The Curse Gift – The Start of Puzzles.

Ghost Hunt Trilogy 1.

A fanfiction by Aoi Kitsukawa.

Disclaimer: Ghost Hunt is belongs to Fuyumi Ono-sensei, I only borrow the characters in the light novels/ manga/ anime. Please enjoy reading it!

Summary: Ghost Hunt Trilogy 1. Nearly half a year after the SPR's last case. Mai received a shocking gifts, which unknown to her and the others it was an ultimate mistake that changed her life forever. News that is more shocking was the appearing of Naru's cousins! At the same time, several rape-murder cases rapidly appeared, and the police had to ask SPR's assistance through Madoka and a female superintendent officer. How do the cases have connected with Mai at all?

Author's Note: AAAAAH~! I check it a day after I submit my new chapter and NO REVIEWS at all! No way~! Huhuhuhu, I nearly cry when I saw my first review –Marrylissa-san came up! Haha, finally I was safe, but after that I received several reviews, alerts and favs from the others as well! Thanks to blackwing123, Usagi-chin, GhostHunt13, insertevilemoticonhere, Marrylissa, Hanamaki, Traumerei, Herbblood and Toyama-chan for their reviews, favs and story alert! I really appreciate them! Thanks everyone~!

*SIGH* Sorry everyone. Right after I send my first chapter of this story, my whole body turned stiff and aching my whole body! I guess my stress had caused me that, sorry for the very late update. Not to mention finishing the exam papers. Argh! I hate exams!

This chapter maybe long so sorry again for the long length. This is the start of everything; how and what, read yourself. =) Please read and review.

Pairing: Mai Taniyama & Kazuya Shibuya/ Naru

Genre: Investigation x Suspense x Hurt x Comfort x Mystery x Supernatural


Gift 2: A Case from Tokyo Police HQ.


"Nooo, nooo~! Please don't go~!"

"Now, now children, don't say like that. Onee-chan has to go home too," Said a woman with auburn hair that reached her shoulders, trying her best to comfort the crying children.

"NOOO~!" they cried louder than before, causing the women sweat dropped.

At the airport where people around the world came in and out to their destination, two small children; both of them were boys and in 10 years old, clinging on another person in front of them. A young girl in 16s was a little bit uncomfortable; her flight will be held in any time but those two boys were refused to let her go. Some of the passengers even looked at them as they saw the crying children with her.

"Nee, please don't cry. It's not that we're going to be apart forever," She said as she tried to explain to them carefully.

It was not she unaware of those boys in front of her. She knew that by the time she stepped her feet on this land; the once Great Britain empire during the 19th century, she knew her destiny had been linked with the boys. She was just a clueless, innocent young Japanese girl whom taking student exchange program for two years, a long time to spent and it was her own decision to make it. However when she met with the family that she would stay with for that time, she met with these two angels.

They were brothers, or more specifically, an identical twin. Both of them had black hair that was silky and shining when hit the sunrays. Both of them had those pale, beautiful skin that even men were fantasized with them, not to mention every women would love to spoil them as they were very cute boys. But what made her attracted to them were the twin's eyes; blue like a deep ocean, blue like a sapphire diamond that very rare to see. Those magnificent eyes, those were very magnificent and fantasied to see, especially since the boys were the same ethnicity as her.

Although they were identical twin and their intelligent was somehow out of ordinary for their age, their personality was different. The elder one was kind and gentle, he had the warm aura that always surrounded him; it was very easy for her to know which one was the onii-san, which one was the otouto. Besides, his clothes always-in casual style, but one thing that she was sure: that kid likes something black! Sometimes she even faked mourning to him as she had attended a funeral, much to the younger one's dismay.

And his eyes were not as deep blue as his younger brother was.

The younger one was silent, calm, and always be alone. He was not a social type like his brother; he preferred read books and stayed in his room if there were any friends or guests came to the house. His clothes always formal, even though he stayed at home, his clothes would always like a professional one! The only thing that she could felt that he WAS a human was the colours of his clothes (or otherwise she would be admitting to the mental hospital!)! He had a cold and serious aura around him, and sometimes he would shot his daggers towards the people he did not like or know, especially towards the strangers. She also got his infamous glare upon her arrival at his house two years ago!

But no matter how perfectly he did, there was no way she did not notice anything wrong from him. After such meeting with the family, she immediately knew the younger boy seemed to depend to his brother in his life, especially while he was in hard time as well as during the time he needed to socialize with people. He, who always kept everything in his heart, tried his best not to make any close contact with everyone else in fear that he would hurt them in the end. Hm, this boy was not ordinary one; maybe she should paid attention more on him!

Until one day she saw him crying alone, under the heavy rain near the park where she always passed while returned home from school.

His body was injured; she could see it clearly despite the rain that fell on her umbrella. She came closer to him much to his shock, and tried to shoot her daggers as always, but fail. She just laughed at him, and with one movement, she already carried him on her back, much to his surprise. She walked away with him, chatted a little, and before the young boy finally opened him to her, and she could not helped but smirked as she saw his shy face at her back. Ha, that 'genius' boy could blush too! That's really amazing! Starting from that day onwards, she became close with them, and of course, pairing herself with his evil twin brother, enjoyed teasing the other twin!

Muahahaha~! She's sure a true devil!

"Will you be come back?" Asked the elder boy as he sniffed his nose. His eyes still watered with tears.

"I'm not so sure…" She said trailed off. "Although I can extend the time but something urgent happen at my home, so I can't delay those important matters just like that my boy."

Yes, she could be staying longer if that call didn't come up several days ago. She received something that was shocking her that she was unable to delay any longer, plus she was so mad with the caller that she cursed it to death much to the family's surprise!

"Then, when we can see each other again?" Said the younger one. She smiled as she wiped his tears from his face.

"Perhaps in the future," She said, smiled a little.

"Really?"

"Yes."

She smiled as she slowly pulled the boys into a hug. Both of them hugged her tightly, as they were so afraid to let go of her. She too, was affected. Two years spending her life with them and it was not a short time. Many things they had shared together and of course, she loved them so much just like their parents do. She slowly stroked their back as she whispered to them.

"When you're grown up, just inform me and then we'll be meet again," She whispered, gently.

"OK…" Said the elder.

"Promise us that you'll meet us again, and remember us," Said the young one. The girl smiled gently as she kissed both of the boys' cheek.

"You should be the one who remember me young man!" She giggled as she rustled his head. He smiled a little as he once again hugged her.

"And stop being such love-self either!"

Her last words made the boys and the parents laughed. The girl's head jerked a little when the announcement was heard, mentioning about the flight was about to board. She shook hand and hugged the parents and the boy's guardian (A/N: sorry forgot to mention him!), then the boys once again and kissed their cheeks lovingly, before she rose and walked away towards the gate.

"Onee-chan!" She turned around and saw the boys waved their hands to her, saying a hard-to-say-goodbye.

"Promise us that we'll meet again!"

She smiled, raised her thumb up and then waved to them, before she walked again and then her figure slowly disappeared into the other parts of the building, created her own path to return to the place where everything…

WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN.


A pair of deep blue eyes was slowly opened, as sunrays went into his room through the thin space between the curtains in his bedroom. He closed and opened his eyes several times, tried to adjust himself with the morning light. He yawned and stretched himself as he sat up and saw the clock on his nightstand.

"6.30 A.M. Still early," He mumbled as he grabbed a glass and poured himself a glass of white water. He drank it greedily and then put the glass back on its usual place.

He sat on his bed, started to think about the dream that he head last night. He silently thinking about it; it had been years since he last saw the girl in his dream. That young, energetic and yet mysterious Japanese girl that used to stay with his family for two years. How in the earth he suddenly dreamed about that past memory?

It had been half year after the SPR last case; the Forgotten Children case, and almost three months (1) ever since the Agawa case (2), he suddenly had that kind of dream. A dream where his elder brother was still alive; where both of them were still living together as a family with that young girl.

Shibuya Kazuya, or his real name was Oliver Davis; was actually the famed paranormal researcher and psychic of Society of Psychic Researcher, or in short name SPR. The office which was under his management; Shibuya Psychic Research, was another branch of SPR that established in Japan.

Naru glanced at the small desk next to his bed, there was three photo frames stood on it. He looked at them with silent eyes; one of them was the photo of him and Gene when they were small; the one that he gave to Mai (3) before he returned to England half a year ago. Sat next to it was a photo of him and the Japan branch's SPR. It was taken not long after he and Lin returned back to Japan and took again the management of the office from Mouri Madoka (4 & 5). It also due to Madoka's suggestion (or pressure if Naru said!), that everyone had gathered in the office, took the photo together.

Stood at the back from the right side was the recent part-time office worker –Yasuhara Osamu. That former client during the Ryokuryou case (The Forbidden Game case) had contributed into SPR's cases before, therefore Naru decided to hire him due to his intelligent and capability to gain information. Next to him was Takigawa Houshou, a former monk from Mount Kouya and also a bass player in certain band. He was nicknamed with the name 'Bou-san' by his teammates. Next was his assistant, Lin Koujo, a Chinese Taoist from Hong Kong. That silent man was his guardian since he was an underage, but a helpful assistant to everyone. John Brown, a priest from Australia. That young man who actually older than Naru himself was a kind and gentle man, but unfortunately he always stuck in the middle of Takigawa and Ayako's fights.

Sat in the middle of the group was Naru himself.

Sat on his left was Mouri Madoka, the head of SPR work field and Naru's annoying master (he states to himself like that). She was happily held his arm as she posed the 'V' sign with her hand. Sat next to her was Matsuzaki Ayako, a miko and doctor. While on his right side was a young girl with short brown hair and eyes; shone lively named Taniyama Mai. Just like him, she was an orphan; he actually felt shock to hear the fact during Urado case. Who could people believe that she was an orphan despite her cheerful personality and stubbornness? Despite of the hard life she faced, she remained cheerful and acted independent, much to everyone's amuse. Last one was Hara Masako, a medium and celebrity in psychic industry. A girl who had been nicknamed as 'Japanese Doll' due to her look, that girl always tried to pursue his attention to him. Luckily she had stopped from chasing him anymore, much to his relief.

He stared at the photo. That assistant of him, Taniyama Mai, the one who Gene came in contact with. During the Agawa case, she told him that Gene still not able to move on, much to his surprise. According to Mai, even Gene, he did not know why he still stuck in the dream-like state, which made him thinking what exactly happened to him.

Taniyama Mai, a girl whom he was attracted with from their first time met with each other. Unlike the other girls who usually fascinated with him for the first time, she was not that kind of person at all. In fact, from her acts and behavior, he knew immediately that she did not fall into his appearances; instead, she seemed to know his hidden intention. It was proof by the way she saw him for their first time meeting when she and her friends were telling ghost stories. That was when he and Mai met for the first time.

She was an interesting young girl. Cheerful, independent, gentle, a loving person; there was no way any people did not attracted to her. Even he himself was falling into her charm. Besides, despite of her tomboy attitude, if someone had observe her carefully, she was easily to read as an open book and cute too.

To admit that it was the first time he fell his heart was filling with someone else that he cared was something that he would never want to tell anyone about it, especially after he realized that Mai was actually in love with his late brother Gene…

His twin brother, Eugene Davis, was a perfect medium. With his gentle smile and personality, there was no doubt that even Mai could fell in with him. This fact had hurt his heart a lot, since he never knew that Gene always visited her in her dreams. He sometimes wondered why he did not visit him instead of Mai.

Jealousy was a part of human emotions, which is also show that he was in fact, a human being at all. He still don't know what to do, ever since he found out that Gene was unable to move on, and when he found out that Mai was still unable to forget about him, and it hurt him a lot.

Naru sighed as he got up from his bed, but not before he looked at the last photo frame on the desk, again.

It was a picture of him and Gene when they were nine years old, during summer vacation. A young girl with long black hair and a pair of black eyes that shone mysteriously, held them around their neck, but none of them seemed protest at all. All of them were laughing happily, under the bright sun in the summer; very happy. Naru picked up the photo and stared for a moment, his heart felt a little bit ached.

"Nee-san," He said. "It's been a long time, isn't it?"

A knock on his door made Naru put down the photo and opened the door, revealed Lin who was in complete dress. Naru talked to him for a moment, before he took some of his clothes and went into the bathroom.

Another day was about to start.


She slammed the files on her desk, growled loudly. All the staffs in the First Division of Crime Investigation Department stared at her with wide eyes and fear. All of them knew that if she acting like that, something must have been disturbing their leader's mind.

Yamagami came to her side and placed his hand on her shoulder, asked her gently, "Riko-san, are you alright?"

"NO." One single answer, but full of anger.

"What's wrong Riko? Did something happen during the investigation?" Asked a woman with light brown, half curly hair. She came to Riko's desk and placed a glass of white water, which Riko gratefully accepted it.

"Well, as usual Rena," She said to the woman named Rena. "But that's not it. It's about that idiot!"

"Huh? Did they come to escort you again back to their division?" Asked another staff again.

"Like hell I would!" She said as she slammed the glass on the desk. "After they did 'that' to me, they just remind silent and then when I'm in the middle of these cases they suddenly want me back! What am I? A ball to be kick anywhere? THAT'S BULLSHIT!"

Riko panted heavily, while Rena placed her hands on her shoulders, massaged gently. Everyone in the office looked down; they knew how much made their leader anger right now.

"Calm down Riko, breathe OK?" Said Rena. Riko just silent, but indeed she tried to calm down herself.

"So, how's the case Yamagami-kun?" Asked Riko after she calm down. He nodded his head as him and the others took their seat and formed a circle, discussed with their leader about what they had found in their investigation.

"Well, from the autopsy that I received this morning, the main cause of Ayatsuzi Marina's death was due to the bruise around her neck," Said Yamagami.

"You mean struggle to death?" Asked one of the staffs.

"Yes, Ichirou-kun," Said Yamagami.

"How about her other wound? And the rape?" Asked Rena.

"It appears that she was already died 24 hours before her body was found. It was true that she was rape; it was proof that there's more than one 'trace' in her vagina…" He said trailed off. He hid his blushing face as he earned deathly glare from Rena and other women staffs.

"Geez, Yamagami, you're pervert!" Retorted Rena. "Let me read the report you hentai!"

"Stop it! I'm the one who should read it since I got it from the coroner by myself!"

"No, give it to me!

"Rena~!"

WHAM!

"WILL BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP AND STOP ACTING LIKE A KID? I SWEAR THAT I WOULD THROW YOU TWO OUT OF THE WINDOW IF YOU TWO DON'T STOP ARGUING OVER THIS MATTER RIGHT NOW~!" Shouted Riko as she slammed the files over her colleagues' head.

"Yes…yes…ma'am…" Said both of them, waekly. Riko said 'hump' and then sat back on her seat; the report was in her hand after that.

Sweat dropped.

Everyone was already run to their desk, hiding themselves from the wrath of Riko, the current lead of the Division 1 of Crime Investigation Department. Despite that she was a young woman, if someone tried to mess up with her; those people would be pay for it.

Why everyone was afraid with her? Of course, Riko had mastered two martial arts –both in Karate and Aikido; both of them were Dan 2! There was once a ruckus happened at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarter, and it happened that Riko was there coincidently. The reason was one of the staff was caught taking a bribe and had been fired from his job. Anger to his superior, he took his gun and threaten to kill all people in the HQ. Unfortunately, he had insulted her in terrible way, which she paid him back in 'terrible' way too! In the end, she beat the guy half death, and was able to avoid sue since she was under condition of 'protecting herself from harm'.

Everyone sat back on their seat, watching the leader read the report throughout of it. Suddenly her eyes narrowed and her expression was changed; something had caught her attention! She slipped several papers inside the report, pushed her rolled-chair to her desk and grabbed another files. She went through the files, read them in instant and then started to speak again.

"There's something common here!" She said as she suddenly stood up and went to her desk again, rummaged the files. All of the staffs were shock and some of them even stood up as well.

"What is it? What did you find Riko?" Asked Rena.

"Other than 'those type' that we've commonly found, there's another thing that we didn't!" She said as she quickly took a piece of paper, wrote down something and then showed to them.

"Mostly from victims' no. 49-60, all of them were found in the area of Fudomae!" She said as she handed the paper to Yamagami.

"What!?"

"But why Fudomae?" Asked Yamagami.

"That's what I want to ask too. Don't you guys think it's strange? This time for half a year, all the victims are found in the same area; in Fudomae…" Said Riko, as she was in deep thought.

"Well, Fudomae just one of the small cities in Meguro area right? How come…"

"Officer Riko! Officer Yamagami!" Suddenly the door was open forcedly and a policeman came in with panic expression. He panted heavily while other staffs went to him and calmed him down. Riko and Yamagami glanced to each other and turned their gaze to the poor policeman.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Officer! This is serious! This time, the Narcotics Investigation Department…" He was unable to finish his words when suddenly they heard loud screams; mostly from women officers and then several shout that asking them to leave the building immediately. Riko and the others went outside of their department and saw many staffs and workers went out from their office, ran towards the door.

Suddenly rapping sounds were heard, followed by screaming of painful people; lots of them. Yamagami and the others quickly closed their ears; the shrieks were too loud to hear to them.

Except one person.

"What is going on?" Screamed Rena.

"Is it happening again?" Shouted Ichirou. "This is way too much!"

The lights were flipping, the doors suddenly closed up and opened again; the banging sounds were heard even from far away. Screams of the staffs that were still inside the building were heard, while the others who finally went out from the building shouted to them, asking them to go out from the building. The building was starting to shake, and more people had turned out panic.

Rena was about to scream when suddenly someone grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

"Everyone listen! Don't panic and walk to the emergency door calmly!" Shouted Riko as she turned around and gave her orders, still held her friend's hand. "Don't push anyone, just walk faster and get out from this building!"

Everyone nodded their head, and then following her instructions, slowly went out from the building. The only one left behind was Riko, as she slowly approached the door when she slowly turned around and looked at her back. Yamagami saw her and was about to call her, when suddenly he saw a white silhouette slowly appeared in front of his superior. His face slowly turned pale, while Riko at the other hand was calm.

As fast as it appeared, the silhouette suddenly disappeared again, and this time, Riko walked out from the building, hands in her pockets.

"Riko!" Said Rena as she and Yamagami ran to her. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," She said as she glanced at one of the officers who looked at her, nervously. She turned around and said his name.

"Aramaki-san, what should we do?"

A man named Aramaki silent for a moment, before he sighed and looked at her, "So it's true that it was cause by a supernatural cause?"

"If you're so stupid to admit it just say it. It's not my own will to make you believe it."

'Wow, that's harsh!' Thought all the members of the Crime Investigation Department, sweat dropped.

Typical Riko!

"I have to say you're right, Riko-san…Well, maybe I should contact one of my friends who are expert in this matter," He said as he took out his cell phone.

"Who?" Asked Yamagami.

"She's actually a friend of my daughter, Yamagami-kun. Her name is…"

"Mouri Madoka-san."

With the named had been muttered, Riko suddenly turned around and looked at her officer. "Mouri Madoka?"

"Yes, what's wrong?" He asked when suddenly he looked at her shock.

"Riko, what happen to your eyes? They're red."

"Huh?" Asked Riko.

"Uh oh, don't tell me that you're sick Riko!" Said Yamagami.

She just narrowed her eyes, looked at the building as slowly, sounds of fire engine were heard and filling the area of Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarter…


Seventeen-year-old Taniyama Mai sat at her desk in a small office in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo. It was a nice day of the last week of November, and Mai couldn't help but to make herself a cup of tea for herself, as well as Naru and Lin. She took a sip as she closed her eyes; felt the warmness of the tea went through her throat before it was spreading to her whole body. Laid on the desk was two pieces of papers, waiting for Mai to fill in.

Her co-worker – Yasuhara Osamu, 18 – was sat at his desk, which was located in front of hers. He too, was taking himself a cup of coffee –different from Mai who preferred tea, enjoying himself and his work. However, he did eyed his friend as he saw her kept on reading the piece of paper which was firmly grip in her hand.

Mai stared at the paper in her hand, which she received it that morning. She took another sip of her tea as she slowly recalled her memories in that morning…


-Flashback-

"Taniyama, Kuroda, the principal required both of you to the principal office," Said the homeroom teacher right after his period was end.

Both of the girls looked each other with curiousity, before they both stood up and walked away from their class. It had been more than a year since the case at their school ended, and since that time onwards, Mai and Kuroda had been friends alongside Keiko, Yuuri (6) and Michiru. All of them had a close relationship together, which somehow made people stared at them since Kuroda was know in the school as a psychic (really?).

Nobody knows that Mai also a psychic, hahaha!

"Nee, Kuroda-san, what exactly the principal want from us?" She asked as they walked to the principal office.

"I don't know either. Maybe about grades or something…" She said with a small grin.

"Ah~! Please not the grades! I know I always skip schools because of my job!" Whined Mai as she pouted.

"Well, you have to study hard more, Mai-san. Don't forget we'll be third year student next April," Said Kuroda as they laughed.

"Yeah, it's hard to believe that we only have one year more to spend in this school!"

"You're right. Oh, we're here," Said Kuroda as the reached the office.

She knocked the door and waited for a while, when the principal's voice called them in, they opened the door and went into the office. As they entered the room, Mai saw another six students; four boys and two girls were inside the office as well. Stood next to the principal's desk were two men; wore well-suit clothes and smiling faces. Mai and Kuroda both bowed to them as a formal greeting.

"Kuroda Naoko-san (7) and Taniyama Mai-san, please have a seat," Said the principal.

Both of them took their seat, and then the principal started his speech (A/N: speech? Should I say lecture?)

"Thank you students for coming here. Actually there's something that I wish to tell you people about," He said as he gestured to the men next to him. He nodded and bowed to them. "His name is Ishikawa Eiji, and this is his partner Asabuki Tomonaga. They're in charge of the scholarships funding."

Mai stared at both of the men. Asabuki Tomonaga, he seemed in early twenty. He had a pair of green eyes that looked like a Jed, and he had brown hair that somehow matched with his oval-egg shape face. He was tall, about in 179 cm, thin and slim, but he had a warm and gentle aura around him. While his partner; Ishikawa Eiji, looked a little bit older than him. His hair was light born with the same hazel eyes that matched with his hair, only to be covered by his glasses. He was as the same height as Asabuki, however he seemed a little bit serious but still managed to show his friendly aura to everyone else.

No doubt, both of them were professional.

"Yes, actually the reason we've call you here is because we had chosen all of you as our sponsorship students," He said, shocking everyone.

Especially Mai.

'Scholarship? I already have so why?' She thought.

"Excuse us, but what's the name of the scholarship? We already had one so…" Said one of them boys.

"Well, have you heard about Nakagawa Foundation?"Asked Asabuki.

This time, except Mai every student was shock!

"EH? NAKAGAWA FOUNDATION?" Asked one of the girls.

"No way! I never thought that I'll be given this opportunity to get this scholarship!"

"Oh, am I dreaming? Sakaki, please pinch me, I must be dreaming!" Claimed one boy as his friend named Sakaki pinched him, and then he yelled. Everyone chuckled a little as they saw the boys reactions were funny to see.

"Ittai! Oi, that hurts Sakaki!" Said the boy.

"You're the one who ask for it, Akira. So, do you believe now?"Asked Sakaki. Akira only nodded, which made everyone laughed a little.

"Don't worry. Our foundations had been consulting with the other sponsorships and they didn't against our wish to help the students with financial problems. Besides, we didn't required any specific qualification to have the scholarship, as long as you people study and have good life, it was all manner to us," Explained Asabuki this time.

Everyone cheer up except Mai and Kuroda. Mai was clueless; she did not know what exactly Nakagawa Foundation was about while Kuroda was silent. After some briefing with them, all of them were given the information form in order to make another account bank and anything related to the matters.

"I'm sorry, but I have to reject this request," Said Kuroda as she pushed back the form. Except her and Mai, the others were already left the office. Kuroda choose the end of the meeting to reject the offer, much to everyone's surprise.

"Why, Kuroda-san? This is the good opportunity for you to get help," Said the principal.

"I'm sorry sir, but unfortunately I remembered that my scholarship did not allow their students to take another funds than them. I'm sorry for the rejection, but thank you for the generosity of yours," She said as she bowed and walked away. Mai bowed her head and walked away from the office, only to be called by Asabuki.

He handed her another form and took the earlier one from her, telling her that his friend was not know about the second form. When Mai and Kuroda asked him why, he only simply said like this:

"Someone is concern about you and wants to help you. This form is one of this person's help so you need to accept it Taniyama-san. And be aware of the people who associated with Nakagawa Foundations."

"What? Why?"

He did not answer. With that, he bowed and walked away from the girls, leaving the puzzled Mai and the narrowed-eyes Kuroda…

-End of flashback-


"But why did he say like that? Isn't he also among those people who handling the foundation?" Thought Mai as she started filling the form. Unbeknown to her, Yasuhara was looking from her back the whole time.

"Mai, you're taking Nakagawa scholarship?" He asked, making Mai yelped a little and accidentally threw her pen, which later on rolled on the floor and stopped at Naru's feet. Both of the workers stared at him with shock as they saw Naru stood in front of them, looked cold.

"What are you two doing? I didn't hire you just to throw pen," He said as he bent down and took the pen.

"Nothing Souchou! Just asking Taniyama-san about her scholarships," Said Yasuhara as he took the already fill-in form from Mai and handed it to Naru.

"Hey, give me that!"

"Nakagawa Foundation?" Muttered Naru. "Isn't you already had one Mai?"

"Well, the principal suggested that I should take it, besides, my former funding didn't have any problems with me having another financial backups," Said Mai. "But Kuroda-san rejected it."

"Kuroda? The one with the PK-LT in your school?" Asked Lin who somewhere appeared behind Naru.

A nod.

"But, somehow what she told after that was a big confusion to me," Claimed Mai. Yasuhara at the same time took a remote control on the small table at the office's living room and switched on the TV. Apparently after Naru and Lin returned to Japan, they had bought a TV under Madoka's suggestion (actually her 'blackmailing'. Scary Madoka!), and only opened it o selected time, mostly on news time. It did helped the staffs a little bit on selecting their cases; if there's one already on air they would refused the cases, although sometimes they accepted it.

"And why is that?" Asked Naru as Mai explained to him…


-Flashback-

"An unlucky gift?"

"Indeed. That's what I heard from previous people who got it before us." Said Kuroda as they walked back into their class.

"Apparently there are some cases that connected with the students under the Nakagawa's sponsorship. Some of them had been kidnap and even worse, were found death after several days missing," She explained. "These matters had been happening for two years already. That's why it has been called as an unlucky gift."

"Huh? I didn't even know about it."

"It's because it's only happened recently eight months ago. One of the missing victims' families made uproar and then, it started to be tucking in by the media."

"Why did the students still accepting the fund if they already knows the rumors about it?" Asked Mai.

"Who cares? Every month, your fund will give you up to 500,000 yen! That's a lot of money even to you!" Claimed Kuroda as Mai rolled her eyes.

"No way! 500,000 yen per month? This is crazy!"

"I told you so," She said, grinned. "But I think you should take Asabuki-san's advice serious too. Maybe this is what he means by his words. Make sure not to stumble into something back, Mai-san."

-End of flashback-


"So…you're going to accept it?" Asked Yasuhara, when at the same time the bell was ringing and revealed the others as well.

At the main door of the office were Takigawa Houshou; a former monk from Mount Kouya, which his head was being hit by a woman with fashionable clothes –Matsuzaki Ayako. She was a 'self-proclaim' miko (since she was not from priest family and actually a doctor) with unique talent. Behind the fighting couple was John Brown, an exorcist and priest from Australia and the last one was Hara Masako, a psychic medium and a celebrity which was nicknamed as 'Japanese Doll'. All of them went to the main seat of the office and sat down, despite the arguing couple's noise.

"Will both of you is quite fighting? It's really noisy here," Said Mai, which made both of the adults, went silent.

Naru sighed as he asked everyone why they came to the office, since as far as he knew he did not calling them for cases. When they gave him their usual reasons (just come to visit etc), Naru said that his office was not a café or something like that, until Yasuhara mentioned them about Mai receiving Nakagawa scholarship.

"Aren't you already receiving one Mai? Why you're taking another one?" Asked Takigawa.

"Well, the principal suggest to me that I should take it. I just accept it, that's all," She said as she placed the cups on the table, which of course, include Naru's. Everyone took their sip as Ayako looked at the young girl.

"Hmmm…Nakagawa…" She said, trailed off. "I got one female patient two months ago that sponsored by this foundation."

"Your patient?" Asked Mai..

"Yes, apparently they paid her hospital bills. Since she's a student from the poor family, she was fully supported by the foundation," Explained Ayako. "Besides, when you have to undergo complicate surgery, the costs are very expensive."

"What did she suffer from?" Asked John, concern.

"She had a hole in her heart; old sickness. Right now she's recovering from the surgery."

"I also heard that some of my friends had this scholarship, but what exactly this Nakagawa thing?" Asked Masako as she put down her cup.

"Hmm…from what I heard, it appears that this scholarship was sponsored by the recent no. 1 billionaire in Japan –Nakagawa Nobuhiro," Explained Yasuhara as he appeared next to Takigawa at his back, with his notebook on his hand.

"Oi, Shounen! (8) Stop appearing out of the blue!" He complained. He just smirked as he sat between John and Takigawa.

"Nakagwa Nobuhiro is the most wealthier man in Japan, and ranked 6th of the list of world's top 10 billionaire (A/N: that's crazy!). He was a successful businessman, and his company had invested more than just one field. Apparently, the company had involved in entrepreneurship, agriculture, oil investment, heavy industry (A/N: cars or something like that. How shameful I am as an economic student to forget what is the heavy industry!), touristic, medical field and mass media. Recently they seemed interesting in scientific research as well as education," Explained Yasuhara as he showed his notebook to everyone and revealed the information of the founder of the scholarship.

"Are you sure he's a human? How could a single person to do such things?" Asked Takigawa.

"Well, he's only in charge on touristic, entrepreneurship and medical field. The others are the under the management of other CEOs as well but of course the main one is him."

"No wonder why he's so rich…" Said Mai.

"Every month you'll get 500,000 yen, that's quite a lot," Said Yasuhara, grinned.

"And you young lady, is receiving his scholarship and know nothing at all?" Asked Ayako.

"Well excuse me for not knowing such thing! I just got offered today!" She said. "Oh, by the way Naru, can I use the office address for mailing two days from now?"

"And why should I let you use it for your mailing, Taniyama-san? As far as I know you have your own address," Said Naru, annoyed.

She huffed as Mai walked to her desk, rummaged her bag and returned to the group before she SLAMMED a piece of paper right on Naru's face, much to everyone's surprise!

Brave young Mai!

"Well, the great Dr. Oliver Davis, for your information I have a museum trip next two days and I already told you before last Saturday! The reply from the foundation is happening on the same day so it's hard for someone to see my apartment ONLY and not me!" She shouted, hands on her hips.

"No need to slam it on my face, idiot…" He muttered darkly as the temperature of the room dropped.

Everyone except Lin froze; they knew Naru was in bad mood!

"Very well, since from my observation you still need to improve your idiotic brain Taniyama-san so I let you use my office's address," He said as he sighed. "Just once, alright? I don't want to deal with problematic people anymore…"

"At least no insult you idiot scientist!" Said Mai aloud as she sat up and went into the small kitchen to make tea again.

At the moment Mai mentioned the words 'idiot scientist', Naru's body went stiff. It had been some time since he heard that nickname, especially since it was originally came from his death twin's mouth…

Eugene Davis.

The lost twin of him who died three years ago (9) and then became Mai's guide spirit.

He missed his brother, a lot. That was the real story of him after the death of Gene. Although that Gene always teased him and used the words to refer to him, but if someone else called him like that, he felt his heart was aching; that he seemed to prefer that it WAS Gene who called him like that.

Especially if the person who called your nicknamed was, the one that you knew was in love with your death brother.

As Mai placed the cup in front of Naru, he could not help but thought to himself, why did everything seems not right to him? Why Gene didn't come to him before and why he chooses Mai? What will happen if he did not accept the case at Mai's school? What if…

Naru shook his head, gained a concern attention from Mai.

"Naru? Are you alright?" She asked.

He just shook his head, and then took his cup. Mai sighed as she sat down on the small cushion chair next to him (everyone had their own place over the sofa so she had to take another chair for her). After filling and some arguments related to Mai's application and not to mention teasing and whatsoever, Mai finally had her form done.

It was unusual to have all the members of the group sat together and had a sip of tea after something that obviously not related to the work. What made Mi amused the most was the way Naru and Lin's behaviour with her and the others as well. As far as she knows, both of the men were not a social type, especially Naru. However, that day, they came out from their cave (Mai's referring to the office!) and sat with them, although they rarely participated in their conversations.

Just as Naru and Lin wanted to retreat to their office, suddenly the door was slammed open and revealed a light red hair (pink) woman with soft auburn coat and brown boots. She held her handbag on her left shoulder and a yellow scarf around her neck. Naru winced a little; she was the last person he wanted to deal right now!

Of course, she was none other than Mori Madoka, Naru's teacher!

"Well hello everyone, it's good to see you here! I've got something for you guys to do for me!" Claimed Madoka as she smiled as usual.

"Mori-san, how are you?" Asked Mai.

"I'm fine dear. Oh and Naru, I have a case for you," Said Madoka as she sat on the coach which formerly was sit by Lin.

"And what kind of case is that? I don't want something as nonsense as the Agawa case," He said as he looked at her, pretty angry.

Mai and the rest (10) except Madoka went stiff after they heard Naru's angry voice. From what they had encounter before nearly three months ago, they understood why Naru seemed mad whenever he remembered on Agawa case. While they were investigating the family, one of the family members was not a real member but rather a police officer. He believed that Naru participated in Gene's death and went as far as accused him for killing his own brother! That case was of course a deadly one but also annoying him to death, whenever the police's name was mentioned to the air. Even Yasuhara was not comfortable either.

Madoka stared at the pretty boy in front of her. True, she knew about the case that nearly caused her and the others a lot of troubles. She knew that boy was still upset with his death brother's incident, and then they was encounter with something that most of the members did not want to face: someone who believed that Naru was someone who taken part in the murder plan as well! She was shocked to hear that from Lin, and even cursed the police who accused Naru after the end of the case!

'How dare him', she thought, 'for accusing Noll like that!'

However, she did not have any choice. Last night, she received a call from her friend whom her father was one of the high-ups in the police HQ, asking for her help. Since she was a part of SPR as well, her friend had asked her help regarding the weird situation at her father's workplace. She was unable to refuse her since she begged her to help them; after all she also witnessed the supernatural phenomena as well.

"I know you hate publicity and to add a new one, police as well," She said as she crossed her legs and leaned against the sofa. "But I can't refuse the case since it was witness by lots of people and all of them are very afraid right now."

"Lots of people?" Asked Ayako.

A nod.

Naru was about to say something when suddenly the TV showed a recent news report, gained the attention from the members at all. Madoka stared at the news when suddenly her eyes wide and grabbed the remote control and turned on the volume. Atll of them stared at her before their eyes fell again on the TV, and their face was shock.

"Yesterday at 9.30 PM, the Tokyo Police Headquarters had witness something strange where most of the staffs were running away from the office, cried in panic. Some witness said that they felt an earthquake and shaking building, which was first to believe that it was a sign of earthquake. However, there was not such activity in other parts in Tokyo, and for some reason it was a mystery on how the building was shaking. Investigation continues…"

Everyone stared at the news before they turned around and faced the serious-looking woman, who stood with arms across her chest. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Naru and locked her eyes with him.

"Could it be..?" Asked John as Madoka nodded her head.

"Indeed," She said with seriousness in her tone.

"And SPR, I have a case for you from the Tokyo Police HQ!"

Madoka's stern voice filled the room that was pregnant with silence; wide eyes stared at the woman whom rarely looked so serious as far as they knew. However it was there, and they knew if they refused it would be a big trouble to Madoka since she was the real person in charge for the case.

Which mean they had no choice but to accept the case…

And unbeknown to them it was the decision that when everything was about to start!


HINTS OR EXPLANATIONS:

1 & 2 –This timeline is happened between July (the case of The Curse Family and The Forgotten Children somehow happened between July-August; this timeline seems blur to me since I didn't know how long did Naru spent his time in the hospital after he collapsed for second time. I choose July for specific time since this story taken place in early December) and September (this is the time where Naru and Lin returned from England after Gene's funeral. I decided it in September based on their last case before). The Agawa case (in light novel Akumu ga Sumu Ie Jou/ Ghost Hunt) was supposedly happened in September based from the fact that Naru and Lin had returned two months after the end of Akuryu series. Conclude from these facts, it was the reason why in Naru's bedroom, the flashback of the time was revealed to be half a year from the last case and nearly three months after the Agawa case.

3 –The photo that Naru saw in his room was the one that he gave to Mai before he returned to England to held Gene's funeral. It was the photo of him and Gene when they were children, and the one that Luella brought with her after Naru had found Gene's body.

4 –In the last volume of Ghost Hunt manga and light novel, it appeared that Mai still able to work at the SPR during Naru's stay in England, however the administrator for that time was Mouri Madoka. It is unknown what happened to Madoka after Naru and Lin had returned to Japan.

5 -In the end of the Akuryu light novels, it was revealed by Naru that she actually was the head of SPR work field; going on site and gathering information –it can be explained why during Urado case, she was sent by Naru to gather information. It was also her effort for gathering people who can speak in Japanese –including herself, to open the SPR branch in Japan.

6 –In light novels and manga, Mai's close friends are Michiru, Keiko and additional, Yuuri. However, in anime, Yuuri did not appear with Mai and revealed only Keiko and Michiru.

7 –In the first case of Ghost Hunt, Kuroda was one of Mai's classmates, however in both manga and anime her full name was not revealed. In light novels, she was the class representative (or "Inchou") of class 1-F (Mai's class) and her full name was Kuroda Naoko.

8 –Shounen: Shounen means 'boy' or 'young man', mostly in teenager. Takigawa had mentioned this name to Yasuhara during the Forbidden Game case and it had been his nickname since then.

9 –This timeline had confusion on me. From what Kagedreams had mentioned in her (or his?) blog and the author's note in the story of Insidious Whisper, it was revealed that Gene had tried to come in contact with Noll for three years. Was Gene died when he was 15? Was it happened when Naru and Lin came to Japan shortly after the disappearing of Gene, or during the sequel light novel-Nightmare Dwelling (Akumu series)? If it's true then why did Gene appeared in Mai's dream during the first case? I can't make right calculation on this and decided that it was count AFTER the Akumu's series.

10 –I don't know what exactly happened in the Nightmare Dwelling novel, especially about Lin's reaction on Hirota Seigi of his unbelief on supernatural. Well, I guess I just make him just like the others; of course, what would you do if someone suddenly accused you for killing your own family while you have been searching for him for most of the time? But from what I read from the trustful sources, I bet all the members were mad with the police and it's not unusual if Lin also felt annoyed.


AAAHHH~! Finally it's done, done, doooooonnnneee! I can't believe that I could done it up until this; it's really feel like a dream! Arrgghh, blame it to writer's block and final exam papers!

It's really hard for me to make this chapter since I tried to understand each of the characters' personality and characteristic, the hard one was Naru of course! Not to mention that I had to reread most of the fanfic stories that I copy into Words documents and analysis each of them, just to understand the characters.

Sorry if any of you want me to make Madoka acting like a child; I feel it's quite annoying to make her like that. True some adult acted childish but they knew the limits! Besides, it must be interesting to make her as serious as Naru but of course not like him 100%!

Some of the hints or explanations had been showed here, but I had to say that I did make some research about both Akuryu and Akumu series; however I need more info on Akumu. This s very important to me so I beg you readers, if any of you had the info about the Nightmare Dwelling or even the copy of its novels please tell me, I would appreciate it if any of you had it.

Thank you to all readers for their kind reviews. We meet again in the next chapter. Thank you very much for the supports. Ja ne.

-Aoi Kitsukawa-


Next Preview:

Nee…

Do you remember the time we meet again?

The wind blew the snow about on the side.

During our meeting,

I spent most of the time talking about myself.

My life, my job, my social life…

And I didn't really get to hear much about you.

But I know I would have loved…

To hear what you had to say about yourself…