DICLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GHOST HUNT OR ANY CHARACTERS, IT BELONGS TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNERS
Chapter 6: Changes Happening, But-
The next week was very very happy for Mai. For several reasons... first, she was not alone at home anymore, she had Lina, and surprisingly, Naru dropped her home after work the last few days.
She was totally awestruck, to say the least. Out of the blue. Least of the expectations. He asked to drop her because it was cold and late.
She wondered briefly why the sudden change (the title ;) The first day was 2 days after they returned from the last case. Then it was like random days, sometimes, every other day or so. It was sort of a MIRACLE.
But Mai was thankful considering she had to take a bus and then walk home. Although the drives were silent and painstaking for Mai.
The first day, there was no conversation in their 20 min drive, except for the 'Thank You' and 'Don't be late'; the latter of which didn't take much affect as she was continuously late. The second day, another surprising thing happened. Naru started a conversation.
"Mai, this is not a classroom, you don't have to keep quiet, though I wonder if you even keep quiet in your class." Naru smirked glancing at her as they stopped on a red light.
"You are also quiet and for your information, I keep quite in my class." She raised her voice louder than usual to reflect her anger.
"And also I don't want to be labeled an idiot for asking dumb questions." She stated faltly
"So you know you will ask dumb questions?" He asked sarcastically.
"Ok. Fine...hmm..." she put a finger on her chin and started to think, "Why did you come back?"
'From all the questions, she asked that one', he thought.
"Because Japan as more psychic activity than any other country," Naru answered hoping that she will take in the excuse that he gave to everyone. To tell the truth, he was clueless as to why he came back. But Mai seemed to buy that.
"'Because of you' why don't you say it?" Gene intervened cause Naru to grimaced but fortunately Mai didn't see it.
'That is not the reason.' Naru retorted.
"You are so a lying jerk." Gene smiled in his head
'Will you quit it?' It was getting hard for him to look at the road, talk to his brother, and then then look at Mai. 'OOPS, Did I just say that... I didn't meant it EVER"
"I bet you did," Gene laughed.
'No, and STOP eavesdropping on my thoughts,' Naru scolded.
"Why? Because you have private and perverted thoughts about Mai, huh? Huh?" Gene asked causing Naru to widen at a shock and step on the brakes causing the car to jerk stop.
"Naru, you 'kay?"
"Yeah...fine" Naru replied starting the car at a normal speed.
"We are still alive 'cause thankfully there are not that many cars on the road today." Mai said, glancing uncertainly at Naru. 'Is he alright?'
"What was that brother? A shock that I know the truth," Gene's voice teased. Naru just held the steering tightly to suppress the anger.
"You know it is not that cold tonight? You should be as fast as your car is right now and here... you are as slow as a turtle." Gene continued to mess with his brother, seeing that he was definitely getting angry and it was so much fun to torture him, and extremely fun when he was helpless and unable to show his anger like now.
"If I was alive by now, you know I would have stole her away ages ago, but ALAS I am dead," he said dramatically to see Naru's limits.
'Control, Control...' Naru's face became expressionless after long try.
On the other hand, back with Mai, she is still really doubtful about her boss's attitude. He was sometimes frowning and sometimes holding the steering wheel tightly for as much as she can see no apparent reason. So, she decided to start a conversation like he indicated before.
After careful thinking, she decided that Naru won't really say anything about himself, so she thought about Gene. Little did she knew that the person beside her was thinking about the same person with a murderous intent.
"So, why exactly did Gene come to Japan. Weren't you too inseparable?" Mai asked trying to ease the situation which was not so good for whatever reason it was.
But that question dropped the temperature below zero to a freezing -50 degrees or something. She involuntarily sulked in her seat in the cold. Naru didn't even look at her. She suddenly wanted to disappear from the car like an apparition.
Before she could totally melt in the chair, she realized that her house was just about to be passed and shouted to get the Eskimo, meaning Naru, to stop.
"Naru! My house!" Mai's scream caused another press at the break to make it stop adruptly causing Mai to feel sick second time that day in one hour.
The next lifts were in much more tropical temperatures, when they or mostly Mai talked about her childhood or asked Naru about his. He didn't react the same way for which Mai wanted to hug him but well it wasn't possible.
Another day at work in SPR, Mai just finished her day after the humongous pile of work Naru had given her to finish at the last moment. Giving a momentum too... which was by the end of the day.
Mai looked at the clock on the opposite wall and flinched that it was already 6:00.
"You don't have to flinch... I am extending the momentum. Finish it by tomorrow." Naru came out from the door and was currently in front of Mai desk.
"Thank you for the mercy you bestowed upon me." With these words she slumped her head on the desk in the midst of papers.
"Go get your coat. I will drop you." He got his one off the hanger and was waiting on the door.
He didn't notice that the line perked her mood up considerably as she flashed a smile and sprinted to the elevator where he was waiting.
The moment they reached the main door of the building and was about to get in Naru's car. Someone horned and shouted "Mai!"
She looked around and finally gasped at the sight of Ryo standing behind his car on the opposite side of the road.
"Hi! Ryo!" Mai screamed at the top of her lungs gaining Naru's as well as some other's attention.
Mai turned around to face her employer. "Naru, you can go home today. Ryo will drop me home. Thanks anyway."
She waved at Ryo and carefully crossed the road. Getting on the opposite side, she first hugged him and then get on his car. The whole scene being scrutinized by pair of dark blue eyes as well as black eyes (I meant Lin's... his eyes are black, right?).
Without wasting much time Naru went to his home with a disgusted feeling and a headache. He, for his luck was good that day, didn't have to talk to Gene, or otherwise, he would have turned insane.
Meanwhile
"How's your work? I got the address from Lina, before you ask it." Ryo asked smiling.
"It was ok, I had to finish a lot of work but got saved by the same person who gave that work, at the last moment. Why are you here?" Mai asked obviously curios.
"I had my reasons which I will tell you after we get home. You have off the next two days right?" He inquired the confused Mai.
"umm... Oh yeah... I totally forgot about that." She clasped her hands together in excitement.
"Can I sleepover tomorrow at your house?" He asked hesitantly.
"Yep, that would be fun, if you have time we can hang out tomorrow... the three of us, like old times." Mai agreed without any second thought much to his amazement.
"Deal" He showed a thumbs up as he stopped in front of her house.
"Deal" She showed the thumbs up from the window of the car.
The next day was fun as all three childhood friends went to movies, amusement parks and had lots of fun. As for Mai, it was like golden days, because she never had so much fun, unless of course when she went out with the SPR gang, which was rare nowadays.
They brought some horror movies to watch at night before going to sleep and so they were all preparing the living room for a sleepover with snacks and getting the tapes on. They shouted and gritted their teeth, made pathetic expressions the whole night at the screen.
The moment the clock struck 12, Mai's two other friends shouted at her ear:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
"huh?" She was getting everything processed and-
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" They shouted again with smiles and took something form behind their seats. Presents.
"Ow, thanks you guyz," Tears of happiness began to pour down her cheek. She opened the presents. Ryo gave her a new cell phone, no wonder he is very rich now.
Lina gave her a cute purse with black and blue borders and an imprint of kitten.
After cutting a cake that was carefully hidden in her own refrigerator unknown to her, they watched the rest of the movie that they started and went to sleep at 2:00.
Mai was forced to sleep on the big couch, because it was her birthday. And Lina got the smaller one whereas Ryo got the carpet under the big couch. The only guy got to suffer.
Ring! Ring!
Lina was the first one to wake up and slouched towards the phone. Mai only shifted from her position in the two seated couch.
"Moshi, Moshi," Lina said wondering who would call at 8 in the morning
"Can I speak to Mai. I am her boss." A cold voice rang through the receiver.
"Oh emo" She said as if recognizing something.
"Who is it?" Ryo shouted.
"Mai's boss" Lina shouted back and a loud sob was heard followed by a shouting.
"Mai! You are over me" A hoarse voice of a male.
"I-I am so-sorry! So sorry!" Mai's apologizing was heard next.
On the other line: The temperature dropped.
"Hello" Finally the girl's voice came across.
"I need you to come to the office today... come before 3:00" A familiar frozen tone.
"But-"
"No excuses, it is urgent."
"I have plans-"
"Cancel it or you are fired." His voice didn't change a bit.
"Fine" She accepted defeat and put the receiver down sadly. By the time she was done, both Ryo and Lina were sitting in the dining room.
"Guyz I have to go to work, today." She declared as she sat down in her chair.
"They don't know it's your birthday?! What kind of friend are they?!" They both said in disbelief and shock.
"Not that I told them." She defended her SPR friends, even though she was sad. She had no excuses, because she herself also forgot about it, and they didn't even know it.
"Its unfair. We have days off to spend it as your birthday special." Both of them whined and stared at Mai.
"I have up till 3, so I can hang out till then." She tried to cheer up her friend and herself.
"Right" The three said in unison.
"So what did she say?" A male popped form the door
"She is coming."
"Yes" could be heard all over the office.
"I knew you could do it." The same person again.
"Why me?"
"Because you are the only one she listens to. And you are merciless and cold-hearted, unlike any of us." The person danced in the room causing very unexplainable discomfort to the young man.
A.N: That was it. I will post the next one as soon as possible. The birthday celebration will be in there. Will Naru give her a gift? What will it be? You can post your ideas.
So, what do you think? ...R&R
A.N: Also I posted my new story, its called Choices or Fate, you should check it out!
Important: The more reviews mean quicker updates. So, the update speed depends on you.
