Warning!! Violence, blood, graphic gore, a tidbit of OOCness, angst, dark theme, swearing, failed attempts at humor, MaixNaru

Disclaimer!! Sadly I do not own Ghost Hunt or any of the characters in it. If I did Mai wouldn't be so naïve and Naru wouldn't be such a narcissist.

Authors Note!!!

Bou-Monk

Hōshō- pronounced Ho-u-sho-u

Miko-priestess usually a shrine priestess

Shiki/Shikigami-spirits under an onmyouji command

Oyabun-Boss

Okasan-Mother

Hentai-pervert (in this context)

Dream

Spirit speak

Flashback

"Blah" character talking

'Blah' character thoughts

Gone But Never Forgotten

Chapter 3- Raven's Wings Part 3: Not suppose to

*+*+*+*+*

"It's time for you to wake up, Mai-chan."

"I don't want to. It's warm here."

There was a soft laugh before something warm and comforting touched my face, stroking it softly. I leaned into the touch and a feminine voice continued to say,

"Come on, Mai. It's time to get up."

*+*+*+*+*

The process was slow and sluggish as though Mai had been asleep longer than a few hours. She realized she was on something soft and warm it and relaxed her immensely. She curled into the warmth and nuzzled into it. There was a soft sigh before a deep sleep laced voice rumbled, "Mai, I am not a pillow."

Mai took a minute before she decided it was worth seeing who she was laying on and cracked a single eye open halfway. She was surprised to see Naru with his head leaned back against the couch, his arm sprawled over the armrest while his other was resting on the back of the couch. His eyes were closed but she could tell that if they were open they'd be watching her carefully like they usually did. She blushed and pushed herself up slowly but still her world spun dangerously and she had to use one hand to grab Naru's shirt and the other to hold her head. She didn't notice that he had lifted his head and opened his eyes to hold her up with his hands until the spinning had gone to a minimum. When she lifted her head up her breath caught at how close they were and she began to blush. For a moment she saw something flash in his eyes but it was gone before she could figure out what it was. He pushed her head down back into his lap and said,

"Just calm down Mai. Sleep a little more. Everyone else is asleep."

That was when Mai noticed they were in the base and they were facing the monitors. Her eyes blinked slowly as she tried to fight off sleep. Her eyes closed for a moment and she murmured,

"What happened?"

She felt the shift of his body but it wasn't until she opened her eyes again that she realized why he had shifted. He was leaning over her, his face once again a few inches from hers causing her to blush.

"What did you say? If we're going to have a conversation you need to stop muttering, Mai. That would be the smart thing to do."

Mai glared her own personally made death glare at him but felt it was better not to make any rash moves that would cause the room to spin wildly again. She closed her eyes to try and block out how close he was but that only made things worse because she could feel his breath ghost over her face. Sighing she murmured a little louder, having little energy to actually talk.

"What happened? I remember waking up then nothing."

She felt Naru become rigid under her before relaxing. She waited patiently and she felt his breath still ghosting over her cheek meaning he was still leaning over her. She opened her eyes slowly and saw his dark icy blue eyes and looked at him shocked.

"What did I do?! Why are you mad at me?!"

She saw the flicker of confusion in his eyes and in the small frown he gave her before it disappeared behind the iron mask he always wore and he leaned back into the position she had awoken to see him in. She turned so that her face was buried in his chest and felt him stiffen again before once again relaxing. A soft sigh escaped his lips and he said, "You were possessed, Mai."

Mai frowned in confusion as she started to echo his words, "Possessed…"

She trailed off as she remembered when she had woken up and began to take the pills she'd blacked out. During the black out she had seen the girl, the one that had a relationship with her father, and the girl had given her a cold smile that had shivers running up and down Mai's spine. She looked up at Naru to see he was once again watching her carefully and he asked,

"What is it?"

Mai shook her head and looked away from him before she said, "That girl…and her father..."

"Yes we know. She told us the part you were going to tell us. Hara-san said that the girl was a twisted spirit and we need to find out what happened exactly."

Mai nodded her head slowly as she felt her eyes getting heavier and heavier. Naru must have noticed because he sighed exasperatedly before he said again,

"Go to sleep, Mai."

She frowned as her eyes closed and her consciousness began to slip as she murmured sleepily, "All I've been doing is sleeping."

She heard a soft chuckle from above her but she couldn't be sure if Naru actually did it because her mind finally slipped away and she was consumed by a dreamless sleep again. When she woke again the room was filled with noise and people talking. Once again she heard Naru's voice hiss,

"Shut up you two idiots are going to wake up-"

Mai sat up slowly and stretched, as she did this something slid off of her and she looked to see Naru's jacket. She blushed a little as she remembered last night but she couldn't dwell on it long because Bou had her in a back breaking hug and he was swinging her around as he exclaimed,

"Thank goodness your alright, Mai-chan!! You have to be careful you know you're like a magnet for trouble."

There was a sound 'thwap' as Ayako's hand met the back of Bou's head and she growled out, "Put her down you hentai!! You're going to kill her with your over bearing hugs."

Bou pouted as he muttered, "Like the old dragon lady can talk."

This earned him another sound smack in the back of the head before John tried to get in the middle earning him glares from both sides. Somewhere during the arguing and the saving Mai had managed to get free from Bou's grip. She picked up Naru's jacket and walked over to where he was standing infront of the monitors. He looked at her when she reached his side and offered his jacket back. Without a word of thanks he grabbed it and slipped it own. Frowning Mai growled out,

"It wouldn't kill you to say Thank you, you know."

He merely smirked at her before turning away and she would have hit him if it hadn't been for Bou taking a break from arguing with Ayako to hold her back. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself but any calm she had gained from those few breaths broke as Naru said,

"Mai, tea."

Mai huffed in annoyance before turning around and marching out the room but not before slamming the door closed to make her point. She heard Naru's faint voice say something about immature and she had half a mind to go right back in there and throw something at him but she thought better of it. She remembered the short tour they had gotten from Takiha and found her way back into the main entrance hall but as she looked around she couldn't find the way to the kitchen. Suddenly a voice said,

"Taniyama-san? Is there something I could help you with?"

Mai jumped a little at the voice and turned around to see Yukori walking down the stairs. She smiled at the older woman and said, "Ah! Yukori-san…um actually I was wondering where the kitchen was. Shibuya-san wishes for his tea."

Yukori frowned and said, "You could get one of the maid's to make it."

Mai smiled kindly as she shook her head and said, "I'm afraid Shibuya-san likes his tea a certain way."

Yukori smiled kindly and nodded her head as she said, "I understand. I'll take you there then if you don't mind the company."

Mai perked up considerably and smiled brightly as she said, "Not at all, Yukori-san."

The woman laughed as she led Mai and said, "So this…Shibuya-san…He seems….A bit stuck up truthfully. Pardon my disrespect to your boss Mai-chan."

Mai laughed lightly and shook her head as she followed the woman and said, "Not at all. We actually have a tendency to make fun of him because of narcissistic nature but he is kind when he isn't acting like a jerk or trying to hide it."

They both laughed softly as they finally got to the kitchen and Mai started to make the tea. Everyone liked their tea in different ways so she was careful to get them all right and perfect. As she made it she and Yukori made idle chat and laughed together. The atmosphere was warm and friendly as though they were old friends. When the kettle whistled Mai paused in talking to prepare everything. When she was done, she turned toward Yukori and asked,

"Shall we go?"

She noticed a change in the woman's demeanor as she smiled sadly at Mai and said, "You have to becareful Mai-chan. He set his sights on you and he'll try everything he can to get you. Just like he did with me and the others before me."

Mai's eyes grew wide as she started putting the pieces together and she whispered in disbelief, "Y-Yukari…San…"

The woman smiled and nodded her head before she was gone completely like she had never been there in the first place. Mai trembled slightly before the door to the kitchen suddenly slammed open causing her to shriek in fear and surprise. Masako was clutching Bou's arm as they looked around the kitchen and their eyes settled on Mai. Naru suddenly passed then, his face expressionless and uncaring as he said,

"Who was here with you, Mai?"

Mai looked at him confused her mind trying to catch up with the events that happened these past few seconds before Naru cut in her thoughts and said,

"Hara-san said she felt a ghost's presence and when she pinpointed where it was at she said it was near you."

Finally it all clicked and Bou barely saved the tea as Mai dropped the tea tray, stumbling backwards into a chair. They were all at her side in an instant, except Naru who watched emotionlessly, but she just shook her head and said,

"It's nothing serious. I'm fine just a little shocked."

Ayako cupped her cheeks and lifted her face to meet her as she said, "Mai-chan what happened?"

Mai blinked a few times before she took a deep breath and said, "I saw Yukari-san. She warned me that…That someone, he, she had said. She said he had his sights on me now and I had to becareful. She said he'd do everything he could to get me like he did with her and…"

It suddenly clicked for Mai and she looked past them to Naru as she said in a horror filled voice, "There were others. Before Yukari-san there were other girls. That's why there were already bloodstains on the knife in the dream I saw. Because he had killed others and now he wants me."

The room suddenly became tense and quiet before Ayako lifted Mai up by the elbows and said, "I think we should go back to base and think this case over. It's only been two days and already things have gotten dangerous."

Naru's eyes narrowed at Ayako and she glared back as she said, "Don't even try to protest. We have a ghost that for all we know is a mass murderer bent on killing Mai and I know you don't want to risk anyone's life."

Everyone was quiet as Naru and Ayako glared at each other before he turned around swiftly and left. Mai and everyone else stared at Ayako in awe but she was too busy leading Mai back to base to care. When they got back to base she sat Mai down and gave her a cup of tea hoping to help the shock wear off. Once Mai was back to her usual self Naru sat infront of the monitors facing them with an indifferent look on his face.

"So what are we suppose to talk about exactly, Matsuzaki-san?"

Ayako hesitated when she looked at him utterly confused before she cleared her throat and said, "Well I think it's obvious we're not dealing with a tree spirit."

Naru gave her an annoyed look as everyone else just gave her a 'duh' look. Bou shook his head and looked at Naru as he asked, "Could it be a poltergeist?"

Naru shook his head as he said, "No what we're dealing with is way too intelligent to be a poltergeist. I'm not sure what it is. I need a little longer to figure this out."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door that had everyone jumping, except Naru and Lin of course. Imani entered the room and she said,

"You called for the maids and servants that had experiences in the house."

Naru nodded his head before he got up from his seat and began to direct everyone around. "Hara-san go with Father Brown and look to see if you feel anything. Matsuzaki-san and Takigawa-san go check the surrounding area to see if you find any clues. Osamu-kun, Mai you are going to stay here and help me with the interviews."

Everyone nodded their head before scurrying to do their assigned task. It was well into the day before they got down to their last two people to interview and it happened to be Takiha and Imani. Just as Imani sat down in her seat Yukori walked into the room. Mai smiled kindly at the woman before her mind flashed back to her twin that had been with her earlier that morning. Now that Mai actually looked into her eyes there was a slight difference between the two. Yukori-san eyes were a lighter shade of color than her sister Yukari. Mai remembered that it was similar to the difference between Gene and Naru though it was more about the emotion in their eyes than the color difference. She sat down a little ways away from them to give Imani and Naru privacy as he began his questioning.

"Your name?"

"My name is Rice, Imani. Rice being my family name."

Naru nodded his head in understanding before he asked his next question, "What exactly was the event that occurred for you and where did it occur?"

Imani took a deep breath before she said, "I had knives thrown at me in the kitchen when there was not a soul in sight. It was around early evening and Yukori-sama wanted something to drink so I went to fetch it for her. Everything appeared normal at first but after I got the water and turned to leave there was a sharp pain in my arm. I screamed as I turned to look and I saw multiple knives hovering in the air. One of them had fallen on the floor and it had blood on it."

Mai gasped as Imani lifted her sleeve and twisted her body so they could see the scar on the back of her arm. Naru's eyes darkened as he took his chin between his fingers and began to think. After a while he nodded his head and Takiha sat down where Imani had been sitting before excusing herself. Naru nodded his head at him before he said,

"Event and where it occurred."

"I have heard Yukari-sama crying in her room and it is not always at the same time but it is always at night that I hear it. It happens whenever I pass her room but the sound seems to follow me past it. It is a heartbreaking sob that is terrible to listen to."

Takiha's voice quivered slightly before he took a shuddering breath and Naru began to think again. Suddenly he looked up at Yukori and asked,

"Has the activity ever happened in the morning?"

Yukori looked thoughtful before she shook her head and said, "No I'm afraid not. Actually, Mai-san's attack was the earliest the attacks ever happened.""

Naru nodded his head before dismissing both Yukori and Takiha just as the others walked into the room. Naru looked at them expectantly as they sat down before Masako said, "There are definitely spirits here. But…"

Naru frowned slightly at her 'but' and asked, "But?"

"It's like that other spirit. The one who possessed Mai, there's something stopping me from seeing them and pinpointing where they are. Their spirits are twisted also…Except the one that had been with Mai. I think it's because she hasn't been here as long as the others."

Naru was back deep into his thoughts as she spoke before he looked at Mai and said, "Tea, Mai."

She glowered at him and opened her mouth to retort when suddenly there was a scream from the hall. They all rushed out to see a crowd of servants circling something near a wall. They pushed past them and Mai screamed at what they saw. Written on the wall with what Mai could only think of as blood read,

Two down more to go

Let's continue the show

Until I get what I want

Until I get what is mine

My Mai

Mai covered her mouth in horror and turned her head into the nearest chest, not realizing it was Naru's and not caring. He embraced her awkwardly but he didn't look down at her as he stared at the wall. His eyes dark as he glared at the writing before Takiha rushed up to them and asked,

"Have any of you seen Imani? Where's Imani?!"

Naru began to put the words meaning together in his mind and without thinking he said, "He has her. 'Two down and more to go' The maid that disappeared and now Imani. Until he gets what he wants he'll keep taking the maids."

He began to feel Mai trembling against him and looked down at the girl. She had her face buried into his chest as far as she could. He felt her tears drench his chest and he sighed exasperated. He knew the young woman would be blaming herself for the disappearances but right now he needed her focused. He looked at the others and got their attention as he said,

"Osamu-kun help Takiha-san clean this up. Takigawa-san, Father Brown go up to the tower and see if you could find anything that would tell if he dragged them in there."

The three men nodded their heads and set off to their tasks and he and the rest of the team went back to the base, Mai still clutching him tightly. When they got inside Naru stopped and cupped Mai's cheeks in his hands, bringing her face up to look at him. Her watery cinnamon colored eyes locked onto his indigo ones and he said,

"Stop being an idiot Mai."

He saw the flash of anger before it extinguished and she said, "B-But Imani-san and-and the other maid. Because-because of me-"

Naru's eyes hardened and she shut up as he hissed out, "Because of you nothing Mai. Are you really that stupid? This has nothing to do with you, it has to do with the man doing this so cut it out and get focused."

Mai looked at him shocked before nodding her head determinedly, her eyes shone with confidence once again. He let her go of her and with a smirk he said, "Tea, Mai."

Her mouth dropped open in disbelief before stomping out the room angrily. As she walked she suddenly felt dizzy and she reached out with her hand to brace herself against a wall but instead of something solid it felt like she kept on falling and everything went black.

*+*+*+*+*

I was running as my heart pounded in my chest and the blood rushed through my ears creating a roaring sound. I could only let out a small whimper as I ran through the hall but I didn't dare look back because I knew what I would see. I tripped, stumbling slightly I shrieked as something brushed against the back of my neck. I started to run again but this time I looked back as a laugh filled the seemingly endless hallway and I instantly regretted it. My eyes met the glowing crimson ones of the creature chasing after me before I tripped again but this time instead of landing on the floor it grabbed me. I shrieked in terror as I was whirled around to face it. I watched as it raised its knife up, our eyes never disconnecting, but something happened and suddenly I was shoving myself away. In the process I felt my back meet something cool and I heard a loud crack before I was falling. I'd fallen through the window, crashing through it when I pushed off of the creature causing small glass pieces to cut into my skin.

I felt the air rush against my body as I fell and my heart jump to my throat as a scream got stuck there. I clenched my eyes shut as darkness began to blur all around me and slowly I was dragged into unconsciousness just before my body met the ground.

*+*+*+*+*

Mai sat up as an agonized scream tore through her throat. She was suddenly encircled by a pair of arms and her screaming was cut short as a pained sob wrenched out of her. She gripped the person tightly as she sobbed until she took a deep shuddering breath and she said,

"I was there, I was her. I was in the dream this time."

She choked on another sob, not realizing that since her face was pressed into the person's shoulder her voice was slightly muffled by the cloth.

"He was chasing me and I was trying to get away. I tripped and he grabbed me but when he tried to kill me I pushed myself away from him."

Another pained sob wracked her body before Naru's soft but firm voice made her turn her head towards him. His face was as blank as ever but his eyes were an icy blue, showing his worry as he asked,

"Was it like the dream you had during the vampire case?"

Tears welled up in her cinnamon eyes again as Mai nodded her head slowly and she choked out, "I pushed myself out the window by accident. When I pushed away from him I went crashing through the window."

The person holding her tightened his hold and suddenly a stinging sensation made Mai cry out in shock and pain. The person immediately pulled away and Mai saw that it was Yasuhara. Ayako pushed her way past Bou, Masako and Naru to look over Mai. They were surprised to see small patches of blood on her clothing.

"Out! I need all of you out so I can look Mai over completely."

Ayako ordered as she stood infront of the trembling young woman. Naru looked at Ayako a minute as though he would refuse but he suddenly turned and left the room with the others following. When they were all gone and the door was closed behind them Ayako turned back to Mai and knelt beside her on the bed as she gently took the shirt in her hands and lifted it. She inhaled sharply when she saw the array of cuts all over Mai. They were all different shapes and sizes as they littered the young woman's body.

"Is it bad? What is it?"

Ayako bit her lip before she said, "Its nothing that can't be fixed don't worry about it."

Softly, soothingly she instructed Mai to take off her pants and was surprised to see Mai had cuts there also. She quickly cleaned and bandaged them before calling the others back into the room after Mai was properly dressed. When they were all inside Mai's room Ayako said,

"She has various cuts on her body as though she fell on glass or was swimming in it."

The room grew quiet as Naru turned all business-like and he asked Mai, "When you went through the window did any of the glass cut you?"

Ayako gaped at Naru but it was Bou who said something, "Naru! After what happened in the vampire case you are going to question Mai?! It isn't right?! This is too much even for her."

Naru sent him a cold look quickly making Bou shut his mouth but Mai wasn't listening to what they were saying. Mai seemed to be thinking about it before her eyes grew wide with understanding. She trembled lightly as she looked at Naru, their eyes meeting as understanding past between them and she choked out,

"How….Why?"

Naru seemed to hesitate before he said, "Your abilities Mai. I believe they're getting stronger and in getting stronger…You're experiencing new things. You're acquiring new abilities."

Mai shook her head as she looked down at her folded hands that lay in her lap. Her eyes were wide with both shock and disbelief as Masako stepped in. She laid a comforting hand on Mai's hand, squeezing lightly to comfort her. Mai sniffled as Ayako asked,

"So you mean everytime Mai has a dream that she experiences what the victim has she'll get hurt from it?"

Naru gave her a thoughtful look before he said, "Yes and no. She doesn't get hurt from the dream. She gets the same wounds the victim does but that also means. And it won't be everytime she dreams, just in certain ones."

Suddenly Lin's voice filled the room as he said, "You're forgetting one thing Naru."

Naru stiffened slightly as he looked at his assistant who had been watching the whole thing but had not said anything till now. Mai looked up at Lin and their eyes met, her cinnamon eyes grew wide as her heart rate picked up. She felt like she knew what he was about to say and she shook her head. Silently begging him not to say what she feared he would say. The look he gave her was only slightly apologetic and she knew why, he felt as though they had a right to know.

"If she ever experiences the victim's death…She too will die here, in reality."

Mai hid her face in Masako's shoulder as she cried silently and Masako held her tightly as her face paled. The whole room was deathly quiet as they all looked from Mai to Lin then to Naru, everyone except Naru and Lin's faces were pale from the revelation.

~Owari~

A/N- Omgh!! Its sooo short!! I'm sorry that it took so long to get it out then on top of it all it's annoyingly short. I will try really, really, really hard to get the updates in quicker and to make the chapters longer. Everything is just really hard and then the exams and everything is just adding to all my problems. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I want to thank you all for reading and reviewing it means a lot to me that you are taking an interest in it.