Chapter 11

Mai called out as she entered her room, closing the door behind her, "Shou-chan, I'm back~"

Shou-chan was sitting up. When he saw her, he smiled, but it wasn't his usual smile. It was not filled with childish joy, but instead it held understanding and warmth: the kind of smile you give to someone when comforting them. He reached out as though to take her hand, "Oka-san. . ."

Mai felt her tears come out, except this time she couldn't hold them back. "Shou-chan . . ." She ran to the bed, taking Shou-chan into her arms and holding him tight as she buried her head in his neck.

"There, there," Shou-chan patted her head, comfortingly.

"Shou-chan, I don't what to do," Mai sobbed uncontrollably, "I don't think I can stop crying."

Shou-chan smiled, "Then cry." Mai chuckled faintly as she continued to cry. They stayed like that until Mai was able to calm down with Shou-chan patting her head as she shook with her tears.

"Shou-chan, I always knew there was more to you than meet the eyes," Mai feebly joked.

"Tell me."

Mai felt herself relax as she looked into Shou-chan's emerald eyes: eyes which seemed to glow in the dim light of the room. "Naru is still ignoring me after I almost got hurt. He won't say anything to me, even when I try to talk to him." She lowered her head, leaning her forehead against the boy's shoulder. "It hurts, Shou-chan. I don't want the both of us to be like this. Even though he rejected me, I still love him. I don't know what to do."

"Oka-san, look at me," Shou-chan told her quietly. Mai slowly lifted her head to meet her brown eyes with his green ones. "Naru was worried about you, Oka-san. He was afraid." (A/N: Yeah, I know he's speaking perfectly all of a sudden, but that will be explained later. So you just have to wait patiently.)

"He was afraid?" Mai had never thought of that. Someone like Naru probably wasn't used to being afraid too. He was always in control. "Of course, he would be angry then." Then she sighed, "Oh Shou-chan, what am I going to do? I want him to forgive me."

"Then say sorry," the boy smiled.

Mai raised an eyebrow, incredulous, "Think it will work?"

Shou-chan just grinned.

Mai laughed, "I'll take that as a yes then." She stood up, still holding Shou-chan. "Alright, Shou-chan. Let's go. We have a mission." Shou-chan laughed.

Mai hesitantly walked to the base, carrying Shou-chan to find Naru by himself, still at the table. Suddenly her throat had gone very dry. She looked at Shou-chan, who gave a wide grin. Mai took a deep breath and entered the base. She saw Naru quickly glance behind him to see who it was and return to his work. She muttered, "Here goes everything," as she set Shou-chan on the sofa.

"Go, Oka-san," Shou-chan whispers, flashing a quick thumbs up. Mai smiled and nodded before walking off to face Naru.

"Um, Naru." No reaction. Mai sighed, forced herself to go on. "I'm sorry, Naru. I know I probably made you worry by going off by myself and that's why you're mad at me. But I'm really sorry and I do better next time. I won't do anything stupid. I promise. So please, forgive me!" Mai waited. Still no reaction. She was about to walk away, her eyes already filled with tears when Naru did react.

"Mai, tea."

Mai turned around faster than lightning to look at Naru, almost not believing what she had heard. Naru was talking to her! She grinned widely, "Yep!" She bounced off, only stopping to give Shou-chan a quick kiss on the forehead and whisper "thank you" before rushing away to make the tea.

Naru watched the girl, a small smile playing at his lips before turning back to his work.

"Naru." It was said in such a serious tone that Naru couldn't believe it at first. But he knew there was no one else in the room and he hadn't imagined the voice. Naru turned to face the only other person in the room: the little green-eyed boy called 'Shou-chan'.

The boy's green eyes glinted as his lips turned up into a devilish smirk. Naru mentally shuddered, "What in the world? Is he possessed?" But even as Naru thought that, he knew it wasn't true. He would have been able to sense it: the one talking was definitely the boy, though it was hard to believe.

The boy chuckled, though it was not good-natured in any well. Instead, it was a rather menacing sound. "I just wanted to tell you something."

Naru pulled on his calm indifferent mask. He wasn't going to show his surprise to the boy. "What is it?" Naru asked coolly.

The boy grinned, "Very nice mask."

Naru looked the boy, "Are you going to tell me or am I just wasting my time?"

"So impatient. Though, I guess I might as well tell you though since Oka-san is going to come in soon."

Naru narrowed his eyes. It was apparent that this was a side that the boy kept to himself. "So?"

The boy grinned even wider, releasing a purely demonic aura. "It's something rather simple really." Then he changed his smile into a more pleasant though the demonic aura increased, "Hurt Oka-san and you will regret it to your grave."

Naru's eyes widened betraying his surprise for the first time, but before he could say anything in reply, Mai came in with the tea, smiling brightly accompanied by everyone else. "Here's your tea, Naru!"

"Oka-san," Shou-chan smiled happily, all traces of the demonic aura gone.

"Well, Shou-chan," Mai smiled warmly as she walked over after pouring Naru his tea, "Were you behaving well?" She picked the little boy and span a few times, making the boy laugh.

"Yup!" Shou-chan smiled in the same way any other two years old would, but Naru knew he had not imagined the previous conversation.

"Mai," Naru called her.

"Yes?"

"Why is Shou-kun able to speak so well even though he's only two?"

"Oh," Mai looked surprised at the question, turning to Shou-chan, "So you talked to Naru when I was gone." She looked back at Naru, asking, "What did he say?"

"Just a few words," Naru could have sworn he saw Shou-chan smirk for just a second before returning to his usual happy expression, "But his grammar and sentence placement were perfect. Why is that, Mai?"

"Shou-chan has a really high IQ," Mai put the boy back on the sofa and began to pour everyone a glass of tea.

Bou-san's interest was piqued, "How high?"

"Um, I'm pretty it was somewhere around 160," Mai answered absentmindedly. She didn't seem to be aware that everyone was gawking at her. Even Naru and Lin-san looked shocked.

"1-160," Ayako stuttered as Nanami gasped. Masako forgot to hide her mouth behind her sleeve and John stood there, blinking in surprise. Bou-san just stood with his mouth hanging wide open. Naru and Lin-san had their eyes slightly more widened. Mai seemed to notice their expressions for the first time as Noriko giggled. Kiryu just smirked as Kashi grinned widely.

Mai raised her eyebrow, "You don't have to be that shocked, you know. It's not that big a deal."

Bou-san exploded, "Not that big a deal?"

"Mai," John laughed weakly, "Most people would be shocked."

Now Mai looked surprised, "Really?" Kashi burst out into laughter when he heard her.

"But how high is Naru's?" Nanami asked. Everyone looked at Naru and turned to Lin-san as they knew their narcissistic boss wouldn't answer.

"Naru has the same IQ as Shou-kun," Lin-san answered.

"Na-Na is smart then," Shou-chan giggled. Everyone turned to look at the boy on the sofa, not believing what they had heard.

"N-Na-Na?" Masako was the one to stutter this time. John looked like he was about to faint. Then everyone looked at each other, and concurrently burst out into laughter. Even Lin-san chuckled. Naru turned back to his notes, though he probably had a vein popping on his head.

Mai gasped for breath, "Shou-chan, you are the most incredible boy I have ever met." Shou-chan just grinned.

Ayako leaned in close to the boy, "So you like Na-Na?" She used Shou-chan's nickname for Naru on purpose. There was no way she was going to let this go.

Shou-chan happily waved his hands, "Na-Na is my favourite after Oka-san!"

"Awww. Aren't you happy, Na-Na?" Bou-san teased their boss.

Naru chose to ignore this comment, instead thinking, "First he threatens me, now he says I'm one of his favourites? What is that boy planning?"

A few more moments passed like this, with snide comments using Naru's new nickname. Eventually, everyone ended up sitting on the sofa or around it. Shou-chan was sleeping peacefully in Mai's arms. Only Naru and Lin-san weren't part of it, instead surrounding the monitors.

"So, Kashi," Bou-san started teasingly, "You like to hang around Mai a lot."

Kashi, who was standing beside where Mai was sitting, blinked, "Yeah, of course I do."

Ayako decided to join in, smirking, "So do you like her? As more than a friend?"

Kiryu and Noriko smirked. Those two had no idea what was coming now.

Kashi shrugged, "Yeah. That much should be obvious." John choked on his tea, causing Masako to pat his back. Bou-san and Ayako stared at the boy, then at Mai. Mai looked like this was the most normal thing ever while Kiryu and Noriko chuckled at their new friends' reactions.

"Mai? Kashi just confessed his feelings to you!" Ayako didn't understand how the girl who was so easy to embarrass usually could be so calm.

"She's used to it," Noriko explained.

"He confesses and harasses her on a regular basis."

Mai looked up to Kashi, her serious expression making everyone go quiet to watch. "You don't mind that I like someone else?"

Naru visibly stiffened at this, quickly forcing himself to relax so no one could see his emotions. However Lin-san noticed, sighing at the boy's misunderstanding, though he say anything as he knew Naru wouldn't understand.

Kashi however smiled at the brown-eyed girl. "Mai, all I want is for you to be happy." Mai smiled back, albeit a bit sadly. Kashi noticed and added while grinning devilishly, "Of course as a bonus point, I also get to harass you." With that, he quickly leaned in, brushing his lips against Mai's. Mai's eyes widened for a moment, returning to normal as she looked at the others' reactions.

Nanami turned red and seemed to all of a sudden find the ceiling very interesting. John blushed wildly and turned away only to come face to face with Masako, who was also blushing. They stared at each other for a few moments, before looking away as they blushed even more than before. Mai smiled lightly at this. She had guessed right. However no one else noticed, too caught up with what had just happened. Bou-san sounded like he was choking on something while Ayako looked like she was stuck between fainting and yelling. Though Mai didn't see, Naru had tensed up twice as much as before, clenching his fists. He had seen what had happened. Lin-san knew better than to say anything.

Bou-san seemed finally make a sound other than choking, "Mai! He just kissed you!"

Ayako seemed to finally make her choice: yelling, "Don't just sit there, smiling at us! Say something! Do something!"

Mai chuckled, "There's no need for me to do anything. Watch."

"Huh?" John looked confused as Masako raised an eyebrow.

Kashi seemed to catch on, looking around frantically, "Where are they?"

"Who are 'they'?" Nanami looked at the boy.

"Those two!"

Bou-san was puzzled by the boy's panic, "Do you mean Kiryu and Noriko?"

"Yes!"

Mai smiled at the brown-eyed boy, knowingly, "Kashi . . ."

Kashi turned to her, expectantly, "Yes, Mai?"

"You're looking in the opposite direction."

Kashi span around so fast that they could feel wind blow past them, but that wasn't fast enough. Noriko and Kiryu each put a hand around his neck and forced his head into a barrel of water. The two grinned with absolutely malicious, but gleeful looks on their faces.

"DROWN, BASTARD! DROWN!"

"Too late," Mai said, smiling pleasantly. The others looked at her, open-mouthed. How could she be so calm? Bou-san began choking again while Ayako and Nanami just stared the violent acts taking place. John looked rather pale while Masako placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, though she looked like the happening was too much for her to take. Lin-san and Naru stared at them before turning back to the monitors, deciding that they should not get involved. Though Naru was still tense, he seemed to be satisfied with the punishment being carried out currently.

"Um, shouldn't we do something?" Nanami finally asked, listening to the two as they repeated the same words from before.

Mai chuckled, "Do you think they'll listen?"

The others looked at Kiryu and Noriko, who were laughter manically while Kashi flailed his arms futilely. They sweat dropped.

"Where did they get the barrel in the first place?" Bou-san asked.

"And where did they get the water?" Ayako continued.

Mai shrugged, "I never did understand their techniques."

"I really don't understand you people," Masako sighed.

John as a priest, decided to try and stop the two. "Um, Noriko, Kiryu . . ." He wasn't sure they would answer.

But Kiryu and Noriko liked the young priest so they answered him the way they normally would with the only difference being that they were drowning Kashi. Kiryu nodded to the blond-haired boy with a small smile, "Yes, John?"

Noriko smiled pleasantly, "What is it?"

The others sweat dropped. Those two were acting like there was nothing going on. But John continued valiantly, "If you keep doing that to Kashi, he'll drown . . ."

Noriko and Kiryu's eyes opened slightly wider. "That's true," Kiryu said, blinked.

Noriko looked at them, disappointedly, "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

They sweat dropped again. "Normally one would realize that themselves, you know," Bou-san sighed.

Mai chuckled to herself. Her friends' next reaction would quite interesting.

Kiryu and Noriko looked at each other, then at Kashi.

They chorused, "DIE, BASTARD! DIE!" The others fell over. Mai just laughed while Lin-san and Naru wisely chose to ignore the events taking place behind them.

However Shou-chan decided to choose that time to wake up. He looked at Kashi's head being forced into the barrel of water by Noriko and Kiryu. He observed them for a few moments before turning to look at Mai questioningly. "Oka-san, what are Noriko-oba-san and Kiryu-oji-san doing to Kashi-nii?" (A/N: In this case, Noriko-oba-san means Aunt Noriko and Kiryu-oji-san means Uncle Kiryu.)

Mai smiled pleasantly, "They are trying to kill him."

Ayako coughed, "Mai, you shouldn't tell that to a child."

John laughed weakly, "On top of that, you shouldn't be smiling while saying that."

But Shou-chan just giggled, "I've never seen anyone being killed before."

Mai chuckled, "Would you like to watch?"

"Yeah!" The others sweat dropped.

Nanami sighed, "I don't think a child should be so interested in watching someone's death."

"I don't think anyone should be interested in something like that," Masako moaned.

All of a sudden, Shou-chan started pouting. "What is it, Shou-chan?" Mai asked.

"When I grow up," Shou-chan frowned, "I'll forget."

Bou-san hit his forehead, "That's not why you should be upset!"

Mai however laughed, "Don't worry, Shou-chan. This is not something that you would forget."

The little boy brightened immediately, "Really?"

Mai smiled, "And even if you did, I'll help you remember. Kay?"

Shou-chan hugged Mai, "I love Oka-san!"

Mai gave him an Eskimo kiss, laughing, "I love you too, Shou-chan." The others looked like they didn't know whether to smile at the loving sight or fall over the ridiculous conversation. Luckily, they didn't have time to as one of the maids appeared to announce that dinner was ready.

Naru finally looked up, "All of you can head to dinner. Noriko, Kiryu, would you please release Kashi?" Noriko and Kiryu looked up as though Christmas had just been cancelled. Mai chuckled as she saw Shou-chan pouting.

"It's okay, Shou-chan," Mai reassured, "Next time, we'll film it. Kay?" The little boy's face lit up with joy.

"Yeah!" The other looked at each other and shrugged, bursting out into laugher. They were still chortling as they walked out of the room to dinner.

Well, this isn't a cliff-hanger. But you'll be glad to know that in a few more chapters, this story will come to an end. Hope you can wait until then. ;)