Lin and Naru. Two men who left her utterly exasperated. For different reasons. Mai Taniyama was going slightly insane between them two.
Kazuya Shibuya a.k.a Oliver Davis a.k.a Naru the Narcissist has turned all nice. Well not a hundred percent nice but slowly getting there. Ever so slowly. Like he said "please" and "thank you" today (she almost dropped her tray). She supposes he had to let go the heaviness on his soul after he finally laid to rest his twin brother, her dream Naru, Eugene Davis. Two years ago, Naru and Lin, with Mai's help, finally found Gene's body. Then they had left, with a little farewell party
She is carrying the tray with Lin's coffee to his room, when the memory of that night floats up to the surface. She raises her knuckles to knock on Lin's door. Her heart skips when he solemnly gives her permission to enter. She walks in, quietly places his cup of coffee near his elbow. She flees as soon as she is done as she feels herself blushing. No need to show how flustered she was in front of him. To think that at twenty she'd manage to stop behaving like a teenager.
Lin is a little taken aback as she does not wait for him to say thank you. She does not even smile at him, like she usually does. Is everything okay? Before they returned, three months ago, he did warn Naru to be a little more courteous to her. Did he do something? He frowns. Stupid scientist. He takes a sip. A little smile plays on his lips. She is really good at making his coffee. Then another frown graces his face as he thinks, did I do something?
Mai sits down at her desk and slumps forward. Oh my god, she silently screams. She knew her feelings had completely changed when they left. She knew she no longer had any feelings for Naru. She realised it was an infatuation simply because…she blushes again at a particular memory. She needs to stop getting all flustered and weird every time she thought about that night.

Two years ago Houshou declared a party when he heard that Lin and Naru were planning to leave Japan for an uncertain period. The party was actually going well. Masako had drank too much saki (she was underage but she sneaked Ayako's drink when no one was looking) and started to sing with John as back-up vocals. Ayako and Houshou finally expressed their feelings for each other. Naru actually gave everyone a sincere smile. Yasu had a minor heart attack at that. Their private room in the club was getting noisy and Mai had this urgent urge to cry. So she sneaked out. She had found the backdoor and exited the building. She took deep breaths to remain calm as she leaned against the wall. She knew what was going to happen. They were going to leave, finding Gene was why they came here. And they had fulfilled their main objective. She heard the door open to see Lin turn around and spot her.
He said, "Everything okay Taniyama-san?"
She replied, "Y-yes."
He came and stood opposite her. The alley was narrow, so Lin leaned against the opposite wall. He sighed, "I never said thank you."
She looked up, giving him a weak smile, "You are welcome. I am glad I could be of some help."
Lin raised his head and looked up at the sliver of sky between two tall buildings. Mai looked at him. His hair was picked up by a light breeze. She smiled. She understood, Lin was a wee bit upset as well, which was uncharacteristic but not unpleasantly so, and he still came to check on her. She giggled, "At least now I might be able to concentrate on my education more."
Lin chuckled, a deep rumble. Then without really realising what she was doing, she wrapped her hands around his waist, burrowing her head on his chest. The six feet two and five feet four difference was decidedly awkward but Lin didn't find himself minding. He heard her mumble, "Thank you Lin-san. I am glad I walked into the old school building and nearly killed you. Well, uh, sorry for that." She giggled.
He grinned. He placed a hand on her head. She pulled away, all blushing, "Eh, sorry for that." His hand was still on her head, the brown hair soft under his palm. His hand took a life of his own, as it traveled from the top of her head and down to her cheek, which was just so warm.
Mai looked straight at his chest because she was very, very confused. Here, her heart was thumping loud and fast because the proximity to this mysterious and handsome Chinese man was doing something to her that she thought only Naru could do. Next, her brain was running haywire with the way her thoughts were turning when his calloused hands landed on her cheek. Oh Gods, she was going to die.
He wondered why she wasn't making eye contact. She was busy picking her nails. She whispered, "Have a safe journey Lin-san. I will miss you. Both." Yes, she will because this wasn't the first he was confusing her. She always thought she liked Naru but she would not lie there were times when she would catch herself looking at Koujo Lin and wondering...so many things.
Then he kissed her forehead, and her heart exploded (metaphorically). It was light and quick but the small gesture left her tingling all over. He said, his lips still touching her skin, "I will miss yo—everyone."
Then they had went back to join the others.

Mai sinks further down her chair. Five minutes, that was all. And then two years had gone by. She had graduated a semester behind but with good grades, got into a good university which was not too far from the Shibuya Psychic Research office. That used to bother her whenever she passed the previously empty office. Her heart would clench and tears would threaten to spill. But she was mostly okay. She found a crazy bunch of new friends at college. Joined the kickboxing classes and football team because in her school life she hardly had time for clubs—no thanks to a certain someone's workaholic disposition and tea-addiction. Also the ghosts that refused to move on. And she was quite good at it—football and kickboxing. So good that now the male population in her college feared her. Except for her two male roommates.
She smiles. How she had changed. From complete klutz to a sportsperson. From living alone to sharing a flat with two guys and two other girls. Life was okay, but still something was amiss. Sure, she met up with Ayako and Houshou, especially after they got married, and John and surprisingly, Masako as well because she was dating Yasu and she cannot avoid Yasu (how that happened, no one knew, or could completely grasp). They would never admit, but they missed their scary part-time jobs.
Then they returned. At first she thought that going back to that rhythm of life would be difficult. But eventually it worked. Mai was happy at getting her old family back, even though she is trying to adjust to juggling lectures, assignments, a job, football and boxing.
The door opens with a bang. It is Ayako and Yasu. Mai smiles at them, and at the bakery bag Yasu is cradling in his arm. Yasu declares, "We are having some cake!"
Mai stands up, "I will get some tea going." She enters the kitchenette.
Naru and Lin both come out of their office at the commotion. Mai comes back with a huge tea pot and cups. She places them on the coffee table.
Yasu, in between chewing, says, "Say Mai when is your college's sport festival again?"
"Before the spring break," Mai answers. She had to sit beside Lin and it was not helping.
Ayako takes a sip, "Mai? Do they know?" A mischievous glint in her eyes.
Naru ask, brows furrowing, "Know what?"
Mai bites her lips. Yasu explains, "Mai has been training in kickboxing. And the female football team cannot do without her. Her team won last year. I am sure you will win this year too!"
Naru choked on his cake and Lin nearly dropped his cup. Mai sighs. This is why she did not tell them. This is why she wore long sleeves every day to work. Boxing had given her muscles and bruises.
Naru, incredulously, asks, "Mai?"
"But you were so clumsy," Lin asks, gazing down at her. Now he knows what seemed off about her when they met again. She looked fitter, a little taller and he thought it was the fabric, but apparently it was just an athletic body she was hiding.
"Oh," Naru smiles, "You were in for the adrenaline rush you used to get from ghost hunting." Jerk Naru returns, Mai thinks ruefully.
Mai starts blushing. Okay yes, that was one of her reasons. The other reasons were, "Also, I thought it would be a fun way to stay fit, channel all my energy and in school, I could never participate in anything." Now, will Lin stop looking at her like she had suddenly turned into an alien or something?
Naru scoffs. Lin smiles, "That is good." Mai stares at him. He has this look in his eyes that makes her think he has something figured out. She gulps. His eyes are just so dark and sexy, that they lead to her train of thought to hit a wall every now and then.
"Hey Mai," Ayako grins, "Invite them too."
"Yeah. I want to see Mai in action," Naru smirks. Jerk, Mai thinks.
She fetches two extra passes and hands them to Naru and Lin. Her fingers brush against Lin's and she wonders if the electricity she felt was imaginary. She takes a seat and nods, nope it must have been in my head.

Lin is back at his apartment that he no longer shares with Naru. He is finally happy to have a place of his own. He takes off his jacket, checking the pockets. His hand brushes against something smooth and small. The pass! He realises with a jolt. He brings them out and smiles. This can be fun.

A/N. This is after Lin and Naru were in London for two years. I guessed Lin's age. The older the better. Huhu. And I promise to get back to my Shermione fic after I get this plot bunny out of my head. This had been annoying me for sometime. Also the world needs more LinxMai.