Chapter 1

The Case Beckons

18 year old Taniyama Mai walked out of her school building heading towards Shibuya district to her favorite part time job, ghost hunting and her favorite narcissistic of a boss, Shibuya Kazuya a k a Naru. She was just crossing the school gates when she saw an all too familiar van heading toward the school.

Mai was surprised. She wondered why the SPR van had come to her school. Not another case at school!? She did not experience any paranormal nor was there any complain from the other students that she knew of.

The van skidded to a halt a little distance from her. The well-known black head poked out from the window and looked at her. Mai needed no invitation, she ran towards the van very amused.

Mai didn't even open her mouth to let the words out that Naru started talking.

"Mai get in. We're going on a case." that's it, no explanations?

Mai wasn't very surprised, after all that's what's expected from a completely egoistic, narcissistic, arrogant, mysterious, selfish, self centered boss, right?

Mai made no objection and got ready to get inside, when Naru got out and motioned for her to get inside. Mai sat in between Naru and Lin, who was driving and soon they were on their way to their latest case.

"Naru-" Mai said a few seconds after she got in only to be interrupted by Naru.

"Here, read this." He said as he handed her a file, which she knew all too well it was the case files, which she would have to file after the case was over.

Mai ignored Naru for a while as she became more interested in reading about the case and finding out what was so urgent that Naru and Lin had not waited till tomorrow because she was sure the case had come only that day as she was in the office, doing all the delayed work till closing hours yesterday.

'Lets see….' Mai thought as she began to read.

"Sakamoto Kurasu 27, who went to India ten years ago, did business in leather, married an Indian woman, settled there, had come back to Japan with his wife and a three year old son, just six months ago."

He claims in India, the bungalow in which he lived with his wife was haunted." Naru said. Now Mai was annoyed, Naru had interrupted her third time that day but nevertheless too curious to in stop him."

They called in Hindu exorcist and had themselves and their house purified. This was four years ago, before their son was born. But the next year, when his wife was pregnant, she started to experience the paranormal activities. These problems continued until the baby was born and then suddenly stopped. After that the wife said something about the baby had become very strange. The parents became anxious and called another exorcist from another cast. The exorcism was ineffective."

So Sakamoto-san decided to shift to Japan with his family to get rid of the problem but he asserts that the phantom has followed them here. And that is the case." and Naru shut his mouth.

'Naru, you know-it-all jerk. I was about to read it.' Mai thought. "you know what Naru, I was just starting to read it." she said.

"Funny, I thought you were too stupid to read" Naru remarked, which made Mai too angry, way too angry. Suddenly a bulb blinked in Mai's mind. "Then why did you hand me the file, if you knew I was so unintelligent." Mai asked hoping to win at least one verbal match against her boss.

Even though it has been two years since the fateful beginning of their ghost hunting together, with all the other important members of the SPR, Mai and Naru

"That's because I don't want to hold it right now, so YOU hold it for me." came the unbeatable reply. 'Naru you slave-driver, selfish baka. I'll get you for this. Just you wait…' Mai was not able to finish her thoughts when suddenly something struck her. She had forgotten about the case.

Mai turned to Naru to inquire about the case. But when she looked at his hard, cool thoughtful face, she realized it was now impossible to get anything out of him, so she turned to Lin. "Lin-san where are we going?"

"We're heading towards --district where our client's house is situated." Lin said with his smooth emotionless voice.

"Lin-san what are the problems that the clients are facing?" Mai asked.

"We will know only when we get there." Mai was surprised at the statement.

"You mean Naru took the case without knowing the details." Mai said as looked at Naru, who was currently ignoring the people around him. 'Well, nothing new there.' Mai thought and turned to Lin again "Yes, he apparently thought this was a serious case because it is unusual for a ghost to travel across countries so he started immediately." Lin stated.

'Oh' Mai thought 'No wonder he didn't wait till tomorrow or at least till I returned' "Hey what about the others Lin-san, are they coming?" Mai asked.

"No, Naru has not yet told them. We will check out the place first and then call the irregulars. it's a six hour drive from here and we didn't want to waste any time. We will give them a call from there."

"I don't think the case will be over here. We will go to India if necessary." Naru said suddenly, stopping Lin's and Mai's conversation.

'What the…' was all Mai could think as her attention shifted to Naru. Mai was dumbfounded. She thought he was joking but the serious and grave face of Naru glancing at her at that moment told her otherwise. She tried to convince herself that Naru could solve any case and they wont find the necessity of going to India.

'India….' she thought. She did not want to think about the consequences of going to India right now nonetheless the word made a shiver of thrill excitement go through her veins.

"Hey but right now what about my things. I need my clothes and stuff." Mai said as soon as she found her voice back. Mai was outraged. Naru had dragged her from school without notice and they were going to a place miles away. And Naru was acting all strict and it was because of his insensitivity that she has to bear with the uneasy-ness "Naru what were you thinking. How can you forget about me? That's so inconsiderate "

"Shut up Mai. I will tell Matsuzaki-san to get your stuff from your house with the spare key that you gave her. And just so you know, I think of everything. I am not like you." that calmed Mai.

"Really? Thanks." Mai ignored the last part Naru said …..but only for a second.

"You, what are you implying? That I am forgetful? And just a second how, in the world did you know Ayako had my spare key" Mai screamed enraged.

"Will you stop screaming so close to my ear."

And the argument about Mai's spare key continued on and on till God knows when. But actually the truth was Naru had asked ayako to get Mai's key in cases of emergency. Ever since Naru had returned from London after gene's funeral, he had been a little worried about Mai, for unknown reasons. So he is trying all ways to be in touch with Mai. And for that same unknown reasons he was more than a little worried about the next case.

Stay tuned for the next chapter of Strange Enigma……

(A/N: My first fan fiction. Is it good? Please read and review.)