Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Don't hate me for that, but I personally like Shinji very much, thank you. (On the other hand, he's an OC, so he can be quite a handful to keep in check ;) )

Daffodils

Part five

Mai was unsure if ignoring her entrance was a good or a bad sign, but she was glad not to be the receiving end of his annoyingly smart insults. The man was standing behind Lin, looking at one of the many screens and Mai took the chance. She tiptoed to the couch, occasionally sending nervous glances at him. Shinji followed her wordlessly.

"Mai," Naru's words made her freeze mid-step. She turned to look at the man, who didn't even move a muscle to confirm it was her. "I thought I told you not to goof around."

"Sorry?" she squeaked, her heart nearly jumping out of her cest. She watched Naru turn painfully slowly.

"Please forgive Mai-san," Shinji interrupted, stepping in front of the girl. "It was entirely my fault. I apologize for stealing your lovely assistant's time." He flased a charming smile at the girl, who had moved to stand next to him. Mai blushed profoundly.

Naru' expression didn't change, but for some reason, Mai got the feeling his mood had darkened. "I pay you to work, not to mingle," he said harshly, eyes on her. The girl stared bravely right back at him. He raised an eyebrow, challenging her. Mai gulped, but didn't look away.

"This is Shinji Kiriyama," she said through gritted teeth. "He's our client, the son of Rosalie Turner, who this mansion belongs to."

Shinji stared at the pair, feeling slightly awkward, but amused. It looked like the mischievous little child had angered the loving parent. He hadn't expected Mai to act so unprofessionally with her boss and it made him smile to see he was reacting almost as childishly. Naru didn't even acknowledge Shinji's presence.

"That's the routine," a red-haired woman suddenly appeared next to him. "You're pretty handsome." She touched softly his hand. The man chuckled, pushing it off as gently.

"You're not bad-looking yourself," he grinned. Ayako laughed, breaking the duo's glaring session.

"Mai, tea," her boss snapped and the girl gave him the prepared cup. He took it without a word and although Mai received no thanks, her mood lightened, when he said nothing. That meant no offending remarks.

As Naru returned to watching the screens, Mai popped down to sit next to Houshou, leaving Ayako without a seat. When the woman noticed it, the girl just showed him her tongue and laughed.

"Mai," it was Masako. She was sitting by the table. In her hands was a book Mai immediately recognized. The girl was tempted not to leave her seat, but stood, when Masako raised her head, looking at her sternly. Ayako took the chance and occupied the seat.

"What's up?" Mai asked, kneeling down on the floor next to Masako. The raven-haired girl let the book drop.

"I don't sense anything," she admitted so that only Mai could hear. "Do you?"

"Sometimes," she whispered back. "Like it's watching us. It doesn't want to show itself." Masako nodded.

"I thought so too," she said. She hid herself behind the book again. Mai stared at her lap and fiddled with her fingers.

"Bring it closer," she suddenly heard Naru say. Her head snapped up and saw Lin obeying their boss' words. She stood and walked over.

"What's wrong?" she asked and then spotted it. A painting of a clock was shaking, making rattling sounds. It seemed as if the clock arm was turning by an incredible force, as if it really was not a part of the paint and canvas. The sounds stopped, when the picture fell. Mai was ready to go and inspect it, but her boss's hand caught her wrist.

"You stay put," he stated. "Takigawa." The monk knew what to do, but there was someone faster than him. Shinji Kiriyama, who Naru had earlier ignored, was already on his way. Houshou shrugged and casually strolled out, not expecting to arrive, before the author's son.

Shinji appeared on screen within minutes. He picked it up, winking at the camera, and turned it around, so that the ghost hunting team could see the damage. The clock arm had been sharply removed and the scratches on the painting formed words. "The clock strikes at ten," Naru translated for the sake of Mai, who couldn't understand what was written by the ghost.

"Can you bring it up?" he asked through the microphone. Shinji gave him the thumbs up and started to return.

"Masako, can I borrow your book for a moment?" Mai asked, looking at her. The medium nodded and handed the first book in the series to the girl. Mai flipped it open.

"Here it is," she declared proudly after a few minutes. "Look, Naru!" She shoved the book in his face with a wide grin. At that moment, Shinji entered with Takigawa, holding the ruined painting under his armpit.

"Mai, stop this foolishness," Naru said, closing the book and returning it to Masako. "We don't have time for this." He turned towards Shinji and took the painting from him, inspecting it closely. "It looks like it was the ghost's first intention to carve this sentence," he told Lin.

Mai was fuming. She grabbed the book from Masako's hands and stormed off, hoping to find a place she could peacefully think. She knew Naru meant no harm, but sometimes she wished he would listen more to what she was telling.

She entered a room with cameras, so that she would be noticed, if something bad happened. The fireplace was lit and she sat down on the carpet in front of her and opened the book where it had just been closed by her boss. It was the eight chapter of the first book in the Goizeko Izarra, where Eugene Strider's fate was laid in front of him.

The clock strikes ten – the flowers bloom.