A/N: Something I couldn't get out of my head. Please let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: All characters in Ghost Hunt are the creation of the Goddess Ono Fuyumi-sama.

Mai looked at her desk in irritation. An unknown someone had sent her flowers again. This was the second time in two weeks. Last week had been red roses. This week, she wasn't even sure what they were. It was a bouquet of star-like flowers, each with six white petals. In the center of each flower was a yellow cup-like structure. Mai wasn't an expert on flowers, and she didn't care to be, so she had no idea what this variety of flower was, let alone what it symbolized.

Mai growled in annoyance, wishing the flowers would just disappear.

"Is something wrong, Taniyama-san?" came Lin's voice.

Mai glanced up from the flowers to see Lin standing on the other side of her desk.

"Yes," she said angrily, "someone sent me flowers."

Lin looked down at the bouquet of flowers, frowning slightly. "You dislike flowers?"

"I don't necessarily dislike flowers," she explained, "I just hate receiving them as gifts."

Lin tilted his head slightly, a questioning look on his usually inexpressive face.

Mai sighed, interpreting Lin's silent question. "It's just sad watching them wither away in pain," she further explained.

"You think flowers feel pain?" he asked doubtfully.

"They bleed, don't they?" Mai said in response.

"And yet, you eat meat," Lin stated matter-of-factly.

Mai pursed her lips in annoyance at Lin's indifference. "If you didn't care, then why did you ask?"

"It's not that I don't care," Lin said calmly, "I just don't understand your logic."

"And that's your first mistake," Mai told him seriously. "Because it's emotional, and emotions aren't logical."

"Fair enough," Lin conceded, his face remaining emotionless.

Mai sighed, giving up on the conversation.

"Can you just get rid of them, please?" she asked.

"Certainly," he said, approaching her desk to pick up the vase of flowers.

"Thank you," she said gratefully.

Lin nodded to her in response before turning to leave. He left Mai sitting at her desk as he made his way to the back offices, passing by the resource room. Stopping at Naru's door, he knocked before entering at Naru's command.

"What is it?" Naru asked as Lin entered the office, closing the door behind him.

Lin walked to Naru's desk, setting down the vase of flowers.

"Really, Naru," Lin said, unimpressed, "you gave her narcissuses?"

Naru shot him an irritated glance. "Why did you bring them in here? Didn't she like them?"

"No," Lin said flatly, "and I don't think she even knew what they were. So, I highly doubt she got your meaning."

"Anyone else would have known what they meant," Naru replied derisively.

Lin glared at Naru. "Stop giving Taniyama-san flowers."

"What?" Naru asked in surprise.

"Stop giving Taniyama-san flowers," Lin repeated. "She doesn't like them."

"Mai doesn't like flowers?" Naru asked skeptically.

"That's what she said," Lin responded.

Naru let out a sigh. "Then what do you suggest I get her?"

"How about nothing," Lin replied, a slight edge to his voice.

"I'm not going to stop pursuing her just because you like her too," Naru said in annoyance. "I have just as much a claim to her as you do."

"Whatever," Lin bit out, turning to leave. He closed the door behind him with more force than usual.

Naru sat in growing irritation. He was getting fed up with this rivalry for Mai's affection. Naru didn't think Lin had any right to criticize his efforts when the man himself didn't take any actions to woo the young woman. He wasn't just going to stand by and wait while Lin simply pined over Mai.

There was another knock at his door.

"Come in," he called.

"Naru," Mai said as she opened the door, "I brought your morning—"

Naru's head snapped up to look at Mai as she let out a surprised squeak.

"What is it?" Naru asked, frowning.

"Lin-san gave you flowers?" Mai asked, slightly blushing.

"What—" Naru began, before an idea formed in his head. "Oh. I already told him I wasn't interested, but Lin's persistent."

Naru smiled devilishly as Mai let out another squeak, her blush deepening. She quickly brought Naru's tea to his desk before turning to leave.

"Oh, and Mai," Naru called.

"Yes?" Mai asked still blushing.

"Thank you," Naru said, continuing to smile.

"N-no problem," Mai stammered before exiting the office.

Naru's smile widened in self-satisfaction. He was confident he would be the victor.

~oOo~

Lin sat in front of a computer in the resource room, re-watching videos from one of their previous cases for the purpose of data analysis. He tapped the keyboard roughly. He was fuming. Naru was really starting to piss him off. In Lin's view, Naru was acting like this was some game and Mai was the prize. He wished he had never admitted to Naru that he had feelings for Mai. Ever since then, Naru had shown a greater interest in her. And Lin felt that Naru definitely had an advantage over him.

If Lin knew anything from watching Naru act the entertainer at social functions, it was that Naru was able to perform whatever was necessary to get what he wanted. He could do it without a care in the world. Naru had made himself an expert on trickery. Lin had always been slightly unsettled by this even though he knew Naru did it so that he would never be tricked himself.

Regardless of all that, nearly everyone who met Naru admitted he was highly attractive. Lin himself had admitted it without any qualms. It was a fact, really. And they all knew Mai was attracted to Gene, and by default Naru.

Lin was disrupted from his thoughts by a knock at the door. He turned, waiting for the knocker to enter. Mai opened the door moments later.

"Lin-san?" Mai inquired.

Lin didn't respond, he simply looked up to her, making eye contact.

"I made you tea," Mai said after a few moments. She brought the cup of tea over to him and set it down on the desk.

"Thank you, Taniyama-san," Lin said politely.

Mai nodded, but didn't leave. She remained standing next to him, nervously toying with the hem of her shirt.

"Taniyama-san," Lin said to get her attention.

"Hmm?" Mai replied absently.

"Was there something else you needed?" he questioned.

"I was just wondering," she began slowly, "why do you like Naru?"

Lin raised his eyebrows at her question. It was a strange question, especially when he had just been thinking about how much the young man pissed him off.

"Well..." Lin started, "although he can be somewhat trying at times, I do think he's quite intelligent and has many talents. I suppose I just respect him."

"Oh," Mai said, slightly blushing. "But Lin-san, if he says he's not interested, don't you think you should move on?"

"What?!" Lin asked, slightly confused.

"Well," Mai said nervously, "you gave Naru those flowers and he said he told you he wasn't interested, but you wouldn't give up."

Lin was quiet for a moment, his mind blank from the shock of Mai's words. Then he suddenly stood up, knocking over his chair.

"That bastard!" Lin yelled as he stomped out of the room.

"Wait, Lin-san!" Mai said, quickly grabbing his arm. Her feet dragged across the floor in the effort to hold him back.

Lin growled as he was slowed in his goal to reach Naru.

"Lin-san, please!" Mai said earnestly. "If you love him, let him go!"

"I'm not in love with him," Lin said angrily, turning towards Mai, "I'm in love with you!"

"Whaaaa—" Mai exclaimed, letting go of Lin's arm in surprise. She immediately fell over, letting out an 'oomph'.

Lin stood, chest heaving, as he stared down at Mai. He let out an angry huff.

"Naru's the one who sent you the flowers," he told her. "I was just returning them to him."

"Oh..." Mai said, staring at Lin wide-eyed.

Lin sighed, shaking his head, before walking back to the resource room. He slammed the door behind him.