Vampy: Hello there, my minions! I certainly hope that you are all enjoying the story so far. I don't own anything from Ghost Hunt.
This is a rewritten/edited version.
Gene/Ayumu
thoughts and Shi's P.O.V.
regular P.O.V.
Dreams
Monk slammed the phone down on the receiver, causing Ayako and Masako to jump slightly. "Damn that bastard!"
"Takigawa, please do not slam the phone. It is office equipment and therefore must be treated with respect." Naru said as he read over some of the information Yasu and Lin had printed out.
"How can you worry about stupid equipment when Mai is still out there with that creep?!" Monk shouted, grabbing Naru by his shirt collar. "You haven't expressed any amount of worry even once since she's been gone. Don't you care?!"
Naru scowled but didn't try to push Monk away. "Of course I care! I'm not as unfeeling as everyone seems to think I am. She's my friend too, Takigawa!"
Monk let his hands drop as everyone else stared at Naru in surprise, still too frazzled to fully comprehend what Naru said. "What if we don't find her before he. . ." He stopped talking, not wanting to finish his sentence.
Ayako placed her hand on his shoulder. "Don't give up. We'll get to her before he has the chance to kill her. Besides, Mai is smart-"
"That's debatable." Naru mumbled as he straightened his clothes
The priestess ignored him and continued as if he hadn't spoken."-and she'll figure out a way to either get out of wherever she is or get information to us, like she did with the computer."
Monk simply nodded before sinking down onto the couch and staring blankly at the table in front of him.
Naru sighed, pressing his fingers against his temples. He wished Mai was there to make some tea. "We need to gather more information. Yasuhara, Lin, you two see what you can find on Shi's wife. Also see what addresses you can find that have any sort of connection to him. Hara-san, I'd like for you and Brown-san to make some tea that will at least be drinkable. Matsuzaki, take Takigawa home. He won't be of much help if all he is going to do is sit there and stare at the table."
Monk looked up. "I'm not leaving. Not until Mai is found."
"Then stop sitting there like a sack of potatoes and do something, idiot!" Ayako said, smacking his head. Her shoulders drooped slightly when he didn't try to fight with her. He must be really worried. . . That lucky girl. She thought enviously.
Naru sighed again as he pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "Fine. The two of you may go see if there is anything suspicious at Mai's apartment. It's possible that Shi has been there and accidentally left something behind we can use as a clue."
Ayako huffed a bit. "And what are you going to do, Oh Mighty Ruler?"
Naru turned and walked back to his office, calling over his shoulder, "I'm going to call my troublesome teacher to see if there's anything that she can find on the situation."
Everyone except for Lin left to do their respective jobs. Lin followed Naru into the office, closing the door behind him. "Oliver, you already had me investigate Mai-san's apartment. Why are you sending those two to do it again?"
Naru sighed. "Takigawa isn't going to be of much help in the case. All he's going to do is get angry or mope. I needed to get him out of the way but still let him feel like he was being of some help. Besides, something might have changed since you went there."
Lin stared at his charge in surprise before giving a small smile. He patted Naru's shoulder gently, noticing the slight stiffening and the pink that tinged the young man's cheek. "You're getting soft, Oliver."
Naru shrugged Lin's hand off indifferently though his heart was pounding so hard he was certain that the Chinese man could hear it. He replied as he picked up the phone and started dialing Madoka's number, "I only did it because I don't need anyone hindering our investigation."
With a roll of his eyes, Lin walked out of the narcissist's office to continue researching.
Mai wiped her tears away, upset with herself for acting so weak. She had sworn that she would never cry on a case ever since Naru returned to Japan. At the time, she had wanted to act as though he didn't affect her (which of course was faaaaaaaaar from the truth).
The brunette noticed that the temperature was considerably warmer than it had been earlier. Hopefully that meant that Mara must have gotten bored and finally left her alone.
The girl stood up slowly, wiping her runny nose on her sleeve as she noticed some pictures on the wall. Mai walked over to look at them. The first picture she saw was of Shi and his wife at their wedding. Mai couldn't deny that they looked perfect together, both of them smiling happily and gazing deeply into each others eyes.
Wow. . .They must have really cared for each other. . . Mai thought. She hadn't even bothered to think that maybe there had been a time when Shi had been good. The next picture further aided this new thought when she saw Shi holding a little baby in his arms, Mara in a hospital bed behind him.
A baby? But I haven't seen or heard any signs of a ch- Mai's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door knob turning. She leaped back from the pictures and forced the guilty look off her face, thinking that Shi was returning. To her surprise, a little boy peeked around the door jamb.
"Hello. Who are you?" Mai asked with a kind smile.
The boy, who seemed to be about six years old with light brown hair and huge doe eyes, looked at her warily and chewed on his bottom lip in uncertainty. Finally he whispered, "My name is Ryuu. Did my daddy bring you here?"
Mai blinked in shock. "Yes, I'm afraid he did. Do you know how I can get out?"
Ryuu looked behind him to make sure no one was around before beckoning Mai to him. "Hurry. Mama doesn't know I'm here."
Mai quietly rushed to the door. Ryuu's icy hand took hers as he began to lead her down the long hallway. Mai had so many questions she wanted to ask, but realized that if she spoke there was a high chance of them getting caught.
Ryuu took her through many hallways and down a few staircases before they finally arrived at a large room with double doors. Letting go of Mai's hand, Ryuu walked overt o the doors and opened them silently. Mai nearly sobbed with relief when she saw the outside world. Before her was a forest with trees as far as the eye could see. However, Mai was too relieved to be out of the house to care about the fact that she had no idea which way to go.
"Thank you, Ryuu!" She whispered as she hugged the little boy.
He smiled before pushing her gently out the door. "Nee-chan, tell Ayumu that I don't think I can play with her anymore. I need to go to the place Onii-san says feels warm."
Mai whirled around to face him just as Ryuu disappeared with a warm glow, leaving her open mouthed in shock. After a few staring at the spot Ryuu had just been standing a few moments before, Mai straightened her shoulders in determination and looked up at the menacing eye-like windows of the mansion she had been prisoner of only minutes before.
"Goodbye prison, hello freedom!" She smiled and turned to face the endless forest before her, causing her to sweat drop.
"Okay. . . Now how the hell am I supposed to find my way back to civilization?!"
