A/N: I'd just like a to add a huge shout out to Bandelero-Casanova, hiya24, Gabryell-P- and the anonymous cracked for leaving me such lovely reviews. (And yes, John is.. hm.. Having himself a little fun in his off-hours as a priest XD but I'm one of those people that thinks that faith is what ou make of it, and if the christian god forgives everyone of their sins, then why not some priests too?)
I watched carefully as Mai took presents from Masako, Naru, and of course our happily married couple. She turned to me, eyes shining in anticipation and I paled slightly.
"Um.. I'll have it ready later, swear." She looked at me with a puzzled smile and I winced as Ayako's drunken laughter burst forth. Takigawa shushed her and told Mai to get to work, gesturing at the presents in her hands. John offered to hold the unopened ones while she started unwrapping them.
She accepted and I watched, in surprise as she slammed the side of the book he had give her into his stomach before carefully placing each of the other presents on top. She opened the envelope from Takigawa and Ayako first, and stared as two pieces of paper fell out. I caught sight of writing on one of them and rolled my eyes.
Mai eyed them wearily and reached down. The first one she picked up was a gift card for Cartier's and she gasped in shock before trying with all her might to return it. Didn't happen. She gave in and looked at the second one before reading aloud.
"I.O.U One empty house? What on earth Bou-san?" He just smiled and told her to open the parcel next. She leveled a glare at him, telling him that they spoilt her and her just laughed.
"It's your eighteenth birthday Mai, what did you expect?" She puffed out her cheeks and carefully opened the present that accompanied the card. It was rather small and I was, I admit, slightly curious, until I saw what it contained. A pair of lacy undergarments slid to the floor from her lap, and I wasn't sure whose face was redder, Mai's or my own. I stood rather abruptly, and asked if anyone else needed a refill on their drinks. Naru did so I took his cup and headed into the kitchen. It took me moments but I paused leaning against the wall. I waited a few moments, hoping for the blush to fade from my cheeks. I caught sight of a few photos that had been hung up around the room and went over to inspect a couple that caught my eye.
Most were from our investigations, and a couple were stills from video recordings. I chuckled slgithly, and wondered when they had managed to get hold of some of the footage. Here was one from the orphanage case that Ma had been possessed during. I stared at it for a moment, realising that someone must have been at the door peeking through the glass to get this shot and scowled. It was of myself sitting at Mai's beside, watching the snow fall. I sighed and jumped at the loud 'BOO!' that erupted beside me.
I turned and glared at Takigawa, having slopped water down my front when I was stared. He chuckled and lead me back into the living room.
"He was distracted by the photos.. and I got to surprise him," he seemed to be answering an unspoken question so I surmised that they had been wondering what had taken me so long. I slid back into my seat and realised that John and Yasuhara weren't on the couch any more and Masako was gone too...
"Where'd they go?" I asked Takigawa, who was standing next to my chair.
"They had uh.. prior engagements.. they couldn't get out of." I looked at him, puzzled. At the office we had all agreed to spend the entire day with Mai, as a group. He just shrugged and looked at Ayako, who was snoring loudly in her seat.. or out of, as she was gradually slipping to the floor.
"Mai.. I'm sorry about the way things seem to be going.. It's your birthday after all, and it's not everyday a girl turns eighteen. Let me just put Ayako in bed and I'll try and fix something." She just smiled, nodding, she really didn't seem to care, I think she was just happy to have a family around her. "Naru, could you give me a hand with Ayako? She's heavier than she looks." I puzzled over that, he'd had no trouble carrying her insi.. Oh. They weren't..
I sighed, and withheld the desire to bury my face in my hands. Looks like they'd planned with out me. I stood and went over to the couch, sitting next to Mai, with her gifts between us.
"So. What did everyone give you?" She looked at me, and pulled a face. I chuckled quietly and waited for her response.
"Naru and Masako are the only ones who have given me even vaguely normal presents. The others seem to delight in making fun of me.." I couldn't help but smile, after all they were teasing me, more than they were teasing her, she just didn't know it yet. She held out a small carved, wooden box to me. "This is what Masako gave me," Enclosed were two elegant combs, and I winced in recognition. They were usually wedding or engagement gifts.. Thank god Mai hadn't realised that. "And this is from Naru." She said pointing at a box in front of the couch. I leaned over and peered into it. I got the shock of my life when a ferret poked it's head out of the box and squeaked at me. I must have squeaked, either that or my expression must have been funny. Mai was laughing, rolling back and forth on her seat, going pink in the face.
I reached my hand into the box and carefully lifted th little beast out. I eyed it carefully and when I spotted the white streak along it's spine my eyes widened in shock. It was Charlie... The ferret Mai had rescued on a previous case. It has been possessed, ironically, by a weasel demon. I held him up and outwards, towards her.
"Mai.. Do you realise..." I watched her face, hunting for any kind of recognition but found none. "Mai, it's Charlie." I winced and shook my head, as her squeal pierced my ear drums. She jumped forward, wrapping her arms around me and staring at Charlie and delight. I fought a blush and let Charlie scurry onto Mai's shoulder, where he burrowed under her hair.
She seemed to come back to herself at this point and released me, blushing. I decided that it as time. I had to tell her, right? I fidgeted in my seat for a moment, and felt heat rise into my face as I realised that I was acting like a child. I straightened and looked at Mai. She was lifting her hair up, and attempting to slide one of the two combs into place in her hair. I chuckled softly, as she grew more and more frustrated before reaching over and taking it from her. She eyed me curiously but turned when I gestured for her two.
I lifted her hair into place and carefully slide the first one into place before reaching over her shoulder for the second. Without a word she passed it to me and I repeated the process. She turned back to me and I spoke, unintentionally.
"Beautiful." I breathed and Mai blushed, brighter than she had before.
"Wha.. What did you..?" She asked in shock, I think. I opened my mouth to reply as a scream shook the house. I stood before I realised what I was doing and headed for the door to the hall. Before I could reach it, the door opened and Naru's head popped through.
"Takigawa has the most interesting way of getting Ayako sober.. I'm not sure she's particularly happy about it, but it works..." He said chuckling. "I'm going to go find a towel." His hair was dripping wet.. I looked at him in curiosity and laughed again. "Let's say she needs a change of outfit.." I winced and went back to the couch as Ayako's voice stormed up the hallway.
"NARUUU!!" Mai started giggling and I smiled.
"You're especially beautiful when you're laughing." I said before leaning forward and pressing my lips against her own. She stilled and I pulled away, searching her eyes.
"Mai.. I love you.. and I know I'm nearly ten years older than you and I.. OW!" I rubbed the back of my head and turned to see John, Yasuhara, Masako, Takigawa, Ayako and Naru all piled up at the doorway glaring at me.
"You trying to ruin it you knuckle head?" I blinked at them and turned back to Mai. She was staring at me and I squeaked as she suddenly darted forward pressing her lips against my own. I blushed furiously as I felt her hand on my thigh and pulled away.
"Ma..Mai?" She puffed out her cheeks and laughed.
"You knew didn't you." She said glaring over at our sometimes-co-workers. I'm guessing that they gave affirmative responses because she rolled her eyes and curled up against me. "You are such an idiot." I sat there, dazed and confused for several minutes while the others carried a cake into the room and placed it on the coffee table. I read the words that had been written in icing across the top and raised my eyebrows.
"Happy Birthday Mai, and a big 'It took you long enough' to Lin, our surprisingly stupid friend." I looked at Mai, then the others and stayed quiet. Hopefully my ordeals were over for the day. Yeah. Right.