Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt or any of the characters related to the fandom. Thanks!

Author's Note: Hello Everyone! Hopefully you have not forgotten about this story or this author! I am so sorry about the unexpected delay in getting the rest of this story out. I have not forgotten about it or any of you, but due to some pretty severe health problems I was delayed in many things, including this story. I was undergoing some very rigorous treatment and was too sick to think about reading or writing anything for the past few months. Some of you know I am a musician and I also had to give up on that part of my life for a while. I am slowly getting caught up in all things, from fanfiction to real life. Hopefully you can forgive my absence and if not I will continue writing and posting stories anyway. I love writing for this fandom and though the updates will be a little slower, I will be here.

I am also slowly getting caught up in the reading department! Thank you to all of my faithful readers! I appreciate all of you! I assure you I will continue to write for you! Without further ado…

Chrysanthemum Sunrise

Chapter Ten

Naru entered the ranch house with chagrin and a bit of frustrated anger. They had spent fewer then twenty four hours at the ranch location and there had already been three attacks made toward his employees. Naru had been unable to deduce why the spirit took to attacking young women, but he pushed the thought to the back of his mind, Mai was more important at the moment. He let his eyes shift to the young woman now seated on the sitting room sofa near the fire, he watched carefully with protective eyes, as the Priestess tended to her swollen and bruised neck. Silently he brought an unconscious hand to his own neck, remembering the pain it had caused him on the Kazaki Mansion case. He felt eyes on him and turned his head abruptly in the direction of Yasu who was eyeing him knowingly; Naru smirked in his direction and silently turned his attention to Lin.

"Lin," his voice was calm and collected, "I need data."

Lin nodded mutely and immediately began reviewing any and all information which had been collected.

Naru turned toward the Priestess, "Miss Matzusaki…I am sure Mai will be fine," he secretly hated dismissing Mai so easily, but he had to be focused on the case and his cold exterior was the only method he knew for keeping his focus in check, "What is Miss Hara's condition?" Naru ignored the hurt look Mai sent in his direction at his seemingly cold words. Ayako looked at him sourly but understood his frustration and line of questioning. She was just as troubled by all of the morning's events.

"She seems to be unconscious. From what I can gather she went into a state of shock. I cannot sense a spirit; John and Monk could not sense anything out of the ordinary either. However, I can tell you everything I have tried to do to revive her has had the same result. I cannot restore her at this time," Ayako sent a worried glance toward Masako's direction. She was lying on the sofa across from Mai still as death and very pale.

"Please keep me informed on her condition," Naru paused for a moment, glancing toward Mai's direction for a split second, "It is of the utmost importance we revive her as soon as possible."

Ayako nodded diligently, holding an arm out to stop the advancing Takigawa. Everyone in the room, save Lin and Masako, were thrown by Naru's seemingly uninterested attitude toward Mai. However, Ayako was smart enough to know an argument would literally solve nothing when it came to their prideful young boss. She could pick up on his small minute gestures toward the young woman. The room remained silent for several moments as Naru located his black folder and began flipping through it.

Yasuhara broke the silence, "So Big Boss, what is the plan of action?"

Naru sighed and turned toward Yasuhara, "I need you to continue your research. I believe the haunting on this ranch is being created by several different spirits. I need you to find out everything you can about Fujioka's family – the good, the bad and the ugly. We need to know all of the details. I want you to delve into his wife especially closely," Naru acknowledged Yasuhara's curt nod and did not bother to watch his exit, "As for the rest of you, get some rest. Until we know more about the entities and their intentions it is too dangerous to be roaming about on this property. Miss Matsuzaki?"

"Yes?"

"Please take Miss Hara upstairs. It seems no unexplained phenomena have yet to occur in that part of the house. I feel it would be better for her to remain there," Naru voice hit the air like frost.

Ayako stopped for a moment looking at Mai, whose head was down, hanging in dejection, "Yes, of course Naru, so kind of you to think of her well being" Ayako motioned for Takigawa to lift the unconscious medium and quietly, the team, minus Mai, made their way up to stairs toward their designated rooms.

Mai, who had been silent up to this point, turned her head to watch them ascend the staircase. She was honestly not sure what to think. She had assumed Naru would be worried about her as well, but he had made no moves to ask about her condition and he had not asked Ayako to take her up to the safety of the upstairs rooms. Mai could feel hot angry tears brim her eyes and swiftly she stood up and turned toward the fire. She was unsure of whether she was angry or sad. She did not know how to respond, she was contemplating screaming and sobbing at the same time. The frustration made her all the more conflicted and finally she chose to be rational in her actions, taking a big deep breath she turned toward the door, which led to the outside of the house and Alice's quarters.

Mai reached the door and began to lay a hand on the knob to turn it, but before her fragile fingers could even come close to spinning it around, Naru's monotone voice hit her ears.

"Try to stay out of trouble this time."

Mai felt her eyes widen at the absolute bluntness of his statement. There was no kindness, no emotion, just raw, sharp double edged words. Mai felt her severely bruised throat begin to burn and finally after much effort to keep them at bay hot tears finally rolled down her cheeks, however, she made no move to show him her face. Mai simply nodded, opening the door as quickly and quietly as possible. It felt like a number of years passed by her before she shut the door and felt the cool afternoon air kiss her cheeks.

Before she quite knew what had happened she began to run. She was not sure where she was going or why, but she knew she needed to let her emotions out and if that meant putting herself in danger again she did not care. She wanted to get away from everything, especially her bull headed and egotistical boss. She really did not know why the one person who infuriated her more than anything else in the world was also the person she could not picture herself being without and it made her very agitated and angry.

Finally, after running for a bit, Mai happened upon a barn, which was more like a shed. Quietly, she slid open the door and slid herself inside. She was truly exhausted, from both her ordeal at the edge of the property and her anger toward Naru. In truth she had not run very far, her endurance was lacking. She spent most of her time cooped up in the SPR office nowadays and suddenly Mai began to wonder how Lin and Naru managed to stay so fit, "No Mai!" Mai thought to her angrily, "Do not waste your time wondering about the guy who just pissed you off…not worth the aggravation."

Silently Mai began to look around and found tools, equipment and seed piled in various areas around the shed. There were also saddles on saw horses scattered around the room and there was a pile of hay in one corner. Mai decided it was the perfect spot to plop herself down in and relax. The hay was scratchy at first, but soon Mai fell into the darkness of her dream world.

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Naru watched Mai open and close the door with shocked awe. He had fully expected the girl to turn on her heels and give him a piece of her mind, or berate him angrily. Never would he guess she would nod quietly and leave the room without a word. His mind had not calculated that sort of reaction into his equation and he felt his right eye twitch at the thought.

"You are surprised?" Lin's voice cut through the thick feeling in the air and Naru turned abruptly to face him, frustration evident in his eyes. Naru started to ignore the words but could not avoid them when Lin's voice shook the room again, "The slight flush on your neck gives you away."

"I did not ask for a commentary on my appearance Lin," Naru turned away and tried to look interested in his black notebook. Honestly, he had nothing to be interested about. They were getting nowhere fast with the confounded case. He had been more frustrated with himself than with Mai, and he did not need Lin to tell him how much of a pompous ass he had been toward the young woman. Her reaction to the most previous situation was enough of a sign.

Naru glanced over his shoulder at Lin, who rolled his eyes briefly, "Considering everyone involved in this case so far is safe within the walls of this house except her, what do you think you should do? Honestly, Naru, for being a supposed genius and child prodigy, you have a definite lack of common sense sometimes."

Naru felt his eyes get wide at Lin's words and angrily he tossed his notebook to the floor. He was angry at himself and his obvious lack of decorum when it came to women. He had never understood them and in the department of the fairer sex, Mai, was perhaps the biggest of the enigmas to ponder. He had tried to come up with a million different reasons to dislike her and keep his distance, but he could not help the ever present want to be near her or the overwhelming need to protect her.

"You cannot push her away forever…" Lin sighed heavily, resting his hands on the keyboard for a moment before continuing his keystrokes, "…she eventually will not come back to us, one way or another."

Lin's words hit Naru like a knife and stung like hot coals. He had, of course, wanted this to happen in the beginning. He was afraid of one thing more than any other, he was afraid of being left completely and utterly alone and he had learned most men were this way. He had blamed Gene for a long time for leaving him by himself. He had blamed him for coming to Japan and getting himself killed and not thinking more about their family; for not thinking more about him. It had taken him a long time to sort out his feelings toward his brother's death and he knew Mai was part of what sped up the process. It was hard to be cold and calculated when the warmth of her smile was enough to light up the entire room. Naru shook his head and suddenly felt very exposed and naked. He had not been so honest with himself in a long time and it was difficult to allow his emotions to sway, "I don't ever want her to stop smiling…" it was more of an unconscious utterance than true words, but Lin heard them loud and clear, "…I don't ever want her to experience the pain I had to."

"She already has…" Lin watched his young boss bristle for a moment before reaching down to pick up the black folder he had earlier thrown upon the ground in a tantrum and sighed heavily. He scanned the computers quickly with his eyes and suddenly did a double take, "Naru…" Naru turned instantly sensing there was an abnormality, "…the temperature at the cemetery is dropping steadily. It seems we are in for some activity."

"Finally, what is the temperature in the inner area of the grounds as opposed to outside the gates?"

"There is about a 15 degree fluctuation between the two…" Lin paused and added audio, "…too much to be coincidence."

Naru was about to speak again when suddenly Yasuhara burst forth into the room in a fluster of books and journals, Rika following diligently behind, "I found out something very interesting! It seems the late Fujitaka was a bit of a ladies' man and had several different mistresses over the years. This transferred to his two sons; however, what you will really find intriguing is the records I found of a third son!" Yasuhara smiled triumphantly as he looked at Naru who was obviously a little taken aback.

"What do you mean a third son?"

"I am so glad you asked Big Boss!" Yasuhara smiled and continued, opening one of several journals, "I was able to locate this," he passed the journal to Naru who began to flip through it nonchalantly, "It is the personal journal of one Kurosai Nagami. She was Fujitaka's most favored mistress and the mother of his third child. This was of course kept in absolute secrecy and never revealed to anyone. Ido Nagami was the son's name and he grew up on the property as a ranch hand, not realizing his own lineage until a few days before his apparent suicide. However, many of the records indicated the young man was actually murdered by his mother in order to keep him quiet. The means to how he discovered his true identity is sketchy and only parts of it come together even in this journal," Yasuhara turned toward Rika who was standing behind him still holding some of the old journals she had unearthed in the storage area of the attic, "Miss Arai? I wonder if you would be so kind to ask Mr. Walker to join us please?"

Rika nodded curtly, setting down the journals and heading out toward the corrals and stables as Yasuhara continued, "I also discovered Fujitaka's eldest son committed a murder suicide after his two young children were killed by a crippling case of Tuberculosis. He ended up shooting his younger wife in the belly, then turning the gun on himself and taking his own life before her eyes. Or so the reports stated, however, there is much speculation and many believe it was actually his young mistress who was killed that day. All three, the wife, eldest son and mistress were never found. Soon after the two bodies were discovered they disappeared."

Yasuhara turned as he heard feet shuffle through the back of the house and smiled upon seeing Mr. Walker and Rika return, "Ah, Mr. Walker. It is good to see you again, I was wondering if I might ask you a couple of questions about the attacks at the cemetery?" Yasuhara smiled at his nod and continued, "Yes, well, I wanted to know what state the women who were afflicted were in? Were any of them pregnant or perhaps mother's of children?"

"No all single young women," Easton shook his head slightly.

"Was there anything about them which would have singled them out? Sorry to bother you with seemingly silly questions, but it is of absolute importance to the case…can you think of one thing they all had in common?" Yasuhara pressed him.

"Hmmm…" Easton began but was cut off by Rika whose voice pierced through the air.

"They were all orphans! Oh Easton…that has to be it!"

Easton turned and laid a calming hand upon her forearm and turned back toward Yasu, "Yes that would probably be the one thing they all had in common. We try to give young people a good steady job and income as well as teach them what it means to really work. Rika set up a program with one of the local orphanages in town; we have a sort of internship program here on the ranch now."

"Then that explains why Mai was affected at the cemetery…" Naru started but Lin cut him off.

"Yes, but it does not explain why you weren't…" Lin said heavily.

"Yes it does…" Naru started again; obviously angry he had been cut off so abruptly, "…I had a family. Parents who took Gene and myself in and gave us a home; a place to stay; a place to feel secure and loved. Mai did not have that. Her parents were just suddenly gone one day, vanished, just like…" Naru stopped and turned away from them, "…excuse me. I have to check on something. I will be back shortly."

Lin watched him put on his coat and exit the ranch home and decided to leave well enough alone, turning his attention back to Yasuhara, "So what you believe is Fujitaka's illegitimate son is somehow causing the orphaned employees and Mai to become ill?" Lin waited for affirmation, " Makes sense, he wants to press how he felt onto them, suffocated, cold, alone."

"I believe he is the main entity here…the others are perhaps tied to his spirit…" Yasuhara sighed removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose tiredly.

"I will alert the others," Lin turned to Easton, "Please bring both of your girls into this home and keep them here. I would also let all of your workers know of the situation. I believe an exorcism will be necessary in this case. This is of course only one of possibly several entities haunting this ranch. Do you understand the ramifications which may come with that?"

Easton nodded swiftly and with Rika at his side he hurried out to fill Lin's request as Lin shouted for the team to join them at the base.

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Naru was so angry he could barely see straight, in fact, frustrated tears were brimming his eyes. One thing he did not do, ever, was cry; not since Gene had been lost, but at the moment he was doing a lot of things he would never do. Willing himself, he managed to push the tears back and take a deep breath calming his nerves slightly. How could he have never realized Mai losing her parents was probably just as horrid a thing as when he, himself, had lost Gene? It was her only real tie to the world, the only real family she had left. She was so much stronger then he had been giving her credit for. He had to make things right.

Naru looked down at the snow and found the only footprints small enough to be Mai's and began to follow them. He could tell she had been running and felt like someone had punched him in the chest when he realized it was because of him. Slowly and carefully as not to miss a change in direction he followed the shallow prints to Mr. Walker's storage shed. Sighing and preparing himself for a heavy, sharp, or dangerous object to somehow make contact with his face, he opened the door to the shed and stepped in out of the cold. He shook the snow off of his coat and glanced around the dimly lit space.

A single oil lamp blazed in one corner and finally just beyond the lamp he caught site of Mai. She was resting gently in the hay, curled up, most likely to stay warm. Naru took several steps toward her, though as he came closer, his steps picked up in speed, until he found himself sprinting to the young woman. Upon closer inspection Naru realized she was much paler than she should be and her usually flushed cheeks were like ice to the touch, "Mai…MAI!" Naru rolled her over and lifted her into his lap. She was cold as death, but she was still breathing which made Naru let out a sharp sigh of relief. As carefully as he could Naru lifted Mai into his arms and began to walk toward the shed's exit which he had left open. Looking up Naru realized suddenly that the door he had indeed left ajar was in reality shut. Naru was immediately on guard and warily he looked around the room. It was cold. Too cold and Naru knew something was coming.

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Mai looked around and was at first confused. She remembered falling asleep, but not waking up and it was difficult for her to get a hold on her surroundings. She glanced around the space and suddenly she caught sight of Gene. He was standing far off from her in the distance and she was unnerved by his posture and facial expression. He appeared frantic and it seemed like he was trying to get to her, but couldn't. It was then she realized she was still sleeping, but she felt different in some way, like she was asleep but awake at the same time. She felt as though she was floating and walking all at once. She had never felt so disoriented in one of her dream visions before and she found herself terrified at the experience.

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Naru gently set Mai back down in the hay and turned toward the door, "I know you are here. I remember leaving the door open, why don't you come out and let me see you? Of course being as you are illegitimate, I suppose you do not really belong here do you? Ido Nagami?"

Naru unconsciously shivered as the temperature in the room dropped drastically. Naru knew Lin would see the temperature change and silently hoped he would have enough sense to come investigate. Naru surveyed the shed carefully, trying to create a mental picture of every object in the space and where it was. He needed to be ready to use his power if the situation deemed necessary and he would need to know where objects were to deflect them. As he looked around the room he did a double take at the pile of hay and Mai's missing body. Naru took a step back with wide eyes realizing she was no longer lying in the spot where he left her.

"Where is she Ido?" Naru was angry and not hiding it. He frantically searched the room for Mai desperate to locate her now missing form. Naru tensed when he heard an eerie chuckle emanate through the room. It seemed to have no real origin as it rippled through the now sub-zero space. Naru was visibly shaking and could easily see each breath leave his freezing body. He found himself silently wishing he had had enough foresight to bring his gloves and scarf. Naru opened his mouth to say something more, but he was suddenly cut off abruptly when he felt something lasso tightly around his neck which pulled him to the ground with its force. He tried to turn around to see the source of the sudden pressure and was able to catch a hint of auburn hair mixed with cinnamon colored eyes and Naru felt his own ocean filled orbs go wide at the realization Mai was behind him, tightly tying off a lasso rope, which had somehow become mounted on a part of the vaulted ceiling of the shed.

"You bastard!" Naru dangerously spoke through the tightened rope around his neck, "Get out of her…brai-ack…" Naru was cut off as he felt his feet lift further and further from being planted flatly on the ground. He forced air into his swelling throat and willed his eyes to stay open. He watched as Mai, who had obviously been possessed, suddenly fell to the ground in a heap.

"Bad…move…you…should have stayed inside her…" Naru forced the words out of his burning throat. He pushed one clenched eye open as he suddenly felt a presence in front of him. What his eyes were met with was a rotting corpse. Half of the skin was intact, while other areas were either missing altogether, or decaying away. The face was disgusting, part skull and part rotting muscle, one eye hanging out of its socket.

Naru winced as it spoke, trying not to breathe in the disgusting smell which emanated from it's body, but needing the air all the same, "I think not…" Naru willed his eyes to open again, "…it was easy to overtake her…she did not fight it. She did not fight this…her anger was obvious and easy to manipulate. Her heart was full of darkness…you did not care about her…you caused this! It is your entire fault! You did not want her…YOU DID NOT WANT HER!" the corpse came dangerously close to Naru's face and gathering strength Naru spit in its decomposing face, only to be met with a slap of air with an especially sharp edge. Naru winced as he felt fresh warm blood roll down his face and grimaced when he felt the corpse like spirit caress his now injured flesh.

Naru was about to lash out with a furious burst of PK when he suddenly gasped as he felt the rope lift him higher. His intended projectile lost speed and clattered to the ground dangerously close to Mai's unconscious body, "You will die knowing the same suffering you have caused…I will end your own suffering…I will end what I started…" the corpse spoke again and before he could blink, Naru was met with Mai's face staring up at him. He looked down at her, seeing only bits of her thin body through growing spots of black, he saw her cinnamon eyes full of turmoil, he could tell she was fighting the spirit, her unclosing and glazed eyes haunted him, suddenly an evil smirk exchanged the turmoil and before he knew what had happened he felt a searing pain spur forth into his side. He wanted to scream, but was incapable, he willed his eyes to open and he was met with Mai's still glazed eyes and another sudden blow, this time to the opposite side of his body. By the impact, Naru guessed Mai was wielding some sort of rake or mulch tiller. He could feel the teeth of the opposing weapon dig into his skin and rake across his body agonizingly slowly. Another blow hit him, followed by another and another. It was the most painful experience Naru could ever remember, but what was even more painful then the violent attacks on his porcelain skin was watching the silent tears pouring forth from Mai's unclosing eyes.

It was at that moment Naru realized the spirit was forcing her to watch her own actions. Naru was livid and gathering all the strength he had left he managed to find enough strength to swing his feet into the oil lamp and watched as it burst to the floor immediately igniting the hay. It was not the best plan he had ever conjured up but before he could do anything more about it, he lost his battle with consciousness and was enveloped into the dark.

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Thank you for reading the latest chapter! If you made it this far than you must like it, so why not review? Let me know what you think? I take your comments seriously and give cookies to faithful reviewers! J/K Hopefully you enjoyed the story and thank you for sticking with me through the long wait! I cannot promise a very fast turn around on the next chapter, but I will be updating as soon as possible! Thanks so much! I also have a new one shot which I will finish soon…be on the lookout!