A/N 4/7/19: As some of you know I have taken the last 4 months to reread and edit this story. That has resulted in over 28k words of changes and technical edits throughout all of the chapters. My goal was to clean things up to make a tighter story and give Mai some more agency. It has been a long time, but I am very pleased with the result. I apologize for the sort of fake update, but I am excited to show you all this more polished and final version of the story. Thank you to all my friends who helped me through this process. And I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 17- Oliver

"Naru, it's just over here." Mai stopped at the top of the path, spinning her umbrella handle in her fingers. A small burst of water flew off, springing out around her on all sides as she waited.

His footsteps squelched as he approached. And he had a fleeting wonder as to whether it was the moss and mud that filled the spaces between the stones of the damp path or his own socks that were producing the sound.

He took in the temple grounds as he climbed up the low hill, unlike the precisely arranged church yards back in England the grounds here seemed to seep into the sprawling untamed greenery of the forest that surrounded and infused it. An ancient looking wooden building, its wood black with age and weather rested amongst the grey stone and green moss that seemed intent on blanketing everything it could reach.

There were only a few people were milling about the temple grounds. The rain most likely keeping those other than the most stubborn from traveling out. They moved slowly, mostly black umbrellas dark caps to dark figures.

"Who is he?" Oliver asked, looking over at Mai when he stopped next to her.

She tilted her umbrella back to get a clearer view of him. "Hmm?"

"The monk that all the statues depict." There had to be hundreds of the small statues all aligned in symmetrical lines across the temple grounds. Their bald heads, long robes, and bare feet marking them as bodhisattva but that was the limit of Oliver's Buddhist knowledge.

"Jizō."

Oliver was tempted to tell her that meant nothing to him but did not care to rush a response. He looked over the statues, at their benevolent weather beaten and in some places moss addled faces. Small toys hung from or rested at the foot of several of the statues while soggy blankets and hats adorned many more.

"He is the protector of lost souls," Mai rocked on her feet as she spoke. Contentment washing off her in waves. "He watches over travelers and, anyone, really. But here, people come here, to thank him for his protection over their lost children." She nodded at all the objects and Oliver realized that the blankets, bibs, and hats would indeed be the correct sized for a small child.

"The story is, Jizō hides the children in the long sleeves of his robe and sneaks them across the river to the afterlife. So, they don't have to serve penance for not having outlived their parents."

Oliver watched as a woman placed a small knit cap atop one of the bare heads. Her hands then clasping together as she gave a silent prayer.

"Why is she doing that?"

Mai smiled. "So, he doesn't get cold."

"He is a statue."

"It's just a way of saying thank you, Naru. Of working through the grief associated with losing a baby. It's really for her, not the statue."

"That is typical of religious acts. They serve to comfort the supplicant rather than to actually appeal to a potential deity's in—"

"Naru," Mai looked back up at him, "Save the lecture for when we get back to the office. This is important and I don't need it ruined with all your textbook nonsense."

Oliver nodded.

"I don't suppose you want to come with me?" she asked holding up the rattle.

He didn't respond.

"I'll be right back. Just wait here, and don't be rude to anyone," she gave him one last stern look then walked towards a section of statues devoid of other devotees.

Oliver watched as Mai placed the rattle at the feet of one of the statues. Her head was blocked from view by the curve of her umbrella, but he knew she was offering a small prayer on behalf of a child more than a hundred years lost whom she had never even met. It was what he had come to expect from Mai, and it was a big part of why he had come to admired her so much.

"A beautiful day."

Oliver looked to his left to see a monk standing by his side, rain beading atop his bald head before sliding down the sides of his face. He was about to ignore him, but he thought of Mai's last words and found himself nodding instead.

The monk smiled at him, eyes soft with the compassion of someone regularly called on to comfort the suffering. "The fires of suffering are lit in the friction between the truth of this reality and the desires of the wanting mind."

Oliver was unsure how to explain to the man that he was not in need of comforting without Mai thinking he was being rude. So instead he focused on the sentence itself, hoping to appease the monk with the chance to expound more on his own wisdom.

"How do you stop the mind from wanting?" he glanced back at Mai, hoping she would be done soon.

"One does not find peace through force. Instead, we must train the mind to want what is already in this reality."

The monk gave him a small bow and smile before taking his leave. But Oliver didn't notice. The greens and blacks of the grounds blending as he thought back to the week before.

"So, you readyfor round two?" Yasuhara asked.

Oliver pulled his gaze from the window to look at Yasuhara. "Round two?"

"Of our conversation."

"We are attempting to rescue Mai from a kidnapper."

"Right, what better time? Two birds, you know."

"I do not. Turn left up here."

Yasuhara took the turn hard, pulling at their seat belts.

"Personally, I am of the opinion that we will of more use to Mai should we actually make it to her."

Yasuhara let out a breath and eased back on the accelerator, slightly.

Oliver spun the key in his fingers a few times.

"The key, does it let you see Mai?" Yasuhara asked, turning on the car's lights, the dark clouds overhead bringing on the evening.

"It depends on the object and how I am able to use it. With random objects, it could show me images or memories. If I am lucky it may show me something that is indicative of the owner's most recent moments. Sometimes, it does not work out, and the visions are random or there is nothing at all."

Yasuhara nodded, glancing at Oliver to continue.

"But for someone I know, someone I can connect to. I can use it more directly. Almost as if it were a compass, pointing me in their direction over longer distances."

"Then, I guess it was pretty lucky that you had it."

"It has proven fortuitous that she decided to give it to me."

"And that you kept it."

Oliver looked up; eyes fixed on a point he could not yet see ahead of them. Yasuhara turned on the wipers as the threatening rain finally broke.

"Why did you keep it, Boss?"

Oliver remained silent.

"Do you even know?" Yasuhara tried again, side eyeing Oliver.

He wasn't sure why; maybe it was the distraction in the distance that loosened his tongue, maybe he needed something to distract himself from that distraction, or maybe it was because something deep inside wanted Oliver to break the silence. "Because it is special to her, and she had asked me to take it."

Oliver steadied himself as the car swerved. "Please pay attention to the road Yasuhara."

Oliver could see Yasuhara's gaze slide back to the front, his eyes wide, knuckles white on the wheel. He ignored it, keeping his attentions firmly planted on that spot of heat in the distance.

Yasuhara's mouth opened then closed, then opened again, the desire to ask for more information clear on his face.

Oliver turned his head to the side window and squeezed the key in his clenched fist.

They drove for a few minutes more before Yasuhara's impatience once again got the better of him. "Boss, how do you feel about Mai?"

"I'm not sure what you mean."

Yasuhara sighed. "I should have known it wasn't going to be that easy."

"Take another left when next you can, we are veering to the right of her location."

"Boss," Yasuhara began, turning them on the next street, "what do you think of Mai?"

They sat in silence for a moment more.

"I think, she is an asset to the team."

Yasuhara sighed again and Oliver tried to determine how he had misspoken this time. Perhaps Yasuhara needed examples.

"I think she acts before she thinks." He said, then waited to see if this was more acceptable. After a pause in which Yasuhara did not sigh Oliver continued, "she worries about the interests or concerns of others more than the potential consequences for herself. I think those actions are irresponsible, but at the same time they draw in those around her. I think, overall, she has a positive effect on the lives she interacts with."

"So, it's a good thing?"

"I believe it often proves advantageous, even when it seemingly shouldn't."

"So, you kept the key, when you moved away. But why keep it on you?"

"I thought it would be enough."

"Enough, what?"

"Just, enough," Oliver sighed, even he knew that answer would not do. And a glance back at Yasuhara confirmed the inadequacy of the reply. He took a deep breath and tried again. "Enough to allow her to fade with time and distance, enough that I wouldn't find myself usurping my own work with thoughts on her circumstances or wellbeing. Enough that it wouldn't… cause discomfort every time I remembered I had promised not to see her again."

"But it wasn't?"

Oliver shook his head.

"So, you did miss her."

Oliver kept his gaze focused out the window, he felt uncomfortably exposed, and he didn't wish to see that exposure confirmed in Yasuhara's gaze.

"You just described what it is like to miss someone."

"I see, then yes, I missed her."

"Naru, I don't mean to push you, but I got to be honest. I don't think that is all that means."

Oliver looked back at Yasuhara. "What does it mean?"

"I don't know how to…" Yasuhara snapped his fingers. "How about this, I want you to think about Mai running away with Yuuki."

"She didn't, she was taken against her will."

"This is a hypothetical."

"But it wasn't her, she was possessed by Eloise."

Yasuhara sighed again and flexed his grip on the wheel.

"Okay, different tactic, what did you want to say whenever you saw the two of them together?"

"While inconvenient to the work, it is not my place to speak on—"

"What did you want to say? I don't care if you didn't say it or shouldn't say it. Did you want her to be spending her time with him? Yes or No."

"No."

"Was it annoying?"

"Beyond frustrating."

"Why?"

"Because it was distracting her from her work."

"Everything, Naru, everything you wanted to say. What more is there?"

"I cannot," Oliver could feel the familiar itch and tightening between his shoulders that came before the inevitable joke at his inability to grasp what they always called 'the obvious'.

"Why?" Yasuhara asked.

"Because, it was not for me to think." There was no point in arguing against the joke, that only caused them more mirth. Oliver used to try to explain that it was misnomer. Clearly, it wasn't obvious, or he wouldn't need it explained.

"What wasn't?"

"The frustration."

"Over what?"

"That he was distracting her."

"From work?"

"From me," Oliver snapped. Fingers clenched, and shoulders tensed as he waited for the repercussions of his confusion and abruptness.

Yasuhara slapped his hands against the steering wheel. "Thank you! Finally!"

Oliver jumped, his nerves were so keyed up waiting for the slight that it took him a moment to realize it hadn't occurred. "What for?"

"I'll tell you when you're older."

They traveled a few moments more in silence. Oliver was unsure as to what just happened. Had the joke been so 'obvious' that he missed the cut. He glanced at Yasuhara again, he was still smiling, but there was no malice, or sense of superiority. It didn't fit with any of the other times he had been forced to play the fool.

"Take the next right that you can. We are veering." Oliver told his companion.

"Naru, you know what that was don't you?" Yasuhara asked glancing once more in his direction.

"What was what?"

"Why you didn't want to see Mai with Yuuki."

"Because he has proved to be a criminal."

"You were jealous."

Oliver didn't reply.

"It's fine. Everyone gets jealous."

Oliver looked out the window. Jealous?

"But the reason why you were jealous, you understand what that was, don't you?"

Oliver could see Yasuhara looking over at him as often as he could, the road only given cursory glances. "You honestly don't get it, do you?"

"Yasuhara, is there a point to all this?" They needed to get to Mai, she was very close now, and it was hard to focus on the work at hand when that itch refused to go away.

"Yes, there's a point. I was trying to be nice and guide you there. Naru, listen, there's a word for that reason."

"Idiot."

Yasuhara laughed. "Well, yes, on some levels. But the word I was thinking of was love."

Oliver sighed, his eyes finally turning to meet Yasuhara's. "I was worried you would say that."

"Worried?"

"I have been attempting to dissuade myself of that conclusion for some time now." Oliver took a deep breath and the weight of it settled in the car.

"Naru?"

"We are getting close. Before we are too close you will need to pull over. I'm going to get out. I want you to head closer and get their attention. Get Mai if you can. I will come from the other side and take care of Yuuki."

"Are you sure?"

"If you have come to the same conclusion then it would be foolish of me to deny that I love her."

Yasuhara grinned broadly. "I was asking about your plan, but I'm glad you finally caught up with the rest of us."

Oliver's cheeks paled. "Does everyone know?"

"Not the person who should."

His face fell.

"You cannot tell her."

"Of course I won't, that's your job, boss."

"I… cannot."

"I know it feels impossible, but I believe in you."

"I must not."

"Naru—"

"She is in love with Gene. I would only complicate things. Slowdown, she is to the left up ahead."

Yasuhara slowed the car.

"There, I see a turn up ahead, that must be it. Pull over here."

"Look Naru, I don't mean to be heartless, but Gene is dead. Mai mourned him; we all saw it after you left the first time. But she moved on. You have to at least try."

"She will not reciprocate."

"You don't know that."

"She cannot."

"Why?" Yasuhara brought the car to a stop on the shoulder of the road.

Oliver opened the door, rain pelting the side of his face. He made to move out of the car when Yasuhara reached out to stop him.

"Naru."

Oliver glared at the hand on his shoulder then back at Yasuhara who pulled back.

"We have a job to do, Yasuhara. I suggest you prepare yourself to do it. Wait for two minutes." Oliver stepped into the rain, a shiver running over him and turned back, "Make it one minute."

"You got it, boss."

Oliver moved to shut the door but stopped and ducked his head down once more. "Thank you for your help, with everything."

Oliver swung the door shut and started into the trees, his pace picking up with the rising panic he could feel coming from Mai.

He just had to get there; he would make sure she was safe.

The harsh crack of a shishi-odoshi pulled him back, his heart racing just as it had been as he had tore through those woods.

He blinked away the rain that had gathered in his unprotected eyes. His umbrella hanging useless in limp fingers at his side. Mai was by the statues, her teal hoodie and khaki skirt a pastel sunspot amongst the somber earth tones. He watched her bowing her goodbyes to the same monk who had spoken to him. He reached out across their connection, almost immediately finding the gentle warmth of appreciation that came from her. His heart finally settling back into a languid pace.

She turned and smiled at him, it was small and somber but it sent the warmth spreading across his chest, drawing him closer. Leaving his fingers aching to thaw.

He shut the connection. Pulling back and admonishing himself. He knew better. It was one thing if she broadcasted her emotions, but it was quite another for him to go snooping around without her even able to recognize it.

"Hey," she said, wiping at her face as he stopped next to her. He nodded and turned back to the statues; their myriad gazes more imposing then they had been a few moments earlier.

From the corner of his eye he saw her hand wave towards his, their fingers almost touching before she slid them back away. He could feel her need for comfort, the ache that trembled beneath the surface. If she didn't find a way to calm it soon she was going to cry again.

On their next swing, he caught her fingers, weaving his own between hers and locking his hand around her smaller one.

She looked up at him eyes wide.

"You should ask if you need something Mai, otherwise your mind screams it."

"Thank you, for coming with me today," she told him.

Oliver nodded.

A shy smile followed a blush to Mai's face and she squeezed his fingers. An anxious prickling traveled up his arm and tickled across the back of his neck and shoulders.

"Naru?" Their eyes drew together again. "I wanted to ask you, and you can say no if that is how you feel I just, I wanted to make sure you knew. I know you aren't one for touchy feely things, but I wanted to know if you…"

"Mai."

She swallowed, closing her eyes for a moment. "I wanted you to know, that I care about you Naru. And that I meant what I said in the hospital. About us doing this together." A small spark of energy thrummed across their clasped palms.

Oliver couldn't respond.

"And that you're more than just my partner in this."

His mind raced with unfamiliar expectations as he tried not to look for a deeper meaning to her words. She opened her eyes, once again locking him in with her gaze, unable to escape. But this time it didn't just trap him it pulled at him. Opening his mouth and drawing up words he had fought to keep sealed away.

"Mai…"

She squeezed his fingers sending a jolt of energy up his arm. "You're my friend."

His hand jerked before he could stop it, grasping on instinct as the world fell out from under his feet.

"I'm sorry, I made it weird."

Weird. Of course, she was right, it seemed unlikely that they should be friends. And to cultivate anything more, the mere thought was untenable, insufferable.

"You don't have to agree, just forget I said anything." Mai loosened her fingers, gently pulling them away as she watched the ground.

The shishi-odoshi let out another hollow crack.

"Friends." Oliver pushed the word out and Mai turned back to him her eyes shining, "I can't promise I will be very good at it."

"Really?" Mai asked grabbing his wrist with a tug, "You're okay with that?"

"Indeed," he told her.

She bounced on her feet, biting her lip.

He looked at her. He could do this.

"I really want to hug you right now."

"Right now?" he swallowed.

"Yes, idiot."

He should tell her no, just because he agreed to be her friend didn't mean he had to say yes.

Oliver nodded.

Mai's arms crashed around him, the air knocked from his lungs and their collective balance only saved by a quick step back. She buried her head against his neck and Oliver gave up any hope of catching a breath. His legs wanted to give out, fire burned though his veins. She gave him one last squeeze. As her arms loosened, falling from his body, and Oliver tried every memorization technique he had at his disposal to cement the moment in his mind.

"Thank you," she smiled up at him her face red, but her eyes bright.

The look burned into him, stinging and healing all at once. And he was very suddenly no longer sure if he could do this. The words of the monk rushing back from what felt like hours ago. He had to train his mind to want this reality, to accept the world around him.

"Oh," she looked at her watch. "We should get going if we are going to catch the next train."

Oliver nodded, but he didn't move. Her friendship. His promise to Gene. He wanted to keep both of those things. But they seemed at odds with one another, burning him when he reached for one or the other.

And deeper, somewhere he couldn't understand, sat another fire. Its flames were all around him. Licking at his feet and daring him to move. If he could just accept this reality, stay still. Then they would all leave him be.

She was a few paces away before she realized he wasn't at her side. "Naru?"

He looked at her again. The strength in her shoulders, the smile she gave him despite the red puffiness of her eyes. The way she held her hand out as she beckoned him forward.

And he took a step.

"Come on, I'll make you a cup of tea when we get back to the office. You probably need a fix by now." Mai grinned as he approached, pleased with the tease.

Oliver felt his lips pull up, the smirk widening as shock moved across her face. He brought a hand up, her eyes going even wider.

"Naru?" Her voice was almost imperceptible.

He gave her forehead a light flick.

She gasped, but then her face split with an even larger grin than before.

He headed back towards the path they had arrived from, calling over his shoulder. "Come along Mai, I don't want to be late for the train."

The response was quiet, practically imperceptible due to the malleability of the damp ground beneath them. But he turned just in time to see her foot slam into the soil with the quiet huff of her frustration.

She passed him with hurried steps and mutters of 'tea addicted jerk'. And he felt the smirk spread into a grin.

If what he wanted was this fun, then what was a little heat?

Technical and Developmental Edits completed 4/7/19