AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Alright, here I am again with a simple short story for my fellow readers and lovers of Naru-Mai ship. I hope you'll like this one. It's quite short but I'll eventually make the chapter longer as we move on with the story.

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CHAPTER ONE

THE SILENCE

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Shibuya Kazuya was a man of few words. Yes. He rarely expressed himself no more than what's necessary, which not only irritated those around him, but also confused them more. Which is why he did it.

But today was different.

Today- as he glanced furtively across the room and to where his assistant sat- was unusually quiet and too damned peaceful. Not that he mind. However, he also couldn't help but wonder why the girl was simply not.. herself.

Not talking.

Not complaining.

Not grumbling something insulting under her breath.

Not paying attention to what he was saying.

Even the other members had noticed that she was rather impassive and distant for the past few days. Having a reputation of being callous and tremendously egoistic, Naru wondered why he was even trying to look for any clue as to what triggered such behavior. But as he glanced across the room for the second time, his eyes strayed to her hand which held the pen with more force than normal, clearly showing her state of distress.

"Mai." He said without thinking.

Brown eyes leaden with barely concealed anxiety looked back at him.

Naru paused. He should mind his own business. Yes. He probably should.. but then again, it was distracting to see her in such a way, and Naru doesn't like being distracted.

Yes. That was more comforting than thinking that he was worried about her.

"Ah, yes.." He said, his voice sounding more forceful and formal which belied the sudden uneasiness that he was currently feeling. Clearly, being around her was more dangerous than walking in a cursed house. "I'll take the rest." He gestured to the pile of papers on the coffee table. "You may go home if you want."

Mai looked back at the table and then took a deep breath before she stood without so much as a reply.

Naru watched her put the kitchen in order before she left the room; his mind- for the first time- was not engaged in a paranormal case, but rather in something he probably wouldn't want to investigate at all.

To be continued.

What is troubling Mai? How will Naru find out? Find out in the next chapter.

Read and Review please.