Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. ^ v ^
"doesn't masako know that mai was "mai davis" from the prequel?" - Oh she does, Hikari Reizumi. ^ v ^
"Did Naru really use Ayako as bait? It seemed like he just wanted to test the
spirit's capabilities..." - Good question, thearistocrat. I'll ask Naru that question.
I'll keep this short. So here is this week's chapter. Do tell me what you all think about it! ^ v ^
"I don't think so," Mai said, squinting and trying hard not to look into Naru's eyes.
Naru sighed and leaned away.
Mai sat up and realized where the faint white light came from. "You have a flashlight," she said, amazed at how prepared Naru was. "I didn't know you were a boy scout."
"It's a pen flashlight," Naru said, looking up at the inclined shelf protecting them from the pile of who-knows-what above them. "It was a gift."
Mai frowned and looked away. From who was the gift? Masako? Charlotte? Maybe it was just from his assistant! Right..?
"So...how do we get out of here?" Mai asked, looking up at the shelf. She winced when she realized how close to being crushed-to-death they were. "This is some spirit, huh?" she whispered.
"I've spoken to Takigawa-san while you were out," Naru said. "They're getting help this very minute. They'll be digging us up soon."
Mai smirked at the thought of Takigawa digging them up.
"And this isn't just because of the spirit," Naru said.
Mai looked confused at Naru.
"Remember," he continued. "We're inside a very old abandoned building."
Mai nodded, realizing he had a point. The floors in the building weren't as sturdy as it should be. "...So what happened to Matsuzaki-san," she prompted.
"That's a different matter," Naru said. "We'll have to review the footage when we get back."
Mai nodded.
Naru stretched his legs into the darkness and sighed. "I expected you to be involved in some form of danger," he said. "But not in this kind of danger."
Mai raised a brow at him. "It was an accident!" she defended, frowning at him. "It's not like I jumped up and down and caused the floor to crash."
Naru glared at her. "I told you to go back to the base," he said.
Mai looked away, knowing her cheeks were flushed. She wasn't sure if the faint light was faint enough to hide her blush but it wouldn't hurt to be sure Naru didn't notice it.
"If I did what you told me, you'd be stuck in here - alone," she said.
"I didn't need any company," Naru said. "And I knew the damage in the room would most likely cause something like this so I was planning to be extremely careful with the floor."
Mai frowned, feeling guilty. He had a point.
"And that wasn't what I meant by being in some kind of danger," Naru continued. "Attending classes in a university with a group of students hellbent on controlling deadly spirits? Didn't you check the university's background first before you enrolled?"
Mai glared at him, her cheeks flushed in a deeper shade of red. "They offered a good scholarship," she reasoned.
"You still could have looked at the university's background information," Naru said, still glaring at her.
Mai knew he had a point again. So she did the one thing she could do when Naru was winning an argument.
Mai stuck out her tongue. "Jerk!"
Naru rolled his eyes. "Childish," he muttered.
Silence filled the cramped space. Mai took Naru's pen flashlight to examine the walls encaging them. They were broken wooden planks, sharp pieces of furniture, dust, and thick killer pieces of wood.
Mai cringed and coughed at the dust filling the air. She suddenly wondered how long they would be stuck there...What could have happened to them if the shelf didn't fall in that angle over them...What would happen if they stayed there for hours...
"He told you they're getting help," she suddenly heard a squeaky voice from behind her say. She turned to look at Naru and saw a coin standing on his raised index finger.
Mai gasped. "W-Was that the...coin?"
Naru just smiled at her. "Ask him," he said.
Mai raised a brow at Naru but did what he said. "Was that you?"
"What do you think?" the coin responded.
Mai screamed. "You're talking!"
The coin dropped into Naru's hand and disappeared.
Naru sighed. "You scared him," he said.
Mai took Naru's hands and looked for the coin. "Where is it?"
Naru leaned closer to Mai – his face just inches away from her. He flicked his fingers beside her right ear.
The coin was in his hand again. "Here," he said.
Mai looked at the coin and smiled. "Wow!" she looked up at Naru. "You're a magician too? And that was ventriloquism, right?"
Naru just smiled and placed the coin on her hand.
Mai looked at it with amazement all over her face.
Naru gazed at her face for a moment before he leaned away and rested his back on the wall of debris behind him.
Mai closed her hand, grasping the warmth of the coin. She sighed and thought of what Naru did. He cheered him up, didn't he? He probably read her again, just like he always did.
"Do you hate me?" Naru heard Mai almost whisper. He looked at her. He knew what she met by the question.
"I left you," Mai said.
"You did," Naru answered.
Mai closed her eyes. He knew she was trying hard to keep herself from crying.
Mai felt his hand on her head. She opened her eyes, surprised at the gesture. "I don't hate you," she heard him say.
She looked up at Naru and saw a gentle smile on his face. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
She was about to hug Naru when Takigawa's voice echoed from above them. "We're coming!"
Naru looked up.
Mai sighed and wiped her eyes.
"Are you two still alive in there?!"
"Yes!" Naru answered. "Mai's conscious!"
"Thank heavens!" Mai heard Ayako's muffled voice echo from above them.
"Okay, relax!" Takigawa yelled again. "We're digging you guys out now!"
They soon heard noises from above them – scrapping, shaking, and rumbling.
"Mai," Naru called, patting the space beside him.
Mai quickly crawled to his side.
Naru pulled his legs and placed them under him, ready to stand the moment he found the chance to do so. He leaned slightly over Mai, protecting her from the dust raining down on them.
"Close your eyes," Naru said, touching the shelf above them.
Mai covered her face, coughing at the dust falling down on them.
"Takigawa-san! I'm pushing the shelf up!"
"Geez," Ayako said, putting plaster on the bleeding scrape on Mai's leg. "Couldn't you two be more careful? And here I thought this was my moment."
They were out on the steps of the front door since Ayako said he needed more light to examine her for wounds. Takigawa and Masako were there, handing her plasters and medicines.
Mai smiled shyly and shrugged her shoulders. "It was an accident."
"It's always an accident when it comes to you," Ayako said, tapping Mai's forehead.
"You're lucky Naru was there," Takigawa said, standing beside Ayako.
Mai looked down at her hands, flushing at the memory of being stuck there with Naru.
She then heard someone snort. She raised her head and saw Masako glaring at her.
Mai winced and looked away. "Um...Where is Naru?"
"He's in the base," Takigawa answered. "He's checking the footage with John."
"Oh yeah," Mai said. "We need to study that footage. Are you going to perform an exorcism today, Bou-san?" she asked looking up at him.
"Naru said I ought to wait for a go signal from him," he said. "I can't blame him. That thing is pretty dangerous. And with a fake Miko offending it with a fake ritual-"
"I'm not a fake!" Ayako growled, glaring at Takigawa.
"Oh yeah? Why didn't you finish the ritual when you sensed the spirit?" Takigawa asked, raising a brow at her.
"It took me by surprise!"
"Oh please! You know it was going to be there!"
Mai smiled and sighed. At least Ayako and Bou-san were alright.
"Oh!" Ayako said, turning to Mai. "Naru said you need to go to your class now," she said. "Or you'll be late."
Mai gasped. "Oh! No! I almost forgot! What time is it?"
"It's seven forty," Takigawa answered.
Mai shrieked and quickly stood up. She rushed back to the base and grabbed the sling bag she left on the table next to Naru's things.
"Run," she heard Naru say. "You're late."
"I'm on it!" Mai replied, running out to the door.
John chuckled, watching Mai disappear in the hallway. "I guess that accident did you two some good," he said.
Naru loudly cleared his throat.
John looked at Naru and smiled. "You're blushing."
"Get back to work," he muttered, glaring at the monitor.
John chuckled again.
"You WHAT?!" Sho asked as they walked down the hallway. He and Mai just finished their 2 morning classes. Their next class was scheduled in the afternoon, and it left Mai two and half hours of spare time to help out with Naru.
"Naru and I fell...?" Mai said shyly, repeating what she told Sho. He asked how her morning was and why she was late for their first subject. She ended up telling him about how the floor crashed in the exorcism and how she and Naru were almost buried alive.
"How are you?" Sho asked, pulling her to a corner to check her for wounds. "Did you have wounds? Are you pain? Are you-"
"Calm down, Sho-kun," Mai said, chuckling. "I'm alright!"
"You are not alright," Sho hissed, glaring at her. "You almost died!"
"But I didn't die," Mai defended. "I'm here! I'm alive! Besides, I was with Naru and the others. They-"
"They are the reason why you almost died!"
"What?!" Mai asked incredulously.
"Can't you see? You wouldn't be in that accident if you just went to class on time!" Sho hissed. "But no. Naru just had to drag you out there, put you in danger, and fool you into thinking he's keeping you safe when he's actually putting you in harm's way!"
"Naru is not like that," Mai said, glaring coldly at Sho.
Sho frowned. "Mai, that's your blind faith in the man talking."
"NO," Mai said, clenching her trembling fists. "You want to know what really happened? Yes, I went thre because we had stuff we needed to do. Something happened and a floor crashed. I went with him to see what happened. He ordered me to go back to a safer place but I didn't listen. I chose to stay there with him. Then the accident happened. But he made sure I didn't get smashed to death! He covered me from the falling debris, earning him scrapes and bruises on his back that I watched Matsuzaki-san put bandage and medicine on!"
Sho froze. Mai's brown eyes were glazed with tears.
Was it from the memory of being buried alive? Was it guilt at seeing what Naru got from saving her? Was it pain at seeing Naru's pain?
Mai shook her head and looked away. "I have to go," she said before walking out of the building.
Sho watched her. Was she really that in love with Naru that she would close her eyes at the dangers of being with him?
"I'm back!" Mai called as she walked into the base. Naru was on his seat – tapping the computer keyboard. John, Masako, Takigawa and Ayako were nowhere to be found.
"Hey," she said, looking around. "Where are they?"
"Having lunch," Naru said. "Go have yours."
Mai frowned. "You're not eating lunch?"
"I need to finish something," Naru answered.
"I'll help you," she said, putting her bag down on the table.
"You've had enough danger for one day."
Mai stared incredulously at Naru. "Not you too!"
Naru glanced at her. She was glaring at him.
"Do you want to know why I'm taking psychology?" Mai began. "It's because it's the closest thing to parapsychology that I could take! You want to know why I'm studying in this school? It's because they offered the only scholarship in psychology that I could afford! I don't just come here and work for you because you're forcing me to. I also come here because I want to be here! You think I don't know the danger of being here? Have you forgotten about how I was hospitalized back in England because of my demon-possessed employer? That's no match to what just happened to us this morning!"
Naru just watched her huff. He watched her flushed cheeks, her trembling shoulders, her tear-glazed eyes... "Are you done?"
Mai took several deep breaths and nodded.
"Go get yourself something to eat," Naru said.
"But I-"
"Buy me a sandwich, or something," Naru said turning back to the monitor.
Mai froze.
Naru kept on typing on the keyboard.
He was done with the conversation.
Mai smiled and pulled her purse out of her sling bag. "I'll be back soon!" she said before she trotted out to the door.
Naru sighed. "I'm being stupid," he typed on the chat pane.
"It's justified," Lin replied.
"So you didn't perform any exorcism?" Mai asked Takigawa.
They were all in the base, seated in a semi-circle around her and Naru. Naru was still busy biting on the sandwich Mai bought him so Mai started a small chit chat with the others.
"Nope," Takigawa answered. "With the floor ruined and the room officially inaccessible, we had to change the plan."
Ayako was busy smirking at Mai, who was seated close to Naru – her shoulders brushing his back. Naru was still busy eating and looking at his mysterious folder.
Mai nodded. "So what are we going to do now?"
"Shibuya-san said he'll discuss it after lunch," John answered.
Mai turned to look at Naru. "Well, he's still eating," she said.
"Where did he get that sandwich?" Ayako asked, smirking at Mai. "I thought he wasn't in the mood for lunch. That's why he told Masako here, not to buy him food."
Masako was frowning.
Takigawa chuckled.
Mai looked away, blushing. "Oh...well..."
"Takigawa-san," Naru cut in, his blue eyes still fixed at the folders. "Be ready to perform an exorcism."
"Eh? Where?"
"Hallway," Naru answered. "Mai, go to your class."
Mai frowned. "I still have fifty-five minutes!"
"You won't make it on time for your next class if you stay for the exorcism," Naru said, standing up and sipping the cup of tea Mai prepared for him.
"I can skip class," Mai muttered.
"That's exactly why you're not getting any smarter," Naru countered.
Mai scowled. "Jerk," she muttered, glaring at him.
Takigawa and Ayako snickered. John smiled.
"Besides, you're working here so you can pay for the medical expenses of my assistant," Naru continued. "Not so you can skip class."
"Naru's right," Takigawa said. "Go to your class. Education is important."
"Says someone who chose to be in a band," Ayako muttered.
Takigawa glared at Ayako. "Putting your education first will keep you from being the old hag Ayako is, Jou-chan."
Mai watched Ayako smack Takigawa's head with her purse. She chuckled and sighed. "Fine," she said, standing up. "But send me a message if you need anything." She grabbed her sling bag and walked out to the hallway.
"Mai!" she heard Naru call.
"Yes?" Mai said walking to the door.
"Your class this afternoon is in the psychology building?" Naru asked, looking at her.
"Yup," Mai answered. She then remembered what Naru told her about the club. "Don't worry. Sho-kun meets me in the pathway so I won't be alone on the way. "
"You're telling Naru some other guy is walking you to class?" Ayako said. "Aren't you pushing Naru's buttons too far?"
Mai frowned. "What do you mean?"
"She means you're telling Naru you're cheating on him," Takigawa said, chuckling.
"Wh-What?!" Mai asked – her face suddenly in a shade of red. "I-I AM NOT!"
"I agree with Taniyama-san," Masako said, standing up from her seat.
Mai suddenly felt thankful that Masako was there. Maybe she wasn't that bad after all.
"Taniyama-san and Shibuya-san are not a couple," Masako said, walking to stand close to Naru. She even held his arm.
Mai gasped. She glared coldly at Masako. "Why you-" she hissed, ready to pounce on Masako.
Takigawa quickly held her back from attacking the medium. "Go to class, Jou-chan," he said smiling at her.
Mai glared up at him. "FINE! I'll make sure Sho-kun and I take our time in front of the psychology building! We'll even say 'hi' to the parapsychology club for you!" she turned away and marched out the door.
Takigawa chuckled. "She so hates you, Naru."
Naru went back to sipping his tea. "Takigawa-san," he said. "Let's pack up."
Mai and Sho walked quietly in front of the psychology building.
It was still early so they decided to stay outside a bit longer. Mai was also serious about saying 'hi' to the parapsychology club. Or at least, just staying near them...or not so near them...
They took a seat in one of the benches. Mai could see the parapsychology members a few paces away. She could hear them murmuring to one another.
"Hey," she heard Sho say.
Mai looked at him.
Sho scratched his head. He could barely look at her. "About earlier...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have...acted like that."
Mai smiled. "It's okay," she said. "I shouldn't have acted that way too."
Sho looked shyly at her. "So...we're friends again?"
Mai chucked. "Did we even stop being friends?"
Sho laughed. "You have a point there," he said. "So...How is the investigation going?"
"Well," Mai said sighing. "Bou-san should be performing an exorcism this afternoon."
"Wow," Sho said. "I haven't seen a Buddhist exorcism before."
"Me too," Mai said. "I really want to see one! But Naru said I shouldn't skip class."
Sho chuckled. "He has a point there."
Mai sighed. "I know," she said. "I just hate it when he does."
Mai suddenly felt her phone vibrate. She fished it out of her pocket. "Oh!" she said, amazed at the name on the phone screen. "It's Bou-san." She unlocked her phone and opened the text message.
"What is it about?" Sho asked.
"Wow!" Mai said. "Bou-san said the exorcism was a success. Masako confirmed that the spirit isn't there anymore."
"Really?"
"Yeah! He said Naru's spoken to the head master," Mai said. "They'll start the demolition tomorrow morning."
"Whoah! I guess Bou-san's really that strong, huh?" Sho asked.
Mai nodded. She suddenly felt like she was being...watched.
