"Etto… where should we start?" Mai glanced around the attic.

It was a rather large room, with old wardrobes, shelves and other furniture stored inside, everything covered in a thick layer of dust. The lighting was pretty bad so the room was dim, but thankfully it was still light enough for the people there to see everything was in pretty good condition. There was only one small window which creaked and moaned from the wind and falling snow. Mai shuddered and turned her eyes away from an old doll whose empty eyes were looking in her direction. She hated dolls ever since her first proper case with a cursed doll. Their eyes freaked her out.

"Into the attic." Came the oh-so-smart answer from Gene who simply smirked at her glare.

Mai sometimes wondered how the twins could be so different and yet so similar at the same time.

"Thank you for your wisdom, oh wise one." She rolled her eyes and moved further into the room.

"Always at your service, fair maiden."

Mai only shook her head and her eyes landed on a stack of old newspapers lying next to the wall. It was covered in dust, as was everything else. She stepped closer and wiped it from the copy at the top of the pile before picking it up. The pages were yellow marking the passage of time.

"Here are some family records and journals." Cat said, earning her attention.

She was standing next to an old bookshelf, blowing the dust from an old black book.

"And I found some old papers." Mai told her.

"So then ladies, I think it's time to work." Gene said, moving over to take some of the books.

Mai sighed. Sometimes she really hated their job.

Naru was sitting in their base, reading over the interview notes from the last two days. They didn't really have anything yet, but it was only their first day there. Maybe it was a little drastic, but he hoped that something would happen soon. At least then they would have something to follow, not just two names without a single shred of helpful information.

He looked out the window at the white painted landscape. Usually he liked winter, but when it was interfering with his plans he was ready to freeze the snow with his glare, no matter how weird or irrational it may sound.

He thought about their case. Males attacked with a message written on their bodies. It looked like some sort of jealous ghost, but he had learnt long ago to not judge a book by its cover. Maybe it was some girl who had her heart broken by her lover? He needed more information in order to connect everything. He hoped that his team would find something.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in." He called, leaning forward slightly over his desk and waiting.

The manager of the hotel entered the room, nodding to him.

"You called for me Shibuya-san?" He asked the younger man.

"Yes. Do you know anything about two girls named Toshiko and Rin in the history of this building?" He asked, not being the sort of person to beat around the bushes.

The manager took a place in front of the desk, thinking long and hard about the question.

"Toshiko and Rin?" He repeated, looking up. "I've heard the first name somewhere before…" He admitted, furrowing his brow in thought. After a moment he shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't remember right now. I'll make sure to inform you as soon as I remember."

Naru nodded and after a few more questions he let the man go.

After several hours of reading, coughing and searching, Mai threw away the newspaper she was reading and sighed angrily. They had spent the whole day in the attic, only coming down for dinner. It was already late and it was dark outside.

There was nothing, absolutely nothing, in the papers. She was getting restless. And cold. Why hadn't they taken any blankets with them?

"I take it you didn't find anything useful." She glanced up at Cat, whose green eyes were watching her from above the book she was pretending to read.

"Exactly. No Toshiko or Rin in any of the articles." She answered, shrugging her shoulders.

Cat sighed and straightened her back. She was stiff from sitting for so long in one position.

"What about you Gene?" She asked, looking over at the male who was sitting on the floor reading one of the newspapers.

"Nada." He answered, still reading something, apparently quite absorbed in an article.

"What are you reading?" Mai asked, hoping to have a break.

Gene looked up from his newspaper before answering.

"Did you know that in the Middle Ages when someone had a headache a doctor would make a hole in their head, take out their brain, put salt on it and then put it back in their head?" He asked seriously.

Cat and Mai exchanged glances before looking at him strangely.

"…ok?"

"And the cold was taken care of by putting an onion covered in mustard into a person's nose." He added, looking down at the newspaper again. "And there was this interesting way of treating prisoners with snakes…"

"I don't think it's necessary for you to share that with us." Cat interrupted him, shaking her head in an attempt to get rid of the images forming in her mind.

"Aw but why? It's interesting." Gene smirked at her but she ignored him and grabbed another book.

"Knowing you it will only get weirder." Mai said, laughing at his crestfallen expression.

"You two are so mean, I'm hurt." He said, putting his newspaper aside and taking another one.

"We're trying our best." Cat stated, flicking through the pages.

Gene mumbled something but didn't say anything more and they moved back into their research. There was silence for around five minutes.

"Hey, I have something." Cat said suddenly, looking at a page.

Gene and Mai moved closer, trying to read over her shoulder.

"… In the year 1815, Hina Toshiko and Shino Karashi, in front of many witnesses and with the blessings of their families, were bound in wedlock." Gene read aloud, leaning over the back of the chair.

"You think it's the same Toshiko?" Mai asked, scanning the page but there was nothing more.

"It might be." Cat answered, turning the page. "After all, there was something about marriage in your dream, right?" She looked over at Mai who nodded.

"In that case we have another name." Gene pointed out. "Shino Karashi."

Mai opened her mouth to say something but stopped. Both she and Gene stiffened, looking around in alarm. Cat, sensing the change in their mood, looked up at both of them.

"What's going on?"

Mai and Gene glanced at each other.

"We should be…" Gene started, but was interrupted by a sudden wave of cold air which knocked over the stack of newspapers and scattered them across the floor by the teens.

Cat shot up from her chair and followed the other two who were already moving towards the attic door. However before they reached it the door slammed shut, trapping them inside.

Lin checked the time as he observed the monitors. It was almost midnight. The day itself had been calm and quiet. The only noise in the room consisted of Ayako and Takigawa arguing and Masako talking. The rest of the team were still in the attic and Lin was considering getting them to call it a day. Naru was sitting in a chair reading a book.

"Naru, we should call Gene, Taniyama-san and Hyuga-san back." He conveyed his thoughts to the boy, who blinked at him.

"They're still in the attic?" He asked, putting his book down. He sighed. "I knew that Mai was stupid, but I never thought that my brother and Hyuga-san could reach her level." He added, standing up.

Lin almost smiled. He just loved the way Naru expressed his worry.

"You're going to get them then?" He asked, seeing as the younger boy was heading to the door.

"Yes, watch the monitors and call me if anything changes." He said.

He had his hand on the doorknob when one of the monitors beeped. He froze and turned around to Lin, who quickly scanned the screens. He suddenly shot up in his chair.

'Don't tell me it's…' Naru thought before Lin said "The temperature just dropped drastically in the attic."

Wondering if Mai was seriously born under a bad luck star the dark haired boy ran out of the room.

As the three teenagers stood in the attic their breath began clouding up the air in front of them. Mai's teeth started chattering. Cat glanced at her and slightly increased her temperature, wanting to provide some heat, when Gene's hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Don't lose your energy. If something comes out, you're our only defence." He said, looking around. She nodded her head.

He knew that something was there. The presence was so easy to read that he could feel it on his skin. He knew that Mai could feel it too.

Suddenly, one of the chairs behind them screeched and moved. Mai grabbed Cat's hand as she was the one closest to her. The girl squeezed her hand while she herself fought back her fear. The story she and Gene had told the other girl earlier came back to her. She made a mental note to never try and scare Mai again in her life.

"… the name…" They could all hear the voice coming from somewhere around the old bookshelf.

They turned around. Narrowing their eyes all of them were able to see something in the shadows. A light dress was visible, but the face stayed hidden in the darkness.

Gene shivered, feeling all the anger, jealousy and hatred coming from the ghost.

"Don't you dare ever say that name again."

This time the voice was clearer and louder, and with it came a forceful wave of air which pushed them back. Strangely it separated Gene from the girls. He winced when his back hit the cold floor. He looked around for Mai and Cat. They were both on the floor across from him. He was about to stand up and move to them when something suddenly materialised in front of him.

His eyes widened when he heard a voice hissing something in his ear, and something sharp piercing the skin on his chest.

Before the ghost could do any more a wave of hot air hit it straight in the back. With a loud scream it disappeared.

"Gene!" Mai shouted and moved over to him as Cat looked around, her hand still glowing slightly. She wasn't sure if they were safe yet.

"I'm fine." The boy said, and brown and green eyes rested on him. He put a hand to his chest, feeling something warm. It looked as though the ghost had tried to cut him with a knife or something.

"You sure?" Cat asked and he nodded.

"She isn't here anymore, by the way." He added, and the girl released her power.

"You're bleeding!" Mai exclaimed, putting her hand on his chest to examine the damage.

Cat moved to him and Mai, narrowly avoiding being hit by the door when Lin and Naru ran into the room. They looked at them and Naru's eyes narrowed as he saw the position his brother and assistant were in.

Gene almost sweatdropped.

'Jealous ghosts and younger brothers… What did I ever do to anyone?' He thought.

A/N: Thanks again to my beta, Dark Akuma Hunter.

I also wanted to thank to everyone who reviewed. There's over 100 reviews now, and I'm rather proud. Reading what you think about this story really encourages me to write more. )