Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt. Please read and review.
Naru eyed the girl who was for whatever reason he couldn't fathom packing an overnight bag. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Mai, you're going to be late for school."
"I'm hurrying, Naru. Keep your pants on." She blushed as she snuck a glance at him through her bangs trying to imagine what he would look like without those black clothes on. She giggled nervously as she threw some items into the bag.
"What are you doing?" his tone marked the frustration he felt as his eyes narrowed. He sat down on a corner of her bed. Even though they lived in the same condominium with Lin did not mean they slept together.
Mai rolled her eyes and sighed. "I told you last week. Keiko invited me over for a sleepover tonight with some of her friends, like Midori, Azarni, and Leiko." She frowned, something felt off when she named the three girls. "I don't know why they want to hang out with us."
She let her head hang for a moment scrutinizing the floor under her feet. "Keiko didn't mean to, but she let it slip in front of them that I sometimes see ghosts. Those three have made it their life's mission to torment me."
Naru's eyes grew cold at her statement. He crossed his arms over his chest. "If they're bullying you then you shouldn't go."
Mai's head shot up as she shook her head vehemently. "I can't leave Keiko alone with them." She zipped up the bag. "Ready to go," she announced cautiously, not wanting to anger her boyfriend.
Naru rose and pulled her into his warm embrace. "I worry about you, Mai. Promise me you'll be careful, I know how accident prone you are."
Mai raised a fist and smacked him in the chest lightly. "You know you can be a real jerk sometimes."
Naru chuckled as he lifted her head up from under her chin with his forefinger, leaned down, and gave her a tender kiss.
Mai wrapped her arms around his neck and moaned, as their kiss grew more passionate.
Lin popped his head into the doorway and pulled out his cell phone taking a picture of the pair.
A dark cerulean eye stared at him as the teens came up for air. "I don't know why you just did that Lin. But if that picture ends up in my mother's hands…" Naru let his words trail as the hinted threat hung in the air.
Lin cleared his throat. "I've been taking calls from your mother. Madoka spilled the beans about you and Mai and she's clamoring to A) meet Mai, and B) grandchildren."
"What…" Mai glanced up at Naru, and then at Lin and back to Naru, who had a smirk plastered on his face.
"Let's go." Naru wrapped his hand around her wrist and pulled her along behind him. "The longer we wait, the further you sink into the depths of dumb."
Her face flushed red as she huffed. "Well, you're still a workaholic, narcissistic, tea aholic jerk." Mai followed both chuckling men out the door.
Mai's school day passed by swiftly as did her time working in the office. The clock's ticking from the wall drew her attention. She bubbled with excitement as she made both Naru and Lin a final cup of tea. She took the one cup to Lin and finally Naru. "Naru, I have to go. Keiko's dad is here."
Naru rose and hugged Mai. His eyes swirled with emotions that spoke volumes of how much he cared for the girl he held. "Call me tomorrow and I'll come pick you up," he leaned over taking her mouth with his.
Mai smiled as she caressed his smooth cheek with her hand. "I'll call, but you don't need to pick me up. Jessica wants to take me out shopping since it's the weekend."
Naru released his hold on Mai. She gave him a quick peck on the lips and ran out of his office, grabbing her overnight bag she was out the door in a flash.
Naru couldn't help it as he sat down in his chair brooding. He had a bad feeling that something was about to happen. Something that would touch his and Mai's lives forever.
Mai entered Keiko's house and waved goodbye to her friend's dad. She heard voices coming from the family room and found her friend and the other's setting up for movie night. Hot buttered popcorn sat in bowls ready for eating, and soda's bathed in a small tub of ice.
The girls settled down on the floor watching several movies. The little click of the three mean girls kept eyeing Mai. Midori opened her mouth to make a snide remark but Leiko grabbed her hand and gave a slight shake of her head.
"Who'd win if it was Freddy and Jason against Predator?" Keiko smiled at Mai trying to draw the other girls into a conversation.
Mai held her chin as she thought about it. Her eyes brightened, "Predator hands down. He'd have two new trophies for his wall."
Leiko glanced at Mai. "What's your boss like? I hear he's a good looking man."
"Uhm… He has his moments when he's nice, but most of the time he's a workaholic who only has space in his mirror for his own reflection." Mai's uneasy feeling came back tenfold. Well, that was a question out of left field.
"How about introducing him to us?"
Keiko smiled at Mai. "Didn't you all know? Naru is off the market, he and Mai are now together."
Mai swore she saw anger flash in the other girls' eyes, and then quickly fade. Talk about Naru ended. However, Mai felt uncomfortable about being with the other girls in the room.
Mai woke to the sound of whispering. She couldn't make out what was being said but all talk ceased as she yawned and stretched. Standing up, she pulled her clothes out of the overnight bag and stepped into the bathroom. She turned on the shower while pulling the oversized T-shirt she wore over her head and took off her underwear.
Stepping into the warm stream of water, Mai continued to wonder about the three girls as she scrubbed her skin clean. They never liked her or Keiko for that matter. Why were they going out of the way of trying to be friendly?
Toweling herself dry she stepped out of the shower as her skin prickled at the sudden change in air temperature. An involuntary shiver ran down Mai's spine as she shuddered slightly and caught sight of her reflection in the steam fogged mirror. She dressed in a thin long-sleeved white peasant top and blue jean shorts and black flats.
Mai joined the others in the kitchen where they ate breakfast but Keiko had to help her mom with the chores. Midori glanced at Mai, "We have an hour to kill until my mom comes to pick us up. How about we go and mess around in the park?"
Mai's stomach churned, as the uneasy feeling continued to grow. She shoved it to the back of her mind, "Sure, sounds fun," she smiled brightly at the girls.
The four girls walked through the park as the gentle spring breeze blew the green grass. Sounds of little kids laughing and playing in the distance reached their ears. They entered an area where the trees grew thicker and the bushes grew higher than the rest of the park. The girls formed a small circle around Mai.
"Now," Leiko told the other two who grabbed Mai by her arms and pulled her down. Her head struck painfully on the ground, and Leiko straddled her.
"Le… Leiko if this is some kind of joke, it's not funny," the blood drained from her face as a knot formed in her stomach.
Leiko's eyes glittered as her face twisted into an ugly reflection of the jealousy in her heart. She leaned forward as her hand slipped into a pocket and pulled something out. It glinted as the sun flashed off the silver surface and ran it against Mai's cheek.
Mai's eyes grew as she identified the object. It was a knife. She shot a worried glance at Leiko.