:D 4th Case in the RS X-Files series! It's another 2 part one. Hopefully you won't have to wait too long for the next half!

Warnings: Language, Supernatural, Horror

Characters: Kakashi, Neji, Shino,

Phantom Hitchhiker Part 1

Takahiro Akiko narrowed his eyes against the soft mist that had blanketed the highway when night fell. He had his brightest lights on, and yet still he struggled to see far ahead in the mist. It annoyed him beyond belief, and he angrily sat back in his seat, keeping only one hand on the wheel while he used the other to fiddle with his radio. The light flickered in the screen while some popular song started to play and he rolled his eyes at the lyrics-something about broken youth- and mumbled a soft 'stupid' under his breath.

He entered a new stretch of road, this one lined with forests and fields, and he slid down further in his seat. Casually, he glanced out the window. Someone was standing at the edge of the forest in the mist, watching him as he passed. He sat up immediately, looking back several times but he couldn't see anyone. It was as if the figure had vanished.

His brows furrowed in confusion as he stared back at the road behind him, and he wondered if he was seeing things in the mist. He turned his attention back to the front only to yell and slam on the brakes. His car screeched as it came to a stop, the front bumper barely missing the legs of a person standing in the middle of the road.

Gripping the steering wheel with a white-knuckle hold, Akiko panted for breath as he stared at the person before his car. They were wearing a thick white overcoat with a large hood that covered most of their face, and a single rucksack hung off one of their shoulders. Akiko stared at them for a moment before winding down his window and poking his head out.

"Oi! Are you mad? What do you think you're doing standing in the middle of the road?" he yelled; anger laced his voice. When the person didn't move, he growled and revved his engine.

"Get out the way!" he ordered, waving his hand to indicate. The person only stood there, shadowed face staring in his direction. He couldn't even make out their eyes.

"Are you deaf as well as stupid?" he snapped. "I said: Get out of the fucking way!" He emphasised his statement by revving his engine again, and this time he allowed his car to move forward an inch. By all rights, he should've been tapping the person's knees.

Slowly, as if only now registering his command, the person moved towards the side. Akiko watched them go, blinking momentarily to clear his vision. Funny, he could've sworn the person just flickered!

'Bloody mist playing tricks on me!' he thought in agitation, and waited for the person to get out of the way. He revved again, moving forward enough to look at the person out his window without having to lean out.

"You better watch your ass, you hear me? Next person probably won't see you with that white coat! You're likely to get yourself splattered over the high-way, you stupid turd!" he warned, before driving off. In his rear-view mirror he saw them stare after him as he drove before they were completely engulfed by the mist.

He shook his head, turning his attention back to the road. He frowned when he realized that his radio had stopped playing at some point. Reaching over, he fiddled with the buttons, trying to turn it on but it refused. Checking the road-which was completely deserted- he looked down at the radio and mashed the buttons angrily. The light flickered briefly and a load of static erupted out of his radio. He cursed in fury, fingers slamming against the buttons.

"Stupid piece of-" his eyes glanced up as he spoke, and he caught sight of his mirror.

The white-coated figure was sitting in his backseat.

"What the-" his head whipped around, fear colouring his voice but before he could say a word more there was a tremendous crash, followed by the sounds of glass shattering, metal splintering...and the sickening squelch of blood splattering.

Kakashi let his eyes roam over the top of the sheet of paper in his hand. He stared at the boy before him speculatively, humming softly to himself. Sitting before him was a person he had never expected to see, especially not in the circumstances they were in.

"So...let me see if I got this correct," he started slowly, gently slipping the job application form onto the table. "...You wish to join my company?"

"Yes sir," the boy said, bowing his head. The sleek curtain of brown hair slid over his shoulders as he did so, and he brushed it back when he looked up. "That is my wish."

Kakashi glanced over to his colleagues. Itachi looked bored, head resting against his hand while he examined the other papers. Kisame made eye contact with him before he shrugged lightly, offering a weak smile.

Kakashi pursed his lips behind his mask before he scooted closer.

"Well, that's all well and good but...I have to ask; why would a Hyuuga want to join this company? After all, do you not have a family business similar to ours?" he asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

The young Hyuuga boy sitting in front of him stiffened slightly, eyes flickering to the right.

"Yes, the Hyuuga family does work with the paranormal. However I feel it is necessary for me to branch out from the family and help other organizations with my...skills in the field" he said slowly and it was obvious he was choosing his words very carefully.

Kakashi sat back, observing the boy from the corner of his eyes as he thought. Several things were obvious to him; simply by looking at the boy and listening to him speak. He could see that the Hyuuga was hesitant about being here, but at the same time almost desperate. And he could tell that his explanation of wanting the job was, to put it kindly, complete bullshit. Whatever reason the boy had decided to apply, he was keeping it private because either he was ashamed of it, or he felt it would jeopardize his chances of getting the job.

He narrowed his eyes, glancing at the application form before him.

"Sorry, Neji-kun, but I don't think you'd be suitable for this job," he said and tossed the form into the trash.

Wide, pale grey eyes stared at him in shock.

"Excuse me?" Neji gasped, looking absolutely gobsmacked that he hadn't been accepted. "Do you know who I am?" he added angrily.

"Hyuuga Neji, son of the sadly deceased Hyuuga Hizashi, nephew of Hyuuga Hiashi-sama. You are a member of a well known family of psychics, whose talents have been proven and positively accepted in the city. Your family, while not actively being a call-and-cure paranormal agency, do indeed take on requests that they deem urgent or real. A prestigious family indeed, the Hyuuga's are wealthy and powerful, and as such all its members have a type of influence in many areas of society. Except here," he concluded with a smug smirk behind his mask.

Neji sank back into his seat, fists clenched tightly while he glared at Kakashi.

"So why am I not suitable for this job?" he asked through gritted teeth. Kisame and Itachi shared an amused look; they already knew Kakashi well enough to understand exactly what was going on.

"Because I don't like people who think that they can get whatever they want just by using their name alone," Kakashi said and his tone serious as he glared right back at the younger boy. Neji stilled under the look, and his eyes averted down to the ground.

"...I don't rely on the Hyuuga name only," he said softly as his hands relaxed slightly. "I do have the skills-"

"No, no you don't!" Kakashi interrupted, wagging his finger before the boy's face. "Just because you have psychic abilities does not mean you have the skills to fight spirits!"

Neji stood up forcefully. "Byakugan!" he hissed, and the others stared at his eyes, watching as veins erupted around the corners and the normally blank pupils dilated, forming small circles in the centre.

Kakashi clapped his hands a few times. "Oooh, impressive Neji-kun. I see that your Byakugan is pretty strong already! But, I've seen better," he finished and both his colleagues turned away to hide their smirks. Kakashi loved toying with people.

Neji looked furious; his peachy pale face was tinged red while he glared and clenched his teeth. Kakashi sensed the danger heading his way, so he decided it was time to stop playing.

"If you are so insistent that you can handle spirits...what say we do a little test to prove it?" he said and Neji relaxed slightly, curiosity replacing the anger in his features.

"Test?" he asked hesitantly.

"We recently got a call from a friend in the police department who has told us about some strange happenings on Highway 23 near the border between Konoha city and Suna. Apparently, there have been several accidents on that highway, as well as disappearances. Survivors of the accidents insist that there was a hitchhiker in white that stood in the road. Many of the crashes happened when people tried to avoid this person, and he thinks that the disappearances might have occurred when people actually stopped to give this supposed hiker a ride. Police are, of course, searching for a person in white near that highway but so far it seems they've turned up nothing. Not even bodies."

Neji sat down again, his full attention on the man before him. Kakashi kept his tone serious.

"I was going to go out there later this evening, since all these incidences happened at night. Originally, Deidara was going to accompany me however...I'm sure we could make a change of plans if you were up to it," Kakashi finished slyly.

Neji looked at his hands, thinking carefully. Kakashi glanced over at his companions and Itachi shook his head with a smirk.

"Asshole," he mouthed and Kakashi just gave him a happy thumbs up. Kisame rolled his eyes, pulling out his phone and already getting a text ready for Deidara to let him know he wasn't going to go on this hunt. The man would probably be upset; after all he wanted to go on another job. He found them fun.

Neji sighed before looking up. "I'll do it," he said and jumped when Kakashi hopped out of his seat.

"Excellent! Well, you'd best go get something warm to wear as well as a bag of snacks since we have no idea how long we'll be out there tonight! Also, make sure you write out an 'In Case I Die' note for someone to read!" he said, and merrily made his way to the back room. "I'll pick you up at five!" he called over his shoulder.

Neji gaped after him before turning to the other two. Kisame just smiled at him and got up to talk to Deidara on the phone in private. Itachi smirked at him, quirking an eyebrow.

"You're welcome to back out now if you want," he informed and chuckled when Neji's glare increased tenfold. The Hyuuga stood and stormed from the room, making Itachi chuckle. He, too, loved to toy with people.

Neji blew on his hands, trying to warm them up. It was much colder than he had thought it would be, and even with his large white jacket, he felt chilled. His hair was braided back, courtesy of his younger cousin insisting that it would help him see better at night if he didn't have any hair hanging in front of his face. He fiddled with the small band that she had used. It was a bright red band that he honestly didn't like, but he couldn't find the heart to say no to her. She was only concerned for him, after all.

Kakashi tapped the steering wheel of the borrowed Ford Escort that they were using for this mission. He had managed to borrow it from Sasori's grandfather and was still relishing in the look on Neji's face when he'd arrived outside the fancy Hyuuga mansion to fetch him. They were just exiting onto Highway 23, and it was nearing six in the evening now. Mist was starting to settle across the road, and Neji stared out the window of the car, watching the fields become enshrouded by mist.

"So what exactly are we up against?" he asked quietly, shivering slightly. Kakashi hummed, moving into another lane.

"Well I did some research after getting as much information from Luka-that's our cop friend by the way- and my best guess would be that we're up against a sort of phantom hitchhiker," he said, checking the mirrors. They were alone on the road, it seemed.

Neji furrowed his brows, turning in his seat to look at him. "A phantom hitchhiker?" he questioned, and Kakashi snorted.

"Now you see that is exactly what I mean when I say you don't have the skills!" he said teasingly. Neji scowled angrily but Kakashi simply waved it away.

"A phantom hitchhiker is pretty much the vengeful spirit of someone who died on the road, but there's a certain way one has to die to become a phantom hitchhiker. The legend or theory of it says that you have to die by being stranded on the road and, either freezing to death or starving to death, or anything like that. Of course, when one is on a road, you'd expect someone to drive by and take you away to get help. But a phantom hitchhiker occurs when that person died without getting help. Often the spirits will target people who don't offer rides. Those will be the nasty victims that don't get out alive," Kakashi explained, turning keen eyes to Neji who looked a bit pale. "As for those that are kind enough to offer help...I'd imagine those are the disappearances. What happens to them, I haven't a clue."

Neji swallowed and looked out towards the road. "So...what is our plan then?" he asked.

"I haven't the foggiest idea!" Kakashi said cheerfully.

"WHAT?.!"

"No need to scream into my ear, you know! I'm sitting right next to you!"

"You mean we're going out to find this thing with absolutely no plan on how to get rid of it whatsoever?" Neji demanded angrily.

"Basically yes," Kakashi replied thoughtfully.

Neji's glare reached epic proportions, and the beginnings of a few veins could be detected around his eyes. "Are you completely out of your mind? There's no telling what could happen to us now, you dim-wit!" he yelled and Kakashi rolled his eyes.

"You and Sasuke would get on well, the way you talk about me," he mumbled to himself and winced when he felt a punch on his arm.

"What the hell were you thinking? That we'd go out there, see the ghost and just ask it nicely to stop killing innocent people?" Neji hissed venomously.

"I had never thought of that! We should give it a try!" Kakashi answered happily. He suppressed a snigger when Neji began to hit the dashboard in anger. "Oi, take it easy now. This car isn't mine you know!"

"It isn't yours-FUCK! Then what happens when we go missing? How are they going to find us if you aren't even driving your own car? You're going to get us both killed and splattered over the damn road because you're too much of a lazy ass to come up with a plan!" Neji roared. His anger vanished when the car jerked to a halt, tires screeching slightly. Kakashi turned to look at him, his face stormy and cold.

"Alright, I'm done with the games," he began, his tone menacing. "I can take insults and overreactions about my lack of planning, but to say that I would sit back and let people get hurt just because I am lazy is going too bloody far. You don't know how I operate, I get it, but don't you dare go make assumptions about things you have no knowledge about! Just because I don't sit and wait and plan and make assessments like all you damn Hyuuga's does not mean that I am an incapable psychic!" he snapped. Neji recoiled in his seat for a moment before bouncing back with new anger.

"Are you insulting the way the Hyuuga clan works? We take time to plan out our jobs and make sure that they will work without fail! People who come to us-"

"-Suffer while you sit and plan!" Kakashi interrupted harshly. "Yes, you get the job done without fail, but none of you Hyuuga's ever stop to think about how the people who come to you are feeling while you take your precious time to figure every detail out! I understand the want to have everything planned to the nail, but believe me," Kakashi narrowed his eyes, "For those that are counting on you to help them, the longer you wait to take action, the more they suffer from their fears and problems!"

Neji opened his mouth, but he couldn't think of an argument. And it seemed Kakashi was on a role.

"For example, let's say someone came to the Hyuuga's claiming that their five year old daughter was taken by a, uh, a poltergeist! And what would the Hyuuga's do?" he asked mockingly.

Neji stammered for a response. "They..they would assess-"

"Exactly!" Kakashi interrupted. "They wouldn't take action straight away! They would first assess the people; ask them a million questions to see if they were telling the truth or if there was anything paranormal at all. Then, should the people pass that long test, they would then send them away and start to make plans to see the house. Not plans to do something, just to look. Now put yourself into the parent's shoes! Their daughter is gone, the police won't and cannot help them, and the only people who can help are taking their sweet time to do anything; and the longer their daughter is gone, the less chance they have of ever seeing her alive again!" Kakashi now had his hands gripping Neji's shirt and he was hissing into his face. "The Hyuuga clan can boast all they want about being superior psychics, but in my book the ones that really help are the ones who are willing to take risks to save others!"

Neji stared at him, looking horrified and awed. He could feel it; the spiritual energy radiating from Kakashi was strong along with his emotions. Kakashi moved back to his seat, having slid halfway off it in his rant. He took deep breaths, trying to calm himself after having lost control like that.

"...I'm sorry, Neji-kun. I shouldn't have yelled like I did," he apologised softly, "...But you have to understand this," he looked the young boy right in the eyes, "...I will not wait when lives are in danger...even if it means my own will be jeopardized."

Neji swallowed thickly, staring at this man that he had taken for a fool. But now, he saw him in a new light and he realized that Hatake Kakashi was not at all the blithering idiot he had assumed he was, but a clever and loyal man who was willing to take huge risks for the benefit of others.

Neji bowed his head.

"Forgive me, Hatake-san. I was out of line in saying all those things about you. It is as you say...I have no knowledge of this subject matter; I have no right to judge it thus."

Kakashi sighed as he started the car again. "It's alright. Now then, let us continue on. We still have some time before we reach the haunted spot...We can make a few plans during then," he said and smiled beneath his mask.

Neji scoffed. "Cheeky," he mumbled but listened intently to Kakashi as they drove.

Night had fallen now and the mist was thicker than ever. It swirled across the ground like an ocean trapped in a time warp, moving slowly and lazily across the land. The trees in the forest loomed overhead like dark sentinels of the earth, their hidden eyes alert and watchful as the old car rumbled along the road. The mist streamed past the windows like a river as they drove forwards in silence. It had gotten even colder, and Neji was puffing on his hands. He felt foolish, since Kakashi seemed perfectly fine and he wasn't wearing an overly thick jacket.

"You can use spiritual energy, you know," Kakashi said after a moment, and Neji turned to look at him.

"Sorry?"

"Spiritual energy. You can use it to keep your hands warm," the man elaborated and Neji blinked in surprise. "Just focus some energy to your hands, and you'll find them a lot warmer."

Neji did so, and was amazed to find that his hands did indeed feel much warmer. He smiled slightly, pleased to learn a new trick that was useful and turned to thank Kakashi.

"KAKASHI LOOK OUT!" he yelled instead, eyes widening.

Kakashi slammed on the brakes, and the car slid on the road. It seemed that it had gotten just a little bit icy. It was obviously much colder than either of them had realized. Both of them jolted when the car finally halted, and the two of them stared at the figure standing there before them. They were wearing a large white overcoat and had a rucksack slung over their shoulder.

Kakashi sucked in a breath and rolled down his window.

"Are you alright there?" he called and Neji stared at him.

"Are you crazy? You can't expect the ghost to talk!" he hissed.

"I am fine."

The two blinked and looked at each other before turning to look at the person standing there. They started to walk forwards again, until they stood beside Kakashi's window. They bent down and the two in the car saw a young man, perhaps even a teenager, staring at them through dark glasses. He had frizzy brown hair and a lot of his face was hidden by the collar of his coat.

"Would it be inconsiderable of me to ask for a lift?" the person said.

Kakashi blinked slowly while Neji gaped.

"...You're alive!" he said in shock and the person raised an eyebrow.

"Yes I am. Why is that? Your car did not hit me and therefore I was not fatally injured. Thus I am, indeed, alive," they said slowly and Neji felt rather stupid for blurting that out. The look Kakashi sent him didn't help either.

"What is your name, young man?" the silver head asked politely.

"Aburame Shino. And what may I call you two?"

"I'm Hatake Kakashi, and this here is Hyuuga Neji!" Kakashi introduced cheerfully. "And why are you walking around here at this hour, Aburame-san?" he asked, his sharp eyes narrowing on the boy's face.

Shino stared back at him. "Forgive me, Hatake-san...but that is my business and mine alone."

Kakashi smirked at the answer. "Very well. You say you'd like a lift but to where?"

"Konoha city."

Kakashi smiled. "Well we will be heading there before morning, so if you don't mind going for a bit of a luxury drive, then you're welcome to join us!" he said and winced when he felt Neji elbow him in the side. "Is something wrong, Neji-kun?" he asked cheerfully.

Neji leant close to his ear. "Yes, something is bloody wrong! If we bring this guy with, we won't be able to hunt the ghost!" he whispered and Kakashi nodded.

"Yes, but if we leave him then there's a good chance that he will fall victim to the phantom and it'll be on our heads to boot for ignoring his request!"

Neji sat back, thinking about it. Kakashi had a good point.

"Besides," Kakashi continued, "If we leave him to die, we'll most likely have another phantom hitchhiker on our hands later!"

Neji sent him a horrified look and Kakashi just chuckled.

"Climb in Aburame-san!" he said, opening his door and leaning his seat forward so that the boy could get into the backseat. Shino nodded in thanks and climbed in and Kakashi started the car up again.

"We're going to drive just a bit further and then we'll turn right around okay?" he said to the two young men. He received a nod from Shino and a sigh from Neji. "Right! Let's go!"

They drove on in silence, watching the mist pass by and the trees rustle overhead. Even with the bright lights on, they found it hard to see more than a few feet ahead.

After driving for another half hour, Kakashi decided that it was time to turn back. They hadn't caught sight of anything strange so far. Perhaps this phantom had specifics when it came to its victims. He would have to double check the victims and see if there were any connections between them.

"Right, time to head back I guess," he sighed, slowing down to start turning. Neji suppressed a sigh of his own. He wasn't sure if he was glad that they weren't going to hunt this ghost yet, or if he was disappointed. He chose not to dwell on it right now, though.

Shino hadn't said a word since he got in the car, and was instead looking at an electronic device in his hands. Neji couldn't identify what it was.

The car turned around slowly and drove about ten paces before there was a loud bang. Neji jumped and even Kakashi started rather violently in his chair. Shino's head snapped up in surprise and the three of them briefly saw something in front of the car before the mist swallowed it up.

Kakashi shared a look with Neji, the younger of the two looking pale.

"I'll go check the tires," Kakashi said after a moment and Neji almost had a heart attack when he pushed his door open.

"Wait! H-Hatake-san!" he called, but Kakashi waved away his voice.

"Just wait in the car, I'll be back in a moment!" he insisted and walked around to the front.

Neji and Shino watched him as he moved to the front of the car. They saw him cross his arms and shake his head as he looked at something, and Neji could make out the annoyance in his eye. Most of Kakashi's face was, as always it seemed, hidden by a mask and his hair hung over his other eye too. But Neji could make out the emotion in the visible eye, and right now it was one of annoyance and perhaps a little bit of fear.

"Come on, Hatake-san," the Hyuuga murmured, clenching his fists. "Hurry up."

Shino looked over at him and cocked an eyebrow. "You seem a bit nervous, Hyuuga-san."

Neji scowled. "No, I'm freezing!" he snapped, facing away. In truth he was nervous. Although he came from a clan of psychics, he himself had only been up against a ghost once. And that had been the ghost that killed his father when he was younger. He remembered that horrible time all too well.

It had been the first hunt he'd ever gone on, and he had only been able to go because he begged his father to let him while promising he wouldn't get in the way. Unfortunately, the ghost they'd been hunting had been stronger than they anticipated and with Neji's added person...they hadn't made a plan that would offer the best protection. Neji had been a last minute throw in, thus messing up the plans they had made beforehand and as a result, his father had had to save him at the cost of his own life.

Since then, Neji had trained and trained but never gone out on an actual hunt. He knew he talked big and he knew others saw him as a strong and pompous asshole-fitting of the Hyuuga name really- but in truth he was nervous as shit to be on this hunt. It was as Kakashi had said. He had relied on his name to get him what he wanted. He never expected that someone would deny him, a Hyuuga, something as small as a little job.

But that was why he found himself respecting Kakashi so much. The man saw past the wealth and the power behind his name. He saw him for what he was; a young boy that relied heavily on his family name rather than his own abilities. Kakashi could see how nervous he was about this whole thing.

Neji felt ashamed of himself for ever thinking he could fool the man.

But then again, he did fool his uncle. That had to be saying something.

"Hyuuga-san!"

Neji was snapped out of his thoughts by Shino's voice, and he looked up only to gasp in horror when he saw a figure standing right behind Kakashi. They were wearing a white coat with a hood.

"KAKASHI!"

Kakashi looked up at Neji's shout, but before anyone could react his legs were pulled out from under him. He toppled forwards with a grunt and collided with the hood of the car. Neji immediately started to fumble with the door handle, trying to get the door open even as Kakashi slid off the hood. He pushed the door open, trying to get out of the car as fast as he could when his jacket caught on the seatbelt. He cried out as he jerked back, but his eyes stayed trained on Kakashi.

"Kaka-"

His call was cut off as Kakashi started to slide backwards across the ground as if someone was dragging him. He scratched at the ground with his hands, trying to find some kind of grip to stop himself from moving but it was useless. By the time Neji managed to yank his jacket away from the door, Kakashi had been dragged into the mist.

"Kakashi!" Neji started to run after him, the mist soon swallowing him whole and obscuring his vision of everything but the road on which he ran.

"Byakugan!"

His eyes activated and he skidded to a stop, gasping. He spun on the spot, looking around in horror.

'This mist...it's not mist at all! It's spiritual energy!' he thought in panic. It was no wonder the mist seemed so alive. He panted for breath, turning around and around; trying desperately to find some trace of the man.

He caught sight of a thin trail of light silver spiritual energy. 'Kakashi!'

He started to move towards it, but the sound of glass shattering behind him made him freeze.

"Shit!" he turned around, trying to see the car. Shino was still there, and if the phantom went for him...

'I will not wait when lives are in danger...even if it means my own will be jeopardized.'

Neji cursed again, starting to run back towards the car. He couldn't let something happen to Shino; the boy was innocent and unknowing of what was happening. Neji was his only chance, most likely.

From just beyond the mist he could make out a bright light, and he hurried towards it.

When he reached the spot where the car was, he skidded to a halt and gasped in horror. The car was aflame, the interior already burning black from the fierce fire licking at its sides. He took a step back, eyes wide as he watched the car burn. He couldn't see Shino anywhere.

'Is he...Oh God, was I too late?' he thought in despair, bringing his hands up to wipe away some sweat that had gathered on his forehead from the heat of the fire and from his own stress.

He heard something in the car hiss, and then he was flying through the air as the car exploded. He landed harshly on the ground, skidding across the patches of ice and mud littered over the road. He felt something sharp scratch his back and cried out before finally he slid to a stop.

Groaning, he pushed himself up. He was thankful now that his hair was tied up so he could see without having to brush it back over and over. He stared at the burning wreck that was once a car and tried to catch his breath.

He gripped his head, trying to think of what to do. They didn't have a plan; he had no clue how to just wing it! He'd never done that before!

"Dammit Kakashi!" Neji growled.

He just didn't know what to do.

Reviews would be greatly appreciated!

Next part will be out as soon as I write it. XD