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Where?

"What on..."began Monk. Naru captured his chin in his fingers.

"What do they mean by where, Naru?" asked Mai. There was a pause.

"She probably thinks that we know where something is. Something that she wants."

"Well, what does she want?" demanded Ayako.

"Yasuhara's arrival will, hopefully, clear that up. Mai."

"Yes?"

"Tea. Don't go alone." And with that he strode down the hallway, back to base. Everyone else followed him, except for Mai, and Ayako, who had volunteered to go with Mai.

In the kitchen, Mai sighed as she poured water into the kettle and set it to boil.

"Oh, you're sighing a lot," commented Ayako with a dry smirk. "You know what they say about people who sigh a lot, right?"

Mai paused and thought for a moment. "No." She finally concluded. "What do they say?"

"Well, that they are in love. Are you going to tell him?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" asked Mai, hoping to avoid the conversation, but she wasn't sure how.

"You know who I mean" Ayako sighed. She wasn't going to let Mai get away from this conversation.

"Oh! You sighed! You know what they say about people who sigh a lot, right?"

"But that was a totally different type of sigh!"

"Yeah, well, so was mine!" Mai stuck her tongue out. The water stopped boiling. Mai poured it into a cup, and pulled the tea bag around the cup, looking as the water changed from clear to golden. She dumped the tea bag into the bin, and walked back with Ayako.

In the base, Yasuhara had arrived. He handed a folder to Naru, and then turned to the others and started talking about various things.

Mai put the tea on the table, then she and Ayako sat down. Naru shut the folder.

"The original house was built by Oichi Kaname, about 110 years ago. It was passed down through the family. Kaname was Sakurako's great grandfather. She died from natural causes at the age of 17. However there are some rumours concerning her death. For a start, it seems she was pregnant, but no one knows whether she died before the baby was born or after."

"Well, we know. Mai said after." Pointed out Ayako. Yasuhara glanced at Mai, then carried on.

"Okay then, after. But no one knows what happened to the baby. There were rumours that it was killed by her father, Oichi Sumito, as the father of the child was unknown. Sumito was supposed to have been a harsh guy, so it's possible."

Yasuhara shut his notepad. Everyone was silent.

"So that man, was her father?" asked Mai quietly, remembering the anguish and fear on Sakurako's face. She felt sorry for her. Naru had his chin in his hand.

"I think we can assume that Sakurako is looking for her baby." He said.

"So, when she finds the baby she'll move on right?" Monk asked.

"Why can't we make a hitogata then?" Mai asked

"Mai, you are an idiot. To make a hitogata we would have to have the name."

John started to tell Yasuhara the whole story.

"But then why is she hurting people?" cried Mai. But Naru was silent. "Naru?" she spoke louder.

"Mai, be quiet." She sucked in her breath and then glared at him.

"I think we need to speak to the spirit. Hara-san, can you perform a séance tonight?" Masako nodded. Naru got up and left.

"So, what do we do now?" asked Monk. Yasuhara shrugged.

"We wait for the séance?" suggested John. He looked at his watch. It was only 4 in the afternoon.

Nobody moved from the base all day, except for Masako when she went to prepare and Mai when she went to get tea. After taking the empty cups back for a refill, she paused outside Naru's door. Gathering courage she knocked, then went in, not waiting for an answer. He looked up from his book.

"Normally when people knock they wait for an answer before coming in."

"Well, I was only wondering if you would like some tea." Huffed Mai. And he's one to complain about manners. She started walking to the door.

"Mai, wait." She turned around. "Are you going by yourself?"

"Yes, why?"

"After I specifically told you not to?"

"I'm only going to the kitchen."

"I'll come with you." He stood and they went together. Neither of them spoke. I don't know why he comes if he's not gonna say anything Mai thought bitterly as she waited for the water to boil and set out cups.

"Are you getting tea for everyone? And they sent you alone." He was clearly not happy about this. Why does he have to make such a fuss? The return journey to the base was just as quiet. They entered to find everyone sitting on the couches, talking. However they soon stopped when they saw Naru's expression.

"Lin." He walked back out the base, Lin following him.

"Mai, what happened?" Monk looked worried.

"Nothing! I went to get tea and he came along."

"So you two were alone in the kitchen. That's why you took longer then usual!" He grinned. Mai blushed slightly.

"Bou-san! Nothing happened. He was in a bad mood."

"Poor Mai." He said, ruffling her hair. She scowled at him.

"Mai." Naru had returned to base and was beckoning her. Monk grinned even wider. She sighed but got up and followed him.

"Mai, your stupidity knows no bounds. The ghost is targeting you."

"Naru, nothing is going to happen to me in between the kitchen and the base. It's just down the hall, if something happened they could hear me!" Mai was getting angry.

"And what if you faint in the hall? You wouldn't make any noise and you wouldn't be able to defend yourself." He said calmly.

"Naru, if it's such a big problem maybe YOU should follow me round everywhere! Stop taking it out on Lin-san, you JERK!" She screamed. He looked at her coldly.

That was how, for the rest of the day she went everywhere with Naru. Damn my big mouth. I didn't mean it literally! She thought angrily, as Naru stood watching her pour boiling water in the kitchen. Suddenly she collapsed, and the last thing she heard was "Mai!".

I was in the base. Whoa, how did I get here so quickly? Naru appeared at my side.

"Look." He said. I watched as the woman stood next to Monk and Ayako as they were deep in conversation.

"Where is she? Answer me! I will not let you interfere!" The woman screeched at them, but they didn't respond.

"Why don't they notice her?" I asked, confused.

"She does not know how to appear to humans. She does not realise she is dead." Naru smiled sadly.

"Mai!"

I could hear a voice in the distance calling my name.

"Mai!"

"Naru?" She woke on the floor with his jacket over her. She sat up.

"Mai, what happened?" Ayako appeared in the doorway, with Monk and John in tow.

"I had a dream. She was there, right next to you and Bou-san, speaking to you, but you couldn't see her." Mai frowned. "She doesn't realise that she is dead, and she's confused about why no one notices her."

Naru helped her up and everyone made their way back to the base. Lin stood up.

"Is she okay?"

"Yes." Said Naru, smirking. He clearly thought that he had proved his point. Mai gritted her teeth. And now he's definitely not going to let me go anywhere on my own.

Touta ran into the base, everyone looked at him.

"Touta-san, what is it?" Asked John.

"In the dinning room, there are more scratches! We were eating, when suddenly there were lots of bangs and when we looked up words had been scratched into the walls."

Everyone stood up and made their way down to the dinning room. Sure enough, on the wall were scratched the two words: answer me. Masako promptly fainted.

"Masako!" Mai supported her. "Masako, are you alright?"

She groaned. "The spirit...is so angry." She said quietly.

"Hara-san, I think we should move the séance to earlier. Are you prepared to do that?"

Masako nodded.