Summary: After four years in England, Naru finally decides to come back to Japan. Once again, the SPR is on a case involving a dangerous haunting at a wealthy family's lake house. However, this time Mai isn't with them... Or maybe she is closer than she seems...

AN: Heya! This is my first-ish fanfic. Hopefully I'll satisfy our obssess-I mean, love for Naru and Mai. Note that this story is mostly Naru's point of view because someone needs to tap into that brain of his. Sorry, hate to be redundant, but I do not own Ghost Hunt (if I did I would add at least a kiss in the series). Enjoy!

Bakemono

The Key

Red. The color covered the walls as well as the filthy floor. It was dappled all over her face as she stared down at her dripping hands in glee. She tilted her head back and started laughing at the scene in front of her. From the color all over the small windowless room, a person cannot even tell that the lump on the floor was the remains of a corpse.

"You are not human." A woman's voice rang out without any hesitation. Surprised, she whipped around to the source. Her soaked jet black hair slapped her face because of the sudden movement. The hazel eyed woman stood by the doorway, glaring at her. She ignored the grotesque body on the floor. If she glanced at it, her stomach wouldn't take it.

"What makes you say that?" The other woman smiled at her innocently, yet her eyes tell a different story. They were cold, calculating and predatory.

"It was you... all along." She barely contained the volume of her voice as it shook in anger. "You terrorized everyone who set foot in this house. Why?"

Still high from blood lust, she laughed some more at the question before answering. "What's more to say? You know a lot of things." The other woman's eyes widened in surprise momentarily, but she kept herself calm. The crazed woman kept talking quickly without taking a break to breathe. Her black eyes gleamed excitedly. "You know what happened in this house. You know about her. You know me. You know my secrets. You know everything." She paced around frantically, punctuating her words with her hands. "Now, stop pretending you don't!" Then, she stopped and tilted her head towards her. The woman's voice got quiet. "Because you know too much...you don't deserve to live. You don't... "

Something flickered in the psychopath's hand underneath the dim lighting. Though the younger one caught it, the other instantly lunged for her with the ferociousness of a hungry lioness leaping onto a gazelle.

The brunette woman barely grabbed the older woman's wrist just on time. The metal blade's tip was pointed five inches from her face. Cold sweat dripped down her temple.

She pushed against her and gritted her teeth. Both of their hands shook from effort. She felt her hands slip slowly from the crimson liquid on her attacker's arm.

"Don't." Her confident façade was slowly fading. Fear gripped her heart as they continued to struggle. Both couldn't get the upper hand as they twisted around the small space still with the knife between them.

"I will!" The black-haired woman kneed the other in the stomach, knocking the breath out of her. She lost her grip.

Two screams echoed throughout the room—one with agony and the other with the pure joy of making her mark.

The knife slid through the brunette's throat with a hiss. Droplets of blood rained down on her pristine white sundress. Her hand rose to her neck to stop the bleeding as she fell with a dull thud. Her fiery hazel eyes still stared up at the woman in front of her with a look of betrayal, fear and anger despite lying helpless on the ground. The growing pool of liquid stained the wooden boards underneath her.

The person wielding the knife had enough decency to wipe her face with her sleeve. She knelt in front of her and smoothed the down the girl's hair with uncharacteristic gentleness. "That's what you get for knowing too much." She whispered, slowly clenching her head with her hand. "You get to know my love for crimson..." Nails scratched her scalp painfully before she released her and stood up.

The younger one groaned below her. Her strength was slowly leaving her. The brunette muttered weakly as she reached the other hand towards the woman standing above her, but her words were lost like the blood that spilled out of her.

"Naru...I love you."

I squint against the sun. The unrelenting brightness warms my pale skin from behind the window. Why did I forget to close the blinds before I fell asleep? I glare at the offending sunlight as I straighten up in this uncomfortable seat. It doesn't matter that its first class. Airplane rides are never comfortable. The knot on my neck agrees with this fact.

I don't want to dwell on it, but the words still remains fresh in my mind. Her confession frequently pops up in my dreams anyway. Gene bugged me about her every time I was in the same general vicinity as a mirror, but he stopped a month ago after I found something interesting.

Though my book fell on the floor, which will probably ruin the spine, the object in my hand catches my full attention.

"Idiot." I mutter as I stare at the silver key. I have been saying that a lot lately. It would just come out of my mouth every time I thought about her. My thumb went over the notches, the smooth surface and finally the small miniscule lettering that is awfully hard to read. Without looking, I knew it had 'Taniyama' etched into the metal.

I came across this while I was cleaning out my office. I first questioned why I even have something that doesn't belong to any lock, safe or door I know. Then, I finally decided to use psychometry to figure out its identity.

I open my eyes to see the familiar room from four years ago. It is the SPR office in Japan. I can see Lin packing the expensive equipment inside protective metal cases with little difficulty. Some of the furniture are covered by white sheets. This was the day when we were leaving for England.

I can recall this day very well. I feel the tug in my conscience as I walk towards my office. I stop at the door.

I see myself placing the books into a box. I remember wanting nothing more than to just leave the office, Japan and the rest of the horrid memories behind. I didn't tell anyone. They wouldn't understand. My eyes find a certain brown-haired girl in another corner of the room sitting cross-legged on the floor organizing files. After four years, it is weird seeing her again in person. I remember Mai 's face wiped clean from emotion, but the rims of her eyes are puffy and red from crying. I can still feel the tension in the room.

It was days after she confessed that she loved me. However, it was actually Gene she loves. The pain in my chest is back again. Curse that idiot...curse this stupid emotion.

"Are you sure you want to leave, Naru?" She says, causing my past self and I to twitch from the sudden noise.

I see myself hesitating in the middle of rummaging through a drawer. I hear him sigh and resume searching. "If I wasn't sure, then I wouldn't have closed SPR and bought a plane ticket."

"Well...that's it then?"

"That's it then." He finishes putting the last set of books in a box. He tapes the top shut. I see myself taking the jacket from the chair and walking over to Mai.

Mai places the files in my bag. She stands up suddenly causing something shiny to drop into a box next to her. So that's how that happened...

She runs into him with her arms surrounding his waist. She buried her face into his shirt. His arms remain frozen to his sides.

"I'll miss you."

I simply stare at the scene in front of me. I didn't know how to comfort her. She hiccups with her frame shaking. "You're wetting my shirt you idiot." He says in annoyance. He sighs. He raises his arms and slowly wrap them around her. She felt so small then...

"Idiotic scientist! Don't you understand the fact that I love you?" Her voice was muffled under his shirt. I can still remember her clutching into the fabric.

Mai didn't pay attention. I see myself running my fingers through her soft hair. I frown, catching my mistake. My other self realizes too. His hand is poised in mid-air a few inches from her head. He lowers it down. "Again, you fell in love with my brother, Mai. You were always attracted to that idea of me. It's from your dreams. It's not who I am." I feel bad for her since he is not among the living. I feel bad that Gene is not alive to really see her in person. My chest is throbbing.

Her cries quiet down to a few sniffles. He gently removes her arms around him, pries every finger off his black shirt that is now drenched in tears, and gently pushes her an arm's length away so he can see her. Her amber eyes keep darting around the room. She tenses ready to run away. He tightens his grip on her shoulders, keeping her in front of him. He takes a deep breath, uncomfortable with what he has to say. "I'm sorry." I did not force this out four years ago, but this is something I really said sincerely. "I'm sorry about these circumstances."

Her eyes widen in response, but she does not speak.

Then, I let go.

The emotions from the memory fade away. Is that why I have been depressed as Lin likes to tell me all this time? Is it because of all this guilt and regret that I'm feeling? I hate this. I hate this so damn much.

"Clumsy idiot." It was Mai's "lucky" charm that I found in an unopened box after four years and two months in another continent. Only she could accidentally lose the most important thing to her. I can't help but feel a slight twitch on the corner of my lips. Why didn't I just send it back to her during that time?

I have absolutely no idea why.

"Noll, we're going to land soon." Lin said next to me. He eyes the key in my hand and the book lying on the floor. Then, he rolls his eyes and mumbles lowly in Cantonese. I recognize the phrase "damn kids," considering he used to say that around Gene and I. The rest... I sigh and face the window. He knows. At least, Madoka is leaning against her husband's shoulder dead asleep or else I'll never hear the end of it.

I tap my knuckles against the armrest. The unfamiliar feeling of nervousness is annoying the hell out of me. I won't admit that to anyone though.

I stare out at the land below me. It's about time I return... so I can return that key to her in person.