And he did. He actually kissed me. My first kiss and I'm lying in a hospital bed. But it was a kiss from Naru, so that made up for it. He pulled away from me gently, his usually pale cheeks flushed with colour. He's so cute when he's embarrassed.

"Wow." We both whispered, staring into each other's eyes. That amazing silence where there was no-one but the two of us was interrupted by someone coughing into their hand. We looked away from each other and blushed.

"Sorry to interrupt, lovebirds. But you do realise this is the hospital that the curse is on the grounds of, right?" It was Naru's voice, but not.

"Gene?" I asked, looking around.

"Over here, in the mirror." There was one next to my bed.

"oooh can you feel the love tonight-" Naru cut him off mid-singsong

"As much as I appreciate your brotherly teasing, what are you doing here?" Gene pretended to pout.

"Fine. I'll just leave you lot to get killed, and you can join me in the oh-so wonderful afterlife. Go ahead, ignore me and snap at me, see if I care.""Gene, what do you need to tell us?"

"Get the hell out of here" He paused. I could here knocking sounds, and the walls felt like they were shaking. "Now!"

Naru lifted me out of the bed and onto his back, carrying me as gently as he could. We ran through the corridor, and I was having all sorts of images of having maggots stuffed down my throat, or having my neck sliced open like a sacrificial lamb to appease this entity. I was probably strangling Naru by how tightly I was holding onto his neck. But all he said to me was:

"Don't worry, Mai, I'll do whatever it takes to get you out of here safely." Oh Naru. You're such an idiot. I'd never leave without you. You know that.

There was a transparent, humanoid shape limping towards us, and I could see ghostly maggots writhing in various maggot-made orifices.

I could feel Naru stiffen underneath me. I shook my head.

"Don't even think about it." I grabbed his shirt sleeve, and I didn't want to let go of him for a second.

"Mai. What's the point of us both getting killed?" His voice was choked, and he was keeping one eye on the… I could only call it a demon. It had hateful red eyes.

Please, God, if you're real, smite this thing of evil. I couldn't rely on a prayer, though. I let go of Naru and stood on my own two feet.

I have no idea what I was planning on doing, but I can't tell you how glad I was to hear a familiar shrill whistle, and a white blur passing me by.

"Lin!" I saw the Chinese man running towards us.

"Are you two okay?" He asked, still catching his breath. His shiki were keeping the thing busy for now, but it wouldn't last long.

"Let's get out of here" I suggested. Naru and Lin nodded, and we ran… or at least we started to, and then I fell over.

"Mai!" I could hear them both yelling, and I could feel strong arms lifting me up. Then the running started again.

"Are you alright, Mai?" I heard the concerned voice of the tall Chinese man asking me.

"Think so. Maybe I need lessons from Masako on being a medium, or something. You think she'd agree to it?"

Lin laughed, and took a while to answer. We were still running.

"Might not be a bad idea." He eventually conceded. "Hang on, Mai, we're going to jump." I could hear a smashing window. That must have been Naru. Lin shifted his hold on me and ran a little faster.

It felt like we were falling forever. Just the wind passing out ears, and the earth rushing up towards us. Then we'd landed, and were rolling over the grass. To lessen the impact, I think.

Then I passed out again.

When I woke up, I was in my apartment, and it was the middle of the night. Naru was asleep at the side of my bed, and he looks so cute when he's sleeping. I honestly don't think he sleeps enough. I might be biased, though.

I could hear the noise my TV makes if it isn't on a channel, so I carefully got up to switch it off. When I made it to the living room though, I saw a ghost in the TV. Kano's son again.

"Hey there" I whispered. He smiled.

"Hiya. So sorry about the other day. New at this ghost stuff. No hard feelings?" I shook my head.

"Nope, you're forgiven. Any more word on how to kill this curse, then?" The ghost-boy sighed.

"Not really. No-one's come across it in over a hundred years, and the ghosts that do know about it are all nasty Chinese Mafia. Trust me, they're worse after they're dead." I put my hand over my mouth to stifle a giggle.

"They didn't share much. But yeah, the whole virgin's blood thing seems the only way. Sorry, Mai" I shook my head.

"If that's the way it is, then so be it." The boy smiled again, but sadly.

"You're a real brave chick, you know. That narcissist is lucky to have you." I started.

"How…?" He laughed, shaking his head.

"Your boyfriends' brother is the biggest gossip in the afterlife. None of your secrets are safe with him in your head." I blushed, a little bit angry as well as embarrassed.

"I'll just have to see what I can do about that then.""Best of luck to you. And… for the other thing as well."

"You too, hope you pass on safely."

"I'll keep trying to find another way, Mai. So don't do anything stupid until there really is no hope." I gulped, and nodded once. He faded away

"Wait a minute! I don't even know your name."

"It's Masahiro." He smiled and saluted me as he disappeared, leaving static on the television.

"Mai? Where did you go?" I smiled at the worry in his voice.

"Living room. I woke up and the TV was on, so I switched it off." I replied, not looking at him.

"I could have sworn it wasn't on when I brought you home." Damn. Think quick, Mai, don't worry him.

"It does that sometimes. Sometimes I think the technology has a mind of its own. After all, they say robots will take over the world someday." I laughed nervously, and Naru must have picked up on that because his eyes narrowed.

"Mai… There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?" Why am I such a terrible liar? If only I hadn't laughed. Argh.

Naru walked towards me and put his arms around me. I relaxed into his embrace.

"Mai… this is serious. I know we can't walk away from this one, because it's a hospital, but… honestly, if anything happens to you… I think I'd die." His eyes when he stared into mine… he looked so lost, so hopeless. I sighed.

"Idiot. What about if something happened to you - how do you think I'd feel? Baka. I'd die without you, Naru. Onegai…. Don't ever leave me again." I cried into his chest as he held me.

After a while, we both let go and stared at each other for a moment. Then I just couldn't help myself, I started laughing.

"What is it, Mai?" I tried to speak as I wiped away water from my eyes.

"Oh, nothing, it's just… there's no helping us, is there. We're so hopeless without each other." Naru smiled at that.

"I suppose that's true." He glanced at the TV. "Were you talking to that boy's ghost?" I nodded.

"Yeah. His name's Masahiro. He says your brother's the biggest gossip in the afterlife, by the way. And that none of my secrets are safe when he's in my head." I immediately regretted what I'd said when he smirked at me.

"None of them, hmm?" Ah crap. Gene, please, please don't tell him. I will find your favourite teddy bear and rip it up if you do.

"Gene, what's Mai hiding from me?" Gene appeared in the TV.

"I can't… she threatened Leopold." Naru glared at his dead brother. It was like there was a chill in the air between them. I shivered.

"Oh believe me, Eugene, I'll burn Leopold to ashes and then tear Miss Honeybear to pieces if you don't tell me."

"Okay, fine, you win." My eyes widened. No, Naru couldn't know that - not when it was the only way - he'd stop me. And it was something I had to do, no matter what.

"She's planning on-" A loud rumbling cut him off.

"Earthquake?" Naru wondered aloud. Gene and I both shook our heads.

"No," I answered, "But how can we feel it from here if it's at the hospital? That doesn't make any sense?" Naru's eyes widened in shock.

"You mean that the curse is doing this?" I nodded, looking out my window in the direction of the hospital.

"Come on - we have to get the others and do something about this" I grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him down the stairs.

"But what can we do about this? You've seen that thing, Mai. We're powerless against it."

"I'm pretty sure brother dearest was about to tell you. I'm still hoping that Masahiro's heard that there's another way, though…" I called back as we ran. Naru stopped.

"Mai… whatever you're planning - it involved you getting hurt, doesn't it? That's why you're not telling me."

"We don't have time for this. We have to stop that thing before it kills more people. Come on. The others are probably already there."

And I was right, they were. They were all standing outside of the hospital, waiting for us. The atmosphere felt like we were samurai making one last stand, or something. It made me want to cry. But I didn't - I couldn't. Not in front of Naru.

"Be strong, kiddo. I'm rootin' for ya."

"Thanks, Gene. I'm scared."

"That's okay. The bravest are the ones who are afraid, but fight on anyway." He sighed. "Just…do not go gently into that good night."

"Nani?"

"Never mind. Good luck, Mai."

"Okay, lets get this over with." I found myself saying, much to my - and everyone else's surprise. Everyone except Lin. His eyes were watching me silently, knowingly, and he looks so sad. So he knew, then, what the only way to stop this thing is. And if Lin knows this…Why isn't he telling Naru I gulped. I could feel my hands shaking, but tried to keep a determined face on. After all, I was determined to stop this thing, no matter what. Even if it cost me my life.

A/N: Hi everyone - it's been far too long. So here's the next chapter! And it's a bit of a cliff hanger. Oh well. Only felt inspired by this after reading some shonen onmyouji fanfics. If you haven't watched that series - DO EET NAO! Trust me, it's one of the best animes I have ever seen

Mai: Yay, we're back.

Naru: Mai… you'd better not die on me. I don't care about this story. If the author kills you, I will destroy her.

Me: Oooh you're so scary. But I wouldn't kill off Mai. I'm not that mean… or am I?

Me, Mai & Naru: Find out in the next installment!

Naru: If there is one.

Me: Hey! There will be. Maybe in another year, but there will be!

And of course, Ghost Hunt does not belong to me D: