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~Jealousy in the Office~

Chapter 22

Mai wandered down the hallway with Ayako in silence. For the brunette's protection, Ayako made sure she was right beside her, saying that if something happened to Mai then Naru would kill the priestess. It was probably true. After that he'd probably pull her back from the dead and lecture her back to death.

"Um..." Mai started to gain the red-head's attention. "I have to go get my clothes from the bedroom." She reminded her. And hopefully I'll see Takumi somewhere along the way. Ayako nodded.

"Right. Of course." She stated. Mai silently sighed in relief. Though now how was she suppose to talk to Takumi if Ayako was there? She doubted the woman—or anyone else on the team—would let Takumi near her after hearing the amateur-ish plan of his. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him the other end of the hallway. She glanced back at Ayako. When the older woman saw him, her eyes narrowed. "What do you want?" She hissed. Mai inwardly cringed. That wasn't a good start. Takumi seemed slightly nervous. Ayako had that effect on people.

"I was just on my way to see Mai." He muttered, looking at said girl before he shifted his gaze away from her. Ayako didn't seem to like that answer though. She stood in front of the girl in a protective stance.

"No. You weren't. You were turning around and walking in the other direction."

"Ayako..." Mai grumbled, chiding her slightly. Ayako looked over at Mai.

"Yes, Mai?"

"Please don't do this..."

"What?" The priestess hissed. "Why not?"

Mai took a deep breath. It was now or never. "Please, Ayako! You know how I feel about the exorcisms! I can't let Naru do this, you have to help me!" She begged. Ayako's eyes narrowed.

"Mai..."

"I need you, Ayako!" Mai whispered hurriedly. She wasn't really sure what to do anymore, but she felt in her heart that this was the right thing to do. "It's better to try to get Takumi's mom into crossing over than never trying at all!"

"You could get hurt! If Naru found out, I would spend the rest of my life not only mentally regretting it but physically too! He'd make my life a living hell!" She argued furiously.

"I know if Naru was thinking more clearly on this, then he'd reconsider it. But right now he's just angry with the spirit because of what she did to me." Mai looked down at her scabbed over knuckles and banaged wrist before looking back up at her friend. "I'll take full responsibility if this goes wrong. Please, Ayako. We have to do it before John does the exorcism!"

The red-head didn't seem to be buying it. She turned to Takumi angrily. "Did you put her up to this?" She demanded.

"Ayako!" Mai tried again. This was not how she planned it. Maybe she should've asked Monk to come instead... But then again that could have been awkward and she doubted Naru would have allowed it. If he didn't come himself, then there's no way he would let another male come with her. Sighing Mai leaned again the hall wall while Takumi tried to find some words to help the brunette out a little. He couldn't exactly lie to her and say that he wasn't the reason she was doing this. Even if it was indirectly. However it seemed the boy was at a lost for words, especially with the way the red-head was glaring holes into him. "Leave him alone, Ayako. I'm doing this for his mother—not him."

Ayako twirled back around to the brunette. "Why?! After she almost killed you!"

"Because I understand!" Mai shouted, tears beginning to well in her eyes. Ayako's anger faltered.

"Understand what?" She asked. Looking down Mai could feel tears dripping down her face.

"I understand what it's like not to have been around a parent long enough to know them. I never really knew my father! And if I had the chance to talk to him, I would jump at it. Takumi has the chance to meet his mother. I can't take that away!"

Ayako closed her eyes and took a deep breath, conflicting over what to do. On one hand, Mai seemed adamant to do this. But on the other—regardless of what Mai has said—she knows Naru is going to kill her. That wasn't just a guess, she knew he would. Groaning she looked over at Mai.

"I'm not saying I'll help, but if I did, what would I do?" She inquired. Mai bit her lip.

"It's just...if something goes wrong. You could help me by using the nine cuts or something else on her... I don't know, Ayako, I just want to try... But also, I'd need you to keep the others, especially Naru, from coming to me..." She answered. Giving her a stern look, Ayako crossed her arms.

"You haven't thought this through really well have you?" She asked sighing.

"No...not really..." Mai confessed honestly. "But that's all the more reason I need your help."

"I'll help..."

Mai felt a wave of relief wash over her as her face lit up. "Really?!" She asked. When Ayako nodded grimly, she hugged the older woman.

"Just make sure my funeral isn't tacky, alright?"

Mai pouted. "You aren't going to die. I won't let Naru kill you either."

"Don't be so sure that you can stop him." Ayako warned. Sighing Mai nodded.

"He's not that unstoppable. Besides, I'm pretty stubborn."

"I know I probably shouldn't interrupt or anything," Takumi cut in. "but if you really are going to help me, Mai, then we need to get moving."

Mai sighed and nodded. "Alright." She relented. "How are we going to do this? Avoid cameras and then attract the spirit?" She suggested uncertainly.

"You know, I wouldn't be surprised if Naru already know where you are, Mai. He has cameras everywhere; you just better hope you're in a blind spot right now." Ayako warned her while Takumi had shrugged at her question. Mai huffed.

"We are in a blindspot. I put up the cameras, remember?" She grumbled before smiling. "Time to get the spirit to come out."

Takumi smiled a bit. "Yeah, now we just have to—"

"Oh, please tell me you're not going to do his amateur-ish plan." Ayako cut him off, jerking her thumb in his direction. Just because she agreed to help doesn't mean she has to hate him any less. Turning to her Mai shrugged.

"Any new ideas and I'm open to them. Otherwise were running out of time." She looked at Ayako sighed.

"Something like that won't put you in too much danger..." Ayako mumbled thoughtfully to herself as the three of them thought on a new plan. The red head grinned evilly. "She'd appear if I slapped pretty boy over there, wouldn't she?" She questioned, already knowing the answer. Takumi's mouth dropped in mild anger, while Mai thought about it.

"I don't know, she surprisingly didn't do it last time..."

"Exactly. She won't take it a second time. Think about it." Ayako continued smirking. When the two women turned their gazes to him, Takumi's eye twitched and he took a step back.

"Wha...?!"

Mai nodded slightly. "I can see your point. But I'm not doing it, and I doubt he'd appreciate it..." She trailed off. The guy beside her nodded vehemently, but he was ignored by Ayako.

"I'll gladly slap him." The red head commented.

"Ayako..." Mai groaned, shaking her head. Takumi shook his head quickly.

"Neither of you are going to slap me. Think of a different plan." He demanded. Ayako glared while Mai agreed with him.

"Then what do you suggest, wise guy?"Ayako asked irritated.

"I already thought of a plan, which everyone seems to hate, so it's to Mai to decide." He shot back, just as irritated. The brunette's eyes widened.

"W-why me?!"

"It's just as he said, Mai. The two of us already thought of something, so it's now left up to you." Ayako replied, suddenly agreeing with the boy she hates. Mai huffed.

"Um, we could try calling her?"

"And you say hateful things to draw her out? Good idea!" Ayako rolled her eyes sarcastically. Looking over at her, the brunette puffed her cheeks out.

"You told me to come up with something. There! I came up with something." She grumbled. Ayako glared and was about to speak before Takumi cut her off.

"Why don't I at least try to call her first then? It's me that she wants, right?" He questioned. Mai blinked in surprise. Why hadn't she thought of that? Now that she thought about it, she didn't even know the mother's name.

"Good idea." She agreed.

"Is there somewhere special I should do it, or is here fine?" He asked the two women. Ayako shrugged.

"You can probably just do it here. I can only defend you all so much no matter where I am."

Takumi nodded and took a deep breath. He could remember asking his father for the name of his mother one time. At first he had refused but eventually gave in and told him. Her name never passed his own lips, so this was the first time. Calling her 'mother' or something like that just didn't seem right though since he could barely remember the woman.

"Shika..." He spoke, his eyes closed. At first nothing really happened. Takumi was about to try again when the hallway began to cool slightly. Mai unconsciously moved closer to Ayako. That was fast... She thought. Despite the drop in temperature, there were no signs of spirit materialization yet. "Shika... It's me, Takumi... Your son." He swallowed thickly. That sounded both wrong and right rolling off of his tongue. He wasn't exactly sure why he felt that way, but now wasn't the time to dwell on that particular thought. First of all, he just needed her to stop hurting everyone.

The room grew even colder, and he began to see a faint outline of who he assumed was his mother. He glanced at Mai and Ayako nervously before shifting his eyes back to his mother.

"Shika, can I talk to you?" He called out. Suddenly he felt something cold touch his cheek. He jumped slightly at the unexpected contact. As his mother began to form more clearly in front of him, he could see her frown.

"My baby boy?" She whispered, as though she was almost scared it could be a lie. All Takumi could do was nod numbly. Her eyes were wide and it almost looked as if she were crying. "You've grown up so much."

"I-I guess..." Takumi managed a smile. Frowning slightly, she peered at him.

"What's wrong?"

"This...this is the first time I'm getting to talk to you..."

She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so sorry for that. I won't let him take you away again."

Takumi tensed up at Shika's words while Mai frowned and immediately knew this wasn't going to go right. He gulped nervously. "A-actually, I need to speak to you about all this..." He trailed off. Shika looked at him questionably.

"What is it?" She asked, suspicion lacing her voice. Taking a deep breath, he tried his hardest to reign in his nerves.

"I have to ask you to stop hurting everyone. If you wanted to be around me, you could have just asked. No-one had to get hurt."

"They were getting in the way!" His mother shouted. "They were going to take you away from me!"

Takumi winced at the tone of her voice. "No, they weren't." He insisted in an attempt to calm her down.

"Yes, they were! And her—!" Shika whipped around towards Mai and glared harshly at her. "It was her mostly!"

Mai was taken aback. "W-what?" She stuttered confused. Shika slowly moved closer to her. It was beginning to make the brunette nervous. When had she tried to steal Takumi?! It was Takumi who kept bothering her, not the other way around! She could try saying that to Shika, but she doubted that would go down very well. Ayako immediately stepped in front of Mai before everything could happen. The spirit's eyes appeared to glint dangerously at that.

"Shika, stop!" Takumi began to panic. This wasn't how it was suppose to go!

She turned around to look at him. "Why should I?" She asked.

"Because you shouldn't hurt anyone! Mai did nothing wrong!" He replied. She didn't seem convinced by his argument.

"Yes, she did! She's trying to take you away from me. She hurt you too!" The spirit yelled. His eyes widened.

"I—" He wasn't sure what he could respond to that claim with. It was true after all. Mai had slapped him. And he didn't really want to admit that it was his fault. But at the same time he wasn't sure he was really going to have a choice in the matter anyways. "That wasn't..." He trailed off, flicking his eyes to Mai. It was time to make a decision. His pride, or the safety of another human being—a female no less. Takumi mentally groaned, knowing the right choice he had to make. And this girl wasn't even his girlfriend... Perhaps if he did this though, he might have a better shot. Wishful thinking, but it was worth a shot. "It...wasn't Mai's fault." He told his mother, looking at her in the eye. "At all."

Shika's eyes looked into his. "What are you talking about?" She asked.

"I'm the one who kept bothering Mai... It's my fault, I got what I deserved." He said reluctantly, especially since Mai was standing right there, but he also said it honestly. He knew he was pushing her too far when he said it, but he did it anyway.

Fire of anger shone in Shika's eyes. "Do not blame yourself! She's brainwashed you!" She screeched furiously.

Back at base, Naru was still going over Mai's earlier actions. He wasn't sure why, but there seemed to be something off with this whole thing. Why did it feel as if she was saying a farewell? He was about to ask about it all when Masako spoke up.

"Naru." She said, her kimono covering her mouth. "Mai's being an idiot again."

Naru snapped his eyes to her with slightly wide eyes. What exactly did she mean? And would she know that when Mai wasn't even in the room...? As if sensing his questions, the medium motioned towards the door.

"I can hear the mothers spirit screaming at her." She supplied. "She seems rather livid. I suggest you hurry—"

"That idiot!" Naru said angrily, already to the door before Masako could finish talking. He finally pieced everything together now.

Naruisawesome: ...Naru's gonna be sooo angry.

MzShellSan: Yup. You said it...

Naruisawesome: Let's just hope he gets to Mai before the spirit kills her lol.

MzShellSan: Lol true. XD Anyway, thanks for all of the reviews, and sorry for the wait—again.

Naruisawesome: Please review! ^.^ We love you guys!