'Click'
Disclaimer: Life taught me one important thing...no matter how rich or smart or beautiful you are, you can't own Ghost Hunt because it belongs to Ono Fuyumi :'-(
Naru: Hasn't your soul gained enough satisfaction from mutilating my character?
Mai: Naru – that was harsh.
Me: Don't like it, don't read; be thankful that I still ship you and Mai. I could take that away from you too.
Naru: …...
Thanks to the following for their reviews: (I'm quite overjoyed!)
14AmyChan: Yeah, Noll's going to dig graves with his eyes once he discovers the treasures his mother has stored for him. Lolx! Thanks! SymmetricalGirl8DeathTheKid: It's no problem really! I like to answer away the reviews since I read them ten times a day and every time they make me even more happy :D I'm happy it made your day, since I rarely write humor and kind of have it crude :3 NaginiFay: Lol, I think no one saw that coming ;) Naruisawesome: I swear that abducting Mai was never part of my plot but I was so moved to put it in here. And after I'd written Luella, I was gaping at the page, positively baffled that I could write humor at all, lol, thanks anyway! Your sis: Thanks! Hope you enjoy further. Guest: Yes well, Lin was a player on both sides I guess...I don't see him as a staunch supporter for one side so he might have intentionally overlooked the calendar one in Yasu's PoV Thanks! Shizuka Kitsune: Yes, I will get them together eventually so don't fret, I hate hanging endings too. Thanks for the favs/follows too, made me quite happy :) bf142128: I'm glad you find it awesome! I tried my best in updating :) bailey the wolf: Oh no you misunderstood, I used the metaphorical meaning of episodes as an indication to cases full of drama, horror, romance, comedy etc. Lol, it's not everyday Naru does sweet things :D Guest: DX Noooooo! I just think that being like Gene isn't the only reason for which Naru likes Mai. I think he loves her for loving him after even knowing of all the odds and flaws in him, ne? Thanks for reviewing! Darkstar2010: I'm overwhelmed that you like it! Hang around for more and thanks for the favs/follows :D Max Saturday burns toasters: Hehehe, I'm happy you get enjoyment out of this one! xSapphirexRosesxFanx: No he hasn't seen it yet, but he will...soon. Thanks for reviewing! Guest: I'm happy that you like the idea :D I'm really happy and I hope that you stay tuned for the next chapters! I'll try my best to update :) Music lover 551792: Ohmigosh! Thank-you so [x3] much for the review, it partially sped up the updating process!
Summary: Story 9 – 'And right here you have it, you and your friend have been kidnapped by the cousins of your friend's crush. What do you do about that, huh? Ask our adorable priest John-kun who will elaborate in this chapter on his feelings on the following subject when he and Mai are kidnapped by some members of the Davis family. Just remember his advice to never work with a person whose mother and mentor are notorious for scheming because the experience will surely give you the creeps.'
-JOHN-
"If there is something I regret," Mai looked up at the sun while stretching her arms. "It's not telling him how much he means to me – properly."
I smiled sadly at her as we walked up to the orphanage; the past five months hadn't been easy for Mai but she was determined to make things better – she was determined to change everything from her past, change the fact that she ever met Oliver-san, she wanted her heart back and all of us were trying to help her do that.
"Don't regret that Mai, because I feel as if he'll return...soon."
Mai turned over her shoulder to face me, a serene smile adorning her face – as if challenging my statement yet willing it to be true.
"I want that to happen John. Believe me but...even if he does, I don't think I can face him – I'd be embarrassed, the same cycle of frustration would start again and we'd be at each others' throats in less than a minute."
I chuckled softly, walking behind her and listening to her as she tried to put her sentiments into words. It just reminded me that her emotions were still raw and fresh even after she had vowed to forget everything about him, it was astonishing how she had always shown her emotions through her gestures and words – unlike Oliver.
"I want to go to him, John – I want to tell him that he's always been my number one, that his narcissism is more dear to me than Gene's soft smiles. It's difficult, I want him to know that I'm there for him...always."
Unbeknownst to her she had once more confessed her emotions for him...and I felt sorry for both of them. Fate had planned all this and had left them as a submissive to destiny but I wished they could be one - someday, I wished Oliver and Mai would see the truth that they had tried to hide from, quite literally.
"I'll pray for both of you Mai," I smiled as she turned back, her eyes lit up. "May the Lord make this path easy for you both..."
It was always the same for Oliver and Mai – Oliver was closer to Mai than anybody else and Mai depended on him to be there for her at all times, I understand Oliver's rejection though – it was expected of him to feel insecure of his own contrasting brother. I know how rivalry between siblings can be difficult and so I sympathize with him. God knows how he feels about his dead twin, it must be terrible for him.
"Ah! But lets forget that!" She laughed nervously and waved her hands in the air. "It's Sunday and I want to help at the orphanage with full spirits, ne?"
Her cheerful personality proved to be contagious, I laughed too and then hurried up to catch with her stride, we soon fell in a comfortable silence in which both of us were consumed in our thoughts, sorting out different things in our mind.
I was thinking about the cases we took with Oliver before knowing of his true identity – although he was gracious when he didn't disband SPR and gave the command over to Madoka-san but still now the cases didn't have the same charm in them – the...the same thrill. With him the cases had been adventurous coupled with that tangible thread of friendship and care but without him – it was like doing things for money, not with interest. The team missed his intelligence and the cases took longer to figure out but we had come so far so good.
Ah, Lord...those were golden times for me.
I guess the one person who'd been most affected by his absence was Mai...she was stronger now, slightly immune to fears but on the inside we knew that she was silently hurting for him, he had been there to save her every time, to calm her worst fears, to distract her, to get on her nerves and make her turn very red just by a single comment of his
She missed all that...and yet -
Sharply, Mai turned towards me...a slight panic visible on her face that was scrunched up in concentration towards something.
"John," Her whisper was harsh. "Did you feel someone following us?"
I was shaken from my thoughts but immediately strained to hear some sound out of the ordinary – over the months, I had learned to trust Mai's instincts because they somehow always proved right. There were numerous cases when she had proved it right and her powers had increased to an extent where none of the team dared challenge her judgment.
"Mai, I can't hear anything..."
Her eyebrows were still furrowed as she gazed at nothing in particular, her senses alert and her eyes focused.
"It's coming again, John, it's louder now, it's faster." She gasped out of sheer surprise. "It's footsteps...John! Dodge" She screamed at me but before I could move from my place something very hard hit me back in the head making me woozy as a hundred thoughts fled my mind freely before the pain set in properly.
"Mai...w-what the..."
"JOHN!"
"Resistance is futile Miss Taniyama," A smooth, English and feminine voice reached me as I felt my heavy head pound harshly. "If you corporate we'll make sure you aren't harmed. Please try to understand."
I winced in pain as I remembered that Mai couldn't interpret English expertly and that worried me, I tried to sit up but my head throbbed so badly that every thought seemed a burden.
"Stop it!" Mai was shouting and I could make out two men, bulky and dressed in black who carried Mai away to a white car, seemingly unaware of the fragile punches Mai was giving one of them on the back. "I'll make sure you never see the next morning again. I said PUT ME DOWN!"
Oh God, please help Mai-san! She was getting kidnapped!
I was about to get up when a hand on my shoulder stopped me, I whipped my head around to see who are captive was but I felt my eyes flutter as the throbbing increased.
It hurts. Ow!
Two striking green eyes bore in me and a fall of blonde hair framed a fifteen year old girl's face as she examined me just with her eyes, before pursing her lips and turning over her shoulder, calling to someone.
"Richard, you idiot..." I could just make out her fading voice. "Look like you hit too hard, he's injured."
A slight, vague voice replied but I couldn't hear it because of the distance. The girl who strongly held my shoulders frowned before turning to me.
"Let's get you better, we need your help." She paused again, huffing at nothing before mumbling under her voice. "We're never going to hear the end of this from Aunt Luella, she'll kill us...literally."
And somehow the single name clicked something in my mind – something familiar, recognizable.
Aunt Luella?
As in...
Luella...Davis?
But by now, everything had faded to almost nothing except swimming black spots and a throbbing noise – which could have been either my heart...or my head.
"IF YOU DON'T LET ME AND MY FRIEND GO! I SWEAR I'LL SUE YOU OR WHOEVER YOU ARE DOING THIS FOR! LET ME GO!"
It was all still hazy but there was something about the atmosphere of the room that snapped at my focus and I shook my head, wincing as the throbbing started out of nowhere.
Ouch!
Oh Lord, have mercy on Mai-chan, she might be anywhere in the world. What was I going to do? How could I face the team and tell them that Mai had been abducted right in front of me!? Oh God!
Reciting a prayer, I tried to feel my surroundings – apparently I was sitting on something soft, luxurious and my hands were tied loosely to soft arm-rests – like those of comfortable chairs. The air around me was cold yet strangely artificial. Like those in...
Airplanes.
Was this an air-plane?
I tried to sit up and did not resist the bonds that held my hands knowing that all types of protests would only bring harm to me, I just had to get to Mai before something happened to her!
I was in an air-plane, specifically a private one since the seats around me were empty and the same two men who had kidnapped Mai were standing over me with two guns in there hands. I gulped nervously as they glared at me and was about to question my whereabouts when a sudden thought struck me like lightning.
If Mai's kidnappers were here then didn't this mean that...Mai was here too?!
As if on cue, a sharp cry interrupted my terror-filled thoughts; umm...which mostly featured a hyped up Monk-san and Ayako-san's snake-skin purse hitting me for being so careless around Mai-chan.
"John? Are you alright?"
If this wasn't Mai's voice and was a piece of my imagination then I would surely be on the end of receiving Ayako-san's punishments which sounded like they hurt a lot. Monk-san once mentioned about going to ICU after one of those hits and Yasuhara-san told me that the purse has the power to give concussions. If that was true then...what would she do with me?
Gulp.
Breathe.
"I'm...I'm fine Mai-san – ahaha, how about you?" I slightly tilted my head to look at her and saw that she was blind-folded and her hands were tied to the arm-rests.
"I don't know what's going on!" She huffed, struggling against the binds on her hands and apparently swearing under her breath a little. "I don't know what they want but I'll get back at them as soon as-"
"Mai, please calm down." I gulped again, licking my lips as I saw the guards looking at us menacingly. "Don't provoke them to fight."
"John!" She nearly yelled, her cheeks were red in frustration and her face was scrunched as she made another attempt to free herself. "Do something!"
"Mai-chan I'm trying to do -"
The rest of my statement was cut off as the same voice echoed around the hangar – still speaking in English.
"Wilbur,"The girl with the green eyes and blonde hair glanced at one of the guards and then flashed her eyes towards me. "Bring Mr. Brown in the private room..."
Mai-chan was again unable to understand the foreign language and her frustration coupled with her anger came out in another screeching scream.
"I'll make sure you rot the rest of your life in a jail! Let me off I say! What did I do wrong?!"
Wilbur, one of the guards, roughly opened my binds and hoisted me from my seat as if I was a weightless child, putting me to the ground. I tried to control the wild thoughts that bewildered me and silently, with a curious look followed him inside the 'private room'. The girl followed me and then suddenly turned towards me, sticking out her hand – her expression cold yet friendly.
"I'm Emmy Davis," She smirked proudly. "Nice to meet you and Miss Taniyama. Father Brown."
Even after their explanations, I can't understand the fact that how I came to be involved in this – err – plan.
"Father Brown," Miss Emmy sighed, slamming her pale hand loudly against the wooden table in front of me. "You have to help us with this."
Help in the abduction of Mai-chan and then lie about it to Monk-san? That was their plan?!
"Miss Emmy," I quivered as she flashed me another glare. "I – I cannot help you with this plan...please try to understand – I can't lie to Monk-san or the SPR, that would worry them immensely, it would be wrong."
The private room was a cramped space consisting of a small chair and table that seemed to be there for interrogation. Since I was sitting on that chair, I felt like a criminal being asked to confess. Dear Lord, it must be harsh for the criminals; this was quite unfriendly. Miss Emmy Davis stood in front of me, leaning slightly on the table before me as she tried to persuade me into this, her brother Richard was sitting on the floor with his ears stuffed with cotton. Mr Julian Davis was staring out of the window, his ears too stuffed with cotton while his sister Miss Janet sat on the floor listening to music, manicuring her nails – completely ignorant of the predicament. Somewhat like Ayako-san...
"YOU IDIOTS! LET ME GO, I'LL BEAT YOU TO PULP IF YOU DON'T LET ME GO OFF THIS INSTANT AND EXPLAIN THIS TO ME!"
All of us winced and recoiled (except Miss Janet) as Mai's shout infiltrated the walls of the private room, in front of me Miss Emmy glared at the shut door which did little to muffle Mai's shout.
"Man, is the woman always so loud?" Julian Davis mumbled, putting his hands over his ears. "Even after piling up my ear with cotton, I can hear her bellowing."
"Damn Noll – I hope she becomes his wife." He spat. "Then she'll annoy the wits out of him and I'll enjoy seeing him spending money on building a sound-proof study room."
Mai-chan? Naru's wife?
Cough.
"Mr. Brown, we have a motive behind all this," Miss Emmy started again. "We are instructed by Aunt Luella to do this, she wants to see Noll happy. And at the moment only your friend can help him."
"I have no problems with that." I was shivering due to her harsh, Naru-like voice. "But I can't lie to Monk-san about Mai's disappearance – nor do I want to force Naru into accepting Mai. Please let them sort out their own feelings, that would be so much better Miss Davis."
"Feelings?" Julian Davis snorted. "And Noll; that's like the sun shining in Antarctica."
"Please, try to get the point." I fumbled over my words, they couldn't force Naru into accepting Mai, he had to untangle his emotions himself. "Naru-chan isn't so cold, he's very caring – especially when it comes to Mai -"
"Hear him Emmy," Richard Davis tilted his head towards me. "Noll 'cares' he's only done that once - by snorting when his twin fell in the fountain when they were eight."
"That was Gene's fault." Julian offered, ignoring Miss Emmy's glare. "He insisted on seeing and catching some goldfish in the fountain."
"Yeah...that was absolutely hilarious!"
I couldn't help but smile, despite the pressing problem.
"Gentlemen, let's return to the more urgent issues." Although Miss Emmy was the youngest of all, she clearly seemed to be the one incharge – reminding me of Naru. "Father Brown, wouldn't you see Noll and Miss Taniyama happy in the future."
Her words had a strange effect on me – I could imagine them laughing together, getting married, being together until the very end. Ah, life was surely beautiful but...
"I wish Miss Davis...but..."
"I won't accept any other excuse Mister." She handed me a phone. "As soon as we land, you will make the call to Mr. Takigawa and warn him that Mai has been missing since morning."
My eyes widened.
"Miss Davis?!"
"And you will," Her dark glare and aura reminded me of Naru; self-assured and confident. "You will not tell of this plan to Miss Taniyama. We'll be landing in England shortly and Aunt Luella needs to talk to you."
They couldn't be doing this! It was wrong! It was unjust for both of them – they should be given time and space to cherish and nurture their emotions...not like this...not like this at all.
However, Emmy-san's deathly look, states the contrary and before I can say another word – I'm nearly thrown out of the cabin by Mr Wilbur who again ties me to the chair, a hard look on his face which meant no-nonsense.
I spotted Mai-chan in the last row, mumbling to herself, panting with anger and her posture said that she was ready to...uh...murder anyone.
"John!" She cried as she heard me taking my seat. "Who are they?! What do they want from us?!"
I sighed...if she only knew.
"Mai. It's alright!" I tried to calm her, but she was still in a very bad mood. "We'll be landing in England soon, they'll...uh...there...they will de-decide -"
I observed that her face had contorted in shock at my mention of England and she was slowly mouthing the word. Then an indiscernible whisper left her lips followed with the clenching of her jaw.
"Naru..."
My heart ached for her and I could only look as she inhaled deeply, her expression showing disturbance and pain. Out of nowhere then, another shout left her throat, almost making me jump out of my seat.
"YOU'LL ALL PAY! MY BOYFRIEND WILL MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF YOU CAN EVER BE FOUND ON THE FACE OF EARTH!"
B-boyfriend? What in the...
The Davis clan looked at me and I bit my lip, turning to them for translation.
"She says that her boyfriend will make sure none of you are found again on Earth"
At this, they sweat-dropped...looking at each other with startled expressions at Mai's current statement.
"OLIVER DAVIS WILL MAKE YOU ALL SORRY FOR THIS!"
At this, I felt my cheeks turn hot and Mai's cheeks were getting a wild shade of scarlet. Naru and Mai in a relationship? However, I spotted that Mai was hyperventilating which meant that she had just used this as a threat and one threat – unknown to her – that would surely affect the Davises.
"She says that her boyfriend Oliver Davis, will make you all sorry for this..."
At this, the Davises gasped and their auras exhibited panic and fervor; obviously they were scared of what their cousin would do if he heard that they had kidnapped Mai.
"But I thought he had yet to confess to her!" Emmy-san panicked, her face losing color and her green eyes losing their flash.
"May the Lord bless our deceased souls." Richard Davis exhaled slowly, his pale face was taut and he clearly looked as if he would drop dead.
I sweat-dropped as they all said 'Amen' but my comic relief was short-lived as Wilbur announced that they had already landed. With a heavy heart, I separated from Mai who was crying and was followed promptly by the two body-guards. I followed the Davises, feeling worried and anxious and knowing from the heart that what I was abut to do was terribly wrong. Lying was the most degraded evil and here was I submitting to it.
"It is all for Noll and Mai, Mr Brown." Miss Emmy sighed, gripping my shoulder and sounding like a twenty-year old person. "Who knows that after a year you might be conducting the wedding yourself. Hmm...now please make the call."
I closed my eyes and dialed Monk-san's number, feeling shame wash over me in quantum waves – I knew I was lying to him, making him worry but...but -
For Mai and Naru; my best-friends...God please help me and forgive my wrong-doings.
"Yo John!" I heard him greeting me cheerfully and it pained me to see him worried after the false alarm I was going to raise. "Long time no talk..."
"Ah, Monk-san – there is a big problem over here..." I worried on my lip, mustering my strength. "There's something you need to know."
"Eh? Spill it John?"
I paused for a moment, taking in a big breath before the words slipped out of my mouth.
"Monk-san, Mai has been missing since the morning." I paused dully. "She has been kidnapped."
I heard nothing except the breaking of glass, a loud bang and the static of the telephone line going dead.
A/N: I know it's a very late update but *sigh* I blame schools and exams and friends. Lol. This chapter was very difficult to write and I had a writer's block with John that shook my creative side, he's even more difficult to write than Naru since you can't capture his innocence and virtue in words I guess. So it's more of a less-amusing chapter, but you'll live I think. The next one is of Martin followed by Naru, Mai and a third-person epilogue. What do you say?
Anyways chocolate cookies and sweet wishes for those who take precious time to review,
-borntoflyhigh-