Heyo!

Here's the next chappie! It's not too exciting, mostly recapping a few things and explaining a few others. It will get better next chapter though!

Please read and review and tell me what you think!

Enjoy! (:

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ghost Hunt!

xoxoxoxo

The cold winter air blew wildly throughout the city, making the freshly fallen snow fly into the faces of those brave enough to wander outside. A young woman dashed down the sidewalk, coat clutched tightly around her and scarf flying dangerously in the wind. She halted in front of a building, on the front of which was written the letters S.P.R. The young woman quickly entered the building and climbed the stairs to the second floor. There she opened a door adorning the same letters as the front of the building.

As soon as she walked in, a voice called out, "Mai, you're late!"

"I know, I know," the girl named Mai responded. "Some of us don't have the luxury of cars," she added under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing."

"Well then stop mumbling and make some tea."

Mai sighed. She should have seen that one coming. She removed her jacket, and the rest of her winter apparel, before heading into the bathroom to check over her appearance. Her cinnamon colored eyes gazed into the mirror and she noticed her short brown hair was matted to her head, courtesy of her hat, and her cheeks were still pink from the cold. She hastily tried to un-stick her hair from her head before heading out to make tea.

As she busied herself with the task she thought of how things have been around the office lately. Her narcissistic, tea-loving boss she called Naru has yet to take a case since the one on the island. Instead he's been locked up in his office, emerging only when absolutely necessary. She supposed she couldn't blame him. After all, she was the one who dropped the bomb that his dead twin brother had started appearing in her dreams again, even though he had been laid to rest. She assumed Naru was trying to figure out the reason why Gene was back. The thought that irked her the most, however, was that he doing so on his own, refusing to ask anyone for help. Considering the fact that it was her dreams Gene appeared in, you'd think Naru would at least ask her to talk to Gene and try to figure out the reason for his return.

She thought back on when she had first told Naru about his brother. They had just solved the blood ritual case on the remote island and were on the boat heading back when she divulged what she had seen in her dream.

xoxoxoxo

She walked to the back of the boat to find Naru, arms crossed, gazing back at the diminishing island. She paused for a moment, taking in Naru's calm fa ade, his hair ruffled slightly by the breeze. A slight bump of the boat brought her back to her senses and she continued forward until she stood next to him by the rail. They stood quietly for several moments before Mai worked up the nerve to speak.

'Now is as good a time as any to tell him,' she thought.

"Ne, Naru...?" She began hesitantly.

He just continued to look out over the water as she fumbled for the right words.

"It's Gene."

Naru visibly stiffened at the name of his dead twin, but continued to remain silent.

"He's back "

xoxoxoxo

The whistle of the tea kettle brought Mai out of her silent reverie and she finished preparing the tea. She grabbed two cups of the freshly made substance and went first to drop one off for Lin, who nodded gratefully, then made her way down the hall and stopped in front of Naru's closed door. She knocked lightly to announce her presence then entered the dark office.
Naru, clad in all black like usual, was sitting at his desk staring at his computer screen, and didn't bother to look up when Mai walked in.

Typical, thought Mai.

She set the cup of tea in front of him and turned to exit, not bothering to wait for a 'thank you' she knew would never come. She almost made it to the door before he spoke.

"Mai."

She turned around to find him looking up at her with his dark blue, calculating eyes. Behind his cold stare, Mai could detect swirls of emotion, despite his attempt to hide it. She felt an overwhelming urge to comfort him in some way.

"You can talk about it you know," she said softly.

Instantly, the emotion was gone from his eyes and he glared at her for a moment longer before returning his gaze back to his computer. When he replied, his voice was like ice.

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Naru... " began Mai but was cut off by Naru.

"I don't believe I pay you to stand around and run your mouth off all day. Get to work," he spat.

Naru's attitude was making Mai angry. She spun on her heel and walked towards the door. As she opened it she turned her head slightly and said over her shoulder, "You're not the only one affected by this you know."

Slamming the door behind her she stalked off to her own desk. Fuming, she began her work filing away old cases.

That jerk! She thought. There's just no talking to him!

In fact, Mai was becoming more and more confused by her black-haired boss. When he had first told them all who he really was she was shocked yes, but she recovered quickly. Then there was the discovery of his twin brother Gene, who was recently deceased and had been appearing in her dreams. After locating his body, Naru returned immediately to England to finally put his brother to rest. Before he left, Mai had confessed her love for him, but he just threw it back in her face, saying it was his twin she was in love with. Then Naru comes back from England and acts like he never left. To Mai, he seemed different somehow, almost kinder? At the end of their last case, she swore she saw concern in his eyes when he looked at her. But now, after discovering that Gene was back, Naru had returned to his old self, becoming (if possible) even colder towards Mai then he had ever been.

Mai sighed. Why is everything always so complicated with him?

A soft knock on the door brought Mai out of her thoughts and she looked up to greet their guest.

xoxoxoxo

To say that Naru was shocked was an understatement. The words Mai had muttered as she left his office floated around in his brain. Of course she would be affected by Gene's return. He was, after all, her spirit guide. Naru silently berated himself for treating Mai the way he did. He couldn't help it. The emotions that had been running through him since she told him of his brother's return were overwhelming him. He wasn't sure what to feel anymore.

He had most certainly not forgotten Mai's confession to him before he left for England, but he had been scared that she had meant it for Gene. So instead of opening himself up, he shot her down. But during his time in England, he brooded over what could have been. Even Lin had noticed something different about him. Finally, under the pretence of a 'vast amount of paranormal activity', he returned to Japan to see if he could figure out his own feelings. He wasn't sure himself what it was that he felt for his young assistant. He couldn't explain how his heart beat faster every time he was in the same room with her. But he never showed his confusion, constantly hiding behind that stoic mask he always kept firmly in place.

But then, when Mai had revealed to him on their last case that Gene was back, he began to panic. He thought for sure that Mai would choose Gene over himself. His brother was always the more likable one, while he was the brainy one. Why should she choose him when all he ever did was insult her and make her feel like a child?

Then there was his concern with the fact that Gene shouldn't be back at all. He had been racking his brain for any reasons he would return but none of them made any sense. He had even been turning down cases, instead using the time to conduct research but still was unable to find anything.

Naru sighed. This wasn't going the way he planned.

Just then, a knock sounded on his door.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Naru, there's a client out here who would like to speak with you," came Mai's voice from behind the closed door.

He nodded, then remembered she couldn't see him.

"I'll be there shortly," he replied, as he got up from his chair left his office for the main room.

xoxoxoxo

I ask once again... please review! I love hearing from you all!

Update soon (^_^)