Mai made her way to her boss's office to serve him his tea. She knocked on the door and quietly entered. She set his cup down on his desk and waited a moment for him to say the thank you she knew would never come but would still hope for just the same. He soon made a comment about her and she told him he could say thank you. She left his office fuming about her tea-addicted jerk of a boss. She put the tray in the kitchen and made her way back to her desk to drink her cocoa and do some of her work.
Once finished with majority of the work, she sat looking at the clock bored hoping someone would come in with a case for them to work on. Filing was starting to get the better of her. Cases were ten times more interesting and always kept her on her toes. She let out a sigh as she finished another file and set it in the stack that needed to be officially put away. She looked around the office and couldn't help but remember the past few years. Her life had definitely changed when she had step foot into that old school building. She was glad for it too, though on some rare occasions she wish she'd never step foot into that school. She let out a sigh and decided to just put the files she had finished away. She arose and picked up the stack and carefully made her way to the file room. She sat the stack down and began the filing process. She suddenly heard the door chime and knew it was a possible client. She set down the folder in her hand and went to open the door. When she tried she realized the door was locked.
"Hello?" A male voice called. "Is this Shibuya Psychic Research?"
"Yes, it is one moment!" Mai called hoping the man heard her. She tried the handle again but it wouldn't budge. She then began to pound on the door. "Hey can someone please help me?" She yelled.
Naru didn't hear Mai greet the guest. He sighed and stood from his desk and walked out of his office.
"Hello, this is Shibuya Psychic Research." He said in his cold voice.
"Ah, hello, I am here to speak to the boss; I have something I wish to discuss."
Naru motioned for the man to sit. He sat across from him. "What is it you wish to discuss?"
"You're the boss?" the man said with a raised eyebrow. He then shook his head. He was a man in his late twenties with shaggy brown hair and bright green eyes. He was tall and slender. He looked at Naru in the eyes and began. "Well, the thing is it's this house I own. For some odd reason out of nowhere things have been happening. Things go missing and have never been found. Sometimes things end up in disarray, anytime a relative of mine stays they end up hurt badly."
"Is there anything in common with your relatives?"
The man thought a moment. "Yes, there is. They are all between 14 and 19."
"Is that it?" Naru looked at the man.
"No, there is one more thing, they are all female." He sighed. "My nieces and cousins refuse to visit. I don't get to see my family often. Since this started happening, well it's been 2 months. I need your help. My brother and his wife are leaving on vacation soon and will not let me see them until I have this problem solved."
"I see." Naru thought a moment then finally decided. "I'll take your case."
"Thank you very much sir."
"Be ready by Wednesday at noon with 3 rooms, one large enough to hold equipment."
"Yes, no problem." He said.
Naru turned then paused when he realized Mai was not around.
"I'll need your information." He said as he handed the man a tablet and pen. The man quickly wrote down his address, phone number and name.
"Thank you again. I'll see you Wednesday." The man left quickly leaving Naru to wonder where his assistant was. He knocked on Lin's door. He then opened it.
"Where's Mai?" He practically demanded.
"I don't know." Lin said as he typed on his computer.
"Find her." Naru then shut the door and went back to his office.
Lin let out a soft sigh and rose from his seat and left his office to look for the girl. He knew there was only a few places she'd be but if she wasn't there to greet a customer only one place in the whole office would she manage to get stuck in. He walked to the file room and opened the door. He saw Mai sitting on the floor passed out. He let out a sigh. Remembering to prop open the door he stepped inside and bent down to wake her up.
"Mai" His soft voice called to her. He gave her a gentle shake and called her name again. She finally awoke.
"Mm. Lin-san? What are you doing in my room?" She said as she rubbed her eye making her look like a cute little kid. She then yawned.
"Mai, you're at work. You passed out in the file room."
Mai realized her mistake only a moment later and blushed for what she said. He stood and held out his hand to her. She took it and stood herself and waited for Lin to open the door for them to leave. She was happy to finally be getting out of the room. He opened the door for them and they stepped out of the file room. She looked up at Lin thankful.
"Thanks for getting me out of there."
He said nothing as he began to walk to his office. He stopped. "Call the rest of the team we have a case and to be here by 7 AM on Wednesday. Also get Naru some tea." He then turned and went into his office.
Mai sighed. "I guess our relationship will never get further than co-workers. I was really hoping we could get along better." Mai thought as she went to the kitchen and prepped tea. She quickly made Naru a cup and delivered it. After getting frustrated at her boss for his lack of manners she went to her desk to call the team. She first called Masako seeing as that was the shortest call she'd ever make. Then it was Ayako, John, Bou-san and of course one of her favorite people.
"Yasuhara Osamu speaking."
"Hey Yasu." Mai said happily.
"Hello, Mai-Chan!" He replied a bit loudly. "To what do I owe the pleasure of having you call me out of the blue?"
Mai giggled. "Well, we have a case and I was wondering, well Naru really, and wanted to know if you were going to come?"
"Well of course Mai-Chan!"
Mai smiled. "Great be here Wednesday at 7."
"Sure thing my sweet! Until then." He hung up the phone and Mai giggled as she hung up the phone. She finished filing the rest of her files. She looked at the clock and smiled. It was lunch time. She rose from her chair and began to walk to Naru's office only to run into a black and white wall. She looked up at Lin blushing.
"S-sorry Lin-san." She said.
He merely looked down at her and set the files he brought out for her on her desk. He turned and began walking.
"L-Lin-san!" She called. "Why did I just call him?" She thought. He had turned around waiting for her to say something. "Oh! My! Gosh! What am I going to say?" She was panicking and said something random. "I-I'm going to ask Naru for my lunch break and I was wondering if you'd like to come." Mai immediately began blushing and berating herself for basically asking Lin out. "I can't believe I just asked him to lunch! What is wrong with me? I like Naru." Lin had raised his eyebrow which made Mai panic even more. "Why won't he say anything?" Mai stood waiting for his answer while blushing madly. "Y-you don't have to come if you don't want. I-I just thought t-that since we don't really talk much that we could get t-to know each other better." Mai looked away from the Chinese man and suddenly found the floor more interesting. "U-uhm, never mind." She quickly made her way to Naru's office and told him she was going on lunch break. She then hurried to the door.
"Taniyama-san." Lin's voice made her stop in her tracks. She held the door handle in her hand and was halfway through. "Chinese okay with you?"
Mai blushed and nodded. She released the handle and they walked together to a small Chinese restaurant. Lin held the door opened for her and followed her in. He indicated to the host a table for two. A few moments later they were sitting at a table with drinks, looking at menus. A few more minutes passed and the two ordered and they sat in silence.
"What do I say? I invite him out to lunch to get to know him and we just sit here in silence. Good job Mai on trying to build a better relationship with Lin." She thought as she let out a sigh.
"S-so, Lin-san, uhm, you said we had a case what's it about?"
"Not entirely sure. From what the client told us, things end up missing, rooms in disarray and injured people." Lin stated simply.
"Oh." Mai sat quietly not sure what else to say. The silence continued a bit after their food was brought. Mai smiled at her plate. "I love Chinese." She began to eat.
Lin raised an eyebrow then went to eating his meal. Through most of the meal it was silent. Mai fidgeted a bit unsure of what to say. She had invited Lin out to get to know him but was clueless as to what to say to the man.
"Lin-san."
"Yes, Taniyama-san?"
"How come you came back to Japan with Naru?"
"His parents sent me here to keep an eye on him."
"I know that. I-I just meant you don't like Japan, well the Japanese, so why even bother coming back? Why not just stay in England?"
"Like I said Taniyama-san. Naru's parents needed someone to look after him. They trust me, so I came back."
"Yeah but, I mean, why not Modoka?" Lin remained silent at this. "I mean she's Naru's ex mentor am I right? So why not send her? I'm sure they can trust her. That way you don't have to worry about being around people you don't like." She finished her meal and sat waiting. The rest of the time in the restaurant was silent. They paid the bill and left.
As they were walking back Lin was contemplating on what Mai had said. Why had they sent him instead of Modoka? Simple he was an onmyoji and has shiki that will protect Naru if it was needed. What did Modoka have? Nothing she was just good at research. He was about to tell Mai his answer when suddenly a voice that he dreaded yelled out to them.
"Mai-Chan!" It called.
Mai turned and smiled brightly.
"Yasu-kun!" She waved.
The young college student approached them and smiled brightly.
"Hello Lin-san." He said as he nodded. He then grabbed Mai and gave her a hug and began walking with her with his arm around her completely ignoring Lin.
"Mai-Chan, my dear, so glad to see you."
"Mm yea, so Yasu, what brings you here?"
"Well I've finished with classes and have a lot of free time for the time being and thought I'd come visit. Also we have a case so another reason for me to be here." He explained happily.
They continued walking back to the office. Once there they took off their coats and Yasu continued to flirt and talk with Mai while Lin walked back to his office and continue his work.
"So, Mai, when did you get the guts to ask Lin on a date?"
"D-date?" She shook her head. "N-no, Yasu I think you misunderstood. Lin and I were just going to lunch. "
"So it was a lunch date?" Yasu nodded. Bou-san and Ayako came in. Yasu grabbed Mai's hand. "Mai-Chan how could you cheat on me with Lin."
"Ch-cheat on you? Yasu I –"
"I thought you loved me." He whined. "But now I see you favor Lin-san. Alas you have broken my heart." He pulled her close to him leaning her back. "Unless." He leaned in his lips barely brushing hers his breath warm on her lips. "I can change your mind."
Mai thought she was going to die. Yasu was too close to her. She knew her face was probably as red as can be. She felt her heart rate increase when she felt his breath on her lips.
"I can change your mind." He said softly. Mai felt as if she couldn't get any redder. What was Yasu doing? He knew how she felt for Naru. Or maybe was it how she thought she felt. She was getting confused. He needed to back away.
He leaned in closer letting their lips brush against each other. He saw Takigawa and Ayako from the corner of his eye. They both had their jaws dropped. He smirked. He backed away from Mai.
"Monk! My love how are you?" He cried as he walked over to Takigawa and grabbed the Monk's hand with both of his.
"Oh brother, not this again." Bou-san grumbled.
Mai had thought she'd pass out. She sat at her desk still blushing madly. "Had Yasu just really been about to kiss me?" She thought. She then placed her hand on her lips. "He was so close I could feel his breath! I don't know what I would have done if he did kiss me! I felt his lips brush mine but would he have actually kissed me?" Mai thought she was about to blow from all these thoughts. She went to the kitchenette and immediately began making tea to clear her head. She had set the kettle onto the stove and waited. She let out a sigh. "I like Naru. There is no way I like Yasu." She told herself. "I like Naru, I know I do." She paused and thought a second longer. "Maybe I think I do." She thought. She frowned "Why do emotions have to be so confusing. Darn you Yasuhara."