Gaaah! I AM SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY! Thank you everyone for your warm responses and your continued support! Please continue to bear with me and hopefully I can still continue to meet your expectations!
NARU'S POV:
"I was lying on my bed contemplating all the new changes that has happened so quickly when I smelled Lin's cooking. I can't help but let a small smile loose as I think about my appointed guardian. As annoying as it is to have my every action under surveillance, Lin has become a steady and loyal companion. I'm actually quite grateful that he is taking Mai under his wing. He definitely has enough patience and stamina to do so. Hell, he put up with two mischievous twins, and it definitely didn't help matters that those same twins had such strong psychic powers either. Mai will be taught thoroughly and with much care. More importantly… She. Will. Be. Protected. I just can't believe the amount of surprises she keeps turning up! Will there ever be a peaceful moment with her? Then again, I'm definitely never bored either. Now if only I can have all the excitement she somehow brings without all the fears for her well being."
Hearing a call to go to dinner, Naru blinked himself out of his thoughts and made to go to dinner.
"My first dinner with Mai in my home. I don't want her to ever be anywhere else. All she needs to do is stay safe and stay by my side."
Stepping out of his room, he runs into the very person he was thinking of. Without giving himself time to restrain his usual nature, he gently slides their hands together in a loose clasp and tugs her after him to the kitchen.
"How was your first training session with Lin?"
Still trying to get used to this side of Naru, it took her a few seconds of fighting a blush before she could answer him without stammering.
'It was both fascinating and scary at the same time. I was scared of all the power coursing through me and even more frightened at how it lashed out at Lin. I thought I was going to burn him to a crisp!'
Chuckling a little at the thought of a singed Lin, Naru guided Mai into the kitchen to a bountiful spread laid out by a rather proud Lin.
As they settled themselves, Mai continued on excitedly about the training session. 'Although it was scary, it was definitely exhilarating! I went from nothing to "boom!" lots of power. I really hope I can be of more use from now and not need to rely on everyone's protection all the time.'
Lin stopped her for a moment there. 'Mai-san, please be aware that you were already an invaluable member of our team even before all your awakening powers came to be. As to the part of protecting yourself, of course it's best to always be able to defend yourself, but please do not think it is a bother to us. We are all here to help and protect each other. Just as you have always so willingly jumped in to save us, we have the same sentiments towards you.'
After hearing such a gentle declaration, Mai couldn't help but give him a soft smile that just seemed to glow.
Feeling both happy at the sight of a happy Mai and annoyed that she got that happy because on Lin, Naru directed their attentions to the meal.
Quickly filling her plate full of steamed dumplings, twice-cooked pork, Chinese broccoli glazed with oyster sauce, and ginger scallion tilapia, Mai dug in with gusto. As she ate the surprisingly delicious meal that Lin prepared, she couldn't help but think how surprisingly natural it was to fall into this type of companionable atmosphere with two men she had once thought to be two of the most anti-social creatures on earth.
After they were done, Mai shooed Lin out of the kitchen and demanded the right to do dishes from now on since he does the cooking. As she happily bustled around the kitchen, putting everything in order, (Lin is an awesome cook, but hilariously messy!) Naru had Lin follow him to his bedroom.
Entering his room, Naru pulled out the small jewelry box he found earlier and handed it to Lin. "I was hoping you could put some protection on them before I give these to her."
Opening the box, Lin was shocked for a few reasons. One, Naru is still creeping him out with all these romantic gestures. Two, for a first official gift, these will surprisingly be perfect for Mai. Third, and most important, these belong to Naru's birth mother. A memento left behind to Naru when she left the boys at the orphanage. Lin knew that Naru both cherished and hated the gift. On top of everything, with Gene gone, Naru holds the other part of the set too. When Luella and Martin adopted the boys, they were also given the gifts. Luella knew how difficult it must be for the boys to see the gifts, especially Naru, so she told them to each take one part of the gift and save it for someone special. "Purposely change the memories behind these items." She had told young Gene and Naru. "You don't know everything behind the reasons of your parents so you can't just throw these gifts away. They are the only physical link you have to them until you discover the truth. So until then, in order to see them in a favorable light, purposely change the memories and significance behind them."
They were a pair of bangle bracelets. They were made of 24 carat gold, thin, and light. The bands themselves were smooth and plain, but there were small charms hanging from them that really made it feminine. There was a pair of dangling red bows with attached gold bells at the ends of the bow. The bows were made of thin, but strong red ropes and the bells were made of 24 carat gold as well. The simplicity of the design and the clear sound of the bells are ideal for someone like Mai.
Looking back up at his charge, Lin now knew without a shadow of doubt that Naru is serious about Mai. These are too precious for him to now have carefully considered the significance.
'I will place some protective spells on these tonight. In fact, if you do not mind, I think these will be perfect for use as a set of "limiters" for her.'
"Limiters? Already? Are her powers that out of control?"
'I wouldn't say out of control, but when it does flare out, it can cause significant harm. I think it best to err on the safer side. Aside from that...' Lin hesitated slightly.
Intrigued that his normally unflappable guardian is at a loss for words, Naru stared intently at Lin.
Finally, with a small sigh of resignation. 'I was able to speak with Gene tonight.'
Shocked, Naru had to take a few seconds to compose himself, and stop the torrent of questions rolling around his mind. "What do you mean by that, Lin?"
'While establishing a link with Mai's mind, Gene spoke to me. He told me that Mai's powers were sealed in her hair and the longer it grows the more is released. That is why I am suggesting limiters.'
Still reeling from the idea that if Lin can speak to Gene with the help of Mai's powers, Naru wondered if perhaps, he himself could speak to his brother as well.
"I see. Well, please see to the bracelets tonight if you can, I'd like to present them to her tomorrow before leaving for the case."
Nodding his head slightly, 'I can most certainly take care of these tonight.'
Taking the jewelry box with him, Lin had his hand on the doorknob when he suddenly turned around to Naru again. 'Noll, make sure you tell the others tomorrow.'
With that, Lin let himself out.
'Make sure to tell the others?' It took Naru a moment to realize that Lin was referring to him coming clean about being Oliver Davis.
Sighing slightly, he realized that tomorrow will be quite an eventful day. He's planning on telling everyone his secrets. Thinking about all the different types of reactions he'll be getting is giving him a headache already. Takigawa and Matsuzaki will probably be the most volatile. Hara already knows, but she may not even be a problem since she probably won't even show. John will pose no problems, and neither will Yasuhara. In fact, Yasuhara probably has an inkling already.
Despite the severity of lying to everyone for so long, the thing that is on his mind the most is whether or not Mai will like his gift. Deciding to let things play out the way they will, he got ready for bed, and just hoped that tomorrow won't be too annoying.
Well, I'm not pleased with how short this one was, but I was anxious to put something up since it's been so long. Since I have a few days of nothing to do, I'll hopefully be updating a chapter each day for a couple more days! Thank everyone so much for staying with me! Next chapter is fiiiiiinally the case! Whew!