Good grief, it's been a long time since my last update hasn't it? I truly apologize, and thank all my readers for the continued support! I was quite hesitant on any success with this, but have only received warm responses. So I'll continue this fanfic with all I've got! Please continue to give me guidance! Again, nope I don't own GH.

NARU'S POV:

"Finally gave those busybodies the slip! It's too funny getting a rise outta those people. Lin's probably beyond irritated at me now. Oh well, serves the stuffy guardian right! Aaah, now for a nice lunch and…come to think of it, it almost feels like a date setting."

With that thought in mind, Naru quickly planned out a simple, but pleasant afternoon.

MAI'S POV:

"I can't believe everything that's been happening!"

She quickly replayed the office scene from just a few moments ago and couldn't help but cringe at everyone's reactions. She knew it also wouldn't be the end of it either.

"Bou-san and Ayako are gonna freak and blow out my ear-drums. Yasu's gonna have a million jokes, pranks, and comedy skits ready. John and Lin will probably stay neutral. The one to be worried about the most is Masako. She's gonna roast me alive!" Sigh… "I wonder exactly where I stand with Naru. Is he thinking about me in a romantic way now? Did he shake himself out of this strange new behavior of his?" Big sigh…

NARU'S POV:

Naru notices Mai's sighs and how she's extremely distracted. So much so that she doesn't even notice his hand at the small of her back guiding her away from the crush of pedestrians and a few lampposts as well. If she were her normal self, she'd be blushing many shades of red right now. Sighing slightly, he could make a pretty good guess as to what's bothering her. Thinking about his impromptu afternoon plans, he hopes that they'll bring that sparkle back into her eyes.

He swiftly ushers her into a small café that he often frequents with Lin.

"Mai, go ahead and have a seat at one of the two-tops near the back. Do want anything to drink right now, or would you rather wait?"

'I'm ok right now. I'll wait for you. Do you mind if we sit near the windows? It's such a pretty day outside!'

"No. Sit near the back. The farther away from people the better."

Pouting slightly…'Hai, hai…'

As Mai made her way towards an empty table in the back, Naru turned to approach the order take manning the counter. He quickly ordered and asked for everything to be packed in the café's specialty picnic style. It's the café's signature selling point.

"I never thought I'd see the day where I'm actually ordering a picnic to-go. I'm just glad Hara never asked this of me from the blackmailing days. I don't know if she's more accustomed to fine-dining experiences or just didn't know about this specialty café, either way works for me."

Glancing back, his eyes sought out Mai, and finally found her. She looks slightly dejected in the dark corner, and he felt a twinge of pity.

"I know she's the type that likes to sit at windows. She'd sit there and soak up all the seasons and different weather alike. She'd most likely love watching people and just sit there and daydream. In all honesty, I'd like to let her do just that and in turn, sit there and watch her." Siiiiiiiiiggghhh….

"Well I think that thought made it official. I want Mai. I want her near me at all times. I want to watch her, listen to her, tease her, get annoyed by her, be soothed by, and most importantly, I want to love her."

After coming to that realization, it was as if a grey cloud that had been hovering over him, had lifted.

"I see. I just needed to finally acknowledge it huh?"

Still watching Mai, he chuckles as he sees her getting more and more bored. Then he stiffens when he sees a somewhat good-looking guy approach her.

"There's a reason why I don't want her to sit near the windows." He thinks while growling a little. "The first few times Lin and I came here, not only was it a pain for the waitresses and other female diners to stare and bother us, but the passerbys were just as bad! That's why we had to take to sitting towards the back in order not to attract too much attention. Now I have to worry about Mai as well!"

Finally getting the picnic basket, he quickly makes his way over to Mai and the bug trying to chat her up.

"Mai, let's go."

Looking up, she was glad at his arrival, because she really wasn't too keen on the lad attempting to speak to her. Then she spotted the picnic basket and her interest was piqued.

'I may just be losing my mind, but is that a picnic basket he's holding? Naru? Picnic?'

Something is making her uncomfortable, but she couldn't quite place her finger on it.

'Roger that Naru!'

Turning to the stranger, she quickly bade him goodbye and followed after Naru.

'We aren't eating at the café?'

"The weather's nice. Thought you'd appreciate a picnic underneath the blooming Sakuras?" He commented smugly.

Bug-eyed, Mai stuttered as she tried to clarify. 'Picnic underneath the Sakuras?'

"You don't appreciate my gesture of a romantic first date?"

'D-date?'

"Yes. That's what I said. Are you having trouble of hearing Mai?"

'No! I mean. I just…thank you?'

Nodding slightly, "So you don't want a picnic?"

'No! No! That's not what I meant! It's absolutely romantic and just perfect!"

Smirking ever so slightly, "I thought so."

At this point they had made their way into the Sakura grove and found a secluded Sakura tree that seemed to beckon beautifully to them both. Mai leaned against the trunk of the tree and reached to cup as many of the falling petals she could catch in her hands. Naru was busy spreading the blanket and unpacking the basket, but he kept glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

"This is so cliché." He thinks. "A picnic under the blooming Sakuras? How low can I go? And yet, it truly doesn't matter if it is cliché. She's truly breathtaking. The sight of Sakura petals flitting about her even as the gentle wind plays with her hair, and the way the sunlight filters though the foliage and cast a certain glow on her. Everything seems to come together to grace her features in a breathtaking portrait."

On that last thought, he glanced around until he spotted what he wanted.

"Mai. Stay right here and don't move. I'll be right back."

Still feeling as if she's walking on clouds, she vaguely agrees with a charming smile and dreams dancing in her gaze.

After about 10 minutes he returns. Naru had ordered liver and sautéed onions sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, and a tossed fruit salad. The picnic also included a choice of tea in a thermos, but to add to the atmosphere, a simple teapot and teacup set were included as well. Mai had just finished pouring and arranging the tea when Sakura petals floated down to grace the tea. Glancing up she saw that Naru had caught them and was allowing them to flutter down onto her.

With a slight catch in her heart, she finally realized what was bothering her this whole time. She was uncertain. She was scared to misinterpret his actions and in turn making a fool out of herself. She may have been able to write off the picnic as Naru just wanting to eat outside, maybe he was even out of character enough to want to appreciate the Sakura trees. Perhaps he even mentioned the word "date" as a means to tease her. However, there wasn't any easy explanation for him to be showering flower petals over her in such a manner. If he had felt up to adding the petals to the tea to further set the mood, he could've just as easily placed them there into the cups directly. Instead he poured them over her. This was what was missing. This was what it took to make her silently understand where she stands with him. They are both new to the game of love. This is his awkward way to express where he wants to take their relationship, and this is how she intuitively knows how to perceive his unspoken words.

Finally relaxing, she smiled lovingly up at him and simply just said, 'Let's eat!'

As they ate, they relaxed more in each other's presence. Neither spoke much. It was pure contentment. Both somehow knew that the other could understand the unspoken agreements of their new relationship and is perfectly happy with it. And that is how their first date went. Neither would forget it either. It was just a simple, cliché afternoon underneath the blooming Sakuras.

I know this was a short one! It was late when I started writing and now it's even later! Hope you enjoy Naru and Mai's budding romance! More coming soon now that my ideas are becoming more organized! Again, please RXR!