*NOTE: I would like to quickly thank Tbonechick2011 and AmutoSakuran1621 for taking their time to review this story. Also, I would like to take this time to happily announce that my lovely, newly appointed, internet twin: Tbonechick2011 will be helping me with some of the stuff in the story and for her hardwork I will be awarding her. This part she did not know of, now she does lol. Please review. Also thanks to those who story favorited/alerted The Haunted Circus.

The Haunted Circus

Chapter One

_-x-_-x-_

A little boy looked up, a wide grin on his face, as he watched the giant cats went through the rings that were set aflame with such gracefulness. Who knew such a magnificent and large creature as they would do that without getting burned? The ring master had begun the act by calling out each of the large cats' names and their personalities. They all had one thing in common: they were the kindest lions you would see.

The scene seemed to fast forward a bit and now the boy was looking on with fear filled eyes and tears streaming down his cheeks. He had lost his family when things started to get bad. The large cats that he was so interested in were now reeking havoc. They jumped at anyone who ran by and had already killed one of the rope swingers of the circus.

As he fell to the ground he noticed a large shadow looming over him. Without a doubt in his mind, he knew that when he looked at the thing he wasn't going to do well. Facing the largest and lead lion, he noticed how vacant it's eyes had looked, almost a pale milky color, then all was black and pain filled.

Mai walked into the SPR office a few minutes before they opened and had set down her belongings behind the desk that she had to bring in herself a few weeks after they had bought the place. And as she mentally went over the files she had to look over the night before, the voice of her one and only narcissist boss got her day started.

"Mai, tea."

Grumbling a bit she took one of the files that had caught her eyes and went into the small kitchenette that came with the office. Without taking her eyes off the file, she moved with ease around the small area, getting the teapot, cups, and a tray. She filled the pot with water, set it on the stove, turned on the heat, and got out the tea leaves.

Leaning against the counter with the cups and tray, she scanned over the summary of the paranormal activities that were listed, one word seemed to pop out at her. A faint, blurry memory seemed to rise in her mind but it was gone as soon as it came, due to the tea pot whistling.

Closing the file she mixed the leaves into the cups and poured water into them before setting each of them onto the tray. Balancing the tray of teas in her left hand, she grabbed the file with her right hand and opened it up with her thumb. She passed by a table that was in the hallway underneath a mirror and set the open file down. She went to Lin's office door and knocked.

Hearing a grunt, she turned the knob, entered the room and set his cup of tea, along with a napkin, next to his left elbow on his desk. Seeing his nod as his thanks, she exited the room, closed the door and made her way to the door that read: Shibuya Kazuya. Mentally rolling her eyes she walked right in without even knocking and set the last two remaining cups of tea on the empty area of his desk.

Knowing she wouldn't get a reply of any kind, she walked out, closing the door in the process, grabbed the file she was reading and headed back to her desk to continue reading more. But as fate seems to have it, the bell by the main door to the office chimed as young couple walked in with a small child, around the age of ten.

"Hello, welcome to Shibuya's Psychic Research. Do you have an appointment?" Mai asked as she laid the file, open, on top of her desk.

"Sorry but we were in a bit of a hurry and didn't have time to make an appointment." the woman said as she smiled sheepishly.

"That's alright. If you don't mind waiting here while I go get my boss." Mai smiled. She waited until the couple and the little boy were seated before heading to Naru's office.

Knocking on the door she spoke, "Naru, we have some clients."

The door opened and Mai had to balance herself quickly before she fell into her stoic boss' chest.

"Do they have an appointment?"

A bit miffed she answered, "No, but they said that they were in a hurry and forgot to call beforehand."

Looking at her for a few more seconds, making Mai feel slightly uncomfortable, he sighed. "Go get Lin and then make some tea."

Nodding, she turned and went to Lin's office door, knocked, then entered when given permission.

"Lin?" said man looked away from his laptop to look at her. "Naru wants you to take notes while he talks with the clients." Lin nodded then stood up and taking his laptop with him.

Mai left Lin to follow behind and headed straight into the small kitchen as she quickly made some tea and a small cup of hot cocoa for the little boy; figuring that he would want something warm to drink as well.

Taking the drinks into the room, Mai handed the young couple and Naru their tea, Lin his water, and the little boy his cup of hot cocoa. Mai smiled slightly when she saw the surprised look on the young boy's face when she handed him the warm drink, along with a small bowl of marshmallows to dunk.

Sitting down in her chair behind her desk, Mai went finish reading the file from earlier while listening in on the interview.

"You seem a bit young to be the boss of a paranormal activity group." the young man said as he looked at Naru.

"I get that a lot and I assure you that I am more than capable of getting the same or even more done than those who were older than me but in the same position." Naru said with a fake smile. "Now, since you obviously know me, may I know your names'?"

"Ah yes. Well, my name is Kanamoto Koushou and this is my wife Hana and our son Hiori. We are part of the circus-"

"Circus of Realms." Mai cut him off with a surprised look on her face. "I thought your wife looked a bit familiar."

Koushou seemed a bit surprised. "How so? Last I heard we weren't on the tabloids."

Mai laughed a little before answering. "Oh, I meant that she seemed familiar, but older." Turning to address Hana, "I went to a circus show you did when you were seventeen, the act you had for it was beautiful yet a bit sorrowful."

Hana smiled. "Thank you. The circus leader at the time thought that the whole beautiful love story with a mix of sorrow and hatred was the way to go."

"Indeed. Sorry for interrupting." and the young brunette focused back on her file.

"That's quite alright." Koushou said with a smile, then he turned serious. "As your young worker has said, we are from the Circus of Realms. We are currently staying at the Sakura Fields area where carnivals and fairs would take place."

"I have heard of it." Naru said.

"Yes, well, there is this one part of Sakura Fields that only holds circuses and nothing else. But this part of the grounds is well known to be haunted, since the past circuses that have performed there either had accidents or a terrible fate." Koushou said.

"Terrible fates?" Naru questioned.

"Yes." Hana answered. "Such as death."

"In the audience or the circus people?"

Koushou and Hana looked at each other for a moment before an answer was given. Surprisingly enough, it was Hiori, who had just finished off his drink and snack.

"The circus people." his quite but somewhat strong voice filled the room. "Unfortunately it is only the circus people that are being killed when the terrible things happen, sometimes they just get injured."

"How?"

"The story is the same." Koushou said as he regained his voice. "It was always the tamest, kind animals that would never cause harm to suddenly turn into vicious creatures."

Mai, who was listening to bits and pieces of the conversation while reading froze upon Koushou's words.

"Louie…"