Chapter 11 is UP!
Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt. If I did, Naru wouldn't try to send Mai away for every little thing! He's so annoying!
Mai struggled to hold Naru up. He didn't look heavy, but he was unconscious, and Mai was a head shorter. John was by her side in an instant, and Naru's weight halved immediately. "Thank you so much," she said, as they half-dragged, half-carried him to the sofa.
Mai leaned over him, trying to remember what Ayako did for her patients. Naru didn't look too good, and it was all because he had to save her from the spirit. How could she have gone and gotten herself in trouble again? Lin was wrong. She was weaker than everyone in all aspects.
Speaking of which…
"John, where is everyone?"
"Well, you see, a little bit after you left, Kazuya began talking in his sleep. Then he yelled your name and woke up and told everyone you were in trouble. After Ayako told him he would have to stay here, Lin, Masako, and Ayako went to find you." He gestured to his swollen ankle. "I can't exactly walk too much, so I stayed here as well."
Mai found the tissues as John explained and wiped what she could of the blood. "Thanks, John. Is there any left?" she asked, motioning to her neck.
"Um." John looked at her worriedly. "It soaked into your collar."
Mai sighed in exasperation. First, Ayako would fuss over her and care to her cuts. Then she would be killed by Lin for forcing Naru to use his PK to save her. Then, she would be crushed by Monk when he woke up and found out what he had done. Finally, Naru would deem her a trouble magnet and order her to remain within arm's length of him or Lin for the rest of the investigation - or worse, order her out entirely.
If only she could stop her pathetic trembling!
Mai threw the tissue in the trash in a bloody heap and went to Monk. She looked back at John. "Are you going to...exorcise him or something?"
"I think I should wait until everyone gets back."
Mai nodded. "I should probably get them," she sighed.
John stood up. "You can't go alone, Mai!"
"I won't. I'll just open the door to wherever they are."
John went to the window and looked out. "You might want to get Yasuhara, too."
"Yasu!" Mai exclaimed, dashing to the window. "Poor guy. I completely forgot about him." He was sitting dejectedly on the steps, and Mai admired him for his stubbornness; he hadn't left just yet.
"John, will you close your eyes? I feel like it helps me."
"Sure." He sat back down and did as she asked.
Mai concentrated on Yasu, her friend, her one constant in this craziness, this world of priests and priestesses and mediums and spirits and onmyojis and PK users. She remembered the way he teased Naru without getting yelled at, the way him and Monk joked around, the school where she had first met him. He was sitting there behind the door; he had to be.
Open the door, said Gene.
Mai blindly reached for the doorknob and swung it open.
"Mai!" Yasuhara screamed, jumping up and tackling her in his customary greeting. Mai stumbled weakly and he caught her. "What-what's wrong?" he asked uncertainly, searching her face for answers. Then he seemed to realize something and looked around. "The base is in the foyer?"
"No," Mai said. "Could you just-"
"Naru?" Yasu looked around wildly. "Where is everybody else? What happened to him?" He tripped over something and looked down. "Monk? He's passed out?"
"Yes, he is, but -"
"Mai, your neck is bleeding!" he yelled, terrified. He pressed a hand to her throat. "This situation sure escalated quickly. Everyone was fine this morning!" he wailed.
"Yasu, you need to sit down and close your eyes for a second!" Mai shouted over his questions. She hadn't thought through the consequences of getting Yasu first, and now she was suffering for it. Then again, the others would have fussed over her even more.
John took Yasu by the arm and pulled him to sit down on the couch. "It's a long story, but just wait one more minute," he pleaded, and Yasu agreed hesitantly. Mai smiled. No one could refuse John. She would have to thank him later for that.
"Both of you, close your eyes," Mai ordered. "Don't open them until I say so."
"Why-"
"Just do it, Yasu," Mai said wearily. When she was sure he did, she turned back around.
Ayako's personality was the easiest to concentrate on. Fiery, passionate, caring - a doctor the core, she would protect them all. And she had become a mother to Mai, guiding her, scolding her, holding her close. Ayako and her fiery red hair, Ayako and her calm cleansing, Ayako arguing with Naru over his safety.
Open the door.
Mai swung open the door, and three bewildered faces peered at her from the darkness. Before she could get in another thought, dizziness overcame her, and the floor, Lin's arms, and Ayako's cry disappeared into a black hole.
Later...
The hand in her hair woke her up. It was gentle and slim-fingered, stroking her hair continuously away from her face. Mai wanted to snuggle closer to the warm body her head was on, but she was so tired she couldn't move. Her legs were bent up to her chest, and her head was propped up against someone's legs. Someone had taken off her shoes, and she was in her socks. Whoever she was leaning on had their other arm around her stomach, holding her close.
Someone was sitting next to her feet. She could feel their body heat and sometimes they would move and brush against her legs and feet. Mai thought she would burst or burn into a star, she was so full of the feeling of warmth and love. She didn't want to wake up and face reality. Something bad had happened, and she didn't want to remember it just now.
But the voices forced her to.
"We can't do that!"
"Then what do you suggest? A bulldozer?"
"A bulldozer?"
"Don't mind them. Inside joke."
"You can't just solve all your problems with brute force! Use your brain!"
"Says the one who uses her purse as a boxing glove!"
"If I wasn't holding Mai, you would be splattered all over the wall right now!"
"Brute force."
The feeling returned to Mai's limbs as the argument continued, and so did the events of the day. Monk's possession, Naru's collapse, her own collapse, and everything in between. Mai was surprised she didn't have a splitting headache. Maybe Ayako had given her a painkiller.
After several failed attempts, Mai finally managed to open one eye. Almost immediately, the hand in her hair descended down on her forehead and forced them shut.
"It's only been an hour, Mai," Ayako breathed. "You need to rest. Go back to sleep."
"Mai!" Monk cried. Mai felt him lean over her legs. "Is she awake?"
"Of course not, you stupid monk!" Ayako lied. Mai felt her lean over and push him and Monk leaned back. "Now be quiet! You'll wake her up."
"All right, all right," he muttered.
Ayako kept her hand on Mai's eyes for a while before returning to stroking her hair. Mai slept fitfully, waking up every now and then, but Ayako forced her to go back to sleep each time. Finally, Mai awoke feeling better and Ayako did not stop her.
"Mai!" Monk crushed - knees and all - into a hug.
Ayako whacked him with her hand. "She can't breathe! Let her go!"
Monk loosened her hold on her but he didn't let go. "Oh, Mai, I'm so sorry!" he wailed. "Please, please, please forgive me! I'd never hurt you, I swear!"
Mai planted her hands on his chest and pushed herself away from him so she could see him properly. "Monk, an evil spirit took over your body because you were taking me to find Yasu. If anyone should be apologizing, it should be. I know it wasn't you."
"Oh, Mai!" Monk pressed her closer.
Ayako pulled Mai away from him. "Why are you apologizing, you idiot? You're the one who was attacked and even after that you took all the responsibility and brought all of us back to base and fainted on top of that."
Yasu and John and Masako appeared at Mai's side. She tried to stand up, but Ayako was holding her down in her curled up position. Yasu threw his arms around her. "Long time, no see!" he chirped, energetic as always. "Hey, don't you dare get up. I've been filled in on all the details, and you really need to take it easy." He lowered his voice. "If Big Boss tells you 'tea,' I'll take care of it!" He wagged his eyebrows goofily, and Mai giggled.
"I am glad you are alright," Masako said.
"Yeah, you gave me quite a scare, collapsing like that," John said. Mai could see the worry in his eyes, and she remembered that he had been there with her the entire time. "Good thing Lin was there to catch you."
Mai looked around for the onmyoji. He was typing away at his desk but turned when he heard his name. He didn't let her thank him, though. He merely nodded in acknowledgement and turned back to his keyboard.
"You guys are all so sweet. You don't have to stand there like that," Mai told them. "I'm fine, honestly."
"Fine?" Monk yelped. "You've been passed out for four hours!"
"Four?" Mai looked at Ayako accusingly. "You told me an hour when I first woke up."
"Hah! I knew she was awake when you said to quiet down," Monk said.
"Okay, so I lied," Ayako said unabashedly. "I only did it for Mai. You've really had a hard time today, and it's only the second day."
"No need to worry. We'll be wrapping up this case by tomorrow."
They all turned to look at Naru, who was reading at his desk. "Tomorrow?" Mai repeated.
"Did you not hear me the first time?" Naru asked boredly. Mai opened her mouth to say something mean, remembered that he had saved her from a possessed Monk, and thought better of it. She stuck her tongue out at him instead.
"We've rarely wrapped up a case in three days," Monk said. "How can you be so sure?"
"According to the research Yasuhara brought, someone at this household dies at the winter equinox every year," Naru began. "Through my own correlation, it seems that if no one is at this house, people from the nearest village die. The winter equinox is tomorrow, at midnight. That is why the spirit forced Mr. Tanaka to call us to investigate. My guess is that there is a window between midnight and sunrise, since the light weakens demonic spirits, in which the demon must kill someone. By sunrise, one of two things will have happened; either we will have successfully gotten rid of the demon, or the house will have killed one of us. In any case, the case will be closed."
"So if someone dies, we're not going to continue?" Mai asked.
Naru looked at her. "I cannot allow the death of my assistants or consultants. I am only staying after having received this information because I know the house will not allow is to leave, and it might only harm whoever attempts to do so."
All those innocent people, Mai thought, but she knew Naru was right. He would put himself in danger, but never anyone else. He wouldn't allow a fatal investigation to continue, even at the cost of his own pride.
"In addition," Naru went on as if she hadn't just interrupted him, "The house needs someone, preferably young and powerful. In all the deaths except four, individuals under the age of nineteen and with spiritualist or PK abilities disappeared. In the other four cases, three or more people were killed, most probably to make up for one or two powerful ones.
"That means that Miss Hara, Mai, and I are the most at risk. John is slightly older and Yasuhara has no extraordinary powers, but they may very well be on the demon's target list." Naru looked at them all. "If anyone wishes to leave at this point, you may feel free to do so."
No one said anything, except Ayako.
"Naru, I think Mr. Tanaka, Yasuhara, and Mai should go."
"Me?" Mai yelped. "I'm not leaving!"
Ayako ignored her. "Mr. Tanaka is our client, Yasuhara cannot protect herself, and Mai is just...well, Mai. She's not good at protecting herself, and on your list of at-risk people."
Well, if you put it that way, of course Naru will send me away! Mai thought angrily. She pushed Ayako away and sat against Monk. "Traitor," she muttered.
Ayako looked at her with no anger, only worry. "I won't let you get hurt if I can help it."
"As much as I hate to say it," said Naru, "Mai has to stay."
"I'll kick her out myself!" Ayako protested.
"If you can find the front door - or any door for that matter," Naru said dryly, gesturing to the smooth walls around them. "Mai is the only one who can get us outside, to the kitchen, to the bathroom, and specific people. She must stay."
"Mai, do not let go of my hand!" Ayako warned, holding her tight.
"Ayako!" Mai whined. "I'm not five!" She turned. "Monk," she begged. "Save me."
Monk only wrapped his arm around her. "I'm not letting you go either!"
Mai squirmed under the two adults. "No one's restraining Masako!" she wailed.
"Masako is not your standard," Ayako said. "She is an experienced medium. If anything, you should compare yourself to Yasu, and he's leaving."
"Mai, I need the bathroom before I go," said Yasu.
"And I need the kitchen," said Monk. "I'm starving."
"No one's starving! And you need to hold it in!" Ayako glared that them both. "Mai just woke up!"
"I can do it," Mai said tiredly, unfolding her legs and standing up. "I'll open one door to the kitchen, one door to the bathroom, and one for outside, and you guys can keep the doors open with the sofa or something so I won't have to keep opening them. Also, no one can close the bathroom door because I'm not getting you out of there."
"Then how am I supposed to use the bathroom?" Yasu asked, devastated.
"The toilet is not in front of the door, and no one wants to see you. Just do your business and get out."
"That is revolting," Masako moaned.
"We're talking about Mai's life here, Masako!" Ayako scolded. "Suck it up and deal with it!"
Mai opened the three doors she had mentioned and then laid down while Ayako - after informing her that everyone had eaten dinner while she was passed out - went to warm up food for her. After they had said their goodbyes, Yasuhara took Mr. Tanaka to the village, where he would be safe. Although Mai opened doors to their bedroom, Naru told them all to retrieve their things and mattresses to sleep in their base, where it would be safer. At this point, Mai was so tired she couldn't have cared less. She didn't bother to help with the mattresses or the bags. She fell asleep on the couch before the lights were turned off.
So in case this is dragging on too much for any of you readers, hold out for just the next two chapters. I like to think they're kind of cute, and they have plenty of cute, mushy stuff and a red-faced Mai (but hopefully not at the expense of Naru's personality!).
For next time: A dream, a nice Naru, and a random, silly nightmare.