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~Jealousy in the Office~

Chapter 12

When they came to the base door though, her smile faltered. She felt Naru's hand slip away from hers and instantly missed the feeling. What did she expect though? Of course Naru wouldn't hold her hand while walking into base. Now that she really thought about it, that would probably cause more trouble than it was worth considering Bou-san, Masako and all. Mai let out a sigh. Yeah, she'd rather go without the teasing and hateful glances that would be sent her way. Snapping out of her thoughts, she followed Naru back into base. As soon as she walked in, Monk's and Ayako's eyes were trained very intensely on her.

"So?" Ayako asked, raising her eyebrows at the girl. Mai blushed under her stare.

"So what?" She asked. The elder shot her an irritated look.

"So give me the details! What happened?" She exclaimed. 'Oh, you know, I just slapped one of our clients because he kept saying horrible things about everyone'. Yeah right! Like I can say that! Mai yelled inside her mind.

"U-uh, nothing. We just uh- talked. Yeah that's all." She stuttered out nervously.

"Well, obviously you were talking, Mai. I meant what you were talking about... But with that answer I know something else happened." Ayako smirked suggestively. "Spill." She ordered. Mai groaned collapsing on to the couch next to her sister figure. I'm such an idiot.

"I knew it!" Monk cried. "I knew I shouldn't have let my little Mai be alone with two teenaged boys!"

Mai could feel her face getting red at the mere suggestion of such things. "W-What?!" She exclaimed. Monk came and scooped her up into a bear hug.

"Tell me what they did, Mai, and I'll make sure they pay!" He told her protectively. The petite girl began to struggle against the other futilely.

"Bou-san, let me go!" She shouted, her voice slightly muffled. "Ayako~!" Mai whined. "Help me!"

"Hmm...will you tell me what happened if I do?" The red-haired woman bargained. The brunette puffed her cheeks out in defiance.

"Takigawa." Naru's cold voice made them all freeze. "I would appreciate it if you put Mai back on the ground and stop causing so much noise. We are here to work not mess around." After a moment Mai felt her feet touch the floor again. She sighed in relief, taking in a deep breath of air. She looked up at Monk to find a pout on his face—he was sullen.

"Why won't you tell me?" He whined.

"I...can't..." Mai said lamely. From across the room Naru sighed in annoyance. It's not like he cared what she told them, but if she was going to lie she could at least try to make it believable. Why was she even trying to lie anyways? Everyone knows she's a terrible liar. It only served to prove his point when Mai was given disbelieving look from both Bou-san, Ayako and everyone else. Even Lin was doing it. Mai pouted at the looks she was receiving. "You could at least pretend that you believe me." She muttered, huffing. Everyone ignored the girl and looked at their boss.

"Alright, Naru. What happened since Miss Horrible Liar isn't going to tell us?" Monk questioned. Naru raised an eyebrow towards the man.

"And what makes you think I'm inclined to give you that information?"

"Because you were the only one there besides that Takumi guy!"

Naru pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. "I'm well aware of that fact, but it still doesn't incline me to explain anything to you."

"Fine..." Monk alluded, smirking as a plan formed in his head. "I'll just go ask that guy for myself...invite him here...with Mai..."

Mai's head snapped up. "W-what!? I-I'm not going a-anywhere with you!" She stuttered quickly. Her boss growled under his breath. Monk patted her head.

"Don't worry, I'll just bring him here. Then you two sit on the couch oh-so-close together and talk~!" He said in a sing-song tone. His smirk widened when he saw Naru's reaction. The teenager's fists were tightened in anger and jealousy was clear in his eyes, even if just for a moment. "Ah, but I'll have to monitor you closely... He might try to make a pass at you and kiss you... Right. On. The. Lips." Monk continued. He couldn't help but see how far his young boss would go before he lost it. Not to mention a certain brunette was blushing madly at his words. Both Naru and Mai gagged at the mere thought of such a thing. If he even attempted that I'd slap him again. She thought fiercely.

"I doubt he could get that far." Ayako commented. Bou-san pouted.

"Shut up, you old hag."

Ayako glared hotly at him as a warning. "You know it's true. Naru would probably interfere with it before he even sat down beside Mai."

Said man ignored them, opening his black book in an attempt to drown out their arguing—not to mention his jealousy. Although Mai already proved she didn't like that guy, he couldn't help but feel that way. Despite his current hatred towards the male, he couldn't help but feel smug also remembering the way Mai had yelled at him and how the red mark on his face had seemed painful for him. He deserved it anyway. He shouldn't have even spoken with Mai to begin with. He ground his teeth together, risking a small glance over to Mai. How the hell did this girl manage to make 'the great Naru' fall for her? He realized that was kind of a stupid question though... I mean who didn't love Mai? She just had this way about her. It was completely illogical but yet it worked. It was simply how Mai was...and he wouldn't change her.

Naru snapped out of his thoughts when he felt eyes on him. He looked up only to notice Mai quickly looking away, blushing at the fact she'd been caught staring. He smirked at that. Previous irritation long forgotten, he began to think of ways to increase that blush. A few annoying remarks should do it.

"I know I'm handsome, Mai, but do you have to stare?" He asked. Mai felt the blood rush to her face.

"I-I was not!" She denied, cursing herself for stuttering.

"There's no need to yell, Mai."

Her face slowly darkened when she realised the others were watching them argue. "I didn't yet!" She exclaimed.

"Emphasis on the yet. Now you really are." He couldn't help it. It was so easy to rile her up. The brunette growled.

"I am not, I am not, I am NOT!" She denied, stomping her foot childishly. Naru flashed her a sexy smirk.

"Did the ghost turn you into a five year old or are you just acting that age?" He inquired, knowing not to push her too far. The brunette turned even redder if that was possible.

"Well, did the ghost turn you into a jerk or—oh wait, you've always been like that." Mockery dripped from every word she spoke. Naru would have grinned had he not been, well, Naru.

"Unlike some resident ghost magnets, I can remember but a few times when the ghost we were investigating has taken a 'liking' to me." He retorted, smirk still in place.

"Oh? Like the time you were possessed and tried to strangle Ayako?!" Mai retorted hotly. The two were now oblivious to the audience they had.

"I said few not never, Mai. Do I need to get you a dictionary for you to look up the meaning of few?" He teased. Mai paused in confusion, making an adorable face. Ugh, what?! That's not what I meant! He's confusing me! From the side, Bou-san grinned and whistled.

"Point and match. Naru wins." He commentated. Mai twirled around and glared at the monk.

"You shut up!" She exclaimed, pointing to him. The monk put his hands up in surrender. Mai turned back around to face her boss. "You—argh!" She just couldn't find any words. She was frustrated. He simply rolled his eyes at her, smirking.

"Do I make you that speechless?"

"Narcissist!" Mai blurted pointing at him.

"Yes, you've established that. Anything else you'd like to get off your chest?" He asked. Mai pressed her lips together. There were quite a few things she wanted to get off her chest...but like she'd ever say them aloud. "No? Well then I guess you're ready to get back to work." He looked pointedly at the by standers. "All of you." A few grumbles of complaints were heard but they soon quieted down. Nodding in satisfaction, Naru turned back to his little black book. After a few minutes, he assigned everyone to a task.

He also made one thing extremely clear: No-one was to let Mai out of their sight.

"Takigawa..." His eyes slid on to the older man. "Go with Mai to change the tapes in the cameras." He ordered giving me a warning glare. Mai pouted, grabbing some tapes and moving towards the door.

"Come on, Mai." Monk said cheerfully, picking up the rest of the tapes. "I'll protect you from any evil spirits...and boys."

Mai's face flushed slightly. "W-what?!" She exclaimed, following after him. Naru sighed tiredly as he heard Monk's laughter and Mai's cries of protest. At least with those two out of the room it would be relatively quiet. Now just to get the other noisy woman out of the room.

"Miss Matsuzaki, take Miss Hara for another walk through of the house and see if you can sense anything." He ordered. As they slowly stood, the two woman shot glares at each other from having to be paired up yet again.

"Why do I have to go with her?" Ayako sneered. Naru glared at her.

"Because I'm telling you to."

The priestess huffed and walked to the door grumbling, Masako close behind. When they left, his shoulders relaxed some. Why he kept them around—he still wasn't too sure. Aside from John, they all could get on his nerves a great deal. Maybe it was because he considers them friends, no matter what he tells them. Perhaps because it also made Mai incredibly happy to have everyone there. Or in the end, it could be all of the above along with each of their individual abilities. With a silent sigh, he glanced towards John. He couldn't really see a reason to remove him from the room at the moment. And he also wasn't annoying him so he just decided to allow the priest to stay.

Turning to the screens, he watched to make sure nothing was going on. On the first monitor he saw the monk and his assistant finally arriving to one of the cameras. He narrowed his eyes at the elder man as he ruffled Mai's hair while she pouted. He was still probably trying to pump the girl for information. Not that he cared, but did that guy ever give up? And exactly how far would he go before he got to that point? Naru let out an irritated sigh. He didn't even realize he was glaring at the monk through the screen.

"You should calm down." Lin commented quietly from where he was sitting. Naru snapped his gaze away from the monitor and on to Lin with a questioning look.

"What are you going on about?"

Lin had the nerve to smirk at him.

"I think you know exactly what I'm talking about."

Naru narrowed his eyes at him. "Just what are you insinuating?"

Lin's smirk only widened at the defensive tone. "I am simply stating a fact." He stated evasively. He saw the way his charge was glaring holes at the monk. It proved to be quite the entertainment as long as it didn't go too far. He didn't quite get why he would be feeling that way towards the monk though. Everyone knew Mai and Takigawa had a sibling relationship. The fact alone that he would jealous over such a small thing only proved the fact that the brunette was something special. Lin briefly wondered how Naru would be if Yasuhara was here with Mai. The young man still 'flirted' with Mai despite them being just friends. It would certainly make for extra amusement, and some good information to keep Madoka off his back. "As amusing as it is, I don't think you have anything to worry about with Takigawa." Lin spoke again. Naru visibly bristled.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He denied. Lin shook his head, smirk still in place.

"You've been around Mai for too long. Be it becoming clueless or just denying situations like these to hide your embarrassment, you've gotten it from her." The Chinese man stated. His charge scowled.

"Don't compare me to her. She's a clumsy danger prone-" He began, but Lin cut him off.

"And you like her." He informed.

"Ah, don't you think 'like' is putting it too lightly, Lin?" John finally spoke up, having heard their entire conversation. Lin turned to the Australian priest. Truth be told, he had completely forgotten that he was still in the room. Despite this though, the Chinese man nodded in agreement.

"Most probably. Although if someone doesn't make a move soon perhaps she would prefer to date the client's son." He gave Naru a pointed look. Their young boss just glared at the two of them.

"Not that it's any of your business, but I highly doubt that Mai even wants to see him." Naru stated in a slightly smug voice, smirking as he remembered the argument from earlier.

"Don't sound so confident." Lin reprimanded half-heartedly. "It might not be this guy, but I'm sure there will be another one who comes along and might actually take her away."

Naru growled under his breath. The mere thought of another guy taking her away irritated him to no end. Like he'd ever let that happen though. Most of the time his assistant was too air-headed to notice anyone hitting on her anyway. He knew that from personal experiences. She really was clueless. Sighing in irritation he brushed off the knowing looks from Lin and John, turning back to the screens.

"It's none of your business anyway."

"If it's anything..." The priest began quietly, surprisingly meddling in someone else's affairs. "I know Mai feels the same way about you."

The normally stoic man froze in shock before shaking his head. "Why would she? It makes no sense." He denied. He refused to believe it—there wasn't any way Mai could love him like he did her. It was impossible and thinking of the fact just made his heart ache even more. Great, now i sound like a love sick girl in high school. He mentally groaned. What had this girl done to him?

John gave a sheepish smile. "You'll have to ask her that..."

This time, Naru chose to ignore him, dwelling on the thoughts his mind had on the subject while watching the object of his affections.

Naruisawesome: Haha I loved the part where Monk was trying to make Naru jealous!

MzShellSan: Lol apparently he doesn't have to go too far before Naru reacts though. XD

Naruisawesome: Lol true! Thank you for reading and all of the reviews! ^.^

MzShellSan: Yes, they're very much appreciated! Please review!