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

Set before the team learns about Naru's PK.

I found myself in the jeep, hands shaking and breathing hard. I jammed the keys into the ignition, only to have Tamari's relieved face flash across my vision. I couldn't bite back the groan, and let my head rest against the steering wheel. I ripped the keys out and shoved them into my pocket. "Fuck."

I reached across the passenger seat, back stretching and arm straining, and popped open the glove compartment. In it sat my white Ipod, with the headphones wrapped around it. I grabbed it, slammed the compartment shut and got out of the jeep. The door shut behind me and I saw the pond again. As I put the ear buds in, I walked closer to it. The color was dark, smelling of moist rot and looked putrid. When was the last time this thing was cleaned?

I turned up the music a little, pointedly ignoring Mai and Monk who had run after me.

They stood a few feet back, chests heaving because of their sudden run. Monk's lips were a hard line and Mai's arms were crossed. She had forgotten her jacket, and a cold wind was tearing through. I saw goosebumps rise on her exposed arms and the shiver that shook her frame. I couldn't stand seeing her cold; I myself hated being cold. I unzipped my jacket, my motions jerky because of my anger, and shrugged out of it. I tossed it at her without looking.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as she slowly pulled it on, "T-Thanks, John."

I shrugged, fighting the urge to shake from the cold. I could see my breath now. I went over to the pond, looking it over. The pond had a wall of stone raised around it, dead vines clinging to it. Maybe it was meant for students to sit on during the summer? It could easily fit three of my jeep across, headlights to bumper.

Another gust of wind blew past, ripping through my hair and stealing what little warmth I had. Still, I couldn't bring myself to face them. To go back inside. I put my hands on the wall, which came up to my knees, and peered into the water. I could make out parts of my reflection, and dead leaves dragged along the top due to the wind. I wondred how old this thing was.

I could feel myself slowly calming down, forcing the anger into the tightly chained box in the back of my mind. For the first time in years, I felt the urge to light a cigarette and puff a whole pack. I glanced at the jeep; I still had a pack stashed in the dash, for when Father Minuza was having a difficult day. Call me an enabler, but I knew what it was like to go a few stressful hours without a cig. It never ended pretty.

The song ended, and I took out the ear buds, putting it in my pocket.

"Let's head back in," Mai suggested, eyes filled with concern.

I needed a cig.

"Yeah." Monk agreed. "Its cold. I won't force you to go to the hospital, but only if you promise to tell me if the pain gets too bad."

I really needed a cig.

I gave a slow, reluctant nod, leading the way back inside.

I'd grab one later.

-X-

I hated when it was really cold, and then you walked into a really warm place. It made me feel disoriented and tired. It was one of the reasons I really started hating winter. Even if I was only outside for a few minutes and came right back in, it happened. Sometimes it was so bad, I'd get dizzy. This time was no different.

Masako watched me like a hawk when I came in; Lin and Ayako just gave us a glance as Naru began directing us on what to do. There were still a few cameras to set up - and I got drafted to help Monk while Mai made tea. We were also suppose to take temperature readings again.

We each grabbed a box, loaded down with two cameras and their wires each. We made our way up to the roof, where the for the pool had shattered twice already - and the skylight had been made of bullet proof glass, both times. According to eye witnesses, it looked someone had taken a hammer to it, slowly cracking the glass until it broke. The students barely had enough time to launch themselves out of the pool when the shattered glass came raining down.

"This school has everything, and then some." Monk said as I set up the camera. He was peering over the skylight, looking into the empty gym room. All swimming classes had been cancelled until further notice. "I mean, that pool has to be forty feet long. And this school has three of them."

"It's a private school. Wealthy families are always donating to make sure their kids have the best education money can buy."

"Yeah." He stood up with his hands on his hips. "But this is over the top. Public schools could use the funding; there's been a lot of cutbacks recently."

"Not all wealthy families are generous," I said. "Its just the way the world works; it doesn't matter what country you're in."

Monk's face twisted into a scowl. "Yeah, I know. I guess growing up at a temple makes me more sensitive to these kinds of things. Growing up, all I was ever taught was that every person is equal to the next, that they all deserved equal opportunities and chances. It makes me angry and sad to see such a waste of good money." He turned to face me as I adjusted the camera's settings, "What about you?"

"What about me, what?" I asked, fiddling with the wires, and beginning to tape them down so they didn't trip anyone.

"What did your parents teach you about stuff like this?"

I barely kept myself from flinching, but I knew he noticed. I stood stiffly and quickly went to the box, threw in the tape and started walking without a backward glance. "My parents were killed when I was a few months old. I don't remember them."

He grabbed his box, scrambling to catch up with me. "Aw, man. I'm so sorry! I-I didn't know..."

I forced a tight smile, and said, "It's okay."

It wasn't.

-X-

Night fell earlier than expected, and the students rushed to their dorms, sending nervous glances over their shoulders. Nothing had happened today, but instead of being relieved, they were even more frightened. That in and of itself was worrying. It had taken us house to come through the entire building for readings, and Monk would keep opening his mouth as though to say something, only to shut it and avert his gaze.

We walked back to Base, and he had his hand on the door, when he suddenly asked, "Can I ask what had happened to them? Your parents."

I shot him a look of surprise; why would he want to know something like that? I looked at the floor, suddenly finding the designs in the carpet very intriguing. I bit my lip, not sure whether to tell him or not. "Well...according to the police reports, they had decided to go for a walk after a dinner party before heading home. I was in a stroller. It was a mugging gone wrong. Neighbors found me screaming my lungs out, covered in blood."

Monk looked away, "Damn. I am so sorry, John."

"Don't be," I brushed past him. "You didn't pull the trigger."

His eyes widened and he bit his lip as I grabbed the handle, "John?"

"Yeah?"

"Where'd you grow up? I mean, Australia, yeah, but..."

"The system." My voice was shockingly calm, neutral.

"System?" He asked, frowning in confusion.

I chuckled, but it sounded more like a pained growl, and shrugged, leaning against the door. "The foster care system. Got bounced from house to house, from town to town. I went to almost twenty different schools in one year."

He swore loudly, and ran a hand down his face. "How is that even legal? Putting a kid through that-" He cut himself off, looking at me as if I were some sort of...I'm not sure what, but there wasn't a hint of pity in his eyes. "It must'a been hell."

I looked away, my eyes finding the stairs I had been dragged up. "Yeah."

-X-

"Masako and John, you'll be going floor by floor to see if you can feel any spirits. Monk and Ayako will go through and see if they can try to exercise whatever spirits there are. Lin and I will be speaking to the staff on the first floor. Mai, you'll stay at Base - and no falling asleep this time, got it?"

Mai fumed silently, glaring at him but he was unfazed. Lin got up, laptop in hand, and they left without another word. Monk and the rest of us had changed into our uniforms and were ready to head out. I looked over at Masako, who had a sleeve up to her mouth. If I was able to feel that thing in the air around me, I had no doubt she'd be able to sniff it out without any difficulty.

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