Masako's POV
The restaurant was surprisingly good and the company was very pleasant, I find myself opening up to Eugene unlike I have ever opened up to anyone.
"Masako, how is your meal?"
"Perfectly acceptable, yours?"
"I quite enjoy a good Ramen, it may not be what you are used to but you have to admit the company is amazing."
"Hhn, yes I suppose."
He is quiet chatty compared to his younger brother.
"Are you feeling better? I know that the dream has you worried but the spirit for some reason has attuned its self to your wave length. I do hope that if you have anymore of these dreams that you will contact me immediately. You should not have to deal with this on your own. I know what these dreams and our talents can take out of us."
"Thank you for your concern, I know you understand but I have done this for a long time. I have had to deal with this my entire life. As a child I was frighten by the strange spirits that reached out for me. There was times as a child that I thought the spirits around me were going to burn up my energy. I was 6 when my grandmother came to visit and recognized that I needed training."
"That had to be horrible" Gene mumbled; however, I heard the tenderness in his voice.
"It was much like you and Oliver, I went thought the first years of my powers alone. Grandmother told my parents of my talent and from then on my adoring parents saw me as a way to make money. They didn't start really exploiting me until my Grandmother died when I was 12. That is when my parents started selling my talents. It was the same time that, BSPR started showing you and Oliver's abilities to colleges. I have been the person ever since."
His eyes hold a sincerity that I have not seen since my Grandmother was alive. I appreciated that he didn't apologize for my life-like he could change what happen. Instead he caught me off guard.
Smiling he said "You're at the age, now where you can make a decision about your life. Do you resent your powers?"
Do I resent my powers? Is he crazy of course I do; however, I enjoy seeing people move on and rest in peace. It gives me a purpose. I decide to be frank with him.
"Do feel a but of resentment for my lost childhood but that is not a blame, my powers. I do enjoy helping people move on and find peace. It is like helping the homeless or rescuing a kitten. It feeds a person's soul to do something good for someone else."
At my words his eyes light up and the most breath-taking grin breaks across his face. He starts talking and I have to force my self to focus.
Gene's POV
I have always wondered if anyone else could understand they way I do. Hearing her say why she does not quit and why she loves doing what we do. Helping people find peace. I knew that she was genuine under that prissy attitude.
I decide to drop all my walls and show her my true self. Grinning, I decide to let her know what I really thought about her answer.
"I agree Masako, what we do is for a noble cause. Even if people dont believe or realize the true extent of our powers."
She smiles and nods. It is nice to know that someone feels the same way I do, other then my twin.
One Month Later - Regular POV
The SPR office is quiet. There is another hour before the Mai arrives. Gene is currently looking up information on the shrines in the area. Naru is currently reading research on the Fallen and all the myths surrounding the Fallen's creation. Lin is looking up the most effect charms against demonic forces and possession.
Madoka is currently looking up cures for her father's condition. She knows that it is pointless at this point but she has to try regardless.
One hour and fifteen minutes later.
Naru feeling frustrated with the information he was finding and agitated that Mai was now fifteen minutes late. He would never openly admit it but he was concerned, especially since the Fallen are after her currently.
Mai's POV
Naru is going to kill me. I am so late, maybe he will forgive me since I stopped at his favorite Tea Shop to get a special blend of tea for him.
I will make his tea as soon as I get there to help sooth his ruffled feathers, sometimes he can be such a mother hen.
I am a total of twenty minutes late but at least I made it here unharmed. Picking up the mail, I head to the kitchen to make the Dark Lord his tea and sort the mail out.
Naru has a majority of the mail, a magazine for Gene and package for Lin.
The tea kettle whistles knocking me out of my though process. Making Naru's tea, I cant help but think here goes nothing.
Knocking, I here his delicious voice say "Enter". He is definitely not happy.
"Good Afternoon, Naru." Giving a full smile and setting his tea on the corner of his desk.
Glaring he says "Where exactly have you been? Do you realize that you are twenty minutes late, or is the concept of time really that hard for you to understand?"
I want to yell an scream at him, of course I know the concept of time. I just remembered half way on my way here that we were out of tea. Instead I decide to not give him a response and turn to leave. Lets see how he handles a cold shoulder.
I turn and exit without even slamming the door. If he doesn't want to let me explain then there is no need for me to listen to his lecture. I know he will follow me shortly. His genius brain will not comprehend my reaction to his attitude.
I take the rest of the mail to Lin and Gene given them each their tea. They both seemed completely involved in their work. I knew Naru would be at my desk when I came out of Len's office.
Rolling my eyes at his predictability, I might as well get this over with. As much as I love this narcissism, he can try my patience like no other.
Naru's POV - 20 minutes prior
Mai the adorable little idiot left my office without even an acknowledgement that I had asked her a question. Looking down at the mail. There was a letter and from the looks, I knew that I would sucked straight into a vision.
There was a young women about 22, she was currently sitting in a garden. She looked happy and content. The scene changed and she was hanging on a wall by what appears to be a invisible force. She is gasping for air and cries "Help Please!"
The scene changes to a man holding her hand while sitting by her bed, he looks so lost and sad. He hears the man say "I will find someone who can stop this."
The vision ends. He knows that his brother would have been pulled in and saw the whole thing. This letter will have a very interesting case.
Dear Mr. Shibuya,
My name is Hishiro Higorashi, my wife Rin has been attacked since we moved to our new house in Zushi. We wanted to be closer to the ocean and my wife fell in love with the area. This house had a lot of rumors surrounding it but we could not pass up the price.
It was rumored that the previous owner died after she was driven mad by the entity in this house. My wife; however, has never been superstitious, she loved the garden at this house and wanted to make this house our new home.
Little did she know that the house would turn in to a living nightmare. It started at first with little accidents that she would pass off as her being clumsy. She would trip or cut herself. It progressed to where now she talks about a small child that she keeps seeing. The child has blue eyes, blonde and appears to be of European decent. When the girl tries to speak blood flows from her moth and four horsemen come out spreading the seven plagues of hell.
My wife keeps saying that the girl is looking for the cursed child. She is here to awaken the four horsemen to bring about the Armageddon.
I implore you Mr. Shibuya, please help my wife. I do not know who else to turn to.
Sincerely,
Mr. Hishiro Higorashi
After reading this I knew, I would have to make up with Mai and get her to contact the others.
Present Time
Mai rolls her eyes at me. I know she is annoyed but she has to understand that she makes me worry when she runs so late.
"Mai, I am sorry if you feel that I am too hard on you but do you realize that your tardiness causes others to worry for you. You have the Fallen hunting you and to top it off you are trouble magnet."
Mai looks as if she is going to cry. "Naru, i am sorry that I lost track of time but I was not in any trouble..."
Interrupted her "How was I suppose to know this Mai? With your powers still out of control, tell me how am I suppose to know that you hadn't slipped out of your body, pulled into the astral plane. You could have been abducted by a Fallen possessed individual or by a serial killer."
Realizing that I had said to much I decided to wait for her response.
She was crying at this point "I was buying you tea you idiot scientist and I do not appreciate that you think so little of me that I would slip out of my body so easily. Lin gave me a charm after our last case that helps me control my astral projection. As for the Fallen, I refuse to live my life in fear of them. You of all people, I expect to respect that decision. As my boyfriend I understand your concern but you have to trust me."
I understand what she is asking, but she still does not change the fact that I worry about her. Sighing I am going to have to fix this.
You better fix this little brother. She is really hurt and you better make sure she knows your sincere.
Go away Gene.
Hai, hai but don't make her cry anymore.
"Mai, I care about you please do not make me worry. I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."
Grinning her tears have stopped. She steps forward shyly and gives me a kiss.
Knowing I have been forgiven, I decide to tell her about the case. Once she is informed, I instruct her to call everyone. We will need everyone for case.
Two days later and a very cramped car ...
"Mai, will you please stop playing on that stupid phone or at least turn off the sound."
She gives me a side glare and turns the volume down. "Thank you."
I can still hear the two children in the back bickering. "You stupid Hag, why did you hit me."
*WACK* "STUPID HAG, you old perverted monk. I am not old."
Monk whispers although not quiet enough "Could have fooled me."
Ayako shrieks "Why you!"
I have had enough "If you two do not shut up I am going to have Lin pull this car over and we will leave you here on the side of the road to find your own way to the job location."
Both go silent and I relish the quiet. At least I was hoping it would be quiet but my brother had other plans.
"I see that you fixed things with Mai."
"What do you want, gene?"
"I wanted to know when you two were going to give me little Nollys and Mai-chans."
Exasperated I growl "Gene, I will block you if you have nothing better to discuss."
He laughs then I feel his thoughts turn serious " the girls are going to be in trouble on this case if what we saw is true."
"I know the Fallen are involved but we can handle this."
"Well I didn't tell you about Masako."
"Masako?! What about Masako, the fallen are going after Mai."
"When you were in the hospital Masako came to me about a dream that she kept having. The girl was the same girl that the clients described. This girl has been visiting Masako intermittently and Masako is terrified that the girl will try to take over her body while we are on this case."
"Why did you wait to tell me? We could have better prepared."
"That is why Masako had originally refused to come with us on this case, but Mai convinced her that you would know how to stop the spirit before anything could happen. I gave Masako the charm that father had made for me when I was younger. It should not allow the spirit to detect her. This of course means that she will not be able to use her abilities."
"I gave something similar to Mai. It should keep her hidden as long as she wears it."
"What did you give her?"
"A necklace with a charm Lin created. She blushed like crazy and she does not know that it is a protection charm. I would prefer that it stays that way."
Lin interrupts our conversation "Noll we are here."
"Good, Yasuhara you will take on the role of president and I will be Narumi Kazuo. Gene you will be Naruto Kazuo."
"We will be split up into groups of four and one group of two. Lin and Madoka will be the group of two. John, Ayako, Monk and Yasuhara will be in one group and Gene, Masako, Mai and I will make up the last group. This will ensure that everyone has protection."
Yasuhara grins and his glasses give off that shine that hides what he is really thinking "you got it Big Boss."
"Lets go meet the clients."
Mai's POV
This houses makes my skin crawl. Sticking close to Naru I am filled trepidation.
I listen as Hirshiro describes the events that have been happening.
"The first time that Rin told me she kept seeing a child in the house and she would her the child's giggling in the garden. I didn't believe her, then I came home one night late from work and she was laying in the pool of her own blood, covered with bruises. I thought she was dead, when I called for an ambulance they thought that I had done this to her. To my sweet Rin. She spent four weeks recovering in the hospital. We came back home and it seemed like things were normal for awhile then about two weeks ago she said that the child was now showing up in her dreams. I knew that I had to reach out and do something before this thing killed Rin."
Yasu gave the man a sympathetic smile and reassured him. "We will do everything that we can Mr. Higorashi."
Naru steps forward "Can you show us to the base and give us a tour of the property?"
Geez he can be so insen...man I feel so light headed. I can feel myself falling, my legs are so light.
As soon as the sensation starts, it is over. I hear Ayako "Mai, Mai, wake up."
What does she mean wake up...that's when I realize I am not alone. There is an adorably creepy giggling.
"You have finally arrived." I turn to see the most beautiful child I have ever seen, as she steps closer and talks blood starts flowing from her mouth and her eyes. "I have found you, now all I need is a vessel and the prophecy will be fulfilled."
Giggling she disappears and I feel myself being pulled back to my body. Ugh, Naru is going to be so mad when I wake up. I forgot to wear my necklace.
A/N: I know it has been awhile but I am going to give it another stab.