A/N: Chapter 10, folks. Almost there. The biggest action has passed, which unfortunately means this will be drawing to a close in the next few days. (Just a heads up now, this chapter and the epilogue will not be as long as some of the middle chapters. I don't want to ruin it by over stuffing them.)

I want to thank all of my readers, especially those who have left such kind reviews. I've had a great time writing this. I haven't written so much in a long, long time and I forgot how relaxing it is. It's both fun and therapeutic, and I look forward writing even more in the future. I hope you will continue to read my work!

I've actually already written the prologue for The Importance of Crayons, so it won't be too long now before I publish it; I hope you join me in it. I am super excited about this story, so stay tuned! It is a multi-chapter drama, romance, and supernatural fan fiction. If y'all care to, venture a guess as to what you think TIoC is about. I dare you. :)

Enjoy!

December 26th, 1:24 AM

(Primary Language: Japanese)

Mai decided it was her turn to rouse Naru out of sleep. The plan felt devious, but in reality she had not actually planned to seek revenge by sneaking across the hall to his room at that ungodly hour. She had actually been trying to get some sleep before her long flight home that coming evening, but her mind kept ringing with those bothersome unanswered questions and she knew she would not be able to sleep ever again if they were not resolved.

She wanted to bring it up hours ago when they were alone in her bedroom after separating themselves from the large group. They were yielding to their fatigue one by one anyway. Naru had grown exhausted of their obstinate stares and incessant conversation, so he curtly excused himself first, with Mai following soon after. Despite their isolation, she could not seem to force the words out of her throat. She was afraid she would not like the answers.

So, instead, for those few hours they took it upon themselves to better familiarize themselves with each other's mouths. Not that she was complaining. Plus, it was easier—and more fun—than talking about their impending separation.

He left her room a little over two hours ago to leave her to sleep, but in those hours all she had successfully done was bite off all the fingernails on her left hand.

Thus, in an effort to quell her worries, she knocked on his door hoping he might wake up. She rocked back and forth on her heels for a few moments before she heard a faint scuffling behind the door. It cracked open slightly.

"Naru…?" Mai whispered. The door opened a bit more, putting his face into view of the dark hall.

"Mai…?" he yawned a bit. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she replied instinctively. "I mean, no. I mean," she sighed defeated, "I don't know. Kind of…" Naru raised an eyebrow in response. "Can I come in…?" she queried quietly. He hesitated.

"Yes, just give me a few seconds," he replied in a low voice before shutting the door. She blinked, confused. A few moments later he opened the door fully, having turned on a small desk lamp. In its light she could see him buttoning up his sleep shirt. "I apologize," he greeted her, gesturing with his head for her to come in. She shuffled under his arm and he closed the door behind her.

"Did you have to put a shirt on?" she asked with a tinge of jest in her voice. He nodded, brushing out the imaginary wrinkles in his pajamas. "You didn't have to, you know…" she teased, trying to start on a light note.

"It would have been indecent of me," he replied. A faint redness that he tried to play off tinted his cheeks. She giggled, finding his uncharacteristically bashful behavior adorable. "Why aren't you sleeping?" he quizzed, sitting on his bed.

"I couldn't fall asleep…" she responded, glancing around his room as she made her way to his bed to join him. This was the first time she had seen his room; it was immaculately clean and organized, save for a pile of askew envelopes on the corner of his desk. She could not say she was surprised. Everything about Naru was well-kept, so there was no reason to think his own personal space would be any different. "I'm sorry I woke you," she murmured, sitting down next to him.

"It's fine," he returned. "You obviously must need something or you would not have come here," he reasoned. "So I see no reason to be sorry." She smiled softly and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," she said. She paused shortly to pry the words she needed out of her throat. "I just…" she sighed again. "I leave today Naru, and I am scared," she admitted sadly.

"Why are you scared?" he asked, turning his head to look down at her. "The flight out will be exactly the same as—"

"No, that's not what I meant Naru," she interrupted. "I mean, I'm scared because I don't know what is going on... Between us," she clarified.

"What don't you understand, in particular?"

"What are we, Naru?" she questioned. "Is there a 'we'?" She lifted her head from his shoulder. He silently contemplated her question, still looking down at her.

"I'm not sure I understand your question," he replied honestly.

"Are we dating?" she blurted, wrapping her arms around herself to brace herself for his answer. His face remained expressionless, but internally he was quite staggered by her candidness. Again, he pondered wordlessly before responding carefully.

"I was under the impression that we are…together, yes," he supplied uncomfortably. What an alien concept. She looked up at him, scanning his face.

"As in…together dating?" she elucidated.

"That is not an incorrect statement," he affirmed.

"Naru," Mai cracked. "Are we dating, yes or no?" she repeated with great stress. He opened and closed his mouth as if he were about to protest, but in the end, he finally mustered a direct answer.

"Yes," he concluded. "If that is what you want." Mai shoved him lightly.

"No shit that's what I want, Naru. Idiot scientist," she shook her head, smiling.

She kissed the frown off his face.

"I thought it would be best to make sure," he shrugged. She nodded, understanding. She figured that until he felt at ease with himself and the whole situation surrounding their...relationship, she would need to be very cognizant of his discomfort.

"We're going to be separated," Mai reminded him.

"And? Your leaving does not change my desire to be with you," he retorted. Mai wondered if it was possible for her entire body to blush.

"We're just going to be so far away for… I don't actually even know how long…" she confessed, clearly crestfallen.

"I don't feel the need to repeat myself," he replied succinctly. "If we both have similar affection for one another, should distance matter?"

"No, it shouldn't," Mai sighed (mostly in relief). "I guess what I'm trying to figure out is if we are going to continue this," she gestured between the two of them, "even though it just started and now I am leaving." She noticed his incredulous face. "But," she added, "Clearly the answer is yes and I'm just being stupid," she finished with a small laugh.

"You're not stupid," he averred. "But you are ill-informed." He smirked spiritedly.

"You have absolutely no room to talk," she countered, sticking her tongue out.

"Is there anything else you need?" he asked, ignoring her jab. Mai thought for a moment, and before she could stop herself, it slipped out.

"Can I stay here tonight?" How much more forward could she possibly get? Unexpectedly, he did not seem bothered by the question. Perhaps it was because they'd already slept a full night together in the same bed and he could find no reason to be embarrassed. In any case, she was thankful.

"If you would like to, yes," he answered. She grinned impossibly wide.

After they'd turned off the light and settled into a relatively cozy embrace, Mai felt the rest of her worry finally slip away, leaving her feeling very light and relaxed.

For once.

She whispered into a contented sigh. "You know what this means, right Naru?"

"Mmm?" he hummed in his throat.

"You have to answer my letters now."

His only response was to pull her closer to him, though she could feel his body tremble in a rare, noiseless laughter.

6:30 PM

(Primary Language: Japanese)

Japan SPR stood opposite the Davis family and Lin at London International Airport, exchanging heartfelt goodbyes and oversaturating one another other with 'thank you's.

"Good bye, Mai," Luella sniffled a bit, pulling her into a crushing hug. "You will have to come back and visit us sometime, okay?" She released Mai and she took a gasping breath before nodding.

"Th-thank you, Loo-ella. I enjoy that very much," she responded, smiling genuinely. She was grateful to the woman, but she could not wait to ditch the English and speak solely her native tongue again for a great long while. Mai continued her good byes, awkwardly receiving a hug from Martin and exchanging a kind nod with Lin. Even though he was silent and refrained from any physical contact, she could tell the Chinese man was being sincere.

The others said good bye to Naru before Mai, each exchanging a firm handshake and some pleasantries (though she thought she saw Bou-san whisper something threatening in his ear while glancing at Mai when he thought she was not paying attention). Once her friends finished, she stepped in front of Naru. Her heart began to ache.

"Well… Good bye then, Naru," Mai sputtered, face flushing and sticking out a hand to shake his. He raised an eyebrow at her, and with little hesitation he took her hand and pulled her into his chest, embracing her firmly and resting his head against the top of hers. She squeaked at the unexpected display of affection, but melted into his welcoming warmth. She closed her eyes and slipped her arms around his waist, gathering fistfuls of his shirt to pull him closer.

She promised herself she wouldn't cry.

She wouldn't.

She wouldn't.

"I am going to miss you," he murmured lowly into her hair.

She would.

She felt the tears pooling in her eyes and tried to blink them away, but they escaped involuntarily as she tried to keep her composure. She wagered that she looked like a raging idiot.

"I'm going to miss you, too…" she responded as he pulled her back just far enough to see her face. "I'm sorry I'm crying," Mai chuckled forlornly.

"I expected nothing less, actually," he smirked. She whacked his arm gently.

"You're a real jerk, you know that Oliver Davis?" she quipped, trying to suppress a smile.

"I am aware," he simpered. She found his hand and filled it with hers.

They stood in soothing silence for several moments before she spoke again.

"Swear to me you'll answer my letters? Or, you know, just call me because my English is so atrocious," she suggested with a shrug. "Your mother asked for several copies of my phone number, so you don't have an excuse this time."

"I promise you. Please trust me, Mai," he squeezed her hand, gracefully attempting to shift the subject before it got exceedingly soppy.

She did not mind.

"Okay," she pledged. "I trust you."

"Good," he replied. He opened his mouth to say something else, but a booming voice behind him cut him off.

"Mai! We really need to get going," Bou-san called. She craned her neck in the direction of his voice, suddenly becoming very conscious that everyone's eyes were glued to them. It would not have been so bad if Bou-san and Yasu did not have the biggest know-it-all grins plastered on their stupid mugs. She ought to smite them later. "Security awaits." He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb. She glared coldly at them before returning her attention to Naru.

"I've got to go now, Naru," she crashed into him to hastily give him one last hug. "Good bye," she said, retreating before he even had a chance to hug her back. She spun on her heels to meet her friends, not wanting to prolong the good bye any longer, but was immediately pulled back by a firm hand.

"Mai," Naru asserted. Confused, she turned herself back towards him, not letting go of his hand.

His expression remained stoic, but Mai could see the acute conflict and deliberation in his eyes, which were fixated directly on hers.

She blinked, waiting.

"I love you," he declared only loud enough for her to hear. Every nerve in her body seized at once and her heart hit the ceiling. She wanted to say it back so desperately, but she had forgotten how to speak. Her mouth was cemented shut.

So logically, instead of fabricating words, she used her mouth for the next best thing she could think of.

In one smooth motion, she stepped nearer to him, gently tugged him down by his shirt collar, and stood on her toes to meet him halfway for a brief, tender kiss. She pulled away quickly and released his collar, fearing she might make him too uncomfortable in public.

He did not seem to mind, though, because he placed a hand on one side of her face, brushing his thumb lightly across her cheek.

"I love you, too," she returned finally, voice barely a whisper. She met his gaze meaningfully for a moment. "I have to go…" He nodded, dropping his hand to his side.

"I hope you have a pleasant flight," he replied awkwardly in lieu of good bye. She smiled.

"Bye, Naru…" she bade, waving a bit before jogging to meet her friends.