Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt

Day 6: Fated Encounters

It was raining hard that day. Koujo Lin hated the rain most. He used to love it, as the rain was just an ordinary day to his already warm life. Nothing and no one could ever dampen his mood (maybe aside from his wife). But now, the rain is just a painful reminder of the loss he has – the accident that took the life of his beloved wife.

As his work demanded him to be present all the time (and not the other way around), he got up and got ready for work, but not in his usual pace. Normally, he would head immediately for a hot shower, to be followed by a warm breakfast made by his wife. But all of that is just a memory, a memory which he tries so hard to remember, but seemed a bit fogged in his mind.

It was half past eight when he got out of the house, the rain still adamant on pouring hard. As he walked towards the station, he realized that today would be the first time he wouldn't be seeing that girl – Mai. His (and her) usual train is always half past seven, but today is an exception. He wasn't counting on seeing her again for the rest of the week as well, as the weather reports stated that it will be raining for the whole week, and he wasn't feeling up to going up to work early in the morning in this weather.

That girl bothers him a lot. Not because they both know each other, rather because that girl reminds him a lot of something he is trying to forget. He wondered what piqued his interest in the first place. 'Was it her eyes? Her disposition? The way she looks and stands?' he idly thought. But in reality, Kou Lin knew. He knew so much the reason and that's why he's trying his best to avoid it also. He knew it then and there, the moment he first laid his eyes on her. The moment that recognition struck him. The moment he realized that that girl reminded him so much of his late wife.

Deep in his thoughts, he didn't see the bicycle sped past him. He nearly got knocked out, but managed to stay on his feet. The one riding the bicycle, however, hit the post box a few meters ahead of him. Good thing the rider was wearing a helmet; otherwise the impact could've made a concussion on him. Lin went over to check the status of the rider.

"Are you okay?" Lin inquired, checking to see if the rider was okay.

"Oh yes! I'm so sorry!" the rider replied, standing up to face the man whom he nearly hit. "I didn't mean it to happen. I nearly hit you, but it was a good thing I didn't. I'm really, really, really sorry!" the rider continued. Drenched and a bit disheveled, he faced the tall man.

Lin was taken aback.

Standing in front of him was the girl whom his late wife closely resembles.

Worry clouded his minded, as he made a quick mental check on the state of the girl in front of him. She's gotten quite a bruise on her elbows and scraped her knees, but other than those, she seemed okay.

"Do you need to go to the hospital?" He finally managed to say, pulling out another umbrella from his bag. "You know it's quite illegal to use your umbrella while riding your bicycle. You should know that," he admonished. "Here, take this. Yours is broken already, and it looks like the rain won't stop for today. You will need this,"

"Yeah. I know. But I couldn't do anything about it. I forgot to bring my raincoat and the only thing I have with me right now is that stupid umbrella of mine. I'm really, really sorry about what happened." Mai started, looking at the umbrella Lin was offering to her. "Are you sure it's okay for you to lend me this?"

"It's okay. I'm covered. I won't need it anyway. I just always bring a spare just in case things like this happen to me or to my colleagues," Lin replied.

"Thank you so much Mr. –?"

"Lin. Just call me Lin. And you are?"

"Mai. Taniyama Mai. How should I return your umbrella to you?"

"Keep it," Lin said. "You might be needing it someday in the future, or just pay it forward. Give it to the next person who will be needing it." Lin replied. Checking his watch, it read 9 o'clock sharp. "I should get going. I'll see you around," he continued. Walking past by her, he headed off towards the station.

"Thanks so much again, Lin-san! I owe you one!" Mai shouted from behind.

Lin's heart was pounding fast. He needed time to think. He wasn't expecting that the rider of the bicycle was her, let alone fate giving him the chance to personally know the name of the girl, and not just by eavesdropping. He realized that maybe, fate and life is helping him move on to the desolated state he was in. Maybe fate, this time, would go according to flow.

Upon arriving at the station (and despite him being late for his work), Lin noticed that the rain, which was pouring hard before, has turned into a drizzle. The clouds are parting, giving way for the sunlight to see its light.

Koujo Lin got on the train with a soft smile on his lips and light feeling in his heart.

-oOo-

A/N: What do you guys think of this chapter? I'm thinking of four-five more chapters before the epilogue. Thanks for reading!