Sorry about the delay! There were just too many ideas going on in my head, and all of them wanted out at the same time. That, as you can imagine, caused for much chaos! Well anyways, I'm back and hope that everyone will enjoy it!

Again, nope, don't own anything to do with Ghost Hunt!

NARU'S POV:

I watched Mai enter my office from the corner of my eye and felt a surge of multiple emotions and thoughts all at once. I was amused at her parting shot about me knowing how to do something in someone's best interest. I was frustrated that all Gene wanted to talk about was Mai, and how he refused to let me know exactly where his body is located.

:FLASHBACK:

"Mai, I'll be starting this interview with a few questions to Gene that may make you curious, but I need you to save the questions till later, OK?"

Nodding her agreement, she waited for Naru to begin.

Opening his mouth-

'Naru?"

Snapping his mouth closed, being interrupted before he was even able to start, "What is it Mai?' He looked at her like in utter annoyance.

Shrinking back a little and with a small voice she squeaked out, 'Gene said to not bother with that right now. Rather he wants to talk about the things that are soon to happen.'

"That is utterly ridiculous! He kno-"

He stops himself when he realizes she wasn't even listening to him. She had her head tilted to the side, probably listening to whatever Gene felt like imparting.

"Baka aniki." he thought.

After a few moments…

'Apparently, he says 'Things that have passed, have passed, Noll. A time will come for that later. Right now you need to be taking care of more pressing matters." '

Feeling the frustration that had piled up since he witnessed his brother's death, Naru finally exploded.

In English: "You have got to be bloody joking with me Gene! Do you know what Mum, Dad, and I have been through? Especially me? It won't take but a few minutes, so why can't you just let me know?"

Surprisingly, Mai also responded in kind in English.

'If you were calm you would of course know why without even asking, Noll. Your emotions and thoughts are compromised right now. I know I often tell you to let go of your bloody logic and live a little, but now isn't one of those times. Even if I tell you, can you tell me honestly that you'll be able to concentrate on the tasks at hand? You'll pull everyone away to search for me and become distracted. I'm dead, Noll. That's a fact, but she isn't. You can still save her. Or do you want to lose someone else important to you?'

After saying that, Mai suddenly realized what came out of her mouth and blushed yet another shade of red. Naru sat there looking bested for once. Glancing at Mai, he realized his brother was right. Of course he would never admit it, but then again Gene probably knew that too. Peeking at Lin, he saw that the older man had the faintest ghost of a smirk on his face.

"Fine. So tell me about this great danger." He bit out sarcastically.

Looking up at his tone, Mai grew bitter and angry at the light attitude he was taking towards the whole situation.

'I'm soooo sorry you have to listen to little, insignificant me's problem, Naru.' She bit out, sugary sarcasm coating her tone.

'What on earth am I thinking! How can I possibly waste your precious time? Just because my whole life has been turned upside down? Nooooo! I mean everything I thought I ever knew about my parents were apparently not exact truths. Oh and something that is much more dangerous than we've ever encountered coming straight at me? Psssh! No worries! I got it!'

"Alright, Mai! Calm down!"

(Uh, yes. He just told a ticked off woman to calm down. Who said he was a genius again?)

Sucking in her breath to let a major scream out, she was stopped by Gene's voice.

'Mai. Not right now. Please? I know he's difficult to deal with, but now is not the time.'

Taking a few cleansing breaths and settling with a death glare directed at Naru, she settled back down and just waited again in a typical miffed female fashion.

"Now, please proceed."

Still being a bit prickly, 'Oh my goodness! The Great Demon, Lord Naru said "please!"

Sending her a look that told her just what he thought of her elementary aged behavior, he just crossed his arms and waited. Then, Gene started his story, immediately taking her mind off of Naru.

'The Saionjis have been…'

:END FLASHBACK:

Letting out a big sigh, he turns to see Lin looking at him with a raised brow.

"What?"

'Perhaps while I am at the bookstore later, I can pick up a volume of "How to Woo for Dummies" for you?'

Sparing him a look of only annoyance, Naru walks into his to see if Mai had settled down yet.

"That damn Lin! Why did mum, and dad think I need a guardian?"

Entering his office, he catches sight of Mai already fast asleep.

"Thank goodness. She looks like she's finally having a dreamless sleep."

"Baka aniki, don't go interrupting her now! Let her get her rest." He mutters under his breath.

Not wanting to wake her, he takes his shoes off and makes to go to his desk. Stopping halfway, he suddenly changes his mind and pads over to the sofa. Not quite knowing why, he shrugged out of his jacket and laid it over her. Turning to leave, he again turns back to the sleeping Mai. Finally making up his mind, he pads back over to the door and locks it. Then he pads back over, drops his shoes and lies down next to her. Stretching himself out, he pulls her into a hug close to him. He pulls his cellphone out to set the alarm for 30 minutes. Then, tentatively, he draws her head under his chin and settles down further into the sofa. Feeling tired from the nightmare he had last night, he felt exhaustion pulling him.

"She's so soft." He thought.

Then before he finally succumbed to sleep, he felt her wriggle closer.

Groaning, "Oh god. That felt good."

"Please don't let her wake up before me." He begged for the first time in his life.

Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep.

Waking at the sound of his alarm going off, he looks down, and to his relief, Mai is still sleeping.

"This girl really can sleep." He thought.

Carefully letting her go and getting up he puts his shoes on, but leaves his jacket covering her. Looking down at her, he realizes that he hasn't slept that well since Gene's death.

"This is becoming dangerous." He thought.

"Maybe I should stop myself before this goes any further."

Moving to the door he unlocks it, and in falls a startled Monk, and Ayako. Crossing his arms and giving them an icy glare, "Well what do we have here? Early birds? Don't you two normally sleep till noon?"

They both got up with bashful looks on their faces. Monk was rubbing the back of his neck nervously, but Ayako quickly recovered.

'Normally we try to avoid coming too early, but when I called Mai's house last night she wasn't in. I couldn't reach her on her cell, so I got Hoshou to come here early with me to see if Mai was here or not. Lin told us that she was taking a nap in your office.'

At that last sentence she gives Naru a pointed look.

'Since when do you willingly allow Mai to sleep on the job, and on top of that in your office?' she questioned him suspiciously.

Noticing that Mai was still sleeping, she motioned the two males to quietly move out of the room. As she brushed past Naru, she noticed that his clothes were a little rumpled.

'Hmm…interesting.' She thought.

Shutting the door, 'Well?' she asked. Her tone demanded an answer.

Her woman's intuition tells her that something has finally changed in the Naru/Mai relationship. Ayako knew Mai always had a thing for Naru, and it feels like Naru isn't quite the cold bastard/brat anymore. She worries for Mai, like an older sister would, and wants her to find love. However, Naru isn't the easiest type to love, especially as a first love.

"- ve no need to explain anything to you."

Ayako shook herself out of her musings to realize that bratty Naru is still very much here.

'Why are your clothes rumpled?' she asked.

At this, Monk suddenly understood what Ayako was trying to ask, and started bellowing.

'Naru! You damn brat! Don't think I'm handing over my little sister to you, you cold fish! Wait! Naru, is interested in someone? That someone is Mai? OMG! Have you kissed her already? Have you already run your grubby hands over her? HAVE YOU AND HER SLEPT TOGETHER?'

Propping himself against the couches, Naru calmly crosses his arms and gives both Monk and Ayako a full-blown smirk.

"Yes. Yes. Aaaaaaaaand, Yes." He replied.

'GYAAAAAAHHH! I'M GONNA BURY YOU ALIVE!' screamed a freaking out Monk.

Whack!

'Ouch!'

Turning to Ayako, 'What was that for, you old hag?'

'For that!' she said pointing at the gaping John and the fuming Masako that had heard everything from the front door.

'Uh, urgh…Hi John! Heya Masako! Hehe. How come y'all are early too?'

'W-well, I had an early morning sermon, and decided to drop in early. Hara-san saw me walking and offered me a ride.'

Not bothering to answer or even look at the rest of the occupants, Masako made her way to Naru. Grabbing his sleeve, she looked at him intently.

'Is it true? Everything said?' she asked.

"Yes." He replied back bluntly.

"Well I'm not going to clarify on 'how' I slept with her. This is a good chance to get Hara off of me. She's so damn clingy."

Dropping his sleeve as if it burned her, Masako covered her mouth with the sleeve of her purple and gold butterfly embroidered kimono and swiftly left the office. As she dashed out, she bumped into Yasuhara as he was coming in.

'Whoa!' Steadying her, 'What's wrong Hara-san?'

'Everything! Why is she such an interfering insect?' she spat out, tears starting to form in her eyes.

'What are you talking about? What's got you so upset? Why are you mad at Mai again?' he asked worriedly.

'Mai. Mai. MAI!' she screamed

'It's always about her! Everyone gathers around her and fawns over her! What am I lacking that she has? Why does she get to have him too?'

So upset with everything that has played out, Masako runs to the car waiting for her, and soon the car screeches off at an alarming speed.

' "Why does she get to have him too?" Could it be-? No way. That man is as emotionless as a robot. There just can't be any way…Have I missed my chance?'

Unbeknownst to everyone at SPR, Yasuhara, despite his constant joking attitude, is actually in love with Mai.

'I knew she was in love with Naru, but I always thought it was just a simple puppy love. I mean first loves hardly ever work out. Every time she sparred with Naru, there was that spark, but I never imagined Naru to acknowledge it. I know everyone thought I was just teasing Mai, that's why I went and teased Monk so she wouldn't get too self-conscious, but…Maybe, maybe I'm wrong.'

Walking into SPR, he notices the tension permeating the room. Lin had poked his head out of the office and stayed hidden as he watched the drama unfold.

'Naru,' Ayako started up. 'Are you truly going to attempt a serious relationship with Mai? Or, are you just having some sadistic fun at her expense? I won't allow it, if you aren't serious about this! That girl has lost too much to have to bear with any more heart ache!'

"Again, I have no need to answer you. Now if you'll excuse me…"

Entering his office, he emerges out a couple minutes later with a still groggy Mai.

'Why was she in his office this whole time?' Yasu thought.

'More importantly, it appears she was asleep in the Boss' office!'

"Mai, get your coat, we're having lunch before going to your apartment. When did the movers say they'd be there?"

'Mmmm?' Rubbing her eyes.

"She looks like a frumpy kitty, the way her hair's a little messy from sleep and how she's rubbing her eyes." Thought a slightly entranced Naru.

'They said they'd be there around noon. Since I had already given them your address, they said not to worry about staying to supervise, and that they should be at your place around 3:00-3:30.'

"Alright. Lin! We're closing down at 3:00 today. If we're not back by then, go ahead and head out without us."

'Wait just a minute Naru! I want some answers! Since when did the both of you guys start having lunch alone together? Why isn't Lin going with you?' exclaims a now frazzled Ayako.

'Yeah! I wanna know too! What's all this about movers, your place, and etc.?' chimes in Monk, still in big brother mode.

Sigh…

"It seems like the loud ones will continue to be loud unless they get answers." Says a put upon Naru while looking at Mai.

Feeling embarrassed because she knows how outrageous the reactions are going to be, Mai looks away towards Lin. Lin still has only his head peeking out from his office and doesn't say anything.

"I'm having lunch with Mai because it's along the way to her apartment, thus more efficient. Obviously, someone has to man the office, Lin. As for the rest, Mai is moving in with Lin and I. Now if the unnecessary inquisition is over. Do see yourselves out, this place is not a café for all of you to rest at."

After saying all he had to say, Naru swiftly escorted a red-faced Mai out the door, leaving behind poor Lin to answer to the chaos that was sure to follow. And, sure enough, before they even made it down the steps, they heard all hell break loose.

LIN'S POV:

"That brat! Leaving me to deal with Ayako's screeching, Monk's bellowing, and John's bug-eyed, slack-jawed face."

'Just what is going on Lin-san?' screeches out a ticked-off Ayako.

'There's no way what Naru said was true right?' asked an overzealous Monk.

'L-Lin-san?' a stupefied John tried to ask, but just wasn't able to voice the rest of his questions.

Taking a look around, Lin realizes that Yasuhara is the only that's silent. Which is quite out of character. Normally, he's the first to start trouble in situations like these. In fact, he's standing perfectly still, almost like he was in extreme shock. Seeing this, a thought popped into Lin's mind.

"Perhaps Yasuhara…" Sigh… "Another worrisome thing is happening. I wonder if I should phone back to Luella and Martin about the new living arrangement?"

Bringing himself back from his thoughts, he takes another look at the occupants in the room. Smirking ever so slightly, he gave them all a slight bow and promptly slammed the door in their faces. Locking his door, he heard Ayako pounding the door on the other side, and Monk still bellowing. Still smirking, he retreated further into the sanctuary of his office and put some headphones on.

"I am just as entitled as everyone else to cause some mischief every now and again!" thought a rather smug Lin.

OK. I really have to stop here for tonight! Sleep is calling! After the rather tedious reading I put y'all through last chapter, I wanted to lighten this one up a bit! Hope you like! Please RxR!