Chapter Two

Mai's scream could be heard a block away. Naru had never felt more terrified in his life before. When the first sounds of her shrieks reached him he had immediately dashed down the hallway, desperate to get to her, completely ignoring Miss Hara who was shouting down the hall after him. Couldn't she hear Mai's frightened screams?

"Mai!" Naru shouted, skidding to a stop at the entrance of their base of operations. The room beyond the hallway was in darkness. Within he could hear Mai inhaling sharply, short bursts of air. Without another thought he bounded into the room, heading for the TVs. The screens cast enough light for him to see the empty chair, and no Mai. His heart almost stopped.

"Dammit, Mai, where are you? Answer me."

Suddenly light flared to life behind him, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Naru spared a brief glance at Monk, who was holding a silver candelabrum. His eyes swept the room and ground to a halt on the figure huddled in the far corner. Mai.

Without realising what he was doing he walked over to her and dropped to one knee. "Mai," he said softly, reaching out a hand and placing it gently on her head. Now is not the time to be noticing how soft her hair is, he mentally scolded himself.

He could hear her gasping softly, her body trembling with fear. It made something inside of him break. He sat down next to her and drew her into his arms. Although she came willingly she didn't respond to his embrace and he frowned slightly. Mai always had something to say. For her to be this quiet something must have really scared her.

"Those eyes," Mai said softly, startling him from his thoughts. "Those big white eyes. They kept watching me. They kept waiting for me. No, make them stop watching me." Mai closed her eyes and shook her head, moaning softly. "Make him go away."

Naru felt his breath freeze. His hands tightened around Mai's arms. She had seen it. Not it. Him. She had seen the spirit. He cast a glance at Miss Hara, wondering how she had failed to pick up on the spirit's presence. Her eyes were downcast, a look of chagrin on her face.

Next his gaze was drawn to Miss Matsuzaki. "Miss Matsuzaki," he started in a low tone. "What was the task entrusted to you?"

Miss Matsuzaki lowered her gaze. Her hands were clasped together in front of her. "I…I was tasked with making charms for every room in the house." Her shoulders drooped even as she spoke, realising her mistake too late. "Naru, I…"

"So how did this room escape your notice?" Naru hadn't raised his voice but she flinched as if he had. She looked devastated and Monk moved forward to slide his arm around her shoulder, offering what little comfort he could. But Naru didn't care. Where Mai was concerned he had no limits. No matter that it hadn't been deliberate; she could have been seriously hurt. She was damned lucky to have escaped unscathed. Or was she?

Naru narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Mai herself had just said the boy did nothing but sit and watch her, as if waiting for something. Waiting for what? Surely a malevolent spirit wouldn't be that serene. Then his mind flashed back to the images of the previous owner and he had to physically suppress a shudder. He couldn't imagine what he would have done if he had walked in to find Mai sprawled like that, eyes dead to the world.

Naru got to his feet, bringing Mai up with him. By now, Lin and John had joined them and Lin moved forward to sweep Mai up into his arms at Naru's nod. He watched them leave, knowing Mai was in capable hands. The tension didn't leave his frame though. He looked toward Miss Matsuzaki who was already busy scribbling down a charm for the room.

"I sense sadness and pain…so much pain."

Naru barely refrained from rolling his eyes. So Miss Hara finally decided to do something useful. He wiped all emotion from his face and cast her a blank look. She walked further into the room, closer to him. Her hand reached out and touched the wall. She gasped and jerked away falling backwards, so trusting in him to catch her.

He was tempted to just let her fall but the gentleman in him had him lifting his arms to catch her. Her eyes were closed and her hands were clasped tightly over her mouth. "It was horrible," she said quietly. "So much death. This house has seen more tragedy than most." The last part was whispered.

Naru turned his sigh into a nod. He set her back on her feet but her hand came up to grip his bicep anyway. She tucked her head into his chest and then he had to roll his eyes. Since she couldn't see his face or the others she didn't notice Monk slap a hand over his mouth to cover his laughter, or John turning his head to hide his smile.

Really, the girl may have been a television star but she wasn't in front of the camera now! As for her usefulness regarding this case…well Naru was still trying to figure that one out. He reasoned that with Mai's astounding ability to attract even the smallest of spirits Miss Hara would become pretty much redundant.

Monk cleared his throat loudly. "Well then, I guess we should continue with what we were doing." John was quick to give his approval. Monk left the candelabrum sitting on the cherry wood coffee table in the middle of the room before departing with John in tow. Miss Matsuzaki was still avoiding Naru's eyes and he didn't blame her. His cheeks flushed as he realised what he must have looked like. He, who never championed anyone, had done the impossible for Mai.

Even now he couldn't believe the lack of control he had when it came to the cinnamon-haired vixen. He wasn't particularly proud of the way she made him forget himself in front of people, and especially in front of these people he considered his friends, though he would never voice that out loud. And she still didn't realise the power she had over him, power he would never admit to.

Miss Hara sighing had him brought swiftly back into the room. Naru coughed into his fist, thinking of a way to get her off him. "Miss Hara, I think you should lie down for a while. This has obviously been very distressful to you. Miss Matsuzaki, would you please escort Miss Hara to your rooms?"

Miss Matsuzaki shot him a grateful look and came forward to take Miss Hara from him. The latter wasn't very impressed with his escape tactic and looked at him from underneath her lashes. He didn't care to interpret her look, nor did he want to. He turned away from them.

And felt all the blood freeze in his veins.

His eyes had immediately caught the TV screens. Or one screen in particular. The only screen with a mobile image on it. The image of a young boy. A chill swept through Naru as the boy slowly, deliberately turned his head toward the camera. And then his blackened lips slowly curved up into a terrifying smile.

You've brought her right to me…"