It was painful for Noll to regret any decisions he made in his life. He more often felt justified with the way he responded to situations. Mai was always the wild card though. When he threw Mai into his decision making process something always seemed to be thrown off kilter. This time there were two reasons he regretted insisting that the police be called in on the case.

The first was a result of the body the police officers had found on the floor in the hallway of the secret passage. He was quite unkempt and judging from the way Akane gasped and shuddered he was the miscreant that had kidnapped her. Noll didn't waste too much time contemplating how she was feeling. It was easy enough to determine that she must be blaming herself for his death. The weight of her concern must have magnified ten fold when she was escorted into the conference room to be sequestered and heavily questioned. All she could do in this case was simply be as up front and honest as she could about the situation and hope that her attack hadn't resulted in his death.

The second reason Noll regretted calling the cops in was due to the young man in blue who kept circling around Mai like a bird of prey. The young rookie officer wasn't even making a veiled attempt to hide his male appreciation. His eyes just kept traversing over the expanse of her long supple legs that were on full display due to the skirt she was wearing. When they traveled up and down and hovered over her ass, lingering there for longer than a few seconds, was when Noll nearly took off in his direction and socked him one.

Noll, that's not the way to handle the situation and you know it.

Noll didn't turn to look his brother's direction. He didn't want to let this vulture out of his sight. And what do you propose is the proper approach to 'DEALING' with this cretin?

Gene's trilling chord of musical laughter filled his head. It was obvious the stress on the word dealing did not bypass his twin. Well, he is being highly unprofessional. Isn't he? Perhaps if we got the police officer in charge. What was his name? Captain Kita? Yes, perhaps if one of us were to inform him of the rookie's vulgar unprofessional appreciation of Mai then perhaps the rookie in question would be asked to be taken off this case.

It was sound advice and while Noll mentally prepared to do just that he gritted his teeth as he watched the viper slither his piercing eyes over Mai's form once again. Can you go talk to Captain Kita? I think I need to address this situation more directly.

Er, are you sure that's a good idea, Noll?

No, but I think it's the best idea to get him off of her for the time being. As he thought that at his brother the rookie officer in question closed in on his quarry. I think it's time to show this vermin who Mai does belong to!

Noll, she doesn't belong to you! If you act like that you won't gain any favor from Mai! You are more likely to scare her away!

Don't worry, brother. I am not going to go act like a neanderthal. I am just going to position myself into the situation as if she is mine. I hope the counter measure will get the low life to back off. With that Noll trudged over to Mai's side.

I had felt his eyes on me for awhile. I didn't let myself outwardly cringe at the attention. But it was making me feel as if I weren't wearing a single stitch of clothing. The thought of standing nude in front of anyone of course made heat rush to my cheeks. Oh no, now he's making his way over here. What do I do?

I've never been great at dealing with men of this caliber. The ones that think they are owed something from the women that they appreciate from across a room. Okay so perhaps I was making snap judgments. But still he looked like a wolf about to gobble up his prey. I couldn't be terribly far off the mark judging by that look in his eyes and I had to prepare myself for whatever line he was about to spout. Whatever he said I was sure it would leave me cold and wanting.

Suddenly, I felt a soothing hand touch my left shoulder blade. I watched as the youthful officer halted his pursuit. The sneer that grew on his face wasn't attractive. It molded over his youthful features making him look more like a monster than a man. The expression he now wore terrified me.

Luckily, because of the hand that rested on my shoulder it didn't matter much how he frightened me. The touch of the hand calmed me. But I also felt molecules in my body zinging into action at the sensation. It was that reaction alone that made me aware of who it was before I even turned up to look at him.

"Mai, how are you doing over here? I hope the fact that Akane has been detained hasn't overly upset you." Naru's words honestly made me feel guilty. I mean of course I was worried about Akane. She had done nothing wrong and they were treating her like a criminal. But I had been too wrapped up in this weasel's lecherous gaze to focus on my new friend, employee, and coworker.

"I am worried about her. I mean what did she do wrong?! Nothing! She simply defended herself."

"Well, logically speaking she was the last one the officers are aware to have seen the culprit alive. So, I understand why they are asking her so many questions. I don't think they will have any reason to hold her without the medical examiner discovering cause of death from his autopsy however."

I frowned up at Naru. Not because what he said wasn't sound but at the reoccurring thought that Akane may be held responsible. No one knew what she actually did to that lunatic's mind. Was it possible that she had done something that could have led to his death?

The miscreant hadn't halted his steps as I had spoke to her. I could still see him, from my peripheral vision, seething and slowly making his way over to us as we spoke huddled together. Now that Mai was frowning up at me I could tell a different thought was beginning to take root. Her face grew much closer, and I felt an impulse overcome me I wasn't sure I could keep from acting on.

Without a thought to question my actions, I found myself cupping her chin in my hand and my thumb caressing the corner of her frowning mouth. I watched as the expression on her face changed from one of sadness and worry to one of curiosity and wonder. Or perhaps that was wishful thinking on my own part. It hasn't been easy trying to decipher her moods from the expressions reflected on her face as of late.

Of it's own accord my thumb moved over her lower lip and when her heated breath left her on a sigh, exhaling across the delicate flesh at the tip of my thumb. I found myself cursing aloud. I felt my right arm wrap itself around her waist to pull her closer. When heat resurfaced on her cheeks I didn't hesitate. I closed the distance between our two mouths sampling her lips for the first time.

Her mouth opened involuntarily as she gasped in surprise when my lips first caressed hers. Was this disappointing to her? Did she not want me to kiss her? Was this the wrong time? I hovered there barely touching her lips with my own when I felt hers slowly start to respond underneath mine. I started mentally cataloging the sensations I was feeling in that moment. I wanted to study them later at greater length. Her lips were delicate, soft, and malleable against my own. Her movements seemed unsure but that didn't make them any less sensual. I found myself wanting her to take the lead on this kiss. I wanted to see if she would express in action how I made her feel. I, in turn, only mirrored her own hesitant caresses. I knew though that if she deepened the kiss even a fraction I would become more demanding.

All too soon she was pulling away. I looked directly down into those cinnamon brown pools and saw heat and curiosity simmering there in their depths. I was ill prepared on how to answer the question that popped from her lips when she resettled herself on the soles of her feet. "Why?"

I lingered there waiting for an answer of some sort. But, unfortunatley, Naru simply gawked down at me. Had I left the genius scientist dumbstruck? I watched as his mouth worked open and shut like a fish a couple times before I walked away from him. I felt his eyes burning a hole into my back but I wasn't prepared to deal with him any longer for the time being. I needed to find out what was going on with Akane.

John had considered trying to calm his emotions by relaxing in the trailer away from the officers' interrogation. It had only taken him a few seconds to disregard that consideration. He didn't want to be any less than helpful and holing himself in the trailer was the polar opposite of being any kind of helpful.

No, the only way he could offer his support in any way was sticking close and being there for her when she was released. So, he was pacing back and forth by the entrance to the conference room instead of on the plush dated carpet of the trailer.

It was unfortunate that there wasn't a window to look through so he could scrutinize the officers detecting protocol. It would have helped calm his nerves that settled inside of him as he worried over Akane.

On the positive side the noise in the room wasn't completely muffled by the walls and the door. He still couldn't make out what any individual was saying. But he could make out the cadence to their voices and the rise and fall of the pitch in their words. Because of this he could almost guess how the examination was going.

For one thing, he could tell that Akane was worried and frightened. Her tone vibrated as she spoke a bit as if she were shaking or nervous and she was relatively quiet as if she were hiding from the prying questions they were asking.

Captain Kita and one of his subordinates were the ones administering the questions. John didn't catch the second officer's name because he was too preoccupied with the situation itself and worry for Akane's well being. Neither of the officers' voices seemed to raise in malice or anger during any point of the interview thus far. This led John to believe things were proceeding well. It didn't keep him from staying alert and being concerned however.

"How are things going?" Mai nearly startled him when she suddenly appeared beside him.

"As far as I can tell things are fine. But it has been quite awhile since they first walked into the room. How many questions could they possible ask?" John's blue eyes colored with worry as he looked directly into Mai's own.

She couldn't quite keep the frown from her face before replying. "I wish I knew."

"I honestly don't believe I killed him. When I last saw him he laid dormant in that ghastly room I was held captive. He had crumbled to the floor protesting he suddenly had a headache." Akane's voice was shaken. She only caused him a headache. Same as the other one only a few days ago. She hadn't done more than that. But had she been excessively forceful? She was high on adrenaline and fighting for her life so it is hard to say.

A knock on the door interrupted the next question that Captain Kita was about to reiterate. The culmination of the inquiry had been the same four or five questions asked over and over again. A younger policeman came in with a manilla folder in his hand. He whispered something to the captain who in turn arched his eyebrow and took the folder from the younger officer.

He took a seat and quickly scanned over whatever documents were hidden in the folder. "Well, Kimura-san, it appears we have quite a dilemma on our hands." He dropped the folder on the table where Akane could see the papers for herself. She visible gulped as she looked down at the papers before her. "It seems you are a wanted criminal in a small town called Saku. It says here you assaulted a man who ended up in the ICU for a month as a result of his injuries. Care to explain yourself? Or should we just take you into custody now?"