Ari had arrived when she said she would at exactly 11:30. She climbed the stairs and to the SPR building and entered it. She heard the bell ring and watched as Mai looked up and gave her one of her bright smiles. Ari nodded her head in return and walked over to the couch and sit across from Naru. She was almost surprised to see him but thought twice and figured it was Mai's doing. She had a way of making people do things, even if they didn't want to. Ari had been finding herself smiling quite a bit at Mai but figured the girl was just pleasing to be around and one couldn't help but smile when she did. She sat quietly waiting for Mai to bring her tea; of course she smiled at the girl when it was handed to her. She was almost tempted to say thank you. She shook her head and took a long sip of tea before looking at Naru seriously for a split second and about keeled over at the small but very dark spot on his neck she let out a sigh. "Mai." Ari called for the girl.

Mai walked over to her and stood wondering what Ari needed.

"Next time you and Naru decide to have a session in his office, try not to mark your territory in a place that is very visible." She watched Mai tilt her head in thought and saw said girl smirk when she glanced at Naru.

"I'll make sure to remember that. Though I'd tell him about it before he embarrasses himself in front of a client." Mai giggled. "Don't want to ruin the image that is SPR." She sang out and skipped off to her desk.

Ari sighed and looked to Naru shaking her head. "Naru." She said, her cold voice catching his attention. She cleared her throat. "I think that maybe next time you and Mai decide to have one of your early morning sessions you should be sure she doesn't mark her territory in such a visible way."

Naru raised an eyebrow at her words and she tried to indicate him what was on his neck. His face remained the same and Ari sighed at having to do something childish. She stretched and rubbed the side of her neck. She thought he got it when her brother interjected.

"What happened to your neck?" Gene asked.

Ari sighed when she saw Naru's eyes widen slightly before narrowing dangerously giving Mai a harsh glare. The girl had turned to look at her boyfriend and saw Naru's hand covering the spot. The first thing she did was giggle cutely and next she turned and continued her work.

Naru was pissed off when he finally found out Mai had left a little love bite on his neck. He got up from his seat slightly embarrassed. He grabbed Mai by the wrist and pulled her out of her seat and dragged her to his office. He slammed the door close behind him and glared at her hoping she'd get the message.

"What?" She asked feigning innocence.

"You know exactly what Miss Taniyama." He growled out. "You left a mark on me."

"You didn't seem to mind it too much earlier when we were in here." She said teasingly.

He let out a small groan. She was doing this on purpose just to make his life hell. "Mai, next time you decide to leave a mark, tell me so I can change my shirt." He walked to a tall cabinet and opened it. He pulled out a turtle neck sweater and put it on after taking off his tee shirt. "Please tell me next time. I mean what if we had an actual client walk in?"

"Then your reputation as an actual ghost hunter would be questioned."

He was surprised she actually said the right thing. "Exactly. I can't have that." He pulled her close to him. "I've got a future with you and I know you know that nothing in life is free. So if we're going to be a couple that also works together I can't have you leaving your marks in visible places."

Mai smirked. "So non-visible places will work?"

"Mai."

She giggled and kissed him. "Of course Naru. No more leaving visible marks on you." He walked to his desk and began looking for some paper work he'd been working on recently. She turned around and opened the door to his office. As she was about to take a step out she stopped and turned back around. "Hey Naru."

"Yes?" He asked looking to her.

Mai stared off into space for a moment but shook her head. "Never mind." She smiled at him. "I'll have fresh tea for you when you come back out." She left closing the door behind her. Mai was having the strangest feeling like something really bad was coming but she couldn't figure out what exactly it was. She entered the kitchenette and began making tea for her boss, Ari, Gene and herself. While waiting for the kettle to boil she began looking for where she had stashed a box of cookies. She had Gene always snacked on cookies when drinking tea while Naru and Ari discussed cases and such. She opened and closed a few cabinets, frowning when she couldn't find them. She sighed as the whistle to the kettle blew. She poured the water into the tea cups and waited for them to seep. As she did she pulled out a tray to put them on.

Mai suddenly remembered where the cookies where. She hid them above the stove so she could keep Gene from stealing them. She climbed up onto the counter and opened the cabinets smiling when she found the box. She put it in her mouth and closed the cabinet. As she was about to hop down to the floor an image flashed before her eyes making her lose her balance and fall. She sat up groaning as she had developed a headache. She slowly opened her eyes only to come see a man's face mere inches from hers. Her breath hitched as she stared at him. His eyes were dark and sinister; his face had scars on them, his mouth curved into a demonic smile. Mai's eyes widened when she saw him pick up one of the knives she had knocked down. He raised it and as it came down to stab her; she had closed her eyes in fear and screamed.

Naru and Ari's heads snapped to the kitchen when they head the scream. They both got up and quickly ran to the kitchenette. Gene was already there trying to get her to calm down.

"Mai!" He yelled at her gently shaking her. "Mai! Calm down!" She was screaming and freaking out about something none of them could see. "Mai!"

"Move." Ari commanded. She traded Gene places and knelt down and smacked Mai across the face. "Mai, calm down you are fine." She commanded.

Mai looked at her, tears in her eyes. Her hand went to her face and she leaned forward hugging Ari tightly and sobbing. "I-I don't understand." She sobbed out. "I-I don't –" She held onto Ari tighter and Ari sighed as all she could do was run her hand through the girl's hair in a comforting way. She wasn't used to dealing with someone who was so emotional. It was unusual for her. "And she's ruining my shirt." Ari looked to Naru indicating for him to take her.

Naru bent down picked Mai up and carried her to the main office and sat with her on the couch. She held onto Naru tightly as she continued to sob. After a few more minutes her sobbing subsided and she pulled away, tears still coming down.

"I-I'm so scared." She whispered. "I don't understand what happened."

"Tell me." Naru whispered pulling her close to him.

"I had just gotten the cookies I hid above the stove so Gene and I could snack like we always do, as I was about to get down something suddenly crossed my vision making me lose my balance and I fell on to the floor. As I was regaining my focus I looked up and there he was. I thought I was in a dream and I wanted to wake up but I couldn't. He was so terrifying and he had a knife and a raised and bring it down to me and as he did I screamed. I didn't understand why I saw it. I shouldn't see things like that unless I'm asleep and I knew I wasn't when I saw Ari and I felt her smack me. I saw something I only see in dreams while I was awake I don't understand. I shouldn't be able to." Mai began crying again her head hurting from trying to figure out why it happened.

Naru pulled her closer and held her against him rubbing her back trying to sooth her.

"Mai." She looked up and saw Lin. His face was serious as always but his eyes told her he was worried for her. "It seems your capabilities are developing a lot faster than I anticipated." She frowned at him confused.

Lin let out a soft sigh. "Last year when you came to me about your dreams taking on a physical affect on you, I was worried maybe it would get worse, luckily it hadn't but it seems they've developed in a way where you may be at more risk than before."

"What do you mean Lin?" Naru asked.

"What I mean is that her dreams have become visions and she may end up seeing things both in the daytime and when she sleeps. It basically means that whatever she dreams about may harm her while she's awake as well as while she sleeps."

Mai stared at him. "S-So if I have visions after today my life is more at risk?"

"Possibly I can't be exact but if you keep developing at this rate whatever you see that happens to attack you might very well be able to kill you in either plane."

Mai's grip tightened on Naru as she became more afraid. To think that she could die before she got to spend the rest of her life growing old with Naru it made her terrified. She didn't want to develop her abilities; she had learned to cope with just the dreams and recently learned to cope somewhat with her dreams taking some physical affect to her. She wasn't ready to start seeing things while she was awake and have her life become more in jeopardy. She already worried Naru enough with her inability to keep balance and keep out of danger, now when she wasn't in danger she could be? If that happened then no matter what happened she would be in jeopardy of losing her life or harming Naru or harming Naru by losing her life. She buried her face in her hands as she felt a headache coming on. It was too much. She didn't want to be a burden; she just wanted to be normal. Well as normal as she could be working for a company like SPR. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Lin.

"Don't think too much on it. I only said it was a possibility not something that is going to happen." He gave her a soft smile. "Right now you should focus on other things and work on getting used to the physical affect of your dreams." He removed his hand and walked away and into his office.

Mai looked in the direction the Chinese man had walked in before she turned to Naru. He didn't look happy; in fact he looked angry and worried at the same time. She knew he wanted to protect her always and now with her life in even more danger he won't always be able to protect her and since Gene wasn't her dream guide there was no capping her abilities development. She sighed softly before suddenly laying against Naru and letting out a loud sigh. She smiled when she felt him wrap his arm around her.

"I take it we should discuss this case later?" Ari asked as she gathered the files. Naru nodded his head.

"No, you can." Mai sat up. "Don't put off a case on my behalf."

"Mai are you sure?" Naru asked looking at her.

She looked at him and gave him a soft smile. "I'm sure. This is important, it's work." She kissed his cheek. "I'll go make some fresh tea since the ones I did make are cold by now." She stood from her seat and headed to the kitchen.

"I'm going with her." Gene said as he stood and followed Mai into the kitchen.

"Then let's get started." Ari sat back down.

Mai waited for the water to boil and began preparing new cups. She cleaned the old ones and Gene rinsed them off before drying them and putting them away.

"Are you sure you're okay Mai?"

"Yea, I think I was just freaking out because it looked so real." She turned off the water and dried her hands. "I mean my dreams always felt real and the pain felt real but I always woke up and always knew it was just a dream. Naru was always there to comfort me and I always felt safe. Now it seems like I may never be safe."

"Mai, you'll be fine. Remember what Lin said he's not sure of it. He doesn't know if it'll ever happen he was just letting you know just in case so you're prepared."

Mai nodded her head. "I know I'm just scared I'm not going to be able to do the things I want to do."

"You will Mai, I promise." He gave her a hug then picked up the kettle when it began to whistle and poured water into the tea cups. "Now where are those cookies you always have for us?" He asked smiling at her.

Mai smiled and picked up the box off the counter. "Shall I put them on a plate?"

"No point in dirtying more dishes than necessary. You and I both know that by the time they're done talking we'll have eaten the box and have drunk six to seven cups of tea."

Mai giggled. "True." After a moment longer Mai picked up the tea cups and placed them onto the tray and handed it to Gene. "You are not carrying the box of cookies. I know you'll start eating them as soon as I'm distracted.

Gene laughed a little and carried the tea out to the main office. Mai served Naru and Ari their tea and she and Gene sat together on small couch giggling and eating cookies.

Ari and Naru finished their discussion six cups of tea later, which was an hour in human time. Ari was gathering the files and handed Naru a folder that had the information he requested.

"Mai."

Mai looked to her boss smiling. "Yes?"

"I need you to call every one. Make sure Yasuhara is the first on your list. He's got quite a bit of research to do."

"Right." She stood up and headed to the phone. "Yasuhara." She picked up the phone then remembered he wasn't going to be available for the week. "Ah Naru."

"Yes, Mai?"

"You do remember Yasuhara is gone for the week right?"

"Does he have a cell phone?"

"Of course! He never goes anywhere without it." She said smiling.

"Call it."

"Right." She sighed and dialed Yasuhara's number.

"Mai, I do recall telling you I'm busy."

"I know, I know, but Naru asked me to call and he said it's really important."

"No he didn't"

Mai sighed. "No he didn't. He wanted me to tell you you've got a lot of research to do and that he's going to have me e-mail it all to you here in the next hour or so."

"I figured just as much. Tell him he owes me a week's worth of pay if he keeps bothering me during my vacation."

"Will do. I'll send the information after I finish my calls."

"Later Mai-chan."

"Later Yasu." Mai hung up and then began calling everyone else. She finished thirty minutes later and headed to the kitchen to get fresh tea for Naru. He would not be happy with the results. She carefully carried the cup to his office waving to Gene and Ari as they left, then knocked on his door. When he gave the go ahead she opened the door and walked to his desk and set the tea down. She then put her hands behind her back fidgeting a bit. "Naru, I've called everyone." He looked to her and raised an eyebrow wanting her to go on. "And Masako is busy still, Ayako is busy at the hospital and doesn't know when she'll be free, Monk has a few gigs this week and well John says he should be able to make it if he leaves from where he is now, which is in Toyama prefecture."

Naru sighed. "Very well." He massaged his head. Only five of them would be there maybe six. Looks like this case would get interesting. "We leave in a tomorrow morning by 6."

Mai nodded her head planning to call John back and when she got done. "I'll go call John and inform him. Should I let Gene and Ari know as well?"

"Yes, do that." He got back to his work.

Mai left his office and headed out to the main office and called John and then the twins. John apologized to her and said that he may not be able to make it after all since things weren't going as planned and he wouldn't be able to be there on time. Mai tried to suggest meeting at the place but she realized she didn't have the address and apologized profusely. Ari had answered the phone so the conversation between them was short and concise. She signed and sat in her chair looking at the ceiling. She placed a pencil on the tip of her nose and began to balance it. "Why do I have the strangest feeling something really bad is going to happen soon?" she managed to balance the pencil and rested her hands on her abdomen. "Something is going to happen and it's going to be on this case but what?" Mai sighed and sat there for a moment longer before going to make herself a cup of tea. She stood leaning against a counter sipping her tea as she waited for the kettle to boil so Naru would have fresh tea. She made a mental note to go to the store tonight and pick Naru some more tea up.

Naru sat in his office going over the files Ari gave him when he became distracted by an e-mail from his mother. He almost groaned when he read it. She was going on about him and Mai visiting England for a while so she could get to know her future daughter-in-law better. He responded to it telling her they'd visit late and he was busy. He quit denying they were going to get married anytime soon since she always replied they had to marry so she could live to see her grandchildren. He let out a sigh and tried to get back to work but let his mind wander. "I wonder if I should ask her to move in with me. I'm pretty sure that's the next logical step in a relationship, and we've been dating for almost two years now. Isn't moving in together a sign that a guy is ready for commitment?" He nodded his head and made his decision. He would ask her. There was a knock on his door and he told whomever it was to come in. The door opened and Mai entered carrying a fresh cup of tea. He let a small smile grace his lips as he watched her carry the cup to him.

Mai set the cup down and as soon as she did he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his lap where he began kissing and nipping at her neck. "Mai." He whispered out her name sending shivers up and down her spine. She turned to him and began kissing him. The kissed passionately for a few moments before it became a lustful kiss and their hands were wandering over each other's bodies. Shirts came off seconds later and their bare chests pressed against each other as they continued kissing passionately. Mai shivered as his fingertips ran down her bare back and let out a soft moan when his hands grabbed her bottom pushing her forward to deepen the kiss. Mai pressed closer before she removed her lips from his and began to work on his neck again this time the opposite side. He let out a small groan before his grip on her hips tightened. She moved her lips lower to the junction between his neck and shoulder; there she ran her tongue along it before giving it a gentle bite. She couldn't help but smirk as his head rested on her shoulder as her tried to make sure his moan was quiet.

She was doing simple yet pleasurable things to him and he was starting to want more than just her lips on him. He slid his hand down her thigh and began to massage her thigh slowly sliding upwards and under her skirt to his goal making her gasp. "N-Naru." She whispered. Mai pressed her lips to his as the waves of pleasure hit her. She wrapped her arms around him a few moments later pressing her lips firmly onto his to prevent herself from moaning too loudly. Another moment passed and she removed her lips from his smirking at him. She went back to his neck and trailed kisses down it and along his shoulder and back, stopping at where his neck and shoulder connected to give it a tender bite. She listened to him moan as she continued licking and biting it. Her hands traveled down along his chest, between her legs and to his belt. She undid that as well as his pants and slid her hand in making him grab onto her hips and let out a moan.

It was almost 6 o'clock and Mai had just finished the rest of her work for the evening when Naru came out. She saw him walk toward her and stop to lean against the couch and watch her pack up her things.

"Mai."

"Yes?" She glanced at him as she continued putting things back in the order she had them in.

"Would you like to move in with me?"

She stopped what she was doing and looked at him completely surprised. "You want me to move in with you?" She had to ask, thinking her ears were failing her again, like they did when he confessed his feelings to her.

He nodded. "It is the next logical step a couple takes in their relationship."

Mai felt all her hope die away at that one sentence. "The next logical step." She repeated that part of the sentence. She sighed and finished organizing her things. "Of course he would say something like that." She put a folder in a tray then looked at him. "I've got to get going Naru, I need to pick up some tea for you tonight before the store closes and then get home, eat dinner and pack for tomorrow." She pressed the voicemail button on her phone so any calls would go straight to voicemail. "I'll see you tomorrow." She gave him a quick kiss on the lips and walked out of the office.

Naru stood there utterly confused. She had avoided the question completely. She didn't blush splutter or anything like she normally did. "Did I say something wrong?" He shook his head as he thought a moment. He didn't recall saying anything wrong so why would she just ignore him? He walked to his office and sat at his desk unable to work as his mind kept wondering why she would just blow him off.

Yay! Chapter 10 is done! Now on to the case! Don't worry I'm going to bring up some things about why Ari and Gene are back in this case, well only a little bit. I want to drag out the mystery a little longer before I just had it to you on a silver platter… or do you prefer gold?

Anyways I'll see you in chapter 11 I hope you've enjoyed Bookstore 2 thus far and continue to read and also give me some reviews. I really would like to know what readers think of this story. Thanks and I'll see you in the next chapter *waves*