Chapter 7
Living Together
Part 1:
Day 1:
2:00 pm:
Mai sat in the sitting area of Naru's apartment with her books in her hands poring over them-memorizing every word.
They had arrived thirty minutes ago with Naru carrying her luggage; he had informed her that she would be moving in with him due to the instability of her powers. He had also told her that he would be selling her furniture off since she had no use of it any more and would hand her the money when it was dealt with. He had also told her that he would deal with her tenant as well.
He had clenched her shoulder tightly before heading next door to Lin's apartment telling her that he'd be back in a short while.
His apartment was westernized compared to the custom in Japan; it had a nice balcony that looked over the city, two bedrooms with attached washrooms a nice kitchen with a table for four placed there in the middle.
The floor was made of dark-colored wood and the walls were white-washed. He had really nice furniture- a modern leather sofa with a coffee table placed in front of it in the lounge. He had a middle-sized plasma T.V that hung on the white wall and a black, elegant rug.
The room that she would be occupying had a wooden queen-sized bed with dark blue bed sheets and lots of pillows and cushions, two bedside tables, a dressing table with a long mirror and a black rug placed at the foot of the bed and a closet with mirrors fitted in the doors. Her room even had a small balcony attached with sliding glass doors leading out.
She had unpacked her luggage and on Naru's order had taken out her books to study.
He had consoled her to his best ability when she had collapsed on the floor crying and he had apologized as well that he had hurt her but she had shook her head at his apology as he had wiped her tears before bringing her here.
She knew how much his actions had meant to her that he'd be here even when she won't be able to see him and he'd grasp her hand when she would lumber around getting used to the permanent darkness. She knew that he wasn't romantically interested in her but the mere fact that he hadn't avoided her or shunted her away after he came back was enough for her. She smiled slightly; he also didn't turn away when he found out that she wouldn't be useful to him any more on investigations. He was a true friend even though he avoided showing it.
The door opened, Mai looked up from her book to find Naru coming through the door with Lin right behind him, who had a grim expression on his face.
Mai knew that Naru had told him about her glaucoma, she casted her eyes down sadly, this was bound to happen but she believed that Naru would give her the decision of telling the others except for Lin of course.
They approached her, they both sat at either side of her and she peered at Lin uncertainly as he opened his mouth to speak, "I am truly very sorry to hear about your ailment, Mai-san," the usually calm and stoic man had pain and sadness swirling in his eyes.
"Don't feel sad, Lin-san. I'm sure that everything will turn out to be just fine," she told him, smiling slightly but he looked at her doubtfully.
"I just want you to know that I'll support you to my best extent, you may not know it but you hold a special place in our hearts," he smiled at her and she returned a grateful smile back at him.
"Thank you, Lin-san that means a lot to me," she told him
Naru cleared his throat and they both turned to look at him, "You will be telling the others?" he said questioningly.
She looked at him, pondering over what might be the best thing to do, she didn't want them to worry not to mention that they'd go out of their way to support her and reassure her.
"I am sure that they would want to know," Naru told her, "Not confiding in them would probably hurt them if by chance they find out and I'm sure that your powers would be reason enough for them to sabotage my property. Though the entire decision rests upon your shoulders," he continued.
That was true and as much as she tried to keep them away she knew that she really needed them they were after all her family. She took a deep breath and nodded which resulted in Naru placing a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
She smiled at him as his eyes gazed into her but the moment was short-lived as he turned his gaze to the book that she was holding.
"Need any help?" he asked her.
She contemplated for a moment and nodded.
Having Naru's help in revision turned out to be a great deal of help as she found out in the next few hours. He had made the job easy for her and it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be, though they both did have the occasional argument but she wouldn't have it any other way.
Later that day Naru took Mai out to grab lunch, Lin had refused the offer saying that he wasn't hungry so it was just Naru and Mai.
He had also allowed Mai to choose the place and she had chosen a modest restaurant that sold Japanese food.
Mai bounced happily leading Naru into the restaurant; he was relieved that Mai had cheered up.
They sat facing each other, "So Naru any new cases of yet?" she asked happily.
"No, not yet," he answered her simply.
"Are you expecting any?"
"I thought that spending two years with me would have enlightened you to a simple fact as that," he said, smirking at her.
Her face flushed, "Listen here, you pompous jerk-" but her sentence was cut off by the arrival of a waitress whose eyes were glued on Naru with admiration and she shot a filthy look at Mai, Mai gave her a smug look and stuck her tongue at her.
The waitress cleared her throat and addressed Naru, "May I take your orders?" her voice was sweet but he could detect the fakeness behind it. She batted her eyelashes at him, she seemed very bold, thought Mai but she didn't know Naru as she fingered the top two buttons on her shirt, Mai threw an amused look in Naru's direction, whose fingers twitched from the obvious boldness of the waitress.
He shot an annoyed look in her direction, who dropped her fingers and Naru said, "Yes, isn't that your job?" his voice was cold and the waitress flushed, Mai giggled.
He looked at her, and said, "What will you have? I'm paying for everything,"
"Everything you say?" she said peering at her menu when a grin spread on her face she was hungry-very hungry at that and ordered, "I'll have tempura donburi, inari, white cream korokke and yakitori," she said cheerily, grinning widely at the waitress whose lips were forming an unconscious pout before turning her attention back to Naru with renowned vigor as her eyes scanned his face, Naru raised his eyebrows coldly at her he had always been centered when it came to women and he didn't enjoy their stares at all and were much reason for his annoyance and grumpiness with women hitting on him right, left and center.
The maid flushed again, savoring her embarrassment he ordered, "Oyako Donburi, yakitori and prawn tempura,"
The maid sidled off with their orders leading Mai to burst into laughter after her.
"Found something funny?" Naru asked, raising his eyebrows at her laughing figure.
"Yes, of course. The reaction from the women is highly hilarious when you give them your cold- shoulder," she grinned at him cheekily.
"I've had too many occurrences with women," he told her giving her sour a look.
She giggled, "Have any stalkers back at England?" she asked innocently.
He stared at her coldly, "Apparently, though they hardly get past the door and not to mention my mother setting me up on blind dates,"
"Ohh that must feel like hell" she said matter-of-factly.
"Well due to my cunning I can easily detect what my mother has planned and I tend to avoid any meetings set up by her," he said smugly.
"Your head will explode Naru- no more! No more!" she covered her ears and shook her head dramatically before giggling again at his frown.
"You don't have any admirers?" he asked her casually, though he could not deny the curiosity that sprung in him at his question, he eyed her cautiously, not knowing why he would be all tensed all of a sudden and why getting the answer seemed so important to him.
She avoided his gaze as though betraying him before saying, "Yes, I do," she blushed lightly.
Naru stiffened; hurt flowing inside him along with yet another new emotion flowing this one seared his heart as though driving a needle in his heart. His face hardened but Mai did not look up at him to see his expression before saying, "They were really nice guys, as well," she continued oblivious to the man's discomfort.
"So you dated?" he asked his voice hard as his heart clenched painfully but she shook her head and smiled at him, "Never."
The reaction on his body by these words was tremendous, his heart unclenched, his body relaxed and his face softened somewhat and relief flowed through him.
She decided to change the subject, "Tell me about your parents, Naru," she asked sweetly.
Naru looked at her a moment before replying, "I'm an orphan Mai I don't have any biological parents," his voice was emotionless.
Mai looked at him indignant and angry all at once, "That's not what I meant, jerk," she crossed her arms and glared at him.
He smirked, knowing all too well the content that flowed through him at her outbursts.
"My father's a paranormal researcher he's the owner of the original SPR. My mother is… different, I guess you can call her that," he conceded in an off-hand tone.
"Different as in…?" she inquired.
"Much like you," he glared at her.
She looked surprised, "Like me?"
"Yes, hyper, happy the usual combination that you seem to present,"
Mai's face turned sour, "So… I remind you of your mother?" the bitterness in her tone was obvious.
He smirked, but chose not to answer as she glared at him.
He was done answering questions, he was curious to know about Mai as well, though she did seem very much obvious but there were still parts that he wanted to know, "What about your parents, what were they like?"
He watched Mai's expression turn to that of thoughtfulness as she tried to remember, "I don't remember much about my father except for the fact that I took his general appearance, brown hair, brown eyes, I guess. My mother was always the happy kind, even after dad died she didn't let me know that she was unhappy being as young as I was I couldn't entirely grasp the possibility of what it must have been for her," she looked at him, her eyes twinkling sadly from the memory, "I always had a great time with her, until that is she fell sick after a couple of years after dad passed away. I took to taking care of her with my studies and maintaining the house, seeing as the only income provider of our house had fallen ill our life reserves fell thin.
I had to eat dinner with her every night since she refused to eat alone and wouldn't hear of me going hungry just for the sake of her. She died on a weekend, I had gone out to the market and when I had returned she lay there, unmoving and…" her voice trailed off, her eyes casted down sadly.
Naru stared at the beauty that she was on the inside, how could he have been so stupid as the emotion that he couldn't recognize swirled inside him, realizing finally what it all meant. He sighed.
Just then the waitress came back with their orders and they ate in silence, Naru pondering over his new realization.
Not so long ago he had contemplated whether he was in love with the woman in front of him, he had told him self no but as memories swirled through him he found it difficult to be of the same thought as before.
The time when he had started to recognize the unknown emotion, which flowed through his veins even still, at the Fumio Mansion when Mai had been possessed and he was forced to acknowledge the fact- that she loved him.
The hatred that had flowed through him at the sight of Katsuya-san and Mai together, believing them to be lovers, the betrayal and hurt that had flowed through him at the realization that Mai's confession for him had been a joke. The annoyance that had filled him as she had mentioned Gene's name at her apartment- and the frantic beating of his heart every time that he looked at her.
The immense concern and dread that had filled his heart when Mai had called him that night and the butterflies that had erupted in his stomach as she had clung to him. How he had felt comfortable with holding her so near when he would never do such a thing for any other woman. The fact that he had wanted to grasp her hand at the table and why he had been so annoyed at the waitress who had flirted with him.
And why he had taken the spare key to her apartment after he had tucked her in her bed securely.
The reason why he had compelled her to move in with him because he was protective of her and the slip of his façade when he had come to realize that she was going blind.
And the insecurity and jealousy that had flowed through him when Mai told him that she did indeed have admirers.
The relief that he had felt when she told him that she had never dated and the guilt that had pelted him when he remembered what he had said to her at the lake.
He sighed, now he realizes what it all meant.
He was in love with Mai Taniyama the girl who gave him hell every other day and loved him like no other women he had encountered before, not because he was good-looking or anything.
He examined the emotion that he supposed was the love he felt for Mai- it was strong, warm and beautiful nothing he had ever experienced before.
He looked up at Mai and his chest swelled at her sight, his heart thudding wildly and his cheeks burning slightly at the smile that she gave him.
It was different to say the least and he didn't have a clue how to express it.
He sighed again, avoiding her gaze.
The fact that she was going blind did not hinder his feelings and he found that he wouldn't have cared if she grew blind or had a mental disorder, he would never want to leave her side.
So this was what true love felt like, he smiled to himself.
Mai looked up at Naru to find that he was looking at her, she smiled at him and he looked away. He seemed different all of a sudden, she just had a feeling that he was.
Naru realized that he was in a predicament, he didn't know what to do now, he knew that couples kissed but not having ever done such a thing he was utterly clueless as he contemplated how to do such a task while his cheeks burned again at the prospect of kissing Mai.
He knew that she wouldn't reject him but he couldn't deny the fact that this was turning things difficult.
He finished his meal and frowned at his empty plate in deep thought.
Unconsciously his brain drifted off to comparing his lunch with Mai to the disasters that he had faced at the hands of Masako Hara.
There was no comparison he thought smugly, he was comfortable with Mai where as he had always been stiff and not so compelling with Hara-san. She had always chosen the best places but he had never cared about that.
He was sure that he wanted Mai with him and wanted to give their relation a chance, he just didn't know how to do it. He sighed, frustrated.
He looked up to see that Mai had also finished her lunch and called over the waitress to come with the bill, having paid they got up and headed out the door.
The sun was already low in the sky as they made their way to the car.
The journey back to their apartment was silent yet comfortable.
7:00 pm:
Mai was yet again sitting in the lounge with her books in hand. Naru had left one hour ago telling her that he had some business to take care of and that Lin will be next door if she needed anything. Naru had waited for her nod before leaving.
Mai had even contemplated whether to go next door and avoid the loneliness that attacked het in the apartment but she had thrown the idea aside as she did not want to disturb the man.
She had felt a raging head-ache coming her way and the possibility of her huge lunch ending up in the toilet, sweat covered her forehead as her stomach ached.
She could already feel the food making its way to her mouth and she got up, dizziness taking over as she stumbled to the common toilet at the end of the lounge.
Her body trembled as she sat down gingerly in front of the toilet, covering her mouth as the bile rose.
Then it came and she heaved into the toilet her hair falling over her face as she trembled with cold in the middle of summer.
She felt the bathroom door creak open but didn't look up as a cool hand pulled her hair back while the other rubbed her back soothingly.
She heaved again, panting slightly with all the effort.
Her head ached more persistently and she closed her eyes against her throbbing temples and she heard something crack as she vomited again.
The hand that was rubbing her back clenched the fabric of her shirt tightly at the crack but resumed their task afterwards.
She heaved once more before the nausea lifted and she slumped back in relief hitting something hard in the process, looking up she saw Naru looking at the tiled floor as he released her hair and looked up at her.
He stood up, holding his hands out to her, she clenched them and stood up, her knees were still weak as he guided her to the sink so she could rinse her mouth.
Up on reaching the sink she realized that the mirror had cracked right down the middle, she looked up at Naru uncertainly, "I did t-that, didn't I?" she asked tensely.
He sighed, "You don't need to worry about it, you'll learn to control it over time."
She nodded slightly before running the tap and rinsing her mouth.
"Mai," Naru said, frowning at her.
"Yes?" she asked.
"The others, they're here. I called them," he told her gazing at her as she tensed up, nodded and sighed.
The task before-hand couldn't be avoided now as she headed out the door with Naru to see the people clustered around the lounge.
She sighed as their gazes turned to the two people now approaching the group.
A/N: I LOVED this chapter. May be it's for the fact that Naru FINALLY realized his emotions.
And the lunch that they had consider it an unofficial first date for them, hehehe ;)
And thank you people for reading and reviewing. It encourages me. =D
So R and R and stay tuned for Chapter 8.