Hello! Here's chapter 10

Uhm… Hi? Yeah. I had another project I was working on (Which I completed today as well. Amazing, ne?) and college caught up to me. 'Sides, this story's technically on hiatus status, so nyah! All joking aside, I am glad to finally present chapter 10 to my loyal, faithful, and very patient readers. Kudos to you all. This is dedicated to all those who have reviewed, favourited, alerted, and read. Simply, it's to you!

Disclaimer – I would never own Ghost Hunt. I would, of course, borrow the characters for a non-profiting fanfiction and mess around with their lives. That I can do. So enjoy the story.

Chapter 10 – Hope Is Not Lost

Tem minutes had passed and Mai still hadn't moved. Naru's words still echoed through her head. Had she really upset him that much, by leaving? He had never showed interest before... Or had he? Mai's head spun, trying to recall times that he had shown it, but none came to mind.

"Mai?"

Mai looked up, pulled out of her thoughts, to see Takigawa carrying a camera and cords. She hurriedly stepped aside, setting Shinju back in her crib.

"Hello Bou-san."

Mai helped set up the camera, having done it numerous times before and then backed up, letting the monk turn it on. Seeing the recording light turn on, Mai avoided looking at the camera directly and smiled at Takigawa.

"It's good to see you again."

"I still can't believe you didn't tell us." Mai looked down, and was wrapped up in a brief hug.

"I'm not mad at you, Mai, I'm more pissed at myself for not being there when you needed me."

"I'm sorry Bou-san," Mai pulled away and wiped a tear from her eye, "I should have said something. Instead of trying to do this all by myself and letting my fears live my life for me."

"When did you get so wise?" The monk teased and Mai smiled, a mocking edge flittering on her features.

"Hey, I had to learn sometime!"

Mai was cooking dinner – preparing a lot more then she was used to cooking – when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She quickly turned off the stove and headed out of the kitchen. She started running when she heard Shinju crying.

"Mai? What is it?"

She reached her room at the same time Bou-san caught up with her. She went straight into the damage; the wind was cutting her face, arms, and parts of her clothes but she scooped up Shinju and headed back out. She could hear the monk chanting behind her – bless him for saving her and Shinju twice now! – and the winds dying down.

"How did..."

"I felt it. I can't explain, but I knew something was wrong."

Mai calmed Shinju down, rocking her back and forth, and making soft cooing noises. While doing this, Mai suddenly had a thought cross her mind, one that made perfect sense.

"Bou-san..."

"Yeah?" He replied, sitting next to the young mother.

"I don't think this spirit is following me." Mai said slowly, thinking hard. Her face was slightly scrunched in worry.

"Huh?"

"It's not after me," she repeated, "it's after my daughter."

Everyone was sitting in the 'base', Mai cradling Shinju to her. Takigawa just explained what Mai had told him earlier, after the spirit had attacked again.

"It makes sense..." Ayako muttered and then spoke louder.

"Well, if it was after Mai, this would have started when she moved here. Instead, Shinju enters the picture and attacks start happening. Whatever this spirit is, it doesn't like infants… or is it just this infant in particular?"

"Well, in the report, Mai said she had 'dreams' of a woman crying. This woman could be the spirit," Takigawa spoke up, and everyone gave a nod.

"Was there any more happening in these dreams?" Ayako asked. Mai shrugged.

"It wasn't like my other dreams. Usually, I can get a clear picture; this one felt like… the 'picture' was being blocked or distorted..."

Naru spoke up for the first time during this whole conversation.

"Matsuzaki-san, you are to stay with the Taniyama's. All three of you are going to sleep here in the base for close monitoring. During the day either you or Takigawa-san are to be with them at all times during the day since you two are the only ones capable of dispelling this spirit."

"What about Lin-san? He has the abilities as well to do this," Takigawa interjected.

"I have him on another project for me at the moment. If he were currently here he would be helping."

"I have no complaints," Ayako said and Mai gave her agreement right after.

"Neither do I, Shibuya-san."

"Then let's get started. Taniyama-san, you may move the infant's crib into this base and take anything you need with you here. If you have to get up during the night for any reason, wake Matsuzaki-san and take her and the infant with you. All three of you are to not leave each other's sight, understood?"

"Yes Shibuya-san."

Mai was packing a small bag of clothing, some books, and her hygiene stuff when a voice spoke closely behind her.

"I'm glad you're alright."

Mai jumped slightly and turned around. When she did this, she was almost face to face with Naru – if not for the fact that he was taller then her.

"You scared me..."

"So you can sense when Shinju is in trouble?"

"I guess. I just had the most horrible feeling earlier and knew something was wrong with her."

"That's... amazing. I have only heard a few cases of that happening… I never thought I would see it with my own eyes."

Mai blushed, feeling Naru's body heat warming her.

"What do you mean?"

"They say while an infant is growing inside the womb a special connection is made between infant and mother. This is stronger in mothers that have psychic abilities. Usually after birth, this connection weans itself but in some cases like yours, it grows stronger. You will feel distressed when your daughter is in danger, and you may possibly feel euphoric when she is feeling the same. They sat this is true for most, if not all, strong emotions; you will feel what she feels. Thankfully for the parents on record, it did not go the other way, your emotions will be your own."

Mai nodded and looked down at the ground, suddenly embarrassed by their close proximity. She felt Naru's hand slip into hers, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I need to go back to the base before someone comes looking for you. Finish packing and I'll see you soon." Mai's face turned beet red and a shiver ran through her body as Naru's hot breath heated her ear. He pulled away and walked out of the room as Mai quickly composed herself before throwing a hairbrush into the bag and zipping it up. She then closed up Shinju's bag and lifting both over one shoulder, picked up her daughter and headed to the base. She would have to make a second trip for the crib, but Ayako could watch Shinju for a few minutes while she did that.

Entering the base, she quickly set down her bags and joined Ayako on the small sofa, which had been pressed against the wall to make room for them.

"Would you watch Shinju while I move the crib?"

"Take Bou-san with you. I'll watch her in here."

"Alright."

When the monk returned from checking on the cameras they went to move the crib back over to the base room, which was becoming very crowded. Pushing the crib up against the wall, Mai laid down some blankets next to where her daughter would be sleeping. When her baby was safe in her arms again, the panic that had been slowly taking over her mind receded, leaving her knees weak in relief.

"So you have a maternal bond with Shinju-chan?" Takigawa said softly, and she twitched; she hadn't heard the monk come near her.

"That is what I was told, yes. I feel calmest when she is right in my arms. Shibuya-san thinks it will grow stronger as we age."

"Did he tell you if it works the other way as well? When you are feeling scared or happy, your daughter will feel the same?"

Mai looked down at the infant sleeping happily and couldn't help the light smile that graced her face.

"No, it's a single way bond… she cannot feel my pain," she answered quietly. After a few long moments of silence she let her arms place the baby in the safety of the crib. Mai backed as far away as she felt was necessary before letting her legs gave out. Takigawa caught her on the way down, lowering her completely to the ground.

"You okay there Jou-chan?"

To Mai's great embarrassment, tears started running freely from her eyes, a small sob escaping her lips. She gripped her fists into the monk's faded shirt that once had sported a band of some sort long lost to time as she let out the grief, pain, and other emotions that she had bottled deep within her to get her through the pain.

"I'm tired, Bou-san," she cried, the monk sitting down on the floor with her to hold her better against him. "I can't do this! I can't handle this; I want it all to go away!"

She wasn't sure what he said in response to that, being too lost in her grief. Luckily for her Shinju did not pick up on her emotions – the link was a one-way street – and somehow slept through her mother's distress. Takigawa, quickly catching on that this had been the first time she mourned for her loss innocence and childhood, did nothing to stem the tears. Ayako had stepped in for a moment, leaving the rest of Mai and her daughter's belongings by the pile of blankets now occupying the floors of the base, and Naru had looked in before leaving just as quickly, a small nod given to the other male.

Takigawa, like most men, was uncomfortable with a woman's tears, yet he knew how much she needed this, needed to clean her soul of the taint that had settled from the attack on her which gave her a daughter and the events that followed. So he stroked her hair, murmuring soothing words into her ears as she sobbed, wailed, and cursed anything she could think of (he was sure his name was in there, but he hadn't paid too much attention to those types of words) and soon she quieted, the occasional flare of sobs returning. They did not reach the strength of their predecessors, despite their noble attempts, and eventually Mai fell into a slumber that while not quite peaceful, was much deeper than she had achieved since leaving Tokyo. He gently lifted her from their awkward position on the floor and tucked her under the sheets next to the crib, settling himself right beside her. He took her hand in his, giving her a support that she could cling to in her state of unawareness.

She wouldn't be alone again, he vowed. Either Naru would pull his head out of whichever orifice he shoved it in and get the picture, or Takigawa was taking her back to live with him. Though, if he did that, he had a feeling that his reasons for doing so would be much different from the narcissist's; after all, Takigawa sure as hell didn't have any romantic feelings towards the young mother!