Chapter 3 - No Time to Tell

Mai thought about when the last time it had been that she had seen the SPR irregulars. It had only been a few days since she had seen Ayako and Masako, but it had been even longer since she had seen any of the others. It would have been the last case about two weeks ago that she had last seen them and she was looking forward to catching up with everyone.

Naru, Lin and Mai had already finished packing the van with their equipment, they were ready to go. However, right now they were waiting for the others, all of which were late. Naru, looking as impatient as ever given his complete lack of patience, was growing visibly agitated. Not wanting him to be completely annoyed when the first person eventually arrived, Mai walked into the kitchen to make him a cup of tea. Tea always mellowed him out and she hoped it would do the trick right now.

After returning, and placing a cup of tea in front of the two men, Mai sat down with her own cup of tea. She watched as the furrow in Naru's brow steadily went away, but she was not stupid enough to believe all his ire was gone. So five minutes later, when Madoka came barging through the door, Mai spoke first to avoid Naru saying something scathing to piss off his former teacher.

"It's so good to see you again Madoka," the woman cheered as she made her way over to her friend.

"Hello Mai," Madoka greets back with a bright smile.

Well, as bright as she could manage around her clearly frazzled appearance, three-year-old Sora on her hip wanting to be put down. "I'm sorry I'm late, but Sora wouldn't stop pulling my hair every time I put him down to finish packing. Should have let Lin take him because look, now that he sees his daddy, he finally wants to be put down."

Madoka sighs as she allows her son to put his two feet on the ground and watched as he toddled over to Lin, the man picking up his son to place on his lap. She turns back to Mai, who had also watched the toddler's movements, before she looked around the room. "Where is everyone else? I'm late, but am I seriously the first person besides you three? Damn, I heard you had something to tell everyone, Mai. I'm eager to hear it."

"I'll tell you when everyone else arrives," Mai chuckles nervously.

Madoka looked ready to reply when the door was roughly opened a second time. It was conveniently the rest of the team, sans Yasu who would be meeting them there, and they were barging their way into the office. With the exception of Masako who was demurely walking up the stairs still. "Well it looks like everyone is here now," Madoka chuckles.

"So sorry we're late," Monk says, panting slightly from running up the stairs. "The traffic was crazy, both John and I got caught in it. It amazes me everyday that some people even have their license because there are just those out there that cannot drive."

"I'm just glad that you were able to make it," Mai brushes off his comment about the traffic, wanting to say something before Naru inevitably exploded. "But we don't have time to hang around and chat, we have to go."

Monk and John looked a little dismayed at the realisation they would have to get back on the road after their struggles just to get here on time, but with resigned sighs, they walked back out the door. After locking up the office, Mai joined Madoka in the back of the van with Lin and Naru up front.

The drive to their client's house would take around three hours and given that it would end up being a boring ride, Mai decides to take a nap to pass the time.

When Mai opened her eyes, she could tell by the black nothingness that she was already caught in one of 'those dreams.' She looked around, hoping to find Gene, but quickly realised her spirit guide was nowhere to be found. Mai barely had time to be disappointed before she found herself thrust into a different scene, a memory given the restrained presence in her mind that did not allow her to move on her own. Mai was startled by the sight before her.

A man, dark hair and deep blue eyes, was staring at Mai with unfiltered loathing in his eyes. Or rather, he was staring at the woman whose memory she was experiencing with loathing.

"You betrayed me Rina," he spoke up, addressing the woman. "You cheated on me with my own brother of all people. I loved you, I cherished you and you betray me."

"I didn't," the woman, Rina, insists. "I love you and only you Kiseki. I have no feelings for your brother and most definitely did not cheat on you with him. I swear it, my love."

He says nothing and as Rina backs up, Mai feels when she reaches the end of her space. Rina turns around and Mai can now see that he has her backed onto a balcony. Mai feels dread seep into her soul, because the only memories she ever saw, were from those who were already dead.

Rina turned back around just in time to catch as Kiseki pushed her, causing her to go over the railing. Mai feels the scream rip through her throat even when the world goes dark.

"-ai, Mai," and when she opens her eyes, Madoka is before her, looking into her eyes with concern.

Mai is unable to hold herself back and she bursts into tears while wrapping her arms tightly around the older woman. "Oh Mai," Madoka sighs, wrapping her arms around her. "It's okay, you were only dreaming. Naru, Lin and I are all here and we won't let anything happen to you."

"Is she okay?" Mai hears her boyfriend's deep voice asking.

Mai pulls away from Madoka to look at him as he has his body shifted to look at her around his seat. She gives him as reassuring a smile as she could manage. "I'm okay now Naru," she says. "It was just one of 'those dreams.'"

"Lin, pull over, I'm swapping with Madoka," is his only reply, turning back to face his friend at the wheel.

Lin does not argue, quickly finding a safe place to pull over before doing so. Madoka does not argue either as she allows Naru into her place before taking his in the front. As Lin pulls away to get back on the road, she gratefully accepts as Naru pulls her into him, placing her head on his shoulder and then his own head on top of hers. "As Madoka says," he whispers into her hair. "Nothing is going to happen to you with us here, I won't allow it."

The words and his reassuring presence allow her to fall into a dreamless sleep.

"Mai, it's time to wake up," are the words that bring her back from her sleep.

In front of her, Naru is leaning her way from his seat beside her as he wakes her up. "Oh, we're here," she says as she takes in their surroundings.

The were pulling into the driveway of one of the biggest houses she had ever seen, it was more like a mansion if she was being honest. Even the house on the Urado case was not this large. "This place is huge," she whispers to no one in particular.

"Well Mai," Naru whispers into her ear, causing her to shiver. "Would people living in an ordinary house have maids?"

She barely registers his words, despite them pointing out something she had not though about until now, as the tickle causes her to blush crimson. "Naru, don't do that, it tickles," she whines softly to him.

"Why do you think I do it?" he says, a smirk across his beautiful face.

He then leaves the van, Mai remaining behind with a tomato-coloured face. She takes a few deep breaths before making her own way out of them van, hoping no one had seen the exchange and definitely not her blush.

She gives the mansion a careful examination once she is standing up straight. A gorgeous Victorian style building, pale beige walls with a slightly darker shade colouring the roof. The Koiyas' driveway became a ring at the bottom of the entry staircase and inside the ring was a massive fountain. It was three-tired and had angel sculptures all over it. The fountain even had a flower bed surrounding it, and there were more gardens lining the driveway from house to gate. The scent of flowers and the beautiful architecture, Mai almost forgot the place was supposed to be haunted.

As far as she was concerned, it neither appeared nor felt haunted. That being said, a lot of the places they went to on cases appeared fine, but quickly proved to be otherwise. Despite that, Mai did get one feeling from it.

The size aside, this was no ordinary haunted house.