Hello again! Here is the next chapter, I got it written faster since the power outages have stopped, as have the storms. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Ghost Hunt belongs to Fuyumi Ono.


Everything was happening in slow mo, Momoru continued his charge forward, a wicked smile upon his lips. I was braced for impact while Naru was tensed for the attack, ready to fight back. I could only pray he wouldn't try to use his powers.

Momoru swung and knocked Naru away from me. I watched in horror as Naru slammed into a bookshelf and slid down to the floor, unconscious in seconds.

I backed up into the door, terror racing through me. Momoru's red eyes held nothing but bloodlust and hate and it was aimed at me. He's going to kill me, I realized.

The phantom reared back his hand and got ready to swing.

I shut my eyes, my heart was racing. I don't want to die… I don't want to die! Someone help!

Then just as I heard Momoru about to swing there was a loud cry that echoed in the small room.

"MOMORU STOP!"

I opened my eyes to see Momoru frozen in his motion, recognition in his eyes. Looking beyond him I saw another apparition, but this one was gray and like a smoke in the room. I could clearly see the features of this person though.

Her long hair and dark eyes, full of fear gave her away to me. It was Koitsu.

Momoru turned toward her, momentarily forgetting me.

I used his distraction to work over to Naru's unconscious form. I carefully looked him over for any sign of injury but found nothing, he must have just hit his head. I quickly elevated his head and cradled it in my arms, his head on my shoulder. Feeling confident he would be alright in my arms, I brought my attention back to the confrontation in front of me.

"Koitsu…" Momoru breathed; disbelief and hurt in his tone. He glowered at her, "Why did you stop me? Mokimo is against us."

I recalled Yasu telling us how Momoru had believed everyone was against him except his love interest, Koitsu. So he really thinks I'm Mokimo then.

The woman shook her head, a sorrowful look on her face. "Momoru I won't allow you to hurt more innocents, especially when you are mistaking a person for someone else," she cried.

She was trying to help me, I finally realized. Did she hear my pleas?

Momoru's form darkened, he was angry. "What are you saying? I could never mistake another for Mokimo; I know what she looks like!"

I subconsciously tightened my hold on Naru, fear of what may happen becoming prominent in my mind.

In a flash Koitsu was in front of Momoru, "Your time is up."

It struck me as odd, what on earth did that mean?

As if on cue, Momoru's form began dissappaiting. He growled and began vanishing saying, "I'll be back…" It was a promise.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and relaxed slightly. Looking up I noticed Koitsu's gaze upon me.

"Are you alright Mai?" Her voice was kind and calm.

I couldn't help but be shocked to say the least, "You know my name…"

She gave a small look of surprise and then smiled kindly at me, "Yes, I suppose that must come as a shock to you hmm?" Koitsu settled on the floor and watched me, "I have been looking over Sozo and Moemi since they arrived here, and I couldn't help but catch your name when you were introduced to Moemi."

That made sense; Sozo had told Moemi my name at our introductions. I returned a small smile, "It did send me for a loop but I think it's not as important as being safe right now, thank you for that."

She offered a nod and sighed, "Momoru is getting more dangerous, I don't know why he has changed."

I met her concerned gaze and waited for her to continue.

Koitsu looked down, as if shamed, "Before when other families would try to move in and change the house, Momoru would just displace their tools and gently take down what they had done. Then as time went on he began getting more violent. He began attacking the workers and destroying everything they tried to do." She gave me a helpless look, "Then when you and your team arrived he just became overcome with rage. He wants to kill you Mai… he truly believes you are Mokimo."

The tone of her voice told me that she was scared for me. "What about the real Mokimo," I questioned, "where is she?"

Koitsu's face softened and a small yet worn smile appeared on her face, "Little Mokimo's spirit passed on long ago… She was the only one who escaped Momoru's control. It was probably because she always had a soft spot in her older brother's heart."

I felt like Yasu or Lin, collecting evidence, "What do you mean by control?"

Her face darkened, "Momoru is a very powerful man, but the power is not his own. He has trapped us here. Unless he moves on, the rest of our spirits cannot move on either. Mokimo escaped that control because Momoru loved her so dearly."

"But he killed her! Why kill the person that you hold dear to you?" The questions in my mind seemed to never end, "And what did you mean the power is not his own."

Koitsu stayed silent a moment before answering, "Mokimo was precious to Momoru and even when he killed her he had a guilty conscious, hating himself for even thinking of killing her. He was merciful in that he killed her quickly, not allowing her to feel pain for more than an instant. The day he struck out however, he was taken over by something…" She paused and tried to calm herself; it was obviously an unpleasant memory, "When he struck down my mother, there was a shadow hovering just over him, I didn't get a close look at it but I know I saw glowing red eyes and its face was twisted in a sneer. The look in his eyes was not his own either, they were full of bloodlust and yet horror. I know that the horror was him, not believing what was happening."

I connected the dots quickly, "He was possessed…"

She nodded, "Yes, I believe that too. His obsession with the occult also was not his own doing. When I came to the family so long ago, my day spent with him raised questions in my own mind. Something that was pointed out to me rather prominently, Momoru had always been afraid of the paranormal things in this world before but he was obsessed now. It didn't make sense." Koitsu then fell silent, allowing me to think things over.

So she thinks he was possessed by something, I pondered.

'Something definitely evil by that stand point,' Gene added.

I had to agree, if the occult obsession had come with the bloodlust and hatred, then it definitely led obvious hints towards evil. And then there was the prospect of him being only slightly aware of what was happening; what he was doing.

'So whatever possessed him had absolute control over his mind and body and towards the end that control began to break up slightly,' Gene theorized, 'it was probably then that Momoru gained enough control to end his life, ashamed of what had happened.'

I nodded and sorted out this information in my mind, being sure to remind myself to tell the others later. Thinking of the others I looked down at Naru and noted that he was still unconscious. What if he has some kind of head injury, I asked myself, worry filling me up.

"He's alright," Koitsu said as if reading my mind, "Momoru only meant to knock him out not injure him."

I looked over at her and gave a small smile, "You certainly have surprised me with how much you know…"

She returned it and shrugged, "I try."

Something else popped up in my mind, "Hey Koitsu?"

She gave me a sign of acknowledgement.

"When you told Momoru earlier that his time was up; what does that mean to you guys," I asked.

Koitsu prepared for another explanation, "Well every spirit in this house is given a certain amount of energy and when that energy is used up, we fade away and can return once that energy has returned. Since Momoru has appeared so much, his energy comes in spurts and when he has used too much he has to disappear for a longer time. For me, I have never used my energy to appear before or anything so I have a lot stored up. If we don't heed the fading effect of our energy then we fade away entirely, effectively passing on if our business is finished or not."

It was an interesting new development. Even their energy was being controlled here, so that meant whatever was here, had a tight hold on Momoru and was powerful. "Koitsu," I whispered, "Just what are we dealing with here?"

In my peripherals I saw the woman's face fall, "I don't know Mai… I don't know." She sounded as helpless as I felt.

Naru shifted slightly in my arms, I had almost forgotten he was there. He seemed to be slowly regaining consciousness.

Koitsu noticed as well and offered me a smile, "I will take my leave now, I do not want him to be too shocked and fall back into unconsciousness." She stood and let out a sigh, "Mai, I must warn you before I go of two things."

I met her gaze; which was full of worry and protectiveness, "Momoru is somehow still growing stronger and he is targeting you. Since he has used so much energy he will not appear for awhile but that doesn't mean you are safe. Stay on your toes." She paused to let that sink in before continuing, "And another thing I have to warn you of is that my presence has been keeping your pains at bay so when I depart your pain from your injuries will return."

I nodded in understanding. "Be safe Koitsu," I said quietly.

Koitsu bent down and patted my head slightly, smiling warmly at me. "You too Mai, I consider you to be a younger sister to me, I would hate for anything to happen to you." She stood back up and backed away, fading as she did, "I will appear to you again should I find anything out… till then Mai."

As she faded completely I felt a pulsing in my head begin and a throbbing in my ankle. She was right, her aura had kept my pains away and now that she was gone they were returning with a vengeance. I let out a groan and let my forehead rest on the nearby bookshelf.

It occurred to me that it was extremely odd for the team not to have checked in on us by now, especially with the noise. They had to have gone somewhere or were doing something outside and were not noticing. I felt I might as well get comfortable while I waited for Naru to wake.

It took quite awhile but Naru awoke, giving me a curious look when he realized his head was on my shoulder.

I personally didn't care that my arms were woven around him or that our faces were so close together. All that mattered was that we were both alive and that he was not injured. That was a blessing in itself.

After awhile, Naru raised his head and looked around, confusion clear in his features. His gaze worked around the room and then landed on me.

I gave him a pained smile, my head aching and heavy.

"Are you alright," he asked me quietly, concern coming into his eyes.

I managed a shrug, "I'm okay, definitely been better…"

Naru's gaze darkened, "Did he hurt you?"

I shook my head lightly, "No… the pain is from the other injuries from last night or whenever." I gave him a questioning glare, "What about you? Your head has to hurt from hitting it."

He looked away and shrugged himself, "Nothing more than a minor headache."

I smiled, my eyes closing, "Good…" Though I would never admit it out loud, the fact that he was not hurt was more relieving than being told the sky wasn't on fire. I began seeing just how much he meant to me and sighed mentally. I couldn't deny it any longer; the signs were making themselves known to me. I was in love with my jerk of a boss.

It brought a warm smile to my face as I felt myself relaxing against the bookshelf, everything else falling away. It felt nice to be in love… now if only Naru would like me as much as I did him.

As I began drifting into sleep I almost thought I heard Gene say something.

I told myself I had imagined it but that didn't change the fact that I thought I heard it; the one sentence that be the beginning of a new adventure for me of the emotional kind.

'He does like you Mai… much more than you know…'


There we are! See you on the next chapter! Thank you for reading! R&R if you want!

~Ghosties