Sorry for the super late chapter. I hope you enjoy it (:
Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt
Chapter 6: Lost
"Daddy! Onee-chan! It's time to wake up!" two shrill voices screeched, jumping around the bed excitedly, like a pair of jackrabbits. They scrambled over top of Naru and Mai, pulling on the blankets. "Wake up! Wake up!"
Mai groaned, cracking an eye open. She stared uncomprehendingly at the small Hello Kitty clock on the bedside table. The electric green numbers read 6:00 a.m. Mai groaned again, rolling over so she wouldn't have to face the time. "Thirty more minutes," she grumbled.
Her face landed against something warm and firm. Through the thin fabric of a night shirt she felt a strong heartbeat. She involuntarily inhaled. A dark and musky scent filled her nose. It almost smelt exactly like Dream Naru except different somehow. Strong, sinewy arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against a very familiar and male body.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open. She found herself staring into the face of her boss. She went stalk still, but allowed herself to study his peaceful face.
"Nope! Time to wake up!" the twins shouted again.
At that moment Naru's eyes finally opened. Mai stared into them unflinchingly, something that rarely occurred. For a moment, they both forgot who they were and where they were. It was only the two of them for a few blissful seconds. That was until the world came crashing back as they were thrown to the floor by a well-placed jump from Kamin and Tamaki.
Mai let out a cry of pain as she fell on top of Naru. All the air left her lungs in a loud whoosh! "Ah! Mother hell!" Mai cried, groaning in pain, "That hurt!" She jumped as a hand landed over her mouth.
"Do not repeat that," Naru told the twins in a serious tone though it came out as kind of a wheeze. He forced himself to sit up, Mai still pressed against his chest.
"Okay Daddy," they said in unison with bright smiles.
There was a quick, curt knock at the door.
"We're not here!" Mai hissed, sliding off of Naru and pushing her small frame easily under the bed.
"Come in!" Kamin called back, giving them a thumbs-up before flipping around to address their visitor.
The door swung open and two pairs of men's shoes clomped in. "Hey you guys," Monk called, grinning widely at the pair, "By any chance, have you seen Mai and Shibuya-san? We can't find them anywhere."
"Nope," Kamin shouted happily, bouncing up and down on the bed.
"We just woke up," Tamaki finished, bouncing right beside his sister.
Silence. "Did you see them last night? They were on night watch," Lin interjected. He watched them intently looking for signs of deceit. If they really were Naru's children then they'd most likely be masterminds at lying through their teeth.
And they were, yet he had no idea. The twins nodded their head. "They put us to bed last night and then went back to work," Kamin answered, giving the two men a bright, innocent, trustworthy smile.
Lin faltered. He wasn't all that great with kids. It was even a wonder he had been able to tolerate Naru. Granted, Naru hadn't exactly been a normal teen or kid, but he'd had his moments when he'd acted normal. Well, that was if normal meant raging temper tantrums ending in a lot of broken glass or major angst caused by roiling hormones and the presence of a certain brown-haired assistant.
Monk picked up immediately, grinning like the little kid he was. "Well, since it's early, do you want to help us go look for them? We're going to go look outside and having a pair of skilled guides like the two of you." Lin looked pained which only added to Monk's fun.
"Really?" they asked together, eyes growing bright with excitement.
"Of course!"
They scrambled from the bed, running into their closet the moment their feet hit the floor. They slid the door to the small space shut. Quiet scuffling and conspiratorial giggles came from the closet. Other than that, silence permeated the room once more.
"Where do you think those two lovebirds could have gone?" Monk asked, sitting down heavily on the bed.
Mai and Naru went stiff. Unconsciously, Naru shifted closer to Mai, though squeezing under the bed was impossible. Their eyes involuntarily locked and Mai's heartbeat picked up pace. She suddenly became painfully aware of their situation. If they were caught they'd never hear the end of it. Not in a million years.
"I don't know," Lin said truthfully, leaning against the door. He seemed to be more relaxed with the man around his own age. "But I'll bet they're in the same place and those twins have something to do with it."
"Yeah, those two seem to have taken a liking for Mai and Naru, especially Naru," Monk said and then there was a pause before his next question, "Do you really think Naru could be their father?"
"There's a very high possibility of that, I think, but just as an unlikely possibility. Naru wasn't exactly what you would call a normal teen. If I were to be honest, I'm not sure if he's ever kissed a member of the female persuasion before even with all the girls nipping at his heels," Lin said with a hint of humor in his tone.
Monk let out a guffaw of laughter. "You're right," he laughed, "He's probably never even kissed a girl on the cheek before, let alone had a real girlfriend."
Mai watched as Naru's features hardened. He did not enjoy people poking fun at him, not to mention by his friends and staff. He made to get up, but Mai shot out a hand and grabbed his wrist, anchoring him to the floorboards. She gave him an expression that just dared him to break her hold and blow their cover. It promised that he would not like the consequences. She'd be damned if she'd let him screw them over.
She was saved from having to make good on her threat by the reappearance of Kamin and Tamaki who bounded out of the closet fully dressed. "Come on! Let's go!" they cried, running to the open door. They stared expectantly at Lin and Monk who jumped to their feet.
Kamin led the way down the hallway, jabbering on about her friend the German Shepard who lived down the road. Tamaki paused at the door waving at the two hidden teammates before closing it and hurrying after his twin.
They waited a few long, silent moments before Naru popped up and pulled Mai out from under the bed. She dusted herself off and then looked quietly around the room, avoiding eye contact with Naru at all cost.
"We should get going. I'll leave first, then you leave and head for the bathroom or bedroom, just not Base," Naru instructed in that detached way of his. He strode towards the door, yanking it open. He paused in the doorway as Tamaki had done. "Oh, and Mai…"
"Yes?" she squeaked, snapping to attention.
"Tea as soon as possible." With that, he left without a backwards glance at her.
…..
Mai seethed with loud rage. She stormed back to her, Masako and Ayako's bedroom, muttering obscenities and insults directed at her boss under her breath. She burst through the bedroom door nearly knocking it off its hinges. Masako and Ayako startled, dropping the things they'd had in their hands at that moment.
"What a jerk!" she cried, slamming the door behind her, "Does he have a one-track mind for tea or something?" She didn't know why she was so mad at Naru, she just knew that she was, and she honestly didn't care for the why. "Urgh! He just makes me so mad!" She rifled through her bag, pulling out the first outfit her hands touched, a towel and her shower stuff. She stomped from the room once more, corralling herself in the bathroom before anyone could start asking questions.
Steam filled the bathroom and hot water poured over her. The heat seeped into her muscles helping them unclench. She felt all the tension from the past few days with the twins and Naru and Ash slip easily away down the drain with all thoughts. The sudden empty room left lots of other thoughts to slip through.
She idly wondered if the cut on Naru's palm had gotten any better. The memory of their little scandal in the kitchen came back full force and had her blushing and tense all over again. She took several deep breaths, clearing her mind once more, and allowing herself to relax.
"So, what was all the commotion about this morning?" Ayako asked the moment Mai walked back into their bedroom.
"What are you talking about?" Mai asked genuinely confused by the question.
"Not being able to find you or Naru this morning? You storming into our room, pissed in only the way Naru can piss you off?" Ayako asked incredulously, staring at her with raised, expectant eyebrows.
Oh yeah, that. She'd honestly completely forgotten about the whole thing and wished it had stayed that way. She shrugged in way of reply, moving to put her stuff away.
Ayako stood with her hands on her hips, a disapproving scowl curving down her red lips. "Oh no, don't give me that," she began to rant, but was cut off by a polite knock at the door. "What?" she snapped already glaring at the door.
John stuck his blonde head through the door looking a bit sheepish. He could be so innocent sometimes. "Ayako, Naru wants to see you," he simply said before ducking back into the hallway, escaping Ayako's piercing glare as quickly as he could.
A low growl escaped from between Ayako's teeth. She shot a glare at Mai, stabbing a finger at her. "This conversation isn't over yet, young lady," she warned before disappearing out the door.
"Yes, Mother," Mai cut sarcastically once she was gone, rolling her eyes in exasperation, "Geez, you would have thought I'd killed someone. That does sound rather tempting right at this moment though."
Masako watched her silently from her bed. Her eyes were narrowed in concentration as if she were trying to think of a good question. Finally, she asked, "Where were you last night and this morning?"
Mai faltered in her task, nearly dropping what she held in her hands. "N-nowhere. I was just in Base with Naru for night watch," she said confidently, forcing her voice and actions not to give her away.
Masako rolled her eyes. "You really think I'm going to believe that? Come on, we both know you're lying. For your information, I woke up around two in the morning and checked in at Base, but neither of you were there. Now spill it or I'll suspect the worst." A sly smile crossed her lips as she watched Mai fumble for an answer.
"I, uh, was, um, uh…" she stuttered, a deep blush crawling over her cheeks. She couldn't hold back. The truth spilled from her lips in a torrent of hurried sentences that only made Masako's grin widen.
Sorry for the super late update. Some really scary stuff happened to my best friend at school and I just couldn't type up this essay. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next chapter will definitely bring some ghosty stuff. Review please :D