Hello wonderful readers! i apologize for taking so long to update but i made this longer then the other chapters. i hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: i don't own Ghost Hunt or it's characters.


Wednesday, December 16th

Lin found Mai sitting on the couch looking over the last few case files. When he entered the room the short, pixy like girl looked up surprised.

"Good morning Lin!" she said brightly. "I didn't know you were here!"

'Neither did Naru' Lin thought with a smile. Ignoring the curious look she gave him, he sat down next to her. He placed his hand on her cold forehead. "Naru told me to come check on you . Did something happen?" he asked looking Mai straight in the eyes.

"Naru found me covered in snow this morning, apparently I was out there for two hours. I think he's mad at me." She explained sheepishly. Hearing this made him worry, Mai was like family though he probably never admit it. 'Why would she be out there by herself? Maybe that's why Naru told him to check on her.' Assuming the rest of her body was as cold as her forehead… "You must be frozen. I'll make you some tea." He said softly. Ignoring her protest, he went to the small kitchen.

He opened the the cabinet and took a step back, he had no idea that Mai bought all of this tea. It was completely stocked alphabetized top to bottom with tins full of tea leafs. Lin had always wondered what Mai did to the tea to make his young boss like it so much and why only she made it. 'Naru has no idea.' He thought to himself as he brushed his fingers against the tins, reading the labels. Not finding what he was looking for he moved to the next cabinet. "This looks about right." He said to himself as he pulled out a tin.


A few minutes later Mai watched the tall Chinese man come into the living room carrying a cup of hot tea. Thanking him softly she took a sip and stopped. "Is something wrong?" he inquired.

"Oh no! everything is fine! I was just surprised," she said trying to stop the giggles that were attempting to escape. "Was this, by any chance, label the *Kick Me Special?"

Lin nodded his head slightly, which was when Mai started laughing. When Mai regained control she apologized to him. 'I can't believe he picked this one,' She thought.

"You see, I actually use this tea for Naru when he gets out of the hospital or looks sick, ya' know?" She explained. "Its one of my mom's blends, she used to make it for me when I was sick."

Mai watched as he got up to leave. "I'll be in my office." He said and left, the young girl turned back to the case file in front of her. All she had to was organize all the stuff that was relevant to the case and then get rid of the stuff that wasn't. After that was done she had to summarize it.


After a couple of hours of going through files, Mai got bored and decided to make tea for Naru. She placed the tea pot on the burner and waited for the water to boil. She looked around the room at all of the things that had become familiar with. The blue-gray cabinets, the white tiled floor, how Naru leans against the door frame, how …… wait, What?

"The waters going to over boil." He said with a smirk. Mai snapped back to reality and grabbed the tea pot. Pouring the water through the strainer, she turned to look at him with her chestnut brown eyes. Naru just stood there with his arms crossed.

"We are taking up a case in Sansaki. I need you to call these people and then contact the others." Setting down a slip of paper on the table next to him. "We will be leaving tomorrow, once you are done with your task you may go home and pack."

"Naru… I- I can't go home." She replied hesitantly not willing to look him in the face. Mai turned around to finish making the tea. Taking the cups in her hands, she offered one to Naru. Taking it with out a word he left the small kitchen.

Some time later, probably somewhere around five or six.

Mai was pulling on her 'skimpy' jacket and shoes. When she went to the door she found Naru there as if he were waiting for her. "You need a ride?" It was more a statement then a question but she nodded her head. When he opened the door a gust of cold air sent a shiver down her spine. Walking to the car was even worse but at lest it would be better than walking home.

It was silent most of the ride except for when he asked for her address. When they got there he parked the car and cut the ignition. "Do you want me to walk you to the door?" he asked, this time it was a question. Nodding quickly they both got out of the car and walked to her front door. Knowing what ever was behind the door wasn't going to be good she hesitated, looking at Naru for reassurance. When he nodded for her to continue, she grabbed her key and hastily unlocked the door. When they got inside they were shocked to find that two of the windows had been broken and stuff had been thrown every where.

"Oh my god… my apartment!" Mai gasped as she looked around at the obvious empty spaces. Her TV, radio, and microwave were missing along with a few other pieces of furniture that she had, including her small desk. Preoccupied with the mess of broken lamps and strewn paper Mai didn't hear Naru call the police to report the robbery. She walked to her room, glad that it was mostly intact, reached under her bed for her blue medium sized suitcase. Quickly grabbing cloths from her closet that she thought she would needed for staying at the mountain Inn. Placing them in the suitcase then looked around for her hiking boots that John got for her last Christmas. Zipping up her bag she felt someone place a hand on her shoulder, looking up in surprised to see Naru standing behind her. She had completely forgotten he was there.

"The police said they're sending someone over." He told her, looking about her room making her blush. Mai grabbed her bag and walked to her front door, sitting down to wait for the officer. Naru came a sat down next to her.

"You don't have to stay ya' know" she said quietly to him while looking into the distances at the darkening sky.

"Since we are leaving tomorrow, I might as well let you stay at my place so you don't make us late." Soundly slightly annoyed, angry, and tired all at once.

"Really?" looking at him surprised. "Thanks Naru!

"Yes, well where else would you stay? Stupid, you'd be useless to me if you were sick." He replied with a smirk.

"Stupid! Useless! Why I ad'a …" but she stopped, Mai turned serious... thinking about what had just been said. Pausing she added, "I could have been useless or dead right now if... if I didn't- "

"Have that animal instinct." Naru finish for her, looking at her with a twinge in sadness in his eyes like he had all ready thought about it.

It was a while till a police officer showed up. Both of them stood quickly and introduce them selves. After explaining to the officer what happened and what had been taken. Naru told the officer to call him if he found any thing. after the officer left they put her suitcase in Naru's trunk and left for his apartment.


Naru unlocked his door and let Mai in. After showing her where the kitchen and bathroom were he led her to the guestroom that was rarely ever used. He watched as she placed her suitcase on the bed. "My room is down the hall if you need any thing else." He told her and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Naru was glad that Mai had that sixth sense but hated the fact that she could have been hurt or worse, and he couldn't protect her. He knew that outside work she was alone but never thought something like this could happen.

Entering his own room he closed the door and picked his cell phone out of his pocket. He was going to call Lin to inform him that he was to pick them up at his house and that he was to buy train tickets for every one that was coming.

"Who's coming?" Lin asked. Naru was hoping the Chinese man could just work his magic and get them a train.

"Ms. Matsuzaki, Takigawa, John Brown, you, Mai, and myself." He repeated the list Mai told him.

"What about Ms. Hara?" Lin inquired with a lack of curiosity in his voice.*

"She has to work on her show in Iceland or something," He replied disinterested. Tiredly Naru looked at his watch, it was 15 minutes to ten. If he was going to be at his best he would have to go to bed soon. "Don't forget the equipment and we meet up at 9 am." He added and hung up, grabbing his usual nightwear. 'At least now I could keep an eye on Mai.' He thought as he took off his shirt.


Mai was back in the empty dark space, suddenly she heard shots fire then screams of terror piecing the cold air. The screaming and the cries for help got louder, when she realized she was running to them. she could hear the frightened steps of people around her that she couldn't see. Fear and guilt racked her brain. "Why! Why did I argue with him?! I shouldn't have run away!" she cried into the empty space with tears streaming down her face. "I should be with him!" Mai felt blind as she ran through the chaos around her.

Mai stopped when she heard more shots fired, hearing people around her fall with a thud to the ground, then grabbing her side as she felt the searing pain of the wound. 'What's going on? Who did I argue with?' she thought confused. 'Why is this happening?' Falling to the ground in pain she heard some one laugh, it was there, that laugh among the gun shots, screams of terror and pleas of mercy that weren't granted. He had come back.


*the Kick Me Special is Mai's mother's tea blend in which before she died taught Mai how to make. Mai doesn't really know why her mother called it the that, but she kept the name any way.

*some one had to mention her or something. (if she found out no one did, well lets say we'd be missing a few people) 0_0

by the way, the dreams will make sense soon and they will get to the Inn in the next chapter! stay tuned!

thank you for reading! now please review! =)