Yo! Thank you to all readers so far!

Mai was the first one to wake the next morning. She was surprised at first, when she noticed that neither she nor Naru, who she was currently cuddled up against, were wearing any clothes. It took her a moment to remember why, but when she did, a deep blush appeared on her face. She couldn't believe what she had asked Naru to do, but she was very happy that he had complied.

A careful knock later, the door opened and revealed Lin, who smiled in a surprisingly gentle manner when he saw that Mai was awake, even though she had sort of stolen his spot in the room last night.

Oops?

Approaching, Lin stopped nearby, respectfully keeping his eyes on Mai's face, rather than her bed sheet clad body. Naru slept away, completely oblivious, and their clothes lay at the foot of the bed, where they had unknowingly discarded them the previous night.

"Mai-san," greeted Lin softly. "I hope you slept well?"

The girl's hands tightened their hold on the bed sheet as Mai recalled what else had occurred the previous day. Unable to say anything, she simply nodded, receiving a smile in return.

"Breakfast is nearly ready," said Lin after a moment, "and we have much to discuss. A warning though, Noll is a heavy sleeper, and waking him is always quite a task."

That managed to get a small smile from Mai, who nodded once more. Responding in kind, Lin left the room. Mai sighed when he was gone, and looked over at Naru, who was still fast asleep and hadn't seemed to have noticed a thing.

She couldn't help but smile again when she saw Naru sprawled out on the bed, sheets pooled around his waist, leaving his back completely bare. Giving into temptation, she leaned in closer and began running her fingers down Naru's spine.

"Naru," she said softly, continuing to run her fingers up and down his back. As expected, he didn't even stir. Wondering what she would have to do to wake him up, Mai called his name again. Still, Naru didn't react. She poked him this time-right in the back of the head. When this too garnered no reaction, she pouted a little. "Naru, if you don't wake up, I'm going to draw a mustache on your face in permanent marker."

This time, Naru's eyes snapped open. "Don't. You. Dare."

Mai laughed. It was so like Naru to react only when his perfect visage was at stake. "Lin-san says it's time to get up," she said once she'd calmed. "He said we have a lot to talk about."

Nodding, Naru sat up and stretched, causing Mai to flush at the sight. "How are you feeling, Mai?" he asked, now focusing on her.

Mai just shrugged. "Alright..."

Naru smiled softly and ran his fingers down her cheek. "It'll get easier. Trust me." Of course, he knew she likely already knew that.

Mai nodded. She knew he was right. After all, this wasn't the first time she'd lost a family member. She hadn't felt like this since she'd lost her mother and sister all those years ago.

Naru and Mai freshened up and dressed for the day before heading out in search of the rest of the team. They found them seated around the table in the dining room, all chatting quietly. Mai received many soft smiles when she and Naru joined them. Oddly enough, she looked the most rested out of them all.

Bou-san in particular looked on if he had been to hell and back, and it was with a jolt that Mai remembered that it was the monk who had been guarding her father when the attack had occurred. She was going to have to talk to him soon, and let him know that she didn't blame him and didn't want him blaming himself.

The team continued to chat while they ate, discussing anything and everything except their current case. Clearly no one wanted to bring them all back to the terrible situation that was their reality. Unfortunately, terrible though that reality was, they had no choice but to return to it.

When Naru called for more tea, it was Bou-san who volunteered to go to the kitchen with Mai. As soon as the kettle had been put on, Bou-san dropped to his knees in front of Mai, and took her hands in his.

"Gods, Mai, I'm so sorry," he said, looking more than a little upset. "I was supposed to be protecting him. I was supposed to make sure nothing happened to him. I can't even imagine how much you must hate me right now!" he rambled on, unable to hear the girl's attempts to stop him.

"Bou-san. Bou-san!" Wrenching a hand out of his grasp, Mai gave his hair a sharp tug, satisfied she had his full attention when he hissed in pain. "Bou-san, look at me. It's not your fault, okay? I'm not blaming you for anything. No, shh-just listen." She paused, making sure he was doing just that. "You didn't hurt him. That damn spirit did, and he's the one I blame for this. Not you."

"But it cost you your father, Mai," said Bou-san imploringly. "And you only just found out about him too."

Mai shrugged half-heartedly. "You can't miss what you've never had, right? I thought I had lost him a long time ago." She stroked his hair now, as if in apology for having pulled it. "It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself, okay? Because I don't."

Bou-san opened his mouth to speak, but was inadvertently cut off when the kettle sounded. He got to his feet and watched Mai finish preparing tea. Her emotional strength truly was formidable. It really was almost embarrassing how much stronger she was than the rest of them, while they were the adults.

Upon entering the Base, Mai and Bou-san found the rest of the team crowded around Lin's monitors. On these monitors, paused on screen, was Akira. The monk heard Mai suck in a sharp breath, but watched her square her shoulders, jaw set, and step forward to pass out the tea.

Strong indeed, he thought with a small smile. Out loud, he said, "What's going on?"

"We decided it would be best if we watched the footage of what happened to-to Akira-san last night," said John, blue eyes flickering over to Mai as he spoke.

Everyone looked over at Mai with various degrees of hesitation and concern, but it was Naru who spoke first.

"You don't have to do this part, Mai," he said surprisingly gently.

Mai however, was not about to have any of that. "I want to see it," she said firmly.

Naru and Mai stared at one another for a moment, before the former inclined his head. "Very well. Come here then."

Lin waited until everyone was near enough to see, before pressing play. Nobody spoke, the entire team watching intently.

Bou-san and Akira were alone in the latter's room. They were speaking quietly about this and that, and both seemed perfectly at ease. Clearly neither of them sensed any sort of threat nearby. Akira suddenly gasped, and Bou-san immediately asked him what was wrong.

"My chest. It burns...!"

Frowning, Bou-san stood up and had only just begun to approach Akira, when he froze abruptly. "You're bleeding!"

And indeed blood was beginning to stain the man's blue shirt, quickly staining it crimson. Both men tore at the fabric, needing to see what was wrong. They could do nothing more than stare when they finally managed to get Akira's shirt off.

There were gashes on the man's chest, two deep gashes that were bleeding badly. Even as they stared, two more appeared, making Akira cry out in pain. They weren't scratches-no-they were far worse. It looked as if they were being gouged with a knife.

"Ayako! Get in here!" Bou-san yelled out, guiding Akira to the bed.

"What do you wan-what the hell's going on!?" Ayako rushed to the bed just as Lin, John, and Yasuhara came into the room-all three freezing at the sight before then.

Bou-san yelled at them to help Ayako, while he positioned himself at the end of the bed and began chanting. Ayako, hands already bloody, barked out orders that the others followed immediately and without any hesitation. And during this, Akira only grew paler.

"Someone get Mai," said Ayako abruptly.

Everyone stopped all movement for an instant before Lin nodded and left the room, his urgent yell for Naru and Mai sounding mere seconds later.

And the rest of the scene played out, the team watching intently in solemn silence. Naru was holding Mai close to him, running a soothing hand down her back as she, along with the rest of them, watched her father die once more.

When a short, clipped laugh sounded, brows furrowed in confusion. The Mai on screen released an anguished cry when her father went limp, and the laugh sounded again. Loud, maniacal laughter that raised the hairs on the back of their necks. A laugh that was easily recognizable as belonging to Jack Midnight.

When the screen went blank, the team made sure Mai was alright before focusing on their young boss. One of his hands was resting on the small of Mai's back, the other clutching her hand.

"We're ending this," said Naru, eyes hard. "Today."

That's it for now. Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!