One Fine Day:
Chapter 21:
It was a tense van drive to the park. Mai was sat in the back seat next to a confused Naru with someone she didn't know sitting in the front driving. Who would be waiting for her at the park? The only person she knew that went there was Gene who had no connection with Naru apart from looking exactly like him.
She looked at the man who was driving. He was tall and slim with pale skin and dark hair like Naru, but she could tell they weren't related. She asked anyway to make conversation.
"Is that person your father?"
Naru's jaw line became less tense. "No. He is my bodyguard."
She was about to ask why he needed one when she remembered he was really Oliver Davis and not just some narcissist.
"I am more like his child minder," the man answered. "My name is Koujo Lin. We are likely to be more closely acquainted in the future."
That was a strange comment but she accepted it nonetheless. The idea of headstrong Naru needing someone to keep him out of trouble was amusing. She smiled and looked out the window to see they were approaching the park. The van slowed and came to a stop.
Mai became flustered when Lin opened her door for her. She could sense disapproval emanating from Naru behind her.
"The person you need to meet it waiting by the lake," he said and momentarily looked hesitant. "Please believe what he says and don't react too violently."
It was at that point he knew it was Gene for definite. He turned to Mai.
"I know who is there. They are not dangerous- just annoying."
The sun was setting as they arrived at the lake and the orange light reflected off the water. There was a silhouette of a figure in front of the lake. Mai shielded her eyes from the setting sun to see who it was. She gasped when she worked out who it was.
"Hurry up, Noll and Mai-chan!" he shouted.
Mai looked at Naru's face, he looked as confused as she was which was reassuring and foreboding at the same time.
"Hello Gene," Naru said evenly. "I never thought I would see you here- I thought you were supposed to be in England."
Mai's eyes flickered between them. They really were identical from skin tone, eye colour and face shape.
"Do you two know each other?"
Naru pointed to Gene. "He is my twin, Eugene Davis."
Having a twin explained the close resemblance and how they knew each other. If she remembered correctly Eugene Davis was a psychic medium that could also see the future. Gene had to be a nickname for Gene and Noll had to be Naru's English nickname.
"How come you don't go to school like Naru?" she asked.
"That's part of something I need to explain to both of you if you will listen?"
"I will if you get straight to the point," Naru stated pointedly.
Gene smiled. "That part of you will never change. Mai-chan, will you listen?"
Mai nodded doubtfully. The set up of the two brothers was strange. Why had Naru been sent to high school whilst his brother whiled time away in the park feeding ducks?
"Sometimes I have dreams of the future that occasionally occur exactly as I had dreamt. The ability is erratic so I never thought to develop it. One day I had a very vivid dream of a wedding."
"A wedding?" the narcissist interjected in surprise. Whatever he thought Gene was likely to say, this wasn't it.
"Yes Noll. I also dreamt of snippets of the couple's later life. They had two children and lived happily ever after."
Naru was beginning to see a glimmer of something. He had to be right or else he couldn't be here in Japan attending the same high school as Mai.
"The husband was Noll and the wife was Mai-chan."
Mai's jaw dropped and she flushed red like a strawberry. She had only just heard that Naru was really Dr. Oliver Davis and that he had an identical twin. Now she had been told in the future she married Naru. She didn't mind the idea at all, but it was a lot to take on.
"I wasn't sure what to think of it. I blocked my psychic connection with Noll to stop him from finding out and I talked to Mum and Dad. They were intrigued and when I said your future personality was a lot kinder and softer than how you were at the time."
That explained why their connection had been closed off and Gene had started to avoid him. To think it was because of a dream like that.
"I remembered Mai-chan's full name and we found her. It seemed impossible that you two would meet on your present trajectories so we all agreed to make it happen. Mum had the idea of sending you to Japan and enrolling you in her high school and Dad agreed on the condition that you wouldn't be told anything and I went too."
"Did they really agree to it as simply as that?" Naru sighed.
He would have liked his parents to have thought it through better. He had been so annoyed about being suddenly being told to pack for a flight to Japan and to brush up on his kanji. He hadn't been told a thing. Admittedly he had forgotten all about it once he had become entangled with the Seven Mysteries.
"Dad said Lin should go with you to keep you out of trouble and Mum said I couldn't live by myself so Madoka came with me. She's as good as Lin at cooking.
They shared a significant look.
"You mean you have been living on instant food," Naru retorted.
The tension slightly eased between them with that comment.
"Lin kept us up to date with what you were doing and Madoka followed you to the school house whenever you went there."
That explained how Lin had known he had used his PK to save Mai and other small things he had missed.
"I had a few dreams here and there. That's how I knew where to find you today. Not everything was predicted: I knew nothing about Sensei K and being found here by Mai-chan was a complete surprise. It was unfortunate as it meant you worked out I was here a lot sooner than we wanted you to. However you were too wrapped up in the mystery to do anything about it," Gene explained.
"I see," was all Naru said. It was good to finally find out everything, but it was a lot to consider.
"I'm going to leave you two now to sort things out between you," Gene winked. "Lin and I will be waiting with the van outside."
He waved and walked back they way they had come. As soon as he was out of sight Naru winced. He was going to have to talk about it with Mai. How was he supposed to broach the subject of their marriage? They were supposed to have children too. That meant they did things...
He began to feel a little hot. He shook his head. He didn't think about things like that. He had a PhD and he was a scientist. They didn't think like that.
"Naru."
Mai's voice jerked him out of his panicked thoughts. He looked over at her.
"Your face is red. Are you ill?" she asked.
"I'm just stressed," he replied and sat down on the bench. "I have a feeling we cannot leave here until we have come to some sort of agreement regarding our... future."
Mai joined him on the bench and remained silent. Naru glanced at her and noticed through the hair concealing her face that she looked flushed too. She was as embarrassed as he was.
"Do you think it is creepy that my brother dreamt of your future?" he questioned casually.
"I don't mind that he did, it allowed us to meet," she answered hesitantly.
So she never regretted meeting him and didn't find Gene a creepy brother in law. That was encouraging. Then he remembered he hadn't even considered if wanted to marry her yet. He didn't even know if he liked her yet. Everything was in the wrong order.
He did like her a bit and he wanted to protect her. He didn't like it when Yasuhara flirted with her or when she was in danger. Did that mean his feelings were stronger than he had thought?"
"Naru. It is going to sound awkward to say it now because of what Gene said, but I was going to tell you at some point when I had the courage," she paused. "Naru, I love you."
Those words felt like a lifeline saving him from confusion. He knew how she felt. Now he had to work out his feelings.
"Mai, before I give you answer can you tell me why you like me?"
Mai looked thoughtful. "It was certainly never love at first sight. I thought you were good looking with a terrible forced smile and personality."
Inwardly he preened at the compliment about his looks and then he processed the last line.
"Forced smile?"
"Your smile didn't reach your eyes," she blushed an attractive red.
Naru gave the perfect demonstration of a real dazzling smile and enjoyed watching her blush even harder. He leaned towards her to make her even more flustered himself when he realised how close he was to her lips.
"Naru, are you blushing?" she teased and leaned in closer so their faces were a few centimetres apart. Her fruit smoothie scented breath washed over him causing him to feel uncomfortably hot.
"..No," he said awkwardly.
He didn't move. He sort of wanted to see how it would turn out. Mai didn't move either so he took the initiative and moved in to claim her lips.
It felt more wonderful to kiss Mai's lips than he had thought. They were soft and warm. He slid his hands into her hair so he could kiss her more fervently. In the end they parted for breath with red lips and flushed faces.
"When do you want to get married?" Naru asked once he had caught his breath. He was sure of it now; he definitely wanted to stay with Mai for the rest of his life.
They walked back to the van holding hands. Lin and Gene exchanged meaningful looks when they saw that. Gene rolled the window down, always eager to use an opportunity to tease his twin.
"Did you two make out? Noll, your hair is ruffled!"
Naru pushed his brother's face away and opened the door for Mai and got in after her. He glared at Gene whenever he saw his twin wink at him. He was glad to see his brother, but he certainly hadn't missed his teasing.
"Mai, what are you having for dinner?" Naru enquired hopefully. Now that he knew he was definitely staying in Japan he needed to something about his evening meals.
"I think I'll make Okonomiyaki."
"I'm coming round too," Naru said and smiled sweetly at his brother. "You can have instant ramen with Madoka and Lin."
Gene frowned. "I had a dream that I came with you to Mai's place for dinner so I'm coming too."
"Gene, I can tell when you are lying."
"Mai-chan needs to get to know her brother in law," Gene protested. "I'm tired of instant ramen."
"Mai can get to know you later on," Naru said and pulled her closer to him to he could plant a kiss on her forehead. "We are going to be together forever after all."
Mai smiled and relaxed against Naru. The good feeling that she had felt on the day she had first Naru had turned out to be right.
The End
I would like to thank everyone that reviewed, subscribed or favourited this story. It was very fun to work on and it wouldn't have been as fun without all the support. A shoutout to Naruisawesome who guessed the plot twist as far back as chapter 7.
Usually I make my odd numbered chaptered stories even numbered with an extra chapter or an epilogue. I would like to add an epilogue to this, but I don't have time at present. Perhaps at Christmas, please let me know what you think.