Disclaimer: I would tell you if I ever own Ghost Hunt, for now, there's nothing to tell.

Hiatus

Taniyama Mai who was usually active in class was out of sorts today. She would regularly be late but would make up by listening intently and asking analysis questions to the delight of the teachers. That showed that she was willing to go outside the comprehensive manner of the lesson to understand more but today, she was unlike the Mai they knew.

She entered the room panting and drenched in sweat. She profusely bowed and apologized to sensei then took her seat. Her classmates discreetly turned to look at her but she wasn't wearing that sheepish smile she used to wear when she interrupts the class. Instead, she was looking at the window, dazed. They didn't want to impose so they just continued on with their lives. Knowing Mai, she would eventually tell them what's on her mind. The girl could not, for the life of her, hold her tongue.

That man, there's something strange about him. It didn't quite feel like we were alone when he saved me. Her thoughts kept circling back to the events earlier that morning. She just couldn't put her finger on it but she feels like those two men are hiding something. They're not surrounded by any dark aura or anything like that but she somewhat feels like they're… hiding.

Maybe her instincts were wrong but she just has a strong gut feel about them. Being an orphan and living alone for years without parental supervision, she had to keep her instincts sharp so she could survive this world. She trusted her ability to distinct the good and the bad, the safe and the dangerous but every so often, she just couldn't help herself. She longed for the high, the excitement but most times her clumsiness gets the better of her. She isn't the most coordinated with her body after all.

It was lunch break and she didn't really notice. She absentmindedly ate with her friends, nodded when she was asked a question and dragged herself back to the classroom.

It was fourth period when she remembered what that narcissistic jerk told her. "Since I own the device that you broke, I will be the one to decide…"

What the hell?! My fate lies within that jerk? And he's actually considering sending me to jail! Her fists were already to pounce on anyone or anything. She was disgusted on how her staying out of jail depended on that egotistical maniac. She breathed a calming breath. I don't want to but I guess, I have to make nice. That thought alone made her roll her eyes at herself while she was late to realize that they have been dismissed.

She stood up, dejectedly thinking that she let another day go by without learning anything. She has to start lengthening her study time. While fixing her things, two brunettes made their way in front of her. Michiru and Keiko were just shapes in the corner of her eye as she starts gathering her things.

Keiko was the first to pipe up, "Ne, Mai. What are you doing? Don't tell me you're going home!"

"Did you forget? We're supposed to tell ghost stories with that hot upperclassman!" Michiru all but squealed.

We turned to find the door harshly being opened with an irritated Kuroda-san, another classmate. She spoke up, venom evident in her voice, "Ghost stories? Is that what you've been doing every after class?!" She raised her voice at us which slowly fueled my annoyance. She didn't have any right to yell at us.

"I've been having massive headaches because of the three of you!" Mai raised her eyebrows hearing this comment while Michiru and Keiko moved to her side.

The girl sporting two braids continued, "Didn't you know that you attract low level spirits when telling ghost stories?! Then they attract higher level entities and I get headaches because of them!"

Mai just put her hands on her hips then snorted, "What are you? The ghosts' keeper?" Not my best line but that'll have to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm a real nice person which makes it easy for me to befriend all types of people but it's another story when baseless claims are being thrown at me, especially at my friends.

Shibuya Kazuya, as the name he goes by, was observing the monitors while his assistant Lin Koujo recorded even the slightest activities. So far, there was nothing worth noting and it bothered him to no end. The sound of bells chiming caught his ear and he smirked to himself. He moved from his position and nodded to Lin who seemed to understand all the non-verbal cues.

While walking, he pondered on the events of yesterday. Narcissistic jerk - that was what that girl called him under her breath. Contrary to popular belief, I do not spend my time admiring myself in the mirror. I could not even careless about what I looked like. I am a man of science and skin cells and bone structures were far from my interests. Same is true with everything short of intimacy or physical relationships. I maybe, as you say, arrogant about how I looked but I just reflect the adjectives used to describe me. They are merely manifestations of gathered admiration and conclusions to my observations. I never actually believed that I was good looking or "drop dead gorgeous" as many claim but over time, I learned to use it to my advantage, especially when gathering information about a case. Having women throw themselves at me is nothing I've ever wished for. I actually resent even the slightest inclination they have for me solely because of how I looked. As of now, every time I look in the mirror, I just see a stranger reminding of everything I've lost.

He found himself stopping in front of a classroom where the argument was coming from.

"…they attract higher level entities and I get headaches because of them!" Someone who is sensitive to spirits?

"What are you? The ghosts' keeper?" He rolled his eyes at this sarcastic answer. Surely, you can think of a better insult than that. This was when he decided to make his entrance, cool and casual yet intimidating. "If you're sensitive to spirits like you claim then do you feel anything at the old schoolhouse?"

Mai's shoulders slouched when she saw the young man draped in all black standing at the door. I do not have the energy for this. Why? Why? Why? Why should I be punished? Idiot, you destroyed their camera. Now, make nice! She internally debated with herself then listened to Kuroda-san's answer.

The girl with glasses told me some bogus story about the old schoolhouse being haunted by victims from the war and the building being used as a hospital that time. She's one of those people. He berated himself for even asking the girl. When the girl was finished her tall tales, he raised his eyebrow at the said girl, "Funny that not any record showed anything you just told me, and I do my research thoroughly."

He watched her as her jaw dropped mouth agape from indirectly telling her that she was a falsifier. The other three people in the room had also similar reactions before the girl with the glasses recovered and gave me a disdained look. He ignored her and focused on the brunette with the short hair.

"Mai," he watched as the face of the girl bearing the name etched in nervousness. Although amused, he kept his face void of any emotion. "Come with me for a moment."

Hearing her name escape from the narcissistic jerk, as she dubbed him, she was about to give him a smile. Make nice, Mai. Make nice. But her self-control faltered when he didn't ask her to come with him but ordered her. Who does her think he is?! Ordering me around like he's the boss of me! She stormed out of the classroom ready to snap at the arrogant bastard, another name she had for him, but was taken aback but what she saw. He was leaning on the wall casually then she was caught in his calm atmosphere. She took a deep breath and reveled in the tranquility.

She looked down and spoke in a soft voice, guilt washing over her. "Ano... I'm really sorry about your friend. Is he going to be-"

"Be my assistant," he cut her off and caught her by surprise. She just stared at him with wide unblinking eyes which changed after a few seconds. He can see panic rise up from her stomach as she flapped her arms in front of her, "Wait! Wait a minute! I can't work for you! You're barely out of high school and I don't even know you! What do you even do?!"

"I already graduated so there's no need to concern yourself with my credibility and qualifications. The man who helped you was my assistant. He was not badly injured although I cannot say same is true for the camera you broke. You will work for me as my assistant to pay off the cost of the damages and the device," she just stood there, staring intently with those round cinnamon eyes.

"As for our business description, it is… ghost hunting," he said, the last two words translated to English.

She just stared and for a full minute, did not blink. He was beginning to feel uneasy but didn't show it. He bent down a little to stare directly into her eyes, she didn't even flinch at the proximity but it was a good sign that her eyes followed his face. At least, she didn't have a stroke of any kind. He smirked, "Did your brain malfunction with the amount of information I just gave you?"

She growled at him and he started to walk away. So, that's how I unfreeze her. "Come back here, you narcissistic jerk! I'm not done with you! You can't order me around! I'm not even your assistant yet!"

She was about to take off her shoe to throw it at the young man who was slowly walking away from her when he spoke up again and turned his head around, a smirk placed on his placid face. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. You don't want the principal chastising you for injuring the investigators he hired." She was dumbfounded. I'm not getting out of this, am I?

I would just like to thank bookgirl111 for her comments! Comments and reviews are highly encouraged. Please let me know how I'm doing.