Double Date

Naru stood in front of the restaurant, the paper Yasu handed him last night in his palm. He looked down . . . Kozue at 7 pm. Right place, right time. He pushed the paper into his pocket and opened the door. He walked to the front table, ignoring the looks the women around him were giving him.

He quietly said Yasu's name, quickly being answered with a smile and assurance that the rest of his party was waiting for him. Naru followed the maitre'd to the table where Yasu and Mai sat with a chestnut-haired woman . . . probably Hatomi, he thought. She reminded him of Mai. Hatomi looked good in her little black dress, but his eyes were drawn to Mai's bright red dress and bare legs that stretched under the table. Hatomi's hair was longer than Mai's, but her body type was very similar. Naru wondered briefly if Yasu cared for Mai more than a friend, then pushed the thought away. They lived together. If there was anything between them, it would have already happened.

"Ah, our last member," Yasu stated, watching Mai's face as she turned around and saw Naru behind her. Her face turned red like her dress. He was in black, no surprise there, but he added a white shirt under his jacket. He looked good . . . but then he always does, she thought. She glared at Yasu, who smiled easily. "Hatomi, this is Shibuya Kazuya, the boss of SPR. Mai gave him the nickname "Naru" and we all seem to use it. Naru, this is my girlfriend, Nyoga Hatomi." Mai listened as they exchanged pleasantries and Naru took the seat to Mai's right. She refused to look at him. Yasu knew she was still trying to figure out how much interaction she was willing to endure with her former SPR family. So, why would he invite Naru to dinner? Mai felt arguing at the table in the fancy restaurant would be tasteless and chose to berate him mentally instead.

Why did you invite him? You *know* I didn't want to see any of them for a few days. Mai thought at Yasu. Naru saw Yasu grab his left hand. He'd seen Yasu do that before.

Double-date, Mai. Hatomi said she'd feel more comfortable if you had a date, Yasu replied.

So, Naru is the only man you could think of? Yasu shrugged, released his hand and smiled widely at his girlfriend, ignoring Mai's question. Naru watched the exchange, wondering if Mai was telepathically yelling at her roommate for inviting him.

"Yasuhara, why do you keep grabbing your hand?" Naru asked.

"I didn't realize I was," Yasu said smoothly. Mai turned and glared at Naru. He heard "later" in his head. Obviously Hatomi knew nothing of Mai's powers, nor did they want her to know. He filed the information away to ask again later.

Dinner went by too slowly for Mai. Naru caught her glancing his way more than once. She frowned. Her favorite restaurant and her favorite meal . . . all ruined by the narcissist. Mai tried to concentrate on the conversation, but her mind kept wandering to the man at her side. He definitely wasn't a boy any longer. She felt the familiar ache from when she was younger. She could occasionally smell his cologne as waiters passed their table. The idea that she didn't have feelings for him anymore faded. She was still responding to him, even when she didn't want to. Her feelings, though, changed. She wasn't content to moon over him like a lovesick school girl any longer. She wondered how he would feel if she reached out and touched him . . . just for a moment. She stopped eating as she realized her body was responding to him sitting next to her. Mai, you've got to get it together, she told herself.

"So, how long have you and Mai been dating?" Hatomi asked. Mai choked on the water she was sipping as her attention was drawn abruptly back to the conversation. Naru smirked in Mai's direction.

"This is our first date. We've known each other for years, though," Naru said, putting his arm around her shoulders. He felt her stiffen slightly, but she didn't push him away.

"So, not love at first sight?" Hatomi pushed, intrigued that someone finally caught Mai's attention.

"Actually, I think Mai saw through me from the moment she met me," Naru smiled. Mai glanced at him and recognized the smile. It didn't reach his eyes. Why are you really here? She thought at him as she sipped her water again. Naru kept his mind blank as he stroked her shoulder with his thumb. Mai could feel the connection taking hold. No one told him that physical contact was the key to telepathically communicating with her. Had he guessed?

"So, how did you meet Yasuhara?" Naru asked.

"Oh, at the office. He might be a lawyer, but I'm just a secretary. He was always so nice, I couldn't help but fall for him. One time . . ." Naru half-listened to Yasu's girlfriend as he watched Mai. Her shoulders were bare in the red sleeveless dress. Her wrap hung over her right shoulder. He felt a tingling moving up his hand as he stroked her soft skin. It was more than attraction for her . . . he'd felt that pull from the moment he saw her again. Curiosity filled his mind as she turned toward Hatomi and Yasu. He saw the edge of a tattoo on her right shoulder under the wrap. He recognized the symbol from a religion not normally worshipped in Japan. Unconsciously, his hand slid the wrap from her shoulder, exposing the tattoo and he started tracing it. He felt her shudder and she reached up, grabbing his hand and pulling it into her lap.

Yasu and Hatori moved closer to each other, speaking softly as they discussed what they would do after dinner. They didn't notice the interaction between the other two at their table.

Is it tender? Naru thought.

No, Mai answered.

You know, it's not really fair that you can read my mind.

Right now, we are having a conversation. Direct contact makes it easier to communicate internally, Mai admitted.

Exactly how much can you hear?

Any thought you push at me. If it's something you are suppressing, I won't hear it . . . unless I push. You'd feel that, though. It feels like someone putting pressure on your entire head.

So, I could tell you everything I want to do with you right now and you'd be forced to hear it? Naru teased her. Mai shoved his hand off her lap and reached for her drink, looking up as a throat cleared to her left. She looked up at the man standing next to her in a navy blue suit. He was tall and in good shape, considering his age. His white hair was thick and the wrinkles were noticeable.

"Good evening, Dr. Taniyama. I was unaware that you come to Kozue." Mai put down the glass without taking a sip. Naru saw her hand shaking and glared at the man that towered above them. Mai stood up and bowed to the man. Naru watched as the man took in Mai's outfit, uncaring that it was very apparent that he wasn't looking at her clothing.

"Good evening to you as well, Dr. Yoshiogo. It is merely a special evening for us." Yasu's head shot up as he heard the name. Naru saw panic flash in his eyes.

"Dr. Yoshiogo, Mai has told us all about you. How are you this evening?" Yasuhara stood up easily and bowed, not taking his eyes from the man. "I am Yasuhara Omasu, a lawyer with Minagawa Ebisu. I am also Mai's best friend." Dr. Yoshiogo's eyebrows went up slightly at the word "lawyer", but he quickly covered up his reaction.

"I am quite fine, but I would be better if Dr. Taniyama joined me for a drink this evening. I'm sure you won't mind her absence for a while." He continued staring at Mai while talking to Yasu.

"He might not mind, but I do," Naru said coldly, standing up behind Mai and putting his arms around her.

"And you are?"

"Her boyfriend." Naru stared at the older man until he stepped back, realizing he would not be able to get the young doctor away from her friends. Dr. Yoshiogo frowned at Naru, then looked at Mai again.

"Let's just plan on having a drink together another time, Dr. Taniyama." He reached toward her, but Naru pulled Mai back against him and away from the roving hand. Mai nodded and waited for the doctor to walk away.

"Okay, I don't know who he was, but he's creepy," Hatomi said quietly as everyone else sat down.

"You have no idea," Mai muttered as Naru watched her reaction. Mai was not comfortable with the other man . . . and she liked everyone. He didn't like the way that man looked at his Mai. He added another thing to talk with her about later.

"That's him, isn't he?" Yasu asked, glancing over his shoulder at the older man before leaning over the table to whisper loudly. "And he's still looking at you. Well, I guess that killed our original plan."

"What plan?" Hatomi asked.

"Yasu was going to pretend to be my boyfriend to get that jerk to leave me alone," Mai whispered back angrily. "He thinks he can have any woman in the hospital because he's in administration. Every time he touches me, my skin crawls."

"And the fact that Mai hasn't succumbed to his charms just makes her more desirable in his eyes," Yasu added. "Hatomi, I don't think we're going back to your place. I have to make sure Mai is safe." He squeezed her hand as she looked upset by the turn of events.

"Don't worry, I'll take her home," Naru injected. "I'm sure Hatomi doesn't get as much time with you as she'd like." Hatomi's face lit up as she looked at Naru.

"Really?" she asked, not willing to give up her night with her boyfriend. Naru nodded with a smirk on his face. He didn't need to see Mai's face to know her reaction.

"Am I even here?" Mai asked, crossing her arms across her chest angrily. "I am not helpless. I can protect myself."

"Yes, but you don't need to be fired from your first real job after getting your degree, Mai-chan." Yasu wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Just accept that we're taking care of you."

- x X x -

Haruhi followed Naru after giving her goodnights to Yasu and Hatomi. She saw Dr. Yoshiogo start to move toward her as they moved toward the restaurant's exit. Naru glanced over her shoulder, then slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

"What are you . . ." Mai began, but was cut off when Naru kissed her. Mai forced herself not to push him away. He was only protecting her from Yoshiogo, she told herself. However, the kiss didn't end quickly. Instead, she felt his lips push insistently against her own. She allowed her own lips to part as his tongue licked insider her mouth. Moaning, she touched his tongue with her own. She felt her heart beating faster and her body heating up. She knew she wanted more.

Naru pulled back and looked at deep in her eyes. She couldn't pull away or hide the fact that she was breathing heavily. She was so wrapped up in her reactions to him that she didn't notice his. He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the restaurant.

Neither noticed the playboy doctor glaring at the pair as they left. The wine glass he was holding shattered. Yasu mentally noted the doctor's reaction. He'd warn Naru so Mai would have two people watching out for her safety.

- x X x -

Naru opened the door to his car for Mai. She pulled her wrap tight around her shoulders and moved past him. He could smell her perfume. All he had to do was reach out to touch her. He forced himself to be a gentleman and closed the door after she tucked her dress around her.

Naru slid in and started the car. Glancing at Mai, he could see she was deep in thought. He decided to take her back to her place as Yasu and Hatomi were definitely going back to Hatomi's place. He quickly drove to her apartment and found a park. Getting out, he opened the door and offered a hand to her. Mai looked up and blushed, glad it was too dark for him to see.

"I can take it from here, Naru," Mai said. "Thank you for the ride back." Naru shook his head.

"I told Yasu I'd make sure you're safe. That means in your apartment after I check it to make sure no one is in there." Mai glared at him. Naru ignored her and grabbed her arm. He made sure to keep his mind blank so she couldn't read him. He didn't let go until they were standing in front of her apartment door.

"Okay. I'm home and safe," Mai said as she unlocked the door. "You can go home now."

"Are you trying to get rid of me, Mai?" Naru said, moving closer to her. Mai opened the door and hurried inside, ignoring Naru's chuckle. As she slipped off her shoes, she felt Naru pulling her wrap from her and hanging it on the hook near the door. Mai felt the need to put her high heel shoes back on as she suddenly felt short next to the narcissist.

"I just think you should go." Mai said, not looking at him. Naru put a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. He leaned forward. Mai wanted nothing more than another kiss like they shared at the restaurant.

"I need to check the entire apartment first to make sure you are safe," he whispered in her ear. He felt her shudder slightly. "You could offer me tea for my trouble." Mai sighed, knowing she wouldn't get rid of him easily. She nodded and went into the kitchen. She could hear Naru going into every room, moving around it and coming back out. Mai wondered if she left anything embarrassing out in her room.

Naru returned as the tea pot started whistling. Mai made him a cup of tea and placed it at the table. She put her own across the table from him. He picked his cup up and went into the living room. He placed his cup on the table in front of the loveseat. He removed his jacket, throwing it over the back of the back of Yasu's chair before sitting in the loveseat. Mai watched him, trying to figure out what he was doing.

"Are you going to stare at me all night or sit down?" Naru asked. Mai sighed and picked up her cup, moving to a chair across from the loveseat.

"Mai, you need to sit next to me," Naru said, leaning back with his teacup in his hands.

"Why? If you want to talk, I can hear you from here." Naru stared at her and Mai knew he'd just pull her up and move her if she didn't sit next to him, so she moved around the table and sat down.

"Isn't that better?" He leaned forward and put his tea down. Mai nodded slightly. Naru reached up and put his hand on her right shoulder, starting to trace the tattoo again. Mai could feel her powers connecting them. She fought to keep her body from responding as well.

"What is the tattoo for?" Naru asked as his fingertip lightly traced it. She could give him a short answer, but knew he'd question her until he was satisfied.

"It's like one of Ayako's charms. It tells me if there's a demon nearby and protects me from possession."

How can you tell if there's a demon, Naru asked. Mai could hear his deep voice inside her head. She bit her bottom lip.

It burns.

And you can't be possessed?

Nothing is 100%. I can be but it needs to be pretty powerful. Naru nodded. He could feel his body responding to her closeness. He wanted to pull her into his lap and kiss her. He pushed the desire away.

How can Yasu talk to you internally without touching you?

He has a tattoo that lets him do that.

So, how do I get one?

There is no way I would allow you into my head anytime you wanted.

No way? I guess I could just continue touching you, Naru smirked as Mai's head whipped around. He bent down and kissed her. Mai could taste the tea on his lips. He pulled back slightly, waiting to see what she'd do. Mai put her tea cup down on the table and turned toward him. She put her hands behind his neck and pulled his lips down to hers