((Yeah, ok that one was kinda out of left field. Well, he's an 18 year old guy..what else do they think about. I mean yeah he's naru but he's still a healthy young man. I wonder if he talked in his sleep..hmm..I did update the rating. sorry I had forgotten. They won't all be like this, but seriously It's fun to imagine, right? ))
Mai's empathy seemed to rule her. When the girl had gone missing in the mansion he knew that if he didn't find her he'd never hear the end of it. He couldn't tell her but he'd do anything just to see her smile. He could enjoy what little time he had with her. It would be over far too soon. He'd find Gene's body and then they would leave. Maybe she'd want to come to England and keep working with him or train her gifts?
No he couldn't take her away from everything, but still he wished. While the rag tag group he'd assembled had become a family to her she really wasn't related to any of them. He knew that the Monk considered her to be a little sister. Wouldn't he want her to have access to the the best education and training. After all he was Oliver Davis.
"Yasu, Mai, Make sure you're never alone in this house." He asked first the Miko how much he could depend on her to protect them. He couldn't really let any of them protect her in such a volatile place. He'd only trust the girl's safety to Lin. He was the strongest. He would guard his heart. When he voiced it Lin actually argued with him.
Didn't he know that he needed to know that Mai was ok? "Lin, if you don't like the way I conduct my investigation than leave."
"How quickly you seem to forget, my main objective is to keep you safe at all cost. How would I explain it to the professor if you were to come to harm while on a job. Think about how your parents would feel." He looked the Chinese man in the eye.
'Come on Lin' he tried to implore him with his eyes. Just keep Mai safe. Please, but no the other man wouldn't back down.
"Takigawa will keep Yasuhara safe and Father Brown will watch out for Mai."
"Monk can't handle it alone." Damn it just stop arguing with him already. Why was he being so God damn set on this.
"I'm not an amateur!" He'd offended the Monk but he didn't really care. If something happened to Mai then he wouldn't be able to go on. He'd already lost Gene. To his surprise Yasu offered to leave. He actually volunteered. He considered this for a moment. Yasu was important o his cover but Father Brown and Takigawa together could join together to watch over Mai. He hoped it would be enough.
With that settled he felt the temperature drop. Mai was shaking like a junky in need of a fix. Her usually sweet eyes were filled with terror. He was about order Father Brown to exercise whatever had Mai in it's grips but he'd been surprised that Ms. Hara had stepped in.
Usually the medium was a thorn in his side. She actually treated Mai with kindness. He struggled to keep the surprise off of his face. Masako had been trying for quite a while to get him to fire Mai. Perhaps he should have. She wouldn't be in danger if she didn't work with him but he was selfish. He wanted to keep some sunshine in his life.
They were all suddenly thrown into the darkness. Everyone went still waiting to see what would happen. When the lights came back on the Client's man came into the room which now had writing that looked like blood all over. The spirits were indeed quite upset. Whatever was here was quite powerful. He'd have to get the bottom of it before something else happened. He was going to have the medium channel some of the spirits but Mai actually stopped him.
"Do you have any idea how terrible it is to experience the moment of a painful death!" Yes, yes he did. More times than he'd care to remember he'd felt what it had been like to be killed. He'd suffered what all those people did. He felt what Gene felt when the car hit him. His shock and pain. he felt his terror as the car started backing up. He wanted to live, but he'd known when he saw the tire coming towards him he knew it was over. He accepted his fate. He just wished he could say goodbye to his family, especially Noll. For so long they were all each other had. Mai was standing up for her rival. How very like her.
He couldn't keep the pain out of his eyes. Fine, he'd ask someone else. Perhaps Lin could do something?
"Lin, do you want a shot at it?"
"Yes I do." Fine, that was settled. Mai was looking at him intently. One day he'd tell her everything. Till then he'd just have to play his part.