JADE: Hey hey! Sorry I am so late with this, but guess what? *starts bouncing up and down*
MAI: What what what? Tell me Jade! *starts jumping with author excitedly, goofy smile on face*
JADE: I will have more free time now, outside of work! YAY! And that means-
MAI: That you will finally be able to finish the story? HOORAY!!!
JADE: YEP! And it's going to be good! *smiles devilishly to readers* Just wait and see, you will be on the edge of your seats! HAHAHA! *laughing evilly*
MAI: *sweatdrop and nervous smile* Uh, I h-hope nothing b-bad happens!
JADE: *shrugs* Guess you'll have to wait and see. *looking around carefully at every corner, up at the ceiling, and at the doorways* Naru, where-
NARU: I'm right here, you stupid woman. *suddenly pops up next to author, who jumps and screams*
JADE: I AM NOT STUPID! AND WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT POPPING OUT AT ME? *smacks Naru on the head, to which he glares and rubs the spot*
MAI: Now now, lets play nice guys! We're all friends here, right? ^.^
JADE: Yep, albeit IRRITATING sometimes, but yea, I like you! *turns to Naru and smiles sweetly* Say, would you do the honors please?
NARU: Fine. Jade wants to thank everyone for being patient and keeping up with this little story. She loves you all so much and hopes you enjoy the next chapter. *turns to author* Happy now, Jade?
JADE: *sigh* Would it kill you to at least smile? Come on, Naru, drop the hard ass routine for once and SMILE! *pokes edges of mouth attempting to force them up* Come on, little Noll! You know Mai likes it when you grin!
NARU: *blushes and then smiles* See! That wasn't so bad!
MAI: O.O N-Naru just SMILED?! *faints, to which Naru rushes to her rescue and proceeds to carry her away*
JADE: Hehehe! I WIN! ^.^
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Mai sat up in her bed, frowning deeply as the sweat poured down her face. She tossed the covers off roughly and ran to the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen, no doubt from crying in her sleep. The sweat caked her hair, making it stick to her neck. She was pale and very shaky. With a clammy hand she brushed her bangs back and frowned even deeper. There, on her forehead was a small scar, usually barely visible, but for some reason right now it was very red and very sore.
'You know what that is, right Mai?' Gene's voice sounded in her head. Her eyes widened as he appeared before her in the mirror from the waist up.
'Sure. I got this when I was very little while playing at the park. At least, that's what mom told me. I don't remember what happened,' she replied in her head. He smiled ruefully at her and shook his head.
'That was a lie, Mai. You didn't get it playing.' Though he didn't mean to, his words stung the young woman before him, making her scowl.
"Then what's it from, Mr. Know-it-all!" she challenged out loud. A throat cleared behind her, making her spin around in fear.
"I see my brother can't seem to leave you rest, even in the waking world now," he remarked casually while waltzing up beside her. She returned her attention to the mirror, and for the first time she started taking in the appearance of the two, scrutinizing everything about them that was similar and different.
'What can I say? Maybe I like her, Noll,' Gene replied, only to his brother. Mai saw Naru frown slightly, causing her to glance between the smiling mirrored image and him. She frowned.
"You know, I really hate how this thing works," she stated in frustration. Both young men looked at her questionably, causing her to giggle, to which they both raised a brow at her, which of course made her laugh outright.
"What, pray tell, is so amusing Mai?" Naru asked in a bit of annoyance.
'She thinks it's funny how much we just looked alike, considering a few seconds ago we looked as different as night and day to her,' Gene commented, to which Mai's eyes widened in shock. She forgot what was so funny at that moment and directed her attention back to Gene.
"How did you do that? How could I hear what you were saying to your brother? I thought you could only talk to us separately?" she asked allowed again. Gene smiled that knowing smile of his and nodded his head.
'Uh-oh, Noll. Looks like Mai may actually be getting smarter. She may even give you a run for your money if you aren't careful,' he chided playfully.
"You jerk! What the hell does that mean? Are you calling me dumb now too?" She threw her hands in the air and turned around to leave. "You Davis men, you're all the same! Too proud and arrogant for your own damn good!" she huffed out.
'Mai, wait! I have something important to tell you!' Gene shouted, causing her to pause in the doorway.
"What now?" she growled, making him blush a little, though she didn't know why. Naru raised a brow at this, also obviously interested.
'That scar you have, you need to remember where it came from, that's all. It's another clue to this case,' he finished when she narrowed her eyes. He held up his hands in surrender.
"I know where it came from, I already told you, and if you say it's a lie again, I will not speak to you for a while," she finished before he could interrupt.
'Mai, please stop being stubborn about this. It's important! Besides,' his face held one of a little hurt as he looked on, 'when have I steered you wrong?' he finished quietly. Mai sighed and walked back to the mirror.
"You never have, Gene. I just don't want to hear that one of my memories is a lie," she too, was rather quiet, though she knew Gene was reading her mind as well as listening. Naru, unbeknownst to her, was watching her intently, a look of concern on his face when she said this.
'I understand that, but please, for your sake and everyone else's, try to remember, okay?' When she smiled and nodded, Gene smiled brightly, then directed his attention to his brother.
'Noll, you need to watch out for her. This thing, whatever it is, wants her bad, and it is not friendly, as you know. Do not let her out of your sight, understand? I cannot stress this enough!' he finished fiercely. His brother only nodded in compliance.
"If you two are done, I'd like to clean up. I feel disgusting," Mai said. Naru went to leave, but a sudden thought made him whirl around. He looked at his brother in the mirror, and although it was still a relaxed face, his gaze held a threatening look to it.
'No funny stuff, Gene! Mai would not appreciate your little pranks! Nor would she appreciate being…spied on, if you know what I mean!' Gene burst out laughing, causing Mai to look at the two of them quizzically.
"Uh, what did I miss?" she asked innocently. Naru glared at his brother who had a mischievious look on his face, which didn't sit well with Naru or Mai.
"Nothing," they replied in unison.
"Right…Well, if you'd be so kind, I really don't need or want an audience while I wash up, thank you," she said, beginning to shove her boss towards the door.
'That's not what your mind is saying right now, Mai,' Gene's voice rang out playfully in her mind and she blushed a bright red, feeling the heat build in her face rapidly. Her breaths were faster as she whipped around and glared.
"Eugene Davis, those are private thoughts and they are NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" she screamed angrily while attempting to catch her breath. He only laughed at the feisty brunette and winked.
'What's most amusing isn't that you're embarrassed, Mai, or even that you just confessed to a deep, dark secret,' the pesky dark haired twin said nonchalantly. Mai froze at his next words. 'What's funny is that Naru is wondering which one of us it is you fantasize about? Care to elaborate?' he drawled out playfully. The look on Mai and Naru's ever blushing faces was enough to make him laugh again.
"Oh my God!" Mai whispered as realized he knew the answer, and knew more than she liked as it was. She looked down at her feet, suddenly interesting in the tile beneath them. Naru was looking at his brother, and if looks could kill and Gene wasn't already dead, he would have been that very instant. The twin merely smirked at the two and winked.
'Don't worry, Mai, I won't tell. And I promise not to peak…much,' he finished, and then vanished just before a box of Kleenex hit the mirror. Naru blinked and attempted to contain his composure as he wondered which one of them it was that threw the box. When he looked at the seething girl in front of him, he had his answer.
"Mai, just take a couple of deep breaths and relax your body. You need to stay in control," he instructed, shoving aside the previous conversation for later. He saw her tense up, and she shot her head around to look at him, but quickly averted her gaze while blushing again. Naru was puzzled, to say the least. Though he knew she was still reeling from the conversation they all just had, he couldn't figure out why it was that she couldn't look at him.
Duh, you idiot scientist! It's because she obviously thinks about one of us, and since we are identical, I guess she can't even look at me, he concluded logically. That was enough to get him leaving the bathroom, not waiting for anything else to be said. He closed the door behind him, and just as he had settled back into bed, he heard a loud crash, followed by a scream and knew it was Mai. He rushed to the door and knocked.
"Mai, is everything alright?" he asked, his voice betraying his emotions a bit.
"Yea, just fine. Your stupid brother thought it would be funny to peek at me while I was undressing, but I took care of that problem," she replied haughtily. Naru was miffed, to say the least, towards his practical joking brother, but he was also curious as to how she fixed the problem, so without invitation he opened the door.
On the counter and floor were shards of glass, big and small, along with several items strewn everywhere.
"Mai, you should clean this up. And try to do it before everyone barges in and I end up having to take care of it while they coddle you," he finished before closing the door. He heard her mumbling and cleaning and smirked, sure that he made her angry again. He loved to mess with her, for the sheer fact that it was easy.
He made his way to his dresser and began picking out clothes. He was up for good now, and he wanted to get back to work as soon as possible, especially after the last dream and the conversation with Mai and Gene again.
This is proving to be a troubling case, and we haven't even been here a full day yet, he thought glumly as he continued to get ready. I will need to clue everyone in on this as well, so as to get everyone up to par with the situation. I am sure they are worried about my assistant.
He moved a little faster now as he heard footfalls on the floor outside the room, followed by a knock. Right on time…
JADE: Next chapter will be up soon! And this case will really kick off too! PUSH THE BUTTON GUYS! Tell me what you think!