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

In Which: Mai's Got Mail

Day Seven

12:30pm

The Miyuki Theater

Mai set Masako's cup of tea on the table with a clunk, her eyes fixed on the back of John's head, who's attention was fixed on the empty door the medium had just disappeared through.

That Masako.

"Eh, let her go. We'll make sure to keep an eye on her," Bou-san spoke, also watching John. The young priest glanced towards the camera screens in the corner of the room and nodded. He was seated in front of them not a moment later.

Mai gathered up the plate of food Ayako had made for her. The miko sat there observing her with a distrustful expression, the incident with the tea still fresh in her mind. Taking a chance to put some space between them, Mai joined John.

The two of them shared a companionable smile, and then their focus turned to the cameras. Before them shown all the inner workings of the theater. The busy lobby with Nozomi's bravest moving in and out, Mr. Sachi directing Nari's replacement in the auditorium, there— in a top screen, Masako entering Nari's dressing room.

Nari.

Mai paused, chopsticks halfway to her mouth.

An image not glowing before her filled her mind. The bench. The initials carved there.

She hadn't had the chance to speak to the actress, but her mother had given Mai a clue to her feelings.

Not friends.

Mai chewed the end of her chopsticks thoughtfully. If she wasn't friends with Mr. Sachi, what were they to each other...?

Something more.

Mai nodded to herself, and set her chopsticks down.

That much she knew. She had known since they arrived in Nozomi. Mai attempted to anchor herself to this certainty, but a nagging feeling pulled at her. It was what she hadn't known that was bothering her. Nari wasn't the only one who meant something more to Sachi.

Miss Miyuki.

Mai frowned as she thought of the heiress' initials deliberately scratched out of the bench carving.

Not friends.

Rivals.

"What is it? Did you see something?"

John's voice suddenly broke Mai from her thoughts. She quickly looked from the screens to his face.

"Hm? No...did you?"

"No, I just thought— you seemed like you were trying to get my attention."

"Oh," Mai answered, her cheeks warming, "No, I was just, daydreaming a bit...sorry."

The corners of John's lips rose, "I see, I get like that too sometimes, after lunch. I always seem to want a nap."

Berating herself not to get caught thinking so loudly again, Mai quickly came to a decision. What she had discovered she simply couldn't keep to herself. Discreetly, she peered back over her shoulder.

Across the room Bou-san was talking with Lin. Her eyes set on her target, Mai took one last swallow of tea, and made her approach— thermometer and clipboard in hand.

"Bou-san..." Mai murmured, coming to stand beside him.

"Hm?" the monk grunted back, mid-sentence— busy working damage control in Masako's wake, the theater was haunted, whatever she did or didn't feel...