I feel a voice… voices in my head telling me to update… My fingers are flying over the keyboard, my mind dizzy as I click away with the mouse. The voices are becoming stronger, urging me not to torture them…!

Well, seems you guys' telepathy worked, as you're getting an early update! This chapter is even longer that I said in the previous chapter, a whopping 18 pages. I did consider splitting it into two chapters, but nowhere felt right, so I decided to spoil you guys, seeing as you left all these awesome follows and favourites.

To the spokespeople of the telepathy, thank you! , xSapphirexRosesxFanx, Guest and Summer, you guys are awesome!

Guest: Thanks for the lovely review, it actually had me thinking and adding a small piece on at the end of the chapter. Hope you enjoy the glimpse!

Summer: I'm glad you enjoyed the effort I put into my AN, I had fun writing it hahahaha. First time I tried written hypnosis;) Thanks for the compliment and review, it makes me giddy knowing I captured your interest, as I know how terrible it can be to search for a good story to read and find out you've read most of them. I hope you enjoy this!

ENJOY!

Chapter 10

Mai knew Naru would never let her carry out her plan, but she also knew that he was the only one who could stop her, as Lin couldn't move from his spot and John and Williams-san had to stay near the front where the demon would be caught.

Mai took a deep breath, glancing at Naru and seeing that he was preoccupied with the problem they were presented with. She could see him running over the various possibilities in his mind and knew when he had reached the same conclusion she had. Unlike her, however, he certainly didn't look accepting of it.

His hand shot out to grab her elbow to hold her to him, but she had already sprinted forwards, ignoring his yell. She passed Lin and the two priests and knew they were worried, as she could hear John call after her in desperation, even as he knew he couldn't move. She could hear Naru pounding behind her, as well as John calling to him, but she ignored it as she vaulted onto the raised walkway and ran into the house.

As soon as she entered the house, the putrid atmosphere was pressing down on her, trying to dominate her, but she pressed on. Sliding around corners and sprinting down hallways she reached the demon's lair after a few minutes of running.

Heaving, she struggled to draw in breath and calm her heart and although she was tired by her mad dash, she was counting on adrenalin to keep her going. Composing herself, she pushed the door open, wincing as it creaked and revealed the room beyond.

In the middle of the room, above the torn hole in the floorboards, the demon sat amongst the rubble. It was folded in on itself, with its misshapen knees pulled up next to its head and its arms crossed between its drawn up legs and over its chest, each hand holding the opposite shoulder. Its tail was curled around its body, the point forming an arrow-like tip. She could see its body pulsing as more of the black skin flaked off, revealing the gleaming red flesh beneath it. A third horn was growing out from between its other two horns and its curved claws had lengthened.

She could feel the chill travelling down her body at the slow rising and falling of its ridged back as it breathed, the unnatural motionlessness of the monster unnerving her. It almost felt as if the beast was waiting, as if it was tranquil as it grew; however she could feel the maliciousness roiling beneath his still façade.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to make her voice as strong as possible.

"You're it."

Six rancid topaz eyes shot open and pinned her with its tainted gaze. Jagged teeth shifted threateningly into a delighted grin and a forked tongue hung out of the side of its mouth. Mai didn't wait to see what the thing would do, instead she turned and ran.

GH

Naru felt as if his skin was crawling with bugs as the demon's power rubbed sickly against his skin. The feeling was only worsened by the knowledge that Mai was in the house alone with that monster, practically defenceless, and he couldn't go to help her. His eyes were fixed on the door as the tension in the air mounted and his body became, if possible, even more rigid.

His PK was almost visibly roiling around him, his agitation making the power move around in high alert, ready to act at a moment's notice. Invisible sweat beaded on his forehead as his mind flashed back to the image of Mai's uncovered skin as he treated her wounds. Despite his words to her, he had not been able to resist running his finger over her skin, though it was so faintly he was certain that she hadn't noticed.

As his power flared in response to the sudden actively maliciousness of the demon's power, he couldn't help but pray it wouldn't be the last time he had the opportunity to see Mai's skin flushed with life.

GH

She could hear the wood splintering as the thing leapt after her and a quick glance behind her revealed that it was hunted her like an animal, running on all fours. She faced forwards and promised herself she would not look back again. If she had any chance of outstripping this monster, she would have to keep her eyes to what was in front of her.

'Little worm, you came to play… Such an interesting worm…'

She was suddenly grateful for the demon's overwhelming size as the rancid voice crooned from behind her. It seemed it was difficult for it to run through the hallways, even bent over like it was, as its back broke the ceiling above it and its claws hooked into the wood.

'But a game is only interesting if there's a prize…Let's see. If I catch you and win… I get to devour your soul. And what a delicious soul it smells like…'

Mai sped up, desperate to reach the door. Turning another corner, she followed her instinct and dived to the right, rolling and coming up running without breaking a stride. A deep tear in the wood appeared where she had just run and Mai knew she was just saved from being cut in half. Another corner and Mai could see the entrance way, and she smiled, hearing the echo of Lin's low whistle.

"And if I win and evade you… You get banished forever."

She dived out the doorway, the demon right behind her. She could see its shadow looming over her and just when she thought he would get her at the last second, she felt a force jerk her body forwards, slamming her into Naru's arms, who stood a few yards away, ready for her.

With her in his arms, Naru ran back and Mai saw Lin's eyes narrow in concentration. The timbre of the whistle heightened, now sounding more like when he had called his shiki to ward off Urado. Three glowing balls of twisting light flashed forwards and Lin stood, holding the paper with the demon's name on it in his hand.

Flinging his hand forward, he threw the sealing paper like a kunai and the ink on the paper spiralled off into the air. The shiki seemed to 'grab' the ink and as they twisted around the roaring demon, Mai saw that it formed what looked like a net of tar. The monster thrashed in his sticky cage, and as soon as he eroded one string of tar, another bound him down.

"In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Mai started as John and Williams-san started chanting, all their attention focused on the demon as their voices merged together.

"Oh Glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in 'our battle against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places'."

The shiki pulled the demon to the ground and continued twisting around him, lightning fast. Snarling, the creature speared its tail forwards, catching one of the shiki as it sped past. The shiki seemed to crumple into itself before it flickered and faded away. Lin's whistle heightened once again and seemed to become stronger. Mai realised that there were subtle fluctuation on the sound and that the whistle seemed to direct the shiki around the writhing demon.

"Come to the assistance of those God has created to His likeness, and whom He has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil."

The demon screamed as the words of the priests surrounded it and Mai could see its skin starting to smoke.

"The Holy Church venerates you as her guardian and protector; to you, the Lord has entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray, therefore, to the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church."

Sweat was beading on Lin's forehead as the demon continued to struggle in its binding and Mai knew that Lin was straining under the effort of keeping the demon captured with only two shiki. The last part of the exorcism required that Williams-san place a small crucifix on the body of the demon and if Lin couldn't subdue it for that instance, it was possible the foreign priest might die.

Usually the cross was place on the person or the house the demon was possessing, but this one hadn't yet possessed anything and they would prefer if it didn't.

"Offer our prayers to the Most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us; take hold of 'the dragon, the serpent of old, which is the devil and Satan,' bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit 'that he may no longer seduce the nations'"

The flesh of Shuten Dōji continued to smoke and Mai could make out that it was in the shape of a crucifix between its six eyes.

'You insignificant insects! I will not be defeated like this! Your power is nothing without that mark of your god! I dare you to come near me! I will bite off your head and devour your puny souls!'

Mai bit her lip, terrified for the priest who was walking forwards, as she knew Lin didn't have enough control over the monster. Kamaitachi started cutting into Williams-san at an alarming rate, but it was small, shallow cuts and the priest continued forwards. Just before the priest reached the demon to place the crucifix on its smoking flesh, Mai saw triumph flash through those empty eyes filled with hate.

Williams-san's arm reached out as he spoke and Mai watched in horror as the demon lunged forwards, its jaw stretched open to show his black gullet. Time seemed to stand still for Mai and she was certain this was the end, that the priest would die. A breeze ruffled her hair and her clothes whipped around her.

Wait…

Naru's arm was stretched forwards as his PK caused a wind to whirl around them. She could see his eyes narrowed in anger and silver light dripping upwards off him. Shuten Dōji was abruptly slammed into the ground, and it looked for a split second as if gravity was pushing down on the being.

However, that instance was all that Williams-san needed and he slapped the cross down on the demon as he and John intoned the last words.

"In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Howling in fury, Shuten Dōji burst into searing flames, its flesh charring and bubbling. The flame became hotter and hotter, so hot that Mai could feel it from where she stood as she flinched back. The evil pouring of the being spiked and she heard words echo eerily around them.

'This is not the end… Remember little worm, I am still here…'

With one last roar, the flames flashed brilliant magnesium white, reaching towards the sky, before it was sucked into a vortex of nothing within a split second.

Mai stood shocked for a moment more, blinking the dots before her eyes away. She couldn't believe it was over. John and Williams-san was holding their hands in prayer and purifying the house and grounds with holy water, but Mai didn't pay attention to them.

"I win…" The whispered words fell out of her mouth and her knees felt weak, so she didn't fight it when they buckled beneath her. Naru crouched down beside her and she knew any moment now she would receive a tongue lashing about her actions, but for now, all that she could do was cry tears of relief.

GH

"What? A demon you say!" Naru nodded as he calmly looked at their frightened client. It was barely half a day after the exorcism and Mai was still unconscious, though Naru supposed she would wake up anytime now.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he determinedly brought his thoughts back to the man in front of his hospital bed and not his assistant at the hotel.

"Yes and he was being sealed by the miko everyone witnessed. The words on your daughter's neck also originated from him. We have banished him, so you have nothing to worry about Yaomoto-san. I would suggest burning the house and in particular the pit where the demon's sealing pot was, to ascertain all jaki is purified, but other than that, you can continue building on the property."

Yaomoto-san smiled, relieved as he wiped a few drops of sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. He bowed towards Naru, his face grateful.

"Thank you so much Shibuya-san! You have done my family a great service." Naru nodded, his face blank as he watched the man leave his room. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Wha-…What happened to the pretty lady?" Slowly looking up, Naru wondered where Mai was, since she would have known how to handle the six year old much better than he could.

O yeah, she decided to recklessly challenge a demon and fell unconscious because of the excess jaki clinging to her. That was his idiot assistant he had to work with, who loved causing him almost heart-attacks.

But the girl in front of him stood steadfast and he sighed before answering. "She moved on. She's at peace now."

"So you didn't hurt her?" Naru shook his head silently and a happy expression came over Aiko's face.

"Good. She was nice and she told me she was tired, so I'm glad she could rest now." Cobalt eyes narrowed once again and he sharply replied to the girl's statement.

"I thought you said that when the lady saved you, she didn't talk to you." Aiko shrugged and nodded, but seeing the man clad in black narrow his eyes further, almost glaring at her, she quickly continued.

"She didn't talk when she helped me. She spoke to me later in my dreams."

"In your dreams?"

"Yes. She visited me and her head was in my voice. She told me she couldn't talk because she gave it to protect us from a bad monster. She said that… that she had to resort to carving words in the wall. That you were in danger and had to leave."

"Why didn't you tell your father to tell us?"

"I forgot." Aiko shrugged innocently as Naru closed his eyes, his face pinched. Oh, how he wished she wasn't six years old so that he could properly chew her out for her oversight. But she was and he couldn't, so he just took a deep breath and sighed, nodding at her.

His client's daughter smiled and waved goodbye before running from the room, his eyes on her back. A suspicion he had for a while now, ever since he first heard of the connection between the Yamamoto's and Yaomoto's flared to life.

He was certain there was some psychic ability left in their blood, seeing as Yaomoto-san apparently had some sixth instinct, like when he saw their name in the newspaper and knew he had to come, or Aiko and her interactions with the miko.

Not that it mattered much, their ability wasn't overwhelming and he didn't think it would ever be more than good instinct or the odd spirit. Not like his assistant. Again Naru clenched his teeth.

His heart still beat frantically thinking about how close his assistant had come to death.

When Mai woke up and he calmed down some, he was going to have a serious conversation about playing bait with her.

GH

"Mai…It's time to say goodbye…"

Mai's eyes fluttered open slowly and she peered into the darkness that surrounded her. Once again she saw the familiar sight of the Astral Plane, where inky blackness ruled and white orbs floated.

"Mai…"

Spinning around, Mai saw Gene smiling somewhat sadly at her. The sorrow shining in his eyes stopped her cheerful greeting in its tracks and her hand lowered from where she was about to wave. Suddenly, she remembered the words he had said when she arrived.

"You're leaving? Why? Gene, what's going on?" The teen just smiled at her and started walking, gesturing for her to follow him. It seemed that Gene was thinking about something, so Mai patiently waited till he was ready to tell her.

"Mai, you know that spirits have both positive particles and negative particles right? No matter how evil a spirit may seem, they still have a small amount of positive particles. The opposite is also true with a spirit that seems good. The important thing is what particle type is dominant in the spirit. Negative particles are heavy and cause spirits to be pulled downwards. Positive particles are light and cause spirits to float upwards.

"These particles can be influenced by a variety of things. The situation the spirit finds themselves in; the circumstances of their death and any regrets they might have; other spirits; and even the living…"

Mai nodded, unsure where Gene was going with this. She had a queasy feeling in her stomach and she didn't like the direction her thoughts were travelling in.

"Now, when a spirit becomes too weighted down by their negative particles, they start what the living would call paranormal activities. Even Kaede, filled with light as she was, was starting to be weighted down by her negative particles. You remember I told you that the demon would have broken free from Kaede anyways in about a decade?"

Mai nodded, the nausea climbing up her throat as she listened to Gene's soothing voice.

"Yes well, that was not because Kaede's power was starting to wane. If anything, I think Kaede's spiritual energy was becoming stronger with time. In another decade, she would have been almost as strong as the demon itself was."

Mai's eyes widened as confusion filled her. "Wait, if she was becoming so strong, how would the demon have broken free? You said she would have been as strong as the demon by then, surely she would have been a match for it?"

Gene's eyes were sad as he watched the lights around them.

"Yes. But she would've been a demon herself…"

Mai stuttered to a stop, her eyes wide and her heart beating rapidly. She could feel shock traveling through her body, feeling as though a gong had been rung right next to her.

"Wha- what?"

"One of the most prominent influences on spirits' particle levels is other spirits. Demons are basically spirits who have lost all their positive particles and evolved into something entirely new. They cannot be called spirits anymore if they reach that level. And the negativity pouring off them are so potent, it infects any spirits near them. It's like little leeches clinging to your shadow, steadily working their way closer…"

Gene's voice scared Mai, it was filled with a sort of absent-minded quality that made her feel as if he wasn't entirely there.

"Kaede, who had been wrapping her power around Shuten Dōji for centuries, was slowly being infected by the evil pouring off him, which she absorbed into her so that it wouldn't affect the mortal plane. In fact, it's a testament of her strength that she was still so pure even after centuries of exposure. She truly was the most powerful psychic I've ever come across…"

Mai swallowed, feeling ill as she contemplated what would have happened had they not accepted this case when they did. The possibilities were too awful to consider.

"But… she didn't look as if she was tainted…? Surely if she was so close to turning into a demon in less than a decade we would have seen the signs on her…"

Gene shook his head, smiling gently at Mai as if to soften the blow.

"The way negative particles work is seen in the behaviour of demons. They slowly eat away at your positive particles, changing it so slowly you don't see or feel it. Then, when they are close to taking over, they do everything in one big jump. The change is instantly then, not gradual like before."

Mai nodded. It made sense to her now why Kaede had looked and acted so normal. She wondered if the miko even knew she was that close to becoming a demon. It was a good thing for her she was purified when she was.

"Gene… why are you telling me this? Not that it isn't very interesting, but what does it have to do with you?"

"Mai…"

Gene looked at her and Mai once again felt her gut clench in worry over the sad acceptance in his eyes. His head gestured to beside him and Mai followed his gaze.

There, on the inky blackness that seemed as if it had no bottom, a white shadow was thrown. It stretched from Gene's feet outward and at first Mai couldn't see anything wrong with it.

Then she saw them.

The outline of Gene's shadow was writhing in places, as if small flames were licking around it. It reminded her of the way Naru looked when he used his PK and she gasped, her hand covering her mouth.

As her eyes were pinned to the movements of the shadow, Gene continued to speak in a soft voice.

"I am already infected by the demon's evil. It is not something that spirits can just get rid of, since a demon's negative particles are much stronger than our own positive particles. Only light of an equal strength can erase them. I am also much weaker than Kaede against the demon's influence, so I will not last nearly as long as she did…"

Tears were pouring down Mai's face as her shoulders shook.

"Thus Mai, it's time for me to say goodbye. I'm going to pass on now, since that light is enough to eradicate the taint on my soul. I haven't seen what I had stayed for, but something tells me it won't be long now."

Mai shook her head, sobs wracking her body. She knew it was a good thing that Gene was moving on and she didn't want him to change into something evil. But the thought that she would never again see someone she thought of as a brother for as long as she lived…

"Mai, don't cry. I will see both you and Noll again when it's your time and not a moment before." Mai nodded as she threw her arms around the teen, holding him tightly. She didn't think she could say goodbye, it sounded too final. He hugged her back and she heard him whisper.

"Don't cry Mai. I can see what your future will be and I promise it will be good." Kissing her affectionately on the forehead, Gene stepped back and lifted one hand in farewell. She could see him beginning to glow as his body faded away from the feet upwards.

"Remember to take care of that idiot scientist. Noll wasn't made to be alone…"

And with those last words, Eugene A.J Davies finally passed on.

GH

Mai waved goodbye at Ayako as she left the hospital room. She rubbed her head to get rid of the ringing, Ayako and Bou-san's shouting still echoing through it. They honestly just had to admit their feelings for each other, she was sure they would save each other a lot of headaches. Then again, if the sudden silence she heard behind her was any indication, maybe Bou-san had just kissed Ayako to shut up her ranting.

Mai giggled at the thought as she made her way to Naru's room, which was a few rooms down. Though not as serious as in the case with Okubu-sama, Naru had overused his PK. First he had used it to pull her clothes forward so that he could get her out of the demon's reach, then he had used it again to restrain the demon.

The strain it took to immobilize a demon of that strength was severe and it was only the fact that he held it for only a second that ensured his heart didn't stop beating again. It was a close call that Mai hadn't ever wanted to experience again. Today was Naru's last day in the hospital, though Ayako's injury was bad enough that she would have to stay for a few more days.

Mai had been dismayed to hear that Ayako would scar from the injury, though the doctors had ensured her it would be very light and only around the deepest part of the cut. When Mai had asked Williams-san why the severity of Ayako's cut was so much different from Mai or the priest's own cuts, he had replied that this particular demon's kamaitachi got stronger the more time they had to build up.

Thus Mai, who was considerably nearer to the demon at the time of receiving her injury, had quite a shallow one as compared to Ayako, who had been farther away. This had made sense to Mai, especially as she remembered when she was being chased by Shuten Dōji how strong his attack had been, since he had been at least a dozen paces behind her.

Realising she had reached Naru's room; she knocked and entered when she heard a voice tell her to. Naru was buttoning the last of his shirt up as he looked over and Mai fidgeted. He had not yet spoken to her about her stunt during the exorcism, but she could see the fury simmering in his eyes.

Even when she had told him about Gene's passing, he had just nodded and said it was about time, further ignoring her in favour of reading one of his books. Grabbing his jacket, Naru walked past Mai, expecting her to follow him. He was keeping himself back by a thin thread as the shorter woman walked meekly behind him.

Checking himself out of the hospital, he grabbed Mai's hand and, ignoring her protests, towed her to his car outside. Opening the passenger door, he glared at her till she entered and he walked around, climbing into the driver's seat. Starting the car in silence, he pulled into the lane and sped off.

"Naru…Um, I wa-"

"Be silent." He bit out harshly as he took a turn. Anger was bubbling below the surface and he couldn't afford to let it loose now. He felt bad for cutting Mai off so coldly; especially when he saw her flinch, but he was hoping his anger had abated a bit before he reached the offices. Looking at how angry he had been the last few days, he didn't think it likely.

He turned down the last street, screeching to a stop in front of the SPR building. He climbed out, dragging Mai out as well and marched up the stairs. Opening the door, he ignored Lin's inquisitive gaze as well as the beseeching one Mai threw Lin and towed her to his office. Clicking his door shut, he rounded on his assistant.

"What. Were. You. Thinking?" He enunciated each word carefully through his clenched teeth as his fists balled at his sides.

"I was thinking that we needed to lure the demon out! It wasn't responding and you know as well as I do that it needed to be outs-"

"SO YOU DECIDED TO BECOME BAIT!?"

Mai flinched back at his voice. It was the first time she had heard him raise his voice at anything, even though it couldn't be classified as a yell. He knew he was being out of character, but he had been so worried when her small figure had disappeared into the depths of the house. He would have run after her if John didn't stop him and tell him he would be more use if he waited outside for Mai, ready for her when she came back with the demon on her tail.

He had never before experienced such a heart-clenching fear than he had during those few minutes. Even when Gene had died had he not lost his cool like he did then.

The thought that Mai would leave him forever had tortured him and when he had seen her burst out of that door, the monster's tail raised to spear through her, he had felt his heart stop. The relief he felt when her body slammed into his arms was enough to reduce his legs to jelly, if he didn't have more than enough composure to avoid such an embarrassment.

His hands still shook at the memory, just like they had shaken when he had clutched his assistant's petite body to his after yanking her out of death's grasp.

"I had no choice! You saw the way the demon fixated on me! I knew I could get him to come out and I was reasonably sure I could outrun him!"

"If I hadn't pulled you out of the way, you would have been impaled on its godforsaken tail! You were this close to dyin-"

"But I didn't! I knew I could count on you to save me!"

Both of them stared at each other, not one willing to relent. Mai knew she had acted in a dangerous way, but it had honestly been the only way she could think off to get the demon outside and quickly. Naru pinched his nose as a headache started to build behind his eyes. He sighed and glared at his infuriating assistant.

"Do you have any idea of worried I was? I thought you were going to die Mai." Mai's face softened and the worry she could see in his eyes gave her the courage to step forward and gently cup his face with both hands. She could feel him tensing beneath her hands, but paid it no mind as she continued to search his eyes with her own as she whispered softly.

"But I didn't. I had conviction that I would survive it. I'm sorry for making you worry and I didn't do it without thinking about the consequences. Please Naru. I don't want to fight with you…"

He let out a breath and the fight seemed to leave his body. His head fell forward as he rested his forehead against hers, their eyes never straying and she could feel his hands settle on her hips. Mai could feel her body heating up as she saw the something in Naru's eyes, something which she had only glimpsed briefly before in his eyes.

Naru's gaze was gentle, yet it also seemed to burn through her. She could see his emotions roiling behind his eyes; concern, confusion, sadness, acceptance, anger, but beneath them all, there was affection. Mai could feel hope entering her heart at what she thought she saw in her boss' face and she had to ask. She whispered softly enough that if Naru wasn't as near as he was, he wouldn't have heard her.

"Naru… What feelings did you confirm by coming to Japan…?"

If possible, his eyes became even softer and Mai could feel her breath hitch at the sight. Like a breath in the wind, she heard his answer filter back to her.

"My love for you…"

Her eyes widened as hope flooded her heart and she could feel her body sway a bit closer to Naru's. Her eyes flicked down to Naru's lips, before she looked at his eyes again, and saw that he was doing the same.

"Me,… or Gene?"

The question that he had asked her those two years ago, that she couldn't answer immediately then, issued from his lips like a sigh, but this time, she could answer him.

"You. It has always been you. It will always be you."

She breathed and before she could think further, his warm lips descended on hers and she felt bliss fill her. The kiss was by no means wild and frenzied, but she could feel Naru's cool passion burning beneath it and heat swept through her body anew.

One of his arms snaked around her waist, gently tugging her closer and moulding their bodies together as he deepened the kiss. His tongue traced her bottom lip and she sighed, allowing him entrance. Stars burst behind her eyes as her brain short-circuited, only able to think about the warmth and softness of Naru's lips, of the hot tongue tangling with her own.

She wouldn't trade this for anything in the world and her arms slipped around his neck as she held him closer, pressing the length of her body to his.

It seemed an eternity later when they finally separated, both smiling softly, if a bit shocked still.

They had finally found each other.

One Year Later…

Mai hummed as she poured the hot water into the two tea cups she had prepared. The sun shone brightly through the window of her and Naru's flat and her body wriggled in time with the melody stuck in her head. She was so focused on the song and the tea that she didn't realise the presence in the doorway behind her, or the soft footsteps coming closer.

It was only when two firm arms snaked around her waist, pulling her body flush against the hard one behind her, that she realised she was not alone.

"You look ridiculous, jiggling like that." Mai huffed at Naru's teasing words, but she couldn't keep the smile off her face for long. Today was just too perfect to mar with sullenness.

"Who cares, it's fun!"

She could feel his silent chuckle reverberate through her body and her smile deepened. Only in front of her would Naru show his rare moments of emotion and affection. His arms tightened as she leaned back into him, her had dropping back to rest on his shoulder. She could feel his lips grazing her neck, trailing butterfly kisses up the length of it.

Finally, unable to resist the temptation that was the Narcissist, she turned around in his arms and looped her own around his waist, leaning up to give him a proper kiss. As always, it was like quiet electricity running through her body, like lava being poured across her skin and into her veins.

A long moment later they separated and she rested her head against his shoulder, revelling in the feeling of him simply holding her. It still amazed her how far they had come in a year. There had been a time when she had never thought this would be possible, but now it was her reality.

They had some close calls, but despite their arguments and his teasing, she had refused to let go of him and they had made it through. To her horror, she realised that she was actually starting to accept and even look forward to his teasing words and actions. But then, when it came to Naru, she was always a bit of a sucker.

Naru leaned his head forward slightly, taking in the unique smell that was Mai, with her berry-like shampoo and subtle perfume. His body was entirely relaxed as he held Mai and he marvelled silently at the situation he found himself in.

A few years ago he would never have expected him to actually love someone like he loved Mai. He had always thought that Gene would be the one to give Martin and Luella a daughter-in-law, followed by grandchildren. Never had he expected himself to be doing that just now.

Yet here he stood, with his fiancé in his arms.

His eyes travelled downwards, even though he knew Mai's hand that held her engagement ring was behind him, busy trailing up and down his back. The feeling he had when she had accepted his proposal three months ago was one he would carry with him always, though he would only admit it to her twice a year, three if she was lucky.

"Mai…"

"Hmmm…?"

He smiled at her content hum, before continuing.

"You're going to be late. Luella is probably on a war path right now, ready to charge in here in search of her future daughter-in-law and current shopping buddy."

Mai jerked as if stung and a curse slipped from her lips. Smirking at his flustered fiancé, he watched her rushing about, gulping down the too hot tea and then choking as it burned her tongue. Her dismayed face when she realised that she spilled it on her shirt actually made him snort softly, for which she glowered in his direction.

"Shut up…"

As his eyes followed her grumbling form to the bedroom doorway, he was distracted by knocking on the door. Opening it, he found his mother standing in front of him, practically bouncing in place.

"Mother. Mai is just quickly getting a few last things."

"Oh, Oliver, I was worried that something happened, but I'm glad everything is alright. But do fetch Mai if you could, we are a bit behind schedule and we have a lot of shops to visit today!"

His mother, Ayako and Masako would be taking Mai out in search of the perfect wedding dress for his and Mai's wedding in a month. Looking at his mother's barely contained excitement and her sparkling eyes, Naru found himself relieved by the tradition that the groom shouldn't see the wedding dress before the wedding.

Nodding, he turned and made his way to their shared bedroom, walking in without knocking. He found Mai throwing shirt after shirt over her shoulder, muttering and clad in just her jean shorts and bra.

The sight of her naked skin had him momentarily pausing, just as her adorable dancing in the kitchen earlier had. He still didn't know what he did to deserve her, but he did know that, regardless of whether he was good enough for her or not, he would never let her go.

Unable to resist the easy target, he bent down and kissed her on her neck, ignoring her squeal as he wrapped her in his arms to insure she didn't startle and hurt herself, as she was prone to do.

"Naru! I don't have time, your mother is going to be here any second no-"

He silenced her by slanting his mouth over hers, giving her one of his rare passionate kisses that he knew left her flushed and dizzy afterwards. When he finally pulled back, her eyes were glazed and her hair mussed from where he had run his fingers through it. Her cheeks were a dark pink and her lips swollen. Giving his sexy smirk, he pulled a shirt over her head and pushed her towards the small living room, where his mother waited.

His mother's 'Oh my!' assured him that she had noticed Mai's state and his smirk widened as he heard Luella giggling. He could just imagine Mai's face at this moment.

Not long now… three, two, one…

"NARU!"

Smiling smugly, he sauntered out, satisfied that he had managed to tease his lovely little fiancé once again.

He couldn't wait for the lifetime of teasing her that would follow.

The End (or their beginning…)

O my gosh… I can't believe that's that. It's finished. Finally done! I will say now, there will be no sequel for this fic and if there is (which I very much doubt) it will not be a long story. I have this habit of thinking of a story, deciding on an end and then being unable to write past that end. Already, I wrote more than I would have originally, since the entire 'One Year Later' bit was literally added after I posted chapter 8, due to one of the reviews inspiring me.

But, what did you think? I would love questions (just please be logged in to PM or review me, as I can't answer questions if it's posted as a guest and I won't post a chapter afterwards that is basically only an author's note).

I also wanted to say one other thing. The title of this fic and the demon's last words do not mean that Mai is going to be haunted by that demon forever, or that he will return in her lifetime. In my mind, demons can't be killed, certainly not by mortals, no matter what faith you are, they can only be banished. That is all the words revered to, not to some epic battle happening in the future. However, if you would like to imagine some such battle happening when Mai is older, go ahead, as it is a possibility, but not one that I will write.

Regarding Gene, sorry if you guys aren't satisfied, but I didn't want him to not find peace and by bringing him in, but letting him not really be in a position to solve the case for Mai, I wanted to show she's moving forwards and becoming independent in her investigations, that she will be fine without him.

Sorry for the long note, I hope you guys enjoyed this and I hope you let me know what about it that you enjoyed:) Please, please review, even if you have never reviewed for any other chapters or if you're reading this story after it has been completed, I would really appreciate it!