I'm going to try to make this chapter longer than the last one, I didn't really expect the last one to be shorter than I planned. Thank you all for reading and giving your support!

This chapter, to make it longer, I'm going to try to do it from different angles to make it longer (like in the beginning, a quick trip to the past)

I'm realqly sorry about taking so long to update, I've had writer's block.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost hunt

~~~~Two months before Mai left SPR~~~~

"Mai! Tea!"

Mai sighed and shook her head and mumbled, "Again? I'm starting to think he has a real problem." Almost as if she was a robot she put the kettle on the stove and a tea packet in a cup. The kettle whistled shrilly and Mai quickly removed it. She mixed up the tea, grabbed a tray and made some food as well, since it was lunch time.

"Mai what's taking so long?!"

She huffed and rolled her eyes making her way to Naru's office. Naru cocked an eyebrow at the food after taking a sip from the tea. Mai got the silent message and sighed shaking her head, "You have to eat some time," when he continued to ignore her while downing his tea she decided to leave and go do some work, maybe talk to Lin.

Naru is being even more demanding and distant than normal. I wonder if something is wrong. She hopped it wasn't her, she had been working extra hard lately to get intuition for college. She had barely noticed Masako had walked into the building, and only snapped out of her thoughts when Masako tapped Mai's shoulder calling her name.

"Mai?! Geez Mai wake up!"

"Huh? Oh! I'm sorry Masako – guess I zoned out," Mai felt herself blush slightly.

"Obviously," Masako rolled her eyes, then grinned, Mai had never seen Masako grin like that before, "Well I have something to tell you. I'm not longer jealous of you and Naru. He came to his senses."

Mai was taken slightly aback, "O-oh? Why do you say that?"

Masako giggled some, "Ah, naïve little Mai," Masako held up her left hand. A diamond ring glinted on her ring finger. Mai's eyes widened and she started getting butterflies in her stomach.

"Um that's very beautiful Masako…"

"I know. Naru proposed to me with it," Masako was holding back a bark of laughter at Mai's face, "Jealous are we, Mai?"

Mai shook her head and lowered her eyes, "N-no. I'm happy for you."

Masako's smile faded a little but she shrugged and headed for Naru's office. Mai sighed and shook her head, murmuring, "at least I can go to school without distractions now."

She heard a pause in Lin's typing for a minute, as if he was going to mention something, but then it continued.

Over the next two months Naru had barely talked to her. The only time he even acknowledged Mai was when she messed up, he needed tea, the three cases during the short time and when she asked him to help her go to school, which he reluctantly agreed to. Monk, John and Ayako had tried to support her and tell her not to leave, but she was stubborn and had made up her mind. Masako had been smug and pointed out her ring to Mai whenever she could. It was torture for Mai at the beginning, but slowly, Mai decided to lose her feelings towards Naru.

By the time she left, she had become cold, secretive, the opposite of who she used to be. Monk was worried but she ignored him. Her new life was beginning, and it didn't involve SPR.

~~~~Present Day~~~~

Mai woke with a start, confused at where she was at first. Groaning a bit she rubbed her head and remembered – she was in her apartment and attending college. Not only that but she suddenly remembered her dream. Gene had told her that Kae and Naru would be the death of her. What did he mean by that? She understood that by inviting her to join SPR could get her killed – she was a danger/ghost magnet – but how would Kae affect her? Did he have something to do with the man that stabbed her?

Shaking her head she pushed herself from her bed and went to the bathroom. It was hard to decide which dream was worse – the one of her dying, or the one she had just had. They were probably equal.

Mai washed her face and brushed down her hair, she was late so she wouldn't be able to have a shower. She would have to have one that night. She slipped on some comfortable clothes, grabbed her text books and made her way out of the apartment and to the school.

She was almost in the doors when a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks. "Break all contact from Kae," Yeah, good advice. Advice that was completely useless here.

"Mai!" Kae came running towards her, breathing heavily. To make him that out of breath he must have run two marathons in an hour, "H-hey Mai. Feeling better today?"

Mai nodded a bit hesitantly, she should be listening to Gene, but she couldn't imagine Kae trying to hurt her, "Yeah, actually a lot better. Thanks for asking."

Kae grinned, "No problem. I'm really glad you're feeling better. Do you think we could walk to class together?"

Mai giggled and nodded, "Of course silly, we walk to class together every day. Come on we're gonna be late,"

Kae blushed a bit and chuckled rubbing the back of his head, "R-right," Mai rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm heading inside the school. She had a strange feeling deep in her gut. Then she realized why. IT hadn't been Kae who stopped her, it had been the white van in the Teachers parking area. The same white van that SPR used.

Mai was still pretty shaken up about seeing that van. She could recognize it anywhere. But why was it here? Oh that's right… There's a case here… Great. So now she had the risk of running into them. That was just utterly perfect. Kae had noticed her worried look and nudged her a bit.

"Hey Mai, you okay? Something happen just now?"

Mai shook her head and sat down near the middle of the stands, Kae sat beside her like always, "I'm fine, just thinking. I tend to look worried while thinking," She giggled dryly.

Kae frowned but didn't press, "If that's it… Just don't get distracted and end up missing something."

Mai nodded and looked forward after organizing her note books, "Don't worry. I have to pass the tests."

Kae nodded and chuckled slightly, quickly organizing his own things when the professor stepped to the front of the class. He cleared his throat and studied the room for a moment before speaking, "Good morning students," Some people gave a grunt of greeting, "As some of you heard, there have been suspicious activity on the other side of the school, we have decided, for your safety, to figure out what is causing the incidents," The professor beckoned his hand in a 'come in' way at the door.

Mai's breath hitched and she felt like she was going to lose it.

"Class this is Mr. Shibuya. He is the head of the group helping the school. He has some requests for you so while he speaks, and in future, give him your utmost respect."

Naru's face stayed stoic and emotionless as the Professor introduced him. Once the Professor had finished, he left a moment of silence before speaking, "First, I would ask that everyone stay away from that side of the school. If you hadn't heard there have been injuries from unknown causes. Unless you need to go there or you'll fail or something that dramatic, leave us to our work. Please."

The Professor looked a bit appalled at Naru's blunt statement. He cleared his throat then bowed slightly and awkwardly to Naru, "Well we thank you for helping us," He turned back to the students, "I hope you fully understand. There will be a curfew in place as well since the accidents have been more frequent. You will be given details on your way out."

He and Naru shook hands and talked a minute more. Naru turned and headed for the door, disappearing into the hallway and most likely to another class. Knowing him he was probably getting irritated at having to do that.

"Mai? Are you alright?" Kae looked at her with full concern in his eyes.

Mai nodded, "Y-yeah I'm fine. Don't worry. Just shocked."

"Well it looks like you just saw a ghost," Kae cocked his head a little studying Mai, "Is it something to do with that guy? Do you know him?"

Mai nodded slowly, she could still feel Naru's eyes on her. When he had been speaking he had studied the class, and of course, he saw her. Naru and Mai's eyes had connected and he simply studied her for a minute while the Professor had spoken the second time.

"Mai?" Mai realized she zoned out again.

"I'm fine. I'll explain after class." Kae nodded hesitantly but didn't persist, though he did glance at Mai every so often worriedly.

After class Mai attempted to avoid Kae, but that was a near impossible task. He caught her soon after she left the building.

"Mai you said you would explain why you froze up," Kae had a determined look in his eyes.

Mai sighed and nodded, "Guess I have to. He used to be my boss. He's paying for me to come to this school.

Kae's eyes widened a bit, which was unexpected. She didn't think he would react like that, "He was your boss? That's all? Nothing else?"

Mai started feeling a bit scared at his persistence, "Uh yeah, just boss. Nothing else."

"Well then why is he paying for you to come here? You know I could help with that!"

She blushed a bit and averted her gaze, "I don't want you to have to pay for your own schooling and mine. Don't worry about it."

Kae didn't let it go, "You sure? If he wants to be paid back I can at least do that."

She shook her head and raised her head to look at him, "No. I'm fine. Don't worry about it, seriously."

He frowned but nodded slowly, "Alright… But if he causes you trouble about it come tell me, ok?"

At this point Mai was starting to feel uneasy, "Yeah ok," She looked up and squeaked a bit when she saw Ayako, Monk and John walking towards the van. Ayako and Monk were arguing, as accepted. Kae narrowed his eyes at them.

"They people you worked with?" He tensed up when John had turned around with a camera in his arms and spotted the two. He smiled sweetly with waved, which made Mai tense a bit as well.

"Yeah, they are. They look like they want to talk, I'll see you later, ok?" Kae scowled but nodded after a moment.

"Alright. I'll see you later," As he walked away Mai felt a dangerous aura about him. Culd he be jealous of the SPR group? Was this what Gene was talking about? She doubted it. Kae didn't go through with his threats, he rarely did. Still…

She realized she was just standing staring at nothing, so she shook herself and walkekd over to the white van, Ayako, Monk, John, and her past. Just as she made it to John and he was about to say something, Monk appeared out of nowhere and nearly suffocated Mai with his hugging.

"Mai! You're going to help?!"

I sighed and shook her head, "No Monk. John wanted to tell me something."

John blushed a bit and lowered his eyes while rubbing the back of his head, "Yeah um, that's what I was going to ask."

I groaned a bit, "I can't help."

~~~~~author note, sorry!~~~~~

I'm going to switch to first person, third person is getting hard to write.

So sorry everyone! It's just easier for me to write!

I'll write first person from now on in future.

~~~~~~~Back to story~~~~~~

Ayako was trying to pry Monk off of me, "Monk you idiot you're going to kill her!"

Monk made a whimpering sound, "But she's my daughter!"

Rolling my eyes I pushed Monk off of me while he was distracted, "Sorry Monk but I'm not helping. I've made up my mind."

John spoke up, which surprised me, he was usually so quiet, "We could seriously use your help. You do know how to preform exorcisms and even if you don't have classes there you still might know your way around from past experiences."

Yeah… Like my dream…

I shook my head, "I'm really sorry, but the answer is still no. I'll see you guys around." I felt really bad for replying so harshly but I wasn't going back. I turned and made my way to where Kae and I always met up. I wish could explain to them why, but I just couldn't. They probably understood why anyway.

After a little bit I finally made it to the small field on the edge of school territory. Kae was already waiting on a bench with a boxed lunch beside him, looking around. I must have taken longer than expected.

When I got closer he looked my way and smiled sweetly, he seemed to relax quite a bit. He moved over slightly and offered for me to sit beside him, then part of his lunch.

"So, uh, how'd it go Mai?"

I sighed and frowned a bit, "It went alright. They asked for me to help-"

Kae cut me off, "Did you decline?!"

I blinked and nodded slowly, a bit frightened and shocked at his reaction, "well, um, yeah, I did. I need to focus on studies."

Kae made a sigh of relief and took a bite of his food, "oh good."

I frowned a bit at that but I still stayed silent and ate. When we both finished eating we made small talk, but he seemed to be distant and deep in thought. He was acting really strange, he was fine earlier; until he found out she knew Naru.

Could he be jealous?

Nah, I doubt he is. I mean – Naru used to be my boss, only my boss; and that was years ago. It was true I used to have a crush on Naru and be really jealous of Masako, but my feelings for him disintegrated not long after I started college. He would never even give me a second look unless I ran a really good tea shop.

The afternoon progressed normally – attending boring classes, Kae making snide comments every so often. He seemed to be fine again, it was really getting on my last nerve. Maybe he was dangerous like Gene said; I just had a hard time believing it. A really hard time.

I had nearly made it out of the school when someone tapped me on the shoulder. Kae glanced at who the hand belonged to and scowled. Confused I turned around and nearly fainted in shock.

Naru was standing there with a smug looking smirk on his face.

I nearly growled, "What do you want?"

His smirk grew, "I need my tea, of course."

I'm super sorry about changing it in the middle of the story – experiment failed.

From now on I will write first person since it does seem a bit easier at points.

If you have any requests for future Fanfics then I'm open to suggestions!

This might only have another chapter and then a short conclusion, so I'm going to start planning the next one.