Chapter 20: As an apology

Becoming Mai Davis, so far, had been thrilling.

Every day brought something new. Every addition to her parents-in-law's house to welcome her showed she was as much a family to them as their son. Every venture outside offered a fun discovery. Every potential job promised a stable career. Every person was a friend she'd yet to make. Everything she could think to do seemed achievable. Possibilities lay endless before her!

Mai beamed.

She couldn't wait to learn all about the place Naru grew up in. Because now it was also the place where she'd grow old with him.

But…

Naru was wearing a slight frown on his face as he watched her bustle around the living room putting her picture frames on the shelves.

"What's making you so gloomy?" she asked. Her smile dimmed into mock suspicion. "Are you thinking of sending me back to Japan?"

He blinked at her, clearly taken aback. "—What?"

"You probably find all these changes in your house inconvenient. That's why you're so gloomy." That earned her an exasperated sigh.

"Don't be stupid," he said, then stood up to help her with the last few frames in her hands. Her parents' pictures. Luella and Martin had kindly prepared a small altar where she could place and honor her parents from all the way here in England.

"Stupid or not, I'm staying here. If you don't like sharing rooms I'll take a guest room." She tilted her chin high and arrogantly proclaimed, "I can even pay rent like a proper tenant."

Naru just stared at her, too dumbfounded by her absurdity to reply, and Mai couldn't help laughing at his wide-eyed, incredulous expression.

When he pinched the bridge of his nose and heaved a deeper sigh, she started guffawing in a way that would make Bou-san proud.

Eventually, she felt him flick her on the forehead before taking her hand and leading her to the dining room for tea.

Ayako was being her noisy, naggy self again, her voice overpowering everyone else's already loud ones and reverberating in the restaurant's private room. The familiarity of the scene brought a fond smile to Mai's face. She hadn't seen the affiliates of SPR's Japan branch—her family—since the wedding, and she'd missed them a lot.

"…good thing you're visiting for Obon," Ayako was saying. She turned and pointed a manicured finger at Naru. "And you. I'm still waiting for a 'thank you'. If it weren't for me and—"

"Thank you."

A quiet voice cut through the din and blazed silence in its wake.

Everyone gaped at the source—at Naru, whose somber expression, sincere tone, and polite bow stunned them all in disbelief.

Mai hurriedly bowed with him and echoed his words.

"O-Oh. Well… you're welcome…" Ayako stuttered and said nothing else.

The atmosphere bordered on awkward but not uncomfortable. It was a special moment, Mai knew. A rare display of honesty and humility from someone they all looked up to. A humbling experience that made them admire him more.

She wasn't sure why Naru suddenly thought to do it. Nonetheless, wonder never left her eyes, even long after the moment passed.

As they approached the Taniyama family grave, Mai noted with relief that her parents' resting palace had been maintained well despite her absence. The gray stone and engraved characters of her family name hardly faded from when she used to visit with her mother as a child, to when she'd visit alone after being orphaned, or even when she and Naru visited last year.

"Okaa-san, Otou-san, we're back," she greeted, balancing the box of incense and bouquet of her mother's favorite flowers in her arms. "How have you been? Naru and I got married in June. Did you get to watch from the afterlife? I looked really good, didn't I?" From her periphery she caught Naru giving her a withering glance, threatening to question her sanity. She glanced back with a challenging arch to her brows, daring him to do so while suppressing the mirth on her lips. "Anyway, this year Naru will do the cleaning. Don't be upset even if you're dissatisfied with his cleaning, okay? Because he's your son-in-law now."

He coughed lightly, a reprimand she cheerfully ignored.

"But I guess you can haunt him. He does need help with his job."

"Mai," he finally warned, causing her laughter to escape.

Naru followed her instructions thoroughly, if not a little too scrupulously. His movements held a solemnity she'd never seen from him before. He looked more somber than ever, too, and a little melancholy. It was as if he feared the slightest mistake and showing her parents any form of disrespect. Appreciation welled from deep within her. She expressed it by silently supervising him and ensuring he completed his task flawlessly.

The grave was cleaned, the flowers laid, the incense lit, and their respects paid, but the expression on his face remained.

Mai watched him as he stared intently at the family grave. She had a feeling he was talking to her parents, unusual as that was, and she wondered what he was telling them. Was he complaining about her? Recounting their wedding? Reporting about their life in Cambridge?

Or maybe… admitting that she was fulfilling her promise of making him happy?

Maybe not that last one, she thought, smiling to herself. Her eyes followed Naru's gaze towards the grave. Okaa-san… Do you remember the words you told me that night I was sick? They stayed with me all this time. I persevered no matter what, no matter how hard life became when you left. And just like you said, I really found happiness. I'm very, very happy now, Okaa-san.

She reached for Naru's hand, hoping to convey her joy through the gentle squeeze of her hand. His palm was warm against hers, the contrasting coolness of his thin wedding band a reminder of their shared future.

I'm sure—no, I know I'll only be happier in the future. That's why you don't have to worry about me anymore.

When he squeezed her hand back, she looked up at him and smiled.

All around them cicadas sang of summer, and the lone tree by the graveyard entrance whispered secret messages to their skin. The world soaked in the mellow amber of the late afternoon sun, tranquil and beautiful.

A warm hand found hers under the blanket.

"Mai."

Eyes closed, body relaxed, and mind on the verge of dreaming, she could only reply with "Mm?"

The bed shifted slightly. "I'm sorry." Naru's voice was heavy and serious.

She was instantly awake.

Bewildered, Mai turned to face him, her hand still linked with his. Remorse colored his pale face and creased his forehead. She moved her free hand to cup his face. "What for?" she gently asked.

"I… took you away from everyone in Japan. It was to accommodate me that you had to leave everything behind. I'm sorry." By the time he repeated his apology, his eyes had strayed far from hers. "If you want to go back—"

"Naru," she called, but he kept his gaze averted. "Look at me?"

She waited patiently until he could bring himself to look back at her. His face was now etched with worry, too, his deep eyes searching and hesitant. How long had such thoughts been plaguing him? But more importantly, how could he think she'd ever regret choosing a life with him?

Her heart ached to free him from the guilt he'd imposed on himself. "It was our choice to get married. It was also our choice to move here. I don't regret them one bit." She inched closer. "What about you? Do you regret the decisions we made together?"

"…No," he answered, mostly relieved but still partly unconvinced.

"Good." She nestled against him. "Besides," she began confidently, "aren't there so many ways to keep in touch with those in Japan? Like snail mail."

Naru froze for a beat. "—Snail mail? You couldn't be more ancient," he returned. Mai heard the first hint of amusement in his voice. The tension started to ease.

"Fine, a telegram, then!"

He scoffed quietly, "Just a telegram?"

"Telephone?" she tried.

A chuckle rumbled from his chest. "Oh? You're getting more advanced."

She didn't bother fighting the soft smile she could feel forming, which bubbled into a giggle. "What about a pager? No, those really big mobile phones?"

Naru hummed in thought. "Still very low-tech," he decided. "I doubt they can even send text messages."

"Hey, some can! But feature phones… definitely can…" Her words slowed down as sleep reclaimed her, comfortable and secure as she was in Naru's arms. "And then… we can send emails from a desktop—" She yawned. "—computer…"

"Mm."

"Then we… smartphone… messenger apps… video calls…?" With her mind addled with sleep, Mai lost track of what she was saying.

But she didn't miss the light kiss on her forehead right before she succumbed to her dreams.

Author's Notes: Hi, thanks for reading and reviewing! Today marks the start of Obon festival [read more at wiki/Bon_(festival)]... as well as my graduation day! Yay! I wanted to share the happiness through an update; hopefully this chapter made you happy, too. 'u' Btw, I'm considering on posting the rest of the chapters exclusively on AO3, since I feel it's safer to post there and my other GH stories (not published here) are there. But what do you guys think? Should I still update here? If there's anyone who prefers to read here on FFN, then I'll continue posting. :3

To Ruby Cider: Thank you so much for your review! Sorry it got a bit sad. Special occasions like weddings really make the absence of loved ones stand out. :( I'm glad the sweetness at the end made up for it. Mai and Naru together makes everything better *heart emoji*

To AhsokaMaiGranger: Hi, thanks for discovering this fic! 'u' I'm on AO3 as Sir_Arghs_III. I saw your comments there as well, and they're all greatly appreciated :3

Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt or any of its characters.