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

In Which: Mai Is A Different Creature

Day Four

4:15pm

The Miyuki Theater

Mai sat on the couch alone- alright, she wasn't entirely alone- but Masako hardly counted. A few feet away a small crowd had gathered around Lin and his camera screens. Mai glanced up at the many monitors, focusing on the one just visible above Bou-san's head as he leaned forward in anticipation.

Mai frowned at the scenes she watched stream by her, they were getting close....a moment later came Naru's order to stop. Mai blinked and glanced over at her rival who- even while covered in dust- still held some dignity, only the slightest trace of irritation betraying her when Mr. Sachi cried,

"See there, he's appearing!"

Mai looked to her lap where her ice pack lay melting. She was slightly more irritated than the medium, and more nervous too.

The old man- Mr. Miyuki- they'll see him. How can he ask me to keep his existence a secret when he's flying down halls? As it is-

Mai glanced up briefly at her boss, his serious face illuminated by fluorescent light-

Naru suspects something.

Mai sloshed the water around the ice pack as murmurs sounded from the group clustered around Lin's desk.

"Here he comes..." Mr. Sachi announced.

"That's Mr. Miyuki?" Naru spoke, from his tone Mai could tell that he was thinking hard.

Analyze all you want, but your not getting answers from me, Mai thought, tilting the ice pack up and down.

"The picture-" Bou-san pointed out.

"Lin," Naru interrupted, "can you focus it any more?"

There was silence, presumably the Chinese man shook his head, but Mai was too unwilling to look up and find out.

"Ghostly interference?" Mr. Sachi suggested.

"Electrical interference," Naru corrected, shooting the playwright down swiftly.

"You think so?" Ayako persisted, ignoring the finality of Naru's tone, "What makes you so sure it isn't a paranormal disturbance?"

There was a tense pause, Mai could tell Naru was in less of a mood to humor the priestess than usual, but finally he relented and said,

"Lin, what is your opinion?"

There was another pause and then,

"It could be either, but I would say electrical."

A huffy noise came from Ayako and then the couch sunk next to Mai. Mai looked up to see the priestess making a face,

"Lin what is your opinion?" she mocked under her breath.

Mai returned her attention to the ice pack on her lap only to have it snatched away in the next instant,

"Hey-" she tried to protest, but Ayako held it out of her reach with narrowed eyes,

"How old are you again? What do you think this is, a play toy?"

Mai frowned as she watched the priestess lay the ice pack across her own lap, pushing the melting ice around, and opened her mouth to object, but just then John spoke.

"Then what happened?"

Mai shot a look at Mr. Sachi and further along the couch Masako tensed. The playwright was silent for a thoughtful moment, but unaware of the pairs of eyes boring into him; he smiled sympathetically and answered,