Chapter 11

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The drive back to the factory was a silent and tense one. Neither of us said much after our argument over breakfast. When we walked into base I saw someone who wasn't supposed to be here...yet.

"Yasu?! What are you doing here already? I just called you not long ago and you said you wouldn't be here for a few hours!"

"Hey Mai! Ah, well, I just got here a minute ago. Literally. And besides Big Boss had already called me earlier this morning telling me to come and not to tell anyone I was." Yasu confirmed. I turned around to glare at Naru. Naru looked at me unaffected before striding over to Lin. I put my hands on my hips.

"Don't you walk away from me! Why did you tell me to call Yasu if you already called him?!"

Naru turned around to face me and crossed his arms. "I believe I said it was a good idea. I didn't actually tell you to call him." Okay, his 'You're so stupid' tone really ticked me off! I opened my mouth to protest, but someone hugged me from behind.

"Aww, is Big Boss being mean to Mai?"

I saw something steely and dangerous flash in Naru's eyes. It would probably be a good idea if Yasu let me go now. Of course he didn't, he hugged me tighter instead.

"Yasuhara, I believe there is work you should be doing." Naru said more icily than he normally would have.

"Can't I just hug Mai for a few more minutes?" Yasu whined. I saw Naru clench his jaw and his hands.

"Kid, I think you should let Mai go..." Monk whispered to Yasu.

"Okay, I'll hug you instead, handsome." Yasu said joyfully. Monk started backing away nervously.

"Uhh...that's okay! Just hug Mai...though you might not live..." Monk stammered.

"Why?" Yasu asked with jovial curiosity.

"The answer will come to you." Monk replied mysteriously. Yasu frowned a little a hugged me a little tighter. A low growling sound could be heard.

"Is there a dog in here?" Yasu innocently questioned before being yanked away from me forcefully.

"Yasuhara, get to work. Now." Naru ordered furiously before grabbing my wrist and taking me with him back to the monitors. Yasu looked gobsmacked before a mischievous grin spread across his face.

"There is a dog in here. A guard dog by the name of Naru who has clearly marked his territory." He cheered. My eyes widened and I started to blush. Naru glared at Yasu.

"I suggest you make yourself scarce and do the work you have come to do." Naru hissed.

"Okay, fine. But when I get back...Mai we have a lot of catching up to do." He winked at me before leaving. I wasn't sure whether to giggle or shiver at that, but decided to do neither when I caught the thunderous look on Naru's face.

It was an awkward silence after that. I think everyone was afraid that if they said something wrong it'd just make Naru madder. But apparently Monk had the guts to make a joke.

"That kid must have a death wish..."

"You're telling me!" Ayako muttered in response.

"Well, at least he didn't kiss her or anything."

"Who knows what Naru would have done then." I can't believe them! They're talking like we're not even in the room!

"He probably wouldn't have any teeth left to start with."

"Mm, you're probably right."

"Do you think Naru would've gone straight to castrating him after, or do you think he'd have toyed with him a bit longer?"

"Well, Naru's not one to waste precious time doing things so he would probably get to that bit quite quickly..."

"Yeah, I think you're right."

"Hey—"

"Guys!" I shouted. They paused and looked at me.

"Yes? Did you want something, Mai?" Ayako asked. I stared at them in disbelief.

"Stop talking about us like we're not even here!"

"We're not talking like you're not here." She replied indignantly. "We can't forget you're here, especially with him over there trying to glare us to death." She glanced at Naru as she said this. I looked at Naru too and saw that Ayako was right—he was giving a death glare. The deadliest of all glares. And I just now noticed that Naru never let go of my wrist neither. I felt him start to drag me away towards the door.

"Ah, Naru?" But he didn't even spare me a glance. Just kept walking until we were out the door. What's up with him all of a sudden? He continued walking towards the kitchen, towing me behind him. I rolled my eyes. Of course...he wants tea! The tea-addict!

"Let's sit down, Mai." He said, gesturing to the table and chairs in the kitchen.

"But don't you want..." I started to ask looking at the kettle.

"Did I say I did?" Naru asked, interrupting me. I slowly shook my head before sighing. Naru sat on a chair and I did the same. "At least we have gotten away from those idiots for a while." He murmured almost to himself.

I laughed softly. "Hm. Yeah, I guess so."

He raised an eyebrow. "I'd have thought you would've jumped to their defense."

I scoffed. "Why would I?"

"I don't know, you tell me. You usually defend them."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "No, I don't."

"I think you'll find you do."

I do not always defend them. What is he talking abo— Oh wait! Is he talking about yesterday when I said if Ayako and Monk left then I would too?! Ugh, I don't want to think about that...

"Okay, maybe one time...but it's not like I meant it..." I mumbled. Naru just raised his eyebrows, but made no comment. I don't know what to say... I guess I'll just make some tea anyways. I heard Naru sigh and turned to see him drag a tired hand over his face. I bit my lip not really knowing what to say to him. But Naru spoke up first though.

"I couldn't be sure if you did or not. I hoped you didn't mean it, but..."

I sighed. "I couldn't leave...you should know that." I said softly.

"Everyone leaves, why should I expect any different from you?" Naru said in a low voice. I guess he's talking about Gene...

I leaned against the table beside Naru. "I'm not going to leave, Naru."

"I just can't believe that."

I frowned. Convincing time I guess. I sat myself in his lap whether he wanted me on him or not.

"Naru, I've had a lot of people leave me, too. So how do I know that you won't leave me?"

He didn't move, he just sat and took in my words with an unsure look in his eyes. I leaned my head on his shoulder. He still didn't make any attempt to move.

"You just have to trust me that I'm not going to leave you, unless you want me to. It'll be painful, but if that's ever what you want..." I said weakly. He gently grabbed my shoulders.

"No, that isn't what I want." Naru said vehemently. I smiled lightly up at him.

"Then you're stuck with me." I joked. I gave him a chaste kiss and he kissed me back. The whistle on the kettle went off so I went and got off Naru's lap. He leaned his arms on the table and watched me closely as I made the tea. I wonder if Naru's okay. He hasn't really been his self since we left the diner. Maybe he's still mad at me for the way I acted.

"Naru..." I started unsure of what to say.

"Yes, Mai?" He got up and stood right beside me. I could practically feel his breath on my neck.

"I want to apologize for my behaviour in the diner."

Naru sighed. "You don't have to."

"I do, Naru; I really seem to have made you upset with it."

"I was more upset with myself than you." Naru mused quietly after he turned his head to the side and looked away from me.

"Why?" I asked, confused by his statement.

"Because I'm the one who started it and made you mad at me." He stated.

"Naru, no. You were right to tell me off for lack of manners. Okay, we were pressed for time, but I could've slowed down a little and not shoveled my food in my mouth like I was using a garden spade." Naru raised an eyebrow at my choice of words but didn't say anything. I handed him his tea now that I'd finished making it. He nodded once as a thank you. That's the closest thing I've ever gotten to one. I couldn't keep a pleased smile from stretching across my face at the nod.

"I guess we have to go back to base now, huh?" I asked, somewhat disappointed. Naru nodded again, but had a serious look on his face this time. "Alright. Let's go."

As I walked out the door, I could feel Naru linger awhile before following after me. He still seemed rather distracted. Probably he was thinking about what information we had so far concerning the case though. I entered base and sat beside John. A few moments later Naru walked into base and went straight to the monitors like always. He and Lin started quietly exchanging words as Lin pointed at one of the monitors that I couldn't see from my position on the sofa. I wanted to ask what was going on. but...

"Everything okay, Naru?"

I snapped my head to Monk. Thank you, Monk! Naru turned with a frown on his face to address Monk.

"One of the monitors is down meaning there must be a problem with its respective camera. I'd like you to go check it out, Takigawa. It's the same corridor near the storage room from yesterday that has the problem."

"I'll go too!" I announced.

"No, you wo—" It was too late for Naru's objection though as I had grabbed Monk's hand and towed him out of the base with me.

"Whoah, Mai! Slow down!" Monk yelled as he tried to jerk me back a little. "Why did you want to get out of there so fast?"

"So Naru couldn't object." I said simply. Monk nodded in understanding.

"But you know why he does it...don't you?"

I sighed and nodded. "Because I'm a danger magnet." I droned.

Monk chuckled. "That too but most importantly because he doesn't want you to get hurt."

"I know, it would mean more paperwork for him." I joked. Monk gave me a stern look.

"I'm not kidding, Mai." He uttered.

"Alright, alright, I get your point."

Monk grinned. "Good. Ha, you know, I thought he was gonna really kill Yasu."

"I doubt he would've." I replied. I looked down to notice one of my shoes was untied. As Monk was in front of me he didn't notice me stop and instead continued walking. "Even though he—" I got up and noticed Monk was nowhere in sight. I frantically looked around, but I didn't see him. "Monk!"

No answer.

Great...Naru's never going to let me leave his side if he finds out about this. I started walking, hoping to catch up to Monk. After a while with no luck I realized I was completely lost.

"Way to go Mai." I whispered to myself. "You just always have you get yourself lost."

I started to hear footsteps echo through the place I was at. Was it Naru...? He seems to always find me when I'm lost...though he'll probably be mad. Hopefully it's Monk though! I gasped. Was it the ghost?! Wait, ghosts don't have footsteps...do they? I started to panic a little. All of a sudden I felt a hand on my shoulder. I shrieked.

"Mai, it's okay." I turned around and saw Kei. He flashed me a grin. "It's just me, Mai."

"Oh, Kei, thank God it's you! I'm lost and..." I started to ramble.

"Hey, calm down. Now, take a deep breath and slowly tell me what's wrong." Kei soothed. I took a deep breath like he said.

"Monk and I came to check on one of the cameras and I, um...kinda got separated from him. Now I'm lost..." I said timidly.

"I see." Kei said sagely. "Well, where was it you were trying to get to?"

"Oh! It's where we were yesterday. The corridor near the storage room." I replied.

"Okay, well, I'll take you there then."

I smiled. "Thank you!" I gave him a quick hug and he started leading me to where I needed to be. As we walked I could hear Monk's frantic voice faintly calling my name getting louder until we reached him.

"Mai, thank Buddha, I was so worried!" He cried, hugging me exuberantly.

"I'm okay, but I won't be if you don't let me go." I wheezed out. Monk complied. He turned to Kei.

"Thanks for finding her, man, and keeping her safe." He said.

"No problem. I always did it when we were kids; she'd always end up lost or hurt." Kei replied with a laugh. Monk frowned and looked at me for an explanation. I gave him a look that said 'what?! I was a kid!'. He glared at me. 'I know that!' was clearly written on his face. Then he gave a slight nod towards Kei's direction.

"Um..." Kei began. I guess he noticed Monk and mine's facial exchanges.

"Thanks, Kei, for helping me." I said to him, hoping to dispel some of the tension.

"Like I said no problem." He smiled at me as he leaned next me. "Though I'm surprised your boyfriend didn't come again this time." He whispered in my ear. I blushed at his whisper before clearing my throat to answer.

"What Naru doesn't know can't hurt him." I replied. Monk's eyebrows shot up when he heard what I said. Oh great, who knows what he's thinking now!

Kei laughed. "Well, I guess I better get going." Kei looked around him. "In case...he comes." He winked at me.

"Yeah, I wouldn't wanna get caught on Naru's bad side either. Trust me, I've been there and it's not pretty." I joked.

"I think I'm already on his bad side. And you? On his bad side? Yeah right!" I could still feel Monk's stare on us.

"Oh, trust me, it happens more than you'd think that I land on his bad side, right Monk?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah."

Kei laughed again. "Alright, if you say so! Bye, Mai." He gave me a hug before leaving.

"Interesting fella." Monk commented as he watched him disappear back down the corridor.

"Yup! Now let's go fix that camera!" I said, trying to get off the subject of Kei. I marched right passed him, but he grabbed the collar of my shirt and jerked me back.

"I already fixed it before I came looking for you. And when Naru found out that I lost you...well...let's just say I had to hurry up and find you." Monk shudder.

"Wait, Naru knows I was missing?!" I shrieked.


Treelow955: Writing the parts with Yasu was fun!

Naruisawesome: Yep sure was! I love the comment you made Yasu say about Naru's a dog and marking his territory! Lol.

Treelow955: Ha, cool! I wonder what Naru's gonna do now that he knows Mai's missing!

Naruisawesome: Well she's not missing anymore! Good thing Monk found her before Naru knew she was with Kei!

Treelow955: Yep! Please review everyone!

Naruisawesome: We love hearing what yall think!