Hi, back again, with a plot bunny that kicked me repeatedly until I actually wrote it. This is nothing to do with anything else I have ever written, and it's AU. What if, when Naru did return to Japan, Mai had moved on? I may do more to this if people want, but for now it's a one-shot. I don't know how long Naru take to go back in the manga (I haven't read that yet), but here it's 2 years.

I don't own Ghost Hunt, and I certainly don't own Naru or Mai.

You stand outside her door, one hand raised. The energy required to move your fist three inches to knock on the door is minimal, yet you cannot bring your hand to move. You know that she still lives here; you checked with the building owner beforehand. You also know that she is in right now; you saw her enter just before you arrived. She was carrying groceries, and looked almost exactly as you remembered her. Her hair is longer, swinging around her shoulders in a ponytail, and she is taller. But she is still Mai; she is still the girl you saw virtually every day for months while she worked for you. She is still the girl who told you she loved you two years ago to the day. She is still the girl you shot down callously, afraid to show emotion in case you broke at the look on her face. And that is why your hand will not move, that is why you are afraid – yes, afraid – to announce your presence to her.

You bite your lip, wincing as the pain registers. Just do it, you berate yourself silently. After all, what would happen if she opened the door and saw you standing there, fist raised idiotically? Would she freeze, wondering if you are a hallucination? Would she hug you? Would she slap you? You shake your head and knock, rather too loudly in your haste. You hear an exasperated noise from within the flat, and then the door swings open, revealing an irritated Mai.

"What is it?" she snaps, then she sees who is standing on her doorstep and her eyes widen. You ensure that your usual passive mask is in place and ask to enter in a tone that snaps her back to reality.

"It is you. Only you could turn a question into a demand like that."

She speaks without taking her eyes off your face, but she doesn't move aside for you to get past. You raise one eyebrow and speak again using the same tone.

"Are you going to move, Mai, or are we going to have this conversation in your doorway?"

You can tell by her expression that she is seriously considering the latter option, but after a few moments she steps back and allows you access to her home. You take three steps inside and freeze.

There are men's clothes strewn over the back of the sofa, and the place is a lot messier than you imagine even Mai could manage on her own. She has a boyfriend? The snap of the front door shutting makes you focus on the task at hand. So there is a man in her life; that's a good thing, right? It means that she's moved on from you, that you didn't do any lasting damage to her that day two years ago. You clear your throat and prepare to launch into your much-rehearsed speech, ignoring the unpleasant feeling in your stomach. She talks before you get chance to.

"Tea?"

You nod and watch her sashay into the kitchen. More has changed in the past couple of months that you realised. The short, clumsy 16 year old is gone, replaced by a young woman with long legs (or maybe it's just a really short skirt) and curves. How could you have thought that she'd still be the same? How could you not have been expecting this? Mai has grown up, and you have missed it. And it's entirely your own fault. Your stomach churns unpleasantly again.

The woman emerges from the kitchen with a cup of your favourite tea and hands it to you, gesturing for you to take a seat on the sofa. You eye the shirt tossed across the back, and she flushes scarlet and grabs at it, throwing it into the bedroom and shutting the door hurriedly. You smile at her blush – finally, something you remember. You sip the tea, and allow a small sigh to escape your lips. Nobody makes tea like Mai, and the time spent apart has not diminished her skill. Then again, if she has her own stock, she probably makes it for herself and her boyfriend regularly. You push the sour feeling away and place the empty cup on the floor, sitting beside her.

Her blush has vanished by now, and she meets your gaze neutrally.

"What brings you back to Japan, Oliver-san?"

She is using your real name, and you feel more distant from the young lady before you than you have in the last year. You swallow and recite your practiced speech.

"There are not enough paranormal cases in England to satisfy me. I'm reopening SPR, and..."

You break off at the look on her face. She regards you coolly, reminding you forcibly of yourself. Your heart rate increases, and the urge to stand and walk away before she can speak overwhelms you. You know exactly what is about to happen.

"And you want me to work for you?"

She doesn't wait for your confirmation, instead launching into a tirade that gets more heated with each word.

"Not happening, Oliver-san. You lied to me for the entire time you knew me about who you were, you treated me like a tea-maid, you insulted me constantly, and then once you had what you wanted, you dropped me without a second thought and disappeared for two whole years! On top of that, you saw fit to completely break my heart into little pieces before you went!"

She pauses, breathing heavily, and then relaxes back into her seat, continuing in a more normal tone.

"I have a new job now, Oliver-san, with a boss who actually appreciates what I do and treats me with some respect. You know, he uses little words like 'please' and 'thank you'. I have a whole different life to before you left, and this time it doesn't revolve around you. I won't go back to what I had before. I won't go back to you."

She finishes almost in a whisper, and will not look at your eyes. You sit completely frozen by her words, unable to deny the truth to them, and unable to think of a single reason why she should give all that up. For you? Maybe once she would have, but it is obvious by the look on her face and the tone in her voice that you lost that power over her long ago. She isn't your Mai any more. Your Mai only ever called you Naru.

You stand and thank her for the tea, allowing your legs to take you to the exit automatically. She rises with you and opens the door, not saying a word as you pass her to leave. Just as the door closes behind you with a soft click, you hear her whisper.

"Goodbye, Naru."

You spin, but the door is closed and she is gone. You walk down to where Lin waits in the van. He takes one look at your face and knows immediately what has happened. He squeezes your shoulder once then starts the engine, driving back to the office. He even escorts you to your old private office and makes you a cup of tea. You stare at it for a while before pouring it into the nearest plant pot. It's going to be a while before you can stomach tea again.

Well? What did you think? Please leave a review, I'm still very new to this ficdom, and I want to know how I'm doing with the characters. If you want, I do have a way of elongating this into an actual story (N/M eventually). But I won't write it unless I'm asked to. Thanks for reading!

Liris
xxx