The silence me made feel slightly uncomfortable, I decided to pull out my headphones to listen to some music. But before I could stick them in my ears Mai's question caught my attention. "What's is this case about Naru?" Why do this call this guy Naru? Some kind of nickname I presume. He opened up the file that he held on his lap, "For a while it was sounds and the staff that reside there say they have seen an apparition of a female sometimes walking the halls. Then it progressed, people have been pushed down the stairs. A black figure standing at the foot of their bed. Oddly enough some of them have seen this black figure and for those who have are all females." This really caught my interest, "All females, how interesting." Then I realized something "Oh by the way Naru, I actually don't know you name unless it's Naru."

"My name is Kazuya Shibuya" our eyes connected through the rearview mirror "Alice hunter." (Bold is English) "You're American?" Alice nodded and said "yes my father was transferred here for business so here I am. How you know English? You speak Japanese very well and you really don't have an accent." He was silent for a moment "schooling and parents traveled a lot." (Back to Japanese) The car pulled to a halt, I leaped out the van and went around it to see a beautiful Mansion before us. In White and long elegant windows on the front; Tall and strong even though It was old. I stood by Mai and she looked uneasy, my mind went to the vision I had earlier. I looked back at the house, it seemed off but in order for to detect or 'feel' anything I needed to be inside. I looked around and a few details caught my eye. From what I could see the trees around it were dry and dead.

The Grass was slightly yellow, it is barely October but personally this scenery change is too soon. ""Mai, are you ok?" I turned to see Houshou approach us "Hey are you getting a weird vibe from this place or is it just me?" Honestly Mai you are not the only one I feel the same way. He gave her a worried look "Maybe you are feeling that way because of an old case we dealt with before, you remember the Urado case? It was in a big manor but this one is way smaller." She nodded "Yea maybe your right." I walked away and decided to find Kazuya who I found talking to the man I think I heard called Lin. I walked over and said "Hey Kazuya" he then turned his attention towards me "yes?" His gaze was intense made me feel slightly uneasy but I didn't let it faze me "Haven't you noticed when we were driving here that the leaves are different colors but here they are completely lifeless?" he looked around "it's a bit early for the trees to look like this" he then turned his back towards me "Maybe his keepers are slacking but you do have a point it is odd."

I then looked at the tall man, as Naru walked away. "By the way I never got to ask you your name and thank you for taking me to my apartment." "My name is Lin Koujo and you're welcome."

I smiled "nice to meet you" he gave me a slight smile but my attention turned towards another car arriving. I saw a petite young woman appear, "Masako Hara?" she turned her attention towards me; I have seen her on the television before. She walked towards me with a blonde-haired man besides her. Her cold grey eyes scanned me from top to bottom. She whispered something to the blonde young man beside her. "Are you the client that lives here?" I shook my head "no I am actually new" She hid her mouth behind her sleeve "I see Naru has another assistant, and your name is?"

"Alice Hunter" I then looked at the blonde man "What's your name?" I gave him smile as he said "John Brown, are you a medium?" I kept a blank face and before I could say anything a women's voice called out "My, what do we have here? A new person?" A red headed woman with bright brown eyes appeared, she wore a light blue sleeveless dress that reached her knees, with heels. "The name is Alice, what's Yours?" she smiled "Matsuzaki Ayako, nice to meet you."

I felt someone tap me on the shoulder "Hey Mai what's up?"' she pointed her thumb towards the van. I sighed "Right, now the unloading. Although this will might be easier than the loading." Mai laughed and as we entered the house I was stunned, a giant grand hall stood before me. A red rug ran all the up a grand staircase, I felt someone tug my arm.

"You ok Alice?" I smiled at John "Um yea just amazed how big this room is and those stairs are incredible!" he smiled "let's go to base" Our base was located to the right side of the hall. We went through a double door, again I was amazed. A giant dining hall stretched before me; a fire place at the far end of the room, paintings covered the walls. A grandfather ticked away on the right side of the wall, the wall paper was a light Beige. I saw everyone placing the boxes on the large dark wooden table. I did the same, as I headed back for another box I saw Mai looking up the staircase.

I walked over to her "Mai? You ok?" she shook her head "um I could have sworn I saw somebody" I looked at the top of the stairs and saw nothing.

"Um maybe it's one of the staff members?" she shrugged "maybe" we heard the main door close. "Mai!" she glared to see Naru walk up with a clip board in hand "take the temperature in rooms." She then said "ok and is the client going to stay?" He shook his head "they are out right now to some family dinner, take monk or John with you." "so, what can I do to help" I asked. He looked up from his file, "I want you to team up with Ms., Hara and see if she can sense anything and get a feel of the house, just accompany her and watch over her." Great I am playing babysitter. "Take this copy of the floor plan and mark the areas that she senses something." I nodded and gave him a small smile "sure no problem" I walked pass him to find Masako, but before I could reach the door she appeared. As she closed the door behind her I said "Hey Ms., Hara Naru told me to go with you while you get a feel for this house." We started off at the bottom, down a hall or two and so far, nothing until we reached one room. "I sense something." I marked the map and noticed it was the library. From time to time Masako would look at me with her grey eyes and even though her face was expressionless, I could she did not like my presence. I ignored her and kept following her and doing my job. She wasn't the only one not enjoying this, I felt looked like a lost puppy of some sort. We finally made our way upstairs, "I feel a strong aura coming from one room."

On the far-left wall were several doors, a bag or bags would be by the door indicating who would stay in what room. She approached a dark brown wooden door; I noticed my duffle bag next it and Mai's. REALLY? As she was about to open the door I saw her thrown back screaming at the top of her lungs and right into me. My back hit the railing, I held back a scream as she landed on me. "Hey are you ok?" she nodded "Something is in there but now it's gone, I can't help but wonder if something happened in that room?" "I felt a very heavy and dark feeling." I frowned "please don't tell me that, don't tell Mai that." I turned around to see Mai with Houshou running to our direction with Lin and Naru following behind them. "Alice, Masako are you okay?" I let out a groan "Think so, luckily I was here to be a cushion for her, whatever it was sent her flying!" I saw Houshou crossed his arms across his chest "we just barely got here and the spirits here are already acting up, most spirits wait but this one acted fast."

I helped Masako up and I said "Doesn't it usually take a while, about 24 hours or so?" I began to fix my hair damn it, really? Stupid ghost it took me forever to fix my hair this morning!

"Correct" Naru said. I then said "well apparently, it's in my mine and Mai's room but now it's gone." Mai yelled "Awe man really?" Everyone was silent; it seemed like a minute before someone broke the silence. "Some um how about I make everybody some Tea?" I smiled but the nice gesture was cut short when the lights went out. I froze into place, I heard Lin reassure Mai. Is she with him? Damn Mai you're one lucky girl you, how did you get a guy like that? I shook my head Alice this isn't the time or place! I felt the temperature drop, "what's going on?" My voice shook, I saw Masako shaking I saw John wrap his arm around her.

We heard a scream echo through the hall; I covered my ears what's going on? "Mai?" the lights flickered back on and I quickly walked over to Lin. My heart skipped, Mai was lying unconscious in Lin's arm. I kneeled in front of him and I placed a hand on her forehead "she doesn't have a fever." Before I pulled away she opened her eyes and grabbed my right wrist, her eyes were completely white. She was giving me an evil glare "I found you!" Her sweet voice was gone replaced with something harsh and heavy, she clenched harder.

"Naumaku sanmanda bazara dan kan!" We heard a single harsh pounding sound against the wall, Mai's muddy brown eyes returned. The lights flickered back on "Alice?" she saw her hand on my wrist; I could tell she saw the fear in my eyes. She let go of my wrist, I stood up and rubbed my irritated skin. "What happened?" Lin pulled her closer to his chest "you were possessed" I could see disbelief in her eyes; Lin picked her up and disappeared into one of the guest rooms.

I saw Naru lost in thought; he then turned his attention towards us "I need everyone on this case to be on their toes, Monk and Ayako take care of Mai. After what happened to her on the case she is stronger but makes her more vulnerable." The both of them nodded, John then said "I can look after Ms., Hara, also Alice as well." Naru then said "Alice can be watched over by Lin and I, Matzusaki I need you to make some charms and something very strong for Mai. She has been a severe magnet for trouble than usual, I just need to take certain precautions I don't need anyone to killed under my watch at least not again."

Ayako nodded "understood" Killed? Did he really just say that? Again? "Alice is new which makes her vulnerable staying close to base will be safer." I glared at him "I am not stupid you know, it's called I can learn I can watch out for myself!" He and I once again did a stare off, I realized my actions and sighed. "Sorry not use to that sort of thing."

He turned his back "I think everyone should retire for the evening, we have things to do tomorrow. Monk tonight you will watch Mai then trade of with Ms. Matzusaki." As he left I followed, it was silent for a while and he said "can you do anything else?" Is he talking about my clairvoyance? I can do something else but it's sometimes hard to tap into but I won't mention for now.

"I warn you now, I never had the proper training my father-" I stopped and he said "what?" I shook my head and I felt my hands clench into fist. "Let's say my father doesn't exactly get the father of the year award dealing with unique kids. My mother had this gift or whatever you call it. She was my rock and one day her illness just got the best of her after a long fight." He stood silent, processing my brief background.

"You do this through touch?" I nodded "Yes Clairsentience, through touch or to feel. It's hard to explain, like an item of the person. When we touch things, we leave our mark or a recording." He didn't say anything else; we sat in the dining hall for about an hour or two. I stood up and stretched; I began to look around at the art work. A lot of it was dark romanticism art work; I kept looking until one caught my eye. A woman with long dark beautiful hair, she wore a black kimono with a pink and white sash. She hid her face behind a black lacy fan, only her Dark eyes peeking out gazing into my own. I lightly touched the picture; I felt a warm feeling under my fingertips. I closed my eyes and I felt a rush and a gasp escaped my lips.

She sat on a chair staring out the window; a man picked up a suit case for of art work and left. As the door shut she let out a heavy sigh and stood up. She looked out the window and whispered "You promised you would" the door behind her opened and I felt a heavy feeling in my chest. I was feeling what she was feeling, this had never happened. I felt myself come back to present, my eyes blurred slight and I feltmy legs gave out landing on my back with a thud. I laid there for a minute, I heard footsteps approach me. I slowly sat up and saw Naru Kneeling before me, "what happened?"

I pointed at the painting while with my other hand rubbed the back of my head. "That painting or more like the woman in it might have to do something with this place." "I saw her, she said something like you promised." I slowly picked myself up; Naru grabbed my arm helping me up. "Thanks" "is that all you saw?" "Honestly the last thing was someone opened the door, a man but I had a sad feeling in my chest. I couldn't really see him but the feeling in her chest was sad, like she expected someone else."

He placed a hand on his chin while looking at the painting "interesting I will see if I can find anything on this painting or the woman in it." I nodded and took another stretch "well Kazuya I am going to hit the sack I will see you bright and early tomorrow." As I walked away he said "Alice?" I turned around "yes?" he turned away and said "just call me Naru" I smiled and said "ok um night Naru" as I walked away I broke out in laughter.

NARU POV:

After the girl left, Naru sat in silence processing what he had learned tonight. The door at the end of the hall opened, Lin appeared. "You seem lost in thought." Oliver chuckled "Just thinking about something" Lin then said "That girl, Alice, reminds you of someone." The young man sighed in annoyance "You have to admit you don't see people like that too often. You are aware, aren't you?" Lin then said "it's not a common thing, some people display some sort of psychic ability. But I feel she can do more, and you know it. I have seen it with you and you know who." Oliver shot a glare but Lin didn't mind or neither care he had mentioned his brother because Lin knew that he was right.

Oliver shook his head "Anyway, we don't know her full potential just yet. She hasn't fully tapped into her abilities, from what she told me her father didn't handle her too well that's all she said. Lin then said "Most parents will reject the child completely or turn to extreme and I mean extreme measures to handle it." Oliver then said "true, her mother had the same thing, I can't help but wonder what happened." Lin smirked "Interested in our new recruit? I do admit she is quite attractive." The young boy shot him a glare and Lin actually laughed. Oliver placed his head on the table, this was going to be a long few days.

Edited : 3/19/17