Mai's POV

Bored out of my mind I nibbled on my straw. Yasu had actually been rather successful at not just attracting chicks to our two person entourage but a couple guys as well.

We had bar hopped for a while and Yasu made easy friends with a very fun (very drunk) group of Europeans. We learned that they were London born and raised. Naturally Yasu insisted they take us to their favourite places.

Now we were winding down in a cute little Irish pub sat in an awesome round booth. Though I couldn't find it in myself to enjoy it properly.

The fuzzy feeling of booze had me in a totally unladylike slump resting my head on one hand half listening to our new friend Nathan.

He was a decent looking guy, tall, brunet and British but I couldn't help but drift off into the ever present temptation that was Naru between our shared words. The many drinks Yasu and I had indulged in only prompted the thoughts of my old boss turned young professor at my school.

Nathan even kinda looked like him. Well except for the brown eyes and his skin that had actually been touched by the sun. Naru's complexion was a dream to Japanese people. Like a porcelain doll, unblemished and perfect.

I withheld a grimace. God I feel like a teenager obsessing over her ex. I thought sipping the rest of my drink and giving a sweet smile to the boy who could not compare.

Except I wasn't a teenager anymore and Naru never had been my boyfriend. In fact he had made it very clear that he didn't acknowledge my feelings.

I ordered another drink as the waitress came around mentioning to Yasu that we should call it a night after one more of whatever we were drinking.

Honestly I hadn't expected to feel like this tonight. Usually the liquor aided me in forgetting all the worries of a young woman's heart but tonight was different. I should have known it would bring out emotions that I had been disciplined enough to push down through those years. His fresh presence in my mind, fuck in my space as well was harder to control that I had anticipated.

Weren't girls supposed to get over crushes and find someone new to turn their affection on once they had been completely rejected.

Not me apparently!

Thankfully Yasu and I finished our drinks quickly and swapped contact information with our new friends.

Hailing a cab was much easier since we had stayed out near to closing time when all the sane people had already retreated back to their beds. "How you feeling Mai you've been distant all night? Fun cheerful Mai hardly made an appearance." Yasu commented moving my curtain of hair off the side of my face.

I didn't answer but managed a small hiccup. "Oh god please don't start with the drunk hiccups." Yasu moaned as our cab swung in front of our apartment. "You know I can't help it if I've even had a single Caesar." I said then hiccuped again.

"I didn't even notice you sneaked one of those nasty things." Yasu laughed then paid the cabbie and crawled out my side of the car with me.

"Let's get to bed I'm exhausted." I finished my sentence with a yawn that I'm sure smelled like booze had anyone stood close enough to me. "Don't tell me I'm going to have to carry little Mai up the stairs." Yasu sighed walking behind me with a hand place on my back. "I can walk just fine thank-you; and I'm not short!"

"Whatever you say Mai." Yasu drawled the sentence out drunkenly. "Pipsqueak." He added giggling childishly. "Oh my god." I exasperated but smiled.

After entering our apartment I immediately flopped onto my bed. Well actually I brushed my teeth, drank some water from the tap, took off my makeup, changed into a nightie then flopped onto my bed. Though it was such a drunken blur it felt like it hardly even happened.

I rolled onto my side sinking into the soft mattress and drawing the blankets closer to me. A while ago Ayako had bought me a weighted blanket to help with my 'nightmares' or rather visions and though it didn't help much with them it was quite comfy.

Same as always, sleep overtook me quicker than I could process.

-

"Gene?" I asked into the flowery abyss. I was back under my tree in my astral plane. I walked around the dark massive trunk marvelling at the glowing flowers that scattered the branches.

"Beautiful." A voice said. I turned to it expecting my ghostly friend but an older version of him stood in front of me. "Naru?" The words left my mouth in a whisper.

His hair looked shinier in this realm and his eyes donned a pleasant glow. The ethereal glimmer of my astral plane suited him, but why was he here? He was no medium like Gene nor a ghost. Astral walking was definitely not in his talent bracket.

I studied him again. He was smiling at me. How could it possibly be him."

"Naru?" I repeated wandering closer. "I think you like saying my name since you repeat it so much." He said holding out a hand and drawing closer to me. What a Naru thing to say. I thought, although his actions were not like him at all.

He gently pulled a strand of my hair and moved it so he could cradle my cheek with a warm hand. I gazed into his eyes completely enchanted. This was impossible.

He was so expressive compared to when we meet in person. His posture was far more relaxed and though his smile was small it was angelic and real.

"You are so quiet in my dreams Mai. I like the you that exists out of my imagination better." He murmured running his thumb across my skin. I pulled away. In his dreams? He thinks this is a dream? Has he dreamt of me before? I could feel my cheeks deepen in colour as he once again closed the distance between us.

This was a Naru I did not know. This was a Naru that he hid inside and sheltered from the world. His icy facade was no where in sight and I was scared of him. Scared my heart would fall for him even deeper than before.

"The cherry blossoms are the same colour as your cheeks." He observed holding one against my blushing face. I held back the urge to yell at him. I was scared he would clue in that this was no dream and perhaps that I had brought him here still not in control of my ever growing powers.

I stepped back closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. All I had to do was will him back into his own dream. I visualized him fading out of my plane and returning to his own body. When I opened my eyes it had worked.

"I wish I could tell you how sorry I am." I thought I heard him say as his image became transparent then disappeared completely leaving behind the blossom that he had been holding.

I let out a long breath praying that this bizarre experience was one that was conjured from my imagination like he thought his was.

-

Naru's POV

"Let's begin this exorcism." Father Earnest spoke carefully and opened his bible ready to begin reciting the prayer on our call.

Lin whistled shrilly calling his shiki to his side in case we needed backup. Madoka and I were set up in the kitchen watching this on a screen while Lin and Father Earnest awaited the spirits in Hannah's old room.

"Now Lin." Madoka called over the cam. Moving quickly he lit the candle that had been placed on a desk in the middle of the room and began the summoning.

I watched the temperature drop quickly and Father Earnest began to recite his biblical verses. Everything was going according to plan. Hannah's spirit appeared writhing and soundlessly screaming. It was horrible thing to behold no matter how many times I had watched a spirit being exorcised in this manor.

Lin's shiki's circled the spirit containing her violent movements. Then suddenly I felt cold hands wrap around my throat and pull me back from the screen. Madoka screamed and called for Lin as the hands tightened cutting off my breathing.

"Get away from him Jeff he doesn't deserve your wrath!" I heard Madoka screeching at the spirit while being surrounded by a dense fog.

"Stay back!" Jeff hissed from behind me his rancid breath like ice on my back. "None of you will leave this place. You will meet the same fate as I." His voice was fading quick as black spots began to blur my vision spreading like ink in water.

I had to move fast before I lost consciousness. I felt the energy build all around me humming and glowing brilliant shades of red and orange. "Don't do it Naru!" Madoka begged but it was too late. Jeff released me as if scalded by my power and I lashed out at him making quick work of his spirit exorcising it in a matter of seconds. Then the world went completely dark.