A/N: Sorry this is like a week late everyone! I had College Finals going on last week and it was hectic this time around. I hope that you all will enjoy this chapter, and I am going to sleep for a month now...
Disclaimer : I don not own Ghost Hunt.
"I'm happy with Ryushi, if that's what you're asking." Mai replied back to him after a moment of silence.
"I can see that Mai. I was wondering if you still had feelings for Gene." Naru replied back more stern than was necessary. Mai ignored him and decided to continue with dismantling the camera.
"Does he even know about Gene?" Naru then asked her after she had given no response.
"Can we just concentrate on working?" Mai asked exasperatedly at him.
"So you do still like him then." Naru mumbled halfheartedly as he turned away from her direction.
"I never had the kind of feelings that you think I did for Gene in the first place. Why does this even matter now? I'm with Ryushi now and that's final." Mai stated with a huff of annoyance. She wasn't sure why Naru even cared if she loved Ryushi or not. It wasn't like he had any say in the matter any how.
"Did you tell him about Gene and me?" Naru then asked out of curiosity. He wanted to know just how close the two really were, sure they acted close but that could just be a front.
"Shibuya-san, I would never tell another person's secret, unless provoked, and I don't concern myself about such things anymore. Besides I'm not the same person I was before." Mai told him before she left to the next camera not waiting for his response. Naru didn't go after her and instead went back to thinking as he helped take down the camera. The two of them continued the tasks in silence until they were finished completely when Mai excused herself to be with Ryushi. Mai checked the time on her watch while so was walking down the hallway. It was already close to five in the morning. She wasn't sure why Naru suddenly had gotten curious in her personal life in the first place. It wasn't like he was concerned about her feelings before. When Mai walked into the boy's room Ryushi was still sleeping. Deciding not to wake him she pulled up a chair and sat beside him, thankful that such a person was in her life at the moment. She held his hand as she watched him sleep. She was watching his face as she went back into thought and dazed out.
Mai opened her eyes to that oh so familiar black space. Mai cursed herself as she turned around. She couldn't believe that she passed out the way she did. The last thing she remembered was watching Ryushi sleep as she thought about her past with SPR. Unsure as to why she ended up here she turned around once more only to be greeted by someone she thought she would never see again.
"Hello Mai." Gene said awkwardly as he saw her turn toward him.
"Gene." Mai gasped as tears started to form in her eyes.
"It's been awhile huh?" He said trying to carry on a conversation with her.
"Idiot. What are you doing here?" Mai asked him ignoring his statement.
"I couldn't leave Noll in the state that he's in. I was ready that day to go, but when I saw the two of you together I just couldn't leave." Gene told her solemnly.
"What do you mean?" Mai asked him curious.
"He loves you Mai." Gene whispered.
"It's too late Gene." Mai smiled softly.
"Bu-" Gene started to say when Mai looked up at him with a stern face that left no room for questioning.
"Why are you here Gene? You really should move on. I'm sorry about what happened back then, getting you mixed up with him and everything, but you should really move on." Mai said as she started to try and get him to move on finally. Before Gene could give a reply Mai was suddenly jolted awake when she slipped off of her chair and hit the floor. Mai rubbed her head as she helped herself off of the floor.
"I guess sleeping in a chair isn't the wisest choice, huh?" Ryushi said softly as he watched her get up. Mai blushed profusely as she realized that she was being watched by him. He was sitting across from her on the bed with his head resting sideways on one of his hands.
"Wha. Bu. Humph." Mai said as she plopped herself back onto her seat extremely embarrassed. Ryushi laughed at her embarrassment causing her to blush even more.
"How long have you been awake?" Mai asked him when his laughter became softer.
"I'm not sure, but when I saw you drooling there I couldn't help but watch you. And then you slipped and fell." Ryushi said with a light tone, laughter still evident in his voice. Mai's hand rushed to her mouth to check if he was telling the truth before she thought the action through. As she traced her mouth she found that she hadn't actually drooled as told.
"I did not!" Mai shouted her face now red for a different reason. Ryushi just simply laughed in response when Mai had suddenly remembered where they were at. Mai quickly looked around the room to see if they were disturbing anyone when she found that they were the only two in the room.
"Takigawa-san and Father Brown had left a while ago. We should probably be getting ready to leave too." Ryushi explained when he noticed her questioning why they were alone.
"Yeah." Mai said as she nodded slowly in agreement. Ryushi stood from the bed and offered a hand to help Mai to stand as well.
"Thanks." Mai said as she accepted the offer and the two walked out of the room together.
"How long did you really sit there for?" Mai asked him curiously as they walked towards base.
"I'm not sure. When does the sun rise?" Ryushi asked off handedly. Mai slapped his arm playfully in response.
"Idiot." Mai simply said as she started to blush again.
"Only with you." Ryushi whispered not knowing that she had heard him. Mai simply smiled as if she had heard nothing and continued to base.
"Shibuya-san, how soon are we leaving?" Mai asked once she entered the room.
"Just as soon as the van is packed, which will be in a few minutes. Don't be late." Naru replied. Mai simply turned and walked out of the room in response pulling Ryushi along with her.
"Let's go pack Ryu." Mai simply said as they walked back to the rooms. Mai quickly packed her stuff, seeing that she had actually not brought much. When she was done she walked over to the men's room to see how Ryushi was doing. Ryushi had just zipped his luggage shut when he noticed that somebody was watching him. When he turned around he found that it was Mai.
"Why do you keep watching me?" Ryushi asked with a smile as he picked up his luggage and started to walk out of the room.
"I just can't believe that I'm dating such a wonderful guy." Mai answered. Ryushi stopped in surprise at her answer. He wasn't expecting that suddenly. He walked over to her and dropped his luggage on the floor before he pulled her close and kissed her softly.
"I'm the lucky one." Ryushi said softly before he picked his luggage back up and continued to the van. Once everything was packed into the van, they left the estate still wondering what exactly had happened on the case. The ride back to Tokyo was peaceful for the most part with Mai watching the scenery go by while Ryushi simply spaced out thinking and Naru was reading something in his little black booklet. Mai and Ryushi helped unpack once they arrived at the office and once everything was settled the pair left hand in hand. They continued to walk for a few streets not saying a word to each other.
"So, can we discuss what happened back then?" Ryushi asked hesitantly.
"Yeah. I guess we should. Do you know of a quiet place to talk without being overheard?" Mai asked him as she started looking at where they had walked to.
"Let's just head to my place." Ryushi said as he took the lead. They walked a short while more until they reached his apartment. Ryushi opened the door and went over to the kitchen immediately. As he started to make tea Mai came around and stood next to him. She helped him pick a tea out and start a pot of coffee for him.
"You know, I've been wondering. Why have you been making coffee this whole time for me?" Ryushi asked her. Mai blushed a little from his question as she moved over to the couch in the living room.
"I just thought that you might like coffee more than tea….." Mai said in a timid voice.
"What made you think that?" Ryushi asked her as he followed her.
"Well….when we first met and you ordered for the both of us you ordered me tea and yourself coffee. So, I've just assumed that you prefer coffee." Mai said as she could feel her blush deepening. Ryushi chuckled in response as he sat down.
"Well, thank you." Ryushi said with a light tone.
"Sure." Mai said as it became awkward. They sat in silence trying to figure out how to start the needed conversation and just as they were both going to say something the teapot on the stove whistled that it was done. Ryushi stood up as both of their words died in their mouths and went to make the tea. Once he came back into the living room he was carrying two hot coffee cups, one filled with tea and one filled with handed hers over as he sat back down.
"So, about the case…." Ryushi started hesitantly.
A/N: I really haven't slept much for the past two nights in a row, so I really just have sleep on my mind. However, I did remember everyone and didn't want to have to make you wait another week for this, so I posted the chapter before I'm about to pass out. Don't forget to Follow/Favorite/ REVIEW!
Wolfy: Well thank you for that complement! I really hope that the extra wait for this chapter is worth it... I'll probably add another chap during the holidays (Which means two this month!) so be on the look out for that!