Chapter 1: Taking the First Step

A/N: My, my, finally - I got this chapter out. I had been itching to write a fic on Ghost Hunt - a multi-chaptered fic, more accurately. I'm rather anxious as it is my first time doing this.

*NOTICE* : I'm sorry, guys! Apparently I got my information all wrong and sources misled me. Yale university isn't located in UK, but in USA. A reader had kindly pointed it out to me - thanks peaches-xenon! I'd hence switched it to Oxford, and I apologize again. Sorry again!

Warning: Naru will have a darker personality compared to the one in the manga/anime, so he'd definitely be a little OOC.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt.

Onwards!

"When is the call going to come?" Mai groaned, resting her chin on her palm as her free hand tapped the pen repeatedly against the blank paper. She was supposed to be at least halfway through writing her essay, but the thought was bugging her so much that she couldn't concentrate. She was much too anxious to know if their application had gone in.

Yasuhara rolled a pencil in between the pages of the parapsychology book he was reading, "Mai, you've been asking that same question for the past thirty minutes."

The girl scowled at his usual nonchalant attitude. "Today is supposed to be the day they announce if our application is successful. I can't help it if I'm nervous - " she eyed him with a glint in her eyes, "unlike someone who has been beaming all day as usual."

"You're nervous because you've been oversleeping the past three days, and the disciplinary committee had definitely taken notice of that," Yasuhara stated blatantly, then chuckled when he ducked an oncoming pen swiftly. He caught it in his hand as if it were nothing. "it's the truth!"

She huffed indignantly. "You're horrible, Yasu, you could've woken me before you headed for school."

"I did even though I had council duties - then you complained I was disrupting your sleeping habits since it was so early," Yasuhara said, shaking his head as if he was an exasperated parent, "you have to learn to be responsible."

"Okay, fine, fine!" She whirled her chair back to her own study table, not wanting to start another one-sided argument with him - he was always retaliating her too smoothly and with that annoying radiant smile on his face; it always ended with her being all worked up and agitated while he had that amused look in his eyes."Yasu, pass me back my pen. I want to finish this stupid essay as quickly as possible."

"Yes, yes," Yasuhara said, chuckling as he threw the pen back, clattering on her table noisily. She sighed loudly on purpose - he could have handed it back to her instead of throwing it; the pen might just become spoiled like that.

"If you're worried for the longevity of the pen, you wouldn't have thrown it in the first place," he said as if he had read her thoughts, flipping to the next page as he jotted down another point on his paper. She blew the strand of hair blocking her vision, deciding not to reply; it would only goad him on more anyway. Clucking her tongue, she pulled her research file out and started working on her thesis paper.

\\\\\+\\\\\

"Mind of a human is often associated with the brain; hence the latter is usually considered as a mere substance. However, our minds - brains - are something more than that; it is a power, a capacity that stores all of our emotions and thoughts. Human minds are something that shape us uniquely; separating us from the other species. It is true that animals have minds of their own - encasing within them capacities to feel emotions like we do.

But to act on rational thoughts and to ruminate over matters; deliberately taking action on something we want to do - it is something of an entirely different league. Our minds are ever-evolving and because of that very reason, we are able to stand where we are today."

Mai finished her introductory passage of the topic 'The Power Of the Human Mind' triumphantly, bouncing on the heels of her feet. "Look, Yasu, isn't it amazing?" She asked her roommate shamelessly, thrusting the paper to his face and making him grin.

"Yes, my dear, you've grown up - that was really good," Yasuhara complimented, nodding his head, "another A grade for you."

She cheered, basking in the delight of finishing her essay in two hours so much she ignored his teasing endearment slipped in in his praise, punching her fist in the air. She ran back to her table, sliding her four-paged long essay into a lavender folder carefully then keeping it in her bag. "I shall be early to school tomorrow!"

He rolled his eyes as he shut his book, "That was what you said the day before. If today hadn't been a holiday, I'd bet you'd still be late."

She glared at him playfully and he did the 'you-know-I'm-right' gesture. She giggled. That posture looked weird on him - he had the sensible aura radiating off him if you only looked at his appearance.

Brrr! Brrr!

"Eek!" Mai squeaked, giving a jolt at the sudden noise from her vibrating phone. Throwing another warning look at the chuckling Yasuhara, she slid the bottom panel of the phone and answered the call.

"Hello?"

There was a shuffling of papers. "Taniyama Mai?" It was a feminine voice, and it sounded much like the office lady that usually reprimanded her for tardiness when she arrived late to school.

Mai suddenly felt herself grow cold as she swallowed, understanding what the call was for immediately. "Yes, this is she speaking."

"Congratulations! You've been selected as one of the lucky students to go for the internship in England," the lady said, sounding monotone and not at all delighted though she didn't sound nasty, "your teacher will brief you with the other student tomorrow after school."

She blew out the breath she had been holding, and unable to hold in the bubbling excitement, she squealed. "Yes, okay, yes, sure!"

"Congratulations again, Taniyama-san, I've to contact the other student now - "

"It's Osamu Yasuhara isn't it?" She chanced a look at the grinning teen now beside her.

The lady gave a sound of agreement. "Yes, so - "

"Okay, okay! Thanks!" She almost squealed into the phone as the seemingly disturbed lady hung up the call. She leaped into Yasuhara's arms in her excitement, and he stumbled back at her sudden attack, both of them laughing as he hugged her back.

"You could've told her I'm just beside you, idiot," he said to the bouncing girl in his arms. She looked up at him, eyes sparkling with joy.

"It's different!" The adrenaline pumping through her veins was making her unable to stand still and she kept cheering, pulling out from his arms and doing a happy dance around his table, waiting for the call to his phone.

As if on cue, she felt a tremor on the table she had been leaning against, snatched the device off it and practically shoved it to the amused Yasuhara's face. He picked up the call with an air of a professional, as if it was an everyday thing that he had gotten elected into a prestigious internship program. He 'mmph-ed' and agreed after pauses, then thanked her politely before ending the call.

He turned, beaming, and they smacked their palms together hard, "Yes!"

All of their hard work wasn't for nothing. They had searched for parapsychology books relentlessly - the reliable ones were really hard to find, and to write up an impressive thesis paper was difficult as they had to stand out from the other outstanding students who had applied as well. This had resulted them in pulling an all-nighter for weeks. They had been grappling on their consciousness by drinking coffee every day - not that Yasuhara had that much of trouble, but Mai certainly had.

She wasn't a natural researcher like him but she had to contribute her part as well. To add on to that, he had recorded her psychic abilities; the latter was being explored when they had time and sometimes Bou-san and Ayako-san helped as well.

Her eyes widened at that thought; she had to inform them! Patting Yasuhara's arm repeatedly, she exclaimed, "Yasu, Yasu! Let's call Bou-san and Ayako-san now - I bet they'd be elated when they hear this!"

A sly grin flitted on his face. "Leave Bou-san to me, Mai."

Mai waved him away dismissively, though a smile tugged the corner of her lips, contradicting herself, "Suit yourself - I know nothing."

\\\\\+\\\\\

"Here are the information booklets on the university you're going to," the teacher said, handing them both glossy-covered booklets with 'Oxford University' in gold, elegant print smacked in the middle. "You'll have to settle the administrative matters in two weeks and be prepared to take the SAT Reasoning Test and any combination of two SAT Subject Tests or ACT plus writing before you're officially in the internship program. Further details of the exams are written in the booklet. I believe you'll pass beautifully with the standard of both your calibers."

"You'll arrive in late December, and get yourself accustomed to the environment. All the dates will be confirmed when you touch down in England, and a professor - most likely the one giving lectures on Parapsychology - will come down to bring you two there himself. He had expressed great interest in your supplementary materials, though it was emphasized that it wasn't very encouraged as it could work against you." She eyed them reproachfully and the two had the decency to feel abashed.

It wasn't their fault that they wanted to ensure that they got in; at least, she had hoped that her psychic abilities along with his researching capabilities would rope them a definite spot in the program.

The teacher beamed then. "However, it wasn't a wrong choice since it was evident that your talents are developed. Good job, both of you! And Taniyama-kun, do take note not to be tardy like you are here. I know there are recent instances of you being late to school - it would look bad on your record. You're still a Year One student, and getting such an opportunity is very lucky and precious. Yasuhara-kun, do look out for her."

Her cheeks reddened and she nodded, angling her head to see Yasuhara's innocent and radiant smile on full blast. "Yes, of course, sensei."

She coughed to cover her laughter.

\\\\\+\\\\\

"The first cheer to celebrate your acceptance!" Bou-san yelled boisterously, clinking his glass of beer with the three teens and the priestess. Technically speaking, though, John wasn't a teenager anymore; however, he was a priest anyway, so it didn't make much of a difference for him. The teens were barred from drinking as Bou-san was going all protective, though it was very common that most people their age had started going clubs and drink lots. He was, however, thick-skinned enough to have only he and Ayako drink.

Mai laughed at that thought as she set down her glass of orange juice.

"Really, you two are impressive," Ayako said, beaming as if she was their parent, ruffling both their hair affectionately, "I'm very proud of you."

Something bubbled in Mai's chest at this motherly gesture, and she swallowed the tears. She couldn't be crying on the celebration day - it wasn't auspicious. She was just too happy. She felt her cheek muscles ache as she started grinning madly again - she felt so lucky to have them.

"Good job," John's gentle voice brought her back from her thoughts. His blue eyes darted from Yasuhara to Mai, a smile on his face. "Getting into such a program isn't easy."

"Thank you, John," Mai and Yasuhara both said. Mai felt really happy - she felt like she had truly accomplished something for once.

"She's like my daughter," Ayako boasted, slinging her arm around Mai and tugging her closer, making the poor girl stumble into her lap. Everyone laughed. "So she must have inherited my genes!"

Everyone blinked. A laughter raised in the group again. "Please," Bou-san said, waving his hand dismissively, "if you are going to take credit for that, I should be the one. I'm obviously intelligent - who had revealed Naru's secret identity, huh?"

"So?" Ayako huffed, folding her arms indignantly.

"So," he placed much emphasis on the word, "I'm the intelligent one."

"Right. After only a few instances - "

The monk arched a brow. "Oh? And how many instances do you have?"

She glared.

"Okay, okay, stop it, you two," Mai said, shaking her head. "You are like kids."

John chuckled, taking another sip of his orange juice, quietly observing the charade. "It's a pity Masako-san couldn't make it," he said abruptly.

"It can't be helped," Ayako said, sounding rather delighted though she should be feeling disappointed, "she is too busy filming."

Bou-san suddenly gave a jolt and turned to Mai. "Hey, Mai, Naru's father is a professor, right? There is a possibility he's the professor, you know. This university is in England, after all."

Mai's fingers clutched her glass harder as her heart gave a lurch. "That's impossible. We don't know which university he is in - "

"But you may be working closely with the England branch of SPR, so you may meet Naru," Bou-san said thoughtfully, downing his glass of beer. Mai's heart leaped at the prospect of seeing him again, but she suppressed it as much as she could.

Shrugging, she replied, "It doesn't matter anyway." She poured some more orange juice into her glass, before reaching for another slice of pizza. "Even considering such notion is absurd."

As she said that, her gut coiled and her hands shook slightly as she stuffed herself with the slice of pizza. She was obviously lying, but the others didn't make any comment on it; and the topic took another turn.

Yasuhara's eyes narrowed but he said nothing.

A/N: This chapter is more of introduction - the chapters with horror (or ghosts/spirits, whichever you prefer) will be packed behind. Oh gosh, I'm so excited to get to that. And of course, for the appearance of our male protagonist!

Please do drop a review to tell me your thoughts, and as I like to say -

Dream!Naru (or Gene) may just visit your dream tonight!

-mysticflakes