Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt.
"Have a good day for Nana Ayame and Grandpa Ryosuke, okay?" Sayuri kneels down, giving Sho one good squeeze before letting him stay the day with Ritsuke's parents. The detective's parents were the closest thing that Sayuri had to a real mother and father. They've been there for her for almost everything.
"I will," Sho smiles, "I like spending the day with Nana Ayame. She spoils me."
"Yes, she does," Sayuri glances up at the dark haired woman giving Sho a hug and a kiss.
"He's the closest thing I got to a grandson," Pretty eyes dart to her son who was standing there making a face.
"Mother," Ritsuke blushes.
"You have to bring this Tsubaki girl over for dinner," Ayame makes a face, "I want to meet this darling girl that I hear so much about."
"I will Mother," Ritsuke sighs, "she even wants to come over for the holidays...if that's alright with you and Dad."
"Did I just hear my son right and that his girlfriend is coming over for dinner for the holidays?" Ryosuke looked just as handsome as his son only much older with graying hair.
"Yes, Ryo." Ayame moves from Sho to her husband, planting a kiss on his cheek, "I think he finally decided on one."
Ritsuke gives a pained look to Sayuri who just laughs.
"Sorry Ritsu, I help ya out but I'm off to do some Christmas shopping with Mai. Thank goodness she's well enough to be out. Give us a chance for some quality bonding," Sayuri giggles as Ritsuke groans.
"You girls just be careful," Ayame frowns, "I don't want you-"
"We'll be fine, Mama Ayame," Sayuri hugs the older woman, "we got a angel on our side."
"Still," Ayame hugs Sayuri, "do be careful. If I find out that mean Noriko did anything else, I'll take her out with my frying pan."
"Hopefully she won't have to," Ryosuke sweatdrops.
"We'll be careful," Sayuri hugs Ryosuke before pressing a kiss on Sho's temple, "be good for them."
"I will!" Sho sighs before grinning.
It didn't take long for Sayuri to pull up to Mai's apartment. Sayuri still wasn't allowed back at her house and Mai couldn't put her lease up on her apartment just yet. They would have to wait until the new year. At least that's what Ritsuke promised. It wasn't all that bad living with Lin. But she knew the man needed his space. It was the least she could do for him to put up with her and her son.
Sayuri gets out of her car the moment she arrives outside Mai's apartment. The brunette was looking better then she was a couple of weeks ago. "Why don't you look cozy," Sayuri smiles at Mai dressed in a pink sweater, denim skirt with leggings and boots.
"It's suppose to snow today." Mai grins, "perfect weather for Christmas shopping!"
"Let's just hope it doesn't get too bad," Sayuri sweatdrops, "or else my car might not handle it. Thank goodness Katsuro got me snow tires for Christmas!"
"You're odd," Mai sweatdrops, getting into Sayuri's car.
Sayuri finds a nice parking spot near the mall's entrance. Mai looks up at the towering building of glass and steel.
"Wow, you actually shop here?" Mai eyeballs the novelist.
"What?" Sayuri blinks, "this is the only time I actually come here. That, and my birthday!"
Sayuri takes Mai's elbow, escorting her to the elevator, "don't worry, if anything, I'm the one going to be Santa this year!"
"You really like Christmas, don't you?"
"Oddly enough, yes," Sayuri's eyes sparkle the moment they come out of the elevator, "it's magical...like being a little kid again and-"
"Does Lin know how much of a dork you really are?" Mai smirks.
"Don't sass me," Sayuri grabs a hold of Mai's ear. Other shoppers sweatdropped at the mother-daughter moment between the two women. Sayuri quickly spots something, dragging Mai to the store. After a couple of hours, the two had made quite a mess of picking up Christmas gifts.
"All that's left is..." Sayuri looks at the list, "Lin, Naru, Tsubaki, and Sho."
"What are you getting Sho for Christmas?"
"I've been picking up things here and there since summer," Sayuri smiles, "I think he's going to be spoiled this Christmas."
"With all of us, yeah he will be," Mai slurps her hot chocolate.
"What are you getting Naru for Christmas?" Grey eyes questioned Mai.
"I...I don't know yet." Mai fiddles with a marshmallow.
"Aw...c'mon Mai," Sayuri leans over the small table, "you must have some idea."
"I do but...can I tell you something? Something I haven't told anyone?" Mai folds her hands in her lap. True, Sayuri was use to a lot of weird things but what would she think of her?
"Okay..." Sayuri nods.
"The day I got shot-" Mai holds up her hands, "just listen before you say something. I remember the bullet hitting me...and hitting my head on the floor...here's the weird thing...while I was unconscious...I...sorta had a vision. You know, like my other visions. Except..."
"Except what?'
"I never told anyone that Naru shows up in my visions...dreams...all that."
"Naru does?"
"Yeah," Mai rubs the back of her head, "except he's...different."
"How so?"
"He's smiling a lot more...and always there to help me figure things out and...I don't know...sweeter."
"Aw..."
"But what's the real kicker is..." Mai makes a face, looking confused, "when I was unconscious, he appeared again except...he looked so sad...frantic...he spoke and..."
"And what?"
"I don't think it's Naru...I mean he looks just like him...and everything but...his voice sounded a bit different."
"Like? Happier? Lighter?"
"Something like that...he was panicking...and...he held my hand...telling me I had to wake up and stay alive...that I had to..."
Sayuri reaches across the table, taking Mai's hands in hers.
"I just got this weird feeling after that. I...didn't tell anyone about it...until I had another dream...which was even weirder." Mai gulps.
"How weirder?"
"There were two Narus."
"Holy crap," Sayuri stares at her, "you think it might have meant something?"
"I think so? Why two Narus? Is there someone else that looks like him? Does he have, maybe, though it be weird, a twin? I don't know...my dreams always have something to do in real life. I've just been so confused. Yeah, I do like Naru but...what if I only like him because of my dreams? That maybe...I'm wigging out Sayuri."
"Hey, first take a deep breath," Sayuri watches Mai do as she says, "second, Naru has been very private about his personal life."
"I remembered one time," Mai lets go of Sayuri's hands, "during a case, it was about two siblings who had a deep psychic connection. It bothered him. I think maybe he did have someone...and they died."
Mai looks back up at Sayuri. The poor woman look as if she was trying to process every thing. Could it really be that Naru really did have a sibling? That maybe the guy Mai is dreaming about isn't Naru? Or maybe its just a weird way that Mai wishes Naru could be like that.
"I don't know what to tell you Mai. Other then...well I don't think Naru would tell us anything. Hell, I don't think Lin would either. He's very protective of him, and so is Tsubaki."
"We could ask Tsubaki."
"True, we could but it might upset her." Sayuri frowns, "I'm not saying give up on it. I'm just as curious as you are now. Let's wait and see after Christmas. We'll be detectives and find out if your dreams do really mean there are two Narus."
"Sayuri, you are the best!"
"Now let's finish up our snack so we can do more shopping!" The two girls stuff their faces of treats and hot chocolate before attacking the stores once again. The days flew by as Sayuri decided to dub herself Santa this year, going as far as making sure Monk wasn't planning on doing so this year. It got as bad as Mai, Sayuri, and Sho bringing in a Christmas tree to the office. They were caught, unfortunately.
"But please Naru?" Sho gives the young man the cutest face ever. Naru felt himself failing at trying to avoid the cuteness but agreed to it. Christmas went smoothly with Sayuri handing out gifts to everyone on Christmas Eve so they could go spend time with any relatives.
"Do you think he'll like this?"
"You been asking me that since you started cooking," Sho watches her from his seat, "and I'm only eight, how would I know?"
"I knew I should have pestered Mai into coming down and helping me."
Lin was going to kill her at the sight of his stately kitchen in chaos. She was going to clean it up. She always cleaned up her messes at other peoples home. Her idea for giving an extra gift to Lin was making some dishes that he hope had liked as a kid. She had look up recipes online and pesters Sho's new friend, Ken whose mother was from China into helping her.
"At least the moon pies turn out good," Sho gets a glare at Sayuri, "You can't have one until Lin does."
"Aw, okay." Sho pouts, "save them for your boyfriend then."
"Lin is not my boyfriend. We're just...dating...ish."
"Uh huh," Sho makes a face.
"You don't like him, do you?"
"Yeah I like Lin. It's just all the mushy stuffs makes me gag," Sho makes another face, pretending to gag. Sayuri laughs, ruffling his hair. She had everything on platters, all which she bought for herself so not to disturb much of Lin's kitchen. She was halfway through cleaning the pots and pans when Lin shows up.
"Uh oh," Sho scurries off around the corner, hiding but wanting to know what Lin would think.
"Uh..." Sayuri felt his eyes look around the kitchen before on her, "hi? Merry Christmas...uh...yeah I cooked for you. I made...some Chinese dishes. I have no idea what you exactly like but yeah...so..."
"What the hell did you do to the kitchen?" Lin questions her.
Sayuri flinches a bit, "I'll clean it up. I'm doing so right now. I'm not that horrible of a person."
Lin realized that he sounded like a jerk. She had gone through all that trouble to do something for him. Her grey eyes look at him before turning back to cleaning. The smell of the food has caught his attention earlier as he was coming up to the apartment.
"Sayuri..."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Sayuri turns around to look back at Lin. He was blushing, adjusting his tie. She blinks, before giving a small smile. Before he could react, she walks up to him, planting a small kiss on his cheek.
"You're welcome," Her eyes leave his to look at the platters of food, "you can try some if you want...though I'm not entirely-" She cuts off as he picks up a pair of chopsticks to taste what she had made.
He takes one bite.
"Well?"
"You did a very nice job," Lin gives her a small smile.
"Really? Oh thank goodness," Sayuri flops over the counter.
"May I ask why?"
"Huh? Why I wanted to cook you Chinese food?" Sayuri blushes, "well I know I got you something for Christmas but...I don't know...I figured it be nice to have some home cook food since it's the holidays and all and usually you're working and...what?"
"Thank you," Lin felt the heat come back to his face.
"Hey Lin, Naru and I got-Oooh, what smells good in here?"
Lin and Sayuri both make a face when Naru and Tsubaki show up. Sayuri knew they probably had something for Lin, with her turning to just fix herself a plate when she hears Lin talking to them.
"Please don't take this the wrong way but out."
"Huh?"
"I said out," Lin gives them both a glare, "you can tell me later."
"But-Tsubaki quickly grabbed Naru's arm and tails it out of there. Sayuri blinks, watching as Lin shuts the door, sighing.
He actually told them to get out...wow...
The two enjoy a comfortable meal, ending with moon pies. Lin bit into one, tasting it before giving Sayuri a kiss.
"Thank you..."
Christmas went well with Sho spoiled beyond words. It turned out the entire SPR gang went a little overboard with the eight year old. Ritsuke presented Sayuri with her house keys two days later.
The older woman sighs, smiling as Sho tackles Mai, saying that he was happy that his 'new sister' was home. She was out of her apartment, now staying with her officially. She glances down at the adoption papers. True, Mai would be an adult soon but...
It was the right thing to do.
It was a new year.
A new year for more adventures and whatever else may lie in store for her. The two girls are quickly called in for a new case. Sho is dropped off at Ritsuke's parents house before heading down to the office. The new case was at the court house. It turns out the client was an old friend of Natsuma family.
Sayuri calls him up, asking exactly.
Apparently there had been some poltergeist activity.
It was late when the group got there, waiting on Mr. Takanata. The older man looks up, wringing his hands.
"Oh thank you so much for coming," His eyes stare at Sayuri, "Miss Natsume, you're also apart of Shibuya?"
"Yes, sir. Let's just say I know a thing or two on ghosts."
"Thank you. I have no idea what to do. Everyone who works here is also frighten. Please, just figure this out. Take as much time as you can."
"Just give us some place to-" Naru is cut off when a familiar voice speaks up.
"That won't be necessary Mr. Takanata," Sayuri whirls around to see her mother standing there. She was all tidied up with her briefcase and three piece suit. Her cold eyes stare at her daughter.
"Well why am I not surprise? You finally lost it and join a bunch of ghost hunters?" Noriko sneers before presenting a folder to Sayuri.
"You can give this to your boss. We won't be needing the services of Shibuya Psychic Research."
"Noriko," Ritsuke speaks up, "this man is obviously overwhelmed with something he can't explained. The group is hear to make sure that it is or is not paranormal."
"You too, Ritsuke? Shame that a good detective like yourself has stumbled so low."
Ritsuke growls, with Sayuri placing a hand on his arm.
"What the hell, Mother? He needs our help. And why the hell are you even here? This isn't your business."
"I'm just assuring that Mr. Takanata is straining from overwork and not seeing anything."
"Right, so did about twenty plus people," Sayuri felt her temper ticking like bomb. Noriko doesn't flinched at the sight of her daughter glaring at her.
"They're just exaggerating. There is no such thing as ghosts. I told you that when you were young. Such a silly thing as seeing my dead parents after they pass away."
"I did see them. You got angry at me! You hit me! You threaten to hurt me!"
"No need to raise your voice, Sayuri. It's so unladylike."
"Oh cut the polite shit, you stupid bitch," Everyone around Sayuri backs off, "I'm sick and tired of you trying to control everyone's life! And for your information, I seemed to recall that grandfather could see them too! Spirits! Why? Afraid that I might do the same thing he did? Too late, Mother, I do see them. Not by choice, but by my gift."
Noriko's eyes flame up, "keep it up and I'll make sure you never see Sho again."
"Oh is that it? Treat me like you treat those poor innocent people? You let criminals go and lock up innocent people. All you do is make sure you get something out of it. Is that why you told Uncle Ren to tear up my home? To threaten my friends? Mai got shot for crying out loud! Someone could have die!"
"I can assure you that all Ren wanted was-"
"He told me before he died."
"Why? Did you kill him?"
"No," Sayuri felt Kyo's presence, "but I know of a very angry samurai who love to do the same thing to you."
Sayuri spotted it. It was fleeting but she spotted it. When she mention 'samurai', something in Noriko's eyes changed. Kyo approaches the attorney, walking around before leaning down into her ear.
"You know me, don't you Noriko? You use to be such a sweet girl."
"Shut up," Noriko whispers, still staring at Sayuri.
"I'm not saying anything," Sayuri watches Kyo then her mother.
"You stupid bitch," Kyo glares, "all you have done is hurt the people that have cared about you the most. You are just like my brother...all you want is power. There is a price for those who are corrupted by greed."
Her eyes changed which causes Sayuri to figure it out.
"Grandmother never did see them...but she could..." Sayuri's mouth drops, "You hypocrite...you can hear him, can't you?"
"Shut up."
"You always had a gift...so did your sister...you always hated that-"
"You know what I hated? You! I hated that you were born with grey eyes. Did Ayame ever tell you how she became your nanny? Your grandfather hired her to come work for me. You want to know why that old man wanted the wife of the chief of police to work for us? Because I lost it. Because I tried to kill you. That's right...you were just going to end up like my old man. I didn't want you near any of that ghost crap! You were just going to turn into him and look at me with those damn eyes and-"
"Enough," Lin jumps in, "that is enough, Noriko."
"You should be grateful that you have a wonderful daughter like her," Ritsuke gets on Sayuri's other side.
"I'll make sure you all pay," Noriko turns to look at Lin then back at Sayuri. She saw how her daughter touched the Chinese man's arm.
"Oh now you with this-"
"You say one more word," Naru speaks up, "and we'll make sure you get put away."
"Oh yeah," Noriko wheels around, now facing Naru, "what makes you think that..."
Her voice is lost as her face turns a ghostly white. Noriko backs away with Sayuri, Lin, and Ritsuke all staring at her oddly. Sayuri looks back at her mother then at Naru. The boy looked just as confused as to why Noriko was acting the way she was.
"You!" Noriko points at him, "it can't be! This isn't real! This is some sick joke!"
"Noriko," Mr. Takanata tries to help her.
"Stay away from me!" Sayuri watches as her mother look as though something inside snapped.
"You...oh gawd...you shouldn't be here!" Noriko bumps into the wall, still staring at Naru.
"What are you talking about?" Sayuri stares at her.
"I hit you with me car," She ignores Sayuri, "I know I did...stupid kid...it can't be...I know I hit you and then..."
Naru felt everything drop out from under his feet. Tsubaki knew what the woman was talking about as well. She grabbed Naru, holding him steady as well as herself. Lin just stares at the woman.
"Noriko...what did you do with him?" Ritsuke wasn't sure what was going on but it didn't look good.
"I dumped his body in the lake."
"You stupid bitch!" Tsubaki lunges with Lin grabbing her, "you stupid bitch! You! You were the one who ran over Gene! I hate you! I hope you rot in hell!"
"Gene?" Mai makes a face, confused before looking at Sayuri. Wait, if Noriko thought she ran over a kid that looked exactly like Naru then...
Sayuri looks at Lin, "who is Gene?"
Lin closes his eyes, "it's a long story."
"Are you saying that..." Ritsuke points at Naru, "he has...had a twin and that crazy bitch ran him over?"
"I think you got your confession," Lin closes his eyes, holding Tsubaki back as the poor woman burst into tears.
"Natsuma Noriko...you are under arrest for the murder of..." Ritsuke looks at Naru.
"Eugene Davis." There was a gasp as Naru sighs, "my brother."
"But your name is-" Mai looks at him in disbelief.
"My name...my real name is Oliver Davis." The cat came out of the bag. There was no hiding it now. Noriko just confessed to his brother's murder. There was no hiding it especially when the whole group was there. He closes his eyes. This wasn't how he wanted it to happen.
"Naru-Oliver...you need to come with me. You, Lin, and..." Ritsuke looks at Tsubaki who had over heard Naru's confession.
"Carmellia...Carmellia Stephens." She looks up to see betrayal flash across Ritsuke's eyes before leading Noriko away.
They leave the group without looking back.
"Oh my God," Monk takes a moment, "you mean this whole time-"
"We've been working for Oliver Davis." Mai finishes, staring in disbelief. She looks at Sayuri who was barely speaking. John quickly goes to the woman's side, taking her arm. She smiles at him.
Mai goes over and hugs her.
The group walks out of the court house, unsure what was going to be happening next.