Hey all! This is my first story so please don't be too harsh! This is based right after the zombie's in the mansion case and is based off the anime more so than the manga! Also, I'm writing this story with my sister and we really hope you like it ^-^

*Disclaimer-I do not own Ghost Hunt or any of its characters!

Case 1: Zoo Fiasco

Chapter 1. Distractions

"I'm late! I'm late! I'm SOOOOO late! Naru is going to kill me!" Mai panicked as she sprinted her way to the SPR office for work.

~Flashback~

As the bell rang and Mai began collecting her things to leave for work, the teacher called out to her.

"Mai, please come to the teacher's lounge before you leave, we'd like to discuss some things with you."

Mai inwardly groaned. Naru was going to freak if she was late to work again. "Yes Ma'am Takeda-Sensei, I'll be right there!" Ms. Takeda nodded her head and exited the classroom along with the rest of the students heading home or to club activities.

"Well, might as well get this over with quickly so I can get to the office." Mai quickly made her way to the teacher's lounge wondering what they could possibly have to talk to her about. "I caught up on all my work that I missed from the last case, so that can't be it. I'm getting good grades so far too. I wonder what they want to talk to me about."

She walked up to the door to the lounge and slid the door open and bowed to her gathered teachers.

"Hello Ms. Taniyama, I bet you're wondering why we called you here so suddenly." Ms. Takeda said, smiling kindly.

"Uh, yes actually, I have been wondering what this could be about." Mai laughed shyly.

"Haha! Well nothing to be concerned about! We just wanted to let you know that we are very impressed with your work ethic and how quickly and efficiently you catch up with your work after an absence! All while having a job as well! We are all very impressed!" Mr. Asano laughed heartily.

"Oh…really? Haha well thank you very much! I try to keep up as best as I can!" Mai replied. Is this really all they called me here for?! I need to get to work! "Well, if that is all sir, I really need to get to work, lots to do of course!" Mai said pleasantly.

"Of course, of course! Diligent as always I see! Well we are so proud that you are a student at our school and we hope that you continue your hard work and dedication. Please don't work too hard! We wouldn't want our best student overworking herself now would we?" He bellowed.

"Of course not sir! Well then, I'll be leaving now, thank you both again for the kind words!" Mai quickly bowed and took off down the hall towards the exit.

As she rounded the last corner before she got to the main door, she got the feeling that she was being watched. She stopped and looked around trying to see who or what was making her feel so weird. Her glance stopped at the big window along the wall and she could have sworn she saw a man standing there! She shook her head and walked up to the window, but the figure was gone. Huh, well that was weird. she thought as she resumed rushing out of the school. She was so distracted she didn't see the tall brown haired boy walking her way. He stopped and looked at her cautiously. Her face slammed into the unsuspecting senior's chest, making both of them crash to the floor and the contents of her bag splaying out all over the place.

"Ouch…Oh my gosh! I'm sooo sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going!" Mai apologized as she helped the boy up and started gathering her things back into her bag. Well this day is just going fantastically well isn't it? She thought sourly.

"Ah don't worry about it! I should've known you were too distracted to notice! I should have said something instead of just standing there!" The boy said good naturedly. Mai then noticed that the boy was Shinji Aramaki, who was a senior and in the same club as her friend Michiru. "You're Mai Taniyama right? I'm Shinji Aramaki, Michiru talks about you all the time! She didn't mention how pretty you are though!" He stated cheerily.

"U-uh…thanks…" Mai blushed; she wasn't used to getting this kind of attention.

"It's true! You're really very pretty. Hey! I have an idea, how about you come to karaoke with me and Michiru and some of our friends from the club tonight!" He asked, his dark brown eyes looking at her hopefully.

Oh my god. Did he seriously just ask me out?! He doesn't even know me! "Ummmm, I'm kinda in a rush to get to work so maybe some other time!" Mai took off past him and through the doorway and ran down the street, hoping desperately that she wasn't too late to work.

~End of Flashback~

She took the stairs two at a time as she sprinted up to the office. She slammed the door open, panting heavily trying to catch her breath. She dropped herself onto one of the couches surrounding the coffee table in the main room and took off her bag. "How…late…am…I?" she asked still trying to breathe normally.

Just then Naru's door opened and he walked out with his normal condescending smirk on his face.

"23 minutes. Now tea." He demanded as he returned to his office and slammed the door shut, making Mai cringe. "Oh boy…I knew today was gonna be a bad day! Oh, hey Lin! Would you like some tea?" she asked as Lin walked out of his office. He nodded in reply and gathered up his laptop and notebook from the coffee table only to return to his office and close his door.

"Sigh…If only someone in this office could handle a friendly conversation..." she sighed as she made her way to the kitchen to prepare some tea for her narcissistic boss and his stoic assistant. She opened the cabinet and grabbed the container of tea, only to see that it was empty. "Oh no…Naru isn't going to be happy about having to wait even longer for his tea…Oh well…there's nothing I can do right? I'll just have to go buy some more." She groaned as she walked to Naru's office door and knocked nervously.

"What Mai." Naru said through the door. She cautiously opened the door and peeked her head in. "U-uh, Naru? We're out of tea so I'm gonna have to go pick up some more. I just thought I'd let you know..." she fidgeted as she waited for his response.

He sighed heavily and walked over to her. "Here. Go buy enough to last a while since you obviously don't have enough intelligence to keep track of what's left." He said, handing her some money. He turned and starting walking back to his desk. She was just about to walk out when he called to her. "Mai." She stopped. "Yes Naru?" He smirked at her as he said "Try not to get lost on your way there. We have a client coming in soon and I want you back with that tea by the time they get here." He shut the door in her face and she fumed. "Stupid condescending narcissistic jerk!" She yelled at him through the door.

She stormed out the door and made her way to the local tea shop a few blocks away. She walked in and the young clerk working the counter smiled kindly to her. It was the same petite blonde-haired blue-eyed clerk that was always here when Mai had to make last minute runs to get Naru his precious tea.

"Good afternoon Mai, would you like the regular?" She asked sweetly.

"Yes please Keiko, as much as I can get. The stupid narcissist wants me to stock up." Mai grumbled as she walked up to the checkout. After so many trips to the little store to buy tea, Keiko knew all about Mai's troubles with her boss.

She chuckled as she grabbed several containers of the tea and walked back to the register to ring them up. "Well we just got more in so now he should have plenty for quite a while!" She rang up the tea and handed Mai the bag. "Thanks! See you later!" Mai waved as she started her trek back to the office. I bet the stupid jerk won't even thank me for taking the time to walk all the way here to buy his precious tea. Not to mention that I'll be making it for him as well! Ungrateful stupi- "Woah!"She stepped on her loose shoe string and started falling forward, but she found herself leaning on a muscular chest.

"Well Mai, if you really felt that way about me, all you had to do was say so!" said a familiar voice. Mai looked up to the bespectacled boy grinning mischievously down at her. "Yasu!" She smiled and righted herself, thankful that she didn't drop the bag with the tea.

"Headed to the office Mai?" Yasu asked as he readjusted his glasses.

"Ughhh…Yeah I had to come buy Naru his precious tea cuz we ran out. I have to go back before the client gets there or Naru will kill me!" Mai started walking back to the office with Yasu right alongside her. "I'll come with you! Who knows, maybe he needs my incredible intellect." Yasu boasted.

"Hahaha! Yeah I'm sure that's exactly what he needs!" she joked, looking down at her watch. "AHHH! I've been gone waaay too long! Naru is going to freak!" Mai panicked and took off at a dead run back to the office.

Naru was seated on the couch next to Lin, while the client sat on the couch across from them. He tapped his foot impatiently while the client fidgeted nervously.

Where is that idiot? I sent her for tea over 20 minutes ago. If shes- Naru's thoughts were interrupted by the loud slamming of the door as Mai and Yasu burst into the room.

"Sorry I'm late Naru! I ran into Yasu on my way back and we lost track of time catching up!" Mai explained while trying to catch her breath for the third time that day.

"We realize that. Now…tea." Naru demanded with a cold stare. "Oh! Uh... Right!" Oh boy…he's really mad at me now…. Mai thought to herself. She made her way to the kitchen with Yasu on her heels.

Sigh. Both Mai and Naru sighed, unknowing that the other simultaneously did the same.

There was silence while Mai began the tea, only interrupted once the tea was on the stove and the water was beginning to heat.

"What did you do before you left? He's in such a crabby mood…" Yasu inquired. "I didn't do anything… I mean I was late, but it wasn't my fault!" Mai tried to convince herself. "He's almost scary…"

"Well I can fix that…" Yasu said with a devilish grin on his face. Just as he was about to explain the tea kettle screamed at them. "Oh yeah? How's that?" Mai asked distracted.

"Okay. Imagine Naru. Got it?" "Yeah" Mai said suspiciously. "You know all dressed in black and stuff?" "Okay?" Mai said picking up the tray and heading towards the door.

"Now, throw that look out the window and imagine Naru in a frilly pink tutu and ballet shoes with the epic amount of make-up they use for performances." Yasu managed to say with a straight face.

Mai's explosion of laughter damn near dropped Naru's tea. Yasu's timing was horrible however, because he said it just as they were leaving the kitchen, so everyone in the office not only heard their laughter, but also the reason behind it.

"Heheh, whoops." Yasu chuckled as Mai's face turned beet red. Oh crap…I'm so dead… she grumbled as she carried the tea over to the table. "Are you two finished? Because I don't pay you to be useless idiots." Naru's words pierced through the tense atmosphere with even more annoyance than usual.

"Yes Naru." Mai said quietly. "Oh relax Big Boss, it was just a joke to lighten the mood!" Yasu answered.

"I don't pay you to lighten the mood. Now back to business. Please Mr. Takashi, please tell us about your case."

So? What did you guys think? Please Review! No flames please! but constructive reviews are greatly appreciated! :)