Author Note:

I hope this doesn't get confusing when I do chapters from episodes because I am writing the format a bit different (ex: April Day one, no point of view established though it is in third person, and a beginning scene). The next few chapters are from a case/episodes from the show (split into parts).

To Guest Review: I hope this answers your question about when this story is taking place (previous chapters happened before Bloodstained Labyrinth but after the case at Yasu's school). There's going to be two cases from the anime in this fic (Bloodstained Labyrinth and The Cursed House). I don't think I'll be doing much that's mentioned in the manga (including cases) because it's been so longs since I've read it.

~CWA


CHAPTER SIX: BLOODSTAINED LABYRINTH PART I


A young woman struggled as two men in lab coats dragged her off by the arms. She whimpered, pleaded, and begged for them to stop, but it was no use as they dragged her into a room where an operation table sat with the straps undone, ready for it's next victim. Off to the side sat a bathtub, bloodied and rusted with age. They strapped her onto the table and she saw nothing but the bright light of the bulbs above her and the hands of the person about to harm her as they put on their gloves. She let out one deadly scream as they cut into her and cut away at her body. They cared not for the blood that splattered everywhere on them and on the walls. Like that, her life was ended. Her blood drained from her body.

"I don't want to die," an old croaky voice echoed through the room.


Mai sat on the couch politely with her hands folded neatly in her lap. In the main room of the SPR building, sat the whole ghost hunting group for a meeting. Everyone was sitting down on the couches aside from Naru, who sat in a chair separate from the group, and Lin, who preferred standing. The whole group's here, Mai thought as she looked over to the two she hadn't seen in a while, Masako and Yasuhara. Masako was a young seventeen-year-old TV psychic who preferred traditional kimonos to standard casual clothing with her black hair cut short at the ears. By her sat another seventeen-year-old, Yasuhara, who was a student a high school that had joined them on a previous case and became a permanent part of the group. Naru had everyone's attention.

"I've accepted a new contract," Naru spoke clearly, "It's a very high profile case. The client suggests we exercise the utmost confidentiality, if the media got involved then this would no doubt blow into a massive story. I think the safest bet would be if we all worked on this together."

Oh yeah, Mai thought, I sometimes forget that, technically, Monk, John, Ayako and even Masako aren't really a part of the SPR. Masako spoke up quietly,

"Excuse me, but did you speak with a Mr. Ohashi-san?"

"Did you get a call from him too," Naru questioned, though his voice had no surprise.

"Yes."

Ayako spoke up then, her voice ringing loudly,

"So tell us, who are you talking about?"

Naru didn't look at Ayako. Instead, he started to shuffle through a thick black binder in his lap, searching through the papers as he spoke.

"Mr. Ohashi-san is just a representative. The actual client would be…"

He let his sentence dangle in the air as he pulled out what he was looking for. He placed the newspaper clipping on the table, revealing a picture of a man with a headline above it in clear words. No name had to be given as everyone, aside from Masako, Naru and Lin, let out a gasp of surprise.

"Are you kidding," Ayako breathed.

"Are you serious," Mai questioned, "Isn't he the former prime minister?"

"Wow," Monk mused, "That would be a major story for the press…"

"Which is why we should avoid attention as much as possible," Naru nearly snapped, "And a good way to start is to ask Yasuhara to stand in for me."

Naru turned to the guy in question. Yasuhara looked at him stunned,

"Uhh what are you talking about?"

"So that's what why you invited him here," Mai realized, "I thought it was so we could celebrate him passing all of his exams."

Yasuhara gave a sheepish grin as everyone turned their attention to him.

"Oh man, you got into college," Monk exclaimed and the rest of the group vocalized their praises as well.

"Yeah, of course," Yasuhara confirmed as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

John, Masako, Ayako and Monk cheered as they clapped while Mai even threw her hands into the air. Naru tried not to let his irritation show, focusing on the open binder. As he shut it harshly, the group quickly stopped and turned back to him.

"So do you think you'll be willing to stand in and take my place, Yasuhara," Naru asked firmly.

"Oh yeah, sure," Yasuhara smiled, "You guys are great. I'd be more than willing to help out. Plus I think I owe you one. I mean, if it weren't for you, I'm pretty sure that case at my school would never even be solved."

"Wait a second," Monk chimed in, "I understand why you'd steer clear of the media, Naru, but do you really think this calls for a body double?"

"The client has apparently been calling in a number of other psychics, including some shady bottom feeders," Naru informed everyone, "I'm sure it's no surprise when I have no interest in associating with those types."

Monk gave a sly grin toward Naru as he leaned forward,

"So you're just pushing it all onto Yasu because you don't want to do it?"

Naru didn't show any annoyance or anger as he continued to look at Monk with an impassive expression.

"If you have a problem, no one is forcing you to stay here."

The two stared each down as Mai looked on uncomfortably. She searched for words, anything, to get them to stop being so rude to each other. However, before she could say anything, the door burst open. A tall woman, somewhere in her twenties, with shoulder length red-brown hair came storming in, her heels clicking as she went.

"GEEZ! You should talk to me before you go running at the mouth!"

Mai stood up and turned to face the woman, trying not to let her nerves show through.

"Excuse me, Miss, are you looking for someone?"

The woman ignored Mai and stormed past her, heading straight for Naru. Naru didn't seem concerned as the woman towered over him with a stern expression.

"Here's a shocker," she stated, "When you're asking someone for favors, there actually is an appropriate way to do it. I've said this before, but no, you never learn do you!?"

Lin didn't seem concerned, but the others watched the scene unfold with a blank expression, unsure as to who the woman was or what was going on. No one talks to Naru like that, Mai thought as did the others. Who is she? The woman turned to the group with a friendly smile and a bow,

"Please excuse him, this little boy is still learning his manners."

Mai gaped at the woman with her mouth open, her eyes wide in shock. This… This little boy!? Naru still seemed indifferent, if but a little annoyed.

"Madoka," Naru spoke firmly, "Would you mind having a seat and trying to be quiet? We're trying to work here."

"And that's why communication is important," Madoka chimed with a big grin on her face.

The rest of the group still looked at her in disbelief and shock, gossiping among themselves.

"Isn't she something," Monk whispered to the rest of the group.

"Who is she again," Ayako questioned, but Madoka overheard.

Madoka turned to the group again with a big smile.

"Of course, my name is Mori Madoka. Hello!"

"Ummm hi," Mai said hesitantly, "How do you know Naru?"

"Well I guess you could say I'm his teacher. I'm the one who taught Naru everything he knows about ghost hunting. To be completely honest, I'm the one who asked Naru to take on this case. I know it's weird, but I'm really hoping you'll work with us…"

That statement got a reaction from everyone as they openly gaped at the woman.


Danny hung up the phone with a small frown. He currently sat in Fenton Flames, up in his office, his paperwork spread out in front of him and a messily written schedule was off to the side. Thankfully, his desk was rather large giving him enough room for all of his papers, though whatever didn't fit on the top of the desk was lazily thrown into a desk drawer. It was a miracle he was able to get cases in time given how unorganized he was.

Ellie was occupying herself in the middle of his private office as she spun around in her pretty princess dress, a plastic sword in her hand, spewing something about 'how the great invisible dragon shall not defeat the princess knight.' Her ghost powers, though she wasn't doing it on purpose, caused her to float as she played. Danny rolled his eyes at her antics, but had an amused smile on his face. It won't be too long until I have to start really training her… But that has to wait. For now, he had a case, a very important case that dealt with a former prime minister… I wonder if Mai got the same case over at SPR, now that would be interesting…

"Ellie," Danny called, causing the girl to look over at him, "Come on, I have to take you to the daycare…"

Ellie's eyes lit up in excitement. Danny laughed fondly as he got up from his desk and started to head toward the door, swooping up Ellie as he went.

"Come on, little princess warrior, we got to go…"