A/N: Ugh. I feel like shit. v_v. Important A/N at the end of the chapter, stick around to read it if you enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: Don't own GH.

Mai's POV:

I felt as if someone had dropped on a bomb on us. Her words had the same affect on us; everyone stood, frozen, eyes wide, staring at my mom as if she had just grown three extra heads.

"It's a TEST?" Emi shrieked, sounding as if she was in denial.

"They're testing us? THERE'S A TEST? I DIDN'T STUDY!" Bou-san raged.

"Uh, Bo-Bo? You study?" Yasu asked. Ayako snickered at the nickname.

"Oh, right. I don't...NEVER-MIND, CONTINUE ON!" Bou-san grinned, cheered up by the reminder.

"You lot are a disgrace." Naru snapped angrily, glaring at them with all the disgust he could muster. Under the harsh look, Bou-san and Yasu fell silent, refusing to look anyone in the eye. I, on the other hand, felt an unbelievable rage.

"YOU'RE KIDDING ME. AN INNOCENT GIRL WAS RAPED FOR NO FUCKING REASON?" I fumed, my hands clenching into fists.

Now it was my turn in the 'spotlight' of everyone's stares.

"Mai...there's a council full of madmen and women trying to...'recruit' you for a lack of a better word, and you're upset about that?" Gene asked, in awe, but there was an underlying sense of pride to his voice.

"NO SHIT." I growled at him. Then realized something; everyone else was concerned for us, the team. They weren't thinking about Iko...

They hadn't seen the raw pain and terror evident in her parents' eyes...I thought to myself in dismay.

"Nobody should have to suffer the way the people involved are. This isn't right." I told them firmly. "Let's hurry and finish this case ASAP. Alright?"

Nobody argued, but they all nodded. Enveloped in a thick, tense silence, we piled into our respective cars and/or vans. We rode in silence, too.

The hotel was out north, just on the outskirts of the city. So, thank god, it wasn't a very long ride to our destination. The remembrance of Iko's parents' horror and grief flashed before my eyes every time I shut them. It was horrible, and because of that I spent the whole time staring out the window.

"Mai, we're here." Someone's voice shook me out of my reverie. I nodded softly, once, before crawling out of the car.

Towering over us was a skyscraper. A tall one, at that, and I was momentarily distracted by hotel.

"Damn, why are ghosts wrecking havoc on big houses and buildings?" Bou-san whined, causing some of us to chuckle (nervously).

"Let's go." I interrupted their banter, striding past them all and up the front stairs. I was determined to end this quickly, then find a way to give this 'council' a piece of my mind.

A/N: Uh oh! Mai's pissed off at the council! That could only lead to trouble...

I know it's short, BUT I have the week off from school, and I wanted the informal stuff out of the way so I don't bore you guys...onto the important A/N I was talking about earlier...

I know earlier I was talking about making this 10 cases long, but is that what you guys wants? I mean, what would you prefer?