Spirit: Ok so this story is set sometime after 'The Bloodstained Labyrinth' but before the end of the first light novel/manga.

Mist: It doesn't really follow all the details of the main story. This story has been co-written by us both.

Spirit & Mist: We hope you enjoy this story and don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: We do not own Ghost Hunt! We only own the OC's and our plotline.

As you would expect, it was another ordinary day at SPR and Mai was out running a couple of errands for Naru. While she was doing so, Masako and Naru sat in the outer office when Kaede walked through the door.

"That didn't take long Mai." Masako said, tilting her head to the side slightly and covering her mouth with her kimono sleeve.

"Yes, considering I sent you out ten minutes ago I expected you to take longer." Naru commented, arching an eyebrow. Kaede smirked and moving to sit next to Masako she spoke up,

"I'm not Mai." Upon hearing this Monk, Ayako and John walked out of the kitchen, drinks in hand and sat down.

"Well if you're not Mai, then who are you?" Ayako asked.

"I'm her twin." She stated, her smirk growing wider. Everyone, excepting Naru, looked at each other with bewilderment, confusion and shock adorning their faces. The only reaction from Naru was a slight widening of his eyes and a calculating look on his face.

"What's your name?" Naru asked, calm as ever.

"Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Kaede Taniyama. It's a pleasure to meet you all." She said standing up and bowing slightly to each of them, a grin now adorning her face.

Forty five minutes later Mai returned to the office to find her twin sitting on the couch drinking tea and conversing with her colleagues. Mai grinned and ran into the office, tackling her sister.

"Kaede!" she exclaimed. The other girl in question laughed and hugged Mai back before they both settled down and waited for the bombardment of questions they knew were about to come.

"So Mai, how come you never told us that you had a twin? I mean you told us about your parents on the Urado case but why didn't you mention Kaede?" Monk asked.

"I didn't find it necessary to mention it. Besides, I don't know everything about any of you so why should I divulge all my secrets?" Mai replied, a cheeky glint in her eyes that was slightly reminiscent of Yasu.

"The first part of your response sounds like something Naru would say!" Ayako commented, causing everyone to chuckle. The boss in question had gotten sick of the chatter and had retreated back to his office to await Mai's return. Upon hearing her speak he issued his usual command,

"Mai, tea!"

"Yessir!" Mai called back, saluting Naru's office door and heading to the kitchen as Kaede shouted, "Would you like a cookie too?" This made everyone laugh harder when Naru didn't reply.

After making the requested tea, Mai knocked on Naru's office door and, without waiting for a reply, walked in to deposit it on his desk only to find him with his nose in another book. She rolled her eyes and giggled slightly, leaving him to it before going to re-join her colleagues and twin again.

Before long a woman burst through the door, surprising everyone in the room. Monk, Ayako, John and Masako took this as their cue to leave. Kaede decided to remain and hurried over to the woman as the others left. Mai walked to the kitchen to make another pot of tea, placing it in front of the woman.

"Itadakimasu. This is Shibuya Psychic Research, yes?" the woman asked with a shaky voice as she accepted a cup of tea.

"Yes, it is. If you give me a moment then I'll get Mr Shibuya." Mai replied before going to knock on Naru's office door and informing him of the situation,

"Naru, we have a client." Naru appeared from his office and went to sit on the armchair across from the woman. Lin walked out his office with his beloved laptop and sat next to Mai while Kaede remained seated next to the client, comforting her.

"Tell us your problem." Naru said, getting straight down to business pulling out his black notebook. Mai resisted rolling her eyes and sighing as the woman began her tale.

"Well, this has been going on for about six or so months now and at first I didn't think much of it until children from the neighbourhood started disappearing only to reappear in my living room dead and drained of their blood. My own daughter was one of the first children this happened to." She started, shakily.

"I see, go on." Naru said, interest sparking in his eyes.

"Right. So three months after all this started, I began waking up in the middle of the night hearing moaning and knocking noises. I'd randomly find messages written in blood on my living room walls and after that I started hearing whispering voices and evil laughter whenever I walked down the hallway in the dark. However, just recently I seem to find my bathroom flooded with bloody water and eyeballs before it suddenly disappears as if it was never there at all. Sometimes though, there will be a lone eyeball remaining in the bathtub as if it's some kind of message that I'm being watched." She explained, her hands shaking lightly and fear evident in her eyes.

"Is there anything else?" Naru asked.

"Well, only one more thing. My aunt has been staying with me this last month and sometimes she acts really strange but when I go to ask her about it she has absolutely no memory of it at all." She finished.

"It sounds like she might be being possessed." Naru commented.

"Yes, that's what I thought however I wasn't sure as I've never come across a possessed person before. I've been researching the paranormal in hopes of explaining what might be going on although I've not gotten very far." The woman agreed.

"Well then, Ms…?"

"Oh, forgive me for not introducing myself earlier! My name is Megumi Etsuko." The woman, Megumi, answered apologetically.

"We will take your case, Ms Etsuko. We'll need three rooms. One for our base and two for sleeping, our team will share the rooms for safety reasons. You may expect us in two days. Please leave your details with my assistant, Lin." Naru replied, gesturing to the man in question. Megumi nodded and handed her details to Lin. Both men disappeared into their respective offices.

"I think I know you two from somewhere." Megumi said turning to the two girls. Mai and Kaede looked at each other, frowning.

"I don't see how. We'd remember if we had met you." Mai replied, looking back at the woman.

"Is your surname Taniyama, by any chance?" Megumi asked.

"Yes. We're Kaede and Mai Taniyama." Kaede answered, unsurely.

"So you are the Taniyama Twins. My grandmother knew your parents. I was about five when I met you a few months after you were born." Megumi said with a grin.

"Is your grandmother, Granny Xiao by any chance?" Kaede asked, curiously.

"How do you remember meeting us when you were five?" Mai asked at the same time.

"Yes, that's her. I remember that meeting because I have a photographic memory." Megumi replied with a small chuckle.

"Oh, okay." They replied simultaneously.

"Granny Xiao always told me that you two would be great one day. Now I'd better be off." Megumi said with a grin, leaving the girls to wonder about her final words.

- Time Skip -

The van carrying Lin, Naru, Mai, Kaede and the equipment arrived at the Etsuko house. Megumi was waiting outside with Kasumi as they stepped out of the vehicle.

"Hello Ms Etsuko. I take it this is your aunt?" Naru said, gesturing to the woman next to her.

"Hello Mr Shibuya. Yes, this is my aunt. Kasumi Xiao." Megumi replied, stepping forward.

"Xiao? That is a Chinese surname." Lin said, leaving his unsaid question hanging in the air.

"Yes. My grandfather was Chinese and my grandmother Japanese. I'm mostly Japanese myself." Megumi replied, answering the unsaid question and confirming Lin's thoughts.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Kasumi said softly, finally speaking up.

"These are my assistants Lin Koujo, Mai Taniyama and Kaede Taniyama. The rest of our team will be joining us in a few hours. We should set up base now, before they arrive." Naru said, introducing the others before getting straight to business.

"Of course, follow me and I'll show you where you can set up. I've kept the rooms either side of your base clear for sleeping in and the kitchen is about a meter down the hall." Megumi replied, as the group walked inside.

By the time Monk, Ayako, John, Yasu and Masako had arrived the base was set up while Mai was having her first dream and Kaede was making tea for everyone before talking to Megumi.

- Mai's Dream -

'I'm dreaming again. I wonder if Gene's here.' She thought.

"Mai." Gene's voice came from behind her.

"Oh, Gene I didn't know if you'd be here." Mai said, turning to face him.

"Did you expect me to be somewhere else, Mai?" Gene teased, with a small smile.

"N-no, of c-course not." Mai stuttered, blushing slightly.

"Come on, Mai." Gene said, beckoning her forward.

"So what are you going to show me today?" she asked, smiling.

"I've told you Mai, I don't show you things. I only guide you through them." Gene replied, taking Mai's hand. They walked forward, the astral plane fading around them as the scene changed.

In front of them was the house SPR was investigating although it seemed newer. Children played happily in the area while a man stood at the door watching them with a morbid fascination, an odd smile adorning his face. Mai got a bad feeling as she watched his smile grow. The man called out to one of the children nearest him who had walked up to his front yard to collect the ball they'd been playing with.

"Naomi, I have some snacks inside. Would you like to come and get them to share with your friends?" He asked, beckoning to the young girl.

"Ok, Mr Suzuki!" Naomi replied happily, unaware of the fate that awaited her.

"NO! DON'T GO IN THERE!" Mai yelled, unsuccessfully trying to warn the girl.

Naomi walked over to the door as the man stood by before placing his hand on her shoulder and ushering her inside. He closed the door behind him; the young girl wasn't to be seen again. The scene shifted showing children and adults alike searching for the girl. Mr Suzuki joined them as Naomi's parents stood off to the side, tears in their eyes.

"Naomi! Where are you?" People called, worry in their voices.

"Naomi!"

"NAOMI!"

Mai watched as the scene played out, the search ceasing at midday much to the despair of her parents and friends. Before long everyone returned to their houses. Mr Suzuki stood outside his own door, watching on as they all disappeared into their homes. Rain started pouring down as a serene look adorned his face, although an evil glint could be seen in his eyes. Mai shuddered as he disappeared into the house and the memory faded.

Mai closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again, finding herself back on the astral plane with Gene who gave her a sad look and pulled her in for a hug before releasing her. She looked down at her feet.

"Oh, those poor children! How terrible." She murmured sadly.

"Yes, it is terrible. Mai, you must be careful. That man doesn't just attack children. Since his death he got worse. He attacks anyone under the age of twenty, young women especially." Gene replied.

"I'll let Naru know." She said, looking up at him.

"That would be wise. It's time to wake up now Mai. Goodbye." He replied, smiling gently at her.

"Goodbye Gene." Mai whispered as she drifted back into consciousness.