Mai's POV

I walked down a hall, into a room all too familiar. The whips and chains and torture devices lining the walls as I looked around. It felt as if everything was spinning and I couldn't breathe. My chest felt heavy and I grabbed my head. I watched the scene unfold. The whip hitting my back, the chains rattling against my wrists.

I couldn't take it. I didn't want to watch this again. I already dream of it too much. So, I shut my eyes in the dream and tried to force my body and mind to wake up. I jolt awake, but stay laying down, feeling a warmth behind me. Thinking that Naru is asleep, I sit up slowly and rub my eyes. Grabbing my robe, I leave the bedroom and slowly, find my way to the kitchen just to sit and calm down.

"Can't sleep dear?" I hear the soft voice of Luella speak up. Looking up I smile shyly and shake my head.

"Bad dream…" I say quietly as she starts brewing some tea.

"Oliver did tell me you had a hard time sleeping some nights…some tea should help you relax." She said, prepping it, "Want to talk about it dear?" She asked, I hesitated.

"I…had a bad childhood, and a recent case stirred up some memories is all…" I said. It wasn't a complete lie, but it wasn't the truth either…

"Hmm…Mai…" She said as she poured the tea, "I don't want you to think I'm trying to pressure you…but you need to let some things out, and I know you know that…"

"No, no, you're right…I just don't think I'm ready to…It's a lot…" I said softly, taking the cup from her gently.

"Which is completely fine dear, I'm only saying, it'll help you in the long run." She said, smiling gently at me. I smiled back.

"I'm just tired…I'm not sleeping well and it's because of a lot of memories coming up in dreams. Dreams that the past case had brought up…" I said, sighing quietly, "I can't find a way to tell Naru…the truth…" I said sadly.

She sat down, "the truth of?" she questioned. I tapped the mug, hesitant in saying anything. Her eyes softened, "don't worry about it dear, just tell him when you're ready ok? He'll understand…"

I nodded and thanked her for the tea before heading back up to bed, I stopped in the doorway and looked as Naru slept silently. Tears welled up quietly as I shakily walked over and laid next to him, curling into him. His arm wrapped around me, protectively as he rubbed my back. I only clutched his sleep shirt and sniffled, drifting back off.

Naru's POV

I felt her get back in bed, shakily, and my heart broke as she did. I wrapped my arm around her and held her. She fell back asleep quickly and I opened my eyes.

"Mai…" I kissed her head gently and sighed quietly.

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I sat at the kitchen table with my mother and father during breakfast and listened to them chatting. Mai was still in bed and I was texting back and forth with an old friend who works for the English branch of the Family of Spirits.

"Noll, who're are you texting?" My mother had asked.

"Marlyn, Mother…" I said back, she stiffened, and my father touched her hand.

"Why're you texting him?" He asked.

"Long story, but Mai's family is connected to the one he works for." I said, my mother relaxed and looked at me confused.

"Connected?" She asked and I nodded as I heard the soft steps of Mai's feet coming down the sirs. I looked over and I felt my gaze soften at the sight of her messy ponytail and my oversized black shirt with white shorts.

"Hey Mai…" I said gently and got up to make her some tea.

"Morning…" she grumbled and yawned, smiling softly at my parents.

"Morning dear" My mother said, my father nodded with a smile.

"I have a contact with your cousins Mai, we'll be meeting with them tomorrow…" I said, sitting her tea down as she sat in my seat. She smiled.

"Really?... That's great, Naru…" She said tiredly, sipping her tea, I kissed her head softly, earning a small giggle from my mother. Mai blushed and looked down. I only shook my head.

"Get dressed after you finish breakfast. Mother has a shopping trip planned." I said and Mai looked up at my mother.

"Huh? Really you don't have t-"She started to say and my mother only shook her head and giggled.

"There's no arguing." My mother said in a sing-songy voice.

"Please don't try to fight her on it Mai…" I said quietly. She just sat there quietly, looking like a deer in headlights.

Mai's POV

'Oh Great….' I thought to myself.