Naru's POV


It was unusual for me, but I was finding it difficult to focus on work, all I could think about was what Cousin Stephen could possibly want with Mai. Though where Mai is concerned I always get distracted. I've gone over all conversations I've had with Mai and ones that she's had with others in the past and can't come up with a reason for why Stephen would want to meet with her. Then there was the problem with Mai and Gene. Gene never lies, but neither did Mai. I'd researched last night for the possibility of markings that looked like tattoos, but came up empty handed which was irritating as I always had something to go off of.

Looking up I saw that mother, Madoka, and Gene were talking on one of the couches in the lounge area, they didn't seem to be all that concerned over the meeting while Lin, father, and I were. Once more checking on what time it was I realized that I'd just checked it ten minutes ago it seemed as if one o'clock would never get here. I sighed I was being ridiculous time wouldn't speed up even if I willed it to be so, it was irrational for me to continue to look up every ten minutes or so.

It was close to being time for the gang to be arriving and I wasn't sure if I wanted them here when Stephen was going to be here. They'd never met anyone in my family the entire time I was here until Gene was found and only then it was my parents. Stephen's a demon hunter of fifteen years now and he'd had no idea I was here in Japan for two years so he couldn't come bug me or have met Mai in during that time. He also couldn't have met her during the three years I was gone since he was pestering Gene and myself. There should be no way of Stephen knowing about Mai let alone wanting to meet her.

Glancing up as the door opened I saw the gang start to come in. Everyone sighed in disappointment when no one else came through the door with them. I'd changed the office quite a bit by making the entire greeting space bigger. I had more furniture brought in so if the entire team was here and we had a prospective case there'd be room for everyone.

Masako immediately came over and sat by Gene and myself much to our dislike, well to my dislike. I didn't know if Gene still liked her or not, but I didn't appreciate her invading my personal space. Monk and Ayako went to set next Madoka and my mother, while John and Yasu went and sat opposite of Ayako and Monk.

Monk looked at me and asked, "So what is the agenda for today boss?"

I looked up from the case file that I had been trying to read glaring at the Monk for his stupidity. "I will be going over the case file I have received. I plan on accepting this case so I need you all to be quiet and pay attention."

Looking back at the clock I saw that it was half an hour till one o'clock. Those who noticed me hesitate looked at the clock also. I saw some grimaces of anticipation, while others wore blank looks. My mother looked closely at me trying to guess my mood or reaction I wasn't sure which.

"Noll, why don't we wait a bit before going over the case. Stephen isn't here yet and it would be rude to start without him," she said with a small smile on her face.

My father kept his face perfectly blank knowing how much I dislike showing emotion. I nodded my consent and went back to reading the case file able to focus more now that I wish to ignore what is going on around me. Gene was trying to connect with me telepathically no doubt to nag me about ignoring everyone.

Before anyone could say anything Naoki, Daisuke, Haruka, and Saki appeared in their human forms. Naoki seemed unhappy about something which was unusual as he did not show emotions often. Daisuke also was acting unusual with a serious face. Haruka looked thoughtful while Saki was smiling as she sauntered over to sit on the arm of the couch I was on.

"What's the matter?" Lin asked wondering what could have happened.

Naoki scanned the room before sighing and saying, "Two demon hunters are nearby and neither one is Stephen. One of the hunters was at the park last night the other is someone I've never sensed before."

We all paused in silence before we saw the door open and three of Lin's shiki tense preparing for a fight. The door opened to reveal Mai and another girl. Mai was dressed in a white tank top that stopped just above her belly button with black shorts ending just above her knees and black combat boots. The girl that was with her was about the same height and age as Mai and had white blonde hair and sea green eyes. They both came in and Mai looked at Naoki giving him a smirk.

"I haven't seen you in a while Naoki," she said sounding bored.

"Mai, he's a demon. Why haven't you killed him yet?" the girl next to Mai asked causing Lin and all of his shiki to be on alert in case she attacked.

"Relax Lia. Naoki cannot harm us against Mr. Koujo's will. Even if he does allow Naoki to attack, Naoki knows better than to attack me. Isn't that right Naoki? After all you do remember what happened to your group of friends eight years ago," Mai said sounding all too happy about Naoki's situation which was odd coming from Mai.

Naoki narrowed his eyes at the two of them before saying, "Of course I do and I agree it has been a while since I last encountered you, Celtic Demon."

Haruka gasped looking at Mai with shock on her face, "You're the Celtic Demon? To be honest I expected someone who was taller and looked scarier. After all every demon that knows of you cowers in fear."

I saw Mai's eye twitch in annoyance before she smiled. They seemed warm, but her eyes were completely blank making her smile cold, more so than my own. I wasn't the only one shocked as Naoki stiffened and took a step back he had a warry look on his face, everyone else gave a slight gasp.

"Damn it Mai. You know I hate it when you use your demon hunter's smile when it isn't concerning a demon," the girl next to Mai, I believe Mai called her Lia, said as she walked fully into the room shutting the door behind her. The girl was obviously Russian with how she accented certain words. "So where is the dumb ass anyways? You said he wanted to talk with you."

Mai gave Haruka a hard stare before continuing into the room, Lia following, before she stopped by Naoki. "It's been a while since we last battled and I can tell that you're still very angry over the fact that I won, but get over it. You should know by now that I do not kill daemons that don't deserve ta die. I'm not like most of the council, I don't kill innocents," she said in English with a Scottish brogue.

Naoki scowled at her before speaking, "No one should be as strong as you are when out of their hunter form."

Mai gave a smile and this time it reached her eyes. "Sorry, but when a person truly wishes to survive they will do whatever it takes to continue living even if that means growing strong enough that everyone fears them. Plus, you should blame me parents for me strength."

"Isn't that lonely though? If everyone feared you, then no one would want to be around you." This came from Daisuke causing everyone, that knew him well, look at him askew. "What?" he asked when he noticed everyone's looks.

"It's not as lonely as you think. More times than not you find people of like minds and if people fear you to the point of avoiding you then they are not the kind of people you want to hang around," Lia said as she came up to stand by Mai's side. "Yes, sometimes fear helps a person know who not to hang around, but sometimes it's that fear that helps people to stick together and stay alive. Fear does a lot for people, it's deciphering the different types of fear that is the hardest."

"Lia's right. Before anything more is said, yes, I am the Celtic Demon the strongest demon hunter alive. It was a name given to me by a demon I had allowed to live as he had done nothing to deserve to die," Mai said as she leaned against the arm of the couch Ayako was sitting on.

"So, what do the tattoos on your shoulders mean?" Gene asked.

"They're not tattoos. The markings on Mai's shoulders signify her rank so to speak. Mai is a born demon hunter with pure bloodlines. I too have markings on my shoulders signifying that I am a born demon hunter with one parent not being born a demon hunter."

"Oh, so they're like birth marks?" Madoka asked.

"Sort of. Some get the mark through birth others earn the right to have the mark," Mai said in reply.

"I hate to be rude, but who is the pretty girl next to you?" Yasu asked.

The girl laughed before saying, "I'm sorry for not introducing myself sooner. My name is Malia Khalid and I am a friend of Mai's. We've worked together on several different assignments."

Mai smiled before saying, "Yeah and she is one of few who can actually stand being around me without being totally annoying. By the way it's almost one and Stephen isn't here yet, is everything all right?"

Just as I was going to say that I had no clue where that idiot cousin of mine was the door flew open. Stephen strode in and once he saw Mai he grinned like an idiot, but then he saw Malia and lost the grin.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.