Icy sleet pelted the city streets in torrents. People hurried along the sidewalks, anxious to get indoors and away from the painful wind that scraped against them. A teenage girl quickly walked as carefully as she could without slipping on the ice that was accumulating despite the salt that had been spread on the pavement. Her head bent against the wind as she reached an office building. Kicking off any ice that had stuck to her shoes she entered the office her teeth chattering as she took off her hat, coat, scarf, and gloves and hung them on a standardized coat rack. Rubbing her hands together she waited for the greeting she would normally receive.

"Mai?" the voice was droll and held no emotion.

"Here," the girl called toward the door that had CEO written on it. Her voice that seemed to be naturally cheery had the slight bitter tang of tiredness and a scratchy throat.

There was a small, but notable, pause from the in the air as the girl waited for the boss to respond. Then came the familiar syllable she heard every day.

"Tea."

"Yes, Naru," she called before walking to another door that lead to a small kitchen. Placing a kettle on the open flame of the stove top she walked over to a tea chest. She decided that a peppermint tea would be best for a dreary day like this she prepared the cups for the tea.

Entering the office she set down the cup on the desk and stepped back for a moment, waiting for a word of gratification that would never come, as was her custom. As she began to turn around to leave she felt a hand grab her wrist and gently turn her hand over, palm facing up. She was staring at their hands when Naru placed a small object in her palm. Letting go of her he turned back around and continued to work. Mai left his office and went to her desk. Opening her hand she found a small cherry throat lozenge. Smiling softly, she unwrapped the lozenge and popped it in her mouth before she began to file. Her cheeks burning with pleasure.

After a couple of hours and multiple trips to Naru's office to refill his tea cup and a couple of trips to the other private office belonging to Naru's other assistant, Lin. Who was silent except for the occasional 'thank you' that his teenage boss was too good to give. There was a tinkling at the door and Mai trotted out of the kitchen to see who it was.

There stood a man, tall and willowy, with wispy brown hair, dressed in a well tailored suit and coat. He wore dark tinted glasses and carried the leash of a black Labrador with a distinctive yellow collar. He was blind, evidently.

"Hello. Welcome Shibuya Psychic Research. I am Mai Taniyama. How may I help you?" she said with a smile. Her voice was still scratchy. Her posture was professional, straight back hands hung at her sides as she addressed the client.

A small smile graced the lips of the man, who - in the back of Mai's mind—was quite dashing. "Ah, yes you can. I am Saito Iwate." He held out his hand for her. She clasped it and shook it. "I believe that a female spirit is haunting my home."

"Ah, well if you will make yourself at home, I will go fetch the boss so you may discuss the case with him," she said kindly. "Do you need any help before I go get him?" Reminding herself that he might have issues navigating the sitting room.

"Thank you. But, I can manage on my own." He removed his coat and with a little nudging from the Labrador placed it on the coat rack easily. Much to the amazement of Mai

"Okay, I'll be right back Mr. Iwate." Mai walked to the door and knocked twice.

"Yes, idiot?" said the cold, bored and belittling voice of her, only two-years-older-than-her boss. Rolling her eyes at the door she replied obviously annoyed.

"There is a client," she said grumpily. "Jerk," she tacked on as an afterthought.

The door opened to reveal a tall, slender teenager dressed in all black. Mai glared up at him, despising the all-too-obvious height difference, who by now was standing just inside of her personal bubble making her insides feel like gelatin. He looked down at her with startlingly blue eyes. His mouth opened to speak. Instead one word came out. "Tea."

Grumbling about miss treatment of employees, Mai retreated to the kitchen –with an annoyed flip of her short brown hair- to make tea. Wherein, she let out a small relived sigh and fanned her now heated cheeks. Despite her irritation at the man she could not help but care for him more than what the average employee should. In fact, she was positive she was in love with him in spite of everything he does to irritate her.

The tea was done soon and she served it out in the sitting area where Lin was sitting with his laptop and Naru getting general information from the client. When Mai sat down is when the real questions began.

"Explain what has been happening Mr. Iwate," said Naru dryly.

"I believe that my home is being haunted by a female spirit," said Mr. Iwate seriously.

"What events have lead you to this belief?" returned Naru just as dryly as before. Mai could tell that he was greatly uninterested so far.

"Well, during my brief tale keep in mind that I have been blind since I was 3 therefore my memory of human form is greatly lacking," started Mr. Iwate. "A few months ago I began to hear laughing. Then crying. I live with my two twin daughters and my wife, you see. And at first I thought it could have been them but then I realized that it wasn't them the tones were completely off. Being blind I am very good at picking up small sound and differences in them," the man looked uneasy now as he continued. Mai noticed Naru sitting up a little in his chair giving the man more attention. "Then I heard screaming, and then more laughter and then more screaming. It was like a CD on loop, until it stopped all together. The house was then eerily quiet then I heard my daughter scream for me. When I arrived at her room I opened the door," at this point he stopped for a moment. Naru was staring at the man intently and Mai was at the edge of her seat with her brown eyes wide open. The room was quiet, Mr. Iwate seemed to be struggling to say whatever he was going to say. Naru had just begun to open his mouth to prompt Mr. Iwate when the man blurted out:

"I saw the figure of a woman standing in front of me."