Chapter Twenty-five

Naru turned to the girl he ran into and Masako clung to his arm . She looked so shocked that she did. "Why did she stop apologizing to me. Okay she might be around my age, but that should not stop her from apologizing to m....," His eyes widened as he recognized the girl's eyes. The same wide, soft brown tender eyes as his assistant. He whispered under his breath , "Mai," with shock and dismay. "Wha- what is she wearing! She looks nothing like herself- it isn't like it doesn't suit her, wait it does not suit her- no wait. Her hair- why did she, no it must have been- no wait, uhh." His heart felt as though it was about to leap out of his chest, as it began to pound harder and harder, and faster and faster.

"Mai are you okay, " said a voice he did not recognize, his eyes then left Mai and followed up behind her, at eye level was a boy about his age. He followed the boy's tattooed arm where his hand was in Mai's. With this as fast as his heart was beating it felt as though it just stopped, along with his breathing. It took Masako to squeeze his arm for him to remember how to breath. Gene's words then came to back of his mind 'Mai won't wait on you forever Naru', and it just continued to ring in his head until the feelings of shock and dismay were replaced with anger, hate, jealousy. Something he really never felt, and could not believe he was feeling.

"Hello Mai," said Masako coolly since it was obvious to her Naru was not going to start out talking, and since his pulse seemed to be tremendously spastic at the moment, and was hiding behind his banes. "I have never seen him like this."

"Oh- hey Masako." She smiled warmly at the girl, which Masako barely matched back.

"So who is this?"

Kouki took a step closer , "I am Kouki Sohma it is nice to meet one of Mai-chan's friends."

Naru's head shot back up as he heard that , "chan- how can he even think he has the right to say that." His hole body seemed to tense which only Masako seemed to notice since she was still holding onto his arm.

He had now managed to put a semi- normal facade on his face. He looked around him and saw men of all ages looking their direction, but more than anything they were looking at Mai. Naru looked at every one of them thinking about murdering them in one hundred different ways. Gouging out their eyeballs and cutting of other things...., for looking at her in such perverted glances.

Mai looked at Naru who seemed to be pulled away from the conversation they were all having, she could not help but think of his eyes before- she had never seen his eyes like that, it was like a completely different person than he usually it, his face was normal again, but he was acting strangely.

She then looked up at Kouki and said , "Kouki this is my–boss Kazuya Shibuya."

He then looked back at them when he heard Mai call him that. Kouki came forward and gave a small bow. Naru only gave a small nod- shoving the violent thoughts out of his mind.

Kouki then stuck his hand to the boy, and Naru took it and finally got a good chance to study him.

His ears full of piercings, eyebrow ring, full arm tattoo, a messed up jacket and a ridiculously colored shirt with rebel written on it. Lets not forget his hair- ridiculously spiky, and purple, of all things purple. The more Naru saw of him the more it added fuel to the fire. "Of all people he had to be a punk." Both of their grips on each others hand's were getting tighter and tighter on one another, both seemed to have a fake smile on their face while their eyes said , "your lucky both of them are here."

Naru said coolly , "nice to meet you Sohma-san."

"Back at you, it's funny Mai called you- Kazuya, last time I checked the one she always talked about was a boy named Naru." His eyes then went up and down, quickly studying him as well.

"Okay now that is way out of line!- how dare you say that to me."

They were both still almost trying to crush each others arms. Kouki was shocked at Naru's tolerance to pain, but continued to tighten as Naru did the same.

Mai then said , "so Masako you are going on a date."

She nodded as she brought her sleeve up to her mouth.

"I see."

They both them looked up at both boy's who were still shaking hands with a smile on their face.

"You too."

Both of the boy's then turned back at the girls.

Mai smiled , "yup, we just finished."

Masako then said , "Naru- the movie should start soon- we should get going."

Kouki smiled and let go, "yeah you two should- well nice to meet both of you. I think I should get Mai back to her apartment."

As he said that Naru's red hand went to his pocket and began to tighten.

He then took Mai's hand , "come on Mai-chan." He lingered as he said her name as it caught more of Naru's attention. He smirked back at Naru and turned around and began to walk away with Mai.

Naru watched as they both walked away, one man was walking the other way looking at Mai, after he turned and saw Naru's eyes he quickly looked away and walked as fast as he could. Masako grabbed his arm again and looked at Naru , "come on," when she said that it wasn't in her usual voice it seemed like empty words from an empty heart.

They then began to walk the other way with Naru's usual face back, but it was still obvious that he was still as tense as ever. "Why do I even feel like this! I want to scream right now- he is a -a girl how many guys look like that with that many ridiculously pierced parts of their bodies, and that tattoo. His hair also- ever hear of a brush really. Those clothes also -who wears that." The one image he saw in his head right now though was wear he saw their hands entangled together, this made him feel sick.

Masako only looked away as people saw who she was on a date with, but it meant nothing to her right now as women looked her in envy. She could see how Naru was reacting and knew he would never react that way to her.

Mai looked curiously at Kouki as he looked- serious , "how can Mai talk like that about him- he is like a toothpick I wonder how he can keep that swelled head of his on his body, and that look he gave me. What does Mai see that is so amusing to talk all about him."

Mai was also thinking of what happened , "why did Naru look like that to me, that is not something he would usually do. I thought he would make fun of how I look, or who I am going out with, but he was so quiet- almost like a void of space. That look I saw it is almost frightening that he made it."

Mai looked down at Kouki's hand at where Naru shook it and saw how red it was. But his hands where still soft and warm over hers. "I wonder what would happen if I held Naru's hand. He never really has unless he was dragging me somewhere. Would they be as warm as Kouki's does he even know how to be gentle."

Mai thought to herself- it doesn't seem he does, something though felt as though it was aching in her that he could, but she did not know why. Could it just really be that a dream that he could ever feel that way- be like that.

She then reached into her pocket and felt the key she had and gave it a small squeeze , "I think I need a little luck right now dad."

She closed her eyes and smiled slightly as she felt the key, and then looked at Kouki , "maybe a lot."

Happy Holidays everyone!!!!!!!! Here is my present a new chapter!!!!!!!

Alright I was writing this and a song that sounded like Naru's pov to me was Breaking the Habit by Linkin Park

So have a great day everyone