A/N: I still own nothing. This story will end soon, but I've been thinking of doing another Mai x Naru. Anyone has any ideas, I'm open to suggestions. :)

Daffodils

Part eleven

„Mai, it wasn't that bad," tried Ayako to console the poor girl. „It's not like you were naked on that painting."

„Not that there was much far from it," huffed Takigawa. He was pissed off, angrier than everyone else combined. Mai felt humiliated by it and anything that caused Mai discomfort angered the fatherly-brotherly figure the monk was trying to be.

The painting, still vividly on their minds, was confiscated immediately by their boss, who claimed to be sure there must be some kind of hint to exorcising the ghost.

„We all know he took it to ogle Mai-chan," he muttered, earning a hit against his head from Ayako. Mai looked crestfallen.

Surprisingly, this one time, Takigawa was right. Naru was sitting in Rosalie's office, staring absentmindedly at the gift given to him. There was no mistaking it: it was something he should have expected from the peculiar girl, who giggled far too often. Yet somehow, he had expected Rosalie to show more respect towards Mai.

But she hadn't and now, Naru was faced with a difficult option: tell Mai the truth about everything or leave everything unsolved. He had been thinking about it. After a while, he decided: he was going to confess. He covered the painting and with a sigh, left the room.

„Mai, can we talk?" He entered her room without knocking, scaring her out of her wits. Ayako and Takigawa, who had been keeping her company, shot him dark looks. Mai nodded, cheeks as red as fully grown cherries. She followed him outside. He was restless. She noticed it.

„Mai," he said her name in a tone softer than usual. She shook the thought out of her head and waited for him to continue.

„Yes, Naru?" she questioned, when he stayed silent. Naru sighed – how unlikely of him to sigh when it wasn't for her stupidity. Immediately, she began to figure out what she might have done wrong. Nothing crossed her mind, except... „If this is about the painting, I already said I'm sorry." She blurted out, before he could even stop her.

„It's not," he finally said. „At least, not in the sense of what you're thinking about."

„Oh. And pray tell me how you know what I'm thinking about?" She asked mockingly, still convinced he was going to humiliate her even more.

„Mai," he said sternly, shutting her up. „Rosalie Turner likes you. That's why she painted it. She is fond of you and I together."

„That much I figured out myself," she snorted. It wasn't difficult to realize, considering the erotic nature of the image. She and him were in a rather compromising position, she wearing only her underwear. What had shocked Mai, was that she had such a pair of lingerie in reality. She hardly ever wore it and most certainly, she hadn't packed it along. It troubled her greatly to know that the ghost knew it.

„But there is a reason for that," he continued. Mai rolled her eyes. „Why she knows you so well. It's because I was the one to tell her." Mai grew silent.

„What do you mean?" She asked in a quiet voice, daring him to tell her. He sighed again.

„I met Rosalie a long time ago and I agreed to help her spirit move on. It was her everlasting wish to become the author of a poular series. However, her illness took her down, before she could. Thus, she needed help in writing down the novel. Of course, the story grew and finally, the series came to an end. This whole time, she has been dead."

„You didn't exorcise her?" She could hardly believe it.

„She wasn't exactly malevolent," he explained. „And I was curious."

„What about?" Now, he had sparked her interest.

„About her novel." He was completely honest with her. „About her. But I also needed a way to be away from you, although you haunted me even when I was here, writing her words."

Mai frowned. He didn't sound like lying, but she could not understand. His words were insulting her, but she forced herself to continue listening.

„Perhaps in some way, I wrote myself into her words, because to be honest, her story was terrible." Mai opened her mouth to protest in order to protect her favourite series, but he continued before sh could interrupt. „All this while, my mind returned to you."

„What are you saying?" She felt terribly confused. „Naru, what are you talking about?"

Naru took a deep breath, before saying it. The words fell off his lips clumsily, as if he couldn't stop saying it, even though he didn't really want to.

„I have always been strangely fond of you too."

It would be fair to say his words got a much bigger reaction than he had expected. All hell broke loose, glasses shattered and the house shook. Mai stared at him with wide eyes and as he stared back, he grinned. Her heart fluttered at the sight of this.

„Gotcha!" He suddenly said, turning towards stairs around the corner and running up them. Mai, sensing it might be important, shook her head clear – no way Naru would say that, right? – and followed him.

She found him in a tower of sorts with wide windows pouring light onto a lonely desk and a peculiar sight appeared in front of her. Naru was leaning against a wall, his eyes fixated on a point behind the table. Mai narrowed her eyes and then saw what he was seeing. There stood a girl, not older than herself, grinning like a madman.

„You did it!" She exclaimed. „I am so proud of you!" Then, noticing Mai, she dashed forward.

„I am so happy for you, Mai-chan!" She grabbed her hands gleefully. „I have always shipped you, congratulations! Please, do take care of our little guy!" Saying that, she disappeared into thin air and left the two course, she first locked the door.