Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt.

AT: Thoughts are italicized and font sized smaller.

Telepathy conversations italicized and font sized smaller.

Price of Life

1) Vision of Death

The sound of the last bell rang throughout the school signaling the end of the school day. Mai was sitting at her desk when she let out a yawn as she forced one of her arms out to stretch while the other hand covered her mouth.

"Mai, sleeping again in class?" a familiar voice wondered as two girls appeared in front of her standing with bright smiles over Mai's desk.

"Oh, well you know how it goes Michiru," Mai smiled as she grabbed her schoolbag and stood up.

"Then why is it that you're the only one in class who manages to fall asleep?" Keiko wondered putting her hand to her chin in thought.

"It wouldn't be Mai if she didn't fall asleep in English class," Michiru remarked as the three laughed before making their way through the crowded school yard.

"Mai since your boss gave you the day off why don't we go see a movie?" Keiko asked as the three stopped outside the school gate.

"Even though Naru gave me the day off he'd still call me stupid for not studying." "I'm Sorry Keiko but I think I'll take an IOU," Mai sighed.

"Maybe some other time then," Michiru commented as the three friends went their own ways.

Mai soon arrived at her apartment and unlocked the door. Her apartment had one bedroom, one bath, a kitchen, and a living room with a big bay window in the center. The living room furniture consisted of a sofa, and two lounge chairs on either side. A coffee table in the center of the arrangement fitted the small room nicely. Across from the sofa sat a 19' TV on top of a small wooden stand. In the kitchen a rectangular sized table was up against the wall with four chairs around three of the sides.

Entering her homely apartment Mai closed the door softly behind her so not to disturb her neighbors. Walking over to the coffee table she placed her schoolbag down. "I would have liked to have gone to the movies." Mai thought as she then let out another sigh again looking down at her schoolbag. Naru's voice sounded in her head "If you don't take the time to study you'll never regain your lost brain cells."

"Ah, I've had enough, I'll show him," Mai cried out as she sat down and pulled her books out of her schoolbag. Half an hour later Mai found herself still staring at the same page of her English book. "I really don't get any of this."She thought as her eyes started to close and her head slowly made its way to the surface of the coffee table.

Mai's Dream:

Mai soon opened her eyes and raised her head from her lap as she looked around at the darkness that surrounded her. "I wonder why I'm here. We're not even on a case right now?"Mai wondered to herself before getting up to her feet. Mai took a few steps forward as a hand grabbed her shoulder.

"Mai," a familiar but happy voice sounded. Mai turned around coming face to face with a pair of grey blue eyes.

"Naru, what's going on we're not on a case," Mai stated looking around in thought, hoping her surroundings would change "and yet here we are."

"I wanted to tell you something," Dream Naru mentioned with a smile.

"If only he would smile like that outside my dreams when asking for something." "What did u want to tell me Naru?" Mai asked as dream Naru lowered his head.

"Gene, Eugene Davis is my name, not Naru," Dream Naru informed softly.

Mai looked up at Dream Naru with a puzzled expression on her face "That would explain a lot." "So it's Gene then," Mai whispered looking down at her shoes.

"Naru was my identical twin brother. Our parents died in a car accident when we were 9 years old," Gene paused for a minute to catch his breath as he continued. "The Davis's adopted us shortly thereafter. Taking Naru and I, both to their home in England. They took us in when no one else would. The idiot scientist graduated at 15 years old with a PHD. I insisted on coming back to Japan in order to help an old friend with a case," Gene stated taking another breath noticing Mai was deep in thought.

"Was, Idiot scientist?" Mai thoughts became jumbled together as she heard Gene sigh.

"Naru was against me coming back, but eventually accepted it. After several weeks of me being in Japan I was able to help my friend finish their case. I took this opportunity to find out anything I could about our biological parents," Gene indicated as Mai then turned back around and into Gene's sad grey blue eyes.

"Was? Idiot scientist?" Mai asked with her soothing brown eyes.

"I gave Naru the nickname idiot scientist," Gene chuckled giving Mai a smile.

"Now why didn't I think of that one?" Mai thought to herself as she put her hand to her chin.

"As for was," Gene hesitated looking into the darkness as Mai once again looked up at Gene "I'm dead," Gene Whispered hoping Mai didn't hear what he just said as he looked back noticing Mai's eyes widen.

"Oh my god." Mai let out a low gasp, putting her hands over her mouth to muffle the sound.

To Gene and Mai's surprise they were now standing in the brush next to a road which had only one street lamp. A person soon walked into the lit area around the street lamp as Mai was able to make out the figure. "That's Gene." Mai gasped again realizing she was watching Gene's death. A car that was speeding around the turn did nothing to stop before hitting Gene, sending his body flying in the air before it landed in the center of the road. The car then shifted into reverse before hitting the gas and driving over Gene's body for a second time.

"No," Mai cried out as she moved through the bushes trying to make her way to Gene's non moving body. Gene placed his hand on her shoulder stopping her from going any further. Gene then turned her around seeing Mai's tears falling freely down her checks he instantly pulled Mai into a hug letting her tears fall on his shirt.

"It's already happened," Gene remarked with a sad tone.

The opening of a car door brought Mai's attention back to the scene in front of her. Seeing two people now standing over Gene's body as they begun to wrap Gene in a blanket. The two then placed Gene's wrapped body in the truck of the car before they themselves got in the front.

"Where are they taking Gene?" Mai cried in her mind as the scene changed to a lake in a secluded area. "I know this place," Mai whispered sadly as she made her way to a tree close to where the car parked.

Gene looked at Mia in surprise at her previous statement, but shook his head at the current situation unfolding in front of them. Mai watched as the two people in the car exited and made their way to the trunk removing Gene's wrapped body. Chanting noises could barely be heard over all the wildlife activity around them. After several moments Gene's wrapped body was sent flying in the air and landing in the pond with a splash.

End Dream

Mai soon lifted her head from the coffee table as the tears continued to fall.

"Oh Gene, if only I could have done something," Mai cried softly placing her head in her hands. "Go to the lake." A faint women's voice echoed in Mai's mind. Mai's eyes widened as she looked around the room before realizing she was alone.