Mai sucked in another breath before continuing. The look on her face was one of fatigue. Everyone could tell this was taking a lot out of her, that she was very uncomfortable sharing so much.
"Mai, if it's too much, we can always do this another time," Ayako said to her younger sister figure. The girl in question flashed a genuine smile at her while shaking her head.
"As much as I appreciate that, I really should keep going. If I don't I'm afraid I will forget things, or we won't get another chance like this," she whispered the last part. Everyone understood the unspoken hint though. What if that demon thing comes back? The red head nodded.
"So, about my powers. You all know I have the ability to dream post cognitively, I can astral project, I can speak with spirits and sometimes see them, and I am able to exercise them. I also have a fair amount of spiritual powers, and killer instincts to boot." Everyone nodded or answered with a "Yes," "Uh-huh," or "Yep."
"What you don't know is that I also have a fair amount of PK, but we aren't sure what category. So far it seems they resemble Naru's power, only I don't have quite as much." At this she laughed a little, and everyone looked at her perplexed. "If I did, I am pretty sure I would be dead by now," she explained.
"What do you mean?" John asked.
"Well, if I had as much power as Naru, along with all my other powers, I doubt my body could handle it. Most likely just my possessing that much all together, without even using it, would have been an overload for my body physically, and I probably would have gone into a coma. At least that's what Gene told me," she added.
Monk looked at her quizzically. "But you have so much power already. Why hasn't that happened yet?"
"Good question, same one I asked Gene. The way he described it, since my powers sorta balance each other out, my body feels balanced physically, so no extra stress, if you will, is present that will 'push me over the edge.'" Monk nodded in understanding.
"Mai, I understand what you are saying, but obviously there are some repercussions of using your powers. We've all seen it at one point or another, haven't we?" Lin spoke again. Mai nodded in understanding and smiled.
"So you've already figured it out Lin? I'm not surprised." At this Lin's eyebrow shot up in question, making Mai laugh. "You aren't the only one who pays attention to things, or people, around here," she said, laughing again.
"Uh-oh, better watch out! Mai sounds like she might have some dirt on all of us!" Madoka exclaimed jokingly. Yasu smirked and looked at her, a devilish grin spreading.
"I think Mai has been spending too much time around the Big Boss and Gene. It explains why she sounds so smart all of a sudden!"
Mai huffed and crossed her arms. "I'll have you know that I do my homework, thank you very much! I can learn things just as easily and quickly as anyone else! I'm not stupid!" she stuck her tongue out, and everyone burst out laughing. "And you don't know this, but I started researching anything and everything on the paranormal the second I took this dang job! I own so many books on it now it would put the collection Naru has here to shame! So there!"
The sound of a throat clearing caused everyone to stop and turn all eyes on the person. It was Naru, who had been silently fuming, and taking in, everything being said.
"Continue," was all he said as he looked at her. Mai frowned and nodded to him. He looks so upset! I knew I should have told him sooner, Gene be damned! She thought bitterly. I will have to talk to him later.
"PK is not the only new power. I also have telepathy." Everyone looked nervous all of a sudden, making Mai chuckle again. "Don't worry, I can't read your minds," she said. They all let out a breath, minus Lin and Naru, who already knew this.
"But if you can't read us, then who?" Masako asked, intrigued. Mai smiled nervously and shrugged.
"Oh, just Naru and Gene right now," she answered as if it was the most normal thing in the world. That statement elicited snickering from Monk, Ayako, Yasu, and Madoka, while John looked embarrassed for her, and Masako looked horror-stricken.
"That's quite enough," Naru said, causing everyone to stop again.
"As I was saying, I have telepathy, but only with those I have made a spiritual connection to."
"And so far (giggle) that includes (snort) Naru and (another giggle) Gene!" Madoka couldn't stop herself. I cannot imagine having to deal with them around the clock! She thought, attempting to hide her amusement and failing. Her disruption earned a death glare from Naru.
"Okay, okay, sorry. Please go on Mai," she said finally. The brunette smirked.
"Gene says he doesn't know why I have a connection to him and Naru, but he hypothesizes it has something to do with him becoming my spirit guide and Naru being his twin."
"Twins have an unusually strong connection, and because you are connected to one, you are therefore connected to the other," Lin spoke again, making everything clear. Mai nodded at him.
"Something like that, yes. At least, that is what he believes." When no one interrupted, she moved on. "That's not all though."
"WHAT? You mean there's more?" Monk asked, stunned.
"Yea. But this stuff I am not so good at yet." Mai looked away, suddenly self conscious. "See, as a perfect medium, which I need to become, you should be able to speak whatever language the spirit is speaking, and I can't do that yet. I also am supposed to learn how to defend myself with my spiritual power, and I am not very good with that either." She glanced at everyone again. "And I really need to work on putting up a shield of sorts, to block unwanted spirits and people from reading my aura and mind so easily."
Everyone looked at her in awe, even Lin.
"And there is one final thing," she glanced at Naru and he nodded, giving her the okay. "I am meant to help Naru in using his powers." She looked down at her hands and began fiddling with them. "I don't know why, and neither does Gene, but he believes it is because he d-died."
"And since Naru had no one to help his powers balance in his body anymore, he may eventually lose all control. That is why Gene believes you are meant to help him," Lin whispered, awed at the last revelation. The uncomfortable silence settled again, as Mai nodded.
"Yes, which means Naru and I are connected, for life." She whispered this while still staring at her hands, her cheeks flushing.
Monk whistled and smirked, making everyone look at him, except for Naru and Mai, who were conveniently looking down. "Wow, talk about fate! See Mai, there's a reason you fell for this guy!" he blurted out.
Mai's head shot up, a look of mortification on her face as it turned beet red. She opened her mouth to say something and then stopped. She didn't know what to say, there was nothing she could say. She noticed Naru staring at her with an unreadable expression, and it made her more self conscious than ever before. Before she knew it she had numbly stood and left the office, forgetting her light jacket and purse.
A pin could have dropped and everyone would have heard it as they stared after the brunette. No one moved or said anything, and everyone was avoiding Naru's look. They all knew he was angry, they could feel it in the air.
"Everyone. Out." He bit out, then stood abruptly and headed for his office, slamming the door shut. Everyone looked at Monk, who was quickly making an exit before Naru decided to come out and kill him.
"Okay! See you all later!" he exclaimed as he left. But not before Ayako took a swing at his head. He winced and rubbed it but kept going.
Soon after, everyone else left, except for Lin and Madoka. They looked at each other, and then Naru's office.
"Should we talk to him?" Madoka asked. Lin shook his head.
"No, it's best to leave him be when he's like this. If he wants to talk he will call." He grabbed her hand and stood. "I think we should take the rest of the day off."
Madoka grinned and nodded, and they both gathered their things and left to enjoy the rest of their Saturday.
JADE: HOLY EXTREMENESS! Man, am I a glutton for drama or what?
MAI: *smacks her* You meanie! Why are you having everyone confess for me?
JADE: *looks sheepishly away* I dunno! Cuz you won't do it yourself? Gene is right, you both would probably die before admitting your feelings!
GENE: Damn straight on that one! *slaps Mai on the back* Cheer up Mai! I promise you are going to love the next chapter!
MAI: *looks at Jade and Gene warily* Why are you both grinning like that? *scoots away slowly*
JADE and GENE: No reason!
JADE: Thank you so much everyone for tagging this as your favorite or alerting the story! You don't even know how much I love and appreciate it! But please drop me a line via reviews! I love to hear from you guys and your thoughts on the story! Also, if you have any ideas or things you'd like to see (aside from Naru and Mai getting together, cuz I already know that one hehe) please tell me! THANKS!