40: Morioka.
As soon as she heard that name, Mai could almost feel her soul wilt and die at the prospect of spending another long week away from Shizuo. On the upside, though, this is the first investigation the original SPR team will be taking in months, so it's both nostalgic she and her friends will be working together again and gratifying to know Naru actually does consider her a valuable asset to the company.
Shizuo waits with her on the steps of the Ikebukuro Office, but neither of them can think of anything to say. Mai suppresses a frustrated sigh, knowing it'll be awhile before they talk again. Her boss doesn't particularly like it when she makes personal calls during work. Well, Naru doesn't like anything personal, period.
The frustrated feeling gets worse when the company van and Takigawa's car park in front of the office, and Mai sees Takigawa's car is full up. It's just her crammed into a van with Lin, Naru, and Yasu. What could possibly go wrong? Granted, Yasu's never intimidated by Lin and Naru's stony, off-putting silence, but he's been teasing her about her relationship lately. Not in the bad way, of course, just that morbidly embarrassing, old man, fatherly 'you're growing up so fast' thing he does. That and asking awkward questions and making...insinuations.
So, resigning herself to an agonizing three hour drive, Mai quickly kisses Shizuo's cheek, murmurs a goodbye, and stands.
But before she can take two steps, Shizuo suddenly pulls her back and kisses her as though this is their last ever meeting. Mai squeaks in alarm, but closes her eyes as he brushes his hands over her cheeks, only of them gently moving to the back of her head. In the back of her mind, she hears Monk and Yasu cheering and whistling from the open vehicle windows, but she ignores them. She doesn't care Yasu will pick on her for this, and Monk as well when they get to their destination, nor does it really bother her how annoyed Naru will be if he's kept waiting much longer.
Right now, all she can think about the amazing man she loves, and nothing else matters.
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Author's Notes: Originally, I wrote Naru was going to kill the moment, but then I thought, "Know what? Screw it! These two are having a moment!" It occurs to me Shinra and Yasu would get along very well.
Ghost Hunt is owned by Fuyumi Ono and Shiho Inada.
Durarara! is owned by Ryohgo Narita, Suzuhito Yasuda, and Akiyo Satorigi.