The Devil's Melody

Mai walked out of the local grocery store with two bags full of snacks. Ever since Naru and Lin returned to England, she felt lonely, even though the rest of the SPR keep in touch with her once in a while. Everyone went their ways. She hated to admit that Naru's business kept everyone together. Mai confessed to Naru that she loves him but he simply rejected her by saying that she was actually in love with his dead brother. 'Naru, you are a moron. A dense moron.' She never saw Gene in her dreams after everyone found his body in the lake.

As Mai passed by the park, she saw a boy sitting by himself in the swings. 'What is a boy like him doing here this late?' She paused. 'Oh, I'm a hypocrite. Who would walk all the way to the store to buy snacks at eleven thirty at night?'

Mai wanted to distract herself from her terrifying dreams about a man with eyes full of bloodlust. He would say things like 'You don't know what I think!' and his voice would warp into something inhuman. She had a lack of sleep for the past week and never told anyone about it.

"What are you doing here? Where are your parents?" She asked with a smile hoping not to scare him off.

He turned to her with his gray eyes in a downcast. "They are at home… asleep."

Mai raised her eyebrows. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be asleep too?"

The boy looked at her in the eye. "It is scary in my house. I only stay here until I think they are gone."

He is about seven or eight years old. They were silent for a bit. "What did your parents think about it?"
"Mama doesn't like me as much and Papa didn't believe me." Mai couldn't help but think she is a little nosy yet he trusted her.

"When you are scared again, I'll be here, ok?" She grinned when he cracked a smile.

"Is it alright if I call you Nee-chan?"

"Ok, what is your name? I'm Taniyama Mai."

"Nakano Minoru." He said in a soft voice.

"If you call me Nee-chan, I'll you Min-kun."

-x-

Every night, they met each other in the park. Minoru slowly opened up to her. She would walk him home when he is not sad or frightened anymore. It turned into a habit. The boy actually lives in a huge mansion which made Mai's jaw drop at first. Several times she heard someone speaking to her in a hushed whisper after Minoru went in. It would feel like that person is right next to her but when she looked, there was no one.

"What are you afraid of?" She said one night.

Minoru swung himself, trying to calm himself down. "I would hear voices around me. My door would open and close but no one is there. I could hear someone in the hallway. I'm scared, Nee-chan."

Mai's eyes widened and found herself hugging the boy. His body shivered as his eyes gleamed with unshed tears. 'There may be some paranormal activity happening in his house but what am I going to do? Everyone else is busy.'

She decided to change the subject. "What is your favorite thing to do, Min-kun?"

He had a little smile although his hands shook. "I play the violin. Maybe I'll play it for you, Nee-chan."

-x-

Mai sighed remembering the beautiful music Minoru could play. 'He really brought his violin with him. I didn't know he was so talented but as he played it sounded a bit sad.'

She wanted to check the office that the SPR used to be and where she used to work at. After school, she headed towards it. A van passed by as she thought about figuring out what is going on. Mai unconsciously went to the door outside the building.

She closed her eyes. How she missed them. 'There are still cases that need to solved. What is going to happen now?'

"Stop standing there like an idiot, Mai." A voice breathed behind her.

She jumped up from shock and turned around. Brown eyes met blue.

The van is in the background as she saw boxes piled up on the sidewalk. "Naru!" She hugged him by the waist, letting her tears spill. "I missed you." She didn't think that he heard her since she was muffled by his coat. Naru was strangely silent as she cried in his chest. Lin looked out from the van with a smirk. After a minute, he put a hand on her shoulder.

"You are getting my clothes wet." She stopped for a second. Anger surged through her when she separated from him and wave a fist. "Stupid, narcissistic Naru!"

"I'm not the stupid one here. Mai, tea." He said calmly and went inside the office. Mai thought that she heard a chuckle from him. 'Nah, must be my imagination… Wait, stupid one?'

"NARU!"

Well, how is it? It is short because I want it to be short. The other chaps will be even more satisfying. Don't forget to review or I'll haunt you!

-Ja Ne