Oof. Yo! So of course, seeing people responding well to Talk Dirty to Me, I decided a sequel might be nice (like 938475 years later but minor details). I thought this would be a gr10 thing to post for any of you lovely people who still bother with my shit. Unfortunately, I don't really have the whole group in this story. The way I wrote it, it only had time for SPR members, including Takahashi Yuuko and Chiaki Kasai from the Yuasa High School case (The After School Hexer- episodes 7-10 I think) because in the light novels, they become workers at SPR and their friendship with Mai is really nice. I hope I recreated their relationship well. So sorry about the others- I hope you give the story a chance anyway.

And the light novels! Good content and more details on parapsychology/paranormal phenomenon/relationships/pasts, but the characterizations of Naru, Monk, and Ayako really bother me. They're so much meaner and Monk and Ayako each talk about liking minors at some points and that's skeevy. And there are some good NaruxMai moments in there with the price of their relationship being too close to abusive for comfort, so I gravitate closer to the show and the mangas for my love of their ship. Kicking out some of their ship moments, their relationship was cleaned up significantly and I'm willing to take that. Other than that, I enjoy the translation of Miss Ono's work. I would give it a look if you haven't yet, and probably stick closer to the mangas/show for the better character presentation.

Just leaving that recommendation in there! It's the reason I was inspired to sit down and finish it at the expense of my major paper not getting done! XDD I smell "no wonder you're stupid" in the undertones there XD I also saw some writing style of different authors that had "word [type of word] and a definition coinsiding with the actions of the characters" and I wanted to try it myself to see if I liked it in my writing- it's interesting but I'm not sure I'll keep it. I give credit to them, especially xinde, because they gave me the idea. I wish I could've come up with it. Oh well. Let me know what you guys think of it!

I don't own any of the characters of Ghost Hunt, plot or otherwise, or the song featured.

Mai has a potty mouth, I apologize. :)

Enjoy!

Can you sing?

If I could find dirt on Naru that was more personal than this, I would pay a great amount of money to know it. Even if I am an angel~. (XD)

It all started with a sick day and a shit ton of paperwork.

I never imagined the narcissist to take a personal day because of a supposed illness, but I guess Naru wasn't even cold enough to bring germs to the office- no pun intended there. This is to be taken personally because I still wasn't over the incident of a few weeks ago that resulted in a lip lock and a stuttering, very inappropriate verbal exchange with my boss (if you don't know the story, be glad you do not; Naru is pretty sadistic and I'm pretty sure he had planned all that dirty shit for weeks). So all and all, I didn't mind I wasn't about to be graced with his presence today.

Freedom [n.] - the state in which I do not have to make tea and can throw my dirt encrusted flats onto the desk and lounge back to my heart's content.

Tea [n.] - something my boss needs to build separation from.

Nothing [n.] - the amount of tea being made today.

Blissful [adj.] - the state of my mind in the relaxing silence and, no doubt, Naru's, as he is probably perusing his parapsychology books like they were his personal form of porn in the privacy of his bedroom. So...images of naked ghosts? Ah….I wish this simile would not have carried on.

Lin hadn't spoken to me since I had arrived today, which didn't cause me too much pain. Sure, I wanted him to like me, but since he had stood there and watched in amusement as I was verbally toyed with by my ever-so-loving boss, I had kept a stony wall between us; the difference being that now I was the one building the wall up and flashing dirty looks whenever my privacy was invaded.

I can't say I blame him too heartily because, as offensive and solicitous as my boss was about the ordeal, I was still unwavering in my love for him and appreciated his attention to me. The only problem: he hadn't said or done anything similar since this occurred. Nothing about our relationship had grown or changed in the past weeks, except my need to run as fast as I could in the opposite direction when he regarded me indifferently or the growing urge to take his stupid computer cord, rip it out and throttle him with it. No, I applaud myself in sustaining these urges and further pat myself on the back for not opening my mouth and giving him a piece of my mind.

'Poop head….' That was in no way close to any description of Naru. I sometimes wondered if his innermost musings held any key in solving problems in the parapsychology world or if he was just amusing himself with the right moisturizer for his stupid porcelain skin. No, Mai, stay away from thoughts of his skin. That leads to dangerous thoughts and reminders of…

Ah, my head- it is out to work against me. NO, Mai, AH, you're giving the Narcissist further reasons to mock your intelligence. Stupidity isn't attractive. Attractive? I'm suppose to care if he finds me attractive or not?

Well, no, but you don't need to bite the hand that feeds….

Feeds me what, insults served up on a charming smile? Screw him, I serve him tea, organize his shit and do menial, onerous jobs- he can put up with me.

Glancing at the clock, I realized I had slipped into thoughts of Naru in a duration of nearly six hundred twenty seconds and it sent me seething to the filing cabinet to occupy my thoughts elsewhere. However, case files in words and notes alone were not enough to capture my interest. The adrenaline of being on the scene was a whole other feeling entirely and the churning air containing the whispers of passed souls could send the most blood-curdling chills up one's spine.

Shutting the file, I went back to my desk and pressed my palms upon it, letting my arms support my body weight and my heart to support my brain. After all, the heart is a fickle thing and it's itching to find out just how deeply I want to feel Naru's arms around me again, feel his warm, saccharine sweet lips on mine again, or taste his slightly tangy breath from the tea he drank mingle with my own. What had I tasted like to him? Ew, that's gross, I don't want to know; he'd probably torment me for weeks about how I needed to more thoroughly brush my teeth before I came to work and would probably piss me off further by saying it was my fault for waking up late and rushing my routine to arrive not as late to work.

No….I painted Naru a bit worse in my head. He had earnestly wanted to kiss me- twice! That meant I did something right.

Once again, that stupid narcissist had slipped into my thoughts; it would probably give his ego a good petting to know that my thoughts were focused on his supposedly blasphemous being. Gods, I hate him and that stupid thin veil between love and hate.

My silent fuming was suddenly interrupted by a low voice: "Taniyama?"

I jerked my head up and found a pair of pensive grey eyes watching my own- actually, grey eye. Lin's other eye was concealed beneath his flop of dark hair, but his one eye alone could convey a lot more than any pair I'd ever seen, except maybe Naru's. It was certainly intimidating and when stuck onto an over six foot tall man with a muscular build in an environment full of generally shorter people, it could send your blood running cold.

"Hmm? uh, yes?" I hastily corrected my colloquial response.

Lin's expression didn't change. "It troubles me to burden you, but would you mind taking something for me a few blocks down?"

Um, I wasn't exactly the brawn in this situation, nor the brain, no doubt Naru would have added snidely. And gaaahh, why weren't Taka and Kasai here to do it either?! "Ah, I suppose; what is it?"

"Some paperwork for Naru. It's a tedious amount of work to retype onto a computer and my email is currently broken, so sending it is not an option to begin with. However, I had forgotten he wanted it for a file he was working on today and now he is in great need of it."

"Oh sure, I haven't anything left to do today, anyway. I'd be happy to assist you." This seems oddly out of place for meticulous and organized Lin and it didn't sit well with me. "Could you give me the address?"

"It isn't very far away." He disappeared back into his office to retrieve a rather comically thick amount of papers pinned together, but the laughter was quickly extracted from my lungs as it was placed into my horribly weak arms. Gods, the ghost hunting equipment has met its match! I stumbled with a hiss, trying to regain my balance.

"Here, the address." He placed a crisp sticky note on the top of the papers and turned back to his office. "Thank you, Taniyama."

"N-no problem." Ugh, what a pain! He'd seen me teetering around with precariously balanced papers in my arms and still left me to open the door myself and make my way past the little shops around the little plaza area, SPR looking completely out of place in the midst of the socially active air. Hmph, well fine, if I accidentally~ slip and drop these important looking files into a puddle that magically morphed into existence beneath my feet, on your own head be it!

I peeped at the address and set off down the block, trying my best to not catch my shoe on anything, for example, my own foot and leading to a gross faceplant on the wet asphalt. Ugh, what a situation I'd gotten myself into! I kept glancing idly at the addresses I passed and discovered I had quite a way to go before I could throw open a door and dump these useless wastes of trees into the apartment of my snob of a boss and then another few minutes before I could rest my sore arms and back from carrying such a load.

Little by little, I was becoming more and more despisable and then undergoing a magical character development of me not giving two shits about this happening. Hm, perhaps this was the climax in the story? Me developing an unwavering sense of self importance and losing my humanity, aka, becoming a diva version of my late boss (nah, I was kidding myself; he was already a diva). Wasn't this usually the case? Not that I knew anything about climatic situations (wait, Mai, what?), but I certainly knew when they came early, there would be a crap ton of extra time in the story that was always some shoddy bullshit of boredom, professionally known as falling action and resolution.

Hmph, no wonder Naru could never get me to read a professional book; if there wasn't blood-curdling action, I was done with the story. I pretty much lost myself in the long, drawn out explanations that my brain just couldn't keep up with. This is what usually gets me into trouble.

Enough of my rambling for the moment, I nearly missed my destination talking to you, the unfortunate unfortunately reading this piece. I'm honestly surprised you made it this far, my good friend. You must find me witty, or else an interesting piece to put under a microscope and cross examine me for unusual fluctuations in my brain. Guess it might cure cancer, what do I know? I'm a little Japanese girl delivering important papers to my naggy, uptight boss.

Ah, but you knew that, didn't you? Silly me. Enough of the foreplay.

And so, after a few more minutes of cursing and dodging of yet another cyclist, I managed to arrive at the doorstep of the address I was given. I made sure to triple check the address with the one on the sticky note several times so I didn't knock on some poor old codger's door and interrupt his afternoon nap or accidentally stumble in on some pervert's territory stocked full of icky. When I decided to finally brave putting my hand to the door and knock on it while still balancing the papers in one arm, I found my heart hammering against my throat. Oh jeez, the realization of the situation was finally hitting me: I was knocking on my boss', my crush's, my reason for the disgusting amount of drool on my desk's surface (besides my napping habits), and I was absolutely alone.

This wasn't usually too problematic at work. You'd think it would be harder because I was stuck there longer and I couldn't leave, but once I escaped the confines of my boss' territory, I was pretty much safe.

I had had a deep set fear that my boss would want to discuss what had happened between us the fateful afternoon two fortnights previously. Honestly, I had been so happy with his attentions at the time, but when I got to my warm bed that night to reflect on it, I was eaten alive by embarrassment and self consciousness. What had he thought of me? Was it just a ploy to ease his boredom? Did he really think I was that bad at romanticism? I clammed up when I thought of my red face and shouts of protest about the subject. I had no control of myself in the situation and it left me cringing at my lack of witty counters.

So I did the most rational thing a teenage girl with a mad crush and lack of regular guidance in the art of seduction would do: I avoided any situation that would prompt the subject of that day. I made it impossible for my boss to bring it up and would escape his frigid gaze before he could attack me with questions or, worse, teasing about how I acted that day.

For my part, I felt that I had played it well. He didn't seem inclined to talk about it nor did he seem perturbed that I hadn't broached the subject myself. Clearly, I wasn't the only one dodging an uncomfortable conversation. Maybe he regretted what he had done? Maybe he felt like he played the part of his older brother too much and wanted to ensure he was still himself by fading back into his shell?

I needed someone to diagnose his stupid complex because it was driving me mad.

Back to reality: I found a door still closed in my face, solitary, silent, and unmoving, like the owner itself. I sighed; surely Lin had called ahead and warned him of my coming? 'Put on a mask and get your bug spray at the ready, I'm sending that ferrety little bug of an assistant to you! Grab the papers from her quick before she stings you!'

If I thought Lin was capable of such humour, I might laugh at myself.

"Hello? These files aren't getting any lighter!" I told the door, tapping my foot and counting the seconds it took my impatience to grow. It had already sprouted higher than me and was lingering at Lin's height by the time my foot hit the ground again. "Alright, you asked for it."

I could have just left the papers in front of the door and let Naru handle them when he decided to get his ass out of bed, but something, and I suspected it was my bloated pride at the moment, whispered in my ear to kick open the damn door and demand his presence to acknowledge mine. I guess this was the catalyst of my sudden boldness, because suddenly I was reaching for the knob and trying to see if I could somehow jiggle it open. Hm, did I have hairpins with me today? If I could just…

This proved to be unnecessary, for the door swung open easily at a slight turn from me. I blinked in shock; was Naru really so careless as to leave his door unlocked? No, he was too meticulous, not to mention vain about every little thing to let such a simple thing be out of place. Immediately, a heightened sense of fear and caution crept up my frozen figure. What was I about to face on the other side of the door?

"Naru?" My meek voice said into the partially open door. When I received no response again, I opened the door wider and nervously glanced around at the space before me. Why was it so quiet and dark in here? The dark curtains on the windows were drawn and left the rooms looking as foreboding as my discovery of an unlocked door; it gave me a sort of Edgar Allen Poe eery feeling.

The furniture was relative classy and expensive and the rooms were neat for a young male's living space; it made me look like quite a slob. My space was an organized mess, thank you very much, but these living quarters….everything about them screamed "Naru the Narcissist", from the dark wallpaper and decorations (or rather, lack of them) to the neatly placed and cleaned appliances.

This sort of behavior made me slightly squeamish: neat-freakery really gave me the skeevies.

I dared to repeat his name into the silence and over my beating heart, I distantly heard something from down the hallway: the running of water.

A shower, perhaps? I frowned at the thought; really, he decided to shower when he knew very well I'd be here in a few minutes to give him these papers? Was this his passive aggressive way of trying to avoid me as well, like I'd been doing the past few weeks? Oh, two could play at that game, indeed!

I slammed down the papers on the coffee table in the living room, taking satisfaction in some of them toppling over and spilling onto the tidy floor, giving the room some messy quality that made me feel a bit more safe. I then made my way to the hallway, ready to hammer on his door for daring to try to escape my presence in such a childish way. Really, was he even sick in fact? Maybe he was just taking a whole day to be away from my shuffling gait and quick jabber so as not to be reminded of an awkward topic.

'But he's naked.' I came to a halt in the middle of the hallway. Oh gods, he was totally unclothed and I was about to barge in to berate him for his rudeness. Oh. My. Gods. I don't know how red my face got, but it felt like it was on fire.

'Look what you almost walked in on, Taniyama. Look what could have happened!' Thanks common sense, you and my self esteem must be good pals and have tea often, huh? You're a real piece of work, you know that?

The fact it could save me and still scold me at the same time, simultaneously making me feel relieved and worse was all the more annoying, and it still lead me to yet another simile about my boss! Ahhhh! I've had enough of Naru analogies for the day! Or forever!

"Ah…" Maybe this was my cue to turn and run quickly from the place? It wouldn't be different from evading Naru at work and this time, I could get away without him even knowing I was there to begin with.

However, my feet seemed glued to the carpet and yes, it definitely had to be metaphorical glue because there was no way something as sloppy as glue could possibly be on Naru's floor. My hands were trembling out of my control and my breath was coming out irregularly. You need to move, Mai, or you'll end up encountering him in his natural habitat and he might feel inclined to pounce and tear you up in his home advantage. You wouldn't be able to run.

I managed to get one foot to step back, but my other one didn't seem to want to move. Freakin' figurative glue, it's really sticky- I need figurative glue remover.

Something soft, something pretty suddenly left me completely immobile and drew the breath from my lungs. Had I not let my buzzing thoughts pause for a moment, I wouldn't have noticed it, but now it was hard to ignore: it was drifting from the bathroom and slowly passing through my obliging eardrums. It was utterly haunting and enchanting and I had to stop my breathing entirely in fear I wouldn't be able to hear the sound.

Beats [n.] - too many; my heart's actions.

Intoxicating [adj.] - description of the sound that caused the above actions to happen in rapid successions.

Breathless [adj.] - state of my lungs ex post factor of hearing the strange sound.

Accrue [v.] - progression of my swaying and obsession for this alluring sound.

Song [n.] - the sound issued that was drawing me in.

"Sweet dreams are made of these

Who am I to disagree

I travel the world and the seven seas

Everybody's looking for something," the voice sang softly, the noted mockery and dark tone gone from the low decibels, chilling my bones in a way no phantom ever could.

"Some of them want to use you

Some of them want to get used by you

Some of them want to abuse you

Some of them want to be abused..."

My breath caught in my chest; was this actually Naru or had I really fallen on the porch out there and knocked myself into a state of utter disillusionment?

"Hold your head up, keep your head up, movin' on

Hold your head up, movin' on, keep your head up, movin' on…."

Something about the tone of the words -which I didn't understand- seemed to take a step in the direction of his troubled mentality, the pained scars across such a young person. A loss of parents. Uncontrollable powers and ostracism. Orphanage life. Adopted parents who couldn't seem to grasp the entirety of his situation. Death of an only sibling and comfort. Manipulated by others. Alone. Alone...such little light. No wonder he felt so closed off, less willing to open his heart. Was he singing his pain….or was it merely my interpretation of the dark quality of his voice? How strange.

I was so caught up in the last few notes and my thoughts running into each other that I didn't notice the absent sound of the water, nor the sound of gradual shifting and the door opening until warm, moist air hit my face and enveloped my body.

It only lasted a few seconds, because while I was blinking dumbstruck eyes, I found the air suddenly stagnate and the light of the bathroom was blocked from my field of vision. I raised my orbs nervously to the ones too many centimeters above me, ones that were surveying me not only coldly, but with surprise and something….something more defensive. Vanity?

"Mai." His voice, no longer long, drawn out and whimsical, hit me harder than expected and I nearly fell back. How was such a clipped greeting so impactful on me physically?

"N-Naru," I managed to spit out, my chest heaving from nerves, and I seemed to lose my ability to make a silly excuse. "Um…" My carefully coordinated snarky comments never seemed to want to leave my lips when he had that look. "I….um….I have some important files for you and I was just bringing them over…" My voice trailed off when I noticed he was only wearing black trousers and his half naked torso was (conveniently) at my eye level.

I'm pretty sure my cheeks were a flaming mess.

"You….thought it to be impertinent to just email me them?" He said without the slightest change of tone or expression, but his weight shifted to his right leg as he studied me. Gods, I want to be a mind reader. What is he concealing behind those icy dark holes of his? I couldn't perceive the emotion in them at the moment.

"N-No, Lin said his email wasn't working and that you needed these files immediately, so he told me to bring them to you."

The silence ate steadily away at any courage I might have had and his eyes searching mine suspiciously curdled my blood. Why is he this way? Lin had surely called him and told him this, even warned him that the stupid little girl he'd kissed those weeks ago was going to come poking around his sanctuary. I didn't like seeing the gears turning faster in his eyes.

I meekly managed, "Surely, L-Lin told you that…"

Naru took his time eyeing me in the half lit hallway, twisting the black shirt in his hands and looking as if he'd very much like to put them around my neck. I'd seen him lift heavy objects, pull apart wood from a wall with a crowbar without breaking a sweat, and even blasted apart a vicious god with his power of PK- he was certainly capable of covering up murdering me. Eek. Uh, tea, my good sir?

"You dummy..."

I blinked. Once. Twice. Then it hit me all at once- rage, frustration, hatred, and my overheated courage blasted a furious tail-wind against my tongue. "OH, is that so?! I'M the dummy?! Me? For what, being an obedient assistant and bringing you your shit?! All of that!" I gesticulated angrily at the pile of files in the other room. "Down forever and too many blocks and I'm the idiot?!" Oof, I get a bit incoherent in rage.

His poker face was incredibly annoying and I was only vaguely aware of myself still shouting and waving my arms furiously, my face red from the exertion of my tirade. It was a few minutes before I caught my breath, panting from the effort of my insults and indignation. He was still motionless and unmoving, his eyes never leaving my face.

"Are you done?" He finally said. That damn little-

"Not if you want me to be," I huffed, not wanting to meet his eyes and see the condescension there. And then I saw the smallest movement only an experienced eye at seeing his face could have detected. A twitch at the corners of his mouth, the slightest raise of his cheekbones and that satisfaction in his gaze.

That bastard was trying not smile!

"The hell is so funny?!" I demanded of him, stamping my foot. He only looked more amused. "You know what-"

"You obviously know what is so funny," he said, and his voice was softer. His expression was odd, almost…open.

Oh no. OH NO. OH F-AHHHHHRGGHHSIDDUDIIDUHYUD-

"Don't you dare change the subject," I hissed, aware of how much redder my face had gotten. "Don't you dare try to flirt with me now, not…not after-" I stopped and looked away from him, my face engulfed in flames. "Don't bring that up." I was walking into that same messy trap again with being unable to control myself.

His expression hardened slightly.

"Don't pout at me," I snapped, fully aware he wasn't. "You haven't mentioned it for weeks and you're not doing it now." His eyes darkened further and his body language, though subtle, was displeased. "You haven't bothered and you know what, I want to forget about it. Even more than you do." Why did he look so cold again?

"It was…it was completely uncalled for!" I shouted, my hands wringing furiously again and I would have seized the front of Naru's shirt had he, um, been conveniently wearing one. My body was unable to stay still, trembling from the adrenaline of incoherent frustration and the inability to function my tongue properly and oh, did I mention how red my face was? "When you want to date someone, you do not make them shit themselves and tease them with dirty talk! And while you weren't even serious, which by the way, it's a sucky feeling to have someone you like bullshit you like that, it still isn't okay! Like- errgghhh, you can't pull that kind of crap or I might-" I blinked. "I might…" I was nearly out of breath and even though I was enraged, I wouldn't actually do what I was threatening. Would I?

"You might quit?" Despite his rigid face and tight limbs, his voice was strangely calm, too calm for my liking. I found it difficult to meet his eyes, instead preferring to take in my surroundings and hoooooly crap not his chest either. But…no, his indifference to me leaving was the fuel I needed to force my gaze onto his.

"I see you're so broken up over it!"

Beat. "I can't make your decisions for you and I won't make you stay when you want to go."

Intake of breath. "..."

"I hadn't intended to harass you nor control you."

"Yet you were happy to fluster me!" You can joke?!

"..."

"..."

"I'm sorry."

What WHat whAT wHAT WHAT an APOLOGY?!

"S-Sorry?" I sputtered, swearing that I was having a delusion. This was utterly impossible and oh gods, somebody get me some water and a paper bag-

He frowned in slight irritation at me. "You heard me perfectly well." He exhaled wearily and now he appeared to be unable to meet my astonished eyes. "I apologize for upsetting you. I merely…merely intended to express my feelings in a way that would hopefully please you."

What…is he really more ill than I originally thought?

I must have voiced this out loud, because his frown line grew and he proceeded to fold his arms. "I am not ill. It was a migraine that kept me at home today."

Oh. There was an awkward pause and we seemed to seek anything else to occupy our eyes and thoughts other than each other. There were a million things I could mention in our environment, but my mind dodged those bullets and preceded to another.

"So….I guess Lin sent me here on purpose, knowing you were going to be…to be…" Naked. "...in the shower. And lied about those papers."

"Got there at last, have-?" Naru stopped his rude comment suddenly, which startled me as much as his apology. "Yes, that has been my conclusion as well. He has learned much from Madoka, I'm afraid." He eyed me cautiously and I returned his look almost as warily. "I just marvel at your audacity of opening my front door and then marching to my bathroom door while I was showering."

Instantly the color rushed back into my face. "H-Hey, you didn't answer and I thought you were ditching facing me-" He was smirking now and ohhhhh hell, was I pissed! "Don't smile at me like that, Mr. Vocals! Or perhaps I should call you Annie?"

That boy's dark pleasure seem to waver for a moment. "It's rather violating to me that you were listening at the door, especially knowing that I was in the shower." In the nude more like- FUCK.

"Not any more classy than you sneaking up on me!" I retorted with a dismissing wave of my hand. "And unlike you, I wasn't intending to linger knowing you were in the shower. I just heard-" Evil smirk. "-rather interesting things!" This sentence, taken out of context, is grossly smutty but luckily, Naru was too embarrassed to jab at me for that. Though his equivalent of embarrassment is an eye roll and a slight look to the left.

"I wasn't aware that my personal life was in jeopardy of your judgment, Mai."

Wellllll lookie here, Mr. Defensive and Opinionated getting fussy! "I'm not judging you- I didn't know your voice could adopt a tone other than hostility or impartiality!" I didn't know where are all these cool words were coming from- I guess Naru was rubbing off on me.

"It's safe to say Gene was better at it that I."

"Yeah, he seemed to be better at a lot of things," I said with slight steely note to my tone. His dark eyes locked with mine and I arched an eyebrow. "Like honesty, for example. Whether or not you were serious that day, you should have talked to me about it afterwards. You really gave me turns…"

Naru watched me and I could see uneasiness in his gaze, the tension in his neck; I desperately wanted to know what was going on in that brain. He seemed to hold my gaze for a long time, studying whatever interest he found in my eyes or, more likely, buying time it took to answer the question.

He shocked me with silence and an aversion of his gaze, those endless voids of raven's feather colored eyes- that slight reflection of purple in them turned itself from mine.

And suddenly I was wracked with understanding and amusement. I snorted a little and he dared a chance look at me.

"You were afraid to bring it up with me because I was ditching any opportunity for you to?"

He confirmed by not reacting- his expression didn't change, his limbs didn't tense and not even his jaw shifted, but I knew in my gut I was right. I smirked very slightly, now triumphant that I for once had Naru the mothershucking-corn Narcissist in a corner and that I managed to read him like a book in his home base! Muahaha.

"It's not that I was afraid," Naru began with a edge to his tone, looking like it was peeing on his bloated pride to do so.

"You were just too proud when I didn't seem to want to and your feelings were hurt….but you didn't want me to know that so you just returned to normal." This was starting to go less from observation and more towards assumption and maybe….hope?

Once again he didn't-react-but-told-me-everything in his silence and suddenly my smile faded. Oh shit. I walked straight into honesty fuckville and here comes the stoic mayor of solid stone country. In the awkward silence, Naru slipped his shirt on and started buttoning it slowly, avoiding my eyes. He almost looked vulnerable, and I sort of felt bad, but he needed to hear it. If he really loved me, respected me, he would have to learn to trust me.

It was my turn to be initiative. I stepped forward and I gently took his snow white hands, halting their movement so his last two buttons were abandoned. They were warmer than their appearance warranted, and felt my heart nearly bursting out of my chest. His pulse was close and I was desperate to see if his was as panicked as mine.

"Hey...look at me."

A heart beat, one slower than mine. His eyes raised to mine and I could see the surprise in them, the nervousness of what I might say- did he really believe I would quit? He was so open in that moment that I wondered if this was a dream and Gene was just play acting.

Don't be ridiculous, Mai, his eyes seemed to whisper.

"I'm sorry too."

His expression stayed neutral with cautious undertones, but he swallowed as well. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Don't trouble yourself."

AAAAAAARGHHH WHAAAAATTT?

"I do. I know you're strong, but you're human and humans need comfort. And reassurance. You opened your heart to me and I was too cruel to accept the truth."

"Mai, that's not fair. I was not cordial."

"Maybe not, but I didn't believe it."

"I don't find you culpable."

"Your track record isn't perfect, but you're incapable of playing with someone's heart like that."

"..."

"..."

"I can't seem to convince you of your innocence." Naru's hands were still in mine. "But fine."

He really is something. I smiled lightly and moved a little closer. "Does this mean you're not going to avoid me anymore?"

"I thought that should be obvious."

Ah, he must be feeling a bit better if he can be a little salty.

"Sometimes there are things that have to be said out loud and affirmed or there will be miscommunication."

The corners of his mouth turned up a little. "You certainly have smartened up."

"Yeah, next thing you know I'll be your crabby boss and you'll be the immature assistant out of control and breaking things." Not that he was fully mature by any means; he was still a minor, after all.

"If you're leading SPR in my place, that would be very worrisome indeed."

I huffed but I smiled widely- that little shit. "Call John, then, and you guys can say some prayers together." I wasn't overreacting like usual- maybe because we were on the same wavelength now? This small amount of communication from us ensured no one was being hurt by our verbal matches and it was complete playful teasing now instead only half of it being light-hearted.

"I am not Christian."

Oof, is he trying not to smile even more? "Then I guess SPR is shit up a creek, huh?"

"In such vulgar terms, yes, I suppose so." The air was thick with avoiding the elephant in the room. What does this mean for us now? Our hearts were out on the table in plain view and I knew exactly what I wanted. We paused, sort of looking at each other and wondering who would be the brave one between us to broach the topic.

I guess it'll be me. "Naru?" He tilted his head in response. "My...heart is unchanged." Gods, I'm so terrified to admit this….even though his neutral look was gentle, the encouragement did nothing to staunch my fear. "You have accused me of loving someone else-" in response to opening his mouth guiltily, I plunged on quickly, "-and I understand why you felt that way. I did admire Gene's kindness and sensitivity, but….the fact is he's dead and coming to terms with that, it must mean my crush would be over." Our eyes seem to stare endlessly into each other's and I couldn't move my gaze. My hands could only tighten over his. "But….it isn't. I accepted his death and moved on. It hurt me, but it took me awhile to realize it wasn't the loss of love because it wasn't him who I had fallen for in the first place. It was you, you goofball. Don't think I chose the wrong Davis Twin."

That was a gooby nickname to chide him with, but he honestly was one for not believing me. He stared back at me and the expression he wore was unrecognizable: I'd never seen this look on his face. I couldn't even explain it, but it had my full attention.

"Mai."

"Hm?"

"You're squeezing my hands rather tightly."

OH c'mon~! I groaned audibly and loosened my hold, frustrated that I thought he might give me a mature response.

Then I caught him smiling playfully and I immediately glowered. "I didn't say you had to let go of me entirely." I blinked and put my hands on my hips. "Mai." I kept my nose in the air. "I still love you, too." I glanced sideways at him and his smile had relaxed, looking slightly amused but also tender. Ugghhhh, it absolutely melted my heart.

"I know you do." I allowed my own mischievous look. "Is this you asking me out?"

"Mm, I was under the impression you asked me just a moment before. That was my acceptance."

That little snot. I really shouldn't love that so much. "Oh, there's that miscommunication I was talking about." I boldly raised my hands to cup his cheeks and I was glad to see his pupils dilate from nervousness and excitement. "Can I kiss you?" Gods, I was dying to again and I just realized how much different things would be, but for the better this time and I was absolutely thrilled.

"You need not ask for my permission for that."

"It's always important to."

He considered me closely. "Perhaps you're right. Go ahead."

I caressed his cheek and I'm pretty sure I was red in the face. I leaned in and I saw him watching me get closer….and then I closed my eyes and gently kissed him, not really sure how to execute it but I gave it my best shot.

Naru moved his lips against mine, seeming about as lost as I was about this, even if he had tried kissing me before. I realized he must have acted impulsively for a change, and without experience or any idea what he should do, he had experimented with kissing my skin, holding me close and trying to figure it out. He never liked to be bad at things -hence why he studied Kanji while he was away in England that snob- but this time, it was raw emotion and open trust at us potentially failing at this activity.

I felt his hands brush mine lightly and then touch my face, mimicking my position as a sign of following my lead. We swayed on the spot, enjoying each other's warmth and taste and soft breaths in between tilting our heads to get closer. When we came up for air, I let our lips still brush slightly as I panted, opening my eyes to see him. His eyes were still closed and even he was breathing hard.

"...ahr…'ou okay?" I managed to say breathlessly, some of the syllables lost in my breathing.

"Yes." Something was odd about the way he answered. I turned my head curiously and noticed the problem: the couch in the living room was turned on its side and the table looked knocked over, the rest of the files scattered further about than they had been- much farther than them merely sliding onto the floor from the falling table.

"Was that you?" I looked at him in concern, but he looked impassive and barely met my eyes.

"I lost my focus for a moment." He seemed slightly embarrassed, but I smiled. Qigong seemed so complicated if it didn't even let him lose himself in a moment of passion. How did he deal with it everyday?

"Don't be shy- it didn't hurt anyone. It's okay, I'm not afraid of you."

"I imagine you wouldn't be since you're still here." Though his alleviated expression said otherwise and I was unbelievably happy, my heart light and I wondered what Lin thought of me being gone for so long. That his plan succeeded? That a car hit me? Eesh. I hope no customers came in today- the poor things would have to deal with the quiet enigmatic man that privately ships his colleagues.

"Are you...happy?" I asked him, gently moving his hands from my face to my waist so we could be closer and I nuzzled our foreheads together. He had a little smile on his lips.

"As long as you are." IIIEEEEEE, my heart absolutely soared!

"I am. Very happy." I saw his eyes close and he seemed so relaxed having me lead our affection -physically and verbally- that I nearly cried with ecstasy. I never had seen him look so peaceful, so unhindered by his responsibilities and troubles. I liked this comfortable moment and I could smell his shower products on him, wondering how he smelled daily not right after a shower (Mai, girl, chill). I never had been close to him long enough to be certain, and I was happy I would get the chance to learn.

He's so warm….and I loved how he seemed to grow more relaxed being in my arms.

"Your voice is pretty."

He opened his eyes a little to look at me, looking like he was waiting for me to expound on my meaning. "Your singing. It was lovely. I never knew you could."

Joy [n.] - something we both shared at the moment.

Sweet [adj.] - the lingering taste of him on my tongue.

Wet [adj.] - no, not me; the corner of his mouth had my leftover spit on it and I hastily wiped it.

Brightly [adv.] - the quality of his eyes as they surveyed me through thick, long lashes.

Honesty [n]. - something we could both exchange now that we had taken the risky leap of a few moments before.

Tangled [v.] - the action of my fingers as they slid up into his dark locks, looking to touch him some more.

Golden [adj.] - the color I would use to describe the smile on Naru's face, for it radiated a pure and comforting light that drew me to it.

Surprises [n.] - the day was full of them and I welcomed them with a light state of mind.

"Gene and I used to sing together when we were little. It helped….keep my mind off the poltergeists I committed. I gave it up when we were adopted, but I started up again when Gene started traveling." He looked a little amused at my keen, attentive expression. "I quit for awhile after he died...but then a few months after you started working here, I found myself singing again whenever I was alone and I did it more when I was away."

Cuuuutteeee! I really enjoyed him telling me things. "That's pretty. I enjoyed it."

"I'm glad someone does." He seemed to be poking fun at himself to make me laugh a little- it worked, of course.

"I'm sure Lin knows- ooh, speaking of, I don't think he expects me back." I snorted a little. "He better be recycling all those papers he didn't have to print."

"You never fail to worry about every other creature that's not yourself."

I beamed. "Are you complimenting me?"

"You were not delicate enough to hide your tone of surprise." His eyes shone with mischief and he tentatively pulled me a step closer to him so our bodies were almost pressed together.

"Nothing about me is delicate. If you want the object of femininity, you'll want Masako. I'm too vulgar for such a traditional title."

"You're right. This is better, I believe."

"Glad you think so," I said softly, and I went in for another kiss.

"So~, how've you been lately?"

It was two days later and I was typing up a report for a previous minor case we had had since Naru had returned. Under the interrogating gazes of Taka (Takahashi Yuuko, a helper of our case at Yuasa High School and now almost a year old member of SPR) and Kasai (Chiaki Kasai, also a major player in the Yuasa case and member of SPR with training to improve her unstable PK), I casually continued without giving away any of the happy thoughts in the back of my mind. I had yet to confess mine and Naru's relationship, though I had a feeling with their curious, determinedly casual faces, they were in on Lin's little game. Maybe it was them who gave him the idea!

As if I would break so easily. They hadn't worked since Monday so of course they missed the fun events of the next day. "I've been pretty good. Slow work days, but that's to be had without a case. And you guys?"

"Oh, just lovely," Taka said with an air of growing impatience at my ambiguity. "Tests and the like. Nothing worth mentioning."

"Still in love with Monk?"

Taka smirked. "Mmmhm~. I'm eighteen now, which means Norio and I can-"

"Bleh, don't tell us!" Kasai pleaded, looking amused but giving Taka a kick under the table. She immediately sobered back up and laced her fingers together.

"Speaking of romance~, how about you and Boss?"

Oof, they are not subtle. Such nerds. "Me and Boss what? Bringing his tea and sorting his crummy files? That's the life of us. Occasional insults and banter."

Kasai joined in with, "You over exaggerate his tea habits. He usually has about one cup in an hour or two."

Ugggghhh, is that not abnormal? "As the person who has to make it, it's tedious." I realized Lin had been stationary in the doorway to his office, eavesdropping on our conversation. "Did you need something~, Lin?"

"No," he said in a quiet voice and he shut his door.

"Still a weird guy…"

Kasai smiled lightly. "If Miss Madoka didn't like him so much, I would consider going for him."

Taka and I simultaneously wrinkled our noses and sputtered our disgust. "Ahhhhh, Kasai, no~!" She gave us a cheeky smile and rested her chin on her palm propped up on her elbow.

"I'm jesting. I sort of like someone else, anyway."

Oooohhhhh, another ship formulating? "Do I know this person?" I asked with a big grin.

"Mmhmm."

"No suspense!"

"Yeah, c'mon spill it!"

Kasai gave me a secretive grin. "Her mind is occupied with another guy, but I can't resist."

My eyes glittered. "Yeah?"

She kept smiling without looking at Taka. "Uh huh. And she would never know, but she's such a pistol and very cute." OOOOHHHH, Kasai, are you talking about who I think you are? Muahahaha, you've just set yourself up!

"Do you know who it is?"

Taka pouted and shook her head, but I was grinning wickedly. "Oh hell yeah!" I grinned sideways at Taka, who clearly was too much of a goober to see the adoring eyes of Kasai on her. "Taka, you're so dim."

"Am not! Tell me!" She hated not being in on the grapevine.

"You'll see~."

"You're the worst!"

The door of Naru's office opened and he walked into the conference room where we sat, his eyebrows raised. His face was blank and composed, and as I perceived, he was in deep thought. He was also holding his coat as if he meant to go out.

"Are you three even working?"

I replied that I definitely was, with my computer in front of me and all. "Taka and Kasai felt the need to bug me."

"Oh posh! We were having normal conversation before we got to work." There goes Taka again, with a sly look and everything. Kasai smiled behind her hand, watching her.

"Very well, but I'll have to split your working days if you three cannot work together." You butt, you never scold Taka or Kasai!

"Yes~, boss!"

"We'll get to it."

I snorted.

"Mai, I'm going out. We may have a potential client and I'm going to see their house. I may be out for a few hours or I might come right back. Will you prepare in case I decide to take the case?"

"Of course~." Taka and Kasai seemed slightly suspicious- the way he had phrased it sounded more like a request than an order.

He walked by the couch I was sitting on and paused. "Don't goof around while I'm gone."

I lifted my chin backwards so that I looked up at him upside-down with my head against the back of the couch, a cunning smile on my face. "I will try to restrain myself, but no promises. I get horribly distracted and clumsy." We locked eyes and I found myself childishly happy looking into his eyes.

Seeming to pick up on my emotion, he gave me the tiniest smile. "Don't break anything." Then he leaned down to give me a peck on the lips.

"WHAAAAAAAA?!"

"EHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"

"HOLY SHIITTTTTT-"

I chuckled against Naru's lips and he left with a pleased smile, leaving me to deal with the two goggling and flabbergasted girls writhing on the opposite couch.

"MAI, THAT WAS SLY!"

I winked, leaning forward to straighten my neck. I made a mocking noise of confusion in my throat. "Hmm?"

Taka was flapping her hands in a perturbed state of shock at the kiss, excitement at the official status of Naru and I's relationship, and fury at me keeping quiet about it. "How. Dare. You. Not. Tell. Us! What happened to sisters before misters?"

"Kehehe, you didn't ask specifically about it. That's your fault for being ambiguous." I giggled evilly as they squawked and scolded me. However, before they could chide and question me further, Naru reentered the room.

"Actually, Mai, would you mind coming with me? I would like to have your intuition with me on this and a kinder face for our potential clients." Oh Naru, are you secretly just trying to be alone with me?

"Sure." I was happy to abandon the menial work, the gurgling protests of my friends and most of all, get some alone time with Naru. Lin was busy with work today, so it looked like we would be taking a cab. And…maybe we could go out afterwards~?

Reading my face, Naru gave me a slight nod and secretive smile which made me feel like I could float happily up into space and disappear forever on cloud nine.

"Takahashi, I would like you to inform Lin if I decide to take the case. Thank you." He observed me bounding up to him with my sweater and he turned to open the door for us. Before we got out the door, just for show, I slipped my hand into his and smirked at the exasperated sounds behind me as we interlocked our fingers. I couldn't wait for Masako to find out and see the boy she'd manipulated be with the rival she so despised. Kind of mean of me, but there it is. Hehe~.

Naru turned his eyes to me and I grinned, tugging him along with me. He smiled back in vague amusement, squeezing my hand gently before following me into the fall wind.

Wooo.

That was loads of fun to write, honestly, especially the ending. I love writing Mai and I started this fanfiction before I perused the light novels in depth and I was excited that Mai was even more salty in them! Good quality (:

I honestly wanted to fix my Naru characterization in this story because my original publication of TDTM has such an OOC Naru that it makes me cringe. I editted a bit, by the way in case you want to check it out again. I also wanted more progression in their relationship so that was the hopeful intended effect. And I really~ like the idea of TakahashixKasai because they would be so sweet and I honestly think Takashi is too good for Monk okay XDD Love him but no souris XD

The song: "Sweet Dreams" by Eurythmics. Check it out sometime~, it's lovely.

Um~ so drop me a review and let me know what you think. Naru singing, though! Wouldn't that be THE shit? I sort of make fun of my friend for being such a Naru because she's so proud and conceited (in the best way x3) and she's a really good singer, so I dreamt of Naru singing in the shower and Mai overhearing it and having such a fangirl attack XD And I immediately wanted to sit down and write this, but it took awhile to find the motivation AND TIME, gah. I find that I'm most inspired when I have a paper due XD *so inconvenient*.

Enough of me rambling. Just wanted to give some background XD XOXO Leave me some messages~ x3

~ demon alice.