Disclaimer: I wouldn't mind receiving the rights for Ghost Hunt as a Christmas gift.

Sorry if I didn't update yesterday. I was straightening out the flow and plot of my story but I hope you enjoy this chapter.

There was silence but it was far from uncomfortable. When he finished his tea, he put the cup down, "You did good today, Mai. I… enjoyed the meal." Damn it! How do people fight off blushes. She could feel her face heat up, "Ano… T-tha-thanks, uh, a-about the m-meal, I… I'm glad." She smiled shyly at him. I don't even like him that way and I'm stuttering like an idiot! But those eyes, how can anyone keep their composure with those eyes staring at you!

He just looked at her while she fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. What's he doing? Is my pain and discomfort amusing to you, huh, jerk?! Her eyes were wide as she pointed an accusing finger at him. Sadistic egotistical maniac! He raised an eyebrow but his eyes were dancing with curiosity.

"What are you hiding from me, Mai?" Nan desuka? Where did that come from? He could practically see the question marks flying out of her brain. He just let it slip from his earlier thoughts. He frowned at this. He didn't want his musings said out loud. He was about to tell her to disregard the question but she started to answer.

"I know," she said in a hushed tone. She knows? He played it cool, though, acting innocent. "Know about what?"

"I know about you… and that man, your other assistant."

"Lin."

"Ah… yes."

"What do you know about me and Lin?" His frown deepened. Out with it, woman so I could begin damage control.

"I know about you and Lin-san," her voice was quieter and he was losing patience.

"Just tell me what you know, Mai!" She closed her eyes when he raised his voice.

She inhaled, shutting her eyes more then blurted, "I-know-that-you-and-Lin-san-are-lovers-and-have-probably-eloped!"

What in bloody hell is she talking about? Calmer, he asked, "You thought I was gay and Lin was my lover?"

She nodded her head, eyes still tightly shut and hands clutching the hem of her skirt. She was stiff. Good god, Mai, what did you just say? Baka!

He just smirked. He moved closer to the teenage girl and trapped her between the side of the van and himself with his arms on either side of her head. Normally, his ego wouldn't take this kind of accusation but this was different. He had something to prove. He said in a low voice near her left ear, "Were you… disappointed, Mai?"

Shocked was an understatement to what she felt when her new superior pinned her to the wall of his van. She looked at him, her mouth parted as she began breathing heavily. The brawl that her heart was making didn't help her either. It was hard for her to accept that his proximity had this effect on her. Disappointed? Maybe, a little but so what? It's not like I had a chance and he clearly seem to have no interest in relationships or anything like that. She looked down and avoided his piercing gaze.

"Look at me, Mai." She didn't so he held her chin and lifted it hence blue would meet brown.

"Do you really believe what you've said?" Maybe that's why she wasn't attracted to me—at first.

Her eyes were searching his then her gaze dropped to his lips. She was breathless and if it was possible, her heart pounded louder and faster, "No." He smirked victoriously and leaned in to her ear once more, "Very good."

In a blink, he was back to his previous seat, bringing his heat along with him and she was just there, glued to where she was, dumbfounded. What just happened?

"Mai, close your mouth unless you want flies for dessert." Her rage quickly bubbled on the surface. "What the hell, Naru? What was that all about?!"

He tsk-ed while shaking his head. "Do I have to spell out everything for you, Mai?"

"…"

"Very well, seeing that your mental processes are too slow to comprehend. That is my way of telling you that what you believe is pure poppycock. If you still haven't understood, I, Shibuya Kazuya just proved to you, Taniyama Mai that I have no desires or inclinations to the same sex."

Her mouth was dry. That's all it was? Proof? But what did I expect?

There was just silence. He was reading in the dark while she was looking at the ground. He'll take a few glances just to look at her face for clues on what she was thinking but it always changed so abruptly.

Am I happy that he's straight and not in a relationship with Lin-san? But why would I be happy? Because I am shipping him and Masako together? Do I really think they should really be together? Ugh! I don't know what to think! It happened scarcely, for her to not recognize her own feelings about something or in this case, someone.

"Naru, is it true?"

"I see no reasons to deceive you."

"O-kay." She smiled.

What is she thinking? I can't ask that directly. "What do you think about the case, Mai?" All her conflicting emotions were washed away as eagerness filled her. She took a couple of seconds to formulate her answer. "I believe you when you said that there are no ghosts here."

"Hmm," he urged her to explain. "I think they're all just coincidences that the human mind exaggerated but what happened to Ayako when she was changing, I don't think that was an accident."

"How come?"

"That's why you were holding the nail earlier, right? Someone just pulled a prank on Ayako but for the flying shards of glass, I don't know how to explain that but I believe you when you said it had nothing to do with spirits," she finished with uncertainty, not knowing if her answer was worth her boss' time. Here it comes, another rousing helping of I'm stupid comments.

"You did well on your first day on the job," he finally said. She's more observant than I give her credit for.

"It's late. You should go home. I do not tolerate tardiness at work." If she refuses then I will just have to make her sleep at the back of the van which his very uncomfortable.

"Is it that the time already?!" She looked at his wrist watch then she started frenziedly gathering all her things which was difficult since the moon was their primary source of light, along with lampposts nearby. Her hand landed on something hard next to one of her bags. She ran her fingers on it, smooth, then she held it up. It was a hardbound book.

"Pa-ra-psy-cho-lo-gy," she can barely read under the moonlight. "Hey, Naru, what's this?"

"A book," he deadpanned returning to his notes. How can he even see a word with this light?

"Jerk. Is it any good?" He studied her before answering. She was interested to find out what information the book had to offer. "Yes, the author is quite brilliant."

She looked at the book again, "Dr. Oliver Davis." She giggled. Again with this, was she just taunting me? "Olli-yolli," she snickered again. "That's a funny nickname. Dr. Olli-yolli Davis."

What are you, twelve? "Grow up, Mai."

"Hey, nothing still compares to your nickname, Naru the Narcissist!" She smiled, triumphantly.

"Do you think I could borrow this?"

"Don't spill anything on it and bring it back with all the pages intact." He gave her a stern look that was meant as a threat.

"Will do, boss man Naru!" She gave him a nervous laugh. I don't even want to hear the 'or else' that comes after.

"Be sure to read it, you need all the help you can get." He just smirked, waiting for the quick-tempered reaction.

"Well, I'm sorry that I'm not as smart as you, jerkface!" Another sticking-her-tongue-out stunt. "Stupid narcissist, egomaniac, arrogant bastard," she muttered while leafing through the book.

She closed it, and held it close to her chest. "Parapsychology: The scientific study of the paranormal phenomena, things that scientists can't explain by their knowledge of nature and the world," she recited in a whisper to herself, contented. What was I doing again? Oh, crap! I forgot I need to get home. She continued her interrupted panic spree earlier and collected all her things, haphazardly putting them in her bag.

He just sat there, quietly observing the brunette. Exasperated, dejected then elated, it seems to be a cycle. Human emotions haven't interested him this much before granted, he haven't seen anyone alter their emotion from one to the other in the same breath.

"Is it safe for you to walk home alone this late?" He inquired.

"Yes, I'm okay. It's relatively safe on the neighborhood I live in, it's a 10-minute walk at most, and I took self-defense classes so I'm good. Bye, Naru! Sleep, okay? See you tomorrow!" Then she was off but he didn't miss the word 'relatively' in her sentence.

After she had left, the night returned to the cold and quiet that was normal to him. Although, he had to admit, he enjoyed how his assistant filled the stillness of the night. She sure is entertaining. He let himself reflect a little longer before busying himself again with work. She bought me homemade dinner with tea. Ordinarily, clients or anyone who dared brought him coffee. She is perceptive, to say the least but she was so far off to think that Lin and I were lovers; he shuddered at the recollection, at the same time, amused. But she did seem to catch on quickly, thinking that she actually figured out the prank done on Matsuzaki-san. Maybe too quick for my liking. He remembered that she went home with his book. She's already too close to the truth unconsciously at that. I'll have Lin do a background check but first, I need to figure out how to make her make tea for me again. He smirked to himself, "It's a good thing I'm the boss."