Mai was sitting in the gazebo, feeling the fresh air... or rather, trying to feel the fresh air. Mai closed her eyes, recalling her memories from seven years ago where she found herself miraculously alive... or so she thought.

She coughed blood and slumped her body on the cold and hard cement. Tears trailed from her eyes as her life flashed thru her mind as her breath leaves her.

"Na... ru..."

And she succumbed to death. After a moment, Mai gasped and snapping her eyes open.

"Welcome to your second chance of life."

Mai looked around when a voice suddenly spoke in her head, and there she saw a creature sitting, it has black wings and a goat head.

"Who... are you?"

"My name is Baphomet, a fiend from underworld. With my necromancy, and your payment, I brought you back to life."

"P-Payment?" Mai stuttered. "I didn't remember giving you anything..."

"I took the things that made you human and make you feel alive."

Mai stared at him. "I don't understand."

Baphomet pointed at her chest. "My mark will be your new heart. You will live until you turned thirty."

"A limitation..."

"Remember you are already dead, you are now simply a walking corpse." She heard his voice echoing in her before Baphomet faded slowly.

She went back to her apartment, she stripped on her clothes in the bathroom and saw the black tattoo on her chest, and it was the same as the head of the demon she met earlier. The first changes that Mai noticed was she didn't feel sleepy, hungry, or tired at all. She used it on her advantage and worked overtime, studied overnight, and watched mountains of movies.

Her friends notice that she no longer smile or laugh on their jokes like she used to. That's when she noticed that not only laughing, but Mai can longer cry, or feel anything in that matter.

Her friends noticed that she no longer eats, at first they thought that she's saving money. So they bought her lunch. Mai ate a little for appearance's sake.

She's empty.

Her tattoo faded slowly every year on her birthday.

She's cold, her skin is cold like what her friends noticed. Of course. Mai thought. Corpse are cold.

But she can't say that without scaring her friends.

And Mai can no longer use the kuji-in, the protective spell that Ayako taught her. She no longer needs protection. From whom she's going to protect herself to? Vengeful spirit that killed her?

Ridiculous, she's technically dead.

It took sometime before Mai get used to it until she graduated high school and entered university where she met her current friends who taught her how to laugh and smile (although without hinting any emotions to it).

Hakuren said it was fine, as long as her face will show different expressions aside from a straight one, so the others won't find it weird.

Mai opened her eyes when she heard footsteps behind her.

Hakuren patted her head. "What are you doing here all alone?"

"Kannon and Ryuuji are breaking my eardrums." She stated bluntly. "They never stopped pissing each other."

The POTU leader joined her. The maids brought another cup for tea, and a platter of snacks at them.

"They are like that ever since I met them, apparently, they've known each other since middle school." Hakuren chuckled sipping his tea. "When will you start your work?"

"On the first day of the month. Wednesday next week."

"Hm. Good luck."

Mai tugged her lips upward. "Thanks."

"Aizen went back to Paris?" He asked.

Mai nodded. "Yes, for the preparation of his wedding, aren't you the best man?"

"They already measured my size for the tuxedo." Hakuren warily glanced at her. "Aren't you jealous?"

"Of whom?"

"Aizen."

"Why?"

"Because he's going to marry the person he loves and make a family with her. And live with her for the rest of his life."

"No." Mai answered in monotone.

"Hm. I thought you want to have a family of your own."

"Before, but now that I'm dead and everything. It's not on my mind. I want to help as many people as I can before my time was up."

"I see..." Hakuren mumbled.

Moments of silence passed when they heard Kannon's voice. She's all freshen up, following Ryuuji behind.

"There you are, you two! We've been looking for you!" She plopped on the vacant seat, and eat the prepared sandwiches. Ryuuji perked up when he smelt food.

"Have you forgiven him from his mischiefs before you came, Kannon?" Hakuren asked the woman.

"Hm? Not really."

Hakuren smirked. "But the hickies on your neck says otherwise though."

Kannon and Ryuuji both chocked. Kannon reflexively covered her neck, she glared at the man beside her. "I told you not to leave one, stupid!" She pulled his ears.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I'm sorry! But you are so beautiful and irresistible! I couldn't stop myself."

Kannon blushed deeply and ran back inside the house screaming in embarrassment.

"Yosh! These sandwich will be all mine~" He sang.

Hakuren rolled his eyes, shaking his head in disbelief.

Mai only blinked at them.

Ryuuji and Kannon was glaring daggers at their leader, they originally disapproved of his idea about Mai seeing the SPR members, but Hakuren insisted, they are now walking in the busy streets of Cambridge, they made Mai disguise – she's wearing a shoulder length blond wig with red beret, and sunglasses.

They are on their way to Starbucks Cafe, where, according to Hakuren, the SPR hangs out. Since it's near Cambridge University where Naru teaches. The group occupied the table in the middle where they can clearly see the people who will come and go in the cafe.

"Why are we here?" Mai asked.

"Just chillin~" Kannon chirped. "Let's order~"

"The usual?" Ryuuji asked them before going to the counter. The three nodded. The raven haired man went to the counter and order.

The glass door opened, and familiar guffaws rang in Mai's ears. She looked up and saw Yasuhara, Ayako, John, and Bou-san, entered the cafe, with Masako, Oliver, Lin, and Madako on tow.

Kannon and Hakuren immediately snapped their heads at Mai when she removed her sunglasses. SPR was chatting noisily, or rather, Yasu was on his usual antics and teased Bou-san, where the monk will react excessively, and the others, except the stoic persons, will laugh at him.

Mai was staring at the group as they occupied two tables.

"M-Mai...?" Kannon called anxiously. Hakuren studied her micro expressions.

Mai sighed and softly smiled. "I am glad that Baphomet took all my emotions away." Mai saw Kannon's worried look, and Hakuren's concern eyes. "I am fine, I felt nothing at all." She assured them.

Ryuuji went back to their table with their orders only to find them surrounded by tense atmosphere.

"What... did I miss?"

He cocked his head to side confusedly.

"Lin, report." Naru ordered. They chose the secluded corner of the cafe to discuss things. Madoka dragged him and Lin to join with everyone else while having a break.

Lin opened his laptop, they looked at the onmyouji curiously.

"I can't believe you're working during break time!" Madoka whined.

"Shut up for a moment Madoka, this is important." Naru sternly warned. The pink-haired woman immediately shut her mouth, she rarely heard Naru shutting her up in such tense tone, so it must be really important.

"I can't find anything about her after graduation." Lin started. "She was last seen by her landlady when she decided to moved out from her previous apartment after graduating in high school, where she went and what she do, no one knew."

"Hey, who did you investigate?" Ayako asked curiously.

"Using BSPR's resources in looking for someone not relevant to the –" Madoka was cut off.

"We are looking for Mai." Naru's words made everyone silent.

"Why are you looking for her? Do you plan on bringing her here?" Masako asked, narrowing her eyes. She won't let Naru do that.

The scientist didn't answer her, and asked Lin to continue. "She disappear without trace, I search every universities and vocational schools in Japan but found nothing. No records of her enrolling nor graduating."

Naru was in deep thought before asking his team. "Before you followed us here, did anyone of you contact Mai?"

They were looking at each other, before shaking their heads.

"You told us to keep distance from her for a while, remember?" Yasu reminded him.

"Naru what's happening? Why are you suddenly searching for her now? All these years?" Madoka demanded for an answer.

"Yomozuki-san's argument was good." Naru said. "He told us that leaving Mai, a latent psychic which whom I would add a trouble magnet, alone is a dangerous idea."

"We already told you that but you didn't listen!" Madoka exclaimed. "And now we can longer find her! She disappeared!"

"Or already dead." Masako mumbled, all of them even the stoic duo glared at her. Masako shrugged. "Knowing Mai's ability to attract trouble, I wouldn't be surprise if she is."

"I already considered that possibility." Lin declared sharply. "But there's no record of her death either, or records of an unclaimed corpse."

Bou-san chuckled. "Of course, there's no way Mai-chan will be dead. She's a fighter and a survivor."

"Right, maybe she's just hiding because she's mad at us." Yasuhara seconded.

A man wearing grey knitted cardigan, with black six-pocket shorts and black beret sitting two tables away from them stood up upon getting his order, leaving the cafe, turning off his recorder.

Mai looked around her surroundings and she's not in her room, she's in Baphomet's place again. She saw him sitting on his throne, smiling at her.

"What do you want?" She narrowed her eyes on him.

Baphomet stood up and helped Mai on her feet, and went to the circular table. Mai took a seat on a peculiar designed chair.

"I saw what happened and I heard what you said when you saw those people."

Mai stared at him. "So...?"

"Did you noticed anything when you are here in my place?" Mai tilted her head, confused. She gasped. "I can... I have feelings!" She exclaimed. That's right, she remember she felt fear the first time she was here.

She has her emotions when she's here.

"Yes." The demon smiled. "Now, I want you to recall the first time you saw them after all these years." Mai blinked few times before she hanged her head down.

Baphomet frowned, he took her chin and made her look at him. "Hey –" His words drowned when he saw the sadness in her eyes, and tears trailed down on her cheek. Ah, he don't want to see that expression.

He wanted her to get angry, not sad.

"Why are you sad? Aren't you supposed to feel angry? They left you! They are the reason why you died!" He exclaimed. This girl... Why... He couldn't understand her at all.

"I am just someone they worked with for a year. I am not tied with them with bonds like blood relations, and besides, the makeshift family was my idea alone." Mai explained sadly. "They have their own life, they are not entitled to look for me like I'm their family or something. I understand them." She smiled at him. "I am just sad because Oliver didn't even consider in bringing me along with him, did he really think I'm that stupid?" She huffed.

"And... my death and second chance in life gave me the opportunity to meet Hakuren and everyone else, it gave me the idea that my world shouldn't be only limited to SPR, I need to step out and make connections with people." Mai grinned at him. "For that, I thank you."

Baphomet stared at her before scoffing. "No need to thank me, I just pitied a dying girl who bathe on her blood with her heart shredded to pieces."

Mai grinned wider.

"Is that so?"

The demon smirked before returning Mai to her world... reluctantly.

"Lord Baphomet." Elegy – a demon of Lust and Desire, a hermaphroditic demon that can turned into a succubus or incubus depending on its target, entered his liar after he sent Mai back, it took a female figure whenever it will visit him.

"What is it Elegy?" He asked.

"When are you going to consume that soul?" She asked, pointing at the glass jar. "I heard from one of your legions that you seldom brought that woman here." She smiled seductively and leaned on his bare chest. "Mind telling me who she is? Should I get jealous?"

Elegy recoiled and immediately detached herself when she saw his red eyes glaring sharply at her. "Since when would I explain my decisions to you?"

"But My Lord!" She exclaimed. "You are getting attached to her and you know its taboo to return one's soul when it's already taken!"

Baphomet's red eyes staring blankly at her. "Is that all?" He asked, uninterested. "If you have nothing else to say, then leave." He ordered.

She clenched her hand before bowing down, glancing at the sealed glass jar and left the room.

Lord Baphoment is favoring a human for the first time. This can't be happening, I should be the only one whom he favors! She thought angrily, gritting her teeth.

"I must know who the owner of that soul! He even put it close to him this whole time!" She morphed into a black hawk and went to the human world, searching for the person who have his mark.

Baphomet called one of his trusted servants in his legions after Elegy left. "Abaddon."

A scarlet-haired man appeared out of nowhere. "You called, Lord Baphomet?"

"I want you watch Elegy, she's in human world, looking for Mai." He informed. "You know how dangerous she is and her legions."

"Yes, my lord." And the demon of Destruction morphed into a crow and disappeared.

Baphomet held Mai's soul close to him before sealing it in the pedestal of his throne. His red eyes glowed, glaring at his ornamented metallic door.