Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Ghost Hunt characters!

[Chapter 11: Endlessly]

Mai sat down on the couch inside the base, feeling helpless. Ayako tried to comfort her, but to no avail. After all, she cannot say a word to anyone, since the spirit possessing Azuka's body would kill them all. After a moments, Lin sat down beside her and said calming words to her. It helped a little since it was the first time Lin actually felt like Mai's older brother.

After a few hours of sulking inside the base, Naru still hasn't returned. And it worried Mai. Since, apparently, their happiness was shortlived.

Mai's train of thoughts were interrupted when the door slammed open and a smiling and innocent looking Azuka barged in.

"Taniyama-san, the dressmaker is here to take your measurements. Please cooperate," Azuka told her in a seemingly gentle tone.

The other SPR members, except Naru who was nowhere to be found, were looking forlorn. Even Masako. Quietly, Mai stood up as the dressmaker went about in taking all her measurements. Afterwards, Mai sat down holding a wedding magazine so that she could choose the design of her wedding gown.

"Why are you looking so down, Taniyama-san? My son is just equally as handsome as Masako-chan's soon to be groom," Azuka crooned, looking very concerned. But Mai knew better.

"Well.." Mai started but was cut off by Azuka's hard glare on her.

"Nothing," Mai finished.

After a few moments, Azuka and the dressmaker bid goodbye. But before leaving, said, "Dears, the wedding will be 3 days from now!"

As soon as she left, the heavy atmosphere remained inside the SPR base. Yasuhara was quiet. Bou-san was playing with his fingers. Ayako was looking down. Masako looked stressed and tired. John was looking outside the window. Madoka looked worried. And Lin looked stoic as usual.

"Naru's still nowhere to be seen," Madoka broke through the silence.

"What happened back there, Mai?" Ayako and Bou-san asked in unison.

"I have no idea. I didn't want this. But I have no choice, do I?" Mai answered as she lowered her face into her hands.

"Don't worry, Mai. Everything will be alright soon," Lin told her softly.

Then this time, when the door opened, Naru went inside the base as if nothing had happened. In fact, he looked like he wasn't caring about the current situation, even though everyone was already expecting him to say something.

"Well, Naru? Are you just going to barge in and ignore us all?" Yasuhara asked while the others were looking at Naru.

"What do you want me to say? I clearly can't do anything about the situation now that Mai had agreed to marry Namiko, right? After all, it was her decision, not mine. So Mai is the one you all should be asking," Naru answered nonchalantly.

"We can't do anything now. Although something's not right with Azuka-san rushing this wedding. She just told us that the wedding would happen in 3 days." Masako told everyone in her soft voice.

Mai visibly tensed. Lin glanced at Mai. Everyone was quiet again.

"The sooner the better. Anything to just finish this case," Naru answered coolly.

"Naru, what is wrong with you?" Bou-san stood up and looked at Naru in frustration.

Naru just stared back and said, "Well then, Bou-san, what do you want me to do?"

"Stop being such a jerk, Naru! If anyone deserves to receive your cold shoulder, it should be me! So stop bringing everyone into this!" Mai raised her voice at Naru, leaving everyone else stunned. Naru included.

Mai then left the room.

Naru sighed and said, "John-san, please follow Mai. She might get lost somewhere or something like that."

And with that, John stood up and followed Mai out the room.

3 days later, 5:00 am.

Mai was woken up by a puffy-eyed Ayako.

"Mai, it's your wedding day," Ayako told her in a sad tone.

"Ayako, I'm so scared. I didn't want this to happen. I just don't know what to do anymore," Mai hugged Ayako tightly and began sobbing loudly.

"I know, Mai. But you have to be strong. Not only for yourself, but for everyone else. Just know that we'll always be here for you no matter what happens, okay? So don't cry anymore, just smile," Ayako told her and then pulled her up the bes to prepare for her wedding day.

On the other hand, Lin stayed with Naru even as he was preparing for his wedding.

"Kazuya, are you sure you want to do this?" Lin sincerely asked Naru.

"What can I do, Lin? If it were up to me, I'd be with Mai right now. But this is her decision, and I have to respect it because I love her," Naru answered in a low and distant voice.

"I have a plan. Just go through with the wedding, but I'll make sure that before it becomes fully legitimate, everything will be fine. Just trust me on this, Kazuya." Lin smiled at the younger man, then left. Leaving Naru with a small smile on his face.

After a few hours, Mai found herself standing side by side with Masako outside the double doors of the church.

"You look wonderful in that gown, Mai," Masako glanced at her with a sad smile.

"You too, Masako! Just smile, okay?" Mai responsed in a cheerful manner. Or atleast, a seemingly cheerful way.

The double doors opened and the piano started playing a beautiful wedding song. Mai looked straight into the altar and felt her heart tighten up upon seeing Naru in a beautiful white tuxedo. It was almost enough to make her tear up. Upon reaching Namiko's side, Mai was surprised when he whispered an apology to her.

"You're not the only one she threatened, Taniyama-san," Namiko whispered.

"You mean, she also forced you into this?" Mai asked.

Namiko nodded and said in a low tone, "I do not wish to be a hindrance between your relationship with Shibuya-san, after all."

Their conversation was interrupted when the priest started the ceremony.

'Lin, whatever you're planning, please do it faster,' Naru thought as he obviously glanced at Mai's direction.

A few moments later, it was almost time to exchange rings when the double doors suddenly slammed open with Lin barging in with a triumphant look.

Everyone in the audience gasped when they saw Azuka standing behind Lin, looking apologetic.

"Please stop the wedding, Azuka-san has something to say," Lin told the priest as everyone turned to look at him and Azuka.

"I'm terribly sorry about this, Masako-chan, Namiko-kun, Taniyama-san and Shibuya-san. I was not conscious of what I was allowing to happen. I know that Taniyama-san and Shibuya-san are in love with each other, and yet this is what happened. But thanks to Lin-san, everything is alright now. Again, I am really sorry that this had happened," Azuka sincerely said and bowed to everyone inside the church.

"Then, I would gladly hand Taniyama-san over to Shibuya-san!" Namiko cheerfully announced.

"Ehh?!" Mai exclaimed with a lovely blush on her face.

"I agree. I don't have the time to be someone's wife with all my interviews anyway. Congratulations, Mai and Kazuya!" Masako told everyone with a smile on her face.

Naru looked like he couldn't believe a single thing that was happening.

"Then what are you two waiting for?" Bou-san yelled, with everyone else cheering.

Mai stood there in front of the aisle, looking lovely in several shades of red while Naru kept on stealing glances towards her.

Then, Naru cleared his throat, effectively silencing the expecting crowd. Naru walked over towards where Mai was standing, kneeled, opened a small velvet box and said,

"After all this time, Mai, it had always been you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

"Yes! Yes, Naru, a hundred times yes! For me, it will always be you, Naru." answered a teary eyed Mai.

The priest cleared his throat and said, "Shall we continue?"

The two nodded as they looked at each other.

The priest continued the ceremony until the part everyone has been waiting for had arrived.

"You may now kiss the bride,"

Naru gently lifted the veil and stared lovingly at her while carressing her cheek with one hand.

"You look so beautiful, Mai. And I can't believe that you're going to be mine," Naru told her in a soft tone.

"And you're all mine, Naru!" Mai giggled lightly.

"Yes. I'm all yours, Mai,"

Then Naru kissed her passionately, as if they were the only two people inside the church.

"Lin, how did you know about Azuka-san?" Naru asked Lin while sitting beside Mai inside SPR with the other members sipping their tea.

"Yeah, I don't remember telling anyone about it," Mai visibly tensed while Naru tightened his hold on her waist.

"My shiki. They heard everything. I'm just glad I finished the exorcism right before Mai was about to exchange rings," Lin smiled as Madoka glanced lovingly at him.

"Well, everything is more than alright now!" Bou-san cheered and everyone agreed.

Yasuhara blasted up the music as the others, namely, Yasuhara, Bou-san and Ayako, started dancing to the beat while the rest just watched.

And that was when John popped the question.

"Ayako and Bou-san, when are you going to get married?"

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?"

[Author's Note]

Last chapter you guys yaaaaaay! After a year of not updating, I finally did! I was just really really busy and I had to focus on my studies since my grade was going down like flappy bird -_- But I present to you the final chapter, and I hope you guys like it!