Author's Note:

This story was inspired by Ouran High School Host Club characters. Please be gentle with me people. LOL. Here it is. LOL. Reviews please.

" Special Thanks to my beta reader Ayjah/Lisa. "

-raijutei no babylon

Disclaimers:

I do not own GHOST HUNT.

Thunderstorm

"Just how much more stupid could you get?!" Naru's voice boomed inside the base. Mai cringed at the harsh sound.

Lin placed a hand on Naru's shoulder to calm the teenage boy. "Naru, that's enough, I think Mai already learned her lesson. There is no point scolding her like this. She's not a kid you know." He explained noticing the slight trembling of Mai's lower lip. 'Not a good sign' Lin thought.

"Lin-san is right Naru-Bou… besides, Mai needs to rest." Bou-san said trying to lessen the tension in the air.

Naru huffed. "She's acting like this because you people are spoiling her." he said.

No one noticed the stiffness of Mai's back as Naru continued his cruel rant of Mai's idiocy.

Mai can feel tears starting to form in her eyes. Trying her best not to show any weakness in front of her friends. 'I am not going to cry. I am not going to cry' she thought as her lower lip quivered in anxiety.

Naru's venomous voice snapped Mai out of her mental narration. "How do you explain yourself now huh?" he asked smugly.

Mai raised her head meeting Naru's eyes. "I do not regret what I did. If I didn't do it Masako could have gotten hurt." She said defensively.

"And she is not?" he asked his voice dripping of sarcasm.

"Well… not as bad as she would have been if I didn't come to her rescue." Mai said equally determined.

"As if a mere 'FEMALE' high school girl like yourself has the power to fight back a powerful full-blooded demon. Even if you ignore the fact that its target is teenage girls such as yourself. You surely have a death wish." Naru retorted.

"If you complain so much then why bother to save me?! You should have let me die! Perhaps you should have just saved Masako instead." Mai said each word slicing her heart into pieces. "You're such a cold-blooded selfish jerk."

Naru raised his hand to hit Mai but was stopped by Lin. "Naru!" he warned.

This time Mai didn't hold back her tears. "All I want is to do something useful for the team! I don't care what happens to me as long as all of you are safe. It seems to me that whatever I do… it still wont be enough to please you." She said to Naru.

Naru's eyes widen. Mai let the tears flow out of her chocolate orbs.

"Mai" Bou-san whispered trying to comfort the brunette.

But Mai slapped the monk's hand away. "Excuse me" she muttered running out of the room.

Everyone stood there shocked.

At dinner Ayako was able to reassure everyone that Masako was recovering well. Dinner was eaten in silence, only the usual clattering of kitchen utensils could be heard. Bou-san avoided looking in Naru's direction afraid that the young boss would turn to him; Ayako ate her dinner silently, trying hard to loosen up the tension in the air with her quiet comments with the young exorcist. Meanwhile, John tried to show his utmost concern for everyone with his polite smile as Lin ate quietly on his side of table.

After half an hour of tension filled atmosphere. Mai stood up and unceremoniously left the dinning hall. Naru was about to follow Mai when Lin stopped him.

Naru wanted to brush Lin's hand off his wrist but the dark look in the Chinese man's eyes made him think about his actions.

Finishing his dinner, Lin stood up and left through the same door Mai had previously used. He reached her room quickly.

Thunder roared outside the mansion giving the hallway to Mai's room a gloomy feel.

Knocking twice on the young assistant's door Lin waited for the brunette to answer. When she did not respond he knocked again. Another series of thunder and lightning rumbled in the sky.

A strangled gasp reached Lin's well-trained ears. Worried, Lin flung Mai's door open to find the young girl sitting on the floor in the far end of the room hidden in the shadows.

Two flashes of lightning gave Lin a clear view of the young girl shivering and crouching in fear. Her knees pulled to her chest, her head buried on her arms above her folded knees.

"Mai" he called the young girl.

Mai sat there shivering from fright and frustration. Once again she let them down. She wasn't useful enough and Naru is mad at her. She never felt this bad before and the storm was making it worse.

Since she was a child she hated storms especially storms like this… with thundering noises and sharp lightning flashes. It scared her especially since she didn't have parents to protect her from them.

Lin placed a hand on her shoulder grabbing her attention. Mai gasped looking up from the shadows.

"Are you okay?" he asked the girl.

Mai avoided Lin's gaze but the sharp flash of lightning and loud roar of thunder made her tremble burying her head back on her arms.

"I don't feel good." She said. Lin remained silent watching the young SPR assistant with his hawk like eyes.

"I also hate thunderstorms" she mumbled.

This made Lin smile a bit. Patting Mai on the head. He called her name.

"Mai…" he said.

Mai stiffened but didn't make any move.

"You're not alone anymore" he whispered.

This made Mai's head bob up instantly to look at the Chinese man. "Lin-san" she whispered.

"That's what family is for, right?" he said caressing the brunette's hair with a rarely seen affectionate glance.

A burst of loud and sharp thunder and lightning brought Mai into the Chinese man's embrace toppling him to the floor his back on the edge of the bed.

Lin caressed Mai's hair allowing the young girl to cry her heart out.

---

In the darkened hallway, Naru witnessed the exchange of affection of both of his assistants. His eyes shadowed.

He had come to Mai's room to apologize for being a jerk… until he saw them, as a rumble of thunder and a flash of lightning illuminated their form. Mai threw herself into Lin's arms as the Chinese man caressed her tresses intimately.

He felt like throwing up. Clutching his sides tightly he didn't notice that his handbook had slipped out of his pocket falling to the floor just outside Mai's quarters. Not knowing what to do he stumbled his way back to his room. Angrier than ever, he had slammed his bedroom door closed but it's loud sound was dulled by the continuous rumbling of thunder and flashes of lightning.

---

Making sure that Mai was fully asleep he gently put her in her bed and neatly tucked her in. Making his way to the hallway Lin saw Naru's pocket handbook lying on the floor. He picked it up and decided to return it to him the next morning.

---

Morning came and Mai still wasn't in talkative mood. She just ate her breakfast silently, making sure she's close enough to Lin or Bou-san to feel comfortable.

Naru just sat there drinking his tea. This was supposed to be an easy case for them but things turned upside down when Masako was attacked. Although they managed to banish and completely destroy the demon it still left Mai nearly dead next to a battered Masako.

That was why Naru had been so very angry. Mai's actions were simply impulsive and irresponsible (according to him). What does she think she is? Superwoman? Wonder Woman or some female super hero that comes up and save the day?! She would have been dead if they arrived seconds later.

And Naru cannot afford another loss. 'Never' he thought.

The silence in the table was deafening. Until Lin talked to Naru in his usual calm voice,

"The clients are coming over Naru. Just to remind you" he said standing up from his chair with Mai following him.

"What's wrong with Mai? I've never seen her quiet like this…" she asked Ayako in a hushed voice.

Ayako sighed leaning to Masako before whispering. "Naru got mad at her and they kind of had a fight… that's what Bou-san said."

Masako sighed. She eyed Naru who seemed oblivious to everything around him.

After breakfast everyone went back to work exorcising the spirits left by the demon in their designated areas. This left Lin and Naru inside the base while Mai chose to go with Bou-san.

In the silence of the room Lin looked up from his laptop pulling out Naru's pocket handbook, placing it on top of the table and sliding it to Naru's side.

"You dropped this last night" he said and was about to go back to his typing when Naru spoke.

"What's going on between you and Mai?" he asked looking straight to his guardians face.

Lin looked confused before realization sink in. "Are you jealous?" he asked. Naru didn't reply but glared at the diviner.

"I am not going to take her away, if that's what you are thinking…" Lin said.

"So there is something going on… how long?" Naru said eyes narrowed.

Lin raised an eyebrow. "Naru, I don't know what you are thinking but whatever it is… you got it all wrong." He said.

Naru was going to retort back when the base's door opened to reveal Masako.

She looked at the room's occupant sensing the tension. "Am I interrupting something?" she asked.

Lin ignored her and went back to his typing while Naru decided to bury his head in the documents on his table.

Masako sat down in front of Naru. "Naru… I came here to talk about Mai." She said sternly.

Naru glared at the medium. "I don't have time for your nonsense." He snapped.

Lin glanced at Masako who clutched her hands tightly on her kimono.

"Fine, all I want you to know is… you are being a jerk. Mai has done so much! Not only in this case but most of the cases, it's not fair for you to reprimand her for the things she whole-heartedly wants to do." She said.

Naru remained silent looking at his documents.

"If you continue acting this way, I wouldn't wonder when Mai would give up on you and find someone else more worth it" She finished glancing at Lin and bowing to leave.

Naru didn't miss the look Masako gave Lin after her speech and to be honest the pain in his gut returned full force the urge to grab his stomach was inviting but he controlled himself… he's not going to show any weakness… even if it concerned his Mai.

Naru's eyes widen at the thought. 'His' Mai… did he just thought of that… did he really think that Mai was his.

'Get a grip Oliver Davis… it's just a girl' he thought.

Lin noticed the look in Naru's eyes and it took all his will power not to smirk. 'Well, it seems that my little ward is growing up' he thought.

'Someone's got to give him a push and I think Hara-san just made the first move.' Lin added.

"Are you alright Naru?" he asked the teenage ghost hunter. Naru glared at him intensely.

"I am fine." He said between gritted teeth.

"If you say so" Lin replied going back to his typing.

After an hour so the others returned from their exorcisms.

Takigawa plopped himself on the couch accidentally sitting on Ayako's leg which earned him a punch on the face. Mai was laughing merrily at the scene.

Naru watched Mai his eyes boring into her head. It seemed like she sensed it because she quickly turned around facing Naru, her eyes gone wide of shock at the look of pure anger in Naru's eyes.

Mai paled upon seeing the anger in Naru's eyes. 'Was it too bad to have some fun?' She thought.

"Tea" he gritted. Mai nodded absent-mindedly not wanting to anger the ghost hunter more.

After Mai had left, Lin slammed his hand on the desk making everyone turn to the Chinese man.

"Lin-san?" Takigawa and John asked.

"Is that how you are going to show that you care Naru?! Well, let me tell you this… you have a very absurd way of showing you care!" the diviner said angrily.

"It's not any of your business Lin." Naru said turning his ice-cold glare to his guardian.

"Yeah right, not my business… who do you think is the one picking up the pieces when someone as mighty as yourself decides to break her." Lin said pointing at Takigawa, John Ayako and himself.

"It was us! We always do the rebuilding! If you don't have anything good to say just shut the fucking hell up Naru! You've done enough damage to Mai and it's killing her." Lin angrily said.

"If you care too much then marry her!" Naru said angrily.

Lin looked so mad. His eyes darkening "Naru… you are a complete idiot" he said.

---

Mai was walking back to the base when she heard Lin's loud voice. It froze her on her spot. Upon hearing him says the words 'You've done enough damage to Mai and you're killing her'.

'Is it true that Naru's cold attitude is slowly creeping into her? And it's breaking her apart.' Mai unconsciously clutched her chest.

'I guess it is' she thought.

---

"What are you so mad about Naru?" Lin asked. Takigawa and John stood up trying to calm the diviner and the ghost hunter. Masako and Ayako chose to remain seated.

"What I am mad about is how you people are spoiling Mai rotten! She's acting all irresponsible because she knew that all of you would be backing her up. It could have killed her! A second too late and she would have died! That demon would have torn her heart out! If I didn't arrive on time, if we didn't banish him in time! Mai COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD!" he screamed angrily.

"She's not dead." Lin answered firmly not afraid of his young ward's extraordinary temper.

"She could have been!" Naru retorted back. "All because she is a freaking idiot, who's trying to save the day by facing freaking demon all by herself she thinks she can defeat it. A mere weak girl like her! She's just a freaking idiot girl." Naru said standing up from his chair in pierce anger.

Lin punched Naru making him land hard on the floor. "You are the idiot one! Mai isn't some Mary Sue! She is a grown up woman that can protect herself. You are so pent up because you think Mai would need you always. Well, you are wrong! Mai doesn't need your protection all the time." He said.

Naru smirked. "Because she's whoring for you." He said.

Lin grabs the collar of Naru's shirt lifting the young SPR boss to his eye level.

"What did you say?!" he asked his lips pursed.

Naru didn't look at him.

"Naru… I don't know what you saw last night. But you are getting it all wrong. Mai is family. I would never harm her. She doesn't need protection what she needs is a companion, a family to make her feel good about herself. And you just have to ruin it all for her." Lin said gripping Naru's shirt tightly.

"You fucking asshole!" he said throwing Naru on the other side of the room.

Naru hit the wall with a loud crash. Everyone turn to the doorway as another crash echoed along the hallway.

Everyone's eyes widen when they saw Mai standing there in tears.

Mai trembled with a loud booming voice Mai screamed. "I HATE YOU NARU!" she said.

Her loud voice snapped Naru out of his emptiness. His head snapped up at the sound of her hateful words each syllable cutting straight to his heart and his eyes gone wide with shock.

And Mai ran. Takigawa, Ayako and John followed her but were stopped by Lin.

"Get up Naru." He said looking at the sprawled ghost hunter on the floor.

"Don't order me around." He muttered trying to stand up.

"You know what to do." Lin said going back to his seat.

Everyone watched as Naru walk out the door.

"Is it going to be alright? The two of them?" Bou-san asked.

Lin gave the monk a small smile. "They would be just fine." He said.

Ayako sighed shaking her head. "Lin-san I didn't know you had it in you to be that forceful… it's pretty impressive." She said with a smile.

"Sometimes you need to use force to get into that brat's thick skull." Lin said.

Everyone chuckled relaxing.

---

Naru had been running for almost an hour now, he'd been searching for Mai since he left the base but she was no where to be found. He tried looking from the basement to the top floor leaving him trying to catch his breath on the mansion's roof top.

An enormous amount of wind blew making Naru's hair fling in all direction. He cupped his hair and with a graceful motion pushed it back to its place as he saw the clouds getting darker and sparks of lightning begin to form. 'It will be raining soon. I have to find Mai' he thought.

Mai had run to the gazebo in the inner garden of the Harukawa Estate. She felt awful after hearing everything that Naru thought of her. She could not stop the words 'whoring, weak and idiot' from running through her mind. They kept on taunting her over and over again.

'How can he be so insensitive?' Mai thought. A low rumble of thunder made her gasp. 'No… not another thunderstorm' she thought as tears began forming.

---

"I'm well rooting for everyone's success. Thank you." Harukawa-san said with a relieved smile.

"Do not worry by the end of the week we're packing up our things. This house will be void of spirits by then." Lin said.

The man smiled broadly. "Thank you so much" he said bowing before entering his car and speeding away.

A low rumble of thunder made Lin look up the sky. 'It's getting dark… another storm is coming… I do hope Naru has found Mai.' He thought as he walked back to the base.

---

"What do you think Lin-san? Has Naru found Mai?" Masako asked.

"I hope so. Or else it would be very troublesome. Mai is extremely afraid of thunderstorms and by the looks of it… tonight we'll be having one again." He said.

"Oh no…" Takigawa and John muttered. Ayako let out a long heavy sigh.

Masako looked out the window. 'Hurry up Naru. You've got to find Mai.' She thought. John noticed Masako looking out the window as he approached the young medium and placed a hand on top of hers.

Masako looked up to see the young exorcist smiling at her, her cheeks immediately went red. John then placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry they are old enough Masako." He whispered before going back to the table with Takigawa as they sorted the things out for this case.

Masako didn't miss the teasing look Ayako and Takigawa shot her at the scene both her and the young exorcist played this made her face burn hotter. Hiding her embarrassed face in her kimono sleeve was her only option.

---

Mai crouched with her arms and legs together, her arms tightly holding her feet for comfort as another set of lightning and thunder filled the air. The wind blowed harder making eerie sounds.

Mai's tears were unstoppable. Her pain and everything was taking toll on her wearing body.

Then it began to worsen; loud thunder roared in the heavens, lightning after lightning.

Mai screamed her body shivering and trembling from fear. Both her hands were on her ears, her eyes tightly shut.

Naru stopped running. He heard Mai's scream. Listening to his surroundings, he didn't hear it again. 'My imagination might be playing tricks on me.' He said.

The rain had started coming down a while ago so he increased his speed and search for a certain brunette. His clothes were drenched and he could feel the chill from the cold rain.

The soft vibration of his mobile phone snapped him of his reverie.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Where are you now? Have you find Mai?" Lin's voice asked him. Naru noted the hint of worry in his voice.

Naru fought the pain in his gut as he held his mobile in his hand clutching it tightly.

"No, I still haven't found her." he murmured loud enough for the Chinese man to hear.

There was a stagnant pause in the line. Naru's eyes were completely shadowed.

Lin's calm voice broke the silence his voice held his utmost care for not only Mai but for Naru as well. "Find her Naru. You are the only one who can." He said.

"Hai" Naru replied clutching the phone tighter.

"Naru…" Lin said.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Mai is terrified of thunderstorms" Lin said and cut the line. Naru's head snapped up his eyes wide with shock. The phone dropped unheeded from his hand.

Running as fast as his legs could carry him looking frantically at every direction, Naru resumed searching for Mai. At all cost he must find Mai. 'I must!' he said in his mind.

As Naru ran to the inner garden of the Harukawa estate he could feel his legs aching for rest but how can he afford to rest when the most important person to him is out here alone in a fearsome thunderstorm.

Finally, he had admitted to himself who Mai is for him and what she is in his life.

'My number one… No… my one and only.' He thought speeding up as splashes of mud stained his usually clean and neat clothes.

Naru saw an abandoned gazebo as he made his next turn. Another series of thunder rumbled in the air as lightning after lightning illuminated the gazebo.

Naru bravely neared the place. Extending his senses for possible danger. Sensing none he proceeded with cautiousness.

"Mai" he called. Opening the closed door of the gazebo, and there she was. Crouched on the floor sobbing, trembling in fear.

"Mai!" Naru called her name as he ran to her.

She didn't respond and continued to sob her heart out.

Naru pulled Mai to him hugging her tightly. "Don't worry… you're not alone now… I'm here now Mai… I'll always be here…" he murmured in her hair.

Mai hugged him back her hand resting on his back.

"Mai" he murmured.

Mai stiffened and struggled out of his embrace but Naru held her firmly to his.

"I'm sorry Mai. I'm so sorry for saying those things. Please forgive me." He whispered holding her close.

Mai's struggles ceased. Naru sighed holding Mai to him. "I'm not going to let you go… never" he murmured.

Mai's hand dropped from his back as her head peacefully rested on his chest. A rare smile appeared on Naru's face.

"You must have been very tired Mai-mine… don't worry, from now on… I'll make sure to keep one eye on you so you wont end up alone anymore…" he whispered before carrying Mai bridal style.

Naru made his way back to the manor, his trench coat covering Mai's form to keep her from getting wet from the rain.

Mai let out a small smile grace her lips as she muttered "Thank you… Naru".

Naru stopped walking as he felt his eyes burning from tears but he refused to let them out.

---

Lin sensed Naru's presence nearing the manor; standing up from his chair he grabbed two dry towels from the cupboards and an umbrella from the rack beside the base's door. He headed towards the main entrance.

True to his instincts, Naru came carrying Mai in his arms. He smiled at the young ghost hunter.

He walked to meet him shielding his already wet form from the rain. He placed a dry towel above Naru's head and another on top of Mai.

"Well done… Welcome back" he muttered as they entered the manor.

Naru just gave the diviner a slow nod.

Takigawa and John came down the stairs with a smile on their faces.

Ayako and Masako stood on top of the stairs wearing a genuine smile.

"I'm back" Naru whispered before falling down but not after making sure Mai was safely deposited in Lin's arms. The tears he'd been holding for a while now fell and slide down to his chin as he fell towards Takigawa and John.

Both Takigawa and John managed to catch the ghost hunter before he hit the floor. They looked at each other with a smile on their faces.

---

Naru woke up to find himself comfortably lying on his bed. He turned to his right to find the bed Lin used to occupy being occupied by a certain brunette.

Naru shifted his position for him get a better view of her sleeping form.

She began stirring. Mai opened her eyes adjust to the dark room. Rubbing off the sleep in her eyes, she sat up just to turn and catch a certain narcissist gaze.

"Naru" she said stiffening.

Naru sat, or tried sitting up when he let out a low groan. His head is spinning.

Mai was immediately on his side crouching on the bedside. "Naru! Are you alright? I'll call Lin-san!" she said and was about to stand up when Naru's hand gripped her wrist.

"I'm fine. Just dizzy. Stay." He said.

Mai looked at him carefully and nodded this time she sat on his bedside.

Naru didn't let to of her wrist. He let out another groan of pain his other hand holding his head on its palm.

Mai leaned down to Naru making their foreheads rest on each other. Naru can feel his cheeks burning as he closed his eyes.

After a while Mai pulled away. "You have a fever. You should take a rest." She said gently pushing him to lie down on his bed.

Naru didn't argue.

Mai was about to stand up when Naru pulled her down to him, making Mai fall to his chest with a shocked gasp.

"Naru… w-what are you doing?" Mai asked in his chest trying to pull out from his grasp.

Naru didn't give her a chance; his arms went up to embrace her. "I am sorry Mai… for all the pain I caused you. For all the rude thing I said. I don't know how to act to my feelings… it's all too new for me. Please bear with me. Please forgive me." He said holding her tightly.

Mai could not help but blush. This might not be sweetest thing to say or to propose but nevertheless it's the best she ever heard from Naru. And for that she was very happy.

"Mai… there is no one in this world that can protect you like I do" he whispered before his eyes were completely closed.

Mai could not help but smile. She adjusted herself so that she was comfortably laying with Naru on his bed his arms around her.

Before sleep consumed her she whispered. "I know… I am no longer afraid…"

"Naru" she murmured and fell asleep.

Fin.

AN: All done pips… don't forget to review!