Mai stood dumbstruck before a large, traditional Japanese mansion. Cherry Blossoms fenced the house and large clumps of snow slid from the triangular-shaped slopes of the roof. Extensions randomly snaked on from the main house and a river of ice spread it's frost-glazed mass through the maze of trees.

'Stop gaping and help Lin unpack the equipment', Naru drawled as he dumped a computer monitor in her arms. The twenty year-old poked her tongue out at her boss's back.

Mai sagged under the weight of the machine but complied, crossing the threshold of the house and disappearing into its mass.

Lin accompanied her, a box of heavy equipment in hand. When Mai glanced behind her to see where Naru was, she noticed the familiar, faint shimmering outline of a figure following in step behind her. After scrutiny Mai determined that it was a male figure. Her eyebrows knitted together, pondering. It didn't feel like a good presence, but it didn't feel like a bad one either.

'Lin', Mai began. Lin cocked an eyebrow at her. 'Can you see what's following us?' The tall man now raised both eyebrows; however he didn't seem the slightest bit concerned.

'You mean Kafil', he said as he continued walking forward with long strides. Mai had to jog just to keep up with the man.

'Ummm, who's Kafil?' Mai enquired, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Lin sighed, shifting his gaze to the girl beside him. 'An old friend', he replied cryptically.

Mai considered this for a moment, her thoughts connecting like dots in her mind.

'Is he one of your shiki?', she asked.

Lin's lips curled in a small smile. 'Yes, he is one of my shiki.'

Mai looked back at the faint apparition and studied it. Despite the translucent form Kafil appeared to Mai as, she couldn't shake the feeling that he seemed more substantial, more alive than Lin's other shiki. For one moment, she could have sworn she saw a small smile tug at the corners of the spirits mouth, only to disappear as the shiki vanished.

Forgetting the weight of the object in her arms as she climbed the stairs, Mai continued to ask her companion questions.

'Lin', Mai started. The man nodded for her to continue. 'Masako told me that shiki are hollow spirits'.

'That is correct', he confirmed.

'Kafil doesn't seem that way to me', she said, puzzled.

A small smile appeared on his lips. He nodded. Their conversation came to a close as they found the room that would be their base.


Naru sat at his desk, habitually tapping his pointer finger against his desk, eyes glued to the monitors. He watched as Lin and Mai set up microphones and took temperature readings. So far, there had been no activity to mention. Not the slightest temperature fluctuations, not the smallest hint of any paranormal activity. Of course, this was entirely normal. Often spirits would shy away at first in defence. However, that response did not seem to fit the case that had been laid before them. The spirit had been described as cruel, calculating and volatile. And judging by the length of the occurrences, this spirit had been dead for a very long time, meaning it would only grow more dangerous.

Suddenly, Naru felt a slight tremor ripple through the mansion.

No. This spirit was not shy. This was the calm before the storm.


Mai and Lin methodically worked through the rooms. Naru had instructed them not to leave each other's side. Lin had of course protested that Naru would be left defenceless. Naru had of course won the fight.

Lin later told Mai that he had left Kafil to watch over their friend.

A shudder slid up her spine as the floor began to shake.

Mai felt sick. The metallic smell of blood was pungent in her nose.

Lin looked to her, alarmed.

'Lin, Mai, return to base, now!' A cold voice reverberated through comms.

The two raced down the halls of the house, cracks in the floor nipping at their feet as they turned a sharp corner.

A shrill scream sluiced through the mansion and the very earth beneath them began to shake.

Mai struggled to keep her footing as she clung to the walls. Lin helped her regain her bearings, and they ran to the source of the scream.

They rounded another corner and came to the entrance of a bedroom. As they neared the entrance, a bamboo sliding door was ripped from its tracks, pinning the two to the wall. At the centre of the storm lay a girl, eyes closed, her long black hair strewn about the pillow of her futon as a translucent figure hovered above her. The apparition's long, pale fingers wrapped around her victim's throat. The sleeping girl seemed to be the source of the storm, electricity buzzing like a field around her, hairs standing on end. Lin strained his neck from where his body was bound, to check his young companion, limp and unconscious beside him, still pinned, midair to the wall. Lin felt his own consciousness slowly dim as the very air in the room seemed to vanish. With one last thought, he cast his shiki out to protect his team, and blackness consumed him.


Naru felt the air in his lungs purged from him like a vacuum. Clasping at his throat, he stumbled into the room, where an unconscious girl lay, a look of horror plastered on her sleeping face.

The ghost of a woman, clothed in red, hovered above her, icy hands clawing at the girl's throat.

Upon seeing Naru enter the room, an irritated expression flitted across her face, only to be replaced with a sickening grin.

The spirit flew past Naru, dagger in hand, as she flew through Mai, her knife aimed at his assistant's heart.

As the spirit left the room, the table that had suspended his two co-workers in mid air, collapsed, pulling it's captives down with it.

Lin awoke with a thud, rubbing his head gingerly as Naru offered a hand to help him up.

Naru watched Mai's breathing, crumpled figure below him. She was connected to this case in some way, but how?

'Naru', Lin's steady voice interrupted his thoughts from where he stood, next to the girl who still lay in her futon, unbreathing.

Naru sighed. 'She had phsykonesis', he concluded. 'One of the strongest cases I have ever seen,' he mused.

Hurried steps sounded in the hallway, the household occupants rushing to investigate the commotion.

They had explaining to do. There was much that occurred in this house that Naru had not been properly made aware of.

He looked down at Mai's unconscious form, bundling her up in his arms. With calculated steps, he made his way back to base and placed her across the couch, praying she would wake up soon.


Hey guys. I'm so, so, so sorry this is so late! I've just started a new job full time, and any spare time I'm pretty much sleeping. Hopefully, my next chapters will be a bit more regular.

I'd like to send a massive thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, faved or followed so far. You have no idea how much it means to open up my lap top and see all of your kind words. So thank you, really.

Will update asap,

Love,

Marina