Holy fudge muffins! I got to update a lot faster this time (See! I told you I would lol) AND I got 16 REVIEWS for my last chapter! That's the most I've had for a single chapter! Thank you everyone! Love you guys!

Oh, and to Amaya (Guest)... Umm, I'm not really sure what you mean but it's so you can see what Gene thinks about everything that happening!

Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt! Never have, never will... sad, I know!

Gene's POV

It's no good, I can't sleep, not here anyway.

Seriously, Noll must be loopy to want to go after Mai or he's gonna need industrial strength ear protectors! Who knew the girl could snore so loudly, a pneumatic drill is quieter!

*Sigh* Well, I guess I'll go catch up with Noll instead, he should just be getting back to the office and the others right now. With a single thought I was there and just in time for the show too.

"How dare you all show not only yourselves but me also up in front of Mai?!" Well, looks like Noll is steaming mad, this could be good.

"Noll, dear, whatever's—" Mother tried. 'Oh dear, I think you just stuck a pin in him, Mother.'

"Don't act all innocent and like you don't know. Mai was thoroughly embarrassed and so was I at the rude behaviour you displayed." 'No-one asked me but I was too.'

"Noll, is this really necessary?" Lin asked as he got up.

"Sit...down!" Noll yelled. Suitably cowed Lin did as he was told. 'Whoah, I've never seen Noll get this mad before!'

"Oliver Dav..." Madoka started to scold until Noll turned his icy gaze on her.

"I would suggest, Madoka, that you don't say another word as I think your mouth has gotten you in enough trouble already." 'That's true.'

"Now, son, I think—" Father tried to placate.

"Father, you aren't exactly blameless in this either. In fact I remember you displaying equally rude behaviour in front of Mai." Noll chided. 'True again. I wouldn't have expected it either from him.'

"Noll, what is it we're supposed to have done?" Mother asked.

"Well, let's start with shouting at each other. Yes, Mother and Madoka went out and assaulted someone in their ridiculous belief that they were defending honour, but that doesn't mean that giving them a dressing down about their behaviour can't wait until people who had nothing to do with it except having the unfortunate luck to be with them when it happened have gone home." Noll addressed Lin and Father who dutifully looked guilty. 'They really should know better.'

"We're sorry." Father apologized.

"It's not me you should be saying sorry to." Noll pointed out.

"Ah, true." Lin murmured.

"Next is the fact that you totally ignored the fact there were other people in the room. I'm used to it, but to subject Mai to it is different." 'I agree, Mai shouldn't be treated like that.'

"Surely we didn't…" Madoka started. Noll just nodded grimly. "Oh…"

"Lastly is the fact that you were all arguing in English, a language Mai barely understands so she was understandably concerned when you were all throwing her name around between you, but she didn't know the rest of what you were saying about her." Noll informed. 'That would make even me feel awkward.'

"Ah, we didn't realize..." Mother mumbled.

"No, you never do. It's no wonder she crept out of here without wanting anybody to know. How she must have felt... She probably believes she started a war between you all and that everyone is going to split up and it'll be all her fault. In fact she's probably feeling guilty right now for walking out without saying anything and of course she'll deny it's your fault if you apologize as that's the kind of person she is." The four adults grimaced in shame. 'Yeah, shame on you all!' I decided to stop at Noll's place for the night instead of going back to Mai's now that he had finished telling off Lin, Madoka, and our parents. At least I know his sleeping habits!

Just like yesterday I decided to hang out at SPR with Noll. Everyone was silent today though, I guess what Noll said last night really got through to them. I lolled on one of the sofas that wasn't being used and was just falling asleep when Mai came in. This time when Mai walked into the office she was engulfed with hugs so fast that she didn't even have enough time to close the door, almost falling over.

"Oh, Mai! We're so sorry! We didn't mean to be rude, sweetie!" I heard Madoka wail and then Mother as they hugged her. 'Good grief, they're like a pair of dogs greeting their owner!'

"Wh-what?" Mai managed to get out. They released her before they each grabbed one of her wrists and dragged her to the sofa where Father, Lin, and Noll were too. Mai sat in the middle between Madoka and Mother. I had moved to my recliner chair.

"Naru yelled and scolded us last night after he walked you home. We're sorry, Mai, we didn't mean to make you uncomfortable and make you leave!" Madoka apologized. Mai's heart skipped a beat. 'Naru did that?' She thought. 'He sure did, it was awesome.' I looked at him and saw he had his eyes closed and arms crossed. Father and Lin also apologized after Madoka finished. 'Even Lin? What did Naru say to them?!' Mai wondered. 'Well, I would tell you but it's way too long and complicated.'

Mai looked at everyone before waving her hands in front of her. "No, it's fine, really! You shouldn't apologize; I should be the one doing that for leaving without saying anything. I was just tired."

Mother wrapped her arms around her and pulled her into a hug, catching her off guard. She started rocking them sideways, back and forth. "Oh, Noll said you would say that!" She kept squeezing Mai tighter and tighter, it looked like. 'Careful or there won't be a Mai to apologize to.'

"Mother, I believe I told you to apologize, not shake her until she loses brain-cells. She barely has enough as it is." I could hear Noll's teasing voice. Mother stopped and let Mai go as she glared at Noll.

"Noll!" She reprimanded. 'Uh-oh, you're in trouble.'

"It's alright, he says that all the time." Mai told her, waving it off. Mother looked at her incredulously.

"Noll, is that anyway to treat your girlfriend?!" 'No, it's not. But I feel even if I was his girlfriend, he'd still treat me the same.' Mai thought. 'True, I think I probably have to agree with you there. I mean heck, he loved me and always told me I was stupid.'

"Luella, that's just their way of flirting. Naru playfully teases Mai and she usually acts like she's mad and upset with him." Madoka 'explained'. 'Flirting? Naru doesn't flirt! He just teases me to tick me off!' Mai mentally corrected. Mother just smiled, Father chuckled, and Lin smirked while I inwardly groaned. Noll and Mai were probably doing the same. Madoka turned to her. "Anyways, Luella and I were wondering if you wanted to go to—"

"No."

Madoka frowned at Noll. "I don't believe I was talking to you, Noll." She hissed. 'I'm on his side.'

"I don't care, Mai's not going with you. I don't want you getting her into more trouble that you caused." 'Yeah, you tell her, Noll. Let's protect Mai!'

Madoka huffed. "It was that guy's fault, not mine. Besides I protected her yesterday, you should be thanking me." 'For what? Making a mess of a jerk and almost getting Mai arrested? Okay, I admit the beating up the guy part was funny but the aftermath sure wasn't!'

"You shouldn't have left her alone to begin with." Noll retorted. 'I can't tell if Naru's just acting for his parents or if he really doesn't want me to go.' Mai pondered. 'Trust me, I really think he doesn't want you to go.'

Mother stood between the two before Madoka could yell at Noll any further. "Alright, you two, that's enough. Madoka's right, Noll, you should be thanking her—"

"Ha!" Madoka stood up and smiled in victory.

"—But you were right too. We shouldn't have left Mai by herself." 'They're acting like I'm a little kid...' Mai frowned mentally. Madoka frowned too while Noll just smirked. "Which is why you can call us whenever you want to check up on Mai. We won't be too far away or gone that long anyways."

"I think that's a wonderful idea, don't you, Noll?" Father asked, giving a nod telling him to agree. 'Oh no. No, no, don't trust them!'

Noll sighed exasperatedly. "Fine." 'Idiot!'

"Good. So do you want to go, Mai?" Mother inquired. Mai looked a little reluctant, but she guessed if Noll agreed... plus she can't really say no to her anyways.

"Okay, sounds good." She agreed. Madoka grabbed Mai's hand and dragged her to the door. I got up and decided to accompany them.

"And don't worry, Naru, we won't let some guy take Mai away while we're gone!" She practically sang and slammed the door after Mother walked out. We had walked about five blocks when Mother pointed out a little outside café. She said they could sit and talk since we didn't really get to yesterday with all the shopping and... other activities. She also said 'plus Noll can't complain about this'. So here we are; I'm sitting facing the building with Mai while Madoka and Mother are sitting in front of me, facing the street. After the waitress gave the girls their orders of tea, Madoka and Mother turned their attention on Mai and had goofy grins on their faces. 'Oh no. Here we go again.'

"So, Mai, since Naru's not here to stop us..." Madoka alluded as they both leaned forward. Mai leaned back warily. They suddenly started laughing. 'Yeah, because that really relaxes a person.'

"Oh Mai, dear, you should've seen your face!" Mother laughed. "Sweetie, we're not going to eat you so don't look so frightened. Although... you are sweet enough to eat!" She squealed. Mai just laughed nervously and took a few sips of her tea. 'That's great, now she thinks you're cannibals!'

"Isn't she?! I bet you're very popular with the guys, aren't you?" Madoka winked at her but then playfully hit her head. "Oh, what am I saying? With what happened yesterday and from what Luella told me what happened at the restaurant, of course you are!" 'I wouldn't say that in front of Noll.'

"Ah, no, not real—"

"Oh, and don't forget that boy who made Noll so jealous he confessed!" Mother reminded her, ignoring what Mai was saying. 'Oh yeah, the completely flirtatious one that's most likely a player.

"Ah, yes," Madoka grinned. "Naru sure does have his work cut out for him. You better watch out with who you talk to, Mai, or you're going to have a very jealous boyfriend on your hands." 'Oh good grief!'

"I'll have to remember that." Mai smiled.

"I'll be right back." Madoka stated, standing up. "I've got to use the restroom." After she left there was a moment of silence between Mai and Mother before she decided to speak.

"I can tell you're very special to my son." She began. I looked at her surprised and so did Mai. "The way he looks at you when he thinks no one is watching or the way he just seems to relax when you're around."

'What? No... no, she's just thinking that way because she thinks we're together. If we weren't then she wouldn't be.' Mai mentally objected.

"Noll's never even been interested in a girl before, he would never even give them a second glance!" Mother laughed softly. 'You're telling me, I usually had to deal with any interests towards him with rather messy results.' "He's only ever been to school or work unless Gene made him stop and dragged him off somewhere." She smiled sadly at the mention of me. Her eyes began brimming with tears. I felt like doing the same. "So thank you, Mai... for being with Noll." 'Ohh, that's so beautiful! *Honk, blow, sniff* Group hug! Group hug everybody! Waaah! I miss life!' *Ahem* Pulling myself together now.

Mai didn't know what to say but thankfully Madoka came back so she didn't have to. "You wouldn't... wait, what's wrong?" She asked once she noticed the strange atmosphere. I prayed to God she wouldn't end that sentence with 'who died?' I'm sure Mother really would start crying then. Then again it would probably be kinda funny.

"Nothing's wrong. What are you talking about?" Mother asked cheerfully. The signs of her almost crying vanished. Madoka just shrugged it off.

Madoka and Mother began talking while Mai kinda zoned out for a bit. She couldn't stop thinking about what Mother said. 'It's all an act, even if Naru did do what she said. He probably knew she'd be watching him... he doesn't love me. Luella even thanked me for being with him though... I feel sick.' Mai thought. She snapped out of her thoughts when she noticed the two chatterboxes were actually being quiet. I saw Mother looking at something that was behind me and Mai and then she nudged Madoka and whispered something to her. Curious, I started to turn around. So did Mai. 'Uh-oh, I think we have a problem.'

"Mai!" Madoka suddenly yelled causing her to jump as she quickly reached over the table and grabbed her arm. "Uh, I mean... why don't we go see a movie?!" 'Ooh, what one? I'm dying to see… oh, you aren't talking to me, fine.'

"That's a wonderful idea, Madoka! After that we'll go back to the office, let's go!" Mother stood up, slapping some money down on the table. Mai was then jerked out of her seat and down the street.

It might be my imagination, but as we went, I could have sworn I saw Hiro across the road from the café... 'Hmm, I guess the legend of the local stalker strikes again.'

Mai's POV

Right before the movie started Naru had called us, checking up on us like he said he would. I told him what we had done so far and then what we were going to do at the moment. And that we'd be back at the office after the movie. He had sounded relieved when I said that. Before I could reply though, Luella snatched the phone from me.

"She's fine, dear. Stop worrying so much." And with that she hung up on him. Well, now I know where he gets it from, or maybe she got it from him... Then a thought occurred to me.

"Luella, weren't you the one who said he could call whenever he wanted to?" I asked somewhat defensively. She blinked as if realization struck her.

"Oh... yes, I guess you're right." Luella laughed as she handed my phone back at me. "Well, he must not be too mad since he didn't call back to yell at me."

I sweatdropped while Madoka just giggled. "Come on, you two, the movie is about to start." She said.

I wouldn't say I disliked the movie, but I also wouldn't say I liked it. It had to be one of the most romantic romance movies I've ever seen. Don't get me wrong, I love movies with a little romance, but this one had so much in it that it was unreal and so corny...

Okay, I take it back, I didn't like the movie. At all. It also didn't really help when Luella and Madoka gasped, gaped, or clutched each other's arms when something 'interesting' happened. I mentally sighed. I guess you could also say I'm being bitter about it because my own love life is down the drain right now. I mean, come on, I can't date anyone because I'm in love with my boss who thinks I'm in love with his dead, twin brother but yet I'm pretending to be my boss' girlfriend to make his parents leave him alone about having one... I should write my own book! But anyways, at least Madoka and Luella enjoyed it.

"Oh, I just loved the way David proposed!" Madoka squealed happily. That's right, the main guy's name was David which reminded me of Davis.

"I'm so glad Marilyn accepted though after everything that happened." Luella said, relieved. And for some reason the girl's name reminded me of my own so that didn't help neither. I was snapped out of my reverie, however, by me bumping into someone as we were walking.

"Hey, watch it you little—"

"Oh, I'm so sor—" We stopped and looked at each other. "Ayako?"

"Mai?" Ayako blinked, surprised then she looked behind me and smirked. "Spending time with Naru's mother I see." The sly way she said it made me blush and nod slowly from being embarrassed.

"Ah, Ayako! Funny running into you here!" Madoka exclaimed as her and Luella stopped beside me. I had been walking a few steps ahead of them.

"Yeah, it is." Ayako agreed. "I was just getting off from work." Ayako started working part-time at one of her parents' hospitals a few months ago. She, thankfully, still goes on cases with us. Since it is her parents' hospital, she can take a few days off to come with us. As I was about to speak I was interrupted by a loud growl. Ayako blinked and put a hand over her stomach. "Sorry. I've barely eaten anything today." She confessed.

"Well, we can't have that now, can we?" Luella asked.

"Of course not! How about we all go eat dinner?" Madoka grinned, causing Ayako to laugh.

"Sounds great." They all looked at me for my answer. I gave them an apologetic look.

"I don't know... I mean I already told Naru we'd be back at the office after the movie. And I don't think he trusts us that much after what happened yesterday..."

Luella just rolled her eyes. "Just call him and tell him we'll be a little late."

"What happened yesterday?" I heard Ayako ask Madoka. So she began telling her all that had happened as they started walking off. I was hesitant, but I finally agreed, and Luella and I caught up with them. After sometime I took out my phone to call Naru, only to find that it was dead. Great, just great! Naru's probably going to be mad. I sighed. All I could do was follow the other three around and hope I won't be in too much trouble when we get back to the office.

Once we arrived back at the office, I took a deep breath and braced myself before I slowly opened the office door with Luella and Madoka behind me. Naru stood up from the sofa with a glare when he saw us walk in. He came towards us, and Martin and Lin stood up and walked over to Luella and Madoka.

"Where the hell have you been?" Naru asked coldly. I flinched. "You should've been here almost two hours ago."

"W-well, we ran into Ayako on the way here and then we went and ate dinner together." What I said just seemed to make Naru's glare harden. Behind me I heard Madoka ask if they had ate yet. Martin said they did about an hour ago.

"Why didn't you call me then?" Before I got to answer Luella meekly walked between us.

"Um, Noll, we're going to go back to the hotel now. I think everyone's had a very tiring day." She said. My mouth mentally dropped. That better not just be an excuse to leave before Naru yells at them again. They were out the door saying their goodbyes for the night before Naru could even reply. After they scurried out the door, Lin went into his office. Traitors!

I thought maybe Naru would go easier on me since his parents weren't here and he didn't have to act like he was so worried about me, but he didn't. He still glared and spoke coldly.

"Well?"

"My phone died..." I replied as Naru went and sat back down. He put his elbow on the arm rest and placed his head in his hand.

"That's why you weren't answering your phone." I heard him mumble lowly. He tried to call me? I sat down across from him on the other sofa.

"I'm sorry... Luella told me to call you after I was hesitant to agree. I didn't try and call until we were walking to the restaurant. By the time I found out it was dead, it was kinda too late... I wouldn't have been able to convince your mother and Madoka." I explained. Naru sighed but said nothing for a while. I guess he knows how the situation I was in was.

"Lin knows." He said a lot more quieter and calmer. I blinked and furrowed my eyebrows. Knows? "He knows what I'm doing. Fooling my parents. He told me this morning before they got here."

"Oh..." I replied surprised. "Is he going to tell them?" Naru shook his head.

"No. He said I lied and got into this mess by myself so I'm going to have to get out of it." Makes sense.

I looked down at my lap for a while before looking back at him. "How did he find out?"

"He said last week when I told Mother, she told Madoka, and then Madoka called Lin to ask him why he hadn't told her sooner. Lin said he immediately knew that it was a lie but most likely knew why I said we were dating so he just decided to play along."

"How did he know it was a lie?"

"He claimed that no matter what there would've been a change in our behaviour if we truly were dating. Lin's always around us, I'm not the slightest bit surprised he knows." Naru replied. I nodded, having nothing else to say, and looked around the office when my eyes landed on my desk.

"Do you want me to do any work since I'm here?" I got up and walked over to it. Naru shook his head again.

"No, you should just go home and get ready for school tomorrow." I snapped my head towards him. I thought for sure he'd want me to do something. Naru stood and walked to the door and beckoned me over so I did. "Come on, I'll take you home."

Is he sick or something? Two nights in a row? I decided not to comment on it though and just enjoy it.

"You know, Naru... I don't know what you said to everyone to make them apologize like that... but thank you." I smiled at him and walked out. Too bad I missed the small smile he gave me in return.

Hehe, yay! Please review!