A/N: Hi everyone. I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Stascia, and I'm quite an old hand at fanfics (i used to write on quizilla but that site is so useless now I don't even bother anymore), but this is my first time writing on , and also my first Ghost Hunt story. The title, if you're wondering, is from the song "What Do I Have To Do?" by Stabbing Westward (featured in the soundtrack of the excellent 90's movie Masterminds). This is the first chapter, and I hope there will be many more. Please review, good or bad, I welcome all comments. Also, this is set sometime AFTER Yasuhara-san is introduced, but before the Oliver Davis revelation (because I haven't gotten that far myself yet). Thank you for reading!
'My room smells like vanilla,' Mai thought. 'I don't even own anything that could smell like that and no one else has been here in weeks.'
She opened her eyes to see two blue eyes staring back at her.
"Naru!" she gasped.
"Mai, there is danger ahead. Don't follow the smell," he said.
"The smell?" she asked. "The vanilla smell?"
He nodded and smiled. Then he disappeared, just as Mai was about to ask what he meant. How could a smell be dangerous?
She woke up, dressed and went to work, still wondering about her dream. Should she tell Naru or Lin-san? No, it probably didn't mean anything. By the time she got to the office, she had decided firmly against bothering her superiors with such a stupid matter.
"Good morning, Naru-chan," she said as she brought him his tea.
"You're late," he said, not looking up from the file he was reviewing.
'Unbelievable! Arrogant, self-centred, narcissistic, know it all pig!' she thought.
"Can I help you?" he asked, looking at her.
She blushed and ran out of the room. Naru shook his head and went back to work, sipping the tea that Mai made so well.
Next door, Mai poked her head into Lin's office.
"Lin-san, would you like some tea?" she asked.
The Chinese man nodded, and Mai went to fetch a tray. A few minutes later she returned and set the tray down on his desk.
Without looking up or moving from his computer, he said "Thank you, Taniyama-san."
"Lin-san?" she said in a small voice.
"Yes? Is something bothering you?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yes. It's Naru."
Lin turned to look at her. "What's he done to upset you this time?"
"Nothing. It's... I..." Mai stammered.
"Ah," he said as he saw what was going on. "You're falling in love with him, aren't you, Taniyama-san?"
The girl nodded, her cheeks flushing red. "I don't know why. He's so cold and arrogant, and he never misses an opportunity to insult me."
"But he is handsome, and smart. And as much as he insults you, he has saved you many times and you feel safe around him."
"Bou-san has saved me a lot too, and he's smart and good looking, and he's actually nice to me. John-san too. So why don't I feel this way about them?" she asked.
Lin smiled. "Because your subconscious knows that Takigawa-san is taken, at least in his heart. You've seen the way he looks at the miko. And Brown-san is a priest, so he's off-limits. Your heart won't let you love in futility."
"But by that logic, I shouldn't love Naru either. He only ever smiles at me in my dreams. And Masako is clearly after him!"
"Taniyama-san, do you remember when you fell down that man-hole and took Naru with you?"
Mai nodded, blushing to be reminded of such an embarrasing event.
"Do you remember how he cheered you up with the talking coin?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Even though he was badly hurt and taking strain?"
Mai's eyes started tearing up and she shook her head a little to stop herself crying. "Lin-san, what does this have to do with anything?"
"This. He could have yelled at you for stupidly trying to save a child that so obviously couldn't be real. He could have made you feel bad for pulling him in with you. He could have blamed you for his pain and his injuries. But he didn't. He did the only thing he could think of to cheer you up. He was worried more about you than about himself," Lin said calmly.
"Why?" she asked. "Why, when I deserved his anger?"
"Taniyama-san," Lin sighed, "you really need to learn to think more logically. The answer is simple. He-"
The tinkling of the bell above the office's front door cut him off, and Mai went out to see who was there.
"Bou-san!" the 16 year old shriekd, throwing her arms around the older man.
"Easy, Mai!" he chuckled, prying himself loose after a quick hug.
"Hehe, sorry, but you don't stop by often enough when there're no cases. I miss you," she smiled.
"Ahem!" came the sound of someone behind Takigawa clearing their throat sharply.
Mai peered around the monk and...
"Ayako!" she shrieked.
"Yeah, hi Mai. Glomp me and die, I just got this dress laundered," the miko said, faking an interest in her nails.
Mai tackled her anyway, and it was her turn to shriek. Naru burst out of his office looking even more angry than usual.
"Mai, how often do I have to remind you that this is an office, not a house party. Lin and I have serious work to do here. Takigawa-san, Matsuzaki-san, I would expect you two to know better."
All three looked down sheepishly, the girls mumbling "Yes, sir," and the monk "Hai, Naru-bou."
"Mai?"
She looked up expectantly at Naru.
"More tea," he said. "In my office."
Mai nearly fainted as he turned and stalked away. Just once couldn't he say please? Or say something nicer than "more tea"?
"Jerk," Ayako muttered just loud enough for Mai and the monk to hear.
"Tell me about it," the girl sighed.
"Why do you even put up with him?" Takigawa asked.
She shrugged. "I have to."
"No, you don't," he replied. "The camera you broke was insured, it's all paid for. There's nothing keeping you here."
"Yes, there is," Ayako said.
They turned to look at her.
"She's in love with Shibuya-san. Isn't that right?"
Mai stared pointedly at the miko, struggling hard not to blush.
"Is this true, Mai?" The voice came from behind them.
The girl hung her head, not wanting to face its owner.
"Answer me, Mai," he demanded.
She sighed, answering with barely a whisper. "Yes, Naru-chan. It's true."
"I'll see you in my office. Matsuzaki-san, Takigawa-san, you stay here and wait for Brown-san and Hara-san. I'll talk to you all when they get here."
Mai turned and followed her boss into his office. For the first time ever, he held the door open for her, closing it firmly behind her.
"I-" she started but she was cut off.
"Shut up," he growled.
Then he kissed her. Hard. Driving her back into the door.
"I wonder what's going on in there..." Bou-san said.
"I don't know, but it's awfully quiet. I expected more shouting," replied the miko.
"Maybe Naru's finally come to terms with his feelings for Mai and is kissing the hell out of her."
The monk and miko jumped at the voice, and turned to stare.
"What? I'm just saying..." Lin said, peeking out from behind his hair.
Bou-san burst out laughing. "Naru? In love? With MAI? That's not possible!"
"No, it's not. Because he's mine," Masako said.
No one had heard her come in, they had been too busy trying to figure out why there hadn't been any explosions from the office.
"Hara-san, I must respectfully contradict you," Lin said.
"What?!" the medium shrieked.
"Whatever your feelings towards him, they are not returned. Naru's heart belongs to another," he replied. "And that other is Taniyama-san."
Masako looked ready to burst into tears and fly into a rage all at the same time. "How could you know what is in his heart?"
"Yes," Ayako said. "How can you be sure of this?"
"I am not just Naru's assistant, but also his bestfriend. And although he rarely speaks his emotions, I can tell you with 100 percent certainty, that it is Taniyama-san, and not Hara-san, who is in his heart."
Naru finally pulled away, leaving his beautiful, young employee shocked and gasping for breath. This must be another dream, she told herself. She pinched herself, and her boss laughed. Another shock.
"This is not a dream, Mai. I've wanted to do that for a long time," he said quietly, brushing her hair out of her face.
"But you're... How is that... You've always..." she stammered.
"Full sentences please," Naru chuckled.
"You're always so cold!" she said, starting to fume as she considered his bad treatment of her over the last months. "You're rude, and pushy, and arrogant, and self-centered, and self-righteous, and condescending, and... and a jerk!"
"But you love me..."
She sighed. "Yes. God help me, I do."
"And I love you," he whispered. "You're so vibrant, vivacious. Lovable."
"I am?"
He nodded with a smile. "And I want you to be my girlfriend. Will you?"
"Yes, Naru-chan. I will," she beamed.
For the second time, he kissed her a breath-taking kiss.