Hope the story is not dragging Please review.
Chapter 13
No one was too thrilled by the idea of Mai being the bait, but as Mai had pointed out, they had run out of other options. So now as they counted down the days till the performance everyone was attending the rehearsals.
"Guys!" Mai stomped over to the SPR members. "Stop harassing everyone!"
"We're just trying to protect you." Ayako folded her arms.
"Yeah." Monk added.
"Well your being rude and I will have you all thrown out if you don't knock it off." Mai snapped.
"How are we being rude?" Ayako snapped back.
"Lets see." Mai began.
Flashback.
"here's you tea Mai." Megumi came over with the tray.
"Thank you, Megumi." Mai smiled and went to take the tray.
"Hold it right there!" Ayako shouted and smacked the bottom of the tray. This caused cause it to fly out of Mai's hands and onto Megumi.
Megumi screamed as the hot liquid spattered onto her clothes and fell to the ground.
"Megumi!" Mai cried out as she knelt down next to the poor girl. "Ayako, what the hell?"
"It could have been poisoned." She seemed satisfied with herself.
"Are you crazy?" Mai screamed.
"Am I crazy? Are you crazy?" she screamed back.
"How am I the crazy one? You just poured hot tea on Megumi!" Mai screamed.
"I'm alright.." Megumi moaned.
"No your not!" Mai snapped. "Your hurt and very upset at what Ayako did. Ayako apologize to her now!"
"You should be thanking me!" Ayako huffed.
"Thanking you?" Mai couldn't believe what she was hearing. She and Ayako would have continued to fight if Naru hadn't intervened.
Back to the present
"I apologized to her." Ayako rolled her eyes. "But that tea could have been poisoned.
"Sure, Ayako." Mai rolled her right back.
"It's a little scary how similar they have become. Like mother like daughter." Masako whispered to Yasuhara.
"Let's see what Monk and Yasuhara have been up to." Mai turned her anger on the two men.
Flashback
"Hey! You!" Masaru stormed over to Mai.
"I have a name." Mai glared.
"I don't care." He glared back.
"Then why are you here?" Mai asked.
"Call off your goons." He snapped.
"My what?" Mai looked confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Let's see the two morons who keep following me around! The tall one keeps making threatening remarks!" he was fuming.
"Monk threatened you?" Mai was shocked.
"I don't care what his- their names are! Make it stop." He spat and poked Mai with his finger.
"There he is!" Mai heard Monk shout as he talked Masaru to the ground and started to hit in.
"I'll teach you not to mess with our Mai! Stalker!" Monk growled.
"Monk! Stop!" Mai reached over and threw all her weight on his arm to hold him back.
Back to the present.
"Your lucky you weren't arrested." Mai scolded him.
"I was defending you." He sounded hurt. Mai sighed and put covered face in annoyance.
The figure that was watching in the distance. 'She doesn't know it's me. The figured smirked and chuckled The figure began to clench its fists. 'Damn her!' spat. Mai, who had been yelling at her entourage, was not laughing and smiling with. The two of the guys tried to pick her up and carry her away. She shrieked and laughed.
'They can't help you. They won't be your for much no longer either. Soon it will all be over.'
"Hey are you alright there? You seem a little stressed" one of the stage crew asked.
"Oh I'm fine. Thanks for asking though." The figure smiled.
"Ok. Well keep yourself in good health. Don't know what we'd do without you." He walked away.
"May I have a word with you Miss Taniyama, I mean Mrs. Shibuya."
Mai turned and saw Mei standing behind her. "Oh sure."
Mei linked arms with Mai and led her away. "So how have you been?" She asked politely.
"Oh, fine." Mai didn't know where this was going and had wished she hadn't told everyone to stop interfering just now. "And you?"
"Oh I've been marvelous." She smiled. "I must apologize for some of my behavior. I have an appreciation for beauty and I tend to get carried away." She sighed. Mai didn't say anything.
"So I was wondering what your next project will be." Mei asked her.
"Well, my husband and I are going on a trp." Mai still didn't like linking arms with Mei.
"I see. And after that?" She asked.
"Maybe start a family." Mai replied.
"Oh so this might every well be your last show." Mei had now led them to the court yard that was filled with beautiful flowers and a fountain.
"Well I hadn't thought of it like that." Mai said.
"So you will not be creating your own ballet or your own choreography?" She sounded surprised.
"Well I guess not." Mai said. She hadn't ever thought about creating her own choreography and actually performing it. She hadn't really thought about this being her last performance.
"To think the greatest ballerina since Victoria Paige is retiring at such a young age." Mei went on.
"Well I wasn't actually planning on retiring." Mai said.
"You know there aren't many ballerinas' who come back after having children, at least not many come back and are good." Mei released Mai's arm and sat down by the fountain.
"Ah such a lovely day." Mei stretched out in the warm sunlight. "I wouldn't have thought anyone would be willing to give up all this when it hasn't even begun."
"What do you mean?" Mai frowned.
"True you have made quite a name for yourself, you have participated in some once in a lifetime opportunities, but your still so young and so talented. You could have done what many have failed at."
"And what is that?" Mai asked.
"Bring back Ballet." Mei said.
"I don't understand." Mai frowned.
"Oh Mai, you disappoint me." Mei shook her head. "Ballet has it's own following, but its very small compared to hip hop and brink dancing, and all those things teenagers do. Ballet is dying. Not many in the younger generation even know what Ballet is."
"Yes I'll admit that ballet isn't appreciated like it should be, but how would I help?" Mai had no clue where Mei was going with this.
"You are very beautiful and versatile. You sing and dance and very good taste. Your kind and generous. You could bring back the prestige this art once had. Cooper's choreography can only do so much without someone with the talent and skill to make them popular." Mei was serious. She did not smile seductively or sound coy.
"I think you have to high of an opinion of me." Mai said.
"Hmm everyone's entitled to their opinions, but I just happen to share the same opinions of almost everyone in the dance community." Mei smiled.
"Well I don't share this opinion." Mai turned to leave.
"Oh? You don't even want to try?" Mei asked `causing Mai to stop. "I mean, you were so determined not to let things interfere with your career before. Now you want babies."
"Look I'm dedicated. I can have both." Mai said.
"I'm sure you can, but I don't see your hurry with having a family. You're very young still. Why don't you two wait?"
"You know, you are in no position to talk to be about this with me." Mai crossed her arms.
"Really now?" Mei crossed her legs and leaned back. "And who is? Did you even discuss this with your husband?"
"Why do you care?" Mai asked.
"I take that as a no." Mei began to hum.
"We can discuss it when we go on vacation." Mai said.
"So this wanting babies and such is not any suggestion from your husband. I think its an excuse." Mei began to play with the water in the fountain.
"An excuse?" Mai was fuming.
"Precisely. You are afraid. You're afraid that you can't cut it, afraid of the attention, or afraid of it tearing your marriage apart." Mei looked over at Mai. "Would you like me to list more? Or would you like to pick one?"
Mai glared. "You know I'm not afraid. My marriage is strong enough to stand against anything."
"Is it now?" Mei looked played surprised.
"Yes it is." Mai continued to glare.
"I'll take your word, but that doesn't stop the doubt. It's so obvious. While you play the part of a devout and loving wife, you still have doubts of whether or not the two of you are strong enough." Mai stayed silent.
"Everyone knows about you and your husband's line of work." Mei sighed. "All the dangerous cases, the near death experiences. Now if you retire will he retire as well? I mean is this vacation for you or your husband?"
"I don't know what you're trying to imply." Mai's voice quivered.
"I think you do, but you don't want to admit it." Mei said. "But I'll explain anyways. The wanting babies, they wanting to retire, its all for a reason or for several reasons. It's because you don't want your husband to continue working on those dangerous cases. If you two are busy with the babies, then you can't work."
"I—" Mai tried to interrupted.
"You're rich. I know about your fortune. You're actually very very rich. The Empire that you inherited is very well known. You could keep popping out kids. He can't leave you to go on a case if your pregnant. Or you can't leave him if you're pregnant or less inclined if children are involved."
"Well then if Mai wants to as you say "popping out kids" then I'm happy to help her out in anyway. Even if it means no more ghost hunting." Naru appeared behind Mai.
"Well then maybe you two will make it after all." Mei smiled. Mai did not. In fact she turned around and began to hurry away.
"Mai!" Naru called after her. He caught her arm. "Mai wait."
"I—I can't do this right now." Mai's voice was still quivering.
"Mai-." Naru said softly.
"Naru, I need some time to think." Mai cried.
"Don't listen to her or any of them. They're just playing with your mind. Come back inside with me." Naru tried to lead her in.
"No!" Mai pulled away. "How does everyone else know what's going on inside my head than me?"
"Come on, Mai." Naru said softly.
"They're all right. You know they are and even I know they are." Mai said "You always knew and yet you didn't say anything?"
"I didn't know. I knew you were upset about the cases, but I didn't know that's why you wanted this break. If you want me to quit I can, if you want to have lots of kids and start right away we can." Naru took her in his arms.
"I don't…" Mai said softly. "Not for those reason."
"What do you want? Just ask and I'll do it." Naru begged her.
"I don't know what I want. I can't think clearly right now. I'm just confused." Mai said softly.
"I have all the time in the world to wait." Naru embraced her tighter.
'So now everything is out in the open.' The figured lurked in the shadows. 'You won't be able to think at all when I'm done.' The figured turned and walked back down the hallway.
I hope this isn't too confusing if so then here is a quick recap. Mai is a very complex person. She has spent much of her life denying some of the things and how they affect her. She has gotten better, but sometime like at the current moment, she doesn't realize the true reason she wants something or desires some choice. So We will learn more. She worries about her husband and therefore would like him to quit, but at the same time would never ask that of him. She made herself think that she was ready to retire and start a family, but really she wants to have her career a bit longer before settling down. Naru being Naru basically suspected that Mai wasn't ok, but he couldn't be sure of the reasoning considering all that has been going on. So he being devoted to her wants to make her happy and help her. Mai now that she is more aware of her feelings isn't sure what she wants due to the stress she's been under. What will happen next? What will she decide? Who is the stalker? When will he/she strike? Again its probably obvious, but i'm hoping its
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