Chapter 1-Moving Day

Mai wasn't sure what she was doing here.

Well, Madoka had asked her to come help with buying things for Naru and Lin's new apartment. So, the 'what' of her doing here was obvious. But now, standing in front of the stylish, modern, three story townhome, Mai couldn't for the life of her remember why she had thought this would be a good idea.

It wasn't like she didn't have better things to do with her Saturday, she had homework of course, she could have taken up Michiru's offer of studying at the park near her place. It wasn't too far away, maybe she could turn around.

She wasn't running away. It was just that moving always ended up more difficult than it should be. And this move had so far proved no different.

Since Lin and Naru had spent all their time in Japan living out of hotels, moving meant less packing of boxes and more shopping. Disinterested at best, both Lin and Naru were fine with Madoka sharing this burden and Madoka, upon arrival yesterday morning, had recruited Mai to be her furnishing assistant.

Yesterday evening had the four of them at a furniture shop, picking out necessities for the new home. But what sounded like a simple trip had devolved into an unquestionable disaster.

Chaos had begun with Madoka's own excited indecision leading them from piece to piece repeatedly. Naru and Lin quickly lost interest as she pulled them in circles around the store and Lin finally suggested that they split up to divide the work. And that was how Mai found herself being sent by Madoka to help Naru pick a bedroom set. Something that Naru pointed out as ridiculous as he was not a child and could select his own furniture. But, it wasn't up for discussion and she had sent them off together. Which lead to the assumptive associate whose questions and 'helpful' suggestions on bed selection left no confusion as to the fact that he thought they were together.

Mai wanted to go home and sleep for a thousand years after that night. Never to have to think about Naru's bedroom furniture or the quality craftsmanship of it again.

But, Mai supposed, if Madoka could fly all the way from England to help them get settled-in then she could help too, so here she was.

Walking up the narrow street she took note of the similar structures which were going up in the some of the surrounding lots. Mai tried to imagine what the rent must be like on a place like this so close to Ebisu and then decided not to think about it, lest it make her dizzy.

She knocked, her heart jumping when Naru opened the door a moment later.

What was wrong with her? It was his house of course he would open the door.

But then, maybe, that was the problem. She was atNaru's house.

"Mai." Naru said.

Forgetting how to greet others, Mai just stood on the stoop. Her hands clasped tight at her side.

"Mai, you found us!" Madoka said slipping past Naru. "Ready to go?"

"Yes."

"Noll," Madoka turned back to the house, "don't forget the furniture is supposed to come around eleven. And I don't want to hear that you were reading instead of helping Lin when I get back."

Naru replied by closing the front door.

Madoka turned to Mai with a shrug and a smile.

"I hope you are excited about kitchenware, because that is going to be the rest of our day," Madoka said, taking Mai's hand and whisking her back down the street.

"Sure, sounds fun."

Shopping without Naru and Lin was, unsurprisingly, much simpler. Madoka still took forever to decide which tableware set pattern she liked best and even interrogated the employee regarding the merits of the different cookware. But there was no disinterested brooding or domestic misunderstandings so Mai considered the day a rousing success in comparison to their previous attempt at home furnishing.

When Madoka had gently bragged of her boyfriend's culinary skills and her need for quality kitchen products to the checkout attendant Mai finally got the answer to the question she had been too afraid to ask for months now.

"I didn't realize Lin was interested in cooking." Mai said as they sat on the train on their way back to the apartment. "Or that you were…together."

Madoka laughed.

"Oh, you heard that, huh? Don't mention it to him. Okay?"

"Oh, uh, " Mai was confused, "Are you—?"

"Taking advantage of a mutual attraction? As often as I can, believe you me." Madoka boasted crossing her arms and leaning back in her seat with a self-satisfied grin.

"Madoka!" Mai's face went scarlet.

"Oh, I forgot, you are kinda young." Madoka blanched. "That was probably inappropriate."

"I'm not that young." Mai grumbled.

"It's just the boyfriend thing, he gets all flustered about it. Though, he is really cute when he is flustered."

Mai waited, unsure as to what she was supposed to say.

"Things aren't as cut and dry as they could be," Madoka explained, "I mean we do live thousands of miles apart."

"Couldn't you move to Japan?" Mai offered.

"Well, we both have our work."

"But you can work here, with us. You already have."

"And I loved it, but my research is really in England. And it's not just the space. I mean he has a lot of responsibilities, he has to watch over Noll."

"I can see how that is very taxing." Mai agreed with a laugh. "But if you were here, couldn't you help him with everything?"

"Sure, I suppose."

"I think working with your spouse would be so fun, you get to see them every day."

Madoka exploded with laughter, eyes from around the car turning in their direction.

"Oh Mai, that is so sweet. But, no. People need their space, believe me. Seeing someone all day at work and then again at home. I will pass. And wait a minute, who said anything about getting married? That's not going to happen."

"Oh, come on, you can't say that." Mai teased.

"No," the smile faded from Madoka's face, "I can."

"Madoka?" Mai asked, concern replacing her amusement.

Madoka took a deep breath, a smaller version of her smile coming back to her lips.

"But, I like what we have and he sure doesn't seem to be complaining." Madoka said with a wink that brought the color back to Mai's cheeks. "So why don't we just enjoy what we got, you know? Life isn't a set of check boxes waiting to be ticked off. You gotta live it the way that makes you happy. Besides labels are just a sticky mess that can really gum up that whole process."

"Sure." Mai said, confused but unwilling to have Madoka think her too young to talk to again.

They sat in silence for a while, then Madoka asked how classes were going and the conversation started back up flowing smoothly for the rest of the ride. They stopped at the convenience store on their way back from station as since the kitchen tools they bought wouldn't be delivered until tomorrow.

"We're back, and we brought food." Madoka announced as she opened the front door.

"Welcome back." Lin said from the living room.

Mai followed Madoka into the small kitchen to drop of her bags of food.

"Yes! That looks so good!" Madoka said surveying the newly placed furniture . "The sectional is a perfect fit, what did I tell you? I'm a genius."

From the kitchen doorway Mai could see Madoka grin up at Lin as she approached him.

"It works well in the space." He agreed.

Her grin widened, her fingertip resting on his chest.

"And you wanted a sofa and loveseat." She fake pouted, Lin's hand came up to wrap around Madoka's the other lightly grasping her chin.

Mai could feel her ears heating up, maybe she should go?

"I stand corrected." He replied looking at her, their faces extremely close.

"Not for long, if I have anything to say about it," she teased.

"They make a room for that you know." Naru said walking into the room reading.

"Oh sweetie, they made all the rooms for that."

"Gross, and you talk about me needing manners." He grumbled as he passed them, still reading. "You said something about food?"

"Oh yeah," Madoka grinned. "I left you something in the kitchen."

Mai scrambled further back into the kitchen. Her face on fire. It was bad enough she felt like she had just been snooping. Now, Naru was coming.

She needed to hide, maybe she could fit in a cabinet? Or in the pantry?

Mai let out a small scream when she was nearly knocked over from behind.

Catching her balance, Mai turned to see a confused Naru looking at her over the top of his book.

"Mai?"

From the other room, she could head Madoka's failed attempts at restraining her laughter.

"What are you doing here?" Naru asked.

"Oh, I was just, uh, dropping these off," she gestured to the bags of food, "but that's done so I'm gonna go now."

Mai looked at the floor, hoping to make her glowing face less obvious as she walked from the room.

"Mai, where are you going?" Madoka asked as Mai made her way back to the front door. "I thought you were staying for dinner."

"I have some studying I have to do," Mai said, slipping her shoes back on, "I should get going."

"Oh no, Mai, stay."

Mai turned back to face them, but she couldn't think of how to defer.

"Maybe she doesn't want to be tortured by your public displays of debauchery." Naru said.

"That reminds me," Madoka said. "What help did you give today while Mai and I were out working hard to get things for your home?"

"I fail to see any correlation between those statements."

"So, that means you didn't help."

Mai found herself distracted by how casually they interacted outside the office. She had never imagined Naru being capable of existing in such a domestic situation.

"I will take your silence as an admission of guilt." Madoka told him. "Put that tray back where you found it you haven't earned food."

Mai gapped as Naru, Naru, rolled his eyes.

"I helped." he said, an indignant hand on his hip.

Madoka raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

"He did." Lin offered. "He took care of his room—"

"That doesn't really count—"

"And he organized and set up the whole study." Lin finished before Madoka could finish her complaint.

Mai was dumbfounded. She wondered if she should be embarrassed again. The whole scene was so personal, so normal. They were like a family and Mai couldn't stop the small ache of jealously that rippled across her chest.

"Mai, are you sure you can't stay?" Madoka asked her.

The domestic haze cleared as the group's attention turned back to her, reminding Mai why she had been beating a hasty retreat to the front door.

"I should really head home. Thank you for having me."

"Well at least take something with you. Noll, would you grab something for Mai?"

"No, that's—" Mai gave up as Naru had already started back towards the kitchen.

Madoka came over to give Mai a hug goodbye.

"Thank you for all of your help today, Mai. We'll have to have you over again for a real dinner once everything comes in."

Naru arrived with one of the plastic bags and held it out.

"Noll, why don't you walk Mai to the station."

"Oh no! You don't—" Mai sighed as Naru walked past her to the shoe rack.

Why did she even try? No one seemed to win against Madoka. Even Naru seemed resigned to the instructions she gave.

"You don't have to come," Mai told him when they were outside and Madoka had shut the door.

"She is watching from the window. Just start walking."

They headed down the street. Mai could feel the silence trickling between them, it left the hair on her arms raised and she had to clench her fists to keep from scratching at them.

"Your house is nice," Mai said.

Naru kept walking.

"How does your room look?"

He looked at her from the corner of his eye.

"I didn't get to see it," she explained.

"Were you, expecting to?" he asked turning to look at her.

Mai's eyes went wide, her cheeks burning.

"No!"

"Then, why are you asking?"

"I wasn't!"

Naru tilted his head questioningly at her then turned back to the space ahead of them. They passed under the direct glow of a street light and Mai thought she saw a curve on the edge of his lip.

They fell back into the dimness of the space between lights and Mai smiled. She wasn't sure why, but the more she thought about the smile the wider it got.

Mai could see the station ahead of them now. Her smiled dimmed. Naru was going to go any moment now. She should say something, drag it out. She hadn't realized how nice it had been walking and now it was almost over.

"I hope you like the dishes we picked."

"I'm sure they will do."

Mai had a thought.

"Do you cook too or just Lin?"

"How did you know Lin liked to cook?"

"Madoka told me, well actually she told the salesman that her boyfriend was a good cook. I put the rest of it together myself."

"I'm sure it was very hard to reason out, they are so subtle."

"Well not around you apparently." Mai grumbled. "But I wasn't sure until she said something."

Mai looked up at him.

"Naru?"

He looked over at her.

"Why can't she call him her boyfriend?" The question had been eating at her, but she couldn't bring it back up to Madoka. Naru was a long shot at getting additional information, but he was the only other person she could ask.

"They obviously like each other. I mean, she said they… got along really well."

"Too well." Naru grimaced.

"Do you think she is ok? That she is happy?"

"Did she say she was happy?"

"Yes," Mai realized, "at least she did until I mentioned them getting married. I hope I didn't upset her."

They reached the station, Mai stepping them to the side. She shifted the plastic bag of food in her hands trying to think of the best way to say goodbye and thank you. Naru was watching the people flow past them, he probably was ready to get back home to his quiet and his books.

"Lin can't marry her."

"What?" Mai asked surprised.

"I heard Martin and Luella talk about it once. His family wouldn't approve."

"Why?"

Naru looked down at her.

Mai gasped.

"Because she's Japanese?"

His blank stare confirmed her question.

"But that's…"

"It's stupid."

"Yeah it is," Mai agreed, fiddling with the bag again. "I guess, it really is complicated."

"It's not complicated, it's tyrannical."

"But Naru, —"

"Why should it be ok to be told you couldn't have something you really wanted, not because it would hurt anyone, but simply because someone else didn't approve of your having it?"

Mai blinked, she had never heard Naru sound so intense, even when he spoke about their work.

"Naru?"

"You have studying to do, you should try to catch the next train. I'll see you at the office Monday." He said taking his leave and weaving his way through the crowd.

Mai watched as he left, following the back of his head until she lost him to the waves of humanity that passed between them. Too late, she realized that she hadn't said her own farewells.

Here is the first chapter of my story for the 2017 Ghost Hunt Exchange. The story is four chapters long and I have already completed it.

As of right now, my plan is to update this once a week until the chapters are released.

I will admit this is exactly a ploy to hopefully tied over my readers who have already waited for nearly two months for the next chapter of Kalidoscope Heart and will have to wait a while longer. My March writing time was taken up by this and another one shot that I did for the exchange. So I haven't even started writing for KH yet. -_-*

But yeah hopefully this will help tide things over.

Also, this story features what my friend likes to call "softer Naru" so it is a fluffy fluffy piece. But it is also a bit of a social commentary so we will run a bit of the gammet here.

That's enough rambling from me. I hope you enjoy and I would love to hear your thoughts.

Till next chapter...