Two days.
It had been two complete days since their findings were shared and nothing had happened. All were on edge including the tea deprived Naru, which irritated everyone else to no end. Mai, who had been the only person ignoring the situation as well as everyone else, decided to minimize her communication with everyone else as she drew in her notebook.
Ayako, who sat next to Monk as they discussed the case, stared worriedly at Mai. "Monk, we need to hurry and get rid of that spirit. Mai hasn't been able to sleep in 2 days."
He managed a small nod.
Mai's ears twitched as she heard her name. 'Guys I'm completely fine. Yasu and I have stayed up longer than this, don't worry as long as we minimize my energy used. I should be fine. If there is anything we should worry about is me staying up longer than 4 days.'
Seeing as how neither the Monk or shrine maiden are fluent enough to understand whatever she had just said, the pair turned towards John, seeing as how Lin wasn't looking and Yasu was out. "She's fine. Just don't let the 4th day pass. "
He didn't want to question how that was possible, however, he was certain it had something to do with the pill bottle in her purse.
It was Naru that brought them out of their conversation. "As long as she's fine it shouldn't matter. For now, I would like Miss Hara and John to bless the rooms once more and perhaps even provoke the spirit while you're at it. Miss Matsuzaki, Monk, we need to recheck the room temperatures, while you're at it check camera 5, it's been malfunctioning lately." Naru turned to get a glimpse at his employees. "I suggest you hurry, Yasu will arrive with our food soon."
Most of them were inclined to groan but withheld it. The mention of food brightened up their spirits just a bit.
/x/xx/xxx/
When the shifts were decided, it was known to Mai that her partner for the night would be Naru. While their time together was silent, it had a slight awkwardness to it. Mai couldn't help but mentally groan. Anyone else would have been better even Lin.
'Perhaps you should have asked someone to switch with you.'
'It still wouldn't really matter, I can't speak, let alone communicate with the others unless it is John, Lin or Yasu. Having them with us would have only caused more trouble.'
When she heard laughter, thought not quite sounding like Gene's, she frowned.
'I'm not entirely sure if that was funny.'
'It wasn't me, I was wondering who it was as well.'
This caused Mai to turn in her seat, even without her sight, habits die hard.
"Is something the matter?"
Mai quickly grabbed hold of her notebook and pen. 'I was cetain I heard something just now, didn't you hear it?"
"No, Perhaps you're just getting a bit delusional. I expect that happens to a person that hasn't slept in a while."
'That's the thing, I wasn't the only one to hear it.'
Mai could never be too sure of his reaction. He might have gone stiff at the indirect mention of his dead brother or he might have been more stressed. Knowing that you have to complete something within a time limit does worry and stress some, even if they are known for being emotionless. It was then that she heard his frustrated sigh. 'Would you like some tea?'
Mai didn't even wait for an answer, she instead, grabbed ahold of his arm and dragged him towards the kitchen, careful not to fall, also hoping she remembered the way completely.
It went without saying that he helped her. No sight meant huge messes, ones she tried her best to avoid.
"Thank you, Mai." His voice as calm as ever once he took a sip of the tea he dearly missed. Nothing would ever compare to it.
I'm sure you needed it more than ever.
/x/xx/xxx/
Her shift with Yasu has started, they were watching the monitors and listening to the recordings. It's obvious who got what, but by then Mai wasn't completely sure she would last any longer. Her eyes were getting heavy. 'Yasu can you be noisy. I can't fall asleep anytime soon.'
"Sure thing Mai."
She smiled slightly until he brought up the topic she had been dreading for a while now. "So for our little problem.- What do you propose we do?"
'same thing we have been doing for the past 3 years, except this time, we don't get anyone involve unless it's absolutely necessary. We don't need to lose anyone else. It's our fault 3 people are already gone.'
The air, in that instant, was a little tense. No response from Yasu certainly proved it, and it was comfirmed once she was suddenly pushed against the chair she sat in. "Isn't this sweet. Your love for this boy is strong, but what is the, certainly you love the boy with dark indigo eyes as well."
Mai stiffened in her seat, struggling against the spirit now in possession of Yasu. No malicious intent of a man but rather a women. "Let's show him a little something, shall we?"
She was completely restrained, wanting desperately for her best friend to awaken and gain complete control of his body again. It was then that her lips were pressed up against his own, pulling, biting, desperately trying to get any reaction out of her. When she thought she would faint then, the door opened and his weight was thrown off of her.
The usual prayer was heard from John and Ayako, the one with him, came up towards her daughter figure who looked pale. "Mai, are you okay?"
She nodded, attempting to relax a bit now that she knew Yasu would be fine.
"What happened?" Naru, the one who realized something was wrong by the lack of chatter on the other end, asked.
'Yasu got possessed.'
"That much was obvious thank you, I meant why did this happen. I assumed Miss Matsuzaki placed wards around the base." He said, directing a full glare towards the shrine maiden.
"Possessed but how? You usually prevent that."
Mai managed to throw a glare at Monk.
"What do you mean?"
'Nothing to worry about, for now, we need to get rid of the spirit.'
"And what exactly do you suggest we do?"
Mai looked down at her hands out of instinct. She had thought of this for awhile but it was still a bit risky.
"I astral project.'
The protests were certainly coming. More from Monk than anyone else. "No! Absolutely not, I will not allow it."
Mai frowned.
'I'm sorry but it's not entirely up to you to decided. I'll have you know that it's not dangerous as long as someone is watching over my body. Besides I don't sleep, Isn't that right Yasu?"
Yasu who had woken up seconds ago but quickly caught up to the conversation nodded. "That's right, it's only dangerous due to a spirit entering her own body and completely taken over, however, Mai, are you positive you can do this. This spirit did take the majority of your energy away. I can't exactly guarantee you'll be able to stay awake much longer if you Astral Project."
She nodded at his words. "Lin, please take care of me."
Mai didn't wait any longer, it needed to be done. Her senses were slowly leaving her, and the idea of becoming a mindless doll didn't really appeal to her. Before she knew it, Mai had entered the spirit plane, only to be greeted by her spirit guide. "Gene what happened?"
The man in front, or rather teenager, shook his head. "I think it'll all come together once you watch this."
In front of them, they watch what seemed to be your typical soap opera.
'Emily, Please. Why!? I thought things were going well!" A clean cut man in an Italian business suit screamed. What seemed to be his wife, almost completely nude flushed with anger. "You thought things were going well!? How dare you cheat on me? How dare you act like it never happened?! How dare you do it again after you promised it would never occur again!?"
The man looked utterly heartbroken. The scene quickly changed towards one of the man's wife leaving with tears in her eyes, not looking where she was going, she got into an accident, dying instantly.
From there the scenery change, Heartbroken by her last words, the man went crazy, leading to him becoming a serial killer. Many of his victims were girls who looked like his wife did during High school. He kidnapped, raped and then finally killed them. Only carving out essential body parts to create a doll that looked like his late wife.
Mai sighed. This case was stupid, and it only showed what unmentioned loved can do to a person. After this, she was definitely going to sleep for a couple of days.
"Thank you, Gene, I think it's time for me to go back."
His soft smile, ever present, as he disappeared from her view.
/x/xx/xxx/xxxx/
"Why isn't she waking up!?" Ayako, nearly screaming in Mai's ear, exclaimed.
"It shouldn't be long. Perhaps she's found some very interesting information." Yasu, though confident in his words, said worriedly.
Monk was getting very agitated. "You better hope so Yasu, this will be your fault if she doesn't wake up." By then his hands were grasping the collar of Yasu's shirt tightly.
Yasu, serious enough to scared them in fear that was something was wrong, grabbed Monk's hand. "I'm certain she will wake up. It's not the first time something dangerous has happened. You'll just have to wait for her and I believe she was right in doing this."
Monk close enough to yell in his face once more was suddenly hit by a pillow.
'I certainly do hope you also believed in me, Monk. I'll have you know this isn't the first time I do something dangerous and on my own.'
"What did she say?" Monk asked, confused.
Yasu smirked. "She hates your lack of trust."
"B-but Mai! You were out for a long time!" From there he cried painfully. Mai was certain this had something to do with Ayako.
'Is Lin in the room?'
"Yea, Lin?"
When the sound of his seat turning around was heard, Mai began to sign every detail she remembers. Also adding in how idiotic this case was. "Is that all?"
'Yes, now please, if you can, hurry, I suggest the same method we used on the doll case we had years ago to be done again. I really do wish to have some sleep.'
From Mai's left, Ayako spoke up. "The male spirit, did he really cause all this because he went mental?"
Monk answered for her. "This isn't the first time something happened like this. Though it seems he did this just to toy around with his victims. "
Naru interrupted their chatter. "Mai, I think it's best if you sleep. You're paler than ever. We should be able to get this done by nightfall."
Mai nodded. 'I certainly hope you're -' She never got to finish her sentence. Instead, her eyes rolled back and her head almost hit the coffee table in front of her.
"Mai!"
Updated 01/02/2017
