A/N: Part six is here, yay! Once again I must thank all my wonderful readers for their wonderful reviews (and such long ones too, I just love long reviews!) Thank you! In reading some of the reviews I had to smile, you all are so smart, not a single hint I lay down is missed by you! Okay, one last thing- and then it's on to the part: Taleweaver's review.
Wow, you can't imagine how surprised I was to find such a long review waiting for me when I checked my mail (happily surprised, mind you). Your theories are certainly interesting, but that is all I will say on things like that, my lips are sealed. Though, I think reading this part will shed some light on where the plot is turning...
As for the crazy marriage plot (which I agree with you, the grandparents are crazy for encouraging such things!), but I must say such things in Nozomi can hardly be helped. I don't know if you've ever been to a small Southern town (no offense to anyone living in the South, I do like it very much) but I imagine Nozomi something like that. A bunch of families, who have known each other for generations, with practically nothing to do, except gossip and marry people off.
Nozomi is the type of town where nobody keeps a secret (well, maybe excluding a person or two...who will remain nameless) and everybody is into everybody's business. In the case of Niko, he is the youngest grandson of a large family, and the last one to be married off. Nozomi being an old fashion town (perhaps you remember my describing it as a step back in time. Electricity hasn't caught on so well, SPR's computers and cameras are run on a generator, and I would say only a handful of homes there have even those) so naturally everybody there marries early in life. Mai's predicament to them is:
(a): very normal and-
(b): the most exciting thing since (you guessed it) Sachi and Nari's almost marriage and falling out.
On a final note I agree with you about Naru, he's a complex character, but once he finally realizes his feeling for Mai...well we can imagine!
PS: raijutei-no-babylon, miss koneko, Azamiko, and MimoriFanForever, your reviews gave me such warm fuzzies, thank you
Day Four
5:30am
The Koku Inn
Mai rolled over in her sleep, her hand slapping the vacant pillow next to her. Her room was still and silent, gray light slipping through her window in the pre-dawn. Not for a moment as she dreamed of Niko, Naru, blue dresses, and ice cream, did it occur to her that her peace was about to be disturbed.
With a bang Mai's door flew open and then slammed closed. Sharp foot steps, like heels on a hardwood floor, approached, and with a swoosh that sounded like curtains being thrown open, pale light shown against Mai face.
Mai was quite suddenly yanked from her dreams. With a start her eyes flew open.
"Wha- Ayako...?" she stammered, her voice cracking from sleep. At the end of the bed with her hands on her hips stood a very irritated looking priestess.
"Come on, get in the shower, I'll pick out your clothes..."
And without waiting for an answer the tall woman bent down and began digging through her suitcase,
"Eh, these smell- don't tell me you haven't been washing your clothes?!" she cried, surfacing with a t-shirt she held out in disgust.
Still in a daze, Mai decided to overlook the insult (even though embarrassingly true...) and cut to the chase. With a glance at the clock, Mai looked back to Ayako in confusion,
"Ayako, what are you doing in my room-"
"It was unlocked."
"-at five in the morning...?"
The priestess dropped the t-shirt and crossed her arms, a satisfied smirk formed on her red lips,
"Well, if I had to be up at this time, I sure wasn't going to let you keep sleeping."
Mai's brain struggled to keep up. This was not an answer she understood. Helplessly she glanced at the clock again and back to Ayako,
"But it's five in the morning!"
Ayako examined her nails,
"Yeah, well I didn't like it either, but tough. Now get showered."
Mai stared hard at the woman, trying to understand some part of this.
This is a joke. Just some stupid joke Ayako's playing on me...
And on that thought Mai threw herself back down in bed and pulled the covers over her shoulders.
"Hey! Mai, I'm serious about this! We're going to be late if you don't get out of bed!"
Mai shut her eyes, willing dreams to come take her, hardly caring about the thing they would be late for.
"Mai, I'm warning you, I am not a morning person and if you don't get out of that bed..."
Mai pulled a pillow over her head,
"Leave me alone Ayako, I'm so getting revenge on you tomorrow morning! At four I'll come stopping and yelling into your room and we'll see how you like it!"
The pillow was snatched up from Mai's head; Ayako leered down at her,
"You won't need to; Mrs. Koku woke me up this morning and if you think this is yelling, try listening to her!"
Mrs. Koku?
Mai groaned and rolled over,
"It's not my fault she doesn't like you, don't take out your problems on me!"
The priestess drew in a furious breath and then in one foul motion pulled Mai's covers right off the bed. Mai shot up,
"Hey!"
"Hey nothing! Get in the shower or I'm dragging you down there like you are!"
Mai had half the inclination to ask just where she was going to be dragged in her pajamas, but thought better of it when she saw the dangerous glint in the woman's eye. She meant it.
Feeling flustered and confused, Mai slipped out of bed and stalked off to the bathroom. When she emerged sometime later she found Ayako sitting on her bed, a neat pile of clothes next to her,
"I picked out the ones that stunk the least," she said wrinkling her nose at them. Mai gave her a dark look and snatched them up, marching back to the bathroom to change.
"Ready?" Ayako asked when Mai came out a second time. Smoothing out her shirt Mai gave her a cold look that the priestess took for a yes. Standing up the woman lead the way out her door and down the hall.
"Can you at least tell me where we're going?" Mai asked walking fast to keep pace with the priestess.
"Some meeting, I don't know. Mrs. Koku just said to be there and to bring you with me," Ayako answered, sounding just as annoyed as Mai was with the whole idea.
A meeting? Like the guy's meeting yesterday morning?
Mai and Ayako settled into a mutual, irritated, silence. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, Mai saw that a few people had ventured to wake up and wander the halls. A couple of them, holding their morning coffee and tea, smiled kindly at Mai. Somehow Mai couldn't manage a smile back. Like Ayako, she was not a morning person either.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Ayako's pace began to slow down; she looked intently at each door they passed.
"WE'RE STILL MISSING A FEW PEOPLE; WE NEED EVERYONE TO START-"
Mrs. Koku's distinct voice found Mai's ears, they were close. Three doors later, Mai could hear the ancient woman's voice as clearly as if she were standing next to her. Cringing, Ayako gave Mai a resigned look before opening the door and exposing their ears to the full force of Mrs. Koku's voice.
"AH! MAI MY DEAR, COME IN! WE WERE WAITING FOR YOU!" the old woman greeted, grinning widely as Mai shuffled in with Ayako beside her.
As best she could, Mai managed a smile back at her, her eyes sweeping the room she just stepped in. Half the size of the dining hall, the large room was filled with chairs, occupied by the Inn's female guests. In the middle of the throng of chairs and women, someone in a bright floral kimono stood up and Mai's stomach dropped: Masako. With a polite wave she invited them over and then sat back down. Ayako made a b-line for the medium and Mai was forced to follow,
"What are you doing here?" the priestess asked sitting down in the free chair next to Masako. The medium's gaze remained on the front of the room as she answered,
"Well, of course I was asked to come. Mrs. Koku instructions for the festival are important to hear."
"Instructions...?" Ayako persisted, not seeming to like the sound of it.
Masako glanced at Ayako out of the corner of her eye,
"Yes, you know, today is the day of the woman, the wife..."
"What?" Mai exclaimed, speaking for the first time since she sat down on the other side of Ayako. The medium looked fully at Mai, a small smirk playing on her lips,
"Yes, Mr. Sachi has told me all about it. I thought you would know, having Niko and all..."
Red flooded Mai face, she made a move towards Masako, but Ayako put an arm out to block her,
"So, you're saying this meeting is just like what the men had yesterday? We have an assignment too?" she asked while fighting Mai back.
Masako was looking towards the front again, attempting to seem cool and composed, but a smug smile kept tugging at her lips as she relished in Mai's reaction,
"Yes."
Harassedly, Mai threw herself back in her seat and massaged the part of her arm Ayako had been pushing rather hard against.
That Masako.
Just then the door opened again and two young women walked in, and with many apologies for being late, took the two remaining seats.
"GOOD, EVERYONE'S HERE," Mrs. Koku bellowed. The soft murmuring that had filled the room hushed as the old woman's voice broke over them. Smiling, the ancient Inn keeper continued,
"AS YOU ALL MUST KNOW, TODAY IS A MOST SPECIAL DAY. THE DAY OF THE WOMAN, THE DAY OF THE WIFE, THE DAY OF COURTSHIP!"
At this, more murmuring broke out, a few giggles and claps resounded about the room. Mrs. Koku chuckled,
"YES, FOR US WOMEN THERE IS NO DAY MORE SPECIAL, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW-" the old woman's eyes somehow found Mai, "-I'LL TELL YOU WHY. THIS SECOND DAY OF THE FESTIVAL, THE DAY CELEBRATING MR. MIYUKI'S WIFE, YOSHI, AND THE INSPIRATION THAT HER BEAUTY AND CHARACTOR BROUGHT TO HIM, IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE US ALL TO INSPIRE THE MEN IN OUR LIVES. YOSHI ODDLY WAS MR. MIYUKI'S BIGGEST INSPIRATION, AND WHILE MANY OF YOU WOULDN'T THINK A WIFE INSPIRING A HUSBAND AS ODD, YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOSHI. SHE WAS A NIGHTMARE OF A WIFE AND REGRETFULLY I KNEW HER PERSONALLY. SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL, YES- BUT HAD A PERSONALITY LIKE A DRIED UP PRUNE!"
If it were possible, Mrs. Koku raised her voice even louder here to convey her distaste of the woman,
"SHE NEVER SUPPORTED MR. MIYUKI WITH HIS DREAMS OF BUILDING THEATERS AND WRITING PLAYS. BUT SOMEHOW HE STILL LOVED HER AND HER BEAUTY FOUND IT'S WAY INTO HIS MOST STUNNING CHARACTERS AND HER MANY PERSONALITIES INSPIRED SOME OF HIS MOST MEMORABLE CHARACTERS. THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO HIS GREAT TALENT IF YOU ASK ME. ANY BODY WHO COULD BASE A CHARACTER OFF THAT WOMAN AND MAKE IT HALF WAY DECENT IS A GENIUS. SO TODAY IS A DAY FOR INSPIRATION. EVERY WOMAN SITTING BEFORE ME HAS THE ABILITY TO BE ONE, BUT JUST ONE OF YOU WILL BE CHOSEN TONIGHT AS THE TRULY INSPIRING YOSHI MIYUKI!" the old woman announced, her voice painfully rising again in her excitement. Mai massaged her tender ears and found herself shrinking from the innkeeper's gaze as she exclaimed these things.
I've already inspired one character in Niko and one is more than plenty...
Beside her, Ayako was looking confident. Clearly she saw herself as beautiful and inspiring above anything else. Mai held in a snort. On the other side of Ayako, Masako had her mask in place once again and Mai was finding it frustratingly hard to judge what she was thinking. Just then, Mrs. Koku's loud voice penetrated her thoughts and she found herself forced to listen to more,
"IN ORDER TO BE COME THE ONE ENTITLED MRS. MIYUKI (MY GRANDSON HAS BECOME MR. MIYUKI IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW...) YOU MUST STRIKE BEAUTY AND INSPIRATION INTO THE HEARTS OF ALL THE MEN AROUND YOU. YOU MUST DRESS YOUR VERY BEST AND HOPE TO BE GIVEN MORE LILES (WHICH THE MEN WILL PICK AT DUSK) THAN ANY OTHER WOMAN IN NOZOMI. NO SMALL FEAT I MUST SAY, BUT SOMEONE IS CROWNED YOSHI EVERY YEAR. BUT MORE ON THE LILES- EACH MAN WILL BE GIVEN TWO. LET'S TALK THE FIRST ONE. YOU WANT TO BE GIVEN AS MANY OF THESE FIRST LILES AS POSSIBLE BEFORE THE END OF THE FESTIVAL TONIGHT, BUT THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THIS TASK..." the old woman proclaimed, wiggling her eyebrows at them all,
"THERE IS THE PERSONAL SIDE AND THE IMPERSONAL SIDE. IF A LILY IS GIVEN TO YOU IT IS A SIGN OF ATTRACTION, ADMIRATION, AND APPRECIATION. THE MAN OBVIOUSLY THINKS YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU INSPIRE HIM IN SOME WAY. BUT WHAT IF YOUR GIVEN A LILY BY A FRIEND...?" the innkeeper asked, eyeing them knowingly, before settling her gaze on Mai,
"CHANGES THINGS DOESN'T IT? THIS FRIEND IN NO WAY HAS TO GIVE YOU A LILY. IT IS A TOKEN OF AFFECTION AND NOTHING LESS. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY NEW COUPLES COME OUT OF THIS DAY, HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE JUST FRIENDS AND BY THE NEXT MORNING WERE ENGAGED!" here again the old woman paused, her eyes staring so steadily at Mai that she had to look away,
"NOW, IF A FRIEND GIVES YOU A LILY IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE A ROMANTIC THING, I'VE BEEN GIVEN LILES FROM MY SONS FOR YEARS AND FROM MEN I'VE GROWN UP WITH MY WHOLE LIFE AND BELIEVE ME THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF WALKING DOWN THE AISLE WITH ME. SO WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH THE PERSON. IF YOU'RE FRIENDS WITH THEM AND YOU GET A LILY, I'D SAY SOMETHING'S GOING ON THERE," a significant look was shot Mai's way,
"BUT IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS BROTHERLY OR VERY PLATONIC, I WOULDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. GETTING A LILY FROM MEN WHO HAVE THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU IS MERELY A STRONG SIGN OF FRIENDSHIP AND SOMETHING TO CHERISH AND BE FLATTERED OVER. SO MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO THINK YOUR RELATIONSHIPS OVER BEFORE TONIGHT-"
Mai felt her stomach flip flop and upon looking at Ayako and Masako, she saw that they no longer looked confident or composed.
Naru...who is he going to give his lily too? And Niko, is he going to give his to me?
Mai thought of his play with a growing sense of dread,
Probably.
"NOW TO THE IMPERSONAL PART. AS YOU KNOW THERE WILL BE TONS OF MEN AT THE FESTIVAL TONIGHT, AFTER RECIVING YOUR PERSONAL LILES- IT'S TIME TO GO OUT AND GET SOME IMPERSONAL ONES. BE BEAUTIFUL, BE INSPIRING! TRY TO GAIN AS MANY LILIES AS YOU CAN FROM THE MEN YOU MEET. THE WOMAN WITH THE MOST LILIES TONIGHT WILL BECOME KNOWN AS YOSHI MIYUKI. ONE FINAL PERSONAL THING, THE SECOND LILY I MENTIONED EARILER. THIS ONE IS CALLED THE MOON LILY AND WAS PICKED AT MIDNIGHT OF LAST NIGHT DURING THE FULL MOON. THESE SPECIAL LILIES, GROWN ONLY NEAR NOZOMI, ARE A SIGN OF THE DEEPEST LOVE AND DEVOTION. EVERY MAN WILL BE GIVEN ONE OF THESE IN ADDITION TO HIS NORMAL LILY. IF YOU ARE GIVEN THIS, THINGS MUST BE QUITE SERIOUS BETWEEN YOU. A HUSBAND GIVES HIS WIFE THIS LILY. A MAN LOOKING TO PROPOSE WILL GIVE YOU THIS LILY," Mai suddenly looked at her hands, hoping to avoid the look she knew was coming from Mrs. Koku, a blush creeping up her neck,
"THE GIVING AND RECIVING OF THIS LILY IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. AGAIN, LIKE WITH THE REGULAR LILY, A MAN MAY CHOOSE NOT TO GIVE THIS LILY OUT AT ALL, BE EXTREMELY GREATFUL TO RECIVE ONE. THERE IS NO CASUAL MEANING TO THIS PARTICUALR LILY, IF YOU ARE GIVEN IT, IT CANNOT BE MISTAKEN FOR FRIENDSHIP LIKE THE OTHER ONE," the old woman's words were final. A hush fell over the room as the women imagined who would give them such as special token of love. Mai felt a lump rise in her throat and a pit sink in her stomach. Would Niko give her this moon lily?
Please, no!
"Excuse me," someone spoke up, her hand in the air.
"YES?" Mrs. Koku asked pleasantly.
"Um...what if you're given two moon lilies?"
There was a sudden murmuring and many people turned in their seat to see who had asked such a scandalous question. Mai found herself curious for an answer. The old woman smiled solemnly,
"Then you are you are as lucky as you are unlucky."
The silence that stole over the room was impenetrable. Mai blinked in shock. She had never heard Mrs. Koku speak softly before, and from the look of it, no one else had either.
"WELL. I THINK THIS CONCLUDES OUR MEETING, GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!" the old woman announced blasting away the heavy silence that had just settled. It took a moment for everyone to get the hint and then room was filled with the low hum of murmuring and chairs being slid around.
Mai stood up from her seat with a troubled mind and a heavy heart. Behind her Ayako and Masako seemed to be feeling the same, and had anybody paid any attention to them, one might have thought they were going to their doom. Making slow progress through the crowd of gossiping, giggling women, Mai's main concern was not to be lead out near Mrs. Koku. That was the last thing she needed right now. Just then the conversation between the two women in front of Mai caught her attention,
"So, where is your husband?"
"At a meeting of his own, I believe Mr. Koku holds it?"
"Oh. Fitting I suppose. Well, I guess he's learning what to do with his lilies."
"All I know is that if I don't receive his moon lily, he's going to have problems..."
The women slipped farther ahead of Mai, babbling on. Mai suddenly felt very self conscious. Would Niko be the only one to give her a lily?
Certainly not Naru...
Mai glanced at Masako as they pushed through the door, her lips twisting.
I know who Mr. Sachi will be giving his lily to...
Once out in the hall the three of them walked on in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The halls they passed through were full of people, the general flow moving towards the dining hall that had just opened. Mai felt anything but hungry. Upon reaching the doors and squeezing through them with dozens of people following, Mai saw without much surprise that the dining hall was already half full.
"Geez, it's a zoo in here..." Ayako grumbled sending a sharp look at a man who almost stepped on her foot. Mai nodded, attempting to forage a path between, people, chairs, and tables,
"I'll say."
"Mr. Sachi said it would be like this here after the start of the festival, this is the only inn for miles," Masako commented, dodging chair and person alike with grace and ease.
Mai glared back at the medium and opened her mouth to remark on Mr. Sachi, but just then someone scooted out their chair on her toe. Limping away, Mai finally caught sight of Bou-san, who was standing up, looking around the room.
"It's about time," the monk greeted taking his seat once again as the three of them approached.
Rubbing her side where someone had recently jabbed her, Mai gave Bou-san a look before plopping down beside him,
"Well, sorry to keep you waiting."
Looking flustered Ayako sat on the other side of Mai,
"This is crazy, all of that just to get to our table!"
"We didn't have a problem," Naru spoke, taking a thoughtful sip of his tea.
The priestess glared at him,
"You can just lead the way back then."
"Actually...it wasn't so easy for me," Bou-san said quietly, leaning over to Mai and pointing at his temple that looked like it was starting to bruise, "a purse to the head, some lady thought I was stealing from her..."
Mai tried to look sympathetic at Bou-san, mindful of her toe someone ran over, but couldn't help but laugh at the thought of some little old lady hitting the tall monk with her hand bag.
"Ha, ha," Bou-san said seeing her lips twitch.
"How was your meeting?" John wondered, smiling over at Mai.
Mai's teasing smile at Bou-san faltered and slowly she looked over at the priest, a self conscious blush tinting her cheeks,
"Fine, I guess...how was yours?"
John's expression mirrored her own, he smiled awkwardly,
"Um..."
"It was interesting, to say the least," Bou-san spoke up, answering for the uncomfortable priest.
Mai looked at Bou-san through the corner of her eye, she didn't like the way he had said interesting.
"Interesting or not I bet you didn't get a wake up call in the form of Mrs. Koku this morning," Ayako grumbled, keeping a sharp eye out for the woman. Bou-san leaned forward to look around Mai and raise his eyebrows at Ayako,
"Mrs. Koku came and woke you up?"
"Yes," Ayako answered shortly, reaching for a tea cup that wasn't there. "When are we going to get any help around here?"
"Why did she do that?" John asked curiously, missing the hints to drop the subject.
"How am I supposed to know?" the priestess snapped, drumming her fingers impatiently on the table.
Just then a sudden hush fell over the room. Ayako paused her drumming. Looking to the door that just opened, Mai shrunk in her seat. Mr. Sachi and Niko had just walked in with bright smiles on their faces. Mai stole a look at Masako and saw that she looked little better than herself. When both men were around they were on even playing ground, both in equal discomfort.
Hesitantly, Mai glanced at Naru, and nearly gave herself whiplash in looking away when she saw that he (probably the only one in the room) wasn't looking at their new arrivals, but instead was staring at her.
You looked beautiful tonight.
The words pushed their way into Mai's head before she could stop them. A steady blush rose to her cheeks, in her hurry this morning she had forgotten what had happened the night before. Had she imagined him saying that..?
"Well, well, well!" a voice suddenly boomed in Mai's ear. Startled out of her thoughts, the noise of the room came back to her in rush, all around her everyone was eating again, and standing very near her were Mr. Sachi and Niko. "I don't believe I could lay my eyes on three more beautiful and inspiring women!" the playwright exclaimed, his gaze lingering affectionately on Masako.
The medium pretended not to notice and stared straight a head. Here was an opening, a moment in which Mai could strike, but for some strange reason, her heart wasn't all that in it. She knew the look on Masako's face all too well these days.
"I agree," Niko added, his eyes finding Mai. "They're sure to have some of the biggest bouquets of the night."
Mai, who happened to like Niko as a person, couldn't give him the cold shoulder like Masako could to Mr. Sachi. She acknowledged this compliment with a half smile.
"Let's see here," Mr. Sachi said drawing up a chair from a nearby table and seating himself next to Masako, "have we ordered yet?"
Ayako looked pointedly at Niko,
"No. No one has come to help us at all and we've been here at least fifteen minutes now."
Niko's bright look fell, anxiousness clouded his face,
"Oh, really? Um..."
Irritated and embarrassed by Ayako's attitude, Mai glared at the priestess, before quickly looking to Niko,
"It can't have been that long, really it's fine Niko," she reassured, offering him a true smile.
"Actually, it has."
Surprised, Mai looked from Niko to Naru who had just spoken. She fixed him with a cold stare to match his own. An awkward silence filled the air,
"Well, let me see then if I can flag someone down," Mr. Sachi suggested pleasantly, hoping to lighten the atmosphere.
"No, no allow me-" Niko suddenly urged, standing up so quickly from his seat that he nearly stumbled over it.
"Easy now!" Mr. Sachi exclaimed, steadying the chair with a concerned look at the young man.
"I'll be right back, I'll go get someone from the kitchens, actually-" Niko persisted, his words coming out in a rush, addressing the last part to Mai, "did you like what you had before? What I made you last night? I can have it made again."
Mai blinked, stunned. She opened and closed her mouth, he was moving too fast for her to keep up properly,
"Um..."
"Oh, of course not! Of course you wouldn't. That was dinner, how dumb of me, I didn't think, I-"
"Niko," Mai said suddenly, standing from her seat. "I would love it, thank you very much."
Niko stopped rambling, and at Mai's encouraging smile, he relaxed a bit and nodded,
"Oh, okay, great. I'll be right back then."
And with that he hurried off through the packed dinging room. A fresh blush on her cheeks, Mai slowly sat down.
"I know that he must mean well, but wow..." Bou-san murmured to Mai with his eyebrows raised.
Mai chose to ignore this comment, wishing she had tea to drink to distract herself.
"Nice guy that Niko is, a bit odd that he's representing Mr. Miyuki...but his play was inspired," Mr. Sachi said, speaking into the silence with a shrug.
"Quite inspired," Masako agreed, a light smile on her face. Mai did not miss the implication and narrowed her eyes at the medium.
"Ah! I see your taste in theater is becoming quite refined," Mr. Sachi replied beaming at her proudly. "I think a few more days with me and you'll be quite a knowledgeable judge of the arts."
Masako returned this compliment with a stiff smile. Mai grinned broadly, pay back.
"So, speaking of Niko," Mr. Sachi said in a lowered voice, still carrying the conversation as no one else seemed to want to speak, "how about that meeting this morning?" he asked, giving Mai a meaningful look and a wink.
Bou-san straightened in his chair and cleared his throat loudly; Mai glanced at him just quickly enough to see him urgently drawing a finger across his throat in the kill sign to Mr. Sachi. Suspicions arose, Mai's eyes darted to John who suddenly found the grains of wood in the table interesting, and thinking Mai wasn't still watching, sent Mr. Sachi a stricken look.
Feeling now that they were hiding something, Mai chanced a glance at Lin and Naru. As to be expected, Lin's face was carved out of stone, making it impossible to tell whether he knew anything or not. Naru, on the other hand, was surprisingly not as composed. He sat there drinking his tea, staring darkly at Mr. Sachi. Now the playwright looked the most nervous of them all and Mai could practically see his brain struggling to come up with something to change the subject.
"What about this meeting? Do tell..." Ayako prompted, having watched the exchange interestedly.
Mr. Sachi pursed his lips; he now seemed reluctant to say anything.
"It's noth-"
"Please Joji, do enlighten us-" Masako cut in.
Armed with his first name and a winning smile on her face, Mr. Sachi would have surely fallen to Masako's charms had Niko not arrived just then with breakfast.
"Breakfast is served," he announced brightly, placing Mai's bowl in front of her. "Well, sort of anyways..."
Mai tore her attention away from Mr. Sachi (which was extremely hard to do considering she had wanted to hear what he was about to spill...) to send an equally bright smile to Niko in thanks.
"Tanaka, will take your orders now," Niko continued, gesturing to the young man beside him before reclaiming his seat on the other side Mr. Sachi.
The orders were given in a matter of moments, and then with a small bow their waiter was off. Mai sat eating her breakfast (or dinner...) and taking long sips of tea, hoping to discourage anyone from trying to talk to her. The silence after ordering was dangerous territory for the men as both Masako and Ayako sat staring Mr. Sachi down, still hungry for answers.
"So, what did I miss?" Niko asked curiously.
Mai stuffed her mouth with a large bite; she would not be answering this one. Just as Masako looked like she was going to spring into action, her sleeve coming up to her mouth in a half-hearted attempt to cover her delighted smile, Bou-san beat her to the punch.
"Actually, we were just wondering why Ayako was woken up this morning by your grandmother?"
It wasn't exactly genius, but it was quick thinking and it did the trick.
"Oh," Niko said with a knowing smile. "I might have an answer for you. You see last night, before I turned in, she asked me if Mai knew of the meetings this morning, I told her I didn't know, so she asked me what room she was staying in, but- but of course I didn't know that either..." Niko explained, coloring a bit at the last part.
Finishing her large bite Mai adverted her eyes from everyone and contented herself with taking another sip of tea,
"So..?" Bou-san persisted, looking to give Masako no chance in reclaiming the conversation.
"Oh, sorry. So, I suppose she went to wake Mai up this morning and went to the wrong room."
There was a pause and then Niko looked to Mai a bit embarrassed,
"If you don't mind me asking, what room are you staying in?"
"Fourteen."
"Fifteen."
Surprised, Mai glanced up at Naru. Had he just said room fifteen? Niko looked from Mai to Naru, from Naru to Mai and back again,
"Um..." he said, looking uncertain.
Feeling confused and slightly flustered, Mai looked to Niko attempting a smile,
"It's fourteen."
A few seats down from her, Masako pursed her lips, she would say nothing about Naru's slip up, least the lie was a sign of affection towards Mai. Ayako on the other hand, not concerned with such delicate matters, would not let it go quietly,
"Of course it's fourteen, it's right next door to you."
Seeming unconcerned, Naru deflected Ayako's penetrating stare with a shrug,
"My mistake."
Ayako opened her mouth to argue this, but found she had nothing left to say. The matter was frustratingly closed, but of course anyone who knew Naru, knew he didn't often make mistakes- nor admit them.
A short while afterward the food arrived and everyone ate in thoughtful silence, Bou-san occasionally sending Mai looks out of the corner of his eye which Mai pretended not to notice.
"NIKO!" Mr. Koku called at the other end of the room. "IT'S STARTING TO RAIN, WE NEED YOUR HELP PROTECTING THE STAND."
Quickly, Niko stood and nodded at his grandfather who disappeared through the kitchen door,
"I'm sorry; I've got to go help. I guess, I'll see you tonight..." he said, staring down at her with a strange expression.
Mai swallowed her sip of tea with a loud gulp and nodded, not trusting herself to say anything. Niko lingered, seeming to hesitate in leaving her side, and then, in one quick motion he took her hand and brought it to his lips.
Surprised, Mai blushed to the roots of her hair. Equally red at his own daring, Niko managed one last bow before hurrying away. Mai sat in her chair after, hearing nothing and seeing nothing but the rain splatter the window directly across from her. When she finally did recover the first person her eyes fell on was Mr. Sachi, and if possible he looked odder than Niko had before he kissed her hand.
"Ahem, well if we're all finished..." the playwright spoke up, avoiding looking Mai in the eye, a small smile pulling at his lips. Mai was suddenly filled with the urge to wipe that smile off his face.
"I don't know about that, Mai might want seconds," Ayako smirked into her tea.
Mai stood abruptly, bumping the table with her knees, causing the miko to slosh some of her tea onto her shirt,
"Hey!"
"I am finished Mr. Sachi and if-"
Bou-san chose to stand then,
"-and if you'll excuse us, we'll go get our coats and then we can be on our way," the monk finished for her, hands already on her shoulders, guiding her away from the table.
Not waiting for an answer, the two of them braved the trip across the dining room; narrowly escaping with their lives after a waiter carrying someone's food nearly collided with Mai. It was with great relief that the two of them stepped into the hall.
"Man, if it's going to be like that at every meal, I'm going to start eating in my room," Bou-san declared, sending a resentful look back at the double doors.
Mai nodded her head seriously, fixing the doors with an equally dark look...but, then her thoughts turned on what they were leaving behind. She had escaped more than a crowded dinging room.
"By the way...thank you for that, back there," she said gratefully, referring to her rescue at the table.
The monk waved her gratitude away,
"Don't mention it; I was doing me a favor as much as you. Now, how about we get those coats?"
Mai agreed and the two of them proceeded down the empty hall in companionable silence. Reaching Bou-san's door, Mai waited outside while he searched around for his coat.
"I know it's around here somewhere..." she heard him say as he passed by the doorway and crossed to the other side of the room. Mai took a curious step forward and peered into the monk's room through the half open door. It was set up much the same as hers, but perhaps a little messier, if that were possible.
In addition to clothes scattered everywhere, there was a guitar propped up in the corner, papers were spread out on the floor, some old cups of coffee gathered on his window sill, and some of his bed pillows were thrown in random spots on the floor. Mai began to highly doubt his bed ever have being made since he got there.
"Here we are," Bou-san announced.
Mai stepped back and was busy looking around the hall when the monk joined her again,
"It was stuffed in the bottom of my duffel bag, I haven't needed it this whole time here," he explained as he locked his door.
"I know," she replied as they started walking again. "I wonder if the weather will change in time for the festival?"
Mai allowed herself a brief moment of wishful thinking,
Festivals can get rained out, right?
But Bou-san cut in with a bit of unwanted reality,
"Oh, sure it will. It's just a shower; I even saw some sun breaks."
Mai glared moodily at the back of his head and they continued on.
"So," the monk began after a few moments of silence, "what do you think of the festival?"
Mai caught his amused tone, with a sigh she crossed her arms,
"I think Niko is going to purpose. You know, with the moon lily and all..."
A heavy hand came to rest on her shoulder,
"Eh, don't sweat it. You can always tell him no, and if he won't get the message, I can always deliver it for you."
Mai smiled, shaking her head,
"That won't be necessary, but thanks Bou-san."
The monk beside her eyed her steadily,
"I know I tease you a lot, but do you really like him?"
Mai met his curious gaze and then looked down at her feet thoughtfully. Did she like him?
Yes, but not that way. Certainly not enough to marry him...
"He's a nice person." Mai answered politely.
Bou-san nodded,
"You don't really like him," he concluded.
Mai shook her head, relieved to say it with Bou-san there to understand.
"He must though...really like me, I mean," Mai prodded with a questioning look at Bou-san.
The monk returned her gaze innocently,
"Well- sure, with all that kissy hand stuff."
Mai raised an eyebrow,
"You know more than that, something happened at this morning's meeting."
Bou-san looked away from her pointedly,
"I don't know anything."
Mai narrowed her eyes at him,
ThatBou-san.
"Yes- you- do- Bou-san- tell- me-" she persisted, jabbing a finger into his arm with each word.
"Hey!" the monk protested, pulling his arm away. "That's my bad arm."
"Come on, it can't hurt that much," Mai muttered, her hand falling to her side. "I only pulled on it a little bit..."
"Hey!" Bou-san cried again, "You're the one who did this to me?"
"Yes, now spill or I'll give you a demonstration," Mai threatened, her hands coming to rest on her hips.
Bou-san stared down at her darkly,
"You know, you can be a little scary sometimes...kinda like somebody else I know."
Mai's eyebrow twitched, she did not appreciate the comparison to Naru.
"Just tell me already Bou-san, what happened with Niko this morning?" she urged, becoming impatient.
The monk, now walking as far left as he could, shrugged.
"Who says it has to do with Niko?"
"Because I know it has to do with Niko."
The monk fixed her with a penetrating look,
"Okay, answer me this first. What is going on between you and Naru?"
Surprised at the question Mai halted,
"What do you mean? I'm the one asking the questions here. This is about Niko not Naru."
A smile spread across Bou-san lips,
"Sorry, touched a nerve."
Mai snorted and started walking again,
"Bou-san, please just answer my question."
"You answer mine," he replied stubbornly.
She turned the key in the lock and looked back at him exasperatedly,
"I don't even understand your question!"
Bou-san eyebrow's descended critically,
"Hey, now. Don't even try and pull that trick. You know what I'm talking about, something happened yesterday with Naru and you know it."
Mai walked into her room and made directly for the suitcase Ayako had vandalized earlier.
"Who says it has to do with Naru?" she asked, mockingly.
Bou-san sent her a look and leaned against the door frame,
"Mocking me, huh? Alright then, come here and I'll poke your arm while I tell you, I just know... "
"I didn't poke your arm then," Mai mumbled, sending him a dark look, as she rummaged through her suitcase.
"Nice place by the way," Bou-san remarked with a smirk as his gaze traveled around.
"Just as nice as yours, you mean," Mai said over her shoulder, reaching the bottom of her suitcase: no coat.
"I didn't show you my room," Bou-san said suspiciously.
She sent him a smirk of her own.
"Mocking me and snooping on me, what next?" Bou-san proclaimed indignantly.
Mai sighed and began to look around her bed for her coat,
"I might step on your foot if you don't tell what happened with Niko," she answered, peering underneath.
"And I might not give you your coat if you don't tell what's going on between you and Naru," came Bou-san's voice from the doorway.
Mai sat upright and glanced at the monk, who indeed held her coat.
"Hey, where did you..?"
"I thought girls were supposed to be neat," he remarked, raising his eyebrows at her.
"And I thought monks weren't supposed to judge," Mai retorted, crossing over to him to retrieve her coat.
Just as she was about to take her coat back, Bou-san held it up higher.
Mai bit her cheek in irritation; she could sense what was coming.
"Not so fast. One answer for one coat. I'll ask again, what is going on between you and Naru?"
Mai crossed her arms and looked away from him, unable to bear the sight of his triumphant face.
I will get you back for this Bou-san, she thought, eyeing his feet.
"There is nothing going on. I can't imagine what you're thinking of. If you're talking about last night, believe me that was not a date," Mai answered, facing him again.
"Interesting, but actually I was talking about the cold, endless silence that has sprung up between you two," Bou-san replied, obviously enjoying his power over her.
Mai stared blankly back at him,
"When hasn't there been cold, endless silence between us?"
"Its worse."
Mai shrugged,
"He's been in a bad mood, I don't know..."
Bou-san leaned forward towards her, Mai keeping an eye on the coat the whole time, looking for an opening to grab it.
"You know something you're not telling me."
Mai sighed and turned around.
I have another coat around here somewhere.
"Mai. You wouldn't answer Naru or me yesterday, where were you while John and I were running after Ayako and Masako?"
Mai paused her search. In her mind's eye she saw herself racing back to the room, the man pointing to the photo, her fingers closing around it.
"I told you, I fell behind," Mai said slowly as she looked to him.
The monk was not convinced,
"You fell behind? I don't believe it; you're faster than me most of the time."
Mai made a face at him and resumed looking for her coat,
"Sure, Bou-san."
"You don't fall behind," Bou-san persisted firmly, stepping away from the door frame.
There was a quiet moment while Mai poked around. She peaked under her bed: nothing. Sitting up she bumped her head against her nightstand.
"Ouch."
There was a faint rustle. The picture of the girl lay on the floor inches from her hunched figure.
"What's that?" Bou-san asked, looking to her with a raised eyebrow.
Holding her head with one hand, the other quickly picked up the photo and laid it on the nightstand,
"Oh, that? Nothing. But hey, we've been gone long enough, the others are waiting. Give me my coat and let's go," Mai said hurriedly, getting to her feet.
Walking past her, Bou-san deposited the coat in her arms and proceeded to pick up the picture. Holding her coat, Mai frowned. A vision of the ghostly man with his finger to his lips danced before her eyes.
"Who is this? She looks kind of familiar..."
Despite herself Mai perked up,
He thinks so too?
"Do you recognize her?" Mai prodded, taking a seat on the bed.
Bou-san glanced at her and shook his head,
"No, who is she?"
Mai looked down at her lap silently,
To tell or not to tell...
"Mai?" Bou-san said, sitting down next to her.
Mai fidgeted with the coat, feeling the monk's eyes staring at her. A solution suddenly struck her.
I tell him, but only the parts I can tell.
"You're right Bou-san, I didn't fall behind yesterday," Mai began, unfolding and then refolding the coat on her lap.
Out of the corner of her eye, Mai could see him smirking.
"Go on..." he encouraged.
Looking for revenge, Mai's foot moved next to his suggestively. Seeing his smirk fade, Mai smiled and continued,
"I went back to the room. It was-" Mai thought quickly, "my intuition."
Bou-san nodded thoughtfully,
"What happened then?"
Mai reached over and took the photo from his hands,
"I was drawn to this. I think it's important to the case, but I don't know how..."
Bou-san leaned closer to her to get a better look,
"Like I said before, she seems familiar. If you think it's important, we should try and find out who she is," Bou-san suggested, looking to Mai for her consent.
Mai nodded eagerly. It felt like a million pounds had just been lifted off her chest. Bou-san could help her figure this out and she was no longer harboring a secret from him (or at least not a whole secret).
"So, you found it in that room..." Bou-san said standing to pace thoughtfully. "What do you think that place really is?"
Mai pursed her lips in thought, and then shook her head,
"I'm not sure; do you think Mr. Sachi would know?"
Bou-san brightened,
"Good idea, yes. We'll ask him when we get to the theater."
"Bou-san..." Mai suddenly said.
The monk looked over to her wonderingly.
"Do you think we could keep this to ourselves?"
Out of his confusion came a wise smile,
"This is the Naru part, isn't it?"
Mai glared but nodded. Bou-san smiled wider,
"This is what he's mad at you about; you won't tell him you found this picture?"
Mai stood and folded the coat over her arm, "Nope."
"But you'll tell me."
Mai looked up at Bou-san,
"He knows something he isn't telling me," Mai lied.
But maybe it wasn't a lie?
I'm sure there's something Naru isn't telling me.
Bou-san grinned at her, "It's no problem, your secret is safe with me."
Mai smiled back,
"Good, now how much do you want to bet that everyone left us?"
Bou-san cast a look at the door,
"I wouldn't put it past them."
Mai stood,
"Let's go, we can ask Mr. Sachi if he knows what the room is."
Bou-san nodded, looking at the picture once last time before following her out.
"You know, I was thinking..." he said as Mai locked the door, "what if she's one of the old actresses there? What if that was Miyuki's office or something?"
"An actress?" Mai repeated as they started down the hall.
I hadn't thought of that.
"Yeah, you've seen how Sachi goes on about Nari, maybe Miyuki had a favorite?"
"It makes sense, but isn't this kind of a young picture..?"
Bou-san looked thoughtful, but couldn't come up with an answer.
"We'll just have to see, I guess. There's a hall that I found when looking around with Ayako the other day, it's full of awards the theater has won, and tons of pictures cover the walls, maybe she'll be there?"
"Maybe," Mai agreed, "let's look when Naru sends us out to investigate."
After a short trip down the hall, Mai wasn't surprised to find the lobby empty.
They left us, typical.
Exchanging looks with Bou-san, Mai slipped her coat on and they stepped out into the light rain. Mai squinted into the bright hue the cloud cover was creating. Bou-san had been right, patches of blue sky and sun spots were scattered amongst the gray clouds. It would all be cleared up come this evening.
Mai looked out at the festival grounds they were passing. Most stands were closed up with colorful tarps draped over them to keep out the rain. A handful of people were moving about, carrying things to the stage, or taking things from the stalls. Mai wondered if Niko was one of them, running about in the wet and mud.
It wasn't long before they reached the theater. Mai started up the stairs, gripping the rail as the wooden planks were slick with rain. Just behind her, Bou-san nearly slipped. Mai laughed and then nearly fell herself. Reaching the top relatively unharmed, Mai took the monk's arm and then they two of them quickly passed through the doors. Mai only felt it for a moment, the stomach churning sensation, followed by dizziness, and a sharp twinge of pain in her head, but then it was over and they had stepped inside.
"I hate the rain," Mai said with a shiver, running her fingers through her damp hair.
"I know," Bou-san grumbled, shutting the door behind them.
Mai looked around, the theater today was dark, the only light being cast was from the oil lamps.
"Kind of a creepy vibe today, huh?" Bou-san said, looking around himself.
"Yeah," Mai nodded rubbing her arms.
Just then muffled voices carried to Mai's ears.
"Do you hear that?" she asked, lowering her voice.
The monk nodded and pointed to a cracked door in the far end of the room. Mai glanced at the ticket booth, and then beyond into the auditorium, as the other theater doors were open today.
"Actors?" Mai suggested, moving forward as she was unable to see the stage from this vantage point.
Bou-san caught her arm, and shook his head, slowly his gaze moved to the cracked door. Mai looked at it too, her breath coming out in white clouds before her.
"It's freezing in here," she complained, still speaking quietly.
Bou-san wasn't listening; his eyes were watching the door,
"I think the voices are coming from in there..."
Mai strained to hear better, but they remained muffled. Mai rubbed her hands together, the cold was slowly making them stiff.
Did someone accidentally turn the air conditioner on?
Bou-san looked to her and she nodded, they moved forward. Drawing nearer, Mai made a point of scoping out the stage, but as it came into view, she saw there was no one rehearsing on it. The muffled voices continued.
"Bou-san, no one is down there..." Mai whispered, her teeth beginning to chatter.
At the door, the monk motioned her over. Mai reached the door and there was just room enough to squeeze in below him. Peering through the crack, Mai saw a single room housing various pieces of theater lighting equipment. At the back of the room a door to the outside was open and standing next to this door, stranded in a sea of bouquets, was Mr. Sachi.
"This is the last one," a young man said, handing off the only bunch of lilies amongst the roses.
The playwright glanced down at the all the roses around him and then back up at the young man,
"Surely, this is a mistake, meant for someone else...?" he ventured, trying to hand it back.
"No sir, it says here that it is to be delivered to a Miss Nari Motoshi from-"
"Very well then, thank you," Mr. Sachi interrupted.
The young man bowed and then departed. Mr. Sachi stood for a few moments in silence, looking down at the lilies with a frown. He rubbed his face with his free hand,
"Kioko...please not Nari," he sighed and then, startling Mai- in one quick motion he tossed the bouquet out the door.
"Mai," a voice suddenly said.
With a gasp, Mai nearly jumped out of her skin, bumping Bou-san hard in the stomach.
"Oy, watch it Mai," Bou-san protested bracing himself against the door.
"I'm sorry Bou-san," she apologized looking to him concernedly, before sending a sharp look at whoever had frightened her.
Standing several feet away was Naru, accompanied by the rest of the SPR group.
"What is going on here?" he asked, a frown descending upon his face.
Mai pursed her lips; she didn't feel like talking to him. Recovering slightly, Bou-san looked from Mai to Naru, and then quickly back at Mai,
"Mai, what's the matter with you? Why are you...?" he asked in half sentences, a frown also forming on his face.
Mai was suddenly confused,
What are they talking about..?
"What's the matter with you two?" she demanded, sending them both dark looks.
Naru glanced at Lin who, with a look at Mai, was gone in the next moment. Mai glared at the spot Lin had just vacated, what was going on here? She didn't feel much of anything but confused, but soon she started shaking and she realized that it must be from fear. Naru suddenly began crossing over to her, slipping his coat off in the process. Beside her Bou-san was doing the same thing. Mai looked between the two of them, beginning to feel uneasy.
"Bou-san...how?" John asked worriedly.
"I don't know," the monk answered, draping his coat around Mai's shoulders.
It was still warm from his body heat and a strange sensation spread from her neck and shoulders, a sort of hot pricking tinged her skin. Naru reached her and hung his coat over that of the monk's. Mai stared dumbly at him as he adjusted it, his gaze burning back at her concernedly. Suddenly, he took her face in his hands. Mai flinched; it was as if his palms were red hot, the prickling that was attacking her shoulders and neck, seared out across her cheeks.
"She's freezing, we need to get her back to base," Naru announced, looking to Bou-san.
The monk nodded and in the next moment Mai found herself being carried down the hall. At base Mai was set in the same chair Masako had been the day before. Lin had been waiting for them; a hot cup of tea was ready for Mai as soon as she was settled.
Mai hesitated taking the cup Lin was offering her, the heat radiating from it already making her skin sting. Compromising, she slipped her hands into Bou-san's coat sleeves and accepted the cup,
"Thank you," she murmured, staring into the steaming amber liquid.
Bou-san stood at her side, reminding Mai of Mr. Sachi the day before.
"Are you doing alright?" he asked, staring her in the same unnerving way everyone else was.
"Yes," Mai nodded, still uncertain of how she became unwell.
"Her color is returning," Ayako said, wringing out a wash cloth in the sink.
Ever since they had reached base, the miko had been racing about Mai, checking her temperature and procuring more coats such to layer her in. By this time, Mai was beginning to understand that it was not from fear that she had been shaking, but from cold. According to Lin, the foyer had dropped fifteen degrees after Mai and Bou-san had entered it.
"I'll never know how you get yourself into such messes," Ayako said, coming to kneel in front of Mai, running a warm cloth over her cheek.
"How come you weren't freezing?" Mai asked, looking up a Bou-san.
The monk shrugged, and patted Mai's shoulder,
"This coat is much thicker than yours, and I suppose I have more meat on my bones."
"He calls it meat..." Ayako muttered under her breath.
Bou-san raised a threatening eyebrow at her,
"What was that Ayako..?"
"What is the temperature of the room now?" Mai heard Naru asking.
He was standing near the desk, staring into a thermal image of the foyer, which now seemed to be normal.
"Here," Masako said, handing off a fresh cup of tea she had just made for the monk, who until that moment, had been locked in a glaring contest with Ayako.
"Thank you," Bou-san replied, taking the tea and managing to drink and still glare at the priestess.
Masako returned to the couch.
"How is she?" Naru asked some minutes later when Ayako had finished tending to Mai.
"She's much warmer, she'll be fine," Ayako answered moving to the counter.
Naru nodded silently, coming to stand near Mai's armchair.
"Do you feel fine? Or do you need to go back to the inn?" he asked, looking down at her, a challenging glint in his eyes.
Ignoring him, Mai was busy peeling off some of the many coats Ayako had layered her in.
"I'm staying," was her distracted answer while she fought with a coat she was half sitting on.
"Are you sure? I can walk you back," Bou-san offered, pulling at the coat she was fighting with.
"I'm sure," Mai persisted, becoming flustered as the coat wouldn't give.
The monk stood back from it and frowned,
"What's the matter with this thing?"
Silently Naru took Mai's arm.
"He-hey!" Mai stammered confusedly as she was pulled from her seat.
The coat fell to the floor. Naru released her arm and looked to Masako,
"Hara-san..." he began, ignoring the stunned looks Mai and Bou-san were sporting, staring at the coat and then at him.
"Show off," Bou-san muttered, taking a seat on the couch.
Having been called on, the medium turned her gaze on Naru, her serenity casting a bright glare against Mai in her dull disheveled state.
"What is your opinion?" Naru asked, his dark eyes meeting her eager stare.
Masako stood and stepped towards the window reflectively before looking back to Naru,
"There is nothing here. I see nothing, I feel nothing."
"Nothing!" Mai exclaimed, kicking away the coats piled at her feet. "How do explain what happened to me just now?"
The medium looked to her as if the question was pointless,
"The foyer is very drafty. It's cold and raining outside and you don't seem to know what a proper coat is," she answered simply.
Mai felt the blood rush to her cheeks,
That Masako!
"It dropped fifteen degrees," she argued, pointing at the monitor that was now showing the temperature at around sixty degrees.
"You think something's here?" Naru questioned, fixing Mai with a penetrating stare.
For the briefest of moments Mai's eyes met Bou-san's, but then they broke away, and finding Masako, she chose to glare at the medium rather than meet Naru's all too knowing gaze.
"Yes, I do."
Masako frowned back at her as she crossed to the couch,
"You're hallucinating then."
A fire began to burn in Mai's eyes, she opened her mouth to retort, but Naru held up a hand,
"Enough. Mai, you will join Hara-san room to room today, taking temperatures as she conducts blessings. Maybe then you two will be able to agree on what's here, or what's not."
"What?" Mai protested, her angry glare quickly turned on Naru.
Masako even opened her mouth to object, but caught herself just in time and managed to recover by clearing her throat.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Naru asked, staring back at her coolly.
Mai, not the least bit intimidated, was about to tell him exactly what her problem was, but a sudden rap on the door distracted her.
"Well, hello. Hard at work I see," Mr. Sachi greeted as he strode in with a wink.
Mai offered him a weak smile and took a step back from Naru, realizing she had gotten a bit too close to him in the heat of the moment.
"Can we help you Mr. Sachi?" Naru asked, obviously not in the mood for small talk.
Either missing or ignoring the warning signs Naru was sending, the playwright helped himself to a seat on the couch, squeezing in between Masako and John,
"Actually, I thought you could. I wondered if you had any opinions yet..?" Mr. Sachi answered, glancing warmly at the medium beside him.
Masako managed a thin smile and then discreetly began inching away from the playwright. Naru's dark eyes flicked to Mai,
"As it happens, we were just discussing that."
"And...?" Mr. Sachi persisted eagerly.
Crossing his arms, Naru faced the window,
"It appears we have some disagreements."
"Oh?" Mr. Sachi said, looking from face to face for a more revealing answer. "You are...undecided then?" he persisted when no one chose to elaborate.
"I think there might be something here Mr. Sachi," Mai spoke up; ignoring the look Naru was giving her through the reflection of the glass.
"You are wrong," the medium protested, rising from her seat. "I see nothing here."
Mr. Sachi looked up at the medium with raised eyebrows,
"You...don't?"
"No," she answered certainly, drifting from the couch, putting much desired space between herself and the playwright.
"Matsuzaki-san?" Naru spoke, glancing at the miko for her opinion.
Sitting back examining her nails, the priestess looked up, surprised to be called on.
"What, me?" she asked, an arch eyebrow raised.
When Naru didn't answer but continued to stare at her coldly, she made a reluctant face and then closed her eyes. After a moment of meditation she opened them again,
"Well...I can't say I feel anything. This building, the property...it's quiet."
Masako looked over at Mai triumphantly,
"See, if even Ayako can tell there's nothing here..." she proclaimed.
"Excuse me, what's that supposed to mean?" Ayako snapped, leering over at the medium, who merely smirked behind her convenient sleeve.
"So...only Mai believes this theater is haunted?" a confused Mr. Sachi prodded.
Mai's eyes darted to Bou-san, he caught Mai's gaze and then looked to the playwright,
"Actually, Mai's not the only one. I've experienced things here that I wouldn't exactly call normal..."
Mr. Sachi nodded and then, seeming to notice him for the first time, looked to John who sat beside him.
"How about you?" he asked, looking to the priest intently.
John looked up and around at all the faces suddenly focused on him. Mai offered John a slight encouraging smile, which he returned before going on to say,
"I'm not sure. I can't say I've seen anything, but then I can't say nothing has happened. I guess I'll have to see in more time."
Mr. Sachi nodded again and stood up,
"Well, I know what I believe, and if some of you aren't sure yet, I'm sure a bit longer here and you'll agree, Mr. Miyuki is among us," he pronounced, his gaze lingering on Naru and Masako.
Mai came and squeezed in on the other side of Bou-san, the monk giving her a nudge as the playwright made for the door,
The room, he mouthed.
Oh, right. I almost forgot!
"Mr. Sachi-"
Mai broke off and looked sharply at Naru. For the second time that day they spoke at the same time. A silence quickly set in. Naru's calculating eyes were upon her, as if he knew she was about to ask a question he wanted to hear,
"Yes, Mai?" he prompted.
Narrowing her eyes at him she smiled thinly and waved it off,
"Never mind, really-"
"Mai, if you had something to say..." he entreated, looking at her pointedly.
Mr. Sachi looked from Mai to Naru and back again,
"Yes?" he said, appealing to both of them.
Mai found herself staring down Naru before she reluctantly looked away and smiled falsely at Mr. Sachi,
"Well, I really just wanted to pass on a message. I didn't have time this morning to buy her flowers, but if you could let Nari know how much I enjoyed her performance last night..."
Mr. Sachi's confused face broke into a wide smile,
"Why thank you Mai, I'll be sure to pass that on."
Mai smiled back, her gaze sliding over to Naru, who stood leering at her coldly.
"And you?" Mr. Sachi persisted, looking from Mai to Naru expectantly.
Naru's face relaxed into something of a curious nature,
"There was a hall of mirrors I came across yesterday, they seemed antique. Are they original to the theater?"
The question came out causally enough, but Mai's interest was heightened,
What is Naru thinking..?
Mr. Sachi blinked for a moment, but then broke out in another wide smile,
"Brought in by Mr. Miyuki himself. The passage used to run from the dressing rooms to the stage- and you know actors, always have to make sure they look their best. The hall was a way of doing that just before going on stage."
Naru's casual interest slipped, a sharpness entered his eyes,
"When were the dressing rooms moved to backstage?"
Mr. Sachi's smile faltered under Naru's heavy stare,
"Well, to tell the truth I'm not really sure. This theater has gone under more renovations than I can count, but of course they always kept true to Mr. Miyuki's vision..." the playwright trailed off, uncertain where this was going.
Naru nodded thoughtfully.
"Well," Mr. Sachi said after a moment of silence. "If that's all, I really need to be checking up on some things."
"That's all," Naru answered, turning from the playwright to head over to Lin's desk.
Mr. Sachi nodded, sent a quick smile to Masako, and then stepped out the door. As soon as the playwright disappeared into the hall, Mai looked to the monk beside her.
Later, he mouthed and Mai nodded. Naru glanced from the computer screen to Ayako,
"Matsuzaki-san, I would like you to visit the dressing rooms."
Ayako frowned, but stood,
"Fine."
Naru looked to John,
"How do you feel about the Hall of Mirrors?"
The priest stood and nodded his consent,
"I'm alright with it."
"Good," Naru answered, his gaze moving on to the monk. "Bou-san, I would like you to return to the foyer."
The monk gave Mai's shoulder a light squeeze before standing up,
"Sure thing."
Mai chose to stand then, sensing Naru was about to sentence her to a day with Masako,
"Naru-" she began, glaring at him threateningly.
Her boss merely ignored her and looked to the medium standing at the other end of the room,
"Hara-san, go through each room- work your way to the back. Mai-" Naru persisted, glancing at back her with a look that left no room for argument, "you will join her."
Masako nodded, but Mai just stood there, her arms crossed, her displeasure plain to see. Naru moved from the desk over to Mai, handing her the temperature chart,
"You may go," he said, meeting her glare for glare.
Mai took it and then turned and marched away from him, wishing with each step that she had asked to go back to the inn after all. Mai crossed out into the hall with Masako close behind,
This is going to be a long day.
