A/N: So I saw this text post on Tumblr that got my creative juices flowing. As I read it, I could imaging Naru and Mai in this situation. This will be a multi-chapter fic, but don't worry! HHNFLAWS is my main project! This is only my side project. So if this story updates, just know that it's because I am having writers block on HHNFLAWS. (I promise the next update I do will be HHNFLAWS!)

This is an AU, so some characters may seem a bit OOC. Maru (my ship name for Mai and Naru) centric! ('Cause I just can't get enough of Mai and Naru together!) So here is my Ghost Hunt AU story! Enjoy!

Chapter 1: The Project

"Alright class," Miss Matsuzaki said, clapping her hands together. "Today we will be starting our group projects!"

As if on cue, the whole class started to talk, friends deciding who will work with who. Typical high school students. What else would you expect?

"Remember, you are to read one of the novels on the list with your partner and prepare a project that fits with your selected novel. It can be anything from a fun type of project to an essay. Whatever you and your partner decide on."

The class once again started to get excited. That is until Miss Matsuzaki said the words most high school students hate.

"Now, I've already randomly selected your groups."

And here comes the collective groan.

"Oh, hush!" She may be a teacher, but Miss Matsuzaki has a temperament that matches her fiery red hair that NO ONE wants to cross.

At her words, the room silences.

"Good. Now here are the groups," she started naming off the groups she's randomly out together. I sit and wait for my name to be called, resting my chin on my right palm and drumming my fingers along my cheek. Miss Matsuzaki always read off groups by last name, and seeing as my last name is Taniyama, I'll be one of the last ones announced unless I'm paired with someone like Masako Hara, the snotty rich girl who, for some unknown reason to me, hates my guts, or either of my friends Keiko or Michiru.

Sadly, I'm not that lucky today. Both Keiko and Michiru are paired with each other and Masako, thankfully, is paired with someone else. I don't mind Masako, seriously! We use to be best friends in middle school! Once we got to high school, something happened and she started hating my guts.

So, now it's time to play the waiting game. Who will I be paired up with? I got my answer soon enough as I heard Miss Matsuzaki say, "Mai Taniyama and Kazuya Shibuya."

My eyes grew wide. Kazuya? That goth kid who always sat in the corner of the room and NEVER spoke but always got an 100 on EVERYTHING? I looked over my right shoulder to see him looking back at me from his corner desk. His cobalt blue eyes stared straight at me, and to be honest I felt a little intimidated. He was giving off this vibe that if I said or did just one thing wrong, he would end me. And no, I'm not saying that because he was decked out in black EVERYTHING, but I also knew from my friend Yasu that Kazuya was a black belt in Jujitsu AND Kung Fu.

"Alright, for the last few minutes of class I would like for you to get with your partner and start discussing what novel you both will read."

All the students started to get up and move desks together, except for Kazuya. He just stayed in his corner looking at me. Slowly, I got up and moved over to him.

"Umm.. hi."

Kazuya just looked at me. Please don't kill me! My mind screamed. I looked around me quickly and grabbed the desk next to him. I pulled it closer to his and sat down.

"We've never actually met, have we?" I asked. He remained silent. I swear this guy was studying me! Like trying to figure out the best way to end my life quickly if I got on his bad side.

I stuck my hand out. "I'm Mai Taniyama." I gave him a small smile to show him I meant him no harm.

He looked at my hand and, to my surprise, he took it in his. "Kazuya."

Just as quickly as he took my hand, Kazuya's hand left mine. It was weird. I looked at our hands when he grabbed mine and I saw how large his hands were around mine. Sure, I'm a petite girl, but his hands almost engulfed mine! And his grip was firm but soft and gentle at the same time.

I placed my hand on my lap with my other hand. "It's nice to meet you."

We sat there in silence for a moment, until I caught something out of the corner of my eye. What was that sticking out of his backpack?

"What's that?" I ask, pointing to the object protruding from his bag.

He looks at me for a moment before taking out a book from his bag. "Just something for light reading during lunch."

My eyes grew. "You… you read Shakespeare? For fun?"

"It is my lady, O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were! She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it. I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks: Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, having some business, do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, as daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven would through the airy region stream so bright that birds would sing and think it were not night. See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!

O, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!"

Kazuya just recited a whole part of the balcony scene by memory! The book sat closed on the desk the whole time! The only reason why I know where those lines take place is because I played Juliet in our school play back in middle school. Was he in theater, too?

"That… that's incredible! No normal person would have the beginning part the Capulet Orchard memorized."

Kazuya shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I've always felt a connection to Romeo."

"How so?"

"Romeo was unlucky in love until he met Juliet. They had a great love story, until they ended up dying."

"Juliet had a good plan! She just neglected to tell Romeo and he was dumb enough buy poison. If Juliet had told Romeo her plan, they would of had their happily ever after."

"Then the play wouldn't be a tragedy and it wouldn't of been as popular as it is."

"You got a point there, Kazuya."

"I know."

I looked at Kazuya after his last statement. He was smirking! I felt my cheeks heat up a bit. Oh great! I don't need to be doing this right now! Not with everything going on.

As I was about to say something, the loud bell cut me off. The school day was over.

"Hey Mai!" I heard Michiru yell. "Let's go! Yasu and John are not gonna wait around all day for us!"

I looked over at my friend. "I'll be there in a sec!"

As Michiru and Keiko walked out of the classroom, I started to pack my bag. Before I put my spiral in, I tore out a small piece and put my number on it. I stood and pushed the desk back where it was and turned towards Kazuya, who was finishing putting his spiral in his bag.

"Here," I said, handing him the paper as he stood. "We didn't get any work done, so just text me later and we can talk about what novel we're gonna do. Ok?" I smiled at him.

He takes the paper from my hand and turns his head to his bag that was still on the desk. "Sure."

He lifts his head and walks out of the room. For a second, I thought I saw him blush a bit. Must of been my imagination. I shake my head to rid it of the thought before walking out. I suddenly stop at the door and had to hold onto the door frame before the coughing fit started. Luckily I did not cough up any blood. This time.

I catch my breath before going off and joining my friends. How do I tell them that my cancer is back? How do I tell them that the cancer I fought back in 8th grade came back stronger than before? How do I tell them that this time around, the Hodgkin's Disease could possibly kill me?