Ghost Hunters, Lies, & Money (Ghost Hunt Fanfiction)

In Which: Mai Is Better Off In Bed

Day Five

6:15pm

Nozomi Town Square

See what I'm saying now? Naru likes you...

Arms crossed, Mai watched absently as the dance floor became emptied of all its spinning couples. The musicians put down their instruments. With that, there was no longer any music to drown out the words ringing in her ears. Bou-san spoke them so confidently, so easily, as if it were so obvious...as if it made sense. This only frustrated Mai further.

According to the monk she was enough to drive the collected Naru to distraction. In Wise Obasan's opinion she was apparently solitary Naru's soul mate. If the dance she had just finished with him was anything to go by, they were both wrong...and yet, he had told Bou-san to take care of her.

Mai winced and frowned. Naru was a contradiction her tired mind couldn't even begin to sort at that moment.

Knowing that her partner was waiting for a reaction to his last statement, Mai cleared her throat and shifted under the reassuring touch of his hand on her shoulder. She decided then that it was hopeless to argue. Whether she'd be any good as a distraction or not, it was her assignment now. Operation Miyuki had to work, this was their only lead. Miyuki. Miss Miyuki, had Bou-san already spoken with her? Mai glanced at the monk standing beside her, just about to question him on this, when a small pretty voice spoke from behind them,

"Takigawa-san? I must be leaving now, but I wanted to thank you for the dance."

Mai blinked and turned in the same instance as her partner. There, standing just off to the left of them, was Nari. She gave a bob of her head and a kind smile to Mai, which was returned good-naturedly. With pleasant exchanges happily given and received, a nagging thought shouting for attention caused Mai to shift her gaze to the object of the actress' gratitude,

Wait, he danced with Nari...when? What about--

"No, thank you," Bou-san answered graciously, with a slight bow. The easy charm oozing out of him was enough to make Mai smirk despite the urge to roll her eyes, and it elicited a small blush from Nari.

"Oh-- you're very welcome," she murmured, all pink lips and cheeks, "And I'm sorry, but you'll have to excuse me now, I should find Niko. See you soon."

With smiles and much waving the two of them saw the actress off, her petite form quickly swallowed by the swarm of people clearing the area. After a beat, a few distracted people jostling into them, the monk made to move along as well,

"Come on Mai, it's time we joined the others," he began, reaching for her elbow, but Mai's thoughts and temperament had already moved on-- with purpose she dodged his hand and pulled on his sleeve instead, halting him in his tracks.

"You danced with Nari?"

Her partner's momentary surprise morphed into amused taunting, "Jealous?"

"As if," Mai snorted.

"Liar," Bou-san grinned.

Not to be so easily diverted, Mai drove her point home:

"What about Miss Miyuki?"

"Oh, I said hello--"

Mai gripped the monk's sleeve tighter, her eyes widening,

"You said hello? What about the interrogation? You had me dance with Naru for nothing?"

"Nothing? Don't let him hear you say that, he won't wash that hand for a week I'll bet--"