Chapter 8 – Just To Be Near You
Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt, if I did the series would never have ended and Mai and Naru would have little paranormal grandbabies for Martin and Luella running around by now.
Author's Note: This sprained wrist has dramatically slowed my typing down I am so sorry! Then I got the vaccine, which made my other arm stupidly sore and useless….I really totally need that dictation program, lol. I'm also working on some beta-ing for a really cute HxH story for my friend Mona. I know irony, right? I don't edit my own stuff but I'll do it for others =) If anyone wants to act as a beta for me though let me know – I always miss the little mistakes. And during the times it hurts too much to type I got a cute little notebook and plotted out month by month what originally happened up through the Midori case, and then made my changes on what is going to happen, who is going to be introduced earlier or later, who is going to be saved and why, etc. So no idea yet on how long 2 years' worth of GH cannon events will take to rearrange to my own liking, but my guess is I will be at this for a long time. Edited: 9/29
The next day just as dawn broke over the skyline, Oliver woke up slowly, his body aching from sleeping in an awkward position sitting up in the back of the van with the monitors. Moving slowly with the intent to stretch out the kinks in his body, he realized that there was a slight weight pressed against his chest that radiated a warmth that he was unwilling to remove from his personal space. Instead Noll shifted both of their bodies into a more comfortable position against the side of the van's interior and wrapped his arms completely around Mai, his gaze soft and adoring as he contemplated the last few days in real time. His attitude on everything had changed completely with one single vision and the introduction of a plucky medium with a penchant for danger into his sphere of existence.
This small creature nestling against his chest, seeking out his nearness like a lifeline had wrought changes within him not just in a physical manner where he was comfortable with someone's touch for the first time in his life, but also mentally and emotionally. He knew. He could never deny it he was definitely hers he thought bemusedly; his life would have no meaning without this tiny trouble magnet in it, and he earnestly thanked whatever higher power saw fit to bring them together. Before Thursday afternoon, he never thought it was possible that his grief would ever be assuaged, and to such a degree that he could feel peace and affection again during the rest of his lifetime.
With these thoughts in mind he carefully laid his head on top of Mai's intending to let them both rest a bit longer since it was still so early. He completed this action with a reverence one would usually reserve for the miraculous, and Oliver breathed in the essence that was Mai alone, a scent reminiscent of vanilla, summer roses and honeysuckle and felt all vestiges of tightness leave him as he pulled her even closer and positioned her where she was completely cradled in his lap, her head lying on his chest. During this, his Mai, his miracle never once stirred except to wrap her arms around him in return and smile blissfully in her sleep as she cuddled him with love. He closed his beautiful deep blue eyes and decided he would just rest a bit longer while his love slept under his protection, but fate had different plans and it was not long before Naru was sleeping just as deeply as the young woman he sheltered in his arms.
Several hours later, the two lovers were still entwined in one another's arms and slumbering peacefully in the back compartment of the SPR van alongside the various technical gadgets found there, and this is how one apostate monk with long sandy brown hair pulled back into a ponytail found them. Takigawa knew he was a little early, but he was honestly excited to work with other psychics and exorcists for a change, yet the scene that met his eyes shocked him as he approached the van parked outside the old school building. He was so stunned by the spectacle before him that he completely missed the rather loud clicking of the miko's high heels that were accompanied by the softer footsteps of the young priest at her side as they approached where the monk was standing in astonishment.
Takigawa turned to Ayako and John, his eyes wide as he opened and closed his mouth in a perfect replica of Ayako's expression the day before and pointed at the duo asleep in the back of the van. John blushed a deep red and looked away as Bou-san hissed, "What is that?!" and John cocked his head at the view in front of them and asked, "M…maybe it was cold? We should be careful not to wake them up too quickly or they might be embarrassed to find what position they are in," he said in an uncertain but kind tone.
The red-headed priestess looked thoughtfully at the teenagers snuggled up together under a light blanket in the back storage space of the silver van before saying, "Didn't Mai say she was engaged yesterday? I highly doubt that Mr. Rude Computer Brain over there is her fiancé. His attitude is just way too cold for the most part to be into anyone, especially someone as bubbly as Mai. Just look at how dismissive he was to Masako when she was flirting with him, it's almost like he didn't even notice. Maybe he is actually Mai's cousin or family of some sort which would explain why they are so close and so attuned to each other when working together," Ayako offered up as explanation and then continued with a different train of thought, "I know that she only flashed that ring at us briefly so you guys might not have noticed it, but I did earlier when she was helping me treat Masako's wounds."
The priestess' eyes seemed to flash with yen signs as she recalled the details of the ring she had seen on the younger girl's finger. "When I first noticed it, I assumed it must be a well-designed fake, but you don't get that kind of glimmer from paste diamonds. The designs in between the sapphires might be made up of tiny diamond chips but they are real diamonds, and blue and yellow diamonds at that. Colored diamonds are extremely rare and very expensive, and then there is the fact that band is not silver or white gold. You don't get the same luminosity from either of those metals, and what Mai is wearing is definitely a platinum band that looks way too new to be a family heirloom. Another point to make note of is that engagement rings really aren't that prevalent here in Japan but more of a western influence. So whoever she is going to marry is not only loaded, but is also possibly not Japanese and maybe it's the person who paid for all of these gadgets Naru is using." Ayako smiled triumphantly at her companions as she thought she had made a rather convincing argument, whether it was for or against Mai and Naru being in a relationship though she wasn't really sure.
Bou-san remarked, "You might have a point Ayako, all of this equipment must cost quite a bit and both Mai and Naru seem to have opposing personalities. Mai seems very upbeat and warm in almost every interaction I have had with her, but she does show some passion when you get her fired up in an argument… maybe she makes up for Naru-bou's cold attitude and turns him into a human rather than a machine? What do you think John," Monk asked the Catholic priest in a serious manner and John smiled back serenely at the other two before responding, "In my few experiences with the two of them so far, I have found both of them to be wonderfully kind. Both have very graciously offered me assistance with any language barriers I might find. I also noticed that Naru is very considerate of Mai's comfort and defers to her judgment a lot. I am uncertain what type of relationship the two have but it isn't just that of an employer and employee although they act with the utmost propriety while surrounded by any of us as far as I have seen. And maybe if Mai's fiancé is wealthy and has an interest in the paranormal, it could be he acts as their patron?" the priest paused briefly when Mai stirred restlessly, almost as if feeling outside eyes on her, and the two other spiritualists inhaled sharply in horror at his statement.
Bou-san quickly said, "You can't mean…," at the same time Ayako gasped out, "No way! Mai is too young!" The priest looked at them in innocent confusion and said, "Is my Japanese all messed up again? When I said patron, I meant that in western countries like America it isn't unusual for companies like Naru's to have benefactors with an interest in the field that provide them with operating costs and equipment," he explained and both the monk and miko exhaled in relief at what he revealed. Monk said quietly to John, "In Japan the subject of patrons is a little different… it often has to do with contracts made with geishas," he said with a grim expression as John's face took on a horrified cast and the blonde priest shook his head anxiously in denial at offering up such a thought.
After the subject of patrons was put to rest, John hastened to finish his thoughts on the question the monk originally asked him in a near whisper in case all the commotion woke the two sleeping teens up, "I might think that they are together though, after all they do look beautiful together, don't they? Almost like one of the illustrations of angels I have seen in the Illuminated Manuscripts held in the Vatican's library in Italy. Both of them are attractive specimens of humanity in their own ways, but together like this they just appear luminous," he said looking wistfully at the two with a gentle smile.
Ayako snickered softly behind her hand at John's comparison, "Pfft, Mai, an angel I can believe, but not Naru. His looks might be heavenly but his attitude definitely needs an overhaul… unless you meant to call him a fallen angel." She let out a snort at her own joke and said, "Maybe we should test them to see what the deal is?" The miko looked at Bou-san with a wicked gleam in her eye and went on, "So how about you get a little closer to sweet little Mai there and test her statement about being an engaged woman and I will use my womanly wiles to tempt Naru. I bet he couldn't resist the alluring attention from a beautifully enchanting and talented woman like me if I really tried to get his attention," she stated preening as she complimented herself.
"Are you crazy, you old hag?!" Bou-san nearly shouted, causing Naru to begin rousing from his sleep. Blanching, and worried that they were about to be caught watching the two sleep, the monk ushered the other two over to the side of the van out of sight in case the others awoke. He lowered his voice and said, "Jou-chan is just a kid! I couldn't even pretend to want to date her! I'm no dirty old man like you said! You just want an excuse to go on the prowl you cougar!" Ayako wound up her handbag in preparation for hitting the monk upside the head with it, when John stepped in between the two in a conciliatory manner and shook his head firmly.
"Guys, enough," John spoke in a nearly commanding tone as he continued, "it really doesn't matter, does it? We have work we need to get to, and it is almost lunchtime, and we promised to meet them to get started then." He said then left to go wake the two people in question up, showing his annoyance with the monk and miko the only way a person as kind as John was could exhibit it.
Exchanging a look at the priest's attitude Takigawa and Ayako silently agreed to test the relationship boundaries between Mai and Naru in a non-invasive way and followed John to find him softly speaking to the two teenagers in question as they slowly came to full consciousness, Mai still sitting unconcernedly on Naru's lap as she yawned behind her hand and said, "Hey guys! Sorry, we ended up doing some mental exercises for a skill I am trying to develop after we finished compiling the data we were researching and it sapped our energy so much we just fell dead asleep." Mai smiled unselfconsciously and hopped off of Naru's lap and out of the van, stretching as she did so, and said, "I will go make us some tea while Naru gives you guys a run-down of the information we gathered," she said gathering up the tea making supplies before heading inside the building to use the electric kettle that she had installed in the base.
Naru slowly picked up his files and handed them to Bou-san, "Last night, the old school building sank 5.08 centimeters. There is a real issue with land subsidence in this area, and the plot that they built this school on is no different. Bou-san snatched the graphs from Naru and carefully examined them. Unfortunately for him, he didn't understand it at all and just ended up looking embarrassed and Bou-san asked Naru, "What? Are you saying that all the phenomenon were caused by land subsidence?!"
Not acknowledging the question, Naru reached into his files and took out several different sheets of paper, "Here you have a level scale graph, a geological diagram, and a water-course diagram," Naru muttered, placing each diagram down beside him and continued, "The old school building was built on moist land, and while the workers placed fresh soil on this parcel in an attempt to lessen the exposure to moisture before the school was built it wasn't enough precaution to cease the land from eroding. Based on the number of wells around the area, it stands to reason that there was once a large vein of water running beneath the school. Right now only two wells remain, both of which are dry."
Mai returned at this point in his explanation, her arms full of travel mugs containing a blend of tea specifically chosen for each person that she handed a mug to and said, "This is what we were watching last night so carefully. I noticed that the classroom that the chair moved in yesterday seemed to be slanted and after measuring it, one side of the classroom was indeed 7 centimeters lower than the other end." Mai smiled at the group and let Naru continue his explanation after he greedily downed the first mug of tea she handed him.
Naru pointed out some blue circles he had drawn on another another diagram that he was showing the group and said, "The building is sinking at an alarming rate on this side of the building, and as a result the rest of the structure is becoming unstable and distorting. Even though the principal wants to tear down the building, there really is no need to worry about it because the old school building will come down by itself, it is just a matter of time," he paused to sip slowly at his second mug of tea that Mai had placed in his hand discreetly, and looked expectantly at the others.
Ayako gave Naru an incredulous look and asked, "Are you serious? Are you saying we were in a dangerous place like that?" Naru nodded at the miko and said, "I do not believe that the entirety of all of the issues was caused only by the land subsidence, just a vast majority. Mai believes that there is a secondary cause for some of the activity in the form of the poltergeist we discussed yesterday. We have arranged for some testing to take place for everyone involved in the case tomorrow at 10 A.M. to be held in the principal's office."
With this information shared Naru turned to face John and asked him, "Did you still want to perform that exorcism? If so, I would like to take readings see if there are any reactions that we can pick up on the equipment." John gave the ghost hunter a kind smile, and nodded.
"I would like to attempt the exorcism, just in case land subsidence isn't the only reason behind the occurrences here, if you don't mind I will go prepare and perform the rites in the same room we found that the chair had moved in, if that is ok" John said and waited for agreement from the rest of the team that was forming as they worked together. Bou-san nodded his own assent and replied, "I would also like to try my hand at an exorcism, do you think you could gather some relevant information with an attempt from me as well, Naru-bou?"
Naru nodded thoughtfully and replied, "That is a very good suggestion. It will allow us to compare data collected from exorcism attempts from three different religious ceremonies. Having this data might help us in the future if we should all work together again," the stoic young man said, successfully planting the idea in the other's subconscious minds about future cooperation together.
John went to retrieve his ceremonial attire and change into it while he also gathered the tools he needed to successfully perform an exorcism. When he returned to the base he was dressed in a long black priest's cassock over his white clerical collar, a deep purple stole that denoted his position as an exorcist, and a rosary with a cross around his neck. The blonde priest was carrying a cup filled with water, and a well-worn bible that was bookmarked in several places with tattered ribbons. After checking that all of the devices they wished to use were in place, John went to the second-floor classroom where the chair had moved the previous day to begin his ritual.
Walking into the classroom, John created a makeshift altar on one of the lab tables in the room with an ornate cross, some candles and incense. He then lifted the cup full of liquid that he had brought upstairs with him, and dipped his finger in the holy water and drew a cross on the altar with it. After he drew the sign of the cross on the altar and walls on either side of it, he lit up the candles placed on the altar and the room brightened. Then John placed his hands together, bowed his head, and prayed, and a faint sound emitted from the microphone.
"Heavenly God, please allow us to worship you," John scattered the holy water over the surrounding area, then he opened his bible and recited, "God, your soul becomes our heaven and the earth. In the beginning was the word. The word was with God. The word was God..."
After constantly staring at the TV screen, Bou-san finally stood up and remarked, "I'm going out for a walk, and I will get ready for my own exorcism on the way back," before leaving the room.
The sky outside grew darker, fighting the weak illumination within the building for dominance and winning, causing shadows in the corners of the room that might give an amateur ghost hunter reason to pause. The light from the computer monitors was the only thing that kept the room from being swallowed up in darkness. Even though there are lots of screens, the room still seemed dark and foreboding to both Mai and Ayako.
Bou-san was shown on another TV screen, walking in the corridor of the first floor. He was now dressed in his monk robes, and he walked purposefully towards a room on the far left, his hand holding what Mai assumed was his vajra. Meanwhile, John continued to perform his exorcism in the classroom on the floor above, and he took some white sand from a container and scattered it around the floor, salt Mai assumed as she watched him as he went on with his ritual words, "The word was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made," John suddenly stopped praying and started looking around hesitantly as if he heard something he was unable to identify.
Naru indicated that Mai should increase the volume of the speakers, and in the midst of John's prayer, a barely noticeable snapping sound could be heard, but John did not seem to register it as he continued his exorcism, "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men," John said and lifted his head warily to look at the ceiling, "The light shone in the darkness. But the darkness could not comprehend the light..." John's voice trailed off as the wood over his head appeared to warp visibly to those watching the camera feed from a distance.
Mai grabbed the microphone attached to all the specialized cameras that she had planted in the building hot spots with Naru, and flicking the settings to pair with the camera set up in the room John was exorcising to access it's speaker function, she took a steadying breath and spoke into the microphone, "John, get out, just get out now. The ceiling above you is warping and looks like it is about to fall. Leave your equipment, we can recover it all later, we can't always recover you!" She ended her diatribe nearly yelling at the gentle priest, unaware that she was speaking English in her haste to make him understand the seriousness of his need to exit.
Hearing the familiar language come spewing out of the camera placed in the corner of the room, made John pause momentarily until he recalled both the ghost hunters from SPR spoke English and something in his brain finally clicked causing him to turn mid-exorcism ritual and return immediately to base just in time to hear a long, low toned creaking sound followed by a crash from the direction he was previously working in. Gasping as he got to the base camp, John searched out the monitor that was previously showing the activity in that room and found that it must have turned over on its side, with a large crack running through the picture shown. Because the camera came equipped with a low light vision setting or they wouldn't have been able to see the travesty left behind. Rubble covered up the entire classroom, pieces of wood and stone were scattered all over the floor and several beams skewered the floor directly in front of the altar where John had been performing his ritual. John shuddered as he thought about his near miss, and thanked Mai for her warning, to which he just got a warm hug in return as a dismissal for saving his life.
Bou-san returned right as the ceiling in the room John had been working in collapsed and demanded to know from Naru, "Is that the effects of ground subsidence, Naru-bou?" And Naru replied to the monk by saying, "According to the data we collected during the portion of the exorcism John was able to perform, there were no indications of anything supernatural interfering with the process. The data collection points did pick up increased moisture and heat in the room, along with sound waves directed into an area that already has several structural weaknesses. I do believe a lack of spiritual activity can be derived from that set of variables at the time, but I am willing to let you continue with your own exorcism attempt. Obviously, we will watch you just as carefully to see if there are any signs of danger from your actions. Once you have completed it, we can verify the variables your exorcism introduced and how the different stimuli in the building act or react to them and can compare the reactions from your set of variables to those given by John and Matsuzaki-san thus far.
Bou-san shrugs and says, "You know what, I think that if we do anymore rituals today the building might fall down the rest of the way, and we will never get to your "test" tomorrow. How about I conduct my own exorcism after we conduct your testing? That should also then give each exorcism attempt different outside influences with weather, temperature and observants? Besides it is getting late and I'm sure Jou-chan has class bright and early tomorrow."
Naru contemplated the monk's words briefly then agreed, "Then Monk, John and Mai can you go double check each of the remaining cameras and record temps while you are at it? Matsuzaki-san can stay here with me and help to record the information streaming from the monitors. Once these jobs are complete everyone is free to go for the evening, with the caveat to meet back here by 9 in the morning to prepare for the test we will be conducting at the principal's office," Naru said directing the spiritualists, unknowing that the way he split the groups up was playing right into a couple of the irregulars devious plans.
The group of three made their way carefully around the building, hoping to avoid further accidents, and once they are about half done Monk begins to ask Mai probing questions, "Sooooo, Jou-chan, you were just kidding when you said you were engaged right?" He asked and was shocked when the younger girl shook her head happily, and replied, "No, I just happened to meet my soulmate young. He is a brilliant, wonderful man, and as soon as we are legally old enough we plan to marry," she says, her smile so radiant that it seemed to even brighten the dark hallways of the old school building where they are working.
Monk tries again to eke out some clues from the young ginger, but once more he has no luck, so he says, "So who is the lucky guy? He's not some old geezer your parents are forcing you to marry is he? I'd save you Mai-chan, you could marry me instead!" The monk exclaimed, and looked expectantly at the pretty assistant for an answer.
Mai giggled softly, remembering how Bou-san always offered to take care of her in the future, but decides it is alright to let him off the hook early on this time. "As wonderful of a husband as I am sure you will be for someone like say, Ayako, I do truly love my fiancé with my entire heart and soul. Like myself, my fiancé is an orphan, but he lucked out and found some wonderful, amazing people who took him and his elder brother in at a young age. I consider his adoptive parents to by my family now too and I promise that no one has ever pushed us into a relationship, or to what depths our relationship might reach. Those decisions are ours alone and will remain so. Don't worry about me, k? I'm all grown up, and lived on my own for a bit before moving in with my fiancé, and we have a strict rule between the two of us that concerns intimacy… but that is of no consequence for you to know Mr. Nosy Monk," she laughed as she skillfully taunted him with the information he was after and then refused to reveal it at the last moment; John who realized what she was doing long before the Monk did was laughing softly behind his hand. This conversation between Mai and Takigawa actually made John much more certain that Mai was in fact engaged to their other young ghost hunter, Naru, an insight he decided he would hold close to his priest vestments for the time being.
With the group of three finally silent, they were able to finish the remaining cam checks and temp recordings quickly and headed back to the base just in time to hear Ayako ask Naru, "So handsome, how are you so successful at such a young age, and not have a real woman by your side? I mean I wouldn't mind getting to know you a little better, even if you are a little young," she smiled seductively at him, her fingers toying with her collar in a way that drew the eye to the bounty of her cleavage.
Naru, glanced over at her with an annoyed look and said, "I'm sorry, but I am just too used to being able to look at myself in the mirror every day," he said with a snicker as he realized the others had returned and were standing in the doorway watching the situation unfold. He continued speaking once the other group had fully entered the base and said, "What gives you the idea anyway, Matsuzaki-san, that I am without a romantic partner? I thought as a medical doctor you were qualified to assess any situation with a clear mind for any and all important facts" he said while Ayako turned bright red in embarrassment. Her mortification caused her to shrill harshly at Naru, "Its not like we take a class in narcissist mating habits you know," she huffed out irritably at him.
"Flirting with Naru will get you nowhere Ayako," Mai said with a laugh. "He was lucky enough to find the single person on earth who could not only put up with his moods, early on in his life, but they are also the one person who can make also get him head out of his arse, and believe me when I say that happens all too often," she giggles happily as she explains this to the group, and after receiving a sexy wink from Naru, she went to sit on his lap in a carefree manner and went on. " It might be fun to see how long it will take the missing Masako to figure it out though. So, if I catch any of you telling her I will be right cross with you all. After all, I did try to introduce myself to her, all happy to meet another medium, and she ignored me to hit on my fiancé right in front of my face. And this morning, even though you guys caught us cuddled up asleep together in the back of the van you still weren't sure that we weren't 'cousins' or something so much that you decided to divide and seduce?" Mai giggles brightly and she nuzzles against Naru's neck lovingly, causing him to turn and look at the others while rolling his eyes.
"We know you may still have questions about other aspects of our relationship, the business and our gifts but please be patient. I am willing to offer full disclosure after the case is done if everyone is willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement that I have had drafted by, Nishimura & Asahi, who I understand are the most professionally respected law firm in Tokyo at this time. I ask that you give us until Tuesday afternoon, at which time I predict the case will be completed to everyone's satisfaction," Naru finished speaking and gave everyone a small nod, as he couldn't bow with an excited and snuggly Mai taking over his lap and making him remain seated.
Mai looked over at the others, and said "Bou-san, Ayako, trust me please. I know it may seem irregular, but thanks to my pre-cognitive ability there is someone involved with this case who has plans to blackmail Naru with the information we will reveal to everyone on Tuesday, and onii-san suggested this was the best way to offer you all full disclosure as soon as possible because he believes that working together, that all of us can make a very important difference that might relieve suffering and even prolong some lives that could be lost otherwise. But right now, I am so tired, and sore from sleeping in that van all night that I think we should all call it a night." Mai said, glancing at Naru, her eyes nudging him to agree with her even though he looks like he wants to keep working longer.
Naru sighed and said, "Fine, Mai, I could use some more tea anyway…" only to be cut off by Mai who said, "Tea which you can get at the restaurant you are going to treat me to dinner at tonight. I am too hungry and tired to go cook, so it is your turn to feed me handsome," she smiled flirtatiously at him and turns to the others, "Anyone else wanna come? Gonna make my 'loaded' fiancé buy us all dinner," she smirked as she turned to Ayako with a wink to show that yes, she had indeed heard all of their conversations that morning.
Gripping Naru's hand in hers Mai stood up and pulled him with her and said, "Don't worry, just put it on night mode and we can review the tapes tomorrow. Lets go eat with everyone and then you can call Lin on the way home for an update… Theeeeen we can get some sleep, sounds good?" The petite girl asked her handsome fiancé who smiled endearingly at her antics before nodding, and turning to the rest of the team said, "Ready?" he paused a beat while they all nodded in agreement before saying, "Good, let's go."
