Disclaimer: I will never, ever, own Ghost Hunt…TT
Summary: When Mai 'ditches' the team on a case after acting weirdly for the past few days, a furious Naru and worried SPR members stalk her…and the answer may be more that what they thought…
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the day when they had actually accepted the case, Mai was absent, having called in sick.
Naru left it be, mostly because of the death glares Ayako and Takigawa (and Lin when he was about to dial Mai's number) were shooting him.
After all, if Lin was starting to side with Ayako and Takigawa, it was not a good sign in any way.
On the second day of the case, Mai had dragged Takigawa on a shopping trip with her.
After making her run back and forth half a day later to fetch his tea plus a threat that he would go on a date with Masako, Naru decided to be benevolent and let it rest.
Of course, Lin and the others thought that 'benevolent' and 'Naru' would never match. Heck, cows…no, the end of the world would come if Naru ever became 'benevolent.'
So when Mai disappeared for the third time…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN, SHE'S GONE!?"
Everyone with the exception of Lin (he's used to Naru's petty moods) cringed.
"Well…Mai- san said that she had something to do, so…" John said nervously. "She also said she'll be back before nightfall…"
Naru grounded his teeth in frustration. That idiot… "For heavens sake, this is the freaking third time she went missing on us! MoreOVER, WHILE WE ARE ON A FREAKING CASE!!!"
"Er, true, but she's gone missing on us on almost every case we had so far though…"
Ayako leaned over to Takigawa. "Don't push your luck, idiot!"
"But it's a fact…"
"LIN! I DON'T CARE HOW YOU DO IT; GET ME A TRACE ON MAI! NOW!"
Lin raised an eyebrow. "That's a raid on privacy, you know."
"AND I DON'T GIVE A DAMN! SO FIND OUT WHERE SHE IS, OR I'LL SO FREAKING FIRE YOU!"
"…"
Yasuhara pushed up his specs. "Naru is really mad, isn't he?"
"First time I've seen such a scenario. Naru losing his cool like that…" John shivered.
"I think I feel almost sorry for Gene and Lin- san for living with someone like that…it's a miracle they haven't cracked so far…"
"True, true…" Takigawa nodded his head. "But then again…what else would you expect from a tea- deprived result boss early this morning?"
XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Somewhere else…
"Achoo!" The florist glanced in sympathy at the young girl.
"Mai- chan, are you sure you didn't catch a cold?" The young girl rubbed at her nose ruefully and shook her head.
"I doubt. Must be someone scolding me…achoo! Achoo!"
-Poor thing…her boss must be hell of a curser…-
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Any luck, Lin-san?" Takigawa peered at the computer over Lin's shoulder. Lin frowned, then shook his head.
"Figured as much…man…of all days to take a break…"
"But its not like Naru would give her off anyway? Who knows…?" Ayako tapped her chin thoughtfully, "she went on a date!?"
"You think so?" Yasuhara asked. Ayako nodded smugly. "Of course! At this age, there's always the very first important first date and kiss!"
"First date and kiss huh…? No wonder she had me go shopping with her!" Takigawa exclaimed. "Wait. First kiss!? Now, whose the boy?" he growled, over- protective brother instincts kicking in almost at once.
Ayako threw a pillow into his face. "Lin- san, what do you think?"
Lin started. "Me?"
Ayako rolled her eyes. "Yes, you. Do I look like I'm speaking to John or that dumb monk over there?"
"Well…maybe we should ask her friends…?"
"And shouldn't all of you have said that from the start?" Everyone flinched.
"Na…naru…"
"Punishment: For now, ALL of you will be taking over Mai's duties. Ayako, TEA."
And Naru slammed the door shut behind him.
Takigawa gulped. "How long was he behind us?"
John choose that moment to look up from his work. "Oh, from the time when all of you entered this room."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Today was the day, Mai thought as she settled down into the seat, watching the scenery rush by her.
Naru was going to be so mad. After all, she 'ran' out on them once too many this time.
Mai snorted. –Its only because there'll be no one making tea. Bet's he cranky if I was sneezing that bad earlier on…besides, I have a good reason…-
Shifting her purchases and flowers into a more comfortable position, Mai emptied all thoughts of Naru, her friends at the SPR and the scolding she was likely to receive later, and instead focused on the familiar bump of the bus on the road, and the familiar scenery that she only saw few times a year.
For now, she just didn't want to think about anything else.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ring…
"Moshi, moshi! This is Keiko- chaaaan~~~"
# Cough #
"Keiko- san? This is Lin from SPR calling."
"Lin? Hmm…ohhh!!! I remember now! You're the tall guy with a weird aura plus a Hatori- hairstyle from Fruits Basket, right?"
-Hatori…? Fruits Basket? What on earth is she talking about?-
Lin swore he heard Yasuhara and Takigawa snickering in the background. Ignoring them, he coughed again. "While I have no idea how on earth you perceived me to be some…Hatori…person, I'm just calling to ask if Taniyama- san, by any chance, was in contact with you this morning?"
"Mai? No, she wasn't, and I don't think she will. After all, today is that day. Its only natural she wanted to have quiet time to herself…"
"That day?" Even without turning his head, Lin knew that everyone would be exchanging glances at each other.
"Yea, that day."
There was silence for a while. "You mean…you guys don't know…?"
"And what are we supposed to know that so happens that you know? It also happens that we need to find her urgently as Na…our boss is not very happy about her disappearance…" Ayako spoke up.
"That's strange. You mean Mai didn't request for a day off for today?"
"No, she didn't. Would you please ask her to call us back ASAP?"
"I wish I could, but today, of all days…"
"And what day does it happen to be today?" Annoyance laced Lin's voice as he reached for an aspirin.
"But…today, is the marriage anniversary of Mai's parents…"
The sentence hit home.
"Mai's…parents' marriage anniversary…?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A/N: And we come to a cliffie…not. # glooms # I must be half asleep if I'm rambling weird stuff, but anyway, first try on a GH fic, so…
Read and review? =)
