A/N: This story probably has the most twists I've ever written... Please enjoy!! Oh, and a fair warning: The flashback is some-what graphic. This is probably one the reasons the story is rated T.

Disclaimer: I own Ghost Hunt! (gets shot in the head by Fanfiction police people... if there are any...) Nevermind...

By the light of the moon

Mai rested her head upon the cold glass of her windows. She gazed out over the townspeople as though she were spying on them.

'I don't understand. He's supposed to kill me... So why look at me like that?' Mai wondered as she recalled the past events of that afternoon. The sun was setting and twilight was upon the castle. The commonfolk hurried to finish their business and get home to their families. Mai wished briefly for a family to come home to, but quickly dismissed the idea.

'It's time I grow up and accept the fact that they aren't coming back.' She thought and turned around. Leaning her back against the cool glass, Mai thought about the day she became an orphan.

-Flashback-

"Mai, dear, sit still." Her mother's voice called to her from across the square. Mai grinned in her 5-year-old way. Her mother fussed over every detail of the festival.

"It's her birthday so everything must be perfect. Yes... put those streamers from here to there." As her mother gestured and pointed, Mai snuck off her pedestal and started to meander through the bustling people. Eventually, and inevitably, got lost.

"Mommy?" She called out, her large brown eyes filling with tears. She turned all around her to look for any familiar faces and caught sight of a boy around her age staring at her. He had dark hair and blue eyes. Mai decided that maybe he could help her find her mother.

"Excuse me. But do you know where my mommy is?" Mai asked polietly. The boy glared at her and ran into the house he was standing in front of.

"Mother, the princess. She's outside, mother!" Mai heard the boy shout and rustling of clothes came after. A woman appeared in the doorway before Mai.

"Wow, you're very pretty!" Mai said in awe. The woman had a blemish-free, pale face. She had long black hair and she was tall and lean. The boy poked his head out from behind his mother's skirts.

"Thank you. Your mother is this way." She gestured towards the main square and took Mai's hand. "Come now, child." She said in a gentle voice.

"Ok." Mai replied happily, and took the boy's hand with her free one. "Come with us!" She smiled and the boy twisted away from her and ran away.

"Oh, don't mind him. Kazuya is just shy." The woman said with a slight smile. Mai nodded.

"Mai! Oh, dear! Don't scare me like that again!" Mai's mother ran up and took Mai into her arms as soon as the two girls stepped into the main square.

"Mommy!" Mai giggled and hugged her mother.

"Thank you for bring her back to me." The queen said gratefully to the other woman.

"Anything for my Queen." She bowed and replied.

"Tell me, what is your name?" Mai's mother asked.

"I am Reiko Shibuya. I live down that way." Reiko smiled and Mai's mother grinned back.

"Mommy, where's Daddy?" Mai asked, bored with all the smiles. Mai's mother sighed and pointed at a man who was dressed like all the other workers.

"Daddy is helping set things up for the party. Don't get in his way, stay with me." Her mother patted Mai head and turned back to Reiko who was pulling something out from behind her.

"Shiny?" Mai saw the light of the sun glint off what she held. It was a knife.

"The royals don't give a care about us commonfolk! See how they use us for throwing a party for this pathetic child! Rebel!" Reiko shouted and thrust the knife into the Queen's chest before she knew what was happening.

"Mommy?" Mai's voice was a deathly whisper as blood squirted all over her. "MOMMY!" She screamed and turned to her father but he had met the same fate. Blood stained the dirt and soaked into the grass. Mai felt her tears mixing with the blood on her face.

"And now it's your turn child." Reiko said with a gentle tone and tried pulling the knife from the Queen's lifeless body. Mai turned and ran for her life.

-Flashback end-

'Oh my god... T-That was Naru and his mother...' Mai touched her cheek and felt the tears rolling down her face. 'Maybe that's why he hates us so much... We had his family killed for what she did to my mother... He must have escaped or something...' Mai was too tired for reason as she tried to figure it out.

She fought off sleep as she struggled out of her dress. Eventually she managed to free herself from the purple contraption and pulled a light sleep gown over her head. Mai collapsed onto her bed, closed her eyes, and allowed sleep to take her.

--Next month (3 days until the ball)

"No! That goes there! And those ribbons would look excellent with the flowers on table 6." Mai stood in the middle of the large ballroom and was directing the busy people like one would direct an orchestra. Maids with flowers, cooks with taste tests, butlers with streamers and decorations, all who were depending on Mai for direction.

"It's really impressive, the way she handles all of that." Ayako commented to Houshou with an air of approval. The two had prolonged their stay to see Mai's ball. They were watching the busy display from a small alcove high above eye level.

"At times like these, you can really see the princess in her." Houshou commented fondly. He had grown attached to the girl in the month and a half of his stay.

"Where are Lady Ayako and Lord Houshou? Please fetch for them." Mai asked loudly and sent the nearest person to find them. Ayako and Houshou glanced at each other and decended down the stairs to the main floor.

"Lady Mai, we heard that you require our presence?" Ayako smirked and Mai nodded not even looking up from her paper of things to do.

"If you're staying for the ball, you might as well make yourself useful and help. Could you please direct the maids with flower arrangements, Lady Ayako? Here's what they are supposed to look like. Lord Houshou could you be a taste tester for our cooks?" Mai smirked at the eagerness in his face.

"Yes, ma'am!" Houshou said and was escorted to the kitchens. Ayako was pulled along by some maids towards the tables.

"Princess... what about the enterance hall? How shall we decorate that?" A bold butler asked and Mai nodded.

"That is what I shall help with." And as Mai led the way to the undecorated hall, she felt a pair of eyes on her. She stopped and looked all around her but found that none were looking at her.

"Princess? Is something wrong?" The butler asked, concerned for the young girl.

"No, nothing. I'm kind of tired, but the hall is most important." Mai said with determination. She felt a hand on her arm.

"Mai, go sleep. I shall help here." Kaori smiled at the princess and Mai tried to stifle a yawn. "See, you need some rest."

"Alright." Mai reluctantly agreed and started towards her room with a lingering gaze at the half decorated ballroom. 'Was I really being watched? I feel sort of sick...'

Mai walked up to her doors and hesitated before opening. There it was again, the sickening feeling of someone watching her. "Excuse me, but will you please stop watching me. It's a bit annoying." Mai said and turned around.

No one was there.

--

"Mai, that's a bit creepy. Get some sleep. Maybe your nerves were just working overtime..." Kaori said after Mai explained what she felt that day. She was unable to rest because the feeling, although gone, was still haunting her.

"...Ok..." She replied and exhaustion hit her. She carefully rested her head on her pillow and failed to notice the eyes watching her every move.

--(Day of the ball)

"Wow, Mai your dress is... wow..." Kaori gasped as Mai pulled out the dress she was saving for the occasion. It was a light pink, strapless, and flowing. The pink fabric was smooth to the touch and flowed out from the waist. Mai loved the dress and felt as though it was made for her. (A/N: Sorry for interrupting, but there is a picture on my profile! And of Ayako's dress!)

"Thank you. I adore this dress. It makes me look like I actually have curves..." Mai joked at the fact that her chest was nothing to brag about. Kaori scoffed.

"You are lucky to have curves as gentle as those. I hate having large curves... nothing fits right..." Kaori muttered and clasped her arms over her larger chest.

"Mai, are you ready yet?" Ayako's voice interrupted and Mai answered, glad at the change of topic.

"No, but I think I might need some help with my dress." And Ayako came in wearing a purple halter dress. Just under her bust, were sparkly flowers. The smooth cloth went straight down, flattering her hips. The younger girls 'Wow'-ed and 'Oooo'-ed while Ayako blushed.

"Mai, your dress is much more flattering than mine. Let's get you changed." Ayako and Kaori grabbed the dress and cornered a frightened Mai.

--

"Did you have to be so rough?" Mai hissed at Ayako while carefully rubbing her sore scalp. The two girls forcefully twisted Mai's short hair into a small bun and fastened it with a diamond flower pin. Kaori hurried to her room to slip into her special maid uniform.

"Well, if you didn't wriggle so much, we wouldn't have to be so forceful. Now Mai, stop fidgeting and stand up straight. You're a princess for goodness sake!" Ayako brushed some imaginary dust from Mai's immaculate dress. Mai nodded and they stood straight and walked into the bright hall.

--

"My Lady." Mai stiffened when she heard his voice. She turned slowly and saw Naru. He was wearing a crisp, clean, black tuxedo. He offered a dazzling smile. "May I have this dance?" Mai took his outstrected hand almost automatically.

He led her out to the dance floor and took Mai into a slow waltz. They danced, completely unaware of the other couples around them, only aware of the other. Mai felt her eyes being drawn to his. His blue eyes were staring at her shamelessly. Mai blushed and glanced down at her feet.

"No. Do not look away. Mai..." Naru's voice was uncharacteristically soft and pleading. Mai looked at him and their eyes locked.

'No. He isn't going to kill me. I just know it. I can feel it.' Mai thought defiantly and the song ended all too soon.

"Thank you for the lovely dance. May I fetch you a drink?" Naru said and stepped back, bowing with a large sweeping motion.

"Yes, a drink would be greatly appreaciated." Mai responded, curtseying with a large smile. Naru turned and walked toward the refreshment table. He said a few short words to the man behind the table who was serving drinks.

'He looks familiar...' Mai thought and she looked straight into his eyes as he turned to her. Mai realized with a jolt that this was the man who tried to kill Naru. 'No...' Mai shook her head to clear her negative thoughts and she walked out to the empty balcony.

'I just know it... Naru wouldn't kill me. I just don't believe it.' Mai thought as she inhaled the fresh air. She released the breath and felt a hand on her shoulder. "Eep!" She exclaimed and turned quickly.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." Naru said and took a step back to show her he meant no harm.

"Oh, no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scream like that..." Mai rushed to say and Naru smiled again. He handed her a drink and they gazed out over the hills that were behind the castle.

"Mai, I have something very important to tell you." Naru started.

"Wait. Please, I have somethings to say as well. I remembered something a couple days ago. I remembered meeting you... for the very first time." Mai admitted and Naru nodded slowly. "I'm sorry..."

"No, I should be sorry. It was my mother who killed yours." He said and looked up at the dark sky to the bright stars.

"I-It's ok now. She's gone and she's not coming back." Mai asid softly and she inhaled for her second confession. "And I have something else I have... to get off my chest. I overheard something and I would like it very much if you could clarify it for me..." And Mai confessed all she heard that day in the corridor.

"What?" Naru said sharply and turned to stare at her. Mai flushed and nodded.

"That's what I heard. N-Naru, are you really going to kill me...?" Mai asked, her voice a weak whisper. Naru turned away.

"I was going to before. All was going as planned. At least... until I did something totally unexpected." He confessed. Mai gave him an encouraging look. "I fell in love with the target." He whispered and gently pressed his lips upon hers.

A/N: Don't forget, I said that there'd be one more chapter!