Because the prologue was so short, I decided to go ahead and upload the first chapter at the same time. Enjoy!

I don't own Ghost Hunt.

Chapter 1- Mai's POV

Sometimes, I hate my job.

Don't get me wrong, working with Shibuya Psychic Research is a privilege. There's a bunch of cool stuff involved with solving paranormal cases, and in between cases, all I have to do is file papers and make tea. It's not a bad deal at all.

And yet, there were moments like now, when my job was a lot harder than it should be. I grunted in pain as I gripped onto the monitor that I was carrying from the van to the base. There was a time when Naru wouldn't let me carry in this equipment, but since coming back from England, he's left a lot more of the heavy lifting to me. Stupid Naru.

I finally made it to base (which, as luck would have it, is on the third and top floor of the orphanage) and carefully set the monitor on the desk that had been set aside for us. As soon as I was free of it, I jumped back and shook my hands. I noted with annoyance that I'd been gripping onto a sharp edge with the index finger of my left hand, and as such it had started to bleed.

I grunted and stomped out of the room. One down, three to go.

Ten minutes and two bleeding fingers later, all monitors were set up and ready to go. I quickly bandaged the cuts and joined Naru and Lin, both of whom were in the lounge talking to the women from the office visit, who'd introduced themselves as Ayuka (the younger) and Midori (the elder).

"The children go to bed at eight, so please try to keep the noise to a minimum." Ayuka was saying. "And we'd rather avoid having cameras in the children's rooms and bathrooms, unless it's absolutely necessary. Other than that, feel free to set up your equipment wherever you like."

Just then, a couple kids ran past, butting right through the middle of the group and nearly knocking me right over. Midori ran after the two trouble makers while Ayuka apologized. I didn't mind though. Usually, when we go to a haunted place with children, the kids are subdued and scared. These two were smiling and laughing. It warmed my heart.

"Can we meet the children?" I asked Ayuka, watching Midori disappear around the corner after the kids.

"That's a good idea," Naru interjected, surprising me. "I'd like to talk to them about the things they've been experiencing. I'd also like to talk Kara, if you don't mind." My surprise faded.

Ayuka smiled. "Of course." She answered. "This way."

Ayuka led us through a maze of hallways (this place was huge) to a large back room that was set up like a giant daycare centre. Toys scattered the floor as over a dozen children weaved through the carnage, chasing after each other in some sort of game.

"Supper isn't for another hour, so feel free to speak with any of them until that time." Ayuka told us. She pointed to a girl sitting in the corner of the room by herself, and added "That's Kara. Please try not to upset her." With that, Ayuka left, murmuring something about having to prepare supper.

Most of the children barely noticed us come in, they were so engrossed in their games. Naru, contrary to what he'd told Ayuka, didn't bother with them and instead made his way directly to the girl Kara. I stumbled after him, trying not to fall on my face as I did.

Kara, unlike the other children, noticed us approaching. She looked up and fixed us with a curious, subdued stare. She looked like she'd been experiencing a haunting, unlike the rest of the kids, but I barely even noticed. Something entirely different had instead caught my attention.

She looked exactly like me.

Okay, maybe not exactly. There were some obvious differences. Her eyes were blue, for one, and her hair was a much darker shade of brown, not to mention long. But the shape of her face reminded me of every time I looked in a mirror. It was kind of freaking me out.

If Naru noticed this weird similarity, he didn't comment (of course he didn't—why would he?). Instead, he kneeled down to face her at her level and said "Are you Kara?"

"Yes," She answered. She sounded weary.

"My name is Kazuya Shibuya. I'm from Shibuya Psychic Research. Do you know what that means?" Naru asked her.

Kara stared blankly at Naru for a couple seconds, then gave a bit of a strange answer "It isn't me."

I flashed back to several years ago, when a certain little girl named Ayumi had to make a similar claim. At the time, she was the same age that Kara is now. I could see a lot of the same emotions reflected in Kara that I'd seen in Ayumi—fear, desperation, determination, and blatant honesty.

I stepped forward before Naru could say something insensitive. I kneeled in front of the little girl and smiled, saying "It's okay, we believe you. Why don't you come with us and tell us about everything that's been happening?"

The little girl who could've been my little sister focused her attention on me. She opened her mouth in surprise, and abruptly closed it, then answered timidly "Okay."

Kara stood up and brushed herself off, then followed Naru and I out of the play area. This, the other children noticed, despite having turned a blind eye when we'd come in. Many of them paused in their tracks and whispered amongst each other, casting suspicious glances at our retreating forms. Kara, having looked back for half a second, quickly realised she'd become the center of attention and gripped onto my arm with both hands, trying to hide her face in my sleeve. I found myself feeling relieved when we made it out of the room.

We took Kara to base, so we could be sure there wouldn't be any problems. Despite the fact that we were away from the prying eyes of the other kids, Kara still hadn't let go of my arm. I didn't mind though. She was obviously feeling nervous, and I was more than happy to give her some form of comfort.

The base had a nice, comfortable couch, and this is where Naru and I led Kara. She sat down willingly enough, but she dragged me with her, still refusing to let go of my arm. Naru pulled up a chair so he could face her when asking his questions. I sent up a quick prayer that Naru wouldn't make her cry.

"So, Kara," Naru started nice enough. "You say that it isn't you. What did you mean?"

Kara cast her eyes to the floor before giving him an answer. "Things have been happening. Strange things. Everyone else thinks it's me making the strange things happen, but it isn't. Only sometimes it's me."

Naru raised his eyebrows. "So you can make strange things happen?"

Kara pouted and gripped tighter onto my arm. "Not on purpose!" She insisted. "It's just, when I get mad, things shake, and bad things happen. But I'm not moving stuff around, and I'm not making funny sounds. It's the boy's fault."

Naru's expression softened ever so slightly while he listened to Kara defend herself. I guess he did have some experience with this sort of thing (Lin did say he caused poltergeist all the time when he was younger), but the idea of Naru sympathizing with anyone for anything was just weird. Besides, it didn't sound like Kara was the real source of the problems here.

Naru must have been thinking along the same lines, because he focused his next question on the boy she just mentioned. "Who is this boy, Kara?"

"I dunno," She answered, still timid but starting to relax. "The others have seen him too. He's scary. His eyes are black and his skin is white and he doesn't talk, he just stands there, watching us."

"Where do you see this boy?" Naru asked.

"Around the house." Kara answered. "The boys' room, the kitchen, the halls, the basement, and the backyard."

Follow up question. "If the boy only stands there and watches you when you see him, then why do you think he's the one causing the problems?"

Kara pouted again. "I just do. I know it's him."

I smiled at Kara and put my arms around her, saying "Don't worry, sweetie, we believe you."

"Well, there's no way that Kara is the source of all these problems." Naru agreed, which left me completely shocked. He usually didn't rule out any options at this point in the investigation. Still, he'd said the right thing. Kara was looking back and forth between the two of us with wide eyes.

"… Really?" Kara muttered.

"Of course!" I answered with a grin.

Kara responded with a wide smile. She threw her arms around me and held on, yelling out a chorus of 'thank you's. With a start, I suddenly realised that this was probably the first time that someone hadn't blamed her for the stuff happening here. I smiled and hugged her back.

Naru, having determined that the conversation was over, got up and walked over to Lin, saying "See if you can find anything about a young boy having died here." Lin nodded and continued to type.

I turned my attention back to Kara, who had now gone quiet but still had her arms wrapped around me. Gently, I asked her "Do you wanna go play with the other kids now?"

Kara shook her head emphatically, gripping tighter to my waist. She muttered "I wanna stay with you."

My heart just completely melted. She's so cute! I decided that there was no way I could leave her to the mercy of those other kids, so I told her "Well, okay," Naru cast me a look out of the corner of his eye, and I quickly added "Why don't you help me make some tea?"

Kara nodded enthusiastically and jumped off the couch, letting go of my waist only to grab my hand and drag me with her. I only just had time to tell Naru that I'd be back in a few minutes before I was out the door.

I let Kara take the lead as we made our way to the kitchen, which was currently clamouring with activity as several kitchen workers prepared supper for the twenty orphans. Ayuka was there as well, and when Kara and I entered, she came over to greet us.

"Hello Mai," Ayuka began, wiping her hands on her apron. She turned her gaze down and added "Hello Kara. How can I help you?"

"Oh, I was just hoping to make some tea." I told her with a smile. "Naru gets grouchy if he doesn't have some every couple hours."

Ayuka chuckled. "I can certainly understand that," She said. She turned her attention back to Kara and said "Did you come to help Mai, Kara?"

Kara nodded, half hiding behind my arm. I was starting to learn that Kara was extraordinarily shy. Most kids her age never stopped talking: Kara only spoke when spoken to. She'd already spent plenty of time hiding behind me, even though we'd only just met. I wonder why she'd taken to me so quickly, not that I'm complaining, of course.

Ayuka simply smiled, no doubt used to her behaviour, and led us to the teapot in a corner of the kitchen. She gave us quick instructions on where to find everything, then left us in order to supervise the rest of the kitchen clamour. I quickly got to work, boiling the water and getting Kara to fetch the tea leaves as well as a couple other things that Naru likes in his tea. We mixed it up and made our way back to the office.

We were only about halfway back when some whispering caught my attention. With my experience, my heart began to beat frantically in panic, fully expecting to be ambushed by a ghost. But when I turned to the source of the noise, it turned out to be three of the children. They were huddled together, peeking fearfully out of a doorway at the other end of the hall. Their gazes were fixed on Kara.

Kara, noticing the children, didn't bother to hide behind me, but instead cast her eyes to the ground in shame. My defenses instantly went up. It was as if the other children were isolating her, and that was nothing short of bullying.

I was ready to go off and lecture those kids on the spot, but instead I took a deep, calming breath and smiled at the other children, saying "Hello, my name is Mai Taniyama. What's your name?"

The three children exchanged glances, trying to determine who would be first to answer. Eventually, one boy stepped forward and said "I'm Fujiko. This is Sacchi and Ayami." He pointed to the two girls behind him in turn, who nodded as they were introduced.

"Well, Fujiko," I started, as nicely as I could, "Was there something you wanted to tell me?"

The three children exchanged another look, and once again, it was Fujiko who spoke up. "Is Kara in trouble?"

How rude! I couldn't believe this kid, probably ten years old, would have the nerve to ask a question like that with Kara hovering behind me. Still, I kept my composure and answered calmly "No, she isn't. Why would you say that?"

The kids didn't seem particularly relieved at my answer. It was almost as if they wanted Kara to be in trouble. Fujiko answered me. "Well, everyone says that she's making all the scary stuff happen, and Midori said you and your friends were here to make it stop, so we thought…" Fujiko trailed off, casting his eyes to the floor. The two girls nodded and did the same.

I gritted my teeth. Hold it together, Mai. They're only little kids. "Well, you've heard wrong." My voice was a little harder than I wanted it to be. "Kara hasn't done anything wrong, so there's no reason for her to be in trouble, okay?"

The three kids nodded their heads shamefully and drifted back into the room they'd been peeking out of. I turned to Kara, who had kept her eyes locked on the floor for the whole conversation but was now looking at me with wide eyes. I smiled and said "We'd better get going, before Naru throws a fit."

Kara smiled enthusiastically and nodded. She turned and, pulling me along because she still hadn't let go of me, made her way back into the office.

Once there, I immediately went to give Naru his tea. His thank you was to give me a clipboard and thermometer, asking for temperature readings of all the rooms in the house. Grumbling slightly, I took the equipment and began to explore the house, Kara in tow.

I started with all the rooms on the third floor, since they were the closest. Kara took possession of the thermometer and led in setting it up in each room. She'd call out the temperature and I'd write it down. I'd checked her observations the first couple times, just to be sure she'd read it correctly, only to find that she was dead accurate. The thermometer wasn't a complicated machine, but I was still impressed that an eight-year-old had figured it out so easily.

The second floor was a little harder because there were a few kids scattered here and there, but the children seemed eager to stay away from Kara, so they never got in our way. The more time I spent with Kara, the sorrier I felt for her. She was already an orphan, and I knew how lonely that could make you feel. To add to that, she was being completely isolated from her peers because she happened to have some PK. She must be so lonely.

We got to the first floor, and jotted down the temperatures for the first floor rooms. Just as we were finishing up, Ayuka peeked out of the kitchen and said "Dinner in five minutes! I hope you don't mind, our dining area doesn't have any spare room, so we'll be bringing the food up to you."

"Not at all!" I told her. It smelled delicious as it was, I wasn't about to complain about where I got to eat it.

Kara ran up to Ayuka, looked her straight in the eye, and asked "Can I eat with Mommy?"

Ayuka's eyes widened in surprise, as did mine. Was she referring to me? I'm pretty sure she was, but that didn't make any sense. I'd only met her earlier today. Besides, I was only eighteen. I wasn't anyone's mother, certainly not Kara's.

Still, despite the panic I was feeling from that innocent statement, I just didn't have the heart to deny her. She must know I'm not her real mother, but if calling me mom made her happy, then so be it.

Ayuka decided not to comment on it either. Instead, she smiled at her and said "If it's okay with her, then it's okay with me."

Kara turned and skipped back over to me. She grabbed onto my arm and looked up at me with big, pleading eyes, saying "Can I, mommy? Please?"

Something tugged at my heart when she called me 'mommy' again, and I had to push back some tears. I smiled and said "Sure Kara, I don't mind."

"Yay!" Kara exclaimed, jumping up and down on the spot. "Let's go tell daddy!" She switched her grip from my arm to my hand and pulled me out of the room, but I didn't notice.

Daddy!?

Who the heck was that going to be!?

I thought about it for a couple seconds, and then a feeling of dread began to creep over me. Oh no, I thought Please tell me she doesn't mean…

Kara burst into the room, ran over to Naru, and yelled "DADDY!"

She does.