The cold breeze brushed my hair out of my eyes, sending shivers down my spine. Taking a deep breath in, I closed my eyes and focused all of my might into my clasped hands in the best formation I had created. Clearing my throat, I muttered the incantation I had been taught. There was a ghostly whisper that frightened me enough to open my eyes.

White eyes bore into mine and I couldn't help my cry out in fear as memories of Urado's mansion flashed through my mind. It's cold hand reached out for me as I stumbled back and tripped, landing on my butt.

All the lights flashed on as the ghoul disappeared. I groaned and ran my fingers through my hair.

"You did it again Mai." A rather familiar male voice sighed over the head piece I wore.

I looked over at the glass where Lin, Naru and Martin were sitting safely behind.

"Come on in and settle down for a bit." Martin spoke. "We'll run the simulator through a couple of tests before we send you in again."

I let out a silent sigh and nodded my head. "Hai."

I picked myself up off the ground and brushed my clothes off. Stupid simulator. Why did I have to be the testing subject? The projector that produced the image of the ghoul slowly whirred down and finally shut itself off. The damn thing had looked so real!

I found the door that led me to the observation room. Martin and Naru were watching the video again while Lin paid close attention to his lap top.

"You would've had it Mai had you not freaked out again." Naru scolded from the corner as I tried to make a quick escape. I looked down at the door handle that my hand had rested on and sighed.

"I know."

Naru swiveled his chair to give me the death glare he was so well known for. I felt it pin me to the door and refuse to let me leave for now.

"You would be more focused had your life depended on it."

"Son," Martin cut in to stop a fight that I'm sure would've broken out. He gave me a warm smile. "It's fine Mai, we'll try it again later, okay?"

I nodded my head and slipped out the door before they decided to add onto my pressure. Stairs angrily glared at me and I couldn't help but sigh heavily before I proceeded to climb the steps. Why did it have to be in the basement?

I finally got to the door and found it already open with a worried Madoka and Luella waiting on me. Both of the beautiful women were wearing frowns on their faces and had their hands on their hips.

"So, that's where the guys took off with you so early this morning? Poor Mai!"

And before I knew it, Luella had her hands around me and squeezing me hard. I was instantly pulled out of Luella's hug and grasped into Madoka's hug. It wasn't as hard as it had been, but it still took my breath away.

"Did they do anything mean to you? I'm gonna kill them if they hurt your feelings! Those insensitive men!" Madoka cried.

I pushed out of their tight grips and shook my head tiredly.

"No, they didn't do anything. Just running the stimulator again, that's all." I stretched and plopped myself on the kitchen chair and looked around the some-what familiar place to me. It was almost as if the Oliver's house had become my second home during the summer.

Naru had decided that as soon as my school let out for the summer that it would be best if he returned home to visit his family again. But I think Luella threatened him to bring me along since we were together now. Just the very thought of me being with Naru brought a smile to myself. It had been only a month ago and things were running as smoothly as they could.

"Well," Luella started, interrupting my thoughts. "I believe we need to rescue you. Let's go shopping!"

Madoka was nodding enthusiastically behind her brunette friend.

"Yes Mai, let's at least get you out of the house!"

I looked worriedly at the door to the basement again and debated. How mad would they be if I just snuck off without them? The two mischievous women must've noticed my nervous glances because before I knew it, I was being dragged to my feet and out the door in a flash.

"Wait!" I cried and tried to break away.

"No more! We'll go to the park if we have to, but you're getting a break!" Luella snapped and I knew her decision was made as the metal gate slammed shut behind us.

'Oh god s, Naru is gonna kill me!'

And not even five minutes later, my cell phone began to ring. I gave the two women a glance but they just smiled as Luella held her hand out. I pulled it out and found Naru's number on the screen. I cringed at the thought of his angry voice and reluctantly answered it.

"Hello?"

"Mai, where the hell did you go? We're ready to run the tests again." An angry voice snapped at me.

Luella frowned, obviously hearing what Naru said and snatched the phone away from me.

She started having a conversation with him in English. I still wish I had taken that English class I was offered at the beginning of the school year. Luella snapped the phone shut and smiled triumphantly as she handed it back to me. Shaking my head I let out a small sigh.

"And what did cranky pants say?"

Smiling to herself she brushed the hair away from her eyes.

"He said you can have the day off!"

I raised an eyebrow and studied the woman's face. She was lying, that much I did know, but I wasn't about to press any further for details. Sometimes, it was best to just stay ignorant.

The warm summer breeze kissed my bare arms as we walked down the pavement towards the park. Birds were chirping happily in the afternoon sun as they fluttered in between trees chasing one another. Madoka said something to Luella and took off towards an ice cream stand. Luella laced her arm around mine and led me to a bench that sat under a large oak tree and folded a leg underneath her as she sat.

"Isn't it great out here today?" She asked as she looked around the busy park full of children and families laughing. Music from a guitar player echoed through the trees. I couldn't help but to look around. It was so full of life so cheerful. The feeling was rather contagious.

Madoka came back with three large ice cream cones in her hands and handed one to Luella and myself. I took it happily and licked the sweet coldness.

"It's really good." I commented before taking another lick.

"It should be. Its home made. And I paid a lot of money for it." Madoka crinkled her nose at the thought of her losing the money.

Luella laughed and took a bite out of hers. "Madoka, why did you buy it then if you thought it was expensive?"

"Because I can afford it. Now shut up and eat. Now Mai," Madoka turned her attention to me. "What is it that the guys are having you do down in the basement? I know it's the stimulator and all, but I wanna know what they're up to."

"I think they're trying to see if I actually have any paranormal abilities other than astral projection. They keep having me try to use the protection mantra that Monk taught me to 'get rid of' the spirit. But for some reason, I can't seem to get rid of it."

Luella's smile fell a little bit.

"It seems like they're trying to prepare you to go out in the world on your own or something. Tell me Mai, what are your plans after high school?"

I sighed and leaned back in the bench, thinking. What was I going to do? Did I want to leave the SPR? After all that we had been through? I don't think I would find a job I enjoyed even better. Slowly I shook my head.

"I still want to go to college, but I don't think I'd want to stop working for Naru honestly."

Madoka and Luella shot each other a grin and nodded their heads in approval.

"Really? I would be sick of working for Naru by now." Madoka teased. "He can be such a pain."

I shrugged. "Well, I just know how to deal with him by now. I mean, after all we've been through together, it would be kind of pointless to leave after I graduate. Besides, he's helped me realize more opportunities in life other than what I've been offered."

"Well, that's good. It means that you won't be stuck with doing something you don't enjoy for the rest of your life, like working as an assistant with a jerk for your boss." Luella frowned. "Oh wait, you already do."

The three of us giggled and finished up the rest of our ice creams before they collapsed on our hands. Luella was the first one to stand and wipe her hands clean on a napkin.

"Well, I think it's best if we head back before the boys send out a search team." She commented.

The two of us nodded and stood from our comfortable spot on the bench. Luella and Madoka linked arms with me and we headed back to the mansion with a bounce in our steps. It was good to be back in England with the Davis family. It made me feel a little at home. But as we reached the gates, the two ladies jerked me to a stop, both of them with their eyes wide as they gaped at who was in front of us.

It was an older female version of Naru and Gene. Her black hair was long and pulled into a strict bun. Piercing blue eyes glared at us from underneath her short bangs and not a single sign of smiling showed. Luella and the strange woman opened their mouths to say something, but we heard the door open and shut followed by Naru's voice.

"Mother?"

Both of the ladies turned at the same time to answer him.

A/N: HELLO EVERYONE! I'M BACK! I missed you all. I'm really sorry it took me so long to update. I had a lot of stuff happening and all! But now that school is FINALLY winding down, I'll be able to get a chance to attend to stories and my lovely, faithful readers such as yourselves. You have no idea how much I've missed you guys. Especially my cookie givers. Lolz. Uh, yeah. This chapter? I have honestly no idea where I'm going with this story. Poo, right? Okay, let me rephrase this: I have a semi-idea as to where the story will head. But I'm warning you now, updates may take a while. So, what's going on with you all? My brother is graduating this Saturday! Yeah! And then I'll be a senior next year! I'm a major band geek that signed up for Band, Jazz Band, and AP Music theory and AP Lit, Pre AP Chem, Algebra III and Art I. Believe it or not, I signed up for ART! Yeah! Now I'll spend four weeks drawing my hand. Ugh… So, give me updates, I wanna know what you think, how you are, and all that fun stuff. I'm gonna try to do a Sherlock Holmes fanfic as well, but I don't know how soon I'm gonna get that up. So, cookies are awesome, but Llamas are awesome! :D If any of you guys make AMVs, I have a proposition for you. Hint hint… But tell me what you think- AND BE FREAKIN' HONEST!

Love forever more,

Jazzy