Xxx

The door. It was closed and just as Mai recalled. She looked conspiratorially down the corridor. She was slightly nervous that Naru would catch her in the act of deliberately disobeying his order, especially since he'd been miffed at her.

A quick look and that's that, Mai thought and pushed the door open. The dark room with its stuffy air and closed green curtains opened out before her.

She stepped inside and felt a faint replica of the feeling she had gotten when she had first stepped foot into this room which seemed a long time ago.

She strode across and stood. Yes, this is the same room that both my dreams occurred in. Right!

The looked around and thought hard. Grandpa's old study. Granddaughter in an arranged marriage. Granddaughter kills Grandpa. Doesn't look like murder. Who would suspect. The old man had only died of a heart attack after all.

What else? A girl called Toshihiko Shinobu found dead in the lake. A mysterious death. Loss of blood through gory means. She was a cousin to the murderer.

All this was making Mai's brain spin. She absentmindedly picked up the photo frame on the shelf and stared at the face in the picture.

The old man. He was preserved forever in a snapshot. His never ending dark stare. How could I have forgotten about this? Maybe the Hamasaki's know who he is.

"Mai?"

Mai turned around to find John leaning around the door.

"What are you doing in here?"

"Oh," Mai said, "I just got sidetracked."

She walked briskly out of the study, shivered as she passed through the doorframe as a whisper of the disturbing sensation she had experienced when she first came across the room.

"What's that?" John gestured at the picture frame in her hand.

Mai handed it him. He studied it for a moment.

"What scary eyes. Who is he?"

Mai shrugged. "I thought about asking Suzu-san."

As they continued along the corridor, Mai had the funny feeling that she was being closely followed by a presence. She shrugged her shoulders, uncomfortable. Glancing behind her, she saw nothing unusual. She surreptitiously observed John. He didn't look to be bothered by anything.

Nevertheless, Mai sped up. A second later, they were stood outside the base door. It clicked then, what she had forgotten.

"Ahhh!"

She took John by surprise. "What's the matter?" he said looking concerned.

"Sorry," she said speaking in a whisper. "I forgot to get Naru's tea!"

With that, she rushed down the corridor hissing to John as she went. "Don't tell him! You never saw me, OK!"

Xxx

Mai peeked around the door. Did John say anything? Did Naru notice that she was late with bringing his precious tea?

She slipped inside. Hopefully, the bit of information she had for him, would make up for being late.

Mai had rushed into the kitchen, put the kettle on and surprised Suzu-san who came in a second later.

"Taniyama-san, you gave me a scare!"

"Sorry. I'm just preparing tea."

Suzu-san knelt down and pushed a pile of dirty laundry into the washing machine. Mai stood there a bit awkwardly.

"I'm not intruding am I," she said.

"Oh no, not at all," said Suzu-san in a rush, hasty to amend. "Of course, it feels a little strange having you all here, but it's a big house after all."

"I wouldn't say no to entertaining a few guests for a while. It's nice to have extra company. Here let me help."

Suzu handed Mai four cups. "How many of you are there again?"

"Er…seven."

Suzu past her three more cups.

"I didn't put enough in the kettle," said Mai.

"Don't worry, I'll handle it."

Mai smiled. "You really do like being the hostess."

Suzu smiled back broadly.

The room was quiet for a moment with only the noise of the kettle in the air. Mai remembered the picture. It was still in her hand.

"Suzu-san? I found this picture in one of the rooms upstairs. Do you know who this person is?"

She handed the frame to her and left Suzu to study it whilst Mai turned off the kettle.

"Which room was it in?"

"The one at the end of the passage. It looks like an office."

"Oh, that room. We left that one how it was when we came here. I don't think I recognize the man in this picture."

Suzu handed it back to Mai. "He's quite old. I never knew my great grandpa."

"So, he's a mystery."

Mai frowned at the photo. It was infuriating knowing the face but not the name.

"Although."

Mai perked up.

"My fathers name was Toshihiko Michi, my great grandfather name was Tamura. Has Shibuya-san researched the family tree?"

"Yes. You are part of a big family," said Mai.

"Toshihiko Takeuchi had a brother, Botan. His wife should carry a maiden name that might pertain to the man in the picture. The history around that era is a bit vague."

Suzu-san waved a hand. "I hope that helps a bit."

"Yes! Thank you. I shall relay it over to the boss."

Suzu helped her gather the cups on the tray, fussing at her to look after her injured arm and to be careful on the stairs.

"I'll be alright Suzu-san," assured Mai.

And here she was, standing outside the base, peeking through the door that was ajar.

Naru was standing by the monitors whilst talking to Lin. The others milled around looking decidedly bored.

Mai slipped in quietly. She decided to go with the innocent and truthful approach.

"I've brought refreshments," she said cheerfully.

"Oooh, look at that tray of beverages," said Ayako. She skittered over and took a cup.

"Not that one Bou-san," said Mai fending of his hand, "this one is Naru's."

John picked his off the tray. Mai settled Lin's cup on his desk which she wasn't surprised he ignored.

"Suzu-san insisted on making everybody something. She is very generous you know!"

She rounded back to Naru and settled his cup on the monitor table. He hadn't said a word yet.

"Yeah. We had a informative chat. As for being a while, the kettle had to boil twice as much water!"

"Not so loud Mai."

Naru shushed her with a quiet sentence with annoyance on his face. He didn't expound on the fact that she had indeed been very late with his tea. Mai was relieved.

"Naru. I really did have an informative talk with Suzu-san. I found out a bit of information."

Naru leant on the table, suddenly attentive. "I'm listening."

Mai relayed what Suzu had said and hoped it was info worthy of inspection. She watched Naru support his chin in thought.

"Lin. Where is the family tree?"

Lin quickly handed it to him and both of them poured over it.

"Toshihiko Botan married Tomoya."

Mai leant forward eagerly. "What's her maiden name?"

"Michida."

So the grandfather's surname could be Michida, Mai thought.

"Tomoya? The two cousins right? Tomoya and the other one, what's her name?" said Bou-san.

"Michida Honoka."

"Hmm. They are cousins to…?" Bou-san trailed off.

"To two sisters. Three brothers and so forth."

"Ach, such a big family it makes my brain hurt," muttered Bou-san.

"No surprise there," said Ayako who breezed over to where Naru was standing and looked over his shoulder.

Mai had a brief quibble. I wish I was that tall, so I can look over Naru's shoulder like that. I could blow in his ear to make him cross. Also I could do some intimidating of my own.

Ayako hummed in thought.

"So basically, we're looking for a cousin, a female."

"Very good Matsuzaki, we didn't know that. Thank you for enlightening us," said Bou-san wryly.

Ayako's eyebrow twitched. She swept and held her auburn hair away from her face as it threatened to droop over her cheek and Naru's shoulder.

Mai noticed Bou-san seemed taken by that. He remained quiet, staring at Ayako before turning his gaze away. Mai felt glee bubble inside her, almost like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar, and as if she had witnessed something not often seen.

"….portraits would be very invaluable. Mai could you recall the face of the woman in your dream?"

"Huh? Oh! I think so."

"Would you be able to sketch it?"

Mai balked. Draw? "I can't really draw to save my life."

On seeing Naru's blank look, she backtracked. "But, I'll give it a try."

She sat down with a piece of paper and a pencil. She wallowed for a minute on how she should begin, twirling the pencil between her fingers.

She shut her eyes and tried to bring the woman's face to her minds eye. It came, sort of fuzzy but shapely.

She put pencil to paper and hesitantly began to sketch it. A nose like that. Eyes like almonds. She finished with a few exuberant strokes, scribbled in the hair and drew back.

She squinted at it and thought it wasn't too bad.

"There!" she said. Naru snatched it up and took a look at it. Her handiwork received no reaction from him.

The piece of paper was pinched away by Bou-san and Ayako.

Bou-san sputtered. "Wow, it's not bad Jou-chan." 'sputter'

"It's not bad but it's not excellent either," said Ayako. 'chuckle'

"It's passable," said Naru abruptly.

"Hey, I tried my best."

"Yes, she tried her best, Monk. So quit laughing."

"What are you saying? You're laughing to."

"Lin, go and see if Suzu-san can recognize this face at all."

Xxx

Mai looked gloomily at the monitors. Nothing unusual here, no altering temperatures there. All was fine and dandy.

Until, that is, she glanced at the monitor picturing the room with the mirror put up for observation.

She caught movement down by the corner. She frowned and her heart rate picked up. Maybe it was a spirit.

Something came onto the screen and Mai gasped. She burst out her seat.

"Naru! Suzu and Masami are in the observation room!"

No sooner as the words exited her mouth, the house began to quake.

Xxx

She had just set foot out of the base when the floor began to tremble under her feet. Mai ran down the hall, breath coming in gasps. She reached the room and started to batter on the door with her fists call frantically.

A hand grabbed her arm and pulled her away. Bou-san bashed his shoulder into the door. Lin lent into it too.

The house shook around them and Mai's heart raced. The door was buckling and then Bou-san and Lin were through.

"Stay there!" said Bou-san to her. Mai ignored him and pushed through them.

"Suzu-san! Masami!"

It was hard to walk straight since the floor was moving under her feet. She spotted the huddled figures of Suzu and Masami against the wall to her right.

Somebody grabbed Mai's arms and pulled her backwards.

"Let go!" she yelled.

Mai craned her neck and glared at the person holding her back. It was Naru. She struggled in his grasp.

Bou-san managed to get up to them. He took Masami in one arm and Lin guided Suzu. They made there way slowly across the room, stumbling and swaying.

"Come on!"

Suzu tripped. She was caught by Lin and they struggled upright. Suzu, with wide frightened eyes looked over to the mirror on the left wall which was still, strangely, intact.

Mai's breath lodged in her throat. Don't look in the mirror!

The glass cracked and shattered. Shards flew outwards. Suzu shrieked. Lin ducked, pushed her head down and tried to shield her.

Naru dragged Mai away from the door as she fought desperately to escape.

"Stop it Mai!" said Naru angrily. Ayako took Masami from Bou-san's arm, Lin stumbled through with Suzu. They ducked down as the house shook.

Just as quickly as the quake started, it stopped and there was stillness. The only sound was of heavy breathing, Masami's sobs and Ayako's whispered words of comfort.

Naru let go of Mai's arms. He strode to the doorway and looked inside. The wallpaper was shredded and the mirror lay on the floor a broken, twisted mess.

Suzu fell to her knees next to Ayako and held Masami. Tears slid down her face. She stroked Masami's cheek with trembling fingers.

"Shhh, baby, it's alright now."

"Are you hurt Hamasaki-san?" said Lin. Suzu shook her head. She squeezed her eyes shut. She opened them and stared earnestly at Naru and then Mai.

"I saw a face in the mirror."

Everybody stilled.

"You saw a face? Can you describe it?" said Naru urgently.

Mai scowled at him.

"Jeeze, Naru, let her catch her breath," said Bou-san.

"No, it's all right. It was the same woman as in Mai's drawing. She looking horribly at me."

Ayako put a hand on Suzu's shoulder. "Come on, let's get away from this room."

Mai peered inside, past Naru who was still standing in the doorway. There was no threats or pleas for help written on the walls. Nothing to give them a clue to what the ghost wanted or how they could exorcise it.

"It wanted to harm Suzu," said Naru quietly. "First it was Masami, then you, Masako, Suzu. Can you see the pattern there?"

"Yeah," said Mai grimly. "The victims are all female."

Xxx