Chapter 2

Tea was a desasterous affair. However, it appeared that, Mai's horrible experience did not stop there. After tea, Naru's parents once again took favor of Masako. Although the did not ignore Mai they did not go out of their way to make the young woman welcome in their home. Her bedroom was on the other side of the corridor to Naru's right next to Luella and Martin's, as if they wanted to keep a constant watch over her. However, Mai could not complain as it was one of the rooms with the best views of the London eye. The brunette sat for hours during the night staring at its light, never did she think that she would be able to travel halfway across the world and lay eyes on such as beautifully foreign sight.

The next morning brought with it breakfast, where the same seating arrangements were applied. The five sat in a tense silence as they ate, what Mai was told, a traditional English breakfast, consisting of eggs, bacon, hash browns and lots more.

Finally, as if sensing Mai's desperation for some noise, Luella said, "Perhaps we could go out to the theaters, they are playing Catch me if you can, and I have been wanting to see it ever since it was advertised."

"Actually, Mother, I was planning on showing Mai around the city. It is her first time out of Japan, so I am sure she would want to see some of the sights," Naru stated, his expression cold. Mai knew that expression, it meant that he was trying to hide his emotions.

However, we Luella said that they could go sight seeing later, claiming that they should all spend time together while Masako was still in England, Naru's mask wavered slightly. He was angry. Angry at his parents. Then went Naru glanced at his girlfriend for a second, the fire burned brighter than Mai had ever seen before. He was angry at his parents treatment towards her.

This is definitely not how Mai had planned the 'meeting of the parents to go and obviously Naru felt the same. However, despite how Naru's parents were treating her she could not let that drive a wedge between the only family that he had known. So taking a deep breath, trying to gather the courage that Mai had lost somewhere at the front door of the Davis' house, she said, "That actually sounds like a great idea. I have heard London has many beautiful theaters."

"Oh, yes," agreed Martin, finally taking notice of the brunette since the horrid tea yesterday. "The Haymarket Theater it spectacular, you will love it."

From the corner of her eye, Mai saw Masako scowling, maybe this was the only way to win over the parents. If she appealed to their likes.

When the evening came around, Luella had booked five tickets to the theater and had rushed the group of five into Martin's company car. The car was a sliver Range Rover, with plenty of space in the truck for gear. On the hood of the Rover, as well as the sides were 'LPR' in big red letters. Mai assumed that it stood for 'London Psychic Research' just as theirs was 'SPR'. Inside the Rover were black leather seats and much more foot room than Mai though this type of car would have.

During the car ride, Mai began to question Luella, once again appealing to her likes. She asked about the show that they were going to watch. Questioning why Luella had been looking forward to seeing it and suddenly a thought clicked in her mind.

"Wait you mean this show is about Frank Abagnale? The Con Artist that the authorities took six years a apprehend?" Mai said, her voice raising in excitement.

"You know of him?" Luella questioned, turning in her seat to meet Mai's eyes.

"I read some of his work a few years back, Stealing your Life and The Art of the Steal..."

And the was how the conversation went until they arrived at the Theater.

Mai was transfixed by the show, never even noticing how Naru looked at her with such a gentle expression, but Masako and Martin did. Martin knew that look on his son's face and it is one he had seen himself make thousands of times towards his wife. That look filled with so much passion, warmth and love. It was that look that made Martin think that maybe he was wrong. Maybe Masako was not what Naru wanted nor needed. After all, ever since Gene's death, the boy had barely shown any kind of emotion with them.

Even after Noll found his brothers body, something had changed Martin's son. For the better. When the boy had returned to England, we was constantly pacing, on the move, never staying in once place for every long. He barely read, he didn't even drink tea anymore, instead preferring water of coffee. Those characteristics we so unlike his son that Martin and Luella had demanded Lin to tell them the source of their son's unusual behavior.

However, Lin could only speculate.

Martin was so completely lost in his thoughts that he did not even realise that the show was over until the thundering sound of hundreds of people clapping snapped him back to reality.

"So what is you opinion of it Mai?" Martin began to ask the young girl as they left the Theater.

"It was wonderful, although I don't take much liking for Broadway, I definitely enjoyed the story line. Naru you will have to remind me to buy the DVD," Mai spoke with as much enthusiasm as Luella.

"I'll be sure to remember," smirked Naru.

Finally, this was how Mai thought meeting Naru's parents would be like.

On the drive back to the Davis' house, Mai stared tiredly out of the window, she recalled that only a handful of months ago she would not be able to do such as simple thing without seeing a faceless creature staring back at her.

The Range Rover was driving down an empty road taking a different routine in an attempt to avoid the night time traffic. Then, suddenly, it hit Mai like a sledge hammer. The Brunette gasped audibly and clutched at her head, trying to stop whatever was banging at her skull. It didn't work, it never did.

"Mai, are you okay," Naru asked as he went to grab her arm.

Mai could not stop the force anymore and with one last, head pounding shove, a force broke into Mai's mind. Martin's car swerved in the near empty road, Mai ear piercing scream tearing the elder mans concentration to shreds. Then as quickly as it started the screaming stopped.

"Stop the car!" Mai ordered, her voice hard and demanding.

"Wha-" Martin started but we quickly interrupted by Mai, who repeated her demand once more.

As the car began to slow down, Mai did not wait for it to completely stop, as she leaped out of the back left car door.

"Mai!," Naru shouted with more urgency as he quickly began to unbuckle himself and follow his girlfriend into the dark, Luella, Martin and a reluctant Masako following right behind Naru.

So much of a peaceful break, Mai thought as she kept running towards the house that was the source of her vision. Its lights flickered on and off and its doors slamming shut.