It was unthinkable, he was leaving.

He can't leave! I can't let him! Not when I...

"Naru! Don't go! I-I...I love you..."

His cold blue eyes grew hard. "Is it me you love, or is it Gene?" he sneered, his harsh words piercing my heart, leaving me stunned and cold.

He turned, his footsteps retreating as he as he walked away.

My world was shattering, falling apart at the seams. The man I loved was leaving; SPR, my home was closed; the team, my family was scattering, going back to their lives, leaving me to linger in the tattered remains of my existence.

What did I have to move on to?

I am an orphan, no family, no prospects; my education had pretty much gone down the drain and my career seemed to be swiftly following.

They had deserted me. I have nothing. I am alone, going nowhere. They left me there clinging to the fading dream that was my time at SPR.

And was it worth it?

I had opened my heart to these people. Bou-san who I saw as my big brother, Ayako my cool aunt; Masako my annoying sister, John the supportive brother, Yasu the weird cousin Lin the quiet uncle and Naru... Naru...

I thought they were my FAMILY!

I had let them in! Past the cheerful facade I presented to the world to avoid the pitying glances. They had accepted me! I thought they saw who I was! Me, the real Mai, not just the cheerful school girl I pretended to be. And there had been no pity in their eyes just acceptance.

But it was gone now, cast aside without a thought. They had thrown it back in my face, leaving without a second glance, back to their blissful comfortable easy lives; leaving me solitary, standing in the dust of their passing.

Alone. Again. As always.