I'm not sure about this chapter title.  But oh wells.  :)

The sun in the early afternoon sky shown brightly, but a blustery gust of wind shifted past as John walked up the inclining hill. He of course knew the sight that he would see once he crested it but his stomach still filled with something he sensed was dread. He wasn't sure what his reaction would be when the sight came into vision. He was only positive that he would be overwhelmed with emotions.

It was one thing to consider taking the advice that Father Toga suggested. It was quite another to actually follow said suggestion. His feet became heavy as they led him underneath a weeping willow tree. He half smiled down at the tombstone before him. He knelt down and traced his fingers over her name. Hamada Emmaline was imprinted into the stone with a pretty font that seemingly took a delicate hand to accomplish the curves and swirls composing the letters.

"It's hard to believe that six years have passed. It feels like only yesterday that I first arrived in Tokyo." He took a deep breath before continuing, "I'm sorry to have not visited in that time." Tears began to well up in his eyes and trace wet salty paths down his face. "I'm here but I don't really know what to completely say. I should have been there for you. I...I regret my actions because in the grand scheme of things the truth of the matter is I failed you."

John proceeded to tell her about what has been going on in the past years. He told her about the company known as SPR, and the new company he was a part of. PRI. He told her what he has been doing for the company. He shared with her his own self doubts. He explained how a part of him felt extremely guilty to have, in a way, lied about who he currently was. When he couldn't think of anything else to say he stood from his kneeling position and brushed away the specs of earth and stray leaves that now decorated his pant legs. He sniffled before saying, "I promise not to space out my visits as long next time." He then turned and walked away. He supposed the next step would be to let the team know what he was feeling. To share with them a bigger piece of himself. It was also time they knew who Emmaline was, and the part she played in his life.

Masako was running late. Regardless of the fact that she didn't have a taping for her television show in the near future her agent still called to talk her ear off about another future work possibility. It was already passed twelve thirty and she knew that she wouldn't make it to the PRI building until after one pm at this rate. She arrived at the curb of her apartment building, and the car was nowhere in sight. She opened her silk pouch to pull out her cell phone.

Masako called up her driver to figure out what had detained him. She probably should consider learning his name but honestly none of her past drivers had lasted more then a month. She chose against taking them with her when she went overseas. When she was overseas she would use a different service to provide the taxiing service. Apparently her drivers couldn't handle the amount of time off so when she would come back to Japan she would have to start from scratch and train a brand new driver about her needs and expectations.

It took him fifteen minutes for him to arrive. Once he had she escorted herself into the car, not bothering to wait for him to get out to usher her in. Once she was seated comfortably she proceeded to scold him like a child for not being where he should be. She sighed at his ineptness, "Just try not to break any vehicular violations. I am quite late. Please take the quickest and safest route to PRI."

Masako honestly hated that she had never learned how to drive and had to rely on others to get her where she needed to be. During the years she should have been learning she had been quite busy, and time just didn't allow for her to acquire the skill. She had been all over the world in the past four years, and rarely had any time to herself.

She didn't even have the time to indulge in anything overly personal. Like, Mai she had a smattering few dates here and there. But nothing that made her pulse race.

She had realized after going on a couple of dates with some wide eyed fans that dating a fan definitely wasn't the way to find happiness. They didn't look at her with true love. They looked at her with hero worship and preconceived notions of who she really was. That's when she realized she did the same with Naru. She took a step mentally back to see the bigger picture during that time frame in her life. She replayed how she dealt with Naru and how Mai dealt with Naru as if it were a movie instead of the past playing back in her mind.

Masako could no longer question Mai's feelings once she did that. It was quite obvious that what her best friend felt was real. So instead she embraced Mai's feelings as truth, and more importantly she was able to be there for her and have big gab sessions with her to help her out when the man in question drove Mai crazy. Granted over the past few years it had mostly been the lack of Naru that had the two gabbing. She couldn't help but look forward to gabbing with her about him being back, and what his geographical closeness was doing to said friend.

Her musings had made the trip to PRI pass rapidly. She felt she had blinked and suddenly her driver was getting out of the car to let her out. The girl thrust the door open just as he got there and the door hit the man in the stomach. Masako didn't waste time by even stopping to apologize. She rushed to the doors of the office and let herself in.

It didn't take long to realize that things were a bit off kilter today. Ayako was at the main desk, and Mai was nowhere to be seen. "Oh, hey Masako. Mai got a bit tied up today but she is up in the recreation hall in the orphanage."

"Oh, alright then."

Masako rode the elevator up to the second floor. She smiled at Katsuo and led herself directly to the rec hall. Mai was beside Haruka and suddenly things started clicking into place. It looked like Masako's schedule wasn't the only one to fall behind because of certain events. Naru stood there talking quietly to Mai. She couldn't hear what was said but it was obvious he wasn't talking to her in anything more then a business related capacity.

"Mai, I'm here for our lunch date."

"Masako!" Mai hugged her. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. Things kind of blew up today. I should have called you to let you know about it."

"Oh, don't worry about it. My agent decided to call and talk my ear off so my schedule also fell behind. I actually feared being late but it looks like you had your hands full." Masako coyly referred to Naru with her eyes.

"You look well, Miss Hara." Naru stated in an off manner tone. "Mai, you and Masako had scheduled a lunch date? I thought you and I were to have a talk."

Mai glared at Naru. "Not that it is any of your business but I set up the lunch date with Masako before we even had our discussion this morning. I wasn't awake enough to process much of anything at that stage, and as you know things got a bit crazy this morning with the schedule juggling. I didn't have time to think to tell you about it. But I promise we will discuss it after Masako and I have lunch." She turned back to Masako and attempted to put a smile back on her face. "Come on Masako. Let's go."

Once the two arrived at their favorite little cafe they sat down. "Wow, I can't believe you are able to resist all that. It's like he became even more handsome over the years. I don't even know how that is possible."

"Oh my gosh, I know. But he's just as thick headed and stubborn as he ever was. Do you know he had the gull to order me around and tell me what to do during the case?" Mai groaned.

"Well, you did tell me he hired you as consultants on a case he was already working on right?"

"Well, yes..." Mai trickled off curious where Matsako was leading with this.

"Then in a round about way he was where your pay came from, and therefore in a round about way he was still your boss." Masako reasoned.

"Oh man, now you are making me feel bad."

"Did Naru put up much a fuss about it?"

"No, surprisingly he didn't say anything in that regard." Mai took a minute to reflect on that. He seemed just as arrogant...but maybe he had grown a bit?

As if voicing her thoughts Masako said, "See? He isn't as bad at least. So you mentioned talking to him this morning? What was that all about?"

Mai sighed. "I had another one of my nightmares. Gene, well long story short, he is still able to infiltrate my dreams in a way. I mean he's not my guide any longer really, but he can still be there to hold my hand metaphorically. But the minus about all that is that through their twin telepathy Naru can somehow sense the dreams too. I don't know the details really but it had him coming to the office early in the morning. I was so wound up from the dream that I decided to go jogging, and well he ended up joining me."

"You make it sound so normal. But, Mai, I can tell he still gives you butterflies."

"Pssh, of course he does. It's Naru! He may be a conceited, narcissistic jerk most of the time but there is still always this quality to him...I don't even know that I can put it into words. But I feel like he has this strange gravity about him, and I just can't help but be pulled in."

Noll sighed as he watched her go. Would they ever get to talk about this dream of hers? He looked his brother's direction and felt a mixture of emotions. He was envious that his brother had it so easy with Atsuko. They seemed to already know where each other stood. But they had only known each other for the matter of days. Noll now knew Mai for about five years and he thought he would never completely be able to figure her out.

"Oh, you must be Dr. Oliver Davis. The one that has Mai's panties all twisted. Hm," The man in question began to circle Noll like a vulture. "It's good to know Mai isn't blind. You're yummy. I hope you come around more often, it would be nice to have more eye candy in the office. I'm Hashimoto Daichi, and I have got to say that I feel like missing out on meeting you was a huge faux pas on my part. Mmm." Noll felt his cheeks heat at the unwarranted attention the final member of PRI was showering his way. He rarely blushed, and when he did it was usually thoughts of Mai in varying states of undress that made him flush. But Daichi had something about him that out and out terrified Noll.

Physically the man was attractive, Noll supposed. Not that he was ever inclined to go that way. His hair was longish, about shoulder length and a soft brown color with streaks of blonde. A portion of his hair was pulled up in some kind of man bun sitting at the back of his head. His eyes are dark blue pools, similar in the color to the twins' own eye color, but a tint or two shades even darker.

"Daichi!"

"Yasu!" he let out a squeal that reminded Noll of some lovestruck teenage fan.

"You are looking quite fetching today," Yasuharu's eyes swept over Daichi's clothing.

"Oh stop! It's not fair how you tease me so when you play for the other team."

"Oh but I can't help it when it comes to you."

Noll made an uncomfortable noise. "Oh, hey Big Boss, what are you doing here? Is it about another case?"

"No, I was here to talk to Mai but she went out with Masako for lunch."

Yasu nodded. "Yeah, Ayako said something about that. I imagine they will be back soon though. Even when they go out to have girl talk they still don't stay out for overly long."

As if to announce their arrival the elevator opened and the two girls came out with their arms twined together giggling. "Hey Yasu, were you here to take Daichi out for lunch?"

"Yes, that was the plan."

They all turned their heads when the phone rang on the desk. Katsuo quickly answered it. "Yes, Ayako? Oh, oh really? Um, sure I will relay the message. Mm hm. Okay then." Katsuo turned to look all of the people. "So, John just got back, and he wanted us all to meet him in the pitch room downstairs."

Noll couldn't suppress the sigh. It was like he would never get a chance to talk to Mai about this dream she had.