A/N: Okay. First and foremost, this story is COMPLETE. And I cry every time I read it so you will need tissues. Again, this was originally a role play with Zelda so half the credit to her! I hope you enjoy this and try not to cry too hard. I'll post a chapter a day.
Chapter One
Mai didn't know how to feel or what to do. She had a bruise that wouldn't go away and she was getting more and more no matter how careful she was.
But one morning, she woke up and nearly collapsed as she went about her morning routine.
Mai had panicked, immediately calling into work. Which was how she found herself at the hospital in the middle of a work day. And she had just been told she was dying…that she only had months to live.
Cancer was a word Mai never believed she would hear in her lifetime. And as she sat down on a bench outside the hospital…she was depressed.
There was so much she wanted to do. Get married, have a baby, and grow old were a few. She was already in love but Mai would take it to her grave now. If by chance Naru felt the same…she didn't want to hurt him.
She sighed realizing she had to tell him. She couldn't afford her medical bills that this would bring. Maybe her work can pay for it.
Mai dialed the office. "Naru? Can you come get me? I-I need to talk with you."
Sighing, Naru leaned back in his chair while holding the phone to his ear.
"Where are you?"
Something wasn't right with Mai. He could tell by the sound of her voice that she was terribly upset about something. But, it was only his guess as to what it was.
Mai tried not to bite her lip and to keep her voice steady. "I-I'm at the hospital. Just outside. I didn't know who to call…"
Hospital? Oh god, what happened to her?
"I'll be right there," Naru assured, hanging up quickly before collecting his coat along with his train pass.
He arrived at the hospital within ten minutes of Mai's call, and he saw her sitting out on a bench. She looked… terrible.
Sighing, Oliver took a seat next to her, "Mai, what's wrong?"
Mai thought about how she would tell him. Should she break it hard or easy? She knew he would care. Despite his cold, hard exterior, he did care for everyone he worked with. Mai knew it.
"Naru…I'm dying," Mai whispered, her voice dead.
He stiffened. That was the last thing he expected to hear coming from Mai's mouth, and it was one of the only things he never wanted to hear.
He simply stared at her, his stoic mask falling completely as he gazed at her in total shock.
Mai… couldn't die.
"Is… Is there anything at all that can be done, anything I can do to help?"
Mai shrugged. "I don't think so…I mean…even the doctor said it's pretty advanced. I-I waited too long to see him. I thought I was just sick normally and that I'd get better. But…it was cancer not some flu."
She wiped away a tear. "There are treatments but…he said they may not affect it too much."
Mai squeezed her eyes shut. "I-I don't want to die yet! I have so much I wanted to do!"
Mai then broke down into a new wave of tears, sobbing. She could see everyone treating her like glass now…
"Naru…please don't tell anyone. I-I don't want to be babied or pitied," Mai cried.
Casting his eye down, Noll shook his head.
It was always the people he cared about. Always…
"Mai," he said softly, keeping his voice calm and steady. "I'll keep your secret, but under one condition." Oliver wanted to at least allow Mai to live the remained of her life happily. He wanted her to see and do things she had only dreamed of. He had means necessary to allow her to do most anything she wanted.
Mai glanced at him, wiping her tears. "What is it?"
She wouldn't voice it, but she would do anything for him. She truly did love him.
"Tell me some of the things you have always wanted to do, or wanted to see and allow me to help you either do or see those things."
Mai shrugged. "Don't worry about that Naru…I mean…you couldn't do half the things I wanted to do. It wouldn't be right of me to ask you to."
She looked away, biting her lip. "I don't want to do special things. I want to do normal things…like marry the guy I love, have kids, travel to different countries with my husband…things you couldn't fill. Only because I'd never ask that of you."
Mai shrugged. "Don't worry about that Naru…I mean…you couldn't do half the things I wanted to do. It wouldn't be right of me to ask you to."
She looked away, biting her lip. "I don't want to do special things. I want to do normal things…like marry the guy I love, have kids, travel to different countries with my husband…things you couldn't fill. Only because I'd never ask that of you."
"You never would have had to ask that of me," he quipped, his eyes finding hers. "That's… what I wanted to ask of you, eventually."
There was no point in hiding the feelings that were there. It wasn't the time to seem aloof.
Mai's eyes filled with tears again. But…that means he…no! He couldn't! Not now!
"N-no! You can't! I-I'll only end up hurting you," Mai cried.
She buried her face in her hands. Why did he have to confess now? Why not sooner? And why cancer? Why couldn't she be healthy?
Taking her hands and pulling them from her face, Naru shook his head slowly. "Do you know what would hurt me even more?"
He leaned in a little closer and whispered softly, "Never having the chance to show you how much I care about you. Let me have that chance."
Mai wiped her tears. "But…I-I don't want you to see me like this! So weak and sickly…and…I'll lose my hair and get sick after treatments."
She shook her head. "If I even get them."
Oliver sighed. "I don't care what you look like, or if you're sick. I want to be here for you, and I want to make you happy for as long as I can. It… would make me happy to see you happy."
"But…I can tell by looking at you. You've lost someone…I don't want to make you feel worse!" Mai said strongly.
She sniffled. "Naru…I-I do love you. I want you to know that. Now that I don't have much time…I-I don't want to leave anything out…"
Taking her shoulders, Noll leaned closer to Mai and pressed his lips to hers. He didn't care if he lost her in the end, he wanted to be with and love Mai for however much longer he would have her.
When he kissed her, Mai couldn't stop a sob from escaping her throat. She pressed closer to him, kissing him back. Her first kiss…and with someone she loves.
When their kiss came to an end, Naru pulled back slightly, and wiped away the tears on Mai's face before brushing a steady hand through her hair.
"I know it's a little past noon, but would you like to go to lunch?"
Mai bit her lip and nodded. "I don't know how much I can eat…I-I don't have much of an appetite…"
She stood up with him, glad to be on steady legs. She glanced at him.
"Naru…can…can you visit someone's dreams? I don't think you can…so can a spirit take on your form so I don't feel scared when they lead me through the dreams for cases?"
His face fell.
"No…" He glanced into Mai's eyes hesitantly. "They can't… And you are correct, I can not visit anyone's dreams…."
Gene…
Mai huffed, feeling a little betrayed. So someone was pretending to be him!
"So either my mind is making someone up or someone is pretending to be you! What the hell," she huffed, "I thought something was odd. He smiled far too easily. I like your smiles better…they had to be earned."
Noll actually smiled at that. He felt much better knowing Mai could already tell the difference between them, and that she still seemed to choose him.
"Mai, that spirit, I… he's real, and he's not fooling you with his appearance."
Mai frowned. "Really? Then he must be related to you somehow…he called you an idiot scientist a few times…a brother maybe?"
"A twin," he admitted softly, standing as well.
Mai's eyes widened and then tears were there again. "A…twin? But…then he must be…"
Mai suddenly threw her arms around him again, hugging him tightly. How could he even entertain the thought of being with her! He had already lost someone special…and he would lose her in the end.
Holding his arms tightly around Mai, Noll closed his eyes for a moment. He knew what she was thinking, and Mai was right. He would lose her in the end, and he was only setting himself up to be hurt again, but he wasn't going to let the chance to be with Mai slip away. If there was anything he learned from Gene's death, it was to cherish every moment one spends with those closest to them.
"I-I don't want to make you hurt," Mai whispered, "But…I'm a little selfish I think. I-I want to be with you. Whether it is a few weeks, a few months, or a few years. I-I love you Naru. And I always will…"
The next day at the office, Oliver stepped out of his cave of solitude to see Mai working on the files he had left on her desk.
"Mai," he called, "tea."
Mai nodded and stood, slipping into the kitchen. As she did, the door opened and Masako stepped inside. Mai saw her and bit her lip. Didn't she have something going on with Naru?
She knew Masako would assume that Naru was only feeling bad for Mai…what if he was? But she didn't see Naru kissing someone because he felt bad for them…
"Kazuya-kun?" Masako called as she entered his office, "I was wondering if you'd like to get lunch with me today, Oliver."
Closing his eyes, Naru dropped his head. Why did Masako have to show up at the most inconvenient times?
"Not today," he said flatly, glancing at her to show he did not care about her threat at that moment.
Masako narrowed her eyes. "You need to eat…so I thought I'd accompany you. I know you lose yourself in work."
"You do not need to concern yourself with my health. I am not going to lunch today, now, please, escort yourself out."
Masako glared but left anyways. She knew he wouldn't be budging. And despite her threats…she would never sell him out.
Sighing, Naru waited for Mai to bring his tea. As she handed him his cup, he requested that she just sit down and have her tea with him.
Mai frowned. "But…I really need to finish filing. And…I've gotten slower at it…"
Noll shook his head. "Mai, it's not the most important thing right now. Just take a moment from you work and sit with me."
Mai finally relaxed and nodded. She stared at her cup.
"I-I've always wanted to go to the beach…to swim and play. Do you think…could we go sometime?" She asked softly.
"Yes," he answered. That would be easy. There were a few nice beaches a couple hours away. Noll was sure he could take her for a couple of days, claiming to be working on a case so the others don't get suspicious.
Mai smiled a small smile. There was other things she wanted to do on a beach but she didn't think Naru would want to make out or do more in the sand.
A/N: There's chapter one. I'll post the next one tomorrow!