Edit: made some changes to the first three chapters 4/7/2011

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You too all who reviewed the last chapter! I am glad everyone seems to like my story so far. I have a better idea where I am heading plot wise, but everything is still subject to change. I am going to try and update at least twice a month with chapters that are no less than 1,000 words. I will be using aspects of the novels, even though I haven't read them I found a great deal of info online about Naru's true identity so I should be able to do the story line justice.

This will be Lin/Mai eventually, but because this story is from Mai's POV it is more focused on Mai and her feelings about what is going on. This is also rated T so don't expect any steamy love scenes.

Okay, now without further adieu, Breaking Point Chapter 2!


Your Guardian Angel

I knew I was dreaming. It was darker then the darkest of moonless nights and I saw no stars in what I thought should be the sky.

I stood in complete darkness, the only light, strangely enough, was coming from me. Even though I couldn't see an inch in-front of my face, I could see my hand when I reached out before me because of the soft warm glow my skin seemed to be emitting.

I couldn't figure out why I was here. I normally only had these type of dreams while on a case. I don't want to be here, I just wanted to go home take a hot shower and have a nice DREAMLESS night's rest!

I don't think I can stand to see Naru right now, even if it's only Dream Naru, they still look the same and that was enough to bring tears to my eyes. I could feel my heart rate speed up as I grew more and more nervous.

"Why isn't anything happening?" I whispered out into the fathomless darkness. I gulped as I slowly began to hear foot steps echoing throughout the void I seemed to be stuck in.

"Have you been waiting long?" he spoke from directly behind me.

I jumped about a foot off the ground and screamed.

"Naru! What the hell!" I clutched my chest trying to get my heart rate under control. I wonder if I have a heart attack in my dream would I die in real life?

He smiled the same heart melting smile he always gave me in my dreams, but never when I was awake.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to startle you" but with the amused look in his eyes I had a hard time believing him.

I glanced over at him, he looks the same as his real world counterpart, but the compassion in his eyes makes it obvious they are not the same person.

"Why am I here, I'm not on a case and I'm not really in the mood to see you right n-now" I started to choke up with tears as he continued to look at me with understanding.

"I'm sorry Mai, but I couldn't let you stay lost in the darkness alone" He said softly as he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. I noticed that his skin didn't give off the same warm glow as mine, but a more subtle shimmer.

"That wasn't an answer to my question" I stated bluntly after I got my emotions under control.

"I can't answer your question, you brought yourself here" He looked out into the darkness over my shoulder deep in thought. "Maybe you just wanted to escape?" He looked at me with a question in his eye.

"Does that mean you know what happened today?" I asked him in response to the look he was giving me.

"No, I only know that you are greatly upset. Would you like to tell me what happened that has you creating such a dismal place to escape to?" He removed his hand from my shoulder and took a step back so I could look him in the eyes without having to crane my neck.

"I created this place?" Surprise in my voice. I had always thought that he was the one that controlled what shape my dreams took. "I thought you were the one that created my dreams"

He sighed, "Normally your dreams are created by the spirits you encounter on your cases, and I merely help to guide you through them."

"Guide?" This was the second time he mentioned being my guide. I had done some research on spirit guides after the last case when he revealed that he was my guide and that, at times, I wasn't just dreaming but actually leaving my body.

His voice brought me back to myself, "Yes, but that's not important right now. What happened Mai?"

It was my turn to sigh. He was switching the subject away from himself. I had notice him do this before whenever I would ask him a personal question. "I don't really want to talk about it" I huffed annoyed that he brought my reason for being here back up, I rather concentrate on him then think about my meltdown.

"It will make you feel better, and if you really didn't want to talk about it you wouldn't have summoned me" The knowing smile he gave me reminded me too much of his real world counterpart and I felt my face flush as tears threatened to spill from my eyes.

"Ma.." concern coloring his voice as he took a step towards me, once again closing the space between us.

"I quit" I hiccupped cutting him off and looked down at my feet and the infinite blackness below them as tears streamed down my face.

I was afraid. What if I never got to see him again? I only met him after I met Naru, what if they were some how connected? Would this be the last time I saw him? No matter how I felt about the real world Naru, I relied on Dream Naru's presence, he gave me reassurance and courage in my dreams just like Lin did in the waking world.

Oh Kami, Lin! I don't know if I will see him again either. We may have gotten off to a rocky start, but I though of him as a close friend now and I didn't want to loose that. I knew I would see the others, we met outside the office all the time, but the only time I saw Lin was at work.

I was supposed to meet him tomorrow though, would he still come? Would he even want to see me know that I wasn't a co-worker? Did he only offer to help so I wouldn't miss work because of my schooling? I was almost hyperventilating now.

I felt Dream Naru's arms circle around me and pull me into his chest; I was surrounded in his warmth and it seemed to make everything a little bit better.

"I'm sorry Mai." He spoke to me soothingly and stroked my hair, as I started sobbing into his chest. Soaking his black shirt with my tears.

It had been such a long time since I'd been held and comforted like this, probably not since my mother died have I felt so safe. So I leaned into his embrace and let myself go. I fell apart in his arms.

He continued to hold me and stroke my hair, until my sobbing stopped. Once I'd finally pulled myself together I stepped back from his embrace and dried my face with my shirt sleeve.

"Thank you, but there is nothing for you to be sorry about. It was all that stupid Naru's fault!" I stomped my foot in anger and began to pace, better to be mad then sad. I huffed.

Dream Naru chuckled at my sudden switch in emotions. "What did that baka scientist do?" He sounded exasperated and not all that surprised, as if he knew this was inevitable.

I stopped my pacing to look at him a little startled. I had never herd him refer to Naru as someone separate from himself before, much less as a 'baka scientist'.

Dream Naru looked back at me with a raised eyebrow waiting for me to answer his question. My curiosity was piqued though; I wasn't going to let him avoid anymore questions about himself. This might be the last time I have a chance to ask them. Just the thought made tears come to my eyes again, but I shook myself. Enough crying!

"If I tell you why I quit today will you answer some of my questions?" I tried to give him my most intimidating 'Naru' glare.

He smiled at me, seemingly amused by my intimidation attempt, but suddenly his smile was gone, a shadow of sorrow seemed to flash over his face before he turned his back to me and looked out into the void, which at some point during our conversation had begun to lighten as small orbs of softly glowing lights of various colors now floated around. It looked the same as the place I'd met Dream Naru for the first time.

Dream Naru seemed to come to some sort of decision as he turned back to me, all signs of sorrow gone from his face and replaced with his kind smile.

"Alright, if you tell me what happened, I will answer your questions, but I can't guarantee that you are going to like all the answers"

I guess that's better then nothing. I took a deep breath, steeling myself to tell him about my day from hell.

"I was having a bad day even before I got to work. I received my mid-term test results today and I'm failing in about half the classes I'm taking." I looked down in shame, know that if this was the real Naru he would be insulting me and saying something along the lines of 'I'm surprised you're not failing all of them'

I sniffed, swallowing back tears.

I continued on not wanting to look up and see disappointment in his eyes.

"My guidance counselor told me I should just quit school and concentrate on my job. He said I was lucky to have such a well paying job at a young age and that my schooling was just taking me away from work." I hiccuped getting upset again as I continued to repeat what the teacher told me.

"He said that I would never get into college anyways" I took in another deep breath and pulled myself together so I could continue.

"Then after practically being called stupid by one of my teachers I went to work, a-and I just, I couldn't take it anymore" My voice was getting louder and was shaking with emotions.

"Naru, I just, it was his fault... I already felt like a complete failure and all I c-could think about was how m-my mother would be so d-disappointed." I was sobbing again, but I couldn't stop now and I just kept rambling, as I hugged myself still looking down in shame.

"H-he, I was the top of my class in Junior High, b-but with the cases and working so much, I-I just couldn't keep up, a-and he wouldn't give me a-any time off!" I hiccupped, barley staying upright with the wait of my sorrow and shame.

"H-he always calls me st-stupid, but then-then he won't give m-me time off to st-study! S-so today I-I quit, I have to g-go to college, I d-don't want to be a failure" I sobbed as my voice faded off into a whisper and I collapsed to the ground hiding my face in my hands as the tears continued to steam down my face in a steady torrent.

I felt his finger on my chin as he lifted my face so he could look me in the eyes as he wiped the tears from my cheeks with his thumb, I didn't see disappointment, but understanding in his eyes.

"Your not a failure Mai, Naru just has unrealistic expectations of people, you had every right to quit." He stood back up bringing me with him. After making sure I could manage to stay upright he took a step back to give me space to pull myself back together.

I took a final deep breath clearing my head, I actually felt a lot better now that I told someone. There was still a deep sadness that clung to me, but it wasn't as prevalent as before.

I don't know if I would ever be the same; working for Naru had done a number not only on my school grades but my self-esteem as well. Now though it is time to move on and pick up the pieces as I go.

"Thank you, I think I needed that" I smiled up at him showing that I really was feeling better.

He grinned back, "Now, didn't you have some questions for me?" he asked trying to lighten the mood and take my mind off more depressing things.

"Are you still going to visit me" I blurted out, forgetting all the other questions I wanted to ask him.

He laughed, seemingly relieved at my first question, "Yes, why wouldn't I?"

I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, my muscles relaxed as I smiled at him and shook my head.

"Um, no reason, just wanted to make sure." He just chuckled, oh how I loved the sound of his laugh.

"Okay, next question!" Getting exited about maybe getting a strait answer from him for once. I stood with my feet apart one hand on my hips the other tapping my chin as I looked off to the side trying to think of the next question I wanted to ask him. I nodded my head as I made up my mind.

I looked back at him, he still had a relaxed smile on his face, "Are you my Spirit Guide?" His smile didn't look so relaxed anymore.

It was something I had been wondering since I read a book about spirit guides after the last case. Apparently a spirit guide could be anything from a deceased relative to a nature spirit that watches over you and guides you to knowledge and enlightenment, I gave that thought a mental eye roll; it sounded so corny.

His smile slowly fades from his face as his expression became more serious. "I guess that would be the most accurate description of what I am to you." His voice becoming more monotone.

I opened my mouth to complain about the vagueness of his response when he held up his hand to silence me.

"I said you may not be happy with all my answers to your questions." I huffed once again frustrated with his inability to give me a strait answer.

"Okay, then why do you appear to me in the form of Naru? From what I've read a spirit guide normally takes on an image of a deceased relative, friend or an animal that you feel particularly connected with." Dream Naru now looked LIKE a cornered animal and was beginning to fidget – I've never seen him fidget before – it was kind of funny.

"But I had only just met Naru when you first appeared to me and at that point I didn't even like him?" I should've gone with my first instinct with Naru; it would have saved me a lot of heartache and headaches.

"I have no control over the form I take" His expression was down right grim now and he seemed nervous, he was being unnecessarily evasive.

His answer made no sense, if he was a spirit guide he should have complete control over the form he takes, and if I was the one that controlled his form why would I project Naru? It made no sense, I was missing something.

I was getting angry, when I felt a tingle in the back of my mind that signaled I was beginning to wake up. I looked back at Dream Naru, who looked relieved; he could probably feel me fading from this realm to.

"I still have more questions for you" I pointed an accusatory finger at him; it was too much of a coincidence that I would start to wake up now.

"I know, there is always next time" He was down right grinning now, err he was not getting out of this!

I was determined to get at least one strait answer from him before I awoke!

"What's your name!" I practically yelled in desperation as the world around me began to fade as consciousness tugged at me.

As I opened my eyes to the site of the eggshell white ceiling of my bedroom I heard his voice whisper to me from the void... "Gene"


So what do you think? Please review! Reviews fuel my creative muses.

P.S. I promise an appearance from Lin in the next chapter.

Chapter title is taken from The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus song "Your Guardian Angel"

Okay now I have to go feed chickens and clean house before going back to work tomorrow... sigh, being a responsible adult sucks sometimes.