32. She wants to see the local shrine where he grew up, she'd said. She won't say why, but he he's willing to entertain her offbeat request. Besides, it's not like he had any better ideas on how to spend the afternoon.
It's nothing special. Actually, it's probably the most mundane shrine in Tokyo. Small, well-maintained temple, basic torii arch with a fraying shimenawa, and a bunch of old oak trees lining the little burial ground. When he steps past the old archway, he remembers being a kid again during every New Years and the occasional Obon festival. He and Kasuka used to chase each other, weaving in between the legs of much taller adults, shrieking when they caught each other and mustering up some convincing ashamed expressions when their mother scolded them.
So he supposes he has some good memories here, and he's glad he was able to show Mai, regardless of what she was hoping to find here.
He realizes she's stopped walking and turns to face her. Her eyes are closed and she's turned away, head slightly tilted upward as though listening to some faraway tune only she can hear and understand. She left her hair down today and the soft, winter breeze has caught a few stray strands.
She's beautiful, he thinks. Well, he's always thought that, but he's never seen her look so….at peace before. It was as though the world had fallen away, and she was the last thing allowed to exist. Standing in the snow.
Shizuo releases the breath of air he wasn't aware he'd been holding when she snaps out of her reverie and looks at him. Her eyes are bewildered, or disoriented, as though she's forgotten where she is, then her cheek flush in embarrassment. "Sorry. I kinda went somewhere for a little bit."
"Yeah?"
"Someone's taken good care of these grounds." She says, trailing the toe of her boot to make patterns in the snow. "I've been hunting ghosts for almost seven years now, and I've only come across a place like this twice. Who knew there was still sacred ground-true sacred ground-right in the middle of Tokyo? Thank you for showing me this place today. This is amazing!"
He turns to look at the old temple again and thinks it's still the same as it's always been, but he says nothing. She just looks so happy.
-0-0-0-
Author's Notes: This one was a lot of fun to write. These two having somewhat of a special, unorthodox moment and Mai demonstrating her own uncanny nature. Plus it's fun to write Shizuo and Kasuka as kids.
Ghost Hunt is owned by Fuyumi Ono and Shiho Inada.
Durarara! is owned by Ryohgo Narita, Suzuhito Yasuda, and Akiyo Satorigi.