'I guess it's about time to tell you, huh?'…

I turn around and see him…"Naru!"

I gaze upon him as I feel so many mixed emotions tumbling around inside myself.

'Hey Mai!'

Why does he seem so genuinely happy to see me? Why is he smiling so softly? Why is he so gentle now? It hurts… this constant back and forth with this "dream" Naru and the Naru of reality. I don't understand it! He's kind and caring one minute then cold and insulting the next! He holds and comforts me and then turns around and establishes an aura that screams STAY AWAY! I'm so confused and don't know how to deal with him anymore. I'm tired of all this.

Sigh…"Time to tell me what, Naru?"

…pause…

'I'm not Naru.'

I straighten and stare piercingly at his face and zero in on his eyes. Those eyes that always seem to mesmerize me.

Releasing a tired breath…

"I see. Well go on, explain."

He grimaces a little at my lackluster response.

'You don't seem that surprised.' He said with a slight nervous chuckle. 'Come to think about it, you don't seem to be showing much of anything right now.'

I laugh a little at this.

"Well, can you blame me? We've known each other nearly two years now and I have yet to see your dual personalities mix between dream world and real world. I wasn't positive, but I figured you were either an entity that decided for some unknown reason to use Naru's form or you are his twin. So, which is it?"

He looks away. Head downcast. His whole frame seems to be emanating a sense of weariness.

"Any day now will be nice, Mr. 'I'm not Naru.'"

'I'm his br-mumble. mumble-ene. His mumble-in.'

"Uh-huh. Riiiiight…I reeeeally understood that." Pure sarcasm dripped from my voice.

We both stood there feeling an insufferable silence pressing down on us. He slowly started to raise his head, but stopped just shy and let his raven colored bangs shield his eyes from me.

Softly, so softly, but I caught every word this time. 'I'm his older brother, Eugene. His tw-in.' He finally stretched to his full height and looked at me straight on.

I let out the breath I wasn't aware I was holding. Then my whole body felt like it was released from an unknown burden.

"Well…soft laugh I guess I'm not as stupid or idiotic as your brother thinks I am, am I?

He laughed a little here and surprised me by tugging me into his warm embrace. He wrapped one arm around my waist and the other held my head against the crook of his neck. "Comfy" I thought, "warm too…" I snuggled in and just let myself relax against him, soaking in all the affection I can get. After a while I wriggled to look up at him and moved out of his warm and comfy arms.

"OK. So now what? There must be a reason why you finally decided to tell me. You have to know that I have a million questions, so why don't you tell me you and Naru's story?"

'Hmm. Yeah, sigh there's a reason and I will tell you what you need to know. I was hoping that things would move on their own accord and I wouldn't have to interfere, but it's taking too long and I'm afraid for you.'

"Afraid for me? Whatever for?"

Sigh…'You must have come to realize your constantly evolving powers right?'

"Ye-es. Though I would hardly put any faith in them. What of it?"

'You truly are exceptional you know that?'

There it is again, a gentle expression and a whisper of a caress against my cheek.

"Eu-g-gene?"

'Just Gene is fine, Mai.'

He gently takes me by the chin and tilts my face toward him. Suddenly, I'm back in his embrace again. He gently places his cheek against mine and nuzzles me. I'm quite confused now. He seems to be hesitating a lot today.

"Gene. What's wrong? Just tell me and get it over with."

Sigh…'your powers are not to be written off so lightly, Mai. Your bloodline is old and strong. You were born with startling powers. As an infant you had already surpassed the combined powers of your family and the branch families put together. Fearing the toll it would take on your body because you were so small, your grandmother and father sealed your powers until you were ready.'

Silence.

'Mai?'

No movement. More silence.

'Mai?"

"You have got to be joking with me Gene. My parents were normal. A normal salary man and normal housewife."

No. No. NO!

'No, Mai. They weren't normal at all. Your father was the unexpected heir to an old and powerful lineage of psychics and your mother was a rare unexplained medium.'

Breathe. In. Out. Steeeeady.

"Explain." I said with steely resolve. This is ridiculous! As if I haven't had enough tragic events slicing a chunk of my soul each time they happen! Now he wants me to warp the memories of my parents too?

'I will, but I can't right now. They are calling for you. You need to learn how to control and master your powers and fast, Mai. I need you to tell Lin everything and get him to help you ASAP.'

"I understand."

This is just happening too fast. There are still not enough answers and the questions just keep coming!

" What should I tell Naru?"

'Tell that idiot scientist I said 'hi' and whatever you feel like letting him in on.'

"Alright then, I'll be going now, but we WILL finish this conversation."

'Mai. Please stop crying now.'

Crying? Ahh, so I am. When did it start? I'm so tired…I look to Gene. He has that look again, so soft and gentle. He reaches out and carefully brushes the silent drops away.

'There is great danger brewing and it's heading your way. It will wear you down and push you beyond your limits. So please, please get Lin to help you. More importantly, please stay safe and be careful!'

"I will. Thank you for looking out for me. Till next time!"

As I turn to feel the tug back to consciousness I hear a whisper that made me jump.

'You have no idea how precious you are to us, especially to him and me. Be happy, and more importantly, be safe…my Mai.'

'..ai. Mai. Mai! MAI!'

I open my eyes to find myself on the sofa in the office. Turning, I see Lin at my side and a disinterested Naru near the foot of the couch.

'Mai. Tea.'

When I made no move to get up he looked back at me sharply in annoyance.

"Hey Naru…"

'I don't really care for you to be sleeping on the job and being slow to respond to orders. Now I'll be waiting for my tea in my office.' and moves to walk off to said office.

Sigh…fine.

"Lin, Gene wants you to start training me ASAP."

Bomb officially dropped, and by the way both men froze and stared at me in utter shock, it was dropped quite perfectly too. Now how do you like that you arrogant narcissist?

'Wha-"

"Ok! Tea it is!"

I'll let them suffer just a little bit. I know Naru won't let the subject drop so easily, but the mouth that will be delivering the information he seeks still belongs to me. He won't be able to fire me anytime soon if he wants to know and being the absolute scientist he is, he won't let an experiment like me go that easily either. Sigh. All this information is just too much to process right now. Who exactly are my parents? What is the mystery behind my bloodline? Just what are my powers? What is this formidable danger Gene warns me against? And just what did he mean by being precious to him and who is this other 'him' he mentioned?