DISCLAIMER: I own nothing to do with the Ghost Hunt franchise.

So this is a two-parter. Mai and Naru are about 21/22 in this. I hope you like it. I know it's been a while since I posted, I've just been flat out with work. Oh and I'd also like to thank my reviewers for their comments. It really makes me smile when I see people take the time to review my writing. Different perspectives make for better stories… :)

Chapter 7: The Consequences Of A Dream

Someone was shaking her. Softly at first, then increasing in their ministrations. Her mind, which had been slumbering blissfully, kick-started into action. Her blurry eyes snapped open and she lifted her head. She blinked, confused for a moment but quickly realising her predicament.

"What the-," she breathed.

Suddenly, the slight juddering which had roused her, intensified into a heavy lurching. Several of the items on her desk – pens, files and her favourite cup – shimmied across the wooden surface and tumbled to the floor. Her eyes widened as she clutched the arms of her chair in a white-knuckled grip.

"Naru?" she cried out in fright. There was no answer. Only a low rumbling and the tinkle of smashing china from the kitchen filled her ears. The vibrations shot through her chair and into her body, rattling her brain and shooting her adrenalin into overdrive. She had to leave, to escape. Her instincts were screaming at her to run.

She scrambled from her chair, aiming for the door but failed to make it past her desk. The violent trembling had buckled her knees, sending the small woman plummeting to the carpet in a tangled heap.

With an ear-splitting crash the windows suddenly shattered, spraying the small office with tiny shards of glass. Mai screamed, tearing her throat with the volume as she hunched into a tight ball. She scrambled to cover her head with thin arms before the sharp splinters sliced through her flesh. A jarring cough ripped through her chest when she inhaled a strange smell. Was that smoke?

Taking a split second to catch her bearings, Mai picked herself up again. It was difficult with the roiling tremors. She cursed when she was, once again, unsuccessful in keeping her balance. As she crumpled to the ground, landing awkwardly on her back and winding herself, she cocked a terror-filled eye over to the kitchen. Bright orange flames licked at the doors of the cabinets as a stream of blue-white fire spewed from a cracked gas line leading to the oven. One thought occupied her frenzied mind as her ribcage spasmed, she had to find Naru.

Locking onto her thoughts, Mai steeled herself for another attempt at moving against the rocking floor. Ignoring the rug burns stinging the delicate skin of her hands and knees, the small assistant rolled onto her stomach and awkwardly leap-frogged towards Naru's office. It was an odd sight but it was working. She had to find him. Why wasn't he out here with her? Her mouth quickly turned dry – maybe he was hurt.

Dust was streaming from the cracked and crumbling ceiling, sprinkling the floor and the petite brunette like snow. The floating bits of plaster and soot coated the inside of her mouth, sucking up any remaining moisture. She coughed, hacking on the stilted air as her insides bounced in time to the rocking tremors assaulting her body. Determination and fear scrunched her soft features, curling her mouth into a pained grimace. Slow and clambering, Mai continued to half-leap, half-crawl towards the shut door.

Her squinted eyes were watering now, from worry or the fine dust, she didn't care. Her light frame was no match for the growing quakes as they finally reached their crescendo. Mai grunted in pain when her body skipped across the hard ground with each heaving shudder.

She heard a loud groaning and her eyes darted to the smoke-covered ceiling.

"Oh God," she whimpered and resumed her desperate crawling, clawing through the fallen debris of office supplies and glass. The ceiling was going to fall right on top of her if she didn't move. The small assistant scrambled to find a safe place to hide but it was futile. With a foreboding creak, the ceiling began to buckle before finally folding in on itself and collapsing right on top of Mai's hunched body. She barely had time to scream before she was entombed in darkness.

Naru waltzed out from his office after three failed attempts to summon his assistant. He wanted tea and she was failing miserably in her job to provide it. Words were going to be had.

As he entered the lounge area of the main office he spotted the object of his ire, snoozing peacefully on her desk. He felt his lip lift to form a scowl.

"Mai!" he snapped, barely above a whisper. Naru didn't shout. It was unbecoming.

He waited for the small woman to rouse and when she didn't, he settled for a quick nudge to her folded arm. As the exposed skin grazed his fingers, he couldn't help but frown. She felt warm. Maybe a little too warm.

"Wake up."

Again, she failed to stir. Naru circled to the front of her desk and leaned over. Her cheeks looked flushed. He felt like rolling his eyes. Only Mai would come to the office whilst sick instead of phoning in. He reached a hand over and swiped the hair covering her face, pushing it back behind an exposed ear. He nudged her again, this time with a little more force. She whimpered, scrunching her forehead with distress. Naru immediately snatched his hand back. No point in poking a sleeping dragon.

"Mai, if you don't wake up this instant, I'll be forced to dock your wages," he threatened.

His last ditch attempt had little effect. He watched as her hands twitched and her whimpering grew. It was only now that he noticed several tears slip from her closed eyes. The exasperated expression on his face soon morphed into one of concern. She was obviously dreaming about something. It was probably best to leave her be. To wake her in the middle of a dream meant a slew of emotions directed his way. His nose wrinkled minutely. The idea was not an appealing one.

He glanced at the clock over the door. Lunchtime. Perhaps he should get a bite to eat and on his return, scold her for her incompetence. The low gurgle of his stomach cemented this idea with its agreement as he reached for the coat hanging on the rack by the door. He sighed and looked at Mai one last time before leaving. He'd let her sleep this one time.

Appetite now appeased and caffeine levels topped up, Naru returned with a slightly less admonishing attitude. He swung the door open and stepped in, indigo eyes sweeping across the office. The only noise he could discern was that of the tick-chink of a working clock. There was no sign of his assistant at her desk.

"Mai?" he called to the empty office.

When only silence greeted his ears, he narrowed his eyes with impatience. Deftly removing his coat and hanging it back in its place, the young man strode deeper into the office. He was about to call out again when he finally spotted something at the foot of his assistant's desk. His eyes widened when he noticed it was a hand. He swept forward, skirting the desk and bent down to the unconscious girl slumped on the floor.

"Mai," he breathed, placing a careful palm to her cheek. Her face was fixed into a grimace and an unnatural flush had graced her apple-shaped cheeks. Just as he was about to call Lin, she began to stir. He would've scoffed at her timing if this was any other occasion.

"Naru," croaked a slurred voice as he supported her head. He would never admit it to anyone but he felt a distinct feeling of relief when she finally cracked an amber eye open.

"Are you alright?" he asked levelly. He watched as her owl like eyes widened. She squeaked and then began to squirm. He became puzzled at her actions. She was obviously panicking over something but why?

"N-NARU!" she yelped, shooting forward and almost head-butting him.

"Naru we have to go, we…we ju'…ugh…no time to explain," she rattled off, holding her head to her forehead for a moment. She was trying to stand using the desk as leverage. Naru, whose own eyes widened at his assistant's frantic mutterings, placed a hand on her thin shoulder as he stood to assist.

"Mai, calm down, you're ill. You're obviously delirious," he informed the agitated girl.

He fully expected her to heed his words, so he was surprised when angry amber eyes were suddenly glaring his way.

"No Naru," she said shaking her head. She was just about managing to stand on wobbly legs before taking a deep breath.

"I had a dream, one of those dreams," she said with a shaky breath. Naru tilted an eyebrow. They weren't on a case. There was no reason for her to have a psychic dream – and in the middle of the day no less. He'd never doubted her before but for some reason he felt skeptical as he studied her worried features.

"And your reasoning for this is?" he challenged.

"Look, we don't have time for this!" she spat, raising her hands in the air, "my dream was real, there's going to be an earth quake. I just know it."

Naru, who had schooled his face into a look of indifference, failed to hide the flash of shock in his eyes.

"You have to believe me," she implored.

"I don't have to do anything," he said coolly.

"Naru, please," she begged with watery eyes.

Five years of having those puppy dog eyes beaming in his direction still had little effect on his mind. If he could, he'd pat himself on the back for his imperviousness.

"What were the contents of your dream?" he suddenly asked then cursed internally when he realised he'd given in.

"There was an earthquake, the ceiling collapsed and I was trapped in this office…alone," she whispered the last word with a shudder which Naru ignored.

"Was there any indication as to the day on which this supposed earthquake might occur?"

He wasn't stupid. He knew to take what Mai said seriously but he found himself wondering if this prophetic dream was indeed real or just a fever-tinged nightmare. As he looked at Mai's pale features and cherry red cheeks he was leaning towards the latter.

"No, it was just an ordinary day and suddenly all hell broke loose," she shrugged and slumped into the chair with a sigh.

"I know you don't believe me," she mumbled, hurt spiking her words, "but I swear Naru, my gut is telling me it's going to happen. Something is telling me to leave this place."

Naru eyed her closely. When it came to gut feelings, Mai's were always right on the money. He pinched the bridge of his nose, he would be foolish to ignore her warnings, but what would she have him do? It wasn't as if he could stop Mother Nature.

"Fine, I'll take what you said into consideration," he said before Mai had a chance to argue, "but there's little in the way of preparation for such a thing. I cannot stop it from happening, no matter how god-like I appear to be.

"Oh please," she scoffed, "keep it up with that talk and your head won't fit through the door."

Naru hid a small smirk. She was obviously feeling better if his apparent narcissism was grating on her nerves.

"I have work to do," he said straightening up, "Make me tea, then you can leave for the day."

She balked, looking at him like he'd suddenly sprouted a second head.

"You're letting me leave early?" she questioned disbelievingly.

"Yes, you're unwell therefore not fit to be in work," he said as he strolled away from her.

He heard her snort. "Didn't think you cared so much," she teased.

"I don't."

"But-,"

"I just don't want to catch your germs," he said over his shoulder before closing his door on the spluttering girl.

A/N: So part one done and dusted on to part two...R and R please :)