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

In Which: Mai Is Popular

Day Six

7:30am

The Koku Inn

Mai stirred. She drew in a deep breath. Something smelled good.

Cinnamon.

Warm bread.

Tea.

Mai's eyes fluttered open. Her stomach was suddenly alive.

"Hey, it's about time...you have no idea the self control I was using."

Mai turned her head, struggling to rise,

"Bou-san?"

The monk smiled, but then quickly stood to help her,

"Easy now, how are you feeling? You had us worried."

"Better, I think," Mai answered, as Bou-san propped pillows behind her back.

"Hm," he grunted, taking her face in his large hands. He tilted her head left and right, his palm testing her forehead and cheeks, "you don't seem to have a fever."

He released her and Mai brushed at her bangs, pondering her condition. As far as she could tell, she felt nothing like she had the night before. No searing skin. No pounding in her temples. Her thoughts seemed less disoriented, the only fog being that of sleep. But there was something new she was feeling, and it commanded her attention.

I'm starving!

It was then that she saw it. The tray of food.

"Is that for me?"

"Oh, yeah. It might be kinda cold...and I took a bite of your toast, it's okay if you aren't awake enough yet—"

"I'm awake," Mai answered, cutting him off as she leaned over, making a grab for it.

"Alright— hey, careful. Don't move around so much, here..."

The tray was set on top of the blanket, across her lap. Mai felt she had never seen such a delicious meal. Staring up at her was a bowl of some kind of warm porridge, sprinkled with cinnamon. On the side was a small plate of delicately cut sweet Satsuma oranges, a steaming cup of tea, and three slices of thick golden bread, smeared with butter...one of the pieces had a large bite missing from it.

That Bou-san.

Mai tucked in immediately, a breathless "thank you!" all she had time for.

"You're welcome, though I suppose I can't take much credit for it. Ayako met me at the door of the dining room and handed it off to me."

Taking a generous spoonful of porridge, Mai looked over the monk, "Ayako?"

"Yeah, it wasn't her idea either though. She said she was told to give it to me. If I had to guess, I would say this has Niko's name written all over it. He still has it bad for you, hm?"

Mai turned away from the monk, feeling his teasing smile as she reached for her tea.

"This has nothing to do with me. Niko is a nice person, he thinks of things like this."

Bou-san shook his head, "I'm a nice person and I didn't think of it."

"Oh yeah? The kind of nice who helps himself to other people's toast?"

"Hey, I'll have you know I didn't get breakfast because I was delivering this to you, and then you weren't even awake and I had to sit here and stare at all this food while my stomach was growling..."