A/N: I'm having a hard time writing out the next chapters of Introspection, so a little MaiRu fluff break! I might expand this into a series of one shots, but I guess that depends on how long until I get over this writer's block.

Stealing the Best Parts

Tap. Tap. Tap. Mai rapped her pencil over her coffee table and exhaled sharply through her nose. To try and calm herself back down, she reached for her cup and took a sip, only to choke and immediately spit it back out. Her tea had long gone cold.

With a loud grumble she stood up to get some paper towels and wiped away her mess, not really putting her mind in the chore as she resumed glaring at her notebook, which was clearly the one to blame for all her current problems. She tried to decipher the meaning behind those strange math symbols again as she racked her memory for the time her teacher had gone over a similar question, but came up blank.

"I don't remember this at all," she whined as she collapsed on the floor, almost tearing up from frustration. "We must have gone over this while I was out for a case..."

Then a thought hit her. She jumped up and ran to her bedroom to pick up her phone and called a familiar number on her speed dial. Within seconds of ringing, a voice answered.

"Yasuhara-san!" she greeted. A friendly acknowledgement came from the other line. "Do you have time to talk right now? I'm in need of some help..."

"Ah, I would love to, but I was actually just about to step out to take my make-up exam... We did miss last week after all."

Mai's crestfallen face would have been enough to make Yasuhara forget his prior engagements no matter how important it was, but as they were hidden behind their phones, it helped none. It annoyed her that even the kind Yasuhara-san was being inconvenienced by this part time job. "I see. No worries, I'll try to work on my homework some more on my own. Sorry to bother you. Good luck on your test!"

She could practically hear Yasuhara frown. "I'm really very sorry, Taniyama-san... I'll call you up again when I get back?"

Mai grunted cheerfully to dispel his guilt. "Sure thing! When you get back maybe I'll still be stuck on this problem. Well, goodbye then!" As soon as they hung up, she sighed. "Okay, well that plan is scrapped. Who else can I ask for help?"

She bit her lip and tried to imagine each conversation she would have were she to contact the others. None of the scenarios in her head played out well. For starters she seriously doubted whether Bou-san or Ayako would even remember anything academic, and certainly Masako had no need to understand esoteric math concepts. Did that woman even go to school? As for John... she wondered briefly and was about to try her luck with the young priest, but she remembered that he had gone on a vacation. It would be rude of her to bug him while he tried to take some well deserved rest.

Lin-san perhaps? The two of them had recently started to get along better so maybe that was a viable option, but then again it was a weekend and she wasn't sure if he'd be as accommodating on his day off.

That really only left her with one other choice.

She thumbed through her contacts list and highlighted the name, "Nevercallthis Jerk". Mai still couldn't believe she managed to weasel out his phone number from him two weeks ago. They were talking alone in the office when the subject of emergency contacts came up and she persisted on getting his information until he relented. In the end he said to her scathingly that she had better not use it unless it was absolutely necessary.

"Like how do you mean 'necessary'?" she asked.

"'You-had-better-be-dying-with-no-other-way-to-contact-others' kind of necessary," he replied icily.

Mai bit her lip and mused, "Well I'm having a test this Monday and I cannot fail it, otherwise I won't be allowed to take days off for the next case so this is qualifies as necessary. Besides, this is all his fault to a degree anyway. These cases really take some time off my studies so it should be fair to ask him to help me. It shouldn't be too hard for him-he's a genius anyway." Yet despite saying all this, she felt nervous. She had never once called his cell phone, let alone on a weekend. With a trembling hand, she pressed the call button.

Unlike Yasuhara, it took more than fifteen rings before he picked up, and instead of a cheerful greeting she received a sigh with a hint of annoyance. "I thought I told you not to call me," his deep voice resonated on the other line, tickling Mai's ear.

"Naru! I'm sorry to bother you but I needed help..."

"With?"

"... Homework."

Mai braced herself, knowing he was about to say a lot of deprecating things toward her right now, but there was only silence. Then to her surprise, he asked, "What topic?"

"M-math... It looks like we went over differential equations while I was out last week and we're having a test on Monday. Wait, you're not going to yell at me?"

"Going over math problems on the phone will be too confusing for you. You probably won't even understand my instructions-"

"-Well I'm sorry for being too dumb to go over it on the phone!"

He cut her off. "-I wasn't finished. Stop being so stubborn."

Oh. Mai apologized silently and kept quiet. "So then? What were you going to say?"

"I'm reviewing some files and need to send it over to BSPR by tonight so I can't leave my place. Bring the homework and let's get it over with." As an afterthought, he added, "And like I said before-it's pointless to yell at idiots."

Mai pulled her phone out of the side of her face and read the call information to confirm she was talking to the right person. "Nevercallthis Jerk" was in bold letters on the top of her screen. She replaced the phone back to her ear and said, "Setting aside your very mean comment, I just want to get this straight: you want me... to come over?"

"The homework couldn't possibly bring itself now, could it?"

She sighed exasperatedly. "Of course not! You know very well which part is surprising to me, damn it!"

"Then come. Try to make it within the next hour or else my schedule will be thrown off even more." Mai heard the click and the dial tone before she could even reply.

With a sigh, she collected her school things and packed them in her bag, while a deep blush and foolish smile slowly crept up her face. This wouldn't be her first time coming over his place, although the last time she was there was work related and she wasn't even alone with him. It was during an intense case several months ago; her and the rest of the SPR team had to temporarily crash at his place to help the two powerful members prepare hundreds of hitogata. Naru and Lin-san must have learned from experience during the Ryokuryou High case: it's nerve-racking doing everything yourself at the last second.

Once everything was packed, Mai turned off all her lights and skipped out the door, making her way towards his apartment.

-oooo-

Several hours later, sitting inside Naru's tidy apartment, Mai felt herself getting extremely dizzy. Her hands were slightly sweating from nervousness as Naru leaned in closer beside her, trying to look over her answers. She could practically feel his hair brush against her cheek. Fearing her thundering heart might give her away, she stealthily turned to look at him and was surprised to see him so nonchalant, appearing perfectly oblivious to the physical reaction he had on her body due to their close proximity.

"You've finally got the logic down," he mused, "but you made a mistake with your arithmetic here."

Mai snapped out of her stupor and followed his finger. Sure enough, she had miscalculated. After erasing her marks and deliberating for a few seconds, she began to write down the correct answer. Satisfied with everything, Naru nodded.

Through the corner of her eye she saw him slightly stretching in his seat, not like the way Bou-san splays out, but properly and with grace. Mai looked at him in awe and observed how his black turtleneck over his thin, pale frame gave him a sophisticated aura, even as he covered his mouth and tried to stifle a yawn. She turned to the clock on the wall and gasped when she read 8:30 pm. They had been working for nearly the entire day.

She then cast a quick glance at his own desk where several folders lay open, and the Word file on the computer only took up half a page. Worried, she turned to her boss and asked, "You haven't been able to work on your report..."

He stood up wordlessly and sat back down by his desk, leaving her at the table by herself. Thinking this meant that her stay had been long overdue, she stood up and packed all her things. She wanted to offer her help in finishing up his reports, but her English wasn't that great and she was sure Naru would just make fun of her for even thinking she could be useful.

Still, perhaps it would be polite to offer.

"Ne, Naru. Do you need help writing your report? Perhaps I could-"

"-And how could you possibly help with your atrocious English?" he countered, raising his eyebrow. Right. Of course, it was like that.

She huffed, "Well I knew you would say that. I figured I might as well offer since it's the polite thing to do. Anyway, thank you very much for the help. I think I'm ready for this test." She stood up and carried her bag. "Still, I feel bad I took up all your time. Do you maybe need tea, or something before I leave?"

Naru was already back to finishing up his report and didn't even look at her, although she could tell by his body language that tea would be a welcome treat. She sat her bag back down and headed toward his kitchen where she prepared him his favorite drink. A few minutes later, she came back with a steaming cup in her hand.

"Here is your tea. I found a thermos so I made a larger batch and poured it in there. Looks like you're going to pull an all-nighter." She dropped off the teacup and thermos at his desk and turned to leave, but was surprised when Naru suddenly grabbed her hand. She whipped her head around. "Y-yes?"

His blue eyes stared back at her, seemingly unmoved, but Mai could hear a slight hesitation in his voice as he said, "... You don't have to leave so soon."

"So soon?" Mai thought. "I have been here all day." When Naru didn't let go, she stammered, "O-okay. Did you need help after all?" She locked her eyes with his, following his gaze even as he stood up next to her. She was struck by how much taller he had become. Her eyes strayed to his lips and fleetingly wondered what would happen if she were to stand on tip toe and peck him, very lightly.

Contact.

To her mortification, she had unwittingly committed the act as she was thinking it. Both their eyes widened, their lips just barely touching. She quickly pulled herself away and looked down, unable to look him in the eye. Her chest was pounding so hard and her ears were ringing so loud that she didn't even realize he hadn't let her go.

A few seconds of silence went by with neither saying a word. Finally, her voice caught up to her and she croaked out, "I am so, so very sorry, Naru!" She felt so embarrassed, so ashamed of herself that tears started welling in her eyes as she stared at the floor. He was most likely livid with anger. What the hell was she thinking?

"It wasn't... unpleasant." Her head snapped up and saw him furrowing his brow in confusion. He quickly regained his composure and he gently let her go. Tilting his head slightly, he muttered, "Why would you cry over it?"

Mai couldn't believe it possible. She had just stolen a kiss from her narcissistic boss and she was still alive. Surely this must be the calm before a storm. With a sniff she mumbled weakly, "I thought you'd be furious..."

"Why?"

"Why?" she echoed. "That was practically sexual assault," she answered gravely.

He seemed to think this over. With a nod, he replied, "Yes. I suppose I can file a harassment complaint."

Mai gulped but accepted her fate. This was a major transgression, one that she would no doubt regret for the rest of her life. Worst scenario would mean the end of her career with SPR. She turned to leave, but was once again stopped on her tracks as Naru grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arms gently around her waist.

He pulled her in closer and whispered huskily into her ear, "I won't file a complaint if you won't."

A shiver ran through the entire length of her body. Feeling faint, she managed to mumble out, "I... that's... fair, I suppose." Internally, she was screaming. "What? What does this mean? Why is Naru hugging me like this? Good heavens!"

When he let go, his face was back to its usual apathetic look and he sat back down on his chair. Without even looking at her he asked, "Well? Since you're so intent on leaving, will you be able to make it home on your own?"

She miraculously found her voice and answered that she would be fine. Then thanking him, she turned to leave and closed the front door behind her, glad to feel the December breeze cool her overheating body. She closed her eyes. So many questions racked her mind. What did this development mean for their relationship? Was that a mutual confession of love? Well, no words were spoken, but if actions could speak...

She practically ran home, feeling giddy.

Inside his apartment, Oliver Davis smirked to himself. Back then Mai had accused him of stealing all the best parts. Tonight, she had done the same. He'd been pondering about how he could get away with stealing a tiny kiss from her for some time since she came over, but couldn't find a proper time. Perhaps he was also feeling a bit scared to take that first step. Leave it to Mai to do things her way.

He sighed as he looked at the long work ahead of him. Could he even finish before morning? Yet despite this severe annoyance, Noll thought the day had gone wonderfully well.