DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF GHOST HUNT! I ONLY OWN MY OCS AND THE STORY PLOT.

Lily's POV

My eyes shot open, startled by the unusual dream. My chest heaved with each heavy pant and beads of sweat clung to my skin. The flashbacks were occurring more often now, leaving me in the same disgusting state every morning. Was it because I was nearing the age of 20? Or am I beginning the stages of post-traumatic stress disorder? I doubt it was the latter.

Obviously, I wasn't going to get anymore sleep, despite it being 6:30 in the morning, but I groggily pulled the covers off my body anyway and made my way to the bathroom after grabbing some clean clothes to change into.

In seeing the bathroom's condition, I had to force myself not to gag. Toothbrushes were scattered randomly across the sink, a mess of towels covered the tiled floors, toothpaste stains were visible on the mirror and all over the sink and the tap was left dripping all night. Combining all of those things together, the bathroom's smell and appearance could be compared to a goddamn landfill, all thanks to the people I had to live with.

With a sigh, I put all the toothbrushes in the provided tins before picking up all the towels on the floor and putting them in the laundry basket. Keeping one of the towels, I wet it a bit and wiped down the toothpaste stains with my right hand whilst blocking my nose with the other. I was not putting up with that putrid smell!

After finishing my brief cleanup, I glanced around the space to check if it was in satisfactory condition. It wasn't the best but it would do.

Going back to the original reason I came into this hell hole of a bathroom, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My brown hair was sticking up in all different directions and was slightly moist from sweat but that wasn't my most stand-out feature. Two passive pools of indigo stared back at me, unrevealing of any emotion. Their cold gaze, developed from years of solitude. Despite having the children and caretakers of the orphanage living with me, they never felt like the true family I had always craved for. Lately, my subconscious had decided to remind me of the past events I had willed to forget, why my eyes had become so far-away from the world. Reminiscing in my memories, a certain flashback stubbornly refused to leave my mind.

~ Flashback ~

An eight-year-old version of myself towered over the lifeless body of my mother. In her hands held a small white paper with her neat handwriting printed on it. With my petite hands, I picked up the blood-stained note and read its contents.

Dear Lily,

I apologise I had to leave you like this but I just can't take this anymore. I can't take you. I brought us to Japan in hopes of forgetting about the events that took place in Britain. I thought I would be able to live in my home country where I resided before I had met him and move on, but your eyes remind me so much of your father. Every time I see your face, I can't help but think about Harrison. I have never been able to ignore that his sacrifice was in vain after you had sold away your powers so I have decided to join him in the afterlife. With me gone, you have nothing to remind you of your past so here is your chance to start fresh. I will never ask you to forgive me for my cowardice but please move on. I wish I could say I love you but in my eyes, you killed my husband and for that, I could never love you like a true mother would.

I'm sorry

Before long, my tears had already dotted most of the paper as I cradled the note in my arms, taking in the harsh truth. Their deaths had been my fault. It was my power that dad had died trying to protect. It was my existence that caused mum to grieve everyday for two years, to the point where she no longer loved her daughter and felt the need to take her own life. Everything was my fault but I had only now come to realise it.

With a shaking voice, I whispered, "I'm sorry too, mum, dad, even if you will never hear it."

~ End Flashback ~

Ugh, I needed a shower. Thinking about the past only made me want to cry and that is something I have never allowed myself to do.

After stripping out of my pyjamas, I adjusted the water temperature to a mildly cold one and walked under the stream of rushing water. Letting the water hit my face, I felt each droplet fall from my chin as if they were taking my problems away with them. I then scrubbed my body of the sweat that had gathered from last night and when I was satisfied, I stepped out of the shower and changed into my clean clothes.

I took another check on my appearance. I was clad in jeans and a loose, black, button-up tank top, no different from my usual style. My hair now had a neat part on my left, allowing the right side of my hair to curve downwards over my right eyebrow. My hair was straight after brushing it whilst wet but would normally have fallen in waves down to the small of my back. Satisfied with my look, I headed back to the bedroom where all of the other children were still asleep to retrieve my iPod and headphones.

About to make my way downstairs, I was suddenly halted in my tracks when I heard the caretakers' voice discussing an interesting topic.

"Is the new girl coming today?"

"Yeah. Apparently her neighbours were worried about her when she got depressed about something and didn't have anyone to take care of her properly so they decided to bring her here."

"Oh great. Another emo girl? We already have that Sayuri giving us enough trouble with her smart comments and rude attitude."

I grimaced at that last line but it wasn't just because they had insulted my personality. Hearing my Japanese name come out of someone's mouth always gave me an unpleasant feel. My current name is Sayuri Yamaguchi and I absolutely hate it. Sayuri was given to me when my mother and I first came to Japan because it meant "small lily", similar to my English name, and Yamaguchi was my mother's maiden name. I would revert back to my English name but Sayuri is easier for people in this country to say and the Curtis family is long gone. Their reputation as famous ghost hunters vanished as soon as my father died and their heir had lost her powers. Now that there's only me who carries the name of Curtis, there would be no reason to have pride in the name.

Back to the visitor, I was fairly sure that I had heard them say she had neighbours but no one to look after her. That would imply that she was living alone which means she must be at a mature age, maybe even the same age as me.

I broke away from my thoughts when a doorbell resounded through the building.

"Hello?" I heard Noriko, one of the caretakers, say after opening the door with a creak.

"Hi. I'm Mai Taniyama. I'm the new orphan here." introduced the visitor in an unenthusiastic voice.

Well her voice wasn't a young high-pitched one so I could safely assume she was a teenager. She didn't sound pretty happy but who would if their freedom was suddenly taken away and they had to live in this disgusting place? Plus, they said she was depressed about something as well. I wonder if she really was emo.

With the desire to see the visitor in person, I put my hands in the front pockets of my jeans and casually walked down the stairs towards the front door. After all, I had to keep up my reputation as the "emo girl".

As soon as I came into Noriko's view, she hurriedly waved me over.

"Sayuri! Help me get Mai-chan's bag!" She ordered before turning back to Taniyama-san. "I can call you Mai-chan, right? I'm Noriko."

I heaved a sigh. She said "HELP me get her bags" but really, that's just another way of saying "Sayuri! Get her bags by yourself because you're emo and you have nothing else better to do!"

I looked towards her luggage and saw two suitcases. Two? I mentally scoffed. They're probably just filled with feminine products and other unnecessary junk. They're probably heavy too and I have to carry them. Yay.

"Y...Yeah you can call me Mai-chan but you really don't need to get my bags! It's okay!" She exclaimed, waving her arms in front of her.

I eyed her carefully. She seemed nice but really out of it. She didn't appear as a stereotypical slutty teenager or an emo so I guess that was a good sign. She was wearing a simple yellow t-shirt and a light pink skirt that luckily, reached her knees.

I was about to turn around and find a place to read since Taniyama-san said it was fine until...

"No, it's absolutely fine!" Noriko argued. "Sayuri, you aren't busy now, are you?"

"Well, I was about to go read," I signalled to the book I had tucked under my arm for emphasis, "but you would probably just say something similar to "stop wasting everyone's time and...""

"Get her luggage already!" She finished.

"I know you so well, don't I?" I mocked, which only frustrated her further.

When I picked up one of Taniyama-san's suitcases, it felt like a tonne of bricks! If she isn't one to have a whole suitcase full of makeup junk, then what did she keep in them?

"You read?" I uttered without thinking.

She looked at me with wide eyes. "Ummm, yeah. How'd you know?" She asked quizzically.

How did I know? I didn't really know how to explain it but I guess I got the vibe. Basically, it was my ESP talking but I wasn't going to tell her that. Everyone in the orphanage already thought I was crazy and I didn't need another.

"You just seem like that kind of person." I stated coolly, hoping to not raise suspicion of my ESP.

Although, something did feel quite odd about her now that I thought about it. It was as if she had...psychic abilities herself. My eyes slowly widened as realisation dawned upon me. She has ESP?!

Mai's POV

This was it. I was going back to the orphanage, the place that I had desperately tried to escape from ever since I was a small child. Why did my neighbours have to rat me out? It's not like I was cutting or anything and maybe I just didn't eat as much because I decided to go on a diet.

Oh who am I kidding? It was all stupid Naru's fault. I poured my heart out to him but all he could do was tell me that I didn't know who I actually loved? That nerve! Just the thought of the confession caused my eyes to burn with held-back tears. No. I won't be affected by him. I can move on! With this new-found determination, I pumped my fist in the air but instantly regretted it when an old couple walking by stared at me like I had a mental issue. I smiled at them and scratched the back of my head sheepishly.

I quickly turned back around and rang the doorbell, eyeing the door that stood before me. Even if I thought I could move on from Naru, that didn't mean I could get over living in a place like this again. There was a reason why I left but now I guess I have no choice but to wait for Ayako and Bou-san to save me somehow.

I jumped slightly when the door suddenly opened, acting as a wake-up call from my thoughts.

"Hi. I'm Mai Taniyama. I'm the new orphan here." I introduced myself, trying not to sound depressed but my voice betrayed me anyway.

As I was about to get lost in my thoughts again, I noticed a figure appear in the corner of my eye. I gasped slightly when I took in her appearance. Not only was she my age, but she was really pretty as well. I couldn't help but feel a wave of jealousy course through my body.

About to reach for my luggage, I was cut off by the voice of the woman who answered the door.

"Sayuri! Help me get Mai-chan's bag! I can call you Mai-chan, right? I'm Noriko."

When I realised she spoke the last part to me, I quickly formed a reply. "Y...Yeah you can call me Mai-chan but you really don't need to get my bags! It's okay!" I exclaimed, not wanting to bother the person I could potentially be friends with. However, I winced when I saw Sayuri-san staring at me with an intense gaze. Did I have something on my face?

After what felt like an eternity, Sayuri-san began to turn around but Noriko-san cut her off. "No, it's absolutely fine! Sayuri, you aren't busy now, are you?"

"Well, I was about to go read but you would probably say something similar to "stop wasting everyone's time and..."" Came her reply but was finished by Noriko-san. "Get her luggage already!"

"I know you so well, don't I?" Sayuri-san said smartly.

Her smart comments...they reminded me so much of Naru. No! Bad brain!

Sayuri-san came and grabbed one of my two suitcases anyway but startled me when she suddenly spoke up.

"You read?" She asked.

My eyes widened. How did she know? After working for SPR, my love for ghost-hunting never died down so now I've gotten into the habit of reading books about parapsychology and honing my psychic abilities. Letting curiosity get the better of me, I questioned her knowledge of my hobby.

"You just seem like that kind of person." She replied matter-of-factly.

Judging by her casual tone, it seemed as if it was normal for her to guess people's characters. I wonder if she'll figure out anything else about me.

She continued staring at me when her eyes visibly widened slightly as if she was discovering something, but as quick as the look came, it disappeared. Maybe she's just not one to show her emotions. Just like Naru...ugh! What's up with me today?! But thinking deeper into it, she might be somehow linked to Naru. No...how could that be? Despite the doubts I had for the idea, I couldn't help but feel like my instincts were telling the truth. Only one way to find out! I have to get her to talk to me.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I had to rewrite this chapter because I typed it on my iPad but the app I was using deleted EVERYTHING and didn't have an undo button. I was so upset that I almost cried. I've re-read this chapter a million times and I really don't like it but I don't know what's wrong. I feel like I'm switching between actions too quickly but I'm not sure. Please tell me! I would also like to thank slvrphoenx for your support. You are my first ever reviewer and it's you that has motivated me to continue uploading despite the lack of confidence I have for the story. Here's a biiiiiiiiig virtual hug just for you! (^0^)