Mai knew she was being a baby, but she didn't care at the moment. She hung to her boss, no, her friend, as if he would disappear should she let go. The tears kept coming, the shaking wouldn't stop, and there was no reason for her to let it.

My life is over! I will never have it back! That THING took it away, and soon it will take what little of it is left…These thoughts and more were coursing rapidly through her mind as she clung to Naru. She could feel her body weakening and started slouching down to the floor, taking Naru with her, whether he wanted to sit or not.

"NARU!" Lin's voice was heard as the two sat on the floor. Within seconds he was staring at them and the now destroyed room, gawking. He took in the sight of Mai and Naru and frowned.

"What happened here?" he asked as he entered, careful to avoid stepping on any broken items. Naru looked over his shoulder at him, a grave look on his face.

"It was the demon that's hunting Mai," he said matter-of-factly. Lin nodded once and made his way to the chair Naru previously occupied, sitting in it, the signal for him to continue.

"We were having dinner when it came. It attacked slowly, allowing me plenty of time to gather my PK and use it." When Lin's eyes went wide and he immediately pulled his phone out, Naru stopped him.

"I'm fine Lin. I don't feel very weak at all," he glanced at Mai as he said this. "In fact, aside from feeling worn out from the adrenalin rush, I think I am perfectly alright." Lin watched as the boy's eyebrows knitted together in thought. All that could be heard was Mai's quieting sobs.

"Mai, please look at me," Naru stated. The brunette shook her head no and continued to hug him, causing him to sigh in frustration. He moved his hands to her biceps and gently urged her away from his chest. She didn't fight it, but kept her head down, hair swept over her face. She still shook from her outburst lightly.

"Mai, please, we need to discuss something," he said softly. Lin's eyes went wide with shock at how kind his charge was being, but then he smirked. Even Naru can care, he reminded himself. Mai's blubbering was almost at an end. She sniffled a few times and slowly moved her head up, leaning against the wall behind her for support. Naru adjusted himself comfortably and pierced her with a no nonsense gaze. She frowned and rubbed her tears away before looking at him.

"It was all me," she whispered, knowing what his question was without reading his mind. Naru's reaction would have made her laugh had she not been feeling so gloomy at the moment. His eyes grew wide and his mouth hung open a bit.

"What did you do, Mai?" Lin asked, curious as to what had transpired before he came. Mai rubbed her face again and sighed heavily before turning a weary eye to him.

"Do you want the details, or the short version?" she asked, attempting to joke. Instead it came out as another whisper. She knew this would come eventually, but she didn't want to do it.

'It's time to tell them, Mai.' Gene encouraged. Mai frowned. 'I know, but I still don't like it.'

"Start with the short version, and if need be, will get into the long one," Lin answered. Mai nodded slowly, showing signs of exhaustion and defeat. In the meantime, Naru had wiped the shocked expression from his face and moved again to get more comfortable, minding the broken things around them in the process.

"Well, to be put simply, I channeled my energy, or aura, if you will, into Naru and prepped myself as an anchor for him."

"In other words, you acted for me as Gene used to, and allowed me to use my powers without feeling the effects of them," Naru said in order to clarify things more. Mai stared at him warily and nodded, sharing a look of guilt and pain with him. She could tell when their eyes met that he was curious about her knowing how to do it, but also a bit saddened about what he just said.

"Yes, that would be the gist of it." She felt a wave of exhaustion run through her and she yawned, leaning more on the wall and slumping down while closing her eyes.

"So, Mai can now aid you in your use of your power?" Lin asked. To say he was impressed wouldn't even begin to cover it. He eyed the teens, noticing the reactions they were having about this discussion. Mai seemed tired, and reluctant to share. Naru was obviously intrigued.

"Seems so," Naru muttered, lost in thought. Mai smirked and sighed again as a another wave of exhaustion ran through her.

"Hey guys, as fun as this is, can we go home? Or can I at least lay down for a bit? I am so tired!" she said, but some of her words were slurred. Alarmed by this, Naru and Lin each crouched in front of her, checking her vitals. The brunette slapped them away angrily, stood, and started taking a few steps. They watched in amusement until she wavered on her feet and started falling.

"Mai!" Naru rushed over and caught her before she fell, hoisting her up bridal style. A blush tinted her cheeks as she glanced at him.

"There's no need to carry me, Naru. I can walk," she muttered, trying to glare but failing miserably as she yawned again.

"Don't be stupid," he said as he and Lin, Mai in his arms, made their way to the waiting area. Naru placed her on the couch and he and Lin took a seat on the one across from it.

"Are these the effects of using your powers Mai?" Lin asked. Mai rolled her head towards him and smirked.

"Wow Lin, I don't think I've heard you talk (yawn) this much in a long (yawn) time," she said playfully.

"Answer the question," it was Naru this time, authoritative as ever. Mai frowned at him and waved a hand lazily in the air.

"Yes, okay? I get very tired when I use my energy like that," she yawned again and closed her eyes. "Can we please do this tomorrow?" she whined. Both men tried not to laugh at her sudden childishness.

"Yes Mai, tomorrow," Naru said before she drifted to sleep…

Mai was in the black abyss again, watching lights float all over peacefully. The clacking of familiar shoes sounded and she turned her head, not bothering to move from her lazy position on the…floor? I guess you'd call it that.

"Gene, hi," she greeted with a smile, forgetting she was supposed to be angry at him. He smirked and laughed, sitting next to her.

"So, you forgive me then?" he asked. Her eyebrows knitted together, confused. After a few minutes it clicked and she smacked him across the cheek, though not as hard as she should have. He laughed so hard after that, it made Mai want to punch him.

"JERK!" she yelled. His laugh went down to giggles as they eyed each other. He waited for her to continue. "I can't believe you made me confess again! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?" She was huffing now. "And how often do you really need to 'peep' at me! And how much do you need to invade my mind! You're so infuriating!" The more she thought about it all, the more upset she was getting.

Gene smirked and shook his head. "Well, you shouldn't be so easy to get at then. Try putting up the barriers we talked about," he suggested, shrugging nonchalantly. Mai's mouth dropped open. She realized that is why he was doing those things.

"What? You want me to do that to you?" She couldn't believe what he was saying. "But then we can't communicate…can we?" Her boss's twin smiled and nodded.

"Yes we can. We still have the connection, don't worry. Even when you block Naru or me out, we will still be connected to you. Therefore, if we need to, we can still communicate telepathically. And I will always show up in your dreams when needed."

"Oh, okay, good! Cuz I'd be really sad if I couldn't talk to you again," she was calming down now. "But seriously Gene," she started to blush, "why did you play that mean trick on me to get me to confess again? Why couldn't you have let me wait?" She was now fiddling with her shirt and looking down.

"Because Mai, I know you well enough to know you would not have said anything again," he answered seriously. Her head snapped up and she glared.

"How do you know? Maybe I would have…in a few years…" her determined voice wavered at the end of that. She suddenly felt unsure of herself.

"No you wouldn't have. We both know how hurt you were last time, and now that you are working together again, I don't think you would sacrifice your new 'family' for the chance to be hurt again." Gene's voice was low. He grabbed his friend's hand and pulled her into a hug.

"And besides, that idiot scientist needed to see you turn me away with his own eyes," he whispered to himself, but Mai caught it and glanced up at him, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

"What do you mean? Why would he need to see that? Is it because of what he said to me a couple of years ago? Because I know that he only said that to try and turn me down gently," she replied. He just smiled sadly and shook his head.

"It's no wonder you two-" he stopped when he felt something race through him. It was a foreboding feeling, like something bad was coming.

"No wonder we what?" Mai asked. Gene put a finger to his lips and stood, pulling his friend with him. He shoved her protectively behind him and glanced around frantically. Mai suddenly felt fear from him and grabbed his hand, making him spin to look at her.

"Gene, its here isn't it?" she asked, fearful of the answer. His eyes, grave and sad, gave all the answer she needed. "What are you going to do? I can leave, but you…" she left it at that, afraid for her friend. He simply shrugged and smiled, then grabbed her in a quick, bone-crushing hug.

"I will be fine, Mai. But you need to go, before it comes, or you may not be able to leave," he said. She frowned and shook her head.

"NO! I can't leave you Gene! What if it-"but she couldn't continue because he had shoved her, hard, causing her to start falling back. She felt the familiar tug of consciousness as she fell down the never-ending darkness, fear pumping through her heart, tears threatening to fall, all because her friend was in trouble and she could do nothing now…

JADE: Whoa! INTENSE! *shivers*

MAI: You're telling me! Man, and I thought it was all over. *pouts again*

NARU: It is never over with you, Mai. As we said previously, you are constantly a nuisance, always getting into trouble.

JADE: *glares* Don't you dare add me in that! I said she was a danger magnet and nothing else!

MAI: *tears start to fall and she runs away*

JADE: Oh great! Good going Naru! Now you made her cry!

GENE: *pops in next to Naru and hits him upside the head* STUPID SCIENTIST! *runs after Mai*

NARU: *.*^

JADE: *face palm and shakes head* Why me? *Turns to readers* Really got ya with the last chapter didn't I! Anyhoo, hope you enjoyed this chapter! It's a bit short, but if I kept going it'd be super long, and I didn't want that either…As always, please review! And thanks for staying with me! Adios! Ja ne!