2. Where Mai remembers and Naru is Frosty

The ride over to the orphanage was a long one, and I couldn't wait to get out of the car. I mean, it wasn't that bad…. if you didn't mind a driver that never spoke a word and if you overlooked the slightly moody teen sitting next to him.

I sighed from my place in the back. What I wouldn't give to be in Ayako's car right now… I mean, at least I would be able to hold a conversation with her and John, or at least get a few laughs from Yasu. But nooooooo, I had to get stuck with Naru and Lin because we had to leave first and Monk was only going to show up tomorrow.

Leaning on the car door, and I looked out of the window and watched the trees whiz by us creating a blur of green. Not that I could really blame Naru for being in such a bad mood…

"Naru, this Kanako Usagi. She was my middle school teacher, and she was the one who looked after me when my mom died."

Naru's stare dropped a few degrees but I pretended to ignore it as I turned back to Kanako-sensei. "I never would have thought that we'd again in this kind of place, Sensei." I said.

Sensei had a sad look on her face as she nodded. "Neither did I," she said. "But I don't know where else to go anymore. Everyone else that I've seen has turned me away, and if Mr. Shibuya doesn't help me, I… I'll…."

I stared helplessly as she tried to hold back her tears. This must have been more serious than I had thought. "What's going on exactly?" I asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

"It appears that her orphanage is being haunted by a malicious entity," Naru said, with a sort of look that said he wished that the on-the-verge-of-tears woman would just leave. What a jerk.

"Wait a minute, I didn't know that you had an orphanage, Sensei," I said, genuinely surprised.

She smiled. "Well, when I was looking after you my maternal instincts surfaced, and I couldn't help but want to do something. I mean, I know that you were doing well considering, but not many children had that kind of luck." Taking a deep breath, she continued. "I started looking into jobs that would help children when I found a little orphanage near that lake I used to take you to. The owner was selling it because she couldn't handle the job anymore, so I saw my chance, and I took it. The children have been so wonderful… they all remind me of you."

"But then, about two months ago, strange things started to happen around the orphanage. Toys started disappearing, furniture moved places, and the children would have little scrapes and bruises. I didn't think much of it, but recently it's gotten worse."

"Worse how?" I asked.

"Well… two weeks ago one of the boys woke up screaming. Something had been trying to pull him under the bed, but when I looked there was nothing there. Then a few days later one of the little girls had scratches all down her legs, almost like claw marks." She started shaking. "I need help NOW. I just now that if this continues, one of the children might end up severly injured. Or worse…."

I couldn't take anymore. Turning to Naru, I said, "Why aren't we taking her case? This isn't some random guy trying to get the house or anything!"

Naru sighed, infuriating me all the more. "As you are aware, we're no longer taking cases due to the fact th-"

"Don't you DARE give me that crap, Naru!" I spat, slamming my fist on the table. Behind me I could hear the surprise of Kanako-sensei but I was too angry to really pay attention. "There are actual lives in danger here! How could you even think of leaving when they need you?"

Naru stood up. "I believe I've already explained myself. Now if you'll excuse me, there are still many things that I need to do." With that he turned to leave.

I was almost on the verge of tears, and I didn't understand why I was hurting like this. I guess it was because I had been there before. Being without parents, all alone. Luckily for me, Kanako-sensei had taken me in and gotten me back onto my feet. If she hadn't been there for me, I probably wouldn't have made it as far as I am today.

To those kids, I felt like I was the one who was supposed to be there for them. And I guess it was true. Because if I didn't help them, then no one else would.

"You think you had it bad?"

Naru stopped at the door. He didn't look at me, and I focused on a spot on the floor. "I'm sure it must have been bad Naru. That you must've been in pain. Heck, maybe you still are." I glared at the back of his head. "But you had people there for you, family and friends to support you weither you chose to take that support or not. People that are still there for you."

"So I guess it's understandable that you wouldn't know how much it hurts when you lose everything and everyone. To be suddenly left alone in a world where most people are cruel and uncaring and think that your worthless for being the way you are. You wouldn't know what it's like to feel abandoned, to feel like nothing will ever be okay again."

I took a deep breath. "These kids do, and now, finally, they've found a place they can call home. They don't have to cry every night for their parents because they've found a family that cares for them, no matter how broken that family actually is. These kids don't deserve to have that taken from them again, Naru."

The whole time that I spoke Naru had never turned back. I found myself holding my breath as I waited for him to speak or move. It was almost unbearable.

Finally, Naru broke the silence. "Call Takigawa and the others. See if they're willing to take on one last case."

Which is how we ended up on the way to Kanako-sensei's orphanage. Now that I think about it, I might have been a too pushy with Naru. But I was glad that he accepted this case.

I wish that someone would start talking soon, though. Mostly because I kept thinking about things that I would rather not think about. Like family.

I don't remember much about Dad, and thinking about Mom still hurt sometimes, but it wasn't as bad now. Somehow, when I had started working for Naru, I had found a family. A rockstar dad, a fussy mom, a foreign cousin, a stuck up sibling, a quiet uncle, and a comic relative. I still wasn't too sure where Naru fit; the only thing I could think of was 'significant other', and even that was a stretch.

But again, like all those years ago, my family was going to be broken up, and there wasn't anything that I could do about it. As much as I wanted to, I knew that there was little chance that I could convince Naru to stay here in Japan, and even though I hated to admit it, I knew that everyone else was going to drift away from me. Doing this job was the only thing that was keeping us all together, and even the job was soon going to end. Everything that I had to look forward in my day would be gone.

I shook my head clear from those thoughts. The last thing I needed was to get caught up in my own pity party. I would cope like I had last time, no sweat. The most important thing right now was the children. Well, that and keeping my emotions in check. I wouldn't want to burden the others with my little fantasies.

The van slowed down, and as I looked up, I could see a white house emerging from the forest. Finally, we had made it to Kanako-sensei's orphanage.

Mae: I like commenting after a chapter. I always find it so much fun! :3

Naru: Somehow that doesn't surprise me...

Mae: What was that, Naru? *menacing aura in background*

Mai: Now now guys...

Naru: Mai, shouldn't you be working right now?

Mai:... *mutters* Workaholic...

Mae: Cut her some slack, Naru.

Naru: Why? She already bearly works as it is.

Mai: HEY!

Mae: *sighs, grumbles about jerks* Look, before I forget, I don't own Ghost Hunt.

Naru: No surprise there either.

Mae:... if I did, then NARU WOULD ALWAYS WEAR PINK!

Mai: O.o