Hi Everyone!

So, it's been awhile since I added anything to my account. This is my first fanfic for Ghost Hunt, and it will be a long one. I know the show is older now, but I recently saw it and the ending left me wanting more, so I wrote it. Heads up now that there maybe times where the protagonists seem out of character, but I tried to stay as close to their personalities as possible. Also, each chapter will have a Naru/Mai part where it switches between their points of view. I am also setting deadlines for myself each week until this story is done, so I would say that there will be a new chapter or two each week.

Hope you enjoy! Feel free to leave reviews and questions. - Singed

Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt.

Naru

I pinched the bridge of my nose and almost snorted. I was tired and I was angry, but I made sure my face held none of these emotions when I turned back to the board of directors. I was twenty-five now. I had been a doctor for almost ten years in this very exclusive field of parapsycology. I had written three, soon to be four best sellers on paranormal activity and had led some of the most successful missions to date on hauntings and your basic supernatural calamities. Also, I had more power in my pinky than any of them combined.

"So what you are telling me gentlemen, is that my request to be assigned to a field office has been denied."

"Not denied Dr. Davis, just placed on hold. Your fourth book is about to come out and we have dozens of book stores around the world begging for another book tour."

I thought for a moment and calmed myself. I should have seen this coming. They wanted the money I had to rightfully give them through the book sales and the more popular I became, the more money they recieved.

"Gentlemen, I concede to your request for one more book tour. However, I am a researcher and as such I demand that from this point on I be allowed to choose where my assignments are and when I will write a new book." I could see that this did not please them. They were greedy, but then so was I. They wanted the fortune and fame I could give them and I wanted more knowledge and training. As I grew older, I found that my powers only seemed to grow in their complexities and so I was able to do more and more with them. I wanted my time to train and discover these powers and they were going to give it to me.

"Or else what Dr. Davis?" One of the older board members asked.

"Or else, I break all ties with the English Psychic Research Association," a statement that brought gasps and worried glances towards my adoptive father. He had been an integral part of the facility for years and to think his own son would turn on him was disgraceful. Of course, we had already discussed it and he was in complete agreement with me. He was a true scientist himself. He never wanted this place to turn into what it had recently become.

"Well," the head of the board began, "given your extreme value to this place Oliver, we can hardly deny your desires but I think you should reconsider."

I shook my head before he even finished and continued. "I have hardly anything to write on anymore. All of my books have come from personal research and I have not been able to do any for three years because of the grueling marketing of my person and having to actually write those books. I need time to research, and I will not leave it in the hands of those idiot interns you insist on hiring each year."

There was some deliberation by the board as I stood there before them. They kept their conversation to a whisper and I chose not to use my powers to overhear their conversation. However, I couldn't help but read their emotions and had to try and hide my smirk as they finally turned back to me. "Very well Dr. Davis. You can have your research time, and you may even choose wherever you feel led to do it. But, we have one stipulation."

"Yes?"

"We want more of a case study book this time. Something a bit more … personal."

"I don't do personal."

"Not you, personally. We mean personal for the person you're studying. People love those personal stories. Find us a true story of someone's struggle with their powers or with a haunting, and when and if you do so, you will be given complete freedom to do as you will while under our employment." I took a quick glance at my father and he simple nodded his head as if agreeing with the chair of the board. However, he was also encouraging me to take it.

"Agreed gentlemen." Smiles went around as they seemed to be ready to adjourn, when I made my last request.

"I do have one more demand of the board."

"What now Dr. Davis?" One of the other board members asked. "I believe that we have been most generous."

"You have, of course. But this is about the book tour. I would like to make a change."

"And that would be?"

"I want Japan to be my last stop."

Mai

"Pregnant!" I couldn't believe it! I just couldn't believe what she was telling me. I mean, I had suspected something. A lot of strange stuff had been going on with her and him recently, and I had concluded that they were dating, but nothing like this.

Ayako simply nodded and sighed. She was nursing a tea, but looking pale. I got a strong impression of her morning sickness through my ability and shivered. I hated it when that happened. If I was concentrating on someone hard enough, I would receive an impression of their thoughts or emotions right then and there.

"Yes, and you're too sensitive and smart not to know who the father is." I nodded and looked down. Monk and her had been secretly dating for three years now. Why they never told us, I could never figure out. After all, we all knew within six months anyway.

"Does Monk know?"

"No," she shook her head and stared daggers at the table. "I haven't figured out how to tell him. He's been on tour with his band for two months now and he won't be back for another five. It must have happened right before he left."

Another strong impression slammed down hard and I almost cried with all the emotions tied up with it. "You broke up."

She nodded and sighed again. "We thought it best, or rather I did. He wanted to continue, but I know what kind of temptations are out there as a band. I'd rather not be cheated on." However they may act or whatever they may say, the truth was that they loved each other very much. It was killing her and when I thought on Bou-san I got the same deep emotion. He missed her terribly and while he smiled and gave all his female fans the attention they desired, he never once tried anything. Based on his emotions, he never would.

"You need to tell him."

"Yes, yes, I will. I'm just trying to figure out how and when." I nodded and was about to move on with the conversation, when the most annoying voice ricocheted around the tiny café.

"Mai! You ungrateful wench! Your break was over five minutes ago!"

"Coming boss," I yelled back, standing up and sighing. It really wasn't, but I needed this job so badly it hurt and I was already living in the worst part of town and surviving on the bare minimal.

"You need to get a new job, Mai." Ayako seethed. I agreed, but with crushing student debt and a useless degree in counselling, that was only useless because I couldn't yet afford to go to grad school, I was stuck.

"It's just too bad Naru had to leave and never come back." I said with a smile, but inside I cringed. He was still the only guy I'd ever loved, even after all this time. I hadn't even been able to keep a boyfriend for more than a month because of my memories of him.

"Oh," Ayako said, jumping up, stopping me as I tried to leave. "Wait! That reminds me why I came to see you in the first place. You know, other than my own news."

"What?" This couldn't be good.

"Apparently the great and world renowned Dr. Oliver Davis is coming to Tokyo to do a book signing on his new best seller." She handed me a flyer she'd grabbed from her purse and I looked at it.

"He called Masako to tell her personally so that we could all be invited."

I jerked at that and put my finger to my lips, thinking. "I just spoke with her a few days ago, why wouldn't she say something then?"

"I think she got the call last evening. We're all going that night to see him and hang out while he signs books. Masako said that she wasn't sure if we'd be able to stay the entire time, but we should be able to see him for a bit."

My heart sped up, but I crushed it before it could cause any true hope. I looked back down at the flyer and cringed. It was this Saturday and I had night shift on Saturdays. I could barely get a thirty minute lunch break, let alone change my shift around this place.

"I'll try." I finally said, walking back behind the counter, Ayako following.

"Oh come on Mai, please! Don't make me beg." She tried to reproduce my begging face and I smiled as I slipped on my gloves.

"Like I said, I'll try. I'd have to change shifts and with how my boss is, I doubt I can."

"I'll take what I can get. I'm telling Masako when I speak to her tonight that you're planning on coming. Do not disappoint me," she said looking at her polished nails and sauntering off to finish her shopping. I shook my head as I watched her leave and sighed. So much had changed in those eight years. John was now traveling all through Japan, due to his skill in exorcisms, making him the hardest to see. Masako had married Yasuhara, quite the scandal because of his role as an assistant on the show before they got married. They were good for each other. Yasuhara kept her grounded and she was much less snotty, while Masako's job kept life interesting for her husband. Monk's band had become world famous overnight and he was now on his first world tour. Ayako had also pretty much given up her spirit hunting days and just did the doctor thing now for the most part. That would be one spoiled little girl. Yes, I already knew the gender, but I would act surprised when she announced it.

Then there was me. Sure, I had graduated from college with honors, but what should have opened doors for me, seemed to lock me in. I couldn't pursue my chosen field because I had to have a masters and I just couldn't afford that right now, college had been enough. I lived in a dangerous neighborhood because my old apartment had been bought out by a nasty old grandfather who refused to give me any kind of break. I also had utterly no social life because I not only worked this café job full time, but I also worked as a maid four days a week just to survive. Basically, I was stuck in my life and I wasn't sure I could dig my way out. I wasn't giving up, though. I knew my luck had to change at some point, but still.

The rest of the day went quickly, but I was in a mood. After my shift, I rode on the subway to my gritty, dirty, dangerous neighborhood to open my front door. It too was dirty and gritty, but thankfully lacked the danger. I sighed and walked to the refrigerator to see what I had left of this week's groceries. I had eggs and milk, which was actually egg and half a child's cup of milk. I would take it. I sat with my measly meal and sighed, my mood still dark. I honestly wasn't sure I could face him when all I was doing was merely existing. I'd rather him remember me when I was full of life and had opportunities at my feet. How could I look him in the face and not broadcast that he had been both the best part of my life and the reason it had all fallen apart.