Thanks for the good feedback!

Again, no I don't own anything related to Ghost Hunt!

7:04AM

Lin's POV:

Naru and I had just finished our breakfast when Mai walks into the kitchen.. She walks over when I offer a cup of coffee and shoots me a grateful smile. She then settles herself down to eat a fresh sponge bread. As she eats I start the dishes , but sneak a peek at Naru to see if there are any new developments since I caught them in the bedroom earlier. I see Naru watching Mai through hooded eyes, and offer up a quiet prayer for poor Mai's future.

'Lin!' Naru starts up.

'During lunch break, I'll be driving over to Mai's place to cancel her lease. Let's make sure to close up a little early too.'

At this, Mai chokes a little on the last bite of bread, and she glances furtively at Naru. I pause for a moment for further explanations I knew wouldn't come. I turn my head a little to look at my charge and sees him smirking at the still sputtering Mai. Feeling a little sense of foreboding, I still ask…

"May I inquire as to why to both of your previous statements?"

Naru just nonchalantly replies back with: 'Mai is moving in with us, and I want to close early so we can come back and get everything unpacked sooner.'

A coffee cup breaks.

"Naru-"

'Lin. Think about it. It's for her own protection. She doesn't have anyone looking out for her and it'll help her out financially as well.'

"Noll, I never pegged you as someone who is so generous." I sarcastically responded. I was speaking in English in order to cover up a little of our conversation from Mai.

To both Naru and my surprise, she started giggling at my comment.

Responding with English, 'No Lin, I never pegged him as the generous kind either.'

Silence…

"Taniyama-san, I was not aware you spoke fluent English. I apologize if I have offended you."

'Well truthfully, there are quite a few things none of you are aware of, but I guess with the way things are progressing, I really should stop holding back.'

She turns back to look at Naru.

'Right Oliver?'

Now a stunned silence.

'How did you find out?' Naru asks switching back into Japanese.

'Gene?'

'He let 'Noll' slip and I was able to figure out the rest. I'm very sorry to disappoint, but I'm really not as dense as you make me out to be Naru.'

Naru and Mai are now locked into a staring and smirking contest.

Glancing at the wall I notice the time.

"Taniyama-san, it is already 7:22. Perhaps it will be wise to hurry and finish getting ready. We need to leave by 7:45 to get to the office on time."

'Ah! My apologies Lin-san!'

Naru gets up and indicates Mai to follow him. As he watches them both leave the kitchen, Lin can't help but feel that the steady rock he thought he knew Naru as, was turning into a turtle that got up and started walking. Sighing, he turns around and cleans up the broken coffee pieces from the sink and tosses them into the trash. Naru walks back in with Mai trailing behind him.

"Shall we go now?" A tired Lin asked. The day has just started and I already feel exhausted.

All three proceeded to exit the condo and as he was locking up he finally notices that Mai is wearing one of Naru's black shirts. Glancing at Naru, he notices that he has a rather satisfied smile ghosting his face.

Sigh…my worries just keep piling up.

The drive to the office was thankfully uneventful. Once entering the office, Naru immediately proceeds into his office calling for tea as he goes.

'Hai, hai , you tea-loving narcissist!' answers a grumbling Mai.

I retreat to the semi-sanctuary of my office hoping to avoid any further drama until lunch at least.

Mai's POV:

Well I guess it's time to get this show on the road! Naru'll want to know about Gene being able to communicate ASAP.

As she goes about filling the kettle with water and getting the tea supplies in place, Mai thinks about all the many bizarre things happening lately and starts to feel a sense of apprehension.

It really was just so much easier before I met him. School, friends, ghost stories, shopping trips after school, and etc. Can I really make it through whatever is coming? If what Gene says about my family is true, how was it that I wasn't searched for and found after all these years?

Sighing she sets the kettle onto the stove range to start letting it boil. Remembering she needed to hire movers, she left the kitchen and made her way to her desk. After searching online for a little, she found a company with pretty decent customer feedback and printed out the information to run it by Naru later. Hearing the whistle of the kettle she went back to finish preparing the tea. After settling everything onto a tray she first went to Lin's office to drop his tea off first.

Knock, knock…

'Enter.' Replied a monotonous Lin.

Mai entered and placed Lin's tea on a cleared spot on his otherwise overflowing with clutter desk. She paused for a moment when it struck her that it was just the two of them alone now.

"Lin?"

As per his usual behavior, Lin continued to type away rapidly without looking up. He just made a barely perceptive nod to indicate he was even paying attention to the now nervous girl.

"A-about what you walked in on this morning…uumm..hmmm. Do you by chance have any clue as to why Naru is acting so…well, not 'Naru'? It feels as if some randy ghost went and possessed him or something!"

After a long pause, Lin peeks at her through the corner of his non hair-covered eye. Yep. She was blushing a new shade of red.

'Sigh. This girl really is so innocent despite all the gore she's been exposed to.' He thought.

The quiet Chinese man truly is biased against the Japanese and he really doesn't care if being biased like that is a sign of small-mindedness. Yet, this troublesome bundle of peppiness called Mai Taniyama really has rubbed off on him. He's come to care and worry for her like anyone would with someone as characteristically naïve she is. Despite all the horrors and cruelty she's had to witness, she's still able to view the world through a rose-tinted view and smile like she never had a worry in the world. But getting back on subject…

Grimacing a little as he replies, 'I am in just as much perplexed as you are Taniyama-san. I can however, assure you that he isn't possessed. Now whether or not, he's suffered some sort of mental ailment, I do not know. As nerve-wracking as it is, I suppose Noll still is just a 17 year old teenage boy.'

"I-I suppose that makes a little bit of sense. However, if he was to join the rest of humanity and partake of this thing called a romantic-relationship, don't you think he would've chosen someone, well, you know…more, more?"

'Well, unless you ask him, or he decides to share his thoughts on these matters, we shall never know shall we? Either way, I think it's best to give him his tea before his strange behavior turns stranger.'

"Of course. Thank you for your time Lin-san." Mai sighs out and moves to leave.

Before she closes the door she hears him say:

'Of course, he is human after all, so I suppose we need to understand that seeking companionship is something all humans do. Whether it is often or very rarely we still all do so. However, if the one he is reaching out to is one such as you, there just may be some hope left for his empty soul.'

Turning to take once last glance at him, Mai closes the door and wonders whether to feel exhilarated or dubious about Lin's roundabout way of saying she is a good candidate for Naru.

"Can I really handle someone like Naru? I may gripe about his arrogance and narcissistic ways all the time, but truthfully he really is entitled to it. He's absolutely brilliant, confident, handsome, and because he doesn't breeze through women like a playboy, anyone that got chosen by him should feel like they won some sort of worldwide prize. So, am I really good enough? Can I keep his affections? What if he chose me because I'm a regular plain Jane and he just wanted to see what it would be like?"

Sighing because she just can't seem to figure anything out lately she knocks and enters Naru's office to deliver his tea.

"Naru, your tea." She says and places it on his desk.

As usual, he's engrossed in reading something and makes no move to acknowledge her or even thank her for her efforts.

Sighing again, because this has been an on-going battle of manners, will power, and dominance, she decides to let things slide today.

"I found a moving company that looks pretty decent, but wanted your approval before officially contacting them." After saying that she lays the print out on his desk next to his tea and moves to leave.

She stops at the door, hand on the doorknob, back facing towards him, and asks…

"Why?"

No answer, but the silence this time was filled with awareness. She knew full well that he was paying attention now.

"When did I get to the point where I know him so well? Even when his face always shows the same impassive, bored look. I can tell when he feels different. Now, without even looking at him, I can sense the direction of his thoughts."

"Why did you kiss me this morning? Why were you angry with me? Why suddenly asking me, no, telling me to move in? You've never shown the slightest worry of my well being before. So, why?"

Turning, she finds him still reading (at least she thinks he really is). Feeling frustrated, she jerks the door open, but he stops her.

'I don't know.' He whispers.

'For once I do not know. I cannot logically explain the kiss. I know my reasons for your moving in, but the kiss I don't know. I figured if anything happens to you, I'd be without my tea. As to the other part…curiosity? You are the one person linking me to Gene. I cannot possible let you go, now can I?'

"Everything he's saying is hurting me. As if he's using my situation and my feelings to keep me to him till all the answers of Gene are answered. But, what happens after that? My tea? Ha! Don't make me laugh! Yet, there's something about the way he's saying everything. He's not looking at me with a 'Why do I have to explain such an easy thing?' expression. No, in fact he turned his head away, and he's speaking in such a low murmur. Can it be like Gene said? Do I really make him 'feel?' Will he really stop functioning without me? Geez, is my tea really that good? Or…"

'This company looks acceptable. Go ahead and make the arrangements. I want expedited service and I don't care about the cost.'

Mai looks up from her musings to see that Naru was telling her to go ahead with the moving company she chose.

"I understand."

Walking out she says…"By the way, Naru. I don't know where this is going, but please put some thought into your actions from now on. I know you see me as an unnecessary human that takes up space on this planet, but I am still a human being. Do not toy with my emotions. If you want something of me, please just come out and say it! I prefer you ask me nicely, but demanding something of me is still better than being played into it. You say curiosity, but I'll tell you right now. After everything that's happened in my life, I think I've done moderately well to withstand it all and force myself to keep standing in spite of it all. However, I don't know if I have enough to see my crush for you turn into full-blown love only to watch it be written off lightly as curiosity. At least give me the most basic of courtesies to allow it not to come to that. Another thing, it seems like Gene and I can converse freely during my waking times as well. So after you've reflected a bit on our situation, please let me know when you wish to speak with him, and I'll try my best to accommodate."

With that, she left a silent Naru to his thoughts.

Naru's POV:

"This is getting more and more complicated. I actually can't look my own assistant in the eye. I think I just may be feeling something for her. As ridiculous as it is, it seems my human 'heart' refuses to listen to logic. Sigh…she can converse with Gene freely now it seems. I need to get her to talk to him soon. Still, I really don't want to leave my office right now.

Taking his tea, Naru ponders over everything Mai's said.

"She really is amazing if you think about it. Her resilience at least. No matter what I think of her intelligence, there really aren't that many people that can stay around me and carry affection for me. I call her a nuisance and an idiot, but….if she were to disappear…I. Don't. Think. I. Can? She matters! When did that happen? She said she had a crush on me, but I don't think I can honestly feel happy. Does she truly feel that way for me? Or, is it Gene? Am I feeling jealous for my deceased brother? I refuse to be a substitute."

Reaching for his tea, he finishes it in four gulps and goes to find his troublesome potential love candidate.

Opening his office door he finds her on the phone with the movers and that it's about 8:30AM now. The loud ones will probably be here around 11AM or so, so he has some time to ask her questions before they arrive. He reminds himself to tell her not to mention anything about his identity or his brother to the others.

Leaning against his door he watches her as she brings the conversation to a close and marvels at the light that's bouncing off her hair turning it into a glowing auburn color.

"Was her hair always that color?" he thought. "I used to think it was a plain brown color. Her face shows everything she's feeling. I can never get tired of watching her. She's so genuine. It's like her whole reason for her existence is to purify any space she occupies. Especially those hearts of the people she touches. Thinking back, Mai really does make everyone feel at ease. All the clients gravitate to her. It's gotten to the point where it's easier to get information out of people just by standing back and watch her converse with them. I doubt even she's realized that though I may start any interviews, she's the one that eventually takes over. I had thought it was just easier because I don't have to socialize with anyone. But, there's just something relaxing about listening to her talk. Especially when she's trying to put someone at ease. Her voice takes on this calming melodic quality. It's quite hypnotizing."

Realizing that she's staring at him as he stares at her, he straightens and calls for tea again. Grinning inwardly at her grumblings as she moves to make the tea, he walks over to Lin's office and tells him to come out to the lounge area.

After a few minutes Mai walks back in with a tray of tea and passes them to the two quiet males.

"Mai. You said you can now converse freely with Gene?"

At this Lin gives a startled look towards Mai.

'Her powers have grown again?' he thought.

Nodding her response, she pauses for a moment, and then…

'Yes. Gene says that I can proceed with any questioning you may have.'

Closing his eyes for a moment. Naru wonders where to start. When he had those dreams revealing Gene's death he was frantic to try and find a way to communicate with him. He had used mediums he knew of from England and Japan to try and contact him. Even Lin's summoning spells weren't able to establish a connection, and now…Opening his eyes, he looks at Mai and realizes that fate really thrown a lot of signs his way. Opening his mouth, he begins the hardest interview of his life as of yet….

Lin sat there with his trusty laptop and tapped away everything that was being said. He made sure everything was being recorded accurately down to the last detail. As he did so, he made personal notations that he would later remove and add to a personal file. There were things that needed to be on record, and some things better left unknown to the EPS, short for England's Paranormal Society. He sat there and observed Naru as he questioned Mai. It was a repetition of him asking her a question and her pausing as if listening to Gene before responding. By 10AM, Mai told Naru that Gene had said all he was planning to say for now, thus concluding the initial session.

From that session they learned that Mai is the rightful heir to an ancient bloodline of psychics, the Saionjis.

Mai's POV:

"I'm still trying to absorb everything we've just learned." She said.

She could still see and feel the images running through her mind like a forgotten memory. As Gene filled her in on her background, she saw the past in a haze of smoke and the touch of times of old...

'The Saionjis have been around for centuries upon centuries. The very first Saionji in recorded memory was Miko Saionji. She was without family and no one knew where she came from. She just showed up one day, a petite beauty with a soft voice and eyes that told of untold mysteries, and started advising the Emperor of the time. Because of her unique abilities to draw energy from the elements and influence them as well, she became established as the first 'Miko'. The Miko's you know about through history and now came to be because of her teachings.

After aiding the Emperor to establish order and peace, she was approached by the Emperor with an offer of a match with his first son, the heir apparent to the throne. The Emperor had wished to shower Miko with gratitude and ask for her continued guidance. However, the gentle and shy Miko didn't wish to be an Empress, so she respectfully declined the generous offer. The heir apparent, after finding out was upset because he wanted to merge their bloodlines and build a stronger empire, but accepted her decision, because though he wanted to merge their blood together, he couldn't stomach the idea of someone, especially a 'woman' holding mystical powers.

That was when the second son of the Emperor approached Miko and asked for her hand. He was never the 'leader' type, but he greatly respected Miko's powers and truthfully was quite enthralled by her. For though she had powers and knowledge no man could understand, she was still a gentle woman. One that gave aide when needed, and tried hard to be a pacifist. This contradicting woman completely captured his fascination. Being suitably courted by the second prince, Miko accepted his offer and happily became his royal bride.

Soon, to the delight of the happy couple, they were blessed by the birth of twin girls. As their daughters grew, the second prince discovered that though he wasn't blessed with inborn talents of the elemental arts, he was able to attain a level of power through meditation and peace. Discovering this, made the heir apparent rather anxious. He did not care much for Miko's powers because despite everything, she was still a 'woman.' However, his little brother on the other hand, he had the potential to overthrow his right as heir. Especially since the people loved the second prince far more than the heir. Now the first prince was not a tyrant mind you, but the darkness had whispered to him of how inferior he was to his younger princely brother. Soon, the first prince became obsessed with obtaining the happiness the second prince had and with removing the second prince as a potential threat to his empire.

Sensing disturbances in his meditation, the second heir approached his aniue for guidance. Without fully understanding the dangers he was in. The second prince was asked if he would do anything for the sake of the empire and the heir apparent. To this, of course the second prince said he would without a thought of the betrayal he would later suffer.

On the eve of a full moon, units from the heir apparent's personal guard ambushed the second prince's manor and subdued the family. Everyone, save the second prince, his daughters, and his royal wife Miko were slaughtered without a thought. Arriving in the aftermath, the first prince approached the family and gently informed them of the Emperor's passing. To their horror, they realized that the first prince was tainted by the whispers that darkness uses to lure humans to insanity. Rushing to save his family, the second prince casted shielding spells and for the first time ever, exorcism spells. Sadly, the exorcism didn't work, but they had enough time to flee. Begging his royal wife to forgive his actions, he entrusted their daughters to her protection. Using their daughters as leverage, he made her flee, if only for them, she had to survive.

Soon, the first prince found the energy drained second prince and in a rage, sheared his hair off his head, and brought him back to the capital as a hostage. For days and days, and night upon night the first prince, now the official Emperor, taunted the second prince. 'Your attempts to protect them are useless. Soon your royal wife will belong to me. And through her, I will sire offspring that will inherit my strength and her powers. Your daughters will be given as treaty offerings. Little brother of mine, all of yours will soon become mine to do with as I please.' Continuously meditating, and ignoring the poison filled food given to him, the second prince soon came to enlightenment. Finally, one night he passed away, but with his soul still untainted, he sent himself to his royal wife.

That night, the full moon had risen yet again, but this time it was stained black. Miko, feeling the loss in her soul, fell upon her daughters hugging them closely in agony. Feeling a tingling sensation she felt her beloved's soul trying to comfort her. Standing, she looked up at the blackened moon and called upon the elements of wind. With a great strength, she commanded the wind to wipe the surface of the moon and restore it to its glory. After doing so, her beloved's soul ascended, leaving his knowledge implanted into his daughters. His teachings later made him known as the first Monk. For his road was harsh and ended unjustly, yet his sacrifices were willingly given.

Many years later, others that were mysteriously aided by a set of twin beauties overthrew the Emperor. Those beauties passed down the teachings of Miko and Monk. Without a man to support her, Miko taught her daughters and established the traditions of females being the ultimate power of her bloodline. Through the centuries, Mai, your ancestors continued to evolve and grown in knowledge as well as power. To this day, they still aide the highest members of society.

Surprisingly, when it came to your grandmother, she gave birth to a set of male twins. Because females were always born and made the rightful heir, this birth caused quite a commotion in the family. After much debate, it was decided that male or not, their leader's children should still be the heir. To this, of course the first one out of the womb was the heir apparent.

Mai, your father was not supposed to take over the family at all. Yet, his powers surpassed his older brother's. However, he rebelled against the wishes of the main and branch families and ventured out to seek more knowledge. Along the way, he met your mother. Now most powerful psychics and mediums were normally brought to the Saionji's attention, and if it was determined that they could bring something or worth to the family, they were often married in, one way or the other. Oddly, your mother somehow was able to stay clear off their radar. She was truly unexpected. She was a medium able to communicate no matter the situation. Most powerful mediums while not fully understanding all languages can sometimes deduce what the spirits want to say by feeling. However, your mother was able to be a master spirit linguist, thus understanding them at all times, and being able to feel their thoughts 100% too! Soon she was able to speak multiple languages fluently due to constant foreign spirit exposure.

By the time your father brought your mother home, his powers had grown again, and he had become a master Onmoyouji even though he wasn't born as one. Your grandmother, though upset at not being able to perform a blessed union for your parents, nonetheless welcomed your mother. Soon you were born and all the families witnessed your enormous power and the potential for more at your birth. For during your birth, your power caused all the elements to take turn acknowledging you. Wind tore through the province and sang of your coming. It joined Water and created the great tsunami that occurred that year of your birth. Luckily, Earth rose quickly and blocked the brunt of the damage. That was the mysterious creation of the Lover's Cape. And lastly, Fire erupted on your form and cleansed the signs of your birth till you were clean. And that was just the Four Great Elements too! Not to mention the trees whispering in welcome, and animals bowing and calling out in joy.

Your birth made your grandmother fear the stress that would take its toll on your small body and performed a sealing along with your parents. Despite the joyous occasion of having the most powerful being yet to be born into the Saionji family since the daughters of Miko and Monk, your older uncle was displeased. It seemed like the old story all over again. You uncle wanted the respected seat of heir apparent, and more importantly, he wanted your mother. But this time, unlike the previous, he didn't dismiss your mother off as a 'woman', because she was 'the' woman. Yes, corny as it is, he fell in love with her at first sight. After your birth, your uncle tried to act like his younger twin and trick her into falling for him, but she clearly knew the differences between brothers like night and day. She truly did care for your uncle, but only because your father had adored him so much. To your father, he was always respectable, intelligent, dependable, and kind.

Being frustrated with not being able to get the woman he wanted and annoyed that all the attention was on his irresponsible younger brother, he unintentionally let the darkness into his soul. His powers became tainted and he was unable to distinguish right from wrong. He forced you and your parents out of the house and soon you were all on the run. Your parents changed their name from Saionji to Taniyama, and made to live as low key as possible. However, one thing that your uncle was able to do that your father wasn't able to, was to obtain Shikis. After much searching, his Shikis found your parents and made many attempts at them. One Shiki was finally able to cause your father's accident that led to his death. However, all those years of searching from a distance and the added power used from destroying your father finally took it's toll on your uncle and he himself was destroyed. But, before he took his last breath he sent out his last Shiki with a curse attached to find you and your mother. As you know, a few years later, your mother passed away as well. That was because she saw the Shiki and took the curse upon herself and left behind a strong warding charm.'

"A warding charm?" I was finally drawn out of the spell of the story long enough to be curious about what my mom left with me.

'Hai. That key of your old house she gave you? Your father had enchanted it when they bought the house, and upon his passing, your mother gave her own set of blessings upon it.'

"After all this time, I was protected by them, weren't I?" I was unaware of my crying until I uttered that sentence.

'Yes, Mai. You were wanted, cared for, worried about, and loved. You parents and your grandmother only wanted to keep you safe.'

"Gene…."

I look over to see the thoughtful expressions on Naru and Lin's faces and just didn't know how to take it all. After hearing the story so far, Lin looks stunned, and Naru, well Naru.

Sighing, I turn to ask if Naru wants to know anything else, but Gene stops me.

'Mai. You're exhausted from keeping up the connection for this long. What Naru needs to know can wait till next time. However, I will end with this. That curse that your mother took upon herself, it unfortunately didn't disappear along with her. The Shiki was broken down to the point of a miniscule existence. But after all this time, it was reborn as a Shiki still in order to carry out its last mission. For the curse was aimed at both your mother and you after all. So that's why I wanted to start you off learning those particular things from Lin. It's the basic self defense for you in this type of situation. Do you understand now?'

"Hai."

'Good now rest up and please be careful. We'll talk again soon.'

"Mmm. Talk to you later Gene."

'Oh yeah, by the way. Good luck with your new roommates! You might want to ask Lin for a padlock on the inside of your door though!' he chirped out teasingly, startling Mai after the rather somber past hour and a half.

"Shud-dup Gene!"

Turning to look at Naru. She tells him that she really needs to rest before leaving for lunch because she was so exhausted. Seeing her weary face, he decided against pushing her to talk to Gene more and told her to rest on the sofa in his office.

"Why? The couch here is ok."

'The annoying ones will be here soon. You won't be able to get any rest that way.' He replied.

"Wow. You can actually make logical calls for the best interest for someone!" she chirps out.

Naru just gives her a funny look and turns to confer with Lin. Not wanting to waste any more energy on teasing Naru, Mai went and did as Naru suggested. As she laid there, she couldn't help but reach and tug the necklace around her neck. She pulled the necklace out to reveal her parents' house key attached to it. Holding it tight, she finally succumbed to a peaceful, dreamless slumber.

OK! I know this was a long one huh? I was typing away at this in a trance, and now I'm so sleepy I have no idea what I'm doing! I tried to make as much sense as possible and hope there aren't too many errors! But if the tenses and spelling is all over the place, forgive me! I was trying really hard to type as fast as I could to keep up with the images in my head. Again, thank you for bearing with me! Please RxR and let me know if I should continue this story line! I'm having fun with it, but if it sucks I don't want to waste readers' time with it! 3me!