Mai wondered what had Naru in such a raw mood the next morning. He wasn't talking to anyone. And when anyone tried to talk to him he would give them such a glare that would cause them to back away slowly before tuning and running away as fast as they could. She set his cup of tea down in front of him and when he continued to ignore her she turned her back and made her way to the table that they had set up so that she could do her homework.

'Naru's birthday is coming soon. He'll be eighteen. I bet Luella and Martin will throw him a big party. Not that he would want it.' Mai thought as she began to work on her math. Naru had given her permission to do her work that morning as he believed all they would be doing was watching yet again. There had been no activity the day before.

"Want some help?" Madoka asked as she and Ayako sat down. Mai closed her book and shook her head.

"No, I appreciate the interruption though. Besides I have my math homework done so it doesn't really matter. I was just checking over the answers." she told them with a bright smile before looking over her shoulder at a still angry looking Naru. She sighed before turning back towards the two woman.

"Do you know why Naru is so angry?" she asked softly so that the man wouldn't be able to hear them.

"I don't know. He is rather cold today. I left their little group in hopes to not be near him so much." Ayako said as she looked over at the other Irregulars that were crowded around another table not far away from Lin and Naru.

"I didn't hear you, but Koujo said that when I went into the house and Naru tried to carry you from the car that you said Gene's name." Madoka whispered. She watched as Mai's face fell before the girl wiped at her tears. Madoka looked at Ayako and the miko nodded. They both stood up and dragged Mai out of her seat before taking her out of the base.

They allowed Mai to sit down on one of the sun chairs that Antoinette had placed on the deck. Apparently her father had insisted that work start again on the ship, thinking his daughter was crazy for thinking the ship was haunted. So they now had to deal with the workers. It could add to Naru's bad mood but Madoka had a feeling it was more to do with what had transpired the night before.

"Mai-chan?" Ayako asked as they sat down on each side of the distressed girl as she kept her hands over her face. Madoka shared a look with Ayako and the younger woman shook her head as she rubbed Mai's back.

"I didn't even know he had a brother." she finally whispered hoarsely. The two woman remained silent as they were afraid to interrupt and stop her from saying anything else. "I always thought that I was seeing a figment of my imagination, a nicer version of Naru. Then...then I found out that he wasn't Naru but a completely different person. I was so confused!"

"Oh, Mai...it's alright. Anyone that didn't know they were twins would have thought they were the same person if they had seen them at separate times!" Madoka tried to comfort the now crying girl. Mai shook her head, obviously not wanting the excuse.

"But Madoka...Naru thinks I love Gene." she sobbed. Madoka wrapped her arms around the girl as Ayako patted the young girl's back. Madoka gave a soft sigh before looking at Ayako and then back at the girl that she was holding.

"I'm going to go in and get your things Mai and then we'll go back to my apartment. I have some packing to do and we can talk. I assume you're coming with us, Ayako?" Madoka asked. Ayako nodded and Madoka got up and left. Ayako reached out and gently grasped Mai's shoulder. She gave the younger girl an encouraging smile and Mai returned it weakly.

"Don't worry about it, Mai. Naru will get over himself eventually." Ayako assured her and Mai just giggled. They looked up as they heard footsteps and Madoka was standing in front of them. She handed Mai her book bag and the girl smiled gratefully.

Thirty minutes later they were standing in Madoka's living room. The two older women went into the kitchen. Mai noticed pictures sitting on some of the tables. She felt a smile spread across her face as she picked one frame up. Inside was a picture of what she assumed was Naru and Gene. Naru, believe it or not, was laughing at Gene who looked soaked. Mai noticed the pool behind the two boys and she had a feeling she knew what had happened. From the expression on both their faces Mai suspected that Naru had pushed Gene into the pool.

'No wonder he doesn't like water.' Mai thought as she set the picture up. She noticed another frame and picked it up. She felt another grin spread across her face as she saw a younger version of Madoka and Lin in the frame. She felt her eyebrows shoot up as she saw that Lin wasn't dressed in his normal suit but a school uniform.

"Ah, I see you found my pictures." Madoka said. Mai giggled before she put the picture and turned around to look at the woman. She took the cup of tea that Madoka had brought her.

"Lin-san doesn't look very different from when he was a teenager." Mai said as all three of them sat down.

"Lin-san was a teenager?" Ayako asked. They all laughed at the question. Mai could see where Ayako was coming from. Teenagers tended to have mood swings, and Lin showing any type of mood didn't seem to sit very well.

"His personality was very much the same as it was then. He was a very quiet person that was always in the library. No one really understood why I was always with him." Madoka said brightly before taking a sip of her own tea.

"You two are definitely opposites. I would have never had you two dubbed as a couple." Ayako mentioned. Mai saw the blush that was on Madoka's face before a brilliant idea struck her.

"Madoka, how did you and Lin-san meet?" Mai asked curiously. Madoka bit her lip before laughing as she remembered her first encounter with the Chinese man.

"Well, I was an assistant to Noll's mother when I was fourteen years old. I was rushing around gathering files for her to look at. Anyway, Martin had just hired Lin for our Curses division, he's a very skilled onmyouji as you know. Anyway, I was rushing around like the teenager I was.

"Lin was coming out of the office that he had been given, pretty impressive for a fifteen year old until we met Noll that is. I had about fifteen files in my arms, so I couldn't see where I was going and I crashed right into him. He helped me pick the folders up before looking at me with the coldest look I had ever seen in my entire life.

"He told me 'I don't like the Japanese'." she shook her head. She saw the look on Mai's face and knew that he had given her the same speech. "I remember just kind of looking at him for a minute. Then I turned on my heel and began to walk away before I turned and looked him. I told him that just because he didn't like the Japanese didn't mean he had to hate me. I told him that I wouldn't leave him alone until he changed his mind." she said brightly.

"I guess he never told you that he changed his mind." Ayako told her and Madoka shook her head.

"Nope. Luella always told me that he never told me whether or not he changed his mind because he liked my company. I always told her she was crazy. At least until..." Madoka trailed off and shook her head. Mai could see the tears in Madoka's eyes and she looked at Ayako worried.

"Madoka?" the priestess asked gently. Madoka laughed and wiped at her tears with her left hand, the light glinting off her engagement ring and wedding band.

"He and one of my good friends started dating...nothing serious as far as anyone knew. They got along well enough. I was quiet the ease dropper and I listened in on him and his girlfriend one day when they were in the office together. She asked him if he'd every like someone that was Japanese.

"He told her that he would never like a person of Japanese descent. I think he heard me let out a gasp. Things went from there, I suppose. He apologized and told me that I was different from the other Japanese that he had met." she finished and Ayako gave a small laugh as Mai continued to look at Madoka curiously.

"Hey, Madoka...the girl that was dating Lin-san. It wasn't Catherine, was it?" Mai asked. Madoka looked at her curiously before nodding.

"It was. That was the reason I wanted to wait to announce the engagement. I knew Catherine before I met Antoinette. Their parents had gotten divorced earlier that year and Antoinette had moved with her mother to France before returning to England to go to school.

"Anyway, I knew that she cared for him deeply and I felt badly that he broke up with her because of me. But to be honest she never seemed bothered by the fact that he had done that. I just felt obligated to break the engagement to her gently before we announced it to everyone else. I didn't want to hurt her." Madoka said before she stood up and gathered the teacups and went back to the kitchen. Mai looked at Ayako wide eyed.

"Does that story sound familiar?" she asked softly. Ayako nodded.

"Yeah. Lin was with Catherine yet he was in love with Madoka. He broke up with Catherine to be with Madoka." Ayako said and Mai nodded.

"Yeah, and like Lily, Madoka's pregnant. Do you think the baby could be in danger?" Mai whispered in sudden fear. Ayako frowned before nodding slowly in reply.

"Probably. After all, Carol knew about the affair so she undoubtedly knew about the pregnancy. And I'm sure that her spirit wasn't very happy about it." Mai whispered before Madoka reentered the room. Mai looked at Ayako and the woman nodded in agreement.

"Madoka, maybe you should sit down. Mai and I were talking about the case and we really think that you need to be extra careful." Ayako told her. Madoka sat down and looked at her curiously and tilted her head curiously at the slightly scared looks on her friends' faces.

"What are you worried about? We know what the ghost is after, I know she's after me." Madoka said. She looked at Ayako curiously as the doctor reached out and gently placed her hands over Madoka's.

"The baby. I looked at when Lily was pregnant with Clarence's baby. She was at least two months pregnant when her sister committed suicide. And Mai and I are certain that Carol knew about the pregnancy. Madoka, I think everyone would be more comfortable if you stayed off this case." Ayako whispered softly and Madoka smiled at her before patting the top of Ayako's hands.

"I'll be fine, Ayako. I'm three months along and about to hit my fourth month. So I'm farther along that Lily was which makes me different, right?" Madoka asked. Mai nodded before looking at Ayako who looked unconvinced.

"Promise you'll be careful. I think you should stay in the base with Naru and Lin." the minute Ayako said Naru's name Mai's face grew dark as she looked away.

"Jerk." she muttered. The two other women laughed and she looked over at them and shook her head.

"Make fun of me why don't you? Neither of you have a narcissistic boss that can't take a hint. " Mai huffed angrily and they all laughed. Mai looked at Madoka who gave her a gentle smile.

"Why don't you go lay down and try to get some rest. You look tired." Madoka suggested. Mai tried to protest saying that she wanted to help her out but Madoka refused saying that she needed to help with the packing. She realized that she was being outnumbered when even Ayako said that she looked tired. Mai finally gave up before going into the bedroom and curling up on the bed. She was soon fast asleep.


Gene smiled when Mai appeared in front of him. He was glad to see her again, even though he knew it would be for a short time. He was slightly worried when he saw that she wasn't smiling as brightly as normal when she was completely in front of him. All the information he had found out was conveniently forgotten as he was more focused on the reason that Mai looked slightly depressed.

"What's with that face?" he asked. She tried to hide her sadness about Naru from Gene. She saw that he was able to see right through her and she gave a soft sigh before shaking her head.

"It's nothing. It's just Naru being Naru. I really should be used to it by now but I'm not." Mai whispered softly. Gene chuckled before shrugging his shoulders and she looked up at him curiously.

"I suppose I just got used to it. I did live with him for fifteen years." Gene said with a smile on his face.

"Actually, 'put up with him' sounds like a better explanation." Mai grumbled and Gene couldn't help but chuckle. He could see how much Mai cared for his younger brother and though he couldn't help but be jealous he was glad that his brother had someone that cared for him so much.

"I suppose. Now, come on. What did he do this time, anyway?" he asked. She looked up at him before shaking her head.

"Being an all around grouch. Last night I had a normal dream with the both of you in it. Apparently I said your name and Naru heard. Now he's completely ignoring me and everyone else for that matter." she said sadly. Gene reached out and patted her shoulder before gently taking her hand.

"There's someone that you need to meet." Gene told her. She looked at him curiously before finally nodding in agreement. She realized that if she threw herself into her work that she wouldn't have to think about Naru. Or how stupid he was being.

"Who?" she asked curiously as he led her down into the lower decks. They stopped in the middle of one of the hallways. She looked around curiously before her eyes returned to Gene who was smiling gently.

"Jacob, could you come out here for a moment?" Gene called softly. Mai blinked in realization.

'Jacob? Wasn't that the name of Carol and Clarence's son? The one that nobody could find?' Mai thought. She gasped as an apparition suddenly appeared in front of them with a smile on his face. She realized with a sense of sadness that the boy was very young, the age that Jacob had been when he had disappeared.

"Jacob, do you remember how I told you that I knew someone that could help the ladies?" Gene asked the ghost child. Jacob nodded with a smile in his face. Gene pulled Mai up to stand beside him and she found herself staring into deep brown eyes that belonged to the little boy.

"This is Mai Taniyama. She's going to help me figure out why your mommy wants to hurt all those nice ladies." Gene told him and the boy nodded. Mai gave him a gentle smile and he returned it.

"Okay! I haven't been able to find my mommy yet and I don't know what she's up to." Jacob said sadly. Mai reached out and gently put her hand on the boy's shoulder and he looked up at her surprised. She smiled at him.

"The fact that you're trying means everything, Jacob." she told him and he smiled at her. She looked at Gene and he tilted his head with that smile on his face. He looked happy she realized. Naru never looked that way around her. She looked away as tears threatened to spill. Jacob disappeared but she knew that Gene had seen her tears.

"Noll has always been stubborn, Mai." he told her. She gave him a smile and blushed slightly when he wiped her tears away. She sniffled before nodding and then feeling the tugging on the back of her mind that told her that she would be waking up.

"I suppose I'll see you soon." she whispered and he nodded. He watched her go and once she was gone he let out a sigh.

'What a tangled web we weave.' he couldn't help but think. It was terrible. His brother had never been good with relationships with others. Gene knew that Naru preferred books over people. Gene also knew that if Naru didn't wake-up soon that Mai would eventually give up, no matter how much it hurt her heart.


"Are you nervous?" Ayako asked as she wrapped one of Madoka's China plates in tissue paper. She watched as Madoka put her coffee pot in another box. Madoka turned and looked at the female doctor/priestess before shrugging her shoulders.

"I'm not really sure. It's unnerving to think I'm having a baby. I suppose I'm more excited than nervous." Madoka replied with a smile. Ayako laughed before starting to wrap another plate and setting it into the box as well.

"Do you think Naru will ever open his eyes?" Ayako asked. She closed the box and taped it shut. With Madoka's help they carried it out into the living room and set it where the rest of the boxes were waiting to be moved.

"Noll has always been stubborn. He refused to go to Japan with Gene because he thought Gene was being stupid. Sometimes he's to stubborn for his own good and for those around him.

"When he came back to England after finding Gene's body he was the grouchiest person on the face of the planet. Martin and Luella couldn't figure out why but Lin and I knew very well what was going on. Noll was angry that Mai wasn't there. Or maybe a better explanation was that he missed Mai. No surprise that three months later he was back in Japan." Madoka said. Ayako nodded. They had all been surprised that the boy had returned. Mai had seemed relieved.

"I have to say that he is still one of the grouchiest people that I have ever met." Ayako commented and Madoka giggled. The priestess was right. Even with Mai around the scientist seemed to be rather grouchy. However it wasn't nearly as bad when Mai was around.

"I bet he was so grouchy this morning because of what happened last night. Probably because he thinks that Gene is trying to take Mai away from him." Madoka suddenly whispered. Ayako blinked before shaking her head.

"He's an idiot then. He should realize that Gene is the last person that would be able to take Mai away." Ayako said. Madoka nodded in agreement.

"You're right. The only way for Mai and Gene to be together is if Mai dies. And Gene wouldn't want that. He was to kind in life to wish that on anyone. I doubt he changed in death from the way that Mai described him." Madoka said before they heard movement in her bedroom. Moments later Mai was exiting the room looking well rested.

"Hey, there. Ready to go back and face the iceberg called Naru?" Madoka asked curiously.

"Not really, but it is my job." she told them. The two ladies laughed before nodding in agreement. They were soon on their way back to the ship with Mai silently wishing that Naru was in a better mood than he had been in earlier that day.


Even Naru felt tired. They had been staring at the screens for the past two hours and nothing had happened so far. He wondered when the workers were going to go on break as their hammers were giving him a terrible headache. Which wasn't easy as Naru rarely ever got headaches.

'I hate construction.' Naru thought as he closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He peeked at Lin and saw from the look on the Chinese man's face that he would like nothing more than to curse the hammer into oblivion.

"Argh!! That's it!!" Takigawa jumped up and tried to leave the base but John and Yasuhara grabbed his arms and forced him to sit back down, although they both looked frazzled as well. Masako had her head on a table with her hands covering her ears in an attempt to block out the sound.

"We're back!" Madoka called as they entered the base. All three girls stopped and Ayako looked around trying to find the noise.

"What on earth is that horrid noise?!" she cried.

"That is the renovators that can't stop using that blasted hammer and drill!!" Takigawa snapped. Mai went over and quickly made tea before delivering it to everyone that was looking irate.

"How long are they supposed to be here?" Mai asked. She blinked as Lin looked over his shoulder at her. He was looking rather angry and Mai gulped. She had never seen that look on Lin's face. She was just glad that it wasn't really directed at her.

"For another two hours." he growled. Mai bit her lip before looking around at the others before a brilliant idea struck her.

"Why don't we go sightseeing?! Naru, Lin, and Madoka could take us around to some of the most famous English sites! That will give the renovators time to get done and then we can come back and start working." Mai suggested. Even Naru had agreed to just get away from the insistent hammering.

They were walking towards the cars before Madoka suddenly froze. Mai looked over her shoulder as Lin stood by Madoka looking at her worried. Mai thought the woman looked rather pale. Mai and Ayako approached the frozen woman before Ayako reached out and touched her shoulder.

"Madoka, what's wrong?" Ayako asked softly. Madoka suddenly bent over with her arms cross over her stomach and Lin was supporting her so that she didn't fall to the ground. "Madoka, what's wrong?" Ayako repeated in a much more professional voice.

"My...my stomach..." Madoka whispered. Mai felt her face pale as she looked at Lin who looked extremely pale.

"Takigawa, call an ambulance!!" Ayako shouted over her shoulder before turning back to Madoka. Mai watched as the red headed woman tried to calm down the sobbing woman. Mai looked up as Jacob suddenly materialized in front of her and was looking at the boat.

She looked around and realized that she was the only one that could see the angry looking ghost boy. He didn't seem to notice that she was standing there looking at him as she looked at the boat. What was he doing?

"LEAVE HER ALONE!! LEAVE THE BABY ALONE!!! LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!" the boy screamed. Mai felt her heart stop as the boat vibrated before stopping.

Madoka straightened up for a moment and Mai thought the woman was alright. Before Madoka pitched forward and Lin caught her.

"Madoka!!" Mai cried in despair. 'This can't be happening! Please, somebody, help her! Please, don't let this happen!'


Well, here's the next update. I suppose this is a rather mean cliffhanger but this was the best place to end it. Anyway, REVIEW!!! It's what makes authors happy, I promise you. And when authors are happy, our muses tend to work a lot better! Kieno0324