Mai pov:

Mai did not think Naru would have been able to get the team back into working so fast – she agreed on one week's notice, but she only had part time jobs, they actually had real things going on. She expected them to put up more of a fight, or at least waited a month before getting back into it.

It didn't upset her though, quite the opposite really – it would be great to have the family whole again. Since SPR shut down, something had been missing and it wasn't just Lin and Naru. It was the unity they had while working as a team, Mai was glad to have it back.

When she emerged from Naru's office they were all in their usual places, as if they never left. Who knew when they had turned up, Mai certainly didn't hear them, but then, it didn't really matter, there was a case at hand.

"This is the rest of the team Mr Tanaka. So, what can I do for you?" Naru asked Hikaru.

"My hotel is haunted." He stated simply, still a little reserved – as if he didn't trust the team with the information. Naru must have also picked up on it for his face darkened momentarily before the blank mask of smooth professionalism resumed their place on his features.

"A haunted hotel, of course. Okay, what are your reasons for your conclusion? Any information at all helps us, so long as you are truthful with us." Naru asked.

Mai had heard him ask this a thousand time, to sort out those not worth his or the teams time – weed out the time wasters, publicity stunts, paranoids, the hoaxes or pranks. It was usually a wearying interview session for them all – only about twelve per cent of the people who walked through that door were genuine cases.

The kettle whistled so Mai hopped up to finish makes everyone tea.

While she was there waiting for the tea to brew Mai let her mind wonder. Wonder why Naru had been gone for a whole six months if he was only there for a funeral and a case – but then it occurred to her that he hadn't seen his family in a long while, and it wasn't like he was an adult, he may have been emancipated but he was still a teenager. It was probably like going home for the holidays for him – even if it were a slightly depressing holiday.

Then why hadn't Naru just told them the leave was temporary, but then it came to her – he probably didn't mean to come back – he only came to Japan to find Gene, probably didn't think he would want to stay.

Mai let her mind wonder some more, over silly things, trivial and unimportant, until the searing pain in her hand and thighs brought her back stunningly quickly to reality. She swallowed an agonised shout – never let your mind wonder when carrying scalding hot tea in a mini skirt. It seemed she had not been quiet enough and Ayako came running to see what was wrong with Mai just to catch her grimacing in pain against the counter; wet towel wrapped around an ice block on her leg in one hand, the other hanging limply underneath the flow of the cold tap.

Mai, ever the self-sacrificing (read as: stupid) assistant (despite her raise), motioned for Ayako to take the remaining tea out into the main office.

Ayako ignored it completely in favour of Mai. She spent a few seconds inspecting the scalds before returning to hand to the running water and rewetting the towel for her leg though she discarded the ice pack.

"Keep your hand under the water for at least ten minutes, twenty preferably. Ideally we would do that for your leg too, but rewetting the towel and reapplying every couple minutes should be enough. You shouldn't apply ice cold things as it can damage the skin further. They don't look too bad, your hand is obviously worse that the leg, but it's really nothing that cold water can't fix – no scaring." Ayako explained and Mai nodded, knowing most of it already.

Ayako spend one more moment checking if Mai would be okay on her own before clearing up the spilled mug of tea and taking the rest out to the others so Mr. Tanaka could start his tale.

"There have been many strange goings on in my hotel Mr Shibuya. They started harmless enough, things going missing only to return to their original place a few hours later. I thought perhaps it was just the guests misplacing their things but then almost every one of the guests complained of the same thing – I assumed it was one of the children residing pulling pranks. But things have been getting steadily worse and worse. It went from misplacing objects to them disappearing or becoming damaged. Most of these things were of great sentimental value to our guests – some were the only things connecting them still to a past memory. We could deal with that, but now things have moved on greatly, people have been harmed. Head injuries and the like; we have been fortunate in there have been no serious injuries yet though if it continues to escalate as it has… No one's died yet but it's only a matter of time." Hukaru finished, a nervous air around him – what they didn't believe him?

"What makes you think that thisa job for us and not for the police? It's plausible that this could be the work of a human" Naru inquired, somewhat harshly.

"There have been things, impossible things – some of the guests who have been hurt described that they were hit by an invisible force. Our heating has had to go up due to inexplicable 'cold spots'" Hikaru was almost panicking now, any hope of professionalism gone.

It had all the markers of a case and he seemed genuinely panicked, on the verge of begging, so obviously not a hoax or prank.

Naru pov:

"We will need three rooms for our use – two bedrooms, and a room for our base of operations. You can leave the address with Mai, who has just walked in from the kitchen.

It was then when Naru noticed the scalding on Mai. It looked red and angry; Ayako didn't seem concerned however, apparently happy with the cold cloth placed on Mai's hand and leg. But dear lord, when was Mai going to take better care of herself?

"Alright, that seems to be in order, we'll see you soon. Have a good day Mr. Tanaka." Mai said smoothly, customer voice in place.

It was strange, Mai couldn't lie to the team to save her life, and she managed to change her demeanour so completely so completely for the clients – but then, the clients weren't her family.

Naru picked up his tea; made his way back to his office and wondered. Why had he been concealing himself for so long, only to slip up now? Why was he always so god damned tired? Probably emotional stress, but his case load had lightened greatly, so what was the cause? And why the hell was he wondering absent minded with hot tea in his hands when Mai had proved it to be a bad idea with her burns?

"Pack your things; we leave tomorrow evening, we leave at four thirty. Mai, come in normal time tomorrow. This should only take the weekend if we work through Friday night, but in the case it runs over into Monday Madoka can tutor you – any longer than that and we will find a way for you to attend your classes." With only a couple hours warning there were a few grumbles and a chuckle from Naru as he disappeared back into his office.

Mai pov:

Shit! Shit, shit shit! Stupid bloody mother fucking detentions making me late to work!

"Sorry I'm late! I had detention and then had to go home to pick up my stuff because I couldn't leave it at school because my locker had been kicked in and then-"

"Yes, yes, Mai, I understand the hardship you must face in the treacherous task of keeping your bags with you." Naru drawled back – It wasn't meant in a mean way – just banter between friends. Mai laughed as did the others, even Lin smiled. Only Masako didn't appreciate it.

Masako had heard that Naru had asked emphatically to come back, he had basically begged Mai. Naru hadn't begged her – was quite cold actually. He didn't care for her at all, though after what she had done, she couldn't really blame him.

/*Naru sat in his office, elbows on the des, listening to the call dial as he was patched through to one of the secretaries of the main office of the building where Masako's show was filmed. When he heard the generic greeting he asked to be patched through to Masako.

The man on the other end scoffed; though put a request to Masako if she wanted to speak to a 'Kazuya Shibuya'. Of course she jumped at the chance to speak to him.

"Hello, Naru? What can I do for you? How is England, it's lovely speaking to you-" She was cut off by Naru.

"Miss Hara, I must tell you that I have returned to Japan, and am opening SPR as a permanent fixture. I am enquiring as to whether you would like your old job back. The others have already agreed and should be in tomorrow." Naru finished.

"Oh Naru, of course! I'm so happy you want me back, I'll be in tomorrow." Masako was ecstatic; Naru wanted her to come back! But then, she had a thought, he had obviously asked the others before her. What did that mean?

"Has miss Taniyama agreed to come back?" Masako asked.

"Yes" He replied. "I have spoken to Mai, she has been working for a few days now" And with that, he hung up.

Masako was crushed. If that wasn't a decleration of his indifference towards her she didn't know what was. He had asked her last, spoken only over the phone, was cold and to top it all off had referred to Mai by her given name rather than with her last name as he had done with her. She would just have to get used to not being the star.*\\

"Lin, Mai, Ayako and I will go in the van. Miss Hara, Yasu, Monk and John will go in the car. Modoka will meet us there; she will help on this case as well as help Mai with her studies if the case runs too long. Monk follows us." Naru said as they locked up, and walked down to the car. With that they started the three hour journey to