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Chapter 14

Mai's POV

The objects were mostly heading towards Chise. The only thing I could think of was to push her out the way. I did so just in time however one of the knives slashed across my cheek as I followed through with my action. I let out a small scream of pain as Chise and I fell to the ground. I was shielding my body with hers, protecting her.

"Mai, you're hurt." She said. At that moment I heard a clack of metal hitting the floor. I looked behind me and saw that the knives had dropped, making me breathe in relief. Turning back to Chise, I gave a small smile despite the stinging pain.

"I'm okay." I replied. I heard footsteps and then someone started banging on the door. A second later the door slid open with everyone in tow.

"Mai, are you okay?" Monk asked. I turned my head towards them. He, like everyone else, had concern written all over their faces. I just wordlessly nodded. Then he must have spied the cut on my cheek. "You're bleeding! Medic, medic, she's bleeding!" I let out a shaky laugh as Chise and I got up from the floor.

"I'm fine, really." I tried to convince them, but Naru was in front of me within a second. He peered at my wound with deep concern before gesturing for Ayako to come and take a look.

"Naru, I'm okay." But no one would listen to me. Ayako replaced Naru in front of me and she started prodding and poking my cheek.

"Hmm, it's a long laceration but it's not too deep..." She muttered. "I think a bit of antiseptic and a small wound dressing should do it." She shifted her eyes on to Chise, who was still scared of everything that just happened. "Are you okay?" She nodded briefly then fainted.

"Chise!" I got out of Ayako's grip and went to our client. Monk also came over and gently scooped her off the floor. Ayako directed him to take her to base so she could be put on a sofa to rest. I started to walk with them, but I stopped when a hand brushed against my cheek. Looking at its owner, I saw Naru holding up his finger with blood on it.

"You're fine, are you?" He asked mockingly.

"It's just a cut, Naru." I said, staring straight into his eyes.

"This time maybe, but what if it had been worse?" He demanded. I glanced behind me to see the others walking down the hall to base.

"I wasn't about to let Chise to get hurt, or worse, die. Those knives were headed straight for her!"

"And what if you had died? What then?"

"I didn't though... Naru, I've done this hundreds of times—what's so different about this one?" I asked in confusion. What was he getting so mad about?

"Exactly. You have done this hundreds of times and every time you do something this reckless we have this very same conversation."

"Then stop having it." I told him as I turned around and left the kitchen with Naru following me.

"Don't get smart with me, Mai!" He snapped. He caught up with me and gently grasped my elbow. I gave a defiant look which melted as soon as I saw the worry and love in his eyes. I sighed.

"I'm sorry, okay? I know you hate it when I get hurt, but aren't we suppose to protect our clients?" I asked softly. Naru didn't say anything. "I'm fine, Naru. Really, I am." I assured him before beginning my walk towards base again. I saw him reach out to grab my hand before he seemed to think better of it and his arm fell to his side again. He just followed after me.

When we got back to base Ayako was waiting with the first aid kit. She instantly gestured for me to sit down when she saw me walk in. She then snapped on a pair of gloves ready to begin her work. I'm so happy that the cut was on the other cheek instead of the side that my makeup is on. Especially when Ayako starts to clean it. I tried not to hiss out in pain. I knew Ayako would tell me to stop being a baby if I did or that it was my fault in the first place. Everyone was probably a little upset with what I did, but honestly they should be worrying about Chise! Masako and John were next to the sofa she was laid on.

"I wonder if we should tell Mr. Tanabe... Although he's already left for his work." John stated quietly.

"Maybe we should inform him of it later. It would be best not to panic him for now." Masako answered. I just hoped he wouldn't get mad that we didn't inform him.

"Stupid ghost...slammed all the doors and then locked them so we couldn't get out." Ayako muttered as she continued patching up my cheek. "If we had gotten there sooner none of this would've happened!" So that's why they didn't get there faster. I did wonder. That's probably why Naru's so mad too. He couldn't get to me so he probably blames himself. Oh, Naru... I thought, glancing at him before wincing when Ayako slapped a patch on my cheek. "There, all done."

"Ow, you could've at least been more gentle." I told her. I cupped my cheek and rubbed it slightly. She just scowled at me and moved on to her next victim, I mean patient. Naru walked over to me as Ayako left and sat down beside me.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Well, we were making the tea and chatting about things when suddenly the door slammed shut and when we turned around there were knives floating in the air pointing at us...well, more at Chise than at me..." I explained. "Then the knives flew at us and I...I just reacted." Naru nodded, averting his gaze away from me. "Oh! Chise did say 'it's happening again'." I remembered.

"I see, interesting." He murmured. "Madoka." He called out glancing at the woman who was worried for her friend. She turned to him and awaited what he had to say next. "I need you to go research the history of the house and its property." She gave him a nod before leaving the base.

"Hey, where is Yasu?" Monk asked. "Why isn't he on the case with us?"

"He is busy with his university course and was unable to make it." Naru informed dispassionately. Even though Yasu annoys Naru like there's no tomorrow, he does love Yasu's amazing research skills.

"Oh, that reminds me, did you ever interview Chise's nephew?" I asked Naru, who went back to staring at my patched up cheek.

"No, he refused to come out of his room when I sent John and Miss Hara to fetch him." He answered. I frowned at his words.

"Why would he do that? I mean that's kinda rude."

"If you hadn't noticed from dinner yesterday that seems to be his personality, rude." I couldn't disagree with him there. Although Chise said he's just stressed out... Then again Yasu can be pretty stressed out about his course and he still manages to be polite. Perhaps it just affects everyone differently. I hope I stay nice when I go to university.

"Yeah, that's true..." I answered.

"I plan on insisting he be interviewed at dinner later though." I nodded in acknowledgement. I quickly glanced at Chise again. She was still unconscious. I hoped she wakes up soon.

"Is she okay, Ayako?" I asked.

"She'll be fine, Mai. She is just resting due to shock." I gave a nod. I wonder if she did this every time she was attacked before. Then again it could just be the stress of it getting to her. I sighed and leaned back into my chair, waiting for something to happen. After a little while Chise began to stir, making me feel relieved. Ayako and I instantly went to her when she let out a groan.

"Mrs Tanabe, how are you feeling?" Ayako asked in her professional voice.

"Um...I'm alright." Chise slowly sat up, bringing a hand to her head.

"Does your head hurt at all?" Ayako questioned.

"It aches a bit..." She replied softly. I watched as the shrine maiden then dug in the first aid kit and produced a pack of headache pills. She popped out two and handed them to Chise.

"Here, take these—you'll feel better." Ayako instructed. Chise nodded and swallowed the pills down. Then she glanced at me.

"Are you okay, Mai...?"

"Me? Yeah, I'm fine." I said with a grin. In the background I heard Naru give a slight scoff. Shut up, Naru. If only I had telepathy... I let out a silent sigh. Maybe one day... "Just ignore Naru... I'm fine seriously!" She looked unsure but nodded anyway. I smiled before throwing Naru a quick glare. He was completely unfazed by it though.

Mental note: Work on glares.

I looked around me desperate for something else to distract Naru. Then I remembered I didn't even get any tea!

"I'm going to..." I started to announce.

"No, you're not." Naru spoke over me. I frowned and turned around to look at him.

"You don't even know what I was going to say." I vaguely challenged.

"The answer is still no, Mai."

"What if I was gonna say I was going to go to sleep?" I questioned.

"The answer would definitely be no." Naru replied. My eyes widened a bit.

"Why would you say no to that?!" I demanded. He usually wants me to sleep to see if I have any dreams.

"Considering it's ten in the morning and we have pretty much only just gotten up..." He left the end of the sentence for me to fill in.

"You do know I can sleep any time and anywhere, right?" I rolled my eyes. "Besides we need some information, and hopefully Gene will have some for me."

"However you sounded as though you were leaving the base and for you that is currently not permitted."

"I never said that. And just because of what's happening I'm banned from leaving base now?" I clarified in disbelief. Naru just gave me a look but didn't say anything further.

"Gene?" I heard Chise ask behind. I blinked, everyone was so quiet I forgot they were there... "I thought he was..." She left the last word off in a hope to not upset anyone most likely.

"Dead, you can say it, it won't change anything by not acknowledging that fact." Naru snapped. I wasn't even gonna ask how she knew about Gene because I knew the answer would remain the same—Madoka.

"Naru..." I chided softly. He glared at me before growling in frustration and looking away. Gene has always been a sore spot for him, but I'm hoping one day he'll be able to talk about it. I turned to Chise and gave her an apologetic look. She let out a sigh as though acknowledging the fact she'd crossed the line with someone else.

"I'm sorry...Mr. Shibuya. I shouldn't have said something like that..." Chise murmured. I looked at Naru as we waited for his reaction. He glared at nothing in particular for a few moments before he gave a reluctant sigh. I then saw him imperceptibly nod. He never gave a verbal reply though. I let out a sigh and shook my head. What was I going to do with him?

"Hey, Masako." I looked towards her as she did the same to me. "Did you sense anything when the spirit attacked us in the kitchen?" I inquired.

"I sensed slight activity, but I couldn't pinpoint its source." She answered.

"...Did anything else happen in base aside from the door slamming?"

"Yes, there was a voice saying 'I will protect them from the abusers' but again I couldn't sense where exactly it came from." I stiffened at her words. "Is something wrong?" She asked. I snapped my head towards her.

"N-no, I was...um, just wondering why they would say that." I gave my best smile, not knowing Naru and Chise were staring at me with worried looks.

"Yes, it is quite mysterious." Masako concluded.

"Chise, didn't you say that they kept telling you Mr Tanabe was going to hurt you?" I asked. She nodded.

"Yes, that's right, but Kishi would never hurt me no matter what."

"But why did the spirit say 'them' instead of 'her'?" I heard Monk unfortunately ask. "It's like it was talking about Mai too." Now I definitely don't stand a chance of getting out of base, not even to use the bathroom. Why did you have to point that out, Monk?! Naru's eyes narrowed further. I laughed nervously.

"You can't be serious! Why would it try to protect me from an 'abuser'?" I asked in disbelief. Naru and Chise gave me covert 'you know why' looks. I ignored them though.

"You don't think the ghost believes Naru is hurting you or will hurt you, do you?" Monk questioned again.

"If it does then it's clearly mistaken." Naru commented icily. He hates it when someone even jokes about him hurting me. Then again I dislike others saying stuff like that too. I just couldn't even imagine the thought of him doing that. It made me shudder when I did, but in any case he was too kind and caring to do such a thing.

"Hey, I'm just saying." Monk held up his hands in defense. "I never said you would do that, just maybe that is what the ghost thinks." Naru crossed his arms and scoffed. Monk looked irritated by it.

"Or maybe since the spirit thinks Mr Tanabe is already trying to hurt Chise that it thinks he's going to hurt Mai too." Ayako suggested, examining her nails.

"Hmm, that is a possibility." Monk conceded. I silently breathed in relief. Hopefully they'll get away from that topic. "But then again Mr Tanabe doesn't really know Mai so why would he want to hurt her?" He continued. "And why just Mai and Chise? Why not you and Masako also?" Ayako shrugged.

"How should I know the ghost's motives?"

"Chise..." I began as a thought came to me. "Didn't you say Mr. Tanabe hasn't gotten attacked as much as you and your nephew?"

"That's right, yes." Chise answered.

"Then why wouldn't the spirit attack him more since he's this so-called 'abuser'?" I asked thoughtfully.

"That is a good point, Mai." Naru commented. "We should wait to see what Madoka will find." I nodded in agreement as it sounded like a fair plan. So that's exactly what we did. Naru looked like he was going to die of tea deprivation though as he hadn't had any today. But every time I mentioned it he refused to let me leave base. Oh well, guess he would have to go without then. It'll be his fault that he's so tea deprived. I settle back in my chair as we wait for Madoka's return. It took half the day before she came back. By then we were all rather cranky.

Treelow955: *sarcastic* The spirit attacks and Mai gets hurt, what a surprise!

Naruisawesome: Lol everyone knew it was bound to happen!

Treelow955: True! Next chapter will reveal the research Madoka found!

Naruisawesome: Yep! Please review!