Sooo here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt. Sigh. I wish I did.

"MAI!"

Tears leaked down her cheeks. Tears for Naru's parents, who had lost one son and might now lost another. Tears for Gene, who had been murdered without reason, who died in pain, who could never again warm his brother's closed-off heart.

And tears for Naru, who had lost the one constant in his life, the one who had been there since the beginning and should have been there forever till the end, the one whom he could confide in, draw strength from, love unconditionally and without fear of being let down. Tears for his broken heart and the gaping, ragged hole his twin brother had left behind.

"Mai," whispered the demon, low and deep. "A lovely name for a lovely sacrifice."

All of Mai's regrets came spilling out. All she wanted was for Naru to forgive her.

"Naru, I'm sorry I ran from Ayako and Lin earlier today."

"It doesn't matter."

"And I'm sorry I fell on you."

"Mai, calm down."

"And when I doubted you during the Rokoryu case."

"Mai-"

And when I yelled at you that you didn't know what it felt like to be killed during the Urado case."

"M-"

"And when I told Lin you bent that spoon at Yuasa high school."

"Mai-"

"And I just wanted to thank you for giving me this job even though I called you a jerkface at the end of your business at my high school, and for always believing me and in me. You've never laughed at me."

"MAI!" he yelled, cutting her off. "It's okay. Just relax."

Mai couldn't. "I just-"

"Enough," commanded the deep voice.

Metal slid over smooth metal. The hooded demon revealed a long, wicked sword that had been previously concealed in his cloak and now held it out in front of him. "Everything will begin anew tonight."

"Mai," Naru repeated, calm as ever. "Don't worry."

The demon laughed, loud and slow. It rang in her ears, filled every corner of her soul until she almost screamed for her mother.

"Yes, don't worry, Mai, dear," he drawled, so close to Mai's face she could almost see into his cloak. "It'll all be over soon. You cannot escape." He swung his sword. "This can cut through anything: stone, wood, iron. Flesh and bone cannot stop me."

"Mai," Naru said suddenly. Mai looked towards his face and tried to memorize it. If Naru got out of here, she might never see him again. She didn't want to lose him.

"It'll be okay," he assured her, his tone completely different. He was trying to tell her something…

"You'll be fine. I promise."

Promise?

Naru had never promised anything before.

The demon raised his sword.

Naru had promised her, but what did that mean? That her death wouldn't be too bad? Mai's heart beat madly against her ribs and she detachedly had the thought that she was now going to die.

Die?

"NARU!" Mai screamed in terror. She didn't want to die! She wanted to live! She wanted to see Ayako and Monk and John and Lin and Masako again. She wanted to get into Todai University. She wanted to find the guts to confess to Naru again and demand a straight answer this time.

"Mai, it'll be okay. Gene's here."

And because Mai's emotions were extremely unstable at that point, her mind flashed back to the point at which she had confessed to him. At the time, she found his mentioning of Gene a roundabout way to reject her, but...did he truly believe having Gene there would make her feel better?

Angry and scared, she burst out, "It was never Gene! I need you!"

The demon brought down the sword in a deadly, swinging arc.

What're your thoughts? *cheeky smile*

Anyone have any ideas as to how they'll get out of this one? Let me know what you think!

For next time: IS NARU GOING TO SAVE HER OR WHAT?