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

Set before the team learns about Naru's PK.

Cops swarmed the scene til dawn and the students were sent home, along with Masako. Red and blue lights broke the quiet night, and nothing else happened - but, before she left, Masako said the spirit was feeling quite satisfied. She wasn't done by far, but felt accomplished. I had told Masako not to worry, that I'd call if something happened and as soon as we were done with the case. She begged me to go with her, to not stay here - she said the spirit hated men especially.

But I couldn't leave now, not when there was a vengeful spirit on the loose.

Afterwards, I couldn't drag my eyes away from Tamari's body as she was examined by the coroner. There was a nasty gash across her forehead, dried blood on her face. The rope had dug into her skin and had left it horribly bruised. According to the medical examiner, it looked like she had struggled after being hung. Her lifeless eyes - once so full of life and fear and laughter - were now burned into my memory, always there when I closed my eyes, accusing and hateful. Before they put her in the body bag and wheeled her away, they allowed me to say a few words for her soul.

As they all slowly departed, we were told to leave - but it was a request, not an order, and Naru had no plans on leaving.

I wasn't even aware I was cold, that I was shivering, until Ayako dropped a blanket across my shoulders. I looked up at her in surprise; she shrugged and said, "Its cold out here, and its been one hell of a night."

I nodded, pulling the blanket around me tighter. A migraine had set in after the first hour of the cops being there, their flashing lights and the frightened students' voices having not helped any at all. But I knew what would; I went to the jeep with Monk and Ayako watching me. Mai, Naru and Lin had gone inside to show the police what little evidence we had collected.

I reached in and grabbed the unopened pack of cigs. I ripped off the plastic, not giving myself time to talk myself out of it, and put on between my lips. I cupped the flame in my hands to keep it from blowing out, and took a long drag, pocketing the lighter and pack. I slammed the door shut and ignored the shocked looks on their faces.

I quit once; I could do it again.

Later.

-X-

I was jarred awake by someone stepping on my hand. Not even half awake, my hand tightened its grip on my holy water and I splashed at it, blind from sleep and darkness. I started a prayer that was quickly drowned out by Monk's voice: "John, it's okay, man. It's just me."

Mumbling something incoherent, even to my own ears, I used the backs of my hands to rub the sleep from my eyes, "Wha' happened?"

"Nothing," Monk said soothingly, voice low. "I just needed to take a leak. Didn't mean to wake you."

Slowly, everything clicked into place. At almost six in the morning, we finally called it a night and had agreed to be up by 2:30 that afternoon. Monk and I were sharing a room, Lin and Naru a room, and Mai and Ayako a third room. "Ya sure that's a good idea? Goin' alone? I could-" A yawn cut me off for a moment, "come with and wait outside the door."

"Its just across the hall. Go back to sleep John. You need it more than any of us."

I pulled my knees to my chest, resting my chin on them. "Just go and be quick. I'll sleep when you're back."

He gave a nod and left the room seconds later. He left the door open a crack, and light seeped in from the hall, casting a shaft of strong light across my feet. Part of the reason I didn't want him alone was because of what Masako said, and another part was because I was afraid for any one of us to be alone in this place. I glanced around the room; it wasn't anything fancy. It was hardly big enough for two people, with windows that overlooked a garden. The curtains were shut tightly.

I was almost asleep when he came back, eyes dropping and breathing deeper by the minute. Monk gave a chuckle and I laid back down, asleep before my head hit the pillow.

-X-

A few hours later, I found myself in the male teacher's locker room before the others were even awake. I wasn't even fully rested and could have used a few more hours sleep, but my body wasn't having any of that. I showered and dressed as quickly as I could - I think I even broke my own record - and found myself at Base, reviewing the footage from when we were asleep.

Nothing.

No voices, no howling, no nothing.

Zip. Nada. Zilch.

It was probably because of all the outsider activity - the dozen or so cops, the hundreds of parents, the medical team.

Sighing heavily, I wondered what we'd scrounge up for breakfast - lunch? - and hoped there'd be coffee in the teacher's lounge, which was down the hall. I could really use coffee. Tea would be nice, but coffee would be marvelous. But I knew I had to go and stay with Monk until he woke up; Naru was going to have a fit that I had left him alone.

I felt a smirk tug at my lips; even if I erased the footage of my morning venture, he'd still catch me on my way back.

-X-

Two p.m. rolled around not long after that - I had submerged myself into that book - and I woke Monk up. He needed time to get ready, and I was getting antsy from reading for too long. I waited outside the room for him to get dressed only to see Ayako waltz from the female teacher's locker room to her shared room in nothing but a towel. As soon as our eyes met I twisted away as quickly as I could, my hands covering my eyes. I could feel my face flush darkly, "I-I am so sorry!"

I didn't even know what I was apologizing for. Was it that I was in the hall? That I may have embarrassed her? That I had seen her long legs? That the towel had left little to the imagination? Not that I had any plans of letting that run wild. That I may have sinned?

Dear Lord, help me. I'm not even sure if I've sinned here. And by total accident!

Monk popped his head out of our room and pulled my hands away from my face with a raised eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"Is she gone?" I asked instead.

He pulled a face, then peered over my shoulder, "I don't see anyone."

"Oh, thank goodness." My shoulders sagged and I could help but feel the flood of relief.

"Who was it?"

I shook my head, in total denial of what just happened and who it was, "Don't worry about it. Can we just go get something to eat? I'm starving."

"Sure," he nodded. "How's you wrist and shoulders?"

"They're fine," I lied. My wrist was stiff and ached from the cold that had taken permanent residence in the place. My one shoulder had gotten infected, but I dealt with that earlier. We turned down the hall and made our way up through the back of the school. We by-passed base - I took note that Naru and Lin were already there, doing what I did just hours ago.

"So, why'd you leave earlier?" He asked as we turned into the teacher's lounge. It was spacious, looking like a kitchen that was attached to a living room. The kitchen was fully stocked - and there it was! the coffee! - and the living room had a big, flat screen TV, leather couch and air conditioner.

"Leave?" I asked, distracted with trying to find the making for chocolate chip pancakes, bacon and eggs - with coffee.

"This morning. Around ten."

I blinked, "Oh. I couldn't sleep and needed a shower."

"Wait. You've been awake since ten this morning, after going to sleep sometime past six?" Monk asked, putting his hand on my shoulder and forcing me to turn and look at him. Surprise took over his concern, "You don't look tired."

I shrugged and went back to making breakfast.

It was how I was brought up, I guess. I never knew which houses were safe to sleep in, which ones weren't. There were bad people in the world, sick people. And yes, they looked normal. They sounded normal. They seemed normal. But they weren't. They needed help - sometimes from doctors, sometimes from cops. Sometimes, maybe even, a higher power.

As I cooked, I remembered something a kid told me once, while we were staying in the same house: "Hell ain't nothin' compared to this, the life of da abandoned an' neglected an' abused. At least, down dere you're warm, and ya don't starve and ya don't hafta be afraid of the unlucky bastard next ta ya."

In many ways, he had been right.

The girls came in and Mai asked, "What is that delicious smell?"

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