I don't understand. They're my friends aren't they? They're my family? So why? Why haven't they come for me? Why have they left me alone? Here? Here of all places. It hurts. It hurts so much. I'm drowning in it. Physical pain, emotional pain … I don't know which is worse. I've been here so long. Months and months, I stopped counting the days. They've had time. I don't think I can wait much longer. I can't even cry anymore. It hurts so much. So much. I can't breathe, it hurts. Someone help me. Please. Anyone. Someone please save me. Oh god. He's coming. No. Please no. Not again. Please. Someone help me. Please. Please. NO!

The phone was ringing. It would reach the end and there'd be noting for a while. Then it would start again. Repeating the cycle until someone came to answer its pleads. Lin sat in his office. He couldn't see the phone directly, but he was picturing it in his mind. Imagining the voice answering it "Hello you've reached the Shibuya Psychic Research Centre. How may we help you?" but the voice never came.

After five years they were finally back in Japan. Nothing had changed in those years yet at the same time a lot had. The office is clean and furnished once again, waiting to be filled with voices. But all it had was an empty phone. Noll had told him not to answer the phone; he was probably avoiding his mother again. For someone so smart he really was a child sometimes. Lin looked at the clock again, half an hour until they'll arrive. Their friends, their family. John, Takigawa, Masko, Ayako, even Yasuhara, everyone except Mai. It made Lin a little sad that she wasn't coming but it couldn't be avoided. About five months after he and Noll had left to bury Eugene her apartment complex had burned down. Social services had found out about her and she had moved away to live with some relatives. After all, a sixteen year old girl shouldn't be living by herself, no matter how much she protested otherwise. He sighed quietly as the phone kept and went back to his work.

Naru sat at his desk. He was resisting the urge to check the time. It'd been five years since they'd all been together. He'd met up with John, Masko and Monk during the five years since his departure but this was different. They'd all be in the same room this time. It would probably be loud and annoying but it would be nice all the same. But, it wouldn't be the same, she wouldn't be there. Honestly Naru wasn't sure if he wanted to see Mai again. She had confessed to him, confusing her feelings for Gene with him; he'd turned her down and left her crying. At the airport she'd looked like she wanted to cry again but instead she had smiled and said goodbye. It'd been five years since then, who knows what would have happened. At least she wasn't alone anymore, she had real family. He was sure that she was happy. She couldn't be the girl in his dreams.

The door swung open and loud voices filled the room. "Who're you calling an old hag you stupid monk?!" Naru almost smiled, Ayako and Monk were fighting again.

"I didn't call you anything. I just said that you had some smile lines is all."

"I do not you idiot!"

"Maybe you should calm down Ayako, all that screaming will give you more wrinkles." And there was Masko, probably hiding behind her kimono again. Ayako's yells were cut off by John's accented voice.

"Hello? Naru, Lin we're here."

"Hello everyone." Lin had was standing in front of everyone now and the sounds of their happy greeting stopped when Naru spoke, leading on the doorframe of his office.

"Ayako go make some tea, you should have some experience with it."

She pouted "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Just that someone of your age should have some experience with tea." Ayako's mouth dropped open and Monk laughed "Nice to know that you're the same as ever Naru."

With that they all settled down and started talking. Naru took a sip of Ayako's so called tea before deciding never to ask her for it again. "Seriously Ayako what's this supposed to be?" Monk asked, quickly putting his cup down.

"Tea's Mai's thing not mine!" Ayako stopped to look around, "Where is Mai?" silence crept into the room, Lin cleared he throat "She's moved away to live with her relatives shortly after we left, I thought you knew that." She shook her head, "I lost contact with Mai after you left, I haven't heard from her in years." The others all looked guiltily at their drinks, it was clear that they'd done the same. John suddenly looked up as the phone started ringing again. "Hey Naru, why aren't you answering the phone?"

"It's probably just my mother, she'll stop soon."

John looked flabbergasted, "You shouldn't ignore your mother Naru. It might be something important." He stood up and picked up the phone from Mai's desk "G'day." Everyone starred at John as he froze, then he started shaking "John?" without looking at them he reached down and pressed a button on the phone. A quiet tired voice filled the room. It was full of pain, rasping, begging in between chocking sobs and uneven breaths. "Please … help me … someone … please anyone … someone please save me."

It was Mai's voice.