Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost hunt, the Anime nor the Manga
Chapter 8: Case 1
Chapter 8
"It's been five hours and she hasn't moved an inch. How much longer are we going to have to wait?" Monk asked running his good hand through his hair. Yasuhara pushed his glasses onto his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, managing his own nervous tendencies.
The time did not pass easily.
The trek back from the clearing was a somber one. Naru carried his assistant back into base and made her as comfortable as possible. Ayako did her best to patch up the rest of the team and herself. Luckily the thorns only left superficial wounds, but they would all need time to heal.
The sun had set and though the staff from the church offered them food no one touched a morsel. Even the tea went cold.
They were waiting.
"I only sense one male presence with her now instead of two, so a verdict has been decided. The outcome will be with us soon." Masako answered and then sighed deeply. Just as quickly as the words left her mouth Mai got up with a huge gasp, and arrow in her shoulder.
"Oh my goodness! Mai! Your shoulder!" Masako yelled from her seat beside her. The silent base quickly came alive with activity everyone rushing Mai's aid.
"Mai, how did you get an arrow in your arm?" Ayako yelled touching it and Mai winced and slapped her hand away.
"What? Is no one going to congratulate me on my victory?" Mai asked grinning through her pain.
"We'll worry about that after we get this arrow out. Mai you're bleeding a lot and I'll have to stitch this now. John, I need a basin of hot water. Monk go into my suitcase and get my backup first aid kit. Yasu, I need some scissors and Lin some towels. Naru come here I need some steady hands. GO!" Ayako urged as she pushed the girl back onto the couch.
Yasu arrived back first and Ayako was quick to cut open the girl's shirt and pull out the material around the arrow. Mai immediately started to blush since she was now half naked in front of her boss and half the team.
"A-ayako, my shirt!"
"Now isn't the time to be bashful Mai, I'm trying to save your arm!" Ayako said as Monk and Lin came back out next. Ayako opened up the first aid kit and pulled on some gloves and pulled out several metal tools.
"Naru thread that needle with the wire. Then use the lighter to sterilize it." Naru completed the task in seconds and John came in with the bucket of steaming water.
"Alright, everyone except Naru out. This is going to get messy." Ayako said and no one questioned her orders and left base.
"Okay, Mai this is going to be painful. Once I pull it out, I know this will be hard, but you have to be completely still, alright? Naru hold her down and be ready with the towel to apply pressure when I need it." Ayako said as she reached for the arrow and gave Mai a questioning look.
"Go." Mai nodded her understanding.
"One, two..." Ayako pulled the arrow as Mai started to scream in pain and squirm. She could feel the metal tip scrapping against her bones.
"AAWWWGHHH!"
"Mai stay still!" Ayako yelled as she pulled harder.
"Trying!" Mai complained tears welling up as she gritted her teeth. Mai felt a squeeze on her hand and looked over to see Naru, their hands intertwined. His eyes met hers and for a moment she could see all his emotion naked and plain. He was worried, angry, relieved, and yet anxious. She was so lost in his features when Ayako yanked out the arrow finally, she only noticed once she felt warm blood coating her.
"Towel now!" Ayako told Noll and he applied pressure to the wound as Ayako continued mechanically. Ayako then pulled out a pan, disinfectant, and cotton swabs in it.
"Needle." He complied, waiting for Ayako's signal to lift the cloth. When she gave the signal, she quickly used hot water and swabs to clean the wound. After another towel application, she began sewing her shut, at this Mai began to whine in pain.
"Ah! Ayako!"
"Sorry Mai, I'm almost done. You're doing well." Ayako replied as she pushed through five more stitches and cut the wire. Though her wounded looked swollen and angry, it was at least closed so it could slow her bleeding. Applying gauze overtop, Ayako wrapped Mai's arms and exhaled a breath she didn't remember holding. She then proceeded to disinfect the area around the wound and clean up
with the hot water and towels.
"Masako!" The girl proceeded into the room and her eyes went to Naru and Mai's hands, that were still interlocked. She could feel her heart sinking as she got closer to the trio.
"I need you to get Mai a shirt, preferably a tank top so her stitches won't become irritated." Masako merely nodded ripping her eyes away from the scene…
…her hair covering her eyes
…and the bangs covering her tears.
Passing by the others who waited patiently outside of base without a word.
Masako stalked off hoping the more distance she placed between the two the better she would feel. Instead, hot embers of irritation burned in her gut. She entered the room she shared with John, which of course was kept flawlessly neat by the two. Mai let her borrow one of her tank tops a couple of cases ago when a spirit thought it was funny to squirt water on the two of them.
'I remember how the others laughed, and Naru smiled when we both went into base soaked.' Masako reminisced as she searched her things and let her thoughts wander where they would in solitude.
'Mai was there too, she could be the reason why he smiled. She is the only reason he smiles, and I hate her for it!' Masako thought and then sighed deeply.
'No, I don't hate Mai, she's far too stupid and kind-hearted for that. Whenever I need help or no one else can understand me, she always does. I do owe my life to her as well from the Urado case. Just a few hours ago, I had to imagine a life without her and I cried. No, I don't hate her.' Masako held the shirt Mai had given her in her hands. She'd had several opportunities to return the garment, but every time she decided to keep it a bit longer.
Masako had no siblings or friends to speak of. Just two overbearing parents and a strict traditional family. Even her manager was of little comfort, holding her public image and career over both of their personal wellbeing's time after time. Life made her eyes discerning and her tongue sharp.
Most people wanted something from her, even if it was to poke through her perfect exterior.
Masako felt the same as Mai in her feelings about SPR. When she was with their team she could be unwelcoming if she felt like it and she could speak her mind too. They provided rare air for her to be more human than she was able to be outside of these cases.
Masako looked at the amusement park tickets and smiled. She left the room and made her way back to base.
Mai, for all her idiocy, saw right through people. For once, that made her grateful.
'Well then, what of me and Naru?" Masako was taken from her musings once she was outside of base again.
"Masako, are you going to ignore us or tell us Mai's condition?" Monk asked hotly. If they had said anything to her when she just left she surely didn't notice.
"She did well and she's all sewn up. I'm sure Ayako will let you all in once she's dressed again." Masako said but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.
"Then why does Naru get to stay? Is there something we aren't being told." Monk narrowed his eyes daring her to lie.
"That's because Naru's a cold fish." Masako replied surprising them all and making a loud set of laughs erupt from Yasuhara. With that, she filed into base and shut the door behind her. Monk looked extremely confused at the girl's response his good hand still lingering in front of him as he stood dumbfounded.
"Did she just insult Naru?" Monk mumbled.
"Well, I guess she's over him." Yasu said coming down from his amusement.
"I guess so." Monk responded baffled.
The base was in full function once again since this was, hopefully, the last night of their investigation. If there was nothing to report from tonight then they'd pronounce the case solved, explain the happenings to their client, and leave. The SPR team was enjoying a late dinner of bentos, reheated by the staff.
Lin was on his cell thanking his colleague for the advice, and sharing how everything went. Naru was watching the monitors and drinking coffee since his assistant was in no shape to make tea. As for the rest of the team, they were having a grand old time with the life of the party, which was currently Mai.
She'd refused any medicine that would make her drowsy, which Ayako could understand. The doctor didn't have the heart to argue with the girl knowing she'd slept enough for a lifetime. Instead, she gave her some heavy-duty painkillers, which left Mai in a drunk- like a state.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNKK!" Mai whined, clearly more than a little high.
"Yes, Mai."
"Feed me!" She demanded pushing her plate in front of him.
"No."
"Oh okay. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSUUUUU!"
"I thought you'd never ask Mai." Yasu said seductively and in an instant Monk grabbed her food and placed a chopstick full in her mouth. Mai began chewing and hummed happily. Yasuhara shrugged and smirked at the Monk.
'And they say men are simple.' Yasuhara thought in devious sarcasm.
"So, Mai how are you feeling?" Ayako asked clinically, her eyes roaming the gauze for blood.
"Are you sure ya wanna know the answer?" Mai asked and giggled lightly.
"Yes, I do."
"Are you really suuuuuuuuuure?"
"Yes, Mai, please answer the question."
"Okay okay, well I feel confused. Reaallly reaaaallllly messed up." Mai said with a pout.
"Why is that, Mai?" Ayako doing well at keeping her "I'm-a-doctor-voice" going throughout Mai's episodes.
"Well, that giraffe over there, for one! I can't tell if everyone is growing or if I keep shrinking." Mai said pointing at Lin who just finished his phone call and looked at the group with interest.
"I know I'm super high on whatever you gave me. My mouth just moving and I know it's only a matter of time before I say something stupid. See Lin is laughing at me. He shouldn't be laughing at me!" Mai said her face completely serious and Monk and Yasu erupted into loud laughter, while John and Masako were trying to hide their own.
"No Mai, I wanted to know how your arm is." Ayako clarified.
"Oh, well. It's okay now because you fixed me! I love you Doctor Ayako!" Mai said and Ayako merely smiled warmly at the girl.
She really was quite adorable in this state.
"More food please!" Mai said and Monk continued to feed her and she proceeded to hum.
"So, Mai, what's your deepest darkest secret?" Yasu asked with a glint on his glasses and an evil smile. Mai looked confused at first and then tilted her head slightly in thoughtfulness.
"Well, Yasu-chan if I told you that I'd have to kill you. How about I tell you a story instead?" Mai said laughing and shaking her head.
"More food please." Mai said and Monk sighed and fed her again, rolling his eyes.
Naru had been trying his best to tune out the antics going on behind him, but even he had his limits. If it wasn't for the emotional rollercoaster, they'd all just experienced he would have sent them all off to bed so he could concentrate. With reassurance from Masako and John's most recent walk through, Naru was willing to let the team relax.
However, he planned to analyze every piece of footage and temperature reading for the next couple of hours to be sure their investigation was a success.
He was, after all, Oliver Davis.
Truthfully, he trusted Mai and even stole away for an hour to get the full story from his brother. In his mind, the case was closed.
"Now Mai I'm sure there isn't anything that's scary about you. Though I will take you up on a story." Yasu urged instantly intrigued. Mai chewed her food happily and then looked at Yasu and bobbed her head.
Naru continued to watch the monitors, but was listening.
"When I was younger, I used to get into sooooooo much trouble. I got kicked out of a least three schools. I used to fight a lot and say bad things to my teachers. The other kids I hung out with were just as terrible, but I had a bad reputation so I usually got blamed EVERYTIME. Then one-day Nakano- sensei, the teacher I used to live with, she asked me why I fought so much. Then I said it was cuz' kids would be so so so mean to me and bullied me. Then she explained that I was turning into what they thought of me. If I was kind then things would change for me. So I changed. And at first things didn't change, but one day I looked back and things were different. There are still lots of people who hear my name and sneer, but I'm working hard still to be better." Mai illuminated with a smile, a bit of a slur, and finished with a bow. Yasu laughed at the final gesture, humoring her with a round of applause.
"Doc, my limbs feel like sandbags." Mai told Ayako as she leaned into Monk with her arms around his like a pillow. She then proceeded to meow and purr like a kitten as she curled even closer into Monk's shoulders. Monk waved away Yasuhara's attempts at recording Mai's antics.
"Well, we've had a long day today, I'm willing to dismiss everyone from base. Be here at 7:00 am sharp tomorrow." Naru said rising from his seat and addressing the team.
"Naru, are you sure you'll be able to handle Mai for the night?" Ayako asked raising her eyebrow and the boy genius merely nodded.
"Well, here is her medicine; it'll wear off sometime during the night. Make sure she has another one when she wakes up. Have her put this ointment over the stitches as well. Call me if her condition declines in anyway." Naru said nothing in reply, but Ayako knew he understood. With that everyone else, except for Lin, left base for the night wishing Mai goodnight.
"Umm… Professor, I have a question!" Mai said wobbling as she pulled herself up on her crutches. Noll rolled his eyes as he gathered his files into his black book, grabbed the first aid kit, and went over to Mai and steadying her.
"How do I walk when everything is spinning so fast?" Mai leaned into him and dropped her crutch.
'This isn't going to work. With the cast one side and her stitches on the other she won't be able to walk with her crutch without reopening her wound.' Naru cast a look over at Lin, who seemed content in letting his young charge handle his assistant on his own.
He even seemed to be smirking at his expense.
'Guess I have no choice.' Naru refused to submit to the omniyoji's snarky air. He swept the girl into his arms out of base and made his exit. Little did he know a certain Chinese man was now sending a photo of said event to his pink haired friend.
Naru placed Mai into her bed and pulled the covers over her. She was already dozing by the time they'd arrived into the bedroom. For a moment he just stared at the girl's peaceful expression and recollected the events from the past couple hours.
'More trouble than she's worth.' Naru leaned over the girl and closed in on her face. She slept in his presence more often than was appropriate, but seldom had he taken in her features. Mai had thousands of expressions, but he found the one she was wearing now the most unsettling. She saw worlds far and wide behind her eyelids. She lived in present, but slept in the past and even the future.
She could even find danger in her own mind, but then again, most people could.
Just when their faces hovered centimeters from each other; Naru sighed and pulled away and got ready for bed.