Disclaimer: We don't own Ghost Hunt!

~Jealousy in the Office~

Chapter 18

Monk came in followed by Hikaru and—unfortunately—Takumi. Naru bit back a growl when he noticed the young man enter the room. He clenched his jaw, trying not to say anything about it. Nodding towards them, he cleared his throat.

"Please sit down." He said as Mai moved to sit straight beside him. Mr Nakamura nodded and took a seat watching to make sure Takumi did the same. Once they did, Naru noticed that their eyes eventually found their way to Mai's bandaged wrist, who subtly tried to cover it up. Mai glanced up at Naru nervously, not liking the silence. It felt so awkward... Getting the hint, Naru turned back to the clients.

"I called both of you here because I have some information about the spirit here that I think you should know." He spoke. Mr Nakamura gave him a curious look.

"You know who's doing this?" He inquired.

"Mr. Nakamura," Naru avoided the man's question. "do you know what ever happened to your ex-wife?" The older man's expression darkened considerably. Takumi furrowed his brows.

"What does she have to do with anything?" He asked. Naru shot him a glare.

"I don't believe I was asking you." He stated coldly.

"Naru..." Mai mumbled, chiding him. She kept her gaze lowered though, she didn't dare to look up at the clients. She was so close to both of them right now...what if the spirit made her do something else—influence her emotions again?

Because she was looking down she didn't notice as Takumi shot him a smug look. Or that Naru was glaring back at him in a death glare.

"Now I ask again, Mr Nakamura, are you aware of what happened to your wife after your divorce?"

Hikaru slowly nodded with the dark expression still on his face. "Yes...I do."

Naru nodded in acceptance. "Are you also aware that a spirit is able to attach itself to objects, places, and people?"

"Wait—" Takumi tried to say, but his father cut him off.

"I've heard mentions of that before." Mr Nakamura met the young boss' gaze with a stern look. "What does this have to do with anything?" He inquired.

"We're certainly positive that it's your ex-wife who is haunting the two of you." Naru replied flatly. The room suddenly became so silent that Mai was sure you could hear a pin drop. He was as blunt as ever. Takumi was the first to break the silence, from shock.

"Ha...haunting?! Are you telling me my mother is dead?!" The boy looked between his father and Naru in complete and utter disbelief. Hikaru turned to his son with a regretful look.

Mai suddenly felt a small amount of sympathy for him, despite everything he has had done and said. To find out that your mother is dead this way... And Naru wasn't exactly helping any. She knew he hated Takumi, but he doesn't need to be so harsh right now. She shot him a slight glare for being so inconsiderate. She hoped he would get why she was glaring at him. Sensing Mai's glare Naru tried to ignore her. What Mr Nakamura had or hadn't told his son wasn't his problem.

"Yes..." Hikaru murmured quietly. Takumi looked at his father in shock trying to process the new information. After a few moments, Takumi spoke.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?!" He yelled. Hikaru was stunned at the sudden outburst before his features hardened grimly. Mai swallowed thickly. Not good...

"I would appreciate it if you would sit down and let me continue, or leave." Naru spoke coldly. Takumi then directed his glare on Naru, making Mai cringe. Not good at all...

"I just found out that my mother is dead." He hissed. "Do you really lack that much emotion?"

Mai subtly nudged Naru with her elbow. "Stop it." She hissed quietly so only he would hear. He shot her an irritated look.

"What do you suppose we do, Mr. Shibuya?" Hikaru asked before he could say or anything to his son. Naru focused his eyes on him. Mai's gaze flickered up to him for a moment.

"At the moment we aren't sure how to go about the exorcism. The spirit is attached to Takumi and we aren't aware of the consequences."

"Exorcism?" Takumi narrowed his eyes. Naru ignored his statement, making the boy glare.

"Well, do whatever you have to do, Mr. Shibuya." Hikaru muttered. Takumi gaped at his father.

"What do you mean 'do whatever'?!"

Hikaru let out an irritated breath. "Not now." He told his son harshly.

"No! It doesn't matter if she's dead or what, she's still my mother!"

Naru gave them a cold look. This is not going right.

"Regardless of your personal feelings, you have hired me to rid you of the spirit, and the fact that the spirit happens to be your dead mother does not change this." Naru's voice sent shivers down even Mai's spine. "And if you would use that brain of yours, you'd remember the times during the haunting that she seems to try to kill you—pushing you down the stairs, for instance. Not to mention the multiple times she has hurt Mai, trying to kill her also, especially last night." Naru continued in the same tone of voice, but it just seemed to become worse towards the end. Takumi's eyes widened slightly before he glared at Naru.

"She would never." He denied shaking his head. Naru's eyes flashed.

"I know you've noticed the bandages on Mai's wrist. Last night the spirit influenced her emotions again, making her think no one loved an ounce of her and that she was worthless and deserved to die." He spat. "Under the influence, Mai tried to slit her wrists and would have succeeded if I hadn't gotten there in time."

Takumi's body shook slightly as he shook his head. "No, no, no, no, no! No, you're lying!" He denied furiously.

Mai squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't want to remember. Why did he have to say it? And in front of her of all places? Couldn't he have sent Ayako or Monk somewhere with her out of the room? Her hands shook slightly. Her eyes landed on her knuckles. They were scabbed over from when she had punched the mirror. It still stung, but right now, she was glad for that sting. She could focus on the pain instead of the current conversation. She winced as she moved her wrist. Ayako never did give her any pain medicine...

Naru looked over at Mai to check on her. Her face was contorted in pain. He mentally cursed himself for getting so worked up. He couldn't believe that in the last several moments he had actually forgotten about the girl beside him. He sighed and moved his hand to cover hers discreetly. Startled out of her thoughts, Mai looked up at him with wide eyes. Thankfully neither of their clients seemed to notice the exchange; Takumi was still in denial. Naru looked at Hikaru, refusing to meet Mai's eyes and give the client reason to be suspicious. It was not the time for that right now.

"Takumi!" His father snapped. "Stop being ridiculous."

"I can't believe you never told me any of this! What else are you lying to me about?!" Takumi retorted. Naru shot the couple a glare.

"I would appreciate it if you would argue with your son elsewhere."

Hikaru let out a breathe and nodded. "Well, as I've said before, do whatever is necessary." He supplied. The young boss nodded in acceptance of the man's words.

"That's all for the time being." He stated. The client nodded before standing up and forcefully dragging Takumi with him. As soon as the door clicked shut Naru turned to Mai and lifted her wrist up gently. She tried to repress a hiss as he did. Tried being the key word. A small sound escaped her mouth making him look at her with concerned eyes. "Miss Matsuzaki..." Naru then narrowed his eyes at the woman. Ayako nodded, coming over to the couple. "Did you not give Mai any pain medication?" Naru asked sharply. Her eyes widened slightly.

"It must've slipped my mind. If you were in this much pain, why didn't you ask for some?" She directed her question at Mai. Mai gave a sheepish, pained smile.

"I-It was fine, I didn't want to bother anyone." She quickly said. The miko narrowed her eyes at her.

"Making sure you aren't in pain isn't a bother."

"Right after I woke up Mr. Nakamura and Takumi came in—I didn't have time to say anything." Mai waved it off with her free hand. It was bad enough about last night, she didn't want to be a burden any more on this case. Ayako looked her in the eyes for a few more moments before sighing.

"Alright." The red-haired woman went over to her medical bag and began to rummage through it until she found the pills.

"Mai, are you sure you shouldn't go to a doctor? And I mean a real doctor, not like that old lady over th—" Monk began to ask before a hand collided hard against his head. Mai winced as she watched the exchange.

"I am a real doctor old man! Is your memory really that bad?" She screeched.

"Apparently not as bad as yours. Forgetting to give my poor little Mai pain medication!" Monk retorted, scoffing. Another loud hiss resided around the room.

"Hmph. At least I know how to make sure people are alright. I don't see you doing anything." She quipped irritated.

"You aren't doing much right now either, Miss Matsuzaki, with your petty argument." Naru's cold voice cut through the air. "Give Mai the medicine." The red-head looked like she was about to argue, but the cold glare he was sending her made her think twice. Turning to the younger she handed her a couple of the pills and a glass of water.

"Thank you..." Mai gave a small smile as she took the items. Ayako nodded before walking over to sit with the monk. Quickly taking the pills, Mai sighed. Now hopefully the pain will go away soon. She hated how much she had worried everyone. She had tried to hide the pain and bare through it, but Naru's keen eyes wouldn't let that happen. It was kind of irritating how easily he picked up on her lies. She's never been able to pull something over on him. It wasn't fair.

Sometimes—but not too often—she was able to know what he was thinking though. But even then she had an inkling that he was letting her see. But even so, the fact that during those times he trusted her enough to see him in such a way made her glow with pleasure.

"Alright, so what do we do now?" Monk asked.

"We have to plan how we're going to exorcise the spirit." The red-haired miko scoffed haughtily as if it should've been obvious.

"Well, obviously. I meant how." Monk rolled his eyes. Ayako opened her mouth to retort but was interrupted.

"Be quiet both of you." Naru said irritably. Ayako shot him a glare but said nothing. She shifted her gaze on to Mai and her eyes softened.

Have you felt anything...off?" She asked awkwardly.

"Shouldn't you asking Masako that?" Mai questioned with a very small smile.

"I don't think the old hag was referring to the spirit itself... More so the emotions..." The monk explained.

"Oh..." Mai looked down and began to fumble with her thumbs. "Ah, no, not right now...sorry." Naru didn't want to admit it, but the fact that she hadn't felt her emotions be effected made him relax slightly.

"It's alright, Mai." Monk ruffled her hair affectionately. "It's good that you didn't." The brunette looked at him with wide eyes. Was he insane? The emotions she felt because of Takumi's mother's spirit were able to help with the case. The fact that they scare her shouldn't matter! "What?" Monk frowned.

"Nothing." She mumbled. She looked away and shifted her gaze down to her hands. Why was she always a burden? It seems she always got in the way of things. She couldn't understand why they cared so much. She's wasn't anything special at all.

Naru looked over at Mai. He knew that look. She was looking at her hand yet her eyes wasn't focused on them. He knew the spirit was starting to enter her mind again. He quickly turned towards her.

"Mai." He called. The brunette glanced up at him with pained eyes. Naru suddenly felt a twinge of pain in his chest. Why did she always have to suffer? Why was in always Mai?

As if sensing his thoughts, Mai grabbed his hand in her trembling one. She briefly wondered how many more times Naru would have to save her from those thoughts before this case was over. It scared her because she never knew what was happening, she never knew what she would try next. Most importantly, why was the spirit doing this to her? What had she done to make the spirit so angry? It isn't like she'd gone around and told her that she hated her son...

Mai's eyes grew wide at the realization.

She had slapped Takumi.

MzShellSan: Hehe so what do you think of this chapter?

Naruisawesome: Personally I loved it. XD But of course I love every one of our chapters hehe!

MzShellSan: Lol me too! And now everyone knows why the spirit hates Mai.

Naruisawesome: Yup, all because she slapped poor Takumi.

MzShellSan: Poor Takumi—?!

Naruisawesome: Oh don't even start with me! -.-

MzShellSan: *rolls eyes* Anyways, please review everyone! ^_^