I'm trying to finish this story before the week is over. Next will be trying to finish R is for Rival and after that C is for Change. Then the sequel to this story most likely. Let's see how this goes, yeah?

Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt

Chapter 10: Names

Mai sighed loudly, struggling to stand and pull up her underwear. She turned just enough to flush the toilet before pulling open the stall door and venturing back out into the small school bathroom she currently occupied. She was still hurting profusely from the beating she'd received, making it hard for her to do much of anything. With Naru being more overprotective than usual, she'd just barely managed to escape to go pee.

Glancing up into the sink mirror, she let out a shriek of surprise when her eyes landed on Koganei. He stood off to the side, staring in at the trashcan sitting just beside the toilet. He turned, pointing at the metal container in confusion, "Why does the girls' bathroom have a trashcan beside the toilet?" It was the ghost's voice once more, overlapping and taking over Koganei's.

"Why are you in the girls' bathroom?" Mai asked, forgoing answering his question. She didn't know if he was actually kidding or if he literally didn't know. She had a feeling that it was the latter.

"I wanted to talk to you before your boyfriend turned up to drag you back to your base. He's on his way right now, and I'd say his 'freaking out' level is at about a ten right now," the ghost explained, shrugging his shoulders and turning his eyes back to stare at the trashcan. His eyebrows scrunched together, his confusion evident in the creases lining his forehead.

"I've only been gone five minutes," Mai pointed out, rolling her eyes towards the ceiling. She loved Naru, she really did, and she understood why he was being overly protective, but that didn't mean it couldn't get on her nerves.

"Yes, but he feels as if it's been thirty. Remember, he saw your face when you woke up," the ghost replied, turning back to her. He took a deep breath and stepped towards her. "I also came here to say that I'm really sorry about… about all of this." He waved a hand to indicate her face, dropping so that it rested just over the burn between his breasts. He was not touching the burn, but Mai could feel the heat radiating off his hand.

Mai shook her head. "No, don't be sorry, you weren't the one who did this to me. It was Ash, and he wasn't even doing it to me. He was beating you. Are you alright?" she asked, worry suddenly leaking into her voice. She reached out a hand, pressing it to the middle of his chest. Though she felt nothing beneath the shirt, she could feel the phantom press of icy metal pushing into her palm.

The ghost smiled, ruffling her hair playfully. "I'm perfectly fine. I'm very resilient. My entire life, I've been beat up and made fun of. It's nice being taller than someone for once. Don't worry, I can handle Ash, but you and the other three, you four need to leave." His voice had gone serious, leaving Mai staring up at him, her frown deepening.

"What is he planning?" she whispered, realization dawning on her.

The ghost shook his head. "I couldn't tell you, even if I wanted to. All I know is that he's planning something for tonight, and he's going to be using me as the main event. I'll resist him as much as possibly, but with this," he ran his fingers over the pendant imbedded in his soul, "I can't promise I'll be able to hold him off for long. Please, just leave. Don't even try to finish this."

"I want to help you though," Mai protested, grabbing his hand and holding it tight, like she was afraid he'd disappear if she let go, "Please, let me help you, let us help you. We won't let him take you."

The ghost smiled sadly, rubbing a gentle thumb over her swollen cheek. "I wish you could, but I'm the only one who can help myself now. I just need you to be safe. So, please, just leave. I'll take care of my situation."

Tears pricked at Mai's eyes, threatening to spill over her lashes, but she held them at bay. "Alright, alright. I can't, and won't, promise anything, but we'll leave soon. Can I just… can you tell me your name before we go?"

He grinned. "Sakurano Rei." Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to her cheek, and then he was gone, body and all.

If Mai hadn't been in so much shock, she would have been absolutely confused about how he could have managed such a feet. She probably would have just chalked it up to one of those weird phenomenon surrounding people with psychic abilities.

A tap sounded at the door, and moments later, Naru pushed into the bathroom, his eyes landing on her. His forehead wrinkled just slightly in confusion, his eyes running over her rigid form. "Mai, what happened?" he asked, stepping towards her and setting a hand on her shoulder. She didn't have the clouded look that he now associated with Ash's hypnotism, but her eyes were wide with surprise.

"Oh my god," she whispered, turning to stare at him with large brown eyes.

"What? Spit it out already. Are you hurt again?" Naru asked quickly, scanning her body before frowning at her. She didn't have any new injuries so he had no idea what she was freaking out about.

"That jerk!" Mai shouted, grabbing onto his shoulders and shaking him just slightly, "What the hell was that? Who the fuck kisses someone who already has a boyfriend?"

"What are you talking about, Mai? Did someone kiss you?" Naru growled in annoyance, trying to keep his head from snapping back and forth as she began to shake him violently.

"Fucking Rei! Who said kissing me, even on the cheek, was a good idea?" she shouted, her mouth hanging open in disbelief.

"Who kissed you?" Naru growled, still trying to jerk to a stop, but Mai seemed to be just a bit stronger than his that day.

"Rei!"

"Who is Rei?"

"The ghost!"

Naru finally managed to stop her from shaking him, and stared at her. "You know the ghost's name?" he asked, pushing the other issue to the sidelines for just a moment.

"He told me just now," she breathed, breathless from her exertions.

"And he kissed you?" Mai nodded. "I'm going to bring that ghost back to life, and then I'm going to kill him all over again."

Mai laughed loudly, the surprise already beginning to wear off. "I love you Naru," she declared, throwing her arms around his torso.

"Well, I'd really hope so. It'd be a little awkward if I was sleeping with a girl who didn't return my feelings, don't you think?" he asked, looking down at her with raised eyebrows.

"Definitely," Mai agreed, leaning up to press her lips to his. They were careful, avoiding Mai's bruised and cut lip to their best abilities. They still managed to make Mai yelp in pain.

…..

"Wow, you two. You took a mighty long time to return from the bathroom," Yasu commented, grinning at the pair as they pushed past the two basketball teams occupying the gym for a practice game.

Naru slammed the door shut, growling about how the next person that started getting the hots for his Mai was going to end up in the hospital needing stiches in places nobody wanted them. He glared at Yasu, dropping down into a chair and pulling Mai down onto his lap. "Yasu, I'm not in the mood for your vulgar comments right at this moment, and definitely not around Tamaki and Kamin. I'll rip your tongue out the next time you make one."

Yasu waved off the threat, grinning widely at the pair. "So, what are we planning on doing to end this case?" He leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow at the livid man across from him.

Masako raised her hand slowly, glancing between the other members of the group. "I'd like try helping the spirit pass on. You know his or her name by now, do you not?"

Monk and Ayako glanced sheepishly at each other. "Well, you see…" Monk began, but Naru cut him off with a curt comment.

"Sakurano Rei," he said simply.

The team glanced at him, the mouths of Monk and Ayako hanging open. Yasu grinned, his glasses flashing as he adjusted them on the edge of his nose. "What?" Ayako asked, staring over at Naru.

"His name is Sakurano Rei," Naru repeated irritably, burying his nose in Mai's hair.

"When the hell did you find that out?" Monk shouted, staring at him.

"About ten minutes ago," Naru said, his voice muffled my Mai's neck. Tamaki and Kamin moved over to them, holding their arms out. Mai heaved the pair onto her lap, making Naru grunt with the extra weight. He bounced his knees, making the trio on his lap giggle.

Masako watched them curiously, a smile hidden behind her sleeve. "Mai, could I talk to you for a moment?" she asked, standing slowly and nodding towards the closed Base door.

Mai adjusted the twins so they were on Naru's lap, and stood. "Sure," she said cheerily. They headed for the door together, stopped just before heading out.

"Leave the door open," Naru said, looking over his shoulder at the pair.

"And please be careful," John requested, smiling kindly at the pair, "It's really dangerous for everyone right now."

"Of course," Mai said, smiling back at the priest before they turned the corner and the team returned to discussing strategies.

They walked around the court slowly, watching the two teams chase the ball up and down the court. "So, how was your time in Australia with John? Did you guys do lots of interesting things? Yasu thinks you two were having an affair," Mai started off, grinning over at Masako who pursed her lips in consideration.

"Well, he wasn't exactly wrong, but it was only a couple times when we'd drank a little too much," Masako explained.

"Was it good?"

Masako giggled. "Yes, very, but I've already told Yasu and he really could care less it seems," she said, "You and Naru seem to be getting along very fine. I see that the twins have started seeing you as their mother."

"Yes, to both. The twins have started calling me 'Mommy'. Every time they call me that, I just want to squeal," Mai said, shaking her fists in excitement, "And Naru and I live together, as you very well know. Living with a narcissist isn't as terrible as you might think. It's actually quite fun, especially when the twins steal his towel and he has to walk through our home naked."

Masako giggled again, her cheeks tinting pink with the image that flashed across her mind's eye. "Oh, that must have been a sight to see."

Mai waggled her eyebrows at the other girl suggestively. "Oh yes, very much so, I've even gotten a few pictures."

"And you weren't going to share them?" Masako gasped in mock pain, pressing her hand to her chest.

"Of course I am. I just needed to wait until you got back," Mai replied, turning her nose towards the ceiling, "So, when did you and John get back? It must have been a while ago if you two are already here."

Masako shrugged. "Actually, our plane landed very close to here. We heard that you guys had taken a case out here, and just decided to head over. We really should be sleeping right now, though. I'm sure we'll crash when we get to the hotel."

"I would imagine. You'll be sharing a room with me and the twins, and probably Ayako now. Naru and the twins have been sleeping in my room lately, but now that there are more females, he'll move back to the guys' room," Mai explained.

"That's too bad," Masako sighed before grinning over at Mai. They laughed.

Suddenly, there was a very male scream from the middle of the court. The entire game came to a screeching halt. Over the murmuring of the crowd, the pair could hear the quiet, sobbing screams on a player. Masako and Mai glanced at each other before rushing over to the crowd, and pushing towards the middle.

Well, there you go. I hope you liked this chapter. I actually did. I like writing interactions between Mai and the ghost, and Mai and Masako. It's a lot of fun. I'm trying to finish this story before the end of this week, so I hope there'll be another chapter up tomorrow. See you, maybe, tomorrow!