Sorry, that this is a day late.  I totally forgot that the first day of March was yesterday, therefore I should have updated this yesterday.  The progress updating the story is still going slow.  I'm having some personal things going on plus I have been babysitting an 8 month old in the early morning, when I normally do my writing.  So, I just need to try to find a new time slot to do my writing in and adjust to it I suppose.

Oh, side note, am I the only one that isn't a fan of the layout of wattpad now?  Sooo much white!!!

The past two weeks had been a slow incline for the two pairings that were trying to work past their shortcomings and enhancing their abilities. Noll wasn't all that surprised that his training with Akane had been more fruitful than the exercises Gene was performing with Atsuko.

He mentally told his brother on more than one occasion. I don't know that working with someone you have romantic feelings for is beneficial. That is probably the core reason your progress has been delayed. Perhaps you should reevaluate your theories and consider another method or other options.

Gene's answer always held the same logic. I don't much care about impeding my progress when I get to spend more time with her. Think about all the time you are missing out with Mai while working with Akane.

Of course this logic did nothing to soothe Noll's rational mind. In fact the amount of mental commotion it caused provoked Naru into action. He began to finally brainstorm ideas for his first date with Mai.

When Gene caught wind of what his twin was up to he sat down beside him and did the same. Google really got a work out from the twin brothers as they contemplated different possibilities and researched each one they considered.

Many of their brainstormed options were almost immediately discarded. Some were scrutinized heavily but ended up being tabled to consider for additional dates at a later time.

The colder early December weather was one factor that weighed in on a lot of their decisions. They both ended up with a great date plan for warmer weather that each knew they would execute once spring came back around and brought the warm weather back with it.

Another deciding factor for Gene was his fear that Atsuko and himself could go blind once again. He would have to make sure wherever he went that he would have outside assistance should it come to that possibility. He preferred someone who already knew the situation which was probably why he settled on the locale he did.

Noll also finally settled on an idea and turned his laptop toward Gene to show him the central focal point that his first date with Mai would be based around. "Oh, wow! If I wasn't so worried about the possibility of going blind I would probably insist upon the double date option after all."

If it hadn't been for Gene's self flagellation Noll would have felt heavily proud of himself in that moment. But regardless of Noll's gruff exterior he did heavily concern for his twin's well being. "While I am sure you were trying to be supportive with your comment; I'm not at all pleased with the way you negatively view the periodic temporary handicap you rarely experience." He heavily stressed to point out the word 'rarely' because it had been a couple months since they first came back to Japan. A couple months since he last had a blind moment, and before that it had probably been another three months since he had the previous occurrence.

Gene took a deep breath through his nose and let it out gushing through his mouth before he turned back to his brother. "You are right. I shouldn't let it get me down. But I do have to be realistic and consider it as a detriment when I am alone with Atsuko since her empathy does give her the negative experience of possibly becoming temporarily blind also. I shouldn't have made light of it but truthfully I am only considering it in the regards of our safety. Besides, I am pretty sure normally Atsuko is the type that prefers to lounge on her couch and read a book or watch something on television. Even this simple idea would be enough for a first date with her." He mentally crossed his fingers that he was right in his assessment. It was a logical assumption given her abilities and what not but he didn't want to presume he was right and be completing off base either.

The following day after they each had their routine training session Noll went to seek Mai out. She had been working the front desk when he arrived and assumed she would be there still. He was a bit thrown when he discovered Dr. Matsuzaki sitting in her place instead. He was ill prepared for the smirk she threw his way. "She's helping with the kids. The phone has been quiet today, and she was becoming restless."

Noll was a bit perplexed. Not by what she had said but by her level of perception. As if she could read his mind again she interrupted his thoughts. "You look like you are a man on a mission. Should I be taking a motherly role and telling you not to hurt our Mai."

The stress on the word our wasn't lost on him. He knew that all of her employees were more than that to Mai. They were family, and they also thought of her as such. If he were to ever hurt Mai again he would suffer greatly. He paused to consider how best to proceed. "I regret how I hurt her the first time around. I don't want to ever put her through such torment again. I can't promise I won't make mistakes. But, I can say that her happiness matters a lot to me, and I hope if I ever do make some grievous error in judgment that it will be something we can work through."

Ayako nodded at him. "Good." The phone interrupted any more conversation and she groaned. "Of course Mai walks away from the phone and it finally rings."

Noll escaped before he could be interrogated further and headed to the floor that housed the orphanage. He found Mai in a playroom of sorts. She was in the middle with a blindfold on while the children all skirted just out of reach from her searching hands. He watched for a few moments before he decided to get in on the fun himself.

He found himself smiling at the children around him and putting a finger to his lips to hopefully keep them from announcing his presence and ruining his fun. He at first situated himself just behind her. He let her natural scent infiltrate his senses. The smell somehow bringing a sense of calm over his body. Then he inched around slightly to her right. When her upper arm brushed against his chest she turned toward him with her seeking fingers. It was humorous to watch how her eyebrows arched for a second when she gripped the fabric of his dress shirt. The confusion on her face slowly morphed into a confident smirk then a full blown out smile of happiness. His heart jolted in his chest for a moment before he too found himself smiling in response.

"Who could this be? I don't remember any of the children being this tall. Did someone have a growth spurt while we were playing?" The children all giggled around her and a few of them answered her in the negative. "No? Hmm. Then who could this be?" She acted perplexed even while he saw the confidence in the set of her jaw and the relaxed station of her eyebrows. She padded at his chest then raised her arms up so her hands cupped each side of his jaw. "Hmm. No stubbly whiskers so definitely not Monk." Her fingers traced over his lips and found the smile he was wearing and smiled in turn. "I know this smile well. It's one of the Davis twins definitely." She forced a frown. "It's almost impossible to tell the two apart visually. How am I supposed to do this while blindfolded?"

If Noll still had even an inkling of worry that her feelings were still for Gene and not himself this part of her production probably would have caused emotional injury. But that personal anxiety ridden doubt no longer existed. Instead he felt delighted in not only the game and the way she was playing it out. But he also felt contentedly assured in how her emotions mirrored his own. He found himself confidently smirking at her while her fingers still traced over his lips.

"Ah! Now, I'm confident. This smirk could only belong to the great Dr. Oliver Davis." She quickly removed her blindfold and while he was tempted to roll his eyes at her use of his title and given adopted name he found himself smiling back at her instead.

Mai turned her attention back to the students before she lost track of all rational thought. Naru had turned on his full smile at her, and it was making her heart doing the cha cha. She noted the time on the clock, even though that was merely a visual excuse for her next verbal rational. "Well, it looks like playtime is over and it's time for you all to start working on your homework. So you know the drill either to your own rooms or the study." The collective groan wasn't surprising in the least. She waited for the retreating figures to exit the room before she wrapped her arms around Naru's neck. "Hi there."

He placed his hands on her back and pulled her slightly closer to him closing the gap between them a bit. His arms then folded around her waist. "Hi yourself."

Mai visually scoured Naru's face. He was uncharacteristically in a good mood. A good mood that was not brought on by his teasing of her. "You look like something good just happened. Did your father send us a new case our way?"

He shook his head. "No, that's not what is going on."

"Okay..." She waited to see if he would clue her in. But a few seconds past and his lips still remained sealed. "Are you going to tell me what has made you so chipper, or am I going to have to guess?"

"Hm, guessing sounds promising. But I don't think you can manage it in the three guesses I am allotting you." A half laugh erupted from his mouth when she half smirked and half scowled at him.

"What do I get if I guess right within three tries?"

"I'm sure I can think of a feasible reward." He tried to wipe the mirth from his face but it just wasn't working at the moment. He hoped the next case they received that he would once again be able to go back to his stoic nature. But he wasn't confident that would be the case. Nor was he completely sure he cared if it wasn't.

Mai studied his face. "Does it have something to do with me?"

"Yes."

"I'm making you happy right now?" A childish glee entered her eyes. If he hadn't been holding her she might have started dancing merrily from one foot to the other. So, she was thankful for his embrace that kept her immobile for the time being.

"Yes, well that's always the case. But, to answer you question properly, yes the reason I am happy has something to do with you."

Mai was already tired of the game. She had just got done going around in circles with the kids for a couple hours. Now she needed something more concrete and stable. "Just tell me. I am not sure I am really up to continuing this game right now."

Noll gave her an incredulous expression. "Giving up so easily?"

"The kids zapped my energy a bit. I think some of my giddiness leaked out and fizzled away for the time being. Tell me."

"What would you think about going out on our first official date this Saturday? Say around two in the afternoon?"

Mai arched an eyebrow at him. "That seems like a strange time for a date. I mean I could understand a lunch date or a dinner date. But a date in the afternoon?"

Noll sighed. "Just trust me. There is a reason for the time slot." He took a moment to wait for her response but noticed she was still confused by his planning. "I'm not going to tell you my plans. I want to keep it a surprise. But if you don't answer me soon I may grow concerned."

"What? Ooooh. I'm sorry Naru! Of course I will happily share the afternoon with you celebrating our first date."

"Good." With that he leaned down toward her so their lips could touch.

Immediately reading his actions she met him halfway. It was only a light brushing of the lips. But when he pulled back and her lips remained tingly she found herself craving more. If it hadn't been for their current location she might have pulled him back to her so she could continue exploring his mouth with her own. But they were still standing in the playroom in the orphanage, and it hardly seemed appropriate to make-out with her boyfriend here. Her boyfriend. The term didn't seem to completely fit who he was. But what other term could she use? Lover was too intimate and romantic partner was too clinical and impersonal. So until another word was invented to fit who Naru was to her heart she would have to settle for boyfriend.