OK I immediately started on this next chapter in hopes of making up for my lack of progress over these last few weeks. Hope this story still has enough draw for all of you! Thank you very much!

I don't own GH, blah, blah, blah!

After tidying up after dinner, Mai had a soothing shower and went back to her room to pack for the case the next day. Looking over everything piled up, she decided it'll be more efficient to get rid of all the small miscellaneous bags from what she had bought earlier today with Ayako by packing them into a suitcase, and keep all the other things in their neat boxes for now. So one by one, she opened the packages and moved most of the purchases into her "case" suitcase, and occasionally put away some items into the closet and shelves provided. After she finished packing everything for the case, she took a look around and moved the boxes from her apartment to one side to unpack when she gets back. Feeling quite pleased with how productive she's been, she decided it was time to turn in for the night.

"Good grief, it's been a long day! So much has happened. I can't believe I'm officially living with Naru and Lin! Sigh… I hope the case won't be too difficult. There is still so much I need to take care of."

With that last thought, Mai drifted of to sleep. Sadly, her dreams won't be restful at all, and Gene…he won't be able to protect her from all the tears she would be shedding.

~Mai's Dream~

Shortly after falling asleep, the girl started to toss and turn from various scenes she had to witness.

"Hotaru-nee! Look! Look! Auntie's house is so huge!" A little girl about 11-years old looked up excitedly at her older sister.

Hotaru (Mai) looked down lovingly at her little sister's childish delight and was grateful that she is recovering so fast from their parents' deaths. 'It's very large isn't it Hikari? We'll be living here from now on, so make sure to be very respectful always and listen well to Auntie and Uncle ok?'

"Haaaiii!"

At that moment the double doors to the large western house was opened and revealed a stern-looking elderly woman. She was dressed in western wear and was frowning ever slightly over the more traditional style clothing of her nieces.

Ushering her little sister forward, 15-year old Hotaru bade her to greet their aunt, well cousin actually since she was a cousin of their mother's, properly with her. 'Thank you very much for taking us in Aunt Akira. We greatly appreciate your kindness.'

"Yes! Thank you so much for your kindness Auntie!" bowed a sweet Hikari.

With her face remaining neutral, Aunt Akira moved aside to allow them entrance. "It is my duty since my romantic cousin and her so-called husband died from that freak illness that swept that small village. It figures that something like this would befall them, and I'd be left saddled with the burdens."

Hikari's face held shock at how badly her parents and sister was spoken too. Before she could say something to their new guardian, her elder sister grabbed her hand, and just shook her head in silence. Understanding Hotaru's wishes, she held her tongue and behaved.

Indicating the sisters to follow her, Akira led them down a corridor till they reached a set of rooms. "These were both prepared for you girls, choose whichever one you like amongst yourselves. Make sure to keep the rooms clean and don't cause any disturbances. We have servants here for everything, so I don't need your help for anything. Just make sure to stay quiet and hidden. Food will be delivered to your rooms, so don't come out except for school. If you need anything, write a message and give it to the butler to deliver it to me. That is all any questions?"

The girls were shocked with how cold their Aunt was treating them and could do little but shake their heads "no." Nodding in satisfaction, Akira turned and left the sisters standing there.

Change scene.

Hikari knocked on her older sister's door. Opening it, Hotaru (Mai is still in her viewpoint) bid her to come in.

"What's wrong Hikari?"

'I can't sleep onee-chan. Aunt and Uncle's ball is so loud downstairs.'

Smiling gently at her baby sister, she gestured for her to come sit on her bed. "Shall I tell you a story then?"

Jumping onto her beloved sister's bed, she excited asked for the story of how their parents fell in love. It was one their mother told them countless times.

Smiling another fond smile, Hotaru softly re-told the touching story of their parents. Their parents met when their mother snuck out of her overbearing household to catch fireflies at night, and their father was lying there watching them. As he was lying there, suddenly, their mother jumped out of the bushes with a catcher and promptly fell on top of him with the catcher smashing his face. One thing led to another and the both of them fell in love. When they had their first daughter, they named her "Hotaru" in honor of the fireflies that drew them together in the first place. When their second daughter came, they named her "Hikari" for "light."

Looking down, she smiles when she realizes her little sister is sleeping peacefully. As she laid there, she contemplated the words her mother told her time and time again. "Hotaru, Hikari is your precious little sister. You must always protect Hikari, alright? For hotarus cannot survive without hikari."

Scene's start flashing quickly.

Another ball, Hotaru/Mai finds Hikari hiding behind at the top of the stairs looking down at the opulence and dancing.

"Hikari, we can't be here, Auntie doesn't want us to be seen!" Moving to get her little sister, Hotaru accidentally catches the attention of their cousin Kenta. She was unaware he had seen them, and definitely not how he zeroed in on her sleepwear. It wasn't immodest, but the lights cast the curves of her body into a silhouette.

Change scene.

Mai felt the weight of someone on top of her. All she saw above her was a black shape. Looking to her left, she saw Gene motioning frantically for to wake up, but she could barely hear him. It was as if he was speaking through water, the sounds were to muted. Then she felt pain between her legs, and time stood still. Looking down at her/Hotaru's body, she froze for a long moment, not fully comprehending what had happened. Gene's voice finally made it through. "Mai! Wake up! Wake up RIGHT NOW! You DO NOT need to See anymore of this! Wake up NOW!"

Lifting her eyes to Gene, her glazed eyes finally gave way to anguish and she started to scream with all the emotions she and Hotaru were feeling.

Screaming herself awake, she could still feel the disgust, the pain, the shame, and the fear. Screaming in agony and despair, she was unaware that she was gathering her chi into an oppressive energy ball surrounding her. She was also unaware of Naru and Lin barging in and trying to calm her down.

L.P.O.V

I was just finishing the last touches to Mai's bracelets when I heard her screams. Making a run for it, I ran into her room, vaguely noticing that Noll was already there.

'LIN! She's spinning out of control! Look!'

I looked, and indeed, Mai had created a protective barrier around herself. It was made from her chi and it was strong due to her emotions. Deciding quickly, I ran to the bathroom in the hallway and turned the faucet on. I ran out leaving it running, and called my water shiki. Quickly calling a demand, he drew from the running water and we narrowed our water energy to a spear-like shape and shot it into her barrier. Although her barrier closed up immediately, the splash of water in her face was like a cold wet slap. I let out a sigh of relief when she turned to look at us, and recognition started to take over her features. I breathed another sigh of relief to realize that surprisingly, nothing was burned.

Noll quickly walked over to her, but her barrier was still up. Letting a note of suggestion enter my voice, "Mai-san. You're awake now. Naru and I are both here. There is no need to be scared anymore. Can you hear me? Can you see us?"

Slowly, the barrier weakened until it completely fizzled out. Immediately, Noll was sitting on her bed and had pulled her into his lap. Holding her head under his chin, he looked over her head at me with a look of fear in his eyes. Smoothing his other hand over her back in a soothing gesture, Mai finally let out a sigh of exhaustion and raised her head to look at him.

'Mai. What happened?'

Glancing back at me, she scooted out of Noll's hold and gestured for me to take a seat on the other side of her. With all three of us sitting on the edge of the bed, she retold the many scenes of her dream. She also told us how Gene was unable to fully function as her guide this time. She was crying from the anguish of her "dream violation," so all Noll and I could do was stay with her until she calmed down.

Finally calming down, she just sat there and let Noll stroke her hair in comfort. Seeing I was no longer needed, I excused myself and left to make some tea. I realized I had forgotten to turn off the water and after taking care of it made my way to the kitchen. After making some tea, I walked back to Mai's room to discover both her and Noll gone. Worried, I went to Noll's room to see if they were there for some reason, and sure enough, I found them. Mai was huddled in a ball under his dark blankets and Noll was on top of the covers lying next to her and just patting her head.

"Noll, I brought her some tea."

He could hear the question in my voice and got up after a few soft murmurs to Mai that he'd be right back. Setting the tea next to the side table beside her, he got up and followed me out the room.

"Noll?"

Leaning against the door with arms crossed, 'She started trembling from shock and wouldn't let me go. I didn't want to be cramped on her small bed, so I carried her over onto mine. I'll sleep beside her and keep and eye on her tonight. She felt better knowing I'll be there to wake her up if she starts showing any signs of those dreams again.' Pausing for a moment, 'She was more terrified over Gene being unable to move her around dreams than the actual dream itself I think. She kept saying "What if I can't get out?"

I nodded in understanding, but…"Noll, you'll be sleeping in a chair or on the floor won't you?"

Looking at me incredulously, 'Of course not Lin! I plan on being a perfect gentleman and sleep beside her. There is nothing for you to worry about.'

"Perfect gentlemen, do not sleep beside a defenseless girl, Noll!"

'She is not defenseless! Did you not see her barrier! Besides, you're the one that suggested she'd be my future bride! We're dating already anyways! There's no need to fret like an old fart!' and with that he turned and swiftly entered the room.

"Did he just call me an old fart? That little prat!" Feeling maybe just a little old because of everything he's having to deal with, what with two teenagers under one roof and now in one bed, Lin wearily made it back to his own room and promptly fell onto his bed in exhaustion. "They both better not blush funny when I see them tomorrow!"

N.P.O.V.

"It took a little effort, but I was able to coax Mai out of her blanket cave long enough to drink the tea Lin had made. I could tell that he had added some sleep medicine in as well. Soon she had relaxed in her ball of blankets and positioned her self on her right side. I debated for a little, but I finally slid in beside her and scooted next to her to hold her. I don't know why, but she feels a lot smaller this time, than the time on the couch. Even though she's developing her powers, I feel as though she's become more fragile."

Naru continued to think about the case, and how it's already affecting Mai so drastically. He's positive that her dreams have something to do with the case. It's to vivid and detailed not to be. Even more concerning is that Gene wasn't able to pull her out of it quick enough. With all these thoughts rolling in his mind, he finally drifted off to sleep with Mai in his arms. His last thought before succumbing to sleep…

"I think soon I won't be able to sleep well without her here…"

Another short one, I know! But I wanted to make up for lost time! It isn't even the case yet and she's already having such intense dreams! Can Mai survive the strains of this case? Please RxR! Hope y'all are still interested! Much thanks!