Disclaimer: We do not own Ghost Hunt!

~Jealousy in the office~

Chapter 4

They walked in silence until they found Takumi. He smiled charmingly when he saw Mai. She couldn't help but blush though.

"Hello there, Beautiful." He said.

"H-Hey Takumi..."

Bou-san raised an eyebrow. "Ahem, we have some interviews to conduct, please come with us." He said. Takumi flicked his gaze to him as if he just now noticed him.

"Oh, uh, of course." He said, slightly disappointed that Mai hadn't just wanted to see him. But she came with this guy to get me...that's got to mean something, right?

"Come on you two. Naru's already grumpy." Mai grumbled half-heartedly. Takumi nodded and he followed them back to base. The walk was silent and awkward to Mai, who breathed a sigh of relief when they reached base. But of course once they walk into base, it would be awkward again. Naru and Takumi will be scowling and glaring holes into one another. Mai sighed at the two. They really were impossible. She walked in base first followed by Takumi and then Monk.

As predicted, Naru and Takumi were at each other's throats instantly. Glares shot through the room like wildfire and they hadn't even begun the interrogation. Mai briefly wondered if Naru was the one who was going to be doing the interview. He couldn't even talk to Takumi without sneering or glaring at him. It would be interesting to watch, but honestly, she was beginning to get a bit peeved with the two of them. She went over and stood beside Naru as Takumi sat down on the couch, opposite of Naru.

"How are you involved in the incidents?" Naru inquired, gritting his teeth while trying to keep himself under control.

"It seems all the incidents revolve around me." Takumi answered after he scoffed.

"And what might these incidents be?"

Takumi thought about it a bit. "It just feels like someone pushes me a lot even though no one is around, like when I got pushed down the stairs. My things always get misplaced. Mostly everything my dad said when we were went to your office. I keep hearing a woman's voice too..."

Naru perked up a bit at this. Whether it was because Takumi was the one getting hurt or because it was interesting, no-one knew. "What sort of things does the woman say? What does she sound like?" He asked.

"My dad always says he hears 'he's mine' but... I've heard 'you are mine'. And she just sounds like some possessive chick." Takumi replied. Naru scoffed.

"Wow, you're so helpful." He sneered.

"Naru!" Mai immediately shouted. Naru ignored the girl, still glaring at the client.

"If that's everything, you can leave."

"Don't ignore me! And stop being so rude!" Mai exclaimed as she went and stood in front him, blocking his view of Takumi. Naru sighed.

"Mai, I do not need someone getting in my way while I am trying to work. His presence is no longer necessary; therefore he is of no help and needs to leave." Naru stated in an irritated voice.

"Yeah, well, you don't have to be such a jerk about it." Mai retorted. Naru just also happened to notice that Mai was leaning forward to him so her skirt was higher than it should be in the back—also where Takumi could see her since her back was to him. He growled.

"Mai, who's the boss?" He questioned, annoyance clear in his voice. Mai blinked as she straightened up.

"...You are." She mumbled reluctantly.

"I thought so." He said, turning to Takumi and shooting him another glare. "Once again, leave." Takumi stood up and went beside Mai.

"Obviously Mai would rather I stay." He spoke smugly. Mai blinked in surprise. Since when did she get involved in this?

"Mai doesn't have a say in it." Naru stated as he glared at him. Seeing the tension rising, Bou-san chose to walk over between the two.

"Now, now. Why can't we all just get along?"

Naru moved his glare to Monk. "I don't need to get along with him. I am here to work not to make friends." He scoffed.

"Same here. The sooner you leave the better." Takumi then glanced at Mai. "Although Mai can stay as long as she likes." He slyly added, giving her a smile.

Mai was beginning to grow irritated at the atmosphere. Sure, Takumi didn't deserve to be glared at to death by Naru but can't he give the flirting a rest? Honestly, it was beginning to get annoying. If he really wanted her to like him then he should really stop with the constant flirting. Not that it would change much. After all, she had fallen in love—much to her annoyance—with a very different guy. Maybe she could tell Takumi that? Although it might make him hate Naru more... He didn't seem like the type to just give up.

"Uh...thanks Takumi, but that's okay." Mai replied, still trying to be polite nonetheless. Takumi frowned a little before smiling.

"Well then, I guess we'll talk more later." He said, walking towards the door.

"Thanks for coming here anyway, Takumi." Mai added. He turned, smiling at her before walking out of the room. No one really knew what to do after that. The room had gone quiet as the tension still remained in the air. Some of them looked at the door Takumi had gone through and the others stared at Naru, who still looked incredibly annoyed and angry. Not liking the tension in the air, Bou-san turned to Ayako.

"Hey old hag, are you getting so old that you can't even move?" He provoked. Ayako immediately snapped out of her semi-shock and turned to the man.

"Excuse me?!"

"Oh, your hearing is getting dull too?" The monk continued.

"At least I'm not the one who's getting wrinkles!"

"What?" The monk shouted. "If I'm getting wrinkles then it's because I have a charming smile constantly on my face. The reason you can't remember anything is purely old age."

Mai sighed in relief. Leave it to Monk—at least when Yasu isn't here—to get rid of the tense atmosphere. Although, Mai thought looking over to Naru. maybe Naru might be more annoyed than anything. She bit her lip, wondering what to do. Perhaps she could make him tea? He would probably ask her for some sooner than later anyway. But since he already knew about the 'incident' last time she went to the kitchen, he'd never let her go by herself... Argh, why was he so complicated?! She'll never understand him. He got all protective just because she heard a couple of voices. Wait, protective? Mai asked herself. No, that can't be right. Mai began to ponder what else it could be. Naru isn't protective, it has to be something else.

"Mai." Naru called, seeing her face. He knew she was trying to concentrate on something. "You shouldn't over stress your little brain too much."

Said girl snapped out of her thoughts. "Why you! I was simply thinking about a few things." She muttered angrily, completely forgetting what had been on her mind. Naru narrowed his eyes slightly, wondering what the 'few things' were exactly.

"Is there something you need to tell me?" He asked. He hoped she wasn't keeping case details from him again. Mai blinked and a light blush dusted her cheeks.

"U-Uh, nothing, nothing." She replied nervously, shaking her hands in front herself. She looked away nervously as Naru studied her. He narrowed his eyes at her.

"Are you sure?" He checked. She was definitely lying that much he knew.

"Mmhmm..." Mai looked over at Monk, hoping he would help her. Monk grinned, shaking his head with a teasing smile. 'Not my problem.' He mouthed. Mai glared at him and stuck her tongue out at him. He wasn't much help. Mai needed another way out of this quick. She really didn't feel like explaining that she was thinking of different ways to stop Naru from being so irritated. Although...maybe if Naru told her then she could help. But she doubted he would. He was the type to keep everything to himself. She sighed. Stupid Naru... What was she getting all worked up over anyway? It's not unusual for him to be irritable. Maybe it was because she didn't like seeing him in a bad mood.

Naru was still looking at her tentatively. "Are you going to tell me?" He snapped, irritated. Mai jumped and looked back at Naru.

"Um...w-well...it has nothing to do with the case if that's what you're worried about." She replied. Naru raised an eyebrow.

"So what has it got to do with?"

"W-Why do you care?" She asked. Naru blinked. That wasn't what he had expected. But then again, she never was one to tell him anything.

"I care because you often keep things from us that you don't think are related to the case but in actual fact are."

"Trust me, it's not." She stated looking away. "Shouldn't we be interviewing more people?" She quickly asked. Pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation, Naru sighed.

"There is only the father left to interview." He stated. Mai snapped her attention back to Naru.

"Eh?! Are you saying it's only Takumi and his father here?!"

Naru rolled his eyes. "That's what I just said. Care to repeat anything else?" He asked sarcastically. The brunette narrowed her eyes at him.

"I was only wondering because this place is huge! It didn't seem likely that it would only be them two!" She said angrily. Naru smirked wondering how far he could push.

"Did you see anyone else around while we've been here?" He asked. Mai's eyebrow twitched.

"You're such a jerk!" Mai huffed, grabbing Monk. "We're going to find Mr. Nakamura!" She stated, walking out of base. "Just who does he think he is?! Because he's my boss and a narcissist doesn't give him the right to do that! How was I suppose to know?!" Mai rambled as she continued to drag Monk down the hall.

Bou-san laughed. "Calm down Jou-chan. Naru's always been like that." He remarked cheekily. Mai abruptly stopped and turned to face him.

"That doesn't mean he gets to be such a jerk!" She shouted angrily. The monk grinned, holding his arms up slightly as if trying to get her to calm down.

"He's probably just trying to get your attention back on him since we just saw Takumi not long ago..."

Mai blinked. "Huh? Why would he want to do that?" She asked. Monk rolled his eyes at his 'little sister'.

"Mai. Seriously? You don't know?"

The girl shrugged, huffing. "Know what?"

"I don't think I should be the one to tell you... Naru should." He replied as they began walking again.

"Wait! What are you talking about?" Mai demanded, agitated. She jogged up to Bou-san to catch up.

"Mai, think about it. Right when we had walked into base Takumi and Naru immediately began glaring at each other and arguing...but when the topic changed to you, things between them got even worse." He said slowly, hoping she would get it.

"Huh? They were at each other's throats anyway? I don't get it!" She exclaimed. Why were he being so complicated? She hated riddles. Monk patted her shoulders sympathically.

"Mai..." He sighed. "They're fighting over you...and that's all I'm going to say."

"Wha... No fair!" She pouted, angrily. Why was he still being so complicated? She never used to have these problems, but then again, she used to be normal. Monk laughed.

"Do that face in front of Naru and you might just find out why." He suggested. Tilting her head, she looked at him confused.

"I constantly pout around that jerk though..." Monk only smirked and continued walking ahead. "Hey! Stop walking away!" Mai complained, catching up once again.

"Oh look. There's Mr. Nakamura." Bou-san said, pointing ahead. Mai huffed and crossed her arms.

"Don't think you're going to get out of this that easily..." She mumbled since they were getting closer to Hikaru. The monk grinned cheekily.

"I think I just did." He replied. She glared at him just as Hikaru noticed them.

"Hello there. Can I help you?"

Mai smiled at the man. "We were wondering if you would come with us so my boss can ask you a few questions pertaining to your haunting."

Hikaru nodded, walking over to the pair. "Sure."

"Okay, please follow us then." Monk slightly raised an eyebrow at Mai's sudden professional attitude. Mai shot Bou-san a questioning look. "Are you coming?" She asked, already a few steps ahead of him with Hikaru. After a few moments, he nodded and began to catch up with them.

"So Mai, what's with the sudden professionalism?" He whispered quietly, as not to allow Hikaru to hear. Mai turned her head and blinked at him.

"What? What are you talking about?" She asked. The monk looked at her as if she was crazy.

"What do you mean what am I talking about? What are you talking about?" Mai frowned and gave a quick glance at their client.

"All I did was ask him to come with us!" She hissed.

"Yeah, but you asked him in a different manner to the one you usually use." He murmured back, giving her a look that told her to just try and deny it.

"What does it matter? Is it so wrong for me to do my job right?" She questioned defensively. The monk put his hands up in front of him to protect himself.

"Sorry, sorry."

Mai sighed in relief when she saw the base door in sight. After this interview she's definitely going to rest some whether Naru likes it or not. It had been a tiring day and she could already feel it weighing down on her.

Naruisawesome: Nothing's better than a jealous Naru! Hehe!

MzShellSan: And Mai being oblivious to it!

Naruisawesome: Lol that's true!

MzShellSan: Of course it is.

Naruisawesome & MzShellSan: Please review!