After we left SPR for the night, Lin, Gene and I settled in our temporary apartment. A dead silence crossed between us, and not even the usually joyful Gene dared to break it.

None of us needed to speak out loud, because we knew that the same thing crossed our minds.

'What happened?'

Lin settled in one of the two rooms in the apartment, while Gene and I were to share the other. The only sounds to be heard were the hitting sounds as the suitcases were placed on either the beds or chairs, the unzipping of said suitcases and the opening and closing of doors.

Both Gene and I settled on our beds, but I could still feel him awake after ten minutes.

"Ironic."

I looked at my brother's form, which was illuminated by the moonlight that shone through the windows in our room. "What?"

He turned his body to look at me. "It's ironic. Throughout our life, we were sure that we needed no one else in our lives, just the two of us. Suddenly, everything changes. A car hits me, breaking the dynamic duo for a while. Although you had our parents, you didn't have anyone you could really feel completely comfortable with. We meet Mai. She became a breath of fresh air, and little by little she formed part of our messed lives. Her joyfulness brought hope and love even to you. Then we left her side. After years, we finally appreciate what we had in our lives. When we come to claim that joyfulness that we took for granted, it is nowhere to be seen."

Silence crossed yet again.

"We can't lose her… I can't lose her." I never thought I'd be confessing this to Gene. After all, I can't lose what may belong to another. 'Stop it, Noll. You don't know for sure who she loves, if she even loves someone.'

"We won't, Noll."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I just… feel it."

We arrived early next morning. Although the door was locked, the light inside the office was turned on.

'Odd'

As we entered, we looked around to find if anyone was in the office. I entered my private office handling a box with my latest files and books, and found two desks; the first one had basic office supplies and a photo frame, and the other one had Mai with her head and arms laid on it.

'Had she slept here?'

I decided to let her sleep while I settled in the office.

I looked at the picture held by the photo frame in my desk: the SPR team in its old days. I remembered that Mai had insisted a group picture after one of our shortest cases, and she insisted that I should be in the photo, even if I refused to smile.

Next to it, I found a little black box. I put my heavy box down and took the smaller one. It had a black leather watch, and it was a little expensive judging by the trademark. There was a little note inside the box.

Welcome Back

'Mai.'

The watch seemed nice on my wrist. Content with this unexpected gift, I headed towards Mai's sleeping form to wake her up. I gently took her shoulders, and shook her a bit.

I didn't expect for her to jolt up from her sleep and connect her elbow to my chest.

It was painful, to say the least.

When she saw my hand on my chest, she quickly apologized.

"I'm so sorry! Y-you startled me. It won't happen again, I promise!"

She guided me to my chair. I could see that she was shaken up by something, like she had expected some kind of danger. Her eyes showed guilt.

I waved away her apologies. "Don't worry about me. It was just a little hit." I smiled to see if I got any other reaction from her.

She quickly looked away. "I'm glad you're fine."

I didn't notice the cold air that surrounded us, until the temperature went back to normal.

Minutes passed in awkward silence.

"Did you have a nightmare?" I asked.

Hesitantly, she connected her stare with mine. "Yes."

"You can tell me, you know." I told her full of hope.

"I'd rather not. At least not now."

I sighed. "At least update me on what's new."

My eyes searched hers in hope to get some kind of reaction. She sighed and sat down on her own chair.

"Alright. Hmm… Well, Monk and Ayako are married. Yasuhara is studying in the same college as I am, although I'm ahead of him by far. Masako still hosts her show, and she is more polite. John is still a priest. I practically managed SPR, as Madoka always had business trips."

"What about you, personally?"

"Nothing much. I study, work, rest, and repeat."

"Are you sure you're not describing my own life?" I raised an eyebrow.

A small and short chuckle erupted from her. "Apparently I've become a Naru." Her small smile disappeared. "Although you definitely have it better than me."

I stared at her emotionless mask. "Have what better than you?"

Her cold expression emerged again.

"Life."

"Mai, what exactly-"

A knock on the door interrupted my question.

Gene entered and began speaking without noticing Mai's presence.

"Noll, our desks have been organized. Lin is already copying files to his laptop."

His eyes found Mai. "Mai? Sorry. I didn't know you were there. Did you organize our desks?"

I looked at Mai, and she was already immersed in work. She looked up from her laptop and greeted Gene with the same expressionless mask. "Good morning, Gene."

"…Good morning, Mai."

"Mai, you should go home and rest. After all, you stayed the night here."

She looked up from her work. "I did go home. I showered and slept, then came here at three in the morning."

"Wow, Mai. Your working skills have improved more than I thought." I smirked.

"Yes. By the way, Naru, we'll have to share an office. Gene, you will take my old desk."

Gene pouted. "But I wanna be next to Noll! Don't be a meanie."

Mai's glare ran a shiver down our backs. "Eugene, you are a grown man. Do not play with me. You'll use my old desk."

"But-"

"Gene! Just do as she says." I rubbed my temples.

Gene looked taken aback by my attitude, but he started looking between me and Mai, a teasing smile forming its way to his lips. "I see. You two need your space. I'll go."

Mai's POV

Gene's smile only widened as I rolled my eyes.

I ignored him for that part, because I didn't want to engage in any type of strong emotion. Speaking of which… "Gene, let us do our work. When you get out, close the door softly behind you."

His smile turned into a mischievous smirk. He got out of my shared office and slammed the door.

Slam.

The sound echoed in my head, repeating again and again, hurting my ears.

I couldn't see Naru anymore, because my eyes weren't focused on him. I heard loud pounding.

It continued on

And on

And on…

I wasn't in the office anymore, or at least that's what I thought.

My heart beat fast, my palms and forehead were sweaty, and my mind was concentrated on the hard pounding. They were screaming. They were looking for me. They were ready to hurt me. I couldn't get out of my bedroom, because I feared that if I got out of this barrier, they would get me, hurt me, and maybe kill me. My phone was out in the kitchen, so I couldn't call for help. I felt trapped, like I was in a cage and someone soon enough was about to let loose the most ferocious lions to devour me.

"Come out, you monster!"

"We'll get you, rat!"

I covered my ears in an attempt to ease the noise.

There was silence, but only for two seconds.

I heard as the entrance door to my apartment smashed. They entered. Rushed footsteps were the only thing heard throughout my apartment.

I hid under my bed.

The invaders to my home opened my bedroom door. I thought that maybe I had a chance to escape if they entered my bathroom. My planning was futile. I got pulled by the legs as a shriek escaped my lips.

They turned me around and grabbed my wrists. A familiar face looked at me with disgust, picked me up and threw me out of my bedroom. He kicked me while yelling, "This is for my son! You won't hurt anybody else. You're a monster, a shame for your own family! Worthless murderer."

I managed to speak through my coughing session. "I didn't murder anyone." Tears covered all my face, while I was curled up like a ball.

"Judging by the marks on my son's neck and that of all his friends, you're capable of killing. I'm here to assure everyone else that it won't happen."

I tried crawling away, but yet another man grabbed and tightened his hands on my shoulders. I did all I could to run away. What a waste of energy. The man sat on my legs to assure that I couldn't move. I was sure he would beat me to death. As he had his fist beside his head, ready to connect it with my face, I saw his lips moving, but another voice caught my attention.

"Mai!" I recognized that voice. It sounded so far away. My name was being repeated, and every time I could hear it closer.

"Mai!" I heard it clearly. I closed my eyes in an attempt to concentrate on the voice.

When I opened my eyes, I was back at the office. I was panting. My hands clutched Naru's shirt, and a pair of hands were holding my head. I couldn't entirely concentrate on my surroundings, but I could hear his voice perfectly.

"It's alright, Mai. Breathe in, and breathe out." 'His voice is so soothing.'

I did as I was told.

"Now look at me."

I stared at perfect blue pools. They felt calming and reassuring.

I finally concentrated on my surroundings. The desks towered over us, so I guessed we were on the floor. Lin and Gene also towered over us.

Gene was talking on the phone. "I don't know what happened! Just come here. Alright." He ended the call.

He caught my eyes. "Mai, what happened?"

"Let her calm down, Gene." Naru glared at his brother. It was then that I noticed that I sat on his lap. I looked at Naru, who was combing my hair with his hands. His worried expression angered me. If I hadn't been weak, Naru wouldn't have to be worried or pity me.

"Mai-san, are you hurt?"

I looked up at Lin. "No. It was just a… nightmare."

I saw the disbelief in his eyes when I told him that it was just a nightmare, but he let it drop.

After minutes of trying to calm down, I successfully hid my 'out of control' emotions.

"May I go rest?" I needed time to control my emotions before anything bad really happens, and I also needed to rest.

"Yes, you may." Naru stood up and extended his hand to help me.

I took his offered hand, stood up and headed towards the entrance to the office. Since where I'm going is in this same building, I left my things at the office.

"Are you going to your home?" Naru was clearly worried. 'Why now? Four years ago, he would have shown no worries, and would have told me to stop being an idiot.'

"No. If the others come, tell them I'll be in the white room."

"White room?" They all said in unison.

"Yes. I'll be back in three hours." I turned around and pushed the door open, but before I could take a step outside, Naru's voice stopped me.

"Mai."

"Yes, Naru?"

"Are you sure you will be alright all alone?"

"I've done this before. I need to be alone for a while. Now, I need to go."

Naru's POV

I watched Mai leave, and hoped that she will be alright. After the episode she just had, I felt the need to know what happened and what is going on.

I sighed. 'Guess I'll have to trust her, like I always do.'

The need for tea kicked in, so I headed towards the kitchen.

"What are you going to do, Noll?"

I looked at my brother. "Tea, idiot."

"Well, then make some for me too."

"One for me as well."

'Even Lin?'

I rolled my eyes and entered the kitchen to make the tea. 'I can't believe I'm doing favors for them.'

'Did Mai experience a post-cognitive dream about a spirit? Or was she experiencing one of her own memories?'

'She whispered "I didn't murder anyone."… She couldn't have killed someone or even attempted to, could she?

Tan tan TAAAAN. End of chapter two.

I don't know if other people read author notes, but I'll share my thoughts here.

All the characters will be involved in the story, and for those worried if this will be a sad story: there will be all types of moments; from sad to happy and peaceful to tense, and from the 'I saw that coming' to the 'what the fudge happened?'. I usually involve love in my stories, but I won't tell who might end up with who. XD Any constructive suggestions are welcome. And thanks for the reviews. I really appreciate them! Believe me, even if I write a lot of chapters and/or stories (which in this case I have only posted two), I will still "fangirl" over a review.

'Till next chapter! :) :D