Chapter 10
The Christmas Ball
When the SPR team walked up to the house on the 21st of December, they were amazed. It wasn't a house, but what seemed to be 3 mansions into one. It was ginormous!
"Is this really the place Naru?" Mai asked, a little nervous in her outfit and for going to something so fancy. She looked down at her dress and remembered what Naru had said when he got it for her.
"So would this dress do?" Mai asked as she tried on her fanciest dress she owned, which was a long blue polka dot dress with a belt.
Ayako and Naru were there helping her, and both shook their heads no, making Mai just wilt.
"But I don't own anything else and the ball is in 2 days!"
"We will think of something Mai, but I have to go now so Naru be nice and Mai will all be ok. Maybe I have a dress we could take up for you."
And Ayako said her farewells and left the SPR office. Mai went over to the couch and sat down, putting her head in her hands as Naru came over to sit next to her.
He surprisingly rubbed her back to calm her when he saw that she was crying slightly.
"What's wrong Mai?"
She mumbled out, "Maybe I was wrong when I said lets go to this thing and begged you and guilt tripped you into going. I'm so sorry Naru and I'm sorry to Nashi too."
Naru stood up and went into his office and grabbed a large bag on a hanger and came back out to next to Mai.
"What is that Naru?"
"Well… open it up and see for yourself"
So she stood up and unzipped the large bag, revealing a gorgeous yet simple purple evening gown. It had short sleeves and a halter neckline. The chest part came flowing down into the skirts and had little silver gemstones all over the dress, much like the night sky.
"Naru, is this…for me?"
She loved it!
Naru gave a soft smile for once and nodded.
"But how? It just have cost a lot. I can't accept it."
"Well technically it's not from me. It's from Madoka, she's in town and is coming with us to the ball and she thought you might not have anything fancy to wear. So she got this for you."
Mai was in shock that she would do that for her.
"All I did was tell her what color would look good on you and your measurements for the dress."
Mai blushed some at his words and looked down at her clasped hands.
"Thank you so much Naru. Really it means a lot."
"Yes it is. The addresses match up. So what else would this place be?"
Mai glared at Naru a bit, hating that he still acted cold sometimes towards her.
Stupid narcissist.
Everyone walked up towards the large mansion, everyone being Mai, Naru, Madoka, Lin, Yasu, Ayako, Monk, John, and Masako.
When they got inside someone took their coats and they went in to see a large foyer. A man was standing there checking people's names.
"May I have your names please?"
Naru was the first to answer.
"Yes, my name Kazuya Shibuya, I'm here with the SPR team. We are Nashi's guest."
The young man looked at the list and as he was marking them off a familiar voice was heard calling to them.
"You made it!"
Everyone looked over in the direction was coming from, their left and if they didn't know who it was they wouldn't have recognized her.
"Nashi…"
Everyone was in awe when they saw her. She was wearing a gorgeous light peach strapless, float gown with red flowers and red vines around the bottom of the dress and the bodice area. She had a simple silver chain necklace and he hair was hanging down for the most part with her bangs pinned up and parts of long hair pulled back with it.
"Nashi you look amazing! And your cast is gone too!" Mai expressed while she went over to give her a hug and. It have to worry about hurting her.
"What about your ribs…?"
"All healed too so bring the hug on Mai."
And Mai did, as well as Ayako, Monk, Yasu and John.
"What about your boot on your foot?" Yasu asked.
She lifted the skirt tail over her left foot to show a lovely golden sandal with a small heel, but no gray boot.
"Nope to that too. Everything is all healed by now. How have you been Naru?"
Naru couldn't help but have a shocked look flash across his face.
"I am much better thank you."
They whole group had their jaws drop to the floor because of Naru. Did he really just say thank you to her? And have a shocked look on his face?
Nashi was about to speak when she heard someone calling her name and everyone looked to see Kori in a lovely black dress with yellow and pink flowers on the dress. Her lovely faded purple hair was curled and pinned back with some pink and yellow flowers. Michu what is a simple suit and bow tie.
"Nashi!"
She turned to see what they wanted.
"Michu, Kori, what do you want?"
Michu and Kori looked up to see who Nashi was talking about and saw that it was the SPR team.
"Oh hey guys! Oh Yasu I see you and me are on the same wave length, bowties!" Michu explained while he made a silly face and wiggled his bowtie.
"Nashi told me that she had invited you guys but wasn't sure you would make it. I bet she was over the moon when she saw you guys. She's always so alone at this thing because she doesn't know anyone and doesn't invite anyone…ow!"
Nashi had started blushing in embarrassment and elbowed Kori in her side, maybe a bit too hard.
Nashi looked back and everyone and apologized.
"Sorry Kori likes to ramble on and doesn't know when to stop but I assure you that that isn't always the case. Now what did you two need?"
"My mom needs us so she can do her introductions. Please let's go so we can get the mortifying embarrassment over with. Please?"
"Oh dear, yes please. Will you excuse me please? I'll come find you guys later."
Nashi bow a bit and waved as she went off and went up the stairs.
The group decided to go grab some refreshments while they were getting ready.
"I'm here Mrs. Mityana ready to get the introductions done?"
Mrs. Mityana and Mrs Toshoi both shook their heads.
"Not yet Hun, I want to show you something first."
So Mrs. Mityana grabbed Nashi's had and everyone else followed them into Mrs. Mityana's room as she has her eyes cover by Mrs. Toshoi.
"When can I look before I get lead into a wall?"
"Have more faith in us Nashi."
"Mom, you have done that to me before and Masahiro too."
"Oh. But no we aren't and actually you can open your eyes," Mrs. Toshoi said as she removed her hands from Nashi's eyes.
Nashi carefully opened her eyes and as she opened her eyes she saw something she thought she would never see.
"Is that…?"
Mrs. Mityana nodded, "Yes it's the dress you have been longing for, almost an exact copy of your grandmother dress that you love. We even got it in a nice dark green much like the picture suggested it was."
It was a thin strapped, sweetheart neckline tight bodice, all a dark green color. The skirt was puffed out some with a quilted pattern with a little silver stone in the middle of each indent and up around the neckline. It was as she had dream of it for so many years.
"I…I…"
"Don't mention it. After the year you had and past few months, you deserve this. Plus you actually invited people to this who came so you need to look your best. Go ahead and put it on and meat us over by the stairs when you are done. No crying. And Kori stay behind in case she needs help with the zipper."
"Everyone, we welcome you to the Annual Christmas Gala of the Toshoi's and Mityana's. Now to introduce the ladies of the hour, and their leading men, Akemi and Daisuke Mityana and Nami and Akio Toshoi!"
SPR was confused as to what to do so they just followed everyone and clapped for them.
"And now their children. With the oldest first, its Kana Mityana and Masahiro Toshoi!"
And again more clapping.
"Finally they young children who keep getting older, Kori Mityana, Michu Toshoi and Nashi Kishiharaki!"
Mai, Yasu and Monk really cheered for them now because their friend was up there.
Wearing a different dress?
"Is it just me or is Nashi wearing a different dress?" Ayako asked in a whisper to the team.
Everyone mumbled no to each other and then once everyone was down together at the bottom of the stairs, the man announced, "Enjoy the Gala."
Nashi tried to get back over to her guest, but other people kept saying stuff to her and saying hi to the families. She kept stealing glances in their directions and everyone was getting some refreshments or talking to each other. Though she swore she saw Yasu steal some glances her way but probably wishful thinking.
Finally Nashi was able to get away from everyone and make her way over to the SPR group. As she did, she took notice, finally, to what everyone was wearing. Almost all the guys were wearing suit and ties, except Yasu, who had a bow tie on.
Mai was wearing a simple purple flowing halter evening gown was short sleeves and had little silver gemstones all over the dress, much like the night sky. Ayako had a strapless pale pink dress that flowed down her body, it had a layer subtle sparkles over the whole dress. Masako had a fancy blue and green kimono with gold floral patterns and designs adorning it. And a woman she didn't know with oink hair had on a cowl neck dress with see through long sleeves, and it was a shimmery blue.
"I am so sorry about that. People I didn't even know was coming up and talking to me and us, and I couldn't get away from them till now. Thank you Mrs. Toshoi."
"Who?" asked Monk.
"Michu's mother."
"Oh! Nashi we have someone to introduce you to," Mai said as she turned and pulled the woman with pink hair forward, "This is Madoka, she knows Lin and is Naru's teacher. Madoka helps us with the research if Yasu is too busy with school or can't uncover anything. Madoka this is the client we just helped, Nashi. And Mine and Yasu's friend."
"Yasu and mine's."
"Shut up Naru!"
Madoka reached out her hand and shook Nashi's.
"Such a pleasure my dear. You look very stunning tonight in that dress. But why did you change? The other dress was stunning too, and you wore it well."
Nashi blushed an looked down at the floor in embarrassment before commenting back to Madoka, and every now since they were all listening and looking.
"It's silly but…I have a photo of my grandmother in a dress almost exactly like this, and I fell in love with it. And since I was 5 when I found the picture and fell in love with it, I wanted to own and wear that dress, well on that looks like it. When I went upstairs Mrs. Toshoi and Mrs. Mityana covered my eyes and took me into a room and when I opened my eyes…it was just there. They thought that after such a hard year I've had and a tough past 2 months, it would be a nice surprise for me," she finished as she fiddled with the skirt a bit, feeling the soft fabric and seeing the lovely dark green color.
"Well the color and everything really suits you Nashi. And that was something so sweet that they did for you. They sound like good people," Ayako said before anyone else, but everyone was nodding with her words.
"Well they raised me since my parents passed so I'm another daughter to them. But forget all this sad, sappy stuff. Let's go enjoy ourselves."
And they did. For the rest of the night they talked, danced and ate. Dinner was served and it was delicious and then it was back to the fun.
At 9:30 the slow dancing started, and Madoka mad Lin dance with her and Ayako and Monk danced with each other. Naru decided to ask Mai to dance and everyone looked at him like he had grown a second head. Everyone noticed the blush on Mai's face and how close they were to each other. They even saw a small smile grace Naru's face.
At 10:15 the dj came on and said, "In 5 minutes it's going to be time for the random slow dances before the final dance of the night."
Nashi was sitting next to Yasu at a table and everyone was around them at the table, a few like John, Monk and Lin decided they didn't want to sit but stand instead.
But all had the same question, and Naru was the first to ask.
"What is this random slow dance?"
Nashi closed her eyes and leaned her head on he hand, as if just thinking of this was giving her the worst headache ever.
"Basically because some people come along and don't dance, it's made to get everyone up and dancing together, sometimes with the person you brought then with another random person. I hate it because I always try to get out if it but someone always makes me come back and participate. I don't care for dancing and I hate dancing with random people. The creeps I get paired up with sometimes is just plain disgraceful. If you all stick together and just switch partners amongst each other before anyone else comes to you, you should be ok."
"Alright! Everyone on the dance floor! It's time for the last 2 random slow dances of the night before the big finale dance."
Everyone in SPR got up and paired up, in unsurprising pairs. And Nashi just walked behind them.
Naru and Mai, Ayako and Monk, Lin and Madoka, John and Masako.
'Yasu's alone but he will have no trouble finding someone to dance with. His looks will do it all for him…' Nashi thought sadly though not quite sure why she was sad.
As everyone in the group started to dance a middle aged man came up to Nashi with a creepy look on his face.
"All alone? Me too so I will be glad to be your dance partner."
'No way in hell is he touching her.'
"There you are!" Yasu shouted as he came over to Nashi, "Where have you been sweetie? I want to have the first dance with you before you go dance with someone else. Excuse me sir," Yasu leaned over and kissed Nashi on the cheek, "I would love to have the first dance with my girlfriend so please go find someone else."
They guy was dumbfounded and just stormed off, clearly upset he wasn't going to go dance with a young lady.
'I'm about as dumbfounded as that man. His girlfriend? What…? I can't even understand.'
Yasu finally turned to her, grabbed her hand and started to walk towards the others and spoke.
"Nashi why didn't you keep coming with us? Your one of us now."
"No, I'm not. I'm just a client you helped out and nearly got your boss killed."
Yasu spun around it almost made Nashi dizzy, and he did it all while never letting go of her hand.
"No you are my friend and as far as I'm concerned that makes you part of our group. So stop being so negative," Yasu's face softened up into kind and loving smile, "And come dance with me Nashi. Please?"
She couldn't help but smile and said sure.
Once the first dance was over they all switched it up, Monk grabbed Masako knowing she would only want to go to Naru. Ayako and Michu paired up while Kori went with John. Yasu reluctantly left Nashi and grabbed Mai for his new partner smiling and that left Naru to dance with Nashi. She felt very awkward about it but accepted it. It was better than a creepy man here at the party.
'Perverts…'
"Nashi?"
Nashi looked up at Naru, confusion written across her face, so she just nodded.
"I apologize for letting you get hurt. I shouldn't have used you as bait."
Nashi smiles at him then started chuckling softly.
"Naru it's ok. It's what you thought you had to do and it was bound to happen. If I wasn't with you and was alone, she would have attacked me anyway. Maybe successfully killed me. So thank you still. And apology accepted."
Meanwhile with Yasu and Mai, she was giving him a little bit of an interrogation.
"So… you and Nashi are just friends?"
"What are you saying Mai? And same could be said for you and Naru, missy."
"Hey! I'm asking the questions now. And I'm asking do you have feelings for her? You act differently around her. You act very loving and caring, and it's a side of you I never have seen before."
Yasu closed his eyes and sighed
"I feel something for her. And it's strong. No way I could be in love with her already, right?"
Mai shrugged right as the song ended and the DJ started talking.
"Now it's time for the final dance of the night. So get whoever you want and get ready to slow dance."
The final song can on and it was a beautiful classical piece that Nashi hadn't heard before. She saw Ayako grab Monk's hand and they started dancing as well as Michu and Kori. John went to go sit down, tired of dancing. Masako went over to Naru.
"Naru please dance with me," she asked why one hand covering her mouth.
'Why does she always talk from behind her hand? That's just weird.'
But Naru really shocked everyone again.
"I'm sorry Ms. Hara but I am giving my last dance to Mai. Now excuse me please."
Masako's face turned red and everyone watched Naru walk over to Mai and ask her for this dance, which she said yes to.
Madoka pulled Lin with her and she started to dance with him.
Nashi smiled, she was happy to see everyone having fun, but yet she still felt like something was missing.
'What's missing is my family. My mom, dad and brother. Also maybe I miss having that special someone too but I should do it. They could get hurt.'
"Nashi?"
Nashi was brought out of her thoughts and looked up to Yasu. He was giving her his big ole goofy smile and had his hand out stretched toward her.
"May I have this dance?"
She felt something surge through her heart and whole body. Happiness? Love? She wasn't sure but she love it and only Yasu made her feel that way.
"Why yes Yasu, you may," and she accepted his hand and they started to dance.
Naru and Mai were talking a bit while they danced, well while Naru was helping Mai dance.
"Why didn't you take Masako's offer to dance? You didn't have to dance with me. I would get it because I can't dance…"
But Mai was silenced. Silenced by a pair of pair of lips that belonged to no one else but Naru. And Mai didn't fight it, she closed her eyes and kissed him back, leaving the rest of the SPR team in shock and Masako even redder with anger.
When they pulled apart, Naru still has a serious face but it was softened some.
"You never told me what you really meant when I was in the hospital. Want to try now?"
Mai blushed but she had to come clean. No more playing games.
"I mean that, you're a loved one to me because…I love you Naru. I have for a while now but I've been too afraid to…"
But again she was cut off by a kiss, but it was a short quick one before it was Naru's turn to speak.
"I may not show it, but the reason why you can't go alone anywhere and I always try to save you first is because I have the feeling toward you I couldn't understand. But with this case, I knew what it was. I love you too Mai. Would you be my girlfriend?"
Mai was shocked, but happy.
"Yes Naru. I would love too. And don't worry, I know you'll still act like Naru but would it kill you to be a bit nicer?"
"Yes."
"Stupid narcissist."
"You love me though."
"Yes and you love me."
Nashi watched some of it, and was happy for them.
"Finally. We've been trying to get them together for like, ever."
"Really? I guess that's why he was so protective of Mai at the Hoshikawa Manor. But I was wondering," She turned to look at Yasu and he turned to see her, "Why were you so worried for me there? You just meat me so…"
Yasu mushed some before he could answer, "Because you had a ghost out to kill you. Plus your so kind, how could I not want to protect you?"
Yasu then noticed she was starting to tear up before resting her head against his shoulder. He laid his head on top of hers.
"Thank you. No one has said anything like that to me. It makes me happy."
They stayed like that for half of the song both with a content smile on their faces. Then she picked up her head, only to have it be out against his forehead. Forehead to forehead, nose to nose and the happiest smile from both on their face. If anyone there saw burn, you would think they were together and had been for a while.
But they were.
Though neither of them could deny what they felt for the other.
Their feelings for the other was real and it scared one of them, but why lie to yourself still when you knew what was there?
Love.
A.N. Yay I am finally done with chapter 10! It's the longest in this story, 3,784 words! Most are 1,700-2,300 words. But I know, don't kill me with Nashi and Yasu but I promise soon. Next chapter is going to be a bit short and then it's on to the neck case! Thank you so much everyone and enjoy. Pick whichever songs you want in the parts of dancing. And also yay Naru and Mai!
