Welcome back everyone~ In this chapter we have another of those rare times where I manage to shove a barely fleshed out OC into the plotline – enjoy! Also, it's apparently that time of the year where we make fun of Mai with love so there's that as well.
I hope everyone's being safe in these times of COVID-19 and staying inside whenever you can. Hopefully this chapter can give you the right incentive to stay home instead of risking the outside world ^_^ Enjoy!
Review Responses:
Joys: Sorry to get you excited for a case, but alas this isn't one I intended on writing out since it doesn't add much to the plot and I'm trying (key word trying) to stay on target. There is a case coming soon though, I swear! Probably, another 3 chapters, ish? I'm glad you enjoyed the previous one, I hope you enjoy this one as well (even if it doesn't have a case) ^_^;;
CaitHawke4Ever: Thank you for the review, I'm glad you enjoyed all that~ Hopefully you find this one just as fun~
RichkeyZero: You're very welcome! Please enjoy another~
Bewitchedquill: I was going to be all mysterious about this because, obviously there's a little more to it, but you actually reminded me that I need to write that explanation so moreso than just thanking you for the review, thank you for reminding me to actually explain my plotpoints ^^;;
Kallen21: And no longer shall you (until you finish this one and have to wait until the 5th, but still).
Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt
Chapter Key:
"English Speaking"
"Japanese Speaking"
'Thinking'
Chapter Thirty-Two
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Friday, May 9th
It was Friday before Mai found herself entering the Cambridge branch of SPR for the first time that week. She'd skipped coming in on Tuesday, telling herself it was to focus on outlining her essay plans and not because Naru was on case (not that Yasu hadn't taken the chance to call her on her excuse).
Naru had gotten back late the night before but she had no doubts that he'd be in the office by the time she made it there around mid-day.
What she hadn't been expecting when he made her way down the short hall was to be nearly overrun by how many people were milling about, rushing around to get things done for... whatever reason.
Frowning, Mai thought back to everything that she knew, and she couldn't recall anyone mentioning anything of importance happening today.
Stepping into Naru's office, she sighed in relief when he at least was acting normal.
"Hey Naru," she chirped.
Glancing up from his work, Naru didn't bother to scold her for the lack of knock, long since realising it was an exercise in futility. Instead he opted to focus on the odd expression on her face.
"Why is everyone racing around today? Is something happening that I don't know about?" she asked.
Frowning, Naru tried to recall if he'd mentioned their upcoming visitor and sighed when he realised that in light of the excitement over the weekend, none of them had remembered to mention it.
"We're going to be having a well-known spiritualist here tomorrow. He arrived in London this morning and will be touring there for the day, but he expressed an interest in seeing the satellite office as well so everyone is trying to make sure everything is perfect so that he's impressed," he informed blandly.
It was sure to be an interesting visit, that much was true, but he honestly couldn't understand why everyone was practically falling over themselves in preparation. It was ridiculous. Even Lin was joining the insanity, though he had to give the older man the benefit of knowing that the man visiting was supposedly half of the reason Lin had become the Onmyouji that he was today.
"Huh? But isn't that somewhat normal?" Mai asked, tilting her head in confusion. SPR was reasonably well known. Surely, they were used to this sort of thing happening.
Inclining his head in agreement, Naru nodded. "To some extent. In this case, the spiritualist visiting is a well-known Onmyouji, but he doesn't travel much. Mostly he's recluse and doesn't undertake students anymore either, to our knowledge."
"An Onmyouji?" Mai mused, and image of her own master coming to mind. She still hadn't managed to find the time to get in contact with him. That thought quickly fled her mind when she recalled how excited Lin had seemed on Saturday. "Is that why Lin has been a little less calm than usual?"
Naru raised an eyebrow. "You could tell?"
Shrugging, Mai smiled sheepishly. "I could tell on Saturday, but I thought I was reading him wrong. His aura was a little off when I came in just before as well," she admitted.
"Interesting." Naru made a mental note of that information prompting Mai to roll her eyes.
When he realised that Mai was still standing there standing there staring at him, Naru arched a brow. "Are you planning to stand there all day or are you going to get some work done?"
Jumping a little, Mai flushed at the comment and immediately let her bag fall to the ground, settling into her normal chair and setting her laptop up on the opposite side of the desk.
After that, nothing but the sound of keys being tapped filled the office as the two of them worked through everything silently.
It was a couple of hours later before Mai managed to pull herself out of her haze of writing, flushing when she noticed that at some point Naru's eyes had landed on her. "What?"
Smirk tugging at his lips, there was a challenge in his eyes as he looked at her, as if waiting for to figure out telepathically what he wanted so that he wouldn't' have to waste the energy on words.
Unfortunately, Mai could figure it out without him saying anything and that was just as frustrating as it used to be gratifying. Where once she would have been endlessly pleased at her ability to read Naru so well, now she was over his never-ending silence.
"Fine." Huffing, she pushed herself up from her chair. "I'll go and get us some tea. In return, can you read over what I've started for my essay?"
"I suppose," Naru agreed finally, determined to make it seem like a chore as he reached across the desk to turn the device around.
"Thank you," she called over her shoulder even as she exited the room. Nerves were running underneath her skin and she wasn't ashamed to admit she was a little bit afraid of whatever criticism Naru was no doubt going to offer her.
Weaving her way through the crowded halls, Mai sighed in relief when she found the kitchen area mostly vacated. Settling into familiar motions, she quickly pulled together a couple of teas before heading back to the room. Without conscious thought, her feet slowed slightly as she got closer to the room.
'Stop being ridiculous. You were the one who asked him to read over it,' she scolded herself mentally.
Content that she's managed to kick her own nerves, she pushed the door handle down with her elbow and stepped inside the office, offering Naru his own cup before re-taking her seat.
It was silent as he finished reading over what she had so far. It wasn't much but underneath what she'd written so far was her layout and her arguments dot pointed and she was just as nervous about what Naru might have to say about them.
Finally, he looked up from her essay. "This is for ICP*, correct?"
Nodding in assent, she took a sip of her tea to fight back her nerves.
"I suppose it shouldn't really be a surprise that you're basing this on ESP, given how ingrained it is in your abilities. I'm intrigued though, Yasuhara-san also mentioned that often it was easier for you to determine negatives rather than positives. I didn't expect you to turn it into an essay."
Shrugging a little, Mai's fingers played with the hem of her shirt as she considered how to respond to that. "Well, you said that I should be creative with the ideas that I presented and try not to bore the professors, right? And since I missed the first two terms of this year, I really wanted to prove that it hadn't hindered my learning at all..." she trailed off.
Naru hummed. "They covered ESP before you arrived, didn't they? The more in-depth looks into it were in the first two weeks of the Lent term if I recall."
Mai nodded despite having no idea if that was true. She'd just been informed that they had already moved on from it and been given a few materials that would help her to catch up if she needed it.
"Is it okay?" she asked finally when Naru finished skimming over it once more with an almost... intrigued look? That was a good sign, right?
Looking up, Naru kept his face purposefully blank, unable to help his amusement at how openly nervous Mai was being before he allowed a small smirk to form. "It's okay," he admitted. Actually, it was more than okay. Rough though it was, this was more innovation than any of the professors were likely to expect from a first year. It would be a good way for her to set herself apart from the other students. But still... "You can do better. Pull up a chair next to me and I'll help you to flesh your arguments out more."
Mai didn't bother to argue, getting up to move her chair around before settling in next to Naru. She could feel his warmth beside her and once she might have gotten distracted by that. Instead, she just flushed slightly, all too used to this from studying with Naru at this point and focused instead on the pointers Naru was giving her on her assignment.
They were still sitting like that when Yasu and Madoka appeared to prompt them to head home even though Naru had long finished helping her flesh things out. He was in the middle of fixing an English mistake when there was a knock at the door. Unlike Mai, whoever it was waited for Naru to prompt them to come in before letting it swing open.
Madoka grinned at the sight of two of her favourite people sitting so close. If it was anyone else sitting so close to Naru right now, she might have been a little more shocked. But this was Mai – their exception to everything; especially when it came to their resident genius.
"You two might want to consider packing up. It's already six and you if you work anymore then you won't be ready to meet Lin-san's crush tomorrow." She winked after the tease, prompting a giggle from Mai.
"I didn't realise it had gotten so late."
"According to Martin, it's becoming a habit for you two," Madoka mentioned, amused when Mai's face flared red in response. "Don't let Oliver turn you into a workaholic, Mai. You already live and breathe the paranormal, there's no reason that you shouldn't take breaks every now and then as well."
Thinking about it for a moment, she grinned, and Mai could feel a sense of dread pooling in her stomach. "In fact, why don't you spend Sunday with Luella and I? It'll be good for you to get away from schoolwork for a while."
Listening to Madoka as she moved around the room to collect her things, Mai winced. "I don't know... I was going to work through some more of my essay on Sunday... and I always study with Naru on Sundays..."
At Madoka's groan, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
"Come on Mai. If you've already started planning your essays, then I guarantee that you're ahead of everyone else. And you spend enough time studying with Oliver as it is, a weekend off won't kill you."
Biting her lip, Mai had to concede that point not bothering to correct her friend that she was a third of the way into her first draft, not just planning. But she enjoyed studying with Naru and learning more about parapsychology. It wasn't a chore for her and Naru made things surprisingly fun for her.
Sensing the younger girl's reluctance, Madoka sighed. "Fine, don't spend the whole day with us. Just the evening. Us girls can go out to dinner, that would be fine right? Maybe even catch a movie or something?" she suggested hopefully.
Unwilling to deny her friend further, Mai had to admit that it did sound like a good time. She was also a little too aware that even if she tried to turn her down, Luella would probably drag her out of the house regardless of what she wanted.
"Okay. Sunday evening," she promised, letting herself be pulled into an excited hug by her friend when she finally stepped out of Naru's office.
Said man had just watched their planning with a slight eye-roll. Of course, Madoka was somewhat correct. Mai was always studying in some shape or form and he'd rarely seen her take a break thus far. It would probably do her some good to give her mind a break – even if it was something he couldn't understand the appeal of.
Part of him did wonder if her reason for spending so much time on purely her studies was due to her earlier concern over not being good enough for her course. Even in the beginning, she'd mentioned the same thing. She was trying to prove herself. How ridiculous. How was it that she still didn't realise that the moment she'd been accepted, she'd already proven herself?
When Madoka seemed intent on holding Mai hostage for a while longer, Naru scoffed, stepping out of the office and locking the door behind himself. "Are we going? Father and I can drop Mai home on our way."
"There-"
Naru's eyes landed on her with a fierce glare and Mai couldn't help the way her jaw clicked shut. "Okay."
Madoka sighed at Mai's continued inability to stop thinking she needed to turn down every offer, like giving her a ride was ever going to be a burden. At this time of the night as well, honestly.
She shook her head but didn't bother to bring it up, already aware that it wouldn't make a difference. This was just how Mai was.
"Now that that's settled, let's get a move on before everyone leaves without us," Madoka suggested, letting Mai go and following after Naru with a grin.
It wasn't until Mai was back her room getting ready for bed that she realised, no-one had mentioned the name of tomorrows onmyouji guest.
Groaning at their oversight, Mai sighed as she slipped under the covers of her bed and turned out the light.
Too late now, she supposed.
Surprises were fun anyway, right?
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Saturday, May 10th
Mai could feel it the second she stepped inside the building. It was earlier than she normally ended up at the satellite office,( barely seven thirty) but she'd been told the night before that they were expecting their visitor at seven so she thought it was better to get there earlier rather than later.
Now she was glad that she'd bothered.
Next to her, Yasu's glasses glinted when he noted Mai's hesitation. "Something wrong?"
Shaking her head like that would remove the shock, Mai grinned at him. "Not at all. Let's hurry up and meet with the others," she suggested.
There was something brighter about her – almost relieved. How suspicious.
Letting it go for the moment, Yasu followed Mai, swiping his card on the way in. He didn't bother to remind her not to use her abilities inside the facility so openly, happy to trail after her through the halls and into the downstairs area without complaint.
To no-one's surprise they quickly found themselves standing right behind Naru and Madoka as his Martin continued to explain which rooms were for what, obviously nearing the end of his tour.
"Good morning," Yasu greeted, grinning at Madoka's whispered greeting in response and the way that Naru ignored him.
Typical.
"Morning guys, anything exciting happen yet?" Mai asked, practically vibrating with energy.
Eyeing Mai suspiciously, Naru shook his head. "We're just finishing up the tour of the building and then we'll probably sit down with Master Zheng and conduct an interview of sorts. It'll be largely informal until he has a small lecture this afternoon. We'll be recording it for the students to watch in class," he explained.
Mai hummed in understanding. "It'll be good for us to have a chance to learn more about onmyouji since they aren't very well-known, especially in Western society, near as I can tell," she mused.
Inclining his head in agreement, Naru turned his attention back to where his father was wrapping things up. Glancing over at Naru, he grinned at the sight of Mai and Naru standing at the back of their little group.
"Mai, Yasuhara, please come and meet Master Zheng Kai," Martin encouraged, waving them over.
Yasu stepped forwards with a grin on his lips, taking the hand being offered from the older looking man. He was nothing like he'd expected, to be honest. His head was bald – that wasn't a shock – but he'd heard that Master Zheng was in his late sixties. And yet next to Martin he could barely tell the difference in age. Maybe that was the difference that taking care of yourself mentally and physically made?
If that was so then he'd have to be sure to take better care of himself.
"A pleasure to meet you, Master Zheng. I'm Yasuhara Osamu, a first year in the parapsychology course offered at Cambridge. And beside me is-"
"Taniyama Mai."
Yasu blinked a little in surprise, turning to look at his best-friend with suspicious eyes. Master Zheng offered an apologetic smile at cutting him off. "I apologise, Yasuhara-san. I didn't mean to cut you off. I just felt that I should remind my student that I do at least remember her name."
Crossing her arms next to Yasu, Mai offered an unimpressed look that was largely ruined by the way a smile was tugging at her lips. "And yet you couldn't remember to send me a message to let me know that you'd be spending some time in London?"
Mai could feel the rising curiosity and confusion of the auras in the room and felt no small sense of satisfaction about knocking them off kilter. Maybe if they'd thought to tell her who exactly was coming today, they would have been aware.
Chuckling, Master Zheng shook his head at his student. "Come now, Mai-chan, you know you're my favourite student. I just wanted to surprise you and if you really want to blame someone, it was that monk of yours that suggested it."
Sighing, all too aware that it was likely that his 'surprise visit' was equal parts both Bou-san and Master Zheng's fault. "I'm your only student, Zheng Lao Shi**"
It was interesting to watch the man who had been stoic and calmly polite only a moment before turn into someone almost playful at the sight of Mai. He was going so far as to pout at Mai's half-hearted complaints which was not how anyone else in the room would have pictured the man reacting.
"Well, I can see that things have turned more exciting. Perhaps we should take a seat and you two can catch us up," Madoka suggested, grinning.
Nodding in thanks to Madoka, Martin waved towards the room he'd set up for this visit. "Indeed. We have snacks and refreshments waiting in this room. You don't even have to make the tea this time," he joked, offering Mai a wink.
Flushing a little at the tease, Mai fought the urge to stick her tongue out in response. "Thank you, Doctor Davis."
She could feel the amusement in her teacher's aura but she didn't bother to comment on it, all too aware that it would just end up being a petty argument that served to annoy Naru and Lin.
Taking a seat between Naru and Yasu and across from Master Zheng, she waited for everyone else to take a seat as well at the rectangular table. Soon enough they were comfortable, and everyone had a cup of tea sitting in front of them.
"If I wasn't mistaken, Master Zheng, you hadn't taken on a student in years. I find myself quite curious as to how you came to take Mai under your wing."
Turning towards Martin who was sitting at the head of the table on Naru's left, Master Zheng smiled. "You can just call me Kai, or Zheng," he offered with a slightly laugh. "And I suppose that I can see the appeal. It was actually an accident that it happened at all – or maybe it was fate."
Rolling her eyes at the last part, Mai was quite proud of herself for not letting out a groan. Fate – how ridiculous. It was like one of those things that the girls in high school used to gush about over their lunches.
"Oh shush, Mai-chan. Let an old man enjoy his fantasies. Regardless on your disposition on the subject of fate, however, it was an accident. For the past few years I've spent a month or so in Japan. In Mai's case, she and I happened to be in Mount Koya at the same time. She stumbled across me when she was wandering around the monastery and mentioned her troubles with traditional meditation, so I offered to give her some tips. It sort of spiralled from there," he explained.
Madoka snickered as something occurred to her. "Don't tell me – Mai wasn't supposed to be anywhere near that room, was she?"
Chuckling, Master Zheng inclined his head. "Correct. When I stay in Mount Koya I'm offered a private room to use for meditation and no-one else is supposed to be in that area while I'm there," he admitted.
Gaping at the betrayal, Mai huffed; warmth creeping into her cheeks.
"Some things never change," Yasu teased, glancing over at her.
This time Mai did stick her tongue out, moving to kick her friend for the comment.
"Now now, there's no reason to make fun of Mai like this. I have more than a few questions I want answers to before it's time for the lecture later and we won't get through them all if you continue teasing her like this," Martin pointed out.
"Of course," Master Zheng agreed. "I apologise. It's been a while since I last saw Mai-chan and I've let myself become unprofessional. Ask away."
Martin waved away the apology with a smile before offering his next question.
It was hours later before any of them checked the time, too caught up in conversation and more than content as they worked through the sandwiches someone had brought them at some point, along with some water. Mai had been conned into making their second batch of tea as well, which had improved Naru's mood considerably.
"It might be best if we started moving for the room we've set up for the lecture this afternoon. It's already nearing two o'clock," Martin mentioned casually as he glanced at his watch.
Master Zheng nodded. "I didn't realise that so much time had passed by. Lead the way."
With that decided, the two older men left the room before everyone else slowly trailed after them.
With a moment of indecision, Mai hung back, intending to clear up the left overs and store them in the fridge in the kitchen.
"Are you coming, Mai-san?" Lin asked; eyebrows furrowed when she made no move to follow everyone else.
"I'll catch up, I'm just going to clean things up here first," she assured him.
Lin seemed to debate over something for a moment before stepping out of the doorway and moving back to the table to help.
Blinking in surprise, it took a moment for Mai to realise what was happening. "You don't need to help, Lin-san! I can take care of it myself; I'll only be a couple of minutes."
"You'll be longer than that if you waste time arguing," Lin pointed out, already grabbing the leftovers with one hand and the tea pot from the table.
Flushing, Mai's shoulders sagged. "You're right," she admitted reluctantly as she moved to grab a tray. With practiced ease, all the cups were placed on the tray along with two tea pots.
Lin's lips quirked a little at her admission and Mai couldn't help but feel that everyone was laughing at her today.
She huffed at the thought.
Maybe she didn't feel that bad that Lin was helping her after all.
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*ICP = Introduction to Paranormal Cognition.
**According to a quick bit of research, Lao Shi is what the Chinese use to make someone "Teacher name" so I've used that here. If someone knows better or has an alternative that fits better for their student/mentor relationship, I would love to know more!
