Hah! I did it! Two updates in one day! Happy spring break for those of you enjoying it! FREEDOM!

The base was quiet when we returned from our tour. It was just the three of us until Takigawa and Ayako showed up. It was just a small crew since the it wasn't supposed to be a big job but the others were on-call if we needed them. I immediately set about making tea before Naru could get pissier than he already was. I understood that he didn't want to talk about his reasoning behind taking the case but I had to ask.

"Okay. So am I the only one who thinks this is a huge waste of time?" I demanded, hands on my hips. It's fair to say tact and I didn't get along. "Why'd you even take this job Naru?"

"Why indeed." Lin murmured into his teacup, dark eyes fixed on his young employer. Something about the way he said it made me think that it wasn't a question, more of a challenge—like he already knew the answer and wanted to see Naru defend it.

"While not as dangerous as our other work, research is a key part of Shibuya Psychic Research." He gave me a condescending look. "Not every case will be an adventure Mai, you should know that by now."

But I didn't know that because every case we'd taken since I was working there HAD been an adventure. There was always a clear threat, someone's livelihood or even life at stake. After all the work we did to help people and the legitimate research, taking on such a stupid frivolous case grated.

"I just don't get it Naru." I sighed heavily and slumped down in a nearby chair.

"We are a for-profit business. Without money there is no SPR. If you don't like it you can go home." He snapped back.

My eyes widened with hurt that quickly turned to anger. "That's what I was PLANNING on doing tonight anyway! I wanted to go on my first freaking date since you are an evil dictator who has committed genocide on my social life! But noooo, you HAD to take on this STUPID case and RUIN my freaking plans like the JERK you are!"

"Do you really think a DATE is more important than the work we do here?" His nose wrinkled in a faint sneer.

"Here as in at the office or here as in at a STUPID DANCE CLUB WITH A PERVERT GHOST? Because yeah, I DO think a date is more important than finding out what makes Mr. Ghosty get his jollies off!"

"Enough." Lin was looking at Naru with a trace of disapproval and I cut short my tirade, unwilling to have the same look turned on me. I was pretty sure a disapproving look from the Chinese man would turn my self-confidence to ash. "Mai. Will you set up the cameras?"

I wasn't dumb enough to miss the unsubtle dismissal and shot Naru a last defiant glare as I turned back to my desk, starting the menial task of inspecting each camera to make sure it was fully charged. I was almost done when my pocket buzzed and I started before I realized it was just my phone receiving a text.

I pulled it out and flipped it open, finding a message from Kaien and smiling faintly. He'd weaseled me into giving him my number for study sessions and school projects and had made sure I had his by texting me regularly.

The message was funny enough that I giggled and lost the last lingering traces of my anger.

How's the tyrant treating you?

I quickly typed back a response.

He's working me to the bone, literally.

I'd threaded my arm through the camera bags and was getting ready to leave base when his response buzzed back. I had my phone out but before I could check it a hand much larger and stronger than my own had plucked it from my grasp.

"You can text on your own time. Not mine." Naru stated cooly, pocketing the device.

I swallowed a growl and stomped out of the room, casting one last glare over my shoulder as I went.

That jerk! That jerky jerk-bag of jerkland! I didn't stop mentally berating Naru until I was at the first location we'd picked to set up a camera.

The cameras we used were smaller than they used to be, Lin being the little techie that he was upgraded faster than I thought possible. He had some kind of exchange agreement thing with our main supplier, when the new model came out we switched—provided that the equipment was still in excellent working condition.

I set up the camera as far in the corner as I could to ensure some hapless idiot (Eh heh heh) didn't bump into it and end up indentured servant to Kazuya Shibuya for the rest of their natural lives. A fate worse than death for sure.

I had almost set up all the cameras by the time I realized something was off. The air had gotten a few degrees colder. Not a noticeable drop at first but the temperature fell rapidly and I shivered, hurriedly finishing the last camera. It was almost intolerable as I turned and came face-to-chest with a man standing right behind me and yelped.

I let out a breath when I realized who it was, unmistakable cold eyes watched me with an intensity that made me feel blood rising to my cheeks.

"N-Naru?" I asked.

A smirk tipped his lips and I tried to not pass out from shock. A smile? Naru could smile? He smiled in my dreams but real Naru never smiled.

"Uh… so can I have my phone back?" I asked hesitantly, not sure how to handle this new development in the Naru-department.

He bent down and whispered in my ear and the blush that had flooded my cheeks drained.

The voice was unfamiliar as every hair on my body stood on end. "No phone means you can't call for help."