DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything!

A bit of swearing in this one. They're all older, Mai being about 20/21. Let me know what you think :)

Chapter 5: A Vodka-Tinged Favour

Mai sat on the tall stool, lazily swirling the contents of her glass with a black bendy straw. She sighed irritably when her eyes met the face of the clock – half six, it showed – over the door. She was supposed to meet Houshou Takigawa, or Monk as he was better known, over an hour ago.

"Where the hell are you Monk?" she groused out.

She was perched at the glossy counter of an empty bar, save for a few customers hunched over their own drinks at the back. The smell of stale beer and cigarettes permeated the air. Only the bartender seemed to have any semblance of happiness as he busily wiped down the freshly washed glasses, whistling a merry tune and making Mai's urge to smash something increase ten-fold.

Her boss,Naru, had been a right prick to her all day. From the moment she walked in, he had a stick – no – a whole tree shoved up his ass. Whatever his problem was, it had driven Mai crazy with his non-stop demands for tea and silence. Then the unsociable git had locked himself in his office, only emerging to berate Mai over her intelligence or lack thereof until her face turned red with temper. So here she was sat, in a dingy bar, drinking alcohol whilst waiting for her shockingly late friend to appear. Only when she felt the breeze of cold air and heard the squeak of a door being pushed open, did she bother to look up.

"Well it's about time," she snapped at the figure huffing loudly as if he'd run a great distance.

"Heh, sorry 'bout that, traffic's a bitch," he chuckled sheepishly as he slowly regained his breath. Mai tutted and rolled her eyes, angrily jamming the straw in her mouth and sucking up the contents of her glass with fervour. She watched as Monk struggled out of his jacket and then hopped up onto the seat beside her. He eyed her for a moment as she threw back the last of her drink.

"How many of them have you had?"

"Four," she shrugged.

"So what did he do this time?"

"Nothing, just his usual pretty little asshole self," she slurred ever so slightly. The tall man blinked several times before shaking his head.

"Shit Mai," he smirked, "you drunk?"

"No I'm not!" she gasped, affronted with his accusation. She may be a little bog-eyed but she was certainly not drunk.

"Yeah, yeah," he chuckled, "I believe ya."

Mai harrumphed, glaring at her friend with vehement denial. Monk ignored her, looking at the barman, who began to stack the newly polished glasses, waltz over to the pair, an easy smile gracing his features.

"What can I get'cha?" his warm voice asked.

"Just a coke, I'm driving," replied Monk with a shrug.

"Another vodka," chimed in Mai.

"Don't ya think you've had enough?"

"Shush you," she scolded, "I'm an adult and I've had a really crappy day."

"Yeah well, getting steamed isn't the way to deal with it."

"Who knew you were such a ball-breaker," she sneered.

Monk rolled his eyes and nodded to the bar man. He complied, deftly grabbing a glass and filling it with fizzing amber liquid. He finished with a plop of several ice cubes and plonked the glass down in front of the amused monk. The pony-tailed man nearly laughed at loud when Mai clapped loudly with a cheer when the barman repeated his actions with her vodka.

"So you got my message then?" he asked. Mai raised an eyebrow as her hands clamped around her glass. His message had been completely out of the blue and had earned her a nasty lecture from her boss about the usage of phones for private calls. She was not a happy bunny.

"Since when did you get a secretary?" she queried with a furrowed brow.

Monk snorted, "I've always had one," he revealed, "Well, the band has always had one. You just use my personal line when ya wanna call me."

Mai's surprise had her lips forming a perfect 'o' before her eyes snapped to his face.

"So, why the hell did ya have to drag me out to this dive for?" she questioned with a scowling lip. She ignored the burning look of death being shot her way from the disgruntled barman.

Monk began to wring his hands. He was obviously anxious about something so she remained quiet.

"I-I need to ask for a favour and it has to be kept a secret," he eventually disclosed. Curiosity burned in Mai's stomach. The man parked on the seat beside her, readily ignoring his drink, wasn't acting his usual roguish temperance and it honestly started to worry her.

"What kind of favour?" she asked, holding her glass to her lips.

"A womanly favour," he said with a significant look.

Mai, who had been sipping on her drink laboriously, choked at his words. The barman, who also had been listening in, fumbled a glass. The shattering tinkle and exaggerated cursing was the only thing she could discern over her spluttering coughs.

"Jeez Mai, you're supposed to swallow not spit it out!" joked Monk as he patted the convulsing girl's back. Mai's eyes widened even more.

"Would you please… just stop talking?" she managed to hack out between strangling breaths. Her eyes were starting to water as she clutched the bar for support. His words really weren't helping her imagination.

"What is up with you?" he asked when she seemed to finally catch her breath.

"What's up with me?" she scoffed in amazement, "I'm not the one asking about dodgy favour's from the opposite sex!"

"What's your gender gotta do with anything?" still not catching the younger woman's meaning. Mai's mouth dropped open. Her head shook slowly from side to side.

"And Naru calls me thick," her voice laden with disbelief as she shot her eyes to the ceiling. He was about to protest when she interrupted.

"Jus' ask what your gonna ask," she tisked.

Monk, feeling a little dismayed, crossed his arms over his broad chest.

"I only wanted you to come shopping with me," he pouted. Mai stared at the tall man.

"Really – that was the favour?" she dead-panned.

"Well yeah," he said confused, "What did you think I meant?"

"You're such an idiot," she complained, thumping her head on the counter top.

"What? What did I say?"

"Nothing, it's fine," her voice was muffled from hiding her face in her sleeve.

Honestly, she really needed to get her mind out of the gutter. But what did he expect? Anyone would've thought the same way.

"Look just forget about it. Why do you want to go shopping anyway?" she asked, changing the subject. She glared at the smarmy grin slowly creeping over Monk's lips.

"What did you think I meant?" he asked slyly.

"I said nothing. Just drop it," she hissed. She could feel the small blush blooming on her cheeks. The smile grew bigger as did Mai's urge to punch him.

"Aw, is my ickle Mai getting all embawwassed?" his babyish mocking had her gritting her teeth.

"Pervert," she bit out. She refused to look at him.

"Relax Mai," he sniggered, "you're cute an' all but you're a little on the young side for me."

Mai, finally glad for the chance to change the subject, nodded her head and tried to ignore the blush crawling up her neck.

"So...favour?" she urged, avoiding any attempts at looking at his eyes; he had four at the moment so it wasn't worth her while trying to find the right ones.

"Well, as I said. I want you to come shopping with me."

"For what?" she asked puzzled. She grabbed her glass and took another sip, "Surely you don't need me to pick out your Spider-man underwear?"

It was the monk's turn to blush, "No…and actually, it's Batman if you must know."

"Why would I care?" she muttered.

"Anyway," he cleared his throat, "it's kind of a big deal. And you're a woman…"

"I should frickin' hope so," she grouched.

"so your opinion will help loads and that's why I'm asking you,"

"Just cut to the chase will ya?"

"I need you to come ring shopping with me," he mumbled with averted eyes.

She blinked, letting the information settle in her brain. Monk, who had watched the girl's face freeze, grunted when he was suddenly swamped by a mass of limbs. He wasn't exactly sure if the high-pitched squeal punishing his ears was his tinnitus acting up or if it was, in fact, the exuberant screams of the brunette now stitched to his chest. Either way the piercing noise had him wincing.

"You're gonna propose to Ayako?" she exclaimed grabbing his shoulders for support. Monk laughed down at her googly-eyed expression and disentangled himself from the elated and ever-so-slightly- inebriated girl.

"Yup, and I need help picking the ring."

"Well it's about time. Let's go!" she yelled. Monk raised an eyebrow at her eagerness.

"I didn't mean now!"

"Pffff! D'ya think I care, Mr. Monk?" she shot back with faux-seriousness, "We," she pointed between them, "have a mission to complete and only the best will do."

Monk sighed but smiled gently at her antics. A slight wobble had now entered her gait as she clambered for her jacket.

"Let's go," she yelled, ecstatic grin painted on her face.

He grabbed his own jacket and drained the last of his beverage, the assistant doing the same, and he threw the money down for their drinks.

"To where?"

"To the shops, my good man," Mai announced loudly as she swayed out the door.

Monk snorted. The only place she was going was to her bed.

A/N: Did you like? Please leave a review, I'd love to hear your thoughts (good or bad).