I just finished watching Ghost Hunt for the second time…. Waaaghh! Naru's nearly-dying-thing was so adorable… I mean, you know, I didn't thin kthe while dying thing… Just Mai's little speech in the hospital made me feel all choked up….
Anyway, I had written a different chapter to a story like this and it sucked big time so I decided to completely re-do it. This is what my imagination spat out… Enjoy ^.^
Chapter 1: Hot Tea and Late Nights
"Ugh! I was late again for school today, all because it takes so long to get there from my place…" Mai groaned, stomping into the office. Naru glanced up.
Why is he even interested? My rants usually just bore him.
"Hey, Mai." Monk's head popped out from around the door.
"Hey, monk. What are you doing here?"
"Well actually, I just came to see if you guys wanted to get together tonight. We've planned something, even Masako has agreed." Monk explained.
"That sounds great!" Mai replied excitedly. "Oh…. Wait. I we go out tonight, the Friday traffic will be bad… By the time I get back, it'll be really late, and I have to walk a couple streets to get to my house…"
Naru looked up quickly. "Alone? In the dark?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah…" Mai nodded miserably. Naru shrugged.
"If you really want to go, I'll walk you home afterwards." Mai's heart leapt.
"Really? That'd be great, Naru! Thanks so much!" She smiled at him. Naru blinked, then went back to his work. It only took a matter of seconds for the familiar command to ring through the air: tea.
"Stupid narcissist…." Mai grumbled as she poured the tea leaves into the tea pot. Monk had had to leave, seeing as he was meeting up with Ayako and John before they all went out.
When the tea was done, Mai carried it to Naru's room. She hadn't bothered to ask Lin if he wanted tea, as she was busy processing what Naru had said to her. Why did he care so much whether she made it home okay?...
She knocked on Naru's door, then opened it. Naru looked up at her for a second, then back down at his papers. Mai set the tea down on his desk, but just as she was about to turn away, he reached out and gently caught her wrist. She turned round to be met with a pair of dark eyes.
"I do… Care about you being safe, Mai…" Naru said softly. Mai's heart pounded quickly. How did he know she had been thinking about that? Was he a mind reader or something?
"O-oh… Thanks…" Mai turned away quickly, and walked out of the room, only to bump into Lin.
"Mai, I want some tea too. And why are you blushing so much?" Lin asked, annoyed.
From inside his office, where no one else could see him, Naru smiled to himself.
…
"Thanks, Monk. I had a really great night, too." Mai replied cheerfully. The others smiled and nodded in agreement.
"I was scared for a while during the movie." Ayako admitted. Mai nodded, and then paused for a second.
"…So that's why you were so close to Monk? You were scared, and needed protection?..." Mai said quickly. Ayako went red, and the others laughed, especially monk.
"Hmph! Honeslty, Mai. You should… Learn to respect your elders!" Ayako babbled, looking embarrassed. She turned on her heel and walked away, pulling monk with her. John and Mai raised their eyebrows at each other, and started laughing again.
…
"Thanks again for doing this, Naru." Mai says, smiling. Naru stayed silent, on alert.
"Gee… It sure is dark out here." Mai whispered, looking around. She moved closer to Naru, who turned and stared at her.
"You're not scared of that stupid movie, are you?" He asked quietly.
"No… Not really…"
"Who're you kidding Mai, you're freaking out." He replied, glancing over at the pale teenager. She had wide eyes, and was whipping her head back and forth, checking the shadows.
Naru reached for her hand, and held it tight.
"Still scared?" He whispered.
"Not any more…"
…
"Goodnight, Mai."
"Wait…" An owl hooted, and Mai jumped, nearly falling over. Naru impulsively reached out his arms and caught her, but in a second, pushed her away.
"Stay with me a while?" Mai asked hopefully, expecting a no.
"Alright."
…
Naru and Mai sat on her sofa, sipping some freshly made tea. Naru looked around with disapproving eyes – it was very untidy and unorganised. He shook his head. How could people live like this?
They sat in silence for a while, until Naru broke the silence.
"Mai… This place is a bit of an inconvenience for you, isn't it?" Naru asked quietly.
"Yeah, I guess… It's so far away, but it's the only place the school could find for me." Mai replied.
"Hm. Well, how about this. I live next to the office, and near your school. Why don't you just move in with me? I have a spare room." Naru said with confidence.
Mai's jaw hit the floor. In the process of her shock, she managed to spill tea on herself. It was still hot, so it hurt a little bit.
After Mai had cleaned herself up, she went back to the lounge. Naru hadn't moved.
"Um, if it's okay with you, Naru, I'd be quite happy to move in with you." Mai said sheepishly. She couldn't really belive she was saying that.
Little did she know, when she said those fateful words, Nar's heart leapt, and he nearly (nearly) smiled.
Soooo? You like? Cos if you do, then PLZ review!