Author note: I must say that this is going to be my longest story yet! I have gotten maybe 1/3 of the way through!


Chapter Seven:

Assisting Lin in setting up the equipment was easier and harder then it looks. I am strong and could carry all of the equipment, all those years of backpacking coming to handy. But I was also isolated from society. I have no current technology know-how. So Lin and I developed a system. I packed the equipment and he made sure it worked. We worked silently and efficiently. Besides, I didn't know what to say to him, and he obviously was the strong silent type.

While we worked putting equipment up around campus we gathered quite a following of people. The girls seemed to find Lin very interesting and the boys seemed to find me interesting! Lin and I did our best to ignore the chatter.

"Mmmm look at that hottie! I could make him a happy man!"

"Hey check out the new chick! Finally some fresh meat!"

The more we ignored them the more the comments seemed to degenerate down into the gutter. My ears were burning and I think my cheeks turned scarlet. Lin looked at me from the side of his eyes after a particularly ribald comment and then sighed. He turned to the crowd.

"I am sorry but we are taken. Go find your amusement elsewhere."

The girls and boys groaned and then started to flirt with each other. I nodded my thanks to Lin and then kept my eye on a few of the men who didn't seem fazed by Lin's statement but even more interested. Some people just like to chase, the more off limits the better…

Once the equipment was all up we turned to leave. Two of the boys who had refused to leave came up to confront us. A tall brown haired boy and a smaller but more muscular blond; "Hello! I am Eric and this is Kojo. We were wondering if you would like to come to a party. It will be held at the Mediums' Hall." This was from the blond.

I stared and Lin quieted. I looked to Lin for direction. He actually looked rather interested! I nodded towards the boys. "Sure, could I bring my friends?"

They smiled at me, all teeth. "Bring as many friends as you like!"

I smiled back, my own smile a little brittle and then I turned to Lin my smile turning more natural. "Hear that we have been invited to a party!" He smirked softly and nodded.

The boys were quick to interrupt. "I thought you meant you would be brings some friends!?"

I got confused. "But Lin is one of my friends." Then I got mad "I won't go if I can't bring more then just girls!"

The boys looked at each other and then nodded. "Fine just don't bring a lot of boys."

I nodded at them and then left. Who cares what they say… Let's see, John, Bou-san, Lin-san and Naru that's four… Masako, Ayako and Me that's three… Oops I am bringing more boys then girls!! Hehehe I snickered to myself all the way back to the office.

Lin led me into Naru's office and we reported back that all of the equipment had been taken care of. Naru then proceeded to tell me what else he had wanted.

"Mai, I have learned that there will be a party at the hall. Make sure you get invited to go."

"Done"

His blue eyes went wide. "Explain."

"Well while we were out some of the boys from a group of people that followed us asked me to go."

His blue eyes went narrow. "Followed you? Did you explain that you aren't allowed to date anyone?"

Lin jerked a little next to me in the process of taking a sip of tea. I wonder if he burned his tongue?

I waved my hand at Naru dismissing his pissy-niss. "No, but no worries I got the rest of the gang all invited! Go me!" I punched my hand up in the air. Naru rolled his eyes. "Did you ask if anyone else wanted to go with you?"

I was startled and a little upset. "You don't want to go with me?"

"I don't date Mai." I was surprised and confused. "Who said anything about a date? I am bringing the whole team!" I got up suddenly excited I knew that at least Ayako and Masako would understand. "I have to go call the girls at least they will be excited!" I left closing the door firmly behind me.


The room rang with the echo of door slamming. I turned to Lin confusion on my face I am sure. "Did she just refuse me?"

Lin shook his head at me and put his tea cup down. "Oliver, you never asked her anything. You are too used to girls knowing what they want and coming on to you. Not the other way around." He snickered a little at my expense. "What is this about her not being allowed to see other boys?"

I put my cold face on. No way am I going to be questioned about that! Besides that has nothing to do with how sexy she can be… in a skirt…hospital gown… and everything to do with her dreaming about how Gene died… Dang hard to lie to yourself… Luckily it seems as though Lin has decided not to ask… Or it is just a case of really good friends knowing when to not keep pushing.

On to the case…

"Did everything go up alright?"

Lin nodded. "Yes we have all the cameras up including sound and thermal cameras; the majority of which are in the Medium Hall. This will be perfect for the party tonight. Also, I did manage to put a few in the Main office. I know that you were feeling a little suspicious of the Dean."

I nodded. That man is just a little too slick sometimes, he is also the only person who is completely aware of my connection to Gene. He (Gene) being the reason I can refuse Masako as my medium. Because technically at this time Gene is still considered missing not dead. No body has ever been found. Even though I know he is dead I can still claim to have a medium. Tricky politics but it works for right now.

I sighed and then smirked at Lin. I know how to get him back for the teasing. "Lin let's go get ready for a party." He gave me a pained expression and then nodded. Ah victory is sweet!


The music thrummed through my body and threatened to shake my teeth fillings out. Our team moved towards the Medium Hall. It was alight with Christmas lights hanging everywhere; there were also the traditional Japanese balloon lights hanging as well from the ceiling. It was a beautiful display of west meets east. I was impressed by the wide range of people that filled the Hall. Young teenagers and older adults all mingled, the obviously different ethnicities didn't seem to be an issue either. It was just a bunch of people who all came together to have a good time. Obviously the booze flowed freely as well. Men and women were dancing with abandon, chattering and laughing could be heard in a mumble competing with the music.

I clutched at Naru's arm a little more fiercely. I was feeling overwhelmed by the vibrancy of this party. I could also feel the death glare that was stabbing me in the back, courtesy of one pissed-off Medium. When we had left the office where we all gathered to go to the party Masako had been quick to try to grab Naru's arm to be escorted. Being the quick street smart vagabond I am I had realized this would be an issue before meeting up. So instead of making a scene at the office I called Naru on the way and asked if he would mind taking me to the Hall. I had forgotten where it was…… I know sneaky right!?

Well he seemed to have bought the excuse! The obvious copout is that everyone else was there too and going where we were, but I certainly wasn't going to point that out. And he had just simply said that I had already asked for him to escort me, and took my arm and we left. The whole way there I could feel a death ray though. She was being escorted by John. Bou-san and Ayako were arguing behind them and Lin unconcerned with his couple-less state took the rear guard.

The party swallowed us up. Very quickly we got separated from the other couples. Naru placed his arm around me in a surprisingly possessive move. I clutched back. If he was going to claim me then I would do the same to him!

We skirted around the dancers. Naru kept looking around like he was trying to find someone. Sighing a little he turned down to me. He said something and I couldn't quite make it out. The base of the music thumping my ears was too intense. He came closer his cheek brushing mine, he talked right next to my ear, his lips grazing it. "Do you want to get a drink?"

I nodded. Shivered a little. It was an amazing sensation to have him put his lips next to my ear. He directed me towards the table with the drinks. I wanted to try to impress him and gulped down one of the drinks, it backfired. I think I almost died. The burn of the drink hit my throat and burned my lungs on the way down. He shook his head at me as I coughed and then got me another drink. "Drink slowly." He sipped his own drink.

The first drink barely made it down… but the second went smooth, tasted sweet too! By now I felt tipsy. Inhibitions started to seem like nuisances… the world became a hazy throbbing mess… The music made my body start swaying and I turned to Naru. "wanna dance?" He eyed me and then the gyrating group on the floor. He shook his head no. I shrugged and then eyed the man next to him. He was cute... I grinned happily at him… He smiled at me. Naru cursed and then grabbed my arm and headed into the dancing, grinding mob before the other man could do more then reach out too.

We got to the middle of the floor and were surrounded by other couples, grinding and moving to the beat. I don't know how to dance. Luckily the alcohol took away all embarrassment. It might have also had an effect on Naru…

We danced.

His leg somehow got between mine and his arm wrapped around my waist and oh boy! I got my hips shimming around his leg like another girl I could see and judging by how dark Naru's eyes got I think I was shimming quite well! My eye caught another couple and I turned around put my rear up to his hips and shimmied again. Hips moving chest heaving, hair flaring… It was the most stimulating thing I have ever felt. I felt alive, foxy, sexy…. I don't know how long we stayed out on the floor teasing each other, fanning a flame I have never burned before.

I saw Bou-san and Ayako getting down and dirty on the floor. A beautiful pink-haired woman making Lin look happily uncomfortable and John and Masako swaying off on the edge of the crowd. At some time I saw her taking in the moves Naru and I were putting on each other with sad eyes. She met my eyes at one point. With a sad, resolute look of a girl moving on she took a hold of John more firmly.

Eventually we quit the dancing and grabbed another drink for our parched throats. I watched him drink his down. Head back, adam-apple moving. I drank mine down the same way no longer feeling the burn of alcohol. He watched me too, eyes dark. He reached out and steadied my stumbling steps. I put my hand up and felt the stubble of his chin and neck, so different from mine. I put my head on his chest. It felt so heavy. I watched the dancers and smelled his cologne.

When the dancers parted I could see Naru standing there watch us. I blinked puzzled my mind felt full of cotton. I looked at Naru and then looked up at Naru.

"What's wrong?" He asked taking in my puzzled expression.

I knitted my eyebrows at him and touched his face again. I looked towards the Naru in the crowd. I looked up again. With a drunk reassurance to my Naru. "You are soooo much prettier!"

"Huh?"

"You are much prettier than that other Naru over there!"

"What!!"

I pointed at the other Naru. "I said, you are prettier then the other Naru!"

He looked wildly over where I was pointing. "Where is he??"

The other Naru came up to us smiling at me. I giggled. "I am standing next to two Naru's!" I blinked at the other one. "Wait a minute your Dream Man!" I giggled again. Suddenly I was being shaken by an urgent Naru. "Where!? Where is Gene?" I frowned at Naru, "no this is dream man, and he is standing right next to me."

Dream man who is apparently named Gene kept saying something to me. But for the life of me I couldn't hear what his was saying. Naru shaking me didn't help either. "Quit it! I am trying to hear Dream man." Naru stopped shaking me. I blinked and shook my heavy head again. I watched Gene's lips. "Dream." "Mai." "School." "????" I repeated his words but the last one was too hard. Naru was watching and listening to me intently. I shrugged at him. "It is so much easier to understand him when I am sleeping." I complained.

I turned to Naru. The alcohol was making my head heavy and my wits slow. I saw an older woman staring at me. Her eyes flickered to Naru and she suddenly looked enraged. She stalked towards me. I got scared I quickly huddled into his arms turning him to face to oncoming woman. "Naru!' I whimpered.

Suddenly Gene stood in front of us. Protecting us. "No Gene!" Naru's head snapped up at my cry, arms tightening around me. The woman gave a macabre grin and somehow pushed him to the side. She pulled her arm back and with a scream of "you!" she hit me hard across the face. The pain sucked me down and the alcohol took away my will to fight. Lights out.


Mai's head whipped around and impacted with my chest hard enough to make my breath leave with an oomph! I clutched her unconscious sagging body. Suddenly I saw a soft glow. My brother was holding a woman back. "GO Noll!" I nodded, picked-up up Mai and ran.