Mai woke up when the light of the sun managed to hit her eye, awaking her from her rather drunk slumber. She moaned, and slowly sat up, her hands wrapping around the back of her neck before moving to stretch. It was ten, and she had just had her last day of school yesterday, it was summer vacation, and sitting there for a moment she couldn't help but remember the events from last night. She had been, incredible drunk, and she was surprised that she even remembered any of it, let alone how close Naru came to-something. She blushed at the idea. Naru was confused. Naru viewed her as Gene. Gene. If she accepted his offer to go to England, wouldn't that mean going to his parent's home? She would be the house that Gene grew up in, and the memories he had left behind. She wasn't sure if she could take the shear idea of sleeping in the house of the murdered man. It didn't seem long ago when he would visit her in her sleep, guiding her, now she was guiding herself. And college. What would she tell Yasu? She would be signing up for her classes soon, and who knew how long Naru wanted them to be in England for. A year? A month? A few days?

"I can't get all nervous about this, it's just Naru doing what he has to be" Still, the young woman sighed, and reached up to run her small fingers through her hair. Naru and her were so close to-something, she wasn't sure what, a fight or a confession, she wasn't sure, but they were just teetering on the edge and the person that kept them there was none other than Gene. She couldn't get herself to tell Naru how much she did in fact care about him, how much she would love for him to move in just a bit closer. In Naru's eyes, she was becoming Gene, and in Naru's eyes she was in love with his younger brother. She wasn't. Getting up with a groan from her headache Mai opened her bedroom door and headed down the hallway, looking for the other inhabitant of the home. He wasn't in the bathroom, living room or kitchen and with a bit of surprise she headed to his bedroom, slowly opening the door. He was asleep on his bed, though he still had on his suit from the night before and she chuckled, he must have straight from her bedroom to his and passed out before he should change. She walked over and sat on the edge of his bed, watching the young man breath slowly in and out, his eyes fluttering slightly. She reached out, pausing for a moment before running her hair through his hair, pushing some of it out of his eyes. He looked rather young when he slept, and she smiled at the boy who slept there. Even if he acted like an old man when he was awake, asleep he was a child.

"Mai?" She heard Naru mumble and she leaned over slightly to see the young man peering at her with just as much of a hangover as her. Mai grinned at him, watching his slowly try to sit up.

"Here, I'll get you some aspirin"

"Thank you" He managed to say as she got up and headed to the kitchen, getting two aspirins and a glass of water. She walked back to find Naru pulling off his jacket and he took the water and pills with gratitude. Mai and Naru sat there for a moment before she decided it was finally time to address what they had spoken about last night.

"How long will we stay there?"

"Less than a year, just till they can judge how strong your powers are"

"That's an awfully long time away from school" Mai grumbled, crossing her arms out of annoyance. Naru paused for a moment.

"I'll get you into a college in England"

"But that's an abroad program Naru; I won't be able to get the scholarships I got here"

"I can take care of that"

"Why?" Mai asked, turning toward him. It wasn't a question of why he was paying her tuition; it was a question of why he was doing anything for her at all. Why he was paying for this apartment, why he even cared what happened to her. What did Naru owe her? She never saved him; in fact, their first meeting had been when she hurt his assistant. Naru had no reason.

"Because I'm creating a problem in your education and I'm responsible for it" Naru said, but she knew he was dodging the real question.

"I suppose it's for the best"

"You have a choice Mai" Naru assured her, and he reached out for a moment, the young woman watching him curiously as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her head onto his shoulder. She looked down at her lap, "I didn't want to take you to England at all, but with your current situation" He said, pausing to look down her, "They said we had to do something"

"Who?"

"My parents" Naru sighed and she continued to fiddle with her hands for a moment before asking shyly.

"Do you think they'll like me?" The girl asked, and Naru looked at her curiously before letting out a small chuckle.

"My parents always wanted a girl Mai"

"But I'm causing them so much trouble"

"Whether this happened or not they wanted you come, this was just a good excuse" He said and by the now the aspirin was kicking in and he stood up, the girl taking the notice to leave the room and make them tea. She had just poured the tea when Naru came out from his room, now changed. She handed him one of the cups and sat down at the table.

"I suppose a trip to England would be alright, and a year off from college isn't that strange. It'll help me think about what my degree should be" Mai said quietly and with that, it was settled. After finishing their breakfast she called up Yasu, and though he did tease her about the situation she could tell he was concerned. Mai wasn't the type of person to call something off, let alone to fly across the world. Still, he promised to tell the school and the two said their goodbyes. It was a Saturday, her and Masako had made plans to go to a new ice-cream parlor so she guessed getting everything out right away would be for the best.

"You heading out" Naru asked, watching her slip on her sandals. He peered at her sundress, small roses dotting down it.

"Yes, I'll be meeting Masako to chat" She hummed, and with a moment longer of judging her outfit Naru shooed her out of the apartment and she was gone. Her neighbors had been bothering her even more recently once they noticed that Naru was moving in, and she didn't want to bother by their questions about 'protection' today. Once a good distance from her apartment she slowed down, looking up at clouds. It was a beautiful spring day, and she could even hear the soft buzz of early cicadas.

"Mai! Over here!" Masako shouted and she looked up to see her friend waving to her from across the street, the black haired girl was wearing jeans and a shirt that was suspiously in English and looked a little too big for her. She waved back, waiting till the light turned red. She ran across and almost jumped on the other girl, making her scream. "Are you ready to eat ice cream?"

"I don't believe there is any time I'm not" Mai announced proudly

"What about that time we got stuck in a snow storm with the gang?"

"Nah, I'd still eat it" The young woman announced the girl giggled, remembering the case where they had got stuck on the side of the road in the mountains and it had started to snow. They had all piled up into one car and sat there till morning, Yasu had decided to talk about the beach the entire time. They were to the small café in minutes and went inside, admiring the flavors before finding a table in the back of the restaurant.

"Have you signed up for classes yet?" Masako asked which sent Mai to silence and Masako looked at her confused.

"Naru-wants me to go to England with him. For a year" Mai said and Masako stared at her, a shocked expression. She immediately started to question Mai. How long? For what? What about college? Tution? Parents?

"Well this seems like a stroke of luck" The black haired woman said, leaning back into her chair.

"How?"

"You get to meet his family, spent time at his home, you'll become closer. I mean you only get to spend time together at the office after all" Masako said, licking the dripping ice cream. Mai still hadn't told anyone but Lin about her living situations with Naru, and after last night, how drunk they were, she didn't want the other woman asking about that. Suddenly that reminded her of what Masako was wearing.

"Did you and John go home together last night?" She asked in a whisper and Masako's face turned a bright red.

"John took me to his apartment since I was drunk, that's all"

"And that's why you're wearing his shirt" Mai said vaguely into the air, senting the other woman into a pout. The time went by quickly before they saw they had to part. Masako was filming tomorrow and would be flying up north on Monday for an on-site recording.

"When are you leaving?" The black haired girl asked as they walked out of the restaurant and Mai paused for a moment. While leaving she had seen Naru was on the internet, probably booking tickets

"I'm not sure, probably soon. He would want us to leave as soon as possible"

"You know, I've been sensing power from you recently, I just ignored it since you were like that before"

"Before?" Mai asked

"When Gene was still here, it disappeared but now it's back, expect-"Masako say, trying to form the correct words, "You don't seem to be guided anymore, it's just you doing this"

"I guess that's why it was controlled before"

"Just try to control your emotions" Mai's friend assured her and the two went their separate ways. Mai decided to stop by the store and picked up groceries. She watched children play on the playground for a bit before heading home; she put her groceries on her hip as she unlocked the door. When she made it inside it was dark and she turned on the lights, looking around. It seemed like Naru was nowhere to be found, perhaps he went out for business and she sat down, slipping off her shoes before getting up to put away her groceries. She had started on dinner by the time Naru came in, and he moved to get two plates for them. Lin was eating out with some business friends, so he wasn't joining them tonight.

"Our tickets are for Tuesday"

"Is Lin coming with us?" She asked, spooning out the curry onto the two plates.

"Do you think Madoka would let him not come?" He asked smugly and she silently agreed before the two sat down to eat dinner. They chatted for a bit before finishing up and Mai set to washing the dishes. Naru watched her and she glanced over at him in annoyance.

"What are you looking at?"

"Just noticing that you aren't a little girl anymore" Naru sighed, sipping his tea. Mai stared down at the dishes for a moment before continuing on, and then paused again.

"Well I am older after all-and I never was a little girl in the first place." She pouted and once finished she sat down on the couch beside Naru, hugging a pillow as they watched one of Masako's shows on the television. This was a small case, nothing special but the other investigators were going crazy every time they heard a single sound from the ghost, it made both Mai and Naru chuckle, enjoying the annoyed face of Masako on the television.

"I'll call everyone up to the office tomorrow to tell them about the move" Naru said, glancing up at the clock. It was eleven and time for Mai to head to bed, he got up from the couch and came back with the BMI, wrapping it around her arm. She watched it before looking up at Naru who was writing down the numbers as they came onto the screen. Mai had only met his mother once, when she came to pick up Gene's body. His father hadn't come and she had told he had work to do, sound almost like Naru. Of course, if he was anything like Naru in reality he didn't come because of the heartbreak. Naru had been strong all this time, fighting to find his brother who was dead.

"What kind of things do your parents like?" Mai asked

"Large stuffed hamsters"

"You're such a bully Naru" Mai huffed, but before she could say anything else the small coffee table in front of them flipped and smashed itself into the ground. The two of them stared at the piece of wood now split in two. "Sorry" She said meekly.

"It'll be taken care of soon" He assured her yet she could hear the hesitation in his voice as she headed to her bedroom to go to bed.

96 subcribers! I might just die! You must know how happy I am at every comment you write, I don't care if you're correcting me or asking stupid questions, it's that you stopped to make time to talk to me, some person who could live hundreds of thousands of miles away from you. So, thank you, thank you for being the most adorable and sweet group I have ever met! I am always trying to think of ideas to connect with you guys more, and if you have ideas I will love to hear them, I want us to become a big family together!

Kagome Pureheart oh thank you! I know I have a long way to go with spelling but your comment makes me so happy that you think I'm doing good for a newbie!

Lovenarumai hehe, I know, it was so close! Still, kissing her would get him in trouble with Lin right? I mean he promised not to do anything and he goes into her room and kisses her. Naughty Naru! hehe

Ellabellaboo124, the excitment! hehe, nah, caps make me feel special, don't worry

EverlastingRyo, you are one smart cookie! While there are some plans for Mai in England like you said, truthfully the guilt is from what Lin told him not to do, and that he is coming onto his 'brother's ' girl. Sigh, poor stupid Naru.

Ferb. O. Oche, who knoowwwssss, hehe

Sibylei13, ekkkk you make me so embarassed. I'm still very new and need to keep working on my writing skills but I appericate your review a lot, thank you!

dancingfingers oh goodness he is! haha, I suppose the drunken Naru does what he wants, rather than just thinking about it. Oh I really want a stuffed hamster too, I actually have been drawing bears on my papers recently and as they got fatter they turned into hamsters, which gave me this idea.

RaixBishop oh I considering having her not remember but considering how much trouble it was fo Naru to tell her the first time, I decided not to torture him as much, hehe.

Naruisawesome, oh we both love the idea of Mai being spoiled, hehe. I mean, didn't he sort of spoil her in the show? He gave her very good pay for not much work...ya, poor Naru got his kiss ruined but he was told not to mess with her by Lin after all. If Lin found out, ohhhhhhh Naru would be in trouble! hehe

thearistcrat oh yes, but longer than just a summer. Heheh, I guess she can't resist Naru's charm.

peaches-xenon Yup! I updated faster than I normally do today, hehe

Theunquietdead oh I know! I hope she doesn't it up! (says the writer) And ya, Mai is so naughty but you know- Naru didn't have any plans to JUST kiss her. Hm.

Celtyin yupper, I think working with them might help Mai smooth over her powers a lot! Don't worry though, Naru will be around a lot of the time, gotta make sure his Mai is safe. Heheh.

Once again, thank you for everything you do for me, I am so very grateful to you!