A/N: GAH! Finally! I finished this story!!!!!!!!!!!! So, so sorry it has taken me this long and I hope everyone that reads this will enjoy it! I own nothing sadly!

"You need to talk to your parents about Mai."

"It's not necessary." Naru said as he sat a folder of papers down and took a seat at his desk. "They have no need to know and it is no concern of theirs anyway."

"Naru!" Lin said sternly, fixing the younger man with a glare. "Do you have any idea what the guests are saying?"

Naru hesitated. It was not like he was trying to turn a blind eye…

"Are you listening to me Naru?" Lin moved closer. "You have to explain things properly before the gossip and rumors get out of hand."

Naru sighed. "It is not like Mai can understand what is being said anyway. It will blow over soon enough."

"Mai is not stupid." Lin said flatly. "She can see what is going on around her. You should know better than anyone…she is very sensitive to the feelings and presence of others. She knows the meaning behind all the murmurs and looks."

"I know…" Naru trailed off. "What were they saying?"

It was Lin's turn to sigh. "Does it really matter?" The intense stare and unending silence told Lin that it did indeed matter. "They are curious about her if anything. They want to know her background and where she came from."

"That is not derogatory; Mai does not need to concern herself over such worthless chatter." Naru responded irritably.

"She is plain. Not too bright looking either. She can't even speak English; just what is the level of her education anyway. She doesn't suit Oliver in the least. Hardly worthy of a Davis, especially Noll; he must have not introduced her out of embarrassment. Rumor has it she knew Eugene as well; she must be out for money. A commoner of such low status as no right being here, who does she think she is?" Lin paused and looked at Naru's stunned expression. "Shall I go on? There is more."

"…" Naru paused and let his head drop…letting the words sink in. He had no idea such things were being said even though Lin reiterated almost verbatim. He knew there were already rumors…but not anything like this. "No need…" Naru finally conveyed softly. "I will have a talk with my parents immediately."

"Good." Lin smiled. "However, Mai is waiting for you in the garden. Why don't you go and sit with her until your parents become available? You can talk to them then."

Mai cupped her hands over her mouth tightly in fear of saying something she would regret. She had merely come to ask for directions to the garden, she didn't mean to overhear. She could barely make her feet move away from the door but she managed somehow to make it to a nearby hallway.

Mai let her body slide down the wall and crumple to the floor in a lifeless fashion. She couldn't believe what she had just heard, she couldn't force her hands from her mouth, and she couldn't control her wild emotions. It was true…she was not blind nor was she stupid…she already knew of the ill will felt towards her. Learning what exactly was being said was like getting punched in the stomach leaving her breathless and in pain.

Mai never knew there could be such a large difference between knowing someone disliked you and actually having it said out loud what your faults were. It hurt; it hurt more than she ever thought it could. Deep down Mai knew…knew that things like that were probably being said but she didn't want to acknowledge it. It felt like if she acknowledged it…then somehow, someway…it would make it true.

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes but Mai refused to let them. This was no time to cry, no time to be defeated. She had been through so much worse than this. She could overcome such a matter. Mai quickly composed herself and rushed off toward the garden. She wouldn't let such petty words get to her…though it didn't make it any less hurtful…

"Is she?" Naru said distractingly as he stood and made his way to the door. "Meet with her and tell her I will be along shortly."

"Understood" Lin watched Naru's fleeting form, undoubtedly off in search of his parents…or to murder the gathered relatives. Either way, he was not going to let what was being said about Mai pass unanswered.

-x-

"What is it that you wished to speak to us about, Oliver?" Martin looked mildly interested as he sat next to his wife. "Can't this wait?"

"I told you this afternoon that it could not and yet you felt the need to postpone it until now." Naru said irritably. They had pushed him aside when he sought them out before meeting Lin and Mai in the garden; he was not going to let it happen a second time.

The garden…Naru clenched his fist tightly. Just the thought made Naru tense uncomfortably. When he had met with Mai, there was obviously something troubling her…something was different and it bothered Naru even now. She was silent and preoccupied; not focusing on anything at all. Usually a setting like his family garden would have distracted her enough to forget anything else…but the scenic garden did not even seem to dissuade her.

"Alright, what is it?" Luella said complacently. She already had a pretty good idea what it was going to be about given the circumstances, but she wanted to hear it from Noll's mouth directly. "We are due back in the formal living room soon considering dinner just ended, so make this quick."

"They can wait." Naru said sternly as he paced before his parents. "Mai is my wife and that will not change. Issues concerning her also concern me; therefore, I need to make it clear that Mai is not to be ridiculed or scorned. Those who continue to talk badly about her will have to answer to me. I suggest that you make this point clear to those relatives before I take the matter into my own hands and talk to them myself. I doubt you wish for me to tarnish any withstanding reputation or my reputable name."

"Oliv-"

"Talk to them. I highly doubt you actually want me to make a scene." Naru said ardently, emphasizing his point with his tone of voice.

Taken aback, Luella and Martin sat in silence a moment before they dared speak again. "Oliver…" Luella started out softly. "We know Mai is important to you, it is clear that you care for her deeply. But, there are things that we wish to know as well. You haven't exactly been very forthcoming about her."

"It is not necessary to know more." Naru reasoned his irritation evident in his response.

"Unfortunately that is not the way the world works." Martin looked Noll in the eye, holding his gaze with a firm resolve. "You are still supported by this family which still makes you a part of it. We have a right and a responsibility to know information that concerns you. I am aware that you wish for your independence but to keep such important news from us is ridiculous!"

"You did not need to know. Whom I choose to love and marry is my decision and mine alone." Naru glared defiantly back at his father. He knew that it was probably an unwise decision to keep his relationship with Mai a secret but he feared that his parents would act exactly how they were at the present if they knew. They would dwell on needless and worthless information that in the grand scheme of things would not matter one bit…though his parents would deem them necessary. He didn't want Mai to go through that, yet here he was shamelessly making her go through such a mess.

Ignoring his son's glare, Martin decided to get to the point. "Lin informed us when you hired an assistant. He also informed us that rather than administrative work, she was active in the field and that she may even have psychic abilities. She seems diligent but clumsy and quick to react. Lin reported on several occasions that she was injured on a case or some other misfortune would befall her; in fact, if I remember correctly, it was not that long ago that a significant hospital bill came in for her care. She almost died. But, throughout all these correspondences there has never been any indication that you and her were anything other than superior and subordinate. Yet, Lin approves of your marriage and even helped you with it…which means there is something behind it. Explain this to me."

Exasperated, Naru took a deep breath and sighed before he carefully and meticulously decided on his words. "Mai liked me from the very beginning…or at least it was obvious she thought I was good looking. She is the type of person you could never get tired of…her passionate emotion, endless stupidity, and carefree likeable personality. I could read her like a book and for some reason I was intrigued by her and I still am. I do not know why but I wanted her by my side." Naru explained evenly. He had to make them understand that he needed her…now more than ever.

"The longer she was with me, the more time we spent together…I started to realize things I never had before; things I never thought I would feel. Did you know that Mai knew Gene?" Naru asked solemnly almost remorseful in his tone of voice.

Luella looked shocked for a moment but then she recalled the events when Mai had first arrived at the house. She had commented about the piano they once had in the room. It seemed obvious that the girl knew things she should not, and could not, have known. "How is that possible?"

"I do not fully understand it myself, but Gene himself was the one that informed Mai about many things. It seems he shared more than I am even aware of yet. Mai was the one that led us to his body, Mai was the one that made this funeral possible and yet she is suffering in more ways than one. You are both so quick to build suspicions that you have failed to see what Mai has done for you. If it was not for Mai, if it was not for my relationship with her…Gene would not have been found and this funeral would never have taken place. Have either of you thought about that?" Naru paused a moment and let his words sink in. He was met with silence…a long awkward silence.

"I know both of you were probably thinking along the same lines as those relatives. So what if her status and social class is different? So what if she is just a normal high school student? So what if her family background is common? So what if she is an orphan that had to support herself alone? So what if she is plain and ineloquent? All that matters is that I love her and that I will do so for the rest of my life." Naru finished firmly.

Luella sighed and hesitated. Part of her was elated that someone had finally torn down Oliver's defenses and was able to make him say such things, make him show such emotion…but her rational side and her parental side knew better. The side of her that had become a parent when the boys had come home, the side that had watched over them as they grew…was not able to embrace such a thing. "You say this now Naru, but you are both so young; too young."

"That's right Oliver." Martin agreed with his wife. "Are you really ready for the commitment of marriage? Are you ready to support another person? Talking a wife is not something you can do on a whim."

"That is for me to decide. What is done is done." Naru reasoned. "You should both understand me by now…I do not act on whims."

"Yes, but is Mai ready for this? Is she ready to fully except this situation like you have? Is she ready to toss away her old life and start anew?" Luella asked carefully. There were so many implications, more than she could even bring to mind.

Naru remained silent. His parents had just brought up the one issue he did not want to acknowledge, the issue he did not want to think about. The only reason he was allowed to stay and work in Japan was for the sole purpose of finding Gene and bringing him home. Once he was found, the office would be closed and he would move back home just as planned…but that was in the past. Things changed. He didn't want to leave Mai and he enjoyed working in Japan. The cases were interesting and challenging. He had capable and reliable co-workers that wormed their way into his life.

But the bitter fact remained that he was dependent on his parents. They were the ones that opened the Japanese office and funded the entire operation. Without their support, there was virtually no way he could fund it himself. He was trapped.

"She is waiting for me as I am sure your guests are as well. We can continue this later." Naru said unemotionally as he exited the room. He hated having to tuck tail and run but he did not have any other option. He needed to talk to Mai. Everything had happened so quickly and without warning, being pulled to one thing after another, they didn't have a chance to talk things out. It was an unavoidable conversation.

-x-

Quickly making his way down the hall, Naru paused at the threshold where he had left Mai after dinner. Lin would surely know where she was, but he didn't feel like taking the time to seek him out. With a quick touch of the wall, Naru was off in the direction of the garden.

The dim hues of dusk seemed to highlight Mai's profile as she sat alone under a trellis of blooming flowers. Naru approached slowly yet not slow enough to dull his determined pace. "Mai" he called out simply as he neared the table.

"Naru…" Mai smiled brightly as he took a seat across from her. "This garden is truly amazing…so beautiful." Mai poured a cup of tea and sat it before him, observing him quietly. He looked preoccupied, she knew that look…

Naru opened his mouth to speak, but he had no words. He didn't even know where to start. For as intelligent as he was, he could not find a single word to explain what he wanted to say.

"If you have something to say to me, just spit it out." Mai said impatiently. "I know that look…you have something to say yet you don't know what. If it is about earlier, I am fine now. I was just a little shocked but I am over it now. So, don't worry."

Naru looked at her in question but let it slide. "I wanted to talk to you about this whole situation. Everything has happened so quickly and we never really had a chance to talk things over."

"I can't argue there…" Mai said in mild sarcasm. She knew that they needed to talk; it was only a matter of time.

The look in Mai's eyes, the dimming backdrop, and the sweet fragrance of the garden where much too dramatic for Naru to collect his bearings but he had to…he had to say what was on his mind. "I know how hard it has been for you…and I am sorry to have put you through all this hardship for my sake. I am really very sorry but I am also incredibly thankful to you. Without you…if you were not by my side…I don't know how I would have made it through Gene's funeral." Naru dipped his head, embarrassment was beneath him.

"You don't need to apologize…nor do you need to thank me. If anything, I should be the one thanking you…I don't deserve your love. You are much too good for me." Mai placed a reassuring hand atop Naru's. "If you were not here, if you were not there for me…I would never have been able to make it through Gene's funeral or stay in that house."

"Are you aware of the situation in which I was allowed to stay in Japan?" Naru asked looking up to meet Mai's emotional gaze. Her silence was indication enough that either she did not know or she was pretending not to. "I was allowed to g to Japan to search for my brother which I had seen killed in that foreign land. My parents opened the office and they provide all the funds necessary for me to stay there and operate. Now that Gene has been found…"

Naru trailed off. He needed a moment; it was a difficult thing to say after all. Now that Gene had been found, his parents wanted him to stay and the office would be closed. Mai surely knew that, or at least had the inkling. He needed to make it clear.

"Mai…I wan-"

"I want to go home." Mai interrupted suddenly before Naru had the chance to finish asking her to stay with him in England. Taken aback, Naru remained silent waiting for her to finish. He was too stunned to say anything in question.

"I want to go home…" Mai repeated softly; saying the words much calmer than before. "I am tired, so very tired and I miss home. I did what I came to do…what I was asked to do…but I can't help but feel like I am imposing on you and your family. They look at me with such looks and your parents are wary of me. This house brings back memories I rather not recall ad I can't help feeling sad when I am here…"

"Mai…" Naru started but Mai stopped all words effortlessly by the expression on her face. It was as if she were on the brink of tears yet firm in her determination and conviction. Defiant yet fragile, like she would break at any moment

"Can I please go home ahead of you?" Mai pleaded in a shaky voice. "I feel like I should let you have some time with your family…some time to sort things out without my intrusion. It feels like you are unable to have a decent conversation with me around…"

"You are not a burden nor are you an imposition. You should know that by now." Naru voiced in a rather displeased tone.

Light laughter startled Naru as he sat and watched Mai giggle in response. "I am sure you didn't feel that way when I first started out!" She laughed a bit more, "But really Naru, I don't belong here, I don't belong in this world. I can't understand English…I'm stupid, I know. I can't help but feel inferior here." There was no denying the truth that she didn't belong. It was a completely different culture and environment than she was used to; they were all rich, educated, and refined. She couldn't even compare.

Mai didn't want to admit it, but the idea of family would not leave her mind. It plagued her more than it should have; what family Naru had and she, even though in name she was part of it…in practice she could come nowhere near it. She didn't feel like she was a part of it.

"Ignore those unnecessary feelings. The only thing of consequence is what I think, and I think you are stupid for feeling the way you do. So stop it before you irritate me any more than you already have. You just have to remem-"

"I want to go home, Naru." Mai looked directly into Naru's stunned face. She had cut him off before she even realized, but it had to be said. She felt lost and alone and there was only one thing she could think to do, only one option…to run. "I want to return to Japan…" she reiterated softly.

"Is it too painful?" Naru asked calmly yet with concern. He knew it was going to be hard bringing Mai here but he thought it was what she wanted; what was for the best. But now…how could he possibly ask her to stay with him?

"No…" Mai smiled. "No, nothing of the sort I promise. I am truly grateful to you for brining me here and allowing me to see your home and meet your parents. It makes it real and tangible…something I never thought would happen…but…" Mai trailed off as she let her gaze wander.

What did she really want to say? Yes, she was happy to be here and happy to be with Naru but she was glaringly reminded of the fact that she did not belong here. She felt uncomfortable and it seemed she already had overstayed her welcome. She was ready to go home; away from scrutinizing eyes and idle gossip. She had already fulfilled her promise and was able to oversee Gene's funeral…it was more than enough already.

"…I miss home. It's uncomfortable staying here any longer when I can't understand what is being said around me nor can I be of any help to you in matters that concern your family. I much rather be in Japan…I want to see the others and let them know I am okay. I know this is selfish of me…but…" Mai locked eyes with the boy attentively listening before her, "please let me go home…"

There was not denying that look. Mai had already made up her mind to return home; there was no reason to ask her to stay now. If she knew what he was going to ask and was merely avoiding the subject…remained a mystery. Maybe that was for the best. He would have time to deal with other matters and it would allow Mai time to cool down. It was presumptuous of him to rush such a question anyway. She didn't need to think about something like that right this instant, nor should he have to think about it either. There were still many things that had to be dealt with in Japan; he couldn't just up and leave this very moment without returning.

"Alright, Mai." Naru voiced reluctantly. Agreeing to let her go home was probably the best thing he could do for her now. "I will inform Lin and have him make the arrangements."

Mai smiled though it was a conflicting smile. She knew what his situation was and she knew what was going to be asked of her…but she was just not ready to face such a decision, especially not while in such an environment. She hated herself for wanting to leave since her heart wanted to never be away from Naru's side again…but she had to…

"Thank you Naru…" she said softly.

"I will be along as well shortly…once I tie up some matters with my family" he assured her less than earnestly.

"Okay" Mai breathed. She looked relieved and calm. Naru was happy to see her like that. It had been some time since she had seemed so at peace.

He let his eyes slip closed and a small smile grace his lips; Naru felt so at peace…it would be okay…

A/N: Please review and let me know what you think! The next chapter is the last chapter of the story (but there will be an epilogue which I am working on now). Look forward to it! Thank you for reading!