Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt and I don't wish to but I'm a big fan.

It's another one of those "Mai's powers develop and then she revives Gene blah blah blah" but I hope you find it worth your time and the damage on your eyes.

Chapter 1: 6 Years Ago

He's a step closer to his brother. Instead, he lost something else.

GENERAL

The searchers packed their equipments, preparing to leave the lake. They were in a bad mood. Who wouldn't be? The body was never found, their client was clearly displeased, the storm was getting stronger, and they didn't get the intended pay. The clients and his companions left before them with the foulest mood.

"Hey! Weren't their suppose to be eight of them?" one asked.

"Why should I care? Like hell I care! I don't even care about their names," his colleague snapped. No words were said after that.

GENERAL

"Noll?" Lin called. The Chinese man was soaking wet. The rain gear he wore helped only a little against the heavy rain and strong winds. He approached the young man only to see him reading his black note book like he always didn't respond to the call. Lin sighed. "Noll. It's been more than a week. You have to at least postpone the search," he said.

The boy did not react. He was stiff. Only Lin could see that Noll was crumbling yet again. He knew how much Gene meant to him. Gene was important to the both of them but Noll actions prove to be irrational.

Lin sighed, preparing for an argument that he's about to start. "It's been more than a week. There's nothing further we can do," he said. Noll glared at him. Lin glared back.

"I'm this close, Lin. Just yesterday the search team assured me they'd seen something," Noll responded, momentarily facing the his observer.

"And yet they found nothing at the spot. You should have thought it strange," Lin reasoned. No response. "You have to stop this nonsense. Don't you think you have another person to look for?" Lin didn't want to bring it up. There was hit the sore spot.

"Mai's old enough to take care of herself. The case was solved. We need not worry about her," Naru said. Lin was shocked. How can this intellectually gifted person say such irrelevant and unreasonable reasons? More than that, he was angry. Lin's fists were tightly closed. He's knuckles were white with rage.

"There are other things more dangerous than the paranormal, Noll. The living are more capable of frightening decisions and actions," Lin spoke matter-of-factly. "We're at a rural area, surrounded by animals; and there's a strong possibility that Mai is lost."

Noll grimaced. Realization.

"You! What did you do?" he demanded. "What did you say?"

"There are limits when using verbal mockery and teasing, you should know better." Lin grabbed Noll's shoulder to turn him. Now the boy was facing him.

"What did you tell her?" he pushed.

A knock came to the door, disrupting the heated conversation. Noll was saved. Takigawa-san and the rest came in. They weren't spared by the storm. Matsuzaki-san's complaints started as soon as she was at sight. Her wet hair clung to her skin and her clothes stuck to her body. Her mascara, now wet from the rain, was all over her. It was unsightly in a ridiculous kind of way; and Lin had no interest what-so-ever.

He gave Noll a stern look. We'll talk later and you better give me answers. The message was passed- unknown to the others in the room.

"We couldn't find her. I tried calling her house, just in case. There was no answer," Matsuzaki-san reported.

"I tried searching the forest with Yasuhara, but with this rain, I doubt there'd be any trace of her left," Takigawa-san informed.

"Masako was kind enough to leave and have her bodyguards search outside town," Osamu-san added. Everyone looked at Noll, waiting for his instructions, hoping for him to give out the right decision. None of them knew what to do.

"Lin." Heads jerked and eyes focused.

"We'll stop the search for Gene for now. We'll start looking for Mai," Naru said, closing his notebook. Signs of relief grazed each of their faces.

GENERAL

"His vitals are back to normal. It's good that you pulled him out of the water immediately," the doctor told a young brunette, looking at her with concern. She looked so weak and tired. A fragile little thing. There were dark circles around her eyes. Her shoulders were slumped, as if a big burden was over them. She was pale and her hair was all messed up. But, as soon as he assured her about her friends health, she regained color on her cheeks and her eyes sparkled as she smiled and said, "Thank you so much, Doctor."

After a while the girl relaxed and her forehead creased slightly.

What just happened? the doctor just thanked her, and now she's troubled- again.

"Um… Am I allowed to see him now?" she asked. The doctor was a bit taken by surprise. Upon understanding the girl's expression, he inwardly sighed in relief.

"Of course! Of course you can see him. If he wakes notify us immediately so he can be released the next morning," he quickly responded. The doctor received another word of gratitude before he was left alone in the hospital hall- for the smiling girl already went to visit her friend.

However, that bright smile disappeared. She went in to see the boy who has a tube attached to his hand and more tubes on his chest and still unconscious. The only sound that came from him was his breathing and the beeping of the heart monitor. That wasn't the cause of her concern, though. She knew he was safe from death. That was the bargain she made. The wounds he got from the accident were mostly healed. Those that are left were already mended properly.

What she was worried about was about a matter she didn't know existed- not at that time. Right now she was too tired and her brain refused to work anymore. Taking her friend's hand, she drifted off to the dream world.

MAI

A warning

"Mai?"

Who? What must be done?

"Mai?"

Again?

I opened my eyes. My eyelids were protesting because I was too tired. Reviving Gene took a huge toll on my body. If I knew that such a consequence were to happen-no. I would have found another way. I wanted to ease his longing. I watched him waiting for the body of his twin brother, a soulless body. Gene was the only person whom he holds dear. Who knows- he might lighten up if his twin brother were to return to him His twin brother…

My held jolted up. Gene!

"Ohayo, Mai," Gene greeted with his usual warm smile. That was his distinguishing feature. Naru never smiled like he.

"Gene!" I breathed, unconsciously throwing myself to him, hugging him as tightly as I can. He winced. Oh! I forgot about his injuries.

"I'm sorry!" I apologized, pulling away.

I called the doctor in and they did a few more check-ups. The nurses assisting the doctor were ogling at Gene. He smiled at them when he met their eyes. If he were Naru, he would pay them no mind and think about how incredible good taste the women have because they fancy him.

"You can be discharged in the morning," the doctor said. Gene and I thanked them as they left the room. It was just him and me again.

"How am I here?" He was too straight to the point. I didn't have to tell him all the details.

Alright, Mai. You can do this. Put your practice to use. He'll just have to wait for Naru's waiting arms and he… will never find out about the complication.

"You're not planning on returning, are you?" he asked.

I was taken aback. How did he know? Might as well come clean- partially, at least.

"I'll have to go someplace. I recently found out about the adoption, you see." I waited for him to absorb the words but he remained silent.

"Anyway, don't tell the others, ok? I'll have to be sure before any of them finds out about my real family. I wouldn't want my friends to worry," I blabbered on. I knew my explanation will never suffice but I hope he buys it.

"There's something else. You can't hide anything from me, Mai. I've guided you- even when you're not on cases," he said. Really? I didn't know that? I suddenly felt embarrassed and angry. Then he knows there were complications during the resurrection! But, he's not showing any signs of awareness. He would have been infuriated from the get go. Thank Kami!

I breathed heavily.

"I guess," was my foolish response.

"Tell me, Mai," he demanded. His voice was fool of authority- inescapable.

"Turns out I was adopted into the Taniyama family. Something tells me I have to find my real family before I lose them- for good." Gene didn't have to know that 'them' pertains to different people.

"Even if they don't want me back, I want to see them at least. I'll have them meet me no matter what. I don't-"

Gene caressed my cheek. I was babbling again. My face heated up with his hand still there. He hushed me and gazed at me ever so gently, comforting me.

"Mai. You never fail to amuse me," he said.

"Was that supposed to be a complement?" I asked teasingly.

"It was," he simply replied. Then he was serious again. His face reminded me of Naru.

"I don't believe that's all."

Moh! Why won't he just let it go?

"Please Gene! You're alive. You have to go back! Maybe he'll try new colors for his wardrobe." I joked.

"I don't think he will- not if you don't come back," he contradicted.

That got me all confused. Why the hell would that happen? How? I mean, he doesn't even like me as an assistant., right? That's why I decided to leave.

"You're confused," he said, confused himself.

"How'd you know?" I demanded.

"You're face shows everything," he answered. Sure! Naru said the exact same thing. My eyes narrowed, sighing in defeat. They're so alike.

"I suspect Noll told you the same thing before?" It sounded like a question but it wasn't. He was so sure of himself. A kinder narcissist.

His smile widened, making me blush.

"Ne, Gene." I don't know if I should continue. Sure I revived him, brought him back to life. That makes it even more embarrassing. I have the ability to bring the dead back to life but I don't have the financial capacity to pay for hospital bills. Gene didn't even need an operation.

"When Naru and the rest get here, tell them that I'm sorry for leaving and…um…ano…to pay your hospital bill as well," I finished, blushing beat red. I bowed my head in shame.

I peeked through my eyelashes. Gene's eyes were wide and his fists were tightly clutching on to the blanket. Silence engulfed the room.

"Gene?" He didn't respond for a while. I was getting worried. Suddenly, he burst into laughter.

Eh!

Then he stopped.

"I can take care of my expenses, Mai. I have a secret bank account here in Japan," he said with pride. I pondered for a moment. Of course he has a secret bank account.

Wait… a secret back account? Or are my ears just deceiving me?

"Did you just say you had a secret bank account?" I was bamboozled.

"I was 15 years old- it's only typical for a teenager to have a secret stash," he said, as if it was the most natural thing on Earth. Well, it isn't!

"I'll have them call Naru tomorrow then I'll-"

"No, Mai. You're not going alone." His voice was firm, making it hard to argue but I'll have to.

"I don't exactly have anyone to go with. I'm an orphan, remember?" I said, trying to act clueless of what he really meant.

"You know what I mean." He wasn't glaring yet I was captivated by his eyes. A human lie detector. I was being absorbed, unable to break away, unable to lie. If I can't help but tell the truth, I might as well keep quiet.

"I will not return to the idiot scientist unless you go with me," he said, breaking the staring contest he started.

"Gene!" I was appalled. This can't be happening.

I rose from my seat, knocking it over. I slammed my hands on his hospital bed. My eyes were widely staring at him with disbelief.

"You can't do that! What was the point of reviving you if you're not returning to him?" I sighed, taking his hand gently.

"Naru needs you Gene. You can't leave him- not again. Please, Gene. For me?" I begged. My knees gave out and tears were threatening to spill. He pulled his hand and refused to look at me. I kept my gaze on the floor.

When I looked up Gene was staring at me.

"Noll can live a few more years without me. He is an idiot scientist," he noted.

"But will he be whole? Will he be Naru?" I countered. He smiled at me.

"You just answered your own question."

Eh!

"Will Noll be whole if you left?" he asked, touching my nose with his forefinger.

"Naru doesn't need me. I'm just an incompetent secretary. All I provide are blurry dreams and trouble! The only reason I was of any help at all was because of you. You guided me. Maybe if you weren't there, maybe I would have died, or maybe I would have quit.

"When I get into trouble the team is the one ending up hurt- especially Naru. He's always there to save me even-"-I sniffed-"-even if he gets into accidents, his heart and breathing stop. He ends up in hospitals because of me. All I do is strain his body and disturb his work." I wiped my tears with the back of my hands.

I don't know how Gene's looking at me. Is he looking at me with pity? I can't believe how frustrated I am. My present condition made me more anxious than I already was.

"That's not true," he said.

"Naru said it himself! He doesn't need me! He doesn't want me!" I covered my mouth as soon as I finished. I can't believe I let it slip. I wasn't supposed to say that. He wasn't supposed to know. He stayed still, eyes wide.

"What?" he whispered in a low irate tone.

"No!" I quickly tried to cover. "That's not what I meant. That was just… my interpretation." My voice weakened. I couldn't find a loophole. Nice going me!

"Fine- I'll let you leave," Gene said out of nowhere.

"You'll let me leave?" It just doesn't make any sense. First his all out restraining me, now he's letting me go. What made him change his mind?

"Really?" I asked, just to be sure. Gene nodded but he was looking straight through me.

"Then I'll call the doctor. I'll ask him to tell Naru to pick you up tomorrow and a few more favors," I said, standing up.

"I did say I won't let you go alone."

"But you just said-"

"I'll let you leave but not alone. I'm coming with you," he finished. Blood rose to my face. I'm so…so irritated.

"No you're not!" I almost shouted. "And that's final!" That time I did shout. That's it. I ran.

AN: I'm posting the story back. I'm sorry if I suddenly removed it. I had to figure out some things. There were few changes made in this chapter.

To compensate, I finished the 3rd chapter. I really am sorry to those who put it on alert and to those who put it in their favorites.