A/N: Hello! Thanks so much for your reviews, favorites, and follows. I'm actually quite surprised to have any follows at all! Here is Part Two of my story. I hope you'll like it!

Disclaimer: I do now own Ghost Hunt. Ghost Hunt is a product of Shiho Inada and Fuyumi Ono.

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Protecting You

By Step of Faith

-Author's POV-

Back downstairs...

Mai breathed another sigh of relief. 'That was scary. I know I don't remember him, but he didn't have to yell at me like that.'

"Mai, where are the readings?" Naru asked.

Mai searched around her person and found it. She handed over to Naru and decided to take a breath of fresh air. She leaned up against the orphanages' building and closed her eyes.

-Flashback-

"Everyone, please welcome Mai Taniyama to our family. She will be staying with us for the time being." Matsuyama-sensei announced.

The little children giggled and smiled. Some of the older children just nodded and went back to whatever they were doing.

"Hi, my name is Toki Hanasuma. I'm also a middle school student." A young boy spoke to Mai.

Mai smiled. "Hi, I'm Mai Taniyama. I'm a 2nd year middle school student. What about you?"

Hanasuma smiled. "I'm thirteen and also a 2nd year student."

"I'm thirteen also. I just lost my mother in an accident. I lost my father ages ago, back when I was still a child." Mai explained.

Hanasuma nodded. "I know what you are going through. I lost both of my parents at a really young age. I think we could become friends." He smiled.

Mai nodded. "Sure. I don't mind making friends here. But I only plan to stay here until I start high school."

"That's fine. Until then, let's be friends..."

-Flashback End-

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-Mai's POV-

"Taniyama-san, Taniyama-san. Mai-san!" a yell broke through my reminiscing.

I opened my eyes to see Lin staring at me. "Oh, Lin. Is there something wrong?"

Lin remained silent. "Naru has been calling for you for sometime now. Please attend to him."

I nodded, stood up and started heading back inside the building. Lin called out to me again.

"Taniyama-san, I'm not sure what happened between you and the boy, but if there is anything I can do, let me know." Lin said.

I blinked, confused. "Thanks Lin. But you don't have to worry about me." I smiled at him.

Lin has really become friendlier over the course of two years. Before, he would give me the silent treatment, but after that case at the Mansion, he has definitely given me more respect.

-Author's POV-

Lin stood in place and looked up at the second story window. The same window that Hanasuma was looking through before. Lin could feel that there was something wrong with this place. He couldn't place a finger on it, but he could tell that something was going to happen.

"Naru, you wanted me for something?" Mai inquired, as she was putting on her indoor shoes.

Naru, with his solemn face, narrowed his eyes even more. "Mai, when something needs to be done. I expect it to be done. No more daydreaming. We need to start investigating."

Mai drew a sign. 'Man, Naru can sure be a spoil sport sometimes.'

-Mai's POV-

Both Naru and I kept watch over the monitors that covered the entire building. Lin was at his station typing away at the notes and other items. Yasuhara had called around eleven and said that he wasn't able to get enough research yet, and that he'd keep searching.

My eyes were starting to droop. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep watching the computer screens, but I can't miss a single detail. I looked over my shoulder and I saw Naru fidgeting with a flashlight.

"Naru? Are you going to go upstairs to investigate?" I asked.

"I'm just making sure our equipment are in good condition. To be honest, this should be your job Mai, not mine." Naru explained with a deadbeat tone.

I scrunched up my nose. Well, sorry mister narcissist, but I did check them. Yesterday!

I stood up and went into the kitchen to make some tea. Luckily, the kitchen actually had black tea, so Naru should be in a happier mood.

"Oh Mai, you don't have to do that. I'll do that for you. Today, you are our guest." Matsuyama-san called from the doorway.

I smiled. "Oh, don't worry Matsuyama-san. I'm happy to do this. Naru can be very picky with his tea." I giggled.

Matsuyama-san also laughed. She smiled and started to bring out some plates. "I hope that you and your colleagues will be alright with Creamy Chicken with Rice. Most of the children here love it."

I put down the teapot and brought my hands up. "No! You don't have to do that! We're perfectly fine. I can just buy some things at the convenience store nearby. So you don't need to go out of your way to make us anything. Please, if anything, use the food to feed the children. Not us!" I practically begged.

Matsuyama-san looked troubled. "Well, I don't think eating food from a convenience store is very healthy. Besides, I've bought enough for you three as well. So don't worry about it! Hanasuma! Could you round up the children?"

Hanasuma came from upstairs. Somehow, he looked different. I just couldn't quite put my finger on it. I went to talk to him.

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-Author's POV-

"Hey, umm… Hanasuma?" Mai questioned.

Hanasuma turned around. "Yes? What is it that you want?" Hanasuma retorted.

Mai leaned against the kitchen wall. "Listen, I wanted to apologize for not remembering you sooner. Earlier, I fell into a daydream and I remembered about the time I met you. Of course, you were a lot younger than so I suppose your face changed a little bit."

"Taniyama-san, regardless if you had remembered, I still feel that you neglected me over the years. Why haven't you ever written back to this place? I mean, this was your home too!" Hanasuma spoke.

Mai got up from her place on the wall. "Of course I wrote! I wrote to Matsuyama-san for two years before I started getting busy. Besides, weren't you the one who forgot me first!"

Mai put her hands on her mouth. "Oops!" Hanasuma looked confused.

"What do you mean? Why do you say that I forgot you?" Hanasuma cornered Mai.

"Uh, I was, um… I…" Mai stuttered, and ran out of the kitchen.

In her quick getaway from Hanasuma, Mai had forgotten about getting Naru tea. She let out a small sigh.

"Taniyama-san?" Lin asked from the base.

Mai looked up and faked a smile. "Don't worry. Everything's fine! I just...forgot Naru's tea. I'll go back and get it." Mai turned to go back and get it.

Lin put a hand on Mai's shoulder. "Leave that to me. You go and help Naru out by watching the monitors." Lin, with his forever frown on his face, said.

Mai stood there and looked up at Lin. She really didn't want to believe that Lin could be so nice at times. She smiled, a true genuine smile and breathed out a quick, "Thank You."

She turned and went to find Naru.

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-Lin's POV-

As I watched Taniyama-san head back to Naru. I headed towards the kitchen to get Naru's tea that Taniyama-san forgot.

No. Taniyama-san didn't just forget the tea. She was running away from something, but from what? Was it that boy?

I searched the kitchen for Naru's forgotten tea. I noticed that Matsuyama-san was not present in the kitchen, but that young boy was.

"Hanasuma-san, was it?" I questioned.

Looking up from what he was doing, he turned towards me. "Yes, that's right. My name is Toki Hanasuma."

I stepped towards him. "If I am not mistaken, you seem to have a very dark aura around you. Are you harboring any ill thoughts about Taniyama-san?" I inquired.

Hanasuma seemed to have stiffened. "I don't know what you are talking about. Why should I have any ill thoughts about Taniyama-san? I may have been having some negative feelings towards her earlier, but I haven't had any ill-natured thoughts."

"Hmm. If that's all it is, than so be it." I said. I took Naru's already cold tea, and left the kitchen.

-Author's POV-

Back at the base...

Mai sat on one of the chairs near the monitors. Mai sighed. 'Why couldn't I just tell Hanasuma the truth? Maybe it's my guilty conscious?' thought Mai.

"Mai, don't just sit down and close your eyes. Watch the screens." Came the voice of Naru.

Mai straightened up in the chair. "Sorry your Royal Highness." Mai replied sarcastically.

Naru grunted. Naru's eyes scanned the monitors. "Mai, what was the baseline temperature in the third room upstairs?"

Mai glanced over at the paperwork she worked on earlier. "The baseline reading said that the temperature was at 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Is something the matter?"

Naru narrowed his eyes at the screen. "Mai, let's head up to that room. The camera is starting to fade out."

Mai nodded and grabbed her gear.

-Mai's POV-

Naru and I both headed up to the second floor to head to the room that was fluctuating. I'll admit, I was bit a nervous, but it's not something I haven't done before, right?

I followed Naru into the room. A cold, very cold shiver crept up my spine. Never had a felt a room this cold, not even on previous cases!

"Hey Naru, the temperature seems to have dropped to 60 degrees Fahrenheit." I said, shivering.

Naru took note of my body response and the temperature. I saw him take off his coat and passed it over to me. "I don't need a sick assistant. Put it on."

I couldn't help but laugh. I guess he does worry about me...sometimes.

I watched as Naru scanned the room with a thermo scan device. I've never seen his eyes so...serious before. Does it mean that whatever we could be dealing with here could very well be dangerous?

"Mai...Mai...Mai!" Naru yelled. I looked around me. I saw Naru outside of the room. "Mai, we're leaving this room immediately."

I nodded. I started to step outside of the room, however...

My world...faded to black.

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"Mai...Mai..." I heard a soft voice calling my name.

I pried my eyes open. When I turned my head, I saw Naru, no, wait...that wasn't Naru.

My eyes snapped open wide. Gene!

I stood up hastily. As I stood up, I wobbled a bit. Gene gently caught me.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I gaped at him. "Gene, weren't you supposed to have already crossed over? Didn't Naru find your body?" I questioned.

Gene smiled. "Yes, I've already crossed over. Thanks to you, and everyone else. However, now is not the time for that. You're in danger, Mai."

His smile had turned into a frown. I frowned as well. "What do you mean? Why am I in danger?"

He turned towards me and the pitch darkness turned into the very orphanage that I was in.

I looked around and I spotted Naru at the door to the room. He kept yelling for something. What was he yelling at or to?

I turned towards Gene. "What's going on? Who is Naru yelling at?"

Gene spoke, "He's yelling for you. Right now, he can't see nor hear us."

I nodded. I looked around again and noticed a very cloudy, a very dark cloud near the kitchen. "Hey Gene, what is that?"

Gene looked solemn. "That is what I came here for. Mai, that cloud is very dangerous to you. It is the spirit of a very dangerous, dangerous person. Right now, it has already taken possession over someone. If that spirit doesn't leave his body soon, it's possible that, that person's regular spirit may be lost forever."

I gasped. The body the spirit took over was none other than Hanasuma. I turned my head to face Gene.

"Why would it possess Hanasuma? He didn't do anything wrong!" I exclaimed.

Gene put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "That boy must have had some resentment towards you. Because of that the spirit must have been able to feed off his negativity and was able to possess him."

"Mai, it is very dangerous for you. You should leave once you have waken up." Gene told me.

I shook my head. "I can't leave. I can't just leave Naru and Lin. I also can't leave Hanasuma in that state. I have to help him." I explained.

Gene smiled. "Mai, you have always put other people above you." Gene had said to me, all the while I started to see him fade away from my sight.

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To be continued...

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Ending Notes -

I apologize for the late update of Part Two. Unfortunately, I have an anime convention to go to this week, so Part Three will be late as well. Gene finally made his appearance...what did you think of this weeks segment?!