A/C - WHAT! Two updates in a week? Who is this author!? Haha, I hope you enjoy the early update. I'm still trying to figure out what days work best, so please bear with me!

As promised, shoutouts for reviews from last chapter:

One Autumn Leaf - Thank you so much for the kind words and I'm happy you are enjoying the story!

Vampgirl1309 - Your reviews make me a smile all the time! I'm looking forward to writing more for you :)

Glass Dragon's Road - Thank you for that! I realize that there are SO many unique GH stories out there. It's awesome to hear that you think that of mine :)

Guest (Wolfie) - Hey! Thanks for taking the time to review the story! I hope it continues to excite you :)

sleonard - Hehe and I can't wait to write more! Things are going to get interesting for our favourite characters :#

Once again, thank you everyone for the reviews! Now, without anymore chit-chat, here's chapter 16. Cheers!

Chapter 16 - To Dream a Dream

My first order of business when we were home was to bathe.

Goodbye's were brief since we were seeing each other tomorrow. Yasu opted to drive me home, which I accepted because I was so exhausted and I hadn't called Lucien yet.

Yasu parked in front of my apartment complex.

"How're you feeling?" He asked when the engine shut off.

Tired, confused. Guilty about kissing, and having feelings, for Naru. I said none of that. "I'm alright."

"Naru probably said the same thing to you, but I'm making my oath as well," Yasu declared. "We're going to figure this out. And, I'm not going anywhere so if you ever need anything just give me a call, alright?"

"I don't want to be a burden -"

He reached across to put a finger on my lips and shut me up.

"You're not a burden at all, trust me. I want you to call, even if it's just to come pick you up, or to talk. I'm here for you, remember that okay?"

I nodded, "okay, Yasu."

"Alright, that's a good answer." He leaned back and smiled. "We should take the train together to the meeting tomorrow. Big boss wants us there at eight sharp and we know how he feels about tardiness."

I chuckled, "that sounds really nice. Thank you Yasu. Get home safe."

I climbed out of the vehicle and made my way upstairs. It felt like it had been a long time since I was inside my own home, even though it was only a little over a week. The furniture sat unused, and the lights were all out. I didn't even have any kind of pet, like a cat, to come and greet me.

It felt lonely.

I moved through the utilitarian task of bathing, then fixed myself something to eat and a cup of tea. It was around this time I heard shuffling at the door and a key clicked it open.

I knew of one person with a key.

Lucien sauntered in, holding a pile of envelopes and flyers.

He saw me in the kitchen and stopped. I haven't called him when we landed, hadn't wanted to deal with this right now, but it looks like I was about to.

"You're back!" His face turned into a grin and my heart broke a little more. Lucien held out the envelopes, "Weekly mail boy at your service. This stuff really piles up, you should get a 'no-junk' sign or something."

He came over to sit across from me at the table. "When did you get in? I'm so happy you're okay!"

My throat felt raw. "This morning, I just got home and needed some time to myself for a while. I'm sorry I didn't call you."

Lucien shook his head. "Don't be, I'm just glad you got back safe and you're finally home. Do you want me to leave?" He asked, completely concerned. Lucien was such a kind man, and he was a genuine kind of person. Why couldn't I have fallen head-over-heels for him the way I had with Naru?

I shook my head, putting down my tea cup and folding my hands on the table. I wore an extra long, baggy, sweatshirt that had sleeves which covered my hands. It was intended for me not to stare at the tattoo, but now I'm glad it was one less thing I had to tell Lucien.

"No, you don't need to go. I uh...I need to talk to you about something, actually," I said.

Lucien's smile slowly faded as he leaned back. "Are you alright, Mai? Did you take your pills?"

I took a big breath of air in, "I stopped taking the pills, Lucien."

His eyebrows knitted together, "what?" Then realization. "Mai, you know how dangerous that is? You should have -"

"I needed to stop taking them." I interrupted him. "Honestly, I've never felt better. I finally feel like I'm in control of my feelings and my emotions. Being off them has made think clearly, and I've had time to really go over some...things."

Lucien waited patiently for me to continue.

"I've thought about how unfair it was to rely on those pills for so long. Then, when I felt like I had a void in my life, you were there. My feelings for you were true, but I think that I relied on you for... something else. It wasn't just because you supported me through those dark times. It was that you were the furthest man, in every aspect, from Naru and you distracted me from him. You kept my mind off him and I didn't feel so lonely. I've realized that doing that, even unintentionally, isn't fair to you.

"I used you and I feel awful because I never realized it before. I was so trapped in that depression I couldn't think clearly. And now... I can understand why I did what I did. And it wasn't fair to do that to you: to jump into a relationship with you like that."

When I finished, I was breathing heavier and Lucien was visibly breathing harder. "You didn't have feelings for me at all?"

"No, I did." I said. "But, not in the way that was pure, or honest. Not in the way you deserve."

Lucien thought about his response. He was visibly emotional but he kept them in check with his breathing and I remained still. I also tried to control my breathing and my cheeks burned from holding back the tears, but I knew once they started they wouldn't stop. I felt like such a selfish person, and I supposed that I was being selfish. I really wanted someone to help me through that darkness and by dong that I pulled someone else to into my mess.

He said, "did something happen between you two on this trip? Please, be honest."

He deserves the truth, I thought. Even though there was something in me that begged me to lie so that this would be a little easier.

Lucien deserves to know the truth, though.

My voice lowered, "we...kissed."

Lucien inhaled sharply, running a hand over his face and hair in frustration as he leaned back into the chair. I didn't bother to explain that the kiss happened when we thought we were going to die. A kiss is a kiss, no matter what the circumstances.

"I knew...that you still had feelings for him. Even though you thought you didn't. I still tried to pursue a relationship with you. I guess that makes me the fool, doesn't it?" His voice sounded like he was on the edge of something dark. It was that tone that drew me in.

"Lucien, I -"

"No," he shook his head and a tear streamed down his cheek. He breathed in deeply and wiped it with the back of his hand. That broke something in me and my breathing shattered. The tears I had been holding fell onto my cheeks.

I sobbed, "I'm so sorry."

Lucien stood up. "I think it's best if I...If I go. It's not fair to you to make you choose like this, and I want you to be happy."

"I was happy," I said. Tears flowed down my face. "You made me happy, being with you...it's just...I can't keep you like this if I don't know what I want." I had to sort out four years of pushed aside feelings and it wasn't fair to bring Lucien into that mess.

None of this was fair.

My voice shook, "we can still be friends -"

"Don't," Lucien said. "Please, don't say it. I need...I need some time to be away from you. Actually. It might be best if we stay away from each other for a while."

I nodded, thinking it was stupid to even suggest we could be friends. I doubt Lucien would ever want to see me again.

He pulled the apartment key from out of his pocket. It was still on a simple, yellow key chain lanyard I had left it on. Lucien placed it gently on the table. "I want you to be happy, Mai. Never forget that...and I wish you the best."

It felt like my heart was cracking and I held my breath as I watched him leave, then heard the door close behind him.

It hurt because I didn't hate Lucien. I actually really liked him and I believed he was such a great man. But now, with my feelings for Naru still not sorted out, I felt confused. I think Lucien understood and because he was such an understanding person he would leave so I could sort this out.

It didn't make this hurt any less. Lucien was there for me and was kind to me. That's what I latched onto, that kindness he showed me. Naru could never love a person like Lucien could. Naru was a completely different kind of person. He was moody, egotistical, and...stubborn.

But, I still had feelings for him.

Maybe one day, I thought, Lucien and I could find our way back to one another. Maybe not as lovers but as friends.

I didn't want to promise myself that, though. It wasn't fair to me or to Lucien.

So I hung my head and I didn't hide my sobs as I wept at the table.

^.^

The next day, Yasu made good on his promise to pick me up and we could train together to the office. He took one look at my puffy eyes and demanded to know what happened. I couldn't hide the facts anymore. So I told him - all of it.

It felt good to have someone to talk about everything building up on me. I would have preferred to talk to Masako but I found out that she was on a plane back to the United States this morning. She would be back in a month, but still...it hurt that she wasn't going to be here for a while.

Yasu was an attentive listener though, and he was not a judgmental person.

"Wow," Yasu said when I finished by talking about the break up I had with Lucien last night, where I stayed up all night crying - wondering if I had made a mistake. Lucien was a good man, and such a kind-hearted soul. Naru was...well, Naru was Naru. "So, you and Naru really kissed?"

"It wasn't a kiss like that," I said, trying to make sense of it. "It was more like a 'we're dying and this might be the last time I tell you about my feelings' kind of kiss."

"But you didn't die," Yasu noted. "So it was just a kiss."

I sighed, not thinking about it like that.

Yasu asked, "Now what? Big boss might be going back to England again."

"I don't know," I said honestly. "I just want to forget about it. Naru hasn't even brought it up, so until he does, then I won't."

"You should talk about it at some point before then, though. Clear the air in case he goes back." Yasu said and I knew he was right.

"He will go back to England," I corrected him. Then sighed, "and when he does, I'll talk to him about it before he leaves. It won't be like the last time."

"Good!" Yasu patted me on the back. "I'm proud of you."

I felt a smile touch the corners of my lips, "thanks."

We made it to Shibuya station with less than a minute to spare when we finally got into the office, giggling about a story Yasu had launched into.

It felt good to have someone to laugh with.

"You're late," Naru said from the furthest sofa. Naturally, everyone was already here.

"Sorry," I took off my coat. "We got held up at the train station because Yasu couldn't find his pass."

Bou-san turned to us, grinning. "Don't tell me they let you off with good behavior?"

Yasu walked over to him, casually sitting in the seat next to Bou-san. He purred, "I don't think you even know what good behavior is."

Before Bou-san could defend himself, Naru started speaking. "I've called you all here for a direct report to add to this case file. I got one from Hara-san before she left and all of you still need to do one."

"Then, are we going to start working out that thing on Mai's arm?" Bou-san asked.

"Yes," Ayako agreed. "It's quite concerning. We don't know what kind of language it's written in and we can't decipher it."

"Lin and I have agreed to stay and try to figure this out. However, I know you all have your own lives. You're more than welcome to help the investigation along, however you will not be part of the case."

Everyone stared at him and received an icy blue gaze.

It was John that spoke, "that doesn't sound like a bad thing. Davis-san is just is still suggesting that we can help with the case."

"Why would I not want to dedicate my time to solve this?" Bou-san argued. The good Priest did not answer him, not with the tone that threatened his voice.

Naru said, "I recall you had mentioned, in the beginning in of this case, that you all had your own lives now."

Bou-san stared straight at the investigator. "You know what I meant, don't take it out of context. I want to help Mai."

"We are helping her. However, we need to research what the mark means. I don't need you to do what I've dedicated my life to be more than competent at." Naru cut him off and I could see the tension rolling off the men. There was too much testosterone in this room and I felt like I was choking on it.

"I think," I stepped forward into the group after watching this argument (on my behalf) go on for too long. "What Naru is trying to say is that you don't have to spend your time dedicated to looking for answers cause he will do that. Just do what you can with the time you have."

"I don't like it," Bou-san complained. "Ayako, what do you think of all of this?'

Ayako said, "I think it works for me. No offence but my job does take a lot of time during the day. If I can focus on this after work, than it really helps me out."

John nodded in agreement, then looked over to me. "I hope you don't think any less of me, but I do want to help you."

"Me too," Yasu chipped in.

It was Bou-san that said, "We're here for you, kiddo."

And I was smiling at all of them - for giving up their spare time to help me when they really didn't have to. I gripped the sleeve on my sweater (to hide the mark).

"Thank you everyone. Thank you."

^.^

Naru took us one at a time into his office. I had a feeling that mine would take the longest so I would probably be last.

Ayako went first and came out, hugging me and flipping off Bou-san, then rushed to work. John did something similar, with a wave goodbye to all of us.

Yasu offered to wait for me but I argued that it could take a while so it was best if he left.

Then there was just my report left to do. I stepped into the office and Naru sat at his desk, ready.

I remembered this office from the last time and tried not to let those overwhelming feelings flood me. I stepped forward and sat on the seat across from the oak desk.

"My report was about fifteen pages," Naru warned. "I expect yours will be something similar."

"Let's get started." I said and then went into the case from the beginning. I tried to leave my emotions out of it as Naru typed away.

I did try to go over as many details as possible, not leaving anything out. When we were finished, the report was roughly twenty pages. I considered it because I had to include my visions and any other relevant information I was given. It also helped clear up a lot of the misunderstanding and confusion we had on this case. Things such as clearing up the holes in the districts story about the family.

The parents did not hang themselves from grief. It made me realize just how false that little town was, and possibly how close we could have been to being in even more danger.

"So, we're all done here?" I asked when I was finished.

Naru packed away his laptop, then turned back to me. "There's one more thing I wanted to talk about with you."

I felt my breathing get very shallow as I nodded, nervously. "Okay."

Naru continued. "Since we don't know anything about this mark and what it could do Lin and I think it's best if you are under surveillance, or something similar."

I blinked, "you mean...like a supernatural witness protection plan?"

The corners of his lips curled, "yes, you can call it that."

"So I'll be watched on like..a camera? By you guys?" Naru made a face at that, and I continued. "No offence, but that's really weird. I would rather not."

"No not cameras. If something were to happen, and it is supernatural, then a frequency on a camera may not capture it. We were thinking more along the lines of one of us keeping an eye on you. Or, if Sora-San would be able to stay with you and report to us if anything -"

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn't register what Naru was saying.

My lips shook, "Lucien and I...we broke up. He won't be staying with me anymore."

There was an awkward silence that hung in the air and I didn't meet Naru's stare as I looked down at my hands folded in my lap.

Naru broke the silence first. "It would either be Lin or myself, whoever you feel more comfortable with. Lin has accommodations with Takigawa-san if you would be more comfortable to stay there. The other option is Lin or myself can stay with you in your apartment."

Honestly, I was so lucky that I was sitting down because I thought I would fall over. This had to be a dream, there was no way we were having this type of conversation.

"Let me get this straight: you're going to live with me until we figure out what this thing on my arm means?"

"Yes. It's not ideal, but I could offer payment for the stay to help you financially. If that's what you choose: that I stay instead of Lin." Naru said and I leaned back, running a hand through my hair. I couldn't believe that this was happening.

Naru asked, impatiently, "well?"

"I don't really have a choice," I raised an eyebrow at him, sighing. "I want this figured out just as much as you. And Lin intimidates me, so...if I have to choose I would rather it be you."

"I'll break the news to Lin." Naru said, as if he already knew the answer. He stood and moved towards the door, stopping in the threshold. He turned back to me, his face remained unreadable.

"I'm sorry to hear about Sora-san."

I twisted in the seat to look at him. "It's okay."

We held each others stare for a moment longer than necessary. Naru's cool gaze never gave anything away and I struggled to find a hint of emotion behind them. I could feel that his apology was genuine.

It reminded me of what I gave up with Lucien to figure out what I had with Naru.

Naru turned back and left while I stayed in the office, not quite believing what had happened. Thinking I had dreamed all of this I pinched myself. Nope, this was real and definitely happening.

For the good of science, I thought.

Naru was going to be living with me.

^.^