It wasn't Naru who ended up getting mad at me for wondering off when there was a ghost with it in for me. Lin-san's face showed what he was feeling instead of his carefully constructed mask of indifference. Anger simmered in his eyes as he glared at me. "What do you think you were doing? Do you have no concern for your safety!" he yelled at me. I flinched from the anger in his face. I hadn't meant to make him angry or make him worry. I just wanted to find out what was going on and see if I could help the Mother after all the times she helped me.

My eyes teared up as I looked up at Lin-san. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry or mad." I took a deep breath as tears escaped my eyes and ran down my cheeks. On top of everything that had been happening I didn't want Lin-san mad at me. "I just want to find out what's happening so I can help the Mother. I just want this over and the man gone." By the end I was barely containing my sobs. Lin-san looked at Naru who in turn turned a glare at the rest of the gang. With just that look he sent everyone scurrying away leaving Lin-san alone with me.

I watched Lin-san cautiously as he kept his attention on the fleeing forms of our coworkers. It wasn't until they were completely out of sight did he turn his attention back to me. I admit to being slightly scared about why he had silently asked Naru to leave us alone together. I didn't know if he was going to yell at me again and I really didn't think I could handle that without breaking down completely.

When Lin-san looked at me I was not expecting the raw emotion in his eyes. The complete and utter look of anguish in his eyes broke my heart and made me feel extremely guilt-ridden. I hated that I put that look there. I waited for him to break the silence.

I didn't have to wait long. He took a step towards me and when I tensed up, expecting him to yell at me again, he stopped short. "Mai, I know this isn't easy for you and I didn't mean to yell at you." He paused. "You just worried me. I don't want anything happening to you especially if I can help it."

I almost cried as he admitted that. I hadn't wanted him to worry about me or to blame himself as it seemed he was doing. "Lin-san, I didn't mean to worry you." I stepped closer to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling him into a hug. "I'm so sorry." I muttered into his shoulder.

I heard Lin-san sigh as he wrapped his arms around me. "It's okay. I know that's just how you are. You are so nice you feel the need to help when you can." He pulled me into him tighter. "Since you want me to call you Mai why don't you call me Koujo." I looked up at him and smiled.

We stood like that for a few more minutes as I felt the tension slowly ease out of Koujo. When his arms eased their grip on me I looked up at him again. "I know I scared you Koujo and I'm really sorry. I will try not to if I can. It just kind of happened. I saw her and her daughter and I just felt the need to follow them."

Koujo gave me a small smile before pulling away from me. "Its okay, I understand. Lets head to the base and see what Naru has planned to do about the new problem." He wrapped his arm around my waist and started walking beside me. I leaned against him as we walked in silence.

The base was in its usual turmoil when we arrived. Ayako and Bou-san were fighting and Ayako was attempting to beat Bou-san to death with her purse. John was watching them in silent amusement while trying to get Masako to talk to him. Naru was buried in his research and by the angry look on his face he had yet to find anything useful.

Naru looked up at Koujo and I with a glare when we entered before snapping at me to get him tea. Koujo rolled his eyes before going to his computer to help with the research. We had never faced a demon ghost or anything like that before so all research was necessary.

While I made Naru's tea I thought back to my vision of the Mother's room and all the information on demons she had in there. What had she been before she died? Was she some kind of psychic like the members of SPR but she simply used her powers in a slightly different way? I really wanted to know more about it. Maybe by learning more about her I could learn more about a way to get rid of the demon. It was dangerous and the longer it was around the more likely it was for one of my friends to be hurt.

"Did you find anything?" I asked when I got back to the base from the kitchenette just off from the room. Koujo shook his head but Naru didn't even look up, he was engrossed in whatever it was he was reading. "I didn't think so… I was thinking maybe I should try to go back into one of those dreams where I can visit with the Mother. Maybe she could tell us more about whatever it is that we are hunting. She was hunting it too, maybe she knows more about it and can shed some light on it."

Koujo tensed for a moment while Naru thought about it. Bou-san was the one that answered first. "NO! We can't let her! She might get hurt!" He yelled while hugging me tightly against him. Speaking of getting hurt his hug cut off my air supply and felt like it was going to break every bone in my body.

"Bou-san you pervert let her go! She's turning purple!" Ayako yelled before prying him off of me.

"Oh shut up old lady!" Bou-san yelled back, thus earning himself a good smack in the face with her purse.

While those two fought it out Naru came to his decision. "Mai, that actually is the smartest thing you've ever thought of. You can do that while the rest of the group searches the history of the ship and the background of the woman and man you keep seeing." The decision made everyone went on their way leaving Koujo to watch over me while I slept.