A/N: Another short one, I had a long shift this morning, and a lot to do when I got home. Also here's a little something for the Ayako/Bou-san fans. I know the story's moving slowly, but I promise it'll get to the good stuff soon. Also, please forgive me for the horrible choice of surname for the chairman - I promise I didn't pick it for the dude from Karate Kid. Happy reading!
"I'm so sorry about yesterday," the man said bowing deeply. "You took longer than I expected getting here and well.. I didn't feel safe waiting here alone."
"That's quite understanable in the circumstances," Naru said.
"That's a lot of expensive looking equipment you have there. Is that how psychics work nowadays?" the chairman asked, peering into the van.
"I am not a psychic, Mr Miyagi. I am a parapsychologist. My team and I need to set up a base somewhere in the center," he replied coldly.
"Absolutely. Of Course. There's a shop that went open about a week before these incidents started. After that, no one wanted to move in there. Please come this way."
Mai looked around the empty store with a shiver. It was so cold, not just in temperature, but in "personality".
"Yes, this will do. Thank you, Mr Miyagi, you may go. I'll be in touch if we need anything," Naru said sharply.
As soon as the chairman was gone, Mai put her hand on Naru's arm. "You shouldn't be so cold all the time. I know you can be warm, I've seen it. You scare people when you're so emotionless."
"It's better for them to be scared of me and stay away than to hang around and get hurt."
"The only way you hurt people is by being so gruff towards them," the girl chided.
"I didn't mean by me. This is a dangerous business we're in, Mai," Naru sighed. "Ayako, Bou-san, John, Lin and I, and even you, are experienced professionals. We can handle ourselves if trouble comes up. People like Miyagi... They just can't."
Mai nodded. "I'm sorry, you're right."
"I know."
She turned to help the others fetching equipment from the van.
"Mai?" Naru said without looking at her. "Remember, our job is not just to solve these mysteries, but also to protect people. Even people we don't know or like."
"Yes, Naru-chan," she replied, walking out.
"Bou-san, Ayako, you two set up the microphones in all the stores," Naru said. "John, Mai, I want you to record each store's temperature. Lin and I will be here interviewing some of the victims. Remember, until we know what's going on around here, no one goes anywhere alone."
"He's changed quite a bit, hasn't he?" John asked as they walked around the center.
Mai smiled. "My first reaction would be to say yes, but I think he hasn't changed, he's just showing us more of who he really is. He cares. Not just about me, but about all of us. I think really, he just doesn't want anyone to hurt anymore."
"I've always known Naru was a good man, and he's been very kind to me, hiring me and looking out for me," the priest mused. "But I would never have called him gentle until I saw the way he looked at you at breakfast this morning. It was like you were the only person he could see, and the only person he WANTED to see."
The girl blushed.
"I'm happy for you, Mai-chan. I've that same look in your eyes for a long time, every time you see him. Even when you're mad at him. I hope you will always make each other's eyes sparkle like that."
"Thank you," she smiled. "I hope so too."
"What did you find, Mai?" Lin asked when they got back to the base.
"The bakery is almost 5 degrees cooler than anywhere else in the building," she replied, looking around. "Where's Naru?"
"He's outside with the third last victim, Lalla Bellingan. She couldn't handle being in the center after what happened."
"Bellingan?" John asked. "She's not Japanese?"
"Half, according to her papers. She got so far as to tell us that she was here from South Africa, visiting her aunt and uncle, before she freaked out," the Chinese man replied.
"I should go talk to her. Maybe I can help. I mean, English IS my first language!"
"Naru can manage by himself," Lin said. "His English is just fine."
Mai nodded enthusiastically. "Just this morning he was telling me about Lizzie Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy."
"Oh. If he can read Pride and Prejudice, his English is probably better than mine anyway," John sighed.
"It probably is," Naru said with a chuckled. "And just so you know, I preferred Sense and Sensibility."
"I didn't think you had time to read novels, Naru-bou," the monk said, looking up from the paper he'd been studying.
"I don't usually, but once in a while even I need a break from the supernatural. Of course, I think I have a better reason to take breaks now," he said as he kissed Mai, causing her to blush very deeply.
Ayako sat down next to Bou-san and sighed.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, careful not to talk too loud and wake the rest of the team who were sleeping throughout the room.
"Actually, there is," she replied.
"Anything I can do?" the monk asked again.
"Shut up and kiss me," the miko said.
"Wha- What?!"
"You heard me Takigawa," she whispered. "Stop playing games and just kiss me."
So he kissed her. And if the room hadn't been full of their friend, he'd have done a whole lot more.
