Chapter 1: Haze
It's been four years since the incident at the cursed house; it was possibly the scariest moment of Mai's life. It was around the time that Naru was in the hospital that a new girl came to town. Her name was Asayo Komatsu and she was really nice. She and Mai became great friends quickly but Asayo never went on Ghost Hunts which Naru was grateful for.
The last thing that he had wanted was for someone to get in the way. Mai thought it was because he didn't want her getting hurt but he would just deny it.
It was a year later that Naru and Mai began dating and that's when more and more ghost problems appeared. Most of them were simple to take care of and only lasted a few hours. Of course they didn't think anything of it for a few reasons. One reason was that not all of their problems were hard to take care of. The second reason was because after the cursed house, anything seemed simple.
Now it was the talk that Mai and Naru had that brought the real problem and that brought us up to the present. Mai had been dating Naru for a while now and was finally ready to talk to him about it. She knew the reasons for him being emotionless and she couldn't blame him. He had to keep himself in check; if he didn't then he could end up somewhere other then the hospital.
Now Mai wanted to take things further but Naru wouldn't. He hadn't even wanted to date; she took a few days to convince him of that. It wasn't just him though, she had to convince Lin and that wasn't easy. Still, Naru was worth it and this time wouldn't be any different.
"Naru, are you in here?" Mai asked as she walked into their place of work.
"What is it Mai?" As usual, he used his dead panned voice but Mai was used to it by now. She had to be by now right, they did work together and date.
"Could you take some time to just talk with me for a second, please?" Mai tried to say without begging but it was difficult. The last thing she wanted was to come off as a beggar or needy. Naru sighed, put the book he was holding down and turned around. "Thank you, I appreciate it despite that you know what I want to talk about. Don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about, I know you to well." Naru shrugged but kept quiet. Mai inhaled deeply and then released her breath slowly. "I want to get married Naru, you and I but I have to know something. Do you love me Naru because if you don't then just tell me and we can stop dating. I don't want you to lie to me just to spare my feelings." Mai started getting emotional but calmed herself down before it escalated.
Naru stayed silent for a moment before he answered. "Yes Mai I do but you know that it can't happen. Now could you please grab me some tea?"
Mai shook her head and slammed her hand onto the desk she now stood in front of. "No Naru, I'm not backing off this time, we're going to talk through this and if it comes to the same conclusion then fine, but we are going to talk about this." Naru turned around, not a single amount of emotion on his face. 'I wish he would at least show a little emotion but I suppose it's best that he doesn't.' Mai thought. "I know why you struggle to even consider this but the only change that will really happen is that we will be together all the time. You already support me, we've been told multiple times that we act like a married couple." Mai went off to list the things that wouldn't change.
Naru wanted to argue it but Mai did have a point but he still had one thing that may just make Mai back off. "Even so Mai, kids are completely out of the question. You know that as well as I do."
"I thought you would bring that up and I don't care, I love you Naru. So we don't have kids, I'll be with you; that is all I care about." Mai stood tall and determined.
"How can you possibly accept that Mai, so easily?" Naru was shocked to say the least. That seemed like an important thing to all women or at least he thought so. It wasn't just something that happens, it was a big deal and she just shrugged it off. He had to admit that he was thoroughly confused.
"What can I say, you've rubbed off on me." Mai smirked which made Naru smile for the second time outside a dream of hers. "Please Naru, I love you more then anything."
Naru sat there for a moment before speaking. "Mai, tea please" Mai groaned at the thought of him avoiding the topic until he continued past that. "And if you think that it is a good idea, if you really don't think it will be a problem then ok. I can handle the two of us being together but a word of warning, don't expect any sympathy from me."
"Oh please, why would I expect it from you, you've never clearly shown it before, why start now?" Mai chuckled but once again got no response from Naru. "Would it really kill you just to smirk a little?"
"It very well could." Naru said dead panned as usual but with a small hint of playfulness.
"Yes Naru I, oh, you were making a joke." Mai laughed and then turned around to go get some tea for Naru. "Don't joke too much or you may hurt yourself." Mai headed for the door when Asayo bumped into her. "Asayo, what's going on?"
"You know the new park that was just built?" Asayo looked panicked.
"Of course, what's wrong?" Mai asked clearly already knowing but Naru wasn't going to let her off as being polite.
"It's a case, what do you think?" Naru stood up off his chair and made his way over to the two. "Now what's the chaos it's causing?"
"The park, there are random spots where it becomes hazy. This wouldn't be a big deal I don't think but the haze, it suffocates people. Anyone in the haze chokes and they can't move while in it. After the haze disappears, the people that were affected by it are left with strange markings on their bodies. That's if they live through it." Asayo began sweating.
Mai covered her mouth in shock and Naru stood there thinking. 'How terrible, what could do such a thing?' Mai thought.
"I have an idea on what the problem is but I may need some more research done." Mai looked over at Naru but he ignored the look. "Mai, call up the others, if this is what I think it is, I want others opinions."
"Yes right away." Mai ran over to the phone and called up everyone but only got Houshou Takigawa aka Monk and John. After she hung up, she realized something. 'What could Naru possibly need more opinions for or need to do more research on?' Mai went back over to Naru. "Only Monk and John are available Naru."
Naru let out a sigh and nodded. "I suppose that will be enough but Asayo, if you wouldn't mind, come with us on this one. You are the one that told us about this and you did get the parks owners' approval right?" Asayo nodded.
About an hour later Monk and John both walked in. "You're here, it's good to see you again." Mai welcomed warmly.
"Yes well, after hearing that we were no longer needed, we were shocked to receive the call." Monk had his arms folded.
"I guess when things became easier, Naru and I didn't need the extra help. I'm sorry." Mai apologized.
"It's alright Mai, it's not like we didn't find our own haunts to take care of. It's just nice to be back again." John said.
Naru clapped his hands to get their attention. "Yes a reunion is very nice, now onto business. We are heading down to the new park to take care of a haze that suffocates people and leaves marks on their bodies if they live. So here is my question, what do you two know about witchcraft?"
"I must say, that's a new one for sure." John and the others looked at each other in shock.
"Naru, are you sure it's witchcraft?" Mai received a simple nod. "How do you know?"
"To be honest, it is really just a hunch as of right now but I am confident in my assumption and that's why I don't just go there without extra help." Naru looked to the small group and nodded. "Let's go."
It was about fifteen minutes before they arrived at the park and another fifteen minutes to get camera's set up around the park. Other then the fact that there were no people there at all, there was nothing out of the ordinary. It was nine in the morning so to expect too many people here would have been stupid but to not even see a groundskeeper or a worker of any kind was a shock. This was a high class park after all, surely someone should have been seen here. The camera's were all set up and turned on, now all they could do was wait. "Naru, why are we just sitting here, if you're right about it being witchcraft" Monk started but was cut off.
"Then we won't see anything but the effects. To have a haze appear, which is possible, would mean that a spirit or something would be seen within the haze. If nothing is seen, then we know it's witchcraft. To have a spirit or a demon create a haze, it would have to stay there to support it if only for a second which is enough time to see it and to have people come out with marks if they live would mean the same thing." They sat in silence as they waited for some kind of haze to appear.
"Naru!" The small group ran over to Mai who stared at the screen that has the camera focused on the bridge. The haze seen was thin which made seeing in it easy. As expected, nothing was there. Soon camera after camera became engulfed in this fog.
"We go in pairs, Asayo, go with Mai to the bridge. Lin and I will go to the playground and Monk and John, you two go to the Zen garden." They all nodded and went their separate way.
'This is so weird, who would do something like this?' Mai asked herself as she ran.
A/N: So I hope that I got everything accurate as far as Naru's ability, side effect, whatever you want to call it. I hope it was enjoyable and please review.