You're Mai Cup of Tea
Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt, or any of its characters! However, I do own whatever nonsensical tea recipes I may come up with! Although I advise against trying to make any of them (unless they already preexist) since they're all purely fictional and uhhh may cause upset stomachs in reality. If you do try to make them, don't say I didn't warn you! I won't be liable! :X
Author's Note: Hello my fellow ghost hunters~! Could this be? Another story? And so soon? I'm surprised myself! xD It's probably because the ending to Ghost Hunt honestly left me so unsatisfied that I wanted to take matters into my own hands! I tend to avoid writing multi-chaptered stories since I lose interest rather quickly hahahas...But this little plot bunny has kept me up for several nights, and since I do cherish my beauty sleep I decided to put my little thoughts into words. Hopefully, writing this will cure my dissatisfaction with the novel's ending! :D If you guys read my more crackish story earlier on don't expect it to be so here, the only crackish thing is probably the title hahahas Get it? My? Mai? *gets shot for corniness* xD But honestly though I'm more of an angsty/drama person, so without further ado, here's a more melancholic story! Enjoy!
Narcissus Tea
A steaming cup of fresh tea, most exuded for its clear golden color. Perfect for admiring one's reflection in. Composed from the essence of the Narcissus flower and mixed with a hint of processed honey.
Perfect for someone as self-absorbed and artificial as you, but against my better judgement I added something extra. I was a fool.
Ingredients: Crushed Petals from the Narcissus Flora, Processed Honey, (?)
Preparation Time: 3 minutes, Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Directions:
1) Boil a pot of approximately 50mL of cold tap water to 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
2) Place the crushed Narcissus petals into a clean tea cup.
3) Carefully fill the tea cup with boiling water.
4) Add a teaspoon of honey into the brewing tea. Stir and mix well until the honey is completely dissolved.
5) Let the tea steep for an additional 3 minutes before serving.
Looking back now, I almost feel cheated.
Would I have been attracted to you if I had known the truth?
Maybe. Maybe not.
After all our first meeting surely did not end amicably.
.
.
Mai watched from a safe distance as her friends began gushing over the handsome black-haired stranger.
Tsk.
Why couldn't they see that they were being made fools of?
His eyes aren't smiling at all!
It was almost as if he was expelling a silent mantra, 'Annoying. Annoying. Annoying.'
.
.
But little did I know at the time, I would end up becoming the biggest fool of them all.
Scammer! Con Man! Swindler!
Liar! Liar! Liar!
I was so sure I saw through your mask. I swore on my dignity that I would not fall victim to your façade.
But then you cheated…
Okay. Maybe you didn't know, but it wasn't fair! You can't just pull the 'I have a dead identical twin brother!' card on me.
Maybe that was truly the reason why I started becoming attracted to you. After all there was no other explanation for how I could possibly fall for the illusion I've already seen through.
Or at least I thought I did.
I remember exactly when it began.
.
.
Naru?
"You're back. I'm relieved…"
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
My heart almost beat out of my chest the first time I saw you smiling at me. I wanted that dream to last forever.
I wish you'd smile at me like that more often.
.
.
When I dreamt about you when you weren't even around, I thought 'Wow I must really care about him more than I thought!' After all if my subconscious started throwing dreams of you and me together continuously, I must have fallen pretty hard for you right?
From then on butterflies kept fluttering in my stomach whenever I saw you.
The first time I couldn't get a wink of sleep and came in early —only to stumble upon your sleeping figure.
.
.
Naru! You're going to catch a cold if you sleep outside!
"…Mai. What are you doing here so early?"
Gyah! Here! Have a cup of coffee to warm yourself up!
He's so beautiful even when he's just woken up. It wasn't fair.
.
.
The first time you rescued me.
.
.
BAM. BAM. BAM. BAM. BAM.
What's that sound? I-is the building collapsing?
"We need to get out of here! It's not safe anymore!"
Even though I was terrified, the warmth from your hands made me feel safe. When you pulled me out of the crumbling old school building, you even injured yourself.
.
.
The first time I put a name on the feelings you conjured in me.
.
.
"Do you want to work part-time at my office?"
Yes. Yes. Yes! All my yes!
Even after our call ended all I could hear was my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
The jitters and tingling remained.
Could it be? So suddenly?
And before I knew it the tiny feeling that had been incubating had grown into something more.
A little quiet thought popped up innocently, almost as if it didn't want to startle me.
Like hey! Hey you! That's right I'm talking to you Mai! You want to know a little secret?
You like him.
You like Naru.
.
.
Even after having a bad day, just seeing you, just being in your presence, and just making you tea was enough to brighten up my day. It didn't matter to me that you were like a black thunderous storm cloud because I was the silly sunny-skied umbrella — withstanding your harshest winds and rain — bright, unmoving, and hopeful. I could not be moved.
I remained. I adapted. I survived.
You didn't ask for me to be there, but I stayed anyways because I cared about you and that was all that mattered.
I knew dreaming about you didn't make my feelings for you mutual. You simply didn't seem to have the capacity for love.
But somehow somewhere I wanted to believe that you did.
I thought, perhaps, hate was truly the seed for love.
But I was wrong.
It wasn't real.
It wasn't a dream.
It wasn't you.
It was as if the hands of fate were laughing at my folly, as they weaved me deeper and deeper into your intricate mask.
Why do you have so many hidden layers?
I wanted to understand you.
I wanted to care about you.
I wanted to fall in love with you.
(I wanted you to let me in.)
Knock. Knock. Knock.
He heard someone knocking thrice before Mai skipped into his office, and placed a cup of hot tea on top of the files he was just looking at.
Slightly irked that his work was interrupted, Naru scrunched his brows before asking, "What's this?"
"A super-duper special present to celebrate our first official day working together!" Mai said a-matter-a-factly.
"It's just a cup of tea." Naru stated blatantly.
Mai gasped dramatically, "This isn't just any old tea! This my friend is the ultra-special Taniyama secret blend! You'll never taste anything like it anywhere else!"
Unphased by her dramatics Naru sighed before taking a sip of tea. After all he had a feeling she wouldn't leave until he did, and that would mean it would take away even more time from his work.
He honestly thought it would just taste like any other ordinary tea. After all he had his share of exquisite tea back in England, and nothing in Japan had come quite close to it yet.
But the taste that greeted him was unexpected.
There was a tinge of something different. Something beneath the scent of flora and honey. Something he couldn't quite put a finger on.
Something pleasant.
How curious.
Before he knew it, he had finished the cup of tea. And Mai was still there looking at him expectantly.
Confused as to why she was still there, they held a brief staring contest that seemed to go on forever…that is until Mai broke the silence, "Sooooo how was it?"
"It's agreeable." Naru replied curtly before going back to his work.
"Geez you're so rude! Not even a thank you? Yeesh!" Mai yelled before making her way out of his office.
Before she closed the door completely she heard a faint, but sure sound, "Mai. More tea."
She grinned before asking, "Would it kill you to say please?"
Receiving no response, Mai laughed before closing the door, "Yes, yes, Shibuya-sama another cup of tea coming right up!"
(I thought I finally made a crack in your carefully built defenses.)
Slowly but surely I would find my way into your heart.
But at that time I didn't even know your real name, did I?
Who are you, my beautiful liar?
Author's Note: Andddddd that's a wrap for chapter one folks! I'm going to enjoy toying with the whole did Mai really love Naru or Gene idea, and what the heck was going on in their minds. Perhaps then I too will get the closure I need regarding how Ghost Hunt ended. Anyhow reviews and criticisms are always welcomed! I hope ya'll enjoyed the story so far, and I'll see everyone in chapter two! Whenever that is hahas :P
P.S Turns out there is a Narcissus Tea called Shui Xian Oolang Tea. Apparently it's good for circulation and your cardiovascular and digestive systems! So for anyone who wants to try it out feel free! :)