Hey everyone! I am so so so so sorry it took so long to update. Iv been focusing a lot on my cosplay and just haven't had the time. If you like my work and want to continue to support me, go like my cosplay page on facebook! "Borderline Cosplay". Let me know that youre one of my fanfiction followers by either posting on the wall or private messaging. Once the page reaches 100 likes I will start doing drawings for anime related prizes for my fanfic followers only! The more likes I get the better the prizes! Without further delay here is chapter 17! Enjoy! I love you all!

I felt nothing but at the same time, I felt everything. I felt scared and alone, yet peaceful. I felt all the years of bottled up emotions. I knew I was dead but I never felt more alive. When I opened my eyes it wasn't anything like I expected. Instead of the dark orb filled space I had grown accustomed to seeing, it was a bright sunny place. I let my eyes adjust. When everything came into focus, I couldn't breathe.

I was leaned against a tree on the bank of a lake. Out of all the places I could have gone, why here. This one location was the source of so much pain. I spent so much time trying to find this place, but I never wanted to see it again. This is where I lost my brother. Where I felt as he was taken from this world. Where I found his lifeless body carelessly thrown away like it was garbage.

I leaned my head back against the tree. As I felt the bark against my scalp. I remembered another reason to hate this place. This exact spot is where she confessed her love and I pushed her away. If I had only accepted what she had told me. I would have never left her. I would have been there to protect her and none of this would have happened. She would still be alive. Hell, I would still be alive. I buried my head in my knees as I felt the weight of my regret crushing me.

I couldn't help but think that maybe this is what I deserve. This is my Hell.

"Naru?" I looked up to see Mai's tear streaked face. "What have I done?"

She fell to her knees beside me and reached a hand out to touch my cheek. I placed my hand on top of hers and savored the warm sensation that the contact had made. I knew she felt responsible for me being here. The reality of it though, was that everything was my fault.

As guilt washed over me, her touch began to burn. I didn't deserve to feel her warmth. I brushed away her hand, and regretted it the moment I did. Her eyes filled with hurt. She didn't understand the reason I pushed her away. She never understood. How could she? I was always so shut off and cold towards her.

"I'm sorry Mai." I gently brushed away the tear that had made its way down her cheek.

"Noll!" Mai and I both jumped up as Gene confronted us. "You promised me Noll!"

I looked at him confused. He pinned me against the tree, holding the front of my shirt. His appearance had shifted some and he looked sixteen again. For the first time we weren't identical, and the fact that he was taken much too soon was staring me in the face.

"You promised that if you were too late, she was mine!" He shook me as he spoke. "We never break promises! NEVER!"

He was acting like a little child who was denied a toy by his parents.

"I couldn't lose her again." I tried to keep my composure, but my voice trembled. Dignity doesn't matter anymore. I let my emotions show. "I already lost you! I was so close to saving her! I was so scared! I didn't know what to do!"

My sentences were all blended and nothing I was saying was making sense.

"I cant do this…." As I was trying to make him understand, I felt a dull ache in my chest.

The ache got worse and turned into a pulsing pain. I fell to the ground clutching my chest. Then it stopped. I watched as my surroundings faded and shifted into the orb filled space. I stood up relieved that they were still standing beside me.

"Noll, you're alive." I looked at Gene confused.

Then I realized what he meant. Someone had revived me.

"Mai, come back with me." I was panicking. I didn't even ask her if she wanted to. I was commanding that she come.

"Can I?" She asked as she stepped towards me.

I had no idea if she could or not, but I wasn't going to let her go without trying.

"Mai!" Gene grabbed her arm and pulled her close. "Don't leave me."

Just seeing him hold her made my heart hurt with envy.

I couldn't take it. I grabbed her away from him. "Come on Mai, we need to go."

"Let her choose!" Gene screamed at me.

I didn't want to let her choose. I just wanted her to come back with me. I pulled her along with me to put space in between us and Gene.

"If you stay with me, I can take you to see your parents." Mai stopped suddenly and jerked her arm out of my grip.

My heart broke as she turned to look at Gene.

"You can take me to them?" Her voice was small and hesitant. I knew she wanted to see her parents more than anything.

"Yes. We can go together." He smiled and extended a hand towards her.

As she reached to take his hand, I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Come back with me." Tears started flowing freely down my face. "I love you Mai."

"I love you too Naru." Mai. Intertwined her fingers with mine as she also started crying.

Gene started giggling as I spoke. Nothing about the situation was funny, so what the hell was he laughing at? I was beyond fed up with him. I grabbed him and reared back to punch him.

"You really aren't as smart as you think you are Noll." He kept smirking. "I told you she loved you and not me."

When I realized what he meant I really wanted to kill him.

"All of this was an elaborate plan to prove a point?! From the beginning, you making me promise…..that was to prove that she would never choose you over me?!" I was screaming so loud my lungs felt like they were on fire.

"Seems like something I would do." Gene started laughing hysterically and I knew he was right. He always was the type to go to great lengths to prove he was right. "Even when I promised her she could see her parents, she still chose you."

I couldnt help letting out a small chuckle as I let him go.

"You really are a moron Gene." I pulled him into a tight hug, something that I used to hate doing.

He wrapped his arms around me almost too tightly, "I love you too, you idiot scientists."

He released me and looked to Mai.

"Take care of him and make sure to keep his ego in check." He kissed her on the cheek and placed her hand in mine. "Don't worry, I'll still be around. Now both of you, WAKE UP!"