A/N:- I'm back! Did ya miss me? (No? Charming!) It has been too long since my last update, but what can I say, I ran out of ideas!
I swear this week I'm turning into Naru, after all what else could make me buy 14 boxes of tea!
I have decided to dedicate this chapter to Jaz-147 for reviewing every chapter so far! I am disappointed I didn't get any parent ideas and only 1 review. Thanks again Jaz-147! I did, however, get 3 story alerts which is good.
This chapter is not for Masako fans. (Sorry, but I don't like her. She's horrible!)
Disclaimer:- Same as usual!
Mai's POV
Unfortunately I entered the base as Monk was stretching to hear the sound of his vertebrae popping in a way that reminded me all too clearly of my dream. I couldn't help but freeze in horror and revulsion even though everyone was now crowding around me. Well, everyone except Naru and Lin of course. Naru seemed to catch on to what happened as he forcefully ordered me to go make tea. 'I guess I should be grateful, even if he is a narcissistic tea addict!'
I checked the cupboards in the kitchen for the tea whoever it was bought after filling and switching on the kettle. 'Well, it wasn't on the list Naru and I had!' I silently groaned when I found it. 'I'm guessing it was on Ayako and Madoka's list.' It was the cheap stuff that tastes like boiled copper. Naru hates cheap tea! I sighed; thankfully I had packed a few boxes of the good stuff in my suitcase. I quickly ran to my room and rooted through the contents of my luggage to find my prize. Grabbing the first box I found, I dashed back to the kitchen just in time for the kettle to switch off. I checked the tea I picked as I threw a few teabags in a large pot and added hot water. 'Green chai, excellent choice!' (A/N:- I concur! Sorry, couldn't resist!)
I grabbed the now fully laden tray and moved back to the base. Everyone fell silent when I entered. I continued on ignoring the worried glances shot my way and poured out the tea, adding sugar for Naru, Ayako and John and leaving Masako, Monk, Lin's and mine unsweetened. I settled down with my cup as everyone else took a sip of their own tea.
"Ugh, what is this?" Masako asked rudely.
"Green chai tea." I replied simply, taking a sip of my own drink.
"Well, it's disgusting. Make something different." The snooty medium demanded. 'Who the hell does she think I am! Her maid?'
Naru was obviously not pleased with her attitude as I could see his calm blue eyes harden a little.
"Miss Hara, if you do not like the tea that has so graciously been offered to you then simply don't drink it." He bit out. "Mai, I want another cup." Naru concluded, draining his previous drink. 'You could've at least said please you know! Still, I guess he did sort of stand up for me just now.' I decided to just give the man what he wanted without complaint. He looked at me as though waiting for my disagreements and when they didn't come he settled himself back in to the sofa he was sat on and picked up his notebook and pen again.
"Now Mai, enlighten us all as to what you dreamt about." Naru commanded with a slight gentleness in his tone, fixing his gaze upon me. I fought off a blush as I thought about what to tell them. 'I guess I'll just start at the beginning.' It took a long excruciating hour to fill in all the details of what I saw minus the part about Gene hugging me. Naru had downed at least three more cups of tea during that time and I felt like a nervous wreck.
"Alright Mai, I think that concludes everything we needed to know." He said with a slightly pensive expression. "Everyone, get ready and we will all do a walkthrough of the area affected." He announced.
"But why?" Ayako asked, confusion written all over her face.
"Do you have a problem with my methods, Miss Matsuzaki?" Naru asked dangerously.
"No, but normally you would just ask myself, Masako and John to do it." She replied.
"If you haven't noticed, we are dealing with what appears to be a very dangerous spirit. So far fifteen people have been hospitalized and eight people are dead because of it. If you want to go for a walkthrough with a reduced number of people, be my guest, but know that the risks of being injured or killed and not found will be higher. Is that a chance you are willing to take?" He hissed angrily, glaring coldly at the miko.
"I guess you're right, I wasn't thinking." Ayako said, lowering her gaze from his.
"Go get ready then, we are leaving in thirty minutes." Naru stated, turning his attention to his notes. With that we all left the base to grab our coats and shoes and anything else we might need.
Naru's POV
'I swear these people either don't listen, are blind or are just not informed about British weather!' I have had to listen to at least four complaints about being it being cold, wet or too muddy. I let out a growl, daring the next person to say something about the conditions we're working in. 'We are working on a freaking hill people! Wear appropriate attire for the situation! Seriously Masako, a kimono?' We had arrived at the top of the hill only for all the women to complain about it being cold and wet and what it was doing to their hair. Considering some of the things they were wearing I had no sympathy for them. Then that stupid monk started complaining how it was too muddy and it was ruining his favourite jeans. I turned an icy gaze on the party who were whining, shutting their criticisms down instantly.
"Miss Matsuzaki, Miss Hara, John, sense anything?" I asked, focussing my attention on the trio.
"I say it's an earth spirit." The miko proclaimed with her usual confidence. 'Of course it is! Keep believing that!'
"I sense something with malicious intent Kazuya." The priest informed. 'Helpful! I could've told you that!' The mediums reaction was her standard one.
"Ohh, the spirits. I have never felt such evil. Their feelings are overwhelming." 'Uh-huh, going a little overboard aren't we?'
She topped it off with her classic lunge at me, which I promptly avoided. In retrospect I should've stayed where I was, although what happened next could've happened to me too if I hadn't moved.
Miss Hara realized a little too late that her ploy to land on me wasn't going to work this time. As I had stepped out of her line of trajectory she instead catapulted herself down the hill headfirst. (A/N:- Woohoo! Sorry!) A couple of snapping noises and a very loud scream of pain followed her descent as she finally came to rest at the bottom of the hill. 'We have really got to stop her from going above ground level! She seems to have no sense of balance!' (A/N:- Agreed! What is that? The third time she's fallen down somewhere?)
"Lin, call an ambulance." I sighed, proceeding to make my own way down the hill with the others, but with infinitely more grace. Ayako carefully checked the now unconscious medium over, announcing that she had broken her leg in at least two places and quite possibly had a concussion. I took my phone out and dialled a number, waiting as it rang.
"Noll, what is it dear?" Mother asked upon answering.
"Miss Hara has had an accident and I need you to accompany her in the hospital." I stated in a monotone voice.
"What happened?" She asked, making it sound like it was my fault. 'I really don't have time for this!'
"What do you think happened? She went headfirst down the blasted hill!" I replied with less patience than I wanted.
"Don't get shirty with me Oliver Davis!" Mother admonished."I will be there as soon as I can." She then hung up. I looked to Lin for the details on the ambulance and he said they'd get here in about twenty minutes. Mother arrived just as the ambulance did. Masako was quickly placed on a stretcher and put in the awaiting vehicle. Mother was beside her promising she'd ring with details before the doors were closed and they drove off to the hospital.
"Now, I want Monk and Mai to go collect the cameras. Lin you go with them and stay in the base. Who's up for some camping?"
A/N:- Chapter complete! I decided that instead of the usual 'John goes with Masako to hospital' it shall be Luella as she has nothing important to do right now.
Questions, ideas, reviews welcome! See ya!
(Forgot to mention, Masako fell out of her own stupidity and nothing spirit related! In case you didn't get that.)