((I'm working on getting it out as quick as possible so you aren't left in such suspense. thanks! Don't forget to vote in the poll! Also, when did I say Mai was at a doctor besides her therapist appointment? Just wondering if I've gone crazy))

For the first hour that Mai had spent home after receiving the news she had been in shock. The wonderful type of shock that would wrap around your brain and keep you from thinking too much or feeling too deeply. With everything she'd had happen to her over the years this was the one that really rocked her. She hadn't even been so scared in the aftermath of her rape.

She was sitting on the couch now trying to work out just how she'd handle this situation and what she wanted. While she wasn't quite sure about a lot of things one thing she had decided that this was totally her choice. She could only imagine how the others in her life would feel about it, but at the end of the day there were not the ones who had to live with what Mai chose. It was something that was her choice. Could she do it? How would she feel if she didn't?

As she turned over the possibilities in her head once more she heard someone pounding on her door. She was confused. Ayako was still on shift at the hospital and Takigawa was at band practice. Masako was on tour and Yasu was supposed to be away at university. No one else would just stop by. As she made her way to her door she wondered if perhaps it was one of her neighbors.

When she threw open the door she was shocked to see who was on the other side. Mai suddenly felt even more unsure. She didn't know what to do with her hands so they twisted the material of her shirt and she felt herself start to tremble under the blue eyed gaze of Naru.

He was looking at her with naked pain and Mai felt her own eyes start to water. If seemed to be unsure if he should talk so she looked at him waiting. After a moment of his eyes roaming over her form he finally opened his mouth to speak.

"Do you want to help me save Adia Hines?" That was all Mai needed and she let him take her hand and they ran from the building. Once in his car he pulled away from the curb without another word. After a while he handed her a small tablet computer and told her to hit play as he left the city limits.

Watching what was going on in the video made fresh tears run down Mai's cheeks. Feeling sicker than she had a few hours ago she turned it off. When she chanced a look at him she could see his jaw clenched in anger.

"So how are you going to stop this?" He gave her a feral smile and it was not a nice sight. "You can't kill him Naru. Please. while this is awful, terrible, disgusting..he's not worth your soul." He said nothing for a while and as they raced through the now darkened roads he seemed to be sparking wildly. She finally put a hand on his arm and for the first time he looked at her. really looked at her.

"We'll try it your way, but if that doesn't work. I'm taking over." he said softly. Nodding Mai pulled out her cell phone and began making frantic calls. This had to work if not, than she'd loose Naru totally.

Oliver had been surprised by Mai's tenderness. He knew that Adia Hines would need her when he confronted the family about their poltergeist activity but he hadn't imagined how much he'd need her there too. If only she loved him. The concern etched in her beautiful face made his chest tighten, but the fact that she came had helped tamper the anger that he'd had boiling inside. Even now that she was on the phone trying to arrange things he felt better just having her by his side.

He had to approach everything just right tonight. He knew exactly what it was like to have your powers going out of control and to not even realize what you were doing. He kept sneaking a looks at her when her attention ws focus elsewhere.

When he's first seen her after the dinner she'd been dressed up in formal wear and it was stunning. At the wedding she was traffic stopping. During the case she had worn professional clothing and that too was quite lovely but now she was in just her comfortable clothing. Somehow seeing her so disarmed made him wish he could just do the same.

He wasn't allowed to be comfortable. He couldn't grow complacent because if his discipline ever slipped than the power inside of him could escape. Even a minor slip could cause damage, as Mai's door bore the evidence of.

As he focused his attention on the road in an attempt to stop thinking about everything that was crashing down on him.
First he'd save Adia Hines, then he'd deal with the rest of the mess he'd made of everything. He could still bring Mai around. She loved his brother and he was the mirror image of Eugene. There would be no better substitute. If he could show her that he two had a heart like Gene, and cared for others than she'd give him a chance to take Gene's place in her heart.

With her phone calls made Mai was leaning back against the seat with her eyes closed. She looked so worn out. Her skin had always been close to his in coloring but she seemed to be even more pale than usual today. He could tell by the rhythm of her breath that she was sleeping. Mai always seemed to be able to fall asleep no matter what turmoil was going on around her. She looked so relaxed he couldn't resist running his fingers over her cheek. She was mumbling in her sleep and what he heard only confused him more.

Lin was going to kill Noll. He was going to strangle every breath from his arrogant body and then mince him into tiny little peices. He gritted his teeth while waiting for his Shiki to return with news of where he'd vanished to. As he did he was very aware of Professor Martin Davis's amused face watching him.

"So, he finally flipped out and starting acting like a normal person, huh?" Martin mused more to his tea than Lin. Lin leveled him with a look. While it was extremely upsetting that Noll had run out of his office window like some kind of criminal, he'd also apparently involved Mai in his strange behavior as well. Apparently Takigawa had spotted her in a black sedan close to sunset and for some reason was even more pissed off about the young people spending any time together.

"Relax Lin, this isn't a reflection on you," his superior said. "Oliver has never once freaked out and done anything that could be construed as irresponsible. He was bound to freak out sooner or later. Besides, if it is as you suspect and he has feelings for this young lady perhaps he's gone to fix whatever caused the rift." When he looked at the professor he pursed his lips considering what he said.

"I'm not worried about Noll as his watcher Sir." and that was true, he wasn't worried about him that capacity. "I'm worried about him as a friend. The past few months have been difficult and his relationship with Miss Taniyama is apparently more complicated that I had originally thought."

"Lin, relationships between the two sexes are always more complicated than they seem." Martin laughed and picked up another of the reference books that he and Noll kept in the office. "You should know that, I remember the merry chase that Madoka led you on." As he listened to the professor he started trying to filter the reports from his bound spirits. Number four, which had just laughed whenever consulted over the last few weeks only offered a cryptic 'It's almost time now.' before it desolved back into giggles While the rest reported that the pair was safe but strained. He waited for his fifth and most trusted to communicate with him. He closed his eyes digesting what it told him before turning to his boss.

"Perhaps you are right sir. Shall we get some dinner while we wait for his return?"