Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Ghost Hunt. (Unfortunately for me)

Chapter 6

Naru sat on the couch of their base thinking harder than ever. He was alone, just how he liked it when he needed his brain to do some serious work.

Earlier that day, everyone had gone to see Mai at the hospital, who was told that she would have to stay there for a day of observation.

Of course, she told no one else of her pregnancy and the message that was cut into her arm, due to the fact that Naru didn't let her.

"Not yet", he had whispered into her ear while sitting next to her on the hospital bed, the close proximity didn't go well with Masako, but she didn't complain…well not a lot.

Later, as everyone had gathered around in the base, Naru barked out orders to look around the mansion and outside for anything. No one disagreed or complained as they saw the scowl on his face and heard the icy edge to his voice.

Lin had gone to the kitchen to make some tea for his young boss, glad to be away from the menacing aura that was tumbling down the raven haired boy's shoulders.

As Naru waited for his tea, though not too eagerly for he preferred tea made by Mai, his mind wandered to the thought of his future child and how much danger he had exposed him and Mai to. He silently cursed himself for not realizing sooner what was going on.

He shook his head slightly and focused on the present. 'Thinking of what could've been won't help in saving Mai and…my son' He thought shockingly. It hadn't fully settled into his head that he was going to be a father in less than eight months.

But now, it seemed like someone had kicked his head with their shoe and woke him up from a small trance. He leaned forward, propping his elbows onto his knees, and let his hands lay limply in front of him.

His head hung down loosely and he stared at the floor, letting some of his dark colored locks cover his eyes.

Never before had he felt so scared or so angry.

He was scared to lose both the lives of Mai and his child. And he was angry that anyone, including some idiotic revenge-seeking ghost, would want to hurt them or worse yet, kill them.

But he also felt an incredible sense of guilt.

He had been beyond furious when he found out the secret that Mai refused to tell him some time ago. Yet wasn't he the one that was keeping a secret from her and the rest of the team? Wasn't he the first one to break the honesty between them?

"How much more of a hypocrite can I be?" He asked himself bitterly. He knew he needed to tell her about his true identity and the reason why he was here, but he couldn't find the courage.

Naru cringed at the reaction he imagined coming from Mai and tried not to think of what she might do after yelling and screaming at him.

He leaned back on the couch and laid his head back. He closed his eyes tightly and glared at the back of his eye lids.

"Are you alright, Noll?" He heard Lin ask concerned. Naru opened his eyes and turned his head sharply to glare at his Chinese assistant.

"Shut up, Lin! Someone will hear you." He whispered fiercely as he looked at the tapestry/door, expecting that someone would walk in confused and ask questions about his nickname.

"Relax, everyone is still looking around. The maids are cleaning upstairs and the twins are not in the mansion", Lin set the tray he was holding on the small coffee table and began pouring some tea into a cup, "but if you want, I won't call you by that name when we're alone, if not by the one Mai gave you. Even if it's the same thing, only with a different pronunciation." He said as he slid the cup in front of Naru.

"Yes, I would prefer if you did." Naru glared coldly at Lin, knowing that he was teasing him as well as sending him an unspoken message.

Lin nodded and sat in front of him. "What are you thinking about? When I walked in, it looked as if you were in great pain."

"Mai and my son." He answered simply as his eyes traced an intricate design that was carved onto the table.

"Tell me Lin, how is it possible that one person can make me feel…not myself?" Naru looked up at Lin and waited desperately for an answer.

The Chinese man almost smiled but shook it off. "Well, I would say 'What is that which keeps us from falling off earth?', but you aren't asking the right question, Naru."

Naru scowled and looked at him a little resentfully. "I think what you want to ask, more like know, is what you feel for her and how you came to feel that way towards her." Lin told the young researcher. "But even an, and I quote, 'idiot scientist' like you would know what you feel for her. Unless… he was right." Lin let a small smirk turn the corners of his mouth.

Naru's glare faltered at the mention of him, but it quickly got strong as he realized that he had gotten insulted, though he didn't even bother retorting.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Naru let his eyes drop down to the table again. Lin looked at him skeptically.

"No? And what of your son?" He asked, letting his voice soften and hush down to a whisper towards the end of his question.

Naru's eyes widened and he looked up at Lin, not knowing what to say. A strange combination of feelings worked their way down to his chest.

Giddiness, dread, happiness, sadness, and…

"Love, Naru. It's called love." Lin spoke out of the slowly reviving feeling that Naru was beginning to recognize. It was the feeling that had dimmed after he saw his brother's death.

Yes, he loved his foster parents, but love was the feeling that his older brother had made him feel first. And it seemed to have ended the day that he died.

Naru hadn't expected to feel it ever again. But was love what he really felt for Mai?

"What else would it be, Naru? I know that you hid your emotions since you were small, but you loved Gene. And I also know that after his…death, you became even more reserved and wouldn't let yourself become emotionally attached to anything or anyone. But even you can't stop what you start to feel towards a person." Lin told the wide eyed boy.

"Who would've thought that a stubborn girl like Mai would break down the barriers around your cold heart and melt it all at the same time?" Lin shook his head in wonder.

Naru looked down, his eyes going back to normal. "I…I love Mai?" He whispered, mostly to himself.

Lin rolled his eyes. "Gene was right, you are dense. I wonder how long it would've taken you to find out if I hadn't decided to sit and talk to you." He commented in a very low voice, making sure Naru didn't hear, who was muttering to himself.

"Lin, I…you're right. I do…I do love Mai…" Naru looked up, and surprised Lin with the look in his eyes.

His eyes showed relief, slight confusion, a rewound happiness, fear, and of course, love.

Sure, Lin had seen worry in his eyes, signifying that he felt emotion with everything to do with Mai, but this would've made him fall back if he wasn't sitting down already.

Seeing the look on Lin's face, Naru shook his head and made his eyes and face go emotionless.

"What?" Naru's voice was cold. Lin blinked and composed himself.

"That was…a strange and somehow out of place kind of thing to see." Lin chuckled softly. He wondered once again, how could a stubborn girl like Mai make this kind of thing to happen? Naru had shown multiple emotions and she even, in an indirect way, made Lin chuckle.

"Yeah, it is." A new voice joined the now stoic men. They looked up and saw Bou-san standing beside the tapestry.

"How long have you been standing there?" Naru's famous icy glare focused on the monk.

"Long enough to hear Lin chuckle, and I agree that that was a weird thing to see. What did you say to make him do that, Naru?" Bou-san teased.

"You came here for a reason. What do you want?" Lin changed the subject, trying his best to copy the intensity of Naru's glare.

"Oh nothing. Just to tell you that we found something interesting." Bou-san shrugged and leaned back against the wall.

~///~

Mai traced the cuts on her arm and frowned. What kind of sick game was this evil spirit playing?

"Ms. Taniyama? It's time for your check up." A blonde nurse interrupted her thoughts. Mai looked up and nodded. As she got up, the nurse scurried by her side making Mai grimace.

"I'm fine. I'm perfectly able to walk by myself. But thanks anyways…Lea." She had added the nurse's name, which she read the second she saw what the nurse was going to do, for more affect.

The nurse simply nodded and flashed her a fake smile. Mai could tell that Amy was bored or maybe even tired.

After all the tests Mai sat through, she happily walked her way slowly back to her room without an escort. She enjoyed being left alone when she had to think. And she didn't feel like having some sort of life saving bodyguard with her at all times.

Mai suspected that either Naru or Bou-san had told the doctors to be extra careful with her. Once she got to her room, she laid herself down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Her eye lids soon began to feel heavy and before she knew it, she was asleep.

~Mai's Dream~

Before she could adjust her eyes to the dreary darkness, the scenery quickly changed. Mai looked around again and noticed that she was in a familiar room.

"The basement?" She asked herself confused. Mai had only been in that room once when she set up one of the cameras in there.

She focused on the room, wondering why she was there, and saw that the room started to warp. Her eyes grew wide as she noticed that it was getting worse every second.

Voices snapped her out of her trance and she turned her head towards the door.

"Nothing was reported coming from here, Bou-san." She heard a familiar voice call out from the other side of the door.

"Yeah, I know. But that's not exactly what I wanted to show you." The Monk opened the door and walked to the center of the room. Mai looked at him and wondered why he didn't so much as greet her.

She waved her hands in front of him and then walked over to Naru. She laid a hand on his cheek and smiled. Of course Naru gave no sign of ever having felt that and looked at the cold room with piercing eyes.

Realization hit her. 'It's a dream, duh' She thought to herself. Mai backed away from her boss and looked back at the door as the others soon headed inside.

"Well?" Naru asked the monk impatiently. Mai rolled her eyes, knowing that he couldn't see her and looked over at her father-like figure.

"I came down here to see if I could find anything, as you ordered", Bou-san said with mock in his tone, "and as I told you, I found something interesting." He finished off by walking back towards the wall and he smiled a little smugly.

He turned around and put his hand on a brick that was protruding out of the wall, almost as if it was about to fall off.

They all looked expectantly at him and watched as he applied pressure to the brick. A sharp crack and the noise of stone shifting was heard behind them. They turned around and saw that it was a secret passage. A long flight of stairs led up to some place they didn't know.

"Where does it lead to?" Naru asked, not caring to congratulate him. Bou-san muttered something under his breath that sounded like 'annoying brat' and looked back at him.

"I don't know. I went to go get you, remember?" He told him and walked over to stand beside the entryway.

"I guess it's time to explore this creepy thing." Bou-san whistled and looked at everyone else.

Mai inched forward towards the secret passage and looked inside. It was dark and musty. In the background, she heard the others shuffle out of the room.

Her eyes, for some reason, did not want to stop staring at the dark entryway as a mysterious wind blew out from the passage, almost as if it was daring her to go in.

'Creepy' Mai shivered and took a step inside despite the warning signal that was ringing around in her head.

Before she could climb up the first step, something pulled her hand. She whirled around and looked at the thing responsible for holding her back.

"Mai, don't. It's too dangerous." She recognized the face of Isabella, her forehead wrinkled with worry.

Mai glanced at the passage and back to Isabella. "I have to. It's the only way that I'll be able to free you and any other spirit that's trapped here." She said and saw that Isabella ducked her head down.

Thinking that Isabella was going to let her go, she turned to look at the eerie stairs and braced herself.

"Well, if I won't be able to stop you…I'll go with you." Isabella sighed while walking up the steps with Mai.

Both of them made their way up fearing what would meet them at the end. Not knowing what kind of trouble her spiritual self was getting in, Mai hoped that it was just another place and not an evil spirit.

Once they reached the top of the steps, a stone wall slid away from in front of them and revealed the master bedroom.

"This is where I and…Kyoshi slept." Isabella said quietly, her voice quivering. Mai cast her a sideway glance and focused on the room. She knew she needed some questions to be answered.

"Isabella, can you tell me what happened here the day you died? I mean, what of the other people here that were down at the ball? What happened to them?" Mai looked back at Isabella and saw that she was biting her lip hard.

Mai waited, but Isabella said nothing. 'Is she afraid?' Mai asked herself. And as if answering her question, Isabella shook her head.

"I can't tell you, Mai. He will be angry at me and try to hurt you more. You shouldn't know the truth", Isabella let go of Mai's hand and walked over to the bed, "but I have watched over you and your friends and I know you are discovering the truth on your own. I'm just afraid that if I give you further insight, he will try to kill you with more reason…" She let her voice drop and she looked down at the floor.

"If telling me the truth will make him hurt you, then don't tell me anything. I can't do that to you for my own sake." Mai clenched her fists. Her look-alike only shook her head.

"You see, Mai. I don't care about my well being, I care about yours. And if letting you know the truth will help, then I'll show you." Isabella was now standing in front of her with a determined look on her face. She thrust her hand forward and put it on Mai's chest.

Before the young brunette could register what was going on, she zoomed out of the master bedroom and down to the ballroom.

She saw many people dancing, laughing, talking, and drinking. Their faces were masked to hide their identities. 'A masquerade ball' Mai thought in wonder. She blinked and she was back in the master bedroom.

Kyoshi and Isabella were arguing loudly though no one actually heard them because of the music playing downstairs.

Kyoshi, in anger, struck Isabella and dragged her off the bed towards the wall where the secret passageway was at.

Mai wanted to punch him, but knew that she was seeing the past. She gritted her teeth and watched as he dragged Isabella down back to the basement. Isabella, who was standing beside her, flinched.

Mai realized what was happening. 'Isabella wasn't killed in this room if not…That's why the basement was warped' She thought sadly.

Before she could say anything, she was back down in the ballroom. Everyone was oblivious to what was going on upstairs and still mingling around.

Suddenly, Mai saw black figures enter through every window and closing it behind them. Then finally, Kyoshi entered through the main door.

He walked over to the center of the room with a cup and signaled for the music to stop. "Well, I do hope that every single one of you have had a most wonderful night." He looked around with a fake smile. Everyone nodded back smiling.

"I'm glad. Unfortunately, I am here to end this party. But do not worry, for I am going to end this party with a…surprise." He smiled evilly, and before anyone could do anything, the black figures advanced on the people and began killing them.

Mai wanted to turn away from the horrifying sight, but somehow her eyes stayed glued to the people who were having their throats slashed.

Blood splattered all over the floor and walls as screams filled the entire room. Everyone tried to run out through the doors or windows, but they couldn't.

Mai's wide eyes took every detail in, but something got in her way and prevented her from seeing anything else.

Isabella hugged the young brunette's quivering figure and tried to calm her down. "It's alright, Mai. Shh, now honey. It's okay." She rubbed her back and hugged her tighter.

"I'll skip the rest of this and show you something else." Isabella told her quietly and stepped back from her. To Mai's relief, the scenery changed. She got ready for the next one and wiped the tears that were on her cheeks.

"Why didn't they mention what h-happened before on the police report?" Mai asked as she saw that they were in backyard. Isabella glanced at her and pointed out into the forest.

"Because they hid the bodies there", Mai saw the black figures carrying women and men into the forest as Isabella had said, "and then they cleaned up the mess in the ballroom, hence the authorities thought everyone had left before my…murder." The older but young brunette finished and shook her head.

Mai opened her mouth to say something, but stopped short when the whole scenery shook as if an earthquake was occurring. They both held onto each other for support and Mai saw the fear in Isabella's face.

"Oh no…he's realized that I have showed you some of what has happened here. We have to leave. Quickly!" Isabella put her hand on Mai's chest again and from one second to the next, they were back in the master bedroom.

The both looked around and saw the shadow that had once attacked Mai. Isabella stepped in front of Mai as if to protect her.

"You must wake up, and prevent your friends from coming in here for the time being. For he shall not leave because he knows they will be coming. Hurry, Mai! Hurry!" Isabella whispered fiercely.

Mai could only nod and close her eyes, willing herself to wake up.

~End of Mai's Dream~

Mai's eyes fluttered and she sat up quickly as she remembered what Isabella had told her.

"Oh no…guys!" She muttered and ran out of her room. 'How the hell am I going to go over there?' She asked herself as she ran into the elevator and waited for it to go to the first floor. When she heard the elevator bell ring she ran out and heard a couple of shouts behind her.

Once she was out of the main doors she looked around, desperate to find fast transportation. "Mai! What are you doing out here?" She turned to the familiar voice and smiled relived.

"Ryuuji! Oh thank god. You have to take me to your house now! Please we have to hurry!" She told him as she pulled his arm. Ryuuji wouldn't budge and looked at her as if she were crazy.

"What? No, you can't. You've been hospitalized, remember?" He pried her hand from his arm and began leading her back into the hospital.

"No! Wait! You don't understand. If I don't go stop my friends from what they're about to do, they might die!" Mai cried and tried to stand still. This caught Ryuuji's full attention and he turned to look at her.

"Please, Ryuuji. You have to take me as fast as you can…please…" Mai felt hot tears fall from her eyes and ran down her cheeks. The young lad couldn't resist her tears and he nodded, steering her back to his car.

"Alright, but once you've saved them, you have to promise me that you'll come back here." He said while starting the engine and stepping on the gas pedal hard.

"I promise, but please hurry." Mai wiped her cheeks and hiccupped. Ryuuji smirked a little and stepped on the gas pedal even more. Mai was thrown back a little as the momentum hit her.

"It was my sister's gift to me. I never thought I would have to use its power. I guess I'll have to thank her later." He informed Mai which confused her.

"What gift? What power?" She asked a little suspicious and looked around for the so called 'powerful' gift.

"This sports car." Ryuuji answered simply and revved the engine as if to show it off. Mai nodded and focused on what she was going to do. She couldn't sit still and she looked through the window, willing for the road to end.

"We really have to hurry. How much longer until we get there?" She asked worriedly. Ryuuji shook his head and smirked. "At this speed… in about 4 minutes." He continued looking straight and they both stayed quiet.

'Naru…please don't go up there! Please!' Mai thought desperately.

~///~

Naru watched the team get ready to go look at the passageway that they had discovered. He knew that he would only need a flashlight and let the others get what they were going to need.

Masako, as usual, stood beside him and didn't budge. Ayako decided that she would wait and let the others go.

"Thank you very much for helping, you old hag." Bou-san told her, which started an argument and hitting war with him.

Naru got annoyed quickly and glared at both of them. "If you two are done fighting, would you care to get along with what we were going to do, Takigawa-san?" His icy voice stopped both of them and made them shiver.

"Uh…right, Naru-bou. Right after you." He smiled sheepishly and faced away from the non wavering glare. The raven haired boy turned around and walked out of base, not caring if anyone was following him.

They all headed over to the kitchen each wondering where the passage leads to. The S.P.R team were just climbing down the steps of the basement, but stopped when they heard their names being called out.

"Naru! Bou-san! John! Guys!" The one that was screaming out was Mai, who at that moment was about to run to the base, but followed what her gut was telling her and ran to the kitchen instead.

Before she could even get to the basement door, she saw her friends coming up the steps and breathed with relief.

"Thank god I got here in time…" She muttered to herself and bent down over her knees breathing hard.

"Mai! What the hell are you doing here?" The brunette heard Naru's cold voice, but there was something strange about it. It wasn't as cold as previous times.

"Yeah, Mai. You're in recovery, you shouldn't be here." Bou-san added, he stepped forward to approach her, but stopped when he saw Naru's glare.

"Well, I couldn't let you guys go up that passage and risk ya'll getting hurt…could I?" Mai asked softly while Ryuuji ran inside the kitchen and knelt down in front of Mai.

"God, you gave me a huge scare. How could you do that? You practically flew out of my car without waiting for me to park it. You could've gotten injured, you know." Ryuuji put his hand on Mai's cheek concerned.

Mai, in turn, blushed and looked down. She heard someone cough slightly somewhere in front of her and the shuffle of feet.

"What do you mean you couldn't let us go up the passage? How did you know about that?" Mai was surprised to see Naru standing over her when he was on the other side of the kitchen not ten seconds ago.

"I sort of…had a huge…disturbing vision." She couldn't help but let sadness come into her voice, but that was exactly what she felt. Mai looked around at everyone in the kitchen. They were all staring back at her intently.

Mai sighed. This was going to be a long night.

Author's Note: MAANNNNN! Long time, no update story!

Dudettes, this chapter was good at the beginning but then it started to lag towards the end. Sorry! And Naru and Lin are CLEARLY OC in this, which I also am apologizing for. But now that Naru has his feelings figured out, he'll be less OC. As well as Lin…well, I'll try my best for them to be!

Well, I hope you guys like it and I certainly wish that you stay tuned for the next one!