Written as part of the 2018 ghhq tumblr ghost hunt exchange for shsl-shipper-gamer-fangirl

The prompt was Masako/Naru, Masako/Mai besties, Mai/Gene, fluff. (did I succeed? please feel free to advise.)

First Light

- 1 -

Masako sat on the edge of the veranda, eyes trained toward the horizon.

In the early hours of the morning, the air was still and quiet but for the quiet, merry chattering of birds in the garden below the veranda. Beyond the garden, an empty path and then a lake: the surface absolutely still but for a family of early-rising ducks, ripples forming behind them as they swam lazily close to the shore. It was hard to reconcile this serenity with the throngs of people, cheering as they watched the fireworks over the water the night before. Hard to reconcile this serenity with the final confrontation of the ghost which had been lurking in the basement of this hotel until only a few hours ago.

But she turns her mind away from the case, instead focusing on the vista in front of her. It was amazing how early dawn came here, she couldn't help but marvel. Here it was, only just after four o'clock in the morning, but the light was creeping over the distant hills beyond the lake, turning the smooth surface of the water into a pale blue mirror. There were low-hanging clouds in the distance, obscuring where the dark hills beyond the lake met the water, but the sky above was lightening, wisps of pale yellow and pink clouds drifting above and reflecting in the water as day approached.

Masako tipped her head back and lifted her gaze, the pale horizon in front of her darkening to a deep muted blue. It was just dark enough that above she could see one single, shining star.

Everyone else was still in bed, but she hadn't been able to sleep and had gotten up as soon as she saw the first light in the sky. It wasn't as though she wasn't tired—she could feel the exhaustion to her very bones, the ache of the stress that had accumulated during the last few days of the case—but right now her mind was clear and alert and trying to run away from her. Right now what she needed most was calm, not rest. After all, now that the case was over they'd be heading back to Tokyo later today, and she could sleep on the train.

She heard footsteps behind her and she tensed without turning, wondering if she would be seen. There were others staying at this hotel, of course, in which case she knew she would be ignored. But if it was Ayako she would probably reprimand her for being up so early; Takigawa would probably shout out some loud greeting through the screen that would surely disturb anyone else this side of the building. But the footsteps were too light for either of them, in which case if it was a member of SPR it could be John or Lin, possibly even Yasuhara. The former might come over and ask if she was alright, Yasuhara might tease her for being up and Lin would keep his distance. It certainly couldn't be Mai, as she would still be sleeping. A small smile twitched on Masako's lips. Thank goodness the case was over and Mai could finally sleep soundly without nightmares.

The door slid open and shut behind her, footsteps approaching, slowly but without hesitation. To her surprise it was Oliver who sat down silently next to her, folding his hands in his lap as he lifted his head toward the lightening sky.

Neither of them spoke for some time. It was a comfortable silence between them and Masako had no compulsion to break it, so instead they both watched the sky brighten in front of them, listened to the quiet birds singing in the garden of pink and purple lupins, hydrangeas and lavender below, relishing the cool, fresh breeze that came up off the lake and ghosted over their faces.

To her surprise, it was he who broke the silence. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked, glancing sideways toward her without turning his head.

Masako nodded, her gaze following a bird upwards as it flew above them and landed on the roof behind them. "Just restless, I think."

He nodded. He understood completely, but she could see he was still watching her from the corner of his eyes. Not worry, exactly, or even concern. Just—watching. Knowing she was but still making sure she was okay.

Sitting side by side in silence, her mind drifted back to the first time they had dinner together. How stiffly he had sat across from her, unsure why she had asked him to join her, unable to comprehend what she wanted. If she was completely honest with herself she would admit she'd been nothing but selfish. How she only used her knowledge of his true identity to her own advantage. She wanted him to see her, how she had this ridiculous notion her crush might rub off on him and blossom into young love. Looking back, she was ashamed how foolish she'd been. It was never going to happen. Not like that.

But she was glad she'd willed up the courage to ask him for dinner that first time, no matter her reasons, because over time, as they talked, he began to relax with her and would answer her questions. She could ask him about England, about his research there, about his future. Their conversations remained mostly one-sided, but she wanted to think he enjoyed their meetings. After all, wasn't it lonely, all by himself, unable to say who he really was? He would never admit to it, but she wanted to give him the chance to be himself, if he wanted it. And he'd never turned her down, any time she asked. At first she'd wondered if she'd held something over him—only later to realise it didn't even matter if she knew who he was. What would he really care if she threatened to tell the others, the media or the press? No, he did not acquiesce to their meetings on that account. That was not the reason.

The passage of time had changed their relationship, had changed everything. They had met for dinner and the occasional cup of tea in the months that he had the office open under the pseudonym of Shibuya Kazuya, before it was generally known among the staff that the name was just an alias of Oliver Davis. But then he'd found his brother's body and the truth of his identity came out. She hadn't asked him for dinner, not since that time. He'd returned from England in October last year and there had been plenty of opportunities, but things had changed.

For one, she and Mai had started spending more time together, and this brought Masako to the office more than ever before. It was only natural they would become friends, especially after they came to the realisation they weren't—had never been—rivals, for who else could truly understand what they were going through? The two began to prepare for their entrance exams together and would meet in the cafe beneath the office for study sessions over tea. Masako would call in at the office from time to time, either to see Mai or to visit Oliver if he wasn't busy. Usually, it seemed, he had time enough to say hello, or to ask how she was doing, and allow her to enquire after his work and his health and his family.

Second of all, it seemed presumptuous. She was worried he would only agree to meet her outside of work to be polite. A kind, but patronising gesture when he would rather be reading, reviewing case notes or working on his next paper. But most of all she was terrified he was going to turn her down. That he wouldn't pretend and would simply decline. Because if it came to that she would have to admit he would never return her feelings. That she was just a silly little girl and he, the great Dr Oliver Davis, had no interest in her.

Masako's train of thought was interrupted when Oliver rose to his feet, still gazing out toward the lake. She thought he might say he was going to go back inside, to advise her to do the same. But when he turned toward her he did something very unexpected indeed and held his hand out toward her, hesitantly, but proffering his hand all the same.

"I'm going to walk along the lake. Would you like to join me?"

"Not going back to sleep?" Masako asked, eyebrow raised. "There's still hours until breakfast."

He tipped his head, conceding her point. "Only just. I think breakfast begins at six thirty." The smile that had brightened his eyes finally reached his mouth, lifting the corners. "Besides, I don't imagine I would be able to fall back asleep at this point and it seems silly to even try." He met her gaze, his dark eyes warm. "And it is a beautiful morning. I would like to see the sunrise."

Perhaps he had only asked her to be polite, Masako realised as she reached forward to take his hand. The brilliant Oliver Davis who may not like to but certainly could read people. There was no doubt in her mind that he was clever enough to understand her feelings for him. But perhaps that was presumptuous as well, perhaps he was aware of this. After all, it was the gesture that had meaning. That he had asked at all, and the way he had offered his hand.

"I would like that," she replied, allowing him to help her to her feet, down the veranda and into the garden below, into the brightening morning light.

...