Chapter 10: Chapter 10

It was dinner time and nothing had happened since that morning. Mai had begun making supper while being monitored by the others. Once in a while they would come in and check on her and when she took anything on or off the stove they would help, but otherwise she was left to prepare alone. She was also sworn to give alarm if she felt any presence at all.

Mai sat on a bar stool in front of the stove. She wasn't able to walk to far or carry anything more than herself so she had relegated to staying at the base with Monk all day. He was taking a turn watching the monitors while Mai attempted to make dinner for everyone. Even though Mai was only used to making food for herself she enjoyed the challenge she found herself in. She started with an old favorite, tea muffins, she mixed raw tea leaves in flour mixing with milk and kneaded the dough together and set it aside to let it rise. Next she rinsed and soaked the rice before putting it in the rice cooker starting it she then took out some veggies and chopped and diced them to add in. Mai slipped the muffins into the oven and lastly she took a can of flaked salmon. She sighed. She wished to have a few nice bento boxes for everyone and make a grand presentation, but she would have to just set it out neatly, and hope that people took the ones they were supposed to.

Over the couple years she had worked at SPR she had picked up the different nuances that most of the members had. Except for Lin, who tried his best to hide everything. Naru and Lin would both not be eating any meat during the case, but Naru would definitely eat meat at the next available chance. Maybe part of his tea craving was due to lack of protein. Maybe I should add more nuts and protein to the meal, Mai thought looking through the cupboards. Lin although no one would notice would rival Takigawa in food consumption. Masako the princess would only eat things well presented and looking delicate and rich. Ayako would eat everything in sight, but teasingly complain about everything, including everyone else's manners, though Mai thought she had some of the worst manners of the group. Mai dismissed the thought and put on a pot of tea.

In a cupboard above the stove Mai spied a can of almonds. Eagerly she stood and tried to reach them, but they were out of reach for her. Forgetting about her normal clumsiness and her sore legs she moved the bar stool over and climbed up. Just as she stood and grasped the can Naru walked by the door "Mai, Tea" he called. Mai was startled and attempted to step back, but stepped on the edge of the stool and started to fall.

"Hai," Mai yelped in mid fall, unsure what else to do. She was falling, and couldn't stop.

'Relax' a voice told her and she relaxed her body into the fall, somehow calmed. She closed her eyes, and waited for impact, but it never came. She felt herself fall into someone's waiting arms. then was softly placed on the ground. She heard the stool clatter to the floor next to her.

Mai opened her eyes and looked into two familiar blue eyes. "Mai," he called, his eyes a cloudy blue storm of worry. She found herself sitting on the floor, like nothing had happened. Her hand holding a can of almonds, confused she sat there for a moment. "Mai, are you ok" he asked her again.

Mai blinked coming back to the real world. "Oh, Naru." She said, unsure what to say. "I was wondering if you would like some nuts with lunch?" she held the can out towards him.

Naru's eyes changed, the clouds cleared and for a moment she thought they laughed, but then at the door Lin and Takigawa appeared, followed by Ayako who pushed through the group to check out Mai.

"Mai, what happened?" she asked running her hands through the girls hair looking for bruises. Then roughly picking up the girls hands and checking for cuts of bruises then proceeding to check her legs.

"I am fine" Mai stated. Trying to escape the Mikos grasp. "It was nothing, I was just clumsy" she spoke.

"Was this the work of the ghost?" Naru asked. Voicing the concern they all had.

"No, I was just clumsy."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, see no harm done," she claimed lifting her hands above her head showing no cuts or bruises. Well no new ones. She smiled convincingly. Naru's eyes narrowed at her telling her, 'you are not telling me everything' quickly Mai stood. Trying to change everyone's focus she asked, "It's time for lunch, can you guys help carry it into the base?" she asked as Naru disappeared from the scene.

Takigawa was all too ready to help with food, Mai directed him to place several bowls on a tray, and he took them into the other room. Ayako turned towards the remaining food and piled it on a tray Mai gave her and started heading to the base. Lin was left and Mai had nothing left for him, but he patiently stood there awaiting something.

"I think that is it." She said shrugging. Lin stood there then glanced to the oven. Mai followed his gaze. "Oh!" she ran over to the oven and opened it and stuck her hands in to reach the muffins only to feel her hands grabbed.

"Taniyama-san" Lin whispered in her ear holding both her arms in his hands. "you need to be more careful."

Mai quickly pulled back as she finally felt the heat of the oven. Lin released her hands gently and turned to pick up some oven mitts. He carefully dumped the muffins into the basket Mai had waiting, and turned off the stove. The pot whistled and Lin lifted it and poured water into each of the cups Mai had set out. Mai carefully stirred the teas and added the special touches that everyone enjoyed. Mai set cream and sugar on the tray and started to pick it up, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning she saw Lin still standing there. He reached in front of her and picked up the tray and walked out with Mai in toe.

"Mai, what happened?" Naru asked glaring over his plate at her.

"I fell," Mai shrugged grabbing more rice.

"Mai…" he prodded again.

Mai dropped her plate on the table and stretched. He wasn't going to give this up and she wanted to eat in peace. "I grabbed the nuts out of the cupboard, then you walked by, with your impolite 'Mai, Tea' bellow, and I jumped and fell backwards." She paused, knowing the group was now all glaring at Naru for his inconsiderate manner. "While I was falling I thought I heard this voice it said 'relax' so I did," she shrugged, "then it felt like someone caught me in their arms, I opened my eyes and I was sitting on the ground." Mai shrugged as she finished and returned to her meal.