Back in base, everyone was pacing back and forth, bouncing their legs up and down in anticipation, or simply staring off looking at nothing in particular. All their thoughts were on one person, Mai.
"This is insane!" Monk exclaimed, making everyone, save Lin, jump at the sudden noise in the eerily quiet room. He had stopped his pacing and thrown his hands up in an attempt to reverberate his words. His face was that of disbelief and fear, and everyone knew why.
"What is so insane about it, Takigawa?" Lin asked and he paused hi typing on the laptop. "Naru is very similar, and they are not the only ones who have this ability. Many have possessed psychokenesis, to varying degrees."
"I know that Lin! But to have a medium also possess the ability of PK? And a very powerful PK at that? It's just crazy to me that one person could hold so much power!"
"And it's unnerving," Ayako added ruefully. She sighed and ran a perfectly manicured hand through her long red locks.
"That I must agree with, Ms. Matsuzaki," Lin said. He stopped typing and turned to the crowd around him. "Which is why Naru now has his parents and Madoka and Yasu doing research on the subject. We need to know if anyone else has ever had this, and what has happened to them."
Suddenly Masako stood and covered her mouth. "I feel something…" Her violet eyes closed in concentration, and then she gasped and opened them abruptly, turning to Lin.
"I feel Mai! Her spirit I mean! She's astral projecting I think!"
Everyone's eyes went wide with the news. It had been a very long time since they heard of Mai doing so. Not since the Urado case, that they knew of. The medium sat back down, a look of concentration on her face.
"Can you tell what is going on? Where she is and where she is going?" Lin asked her. She nodded and then frowned.
"It seems she has left the house and is headed to a cemetery, not far from here."
Everyone's eyes glistened in understanding. They stayed quiet for a while, until Lin's phone rang, making them jump out of their seats. All except for Masako. She was still tracking her friend to make sure she was safe.
"Hello Madoka. What have you got?" Lin's voice was the only noise as they waited for some hopefully good news…
Naru sighed for the umpteenth time that afternoon as he flipped the page of his book, glancing to since she had her little incident with her PK.
If it wasn't for the fact that she is breathing and had no apparent wounds on her body, I would have ushered her to the hospital, he thought, sighing again. He set his book aside and leaned one arm onto the arm of the chair, resting his chin in his hand as he gazed at his assistant.
'What a handful she is, huh brother?' Gene's voice cut into his thoughts.
'Yes, to say the least. She definitely knows how to keep things interesting.'
'Interesting doesn't even cover it! It's a wonder she isn't dead yet!' Gene's laughter echoed through his mind, making Naru smirk. He suddenly stopped, making Naru raise a brow.
'Gene, what is it?' Naru could tell something was up.
'It's Mai, Noll. She's astral projected herself to a cemetery not far from here. Before you ask, everything seems safe for now, but I will head there and keep an eye on her, just in case.'
'Do that please. She's had enough trauma in the two days we've been here. If anything happens tell me straight away.'
'Will do, bro. Catch ya later!' With that, Gene's presence and voice were gone. Naru sighed and picked up his book, intent on finishing it today. He needed a distraction before he caught himself staring at Mai all day.
Mai opened her eyes to the site of gravestones littering the ground before her. She looked around the place and instantly knew where she was. Then she looked down and her eyes widened a fraction at where she was standing. Her eyes began to tear up as she slowly knelt down, reaching out to brush some of the dirt from the headstones.
"Amazing! So you can touch things when you astral project, even though you are technically in spirit form?" Mai jumped and spun around, then smiled at Gene, who was standing a few feet away.
"Apparently I can," she replied, and then her browns furrowed in confusion. "Didn't you know that?"
Gene shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "Yea, but to see it with my own eyes, that's awesome!"
Mai smiled and giggled. She walked up to him and suddenly punched his arm as hard as she could, which must've been pretty hard because Gene winced.
"OUCH! Hey, what was that for?" he asked, rubbing it tenderly. Mai huffed and crossed her arms, turning away from him.
"That's for being a pervert and trying to spy on me earlier!"
Gene laughed hard at her statement and the red tint on her cheeks. He walked up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist, then hoisted her up and started spinning them around, all the while continuing to laugh.
"G-GENE! Put me down!" she yelled as she hit his arm. She squirmed and struggled until he obliged. However, he did so by dropping her flat on her butt! She screamed and frowned.
"You JERK! Why'd you have to do that?" She glared him down as she sat there. He just smirked, suddenly looking very much like his brother, which made her blush.
"Cuz it was fun! And you said to put you down, so I did," he shrugged nonchalantly. This made Mai more angry and she stood up, pointing a finger in his chest.
"Yea, well you sure know how to treat a lady, huh? Tell me something, ghost boy, were you always this way with girls?"
He smirked again and laughed. "Oh yea, and they liked it!" Suddenly his face got playful and his smirk turned a little more unnerving for Mai. She backed up slightly, but he grabbed her arm at the wrist and yanked her closer. Then he bent down until their faces were inches apart.
"Tell me Mai," he cooed, "do you like it?" Mai felt her face blush as she gaped at him, eyes wide. Her heart beat increased as she stood there, understanding what he was asking.
His smirk disappeared and he looked very seriously at her, waiting for her answer. She suddenly sucked in a breath and stepped back, but Gene did not let go of her. She blinked and sighed, then looked at the ground for a moment, before facing him again.
"G-Gene, I," she started, and then stopped. 'How do I say this?' "Gene, I love you very much, you know that right?" she said. His eyes went wide, but he didn't say anything. He just kept staring at her, knowing she wasn't finished.
"I love you as my older brother. I love you as a friend." She felt some tears in her eyes and looked down as he let her go. She stepped away from him again, distancing herself.
"I-" her eyes clamped shut at the last part, wishing she was suddenly somewhere else. "I don't love you that way. There's only one person I love like that, and you already know who it is." She couldn't stop herself from looking up at him, hurt clearly in her eyes.
"So why are you doing this?" Her voice cracked as she stared him down. And then the unthinkable happened. Gene began to laugh! And it wasn't spiteful or mean, he was genuinely happy! Mai's face transformed to one of shock and she stood stock still, staring at him in awe.
Gene quickly closed the distance between them and hugged the brunette gently.
"I'm glad Mai." He pulled away to look at her, blue eyes glistening with pure happiness. Then he looked behind her and smirked.
"So, idiot scientist, what do you have to say now?" Mai gasped and turned, praying Gene had just played a cruel trick on her. Her eyes were the size of saucers as she met darker blue ones, that were also widened in shock…
"Okay Madoka, see you in about an hour." Lin hung up and sighed, then stood to leave the room.
"Well?" Monk asked him, the anticipation killing them all.
"It seems she and Yasuhara have found some…interesting news," he said. When he didn't elaborate, John stood.
"And what is it, Lin? Good news?"
"Yes, and bad. All will be explained soon enough. I am going to get Naru and Mai so they can be ready when Madoka and Yasuhara arrive." And with that, he disappeared into the hallway.
JADE: I'm evil, I know! Sorry guys, but I felt that was a good ending for this chappie! Don't worry, I will have the other one up tonight hopefully! Love you guys, and thanks to-
MAI: JADE! THAT'S MY JOB THIS TIME! *pouts and crosses arms*
JADE: Hehe, oh yea, I forgot…
MAI: *smiles* It's okay, I still love you! *turns to readers* Jade would like to thank Maria, SakuraCat96, Funnhause64, Neko-chan1131, celtyin, Little-Bad-Angel, and Alara Phoenix for reviewing after two years of absence! You're the reason she has decided to continue and loves and thanks you all for taking the time to write her!
JADE: And thank you to Rebecca, sarasaysrawr, Jadeturtle, Dayis, Midnightstar32, Fairy of Music and Literature, serena122189, Moons-chan, weezers2490, Bloodyxan-xan, Chibi-Kyuubi-chan, yugi001, Fox Trot 9, and thearistocrat for leaving reviews when I said I wouldn't be back for a while. Your reviews made me want to keep going, and I really appreciate it!
MAI: Also, if you are reading and not reviewing, please try to do so! Jade loves to know she is appreciated in writing this, and even if you don't have much to say, a simple "Hi, great story!" would do!
JADE: Gotta go for now, baby's calling me, but see you all soon!