NEW** I HAVE EDITTED AND IMPROVED SPELLING ERRORS

Hey everyone!

Blood here with my first ever Ghost Hunt ficcie! YAY!

Now before you read remember, I LOVE REVIEWS! And if you review me, you'll get a present! Fun huh? See? Reviewing can be fun for you too!

Disclaimer: Get over it, I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! tear

Warnings: Some language and sexual references

Pairings: Numerous, but it will end up mai/naru no worries!

sorry for any bad spelling or incorrect grammer. ENJOY!

w/ Naru-chan)

Tick-tock...tick-tock.

'I wish someone would destroy that damn clock.' 17 year old Kazuya Shibuya was actually considering committing suicide, he was that bored. His sanity was down to a frayed remnant of its former self. The demon clock wasn't but half of the problem, after a while the continuous tapping of Lin's computer grated on a person's nerves. It had been a slow a boring week at the SPR, no interesting cases had cropped up in a LONG time.

In fact, the young director was ready to accept the first case that walked through that door, no matter how trivial it seemed. To make matters worse, Naru was thirsty, normally a condition easily remedied by calling for his part-time worker Taniyama Mai and ordering her to bring him a cup of tea. Now however, they were out of tea and Mai had agreed to stop by the store after school on her way to the office.

The store was not that far out of her way and she was now inexplicably late. The file in Naru's hands became invisible as he focused instead on his thoughts. As loath as our favorite narcissist was to admit it, he had grown attached to the girl. He was drawn to her sunny disposition and ready smile. He couldn't keep himself from thinking about her constantly, and he couldn't figure out why.

She wasn't beautiful, more cute than pretty. Her penchant for trouble had gotten him and others hurt. She also plowed ahead in delicate situations with a fiery and reckless passion. She was clumsy and not especially bright. She was emotional and managed to get on his nerves at every turn. She was also the most incredible woman he had ever met.

She had thought he hadn't been listening when she recounted her family history to the others, and he had been impressed by her strength of mind. She didn't connect the dots when shortly after that assignment he gave her a raise. He had been proud when Lin told him what she had said about Lin's hatred for the Japanese. And he'd been amazed at the urge he felt to protect her.

Naru knew he could never act on these emotions, he much doubted she even realized what she did to him. She never saw how he would pointedly not look her in the eyes, fearful of drowning in their depths. She didn't notice how his gaze lingered on her soft lips nor how he made sure that their skin would touch when he took the tea from her hands. This was all he would allow himself to do, watch her and ignore the fantasies that would play in his head when he slept.

Tick-tock...

Oh, how he hated that clock.

(w/ Mai)

This was not Mai's day, nor in fact her month. First her landlady had been forced to raise her rent due to new zoning, whatever that meant. Now the rent was due and she had to ask Naru for her paycheck a week early, again. Last time was due to late bills she had missed while on assignment, and he, of course, had made her reveal this information before agreeing to pay her. However, he did warn her not to make a habit of it, at the same time throwing in one of his usual insults.

She knew he would make her feel misreable for her uselessness again today, and it was wearing thin. Lately he had become harsher and more callous towards her and she didn't understand why. She had been coming to work tired and worn and he, as usual, picked up on this. She had, understandably, with held the reasons for her exhaustion.

Mai had resorted to getting a second job, the nightshift at a local convenience store to help save up money for college. She didn't like school, she never really has, but she knows that her current job won't see her through the rest of her life and all of the high paying jobs you have to go to school for. She had to prepare for the future when she would be jobless and on her own.

She had found a new family in her coworkers, it's true, but she could never impose on them for money or shelter and she knew that Bou-san and John, even Ayako, wouldn't even pause before giving her what she needed. Masako on the other hand would probably lock her out in the cold. True, the two girls got along SOMETIMES, but that didn't mean they were close. It didn't help that they fought for the attention of one certain narcissist.

Naru, her boss. He was a vain, quiet, cold, and belligerent genius. She couldn't help but defend his actions whenever Bou-san made comments about him. He made her feel miserable and always won their verbal battles, but she couldn't find it in her to hate him. O contraire, she had a crush on the teen. Yep, she was in love with her boss. Despite everything about him that made she couldn't stand, she had to say it, she was in love with Kazuya Shibuya.

Mai sighed and looked down at her watch, a gift from Bou-san, she was supposed to be at the office an hour ago. She looked down at the shopping bag in her hand, why did Naru HAVE to have HIS kind of tea? The store by the school was completely out of it and the next closest store was halfway across town. To make matters worse, sidewalk construction had meant that she had to take a detour to get there. Naru was going to be really upset with her.

'Time to book it!' She was running now as she turned the corner onto the street by the office. Mai was so intent on her goal that she was oblivious to the world around her. She accidently bumped into a short man in a green jacket, never stopping she turned her head and yelled an apology, "Gomen!"

She didn't see the large blonde man step into her path until she collided with a solid chest. "G-gomen-nasai!" She tried to sidestep the man when a meaty hand shot out, grabbing her arm in a steel-like grip. "Huh?"

"Now there little Missy, what's a pretty thing like you up to in such a hurry? My friend here's feelings are hurt that you crashed into him. So how are you going to make it up to him?" Beady black eyes ran up her body appraisingly, Mai could see his grasping mind taking her clothes off in his thoughts. Fear bubbled in her breast as his short friend drew closer, looking eager.

When Beady slipped a hand to her waist she gasped, when it slipped lower she reacted. Her hand lifted and a smack was heard. Mai didn't spend time to see how the man took her actions, she just broke away from his slack grip and started to run. She only had a few seconds of a head start, but she was thankful for that. It didn't take long for the pair to break from their surprise induced stupor, and she soon heard the footfalls become louder as they caught up.

"You'll die for that you Bitch!" She believed them, and knew that her life would end momentarily. "N-Naru." A tear slipped down her cheek as she could feel the heat from the men's breaths. She knew they were reaching out for her, to grab her and punish her. A stray stone sent her sprawling.

"MAI!"

She could see Naru running towards her, fear and fury danced in his eyes, darkening his features. Pain exploded on her cheek as she jolted upright and into darkness.