Authors Note: Hello everyone, to those of you who have followed this story, you may remember the 10 chapters what were written and the ever lasting hiatus after that chapter was published. I have been slowly re-writing this story, as i love it very much and don't want to give up on it. That being said, i have taken down the old chapters, and am in the process of editing and uploading new chapters. To those of you who have followed me and encouraged me to keep writing, thank you!

xXx

Ghost Hunt: Shackles of Love - Chapter 1

I let out a small yawn escape as looked through the living room window from the inside of my apartment. "I can't believe three years have gone by…" I said to the empty room. "Three years since I've left Japan… Three years since I've stopped working at SPR… Three years since…" I paused for a moment reeling in my thoughts. It was raining outside again just like it had been for the past two days without letting up at all. "I miss everyone so much... Why did that stupid ghost have to ruin everything?" I shut my eyes, exasperated, and put my head on the table in front of me.

School was done for the day. Thank goodness for that. Recently, I'd been having images flow around in my head of ghosts and spirits that the SPR team and I had seen on past cases, and let me tell you; The last thing you want is an image of Urado floating around in your head right before a big test.

I let out a sigh. No one had even bothered to call me. Maybe they've finally grown tired worrying over me and decided to cut me off completely. I haven't had contact with anyone from SPR in about four months now. I use to get a call from Ayako, or even Masako once every two weeks or so, but I haven't been able to make contact them. Every time I've tried to call the SPR office, or anyone else for that matter, there is never an answer.

"Maybe there just out on a case? One that is taking a while to solve. Even for Naru..." I felt my eyes starting to drop after staring out at the rain for so long. The quiet sound of the rain falling against the window easing me out of the stressful day. I rested my head on top of my arms and let myself drift off to sleep.

xXx

When I opened my eyes again, I was surrounded by blackness. Oh great. Another dream. Wonder what it will be of this time. I glanced around trying to see any signs of life in my dream world. I thought I had finally gotten use to my dreams but every time I managed to get pulled into a new one, it somehow proved to be even worse than the last. It doesn't help either that I haven't been able to get any help from Gene with these dreams. Not since I left Japan. The dreams seemed to be coming more frequently. At first, I would only have a dream once every few months but now it's becoming an almost weekly ordeal.

I took a deep breath, calming myself before starting to walk forward into the empty blackness. After walking straight for a minute or two, muffled voices could be heard echoing around the empty blackness surrounding me. Instead of walking away from the voices like reason would have done to any normal person, I decided to walk towards it hoping that sooner rather than later, I would find what this dream would try to show me and be done with it. That was the way I felt about these dreams now: The sooner you start it, the sooner it will end. There was never any escaping from the dream. I always had to wait until the very end of the dream. No more cutting corners when something bad happened. With this I quickened my pace.

A chuckling voice echoed around me. "What's the big hurry, doll?" The voice said.

I froze hearing the voice. Fear struck me sending a shiver down my spine. His voice. I whipped my head around trying to find the source of the voice but failed in finding any. Cautiously, I decided to take a few more paces forward. Chains suddenly appeared up from the ground and floated in the air a few paces in front of me. A small faded orb started to appear just behind the chains. A small glowing pulsating orb.

Run

I quickly shifted my weight and started to turn away from the orb, running back towards the direction that I came from. The laughter returned louder than before.

"There really is no need for you to run off like that." The voice said. The sound of the chains rattling across the floor could be heard but the idea of being caught by them terrified me more than the idea of facing that voice face on. I sped up my pace slipping and momentarily losing my footing before getting back up to the same speed.

The chains caught up to me and sprung in front of me cutting off my path. I was moving too fast to slow down my momentum and ran right into them. The chains snaked around me but moved down to my legs holding me in place.

The panic started to settle in. This wasn't like a normal dream. Sure I've had some pretty extreme experiences but they have all been out of body visions. I could feel the coldness of the chains against my skin. My breathing sped up as my heart started pounding in my ears. I tried to shake off the chains, grabbing at them trying to free myself but nothing seemed to work. It almost felt as though the chains were getting tighter and tighter around me.

The chuckling reappeared again appearing right beside me with a soft whisper in my ear.

"Please, stay a while."

The room flashed to a blinding white. I had to shield my eyes from the sight. It took me a few moments for my eyes to readjust to the lights.

I was now inside a white room that seemed to extend on forever. The walls had paintings on them. Portraits of people extending down the hall. I turned my head to look behind me and noticed the same thing. I looked more intently to the one closest to me, an older gentleman with a somber looking expression dressed in a black suit. I didn't recognize his face and moved onto the next portrait and the next but didn't recognize any of them either. I turned my head looking behind me to notice more portraits along the walls. I noticed something similar between the portraits. The eyes, they all felt as though they were looking in my direction, right at me.

"Why don't you have a seat?"

I turned my head back to my front to see a table with two chairs, one at either end of the table, appear with a large amount of food displayed on it. Everything from fruits to a variety of meats were perfectly situated on the table.

You can't stay here. Leave. Now.

I took a deep breath trying to calm myself. "I'm afraid that I'll have to decline your invitation today." I spoke while looking around, still not knowing where the voice was coming from. I had an awful feeling spreading through my stomach. I need to get out of here. Now. "I think I'll take my leave now." I said as I turned my back to the table, forgetting the fact that I couldn't move thanks to the chains holding my ankles down.

The voice let out a tired sigh. "I'm sorry that you need to pass up on this lovely dinner that I took the time and effort to prepare for you."

Leave. NOW.

"Well, maybe we can arrange for this to happen in a better time and place near the future." I reached down again to the chains and pulled more desperately to get myself free from them.

"Well now, that just won't do. Today happens to be the only day that I am free and this dinner is long overdo." More chuckling could be heard bouncing off the walls. "Now, SIT."

There was a pressure at the back of my legs causing them to collapse on me and sent me into the now awaiting chair. The force of it would have sent me crashing forward into the table but fortunately for me, or unfortunately in this case; shackles appeared from the wood of the chair near my wrists and ankles and clamped down around them.

"Well, I guess I could stay for a few minutes." I said, worry clear now in my voice. The chair opposite me started to glow. My eyes widened as I saw the glowing slowly taking a form in front of me. My fingers clenched into a fist, nail digging into my skin as a chill ran through my body. This wasn't good.

Mai

I froze hearing my name being called. I couldn't see anything else around me. My eyes were drawn to the changing form appearing in front of me.

Mai.

The voice called out again, stronger, more urgent sounding. I recognised the voice this time. I felt a hand grab onto my shoulder and I gasped as it pulled me backwards through my chair. I stared confused for a second as I stared at the back of the chair I was just sitting in, staring at myself sitting in it. I looked in front of me and saw the glowing form still glowing but no change was occurring to it. I didn't appear to be breathing in the chair. I just sat there frozen in my spot. Everything seemed to be frozen. The hand holding me squeezed lightly and turned me around.

"Wha- wait. Gene?!" I spoke noticing Naru's twin brother. I felt flooded with relief knowing Gene was here. "Where- What's happening?" I sputtered out words unable to decide on what I wanted to know first. I haven't been able to contact Gene since leaving Japan. All of my dreams I've had to face on my own without Naru's deceased twin guiding me through them.

"I don't have a lot of time. I can only freeze this for a few moments longer. Mai, you need to wake up. Now." Gene said giving me a hard look. His voice not leaving any room for a wavering choice.

"Wha-"

"Mai, please, no questions now. Just trust me. That ghost is still following you. I know it's been a few years now but, he, I don't know how, managed to find you again. I don't have time to explain everything now but just promise me you will wake up!" Gene's voice gradually grew in volume before pausing. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes calming himself down before continuing. "That thing forming in front of you… it's him."

I turned away from Gene to look back at the chair placed on the other end of the table and stared at the glowing shape closely. It's him. Sure enough, I was able to make out the rough outline of his face forming. My breathing hitched.

"Why?" I made a fist with my hands, my voice trembling slightly. "Why is he here? Didn't Naru-"

"Mai, not now. We don't have time. Get out of this dream. I promise, I'll explain everything to you at another time. I've tried to reach Naru but I don't know if he was able to understand my message. Something was interfering with me trying to reach him. If you don't wake up now, you'll be in real danger." Gene's form was starting to waver and fade slightly. "My tie is up Mai, I can only slow down his spirit forming at this point for a few seconds after time resumes. Use that time to wake yourself up and escape form this dream."

I looked towards Gene and nodded my head. Gene reached forward and placed his fingertips to my head, took a deep breath and pushed slightly sending me back to my body.

I gasped as I returned back, heart pounding through my ears. I glanced at the chair in front of me and noticed more of an outline in the chair in front of me. I could almost make out the eyes but felt the pre-made gaze starting right at me. Not good Mai. Calm down. Use this time wisely and wake up. I shut my eyes tightly and started feeling the darkness creeping its way into me, my body turning lax as I took some calming breaths.

"Oh, no you don't."

I let out a small scream as I felt something yank my hair back, banging my head on the chair and pulling me back into the dream world. The spirit was now fully formed and standing in front of me. The features were clear and solid, looking exactly like they did three years ago. Short, light brown hair. Hazelnut coloured eyes. An annoying smirk on his face. Everything was the same as before. He leaned forward and placed his hands on either armrest. I pressed myself as far back into the chair as I possibly could. I clamped my eyes shut willing myself to try and block out my surroundings to leave the dream world.

I felt his breath graze my ear. "Missed me?"

I kept my eyes closed.

"Mai."

I didn't move. Weather it was because I was paralysed form fear or because I was suddenly confident in what I was doing, I will never know.

"Mai." The spirit said again, the warning tone could be heard in his voice. I guess his patients finally found out because the next thing he said came out almost like a snarl with his hands slamming down on the arms of my chair.

"Look at me dammit!"

I opened my eyes and looked into his, rage evident in his eyes. Defiance burning in mine.

"Much better." The spirit said to me as his annoying smirk that I longed to forget appeared once again on his face. "I was beginning to think you were avoiding me, Mai. It's been far too long."

"Kind of hard to forget you, unfortunately." I told the spirit glaring into his eyes.

The spirit threw his head back letting out a roaring laugh. "Now what kind of greeting is that? I've been searching for you a while now, Mai." The spirit leaned in close to me, face inches apart form mine. His voice dropped. "Why don't you show me a proper greeting?" He said leaning even closer, his words ghosting my face. "It's been far too long…"

The spirit used one of his hands to take a stray piece of hair and tuck it away behind my ear. "Your hair has grown quite long, but, I don't really mind that." His hand made its way over to my cheek and cupped it, slowly moving his hand to grip my chin instead. He held me in place, hazel eyes bore into mine as I kept my defiant gaze strong, unwavering.

The spirit let out a cocky sounding chuckle. "Oh, how I missed that look in your eyes, Mai" the spirit said as he closed the little distance left between us. I closed my eyes and wished hard to merge with the chair and escape as far as I could away from him. His lips met mine with a soft pressure.

Mai, wake up! Now!

I wish I could, but I couldn't. I felt anger build up inside me as I started to squirm in my chair. I balled my hands into fists as the spirit tried to deepen the kiss. I felt him split his lips apart seeking entrance to mine. He bit on my lower lip after I refused. I felt the tears building up in the corner of my eyes. I shut them willing myself not to cry. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry. Not again.

The spirits had made its way to the back of my head, pulling my hair back and forcing my head up to deepen the kiss. I let out a small gasp with the pain that made its way with him pulling my hair. I squirmed under him. I couldn't force him off. I needed air. I couldn't get enough the way we were. I felt the air tense up around us.

The spirit pulled apart kissing the side of my jaw and made his way to my ear.

"What's wrong Mai?" the ghost whispered to me. "Lost your fighting spirit now?"

I was panting, searching for air. Something was wrong. I felt it. There was so much pressure in the air and it was pushing down on me. The air grew thicker and hotter but the spirit seemed unaffected by it. I could hear a buzzing in my ears and closed my eyes silently praying for it all to stop.

"I've missed you." The spirit whispered, biting the skin under my ear before making his way back towards my lips. The pressure was starting to hurt more and more. I couldn't take it any longer. I bit the spirits lip with everything I had, drawing blood. He howled out in pain and backed away from me shoving the table back as well. He brought a finger to his lips. He pulled it away and saw the blood on his finger, eyes narrowing at it before he shot a glare at me sending chills down my spine.

"You little-" he said in a menacing tone, taking a quick step back towards me.

"Get away." I mumbled, clenching my eyes shut. I felt him grab my arm roughly. I let out a small gasp of pain but he continued to apply pressure and squeezed harder on my arm. It was too much. The pain in my arm, the pressure around me. I felt a pounding in my head forming. I couldn't take it anymore. "I said, Get away from me!" I shouted. I felt the pressure shoot outwards from me knocking the spirit back into the table sending the food flying out to the ground.

I was panting hard, gasping for air. "That's… what you get… for coming back…!" I told him with a loss of breath. What just happened? Did I do that? I felt dizzy. My head lolled to the side as I felt the darkness creeping its way to me, grateful for its timing.

"You can't escape, Mai!" The spirit shouted from the floor quickly standing up. "I found you once, I can find you again!" He called out, rage firing from his voice. I watched him glare at me as my surroundings slowly faded away into a welcoming darkness.

xXx

I woke up with a start hearing the phone ring. I sprung out of my chair knocking it back to the floor, ignoring the pain still present in my head. I felt weak. Is this from the dream? I made my way to the hallway to pick up the phone, ignoring the caller ID. Desperate for a voice other than his.

"H-Hello?" I answered the phone breathless, still trying to recover from the dream. The phone felt heavy in my hands.

"What's happening there right now?" The voice from the other side demanded.

I recognized that demanding tone in an instant. Naru! Naru was calling me. I felt the tears that were threatening to fall in the dream reappear. A sob threating to escape being forced to keep under control.

"Mai? Are you there?" His voice had an edge of urgency in it.

"N-Naru" I mentally cursed myself for stuttering. I was shaking. "It's him. He's Back." I couldn't stop the tears from escaping now. This was too much to handle in one day. First the spirit showed itself in front again for the first time after three years and now Naru was calling me. I tried to calm my breathing before continuing but it was no use. My body felt like lead, struggling to keep itself standing upright. "It's Ryu! He's-"

The room started to spin. I raised a hand up to my head trying to get myself to focus but I couldn't. The phone slipped out of my hand and fell onto the floor with me falling along after it. There was a loud clatter and then blackness creped at the corner of my vision, threatening to take me under. I could hear Naru's voice calling out to me from where the phone had dropped.

"Mai! What's going on? MAI!"

Sorry Naru.

"Mai... Ai... ai!"