<div class="floatleft">(https://storage.googleapis.com/pod_public/750/147860.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong><em>Mai Ishikawa (Naomi's mother)</em><br/><strong>Date | Location:</strong><em>Sunny Afternoon | Japan, Ishihawa Estate, The Garden</em><br/><strong>Wearing | Carrying:</strong><em>Light Kimono predominantly red sakura with white background and matching obi</em><br/><strong>Tagging:</strong><em>Evie Connors</em><br/><strong>Warning:</strong><em>Mention of domestic abuse</em><hr/><br/>Mai was a kept shima enaga or bird in a loveless marriage—a trophy to exhibit during formal and informal occasions. It was worse in the beginning. The whole situation was not what she wanted. But a mixture of duty and threats kept her in the glided cage. The only joy in her life is her daughter Naomi who only served to seal her fate. But it was a fate she would accept. They even helped her endure the services she had to perform as a wife. She could still feel the bruises he left on her the previous night, but never the face. She was after all his showpiece. She would never fight back, how could she?<br/><br/>Mai was told by her husband that he had changed her bodyguard again. She knew that they doubled up as spies and they were hired more to secure her husband's property than "protect" her. The last bodyguard disappeared because he became too "attached" to her, this was no surprise as her husband was, to put it bluntly, possessive. She brought the tea to the garden as "requested" by her husband. Naomi was thankfully on her afternoon nap.<br/><br/>Mai walked gracefully in her kimono, her steps silent on the wooden planks that form a bridge to the garden sanctuary. She spotted her husband with the American woman. The American had her back toward her. The American held herself like someone from the military. Without looking at their guests, she knelt between them and placed the tea and sweets on the table in front of them.<br/><br/><strong>"A new bodyguard go-shujin-sama (Husband/Master)?"</strong><br/><br/>Mai at this point turned to get a better look at the woman when she nearly betrayed her recognition with a cry. She deceptively bowed her head to hide the fact from her husband. No...no..it cannot be.. Her friend, her confidant, and her one true love.  How is it there she is here? How could Evie be so stupid, so reckless? If her husband finds out, he will kill her, no he would do much worse. She knew what he was capable of. Why did she come? She agreed to return to Japan in exchange for any repercussions that would fall on her love. But now she was here!<br/><br/>Mai put on her "mask", schooled her thoughts, and looked up at Evie.<strong> "Pleased to meet you Evie. I look forward to your service. Have arrangements been made go-shujin-sama?"</strong>It took all of her willpower to hug her friend. To cry in her arms and scream at her for her stupidity of coming here of all places." But all she could do was hide behind her "mask". The memories return like a tsunami. The time they spent together, the games they played, the dreams they shared, the tender fumbles as they explored one another. Why Evie.......<br/><br/>