Chapter 19

The wind tousles my hair around as I make my way quickly back to the car that I had haphazardly parked in my rush to be rid of that seal.

As I smoothly accelerate down the main road I realise how much danger I've been putting people around me in. Even before, years ago in SPR I'd lead everyone into a seriously dangerous situation but I've never thought much of anything about it. Mai. My God. I stop at a red light and rest my head on the steering wheel. Every case we had been on she was always the one in the most danger, it didn't matter what I gave her to do she'd always find a way to get in danger. Or rather danger always found a way to get her.

A loud blare from a horn shakes me up from my thoughts. It's green. I shake my head as I accelerate past the lights. The nightlife of London flies past me, lights and grand buildings past me. They hold no interest to me; the one who has my interest is at the end of this drive.

I can see the manor lights on from the gates. Everyone seems to have come back; my hunch is confirmed as I see the van parked in the front drive. I park next to the van, and as I get out the air feels cleaner, lighter some how.

I push the door open and I can hear some quiet chatter in the general direction of the living room. A light pitter-patter of feet against the cold marble floor drags my attention to the hallway. Kenji is running headlong towards me; I barely have enough time to gain my bearings when I am forced to pick Kenji up before he crashes into me.

"What's the rush?" I ask him slightly bemused.

"Everyone is back now!" He announces loudly. I heave him up so he doesn't slip before turning around to shut the door. Mai appears from the living room giving me a relieved smile. She comes next to me to take Kenji off my hands and for some reason I don't really feel like giving him back.

"Thank God you're alright." She says softly to me.

"What's happening?" I ask her giving her a soft smile. It feels good to have someone – correction – to have her worry about me.

"Come on. Your mother and father want to talk to everyone." With her free hand she slips it into mine and pulls me toward the living room. Everyone has been assembled; mother and father are sitting on the couch facing everyone.

"Naru, you've come back at last." I nod my head to my mother. Mai never lets my hand go.

"We are aware that you have successfully sealed the demon – however, I wouldn't be too complacent." I tense at my father's words.

"Has something happened?" I ask, straining myself to keep my emotions in check.

"No, no nothing happened. We just don't want anything like this to happen again."

"Think carefully Oliver. Should something like this happen again don't be too confident that you would be able to defeat it." This is serious. My father just used my first name in front of everyone.

"What is it?" I ask, my whole body tense.

"Will you continue doing this even knowing that you could harm those you love very much? Or will you stop this to eradicate the chance of them coming to harm because of what you do?" He's issuing me an ultimatum is he? True, I've often thought of stopping what I do but I know that I can't. Not really. I give him my answer.

"I won't stop. Even if I do stop, I can't stop dangers that might harm them. Dangers are everywhere, not just the ones I deal with. Is this all you have to say?" I ask disgustedly, "Just to issue me an ultimatum?" My father cracks a big grin.

"Good choice my boy. Now onto the real issue." I give Mai a confused look; she leans in closer to me and whispers,

"I'll explain that to you but your mother wants to talk to us now."

"You all are of course welcome to stay a while longer but if you wish to return to Japan I understand. This has been hard on everyone, you've all worked very hard and to tell you the truth – we – Martin and I been trying to seal this demon for quite a while now. After the major kill it was inactive for a very long time until it showed up in Japan. Thankyou everyone for doing what we couldn't and saving all those lives it would have other wise eaten."

Everyone was stunned – even I was. It has been like this for so long?

"Lighten up everyone! It's been done and it's over with. Now I think Mai and Naru has some explanations they owe everyone…" Explanation? I look at her,

"About us… Kenji." She murmurs. Everyone looks expectantly at us before Mai starts.

"As you all may or may not know Kenji is my son and Naru is also his father – I owe everyone an explanation and an apology over my disappearance these last seven years. I left then because I couldn't find another solution that I believed would work out for everyone – so I decided to run away." She pauses and takes in a deep breath, "I can see now that it was probably the stupidest most infantile approach but honestly at that time I just didn't want to hurt anyone. Least of all Naru. So I took it on myself to bear all the pain and guilt. I know those actions were selfish and probably made everyone worry to some extent, I'm so sorry and I apologise for that. But these seven years has helped me realise that I have a loving family and if you'll have me back," Tears collect in her eyes as she pauses to compose herself. She continues, her voice cracking a little, "I will ask nothing more than that." She covers her face with her hands and press hard against her eyes to stop the tears from leaking out. I pull her into a tight hug.

"Of course we'll have you back, we have always have had a place for you even in those years you weren't there." Ayako says gently, soothing her back by rubbing up and down. I can feel little arms wrapping around my waist, I look down and Kenji is hugging both Mai and I. I smile and pick him up, hugging him between Mai and I. She wipes away her tears and hugs us back.

We'll be OK. We're together now, we'll be fine.

I kiss the top of Kenji's head, nuzzling the side of Mai's face.

"We'll be fine Mai. We're together now." I whisper into her ear. She looks up, her eyes still wet. Her big brown eyes giving me the most unguarded and vulnerable look I have ever seen her with.

"We'll be fine…" I whisper once more, more for my sake than hers. She ducks her head down next to Kenji's and hugs us tightly.

"I love you." I nearly miss it but I hear it, "I love the both of you."

"I love you too." It doesn't matter that everyone is here, because I finally have the courage to say what I feel.

End.
A/N: banzai!!! I'm finished! What a long story this is… I will be doing an epilogue of sorts… (Meaning: fluff bunnies will have free reign) I feel some how that this could have been improved and done better… near the end I was having really bad writer's blocks :/ so the story wouldn't have flowed as well. If you have any suggestions please send them to me! Eahh my case was really bad -.-" so forgive me on that count… I'm not good with writing suspense and mystery .

Special thanks to miss koneko for constantly encouraging me! A big thanks to everyone who read/subscribed/faved/reviewed – I finished this for you guys!! Thanks to charcol for giving me such a wonderful review :D still makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when I read it! So thank you everyone!