Childs Play, Part 3
Tea
Mai and Masako had floundered in the stream, much to the amusement of Monk and Yasuhara. Their laughs and Masako's screaming attracted the others, and soon everyone was gathered round watching an irate Masako telling off a shame faced Mai for getting her wet. Then she tried to climb out of the stream, but stumbled because of her kimono (it was bound to cause an accident some day…) falling back in and making Mai trip over. Mai sighed. I wish my cat was here…
"What?" Mai asked, confused.
Ayako and John took pity and helped Masako out, while Mai scrambled after her. The breeze picked up and Masako and Mai both shivered. Madoka took off her coat and wrapped it around Masako, glaring at Naru so he got the message. With a small sigh he took off his as well and draped it across Mai. They made their way back to base, Yasu and Monk still chuckling.
"Is everything alright?" Wakasa asked when he saw the procession. Naru nodded.
"Yes, two of our group fell in a stream. We need something hot for them."
"Please would you make a couple of hot drinks Wakasa-san?" Madoka asked the man, elbowing Naru. His face remained expressionless and after a moment he stalked off. Madoka sighed. "Really, someone ought to teach him better manners…" She muttered and then the rest became unintelligible.
Everyone followed him to the base. John sat Masako down on the couch as Monk gave Mai a bear hug.
"You two aren't too cold are you?" John asked worriedly.
"I'm fine John thanks." Mai smiled at him from underneath Monk's elbow.
"Maybe you should sit down…" he persisted. Mai smiled and did so, curling up and wrapping the coat around her. Subconsciously she took a deep breath and smiled.
"Wow, she's really obvious." Yasuhara chimed in Naru's general direction. Naru's grip tightened, he was not entirely happy with Yasuhara just now.
"Obvious about what?" Ayako asked.
"That she likes Naru-chan!" Naru had to stop his eyebrow from floating into the area of his forehead. Mai likes me? That's impossible. She was just momentarily attracted to my good looks. No one likes me, even as a friend. I'm not even sure if Lin likes me, and I'm pretty sure Madoka is out to get me. 'Having a little teenage moment?' And now I'm speaking to myself.
"I do not!" Mai protested.
"Mai, you're blushing again." Monk pointed out. Mai buried her face into the coat so no one could see it. She said something, but it was muffled by the coat. Now I've practically confessed. In front of everyone too… she cringed.
There was a knock on the door before it slid open. "The drinks." Wakasa announced, before smiling kindly at Masako and the black lump which contained Mai, and leaving.
"Mai, why were you in the stream in the first place?" Monk asked curiously.
"I was following John, when I fell down a well, and at the bottom there was a sort of tunnel which the stream ran through. I went through that as John went down it so I guessed it would be safe, and it came out in the woods. And I couldn't see John anymore."
"But I haven't been down any wells or tunnels." John looked perplexed.
"You did come back with wet trousers, which you couldn't explain." Naru didn't look up from the file as he said this. So he was listening all along Yasuhara thought gleefully. "Did you see John meet anyone?" he asked Mai.
"No, he just walked into the well, down the tunnel, and from what Masako said, straight to base. He did say that he was going to be late." Naru held his chin with his finger and thumb.
"So, John was possessed, but why?" Ayako asked.
"I don't know yet."
"Maybe this is another story thing, like Ikue-san said in the interview." Yasuhara pointed out.
"I can't think of any stories that involve wells with tunnels at the bottom."
"Oh yeah, and when I was in the stream with Masako I thought 'I wish my cat was here.' But I don't have a cat!" Masako shifted. "Masako are you alright?"
"I don't like cats."
"Why not?" Ayako asked.
"I'm allergic."
"To cats?" Monk chuckled.
"Yes. It is possible."
'I thought about suggesting a race for you to get dry.' Naru thought.
"This is a very strange story, whatever it is." Monk looked baffled.
"Who is this ghost anyway?" John asked.
"Judging from Mai's dream, it would be one of the family: the mother, the father, the maid, the boy or the midwife. I doubt it would be the baby. Unfortunately this house seems to have a lot of women who died from child birth in it." Naru looked at the file. "Coupled with the fact that the children saw the ghost of a little boy, and the child's handwriting, it is probably the little boy. John, would you perform an exorcism tonight?" John nodded. "Try the boy's bedroom, Mai will tell you which one it is."
John stepped into the middle of the room. Mai felt like sitting down, but she knew from experience that it was better to be able to move quickly, which meant standing up. John splashed holy water and started reading from his bible. Soon it was over. Mai looked around nervously, everything seemed too quiet.
"Masako, is the spirit gone?"
"Masako-san Mai, and I cannot sense him anywhere but…" She trailed off, not quite sure how to describe the uneasiness she felt. She closed her eyes and searched the house, and there was nothing but…
"You don't think he's gone either." Mai finished for her. Masako nodded.
"Maybe we exorcised the wrong place?" Monk asked. Naru didn't answer.
"Well, either way, let's go back to base. My legs ache." Madoka led the way. Ayako, Masako and Madoka sat on the couch, while Mai leaned back on Madoka's legs. She felt happy: her entire family was around her. She didn't even mind Masako that much, though she seemed to be angry with her over the stream incident. She sighed.
"Mai, tea." Trust Naru to decrease her mood gauge.
"Yes, come on Mai-chan, the boss needs his tea!" Yasuhara stepped forward. Everyone looked expectantly at Naru.
"John, go with her." He said emotionlessly. There was silence in the room. John had not moved, but stood there looking torn. Naru looked up, everyone held their breath. "John!" He said warningly. He still did nothing. Of all people, I thought John at least would listen to me. He sighed.
"If it bothers you that much, go yourself." Madoka called, amusement lighting up her eyes. Naru glared at her but stood up. "Yasuhara, you can stay." Naru and Mai left the room. As soon as everyone was sure they were out of hearing distance they laughed. Well, except Masako whose lips had set in a grim line. She looked like she was about to kill something.
"Well done John! I thought you were going to go for sure." Monk patted him on the back.
"Yasuhara, you sly devil." Madoka grinned.
"If they don't get together after this…" Yasuhara trailed off.
"I wouldn't count on it working." Lin said quietly. "Naru doesn't show his feelings well. Even if he has realised that he loves her, he won't say anything." Everyone calmed down. They hated to admit it, but Lin was right.
"He does have a point." John stated.
"Not to worry, I have other plans!" Yasuhara's grin sent shivers down everyone's spin. They all seriously hoped that none of these plans were for them.
Mai was surprised that Naru had actually listened to the others. She glanced at him, but he seemed to be lost in thought. In a way, she would have preferred for John to come. He was so nice and kind. And Naru was even more silent then usual.
"What are you thinking about?"
"The story."
"Do you recognise it?" Naru sighed, running a hand through his hair. Someone falls down a well, goes down a tunnel. And then what? Is the water important? What about the cat? And Masako's allergy to cats? And the race. A race to get dry…I'm missing something here…Why does this seem so familiar?
They had got to the kitchen, and Naru was brought back to reality when a steaming cup swam into his vision. With a start he remembered himself, sat down and sipped the tea.
"Noll? What are you reading now?" Gene waved a hand in front of him. He snatched the book away. "Mapping the Brain? You're always reading this psychology stuff. Why don't you read a kid's book?" Gene looked at the page number and closed the book.
"Gene! I'm reading it to find out more." Naru scowled at him. Gene laughed.
"Come on, we're only 8!"
"But it's a very easy to read and informative book." Naru protested. Gene raised his eyebrow in imitation of him. Gene grabbed his hand and dragged Naru to his bedroom. He climbed onto the chest of drawers to reach the bookshelf. He ran his finger over the spines.
"No. No. Definitely not! No…" Naru folded his arms over his chest. Gene was clearly annoyed that Naru refused to read any of his books.
"Fine. Try this one!" Gene pulled out the next book at random and tossed it over his shoulder, straight at Naru, who caught it easily. He looked down at the picture of the little blonde girl on the cover.
"I am NOT reading this." He said calmly. Gene smiled scarily. He most definitely would.
"Naru?" Naru zoned back in to find Mai waving her arms in front of his face.
"Stop it Mai." If only he could remember the name of the book…
"You were the one whose eyes glazed over and wouldn't respond!" She huffed. Naru sipped his tea.
"Mai, the tea is cold." He said. Annoyed she grabbed the cup muttering something under her breath. Naru smirked. It was so easy to annoy her. Soon another steaming cup was pushed into his hands.
"They're gone a long time…" Madoka said. Naru had left them nothing to do, so they were bored. Masako had retreated into the corner of the couch, clearly not happy. Yasuhara was whispering to Monk and Ayako who were glancing at Lin, who was busy typing away. John had positioned himself in between the three and Masako, who occasionally glared at them. Madoka was trying to hold a conversation with John. Eventually she gave up, the guy was clearly too nervous to pay proper attention.
"That's true. Do you think Lin was wrong?" Ayako glanced at said man, for the 9th time. There was a pause in the typing. Lin glanced at the screens, which everyone by unspoken agreement had decided not to check. Mai was trying to get Naru's attention.
"They're not doing anything." He said. Yasuhara made his way over.
"How many hours of sleep did Naru get last night?" He asked. Lin deigned to reply.
"Maybe we shouldn't push him…" Ayako sounded worried.
"How are we going to tell him that Yasuhara and Mai aren't dating?"
They were interrupted by Naru striding into the room, with a confused Mai jogging behind him.
"I know what story it is." He announced.
Sorry for the delay ():) -angel face we have been away for a couple of days. Also this weekend we move! so no more writting for a bit. while we unpack everything. And in answer to the question, the ghost from the last case basically eats away at Naru, it puts a bit of itself in him. Not very pleasant, but Naru wouldn't react to anything less :( he is far too stubborn.