice."
"You said," Naru paused, considering. "That it said something about everything you have and will do. Like it's already seen all of your accomplishments."
"Yeah. For both of us," Gene added.
"We aren't static," Naru finally said, speaking with slight difficulty. "We don't know what we'll be capable of in the future. Or perhaps, even, what we're capable of now."
The older twin nodded, thinking of his dream from that morning. "Because I'm not going to let myself get killed this time," Gene resolved.
"I'll die before I let that happen, Gene. That's my promise to you."
"You'd better not," Gene threatened.
His brother shrugged nonchalantly. "It only seems fair, doesn't it?"
"Don't say that," Gene grumbled, reaching to turn off the lamp and flopping down on the bed. "No one's dying this time."
The dark room was silent for several moments before he spoke again.
"We'll be fine if we're together, right?"
"Always."
...
Mai woke early the next morning, exhausted. With an unhappy sound escaping her lips, she rose to dress and began to sort her clothes for laundry.
Half an hour later after a load of laundry was in the washer, Mai sat waiting, looking over her homework at the launderette. Leaning back in the uncomfortable plastic chair, a small smile crept across her face. She couldn't help the happiness that spread when she thought of the man she loved. She could almost feel the strength of his arms around her, holding her comfortably as they lay next to each other.
They had been very close to making love, the night before. He had sounded almost embarrassed, reluctant to stop but knowing it was the rational, responsible thing to do. Even if he had been prepared, he told her, they shouldn't. She felt guilty, knowing that after Naru had walked her to her apartment she should have made him return to the hotel at once. After all, it wasn't fair to Gene for her to monopolize his brother, she thought, and it was terribly irresponsible. But her body hadn't been able to refuse him, lonely for his touch and knowing he felt the same. Naru had never been one to show casual affection, but he would hold her hand. Now, even that was precious to her. To have him embrace her, to be alone together in a quiet, private room—she knew those moments would be few and far between for the foreseeable future.
Mai sighed, standing as the wash cycle finished and bent to open the machine door, scooping the clothes into a basket and hefting it to her hip. He was right to be cautious, she knew. The last thing she needed this time around was to become pregnant at fifteen, even if mentally she finally felt like she was about the right age to think about having children. But that time had disappeared and she would have to wait another ten years at least.
Ten years. Mai sighed. In London she'd just started thinking about the possibility of marriage and family, but that was even more distant now. "I have to be patient," she murmured to herself quietly, shutting the dryer door firmly and inserting some coins into the slot. "Why am I thinking about this now, anyway?" She shook her head to herself and turned to pick up her school books, yawning. Rubbing at her eyes, she left the launderette and crossed the street, heading toward her apartment. In the time that the clothes would dry, she would get ready for school and make some tea. She would definitely need some tea—how else was she going to get through a long school day on that amount of sleep?
...
Much to her relief, the school day passed quickly. She found that she was impatient, looking at the clock every ten minutes and tapping her feet against the floor, wondering what Naru and Gene were up to. She felt antsy, keen to leave the school and return to her apartment to meet the twins before they departed for Nagano. Finally the afternoon was upon her and after offering apologetic excuses to her friends, she hurried home from school.
She had just arrived back at her apartment and was trying to hurriedly pack some clothes into a weekend bag when there was a knock at the door.
"Don't you have a key?" She called as she hurried toward the door, unlocking it and swinging it open with a smile. Seeing the woman standing on the other side of the door, the smile slipped from her face. Mai felt an immediate tightening in her chest, her mind going blank save for several choice curse words. This had not happened before. No, this woman had definitely not come to her landing the last time around.
"Taniyama-san, I see you were expecting someone?" The woman inquired. Though her words were polite, there was a sharp edge to her voice and her eyes were narrowed ever so slightly as she looked down over her thin-rimmed glasses. "I'm sorry to barge in on you so suddenly."
"N-not at all, Ogasawara-san," Mai said politely, stepping aside from the door so that the woman could enter. "Please, do come in. I apologize that it is not very tidy."
The woman stepped in, dipping her head and stepping out of her high heels. "Excuse me," she said, her dark eyes moving around the room quickly, her lips pursing together tightly. Mai knew that the woman was surprised that the apartment was actually quite well-kept: the only obvious piece of clutter was a lone tea cup, sitting on the counter by the sink. No doubt the woman was searching for something on which she could place accusations.
"Would you like some tea?"
"Thank you, but I shouldn't stay long."
"No, it's no trouble," Mai said, pouring a cup and placing it on the kotatsu. "Won't you sit down, Ogasawara-san?" Even as she said this, she wished the woman would stand up and leave, never to return.
"Thank you," the woman said, sitting carefully and eyeing the room with conspicuous scrutiny. "I suppose you are curious for the nature of my visit." Mai said nothing as she sat down, easing herself into the place across from the woman. "We received a call from one of the tenants of this building who happened to know of your circumstances. They were... concerned about you."
Mai was genuinely puzzled. "Concerned? I can assure you, nothing is wrong."
Ogasawara continued as if Mai had not spoken. "Your neighbor said that you came back on Wednesday in the company of two men. That you seemed to be unconscious and that they had carried you inside."
Alarmed at the emphasis Ogasawara had placed on "two men", Mai tried to keep her expression neutral, cautiously choosing her words. "I fainted after school and my friends were kind enough to bring me home."
"She seemed to think you had passed out drunk," the woman pressed.
It was all she could do not to grit her teeth with exasperation. "Nothing could be further from the truth," she said coolly.
"Your neighbor also indicated she had seen you with these boys several times after that incident. I trust there is an innocuous explanation?"
"They're just two of my friends," Mai said, keeping her voice calm. "We've been working on a school project together."
"Well," the woman said, pursing her lips and adjusting her glasses. "At this point without any discernible evidence of foul play, I will have to take your word for it. However, it would be wise not to bring home too many men, Taniyama-san. It may be too much for you to imagine, but teenage pregnancy is no joke and you can be certain that any man willing to sleep with you is carrying sexual transmitted diseases. While your care from our institution does.. include certain medical benefits, let me confirm for you that any treatment for such diseases will come out of your own pocket."
Levelling a hard gaze on the woman, Mai kept her mouth firmly closed, knowing that if she let herself speak she would regret the consequences. When Ogasawara continued to stare at her pointedly and Mai realized that this woman would not move until she acknowledged what she said, she spoke stiffly. "I appreciate that you came all this way to tell me that, Ogasawara-san. Is there anything else today?"
"No," Ogasawara said, standing. Mai also rose to her feet, moving around the kotatsu but keeping a fair distance from the woman. Ogasawara walked briskly to the entrance and stepped into her shoes as she buttoned her coat. "I apologize for the intrusion," she said coldly. "Until next time, Taniyama-san."
The door closed behind her and Mai stood still in the silent room for several moments, pondering the encounter. Finally she turned her gaze back to the table where the cup of tea, untouched, still sat. Frowning, she picked it up and tossed the contents into the sink. "What a waste," she muttered darkly. "And what a bitch."
...
She was in her room when she heard the door open, unlocked quietly.
"Mai," Gene called. "About ready?"
"Yeah," Mai said, picking up her bag and tossing it over her shoulder as she went to the main room. She had changed from her uniform into a comfortable hooded sweatshirt, a short winter skirt with knit tights covering her legs.
From the tone of her voice both twins immediately knew that something was amiss. Naru's eyes searched her face, silently asking her what was wrong. She turned her gaze away, bending to pull on her winter boots and zipping up the sides.
Gene looked around the room for several moments before suddenly asking, "Who was that woman, Mai?"
She knew they could see the tension on her face. Naru's questioning gaze had moved from her to his twin and back again, his lips thin, obviously wanting to demand answers. Exhaling slightly, she moved her eyes between the two, debating whether or not now was the time to breach the topic. "Let's talk about it later," she finally said, sighing again. "On the train or when we get to the hotel. Sorry. I'm just... tired." She buttoned up her coat and took her scarf from the peg on the wall. "Besides, we should get going, right?"
"Sooner or later," Naru said blandly. "You have what you need? Homework, too?"
Mai made a face. "Something like that." Her expression dimmed, her eyes travelled toward the walls on either side of the apartment. "We probably shouldn't spend any more time here together." She shook her head slightly. "It would seem that my neighbors are watching disapprovingly."
Gene cast a curious and worried glance toward his brother, who shook his head slightly with a frown, having no explanation to offer him.
Then, with a final glance around her apartment: unplugging the few electric appliances from around the room, they left. Mai locked the door carefully behind her, dropping the keys into her coat pocket. "Let's hurry," she muttered, "I don't want my neighbors to see me leaving to speculate to Ogasawara."
"They won't notice," Gene said confidently, his steps light as he strode toward the stairs. He did not see the questioning glance that Mai threw to Naru, who simply lifted his shoulders in response.
...
Standing in the queue to pick up their reserved tickets, Naru noticed that Mai had begun to yawn with recurring frequency, and when they had boarded the train and set their luggage on the overhead racks, Mai settled into the seat, leaning back with a sigh, her eyes becoming cloudy and unfocused. When the train finally began to move her eyes had closed, her breathing deepened.
"I guess we'll have to wait to hear about Ogasawara," Gene noted with a bit of a grin twitching his lips as he sat down, settling into his seat. They had turned the seats so that there were two seats on each side facing each other. Mai had seated herself first, choosing as she always did to sit next to the window. She had promptly placed their jackets on the seat next to her, allowing the brothers to sit next to each other on the opposite side.
Naru frowned. "I have a hunch, but..." He pursed his lips, watching the napping girl. He did not like the fact that Mai was upset about something that he did not know the details. "What did you see there?"
"Just that Mai had an unwelcome visitor." Gene closed his eyes, frowning as he thought. "And she did not drink the tea that was offered." A smile tugged his lips upwards. "Mai called her a choice word." Opening his eyes and seeing his brother's alarmed look, he added quickly, "After the woman left. You know Mai, never openly rude."
Naru lifted his eyebrows. "She wasn't always that way."
"Really?"
"When she was younger, she often let her temper get the best of her. Even to strangers." A small grin twitched his lips, remembering how she had all but lunged angrily at the teacher at Yasuhara's school. "She's grown out of that a bit."
"I'll say." Gene moved his gaze to the window, watching the city lights speed by as the train picked up speed. "All of us going together will complicate things a little bit, won't it?" He suddenly asked, changing the subject abruptly.
Naru shifted in his seat, lifting his leg and setting his ankle against knee, resting his hands loosely in his lap. "Perhaps," he finally agreed. "We don't quite look old enough to be going on a trip unsupervised, I imagine."
"And we can't say we're all related. I doubt anyone would be fooled." Gene moved his gaze from the window to Mai's peaceful slumbering figure. "Not that I am suggesting she shouldn't have come," he added quickly.
"Thank you for inviting her," his brother said softly, turning his head to meet his gaze. "I... appreciate it."
"Of course." Gene rubbed his neck and settled into the chair, yawning. "I think she's got the right idea. Wake me up if you guys get hungry and want to eat dinner, okay? Or if you want to wait until we get there, that's fine too." He shrugged slightly, grinning and closing his eyes. "Just don't eat without me!"
...
Mai opened her eyes slowly, blinking. She sat up and yawned, looking up to gaze at the two figures opposite her. Gene was sleeping peacefully, slumped toward his brother, his head resting on his shoulder, breathing deeply in his slumber. Naru had been reading a newspaper, which he lowered as soon as she stirred.
"Feel better?" He inquired.
"Much," Mai nodded and stretched her arms again, another small yawn surprising her. Naru smiled slightly and she grinned, embarrassed. "I guess I was tired, huh? Still am."
He nodded, watching her with a comfortable look on his face. Eventually his expression turned more serious and he spoke again. "Who is Ogasawara?" He finally questioned.
Mai sighed, reaching to her head and running her fingers through her mussed hair to smooth it. "To put it simply, she works for the agency that manages the affairs of my parents' estate. Or finances, my inheritance, whatever."
"She didn't visit you last time like this."
"Of course not!" Mai frowned. "I guess one of my neighbors must have called her or the agency up—probably old granny Sawatari, who else is going to notice such things as my comings and goings?" She snorted slightly. "Last time I wasn't doing anything suspect, Naru, thank you very much. Or anything that could be interpreted as suspect."
He smiled thinly. "Of course you weren't. Just working terrible hours for some selfish bastard."
She leaned forward, swatting at his hand. "Don't say that."
"It's the truth, isn't it?"
"I didn't mind. And don't call yourself that." She frowned at him, wagging her finger. "As far as Ogasawara.." Mai sighed, "she certainly lives up to her reputation." She rested her chin on her hand, gazing out the window at the bleak scenery. "What an unpleasant woman. I remember.. Umemoto-kun? Was that his name? He was older than me as I recall. Anyway," she waved her hand. "Neither here nor there. It was my last year in school and I found out this boy at my school—let's just say it was Umemoto—was also an orphan and had his parents' estate managed by this agency. I don't know what Ogasawara's exact position is but she's some sort of manager that handles the accounts, is ultimately responsible for children receiving their monthly instalments and the final sum when they become legal adults. I think he got into some minor trouble—maybe underage smoking. She gave him hell for it. He told me I should avoid her, at all costs." She smiled sadly. "I thought I was lucky, then, not to have to worry about such things."
"She can't do anything to you," Naru said quietly. "Even if she took away your inheritance from your parents—if she could legally refuse that to you—she can't do anything to you when I'm here. With Gene and I with you, there's nothing she can do to you."
Mai smiled, reaching across the small space between them to take his hand, holding it gently. "I know," she said, smiling gratefully. "Thank you. I just don't... want to cause trouble, you know?"
He squeezed her hand in return. "I know."
...
It was close to nine o'clock when they arrived, though from the darkness of the sky and her intermittent napping, it felt much later. Mai stepped off the train into the station, glancing around before leading the brothers toward the platform exit.
They were walking through the hallway when Naru held up his hand, gesturing for Mai to wait. Gene had stopped in front of the train schedules, gazing upwards with a peculiar look on his face.
"Tomorrow," he said, pausing as he gazed at the train tables, "let's take the train to Omachi. Early. If we could arrive before ten..." He hesitated, studying the times. "We should probably take the six o'clock morning train." He turned to his brother, searching his face before looking at Mai. "Too early?"
"Of course not," Naru said, his eyes light with a smile that did not quite reach his lips.
Gene looked relieved and nodded. "Okay. Let's do that, then. But," he paused, interrupting himself, a lopsided grin crossing his face. "More important things first. Where shall we eat dinner? I'm starving."
...
A/N: A huge thank you (always) to everyone for your encouragement. I am immensely grateful for your kind words! It means so much to me.
As always, thank you for reading! Many many thanks for your patience and sticking with me after all this time. I'd be very happy to know what you thought, and any feedback is always appreciated. Until next time!