A/N: This is re-edited. The story is still the same though. I only fixed a few mistakes. Enjoy!

Mai's POV

"You're late." My narcissistic boss said from his office as soon as I walked in the door.

"Well sorry! When the power went out last night, I forgot to reset my alarm!" I said as I took off my jacket and hung it on the coat rack by the door along with my bag.

"No excuses." Naru said from his office yet again.

"Whatever." I grumbled as I made my way to my desk. 'Jeez,' I thought as I plopped down in my seat. 'Why does he always have to point out every little thing I do wrong? It wasn't like I was that late..' I sighed. I got my self comfortable.

And as if on cue, "Oh and Mai? Tea."

I groaned, every time I get comfortable too! I swear Naru plans that. "Hai!" I called and got out of my chair. I made my way to the kitchenette and began to prepare his tea.

It was a classic start to another day at the SPR office. I find that I am spending more and more time here, especially since summer vacation started. Which is kind of depressing, considering this will be my last summer vacation-at least for high school that is. That's right, come this fall I will be a senior. Naru even said he will consider the idea about coming to my graduation, but that was after weeks of begging of course. Naru…things sure have changed since then…since I met Naru. Since he came into my life he took me to a whole other world. Going on dangerous, bone chilling and exciting adventures…but then he…left. I grimaced at that memory. It had been sometime since Naru left for England after he found Eugene, his twin brother's body in the lake. At that time the whole team (minus Lin) found out who he really is and also…it was when I confessed to him. I still cannot believe he thinks I am in love with Eugene! I was heartbroken when he said that, still am actually. But when Naru and Lin came back to Japan, everything just seemed to fall back into place, like nothing ever happened. And when any of us ask why he came back he would never give a direct answer like he doesn't know himself.

I sighed and turned off the stove as the teapot began to whistle. I quickly poured two cups of tea and set said cups on a round tray. I picked up the tray and headed to Lin's office to give him a cup. Even though he didn't ask for one, it seems he always appreciates it if I make him a cup first thing every morning. I knocked on his door. Silence. Strange I don't even here typing coming from in there…"Lin?" I opened the door to reveal his empty office. "Hmm maybe he went some where…" I closed the door and headed towards Naru's office.

I knocked and waited for a moment. "Come in." Said a voice. I opened the door to find Naru reading over a file as usual. I set a cup of tea on his desk. Without even looking away from the file, he picked up the cup and took a sip. I stood there waiting. "Is there something you want?" Naru said his usual cold tone.

'Yeah, a 'thank you'! You jerk!' Is what I would usually say but another answer came to mind. "Yeah, where's Lin? When I went to give him his morning tea he wasn't there…"

Naru took a quick glance at me with his icy blue eyes and then back at the file. He set down his cup. "He's out interviewing a possible client."

"Oh." I said looking down at the single cup of tea on the tray in my hands. "I guess I made too much tea then. It's such a waste."

"Well that's your own fault. You should have made sure he was here before you made it, idiot." Naru stated.

Though it was true, I couldn't help but grow made at his comment. "Naru, you jerk!" I stormed out his office slamming the door shut behind me.

'As revenge I will just give this cup of tea next time you want some, Naru' I thought manically.

"And don't even think about giving me that later! You know very well I like my tea fresh and yes, Mai, I can tell the difference!" Naru yelled from his office. 'Damn it!' I cursed. I swear he can read minds sometimes!

"Taniyama-san." There was a voice seemingly coming from out of no where. I shrugged it off and let my mind fall into deeper nothingness. Boy was I tired.

"Taniyama-san." There it was again.

"Taniyama-san!" Alright this voice is getting down right annoying! But when I felt a hand on my shoulder, I jerked up.

"Huh! Wha?" I whipped my head around in confusion. When I settled down, I realized I was sitting at my desk in the office. I must have fallen asleep. When I looked up, I found a familiar figure towering over me.

"Sleeping during work again?" Lin asked. "If Naru finds out he will not be pleased, Taniyama-san."

"I know. Sorry Lin, but could you not tell Naru just this once?" I looked up giving him the puppy dog eyes.

He sighed. "Alright, just this once."

Lin turned and began to walk towards his office. I was surprised, I hadn't heard Lin talk that much for a while, I took advantage of this, maybe if I talked to him I wouldn't be so bored. I stood up and leaned forward on my desk. Lin was about to close the door to his office when I said, "Hey, Lin! You just got back from interviewing a client, right? Do you think Naru will take the case?"

Lin look back, gave a silent nod, and shut the door behind him. I plopped back into my chair and crossed my arms. "Talkative as ever, I see." I grumbled.

Now I will be stuck sitting here all day bored out of my mind. Then came a voice, "Mai, tea!"

I groaned.

The whole SPR team (minus Masako, Lin + Naru) gaped at the mansion in front of them that lay in the middle of a large forest. This place was mansion was a two story and was painted an off-white color. In the front was a small porch with three steps that led to the front door and many windows lined the wall. The only thing unusual about the mansion was that it had an old 'for sale' sign on the lawn. The fact the mansion was Victorian style made it even more remarkable to me. Because I live in Japan, I don't often see buildings like these. I assume Naru and Lin are used to these types of building because they lived in England and I am sure Masako can afford any type of house she wants. So maybe that's why they don't seem to care about how the building looks.

"Would you all stop standing around like idiots and get to work already?" Naru snapped.

"Naru's still the same workaholic as ever, I see." Ayako sighed as Bou-san bent down to pick up some of the equipment to bring inside of the mansion. "Hey," She said looking down at the monk. "Bring those two cases in too." She directed.

"Why do I have to do it? Do it yourself!" Grunted Bou-san.

"Pah-lease!" Ayako scoffed. "Don't you know it is every man's duty to assist a young lady." Ayako informed as she flipped her hair.

"Since when did you become a 'young lady'?" Bou-san smirked.

THWACK!

Bou-san was now crouched on the ground clutching his head and Ayako was standing above him with her purse held high. "Ow! What the hell was that for?" Bou-san yelled.

But before Ayako could reply, Yasu popped in. "Aw, did the wicked Queen Ayako hurt my sweet prince?" Yasu knelt down next to Bou-san and put his hand under his chin.

"GAH!" Bou-san yelped and jumped back. Yasu laughed at his reaction and stood up.

"Wicked?" Ayako repeated with a vain pulsing from her forehead obviously irritated.

"Jeez, Yasu! Are you insane? You could have giving me a heart attack!" Bou-san said as he stood up.

"Being insane is one of my best qualities, you know?" Yasu pushed up his glasses with his index finger and did that glinty-thing.

"Why you-!" Bou-san growled looking about ready to strangle Yasu.

I sweat-dropped as I watched this. "Guys…."

Naru's POV

It wasn't long after I had ordered everyone to start bringing the equipment in, I noticed an extra person to our team, who was making quite a commotion with the monk. "Yasuhara-san!"

"Hai, boss!" Yasuhara-san gave me a salute.

I scowled. "I don't recall asking for a college student's help on this case. Why are you here?"

"Oh, I called him." Mai announced. "I thought we could use an extra set of hands to help set up and monitor the cameras."

"I will not pay an unnecessary person." I said firmly.

"But, Naru!" Mai whined.

"That's okay!" Yasuhara-san said in his usual cheery voice. "I'll help with or without pay as long I get to spend time with Mai-chan!" Yasuhara-san then engulfed Mainin a bear hug. This made my blood boil and scowl deepen. I could see Lin smirk at me from the corner of my eye. "What?" I snapped.

"Nothing." He continued to smirk but looked away.

Yasu's POV

As I hugged Mai-chan, I saw Naru's(who I sometimes call the Big Boss) reaction. It was hardly noticeable, so only those who were looking for a reaction could see it. I smirked. That's right Naru get jealous. Get jealous and confess to Mai-chan. Maybe then they can finally be together. Ever since Naru got back from Japan I've been trying to get those two together. Usually, I wouldn't try to interfere with someone's relationship so much, but I have never see Mai-chan cry so much after Naru rejected her. I was now determined to help Mai-chan win over Naru's heart before that bitchy Masako does.

"Absolutely not." Naru said snapping me back into reality. "Mai, you are just trying to push your work onto Yasuhara-san. You are my assistant, Mai. Not him." I had a feeling he also meant something else when he said that.

Mai-chan wriggled out of my grip, which I forgot I even had on her, and yelled, "I'm not trying to 'push my work onto Yasu', Naru!"

"It's alright. I guess I'll just go home then…" I said in an exaggerated defeat.

"Come now, Shibuya-san. I am sure Mai-san had different intentions than that. Besides I am sure Yasu-san will be of help to us again as he was on other cases." The blonde Australian priest, John, said.

"He's right." Masako said, who was already clinging to Naru said, behind her sleeve. "He might just keep that troublesome assistant of yours out of trouble." I had a feeling ulterior motives were hidden in that last part. Mai-chan looked like she was going to tear Masako's head off. I held her back.

"Fine." Naru said sharply. "Just get back to work. Mai, tea!"

Mai's-POV

I sighed as I tried to find the kitchen in this place to make Naru his stupid tea. Where was it? The client had not given us the tour yet so I had no idea where I was going. So I did the only thing I could, look into rooms randomly until I found it. "Jeez, just how big is this place?" I asked as I began to close the door to the eighth room I looked into to.

I was about to shut the door completely when I saw a shadow flash by the window in that room outside. Though I knew this place was haunted curiosity got the better of me and I walked in the room shutting the door behind me. Bad idea.

That's when the power went out. I quickly grabbed the door handle to open the door and get the hell out. It wouldn't budge. "Oh no…" I said in realization.

I whipped around with my back pressed against the door to find a white silhouette staring at me. The room was decently lit thanks to the window and because of the light I couldn't see the silhouette very well. However that didn't make it any less scary. The temperature dropped fast.

Damn it, curiosity really does kill the cat! I looked around the room to find that this room was probably a study, but that didn't matter. What did matter, however, was the fact I was stuck in here with a ghost I knew nothing about.

Before I knew it cold finger tips grasped my neck and lifted me up, strangling me. I tried to grasp at the ghost's hand but my hands just passed through it. I was running out of air so I did the only thing I could think of, I preformed the Nine Cuts. "Rin, Pyo, To, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen!" I said with my last ounce of breath. The ghost then faltered, wailed in pain, and released me. I landed on the ground with a thud grasping for air.

I looked up to see the ghost still there and it seemed mad. It swiped at me and I somersaulted forward to dodge it. I looked around looking for an escape, when I saw the window. Maybe I can get out through there. I quickly ran towards it and opened it as far as I could. I wasn't even able to put a limb out before I was grabbed by the caller and yanked back. I fell on my back and once again the ghost approached. I slowly began to back up on the floor and soon my shoulders hit the wall. I was trapped.

"Naru?" I called helplessly. I was now shaking out of fear. "Bou-san? Ayako? John? ANYBODY?"

Now the ghost was only three steps away from reaching me. Then a shadow flashed before me, the same shadow as before. She looked back at me, "Hey." She greeted.

(A/N: If I addressed any of the characters wrong please tell me!)

Gene: Awww, that's not fair! I wasn't even in this chapter!

Naru: Aren't you supposed to be dead?

Gene: Pfft! Rule 1 in anime, any character can come back to life when they want.

Naru: *scoffs* Sure they can!

Gene: Shut up! *grumbles* Idiot scientist.

Me: Uh…guys? Aren't you forgetting something?

Gene: Oh yeah! Ready, Noll?

Naru: Whatever.

Gene: I'll take that as a yes.

Naru and Gene: Please review!