Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt.

Lesson about Euchre

(A.N.) Okay. For this one, you have to kind of accept that Naru would let himself get suckered into playing a card game. Yeah. And this one isn't really fluffy. It's more funny (in my opinion), but I couldn't not write it. I hate it when that happens... So, read it, embrace it, and love it!


Mai was absolutely mortified.

The Shibuya Psychic Research team had just finished up its last investigation of a haunted ice skating rink, and had returned to the base they had been using in the skater's lounge to pack up. Upon arriving there, however, they had been challenged by a skating duo to a game of Euchre. Euchre, of all things.

But that wasn't what was terrifying Mai Taniyama. Oh no, she knew how to play Euchre, and she was actually pretty good at it. And it wasn't the fact that her boss, Naru, was her partner either. In fact, he had been the one to accept the challenge, arrogant as he was.

All she had to do about that was not look at him. She knew very well that she would be incapable of intelligent thought if she looked at him, and she had no desire to look like the crushing fool she was.

The fact that was tormenting Mai was that the ice skaters were playing a special version of Euchre: Strip Euchre. Instead of getting points for your tricks, you had to take off articles of clothing. One garment per point. Now, Mai and Naru had found this out early on when they realized they didn't have score cards, but they were both adamant that they were going to win anyway, so what did it matter? Nothing, of course.

That attitude quickly flew out the window when they realized that they were getting beaten, and beaten badly at that. And neither of them were the type to simply forfeit.

And so, Mai was down to her tank top, skirt and undergarments, after having to remove the rest of her school uniform

Naru was shirtless.

So Mai, naturally, was speechless as well as somewhat underdressed. This explains her mortification. She couldn't concentrate a damn on the game while the guy she was clearly falling for was shirtless. Any self-respecting woman would be doing the same thing. Keeping her eyes on her cards was suddenly both a smarter thing to do and a harder thing to do. Choices, choices… she thought to herself.

The brunette opted for the choice of not losing anymore clothing. Anything that stopped the embarrassment of this stupid game. The other SPR members and associates (Lin, Ayako, Masako, John, Takigawa, and Yasuhara) had wandered off earlier, saying that they would return eventually. This was before the prospect of losing clothes was realized, which explains the others' disinterest.

The other team scored another three tricks with their trumps, earning them a point.

"You lose another one," the woman, a pretty black haired girl a couple years older than Mai.

Naru gave up his socks (which counted for a half article of clothing each), and Mai had to give up her shirt.

Okay. No fair! This is so not worth it. I want to go home! she thought, bemoaning her bad luck. She hated it when people stared at her, and that's just about what they were doing. Even Naru. She glared slightly back at him. He should know better!

"What the hell are you two doing?!" a stern, older voice interrupted, causing Mai to accidentally scatter the cards she'd been shuffling in surprise.

The two skaters looked sick with embarrassment when their coach stormed in, followed by their choreographer.

"Get your assess back on the ice, you slackers!" the older woman screeched. Her face was livid and flushed, completely enraged.

In a flurry, the other team had raced out the door, tripping as they tried to lace up their skates and run at the same time. Huffing, both the coach and the choreographer stomped after their pupils, looking disapproving and appalled. This left Mai and Naru, still sitting at the table with cards everywhere, in the middle of a very awkward silence. Mai wasted no time in pulling all of her lost clothing back on, barely managing to get all her appendages through the right holes. Naru, on the other hand, was far more composed, as if this were a common day occurrence that he dealt with all the time. Just like how he handled most everything else.

"This is your fault," Mai snapped at him out of spite. Technically, that was true, but the only reason she said it was to make her red face seem like a result of anger, not embarrassment. Turning on her heel after delivering her due, she stormed to the door.

"Mai?" Naru said calmly, as she was about to slam the door closed behind her.

"What?" she growled, stubbornly not looking at him while he buttoned his black shirt back up.

She could hear the smirk in his voice as he said, "Nice lace."

Mai didn't know she could squeak that loud or run as fast as she did. She made a resolution never to play Euchre again without knowing the stakes.

She'd learned her lesson.


(A.N.) Yes. Strip Euchre exists. Don't ask why I know that. If you don't know what Euchre is, then don't worry about it. It's not a necessary life skill. Unless you're in debate... Anyways, please review. The next fic will be more in character. I promise!