OMIGOSH I can't believe I have three chapters up. I like this story so yes.

enjoy and also ghost hunt is not mine

Day 2, 8:13 A.M.

One day had past and there wasn't a sign of any paranormal activity.

Last night had been normal. The group had arrived without any problem, set up cameras and equipment and then proceeded to have an uneventful night.

Naru, however, stayed up all night doing his own research. But his results had yielded nothing; there was no geological issue with the terrain or structure of the house, no abnormal histories, and not even a case of death among past residents, natural causes or otherwise. His brilliant mind couldn't even conjure up a logical explanation that would ease his client.

Naru pinched the bridge of his nose. Somehow, he knew that this case wasn't anything to be bothered with.

The teenager checked the clock on his computer. It was thirteen minutes past eight. Thirteen minutes past the time everyone was supposed to wake up. And yet he hasn't heard anyone bustling about (with the exception of Lin).

Two things disturbed him highly about this fact. One, his team members apparently didn't take their jobs seriously as they weren't punctual; and two, he has to be the alarm clock, because somehow, everyone else seems to have forgot set theirs, or something along those lines.

Slightly irritated, the dark haired male rose from his seat and left his room. He stopped in front of the first door he saw, not giving any thought as to whose it might be, and slid it open (with a bit more extra force than necessary).

Inside was his assistant, Mai. She was sleeping on her futon with a peaceful look and was curled up into a ball.

"Mai," the male announced, not caring about disturbing her in her calm state.

No response.

He felt more irritated by the minute.

"Mai."

The girl rolled over to the other side.

Naru crouched down beside her and loomed over her head.

"Mai!"

Naru quickly backed away as the said girl sprang upright. She looked to her left and her face erupted with a fiery red blush.

"N-Naru?! W- why are you here?"

Naru looked to the side, then glanced at her. "Apparently you think so little of your job that you can afford to sleep in, correct? It is, I believe, about 8:15 at the moment." He paused. "In other words, Mai, it is a quarter past your expected awakening."

"I know!" she snapped back. "But what are you saying? I set my alarm clock last night!" She grabbed the black cube next to her. In glowing red numbers, it read 7:48.

"No way!" Mai looked back at Naru. "Are you sure it's 8:15?"

"Quite."

"Positive?"

"I'm always right, Mai."

Mai pouted. "That can't be! I just bought this three days ago!"

"I see. You're so dumb that you can't even handle a clock properly."

"Wha-! How rude! You-"

"Anyhow," Naru said, standing up. "I require you to wake up everyone else and gather the temperatures of each room." He began his way towards the door, his back to the fuming brunette. "And Mai."

"What?"

"Tea."

He promptly left, leaving Mai to nearly rip out her own hair.

"That jerk! He-I- ARG!"

"Are you okay?"

Mai looked up to see Kosuke standing at the door, his dark brown eyes filled with concern.

"Oh! Good morning!" Mai sighed. "and yes, I'm okay. Just…Naru is stingier than normal today."

Kosuke furrowed his eyebrows. "Naru…is your boss, right?"

Mai's eyes widened, realizing her mistake. "Ah, yes. I call him Naru, he's really Shibuya…san." She was reluctant to add the san at the end, because by no means did she feel respect for him that day.

Kosuke seemed to have noticed, because he grinned. "Hard feelings today?"

Mai nodded. "Yep."

"Well, Taniyama-san – "

"Please, call me Mai – "

"Well, Mai, I have some news that'll cheer you up."

"Oh?"

"Every kid's dream – it snowed last night."

"Oh!"

Mai's eyes sparkled. Her childish nature couldn't be helped, and the word 'snow' made her feel alive and energetic.

"Hey, come outside with me, I have to watch my brother anyway."

Mai agreed enthusiastically. "I'll join you out there, I just have to do a couple things first."

Kosuke grinned wider. "Okay."

Mai stood for a moment, thinking.

When she had gone to wake up Bou – san and Ayako, she noticed that their digital alarm clocks were stopped at 7:48 as well. So she wasn't completely crazy after all.

She sighed and decided to shake the thought out of her head. She found the kitchen and walked in to make the ever so needed tea for her boss.

Mai retrieved the materials needed to prepare the tea and then she looked out the window that was above the stove.

Outside, she saw snow falling from the sky, and she saw Ayako, Bou-san, Kosuke, Takashi, and the dog enjoying themselves in that snow. Mai smiled softly at the scene before her.

'This reminds me of when I was small…Me, Mama, and Papa would always play outside when it snowed…'

This thought caused Mai to sigh, and a pang of sadness suddenly hit her.

'Ah, well,' she thought to herself. 'I have another family now.' Mai giggled as she saw Ayako screaming at the monk for hitting her with a snowball.

'And I couldn't have asked for a better one.'

"Naru, here's your tea and the list of temperatures."

Mai set them on his desk, yet he made no sign of acknowledging that she was there. He just continued to type away on his laptop. She stood there for a minute, trying to think of something to say.

"Um," she began, "when I woke everyone up, I noticed that their clocks were stopped at the same time mine was stopped at. So I'm not the only one who 'can't handle clocks properly'!"

"Is that so?" Naru said absentmindedly.

Mai nodded. "Yes, it is so. But it's kind of strange, don't you think?" Mai thought for a moment. "Could this maybe be the work of a spirit? I've heard they can affect electronics or clocks."

"Perhaps," Naru responded, not paying much thought to it at all. "Or maybe everyone is having quite a difficult time managing their devices today."

Mai huffed in anger. She was about to respond when he turned around.

"You woke the other members up, I presume?" Naru inquired, his cool gaze fixed upon Mai.

Mai blinked. "Yes."

"Where are they?"

"Outside playing in the snow."

The dark haired male crossed his arms. "And they call themselves adults?"

Mai couldn't tell if he was asking her or not. "I guess?"

Naru turned back around and resumed typing. "I suppose I don't need them at the moment. They can waste their lives away until the others arrive."

Mai nearly jumped of joy. "You mean Masako and John are coming too?"

"Yes."

"What about Yasuhara?"

"He will come after some research I sent him to do."

Mai beamed. She loved it when the whole team is able to come.

"Well, Naru, if you don't need me, I'm going to join them outside, okay?"

Mai interpreted his silence as an okay.

"Okay, bye!" She left the room and entered her own, which was just across the hallway.

Mai began to prepare herself against the cold. She put on her coat, some earmuffs, and a scarf, which was had little Christmas trees on it as the pattern.

She looked at her scarf, and it had forced another sad thought. 'Christmas was their favorite time of the year, as well as mine…' Mai shook her head, as if to get rid of the reflection. She promised herself she wouldn't be upset, but this time, it hurt a lot more than she wanted it to…

All of a sudden, her room got especially cold. So cold, in fact, that Mai could see her breath.

'What's going on?' Mai looked around the room and decided she should leave before things got serious.

As she made her way to the door, slowly and carefully, the light went out and rapping noises were heard.

The room started to shake, throwing Mai off balance, and she hit the floor. She heard more noises, but this time, they were knocks on the door.

"Mai!"

Naru and Lin burst into the room, seeing what was going on. "Naru!" Mai said. She stood up and joined them.

The rapping noises intensified, and somehow it seemed to get even colder.

Naru spoke up. "We need to get out of here. Let's g – "

He was cut off by the sudden gasp given by Mai. She was pointing at the walls; an unknown source was writing 'Are you lonely?' over and over again.

At this, Mai doubled over. Not because she was injured, but she was overcome by a huge wave of sadness and loneliness she's never felt before.

"Mai!" Naru grabbed her arm to keep her from falling over. "What's wrong?"

It hurt. Mai felt tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. The pain, the sorrow, the utter loneliness caused by her parent's death…it hurt. She remembered it all: all the memories and emotional pain. And it was all coming back, all at once.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. She could barely hear Naru and Lin yelling. All she knew was that she felt so depressed that it was bringing her physical pain.

The last thing she heard was Lin shouting.

"Kazuya, get her out now!"

And then Mai lost consciousness.

Well, there you go! A longer chapter this time. I hope you enjoyed, because I didn't T^T I feel like this is a sucky chapter.

I also had a slightly different ending for this chapter, but I couldn't decide which to put, but alas, it was the one you read. I may or may not edit this chapter later to put in the other ending.

Anyway, don't be shy to leave me a review! You guys are cool. :)

With berries and skittles,

Inksomnia