Cough, cough, cough… 'I can't breathe…help…please don't leave…' Cough, cough, cough…. 'Noooooo! Stop! Please! Don't!' Then, all that could be heard was screams.

March 3

It has been a few months since our last case at the train station. We have had a few small cases, but nothing truly major. Lately, we have just been sitting around the office waiting and wondering what was going to come next. Monk has been traveling with his rock band more and more. Masako is coming over to the office each chance she gets. Ayako is doing what she normally does, whatever that is. And John, has been helping out in the fellow churches he has been associated with. Lin and Aya could not be better. Lin is his same composed self, but as soon as Aya walks in I feel like I am watching a transformation take place.

As Naru and myself, nothing has really changed. He is treating me the same has he always had. I don't understand it. But I guess that is just Naru for you. Don't get me wrong. I would love to be treated special by him, but what if he has already been doing that? I mean for Naru to act any differently would, I guess, make him not Naru. At least not the one I know. I wish he could just treat me like he does in my dreams. Even in private would be great. He doesn't have to treat me like that in front of the others, but I would like to at least have another moment with him. Like the one on that one snowy afternoon.

The office was quiet again today. Naru and Lin were both sitting in their offices, while I was preparing tea for the day. I was just about to bring them their tea, when there was a knock at the door. Curiosity got the better of me. So I set the tea down and went to open the door. There was an older gentleman on the other side. He looked to be tired, which I believe gave him the appearance of being older than he actually was. He was dressed in a suit and was holding a briefcase and had his coat draped over he his arm. He gave me a weak smile, but his eyes were not smiling. They appeared to be in pain. I greeted him and asked him to step in and take a seat. He thanked me in a hush tone and seated himself in the waiting area.

I picked up the team and made my way to Naru's office. He looked up from his book after he told me I could enter. I set the tea down on his desk and informed that a client was here. He simply nodded and requested me to go tell Lin. I made my way to Lin's office and gave him tea. Lin took the tea and made his way to the meeting area where Naru was waiting for the client.

It had been a couple hours now since Naru and Lin had started conversing with the gentlemen that came to the office. I had a feeling that we would be taking this case, especially since this meeting has yet to end. Right when I thought that the gentleman emerged from the meeting room with Naru and Lin on his tail. He bowed to them, and made his leave. I looked to Naru and Lin and they were already discussing quietly to themselves.

"So, do we have a new case?" I questioned.

"Mai, please contact the others. Tell them to meet us at Fukui High School. We have a new case," Naru stated flately.

"Yes, sir!" I exclaimed as I made my way to the phone. We were all finally about to be reunited once again.

March 4_ Day 1

The school had a old atmosphere to it. The students were everywhere. Naru, Lin, and I arrived first. We decided to make our way to the principal's office. We got there pretty easily. The lady at the front desk was expecting us, and let us right in. The principle was the older gentleman that came to the office the other day.

"Hello, thank you so much coming," he stated again in a hush tone.

"It's no problem," Naru stated as a matter of fact.

"Now, what will you be needing?"

"We will need a room where we can set up our base, and also we will need everyone's cooperation. That includes students and teachers. I will also need to interview anyone who has been involved in this phenomenon."

"Ah, yes straight away. I have already informed the teachers and the students to work with you all. But I must warn you that some of the teachers are not too excited about you being here."

"But, why? We have done nothing wrong," Mai stated.

"Let us just say that some of our, faithful, faculty do not accept these ideas," the principle said kindly.

"And by faithful, you mean the ones that have worked her the longest," Naru questioned.

"Yes," he said with a small smile. "Well anyway let me lead you to a room. I'm sure the others on your team will be arriving shortly. I will stop by later to thank them for their services."

A couple hours later we had the base all set up. We were finally ready to start all the interviews when the door swung open.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Already starting without us huh Naru?" cam a masculine voice.

"Monk!" exclaimed Mai as she run to him to give him a hug. Monk was like an older brother to her and she a younger sister to him. Ever since the team found out that she was a orphan, during their bloodstained labyrinth case, they have united more in a family sense.

"Hey Mai. How is it goin'?" Monk exclaimed as he returned her hug.

"Great. I have missed you. How have you been?"

"Amazing! The band is really starting to take off. We are having more fans come by the performance."

"That's awesome!"

Monk laughed, "Yeah, but I guessed that would happened. I mean look at who is the band."

"Oh Monk, sometimes you are so full of it," Mai commented laughing.

"Are the other with you Mr. Takigawa?" Naru question sounding a little annoyed.

'Geez, once again he proves to be all work,' Mai thought to herself.

Monk laughed again replying, "Yeah they are on their way up."

Jus as he said that the rest of the team appeared at the door. Mai ran to each of them and gave them a huge hug.

"Wait, where is Yasuhara?" Mai questioned looking into the hallway.

"He is not coming. He sends his best, but someone in his family has been admitted into the hospital. He decided to travel up there to see if there was anything he could do," John said with an sadness in his voice.

"Aw! Well we will just have to keep him in our prays," Mai commented.

"That's right," Ayako agreed.

"Where is Miss Aya?" Masako questioned. "We assumed she would be coming up with you all."

"Oh, she will be coming up later," Mai answered. "She has another job, and they needed her help for the rest of today and tomorrow."

Everyone began talking to catch up with one another. Everyone was having a good time, including Lin and Naru. Not a long time had passed and it was time to get to work. Naru got everyone back on track. The team went back to work. They were all about to head out when there was a knock at the door. The door opened to reveal the principle standing there.

"Ah, I see that the rest of your team as arrived. Hello everyone, I am principle Keysho," he introduced himself. "I would just like to thank you all for being willing to work with us."

"Oh please, it is our jobs. There is no real need to thank us," Monk said with a smile.

The principle smiled back and replied, "I have asked a student to help you in any way possible. He can be an assistant, or just round up the student and faculty you will need to proceed with your investigation."

"Oh, thank you," Mai answered. "That will be most helpful."

"Yes, we will at least be able to find our way around the school much easier," Masako commented.

"Yes, but I do hope the student knows what they are getting themselves into," John said with a concerned tone.

"Oh, the student will be fine. We will be able to protect them," Ayako included.

"You mean everyone excluding you, right?" Monk asked with a laugh.

"Why, you!" Ayako exclaimed directing her anger at Monk. "Have you forgotten about the case where I saved you all!"

"One save does not make up for all the other," Monk replied with a smirk.

Ayako stood there fuming as the other just watched. Naru sighed and made his way to the principle. They exchanged a few words and then the principle left. Naru turned back to the team to see Mai holding Ayako back and John doing the same to Monk. He felt a headache coming on and decided it was time to split everyone up, quickly. He was about to give directions, when another knock was heard. The team froze and turned toward the door. When it opened there was a handsome young man at the door dressed in the schools uniform. He had black hair and gray looking eyes.

"Hello, my name is Kai Yamato," he stated whiling bowing.

"Kai…," Mai questioned as she released Ayako from her grip.

The boy picked his head and looked toward the voice that said his name. He stiffened at seeing Mai. Mai froze in her place and just stared at him.

"Kai…is it really you," she questioned.

"Mai…Mai Taniyama…" he answered back. Mai nodded her head. He let a smile cross his face. "It is good to see you Mai."

"Mai, who is this?" Monk questioned concerned. "How do you know him?"

"He…he was a very close friend of the family…and he is my ex-boyfriend…"