Authors note: Hello there! Hope you all enjoyed the last chapter! I wanted to personally thank, Anime-freak-otaku01, foxchick1 and Oliver E.C. Davis, for all the reviews! However, before I get too much into this story, I wanted to ask you guys, the readers, if there are any songs you think Mai should sing! I have no preference, and all the songs I have chosen for her thus far are all ones I personally connect with and I really think the lyrics coordinates well with her and the events going on in her life currently.
Thanks so much!
~SQ
Gene POV:
Mai had just finished her homework and Noll was at the end of the line with helping her. (Not that she needed it.) She was clearing off the table, putting all her notebooks and textbook's away into her backpack and on the shelves. She sighed as she continued to struggle with some books to be put back on the shelf and, like always, didn't ask for help.
I got up to put away a small book and tried to make it look like I was busy while I secretly watched Noll. He sighed, shut the book he was reading and walked over to the struggling Mai. Being, oh so casual, he lifted the books up as if nothing and placed them delicately on the shelf in the correct places.
I watched as Mai's face broke out into a smile with a nice blush along her cheeks as she massaged her aching shoulders.
"Thanks' so much Naru!" She said happily.
Noll finished putting the last book away when she said that and turned to her. He sighed.
"You're quite welcome." He said with a bored tone. What Mai didn't notice was the slight tint of color on his cheeks.
'Probably because he has one all the time when he's around her…' I thought as I sat back down where Mai and Noll were sitting. I chuckled. Mai looked at me funny while Noll looked up from his now re-opened book and raised an eyebrow.
"Just what, exactly, is so funny?" Mai questioned cutely.
I smirked and leaned closer to her while she leaned back a little but not enough for me to stop. My mouth was next to her ear.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" I whispered as she started to blush in embarrassment.
My brother clearly did not like how close I was to her, judging by the force of his book slamming catching Mai's attention immediately. Slowly, I turned my head towards Noll.
"Yes dear brother, do you have something to say?" I said suggestively.
Noll glared at me and was about to reply when the library doors burst open and in stepped Modoka and Ayako. I walked over to the balcony to see them both.
"Oh Modoka!" I said rushing down the stairs. "It's been far too long." I ran up to her and hugged her. She had always been like an aunt to me and it, honestly, had been far too long since I last saw her. I released Modoka and she smiled.
"It's good to see you too!" she said as Ayako scoffed.
"What? You got something to say Ayako?" I questioned crossing my arms and pouting.
She put her hands on her hips and wore a calm look. "Actually, yes." She said matter of factly. "You two saw each other last week. I don't know why you are hugging each other like it's been ten years." Ayako said now crossing her arms.
I huffed and stuck up my nose. "You're just jealous you didn't get a hug."
I watched as Ayako's face turned into anger. "Why you-" She said threateningly with her nails pointed towards me like talons.
I bravely cowered behind Modoka before Mai and Noll came down the stairs.
"Mother, Ayako, good afternoon." Mai said as she strained her voice. Noll and I looked over and watched as she forced a smile.
Modoka didn't notice. "Hi sweetie!" She ran over to Mai and hugged her. "Did you finish all your homework?" She questioned, her head resting on top of Mai's.
Mai looked up to her mother but made no attempt to hug her back. "Yes," she said. "It's all finished and ready to go on Monday." She finished, stepping away from Modoka after she had released her.
Noll stood next to Mai. "Hello again, Modoka." He said in a bored tone. "Unfortunately, we have come rather early. I hope you do not mind."
Mai slapped his arm. "What do you mean unfortunately? You chose to come!" she hissed.
Noll glared at her while Modoka took his hand.
"Well I am so happy that you are here!" She then took my hand. "Both of you are family friends and are welcome whenever!" She said with little tears in her eyes.
I turned all my attention to her. "Why, thank you! WE think the exact same thing about you!" I said turning to my brother and seeing the sincere look in his eyes.
Modoka grinned and started to chuckle. The mahogany grandfather clock next to the doors started to ding as it indicated the time. Hearing this Modoka jumped into action.
"Oh, my!" She exclaimed eyeing the clock. "It's already one o'clock and the dinner starts at five!" she turned and darted out the door running down the hallways, shouting, "Sorry boys! We'll have to talk later! Love you all!" She dodged maids and butlers while Noll and I watched her go.
"Bye-bye, I guess?" I said smiling. Suddenly an idea struck me. "Hey! Let's all go outside, to the koi pond!" I jumped up and down so excited to see the fish I named and how big he has grown.
Everyone agreed to go and I thought back to when we first met the fish.
On the day Modoka got the pond built, she was also getting a nice selection of fish to go in it. Us twins, at the time, only being 5 and Mai being 4, we were thrilled to have the authority to name something.
I chose a green colored one and named him Aaric, Noll chose a black one which he named Kuro.
'Stupid brother of mine… picking out a black fish and naming him 'black'… I just don't get him sometimes.'
Mai, being the overly cute and innocent person she is, she chose a white one with green and black patches. She named him Kazoku. When asked why she chose that name, her response was "The white color is me, the green is Gene and the black is Naru! We are all going to be together forever!" Of course when she said that it was before any of this madness started.
Noll and I were walking down the hall way, while Ayako and Mai stopped to talk about something. I turned the corner and Noll quickly stopped me.
"What's up? I thought we were going to go outside?" I said confused as to why he was stopping me.
He didn't say anything. Just put his index finger to his lips, a good indication for me to shut up. He put his back on the wall closest to the corner, crossed his arms, closed his eyes and waited. I stood next to him, way less stealthy then he was and waited.
"So?" Mai's desperate voice cut across the silence, like a whip across skin. "What happened? What did they say? Please tell me it's just a dream." I could tell by her voice, that she was about to cry. Again.
I heard Ayako sigh. "I wish I could."
Mai gasped. "So it's…true." If she wasn't crying yet, it was only a matter of time.
"I know." Ayako said, her voice raising a little. "Your father said in a year and three months. That's when the wedding happens… and then…" she trailed off.
'AND THEN!' I mentally screeched. 'WHAT!?'
Noll's eyes snapped open and he glared at me.
'Whoops!' I thought. 'Didn't know the link was open… ha ha…' I put up a barrier and Noll shut his eyes again, slowly.
"And then… What, Ayako?" Mai said panic evident in her voice but you could tell she was trying to stay calm.
"He's having you move to the second mansion, in Japan." She said grimly.
Noll's eyes snapped open and all the color drained from my face.
"Wha…what?" Mai said weakly. "He's going to get rid of me…?" My heart clenched at her words.
"No!" Ayako quickly tried to dismiss her thoughts. "Your mother said it was to help spread your wings and fly-" she was cut off.
"How can I fly," she gasped out. "When my wings are constantly being cut?" I could hear Mai sobbing. "My parents are keeping me in chains, Ayako. I am not strong enough to break them, so I work against them. Little by little. That's why I sneak out…you know why I…uh." She sighed. I heard her sniff and take a deep breath. "Let's get going. I'm sure the twins wouldn't appreciate us being so long… or at least Naru doesn't." She giggled and I turned to look up at him. I froze.
'Oh bloody hell.'
Noll's jaw was clenched shut; his fists were clenched so tight that there was blood running down his knuckles. And his eyes. Blood thirsty, cold and dark. He grabbed my arm roughly and pulled me outside just before Mai and Ayako could see us.
If you have not read the Authors note at the top, I suggest you do! If anyone has ideas for what I am asking for at the top Please leave a review or PM me!
Thank you!
~SQ
