A/N: This chapter is for FallenRaindrops, who erm ... requested, for a humor chapter or she'll, and I quote, "die from over-crying". I tried my best, hopefully this is humorous enough. It is sort of based on the personal experience of someone I know.

It is also important to note that in Japan as well as in China and Korea, yellow chrysanthemums are considered to be funeral flowers, that is, the kind of flowers that one puts on the grave of the deceased. Hence, it is considered socially not right for a person to present someone else with yellow chrysanthemums, unless the person is well, dead, of course. Anyway, on with the story. Thanks to all of you who left me encouraging reviews. *bows*

'The Chrysanthemum Incident' is set after 'Return To Me'.

Disclaimer: Ghost Hunt does not belong to me.

Italics denote thoughts.

oOo

Naru glanced out of his office window, idly watching the people on the streets below. The number of noteworthy cases were low as of late, hence the peace and quiet in the office. Out of the corner of his eye, something colorful moved and caught his attention. He turned his head in time to see a man with a large colorful bouquet in his arms walk away from the florist opposite SPR.

It was rather like what happened nearly a year ago.

-- Flashback --

The little bell hanging on the glass door jingled lightly when he pushed it open. A lady who appeared to be in her late fifties greeted him from behind the counter.

"Welcome, young man. How may I help you today?"

Dark blue eyes glanced around the small shop, taking in all the flowers and shrubs on display. There were so many of them in here, in all the colors of the rainbow and then some, how was he supposed to know which one she wanted?

The lady, noticing his blank expression, approached him.

"Do you have a particular flower in mind, young man?"

He shook his head. Mai had never said out loud what her favorite flower was and he had not thought to ask anyone before coming in here. But the florist should know what a girl likes, right? It was her job after all. Just as he was about to ask the lady, his eyes fell upon a bunch of brightly colored flowers in a tin pail in the corner.

Mai did mention that she liked yellow flowers, something about them being cheerful.

"I'll take some of those," said Naru, pointing to the cluster of yellow flowers.

"Sure," the lady replied amiably, walking over to select half a dozen for him before proceeding behind the counter to wrap them up. She should have known that the handsome young man would want these flowers. He was all dressed in black and had such a somber expression on his face. Her heart went out to him; he looked too young to be going somewhere like that on such a fine day.

"There you go," she said, handing him the flowers.

Naru took them wordlessly before placing the money on the counter.

"Thank you and have a nice day."

He merely nodded once and left, disappearing easily into the crowd to continue on his way back to the office.

The minute he stepped across the threshold, Mai's voice sounded from the kitchen.

"Naru, a lady just called for help about her grand-aunt's house. Apparently, spirits have been appearing there. Also, Lin-san said he'll be back slightly later today. Madoka dropped by so he took her out to lunch."

He listened to her half-heartedly; his mind still wondering how on earth Mai knew it was him who entered the office when he hadn't even uttered a sound.

"Naru – Woah!" she gasped, placing her hand over her currently racing heart and glaring at the person standing casually at the door.

"Naru! Don't scare me like that! I thought you've already gone into your office. Thank Kami I'm not holding the kettle or you're going to find yourself drenched with boiling water. Make some noise when you're here next time, would you?"

"I'll try. But it's really not my fault if your voice is so loud that it drowned out all the other sounds," he replied with a smirk.

"Why you-"

"Here, these are for you, Mai."

Mai looked at the bouquet thrust before her with wide eyes. A second later, she was doubled up with laughter so hard that her face turned red and tears ran down her cheeks.

Naru looked at the laughing girl, perplexed. This was not the reaction he had been expecting. Had Mai gone mad?

The confused look on his face sent Mai into peals of laughter once more. Now, he was pretty certain that she had gone mad. Judging from the color of her face, she really should stop laughing before she dies of asphyxiation.

"Mai."

At the curt tone of his voice, Mai hurriedly brushed away the tears in her eyes and managed to keep from bursting out into laughter all over again even though a telltale smile still lingered around her lips. Naru gave her a small glare.

"And what, may I ask, is so funny, Mai?"

"Oh, Naru, you idiot scientist. You really have no idea, do you?"

He responded with another glare.

"You don't give chrysanthemums to a girl. These flowers are meant for the dead."

Naru blinked. That was news to him. He had always thought that white roses were meant for the dead.

"You said you liked yellow flowers."

"I meant sunflowers. You were supposed to be smart enough to figure it out."

"The lady still sold them to me," he muttered, feeling rather adamant despite the sour look on his face.

Mai couldn't control herself and burst out giggling again, much to Naru's displeasure.

"You … are dressed all in black. Anyone in their right mind would've thought that you're going to a funeral."

He frowned. Now he knew why the florist was looking at him with something akin to pity in her eyes. Mai, on the other hand, had no such pity for him. One look at her and he knew she'd never let him live this particular incident down.

However, her following words surprised him, even though he didn't show it.

"But thanks, Naru, for the flowers," she said, taking the bouquet from him. "It was very thoughtful of you."

With that, she reached up on tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek before skipping to her desk, giggling all the way.

-- End Flashback –

Naru couldn't help the fond smile that lifted the corners of his lips at the memory. That was the first time Mai had kissed him. It was also then that he discovered how perfectly mischievous the usually innocent looking Mai could be.

For the next week and a half after what Mai dubbed 'the Chrysanthemum Incident', Mai had served him not his usual green tea, but chrysanthemum tea instead. He would have fired her if he didn't like having her around so much.

Blue eyes glanced towards the florist again. He had not presented her with flowers anymore after that. Maybe it was time to do so again, but this time, with the correct flowers.

oOo

A soft knock sounded at the door and Mai looked up from the magazine she was idly flipping through.

"Come in."

A bright smile lit up her face at the other person's entrance.

"Kazuya-kun. Good morning."

Internally, he winced. Mai had never called him 'Kazuya-kun' in all the years he had known her. She had never addressed him any other way; Naru was her name for him. Despite that, he found himself supplying her only with 'Shibuya Kazuya' when she asked for his name.

"Good morning, Mai. Here," he said, placing a bouquet of flowers into her lap, "these are for you."

Mai felt her cheeks redden slightly as she mumbled out a soft 'thank you'.

"What flowers are these, Kazuya-kun?"

"Sunflowers. They were your favorite."

"They're beautiful and so cheerful-looking," said Mai, admiring the gaily colored flowers.

He nodded.

"Ne, what flower is this, Kazuya-kun? It's different from the rest," she said, pointing to a bright yellow blossom nestled between two sunflowers.

"That's a chrysanthemum."

Mai looked at the blossom thoughtfully for a moment before saying softly, "The Chrysanthemum Incident …"

Then she let out a soft giggle.

"Someone once gave me a bouquet of chrysanthemums. He had no idea that they were meant for the dead."

Naru felt his eyes widen. She remembered?

"Do you remember who was it that gave you the flowers?"

Mai furrowed her brows as she tried to recall the person's face. Try as she might, she couldn't.

"I'm sorry, Kazuya-kun. I can't remember."

A short silence fell between them, until Mai broke it.

"I think he was someone close to me, although I can't remember his face," she said, her eyes gazing into the distance.

Then, as if catching herself, she turned to him with a bright smile on her face as she said, "But I'm sure I'll remember him soon. He might miss me terribly if I don't."

Naru couldn't help the small smile that tugged the corners of his lips upwards at her mischievous remark. For a moment, it felt as if the old Mai had returned.

Something tells him that he wouldn't have to wait too long for Mai to regain her memories. He can't wait to return to being Mai's Naru once again and not just 'Kazuya-kun'.

oOo