DISCLAIMER - see chapter one

The next day Mai found herself sitting in Monk-san's hospital room, where he sat leaning back casually, his chest bandaged beneath his night shirt while Ayako scribbled on his bed chart wearing a suit with a white lab coat over the top. Mai had never seen the older woman in her work clothes; it was certainly different seeing her as a doctor rather than a priestess.

"How are you?" Mai asked as she sat in the chair and leaned on the bed, looking up at the monk. Monk-san, who had been looking up at the ceiling boredly, shifted his gaze to the teen assuringly.

"Never better." He replied with a grin, which quickly turned to a grimace as Ayako squeezed his shoulder. She squeezed tightly in warning. The monk had been pushing to get out of the hospital since he'd arrived.

"He'll be out in a few days, and not before." Ayako replied, giving Monk-san a firm look as Lin and Naru entered. Seeing the newcomers Ayako drew back to greet them. Monk-san leaned forward as Ayako was conveying the monk's condition to Lin.

"I tried to walk out earlier." Monk-san confessed quietly to Mai, who gave him a stern look. "I know-I know; I should wait to heal up." The older man sighed boredly as he shifted with a grimace. Mai could well understand the boredom; she'd been bored herself stuck in the hospital for days on end. Luckily it seemed the priestess also understood Monk-san, since Mai could see a handheld computer game and a small stack of magazines on the bedside drawers.

"You're lucky nothing vital was hit!" Ayako snapped as she put the chart back and sat on the edge of the bed, blushing as Monk-san put his arms around her and nuzzled her neck. He'd pulled himself into a sitting position, hiding his grimace in Ayako's throat as he trailed his lips across the skin affectionately.

"I know! You've been reminding me all morning." He replied as he drew back a little.

"Stop that!" Ayako ordered, nudging him away, causing another grimace as he fell back against the pillows once more; giving her a somewhat wounded look. "Let's get to it. I think I should take Mai. I have the space, she's already settled at my place and I'm a woman. There are certain things only women can understand." Ayako piped up, the men in the room blanching at that final remark while Mai blushed a little. It really wasn't something she should be embarrassed about, but Ayako was right. There were just some things it was better to talk to another woman about.

"I teed to agree with Ayako, but what should we do about the house? Haru is dead, so it automatically goes to the state until Mai is eighteen." Lin replied as he pulled out the adoption forms he had acquired and looked through them for the fifteenth time. The papers were definitely all there, and all in order. Mai looked up as Naru appeared at her shoulder, leaning back in her seat so that they were a little closer.

"Um…If it's okay I'd like to get rid of it." Mai replied as she thought about walking through those doors again; seeing everything as it was before, but knowing she was alone and her father was never coming home. It would be sad. She felt Naru's hand against her back and looked up; though he wasn't looking at her she could see the faintest colour in his cheeks and knew he was thinking about her.

"Well…that will be something to think about in a couple of years, okay Mai? Just leave it in state hands for now…" Ayako suggested warmly as she looked across at Mai supportively, like the older sister Mai had come to view her as. "For now let's just sort out where you'll live until then, okay? Who do you want to stay with?" She asked more seriously. Well, Ayako is the best option; Monk-san will be around, I'll have someone to talk to about…girl things…and…Naru can visit. She thought, blushing as she remembered how elated she had felt when Naru had proposed to her.

"I'll stay with Ayako for now if that's alright, but I don't want to be any trouble!" She added quickly, the redhead giving her an amused look. She'd known Mai would reply with something like that no matter who she chose.

"Don't be silly Mai, I offered to take you; besides, you're already moved in. It would be a shame to get Houshou to move everything again, right?" Ayako replied with a sweet smile at Monk-san, who glared at her childishly, getting a laugh from both Mai and Ayako.

"Alight; Lin has the papers, you can sign them later. Mai; we should get back to the office. We have a case." Naru said as Lin handed the papers to Ayako, who took them and began flicking through them as she sat on the end of the bed. "Monk-san, we hope you'll be well enough to join us later." He added as they left, Ayako getting to her feet and following. In the room Monk-san sighed as he grabbed his game and flicked the on switch. Alone again! I can't wait to get out of here…

"I'll wait at the car." Lin said as he went ahead with a small bow.

"I have to get back to work too." Ayako added as she walked off into the hospital, soon lost among the crowd of people bustling about the waiting reception. Mai was about to follow Lin when Naru grabbed her wrist and pulled her back gently.

"Mai…In the office yesterday…" He began awkwardly, the honey haired girl feeling her stomach plummet lightly. I had a feeling something like this might be coming…She thought as she put on a somewhat forced sheepish smile, suddenly feeling jittery as she looked at the nervous ebony haired boy.

"It's okay…I understand. You were just saying that to save me, and I appreciate it, but I won't hold you to it, don't worry!" Mai replied with sheepish assurance, feeling more than a little disappointed as she turned to walk away, but Naru pulled her back again. Mai felt her cheeks heat as she was tugged back to face him, surprised to see a rare shade of pink on his pale cheeks as well.

"No; that's not it! Well, it is, but…" He stumbled awkwardly, acting very unlike himself. Naru was never lost for words. What's he trying to say? Mai wondered, looking at him perplexed as he pulled something out of his pocket and placed it in her hand, leaning close to her ear. "I was being serious." He whispered as he took his hand away, leaving a small diamond ring in her hand. Mai looked down at it blushing, looking up at Naru, who was obviously awaiting her answer. Oh god not now! She thought as tears slid down her cheeks, eliciting a warm smile from Naru as he reached up and wiped her tears away. Mai reached up and took his hand with a nod, allowing him to slip the ring onto her finger.

"We'll wait a couple of years…right?" Mai said as they began walking towards the front of the hospital, her hand brushing his nervously as they headed down the corridor. Taking the gentle hint, Mai felt Naru's fingers slowly entwine with hers until he had a gentle but firm grip on her hand.

"It only makes sense to wait. In a couple of years the business should have grown to a reasonable size." Naru reasoned as they passed people by in the corridor. "And of course you'll be a legal adult." He added, though he could hardly talk. He was only just an adult by his homeland's standards. Which was another thing he'd need to sort out; he couldn't marry without introducing Mai to his parents first.

"Good, because I really don't want to rush into things…you know?" She said nervously as they reached the door. Naru opened the door and allowed Mai to walk out ahead of him, quickly following and getting a grip on her slim wrist.

"I never rush into things." Naru replied with a small purr as he pulled Mai into his arms and kissed her. Mai closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss, slightly disappointed as Naru drew back before leaning to her ear, his breath warm on her throat. "I love you Mai." He whispered before walked off ahead, leaving Mai standing stunned in front of the doors. He said it…He actually said 'I love you'…She thought, a blush warming her cheeks as her heart raced. Naru turned back, his cheeks still slightly pink from the admission.

"Are you going to block the door all day or come back to the office?" He asked in his usual business tone, his narcissist mask firmly back in place. Mai gasped and ran to catch up, smiling warmly as she took Naru's arm and walked to the van. Lin had pulled up beside the hospital to wait, his eyes warm as he watched the couple heading his way.

"So when did this case come in?" Mai asked as they approached the van, Naru reaching up and pulling the door open before climbing up. Mai watched the older teen settle on the middle seat as he leaned towards her.

"I told you at Ayako's we had a case." Naru replied as he offered her his hand. Putting her foot on the lower step, Mai allowed Naru to pull her up so that she could sit by the window.

"You mean…my Uncles weren't the clients?" Mai asked in confusion as she reached around for her seatbelt, Naru doing the same in the seat beside her as Lin looked in the rear-view mirror ready to pull away.

"No; I had to reschedule the appointment after what happened. Come on; let's go." Naru said as he leaned back in his seat and took a file from the dashboard. Mai smiled and leaned on his shoulder, allowing her eyes to close as Lin pulled away to head back to SPR.

After word

Hey people, that's it, the Mika epic is finally over, and I hope you all enjoyed it. Please check my name for other fics if you like my work, I have a few on here, and I hope to be adding more soon.

I also want to thank everyone who has read my fic, especially those who stuck with it and reviewed constantly, if it hadn't been for your nagging I never would have finished this, because without reviews you tend to move on and think no one is reading your work, so thank you all so much for your contiued report, and hopefully some of you will read some of my other fics and tell me to finish them ;-) so thank you and I hope to hear from you all soon in the reviews.

Manga-bird xx