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'Why did I get so close?! Now he's going to get mad again!' Mai worried. To her surprise though Naru just coughed again then sipped his tea. She turned her head slightly so she could peek at him. She wasn't sure but she thought she could see a slight blush on his cheeks. 'So he's not mad...he's embarrassed?' Mai thought with amazement. She decided to just drink her tea. Naru would speak when he was ready.

Meanwhile Naru was having an inner battle with himself. When Mai had been so close to him it had sent weird sensations down his spine which he wasn't sure he liked and yet he wanted to feel more of. For some reason he also had the urge to sit nearer to Mai as well. He oddly enough didn't want her to move away from him before.

He opened his mouth to say something then closed it then opened it again and finally closed it. What could he say? 'Hey, I may have always found you attractive but it is only now that I am just realizing it, how about we get it on later?' Yeah right! Not only would it be completely out of character for him, it'd be embarrassing.

Mai hadn't seemed to notice his goldfish imitation or if she had she wasn't saying anything to gain information from him about what it was he had been contemplating saying. It was probably the former though. If she saw him opening his mouth to speak then she'd probably encourage him to go ahead. He guessed that was a lucky break at least. But maybe he needed that push to get something out. Maybe that was what everyone was trying to tell him. If he had something awkward to say he should say it anyway as he couldn't be helped otherwise.

Naru paused for a minute. 'But why do I want Mai with me?' He frowned as he tried to puzzle it out. Yes, it's true that he cares for her. He didn't think his feelings went any deeper than that though. They didn't, right? But how come he felt so lost and helpless at first when Mai left? Why did he have the urge to immediately go after her?

Naru glanced at Mai to look at her. She wasn't all bad he guessed. She's got a bit of a temper to her. Then again it entertained him. He was glad she wasn't meek and instead spoke her mind. She also had this little annoying habit of putting everyone before her no matter what the situation or circumstances. And what was with her continually forcing herself to be cheerful so no-one else could see she was in pain?! He knew when she tried to fake it! He could practically read her like a book. How the others couldn't was beyond him. And they always lose her too. Seriously, how hard was it to watch out for her and keep her safe when they went about the duties he assigned them?! That's why he tries to keep her at base if it's possible. Apparently he was the only one who was always looking out for her—keeping her safe and out of trouble. That wasn't being overprotective, that was using common sense. Something that, undoubtedly, no one else had. Well, maybe except for Lin, he could show he had sense sometimes. Besides the times when he insists on protecting him instead of Mai when he specifically ordered him to. He seemed to keep forgetting who the boss was.

"Naru, are you okay?" He heard Mai ask, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"Yes, why?" He replied.

"You've been nodding at nothing and pulling strange faces for the past half an hour."

Naru blinked, surprised. "I was?" He questioned awkwardly, afraid of the answer he was going to get.

"Yeah... What were you thinking about for so long?" Mai questioned curiously.

"Things." Naru blurted evasively. He didn't want her knowing he'd been thinking about her.

"Things?" Mai probed.

"Yeah, you know, things." He shrugged. Mai nodded her head slowly as she looked at him suspiciously, convinced that it was something. Naru was being way too evasive for it to be nothing for her to worry about. They kinda just fixed things though; she doesn't want to get in another pointless fight by bugging him about what he was thinking about. If it was important he'd tell her right? Mai scowled. 'No. He wouldn't. He always keeps things to himself unless I keep...bothering him...' She realized.

She took a deep breath. "Naru." She said with conviction. If she was going to do this then she had to be brave. Naru just made a sound of acknowledgement. "Will you please tell me what it was you were thinking about?" She asked in a firm tone. A look of surprise and worry crossed Naru's face.

"Why do you want to know...?"

"Because I'm concerned." Mai answered.

"There's nothing to be concerned about Mai."

"So you sound nervous for no reason then?"

Naru leaned back on the couch. "I am not nervous." He said calmly. "There's no reason to be so." Mai eyed him suspiciously. 'Naru never gets nervous... What could it be?' She tried to think of something to say. She was not going to let Naru win this time.

"I don't believe you." She finally settled on saying. Naru raised an eyebrow. Isn't that what he usually says to her? He had to admire the fact that she beat him to it this time. Naru sighed. He didn't know whether to spill what he was thinking about or not to her. His main concern would be how Mai would react or what she'd say if he told her the truth. He really didn't want to tell her how he felt. After all, she loved Gene right? Right, of course she did and Gene loved her back. 'Have they ever said they have though?' An annoying little voice asked. He had to admit they hadn't but they didn't have to, he had eyes, he could see! Naru scowled at the thought of seeing Mai and Gene together though.

"Now what's wrong with you?" Mai asked. Naru looked back at Mai, realizing he got lost in his thoughts again.

"Noth-"

"Don't say nothing Naru! Whatever it is, is clearly bothering you." Mai stated.

"There's nothing bothering me." Naru insisted.

Mai pursed her lips. "Will you please stop being so stubborn?" She asked evenly.

"Look maybe I just don't want to talk about what's on my mind."

"For some reason..." Mai began tapping her chin. "I feel that it's about me." Naru didn't comment on her speculation. "And you're also not denying it..."

"Mai will you just drop it?!" Naru snapped. Mai was a little taken aback at his outburst. She decided it was probably best to do as he said and drop the subject for now. She looked away, avoiding looking at him.

"Mai, I'm sorry, I just don't want to talk about it right now." Naru sighed. She wriggled her nose a bit. 'Maybe not, but it's obviously about me and I want to know...' She shifted in her seat a little. 'And I can't even leave because this is my apartment!'

Naru had turned away from her again. He didn't mean to snap at her like that. She was just being too pushy with keep trying to get him to tell her what he's thinking about. And how the heck did she guess it was about her?! It was kinda creepy if he thought about it. But then again her intuition was always incredible. Even when he first met her she was very perceptive.

"Could you at least tell me if it was a good or bad thing you were thinking about?" Mai asked quietly, afraid he'd snap at her again.

"Mai." Naru sighed frustratedly. She looked down dejectedly.

"Sorry Naru, I'm just curious." She mumbled. Naru stared at her gloomy form for a few moments. He shook his head.

"No Mai, it's understandable." Mai looked at him and tilted her head to the side.

"Why?" She asked.

Naru blinked. "Why what?"

"Why is it understandable?"

Naru shrugged slightly. "Everyone would want to know what the other person is thinking about them."

"Oh, yeah I guess you're right." Mai said. 'Then why don't you tell me?!' Mai thought annoyed.

Naru sat silently. He had to admit he, too, would be slightly curious if he were in Mai's place. He would probably lock her in somewhere until she told him what she was thinking. Should...should he tell her? If he told her he was trying to figure out his feelings for her, what would she say? Everything would change once he told her. Should he risk it? He sighed and bit his lip. He was really unsure.

"I don't think...you would want to know what I was thinking..." Naru replied awkwardly.

"Why not?" Mai asked.

"Because I don't know what you'd do." He answered honestly.

"Why?" Mai continued to ask. She suddenly reminded Naru of a little kid with all the 'why' questions. "Well? Why?" She prompted.

Naru sighed. "Because I just don't Mai."

"Well what were you thinking? You won't know how I will act unless you tell me." She reasoned. Naru hesitated. Should he risk it and tell her?

"I was..." Mai nodded encouragingly. "Thinking about..." Naru continued slowly. Mai watched him expectantly. "My fe..." Naru frowned struggling with the word.

"Your fairies?" Mai jumped in and asked. Naru's lips began to turn upwards in amusement before he shook his head.

"No, I was...thinking about...my fee..." Naru began again carefully.

"Your fee?" Mai questioned then sighed. "Have your prices for services gone up again and you haven't told me?" Naru closed his eyes and shook his head again. Why was it so hard to get that word out? "Then what is it?"

"My fee...lings..." Naru finally got out. "about..." Mai was now on the edge of her seat as Naru had used the word feelings.

"About?" Mai probed, nodding impatiently as Naru was taking too long. Naru turned away from her. "Well?" She said insistently.

"...You." Naru finished. Mai blinked in surprise as she pieced the words together.

"You...I'm sorry could you repeat that?" She asked. Naru pressed his lips together in slight annoyance. Did he really have to? It was hard enough saying it the first time. Then again Mai did look slightly stunned. Naru let out a long sigh. He braced himself to repeat what he had said.

"I was thinking about my...feelings...for...you."

"I...Naru...what do you mean?" Mai stuttered.

"That's what I'm trying to find out." He mumbled, still looking away.

"What?" Mai blurted. Naru finally turned his head back towards Mai. Mai looked like she didn't know what to feel. "What's that supposed to mean? Should I be worried that it's a bad thing?" Mai swallowed.

"No, I just...I don't know." Naru said frustratedly. 'Is...is this supposed to mean he's trying to figure out if he loves me or not?' Mai wondered eagerly. 'He said his feelings for me...' She looked at Naru who was frowning again.

"W-well, what have you come up with?" Mai questioned, becoming nervous of knowing the answer. Naru blinked and then frowned a little more as he thought things through. What did he come up with? Did he actually love Mai? She was on the edge of her seat waiting for the answer.

"I think I..."

"Yes?" Mai encouraged.

"I think I..."

"Go on..."

"I think I..."

"You think you what Naru?" Mai asked starting to get irritated. Naru squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.

"I might love you." He blurted.

Naruisawesome:- Wow, what an ending!

Treelow955:- I know! I can't believe he finally confessed!

Naruisawesome:- Me either! I wonder what will happen next!

Treelow955:- Me too! Please read and review to find out!