Naru felt the connection to Mai ebb away as she pulled back. The push and pull they had between each other moments before was fading quickly. He frowned and raised one brow.
"Mai, what's wrong?" he asked as she looked at him with concern. Several times she attempted to speak, but couldn't seem to find the words. Naru, having waited enough for her to finally say something, decided to start instead.
"Mai, I realize the way I am composing myself is a bit out of character," at that he heard an amused snort from his assistant, who was staring off to the side. She still seemed perturbed by his sudden actions and now, seemingly, speech.
"As I was saying," he felt his eyebrow twitch a bit, "I have a reason for being so different." He stood and slowly approached her. At the sound of the chair sliding, she had looked at him and was warily watching as he moved to stand before her. He leaned over her, one hand on the table and the other on her chair, causing her to shrink back. Her eyes were wide and full of confusion.
"N-Naru, what's going on? Why are you doing this?" she asked timidly as their faces were inches from each other. She watched him smile fully at her, before he moves his eyes to her lips. She hit her head on the wall as she had leaned back as far as she could, eyes wide, breathing in shorter gasps of air. Her mind was momentarily blank at their close proximity.
"I thought it was obvious, idiot," he whispered before crashing his lips to hers. Mai jumped and pulled away before the kiss could deepen. She pushed at him hard until he moved and ran out of the kitchen, wiping her lips with her hands, tears threatening to fall.
Mai rushed to grab her jacket and purse, but as she went to the door a hand grabbed her forearm to stop her. Again she felt a shock run through her, this time more heated and almost painful. It felt like her heartbeat, panicked and hurt. She jerked away and grabbed for the handle without a second glance.
"Mai, wait. Please," Naru whispered. The desperation in his voice was so evident that Mai's heart nearly stopped and she turned, but didn't make eye contact with him.
"Why?" she asked quietly. She saw his feet bring him closer, she could feel the heat radiating from him as he gently grabbed her face and brought it up.
"Why what?" he asked. She didn't make eye contact with him when he rubbed at a stray tear.
"Why would you do this to me?" her voice was full of hurt as she turned her eyes to his. He was shocked by the look and the question. He didn't understand what she was saying.
"Why would I do what? What exactly am I doing?"
"Why would you play with my feelings like this? After you so adamantly denied them…" the last part was a whisper, but he heard her. His eyes softened as understanding dawned.
"You think I don't care for you, that is what is bothering you." It was a statement, but she nodded anyway. She sighed and closed her eyes tightly, fists balling up.
"Of course I do! You were the one who suggested I loved Gene and not you!" She felt the tears fall as she opened her eyes, the pain on her face clear as day. This time she stared into her boss's eyes, angry at what was happening. He slowly pulled his hand from her and stepped back, waiting for her to continue.
"There I was, practically pouring my heart out to you, YOU, of all people, and-and-" she sniffed and sighed before slumping down. She gave into the exhaustion of everything she'd been holding back, everything she wanted to say before and after their last conversation like this coming to the front of her mind. Her shoulders slumped forward as she clutched tightly to her purse's strap, nails digging into her hands.
"I mean really, Naru, how could you do it? How could you not see that I truly cared for you? That I still do, despite having had my heart broken by you!" She looked at him, tired and sad at the same time for having to relive the same torment she had already endured once before.
Naru didn't move. He watched his assistant as she stared at him, waiting, knowing that saying anything now would only add to the pain she was feeling, RELIVING, because of him. So he simply looked back into her eyes with all the regret and sadness he could, in hopes that she would know he was sorry.
"Do you know, Naru, how that feels? To be so sure about yourself, and then have someone come along and shatter that confidence?" Mai laughed suddenly, though it was not in any way cheerful. "I should have known," she said quietly. Naru's brow raised.
"I should have known you would throw it in my face!" Now she seemed to be berating herself, staring at nothing as she continued. "You always presented your relationships with all of us as strictly business. You never asked to have friends, let alone become romantically involved with anyone. You set the rules before us and we all disregarded them, and I was the stupidest one of all, for ever believing that I could break down that barrier you hold so dearly."
Mai's tears were slowing as she stared, defeated and obviously tired, straight ahead. Naru could tell she was almost finished, so he began to move slowly toward her.
"I am stupid for thinking that you could ever truly care for me in the same way that I care for you," she whispered. A sad smile graced her face as she stared at him. He had moved slowly to her level, crouching in front of her now, looking slightly down at her.
"So there you have it, Oliver Davis. Like the predictable fool you know me to be, I have now confessed to you for a second time." The smile vanished as she stared at him, a sort of calm taking over. She sat up a little straighter so that they were eye level and stared him down.
"And now I want to know," she said.
"Know what, Mai?" he asked, curiosity evident in his eyes. He was a little taken back that her mood had changed, but it didn't completely surprise him. After all, this was Mai Taniyama, and she was nothing if not strong in her feelings and mood swings. He knew she needed to say all of that or it would eat her up, and so he let her, simply lending an ear.
"What are you going to do with that information?" The look on Mai's face was so serious as she asked him that he couldn't help it and he smiled. You are truly something else, Mai Taniyama, he thought as he bent down and kissed her again, this time more slowly, savoring every moment, every taste, every touch or their lips.
He did not deepen the kiss, but he did poor all the passion that he could into it, for once letting his guard down. He felt Mai tense up at first, and then she seemed to calm down and relax into the kiss, allowing him to lead.
They kissed for several moments, until Mai suddenly pulled back, eyes wide, gripping her head as she bent over in pain.
"Mai, what is it?" Naru asked. He reached for her hands and brought them down, causing her to look at him.
"Y-you're PK," she grunted.
"What about it?" He watched as Mai's breaths became gasps. She clenched her hand over her heart as her body became rigid. She clamped her eyes shut and shook her head as if to say "Not now."
In one fluid motion Naru had her in his arms and rushed to the couch to lay her down. She writhed in pain at the contact so he set her down quickly and backed away. What is going on? What did I do? He could only stand by and watch helplessly as the person he loved was fighting the pain. What did she mean about my powers?
After what seemed like a lifetime Mai began to breath more regularly as she stopped moving about. She turned onto her side and opened her eyes. When they landed on Naru she frowned.
"Naru, something's wrong," she whispered. He moved closer, careful not to touch her or pull on her aura. His brow knitted in confusion.
"There you go, stating the obvious again, idiot," he whispered. It was supposed to be funny, but neither laughed. Mai slowly worked herself to a sitting position, frown deeply set in place. She turned to him as he sat on the other end of the couch, staring expectantly.
"It's Gene, Naru," she said. At the mention of his brother, Naru's face became hardened.
"What about him?" he bit out. Mai flinched as his tone but continued anyway.
"I can't be sure, but I think I lost my connection with him." She closed her eyes and concentrated, but he wasn't there. She reached for his aura, and still nothing. After a few more moments she opened her eyes.
"Do you feel him?" she asked, hope evident in her voice. Naru did just as she had and tried to call him out and felt for his presence, but he couldn't find him. His eyes snapped open, anger and fear present. He shook his head slowly, staring ahead.
"This isn't good. Naru, if I don't regain my connection, I'll never be able to take his place." Naru's head snapped in her direction.
"What do you mean, Mai? I thought he was just training you?"
"H-he was, but he was also, um," she looked at her hands.
"Also what?" Naru bit out. He felt angry that she had apparently been keeping things from him, more than he liked.
Mai frowned and stared at him. She was scared to tell him this for many reasons, but she knew she had to. She sucked in a breath and let it out in an attempt to calm her fast-beating heart.
"Well, there's a reason I have a connection with him too. You see, he is acting as my rock, if you will, until my powers are strong enough. If I don't find him again, then-"
"Then my PK will continue along the path it was on before, and I will not be able to use it anymore. I will rely solely on myself, as I always have." He said it so calmly, already accepting his fate.
"Yes, that's true, but that's not all of it. Naru, we have a connection now, and it's growing, allowing me to have contact with all of you, including your powers. If Gene isn't here to help ground me, then I can't control the PK that I take in."
"Which means that you may get hurt," he whispered as realization dawned on him. He stared at her, blue orbs wide in horror. "Or worse, you could be the one in the hospital instead of me from now on."
Mai nodded sullenly. "Yes, because now that we have this connection, it can't be stopped. I will continue to take the PK in, and if I can't harness it, it will begin to do what it once did to you."
JADE: I AM SO SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG! I was so stuck for the longest time, and I have to say thank you to all of you for being patient and also for sending me some fantastic ideas for this story! And thank you for telling me what you like and don't like too.
NARU: Wow, I never thought you were going to continue.
JADE: *sticks out tongue* You are such a jerk! I can't help it when I get writers block! And do you know how busy I've been? I may be a stay at home mom, but that does not mean I have free time! *turns to readers and bows* and that is my other lame excuse. Once again life got in the way! We are in the middle of buying a new house, and between house hunting/buying, taking care of a toddler and everyday chores, and juggling family and friend time, things have been NUTS! So I really am sorry for the long update!
MAI: Awww, it's okay Jade, I think everyone will forgive you! Especially after this amazing chapter!
JADE: Thanks Mai, I hope so! I have to apologize ahead of time though cuz I don't know how often I will be able to update in the next couple of months with my husband leaving in July for annual training and then closing on the house by myself and trying to move. I really will try though, and as long as I don't get writers block, I'm hoping to once every couple of weeks, maybe every week if I get lucky! Thanks everyone for sticking around, I really love you all for the reviews and sticking with me here! Until next time, have a good one!