I'm so sorry 8A8;; I didn't mean to be so slow, I just haven't had time to write, but now I have, so please, accept my apology Q.Q

File 1.

Haunting From The Deep Waters.

Naru, just like the rest, stared at the speakers. Mai had just said Naru's nickname, and with an exclamation mark behind, they could pretty much feel it. Mai was now officially in danger, and they had to move fast to rescue her.

"So, you were right Naru-chan, the ghost really is active during night!" Bou said.

"Wouldn't have made sense otherwise." Naru muttered.

"True, but still, the police has searching all nearby caves and other places that Mai could have been hidden in.. how do we even get past the police?" Ayako asked. Naru turned to her, so of course, if it was up to him, he'd blast them away with some weird power to get to Mai. The boss didn't seem to care much about anything else.

"Because she's not in a cave." Naru simply stated. The rest gaped.

"What? How did you know?" Bou asked.

"They would have found her otherwise." he said. Bou gaped. Ah, the stupid irony. Of course, if Mai was in a cave, they wouldn't be so worried right now, but still.

"So, then where?" Ayako asked.

"Somewhere under the ground, but not to far away from the lake!" Naru stated.

"Okay, so a hidden door or something?" Bou suggested. Naru nodded.

"I guess we should start right away then?" John asked. Naru didn't even nod.

"Takigawa-san, go with Hara-san, Matsuzaki-san goes with Yasuhara-san, Brown-san goes with Lin." Lin stared right back at him.

"And you?" Naru didn't even look at him.

"We'll all go to where Takigawa-san sensed something pulling his leg, it's most likely close to where Mai is hidden or else there wouldn't have been any reaction." Naru suddenly stated, having a complete turn-around. They all nodded and hurried out of the door, going straight for the woods, and very much avoiding the cops standing around the lake. A few of the officers noticed them, but didn't seem to think it was as strange as it actually was. It didn't take them more than a few minutes to reach the place where Bou sensed the pull, but at that point, there was nothing. Naru frowned. By now, something would have happened, could it be the pull was something unrelated? No, that couldn't be! Suddenly John gasped, pulling a bit away.

"Brown-san?" Naru asked. John gave him a startled look.

"Something grabbed my hand." he said.

"Is it the ghost that's causing the girls.. disappearance?" Bou asked.

"No, it isn't!" Masako quickly answered. Everyone turned to her, who looked straight at something.

"It's the ghosts of girls.. all of them look like another version of Mai.." she said.

"So we have to get rid of them to save Mai?" Bou asked then.

"No, they're here to help." Masako whispered. Bou gaped.

"I've never heard of that.." Masako shook her head suddenly.

"It's not like they mean to stop us, they want it to stop.. they want Mai to survive." she said. It seemed the forest just got a bit darker and a chill moved in on them. Bou shuddered, as did Ayako and Masako as the exorcist raised their arms slightly, prepared to fight to save the assistant that was missing. But to their surprise was there no resistance as Masako lead the way deeper into the forest. Masako did however stop when she was standing in a bit of a clearance. There was a huge rock in the middle, but the small door was all to obvious on it.

"What the.. a door? In a rock?" Bou asked himself more than the rest.

"It can be hollow on the inside." Lin suggested. Naru nodded.

"Check it out." he stated and the men moved forward. John stayed with Masako and Ayako just in case. Just as Bou gently tapped the handle, something hit him full force, sending him flying to the damp grass.

"Bou!" John called, but stayed were he was when Naru gave him a warning look.

"You okay?" Yasuhara asked. Bou nodded and got up.

"Some fight he has, that's for sure, you sure you should stay around?" he then asked the younger student. Yasuhara smiled.

"I want to be around when Taniyama-san is found, that's all." he said.

"You should stay with Brown-san and the women." Naru stated as he, as harsh as ever grabbed the handle, despite the force put up against him. However, it proved to be harder to open the door than he thought.

"Naru." Lin called when Naru seemed to focus some of his powers, then stepped away from the door before pretty much flew from it's hinges, sent several feet into the air before landing on the grass ten meters or so away. Naru took one step towards the rock entrance and suddenly a slash cut right across his cheek.

"It's able to make air slashes?" John asked from the distance that he and the women were. Yasuhara soon joined them as Lin pressed on as well, joining Naru's side. The two pressed closer and closer until they were standing in front of the open doorway, leading into some sort of darkened room, or maybe stairwell, they didn't know. Bou was soon coming up to their side as well, holding the flashlight that Yasuhara had been holding earlier. The three exchanged looks before they entered, one by one, then disappeared into the darkness. John, as well as Ayako took stances that showed they were ready to fight when all the sudden, grass around the rock started to flatten. Ayako noticed this as she pulled Masako away and the two men slowly back off. It seemed that something inside that rock didn't want Mai to be found, or let the three men get out alive, or so it seemed.

"Wow.. it's pretty steep, how deep do you think this goes Naru-chan?" Bou asked as the three men moved down the stairs that seemed to descend far deeper than any of them though it would. Just then, Bou, who was walking first, slipped and tumbled the rest of the way down. Luckily for him, it was only one feet until the floor, or whatever it was down there.

"Ouch, and did I mention the stairs are slippery as well?" Bou muttered to himself as he slowly got up, rubbing his back as he let the flashlight scan the place. It wasn't big, but there wasn't anything around them either, there was only one thing that caught their eyes. There was hundreds of legible scratch marks on the wall, despite it being made of rock. There was also a skeleton on the floor of the small, cave-like room. Naru didn't give it much of a look as he turned, taking Bou's flashlight and giving the other side of the room a scan, and nearly dropped the flashlight, but thew it over his shoulder the next second. Lin caught the flashlight and pointed it towards Naru's direction and saw him crouching over something lying on the stone floor.

"Mai." he called. Bou and Lin both walked over, crouching beside the young boss. In his arms, was Mai. The brunette's hair was dirty and her eyes closed. Her skin was very pale compared to what her usually skin tone was, which meant, she was in a bad state. It seemed she wasn't awake or nowhere near consciousness, but if Naru knew one thing, it was how to wake up the usually yawny girl.

"Mai, wake up!" he said, keeping his voice stern, but as usual, void of any other emotion. There was no reaction until Naru shook the girl. The latter groaned before she opened her eyes slowly, then she squinted them, trying to get customized to the light from the flashlight. Bou and Lin both smiled when the girl just smiled, sighing in relief.

"I knew you'd find me Naru.." she whispered. It seemed she wasn't aware of the other two because she just clung to Naru as he, just like any other good guy, picked her up and carried her over to the stairs. Lin and Bou walked right behind him just in case he'd slip or the ghost decided to take some sort of action. As they walked up the stairs, nothing happened, not until they reached the door. Bou yelled out as he slipped and fell all the way down. Naru turned his head, stopping, as did Lin, but only the Chinese turned and went down to check on the other man, but then left Naru wide open for attacks. Naru noticed that John was running towards him and Ayako was chanting, sending something nasty Naru's way, but it seemed it was supposed to protect him from something.

"Run, it's trying to keep Mai inside." Ayako yelled and Naru stepped over the doorstep just as something hit him in the head, hard. Naru didn't fall, but he did take a few steps forward, a little surprised and maybe a bit caught off guard by the attack from behind. However, he didn't stop, just continued to walk, even if his face was covered with cuts and his shirt just about ripped to shreds as the ghost tried to stop him from leaving, but the moment he left the flatten grass circle, the attacks stopped, and then Naru fell to his knees, obviously striving hard to keep his head up. Ayako and John stopped by their side as Masako and Yasuhara kept themselves on a safe distance. Naru let Mai sit on the grass, though her shoulders was still resting against one of his arms. Mai's eyes opened gently as she looked up at Naru, then she gently smiled before she teared up.

"You look horrible.." she whispered, laughing a bit. Naru raised an eyebrow, but refrained from answering as he turned his head, seeing that Lin and Bou was right behind. Bou looked like he was bleeding from his head and he was immediately put under Ayako's firm eyes as she checked for any deadly injuries, included what turned out to be a cut to his forehead. Then they all left.

"Tomorrow we'll exorcise the spirit." Naru stated.

"Why not tonight?" Bou asked. Naru glared.

"It would only be useless when then ones doing the exorcism is injured." he stated. Ayako snorted.

"Then let me do it!" she stated. Everyone seemed okay with it, everyone who knew what she was able to do anyway. Naru didn't seem to believe she could. Even Yasuhara, Masako and Lin looked like they doubted her, but Bou nodded.

"Is there really any clean tree's here?" he asked. Ayako smacked his head.

"It's not 'clean', they're pure and full of life idiot, but yes, there is, just let me get the clothes." then she ran off, followed by John, who Naru ordered to protect the miko. Mai however, just continued to look at Naru before she sighed and closed her eyes. Naru looked down at her as she opened her eyes, then raised one of her arms, which had been clutching something for a while.

"You remembered what I did with Masako didn't you?" she asked softly as she opened her hand and handed him the keys. Lin's eyebrows went up as he recognized the keys. Bou grinned as he realized just what had happened. Naru however, didn't answer as he just took the keys, put them in his pocket, then he turned to Masako.

"Can you sense it?" he asked. Masako nodded.

"Yes, but for some reason it seems to be trapped." she stated. Bou grinned.

"Well, I did put a Kekkai barrier around it so it shouldn't be able to leave just yet." the monk said proudly. Naru nodded, then he picked up Mai again, standing up. The girl squeaked, despite her bad condition.

"Mai." Naru's voice shut the girl up and she stopped squirming. Naru looked at Lin.

"I'll take her back!" he stated and started walking.

"At least take Brown-san with you." Lin said, sighing. Naru didn't answer, but that actually meant it was okay, or he would have said if it was opposite. John hurried after the boss and his assistant just as Ayako came running, fully dressed as a miko. Ayako didn't say anything as she passed, but nodded to Naru. Mai continued to look up at Naru, seemingly not worried about anything now.

"I'll be right outside then." John said and exited the room. Naru turned back to Mai, who was resting in a bed, but she wasn't asleep. Her brown eyes tiredly searched for Naru's while she gently reached a hand out to him, and he took it. Then their eyes met.

"Naru.. thank you.." she whispered. Naru didn't move at all, just continued to stare back into her eyes. The girl then closed her eyes, slowly drifting into sleep, a peaceful smile on her face. Naru looked down at his hand, the one connected to hers and he sighed. Even if he would never admit it out loud, he already knew that something deep within him caused his unusual anxiousness when Mai went missing and during the time she was gone. He just wasn't sure what it was, but he damned as hell would find out what, that he was sure of. The door slowly opened and the group came in.

"Naru, we're gotten rid of the bastard-" Bou was stopped by the glare Naru sent his way. Then they noticed that Mai was asleep, and Ayako smacked Bou in the head. Masako sat down, letting out a sigh of relief while the rest settled down beside her. Naru however, didn't let go of Mai's hand, he wasn't entirely sure why he didn't want to, it just seemed wrong.

"Naru-chan.. what will we do after this?" Bou suddenly asked, though a bit hushed so he wouldn't wake Mai. Naru turned his head, staring at the monk over his shoulder.

"We'll return to Shibuya." he simply said, then he turned back to Mai, looking at her sleeping face and being very unaware of the smug smirks on not only Bou's, but Ayako and Yasuhara's face. Masako didn't seem all to happy about it, but then again, she couldn't do anything about it either. Then there was poor John, who just smiled sweetly as always, believing that non were up to no good.

Day 3.

Mai moaned softly before she opened her eyes, then she sat up. Just yesterday it seemed she was living out her worst dream, now she was sleeping in a bed, and no, it wasn't hers. The young girl looked around and first thing she saw was Naru siting beside her, holding some papers in one of his hands. Mai was a bit surprised to see no cup of tea in his other hand, but then looked down and squeaked. She pulled back her hand, which was still holding Naru's. This caught the narcissist's attention and blue eyes turned towards hers.

"Good to see your awake, it's past noon." Naru stated and Mai got this really annoyed look on her face before it died down. She just couldn't stay angry at him for some reason, and she suspected it had to do with him saving her. Naru and Mai just continued to look each other in the eyes before a cough drew their attention away from each other. Mai looked past Naru with large eyes and the blushed madly.

"B-Bou-san?" she asked. Bou grinned.

"Well, the cute little girl is awake guys." was what he said. Ayako hit him in the head again, then she got up.

"Idiot, we all knew that!" she then walked over to Mai and Naru before she crouched beside it, smiling to Mai.

"How do you feel?" she asked. Mai's eyes turned to her.

"I feel fine.. really." she said, smiling cutely. Ayako raised an eyebrow at that, but then she sighed.

"If you collapse, then I will hit you when you wake up got it?" she asked, acting like a stern mother. Mai laughed nervously.

"I'll remember that.." she said. Naru suddenly stood up.

"Break up the base, we're going back!" he suddenly said and Mai couldn't help the small smile breaking through to her nervous state. The others started moving while Mai sat there, just looking at Naru's back. The narcissist obviously noticed because he turned around, and the look he gave her sent chill down her spine, not in a negative way of course.

"Could he be.." she began, but her thoughts was cut off when Bou placed a hand on her head and ruffled her head.

"Is the princess to tired to help out? Or do you want to head over to your friends and tell them your okay? The police is here even.." at that Mai gave Naru, not Bou a shocked look. She knew he detested the media, so why was the police here. It seemed Bou could read her mind.

"Your teacher called them." he stated. Mai looked up at him.

"Oh.." she just answered while getting out of bed, then noticed she was still wearing her clothes, which stunk, and was way more dirty than she could remember they were. She walked over to Naru, who was overlooking everything.

"I guess, he never realized.." she thought and gently took his hand. This caused some sort of chill to rise Naru's spine because he seemed to freeze for a second, then he turned, staring down at her. Mai gaped.

"You've grown a lot Naru.." she whispered, knowing it'd be awkward if the rest of the group saw them hold hands. Mai was truthful when she acted surprised at his height though, after all, it had only been a month since he left to England, now, a month later and she could swear he was several inches longer. Naru raised an eyebrow, but didn't answer.

"Naru.. when are you coming back to Shibuya?" she asked, detaching herself from him. Naru looked at her from the corner of his eyes as he turned a bit away.

"Today." he stated, then he walked over to Lin, looking over some papers, and talking lowly with him. Mai bit her bottom lip, looking at Naru just standing there like he had always been there threw her heart into a turmoil. She knew she liked Gene, but she liked Naru too, but she was very sure she liked Naru more, besides, Gene was kind of dead so that would have been a bit too weird. Mai sighed and walked past everyone, then she waved at them as they all stopped to eye her.

"See you later okay?" she got some 'yes'es and some nods, then she was off, because she knew that her teacher would be furious if she stayed any longer, and her poor friends. She giggled, but knew that she couldn't tell what happened, because how do you explain that a ghost kidnapped you, carried you into a hidden room under the Earth and shut the door? Well, Mai decided that maybe she should stop telling her friends about her adventure with the SPR.

May 10th.

Mai sighed, looking out of the window in her apartment, there was no way this was a forgettable case. But at the same time, it was a start, not a new one, but like, your starting everything over again, like, a second chance.

"But I guess, there's always a chance if you try to make one yourself." she stated to herself as she snuggled into the couch. Three days passed since she had returned with the SPR team and her own class, then she had taken a few days off so she could recover from being trapped beneath Earth for so long. Suddenly her phone rang and Mai squeaked. She managed to pick it up, though nearly loosing the grip on the phone several times.

"Y-yes?" she answered.

"Mai." Mai gasped and nearly lost her phone in the shock.

"N-Naru?" she asked.

"No, Santa.." Naru sarcastically answered. Mai could swear she felt the glare through the phone. She pouted.

"Santa don't exist Naru." she commented.

"Sure." Naru stated, obviously not believing that she didn't believe in Santa.

"W-why did you call?" Mai asked, looked down at her lap. She had always had feelings for Naru, but Naru thought she was in love with Gene, but it was only because Gene, unlike his brother, treated her nice, dead or alive. Mai was often tormented by the words he said. But then again, Mai didn't blame him, she had been so closed minded she hadn't even thought about it.

"Do you still want the assistant job?" Naru suddenly asked and Mai couldn't help that a vein appeared on her forehead.

"All business as always aren't we?" she thought before she stopped. Wait, that meant he was staying, didn't it?

"I.. really? Your not going back to England?" Mai asked.

"Mai." Naru said, sounding a bit grumpy. Mai giggled.

"Yes, yes, of course I'd continue to work at SPR." she answered. There was a short silence before Naru suddenly made this unnatural sound, well, unnatural for him anyway. Mai twirled a hair lock around her finger as she fell down against the couch.

"Naru?" she asked.

"Hm?"

"You know.. I.. I.." Mai then shut up, unable to finish her sentence.

"Mai, I'm hanging up if you continue stuttering." Naru stated. Mai whined.

"I can't help it Naru! It's what you do to me!" well, that certainly came out wrong. Mai turned a dark scarlet before she squeaked.

"Oh God, Naru, that c-came out so w-wrong didn't it?" she completely made a fool of herself over the phone, and while talking to her boss no less. And did she mention he was also her secret love? Well, that didn't make it any easier. He much be thinking she was an idiot now right?

"It did, but I don't mind." Mai's eyes widened and right there she dropped the phone. Mai just laid there for a while before Naru's voice called her back to reality.

"Mai, job, tomorrow at the office, 7 am sharp!" then Naru hung up. Mai pouted, glaring at the phone before she threw it onto the table, sighing.

"Man, you are so weird Naru.. and so.. so what?" she wondered. There was little to nothing she actually knew about him, she did know his real name and where he comes from, his age and stuff, but she didn't know what he was like, growing up with, or what he was like when he was cutely mad. Or Mai was just crazy, because Naru never became mad in a cute way, never.

"Oh God, I am so falling for him.." she whined, then she turned over, but having forgotten she was lying on the couch, she fell off. Mai shrieked before she hit the floor. Mai lifted her head, nursing a red spot on her forehead and a few tears.

"This is so not my best week! Damnit." she muttered as she sat up, nursing her bruise. Mai wasn't as surprised when one of the pictures on her wall suddenly fell off as when Naru called. Because Mai was actually getting used to the paranormal activity that seemed to just collect around her, and she hated it.

"Maybe I'll talk to Bou or Ayako, maybe they have some sort of ward so I can keep these spirits away, it's getting kind of creepy." she said loudly as she ventured around her apartment, shutting of the lights, locking the front door and then settling in her bed. Mai smiled as her eyes slowly closed.

"Maybe.. maybe it wont be so lonely after all.." then she drifted on to dreamland, unable to see the light on her phone, a message ticking in.

Hello. I know who you are..

Hm.. weird ending wasn't it? Well, I need some motivation, that's why I sent that creep message to her.. no, not really..

Hopefully I'll find some more time to write the next chapter, and then I can hopefully update soon :D

Remember to review okay? Who knows what will happen if you don't.. I'll make Naru giggle if you don't..

Naru: .. dare..

Me: ... ,:D sure!

Naru: Go to hell..