A/N: Sorry for the wait! Here is the next chapter! Please review, I love reviews! I own nothing (well, maybe the 18 inches of snow I am buried in at the moment...but that is all...)

Thanks!

"This is an office not a playground. Keep your voices down." Naru stated sternly as he exited his personal office and entered the common area. The others immediately quieted down and settled themselves on the couches.

"Ne, Naru…where is Mai?" Bou-san questioned aimlessly, his hand tapping compulsively on the table. He was used to having his hands occupied by now and it frustrated him that there was no tea to be had.

"She is late" Naru said emotionlessly. Lin spared him a glance and chuckled silently. He was amazed that no one had noticed the addition to his person. To Lin it stuck out like a sore thumb…but that could have just been because he already knew…

"Ah…" Bou-san replied absent mindedly. He wasn't really focused on much and it wasn't really all that uncommon for the part timer to be late.

"We will be heading to the location of the case tomorrow morning…" Naru started without missing a beat, "I want to be packed and ready to leave here no later than nine. I suggest you all get your things in order tonight so we can leave on time. Please pack lightly but sufficiently for at least five days stay if not more." Naru finished, slight annoyance seeping through in his voice, and sat the documents on the table before him with an unaudible sigh.

"Any questions?" Lin finished while looking at the information displayed on his screen. He was sure that the others had questions…most of which were probably less than appropriate and were most likely unrelated to the case itself, but he felt it was necessary to ask none the less.

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Sunlight filtered in through the curtains, evidence of the nearing afternoon. Naru shifted the papers he was holding, a glint from his hand caught the attention of more than one person sitting in the room.

"Naru!" Ayako shouted loudly nearly toppling over the couch as she rose half way up out of her seat, slamming her hand down on the table in front of her. "What is that on your hand!?" She pointed a shaky finger incredulously at his left arm.

"It's a ring." Naru stated matter-of-factly in his tone denoted for speaking to idiots.

"What is it doing on your left hand!?" Bou-san expectantly asked, now fully interested in the situation. He looked like a kid before his birthday or something.

Masako mirrored the question but was much too proud to voice her concerns. Instead she merely shot death glares at the shiny gold ring polluting Naru's pale, slender finger. She could only hope it was some kind of horrible mistake…but the sinking feeling in her gut told her otherwise.

"It is a wedding band…" Naru didn't want to explain this but he decided it was rather unavoidable and therefore he rather get it done and over with now than later, "it belongs on the left hand."

Bou-san and Ayako were about to offer an ear full of protest when the door tentatively opened and Mai slipped inside. She looked uncertain and rather preoccupied when she offered the group a small, almost shy, smile.

"Sorry, I'm late!" Mai was already bustling herself to the kitchen, "I'll make tea right now!"

The others dearly wanted to continue on with what they had been questioning earlier but dared not speak by the look Naru was giving them all. Mai soon returned with a tray filled with cups and a pot of fresh tea.

Mai kneeled next to the table and provided tea to each person present before flipping up the tray to her chest, ready to get up and return to the kitchen.

"Oh my god!" Ayako screamed, "you married Mai!?" She covered her mouth in astonishment. Bou-san followed the miko's line of sight and spotted the simple gold ring present on Mai's ring finger of her left hand. He allowed a silly smile to cross his face.

"Good going Mai!" He congratulated the girl whole heartedly. "You should have told us sooner!"

"Yeah, really!" Ayako huffed, ignoring the deer-in-the-headlights look Mai was currently displaying. "I knew you guys were together! How could you not be after all that happened! I mean you were even living together!"

"Congratulations!" John exclaimed warmly. "You both have my blessings!"

Masako could only nod in agreement with the priest since she was too occupied in trying to figure out just what in the world was going on.

"Really though Jou-chan, you could have said something…" Bou-san patted her head affectionately, "you must have really wanted to surprise us, uh?"

"Gosh, Mai…" Ayako folded her arms, "and here I thought you would talk to me about anything. I mean, I knew you and Naru were together…but this seems so sudden!" She smiled warmly at the girl.

"Hmm…maybe it is sudden because Naru did something…" Bou-san accented the word 'did' and grinned deviously. Everyone, including Masako, knew what was on his mind. Naru remained calm and indifferent. It didn't even seem like he was paying the slightest attention to the conversation taking place around him.

Lin knew however that he was taking in every word. He looked over to the girl in question and noted dully that she had pretty much turned into a zombie. He would be surprised if she was picking up anything around her in her state. She probably had lost it at the word 'marriage' since she was not the most observant person in the world. She probably didn't even notice that she was wearing a wedding ring let alone that she was truly and legally wed to Naru.

Before anything else could be said Naru stood, bringing the stunned girl up with him. "If there are no further questions on the case, we will convene here tomorrow morning at 8:30…please do not be late."

A/N: Yay zombie Mai! I hope you liked this chapter! Let me know! Thanks!