A/N: I was just going to work on my original story and then this popped up… You're lucky, I might not have posted it otherwise…

Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah, I'll own Ghost Hunt blah, blah, blah, pigs fly blah. You know the drill.

Pairing: Masako and John (Not NaruxMai?! What is she thinking?! XP)

Theme: Nervous

-

"John? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Mai waved over the blond priest and they disappeared into the SPR kitchenette.

"Yes, Mai? Is something wrong?" His polite tone was mismatched with the Kansai accent. Mai grinned and shook her head.

"No. I was just wondering… What happens when a priest falls in love?" Mai raised an eyebrow in a suggestive manner, a smirk covering her lips.

"M-Mai? I thought you like Naru though!" John took a step back, misinterpreting Mai's meaning.

"What?! Of course I do! I said I was just wondering! I don't like you! But I mean, I like you as a friend! I just know someone who likes you! No, I mean… Uh, can you pretend not to have heard that?" Mai stammered and rushed her sentences, letting a secret slip. John tried not to look startled but failed.

"Well, anyway, like I was saying… What would happen if you fell in love?" Mai asked, her determination renewed. John took a step back and held up his hands defensively.

"I'd probably either try to ignore the feeling, or quit the church. But that's rather extreme." He thought for a moment before answering. Mai sighed.

"It wouldn't be extreme if you really liked this person." She pointed out before leaving him alone in the kitchenette.

"J-John?" A soft, hesitant voice startled the young priest. Masako stood behind him in and pale blue kimono. Goldfish decorated the sleeves and bottom in an elegant pattern. John couldn't help but notice how good she looked in it. (After all, he is still a male.)

"Oh, sorry. Am I in your way?" He moved as she took a step forward, towards the counter. She poured herself a cup of tea and then turned to face John.

"W-Would you like to go to dinner with me?" Masako stammered so soft that John almost missed it. She clutched the teacup tightly with one hand, the other wrinkling her kimono in a death grip. Instantly, the word 'cute' popped into his mind but he brushed it aside to answer.

"Sure. What's a dinner among friends but a chance to get to know each other better?" John smiled, creating the excuse to keep himself safe from the church's teachings… But why did he feel the need to create an excuse? A dinner doesn't mean love… Or does it?

"O-Oh. Yes, you're right. So um, tomorrow at 6?" Masako swallowed the tears that had started to fill her eyes. But why did she feel the need to cry? It wasn't as though he was rejecting her… Was he?

"Ok. I'll pick you up… where is it that you live again?"

-

John tried to keep his mouth shut when he gazed in awe at the splendor of Masako's house… Or was it a mansion? John wasn't sure. But he was sure that if he kept staring at the house, he'd be late to pick her up. So he asked the taxi driver to please wait as he climbed the stairs to knock on the front door. It wasn't soon after that Masako appeared. This time, John's mouth opened wide at her attire. She had left her usual kimonos in her closet and took a modern looking black dress. It had a modest neckline and it flowed out from her hips stopping just above her knees. She had very little make-up on but it just enhanced her natural beauty. John felt like he could have written a book with all the compliments he could have given her but he just ended up saying,

"You look nice." Those three words made John cringe. It was the understatement of the year, no the century and he couldn't do anything about it anymore.

"Thank you. You look nice, as well." Masako on the other hand was pleased that he said anything about her at all. She had only gone on dates with Naru before and he was always silent. The compliment meant a lot to her and she accepted it gratefully.

"I have a taxi to take us to one of my favorite restaurants…" John trailed off as Masako waved the driver away and a nicer looking car replaced it in the long driveway.

"I'm sorry, but taxis are just so frightening. You never know what has been on those seats." Masako lead John down to her car and a driver opened the door for the two of them to enter. Masako started to go in but John stopped her.

"Please, allow me to go in first. You might ruin your lovely dress if you slide over." John quickly got in the car after explaining so that she wouldn't see his blushing face. Masako stared at him in disbelief. No one had ever done anything so courteous for her before. She blushed and grinned as she took the seat beside John.

-

"Wow, I can see why that was your favorite restaurant! It was marvelous… And so very cheap!" Masako look John's arm as they exited the restaurant. John smiled at the girl and she forced herself o look away before he caught her blushing.

'A simple dinner between friends? Yeah right.' Masako thought as she laced her fingers with John's. She must have startled him because he stiffened and almost pulled away.

"Um… Masako? W-What would you do if… You know what? Never mind." John rushed the last words and jerked away from Masako.

"If what? John?" Masako looked at him and tried to take a step closer but John ran away without answering.

In Mai

'If I wasn't a priest… Oh Masako, I didn't mean to hurt you.' John thought as he ran. Running was just his natural reflex to dangerous situations.

-

The next day at SPR was quite tense. Masako confided her side of the story while John confided in Bou-san. Masako thought that John had dumped her, while John thought he had behaved quite badly. Whenever John tried to apologize, Masako would turn and walk away, ignoring him completely.

"Hey Masako, what crawled up your ass and died?" Bou-san asked, half- jokingly. He was getting fed up with Masako's 'high-and-mighty' act.

"Hey, it's not her fault her heart was broken!" Mai quickly defended.

"It must be. John never dumped her!"

"But then why did he run away from her!?"

"He was nervous! Why did Masako assume that he dumped her?!"

"Any rational person, boy or girl, would!"

The two were glaring at each other as Masako looked at John shyly.

"Y-You were nervous? Why?" She asked quietly, allowing for Mai to argue with the monk. John turned to Masako, surprised that she was talking to him again.

"Well, it may be against the priestly way to get married but I don't think it's against anything to fall in love." He smiled and blushed. Masako's eyes widened when she understood what he was saying. She blushed and covered her face with her kimono sleeve. Warm hands gently pulled away her hands away and lifted her chin.

"Masako, I think I love you." Mai and Bou-san stopped fighting when they heard John's confession. They're heads snapped to the couple who looked like they were far away in their own world. Masako giggled and hugged John.

"Stupid. I know I love you."

A/N: Any story ideas are welcome :) Bye!

P.S. There's a picture of Mssako's dress on my profile!