Forest Secrets
Chapter XI
I do not own Ghost Hunt, only my OC people and the plot
Naru was annoyed. The phone continued to ring constantly, but everyone was ignoring it. He certainly wasn't going to answer it. He spotted John speaking with Rafael. Takigawa and Yasuhara were deep in conversation, something that tended to spell trouble for someone (most likely him). Rayan was talking with Ayako, Madoka, and Masako about what they did. Lin was doing something on his laptop, now fully charged so he wasn't using Alex's. Naru himself was reading a random book he had picked up form Alex's office/library.
"Hey all," Alex entered the room with Mai.
"Mai, tea," Naru said, knowing his girlfriend would react to his order.
She did, as always. This time Alex didn't say anything, nor did she turn him into a kitten. Instead, she came over to him.
"Naru, do you know how to play chess?" Suddenly, with that one question, everyone's attention was on them.
Naru stared at the girl. He knew how, Lin had taught both him and Gene. He rarely played however, considering he was Naru.
"Yes, I know how." He told her, knowing everyone was listening.
"Would you care to play me a game?"
"No," he returned to his book.
Alex leaned in closer. "I have pictures," she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear. "I'm sure the others would like to see them." She leaned away. "Well, if you don't want to, I guess I'll just have to play against Lin again."
Naru glared at her. "I'll play." He never wanted anyone to see any pictures of him as a kitten.
Alex smiled brightly at him. "Thanks Naru, I'll go set up."
Soon everyone was gathered in the game room. SPR couldn't believe Naru was playing an actual game. Alex's friends wanted to watch Alex beat someone new. No one had beaten Alex at chess in years, a fact few knew.
Mai watched as the two battled it out. When the game was over, everyone stared at the board.
"A draw?" Rayan couldn't believe it. "Play again, this has to be a fluke."
The next three games were also draws. The fifth game Alex won. The sixth went to Naru. After that, Madoka took her turn. The others had gotten the idea and set up their own games. Ayako was beating everyone who played her at checkers. Masako had taken control of the backgammon board. Lin had set up another chess board and soon those playing chess were switching partners until it came down to Naru against Alex again. Alex won by only a small stroke of luck and a well placed bishop.
"Hey Alex," Rayan finally caught the younger woman's attention. "Where are we all going to sleep?"
Alex groaned. Her house was full enough as it was. "Madoka can room with Masako, that room has two beds. As for Yasuhara, he'll either have to sleep on the couch or take the bed out in the barn."
"Why is there a bed in the barn?" Takigawa asked, not understanding why someone would put a bed where no one would either see it (he hadn't the one time he was in there) or really use it.
"I put it there for when one of the horses is sick or something. It's up in the loft." Alex told him, not going to tell these people the actual reason.
"That makes sense," Takigawa shrugged and left it at that.
"I'll take the couch," Yasuhara decided. It had looked comfortable enough.
"Alright then," she yanked on Rafael's arm, "you come help me pull the bed out." Her couch was a sofa bed, rarely used but kept just for times like these.