Mai: Hey every one isn't this great. Ry is here with us and is updating her story.
Masako: Yes that is very true. Poor Ry has had a horrible week.
John: Truly wonderful though. Oh you should have seen her. She made a fantastic thanks giving dinner.
Ayako: As Masako was saying it was bad for Ry. First she had to deal with thanks giving and lets face it any girl who can cook an entire thanks giving dinner with a ten pound spiral cut ham, a sixteen pound turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, 3 different pies, and several different kinds of vegetables all from scratch. Well that is one amazing girl. But to do it all without any sleep at all, that is a wonderful girl that deserves so much after taking care of her family.
Mai: Yeah she was fantastic! She got did it all on her own too!
Takigawa: And to add to that she had been truly amazing this week to. After all that she had hoped for her boyfriend to show up for thanks giving and he never did. He just left her but she handled it like a pro and kept going like it was nothing.
Naru: And now she is updating this story even though her idiot boyfriend dumped her. He dumped her for no good reason the lousy no good scum bag pot head jerk. She has done so much for her family and is an amazing girl. She can cook, clean and make even me want to bet on her but that idiot dumped her. Way to go Ry. You are amazing doing all this after that jerk.
Lin: Yes Ry. You are a wonderful girl and just remember there is no reason ever being upset over a piece of trash like that. You have us and all your fans here so just keep smiling and keep moving forward. You will find an amazing guy who deserves you one day and you will be treated like the queen you should be treated like for all your hard work.
Ry: Alright alright that is enough you guys. We have a story to continue and I am sure my fans don't want to hear about my useless personal life. So come on chop chop. Let's get going. Besides I am just fine. I am not gonna get myself down over nothing. Like you said I have my story and so much more. It will be fine. So On to the story.
Yasuhara: Alright every one you heard the Boss. Oh Ry does not own ghost hunt or any of the characters or content in this story. She is just writing the story for fun. So RY DISCLAIMS ALL RIGHTS TO THIS STORY!
Normal POV:
The next morning Mai and Natsume set to their plans and their filming. It started with breakfast. Natsume sat with Mai at a table and the two were talking happily as they ate breakfast as Naru and the others approached.
"Alright so the filming begins today and we have lots of work to do. So try to be polite to the film crew and not take anything to heart if they get demanding or snippy at all. They can sometimes be hard to work with," Mai said politely.
With that the day began and the filming started. Mai and Natsume began the day with the scripts. It was a fun day for them as they started on the scene at the temple.
They were there to investigate what was described to them as poltergeist activity and had set up the equipment getting ready for the investigation.
"Mai tea," Natsume demanded sounding exactly like Naru. Mai started giggling unable to keep a strait face.
"Cut! Run it again. Taniyama dear try not to laugh this time," The director called. Mai nodded faintly.
"Sorry about that Hatake-san. It was just kind of funny. He sounded exactly like the person he is supposed to be playing. Exactly like him," Mai said laughing a little. She looked over to where her friends sat watching and they all nodded agreeing with her.
"I do not sound like that!" Naru barked out.
"Please please call me Seiji. We are friends here after all. No need for the honorifics Mai," the director said. Mai nodded softly and turned back to Natsume to run the scene again. After a few hours of filming Seiji the director gave every one a lunch break.
"Be back here in two hours. I wanna run the magical scene where this Naru guy and Mai are locked away in the room and trapped by the spirits. Mai are you gonna be able to do the scene?" Seiji asked. Mai nodded quickly with a smile.
"Not a problem. As long as Natsume-kun is at my side I can do the scene in one take," Mai said with a confident nod.
"Right then. Go get some lunch and rest a little. We still have a long day," the director, Seiji said excusing everyone. Mai ran up to Natsume and hugged him tightly.
"That was great Natsume-kun. I didn't think you would be such a good Naru but I am glad I picked you for the part," Mai said happily looping her arm through Natsume's and walking with him.
"Mai Tea!" Naru demanded in his usual tone but there was a look of frustration written in his eyes.
"Excuse me Shibuya-san but need I remind you I don't work for you any more. This is my movie set, which means this is my job so get your own tea," Mai said looking to Naru as though daring him to challenge her. How ever Naru just looked down.
"I'm sorry. I forgot," Naru said. Mai nodded softly.
"Give me a sec to get changed then I will bring you tea Naru. But learn to say please from now on. Oh and keep in mind I can't always make you tea when you want it since it's clear your not leaving," Mai said.
Mai gave a slight nod and a soft smile before she trotted off with Natsume in tow. Mai had changed quickly while Natsume got everyone lunch and as Natsume returned Mai was making tea.
"You really do love him don't you?" Natsume asked. Natsume set the tray with all the lunches down on the counter and then hopped up sitting on the counter next to Mai separate from the counter the food sat on. Mai nodded softly.
"Of course. I always have," She said softly. She added a little cinnamon and honey to the tea before she turned with a tray balanced on her hand and set the cups on the tray.
"I can see you truly care for him so why did you leave again? He went through all that trouble and you saved him so he wouldn't die. He even went through the trouble of going to visit you in the hospital to make sure you were alright. And now look, he came all the way here for you," Natsume said grinning a little as he nudged Mai. Mai laughed a little.
"That may be true Natsume-kun but first I am going to teach him a lesson. This whole I don't care, I don't feel any thing facade he puts on needs to change. I can't be with a man who only loves himself. A man who is a narcissistic, egotistical, rude jerk that only cares about keeping some fake mask up and not allowing any one else in," Mai said as she balanced the tray with the tea and picked up the tray with the lunch.
"I am hoping he will realize that pretending he doesn't feel anything is getting him no where and he will change that. If he can step up and show me something by the time all our filming is done then yes Natsume I will give him a chance again,"Mai said with a soft smile.
"How ever I can't say that things will be better. He broke a very important promises. He didn't have to walk away from me that night. But he did. He made his choice and I can only hope that all that will some day change,"Mai pointed out calmly.
"Any ways enough of that lets get back before the team gets suspicious and causes trouble," Mai said with a smile. She balanced both trays and made her way back to where the SPR team was. She sat the tray of lunches on the table then walked over handing Naru a cup of tea.
"Here ya go Naru," She said. Mai turned away handing Lin a cup also.
"Thank you Mai," Naru said as he sipped at the tea. Mai froze and turned looking at Naru in disbelief but shook her head and returned to what she was doing.
"Mai always makes the best tea. Any guy to have her in his life is one lucky man," John said with a faint smile to Mai. Mai knew instantly that Masako had already told the others about Natsume just by that one smile.
"Speaking of which Natsume-san. Are you planning to kidnap our little Mai away from us for good?" Takigawa asked grinning mischievously.
"Monk!" Mai yelped blushing as Ayako hit Takigawa's arm lightly.
"Well no actually. I do intend to keep her for myself but I wont keep her away from any of you. Your family to her and I think that is special. I want her to keep that bond with you all," Natsume said with a confident nod. Mai was handing Masako a cup of tea as this was said.
"Over my dead body you will. Mai is not some piece of meat or some material object to lay claim to," Naru said in a colder then usual tone. Mai turned looking to Naru a little disgruntled.
"Naru! Please excuse us," Mai said with an apologetic bow as she grabbed Naru's arm and pulled him away with her. She had pulled Naru to the river with her leaving the team to talk with Natsume and get to know him better.
"Just what is your problem Naru. He was only saying that he is not going to keep me from seeing my friends. You totally went ballistic and crossed the lines being rude to Natsume-kun like that," Mai started scolding Naru.
"He is my best friend and he is helping me out right now. Don't mess that up for me. I don't even want to have to try to recast if Natsume-kun were to leave. Besides Naru, you made your choice. I wont be the one to be trampled on by believing something I know wont happen," Mai explained looking to Naru a little upset.
"Now please Naru keep quiet and don't insult any one else. Please. This movie, this whole thing is important to me. My career as an actress and writer is very important to me and I don't want that ruined. So please calm down," Mai said in a cold, strong, and confident tone now.
Naru's POV:
Mai turned to go back to the team but I grabbed her wrist gently and turned her to face me.
"Please Mai I don't trust him. I got a bad feeling about him and I really don't want to see you get hurt Mai," I said looking down a little but my voice was soft and sincere for once. Mai sighed dramatically and looked to me.
"He is my best friend Naru, and of course you don't trust him. He is taking all my attention away from you. It's a little thing called jealousy," Mai said shaking her head lightly. Mai seemed to have found it kind of cute that I was actually getting this jealous over Natsume spending so much time with her.
"Mai please listen to me. I really am sorry about everything. I know sorry doesn't make it right again but please Mai I don't want you to get hurt. I hurt you enough, I don't want you being hurt by some other guy after what I did. Mai you have to listen to me please," I pleaded with Mai.
I could feel the pain that was ripping through my heart with every thought of Mai being with this Natsume guy she insisted was her best friend. I found myself wondering if this was how she felt when I had broken my promise to her a little more then five years ago.
I wondered if this was how she felt every day after everything I had put her through and then just pretended I didn't care. Mai sighed shaking her head again.
"Naru he wont hurt me. Natsume-kun could never hurt me. I know him better then you do. I know every secret he has. So please stop. There is no reason to get so jealous. Really if you knew everything you would feel stupid for being jealous. Just stop this nonsense and give him a chance to prove himself please Naru," Mai asked softly.
Before Mai could turn away to leave I suddenly grabbed her and pulled her in close to me. I had to try to get her to listen just this once.
"Mai please don't make me beg. I really don't want you to get hurt Mai, I love you," I said softly. 'Come on idiot. Just kiss her already. If you don't she will leave and she will be gone, out of your life for good,' I thought to myself staring into Mai's warm eyes.
For some reason I just couldn't bring myself to do it though. I wanted to kiss her but I wanted it to be on her terms, not because I was trying to keep her from another guy. Mai blushed deeply as she stumbled back away from me before things could go any further.
"I know Naru. But right now I have a movie to film. We can talk about this after but I can't promise anything. Natsume-kun is my best friend and I love him. I know you can't understand that but you will later once everything is out in the open," Mai said with a nod.
I sighed watching as Mai run off again yet again as she ran back to the the rest of the SPR team. I couldn't help but find myself trying to think of what she meant by I would understand later once everything is out in the open.
What could she have meant by that, I had no idea. I slowly walked back to the rest of the group. I was in no hurry to see Mai with that guy again so I went to Kifune shrine for a while. I found it easier to think when I was alone and the shrine was empty of inhabitants except for an elder monk.
Two Weeks Later – Mai's POV:
I was ecstatic. Every fiber in my body was tingling with excitement because we were finishing filming. We only had a few more scenes left to film and then all the filming was complete.
Then it was only a matter of till the movie would be released into theaters. I ran down the hall and jumped onto Natsume's back laughing a bit as he carried me to lunch with him.
"Can you believe it. Two more scenes and we are done," I said sounding as excited as I felt. Natsume laughed a little and readjusted me a bit with his arms under my legs as he carried me piggy back down the hall.
"Are you sure you can do this? The last scene we are filming will be the ending. That means the kiss scene is going to be your last scene Mai. Can you really make yourself do that?" Natsume asked sounding worried about me.
"Of course Natsume-kun. I can do the scene no problem. It's not like the kiss will mean anything. It will be like kissing my brother. Besides you have Ritsu-kun remember. And speaking of which tell me, what's happening between you two. And no hiding it because I will know if you lie Natsume-kun," Mai said grinning as she leaned forward kissing Natsume's cheek. Natsume sighed softly then nodded.
"Alright then since I can't hide it. Yes we are planning to get married but shh it's a secret still," Natsume said laughing a little. I squirmed a little as I hugged Natsume tighter.
"That's great! I knew you two were meant for each other. I have to know the date. I want to be there," I said as Natsume set me down and we sat down for lunch. Natsume gave a soft smile and nodded as he ordered our lunch. I was enjoying lunch with Natsume as we went over a few details for the final scenes when Natsume snickered a little.
"It looks like that sweet little cupcake of yours still doesn't trust me. He has been following me the past week and wont let you out of his sights when your with me," Natsume said with a soft smile as he nodded to the corner where Naru was sitting. I just shook my head a little and smiled.
"Don't worry about it Natsume-kun. After the filming is all done he will come to understand and everything will be better. He will see your not a bad guy," I said reassuringly. We finished our lunch and with that set off to finish filming.
Two days Later
Natsume and I stood at the shrine both silent at first.
"Naru why? Why do I have to leave again? I love you Naru. I want to stay by your side I don't care what it might mean. Even if I have to go on every case with you or stay at the office while you and the others investigate but please Naru don't make me leave like you did five years ago," I pleaded. Natsume scooped me up into a tight hug burying his face in my hair.
"I am so sorry Mai. I love you too but I just don't want you hurt again. I can't loose you Mai," Natsume said breathlessly as he hugged me. I felt the tears stinging my eyes as they started falling down my face and the snow fell around us.
It was a beautiful sight as the thick sheet of snow fell lightly, almost lovingly around us. The tears continued to fall as I pulled back away from Natsume.
"Please Naru don't make me leave. I will do office work. I don't have to go on the cases. You don't have to be afraid of losing me if I stay at the office instead of going to investigate. Please Naru. Let me stay," I pleaded in a breathless near whisper. Natsume pulled me close.
"Mai," He whisper staring into my eyes lovingly. Natsume brushed his thumbs gently over my cheeks wiping away the tears.
"Mai I love you. Promise me you won't go getting hurt. Promise me that you will be careful and if I feel it's to dangerous you will stay behind," Natsume asked as his face got closer to my own.
"I promise Naru. I promise on my life that I will," I whisper closing my eyes. Natsume lead forward pressing a gentle loving kiss to my lips. After a few moments we broke the kiss and Natsume pulled me into a tight embrace burying his face in my hair again as I buried my face in the crook of his neck.
"I love you Mai. I am sorry I broke my promise to marry you. I love you and I want to marry you. I don't ever want to let you go again," Natsume whispered.
I nodded softly as I tightening my hold on him, my arms wrapped around his waist and my hands resting on his shoulder blades.
"I know Naru. I love you too," I said. We were there for a few moments longer like this when I heard the loud crack behind me. "Naru don't do that your going to break something," Ayako scolded.
"And Cut! That's a wrap. Mai I have to say this will be one interesting movie," The director said. I jumped up and down excited.
"Yeah! It's done Natsume-kun. It's done," I said happily. Natsume nodded smiling brightly.
"That it is kiddo. That it is," Natsume teased. I spun around happily in a circle a few times as the snow continued to fall around us.
"Even after all the accidents and weird occurrences we still finished filming," I said with a happy smile as Ayako and Takigawa walked up to congratulate me.
"You know Mai all those experiences we were having while filming. Aren't those the exact same things you deal with on those cases you took with the SPR team?" Natsume pointed out with a grin. I got a bad feeling from this grin and knew Natsume was up to no good.
"You mean that wasn't the filming crew causing all that?" Lin spoke up. I shook my head a little. "Not uh. My scenes were written different. All that that was happening was on it's own," I said looking to Lin.
"Then it's a case!" Natsume nearly yelled sounding excited. Naru looked at Natsume angrily.
"Who gave you permission to say my team has a case? Only myself or Lin has that power. Only Lin and I can do that," Naru growled out between clenched teeth. It was clear he was not happy about the last scene with Natsume kissing me.
"Please Naru. Please please please," I pleaded turning to Naru nearly begging.
"Please just one more case. That is all I ask, is that I can help with one more case and Natsume-kun can stay with me the whole time. I wont be alone at all this time. Please," I pleaded with Naru as I took his hand in mine. I held his hand tightly in my own against my chest.
"Please Naru baby," I asked looking to Naru with puppy eyes not thinking about what I was saying.
"Don't ever call me that again and yes we can do this one last case," Naru growled looking away. I squealed happily and hugged Naru.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," I said as I hugged Naru. Natsume quickly pushed me into Naru. I had nearly fell but Naru caught me gently and I looked up with a faint blush and light smile. Naru was looking at me differently then he normally did.
"Thank you Naru," I whispered softly looking at Naru. Before I realized what was happening I leaned forward standing on my tip toes and kissed Naru deeply.
"Wohoo! Way to go Mai. It's about time!" Natsume cheered. I stumbled back away from Naru at the shout and looked down blushing deeply.
"I... I'm sorry Naru," I murmured embarrassed. With that I was swept away by Natsume, Ayako, and Takigawa while Naru, Lin and Yasuhara started getting everything ready.
Ayako and John mean while spoke with the people in and around the temple and shrine to get a better picture of what was happening around the temple.
End Chapter. Please REVIEW!