A/N: do not adjust your computer screens, yes this really is an update. Chapter 21 is here! It's a world record! I have been so delighted with your reviews, you guys are motivating me like crazy right now, which is why this update is getting to you so soon. THANK YOU. I'm so excited to hear what you think of this part and the little developments...things are about to get chaotic again, buckle in! See you next update, lots of love to you all!

Day Six

7:30am

The Koku Inn

Mai stirred. She drew in a deep breath. Something smelled good.

Cinnamon.

Warm bread.

Tea.

Mai's eyes fluttered open. Her stomach was suddenly alive.

"Hey, it's about time...you have no idea the self control I was using."

Mai turned her head, struggling to rise,

"Bou-san?"

The monk smiled, but then quickly stood to help her,

"Easy now, how are you feeling? You had us worried."

"Better, I think," Mai answered, as Bou-san propped pillows behind her back.

"Hm," he grunted, taking her face in his large hands. He tilted her head left and right, his palm testing her forehead and cheeks, "you don't seem to have a fever."

He released her and Mai brushed at her bangs, pondering her condition. As far as she could tell, she felt nothing like she had the night before. No searing skin. No pounding in her temples. Her thoughts seemed less disoriented, the only fog being that of sleep. But there was something new she was feeling, and it commanded her attention.

I'm starving!

It was then that she saw it. The tray of food.

"Is that for me?"

"Oh, yeah. It might be kinda cold...and I took a bite of your toast, it's okay if you aren't awake enough yet—"

"I'm awake," Mai answered, cutting him off as she leaned over, making a grab for it.

"Alright— hey, careful. Don't move around so much, here..."

The tray was set on top of the blanket, across her lap. Mai felt she had never seen such a delicious meal. Staring up at her was a bowl of some kind of warm porridge, sprinkled with cinnamon. On the side was a small plate of delicately cut sweet Satsuma oranges, a steaming cup of tea, and three slices of thick golden bread, smeared with butter...one of the pieces had a large bite missing from it.

That Bou-san.

Mai tucked in immediately, a breathless "thank you!" all she had time for.

"You're welcome, though I suppose I can't take much credit for it. Ayako met me at the door of the dining room and handed it off to me."

Taking a generous spoonful of porridge, Mai looked over the monk, "Ayako?"

"Yeah, it wasn't her idea either though. She said she was told to give it to me. If I had to guess, I would say this has Niko's name written all over it. He still has it bad for you, hm?"

Mai turned away from the monk, feeling his teasing smile as she reached for her tea.

"This has nothing to do with me. Niko is a nice person, he thinks of things like this."

Bou-san shook his head, "I'm a nice person and I didn't think of it."

"Oh yeah? The kind of nice who helps himself to other people's toast?"

"Hey, I'll have you know I didn't get breakfast because I was delivering this to you, and then you weren't even awake and I had to sit here and stare at all this food while my stomach was growling..."

Mai waved a piece of bread in the monk's face, "Okay, I'm sorry Bou-san. You are nice."

He took the toast and tenderly patted her head, "Are you sure you want to share this? You're devouring that tray."

Mai made a face at his obvious amusement, "I'm hungry."

"Apparently."

The conversation lapsed into pleasant silence as the two sat and munched their toast. Mai, finally feeling contented enough to look away from her meal, took in her surroundings. If the sun shining through her window was any judge, dawn had long since come. There were sounds of people moving about the hall. As her attention traveled around the room, Mai's gaze caught at the foot of her bed. A flash. An image of a solemn lined face appeared before her.

Mr. Miyuki.

She had seen him the night before. As if flood gates had been thrown open, Mai suddenly remembered her desperate need to talk to Bou-san. And he was sitting right beside her.

Finally.

Mai turned eagerly toward her partner, "Bou-san, we need—"

There was sudden knocking. Mai jumped, startled.

Bou-san gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, looking from the door and back to her with an expression that clearly said, who could that be?

Mai dabbed at the tray on her lap, sopping up some of the tea she had spilled in her surprise, as the monk stood and crossed the room. The door was opened, but Mai couldn't see out into the hall.

"Oh, it's you Niko."

"Uh— hello. I just came to...I'm sorry, I didn't know Mai had visitors."

"Niko, it's fine. Come in."

There was a shuffling at the door, Mai watched as Bou-san stepped aside to let their guest in. Niko came into view, and spotting Mai he greeted her warmly,

"Good morning."

Mai smiled, "Morning Niko."

"I'm sorry to bother you so early, I just thought you might like...but oh, you've eaten."

Mai blinked, not following at first, but then she saw the tray in his hands.

"Is that for Mai? How nice of you, thanks," Bou-san said, taking it off his hands.

Mai didn't miss the monk's emphasis on the word nice or his raised eyebrow as he brought the tray to her side, she didn't have time for insinuations though. She stared at this second meal, grateful— but confused.

The breakfast I just ate wasn't from Niko...?

"Um, you don't have to...I didn't realize you had eaten," Niko persisted, stepping forward as if to take it back, but Bou-san waved him off,

"Nah, this is perfect. She has her appetite back. Ten-fold."

Relenting, Niko looked to Mai, "That's great. It means you must be feeling better."

"I am, and thank you for bringing this."

Niko shrugged, his eyes touching on the tray already on her lap,

"You're welcome, it's nothing really, but ah— how did bandages hold up?"

Mai, shifted her feet under the covers,

"I haven't checked yet, but they don't seem to hurt as much."

Niko nodded, clasping his empty hands absently,

"Well, I'm glad. It's good to see you improving. I, uh— suppose I should get going, and let you rest some more. That's what today's all about after all."

"Oh, right," Mai answered, remembering what he had told her about the festival the night before, "doing what makes you happy. Well, I don't know how happy I'll be staying in bed all day, so maybe I'll see you later?"

"Sure, I'll be close by."

The two of them shared a smile, and then amongst goodbyes and thanks he left the room.

Bou-san approached the end of her bed and lifted the blankets from Mai's feet,

"So, Niko was over last night, hm?"

"Bandaging my feet, monk."

"Did I say anything? Anyways, it looks like he did a decent job. Does it hurt to move them?"

Mai frowned, carefully flexing them, but she didn't really feel much. She shook her head,

"No, I guess we'll see when I get up."

"How in the world did this happen to you?" he questioned concernedly, noticing the dried blood, "you have a lot to catch me up on."

"I know," Mai agreed, images of Wise Obasan, Naru, moon lilies, and Miss Miyuki flashing through her head.

"You can start with what you're doing wearing one of my shirts, I don't remember giving it to you."

Mai smirked.

I knew it was his.

"You didn't, Ayako did."

"What?"

"She gave it to me to wear last night."

"Ayako did?"

"Yes. Any special reason she has one of your shirts, Bou-san?"

The monk took extra care adjusting the blankets back over Mai's feet,

"Any special reason you have this moon lily out in the open? Cuddling it, perhaps?"

Mai's smirk faltered, her eyes darting to the flower lying beside the bed.

That Bou-san.

"I was not cuddling it."

"Likely story. Any fresh guesses who the presenter was?"

Mai watched the monk casually steal a piece of toast from the tray Niko brought, her cheeks coloring. He was teasing, but as his luck would have it, she did know exactly who.

"Naru."

"Hm, what was that?"

"Naru. He was the one who gave me the moon lily."

There was sudden coughing, Bou-san was choking on the bite he had just taken.

"Naru? How— do you...?"

"He told me. Last night," Mai answered, offering him her cup of tea, as he recovered.

He drank with raised eyebrows, "Just what happened between you last night?"

Mai sat back into her pillows, "Nothing."

"It couldn't have been nothing. Not from what I've heard and seen, spill."

"You shouldn't talk with those Nozomi gossipers, Bou-san. All I did was complete my mission."

"By distracting Naru. What did that end up involving exactly...?"

"Ghosts. Shortly after we separated from you at the festival, we heard there was something paranormal going on at the Miyuki House. We went to investigate—"

"And fell right into Wise Obasan's trap?"

Mai frowned, remembering the cellar door slamming shut, "Yes."

The monk let out a low whistle, "Nari said as much. That she had found the both of you locked up, and that old woman was the culprit. That's crazy. How long were you down there?"

Mai shrugged, the events of the night before streaming through her head. She realized she really hadn't had time yet to process it all., "Maybe an hour?"

"When did this happen?" Bou-san persisted, glancing at the foot of the bed, referring to her injuries, a frown of his own now forming.

While he found her situation with Naru amusing, his concern for her well being was obvious. Mai was touched.

"When we entered the cellar. It was dark and the next thing I knew there were breaking wine bottles all around me. Wise Obasan threw them, I guess impersonating the ghost..." she answered, conveniently leaving out the part where Naru rescued her.

"First my shoulder, and now your feet? I'm telling you that woman is dangerous, she shouldn't be allowed to run loose like that," Bou-san murmured, patting Mai's head sympathetically.

Mai gave him a reassuring smile, "I'm alright, Ayako and Niko took good care of me."

"Oh, and not Naru? Did we all just imagine him carrying you out of the Miyuki House then?"

Mai felt her cheeks warming again, recalling how he had tended to her. She pushed what was left of her porridge around her bowl, avoiding Bou-san's penetrating stare.

"It's true, he carried me. But I could have walked. That's the end of it, just like I said— I simply completed my mission. I kept him away from you, and speaking of that—"

"Whoa, wait a minute. That is not the end of it. You skipped over the good part."

"The good part?"

Bou-san picked up the moon lily and waved it around, an amused smirk playing on his lips. Mai caught his meaning. With a sigh she gave up the pretense of stirring her porridge,

"I asked him about it when we got back to the inn. I was frustrated, he wouldn't let me see you, and he wouldn't answer any of my questions. I wanted to throw him off guard."

Bou-san's eyebrows raised, "You really were channeling Masako, huh?"

"Bou-san—"

"And it worked."

Mai stared at the monk, her eyes narrowing. She didn't like the knowing grin spreading across his face,

"I hate to side with senile old women, but that settles it. You were distracting, he gave you his moon lily. It's obvious. Naru likes you."

Mai shook her head defiantly, "No, Bou-san. It's not like that. It's like you said before, it was all an excuse. He was here to spy on me."

Bou-san helped himself to the finishing bite of his toast, sat back and steepled his fingers, "Over my dead body."

Mai opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. It was her turn to be caught off guard.

"Over my dead body...was he here to spy on you. He came to leave you this, because he likes you Mai."

Drawing in a breath, her face a good shade of scarlet, which she convinced herself was because she was worked up and not something otherwise, Mai protested,

"Think about it Bou-san, Naru's not romantic."

"Think about it Mai, Naru doesn't need to be romantic. He could come in here anytime if he wanted to investigate, no problem, and you would never know. He doesn't need an excuse like a moon lily. He left it on purpose, because he meant to. He wanted you to have it."

Mai, who was busy during this speech searching around her pillows, stilled. Her heart skipped a beat. But then there was a crinkle near her hand, and she sprung to life once more,

"What about this picture then?" she demanded, pulling from a pillowcase a photo of a small girl.

The monk observed this picture, "What about it?"

"He saw it when he was here, he was spying Bou-san."

"He was lucky. He just happened to stumble onto it. Probably some kind of karmic reward for listening to his heart for once...Mai close your mouth, it's not ladylike to let it hang open like that."

Mai blinked at the monk in disbelief, "You really believe all that...that he came to my room to give me this lily because he likes me and nothing else? "

"I don't believe, I know."

"Naru."

"Yup."

There was beat. Mai let out a dismissive huff, her bangs fluttering.

That Bou-san.

Instinctively she reached for her cup of tea...only to realize that she had let the monk drink the rest. Before she could complain though, she felt a glass of orange juice placed in her hand, and the photo she was holding slipped out of the other,

"From Niko's tray," Bou-san said by way of explanation, "and moving from one solved mystery to another: I know who Kioko is."

Mai's gaze flitted between Bou-san's certain expression and the picture he now held.

"Miss Miyuki."

They both spoke at the same time and shared identical surprise.

"You knew?"

"Niko told me, how did you...?"

The monk rubbed the back of his neck, looking slightly uncomfortable at the memory, "Well, when you and Naru left, I got right to work. I lead Miss Miyuki away from the crowds, bought her some food, and while we were eating...asked her some subtle questions. I told her I had heard the name Kioko around, and wasn't sure who people were talking about, maybe she knew? She practically laughed in my face. She said that was herself, that she had changed her name to Toki when she turned of age, but Kioko was her birth name. She said the town of Nozomi won't let her forget it though, that they persist in calling her Kioko. She wondered what they were saying about her and I had to make up some quick lies. You can imagine how awkward the whole thing was."

"She changed her name...that's why it wasn't obvious."

"Exactly, though apparently we could have asked anyone in this town about it and got an answer."

They were silent a moment, letting the news sink in.

"Where does that leave us then...?" Mai wondered, her mind reeling. The mystery of the photo in Bou-san's hand had consumed her virtually the entire time she had been in Nozomi. The answers she knew now felt almost...anticlimactic. The little girl in the picture was Mr. Miyuki's daughter. It was just Miss Miyuki.

Why is that so important to know?

"I guess we're back at square one...again," the monk sighed, staring hard the photo of Miss Miyuki, as if he thought she might give up more secrets.

"Well, not square one exactly, operation Kioko lead us here."

"The problem is, here is no where. What are supposed to do now?"

Mai bit her lip, thinking. No matter how she approached it, Bou-san was right. They had hit a dead end.

"I have no idea."

"This entire mystery is like a puzzle, but we're a few pieces short," Bou-san murmured thoughtfully, his attention still captured by the picture in his hand, then with a half smile he continued, "I don't suppose you could call on your good friend Mr. Miyuki and ask him for another clue?"

"I don't think it works that way. And besides, I saw him just last night."

"You saw him?"

"Yes, he got me a glass of water...kind of."

"But no clue?"

"No clue."

The monk looked at her side long, giving back the photo he was studying, "Wait, did you just say he got you a glass of water?"

Mai tucked the picture safely away in her pillowcase, "Kind of. I was thirsty. He woke Ayako up, and she got me the water."

"He likes you doesn't he?"

"I think so. And I like him too. I really want to help him Bou-san..."

The monk nodded, sensing her earnestness, "Okay. Okay, we'll think of something. There's still a few more days of the festival left. Let's keep our ears open, and our eyes on Miss Miyuki. Sound like a plan?"

Mai smiled, "Yes."

"Good."

The monk stood and reached down to ruffle her hair, "I'm going to go and check in with the others. I'll come back and let you know what's going on, if you feel up to it we'll get out of here."

Mai agreed, and had barely watched the door close, before she was moving the tray of food from her lap. She would be kept in bed no longer. There were answers out there, but she wasn't going to find them at the inn.

Mai swung her legs over the side of her mattress and adjusted the sleeve of Bou-san's large shirt. She stared down at her feet.

Just one step at a time.

The coolness of the hardwood floor met her toes.

So far so good...

Mai straightened up, with one hand on the bed, she began shuffling toward her suitcase.

There was no burning or stabbing, only a slight tenderness reminded her of her injuries. Relieved, Mai took bolder steps, crossing the room. Opening her suitcase she found her clothes neatly folded and organized.

Thank you Ayako.

Mai gathered a navy tank top and a pair of white capris and headed for the bathroom.

Don't worry Mr. Miyuki, I won't give up.

Fifteen minutes later Mai was just finishing brushing her hair, clipping it back in a barrette, when there was a knock at her door followed by:

"Mai, can I come in?"

Mai hurried to the door and opened it herself. The monk on the other side looked surprised, but pleased,

"Hey, you're up. And wearing your own clothes."

Letting him in, she ignored his grin and countered him with a smirk of her own,

"Speaking of your shirt, who should I give it back to? You or Ayako?"

"Very funny. I see your mouth is in fine working order, how about your feet?"

"I don't really notice them. These flats don't press on the cuts, so I should be fine."

The monk came to stand in front of her, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders, his playful expression relaxed into something a bit more serious,

"Mai, you have to tell me. I can't let you go out if you're not ready. Are you sure you feel up to hunting around the theater today?"

Mai brought a hand to his and gave it a reassuring squeeze,

"Bou-san, I'm ready. If for some reason I start to feel sick again...or if my feet start hurting, I'll come back."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

The monk's face brightened again, he promptly turned her on the spot and began guiding her back towards the door, "Then let's go find some clues."

The moment they were out in the hall, it started. The staring, the whispers...

Oh, look it's her!

Isn't she the one who was carried across town last night?

Who's that man, he isn't the one she was seen with before.

That's the second man I've seen come out of her room just this morning!

Shocking...

Mai frowned, throwing anyone who dared catch her eye a dark look.

Let them talk.

Attempting to distract herself from the buzz she was causing, she focused on what was ahead,

"Are we meeting the others? Are they still in the dining room?"

"The theater, I think."

"You think?"

"When I left you earlier I searched all over, but I couldn't find anyone. They must have gone on to the theater."

They passed into the lobby. The monk held open the front door of the inn for her and Mai let out a breath in relief. She had escaped running into the Kokus.

Squinting in the bright sun of a late morning, Mai could see the festival grounds in the distance, over flowing with people.

"The festival runs all day today, I guess nothing makes Nozomi happier than celebrating Mr. Miyuki," Bou-san commented, noticing her gaze.

"You don't think everybody's there?"

"I said the festival makes Nozomi happy. What makes SPR happy? Solving cases. No, they're at the theater."

"Niko said no one was supposed to work today," Mai persisted, recalling the festival instructions she was given the night before.

Bou-san shot her a rueful grin,

"Tell that to Naru."

Despite Mai's injured feet they made short work of reaching the theater. Mai was only pointed at a handful of times.

"You're popular," the monk remarked with a significant look as they ascended the front steps.

"You've been spotted with me, you'll be soon too," she warned, looking to wipe the smirk off his face.

"Neat. I don't mind being linked to you. Is this going to turn into a love triangle thing, can I be the evil rival?"

Mai groaned at his cheeky indifference, smiling in spite of herself, but the good humor of the moment evaporated as she realized where they stood. The theater's infamous double doors loomed before her.

Mai frowned. Her track record with passing through them wasn't the best. Anxiety. Nausea. Headache. She had just recovered from being sick, she wasn't sure she was prepared to experience all that again. As if reading her thoughts, Mai felt Bou-san's large hand take hers.

"You okay with this? Should we try and find another way in..?"

Mai drew in a steadying breath,

"No, it's alright. This helps,"she answered, swinging their linked hands appreciatively, "let's go."

Like every time before, Mai rushed through the doorway as fast as possible. Like every time before, she felt an ill feeling steal over her, a sense of unease. She stood in the foyer, Bou-san rubbing her shoulder until the terrible sensation released her. Fortunately, it didn't last long.

"I don't understand it, I don't feel it," the monk murmured, staring at the doors behind them with uncertainty and dislike.

"I don't get it either, Bou-san."

Color back in her cheeks and a steadiness back in her legs, Mai straightened up,

"Everyone should be at base, right?"

"Should be. You ready?"

"Yeah, thank you."

The lobby they walked through was hushed and still. The theater had had no performances since the festival and their investigation had began. Mai had previously encountered some actors trying to rehearse, but the strange events plaguing the dressing rooms had all but made sure they had the place to themselves. Perhaps because it was so quiet, that's how she heard it. A crinkling.

Mai paused, standing in the middle of the hall,

"Wait. Do you hear that?"

A step or two ahead, Bou-san halted,

"What?"

"Shh..."

Curious, the monk obeyed. A few beats passed. Silence.

"What did you hear?" Bou-san questioned, speaking in a low voice.

Mai frowned, listening hard, but there was nothing.

"I thought I heard...a crinkling noise."

Bou-san's eyebrows raised, "A crinkling?"

"I could have sworn...but never mind. I must have imagined it."

They continued on, but they hadn't made it three more feet when Mai stopped,

"There it is again!"

"I heard it that time!"

"You did?"

"Yes, it was almost like...paper being crumpled?"

The two of them looked around, but there was nothing obvious. The noise faded again.

"Well, it's strange, but not all that sinister I guess..." The monk relented, with a baffled shrug, "come on, let's just get to base, maybe they know something about it?"

Mai was nodding and made to follow, but then a crinkling met her ears...coming from Bou-san's direction.

"Again!" he exclaimed, whirling back around.

An idea suddenly dawned on Mai, without losing a moment she hurried over to him. Starting at his shoulders she began patting him down.

"Hey, rumors remember," he chided, staring down at her in surprise, but guessing that she had a plan.

Mai's hands reached his waist and there she had success, pressing against his right coat pocket, a tell-tale crinkling.

"What— how...?"

Mai felt inside the pocket and nearly dropped what she pulled out. A young Miss Miyuki was smiling up at her.

"The picture?"

She and Bou-san exchanged a look of amazement,

"I gave that back to you."

"I know, I put it away inside the pillowcase."

"Something strange is going on here. How did it get in my pocket?"

Mai shook her head, staring at the photo she held.

"You don't think," Bou-san said, glancing around, speaking so that only she could hear him, "Mr. Miyuki...?"

Mai blinked, her heart rate increased. Slowly she looked up at the monk.

"It's a clue, Bou-san."

He frowned, not following,

"Yeah, the same clue as it was back in your room..."

"The picture yes, the clue no. I know what we have to do now."

"You do?"

"We have to go back, back to the room I found this photo in."

A thoughtful look came over the monk's face,

"That abandoned study?"

"It was his office."

"That picture just told you this?"

"Mostly. It reminded me that I never went back. I must have missed something Bou-san."

The monk took the photo from her hands, nodding,

"It's worth trying."

"Hide that. Let's get to base—"

"And then...clue hunting time."

"Exactly."

The photo tucked back in Bou-san's pocket, they finally made their way up the hall. Base turned out not to be as they expected. Entering Mai saw it was empty, save for Lin...and Naru.

Mai immediately realized how unprepared she was to see her boss. Images of moon lilies and Bou-san's words ran through her mind as if on loop. Quickly she ducked her head, looking to avoid eye contact. But she needn't have. He was facing away from her, sitting in a chair near the only window in the room. Lin also had his back to them, typing away at his computer.

Not bothered with the same feelings as Mai, Bou-san marched in, casually taking a seat on one of the couches,

"Hey," he said in way of greeting, "where is everybody?"

"At the festival, I suppose. I gave them the day off."

Naru's answer caused Mai to look up.

The day off?

"The day off?" Bou-san repeated, eyebrows raised, "but the case...?"

"Is over. Lin is typing up the final report now."

Mai took a step forward,

"What?"

Naru's attention shifted to her, and she felt her skin warm.

"So, that's it...? We're leaving?"

"We'll honor the agreement we have with Mr. Sachi and stay through the end of the festival, but as far as I'm concerned there's no longer any need to investigate. There's nothing here."

Bou-san risked a glance at Mai. The alarm in his eyes matched her own.

"What about...all those things that happened?"

"Not enough evidence."

"What should we do then?"

"Take the day off."

"Alright," the monk agreed, standing up from the couch, "we can do that."

Mai watched as Bou-san turned his back on Naru, blocking him from her view. He gave her an ushering wave as he approached her, he mouthed the words: in the hall. She didn't need much coaxing. Freed from the weight of Naru's stare, she was only too ready to leave, but just as she reached the door—

"Mai, tea."

She froze.

That Naru.

She had no choice. Pointedly ignoring the monk beside her, not turning around, she squared her shoulders, and changed direction, moving toward a small kitchenette.

There was a new kind of quiet in the room. Mai's every task seemed amplified. The whoosh of the flames as she turned on the burner, the rush of water as she filled the tea pot, the scrape of the tea tin as she pulled it down. Mai only heard the pounding of her heart. Naru's eyes were on her again, she could feel them.

Though she wouldn't admit it, there was a kind of comfort in brewing the tea. It was familiar. It occurred to her that she hadn't preformed the duty in awhile.

Just like it used to be...

She took advantage of the time it took for the tea to steep to collect herself. Though her mind was spinning with Naru's announcement, it wasn't his words then that she was having difficulty with. It was his words the night before.

And the answer is yes.

Mai poured the tea, telling herself the heat creeping into her cheeks was just the steam. She made two cups, careful to acknowledge Lin. He liked his tea as much as Naru.

Hands full, the Chinese man was her first stop. As she approached he surprised her by pausing what he was doing and turning to face her. They hadn't been on the best terms lately...

"How are you feeling?"

Mai set his cup beside the computer, "Better, I slept well and had a good breakfast."

"I'm glad to hear it."

Mai meet his eyes and felt his sincerity. She smiled, and with a grateful bob of the head, departed from his work space.

Next stop...

Mai's feet suddenly felt leaden, and it had nothing to do with her injuries.

That Naru.

He was seated across the room, still in the same chair.

As Mai neared she noticed that his attention was absorbed in reading something. It wasn't an unusual sight. She had walked in his office and found him buried in some foreign language or scientific book countless times.

But, coming to stand right beside him, she found herself surprised for a second time. A stack of what he was reading was piled before her: fashion magazines.

Distracted, she extended the cup of tea to him.

What is he...?

Her attention was recaptured in the next instant though, as she felt his fingers brush against hers. He had bypassed the handle. His hand closed over hers around the cup.

It was all over in a moment. Mai felt something like an electric charge race from her finger tips to her shoulder. He took his tea.

"Thank you. That will be all Mai," he spoke, his eyes still on the article he was reading.

She nodded, her empty hand falling to her side, fingers tingling.