After setting up the final camera in Hachi and Kaito's room, I finally made my way back to base. My shoulders were aching a little because Naru had brought one of his special cameras that came equipped with everything; night vision, infared…. Something else long and complicated that Naru had briefly explained…

Anyway, on my way back, I thought about our current situation. Kanako-sensei had decided to take the kids camping (more to keep them safe than anything else), so we had the house all to ourselves for the investigation. Also, Ayako, John, and Yasu had arrived, so everyone was filled in on the situation.

This was the situation:

As of yet, there was only one death in this house; the younger niece of the previous tenant (which was one of the many reason why they decided to sell the orphanage).

In the beginning, toys would disappear and furniture would be out of place, but Kanako-sensei thought it was only the children.

Then, the children began to be covered in unexplainable bruises and scratches.

Soon after, Kiri had been playing the boy's room when she felt a sudden pain on her legs, which was discovered to be 3 long gashes that had appeared out of thin air.

Finally, Kanako-sensei had had enough when Hachi had nearly been pulled under his bed by what he said were shadows.

Inwardly, I sighed. It was always sad when kids were involved with ghosts and death. Sure it was fun at Halloween, but everyday life – with real experiences – was never funny. Being orphaned on top of that worse. Not that that was an excuse, of course! But it was a bit exsesive…

Shaking my head of all thoughts, I opened the door and walked into base. From what I could see, John and Ayako were still setting up their equipement because they hadn't returned yet. Lin, of course, was typing away at his computer while keeping an eye on the screens. And Naru… well, would he really be Naru if he WASN'T looking through the files in his notebook?

"Hey, Mai! All done?"

I turned around to see Yasu smiling from one of the two couches in the room. "Yeah, I just finished," I said, walking over to him. He patted the empty seat next to him, so I went and plopped down onto the couch beside him. "How's everything here?" I asked, rubbing my shoulders.

"Same as always, I'm afraid," he said as he made me turn around. Before I could protest, he starting rubbing my shoulders in such an effective way that I found nothing to complain about. Behind me, he sighed. "Man, I wish Monk would get here soon."

I looked back at him. "Why?" I asked, more than slightly confused.

Yasu grinned. "Because he's so fun to tease, that's why!" I could help but laugh at that, remembering the many times he's pulled stunts on Monk.

It was then that I heard the unmistakeable snap of a notebook closing and what could have been an irritable sigh from my boss (it was hard to tell from this distance). Both Yasu and I turned to look at Naru, who was all but glaring at us. "I suggest that you both do something productive instead of wasting our valuable time with idle chatter and shoulder massages." He gestured to the EMF's and clipboard placed on the table in front of us. I huffed as I picked them both up. I should have expected it from Mr. Workaholic.

"Come on, Yasu," I said as we got up from the couch.

And just before we left the base, I heard Naru call out from behind me, "And Mai?"

"Yes, Naru?" I asked wearily, knowing what was coming.

"Bring me some tea before you get started."

~,~'~,~'~,~

While Yasu started taking temperature readings, I was in the kitchen, making yet another batch of tea. Honestly, that was pretty much all I did in this job. Well, that and attract ghost like honey does flies… but that's beside the point!

As I let the water boil, I thought about this case. Well, not exactly the case itself. More, what would happen after it. For the past few days, I've been wondering what I could say to Naru to convince him and Lin to stay. Or at least come back once they finished up in England. I knew that going was an absolute must, because it was so important. But that didn't mean they couldn't come back, right?

But even then, I couldn't help but wonder. I mean, Gene was really the only reason why Naru was here in Japan at all, right? If he hadn't come searching for his brother, I would have never met him. And Gene was also probably the only reason why he stayed. Now that he found him, Naru had no more reason to stay.

And I guess that kind of hurt. Because, as much as I loved Naru, I doubted that I could make him stay. No-Not that I was going to give up that easily! I just meant that… it would be hard. Because as far as I was aware of, Naru didn't think of me as that important in his life. Maybe his tea slave… which was both a blessing and a curse, in a way…

I shook my head and slapped my face. Too hard. Again. "Ow….." I moaned slightly. I reeaaallly had to stop doing that. But I also had to stop thinking so depressionally. I mean, what was with that lately? I NEVER think like that! Argh, it has to be the case!

"I don't care what it takes!" I said to myself, lifting a fist in the air. "I WILL make him come back!" Of course, it was at that moment that I noticed the water boiling, and me, trying to keep it from making a mess, burning myself thereby ruining my moment.

"Hee hee hee…."

I whirled around, seeing nothing but an empty hallway. That was strange. I could have sworn I had heard someone laughing just now….. straining my ears, I could make out what sounded like feet padding down the hall. Quickly, I ran out of the kitchen.

"Wait!" I called out. But when I got there,, the hallway was just as empty as it had been before. Okay, now that was starting to get creepy….

"HELLO!" Someone shouted from the entrance, nearly scaring the socks off of me. Of course, I calmed down once I realised that it was only Monk.

"Hey, Monk! Bout time you showed up!" I said as I turned a corner. And froze.

Because next to a smiling Monk-who-didn't-look-like-a-monk was a little boy with blond hair and startling blue eyes…..

"Hi Miss Mai! I'm back!" Timmy said as he smiled up at me.


Mae: WAHHHHH! I'm running out of time! It's the apocalypse! I'm gonna diiiiiiieeeeeee!

Naru: What are you going on about this time?

Mae: *sniff* I'm starting school in a week... AND THIS CHAPTER IS TOO SHORT FOR MY LIKING!

Naru:...

Mai: No! I think it's fine!

Mae:*sniff* really?

Mai: Sure!

Mae: :3

Lin:... what a strange author. And she doesn't own Ghost Hunt.

Mae: O.o Did Lin just... speak?