Ayako walked into their shared bedroom and grinned at the half covered humanoid shaped lump taking up 90% of the bed now. She pretended to be irate when she faux shouted, "You are such a bed hog!"

It didn't wake him up though. If she were to be honest with herself she would have to admit that it never did. But, of course, there were several other more romantic ways she could have woke him up that had definitely been successful in the past. Those particular explorations would lead them to spending more time tangled with each other between the sheets. Unfortunately she didn't want to miss the opportunity to show him the visual she passed by on her way to the elevator. "Okay less romantic but sure fired way..." She softly muttered as she considered other options.

Hosho Takigawa was not exceptionally ticklish, or so he tried to claim. It was more the fact that unless you directly zeroed in on one of those ticklish spots he would outwardly appear to be unfazed. Ayako went after the easiest to reach spot; the soles of his feet. Although, if he had been on his back she would have never attempted it. If he had been on his back his legs would have flailed and potentially inflicted her injury. But also she would have been easily able to reach the spot at the lowest part of his ribcage just above where the fine details of his abs were mapped out on his body.

The moment her long fingernail of her index finger traced the center part of the sole of his foot he skyrocketed out of bed. He looked around confused for a few seconds before turning to glare at her. The expression had the shrine maiden giggling because his shoulder length hair was in complete disarray and covered half of his face. "Get out of bed and manage that mane of hair of yours. I have something to show you."

It was only when she was at the doorway that she spotted Mai's discarded bra, and the couple both interpreted the visual as more than just cute cuddling on the couch of the recreation room.

Hosho pulled Mai from where she was resting fully against Naru's chest. He immediately passed off his sister to Ayako. Then he pulled Naru from his own lounging position and demanded an explanation by yelling at him at the top of his lungs. "WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE?!"

Ayako noticed Mai cringe and attempt to cover her ears. Was the scenario worse than it appeared? "Mai, do you have a hangover? Naru, did you get HER DRUNK?" Ayako's questioning started out mild enough but her anger infused the last words she uttered. She quietly apologized to Mai when she whimpered from her outburst.

Noll blinked at the outburst. He felt as if he were being accused of some crime. He blinked again and realized that it was more factual that Mai's family was becoming protective of her and wanted to know why they found them sleeping together in the recreation room. "I promise it is really all quite innocent."

He immediately began to recount the details of their date to the two that hadn't been there. They both winced at the copious amounts of champagne Mai must have drank when he hadn't been focusing on the disappearing liquid courage.

He was slightly nervous about telling them what happened after they got back to her apartment. It still was quite innocent, but there were moments he probably should have reacted differently than he had. Will I end up getting a lecture from these two family members? He wasn't sure but he definitely hoped the two understood.

"What kind of movie do you want to watch, Naru?" Mai asked as she halfway stumbled into her apartment to ransack her movie collection.

Noll couldn't help but think to himself that he really didn't want to watch something boring that felt like a waste of time, but he knew if he said something like that it would only get him into trouble. So he changed up the phrasing. "I wouldn't mind something with some action in it, but it has to have a good storyline also."

Mai wrinkled her nose. She didn't really have too much in the way of outright 'action' per say. She scanned over the bookshelf she had that was dedicated to her movie collection. She had an 'aha!' moment when she discovered something she hoped would be perfect for their movie session. "Would you believe me if I told you I had a movie that had action, drama, fantasy, comedy, and romance all rolled into one?"

Noll found himself baffled. Did such a movie truly exist? "I guess I have to see said movie for myself."

Mai smiled to herself. "Kay, we will watch that one. Just give me a few minutes first."

Noll became perhaps even more perplexed when Mai disappeared into her bedroom and shut the door behind her. He heard scurrying about, a muted 'oomph' sound, and what sounded like something made of wood scraping against something else. "Mai, what are you doing?"

"I'll be out in just a minute. Just hold your horses!" He heard her snicker as if she had just heard someone tell a joke that had taken her completely by surprise.

Noll frowned. His hands twitched over the doorknob as he contemplated just barging in to check on what she was doing. He instead stopped to listen more carefully and when he could hear her still shuffling around he merely took a couple steps back.

Only a minute later she came out dressed in what had to be what she wore to bed. It was a long mint green colored button up pajama top with a matching pair of 'barely there' shorts. He could only see about an inch or two of the fabric of the shorts displayed because of the long length of the top. The shorts left a good deal of bare sculpted legs for his immediate perusal. He really shouldn't be ogling her when she was under the influence of alcohol. So, he skirted his eyes away from her legs and back up her body. She did a poor job of buttoning up the top. She had mismatched the button holes and it left a spot gaping an inch below her breasts. He gulped nervously and clenched his hands tightly. He knew she wasn't trying to tempt him on purpose, but she was achieving doing so regardless.

"Lemme just brush my teeth, and then we will go watch the movie." She smiled brightly at him.

He mentally groaned. Where was his brother to play his conscience right now? He should be telepathically telling him to just tell her goodnight. Was their twin radio station on the fritz?

A few minutes later they were both seated side by side on the couch. The movie opened to a boy playing a video game while lounging in bed. The character's mother coming in to check on him. Apparently the boy was sick. "You said this had action in it?" Noll's arched at her asking in disbelief.

"Plus drama, fantasy, romance, and comedy. Trust me. Just watch it." Mai mentally groaned hoping he would give the movie a chance. It really was one of her favorites even if it had been released before she was born.

It was much further in the movie when Naru had another outburst. "You mean to tell me she is going to marry this Prince Humperdink even though she can't be sure her Wesley is actually dead!?!" He grumbled aloud. "Seems rather fickle if you ask me."

"Trust me. That fact in particular is addressed." Mai shifted uncomfortably. She was leaning fully against Naru but she was feeling constrained. "Damn, why did I forget to take *that* off!?" She pulled her arms into the sleeves of her shirt and with deft fingers quickly removed the garment that was causing her grief. Her mind still fuzzy from the alcohol consumed she didn't care where said garment ended up and just tossed it on the floor.

Noll's eyes widened as he quickly took in what it was she had done. Her bra. She had removed her bra. It was a feminine pale pink and... he gulped; it had a front closure. He tried to focus back on the movie but mentally he was addressing a visual of fighting to take off the garment himself. In his mind he wouldn't struggle with the garment. He would manage to unclasp the garment just as easily as she had. He mentally groaned and stifled as much of the miniature daydream as possible. With her here right beside him and at the least somewhat tipsy at the most functionally inebriated, he really needed to control his hormones so he could keep his body in check.

"Naru, can we lay down? I'm getting a bit tired."

'No, no we really shouldn't.' He thought to himself. But his body reacted before consulting his brain as he achieved a more reclining position on the couch. Then in the next moment she was molding her body to his.

He cleared his throat and focused back on the movie. Wait did he miss something? Last thing he knew Buttercup was being kidnapped and now some man in black was following them up some cliff. "Why is that guy chasing them?"

"Gosh, you're impatient. Just watch the movie." She leaned back and rolled her eyes at him before resettling against his chest.

"Sorry, that time I thought I had missed something." Noll explained. For some reason he felt he had to redeem himself or at least clarify his intention for questioning.

On screen the youngest kidnapper was explaining a story of his past. How he got the matching scars on his cheeks. How since receiving said scars he planned on taking out the man who gave him them. " 'I will go up to the six fingered man and say, "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."' "

Noll's eyes widened because while he had never seen the movie before he knew of that line. He had always meant to watch 'The Princess Bride' if only because of it being a classic. He just had never gotten around to it. A few moments later Noll saw the first action scene, and while it took some time to get to this point, he had to admit that it was well done. But then again he had always been partial to swordplay over gunfights in any story.

He turned to Mai to thank her for introducing him to the movie but stopped when he looked her in the face. She must have finally got comfortable because she was now sleeping just below his collarbone. It took some maneuvering but Noll managed to hunch over just enough to kiss her forehead before fully laying back down. He didn't want to disturb her. He brushed a couple stray hairs from her face and went to focus back on the movie.

"I promise that's all that happened." Noll shifted his eyes between the three people standing in front of him. He might have felt he had to explain himself to Hosho and Ayako mostly, simply because of their defensive stances, but he also wanted Mai to know what happened just in case for some reason she had blacked out part of the night. He hoped that wasn't the case but he could only guess at the amount of champagne she had actually consumed. The emptiness of the bottles being his only true evidence.

"You probably should have went home the minute she changed her clothes." Hosho muttered.

"Well as they say 'hindsight is 20/20.'" Noll sighed. "I realize that's not the greatest of explanations for my actions. I just didn't want the night to end." When he vocalized the last statement he made sure to look directly into Mai's eyes. Those soulful cinnamon colored eyes immediately crinkled at the corners as she was immediately smiling back at him. Well at least she isn't mad at me.

"I should probably head home now though. Lin and Gene are probably waiting to interrogate me." He looked down at Mai. "Can I walk you back to your door?"

Mai blushed and Noll had to question what triggered her blush this time. His questioning was immediately answered when she attempted to rush over and grab her bra as quickly as possible. "Sure."

A part of him wished the walk would have taken longer but they were only a few doors down from her room so it took only a few seconds. "I still don't want our first date to end but I really do need to get home." He audibly groaned.

"You could always come back for supper tonight."

His lip curled up on one side. "As you wish."

Mai immediately snorted in reaction which had prompted Naru to lightly chuckle in response. Once they calmed down Mai stood on her tiptoes. "So you enjoyed the movie?"

Noll leaned down toward her. "I did. We will have to watch it again sometime when you aren't quite so tired." He cupped her cheek gently. The two smiled at each other just before their lips pulled toward each other, seemingly on their own. Their lips molding against each other seamlessly in a sweet goodnight/end of the first date kiss. Once they pulled away from each other Noll found himself smiling. "I should go so I can get questioned once again."

Mai smiled. "'Kay, I will see you later then."

Noll nodded and waited until the door was shut a few seconds before he turned to head to the elevator. If he hadn't waited those few seconds he probably wouldn't have seen the state his brother was in as he came around the corner at the end of the hallway. Everything about his brother was rumpled. His hair, shirt, pants. Noll hadn't seen a mirror himself but if he were to hazard a guess he would say that Gene was far more rumpled than him. "Looks like I am not the only one that needs to explain what happened last night."

'What happened last night is between me and Atsuko.' Gene hoped that would be the end of the conversation but of course it wasn't.

So, good news, I think I am going to go back to updating twice a month.  If for some reason I once again fall behind on my chapters I will let you all know ahead of time.  So the next update will be June 21st.