Flash back 1

I was sitting in the hot spring with my group of friends. We were talking about guys on tv that we thought were cute. After a while my friends said they'd would be going back to the room. I was enjoying the feel of the warm water on my skin and told them I'd catch up with them in a bit. I sat there with my back against the edge of the bath, my head tilted up. For some reason my shoulder began to feel very cold and I could see my breath in the air.

"You've come back to me."

I heard a man's voice but I didn't see anyone around. I pulled my towel tightly around my body and stood up. He was laughing but I couldn't determine where the voice was coming from. I ran across the bath but I felt two hands grab my shoulders pulling me backwards. I fell into the water. I tried pushing myself back up but the hands were still holding me. I turned my head and saw a glowing blue man grinning at me. I started screaming, losing air in the process. I couldn't hold my breath anymore. I gasped taking in water. My lunges were burning from each intake of water. My body became numb and my vison was getting dark. I laid motionless as the hands holding me let go.

"You'll always be mine." The man's voice said.

Flash back 2

I had been working at the hot spring for two weeks now. Today I was told to clean up the fallen leaves from the bath. I swept the stone floors before fishing leaves out of the water with a small net. I felt a chill after a few minutes being there, I turned around once hearing footsteps stopping right behind me. However as I turned around there was no one there. I felt hands grab my throat and I was shoved into the water. I tried to break free but I couldn't, there were no hands on me as I felt around my neck, but the feeling of pressure was still there. I took a painful breath of water. My body jerked as I continued to drown. I saw a mist of blood in the water.

Mai's eyes shoot open as her head resurfaced and took a quick breath before being dragged under once more. Takigawa was chanting as John read from the bible. The hold on Mai began to loosen. Naru jumped into to the water taking hold of Mai and pulling her from the water. She started coughing hard as water spilled from her lips. Her eyes were blood shot from lack of oxygen, she sat here taking deep breaths before falling forward into Narus chest. She started crying hysterically gripping on to his shirt pulling him closer. Naru lifted her into his arms and walked down the hallway in the direction of base. He could feel her body shake with each sob. Her arms wrapped around him and she buried her face in the nap of his neck. Lin was standing just outside of base holding a confused Jen. Naru passed them and sat on the floor. He removed his arm from under Mai's knees and pulled her closer to him. He ran his left hand through her wet hair trying to calm to scared girl.

"Lin bring me a blanket." He said not taking his eyes off of Mai.

Lin retrieved a blanket from the bedroom and handed it to Naru. Takigawa and John ran into base but upon seeing Mai's state they didn't say anything. They stood quietly as Naru took hold of Mai's forearms and pulled them from around his neck. Mai looked up at him, her face contorted as more tears formed in her eyes. He unfolded the blanket and wrapped it tightly around her trembling form. Once covered he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back back against him. He held her like that until she fell asleep. Then carried her into the sleeping quarters and depositing her on her bed. For the rest of the night Lin watched the monitors as Takigawa and John sat silently sat the table in the living room. Naru sat cross-legged beside Mai bed as she slept.

Day 4 Morning

The sun had just started to rise painting the blue sky orange. No one slept last night with the exception of Mai. Lin had stayed up watching the monitors as Monk and John tried to find more information on the infamous Jun. Naru still sat watching Mai as she slept, luckily there were no signs of her having another dream.

"I think I found something." John said as he looked up from the computer screen.

Lin turned in his chair to face John as Takigawa walked over and rested his hand on the back of Johns chair peering at the screen.

"It appears Jun worked as a farmer for the fujimura family. They owned the land around here around 150 years ago. I did some digging into the Fujimura family, they had four daughters all in their twenty's. The youngest daughter was named Fujimura Azami who had gone missing for about three week but was later found buried in the forest by the lake. At the time her father had been asked by two men for her hand in marriage. Her father had decided to marry her off to a noble from a nearby village."

"So are you saying Azami could have been the spirit that possessed Mai?" Monk asked.

"It's possible. Remember that spirit had been waiting for someone and confused Naru for her lover." John turned his chair around to face both men.

"The two girls who drowned in the spring were also similar in appearance. Gima Yuki age 19 was about 5'5" with short brown hair and brown eyes. Izumi Mikka age 24 was 5'2" with brown hair and brown eyes. If you think about it Mai would fit that description as well." Lin said while looking over the autopsy records.

"So this bastard has something against petit women with brown hair and eyes then? "Monk said with his arms cross over his chest.

"I would reckon so."

It was midday and I hadn't left the sleeping quarters once. My wet cloths had dried as I sat here next to Mai. She let out a soft groan as she winkled her forehead and opened her eye. She rolled on to her side and silently stared at me.

"How are you feeling?" I asked

"My eyes, head and ankle hurt." She said in a raspy voice.

I pulled the cover back so her feet were exposed. I lifted her left pant leg noticing how it was still damp along with the blanket. I saw dark bruise in the shape of a hand print was around her ankle.

"You should change into some other clothes before you get sick." I said as I stood up.

"I can't."

"Why not?" I asked confused.

"My bag in still in that tree over there." Mai pointed her finger to a tree just outside the window.

I walked over to the window, stepping onto the windowsill I held on to the wall with my right hand and reached out to the bag with my left. I had to inch my fingers closer before the bag was in reach enough to grab the handles. I pulled it and stepped off the sill. I walked over to Mai who was now standing up, handing her the bag she put it on the floor and unzipped it. I saw a few cans of tea and some bags of chips. She dug further down and pulled out a pair of navy blue jeans and a red t-shirt. I walked her out of the room and into the living room which was empty. I slide the next door open that lead to base.

"Mai are you alright?" Takigawa said as he walked up to her and pulled her into a hug."

Mai just nodded her head.

"I'm glad you're up and about Mai." John said as he gave her a small smile.

"Where are the two of you going?" Lin asked from his seat at the monitors.

"I'm taking her to the bathroom to change."

We left base after that and walked down the hallway. Once we reached the bathroom I waited outside the door as Mai went in. I was standing there for a few minutes when I heard her crying.

Knock Knock

"Mai can I come in?"

The door slowly opened and I stepped inside. Mai had already changed her clothes and her back was to me and was crying into her fist. I took hold of her shoulder and slowly turned her to face me. I moved her hands away from her face and cupped her left cheek in my hand. I wiped her tears away with my thumb.

"Please Mai….. Don't cry anymore." I said as I looked into her eyes.

She just looked at me her lips were trembling. I hated that Jun had shaken her up this much. I'll enjoy sending that sadistic bastard to hell where he belongs for what he's done. I closed my eyes and leaned forwards pressing my lips to hers. I could feel them shaking. I opened my eye slightly and saw that Mai's eye had gone wide. I pulled away from her and smiled. She looked up at me confused.

"Mai." I said as I leaned in again recapturing her lips with mine.

I slide my hand from her cheek to the back of her head holding her soft hair between my fingers. I tilted my head to the left giving her small pecks. I felt her move her lips against mine as she kissed me back. I felt this weird sensation in my chest, I'd never felt it before but I knew it wasn't a bad feeling but a good one. Mai's took hold of my jacket as the kiss deepened. I could feel her grip tightened and I placed my left hand on the small of her back pulling her closer. We broke the kiss for air, Mai was breathing kind of hard and her cheeks were red.

"We should head back now. Let's get this case over with." I said as I pulled the door open and took Mai's hand.