Soooo, hey been a while. (awkward wave)

I'm just gonna leave this here ... (run away quickly)

Dream

The sound of children laughing and screams of delight filled my ears. I ran through crowds of people with my bag of cotton candy in hand. Mother and father were waiting for me by the roller coaster that my brother wanted to go on. I just passed the merry go round. I could see my mother standing in the line. She was laughing at something father just said. Rui was running to meet me halfway when I felt a tug on my arm. I turned around to see a man. He had a mask over his head that looked like a clown. My mother screamed as my father ran over to me. I felt something sharp against my neck and froze in fear. My dad stopped and looked at me with fear. Just then four more masked men came running in and grabbed Rui, my mother and my father. My mother was screaming. I could hear gunshots off in the distance. Other people in the park were screaming. I heard the sound of a click behind me.

"Rui, Nani I love you" yelled my father.

Before I could say anything I heard a loud explosion by my ear.

Mai jumped out of her bed. Breathing hard and sweat cooled on her skin sending chills up her spine. She was so scared. Looking around the room she noticed it was still night. Slowly she got up and went to go get a glass of water from the kitchen to calm her nerves. Once she got in the kitchen her shaky hand turned on the facet and put the glass under it. Taking a deep breath trying to calm down she took a sip of water. Only to spit it back up. Her stomach was not having any of it after that dream. She could feel tears coming down her cheeks.

she screamed when two arms wrapped around her, "no need to scream idiot"

Mai relaxed instantly into the strong chest of her boss. He tightened his hold on her, "Did you have a dream?" he asked softly

She nodded her head and turned around in his embrace and clung to the front of his shirt trying not to cry. They stayed like that for a little bit and then he gently pulled away and led her to the couch. After sitting down she seemed to relax a bit.

"Want to tell me?" he asked, trying not to upset her.

Hesitantly she told him about the dream, once she was done Mai noticed that Naru was silent in thought with his chin in hand. She giggled at her bosses funny thinking posture and was slowly starting to feel tired. She silently dreaded the case to come if it was related to her dream.

The next day Mai found herself standing outside of a huge carnival. It was currently only her, Lin, Naru and Monk. The others would be riding up with Madoka tomorrow. Shibo was standing at the gate and showed them in. He took them to the security building where all the cameras were set up and showed them to the rooms they could be staying in and how to operate the cameras. After showing them everything and leaving a list of all the places with incidents he left.

"Mai go with Takigawa and set up microphones in these places" Naru handed her a list with five places on it.

Monk and Mai were in the tunnel of love setting up the last microphone. "I really hope Ayako does not want to go on this ride. It is only the males that get attacked" said Monk looking around.

"Why would you have to worry about that? It is not like the rides are on right now til we are done" Mai said once she turned on the microphone.

Monk shook his head, "they are being forced to open up tomorrow. He called Naru yesterday after the meeting. That is why we have to set up now. People will be all over tomorrow"

"I was wondering why we have been putting these in weird places" Mai stated as she gestured to the camera that would be easily overlooked by a passenger.

Just outside of the tunnel, on their way back to base, Mai felt a shiver down her back. When she turned around there was nothing visible thankfully. Monk didn't seem bothered so she shrugged it off.

Lin and Naru had already placed the cameras where they wanted and Naru was sitting at a table going through all the incident reports when Monk and Mai arrived. Mai sat down at the opposite side while Monk looked over Lin's shoulder at the monitors.

"Mai be useful and look through that stack in front of you" said Naru still looking at the file in his hand.

"I just set microphones for you jerk. I am useful" she growled back as she looked through the file.

It was a man who was drowned in the tunnel of love he was with his fiance when he was suddenly pulled over board. Mai sighed and went to the next one. It was a young teenage girl she went with her boyfriend through the house of horror and got a mirror dropped on her and had bleed to death before help could arrive. Mai quickly shut it and turned to the next hoping it was not as scary. This was a sixty year old man, he was with his wife and grandkids and they were at the arcade. He had leaned against one of the games and it electrocuted him.

"All these poor couples" Mai sighed throwing the file on the table. She was done looking at people's deaths.

Naru looked up at her surprised, "what did you say?"

Mai looked at him like he was weird, "All these couples. Every person that died was either with their wife, boyfriend or girlfriend or fiance. It is just sad"

The black hair boy quickly opened a file and then a few more and gave Mai a smirk, "you're right, good job Mai"

She went bright red, "I told you I can be useful" she muttered as she looked away embarrassed.

"It seems that our ghost does not like couples" Answered Naru as he handed the two men a few of the cases from the park.

Monk groaned after reading through a few of the cases and could not deny that there was a pattern "Great. Almost all of us are couples. This is going to suck"

Mai laughed the monk, "Stay away from the tunnel"

Naru and Lin made brief eye contact, "We will all partner up as couples and try to draw out the ghost. This way it might target us instead of the visitors" Lin informed them.

"Fine. But I am not assigned to the tunnel" said Monk. He really did not want to get drowned.

"Lin will be in charge of where to put everyone based on how much activity there is and our own ability levels" Said Naru before walking out of the room to do who knows what.

The next morning the rest of the group arrived at the hotel before heading over to the carnival. After a quick meeting with the staff to let them all know who the members of SPR were, they went to watch the cameras. Naru caught everyone up to date on the plan and what had happened at the park. Yasu had come along but Naru put him in charge of cameras and research so that they could have as many people out as possible.

Lin stepped up with a piece of paper, "All right the first group John and Mrs. Hara will be going to the house of horror that has the most deaths. Takigawa and Matsuzaki will be in the center of the park where most of the incidents have happened. Madoka and myself will go to the food court where there have been a few deaths and a lot of other activity. Naru and Mai will take the tunnel sense there has only been two deaths there." he finished looking at everyone.

Everyone nodded and grabbed a walky talky and left to go to their respective spots. But not before teasing Mai a little for going to the tunnel of love with Naru. The tunnel had a small line and the attendant let them on with a small nod. The tunnel was lit with pink lights and hearts. The seat was extremely squishy and the boat moved extremely slow. Naru sighed and leaned back trying to relax. Mai's face was red but the pink lights helped to hide it.

"Mai do you sense anything?" asked Naru looking around the tunnel.

"No I don't. But this sure is a lot of pink" she giggled looking everywhere as well.

Just then they heard the crackle over the walky talky, "You guys look nothing like a couple. That ghost will never come" stated Yasu in his sing song voice.

Naru glared at the device and turned down the volume while still looking around the tunnel. Mai was even more red now and trying to hide her embarrassment.

"I guess we don't" sighed Naru and he put his arm around her shoulders and brought her closer to him

She was starting to feel dizzy, "It is ok Naru. I am sure we were fine"

Naru just looked around, "do you not like this?" he looked down at her.

She looked like a tomato now, "N-no I do. But I k-know that you d-don't. So it is ok '' she stuttered looking away from his beautiful blue eyes.

Naru smirked at her red face, "I am fine with it Mai."

Mai relaxed a little and continued to look around the tunnel. For some reason the boat seems to have slowed down even more. But there was no light at the end of the tunnel yet. Naru seemed to notice this too and looked around the water thinking there might be a blockage. Then the boat came to a stand still.

"sorry folks the ride will be on shortly. We just had a little problem with the control panel" apologized a female voice over the intercom.

Naru sighed, "well hopefully this doesn't mess with the ghost"

Mai nodded she was happy to not be feeling anything yet. She relaxed against the back of her seat waiting for the ride to start again.

"Naru I am sure your arm is uncomfortable why not move it?" she asked realizing she was leaning on his arm.

He smirked at her, "Ok but we still have to look like a couple" he told her.

She just nodded happy to not make him uncomfortable. He dropped his arm and slipped it around her waist and pulled her close again. Her head was resting on his shoulder. Her face was super red again at the contact.

"Now we are both comfortable" he chuckled lightly.

Mai just nodded not wanting her voice to crack. But she did find this very comfortable. She couldn't believe that she was sitting in the tunnel of love with the man she loved. Too bad he just did not love her back. She let out a sigh. Naru heard it and looked down at her. He could see she was bothered with something.

"Mai why were you upset with the waitress yesterday?" he asked noticing that this was the same look she had back then.

Lost in her own thoughts Mai answered without thinking, "Because she kept reminding me that I don't have chance with a guy like you" realizing what she just said Mai jumped up and waved her hands, "forget I just said that. I wasn't thinking properly" her face was read again.

Naru was really surprised, "what do you mean Mai?" he was not letting her off the hook.

Mai sighed in defeat and sat back down away from her boss, "do you remember those girls from the airport?"

Naru nodded he really hated those girls for the way they treated her. "They tripped me and stuff because they know that I am not to the standard of girl you should associate with let alone be friends with."

His eyes widened at her words, "what? why would you even think that?" he was a little annoyed.

"I am not very pretty or have money. I'm just a poor high school girl with no real talents" she said sadly looking over the edge of the boat so she didn't have to face him.

Naru looked at her in disbelief, "You got that from one set of girls being mean to you?"

She shook her head, "the waitress was doing the same thing. That was why she dumped the water on my head. The kids at my school were whispering when you walked with me down the halls" she was on the verge of tears now.

After saying all of this outloud Mai actually realized how true it was. She was a poor student who had no looks. Naru was the famous Oliver Davis who was known all over and had money and looks. She was on the verge of tears. Maybe that was why he turned her down six months ago because she was ugly and poor. Naru could not believe what he had just heard. He had realized he started to have feelings for this girl, she was why he came back to Japan and now she almost felt ashamed of being around him. He grabbed the crying girls in his arms. she jumped at the contact.

"You idiot" he said into her hair as he held her close.

"Isn't that why you rejected me six months ago?" she asked softly hoping he would not hear.

But he did and he felt his chest clench in pain, he had broken this girls heart because he was being selfish, "No Mai." he said softly.

Once Mai settled down Naru gently turned her around to face him. She kept her eyes on her hands and Naru could not blame her. She pretty much just confessed her love for him again and she was probably just waiting for him to reject her again.

"I am an idiot" He said and hugged her. She was really surprised but let him hug her.

He pulled back after a couple seconds, "I was afraid Mai... afraid that you would compare me to Gene... afraid I would not be able to come back to Japan" he said quietly now looking at his hands.

Mai smiled softly and gently cupped his cheek, "I would never compare you to Gene. You are nothing alike. The person I fell in love with is a narcissistic jerk and a genius and, is always saving me. Well he is mostly a narcissist and just so happens to have a twin that guides me through scary dreams where I wake up crying or scared."

Naru looked up into her chocolate eyes and gave her a small smile, "I'm sorry for thinking that"

She smiled even more, "Forgiven." Then she hugged him around the neck and he gave a small chuckle. "Mai would you like to go to dinner with me?" he asked her through her hair.

"I would love to" she giggled hugging him even tighter.

After a few seconds they seperated and Naru pulled the walky talky out of his pocket, "Yasu. What is wrong with this ride? It has been stuck here for thirty minutes."

Yasu's voice came back aggravated, "Finally! We have been trying to reach you for the last five minutes. The cameras and microphone are down in the tunnel. Some little kid splashed the microphone and the guy operating it is new and broke the ride. We don't know how long it will take. Just sit tight."

Naru sighed and put the device on the seat. Mai continued to look around the tunnel, "well this sucks"

he nodded in agreement, then he saw Mai go beat red, "What's wrong?"

She looked back at him, "It looks like someone found a way to entertain themselves on the ride" she said still bright red.

He turned around and saw no one behind them. Then he could hear the moans and giggles of a couple having an intimate moment on a carnival ride.

"Mai that is what some couples do" he smirked at the embarrassed girl.

Mai just nodded and looked in front of her, Naru wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her next to him again, "why is your face all red?" he smirked.

The brunette put her hands to her face to cover her cheeks, "no reason"

"Are you embarrassed about the couple behind us?" he teased her.

He chuckled when she shook her head. The moans and giggles died down and he felt Mai relax again and lean against him. After a few more minutes still no movement on the ride. he was getting annoyed. Just then he felt Mai stiffen.

"It's here" she whispered and sat up straight. The temperature began to drop and Naru was scanning the area.

"Do you know where?" he asked, still looking.

She shook her head and by now their breaths could be seen from the drop in temperature. Suddenly Naru felt a tug on his arm and he found himself in the cold water. he shot to the surface and tried to pull himself back in the boat only to drug back down again. he could hear Mai screaming above the water as he tried to kick off his attacker. The grip loosened again and he shot back up for air.

"Do the sutra" he gasped at the frantic girl.

He then felt a pressure on his shoulders and he was pressed to the concrete floor. He could feel the grate of the ride pushing into his back. Mai's words were able to be heard and the ghost's hold was getting weaker. Naru gasped as he started to get an image of Gene's death flash before him. Gene sinking to the bottom of the lake. He could feel the water fill his lungs and Naru tried to fight off the ghost. He tried to gather his PK but he wasn't focused enough to do it. Darkness was gripping the corner of his eyes and he felt the ride turn back on and he yelled in agony as it scratched at his back. The darkness consumed him with pain all over his body.

Mai was sitting outside the emergency room with Lin and Madoka. She was crying. Takigawa and Lin had come running to her location when the temperature dropped. Thankfully one of Lin's shiki had alerted him. Lin had jumped into the water the moment he saw Naru get pulled down the second time. Him and Takigawa managed to get him off the rides tracks before they could injure him anymore. Once they had got him back up to top they started CPR while Mai was on the talky with Yasu telling him to get an ambulance.

"He will be ok Mai '' Said Lin putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Mai nodded numbly, not really processing what he was saying.

"John said they were able to purify the spirit. Also no one else had a meeting with a ghost today. It was just you two" Said Monk coming back to them putting his phone away in his pocket.

Lin nodded and they fell into silence waiting for the nurse to return. Thirty minutes later the doctor came into the waiting room looking for Lin. They talked for a couple minutes in quiet voices before he returned to the emergency room.

"How is he?" Asked Mai running to the silent man.

Lin looked at her and let out a sigh, "He should be fine. His back is going to be really sore for a while. Once he wakes up we can take him back to the carnival. I think we should keep him in the base though" he reassured both of them.

Mai sighed in relief and Monk pulled her into a hug, "can we go see him?" she asked once she got out of his grip.

Lin nodded and they walked down the white halls to the boss's room. Naru looked like he was just taking a nap. Mai ran over to the chair beside his bed tears rolling down her cheeks. Lin and Monk stood behind her as a nurse came in to check his vitals.

All he could feel was that his back hurt and his throat was on fire. Slowly Naru's eyes started to open taking in the white walls around him. He could see out the window that it was dark outside, everyone was probably back at the hotel right now he assumed. He felt a slight shift on his right side of the bed and saw his small assistant asleep with her head on her arms. He gave a soft chuckle and moved his hand to shake her shoulder slightly.

Mai jumped up at the contact, "NAru your awake!" she exclaimed.

"yes i can see that Mai"

"You don't need to be a jerk. We were all worried about you" she said, her face getting a little red.

Naru looked around the room and saw Lin asleep on one of the couches with Madoka while John and Masako took up the love seat, "Ayako and Monk are getting everyone food. Yasu volunteered to stay back and watch the equipment" said Mai noticing that he was looking around.

He nodded and tried to sit up and gasped when he felt a sharp pain through his back and fell back down on the bed. Mai put a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Your back is severely bruised and cut up. But it is not too bad. The nurse said that you can leave tomorrow morning after they change the bandages."

He sighed, "What time is it?'

"Almost ten. You were out for four hours" she said sadly, "You should rest. Tomorrow is going to be long with it being a saturday"

Naru thought about this for a moment, "was there any other activity?"

Mai sighed, "workaholic, Ayako got her hair pulled and John got pushed into a pile of boxes. But other than that no."

The raven haired boy was thinking over all the incidents in the park from today and the files. Mai shook her head at her constantly working boss and put a hand on his arm to get his attention, "you really need to rest. Focus on the case tomorrow" she said gently.

Naru looked into her eyes for a little bit. He could feel his body warm up as he thought about what happened between them in the tunnel. He nodded and let sleep take him into the next morning.