Day Five

11:00am

The Miyuki Theater

They turned another corner. Mai blinked, her eyes attempting to adapt to the growing dimness. With the oil lamps extinguished and fewer windows as they went, each new hall they came upon became increasingly gloomy. Mai brushed at a section of bangs stuck in place against her forehead, it was also increasingly humid.

"Kinda stuffy in here," Bou-san commented, rubbing the back of his neck.

Mai nodded, looking intently at the walls, waiting for the moment when she would spot the cluster of pictures.

We must be close...

Maybe it was the still air, the strange silence as they walked, or the fact that Mai had gotten little sleep the night before, but somehow, before her eyes, moonlight spilled out across the hall floor.

Mai paused; the sliver light was gone, replaced by a blank wood floor. A warm hand touched her shoulder,

"Mai?"

Mai shook her head and smiled lightly at the monk who was looking on at her concernedly,

"Sorry- it's nothing..."

The two continued on and so did her waking dream. They passed an open door and the room was transformed, suddenly dark as night, the objects inside cast in shadows. The moment she paused, everything returned to normal.

Mai moved on at a quickened pace, the brief flashes of what she had experienced the night before rising to the surface as if urging her on, guiding her to the hall of pictures.

"We must be nearly there? I don't remember it taking us this long last time," Bou-san remarked, running the back of his hand over his brow as the stale air was getting to him.

Feeling equally uncomfortable in the heat, Mai took up a handful of hair, holding it away from her neck,

"We must be," she agreed, her eyes trained on reading the wall ahead.

Then, out of the gloom, a frame emerged- and then another. As if pieces of ornate decoration, photograph after photograph stretched down the wall. The mix of black and white and color held countless sets of eyes, each staring down at Mai as if curious of her presence. There was one frame among them though who did not own a set of eyes and that blank spot was the one Mai came to stare into.

Making up the corner of her family triangle was Miss Miyuki's frame, its gold edges tarnished. Bou-san came to stand behind Mai,

"So the name plate just fell?" the monk asked his eye's traveling over the black letters which spelled out the heiress's name: Toki.

Not Kioko, Mai thought her fingers reaching out to brush the cool metal.

After a moment she answered the monk, shutting out the image of Mr. Miyuki.

"Yes, it just dropped to the floor..."

"And there was another name behind it?" the monk prodded, narrowing his eyes at the plate as if he could identify its secrets.

Mai nodded and her hand dropped back to her side, "Kioko..."

Behind her Bou-san straightened up, "Well, let's see what this frame is hiding."

Purposefully the monk moved around Mai and took hold of the name plate, his fingers closing around the edges.

Mai stepped back, the beating of her heart suddenly loud in her ears, her eyes unable to look away from the golden plate about to be removed. The tense moment stretched into seconds and those seconds stretched into minutes. Mai blinked,

"Bou-san, do you need some help?"

The monk released the name plate and stood back,

"I don't know what it is, no matter how hard I pull, it won't give."

Mai bit her lip and moved forward. Gripping the sharp corners firmly, she gave a quick tug and then- nothing. Bou-san watched her make another attempt, his head tilted in thoughtfulness,

"Maybe...there isn't another one here after all?"

Mai paused and brushed her sticky bangs out of her eyes before pulling again,

"The dream felt so real, Bou-san..."

The monk nodded, "Okay, maybe it was a message? Maybe we should start investigating this name Kioko? Maybe..."

Mai blinked, her eyes boring into the name printed in black across gold-

"Maybe Miss Miyuki knows something?"

Mai turned to face the monk, her eyes shining with the revelation. Bou-san's face was lit with the same excitement, the rush of finding an answer to a troubling question,

"That's it Mai. You were lead to Miss Miyuki's frame because she's the one you need to ask."

Mai let go of the name plate. That was it. They had figured it out. The dream was a message from Mr. Miyuki- his daughter must know something. Mai pursed her lips,

So then why do I feel so uncertain?

A hand patted her shoulder approvingly,

"Good work, now we're getting somewhere."

Mai looked up to the monk grinning satisfied down at her and managed a smile back, some of her unease leaving her,

"Right, it's a start."

"Well I don't know about you, but I'm miserable back here, let's return to base," Bou-san suggested, plucking at his shirt in an attempt to keep it from sticking to his skin.

Mai let out a breath and her bangs hardly stirred from where they were stuck to her forehead,

"Let's go," she agreed, her eyes drawn one last time to the name plate that had refused to give up its secrets.

A strange sort of sting entered Mai's eyes as she turned away. Quickly, before Bou-san could see, she wiped away a few tears that had suddenly welled up. Mai blinked at her wet hands, blurred through her watering eyes in confusion and slight alarm. What was going on? A memory penetrated her bewilderment- the original dream...the man...the tears...

Mai covered her face with her hands, hoping to calm herself before the monk- walking a few steps ahead- noticed her odd state.

This can't be happening again!

A bit flustered, Mai rubbed her stinging, tearing eyes- hardly able to make out the hall floor. In the next moment her throat was seized by a burning sensation. Bou-san let out a cough,

"Mai? What is-" he was cut off by another coughing fit.

Mai gave in to the sudden urge that squeezed her lungs and joined him. The distorted shape of the monk turned to face her,

"Do you smell that?"

Mai nodded vigorously, leaning against the wall now for support as her vision weakened to identifying only light and merging colors,

"Smoke."

The smell of it was choking her now.

"The theater must be on fire- we have to get out of here," Bou-san said glancing up the hall were the smoke had snaked past them, filling even their exit with the suffocating gray haze.

Blinking away a mixture of sweat and tears from his eyes, the monk reached for Mai's hand but felt the grip of someone else pull him sharply.

Mai pressed her shoulders against the wall, the collar of her shirt aiding in her breathing. The strange smoke, which caused her throat to burn and her eyes to tear like never before, had consumed the hall. Mai's vision was now practically useless, squinting it was as if she was looking at the world through a murky snow globe, the smoke casting her watery surroundings dim and gray.

"Bou-san?" she croaked, no longer able to see his dark shape amongst the blur, "Bou-san?" she tried again, one hand reaching out blindly. Only empty air met her fingers.

"Bou-san..." Mai's voice was growing weaker with every attempt, the smoke filling her mouth and lungs.

A slow panic set in. Where was he? Was she alone? Mai was suddenly struck with an image of the monk unconscious on the floor.

"Oh no, Bou-san..." Mai rasped, dropping to her knees, desperate to find him in her blindness.

A moment passed, broken by her coughs. Her hand ran out over the hard wood floor, but never touched anything that felt like the monk. Her heart pounding in her chest, Mai decided that he must have been separated from her.

He's probably looking for me now; I need to move from here...

Even with her shirt covering her nose, it was getting harder and harder to breath. Mai was becoming tired and out of breath. She coughed again,

Why can't I catch my breath? I thought it was supposed to be easier to breathe near the ground...or is it standing up...or...

It was getting harder and harder to think. Mai's head felt fuzzy and confused. A heavy understanding overcame her: she was not getting out of there herself...

Mai pushed herself up from off the floor, her eyes squeezed shut, she swallowed with difficulty, her mouth and throat as dry as ash. The image of an old man surfaced in her mind and she held on to it tightly,

Mr. Miyuki I need your help...please help me...

With all the energy she could summon Mai called on the spirit of the man who had lead her there...to find her...to save her...then she opened her eyes. A tall dark shape. Relief broke over Mai.

"Mai-" a voice spoke at and the same time she breathed, "Mr. Miyuki-"

A firm, warm hand took Mai's wrist and the black shape loomed closer,

"Mr. Miyuki?" the voice repeated.

Mai's eyes widened, she may have not been able to distinguish the face, but her ears knew the voice- and it did not belong to a ghostly theater owner.

A single thought shot through the slow motion of her mind with crystal clear understanding,

No.

"Naru," she nearly gasped and then with her free hand clutched at her eyes, which burned with a vengeance at her daring to open them so wide. A series of body shaking coughs followed this and the grip her boss had taken grew tighter.

Without a word, he pulled her into his arms, the collar of her shirt slipping off her nose as it was buried into his chest, the smell of tea canceling out the smoke for a brief wonderful moment. Mai was barely able to register that this was the first time she had ever found herself so close to her boss- before the ground was pulled out from underneath her feet. The moment of strange contentment was gone; she was being carried down the hall at a surprising pace.

Mai blinked rapidly, her vision clearing faster than she imagined possible. The wooden walls of the theater passed by her; a gentle wind rustled her disheveled hair. With her legs dangling over one arm and the rest of her body held up by his other, Mai's face hovered impossibly close to Naru's. Mai swallowed and stared determinedly down the hall, resisting the urge to study his impassive features.

All at once thoughts rushed at her as if on attack, questions, feelings...

Fire!

She had yet to see the red hot flames she imagined to be eating away at the theater. She resisted thinking about the searing heat, enjoying the moment of cool surrounding her.

Bou-san!

At this thought, she instinctively gripped Naru's shoulder tighter. Mai closed her mouth and forced down a painful swallow, shifting in the arms that held her with an expression of alarm,

"Bou-san," she whispered strainedly, unable to find her voice.

Naru's dark eyes flicked to her briefly,

"He's fine."

"We left him," Mai protested, her voice cracking as she attempted to rise it.

Focusing straight ahead Naru stalked on,

"He's fine," he merely repeated.

Mai opened her mouth in confusion, but promptly closed it as the air tasted of ash.

Mr. Miyuki!

The thought darted through her mind like a streak of black smoke, as black as the set of eyes suddenly regarding her. It was if in their close proximity he could hear her thoughts, the old man's name ringing in his ears as was well as hers.

Her vision nearly restored, she could see the questions waiting on his lips. But there was another set of lips that appeared before her clearing mind's eye, a ghostly pair with a single pleading finger placed against them. Mai pursed her own lips firmly as Naru's parted,

"Mai, when I reached you-"

A series of coughs conveniently seized her and some of them weren't even forced. Mai's chest ached from the effort and length, but the secret remained her own, Naru was successfully foiled.

A moment later she was unceremoniously released from his hold. Contact with the floor after being held with such lightness felt heavy and jarring. A bit disoriented and uncertain at why she had been so promptly let go, Mai blinked her newly stinging eyes up at Naru.

His height returned, he stood as a tall and imposing figure. The smell of tea that she had enjoyed breathing was quickly evaporating into smoke. A fresh burning touched Mai's throat. Her hand moved to her neck, but before she could say anything, Naru strode past her. Mai blinked and turned after him, her hand aiding her eyes now, attempting to rub away the burn.

Light, blinding and white. Mai's hand fell away from her eyes and she squinted into its warmth, the sun's rays a million times cooler than the flames she imagined engulfing the theater.

"Are you coming?"

A few steps ahead Naru had paused in the open space normally closed off by the theater's double doors, the bright of the outside casting him in shadow. Mai nodded, a mixture of relief running over her. Naru had gotten her out.

Mai passed through the entrance without incident and emerged into classic Nozomi chaos.

"Finally! Are you alright?" Mr. Sachi was upon her before she could draw in her first breath, his dark eyes shining with concern.

"Mai!" a second voice called and the playwright barely had time to step aside before Bou-san pushed past him. A moment later she pulled into a tight smoky embrace.

"Bou-san," Mai rasped, looking up at the monk who was still gripping her shoulders, "What happened? I was worried-"

"I am terribly shocked at all this," Mr. Sachi cut in, his voice raised as if addressing a crowd.

Mai blinked and peered past Bou-san to see that half of Nozomi had gathered outside the theater,

"But I assure you there is no fire- so you all may move along."

"No fire?" Mai repeated, glancing quickly at the building she had just escaped from, "But the smoke..."

Bou-san's lips were set in a line; absently he rubbed his shoulder and then titled his head towards Mr. Sachi. Mai's gaze traveled from the monk's unhappy face to the playwright's flustered one, a confused frown growing across her own,

"Mr. Sachi set the theater on fire?" she whispered disbelievingly, her words coming out in a wheeze.

Bou-san looked to Mai with his lips pressed firmer and suggestively jerked his head once again. Mai blinked uncertainly and quickly glanced back at the playwright...then she noticed his company.

"But there is a fire- a fire in their souls!"

Mr. Sachi threw the slowly dissipating crowd a look as they all paused again at the mention of fire,

"There is no actual fire," he argued exasperatedly.

The ancient woman standing beside him paid his attempts at putting out her own fires no mind,

"It is actual young man and burns within them-"

"There is no fire!" Mr. Sachi cried, waving his hands dismissively at the crowd that stood and stared.

Mai felt her face growing warmer and warmer as realization dawned on her.

Wise Obasan.

"Your closed eyes may not be able to see the flames, but I-"

"There-"

"Wise Obasan can see them and will show all of Nozomi-"

"Is--"

"What cannot be put out, what will consume them if not revealed-"

"No-"

"I have decided upon my Chosen and there will be no stopping this union."

The word fire died on the playwrights lips. Red in the face and seemingly breathless he stared at the old woman,

"Your Chosen?"

A wide slightly maniacal smile stretched across the woman's face. With her keen beady eyes she looked from the surprised playwright to the interested crowd. A dramatic hush had fallen over them; pairs and pairs of eager eyes watched as the old woman drew herself up,

"Yes...my Chosen."

Mai shifted where she stood, nearly as red in the face as Mr. Sachi had been. She could almost feel the attention of the crowd turn on her.

Naru and I are her Chosen.

Mr. Sachi eyed Mai with an odd expression and then shot a brief look at Naru who stood over Wise Obasan's shoulder,

"Ahem, well like I said...the theater is safe- let's move along now."

But the playwright might as well have been talking to himself; a loud murmur had broke over those clustered outside the theater.

Mai gripped Bou-san's arm and inched behind him. Obliging her, the monk became a human shield. Through the buzz that filled the air Mai heard her name being shouted. A moment later a panting John climbed the theater steps.

"I'm- so glad- I finally reached you," he said between breaths.

Mai peered out from behind the monk and instead of a priest she found a cold bottle of water.

Nothing ever looked so good. Mai had the bottle open and half gone before she noticed John smiling at her.

"Thank- you," she managed, a bit breathless herself.

The monk beside her reached down and plucked the bottle from her hand,

"Yes- thank you."

Mai watched him polish it off, thinking longingly of the tea they had made back at base not an hour ago.

I could drink the whole pot.

With her thirst awakened, Mai found herself distracted from the events taking place around her. The crowd massing around the theater had begun to thin, many in the group walking off with their partners for the day, whispering...

"Just how attention starved as a child were you?"

Mai blinked and snapped around to find Ayako standing there.

"We leave you alone for an hour and the next thing we know you're burning to death," the priestess went on, walking up to Mai and absently looking her over.

The spark of anger that was initially lit within Mai was put out by the worry she could tell Ayako was hiding.

"She wasn't alone, I was there," Bou-san corrected.

The priestess shot the monk a look before returning her attention to her patient,

"My point exactly."

Bou-san eyebrows rose in offense,

"You're saying this is my fault?"

Ayako offered an implicating silence, steadying Mai as she let out a series of coughs.

"Oh right, because I just love filling theaters with smoke and being dragged around by crazed old women," he protested, leering at the priestess.

"What happened?" Mai asked as soon as she could breathe again.

"One moment I was reaching for your hand- the next I find myself being yanked down the hall. That crazy old loon has quite a grip."

Mai watched as the monk massaged his sensitive arm,

"You mean Wise Obasan did all this?"

The monk nodded shooting the ancient matchmaker a dark look,

"I was disoriented. I tried to get back to you, but that woman gripped my shoulder in her bony fingers and wouldn't let go. She held me captive until Mr. Sachi stumbled upon us- that's when I learned there really wasn't any fire, she had lit all these satchels of brush and was letting the smoke fill the place."

Mai suddenly felt guilty for hurting Bou-san's shoulder. Ayako crossed her arms and fixed the monk with an unimpressed look,

"That woman has one foot in the grave and you couldn't fight her off?"

The monk held his shoulder defensively,

"Who said anything about a grave? With the grasp she had- I'd say she has both feet well above ground."

Ayako arched an unconvinced eyebrow at him.

"If you don't believe me have her read your palms again and be sure to mention the one foot in the grave thing," the monk challenged with a smirk.

"Graves? Is everyone alright?"

Mai turned to see Masako gliding towards them,

"Yes, no thanks to Takigawa here," Ayako answered, ignoring the look Bou-san was shooting her.

Masako's blue eyes regarded Mai carefully, her pink lips pursed,

"You look no worse-" she began and Mai could see the words than usual forming on her tongue, but she held them and continued,"-for wear Taniyama. You were able to find your way out okay?"

Mai returned her rival's innocent look with a knowing one, able hear the unspoken words in the question,

You mean did Naru help me find my way...?

Enjoying Masako's uncertainly, Mai let her attention wander over to their boss. The medium followed her gaze,

"I had some help," she answered simply, locking eyes with her rival.

"That had nothing to do with a fully capable monk," Ayako put in, examining her nails, determined to give Bou-san grief for the rest of the case.

"Sachi!" a voice suddenly called, breaking the tension that was mounting.

Nari ascended the stairs two at a time, nearly colliding with John.

"Oh- I'm so sorry," she exclaimed breathlessly.

John shook his head and helped her regain her balance. The playwright turned from the company of the Wise Obasan to face his winded actress,

"What is it? Everything alright with rehearsal?"

"Yes- but what about here? I just heard from one of the food vendors that the theater was on fire, or somebody in the theater was on fire, or two people...I had to make sure-"

"You've heard right my dear, two people and they stand before us ablaze."

Nari blinked, noticing Wise Obasan for the first time. She looked startledly between herself and Mr. Sachi,

"But..I-" she stammered, her face quickly flushing crimson.

"Nari!" a voice cried.

Her stomach already in her throat at the scene playing out before her, Mai glanced towards the voice and caught sight Niko running towards the theater. Her heart now joined her stomach.

"Wait-" Mr. Sachi cut in looking from Nari to Wise Obasan uncertainly.

The old woman merely grinned at the chaos and high running emotions.

"Is everyone safe?" Niko asked as he mounted the stairs, his eyes immediately finding Mai, Bou-san no longer acting as her human shield.

Several sets of eyes followed the heir's gaze, including Naru's. Now Mai felt ablaze. A brittle chuckling returned their attention to the ancient matchmaker.

"Fire, fire everywhere and not a drop to drink," she murmured amused.

"Everyone is quite well," Mr. Sachi answered belatedly, attempting to take control of the uncomfortable situation.

"I'm so glad," Niko sighed, his eyes smiling at Mai.

Mai felt her heart and stomach drop to her feet.

"Wise Obasan, you'll have to pardon me, but I have a theater to take care of, not to mention a rehearsal to over see," Mr. Sachi persisted, looking to get the troublesome woman away from the building she nearly burned down.

"Very well, I was just leaving," the old woman consented, holding out her hand for him to take in parting.

Mr. Sachi hesitated but then obliged, anything to get her out of there...

Faster and swifter than her looks let on, the ancient matchmaker yanked the playwright's hand over and was studying his palm before he could so much as blink, let alone protest.

Bou-san raised his eyebrows and fixed Ayako with a look that clearly said: see?

"So what? She's a quick old thing, doesn't mean she's strong," Ayako muttered.

The monk frowned and leered over at the priestess. Mai patted his arm supportively, the truth was that grip on the helpless Mr. Sachi did look strong.

"Ah-ha, thought so...I thought so," Wise Obasan announced triumphantly.

"What?" Nari breathed, ignoring the attention suddenly aimed at her.

The old woman merely patted the playwright's hand and smiled mysteriously,

"Another time dear...another time."

And with that she hobbled down the theater steps and across the dusty grounds of Nozomi. The group gathered on the theater porch watched her progress in silence. It wasn't until the matchmaker disappeared around a corner that Mr. Sachi found his voice.

"Well, you'll understand when I say that you two are not allowed within twenty feet of this theater for the rest of the day."

There was a further silence. Mai didn't understand,

Is he talking about me? Naru?

Mistaking the silence the playwright continued on,

"I mean the damage that could have been done...someone could have been hurt not today, not to mention my theater was nearly burned down."

"And who are you referring to Mr. Sachi?"

Naru's voice cut through the air for the first time since inside the theater, his tone a stinging reminder of just who Mr. Sachi was addressing. The playwright cleared his throat, his gaze landing briefly on Mai before finding Naru again,

"Well- you of course...and Mai. It seems quite obvious that Wise Obasan has marked you as her Chosen."

Mai suddenly felt warm, really warm. Her bangs were sticking to her forehead again and her throat was as ashen as if she had just gulped a giant cloud of smoke...again.

"Of course it would just be for today," Mr. Sachi repeated into the dangerous silence following his loaded statement.

"There is no reason for me not to enter this theater," Naru countered.

Mai winced at the finality of his tone. Normally this would end the discussion, but Mr. Sachi paused and then opened his mouth again.

"Actually, there is. You're not familiar with this woman but let me tell you..." the playwright's gaze fell on Nari, "If you've been Chosen there is no escape."

Nari nodded and turned her wide dark eyes on Naru,

"He's right- she will try everything to get you to agree to be her Chosen. She made Joji believe I was drowning."

"She made us believe Mai was burning," Mr. Sachi explained, casting a look in her direction. Mai swallowed ash.

Nari followed his gaze with a frown,

"So there was a fire?"

"No- thank goodness. She's not that desperate...yet. That's why neither of you can stay around here-"

"Every festival Wise Obasan chooses a couple that she thinks best represents the love and union of Mr. Miyuki and Yoshi. She chose Joji and I two years ago," Nari further elaborated, her soft eyes still focused on Mai,

"It was a day like this. Joji had asked me to be his partner and we decided to spend some time in the woods. There's a shallow stream that runs through that we were admiring. Joji heard someone calling his name, so he left for a moment. I waited, dangling my feet in the water, when I felt someone approach from behind me-"

Frowning deeply, Mr. Sachi took up the story,

"When I stepped out of the tree line, one of my actors was there. He told me that there were problems at the theater. I was just about to call Nari when Wise Obasan came towards us, shouting that Nari had fallen into the stream, I knew she couldn't swim..."

Mai was transported to earlier that day, deep in the theater, the smoke...the panic...

If Naru hadn't come...

"I was pushed into the water and was so surprised I couldn't react immediately. Fortunately it was late summer so the stream was really only a few feet deep, but Joji arrived before I could recover and stand up- the only thing he saw was me submerged," Nari continued, her gaze now cast intently upon the playwright.

Mr. Sachi shifted where he stood, his eyes darting to Masako for a moment,

"Naturally I pulled her out. If Wise Obasan's goal was scaring me into an attachment, she succeeded only in the scaring part. The woman has lost her mind if she thinks any of the schemes she tries will encourage a match."

Nari titled her head, her stare never wavering from the playwright's face even as he made light of any feelings he had for her,

"But Joji...you gave your moon lily to me that night."

Mai felt a sudden stab of pain and embarrassment for the actress. The emotions shining in the Nari's eyes starkly contrasted with the blank look Mr. Sachi returned.

He's either blind or a jerk...or he's a blind jerk.

Her sympathy for the woman was quickly replaced though with a more demanding feeling. The words moon lily invaded her mind, driving out all thoughts, but ones of the pale flower she had found lying on her bed. Color began to rise in Mai's cheeks as an unexpected revelation sealed her misery,

Someone standing on this porch with me gave me that moon lily.

Mr. Sachi's voice broke into her snowballing thoughts,

"I didn't offer you that moon lily because of Wise Obasan," he answered simply.

Mai frowned, swallowing a bit of her agony to feel a bit of anger for Nari. With the tone the playwright was using, he could have been merely discussing the weather rather than the feelings between two people.

Nari lowered her gaze from Mr. Sachi's face to stare down at her hands.

"The point here is," the playwright continued, looking to steer the conversation away from old flames and crazed matchmakers, "if you resist becoming her Chosen- you best be prepared for some forceful persuasion, none of which I want anywhere near my theater."

"Then you'll have no trouble with me borrowing them for the day," a voice suddenly spoke.

With the click of heels against the hardwood, Miss Miyuki joined them, her sapphire eyes taking in the gathering.

"Miss Miyuki," Mr. Sachi greeted, his voice holding a sort of edge, "so nice of you to check up on us- we're quite well thank you."

The woman regarded the playwright indifferently,

"It would be far too lucky for the theater to just burn itself down; I knew there would be no injuries."

"I'll have you know Mai here was trapped inside; if it weren't for your partner there may have been a very serious injury."

Mai looked to the playwright with surprise at his sudden dramatic take on a situation that moments ago had been described as harmless smoke.

"Hey- I was in there too..." Bou-san muttered.

"The only thing you could have seriously injured was your shoulder," Ayako remarked, "...and maybe your pride if you had any to begin with."

"Taniyama-san looks to be among the living," Miss Miyuki said appraisingly, "and since you won't risk the danger, I think I'll take my chances and hire your team for the day."

The playwright narrowed his eyes at the heiress standing before him,

"What could you possibly need with them?"

The woman shrugged casually,

"Disturbances. I'd like them to point me towards the faulty pipe or bold villager who enjoys making things go bump in the night."

"Masako and John, I'll ask you to stay behind and monitor things here," Naru spoke striding towards Miss Miyuki, answering for Mr. Sachi before he could open his mouth.

The medium and priest nodded their heads in consent as Naru passed, Masako's posture stiff and curt. Smiling to herself, Mai relished the reversal of their situations, ignoring the glare her rival shot into her retreating back.

"Very well then- I have damage control to take care of," Mr. Sachi said, watching Miss Miyuki depart with his paranormal team in tow.

A shadow was cast over Mai as she descended the stairs. Looking up she locked eyes with Lin. She attempted to summon up a smile, but faltered under the penetrating look he pinned her with.

"Oy- Mai," Bou-san protested coming down behind her.

Mai blinked, absently waving off the monk complaints as they stood mid-way down the steps.

What was that look all about? Mai thought, watching the tall Chinese man stride ahead, catching up with his boss.

"What's with the look?" Bou-san asked, peering down at her curiously and then following her gaze, "Ah- what have I told you? Thoughts of Naru and stairs don't mix."

Mai reached back to swat him, but missed,

"I wasn't looking at Naru," she answered, shaking her head and making quick work of the rest of the steps.

"Right, because Lin regularly stops you in your tracks..."

"He gave me a strange look," Mai murmured, eyeing his dark figure ahead.

"Naru?"

"Lin."

The monk eyed her side long,

"Isn't that what Lin does?"

Mai sighed and crossed her arms,

"You didn't see it Bou-san, it was...strange."

"Lin can kill with a piece of a paper, he is strange...don't tell him I said that though-"

"I don't know, I have a weird feeling..."

"I think someone's inhaled too much smoke today," the monk suggested, patting her on the shoulder.

"If I did it was your doing," Mai argued, throwing him a look.

The monk made a face, his eyes roaming across the dusty grounds of Nozomi towards a certain priestess,

"Hey, don't go listening to Ayako. That woman is as crazy as that loon of a matchmaker whom I fought heroically to reach you."

Mai followed his gaze to the miko and then fixed his shoulder with a knowing look,

"I wouldn't say that too loud. They know your weakness."

"Speaking of weaknesses...how was your rescue?" Bou-san wondered, swiftly changing the subject.

A sudden breeze rushed across Nozomi, stirring Mai's hair and teasing her nose with the light scent of tea. Fighting off a blush, Mai composed herself by remembering the less-than-romantic ending to the encounter,

"He tried to press me for information."

Bou-san looked down at her with raised eyebrows and wide eyes,

"You're burning to death and he decides to pump you for answers? Some gentlemen. Honestly, what you see in him..."

A small smile tugged at the corner of Mai's lips. She made no move to defend Naru as his sudden attack had been, at the least, unwelcome- and let the monk beat up his image a little longer before continuing,

"He's suspicious of me Bou-san; we're going to have to be careful."

"Suspicious of what, the picture? How could he know about it? Unless..." Bou-san trailed off, slowly looking to Mai.

Mai felt her stomach twist itself into a knot. She hadn't been thinking when she told the monk Naru had been questioning her.

Bou-san thinks this is about the picture...

The memory of that moment back in the theater played before her mind's eye; Mai could see the interest in Naru's face,

"Mr. Miyuki?"

This was much bigger than a picture. This was about a ghost whose existence she was keeping secret. Only how much longer she could was now up to how hard Naru was going to pry. She had a war on her hands and she could use all the allies she could get. Ignoring the twinge of guilt Mai looked up at Bou-san,

"Bou-san, there's something I need to tell you..."

"Unless- think about it..." the monk went on, looking down at her in revelation, "Naru could have been the one to give you that moon lily and if that's the case then guess who saw that picture sitting on your nightstand?"

Mai's next breath was lodged somewhere in her throat. An image of Naru walking into her room, a white flower glowing in his hand, his eyes sweeping across the darkness and then they land on her small bedside table, sitting there is a picture he's never seen before...

Blinking rapidly Mai nearly gave herself whiplash looking up at the monk,

"If it was him...but we don't know that," she reminded, biting her lip in uncertainty.

How could I have been so careless?

Bou-san stared down at her unconvinced,

"I guess Sachi could have thought it would be fun to add one more heart to his collection..."

Mai gave the monk a push and a grin broke over his features,

"I am no victim of Mr. Sachi's. There's still a chance it was...was-"

"Niko?" Bou-san added helpfully.

Mai could see his smiling eyes and hear his relief in her ears,

"Maybe..."

"Nah. It's Naru. In fact, maybe he gave you his moon lily purely as an excuse to break into your room?"

Quickly squashing a small disappointed voice shouting no! and ignoring the heat creeping up her neck; Mai fixed Bou-san with a pointed look,

"One theory at a time monk."

"Oh. Touched a nerve."

Mai stretched, one hand reaching for his arm,

"Hmm? What was that Bou-san? Your shoulder is bothering you?"

The monk quickly side stepped her reach,

"I was saying I think it's time we commence Operation Kioko."

"Operation...Kioko?" Mai repeated thoughtfully, her arm falling to her side.

Bou-san gazed ahead suggestively. A large house, fronted by a rare tree and pond loomed before them. A flash of gold invaded the scene: Miss Miyuki. Standing near enough for every breath to smell of tea, the heiress was talking with Naru, her words just out of earshot, though by her smiles it was something she found amusing.

"Operation Kioko," Bou-san reminded, seeing the fiery look entering Mai's eyes, "We need Miss Miyuki alive if we're going to get answers."

"Bou-san!" Mai protested, jabbing him in the side, "What do you take me for?"

"Ouch- I don't know, ask my feet and shoulder."

Mai crossed her arms and looked the monk up and down,

"Ayako's right, you are sensitive."

"No, what's sensitive is our mission," the monk corrected, sparing a dark look for the miko, before looking back to his partner in crime.

"And what exactly is that...?" Mai asked, her eyes following Miss Miyuki as she strolled beside Naru and Lin, the sun next to storm clouds.

Bou-san's gaze settled on the heiress as well,

"She knows something about our mysterious Kioko, maybe there will be something in her house that can help us? We really should pick some code words..."

Crossing her arms tighter to her chest, Mai forced herself to look away from the Miss Miyuki,

"Code words?" she repeated absently.

"If either one of us finds out something, we should say apple, then we'll know-"

Mai blinked and looked to the monk,

"Apple?"

"Yes, it can't be obvious. And if either of us is compromised-"

Mai took hold of Bou-san's forearm, stopping them just short of Miss Miyuki's front gate and the rest of SPR,

"Compromised?"

The monk looked down at her,

"Mai, let's be serious about this, agents get compromised all the time-"

"Serious? Bou-san our code word is apple."

"And chicken is our word if we're compromised."

"Bou-san?"

"Yes, Mai?"

"Are you hungry?"

"If I am it's your fault," he reminded pulling his arm from her grasp and moving on towards the gate, "Remember...chicken," he repeated out of the corner of his mouth.

Mai stared after monk before shaking her head and commencing Operation Kioko.

Chicken.

The moment Mai crossed the threshold of Miss Miyuki's property the dusty grounds of Nozomi gave way to clean stone. Staring at the path she was to follow past a shimmering pond, Mai found herself taken by surprise. It was as if she had passed over an invisible line and left the chaos of the village behind. There was a hush here she had not experienced even in the garden with John.

Proceeding with unusual quiet, Mai ventured further into the strange oasis. In the next moment the spell was broken by the clicking of heels against slate. Mai tore her gaze away from the graceful tree that dominated the space above the pond to face a flash of red and white. Ayako stood before her with a slight smile.

"It's a peaceful tree," she said simply, with a brief glance at the pine.

Mai nodded thoughtfully, watching the branches move in the breeze.

"What's not peaceful is taking orders from Naru. I'm no babysitter. He's waiting so let's go," the priestess continued already turning back towards the house.

Mai took one last breath, looking to draw in as much serenity from her surroundings as she could before plunging into world where she hoped to find apples and not be chicken.

The two of them reached Miss Miyuki's house and a renewed determination filled Mai as she gazed upon the heiress.

What do you know...?

"So we're gathered now," she said in way of greeting, her sharp blue eyes shifting to Naru beside her, "Will you be starting, or shall we have some tea first?"

Mai felt the hot sun at the back of her neck and pursed her dry lips, refusing to look at her boss, but earnestly wishing he would choose the tea...

"We'll start."

That Naru.

"Very well, should I give another tour?" Miss Miyuki wondered, glancing towards Mai and Bou-san.

"There's no need for that. You can show Takigawa-san to your office where that face appeared in the window. Lin, set Mai up with a thermometer and take her to the back half of the house," Naru ordered.

Something about the tone of his voice caused Mai to tense.

Lin...?

Drawing on her reserve of serenity, Mai mustered up a smile and faced the Chinese man, attempting to ignore the memory of the odd exchange between them earlier.

Bou-san looked from Naru, to Lin, and then Mai.

"Say, is that chicken I smell?" the monk suddenly asked, his eyes finding his partner's.

"Chicken?" Miss Miyuki repeated.

"Chicken?" Mai's smile failed her.

"Yes, chicken," Bou-san confirmed, stressing their code word, "Do you smell it?"

"Well it's possible one of the food vendors is cooking already," Miss Miyuki answered, missing the fact that the question had been directed at Mai.

Mai fought the urge to frown at her partner,

What is Bou-san thinking? We can't be compromised already...

"I don't smell anything," Mai replied pointedly.

It was the monk's turn to frown; crossing his arms he strained his eyes towards Lin without moving his head,

"Are you sure?"

"Of course she's sure," Ayako cut in, "You're just smelling things. I always knew it would only be a matter of time, your stomach has finally won control over your head."

The monk's eyes cut over to the miko, but before he could protest, Naru took control of the situation,

"Let's get the rest of this investigation underway, there will be time to eat later."

Mai stared determinedly at the stone beneath her feet, looking to avoid her partner's concerned look and her boss' cold gaze. A shadow passing by and a quick squeeze to her shoulder let her know of their exit. A moment later two sets of heels past her field of vision and disappeared into the house. Mai suddenly found herself alone- with Lin.

Swallowing Mai looked up, squinting into the sun as she glanced at the Chinese man. Lin stepped forward, successfully blocking out the blinding rays, his tall figure towering over Mai.

Chicken.

"Are we ready?"

Mai nodded and accepted the thermometer extended to her. Silently, his face betraying nothing, Lin lead the way into Miss Miyuki's home.

Stepping through the door Mai found herself in a large open room at conflict with it's self. At first it seemed that the serenity of the outside was being carefully conducted inside, with sliding panel walls and clean tatami mats stretched across the floor- but then something shiny and definitely electric caught Mai's attention.

She blinked, paused in the middle of the room, staring at the blank black screen with surprise. Aside from the computers they were using for the investigation, Mai had not encountered a single piece of technology since arriving in the old time village of Nozomi.

"A television?" she spoke to herself.

"Is that strange?" was Lin's response a moment later as he passed her into the house, hardly sparing a glance for the expensive furnishing. Not interested in an answer, he moved on from the room. Mai followed after him, thinking that it was strange.

For Nozomi anyway.

A moment later they entered a dim hall with no sign of the others, causing Mai to wonder at how large the Miyuki home really was. Struggling with the questions swirling around her head and keeping up with the Chinese man's large strides, Mai decided to fill the silence as they turned another corner, making virtually no sound at all.

"Did Miss Miyuki inherit this house from her father?"

Her voice was suddenly loud in the quiet of their padding feet and she frowned against it.

"Miss Miyuki has not shared her life story with me, but I would guess so."

From his tone Mai could tell that it was a story he didn't care to hear.

Her frown deepened as they lapsed into silence once again.

Thanks for that stimulating conversation...

Mai stole a glance behind them as they walked on, seeing nothing but the hall stretching out and the countless doors they passed. Mai was reminded of the theater's endless passageways and hoped they would be reaching the back of the house soon.

It's so quiet...

She strained to make out the faintest noise, but neither Bou-san and Ayako's bickering, Naru's curt orders, nor the click of tea cups meeting saucers, came back to her ears. The only sound that carried on the air was that of her own breathing.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of walking silent as ghosts, Lin slowed his pace and then came to a stop outside a wooden door.

"Miss Miyuki has reported seeing a ghostly figure in this room," the Chinese man spoke, his level voice not disturbing the quiet as Mai's had. It seemed to blend with it somehow. Mai looked from him to the door they stood outside of.

"Is it a guest room?" she asked, her voice coming out a bit distant as an unwelcome thought grew in the back of her mind,

Please say that this isn't-

"No," came Lin's answer, "this room used to belong to her parents."

The thought surged forward triumphantly, leaving Mai to feel a certain amount of dread.

Mr. Miyuki's room...

"Is something the matter?" Lin asked, his dark eyes regarding her closely.

Reminded of the dark look he sent her earlier that day, Mai attempted to shrug off his attention and reached to open the door with a smile.

Sliding the wood panel aside, Mai stood in the open doorway. The alarms going off loudly in her head and the urge to shout chicken! (as if Bou-san could even hear her...)were suddenly replaced by an unexpected calm. She moved slowly forward, feeling- strangely, as she did in the front garden.

This peace...

But her serenity was short lived. Mai could feel Lin's heavy gaze boring into her from behind. She felt rejuvenated somehow though, at least enough to face him.

"We need base readings, Brown-san was unable to finish with what happened at the theater," Lin explained stepping in, glancing briefly at the chart in his hand.

Mai nodded silently, unable to trust her voice just yet. All around her were reminders of just whose room she had entered. The surrounding walls held almost as many frames upon them as the theater's hall of pictures. The faces here stared out of their glass homes, smiling, holding on to an eternally young Mr. Miyuki.

As the readings on the thermometer moved, so did Mai, drawn to the images of his living self. The ghost of Mr. Miyuki was a mere shell of the vibrant man he once was. Lin shifted were he stood, moving towards the draped window, his intent gaze never leaving Mai. Forcing herself to look down at the digital numbers, Mai called out the base reading of the room in the most unaffected voice she could manage,

"It looks like...73.7"

There was the scratching of a pen against paper as the Chinese man took down the results. Mai's eyes found the walls again, scanning the framed playbooks, drafts, and programs that shared space with the many photos. Mai suddenly took in a breath. The scratching of the pen paused and Mai winced- in the silence the slightest noise could be detected.

"What is it?"

Mai swallowed and turned quickly from the wall she was facing, grabbing at her foot,

"It's so dark in here, I kicked the bed post," Mai said hurriedly, making a show of painful, grimacing, expressions.

Lin lowered his chart and examined Mai critically. Slowly his eyes drifted to a spot just past her shoulder,

"What's that?"

Mai gripped her foot so tightly her knuckles went white,

Chicken! Bou-san do you hear me, chicken!

"What's what?" she asked, drawing on the last of her serenity to keep her voice steady.

Lin, ignoring her feeble attempt at distraction, merely stepped forward, crossing the room towards her.

"Ow, my foot," she persisted, and in a last desperate effort, hopped right in the Chinese man's way.

Lin never broke stride, but simply pushed past her hopeless one legged figure and reached-

"This, I knew I wasn't mistaken-" Lin was saying, but Mai had her back to him and her eyes squeezed shut.

Her mind working furiously to recover from her compromising position, she slowly opened her eyes again and turned, bracing herself for the worst and prepared to do some of the best lying in history.

"Brown-san said he had lost it," Lin continued, his dark eyes looking up from the thermometer in his hand. Relief. With a clunk the thermometer Mai was grasping fell to the ground.

"Oh," she said, glancing down at the expensive device she had just dropped, along with her foot and panic.

A thermometer, just a thermometer!

"Careful. I believe you own SPR enough in damages," Lin reminded, though his tone was a missing a bit of its conviction.

Something was on his mind; Mai could see the thoughts forming in his dark eyes. She wasn't out of the woods yet, not by a long shot.

Chicken.

"Your foot feeling better?" Lin persisted and Mai had the unnerving feeling that he could see right through her.

Mai's foot twitched,

"It's not broken," she answered lightly, "...well since we got our base reading..."

With a painful smile, Mai reached down to pick up her fallen thermometer, determined to stare anywhere else but at the wall behind him. After a heavy pause, the Chinese man gave a nod and motioned towards the door, his head bent over his chart, but his eyes on Mai. She made for the door, feeling as if she was caught in quick sand and the more she struggled the worse it was getting.

Chicken, chicken, chicken!

Mai stepped out into the hall and it was if she could feel an invisible target attached to her back. With a frown, Mai rubbed at her shoulder blade, attempting to fight the paranoia. She was trapped in the back of the house with Lin and no witnesses. Mai froze suddenly, her eyes widening and then narrowing in fury,

That Naru! He did this to me! If I make it out of this alive I swear-

The clunk of the door sliding shut brought Mai from her vengeful fantasies.

If I make it...

Lin turned, his gaze coming to rest on her with purpose. The hall before them was incredibly empty and silent. Mai felt herself struggling,

"Well I'm sure our partners miss us, I think we're actually breaking the rules by being apart, let's go join them and I won't tell anyone if you won't."

Mai finally closed her mouth, unable to stop the tumble of nervous words from spilling out, which betrayed her emotions and incriminated her further.

"I'm only going to ask this once. What do you know, Mai?"

The calm of his expression reminded Mai enough of Naru that for a moment she felt a spark of anger instead of fear,

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

Lin stepped away from the door, his height causing Mai to feel uncomfortably small. With great effort, Mai drew herself up and matched him stare for stare.

That Naru.

"The trip spent here in Nozomi has amounted to a great waste of time. I am going to suggest we close this case," Lin spoke, his tone revealing his distaste for the old time village.

A moment before Mai had been stealing herself for a further attack; she had not expected this confession. Having not braced herself for surprise, she was not able to contain a stunned look.

"Close the case?" she repeated uncertainly.

The Chinese man observed her carefully,

"Yes, unless you have something you want to share?"

The branch that Mai had been holding on to, the lifeline saving her from a quick sand ending, snapped quite suddenly. Unprepared for the switch of gears, Mai realized the trap she had just fallen into a moment too late.

"I- what could I know?" she answered clumsily.

Lin's tactic had been effective, she was flustered and he was counting on an inevitable slip up.

Chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken...

"I've been watching you, Naru has been watching you. He asked me not to interfere, but if you know something you will tell me now. I will not spend a moment longer in this town."

For a moment Mai considered this. Obviously Lin's time spent in Nozomi- attending romantic festivals and disastrous meals- had been just as unbearable for him as it was for her. Mai pursed her lips; her eyes drifting past the Chinese man to the door behind him.

"I have nothing to share."

Lin fixed her with a look much like he had earlier on the theater steps- a look of suspicion and knowing.

"Are you sure?"

Mai stood stiffly, it took great effort to draw her eyes away from her source of strength and face her accuser,

Mr. Miyuki, your secret lives to see another day.

"Yes. Positive."

Lin inclined his head slightly in a sort of nod, an acknowledgment of her answer, though his eyes remained unconvinced.

"I'm glad you're so certain. You will have no regrets then when I make my request and we pull out of this pointless ghost hunt."

Mai let out a sudden cough, reminded of the smoke she recently inhaled...in the theater...where a ghost remained...who needed her help.

No regrets.

This is another one of Lin's tactics, he's trying to guilt me into answering, but Naru wouldn't pull out- he won't walk away from a challenge.

The two of them stood motionless in the empty hall, the silence between them filled with thoughts and doubt. Finally, Lin took a step past her and the standoff was broken. Mai let out a long breath she didn't know she was holding. Feeling slightly light headed, she turned and followed the Chinese man away from Mr. Miyuki's room and all of its unrevealed secrets.

There was one secret, though, that Mai could not be lead away from and that was the one she was carrying with her at that very moment in the form of three names as they strode down the hall, moving now at a much quicker pace than before. As Mai's confused mind whirled with what just happened, a small point of heat burned in her stomach.

That Naru.

Whether Lin acted on his own was beside the point. Her infuriating boss had paired her with her prosecutor and could not be completely innocent of her interrogation.

He was probably hoping for this.

In the next moment Mai was quite certain her heart was about to burst out of her chest when a door opened and Naru stepped out, followed by Ayako, Bou-san, and Miss Miyuki. The narrow hall was suddenly crowded, but Mai didn't notice as she only had eyes for her partner. Her expression practically screamed, chicken!

"Good, we've just finished here," Naru greeted with no preamble.

Mai felt her stomach twist as boss and assistant exchanged a brief knowing look.

"Is that tea I smell?" Mai spoke up, looking to Bou-san meaningfully, "You wouldn't have had chicken or apples with that, would you?"

Bou-san's eye widened considerably and Ayako's narrowed. Shooting the monk a disgusted look, she glanced back at Mai.

"You really need to spend less time together..."

"Chicken and apples...with tea?" Miss Miyuki remarked.

"Who has apples with their tea?" Bou-san persisted, using their code carefully.

"I do," Mai answered, "and chicken, lots of it."

Ayako made a repulsed face,

"Mai, chicken? That monk is finally rubbing off on you-"

The face Bou-san pulled at Mai's mention of lots of chicken was worse than the miko's, though he managed to return her glare.

"Takigawa-san, since you've completed your work in the office, I'll show you to the Miyuki's room," Lin said, breaking in to the strange conversation.

Mai tensed and her eyes darted sharply between Naru and Lin. Neither held an openly readable expression, but when you slave day in and day out for someone, you begin to recognize things. And Mai recognized a lot of things right then, all of them chicken.

They can't get me, so they're going after Bou-san!

"I promised Bou-san some lunch, after this morning I owe it to him," Mai cut in, ignoring the shift in Naru and Lin's attention from the monk to herself, "I'll even settle for a few apples."

This was appealed to Miss Miyuki which Mai saw was wise as Naru was already opening his mouth to object.

"I've just bought some this morning; you're welcome to them if you're hungry. The kitchen is just through the living room," the heiress answered, looking at Mai a little oddly, but consenting nonetheless.

Mai had to suppress a smile of triumph and with deliberate actions she stepped forward, holding her boss's gaze as she rescued her partner.

"Since they've decided to take a lunch break, I'll go to the Miyuki room, then some work will actually get done,"Ayako suggested with confidence, striding to her partner's side.

Mai turned just in time to catch Naru's curt nod and Lin's resigned expression. She relished in her revenge.

"I'll finish getting your interview Miss Miyuki..." was the last thing she heard before she and Bou-san entered the living room.

Mai's grip on the monk's arm was tight as she pulled him across the empty living room,

"Is it safe-?"

"Shhh," Mai cautioned, with an urgent tug.

"Ow, Mai-" the monk protested, attempting to free his bad arm from her deathly grasp.

"Quit whining, I just saved your life," Mai shot back at him as she dragged him through a set of swinging double doors. The resemblance to the Inn caused Mai to frown.

Perfect.

At least Niko wasn't waiting on the other side- or Mrs. Koku welding a pan. Mai shuddered and made a mental note not to attend dinner that night.

"Bou-san you'll never believe what I've just been put through," Mai suddenly rambled, turning on the monk mid-step, causing him to stumble.

"Oy- Mai," Bou-san protested, a finger flying to her lips, silencing her.

"We've got to be careful...their might be listening devices..." he went on, his eyes taking in the innocent kitchen, "we should talk in code..."

Mai spotted a glass fruit bowl on the counter next to her; swiftly she picked up an apple. By the time he faced her again, he had an apple pressed to his mouth.

"Have an apple Bou-san, but that's all the more code I'm going to use, this kitchen isn't bugged and I have a lot to tell you."

The monk nodded and bit a large chunk out of the apple with a crisp snap,

"I warned you going with Lin would leave you chicken."

Mai made a face at her partner; she did not need an I told you so right then.

"I didn't think we'd be compromised so quickly-"

"So you were chicken, what happened?" the monk wondered, suddenly looking her over.

Mai managed a small smile and waved off his attentions,

"Bou-san this isn't a spy movie, the worse thing Lin did was stare at me with one of those suspicious looks he learned from Naru...or Naru learned from him-"

"Mai, this is full scale espionage- and Lin is Naru's hitman."

Mai wanted to laugh at the monk's suggestion, but couldn't quite manage it. Her recent experience with the Chinese man was a little too fresh in her mind.

"You know I'm right. We're his targets and he won't rest until we've spilled all our-" the monk paused here dramatically, "secrets."

Mai swatted his arm and Bou-san smirked,

"Fine, if Naru is having Lin do his dirty work, we'll just have to be more careful."

"He must be pretty desperate to get your answers, recruiting Lin like this," the monk commented thoughtfully, taking another bite of apple.

Mai frowned slightly. As much as she wanted to blame Naru for all this, Lin had told her that he wasn't involved...

That Naru. I can't even be mad at you properly.

"I don't know, Lin seems to be doing this on his own. I'm sure Naru has told him that he was suspicious of me, but when he was interrogating me, he said that he wanted to get away from this town. Lin might just be trying to hurry and close this case..."

"...and if he thinks you have the answers," Bou-san finished for her knowingly.

"Exactly," Mai nodded, crossing her arms in frustration.

She didn't want Naru to escape this so easily when he regularly grilled her for answers.

He still paired me with Lin.

The munching in Mai's ear stopped and she glanced at the monk to see him looking from the fruit in his hand up at her,

"We talked chicken, now how about them apples?"