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Chapter 11

Mai's POV

"Mai and John, I need you to set up cameras at the places I've listed on the west side of the house." Naru spoke, cutting me from my thoughts. He gave John a piece of paper then handed Monk one too. "Takigawa and Miss Matsuzaki will go on the east side to set them up also."

"Righto, Kazuya." John answered. I got up to join him. Monk and Ayako let out a few grumbles though.

"I don't see why I have to go with him." Ayako complained.

"Same here; I want to go with Mai!" Monk retorted. I grabbed John's arm and we began to inch our way to the door once we got the cameras and microphones.

"Why do you have to go with Mai? Maybe I want to." Ayako argued back.

"Oh please, like she would want to go with you!" Monk shouted as John and I quietly opened the door.

"Who says she wouldn't?! It's you she wouldn't want to go with!" I ushered John through the door and quickly followed after him and closed it.

"Mai, tell this old hag you would rather go with me than her...Mai?" I heard Monk call out.

"Hurry!" I whispered to John. He nodded as we hurried away from base. I laughed as we went down the hallway. "Alright, so where's the first place we're supposed to go?" I asked John. He looked at the sheet he'd been given.

"The living room it seems." John responded. I nodded and gestured for him to lead the way. Hesitantly he did. I don't think he knew where the living room was either. Soon we reached the end of a hall where it split in two directions but was still on the side of the house we were to set everything up in.

"I think it's that way." We both said at the same time whilst pointing in opposite directions. Then we both sweatdropped.

"Um...which way do we go?" I asked.

"I don't know. We could do something to decide like rock, paper, scissors, or flip a coin?" John suggested. I nodded and stuck out my hand, indicating we should do rock, paper, scissors, and John did the same. I chose rock while he chose paper.

"Alright, John, you won so which way are we headed?"

"Ah...let's try right." He responded.

"Okay." I said and gestured for him to go first again. He gave me unsure smile and we began to walk. The house was even bigger than I had first thought and I really did wonder how the Tanabe's got it. I guess it would be too rude to ask though. We soon came upon a room at the end of the hall. I smiled when we walked into it.

"Looks that I was wrong after all." I said sheepishly. John just smiled in return, not being the type to crow about his victory and rub it in my face. Quickly, we set up the camera and microphone then we moved on the other places that Naru had listed. In no time at all we were finished with our task. Afterwards we began to go back to base. Hopefully Monk and Ayako are done also and they didn't have any setbacks—meaning their arguing.

"Mai..." John called quietly.

"Yes, John?"

"Well, I've noticed it for a while...but what happened to your lip?" He asked.

"Oh, that. I accidentally tripped on some concrete this morning." I lied. I hated lying, but it's a necessity. Good thing I'm an expert at it in this type of situation. I always had to lie to everyone when I was younger—before he left. John nodded in acceptance. I guess it was good that I was already known as accident prone.

"Well, I hope you try to be more careful next time." He said whole-heartedly.

"I will definitely try to be." I told him. At that time we came up the base door. As per usual I could hear Monk and Ayako arguing behind it. John and I both shook our heads. Don't those two ever give it a rest? I opened the door and we entered the base. I went straight the couch and sat down feeling even more tired.

"That bad, huh?" Masako asked from her seat beside me. I smiled tiredly at her.

"Well, I was kinda already tired before we went so it just added to it, I guess." I answered, leaning further back into the couch. She nodded sympathetically.

"Miss Hara." We heard Naru call her. Masako turned towards him to let him know she was listening. "Do you sense anything?" He asked.

"Not yet. Although maybe if I walk around a little I can get a better feeling of things."

"That is possibly a good idea." He agreed. "John, if you're not too tired maybe you wouldn't mind escorting Miss Hara around the house."

"Sure." John said, standing up along with Masako before they both left. Monk and Ayako had now apparently finished their argument as Monk flopped onto the sofa next to me.

"Tired, kiddo?" He inquired to which I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder. He managed to wrap his arm around me and bring me closer.

"Mai, are you alright?" I heard Ayako question in concern as she came and sat on the other side of me. "You look a little pale."

"I'm fine, just tired and I don't think I've eaten all day." I answered.

"What do you mean you haven't eaten?! Why on earth not?" Ayako asked to which I responded with a small shrug.

"...I just wasn't hungry."

"Bull! You eat more than him sometimes." She pointed an accusing finger at Monk.

"Oh thanks, I love you too!" Monk replied sarcastically. Ayako reached over from behind me and smacked Monk in the back of his head. That led to the two of them having a glaring contest. I nervously glanced around the room and saw Naru staring at me with narrow eyes. I instantly knew he heard our conversation and I knew he was thinking about yesterday morning when I refused to eat then too. He started to make his way over to us. Leisurely, I began to sink further down into the couch, hoping that Monk and Ayako could unknowingly hide me.

"Mai, don't try and hide. I know you're there." Naru said.

"H-Hiding? I'm not hiding...!" I laughed nervously.

"Then why are you scrunching yourself down on the sofa?"

"Becaaaause...it's...really...comfortable." I stated lamely. Please go back to the monitors, please go back to the monitors. I chanted in my head.

"Mai, you'll cut off your blood supply and get cramp like that." Ayako chided, seemingly oblivious to the fact I was trying to convince Naru otherwise. I gritted my teeth. Then Naru gestured for me to sit up properly. I reluctantly did as I was told. I knew Naru was just itching to get me alone to question me about everything. I didn't know what to do, but I wasn't going to tell him anything—I did know that much.

"Mai, you need to eat." It was more of an order than a suggestion.

"I'm fine, Naru." I replied.

"You haven't eaten anything all day and you barely ate anything yesterday too."

"Naru, I'm..." I began.

"Not hungry, yes, we've established that, but as Miss Matsuzaki pointed out that just isn't normal for you. In fact it's a major concern." Naru interjected.

"It's not a major concern! Why would it be?" I asked. Naru just glared at me as though unwilling to continue what he no doubt deemed a pointless conversation.

"Mai, like Naru said, it just isn't like you... We're just worried." Ayako commented quietly from beside me. What are they thinking? That I'm starving myself?

"Yeah, you're skin and bones, kiddo." Monk said in agreement with them. Oh my gosh! They are thinking that!

"Besides your claim that you aren't hungry, is there a reason you are not eating?" Ayako asked professionally, looking every bit the doctor examining a patient.

"Of course not!" I exclaimed, looking at them like they were crazy. Okay, yes, so maybe I do want to lose a few pounds since I've gained some over the past few months. All three of them narrowed their eyes at me. I breathed in irritation before standing up. I bypassed Naru and then went to collect the temperature gauges.

"Mai." I heard Naru's voice, but I ignored him and strode over to Lin. I tugged on his arm with all my strength before he finally stood up.

"Come on, Lin. You're the only one who isn't assuming ridiculous assumptions about me." I said as I dragged a shocked Lin to the door.

"Mai, I don't think..." He started as he began to resist. I shot him a glare telling him to just come with me and keep quiet. "You know, Mai, you aren't as scary as Naru..." He tried again.

"Fine. I'll just go by myself!" I said as I released his arm and walked out the door. His hand landed on my shoulder, stopping me. I sighed as I closed my eyes. I could feel a migraine coming on. Everything was just getting so out of control today. I heard some footsteps in the background coming to me. Next thing I know a hand, whose touch was very familiar, gently grasped my wrist. He took the piece of equipment out of my hand so he would carry it.

"Come on, Mai." Naru whispered to me. Apparently he decided to come with me instead. I gave a small nod, feeling so worn out. I plodded after him, every step and every new room making me more weary. I wasn't sure how much longer I could go on keeping things from everyone and hiding my fears. I just wanted to curl into a little ball and forget the world until I could be sure Fumito would never get me again.

"Mai." Naru finally spoke to me—and not just about the temperatures—in the last room we had to do.

"Yes?" I asked. I knew already what he was going to ask anyways. He turned from what he was doing to look at me before he continued to speak.

"What's with you today?" He asked softly. I was so thankful he didn't ask 'are you okay?' Because I'm not...nowhere close to it.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." I replied.

"Mai, don't lie to me." Naru carefully took a few steps towards me, like he was afraid I would break down crying again.

"I'm not lying, why won't you believe me?"

Naru sighed, closing his eyes. "Because what you are saying is implausible given the behaviour you have exhibited today." He explained. I rubbed one of my eyes and sighed as well.

"Today...just isn't good for me... I'm sorry."

"I know that, Mai, which is why I'm even more worried that you won't open up and tell me what's wrong when I'm trying to be here for you." I quickly averted my gaze from him. He already done the temperature reading for this room, now he's just wanting to talk.

"Open up about what?" I asked.

"Well, about that little scene you had when I told you not to go get the equipment for a start. You almost had some kind of meltdown and I am confused as to why when you know I'd never hurt you." I know that...and I'm so sorry.

"I...might have had a nightmare last night..." I lied, still not looking at him.

"But surely that would affect you then, not now." He pointed out. I chewed the inside of my cheek.

"It did, but...you were getting mad at me and I... I just panicked." I finally got the courage to look at him. "I'm sorry." Naru just looked at me with concern. He probably didn't know what to say. There wasn't really a lot he could say to me though. Instead he only engulfed me into a hug—which he wouldn't have done if we had a camera in this room. For some reason he was a bit wary of showing me affection in front of the others. It could have been from the unfortunate incident with the camera outside base in the chocolate factory case though so I really couldn't blame him.

I slowly wrapped my arms around him also, clutching his shirt tightly. He held me tighter and kissed the top of my head. Releasing a shuddering breath, I finally relaxed for the first time today. All the tension left my body. My knees buckled from tiredness and the events of the day but luckily Naru caught my now limp body and scooped me up into his arms.

"I'm just so tired, Naru." I mumbled in a quiet voice, whining slightly.

"I know Mai." He soothed. I suddenly started to feel very sleepy as Naru continued to hold me. I laid my head on Naru's shoulder. Within seconds, however, I was out like a light. I didn't feel him carry me back to base. I also didn't feel him place me on the couch, and I didn't hear him threaten everyone to be quiet. If I had I would've smiled.

Treelow955: Another chapter done! Thank for reading!

Naruisawesome: Yup! Thanks a lot! Please review!