Cases of a Different Kind 2

A/N: Thank you to those that followed the story. I was worried this wouldn't get a good reception. I also wanted to give a big thank you to D C JoKeR H S for being kind enough the leave me a review. Your 'weirdness' as you said was actually very comforting and welcome. Hope you like this chapter.

Summary: A manor shrouded in mystery. A family in turmoil. Children in danger. It's up to SPR to handle the case. With Naru be able to keep Mai safe?

Chapter 2: Case 1 - Hime Shoen

It was late in the evening when the knock came at the office door. The team in the sitting room couldn't help but feel it coincidental that they would be getting a client at this time of night after Mai's vision.

Lin was the one to open the door and ushered the mystery person in. A woman with long black hair and sparkling blue eyes came in the office with a frantic air about her. It was only once Mai sat down next to her that she seemed to calm. The brunette had her hand on the woman's shoulder, drawing her attention easily.

"Hello there. My name is Mai. Welcome to SPR." Mai introduced herself with a smile, allowing her words to sink in, "It's obvious why your here. But could you start with telling us your name?"

The woman hesitated for a second, her eye brows coming together before she answered, "My name is Kimiko. Hime Kimiko." Mai nodded, keeping the woman's attention on her.

"Well then Ms Hime, please tell us exactly what you need from us." In the distance, Mai vaguely heard a door open and Lin start whispering, but she ignored it as the woman started speaking.

"You see. My family have owned land called the Hime Yasumu for many generations. We want to turn it into a public area, for camping and hiking. But there have been many sightings of spirits. It scares away potential guests when they come to visit." Kimiko paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "Recently, we offered a free trial to some locals that lie in the villages around Hime Yasumu. One of the guest's daughters has gone missing. And now the girl's father has disappeared today too! I know it's the spirits. I just know it. I don't know what to do! You have to help me!"

The woman started crying, desperation evident on her face. Mai couldn't help the grim line her lips fell into. Nor could she resist the urge to huge to poor woman. Kimiko cried into the brunette's shoulder, her sorrow evident in her heaving sobs. The others in the room had remained silent the entire time with Lin having yet to return to them. It was only when Himiko started to settle did Ayako speak up.

"Excuse me Kimiko." The red head spoke, gently settling on the other side of the dark haired woman, "Can you tell us a little more about the property?"

Kimiko did her best to collect herself, the stress of the conversation taking its toll on her, "Well, of course. I must apologise for my actions. It is quite unprofessional." Kimiko said whilst hiccupping. She calmed herself enough so that she could speak calmly before letting them know of her the location.

"Hime Yasumu surrounds the central estate, Hime Shoen. My family have lived there for generations. It was a calm place, where only daughters were born from the family head. The estate is surrounded by forests, with many man made features such as a lake, a river and that like. The family history is a little fuzzy, about the 1660's. But odd incidents started happening after that time. I think that's when the first sightings came about."

Himiko paused as she thought about the family history, shaking her head when she couldn't think of anything else, "The family estate was pretty much abandoned by 1670. But again, the reason as to why is unknown."

Monk tapped a finger to his chin, "So, the estate was abandoned, but it's in your name. How?" It was an honest question that Kimiko smiled at.

"Odd, I know. But when my grandmother passed away, the estate was given to me in her will. You see, my mother left me in my grandmother's care, so I don't think my mother even knows about the reasons the estate was left behind. I was hoping you could help me figure the specifics out. Because I've exhausted my options." Kimiko let out a sigh, mumbling a small apology before turning back to Mai, "I'm very sorry about all this. But I implore you, please help me."

Mai nodded without a second thought, standing from the coach and pulling Kimiko up with her, "Of course we'll help you. That's what SPR are here for," Mai paused, walking to the front desk by the door and shuffling through some papers before walking back to the woman, "I just need you to fill these in and tell us when you can have us over and we'll be there as soon as we can." With a smile, Mai showed Kimiko out, the older woman thanking them all for their kindness and diligence before bidding them a goodnight.

Ayako and Monk were talking amongst themselves when Mai returned to the sitting area to collect their tea orders. The brunette used the time in the kitchenette to gather her thoughts. Her vision from earlier in the afternoon ringing clear through her mind. "So, the girl in my vision was the missing daughter. But now her father's gone missing... Strange." Mai bit her lip, jumping when the kettle started whistling at her. She quickly pulled it from the heat and set about making everyone tea. She was about to set them on a tray when a heavy hand landed on her shoulder. She let out a small squeal, spinning around to see Lin standing behind her, his one visible eye wide at her reaction.

"Mai? Are you alright?" The Chinese man asked, pressing a hand to her forehead to check her temperature. The brunette swatted at his hand, escaping from under his arm as she gathered herself.

"I'm fine Lin. I was just thinking about the case when you came in." She stopped short, tilting her head in curiosity, "Why are you here anyway?"

She went to start gathering the cups again when Lin did it for her, giving her a shrug before speaking, "Naru would like to see you in his office." Was all he said, before giving her one cup for the young boss.

Mai just nodded, making her way through the sitting area to knock on Naru's door. A quiet enter came from the other side and she opened the door, noticing a small amount of light coming in through the window. She picked her way easily through the debris still on the ground, Lin having righted most of the larger pieces of furniture.

"Naru. Are you okay?" Mai asked, pulling a spare chair from the corner of the room so that she could sit next to him.

The dark haired man seemed to be resting, his chin resting against his chest which rose slowly and evenly. His hair was a mess and his clothes were wrinkled. The brunette placed her hand gently on his shoulder and gasped, feeling her world go black.

Vision

Mai jolted into the astral plan with such force that she felt herself stagger. The air was frigid as she took in the stillness of the surrounding forest. It was early afternoon by the looks of things, the sun high in the sky and casting light throughout the wood land. The brunette tried to find Naru, focusing on the link they had formed and following it like a trail of bread crumbs.

At the end of the string, she found him curled up under a tree. His breathing quiet and calm, but upon closer inspection, Mai realised that he wasn't actually sleeping. She sat down next to him and watched as he blinked lazily, his professional mannerisms lost around her since the incident months before.

He glanced at her, sitting up and taking in the surroundings for what she guessed was the second time, "It's about time you showed up." He huffed, straightening his jacket before standing and offering his hand to her. She just smiled, allowing him to pull her up before they started walking. Mai knew in her gut that Eugene was somewhere in the astral plane, wandering, trying to find answers for the upcoming case. In the meantime, Mai let Naru lead her to the beginning of the vision, letting the scenery pass by without a second glance. It was only when they stopped at a beautiful garden with paved walkways and bridges passing over the lake that Mai actually stopped to take it all in.

This is where everything happened. This is where the root of the problem for Hime Yasumu lay. And Naru and Mai were ready to get some answers. Naru leant against the red railing, focusing on the edge of the lake where only a small rock wall separated the shore and the water.

A woman came out of the tree line, her purple kimono vibrant in the light of the sun. Behind her, two younger girls followed closely. The three were very obviously related. All three had black hair while the younger two had their hair held in a loose side buns. One of the younger girls had a blue kimono on, making her eyes a piercing blue even at the distance between Mai and the girl. The other girl had dull eyes, her kimono a simple brown piece that seemed to suit the young girl just fine.

The older woman stopped at the edge of the lake and turned to the two, which Mai assumed were her daughters. Being in such a still place let the other woman's voice carry to the pair on the bridge easily.

"Hitomi," The woman started and the girl with blue eyes nodded, "Jun." The other girl in brown nodded to her mother as the older woman crouched down, "Now, I love you both very much. You know that right?" Again, both girls nodded, sharing a look of worry, "But I have another love. A love that won't accept me while you are around. So you need to help me fix that."

The two girls looked terrified, the blue eyed one, Hitomi, started crying, "But mother! What have we done? What can we do to fix it? You love us right?"

Jun didn't have a chance to speak as blood dripped from her mouth. In a split second, their mother had moved and stabbed the brunette with a hidden blade. A sick smile graced the older woman's face as she turned to Hitomi and said simply, "Just don't scream darling."

Hitomi was too terrified to scream and tried to run instead, finding quickly it was futile when the blade that had been imbedded in her sister was suddenly lodged in her back. She hit the ground with a sickening thud and a weak scream.

Mai gasped, her hands over her mouth in shock as she watched. Naru had moved closer to the brunette, his own face showing the horror he felt to the scene they had just witnessed. He had an arm wrapped around Mai's shoulder's ready to pull her to him should it get more disturbing.

The mother quickly picked up Hitomi, knife still in her back, and dropped the dying girl into the water, small air bubbles rising the surface as Hitomi sank into the lake. Jun quickly followed her sister's watery fate. The mother looked at herself once the children had sunk completely, noticing the blood on her outer kimono. Taking a quick look around, she stripped the out kimono and wrapped in around a large rock before letting it fall into the lake, most likely the only marker for her children's bodies.

The older woman took one last look at the lake before taking off back into the woods.