Argh. I wanted to update sooner, but my computer was being moody and kept crashing. But, please enjoy!

I hereby apologise for any images that may be implanted in your head from this point on wards. But it's not true.

Review please!

Oh yeah, and I know that I make spelling mistakes, but please excuse me for them!, I'm going to correct them now and replace the chappie, but if I miss any out...My English teacher would be so disappointed.

Chapter is dedicated to Azamiko, for the help of her ideas. Of course the outcome of them will come in future chappies!!

And special thanks to Kikijio, who with me came up with the idea about...we'll call it 'chocolate' for now...on the bus. Read to find out more! And review!

Well, of Course he Doesn't Swing that Way...

Naru was silent for a moment, a very long moment for Mai, but then he sighed and stepped to the side.

"Come in then.

Mai, feeling triumphant yet slightly fazzled, (I think I just made that word up…) by her body's odd reaction stepped inside. Naru shut the door behind her, leaving Mai some time to look around her and breathe in awe.

It was the most beautiful house she had ever seen. The hallway alone was light and spacious, with a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The stairs off to the right were carpeted in rich deep red carpet, and there was a giant mirror hanging on the wall. Naru was watching Mai survey the house, a small smile tilting him lips. He crossed his arms.

"Are you finished?" Mai, who had by now turned a full circle, her mouth slightly agape turned back to Naru and blushed a tiny bit but nodded defiantly. Naru turned and walked further down the hall, and then went into the second doorway. Mai followed, still looking around her as she did so.

The room they had just entered was just as elegantly furnished. In the centre was a large mahogany desk, with a very modern laptop lying on it. Mai could tell that whoever had decorated these rooms had excellent taste. Naru sat behind the desk, and indicated for Mai to sit down opposite him. Mai made a small noise of surprise as she sank right into the chair and its lush cushions. She would be more comfortable sleeping in this chair than in her own bed.

"The advert was by Oliver Davis, because that's my real name." Mai's head snapped up in surprise. She hadn't expected Naru to actually tell her. "Kazuya Shibuya is a name I made up so that I could go to school without any troubles."

Troubles? At the obviously confused look on Mai's face, Naru sighed.

"Basically, my parents both died in a car crash when I was two. I grew up with my brother in an orphanage. Then my brother got adopted by a family, and I lost all contact with him, and I can't find out why. Then I met Lin and we started to work together to find him. Then I caught wind of a rumour that he was living in this area, so I moved and joined the local school." He leant back in his chair. Mai was silent, staring down at her hands which were resting on her lap.

There was a silence, one of those silences where nobody has anything to say, yet know that if they say something it will be the wrong thing. Finally Mai looked up, and Naru was startled to see her eyes were glittering with tears.

"Do you remember your parents at all?" She asked quietly, and then looked back down, as two tears dropped onto her skirt.

Naru took a minute to answer, because he had to compose his face into the usual cool mask. (I can't describe it because it Naru could never be described in that way.)

"Of course not. I was only two." Mai nodded, but quickly rubbed her tears away and turned back to Naru.

He was slightly expectant of a life story in return- perhaps she would tell him…But she seemed to realise what he was waiting for and instead changed into a happy mood again.

"So, can I still work here then?" Naru started, but then remembered. That's right. She came here for a job.

"Yes. You'll be doing cleaning, filing, and a number of other odd jobs. And making tea. You can come every evening from five. And if you can't manage your homework around that, then that's your problem." Mai scowled.

"That won't be a problem," she sniffed.

"Good. Kitchen's third room on the left. Make me some tea." Mai heaved herself out of the comfortable chair and dragged her feet reluctantly.

"Mai?" She turned around slowly.

"Yeah?"

"Please, don't tell anyone else what I told you. I'd rather they didn't know just yet." Mai frowned but nodded, noting the expression on his face. It almost looked vulnerable, and it made Mai remember that he was the same age as her after all, despite his mature looks and attitude.

"Sure."

---

What was it about her that had made him need to compose himself?

Oh yeah. Now he remembered. On his first day, he had briefly looked at her, to acknowledge her features. But perhaps he had done her an injustice. It had taken for her to cry for him to notice her eyes.

But Naru forced that out of his mind. There was not a chance in hell that some girl was going to distract him from his purpose of being there.

But why was she crying? Was his life story that sad? But Masako was probably right about her being overly compassionate. But to make her cry?

Or was it more than that?

---

What had Naru meant when he had talked about a 'rumour of his brothers whereabouts? Why hadn't his brother contacted him?

When he had opened the door, why had she suddenly changed? Why had she blushed like that? Hadn't she just assumed that she was different to all those other girls who were in love with Naru?

Was she?

And where the hell were the teabags?

That Saturday.

Dun dun dun...

Ayako Matsuzaki was not going to back down.

Not when she wanted to wipe that smirk off Takigawa's face.

She had turned up, at 7:00 prompt.

She had brought a boy.

Friend.

That made him a boyfriend. Apparently.

Ayako brought her brand new red leather jacked closer to her arms. A chilling wind was whipping around her, but she wasn't allowed to go inside the small restaurant until her opposition came. Her date was wrapped warmly in a duffel coat, and was standing three feet away from her, a distance which Ayako had harshly demanded. But Date didn't seem to mind. He was happy to make other people happy. Ayako was now tapping her black shoe impatiently. Where the hell was he?

An approaching figure could suddenly be seen, but it was way to tall for it to be Takigawa, and there was only one of them. It was Mai. She waved and smiled brightly at Ayako.

"I've come to be judge and to make sure nobody fights! And because I just couldn't miss this!" Then she noticed Ayako's date. A small smile spread across her face, and then rapidly got wider. A small chuckle escaped her lips, but that was just the beginning.

Five minutes later, Mai was still bent over, clutching her stomach as she roared with laughter. Pigeons were scared of the noise and hurriedly flew off. Small animals turned in the opposite direction. Date laughed nervously.

A car suddenly drew up alongside them, Mai managed to control her seizure to a minor clearing of the throat. The door of the car opened, and Takigawa stepped out. On the other side…

If it was possible, time itself had stood still.

Takigawa had held his side of the bet alright.

Everybody was starting at everybody else, and a dust ball swept across the road.

Ayako had turned excessively red, and then clapped John on the back.

"Escort me in then!" He hurriedly did so.

Mai suddenly realised that she was an idiot, and slapped her head. Takigawa was looking triumphant but slightly embarrassed. His 'date'…

Naru's mind had already left the country.

There was an awkward silence at the table for five. Mai couldn't stop staring at the person, who had neither said anything nor looked at anyone.

"So" began Takigawa. "Does this mean I win my side of the bet?"

Naru spluttered on his drink, but remained composed.

"No way! You tricked Naru into going out with you! Right? Please? TELL ME IT ISN'T TRUE!" Mai was banging her head on the table. John was sipping his orange juice.

"It wasn't a trick!" protested Takigawa. "This is one hundred percent genuine!"

"Naru…?" Asked Mai faintly.

Silence.

"NO WAY!" screamed Ayako, laughing. The waitress came to tell them to lower the noise, but then saw Naru, and added sweetly, "But of course we won't mind!" Naru's face was blank. There was no life left there.

Mai had just understood her feelings.

It had taken Naru to be gay for her to actually comprehend the fact that she liked him.

Damn. She liked him. Well, this was going to be interesting. Takigawa laughed.

"So Ayako, what methods of torture did you use to make John go with you!"

"How dare you!" huffed Ayako. "For your information, none!"

"Just a simple blackmail instead," filled in Mai.

"Maybe…" Ayako was going to continue, but then the waitress came with their pizzas and she quietened down. The waitress served Naru first, which made it the most awkward for her to get to the others. Once she had finished, looking only at Naru, she flicked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Is there anything else I can get you?" Mai narrowed her eyes at the girl, but she was ignored.

"No thank you," Takigawa squinted at the nameplate "Kirsten…" The girl left unsatisfied and went back to the kitchens to gossip with the others.

Everybody had given up on waiting for Naru to even acknowledge their existence. Mai dug in straight away, in the hope that food would take the annoying nagging pain inside her that told her she was an idiot. And Takigawa was paying for her. Ayako continued the conversation.

"As I was saying, Naru couldn't possibly be gay! Right?" Mai looked at him hopefully.

Silence.

"Or not..." she admitted reluctantly.

"So I win the money?" cried Takigawa.

"No! You have to prove that he is actually here because you asked him out on a date. Go on."

"Wait!" cried John. Everyone, (Everyone no longer includes Naru) looked at him.

"What did you say to Naru first to make him come?" Takigawa hesitated., and John picked up his orange juice glass again.

"I..had to...come out..."

Ayako started choking on her piece of pizza. Nobody bothered to help her with it. Mai dropped her fork and it landed with a clatter. John knocked his glass over by accident, but nobody tried to stop the orange juice spreading around the table and onto the floor.

Another waitress who had heard of Kirsten's bad luck with the 'hot guy' was walking toward them with the hope of a better chance. But when she reached the table, it was completely...odd. A small girl with short hair was having trouble closing her mouth. A young boy with blonde hair and blue eyes had a hand deep in orange juice and was blinking ferociously. An old girl with reddish brown hair was slowly leaning closer to the table. A tall guy with long hair was struggling not to laugh, and the handsome guy with dark hair... was he unconscious with his eyes open?

Betty decided to walk away again. Quickly.

It was Mai who recovered first.

"Boy-San, you didn't really..."

"Of course not!" And he began to howl with laughter.

"The look on your face! HA HA HA-"

Whack.

"When will you stop that!" whimpered Takigawa. Ayako ignored him.

"How dare you pretend to be gay! What was I supposed to think?!" There was a silence, (yes, I like my silences.)

"Ayako," began Mai. "Why do you seem so flustered about it?" She suddenly gasped a minuted later withe surprise.

Inward Naru who was watching the scene rolled his eyes at Mai. She certainly was slow.

"Oh My God!" she began. "You like-"

"Shut up." spoke Ayako through gritted teeth. "Why would I like an idiot like him? Hes so dumb, Thai-"

"Hey now, easy with the flattery," interrupted Takigawa. He apparently didn't seem bothered by what had just passed. Ayako cleared he throat, and with amazing self control forced her tomato red cheeks back to a pale colour.

"Anyway,"she began, composed enough to even make a Naru proud, "You still haven't proved Naru's...way of swinging. Prove he came of his own free will and I'll pay you your fiver and get the hell home." Takigawa smiled.

"I was hoping it would't come to this but..." he heaved a mock sigh and reached into the pocket of his jeans.

[By the way, Naru Hans't eaten anything either.

He brought out a small box, which was tied neatly with a link ribbon. Everybody leaned forward, holding their breath as they waited for him to open it. Inside, were five small pieces of chocolate, each moulded into a heart shape. Nobody dared to breath. Was Naru going to eat the chocolate, confirming their fears?

Taking a deep breath, Takigawa took out a single piece of chocolate, and placed it on the table. He slid it slowly across the table towards Naru. Naru, who hadn't noticed what was going on for the last half an hour, suddenly snapped back into the real world. His eyes glanced at everyones, resting the longest on Mai's, but then spotted the expectant looks on all of their faces, and saw the chocolate in front of him. His quick mind worked out what was going on. Looking down, he picked up the chocolate, hearing the enormous intake of breath. It seemed as though the whole restaurant had gone still. He lifted the chocolate...

And broke it into pieces, stuffing it into his glance. Mai could have cried with relief. She suddenly felt excessively happy. She felt as if she knew why, but couldn't exactly describe it. All she knew was that she wanted to hug something.

Uh oh.

Naru was siting next to her, with a scowl on his face. Regardless of her actual feelings and any sense of propriety, beaming, she turned slightly and gave Naru a very, very big hug. He was very warm.

Naru stiffened automatically, and looked at Mai with a number of expressions on his face.

Understanding more than Naru did himself for once, Takigawa, Ayako and John smiled, their faces softened.

As Mai's heart was beating faster, she suddenly realised what she was doing, and she drew back as if she reeled back by a fishing rod. Her face grew incredibly red, and she avoided Naru's dark eyes, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. She could not, under any circumstances let Naru know that she liked him. He would laugh at her, to say the least. Or sack her before she had even started to work for him. She jumped up and struggled quickly into her jacket, doing all the buttons wrong.

"I should go now, I have an essay to do," she babbled, in that way when people talk to fast and all their vowels join together and the consonants are left out entirely. She did a quick wave at them all, still refusing to look at Naru, and ran out of the restaurant.

"Funny," remarked Naru. "We don't actually have an essay."

"Ah.." was all that Ayako said.

Mr Cullen flopped back lazily in his chair and looked at his form. He was in a rather complacent mood at the moment. It was obvious that Kazuya had fit into the school with ease. He talked occasionally with some other students, but he hung around with Mai most of all. Mai- that was the annoyingly cheerful girl right?

"Well, tomorrow it seems as if we have a new librarian starting. Girls, don't mob him."

"Why would we do that?" scoffed a girl. "Librarian's are all old and wear cardigans!"

"We'll see..." said Mr Cullen mysteriously. He had to get round to actually telling Madoka the librarian that she was getting an assistant. Or she would just find out tomorrow...

---

Tomorrow.

---

Madoka, the pretty, young librarian was stacking some books on a shelf, laughing at the young male admirers staring at her, when she heard someone clear their throat. Turning to the left, she dropped the books onto the floor.

"Lin?!?!"

Review! Coming soon: Natural disaster