Me: Hey everyone!
Naru: She's finally back
Me: It's been over a month and I was going to make this chapter longer buuuttttttt
Mai: Shellsan is lazy
Me: I resent that. I was on a criminal minds marathon all weekend. Almost no sleep
Mai and Naru: Lazy
Me: Fine. But I am back and hopefully for a while
John: Shellsan owns nothing
Martin looked at her in confusion. She was basing this off of instinct?
"And why would this instinct be of any use?" he inquired sceptically. This was to be expected coming from a professor of parapsychology. He had probably heard many people claim that they were psychic and similar. Nevertheless it still hurt Mai knowing that just because he hadn't seen her work he would question her abilities. 'Stop it Mai' she scolded herself mentally for thinking such things. This was her soon-to-be professor. She had no right to question his motives.
Luckily at this point Naru –probably sensing the awkward atmosphere and the fact that Mai was off daydreaming- chose to cut into the conversation and explain. "Father, Mai is a latent psychic. She has strong instincts and is usually right when they come into play. They are highly reliable" he vouched causing the others to look at him shocked.
"I never thought I would hear that come out of your mouth" Madoka teased, grinning.
Martin and Naru sighed and ignoring the pinkette. "Then what of the dream?" Martin inquired, interested to find out more about this girl who -for some reason- seemed vaguely
This time John spoke, "Mai has post cognitive dreams and is able to astral project" he informed, all of them slowly warming up to the man they would be working with.
The elder nodded in understanding and interest. "Would it be possible to run a few tests?"
Naru instantly bristled at the thought. Neither Bou-san nor any of the others seemed very keen on the idea either.
"Father, I would appreciate it if you didn't suggest such things" he stated.
Martin was about to say something against his son but before he could he found himself being cut off.
"I'm afraid I would have to agree" Lin added, silently fuming at the thought of anything happening to the young girl he had –although reluctantly– come to care for.
Martin gave his son and Lin a surprised look. "Bu-"He began but before he could say anything else Mai shook her head towards them. "Naru, I know you and everyone else here feel a need to speak up about that sort of question and yes Bou-san I can here you mumbling angrily but I have a right to speak for myself" she spoke professionally.
They all looked over to Mai in surprise.
"Mai I'm not going to let you-," Naru started before being cut off from by a direct look of annoyance on Mai's part.
"I never said I was going to let the professor run any tests on me. I simply stated that I have a right to make decisions for myself."
Sighing, they all nodded backing down though unwillingly.
"So then, I'm going to assume your name is Mai correct? What would your answer on the subject be?" Martin inquired, interested in what the girl would have to say.
The brunette smiled, "It would be a no I'm afraid". Before anyone could question her choice in answer Mai chose to continue. "While I would like to see the strength and train my powers some more I am against any sort of testing. Besides, if a friend of mine found out I'd be on the first plane home"
Yasu seemed about to make a comment but before he could he hissed in pain again while Mai remained innocent and the look on her face had not so much as faulted. Even so, it was obvious that Mai had been responsible for the kick.
Martin sighed nodding, "Alright but if you ever change your mind…" he trailed off.
"I doubt I will but thank-you for the offer."
Naru nearly sighed in relief when he heard Mai's reply and he was certain he wasn't the only one. Deciding to get them onto the task at hand, Naru turned to his father. "When do we leave?" he inquired.
Martin snapped out of his thoughts on the intriguing girl at the sound of his son's voice. "Ah, of course. You leave tomorrow. The sooner the better."
Naru nodded in agreement, secretly worried for the family he had met but a few times.
It was during this quiet moment that the door burst open and an over excited woman came into the room. Naru visibly stiffened, slightly annoyed.
"Well it's about time you all finished. You've been in here for the past hour and a half. I wanted to meet everyone!" she exclaimed.
Naru and Martin both pinched the bridge of their noses in annoyance causing Mai to giggle.
"Hello mother" Naru greeted.
The woman's eyes lit up and she immediately rushed over to Naru. "Oh Noll! I missed you so much! Have you been eating properly? How much sleep did you get? You haven't been over working yourself again have you?"
Naru rolled his eyes and ignored his mother's fussing.
Sighing, Martin looked over at the woman. "Luella dear, maybe you should introduce yourself" he suggested, earning a discreet look of thanks from Naru. Or at least as much of a thanks that Naru was known for.
Immediately Luella turned to the room. "Of course! How rude of me. It's nice to meet you all, my names Luella Davis but you can all call me Luella." Mai turned to the others and translated it for Bou-san and Ayako so that they knew what was going on.
Ayako nodded smiling at the woman. Turning to Mai she sighed, "Can you translate for me?" she asked. Mai nodded and was ready to translate for her sister-like co-worker. However before she could she was surprised to hear Japanese being spoken.
"Hello dear. I assume you aren't able to speak English then?" Luella asked, making her way over to the chatting couple.
Ayako nodded. "Unfortunately after a few circumstances, both this goof over here and I weren't able to."
Everyone except Mai and Martin looked over to her curiously. Obviously Mai knew what she was talking about and took it upon herself to translate for the professor seeing as Naru, Lin and Madoka were too busy trying to get the information out of her.
Martin nodded in thanks towards Mai before also turning to Ayako and Bou-san with interest.
"What kind of circumstances?" Madoka inquired grinning. Whatever was going through her mind at this point did not appear to be good.
Ayako shifted slightly uncomfortably and with a single look passed the honours onto a rather flustered Bou-san. "Ummm we can't tell?"
Madoka pouted, "Awww come on! Did you two get engaged or something?"
Mai scoffed, "Nah, their engagements old news now" she muttered.
Madoka, Naru and Lin's turned to Mai. "Wait… WHAT?!" Madoka shouted excitedly.
Bou-san covered his ears in an attempt to protect his poor eardrums at the pitch of it.
He shot a playful glare at Mai. "Was that necessary?"
The brunette shrugged. "I'm not sure. Probably."
The monk sighed and continued to shoot small glares back and forwards while they all calmed down.
Inwardly while she glared back and forwards with her 'older brother' she was relieved. It was a good thing she managed to get them to stop asking questions… at least for now.
As she began to lose herself in her thoughts Naru noticed her grinning as her eyes went from one side of the room to the other. It was… odd to say the least. Upon looking closer he realised that she also appeared to be having a conversation with herself quietly.
Moving away from the chatting girls who in all the commotion has managed to crowd together and were jumping up and down and being excited, in their own ways. Most of the guys had been dragged up and were now chatting over near them.
The closer Naru got to Mai, the more he became aware of the fact that she wasn't randomly darting her eyes back and forwards, she was following something with her eyes.
Glancing over at Lin he noticed that the elder was just as confused. Turning back to Mai, Naru ended up standing next to her.
"Are you alright?" he inquired curiously. Mai blinked in shock, looking up at Naru.
"I'm fine. Why?"
Just as she said it, Naru watched Mai duck as if trying to get hit by something. Shooting a glare at thin air Mai attempted to pretend nothing had happened. Turning to look over at Lin, he noticed recognition on Lin's features and waited as the Chinese man made his way over to the pair.
Trying to slink away from the elder, Mai made a move to get away from the intimidating couple. "Mai" Lin stated with a stern look. As she made a move to get up se found herself trapped between them. At the current point in time the rest of the team and Naru's parents appeared to be oblivious to what was going on, much to Mai's relief and disappointment.
"Y-yes?" she stuttered trying to look normal as she sat up a little straighter, no longer darting her eyes around and rather, turning them towards the man she was speaking to.
Lin sighed, "Just then what did you duck from?"
Mai looked around for some sort of escape and groaned when she found none. "Ummm nothing?"
Naru scoffed, "Because normal people randomly duck, talk to themselves and look back and forwards between walls."
Lin nodded in agreement, "Indeed. I also find it very interesting that at the exact moment my shiki are flying towards you, you try to get away from it" he added.
Naru shot a glare at Lin. His shiki were attacking Mai. The hell was he thinking. He would be sure to have a word with the elder. He was continuing his mini mind rant when he heard Mai mutter something. 'When did she start muttering so quietly?' He asked himself.
"I couldn't hear you" Naru stated.
Grumbling Mai huffed and crossed her arms. "Fine. I was playing with Jun, Min and Hui. Happy now?"
Naru looked at Mai confused, "Who's Min, Jun and Hui?" he asked.
The brunette opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Lin. "They're three of my shiki. They tend to hang around Mai more than the others so that we could keep her out of danger. Or at least they did. My question is –since when could you see them?"
Mai sighed, "I've been able to see them since the Urado case. They were the whole reason I could stand riding in the van with two statues. How do you not notice me playing a game of charades with your own shiki? I mean it's not like you were busy. Oh wait, you were being statues" she grumbled sarcastically.
"Why those three though?" Naru inquired curiously, taking mental notes on the new knowledge.
Shrugging, Mai sighed. "Because I was bored and they are the most of fun. The rest are too boring. I mean all of Lin's shiki are special in their own way because they were once a different type of demon. For example Min's a girl and she's a dragon demon. Jun and Hui are both males. Jun's a tiger shifter and Hui's a jaguar demon" Mai explained.
Nodding in understanding, Naru was about to ask another question when he realised the room was rather quiet. Looking around he noticed that the girls had calmed down and were now looking at Mai with interest along with the rest of the guys. Martin seemed particularly interested.
"You see shiki?" Martin asked, back into work mode, taking notes on a sheet of paper.
Slightly off put, Mai nodded. "Yes" she answered, not knowing what else to say.
"SINCE WHEN?!" Ayako and Bou-san exclaimed once John kindly translated for her.
Gulping the girl sighed, "Ummm Urado I think…"
Sensing the atmosphere, Luella grinned. "Enough of this now. I'm sure you're all tired and hungry. I'll ask the chef to start on some dinner while you get yourselves settled into your rooms."
The group nodded following Luella out the door. Mai was the last out of the room along with Naru. Walking behind the group in silence, both seemed to be deep in thought.
'Everywhere I go' Mai mentally cried, 'everywhere I go, they flood through me. The pain, the memories, the hope. I need to get out of this house soon. I can't think, I breathe I can't even believe. Peace I feel none, truth without sun, freedom I request before I go to rest.'
As Mai was lost in her thoughts Naru was trying to figure something out. 'If Mai has been seeing shiki her powers must have developed. But why didn't we notice and why wouldn't she talk to us about it?'
He glanced at Mai before breaking away from his thoughts. Coincidently, at this point Mai had done the same. Stopping outside a large room Luella turned to Ayako, "Would you two like a roo together?" she inquired.
Ayako nodded, "If it's not too much trouble. Who knows what this goof could get up to otherwise."
Mai rolled her eyes at Ayako's excuse and then watched as the couple went into their room.
Turning to Masako, Luella smiled and led her to the room next to them. John's room was across the hall from hers. The only one left was Mai. Lin and Madoka had disappeared with Martin at some point so it was just Luella, Mai and Naru left in the halls. Instead of Mai's room being near the others, Luella led Mai –and Naru- down the hall to a room which Mai immediately recognised but didn't say anything.
"You know whose room this was, don't you."
It was almost a question. Almost.
"Yes" she gulped, gathering her breath, "It's Gene's. Why are we here?"
Naru carefully placed his hand on her shoulder. His throat clenched at the thought of how much he hated the fact that she had fallen in love with Gene. Taking a deep breath, he answered Mai's question.
"We want to give you the option of staying in this room."
Mai's own throat clenched. Thoughts about Gene and Naru as kids ran through her mind and even though she knew she shouldn't, she nodded. "If that's okay…" she trailed off.
Luella smiled. "I few had a problem with it, we wouldn't have offered. Noll's room is next door if you need anything. He can come get you when dinners ready. Now go get some rest and get settled in until then" she ordered before walking off back down the hall.
Smiling after the woman, Mai turned to Naru and smiled at him with a few small tears in her eyes. "Thank-you" she whispered.
Naru nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Go rest. Crying isn't attractive." As the words left his mouth, he turned and entered the room next to hers.
Without another word -mostly due to shock of what Naru had just done- Mai also entered her room before collapsing onto the bed. Pulling the covers over her body she felt herself relax before drifting off, bag left on the floor still packed.
Me: So there it is. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I hope I can start on the case next chapter
Mai: Read and Review!