Yo, I'm seriously sorry guys! You would not believe how bad my writer's block was! I mean, I couldn't write anything! I've been working on this chapter since mid-July and I only just finished it. Unfortunately, the writer's block isn't gone yet, but hopefully I can get past it a little and continue to update regularly.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt or any of its characters. In other words, nothing you recognize belongs to me.

Shin Konata was feeling restless. Wait, was that even possible? Could spirits feel restlessness? Shin wasn't really sure, but he did know one thing: something was telling him to check up on those that were in the house. He knew they'd all be asleep right now, considering it was nearly four thirty in the morning, but still, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong.

Slowly Shin began his tour of the house, checking up on the occupants one by one. As he did this, he got the strangest feeling. He felt as if he were being watched. But…that didn't make sense. He was a spirit, not one could be watching him, since no one should be able to see him…unless…unless it was another spirit.

It was so strange. He didn't understand it. And because he didn't understand it, he tried to ignore it. Finally reaching the last room, he floated through the door and approached the bed. There, he saw Mai contently sleeping in Naru's arms. Shin wasn't sure how he felt about that. Though it may have been through adoption, Mai was still his little sister. The little sister he had sacrificed his life for. She meant allot to him and he really hoped Mai had given her heart out to the right person. Though somewhere deep down, if spirits had a deep down, Shin knew Mai would have made the right choice. She wasn't your average girl, after all.

Despite him still feeling as if he were being observed, Shin was now satisfied that everyone was alright and allowed himself to return to the darkness for the time being. But before he could fully fade away into that nothingness…

"Mai! Mai!"

Mai shot up in her bed, chocking on her own sobs. Naru was seated next to her with a hand on her back and the other on her shoulder, trying to calm her down.

"Breathe, Mai, breathe… That's it, slowly…" This wasn't exactly a skill Naru excelled at, but he was pleased when upon following his instructions, the girl began to calm.

After taking a few more deep breaths, Mai was finally calm enough to both think and speak properly. And the very first thing she did was grab Naru's hand and say, "Jack's spirit has devoured the spirits of Ryou-niichan and May! He…he's getting stronger, Naru…"

Naru's eyes widened in surprise. He had not expected to hear that. He gave Mai a sharp look, silently demanding that she tell him how she knew this.

"It was in my dream," she replied, flopping back down. "I…I saw it happen. Gene was there too and he explained everything to me. He…he told me what I had just seen…what Jack had just done."

"…It seems Jack will be doing something soon," Naru finally said. "I believe he devoured those two spirits in order to prepare. You said it yourself that he's gaining strength."

"But what's he planning on doing?" asked Mai in confusion.

Naru allowed himself to drop down onto his back next to Mai and heaved a great sigh. "That, I don't know," he said. "Though it must be something big. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had the need to devour those spirits. Not both at least." He paused for a moment. "We'll need to be prepared for anything. We shouldn't take him lightly. Jack is much more dangerous than he seems."

Mai nodded and curled up against Naru once more. "I hope everything will be alright," she mumbled.

Naru wrapped an arm around her, but did not respond. How could he, when he didn't know what was going to happen? And Mai was alright with that. She hadn't expected him to respond, for she too, knew that whatever was going to happen, would be bad. She could feel it with every fiber of her being. The only questions that remained now were, 'What?' and 'When?' So much for that good night…

When Lin walked into the base that morning, he was quite surprised to see the empty room. He quickly flicked on all the monitors and looked at the screen for the camera in Naru and Mai's room. Surprise flitted across his slim face once more when he saw that both teens were still fast asleep. On his way to Naru's room, he passed by John who seemed to have just stepped out of the shower. His blond hair was wet and sticking to his face and he was doing up the last few buttons on his shirt.

"Good morning, Lin-san," greeted the priest politely.

"Brown-san," Lin gave him a nod. "Would you do me a favour and keep an eye on the monitors until I return?"

"Of course," John smiled. "I don't mind at all."

John then headed down the stairs, while Lin continued down the hall. Upon reaching the last room, he knocked and entered. Neither Naru nor Mai had stirred from his rap on the wood. He approached the bed and began to wake them up. Now normally, when awakened in such a way, Naru would get angry and Mai would be embarrassed, both would blush at the fact that he, Lin, had seen them sleeping cuddled with one another. But that didn't happen this time. They stirred, then jumped up.

"-did anything happen-"

"-what did we-"

"-Jack was going to-"

Naru and Mai caught sight of Lin's face and relaxed. He looked confused rather than worried or anxious or angry or urgent. It didn't seem like Jack had done anything yet. Good. That meant that they were safe for now.

Thanking Lin for waking them up, Naru followed his Chinese guardian to the door. At the doorway, Naru stopped and looked back at Mai, who was seated on the bed looking slightly worried. He then did something rather uncharacteristic for him. Naru smiled. It was small and meant to be reassuring, but it was a smile nonetheless. And it worked. Mai smiled back and got up. With a curt nod, Naru was gone.

Mai got ready slowly, pondering what Jack was going to do. She could still feel that something bad was going to happen, but she still wasn't sure what. When she was ready, she headed down to the base. Surprisingly, John and Bou-san had prepared breakfast that morning and what was even more surprising, was that the food was actually good.

"Wow, Bou-san, I didn't know you could cook so well," smirked Mai.

"Jou-chan, I live alone. How would I even be alive right now if I didn't know how to cook?"

Mai shrugged. "I figured you just…bought food or something," she replied.

The brown haired man shook his head in exasperation, but let out an amused chuckle. Once breakfast had been finished and the dishes washed and put away, the team all gathered around in the base and looked at Naru. Said teen sipped at his tea a couple of times before finally beginning to speak.

"Last night, Jack's spirit went and devoured the spirits of both Ryou-san and May-san."

There was a collective "WHAT!" and both Naru and Mai nodded.

"Gene showed me in a dream," explained the girl. "He showed me Jack's spirit, which looked black and cold, while May and nii-chan's were bright and warm colours. I saw the black spirit…engulf the other two. Gene…he told me what was going on and…they're gone…"

Naru absently took Mai's hand, while his other reached up to his chin as he thought. "As I said to Mai last night, Jack is going to be doing something big soon. The only problem is, I don't know what." He paused for a moment, stroking Mai's fingers. "Madoka, Yasuhara-san, I want the two of you to research on Jack Midnight. Find out everything you can about him. Even the smallest detail could help."

"Yes, boss!" exclaimed Yasuhara with his customary salute.

"On it, Noll!"

Yasuhara and Madoka stood and spoke for a moment before departing. Everyone else remained where they were, wondering what they were going to have to do.

"Lin, I want to do an EVP session."

There was another pause as Lin looked at Naru in something akin to apprehension. "It has been a while since you last did that, Noll," said Lin. "…Are you sure that is the best way to proceed?"

EVP's were something that Gene did more than Naru and the last time they had done it, Gene had been with them. They hadn't done another one since then and that was why Lin was unsure.

"I know and it is." If Naru was feeling anything for this, he wasn't showing it.

Lin nodded and got up, exiting the room to grab some stuff from the van and Naru now looked over at the monk, priest, and shrine maiden.

"Do you recall how to take EMF readings?" he questioned. When the three nodded, he went on. "Good. Take those meters, split up and get me the readings of every room in this house. Keep your eyes on the meters. I want the slightest fluctuation noted." They nodded once more and got to their feet, but before they could move, Naru added, "Remain cautious. Jack is…dangerous."

When Bou-san, Ayako and John had grabbed their EMF meters and clipboards, and departed the room, Mai turned slightly to look at her boyfriend. "Things are starting to get serious now, huh?" she said softly.

"Yes, they are," replied Naru. "And I don't want you going off alone anymore. I don't want to know what will happen if you do." And with a tug to her arm, he pulled Mai close to him. "I don't want to lose you too," he murmured into her hair.

That's it for this week. I'm sure you've noted that this chapter was a bit longer than my usual ones, and that's been done as an apology for the two month wait. Thankz for keeping up with me and any reviews, faves, alerts and stuff that I got during my…dry time. I'll try to have the next chapter up by next weekend, if not then, the week after that. Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!