Have you guys noticed the awesome, new cover I have for this story? My friend, AmyNChan, drew it for me! ^_^ Thank you again! So I'm gonna dedicate this chapter to her. And WOW, thanks for all the 33 reviews on the last chapter! I'm so happy!

To Guest, haha no, don't worry about it. I loved all the reviews you gave me so keep 'em coming lol!

Disclaimer: I own the new kitty I got a few weeks ago, but I don't own Ghost Hunt!

After I ate breakfast I wandered off to go explore the 'house'. I didn't bother telling anyone that I was going to... but maybe I should have—I might get lost in this place. I should've at least asked Luella or Madoka to show me around, or maybe even Naru. Oh well, too late for that now. I don't know where they are at the moment and trying to find them will make me lost. So I continued to roam aimlessly around the house, peeking into different rooms. Some people might call it 'being nosy' but I prefer the term being curious instead. I'm never going to be able to come back here again after we go back to Japan so might as well make the most of it. I just hope I don't get caught... by Naru. I'm not sure if he would scold me or make fun of me.

I had found a room on the ground floor that I knew Naru must spend a lot of time in—the library. And I thought his room had enough books... Most of the rooms I looked in I had no idea what they were or what they were for. They looked useless to me. I sighed. Now I knew I should've asked them to show me around. I'm such an idiot.

As I walked on the second floor, I came across Naru's room so I was glad I still knew where I was. Then I suddenly remembered what Naru said last night about Gene's room being across the hall—and sure enough, it was. I just stood there for a few minutes staring at the closed door, not daring to get close to it. I didn't think I had any right to do so at all. In fact I knew I didn't. Although, as I stared at Gene's door, I had a fleeting thought if his room has been locked and sealed—too painful for anyone to go in there since his death—or do they go in there from time to time to always keep him fresh in their memories?

My thoughts were interrupted by hearing murmurs and hurried footsteps shuffling across the wooden floor up ahead and then a door shut. I furrowed my brows as my curiosity was naturally peaked, and I slowly made my way up the hallway to investigate. As I walked the murmurs got louder, though they were now muffled since whoever it was went inside a room. After a while I stopped in front of the door where I heard the voices coming from. It sounded like they were talking in English, I only understood a few words here and there. Placing my hand on the door handle, I crouched down then carefully turned the handle and cracked the door open as quietly as possible so I could look in and go unnoticed.

Unexpectedly, I saw the two maids from last night. It seemed that they were trying to push a bed—basically the only thing I saw in the room besides a dresser, a night stand, and a few cans of paint—away from the wall it was against.

"Oh push, Melissa, push!" The black haired maid said. "This is the last room we have to do, so let's hurry!"

"I'm trying, Angela, but I'm getting awfully tired... Why does Mrs. Davis want us to do this again? I don't really see the reason why we have to destroy half of all the guest rooms." The blonde maid, known as Melissa, declared after they moved the bed. I blinked, trying to process what they were saying. Destroy it? I thought they were just remodeling them... Wait, this room looks perfectly fine! Why couldn't I have slept here last night?

"Oh, really!" Angela exclaimed exasperatedly as she picked up a can of paint and began to try and open it. "It's fairly simple to understand! We're only doing this so the guest rooms just look like they are being re—" She was abruptly interrupted by Melissa gasping loudly and pointing a finger in my direction with a look of panic flashing in her eyes. It took me a few moments to realize she was pointing at me. As I stood up in alarm, Angela twirled around to see what the other maid was looking at. When she saw me, a look of slight panic crossed her face also.

"Miss Mai..." The three of us just stood there staring at each other, not knowing what to say. Although the reason for that is probably because I can't speak English all that well and also because I highly doubt they can speak Japanese. Such an awkward position I've put myself into. Well, I guess that's what I get for being curious.

All of a sudden I heard a gasp from behind me, then I felt a hand grasp my arm before they pulled me out the room. Startled, I automatically turned around to see who it was that grabbed me. I was met with suspicious, mahogany colored eyes.

"Mai, what are you doing?!" Madoka asked. Behind her I noticed Luella saying something to the maids before she shut the door and came to join us.

"I...um, I was just looking around..." I admitted scandalously, thinking that they were mad at me. Luella and Madoka shared a worried glance. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"Oh no, dear! Don't worry, we just wish you would have...told us." Luella said. She gave Madoka another quick glance before they both gave me a small smile. 'They're hiding something.' I immediately accused. I just nodded and gave a shy smile back though.

"...But why couldn't I have just stayed in that room?" I asked in befuddlement. "It looks perfectly fine."

"Well, that's because it was going to start being remodeled today... We didn't want to put you in one room and then move you to another the next day; it would just be too much of a hassle." Luella swiftly answered.

"But couldn't you have just waited until after we left to re-do th—" I was once again interrupted but it was by Madoka this time.

"Oh, Mai, we almost forgot the reason we came looking for you!" They both grabbed one of my arms and started guiding me back down the hallway. "We have something to tell you and Naru!"

Uh-oh... The last time they wanted to tell us something we were coming to England. I tried not to let my worried demeanor show. I just could only nod as they started dragging me down the grand stairwell and into the dining room where Naru already was. Luella gestured for me to sit beside him; when I did she began to speak excitably.

"Well," She clasped her hand together and smiled, her eyes sparkling. "a friend of mine and Martin's—you know them Noll, they're the ones who own that advertising company—just informed us that they're having a formal ball for their daughter who is turning sixteen. Since we were in Japan for a week I had no idea about it, but it's in two days I believe. And when my friend heard why we had went to Japan, she was simply delighted! She wanted to meet Mai so of course I said yes—we'll all be going." She gave Naru a pointed look. "And then I thought this would a marvelous way to introduce Mai as your girlfriend to everyone there! Although that might take away their daughter's 'spotlight' since it's her birthday, but to be honest that child is—"

My eyes kept widening more and more as I listened to Luella. We cannot go to that ball party and have her introduce me as Naru's girlfriend! That would just make things waaay worse than they already are! I glanced at Naru. He had his jaw clenched and was glaring at Luella who was oblivious to it as she kept talking; I knew he was trying to keep his composure. I decided I would try to—and hopefully succeed—talk Luella out of it...or just make up excuses. Either would work for me.

"Ah, L-Luella." I timidly interrupted her. She blinked at hearing me speak and looked at me. "I don't think we should tell anyone that me and Naru are t-together right now..." I continued when she gave me a questioning stare. "I mean... we just told you, Martin, Monk, and the others... I don't think we're ready for all of your friends and colleagues to know yet..." I quickly glanced at Naru again before flicking my gaze back to his mother.

"I'm going to have to agree with Mai on this." Naru finally spoke up. "And you can't just make these decisions without consulting Mai and myself first." He reprimanded.

"It's not going to be as bad as you think. All you would get is a congratulations. It's private party—only people with invitations can get in, so if you're worried about reporters or anything like that then don't be." Madoka tried to smooth things over. I decided to give it another try though.

"But you said it was a formal ball... I can't dance."

"Noll knows how so he can teach you or—if he's being stubborn and unwilling to—we can just hire someone to do it." Luella assured with a smile. I opened my mouth to make up another excuse, but I closed it when I realized I couldn't think of any anymore. It seemed they just had everything covered. "I know it may seem a little too soon to you two, but don't you want people to know that you're together and happy?" She asked gently in a motherly fashion. I bit my lip and shifted my gaze to Naru, wondering how he was going to keep calm. But to my complete and utter surprise...

He agreed.

"Yes, Mother." Naru sighed. I thought my eyes would fall out from them being so wide. How could he agree?!

Luella abruptly placed a hand over her heart and grabbed a hold of Madoka's arm, leaning on her for support.

"Madoka, quick! Call the doctor!" She cried dramatically. "I'm losing my mind, I thought I just heard Noll agree with me!" Naru directed a glare over to his mother and it got colder by the second.

"May-maybe you two should go and have fun together..." Madoka suggested when she noticed Naru's mood, but she couldn't stop giggling from Luella's actions. "Oh, Noll! Noll, maybe you should take Mai to see the gardens!" She said in English then winked.

Naru gestured for me to stand. When I did he placed his hand on my lower back and guided me out the room. Once he shut the door behind him I immediately started my questioning.

"Naru, what are you thinking?! Why did you just agree like that?! We can't go to that—" Naru cut me off by covering my mouth with his hand.

"Will you be quiet?" He hissed before removing his hand. He grabbed my wrist and began yanking me along with him. "If we don't go or if we keep making up excuses, their suspicions will only rise higher, Mai. That is if their suspicions are still there from the first few days they met you."

"But Naru—"

"Mai, this whole thing we're doing is so that my parents—and apparently Madoka—believe that we're dating. If that means more people knowing... then so be it." He told me with a tired sigh. I stared at his stoic expression for a few moments as he continued to lead us... somewhere. But I soon knew the answer when he dragged me outside to a huge garden with flowers everything. It had a fountain in the center and stone path walkways between the flower beds. I smiled brightly at the sight and at the beautiful different colored flowers. As my eyes glided across the scenery, I spotted one of my favorite flowers.

"Chrysanthemums!" I exclaimed cheerfully after I pulled my wrist from Naru's grasp and ran over to the flowers. "And daisies too!" I said once I had turned around and saw them too. I reached out and gently brushed my fingertips on the velvet-like petals. I felt the warmth of the sunlight on my hand as I did. It's hard to believe after last night's storm that it's such a beautiful day today.

Then I froze when I remembered Naru was here with me. Slowly, I turned my head to look at him. He was only a couple of feet from me, and he was watching me with this warm look in his eyes. I flushed and glanced back down at the daisies.

"T-They're both my favorites..." I stumbled over my words in embarrassment, knowing I got carried away. Naru gave a nod as his lips began twitching upwards.

"...They fit you." He said in a soft tone of voice. I jerked my head up and blinked owlishly as I blushed deeply. Naru only smirked at my reaction.

"I'm sorry...for all of this..." He suddenly, awkwardly, said after several minutes of silence. I stared at him with semi-shock at him bringing it up again—and apologizing! "You were never suppose to actually get involved, and they were never suppose to come to Japan... or bring us back to England with them. Everything turned out..." Naru trailed off and sighed. "It was never planned to go this far, and now that it has, I can't tell my parents. I don't even want to imagine what Mother and Madoka would do to me." He deadpanned. I laughed and nodded.

"They would undoubtedly be angry... but they would also be sad and disappointed too." I suddenly remembered when me, Luella, and Madoka were at the café in Japan and Luella thanked me for being with Naru... I still hate lying to them, but Naru's right. We're in too deep to tell them now. "I really love your family, Naru... Do us all a favor and never lie to them again." I teased with a smile.

"Mai..."

It wasn't until Naru began leaning in towards me that I noticed he had gotten a lot closer to me. He flicked his gaze from my eyes to my lips in a split second. I subconsciously leaned closer to him—my mind running wild as well as my heart. My eyes fluttered shut as I felt his hot breath on my lips. We were so very close...

"Miss Mai!"

Naru and I jumped apart faster than lightning as we heard the maids calling me. They came running to me, saying Luella and Madoka wanted me right away. They both grabbed my arms—oblivious to my moment with Naru!—and dragged me away before I could say anything. I looked behind me at Naru when we were almost to the house, but he had already had his back turned towards me.

What the heck just happened?

DON'T KILL ME! I know you probably want to reaaally bad right now, but if you do then the story won't ever be finished! *Sigh* Who am I kidding... I hate myself right now for ruining that perfect moment... Anyways hoped you liked the chapter! ^.^ Oh! And if any of you were wondering why Naru told Mai that the flowers 'fit her', it's the flowers meanings!

Daisy - innocence

Chrysanthemum - cheerful, optimism, joy

You guys are awesome! Please review!