Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt. My first fanfic of them.
It came to me while watching Silent Christmas, on the first series.
Enjoy, and please review. Probable OOC.
One last note: This is a multi chaptered fic, then it'll be oneshots. Sometimes it follows the time lines of cases, and other times, like this one, I've made it up.
I take suggestions :)
Mai's PoV
Lin and Naru were sitting quietly in Lin's office, softly discussing a case that had recently come up. It was a troublesome ghost that possessed people and then threw them down the stairs. This normally left them injured in some way. Weirdly, they all ended up breaking or fracturing their necks. It was December 23rd, and Mai was putting up decorations in Lin's office. He hadn't objected, just given her a small smile that made her blush delicately.
After 20 minutes, Naru sighed, resigned, and agreed to take the case. Mai's happiness was short-lived, however, when...
"Mai, tea. And since you draw danger everywhere, Lin, go with her."
"Stupid, narcissistic, tea – loving jerk!" Mai mumbled this, and Lin secretively grinned. Their arguments entertained him no end, though he never showed it.
While the kettle was boiling, Mai added teabags and sugar, then pulled out two more cups and filled them with tea bags and sugar too. She hadn't asked Lin if he wanted one, because she hadn't needed to. If Naru had tea, Lin had tea.
Pouring in the water and milk simultaneously, Mai put the kettle back down and put the milk in the fridge, handing a yellow duck cup to Lin.
"Here, Lin – san."
"Thanks." Grinning, Mai picked up her and Naru's tea, carrying it back to the office.
"Naru. Tea."
With a grunt, he cleared some space for her to put it down on. Mai stood there for a while, just watching her boss.
"Don't you have work or something to do?" Grumbling again, Mai stalked into the main room, and sat on the sofa, leaning backward and closing her eyes.
The couch dipped slightly, and Mai felt a weight join her on the couch.
"When are we leaving for the case?"
There was silence, then a soft answer. "Tomorrow at 6am." Mai's eyes flew open, and she jolted forward.
"6am? Is he crazy?" Lin shrugged, and watched, amused, as Mai threw her hands up in annoyance. "Anyway, he said that you should stay here tonight, so that we don't have to wait for you to arrive. Naru's punctuality is very strict, so... if you stayed in my office tonight – Naru's request, you understand – then I could wake you up before we go."
Nodding, but slightly dazed, Mai got off of the sofa, and yawned. Lin raised his eyebrow at the girl stretching, like she just got up, before him.
Shaking himself inwardly, Lin retreated back to his office, and was about to shut the door, before he heard a murmur of: "I'm always left alone, and yet Naru moans about me attracting danger, which then leads to me being accompanied everywhere. So why isn't someone in here with me, if I'm that bad?"
Lin nodded to himself, and shut the door. She had a point. A very valid point. Turning to his computer, Lin did some more University work, before sending it off to his Sensei. Looking at the clock, Lin discovered it was 9pm. Time to go to bed.
Opening up MSN, Lin typed a message to Naru.
Time for Mai to come to bed?
Yes. Tell her to make tea first, though. You can go to bed as well. Busy day tomorrow.
Sure. Where is she sleeping?
With you. Not like that, you understand. But there in the room with you.
Of course, tea will be there soon.
Good. Hurry up, though. I'm running out of tea.
Lin couldn't stop the blush that rose to his cheeks, and he rolled his eyes at Naru's impatience. Cracking open his office door, he opened it enough to see Mai fall off of the couch.
Walking over to her, he shook her awake.
"Mai. Make Naru tea." Lin made his tone irritated, and hurt flashed briefly through her eyes, before she composed herself. Planting a fake smile on her face, she got up, and walked into Naru's office.
"Mai, tea."
"I know, Naru."
"Lin, go with her." Sighing to himself, Lin lead the way into the rather cramped kitchen, and helped Mai make the tea, despite her protests. He let her carry it to Naru, and snorted quietly as she came out of Naru's office, and tripped on a nearby table leg, face palming the ground.
"Mai. Time for bed. In my office. Go."
Lin noticed the blush that crossed her face. "With you? Bed? Heh..." Mai went redder than a tomato. Carefully, he ran the sentence through his head. No. It sounded fine. But to a 17 year old girl? Ah...
"Where will you sleep, Lin – san?"
"On the couch. But I've got work to do. Come on, you're tired." Offering her his hand, Lin helped her up off the couch, and pulled her to his office, shutting the door behind him. Lin dropped Mai's hand, and turned back to his beloved laptop, continuing the familiar tap tapping that always calmed Mai down.
Mai turned toward his couch, and laid down, breathing in Lin's scent of peppermint tea, with an under layer of coffee. "Thank you, Lin – san." Mai murmured sleepily, nuzzling deeper into the couch that smelled so strongly of Lin that it was overwhelming.
All she heard in reply was the sound of a chair pushing back, and the weight of a blanket or jacket being laid on her.
What shocked her was the feeling of light breath on her forehead as a gentle, and soft weight pressed down delicately on it. She smiled, and succumbed to sweet dreams.
Or so she thought.
The dream
Mai had been told to make tea for her narcissistic boss, and so she had set off, not knowing where she was going. They had taken a new case, and stupid Mai had forgotten to ask for directions. Just like every case.
This case was a bit bizarre. The ghost of a boy with a broken neck and lacerations covering his face pushing people down the stairs. But no one knew why. Several investigators had been called in already, but no one could solve it.
So they'd been called in.
Getting lost within the maze of her ponderings, Mai didn't notice the corridor getting colder, or the fact that there was a boy now before her. A boy with a broken neck and lacerations covering what must have been a once handsome face.
A ghostly laugh filled the air, and Mai was jerked from her thoughts.
"Who are you?" The temperature just kept dropping, so much so, that Mai could see her breath in the air before her.
"No one you know. But don't worry, you will never find out."
"Why?" Mai took a step back, as the boy took a step toward her.
"You'll never know that either." Another laughed filled the air, and she shivered. The boy grinned in a grotesque way.
"Why?" Mai forced herself to remain calm, as she took another step back, and the boy another step forward.
"Never mind. Goodbye."
And with that, the boy lunged at her, and she flew down stairs she didn't even notice were behind her. Mai screamed, as she came into contact with the ground.
Except... there was no pain. Mai was floating in a black nothingness.
"Prepare to meet your fate." The boy hissed right in Mai's ear. He twisted her to the right, and Mai gasped in horror as she took in the sight before her:
Naru was chained to a wall, his face and hands stained red with blood. Mai could hear soft moans emitting from his still form, and, somehow, she knew, that he was about to breath his last.
Lin was chained beside Naru, looking very thin. But... Mai could see that Lin was dead. Freshly dead. She could see that his eyes had been ripped out, and there was a massive chunk torn out of his leg, which was laying nearby.
Monk and Ayako were tied, back to back, both bleeding and looking weak, but refusing to die just yet.
There was a headless figure by their feet, with the head no where to be seen. But Mai would recognise that figure any where, with or without a head.
Masako.
Mai started to cry, refusing to believe that they were all dead, or very close to dying. "Make it stop, please, I'm begging you..."
"No. You shall suffer the way I suffered all those years ago. Their dead forms will haunt you forever!"
"Why are you doing this?" Mai whirled onto the ghost, anger and hurt in her eyes. "They didn't deserve this! Just leave us alone! I'm sorry it happened to you, really, I am! Just... go!"
She blinked, and he was gone.
Sobbing, she fell to the ground, feeling completely dead. "Naru... Lin...Masako...Ayako...Monk... I'm so sorry. I'm going to avenge your deaths, I promise!"
Another ghostly laugh filled the air, and hands gripped her neck tightly, with the intent to kill. Blackness clouded her vision, and she closed her eyes.
And then she woke up. Tears came to her eyes, and Mai leaned forward and started sobbing into her hands.
"Mai, tea."
Mai looked up, and smiled, wiping away her tears.
"Yeah, never mind the fact that I just saw you all die in the most horrific way. Sure, I'll make your tea. In fact, why don't I just go by myself, seeing as none of you care enough to actually hug me in comfort. Just forget the fact that I don't have parents, like most people. Sometimes, I wonder how these guys put up with you. Once I've made your tea, don't bother asking me again. I'll just pour it all over your precious paperwork. Seriously, Naru! Gods, I hate you! But, you know what? By you doing this, I'm getting stronger all the time, so thank you." The venom in her voice was so powerful, that all Naru could do was gape at her in a completely uncharacteristic way.
And with that, she stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her. While she made the tea, she allowed herself to cry over what she'd just said. Never before had she lost control like that, and Naru was now sure to fire her. The nightmare had scared her, and she knew that it was a psychic dream.
As Mai was fuming, Ayako and Lin walked to the kitchen to see if she was alright.
"I wonder what she saw. She's never lost control like that..."
"I'm in half a mind to call Naru's parents about this. He's so insensitive towards her. We'll lose her, and it'll be his fault." All Ayako could do was nod in agreement.
As they rounded the corner to enter the kitchen, they saw Mai turn around with the tea in her hand. Her face was expressionless, and her eyes were puffy from the intensity of her crying.
"Mai, put the tea down, and come here."
They watched as Mai calmly put the tea down, and walked toward them, looking completely calm.
Lin and Ayako shared a glance. Definitely not good. Ayako nodded, and she walked another step toward Mai, stopping by her.
"Mai. Look at me. Are you okay?"
Mai weakly nodded, and Ayako and Lin shared another glance.
"Mai. What was your dream? Come on, we'll take the tea back, then listen to your dream."
"No. I can't go back. I'll be fired..."
"No. You won't. I won't let Naru do that. Come on, Mai."
Her shoulders drooped in defeat, and she grabbed the tea again, shuffling out of the room like a sulking kid.
Lin and Ayako walked behind her, in a companionable silence. When they got back, Mai wordlessly handed Naru his tea, and sat on the sofa.
"I had a dream. There was this boy with lacerations on his face, and a broken neck. He said that I'll never know who he was, then pushed me down the stairs. But I never landed. I was floating in a sort of black nothingness. Then the scene changed, and I saw Lin and Naru – chan chained to a wall, Lin was dead, and Naru was dying. Lin, your neck looked broken, and Naru, your face was stained with blood. Ayako and Monk were tied together, on the floor, with Masako's headless form by their feet. Ayako and Monk were covered in blood, and I couldn't see Masako's head anywhere. Then the ghost said something about me suffering the same fate he did... and... then I woke up. I don't remember much else, except I remember feeling that I couldn't move... I'm such a disappointment."
Lin put his hand on Mai's shoulder. "No, you're not. This is a great help. Thank you."
He smiled at Mai, and Naru raised an eyebrow. "Lin? Care to explain what this is about?"
"Yeah, sure, Naru. Mai was upset, so I comforted her. Speaking of which, you own her an apology. She had a real scare, from what I've heard, and then you just brush off like it was nothing, demanding for tea. Sometimes, Naru, you really disappoint me. If you don't buck your ideas up, I'm calling your parents."
Naru glared at Lin, then he looked at Mai. "Hn..." Naru bowed his head, and everyone knew it was the closest thing Mai would get to an apology.
"No problem. I probably over reacted as well, so I'm partially to blame. Sorry, Naru, I got caught in the heat of the moment." She smiled, and Naru stood up.
"Just don't do it again. Or you WILL be fired. The reason I didn't was because I need your tea. Everyone, go pack. Someone stay with Mai while she does. I don't care who."
With that, he stalked out of the room, slamming the door. But he came out a second later, grabbing his tea, and going back into his office.
Lin took control. "Ayako, Monk, stay together. I'll stay with Mai. We have 1 hour until we have to leave."
They nodded, and left the SPR premises to go pack their clothes. They'd been together for a few months now, and so lived together.
"Come on, Mai. I packed yesterday." Lin pulled Mai off of the couch, and they walked to her tiny bedroom. Since Mai practically lived in the SPR office, she'd sold her house and asked Naru's permission to live in one of their spare rooms. He'd said yes – surprisingly, and Mai had brought her belongings up – not that there were many of them.
Lin looked around her room. It only contained a couch, a desk, a laptop, a mini fridge, a kettle, and a microwave.
The walls were a navy blue, like Naru's eyes, and the carpet was a green, giving the room a sea like atmosphere. Soothing, but angry at the same time.
The laptop had two sticks plugged in, which Mai later explained as the black one for SPR related stuff, and the red one as school stuff.
The mini fridge, upon Lin's inspection, contained microwaveable meals and soft drinks cans. Coke, ginger beer, lemonade, cherry-ade, you name it. Mai's fridge had it all.
The couch had no blanket, or duvet, or even a pillow, just a bunched up jacket (Lin presumed this to be the pillow), and a big coat laid on the back. (Lin presumed this to be the makeshift blanket)
He discovered that Mai had her own En-suite bathroom, but it was small and only had a bath and toilet. Mai said she washed her hands in the bath, and used that as a sink and bath.
"Please, make yourself comfortable. Do you want something to eat or drink?"
Lin politely declined, and sat down on her couch, watching Mai as she fluttered around the room, throwing clothes and toiletries into a suitcase.
Half an hour later, when Mai had finished, she turned to the couch and saw Lin sleeping on her couch. Smiling slightly, she grabbed her camera, and snapped a quick photograph, giggling to herself.
"COME ON, WE'RE LEAVING, AND WE HAVEN'T GOT ALL DAY!"
Mai sighed, and bent down toward Lin. "Lin – san. Come on, we're now going. Naru's getting impatient again." She shook Lin gently, and couldn't wake him.
"Your attempts are futile. Lin's a deep sleeper." Mai turned to the door, and Naru was standing in the doorway. "He's a really deep sleeper, so you have to force him to wake up." Mai blinked.
"Yeah, how, Naru?"
"Like this." Mai could do nothing but watch as Naru walked over, and poured water over Lin's shirt.
"Why not his hair?"
Naru smirked. "He hates his hair getting wet. And I mean hates."
Mai blinked, and started to laugh softly.
"He's right. Mai, thanks for trying to wake me up. Naru, thanks for not getting my hair wet. I hate that. My hair's really thick, so it takes forever to dry. Plus, it sticks to my face, and I can't stand things in my eyes."
Mai nodded, and got up. "Lead the way, Naru."
"Mai, tea. Lin, equipment. Masako, help Lin. Monk, go with Mai. Ayako... stay out of the way."
As the team went about their tasks, Mai kept thinking about Lin, and the mysterious aura that man carries about him.
When Mai had made Naru's tea, she pulled out five coke cans from her fridge, made sure she had everything she needed, and got into the van, in between Lin – the one who was driving – and Naru.
"Monk." She threw him a can, not looking because she was in the front, and Monk and Ayako in the back. She threw it backwards.
"Ayako." She threw her a can. Lin brought the car to life.
Mai cracked open a can, and put one in the drink holder for Lin, who nodded appreciatively.
"Naru, do you want yours?" Naru didn't look up from his paperwork – somehow, he could write like normal while in a bumpy van ride – but a small smile crossed his face. Mai knew this was a 'yes', so she cracked it open and handed it to him.
Well, she didn't hand it to him, she put it in a cup holder just in front of him.
"How long is the journey?"
Monk spoke from behind her. "The Big Boss said about 6 hours driving, then a 13 hour flight."
"Flight? But I didn't bring my passport!"
"No, but Lin did. Yesterday, he filed for your passport, presenting the airport with a photo, and they put a passport together for you. Ooh, Mai. You've got an admirer." Ayako spoke up from behind as well.
"Thanks, Lin. You didn't have to do that. But... a 19 hour journey? Why take a case that's so far away?"
"Because. You've had a dream about it, which means that you'll be involved somehow. Apart from that, it's really interesting. The owners of the house have called in several experts, and no one has solved it. Which is why I want to do it."
Mai nodded, groaning slightly at the prospect of sitting still for 19 hours – well, apart from moving from van to plane.
Mai couldn't get the figures of her dying friends out of her head. Masako's headless figure...
Naru and Lin chained to the wall, and Ayako and Monk dying slowly...
Why hadn't she met the ground when she fell?
What had that boy meant by her never knowing who he was?
What had she done to suffer the boy's fate?
It then occurred to Mai that she hadn't eaten anything for just over 12 hours. She'd been too caught up in meeting Naru's demands, and making sure that everyone was happy.
Mai sunk into another dream.
Mai's dream
There was nothing, just a black nothingness. Mai couldn't see anything, and she couldn't move anything, but her eyes. The same ghostly laugh from before filled the air.
"You saw what happened to your friends. Are you afraid?Never mind, you won't be alive for much longer..."
"Who are you? Please, just leave my friends be. If you want me, just attack me!" A sickening sound of bones crunching filled the air, and a blood curdling scream filled the air. Mai couldn't move, couldn't cover her ears. Her throat hurt. Then she got it. It was her who was screaming. Mai... he'd hurt her, made her bones crush with just a single look.
"Oh, I will..."
"Stop... please..."
"No." Another sickening sound of bones crunching filled the air, and Mai screamed again, almost drowning out the laugh of the ghost.
"Why... are... you... doing... this?"
"Because... I'm avenging my death. YOU killed me."
"What... are... you... t-talking... about?"
"Oh, all you will never know. It ends HERE!"
Several more cracks filled the air, and Mai screamed until her throat was raw, and pain consumed her, changing her...
Mai sat bolt right up, screaming.
"-Ai. Mai. Are you okay?" Mai stopped screaming when a hand clamped down tight over her mouth. The van had stopped, and Mai could see Naru and Lin looking at her worriedly, and Ayako and Monk leaning over from behind them.
"Mai?" Mai started sobbing, and threw herself at Lin, who grunted at the force of a seventeen year old girl practically glomping him. He shushed her soothingly, rubbing her back with the hand he'd just removed from over her mouth, as she had stopped screaming.
"Sssh... You're fine. Talk about it when you're ready. Ssh... Monk, Ayako, she's fine. I think it was a dream. Naru, keep driving. We're nearly at the airport Mai, just another hour or two. Sssh..."
Over her head, Lin connected eyes with Mai, using mind telepathy.
Naru. What do you think it was about?
The case. It must've been. Keep her calm at all costs.
Easier said that done.
Hn. Ask her what her dream was when she calms down. Or, should I say, IF she calms down.
She seems to be more calmer now.
That's probably because she's clinging to your arm.
Not that I care.
Hn. Focus, Lin.
Lin looked down at the sobbing girl, who was indeed clinging to his arm. "Mai. Are you ready?"
She nodded, but didn't pull away.
"I was in a black nothingness, like before. And it was the same ghost as before too. I couldn't move anything but my eyes. Paralysed. The ghost kept saying I wouldn't be alive much longer, and when I asked him why he was doing this, he said that I... k-killed him, and he was avenging his own d-death... cracks filled the air, and I screamed. But the scream sounded inhumane, like it wasn't me screaming. This ghost is dangerous, Naru. I've got a bad feeling about this... he can shatter your bones with a mere look. He shattered every bone in my body... with a look. That's all I remember."
Mai had been mumbling into Lin's chest, but she was still clearly heard by all in the van.
Lin and Naru connected eyes briefly.
"Do you know what this could mean, Lin?"
"Hmm... it's possible that he's mistaking Mai for someone else, or he's too angry, and so just chooses someone at random. Anything is possible."
Lin nodded, and Naru looked at Lin, then at Mai, and back again.
"Lin, when we get there, you will be Mai's personal 'bodyguard', if you will. You will stay together. This means that she stays with you in the base, watching the monitors while you research, and she sleeps in a room that's linked to or is very close to yours. Ayako, Monk, since you two are engaged, you can have a room to yourselves. When John and Masako come, they can be in the same room as you two. On no conditions are you to go ANYWHERE alone. From what Mai has said, this is more dangerous than ever before. And Mai, before you say anything, I'll be sleeping in the base, but just around the corner from you lot. I'll be able to hear anything."
Monk and Ayako blushed.
Mai was still seeking comfort in Lin's arms. She hadn't moved since she'd recalled her dream, and the tears had stopped. Lin's shirt wasn't wet any more, because Mai's heat had warmed it up.
Move her to a more comfortable position, Lin.
Care to elaborate?
My father used to lay my mother's head in his lap while she was sleeping, and lay his jacket over her. Mai seems to have taken a liking to you, so maybe she'd be more comfortable. My father also used to stroke Mum's hair while she was sleeping. He did this whenever she had nightmares, which was a lot. She said it used to help her not have nightmares. It might not work, but try it.
Wow, Naru. You really do care.
Of course. Just because it doesn't show on the outside, doesn't mean I'm not thinking it. Tell me, Lin. Where do you stand with Mai?
I don't know. But I do know that I care for her. And I want to end her suffering.
Sounds like Lin's in love.
More than you'll ever feel.
Naru didn't reply, so Lin knew he'd won. Once he'd moved Mai into a more comfortable position: Head in his lap, jacket over her, stroking her hair, he continued reading.
While Mai had been having her nightmare, Lin and Naru had swapped, so that Naru was now driving.
"I'll always be here, Mai. Even if you decide to quit SPR, not that you ever will, I'll stand by you. It's the least I can do. I know I sound out of character right now, but that's because I feel like never before. We need you, Mai. You're the glue that holds us all together. And the reason that Naru occasionally smiles. I'm so sorry for making you think I hated you. But that was only because I was trying to hide what I felt. I should be saying this to your face, not as you lay sleeping..."
Lin trailed off as he looked down at Mai's sleeping form.
"If you love her like you HAVEN'T said you do, then just talk to her." Ayako leaned over the seat, and ruffled Lin's hair.
Monk appeared beside Ayako. "Yeah. Mai's more understanding than you think. She sees a lot more than she lets on."
"I'm driving, and you're distracting me. Sit down and shut up. There's only 30 minutes left before we reach the airport. Wake her up."
"Ayako?"
"Yeah?"
"You share a room with Mai on cases, how do you wake her up?"
"Oh... um... I normally just gently shake her awake, but don't lean right over her, because she has a tendency of sitting up bolt right. Last time I woke her up, she almost broke my nose. That's why it has to be done gently."
Lin nodded, and Naru pulled over. "Monk, Ayako, assist me in unloading the van. Lin... you know what to do."
Monk, Ayako and Naru got out, leaving Lin in the van with Mai.
Lin carefully peeled the jacket off of Mai, and shook her gently. "Mai. Mai..." He dragged her name out, like you would will playing hide and seek.
"LIN, HURRY UP AND WAKE HER ALREADY!" Naru yelled this from the open boot, where he was still unloading the van. Ayako was checking her nails, and Monk was inspecting a camera he just dropped. Eventually, Lin got annoyed at Mai, and just opened his door and picked her up bridal style, sidling out of the car.
"She wouldn't wake up." When Naru moved to wake her, Lin stopped him. "Noll, she hasn't slept properly for 2 days because she's been researching, making your tea, and having nightmares. Let her sleep. She'd let you sleep if you'd pushed yourself too far."
Naru did nothing but shot Lin a blank look, and Lin sighed, kicking the door closed with his foot.
"Come on, let's get boarded onto the plane. We've got 30 minutes."
The plane had just taken off, and everything had gone smoothly. Lin had briefly woken Mai up so that she could go through security to be checked, and to board the plane, but then she'd gone to sleep as soon as she'd sat down.
She didn't dream of anything, just a familiar black nothingness. No voices. No ghosts. Just black stuff. And, for the first time, she didn't care.
Mai was sitting in-between Lin and Naru, who were behind Ayako and Monk.
Lin had put Mai in the same position as before, and Naru was just reading. He could hear Ayako and Monk talking quietly about wedding plans, and he could hear Naru's sorrowful music playing from where he sat.
A hostess came and came each of the SPR party a pillow and blanket, though Naru declined his. When everyone had ordered their food, Lin shook Mai awake. It took him all of 5 minutes. But he had Monk and Ayako's help.
"Nng.. Nnng... whazzamatter? Does Naru want some... nng... tea?" Mai rubbed her eyes, but didn't otherwise move. "No, Naru doesn't want tea. I woke you because lunch is now coming. We're on the plane, Mai."
Mai looked groggily around, emitting unintelligible grunts and groans as she did. But she still didn't sit up.
"Oh... thanks, guys. Lin... how did I get from the van to the plane? Where's the plane?"
Lin sighed, shaking his head with a small smile on his face. "I carried you from the van to the airport, then briefly woke you up to go through security, but you looked like a zombie, and then you fell asleep again as soon as you sat down."
"Oh. Well, um, thanks, Lin – san."
Lin frowned. "Call me Lin – kun." Naru's head shot up, and Ayako and Monk started giggling madly.
"Ooh... one step closer, Mai." Mai still hadn't sat up, and Lin was still stroking her hair.
"Shut up, guys."
"Are you sure, Lin?" Naru was still looking at Lin.
"Yes. I mean, I've known Mai for something like a year now, so, why not?"
Monk and Ayako were still giggling. Naru raised an eyebrow, but otherwise turned back to his book.
The same air hostess from before returned with a trolley full of food.
"Lasagne for Mr... Naru?"
Said person nodded, and the hostess handed him a steaming tray with lasagne and chocolate fudge cake ice-cream on it, accompanied by a thermal flask of tea. "Arigato." The hostess nodded, blushing slightly.
"Sloppy joe for Mrs... Ayako?" Said person nodded, and the hostess handed her a steaming tray of sloppy joe and wholemeal bread, with strawberry shortcake for dessert.
"Tuna salad for Mr... Monk? Hmm..." Monk nodded, and the hostess handed him a bowl of tuna salad, smiling at him in a flirty manner. Monk ignored this, of course.
"And we've got two more orders. One for chicken and stuffing sandwiches with chocolate cake, and one for chicken soaked in orange juice and stuffing, and vanilla and coffee cake for dessert."
Lin nodded. "The orange chicken and coffee cake is for Mai. The other is mine." Looking up, Mai blinked. "How do you know my favourite foods?"
"I overheard you talking to Monk about food the other week, and I remembered it." Mai smiled, and Lin's heart nearly stopped.
"Thank you. Just put them on the fold-able table in front of me." The hostess nodded, and did as bid. Then, she walked back down the aisle, leaving the tray there for when they had finished their meal.
"Mai?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you mind giving Lin his lap back?" Mai scowled at Naru, who was staring at his fork.
"Oh, um, yeah. Sorry, Lin – kun." Mai went to sit up, but Lin halted her. His hands hadn't yet left her hair.
"Naru, she's fine. I don't mind."
"I bet you don't." Was heard from in front of them, followed by more giggling. Mai rolled her eyes at their immaturity.
"Are you sure, Lin – kun?" Lin looked at Mai, trying – and failing – to not get lost in her eyes. Lin had to shake himself before he could answer her.
"Yes. If I minded, I've have told you to get off. Lay back down, and stop listening to Naru."
Mai giggled, and laid back down, enjoying the feeling of Lin's fingers running through her hair.
"Naru?"
"Hm?" He didn't raise his head to look at her. Which left Mai to stare at Lin's sharp angular jawline and chin.
"Why did you take a case that was halfway across the country? I mean, I love the travelling and all, and I'm really comfy where I am, I was just curious. What do my dreams mean? They scare me... I'm afraid to sleep..." Naru still didn't raise his head.
"I took it because you'd already dreamed about it. Which meant that we'd need to take it. And I really, really didn't need to know that you were comfy. But thanks for the mental images. It's not as if I weren't already scarred..." Monk started giggling like a little girl, and Mai could see Ayako raise her hand above her head to hit him. He didn't say 'ow'. Mai didn't think he even reacted. When food was around, he never did.
"Mai, you shouldn't be afraid to sleep. You heard Naru. I can't leave you alone on this case. While you're dreaming, stay calm, and try to analyse the dream as it happens. Because then, you might not be as scared as you would be normally. Fear is only in the mind, and if you allow it to take over, it eventually becomes you. So, if you preoccupy your brain by analysis as you sleep, you won't be as scared. Try it. If that doesn't work, then drink hot tea before bed."
Lin leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Mai's forehead. Mai closed her eyes at the contact.
"Mai?"
"Yes, Naru?"
"Did you intend to let Lin eat? Or, less importantly, did you intend to actually eat your own meal?"
Mai frowned at the 'less importantly' bit, but otherwise said nothing.
"Oh... sorry, Naru, Lin – kun."
Lin smiled, and Naru just turned back to his book. Sitting up, Mai handed Lin his chicken and stuffing sandwiches with chocolate cake, and then smirked at him when their fingers brushed.
Then, Mai pulled her meal toward her, and tentatively took a bite.
When she'd finished her meal, and Lin had finished his, Monk pulled the trolley toward him and loaded it with his and Ayako's plates. Mai pulled it toward her, and loaded it with Naru's, Lin's, and her plates.
Then she dinged a bell, causing the hostess from before to come and take away the trolley.
"Thank you for ordering our meals. Do you require anything else?"
Lin nodded. "Can you show me the way to the luggage room? I want to get my laptop."
The hostess nodded, and stepped backwards so that Mai could get out, which would, in turn, get Lin out.
Once Lin had got out, Mai got back into her seat, and the hostess, who had just upped her flirting techniques, placed her hand on the small of his back, and led him to the luggage room. Unbeknownst to her, Naru had been watching, and didn't miss the jealousy and anger flickering across Mai's face. He subtly kicked the back of Monk's chair, who leaned over, and then followed Naru's gaze. Monk nodded, and sat back down, pulling his phone out.
Mai frowned, and then jumped as her phone vibrated against her pocket. Pulling it out, she flipped it open.
She'd got a text.
Don't worry, Mai. I know what you're thinking. Lin won't let the hostess try anything. He's above that. That hostess was flirting with me (I mean, look at me), Naru, AND Lin, so don't worry.
Mai smiled, and sent one back.
Thanks, Monk. If she does, I'll kill her.
No you won't.
Wanna bet?
Shut up and get out of your seat. Lin's coming.
* Blushes *
When Lin had settled back into his seat, resting his laptop on the fold-able table, Mai leaned on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
Lin leaned over to Naru, and whispered something in his ear. Naru nodded, and held out his flask.
"Mai. Tea."
Mai started grumbling. "I knew it was too good to be true." She reached over and grabbed his flask from his hand, then stood up and followed the aisle to the kitchen at the back.
Lin got up and followed her. "Mai, could I talk to you for a second? It won't take long, and you can make Naru's tea while I talk."
Mai nodded, and boiled the kettle, adding the teabag and sugar as she went. Lin walked over to the door, and shut it, leaning against it.
"So what did you want to talk about?"
"In the beginning. Do you remember how we met?"
Mai nodded. His tone was slow and deliberate. "Yeah. You pulled me out of the way of a falling bookcase, causing me to break an expensive camera and you to sprain your ankle."
Lin nodded. "And I acted cold toward you. Look, I'm sorry if you thought I hated you. To begin with, I did. But, gradually, that all changed." Mai blushed, pouring water into Naru's cup.
"Do you want one, Lin – kun?"
"No thanks." Mai nodded, and added the milk to Naru's tea.
"Over the last few months, I've felt safe when you're near, but then empty when you're not. At first, I couldn't figure it out. So I spoke to Madoka. And a few weeks after that... I knew."
"Knew what?"
Lin took a step toward Mai, mentally putting his shiki out to guard the door.
"That I fell in love with you."
Mai's jaw dropped, and she flushed in happiness. "Really?"
Lin did nothing but nod, and pulled out a plastic rose, holding it out to her.
Mai took it, but then Lin took it back, tucking it behind her ear.
"Why is it plastic?" Lin, for the first time ever, looked sheepish.
"Because it's a token of my undying love for you. Mai, will you allow me to date you?"
A slow smile spread across Mai's face, and she put Naru's tea down. "YES!"
And the next thing Lin knew, he was being glomped.