A/N: New chapter, yay! Thank you all so much for the positive reviews for this story! Makes me even happier to write. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: Do you honestly think I'd be writing this if I owned Ghost Hunt?

Chapter Five: Expectations

Mai took several steadying breaths and step by step, timing her paces along with her heartbeats, she moved forward to Naru's office and room. Once or twice, she faltered in her steps, afraid of what he would say when she came in nearly an hour later with his tea. She willed herself not start shaking, but found it nearly useless.

And then the door rushed to meet her. The ten feet of mahogany in front of her face seemed to jeer at her for being so foolish. The brass handle too bitingly cold, the carpet too sinkingly plush. And then there was the master. There was no telling what Naru would do when she entered. Apprehension dropped deeper into her stomach.

She heard him before she saw him.

"And what exactly was taking you so long just to make me tea? I would suppose fifteen minutes would be long enough to walk there, make the tea, and walk back. It's been near an hour," he almost snarled. Mai ignored the blatant rudeness, biting her tongue to keep from getting kicked out of the place (although she didn't really see how that was possible) and laid the tray down on Naru's desk.

After giving a deep, albeit stiff bow, Mai replied, "Sorry, Naru," it was the farthest she'd go with an insult to his face, "but I got lost. I haven't even been here a day; you can't expect me to know this place like the back of my hand."

He turned in his leather chair, now letting Mai see him. He seemed more intimidating than he actually was. Naru narrowed his indifferent eyes and didn't respond. He nodded at the tea.

"Hand it to me."

She was barely a second away from slicing her tongue in half. Mai strained to keep her hands from shaking the tea out of the cup in anger and shoved it in his face. Briefly, their hands touched – and her stomach jumped slightly. She froze, her eyes wide. Her stomach fluttered again as he looked up at her with that piercing, horrible, demeaning… slightly breath-taking… no!

"Do you need something?" he bit out, taking a sip. His nose scrunched slightly and he set the tea down again. Before she could talk, Naru again spoke.

"Mai, did I not tell you to make the tea?"

Mai blinked. Odd question, but, "Er… yeah, you did…"

His voice continued steadily, soft but eerily foreboding and firm. "Did I not make myself perfectly clear?"

Mai stuttered, "Cl-clear about what?" He was starting to freak her out, his gaze hypnotizing. She tried to step back gradually, but found her legs would not move to her will. She ended up shuffling backwards awkwardly as the master stood. Slowly and plainly, Naru explained, stepping out from behind the desk, taking the tray and tea with him.

"That you were the one to make the tea for me."

Mai managed her steady her breathing slightly and she responded, "Well, yeah. I guess…"

"Then, next time, don't let John and Madoka make it for you. There is a reason you are employed here, you know." A smirk curled up onto his lips as he watched her realize her mistake. Leaving the servant completely flustered, Naru shoved the tray back into her trembling hands and turned away dismissively.

"Go now. I still want tea."

Mai stood there, jaw hanging slack, until she finally accepted the fact that he was being serious. She took off without another word… or before a word could escape her mouth, because she knew if one did, it wouldn't be pleasant. Naru stepped back hesitantly as she exited, his stony glare faltering and fading.

He closed his eyes halfway, grimacing, and placed a hand to his forehead. Massaging his temples momentarily, he let his hand drop and pulled the mirror from the front pocket of his black suit jacket. Grasping the silver handle securely, he sat back down at his desk and faced the musky dark red velvet curtains. His normally cold voice sounded suddenly different.

"Show me the girl."

Mai was a single insult away from blowing up. She slammed the tray down on the kitchen counter and searched for an inanimate tea pot (that didn't talk), tea leaves, and washed out the teacup she first used, resisting the urge to poison the tea when it was finished – for the second time.

"Who cares if the goddamned tea is made by someone else? It's still freakin' tea, isn't it?"

Muttering to herself furiously, she didn't notice Ayako in the doorway staring at her curiously. The feather duster coughed gently and glided gracefully into the room to make her appearance. Mai swiveled around, falling silent with a heavy sigh, wondering how objects could make themselves more dignified than herself half the time.

"Hello, Ayako-san," Mai droned. "Just… getting the master's tea," she growled out. "Don't mind me." She set the water over the stove and flipped the switch. Mai turned around, leaning against the edge of the counter, and crossed her arms. She felt tired and drained and she just needed some sleep. But Ayako had different things on her mind than letting the young brunette relax.

"Actually, Mai," Ayako began carefully, sliding closer, "you're just the person I wanted to talk to. I can see from your mood you've met Shibuya-san."

"I've officially renamed him Naru," Mai responded with a bit more pride. She could see Ayako's smile widen, but then falter. Mai cocked her head slightly

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Mai kneeled next to her and sat at rapt attention. For some reason, Ayako avoided her gaze. Clearing her throat, Ayako began – however hesitant she may have been.

"There's… something you need to know about this house. Something you need to know about all of us. We aren't all exactly—"

"Matsuzaki-san!"

Again, Lin had appeared from out of nowhere, surprising the two girls. Mai stood instantly and immersed herself in checking the boiling water. She had no business in listening to whatever was going on. Ayako looked up at Mai worriedly for a moment, debating on whether to continue or not, but then turned to Lin.

"Yes?" Ayako asked impatiently. Even though the feather duster was just annoyed, Mai could almost hear her tapping a heeled shoe on the ground. She shook it off and turned her attention back to pouring the tea. It was just her mind playing tricks on her.

If Mai had looked closer though…

"What are you doing in here?" Lin asked

"Taniyama-san, Naru is waiting for you."

Mai nodded resignedly and exited the kitchen for the second time that night with a tray of steaming tea. She cast a glance backwards, down at the feather duster and wooden clock, wondering what exactly Ayako was going to tell her. But now… now she'd never know. She turned herself forward and walked back down the hall. Those secrets would have to wait.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Ayako instantly rounded on Lin when Mai was out of earshot. So much for an 'innocent' miko. She glared at the clock with undeterminable fury. "She has a right to know what's going on! She has a right to know what happened to us that night!"

"Not yet," Lin said shortly. Ayako bristled, shoving her face in Lin's.

"You saw how sad she looked, how broken down she already is. She hasn't even spent twenty-four hours here and she already treats this place like a prison! Pretty soon, she'll leave this place no matter what the master says. And she'll—!"

Lin cut her off swiftly. "I don't need the lecture, Matsuzaki-san. I know already. I've seen the girl; I know what she's supposed to do for all of us. Just… not yet." Lin sounded honestly regretful that he could not help any more. Ayako sighed nervously and began to head towards the door.

"The only reason I'm worried is because we don't have a lot of time left. Pretty soon… we'll all be gone. And all this waiting will have been for nothing."

"Here," Mai dropped the tray on Naru's desk, picked up the saucer, and shoved it over his book, feeling a sense of déjà vu. "Made by me. And that only took me," Mai glanced up at the grandfather clock, "thirteen minutes." Mai smirked self-righteously, but Naru didn't look up at her to see it.

Without even taking his eyes off the book he was reading, he took the saucer from her hands and waved her off.

"You can go," he said simply. Mai stood, shocked and offended at his blatant attitude, and now wouldn't dare move.

"No thanks? No 'sorry for being a complete jerk earlier'?"

"No."

Rage swelled instantly. "It took me an hour and a half to make you a decent cup of tea and you don't even have the manners to say thank you?"

Silence again told her no. Mai stepped away from the tray, afraid she'd smash his face in with it. "Why are you so picky about the tea anyways?"

The look Naru gave her obviously said, 'Because I can be.' He slowly set down his book, never unlocking their gaze. His eyes were so unfeeling, so cold, so evil. Mai, however put off by the rudeness, couldn't bare to break the look. Something was there, something else, and she had to figure out what.

"Mai, because this mansion is your home now, you may go anywhere you would like. As long as I can always reach you."

Mai blinked, taken off guard. She wasn't expecting that.

"But," Naru stressed, standing instantly. Mai shrank back even more. "The West Wing – where I have heard you've poked around – is forbidden. No questions. If I do catch you around there, trying to get in, the consequences will be severe. Do I make myself clear?"

Mai nodded vigorously and Naru fell back casually into his seat.

"Okay. Now you can go."

She narrowed her eyes, huffed, and pivoted on her heel, marching out of the room. Under her breath, she muttered, "You're welcome, Naru." There was still something about him she had to discover. And something told her the West Wing was the key. So what if it was forbidden? That just made it all the more interesting.

On the other side of the house, the seven were talking. Bathed in utter darkness, their forms were unseen. Only their voices could distinguish who was speaking. Each one listened with perked ears just in case the door opened to reveal the newest servant. Because this conversation was too important to risk anyone else hearing.

"They don't like each other at all," Masako sighed pointedly. "Hate's already a better word for it. She's already calling him nicknames. Naru, short for narushishisuto."

"Well, it's not far off from the mark, is it?" Takigawa snorted.

"And," Masako continued smoothly as if Takigawa had never spoken out, "he was surprised when he heard her say it because… well, you know why. He never wants to hear that name again. He's afraid someone will figure out what happened to us."

Tension grew as they all remembered that night that still haunted their dreams to this very day. They had to cast those thoughts away. The past couldn't be reversed. But it could be fixed.

"Well, wouldn't you be afraid, too? Even the 'Great Shibuya' has something to hide from," Ayako muttered bitterly. "It was about time." She sounded angry, upset, hurt. Like she was fed up with being trapped for so long and was ready to break the bars of their prison.

"Matsuzaki-san," John said reproachfully, his voice still kind. "You remember what it was like before, don't you? It was nicer here… Shibuya-san was nicer then. Wouldn't it be nice to be human again?"

Reminiscing silence followed John's words. It had had been nicer, more peaceful, happier, brighter… the complete opposite of what it was today. And they all knew how they could resolve the situation.

"She can change that," John said quietly, breaking the calm. "She can help us if we just tell her. We all know she can." The hope in his voice was not uncommon, but somehow, it spread slightly to everyone else. The seven looked around the room uneasily at one another, eyes already adjusted to the blackness, and came upon an unspoken agreement.

"I suppose that was why he brought her here," Yasuhara supplied. "He's still got some faith."

"It won't do any good if he keeps shoving her away," Madoka said earnestly. "Maybe… we have to help."

Everyone heard the mischievous smile in her voice.

"What do you mean, Madoka?" Lin asked warily. Madoka laughed.

"Oh, don't act oblivious, Lin. You know what I mean." Madoka's bright grin could be seen through the dark, almost illuminating the room. "And anyways," the cheery tone dropped, becoming somber and serious, "this is our last chance to reverse the spell. Otherwise…"

By a mere chance, all seven spoke together and finished Madoka's sentence. "…it's hopeless."

A/N: So. A bit more is revealed about the seven others. If you were confused a bit, then that's good. I won't reveal all the details until the end.

On another random note, did anyone see Indiana Jones 4? Anyone catch the quote? This made me smile: "His favorite scientist. If you can consider psychic research a science." Ha, Naru's wouldn't like that very much, huh?

Anyways, please review! I love to hear thoughts, ideas, whatever. :)