Akane hadn't originally planned on attending the initial meeting regarding this case. She figured with the four British investigators (five if Madoka went on the case), not to mention their team lead (aka Luella Davis, the twins mother), that she wouldn't be needed to go on this case. She ended up in the elevator and headed downstairs strictly by following an internal impulse. She had arched her eyebrow as the unfamiliar blonde had sashayed her way into the meeting room as if she owned the place. As if watching a train wreck, she was unable to look away as the blonde woman ceremoniously seemed to gravitate toward the center of the room as if she were an actress in a theater play and that was her spotlight on center stage.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ayako stand and gravitate towards the spectacle. She didn't move more than a few feet but it was obvious that she too was curious about what shenanigans this woman was bringing with her.

The blonde in question put her right hand on the table and seemed to lean somewhat toward Dr. Davis. Akane didn't see the front of her blouse but she was pretty sure the neckline was cut low enough that a nearly obscene amount of cleavage was probably on display. "Hi, I'm Olivia Wyckes. I can't wait to work with you all. A few of you know me." Her head turned from Dr. Davis to his twin. She continued addressing everyone since she seemed to have them captivated (heavy on the captive). "An interesting fact about me? I'm distantly related to the royal family."

Gene had rolled his eyes at that comment. It was immediately apparent to Akane that she must have flaunted this information a lot, much like she flaunted her assets.

"Excuse me, Akane." She didn't realize that Ayako had moved. Only suddenly she was squeezing past her to get into the meeting room. "Stop grandstanding and take your seat so the meeting can begin. If you are so vain that you need to be center of attention go look in a mirror. Do not bring that business here." Ayako glanced over at Mai and Luella. "I apologize to you both if I overstepped my role."

Mai shook her head. But it was Luella that verbalized an answer. "Not at all. I believe that you handled the situation quite well. Olivia, if you would like to remain on this case I suggest you take a seat." She looked up at the doorway as Lin and Madoka entered. "Seems, finally, everyone is here." Then her eyes raked over to Akane. "Are you joining us dear?"

Truth was I hadn't decided yet. I had originally thought I would sit this case out with the amount of people they were already taking. But there had to be a reason I felt compelled to come down here. John would understand if I changed my mind wouldn't he?

As if her thoughts had conjured him John was suddenly at her side. He glanced her direction and nodded. "We both are."

Luella smiled again. "Then by all means take a seat, and we can begin this meeting."

It took them about fifteen minutes to peruse the file that Luella had brought with her. The case in question would take them to a hospital in northern Japan in Hirosaki, which was in the Aomori prefecture. Mai ran her eyes over the key points she had jotted down as Luella read the email from the file: voices of potential victims, physical bruising, generalized victimization mentioned, and two cases of extreme one-on-one experience with the hostile entity. "The two people mentioned to have one-on-one experiences were former staff. Correct?" Mai unfortunately neglected to indicate that part in her notes. It was a small oversight but one that Naru would generally call her out on in the past. She mentally cringed as she realized she had verbalized her mistake.

Luckily he chose to answer her instead of pointing out her lack of intelligence. "Yes. Mother mentioned they resigned shortly thereafter. It would be ideal if the personnel office still has their contact information. If not perhaps we can get Yasuhara to find a way to question them in addition to researching the hospital itself."

"That won't be necessary." If it hadn't been the tap, tap, tapping of his fingertips rapidly clicking at the buttons of his keyboard Mai might have forgotten completely about Bennet Patterson's attendance.

Mai waits a few moments for him to elaborate. When he only continues to type she clears her throat. "I'm sorry, perhaps I'm confused. Why won't it be necessary to research a way to get ahold of the victims and research the hospital?"

He finally peels his eyes away from the laptop screen to look her in the eyes. If she hadn't been so annoyed with him she might have registered that his hazel mossy green eyes were actually quite captivating. He blinks a couple times as he himself registers her own lovely cinnamon golden eyes. He clears his throat and turns back to his laptop. "I'm one of the main researchers for BPR. It seems counterproductive to use an outside researcher when there would already be one on case."

Mai nods. "That's understandable. But please also understand that I was unaware of your job title or specialty since you didn't take the time or effort to do more than introduce yourself and continuously type on your keyboard. Also, since I am the lead on this case, if I do choose to bring an outside researcher in then that is my concern not yours."

His keystrokes stop for a moment as he registers the veiled threat in her voice. He glances back up at her and nods his head. "I apologize. I'm sure that came across as rude, and I promise that wasn't my intent."

"Wait, she's the lead on the case?!?!" A shrill piercing female voice exclaimed. Mai didn't even have to look in her direction to know it was Olivia.

Naru stood. He put a comforting hand on Mai's shoulder physically posturing his support. "I assure you, Miss Wyckes, that Mai is quite capable."

Mai reaches up to rest her own hand on his. Then, she looks directly into Olivia's eyes, waiting until the other young woman registers the comforting gesture for what it means. If jealousy was really the green eyed monster then Olivia's eyes would be an even more vivid shade of green. "So now that we have already discussed the facts that we have from the email let me run over the ones I have already sussed out myself."

Olivia arched an eyebrow in disbelief. Mai was worried she was about to make a candid remark but luckily Bennet's curiosity must have been piqued. "How could you already have information about this case when this is the first time it has been discussed?"

"Perhaps it was an oversight for me not to state this at the beginning of the meeting. I have both precognitive and post cognitive abilities. Not always, but often I dream of the future cases that are brought to my attention. I do have other abilities but as they aren't pertinent to the current conversation I would rather table those for now and only bring them up again if they are needed on the case." Okay so maybe the last statement was unnecessary. She was bragging superfluously at this point, or as Ayako would say 'grandstanding.'

"You were going to discuss the information you discovered, Mai?" Gene helpfully reminded her. She glanced his direction and caught the mirth in his eyes and the veiled smirk on his face. She didn't have to turn to see the other twin attempting to bite back the same identical smirk.

"Yes, let's get back on track." She relayed her dream to those present. It seemed the BPR members were quite surprised by the amount of detail she had noticed and was able to recall.

Bennet began to verbally point out some important details to her dream that he had taken note of. "So, from what you stated I don't doubt that the malevolent spirit in question is male, even if you weren't able to give a physical description. He's also definitely a killer. It sounds like he was trying to do some kind of ritual, ceremony, or sacrifice so I will look into those subjects specifically." There were several shivers amongst the team members after this statement was uttered. (Of course Naru himself outwardly was as cool as a cucumber.) "I bet the whispering voices that were randomly heard were his victims. There could be as few as three of these spirits but I'm hazarding a guess there is probably more. We might not have an exact year but we do have a season. The victim you saw in your dream died in autumn." Some of his points were strictly educated hypothesis, but he also was able to pinpoint key facts as well.

Mai took a moment to nod and verbally thank him. It was now quite obvious why he was employed for BPR. He was exceptionally good at his job.

Evelyn cleared her throat. "I'm sorry. But now that we got all the facts out of the way. I do really think that we should fully divulge our abilities. Well, that is, if we have any. It would be beneficial to be aware of all our strengths. James and I are both practicing wiccans. I also have a spirit guide and receive clairaudient messages from the other side through him."

Mai blinked. She had heard of wiccans of course, but she was unfamiliar with clairaudient messages. She would have to ask Naru about it more later.

James shrugged. "I have nothing other to claim then that I am a practicing wiccan, which is only reiterating what my wife has shared." He smiled sheepishly.

The PRI team quickly shared what their abilities were. Mai adding in that she was also able to astral project and trained in some of the same techniques the others used (stating her miko and monk abilities with confidence and her medium abilities disquietly). When Akane shared her own abilities the BPR team members were shocked into silence. Well, except for Bennet who began asking her questions a mile a minute. Of course since she had only recently become aware of what the ability was she wasn't able to answer many of his questions. It was obvious that Bennet was enthusiastic to research more for her. He probably typed up a note specifically stating something like, 'research psychometabolism for Akane and get back with her.'

After everyone else at the table had already gone they turned to Olivia. It was obvious she wanted to boast about some ability or another. She probably even considered creating an ability on the fly and lying about it. It was obvious she quickly decided against that when she glanced at Luella and sighed in defeat. "No ESP or special abilities here. Just a run of the mill investigator."

Outwardly Mai nodded before concluding the meeting. Inwardly she was gloating all over again. Ha! Your loose connection to royalty doesn't mean shit!

Once the three outside members of BPR were gone Mai turned to Naru. "I think you have some explaining to do."

"I thought you said that you had to take care of the kids in the orphanage for a week." Akane asked John.

He blushed fiercely when he realized she was right. He had committed himself to a week of orphanage hours. "I'm sure Katsuo will understand. Or maybe since Lin and Madoka didn't show up to the meeting they could take a break from a case and watch the kids for the week." He might have just thought of that idea as he voiced it but it wasn't a bad one. Madoka was sure to be ecstatic at the idea. It was Lin that wouldn't be on board right away. "You seemed to determined to assist me with the children that week. What made you change your mind?"

Akane shrugged. "I'm not really sure. I almost felt like I was supposed to help out with this case. Well, that is after I almost felt compelled to come downstairs and attend the meeting." She pauses for a moment. "I'm not sure I like the word compelled there. It sounds somewhat negative. Driven maybe?"

John wasn't sure about her religious belief system but he was sure that God was guiding her way because she had a purpose on this case. But instead of voicing that directly he said. "In this line of work, it always seems a good idea to trust your instincts." He paused for a second. "Although, actions should probably always be discussed first. There has been several times when we were first starting out that Mai ran right into a bad situation."

Akane smiled at that. "Why don't you tell me about some of them?"

Instead of only talking about Mai's blunders he decided to first tell Akane about their very first case together and how they all met.