Tori: THANK YOU, PEOPLE WHO REVIEWED!
Mei: Tori really appreciates it, as it gives her more motivation to write.
Nollene: You know, so she's not staring at the wall half the time.
Tori: Shut up Lene. It takes time to write this.
Nollene: Whatever.
Mei: Behave you two. Thanks to slvrphoenx, 14AmyChan, ImaginationDremerGal999, Naruisawesomeand WhovianMaiPotter. You guys are awesome!
Tori: Yep, you really made my day. I apologize for almost making you cry.
Nollene: Tori does not own Ghost Hunt.
Mei: She wouldn't be writing this if she did.
Japan
Masako huddled in between Yasu and John, seeking comfort.
Yasu complied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, while John held her hand.
Madoka arrived with steaming tea, her pace pale.
"Is Mai...?" Masako trailed off, not wanting to continue.
Madoka shook her head.
"I don't know."
Yasu shifted uncomfortably.
"Someone should call Monk."
Masako shook her head, her kimono sleeve staying by her side.
"No. He'll be in the middle of his show; it wouldn't be fair to him."
Ayako walked out of the ICU, face set.
John went to stand, but halted in his tracks when he saw tears in Ayako's eyes.
"Is she...?"
Masako seemed to not be able to finish her sentences.
Ayako shook her head, and broke down, slumping on a plastic chair in the waiting room.
"It's all my fault!" she sobbed. Madoka placed her tea on the table, and sat down next to the distraught doctor.
"If I hadn't said anything about the temperature dropping, she wouldn't have left."
John sighed.
"She knew the risks, Ayako-san. We all did. If anything, it's my fault for not going with her."
Yasu frowned, and then smiled.
"If we're playing the blaming game, then it's my fault for not punching Minami-san when he hit on Mai."
Masako sucked in a breath, restraining the urge to hit Yasu, although, she did appreciate him trying to make the mood lighter.
The door to the ICU opened again, and one of the other doctors, a woman, walked out.
Masako had seen many beautiful women, but this one was a true beauty.
Dark red hair cut with a fringe across the left side, grey eyes, pale skin and was very tall and slender.
"Dr. Matsuzaki?"
Ayako looked up, eyes red.
The other doctor placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Taniyama-san is alive, and will recover."
The group heaved a collective sigh of relief, but the doctor wasn't finished.
"However, she may not remember much of what happened. Her body was sent into a state of shock, and her brain shut down. This included all the vital signs of life, although she was in a coma, and was perfectly safe."
Ayako sniffed.
"She'll wake up again?"
The doctor nodded, but her face was grim.
"When I get my hands on the spirit that almost killed her, they're going to regret not passing on sooner." Masako hissed.
John leaned away slightly from the angry medium, slightly concerned and impressed by the determination.
Yasu gritted his teeth.
"Minami-san has just earned himself social-media abuse."
The doctor frowned.
"Minami-san?"
Yasu glared at the floor.
"Takeo Minami. He's a student at Taniyama-san's school."
The doctor narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.
A man came out o the ICU, and tapped the doctor on the shoulder. He whispered something in her ear, and she sighed.
"I take my leave. Everyone, try to get some rest, please? I don't want you collapsing in my corridors. I will alert you if anything else happens to Taniyama-san."
Ayako gave the doctor a watery smile.
"Arigato, Dr. Li."
Dr. Li inclined her head gracefully, and walked back into the ICU.
John sighed, and muttered a quick prayer of thanks, while Madoka slumped in her seat.
"For the sake of Mai's sanity,' Ayako began, after a silence,' we should not remind her of what happened."
Masako nodded, and did Yasu and John. Madoka closed her eyes, as if in pain.
"Agreed."
Mai was alone, in the dark.
She hated the dark.
It brought back bad memories, of a time before SPR, before she met Naru.
Things liked to roam in the dark, things that weren't friendly.
Things that wanted to kill her.
"Mai." A voice called, soft and gentle.
Mai slowly turned, and a woman stepped out of the darkness, dressed in a long, flowing forest green gown, that contrasted with her red hair.
"Who are you?" Mai asked, hands forming the sign of the Unmoveable One.
The woman sighed softly, and came closer.
"Japanese chants won't work on Chinese Korean's, Mai. Although, I give you credit for trying."
Mai took a step back, and the woman lunged forward, grabbing her arm.
Mai toppled on the edge of the dream-cliff, the woman her only lifeline.
"Hold still, and don't move."
Something in the woman's voice made Mai do as she said.
Below her, she heard a slithering sound, and the grating of teeth against teeth.
The woman pulled her close, and Mai sobbed into her shoulder.
"Mm, one of those weeks, huh."
Mai pulled back slightly and the woman morphed into someone who looked more familiar.
This time, she wore white nursing scrubs, and her hair was tied back in a long braid.
She was taller too, and had very pale skin. Her left eye was hidden by her fringe, while her left was grey.
'Like Lin-san's.' Mai thought distantly.
The woman frowned.
"Mai, you need to wake up. Now."
"But..." Mai protested,' who are you?"
The woman gave her a sad smile.
"Now isn't the time. You will find me later. Wake up."
Mai felt herself spinning, and then falling, as if the woman had pushed her into the abyss.
Mai ran across green grass, laughing. She was aware of someone else next to her, holding her hand, and two people behind her, following slowly.
"Be careful you two!" a female called.
Male laughter was heard, and the sounds of a scuffle.
"You worry too much." A deep voice teased.
There was an indignant huff, and the female footsteps stopped.
Mai kept running, pulling the hand that she held.
"Come on, Maya." She called.
There was a whoosh of air beside her, and Mai slowed, turning to face the person next to her.
Takeo-san's cruel smile filled her vision, and his hands reached out to grab her, wanting her.
Mai screamed, and the vision went black.
Someone was shaking her, not very gently either.
"Taniyama-san!"
The voice was similar to the one in her dream, and Mai opened her eyes slowly.
A man stood next to her, his hands on her shoulders. When seeing that she was awake, he removed them, giving her a smile.
"Good, you're awake."
He had odd-coloured eyes; one a deep green, one a dark blue.
Mai groaned, and shut her eyes, the lights of the hospital too bright.
"Where am I?"
The man, unknown to Mai, hid a smile.
"Misfits."
Mai opened her eyes again, narrowing them at the man.
"What did you just call me?"
The man grinned.
"Misfits. It's what the hospital is called."
Mai stiffened.
"I've heard of it. Or rather, where it is."
The man lost the smile.
"They need hospitals in the Red-Light Districts too, Taniyama-san. Now, I believe that there are some very anxious people waiting to see you."
Mai frowned, and then her face cleared.
"Masako! Oh my god, is she okay?"
The man smiled in amusement.
"She's fine. She's been muttering about 'damn spirits' and something about crossing over sooner. Nothing out of the ordinary here."
Mai frowned, confused at the last comment.
"Where is she?"
The door opened, and in walked Masako, followed closely by Ayako, John, Madoka and Yasu.
"Mai!" Ayako cried, moving past Masako to hug her.
Mai held in tears, as Ayako hugged her, and winced when her side was jostled.
Ayako pulled back, looking angry.
"I'm an idiot, I forgot about your side."
Mai shrugged it off.
"What happened to the spirit?"
There was a tense silence, before John broke it.
"Masako sent it on its way, none to gently either."
Masako shrugged, kimono sleeve covering her mouth.
"I was annoyed."
Mai pulled herself up into a sitting position.
"What are you hiding from me?" She demanded.
Yasu gave her a smile.
"Nothing, Mai-chan. How is your back?"
While Yasu was keeping Mai distracted, John turned around, and whispered a quick prayer.
"Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned. I lied to my friend."
In her office, Dr. Li sat at her desk, head in her hands.
Her brother stood next to her, silent.
"So,' she whispered,' it has happened."
"Yes,' her brother agreed, his voice a murmur,' it will begin soon."