Since those who had commented on the dilemma I posted on facebook said I update the story...

"Um," Mai said, hugging her pyjamas.

She decided to unpack only the things she would need for that night, and her clothes for the next morning since she was planning to move out and look for a place to stay the next day.

Mai stood on the door, holding the oversized shirt where she wrapped her toiletries in. She could barely look at Naru, who was fixing the buttons on his blue-striped night-shirt while seated on the bed.

"Second door to the right," Naru said, knowing what Mai wanted to ask.

Mai nodded. "Thank you," she said before running out the room to the washroom.

The bathroom was as spotless as the entire house.

The tiles were white. The counter top was in black granite – decorated with small vases of fragrant white flowers, candles, soaps and shampoo bottles. The washroom mirror – a giant, reflective rectangle pasted on the wall – covered the area of two porcelain lavatories on the counter. A few steps further inside were two cubicles – one for a toilet and another for a shower. Past the cubicles was the marble tub that was big enough for two people to bathe in.

Mai took a deep breath, smelling the clean but gentle scent of the bathroom.

Takumi wasn't that neat with his apartment. Takigawa was worse. So to see a house maintained by Naru and Lin this clean was just… amazing!

Mai walked to the lavatory and began to brush her teeth. Even the mirror was clean. It was as if it wasn't used at all.

She frowned at her reflection.

Just how long had Naru been staying in Japan with Lin? How did they know she was having problems with her apartment? Why didn't Lin stop Naru from letting her spend the night in their apartment?

And she was going to sleep in Naru's bedroom!

Blood rushed to her cheeks. Mai quickly spat the bubbles out from her mouth and washed her face until the shame went away.

Sure the house wasn't as grand as the mansion in Amsterdam but a house that spacious most likely had some guest room of sorts. Why wasn't she just allowed to sleep there?

Maybe Lin was using it. And he and Madoka would be sharing it later when they got back from the wherever they were at the moment.

Perhaps that was why she had to sleep in Naru's bedroom.

Mai nodded. That was a wrong time to ask for Naru's help – not that she even asked him for one.

Mai went on to use the shower, afraid to stain Naru's black bed sheets with dusts from her apartment.

Naru was already sleeping on the bed when Mai got back.

She smiled at the peaceful face Naru had always worn when he had fallen in the arms of slumber.

Mai carefully walked to the wardrobe, tucking her clothes and toiletries in a bag before heading to the bed. She sat gently on the cushions, but it was just too soft to conceal her movements.

She winced as Naru turned his head away from her.

Mai froze, watching for any sign that might tell her she woke him up - There was none. She sighed in relief and carefully tucked herself under the covers.

The night was cold, probably because of the air conditioner Naru kept in the room. It was turned low so Mai hadn't regretted pairing her worn Capri pants with Takigawa's old shirt.

She closed her eyes, snuggling into the warmth of the black quilt protecting her from the cold.

Thoughts and memories of the day that passed swarmed her consciousness – images of the meeting with the SPR team, rumours about the old building being replaced by tennis courts and library buildings that students thought would sure be haunted once they were built on the site, faces of the people she met while working in the case…

Naru.

Mai opened her eyes – her heart pounding hard against her chest.

She couldn't sleep.

Mai stared at the darkness – the trace of the lampshade on the bedside table… and listened… to the hum of the air conditioner… to the silence in the room… to the rhythm of Naru's steady breathing.

Mai sighed.

For the past ten months, she wanted nothing but go back to this state – the state when she slept beside him and the state when she was sure she would see his face in the morning. She imagined it to be the most beautiful day of her life – the day she knew she belonged!

Mai felt a sting in her chest. But she didn't belong anywhere that night. She merely- She was taking refuge in Naru's house.

Mai slowly turned around, glancing at Naru's back.

They were sharing the black quilt, but a space between them kept her from feeling his warmth.

She slowly reached out her hand to touch his back. Her vision blurred as her fingers dropped on the bed.

She no longer had the right to do that. She threw it away the moment she sneaked away from him that night. She lost it when she stopped trusting him – when she started to think she should let him go.

Mai turned to face Naru's back, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Naru," she whispered, though she knew he wouldn't hear her. Or perhaps he would – in his dreams… where he would wake up the next morning without a memory of what she was about to tell him.

"I know you said you don't hate me," she continued. "But… You should. You know you should. I hate myself… For letting go… For not trusting you… For not-"

Mai wiped her tears and took several deep breaths to keep the bed from trembling with her shoulders.

"I didn't want you to work as an assistant bartender in Yasuhara's bar," Mai whispered, shutting her eyes. "I didn't want you to go home everyday to a rat hole. I didn't want you to look at those professors in the university with regret in your heart. I didn't want you to just dream about your parents when you want to talk to them."

Mai wiped her tears again. "I wanted you to- I wanted you! And I wanted you to be happy. Being with me… won't make you happy in the long run. So I-"

Soft, warm lips pressed themselves against Mai's. She froze – her brown eyes wide open as the warmth spread through her veins.

Arms slinked around her waist, pulled her close against the body she only dreamed of feeling again.

The pressure on her lips lifted.

"Idiot," Naru whispered – his minty breath tickling Mai's lips. "You really think I won't get a decent job with my credentials?"

Mai frowned at Naru – her eyes adjusting to the darkness. It was then that she realized how warm her face was and how he was already hovering over her. "Th-that wasn't my point!" she said. "Your parents would-"

"They're not the ones who'll live with your nagging and idiotic thinking for the rest of their lives," Naru said.

"I DO NOT NAG!"

"Really?"

"REALLY!"

"What are you doing now?"

Mai froze and looked away. "I'm… explaining," she muttered.

Naru chuckled.

Mai stiffly looked at him again.

Naru was awake! He heard what she said – all those stupid things she said! And he was…chuckling?

"I was planning to introduce you to my parents the next day," Naru said. "That was part of the plan. They only judged you because they didn't know you, and they weren't open-minded enough to meet you. When the thought of me being serious about you hit their senses, they loosened up a little. And that was the time I was supposed to introduce you to them. But lo and behold, you left me."

Mai wiped her teary eyes. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I should have trusted you."

"You did," Naru said. "And you loved me – that was one thing I didn't really understand until you left me."

Mai looked confused at Naru.

"The attention and the affection were nice," Naru said. "I enjoyed it a lot. But I could have felt that way with any other girl who gave them to me."

Mai couldn't help but frown at the thought of Naru being hugged and kissed by another girl – by his supposed fiancée and … Masako?

"But the pain you gave me when you left?" Naru said. "That was fatal. And I couldn't see any other woman who could do that to me, so consider yourself lucky."

Mai froze. She didn't know if she would feel guilty or happy at what he said. "You… didn't seem like you didn't hate me," she said.

"I didn't," Naru said. "I thought you speak Japanese."

Mai glared at him. "I knew you told me you didn't hate me, but that wasn't what it felt like! You were – not that I have a right to complain about it – so… far away."

"I was giving you a leeway," Naru said.

"Leeway..?"

"You left with another man," he said. "I saw you with yet another man in your school. I was looking at how you've moved on."

"But I haven't moved on!" Mai exclaimed. She gasped when she realized what she said and quickly covered her face.

"I thought so," Naru sighed. "I just wanted to be sure. You're not the only one who can go on 'selfless mode' you know. Just don't ask me about it again because I'm not going to admit it after tonight."

Mai slowly moved her fingers away from her eyes, peeping at Naru through her hands. "You thought I was involved with Takumi-kun?"

"No," Naru said. "Knowing you, you would be too idiotic to realize he was crazy about you, and that you could be involved with him."

"JERK!" Mai snapped, folding her arms over her chest.

"I'm right though, aren't I?"

Mai looked away, sure that her face was red again. "In some way," she mumbled.

Naru smirked.

"You stalked me!"

"No, I didn't."

"How did you know I needed to move out from my apartment?!"

"Ask Kaiba-san," Naru said, before locking his lips into hers. He then lay back down beside Mai and pulled her to sleep on his chest. "Good night. You have classes tomorrow."

"Not that early," Mai muttered, frowning and wrapping her arms around Naru. "What does Takumi-kun have to do with this?"

"A lot," he said. "I need to sleep and so do you."

Mai sighed and listened to the steady beat of Naru's heart. She smiled.

She was right. It felt great to be in his arms. It was as if she was finally home.

"Neh, Naru," Mai whispered.

Naru grunted.

Mai shyly looked at the stripes on his shirt, trying to not feel too embarrassed at what she was about to do. "What are we?"

"That depends," Naru answered.

"...On what?" Mai asked, looking confused at Naru.

Naru opened his eyes and looked at her. "If I asked you to marry me, would you marry me?"

"Of course!" Mai said, without thinking it over. She froze when she realized what he asked her.

Naru smirked. "Then we're engaged," he said.

"What?! NO! Naru you-"

But Naru's lips had shut her mouth. Mai eventually gave up and rolled her eyes.

"You'll make more sense in the morning," she muttered, burying her face against his chest.

Naru chuckled.

Madoka stared at the locked door on the hallway, frowning at the silence looming in the second floor.

"What's wrong?" Lin asked as he opened the door to his room.

"Are you sure Mai-chan is there already?" Madoka asked.

"I didn't see any sign that she walked out on Naru again," Lin answered.

Madoka turned to look at Lin – clearly annoyed. "Then why is that room so silent!" she hissed.

Lin stared at Madoka for a moment, before he burst into chuckles. "You're a bad influence to Noll," he said walking into his room.

"What is that supposed to mean?!" Madoka said, following him.

Lin just laughed.

Lin woke up that morning with the sound of something sizzling from the kitchen.

He glanced at the alarm clock on his side table and frowned.

Why would Naru mess with the kitchen at four in the morning?

Lin sighed and slowly sneaked away from Madoka, who had turned him into her personal pillow that evening.

"Koujo..?" she grunted.

"I'm just going to the washroom," he said, kissing her cheek.

Madoka nodded – her eyes still shut – and snuggled close to Lin's pillow.

Lin got off the bed and hobbled to the door. He reached for his crutch.

They opened the office at nine in the morning so there was no reason why Noll would-

Lin froze as he opened the door, and the scent of stir-fried noodles touched his nose.

Naru didn't know how to cook stir-fried noodles or at least, he hadn't tried to cook it.

Lin closed the door behind him and quietly walked down the stairs.

"Why don't you just go back to bed?" he heard Mai's voice echo from the kitchen.

"Why don't you just go back to bed?" he heard Naru say. Naru didn't like waking up that early. "Lin's not going to poison your breakfast."

Lin raised a brow. Mai and Naru were in the kitchen. Mai was cooking something in the stove while Naru was sitting slouched on the kitchen isle.

"That's not the reason why I'm cooking this!" Mai hissed.

"I know," Naru said. "You're cooking that for him as a peace-offering. Why don't you just apologize to his face?"

"I did!" Mai snapped. "He still hasn't forgiven me."

Lin smirked. So it really bothered her that much?

"He will never forgive you if you mess up the kitchen," Naru said.

"I know how to use a kitchen," Mai said. "I know how to cook!" She swiftly took the stir-fried noodles out of the wok and placed it on a platter. She then gave it to Naru. "Try it."

"I'm a lab rat now?" Naru asked.

Mai scowled. "Can you just taste it for me? Please?"

"Where on earth did you even learn to cook this?" Naru asked before getting a pair of chopsticks and tasting the noodles.

"Well?" Mai asked, anxiously watch Naru chew on the food. "How is it?"

Naru placed his chopsticks down. "It's not poisonous."

Mai glared at Naru. "I'm not planning on killing him!"

"Which is good," Naru said.

Mai sighed and shook her head. "You do not make sense in the morning."

Naru smirked. "He's not going to like this when it's cold," he said. "You should have cooked this when he's already awake – which is an hour and half from now."

Mai looked at Naru. "Do you really think he'll like it?"

"I'm not him," Naru answered.

Mai sighed and started to wash the wok in the sink.

Naru looked at the stairs, knowing Lin was there. "I'm taking a shower," he said, jumping down from the kitchen isle and walking away from the kitchen.

Lin watched Naru walk up the stairs.

"Should I like it?" Lin asked as Naru passed beside him.

"I'm her boyfriend, not her lawyer," Naru said – his eyes fixed at the stairs.

Lin smirked.

So last night did end well.

Mai heard someone clearing his throat a few steps behind her.

It didn't sound like Naru so she stiffly turned around to see who it was. And just as she expected, Lin was there – looking at her in his robe and pyjamas.

"G-Good morning, Lin-san," Mai said, bowing at Lin. "I-I couldn't sleep anymore so… so I-"

Lin raised a brow at the plate of stir-fried noodles on the kitchen isle.

"Th-That's for you!" Mai said. She quickly handed him the platter and bowed again. "I'm really sorry for your leg and for everything else that I've done to offend you!"

Lin stared at Mai.

She really wasn't exaggerating about how affected she was at his actions.

Lin took the plate from Mai.

"U-um," Mai said looking anxiously down at the floor. "I-I'm going now," she said, walking quickly to the stairs.

"I'm a vegetarian," Lin said, just as Mai reached the fifth step of the stairs.

She froze.

Mai put chicken slices on the stir-fried noodles.

She gasped. "I'm so sorry Lin-san!" she said, quickly ran back down the stairs. She slipped on the third step of the stairs and tumbled down on the floor.

Lin froze.

"What happened?" Naru called, rushing down the stairs.

"What's going on?" Madoka said, running behind Noll.

They saw Mai on the floor, rubbing her behind.

"I'm okay," Mai said, wincing at the throbbing pain in her back.

"What happened?!" Madoka anxiously asked.

Naru sighed and walked casually down the stairs. "Get up, idiot," he said, lifting Mai from the floor.

"Why didn't you tell me he was a vegetarian?!" Mai hissed, frowning at Naru.

"I didn't say he wasn't," Naru said, holding her in his arms and climbing up the stairs.

Madoka and Lin watched Naru and Mai disappear into the second floor.

"What on earth just happened?" Madoka asked, walking down the stairs.

Lin smirked and looked down at the platter of food Mai cooked for him. "Do you think I'll need to perform exorcism rituals today?"

"I don't think so," Madoka said, walking to the kitchen. "If we do receive an interesting case today, we'll be gathering data first rather than perform an exorcism ritual."

Lin nodded and took the chopsticks Naru left on the plate.

…Just for that day.

Mai still couldn't believe it.

She was staring out at the window of the van, sitting beside Naru who had just told him about how Kaiba Takumi had been working for him.

Naru turned out to be the boss Takumi talked about when Mai met him in England. Takumi was Naru's safety net – his plan B in case Mai decided to go back to Japan!

Naru was also the one who funded Takumi's trip to Amsterdam – TO BLOODY AMSTERDAM! Naru knew Mai would crack at some point so he got Takumi there to make sure she reached Japan safely, and to make sure that she was in the care of a man Naru trusted.

NARU HAD PLANNED HER EXPLOITS ALL ALONG! She was like a child who thought she got lost inside a mall's department store, only to realize that her parents were just around the corner – watching over her.

AND SHE WAS NOT A CHILD ANYMORE! AND NARU WAS NOT HER GUARDIAN!

"And you want me to believe that you have nothing – nothing at all – to do with the incidents that led us to meet each other here in Japan," Mai said, rigid with mixed emotions – confusion, irritation, shock, embarrassment, happiness and disbelief.

"Not really," Naru said. "I don't believe it either."

Mai sighed, slamming her head on the dashboard of the van she was riding with Naru.

They were on the way to the university. Lin was kind enough to give Mai a ride. He and Naru were also on the way to the SPR office so he said Mai should just hitch a ride with them.

And Lin! How could she forget what Naru told her about Lin?! Lin looked so familiar to her because he was the "uncle" who was looking for Naru and Naru's "childhood sweetheart" in Amsterdam!

Lin Koujo knew her! And that was probably why Madoka seemed to know her too.

Sure she sprained Lin's leg or something, but he lied to her! Okay...maybe he still deserved to be mad at her, but couldn't she have a right to be mad at him too? ...For lying to her?

No..?

"You'll pay for damaging that," Naru said, turning a page of the portfolio he was reading.

Mai lifted her head and glared at Naru. "I hate you," she said.

"Sure," Naru said.

"I'm serious!"

"Uhuh," Naru replied.

Mai rolled her eyes and looked out at the window.

All this time, Naru had been more than just a stalker. He had been a scheming, manipulating kidnapper – an evil scientist who had resorted to forcing the woman he loved into loving him! …Not that the woman he loved didn't feel honoured at his evil pursuits. It just-

Mai sighed.

If Naru didn't go through all those horrible lengths to woe her, she wouldn't have the guts to admit that she loved him too. So did she really hate him for plotting those things and indirectly controlling her?

"I so want to hate you now," she muttered, thinking about just how stupid she really was.

"Of course you do," Naru said. "What time does your class end?"

"Like you don't already know," Mai mumbled.

"Good," Naru said. "I'll see you in the SPR office," he said, handing Mai a business card.

Mai raised a brow at him.

"We're in need of a part-time assistant," Naru said. "We'll negotiate the pay later."

Mai froze. "P-pay?"

"Salary," Naru said. "The money you get for working."

Mai glared at him. "I know that! That's not what I meant when I asked you the question!"

Naru looked at her. "You don't want to get paid?" he asked.

"I do! I do but… " Mai sighed and looked down at her hands. "I'll be working for you. Doesn't that seem…wrong..? I mean we're... uh... um-"

Lin bit his lips from smirking.

"It's not like I'm going to have a share with your funds," Naru said. "We'll do that when we've tied the knot. For now, you'll earn your own money."

"T-tied the knot..?" Mai asked – her cheeks flushed scarlet as she stared incredulously at Naru.

Lin was there for goodness' sake!

"Don't tell me you've forgotten that we're engaged," Naru said.

Mai buried her head on her lap, too embarrassed to let Lin see her face.

Lin coughed, smirking. "Your parents are going to love this," he said.

"I know," Naru said, smirking at Mai.

"JERK!" Mai squealed.

"You're staying with Shibuya-san?!" Sho exclaimed, standing up from his seat.

Mai winced, seeing some of the students walking around them stare at her and Sho.

They were under one of the tree shades in front of the psychology building, spending some of their free time for the day.

Sho saw the SPR van drop Mai off in front of the gate that morning. Curious, he asked her about it.

Mai didn't know how to tell Sho about what happened to her last night. He was still a guy after all. Girls don't usually share those things to male friends. So she tried to keep her mouth shut about it.

But Sho insisted that as her long-time friend, he had the right to know. So she gave in and told him about how she moved to Naru's place that evening, and how Naru had decided to make her a permanent resident of his house in Shibuya.

"What happened? Are you sure you want to stay with him? Are you sure he's not going to hurt your feelings or-"

"Sho-kun," Mai said, smirking at him. "The right question should be if I am not going to hurt him again."

Sho sighed. He had heard the story.

"He really loves you," he muttered, looking away and ignoring the pain he was feeling in his chest.

Mai sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "I feel like he does," she said. After all, Naru hadn't really told her he loved her. "I still find it unbelievable though."

Sho looked at her. "But you don't care anymore."

Mai smiled at him. "Yes," she said. "I guess it's something like that. I'm tired of running away from him. It's like…whenever I try to forget him completely... I just end up seeing him again. We parted here in Japan, but we met again in England. We parted in Amsterdam, but we met again here in Japan. It's insane!"

Sho smirked and sat down beside her. "Maybe you really are meant for each other."

Mai chuckled. "Whoever made us meant for each other must be out of his mind," she said. "I mean really – a handsome, well-off, brainiac jerk and a poor idiot?"

Sho chuckled and looked sadly at Mai. "If I asked you out on a date, would you have fallen for me?"

Mai froze and looked confused at Sho. "Wh-What?"

Sho chuckled. "I'm kidding! You should have seen your face," he said, poking Mai's nose.

Mai laughed and slapped his hand away. "You're crazy!"

Sho sighed and leaned his head closer to Mai's, kissing her forehead.

"Eh?" Mai muttered, looking confused at Sho.

"My parting gift," he said, looking out at the university grounds. "...To your singlehood."

Mai snickered. "So you'll give me another gift when my singlehood comes back?"

"No," Sho said sighing, before he looked at her and smiled. "I'll take you out to dinner."

"How's your new place?" Mai heard a familiar voice as she walked to the gate. Sho had some group work to attend to so she decided to walk herself out of the university after all her classes that day was done.

"Takumi-kun!" Mai greeted, running to meet him.

Takumi chuckled and leaned his weight against his car.

"Where have you been?" Mai asked, frowning at him. "I've been worried sick about you. You didn't return my calls."

Takumi shrugged his shoulders. "I helped some friends move into their new place," he said.

Mai snorted and acted irritated at Takumi. "You helped some friends move into a new place but you didn't help me," she muttered, looking away from him and folding her arms over her chest.

"I didn't think you needed me," Takumi said, smiling at her. "And besides, you've got a great house now, right?"

Mai froze – realization sipping through her thoughts. She looked at Takumi. "How... How did you know I moved out last night?"

Takumi chuckled. "Come on," he said, leaning away from his car. "I'll take you to the SPR office. That's where you're going now, right?"

Mai stared confused at Takumi but got on his car nonetheless.

Naru looked at the books on the shelf.

He and Lin had opened the office that morning and received a few inquiries. None of them seemed interesting enough or paranormal enough for an investigation though. Although most paranormal investigators jumped on every opportunity to get work on a case and get paid, Naru made it a point to be one of the few who didn't ask for payment unless the case needed to be investigated on, or the customer demanded for an investigation. And that demand came with the assurance that the customer would pay them whatever the result of the investigation was.

SPR after all, for Naru, wasn't just a business.

Naru heard a series of light knocks on the front door. He looked at the door and saw Masako, walking in.

"Good morning," Masako said. "I have a case I need some assistance with."

Naru nodded and took his notebook from the desk close to the bookshelf – the desk Mai was going to occupy as his part-time assistant.

"Have a seat," Naru said, sitting on the sofa chair.

Masako sat down. "If you wouldn't mind," she said. "I'd like to begin with something else I needed to talk to you about."

Naru looked at her.

Masako smiled. "It's true then, isn't it?" she asked. "You're together again?"

Naru looked down at his notebook. "Yes."

Masako nodded, smiling. "Congratulations!"

Naru looked up at her. "Thank you," he said. "...For helping."

Masako shrugged her shoulders. "I just tried to make her jealous – see if she was still in love with you," she said. "I don't think I helped you that much."

Naru smirked. "Oh you helped a lot," he said. "I wasn't planning on pursuing her after I saw her with that classmate of hers."

Masako chuckled. "She really brings a different side of you," she said. "I envy her. I know I shouldn't, but I still do. Don't worry though. I'm not going to get in the way of your love story – not anymore."

Naru nodded, looking down at his notebook.

Masako took a deep breath. "Thank you," she said.

Naru looked at her.

"...For making me your friend," Masako said, smiling at him.

Mai stared at Takumi.

They had been silent on the way to town, and she didn't like it.

"Takumi-kun," Mai said.

Takumi just smiled.

"You said you had 'a lot' to do with what's been going on," she continued.

"That's right," Takumi said.

Mai frowned. "Care to elaborate?"

Takumi chuckled. "I thought Naru already told you about it."

Mai glared at him. "I want your side of the story."

Takumi sighed. "You really didn't figure it out, did you?"

Mai looked away. "I know I'm not that smart so just tell me already!"

Takumi chuckled. "Alright, I'll tell you," he said. "I'll begin with our return here in Japan since you already know about Amsterdam."

"How you gave me the option to go back to Japan, yeah," Mai muttered.

"That wasn't just because Naru hired me though," Takumi said.

Mai looked at him.

Takumi smiled. "I really wanted you to choose Japan over Amsterdam – choose me over Naru."

Mai stared confused at him.

"I wasn't kidding when I said I love you, you know," Takumi casually said.

Mai froze. Right...How could she forget? Takumi liked her.

"I tried to get you – to fight for you," Takumi said. "Only to realize that wasn't how love was supposed to go. You were supposed to be so selfish when you're in love, that you become unselfish."

He glanced at Mai. "And that was what Naru did with you – he let you go to me."

Mai didn't know how to react. She didn't know what to say.

To think the selfish jerk became unselfish was... Takumi was right. The whole time Naru was scheming, making that safety net, putting Mai in Takumi's hands – he must have been hoping that she would keep choosing him over Takumi. Naru must have been pained at the thought of Takumi so close to Mai, but he gave her the freedom to be with Takumi.

"I planned a future for us," Takumi said, looking at the road. "You'll go to college. I'll help you with the finances. We'll stay in the apartment."

Mai looked down at her hands. Why didn't she see all those things? Why didn't she notice Takumi's efforts?

"Hey," Takumi said, patting Mai's hands. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Mai looked up at him. "Why didn't I just fall for you?"

"I know! Annoying, isn't it?" Takumi said, chuckling. "I think that's just it though – you really can't fall for me. You want to know why?"

Mai nodded.

Takumi glanced at Mai. "You're destined for someone greater than me – someone who's more head over heels in love with you than me."

Mai chuckled. "Naru?"

"Why else did you think he made those complex schemes?" Takumi asked, smiling.

Mai shrugged her shoulders and looked out at the window. "He... He hasn't told me," she whispered.

"That he loves you?" Takumi asked. "I don't think he's that good with spewing his insides."

Mai looked at him. "What about Masako?"

"Hara Masako? What about her?"

Mai looked shyly at the road ahead. "They seem... close."

Takumi burst into laughter. "You really were jealous of her!"

"No, I wasn't!" Mai said – frowning with her cheeks flushed red.

Takumi chuckled. "Naru needed some push to go with my plan," he said. "I set up everything – the school you got your scholarship from, the place you were staying in, the loss of your apartment unit..."

"You made me lose my apartment?!"

Takumi shrugged his shoulders. "It was the only way to get you to Naru's house."

Mai frowned.

"Then that Sho came along," Takumi said. "He almost ruined everything."

"Sho-kun?" Mai asked, puzzled.

"Yes," he said. "That accident of yours in the abandoned building wasn't the first time Naru saw you. I've taken him to the university before the headmaster employed him for the case. And when he saw you, you were happily chatting with your classmate, who was obviously crazy about you."

"WHAT?! Sho-kun?! NO WAY! When was that anyway? You didn't tell me Naru was there?!"

Takumi chuckled. "You were so into Sho-kun's stories, we didn't want to disturb you."

"But that's Naru!"

Takumi laughed. "Anyway, long story short, Naru thought you've moved on," he said. "And he didn't want to bother you anymore. After all, you did decide to leave him alone."

"I was thinking about his well being!" Mai said, looking away – her cheeks red.

"Sure you were," Takumi said. "Of course Naru's backing down would ruin my plan so I made a deal with him. I told him that if I could prove to him you weren't over him yet, he would go along with my plan. If I fail, he could back to England and work his arse off."

"He was planning to go back to England?" Mai asked, surprised. Naru hadn't told her that much. Come to think of it, he hadn't told her how long he and Lin had been staying in Japan either!

"After they've set up a stable SPR office here, yes," Takumi answered. "...And I just couldn't let that happen. Luckily, Hara-san lent Naru and I a hand. She offered to make you express your feelings for Naru – not just your guilt."

Mai stiffened. "A-And that w-was how..?"

Takumi laughed. "She promised to tease you – make you jealous," he said.

Mai's jaw dropped. Images of Masako flirting with Naru while working on the case flashed into her mind. All those irritating attempts of the medium to get Naru's attention, all those cursed gestures she made to Naru, all those conversations she had with Naru that made her look so special to him...

Takumi patted Mai's head. "And with Ayako and Takigawa's help, we saw just how affected you are at the thought of Naru moving on with another woman."

Mai stiffly looked away.

Ayako and Takigawa were in on the plan too?! And to think she decided to call Ayako "Matsuzaki-san" out of motherly respect!

"I can't believe I trusted you!" she finally said. "I can't believe I trusted all of you! Yasuhara and Brown-san were in on this too?"

"They didn't play an active part but yes," Takumi answered. "They knew what was going on."

"I HATE YOU!" Mai said, covering her face with her hands.

"You don't mean that," Takumi said, snickering. "Look at the bright side – you're with him again."

Mai took a deep breath and sighed. When she felt calmer, she dropped her hands on her lap. "So you planned the case too, huh?"

"Oh no," Takumi answered. "That was a bonus. I was planning on setting you two up on a date. But your danger-magnet gift kicked in and woila! I got Naru to meet you in the university, without any hint that it was all set up!"

Mai looked at Takumi sighing. "And I thought Naru's scheming was scary," she muttered.

Takumi chuckled. "Oh Mai-chan," he said. "I only learned from the best."

Takumi stopped the car in front of a café.

Mai looked out the window, wondering why they stopped there.

"That's the SPR office," Takumi said, pointing at the floor above the café. The café turned out to be a floor in a building. A concrete stairs stretched up to the second floor where Takumi said the SPR office was.

"Wow," Mai said. She thought the office would be in a high-end building, with sleek doors and scary elevators.

"They serve great food in that café," Takumi said. "You can go ahead and check the office out. I'll just park my car."

"Okay," Mai said, nodding. "Thanks!"

She stepped out of the car and walked up the stairs. And sure enough a door was at the end. It had "SPR" on it – Shibuya Psychic Research.

So Naru still didn't want people to know about his connection with the Society for Psychical Research. Well, he did use Shibuya Kazuya in the case on the abandoned school building. Perhaps he didn't want the people to know that Dr. Oliver Davis was working in Japan. After all, it would most likely make quite a ruckus if people who knew about him learned that he was there.

Mai knocked on the door, but no one opened it. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Good afternoon," she said, looking into the room beyond the door.

To her surprise, the SPR team and two other people were gathered inside. Ayako, Takigawa, Yasuhara, Masako and John were seated on the couch and sofa chairs. Lin, Madoka, Naru and two guests were standing on the space beside the reception area.

Mai stiffened. Blood quickly filled her cheeks as a realization of what was going on sunk in.

She arrived at the wrong time of the day.

"Mai-chan!" Madoka quickly greeted, pulling Mai into the room. "You're just in time!"

"I-I'm sorry..?" Mai said, looking confused at Madoka.

Madoka pulled her to face the guests – a Caucasian couple who seemed to have aged beautifully through the years. They were both smiling at her and one of them, a tall blonde-haired man, reminded her of something that happened in Amsterdam.

"Mother," Naru said in English, looking at the Caucasian woman. "Father," he said, turning to the Caucasian man. "This is Mai Taniyama." Naru looked at her.

And then it clicked. Mai froze.

The man... the Caucasian man was the man in the park who was looking for his son...

Alarm, shock, shame and fright drained the colour from Mai's face as she laid eyes at the smiling man in front of her.

"You-You're-" she mumbled in Japanese.

Naru's father chuckled, and winked at Mai. "Don't worry," he said in Japanese. "That's our little secret."

"What is that about?" Naru's mother asked, looking curiously at Mai and her husband.

"Mai," Naru said, breaking Mai's stupor. "These are my parents – Martin and Luella Davis."

"It's an honour to finally meet you, dear," Luella said in fluent Japanese, pulling Mai into a tight embrace. "We've heard so many great things about you!"

"G-great...things..?" Mai found herself mumbling – still shocked at what was going on.

From what she had seen in the few movies, and programs on TV, meeting your boyfriend's parents required an invitation to dine with them, where the girlfriend was given ample time to make herself look presentable to her lover's family.

...Not meet them the way she was meeting Naru's parents at that very moment!

"I'm terribly sorry for how my son must have been treating you," Luella said as she leaned away and looked at Mai. "He's a bit rough on the edges so if he does annoy the hell out of you, don't be afraid to tell me." Luella winked. "We'll teach him a lesson," she whispered.

Mai's jaw dropped.

It was like she was talking to one of those ideal mothers-in-law in the movies!

"I'm sorry for all the trouble my decisions had caused your relationship," Martin said, bowing to Mai. "I should have known better. I know now that my son is in good hands."

Mai just froze – staring shocked at Naru's father.

Lin was coughing to keep him composed. Madoka was giggling. Ayako and Takigawa were snickering. Yasuhara and John were smiling. Masako was sighing.

"Why don't you two take a seat," Naru said, suddenly standing beside Mai. "Mai will prepare the tea."

"Oh! Lovely!" Luella said, taking a seat beside Ayako. Martin sat beside her.

Mai looked frantically at Naru.

"I think we surprised your daughter," she heard Luella whisper to Ayako in Japanese.

"Nonsense," Mai heard Ayako reply. "She's going to be your daughter too."

Naru led Mai into the kitchen while Lin and Madoka took their seats in the reception area.

"H-Honey, lemon or sugar?" Mai asked – her mind suddenly blank.

"Just whip up the tea you always make for me," Naru answered.

Mai nodded and went on to work. Preparing the tea calmed her nerves and cleared her head. "You should have told me your parents are here," she hissed. "Can you all just stop scheming behind my back for once?!"

"You're not the only one who didn't get the memo," Naru said, leaning against the counter while he watched her prepare the tea.

Mai took a deep breath and sighed.

...Right. Naru also didn't seem like he knew his parents were visiting. He was the only one in the room who was standing rigidly earlier.

"And to think I chose this time to not comb my hair," Mai muttered. "Or spray some cologne." She sniffed her armpit. "You could've told me to go home first and fix myself before I come here."

Naru smirked. "Where is 'home'?"

Mai looked confused at Naru. "Your house..?"

Naru chuckled.

Mai frowned. "Wait," she said. "Was that supposed to be a rhetorical question?"

Naru shrugged his shoulders.

"Why are you asking me this?" she said, narrowing her eyes at Naru.

Naru sighed and looked at the floor. "So you call my house your 'home.'"

"Well," Mai said, looking shyly away. "You said I live there now."

Naru nodded. "But a house isn't exactly a home," he said, looking up at Mai.

"It is when it makes staying there makes you happy," Mai answered, looking at Naru.

"Are you happy?"

Mai smiled, ignoring how disgusting their conversation was going. "Yes," she answered. "I am very happy."

Naru sighed and shook his head.

Mai looked down at the cups she set on the counter. "Go on ahead," she said. "I can handle this."

"I know," Naru said, leaning away from the counter.

Mai frowned. "Jerk," she spat.

Naru smirked and walked toward her.

"I know, I know," Mai said, waving her hand at him. "I'm an idiot."

Naru leaned down and kissed her cheek.

Mai froze.

"I was going to tell you that I love you," Naru whispered. "But if you prefer that I call you 'idiot,' I'll be more than happy to oblige – Idiot."

Naru walked out of the kitchen, leaving a petrified and flushed scarlet Mai in his wake.

The kettle whistled and Mai awoke from her frozen state. She quickly turned the stove off, silencing the kettle.

Naru told her he loved her, right? He did, didn't he?

Mai looked at the door of the kitchen and listened to Naru as he asked his parents about how long they were planning to stay in Japan.

His question rang in her mind.

Where is home?

Mai sighed and started pouring water on the tea cups.

Everyone, except for Naru was laughing, or in Lin's case – snickering, at a joke Takigawa made. Takumi, who took a seat next to Lin was contributing to the lively conversation when Mai walked out of the kitchen with the tray of tea.

"Tea's ready," she said, setting the tea on the centre table.

Naru watched her distribute the tea to everyone... watched her smile warmly at his parents like she had loved and known them all her life... watched his parents do the same toward her... watched everyone in the room fit into a blissful picture...

Naru looked at his reflection on his cup of tea and smiled. He slowly raised his cup to his lips, wanting to enjoy his tea in the midst of the noise, when he noticed the left eye on his reflection wink.

He frowned. "Oh for goodness' sake," he hissed. "Move on!"

"Move on?" he heard Mai ask.

Naru looked at her. So she had finished distributing the tea.

"You...want me to move on?" Mai asked, puzzled.

"No," Naru said. "I said move here," he said, pulling her to stand beside him since the couch was full. "Tea?" he said, offering his cup to Mai.

"Oh right! I forgot to make tea for myself," Mai whispered, taking the cup in her hands. She took a sip of the tea and sighed as its warmth slid down her throat.

"So when's the wedding?" Yasuhara asked, in the midst of noise and laughter.

"Indeed!" Luella exclaimed. She turned to Naru. "When is the wedding? And the reception! Are you going to do the reception here?"

Mai almost dropped the tea-cup on the floor. "We-Wedding?" she asked, her cheeks flushed.

Naru sighed. "Mother," he said in a reprimanding tone. "I haven't even given her the Davis engagement ring."

Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing "Where is home?" and the whole GH AU fanfic trilogy I made here in ^ v ^

It's really been one grand experience! You've all been such awesome readers. You've really taught me a lot. I'm still working on the ebook copies of the fanfic. I'll just post a note here or in the other installments of this fanfic when it's done.

And yes, this is the last chapter for "Where is home?" Thank you all so much again! * v *

P. S.

I only write prologues, not epilogues.

Tah! ^ v ^