Jezh: Enjoy. If I owned Ghost Hunt...Naru would be a perverted d00d. But you don't see THAT, do ya? I no own.

Chapter One

Click clack

tap tap type tap tap.

It was early, in the SPR building. Far too early for any sane or remotely normal person to be awake. Not that SPR is full of sane people anyway. Naru sat at his desk, typing away incessantly, as Lin- his assistant, glanced at him occasionally, if only to break the stony atmosphere. A clang resounded through the office, as Naru cursed.

"Noll. What's wrong?"

Lin had not spoken until now, for there was no apparent need for it. But when he saw the china piece stuck in Naru's hand, he knew that the silent and stoic teenager was once again troubled. Masako huffed a little exasperatedly, her feelings for Naru still there, and she was still jealous of Naru and Mai's previous relationship.

"Naru, Mai's been dead for over a year now. Shouldn't you -"

"Shut the fuck up."

Naru's voice rang clear in the silence, as Masako stood back as if she had been slapped. Teal-Onyx eyes had hardened slightly, like it did whenever her name was mentioned. It was known by the SPR that Mai was the only one Naru felt something more than friendship, reluctant companionship or a bond. And it was also known that they were both -reluctantly- in love, despite their denials and indifferences.

"Naru-" Lin was about to chatise the said narcissist, until he caught a glimpse of emotion behind the clouded eyes. Pain...Anger..Regret...Sorrow? Lin said no more, but sighed, and turned to the medium, as he offered her an indifferent shrug- which of course, was his way of saying 'sorry', Lin style.

"Masako-san. It is probably best if you leave..."

The jet-haired female refuses, and sits back down at a table, silently sulking. For despite her tense friendship with the deceased Taniyama, she was still a girl in love, after all. The two grown males resumed their typing. Neither Masako nor Lin took notice of the way Naru's hand clung to the sharp china from the teacup, ignoring the bite of the edges, his heart still damaged from the blow on the night she left them...Him.

For a fraction of a second, his protective mask of coolness and indifference slipped, revealing the agonized man underneath. He never got to say that he had loved her, even on her deathbed.

And that was what killed him the most.

The wind whistled through the busy streets, as the shoppers and tourists, along with the average citizens clung their coats tighter, the rain cloud heavy and dull. It was days like these that reminded our other favourite exorcist/monk/miko about when their cherished younger female friend departed.

As they sat in the restauraunt, they recieved many bewildered and curious stares, which amused Bou and Ayako greatly. The reason being was that because there were three of them, but there were four chairs at their table. Nonetheless, they still chattered happily, as if Mai Taniyama was still there with them But the fact that she was gone...

Was what killed them inside the most.

Death is like;

I cannot, dear reader, find the words to describe it, for it is unknown by the living, and in order to deliver this chapter, I have to be alive. But I do know it hurts many, but it also brings them closer. It is also Unknown, and it works in so many strange ways.

But as we know, Ghost hunt is a world where the strange often happens, wether the source is actually known or not. And right now, Mai Taniyama is dead, passed on, departed.

Or is she?

The dead must stay dead.

But what if she didn't die?

A girl of seventeen going onto eighteen stands by the school gates, her auburn brown hair gently tossed about by the wind. Her large eyes are filled with unseen emotions, and the only thing in her sight is the frantic principal and parents. Another student is gone. Another day. Deep in thought, the girl closes her eyes, feeling for the source of all this happenings. Gene appears, sighing at her once again. He's known for some time that she was still lingering on, despite the fact she had been deemed as deceased. He lied to his brother. Signing, he resigns himself to her company.

All for her.

"..It's been a while."

Without turning to look at him, the girl merely nods, and smiles.

"Gene..."

Naru looks skeptically at the man before him, wondering why he even bothers in the first place.

"Shibuya-san, please."

Naru cocks an eyebrow at the plump man, as he asks "What do you need help with, sir? You've never told me." The man- Mr. Koetsu, merely takes out a stack of negative pictures, and colour ones.

"Shibuya-san, our students have been disappearing daily. It used to be a rare maybe once a year, but lately, every day, each class is shortened by another. The other students cannot remember, except for this one new student." Another picture. But this time, it catches Naru's eye. An average-looking teenage girl with auburn locks, familiar twinkling eyes, and a smile. Dressed in a school uniform, she looked exactly like her, like...

Mai.

"Koetsu-san, who is this?"

Mr. Koetsu looks at Naru strangely, and replies "Yami Naitama, seventeen, almost eighteen. She just transferred this year. A lively and popular student, average grades, 155cm, born on July 3rd." Naru's mind went blank. There was no way this was a mere coincidence, but as always, he acted cool and professional.

"Okay. Mr Koetsu, please gather all the information you have on Ma- I mean, Yami-san." He said to the ecstasic principal.

"A-arigato Gozaimasu!"

Taking back his hat and coat, Koetsu left the building. The picture of this girl. Yami Naitama, Mai Taniyama. It was too nostalgic. Nostalgia always led to weakness. And Naru knew in his heart that weaknesses was all they needed to get him. But he couldn't let this one go. Not because he was stubborn, but simply because it was a chance to see her face, even if it wasn't her.

Just once more.

"Naru-" Lin started, speaking up for the first time in what seemed like ages.

"It can't be a coincidence, Lin. It just can't."

The Autumn leaves scraped across the ground with a rustle, as the first droplet of rain fell.

Jezz: Uh...Well...see you later...?

Love is appreciated. Reviews are glompraeped and given rainbows. Hugs are loved. Messages are plain awesomeness. Hating me...not so awesomeness... :DD