Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the original story.
We're finally here, Mai thinks as they reach the driveway's gate, impatient to get out and stretch her legs. The long drive had, thankfully been an uneventful one. She'd worried, in vain, about Monk pressing her for answers, since she knew that her haircut would be noticed and commented on, but Bou-san had had the decency not to question her about it again in-front of everyone, and no one had asked for the reason behind her haircut. If Bou-san had brought it up and demanded an answer while they were in the car, with the whole group surrounding them, it might have raised enough curiosity to have everyone asking, debating, and reasoning about it the whole trip, but thankfully nothing of the sort had happened.
Ahead of them Lin stops the car, interrupting Mai's train of thought, and Naru jumps out, quickly making his way over to a touch pad within the confines of a large wooden gate. After punching in a code, the large wooden gate, blocking the driveway, swings inward allowing the two vehicles entrance. They wait the time for Naru to get back into the van in front before both cars drive beyond the gate on the flat stone road that twists through a dense bamboo grove until it straightens out across a lawn. Mai takes the chance to take in the view of the house, now that she can see the large two story traditional style home with it's dark gray clay shingles and white colored stucco. In front of the house, centered in the round-about, is a three tier fountain, surrounded by small clusters of spiraled topiaries and flowers, grass running between each cluster.
The cars enter the circle and come to a stop close to the front step and both companies disembark, Naru, Lin and Taka from the van and Bou-san, Ayako, Masako, John-san, and Mai from the other.
Bou-san whistles looking up at the house, shielding his eyes against the sun with his hand, and asks, "What kind of job gets you a place like this?" to no one in particular.
"Being a CFO for Kaisha Daitec," Kyouya-san answers from up on the porch, pulling everyones' attention.
"Whoa, Sorry about that." Bou-san says jerking his focus down to Kyouya-san and running a hand over his hair in embarrassment.
"Nothing to worry about," Kyouya-san says to him.
Naru comes forward and introduces Bou-san, Ayako, John-san, and Masako."
Kyouya-san addresses everyone, "Pleased to meet you. I want to thank you all for coming. If you'll just come this way."
The group follows Kyouya-san through the door and into the genken(1) where there are several house shoes lined up ready to receive them. Kyouya-san steps into his house shoes and then walks over an open fire pit centered in the large room—where a maid stands. Once everyone has changed shoes, Kyouya-san introduces the woman, "This is the maid I told you about, Haga-san, She will be the one to show you around."
Coming off the stairs Haga-san walks to the corner and turns to the group crowding the small hallway after her, "Down here are the rooms you've been granted during your stay. They used to belong to the other servants that lived here, but there's only me left." She says with downcast eyes, "If you need anything, my room is this first one on the right," she gestures to the closest door after the turn. "I can't promise I'll be down here until after seven most nights." She gestures to the first door on the left, "This first door on the left is Kyouya-sama's study. " Pointing straight down the hall she says, "The door on the end is storage. Any of the other rooms down here are yours to use how you choose. Oh, and the bathrooms are down the hall and around the corner," She adds helpfully gesturing for the group to proceed ahead of her.
Naru, who is in the foremost of the group, is the first to take action after the the invitation and walks down the hall, opening first one door and then another until he reaches the fifth, and last, visible door on the right, "This room will be the base. ," he announces. He walks back towards the group he starts listing out his orders, "Matsuzaki-san, I hope you made enough protection spells, place them Where you need to in the rooms and the base. I want everyone protected down here at least. Monk, place around those written mantras of yours for good measure."
"Hey! Unlike someone's scribbled-on piece of paper," Ayako says meaningfully looking at Bou-san, "My spells will be enough by themselves." Unseen by Ayako, Naru, shakes his head.
Here they go again, Mai sighs. Bou-san huffs, "My cleansing tags are-"
"You can try to prove that you're better than each other some other time," Naru cuts in, arms folded, before the argument goes into full swing, He glares at the pair. When they open their mouths in protest, Naru continues "Right now, I want you both working together to keep us all safe. I don't think anyone here wants this to be like the last few cases." Ayako turns away from Bou-san, eye's closed, arms crossed; chin high. Bou-san shakes his head, putting his hands on his hips, and turns, making his way to the newly declared base.
Argument resolved, Naru continues dolling out tasks, "Hara-san, begin looking around the house for spirits. John, go with her. Lin, Mai and Takahashi-san, start bringing in the equipment." Mai's heart falters slightly, so much for being more than an assistant, she thinks, her face falling with her mood as she steps to let him pass. Instead of continuing past her, he stops and lowers his voice, "Mai."
"Yes," Mai asks looking up at him.
"Let me know if you sense anything while you work," he answers.
"Al-alright," Mai replies.
Naru steps past her back towards the maid, "Haga-san, show me around." Haga-san nods and the two proceed up the stairs to look around the rest of the house.
(1) A genken is like an entry way or foyer for a house or apartment. It's where you leave your shoes before stepping into the main house.