"E-England?" She sputtered.

"Yes."

"Gene what am I going to do?" She began to tear up. "There is no possible way for anyone to get to England get the cure and come back within twenty-four hours."

He pulled her close and hugged her. "I know." He said softly. Mai began to cry and he held her close letting her cry feeling her sadness pierce his heart.

In the real world…

The base was silent as everyone sat waiting for Lin to return hoping he had the spell.

"I can't just sit here!" Monk suddenly shouted as he stood. "I can't sit here waiting for Lin to get here. I have to go and find the bastard who did this to Mai!"

Naru sighed. "There is no need to shout." Was his response. "Even if we found him we'd have to deal with the police. Right now is not a good time especially since Lin still needs to perform the spell to keep Mai from dying by tomorrow."

Monk sighed and sat back down.

"Naru do you think that maybe we should get some rest seeing as it's so late?" John asked.

"Yes I do." He stated. He then rose and walked to the door. "I suggest we all do." He then walked out the door and upstairs. When he opened the door he was a bit surprised to find Lin awake. "We've decided to head to bed as we wait seeing as Modoka has not called you about that spell."

Lin remained silent as he still sat on the bed. He then decided to go and watch the monitors in base.

"Lin." Naru spoke causing Lin to turn halfway to him. "She'll be fine." He said then turned and began to get ready for bed.

Lin said nothing but left the room and walked downstairs to do his job. He arrived at base and sat down in his chair and began working. As the night went on he kept glancing at Mai half hoping she'd awake and be smiling thinking she just slept a long time. He frowned when his thoughts went to his longing to see her beautiful brown eyes. He shook his head and went back to work. After five minutes of not being able to concentrate he got up and walked over to the girl. As he looked down at her he couldn't help but think about how much of a menace she is yet how she's been able to bring so much happiness into his life. He bent down and picked her up deciding she should be in her bed. Once he arrived there he gently placed her into the bed and sat down next to her. He thought about what she said the day she asked why he came back. "I-I just meant you don't like Japan, well the Japanese, so why even bother coming back?"

"No matter how much I hate the Japanese I could never hate you Mai." He spoke softly to her. He grabbed her hand and pressed it gently to his lips.

Back in the dream realm…

Mai had finished crying and was now on her knees with Gene still holding her tightly trying to comfort her. She just stared into the darkness not believing the information she just found out.

Gene was looking down at Mai. His heart broke as he watched her cry and now he had no idea what to do. The thought of her joining him both pleased and saddened him. He loved her but knew it wasn't her time to go. She had a very long life ahead of her and to end it so soon, well, it was just wrong. He pulled away slightly to look at her. She didn't look like she was going to be able to make it in the dream world.

"Hey Mai." He whispered and she looked at him. "Look on the bright side you'll be able to be with me." He smiled gently unsure of what she would do.

Mai sighed but gave him a small smile. "Thank you for trying to cheer me up Gene." She looked down at the ground. "I think I'd be okay with death if maybe I had an opportunity to tell him."

"Opportunity for what?" Gene tilted his head sideways.

"To tell someone something important." She looked at her hands. "If I had the opportunity to tell him how I felt I think I could be okay with death." She looked at Gene and smiled.

He was surprised when she smiled at him. He didn't know what to make of it. She was very confusing to him. He let out a small sigh as he shook his head then smiled at her. "I should inform you that you don't have very long left. It's already midnight." He stretched his legs. "That means you only have nineteen hours left."

"I know." She leaned back on her hands causing the scene to change into a dark starry sky. She looked up at it smiling. "I think I'm ready to face death. I know my time was short and I didn't get to tell Lin that I have strong feelings for him but I think –"

"Lin?" Gene shouted interrupting her. "You like Lin?"

Mai began to blush. "Y-yes."

"Oh man, and here I thought you'd end up with my brother."

"Don't get me wrong Gene, Naru is attractive but after how things have gone, well I've lost that feeling and it seems like they have turned to someone else."

Gene smiled at her. "I know what you mean. It's okay. Besides how Noll has treated you I can understand. I figured he'd realize how he felt for you sooner." He looked to the sky. "Though I think someone else has figured it out quicker."

"What do you mean?" She looked at him confused.

"Don't worry about it."

"Gene I'm dead in less than nineteen hours. Seriously."

Gene gave a light laugh. "I was referring to Lin."

Mai blushed. "Really?"

"Yea, he's realized it alright, but he can't do anything about it now."

Mai sighed. "I suppose so." She remained silent. "Gene what was it like when you died?"

He looked at her a tad surprised but then understood. "Well if you want to know if it was painful? I don't remember. I was too busy staring at the bright lights to register any pain." He looked at the dark starry sky thinking and remembering. "The next thing I knew I was in a plane like this. I felt cold for a while then eventually that faded and I was just there. Not long after did I realize I was dead."

Mai sat and stared at Gene wondering how he could be able to go on as he does. Stuck in the dream world for possibly forever.