I do Not own the Anime/Manga Ghost Hunt, or its characters.

Set before the team learns about Naru's PK.

We ordered from a near-by pizza place for lunch.

Mai had taken to laying on the floor with Monk, watching the ceiling's painting, looking for anything odd. At least, that's what I thought they were doing. I was sitting at a table, reading and drinking my soda. I'd glance up every now and then, just to keep an eye on the others - and, because if I didn't, I'd get lost in my own little world of reading. Ayako and Masako had taken a few of the computer chairs over to the window, where the warmth of the sun sank into their bodies, and were whispering excitedly about something. Lin and Naru were off doing whatever it is they do in their down time.

Probably re-interviewing the witnesses because Naru thinks we're all idiots, I thought suddenly. I just as quickly winced as it crossed my mind. I couldn't blame my lack of sleep for that kind of thought, and bowed my head in prayer. That was beyond rude of me.

The low buzz of conversation stopped halfway through my prayer, and I didn't really want to know why, even though I already did. Sighing, I gathered my trash and rounded the desk, throwing it away. I stretched, trying to cover up my yawn before turning back around.

Mai was now sitting cross legged while Monk had rolled onto his stomach. The two other girls were also watching me. I wanted to just leave it at that, but I didn't want to be rude or seem to be in a foul mood. "What's wrong?"

Mai tilted her head, like a puppy would. "What was that? What you were just doing, just then."

I looked behind me, and turned back "Stretching?"

Monk smirked in amusement, "Before that."

I pursed my lips, eyes finding the ceiling before looking at them again, "Throwing away my garbage?"

Mai laughed and Monk scowled but his eyes told me he was laughing too. Ayako just shook her head and resumed talking to Masako. I gave myself a mental shake and went back to my book. Monk rolled into a crouch, "You didn't answer her question."

"I tried," I winced internally. Monk sat with his legs under him, watching me curiously.

Mai was still grinning, "When you put down your book and bent you head over your hands. I saw your lips moving, and your eyes were closed."

"Oh." Great. "It was a prayer."

"Nothing bad happened yet." Ayako chimed in, crossing her legs.

"Better safe than sorry." I shrugged, marking my place in my book. I put it under the bible I had with me. "Be right back."

Mai had that thoughtful look in her eyes, and I made my way to the doors. I needed air, and I wanted them to move onto another conversation - one that didn't revolve around me. But just as my hand hit the knob, she asked, "What's your religion about? I mean, it didn't originate in Japan, and I haven't heard that much about it growing up."

What part of 'be right back' didn't she understand? I wondered tiredly. I turned around, putting on another false smile. "Well, it's hard to explain in a short period of time. We only have another ten minutes before Naru's back and we start working again. How about I tell you about it after the case?"

Mai seemed to consider this, then nodded. "Okay!"

"Now, I'll be right back." I slipped out the door before they could ask where I was going. I wanted to go to the car and grab my Ipod so that when we were researching, I had something to listen to other than Lin's keys click-click-clicking away. I made my down the second flight of stairs, seeing one of our cameras out of the corner of my eye.

The wood steps above me gave an eerie creak, and that was my only warning.

I twisted around to see if someone had followed me, but when I found it empty I felt something in me freeze. The fine hairs on the back of my neck rose up, and I could hear the faint buzzing of my blood in my ears as I strained to hear anything - anything at all.

Then, something painful cold latched onto my lower leg with frightening strength. I stood there, slowly looking down but seeing absolutely nothing - except that my pants now had what looked like a handprint on them. I opened my mouth -

but I was already being brutally ripped up the stairs by my right leg.

My head clipped the stairs, and white pain exploded behind my eyeballs. I blindly reached for something - anything - to grab, to slow myself down. I was dragged around the landing and I caught the rail with white fingers. It slammed to a halt, before lifting my leg high and yanking with enough force to almost dislocate my wrist. I reached into my jean's pocket as I started shouting the first prayer that came to mind, eyes squeezed shut at it yank harder and harder until my grip was ripped from the railing.

I twisted around with the momentum, splashing blindly at it with holy water.

There was an inhuman howl of agony and rage. I found myself tumbling down the steps when it released me suddenly and without warning. I hit the landing with enough force to knock my lungs free of their air. For a moment, everything was still, quiet. But I knew it was there, could feel it in the very air. Waiting.

"John!" Monk's voice boomed as they pounded down the stairs.

It vanished, and I found my breath. I rolled to my side, clutching my wrist and breathing jaggedly. My leg felt like I had frost bite, but it hadn't grabbed my ankle, which is probably why it wasn't broken. My wrist was in agony.

"John, man!" Monk dropped down next to me, "You okay?"

I heard Mai gasp, "His wrist!"

"Damn it," Monk hissed.

Masako hid her mouth behind her sleeve, eyes wide.

I painfully sat up, groaning in pain. I chanced a look at it. Already, it was bruising darkly, a nasty purple and blue. It was clearly dislocated, my hand just hanging. Monk grabbed my good arm and helped my to my feel. I stumbled to the railing. I knew what I had to do, but it didn't mean it'd be fun. I put my hand on the railing, moved the wrist into place. I didn't even give myself time to think about it.

I bite back a shout of pain as white burned along my nerves, as the joint popped back into place with a sick noise. I cradled my wrist close to my chest, hunched over it. I was panting slightly, shaking from the ebbing adrenalin. "That...hurt."

Mai rushed to my side, inspecting it closely. "How'd you do that?"

"It wasn't broken." I explained, slowly flexing my fingers as the feeling came back.

Monk shared a meaningful look with Ayako.

"What wasn't broken?" We all turned to see Naru coming up the steps with Lin.

-X-

The cameras caught everything.

Monk had run to my car to grab the first aid kit. He had whistled at the size, and some of the materials inside it. I wrapped my hand and wrist in an ace bandage; it was all any hospital would do. Monk seemed to be growing more and more concerned at how I was able to just shrug this off.

"We should have a doctor look at it." He insisted, as Naru replayed the incident.

"This is all they'd do!" I said for the tenth time. "They'd take a few x-rays, put it in a ace wrap and tell me not to use it for the next few weeks. It'd be a waste of time."

"He's right," Lin said.

But Monk and Mai weren't swayed. "Aren't you in pain?"

I shrugged, "I'm used to it."

"Broken and dislocated bones are different." Monk said, sounding angry. "How do you know its not broken?"

I felt my anger rise, but I couldn't stop myself. "Because I've had both enough times to identify which are which! Enough, Monk. I'm not going to the hospital."

A cold shock poured into the tension that had risen thickly in the air. My eyes widened at hat I had said. Even Naru had dragged his eyes away from the screens to look at me. I turned and left the room, the door banging as I exited.

"John, wait!"

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Pairings (if any) will be made by fifth chapter.