Chapter 3 My lines

Day 3

You little rebel, Mai. I heard of your latest visit to the human pound. You make me so proud. Don't worry about it all; I too have visited the station several times, if it makes you feel any better. Apparently, wandering around cemetery at 3AM in the morning is deemed as a suspicious conduct. Imagine that? They normally let you out pretty quickly when they realise who you know though. Don't worry about everything else; I'll deal with the police officers. For now, stay safe, okay?

- Ayami.

Mai stared at the screen in amazement. Ayami had known; how on Earth had she known about Mai's expedition? Mai quickly checked the date of the email and realised that it had reached her inbox at exactly 1.12PM yesterday, which was about the time that Naru and Mai had been able to leave the police station. Mai shook her head, though she wasn't even going to ask how Ayami knew about what had happened. Her cousin had amazing resources; that Mai knew.

Mai quickly typed in a response and then shut her laptop. The machine had been a gift from her cousin before she left Japan. Ayami had prepaid Mai's satellite internet so that they could keep in touch when Mai went on her cases, and had smilingly stated that this machine too was something that would come in handy then. Mai wasn't sure what Ayami meant and she wasn't sure if she wanted to find out. Knowing Ayami, Mai could already see a re-enactment of The Ring; it would not surprise Mai if a woman came crawling out of the screen.

She shuddered, and then consulted her watch. It was already 9AM. Bou-san was meant to be here over an hour ago to let her down; clearly, he'd forgotten about escorting her. Mai shared her room with Masako, and Naru had already dropped by to walk her down over an hour ago. The monk probably thought that someone else was taking Mai down.

Mai shrugged, heading now to the door. She was a little tired, and hadn't slept well last night. Mostly, she had dreams about the corpses that they'd found the previous night, and saw the girls calling out for her for help. As Mai passed one of the windows, she saw Bou-san and Ayako on the grounds, no doubt searching for signs of paranormal life. There was a janitor near them too, cleaning the grounds. The elder Mai had seen on her first day here stood over the janitor, and it appeared that they were in conversation. It was a little one-sided though, since the man had not even bothered to look up at the elder once.

Mai walked out to them. Bou-san and Ayako smiled at her from the distance and Mai waved back. As she exited the building, the janitor walked back in. The elderly lady frowned back at him, clearly distressed, and Mai walked over to her first.

"Good morning," Mai greeted the lady softly. "Are you alright?"

The elder sighed, shaking her head. "He won't listen to me, child. I told him not to get into an argument with the headmaster over something so petty, but Shiba-kun just wouldn't listen." The elder turned towards Mai suddenly, as though seeing her for the first time. "Maybe you could talk to him."

Mai blinked. "I…errr…I don't really think it's my place to interfere like that."

The elder blinked and then sighed. "You're right, of course, my dear."

Mai smiled as the elder, still dressed in her splendid white kimono, sat down on the bench behind her. The woman had to have been in her 70s at least. Her silvery white hair had been pressed back into a tight bun as signs of her age showed on her crinkled face. Mai could tell that in her youth, the woman had been beautiful.

"I'm Taniyama Mai," Mai greeted brightly.

The woman smiled at her. "You can call me, Hiroma Sensei, Mai-kun."

Mai smiled at the archaic way in which the woman addressed her, though she couldn't help but notice the woman's title. "Are you a teacher, Hiroma Sensei?"

The woman laughed. "I was, my dear. Now I've retired. I'm just here to look out for the students."

The elder had probably come back when the other girls had gone missing. Mai resisted the urge to shudder and looked away. Bou-san and Ayako had moved to the fountains now, though Mai had no idea what they were doing.

"I heard you and a friend of yours found the three girls yesterday," Hiroma Sensei said gently. Mai turned over to her. "Are you alright, Mai-kun?"

Mai forced a smile on her face. "I'm fine. Thank you for asking though. It's very nice of you to come back to the school after you've retired, sensei. I'm sure the students and staff appreciate it."

Hiroma Sensei gave a kind laugh. "No teacher ever truly quits, Mai-kin. No matter how hard we try, we do always care for our students. That's why we keep coming back."

Mai remembered back to Ichino Sensei, the teacher that had helped her out during the initial year of her mother's help and couldn't help but smile. Her teacher had been so kind to Mai – but then the woman had suddenly lost all contact with her a year later. Perhaps Mai would find her again, just to thank her once more. It couldn't hurt, after all.

Mai's phone suddenly went off and she quickly reached for it, a little surprised that she hadn't forgotten it in her room. Of course, the look on Naru's face the previous morning was a high contributing factor to that.

Mai wasn't surprised to see Naru's name on the caller ID. He was one of the few people to know her number, after all.

"Hello?"

"Call Ayako and Bou-san back to base with you. Yasuhara-san and Madako are here. Apparently they have some things they want to tell us. And they brought a guest with them too."

"Madako-san's here?" Mai repeated, her face lighting up. Mai hadn't seen her for a good few months.

"I just said that," Naru returned dryly. "Come back soon."

And just like that, Mai heard a click that indicated that he'd hung up on her.

Mai rolled her eyes as she slipped her phone back into her pocket. That was just like Naru to hang up like that. One day, Mai swore that she was going to get the last word and that she was going to hang up on him first.

Mai turned to Hiroma Sensei and smiled at her. "I have to go do my job again, Hiroma Sensei. Maybe we'll talk again next time."

Hiroma Sensei gave her that knowing smile that teachers always seemed to wear. "Of course we will, Mai-kun. You'd best get back before your employer gets angry at you."

Mai nodded quickly and darted towards Bou-san and Ayako. When she reached them, Mai realised that they weren't alone. Standing beside them was a police officer who had clearly been interrogating them just seconds ago. Bou-san shot Mai a warning look and both he and Ayako quickly moved to stand beside Mai.

"Taniyama Mai?" the police officer walked right over to her and Mai blinked.

"Hello," Mai greeted politely. He appeared different to the last officer that had questioned her and Mai didn't get a good feeling from this man at all.

"I'm Detective Kaito from Homicide." He flashed his badge, playing a scene right out of a movie that Mai had seen recently. "I'm sure you've met my partner, Ichinose. It's been hard to get to you, Miss Taniyama. You and your employer have got friends in high places."

Mai didn't know what to say, nor did she quite know what he was talking about, so she merely nodded.

"She's a minor. You're not entitled to talk to Mai like this, even if you're only fishing for information," Ayako said sharply. "Mai, let's go back."

Mai nodded quickly, noting the hostility between the three adults. Detective Kaito didn't seem too stirred from his path, but nor did he try to stop them when Ayako led her away. Mai looked back at the officer, who then gave her a slight smile before his phone went off. Mai faced the front again, only to see that Bou-san and Ayako were in an incredibly dark mood.

"Who were you talking to before?" Bou-san asked, his face not looking any better as he attempted to talk.

The words 'detective Kaito' were just at the tip of her tongue before she realised that that wasn't who Bou-san was referring to. "I was talking to Hiroma Sensei. Apparently she was a teacher at the high school a few years back. She heard what had happened and decided to come back and see the students." Bou-san nodded, though that didn't seem to lighten his mood. Ayako didn't look any better, either, so Mai could only guess that the detective hadn't been too friendly with them before. "Naru called us back, though. He said that Yasuhara-san and Madako are here. Apparently they brought a guest too."

Bou-san nodded. They walked back to base quickly and Mai turned slightly to see if Hiroma Sensei was still where she had been before. The seat was empty, just as the rest of the court was. The elder must have left not shortly after Mai had. As they went, Bou-san was stopped by several students, each one asking him for his autograph, and Mai laughed as he was left behind by Ayako. By the time they'd reached base, the door snapped open before Ayako's hand even hit the handle and Mai felt something suddenly wrap around her waist, sucking the life out of her.

"You must be Mai-chan!" a soft, delicate voice declared. It belonged to that of a little girl. Mai looked down to see a bright, smiling face look back up at her.

"Now, now, Hisana; you're scaring her," a cultivated male voice chided gently. Mai blinked and looked into the room. In the distance, Masako was expressionless, Naru annoyed, Yasuhara-san sheepish, Madako wary, and Lin-san emotionless. And standing just beside Naru was his polar opposite, dressed in blue and white. A boy in his early-twenties, probably, with sparking blue eyes and an evenly tanned face. He wore blue jeans and a casual white formal shirt that he'd left untucked. He didn't look Japanese at all, but Mai could see that he had a resemblance to the Southern lands. Was he Indonesian or Filipino, maybe? Either way, he was incredibly good looking, just like Naru, only in a different way.

Madako stepped forward. "Mai, there you are. This is Miharu-kun. He wanted to come along today to meet us."

"Just call me Setsuna," the man replied. The expressions from the rest of the group told Mai that whoever this person was, his presence was not warmly welcomed. "And the one attempting to cut off your oxygen supply is Hisana. We are from the Miharu family, Mai-san. Pleased to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too," Mai greeted faintly. She had no idea what was going on. He was probably from the blue-blooded Miharu Family that Ayami had spoken of in the past. Her cousin had said that the other families would seek her out, but wasn't this just a little too quickly? And what did he want? His voice was slightly familiar, and Mai could swear that she had heard it before.

The little girl laughed sheepishly and let go of Mai's waist, though she grabbed onto Mai hand instead. The gesture seemed innocent, but her grip was almost deadly. Mai didn't know if the child was always like this or if this was reserved for Mai only.

Setsuna-san turned a friendly smile onto Naru. "Shibuya-san, would you mind terribly if I borrowed your employee for a moment?"

Naru might not mind, but Mai certainly did. Who were these people? They looked as though they'd just stepped out of a beauty magazine, dressed in their immaculate clothing. Yasuhara-san was smiling sheepishly too, and everyone seemed to be ignoring Naru now, who was pointedly glaring at the newcomer.

"I would mind, actually," Naru replied curtly. "Mai has work to do, and it is not safe for her to wander the schools at this time."

For once, she was grateful for his clipped tone.

Setsuna-san, however, didn't seem moved. In contrast to that, Setsuna-san's blue eyes glimmered with amusement. "That you should have no fear for, Shibuya-san. I may not be as strong as other mediums, but I am capable of protecting Mai-san."

"Come, Mai-chan. Come, come," the child sang, dragging Mai down the path. Mai's eyes widened and she looked towards Naru, who didn't seem impressed at all.

"Thanks for that," Setsuna-san smiled, and he slowly made way out with them.

They stopped at the cafeteria; that seemed to be a neutral enough ground for them both and Mai couldn't help but look towards the ceiling to locate one of Naru's cameras as she sat down. Setsuna-san joined her politely while Hisana-chan ran off to buy some sweets.

"We heard that you were in contact with Ayami," Setsuna-san nodded at her politely, forever the image of a regal prince. "Please send her the Miharu family's regards, Mai-san."

Mai nodded quickly, though she felt as though she should be curtsying at a time like this. The Miharu Family. Ayami had mentioned that they were pacifistic blue-blooded psychics, and Setsuna-san was the epitome of an elegant and perfect gentleman. Still, she didn't see how he would know about this.

"My family and the Caecilius Clan were acquainted, you see." Setsuna smiled. He reached out and patted Hisana-chan's head. Mai frowned; she hadn't even realised that the little girl had returned. "And Ayami and I are…" Setsuna-san paused for a moment before a languid smile spread across his handsome face. "Close. Ayami and I are most definitely close. I heard of you from Yasuhara-san. I hope you don't mind, but I was exceedingly interested in you."

Mai didn't like the way that sounded. "Why?" she asked, trying her best to keep from sounding suspicious. Which she was.

"I generally am interested in those that Ayami has turned her eyes toward," Setsuna-san replied cryptically. Setsuna-san hadn't mentioned the fact that Mai was part of the Caecilius clan also, which meant that he probably didn't know. So Ayami was that powerful in the spiritual world? Mai had no idea. The other girl never mentioned it, but to pull in the favour of another house was probably an impress feat.

"Yes, yes, we are," Hisana-chan agreed brightly. The child was smiling, as per usual, as she bounced around them.

Mai frowned. "Sorry, but can I ask why?"

Setsuna smiled, but it wasn't quite one that reached his eyes. Not really, anyway but the amusement was there. "If Ayami has not told you yet, then I really don't want to be the one to say it, Mai-san. She often accuses me of interfering in her business, and while I admit that I do often do that, I don't want to see her mope on this one too." He shrugged. "I'm here to 

make an offer, really. I have heard that you are a rather powerful psychic, though your skills are embryonic. I was wondering if you were interested in developing your powers any further."

Mai blinked, though she couldn't help but sneak a glance at one of Naru's cameras. God, she hoped he – or anyone - was watching. Mai had never felt so uncomfortable and confused in her life.

"I don't think I need to develop them anymore," Mai said slowly. She looked at Setsuna-san and saw that his cool calculation was evident. "But if I did, I'd probably ask Bou-san for help. Thank you for the offer though."

"Takigawa Houshou is not as acquainted with the powers of a medium as I would be," Setsuna-san replied patiently.

That's right. Sometimes, Mai forgot: Bou-san was a monk who developed his powers; he hadn't actually been born with them the way she apparently had. "I can always go to Ayami for that too," Mai amended.

This time, Setsuna-san smiled. "Admittedly, when it comes to teaching, I should probably leave it for Ayami. Our heiress's powers are incomparable to many."

Mai frowned at the title that Setsuna-san had used for Ayami. "Heiress?" she repeated.

Setsuna-san smiled softly as Hisana-chan continued running around them, now chanting the word 'heiress' consecutively instead.

"Did you not know?" Setsuna-san smiled. "The Caecilius Clan is the only clan of the Five that is led by a female ruler only. Having had originated from Rome itself, the woman of the family had powerful Vestal Virgins in every generation. Ayami herself is quite noteworthy for her age; she woke the demon, Caecilia, from her dormant sleep, and has kept the creature by her side as a familiar since she was a mere child of eight. She's tied herself to Vesta, the goddess of Hearth, who is apparently her First Ancestress if folklore can be believed, and she's connected to two of the Five, while leading one of her own."

That did, admittedly, make Ayami sound rather impressive. The other girl had never mentioned any of these things to Mai though.

Then, Setsuna-san's eyes suddenly darted upwards and Mai turned around. Behind her, Bou-san, Lin-san and Naru stood, neither of them looking at all impressed.

"Get away from him, Mai," Bou-san ordered. His eyes didn't leave Setsuna-san's face, and little Hisana-chan had finally stopped jumping around in circles. Now, she eyed the monk warily as all child-like features dissipated from her face.

Mai stood up immediately and moved towards them. As soon as Mai reached their side, Naru moved to stand in front of her, blocking her with his body.

"What's going on?" Mai asked, suddenly confused. Where did this hostility come from? Why were they acting this way?

"Took you that long to figure it out, did it?" Setsuna-san drawled. He leant back against the chair, indolent in his actions. Again, his voice was incredibly familiar, yet Mai could not place it. "Are you sure SPR should be in the ghost hunting business? I thought you would at least know the faces of the Elite in your world a little better than that."

Bou-san didn't look amused. "It would help if that face you wore now wasn't an enchantment, but you didn't even choose the right image, did you?"

Setsuna-san turned towards Bou-san. "What makes you think this wasn't intentional? After all, I could hardly wear the face of that ugly forty year-old goof around university. How else would I fool Yasuhara Osamu into thinking that I was friendly?"

"So you're acquainted with the true Miharu Setsuna too," Bou-san said, "and you must have known that I knew him too, or you wouldn't have intentionally drawn me away with those girls."

Setsuna-san – no, that wasn't right; he was an imposter – the imposter shrugged and Mai couldn't help but feel a touch bit disgusted. This person, whoever he – or she – was, hadn't just taken something of someone's that could be replaced. The thing they'd stolen was an identity: something that was utterly priceless; and it had been used for someone else's trivial gains. What kind of person would do that?

"Lin, get Mai out of here," Naru ordered. The onmyoji turned towards Mai immediately and took her shoulders at the same time Hisana-chan lunged towards Mai, tugging onto her hand incessantly. Mai tried to tug her hand back but the little girl suddenly developed a metal grip around Mai's wrist.

"If you're fighting in strength against Hisana than I would like to warn you that the demon is capable of lifting a two hundred kilogram block of aluminium effortlessly with one hand. It's much more likely for Hisana to rip the girl's hand off than for you to get her away." Mai's blood turned cold and she immediately stopped struggling? Demon? This sweet, innocent child that this person took along with them was a demon?

Their imposter's eyes shimmered with amusement as they moved back towards her. "So this is my belle's precious cousin. I can't see what she really sees, to be honest, but if it makes her happy to have you, then I suppose I don't mind having you around too much."

My belle. With those words, Mai suddenly remembered everything. This was why he'd sounded so familiar. Of course: Mai had heard his voice not so long ago; once in reality and once in a dream. Ayami had even spoken of him on more than one occasion.

"Raidon," Mai murmured. A sense of dread filed her and she looked up at his expectant face. "You're Mimisaki Raidon."

6th of September: Da dum...another chapter. You guys are awesome! And because I am so proud of myself for have finished the fifth chapter and I have completely planned out the sixth, I have decided to update. Thanks so much for all your support. I think I'll be writing even more now that I am totally and utterly broke. I have an addiction to shopping, both online and offline, and now I have no money left. I tihnk that's how I've been managing so many chapters so quickly; writing distracts me from shopping. But yes, I'm writing chapter 5 at the moment. This segment should have about 6 or 7 chapters, I think, with an Epilogue also.

So yes, chapter 4 should be up depending on how long I take to finish chapter 5 or 6. It makes me feel superior to be ahead of time. Hehe...

Many thanks to: Gabryell-P, canadian violet (LOL I thought that Lin-san's attitude towards Mai was pretty tame compared to how he was treating Naru. It was sweet that he told him to stop, though, eh? I have mixed feelings about writing their parts. It's so satisfying when you get it right, but I utterly dread it. I certainly am dreading writing about their Oliver Davis confrontation), Ariana Taniyama, yellowmoon27, SkyzAngel, Moons-chan, crazymel2008, Kay (LOL I don't know about Naru being sweeter; I don't think that's possible, really. The dude is completely impassive to all those around him. He does seem to be warming up a lot more to Mai though, eh? But it has been almost 2 years), Lansky, miss koneko, Ahjah, bigtomato (lol thanks! Glad you liked it so far. I was hoping that I wouldn't bore everyone with my descriptions...), ONIX-21, luna-moongoddess, yumegirl91, Dreamer MRAF, and Aoi Faith.