"I cannot believe I have to do this!" Mai muttered to herself as she grabbed the last of her boxes and slammed the van's door shut. A deep frown was set seemingly permanently on her face as she scowled at the building before her.
It was a tall building made of brick, with huge windows neatly spaced out on each floor. The trim was extravagant, reminding her of something from a western styled house she saw on a tv. show once. The doorman of the building nodded his head and smiled as he held open the door for her to walk through. As she made her way to the elevator inside, she sighed heavily again.
"Good afternoon, miss," a bell hop sang as she entered. Mai forced a smile and nodded, for once not feeling like chatting. "What floor, please?"
"The eighth," she said, not bothering to look at him. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him frown and nod, then push the button. It was only a minute or two before the elevator stopped and the doors opened.
"Thank you," she said as she stepped out into the long hallway ahead of her. The carpet was a plush, deep colored red that made her feel like she was walking on foam or pillows, it was so thick and soft. She waltzed all the way down to the last door, the fifth on the right, and knocked.
"Mai, I told you there was no need for knocking now that you live here," a voice said from the other side. Mai simply opened the door and pushed her way in with the box in her arms. Without a word she b-lined it for her room, skipping steps as she practically ran up the stairs.
When she entered, she plopped the box onto the floor with a thud and then sat on the edge of the bed with a groan.
'Mai, don't act like you hate this! You know you love it!' an all-too familiar voice said. Mai frowned and shook her head.
'No I don't! I don't like it at all!' she whined and she flew back and covered her eyes with her forearm.
'Oh yes you do! Don't forget I can weasel into that brain of yours and see what you're really thinking!' Gene replied. Mai's frown deepened.
'Why is that anyway? It's not like I can do that to you! Or Naru! So not fair!'
'It's because we share a connection, Mai, and,' Gene paused, not sure if he should continue. He didn't have to though, because someone else decided it for him.
"And, whether we like it or not, Mai, you and I are beginning to establish a connection as well." Mai jumped up and placed a hand over her heart.
"Geez, Naru! You scared me half to death! Thanks a lot!" she glared at him. He simply smirked as he leaned in her doorway.
Mai deepened her glare until what he said hit her, and then she looked confused. She walked over to him and peered up, tilting her head a bit as she stood, one hand on her hip.
"What do you mean we have a connection too?" she asked. Naru smirked and stood straight, turning around to head back down the stairs at the end of the small hallway.
"And here I thought you were actually getting smarter. Guess maybe I was wrong," he replied cooly as they descended the stairs to the first floor. He heard Mai huff and stomp quickly after him, sliding into his view and effectively blocking his path to the kitchen. She pointed a finger up at him and got very close.
"Now you listen to me, you narcissistic jerk! While I live with you I would appreciate a little less name-calling and criticism." She stared at him, serious as ever, and didn't back down as he scowled meanly at her invasion of his space. "Unless your criticism is helpful, I don't want to hear it or so help me, I will up and leave one day, and I will not tell you where I'm going either! I will just disappear!" She shouted the last part, making him wince a bit, his scowl deepening.
Now she's giving me orders, huh? And in my own home no less! And stooping so low as to threaten me with her own safety! Naru felt anger rise in him, and he stepped forward, glaring down at Mai in anger. She gasped and wavered in her stance, moving back a little, but it only made Naru move forward again. They were dancing this little tango until she felt herself hit something hard. It was the counter in the kitchen.
Naru placed his hands on either side of her form, grasping the countertop as he leaned down into her face. It made Mai bite her lip and cower back a little in fear and guilt. She was immediately sorry for what she said, having realized she could have been more civil about it, instead of picking a fight like she always seems to do with him.
"Mai, do not push me," he growled out. Her face flushed out of embarrassment, glancing sideways as he continued. "You need to remember that you are a guest in my home, and not the other way around!" He stood up, letting his arms fall to his side as he still stared her down. She nodded lightly, still nervous to look at him. He sighed.
"That being said, I will try to take your request into consideration. However, do not expect it to change overnight." When Mai nodded again, eyes wide in astonishment, he sighed and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down. When he opened then she was staring up at him, clearly nervous about his demeanor. He suddenly felt a little guilty, too.
"Also," he almost whispered. Mai just stared at him, surprised at his sudden softness. "Do not threaten me with your life, Mai. It is unfair and uncalled for. Do not forget the sole reason you are here," he added when she looked confused. It seems a light dawned in her mind as her eyes suddenly widened. She nodded again.
"I-I'm sorry, Naru. I wasn't thinking," again, she thought. Why do I always do this? Maybe he's right and I really am and idiot! Little did she know that Naru had heard her. He almost smiled, but decided against it. Instead he nodded at her.
"Apology accepted, Mai. And I'm sorry as well," he said. Her eyes grew wide and she smiled.
"Wow, Naru, you actually apologized?" She smirked when he frowned. "What's the world coming to?" she asked playfully. Naru couldn't help but smirk back at her.
"I don't know," he said simply. It made her smile like the Cheshire cat as she began bouncing on her heels.
"Well I do," she replied, and before she could stop herself, she planted a small kiss on his cheek and then ran back up the stairs to her room.
Naru was stunned and didn't move as he heard her close her door softly.
'Oh brother, you have your hands full!' Gene sang in his head, laughing. Naru simply smirked, lightly toughing his cheek. A faint blush appeared on his cheeks as he thought…
Mai smiled and hummed to herself as she began unpacking.
I can't believe I just did that! She thought as she pulled out some clothes and began stuffing them into her new dresser. She knew she was blushing and didn't even care. She was proud of herself for finally showing Naru how much she cared, even if it was childish.
Her thoughts wandered to their conversation and she frowned a little. I really was mean and unfair, threatening to leave like that. I know it took a lot for him to share his space with me, let me invade his home. I understand all too well what it's like to live alone, so having someone come crashing in can be a huge shock, she reflected as she continued with the task at hand.
Just then her phone began to ring, so she stopped what she was doing and picked it up.
"Michiru, hey!" she exclaimed when one of her best friends was there.
"Hey Mai! Where are you?" she asked. "We were coming to visit you today, but when we got there no one answered, and then one of your neighbors told us you just moved out! Everything okay?"
Mai's smile fell as she realized she hadn't even thought about what she'd have to tell her friends. Oh crap oh crap oh crap! What do I say?
'How about the truth, Mai?' a certain boss's voice said in her head. She frowned. Are you crazy? Do you even know what that's gonna look like? NO! And get out of my head, jerk!'
"Um, Mai? Hello?" Michiru's concerned voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Oh I'm here, sorry Michiru. Look, I'd love to tell you what's up, but I can't right now. Can I fill you in at school tomorrow?"
"Sure Mai. Just take care okay?"
"Sure thing! Talk to you later! Bye!" she quickly hung up. Before she could collect her thoughts, it rang again.
"What do you want Yasu?" she drawled. She heard a gasp.
"Ouch Mai! You're killing me with your cruelty! Aren't you happy to hear from your friend?" he asked. She sighed, knowing full well why he was calling.
"Look, if you're calling to pick on me, can we do it another time? I really need to finish unpacking and then do my homework for tomorrow, and I was hoping not to be up late," she said quickly. Yasu just laughed.
"Come on Mai, who are you fooling? You'll be up late no matter what!" he teased.
"YASU! Stop it! You know nothing is going on so why do you always act like there is!"
"Because there is something going on, and it's about to get a whole lot more interesting!" he cackled as he thought of all the embarrassing things he could say to rile Mai up. He heard her growl, which made him smile more.
"GOODBYE YASUHARA! Call me when you're done being a jerk!" she slammed the phone shut and tossed it onto the bed. However, before she was in the clear, it rang again. She sighed and crawled across the bed to get it. It was Monk.
No more stupid calls! I mean seriously, they act like I'm some uncontrollable teenager! Like I haven't been taking care of myself for years! She hit the silent button and then turned her phone off. Satisfied with that, she continued to unpack and settle in.
JADE: Hey guys! Sorry this isn't a very eventful chapter, I just needed to get a little filler in there. But I still think it was fun!
NARU: You had Mai kiss me! *glares*
JADE: Oh shut it Naru! You know you liked it so spare me the glares and lecture!
MAI: He did? *blushes*
JADE: Of course! He's just in denial, in a very unhealthy way too might I add!
NARU: I am not in denial. I just don't have time for trivial things right now.
JADE: *eyes roll* Uh-huh, and the sky isn't really blue, it's purple!
MAI: It is?
JADE: *sweat drop* Okaaaayyyy…Thanks to Evil-Kitty-Kat-666, yukiyuki-chan-nya, xSaphirexRosesxFanx, LadyChrystalline, Alara Phoenix, Jadeturtle, sarasaysrawr, felicianoludwig, and Little-bad-Angel for your reviews! I really appreciate you all reading this again and sticking with me! You have no idea how happy I was to see some of you back after all this time!
MAI: No kidding, she did her happy dance and threw a party and everything!
JADE: ^_^ Also, please go read Alara Phoenix's story Ghost Hunt Resurrection! It is so awesome! I am addicted to that story! See you all next time!