A/N: So, this has been a long time waiting and I have finally decided to start posting it! So sorry for the delay! As always, I hope you enjoy and please review and let me know what you think! This is BEFORE "Lost Before the Dawn" and so it is roughly right after the series ends.

The Darkest Dawn

~Prequel to "Lost Before the Dawn"~

"Abide in what remains 'til the shadows end and we meet again on the dawning of the day…For when shadows end, we shall meet again on the dawning of the day…"

If there were ever something that the world revolved around, then by logical conclusion that something must be tea…

Tea, tea, and more tea.

Mai had finally come to deem tea the center of the universe; the way her boss demanded it, it had to be so. Sure, she had been hired to do administrative work…though she had already partaken in her fair share of cases, but it seemed as of late she was nothing more than a waitress.

Things had been pretty slow for the past month or so. She had easily caught up on her share of paperwork and at the moment she lacked anything to do that was worth her time. Mai decided that the only reason, there could not be any other reason, she was being kept around on such slow days was to make tea and serve it whenever 'his majesty' called for it.

Shibuya Kazuya, or Naru as Mai thoughtlessly deemed, was certainly a king in every meaning of the term. He was a natural leader…demanding and resolute in his commands. Arrogant, narcissistic, and proud with the looks to match…he was a man like none other. His skill in coercion and manipulation were next to none, not to mention his exemplary wit and brains. Oh yes, Naru was the kind of king that every woman would swoon at based upon looks alone if nothing more. Mai had seen it on several occasions in fact, though it only served to irritate her more since she knew Naru was aware of his amazingly good looks and often used that fact to his advantage.

Mai was proud of the fact that upon her first meeting with one of the most handsome men she had ever laid eyes on, she had not fallen prey to that deceptive charm Naru was so proficient at as her friends so easily had…though she had to admit, that was definitely not the case now…

Mai was totally and completely charmed by her boss…

Even though she knew his true character, Mai could not help but be attracted to him. Mai even found it strange that she could be so interested in such a guy…but she was. She was not sure if her feelings were simple infatuation or maybe just a crush, but she was positive that she liked Naru…and not just his looked either.

Mai was a healthy normal high school girl after all, who wouldn't be attracted to looks like that? But it was more than that, much deeper than that. Even if he angered her by his lack of common manners, seeming indifference and apathy, not to mention his most annoying aloof nature…Mai was drawn to her young boss that she knew nothing about.

As annoying as he was, Mai felt safe when she was with Naru…even in her dreams. He was always here to protect her when she was in trouble, even if he didn't have to be. He went out of his way just for her, used subtle and gentle means to cheer her up, and always, always called her by her first name.

In her dreams, even if he was her own creation, Naru would look out for her and help her understand and guide her through her dreams with the utmost kindness. That Naru all but vanished upon seeing the true and real waking Naru, but she still felt that in his own way even waking Naru was very, very kind.

Could the way she felt be more than just a crush? Could it actually be more along the lines of …

"Mai, tea." Naru's characteristic voice rang through the closed office door startling Mai from her thoughts. She didn't know why she had to think so much about him…it was pretty plain and simple already…

"Yes, yes" she called back in a rush not bothering to hide her irritation. "Coming…" She tapped softly on the door and took the silence as affirmation to enter. The room was much darker than her preference allowed, she had never really liked the dark, but Naru seemed right at home in the dim condition. "Here." She offered politely ever expecting a response.

But true to his character, Naru ignored her and continued on with his work wordlessly. "Is there anything else you need?" Mai spoke bitingly trying hard not to snap, but once again her existence was completely and utterly ignored. She had often been told on more than once occasion that her short temper and over emotional nature were traits that she needed to work on, but at that very moment she didn't care about her image or her control. "Fine! If you want anything, don't call for me! I'm going home!" She yelled angrily to a still unconcerned Naru. "See you tomorrow!" She voiced as she shut the door much harder than needed.

Naru smiled to himself as he listened to Mai loudly gather her things and exit the office. He knew Mai would probably hit him if she ever found out, but he secretly liked her angry and displeased reactions. The way her face would get red and her pouting expression were really entertaining for him. He was not really one for 'please' and 'thank you' anyway when it was not necessary so it really all worked to his benefit in the end.

"Is it really necessary to bully Taniyama-san so much?" Lin said calmly upon entering Naru's personal office. "If you're not careful, she might quit."

"She won't quit." Naru replied without even missing a beat.

"How can you be so sure?" Lin asked, hiding a smile.

"…she likes me too much…" he paused a moment, "She is much too easy to read." He let a small smile escape and Lin was pleased to see that there was at least a little resemblance to a teenage boy that he was.

"Here is the data you asked me to compile." Lin passed a manila file folder over the desk to his awaiting boss. "Are you thinking about accepting the case?"

Naru leafed through the contents of the file briefly, "I haven't decided yet…"

It was a tough call. The case seemed very mundane in his opinion as far as paranormal research went…so in that respect Naru found it to be rather uninteresting and not worth his time. On the other hand however, there had not been any cases at all as of late so it would at least serve as a good excuse to get out and do something. He had to admit that he was feeling a bit bored for the lack of a better term…

~x~

A Few Days Prior…

"Shibuya Psychic Research." Naru voiced in his best business tone. He was trying his best to hide his annoyance but it was posing to be rather difficult. As to the cause of his displeasure…that would be the fact that he actually had to answer the phone himself. Lin had made a trip to gather some information on an earlier case they were finally getting around to filing and Mai had stormed out about an hour earlier after he had taken his insults to her intelligence a bit too far.

"Yes…" the caller paused, a meek female voice said on the other end of the line. "I was referred this number…I am having some problems at my house…"

"What sort of problems?" Naru asked calmly. As long as it was business he could handle such a call, he was a professional after all even if he didn't like to be troubled by such trivial things.

"Well…" the woman started slowly. "My family and I recently moved into a new house about six months ago despite the fact that there were rumors about it being haunted. We didn't really believe in such a thing at the time and the price was too good to pass up…but shortly after we settled in, things began to happen…" she finished softly.

"Things?" Naru prompted.

"…Members of my family would start to act…differently, not like themselves at all. Recently, we would find them passed out in random places in the house. When they awoke they wouldn't know what happened. These instances have really been increasing as of late along with the condition, namely the deterioration, of our health." She continued softly. "I was urged to find help when things got worse…"

"Got worse how?" Naru asked while he jotted down some of the facts. "And please explain in more detail the effects on your health you and your family are experiencing."

"Well…" her words were soft. "I can't really say any of us have been injured, but we get sick all the time and we all feel very weak. Passing out and fainting are now common occurrences…it doesn't seem to matter how much we eat or sleep, we are always tired. I…I am fearful for our safety if this keeps up…"

"And how has the paranormal activity gotten worse?" Naru questioned with a little more interest.

"Yes, um…I guess you would call them 'possessions'…but in the beginning it would only happen on occasion and my family would only act as if they were sleep walking or in a daze. Now, it is happening all the time and I worry someone is going to hurt themselves. They all act so different and I will find them collapsed in odd places. They try to do things they normally wouldn't…sometimes, these things can be…" she paused, "rather violent."

"I understand." Naru said simply as he finished writing his notes. "Please give the details of your house and its location. I will contact you as soon as I come to a decision."

"Thank you…"

~Chapter 1 End~

A/N: Sorry it is short! I will post more soon and please let me know what you think! THANK YOU FOR READING! :)