~ Bookends ~

Halloween Edition

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Ghost Hunt

Epilogue

"That's the last of them," Takigawa said with relish as the remaining customers staggered out through the front door, trailing bits of festive paraphernalia behind them. John who was leaning on the other side of the door grinned ruefully.

"I always forget how exhausting celebrations like these can be," he said.

Takigawa snorted. John still looked remarkably fresh in spite of a rather trying afternoon placating all of Mai's disappointed 'suitors' that had been unsubtly intimidated by Naru.

"Hey, if you're done showing them out, we can leave," Ayako said. "Lin, Madoka, Masako and Yasuhara are all waiting in the carpark."

Takigawa grinned as they followed her there. "What about Mai and Naru-bou?"

The red-haired lady frowned. "I haven't seen them. Have any of you?" she asked the small group.

"I believe they have been in Naru's office since we finished cleaning up," Lin said as he flipped out his phone. "Perhaps I ought to give them a call..."

The front door swung open violently.

"Wait!" Mai yelled as she rushed down the steps towards them, bunny ears flopping as she did.

"Where's Naru?" Yasuhara asked as she came running.

"Eh? He was right behind me…"

Her eyes glittered when she spotted his figure hovering in the shadow of the doorway.

"He can't go to a Halloween party without a costume so I…" she broke off with a grin not unlike the sort to be usually found framing Yasuhara's face. "Promise you won't laugh," she smirked as she darted back up the steps. "Come on Naru! You're going to make us late!"

She caught a soft sigh as Naru walked out, reluctance rolling off him ostensibly. He looked exactly the same except that he now sported a pair of bunny ears like Mai.

"The food had better be good," he said and shot down any potential laughter by glaring warningly at the group first.

Takigawa and Mai both let out a nervous guffaw as one of Naru's fluffy ears caught in the door as he got into his car. As he detached it calmly, Naru spoke with a dignified air, "Mai, I ought to inform you that my parents will be at Masako's later and they would be looking forward to meeting you."

"WHAT?!"

As Takigawa, Ayako and Yasuhara questioned the red-faced girl eagerly, Naru smirked.

It was going to be a good night.

Author notes: Yes. Mai is going to have to meet Naru's parents in a bunny girl suit. XD Ah well. And I'm sorry I hadn't responded to queries as to whether Naru was wearing a costume or his usual stuff but I wanted to keep the epilogue a surprise.

Thank you Flamegirl5500, AlexaTarot, miki230, show. me. the. stars., Ariana Taniyama, Somnium Mos, xxAngelicDreams and miss koneko for your reviews!

miss koneko: Always knew Madoka was itching to meddle. XD

Ariana Taniyama: Well. It is a library after all. Violence not allowed and all that. =p And I think he probably realizes that the fellow chatting Mai up actually hardly poses a threat. He probably just needed some opportunity (bunny girl suit also helps) to work up the courage to declare that he likes her...

Somnium Mos: Nope. Unfortunately, Gene does not appear in this story, though it's not too long a shot to assume he'll probably be at the party along with his parents. Oh, and John's not a priest in this fic. *grin* If there's anything remotely holy about him here, it'll be his saint-like propensity for putting up with being saddled with all those disappointed men

show. me. the. stars.: I tend to do jealous Naru a lot in my fics... it's a terrible habit but I can't seem to kick it. The spectacles are brought over from the original Bookends where he wears them normally.