Hey! I'm really glad yall liked the last chapter! I hadn't been sure about it. And sorry for the late update. Thank you to the 21 reviews on the last chapter! ^_^ And thank you to Treelow955 (for a idea that went into this)!
Disclaimer: Shouldn't you know that I do NOT own Ghost Hunt by now?
The others started coming not long after Naru's parents, Madoka, and Lin arrived. Once everyone was here, Naru apparently had decided to stay with me in the kitchen. We didn't really talk, but he helped me if I needed it and if I couldn't reach something. Monk and Yasu peeked into the kitchen a couple times, complaining about when the food would be ready. Naru had glared at them and said if they didn't shut up and go sit back down then he'd kick them out of the apartment. I couldn't help but giggle at that. After the food was done, everyone began to eat excitedly. How we managed to fit eleven people at a table that was only meant for six, I'll never know.
Monk and Yasu surprisingly didn't go diving into their food. No, they got out their phones so they could take pictures of Luella's, Madoka's, and Martin's faces of them trying my cooking for the first time. They were even able to get Ayako to help them take Martin's picture. Their phones were out and ready with their thumbs anxiously hovering over the 'OK' button. I rolled my eyes at them. My cooking is not that good, especially to be doing something like this.
Click, click, click!
The trio grinned at their phones, looking at the pictures they just took. Naru's parents and Madoka had tasted the food and froze as they blinked owlishly with the forks still in their mouths. That's when they took the chance to snap the pictures.
"I think this might be my new screen saver." Yasu commented as he nodded in approval. I let out a laugh.
"Look at their faces; they have the same expression." Monk acknowledged as they held their phones together to look at the pics.
"Hm, they do, don't they?" Ayako admitted. I glanced at Naru's parents and Madoka. They finally seemed to come back to earth. I snapped my eyes back to the other side of the table when I heard a soft, satisfying moan. Monk and Yasu had their eyes closed and a small smile on their lips. I narrowed my eyes at them. If only I had something I could throw at them for being just so—
"Mai! Darling, this is amazing!" Luella told me joyously. A light blush dusted my cheeks when Martin and Madoka agreed. I looked down at my lap and began wringing my hands.
"Thank you..."
"You know, Mai, I don't know why you're working for Noll." And cue glare from the narcissist. "You should open up your own diner or something." Madoka continued before she practically stuffed her mouth full. I think Naru, Lin, John, and Masako are the only ones who are calmly eating their food besides me.
"I know! I've tried to talk her into it, but she won't budge!" Yasu cried out dejectedly. I cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Talk me into it? Yasu, you tried to trick me into signing a resign form—which I have no idea how you even got. Then you vaguely implied you were going to kidnap me and make me your personal servant if I didn't!"
Yasu let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "And I would've too if Big Boss hadn't over heard and foiled my well-thought-out plans. We would've been hidden away in Acapulco by now if he hadn't."
Madoka snorted with laughter. "Oh, I wish I had been there!" No, you don't. I think Naru had been literally trying to kill Yasu with his glare at that time. But Yasu was being his fearless self, so Naru had ended up making up some random errand for him to do just so he'd leave.
Monk scoffed slightly. "Oh yeah, sure, you may think it's all fun and giggles now, but you don't even wanna know what happened after Yasu said he was going to get Mai one of those short maid outfits."
Everyone paused and looked directly at Naru, who seemed irritated about that certain topic. The only reason he made such a big deal about it that time was because he knew Yasu was very well capable of going through with his 'plans' if he really set his mind to it and Naru would be losing his own servant—meaning me. I might as well be, with me being at his beck and call.
Knowing a topic change was needed, Martin asked, "How did you learn to cook like this?"
I shrugged nonchalantly as I took a bite of my food. "The teacher I was staying with after my mom died taught me the basics. When I started living on my own, I had gotten tired of eating the same thing all the time—and I didn't have any money to go out to eat—so I...experimented, you could say."
Martin smiled. "Well, your experiments were excellent, my dear." He complimented as he winked at me. I smiled back in thanks.
"I have to agree with Madoka and—I'll probably never say this again—Yasuhara."
Yasu faked a look of hurt. "Aww, Masako, you wound me."
"You should pursue that idea. That way you won't get hurt or in trouble on cases." Again, wait for it. "It certainly would save us a lot of time not carrying you to the hospital, saving you from spirits, or having to find you because you got lost once again." She continued snobbishly, ignoring Yasu's input. My eye twitched.
"As I recall my dreams have helped a lot more than you ever—" A hand grabbed my arm and squeezed it tightly, stopping me from finishing my insult. I looked up to meet midnight blue eyes glancing down at me, giving me a warning look. My eyes widened slightly. He's not taking Masako's side, is he? I looked away, feeling betrayed, and pulled my arm from Naru's grasp. No one seemed to notice our little exchange. Good.
Secretly, I glared at my enemy from across the table. Why does she hate me so much?! I've never done anything to her! She's the one who always despises me! If only she had been closer I could've stomped on her foot when she was talking, but no, she just had to be all the way on the other end beside Martin and Ayako. Maybe if I sank down far enough I could still do it though, after all the table isn't that big, but someone would definitely notice. Someone meaning Naru... and John, too, since I'm between both of them. Also, I might accidentally hit someone else's foot instead of Masako's since we're basically scrunched up together.
"Oh, Mai can't be that bad!" Luella defended me. Thank you!
"Oh no, trust me Lu, from the things I've heard it's very true."
I stared at Martin in shock. What does he mean 'the things I've heard'?! How would he even know— I stopped as it clicked. From the corner of my eye, I glared at Naru and then slowly turned my head towards him. Why has he been telling Martin about all of my mishaps?! The jerk! Doesn't he know how embarrassing that is for them to know I'm such a magnet to danger?!
Naru didn't even glance my way; he just kept eating like he didn't notice me—but I knew he did. I might not be able to reach Masako, but I can reach Naru. I lifted my right leg and moved it over to my left side to step on Naru's foot, only to come in contact with my own. I gritted my teeth and bit the inside of my cheeks to keep me from screaming in pain. This time, Naru looked at me with amusement shining in his eyes telling me he knew exactly what I was gonna do.
"—she was dragged into a well and also down a flight of stairs, locked in a room with chloroform, had a whole floor and ceiling fall on her, and has been slammed into a wall, if I remember correctly, a few times." He continued to tell Luella. "Right, Noll?"
"Yes, Father." Naru nodded. Luella stared at me with a mixture of worry, amazement, and disbelief.
"My god, child, how are you still alive?!" She shrieked. I smiled sheepishly.
"That's our Mai for you." John said meekly.
"Yep!" Monk grinned. "She's our little trouble magnet!"
"She certainly is troubled."
That tears it! I don't care if she's all the way across the table or not! I slipped down in my chair just a little and position my leg. I was determined to make this one more painful than the one that was meant for Naru. When I stomped down, I was disappointed when Masako didn't scream or show any other signs of pain. Instead, the cry of pain came from the seat beside me. My eyes widened until they couldn't anymore.
John.
I turned my head away from him, feeling as gulity as ever. Naru caught my eye and gave me a disapproving glare, knowing it was me. My mind screamed 'RUN!' before anyone else could know I was the one who smashed poor, innocent John's foot. Honestly I don't even know how he was my victim when he was sitting beside me. Apparently I have bad judgement of where to step on things! I abruptly stood up, almost knocking my drink over in the process.
"I-I, um... I'm going to go check on the...the, um...pie! Yeah, be right back!" I stuttered. Monk jerked his head up as I began to scurry off to the kitchen, well, as much as I could with my foot still hurting.
"Pie? You're making pie? What kind?! Hey!" I heard Monk call out. When I came out of the kitchen a minute or so later, a few of them were still talking to John about what happened. As I went to sit back down in my seat, Ayako stood up looking at me. I froze, thinking I had got caught.
"Hey, Mai, where's the bathroom at?" She asked.
"Oh." I breathed in relief and continued to sit down. Why didn't she just ask Naru? "Um, just go through the kitchen, down the hall, and it's the first door on the left." I tried to remember correctly. Ayako nodded and started to leave.
"It's on the right, Mai." Naru whispered to me. Crap...
"Wait!" I shouted, reaching out to Ayako. She spun around, startled at my outburst. I then realized everyone's attention was on me. I flushed. "It's on the right—not the left. Ha ha... sorry, I don't know what I was thinking, but it's the right. Yep... the right..." I stammered, trying to cover up my mistake. I lowered my head after Ayako left to avoid everyone's gazes. Gosh, how embarrassing...
"I bet Big Boss' bedroom is on the left instead."
...Okay, not as embarrassing as that! And my blush became redder than it's ever been when I remembered Naru's bedroom was on the left. The bathroom is just across the hall from it. I covered my face with my hands, and after a few moments, I peeked through them to look at Naru on my left. He was glaring at Yasu with narrow eyes. Just as he had opened his mouth to speak, Monk interrupted. Apparently Monk must have not heard Yasu's comment about me and Naru, or he just didn't get the meaning behind the words because if he had, there'd be a lot of yelling.
"So, Mai, where's the pie?"
I dropped my hands and gave him a puzzled look. "What?"
Monk frowned. "You said you were making pie..."
"Oh." I said, forming my mouth in the shape of an 'o' as I remembered my white lie. "Sorry, Monk. I, uh, thought I was but... it...turns out I wasn't... My bad." I apologized lamely. Monk's shoulders slumped and he pouted. When Ayako came back and saw him like that, she smacked the back of his head as she took her place next to him.
"Oww! What was that for?!"
"Whatever the reason was for why you're sulking." Ayako replied casually. "Why are you anyways?"
"It seems Takigawa doesn't get dessert because Mai's memory has failed her once again." Masako answered much to my annoyance. I curved my hands into a strangling motion and hid it under the table, imagining it was Masako's neck.
"Masako!" I hissed. Naru must have noticed what I was doing because he nudged my foot with his and called my name just loud enough for me to hear. I stood up, once again, with my eyes shut. "Excuse me for a moment." I said, irritation evident in my voice. Then I marched into the kitchen and started kicking and punching the air in frustration.
"Mai, what are you doing?"
I huffed as I turned around. Naru was a few feet from me with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Naru, she is driving me crazy!" I exclaimed testily, pointing to the door. "And you! You're taking her side!"
"I am not. I'm just trying to stop you from starting something."
"I'm not starting anything! She is!"
With the others
It had been a good ten minutes since Mai and Naru left. All was quiet at the little table as everyone finished eating...well, that is until Luella spoke.
"Well... It seems I'll be getting grandbabies sooner than expected!" She divulged merrily with a wide smile on her face. The jaws of the SPR members dropped in awe and shock that she could say that so naturally and not even be bothered by the fact that her son and his girlfriend could be doing that. Especially with them still in the apartment! And when Martin agreed, a fork or two was also dropped. Madoka giggled while Lin had to resist the very strong urge to roll his eyes. 'Kill me now.' He thought.
"What?!" Monk shouted angrily. Luella blinked.
"Well, they've been gone for who knows how long. I'm just assuming."
"They better not be! Mai is way too young!" Monk yelled in a father-like tone. "They couldn't be..."
"Maybe they already have..." John started thoughtfully. "If you think about it, when we were all at the office and Madoka and Yasuhara asked them if they had kissed yet, you could tell they were uncomfortable about answering. Maybe that's why they were embarrassed and never responded because they've done much more than just kiss." This time, everyone stared in awe and shock that John, the priest, said such a thing. Yasu fell out of his chair... and John's comment caused an uproar at the little table.
The ever-silent Lin really did roll his eyes this time around. How did these people come up with those conclusions? He, of course, knew the truth and knew that Mai and Naru weren't doing such things. But didn't they remember the two have been 'dating' for only two months? Surely Mai wouldn't feel comfortable with the idea especially so early in their 'courtship' and he was sure Naru would feel the same. Lin sighed silently and stood—not that anyone noticed. He made his way to the kitchen. 'Might as well make those two come back out here.'
Mai's POV
"You could've at least said something, Naru! You barely spoke three words all through dinner!" I retorted. Naru glared at me, about to speak, but Lin came in before he got a chance.
"I suggest you two get back out there before the others come to more ridiculous conclusions." He said. I furrowed my brows and frowned. Naru and I shared a glance.
What did that mean?
I had fun writing this chapter lol. I loved it! Sorry for stopping where I did but I just had to, plus I just really needed to post this. And I've been really sick since Thursday so...*cough, cough* yeah. But it is longer than usual! ^_^ next chapter they'll be going to England! Yay! Please review, it'll make me feel better!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!