The Story Continued (Ghost Hunt)

Chapter 47

An awkward silence was filling the room. While Ayako was taking care of all Mai's scratches Naru was on the phone with Mr.Ogawa. "Done." Ayako informed as she slapped the last plaster she put on Mai the way she always did. "Thanks." Mai said. "And sorry. I made you worry again." The miko sighed. "Like always. But I wish you would think about yourself some more." She then turned around to put her staff away. "Now, Mai do you want to watch Naru freaking out after you disappeared? We have it on the tape." Madoka suggested to lighten the girl's mood. "Sure." The brunette smiled.

Mai was watching the tapes with Gene and Yasu when she spotted a figure out of the corner of her eye. She turned around to see Naru walking into the room. "What are you doing?" He asked. "Just watching you freak out." Gene answered as he paused the tape. "What did the principal say?" Naru gave all three of them a glare before answering. "It's getting dark so he won't be coming today. We are to remove the cameras and leave the building because there is no assurance it won't stop collapsing. He will send someone tomorrow to have a look at it and after thy clear the construction they will let us continue. And you..." He turned to the uninvited guests who, after the incident, became pretty quiet and obedient. "are in big trouble." Even without Naru saying that the group guessed as much. "Lin and Takigawa will escort you from the school grounds."

"What will you do with the ghost?" Kaoru asked as Lin and Takigawa approached the group. "I believe it doesn't concern you." Naru answered dryly.

"Come on. I'm her relative." The boy argued.

"But not our client." For Naru, this was the end of the discussion.

"Aren't you going to help him or something?" Yasu whispered to Mai. "Well, Naru could be nicer about it but I'm already on his bad side. I'm not taking any more action today." She answered. "Besides they are leaving anyway." She watched as Lin and Bou-san kindly forced the group out of the room. "This reminds me." Gene started. "Naru weren't you going to fire Mai?"

"What!?" Mai panicked. Her eyes ended as she turned to look at her boss.

"Should I?" Naru asked.

"No, you shouldn't!" Mai answered. "I'm sorry, ok?" She said thinking if her boss really was finally going to fire her.

"Mai, you're not getting fired. Calm down." The boy reassured.

"Naru is too used to your actions to fire you over this." Ayako stated smiling at the girl. "Actually, what would it take for you to fire Mai?"

"Naru can't fire Mai. Because of all Madoka's stories our mother is way too excited to meet the girl. And if the two of them hit it off Luella won't be able to let her go anymore." Gene laughed.

"I feel like you're making fun of me." Mai spoke up.

"We're not. Don't worry." Ayako answered.

"They simply have too much time on their hands. Ayako, Madoka, Gene, the cameras, John, Masako, Yasu, the rest of the equipment." Naru ordered.

"Now, what did we do?" Masako complained. John laughed slightly as he actually thought the same.

"What should I do?" Mai asked as she wanted to help the group.

"Stay here, don't move." Naru ordered.

"This time, I agree with Naru. Just stay here." Ayako commented before she left.

Mai sat quietly at the table while Naru was unplugging the monitors. The rest of the crew were busy all over the school. "I've been thinking about what Ayako said." Mai started, tired of the silence. "Would you fire me if I got somebody killed during a case?" Naru stopped at her question. "How the hell did you come up with this?" He asked turning to the girl, surprised with the scenario she came up with. The girl shrugged. "Dunno, I feel like you spoil me a little. I never get in trouble for making a mess." Mai noticed that maybe not only Gene was getting special treatment. She got up from her seat and went over to the monitors to help her boss. "Mai, do you actually want me to fire you?" Naru asked as he stopped what he was doing. He wasn't sure what answer to give the girl but he knew he couldn't fire her. If she would just be more careful. "No, but-" Mai started but got cut off right after.

Naru felt a weird need to shut the girl up as well as to get back at her for all the worry she caused him. Also getting a reaction out of her would definitely help with his mood. he smirked as an idea crossed his mind and just as Mai started her sentence. And in his head the idea quickly became appealing enough to act on it. Naru leaned in closer to Mai and pressed his lips against hers. He finally got her to stop talking. "You're not getting fired because anywhere out of my sight is just more dangerous for you." He said after he pulled back. "Y-y-you just-" Mai stuttered just as he wanted, causing a big smirk to appear on Naru's face. The girl was still processing what just happened and what Naru's reason could be. "I did. So what?" Mai covered her mouth with her hand as she took a step back. "You can't just do that!" She yelled. Naru enjoyed teasing the girl too much. "You're blushing, Mai." He said looking as unfazed as ever. As calm as he looked inside Naru was questioning himself more than ever. He already realised he was uncommonly attached to Mai but his action just now mad ehim realise how much he needed her presence...close... at all times possible. Someone to protect and to care for and at the same time a dash of excitement that always kept him on his toes.

"Because of you!" She kept yelling, pulling Naru away from his toughts. "I'm leaving." She turned around. Angry? No, not Mai. She tried to hide her embarrassment, not wanting to let Naru feel like he won. She was heading for the door but the boy grabbed her hand. He didn't want the girl to leave. First of all he was still concerned about her well-being and then...he just didn't want her were he couldn't see her. "I told you you're not getting out of my sight, Mai."

"What's gotten into you?" Mai asked, frustrated. Knowing Naru could see her red face. Knowing how easy she was to read. But not knowing where Naru's actions were heading. Sometimes she wished she could read his thoughts. That power seemed more appealing than dreaming about ghosts. She tried to forcing a serious look on her face but the way Naru was still holding her hand was mildly distracting to say the least. "Do you want to know?" He asked as he pulled Mai a little closer, she willingly moved foreward. Mai frowned a little. Thinking that the question was unnecessary. "Why else would I ask?" she asked quietly almost in a sad tone, feeling Naru tense up made her avert her gaze. For some reason she couldn't meet his eyes so she found a spot on the ground and focused on it. He put his hand on her head making Mai jump slightly. Doing this made Naru calm, as if ensuring the girl wouldn't disappear again. "Mai." he said the way he always did. The way it always did, this time too, it grabbed the girl's attention immediately. "I love you." Naru said as clearly as he could and as faintly as he could. Almost scard of wha he was admitting.

Mai felt as if a heavy weight was lifted off of her. The girl looked up in disbelief, of course, but also some sort of determination. She, however, chose not to get her hopes up yet. "I know you wouldn't lie about that, Naru, but I still can't believe it." The girl managed to say. "Why do you tell me this now?" she sked in a serious tone. Naru smirked. "I figured I tortured you long enough now." He answered not admitting that his concern was growing every time Mai was in danger. The thought of losing her like he thought he lost Gene was in his mind more than he liked it to be. Mai laughed, relaxing a little. "Would it kill you to be more honst?"

Naru rolled his eyes. He ignored the remark. "You know you have no choice but to be with me. This is not up for discussion." It took him some time to find the right words as he couldn't get 'dating' out of his throught. "Naru..." The girl held back tears but she was smiling. He pulled the girl a little closer putting his arm around her shoulders. "Are you that happy you get to date me?" Here he did it. He used the word 'date'. It was easier because he used it to tease Mai. The girl pulled away, taking a step back. "You narcissist." But he was right she was happy, maybe happier than when she realised she dodged death ealrier today. Naru smiled. "Now, you'll get to get back at me. I can't imagine the teasing from Madoka and Gene." His exprassion went sour as he finished his sentence.

Speaking of Madoka. She and Ayako were holding a conversation as they were walking back to the base. The conversation, however, died out quickly as they arrived. "What's going on?" The woman asked as she noticed Mai's red face. The girl jumped back in surprise. "Nothing." She answered quickly. "It doesn't look like nothing." Ayako inquired. Mai had no idea what to say. She didn't want to make a big deal out of the fact that her and Naru were now together. Mai looked at Naru hoping for help. The boy smirked. He picked up one of the monitors. "I'll get this to the van." Naru stopped next to Mai and kissed her on the cheek before leaving the room. Both, Ayako and Madoka were left in shock. Once they snapped out of it they were all over Mai asking her a bunch of questions.

"NARU!" he heard the girl scream after him and he couldn't help but smile. He regretted not being there to see her troubled face.