Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt as much as I wish I did.

Pairings: NaruxMai. Light NaruxLin (more like friendship) Light MasakoxJohn, hinted only. No other couples. :D

Warning: The characters are a bit OC, I'm sorry. I haven't read the manga although I do know about the whole Gene thing. So, they will be a bit…bitchier than normal, and maybe even colder. This takes place two years after Mai joins SPR. And, heh, prepare for unexpected things. Also, I might misspell some words and put in little grammar mistakes because I'm not the best with those.

NAMES: I am going by FIRST names; I'm not planning on adding Japanese phrases in here because it tends to confuse the readers and myself. Bou-san Houshou and Yasuhara Osamu.

Oh and…

THIS IS A PROLOGUE! I will finish this story up, and I plan on having this story very long. I have school soon, and I have an incomplete Naruto fanfic too that I have to finish (but I hate the plot). These are ONLY sneak-peeks. If no one likes the story, I probably won't go past the 2nd chapter. Even if one person likes it, I'll finish it. On with the previews!

P.S. It's mostly a serious story, there will be barely any humor, sorry.

-0-

It was cold. Cold and lonely. As far as she could see, there was only blackness. She curled up into a fetal position as the all too familiar feeling of being scared washed over her. She grasped her head tightly and cried, her eyes wide. She tried to scream but no words came out of her mouth. "Help…" her feeble voice managed to say. The darkness was getting closer. "No…" she had whispered.

-0-

He squinted as he watched the monitor closely, trying to see what had occurred earlier that day. Nothing seemed too unfamiliar, but something had caught his eye. "Lin, rewind," the emotionless boy, said. The Chinese man only grunted as he tapped on the 'rewind' button with his pen. 'Something isn't right, but I can't place my finger on it,' Naru thought, resting his arms on the desk. "Lin, do you notice any strange activity in this video?" Naru asked his assistant. Lin only squinted into the monitor and shook his head. 'I can't shake this feeling,' Naru thought. Lin sat at his computer, typing away before the tapping sound of the keyboard abruptly stopped. "Hn? What is it?" Lin asked. Naru sat, gaping at the monitor. "She's not there. That isn't her," Naru only said. "What do you mean? She's perfectly—" Lin realized his mistake and stood up. "I see what you mean. This ghost is more dangerous than we thought," he said. "It isn't a ghost, it suppressed it's own spirit. That's not even possible for a ghost; this camera should catch every single move a ghost makes. This isn't a ghost we're dealing with, it's a demon," Naru said. "Call everyone, I want everyone to report here now. I will be going to Mai's room," he said, grabbing his black notebook and jacket. Lin stared at the monitor for a few more seconds before rushing out the door. "What are you—" Naru began. Naru took a look at the monitor and froze. A blue girl with dark red eyes and blood splattered on her face stared at the screen, an evil grin plastered on her face. "Come. And. Get. Her." She said in an eerie tone. Naru jumped back a little, he wasn't completely afraid, but the girl, ghost, whatever, crept him out. He was about to rush out of the base room when the girl screamed, "Your fears will hold you back. There is nothing you can do. Your fears will come alive." Naru turned around before he saw a scared Mai, her brown eyes showing fear as a shadow loomed over her. "Help…" was all her heard before he rushed out.

-0-

"Masako!" Ayako shouted. "I knew you two were rivals, but never enemies," Houshou said, looking at the television star cruelly. John tried smiling, but he knew he couldn't. "I-I…I honestly don't know what to say this time. I can only say I'm truly sorry," Masako tried saying. Lin refused to acknowledge the girl. Naru glared at her, "As much as I want to fire you, I cannot." And that was all he said. The rest of SPR glared at her and began sipping their tea. Their glares only telling her to get out. "Fine. I will leave, if that is what you want," Masako said, getting up and brushing her lavender kimono. "We never said that, did we now Miss Hara-sama?" Ayako retorted. Madoka burst through the door, "We have to hurry! She's in-" "We KNOW her condition, Madoka-san, so please—" Masako began. Houshou arched an eyebrow, "No one asked you." "They say she won't last long, so please, don't give up on the case now," Madoka finished, glaring at Masako. "No, the case is over. We solved it. If she dies, the demon goes back to Hell. That is that," Naru said and turned around swiftly into his office.

"And that's how you're going to solve it? Just let her die?" Madoka asked, squinting her eyes. "We don't agree, and that is why we are all quitting. It was all her fault anyways," Osamu said, pointing his thumb towards Masako. "I will listen to Naru-san and stay here. It is because of my skills that we were able to solve this case," Masako said, trying to keep her composure. "And because of your 'skills', Mai is going to die. Is that how you see it? Getting rid of a rival? If that is how this organization works, I quit. And I will not be back unless Mai gets out of this alive, you hear me?" Takigawa said, getting up. Everyone else followed him out of the door and only John looked behind, and gave a little wave. "Goodbye, Hara-san," he whispered. Madoka stood there, "I can't believe even Lin left. I will try and convince him to-" "Don't. It will be of no use. If even Lin-san could persuade him, what makes you think you'll succeed? Besides, if Mai lives through this, the case will be incomplete. There is no other solution," Masako said, turning to leave. "I really can't believe I am actually hearing this. At first, I thought you were faking so you could secretly convince Naru yourself, but hearing this, I don't know what to say. You're an arrogant bitch do you hear that? I have never met a more selfish person in my life. Is solving a case more important than human life?" Madoka hissed. Masako stopped for a second, and said lowly, "If, she lives through this, our fears will come to life. That demon will haunt us do you hear that? Everyone will die, if she lives through this. Frankly, I'm not willing to die for a girl I don't particularly like." "Fine, go. I don't even know how you even sleep at night, thinking like this," Madoka said, her back towards the young spirit medium. "I just don't think about it," Masako said, smirking as she exited the room. Madoka only glared at the door, as soon as the medium had shut it. "Tch," she said, and headed towards Naru's office.

-0-

"What are we going to do now?" Houshou asked. "Obviously a stupid half-monk like you wouldn't know, we're going to solve the case without having Mai die," Ayako said. "What the hell did you call me?" Houshou asked. "I said—" Ayako began. "Please, I don't think this is the time to fight," John said, trying to stop the two immature adults from fighting. Lin just grunted in agreement, "I don't know what we'll be able to do. Kazuya was the one who organized everything, besides he was the one who paid us." Ayako cleared her throat, "Did we forget that I am from a rich family? We can supply you with everything you need." Lin still had his laptop, and they were at a coffee shop that had free wireless Internet (so cheap! I know!). He was typing away, trying to find out about anything about the case. "I think we'll need Madoka-san's help with this," Lin said. Osamu only stared at the group. "Do you think that Masako was toying with us or did she really fell that way?" he asked. The group stopped for a moment, "I don't know, honestly. I really wish she would've agreed with us though," John said slowly. Lin stopped typing, only staring at his laptop screen. "I found something out, but I don't think it'll help either side," he said.

-0-

"There was nothing you could do," Lin said, trying to sound nicer than the words did. "I know," Naru growled, and that was why he was mad. There was nothing he could've done. The funeral proceeded, as the teenager looked around him. Everyone was crying, and he understood why. This person was the only person, who could make him think twice about his emotions. The only one who ever tried to understand him. Naru's dark blue eyes wandered towards the coffin and the picture. The smiling face, the bright eyes, everything haunted him. He didn't understand why he deserved this. This person was so close to him, although he never tried to show it. 'If I was only there for you,' he thought. 'If I only had listened to you. If only. If only,' he tightened his fists. He wasn't sad, he was angry that he wasn't there. Lin took a short glance at the teenager besides him. 'This might be hard on him, they were so close,' Lin thought. He noticed a single tear trailing down the boy's cheek. And it disappeared as soon it had come. 'Naru…' he thought. "Maybe I shouldn't have acted like the idiot I was. I subconsciously think of my pride before people. I never meant to act like that, but I was only trying to be caring. I hope…" Naru said, his voice still as unemotional as ever. "Don't say anymore, it's okay. I can assure you that this is the last person who will come and haunt you," Lin said. "Yeah…" Naru mumbled, although he kind of wish they came back as a ghost and haunted him so he could at least have some proof to point to when he felt guilty. "Kazuya Shibuya…your words for-" "I understand," Naru said, quickly getting up and brushed his black pants. He took his black notebook with him as he stepped up to the podium. "This person…"

-0-

Reminder –

This is a sneak preview of the new story. Why is it called Winter Sakura? Because Winter Sakura is impossible to happen and I thought it was pretty. I know One Piece fans will accuse me of stealing it from Chopper's past though. . Oh well, whatever. And remember, things don't appear, as they seem. I wonder who died in the story? It could be anyone. :D But, tell me what you honestly think. If it sucks, tell me, I'll rewrite it all. Even if it is 3:10 AM, I should be sleeping but I can't. My sisters never let me on the computer because I have to take care of them due to my father having a stroke and my mother is always visiting him, and she went overnight today so I get to go on finally! Yaya!