A/N: You guys liked it, YAY! Uh, wow. I think I should stop doubting myself, aha xD. ANYWAYS, I have band practice every Thursday; just a heads up, because I'm pretty sure that on future Thursdays I won't be able to update. Keep that in mind! I'm pretty confident that this will be a rather...filler chapter, but I just didn't want to leave you guys with nothing! D:
Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt.
Mai stood there, glaring daggers at the newly arrived group. Who the hell did they think they are? Clearly, everyone else were thinking along the lines too, because they were all glaring at the new-comers with disgust and repulsion.
"And WHO do you think you are?" Mai sneered, crossing her arms. All the attention of the leader, she presumed, turned on her. He was utterly gorgeous, but was nothing compared to Na- STOP IT MAI! She mentally slapped herself for thinking about the bastard who just fired her. For the sake of Christ, have some pride! Luckily, the man (the hot man) snapped her out of her rather degrading thoughts.
"Dante Harris. And who would you be, sexy?" He answered, waggling his eyebrows at her suggestively. Mai fought the sudden urge to roll her eyes.
"My name's shut the hell up you over-confident prick. Nice to meet you!" She responded with fake cheeriness. She could have sworn she heard Yasu mutter under his breath 'that's my girl...'; of course, she could be mistaken, but she was pretty sure she heard what she heard. Turning her attention back towards the idiot, she watched, bemused, as his eyes narrowed down to slits. Suddenly, he was closing in on her, evading his personal space.
"Listen, sweetie. Nobody denies Dante Harris. Keep that in mind, got that? He seethed, pointing a finger at Mai threateningly. Blinking, she realized the threat Dante possessed. Realizing how close he was, she suddenly got indignant. Who did he think he was, coming up on her like that? Smiling innocently, Mai brought her knee up, hard and fast. She hit him in un-marked territory, where the shine don't shine. Screaming in pain, he fell to his knees while clutching his man-stick.
"Don't mess with me, Dante. Stay away form me, and your pride won't get wounded. Got that?" Mai explained, slowly and coldly.
"THAT'S MY MAI!" Someone cheered from own below. It sounded oddly like...
"Bou-san?" Mai called, rushing over to peek down into the valley of never-ending greenery. Sure enough, the man was standing on his own two feet, staring up the porch steps with obvious pride in his eyes. She beamed down at him for a second, before running into his out-stretched arms. Bou-san had become the second fatherly figure in her life, the one she turned to when she was in the office or on a case.
"I'm so glad you're okay." She whispered, feeling a few tears cascade down her cheeks. The pain she felt whilst watching Bou-san fly through the air was surreal; she, for sure, never wanted to feel it again.
"Hey, you know I've never down for long. After all, I've got my little girl to protect." He winked, tightening his grasp. Mai giggled, before squirming out of his grasp. It felt good to let go of the problems at hand, even if it was for a little while.
"Anyways, we're setting up around the back parts of the manor. Don't come back there or else." Dante explained, a warning hanging onto the end of his sentence. Naru nodded once, a cold look on his face. Lin recognized that face. Madoka recognized that face. His parents recognized that face. Dante did not recognize that face. The new team, who's name they didn't catch, turned and walked back into the manor, leaving the others in a rather tense silence.
"Mai. Ignore what Naru said. I think it's clear we need your expertise to solve this case before anybody truly gets hurt." Martin begged, a pleading look in his eyes. Mai thought it over, knowing that what had happened in the courtyard was just a tease of what her uncle could really do. Did she want to risk losing her friends because she was too stubborn to put her pride aside and help out? Too dense to ignore Naru and concentrate on the case and those around her? Too hurt to...care?
No. Mai couldn't do that. Not to her new-found family. Closing her eyes to overcome the sudden wave of pain and exhaustion she was hit with, she reopened them a moment later to gaze at Martin.
"Fine, I'll stay." She managed to choke out, ignoring her heart's berating speed. She hoped-no, prayed-that she wouldn't regret this in the future. Martin practically beamed at her, and Mai managed to weakly smile back and ignore the glares she was getting from Naru.
"Something I miss...?" Bou-san asked hesitantly, catching onto the negative vibes flowing off Mai and Naru. Glancing at him uncertainly, Mai wondered how she would explain to him what the hell happened while he was out cold.
"Oh, not much. Just found out Mai's got crazy PK powers and that she's the long-lost daughter of Hannah and Derrick Raine; Alexis Marie Raine." Madoka informed him airily. He stared at Madoka for a second, just a second, before turning back to Mai with a wide, crazed smile.
"REALLY? THAT'S COOL!" Bou-san literally screamed in Mai's ears. Wincing, Mai chuckled weakly at him, genuinely shocked at his reaction. He didn't care...? Well, that was a nice change.
"Not really. Knowing if you said you were who you were and knowing you would be chased down by crazed scientists isn't exactly 'cool' in my books, Bou-san." Mai replied, sweat-dropping. He chuckled, ruffling her hair.
"Does anybody have any leads on this damned case?" Naru interrupted, his voice hard. Silence followed, everybody soon lost in their own thoughts yet still came up blank. Everyone, but Mai.
"They were most likely killed in the master bedroom. Our best guess would be looking in there first." Mai explained, hesitant. Everybody turned to stare at her, shocked.
"How do you know that?" Yasu asked, curious. Swallowing down the memories that were resurfacing, she responded.
"I...sat there and listened to them scream and yell and fight for a good five minutes before I was snuck out. They were definitely asleep before the ambush, otherwise...they'd be here..." Mai swallowed back the tears that were threatening to roll down her rosy-red cheeks. Luella was gazing at her with a pitied expression, whilst the others contemplated what she was going to say or do next.
"Anyways, it's already late. We should probably hit the sacks for now." Mai continued, clearing her throat nervously. She hated attention; no, scratch that. She despised it. Thankfully, everyone stopped staring and nodded, heading towards the porch steps. Martin carried Ayako carefully, shifting her slightly to make sure he didn't bump her into anything.
A/N: Short, yes, I know. But it's better then nothing, isn't it? D: Review please. *Hangs head in shame*