I really don't mean to post so infrequently. So thanks to those of you who actually read this thing. Review if you want, or not. But i hope you review ;)
Ayako refused to make eye contact with him. She greeted Lin and Madoka but turned her back on Monk. The others watched this interaction with an awkward tension, but nobody said anything. Naru pulled Monk and Madoka away to fill them in on the situation.
"This is awkward," Yasu laughed nervously pushing up his glasses. Kiritsugu nodded once in agreeance Ayako folded her arms over her chest and sat on a bench they had been using to hold computer equipment.
"Do you mind if i ask what exactly happened between you two? You seemed fine at the funeral." Yasu pressed, curiosity overpowering his fear of the red haired priestess.
At first it looked as though she wasnt going to say anything, but then she opened her mouth and spoke through gritted teeth. "He cheated on me, with one of his bands' groupies." Yasu blinked in surprise. Monk may have been a bit of an idiot at times but they never would have pegged him as the type to cheat.
The others joined the circle once again and Naru made sure to separate Monk and Ayako, the others could see that he was just as upset by their group dynamics as anyone.
"Well," said Monk clapping his hands together, "Let's go save Mai."
Mai sat curled in on herself on the cold dirty concrete, the dust below her had gone damp from crying and sweat. She wasnt crying now, but she had been in fetal position so long she could no longer feel her arms or legs. The wound across her stomach was a mess of drying blood and puss, and the fabric of her t shirt was fused to it. Another reason not to move.
When Masako came to visit her, Mai ignored her, she retreated so far into her own mind that she hardly noticed now when someone came in o check on her or when food was slid under the door. Mai was essential catatonic.
"Mai, please," Cried Masako. "You have to pull out of this, you're stronger than that!" There was strain in Masako's voice, and if Mai had bothered to look at her she would have seen that she had a swollen face and was little more than skin and bones. "Mai," Choked out Masako before the projection faded away.
Mai thought back, she thought back on all of the cases she and the gang had taken. On all of the times she had been in mortal danger, in all of the times Naru or Monk or Lin had saved her. She often imagined Naru bursting through the door, using his powers to keep any oppressors at bay, he knew it would cost him, but in her fantasy he loved her enough for a little self sacrifice.
She didnt even flinch when the creaking sound of the door echoed through the stone room. She didnt look up to see who it was, but she soon felt strong arms scooping her up and throwing a blanket over her, hushed whispers kept on telling her that it would be alright. She allowed her head to loll back a bit so as to see what was going on, it wasnt the voice of the usual doctors. She looked under heavy stoned eyelids to see a man with blond brown hair that fell over not so glittering anymore eyes.
"Tony?" She breathed, her voice was hoarse from crying and screaming, but he heard her and held her closer.
"I'm so sorry, Mai." He said. Before the confusion could set in at his apology, they were being chased by dozens of men in lab coats, shouting and throwing things.
Suddenly with a wave of hot energy, the double doors at the end of the hall swung open almost flying of of the hinges. The hairs on her arms stood up in a familiar sensation.
"Nar..." She coughed and started convulsing in Tony's arms. He knelt to the ground cradling her head.
"No, no no no no." He struggled to keep her still, holding her arms at her sides as best he could. Ayako shoved him out of the way and turned Mai to the side just in time for foam to slew out of her mouth, her eyes rolled back in her head and then she was still.
The hot air grew more intense as he approached. Naru grabbed Tony by the collar of his shirt and slammed him against the wall with impressive strength for such a small man, his normally indigo eyes were glowing a light white and seemed to bore right through him.
"Noll," Warned Lin, who was carrying a bundled up figure in his own arms. Monk and the others were crowding around Ayako and Mai, having already dealt with all of the men in lab coats.
"This is your fault!" Hissed Naru, tightening his hold on Tony's throat. Tony struggled against his grasp, but once he glimpsed Mai's frail still body, he relented knowing that it was his fault.
Kiritsugu came up behind him and placed a hand on Naru's shoulder, he didnt fl back with the power, and Naru knew he was going to crash soon.
He shrugged Kiritsugu off and swung a fist right at Tony's face hearing the satisfying crunch of breaking bone. Tony and Naru slipped to the ground in heaps.
Ayako had tears streaking down her face, and she buried her head in Monk's chest. He held her tightly trying to keep himself from crying. Yasu went to Naru and put his arm around his shoulder to pick him up. Kiritsugu picked up Tony. They slowly gathered up their senses and left the gloomy tunnel. Madoka phoned the police and told them that a series of bodies were found there. Then they went to the hospital.
Mai stood up finding that she was in perfect health, not a fleck of dirt was on her. She looked around and saw it was the emptiness of her mind. She almost cried with joy when she saw Gene. He smiled at her with open arms. Beside him, John appeared, stopping Mai in her tracks.
"John?" She asked. He rubbed the back of his neck and blushed a bit.
"Hello Mai," He smiled. He wasn't wearing his priest outfit and instead was in jeans and an orange sweatshirt. Mai rushed forward and hugged them both. They hugged her back, less enthusiastically.
"What's wrong?" Mai asked, pulling back confused.
"Mai, " Started John. "You- We-" He struggled to get it out.
"We're dead Mai. So are you." Gene's face was stoney, he looked exactly like Naru. The news hit her like a train and suddenly she remembered everything that had just happened.
"What about Masako?" Mai asked. John shook his head with a sad smile.
"She's alright. Mai, you have always been a fighter, you deal with death on regular basis and always come out on top." Said Gene. "Now, i don't know why you didnt even react when we told you you were dead, but thats not the Mai we know and love." Gene was looking at her sternly, scolding her almost.
"I don't understand, you said i was dead, there's nothing else i can do." She furrowed her brow.
John laughed, "When has that stopped you before?"
Gene waved a hand over the ground and before him appeared the hospital. If it wasnt so serious it would have looked comical. Naru, Masako and Mai were all in beds next to each other, all hooked up to machines. Monk and Ayako were cuddled up on the edge of Masako's bed, Yasu and Kiritsugu were pacing in front of Mai's and Lin was waiting patiently with his hands clasped under his chin.
"What about Tony?" Mai asked, "He rescued me didnt he?" Uncharacteristic anger flashed across John's face.
"Tony did rescue you." Said Gene putting a hand on John's shoulder to calm him down. "But he was also the reason yo were taken there to begin with."
"That psychopath, Dr. Hara was looking into using mediums to bring back the dead rather than just to communicate with them. He had "Tony" Go out and seduce young mediums and then test them with a machine he designed to look like a flower. " Mai remembered the flower in the restaurant.
"He would test their power and then have them kidnapped. " Gene finished, looking disgusted.
Mai's face was hot and she balled up her fists. John placed a hand on her shoulder and she relaxed leaning in to his touch.
"You should wake up Mai. They're waiting for you." John smiled.
"Noll can't really function without you. I'm worried what would happen to him if you weren't there." Said Gene.
Mai tilted her head as the vision of John and Gene disappeared, to be replaced with bleary garish hospital lights.