Hm, probably shorter than I meant it to be, but I didn't want Lu interrogating Mai right away. Heheh...It WILL happen, though.

Just a few more hints about how well Naru and Mai know each other...I dunno, as much as I like insto-love (just add water!); I like it even better when it's something that grows, or is just THERE.

Mai watched in bemusement and more than a little shock as her stoic, cool-headed boss was subjected to the worst and best of all indignities: Parents. He was smiling, yes, obviously happy to see them. However, there was also a bit of pink warming his cheeks, and his eyes kept darting from the eager couple, to the door, and finally back to Mai.

His mother grabbed him into a hug and didn't seem to want to let go for the moment, while his father joined Naru in sneaking glances at Mai, who hadn't quite managed to lose the baffled expression she'd had when the Englishmen had entered and asked for Oliver Davis. Of course, the man--who was quite handsome in an older, dignified sort of way, Mai noticed--had corrected himself, changing the name to 'Kazuya Shibuya.'

"When did you get here? Why are you here? Is something wrong?" Naru had pulled himself out from the embarrassment and shock of having his parents show up at his workplace out of nowhere, it seemed.

"No, no, dear! Nothing's wrong at all. We just wanted to see you, and it's been months since you last came to visit." There was a note of reproach in Naru's mother's voice. Mai turned her head to hide a smirk.

"Why don't we sit down?" Reassured and beginning to relax, Naru motioned to the couch behind them.

Mai smiled, deciding to give them a few minutes alone. She began the preparations for tea, knowing that Naru would have already finished his cup from earlier. While the water was boiling, she grabbed a plate of sandwiches, liverwurst and cheese, of course, and another plate of cookies. She doubted that Naru's parents--the Oliver's, she reminded herself--had stopped to eat on their way to see their son.

There was a short, deep laugh from the seating area. Mai smiled to herself, ducking into her boss's office to pick up the dirty dishes. She just finished washing them when the kettle signaled that the tea was ready.

"Tea?" Mai smiled brightly, pleased to note the slight widening of her narcissistic boss's eyes as he remembered his manners. She set the tray down before turning expectantly to the young man.

"Ah, yes. Mom, Dad, this is our part-time worker Mai Taniyama. Mai, these are my parents, Martin and Luella Davis."

Mai bowed.

"It's very nice to meet you, Oliver-san, Oliver-sensei."

"Please, it would be too confusing if you called us that. I'm Lu and he's Martin." Lu smiled at the young woman in front of her. Madoka had said that Mai was friendly, but she hadn't mentioned how adorable the girl was! Immediately Lu began wondering what her grandchildren would look like.

"So, Mai--do you mind if I call you that? I can never get used to calling people -san and -chan--Madoka has told me a lot about you. You've worked with my son for a while, haven't you."

Nodding, Mai glanced at Naru from the corner of her eye. His mother seemed interested in talking to her, but did her stoic boss want some time alone with his family? Perhaps she should claim to have some filing to do.

Just as she was about to excuse herself, the door burst open with the cheerful enthusiasm that could only mean one person.

"Madoka!"

Lu hopped up from her seat with more energy than a forty-something year old woman had any right to have. Madoka was just as enthusiastic in greeting her English friend; the two women hugged, and beyond them Mai caught sight of an irritated Lin.

Happy to have something to do--not that Naru's mother made her uncomfortable or anything--Mai went to get two more cups of tea. She always filled the pot more than necessary, because on the off chance that they didn't have random guests stopping by, Naru, Madoka, and Lin would undoubtedly drink it.

Vaguely listening to the greetings going on behind her, Mai didn't notice Naru's approach. She jumped at his voice--his wonderful, horrible voice--being so close.

"Mai, you can go home. We're not going to get anything done with them here."

Mai looked at her boss leaning against the counter next to her. Nothing looked outwardly different, but there was a stubborn glint in his eye as he watched the older group. The young woman gulped; she knew that look. It was a look that had been directed at her more times than she could count. Naru's famous 'why are you being so stupid look.'

She felt a bit sorry for Martin and Lu but figured that, as his parents, they could handle Naru better than anyone living. (And here Mai thought of Gene, and missed him. Even though it hadn't taken her long to decide that no, she hadn't been in love with the ghost, she still counted him as a good friend. After all, he'd saved her just as many times as his living brother had.)

"Okay, Naru." Mai finished preparing the tea and ducked into the middle of the group to put the cups down.

"I'm going to be heading out now," she announced when Madoka glanced at her. The older woman nodded, and Mai grabbed her coat. Her hand was on the doorknob, when the door was suddenly opened from the other side.

"Mai-chan, my love! How cranky is Naru today?" Mai nearly groaned out loud as Houshou Takigawa practically bounced into the room.

Another look at Naru's face, and Mai grabbed her friend before he could do more than gape at the cheerful group occupying what he saw as his spot.

"Come on, Monk-san, you can buy me and ice cream, and I'll tell you all about my day."

The part-timer did her best to drag the not-exactly-small man back out the door. He tended to get excitable, particularly when strong, well-known psychics were involved. Or, in this case, the parents of a strong, well-known psychic, who he happened to adore trying to tease. If she let him, he'd be all over them for blackmail information on their cranky boss. And, strangely enough, Mai didn't really want Naru to have to deal with that, along with the surprise visit from his parents.

"Oh! Mai, you're leaving? I really wanted to talk to you some more." Lu pouted dramatically.

"So did I, actually. Do you think that you could have dinner with us one night this week?" Surprisingly, it was Martin Oliver who extended the invitation.

Mai was suspicious, of course. These were Naru's parents after all, and they were obviously friends with Madoka and Lin. But she couldn't say no to the pleading look in Lu's eyes, even if it meant ignoring the widened eyes of the young man she secretly loved.

"Um, sure, Naru has my number. We'll just…be going now. Bye!" Almost desperate to escape the scene of Naru's discomfort, Mai left, still dragging poor Takigawa with her.

The last thing she heard before the door closed behind her was Madoka and Lu squealing--actually squealing--over how cute she was.

Mai sighed. As interesting as it was, this really wasn't something she wanted to deal with right now.