"Mai, tea."
I sighed standing up from my desk and making my way to the small kitchen. Naru and Lin had arrived back from England almost a week ago now. Ever since he got back I feel like all I have been doing is making tea. Today alone I have been ordered to undergo the annoying task four time, this being the fifth, and it want even noon yet. I was surprised Naru didn't have to pee all the time. I caught where my thoughts were going and shook my head to clear them, a slight blush now coating my checks. I filled the tea kettle and set it on the stove to boil.
"I guess some things don't change." I jumped slightly at the break in the silence. "Sorry Mai, didn't mean to scare you." I turned from my musings to see Yasu standing in the doorway, a clipboard and papers tucked under one arm and what looked like a coffee in the other hand.
When Naru and Lin left and Madoka was put in charge she hired Yasu as leed researcher. I didn't even know there was such a job. Honestly I think she just made up the title. But I was confused on why he was here today. He was supposed to have it off.
I smiled at him, shaking my head. "Uh uh. I wasn't paying attention. What are you doing here today? I thought you had it off."
"Naru asked me to come in." He must have seen the confusion on my face. "Yah I thought it was weird too but apparently we have a case."
That's weird. I didn't remember a client coming in since Naru and Lin got back though I did talk to a few on the phone. The kettle started to whistle. I took it off the burner and poored a cup for myself and Naru. I was about to ask Yasu if he would like any when I remembered he already had a drink. Would Lin want some? It would hurt to bring him some. If he didn't want it I could just through it out of drink it my self. I proceed to poor a cup for him as I wondered about the case we apparently had.
"Hay Yasu?" I asked as I placed the cups on a tray in order to carry them all.
When I received no reply I looked back to where I knew him to previously be. When he wasn't in the doorway I shrugged and decided I'd just ask Naru about the case when I gave him his tea. I picked up the tray and left the kitchen to go to Naru's office but I found him, Lin, and Yasu in the main room all listening intently to a woman who looked to be in her late thirties or early fourties. Well now I know where Yasu went off to and this must be the client with the case that he was talking about. I walked forward and set down a cup of tea in front of Lin and Naru. I looked at the customer before sighing and forfeiting my cup of tea over to her. It was only polite and I hadn't taken a sip of it yet. She took it from me gratefully. I went back to the kitchen and poored my own before coming back into the main room and taking the seat between Yasu and Lin. The woman was in the middle of her story.
"-so you see it's not much activity and not a lot to go on so I won't blame you if you don't take the case. In fact I'm actually a skeptic myself but I don't know where else to turn. With my niece and daughter is the hostile I don't know where else to go."
I let out a small gasp. Oh wow, there's people in the hospitals, this must be serious.
Naru gave me a look, I'm not quite sure what it meant but I'm guessing it was in response to my gasp. I stuck my tongue out at him before crossing my arms and giving a huff of annoyance. I know. Very mature of me. He looked back at the client who was looking at me oddly.
"Kushiro-San, please excuse my assistance's childish behavior, we think there's something wrong with her brain." I went to protest but another look from Naru told be it'd be best not to. "I have already agreed to take the case over the phone. You can expect us at the estate tomorrow at noon. We will need-"
"A room with outlets for your base and two other rooms to sleep in I know." Koshiro-San cut in. Naru seamed annoyed but let it go.
"My assistant will see you out." I nodded standing. She stood as well. I walked her to the door.
She stopped and turned to me. "I'm sorry I don't think I caught your name."
"Oh sorry. I'm Taniyama Mai." I bowed. "It's nice to meet you Koshiro-San."
"Oh please, no need to be so formal. Call me Aiko." I smiled and nodded. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow Mai." And with that she left.
I closed the door and turned around spotting the empty tea cups on the table. I yawned, linking my hands and stretching them above my hand. Time to clean. I looked at the clock. 12:00. Oh wow. It was only noon? Today was going by slowly and I had been increasingly tired all day. I brought the cups to the sink. I started to wash them letting my mind wander.
Why had Naru taken the case, and over the phone for that matter. I mean, I wasn't there for her story, all I knew was that there were two people in the hospitals and that they were possibly children. Could that be why Naru took the case? I shook my head. There have been cases before where people were in the hospitals that he rejected so I don't see why this would be different. Plus there was that fact that apparently there "wasn't much to go on" whatever that meant. I guess I'd just have to ask Naru. I sweat dropped. And here I thought I got smarter in the six months Naru had been gone.
I set about making tea for the sixth time that day, he really was a teaholic. If I was going to ask Naru a question it's best to bring him tea while I'm doing it. Once the tea was ready and poured into a cup I gathered it in my hand and brought it to Naru's door. I knocked.
"Yes Mai?"
I slid the door open and entered. "I have tea and a quest- wait, how did you know it was me at the door and not Yasu, or Lin?" I questioned.
"The door is made of paper Mai, I can see you shadow." I stared at him not completely understanding. "are you that much of a dimwit? You're the only girl in the office. Your shadow isn't exactly the same as a man's." I blushed heavily understanding what he was implying. "Besides, who else would be bringing me tea, that is if you actually intend on giving it to me or are you just going to stand there." He hadn't even looked up at me yet and he was already insulting me.
I set his tea down harder than nessersary gaining his attention.
"God Naru, Oliver, what ever your name it, you can be such a jerk you know that?" I huffed thoroughly annoyed with his I-don't-care-about-anyone attitude.
"Yes, I've been told. Now is there a reason your here other than to give me tea and insult me?"
Insult him! He was the one who started it! Common Mai. Calm don't. Don't let him get to you. I took a deep breath to calm down much to his amusement. "I was wondering about the case." He just kept looking at me. "You know the details and stuff." Again he just looked at me blankly. This was starting to get uncomfortable. I shifted my weight "So... Can you tell me?"
"I wouldn't need to if you hadn't delivered my tea to me late."
"We'll sorry! I didn't know I was on a time schedule or that we had a client coming!" I again caught a slight twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "Your enjoying this!" I accused pointing a finger at him.
"I don't know what your talking about." He went back to his work. I went to speak up but he beat me to it. "Knocking, flickering lights, cold spots, doors opening and closing on their own."
"Huh?" Real intelligent Mai. I had been expecting him to tell me to leave but instead he answered my question.
"I just answered your-"
"Question, I know. Sorry. I just wasn't actually expecting you to answer me. I thought you were going to tell me to get out or something." I scratched the back of my head.
"Yes that did cross my mind."
Don't strangle him Mai. No matter how much you want to strangle him he's you boss and people don't strangle their bosses. My voice of reason speak to me.
"Hay Naru."
"Yes Mai?" I could tell by his voice he was getting annoyed.
"Well knocking and doors closing don't seam like a lot to go on. And what about her daughter and niece being in the hospital. Did something happen?"
"Both her daughter and niece have come down with a mysterious illness. When they removed them from the house to bring them to the hospitals they went into hysterics claiming that the "good nurse would take care of them."" He explained to me.
I thought for a moment. "Okay but what does that mean? And aren't they just sick? I mean a ghost can't make someone sick." When I received no response I started to rethink my last statement. "I mean that would be ridicules... Right?"
"Mai?"
"Yes, Naru?" I asked hopeful.
"Are you done or should I dock you money for waisting my time?" I sweat dropped. Well I guess I deserve it for actually thinking I'd get lucky and he'd answer all my questions. I quickly left the room.
The rest of the day was spent organizing papers, going threw mail, and answering the phone. Now that I knew the big secret about Naru being Oliver Davis, Lin no longer filtered through the mail before me and I had to answer all the phone calls. Shortly after I left Naru's office he had me call everyone. Fortunately everyone could make it. Unfortunately that meant Masako would be joining us as well.
After that I finished my work early so I decided to get some school work done. I was caught up but it didn't hurt to get ahead. Yasu gladly helped me with my math and science. He's good at explaining complicated things in a very uncomplicated way. He said that Naru doesn't give me enough credit when it comes to how smart I am and that made me beam with pride.
It was now 8 pm and I, having left the office at 7:30, just got home. I made a quick dinner composed of ramen and milk. Odd combination, I know, but it was the only thing I had in the house. I would have to go shopping again soon. Wipping the milk mustache off my upper lip I set the now empty cup and almost empty bowl in the sink. I considered washing them for a minute before I realized it was getting late and I had to be up early. I took a quick shower, brushed my hair, got my pajamas on, crawled under the covers on my bed, and turned the lamp next to me off. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in snuggling closer to the covers. It wasn't long before I drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Little did I know that that would be the last peaceful sleep I had for a long time.
Hey guys. So this is my first ghost hunt story. Any constructive critique would be much appreciated. I love the anime and manga and want to try and make the story's as in character and like the manga/anime as possible. Tell me what you think. I have this case all figured out. there may be a break between this case and the next to bear with me. Also I don't own ghost hunt. If I did gene would be reincarnated as a black cat cause cats are cool. That will also not happen in this story though. :p R&R
~CrimsonSarrow
