Bound by Fate

Written By: KamiNoSakura

Author's Note: This is a Ghost Hunt pairing of Lin and Mai, I'm doing this as both a request from Heather Unscripted and the fact that this is one of my favorite pairings in the series. This will be a fairly long story and will involve various paranormal cases, some of them being true, others being popular stories told either in Japan or around the world. Hope you all enjoy, and yes, there's a possibility that I'll be making a doujinshi out of this story. I do NOT own the Ghost Hunt series, all rights go to Shiho Inada and Fuyumi Ono.

Warnings: This contains violence, profanity and OC's.

Prologue

Sparks Flying

It was a long day for Taniyama Mai, school took out more of her energy than usual. All her classes gave out tests and long homework assignments, her friends were nagging her about the cases she was or had been working on. Overall it was just exhausting. However, school was nothing compared to what she would have to face at work. There she stood outside of SPR, or Shibuya Psychic Research for short, and let out the biggest sigh ever to be heard. It wasn't the work she was dreading, it was her boss and co-worker that made her job a living hell. Shibuya Kazuya, the boss, also nicknamed Naru, was a young seventeen year old boy with the most narcissistic and overbearing person she has ever met. Even though Mai held feelings for Naru, she still found him to be a royal pain. However, she had a bigger problem with Koujo Lin, her co-worker. Ever since the day they met, Mai felt that Lin absolutely hated her. Sure, she was clumsy and nearly got herself killed had it not been for Lin rescuing her, which resulted in him being sent to the hospital for a few days. But come on! He's not the type to hold a grudge…is he? As Mai was continuing to dread about work, she let out another sigh and decided that it was best to get the day over with. With that she walked inside. The moment she arrived Naru demanded his daily afternoon tea.

"Mai, Tea!" She saw that one coming, rolling her eyes she made her way towards the kitchen and prepared tea for the almighty one. As she finished pouring the tea in three cups, she walked over to Lin's office door and knocked gently.

"Lin-san I made some tea, would you like a cup?" Lin responded with nothing but rapid typing that Mai heard from the other side of the door. She cracked open the door and saw that Lin was too preoccupied with work as usual and left the cup of tea on a counter beside the door. She closed the door, allowing Lin the peace and quiet atmosphere that he made for himself. This was another problem Mai had when it came to Lin. He hardly ever talks to anyone, the only person that can actually make him speak in a full sentence is Naru. Mai let out another sigh and carried Naru's tea to his office. She knocked and went inside when she heard Naru.

"Come in."

"Here's your tea Naru. Anything else?" She inquired, being bored when there were no cases to be solved, Mai had too much time on her hands at work.

"No, that's it. Hurry up and leave, I have work to do." Mai became irritated at the Naru's rudeness, but she let it slide, seeing as Naru was acting like his usual snobbish self. She left the office, closed the door and went to her desk. She then decided to take a shot at her homework that all her teachers gave her. She piled all of the assignments on top of one another and was shocked by the shear amount. It was like seeing a mountain of paper and books in one of those nightmares you would have about school. She let out another sigh and went to work.

"Well these aren't going to finish themselves, might as well get them out of the way until we get a case." She opened one of her books and began writing, the assignments were more or less simple a few of them stumped her but it didn't bother her all that much. Before she knew a few hours had passed, nearing the time to go home she finished up her last assignment, suddenly interrupted the unexpected appearance of some members of the SPR team.

"Yo Mai! How have you been?"

"Bou-san? What are you doing here, and Masako as well." Bou, also known as Takigawa Housho is a monk from Mount Koya. He is currently a spiritualist and bass player in his band. He's a tall young man who looks to be in his twenties, with somewhat long blonde hair. Beside him was Hara Masako, a renowned medium who has the ability to see and communicate with spirits of the dead. She's a short girl, who looked to be about Mai's age and is a bit spoiled.

"Wasting time as usual Mai? I can't believe that Naru actually hired and pays you to do absolutely nothing." Forgot to mention, Masako is a bit of a rival to Mai, actually it's the other way around. It's Masako who considers Mai a threat when it comes to her unrequited love for Naru.

"Put a sock in it will you Masako? I'm not having a good day and you being here isn't making things better." Offended, Masako snapped back at Mai.

"I don't remember ever trying to make things better for you."

"Well just leave. You might as well, the office is going to close in a few minutes."

"Unfortunately for you Mai, that isn't going to happen today." The three turned around to see Naru walking out of his office with some files at hand.

"What do you mean Naru? Did we get a case?"

"Yeah, I just got off the phone with our client, we're going there right now. Bou-san, can you drive us?"

"Sure, where to?"

"Osaka, it's going to take some time getting there so go home and gather whatever essentials you'll need. I have a feeling that we'll be there for quite some time. Hara-san will you accompany me?" Mai was shocked when Naru suddenly and politely asked Masako to go with him. She couldn't help but feel useless, at least that's how she felt in Naru's eyes.

"Naru, what am I going to do?" Naru looked towards Mai.

"You'll stay here with Lin and wait for me to tell you the equipment we'll be needing for this case." Mai now understood that although her psychic powers are similar to Masako's she was also an employee of SPR, and she had her own duties. She nodded in understanding. Naru left the group to talk to Lin, explaining the new case they received. Afterwards he left with Bou and Masako.

'I guess I should call Ayako and John for some help, and maybe Yasu. No wait scratch Yasu, it's better to keep him away from the case until we know what we're dealing with. He's better at researching than Naru or Lin.' Mai then went towards the phone and called the self-styled priestess and the foreign Christian father.

Phone Conversation:

"Hello?"

"Ayako, it's Mai."

"Oh hey Mai, what's up? You rarely call me."

"Yeah I know, sorry about that. Actually I'm calling you about a new case we just received."

"Oh so does that mean Naru is finally going to acknowledge the fact that he needs me?"

"Ha ha ha, sorry but no, I just decided to call you. I'd figure we'd need your help in this case."

"Damn, and I thought he got off his high horse."

"Sorry, he hasn't changed. Well anyways I don't know the details of the case yet, all I know is that it's in Osaka."

"Osaka? That's going to take all night driving there! Doesn't he know that I need my beauty sleep?"

"Actually Ayako, I'm the one asking you. Naru didn't even mention you and John, but I thought I take the responsibility to ask you for help."

"Well look who's becoming her own boss. Good for you Mai, and since you've been growing up I'll call John and we'll meet you over there."

"Great, the address is…."

"Alright, see you there."

"Yeah I will, but me and Lin-san might be late. Naru wants us on standby until he knows which equipment we'll be needing for the case."

"Ok then, but you better find something to do. You should know that Lin never ever talks to his passengers."

"Tell me something I don't know…well anyways I'll see you later Ayako."

"Alright see you Mai, take care and good luck." Mai hung up and glanced at the door of Lin's office. Wondering what Lin was doing now that SPR had a new case. Before she knew it the door opened slowly and revealed Lin. He was very tall, lean and well built; in other words he was very handsome; his raven hair glistened and was well kept. Girls all over would be jealous if they weren't fawning and drooling over him. His bangs hung over his right eye, adding a bit of mystery to his handsome features. Lin noticed Mai staring at him and returned the action with an icy glare. Mai flinched and by reflex looked away to avoid the stare. She tried to break the ice by making small talk.

"Lin-san would you like some more tea?"

"No need, I'll just get some coffee." He made his way towards the kitchen. Mai intercepted him and ran in front, blocking the entrance of the kitchen.

"No Lin-san, it's my job to get the tea and help out around here."

"I told you that there was no need Mai, now please move." Mai became a bit irritated, but she refused to give in.

"Look Lin-san you have your job helping and guarding Naru and I respect that. I don't or won't do anything to interfere with your work, so I would appreciate it if you let me do mine." Lin became more impatient and was willing to force his way in.

"Move Mai."

"You sound just like Naru, do you know what I say to him when I disagree? N.O." With that comment, Lin grabbed Mai's arms, pushing her against the wall. He brought his face extremely close to her own. As Lin was about to speak Mai's cheeks turned into a brilliant red, realizing the proximity of the two. Lin also realized the distance between the two. He retreated before he did anything that he would inevitably regret. Both Mai and Lin couldn't look at each other, Mai was still blushing violently as ever and heart racing.

'W-what's going on? Why am I so nervous?' She glanced back at Lin, unknown feelings welling up inside…sparks were flying….