Forever and Always, but Never Say Never

We can't find Hiko.

The hallways had been cleansed, no one was left in the dressing rooms and the audience was cleansed as well, so it shouldn't be so hard to find him.

Masako says she can't sense him, and that may mean he is either gone, or had been twisted to such an extent that his essence has changed completely and can't be recognized by Masako. Lets hope it's not the latter.

We decided to go to bed after we had cleansed the theatre. Today was a new day, and we were all just sitting in the base waiting for the ballroom spirits to show up. Naru explained that for us to have a ball we'd have to pinpoint an exact time and make sure they would show up.

So here we are, Naru at his desk working like usual, Lin on the love seat, and the rest of us spread between the two couches. We had all changed dresses again. Mine was white strapless with light blue paisley patterns on the skirt and the front was frilly and tying in the back in a bow. Ayako was wearing blue dress with a green pattern on her bodice, long flowing sleeves, and her skirt was covered in glitter. She hated it.

Masako was wearing a black silk dress with a navy bodice that ties in the front and silver embroidering on the skirt. Naru was wearing a dark green silk long sleeve shirt that flared at the end of his sleeves. John's was similar but orange and with a brown vest. While Lin was wearing a black v-neck vest with silver vertical stripes. Monk hated his most of all, he was wearing a purple jacket like shirt

"Monk, purple is the color of royalty. You should be damn well grateful." Ayako told him.

"I feel like a big plum." He pouted.

"You look like one." Masako told him.

"Yeah, well you look like your ready to go to a funeral." He shot back. Masako covered her mouth with her sleeve, hiding a giggle.

"Yours soon enough." She told him.

"Why you little stuck up-" Monk started, I smacked him over the head.

"Mai, though, Mai looks absolutely like a princess." He finished, trying to please me.

"Suck up." Ayako called him.

"You really do look fine Monk." John told him.

"Yeah, but you're a guy, its not that meaningful coming from you." He tells John.

"Well I for one think you look very handsome Monk. That goes for all of you." I tell them.

"Thank you Mai." John replies, I give him a big smile.

"Mai, tea." I hear Naru yell.

"Uh-huh, whatever you say your majesty." I sneer at him.

"All of you get back to watching the monitors." He yells at them.

"There's only so much watching of a blank screen we can take Naru," Monk tells him.

Before Naru can say anything, I slam a teacup down on his desk, and start pouring some fresh tea into it. Damn the tea was hot, I hope I don't burn myself…

**light bulb flickers on above Mai's head**

"Hey Naru, when you saved me, did you get burned at all?" I ask him.

"That's none of your concern Mai," he says. He doesn't even look up.

"Screw that, Naru, did you get hurt!?" I ask again.

"Mai, I'm fine." He says looking up at me standing over him.

"That is not what I asked. Naru, DID YOU GET HURT?" I ask him again.

He just sits there for a moment. I slam my hand down on the desk. "If you got hurt you should get it checked out by Ayako." I tell him.

"I'm fine." He tells me, looking me in the eye, he stands up so he can look down at me. The others don't notice out fight.

"Naru. You don't' get it. You can't work like you do everyday, and then when you get hurt just forget about it. You need to think of your wellbeing every once in a while you idiot. And yes it is my concern because whether you like or not we all care for you and if you suddenly pass out for some reason and we find out you were hurt and didn't tell us we would be SERIOUSLY PISSED. SO GET AYAKO TO LOOK AT YOUR DAMN BURNS!"

By now everyone was looking at me.

"Fine." He says. I think I'm about to pass out, what did he just say?

Naru looks over at Ayako and raises an eyebrow.

"Uh, I'm gonna go get my first aid kit, Naru come with me I'll take a look." She says, and the next think I know Ayako and Naru leave the room.

What just happened?

"Way to go Mai, you finally got Naru wrapped around your little finger." Monk comments. Of course I'm still spacing out trying to comprehend what the hell just happened.

Masako looks like she's about to blow a gasket.

"Maybe it was the dress, it's hard to say no to someone that looks like Cinderella." Monk continues.

Naru giving in to me because of how I look in this dress…I think I just invented…what was it now, eleventh or twelfth new shade of blush. If this were an anime, steam would be coming our of my ears.

I think I was a little harsh actually…

I walk outta the base and head to the guy's room, where I'm guessing Naru to be with Ayako. I walk in to find Naru with his shirt off.

He's covered in horrible burns. Most are what looks to be first degree, but some look like the skin is ready to peel off. And even now he looks amazing with his shirt off. Damn handsome bastard.

I walk in.

"Oh Mai, could you hold this bandage down while I go to our room to get some more gauze?" Ayako asks.

"Sure," I tell her. Ayako was wrapping a large white wrap around Naru's torso, and my job was just to hold the end on his chest with one hand pushed to his chest, with me REALLY close to him.

Imma gonna kill Ayako.

When she leaves the room, I realize I haven't looked Naru in the eyes, I keep them on the wrap I'm holding against his chest as we sit on a couch.

"I'm sorry." I whisper. "I didn't mean to yell, its just when you didn't answer- I got scared. And I'm sorry for the burns, they're my fault. You shouldn't have to save me every case like that. "

I can feel Naru looking at me. "The burns are NOT your fault. And you were right to yell. The burns had worsened over night and I didn't notice." He says sternly.

"How can you possible now notice these?" I ask, making the mistake to look up and into his eyes.

We were really close.

"Working." He tells me.

"You work too hard." I tell him. So. Close.

"So I've been told." He says.

"And still it doesn't get through your thick head, stubborn idiot." I say to him.

He smiles.

WAIT. HOLD ON. FREEZE FRAME. WHAT JUST HAPPEN? DID NARU JUST SMILE. AT SOMETHING I SAID??!! GENUALLY SMILE? OKAY, I THINK HE DID. JUST MAKING SURE IM NOT CRAZY.

Ayako comes bursting in. She takes the wrap from me, and I see Naru is back to his cold self, but I can't get his smile out of my head. Such a rare occurrence graced upon me.

I think just yesterday I was asking myself why I loved him.

Well, I think this is why.

I fell in love with butterflies I get in my stomach every time I see him smile, that warm feeling in my chest every time I simply see him.

I never got that with anyone before, not even Gene.

I am in love with Naru, a narcissistic work-aholic with family issues and an ego the size of Russia.

Wow, my life sucks.

There you go, Fluff all the way for this one. I needed filler, and you guys were being REALLY good with reviewing lately so I thought I'd treat you to this.

Tell me what you think. If it's too OCC tell me 'cause I wanna keep them in character.

Forecast for next chapter:

Chance of Fluff 60%

Chance of dancing 80%

Chance of some kissing 90%

Chance of freaky evil shit going on 90%

Chance of a Ball 100%

Review!!! Remember…. More reviews = more Fluff!!!!!