Day Five

3:45pm

The Miyuki Mansion

There was a still moment as Mai's words registered in her partner's ears,

"Mr. Miyuki," he repeated, "as in dead playwright, owner of this house, Miss Miyuki's father-- Mr. Miyuki?"

A stiff breeze rippled the pond they stood near, catching Mai's bangs so that they fluttered before her eyes,

"That's the one, Bou-san..."

The monk blinked and took a step towards her, "You think you were in his memory?"

Mai nodded firmly, "I know I was."

Her partner paused and then threw a cautious glance at the garden gate, drawing Mai's attention there as well.

Where is everyone?

"Then, he exists? I mean-" the monk lowered his voice, his eyes shining as he turned to her in the last of the daylight, "He's really...around-- Mr. Sachi is telling the truth after all."

Mai swallowed, trying to hide her discomfort at being unable to mirror her partner's excitement. What was news to him, she had known nearly from the start.

"You didn't believe it before?" Mai asked, recalling his support against Naru and Masako's doubts.

Bou-san looked thoughtful and shrugged, "Well, I knew you were having strong feelings and strange things were happening, but aside from that encounter in the hall, no one has seen him until now- your vision changes everything."

Mai bit her lip, attempting to ignore the pang of guilt welling up inside her chest. With a frown, she grasped the monk's arm, causing him to look at her.

"Bou-san," she began, her eyes darting to the garden gate, "I've been keeping a kind of promise, and if I'm going to tell you anything more, I need to know you'll keep the promise too."

Her partner followed her gaze, and then turned back to her slowly- his brows furrowing in concern and confusion,

"Mai, what are you into? A promise, for who...?"

Mai released his arm and took a step back. This was it, the moment of truth.

At that very instant, the sun, hanging low in the sky, slipped down behind the Miyuki mansion. Mai was glad for the shadow cast upon her face,

"Mr. Miyuki."

"But, how? Mai- he's dead."

"Exactly."

There was silence between them for a few beats as the words sunk in. The monk's eyes widened then and he suddenly took her face in his hands,

"Mai," he said, almost breathlessly, his astonished face peering intently at hers, "am I to understand that you've been talking, making promises-- to the ghost of Mr. Miyuki?"

Her eyes locked with his, Mai gripped his wrists. Reading the surprise and uncertainty in his expression at this revelation, she knew had a lot of explaining to do. Mai only hoped, as the image of the ghostly playwright surfaced in her mind, that she had made the right decision...

I know it is. I can't keep lying to him; I need Bou-san on this one.

"Yes Bou-san, nearly this whole-"

"Oh. Are we interrupting something?"

Startled at the unexpected voice, Mai gasped and Bou-san jumped. Their heads snapped around to the garden gate. Standing there in the dim twilight was Ayako.

"Uh- this isn't what it looks like," the monk began, his hands still holding his partner's face.

But perhaps holding wasn't the word. In his alarm, the monk had ended up squashing her cheeks, forgetting his own strength. Mai let out a protesting noise and wrenched herself free. He spared her an apologetic glance as she rubbed at her irritated skin.

Mai wasn't the only one disgruntled at the moment. The priestess that had nearly walked in on the entire history of Mr. Miyuki's ghostly activities was leering over at them darkly. It appeared she was catching her breath. Apparently she had hurried over, if her hair was anything to judge by- the usually immaculate strands flying in all directions.

"I guess you found the doctor," Bou-san volunteered into the tense silence, nodding to the man beside the miko.

Doctor?

Mai followed the monk's gaze to the gentlemen just to the left of the priestess. He seemed as old as Nozomi itself (or at least as old as Wise Obasan…) and stood there looking awkwardly between Bou-san and herself, seeming to not know which was his would be patient. This statement of the obvious seemed to rankle Ayako,

"Yes, I found him- no thanks to that arm candy of Naru's," she snapped, brushing impatiently at some of the hair that had fallen into her eyes.

"I thought you said there was someone to treat?" the doctor cut in, sounding doubtful.

Ayako let out something crossed between a huff and a sigh, and waved a well-manicured hand in Mai's direction, "Yes, her."

Me?

Mai shifted where she stood and looked up questioningly at her partner. He shrugged and whispered out of the corner of his mouth,

"You passed out, remember? How were we to know it was just a dream?"

Realization dawned on her,

Oh, that's right...

She had been so caught up in her vision and explaining things to Bou-san that she had forgotten what had lead up this point. It must have been startling to see her collapse in Miss Miyuki's front yard, but then-

Where is everyone?

In dire need of answers, she opened her mouth to ask, but just then the doctor approached her.

"Now, let's take a proper look at you, I understand you tripped and fell…"

She told him I tripped?

Mai made a face and shot a look over at Ayako, but the miko merely shook her head and murmured,

"Doctor Okuchi, give her through look over- I'm sure something's been knocked silly..."

Mai let out a sharp objection at this, but it fell on deaf ears, and she was lead to Miss Miyuki's front steps. Seeing the accident prone girl to Mr. Okuchi's care, Ayako then turned sharply on heel to confront Bou-san.

Unsuspecting, his reaction was delayed as she raised a hand- he barely had time to flinch, anticipating vengeance, but it never happened. Instead, he felt his coat sleeve being clenched tightly, and before he knew it, he was being yanked away from Miss Miyuki's garden path to somewhere more secluded.

Stumbling a bit as they came to an abrupt halt, Ayako stepped further into his space; her eyes shining dangerously at him. Bou-san swallowed and leaned back as much as he could- he knew this look, she meant business, but her hand still gripped his arm, keeping him right where she wanted him.

"That's it Takigawa, tell me what's going on here."

The monk's stomach dropped further, great- an interrogation of his own. Though they were standing in relative privacy, just out of ear-shot, he could still spot Mai being tended to by the good doctor, though not being the best of patients. She had seen the miko drag him away and was struggling to observe them, whilst being poked and prodded. Bou-san caught her eye, and she gave him a look that silently shouted: don't tell! Despite what he had just learned, the little he had just learned, did she really think he would? This was Ayako, not Lin. He made a better spy than that.

It was Ayako's turn to be taken unawares, as the monk suddenly took her shoulders in his hands,

"What's going on? We're investigating."

Bou-san watched with some enjoyment as the priestess shifted in his firm grasp, her face the picture of surprise, but (unfortunately) she collected herself soon enough,

"And that investigation involves chicken and apples?" she demanded, incredulously.

Bou-san paused for moment, the events of the last few days running through his head, something was nagging there…

That promise. Just what kind of promise is Mai keeping?

Pulling himself together, he nodded,

"Strangely, yes. I think. Look, we're working on something here, and we want you on our side, but our side on the outside-"

Ayako opened her mouth to protest, but the monk pressed on,

"Just until we can get a handle on it, we're not sure what the big picture is yet."

At least, I'm not sure…

Ayako closed her mouth, her red lips forming a tight line. She fixed him with a long hard stare,

"This outside doesn't happen to include Naru and Lin, does it?"

All Bou-san could do was nod again, he still didn't know exactly why himself. Mai owed him a full explanation for this...

Maybe it was the seriousness of his expression and tone, a seriousness he so rarely demonstrated, but after a moment of tense silence and penetrating looks, he felt Ayako's shoulders relax a fraction. The miko drew in a deep breath and finally broke her gaze from his face, her attention traveling to where Mai still sat at the front of the house, being fussed over.

"You two better not be getting mixed up into any real trouble," she exhaled, her eyes locking with his again, "I can only mend so many bumps and bruises."

"We'll be safe, I promise," he swore, drawing himself up to full height, which even in her heels, Ayako couldn't match, "scouts honor."

The priestess let out a scoff at this and finally wriggled free from his hold on her. She sent him one last scrutinizing look, clearly still full of suspicion and curiosity at what they were up to, as she stalked away. Funnily enough, he knew how she felt. He needed to talk to Mai.

Mai fidgeted where she sat, attempting to crane her neck around the doctor that kept asking her to do distracting things like open her mouth and take deep breaths.

That Ayako!

She was as bad as Naru or Lin. Mai wasn't tied up for half a second before the priestess was making off with her partner- and from the look on her face, no doubt to interrogate him within an inch of his life...but interrogate him about what, she didn't know. What could Ayako possibly want from him? And then a horrifying thought struck her:

Lin. Ayako is Lin's partner.

Mai actually lurched where she sat, her heart pounding in panic. There was an impatient noise,

"Miss, please- no sudden moments. Now I'll have to take your pulse again," the doctor spoke, taking up her wrist once more.

But Mai didn't need his expert opinion to know that her heart was racing, she could feel it ramming up against her rib cage as her eyes frantically fought to meet Bou-san's again from across the yard.

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

"Goodness, that can't be right- 150…" the doctor murmured beside her, staring hard at her arm as if it were some kind of mistake.

Mai wasn't listening. Her legs twitched involuntarily, aching to leap up and interrupt before anything could be said. The miko had arrived just before Mai could explain the particulars of her promise, before she could swear the monk to secrecy…

He doesn't know how important it is not tell. He's never seen the look on Mr. Miyuki's face.

It was that look that haunted Mai, she could see it now everywhere she turned, lingering at the corner of her eye, in the shadows, that expression of desperate sadness, that finger held pleadingly to his lips.

Only Bou-san was supposed to know.

"You seem to be on edge young lady, am I making you nervous? I assure you that I'm only here to help."

Mai startled. Mr. Okuchi's voice had the same gravely quality as Mr. Miyuki's and for a short moment she had thought...

"How about a deep calming breath, hm?" the doctor persisted.

Distractedly, Mai nodded, her gaze still fixed on the shadowy figures of Ayako and Bou-san.

"And inhale-"

Mai drew in a slow breath, the air scented of summer grass, when her lungs suddenly sized. The need to cough, long and hard, was over powering. When she finally recovered, Mai could see Mr. Okuchi was deeply frowning at her now. Not entirely comfortable with the way he was looking at her, she quickly turned her head to see if either the monk or the priestess took notice of her coughing fit, but neither so much as glanced in her direction- Bou-san had Ayako's shoulders in his hands and was staring at her intently…

What is going on? What are they talking about…since when do they stand that close together?!

With her heart thundering in her chest and the doctor treating her as though she had one foot in the grave, Mai squeezed her eyes shut. Calm. She needed to calm down. She was jumping to conclusions. She needed to evaluate the facts first.

Like the fact Ayako rarely took orders from anyone. Even if asked to by Lin, it was hard to believe the miko would do his dirty work. Mai knew that Ayako toyed with the idea of being attracted to him, but Mai wasn't sure that it was enough for her to do his bidding.

Mai felt her shoulders relax a bit,

Right, she can't be helping him, there's not enough incentive!

Mai unclenched her hands from the nervous fists she had made, feeling better by the moment. She was being silly about Ayako. But then again...the priestess had a habit of turning up at all the right times lately, just before Mai was going to share something important with Bou-san.

Mai thought about her cropping up in the kitchen, the cellar- now. Her tone was suspicious when addressing the two of them, but maybe she was just curious? A curious person who also just happened to be…Lin's partner. Mai swallowed, hard.

What if Lin promised her his moon lily, in return for her help?

Ayako had only started being nosy, after Lin's interrogation had failed.

How badly does Ayako want his moon lily?

These thoughts were too much, she couldn't bare it. Mai's eyes flew open, and she came face to face with the miko.

"Whatare you doing? Not passing out on us again I hope?" Ayako turned her attention from Mai, to Mr. Okuchi, "well, what's the diagnosis?"

The ancient doctor crowded his way into Mai's field of vision, looking her up and down in a grim way. Mai crossed her arms, as if to block his view.

"Well," he began, "it appears there's quite a bit wrong with her, but I've determined that none of it is due from a bump on the head."

Bou-san approached from behind them, trailing Ayako after their conference.

"Why are we staring, is there something wrong with Mai?"

Ayako narrowed her eyes at him in annoyance, and her hand flew up to cover his mouth as the doctor continued,

"…though without my instruments, I'm fairly positive that this young woman has not been taking care of herself. She's suffering from dehydration, mild smoke inhalation, and fatigue. I'm recommending a day or two in bed and plenty of fluids…"

Mai blinked back at the faces peering down at her.

What? There is something wrong...?

The careless, slightly disapproving, air Ayako had adopted wavered; her hand fell from the monk's lips,

"Really?"

Concern clouded Bou-san's features, he pushed past the doctor and put and arm around Mai's shoulders, pulling her to his chest protectively.

"Oy, why didn't you tell me?"

"I- I didn't know…" Mai mumbled, dumbfounded, against his shirt.

It smelt slightly of smoke, she wrinkled her nose and drew back a bit.

Ayako came forward then. Despite her cool demeanor, her lips were pursed and Mai could see the worry in her eyes.

"You idiot, you didn't know you were tired and thirsty?" she admonished, though gently, taking Mai's chin as she often did when inspecting her for injury or illness.

"Well, there's really nothing left for me to do for her, she'll be fine if she gets the rest she needs," Mr. Okuchi continued, watching the moment between the three of them somewhat uncomfortably.

Her eyes still studying Mai, the miko waved the doctor off, "Yes, thank you- we'll see that she does."

Bou-san nodded to the man and he offered a stiff little bow to Mai before shuffling towards the garden gate, mumbling to himself in a loud whisper: strange tourists…

As soon as Mr. Okuchi was gone, Ayako turned on Bou-san.

"This is all your fault."

The monk's eyes widened in offense, unwittingly he gripped Mai tighter,

"And how is that?"

The priestess threw him a critical look,

"You know exactly how. She's suffering from smoke inhalation because of you."

"Not this again. Mai, you know I tried to get you out. You know that, right?" her partner asked, gazing down at her in earnest.

Mai blinked and her attention flicked from the monk's pleading face to the miko's piercing one, "Uh-" she began, shifting to the left, loosening herself from Bou-san grip.

She knew those tones. She knew those looks. She knew the two people standing around her all too well. She had the distinct feeling that she was about to be caught in the middle of something that she didn't want to be.

"What she knows is that you left her in a smoking building," Ayako persisted in lieu of Mai's answer.

Mai halted in her attempt to inch away from the monk's grasp. Cursing the priestess for putting words in her mouth, she snapped around to face the monk. Hurriedly she shook her head, but her partner's eyes weren't on her- they were on Ayako.

"Are you…" Mai nearly fell over as the monk suddenly released her, in the empty space above where she sat; he leaned towards the miko, "accusing me of something?"

"Yes," Ayako responded plainly, meeting the monk halfway, "I'm accusing you of leaving your partner in a smoking building."

Nearly pinned between their two bodies, with the way they had advanced on each other, Mai wriggled quickly from her spot on the steps and jumped up.

"And out of this unfounded accusation, you're blaming me for her smoke inhalation?" the monk protested incredulously, edging even further into her space.

The priestess shrugged indifferently and tossed her hair,

"If the shoe fits."

"Wha- wait," Mai suddenly cut in, waving her arms dismissively. She could read the warning signs, things were about to get out of hand, "If we're going to blame anyone here, it should be Naru!"

The two of them were nearly nose to nose now, each breathing hard, but the mention of Naru did the trick, the fight was defused. Taking notice of Mai for the first time in several heated moments, Bou-san locked eyes with Ayako for an instant longer before he cleared his throat, brow furrowing, and took a step back.

"Naru?" he repeated, confusedly.

Coming to her senses, Ayako worked at collecting herself, though- not fast enough. Mai saw the startled look that passed through her eyes when she realized just how close she had been standing to the monk. In a rare flustered moment, the miko turned her head away. It was hard to tell in the low light, but her cheeks appeared to have turned the color of her hair. She let out a huff, arms crossed tightly across her chest, and put much needed space between herself and the monk in the form of several feet.

"Naru?" she prompted also, when Mai didn't speak.

Satisfied that there was now a safe distance separating the priestess and her partner, Mai took notice of the questioning looks being aimed at her and realized that she needed to explain.

"Yes, Naru."

Yes, let's blame him.

Ayako raised an eyebrow, "We heard you the first time. I'm asking why Naru? What would he have to do with any of this?"

Mai narrowed her eyes a bit at the miko, but in glancing Bou-san's direction, she could see he was curious where she was coming from with this too…

Isn't it obvious?

Feeling baited by the priestess, Mai crossed her arms, perfectly mimicking her haughty stance,

"Because he's the reason I was left alone in that theater in the first place."

Mai spoke with feeling, but little conviction. She knew she was being unreasonable in making Naru out to be the guilty party for her being trapped in a smoking theater, but Naru was unreasonable. It was all his fault she felt this way. Guilty on two counts!

Bou-san's protests of "but you weren't alone!"- were drowned out by Ayako:

"That's why he should be to blame? He ordered you to into a building you were investigating, and because there just happened to be maniacal match-maker on the loose, it's his fault?"

Mai gripped her arms tighter and set her jaw in stubbornness,

"Yep. His fault."

Mai's forgotten partner was holding his chin in thought, attempting to follow her flawed logic,

"Well, if you look at it from the match-making angle, that she hunted you down because she wants you two together, he is half to blame-"

The miko shot him a withering look,

"You're seriously going to try and pawn this off on him?"

It was clear that she thought Mai was reaching. Bou-san was still her prime target.

The monk snapped his head around at her,

"Excuse me, but Mai has a valid point. That guy should rein in his feelings, saying things like over my dead body at the very idea of Niko proposing to Mai- it's no wonder Wise Obasan picked them as her chosen. If they weren't her chosen, Mai never would have been attacked."

Ayako eyes widened and her mouth fell open in a very unladylike way, "Wait- he what...?"

In a flash, Mai's skin was on fire at the mention of those four very flustering words. She threw a hard look at the monk, who seemed lost as to how things got so off track. Hurriedly Mai spat out,

"It's Naru's fault because it's about time he gets blamed for something."

This little outburst drew both Bou-san and the priestess' attention. Chest heaving, she locked eyes with both of them, daring each one to argue her point. Weak and childish as it was, neither did. Triumphant at their silence, Mai uncrossed her arms and breezed past them,

"Now, wasn't there somewhere we had to be?"

"You, maybe…" Ayako murmured, a strange knowing look coming over her face.

Over my dead body.

Mai faltered, a vivid red creeping up over her neck-

That Ayako!

"Oy, easy now! I think you've had enough falls for one day," her partner said suddenly, darting to her side, taking her elbow as though she were a delicate invalid.

Mai fixed him with a dangerous stare,

That Bou-san.

As furious as she was with him for sharing such sensitive information with a potential enemy, for Ayako was by no means clear of being guilty for something herself, Mai still allowed him to support her. Her legs really were tired.

They passed through the garden gate, the monk leading her carefully and the priestess following behind closely, an amused smirk playing on her lips. Mai stared straight ahead, attempting to ignore the miko, but she couldn't ignore the thoughts vying for her attention.

Is Ayako really working for Lin?

She glanced at the monk walking next to her, he didn't know of her suspicions. What did he tell the priestess during that private interview they had? What if he was compromised? Could she do that to him?

Bou-san turned his head to look at his partner,

"Hm?" he prompted, feeling her concentrated gaze boring into the side of his face.

Mai blinked, frowning a bit, "Bou-san…" she began, but then quickly pursed her lips.

The miko was just a few steps behind them. Near enough to hear every word. If Ayako was doing Lin's dirty work, she'd be listening closely. They couldn't talk. Not now.

"Nothing," she trailed off quietly.

For good measure she turned away, but that was just to hide her frustration. Intentionally or not, Ayako was foiling her chance to speak with the monk…and not just about the miko and her double-crossing ways. There was another major topic up for discussion, one that had not left the fore-front of Mai's mind since the moment she revealed his existence: Mr. Miyuki.

There was a quiet moment as the three of them passed through the dusty streets of Nozomi in the falling dusk. The scent of lilies found Mai once again. Strings of the celebrated flower were hung between the small town's houses and buildings.

It's amazing how such a simple thing can bring so much trouble, Mai thought, squinting up at them in the gathering dark. It would be time to light the lanterns soon.

"Do you, uh- smell chicken, Mai?" Bou-san spoke meaningfully, bringing her out of a revere filled with mysterious faces and moon lilies.

"Hm?" Mai mumbled, trying to catch up with what her partner had said, with what he meant.

Did he just ask me something about chicken?

And then it dawned on her.

Oh. That chicken.

Apparently the monk hadn't been convinced by her dismissive nothing. He was using their code, coaxing her to speak, since she wouldn't seem to do so freely.

Good, thinking Bou-san!

It hadn't occurred to her to use these special words around Ayako.

"Yes, I do smell chicken," she replied, earnestly.

"You…do?"

Mai nodded slowly, and let her gaze wander to the miko following behind him. Obviously confused on how they could be comprised when he could see neither Naru or Lin around, her partner glanced behind them, and when his eyes landed on an oblivious Ayako, his head snapped back around to Mai in surprise. Mai nodded once again, her expression stricken.

This silent communication wasn't enough for Bou-san. He countered her affirmative nod, with a head shake of his own. No. Yes. No. Yes.

"You really smell chicken on her?" he questioned seriously, despite the words coming out of his mouth.

The revelation, if it were true, was no laughing matter.

"What in the world are you two talking about? Smell chicken? On who?" Ayako suddenly protested, eyeing them both strangely.

Mai pretended not to hear and ploughed on. She couldn't stop now. She had to get this out. She had to let him know before it was too late…

"I really think so. I think she grills chicken and flips it with a spatula Bou-san."

The monk's disbelief merged with astonishment, and then his face finally settled into something like contempt. He managed not to glance at the miko, but just barely.

"Figures…" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.

If Mai didn't know better, she would say he almost looked disappointed. She bit her lip,

"I'm not positive about the chicken, but-"

"Really, what is it with you two and food?" the priestess demanded with more than a little irritation, not appreciating being ignored.

The monk turned and looked at her this time,

"I guess that's for me to know and you to find out," he shot back, his tone deeply insinuating.

"Excuse me?"

"Ah-" Mai jumped in, seeing the dangerous turn this was taking. She had told Bou-san about her suspicions to protect their mission, not to have him use that information to compromise it himself! "we'll talk chicken later; Ayako isn't hungry like we are…"

The priestess made a disgusted sound and marched around them,

"This is ridiculous…"

As the miko passed, a well-manicured hand grabbed hold of Mai's wrist and pulled,

"Come on."

"Hm?"

Mai blinked in surprise, throwing a look back at her partner, who she was leaving behind.

"You know, I was blaming that fall for you being knocked silly, but I'm starting to see it's just all the time you've been spending with him," Ayako muttered, tugging Mai along, "You need a girlfriend to hang out with Mai, someone to talk to about hair and clothes and guys. You do not need to be spending your adolescence talking about food with a washed-up monk!"

"Hey, just who are you calling washed-up?" Bou-san protested in offense as he came up behind them, "And we do talk those things!"

Ayako made a face and snapped her head around to Mai with a look that said, seriously?

Mai gave a helpless sort of shrug.

"Ugh- this is exactly my point," the miko laminated, putting more space between her and the person she deemed a bad influence.

"Wait a second here-" the monk persisted, taking hold of Mai's free arm "who are you to decide who she should be spending her time with?"

The priestess turned to face Bou-san with an unimpressed look,

"I'm the closest thing she's got to a family. This is an intervention."

Mai, who had been standing uncomfortably, being tugged two different directions (going deaf in each ear from the shouting…), suddenly glanced at the miko.

Family?

The monk balked, "An intervention?"

"Yes, I'm doing her a favor!" Ayako fired back.

"And how's that?"

"I'm saving her from you!"

Ducking her head, trying to move out of the way of the verbal sparring match happening across her, Mai finally took notice of her surroundings.

They had made it. Over the raised voices of Bou-san and Ayako, she could hear a live band playing music for the couples who she could see spinning around, several yards away. They were in the center of town.

Mai shook herself free of the two of them.

"Look we're here!"

But they didn't seem to hear her. Or they just didn't care. Neither was backing down now…

"Well, intervention or not, she's my partner," Bou-san said, drawing Mai towards him possessively, "We can't be separated."

There was a moment of abrupt silence as the fighting ceased and the band changed sets. The miko locked eyes with the monk in a stare down which Bou-san was challenging her to argue that fact (and Ayako looked as if she just might…), but then she broke her gaze.

"For heaven's sake Mai," she warned, crossing her arms, "don't talk men with him. He'll set you up with the likes of Sachi."

Mai's gaze slid from the miko to her partner. It wasn't like Ayako to just give up. His surprise seemed equal to hers…but he recovered quickly,

"Sachi? Please. She can do much better than Sachi. Naru for instance-"

The miko's eyebrows flew up in interest, and Mai's mouth fell open,

"Oy, don't act so surprised. Her feelings for him are obvious, and if that's who she likes then I'm happy being a supportive friend."

That last part was meant for the priestess, but it was doubtful if she caught it...she was too busy pinning Mai with a significant look, barely able to keep a delighted smirk in check.

"Ah...wait, no! Remember what you said about him and guy talk, you're right, he's terrible at it!" Mai countered, trying to do some damage control, but failing miserably.

That Ayako...that Bou-san!

"I don't know about that now," the miko murmured, giving the monk a considering look, "He may be better at it than I gave him credit for…"

Just when Mai was about to turn on her partner, taking swift revenge for all the secrets he may or may not have spilled that day, a new voice interrupted.

"Well, my theater may burn down, but it's a comfort to know that you're all having such a nice chat."

It was Mr. Sachi. He looked just how Ayako had when she had interrupted Mai and Bou-san earlier: sweating, out of breath, hair flying and…irritated.

"You have no idea what I've just been through hunting you down-" he sputtered, dabbing at his perspiring forehead.

When none of them moved, or even reacted, he let out a large huff,

"What, does this look like a game? Oh, never mind it!"

Exasperated and panting, the playwright approached Mai, taking her hand,

"Come along, she's waiting!"

And without any time to object, just like that, she found herself being dragged away again.