Here's the first chapter! Finally focusing on the ghosts! Yay!

Shinichi didn't know what happened, or where he was. After he'd woken up, he'd spotted Kaito, Heiji, and Saguru sitting with his parents around the table. He hadn't remembered them, or anyone, coming over, so he thought he had to still be dreaming – though why they'd suddenly appeared in his dream was still a mystery – especially with the small black cloud that was beginning to form around the magician.

As far as Shinichi knew, there was no reason for Kaito to be in danger. His sleep muddled mind had chalked it up to him dreaming still and being worried something might happen to his friend. As it should have been his dream, he'd thought he could get rid of the cloud by waving it off, but the second his hand had hit it, everything had gone dark.

The blue eyed teen had never touched any of the black clouds he saw, let alone touched them barehanded like he had. Even the one around himself forever remained just out of his reach. "Kudo Shinichi." The voice was a whisper that came from all around him, yet right next to his ear. It was both old and young, as though a multitude of voices were speaking as one.

Shivers ran up his spine as he spun around, and the hairs on the back of his neck rose. "Who's there?" While he was sure his lips moved, Shinichi couldn't hear his own voice. "What is this place?!" Even yelling had no effect. 'What's going on?'

"You are in the embrace of death, hovering over the edge of life." Shinichi swallowed, shivering as he wrapped his arms around himself. How had he gotten here? More importantly, how did he get home? "You want to go back, yet not long ago you were begging death for an escape. You wanted to forget. You wanted to leave. You were longing for deaths embrace, and now that you are here you want to leave?"

Shinichi didn't know how to answer when he couldn't speak. He knew better than anyone how much he'd wanted to die. He'd been hurt. He'd been scared. He'd just wanted everything to end. But then his friends had come. They'd broken past the defenses he'd set up to keep them out. They'd dragged him kicking and screaming back into reality. And when he'd fallen back into his fortress, and rebuilt his defenses, they'd come barreling back in. Only this time they made their own defenses against the monsters of his past that he could never get to leave.

They'd found his weak point, and instead of exploiting it or turning and running, they'd held out their hands and offered more protection. How could he leave them now after all they'd done for him? When all he'd tried to do was push them away? How could he let go, when his friends were holding on as right as they could?

"Why should you go back when you've turned your back on your destiny time and again, and shunned the powers gifted to you?" The voice slowly grew louder as it spoke, but Shinichi cut in before it could continue, not caring that he couldn't speak. This was the one who gave him his curse. This was the one who made his life hell. This was the one who ruined his life. And now that he was here, he could make them take it back.

"I NEVER ASKED FOR THIS! I NEVER WANTED THIS! You say I was gifted, but all I see is a curse! I don't want to see death everywhere I turn! I don't want to have to worry about being possessed every moment I step out my house! I don't want to have to see all the pain, and suffering, and regret! I don't want to be able to see when people are going to die! I'm tired of having to hide the truth from those I care about! I don't want this curse you gave me!"

His throat was raw and he was panting by the time his silent rant was through. For a while, he thought the voice was gone and he'd been left there. He clamped his hands over his ears when the voice spoke again, much louder than before.

"You know not of what you speak! From your first breath you had been touched by death! Destiny had you on a path filled with murder and crime! You were fated to become one of the greatest detectives in Japan! You were meant to help thousands! What you see as a curse was gifted to you to help not only the living but those who were chained to the mortal world! You were meant to act as a beacon to the spirits unable to cross over! To guide them and help them find their peace with that world! Yet you have continued to run from your destiny! You have continued to ignore those who you were meant to help! Why should we allow you to return once more, instead of leaving at this edge until your body dies as you have left so many before?"

Shinichi's mind went blank at the thought of spending years trapped in the black void. Not being able to see, or speak, or smell, or feel, or hear. Having all his senses cut off. Fear gripped him tighter the more he thought about it. How long had he been there anyway? A minute? An hour? A day? A week? A month? A year? He had no way of knowing. His heartrate sped up and he sank to his knees. Would he really be left there? Trapped between life and death?

"No. Please." He was sure he was crying, but he couldn't feel any tears. "I'm sorry. I'll try to help. I'll do better. Please. Don't leave me here. I want to go back. I want to go home. Please."

It felt like an eternity before a soft light that seemed as bright as the sun appeared in front of him, illuminating a small, empty room. "You have avoided your destiny long enough Kudo Shinichi." The blue eyed teen reveled in being able to see again, and ran his hands along the floor beneath him. His throat was constricted, and reaching up he could feel the tears trailing down his cheeks. He still couldn't see where the voice was coming from, but it was softer now. He swallowed and nodded. "If you truly wish to help, you need to learn to control the gifts bestowed to you."

"H-How do I do that?" His voice was barely a whisper, and cracked near the middle.

"We will send someone to you. Death will not be as kind, even to its favorite vessel, should you continue to run." With that threat looming over him, and before he could ask anything else, Shinichi felt the floor disappear from under him. Flailing as he fell, the blue eyed teen squeezed his eyes shut.

What's going to happen next? I sure as hell don't know. Let me know what you thought!