Next Chapter up! Sorry for delay, traveling… summer work… :P not fun

Anyway! I do NOT own Ghost Hunt or its characters!

-Monday April 19-

8:18 AM

April, 2011: Case Evaluation

Case: 1

Begin: April 19, 2011

End: -

Description/results: -

Additional Information: -

Mai looked over the document that she was required to bring on every case since things had changed the previous year*. It was the April Evaluation and each month they would get a different document. It was the first case of the month, usually they didn't get more than two, and Mai was not in one bit of a hurry to work today.

All weekend she had to go through the usual routine before a case. First, she had to do the dreaded task of packing: Mai went through nearly everything she owned to find clothes that still fit and she had to check her bag four times to make sure she left nothing behind. Oddly enough every time she checked she was missing at least one critical object whether it is pajamas, cameras, paperwork, and once she even forgot the Case Evaluation document. She got such a lashing from Naru that now she just has it in her pocket at all times, neatly folded.

The second part of her before-case-routine was getting school permission. Yasu and she had to get school permission for trips. Even though they allowed jobs, they were skeptical about 'business trips' as they liked to call them. This was Mai's least favorite part. It involved a lot of paperwork, doctor's notes, and calls back and forth from Naru. It amazed Mai how Naru could put up with the constant calls from the school, some not even relevant to permission to leave school. Sometimes the teachers or principle just lash out at Naru; telling him that it was an irresponsible profession and it was unnecessary and stupid. Naru and his employees' school were not on great terms that April after a nasty phone call so it took a bit more to allow them to leave school for the case.

Finally, after all that she had to meet her boss and the rest of her friends in front of the SPR front door, which she was currently running down the street with her duffle bag over her shoulder trying to get to before she was late. She folded the document and put it in her left back pocket of her jeans and ran up to her friends once she arrived, "I'm here," she panted, "Sorry…I'm late…" She said huffing and puffing.

"Gosh kiddo; why the big rush?" Monk asked, taking her duffle bag and putting it in the back of the SPR van which was parked along the street next to them.

"Well, I didn't…want to be late…" Mai groaned and sat on the sidewalk, catching her breath. The bell to the SPR door rang when the door opened, and everyone turned to see Naru with the last of the paperwork, no doubt some kind of information about the case, walking out of the building.

"Mai, you're late." He said coolly, "I would have expected you to come on time at least once in your life."

"Well for your information, I was kind of busy talking to my principle on the phone," Mai stood up and crossed her arms, "Which somebody got a call from yesterday and completely ignored!" Everyone stared at Naru. It was true, she received a call right before she left. She had to apologize on Naru's behalf and it slowed her down by nearly an hour. Mai had planned to get there early but because of Naru, she was nearly twenty minutes late.

"What can I say? The woman was quite persistent about you staying back. I had to give her a piece of my mind; it would have been unfair to lie to her." Naru simply pushed by Mai and sat in the passenger's seat in the van.

"Why you little—" Mai started but was cut off my John.

"Now now, let's not get too angry. Come on Mai calm down." John walked over to Mai and reassured her that it wasn't her fault. Ayako and Monk started to laugh and Masako just giggled behind her kimono. Some things will never change, John thought, but I do wish Mai wouldn't lose her temper so much…

12:36 pm

They had been on the road for an hour now and mostly everyone was asleep. Lin and Naru were up front, Masako, Mai, and Yasu were in the back, and Monk, Ayako and John were in another car, following behind the SPR van. Masako was against sitting next to Mai, so Yasu just sat in between them to shut them up. Masako was sitting behind Naru and though she would never admit it, she was upset since she couldn't see his face. Both of them (Yasu and Masako) had fallen asleep during the first half hour.

Mai had never liked car rides, and this was no exception. She didn't like the bumpy roads or the hard seats; naturally she couldn't fall asleep so she just stared out the window. Hills and highways passed and it was nearly forty-five minutes before Mai got bored. I should have brought a book or something… I didn't know the car ride would take this long… I wonder what Naru's doing to keep himself occupied. Mai quickly glanced at Yasu and Masako who were deep in sleep then looked at her boss from an angle, who was sitting calmly in the passenger's seat. To Mai's surprise he was asleep. I've never seen him sleeping before… Mai thought. Before she even knew it she found herself staring at him. Not just his face but his hair, his shoulders, any part of him she could see through the corner of her eye.

A deep blush came to her face when she recalled her and Lin's conversation from a few days prior. "You're in love with Naru." Lin had said. She then thought about Gene. She was told by Naru once that she was in love with Gene. Looking back on it now, her feelings were clear. Gene was a friend, a good friend who helped her out a lot, but he was nothing more than that. It was Naru she loved. Looking at Naru's sleeping face, she wondered how she could have ever fallen in love with him, and after all, he was a jerk most of the time. Before she could think more on the idea, Naru started to stir when the van hit a large bump. Yasu and Masako also woke up, groaning and whipping their eyes as they did so. "Rise and shine!" Mai mocked.

Yasu groaned one more time and cracked his neck. "You didn't fall asleep?"

"No, I can't sleep in cars. It's too uncomfortable." Mai smiled and looked at Masako, who was still half asleep, leaning against the window.

"How long have we been on the road for?" Yasu looked at his wrist, only to realize that he had forgotten his watch at home.

"Uh," Mai looked at her own watch, "It's nearly 3:20." Yasu whistled.

"That's a long time, no wonder my neck is stiff…"

"Well, we are almost there. About five minutes or so now left." Lin said from behind the wheel in the front.

"That's good, if I am in this car any longer I might throw up!" Yasu imitated puking which made Mai laugh a little. Naru glanced for a miniscule fraction of a second at Mai, and almost smiled to himself.

The pulled the van into an, in Mai's opinion, a beautiful mansion estate. There was a large garden visible from the driveway and even a gazebo. There was a small pond in the front yard too, which was equally as big. A quaint little bridge connecting to a path that went through the garden in the back was over the pond too, there were little ducks swimming around underneath it.

Monk pulled up the blue BMW up next to the van and parked. "Some place…" He said when he got out and stood next to Mai, who had just gotten out of the van.

"It's amazing, I can't believe how isolated it is, I didn't see any other houses for miles on the way over." Mai turned around only to see Ayako and John getting out of the blue car, Ayako did not look too happy and John was trying to calm her down. Poor John, why do I feel like he is always the one who gets to play the friendship counselor? Mai thought to herself. She assumed that Monk and Ayako got in a fight again; it always seemed that they were at each other's throats.

"Ah, welcome! I'm glad you're here!" Said a voice from behind them, they all turned to see a relatively short man. He was old, around well into his 60's; he had salt and pepper color hair, and wore a blue polo shirt and grey pants. He looked like he was about to go golfing somewhere fancy. "I am Hatsu Minoru. I trust your trip was well?"

Naru walked up to the man and shook his hand. "It was quite well. I assume that we can get started as soon as possible?"

"Ah, yes, yes. Of course!" The man motioned them toward the house. Bring your luggage with you too; I have three rooms ready for you. One for the gentlemen, one for the ladies, and one for… what did you call it? You're base?"

"Yes, thank you."

When the group finished getting settled in the bedrooms and finished setting up base, it was well after 8:30 PM. Mr. Minoru offered dinner to them and they would be sharing the meal at 9 o'clock. It was fairly late for dinner but since they had been busy all day there wouldn't have been any other time to eat.

"Come on Ayako, we are going to be late for dinner!" Mai shouted. She was standing in the door frame f the girls' room, Masako next to her. Ayako was in the bathroom after taking what seemed to be the longest shower ever.

"I'm coming!" She said as she finally came out dressed, her hair still slightly damp. They started walking over to the dining room in silence.

"This place is so pretty…" Mai finally said, more to herself than the others.

"I think it's kind of creepy." Ayako said, faking a shiver, "I mean, we are all alone out here. Only one person lives in the huge house too. Don't you think that's kind of strange?"

Mai laughed. "Sounds like you're sca-red."

"I am not scared! I just don't think it's normal…" Ayako averted her eyes from Mai's. Mai was still laughing.

"I sense a spirit here. It's restless." Masako stopped walking and brought her sleeve to cover her mouth as she spoke. Ayako and Mai stopped to look at her. "The spirit here; it's holding a grudge."

"Are you sure?" Ayako asked. Masako nodded.

"It wants blood…" She whispered her eyes wide. Ayako and Mai could only imagine what she was seeing at that moment.

Me: And the case has started! Thanks for all the views so far :3

Mai: I swear in all these chapters I sound like a love-sick puppy

Me: Well are you? *nudge nudge wink wink*

Mai: Am not! *blush*

-Naru enters-

Naru: Why is your face all red? Did I miss something?

Mai: Nothing! Nothing at all! I was just telling the readers to read & review!

Me: Well I could have done that myself…