I just realised that this is chapter twenty-one and we are 5 months into the year. What is life any more and where has the time gone? This week in how did Shellsan cope with trying to write I can honestly say that my head was all over the place. I've started a 30 day writing challenge a week ago now and I've been jumping fandoms like a mad woman trying to understand characters that I've never written for before. It's been a roller coaster and I'm so glad to just sit down and write something that I know. And yet despite my excitement to write something I know I've found myself continually procrastinating and distracted. What the hell brain? I've been sitting her trying to write this chapter for two hours already and I'm like 300 words in. Usually I can do 1000 in forty-five minutes at most. This is a little frustrating. Although regardless I hope you guys enjoy, especially my section of Martin teaching which may as well be an essay (completely bs though). I have managed to make it in the last hour though. Note to self: Never try to change your writing rituals because they are the difference between over 2000 words in an hour and a half, and less than 2000 thousand over like five hours.
Leave a review if you enjoy this chapter and just a reminder, if you guys have any ideas for moments between character's that you'd like to know more about or just cute things that you'd like to see happen, make sure to let me know! You will of course be credited for anything used.
Review Responses:
CaitHawke4Ever: Or at least she hopes lol. At this point though, I don't think they need all that much help though since their relationship is developing pretty well without their input. You are of course, correct. The case begins in this chapter and Mai is already playing a vital part, as you'll soon read. Hopefully you enjoy the direction it goes. Thanks for reviewing!
Kallen21: As always, it has arrived! Hope you enjoy!
SumCheeze: Haha, well I'm not going to argue about how adorable they are, that's for sure. I'm glad you like how things are going. Hopefully you enjoy this chapter just as much as we finally get started on another case. It's a little different to how I usually write cases since Mai isn't on scene for it, so I think it'll be an interesting challenge going forwards. Thanks so much for leaving me a review!
RichkeyZero: You're very welcome. Please enjoy another one!
Ghost love japan 77: It's true that Mai will probably need to make herself another charm, but she isn't on a case right now and the symbolism that I intended in Mai giving Naru something she carried with her was hard to beat and she kind of just went for it. It actually wasn't planned at all. It'll come into play again later though, don't you worry. I have plans for that piece of paper. I'm glad that you're excited for the case though, since it start this chapter! Hopefully it lives up to your expectations and you enjoy it. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt
Chapter Key:
"English Speaking"
"Japanese Speaking"
'Thinking'
Chapter Twenty-One
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The next couple of says seemed to pass by quickly for Mai as she spent every waking moment studying in or out of classes, or over at BSPR working. It was nice to be so busy since she wasn't used to being so idle, but she was beginning to feel the itch under her skin from her lack of ability use and proper meditation.
She was still going out in the mornings and getting in a jog around the campus wasn't difficult, but there wasn't any real peace. There was no where that she could just let go and relax with her abilities.
And it was starting to show.
"I'm sorry." She apologised to Yasu softly after she'd snapped at him for the second time that day, stepping into the classroom for their afternoon parapsychology lecture.
Yasu frowned, pushing up his glasses as he observed his friend. "It's fine." He waved her off. "But you need to do something about this. Will going out to the Davis' help?"
Mai bit her lip, worrying it between her lip. "It would." She admitted, thinking of how nice everything was in their area and the peacefulness she would be able to enjoy. "But that's a short-term solution at best, and a one-off at worst. I can't always rely on being able to get away from here in order to relax."
It was a good point and Yasu smiled wryly. "We may need to find someone who knows this campus good enough to recommend you a place or something then." He suggested. "But I still think that we should try for the Davis' place sometime soon to help you out."
Mai rolled her eyes. "You just want to eat James' cooking again." She accused teasingly.
Holding his hands up in a show of surrender, Yasu smirked. "Like you don't."
Huffing, Mai was about to respond when she realised something so obvious from Yasu's words. "You're a genius Yasu." She breathed, pulling out her phone quickly and firing off a text to Naru since she didn't have Lin's number. If anyone had an idea of the kind of 'peace' she was trying to find, it would be him.
Putting her phone away after checking it was on vibrate so that it wouldn't bother any one else, she resigned herself to waiting for a reply, which , she had discovered, could take anywhere from a couple minutes to two hours.
'Plus, Naru starts the school case today.' She reminded herself.
Resigning herself to an even longer wait, Mai was shocked when just as Martin stepped into the room, she felt her phone go off.
Was someone else texting her, or had Naru actually responded that fast?
Unwilling to check while class was still under way, Mai turned her focus away from her phone and to her lecture instead.
"Good afternoon everyone. Today we will be covering something I know you are all excited for." Martin opened, "Spiritualists. Last lesson we covered over some of the forms of Psi that are well known. In a similar vein of research is the concept of spirituality and the people who practice it."
Bringing up a picture of a Venn diagram*, Martin pointed towards the middle where the two areas overlapped. "As you can see, some of the abilities that are considered Psi are also considered normal for spiritualists. For example, mediums. A medium is someone who is able to communicate openly with spirits and is usually able to see them. This ability is considered both a form as Psi, but also places them within the realm of spiritualist. Unlike Psi however, spiritualists do not have to show any affinity for a form of psychic ability. It is common in many cultures for spiritualists to simply learn and maintain their history by practising the arts passed on from generation to generation.
The literal definition for a spiritualist of course, is anyone who believes that the dead have the ability to communicate with the living. If we go by this definition than the diagram changes." Martin flicked the slide over to show a big circle with the word Spiritualists written up the top, and then a smaller circle within it that said 'psi'. "IN this diagram it becomes clear that in actuality a medium, or many other practitioners of psi are spiritualists by definition because of their belief in the dead and it's ability to communicate."
A girl from the front of the class raised her hand.
"Yes?"
She swallowed nervously before speaking out with as strong of a voice as she could manage. "What about the abilities that fall under Psi that do require belief in the dead?" She asked.
Martin grinned. "Excellent question."
Flipping his slides again, he pointed towards the same Venn diagram that they started with. "And that is why we usually show things like this and not like the other diagram, because this allows us to fully grasp that Psi does not equal Spiritualist, just as a Spiritualist does not equal someone with psi. Please remember this for your end of term exams. You mustn't only think of the smaller picture. You have to consider the additional possibilities."
With that said, Martin looked down at his watch. "That's everything I had to teach for today so you are all free to leave. I'll be around for another thirty minutes if you have any questions about anything that we've covered today."
As he signalled the end of the lecture, everyone began to pack up their things.
Recalling her earlier text, Mai pulled it back out and rolled her eyes at Naru's response.
[Naru:] What did you do?
[Naru:] Contact shared
Saving the contact, Mai shot off a quick text to Lin, making sure to say that it was from her, before turning back to responding to Naru.
[Mai:] Nothing, Jerk. I just have a question for him.
Huffing, she turned her screen blank again and put her phone away, beginning to pack up the rest of her things.
"At least that was the last of it for today. And we finished early. Should we go and see the prof., maybe try and con him into feeding us?" Yasu joked, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
Mai rolled her eyes. "Madoka and Naru are on case starting today, I'm sure he has more important things to worry about." She pointed out.
She followed him over to Martin regardless though, resigned to whatever Yasu actually wanted to bother their professor for.
"Yasu, Mai. How can I help?" Martin asked, raising an eyebrow at his two (favourite) students.
"I was just wondering about the case that BSPR starts today. I wanted to know if I there was anything we can help with. Mai and I are both free on Friday's and with Madoka and Naru both on case there won't be much in the way of people to bother tomorrow over at HQ."
Blinking a little, Mai realised that he was right. Trust Yasu to think everything through.
Martin hummed in understanding. "Well I can't clear you to go on-sight at this time, but I can give you a copy of the file. I'm sure if you ask Madoka there will be plenty of research you can help with." He admitted.
Walking over to the desk, he pulled out the file he had on hand for it and handed it over to Yasu.
"You can keep that copy. I'll print another one later on. You two will have to share though or photocopy another one at the library."
Mai shook her head. "No need. I've already seen the file." She admitted.
Her professor chuckled. "Of course you have. Did you glean anything from it?"
The way he asked the question made it clear what he really wanted to know.
Shaking her head, Mai sighed. "Nothing so far. I've got Naru's number though and he'll be told the moment I get anything – if I get anything."
Martin nodded in understanding. "Don't push yourself too hard."
Laughing without any real humour, Mai recalled her lack of use of her powers in the past few days. "I won't."
Curious about her tone, Martin frowned a little, but decided to leave the topic alone for the moment. There wasn't much he could do that the people who Mai surrounded herself with weren't already able to do.
Except...
"It's good that I caught the two of you however. I was wondering if you two would be amenable to dinner tomorrow night. She's been lonely without someone around to converse with and if you could come and quieten her for a few hours, I would appreciate it." He offered.
It wasn't a lie. Luella had been pouting constantly since the two of them had left, no longer used to having the large house to herself all the time with no-one to talk to, and she would be delighted to have them over.
Yasu grinned in a way that worried Martin slightly and reminded him of Madoka so clearly. "We'd be happy to." He agreed easily.
Mai rolled her eyes. "Talk about getting everything you want." She scoffed.
As predicted, she was ignored.
Looking down at the time on her phone, Mai sighed. "I had better get going. I have a couple of things that I need to get done before tomorrow and some homework that I'd rather get out of the way now if I'm going to spend the weekend on case work." She explained.
Martin nodded in understanding. "I should probably be on my way as well." He admitted.
Waving goodbye to both men, the brunette made her way out of the room and headed back to her dorm room, phone in hand as she observed the reply she had just gotten from Lin.
[Lin:] When we return from the case I will show you a place.
[Mai:] Thank you
It was a weight off her shoulders to know that Lin knew somewhere that she could go to take care of all this pent up energy. Now all she had to do was make it through tomorrow without going off at anyone again, and then she can spent part of her evening outside at the Davis' enjoying the serenity there.
Content with her plan, she glanced down at her phone again when she felt another text come in.
[Naru:] When you have a chance to discuss the case let me know.
Mai couldn't help the way her heart fluttered, knowing that Naru was talking about his promise to keep her updated on the case.
[Mai:] I will be back at my dorm in a minute. We can talk them. I'm assuming you want to call
[Naru:] Obviously
Mai rolled her eyes at the tone she could hear even without him being here. When her theory that Naru would hate texting turned out to be correct, she hadn't been able to stop feeling smug. It wasn't something big, but it had proved to her that she still somewhat Naru even after a year and so many lies.
'Don't go there.' She scolded herself immediately, dragging her thoughts back towards the topic that she'd be talking about with Naru. The case.
Going over the facts, she frowned as she opened the door. There wasn't much in the way of information at the moment to go on, so she hoped that Naru was going to be able to shed some light on the situation.
Putting her things down next to her desk, she locked the door and then fired off a text to Naru to let him know that he could call her at any time now.
Phone in hand, she moved to sit at her desk while she waited, pulling out some loose paper and a couple pens so that she could take note of anything that he said.
A minute later her phone began to vibrate and she answered it instantly.
"Hey. How have things gone so far?" She asked, straight to the point.
On the other end, Naru let out a sigh of frustration. "Remind me why I have to put up with idiot interns that don't know a night vision camera from a normal camera and can't take orders properly."
Mai blinked a little at the unexpected rant before giggling a little and shaking her head even though he couldn't see it.
"Give them a break. They're still learning and they won't be able to if you don't give them a chance." She reminded, remembering her own experience in the poor interns position.
Naru scoffed. "You give them too much credit. The interns we hire always have experience in the field or have been studying the subject for over a year already and are ready for field experience. They should be able to tell a night vision camera from a normal camera."
Wincing, Mai had to admit that he had a point, like always. They weren't like Mai who started due to an un-honest debt and had no idea what she was doing from day one.
"Regardless. They're probably so worried about you that they're forgetting the simple things. Give them a chance." She pointed out.
Oliver sighed angrily. "I'll give them a chance when they prove that they deserve it."
Sighing, Mai took that for the half-win that it was, since she wasn't likely to get anything better from him.
"In that case, how have things gone so far? Any activity?"
"Not too much so far. There haven't been any cases of children on the roof in today which is good, however there was a fire in one of the classrooms. The temperature readings are also showing signs of spiritual presence. You still haven't gotten anything?"
"I told you I would let you know if I did." She reminded. "I have a feeling I might get something tonight though so if it'll stop you from being in a bad mood then you can prepare yourself mentally for that."
"Don't leave out any details."
Mai huffed. "I'm not the same as I was years ago, Naru. I understand by abilities better now. I will tell you as much as I can if I do end up dreaming, I swear."
"Good."
Rolling her eyes at the satisfaction in his tone, she couldn't help but smile slightly. Even if they were almost arguing, she couldn't help but feel much better than she had all day, for whatever reason.
The part of her that answered that with the name 'Naru' immediately got stamped down.
"You'll let me know if anything happens as well, right? You have my charm on you correct?"
This time it was Naru who huffed. "Yes, Mai, I have the charm on me. I'm not stupid."
"Just making sure."
For a moment the other end was silent and the brunette thought she could hear Madoka in the background and she sighed.
"I'll let you get back to work. Thanks for keeping me updated. I'll be at BSPR tomorrow with Yasu if you need us to do any research or need anything else done. I know Madoka will probably give Yasu a list since those two tend to talk all the time, but if there is anything in particular you need you know how to reach me."
On the other end, Oliver was reluctant to end their conversation, even though Madoka was giving him the most irritatingly smug look.
"Not stupid." He repeated. "I'll speak with you tomorrow."
Mai laughed slightly. "Oyasuminasai." She wished him, even though it wasn't that much later than eight at night. Suddenly she felt exhausted and not in a 'I've been out an about all day' kind of way.
'What's the chance that this is the dream I've been expecting?' She thought to herself rhetorically, already recognising the signs.
"Go to sleep, baka."
After that the line went dead and Mai pushed herself away from the desk to collapse onto her bed, turning off her light on the way.
She lamented that she didn't have enough time to shower or change before falling into bed, but she didn't want to risk ending up somewhere else when she fell asleep. It had happened a couple of time in the past and so far she had been lucky enough to avoid major injury, but it only took one stroke of bad luck to change that.
Settling into the mattress, she sighed softly and made a conscious effort to let go of her mind and her body, allowing the feeling of floating to fully take over her senses.
And then – she was dreaming.
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Standing in her dreamland, Mai looked around as she waited for the normal black landscape to morph into a scene. For a moment nothing seemed to happen, and then Mai found herself watching as everything finally changed and became what appeared to be the roof top with two boys.
"How dare you show me up like that?" One of them growled.
The other seemed slightly scared as he looked confused. "I don't understand what I did? What have I ever done to you, Elliot?" He demanded.
'Elliot' scoffed. "What have you done to me? It figures that you wouldn't even notice. If you weren't here then I would be the best. If it weren't for you I would be number one. If it weren't for you, my parents wouldn't call me a failure. If you didn't exist, then everything would be better." He hissed.
There was a moment when the other boy didn't seem to know what to say, before he softened slightly at the admission of Elliot's home life. "I'm sorry. But there is nothing I can do about that. We can try to call someone though, get you some help?" He offered, stepping closer towards Elliot.
Elliot growled at the well-meaning boy, crowding him towards the edge of the roof. "Help? You think I need 'help' now, do you? What for? What do you gain from helping me? Or do you just want to one up me on that too? William Turner, always caring for others even when he's so busy and so far out of our league."
The last sentence was said with such malicious mockery that even from where she was viewing, Mai shivered. She noted the names though, determined not to leave out any details when she spoke to Naru.
"That's not what I meant. I won't tell anyone if that's what you want. I just want to do what I can to help." William promised, voice imploring.
There was hysterical laughter as a smirk formed on Elliot's lips. "You want to know how you can help me? Truly?"
Elliot swallowed nervously, unsure of how to get away but getting more and more unsure of the safety of his position as he was crowded against the rooftop edge.
Nodding slightly, he shook a little at the laughter he got in response once more.
"I know how you can help me." Elliot stated, hands coming up to grab William.
Mai watched on in horror as William was lifted, a shout leaving his lips as he struggled in Elliot's stronger grip, desperately trying to get away.
"You can die."
With those last words, William was pushed from the roof, voice screaming himself hoarse as he landed on the ground with a sickening thud.
In that same moment, Mai woke.
Opening her eyes, Mai shivered slightly as the sweat that covered her body hit the cool air of the room, covers on the ground from where she had kicked them at some point while she had been absent and in dreamland.
Without thinking, Mai reached for her phone that was sitting on her bedside table and dialled Naru's number.
While she waited to see if he would answer, she pulled her blanket from the ground and wrapped herself back up, snuggling into them in an attempt to warm back up.
The phone continued to ring and Mai was about to give up when she finally heard the sound of it being picked up on the other end.
"Naru?" She whispered, shocked at how hoarse her throat felt, almost like she had been screaming too.
"Mai. Why are you calling?"
His voice was a little rough in the way that reminded Mai of the couple times she'd heard him after being woken up.
"Sorry. I had a dream and didn't think. You can go back to sleep and I'll call you at a more decent time."
There was silence and some shuffling before Naru responded. "Don't be an idiot. I'm already awake now, so you might as well tell me while the memory is fresh."
Mai bit her lip, not wanting to bother him at, -she looked down at the time on her bedside clock and frowned at the blinking numbers that read three-thirty in the morning. She'd been dreaming even longer than she'd thought, and Naru had probably only recently gotten to sleep too.
Guilt filled her stomach, adding to her already present nausea.
"Mai."
Naru's impatient voice snapped her back from her own wallowing quickly, and she swallowed thickly.
"Sorry." She apologised again.
There was a huff from the other end before Naru spoke again and she didn't even need to try to imagine the irritated look on his face. "Stop apologising and start recounting. The sooner you give me the details, the sooner we can both get back to sleep." He reminded.
"Right." Mai agreed. But even knowing this it took a moment before she could gather the words to explain everything that had happened.
Recounting every single detail she could think of, she made sure to stress the names that she'd managed to gather and from the sound she got in response, it was likely that Naru already knew something about them.
She wasn't sure how long exactly it took to go over everything and answer the questions Naru had, but by the end of it Mai's throat felt dry and scratchy, and despite her bone deep exhaustion she felt wide awake.
There was adrenaline rushing through her veins as she woke up fully and forced herself from her warm bed to grab a bottle of cool water.
"You're sure that's everything?"
Mai huffed at the same question she'd been asked already. "Yes, Naru, I promise that this was everything that happened. I didn't leave out a single detail." She repeated, before opening her water and gulping some down quickly, frowning when it seemed to slosh in her stomach in a way that made her even more nauseous. Figures. She couldn't even have water without it making her sick right now.
'What I really need is tea.' She thought.
Her lips twitched when she recalled the first time she'd been given tea after experiencing one of her psychic dreams, and without her permission her body seemed to warm slightly, almost like a blanket of safety was being wrapped around her at the memory.
"It would probably be best if you went back to sleep. You won't do anyone any good if you're tired and you need to be up again in a few hours if you're going to be at BSPR at eight in the morning."
Mai frowned, before she realised that Naru was right. It was already five in the morning.
Her guilt started to rise again when she realised that if he was lucky, Naru would get a nap before getting up for the day.
"You're going back to sleep too, right?" She asked.
There was pause and Mai sighed when that was more than enough of an answer.
"Please, Naru. You probably only slept for like thirty minutes before I woke you."
There was a sigh. "I will endeavour to sleep for at least an hour if it will mean that you shut up about it." Naru agreed reluctantly.
Honestly, all he wanted to do was go and continue putting the new case details together, but even without seeing the brunette he could hear the guilt she was carrying.
A new kind of warmth formed at Mai's core when she realised that Naru was basically agreeing to sleep for her sake, and this time she let it wash over her.
"Thank you."
"Go back to bed." Was all she in response, making her roll her eyes because that wasn't a request. Before another argument could start however, she hung up the phone, replacing it on the bedside table and putting it on charge.
Despite her irritation, she felt the adrenaline rapidly leaving her system and instead the exhaustion was all that remained.
When the exhaustion mixed with the warmth and safety she felt from her talk with Naru, she didn't stand a chance.
And this time when she fell into sleep, it was dreamless.
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*For those of you who didn't want to scream in frustration (I sure wanted to the moment the words were on the page) at the mention of these demonic (but otherwise helpful) things because you've never studied them or have completely forgotten that they exist, a Venn Diagram is the diagrams that involve two of more circles that overlap at different points. The one being referenced is a simple one that simply has two circles that overlap in the middle which shows the items that apply to both sides.
P.S. The bs explanation on Psi and spiritualists is not at all structurally sound is literally created for the purposes of this story. Please do not take it as fact. I have of course done some research into these subjects but I'm not nearly well-versed enough for anything other than the hand-waving science I am providing for you.