Day Four
4:15pm
The Miyuki Theater
Mai sat on the couch alone- alright, she wasn't entirely alone- but Masako hardly counted. A few feet away a small crowd had gathered around Lin and his camera screens. Mai glanced up at the many monitors, focusing on the one just visible above Bou-san's head as he leaned forward in anticipation.
Mai frowned at the scenes she watched stream by her, they were getting close...a moment later came Naru's order to stop. Mai blinked and glanced over at her rival who- even while covered in dust- still held some dignity, only the slightest trace of irritation betraying her when Mr. Sachi cried,
"See there, he's appearing!"
Mai looked to her lap where her ice pack lay melting. She was slightly more irritated than the medium, and more nervous too.
The old man- Mr. Miyuki- they'll see him. How can he ask me to keep his existence a secret when he's flying down halls? As it is...
Mai glanced up briefly at her boss, his serious face illuminated by fluorescent light-
Naru suspects something.
Mai sloshed the water around the ice pack as murmurs sounded from the group clustered around Lin's desk.
"Here he comes..." Mr. Sachi announced.
"That's Mr. Miyuki?" Naru spoke, from his tone Mai could tell that he was thinking hard.
Analyze all you want, but your not getting answers from me, Mai thought, tilting the ice pack up and down.
"The picture-" Bou-san pointed out.
"Lin," Naru interrupted, "can you focus it any more?"
There was silence, presumably the Chinese man shook his head, but Mai was too unwilling to look up and find out.
"Ghostly interference?" Mr. Sachi suggested.
"Electrical interference," Naru corrected, shooting the playwright down swiftly.
"You think so?" Ayako persisted, ignoring the finality of Naru's tone, "What makes you so sure it isn't a paranormal disturbance?"
There was a tense pause, Mai could tell Naru was in less of a mood to humor the priestess than usual, but finally he relented and said,
"Lin, what is your opinion?"
There was another pause and then,
"It could be either, but I would say electrical."
A huffy noise came from Ayako and then the couch sunk next to Mai. Mai looked up to see the priestess making a face,
"Lin what is your opinion?" she mocked under her breath.
Mai returned her attention to the ice pack on her lap only to have it snatched away in the next instant,
"Hey-" she tried to protest, but Ayako held it out of her reach with narrowed eyes,
"How old are you again? What do you think this is, a play toy?"
Mai frowned as she watched the priestess lay the ice pack across her own lap, pushing the melting ice around, and opened her mouth to object, but just then John spoke.
"Then what happened?"
Mai shot a look at Mr. Sachi and further along the couch Masako tensed. The playwright was silent for a thoughtful moment, but unaware of the pairs of eyes boring into him; he smiled sympathetically and answered,
"Well it's as I said, they were struck with terror. They even seemed to be locked into some kind of trance, gravitating towards his ghostly presence, if it wasn't for me..."
Outraged Mai stood,
"I was not struck with terror; if that stupid footage would work you would see-"
"There now Mai," Mr. Sachi interrupted, looking to her with the same irritating sympathy, "the state of your mind-"
"We were perfectly sound of mind," Masako cut in, her cheeks growing red again.
"Of course you were," John said peaceably.
Mai looked over to the playwright with narrowed eyes, she appreciated John's gesture, but she would not be soothed as long as Mr. Sachi was opening his big mouth. A moment passed and then something strange happened, the playwright's shoulders suddenly sagged; slowly he sunk into the nearest seat.
"I...can't believe..." he murmured looking pale.
Everyone was staring at Mr. Sachi now, even Masako looked a bit uncertain, but before anything could be said, the playwright continued,
"This is all her fault, haunting his own theater."
Naru, with his arms crossed and his back leaning against the desk, observed Mr. Sachi closely,
"You mean Miss Miyuki?"
Mr. Sachi, who now held his face in his hands, suddenly looked up,
"Yes! Yes, this is all because of her," he exclaimed, his eyes shining with the same injustice Mai had seen in him before.
"Because she disturbed him?" Bou-san clarified.
The playwright looked over to the monk with wide eyes,
"Yes, but disturbed is such a light word. Is a man merely disturbed when he abandons his grave to haunt his own theater in protest?"
Bou-san chewed on this a moment,
"I suppose not...but I have seen more extreme cases-"
"This is a case of the most extreme kind; the fate of this theater hangs in the balance!" Mr. Sachi persisted looking to them all helplessly.
His appeal was impressive; Mai even felt a twinge of sympathy, which was quite a feat considering the man was portraying her to be some fainting damsel.
"There is something here...he is here- just please. Please, look a little longer," the playwright finished, meeting Naru eye for eye.
"We are staying Mr. Sachi, but I'll be the judge of what is here," Naru answered, offering only cold comfort in his words.
Still, this seemed to be enough for the playwright as almost immediately he looked revived.
"Then there is hope yet. If Mr. Miyuki has been drawn here all the way from the great beyond just to stop this abomination, then let his efforts not be in vain," Mr. Sachi persisted, his spirits rallying.
Masako suddenly stood,
"If we're finished here," she began, looking to Naru, "it's getting late and we should prepare for tonight."
Naru frowned, but managed to nod,
"We'll continue tomorrow."
"Wonderful!" Mr. Sachi announced, standing as well, "Shall we my dear?"
With much reluctance, Masako took the arm offered to her. Slowly the rest of them got to their feet and filed for the door, Lin shutting down the computers for the night.
"Excited?" Bou-san whispered to Mai, giving her a nudge in the side as they walked through the hall.
Mai made a face, but that was all she could muster at the moment, with one glance at the back of Naru's head her stomach twisted it's self into knots.
Excited isn't the word.
Reaching the foyer Mai was reminded of the harmful lilies sent to Nari earlier that day, their recent encounter with what seemed to be Mr. Miyuki's ghost, and of course those doors. Instinctively she drew nearer Bou-san as they approached them. With a smile the monk took her arm and they followed the playwright and medium out, Masako now gripping Mr. Sachi's arm.
After a moment of dizziness, Mai stepped over the threshold. Standing outside the theater, a stiff breeze broke over her, tossing her hair and refreshing her senses, bits of dust swirled away in the wind. Mai took in her surroundings, dusk was falling fast, the few clouds dotting the sky were now tinted a light purple.
"At least the rain has past," Bou-san remarked, side stepping a large puddle as he descended the stairs.
Mai, not entirely paying attention, nearly slipped as she followed after the monk, and was forced to snatch at the rail,
"Yeah..." she mumbled as Ayako passed her with an amused look.
"Careful Mai, you don't want to miss the festival," John said, coming up behind her and offering a steady hand.
Actually, that's not a bad idea, Mai thought miserably, but merely smiled back at John and accepted his hand.
Passing the festival grounds a few moments later, Mai was suddenly struck with how she must look. Desperately she glanced down at her filthy clothes,
Some Yoshi I'll make!
"Bou-san," Mai spoke up, attempting to brush away some of the dust in vain, "I need a favor, can I borrow your coat?"
The Monk looked down at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Please? I'll give it right back," Mai persisted, feeling a bit irked at him for making her plead.
"What's this about?" Bou-san asked, but then his eyes landed on the Inn ahead of them and a knowing smile spread across his face, "Ah- I see, don't want your boyfriend seeing you all-"
"As if! Bou-san just give me the coat," Mai protested, tugging hard on his sleeve.
"Oy- Mai, that's my bad arm," the monk exclaimed, rubbing it tenderly.
"Sorry, I didn't realize," Mai murmured innocently, successfully rendering the coat from the monk.
"Well, this is where we leave you," Mr. Sachi announced, leading Masako to the left, "See you all tonight."
"Actually," Masako spoke up looking back to the group they were leaving, "I have something waiting for me at the inn."
Mr. Sachi blinked in surprise,
"Oh, something for tonight? Well then, let's pick it up," he agreed, guiding the medium towards the inn once more.
Behind them Mai watched Masako in curiosity, what could she possibly have to pick up? She exchanged a look with Bou-san who shrugged and they all moved on.
Mai glanced back over her shoulder, they were nearly past the festival grounds, but she could see that they were already alive with activity with the paper lanterns being lit and the smell of cooking food wafting on the air.
Despite being covered in Bou-san's large coat, Mai found herself feeling self conscious as she hurriedly walked through the inn's halls towards the safety of her room.
"I'll meet you in the dining room," the monk called after her as he reached his door.
"See you then Bou-san," Mai answered over her shoulder, stopping for nothing until she saw the number fourteen on her own door. With a sigh Mai unlocked her door and threw herself in, quickly closing it behind her.
Finally, she thought as she heaved Bou-san's heavy coat off, wincing as she saw that it was now covered in dust also,
Oops...
After beating the coat to no avail, Mai gave up and laid it across the bed. Rubbing her bare arms, she began to think longingly of a nice hot shower...but then another less pleasant thought pushed its way into her mind. Her gaze slipped over the days and days worth of clothes strewn all over her floor,
What am I going to wear?
With a sense of foreboding, her eye caught sight of something blue. There, lying discarded in a heap in the corner of her room was none other than Niko's aunt's dress. With a resigned groan Mai drug herself into the bathroom,
Well it could be worse; I could go wearing what I have on now.
After scrubbing until she was nearly pink, Mai stepped out of the shower considerably less dusty and considerably more refreshed. Wrapping herself in a thin towel (generously provided by the inn), Mai glanced at herself in the mirror and frowned.
She hadn't felt it before, but its existence was made obvious when she saw its deep purple hue. A bruise, roughly the size of her fist, had spread its way across the better part of her shoulder. Biting her lip, Mai ran her fingers along it and found it was more than a little tender.
I must have landed on it when we fell through the hole...
Once she finished drying off Mai walked back into her small room and picked up the dress she would be stuck wearing for the night.
Maybe Niko won't propose to me if he sees what terrible fashion sense I have?
Reluctantly Mai slipped the satin gown on. Back in the bathroom, standing in front of the mirror, Mai resisted thinking about what decadent dress Masako might be trying on that very moment.
That Masako.
Running a brush through her hair, Mai halfheartedly entered her room once again. She blinked, gazing around at the golden tint cast across the walls by the sun's fading light. So this was it. In a few hours she would be on her way to a proposal.
With a sigh Mai sank into her bed and stared out the window which afforded a meager view an unattended garden at the back of the Inn. Muffled voices talked in the next room to hers. They sounded excited through the thin walls.
Maybe they're waiting for a proposal instead of dreading one?
Just then a new sound drew Mai out of her thoughts. Someone was knocking on her door.
"Just a minute," Mai called, trying to untangle her hair from her brush and adjust the straps of her dress, the bruise on her shoulder acting as a large purple accessory.
"Come in-" she finally said, rubbing her head where the brush had been stuck.
The door slowly opened and Masako stuck her head in,
"Am I interrupting anything?"
Smoothing her frizzed hair and further straightening her dress Mai answered,
"Masako? Oh, no nothing..."
The medium allowed herself a small smile and stepped fully into the room. Mai swallowed her next words when she saw what her rival was wearing.
That Masako.
For starters it wasn't a kimono. It was a dress was with a light rose colored fabric that looked so light it seemed as if it was going to blow right off her. Its delicate style fit the medium perfectly and it put Mai and her secondhand dress in a right irritated mood.
Masako stood for few moments in silence, her smile growing as she observed her rival's jealous expression, but the triumphant moment was slightly spoiled when she went to cover her smile with her sleeve- only to find she didn't have one.
"Ahem," Masako said, clearing her throat, her smile fading, "Here."
Mai, who had been pointedly ignoring the medium and her indulgence in vanity, blinked and reluctantly looked back to her. Held in her pale outstretched hands (one wrist now bandaged) was a rather large white box. With a mixture of surprise and suspicion, Mai took the box.
"What's this for?" Mai asked setting the box on her lap and looking up at Masako questioningly.
The medium looked slightly uncomfortable for a moment, but then her expression cleared.
"For you," she answered simply, taking a seat on the edge of the bed beside Mai.
Mai raised an eyebrow at her rival,
"For me? What's in here...?"
Masako made a face and went to take the box back,
"This is so typical of you, Taniyama. Fine if you don't have the decency to accept a gift-"
It was Mai's turn to make a face,
"Wait, I never said that," she protested, taking the box back.
Masako smoothed her dress and glared at her rival out of the corner of her eye. Mai pretended not to notice and instead offered the medium a small smile,
"I mean, I'm sorry but I'm just not used to getting gifts-"
"I wouldn't get used to it," Masako cut in, "Just open the box."
Mai shot her rival a look, but obeyed and pulled off the lid. Mai raised her eyebrows, lying inside was a kimono perfectly folded and crisp.
"Don't get too excited. This is only for tonight," Masako interjected before Mai could get a word out.
Mai ran her hand over the purple brocade,
"Sure, fine..." she answered, studying the gleaming silver threads.
"I mean it, Taniyama. And if anything should happen to it-"
"I know, know..." Mai answered absently as she pulled out the kimono to examine it in it's full length splendor. Masako sighed and gave up threatening her rival as she realized it was useless. Suddenly Mai let down the kimono and looked back at the medium,
"Why?" she asked.
Masako made a sort of shrug,
"You didn't panic today. You got us out of that hole."
"So this is a...thank you?"
The medium looked uncomfortable, her eyes warning Mai not to push it, but at last she nodded,
"Yes, I suppose you could think of it that way."
Mai nodded, looking over the beautiful kimono folded on her lap,
"You're welcome and thank you, it's perfect," she answered looking up to smile at Masako sincerely.
The two exchanged a pleasant moment. And then it was over. Masako stood, fingering her hair,
"It's as much of a favor to me as it is to you anyways. Just look at that thing you're wearing."
Mai's cheeks flashed red,
"What's wrong with it? Retro is in, you're just jealous you don't have a dress like this," she argued, forgetting that she had been ready to throw it out moments ago.
Masako laughed, by habit her elegant hand coming to her mouth, "Jealous of that? You wish..."
Mai stood with her hands on her hips,
"And what would you call what you're wearing? A flamingo?"
Masako promptly pursed her lips,
"As much as I'd like to Taniyama, I don't have time to stand here and argue with you, I have a festival to get ready for," she answered and promptly made for the door.
"Thanks for the loan!" Mai called after her.
Masako merely gave her a silent look and shut the door.
That Masako, Mai thought gathering the kimono in her arms.
With more eagerness than she'd admit to, Mai entered the bathroom to change. After several minutes of struggling to get the kimono on, Mai finally managed it. Mai observed her reflection. The shimmering lavender brocade was so smooth it appeared to be made of liquid instead of silk and the sliver threads that wove intricate flowers gleamed as they caught the light.
Mai laid a hand on the sleeve of her bruised shoulder, satisfied that it could no longer be seen. Seeing herself this way, Mai felt a surge of gratitude towards the medium.
Thank you Masako, Mai thought, allowing herself a small smile.
With distaste Mai bent over and picked up the dress she had worn before, its blue satin fabric looking dull and faded next to the vibrant kimono she now wore. Mai took one step and found herself falling forward, with a cry; she snatched at the sink and caught it just in time to slow her fall. Sliding to the floor, Mai frantically looked over the immaculate kimono for any rips of tears, and thankfully found none.
Letting out a relieved breath Mai sat for a moment, thinking over her predicament. She felt a surge of respect for Masako; it wasn't easy getting around in a kimono. Slowly Mai stood up and then little by little she hobbled into her room, nearly falling twice before reaching her bed. By this point, new thoughts were surging through her head concerning Masako and none of them were of gratitude or respect.
This is just like Masako; she can't do anything simply for the sake of doing it. She knew how hard it would be for me to put a kimono on and how awkward I would be in it. I bet she's laughing into her hand right now! It doesn't matter how beautiful this kimono is if I walk around like an idiot in it. That Masako.
With fierce determination to have the last laugh, Mai began practicing walking around her room. After a while she gained some balance and learned to take small steps, attempting to ignore the ugly, but easy to move around in, blue dress lying on the bed.
Soon though, Mai grew tired of walking, and seeing the graying sky outside her window, decided she should finish getting ready before it got too late. With a sigh she found herself in the bathroom yet again, looking over her small selection of makeup. She had just brought the lipstick to her lips when there was a sudden knock at her door. Startled Mai jumped and her hand slipped, the result being an unflattering pink line above her upper lip. Mai shot the door a frown,
"If you were hoping to find me tied up Masako, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I got into the kimono just fine," she called from the bathroom, struggling to remove the lip stick mark.
The door opened with a confused voice answering,
"Tied up? What have you got yourself into now?"
Glaring, Mai turned to see Ayako enter the room. The priestess, a large bag in hand, glanced around before catching sight of Mai. The miko raised an eyebrow critically,
"I guess I came just in time."
"Just in time to leave," Mai answered, rubbing at the lipstick mark resentfully.
"I see how you are, maybe I will then-" Ayako said crossing her arms and turning for the door.
"Wait, what is it Ayako?"
The priestess examined a well manicured hand,
"I don't know. I thought you might need help, which clearly you do, but if this is the welcome I get-"
Mai stepped back from the mirror and set down the tissue she was using on the lipstick mark,
"This is your fault. Can you get it off?"
Ayako, dressed elegantly in a long black evening gown, the straps criss-crossing over her back, marched over to Mai, bringing with her a bag, her black stilettos clicking against the bathroom floor.
"Here we are," she said, opening the mysterious bag.
Inside was more makeup than Mai imagined could fit.
"Hold still," Ayako ordered, opening a bottle of makeup remover.
Mai did as she was told and moment later the priestess announced that she was finished. Mai blinked and looked into the mirror, satisfied that the mark was gone.
"That's a nice kimono," Ayako commented as she retrieved the blush.
Mai gazed at the kimono she wore in the mirror,
"It's from Masako," she admitted, adjusting the sleeves.
"Really? I guess the new dress she's wearing has her feeling generous," Ayako replied with a significant look.
Mai frowned,
"She looks like a flamingo."
The priestess began dusting Mai's cheeks,
"You look like a plum."
"Hey-" Mai objected, bumping Ayako's hand.
The priestess drew back,
"What? I can't help it if I'm the only sophisticated looking one," she persisted, a smug smile gracing her red lips.
"I don't suppose age has something to do with that?" Mai answered with a small smile of her own as Ayako resumed her work.
The priestess narrowed her eyes and made a huffy noise as she hunted down her eye shadow.
"So, I wonder what Naru likes best? A plum or flamingo?"
It was Mai's turn to be disgruntled,
"I am not a plum-"
"Though to be honest, he doesn't seem like fruit guy to me," the priestess went on as she applied a shimmery violet eye shadow to Mai's eyes.
"Oh, so you think he's a bird person," Mai remarked, narrowing her left eye at Ayako.
"Stop that," the priestess scolded as she switched eyes, "and no I don't think he's a bird person either. I think Naru is a man of sophistication."
Mai actually laughed at this, "Naru with you..."
A sudden poke was administered to Mai's eye.
"Ow-" Mai protested, reaching up to sooth her eye, but Ayako batted it away.
"Oops, slipped. Don't touch it; you'll ruin my hard work."
With a frown Mai dropped her hand as Ayako reached back in her bag for eyeliner.
"Ah, I almost forgot. It doesn't matter whether Naru likes plums or not; you're taken."
Mai's cheeks heated up,
"Excuse me?"
Smiling, Ayako began to trace Mai's eye,
"You can't forget about Niko. He's due to propose anytime, isn't he?"
"He is not going to propose, why does everyone keep saying that?" Mai demanded, feeling flustered at the mention of it.
Ayako's keen eye didn't miss her distress and teasingly she answered,
"He's head-over-heels. Of course he's going to propose."
"You're wrong, we're just friends," she objected.
Wisely Ayako said no more, but shook her head.
"How about you then, hm? Who will be proposing to you tonight?" Mai asked after she had recovered somewhat.
Ayako smirked,
"No one thank you very much, although it might be nice coming from Lin."
Mai snorted, but then noticed Ayako was now applying mascara, and quickly covered it with a cough.
"What about Bou-san?" Mai wondered when she felt safe to speak again.
Ayako raised an eyebrow,
"What about Bou-san? If he even thought about getting down on one knee in front of me I'd kick him over."
Mai blinked her newly finished eyes and gazed up at Ayako's reflection. She looked beautiful with her smoky eyes, red lips, and her long red hair done up in an elegant bun with a few strands left out to frame her face. Mai was sure she would receive many lilies that night...as long as she didn't open her mouth.
"Well, what do you think?" the miko prodded in Mai's silence.
Mai blinked and returned her gaze to her own reflection. For the second time that night, gratitude surged through her. Her cheeks were a soft pink, her lips a rich magenta, and her eyes shimmered with the same lavender as her kimono.
"Not bad, considering-" the priestess continued, but was cut off by folds of fabric suddenly embracing her.
"Uh- Mai..."
"Thank you Ayako," Mai answered into her ear.
Recovering, the miko allowed herself a small smile,
"Well, there's the thanks I was looking for."
The two of them released each other, and Mai began helping Ayako clean up.
"I think it's getting on time for dinner, I'm going to head for the dining room, are you coming?" the miko asked once she had zipped up her bag.
Staring into the mirror, pulling on a strand of unruly hair, Mai shook her head,
"No, it's okay, you go on without me. I'll be along in a minute."
Ayako paused uncertainly,
"Are you sure? You know what happens if you're late..."
"Its fine, I'm sure Niko will be there, if you know," Mai replied, a slight blush, not dusted on by Ayako, spreading across her cheeks.
"Uh-huh..." Ayako said, shaking her head as she left the bathroom.
A moment later the door closed behind the miko, and Mai sighed, gathering her uncooperative hair and then letting it go in defeat. Masako had provided the dress and Ayako applied the makeup, now it was up to her to fix her hair. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to want to be fixed. Attacking it with the brush again, she found that it was only making it frizzier.
Resignedly Mai left the bathroom. She had spent the last hour getting ready, and aware of her empty stomach, and the encroaching night, she decided to be finished.
There. I can be happy with this.
Stepping out of her room Mai found the hall to be loud and busy with the swish of evening gowns and giggling. She excused herself as she maneuvered past women destined to receive many lilies that night. Feeling warm and flustered, Mai caught sight of the double doors leading into the dining room. And then a realization struck her. Niko was behind those doors, Naru was behind those doors.
Suddenly she was filled with the urge to just turn around and hide in her room. No one had seen her yet...maybe she could just lie and say she didn't feel well? Compelled by a rising panic, Mai turned around to do just that- but found she couldn't go forward. The area right outside the dining room had quickly become flooded with people- she was stuck, with her only way out being to go in.
Standing there, being brushed past by men in dress clothes and old ladies in their best, Mai was rooted to the spot and reaching her limit. It was then that the wind of good fortune blew upon her- literally. Her bangs stirred across her forehead. Mai blinked, drawn out of her dread. Slowly she turned, her eyes finding the escape she hadn't known existed a moment before. A door. Quickly, Mai closed the gap and disappeared before she was ever noticed.
Mai squinted, her eyes adjusting to the light, the last of the day's, which lit the small garden she had just stepped in. Another refreshing breeze took up the air around her and already she could feel herself relaxing. That was when she noticed him.
"John?"
Sitting on a crumbling garden bench, the young priest looked up surprised.
"Mai? Look at you. You look beautiful."
Self consciously Mai glanced down at her kimono, almost as if to make sure she wasn't really walking around in blue satin.
"Thank you, you look nice yourself," she answered with a smile.
And he did, sporting something not unlike a tux that made him look as dashing as any of the young men crowding the inn.
"How did you find me?"
Encouraged by his smile and the fact that he had moved over a few inches, Mai approached him,
"I just wanted a bit of fresh air before dinner and saw this door. You?" she answered, attempting to hide her anxieties behind a light tone.
John nodded with unassuming eyes and answered,
"Me too."
There was a moment of comfortable silence as Mai took her seat beside him. A while later she spoke again,
"I never knew this existed, I guess I should have though, I have a view of it outside my window..."
John gazed around at the over grown shrubs and tall grass surrounding them,
"I hadn't either, I just found it yesterday. It's been nice to step out."
"Mmm," Mai said in agreement, closing her eyes for a moment, letting the last of the suns rays warm her.
"How are you feeling?"
Mai opened her eyes and collected herself before glancing at John,
"I'm fine, I've got this great kimono from Masako, and Ayako did my make up and..."
John focused his kind eyes upon her and Mai trailed off in defeat.
"Actually..." she began again, gazing down at her hands, "pretty nervous."
Mai felt his smile before she saw it.
"You'll do fine, I've never seen anyone look more pretty", John encouraged, his voice soothing as always.
Mai looked up and offered him a half smile,
"Well, you haven't seen Masako yet..." she chided.
John smiled back just as brightly, but something passed in his eyes at the mention of Masako's name that Mai couldn't help noticing. Suddenly Mai's smiled formed a frown of concern,
"But, how about you? This festival isn't exactly..." Mai paused for lack of words.
"My kind?" he offered, his smile never diminishing for a moment, "It's quite alright."
"Are you sure? I'm sure no one would be offended if you didn't hand out lilies..." Mai persisted, just as concerned for him as he had been for her.
"Not hand out lilies?" John questioned, gazing at her with warmth, "But then I couldn't give this one to you."
"What? John-" Mai started as a pale lily was held out to her.
"Mai," John interrupted, closing her hand around it, "please take it. I feel closer to you than I have to anyone in a long time. I think...you're God's way of granting me the sister I always wanted."
Mai gazed back at him, a lump rising in her throat, her eyes burning at the edges...
I won't cry. I can't cry, not when I Ayako just finished my makeup...
For the third time that day, Mai felt a deep gratitude wash over her. Being an orphan, SPR had long filled the void in her life in terms of family. To her, Bou-san and John were the best brothers she could wish for.
"Thank you so much John," she finally managed, still fighting off tears.
Noticing this John quickly searched his pockets, and a moment later offered her a handkerchief.
"You're very welcome Mai," he answered affectionately.
Carefully Mai dabbed at her eyes,
"Great, Ayako won't be happy, look what I've done to her work..."
John peered closer at Mai's face,
"It doesn't look ruined to me," he remarked, providing a hopeful smile.
Mai smiled back, her fingers playing with the handkerchief,
"Well, whether it is or not, I guess there are worse things to be worried about than Ayako's wrath."
John made a face,
"I wouldn't be so sure..."
Mai blinked, slowly memories of all the times the miko's wrath had descended on Bou-san coming to the surface. The two of them shared a look and then broke out into laughter.
"I guess," John said after their laughter had died down, "we better be going in?"
Having stood, the young priest offered Mai a hand, and reluctantly she took it. If it had been up to her, she would have spent the entire night out here rather than spend one minute in there.
"You're right, we should..."
Silently, John watched Mai as they walked to the door. Sensing her nerves- as he had plenty of his own that night- he decided to try them both at ease,
"Mai? Would you sit next to me tonight?"
Mai, her hand on the door handle, blinked and looked over at John.
The priest stared back at her a bit sheepish, there was something in his eyes that told her he was just as bothered about something- or someone in that dining room- as she was. Mai smiled,
"Of course, sure!"
"Great. It's a deal then."
Perfect. Now if I can just force Bou-san to sit on the other side of me, Niko won't be close enough to pass a rice bowl to me, let alone close enough to whisper a surprise proposal in my ear, Mai thought as the two of them stepped inside the now empty hallway.
"Everyone must be inside," John commented, glancing around at the open space.
Mai only had eyes for the double doors. Just then John walked into her line of vision; he held one of them open,
"Shall we?"
Everything about his tone and expression was friendly and inviting, there was no reason for Mai not to just follow him. Except there was a reason- two reasons actually- and those two reasons gave her pause...but in the next moment, a perfectly timed distraction came up behind her.
"Oy- Mai! Finally, where have you been?" Bou-san demanded, "I was just at your room, you know you're thirty minutes late for dinner..." But then the monk trailed off.
Reaching her, he stopped to stare,
"Wow, Mai you look- are you wearing a kimono?"
Mai stared back at Bou-san a moment, attempting to decide what exactly he meant by that,
"So...?"
"Oh- nothing," he hastily added sensing her offense, "It's just- it looks great."
Mai's expression softened, she smoothed the folds of her kimono,
"Thanks."
"Bou-san," John spoke up, "you haven't eaten yet, have you?"
The monk glanced at the priest,
"No, but I'm not that hungry."
Mai glanced at Bou-san. Not hungry? Since when? At her questioning look, the monk remained expressionless, but something in his eyes told her she would soon find out.
"But," Bou-san continued looking back to John, "if you are...you better get in there before it's all gone, you know Ayako's appetite."
Sensing something, John looked from the monk, back to Mai. Politely, he inclined his head towards her,
"Are you...?"
Mai, feeling a not so gentle nudge to her side, shot Bou-san a glare before smiling at John,
"Save me a seat?"
The priest smiled back and nodded,
"Alright."
The moment the double doors swung shut, Mai turned on the monk,
"What was that?"
Bou-san adjusted the sleeves of his dress shirt,
"What was what? I'm not hungry, is that such a crime?"
Mai's gaze fell to the monk's feet, which he- upon noticing this, took a precautionary step back,
"You know what I mean Bou-san, why do you have me out here?" Mai asked, returning her attention to his face.
"Okay, okay," the Bou-san relented holding out his hands, "I don't know what you have to get so testy for, I think all this time with Ayako isn't good for you-" Mai proceed to give his feet another look, "but that's beside the point. This is our chance Mai," the monk said, lowering his voice, "The theater is empty."
"You want to look at the pictures now?" Mai replied, glancing at the double doors.
Bou-san followed her gaze,
"Come on Mai, there will be plenty of time tonight to impress Naru and Niko, this maybe our only shot-"
"Excuse me? For the last time this isn't about Naru and Niko," Mai protested, a blush growing across her cheeks.
The monk stared down at her, attempting to contain an amused smile,
"Sure, right. And I'm not hungry either."
"I promised John I'd sit by him," Mai argued, crossing her arms and looking alarmingly like Masako in doing so.
Bou-san sighed, his face relaxing from its smile, his brown eyes stared at the double doors,
"Knowing this place, if we go now, we can be back before dinner's served..."
The monk's eyes now turned on her to seal the deal.
"Fine. But if dinner's over before we get back, I'm blaming it on you."
Bou-san motioned her to go before him and shrugged,
"Fine, and while you're at it you can blame me for the fact that we're stuck in this town, dealing with a loony client, and you're getting proposed to tonight."
Mai sent the monk a look over her shoulder,
"Actually, that's not a bad idea."
Passing through the quiet halls on the way out, Mai could feel the energy in the air mounting. Even the silence was loud to her ears, as if she could hear the thoughts of the many hopefuls in love.
"Penny for your thoughts," Bou-san spoke up after they had reached the outside.
Mai, her eyes trained on the golden moon rising in the clear dusk sky, shrugged.
"They're probably not worth a penny."
"Maybe, maybe not," he agreed and Mai turned her head, catching the small smile on his face, "but just the same, I bet I can guess them."
"What? You're a mind reader now in addition to a bassist?"
The monk narrowed his eyes at her,
"You laugh now, but it won't be so funny when I'm rattling off your deepest muses."
Mai smiled challengingly at him,
"Well, what am I thinking?"
"You're worrying weather Naru is going to like that kimono on you, or whether he's simply going to think: great now I have two Masakos..."
"As if, Monk," Mai objected, her cheeks distinctly red in the falling dark.
Bou-san's grin was equally noticeable.
"Well, if that's the best you can do, you're a million miles off your mark," Mai persisted, her arms crossed and a sour look set on her face.
That Masako.
The monk spent a thoughtful moment in silence.
"Okay, maybe I was joking there," he allowed, glancing at her with a shadow of his smile returning, "but I know you are nervous. The good news is though, you don't have to be."
Mai, who had taken to staring pointedly out over the festival grounds, looked back to the monk with kindness in her eyes.
"Thanks Bou-san."
The monk patted her shoulder reassuringly and they walked in comfortable silence. That was until Bou-san halted, a look of deep longing crossing his face. Mai allowed herself a small smile, she had smelled it too.
"Not hungry, huh?" she said with an eyebrow raised.
"I lied. Let's hurry so we can get back and I can eat," the monk answered, walking quickly onward.
Mai followed behind, shaking her head.
With her next breath Mai was remained that there were other smells than cooking food in the air. If the scent of lilies had been strong before, it was potent now. Passing the festival grounds, it was as if the perfume was invading her mind, leaving her in an almost dreamy state. Mai could easily see how Mr. Miyuki's favorite flower would set the mood for this romantic night.
Once they had reached the theater stairs a new emotion had temporarily replaced Mai's nervousness: excitement. There were a million questions racing through her head in regards to the picture. Would identifying the person produce any answers?
"Are you sure you know where to look?" Mai asked as she climbed the top step, taking the monk's arm.
"Yep, you just turn left at that one hall and make a right at that other," he replied, a grin tugging at his lips as he lead her through the double doors.
But Mai was not sending him a look, or looking to step on any toes at this. Instead her expression had suddenly turned pale and uncomfortable. The usual tug of sickness, followed by dizziness as she stepped over the threshold felt magnified, its grip on her tighter and its pull stronger.
"Mai, I was just kidding. I'm not going to get us lost, we'll be back in time for you to sit next to John," Bou-san relented in her silence and grave looks.
Swallowing, Mai looked up at the monk shaking her head,
"It's not that, the doors- I felt sick," Mai attempted to explain, closing her eyes in an effort to shut out the dizziness.
Bou-san tilted his head in misunderstanding,
"Well, they usually do that to you Mai- let's walk it off..."
"Wait Bou-san," Mai protested, gripping his arm tighter as another wave of nausea passed through her.
Looking clarify the situation, he suggested in a lighter tone,
"You do have an empty stomach, maybe that's making you feel-"
"This is worse; I don't know what it is..." Mai answered, finally recovering somewhat.
The monk now looked down on her with concern,
"Are you going to be okay? Should I take you back?"
"No," Mai answered quickly, looking up at him with a reassuring smile, "I'm fine, let's go on."
Bou-san observed her for an uncertain moment, but when she tugged on his arm, coaxing him forward, he decided not to question her.
If the theater had been dim and eerie earlier that day, it was now nearly pitch black and utterly unnerving in its silent night hours. Mai gripped Bou-san's arm tighter as they made slow progress down the first hall off the foyer. Squinting in the darkness, the monk directed her towards the left side of the hall.
"It's hard to see, but base is close...maybe they'll be a stray flashlight we can use?" he suggested.
A moment later there was click and creak- door to base swung open, and the monk entered the room first. What followed a was a bang and curse.
"Bou-san?" Mai asked into the blackness, barely able to make out his hunched figure two feet in front of her.
Grumbling, bent over and holding his foot, the monk answered,
"I forgot about the table, I think I broke a toe."
Mai sighed, and moving around the fuming monk, she started to look for the much need flashlight,
There has to be one around somewhere...
"Where are you Mai?" Bou-san wondered, working his way opposite of her.
"Over here- at Lin's desk...I think."
"You think they'll be one there? I'm going to see if Naru has one stashed with the equipment," the monk said, the sound of him rummaging through thermometers, cameras, and various other pieces in Naru's ghost hunting arsenal, loud in the silence.
As Mai's fingers clumsily brushed and bumped against different objects, common, but feeling foreign with her poor sight, it occurred to her that this could take longer than they had- not to mention how long they had already spent in the dark, in a theater supposedly haunted.
Mai paused and blinked out against the black that surrounded her, her own heartbeat and breathing filling her ears. She had nothing against Mr. Miyuki, he had been peaceful thus far, but she couldn't help thinking that a sudden visit from him in the quiet and dark would be more than a little unsettling,
"Bou-san? Have you found anything yet?" Mai asked, imaging her voice as filling up the room, pushing any uninvited guests out.
"Hold on a moment," the monk answered distractedly, the clicking of metal on metal coming from his direction, "I think these are it-" and without warning a flare of white light shot into the room, momentarily blinding Mai,
"Hey-" she cried shielding her eye's as the beam moved away from her face.
"Oh, sorry- here," he apologized, tossing a second one her way.
Mai caught it, then quickly turned it on. Comforted slightly by the two beams of light, and reassured that they were no longer in danger of tripping over something and breaking a leg, the two of them left base, hoping to find a matching picture to the one sitting on Mai's inn nightstand.
"How much further?" Mai asked as they hurried down hall after hall.
His face glowing in the pale light, Bou-san aimed his flashlight towards a corridor to their right,
"Over here..."
With just the sound of their feet padding rapidly across the wooden floors, Mai's light began searching the dim walls for pictures of old actresses, captured in a moment of glory and fame.
"Ah-ha, there's some pictures," Bou-san announced, his beam of light bouncing off a section of wall just ahead of them.
Mai pulse quickened, for some reason she suddenly felt apprehensive solving this piece of the mystery. Eyes. A presence. Mai felt something behind her. Quickly, her heart pounding in her ears, Mai spun around, her flash light casting a bright ark through the hall.
"Mai?" Bou-san said, noticing that she had paused.
Mai blinked. She saw nothing, no one was there. But yet...
"Sorry- it was nothing..." she answered the monk vaguely, moving a head of him with a smile.
He wasn't so easily convinced.
"Mai...you haven't been seeing things have you?"
With her back to him Mai bit her lip,
Shoot. I need to be more careful.
"Seeing things Bou-san? I do have a pair of eyes you know."
"That's not what I mean and you know it," the monk replied, falling into step beside her,
"You would tell me, wouldn't you? If you saw something? You've been going on to Naru about how you think this place is haunted..."
Mai felt the pressure of his words, but it was no use- if she could hold up against the likes of Naru, Bou-san had no chance of cracking her. The old man's secret was safe for a while more.
"You don't think unusual things have been happening, Bou-san? That hall of mirrors, our encounter with something- just hours ago? Masako and I fell through a perfectly sound floor," Mai counteredgiving him an equally questioning look.
The monk looked thoughtful and then nodded,
"Oy, I'm on your side. Those things are odd, I was just saying..."
Looking to get off the subject before her guilt started making things difficult, Mai interrupted by pointing out the pictures they had just arrived at,
"Here! Help me look..."
And so the search began. Mai closed her eyes for a moment. What did she look like?
I wish I had brought the picture...
Struggling to recall details of a photo she had only observed a handful of times, a sudden chill ran up her back.
"Hey, Mai- what are we looking for again? I mean I know an actress, but there must be twenty here and-"
The monk's voice faded out. Mai was no longer listening. An image, a vision appeared in her mind, sharp as the picture ever was- a little girl's face. The chill left her and Mai's eye's sprung open. Her first impulse was to whip around to see what had just moved past her, but Bou-san was staring at her.
"Mai? You're not going to faint on me are you?"
Mai shook her head quickly,
"Faint? Uh- no. I was just closing my eyes to think better...the picture was of a little girl with long blonde hair," Mai explained, her beam of light moving intently over the many pictures gleaming back at her.
Bou-san blinked and watched her a moment,
"Blonde hair you said?" he went on, joining her search.
"Yeah..." Mai murmured distractedly as she focused on each of the beautiful actresses smiling back at her.
They were all so much older, how was she ever going to pick one out to be the little girl?
"Hey- would you look at this..." the monk spoke up.
Mai tore her eyes off the latest actress she was scrutinizing to look at what Bou-san had found. In a set of three large frames, complete with gold name plates, were pictures of the infamous Miyukis. Mai's eyes ran over the name: Tokuya Miyuki, and a slight pang came to her heart. Looking up, just above the name was the man himself gazing kindly down at her. Mai was not startled at his appearance, besides having slightly rosier cheeks; this was the same Mr. Miyuki she had been seeing the past three days.
"That's him, huh? The Mr. Miyuki we've been hearing so much of? How about it Mai, look anything like the ghost?"
Mai looked up at the monk startled,
"What do you mean? How should I know- I've never...seen-"
"Never seen him? Then just what did you see today with Masako and Mr. Sachi?" Bou-san protested, giving her strange look.
Oops.
"Ooh that. I forgot. Um- I can't recall, he was gone so fast."
I plead the fifth.
The monk returned her quick, innocent looking smile with an eyebrow raised critically.
"But, hey- let's take Masako here tomorrow and ask her what she thinks, she having the better memory and all..." Mai rambled on under his heavy look.
And then realizing he wasn't letting it go all that easily, she became absorbed in examining the picture right below Mr. Miyuki's. That's when she noticed it. Empty. Blank. Gone. There was not a single trace that the frame had ever been filled, and if it weren't for the dusty gold name plate below it, Mai might have thought it was just there by mistake.
Toki Miyuki. Mr. Miyuki's daughter. Mai frowned.
"They must really hate her..." she said quietly, pointing to the vacant frame she was staring at.
Beside her Bou-san nodded,
"Yeah, but would you keep a picture up of someone in fancy gold frame who was planning on tearing your theater down?"
Mai's frown deepened,
"No I guess not," she answered as she imagined Mr. Sachi marching up to the picture and angrily pulling it out.
"I wonder if she knows she's been taken out of here," Mai went on; for some reason entranced with the fact that someone could be removed from her family like that.
The monk made a knowing noise,
"I'm sure, we've seen her here a few times, and I'm sure she's come before...it's her own fault."
Mai nodded,
"She was pretty cold, I wonder why should would hate this theater so much?"
Bou-san shrugged,
"I guess that's a question for Naru, he interviewed her."
Mai grew quiet, her questions disappearing on the spot as her eye's fell on the picture place directly next to Mr. Miyuki's. Yoshi Miyuki and oh what a beauty she was. Mai, if she had any hopes before, now despaired of ever emulating her stunning looks.
Inspiring? Try hypnotizing.
"Wow..." Bou-san breathed.
Yes, wow. But Mai soon saw something more. Haughtiness, sharp and cold, hidden but present in the woman's eyes. Mrs. Koku was not chiding before, Mai knew that if she could have given the picture a voice at that moment, she would have been greeted coldly, or not at all...
They say that a picture speaks a thousand words and Mai could hear them all: yes, I'm rich, inspiring, beautiful...and you are no one compared to me.
A pretty smile, a pretty face...and an ugly smugness. But none of that truly mattered, Mai had found her match.
"Is this? I can't remember very well..." Bou-san spoke, squinting at the photo as if that could help his memory.
The photo burned bright in Mai's mind, those sapphire eyes...the golden hair... all's the picture on the wall was missing was youth and innocence.
"Yes, I think so..." Mai finally answered, feeling strangely detached.
There was no light bulb going off, no real spark of realization. The discovery somehow seemed to fall flat. But what was she expecting? An eureka moment? This was it, there she was, mystery solved- or at least part of it.
"Mission accomplished, but where do we go from here?" Bou-san asked, eyeing the picture as curiously as Mai.
Mai blinked. Where did they go from there? What was all this supposed to mean? The picture she had found in the office was merely one of Mr. Miyuki's wife as a child. Why had the situation seemed so desperate, why had she gone back for the photo? What was it's significance?
"Earth to Mai," Bou-san said, waving a hand in front of her face, "I was asking what you wanted to do from here-"
"Um, sorry Bou-san, I guess...why don't we head back?"
"Sounds good, we can think on it and talk later," the monk agreed, stepping as to follow her lead out.
After a few moments of walking Mai found that some energy had returned to her and with it a dull headache. She walked with a quickened pace. Some excitement seemed to have caught Bou-san as well, his thoughts appearing forward thinking, forward as in the warm dinner hopefully awaiting him. Somewhere a nagging voice began speaking once more in Mai's head, drowning any thoughts regarding the Miyukis',
Festival, festival, festival...it whispered. Mai swallowed, her head throbbing a bit worse than before.
"So, it was a picture of his wife," Bou-san spoke in the thoughtful silence.
Grateful for this break in her quickly surfacing anxieties, Mai attempted to focus again on what they had just discovered.
"Yes...just his wife."
"It's strange, why would your intuition tell you to go retrieve a photo, if it's only his wife?" the monk mused, looking down at her wonderingly.
Mai gave him a helpless shrug,
"I don't know, that's what confuses me."
"Hmm, we'll have to think on it. I'll keep my eyes open," Bou-san offered as they turned the last corner.
Mai smiled up at him,
"Thanks, Bou-san- for all your help. I couldn't have figured out this much on my own."
"I know," the monk answered with a wink.
Mai gave him a playful nudge and they entered the foyer. Then a new emotion gripped her. Dread. Looming in the pale light of their flashlights were the large doors, their only exit.
"Are you going to be okay this time around?" Bou-san asked gently, noting her pale complexion.
Mai could tell she was not, her stomach already churning, and the pressure in her head escalating. But she determinedly bit her lip and nodded up at the monk,
"I'll be okay, let's just get out of here."
He didn't believe her, but he nodded and then that was it, they crossed over to the doors and passed through them. Emerging into the sultry night air, the moisture from the earlier rain holding out, Bou-san was careful not to let Mai's arm go. Mai sank to her knees, grateful for an empty stomach as it felt as though it might turn it's self inside out.
"Just breathe Mai," Bou-san urged, his warm, heavy hand rubbing her back gently.
Taking deep breaths, Mai stood with the support of the monk,
"Better?" he asked uncertainly.
Mai nodded and gave him a small smile,
"Better."
Letting out a sigh, Bou-san helped Mai down the stairs,
"This isn't good Mai; we're going to have to find you a new way in."
"Yeah, but where?" Mai answered, releasing Bou-san's arm as she slowly felt strong enough to walk on her own again.
"What about that room we saw this morning, the one where Mr. Sachi accepted those deliveries of flowers?" the monk suggested.
"We'll have to ask him about it..." Mai replied, her mind drifting from the conversation as they passed the festival grounds.
Night had fallen fast over the sleepy town of Nozomi; each lantern light stood out like fallen star, and if you listened closely enough a few strains of music could be heard.
"A band?" Mai asked aloud, glancing at Bou-san.
"Maybe there will be dancing? I'll be able to show you my moves," the monk grinned.
Mai stifled a laugh as a vision of Bou-san preforming some of those moves entered her head. The monk narrowed his eyes at her,
"Hey, you think I can't dance? We'll just see, won't we?"
Mai, attempting to keep a straight face answered,
"We'll see."
"Then again...maybe you won't see at all," he persisted, shooting her a knowing look, "being busy dancing with Niko and such..."
Pink tinged Mai's cheeks and her eye's immediately sought out a foot, but the monk was too fast for her, and grinning mischievously he added,
"Or better yet...Naru."
"Bou-san, if you want to see your dinner-" Mai threatened.
"Oh Naru, what a wonderful dancer you are!" the monk mocked.
Mai made a disgusted face and hit his arm,
"I do not talk like that!"
Thoroughly enjoying himself, his teasing would have continued had they not come upon the Inn so quickly. Forced to swallow his smile and rubbing his sore arm, he lead them past the front desk, Mai glaring daggers after him.
As they reached the dining room, Mai came to a halt, telling Bou-san she needed just a moment, when really she felt like she needed several more years. The monk stood patiently as Mai nervously adjusted her kimono, fidgeting with every fold, her cheeks burning.
"Oh- I nearly forgot," he spoke up, interrupting the anxious stream of thoughts rushing through Mai's head.
Looking up at him, she saw the monk search his dinner jacket, then pause and pull out something.
"Hold still," he ordered gently and then approaching her, he gathered some of her hair and held it to one side.
Confused, Mai longed to look up at what he was doing, but she did as she was told for once and didn't move. Feeling something slide into her hair and then hearing a click, Mai blinked and looked up at the monk who stepped away from her, looking pretty satisfied with himself.
"Not bad if I say so myself," he commented, making a final adjustment.
"Bou-san, what did you just put in my hair?" Mai wondered, reaching up to feel a smooth wooden hair piece.
"Something I found the other day, I meant to give it to you earlier, but I forgot-" the rest of what he was going to say was cut off by Mai engulfing him in a tight hug.
One arm squeezed her back while the other patted her head softly.
"I take it you like it?"
Mai pulled back and smiled at him, "Yes, thank you."
Bou-san gave her one more good-natured squeeze and then a gleam entered his eye,
"Why can't you be like this all the time? This is much better than all the bruising and batterings you give me."
Mai gave him a warning look and nudged him in the side.
"Hey, see-" he protested, but they were both smiling.
Straightening up again, Bou-san offered her an arm to take,
"Shall we?"
Mai took in a deep breath, it was now or never.
Never. How about never?
But that was it, they were already walking in. The double doors swung open and a low hum met Mai's ears. Every table was full, the lights were low, and the room warm. Mai couldn't remember crossing the crowded room, she was just suddenly at their table, and there was everyone.
"It's about time! Where in the world have you been? That boyfriend of yours has refused to serve us anything until you get here!" Ayako exclaimed, leering over at Mai.
Mai's throat tightened.
"Mai, good thing you're finally here," a voice greeted behind her, "Traditions must be up held you know."
The voice belonged to Mr. Sachi, but he had scarcely uttered these words and passed before her when he made a dramatic stop,
"Why, look at you," he cried taking her in stunned, "you're a different creature all together, I wouldn't believe it if I didn't just see it with my own eyes."
Mai's cheeks began to burn red, not from embarrassment, but from irritation,
Wouldn't believe it?
Mai, still standing next to the table, having yet been able to take a seat, let alone breathe, gripped Bou-san's arm tighter. It was all that was holding her back from wiping the approving look off of the playwright's face.
"She always looks very nice," John spoke up, correcting Mr. Sachi.
Mai managed a grateful smile at the young priest, and seeing that he had saved her a seat, she suddenly released her hold on Bou-san and went to make for the safety of it, when another voice came behind her.
"Mai."
She couldn't help it, she turned around. Niko. Mai's heart dropped from her throat to her stomach.
"Wow...you look- you look so...you look..." he stammered, his face growing redder as he struggled to find the words.
"Beautiful."
Mai blinked. That voice, she knew it, but it didn't quite register. That voice never said words like beautiful. Not in reference to her. Helplessly she looked back to the table and found Naru staring, not at her, but at Niko. Naru. Had Naru just said she was beautiful? That was it. Mai was sure her heart would burst out of her chest.
"Ye- yes," Niko answered, with growing confidence, "Yes, beautiful."
Mai felt his stare on her, but her eyes were locked, frozen on Naru, who was not even looking at her, but glaring past her- at someone...but that didn't matter. What mattered was that this was the part where she was supposed to look Niko in the eye and thank him, perhaps compliment him back, did he look nice tonight? She didn't know...
Suddenly there was a sharp pain in her foot, snapping out of it, she looked down quickly and then back up at her attacker, which was none other than Bou-san, giving her a look that clearly asked: what-are-you-doing?
Suddenly her heart was back in her chest, she could turn her head, and she could speak again. Clearing her dry throat, Mai looked back to Niko and with the warmest smile she could muster and said,
"Thank you...you look-" she swallowed, observing him in his crisp dress clothes, "very nice."
For all the awkwardness and painfulness of that moment, somehow her words still did the trick, and in the next second Niko beamed at her, red once again,
"Thank you..."
"Well, now that we have all our necessary compliments out of the way, shall we finally eat?" Mr. Sachi suggested, the first one to speak sense.
There was a murmur of agreement and somehow, Mai ended up in a seat between John and Bou-san. Niko nodded, and with one last lingering look towards Mai, he left their table and hurried to the kitchen. Apparently still feeling talkative, Mr. Sachi went forth in the silence that had settled it's self over them.
"This should be wonderfully delicious. It's unique to this festival, and quite a tradition. That's why we couldn't enjoy it before, Mai wasn't present and all of one's party is needed to share in it, symbolizing marriage I suppose, the sharing of everything?"
The question put out went unanswered. Mai was sitting directly across from Masako and for the first time that night she had a moment to see wheather her rival was smiling into her wrist (as she now lacked a sleeve) after having a first row seat to her humiliation. But no. To Mai's great surprise the medium was not smiling, in fact she was almost frowning...almost. Her eyes strayed no where, but remained focused on Naru who sat beside her.
Mai narrowed her eyes at her rival and glanced in Mr. Sachi's direction. Unable to procure a seat next to his darling Masako, the playwright was forced to sit at the head of the table and stare down its length in order to catch glimpses of the medium's expressionless face. Suddenly Mai felt the energy at the table change and then Naru was staring her down. Taking a particularly brooding sip of tea, he pierced her with a glare that made Mai feel as if he could see right through her,
"So, where have you been?"
A flash image of the girl came to mind. Yoshi. Mai swallowed and looked from Naru to Bou-san.
This isn't going to be easy...
