Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt.
"Wait, you're not going to disband us?" Mai asked the question. Everyone was gathered at the office of Shibuya Psychic Research. Naru or Noll stood in front of Lin's desk. Lin, Tsubaki (she was officially called that. She had her name changed). Gene grinned like a fool, staring at his twin brother.
"No, we had a discussion with Professor Davis-"
"Our father."
"About whether or not we should. He said it might be a good idea if we-"
"Stuck around. We have contacts here. Everyone, you would remember Miss Mori," Naru gestured to the woman next to him. Madoka had been contacted by Mrs. Davis when Gene woke up. Never had Naru seen his mentor cry. Madoka grinned at everyone, smiling as she stood next to Gene.
"What my son is trying to say," Felicity spoke up, "is that I wouldn't want to break up the gang so soon. Every single one of you has put so much into it. I would not see to it that its disbanded in such a way. I want you all to continue to do what you do best. The Psychic Research Center in London will support it as well as the main headquarters from Kyoto."
"Kyoto? The old capital? Why not Tokyo?" Sayuri had came for the meeting too.
"That very reason. There is a branch in the main center of Tokyo, near the Odaiba district." Felicity smiled at each and every one of them, "thank you. Thank you all for befriending my son. Thank you for supporting this."
"It's nothing," Mai spoke up first.
"I also like to announce that my babies have finally found women in their lives!" Felicity went from serious to silly in a matter of seconds. Tsubaki sighed, sweat dropping. Lin just let out a deep sigh. Naru and Gene both blush. The only difference Naru was scowling.
"Mother!"
"Now now, why haven't you talk much about Miss Hara? She's such a doll, really. But I'm so happy about my baby Gene. His girlfriend is the reason why he's back with us! I can't wait until you two get marry and give me grandbabies."
"Grandchildren?" Gene didn't like the sound of that, especially since he had been in a coma for so long.
"You should wait a while before that happens, Mrs. Davis." Tsubaki sweatdropped.
The meeting ended, mostly due to Naru and Gene wanted to avoid more awkward speeches from their mother. Sayuri smiled at Ritsuke, giving him a thumbs up. She was glad that he patched things up with Tsubaki. There was no way she was going to let her best friend ruin what could be the best thing in his life.
They made a beautiful couple.
"Sayuri?"
She turned around to see Lin approaching her.
"Yes?"
"I..." What was he supposed to say to her?
"You?"
"I was wondering if you had any plans for today." Her eyes changed immediately the moment he asked. She chewed on her bottom lip. It was the habit she had when she was undecided. She opened her mouth to speak when Felicity interrupted.
"Sayuri, I hate to be such a bother but do you mind if I take Sho and Mai off your hands for a day? Mai will be safe. Gene will keep an eye on her and I can get to play Grandmother to Sho. If you don't mind?"
"Please Sayuri! Granny Fey is awesome!" Sho spoke up, "please please please?"
"Are you sure, Mrs. Davis? He's eight years old." And Sayuri was not about to guess Felicity's age. She just wave her hand, like waving away the worry, "Oh it's not trouble at all dear. I'll make sure he's tuck away at his usual bed time. Don't worry. I handle young boys before. Try handling a psychic eight year old. Hm, you and Lin should go out and do something. I think it would be nice."
Felicity wasn't staring at Sayuri. She was staring at Lin. She felt like she was being forced to spend some time with Lin. Not that she didn't want to. She was willing to wait for him. She was in no hurry. She paused, recalling the other day. She gave a smile, "sure! Just make sure he gets to be about nine."
"Nine?" Sho gaped at Sayuri.
"Ok, for tonight, ten. Then you must be in bed, mister." Sayuri ruffled his hair.
"Yeah yeah," Sho stuck out his tongue before giving Sayuri a hug.
"We'll just stop by your place and get his things. Oh, I love this. First time feeling like a grandmother!" Felicity giggled. Sayuri watched as Mai left with Felicity and Sho. Sayuri felt her chest tightened before she ran after them. Sho was confused as to why Sayuri ran out of the office, giving him a hug. She had knelt down to his level, holding him tightly.
Sho looked at her the moment she pulled away, "Sayuri? Why are you crying?"
"Nothing. I...I guess my motherly instincts finally kick in and I just want to make sure you'll be okay."
"I'll be okay. Don't worry about me. I know Kyo hasn't come by lately but Grandma Fey will protect me. She knows what to do if something happens. Please have a good day with Lin-san? Please?"
"Okay, I will have a good day. Promised." She gave Sho her pinky.
Sho smiled. He looked up at Lin who had followed Sayuri out. Sho approached him. He motion for Lin to come closer.
"I got something to tell you," He whispered.
Lin gave him a ear, "what is it that you don't want Sayuri to hear?"
"You have to promise to take her on a date. She needs a date. She's been mopey and won't admit it. Could you take her out on a date and make her smile? I think she misses you."
Lin looked over to Sayuri who was hugging Mai, giving her a smile. There was something hidden behind it. A certain sadness? Just what was she sad about? Lin gives Sho a firm nod to which he took as a good answer. Sho quickly ran back over to Felicity, taking her hand.
Soon both Mai and Sho were packed up to spend time with Felicity and Gene. Sayuri waved goodbye from the front step. She watched as the vehicle disappeared down the street. She gave a deep sigh. It had been a while since Sho was out of the house for a night. Would she be able to handle it? Would she get up in the middle of the night and freak out over his empty bed? Sayuri went back into the house, feeling the cool air chill her. Winter was slowly leaving and spring would arrive. A new time. A new place.
She walked out to the backyard, looking around. It was quiet except for the sounds of the air traveling through the trees. She stared ahead at the forest, knowing where the path was. Kyo had not been seen for quite some time. She closed her eyes, recalling the first night she had in the house. The night that Sho saw Kyo. That wonderful protector. Her angel. The guardian of the Konoe family. Forever bound to the land due to a evil curse. It seem all too unreal. It was something she would have in a novel.
Maybe one day she will.
Maybe one day someone else would write the story, to carry on and to let everyone know of what happens when selfish greed consumes a spirit and leaves nothing but broken hearts.
"I promised," She whispered to the wind, "I will find a way to break it and set you all free. That is what I'm meant to do, isn't it?"
"Sayuri."
She turned around to see Lin standing in the doorway. He approached her, taking off his jacket. He placed it around her shoulders.
"You catch a cold out here. Come inside." He lead her back into the house.
"Sorry about that. I...I'm just worried about the ghost. You know, as usual."
"Sayuri," Lin lead her to a seat at the kitchen bar. He had made tea. He gave her a cup to warm her hands and body. She took a sip.
"What happened?"
"Hmm?"
"You have been very...unlike yourself lately." Lin leaned forward, "did something happened to Kyo?"
She lifted her eyes to him. Sayuri slide out of her seat. Lin is taken back as she approached him. She took his face in her hands, leaning it forward to where their foreheads touched.
"Take a look before I have to explain."
Lin did so. What he saw troubled him. He flinched as many, many memories flooded into his mind. It was everything she had absorbed through thought, word, and spirit from the journal that was written. Sayuri touched his wrists, waiting as he looked. He pulled away with a breath leaving his mouth. She frowned.
"I have it. It's in my office. You have...I'm sure you have seen worse. But," She felt herself choke, "that was my family. No one should have to go through that. I'm sorry. I'm being emotional."
Sayuri took that moment to retrieve the journal. She was crying. Lin composed himself, going after her.
"Sayuri! Wait!"
The moment he was at the doorway to her office, she had picked up the journal. She held it in her hands as if it was fragile. She gripped the back of her chair, taking a moment to calm herself. She wiped at her face with a free hand, turning to see Lin there.
"Here. It's all in there. My grandfather wrote it all down. He...he had died from a heart attack. I don't believe it really was. It explains it, how odd it was and...he was trying to reverse the curse. Only a member of the Konoe family can rid of this evil. I'm sure there is a way without-"
"Sayuri," Lin raised his voice, stern and cold.
She closed her mouth.
He put the journal down. Those long fingers wiped at her tears. She had seen so much sadness. So much anger and sorrow that it had left a mark on her soul. A mark that couldn't be wipe away so quickly. Lin brushed her cheek before leaning his forehead against hers.
"You...are amazing."
She let out a gasp, "really? I'm amazing?"
"How much you could handle this all on your own. You should have told us."
"I wasn't sure if-I wasn't entirely sure about your situation and where you were going to go. I mean, it's silly to tell you if you were going to leave. That is if you were. I had no idea. I...I just waited to see what you would do. I can't make you go or make you stay. You are a unique man and...I have feelings for you. I just..."
Lin's hand brushed against her chin before tilting it upwards. He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers. There was that feeling again. The warm feeling that send shudders down her being. It was like a second pulse, throbbing with power and affection. Her hands brushed against the front of his shirt before laying there. Lin couldn't help but feel the heat spread across his face.
From all the women that he had kissed in his life, she was the only one who could make him like some awkward teenager.
A mixture of faded blue violet and red coursing around them. Sayuri felt a settling of peace surrounding her. It was floating around her, like a misty fog. She pulled away to see his face.
"I'm not leaving. I won't. Especially now that I have..."
"Since Gene and Naru are united?"
"Yes."
"I have no idea where to start first," She placed her hand over her mouth, "I feel so helpless and overwhelmed."
"We get you through it."
"We?"
"All of us." Lin took her hand, squeezing it, "we...we shall all help you in anyway. We help you break the curse. We won't let you go at it alone."
"Thank...thank you."
A pause silence creates a feeling of awkwardness.
"When was the last time...you been on a date?"
"The night you took me to dinner away from my mother didn't count?" Sayuri felt the edges of her lips turn, smirking.
Lin opened his mouth, ready to retort when he saw her smile. He gave a chuckle, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"No. You need a proper date. Dinner?"
"Out or in?"
"Whichever you want."
"I hate to ask," She blushed, "but I love your cooking. I hate to ask you to do that but you're exceptional."
"How about together?" He nuzzled her hair, "you did a wonderful job around Christmas."
"Did I now?"
"Mm hmm. Though I am better at it," He smirked.
"Of course you are," She giggled.
They settled on their home cook meal together. Sayuri didn't want to say anything but she felt her heart swell how balance they worked together. They did it before. Not just cooking but with other moments. She kept it to herself. That wonderful yet stoic Chinese man. The one whom she didn't see coming at all.
Her heart knew what Yuri felt the moment she probably laid her eyes on her own Chinese bodyguard.
Though neither one of them showed it for tonight, both Lin and Sayuri were worried about how the curse could be broken.
Just how far would it have to go?