I don't own the "... for Dummies" book series and I claim no ownership to them.

This fanfic is not supposed to be historically correct in any way. I dropped History last year anyway.

Oh yeah, italics are thoughts.

Ok, I know, Naru is a bit OOC. And so is Mai, a little. I'm sure you'll all live. Happily ever after.

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Chapter Two - Bitter Tea

Naru set the exact amount on the counter before him. The shop assistant looked relieved and thanked him. He mustn't have much change left, with all the Christmas shoppers, mused Naru. Ironic, really, that he was one of them.

He looked down at his purchases sitting before him and chuckled silently. 'Exorcism for Dummies'? He was sure Ayako-san was going to appreciate that. He scanned the small, neat pile of presents, checking he had all he intended to buy from this shop. Madoko-san, yes, Lin, yes, Mai, yes... he was satisfied that he had chosen well.

While the shop assistant was scurrying around, looking for an extra paper bag to put the purchased presents in, Naru glanced around the shop, but something to his right caught his gaze. It was a young woman with short brown hair looking in dreamily, through the shop window at the display. Her nose was pressed firmly to the glass, and she was attracting a bit of attention, as it appeared that she had been there for a while, at least. Just as he had thought that, Mai looked down, her face burning a brilliant red. Quite attractive, really. The moment the thought entered his mind, he dismissed it, muttering,

"I am her boss and she is my assistant, nothing more, nothing less. I don't have an attraction towards her. Madoko-san is definitely getting to me."

Naru sighed and turned back to the shop assistant, who had long since found a paper bag and was now watching him with curiosity. Grunting his thanks, Naru picked up his bag of goodies, marched curtly to the mahogany door of the shop, and paused only as he looked to his left, to find Mai had already left. A fleeting pang of disappointment shot across his chest, which he put down to the fact that now he couldn't ask her to make his tea for him. Instead, to make up for this loss, he decided he would treat himself to cup of tea in one of the nearby coffee shops.

He had ordered black tea, no milk, just how he liked it. Taking a few slow sips from the dark brown liquid, he shuddered as a bitter taste spread across his tongue. Ugh! What is this? He took another longer sip, tasting that it was tea, just... disgusting... He sighed audibly, thinking that this was muck, compared to his Mai's tea. They should employ Mai. They might get more customers. Then again, that would mean giving up his Mai to some unknown stranger, where some perv would start flirting with her and kidnap her when she was smitten by his charm, and he'd probably try something. And he wouldn't allow that. He was Mai's employer, after all. It was his duty to look after those he has personally employed. He was like a king who had to take care of all his loyal subjects.

For the quality of the tea, the coffee shop was surprisingly full of people. Maybe the standard of the rest of the menu was better than their tea. Which wasn't difficult to achieve.

Bored, he stirred his tea with the spoon that had been given to him, and observed the people. He watched an elderly couple hold hands and have a long discussion over some chocolate cake, a mother out with her children, trying to wipe some spilt orange juice off her young daughter's once-sparklingly white blouse. A young couple just behind Naru were sitting very closely together and he knew exactly what they were up to, without needing to turn round. Seeing all these people, he felt strangely... sad. As if he was missing something. Something that these people all had, but he didn't. Giving them all a second glance over, he decided he couldn't figure out what it was, and concluded, that he must miss having a mysterious and intriguing new case to solve. Holidays were so boring, but Mai had begged for hours and hours, and eventually Lin got so annoyed that he told Naru to just "give the girl the holiday!". Spoilt, little so-and-so.

Suddenly Naru noticed someone he hadn't before. It was Mai, sitting on her own in the far corner of the coffee shop. She must have just arrived, he supposed. At that moment, Mai looked up and they made eye contact. She gave a nervous, unsure smile, but got up and moved towards Naru's table.

"Hi, Naru-chan!" she said cheerfully, but uncertainly. After all, the last the last time they had spoken was when Mai had discovered who he really was, and that he had lied to her about it. He felt a tingling of regret begin in his chest that he dismissed quickly. He knew that she had tried not think about it and to continue as normal, and so he would too.

"Hello, Mai," he replied calmly, moving his top hat to the other side, making room. Mai sat down opposite him, as the waiter came over and asked what the "young lady wishes to order". Mai ordered a wild berry tea and short bread, and the waiter bowed, and disappeared into the kitchen.

"So...are you out Christmas shopping, then, Naru-chan?" she asked, nodding at the paper bags leaning against the leg of Naru's chair.

"Yes. I have everything now."

"Oh! Is there something for me?"

"Why would I tell you?"

That was an unnecessary comment, there. You could have said that more nicely.

Shut up.

"Hmmm... you're right. It's more fun that way," Mai nodded, "so... what did you get the others, then?"

"Presents. Knowing you, if I told you, you would probably go and tell them. You have a habit saying your thoughts aloud."

Oh smoooooth, real clever, that. What a great way to get someone to go out with you. Let's just tell her that she has ears the size of an elephant's.

What? Go out with her? I'm her boss. Why am I talking to myself?I have finally gone mad.

A frown must have crossed his face, because Mai picked up on it immediately.

"Is something wrong? You look... worried." Her expression became serious.

"It's nothing you could do anything about. Just leave it." Naru snapped at her, an awkward silence ensuing.

Wonderful. Look, you've hurt her feelings, idiot.

The conversation had been going awkwardly, especially as there where so many unspoken words between them, and a long discussion was sorely needed, after all that had been discovered about Naru and his past.

"...I'm sorry. I had better go... I'm very busy and I have a lot of presents still to buy." Mai took the last gulp of her tea, and rose to leave.

Regretting immediately that he had been so short to her and impolite, he decided he didn't want his tea any more, and left the coffee shop shortly after Mai had, noticing that the voice in his mind had quietened. The voice had been right, however, he shouldn't have been so horrible to Mai. He knew this, but just didn't want to admit it. He was going to see her at Christmas Eve, anyway, for the SPR Christmas dinner that Bou-san and Lin had organised.

He turned back one last time to note the name of the coffee shop. Hewon't be going there again.

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